Takemaru couldn't stop thinking about Kakeru. It was becoming a problem. Every time he tried to focus on something else, his thoughts drifted back to Kakeru's voice, his face, the way he smiled when he was lost in thought. It was distracting, infuriating even. Takemaru was used to being focused and in control. He had honed his psychic abilities to perfection, knowing the importance of discipline in a world where his powers could easily spiral out of control.

But Kakeru? Kakeru was different. He wasn't just a teammate. There was something magnetic about him, something that made Takemaru's walls crumble in the worst way possible. It was as though every time Kakeru was near, he felt his own carefully constructed defenses begin to crack.

Takemaru sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his phone. His heart pounded in his chest, and he cursed himself for how he felt, frustrated by his own weakness. He thought back to the day when he first met Kakeru—innocent, yet strong-willed. Kakeru's natural optimism was a sharp contrast to his own colder, more calculated demeanor. But over time, Kakeru's energy had worked its way under his skin.

He shook his head and stood, running a hand through his hair. Focus, he told himself. He needed to concentrate on training, not waste time on... whatever this was. A distraction. That's all it was.

His phone buzzed on the desk.

He glanced at the screen and froze. Kakeru's name flashed brightly in the notification, along with a message.

"Hey, Takemaru! Wanna hang out today? I'm free for the afternoon! "

Takemaru's heart skipped a beat. He cursed under his breath again. This was not what he needed. He could feel his psychic energy flickering around him, reacting to his emotions. If he wasn't careful, things would spiral out of control.

But at the same time... he couldn't ignore Kakeru. He stared at the message for a long moment, fingers hovering over the screen. The rational part of him screamed to decline, to come up with an excuse—anything to avoid spending more time with him. But instead, almost unconsciously, he found himself typing a response.

"Sure. Where should we meet?"

Almost immediately, Kakeru replied.

"Awesome! How about that arcade near the station? We haven't been there in a while."

Takemaru sighed. Of course. The arcade. It was a place full of noise, lights, and chaos. Not exactly the kind of place that helped someone like him unwind. But there was no turning back now. He had agreed, and there was no point in second-guessing his decision.

A couple of hours later, Takemaru found himself standing in front of the arcade, his hands shoved into his pockets as he waited for Kakeru to arrive. He could already hear the flashing lights and sounds of the games coming from inside. The chaotic energy of the place felt like an assault on his senses, but he kept his emotions tightly in check.

He didn't have to wait long. Kakeru arrived with a wide smile on his face, practically bouncing on his heels as he greeted Takemaru.

"Takemaru! You're early! I thought I'd be the first one here!" Kakeru said with a grin, his voice full of that unmistakable energy that always seemed to follow him.

Takemaru shrugged, trying to keep his tone as neutral as possible. "Didn't have anything else to do."

Kakeru laughed, brushing off the nonchalant response. "Well, let's head in! I've been wanting to try out the new games they set up last week."

Takemaru followed him inside, doing his best to ignore the way his heart raced when Kakeru got too close. The arcade was as loud and chaotic as he expected. Neon lights flickered overhead, and the sound of people shouting, cheering, and laughing echoed all around them.

Kakeru seemed completely in his element, darting from one machine to the next, his enthusiasm contagious. But for Takemaru, it was hard to enjoy the moment. His mind kept wandering back to the question he'd been avoiding for so long. Why? Why did Kakeru affect him like this? Why was it so hard to push him away?

As they passed a row of fighting game cabinets, Kakeru suddenly turned to Takemaru, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Hey! How about we have a quick match? Bet I can beat you!" Kakeru challenged with a teasing grin.

Takemaru raised an eyebrow, momentarily distracted from his internal conflict. "You're on," he replied, taking a seat at the machine. "Don't expect me to go easy on you."

They both picked up the controllers, and the game started. It didn't take long for the competition between them to heat up. Takemaru, with his sharp reflexes and strategic mind, was a natural at games like this. But Kakeru was quick, adapting to each round and learning from his mistakes. It was a back-and-forth battle, each of them winning a few rounds.

After one particularly close match, Kakeru leaned back in his seat, laughing as he wiped sweat from his forehead. "You're too good at this, Takemaru! I thought I had you for sure that time!"

Takemaru's lips twitched into a small smirk, his competitive side briefly overshadowing his inner turmoil. "Maybe if you focused more on the game and less on talking, you'd stand a better chance."

Kakeru laughed again, unfazed. "Maybe, but it's more fun this way!"

And there it was again—that effortless charm, the thing that made Kakeru so infuriatingly likable. Takemaru looked away, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside him.

But then, out of nowhere, Kakeru spoke again, his tone quieter this time. "You know… I'm really glad we're hanging out today. I've been wanting to spend more time with you."

Takemaru froze, his heart pounding. He turned to look at Kakeru, who was still smiling but seemed more thoughtful now, as if he had said something he'd been holding back.

"What do you mean?" Takemaru asked, his voice more guarded than he intended.

Kakeru scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed. "I dunno. It just feels like you've been kinda distant lately. I mean, I get it—you're not the type to open up easily, but… I don't want you to feel like you're alone or anything."

Takemaru clenched his fists, his mind racing. Kakeru had noticed. Of course, he had. Kakeru was always perceptive, even when it came to things Takemaru tried to hide. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The noise of the arcade seemed to fade into the background as the tension between them hung in the air.

Finally, Takemaru spoke, his voice low. "Kakeru… I…"

But before he could finish, a sudden crash echoed through the arcade. The lights flickered, and screams erupted from nearby. Takemaru's instincts kicked in immediately, his body tensing. Something was wrong.

Kakeru's eyes widened, and he turned toward the source of the commotion. "What the—?"

Before either of them could react, a massive burst of psychic energy tore through the arcade, sending machines flying and people scrambling for cover. Takemaru's mind raced as he reached out with his own psychic senses, trying to locate the source of the attack.

"There!" he shouted, spotting a figure standing in the center of the destruction, surrounded by a swirling aura of dark energy.

Kakeru's face hardened. "Guess we've got more than just games to deal with today."

Takemaru nodded, his focus shifting entirely to the battle ahead. He could feel the power radiating from the figure—it was strong, dangerous. But with Kakeru by his side, he knew they could handle it.

Without another word, the two of them rushed forward, ready to face the new threat together.