TK didn't know what to expect when Mondo invited him to his room. He didn't know if the biker would give him some advice or start a secret fight club between all the guys. He was certainly hoping it wasn't the latter, but being the good friend he is, TK agreed to his offer.
The layout of Mondo's room was the same as his. What made it different were the banners, the hair care supplies on his desk, melee shelves on his desk, and bike magazines on his bed. Every banner had his gang's name, and TK spotted the rising sun flag on his table.
He felt uncomfortable and out of place in the biker's room. He wanted to know why he was there so he could leave as soon as possible.
"So… What do you want to talk about?"
Mondo didn't instantly respond. Instead, he looked over his weapons, causing TK to slightly panic, before moving over to his biker magazines. TK thought he would ask him something related to his gang, but what came out of his mouth caught him off guard.
"Are you a dog person or a cat person?"
TK had to double-take to ensure he heard the question correctly. Mondo looked serious, but he usually looked serious.
"What?"
"Just answer the damn question before I knock the shit out of you! I'm a dog person, by the way," Mondo screamed, and TK put his hands up defensively and took a few steps to the door.
"I-I'm a dog person…" TK answered.
He wasn't necessarily a dog person, but he also wasn't not a dog person. He liked both cats and dogs equally and believed they were both good pets, but he had a feeling that saying he was a dog person would prevent him from getting punched in the face.
"You're not just saying that, right?" Mondo growled.
"I'm not! I think they're great," TK answered, and he could see Mondo calming down.
"Right!? Cats are OK, but dogs are way cuter. Did you ever have one?"
"Oh, no, my mom was busy with work, and I was always out with friends or playing basketball. We wouldn't have time to take care of one," TK told him, and Mondo had a reminiscent smile.
"That's too bad because they're awesome. I had a Maltese named Chuck, and he was so smart. He'd always bring in the newspaper, and I'd always remember how he'd looked at me with his big eyes and wiggled his butt whenever he wanted me to take him on a walk."
"That's awesome!" TK said.
Mondo smiled brightly before he began to frown. He turned away from TK and chose to look at the ground.
"He was, but he died. He was nine years old."
TK wanted to apologize, but Mondo angrily threw his hands up before he could speak. He growled as he paced around his room. TK was worried Mondo would use him as a punching bag, but the biker sat on his bed with a huff. TK watched him rub his eyes, but he didn't believe the biker was crying.
"Shit, I don't wanna remember this! This sucks! Don't look at me!"
TK awkwardly stood by the door. He thought about giving Mondo some time to be alone, but he had a feeling that he wasn't asked here to talk about dogs. So he stayed, but he looked at the door to comply with Mondo's wish.
TK waited for a few minutes to allow Mondo to calm down. The biker hadn't moved during that time. He was also oddly quiet for a guy who was yelling at him earlier. TK wondered if Mondo was holding in his emotions because he was there or because this was how he coped.
But he didn't want to stand in Mondo's room all day waiting for the gang leader to feel better. So TK took a few steps toward the sulking biker but still kept his distance in case things went south and broke the ice.
"I'm sorry to hear about your dog, but I don't think you invited me here to talk about pets."
Mondo let out a long, drawn-out sigh as he stood up. He didn't face TK, causing the blond to take a small step back. He wondered what the biker was going to do, but his body language didn't insinuate he was in danger.
"Do you like being a high schooler?" Mondo finally asked.
TK had to double-take for a second time. He didn't understand where this was coming from. Just a moment earlier, Mondo asked him about dogs, and now he's asking about being a high schooler. It was completely out of nowhere and unrelated to everything they've talked about.
"It's all right. I like that I can hang out with my friends," TK answered.
He watched Mondo lightly nod and slowly turn his attention to the biggest banner in the room. He saw the smallest of smirks etched on his face.
"I like it too, screwin' around with my friends and stuff. Runnin' wild with my crew was such a rush. Sure, there was pressure building up the gang, but hanging out with those guys was the fuckin' best. But I've been thinking…"
The smirk disappeared as Mondo sighed and moved away from the banner. He then took his magazines and laid them next to his hair supplies.
"What's gonna happen to me after high school? Everyone in the Crazy Diamonds is gonna graduate. So where does that leave me? I'm not smart like you guys, so college is outta the picture. So that means I'm gonna have to get a job."
TK was a little surprised by what Mondo was saying. He thought Mondo would run his gang for as long as he lived, but the gang leader had other plans.
"I've maxed out. Probably done everything I'm gonna do in my life. I'm empty. The Crazy Diamonds have been a big part of my life, and the thought of them not being around… scares me," Mondo admitted.
TK wanted to comfort him, but Mondo went back to the hanging banner. He moved it to the side and punched the metal plate. TK cringed at the site, but Mondo didn't react.
"I came here to get away from it, but I guess I'm being punished for being a coward. Or maybe I'm being punished for all the shit that I've done…"
TK mustered all his courage and placed a supportive hand on Mondo's shoulder. He expected the gang leader to snap at him, but he didn't make any moves to push him away.
"You should stop being so hard on yourself and look on the bright side. You managed to find something you're passionate about, and you did it before graduating from high school. That's more than what a lot of people could say. Besides, you may not be book-smart like Taka, but that doesn't make you dumb. You're smart in your own way and you can use that to apply yourself to anything," TK told him.
TK was anxious when Mondo turned and looked at him. He was worried he would punch him for not saying he was smart. Thankfully, Mondo clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes.
"It's good to know you don't see me wearing a suit," he said sarcastically.
Mondo then chuckled, and TK joined him as the tension disappeared.
"Maybe you're right. Maybe all the fun I had means I'll be able to dedicate myself to working hard. And maybe it won't be so bad. The thought of working doesn't sound horrible. Just a little," Mondo said with a bright smile.
"So do you have anything in mind?" TK asked.
"Carpenter, for sure. Figure I'm already good at smashing shit I'd be great at putting it together. Yeah, I'm gonna be the best carpenter ever!" Mondo said proudly.
"I won't doubt you for a second," TK told him.
Mondo then calmed down when he saw the metal plate. He frowned, but he looked determined.
"But we gotta get out of here first."
"With your help, we'll get out of here in no time."
Mondo smiled and the two bumped fists.
"You're right. Thanks, Takeru."
"You can call me TK since we're friends," TK told him, and Mondo rolled his eyes.
"Whatever. Now, get out. I'm still torn up about Chuck and I want to be left alone."
TK nodded and left before Mondo could yell at him.
The moment he stepped out into the hallway, Taka ran up to him out of nowhere.
"Takeru, great timing. I was going to study in my room and I would like it if you'd join me," Taka pleaded.
TK was feeling a little tired after stressing out a lot in Mondo's room, but he could handle a quick study session with Taka. He agreed and the moral compass beamed.
"Great! I have a perfect lesson plan for you."
The two walked into Taka's room.
At this point, TK assumed that all the rooms were built to look the same, so he looked at how Taka decorated his room. He had dictionaries and textbooks on his desk, some calligraphy and pi charts hanging on his walls, and an ironing board set up next to his bed. It's what he expected to be in Taka's room.
"Welcome to my room, Takeru! You're the first person I've ever invited in here," Taka said with a proud, welcoming smile.
Taka then moved to his desk and grabbed a textbook. He flipped through its pages and smiled when he found what he was looking for.
"To celebrate this tremendous occasion allow me to ask you a question. A simple question that should be easy for you to figure out."
"Sure, go ahead," TK told him with a nod.
Taka cleared his throat.
"All right, what country first established 'zero' as a numerical concept?"
TK took his time to think about the answer. He recalled all of his classes from his old school and some study sessions with his friends. He remembered seeing the question on one of his tests and remembered Izzy telling him that an Asian country established it. He narrowed his answer down to one answer.
"India, right?"
Taka gave him a standing ovation, making TK feel confused.
"Good job, Takeru! You were correct. My faith never faltered," Taka said.
Even though he was being praised, TK felt a little insulted. It was like Taka was treating him like a kindergartener who just figured out simple addition.
"With your help, we can stick it to those self-centered genius jerks!" Taka proudly proclaimed.
"You really hate geniuses," TK pointed out, remembering the disdain Taka had when he called him one.
Taka hummed, figuring out what he was going to say.
"You're spot on with that assumption. They're my sworn enemy."
"But why?"
Taka froze. He took a few deep breaths before he started breathing rapidly. He then burst into tears.
"Because he was a genius. Someone whom I respected, someone that I hate."
"Calm down," TK told him.
He reached out a hand to comfort the moral compass, but Taka swiped him away. Taka quickly realized what he had done. He wiped away his tears and took a couple of calming breaths to regain his composure.
"I'm sorry, but when I think about him, Toranosuke Ishimaru, I get so angry."
"That name sounds familiar."
"It should, he's a former Prime Minister, and also… my grandfather," Taka admitted.
"He was your grandfather!?"
"Yes, he was. He was the Minister to Chief Cabinet Secretary, and finally… Prime Minister. He did it all with only a high school degree. He was a genius."
"I bet he was."
"He had never known failure. His success was unimaginable to a normal person, and because of that… he allowed himself to be controlled by naive emotions and get roped into a corruption scandal!" Taka yelled.
He was once again a blubbering mess. He swiped his books off his desk and slammed his fists onto the wood.
"He had no idea what the world of geniuses is really like. At least, that's how I see it."
Taka sighed and returned to a somewhat normal state. TK thought he was going to pass out from the constant mood swings, but Taka managed to keep himself upright.
"He fell just as fast as he had risen, and I'm not just talking about politics. Businesses didn't want him and he plummeted. His debt torments my family to this day. When he did, only family showed up to his funeral, despite his fame and legacy."
"I'm sorry to hear that," TK tried to comfort him, even though his words probably meant nothing to him.
Taka sighed as he picked up his books. TK knelt down and helped him clean up and Taka thanked him.
"Some consider being a genius a blessing, but it's more like a tragedy. Finding success without understanding the importance of effort is a tragedy, and there's nothing worse than a genius who trips and falls. Just like my grandfather…"
"And that's why you hate geniuses?" TK asked, and Taka nodded.
"What happened to my grandfather helped me learn to never be deceived by words like 'genius.' That I should rely on my efforts and accomplish more than what he ever did. So that I, we have to work hard and build a society that rewards people who put in the most effort."
"That sounds awesome," TK said.
He knew that he wouldn't be able to help Taka achieve his dream, but he would support him for as long as it takes.
"But I'm really happy, Takeru! I thought this school would be full of geniuses, and they would all be my enemy. I'm glad that I was able to find someone to share my story with. I'm so lucky to have met you. I hope we can combine our efforts and shape things the way we want," Taka said with a beaming smile.
The two stood up and Taka extended his hand. TK grasped it, cementing their new friendship.
"Well, if we're gonna do that then you might as well call me TK. Since I get to call you Taka and all," TK told him.
"I can try, Tak– I mean, TK," Taka said.
TK smiled. Not only did he build enough trust with Mondo but also with Taka. If he continued to get people to trust him then no one would kill each other and they could break free.
They broke away from each other and Taka instantly handed TK a textbook.
"We need to study hard if we want to accomplish our goals."
TK shrugged and accepted the book. An hour or two of studying wouldn't hurt.
He was wrong.
They had studied for two hours, and TK hated every minute of it. Every five minutes, Taka felt the need to quiz him on random topics that were in the textbook that he was reading. TK didn't mind it at first, but it did after he got some questions wrong.
Every time he got one wrong, Taka would tell him the answer, but he told him as if it were common knowledge. He was unintentionally patronizing him.
Taka also didn't allow him to move much when they studied. Accusing him of cheating whenever he stretched his arms or legs. TK didn't know why he thought that, but after the first thirty minutes, he stopped trying and counted down the minutes until their session was over.
Now free, TK was feeling restless. He wanted to move around and stretch his legs. He planned on going to the gym to play some basketball, but he was also feeling a bit peckish. So he first went to the dining hall for a quick snack.
He found Hina digging through the cabinets in the kitchen.
"Hey, Hina," TK greeted her.
She waved at him as she continued to dig through the cabinets. TK grabbed an apple from the pile and ate it as she watched her looking for something.
"Did you talk to Sakura?" He asked between bites.
"I did, and she said she'll talk with you after breakfast," Hina answered.
TK finished his snack and smiled. He was glad that he'd finally get the chance to make amends with Sakura.
"Thanks for your help."
"No problem," Hina said.
Hina closed the cabinets, leaned against the counter, and sighed. She looked miserable and a bit restless, too.
"Everything all right?" TK asked.
Hina responded by shaking her head, causing TK to worry. After what happened with Sayaka, he was scared Hina would go down the same path as her. He wasn't going to make the same mistake.
"I've reached my limit. Being stuck in here, I can't do anything. I want to be under the sun and run a marathon, spike a volleyball, or hit a softball. I wanna do some REAL sports!" Hina whined.
"Breathe, Hina," TK told her with a light chuckle.
TK felt a little relieved from her outburst. He was still worried about how she was acting, but he was glad that she wasn't close to snapping as Sayaka did.
"I'm going to die, TK. If I don't do anything active I'm gonna die like a rabbit!" Hina whined.
"You're overreacting, and rabbits die from loneliness."
"Whatever! If I don't play any real sports, I'll die."
"It's not that bad," TK told her.
"It is! If it wasn't then I wouldn't have signed up for six sports teams."
"What!?" TK exclaimed.
He knew that Hina was a sports nut, but this took it to a whole new level. He always wanted to try to do two sports, but he never had the time or energy for it. So hearing that she does six caused him to respect her even more.
"Yeah, track, softball, tennis, basketball, volleyball, and the big one. What was it again?"
Hina went into a deep thought to think about it. TK was surprised she forgot it because it was obvious. It's a huge reason why she was in Hope's Peak to begin with.
"Swimming," TK told her, and she smiled.
"That's it. It doesn't matter what stroke. Just get me in a pool under the blue sky…"
"It must be hard to do so many sports. I can't imagine how exhausted you must feel," TK said, and she shrugged.
"I don't mind as long as I'm moving. I love trying new things and the challenge!"
"I bet you have a lot of trophies and medals."
Hina nodded but she looked disinterested when he brought up her winning medals and trophies.
"I do, but I don't play all those sports just for awards or winning. I like the fight and the struggle and giving it my all to reach the top. It's that excitement, that fear that you might suffer a heartbreaking loss. When you finally reach the top, it's lonely… ya know?"
TK understood what she was talking about. He always loved the final seconds of his games because they were the most exciting. Knowing your teammates relying on you to win them the game and sinking the game-winning shot. Those were the best and it's why he hates when the season ends.
His team managed to win a championship. The euphoric feeling of winning the big game was great, but it didn't last. Once he reached the top, he didn't know what to do.
"It's why I push myself harder with swimming than I do with those other sports. I want to reach the highest of mountaintops. To win that gold medal. Aim for it no matter what, even if it makes me a gold medal spaz," Hina said, and TK chuckled at the irony of her calling herself a spaz.
"Then why are you standing here making excuses?"
"Excuses!? Who said I was making excuses?" Hina said defensively.
"Oh, I understand. After a little bump in the road, you give up. You just don't want it bad enough," TK told her, and she looked determined.
"Is that a challenge? You're making an official challenge," Hina said, and TK playfully shrugged.
Hina then calmed down and gave him a thankful smile.
"But you're right, I can't give up when things get difficult. If I want that gold medal, then I have to give it my all. I need to become a 'Genius of effort.' I think Jim Thorpe said that."
'I don't think he did.'
"I can't make excuses cuz we're stuck here! Yeah! I'm gonna go do a thousand push-ups in my room!" Hina exclaimed.
TK quickly grabbed her shoulder before she could leave like a bat out of hell.
"Now hold on, I think I have an idea of how we can help each other out."
"How?" Hina asked.
TK picked the basketball off the ground and dribbled over to Hina. She placed her jacket on the bleacher and he put his hat and vest next to it. She walked beyond the three-point arch and he took his spot on the free-throw line.
"So, first to ten, and do you want to do losers ball?" TK asked.
"Sure, just as long you promise you won't go easy on me."
"Fine by me, but I'll let you know I was my high school's team's best player."
TK bounced passed her the ball. She instantly dribbled the ball low to the ground to make it hard for him to steal it. She moved to the right and when TK followed her she spun to the left and dashed past him. She used the wide-open lane to make the easy layup.
"One nothing," Hina said proudly and TK rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, you just got lucky."
They got set again and Hina passed him the ball. TK used his longer wingspan to his advantage by using his left arm to guard himself and his right to dribble the ball out of her reach. He dribbled close to the three-point line and she followed. He had to give her credit because she stuck to him like glue and barely gave him a chance to set himself.
He continued to dribble and Hina tried swiping at the ball. When he got close enough to the three-point line he quickly stepped back and shot the ball, taking her off guard. He watched the ball fly to the rim, hoping that it would fall in, but it bricked off of it.
Realizing that the ball was still alive, Hina ran to it and got possession. TK ran after her but he was too late. She shot the ball and it fell through the net. She turned to him and held up two fingers with one hand and a fist in the other with a cheeky smile.
TK grumbled as he got set. He took a few deep breaths and talked to himself in his head to calm down.
'It's fine, TK, she has the right to brag. You don't need to take this seriously.'
Hina passed him the ball and he slowly backed up to the three-point line. When he got past it he instantly shot it, but she timed him up perfectly. She tipped his shot and it fluttered halfway to the basket. She raced to get it, and as if to insult him, she quickly dribbled to the three-point line and made a perfect shot.
"Your team must've sucked if you were their best player," she said and TK felt something in himself snap.
'She's not scoring again.'
He took off his shirt and placed it with his hat and vest. He walked back to her and she became a blushing mess.
"Wh-What are you doing!?"
He didn't respond. Instead, he took his spot and signaled for her to bring it. She managed to regain her composure and got ready.
She passed him the ball and the second it touched his hands he was off and running. Before she even realized what was happening, TK already dropped the ball into the hoop. TK then slowly dribbled the ball over to her before forcibly passing it into her hands.
"Your ball," he said dryly and she scowled.
"Whatever, I'm still beating you."
Hina started to dribble and TK stood close to her with his arms out wide. He didn't give her any space to move and whenever she did he was there to cover her. He removed every lane to the basket leaving her with no other option than to shoot where she stood. He easily blocked it and recovered the ball.
She tried to defend him but he spun past her and laid another one into the hoop. He held up two fingers and her brows furrowed with frustration. He responded with a cheeky smile that frustrated her even more.
When Hina received the ball this time she used her speed to get past him. It worked, taking him off guard and giving her an easy lane to the hoop. She went for a layup and when the ball left her fingertips TK came up behind her and smacked the ball onto the backboard and prevented it from going in. He then got the ball and shot it from inside the three-point arch to tie the game.
"Hope you enjoyed your lead because it's never going to happen again," TK said confidently, and Hina bared her teeth.
"Don't get cocky! There's still plenty of game left!"
"And I'm going to make sure you hate every second of it."
He passed Hina the ball and she instantly shot it. It had caught him off guard and he had no time to defend the shot. He watched it fly through the air. He prayed for it to not go into the hoop and they were answered when the ball bounced off the rim.
TK rebounded it and Hina quickly started defending him. He continued to do what he'd been doing by using his longer arms to keep the ball away from her reach. He then used his speed to get past her and lay it into the hoop.
That was how the rest of the game went. He suffocated her on defense and exhausted her on offense. Whenever she thought she had a chance he was always there to squash it.
TK thought Hina would've given up halfway through their game but she didn't. She didn't even mind his aggressive playing style but tried to match it with her own. He had to admit that she was a far better player than all of his friends.
He wished that they could've kept playing forever, but he knew that he had to end it. He had nine points and she managed to reach a score of five after he got sloppy on defense. He could tell by her heavy breathing and the sweat dripping down her face that he had won the game.
She had possession and tried to move past him, but he smacked the ball out of her hands. When he got the ball he slowly moved to the bleachers. He got to the three-point line and started dribbling low to the ground. She matched him and when she did he quickly stepped behind the arch and shot the ball before she could get her hands up.
He watched the ball soar through the air with a smile. It fell into the hoop without the help of the backboard. He did a fist pump as it went in and Hina fell to her knees in defeat.
"Good game," TK told her genuinely.
She didn't respond and TK got worried he upset her. He let his emotions get the better of him when all she was doing was a little competitive banter. She didn't deserve anything that he did to her.
"That… was… The most fun I ever had playing basketball!" she exclaimed.
"You're… welcome?" TK confusedly said.
He was surprised she wasn't upset with him for how he played. He thought she would've yelled at him or told him off for being rough.
He put on his shirt and Hina continued to talk about the game.
"Why weren't you playing like that earlier? You better not have been going easy on me."
Hina puffed her cheeks as she pointed an accusatory finger in his face. He defensively put up his hands to keep her finger away.
"A little. My friends always complain about me being too rough."
"Well, you should stop listening to them. You should always play like that," Hina told him.
TK was glad that she was praising him for the way he played. For all the times his friends told him to dial it down it felt good when someone told him to embrace it.
Hina picked up the ball and passed it to him. He caught it by giving him a cheeky grin by backing into the court.
"Best of two?"
TK smiled and followed after her.
"As long as it's first to twenty."
Hina nodded, and he passed her the ball. For the first time in a long time, TK didn't feel like he was trapped. He hoped Hina felt the same way.