Chapter One
Assuming there were a particular adverb in any dictionary that impeccably captured how Shiba Yuzuha felt, it would for certain be broken. Her whole world was tormented with complete darkness, it choked the living air out of her. Regardless of what she did or how frequently she stupidly deceived herself that things would ultimately be better, the cosmos gave her a rude awakening. Facing consistent maltreatment from no other than her older sibling who ought to have been their family's safe haven, destroyed her happiness. He never lost his disgusting and abhorrent personality; it remained constant, deteriorating over time. Despite the fact that it seemed implausible, she liked to imagine that these behavioural changes were framed as an immediate response to their mother's passing, because only then did her mind find some ease in the heinous brutality he subjected her to. Regardless of his actions, she still adored him, at least a little. Stupid, huh?
The variable restricting her love for Taiju was his habit of putting his hands on their sibling, Hakkai, rather than her, like he'd sworn. She'd incinerate all bridges between Taiju and her if anything happened to Hakkai. Yuzuha could never break the promise she made when her mother took her last breath, which is why, all things considered, it is and forever will be her fundamental duty to protect her brother.
Of course she knew that implied withstanding each hit, but she'd willingly trap herself at the very core of that endless cycle for him. She would take any measures to shield Hakkai, who is the one person in the entire world for whom she'd put her life on the line for. When the award was Hakkai's safety, no punch Taiju administered towards her made a difference; that acknowledgment alone furnished her with some comfort.
Yuzuha made it a priority to keep the abuse away from meddlesome eyes. She didn't need anybody interfering in her personal matters or treating her like a defenseless casualty. She had enough of that when she glanced at herself in the mirror, which is why she tried her best to cover her injuries with beauty products. In public, she effectively deceived others around her. If anyone were to truly attempt to read her, they'd never guess what goes on behind closed doors. She presented herself as confident, brutally honest, unbothered, opinionated, and someone who puts others before herself — qualities Hakkai loathed since they regularly drove his sister into dangerous situations.
Hinata's chuckling hauled Yuzuha out of her thoughts. Her eyes were fixed on Takemitchy, who was presently losing horrendously to Hakkai in their bout. Her brother laughed wholeheartedly at the blonde's consistent grumblings. Takemitchy kept blaming Hakkai for having rigged the game beforehand, reluctant to concede that his abilities needed refining.
Normally, Yuzuha stayed away from Hakkai's social circle and maintained her distance. She was unable to jeopardize her brother's honour or credibility by saying the wrong things, which possessed the ability to contradict the story Hakkai created when he revealed the ugly "truth" occurring in their household. Thus, the simplest way to be sure of it was to act as though Hakkai's acquaintances didn't exist. Nonetheless, occurrences like this one, where they caught Takemitchy by accident while playing their own round of bowling, couldn't be avoided, so she stayed put, remaining right next to her brother.
Yuzuha was dragged there against her will. Hakkai badgered her all morning, offering her a tonne of treats if she accompanied him. She obviously loves sweets; otherwise, an escape strategy would have been in full effect at that precise moment.
Hinata intruded on Yuzuha's hopes of remaining alone as she hauled her to the seating area, regardless of her protests, and started blabbering aimlessly about how Takemitchy had destroyed their date the previous evening by bringing the whole Toman bunch.
In just five minutes after they had officially met, the girl had shared the entire trajectory of her life. She sure does love talking, Yuzuha noted.
"Can you believe it?"
Yuzuha racked her brain, attempting to figure out what the hell the girl next to her had been raving about for a good several seconds. Truth be told, she had actually blanked out when Hinata dragged her away. "Um, believe what?" She questioned, apprehensively hoping Hinata wouldn't resent her unfortunate listening skills.
Instead, she smiled and said, "Don't worry, I generally daydream too, it's absurd how frequently I do it! Anyway, back to the story." Before proceeding, Hinata confirmed that Yuzuha's complete attention was on her. "I was just saying how the boys got into an altercation with the Black Dragons. They were assaulting innocent bystanders and speaking to girls in the most outrageously unacceptable manner. Obviously, neither of the two gangs wanted to admit defeat, so it got kinda messy. But, oh my god! Mitsuya is literally a knight in shining armour. When Takemichi disappeared, he ensured I remained safe." She smiled affectionately at the recollection from last night. While Hinata wasn't totally incensed by the presence of Tokyo Manji's commanders, she rather preferred a night out with only her boyfriend.
Hearing Hinata's remarks, Yuzuha almost slipped out of her seat.
The Black Dragons? Gosh, even their name creeped her out. Taiju wasn't the sort to act without first considering the benefits it'd bring him. Evidently, he had more nefarious plans in mind when he permitted his men to entertain the idea of battling Toman's captains. She immediately felt sick to her stomach in light of the fact that the whole situation foretold peril. Cautioning Hakkai regarding her suspicions before things took a horrendous turn, promptly rose to the highest point of her plan for the day.
After all, he was in Toman. They were his brothers, and she has seen firsthand how fiercely they defend their own. She concedes she might not have been the biggest supporter of her brother's choice to be in a gang, because she believed that in the event that Hakkai shared even the smallest resemblance to Taiju's interests, he would've become motivated by the violence that prevailed around him. Now, she understands that it's really the opposite. He's at home with them, he's accepted, and above all, he's happier. She's only ever wanted that for him. So, Yuzuha holds back her words when he returns home wounded and stitches him up, leaving the improper expletives on the tip of her tongue.
"You know, Mitsuya isn't my type. Yet he is unquestionably any girl's ideal man. He's definitely a keeper!"
Then there was that name—the other piece of Hinata's story that continued to pick at her cerebrum.
Her brother's closest friend, hero, and role model all came in the form of a nineteen-year-old boy named Mitsuya Takashi. Their initial encounter left a remarkable impact on her brother. It opened his eyes, pulling him out of the unmotivated stump he lived in.
Hakkai quit attacking innocent individuals and, on second thought, invested all his energy in his newly formed closest companion, spending his days at Mitsuya's house or with his other friends, whom he generously familiarized with Hakkai.
Yuzuha felt a pang of envy when she began to comprehend that her sibling was being taken from her. She let it slide. She had no place to complain when the delight composed all around Hakkai's face following each encounter with his friends radiated how ecstatic he was.
The straw that broke the camel's back arose when she discovered that Mitsuya and his buddies were hellbent on forming their own gang. She didn't mind at all what he did in his spare time, it's not like it concerned her. Yet when he asked her brother to join as his second division vice captain, that's when the anger boiled inside her.
All this time, she's exerted every ounce of her strength to shield Hakkai from potential risks, not prodding him to enter the lion's den. Mitsuya instilled the mentality that one should look danger in the eye without flinching, laugh, and then, at that point, fight valiantly. They were driven to create the Tokyo Manji gang out of a sense of brotherhood and the need to defend their loved ones. Don't get her wrong. She understands their reasons; it's more accurate to say that she can relate to them. But adding her brother into that equation? No.
Not to mention, he didn't want him to only join as a member. Goodness, no. The boy needed Hakkai as his subordinate. How wonderful.
Needless to say, her assertion made no difference against Mitsuya's, and Hakkai cheerfully acknowledged the proposition, seizing the opportunity very quickly. From that point forward, she's fostered an intense dislike for Mitsuya, or perhaps hatred would be more fitting. He got her brother out of whatever gloominess he wounded up in with just one meeting, while she had been pursuing doing so for a really long time. Hakkai held him to a higher standard than every other person, so naturally she couldn't help but despise him. She's done and given so much, only for some random stranger to figure out how to assist Hakkai in finding his purpose. In her eyes, it decreases her significance.
There's no way around it other than detesting his dearest friend silently. She's met him a couple of times, even after their first introduction facilitated by Hakkai — one she intentionally kept short. Lately, though, she has been minimizing their interactions. If she needed to guess, she probably hasn't seen him in about a year. They last ran into each other while she was waiting outside Mikey's house for Hakkai. Her brother had begged her to come by so that they could walk back home together, and the rational part of her made it abundantly clear that agreeing to this meant there was a strong possibility that she would run into his friends. Nonetheless, she likewise didn't have any desire to walk alone in the pitch-black night. Also, Mikey's residence fell near the café she had visited.
Idiotically going through with it, she immediately spotted Mitsuya parking his motorcycle in Mikey's driveway. When he hopped off the bike, he saw her standing there. A shocked look surpassed his features as he watched her. Soon enough, a grin quickly adorned his face.
"Hey," he said, inching closer.
She panicked. There's no way she would be able to have a conversation with him when there were recently formed bruises all over her body.
Yuzuha disregarded him, choosing to push past him instead. She knocked impatiently, gnawing her base lip in anxiety.
"What the heck?" She heard Mitsuya's irritated voice mumble.
Fortunately, Hakkai was the one to open the door, seemingly amazed at the unexpected duo before him. He hasn't seen them together in months, it felt nice to be reminded of old times.
"Taka-chan! It's great to see you, we were beginning to think you wouldn't come."
"Mhm, just ran a little late dealing with Luna and Mana... "
She could feel his gaze lingering on the back of her head, burning holes. Without listening to the rest of their conversation, she unexpectedly moved, murmuring to her brother that she was leaving. She's almost certain her actions substantially surprised them both.
She vividly recalls Hakkai's annoyance with her that evening for allegedly "disrespecting" his idol.
Like she's convinced herself before, shunning her brother's friends was for the best. Concluding that they despised her because of that, she didn't have to worry about unexpected chitchats. That way, any scars that may be discernible couldn't expose Hakkai's lies.
Hearing Hinata paint Mitsuya as some sort of heartthrob nearly made her do a double take. Why does she get stuck in such situations?
"A keeper?" She questioned. "Highly unlikely. If his track record with women is any indication, he's anything but." Yuzuha had never discussed his private affairs before; hence, she was baffled by the sudden admission. Granted, Hakkai has a big mouth and likes to overshare regarding all his friends' extensive relationship histories, to the point where every little detail is entrenched in her mind. However, the fact that those words came out of her mouth stunned her, leaving her slightly embarrassed as well.
Hinata bumped her shoulder with Yuzuha's, wiggling her eyebrows in a knowing manner. "Is there something you're not telling me, Yuzuha?"
She nearly chocked on her water. "Huh, of course not."
Mitsuya followed behind Draken, Mikey, and Baji as they advanced towards a bowling alley, civility of Mikey's requests. They were initially supposed to hold a meeting where every Toman member was going to be informed about what had occurred during their encounter with the Black Dragons. He could already sense the friction it would bring within their gang. Uncertainty is always present when confronting a new enemy, especially when you are unaware of the odds. Nonetheless, the Black Dragons weren't officially their foes yet; they were treading cautiously.
A war breaks out when a deal is broken, territory is invaded by the wrong gang, or if there's extreme hostility between the two sides. Those weren't the problem in this instance. In the hope of attracting their attention, the Black Dragons were beating on vulnerable civilians, and the Toman captains couldn't just remain idle. After giving them what they wanted, a full brawl transpired. Still, since it was merely a brief altercation, this would not constitute a declaration of war. Maybe that would at least alleviate their members' unrest.
The gathering didn't wind up occurring. It got rescheduled for the following day on the grounds that Takemitchy persisted he had important matters to tend to. Since the previous night's catastrophic date, Mitsuya had a hunch that the "stuff" he was referring to was taking Hinata out on a second date, but he disregarded his suspicions.
Baji groaned, not understanding why they didn't drive their bikes to the bowling alley. "Seriously, why the fuck are we walking? Taking our bikes would have saved us fifteen minutes of our lives, you know."
"For the last time, Baji, sometimes you need to live in the moment," Mikey said with a frustrated sigh.
Mitsuya snickered. The scorching heat was fucking killing him with each step, prompting him to agree with Baji on this: "What's so exciting about us strolling, Mikey?"
Mikey peered over his shoulder, furious at his friend's treachery. "Wow, you as well?"
He playfully shrugged.
"Great!" Baji encircled Mistuya's shoulders with his arm. "That makes the two of us. How about you, giant?" He asked, anticipating Draken's reaction.
Draken was preoccupied with staring through the bowling alley's window and squinting his eyes to obtain a better look. "You're kidding me," he dead-panned.
"No, actually. I'm not," Baji responded, rolling his eyes. "We need an answer, dumbass."
"Shut it, Baji."
Right when the dim-haired boy planned to retaliate, Mikey interfered, asking Draken what he was gazing at.
"Takemitchy's here."
In order to get close to Draken, Mitsuya moved a few steps after shrugging off Baji's arm. Putting two hands on either side of his face for an enhanced view, he peered inside.
Other than the typical regular players, Takemitchy was standing there rolling the bowling ball, which made Mitsuya's temple wrinkle in perplexity. This was his urgent situation?
"Well, is it him?" Mikey tapped his foot impatiently against the pavement.
Mitsuya nodded.
Draken noticed another of their members as he stayed fixedly gazing inside. "Hakkai's here too."
Hakkai? What the heck was going on?
Baji chuckled amusedly, "Takemitchy blew off the meeting to go... bowling?"
When Mitsuya turned to face the direction in which Draken's line of vision had detected the blue haired boy, Hakkai was indeed present. His second division VP took a smug stance after each round and relished in Takemitchy's responses. That's strange. He recalled Hakkai informing him that if the meeting weren't to take place, he would spend the day with his sister, who, he should add, loathed him completely.
He turned slightly, scanning the rest of the establishment. Bingo, his guess was right. Hinata sat across from someone with ginger hair in a booth situated in the far right corner. "Who's that?" He wondered.
"What's he doing over here?" Draken enquired.
Mitsuya backed away from the glass window, "Hinata's right there. Put two and two together."
Nobody minded Hinata, they actually really liked her, but Takemitchy forgoing a crucial meeting to spend time with his girlfriend? Nope, unacceptable.
He heard Baji mutter something along the lines of "oh man," clearly enjoying this whole ordeal a little too much.
Mikey stood next to the entrance, "Might as well ask since we're already here."
When Takemitchy heard four familiar voices, he nearly tripped over his own feet. He thought his hallucinations were getting out of hand at first since it was impossible for them all to be here, right?
Wrong.
Shit, at this point, there's no way out, Takemitchy figured. Mitsuya shot him an annoyed look, and Baji punched his shoulder with extreme force, insisting he did so to bring him out of his reverie. This isn't a fantasy. The Toman captains stood before him in all their glory, sharing the same irritated expression.
He's already been stressed out enough by his dishonesty, which led to the meeting being cancelled. He did it for Hinata because she deserved better than the date she received yesterday. However, bailing on the meeting when he was presently competing with Hakkai rather than asking Hinata for forgiveness made it clear that he failed again. He really felt guilty over what he was doing to his friends and Hinata.
Takemitchy immediately fell onto his knees, speaking before anyone uttered a word. Tears began streaming down his face rapidly, the culpability hitting him all at once. "I'm so sorry, Draken, Baji, Mitsuya, and Mikey!" He tried wiping the tears with the sleeve of his shirt, but to no avail. "You're justified in punishing me. I knew it was stupid of me not to go to the meeting. And instead of being truthful, I lied. Please forgive me."
While Hakkai, who was in the background, managed to contain his laughter at Takemitchy's sudden state, the four of them exchanged a knowing look.
Following a few seconds of complete silence, Takemitchy was losing hope until Mikey unpretentiously grinned, "Takemitchy, quit fucking crying. It's okay."
"What?" He asked. "You're letting me off the hook?"
Mitsuya shook his head, his eyes sparkling in amusement. "Not exactly."
"Dinner's on Takemitchy after this round!" Baji shouted, hurrying past the crying boy to get to the spare bowling lane and demanding his friends join him. Hakkai instantly assisted Baji in setting up.
Mikey and Mitsuya followed suit, placing wagers on who would win. "Mikey, you're so going down." The former responded.
The latter squinted his eyes, "You're on."
"Huh?!" Takemitchy exclaimed, blinking away his tears as he continued to be perplexed by Baji's announcement.
"You heard him," Draken grinned, "Pay up."
Draken and Mikey were up against one another, and neither of them wanted to lose. However, if the scores were any sign, everyone kept falling short to Mitsuya, just like the outcome he promised. He was having an excessive amount of fun, so the shit eating grin never left his face. Mitsuya beat them all after just ten minutes of the round starting.
While waiting for his turn, he observed Hakkai also going for a seat after his match with Takemitchy. He beckoned him to take the spot next to him.
"Yes, Taka-Chan?" He asked.
Mitsuya continued watching his friends, only sparing Hakkai a quick glance, "Thought you had plans today?"
Hakkai rubbed his chin in thought: "Plans...?"
Nodding, Mitsuya kept his gaze on the scoreboard. "With your sister."
Hakkai's features relaxed in realization, "Oh, yes, with Yuzuha! We were actually here together before Takemitchy arrived."
Figures, Mitsuya thought. She has a bad habit of making sure no one crosses her path, which is some bullshit since they've done nothing wrong for her to act that way. Besides, Hakkai cannot be constantly choosing between his friends and sister, it makes even the simplest situations difficult for him. It's an issue that can be easily fixed, but Hakkai's sister is as adamant as she is egotistical. The poor guy sacrifices everything for her; why can't she give him this much?
"She's actually right ov—"
"Mitsuya!" Mikey exclaimed, drawing his friend's attention and interrupting Hakkai mid-sentence. "You win. I'm too hungry for this."
Mitsuya chuckled, "Fine, let's eat."
Yuzuha focused her attention on the disturbance she heard coming from a few feet away. Other than her brother and Takemitchy, seeing the other recognizable faces caused her actions to suddenly freeze. To prevent any uncontrollable trembling that would've ensued in her hands, she crumpled her skirt's fabric into a ball. She couldn't believe her luck, this had to be a joke.
"What're they doing here?" Hinata contemplated while she readied herself for yet another disastrous date. She examined the girl in front of her, perplexed. "Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Due to the sense of urgency that was overpowering Yuzuha's senses, she almost missed what Hinata said. "I... um, I have to go." She calculated how long it might take her to reach the exit before anyone noticed her, and fortunately, she'd make it. Even though they weren't exactly close to the table, she could tell they were approaching.
The various noises around her started to blend with the ones she could easily identify as her steps increased and her heart threatened to burst out of her chest. She really shouldn't be so paranoid when Hakkai's friends are present because all this nonstop hiding deteriorates her mental health. Without her doing so though, Hakkai would lose everything, and she couldn't stand to be a catalyst for his downward spiral. Yes, her bruises can be covered. She could even spend hours doing so. Once they were invisible, she might be able to finally breathe around them. As much as she'd like to think it was that easy, it wasn't.
She'd falter under Mitsuya's keen eye. Everyone knows he pays great attention to detail, practically nothing escapes his eye. What else can you expect from someone who loves fashion dearly? Mikey, Draken, Baji, Takemitchy, Chifuyu, and anyone else who's in Toman aren't easy to fool either, so her current method remains the safest.
Holding in her breath, she reached out for the door. When Yuzuha went to pry it open, someone jammed it shut by tightly grasping the handle with their palm.
"Leaving so soon?"
A/N: I'm excited to finally bring this idea to life because I love these two so much. I'm not a great writer by any means; I just like to write for fun. If this story isn't for you, there are many other incredible ones you can find. The plot will follow the Black Dragons arc but take on a different approach. Also, to better fit the story, the characters will be older than their actual ages in the manga. Thank you for reading!