Yusuke: Greetings, Okumura-San.

Yusuke: This is Kitagawa Yusuke.

Yusuke: I apologise for messaging so abruptly, but I wished to tell you that the painting is far from complete, and by all means, I would like it if both you and Mixta-San could return to the Artlier and continue working as my models.

Yusuke: There is no rush, however. My deadline for this project is on the 14th of May. Although I do very much prefer to take my time with such things, I am no sloth, and as such, I have full confidence in being able to finish the piece by then, even if the two of you were to visit once every two weeks.

Haru: I see… I believe that Akatsuki-Kun and I could perhaps meet you tomorrow? May I update you on that later?

Yusuke: I would appreciate that. Thank you in advance, Okumura-San.

Haru: You're very much welcome, Kitagawa-San!

Line break

Haru: Kitagawa-San! Akatsuki-Kun told me that he is free tomorrow, so we can be at the artlier tomorrow! What time would you like us to be there?

Yusuke: What a fantastical stroke of luck!

Yusuke: Could the two of you be there by 10:30 in the morning? I should have my paints ready by then.

Haru: I believe so!

Haru: I just asked Akatsuki-Kun, he said yes!

Yusuke: Very well then, tomorrow at 10:30 it is!

2/28, Sun

Midday - Madarame's Artlier

"Mixta-San, if you may, please move a little to your right… a little more… a little WAIT! Inch a little to your left! That's it… that's it… PERFECT! And Okumura-San, a little forward please? Perfect! Now please… HOLD!"

As he said this, Yusuke went to work on his art piece, with him stroking the canvas with his brush like there was no tomorrow. Neither Akatsuki nor Haru could see his work, but still considering the tremendous amount of focus Kitagawa was putting into it, they could tell that the blue haired teen was taking this seriously.

"Mixta-San, if you may, I would like you to stand before me for a while. I need an up close reference of your hair colour," commented Yusuke at one point, about an hour into the day. Akatsuki did just that, and thereafter, Kitagawa held a paintbrush with pink paint on its tip.

Shutting one eye to focus deeper on the brush itself, the painter hummed in satisfaction when he acknowledged that it was as close as it could get before going back to work.

"Okumura-San, may you show me your hand, please? I need an up-close reference of it so as to not mess it up. Please do understand that, apart from the face, a model's hands tend to be the hardest thing to get down perfectly onto a canvas," requested Yusuke after three hours of nonstop work, and at that, Haru nodded and moved over, allowing the painter to stare at her hand up close.

Kitagawa was, if nothing else, thorough, with him shifting Okumura's hand into the pose he desired and observing it closely. Looking between her hand and his work, the young painter took about thirty minutes to get her hand painted in, and once he was done, he chuckled lightly.

"Marvelous! Thank you, Okumura-San!"

And with that, he went back to work. Akatsuki was sitting by now, with him taking a short breather from his work, whilst Haru went back to act as the sole model for now, though all the while…

"Kitagawa-San… perhaps it's time for a break?" suggested Haru worriedly, to which Yusuke flinched.

"Are you growing tired of sitting? If so, you could swap out with Mix-"

"N-No, I mean, time for you to take a break, Kitagawa-San," reiterated Haru, with Akatsuki nodding along in agreement. The artist himself blinked in surprise at this, though moments later, he smiled lightly and shook his head.

"Hahah… no need to worry, Okumura-San. I am as energetic as I was hours prior. To rest now would be to allow all the energy I have within me to fade into nothing," hummed Yusuke with a smile. Haru seemed a little reluctant to argue further, as Kitagawa's passion was very much apparent in his words, though as for Akatsuki…

"What about hunger, though?"

And right as he said that, a low growl could be heard echoing through the room. At first, Akatsuki and Haru both thought that some rabid animal had managed to break into the Artlier. That notion surprised them less than they wanted to admit; the damn place looked so shabby that it was entirely possible that some sort of rabid animal was living inside the walls… but before long, they heard a low moan come from Yusuke, and thereafter…

"Hah… I… had hoped that the four bowls of noodles I had yesterday would satiate my hunger for much longer…" mused Yusuke as his cheeks flushed red, and to that, both Akatsuki and Haru shared a look.

"That… isn't how it works, Kitagawa-San…" muttered Haru in bewilderment, with Akatsuki chuckling lightly in agreement all the while, but regardless, that seemed to get the memo across, as Okumura, being the second oldest individual present, took charge and stood up, with her staring at Yusuke sternly. "We will take an hour break before continuing with your painting. This is for your own good, Kitagawa-San."

"I… I understand, Okumura-San," muttered Yusuke, with him being able to understand that the young lady was not giving him any room for argument, as evident by her stern words. Haru, satisfied with that response, motioned for Kitagawa to leave the studio alongside herself and Akatsuki, and he did so obediently, albeit with a heavy heart as he exited the room last and slid the door shut.

"I can order takeout if you guys want that," hummed Akatsuki as he whipped out his phone, with him already dialing in the number. "Does some Big Bang Burger sound good?"

"Big Bang Burger… hm… I have tried it on occasion. Is it possible to order their challenge burgers? I hear that it is incredibly rich in calories," inquired Yusuke in earnest, and at that, the other two glanced at one another briefly before shaking their heads. "I see… it seems to be an in-house deal. Saddening, but not unsurprising. But either way, I would like a Big Bang Burger, please."

"Don't worry about the bill! I can handle it!" assured Haru with a smile, only for Akatsuki to wave her off.

"You footed the bill yesterday, Haru-Chan. It's my turn today," mused Akatsuki with a grin, and though Haru was apprehensive at first, she eventually gave in as the boy ordered the food. The wait was minimal thanks to how close the Shibuya Big Bang outlet was to begin with, and after a short wait that had Okumura showing off some particularly cute images of cats to Kitagawa and Augus, the former framing the images with his fingers whilst the latter hummed in adoration of just how cute they were, their orders came in.

Considering how informal the meal was, none of the present company bothered with any manners as they dug in… or, well, Haru had almost attempted to do so, though Akatsuki beat her to it, with him biting into his Neptune Burger with quite a bit of vigor. Likewise, Yusuke dug into the selection of Saturn Fries and his own Big Bang Burger with a bit more panache (as much as you could have while consuming a burger anyways), and after realizing that etiquette wasn't required when hanging out with friends, Okumura sighed and politely had her Venus Salad.

"This is just me being curious, Kitagawa-San… but may we know where you live? I assume that you live around Shibuya, but then again, Kosei Academy isn't exactly a walk away, nor is it a one-line trip from here," inquired Haru as she set her salad down, to which Yusuke chuckled.

"Why, I live in both the Artlier itself and the Kosei Academy Dorms whenever Sensei is not in Shibuya, Okumura-San. I for one can ask for no better place to reside in, seeing as how it allows me to remain close to my work!" smiled Yusuke. His words were earnest, but still… something about them uneased both Haru and Akatsuki, who could hear some forced joviality behind the eccentric boy's words, as they shared a quick glance, but they didn't comment on it as the latter set his burger down and cleared his throat.

"If that's the case, then this place has got to have a pantry, yeah?" stated Akatsuki flatly, to which Yusuke blanched a little whilst choking on a fry. That reaction spoke volumes in regards to his current situation, though he was quick to regather himself and respond.

"Yes, Sensei's Artlier does indeed have a pantry, but I… I have a tendency to empty it quite quickly, to the point where I have very little to eat for the rest of the week," lamented Yusuke whilst shifting around awkwardly, eliciting a doubtful look from both Shujin students. There was an undeniable amount of falsehood hidden behind his words, and without hearing that, both Akatsuki and Haru recalled how Kitagawa had mentioned that he tended to not eat thanks to his own passion.

His previous statement from the day prior, back at the Beef Bowl shop, had also contradicted his current one, but even so, they didn't wish to make him feel more uncomfortable than he currently was, and as such, they changed the subject.

"I see. That's… good to hear, I suppose," muttered Akatsuki, with him shrugging lightly as he stole a fry from Yusuke, who frowned at this but said nothing of it. "Out of curiosity, where even is Madarame-San most of the time? He clearly doesn't live here."

"Madarame-Sensei lives in rented apartments all around Japan. Being a nation-renowned artist, Sensei no doubt has many venues to visit, and he cannot remain in one specific part of Japan for long," said Yusuke. His words made sense, though both Shujin students couldn't help but wonder if they were the full truth… not that they questioned it too much for now as they nodded.

"He reminds me of my father… he's rarely home these days because of his company obligations…" muttered Haru sadly. Yusuke's shoulders slouched at this, with him understanding how it felt to have a family member be so isolated from them, especially in more recent times thanks to personal obligations.

"... Madarame-Sensei does what he needs to in order to grant me a bright future. For that, I have everything to thank him for," mused Yusuke with a sad smile, one that was mirrored by Haru and, surprisingly enough, Akatsuki, who nodded in agreement.

"Parents are like that, or they should be, anyways," hummed Akatsuki thoughtfully. "Based on how you've talked about him thus far, he seems like a father figure to you."

"Indeed he is! Madarame-Sensei has been by my side for as long as I can remember, and though not by blood, I still consider him to be both my father and my Sensei all at once!" confirmed Yusuke, with him smiling proudly as he spoke. Akatsuki and Haru noted the boy's prideful tone; the kid certainly held Ichiryusai in high regard, which was understandable, but even so… something about his relationship with Madarame didn't quite add up to them, though they kept hush on that for now.

Either way, conversation ceased from there on as Yusuke's eyes darted down to the food as he slowly finished up his portion of the meal whilst Haru clasped her hands together and stared down at them uncertainly. Akatsuki himself simply sighed before finishing up what remained of his burger in a single chomp, and once he was done, he stood up and stretched, readying himself for the next few hours of modelling.

Said few hours passed by rather swiftly, with Yusuke, with renewed energy, painting the two individuals with great vigor. At one point, Haru had smiled as she brought up the notion of bringing some tea over during their next visit, and their junior thought the notion to be delightful, especially since it would sooth his mind for even more painting!

"You're really into this, huh?" mused Akatsuki as he stood up close to let the painter get a good view of his eyes, and thereafter, Yusuke smiled lightly and pointed the tip of his brush towards the boy questioning, with him getting a tiny bit of blue paint onto the older boy's cheek all the while.

"Had you expected anything less from the sole pupil of Madarame Ichiryusai?" asked Yusuke, sounding almost sarcastic as he spoke, and at that, Akatsuki and Haru blinked before they shared a laugh.

Yeah… they probably shouldn't have!

"You seem a little down, lil' boss. Anything you wanna get off your chest?"

Sasha's words had snapped Haru out of her mild trance-like state, and with a blink, she glanced over to her chauffeur with a look of uncertainty. Biting her lower lip, she stared out the window awkwardly before responding in an uncertain tone of voice.

"I… yes, Javor-San. I… it revolves around Madarame-San. I… I know it's rude to make assumptions of others, but I believe that he is mistreating Kitagawa-San, even if he is doing it unintentionally," muttered Haru sadly, to which Sasha flinched.

"That's quite a bold statement to make, Okumura-San," stated Sasha, to which Haru flinched.

"I… I know. I know. But still, I do worry for Kitagawa-San. Both myself and Akatsuki-Kun…" stated Haru, and to this, Sasha nodded.

"I see… well, I'm glad to see that you're as nice as ever, but don't go butting into other people's business, you got that? Especially when you know that they don't want you to. Leave that sorta crap to the adults who don't know any better," stated Sasha, with Haru flinching at his words, but even so, she nodded regardless, frowning all the while. "I'm not trying to be mean, but getting into other people's messes is… not exactly a good idea, especially when you're as young as you currently are. That's my advice, at least."

The rest of the car ride home was spent in silence, with Haru exiting the vehicle and heading up to her room in an almost mechanical fashion all the while. Sasha himself couldn't help but feel a little bad about his words, but still, she needed to hear that… and besides, he had not intended on doing nothing about this situation, as, right after he parked his car in the Okumura estate's parking lot, he whipped his phone out and dialed the number of his dear friend.

Ten rings and a drunkard picked it up.

"Ichiko? I need you to do me a favour. No worries, this one'll benefit us both… and please stop drinking so much, dear; I can smell the alcohol through the phone!"

3/2, Wed

After School - Madarame's Artlier

"So… is it close to completion?"

"Perhaps. The basic outline of both yourself and Mixta-San is already completed, but even so, the details will take more time. Now, if you may, Okumura-San, please tilt your head to the left a little. Thank you."

As he said this, Haru did as she was told, with Yusuke rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he painted Okumura's skin tone onto the canvas. Off to the side, Akatsuki huffed as he sat off to the side, with him taking a breather all the while. It had been just about two days since they last met, and now here they were again, modelling for Kitagawa once more.

Something had changed since the previous session, however. Yusuke seemed to be a little more open towards the duo now as he spoke a little more openly with them whilst painting. His brush strokes had gotten a lot more energetic as well, though it was something both Akatsuki and Haru attributed to how he was actually being fed properly for a change.

The way he scarfed down that takeaway they got for him both impressed and worried them to quite a significant degree, but either way…

"If I may, Mixta-San, Okumura-San… I would like to ask something… unorthodox," said Yusuke after some time, with him glancing between the two as he spoke. The duo didn't seem too bothered by his initial request, and as such, he asked his question. "This question was spurred on by a recent bout of inspiration on my part, but I was wondering if you wouldn't mind for me to add a few… personal touches of my own to the painting."

"Personal touches… as in…?" asked Akatsuki for clarification, which Yusuke gave in a heartbeat.

"Nothing too major. A dab of fantastical elements onto an otherwise normal painting would do quite a bit to alter it, after all, but I do not wish to disrupt your natural beauty too severely," clarified Yusuke. Both Haru and Akatsuki perked up upon hearing this, with them asking questions moments later.

"Fantastical elements…" echoed Haru, eliciting a smile from Yusuke.

"Indeed! I myself have never experimented with painting a fantasy setting, and now that I find myself inspired to do so… I feel as though this is a good time to try and do so!" smiled Yusuke, and to this, his models contemplated his words briefly before responding.

"Hm… I did always wish to have the appearance of a rogue, but I was never truly allowed to cosplay to such a degree," bemoaned Haru sadly as she twirled some of her locks with her index finger. Likewise…

"... I always wanted to wear knight armour…" added Akatsuki, to which Yusuke hummed lightly.

"A knight and a rogue? Curious… I shall take that into account, but for now, Mixta-San, if you may, I would like to have a closer look at your neck."

"Kitagawa-San… please don't say that to anyone else without context please."

"Why not? I simply wish to make sure that the colour of the paint I am currently using matches that of your neck!"

"Well yes, I know this. But I doubt that others will."

And to that, Haru let out a light giggle as Yusuke nodded in understanding. The day went on without a hitch from there on, with Kitagawa painting the two to the best of his abilities whilst making idle chatter with them.

The next time they visited, however, the two would wonder why Yusuke had a knight and rogue action figure propped up near his desk. When asked about it, Kitagawa promptly sat in front of them, claiming there to be no figures in his room, before continuing with his work, much to their amusement.

3/7, Mon

After School - Madarame's Artlier

Yusuke was busy… as usual, though things had gone a little strange as of late.

After the initial conversation on Wednesday, the blue haired boy had made a few intriguing pose requests; nothing too flamboyant, but even so… he had asked for Akatsuki to stand idly by whilst holding onto a stick as though it were a sword whilst making a request for Haru to hold her hand up to a spot in front of her head, almost as though she were holding the edge of a hat.

His reasoning behind this was unclear, though neither model questioned him about it as they went along with his antics, seeing as how it wasn't much of a tall order regardless.

Whilst Yusuke had Akatsuki stand a bit closer to frame his pose, Haru stood up to stretch her legs and excused herself to the bathroom. The youngest person present gave her directions, which she followed to a T, and after that whole debacle was over and done with, she got ready to head back down, though out of a general sense of curiosity and adventure… she decided to delay her return in favour of exploring just a little…

She harkened it to Akatsuki's confidence rubbing off on her.

Either way, there wasn't much. The bathroom was on the second floor, which was void of most noteworthy things, though at one point, Haru did come across a strangely ornate door that had a painting of peacock feathers plastered onto its surface alongside a sizable lock. Curious… Okumura wondered what could be behind it, though her curious nature was squashed by her rule-abiding self as she backpedalled from it and made her way back down to Yusuke's studio.

Best to not poke around too much, she reckoned…

"I find myself considering a Lance to be perhaps a little too topheavy when compared to a Katana. Do not be mistaken, I understand that the Lance has many uses, but when used outside of its intended purpose as a jousting weapon, I find it… impractical, especially the more traditional designs that feature the singular sharp point and nothing more."

"True, but a Lance is still much more durable than a Katana. You can use the polearm to deflect against attacks with more reliability than a Katana's edge, and the solid construction means that, in the long run, it'll likely last longer than one as well."

Oh goodness… what did she walk into…

Either way, when she had walked in on the conversation, both Yusuke and Akatsuki turned to glance at her, and seeming as though they sensed a potential tiebreaker, the duo addressed her in near perfect sync.

"Okumura-San!"

"Haru-Chan."

"Which is better; a Katana or a Lance?"

"I… uh… erm… a… a B-Battle Axe?"

And under their unified stares, Haru caved and accidentally gave them her own personal favorite weapon in fiction and non-fiction. Her response surprised them at first, though before long, Yusuke hummed thoughtfully whilst Akatsuki rubbed his chin.

"Yes… I see… a Battle Axe does have its uses," mused Yusuke as he pulled out a sketchbook and drew down a rough sketch of said weapon. "It is frontheavy and requires tremendous power to employ. Attacking with one would require more strength than to swing a Katana, but it makes up for this with a combination of slashing and kinetic force…"

"It's also more versatile than a Lance, since it's got an edged blade rather than a pointed tip. That, and Halberds exist, so it can have a length that rivals even a Lance," added Akatsuki.

"Uh… Akatsuki-Kun, Kitagawa-San… what happened while I was gone?" asked Haru, genuinely confused, to which Yusuke chuckled.

"Pardon me, Okumura-San. I had simply asked Mixta-San about his personal favorite medieval weapon," apologised Yusuke with a smile. Haru tilted her head at this.

"Is… is it in relation to the painting?" asked Haru for clarity, with Akatsuki scoffing as she asked this.

"I asked him that too, but he didn't respond…"

At the same time-

"You'll find out when it's done, Okumura-San!"

And with that, Yusuke smiled and went back to work, with that day going on like nothing else had happened all the while.

Evening

Her phone had rang in her cardigan's pocket when she and Akatsuki were leaving, and out of curiosity, the young woman had slid it out and checked the caller ID, and upon doing so, she tensed up, a gesture that made everyone present glance at her in worry.

Over by the driveway, Sasha stood by whilst waiting for his little boss, with his gaze noticeably sharpening when he saw his ward tense up in such a sudden manner, but he remained silent as he watched her bring the phone up to her ear and speak to the caller, with Akatsuki and Yusuke giving her some space all the while.

"S-Sugimura-San… is something the matter?" muttered Haru, and as she spoke, her friends moved to one side, giving her some space to speak. Whilst doing so however, Yusuke leaned in towards Akatsuki and whispered to him.

"Mixta-San, if I may, who is she speaking to?" asked Yusuke, and to this, Akatsuki scowled. He didn't wish to speak of Haru's arranged marriage without her consent, but Kitagawa didn't seem keen on letting the issue drop, as evident by the worry present in his gaze; he could tell that Okumura was uncomfortable speaking to the man on the line, and by all means, this strengthened his opinion on the boy quite a bit as he huffed and briefed him on the basics.

"I don't want to tell you everything; it isn't my place to do so… but… the bastard she's speaking to is Sugimura Takahashi… Haru's fiance," stated Akatsuki, with his voice sounding noticeably hostile as he spoke. To this, the younger yet taller boy recoiled.

"F-Fiance…?!" whisper-shouted Yusuke, with his shock evident. "How can this be possible, let alone legal…? Is Haru still not of age…? And… Sugimura Takahashi, the heir to Sugimura Enterprises… is he not almost five years her senior?!"

"... he is… but I don't believe that her father cares. I believe that he was the one to organise this… but why he'd marry his daughter off to Sugimura, of all people, eludes me," admitted Akatsuki, and to this, the boy before him scowled.

"I have heard of Sugimura Takahashi through the words of my Sensei. He is a vile man that even he would not paint! To leave Okumura-San in his grasp would be no better than to leave a Tiger cub to the poachers that have claimed its mother's skin!" snarled Yusuke, with him scowling as he surprised Akatsuki with his words, though moments later, Haru walked up to the two, seeming rather disheartened all the while.

With a gulp, Haru got ready to speak, though before she could do so, Yusuke seized her shoulders and looked her dead in the eye. The sudden gesture made Akatsuki and especially Sasha flinch, but still…

"Kita-"

"Okumura-San! I wish to make a request; could you perhaps show me around Shibuya alongside Mixta-San?" requested Yusuke, eliciting a confused look from her and everyone else present, though it didn't last for long, as the other guys realized what he was getting at. "Although I have lived in the Artlier for so long, I am ashamed to admit that I am… unfamiliar with the inner workings of Shibuya. There may come a time where I must traverse it for one reason or another, so may you guide me around? It is an odd request, but it would mean the world to me!"

"T-That is an odd request, Kitagawa-San, b-but still… I am-"

"Little boss?"

Squeaking when she abruptly heard the voice of her chauffeur behind her, Haru turned and saw that Sasha had left his car and had practically teleported behind her, amusing everyone present as he spoke.

"I can handle that problem for you. Your dad might play favorites with Sugimura, but he'll understand the situation if you offer to help out Kitagawa-San," smiled Sasha, with his grin telling Akatsuki in particular that the Madarame name held a lot more weight than the Sugimuras, and to this, he too couldn't help but grin as well. "I'll relay this info Sugimura too, so don't worry your lil' head about it, alright?"

A gentle pat to Haru's head accompanied Sasha's assurances, something that made the girl giggle as she allowed it, much to Akatsuki's amusement. Yusuke smiled as he framed the scene before him with his fingers, though not long after, he motioned towards the car by the driveway.

"But c'mon now, let's not waste any time. Hop on, I'll get you kids to Shibuya," mused Sasha, with him gesturing for the kids to do just that all the while. They piled into his vehicle with gusto, with Yusuke in particular marveling at just how high class its interior felt when compared to the comparatively plain exterior. When he heard this, the driver simply cackled and glanced back at the painter with a sharp gaze. "Hey kiddo, the J-Cruiser ain't just for show!"

And with that, they were off.

Shibuya Central Station

The kids had piled off by the Central Station, with Sasha assuring them that he'd still be here when they came back before making a few phone calls to inform Sugimura of this unfortunate development involving his fiance spending some time with her friends.

He'd rather not tell them of all the cussing that was involved in that phone call.

Either way, traversing through Shibuya in the evening certainly felt different to doing so in the afternoon or morning. Akatsuki and Haru had spent a few afternoons here, with the duo just chilling with one another by the arcade or diner (sadly closed for renovations until May 6th) to pass the time, but never in the evening, and never with a third friend either, so this was definitely a new experience for them. Regardless, they brought Yusuke around the place and showed him the lesser known stores of Shibuya, with him taking in everything with gusto all the while.

"How curious… these drinks are surprisingly expensive, but they seem surprisingly high quality too," mused Yusuke as he looked through the drink selection of the day. Akatsuki… would rather not speak of the Nasty Aojiru, though thankfully enough, his acquaintance seemed keen on having the Vitality mix, much to his relief. Haru covered the bill for him, something he was adamant against, but he accepted nonetheless.

"Well, at least it's not sewage water this time," mumbled Akatsuki as he emptied his Onsen Aojiru, eliciting a confused look from Yusuke as he chugged his Vitality and Haru… who was demolishing her cup of… "H-Haru-Chan… are you sure that's healthy?"

"Oh! It's quite alright, Akatsuki-Kun! It doesn't taste too bad!" assured Haru as she emptied the rest of her Nasty Aojiru in a single go, and to this, the boy could only sweatdrop.

Dear lord… his friend was very Gutsy…

Either way, the trio moved on from that, with them venturing into the Underground Mall for a romp. Haru, as per usual, traveled to the flower shop, Rafflesia, to have a look around, with Yusuke framing the display of both herself and Akatsuki requesting for some Plant Balm and Bio Nutrients all the while. They made for an adorable pair…

Over by the Taisho Premium Supermarket, Yusuke had to be physically restrained from getting some finger foods with his own cash, but even so, Akatsuki poured some Yen into getting them some Ui Matcha Flans for the three of them. To say that Kitagawa was eternally grateful would be an understatement, as he quite literally devoured his helping in one go, much to Mixta's amusement and to Okumura's worry as she feared that he might choke on his food.

Thankfully, he did not.

Akatsuki in particular was somewhat keen on visiting Babel Records, a music store, something that surprised Yusuke quite a bit, though as for Haru…

"Akatsuki really likes music! I remember when we were younger, he'd listen to it a lot… but he doesn't seem to like it as much these days…" bemoaned Haru as she watched Akatsuki purchase a few CDs that were sold in the store, and to this, Yusuke could only quietly hum.

"Hm… perhaps it is because he prefers listening to you over his music?" proposed Yusuke, and to this, Haru could only squeak as she acknowledged the unintentional suggestion that her acquaintance was making, and as luck would have it, Akatsuki had stepped out at that exact moment to see her red face.

"... did something happen?" asked Akatsuki, eliciting a shrug from Yusuke whilst Haru waved her arms around in a placating manner, and to this, he shrugged as well and pulled out a few CD cases. "Well, either way, I got some CDs for us. Risen Flag, Trooper, Dust Storm and Battler."

"Hm… all those songs were featured in the most recent show, no? I believe it was mecha related. Do you happen to be a… mecha fan?" asked Yusuke, eliciting a blush from Akatsuki as he looked away sheepishly.

"...yeah. Is there a problem with that?"

"No, not at all. Mecha are cool, after all."

And it was safe to say that Akatsuki's opinion on Yusuke increased after that.

Anyhow, after that little debacle, the trio moved on to other places, with Akatsuki leading them on. They eventually found themselves by Taiheido, a bookstore, and had a look around, with Haru purchasing a particularly worrying book in regards to horror whilst Yusuke got one filled with art references. Akatsuki stuck to his guns and got an old encyclopedia on mecha.

The Rental Shop Scarlet was passed without much issue; none of the kids present were interested in renting out video CDs, seeing as how, in Yusuke's case, they didn't have anything to play it on or, in Akatsuki and Haru's case, could probably get the disks permanently without having to pay rental fees. They did, however, stop by the Aohige Drug Store to have a peek inside, with the three all getting Happy Pops whilst also having to stop Yusuke from getting some Wide Eye Drops so that he could avoid sleep to continue painting in the future.

"Seriously, Kitagawa-San, you need rest," mumbled Haru as they dragged the sad painter out of the Drug Store, to which the kid pouted, which didn't exactly work as he still had a lollipop in his mouth.

Either way, his lamentations were quickly swept aside when he took stock of a street vender selling a variety of charms by an alleyway. He didn't seem too unkind, even if he did speak like a prick, but Kitagawa still flocked to his wares nonetheless. The Vitality Sash he was selling had caught Yusuke's eye, though he didn't have the cash for it, so he let it go for now, though Haru did buy him a Black Rock to help mitigate his sadness.

Kitagawa hung it by the keys on his waist ever since.

As they left, however, Akatsuki did take note of a public gym called Protein Lovers. He peered at it curiously, memorising its location, before moving to reunite with his pals, who were waiting for him by the entrance of the alleyway.

"Did something catch your eye, Mixta-San?" asked Yusuke curiously, to which Akatsuki shrugged.

"Just saw a gym. I might go there someday," answered Akatsuki, and to this, Haru smiled.

"May I join? I would love to build up some muscle as well!" insisted Haru, prompting Akatsuki to grin.

"Not a bad idea. Are you still cutting logs at home?"

"Mmhm! Only when father isn't looking, that is!"

"That's nice. It's good to hear that your axe swinging skills haven't degraded at all."

"Mmhm!"

And to this, Yusuke couldn't resist a minor sweatdrop.

Akatsuki had been ready to call it quits, with the hour being rather late by now, but even so, Yusuke seemed keen on continuing; the artist was entranced by Shibuya's nightlife, and by all accounts, he wanted to see more!

So with that, the guy went on into an alleyway, with him having seen the glimmer of light from a signpost all the while. Akatsuki and Haru, though somewhat tired, still followed the skinny boy regardless, and thus, they were led in front of a store known as Untouchable. Curious… a gun enthusiast store, huh? Well, it wouldn't hurt to take a peek inside, and evidently, Yusuke agreed, as he urged his acquaintances to follow him in, if only for him to find some inspiration in the place's wares.

The interior was rather cramped, not to anyone's surprise, with a single individual sitting behind the counter of the store. Shaved head, grey cap with his sound dampening headphones slung around said hat, a long sweater trenchcoat combo and some stubble around his chin, the guy definitely looked somewhat scruffy, and no one present doubted that he was the owner of Untouchable.

When they entered, the man glanced up, with him grunting as a greeting to the kids. His gaze lingered on Akatsuki, however, before he glanced back down at the magazine he was reading, and moments later, Yusuke went about observing the place with a smile, with his gaze falling onto a fully automatic Assault Rifle displayed in a glass case.

Haru's eyes were quick to dart to a Grenade Launcher that was on display, with her picking it up and testing its weight all the while. The weapon, fake or not, was rather heavy, and the gun owner had expected Haru to drop it… but much to his surprise, Okumura was able to hold it with minimal issue, with her giggling and showing it to Akatsuki with a wide smile.

"It's so life-like, Akatsuki-Kun!" smiled Haru, with her bouncing up and down lightly as she held the Grenade Launcher at ease, to which the pink haired boy grinned as he nodded in agreement. Glancing to his side, Akatsuki took note of an Anti-Material Rifle, or rather a Barrett 50. Cal, sitting behind a few other items, with its barrel and scope missing, and with some effort, he was able to pull it out of the mess and hold it in his arms.

The Anti-tank Rifle was heavy, but that was definitely by design. Akatsuki himself had to strain a little just to keep it aloft, and that was when it had its barrel detached! The weapon was so large that he nearly whacked Yusuke over the head just by holding it, and him managing to lift it up in the first place had garnered an impressed whistle from the store owner, who lowered his magazine and leaned forwards to speak to the kids.

"Heh… not bad, kid. I haven't seen anyone lift that one in years," whistled the store owner, sounding strangely nostalgic as the kids all turned to glance at him. The guy's eyes darted between the three as he sized them up, with him barely giving Yusuke a second glance whilst his gaze lingered on Haru and Akatsuki, who were practicing appropriate trigger safety as they kept their weapons, replica or not, pointed to the ground. "You two; you some sorta gun enthusiast or something?"

"Oh! Well, not quite, but I do quite enjoy the design of a Grenade Launcher…" admitted Haru, with her finding it too embarrassing to admit how she had looked up the mechanics of one during her free time. It was a very un-ladylike thing to do… though as for Akatsuki…

"I wouldn't call myself an enthusiast, but I do know a few things about them," stated Akatsuki, with him lifting the Barrett he had in hand up as he spoke. "This is a Barrett 50. cal, right?"

"Yeah, you've got yourself a heavy duty, Anti-Tank rifle in your hands, kid. It fires a 50 caliber bullet, powerful enough to punch through nine inches of concrete from a distance of around a hundred yards, much less kill a man," chuckled the store owner, and to this, Akatsuki grinned. "Shit's overkill these days."

"Probably, but sometimes you just really need to make sure someone's dead, and 50. Cal works best in burying someone," mused Akatsuki, prompting a grin to emerge from the man.

"You seem to know the basics of that damn thing, so you're not a complete casual at least. Definitely a breath of fresh air these days, kid," chuckled the store owner, prompting Akatsuki to grin as he set the Barrett down.

"Only an idiot would come into a Gun Store without any basic knowledge on guns," rebutted Akatsuki, and as he said this, Yusuke's cheeks reddened as he set down an Assault Rifle he had been holding, and at that, the store owner chuckled as he pulled out the stick he had between his lips, revealing it to be a lollipop all the while. The adult pointed it at Mixta in approval before shoving it back into is mouth

"I like you kid. You got a name? You and your casual friends," asked the guy, and when he answered, the man grinned. "Mixta, and Okumura huh? Well, why you kids are here is none of my business, especially the little lady. Name's Iwai, Iwai Munehisa."

Iwai… Akatsuki… recognised that family name…

"It is nice to meet you, Iwai-San," smiled Haru, with Yusuke grinning at that as he bowed respectfully, and to this, the older man nodded and offered them something unexpected… a 50% discount on a single purchase. Kitagawa himself was ecstatic to hear this, but still, he kept it subdued… evidently not subdued enough, though, as Akatsuki took note of this and shot him a grin.

"Kitagawa-San, I guess it's your lucky day," stated Akatsuki with a wink, and at that, Yusuke took the hint.

"B-But… it would be disrespectful… the discount was made for you, after all," lamented Yusuke, only for Akatsuki to throw his credit card at the boy, who caught it awkwardly.

"Kitagawa-San, shut up and pick something you like. Neither Haru-Chan or I can buy anything for one reason or another, and I can tell that you're just five inches away from stealing some of these things," accused Akatsuki, to which Yusuke blushed.

"I… I would never, but… thank you, Mixta-San. I will not forget this."

Akatsuki responded to this with a chuckle, and at that, the blue haired boy went to work on looking for a weapon replica. Whilst he did so, however, Iwai grunted, catching Akatsuki and Haru's attention, when upon doing so, he eyed Augus closely before standing up.

"Hey, kid, mind if I speak to you in private? Don't worry, nothing's wrong. I just want a word," requested Iwai, and to this, the boy nodded. Haru seemed a little worried on his behalf, but her friend held his hand up to stay her; he would be fine. Munehisa seemed like a menacing man, but something about him was familiar to him, enough that Augus was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. "Oh, and don't try stealing anything, alright? I've got cameras."

"We would never, Iwai-San!" protested Haru indignantly, and to this, the guy couldn't help but chuckle lightly as he nodded. Considering her family name and reputation, he figured that he could trust her, and without much else, the guy led Akatsuki to the back of the store, where he gave themselves some privacy by shutting a blind.

Akatsuki and Munehisa regarded one another briefly as they stood in Untouchable's backroom, though after some time, the older male present smiled lightly after he took in the younger's features.

"You're a splitting image of your old man, kid," grinned Iwai, with him rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he observed Akatsuki, who flinched lightly when he heard this.

"... you know who I am?" inquired Akatsuki, and to this, Munehisa chuckled.

"Do I ever? That hairstyle's asking for everyone in the Yakuza syndicate to recognise you. After all, not many people style their bangs up to resemble the Devil of Tekkadan," chided Iwai, with him lightly tapping Akatsuki's ahoge, causing it to bobble back and forth in the process. To this, the boy flinched. Great, there's that old title for his dad…

"Please don't use that title… even before he… moved on, dad didn't like being called that," bemoaned Akatsuki, much to Munehisa's amusement, though he respected the kid's wishes and called his father as he was.

"Fair enough. Mikazuki was never one for titles, after all," quipped Munehisa, and a brief moment of silence fell upon the duo as they wondered how they should even continue this silent conversation. "... so, you remember me, kid?"

"Vaguely. You were a part of Teiwaz's black market district, weren't you? Weapons manufacturer department," recalled Akatsuki, and to this, the older man smiled.

"Right on point. Part of the JPT Trust side of things, to be specific, not that I'd want to recall my time there, personally. I've moved on, y'know? Got a clean slate to manage now," huffed Iwai, with him remembering the less than savoury memories that came with his old position in Teiwaz. Thankfully enough, JPT Trust was dissolved just a few years prior, and good riddance for that.

"A clean slate… selling fake guns? Feels a little on the nose, Iwai-San," mused Akatsuki, to which the man chuckled.

"Hey, it's a living, kid. Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do to survive, even if it's a little on the nose," chuckled Iwai, with his words causing Akatsuki to nod a little in apparent agreement.

"Fair enough."

"But enough about me, kid. How've you been doing? The last I heard about you was from your old man right as he and the gang left Teiwaz to become that blonde lady's bodyguards. I haven't heard from you since, and even on television, the Tekkadan branch of Teiwaz barely showed up in person when Bernstein was on screen! Kaoru's asked about you for a bit, though I don't think he remembers you anymore."

"Sorry. I wasn't able to keep in contact with a lot of people after that, and I was homeschooled after dad… moved on, and my phone data was corrupted at one point. I didn't have any backups…" lamented Akatsuki sadly, and to this, Munehisa nodded sadly.

"Yeah, shit happens, I guess. Here, Kaoru's phone number alongside my own. I'm sure he'd be ecstatic to hear from you again," grinned Iwai, with him handing him a slip of paper containing just that, and to this, Akatsuki blinked before smiling lightly.

"Thanks, but I've been busy these past few days. I might need a while before I can find time to spend with Kaoru," apologised Akatsuki as he pocketed the note, and to this, Iwai appeared briefly confused, only to smile knowingly as he motioned to the blinds shielding them from view. "... yes. Haru-Chan's a friend, and Kitagawa-San is an acquaintance we're modelling for."

"Kitagawa, huh? I think I've seen him on TV a few times. He some sorta up and coming artist?" asked Iwai, to which Akatsuki shook his head.

"No. He's Madarame Ichiryusai's student," corrected Akatsuki, eliciting an impressed whistle from Iwai all the while.

"Damn. How many ties didja need to pull to make that happen?"

"None, actually. Kitagawa-San stalked Haru-Chan and I before we met in a museum, where he requested we become his models."

"You're pulling my leg, aren't you?"

"No."

"Feared as much… jeez, you're as much of a trouble magnet as your old man, you know that?"

"I guess."

"Hmph… hey, uh, kid. I know it doesn't really mean much, especially when you don't even remember who I am, but still I just want you to know that, regardless of what happens, I've got your back," said Iwai, with him lightly patting the boy's shoulder as he said this. "You're not your father, nor are you even a member of Teiwaz anymore, but even so, I've a feeling that you're still the good kid from all those years back. Gimme a call if you need anything, you got that?"

"Thanks, Iwai-San. I appreciate it," smiled Akatsuki, to which the older man grinned and tipped his hat a little.

"Sure doesn't sound like it, but I guess it's something you inherited from your old man, huh?" chuckled Iwai, with Akatsuki shrugging indifferently as he heard this. "Eh, whatever. Oh, and by the by, you can call me Ojisan if you want."

Akatsuki was taken back by this, but he agreed regardless. Iwai refused to admit how he missed how the kid used to call him that back in the day, but that aside, the two were quick to exchange one last smile with one another before they left the backrooms, and when they did, they saw Yusuke holding out several replica weapons and setting them down onto the counter.

"Mixta-San, I apologise, but… I couldn't resist the flash of inspiration I had felt upon seeing these armaments!" apologised Yusuke, with him holding up what seemed to be a basic Lance, a Battle Axe and a sheathed Katana as he spoke. Akatsuki himself couldn't help but chuckle at this display of passion on Yusuke's part, but still, he didn't hold it against him as he waved him off.

"Meh, no harm no foul. I can afford these anyways," assured Akatsuki as he took his credit card back from Yusuke, though right as he did so, Iwai grinned and waved him off.

"Forget that, kid; these ones are on the house for today," smiled Iwai as he motioned for Akatsuki to pocket his card, and moments later, he brought the replicas to the back to package them for the journey to their new homes. Yusuke and Haru were noticeably surprised by this, though Akatsuki, on the other hand, simply grinned as he shook his head.

"Softy," huffed Akatsuki as Iwai got to work on packaging their stuff, and in a few moments, he was out with three boxes of varying sizes. Handing them off to the kids, the man grinned as he watched Kitagawa bounce up and down with glee, though moments later, he recovered and thanked Munehisa for his kindness.

"Don't get used to it, kid. This is a one time deal; now scram. It's getting late anyways," scoffed Iwai as he lightly patted Akatsuki's head, a gesture that flustered him quite a bit as he bowed at him and before departing with his friend and acquaintance.

As they moved to rendezvous with Sasha by the aptly titled J-Cruiser, Haru did ask about the talk her friend had with Iwai back there, and in response to this, the boy could only grin as he adjusted his grip on his boxed Lance replica.

"Let's just say that we're familiar with one another and leave it at that," mused Akatsuki with the smallest of smiles, and to this, Haru fidgeted a little whilst Yusuke hummed, seeming content with this reason as he kept silent for the rest of the walk.

Regardless, to say that Sasha was baffled by the sight of the kids holding massive boxes with replica weapons would be an understatement, but even so, he didn't chastise them all that much as he shoved the replica Katana and Battle Axe into the boot of the car before lashing the Lance onto its top, with him lamenting how it was too large to fit anywhere in his vehicle, much to the children's amusement.

Yusuke had insisted on keeping the weapons over at the Artlier for the time being, especially after Haru had expressed concerns on Kunikazu disapproving of her buying an Axe, replica or not, whilst Akatsuki simply requested that he kept it for him, unsure of how he would explain its existence to his parents if he let slip the fact that he even got one to begin with.

"Madarame-San won't mind, yes?" asked Haru worriedly, and to this, Yusuke shook his head.

"So long as it does not distract me from my work, he will not object," assured Yusuke, with him smiling lightly all the while, and up front, the chauffeur couldn't help but flinch at his words.

"Well, I would. Depending on how realistic those replica are, I'd suspect you were trying to behead him in his sleep or some shit," scoffed Sasha as he drove onwards, and to this, Akatsuki couldn't help but huff at the crudeness of the older man's words.

"Fair point. But he has no reason to do that, and neither do we."

"And what if you do?"

"..." no response from Akatsuki at first, with him glancing back at Yusuke as he spoke. The younger boy seemed interested in what he'd respond with, and after a quick glance towards Haru, who nodded, seemingly having read his mind, the pink haired teen grinned and glanced back ahead of himself and answered.

"Then we would, I guess."

"Respectable, if a little excessive."

And the rest of the car ride was spent in content silence.