Butterfly Kisses and Flower Petal Wishes

by YozoraVal

Hanagaki Takemichi lost more than just his first love on the day he was pushed off the train platform. He lost an elder sister as well. His mission is clear, go back in time, fix the past, maybe find out why his girlfriend and sister had to die (or keep dying), and save not only Hina but his big sister as well. MikeyxOc

7. R&R

Authors Notes: Our second all original chapter! It feels like the last two have been nothing but gut punches, and you know there's always a calm before the storm. So... Let's enjoy this light-hearted chap~ Though on a quick aside, one thing that's always bugged me with Tokyo Revengers is how little we actually get to see or understand what's going on with the Takemichi of 2005, so here's my attempt to explain just how 2017 Takemichi can just step into his past self's body and mess with his past/life, yet both affect his past self... while said past self seems to be unaware to an extent on whats going on. Whether or not I did good... Well... ;w; You decide.

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July 16, 2005 Meiko

Laying off her bed with her legs crisscrossed leaning on her bed, dressed in her nightclothes of simple blue flower print shorts and a Flatwoods monster T-shirt and a Tanuki plush on her stomach. Meiko boredly stared up at her Television screen upside down, flipping through the channels idly. Beside her sat Yayoi, dressed in her own nightclothes of a simple oversized checkered green button-up shirt, painting her nails two different colors of dark blue and violet on the floor next to her.

"So… is Takemichi-kun staying at Atsushi-kun's house?"

"... Yep."

"He's been acting pretty strange recently…. again… Did something happen?" Yayoi curiously asked as Meiko sighed, closing her eyes.

"You could… say that."

Pausing mid-coating, she turned to look at Meiko. "... Do you want to talk about it?"

Rolling into her stomach, Meiko pouted as she glared up at her bookshelf. "...I dunno." She mumbled, as her friend moved her nail polish to the side to shift her full attention to Meiko.

"Come on. Maybe I can help?"

"You don't even like Michi." Meiko rebutted, raising a brow.

"Ah, but I don't dislike him either. He's like… bread to me."

"...Bread?"

"Yes, like… that simple cheap kind. You know, the one you have to slather a lot of jam or butter on or toast just right to stomach it. Not bad but not good either."

"..." Giving her red-haired friend a confused look Meiko muttered, "Just what sort of bread have you been having?"

"My point is, while I don't necessarily care for that 'sweet' little brother of yours, I don't necessarily not care either, especially since he matters to you." Yayoi explained blushing, "So…"

Snickering at her friend's obvious awkward attempt to support her, Meiko hummed to herself. "I see… okay, it all started…"

July 11, 2005 Meiko

Watching her brother drag himself to their kitchen table, Meiko watched as Takemichi moaned and groaned as he rubbed his sore head. "Good morning sleepy head~"

Glaring up at his sister tiredly he muttered, "Just what the hell is your shoe made of? Or are you really just as freakishly strong as a… uh…" He groaned as he collapsed into his seat. "Something! I… my head hurts too much to think right now."

"Pain pills are to your left." Meiko shrugged, rolling her omelet. "Glass of water on your right."

Looking up, Takemichi almost cried tears of joy. "Oh thank God."

"Hey!" Meiko exclaimed, looking away from the plate she was serving. "I'm the one who got it ready for you."

"You did this to me!" Takemichi shot back with an unamused scowl, his sister blinking at him for a bit before shrugging 'innocently'.

"... I guess I did."

"No! There is no 'I guess' about it!" Takemichi sputtered before shoving the medicine into his mouth and swallowing it down with the glass of water. "You were the one to chuck a shoe at my head like I was some sort of bug!"

"To be fair… you were the one who refused to stop running from me… and stupidly stopped while we were in mid chase. Have you learned nothing from our horror movie marathons?" Meiko scolded, serving the boy his breakfast as Takemichi slammed his hand on the table.

"That's a complete contradiction!"

Moving to join her brother at the table Meiko began to say, "So anyway-"

"Don't just change the subject!"

"Mind explaining why you suddenly ran away from a firework show and your girlfriend, leaving behind not only your own but also my school bag at her place, because I had to chase you down." Meiko simply finished ignoring her brother's originally annoyed response as the boy became quiet and contemplative instead. "You know you're lucky I talked to Hina this morning, she's willing to bring them with her to school to give them to us, but that's still not cool."

Staring down at his meal, Takemichi poked at his food. "..."

Staring at the boy, Meiko sighed, "This again… I thought we were getting better at this whole communication bit." Meiko muttered, staring her brother down as she took a bite out of her bacon. "Really thought you were growing up there…"

Sneaking a glance up at his sister, Takemichi frowned, looking back down at his meal he shoved a spoon full of omelet into his mouth and mumbled. "... I don't remember."

"Huh?" Meiko frowned, "Michi chew then talk." Meiko scolded as Takemichi swallowed his meal.

"... I said… I don't remember." He repeated, words now clear.

"..." Narrowing her eyes, Meiko set her utensil down. "This again. What do you mean by you don't remember?" He looked away, and Meiko slapped her hand on the table. "Oh no, not this again! Talk to me damn it! Just who the hell do you think I am? A mind reader! Cause newsflash I'm not!" Meiko exclaimed, watching the boy shove more food in his mouth and refuse to meet her gaze. Growling, she rose from her seat shaking the table as she hit it. "Damn it! This is exactly the kinda shit I hate about you!" She yelled, causing her brother to flinch as his gaze turned wide eyed to look up at her. "Don't you realize I'm trying to help! You're fourteen now I get it, but that doesn't mean you have to do shit on your own like your Batman or something!"

"Batman…?"

"Even fucking Batman doesn't work alone as much as he claims to!" She continued shouting, ignoring her brother's confused face. "Look!" She took a deep breath before giving her brother the most serious expression she could. "I… know I can be… a bit overbearing and protective at times–"

"A bit…?" Takemichi muttered, only to flinch as his sister's expression became a glare.

"Shutty." She warned.

"Shutting up!"

Softening her gaze she sighed and fell back into her seat, resting her hands on her head. "... but I really do just want what's best for you, Takemichi." Takemichi's eyes became wide as his sister used his whole name. "You're practically all I have, with mom and dad away all the time. Baka-Masa and his mother and father barely count as family." Takemichi starred as his sister figure hunched in her seat. "Who else am I supposed to look towards for support? Yayoi…? The guys? Hina?"

Looking up at her brother, Meiko watched as Takemichi's jaw slightly dropped when his gaze met her own same blue eyes with sadness. "I love those guys, but they're not you Michi. They're not my family… Not the same way you are… So please. Just… Talk to me." She pleaded, "Even if it changes nothing and I'm no help." She reached a hand out to him, barely touching his hand. "I want you to know I'm on your side. I always will be."

Staring at his sister, the actual Takemichi of the year 2005 felt his stomach twist into knots, and his body shakes. Looking down, the boy pulled his hand away, making Meiko's heartbreak until her brother's hand clamped tightly onto her own. "... Meimei…" Meiko's heart soared, "I'm scared." Then fell, as her brother's voice shook watery and fearful.

"Michi…?"

Looking up, the younger Takemichi struggled not to cry, "I… I don't know what's happening to me." He stuttered, keeping his grip strong on his sister's hand, even as she rose and moved around the table to kneel next to him.

"What do you mean? What's happening?"

Takemichi could only shake his head, he couldn't help but release his sister's hand to stare down at it. "... I've been blacking out."

Blinking in shock, Meiko tilted her head confused, "What… Do you mean?"

"..." Trying to find the right words he hesitated, looking to his elder sister once to see her full silent support he wet his lips as he continued to explain. "I… I don't know how to explain it, but it's like… One second I'm here, it's Monday and I'm talking to you right?"

"... Uhuh?"

Looking away he then finished, "But then I'm not."

Becoming concerned, Meiko placed her hands on Takemichi's shoulders, "Explain, what do you mean by your not?" She asked while thinking, 'Does this have to do with those weird moments of his these past few days?'

"I mean… Just the other day, I remember being in a fight… but then suddenly two days had passed." He explained, "It wasn't after school anymore, it was night… And I wasn't at the park fighting a guy, but on Hina's apartment roof with you guys… And I remembered nothing as to how, when, or why that was."

Shivering, Meiko tightened her grip on her brother's shoulders. "Yo..you're joking right?" Takemichi remained silent, "Hey, come on." She shook him lightly, "This isn't funny! What do you mean you didn't remember?"

Shaking his head, the younger Hanagaki sibling nervously met his sister's gaze. "It's… exactly like I said. I didn't remember what happened and freaked out. That's why I ran."

"Wait, you just said you didn't. Does that mean you remember now?" Meiko hopefully asked, staring her brother directly in the eye.

Takemichi winced though and had to hold his head in pain. "I… sorta?"

"Sorta?"

"It's… foggy. I only sorta remembered after going to bed and waking up." He tried to explain. "Like a dream maybe…? But not?"

"Like as if you were sleepwalking?" Meiko asked as her brother snapped his finger.

"Yeah! Exactly!" Takemichi exclaimed, "I didn't remember at the time I freaked, but once I passed out and woke up. It was like I dreamed the whole thing! Sorta… kinda… not really." He held his head and groaned, "Ah! It's so painful to even try to wrap my head around! I know I didn't live those events but… like… I know they're not a dream!" He tried to describe, "It's like… I was watching myself do all these things, interact with all these people, but… I don't have the why behind it! Or even the what that me was trying to do." Hunching over he rested his head on his sister's shoulder. "And whenever I try to think about it, bam! Headache! I… I'm so confused, this is the second time it's happened."

"Second time?" Meiko exclaimed in shock before her eyes widened recalling the first night Takemichi came home beat up, and acting like he didn't recall their phone call. "Hold on… Then last week… when you said you didn't remember calling me?"

He nodded and buried his head further in her neck, "I really didn't remember… I just, I was on the train with the guys, and then I was at a park with Hina's little brother shaking hands, and I just… Nothing made sense." Pulling away he glared at the ground, "It wasn't till the next morning that I even… sorta remembered what happened…" Looking up at her, Meiko's heart broke as she noted his guilt-stricken face, "That's why I apologized. I really didn't remember anything Meimei."

Frowning at her brother's words she leaned close to his face, "Why didn't you say anything sooner Takemichi? This sounds serious, why would you keep this from me?"

Pushing his sister away slightly, Takemichi glared, "It was only the once!" He debuted, "I didn't think it was anything serious! And besides," Looking away he glared at the space away from his sister. "I had… other issues to deal with being a slave then."

Blinking in shock, Meiko could not help but frown looking away from him. "I guess you have a point." Looking back to him though, her gaze was set, determined, and firm. "But still! You should have said something! Even if not to me… Have you told anyone else, the guys? Hina?" She watched him shake his head, at all her options. "No one?"

"I said it was just the one time!" Takemichi huffed, "At least… it was till last night."

Bringing her hand under her chin to think, Meiko hummed to herself, "And this time was two days…" Moving to stand up she began to turn from her brother. "All right I'm calling the school."

"Huh? Why?" Takemichi exclaimed looking up at his sister as she stood up fully.

"To call us out dummy, we're going to the clinic and seeing about getting you to a specialist."

"What?! No!" Takemichi fell from his seat as he shot forward. Grabbing onto his sister's arm as he stared up at her in fear.

"Huh? What do you mean no?" Meiko questioned breaking free from her brother's grasp.

"No doctors!" Takemichi all but shouted.

"Huh?! You just said you're blacking out and having memory problems, this sounds like a doctor problem." Meiko retorted, moving once more to reach for her phone as her brother flung himself around her waist. "Huh?! Hey! Let go!"

"No!" Takemichi repeated, "I don't want to see a doctor damn it. I just–"

"What? Want to ignore it?" Meiko shot back, annoyed, "Michi, that isn't a really smart move."

"Maybe it was a fluke!"

"A fluke? Takemichi you're literally freaking out over a blackout and memory problems!"

"Please!" He begged, "I… I don't want to make this a big deal! It's obviously not that serious!"

"Not that–" Knocking on her brother's head she shouted, "Uh, hello~ Earth to Hanagaki Takemichi, this is your sister speaking. Having blackouts and spotty memory issues is not a not serious thing!" Meiko scolded, feeling the boy tighten his hold on her waist and try to go dead weight on her as he shook his head.

"But I still remember some things!" He responded back, "And obviously I'm still here, sorta, I mean none of you even realized it happened."

"Wha– I…" Meiko froze, stomach twisting into knots at her brother's words as they sunk in fully. "I noticed." She tried to argue back, "Akkun noticed… And Hina…" She got quieter as she said this, they noticed something off. 'But did we question it any further… Or did we just accept it and go on with our lives.' She quietly wondered guiltily as she looked down at her brother.

"But it wasn't enough to raise alarm!" Takemichi shot back, releasing his sister as he noticed her sudden frozen state. "So, please! It's probably nothing serious! Maybe it was stress cause of exams and stuff!" Takemichi tried to argue, "Summer's almost here, so maybe it won't happen again."

"Takemichi…"

"It's only been twice now, right. Let's just forget about it for now." Takemichi begged, "If it happens again, I'll tell you right away!" They stared into one another's eyes, "I'll get myself checked if I have to just please! I just want to move on from this."

The room fell into a deep silence. The Hanagaki siblings stared one another down, neither wanting to back down. Seeing no other options outside forcing the matter, Meiko sighed with a shake of her head. "Fine."

Takemichi's eyes sparkled with relief, "Mei-nee!"

"But!" She sent him a glare causing him to freeze up, "You better not be lying. If this happens again you say something Michi, I'm not gonna play with this."

"I…"

"Also apologize to Hina!" Turning away from the boy, she walked to finish her cold meal.

"Huh?"

"You totally ditched her last night and left her confused and concerned!" Meiko scolded, "So make sure to clear things up."

Staring at his utterly confused and distressed Takemichi gaped at her, "What but… how am I supposed to do that? I can't just tell her all this?! It's one thing to tell my sister, you're supposed to believe me, but if I tell Hina she'll totally dump me!"

"Hmm…" Scratching the back of her head Meiko shrugged, "No clue…" Meiko hummed, as she retook her seat. "But you better figure something out, you don't want to avoid her and hope she'll just forget about all this."

Entering a thinking pose, Takemichi muttered to himself, "Avoid her and hope she'll forget… Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."

"I said don't do that!"

July 16, 2005 Meiko

"And that's what happened." Meiko finished explaining, now painting her own toenails red and purple as Yayoi stared at her deadpan. "I even had to give the boy a deadline for the first day of summer, to come clean to Hina-chan."

"So you're telling me… Your brother is having blackouts…"

"Uh-huh."

"That seems to work like sleepwalking…"

"Yep." Meiko nodded.

"And memory problems…"

"Plus the headaches when he tries to force memories."

"... And you didn't force him to see a doctor." Yayoi sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Well, what was I supposed to do!" Meiko shot back, "The boy was adamant on not going!"

"Force him." Yayoi bluntly retorted. "You've forced him over stuff for less."

Moaning Meiko fell on her back, "Ugh~! But my New Year's resolution was to not do that!"

"Meiko!"

"He hasn't had any episodes since then!"

"That's not the point!" Yayoi groaned, shaking her head. "The point still stands that it happened, and you're now just as much responsible as he is if something goes wrong!"

Turning away from Yayoi, Meiko pouted. "I know, I know… But…" Curling into herself she muttered, "I didn't know what to do. It's so hard to try and be an adult for Michi, I'm just a kid damn it…" Curling tighter into a ball, she tried her best not to ruin her painted nails or carpet. "I don't know what to do all the time… For either him or me… That's why I'm trying to work with him here."

Feeling sympathy for her friend, Yayoi reached out to her friend. "Mei…"

"We're both starting to grow up…" Meiko mumbled, "I can't keep bossing him around like I used to… Even if I want what's best for Michi, how am I any better than our own parents, if all I do is force my own wants on him..?"

Yayoi did not know how to respond. The girl herself, having never had the best relationship with her own parents, could do nothing to really comfort the Hanagaki girl. "Meiko…"

"... That's why. I'll support him." Meiko admitted sitting up from the ground. "Whatever mistake he wants to make, I'll let him."

"But that's–" Yayoi stopped as Meiko looked at her determinedly.

"I'll let him make his own mistakes, even if he won't listen to my advice, and when he falls or can't get up." She smiled sadly, "I'll be there to help him up, and help him any way I can."

Sighing, Yayoi could not help but grab the abandoned controller Meiko had been playing with earlier. "I swear… you say you're just a kid but what kid says shit like that. You're such a mom."

"I'd prefer a strong matriarch."

"For fucks sake, does that even really matter? That's practically the same thing."

"Nuh-uh!" Sticking out her tongue at her red-haired friend, Meiko replied, "A matriarch can be a grandma or a big sister. It's just the oldest living female in charge."

"Okay, I'm starting to see the family resemblance now between you and your brother."

"Huh?! Are you calling me stupid?!"

"No, no… Maybe- GAH! Did you just throw an octopus at me!"

"His name is Cthulhu and he is an eldritch plush!"

"Oh, that's it!" Yayoi exclaimed, grabbing the pillow she had been sitting on. "You're toa– Ow! Stop! Hitting! Me! Kyah!" She was pelted into submission by Meiko in the end, the dark-haired teen smirking down at Yayoi as she whimpered in a curled-up ball. "Now that's just not fair! You know you're stronger than me!"

"Cry me a river." Meiko shrugged, throwing a Kamaitachi plush she'd planned to pelt the redhead with back on her bed. "So… Any idea on what we should do for our day off tomorrow?"

Uncurling with a pout Yayoi muttered, "So mean."

"Oh! How about we hang out with my friend Emma-chan!" Meiko exclaimed, "You know~ That girl I told you about, from the train. I haven't seen her in forever even with all our texting so maybe now would be a great time to get to see her again before summer starts up. Plus, she's been wanting to meet ya. It'll be two birds with one stone!"

Humming to herself Yayoi shrugged, "I guess, I have been wanting to meet this girl… But that doesn't seem all that different from our usual plans of just hanging out around town with friends… oh!" Jumping in her seat, she quickly flipped through the channels before reaching a news broadcast giving out the weather forecast. Her eyes sparkled with joy as she looked up at Meiko, "The beach!"

"The beach…?" Meiko curiously tilted her head.

"Yeah." Yayoi excitedly said, "Let's go to the beach tomorrow with your friend Emma-chan." Raising from the ground she excitedly explained, "It's been getting so hot lately even though summer still isn't in full swing, so there shouldn't be too much of a crowd. It's a change of scenery, and it'll be a great setting for us girls to hang out and chill and have fun. We could even invite Hina-chan."

Humming to herself, Meiko entered a thinking pose, "That's not a bad idea, though Hina-chan's definitely a no go."

"Huh? Why not?" Yayoi curiously asked as Meiko sighed.

"I tried inviting her to spend the night today remember, her dad apparently has the day off tomorrow and apparently wants to spend it with her and the family. The guy's a total workaholic with being a cop, but Hina-chan's excited to have him willingly spend time with her and Naoto-kun so she turned down my invite."

"Oh." Yayoi muttered, "That's too bad."

"Yeah…" Nodding in agreement, Meiko did smile as she moved to grab her cell phone off her desk. "Though Emma-chan still might be our best bet! Let me call her up now."

"Oh!" Yayoi exclaimed then, "But wait what about train or bus fees, I've got enough for me, and I know you probably got some money stashed away."

"Of course!" Meiko proudly grinned.

"But what if Emma-chan can't afford to go to the beach?" Yayoi concernedly asked as Meiko already had her phone up to her ear waiting for the girl to pick up.

"That's cool. I can just cover her costs. I do it all the time for Takemichi and some of his friends."

"That's not a good thing!" Yayoi shouted as Meiko turned her back to her smiling.

"Emma-chan!"

"Mei-chan!" Emma excitedly replied from the other line. The girl in question stopped mid-walk as Draken and Mikey, who walked ahead of her with grocery bags in their hands, stopped to look back at the blonde girl as she shifted her whole attention. "Hey, long time no see. What's up?"

"Hmm?"

"Yo, Emma say 'Hi' to Ei-chan for me will ya," Mikey shouted, back as Emma simply waved the two off.

Hearing the girl's brother on the other line, Meiko laughed and said, "I see you're with Mikey."

"And Draken." Emma explained, "They were helping me with groceries."

"Oh~ how much threatening did you have to do to Mikey?" Meiko teased, causing Emma to smirk as she looked over to her older brother.

"Oh~ Not much, he whined and pouted like a baby, but our grandpa and Draken made sure he came with me to help."

"Hey!" Mikey exclaimed, "I am not a baby." Pouting as he glared his giggling sister down.

"Oh, really~?" Draken smirked, "So you're saying we didn't have to drag your ass out the house half asleep." Mikey only turned his face away from the taller blonde grumbling.

"I was napping."

"You do that all the time!" Draken retorted as the two proceeded to argue between themselves as Emma rolled her eyes.

"So… Any reason you decided to call me up?"

Smiling at Emma's amused tone, Meiko asked, "Yep, you still wanting to meet one of my friends?"

Perking up at Meiko's words, Draken and Mikey both stopped grappling with one another to look over at her as they noticed the excited gleam in her eyes and posture. "Yes! I mean– yeah, I do."

"You free tomorrow?"

"Yes!" Emma excitedly exclaimed, more than happy to be hearing all this.

"Well~" Meiko sang, turning to hold a raised thumb up to Yayoi. "How would you like to go to the beach with me and Yayoi tomorrow?"

"The beach!" Emma exclaimed in shock.

"The beach…?" Draken and Mikey looked at each other surprised.

"Yeah!" Meiko exclaimed, "I know summer break is still a few days away, but it's been really hot the past few days, and exams weren't that long ago. So what the hell, why not go treat ourselves to some fun in the sun!" Meiko cheered, "We can smash a watermelon, get some shaved ice or ice cream, build a sandcastle or bury Yayoi–"

"Hey! Don't make me your Takemichi in this!"

"Swim in the sea, oh, and we could even light some fireworks for ourselves! We could do sparklers!" Meiko excitedly exclaimed, ignoring Yayoi's puffed-up annoyed expression.

"Don't just ignore me!"

"That sounds like so much fun!" Emma excitedly admitted, before looking to her brother and Draken who had both made their way closer to her to try and hear what was making her so giddy and excited. "..." Turning her back to two she muttered into her phone, "Um, so what's the plan for transport?"

"Hmm? Oh, we were thinking taking the bus or train would be the best option. Oh, and don't worry about the fare, I can cover it for you if you want." Meiko offered, as Emma hummed to herself sending her brother and Draken a side glance.

"... If they can… Could Mikey and Draken come with us?"

Thinking it over, Meiko looked at Yayoi before shrugging nonchalantly, "Yeah, sure. The more the merrier, my brothers probably not gonna come even if I invite him. So it wouldn't do us any bad to have some guys come with us. Though I'm definitely not paying for their asses."

"Great! Let me ask them real quick." Emma smiled, before turning to give Mikey and Draken the best puppy dog look she could as she covered her phone's receiver with her hand. "Hey~ Mikey, Draken!"

"Uhoh." Draken muttered, "I know that look."

Smiling at his sister, Mikey almost sang back, "Yes~ Emma?"

"... Do you mind if we all go to the beach tomorrow with Mei-chan and her friend?"

"..."

"..."

The boys blinked at her before Mikey's eyes suddenly became alight with excitement as he exclaimed. "Woah! For real~ Is that why Ei-chan called?"

"Yep!" She said happily, grinning, "Since exams are over and it's getting so hot so early this year, Mei-chan's offering to go to the beach together. She's even offering to pay for my fare."

"Screw that!" Mikey excitedly shot back, "If we're going to the beach, then we're definitely going in style. Right Ken-chin!"

"Hell yeah!" Draken grinned, "Who needs trains or buses when you got bikes! You girls can just ride with– Crap." Draken's grin fell, "We can't."

"Huh?!" Mikey and Emma both exclaimed, "Why not?!"

"Ei's friend." Draken pointed out deadpanned. "There's two of us, and three of you girls. It's fine if we each took one of you on our bikes, but three people on a bike? Uh uh, no way, not happening. That's a disaster waiting to happen." Draken exclaimed, feeling a bit saddened as he watched Emma's mood drop slightly. "Sorry, Emma."

"No… I understand… There's still the bus or train though."

"No way." Mikey huffed, grabbing the phone from Emma as the girl and Draken both sent the boy a confused look. "Hey, Ei-chan."

Jumping fully alert to Mikey now coming from the other side of her phone, Meiko turned away from Yayoi as the red-haired girl talked over her own cell with her grandparents on their change of plans. "Yes!"

"Ever ridden a motorcycle before?"

"Huh?" Meiko exclaimed, "Um, no…?"

Grinning Mikey simply said, "Cool! Then I'll be the one to help fix that, we'll come get you around ten am at your house okay."

"Huh?!" Meiko almost yelled, "Wait. At my house?! I'm sorry. Why now?"

"To go to the beach, of course silly, don't worry about transportation. We got it covered, okay."

"Huh, wait what do you mean–" She stopped, as the phone call dropped. "..." She twitched and pulled the phone away to glare down at the device. "SON OF BITCH! YOU DID NOT JUST HANG UP ON ME AFTER STEALING MY CALL WITH EMMA!"

Covering her receiver as she stared at her cursing friend, Yayoi turned her back to the raging girl. "Um… so yeah, would it be okay if we came over to get those fireworks and my bathing suit… yeah, yeah. Love you too Baa-san, see you soon."

July 16, 2005 Mikey

"Mikey!" Emma angrily exclaimed, rushing to grab her phone once she realized what he did. "You did not just hang up on Mei-chan!"

"Yep!" He simply said, being smacked hard in the back of the head by Draken as the taller teen shouted.

"Dumbass! You don't just end calls like that! Also what did I just say, the bikes are definitely a no go! Why the hell did you lie and tell Ei we got the transportation covered!"

"Ow~!" Mikey whined childishly, "Ken-chin you're so mean! I didn't lie!" He huffed, holding the back of his head pouting.

Holding her cellphone protectively close to her chest, Emma pointed at her brother accusingly, "Oh yeah, how? Like Draken said, it's two of you, three of us."

"Correction, it was two of us, three of you."

"Huh?!" The two teens shouted gapping at Mikey as he began to walk ahead of them again.

"Let's hurry home."

"Mikey!" Draken shouted, quickly coming up to the teen. "The hell you mean by 'was?'"

Emma rushed to the other side of him, "Yeah!"

"Well, it's simple." Mikey boredly stated, "We just bring along more of us."

"What?!" Emma exclaimed, "No! Mikey, you can't! I asked Mei-chan only about you and Draken!"

"She's right! You can't just invite others to a get-together you're not even planning!" Draken tried to argue as Mikey only grinned at the two.

"Oh come on~ It'll be fine." Turning to look at them he walked backward without a care in the world. "We'll just invite the captains, maybe even their vice-captains if they want. It's been a while since the five of us have had any fun outside Toman business. So let's have a little R&R under the sun, and even introduce Ei-chan to some of our guys."

"You're not even listening to us are you." Draken growled, watching as his commander simply pivoted without issue to turn away from him.

Moaning Emma clung to Draken's arm, "If he ruins my chance to have actual girlfriends… I'm killing him."

Patting her head Draken simply muttered in response, "Don't worry… I'll help you hide the body."

"I heard that!"

"Good!" The pair shouted, watching as Mikey simply stuck his tongue out at them as they continued to make their way home.

July 17, 2005 Meiko

They were packed and ready to go. Mikey and Draken parked outside the Hanagaki household. Meiko and Yayoi standing before the pair.

Meiko smiling ominously in a sundress with her arms crossed, while Yayoi awkwardly stood beside her, in a simple off-shoulder T-shirt, and blue jean shorts. Both girls had their own bags around their backs as they stood before the guys.

"Yo!" Mikey greeted smiling.

"Hi!" Meiko curtly replied, a smile very much forced in the eyes of Yayoi and Draken.

'She's pissed.' They thought.

"So…" Mikey's gaze shifted towards the awkward Yayoi before shifting to Meiko. "Who's your friend?"

"Why don't you ask her yourself?" Meiko replied, still smiling as Mikey just shrugged at her.

"Hmm… Don't wanna." Meiko's brow twitched and Draken and Yayoi both shot a glance at one another.

Coughing into his hand, Draken looked to Yayoi fully, "If I remember right, you were that chick from Ei's school right? The names Ryuguji Ken. Though I go by Draken, the little shit over there." He gestured to Mikey who simply waved to Yayoi. "Is Mikey."

"Ei…?" Yayoi confusedly asked, looking at the still smiling Meiko.

"It's my–" Meiko began to explain as Mikey cut her off.

"My nickname for her." He pointed to Meiko grinning, "Suits her don't it."

Yayoi could only stare at Meiko, knowing exactly what the dark-haired girl was thinking. 'I'mma hit him!'

"Sure…" Yayoi drawled out before bowing to him and Draken politely. "I'm Shimizu Yayoi, Mei likes to call me Yai for short. It's a pleasure to officially meet you Mikey-san, Draken-san."

"No need for formalities." Draken shrugged, "We're all around the same age here."

"... I'mma keep the formalities." Yayoi bluntly replied, and Draken could only raise a brow at this.

"... Well… Okay then." Draken shrugged, not really sure on how to take Yayoi's statement. 'It doesn't feel personal.'

"Don't mind Yai." Meiko giggled, "She's awkward around most people she doesn't know. You either gotta be a really cute girl or an ikemen guy in her eyes not to get the awkward treatment."

Blushing at Meiko's words Yayoi stuttered, "Mei!"

"What? It's true." Meiko shrugged.

"Shut up! That doesn't mean tell–"

"So anyway–"

"Don't just change the subject!" Yayoi tried to snap as Draken was only able to shake his head as he felt for the red-haired teen.

"Where's Emma-chan?" Meiko asked, as Mikey simply smiled at her.

"Oh, she's waiting for us, with a couple of friends at our usual base of operations."

Crossing her arms once more, Meiko frowned, "... A couple of friends?"

"Yep!"

"Sorry, Ei." Draken apologized, sighing, "The dumbass here thought it would be a fine idea to just invite a few of our friends along to the beach so we could all just take our bikes there."

"It's faster and cheaper than taking the bus or train," Mikey argued proudly, as Meiko's hand twitched.

"Uh Huh… And how much is a few?"

"Just five guys." Draken explained, "Not a lot of the guys were free, and the ones who were are technically the ones who we're closest to."

"I see." Meiko sighed, "I guess that's okay."

"Wait seriously?" Draken asked in surprise, thinking the girl would have been more upset as Meiko simply shrugged.

"Well, there's no use crying over spilled milk now."

Yayoi sighed, "You'd be surprised what does and doesn't count as upsetting for Mei. Just watch." She smirked, and Draken could not help but sit up straighter to look at the two shortest teens of the current group.

"See, Ken-chin. I told you it was okay. So, Ei-chan," Mikey patted the back of his bike's seat. "Hop on and let's go, I'm sure Emma and the others are getting bored waiting for us."

Smiling at Mikey, Meiko pointed towards Draken without turning away from him. "Sure, I'll just ride with Draken."

"Wha-!" Mikey exclaimed, "No way! I said I was gonna be the one to take you on your first ride."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Meiko 'innocently' cood, "But I'm still mad at you for last night, and might hit you. Therefore, Draken." Meiko shrugged, as Mikey pouted.

"Huh?! Mad about what!"

"About what! You stole my call with Emma-chan and then hung up on me without so much as a goodbye!" Meiko shouted, with a stomp of her foot, pointing at Mikey accusingly. "That is so rude, have you no manners!"

"I have manners!"

Draken snorted at this muttering under his breath, "Yeah… Manners." Yayoi snickered by his side.

"Yeah right!" Meiko huffed crossing her arms, "Tell you what apologize for last night–"

"Huh?!"

"And I might just go with you on your bike." Meiko smiled wickedly, Draken's eyes widening as he looked between the two before looking at a smirking Yayoi.

"She can't be serious."

"She is."

Puffing up his cheeks at Meiko's words, Mikey turned his head away annoyed, "No way. I don't need to do anything I don't want to."

Meiko only hummed at this, "That's fair~" She slowly began to walk away, catching Mikey's attention. "But since you don't want to, that means I don't have to ride with you if I don't want to. I'm sure Ken-chin~" Draken and Yayoi watched Mikey twitch at Meiko's playful use of his nickname for Draken, "Wouldn't mind if I rode with him instead to meet up with the others and Emma-chan." She paused between the two bikes to smile up at the taller boy, "Your bike looks super cool," Mikey twitched again, "And super fast! If I ever rode a motorcycle again, yours would be the one I'd compare all of them to~" Meiko cood, as Mikey looked over his shoulder to the three teens to glare.

Draken struggled not to grin at the girl's obvious manipulation, as Yayoi shook before her friend, staring at the glaring teen. 'Scary!'

"Sure~" Draken decided to play along, "My Zephyr, she's one of the coolest of all of Japan."

"A zephyr!" Meiko excitedly exclaimed, "Woah~ I don't think I've ever really seen one in real life outside my little brother's posters." Meiko clapped her hands excitedly, "Lucky! Yai, you gotta snap a photo of me on Ken-chin's bike and send it to Michi! He's gonna be sooooo jealous!" She giggled, as Yayoi gave her a salute.

"Taunt the idiot brother. On it."

Twitching on his bike, Mikey's hair fell to hide parts of his face as he looked away."-rry."

"Hmm…?" Meiko hummed, turning to look back at Mikey with her hands clasped behind her back. "You say something Mikey?"

Draken's eyes widened as he noticed hints of a blush peeking down his friend's neck. 'No way…'

"-orry."

"Hmm~" She leaned close, "I can't hear you."

"I said," Mikey, blushing and pouting turned to glare at Meiko as she leaned in close. "I'm sorry!" He shouted in Meiko's ear, making the girl shriek with a jump as she covered her ear.

"OW! My ear!" She whined as Mikey smirked in victory at her as Yayoi bursted into laughter, Draken snorted amused at the pair's interaction.

"Well, I apologized." Mikey smugly said as Meiko rubbed her busted eardrum pouting.

"That you did… Well played you adorable jerk." Mikey felt his heart skip a beat as she grinned at him with those words. "Well played." Looking back at her laughing friend she said, "You good riding with Draken, Yai?"

Waving her friend off, Yayoi snorted, "Yeah… sure. We cool?" Yayoi pointed between her and Draken looking up at him.

"Yeah, we're good. Just know I already promised Emma she could ride with me to the beach." He explained as Yayoi nodded understandably.

"That's fine."

"So…" Meiko began with a tilt of her head, "Riding a motorcycle, is it like a bike and I gotta do a side-saddle cause of this." She lifted the hem of her skirt slightly causing Draken to gap as Mikey blinked at her, "Or will it be okay for me to bunch it up between my legs to sit normally on the bike with you without flashing someone." She dropped the hem, to continue staring at Mikey.

"Hmm." Looking up at the sky Mikey shrugged, "Whichever should be fine."

"Okay." Meiko nodded, moving to get on Mikey's bike as Yayoi looked back at Draken smiling.

"She's an odd one right?"

Draken could only shake his head, "Yeah, that's becoming more and more apparent." He stared at Mikey and Meiko though as Yayoi got on behind him. Mikey grinning, his eyes sparkling with mirth, as Meiko seemed to become visibly excited as she looked over the bike and even seemed to be asking Mikey various basic questions about it.

"So what type of bike is this one?"

"It's–"

Feeling a tap on his shoulder, Draken looked back to see Yayoi holding up her phone. "Hey, do you think you can snap a shot of those two before we set off? I'm not the best at pictures, but Mei did want a picture to share with Takemichi-kun."

"Yeah, sure." Taking the phone he lined it up, waiting for the phone's camera to focus when he noticed Mikey laughing and Meiko sticking her tongue out at him. He quickly took the shot, looking back at Yayoi he asked, "Mind if I send myself a copy?"

She blinked but only shook her head smiling, "Sure, I don't see why not."

"Thanks." He glanced at his blonde-haired friend, smirking as Meiko flicked the boy and Mikey whined at her 'abuse'. 'Looks like you found someone else to get ya, huh Mikey. I'm sure Emma will love to see this.'

"Alright, Ken-chin." Mikey started up his engine, "Let's go meet the others."

"Wahoo! Beach time!" Meiko cheered, making Yayoi sigh from the back of Draken's bike as he smirked.

"Yeah!"

July 17, 2005 Emma

Pacing back and forth at the bottom of the shrine steps that Toman would have their meetings at. Beside her sat five other boys, members of the Tokyo Manji Gang, all hanging around on their bikes watching the blonde pace.

"Yo, Emma. You alright?" A long dark haired teen asked as Emma looked over at the male with a pout.

"I'm fine, Baji."

The male, Baji Keisuke, hummed unimpressed, "Yeah… Cause you pacing back and forth pouting definitely means you're fine."

"Is she nervous or something?" Baji's second in command, and companion, Matsuno Chifuyu asked as he sat with Baji on his captain's bike.

"Dunno." Baji shrugged, "It's not every day Emma acts like this."

"Yo, any idea where Mikey and Draken are at." Another of the group's members and friend group, Hayashida Haruki, better known as Pah-chin asked as he and his second in command Hayashi Ryohei, known as Peh-yan, shared their own ride. "We've been waiting for over an hour now."

Sighing the last member of their beach outing group by the name of Mitsuya Takashi, gave Pah a slightly annoyed expression. "It hasn't been an hour Pah, it's literally been less than twenty minutes since we all got here."

"Huh? Seriously?" Pah exclaimed in shock.

"Pah's brain really is shit for telling time." Peh hummed, as his captain sent him an annoyed look.

"Hey, you know I'm not that smart!"

"Obviously!"

Mitsuya sighed, as the two began their usual banter. "There they go again."

"Yep." Chifuyu nodded.

"You think they'll start their own fistfight again?" Baji jokes, grinning with a playful wickedness as Mitsuya sends the long-haired teen an exasperated look.

"Don't encourage them, we're still banned from that one place thanks to that."

Opening her mouth to speak to the guys, Emma and the whole group fell quiet as a familiar motor sound approached from the distance.

"Hmm, that's…" Mitsuya began to mutter as Baji grinned.

"Mikey."

"They're here." Chifuyu nodded, as the group turned to see Mikey and Draken's bikes approach from a distance.

"Finally!" Emma excitedly exclaimed, almost jumping in place as the two teens finally pulled up to the group.

"So, what did you think?" Mikey grinned, as he looked over his shoulder at Meiko, as she looked up from her leaned back position holding onto his bike's seat.

She laughed, "Oh come on, you're asking me that already? We haven't hit the highway yet, I was fine with just holding the seat."

Puffing out his cheeks Mikey pouted, before smirking, "Oh, so you have a need for speed."

"Hell yeah, I do!" Meiko excitedly exclaimed, "I'm an adrenaline junky! Roller Coasters are a must at any amusement park, and that's why I'm a traceuse."

"A traceuse?" Mikey asked as Yayoi got off Draken's bike as the taller teen looked to her for hopes of clarification.

"It's the term used for someone who does parkour, you know, like freerunning… which she also likes to do."

Meiko grinned at this, "What can I say, finding ways up a building and jumping between rooftops while doing a flip can be hella fun."

"Woah!" Mikey's eyes sparkled excitedly, "That sounds so cool!"

"And dangerous." Yayoi huffed, arms crossed. "Though I guess it is cool." She muttered under her breath."

"Says the girl who comes along with me to try and get over her fear of heights." Meiko teasingly shot back, as Yayoi blushed.

"It's a perfectly normal fear, and exposure therapy is proven to help!"

"Hey!" Meiko huffed, "I never said anything about it not being normal and okay, just that you have no room to talk when you actively take part." Meiko sighed, as Yayoi covered her face.

"Don't remind me…"

"Mei-chan!" Emma joyfully exclaimed, running over to her brother's bike as she went directly to the dark-haired girl seated behind her brother. "It's been forever!"

"Emma-chan!" Meiko happily cheered, throwing her arms open for the girl to squeeze in between her and a pouting Mikey as the boy was being pushed slightly forward on his bike, "It's been too long!"

"Hey, I'm being squished here." Mikey huffed, looking back at the two girls over his shoulder. Emma simply stuck out her tongue at him as she pulled away from her friend, as Meiko grinned sheepishly.

"Sorry." Looking to Yayoi as she walked over, Meiko smiled as she gestured between Emma and her. "Oh Emma-chan, this is my friend Yai! She's been my bestest friend since elementary school. Yai, this is Emma-chan."

"Suzumi Yayoi." Yayoi simply nodded, holding out her hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you Emma-chan."

Smiling at the girl, Emma nodded, taking hold of the girl's hand. "Likewise Yai-chan."

"Yo!" Baji shouted, "Mikey, Draken there you are. What took you guys so long?"

"Yeah! I was starting to get bored!" Pah shouted as Peh nodded in agreement.

Pulling his bike closer to Emma and Mikey's side, Draken glared at the pair. "Don't look at me! Mikey's the one who had to apologize for pissing Ei off last night."

"Huh?" Baji's eyes narrowed looking between the red and black-haired girls curiously, "Ei?"

Meiko waved boredly as Emma, Mikey, Yayoi, and Draken all pointed to her. "Yo!"

"Hold on." Baji blinked in shock, "You saying that four-eyed chick got Mikey to apologize to her?"

"Seriously?!" Pah exclaimed.

"Is it really that surprising?" Chifuyu asked, though he was Baji's second in command he wasn't that close to or used to the commander and the other captains. Thus seeing how they reacted over their commander's supposed apology to the girl dubbed Ei by their Commander and Vice-Commander confused him to a degree.

"Damn Mikey, what did you do?" Mitsuya asked as Mikey pouted at the group.

"Oh come on, I'm innocent here. Ei-chan was just being too sensitive!"

"He hung up on her." Emma huffed arms crossed.

"After stealing Emma's call with Ei as she invited us to the Beach." Draken clarified.

"Without so much as a goodbye." Meiko huffed glaring at the back of Mikey's head.

"Seriously," Baji frowned, "So lame. I thought it was something else."

"I don't get it, that doesn't sound so serious." Pah frowned, "How come Mikey apologized?"

"The better question is, how'd they actually get him to apologize." Mitsuya hummed, as the whole group looked to Draken as the tallest teen smirked looking over at the Toman commander.

"That's cause it's Mikey." The teens all blinked in confusion as Mikey silently pouted.

Smirking, Meiko looked up at Mikey as she started to poke his cheek, "In other words…" She began to snicker, "You're an easily jealous kinda guy huh~"

"Jealous!" The whole group and Emma exclaimed in shock as Mikey pushed Meiko's hand away glaring.

"Am not! I said I was gonna show you what riding a motorcycle was like, and I was gonna do it! I couldn't let you ruin your own first experience riding, with riding Ken-chin's stupid Zephyr."

"Uhuh~"

"Hey!" Draken shouted, "My Zephyr is not stupid!" Draken angrily glared as Mikey simply stuck his tongue out at him.

"In other words…" Mitsuya began.

"She played Mikey." Baji finished.

"Wow." Pah shook his head, as Peh and Chifuyu both stared at their Commander in shock.

"Seriously!"

"Nice." Emma laughed, as Yayoi shook her head.

"Hardly, he apologized by basically yelling in Mei's ear as payback when she pushed it."

"Wha-! Mikey!" Emma began to become upset.

"Okay." Mitsuya sighed, "That sounds more like it."

"Oh definitely." Baji snickered.

Giggling, Meiko waved both Yayoi and Emma off, "It's cool. He got me fair and square, I think that's a good enough come back for basically forcing him to swallow his pride."

"You really shouldn't excuse him." Emma sighed as Meiko just laughed more.

"Nah, really it's cool. I'd rather get to know someone to the fullest, than just a polite mask. Besides, where's the fun of teasing someone if the person doesn't fight back."

Baji grinned at this, "Hell yeah! Finally, someone who's speaking my language! I think I like this girl!"

Chifuyu sighed smiling, "Only you'd appreciate someone being so openly honest about their madness."

Seeing Meiko's honest acceptance of her brother's childish behavior Emma could only blink before sighing in relief. "Okay, then. If you say so."

"See Emma~" Mikey snuggly began to tease as his sister glared at him, "I didn't ruin your chances to have some girlfriends."

Emma's cheeks exploded with color as her hands came up to threaten her brother embarrassed. "Mikey!"

"Aw, Emma-chan." Meiko almost cooed, "You didn't need to be so nervous about your brother ruining anything."

"See." Mikey smugly grinned.

"Even if he had, I'd have just shunned him from my life, while accepting you with open arms. You too Draken, you and me could still be friends if you wanted." Meiko smiled at the taller teen as Mikey's gaze whipped to her.

"Hey!" Mikey exclaimed, "That's so cold Ei-chan."

"Hey, I said if. You're still good… for now." She shrugged nonchalantly.

"Ei-chan!" Mikey whined as the rest of the group seemed to only laugh at the duo's banter.

Looking at her phone Yayoi frowned, "Hmm, it's almost Eleven." She looked up to the sky, "If we wanna get to the beach and enjoy the sun at its fullest we should probably save most of the introductions for the beach and get going."

Looking at their own phones or the sky the group agreed. "Alright then," Mikey began pointing to Yayoi. "Yaichi-"

"Yaichi?!" Yayoi gasped as Meiko smiled at the red-haired girl.

"Congratulations on the new nickname Yai."

"Don't patronize me!"

"You'll be going with Mitsuya over there." He gestures over to teen as the boy held his hand up for Yayoi to see.

"Sup Yai-"

"Please don't." Yayoi almost moaned as Mitsuya gave her a slanted smile.

"Alright, what would you prefer to be called then?" Blinking up to the boy Yayoi blushed, looking away she muttered.

"... I'm… not too impartial to Yai as is. Or just my name being used."

"Got it." He nodded, "Yai-chan it is then, you can just call me Mitsuya, Kay."

"Mitsuya-san." He twitched at this.

"Uh… maybe you could drop the San."

"... Would Kun be okay?" Yayoi asked as she came up to the boy fully.

"Uh… sure. That seems better." He nodded, as Yayoi got on behind him. "Just so you know you might need to hold onto me once we hit the highway, okay?"

Yayoi nodded at this, "Okay."

Getting on the back of Draken's bike, Emma almost wanted to squeal in joy as everything seemed to be falling into place. A nice day at the beach, riding with Draken on his bike, and she got to hang out with her new friends. Today just might be a sign of good things to come.

"Hey, Emma."

"Hmm." Looking up at Draken she frowned as he held out his phone to her.

"Look at this."

Taking the phone she stared at the screen and smiled, "Aw~!" She almost exclaimed, "They look so good! Send it to me!"

"I thought you'd like it." Draken chuckled under his breath, as the group began to drive off from the shrine's bottom steps. "Mikey really seems to be taking a shine to Ei."

Smiling as she returned Drakens phone to him, and wrapped her arms around his midsection, Emma cuddled into his back muttering. "Yeah… I'm actually pretty glad."

July 17, 2005

Driving through the city, Mikey sent a glance back every now and again to Meiko and the other members of their little group. Though they had picked up more speed as they pulled further out of the urbanized areas of the city. Meiko had still remained leaning back on the bike and using the seat as her only support. Her head was tilted back and she seemed to enjoy just feeling the breeze run through her hair, as she had it loose today, not even her usually front braids were in place as she hummed to herself.

"Enjoying the ride?" Mikey shouted back, as Meiko smiled.

"Yeah, so far you're proving to be a real good driver Mikey." She lightly teased, and Mikey smirked.

"Course! I've been driving since I was twelve, maybe even younger if I really tried thinking about it." Mikey admitted, "My brother was actually the one who taught me."

"I see," Meiko muttered, before grinning. "That's actually so cool! I wish I had a big brother who was cool enough to show me how to drive a motorcycle!" She pouted then, "Maybe I should ask Waka-nii, next time I go to his gym. It's been a while, but I'm sure I saw him with a bike once." She muttered to herself as Mikey looked back at her.

"If ya really wanna learn I could teach you."

"Seriously!" Meiko exclaimed, eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

"Yeah. That is…" He smirked, noting the ramp for the highway towards the beach. "If you think you can handle speeds like this. Hang on!"

"Huh- Waaahhhh!" Her hands shot up, grabbing onto the back of Mikey's shirt before wrapping her arms around his waist.

"HEY, MIKEY!" Draken shouted, annoyed at having seen Mikey speed up without warning and heard Meiko's scream. "Don't just speed up like that when you know you got a basic rookie as your tag along!"

"Seriously!" Mitsuya huffed, "He's gonna hurt someone like that." Looking back at Yayoi, Mitsuya warned. "Hang on a bit, okay. I'm about to speed up, okay?"

"Kay." Yayoi nodded, ready for when she felt the motorcycle she rode sped up.

"Is she okay?!" Emma concernedly began to ask as Draken and the others began to speed up after their leader only for Meiko's laughing to suddenly reach their ears.

"THIS IS SO MUCH FUN!" Meiko cheered, tightening her hold around Mikey's waist laughing into his back. "Ahahaha!" Mikey laughed alongside her.

"Seriously!?" Draken and Emma seemed to shout together as Mitsuya and Yayoi pulled up beside them.

"She's an adrenaline junkie, what did you expect!" Yayoi shouted to them as Mitsuya seemed to chuckle at the girl's blunt words.

"You sure your friend isn't just crazy."

"You sure yours aren't?" Yayoi shot back, and Mitsuya laughed as Emma and Draken snorted at this, especially as her point was proven as Baji and Pah both began to speed up after Mikey.

"Oh no, you don't!" Baji shouted grinning wickedly, "Hey, Mikey! Let's see who reaches the beach first!"

"If anyone's getting there first it's me and Peh!"

"Yeah!"

Grinning back over his shoulder Mikey shouted to Meiko, "What do you say? Wanna race them?"

She blinked in shock before smiling mischievously, "Oh come on~ Weren't you the one saying you were gonna show me what riding a motorcycle was like. Well, " She winked playfully, "Show me what this beauty can do, boss man!"

"Alright!" Mikey yelled, "This is an official Toman order guys! Last ones to the beach become the group's pack mules at the beach today!"

"Seriously?" Yayoi exclaimed in shock.

"Of course." Mitsuya groaned.

"Damn it." Draken growled, only for Emma to tug on his shirt. "Hmm, what's up Emma?"

Smiling at the older boy Emma blushed as she shouted up, "Don't worry about me Draken, let's show Mikey and Mei-chan what we got!"

Staring back at the blonde girl Draken smirked, "Alright, whatever you say! Better hang on tight!"

"Yeah!"

"Please no…" Yayoi groaned, still not used to riding the motorcycle yet.

"What hang on–!" Mitsuya tried to argue, as Draken and Emma began to speed off past him.

"Sorry, Yai-chan!"

"Better luck next time, Mitsuya!"

"Seriously." Mitsuya glared before shouting back to Yayoi, "Hey, I'm gonna speed up a bit okay." He felt her shake and tighten her hold around his waist. He frowned but felt no annoyance at the girl's obvious discomfort at the makeshift race that had come about. "If it gets too much just let me know, I'll slow down."

Yayoi's eyes became wide at this, "B… but if you do that we'll definitely lose!"

"It's fine." Mitsuya sighed, "I'd rather not have my passenger having a panic attack over these guys deciding to screw around."

Yayoi frowned, staring at the back of Mitsuya's head before biting her bottom lip. "You… You promise to slow down if I ask."

"Huh? Yeah, I do."

"Natto."

"Huh?"

Blushing, Yayoi tightened her grip around Mitsuya's back and closed her eyes tight, "If I can't handle it I'll shout Natto!"

"What?!" Mitsuya exclaimed, "Why that?"

Yayoi moaned embarrassed, "Cause I hate that stuff, and Meiko made it our safe word for when I can't handle stuff when she takes me freerunning!"

Hearing this, Mitsuya snorted. "Seriously!"

"Don't judge me!"

"No, no, it's fine." MItsuya laughed. "It just caught me off guard. Natto, right?" She nodded into his back, "Alright, then I promise to slow down if you shout that."

"You swear!"

"I swear. Now hang on tight, and keep your eyes shut."

"Got it!"

Up ahead, Mikey continued to keep the lead, the person behind usually shifting between Draken and Baji as Pah maintained third till Mitsuya began to catch up. "Was wondering if he was gonna keep up, I take it your friend delayed him?" Mikey asked, as Meiko simply giggled at his question.

"Don't let Yai's cautious nature fool you, she might look like a straight lace and maybe even act like it, but there's a reason she still sticks with me to this day."

"That honestly wouldn't surprise me." Mikey smiled, "You're honestly turning out to be a real fun gal."

"Aw~ was that even in question?" Meiko huffed, "Were my glasses and supposed prim and proper appearance really throwing you off that much?"

"Nope!" Mikey grinned, making Meiko blink in shock.

"Huh?"

He looked back slightly as they entered a tunnel, "Honestly, I could just feel it."

"... Feel it?" Meiko almost seemed to quietly ask, though it seemed she was close enough for Mikey to hear.

He grinned, "Yeah! Something in my gut just told me…" They exited the tunnel and Meiko's eyes clamped shut as she was blinded by the sunlight, when she was finally able to open them her heart skipped a beat at what she saw. Mikey smiling, with the ocean glittering beside them in the sunlight, "That you were special."

---

Authors Notes: So with this R&R is done, maybe... There was a plan to show the events of the beach, but when I got to the current ending it felt too right, especially to into Re-Leap. But~! I would like to leave it up to you lovely readers, would you Like an almost Chibi Revenger's Style covering of the Beach episode, and even some other interesting interactions. Let me know~