After Corn finished telling the deeper story on how the GG's came to be and Gum's roll in the Love Shockers, the rest of the squad was in awe.
"I wasn't expecting to have to explain this so soon; but I have been suspecting that the Love Shockers would be mad as hell."
Combo mentioned, "Boy, were they. You were right about that Corn."
"Yo those chicks were crazy." Yoyo ruffled his hair, "Hard to believe Gum would get mixed up in 'em yo."
"It sounds like she just joined on a weak moment." Beat defended.
"She did." Corn approved, "She was in a bad spot." He sighed.
"Yo something like that happened to me once. I was approached by this gang who wore these skull masks and they asked me to join. I did because I was alone for so long and I was tired of it."
"Really Yoyo?" Garam wondered, "Who were they?"
Yoyo thought, "They… were called The Bones. I was with them for only a few weeks when I decided to quit. When I did, grabbed me and dragged me into a dark alley."
Everyone looked at Yoyo, unconvinced. Except for Rhyth, she put her hands over her mouth in surprise, "Oh my goodness… what did you do?"
Yoyo got a rush of thrill at Rhyth's reaction and decided to spur this lie even further, "I had to fight my way out of course!" He grinned, "Yo, I managed to make one of 'em trip. Then I threw one into another and they both landed in the garbage yo. I asked them if they wanted another round and they took off crying yo!"
Beat was the first to roll his eyes and leave. Everyone else followed his example, but Rhyth stuck around.
"That's so brave!" She complimented, "I wish I had seen that!"
Yoyo could feel himself blushing, "Y-yo. I don't know if I would have wanted you around because I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you yo."
When he said that, Rhyth herself started to redden, "Aw Yoyo..." She couldn't help but smile. Her blush was differentiated by her all-blue attire. Yoyo almost fainted at how cute she looked. Garam came back and rolled beside Yoyo casually, then elbowed him teasingly causing Yoyo to push him away, embarrassed. Garam laughed.
Corn sighed, "If I'm being completely honest, I was hoping this wouldn't come out in the open…"
"It would've had to eventually." Combo reasoned, "I mean you never know."
"Yeah but… I guess I was just worried about Gum. I wouldn't want you guys to think different of her just because of her past."
Rhyth approached and spoke, "Why would we do that? Gum is our friend!"
"We're a team. We'll always have each other's backs; especially when it counts the most." Beat stated.
"Yo we gotta stick together!" Yoyo fist-pumped.
Garam said right after, "Till the end!"
Combo affirmed, "I agree with everything that's been said."
Corn paused, then smiled, "You guys are right."
Combo looked around, "Speaking of Gum, where did she go?"
"I think it's best if we leave her alone for a while." Corn suggested, "She's probably in the warehouse she'll come out eventually."
"Hey guys! A broadcast is about to begin on Jet Set Radio!" Roboy announced.
DJ Professor K jumped right into it, "We' gonna blast your blues with a burst of pure sound. This is your very own, one-punch knockout broadcaster, Jet Set Radio! Which one of you punks wants to step into the ring? Shibuya Terminal got some love letters on the walls from them lonely lovers, but they were erased before mama could see them. Now they've gone away somewhere. We're they just flirting to have some fun or is this some new game they're playing?"
Beat entered the warehouse to search for Gum; with no one else there he called up the stairs as he ascended them, "Gum?"
When he got no answer he headed for her room; finding the door shut he knocked, "Hey Gum."
On the inside of the room, Gum's heart jumped hearing Beat's voice.
"Wh-what?" She replied.
"Are you all right?"
She clutched her bedsheet, "Y-yeah I'm fine… probably."
"Can I come in?"
She hesitated, "Y-yeah."
He took his skates off before entering, and found her sitting on the bed. Her skates were on the ground leaning sideways.
"Heh... Professor K sure knows how to tell it huh?" Beat casually mentioned, "We showed those Love Shockers who's boss."
Gum smiled a little, "We sure did."
A few seconds of silence went by; minus the distant traffic noise outside. Gum nervously looked to the ground, she felt flustered and didn't know what to say. Eventually she managed to utter, "I'm sorry."
Beat glanced at her, "For what?"
"About... that stuff back in Shibuya Terminal. I... no one was supposed to find out about that..." Her cheeks warmed.
"Ah don't worry about it. We've all got a past don't we?"
She nodded, "That's true."
"Corn explained everything to us. I understand how you feel."
Gum complained, "I can only imagine how pissed they must be."
"Hey, Gum. I can't assure you that they'll be going anytime soon now that they know you're here, but; I can assure you this. None of us thinks any different of you just because of what's happened."
"That's good to know." She managed a chuckle.
Beat smiled before saying, "Corn might be planning something else, so you probably want to come downstairs soon. See ya."
Gum blushed after he left; hastily she shook her head and thought to herself, "What is wrong with me?"
From that point the attitudes in her mind went to war.
"Don't pretend you don't know; you've totally got a crush on him!"
"What!? Shut up! I do not!"
"You so do, It has been obvious in the way you've been acting. Everyone knows I'm sure."
"I don't think so!"
"Does it show that much?"
"It sure does."
Gum then threw her pillow to the ceiling and cried out, "Auugh! Why!?" The pillow landed head and she flopped on her back down with it. She remained there trying to gather herself.
"Okay I admit it! So I have a crush on him! It's not a big deal! Oh what am I saying? Of course it is! But..."
"Gum?" Corn's voice called from the stairs.
She jumped up, "Yes?"
He appeared in the doorway, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She smiled.
"You sure? I heard you yell."
"Oh... that! Uh, I fell... I fell! Yeah."
Her good friend eyed her disbelieving, "Ooookay?" He shrugged, "Are you sure you're fine?"
"I am great! Just great."
He paused, "Well then, if you insist. Just know I'm here for you all right?"
"Of course! Thanks Corn."
He gave her an approving gesture, "You got it." and disappeared.
She waited before laying down again, "Corn you've always been a great friend." She whispered, "I'm glad we met." She rolled over.
"Beat..."
