For Takehiro Akira, living is one of the hardest thing to do.

Foods are expensive, rent is expensive, cigarettes are expensive, overall, living is expensive. With him only getting money from odd jobs here and there or maybe sometimes from beating up delinquents, it's hard for him to have a good life. A life where he doesn't have to worry what kind of trash he will eat tomorrow or if he have a roof above his head next month.

He kinds of understand why his parents told him that he should have taken school seriously back in the day. That his education is important for his future. That he should have just left the delinquent like lifestyle that he did back in the day.

Because goddamnit he's so fucking hungry right now.

Maybe if he had study back in school he won't be here, standing in front of some convenience store with flickering lights in the shady part of Tokyo. Maybe if he had study back in school, he will be living in the good part of Tokyo with pockets full of money and girls chasing after him.

Certainly not here. Broke. Bitchless. Potentially on the way to lung cancer with just how many cigarettes he had consumed these past few years.

Letting out a puff of smoke from the cigarette dangling on his lips, he rummaged his pocket for some money. He knows it's a futile attempt because his last job – a construction worker – had ended two weeks ago. For the past few days, Akira had searched everywhere for a job that could pay his meals for the next few days.

But alas, it's hard for a street thug like him to find a job. No one wants a delinquent looking man that could potentially turn customers or client away. He had considered joining a gang, but he was rejected from many smaller gangs around the area. Don't even get him started with the larger ones. There's no way he could join them.

His hands continue rummaging his pocket when his fingers stumbled into something. The ecstatic feeling he felt dimmed immediately when he instantly remembered the only thing that could have been inside his pants pocket. As expected, he thought as his mouth frowned a bit. Akira brought his hand out, staring at the measly 100 yen on his hand. With 100 yen he can only buy an instant ramen at best. And not the good instant ramen, the cheap ones.

The cheap ones that could potentially gave you stomach ache and potentially will makes you vomit for the next three days. The cheap ones with suspicious flavour and even more suspicious ingredients from a company from who knows where.

But he's so fucking hungry right now, it's been a whole 24 hour since his last meal and in that time period he got beaten up by other street thugs twice. At this point, he thinks that if someone gave him a leftover from the trash can he will eat it as if it was the most expensive buffet out there.

Meh, he thought, pocketing the coin back on his pocket. Whatever, as long as I'll live to see another day.

Entering the convenience store, Akira saw the cashier flinching a bit at this appearance. In a not so subtle gesture, he could see the woman began anxiously holding her phone as she throw some suspicious gaze towards him. Understandable, considering he has bruise all over his face with half-hearted attempt of bandage peeking under his hawaiian shirt.

Besides that, his getup also screams gangster. Hawaiian shirt, ripped jeans, (fake) gold jewellery, and of course, his trademark menacing scowl that used to make him the top delinquent in his school even though his fighting ability is average at best.

Thinking back, his life really did peaked back in middle school. It was such a fun time, considering he's at the top of the food chain and he has a lot of time just playing with his friends back then. Forget about studying, who needs that when you can cruise around the street of Tokyo with his little biker gang back then.

He had long sold that bike in order to survive on the street, but it sure do brings back a lot of good memories from his middle school days.

But it all come crushing down in High School. Akira, with all the confidence of being his old school top delinquent strutted into his high school as if he own the place. He picked fights with every delinquent there, yelling and proclaiming himself as the next top guy in the school. His teen self had thought that it was cool. That it was the beginning of the epic saga of Takahiro Akira high school delinquency life where he will be the top delinquent out there.

Only to be beaten to pulp on his first day.

After that, his life has gone straight to hell. He became the errand boy of his high school delinquents. Being beaten up on a daily basis and his pocket money being taken every day becomes the norm of his high school life. He was also being dragged to partake in a lot of fights, making him unable to study – not like he wants to back then, but still.

In the last year of high school, he was viewed as part of the delinquent gang on his school where truthfully, he was nothing but their errand boy. Teachers thought that he beat up people for amusement – he's the one that got beaten up thank you very much – and harass the students – once again, he was the one being harassed thank you very fucking much.

So when the leader of the delinquent was jailed for killing someone, Akira too was expelled from school alongside all of his school delinquents.

His parents had raged and they basically crossed him out of the family registry. None of his friends wants to deal with him anymore and the neighbour who knows the story avoided his eyes. And so, from that point of time, Akira started to find a living from the odd jobs here and there. Jobs that doesn't mind hiring street thugs who didn't graduate high school. Jobs that doesn't require much skill and knowledge.

Truthfully, this kind of lifestyle is hard. But it's not like Akira has the ability to change it. He doesn't have the correct education, enough strength, or even the correct demeanour to become someone that is accepted in the society. It's been years since he's been living like this and he started to get used with this kind of life. Thankfully.

Dropping his cigarette on the floor of the convenience store, he stomped on it before reaching towards the end of the instant ramen aisle where he knows the shady brand is.

"Clay flavoured?" he muttered out, staring at the package. It's brown and there's a clearly fake egg and drumstick on the ramen stamped across the package. "Who the fuck has the idea to make this ass flavour?" but he still reached out to it because it was the cheapest ramen flavour he can find and brought it to the cashier.

The cashier also seems to be judging his choice of ramen because she throws him a confused look. Akira merely glared back as if challenging him to questioned his choice. That glare seems to be effective because the woman hastily began processing his payment.

"It- It will be 150 yen sir," said the woman.

Giving her his 200 yen coins, he grabbed the change as well as the plastic containing his dinner before he head out of the convenience store. The plastic is too big for a purchase that only contains one packet or ramen but oh well. The world probably ends after he dies so he doesn't really care about the environment.

Walking out, he stared at his surrounding absentmindedly. As expected from the shady part of Tokyo, it lacks the hustle and bustle of the city. The only source of light in this part of the street is the flickering convenience store light as well as the small street light that has seen better days.

Whistling a soft tune from a popular girl group song, Akira was about 5 minute walking distance from the convenience store when he heard something from the alleyway located next to him.

"Don't be shy," leered a voice. It's a man voice that is full of ridicule and clearly mocking the other party. "You were so brave earlier, what happened now?"

Another voice appeared at that. "Dude, look at her ring, it looks expensive!" he yelled out.

There seems to be a tussle because the sound of clothes rustling and tussle could be heard when the voice was quiet for a bit. "For real!" exclaimed the first voice. "This shit looks like real diamond!"

"Do you even know what real diamond looks like?" laughed the second voice, full of mocking and amusement.

"Nah, but for sure as pretty as this chick," answered the first voice.

It was then, a new voice yelled out. "No! Let go of me!"

Akira realize that it's a woman voice. A girl, that is bothered by two men. Walking closer towards the alley, Akira tried to make his steps as quiet as possible so that he could see what's going on. Years of living in this shady part of the town makes him more aware than anyone else regarding all kind of crimes that could happen in this part of the town.

A woman, being outside late at night, never have a happy ending.

"I told you to let me go!" Yelled the woman once again. Akira now can see the three of them. A petite woman being surrounded by two taller men with leering grin on their face. "Hands off!" said the woman again as she struggle on the man hold.

It's a pretty horrifying scenery to see a woman trying to struggle from two men who clearly overpower her. Her glare is full of poison and she's gritting his teeth as if being in the presence of the two men is the most revolting thing in the world. Both of the men clearly enjoying the struggle that the girl has put up. Exchanging dirty glances, their smile just got wider and wider as she continue to struggle.

The man holding her merely laughed. "I just want to see your ring" said the man, face growing closer towards the woman. The woman trembled, though there's an intense glare on her eyes. "Might as well take this home."

Said woman flinched at that as he trashed more. "No!" she denied. "Let go of me and you- don't- don't dare to take it!"

"Aww," cooed the second man, he's not holding the woman's hand but he has his arm around her shoulder. "You heard that dude, she says no ring," he laughed at that as he inched closer and closer towards the woman. "Maybe she's offering something else?" At this, his gaze went downwards. Towards the woman's breast.

On his spot, a sudden shot of anger appeared inside of Akira. The clear implication of that statement made him want to rage at the other men. Same thing could be said for the woman because she looked enraged as she immediately stomped the second man feet, resulting in a loud cry of pain from the man.

"I told you don't come closer!" yelled the woman.

The first man, enraged that his companion was being hurt, grabbed the woman's face before he turned her to face her directly. "Listen here you bitch," he growled out. "We're still giving you mercy, when the both of us are finished with you-"

Whatever he was about to say got cut off because the woman bit his hand, so hard that it actually bleeds.

That gesture made the man yell in pain as he retracted his hand immediately from the woman. Seeing this opportunity, the woman was about to make her escape when another set of hands grabbed her feet. The previously crouching second man now was glaring up at her. "Where the fuck you think you're goin'?" he said, venom lacing down his tone. "We're not done with you yet."

The woman struggled at the hold, trying to release it. It was during this that first man finally regain his bearing and grabbed the woman wrist. "Yeah," agreed on the first man. "We still doesn't have our fun yet, and after what you're done? You're going to pay you motherfucker."

They both now has the woman on their hold. The woman continue yelling and trying to trash around in order to release herself from them. But alas, she is nothing but a small woman against two men that towers over her.

As he watched this, Akira came into a decision.

He may not be smart like his other siblings. He may not finish high school and waste a lot of his life in the path of delinquency. He may not have a bright future because for a street thug like who lives day by day with measly amount of money that him, there will never be a bright future for him.

Akira may not be a good person. He beats up a lot of people. He got beaten up by a lot of people. He's a street thug who has nothing besides his pride and principle.

And one of his principle, is to never hurt a woman.

Without thinking much, Akira grabbed the first thing he could find – a broken pipe – and throws it towards the two men.

It hit one of them, and they immediately zeroed their glare on Akira who is still standing on the entrance of the alleyway with a large plastic bag containing one cheap instant ramen with weird flavor.

"Oi!" he yelled out. "The hell are you guys doing!?"

.

He has new bruises scattered all across his body and some of his old wounds got reopened but Akira did not regret what he did. Thank fuck that they both sucks at fighting that Akira's average ass fighting talent manage to drive them away.

Slumping back on the wall, he let out a long sigh as he close his eyes for a second. He could use a cigarette now. Why the fuck did he waste his last one in the convenience store? Akira should have savoured that shit because with the current state of his money – a measly 50 yen – he doesn't know when he could afford another one.

Damn, he thought. My ribs feels like shit-

"Are- are you okay?"

Opening his eyes once again, he stared at the woman that he just saved. At the back of his mind, he knows the reason why the two man beforehand would try their way towards her because she's pretty as fuck. Like those faces that you would see on billboards. With those long dark hair, amazingly bright blue eyes, and flushed cheeks, she's one of the most gorgeous woman that he had ever seen in his life.

Nodding, he grunted out. "Peachy," he said. "Nah, fuck that, my body hurt like shit."

A flash of worry appeared on her face. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry that you have to save me like that!" she exclaimed, panic on her tone. "Usually I have my self defense kit but I lost my bag and phone so I can't really defend myself or call anyone."

"'S cool," he let out, staring at the woman. "This kind of thing happens all the time here."

"No it's not cool!" said the woman again. "I got you involved in this mess and you're even hurt because of me!"

Akira stared at her silently. It's weird for him to see someone being this nice to him. "You know that this is not the good part of the town right?" he asked. "The fuck are you doing here?"

The woman flushed at that. "I- I was hanging out with my friends but we got split up," she finally said after a moment of silence. "I got swept away by the crowd and before I know it, I just kept walking and walking in hopes to find some kind of familiar landmark or something but before I know it I ended up here," at this, her eyes turns big and teary. "I'm so stupid! I should have just stay put and now I'm in this mess and everyone will worry about me!"

Fuck, is she going to cry? Akira is not good at handling someone who is crying. Please don't cry.

"I'm so sorry that you're hurt because of me!" apologized the woman once again. "We should- we should go to the hospital-"

"Dude," he started out, dark eyes staring at the woman own's. "Do you really think I can afford a treatment in the hospital?"

Bright blue eyes stared at him. Akira saw the flash or realization dawning into the woman as she clamped shut. Maybe it's the obviously fake jewelleries that gave him up? Or maybe it's the fact that he's only carrying a single piece of instant ramen in the big ass plastic bag?

"And the nearest hospital from her is like, miles away," he continued, spitting a mouthful of blood that has been bothering him for a while from his mouth. "I'll probably bleed to death before I arrive."

"Oh god," gasped the woman again, hands covering her mouth in the universal 'shit I'm horrified' stance. "If only I have my purse or maybe just my phone," she said as what seems to be another burst of tear appeared on her eyes. Akira instinctively panicked a little at that.

Shit, just stop crying woman!

"No worries," he said, waving his hand in order to make her stop crying. It didn't work and his hand hurt like hell that Akira winced a bit at that. "Anyway, you should get out of this part of the town soon, it's not safe for a woman like you."

Silence descent between the two of them as the woman started to fidget with her hands. He was confused for a bit as he stared at the hesitancy dripping from the woman's self. Finally, she looked up and said in the smallest voice possible.

"I- I don't know this part of town…"

For fuck sake.

This is ridiculous. A woman who doesn't know her way in this part of the town, and certainly not to the station. At this hour, it's a couple of minutes from the last train to arrive so she should better hurry up and go there. Akira would've showed her the direction if he's not in the middle of bleeding himself to death right now.

As if god is watching this spectacle, a loud rumbling sound comes from the woman stomach. Immediately she flushed and Akira can only watch with deadpan experience.

Akira is not a good guy. He used to be a delinquent and now, he's a street thug. There's nothing much that he could offer in his life. There's nothing much that he own aside of pride and principle. And one of those principle is, to never hurt a woman.

So, he made a decision.

"You want some ramen?"

.

Akira lives in the shady part of an already shady part of the town. It's not an ideal place to live with how small and old the place is, what with the creaky floor and the leaking roof, but hey, the rent is cheap and it allows him to have a roof on top of his head. He surely is not complaining.

The woman seems wary as they entered his place, large blue eyes staring at him with suspicion and hand still holding the used pipe that he thrown towards the men before. Not that he blame her for being like that. Good, because she should be suspicious. It's a good survival skill.

Anyway, the woman must be some kind of paramedic or some shit. After all, she did help him to stop some of his bleeding and even reapply his hastily bandaged wound. For the first time in his life, it feels like his wounds are getting better faster than before. She had said it's the least that she can do considering a lot of this wounds came from defending her.

Putting the bowl of steaming ramen in front of the woman, he watched how her eyes immediately lit up.

"So," started Akira, gulping a glass of water. "What's your name?"

The woman stopped slurping her ramen as wide blue eyes blinked at him. "Ah" she let out. "Um- you can call me Hana."

He took note the lack of last name, not that it bothers him. "Call me Akira then, Hana-chan."

Hana-chan nodded. "Thank you very much for the ramen Akira-san," she let out with a small grateful smile. "It's good."

Akira raised an eyebrow at that. "You sure?" he let out, remembering the flavour of the instant ramen. "It's clay flavoured."

Immediately, Hana-chan chocked on her ramen. Akira sprang up, hands immediately reaching for some glass and filling it up with water. "Wha- oi! Are you okay!?" he yelled out as he shoved the glass of water towards the woman.

She's still coughing and her hands are a bit trembling as Hana-chan gulped the glass that Akira is handing her. "Y-yeah," she let out, face still red and there's tear on the corner of her eyes. "I'm- I'm good," continued the woman. "It's just that…"

"You must be shocked by the clay flavour," he said, sitting back to where he previously sat on the floor across of Hana-chan. "I mean, when I bought it I was pretty shocked too."

"I don't know that such… bizzare… flavour existed." she let out.

He doesn't know that ramen companies like to make these kind of flavors too until he became a street thug. "You should try buying the cheap instant ramen then," grinned Akira, head remembering all the weird flavour that he had encountered in his search to find the cheapest ramen out there. "There are a lot of weird flavours from shady company."

Hana-chan laughed at that. "Maybe I should," she said. "But you bought this in convenience store, right? It should be save to be eaten, right?"

Akira shrugged at that. "Dunno about that."

"Akira-san!"

He let out a laugh at that.

"By the way, Akira-san, are you not eating?" asked Hana-chan. "I felt bad because you saved me from those two man and even gave me dinner…"

"Don't worry about me, I already ate," responded the male easily. He ignored the faint trace of hunger that he could feel. "I bought the ramen earlier because I thought that the flavour is interesting, that's all."

The girl stared at him, looking unconvinced before she reached towards her now empty glass. Hana-chan began putting some of the noodle inside it, before shoving the ramen bowl towards him. "Here, Akira-san," she said. "I'll eat it from here," at this, she gingerly showed him the noodles located inside the glass with a wide grin on her face.

Akira stared at her smiling face, a warm feeling on his chest.

It's been awhile since someone is being this nice to him, he thought as he lift some of the ramen towards his mouth with a chopstick. How nice.

The ramen taste like shit by the way.

.

After finishing up the ramen, Akira turned towards her. "It's late," he said, staring at the clock. "The last train or bus probably already left."

Hana-chan turned her head towards the clock that is now pointing midnight. She sighed, before slumping a bit. "I guess I'll left soon," she said. "Um- I'll find hotel near here so I won't be a bother for you Akira-san."

Akira frowned at that. "You said that you lost your purse," he reminded her and Hana-chan slumped further. "And this is the shadiest part of an already shady part of the town, what makes you think there's any hotel near here?"

"I'll- I'll sleep in the street! Or um- can I borrow your phone Akira-san? I should call someone so that they can pick me up." replied the woman.

He raised an eyebrow. "It's dangerous for a woman to stay outside this late at night," replied the man. "And I don't have any phone, just sold it."

Akira just sold his phone earlier in the day actually. So that he could pay some of his debt towards the street thugs and to pay for that clay flavoured ramen. It's a shitty ramen but still serve it's purpose to make sure that Akira is alive to see tomorrow.

"So you don't have a phone?" asked Hana-chan again, she sounds desperate with a bit of resignation hinted on her tone.

"Nope," he replied easily. At that information, Hana-chan look absolutely distraught, skin pale and chewing on her lips as he fidgeted with her fingers. Seeing this, Akira sighed. "You should stay here," he said. "And then tomorrow I'll help you get back home, I lived here for years now, taking you to where you live should not be a hassle."

"I really don't want to impose Akira-san!" said Hana-chan, looking flustered as she waved her hands around. "I'll just find another place to sleep tonight-"

"It's really okay Hana-chan," said Akira. "Besides I'm not doing this because of my good will, you should pay me back when you get back and manage to retrieve your purse."

At that, Hana-chan blinked at him. She seems to processed what he said before she began nodding her head. "Ah- O-okay then if it's like that," said the girl, with each sentence her tone goes higer and higher. "If it's money than no problem! Just tell me how much! I'll pay you back!"

Staring at the girl, she seems to be like someone that came from a pretty well off family. Akira doesn't know a lot about high end luxury items, but the jacket and the skirt Hana-chan is wearing looks expensive. Really fucking expensive. Expensive like it could pay his rent for months.

"Okay then," nodded Akira. "Just treat me for a good ass Ramen, Hana-chan," he said, grinning. "And not some instant ramen, I mean ramen that rich people eat."

"Of course!" agreed on the girl. "I'll treat you a good ramen!"

"Promise?" he asked, holding up his hand for a high five.

Nodding eagerly, Hana-chan high five him back. It's a small gesture that should not mean anything. After all, it's only been like one or two hour since he met this girl. There should not be a reason for him to be this flustered.

Maybe it's because how nice and cheery she is? It's something that he hardly encounter in this bleak life of his. Maybe it's because of those big teary blue eyes? Or maybe it's because of the simple fact that Hana-chan is one of the most gorgeous people that had ever seen?

Whatever reason it is, Akira really need to stop his now fast beating heart.

"If I make you uncomfortable just whacked me with that pipe over there," he said, pointing at the pipe that she's still holding. "You should bring it to your bedside too, just in case."

Nodding, Hana-chan gave him a thumbs up. "Sure do,"

It was also then, that he spot the ring on her finger. It completely soured something inside of his mouth as an uncomfortable feeling rose up inside him. "You married?" he asked, tilting his head to see the ring better.

Akira remembered that back in the alley, both of the men are exclaiming about the ring she's wearing. How it looks expensive and the diamond itself looks real. Narrowing his eyes, he can see why they said that. He knows nothing about expensive jewellery but the ring on her finger really do look authentic and expensive.

Blinking, Hana-chan grinned. "Ah, this?" she said, lifing her arm to show him the ring. "I'm not married," Akira hates the sudden sense of relief enveloping him. "This is a promise ring from my boyfriend." Immediately, her tone changed. More happier and lighter. As if she really enjoy this topic of conversation.

"Boyfriend?" prompted Akira again. What was he thinking? Of course someone as beautiful and nice like Hana-chan is taken.

Hana-chan let out a really beautiful smile. "Yeah," she said, as her eyes crinkled at how big her grin is. "We've been together ever since middle school and this is the promise ring that he gave me then," at this, her thumb brushed the ring. "Of course this is not a real gold or diamond, he won it in an arcade, but this is my most precious treasure."

Akira blinked at that. "You guys have been together since middle school? That's a long ass time."

The woman laughed at that, cheeks flushed. "I know," she said. "It's almost 10 years, our anniversary is around the corner actually."

He hummed at that, "He must be worried."

"Yes," said Hana-chan as she still has that same beautiful smile on her face. "He must be killing everyone with how worried he is."

Akira raised an eyebrow at that peculiar choice of word but he just shrugged, not thinking much of it. "Must be nice, to be in such a long term relationship," he said. "Back in middle school I used to be a delinquent, not much time for romance."

Hana-chan immediately perked up, "Oh! Back in middle school I'm friends with a lot of delinquents!"

He almost bit his own tongue at that. Hana-chan? Friends with delinquents? Hana-chan who had cried twice in front of him and it's only two hours since they met? Hana-chan who looks sweet and soft?

"Seriously?" he chocked out, staring at her with shock written on his eyes. "You sure they're real delinquents? Not like some wannabe nerds?"

The girl let out a huff. "I'm sure!" she let out. "They got into fights and return bruised and bloody all the time, that's why I'm pretty knowledgeable on changing bandages or doing some first aid kit."

That sounds like some real delinquent stuff alright. "Really?"

"Yes!" she said. "Maybe I know some of your delinquent friends? I know a lot of them after all."

He shook his head. "No way, me and my friends are not famous or anything, we mainly stayed in our territory." By territory he means his middle school. While it's true he used to be a part of a small biker gang back in middle school, it's not a big or famous one. It certainly not big enough to eventually become an actual criminal organization like some of the gang that he knows.

And he doesn't have any delinquent friends in high school, considering he's an errand boy and all.

"That's a shame," replied Hana-chan, looking a bit dejected at the information. Huh, he kinda wants to comfort her. "You're so nice Akira-san, it must be nice to be your friend."

"Eh," he let out. "Doubt it."

"I'm being serious here!" insisted Hana-chan. "If you didn't help me, I don't know what will happen-"

"I told you it's no big deal," cut off Akira. "My principle is to not hurt women, that's all, I think anyone who saw that situation will help you, I'm not that special."

Hana-chan's big blue eyes stared at him before she grabbed his hands. The gesture startled him a bit that he actually flinched. There's some kind of fire behind her eyes as she gripped his hands tighter. "You're amazing Akira-san," she insisted once again. "Anyone will be lucky to be your friend." At that last sentence, she let out a huge smile that immediately light up his world.

Fuck.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

His heart began thumping wildly and he just can't control the flush on his face. Shit, this is bad. Shit. Shit. Shit. Akira you idiot she's in a relationship already! And it's not like you will ever meet her again after tomorrow. You don't even know her full name!

Control your emotion fucker.

Control your-

Hana-chan tilted her head, wide grin on her lips. "Akira-san?"

Fuck. He's so fucked.

.

He can't get a wink of sleep last night.

Akira had let Hana-chan sleep in the bedroom while he lay down on the living room. The girl had brought the pipe with her as she sleep as a safety precaution and Akira really does not mind. He had spent all night staring at the light above him as the image of Hana-chan smiling face appear and reappear again in front of like some kind of hallucination.

He's so fucked.

But-

If he pursue her, it's okay right? It's not like she's married-

But she's in a long term relationship idiot!

But she's not married. So it's okay?

No!

He had gone back and forth like that with himself the entire night so when both him and Hana-chan prepared to go outside, he had looked so haggard. Hana-chan had asked him if he's okay and shot hit a lot of worried looks.

Locking his door, both of them made their way out of the apartment building. Now that it's bright out, this part of the town doesn't look that menacing. Sure, it's still a far cry from the actual city of Tokyo, but during the day, the place doesn't look like something out of horror movie but a normal neighbourhood. Albeit, a rather shady looking neighbourhood.

Walking, he turned towards Hana-chan. "Where are you heading anyway?"

"Hm?" hummed the woman, bright eyes looking around with something like intrigue. "Ah, Aoyama."

Akira supress the need to chocked at that piece of information. It shouldn't have surprised him because yeah, Hana-chan sure looks expensive.

"Is the train station far, Akira-san?" asked Hana-chan as he looked up towards him.

"Not really," he answered. "It's a few minutes walk, but a lot of gangs has their base near where train stations are so we need to be really careful." Back when he was younger, when he just started living here, he had accidentally stumbled into one of the gangs basing their headquarters here and accidentally offended them. Akira had been beaten up half to death back then, an experience he does not want to repeat.

The both of them now entered the part of the town where he knows a lot of gangs owned a building here. It has some kind of intense pressure that made anyone who entered this part of the town wants to piss themselves. Which is not ideal because this is the only way to the train station.

Hana-chan has a weird look on her face at that information . "Gangs?" she asked. "What kind of gangs?"

"An actual criminal organization Hana-chan," he replied promptly, lowering his voice a bit because it will be bad if one of the gang members accidentally heard them. "Like you know, the one that got charged for murder and all that shit."

Murders, drugs, blackmails, all the shady stuff that a simple street thug like him can't even imagine. While sure he beat a lot of people and do drugs here and there when he got the money, what those gangs are doing are on a whole other level.

"Seriously?" she said as she stopped walking, wide eyes staring at him. "Then- is Toman also here?"

"Of course their headquarter is not here," replied Akira, eyes staring at his surroundings. "But one of their smaller branches is here."

Toman is the most renown criminal organization in Japan. It's famous for its notoriety and how influential it is. For an organization as big as Toman, of course there's no way their headquarters will be located here. Akira thinks it's located in Marunochi or Aoyama, he can't remember. The organizations that has their base here are the smaller ones. Those who only deal with street thugs like him and not politician and influential figure like Toman do.

It's not weird for Hana-chan to ask about Toman. After all, everyone knows them. Everyone knows the ruler of Tokyo's night. The emperor of Japan's street. The organization that has a lot of politician and influential figure licking their boots.

The rise of Toman is a pretty bizzare thing for Akira to remember. Back in middle school, he had known Toman as a biker gang. Albeit a really big biker gang with many members that rules over Shibuya. If he remembers correctly, it was at the start of high school where Toman started become something more than a biker gang and set their eyes on bigger and more dangerous things.

Well, it's not like Akira can relate to that. As a small time street thug, it's not like he can meet one of its members. The only thing he can do is to not mess with and offend them. If he do that at least he can still continue life, quietly living his life the way he has so far.

Turning his head towards his companion, he saw the girl is staring at him, wide eyes and mouth gaping at the information that he had just given her a mere minute ago. "They have a branch here!?" asked Hana-chan, tone a bit frantic.

Poor girl, she must've been scared. He completely understand her fright though. "Yeah," he replied. "It's the biggest building over the-"

Before he can finished what he was going to say, Hana-chan sprinted. Akira blinked, before turning around as panic rising inside his body. "Wait- Hana-chan!?" he yelled out as he began chasing the girl. It seems that had caught a lot of attention because many people began staring at him but that is the last of Akira's worry as he try to catch up with the girl.

Hana-chan is fast. Akira was not expecting that. He had thought that the girl had been too spooked by the fact that Toman has a branch here and was running away, but soon Akira realize that Hana-chan is actually running towards the Toman branch.

Is she crazy!? Fucking damnit, they're going to die today!

Just before Hana-chan can enter the gates leading into the building, Akira managed to grabbed the girl wrist, yanking her backwards. Hana-chan actually stumbled a little, but she managed to steadied herself as he grabbed her shoulder. The girl looked startled, whirling her eyes towards him as if he's the one something foolish.

"Akira-san!?" she yelped, blue eyes staring at him with shock. "What was that for!?"

"I should be the one asking you that!" he yelled out, staring at the woman with frantic eyes. "What were you thinking!? I told you how dangerous this place is! Why would you come here after I told that!?" continue Akira, shaking her shoulder.

She blinked furiously. "A-ah, um I have a really good reason for this!"

"There's no single good reason for us coming here!" he exclaimed out, hand digging tighter on the woman's shoulder.

Hana-chan yelped. "Akira-san you're hurting me!"

By this time, many attention are set upon them. Akira even recognize some that he recognize as Toman members. His panic grow as many gang members began coming towards where they're yelling. Releasing his grip on the woman, he settle his hands on her wrist once again.

"Hana-chan this is dangerous! We should- we should-"

Suddenly, a new voice appeared. "Why the hell is there a ruckus this early in the morning?"

Akira turned his head towards the source of the voice. There, stood a man with dark hair and highlights. He has a brightly colored eyes and a beauty mark placed just underneath it. There's a frown tugging on the other man's face as he stared straight towards Akira.

"You really have the nerve to cause a ruckus here?" asked the newly arrived man and it was then that he saw the tiger tattoo placed on the man's neck. With a cold dread, Akira realized who is the man standing before him. Beauty mark under his eyes, tiger tattoo, Toman member-

He was about to grab Hana-chan's hand and fled with her when the girl unexpectedly opened her mouth.

"Kazutora-kun!"

Huh?

"Takemichi!?"

HUHH?

.

Apparently Hana-chan's name is not Hana-chan and she somehow knows Hanemiya Kazutora. The Hanemiya Kazutora, one of Toman's highest ranking member. The same Hanemiya Kazutora that is one of the founding member of Toman. One of the most terrifying man that Akira had ever encounter in his short 24 years of life.

Who the hell is Hana-chan!?

Currently the three of them is sitting in a really nice looking office, something that came out straight of interior design magazine with its big wooden desk and large dark coloured plush sofas. Hanemiya Kazutara had ushered Hana-chan inside and Hana-chan had insisted Akira to come inside too. With a great reluctance, the other man had also ushered him inside. Him. The small street thug Takehiro Akira.

"So," started Hanemiya-san – Hanemiya-san? Hanemiya-sama? – as he poured a tea for Hana-chan – why the fuck is he serving a tea to Hana-chan? – "Where the fuck did you go last night, Takemichi?"

Hana-chan laughed sheepishly at that. "Ah, I accidentally got separated from my guards," she replied, scratching her cheek bashfully. "And I left my phone and purse with them."

"We noticed," commented Hanemiya-san drily. "We call you thousand times only to have one of the bodyguard answering your phone."

The girl chuckled a bit at that, looking really sorry. "I'm really sorry, before I know it arrive in the part of the town that I'm not familiar with and there's no one around to ask where the train station is…" the last part was spoken in such a small voice that she seems ashamed to admit that fact.

Hanemiya-san sighed, rubbing his face. "We sent a whole search party for you last night," he informed. "He was fucking furious."

Hana-chan winced at that. "Ah… I'm so sorry… must be hard to handle him"

Akira listened to the conversation silently, not daring to join due to the glare Hanemiya-san had shot him earlier. As if it was a warning that if Akira interrupted the conversation, a bullet straight into his skull is the last thing to worry about. Damn, he thought, despairing the predicament that he landed himself into. Should've bought a more expensive ramen last night, considering imma die today probably.

"Don't mind," replied Hanemiya-san with a huff, all of his attention still on Hana-chan. "We're also worried. Chifuyu even almost worried himself to death," informed the other man and Akira try to process the new name that was mentioned in the conversation. Chifuyu sounds so fucking familiar to him so that could only means that he's also a high ranking member in Toman.

Hana-chan winced at that. "I really should apologize to him."

Hanemiya-san nodded at that. "Please do that and please make sure that you don't get separated from your guards in the future. Maybe you're safe now, but we don't know what will happen in the future," reprimanded the man as if he's scolding a child.

"Okay," agreed on the girl with a sullen nod that made Akira has this sudden need to comfort her. "I'm really sorry…"

"It's not your fault Takemichi, your guards should have taken better care of you," assured the man. "The important thing is that you're safe now, I even informed the rest and currently they're on the way here."

That very piece of information seems to brightened up the girl. Her previously sullen mood now nowhere to be seen as her bright blue eyes stared at Hanemiya-san with what seems like joy and euphoria. "Really!?" she said. "He's coming to get me!?"

He still doesn't know who the hell they're talking about. Not that Akira going to opened his mouth and risked his life.

Something akin of amusement seems to pass across Hanemiya-san's eyes at the sudden cheer on Hana-chan's face. "Yeah" replied the other man. "Been worried sick all night so of course he'll go here immediately," he said with a small smile before he slid his eyes towards him. "Anyway Takemichi, I was meaning to ask, but who the hell is he?"

Akira flinched at the sudden turn of topic. Hanemiya-san stared at him as if he was the lowest of the lowest that does not even have the right to lick his expensive looking boots. Though, Hana-chan – his lord and saviour – perked up.

"This is Akira-san!" she enthused out, gesturing her hand towards him. "He saved me last night!"

The gaze Hanemiya-san has on him becomes more intense and Akira started to sweat a little. There's an air conditioner in this room, yet he could feel how sweaty his arm and back has become.

"Save, you say?" drawled out Hanemiya-san as he continue his stare on him. "The hell happened Takemichi?"

"Well last night, I was searching for the way to station when I stumbled into two guys", she started, recalling last night event. "Turns out they have a… not so good intention."

BAM!

"HAAAH!?" Yelled out Hanemiya-san as he punched the table in front of him, making the tea that he had poured towards Hana-chan earlier fell. "The fuck did you say!?"

Hana-chan gasped. "Kazutora-kun you spilled the tea!" she yelled out, staring at the mess in front of them.

"That's not the important thing we should focus on!" continue Hanemiya-san. "Who the fuck is those guys huh!? I'll show 'em a lesson!"

If Hanemiya Kazutora himself personally taught those guys from last night a lesson, they'll die. They'll have a slow and painful death before being thrown into the sea and their family also got beaten up to half death or maybe even death itself.

So, who the fuck is Hana-chan!?

"I told you that Akira-san had saved me!" Yelped Hana-chan. "He beat those guys up!"

"Hah? This wimpy ass looking dude?" asked Hanemiya-san as he jabbed his thumb towards where Akira is sitting. He should be offended that someone is calling him wimpy, but Akira value his life thank you very much. And compared to Hanemiya-san, yeah, Akira is a wimpy ass looking dude alright.

Hana-chan huffled, looking offended at the name. "Yes, Kazutora-kun!" she said, "Akira-san here even gave me dinner and gave me a place to sleep last night!"

Hanemiya-san stared at him. "A place to sleep?" he voiced out. "Where? His house?"

"Yeah, he even cooked me a ramen, he's super nice."

"If your boyfriend knows about this he'll be super pissed," said Hanemiya-san with a raised eyebrow, turning his attention from Akira who is still sitting nervously and stiffly, to Hana-chan. "You know how he gets."

"I know," answered Hana-chan, closing her eyes as she massage her temple. "Don't worry, I'll talk to him after this."

"Please do because-"

What Hanemiya-san was about to say got cut off when the room towards the office opened in a loud bang. The first thing that appeared in Akira's head is that they're being ambushed and the second one is that who the hell has the nerve to open the door towards Hanemiya Kazutora's office so recklessly.

His question was answered when the familiar figure of Sano Manjiro appeared.

Akira immediately trembled, cold sweat started to appear as he turned his gaze downwards. He's going to die. He's going to die for sure because what the fuck is the leader of Toman doing here!?

Sano Manjiro or the invincible Mikey back during the days when Toman is nothing more but a biker gang is a notorious figure. As the leader of Toman and all of its companies and sub organization, he's one of the most powerful man in Japan. He is known to be utterly terrifying and control Toman with such notoriety that no one dare to betray this organization. Akira could even smell the gunpowder and blood from his figure.

He's the country number one mob boss. A figure that many fear. Someone, that you hope you never meet in your lifetime.

It was silent when the door opened as Sano Manjiro stared at the three of them silently. He doesn't know how long the silence pass, maybe a few seconds, maybe a few hours, Akira does not know. All he knows is how thick the tension in the room was as the most notorious figure in the country continue to fix his dark void like eyes towards all of them. It was broken when Hanemiya-san decided to opened his mouth. "Mikey, what did I tell you about-"

"MITCHYY~!"

Akira can only stare in shock as Toman fearsome leader immediately latched into Hana-chan with a wide grin on his face in a manner that reminded him of an excited puppy. He looked content, and so fucking happy as he hugged the girl that is also beaming toward him with a large grin on her face. "Mikey!" greeted the girl, happiness dripping on her tone.

They both continue to hug each other, before Sano Manjiro craned his neck bag so that he could see Hana-chan's face fully, There's still the same love sick like smile on his face as he stared at the girl as if she's the sole answer to every mystery that every existed.

"Where did you go?" asked Sano Manjiro as he inched closer towards the girl. "I was worried sick! We sent a search party last night and everyone looked for you!"

Hana-chan grinned. "I know, Kazutora-kun told me," replied the girl. "I'm really sorry for worrying you and the others."

"Should I change your guards?" prodded Sano-san as he inched his face closer again towards Hana-chan. "I locked them up because they're so incompetent, we better find another one for you, better yet, let's just asked Chifuyu or the others to accompany you everywhere."

Akira shuddered at that. What did he mean by locking them up? Tortured? Killed? Is that what's going to happen to him soon? He doesn't want to think further regarding the topic of locking up the bodyguards, but an image of black suit men being tortured in the middle of an abandoned warehouse by the sea appeared vividly on his head.

And knowing the reputation of Sano Manjiro and Toman… that case seems to be a likely possibility.

The girl sighed at this as she stroked the clinging man hair. "You know I can't do that," she said. "Everyone has their own work." Hana-chan doesn't even bat an eye by the fact that Sano-san locked up her bodyguards.

"Well I'll be your personal bodyguard from now on!" declared Sano-san as if he doesn't have a crime empire to run.

"You know I'll not let you do that," grunted another voice as Draken entered the office. Akira can only stare in shock as another Toman's executive arrive with a frown on his voice. "Mikey you have a job to do"

"I don't want too," replied Sano-san, shooting Draken a glare as he continue to cling towards Hana-chan.

Said girl patted his head. "Mikey, you should do your job," she said, a reprimanding tone on her voice. "I don't want you to ditch all your work because of me."

"But Takemitchy~"

Draken sighed, narrowing his eyes towards the still whining Sano-san before zeroing his attention on Hana-chan. "Listen to Takemitchy, Mikey" said the taller man. "And, Takemitchy, is really nice to see that you're fine. Everyone got so worried last night that I need to stop the guys from Black Dragon to start a literal manhunt."

Akira's hands who is now holding a cup of tea – he poured it himself, unlike Hana-chan who got served by Hanemiya-san – trembled at the mention of another big gang. He knows that both Toman and Black Dragons are allies, but what the hell Hana-chan got to do with them!? He still can't process the fact that Hana-chan knows all of these important people from Toman, now they're saying that she knows people from Black Dragons too!?

Shit, he thought. I just wanna saved a girl from being harassed. How did I get into this!?

"Koko and Inupi must've been worried," replied Hana-chan, "I should contact them."

"And I will hang out with Mitchy for the rest of the day!" declared Sano-san, cheer evident on his voice. It was a bizzare experience to see such a fearsome man clinging into Hana-chan as if she's his personal teddy bear.

Draken sighed. "Your work, Mikey."

Sano-san actually huffed like a child. "What's the point of me being Takemitchy's boyfriend if I can't spent time with her!?"

It was then, that Akira who is too shocked by the scene going on in front of him, accidentally released the glass that he's been holding. A loud sound of the glass meeting the floor echoed throughout the office, making all the attention of everyone being directed into him. Not like that he paid it any attention because his mind still can't comprehend what Sano-san had just said.

Boyfriend?

Boyfrien?!

BOYFRIEND?!

The first one to reach out was Hana-chan. "Akira-san!" she let out, staring wide eyed at him. "Are you okay!?"

Her voice brought him out of his internal turmoil and once again, his panic surged up fully. "A- Ah I-I'm okay Hana-cha-"

"Hana-chan?" repeated Sano Manjiro as his void like eyes stared at him. There's something like an anger on his tone as he directed all of his attention towards the quivering Akira. "Who is this Takemitchy? Your friend?"

Hana-chan sighed, moving from where she was practically seated on Sano-san lap to the spot next to the terrifying man. Sano-san seems displeased by the action but he immediately slung an arm over the girl shoulder, making her closer towards him. "Mikey, Draken-kun, this is Akira-san, he practically saved my life last night."

Both men stared at him with a raised eyebrow, as if they're not believing her or that doesn't believe that Akira is capable to saving her. Which is, valid, considering compared to them his strength is like a kitten fighting against a lion.

"That was my reaction too," quipped Hanemiya-san. "Sounds kinda unbelievable at first."

"He saved you?" voiced out Draken, turning his head towards Hana-chan – who is not Hana-chan and he's still confused about her real name – "What happened then?"

In an almost familiar situation, Hana-chan began retelling the two men regarding her encounter last night and how Akira appeared and saved her. In an almost familiar manner like Hanemiya-san outburst from earlier, a murderous look appeared on Sano-san face. And in an almost familiar manner like earlier, Sano-san stomped his foot towards the coffee table in front of him, breaking it into two piece.

Akira gaped, staring at the now broken piece of furniture.

"Takemitchy, baby," cooed Sano-san as he cradled Hana-chan face gently, unlike what he did towards the poor table. "Who are they? You should tell me so that I can personally deal with them."

Good luck to those street thugs. Press F.

Hana-chan let out a smile, cheek flushing before she cradled the hands on her face. "It's okay Mikey, it doesn't really matter now," she let out. "They're gone already and besides, I don't really know them."

"But it matters to me." whined Sano-san as they both touched forehead. "I'll kill them if they ever laid their eyes on you again."

Akira shuddered at that. A promise to kill someone was so easily uttered by this man in front of him. Hana-chan doesn't even look disturbed, a lovesick smile still on her face as they become closer and closer and before he knows it they're kiss-

"Ha? They're sucking each other face off already?" grunted a rough voice from behind him as a man with shoulder length hair appeared. He's wearing a suit, just like both Draken and Sano-san as he stride into the office easily. "That'd kinda fast."

"Baji," greeted Draken and Akira can't find himself to be more surprised at the new knowledge that this is actually another high ranking Toman member. "You're late."

"Gotta take a piss," replied Baji-san – Toman higher up, one of the founding member of Toman – easily as he looked around the room before his eyes landed on Akira's awkward and trembling form. "Ha? Who's this?"

He wants to hide in a hole. Please stop looking at him.

"Akira…" trailed off Draken, staring at him blankly. After a moment, he seems to have come up with nothing an just decided to address him. "Huh, who the hell are you?" asked the man.

"T- Takehiro Akira sir!" answered Akira stiffly, straightening his posture. There's just something inside of Draken that looks utterly terrifying. He may not have broken a piece of furniture into two pieces like Sano-san, but his presence really commanded everyone attention.

"Takehiro Akira" repeated Draken towards Baji-san who merely raised an eyebrow and tilting his head slightly.

The man seems trying to remember if Akira is actually someone relevant or not. He clearly comes into the conclusion that Akira is not someone in any important because the stare that was directed into him was full of questions. "The hell he's doin' here?" asked Baji-san.

Akira wants to ask the same thing too.

Draken shrugged. "Apparently he saved Takemitchy last night and was the one who brought her here."

"For real?" said Baji. "He brought her here when the entirety of Toman and other gangs spent a whole night finding her and still failed!?"

"Y-Yes sir… I helped Hana- I mean her last night."

"Guess we owe you a lot then," piped Hanemiya-san, who is apparently now tired staring the cuddling couple in front of them who has literal hearts on their eyes. "If anything happened to Takemichi, Mikey will go berserk."

"Probably kill all of you," answered Sano-san easily, still mooning over Hana-chan.

Baji-san blanched, "See, psycho," he muttered out easily, as if Sano-san didn't just said that he'll kill all of them.

"U- Um, sir," started Akira hesitantly, he even raised his arm like in school. "Can I ask you who is… Hana- I mean, she is?"

The three of them stared at him with surprise colouring on their face.

"You don't know?" asked Hanemiya-san. "I thought you brought her here cause you know who she is."

"I don't?"

"Ha! That's kinda funny," laughed Baji-san as he slung an arm around Akira's shoulder. "That girl is Hanagaki Takemichi, the boss's girlfriend"

"And soon to be wife is she's crazy enough to accept Mikey's proposal." muttered Draken lowly.

"G- Girlfriend?" That's why Sano-san said boyfriend earlier. Boyfriend and girlfriend. Sano-san is the one that gave Hana-chan that promise ring. The ring that she treasures so much.

"Yep," cheered Sano-san. "Takemitchy is my princess!"

.

They said that a lot of first love ended with a heart break.

Which is understandable because a lot of first love came from playground crushes or some sort of childhood love that will end in a matter of day. Such are the nature of first love. Fickle, and undeniably sort. Something that will be a funny anecdote to tell your friends or family in the future.

Akira's first love is not in the form of his childhood friend. It's not in the form of his old teachers or someone that he had met in the past. Akira's first love is in the form of Hanagaki Takemichi that ended in less than a day when he realized that the female is just far too unreacheable for him.

His first heart fluttering moments, ended as he watched the girl being escorted out of the room after giving one last kiss to his boyfriend.

First love is a fickle thing and undeniably short. When it ended, it will gives you your first heartbreak that will shook you to the core. It will be a long distant memory that you will look back in the future. A memory, that will remain until the end of time.

And Akira, never regret his decision to save Hanagaki Takemichi that one night in an alley.

-end