This is their first time meeting each other cause why the hell not?

They're young and impressionable, so I wanted Fudou to be extra rough and seemingly trying too hard to be intimidating, which surprisingly works to mildly scare Kidou.

Chapter 3

"And who the hell are you?"

Kidou glared at the boy who spoke, defiantly countering his sinister scowl with his own fierce one. He couldn't afford to be intimidated— definitely not in front of a gang leader, surrounded by his crude lackeys sending him death threats with their cutting glares.

He took in a shaky breath, trying his best to calm his nerves. There was no reason to be afraid. After all, he was nothing more than just another young punk with a callous attitude.

"Kidou Yuuto," he replied firmly, in the boldest voice he could possibly manage.

The gangster's scowl hardened, as if contemplating whether or not Kidou was worth his time. He had a malevolent face, Kidou noted, with piercing, cynical green eyes and a stupid mohawk that reminded him of a turnip. He wondered what would happen if he yanked him up by his hair.

"And what do you want? It'd better be important. I'm a busy man."

Kidou wanted to scoff. Man? He was barely a teenager! Kidou hadn't even met him for 5 minutes and he was already sick to the stomach with his shitty personality.

But still, he had to do it. It was for his own protection after all. He'd rather work with this idiot of a gang leader than be at the mercy of others.

"I want to join your gang," Kidou stated, steeling his gaze. "You're the boss, right?"

Muffled chatter broke out amongst the gang members, all of them shooting him judgemental looks and raising their eyebrows at their leader, anticipating his response.

Condescending green eyes tore through Kidou's core.

"And what makes you think I'll let someone like you join?"

The words were delivered acerbically, burning through skin like straight acid.

Ah, of course.

Kidou ignored the boy's contemptuous words and suppressed a smile; He had expected to be questioned like this. The interview for recruitment began.

"Well, I'm—"

"You're too soft," the boy said in a dismissive tone, rudely cutting him off as if he wasn't even worth listening to. "I won't let someone weak into my group."

Weak? Kidou pursed his lips tightly, indignation and heat bubbling from his chest and rising to his neck. How dare he! How the hell could he make a definite judgement on someone's strength and worth based on just a mere glance?!

The words were out of his mouth before he could stop himself.

"There's more than one type of strength, and you must be a pretty lousy leader if you can't see that. I'm strong in my own ways, and you shouldn't judge people based on appearances alone. I am not weak," Kidou snarled acrimoniously, masking his trembling fingers with balled fists.

"I am not weak."

The alley went dead silent, everyone holding their breaths in suspense as the boy looked at him with a chillingly empty stare. But Kidou could tell that thousands of ambivalent thoughts were running rampant through his mind.

He was actually considering!

Kidou didn't dare to break the staring contest, forcing himself to stand his ground. Averting his gaze now would contradict his previous statement.

Finally, the boy cracked a lopsided smirk and let out a raspy laugh, suddenly amused at Kidou's outburst. He moved closer and pinched his cheek, causing him to wince in pain.

"You're really something, huh? I misjudged you, Kidou Yuuto."

"Ah!" Kidou didn't expect him to be so courteous with his words all of the sudden. He was almost certain that a punch would come flying at his face.

Seems like they had both misjudged each other.

"Does that mean that I'm...?"

"Yeah," the boy's smirk widened into a satisfied grin. "The name's Fudou Akio. Welcome to the team."