The sounds of boots over neat tiles mix into a brief cacophony of unsteady thumps and thuds.

"Miss Sonia, please! Wait!"

Something about that grating voice sounds quite familiar. Sonia is sure she heard that person before, but she can't put her finger on it. She's spoken with so many kinds of people before. Perhaps she's hearing things—

Something—no, someone grabs her shoulder. Or rather, they would've had, were she not quick enough to dash forward and immediately turn herself around afterward.

The suspicious person who would've touched her stumbles upon them—no, himself with a gasp. His hands are placed over his bent knees in some sorry attempt keep his balance.

Her eyes narrow so slightly when she sees the person who trailed after her. She knew him if only because of the catastrophe that occurred only a day ago. "Oh, it's you." She remarks with casual disinterest. "Is there anything else you wish to bother me with?"

That suspicious person, Souda, if she remembered his name correctly, shakes his head. He struggles to find his words in between his exhausted pants. "Just…please…hear me out..." He gasps heavily. "T…That's all…I'm asking for…"

Although she remains skeptical of his true intentions, she slowly nods. "Very well, then."

No amount of foresight would've prepared her for what he did next.

Souda kneels, and before her very eyes, he places his hands onto the floor, which are then followed by pressing his forehead onto the ground as well. "I'm sorry!"

'Is…Is he seriously prostrating before me?' Sonia is completely taken aback by this new development.

"I'm so sorry!" Souda's voice remains loud and clear even in such a humiliating position. "I'm very sorry about what happened yesterday, Miss Sonia!"

More apologies comes out of him, most of which are quickly becoming more embarrassing than the last one. She raises a hand to stop him from saying anymore; she had heard enough.

'Perhaps, I may have been too harsh on him.'

"Souda," Her tone remains completely neutral as she requests him, "Please rise."

It was a request, but from the bewildered look on his face, it looks as if she might have as well commanded him instead. Souda hasn't fully risen to his full height; instead, he remains on his knees. "U…Uh, yes?"

Sighing, she then admits, "You weren't the only one at fault. I believe I must apologize to you as well. What I've said to you a day ago was uncouth and unbefitting of me." She bows her head. "For that, I am sorry."

"No, no, no!" Souda wildly waves his hands around. "It's okay, really. I mean, I was the one who waltzed in on you like a creep; I might as well be asking for it! You shouldn't have to apologize at all!"

For a split second, Sonia let hers lips crack a small, relaxed smile. A soft chortle erupts from her throat to relieve tension. "In that case, I'd be willing to forgive you, if you let me acknowledge my own shortcomings as well."

"But—"

"What did I just tell you, Souda?"

"B..." At her stern look, Souda takes a deep breath. "Okay, okay. I," He visibly struggles as if the next set of words didn't fit on his tongue. "It's okay. I don't hold it against you or anything like that."

"Before I say what has to be said, will it be alright if you stand up?"

"Uh, sure."

Once he plops himself up, Sonia then tells him, "I completely forgive you, Souda."

Rouge tints the boy's cheeks. He mumbles out, "Thank you so much, Miss Sonia."

Sonia inwardly sighs. She turns away from him, but before she can leave for her dorm, she tells him one last thing. "With that said, I beg of you, don't get any ideas about this. I am treating you as I would with any of my peers."

She allows for a few moments of silence, to let her words truly sink in Souda's mind. When she didn't hear any more remarks from him, she turns her head towards him. Her friendlier tone soon returns. "But I'm sure you learned your lesson, right?"

"Y-Yeah. Right, of course." Souda scratches the back of his head, bashfully averting his gaze towards her. "It won't happen again."

"Well then, I shall be off."

This time, she doesn't hear his steps follow after hers.

It's too early to say anything for now, but Sonia wonders if perhaps, Koizumi had been too quick to judge.

Things are pretty awkward on the following week after, to say the least. Ever since his impromptu apology (which he definitely messed up in more ways than one), Kazuichi hadn't been looking towards Sonia's seat, which he hadn't truly realized until now.

He had no idea why the hell did it happen.

He quickly shakes his head. 'Stop it. Get a hold of yourself, man.' His hands grip both sides of his head. 'Quick, think of something to distract yourself with before you slip off.'

Kazuichi's frazzled thoughts immediately went and subsequently locks on to the guy in front of him, the same guy who's the first friend he made in Hope's Peak, Hinata.

For the past days, Hinata's 'bad stomachache which somehow always happens during lunchtime' has become something of an inside joke between them, although Hinata isn't always happy to hear about it; he's way too serious about it. It also served as a discreet way to try and ask him about his new friend's secret girlfriend.

Hinata can try and deny it all he wants, but he knows what that bastard's satisfied smile means whenever he comes back to class afterward. Nidai thought that it meant, well, obviously Kazuichi's not going to elaborate on that thought any further than it should be.

Anyways, they might've only been friends for maybe a week now, but damn is Hinata lousy at keeping things like this as a secret. Kazuichi's sure that Hinata's secret girlfriend was real. Well sure, he never actually saw her nor did he have any evidence for that, but it doesn't matter; he'll just have to find and catch them in the act someday!

"Souda, you're in an awfully good mood today." Hinata points with so much nonchalance in his tone, it might as well be sarcastic.

Hearing his friend's voice is enough to snap him out of his thoughts. "Huh? What made you say that?"

Hinata turns himself from his seat to better talk to him. "I can hear you giggling from over here, you know."

"Was I that obvious?" Kazuichi shuffles in his seat, looking away from him.

"Yes," Hinata sucks in a sigh. "You really were that obvious. It's a good thing no one else noticed it before I did."

Kazuichi slumps in his heat, face landing first on his desk. "Why do you have to be so cold, Hinata?'

"Because you wouldn't take me half as seriously if I wasn't?"

"You didn't have to answer that, you know…"

'God, please let lunch get here soon. Let Hinata frolic with his secret girlfriend, you know, the same one who definitely exists, and end my suffering right then and there.'

Long hours went by; Kazuichi helplessly groaned and grumbled throughout that period. It felt like God took his time granting that selfish request of his (because of course, the bastard does), but pretty soon, the lunch bell rang through their class.

Kazuichi dramatically yawns, stretching the limbs that have gone stiff throughout the long day. While he's in the middle of doing just that, his eyes went over to Hinata, who of course, decides to go out of the classroom for less-than-pure intentions.

He gets up from his seat, well on his way to discreetly follow his friend, only for a sudden tap on his shoulder that came out of nowhere made him suddenly stop right where he is. He yelps and turns around.

What little shock remained in his body left him once he saw who it was. Or rather, the shock is instantly replaced with giddy excitement.

Sonia's angelic face eases him in more ways than one. Her sweet, sweet smile is a godsend. She's saying something to him, but his ears are so clogged up by love, it felt like he didn't need to hear exactly what she's saying to know how she feels.

"Souda," Sonia's voice that came from heaven itself calls out to him. "Souda. Souda."

"Souda?"

Kazuichi blinks once or twice, now fully aware and back to the waking world. "Oh, yes?" Now that he thought about it, he internally screams at himself; what in the actual hell was he thinking? That was so embarrassing!

"If it's alright with you," Sonia says with a beaming smile that can rival the sun itself. "Would you like to join us for today, around an hour from now?"

"Wait—" Kazuichi internally curses as his mouth screwed himself over, stumbling over his words in the worst time possible. "—W-Wha…really? You really mean it?"

Her nod combines with her reply of, "Yes, I do mean it."

Kazuichi mulls it over. 'Let's see.' He has two choices presented to him. The first choice is to go on with his plan to stalk—er, 'watch over' Hinata and his secret girlfriend. The second choice is to go on a (most probably) date with the girl he's had an interest with for quite a while.

'Wait, can this even be called a dilemma? The answer is pretty obvious! I've only got one chance at this!'

"Yeah, sure!" Kazuichi exclaims, pumping and hyping himself up. "I'll be happy to go out with you today!"

Sonia lets out a laugh in delight. "That's great to hear! I'm so glad you've accepted."

Well, with someone like her, it's hard to say no.

Maybe Kazuichi should have toned down his expectations down a notch. In hindsight, the gym should've been a big tip-off. That place would've been the last and least suitable place for a one-on-one date!

It doesn't help that this other guy is starting to tick him off real fast. Yeah, sure, that other guy thinks he's soooo cool with that impractically long scarf and contact lenses. Out of all people Sonia likes to hang out with, it had to be this guy. Even worse, he's one of those kinds of people!

It also doesn't help that this guy has a penchant for vandalizing said gym in way too much red liquids. As for the red liquid, Kazuichi is desperately hoping it's actually paint or tomato sauce and not…something else.

'Sonia is not the kind of person to sacrifice virgins, right? That isn't the only reason why she asked me out today, right? Right? Right?'

He'd been so busy in his thoughts, he only returns to the real world once he heard Sonia's sweet voice turn harsh. Except for this time, this isn't directed towards him. Kazuichi rotates his head to the side and sees his princess scold the weird guy they're stuck with.

"Tanaka," Her tone is as firm as it'd been on him a couple of weeks ago. "Be kind to him."

'Did…did she just defend me?' He never thought his heartbeat would race this fast before. 'She's way too kind!' If he wasn't swooning over her before, then he sure is right now.

The other guy grumbles. "If the Dark Queen of Blades so requests it, then it appears I have no choice," Tanaka turns his face away from Kazuichi, most likely in disgust. "But to submit myself to her wish."

If that guy wants to intimidate him, it would've been a lot more effective if the scowl he so-obviously prepared for this special occasion isn't half-heartedly hidden by that ridiculously long scarf of his.

'Does this guy seriously talk like that every day?' A bead of sweat rolls down Kazuichi's forehead in a mix of awkwardness and irritation. 'What a weirdo.'

If things continue on this way, he has no doubts that someone will end up as a third wheel soon; he's determined not to become that third wheel. He's gotta think of something fast if he wants that other guy out of here.

'Wait,' Kazuichi realizes as he recalled the day where everyone had to pull out papers from that box. Taking advantage of that regained knowledge, he wonders out loud, "Hey, where's Pekoyama?" He jabs a thumb towards the other guy's direction. "Isn't she supposed to be with that guy?"

Sonia strokes two fingers over her chin, answering for the other guy. "I believe she informed us that she had an important errand to run. I understand. Her duty comes first and foremost, after all." She lets out a sigh in mild disappointment. "That said, I was looking forward to sparring with her. Perhaps that can be arranged for another time."

'Woah, Miss Sonia is so cool!' Kazuichi not-so-inwardly squeals at that thought. He has no doubts that Sonia would win in a spar against Kuzuryu's bodyguard. He won't entertain the fact it'd end very differently in a real fight. 'Wait, I'm getting sidetracked!' He quickly shakes any further thoughts away. 'Get yourself back there!'

Something rustles in one of his breast pockets. It wasn't the gentle kind either; it's almost like there's an angry little being that's snapping for being unjustly trapped in there.

Beating silence goes by for at least three seconds. Sonia was the first to speak up after that awkward pause. "What was that?" She points towards his jumpsuit's breast pocket.

Kazuichi remains in his place, completely mortified at the directions everything was going. 'Crap, I was so excited about Sonia asking me out, I almost forgot about them!' If there's one thing everyone knows about, it's that rats have always been one of women's natural enemies, second only to cockroaches. It doesn't matter that the ones he had were domesticated, a rat is still a rat!

Tanaka, the bastard that he is, didn't give him a chance to defend himself. "I don't believe my eyes have deceived me."

Kazuichi hadn't liked this other guy from the beginning, not at all, and so, as soon as that other guy thought it's a good idea to approach them with a menacing aura, his first instinct is to step back in reflex and scream, "Will you quit that, you'll scare them!"

He didn't realize the mistake he made until Sonia sneaks a look towards him and then says in concern, "Souda, what do you mean by 'them'?"

"Well, uh…"

She might've noticed how awkward things are getting, and rather mercifully of hers, decided to end the matter at hand. "If it isn't too much trouble, would it be alright if you introduce your companions?"

He wants to hightail out of there; he had no idea how bad she'd take to his pets. She'd probably reject them…and he isn't sure if he'd be okay with that fact. He dug himself into this hole, and it's up to him to climb himself out.

At her request, Kazuichi tenderly fishes his two companions out of the pockets they've nested themselves in. When he didn't hear any screams or see a distressed reaction from her, he figures that it's safe, for now. "Oh, uh, in that case, let me introduce them to you two. This one's Speedy," The rat on his right hand twitches his nose. "And this slightly-bigger guy is his partner-in-crime, Jerry." The other rat squeaks in reply.

He never thought that out of all scenarios that'd happen, this one did. Then again, he never thought he'd live until the day he heard Sonia squeal for the first time. And by God, it's so adorable. It's even more adorable when she's doing it because of his not-conventionally-fluffy-but-still-damned-adorable rodent pals. He's so relieved she wasn't scared of them at all. He's giving them extra treats later. Just for today, of course.

"Could it be?" For a moment there, it's almost like Tanaka's obnoxiously narrow eyes soften their look. "It has been a while, since last I've been in the presence of such magnificent beings." Tanaka tentatively raises a hand to try and pet them.

It's only when Kazuichi glances towards his direction, the team manager retracts that hand almost immediately.

'Oh, so he likes animals? Huh, never pegged him to be that kind of guy at all.' He inwardly grimaced.

"Oh my, they're so adorable!" Sonia cooes over Jerry, gently stroking over his back with a finger. Jerry, even though he's the bigger and even shaggier rat, didn't seem to scare her off at all. Not to mention, that lucky bastard's looks like he's enjoying himself too.

At their owner's slightly hesitant nod, Tanaka tries to do the same thing with Speedy, but he pulls that finger away when the rat hissed in warning. He darkly chuckles, unfazed by the squeaky threats, if they can even be considered as such. "Huhu, it appears the one you called 'Speedy' is a fierce warrior in his own right. Though bound to a small and unassuming form, I can feel the sheer amount of aura he is emitting! Truly, he shouldn't be underestimated."

'Really…' Kazuichi is starting to think he's in a very surreal fever dream of some sort. Maybe he's still back in his dorm, snoozing the day away, because there's no way Sonia would actually ask him out. 'Speedy, a fierce warrior? You mean Speedy, the same Speedy who'd gladly and shamelessly beg me for treats even after I've already fed him before that, is a fierce warrior?'

…Why is he somehow picturing a homely-looking rat with a not very impressive sword?

Once again, that weird guy barges in, putting all his thoughts to an effective stop. Kazuichi's sure he'd never get used to that other guy's antics.

"Do you, perhaps," It already sounds weird enough, but Tanaka hasn't been looking him the eye as he, surprisingly, asks in a more polite tone, "Desire to form a blood contract with us, The One Aligned with Beasts?"

"Huh?" Kazuichi blinks once. He blinks one more time. "What?" 'The one ali-something with what now? What the hell is he talking about?'

Sonia, the angel that she is, immediately ses how confused he was, and so, she opts to helpfully translate what that weird guy just said. "If it isn't too much trouble on your part, would you mind hanging out with us starting today?"

He wonders if he was feeling a bit light-headed, since he'll admit he did ignore the first question and his mind went instantly towards the one said by the cute girl. "Sure!" It's only when he let that one word go that the ramifications hit him harder than a truck. 'Damn it, I said it way too quickly!'

"That's wonderful to hear!" Sonia clasps her hands together in delight.

At the same time, Tanaka is doing that weird laugh of his again. "Very well then, from this day forward, you, The One Aligned with Beasts, shall henceforth be allowed to traverse the mortal plane with us, The Dark Queen of Blades and I, The Supreme Overlord of Ice!"

"Welcome aboard, Souda!" Sonia helpfully supplies. After saying that, she glances around and adds, "That's what you'd say in a situation like this, correct?"

Kazuichi isn't given a chance to answer her question as the weird guy who's still stuck in eight grade interrupts him with an even more bombastic voice.

"We shall be known to the mortals as," Tanaka pauses—yes, he seriously paused for dramatic effect—and then loudly proclaims, "The three most unlikely of companions, 'The Crossed Realm Trinity'!"

While on the outside, Kazuichi kept on with his smiling and waving, on the inside, he isn't as bombastic as the other two. 'Holy shit, what the hell did I get myself into?!'

Maybe it would've been better if they turned him into a virgin sacrifice. At least that one would've been easier to explain.

Kazuichi will shamelessly admit this to himself and Hinata if they ever talked about this someday: this is one of the, if not THE most exhilarating stuff he's ever seen. Hell, this is way more exciting than it had the right to be! He'll never find anything on TV to be just as fun ever again!

He remains on the edge of his seat, watching Sonia dodge another strike from her opponent. She then returns with a counterattack, raising her practice sword that aimed towards her opponent's head. The team manager ends up deflecting that counterattack with his own practice sword with a smirk.

Kazuichi's fists are clenched in anticipation of both parties' next move. He can't wait for the swordswoman to wipe that guy's smirk off his face. 'Come on, kick his ass!' This is purely in support for her, totally not because he personally has it out for that weird guy or anything like that. He isn't that petty.

That weird guy—er, Tanaka—he mentally reminds himself to start referring to him by name if he wants to get on their good sides (especially Sonia's) starting today, laughs in that trademark three-staged laugh. The exact same kind that stereotypical kinds of characters like him tend to have, if he remembers correctly.

He didn't pay close attention to what they're saying; he's way too immersed in the action they brought. It's not because Tanaka's grand speeches during the whole thing are too hard for a mere mortal like him to understand or anything like that. It's also not because his ears get clogged up if Sonia so much as breathes in front of him.

Nah, it had nothing to do with those at all.

Their movements are so impossibly fast, much too faster than a normal human should ever be able to accomplish. He hasn't blinked ever since they started their training; he dutifully kept his eyes on each swish and swoosh, along with the occasional swish-swoosh motions.

And then, it ended at a tie. In his personal opinion, just by performance alone, Sonia wins by a landslide in his heart. "You did really great, Miss Sonia!" Kazuichi shows a big grin alongside two raised thumbs up.

Sonia takes his compliments in stride. "Why, thank you, Souda! Although, I admit that my form needs better work at the near end."

"You shouldn't be so modest about yourself. You really were that great!" Kazuichi counters against her. "I think you almost had him in the end if he didn't pull that stunt out!"

"There is some truth behind your words. As she noted, I would've been swept off my feet. That is if her form had been more stable, just as she pointed out." Tanaka barges into the conversation, the one that's supposed to be just between him and Sonia, again.

'Hey, I wasn't talking to you!' is what Kazuichi wanted to snap at Tanaka at that moment; he quickly reminds himself that he was right in front of Sonia and that doing that would ruin the budding good vibes he's building up with her. He takes deep breathes to relax himself; after the incident with Koizumi, he isn't repeating the same mistake again. He's not an idiot, and he's not going to disappoint Hinata again with the same failure.

"Yeah, exactly." Kazuichi forces himself to nod in a natural way with the friendliest grin he can muster, at least when directed towards Tanaka.

Somehow, it ends up devolving into a friendly banter between the two about sword techniques and stances and forms and other stuff he couldn't really understand, and so, he ends up getting quietly phased out of their convo.

He still did his best to listen, though, even though as mentioned earlier, he didn't understand most of the stuff they enthusiastically talked about.

And just his luck, both of them turn to him with glints in their eyes as they both say in unison, "Don't you think so?" and "Do you believe my words?"

Kazuichi did the best thing he can, and that was to nod, smile, wave, and say, "Yeah, I think so. It's pretty cool, yeah?"

When Hajime got back to class after meeting up with Nanami that day, the last thing he expected was for Souda to run towards him like he was one of those crazy fans at a convention. The second last thing he expected for that day was for Souda to scoop him up in an unwanted hug, just like one of those crazy fans at a convention.

Hajime couldn't voice out any concerns he had, and even if he did try to do so, it's highly likely that this self-proclaimed 'friend' wouldn't have it in him to listen anyway. It's not like it didn't happen to him before.

"I did it, Hinata!" Souda's surprisingly tight hug squeezes him more as he laughs. "I finally did it!" Souda continues to whoop out loud in tandem with that.

"That's…urk…great to hear." Hajime strains himself while saying that. It's a good thing Souda isn't as well-built as other Ultimates who specialized in more physical-oriented talents, otherwise, he'd have big trouble with breathing right now.

"I know!" Souda's happy comeback sounds like it'll be mixed in with gross sobbing soon. To make things better, he even begins to lean his face closer with his eyes closed. "And it's all thanks to you, Hinata!" And just as he thought, that's where the gross sobbing came in. "What did a lousy guy like me do to deserve an amazing guy like you?"

"Please, I'm honestly not that great. I didn't even do that much."

"Don't sell yourself so short. Of course you're that great of a guy!"

There's no more point in dragging this out, not when breathing while being squeezed isn't a good way to go. "Souda, can you let me go now?" He wheezes to further emphasize his point. "Can't breathe…"

Upon realizing the trouble he brought, Souda lets go of him with a gasp. "I'm so sorry, Hinata! I didn't do it too hard, did I?"

'If Hanamura was here, he'd get the wrong idea.' Hajime looks aside to check on the perverted gardener. 'It's a good thing that Nidai's keeping him occupied. Still, the constant meat and sausage jokes are getting old fast.' He simply shakes his head. "No, it wasn't that bad. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't even have the strength to let them know about that."

Souda's face darkens in horror. "Is that supposed to be a good thing?"

'Of course not.' "Sorry, I was trying to lighten the mood up. Just forget about that."

His self-proclaimed 'friend' sighs in relief. "Whew, I thought that something was seriously wrong. I'm glad you're fine, Hinata."

"Don't mention it." He tiredly ends that topic.

"Souda!"

Another voice came in. He recognizes that voice; he did remember hearing her before, back at the infamous incident with Souda. It looks like his classmate isn't kidding when he said he did it.

Souda calls back out to her immediately. "I'll be right there!" He then faces him with heavy remorse on his expression. "Sorry, Hinata, I really am, but Miss Sonia and Tanaka want me to get there. Is that okay with you?"

"It's fine. Don't mind me at all." Hajime dismissively waves a hand. "Just try not to do anything to piss either of them off."

"Hey, I'm not that hopeless, you know." Souda huffs. Turning to him last time, he waves a hand at him. "Well then, I'm going to see you later, then."

And so, Souda goes off to walk back to class with his two new friends.

'Looks like even Souda got tired of me too.' Hajime sighs, ignoring the dull ache in his chest. It's not hard to see it coming. It's not like it's the first time it happened.

When he got back to class by himself, he can say that this kind of feeling was familiar to him. He's used to it, anyway.

As he got in, he mentally counts over the room's occupants by head and determined that he was the last person to arrive in there.

If anyone told him a week ago that he'd see all of his classmates actually attended class and happily chatted among themselves, he'd think that someone must've had a bottle of whatever Mr. Kizakura was having by mistake. And yet, right in front of his sober eyes was that very scene. It's all so hard to believe.

Hajime shuts the door behind him. If anyone else was in his place, they would've jumped back in surprise at what happened next.

Ms. Yukizome's voice cheerfully comments on the scene, the same one that would've been impossible months ago. "Aside from a few exceptions, I can see everyone getting along so well."

"It looks like they are." He has no idea what else to say other than to agree with that.

She nods. "Yeah, they really are. I'm so glad."

Hajime thought that after that, she'd let him get back to his seat. It looked like she's not going to do that just yet, as she sneakily blocks his way. He wonders if all the times he skipped lunch with the class has come back to bite him hard.

"But, Hinata," Her sweet tone hadn't changed a bit. "I can't help but notice you haven't been hanging around your classmates as much."

He exhales, resigning himself to his fate. Denying everything won't make it better. "I'm guessing you're not happy to hear all about that, huh? I figured so." He shouldn't have been surprised by that.

Except, he did get surprised, and that was when Ms. Yukizome visibly balks at him suggesting that. She wildly waved her hands around as she disputed that claim. "Oh no, that's not what I meant at all! You don't have to get yourself acquainted with everyone so fast. I don't expect you to do that."

"You never did? You seriously never did?" Hajime asks, disbelieving.

Ms. Yukizome shakes her head. "Of course not. I don't expect anyone to do that either. I know how hard it'd be." In the last part, she lets out a soft respire.

It's almost as if she remembered something from some time ago. It isn't in his business to question her on what it was, and additionally, he might've been a crossing a line when he then asked her,

"Ms. Yukizome, did you," Hajime stops himself short for a second there before taking a deep breath. "Did you have any trouble with your classmates back then?"

He had no idea what to expect once he said that. Maybe she'd get offended. Maybe she'd deny everything to hell and back. Maybe she won't even answer that stupid question and pretend he never said it at all. He shouldn't have assumed something like that.

In any case, he never expected her to softly hum in affirmation.

"Mmm, I think you can say that." She admits with a slight laugh. "But that's a story I'll be saving to tell everyone for another time. For now, all I can say to you is this," Ms. Yukizome turns to face him. "It's okay. It's really okay. Take as much time as you need, Hinata."

Their teacher flashes him what he thought was the most damnably sincere smile he ever saw in his life.

"I'm sure everyone is more than willing to wait for you."

A/N: This chapter is probably one of the tougher ones I've put out, mostly because I'm not too used to writing Kazuichi before. I hope it wasn't too bad.