YEAR 1996
"WELL YOU'VE BEEN QUITE BUSY, CHIHARU." A man said as he stared at a young woman in a floral dress. Her dark brunette hair was tied in a small ponytail. Beside her was a young girl with long black hair, also tied. She was currently hiding behind the woman clearly not wanting to interact. The man they had come to see was the head of a dojo, which was also his home. His three grandchildren who lived with him observed the scene before them.
Chiharu cleared her throat awkwardly, looking at the girl briefly before facing the man. "Yes I guess you could say that Grandpa Sano." Sano laughed. He was quite amused.
"Never in my life did I think I'd see you with a child holding your hand. Especially knowing how were like before." He gave the little girl a smile.
"Well things have changed." She told him coldly. Sanos smile slowly faded as he looked at the woman in sympathy. He nodded and crouched down to the girls height level. He raised his hand going for a handshake. The black haired girl looked at him curiously.
"Hello pretty little lady, you can call me Grandpa Sano. I'm the owner of this dojo. I just wanted to introduce myself and let you know that your welcome here anytime. If your mother is okay with that of course." He looked back to receive approval from Chiharu who noticed the way he emphasized 'mother'.
She sighed and nodded. Wondering why she decided to come here in the first place. The last time her and Grandpa had a falling out , because she was still coping. She was surprised to see that he wasn't mad like she expected. They were in no way related but he raised her in courtesy of her mother who was his closest friend. Whenever they spoke she could see the way his eyes up as if he was thinking of all the times he spent time with her mother. Happiness and Regret was all you could see.
"Thats fine with me. I'm still trying to get her to adjust to things. Its been quite difficult." She spoke as if the young girl wasn't beside her. But she didn't seem to mind. Blocking out the conversation Chiharu was having with Sano the girl turned her attention elsewhere. And met eyes with a boy who looked like he was about her age. Surprisingly he didn't shy away like some other boys did when she made eye contact with them. Those boys would hide their faces as if they met eyes with a monster, commenting on how cold and unwelcoming she made them feel. But he raised his hands up and gave her a brief wave. Suddenly a small hand slapped his down. It was a blonde girl and she blushed as if she was embarrassed, she whispered furiously to him. Trying to read what she was saying the black haired girl could make out the words 'Stop staring at her, shes going to think we're creepy. Weirdo'.
But the boy shrugged, ignoring his sister and turned his attention back to her. Now with a lopsided smile evident on his face. The black haired girl could only stare back intrigued. Her shoes suddenly caught her attention. Nervousness creeped up on her cheeks and the boys smile grew wider. As if he could see the blush on her face.
"Ryo." Chiharu called her name. Ryo looked up from her shoes to focus on what her adoptive mother was going to say. The young boy pouted, not pleased that her attention wasn't on him.
"Grandpa Sano, was wondering if you would like to come here every weekend to start your dojo lessons?" She asked her daughter.
"Promise its gonna be a fun time. I won't work you to the bone like I do with my bratty grandchildren." He joked around. She nodded her head. Not knowing what else to say. She still didn't know how to communicate with people. She was afraid of saying the wrong thing and didn't want to make a bad impression. She already made one with her mother, and in result it caused her to leave.
"So I guess thats a yes." Chiharu said taking Ryo nodding her head as an answer. She looked back to give Grandpa Sano an awkward smile. "Thank you... I really hope this isn't much trouble." She apologized but Sano just waved it off, his smile never leaving.
"Its okay Chiharu, you can count on me. We're family remember?" Chiharu wanted to tear up at that. She felt guilty and awful. Thinking that ever since her mother and husbands death she had been taking Sanos kindness for granted. She bowed to show her gratitude.
"Right, thank you." Was all she could say. Ryo followed after and bowed aswell causing him to laugh a bit. The Sano family watched as the two Takagi left their house.
"She looked sad." The young boy commented causing his older brother to look at him confused. "What was that Mikey?" Mikey gestured his head to where his Grandpa was still standing pondering to himself.
"The girl she looked sad. Theres alot of sadness in that family."
"I don't know why, but I want to make her happy." Mikey was mainly talking to himself but his older brother heard and gave his hair a slight ruffle.
"Wouldn't be surprised Mikey, its what you're good at." And the two of them laughed.
YEAR 2005
RYO SAT BEHIND DRAKEN, HER ARMS AROUND HIS STOMACH TO PREVENT HER FROM FALLING. His bike following Mikey's with the blond contently sitting behind Takemitchy who was peddling them both. The four of them enjoyed the sunset basking down on them. It was oddly peaceful and quiet. Ryo closed her eyes as the wind breezed over them some parts of her hair flying in different directions. She opened her eyes once she heard Takemitchy ask.
"Um..Why were you pleased with me before?" His head was turned slightly so that he could face the person he was talking to, which was obviously Mikey. The was an awkward pause before Mikey decided on his answer.
"Thats a stupid question." He deadpanned and Takemitchy flinched slightly, embarrassed. "Sorry." Ryo wanted to laugh at that, she could see that the second year was still nervous. Cautiously trying to figure out how to communicate with them and not come across as straight foward.
"I have a 10 years older brother." Mikey started to speak. "Well, hes dead now." Suddenly the mood around them went solemn as the blond began to reminisce about his late brother. Ryo lowered her eyes.
Shinchiro was always nice to her, even when the first time she met him and didn't talk to him. He just brushed it off with a smile and gave her a slight pat on her back. When she got to know him more over the years they began to develop a close bond and at times Ryo would start up a conversation with him, mostly talking about music as they had similar tastes. Mikey was slightly jealous at that but she told to him to not worry about it as she only liked Shinichiro like a brother. Mikeys eyes widened suddenly looking elsewhere and his older brother laughed at the relieved expression on his face, knowing how he felt about the girl.
She remembered that day when she heard he died. She didn't cry when Chiharu broke the news to her. Her adoptive mother and siblings looked at her worried wondering what she was going to do. But she only nodded and went back to her room. She stayed in there for the rest of the day not answering any calls from her friends. Because she knew they were all coping aswell.
"He was a reckless guy. He'd always calmly challenge guys way stronger than him in fights." Ryo suddenly knew where this was going and all of sudden put the pieces together on why she took a liking to Takemitchy in the first place. It was familiar to her.
"He sounds like a cool person!" Takemitchy said to try to lighten the mood.
"Takemitchy, you are just like him!" Mikey told him happily, catching the second year off guard once again. "HUH!? I AIN'T THAT COOL. NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOK AT IT!"He explained frantically this caused a laugh to erupt from the president. Ryo heard Draken snicker in front of her.
"Well, its true. He wasn't as lame as you Takemitchy." Mikey joked. Takemitchys shoulders sagged a bit and he pouted at the comment. "You're so mean."
"He had his moments." Ryo added to make the boy feel better. Takemitchy lightened up at her comment. Mikey turned to face her a bit his eyebrow raised.
"I remember one time I went with him to shop for Mikeys birthday present it took us 3 hours because he suddenly lost the map to a mean goose after a game of tug a war. His head and shoulder were covered in feathers. I took a picture." It was a funny day. Shinchiro had been going back and forth freaking out that they weren't gonna make in time for the party. Which was the day after. The area they were in was pretty far from where they lived. Which was understandable to why he was worried. His phone had died and Ryo didn't own a cell phone at the time.
" And you didn't show me?!" Mikey accused her. Ryo shrugged, ignoring the pout on his face. "It slipped my mind."
"Or you just forgot." Draken added with a snort.
"I never forget. It's in my blood." Ryo defended herself.
She forgot
"What other embarrassing moments of him did you witness that we don't know about?" Mikey questioned her with a suspicious look on his face. She gave him a playful side eye before facing foward.
"Not telling."
"Ryo- channnn."
Takemitchy smiled to himself. Seeing how the three friends joked around with each other. It made him feel a bit better. He realized that behind the scary faces and tough attitude they held that they were just kids too. He hoped that he would able to make a change.
The place the four of them arrived at was a hill. Mikey taking the lead as usual with the three of them following closely behind. He didn't turn around as he spoke. His focus was on the view before him. "This is an era where deliquents are called "lame" isn't it?" He chuckled. "In my brothers generation." He turned around with a bright smile on his face.
"There were quite alot of street gangs in this area. There you'd listen to your intuition and act on it. Everyone acted big, and all they did was fight. But everyone took care if themselves. What was so lame about those guys?" Ryo listened to her friends speech. She would be lying if she said his words didn't move her. Everything about Mikey was a mystery to her. People would she say she was unreadable. But her blond friend would always surprise her each time. The Mikey that was talking now was so self aware and wise. She admired that about him.
As if he could tell she was thinking about him, he slowly turn his head to face her giving her a bright smile before sitting down on the grass. A determined look was placed on his face.
"Thats why I'm going to create an era for deliquents."
Takemitchy blinked when Mikey turned his attention on him. "You should accompany me on that journey. I was please by you, Takemichi Hanagaki." Draken decided to add on his own opinion.
"We have plenty of guys. That are good at fighting. But there aren't many guys like you who would stand against anyone. If it were something you couldn't "give up."
Takemitchy felt a present behind him and let a small yelp when he noticed it was Ryo. Her dark eyes piercing into his soul. She chuckled a bit in her mind amused by the second years reaction.
"That is the most admirable. Don't let anyone try to bring you down, Takemichi. You have a special gift I can see it. You can use it for good." Takemitchys heart jumped a bit at that. He wondered if the girl knew about his secret. But he debunked that thought quickly after deeming it as ridiculous.
"I have many things I want to teach you. I hope you will give me the opportunity to do so." Was all she said before giving him a slight wave following after Mikey and Draken.
"Think about it Takemitchy." The second year smiled after them. They weren't bad at all.
Takemitchy smiled to himself. Seeing how the three friends joked around with each other. It made him feel a bit better. He realized that behind the scary faces and tough attitude they held that they were just kids too. He hoped that he would able to make a change.
AN: HEY GUYS. This chapter is shorter than usual. But I hope you guys enjoyed it. Sorry again for the late update. This chapter we got a bit of back story on how Ryo met the Sanos. So I hope you guys liked what I added in. And Ryo is beginning to warm up to Takemitchy more wonder what she wants to show him!
I'm hoping I can have this next chapter ready to go before this month ends so be on the look out! Can you guys believe July is ending so soon omg.
I love you all and I'll see you guys in the next update!
