It was noon and Akane is accompanied by Mairu and Kururi at the park after a session of their training.
"So Akane-chan how's been training lately? Was it hard? Was it easy?" Mairu asked cheerfully.
"It's just in the right spot Mairu nee-chan. I think I learned more complex moves than before." Akane replied.
"Ohh, maybe a few more sessions and you may surpass us in combat, am I right Kurunee?"
"Sometime in the future Mauri you just have to wait." Kururi whispered.
"Ooohh! I can't wait any longer! Oh, by the way Akane you said Akabayashi-san will be the who'll pick you up right?"
"Yup! He said he went to visit an old friend and then he'll come to pick me up!"
At the distance, Tom and Shizuo is walking beside the park with a briefcase filled with money they collected suggesting to take a break from their debt collecting when Shizuo saw Akane and decided to check on them.
"That's two straight days in row of not getting into trouble, right Shizuo?"
"Yeah its really calming for us and we don't have to deal with stubborn clients giving excuses... Tom-san."
"Hmm?"
"I'll just check on Akane and the twins on how they've been going."
"Sure, I'll come with you too and greet them."
Tom and Shizuo went to the girls not too far away from them hanging out with each other.
"Shizuo nii-chan!" Akane greeted with excited
Akane hugs Shizuo with joy suprising both the sisters and Tom while Shizuo pets Akane's hair.
"How've you girls been?" Shizuo asked the trio.
"Ohh! Good Shizuo-san, Akane's been doing good and if she continues she might even surpass us, right Kurunee?"
Kururi nods.
"I've been training hard enough to catch up with you Shizuo nii-chan!"
"Huh, maybe in a few years you'll be able to surpass me."
While the girls are talking to Shizuo, Akabayashi arrives only to be surprised of what he saw. Akane chatting with Shizuo casually like normal people.
"The strongest man of Ikebukuro and Miss Akane talking to each other... Hhm... They seem friendly towards each other." Akabayashi thought.
Akabayashi continued towards the girls and as he came closer towards them Akane saw him excitedly running towards him while calling his name. Tom and Shizuo look who it was and both of them didn't recognize who Akabayashi was till he introduced himself.
"Akabayashi-saaaaan!"
"Ohh, Miss Akane how've been?" Akabayahi greeted.
"Good Akabayashi-san! I'm with Mauri and Kurunee-chan alongside Shizuo nii-chan!"
Akabayashi stood up and introduced himself to Tom and Shizuo.
"Hi! Name's Mizuki Akabayashi, nice to meet you two."
"Tom Tanaka, and he's Shizuo Heiwajima."
Akabayashi shook hands to Tom and Shizuo gladly.
"The strongest man of Ikebukuro huh? Don't worry I mean no trouble I was just surprised that Miss Akane hangs out with you."
"Oh! We don't really meet these girls too often. And sir? How are you related to Little Akane here?" Tom asked.
Akabayashi told the two to move a bit farther to the girls for privacy.
"This is a bit confidential but the truth is, I'm part of the Awakusu."
Tom gulped.
"But don't worry I don't hold any grudges to any of you two. I'm sure that your friend here knows that."
Tom sighed in relief while Shizuo is calm towards Akabayashi because he knows that the Awakusu has no more intentions of bothering him. As Akabayashi finished Akane went towards him and asked about her parents.
"Akabayashi-san, is mom and dad home?"
"They're not home yet. Do you wanna go somewhere to spend the noon?"
"Yes! Somewhere happy!"
"Don't forget about US Akabayashi-san!"
"How 'bout you two?"
"Sure!" both men agreed
"We'll store the briefcase first. After all our job's done already and we may get ourselves a treat." Tom replied.
The two brought the briefcase back to their office and went with Akabayashi. They then went to an arcade station to play till they're hungry. After buying snacks Akabayashi ask Shizuo a few questions.
"So, Shizuo how did you met Miss Akane?"
"It's a long story but it goes like this; She's staring at me while I'm eating at a fast food chain and I decided to check her out, and then she pulled out a stun gun and poked me with it."
"Did it hurt?"
"A little, its like an ant bite."
"Well Miss Akane told me about that. Next, what's your relationship with Yuhei Hanejima? Don't worry I won't spill it out. I noticed that he similarly looks a bit like you and I've been hearing him a lot from the twins."
"He's my younger brother and I get pissed when people say his name for their own deeds."
"Why?"
"I don't wanna ruin my younger brother's reputation as an actor that he grew up with me, a violent person beating up thugs."
"Heh. You're a caring person and you know that right?"
"Yeah... And to my friends too..."
"And last. Did you ever have a girlfriend?"
Shizuo remained silent for a while and remembered someone who really wants to know more about him and heard her voice in his head.
Shizuo-senpai…
"You still there? If you don't wanna talk 'bout this its alright, I'll let you pass."
Shizuo came back to his thoughts and replied:
"Maybe one... But its just just a hunch..."
Akabayashi received a message from Akane's father that they're back home.
"I guess I'll ask you again sometime, Miss Akane's parents are looking for her and thanks for the nice chat."
"Sure, I'll see you again next time."
The twins said goodbye to Akane and Akabayashi while Tom and Shizuo left to continue their job. Hours passed by and it was already evening, the two decided to check out Russia Sushi for dinner but Shizuo wasn't expecting who he saw.
"Hey Shizuo wanna dine at Russia Sushi?"
"Sure, maybe Simon had something new to me offer."
They went to the restaurant and Tom was greeted by Dennis.
"Tom! Having dinner tonight?" Dennis asked.
"Yeah, had anything new?"
"Of course! But you need to come to the other room and leave Shizuo for a while."
"Sure, I don't wanna ruin Shizuo's surprise it rarely happens to him."
The two went inside the room while Shizuo waited and after few moments later he heard someone and said:
"Good evening Shizuo-senpai. Its been two years since we've met..."
Shizuo turned around slowly and surprised to see who it was.
"It's been two years since I heard your voice..."
.
.
.
"Vorona..."