The next few days were uneventful for Ken hardly saw his quiet friend at all, save for a couple of minutes after school had finished. He'd try to pry his friend to speak of what was bothering him so much, but every time he'd get the same shake of the head and 'sorry, I gotta go'.

Ken was seriously worried…and bored.

Propped against a beat-up bench, Ken heaved a sigh. "What do I do now?"

The birds are chirping wildly today on this chilly afternoon. Ken had forced Chikusa to take a walk with him. The blond chatted incessantly, filling in on what the other has missed from his lack of attendance.

Chikusa though, wasn't listening. Ken's voice was just a muffled drone.

They were nearing the not-so-public library. The place where they first saw each other. A sudden thought occurred to him.

"Ken."

"-went BA-huh? What's up, Kakipi?" the blond quickly brought all his attention to the other.

Chikusa nodded his head towards the library. "Why does the owner dislike you so much?" He asked, remembering the loud outburst on their encounter.

Ken hummed in thought, lightly frowning. "The guy saw me doing some bad stuff. Bad impression, you know?" His eyes lowered to his feet, looking ashamed. "I was pretty stupid a while back; and meeting you…" his sentence was drowned out by some outburst nearby. Chikusa realized it was that wild gang of boys; and they were approaching fast.

"Yo, Joshima!" One called out.

"Where've you been, man!" a short one followed.

"C'mere! We've got some wicked news!" an even shorter one, yipped happily, jumping across the pair.

"Joshima, we need to borrow your time," the leader, it seemed, stated calmly, eyeing Chikusa warily.

Ken hesitated, startled by the sudden appearance. He blinked, but nodded. "Be right back, Kakipi. Don't stray off." With that said, he glanced one last time at his beanie friend and winked, "Don't cause any trouble, pyon!"

"…" Chikusa watched as the Wild Boys took Ken away. Some of the boys turned to look at the beanie fellow once more, suspicion mingled with curiosity in their wild eyes.

… .. .. ...

Chikusa grew tired of waiting after a measly three minutes and trudged off, letting his legs lead him. The sun had begun its descent, dimming the surrounding area he was currently in. Though his path was somewhat obscured, the unmarked road and its soft gravel was vaguely familiar. Chikusa's stomach knotted uncomfortably as, far ahead, he caught sight of the oh-so familiar railroad tracks that almost took his life.

What am I doing here?

…He felt their presence…

"Kakimoto Chikusa?" a throaty voice spoke.

Chikusa turned, facing the sudden appearance of a trio in hoods. "Yeah."

"Heey, he looks nothing like those two," the shortest of the three mused loudly.

"Stupid, what do you expect?" the third retorted.

The short one huffed. "Well, geez, sorry."

"You two…" the middle one-most likely the leader-sighed.

Chikusa, mildly bemused, interrupted the trio's argument. "What do you want?"

The joking atmosphere dissipated, as the middle one answered. "You."

…

All seriousness was lost as the other two burst in a fit of laughter.

"What's so funny?" the leader was completely serious.

Shorty answered first. "That sounded so wrong! You're so bad at this!"

"Seriously!" the other agreed, holding onto his stomach.

"…" Chikusa didn't know whether this was a prank or a failed ambush. Are these guys for real?

"Enough!" the leader barked, shutting the two up, then pointed a finger at Chikusa. "HE, is our prime objective! Get him, NOW."

With that said, the two darted towards the now really confused Chikusa. NOW they're attacking…

A nun-chuck and baton are brought out by the pair. Chikusa swiftly dodges the Shorty's spinning nun-chuck, while at the same time stepping away from the other's baton. He feels the air slap him as he narrowly missed a direct hit to the face of the baton. Crouching abruptly, Chikusa strikes with his leg, tripping Shorty. The nun-chucks fly from his hands, which Chikusa promptly kicks from reach.

"Oh no you don't!" the one with the baton lurches forward, preparing to strike until a foot planted itself on his hooded face.

Chikusa was now face to face with the leader, who revealed a bladed staff. What's with these weird weapons?

Staff swings.

Chikusa dodges.

Staff jabs.

Chikusa steps away.

Staff swings with a jab.

Chikusa steps away and jumps back.

A constant dance that Chikusa deemed boring.

He knew he was approaching the tracks, where he would fake an opening. These guys are amateurs.

Just as planned, Chikusa's foot bumped into the track, causing him to fall. The hooded man overhead held his blade ready to strike, "Get the needles ready, you runts!" he yelled at the other two.

Needles..?

"What the he-Kakipi!"

"Ken?" Chikusa blinked, not expecting his friend to stumble upon this.

"Oi! Who the hell are y-OW!" the baton wielder was kicked onto the ground by the blond.

Shorty stopped mid-run, glancing nervously at the wild blond's attack on the other assaulter. "Umm-"

"What the hell are you waiting for? Bring me that needle! This kid needs the injection!" the man standing before Chikusa shouted.

The spectacled boy blinked rapidly, his thoughts swirling, vague memories bubbling up. Needle? Injection? What…

The pattering of running footsteps followed by a short yelp brought Chikusa back to reality. He whipped out his legs, tripping the man with the bladed staff and hastily got to his feet; soon after that move, Ken yanked the leader's arm and swung him into the Shorty's direction.

Shorty rubbed his head, where Ken had struck him. "H-hey, isn't that guy-"

"Yeah, he is," the baton wielder spat.

The leader got to his feet, stepping back warily. "Let's go."

The trio sprinted away, leaving the pair alone.

"Kakipi, what'd you do?" Ken watched the empty spot of where the assaulters were standing on.

Chikusa though, remained silent. A lot was going through his head.

It seems this detention room was his permanent class as he had been in here for the last couple of weeks. The sparse desks, rickety chalkboard, and chipped window was all too familiar now. Ms. Oregano had gotten use to having Chikusa as her 'student'.

"Something bothering you, Kakimoto?" she asks the quiet boy.

"That obvious?" he sighs, laying his head against the cool desk.

The missus sighs as well, looking up at the cheap plastered ceiling. "Yup, that obvious." And I'm assuming you won't speak of it.

The day continues as is.