Wish I knew what you were looking for.
Might have known what you would find.
"Under the Milky Way" ~ The Church
The last rays of the setting sun filtered through the blooming cherry trees around Musashi Shrine, creating long, dappled shadows on the stone steps where Hikari sat, her fingers dancing over the strings of her guitar. The soft melody drifted through the quiet, weaving in and out of the breeze as if the whole scene were part of a daydream.
"Sometimes, when this place gets kind of empty Sound of their breath fades with the light…"
This was her thing—these quiet, stolen moments before Toman meetings, where she could lose herself in the music while waiting for everyone else to arrive. It was her way of finding, and sharing, peace before the inevitable chaos.
"Wish I knew what you were looking for.
Might have known what you would find."
Ryusei Sato sat a step higher, his fingers weaving her hair into a neat French braid with all the precision of a pro stylist. He tugged here and there to get it just right, and Hikari didn't mind the occasional pulls; it was a grounding kind of comfort, one that kept her in the present while her thoughts drifted with the music.
"You ever think about becoming a hair stylist?" she asked, pausing her song and glancing back at him with a grin.
Ryusei chuckled, lazy and confident. "Could be my fallback plan if this whole delinquent thing doesn't work out."
They lapsed into a comfortable silence, the kind that comes from familiarity and friendship that doesn't need to fill every moment with noise. Her guitar filled the quiet, her voice low and soft, and Ryusei kept at his work, an easy rhythm settling over them.
Then came the sound of boots on gravel.
"And it's something quite peculiar.
Something that's shimmering and white…"
Baji's approach was always unmistakable—a kind of barely restrained stomp that told you he was coming before you saw him. Hikari kept strumming, lost in the flow, but Ryusei glanced up, noticing Baji heading their way. There was a flicker of tension in the air, subtle but unmistakable.
"It leads you here despite your destination,
Under the Milky Way tonight."
Baji's gaze swept over them, taking in the sight of Ryusei's hands deftly braiding Hikari's hair. His steps faltered for half a second before he quickened his pace, expression neutral—mostly.
"You're late," Ryusei called down, his tone light but with a hint of mischief, like he was daring Baji to react.
Baji barely acknowledged the remark, his eyes moving from Ryusei to Hikari, still engrossed in her song. "We're starting soon," he said, trying to keep his voice casual, though it came out a bit more clipped than he intended.
"Hm?" Hikari looked up, still playing, her fingers never missing a beat. "Yeah, I know," she replied, sounding more amused than anything, the entire vibe having gone right over her head.
Baji's gaze shifted back to Ryusei, who was tying off the braid with a small hair tie, finishing the job with casual confidence. The braid itself wasn't the issue, not really. He knew that. And yet, something about the ease with which Ryusei's fingers worked, the way Hikari didn't seem to mind, made his chest tighten in a way he couldn't explain. He forced himself to look away.
"You don't have to do that," he said, his voice even but laced with a subtle edge.
Ryusei raised an eyebrow, catching the clench in Baji's jaw. The corner of his mouth twitched, clearly enjoying this more than he should. "What, the braid? What's the matter, Keisuke-kun? Want me to teach you how to do it?"
Hikari let out a small laugh, oblivious to the way tension was now practically buzzing around them. She reached up to feel the braid, careful not to mess it up. "Yeah, let him teach you, Keisuke."
Baji crossed his arms and leaned against the nearby pillar, his gaze flicking between the two of them. He wasn't glaring—he didn't have to—but there was a definite tightness to his posture, like he was holding himself back from saying something he'd regret. He knew it was irrational, that this was just a harmless moment, and yet... it bugged him. It bugged the hell out of him.
Ryusei, sensing his discomfort, leaned back, that lazy grin still in place. "I'm serious, though," he continued, tone all teasing but with a hint of sincerity. "You ever want to learn how to braid, just let me know."
Baji rolled his eyes, more to hide his annoyance than anything else. "Yeah, I'll pass," he muttered.
Setting her guitar aside, Hikari stretched, the braid swaying as she moved, blissfully unaware of the mini-tug-of-war happening around her. "Alright, I guess we're getting ready to start," she said, brushing past Baji with a light, absentminded touch to his arm.
The simple graze of her fingers on his arm softened the edge in Baji's posture. Just a casual touch, but somehow it reminded him why he was here—to have her back, to protect her. He let out a slow breath, some of his irritation slipping away…though not entirely.
For a moment, Baji's gaze lingered on Ryusei, something like an unspoken challenge simmering beneath the surface. Ryusei met his stare, an amused smirk tugging at his lips. Neither of them said a word, but the silent message was clear: this wasn't over. Not by a long shot. But for now, Baji forced himself to let it go.
They had a meeting to get through, after all.