"The results are in; they determine which classroom we'll be in!"
"You always state the obvious."
"And you always act like dumbass Takahashi" she said standing on her tiptoes looking through the crowd, he stuck his hands in his pocket until he heard a sudden uproar.
"HE COULDN'T HAVE!" shouted Fuji Setsuko the class president, Yuta simply shrugged as she demanded to take a look at the piece of paper again. Akemi turned towards them wearing a Cheshire smile.
"Someone score higher than you Fuji?"
The girl looked up her brown eyes full of anger not directed at Akemi but instead at Keisuke who was looking at some bush.
"That dumbass got a nearly perfect score!"
"Then he isn't a dumbass" argued Akemi ripping the small paper from her hand while Yuta stood in a state of shock.
"What the hell are you two talking about" spoke an annoyed Keisuke, as Akemi's mouth hung open.
"You got a four hundred and ninety five, that's like nearly fucking perfect!" she said as he ripped the small paper with the result form her hand. Yuta began to laugh patting Keisuke on the back while Fuji stormed away complaining of cheating.
"Last score like that was your brother" said Akemi holding on to his arm as they walked out of the school gates. He looked down at the paper once more and smiled, not only would he get tp keep his bike but he'd also complete his brother's wishes. Keisuke pocketed his sheet of paper, the last two years of school had already gone by, he was soon to start his last, then he'd finally be free.
They stood outside a crepe stand, Yuta stood alongside with him. "Hey I've been meaning to ask you, how did you and Akemi meet?" he asked cautiously knowing how Keisuke felt about his personal life.
Keisuke turned to Yuta as if it were the simplest answer in the world.
He had his hand in his pockets it was none of his business what the swim team decided or not to do with their latest target.
"I'll apologize, I swear!" shouted the small girl her hair in a messy ponytail, the boys swim team, all in their uniform protested, Keisuke took a seat at a nearby corner along with some of his classmates.
"Kito tried looking up her skirt and she kicked him" said the one next him, but Keisuke could care less, the situation was abusive, if they wanted a fight why not get another girl to beat her up?
"So since she can't swim they're sticking her into the pool!" whispered excited his classmate, Keisuke frowned as they pushed the girl in with her school uniform and as she struggled to the edge they'd just push her back. This caused him to frown; surely they wouldn't go that far.
Until no bubbles came up, Keisuke stood up, running to the edge of the pool "You morons!" he shouted pulling one aside jumping himself , uniform and all.
As he pulled her up she coughed surprised to see someone beside a swim team member.
"She needed help and I was nearby" answered Keisuke as Akemi brought the crepes.
"You know, they put a lot of strawberries and cream here" she said as Yuta gave her a strange look. Keisuke walked ahead of them his thoughts still on that day.
"I can walk, you don't have to carry me to nurse's office, besides we're both soaked!" she said wiping her face "what are we going to say to her?"
Keisuke supposed his glare didn't look quite as intimidating from under soaked dark hair.
"We'll tell her those assholes pushed you in and I got you out" he mumbled. Once the arrived at the nurse's they found themselves alone.
The girl continued wiping her face and pushing the hair out of her face. "You can go."
He pushed the hair from his face, it was then she gasped. "You're Takahashi Keisuke! Great now I'll owe you a favor" she whispered. He frowned taking off his school jacket throwing it across the room.
"You don't owe me anything."
"Kaneda Akemi" she said between tears, he frowned. She then gave him a small smile "yeah big Pharmaceutical company."
"So what, you seem decent, you run track right" said Keisuke, she finally smiled.
"Yeah, it's the only thing keeping me alive."
"Hey Keisuke, we asked how many strawberries yours had?"
"Who knows I already ate it" answered the blond as they neared a vending machines; he kneeled down to look down at his options.
"You're no fun, Yuta's had six, I think it's because she likes you" she pouted kneeling next to Keisuke to look at the vending machine options. She blushed slightly as he handed her a soft drink and threw Yuta a can of coffee.
"What do you say a cigarette after this?" asked Yuta as they walked through the park, Akemi wore a disapproving look, Keisuke chuckled.
"I forgot the athlete doesn't smoke."
"It's bad for you " she said throwing her can into a nearby trashcan, "besides I need my lungs."
"I don't" said Keisuke dumping his can into the same trashcan, Yuta did the same pulling into him into a one armed hug.
"Fine just don't smoke in front of me, the smell is weird, we spilt here" she announced at the end of the park, Yuta patted Keisuke as he crossed the street and waved good-bye to Akemi.
Akemi sighed turning away as Keisuke followed suddenly reminded of Kyo's threat to him. He gritted his teeth, no one was going to get involved, but then that meant no more going over to the Sato's house.
"Akemi" he said she turned pieces of her hair failing on her shoulder. He wore a determined look. This was something he should've done from the beginning. "Come with me to the bookstore."
"That's across town" she said as if speaking to a child much to his annoyance.
"I know, but I need books, and you're the only who'll know where it is" he said looking away as she smiled at him.
"Of course, since you stand out like a sore thumb, people are just going to think you're some juvenile delinquent" she said in realization, Keisuke's sharp eyes were usually mistaken for glares and instead of helping him people usually feared him.
"Sure, c'mon if we hurry we'll make it to the station!" she said pulling on his arm practically dragging him through the streets. He followed along not having a choice as they bought tickets.
"It's that friggin' far!" exclaimed Keisuke when he looked at the map.
"No it's just one stop" she said pulling her bag up her shoulder as people around them began to stare. "It's the uniforms, remember we're the number one school in the area" she explained to Keisuke who began to get peeved and ended up glaring at some man in a business suit.
Once they boarded off he followed her out of the station and onto the streets, he was only a few steps behind as she looked around the stores finally finding the bookstore he was looking for only to have her looking at a sign on the convenience store next door.
"What are you looking at?" he asked as she fixed her hair and uniform.
"They're looking for cashiers, you go on into the bookstore, I'll meet you there!" she answered waving a quick good bye, he sighed walking into the bookstore. There was a manga section, art, more manga, and finally the motorsports section.
He looked through the titles and only picked up the ones on motorcycles and mostly how to fix them, since he had to stop depending on Yuta to do so. Behind him a group of high school boys read a car magazine, pointing out the different driver's one he noticed was a tall clean shaven young man his hair pulled back, his eyes widened as he turned to the boys.
"Who's that?" he asked trying to sound innocent, but instead scaring the young men.
"Do you live in a cave? That's Kyo Sato, best GTR driver out there!"
"Still not better than the Todou school graduate-" said the other pointing out a man in a bandana who looked around his brother's age.
"So Sato's like a pro?" asked Keisuke, the boy shook his head.
"Up and coming" he explained "he competes in circuit races, and gets crazy money for it!" he said turning the page.
Keisuke took it as his signal to leave; he'd ask Yuta later about it. He held his books tightly and walked over to the cashier register where Akemi stood talking admittedly to the cashier.
"I'm here to buy all these" he said putting down the books on the register, the cashier cleared his throat.
"Alright two thousand yen" he said Keisuke pulled the money from his pocket and threw it on the counter as he pulled his bag away.
"You seem a bit pissy" said Akemi who looked strange with her hair pulled into a tight ponytail.
"Kyo's, some pro driver" he said as they walked to the station, Akemi laughed.
"C'mon you can't be serious?" her smiled faded as they turned a corner. "You're kidding, but how would you know?"
"Some kid showed me a magazine, so some hot shot driver" said Keisuke as if it were some sort of realization.
"Well, we can ask Yuta over vacations, changing the subject, guess who is now a nighttime cashier!" she said holding on to his arm; he looked down at her frowning.
"You're not serious, c'mon you know this part of town's bad!"
"Only if you make" she answered as they walked into the train the sudden her grasp on his arm causing his to become hot.
"What's the hell is that supposed to mean?" he asked she released his arm and took one of the last available seats on the train. He held on to a bar above his head.
"It means as long as I keep my head low I shouldn't get into a trouble" she said answering his question now pulling her hair out of the ponytail. He looked down at her as she looked up at him. "Say since when do you read?" she asked pointing to the bag.
" I've been able to read since I was five" he responded holding up the bag. She pursed her lips.
"Fine, don't tell me why you bought those books all of a sudden" she answered.
He smirked looking away before speaking again "why'd you take that job anyway, it's not like you need one?" he asked turning back to her, she looked taken a back.
"It's none of your business" she began trying to get a closer look at Keisuke's bag who pulled it away as she went on "but my father's dating some bimbo and I need to move out before they get married."
The train made its stop and the teens got off, she had set off Keisuke's curiosity, the Kanedas were pretty well-known, her father mostly though, he ran a pharmaceuticals company. Maybe he was seeking a male heir? He watched her walk ahead of him, slinging her bag across her shoulder. He pulled the strap of his bag up his shoulder looking down at his the plastic bag; hopefully he'd be able to make heads or tails of whatever the hell it was he bought.
"Hey, you're hanging behind" he heard her call; he looked only to find her staring at him curiously.
"It's nothing, c'mon let's get you home" he said walking past her; he now heard her footsteps behind him. Suddenly Kyo's warning came to mind and it brought his brows together and made him walk a little faster, the image of Akemi came to mind, Yuta was stronger than she was and could most likely defend himself better than she could.
Yet he couldn't help but worry about them both, it was best to keep his nightlife separated from his daytime one.
A few days later…
He looked down at his watch; it was four o'clock in the morning. The motorcycles were parked outside the bar where Keisuke sat alongside a tall blonde woman and Yamada who passed him a beer.
"Cheer up Keisuke" he said patting the young man on the back as the girl placed a hand on his knee. "Enjoy yourself, Sakamoto's pleased with our performance."
"You mean beating down that old man in Tochigi?" asked Keisuke as the girl now placed her hand on his thigh, he ignored her pressing on "what did he want to do that for?"
Yamada took a great gulp of his beer, before lighting a cigarette, "the man owed him money, anyhow he's so pleased he wants me to join up with him, meaning I'll be leaving you guys soon."
"What the hell, you can't just up and leave!" said Keisuke keeping his voice low as Yamada took a drag of his cigarette.
"I can, I'll just leave you in charge" he said nonchalantly.
Keisuke's eyes widened slightly, the woman now rubbed his thigh. "You can't be serious, they wouldn't respect me-"
"Yes they would" interrupted Yamada pointing down Keisuke's beer, "you're the craziest bastard we got, hell after the way they've seen you manage yourself during fight night they're probably pissing themselves. C'mon you're one of the few who fights a good fight, most of these guys are dumbasses."
Keisuke drank from his beer as Yamada ordered another. "Listen all you have to do as Sakamoto orders, and keep these guys from getting bored" Yamada spoke looking over at the rest of the group behind them as another woman with long red hair took a seat next to Yamada.
"Being Sakamoto's bitch interest me" answered Keisuke finishing his beer, the picture of Yoshiro Sakamoto popped in the back of his mind making his blood pressure rise. Yamada put a hand on Keisuke's shoulder getting the younger boy to look at him.
"Look that's just sometimes" said Yamada lowering his voice "we do our own thing most the time, just don't give him trouble." Keisuke stared at Yamada who now wore a serious look with half a cigarette hanging from his lips. "Keisuke, I mean it, he will go after anyone and everyone you care for if you as so much as mess with his system, and if that happens I can't help you."
Keisuke removed his hand from his shoulder giving Yamada a small nod. Whilst he understood Yamada he still didn't like the idea of being under someone's orders, especially someone like the Sakamoto's, who thought the world owed them. The woman beside him laid her head on his shoulder pouting.
Just as he was going to shrug her off Yamada nudged him. "C'mon, enjoy the girl it's been a long night, 'sides you're going to lead these jerks around soon so this'll be one of the few times off you'll get." The young man nodded turning to the girl who smiled sweetly at him as she leaned in for a kiss.
He closed his eyes as they kissed and her hand made its way up and down his thigh taking in the smell of her cheap perfume, his hand on her back pulling her closer to him. It wasn't his first time handling a woman, usually when they did a job well done they were rewarded with 'entertainment.' Most of the time it meant renting out some bar and having women around, while most of the men enjoyed this Keisuke didn't think much of it, and decided to go with the flow of things. Most of the times they'd end up in some alleyway or at the back of a bar when things got heated and this time it'd be no different.
He never knew any of their names, but they never found out his either. He'd seen them all, and the pattern was usually the same, girls with long colored hair, usually busty and tight clothing.
Before he knew it he was on his back and she was kissing her way down his chest, they were in back of the bar, somewhere the girls called the VIP room. In one hand he held her bra as he looked up to the ceiling only to see his sharp eyes and pale chest reflected back at him.
He zipped his pants, the sunlight hurting his eyes a lot more than usual. According to his watch it was six o'clock in the morning, he started his bike, if he was quick enough he'd make it home in time before his brother left for his winter lectures, today he'd be in charge of his little cousin Tsugumi who was now going to enter eighth grade in the spring. It wasn't something he agreed to do until his brother asked and it was only then he caved in, after all it was his brother's toolbox he had been using lately to play around with the Fireblade.
Ryosuke knew this was difficult for him since Tsugumi could barely stand Keisuke and he too returned the favor. The girl was a snot nosed brat who looked down on him as most of his family did.
He turned sharply around the corner, finally on his street. Keisuke pulled into the driveway where his brother's white car was parked; he turned off the bike and took off his helmet.
Keisuke looked down at his watch, it was only six thirty meaning his brother was probably having breakfast; he fixed his sweater and made sure his pants looked okay as he walked into the house through the garage.
He yawned, walking into the kitchen and just as he predicted Ryosuke sat in the kitchen sipping on some coffee as he read a car magazine. "Hey bro" greeted Keisuke taking a seat across the table, his brother put down the magazine, today he wore a buttoned down white shirt and a black tie.
"Keisuke you smell like stale cigarettes and cheap perfume" said his brother in a disapproving tone as Keisuke grabbed a piece of toast off Ryosuke's plate. "Take a shower before Tsugumi wakes up."
Keisuke frowned but only nibbled on his toast as his brother stood up "our aunt and uncle are going to pick her up tomorrow, I left some money where the house keys are so you can take her out." Ryosuke then walked past Keisuke putting his hand on Keisuke's shoulder and squeezing it "Keisuke whatever's going on, you can talk to me about it."
Keisuke looked at his brother who gave him a worried look as he released Keisuke's shoulder. "It's nothing, 'sides I haven't gotten into trouble" he said standing from the table holding his toast. "Go, I got Tsugumi covered."
Ryosuke nodded leaving the kitchen and heading towards the garage, Keisuke walked towards the stairs while fitting the piece of toast into his mouth as he dashed towards his room picking up some clean clothes and a towel before heading towards the bathroom.
His mind went back to Yamada, he couldn't be serious to leave Keisuke in charge of the gang. Out of the whole lot of them he was one of the younger members.
Swallowing his last piece of toast he stepped into the shower trying to clear his mind as the hot water rained down on him. "Yamada's out of his friggin' mind if he thinks I'm going to deal with those assholes" he thought grabbing the soap. "I'm not about to become Sakamoto's bitch."
The rest of his shower went peacefully; it cleared his mind at least until he heard a knock on the door. "Keisuke is that you?" asked a female voice as he shut off the water "hurry up, it's already eight o'clock."
"Alright just let me get some clothes on!" he shouted annoyed. It wasn't even noon and he could already tell today would be a shitty day.
Tsugumi was tall for her age; her hair was shoulder length and black. She embodied the epitome of Japanese beauty standards. She was slender and pale with big brown eyes, their father always said that beauty was in the Takahashi genes.
The temperature had dropped today forcing Tsugumi to put on more layers than she usually would. This pleased Keisuke, at least perverts wouldn't be looking her way today.
He waited for her impatiently at the bottom of the stairs as she finished getting dressed. Keisuke turned to the mirror on the wall beside him. He had a black sweatshirt, blue pants and dark shoes, in his eyes he looked more than decent.
"I'm ready Keisuke" shouted Tsugumi from the top of the stairs, he looked up, she wore black leggings and boots over them and a pink coat. "C'mon we gotta catch the bus!" she said running down the steps. Keisuke sighed as he followed her out of the door. Above them the sky was cloudy as it had been for the past few days, along with the sudden drop in temperature.
"Aniki said you wanted to go into town and walk around" said Keisuke trying to make conversation as the made it to the bus stop. She shrugged taking a seat and looking down at her watch.
"So why did you bleach your hair?" she asked after a few minutes of silence, he frowned leaning against a pole.
"I like the look" he answered through his teeth his arms across his chest. He had other things on his mind, how was he going to face the gang tonight, had Yamada already spoken to them, and even if he had the change in leadership might make them look weak to some of the other gangs in the area.
He felt Tsugumi pull him into the bus, he took the seat next to her. "Ryosuke says you got into third year" said Tsugumi as the bus began to move, Keisuke nodded without looking down at her. "I planned on going to Seika when I get into high school; I heard they have all sorts of clubs." He nodded again in response, all he could hear was Kyo's warning, he shook his head. Why the hell was that bothering him so much? Yuta knew nothing of his late night activities, so how could he be harmed.
"Keisuke" said Tsugumi pulling his arm as the bus came to a stop; he stood up and followed her out into the city. It was as usual busy, mostly with teenagers on winter vacation or stay at home moms doing some shopping. He simply followed Tsugumi into a particular store where she forced him to look through racks of clothes. After a while she spoke again "everyone in the family thinks you cheated your way into third year, well not everyone, just your father-"
He brought his brows together glaring in her direction. "You're calling me a dumbass."
She shook her head picking out a sweater in a light blue. "Not really, Ryosuke sees potential in you for some reason, so I agree with him." Tsugumi shoved the sweater into his arms "now let's go to the fitting room and try this on, then we can have some hot chocolate."
He went along with it, and even waited as she tried on a couple sweaters, and once she decided on which sweater she wanted they walked out of the store in search of a café. He yawned pulling his arm behind his head.
"There how about that one!" she said pointing to a small café across the street. He nodded following her across the street. "This one looks nice" she said as they walked in, Keisuke looked around, the atmosphere looked rich, there were little lamps all over the place and the tables were made of expensive wood. A hostess walked them towards a booth near the window, as they sat down he looked out the window.
It had begun to snow, outside the people looked up in wonder, it reminded him of the spring when people would stare at the cherry blossom leaves that would fall all over the place. "Isn't it beautiful?" asked Tsugumi her head propped on her elbows. He nodded mindlessly as she continued to speak. "You've been pretty quiet today, usually you hate coming out with me, what changed your mind?"
"Aniki has done a few favors for me lately, I just wanted to help him back" responded Keisuke his eyes glued to the window. He could always count on his brother for anything, but there was something he had to do for himself. No way could he let his brother find out the things he'd done. Although it somewhat shamed him, he couldn't feel bad about, most of the people they had beaten, stolen from, or in any way hurt had it coming. At least that's what kept him asleep at night.
"Keisuke you're chocolate is getting cold" said Tsugumi as she picked off a marshmallow of hers. He snapped out of his daze looking down at his cup of hot chocolate, Keisuke looked at his cousin as she drank from her hot chocolate happily. He drank from his, once he put the mug down Tsugumi was still going through hers. "Still not talking?" she asked curiously, he sighed.
"I don't prod into your business, so stay out of mine" he said, he heard her sigh.
"Any way I need some advice, and since Ryosuke isn't around" she began shaking her head "rather I wouldn't ask him-"
He turned to her surprised at the way she spoke to him. Usually she was hostile, but today she seemed…nice. "It's about a guy?"
"A friend, yeah he keeps getting into trouble-"
"What kind?" asked Keisuke leaning back against the booth.
"He keeps being bullied, and I've tried to stop them but the people in my class, they're cruel-" at this point Keisuke's features relaxed. "I –I love him and I'm scared that next year will be our last together, but I don't want to tell him-"
"He'd be stupid to reject you as for the bullies all he has to do is stand up for himself" said Keisuke with a small smile, she smiled back.
"Right" she said with a smile quickly changing the subject "you turn eighteen soon right?"
"Yeah January first" he answered as she finished her hot chocolate.
"Yet you've never had a girlfriend…at least one you've brought home" said Tsugumi a curious look on her face.
"Girls are trouble, now let's get going before the snow gets bad." He said putting down the money on the table, with that they walked out of the shop and back to the bus stop.
Once they stood at the bus stop he watched Tsugumi pull out gloves out her pocket and put them on. "Thanks for the day out" she said with a smile, he nodded by the time they got home Ryosuke would already be there, and then he could get some sleep.
He opened the front door taking a glance at the garage where his brother's whit car sat, Tsugumi rushed in leaving him to close, she immediately pulled her boots off and ran off to the kitchen where she knew her elder cousin would be, he took off his shoes and slipped on his house slippers. Yawning he made his way to his room until he felt his phone vibrate, pulling it out of his pocket he immediately picked up.
"Yamada what's wrong?" he asked walking up the stairs.
"I already told the guys what I told you last night" said Yamada in the background he could hear the clicking of a lighter. "Some of the punks left, so you're stuck with about ten since most of them are taking Sakamoto's employment offer." He took a drag of the cigarette. "Anyway come by the warehouse tonight at around ten."
Keisuke yawned "alright, alright I'll get there at ten." With that he shut off the phone as he walked into his room, pushing all his clean laundry from the bed and throwing himself on it. Tonight would be another long night.
By nightfall an inch of snow had settled onto the sidewalks and the roads were slightly icy making it difficult to maneuver the Fireblade, but somehow Keisuke managed to keep a steady pace. He turned a corner sharply into a small street at its end stood a few men smoking cigarettes each next to their respective vehicle. As he came closer they turned to him some surprised others with rage.
The bike came to a stop a few feet away from the group, Keisuke removed his helmet, he now felt the icy air against his face.
"Heard about the new management already?" asked Keisuke walking towards them, one of the taller guys nodded turning off his cigarette.
"Yeah, and we don't agree with it" he said now inches from Keisuke's face, the blond glared back.
"Then fuck off if you don't like it" shouted Keisuke pushing the man away.
With that he marched into the warehouse where he found himself with seven other members one of them looked unfamiliar. He was as tall as Keisuke but had a wider built. "Hey who are you?"
He cleared his throat and bowed "I'm known as Katsu."
Keisuke looked down at him "Stand up, Katsu, you don't need to bow to me, how old are you?"
Katsu stood up "Sixteen."
Keisuke took a deep breath looking around at the others; they were all older than Katsu. "Alright listen up" he shouted attracting the ones that were outside. "I'm only to say it once" he went on his heart beating faster. "There are going to be some changes around, one is you'll only refer to me using my initials, for those of you that don't know me by name it's now just K.T" he noticed himself pulling out his box of cigarettes, the next part was going to be hard to say. "Also we are no longer Sakamoto's go to boys, there are other gangs in the city, he can use them." They watched as he lit a cigarette and took a drag, a couple spoke amongst themselves, until one of the quieter guys raised his hand.
"But isn't that just gonna bring us trouble, Sakamoto's-" he said , Keisuke blew the smoke out of his mouth.
"A friggin' coward, his son is too, they depend on others, besides I don't know about you but I'm nobody's bitch" answered Keisuke taking another drag. The men stared some dumbfounded others confused, but nevertheless Katsu clapped.
"We're nobody's bitches!" he shouted proudly, the other men joined into the chant. Keisuke smiled satisfied. Once they had calmed down he spoke again.
"Now how about raising a little hell to let him know he doesn't own us" he smirked as the others all smiled each going around the warehouse picking up baseball bats and metal pipes, Keisuke put his hand on his pocket, he had his blade and that was more than enough.
"Say, er boss, who are we exactly going to hit?"
"Some of his men on the other side of town-" began Keisuke as realization dawned on the red hair man.
"You mean the guys near the convenience store!"
Keisuke nodded until realization dawned on him, that was the convenience store Akemi was supposed to work in. He frowned before speaking, "I want those guys out of there, it'll be our turf." If he got them out of the way, she wouldn't get into any trouble, this was his best bet.
The men began to get excited as they held their weapon of choice. All looking at him for answers, he threw half of his cigarette on the floor and stepped on it.
"What the hell are we waiting for?" he shouted turning his back on them and walking outside. All he knew about that area was that it was controlled by some guy name Haru, though tonight they'd be rid of the titled of the most notorious bosozuko gang on the streets of Maebashi.
Hello readers! Here's chapter twelve, I know you guys are reading, just feel free to know your opinion in the little box below or through a pm.