Chapter 17

Hidden Truths

Despite the fact that it was now Friday afternoon and the streets of Kamurocho were already becoming crowded, Tsuki had no trouble spotting Majima on Taihei Boulevard — now that his signature snakeskin blazer held special meaning in her eyes, she was becoming aware just how much it stood out even in a town as colorful and varied as this. He was waiting for her at the foot of the steps leading to the entrance to the Millennium Tower. With a smirk, she noted how they had inadvertently traded places this time, compared to two days earlier.

As she got closer, she noticed a group of young women about to pass him — and the way they gave him a noticeably wide berth as they quickly walked by. She understood why they would — he was a yakuza, and his appearance did not exactly make him the most approachable person in the world. How little they really knew, she thought, saddened by their ignorance, but grateful that, owing to a curious twist of fate, she had been afforded the chance to get to know the man behind the intimidating exterior.

When he eventually turned to look in her direction, their eyes met, and Tsuki could see the immediate change in him as the expression on his face softened.

"Hey," she greeted him casually as she approached. "You ready?"

"Always," he grinned. "Did ya decide 'bout where ya wanna go?"

"Yep! And it's not far from here, so that's a plus."

"Oh? Which place do ya have in mind?"

"You'll find out soon enough."

"Quite secretive today, ain'tcha?" he smirked.

"Come on. Less talking, more walking — I'm starving!"

"Pfft. Y'know, you're makin' it sound like you're more excited 'bout the food than spendin' time with me," he pointed out, mock disappointment in his voice.

"Oh don't give me that," she giggled. "I'm actually doubly excited, since I have a chance to take you to one of my favorite places."

"Alright, if ya say so. Well, lead the way."

They strolled down East Millennium Tower Street, eventually taking a right turn into East Shichifuku Street. As they walked, Tsuki noted that, every once in a while, the people they passed gave them confused, even surprised glances, some of them going as far as whispering among themselves. She had never noticed it before that day, but now that she was aware of it, she could sense doubt begin to wrap its suffocating tendrils around her heart again, an unwelcome question worming its way into her mind: was she doing the right thing?

No — she would not let doubt take over, not again. It did not matter what random people in the street thought of them. After all, those were the kind of people who were eager to judge others based solely on appearance without knowing the first thing about them — something she despised greatly. Who were they to dictate how she should live her life? The person who mattered most to her at that moment was right there beside her — everyone else, along with their judgmental stares, was nothing more than noise.

"Everythin' alright?" Majima's concerned voice plucked her out of her thoughts. "Ya got real quiet all of a sudden."

"Couldn't be better," she nodded with a bright smile, hoping that it would, at least to some extent, convey her appreciation for his thoughtfulness. "In other news — we're here."

She slowed her pace and pointed to a nearby building. They were in front of Kanrai, the Kamurocho Hills construction site looming in the distance at the far end of the alley that connected East Shichifuku Street with Park Boulevard. For a reason she could not yet fathom, Majima appeared dumbfounded as he looked at the sign above the restaurant's entrance.

"Ya shittin' me right now? Out of everythin' ya coulda picked… this place?"

"Hm? What's wrong with it?" Tsuki tilted her head, confused. "You don't like barbecue?"

"That ain't what I mean. It's just that when my bro an' I go out to eat, he almost always drags me here," he replied with an exaggerated sigh.

His answer appeared to have piqued Tsuki's interest.

"Oh? A fellow aficionado of yakiniku, is he?"

"Ya could say that…"

"Well, seeing your utter lack of enthusiasm," a smug smile lifting the corners of her mouth, Tsuki crossed her arms, "how about next time I want to go, I'll invite him instead?"

The expression on Majima's face turned beyond sour at the prospect.

"Ain't happenin'."

"Why not? Would it make you jealous? Is that it?" she teased him.

At this point, she was rubbing salt in the wound for no other reason than for the fun of seeing the scowl on his face deepen.

"An' how exactly would ya do that?" he grumbled, completely glossing over her questions. "Ya don't even know what he looks like."

"I'll find a way. Remember I've got a secret weapon at my disposal — Aki's a bona fide queen of Kamurocho gossip, after all. Give her enough time and she'll find pretty much anything out for you."

"Wouldn't be so sure 'bout that," he scoffed. "Still… Whatever you're tryin' to do, it ain't gonna work. Let's go."

As if to signal he had had enough of her ribbing, he headed straight for the entrance without uttering another word.

"Oh, it's working alright," Tsuki snickered as she followed suit.

As luck would have it, the restaurant's floor was lively, but not as crowded as it could be at the start of a weekend, so they had no issue finding a good spot, owing to the low tables on the elevated guest space laid out with tatami mats to the side being all unoccupied. Unlike in the streets, the other guests at Kanrai did not seem to pay them any mind. Without much hesitation, they sat down at the table in the far right corner. Sitting comfortably on the zabuton pillows, away from the entrance, and with a folding screen partially hiding them from sight on one side, they were free to enjoy their time together undisturbed.

While Tsuki had mentioned she was hungry, what Majima saw shortly after the sirloin they had ordered was ready to be eaten was beyond his expectations. By his rough count, for every slice of meat he took off the grill she devoured at least two. It was astounding to him that a woman of her build had the ability to eat so much without it showing later, almost as if she had a second stomach for grilled meat. All he could do was stare at the scene unfolding before him in amusement and an odd sense of awe. When it finally looked like her pace had slowed, he shook his head, a low, throaty chuckle escaping him.

"I swear, this is like some kinda déjà vu."

"...Hm? What is?" she raised her eyes to look at him, oblivious as to what he was driving at.

"You, stuffin' yer face like that here."

Called out, Tsuki froze for a moment, her cheeks turning ever so slightly redder than what one could attribute to the cozy warmth of the restaurant's interior.

"I-I'm not stuffing my face! W-What are you talking about?"

To further drive his argument home, Majima pointed to the built-in grill between them and the lone cut of sirloin that remained.

"Yeah, right. I may only have one good eye, but that don't mean I'm blind. Sheesh, it's like I'm here with my bro."

"...Is that a good or a bad thing?" she gave him an embarrassed smile.

"Depends. Well… 'Least you're prettier than him, so that's somethin'."

"Good to know," she said with a small laugh. "Sorry, I can't help it — quality yakiniku and rice really are the best."

"Didn't ya say ya ain't got a favorite food? Seein' ya now, I'm beginnin' to think that ain't the case."

"Shit, you're right — I did say that… and it's true that every time I come here I end up eating more than I probably should, now that I think about it. But this place's meat is just too tasty, you know?"

"...Ya can't only eat meat, though. Vegetables're important too."

"I eat vegetables. But there's nothing wrong with indulging myself every once in a while, right?"

"As long as this place ain't the only one ya eat at, then… sure, I guess."

"No worries on that front. I don't come here that often — this place is for special occasions only."

"An' what's so special 'bout today that ya were so insistent on comin' here?"

"Um, well… It's our first dinner together as… you know. Isn't that reason enough?"

For a split-second, Majima's eye widened, the realization hitting him only after she had said it out loud.

"I… I guess you're right. But… if ya wanted us to go somewhere special for some yakiniku, ya coulda said so. I coulda taken ya to a better place than this."

"This one's both good and convenient, though. I still need to get to work in time afterwards."

"That coulda been arranged too."

She took a sip of water, then met his gaze with a mischievous grin on her face.

"I wouldn't have gotten to see the surprise on your face then, though. And let me tell you, it was worth it."

"Oi, watch it," he narrowed his eye. "Mess with the bull too much an' ya get the horns."

"Should I take that as a threat, or an offer?" she smirked in response.

"Pfeh. Right. Shoulda figured," he scoffed, the momentary frown giving way to amusement.

"Seriously, though, it's fine. I appreciate you wanting to go out of your way, but, like I already said, it's not all about the food," she said before taking a pause to consider her next words. "Thinking about it… maybe the real reason I like this place so much is because whenever I come here, it's with someone who's important to me," she added with a smile as bright and warm as sunshine.

Still unaccustomed to hearing such things from her, Majima looked away, a slight blush coloring his pale cheeks.

"...Heh, is that right?" he scratched the back of his neck bashfully. "When ya put it like that, I almost believe ya."

Tsuki found the fact that such small compliments had the ability to make him look so embarrassed utterly disarming; it made her heart overflow with affection for him, his reaction the best reward she could have asked for.

"Now, it's just a hunch, but… maybe the reason your brother likes to drag you here so often is similar? It could be because he has fond memories of you spending time together, don't you think?"

"Huh… Ya think so? Always figured he just liked it here, but… I wonder."

"You should try asking him some time."

"Naw, I ain't gonna ask him somethin' like that… An' even if I did, I doubt he'd tell me."

"Some food for thought, then. And, speaking of food… Are you going to eat that?" she pointed to the last remaining slice on the grill.

"I am — so don't even think 'bout stealin' it."

Taking advantage of the gap in conversation that followed, they ordered two more servings in hopes that this time it would be enough for both of them. Even once their order had arrived, however, Majima remained oddly quiet, his gaze fixed on the slices of meat sizzling on the grill. By now, Tsuki knew that look — he was definitely mulling something over in his head, probably thinking about how to begin. She decided to observe him and give him time. Unsurprisingly, she did not have to wait long.

"So, uh… Sorry 'bout yesterday…" he spoke up in a low voice, his face falling.

"What for?" Tsuki gave him a puzzled look.

"For puttin' ya on the spot like that. Mighta got a lil' carried away there."

"Oh, that? You've nothing to apologize for," she brushed it off without hesitation. "It was quite amusing, to be honest. And, more importantly, I appreciate the straightforwardness — it's refreshing."

"Refreshin'? How so?"

"Hmm… How do I put it?" she knit her brow. "A lot of men pay too much attention to what and how they say it when they're talking with a girl, afraid they might say something that will make them dislike them, and they end up not saying what's really on their minds."

"Well, ya know how I am," he chuckled, visibly pleased. "Once I set my sights on somethin', I only got one gear an' that gear is: go."

"Wouldn't have said that, based on how long it took you to finally speak your mind about us."

Shoulders sagging, he lowered his head, his expression in equal measure annoyed and embarrassed.

"Tch… That was different, an' ya know it," he groaned.

"I'm just screwing with you, don't worry."

"Yeah, yeah. Still… It don't change the fact I wouldn't wanna say or do somethin' to upset ya. Ain't been with somebody like this for so long, an'… Can't say I've ever really been good at this kinda thing, so… I ain't sure how much could turn out to be too much, is what I'm tryin' to say."

"Preaching to the choir there," Tsuki scoffed. "But it takes quite a lot to upset me. If you want to know my opinion, I think you should stop worrying about it and simply be yourself. It's worked out pretty well so far, after all, hasn't it?" she chuckled.

Hearing her cheerful laughter, he raised his gaze again to meet hers. The mirth he saw in her eyes made the expression on his face soften, dispelling the shadow of uncertainty that had temporarily darkened it.

"Hmph. Alright, I'll try to worry a lil' less 'bout how I am 'round ya if that's what ya want."

"Hah! Somehow, I doubt it… But it's the thought that counts."

"Oi. Do I seriously seem like such a worrywart to ya?"

Quietly, she took a measure of him, a smug smile playing on her lips.

"...You kind of do, yeah. At least when it comes to stuff you care about."

"Feh," he heaved a resigned sigh. "Am I that easy to read for ya?"

"Real talk? You were actually one of the most difficult people for me to get a read on. Took me quite a bit to figure out what made you tick — and even now, I feel like I've barely scratched the surface."

"Good. Means I still ain't lost it yet."

"So it's intentional? Like… a defense mechanism?"

"...In a manner of speakin'. Can't string along somebody who's unpredictable, can ya? That said… 'fore I knew it, it became a way of life — an' thanks to it, now I can do whatever the hell I want without anybody battin' an eye or breathin' down my neck every step of the way."

"Huh… Makes sense why you'd choose to be a yakuza — freedom like that requires a ton of money, I'd imagine."

"If the bubble was still a thing, then maybe. Ain't so rosy anymore, though."

"You mean yakuza business doesn't pay well nowadays? I find that hard to believe."

"Eh, sometimes it does, sometimes it don't, but unless ya wanna get into the real vile shit, then nah. Gets hard to keep the Family afloat at times, but it is what it is."

It was like someone had lit a lightbulb in Tsuki's head. Remembering what Aki had told her the previous night, this was the perfect opportunity for her to find out whether what her friend had told her was correct. All that remained was to broach the subject and see if he would be willing to talk about it in more detail.

"Ever thought about branching out, in that case?"

"Already have."

"Oh? Into what?"

"I run a company."

"You? A company?"

"An' what's so strange 'bout that?" he raised an eyebrow, somewhat stung.

"Nothing, now that I think about it… Seeing as you used to run the Grand, and then Sunshine, it actually makes perfect sense you'd be good at that kind of thing. What kind of company is it? Or is it better if I don't know?"

"Construction."

Bingo. But if that part was true, then…

"That's… surprisingly down-to-earth." She paused, unsure whether or not she should say what was on her mind. "...Is it a front?"

Somehow, this time he did not appear all that surprised by her question.

"Naw, it's legit — we really do build shit," he gave her a calm answer.

"Really? Anything I might've heard of?"

"Well… Nearly done with that new shoppin' mall over where West Park used to be, Kamurocho Hills. Had to deal with a few delays, but maybe it'll finally get done soon."

"So it is true…"

She spoke the words quietly, but not quietly enough, it seemed, for him not to hear.

"Haw? If ya already knew, then why'd ya ask?"

"It's too much to say I knew. See, Aki brought it up at some point… I guess I just wanted to confirm it."

"Well, there ya have it. Coulda just asked me straight, instead of beatin' 'round the bush like that," he guffawed.

"And you're the president?"

"Yep. Want me to show ya my certificate sometime?"

"If there's ever a good moment for it, sure, why not. How did it happen, by the way?"

"How did what happen?"

"You, starting a construction company, of all things. Given your past experience, I would've thought you'd go for a cabaret club, maybe a restaurant… but a construction company?"

"Well… Told ya I had some forced breaks from this yakuza thing, right?"

"Right."

"Thing is, that time it wasn't only me — the whole Family went with me."

"The whole Family?!"

"Ah. Just like that, all of my boys found 'emselves out on their asses, so I had to do somethin'. An' 'round that time the Clan came up with the idea to build the Hills. A construction company ticked all the boxes — my boys had a job, the Tojo had someone they knew doin' all the heavy liftin', an' I could keep an eye on things, even if it was from the sidelines."

"So much for a fair tender, huh?" Tsuki noted in jest.

"Oi, what're ya, a cop in disguise? The company's legit, everythin' got approved, an' no-one's come knockin' since, so it's all good."

"I'm just screwing with you. But… Wow. I knew you cared about your men, no matter how much you might try to hide it."

"I'm their patriarch," he pointed out matter-of-factly. "Bottom line is, a father don't leave his kids out to dry when shit hits the fan."

"Your men really are lucky to have you as their boss, you know?"

He met her compliment with a dismissive hand wave.

"Heh. Betcha if ya asked 'em, they'd tell ya it's a blessin' an' a curse."

"If you say so. Doesn't change the fact they could have ended up with much worse," she replied with a chuckle. "So then… What made you go back? I'm no expert, but I'm fairly certain you could've made a more than decent living off of the construction company alone."

"It ain't 'bout the money. Y'know, yakuza nowadays don't realize cash comes an' goes. Call me old-fashioned, but makin' bank wasn't the main reason we chose this life back in the day. Sure, it keeps the lights on, but it ain't what's most important. An' as for yer question…" He paused, the look in his eye turning nostalgic. "I made a promise."

"To your brother?"

"Naw," he shook his head. "Someone else. Someone I trust an' respect almost as much as my oath brother… He's been outta the business for a long time now, but when the Clan's in deep shit, he can't help showin' up to drag its ass outta the gutter time an' time again. If not for him, the whole thing prob'ly woulda gone to hell ten times over by now…"

It was clear from the manner in which Majima spoke of the man in question that he held him in high regard; whatever the bond the two shared was, Tsuki had a feeling that it must have been special indeed.

"You make it sound like he's a straight-up underworld superhero…"

"Yeah, no kiddin'."

"Why did you promise him to rejoin the Tojo, though?"

"Geez, what's with the interrogation all of a sudden?" he winced, but did not seem reluctant to continue.

"I'm curious. And I won't deny, I very much want to learn more about you, and people who are important to you."

He appeared stunned for a brief moment, but then a soft smile lit up his face.

"Feh… Fine, whatever. He was leavin' town, an' I promised I'd keep an eye on the new chairman for him while he was gone."

Tsuki raised an eyebrow, puzzled by his answer.

"Wait… Why would the chairman of the biggest yakuza organization this side of the country need a babysitter?"

"Err… Long story short, he ain't been chairman for that long, so he's still wet behind the ears. Got a good heart, too good almost, an' the chops for becomin' a proper leader eventually, but he's young — an' yakuza don't take too well to bowin' down to someone like that. The guy I made the promise to figured that if someone like me tucked his tail in for a while an' showed my support, all the rest would fall in line."

"...Did it work?"

"Like hell it did," Majima scoffed derisively. "Been one mess after another since. But that's neither here nor there. Bottom line is, he may be the chairman, but he's still got a lotta learnin' to do."

Wholly unbidden, a different, less pleasant part of her conversation with Aki the day before popped into Tsuki's head. Hesitant as she was to bring it up, she nevertheless knew it would keep poisoning her mind unless she asked him about it.

"So… The shooting at the Kamurocho Hills construction site—"

"Wha…?" he gasped before she could finish. "Wh… Where'd ya hear 'bout that?"

The moment she brought up that particular subject, his demeanor changed drastically. The light in his eye dimmed, it was as though a shroud of sadness had descended on the two of them, the air suddenly heavy and oppressive.

"I-I read about it in a newspaper back when it happened," she explained, deciding it was best to keep Aki out of the story for the time being. "I'm simply connecting the dots…"

"If ya read 'bout it in a paper, then why're ya askin' me?" he bristled. "What, ya think I had somethin' to do with it?" he added before she could get a word in edgeways.

By how tense and defensive he had become, Tsuki realized she must have unintentionally touched a nerve. Already, she was beginning to regret it.

"...Did you?"

"Whaddya think?"

Having taken a deep breath and gathered her thoughts, she decided to trust in what her instincts were telling her — trust in him, and the kind of man she felt he was.

"Even if you were involved in some way, I don't believe you shot anybody," she said with as much confidence as she could muster.

The look on his face softened ever so slightly, yet the gloom in his single eye remained unchanged.

"You're right. I didn't. First off, guns ain't really my style. An' second, I was stuck sittin' on my ass behind bars at the time."

Tsuki's eyes darted to his fist — she noticed how he clenched it before he continued speaking.

"If not for that… maybe I woulda been able to do somethin' to prevent it from turnin' out the way it did."

The sudden regret in his voice made the gears in Tsuki's head turn faster. As it always was with him, there was more to the story than one would assume at first glance. Reluctant though she was about pushing the subject further, she nevertheless gave voice to her thoughts.

"Did you… Did you know the people who got shot?"

He was silent for what felt like an eternity, gaze fixed on the glowing coals underneath the metal grate of the grill. When he finally spoke, the words were not what Tsuki had expected to hear.

"Ya goin' straight to work after?"

"Huh? I mean… Yes. That was the plan."

"...Alright. In that case, lemme walk ya there. Ain't somethin' I wanna get into in public like this. We can talk more on the way."

The air outside was crisp, the somber note on which they stepped back out into the street making it feel much colder than it really was. They took a different route this time, choosing to stroll through the less crowded alleys to avoid the hustle and bustle of the main thoroughfares. The mood vastly different from what it had been earlier, they walked in uneasy silence for a while before eventually Majima spoke up in a low, solemn voice.

"Why do ya even wanna hear 'bout it?"

"I… I guess I was curious, and wanted to know your side of it." She paused, her eyebrows coming down in a deep frown. "You know what — we don't even have to talk about it if you don't want to. Sometimes curiosity can take the better of me."

"Well, too late now. I gotta say, ya got a knack for askin' me 'bout the most difficult things, y'know?"

"Difficult, huh? Yeah, on second thought, forget I even asked. It'll be better if—"

"Her name was Yasuko."

Tsuki's last-ditch efforts to salvage the situation by convincing him to drop the subject proving ineffective, the only way that remained led further into what she now fully expected to become a tough conversation.

"...The girl who was shot?" she asked in a small voice, even though she already knew the answer.

"Yeah. An'... she was my bro's little sister. We used to spend a lotta time together 'fore it all went to shit… Worst part is, if I'da found her earlier, she'd still be alive."

Because of his reaction, she had already suspected the matter must have held significance for him on a personal level; she had had no idea that it involved his oath brother's sister, out of all people. Slowly, the pieces of yet another puzzle were falling into place.

"Oh no… So… that business Akiyama-san mentioned you had with him… Did it have something to do with her?"

"It did," he sighed. "Heard she'd been workin' at his club, so I sent my boys to fetch her. To keep her outta more trouble. But, by that time, she was already long gone. Next thing I know, I end up bein' forced to sit on my hands in the can, an' she… Well…" he smiled bitterly. "Heh. Pathetic, ain't it? First, I couldn't be there for my bro when he needed me most, an' then I couldn't even keep his sister safe. Patriarch, lieutenant, captain… Titles don't mean shit when you're still powerless to do anythin' when it counts."

"...It wasn't your fault. You don't know what would've happened, even if you had found her."

As earnest as he knew her words were, they nevertheless provided little comfort.

"All I know is I woulda done what I could not to let her end up dead. It was the least I coulda done for her an' for my bro, an' I still went an' fucked it up."

"We all make our own choices, given the options we have. I can only assume she chose what she thought was best at the time…"

"She coulda just come straight to me, though. Why didn't she?"

His question seemed almost rhetorical; it made Tsuki uncertain whether or not she should try to think of an answer to give him.

"You said she was already in trouble… Maybe she didn't want to involve you too?"

All of a sudden, he stopped, and turned to face her.

"Don'tcha see, though? I ain't the one who matters here! So what if she got me involved? Was spendin' twenty-five years not knowin' whether her brother would still be alive the next day only to throw her life away an' get killed right before his eyes really the best alternative?!" he implored her, the pain in his voice so raw that it made Tsuki feel as though her heart would break into pieces. "I'da taken the fall for her if I had to, an' still… still she didn't trust me enough to ask for help…"

"What if it wasn't a matter of trust? What if she cared about you more than you think? It could have been the reason why she didn't want to drag you into whatever mess she was in…"

"Eh… Who the hell knows," he shrugged. "Ain't like I can ask her 'bout it anymore, so what does it matter?"

"It matters because you're still suffering. I can't even imagine what your brother must've felt… What he still must feel," she said, head hung low, the guilt over her insistence on pursuing such a painful subject becoming almost too much to bear. "Damn it… I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have pried so much — I should have bit my tongue when I still had the chance, and let it go," she apologized, annoyed with herself, genuine sorrow painting itself on her face.

Like cinders whose glow was slowly fading, his momentary anger seemed to have dissipated, leaving behind only the stale ashes of sadness. When he spoke, his voice was steady, but the apathy that now underlined his tone made it even worse.

"Naw… Don't beat yerself up over it. It is what it is. Woulda come up sooner or later anyway, I s'ppose, so perhaps it's better this way. Can't change the past, can ya?"

"Sure, but… I've made you miserable, and for what? Just to sate my dumb curiosity?... I feel like such an idiot right now… Today was supposed to be special, but I went and stuck my nose where it doesn't belong again, and ended up ruining everything…"

Seeing the anguish on her face, Majima could not help feeling for her. He knew full-well she had not intended to cause him pain. Discussing events that were still fresh in his mind was difficult, however, and in his grief he appeared to have made her suffer as well. Frantically, he began searching for a way to convey to her that the blame did not solely lie with her.

"Ya didn't ruin anythin'. Dunno 'bout you, but I still had a good time. Even that last bit… It wasn't exactly what I thought we'd land on, for sure, but… Like ya said, we're still gettin' used to this, ain't we?" he forced a smile in a desperate attempt to at least somewhat lighten the mood. "I, uh… I mighta overreacted a bit. To tell ya the truth, at first I got kinda scared ya were beginnin' to doubt me."

"Doubt you? No — that's not what this was about, at all. And you don't have to lie to make me feel better. I screwed up — simple as that. You know, after our talk the other day at the top of the Tower, I… I promised myself I'd do my best to make you smile — to make sure you're happy when we're together. Instead, here I am, rubbing salt into a still fresh wound not even two days later. I really am bad at this, aren't I?"

He blinked a few times sheepishly once her words had sunk in. She appeared genuinely remorseful for what she perceived as her mistake; he could not suffer to see her like this when, in his mind, she was not at fault.

"Haw? The hell're ya talkin' about?…" he raised his eyebrows. "I ain't lyin'. An'... I am happy."

"What?... Which part of everything just now screams 'happy' to you?"

"All of it," he answered, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Stunned, she stared at him as if he had suddenly lost his mind.

"...You've lost me."

As her eyes searched his face for the real meaning of what he was saying, Majima found himself feeling as nervous as ever. He was trying his darndest to gather the jumbled thoughts in his head to give her a semi-coherent answer, but the expectant silence did not make it any easier.

"It's, uh… How do I put it… Complicated?"

"Huh? How exactly is it complicated?"

"Err, y'see… It's like… Even when ya push my buttons an' make me revisit shit I'd rather not think about… Somehow, I still end up feelin' better after."

Indeed, sharing some of his pain with her felt liberating; he could not help worrying, however, that it could prove to be a double-edged sword in the long run. If he kept doing it, would there ever come a point when it would become too much for her to bear? No matter how strong she was, everyone had a breaking point. The last thing he wanted for her was to one day realize shouldering his sorrows on top of her own was more than she could take. For the time being, his words seemed to have slightly lifted her spirits.

"...You mean it?"

"Yeah, I do."

She was quiet for a spell, mulling what he had said over in her head.

"Hm, well…" she gave him a reserved smile. "That's called unburdening. And, by the looks of it, you seem to need it — a lot."

"Pfft!" he waved her assessment away with a smirk. "If I wanted free therapy sessions, I woulda hooked up with somebody else."

"And yet, here we are."

"Fine, call it whatever ya want. Thing is, there's stuff I can't talk 'bout even with my bro… but with you, it's different. So when I say I'm happy, I… I mean it. I'm glad to have ya there to hear me out. An' I appreciate hearin' yer thoughts on things, too, don't matter how ticked off I may look at times. Y'know what I mean?"

"I… think so?" she gave him a slightly crooked smile, beginning to have an idea what he was trying to tell her.

It was not the most exhaustive answer he could have given her, but with how guarded he tended to be about his emotions, she was grateful for the fact he was at least trying to learn to be more open with her.

"Listen — if I didn't want to talk 'bout this kinda stuff with ya, I wouldn't. I know ya still prob'ly got a lotta questions, an' that you're curious, but, uh… I ain't used to openin' up like this to someone, so… bear with me a lil' longer, alright?"

"I thought that went without saying. So, then… you're not upset with me?"

"Upset with ya? Naw, c'mon. Ya ain't done nothin' wrong, really… If anythin', ya gave me somethin' to think 'bout… A different angle from which to look at things, let's call it."

"You'd better not be lying to me right now…"

Moved by his lack of hesitation to forgive her misstep, Tsuki looked at him with pleading eyes. She did not need his pity — the only thing she wanted from him was the truth. While she waited for his response, he raised his hand, stopping it mid-air for a hesitant moment; then, however, he reached out, and squeezed her arm reassuringly.

"I ain't," he said with the warmest of smiles, the softness of his gaze proof enough that he was telling the truth. "Everythin's fine, so c'mon, cheer up. Ain't like ya to be so down in the dumps 'bout somethin' as small as th—"

"Is everything okay, ma'am?"

A stranger's voice interrupted Majima before he could finish. The instant the question rang out, he let go of her, as though he had been caught red-handed committing some manner of crime. Turning to locate the voice's owner, they spied a single man some distance away from where they were. It seemed that he had wandered into the same alley, and, having noticed them, had stopped to assess what was happening.

"Oh for the love of…" Tsuki hissed in a hushed voice before addressing the man who continued staring at them like a hawk. "Everything is fine, thank you!"

Having taken a better look at her companion, the man appeared to have lost some of his confidence, but did not move from his spot.

"A-Are you sure? If that man is giving you trouble, I-I'll call the police."

"I said I'm fine, didn't I? Now, please, let us be," Tsuki flashed him a smile, trying to stay polite but firm at the same time.

"A-Alright. If that's what you want…"

His steps quick, the man took off back the way he had come, as though he was afraid to get anywhere near them and would rather take the long way to wherever he was headed. Once he was out of sight and they were alone again, Tsuki heaved a sigh.

"Typical… Does every woman in this town look like a damsel in distress to guys like that?"

"That's yer takeaway from what just happened?" Majima gave her a concerned look, a familiar shadow passing through his single good eye.

"What else?"

"That… that's what it's gonna be like from now on, as long as we're together?" he gave her a bitter smile. "Ya ever notice the way some people look at us in the streets? That too."

So she was not the only one who had taken notice of that, Tsuki thought. Perhaps he was used to it, given the path he had chosen to walk — but what he might not have realized was that she was as well.

"I did, but right now it sounds like it bothers you more than it does me."

"Ya don't care? Even a lil'?"

"What I care about is you — not some random strangers in the street," she met his gaze with determination in her eyes. "People have been looking at me like that for years, so it's nothing new to me. I've had time to learn to stop caring about it and simply keep doing my thing."

"Ya ain't who ya used to be anymore, though. Ya got yer own business to look after now — when the news spreads, won't it jeopardize everythin' you've worked for? An' what 'bout Aki-chan?"

He was doing it again — the picture of solemn dejection he had become told Tsuki that he was inches away from succumbing to further doubt about the choice they had made. She would not let him, nor would she go back on the decisions which had led here to that very moment.

"In case you haven't noticed, people who choose my bar over dozens of others that exist in this town do it for a reason. A great many of them feel they don't fit anywhere else, and Stray gives them a place where they can be themselves and spend their time with others who feel the same way. Heavens know you don't have to be a criminal to be treated like an outcast in this world. And it's not like my being with you will make Stray into some kind of den of scum and villainy. Which is to say, I'll be fine."

His response was a bout of heartfelt laughter.

"What's so funny?" she scowled at him, surprised by his sudden amusement.

"Ya really are kinda crazy, y'know?"

"If refusing to measure everything and everyone with the same yardstick makes me crazy, then I don't want to be sane."

"As commendable as yer way of thinkin' may be… it won't help ya when some overly-zealous mob decides to start paintin' slurs on yer doors to run ya outta town on a shred of a rumor, though."

"Okay — enough of this," irritated at his insistence on poking holes in everything she said, Tsuki decided it was time to put her foot down. "I'm not letting you dig yourself into another despair-filled hole because of something that may or may not happen."

"Hmph… An' how do ya plan to do that, exactly?"

For some reason, her growing annoyance with the situation seemed to amuse him even further, his trademark smug grin returning to his lips. Still, given a choice, she preferred this over having him dwell on visions of doom and gloom.

"Frankly, I don't know yet, since I've already caused enough damage as is," she heaved a resigned sigh. "But I hate seeing you torment yourself like this, so if there's anything at all I can do to make you feel better, tell me."

"Anythin', huh?" he said, his eye narrowing mischievously.

"...If you've got something lewd in mind, then I don't have time right now," she replied, unamused, trying to nip the idea in the bud.

"Yer words, not mine. Wasn't thinkin' 'bout that kinda thing — but now that ya said it…"

She gasped audibly, and quickly looked away, realizing she had been outplayed.

"Ghh..." she gritted her teeth, unable to look him in the eye, her cheeks turning a vivid shade of red.

Seeing her reaction, he burst into triumphant laughter.

"Who's got a dirty mind now, eh?!"

"...N-No comment."

"Nothin' witty to say now that ya been caught, huh?"

"I'm not listening to this — I'm leaving. Bye."

She took a few steps, but before she was out of reach, he caught her by the arm and pulled her back.

"Oh no ya ain't!"

"H-Hey!"

The ease with which he was able to guide her back to him was proof that her annoyance was more for show than anything else. Her acting so coy was a rare sight; he was not at all surprised that she would try to worm her way out of admitting he had her beat. It was an opportunity he was not about to squander.

"Ain'tcha forgettin' somethin'?"

"...What," she grumbled.

"No farewell kiss this time?" he kept teasing her, the look on his face one of utter disappointment.

However, to Tsuki, it appeared underlined with mischief. Certain that she had seen through his little charade, she relented, deciding she would play along with it for a while.

"Well… I can't give 'em out so often or you'll get bored."

"Hmm… I very much doubt that."

"Besides, we're in public."

"Didn't stop ya yesterday," he pointed out, as though he had been waiting for a chance to poke yet another hole in her argument.

To his visible delight, it seemed to have caught her off guard once more.

"That… That was different," she pouted, looking away again in embarrassment.

It made him guffaw.

"Sure it was."

"It's still a no, though."

"Aww… Stubborn as always," he sighed, but there did not appear to be any resentment in it. "Fine, be that way. If you're gonna leave me like this, then off with ya already," he waved his hands in a comical display of indifference.

"You know you're free to follow me, right? I can pour you a drink while I'm getting the bar ready — it's no big deal, and it would give us some more time to talk."

"Sorry, but… I feel like clearin' my head a lil', to be perfectly honest with ya. Could do with swingin' the ol' bat right about now — always sorts me out, y'know."

No matter how much his answer might have stung, she could not force him into tagging along. She could not help to wonder, however, whether his answer would have been different had it not been for the unfortunate turn their evening together had taken.

"Well, okay, you do you. The night is still young, so if you feel like dropping by later, don't hesitate."

"Sure thing — but I can't promise anythin'."

"I guess I'll see you when I see you, then. Don't be a stranger!"

"Oh, ya don't hafta worry 'bout that. I'll keep in touch."

He casually waved her goodbye, and Tsuki watched his back as he was walking away, doing her best to contain the fervent desire that he would stay by her side, if only for a little while longer.

Another busy night of work came and went, but, much to Tsuki's disappointment, Majima did not show his face at Stray all throughout, nor did she hear from him since. However, as she made her way to work the next day, she did not think much of it — she had a feeling that she would eventually run into him one way or another once she had set foot in Kamurocho. Ever since their fateful encounter back in September, the two of them seemed to have become like magnets, drawn to each other, inevitably bound to cross paths at some point, sooner or later. This time she was sure it would be no different.

The pragmatic part of her kept telling her it was probably for the best — considering how unfocused she could be at times these past few days, having the source of her distraction there with her could have proven more of a hindrance to her doing her job properly than she cared to admit. She knew this particular problem would sort itself out on its own in time; until then, however, she would quickly have to learn to put her emotions aside and remember what her priorities were in case he at one point did decide to pay her a visit while she was working.

When she had reached roughly the middle point of Tenkaichi Street, she felt her cell phone vibrate in her pocket and heard the notification sound for a new message. Flipping it open, she saw that, just as she had expected, it was from Majima. Her initial thought was to read it after she had reached Stray, but she hesitated, something in the first line catching her eye. Promptly, she opened the whole message and began reading.

Meet me as soon as ya can —

it's a matter of life an' death.

Champion District.

Ain't got a lotta time.

"What in the world…?" she breathed when she reached the end.

Frowning, she looked over the message one more time. There was no mistaking it — it had definitely been sent from his address. Its contents were unsettling, to say the least, the implications more than concerning, instantly flooding her mind with a multitude of questions. Did something happen? Did he need help? Why her, and not someone else? Why the Champion District, out of all places? Whatever was the case, she had no time to waste. She had not expected to take any detours that day, least of all one that would lead her into the Champion District, but she had no choice. Putting the cell phone away, she rushed east through Tenkaichi Alley as fast as her feet allowed her without appearing too conspicuous.

There it was — the Champion District and its narrow, dimly-lit alleys. As far as she could see into it, the area appeared to be deserted. Even she knew that the place was usually bad news; she had always had much respect for those who had chosen to run their bars here. Taking a deep breath, she braced herself and cautiously walked in. The message did not specify which alley she was supposed to go to, so she decided to start by going right. Turning to the left at the end, she could see the whole length of the alley before her — it, too, was empty. She kept walking, and as she approached the point where the alley connected to a tight passage to the left, she heard something.

"Psst!"

At first, she was unsure if she had even heard it — but then, it repeated. Someone was definitely there with her, the voice seeming to have come from around the nearest corner.

"Majima-san?"

"Over here."

It undeniably sounded like him — and what that meant was that this was no prank. She was now genuinely concerned.

"I got here as fast as I could. What—"

Turning the corner, she did not get a chance to finish the question before she was grabbed and pulled into what turned out to be a tight embrace. The next thing she knew, she felt a familiar warmth against her lips, the smell of a cologne she knew all too well by now filling her nostrils.

"Mmh?!" She pushed him away just enough to be able to speak again. Seeing the silly grin on his face served only to confuse her further. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

"Surprised?"

"I… I'm not sure what I am right now," she glared at him, then gave him a careful once-over. He did not look hurt — in fact, as far as she could tell, nothing at all appeared out of order. "I got your message. What's going on? You said it was a matter of life and death."

"It was," he nodded, the grin not leaving his face. "I needed to see ya so bad I thought I was gonna die."

"Wh… What?" It took a moment for his words to fully sink in. She could not believe her ears. Stupefied and wide-eyed, she stared at him, feeling anger rising inside her with every passing second. "That's the reason you had me come here?! Are you feeling okay upstairs?"

"I am now," he confirmed gleefully.

She wrestled herself out of his embrace, and slapped him hard on the arm.

"To think I was actually worried about you! If you're trying to make me ignore messages like that in the future, then congrats, you're well on your way there!"

"Aw, c'mon — if there was actual danger involved, ya think I'd have ya meet me in some back alley like this?"

Given what she knew about him, she did not know what the more probable scenario was. With him, everything was possible. She had had a feeling something about the whole thing seemed off, yet she had fallen for it all the same, hook, line and sinker. Her anger was beginning to give way to shame that she had not seen it coming.

Meanwhile, he took a step toward her, and pulled her into another tight embrace. Eventually giving in, she turned her head and let her cheek touch the fabric of his blazer.

"I hate you…" she grumbled, annoyed at just how pleasant the warmth of his body against hers felt.

"Naw ya don't."

All she could do was respond with a deep, resigned sigh.

"If you wanted to see me that much, you could've just said so, you know? We would've worked something out."

"Yeah, see, that's the thing… Now's all I got. Had to think of somethin' that'd allow us to meet somewhere quiet, an' fast," he said softly, his tone turning glum. "Sorry I made ya worry. But I really ain't got much time."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I'll be outta town for the next few days — perfect timin', I know, but I can't do anythin' 'bout it. Knowin' that, I thought I'd blow my lid if I didn't see ya one more time 'fore I left."

"I see… Still, though — you could've called and told me all this. I would have found the time."

"Ain't had a chance, honestly. I was stuck in one mind-numbingly borin' business meeting after another, an' that's on top of some other stuff that needed doin', so no dice. Ya see now?"

"I… Alright, fair enough. I still don't exactly like the way you went about it, but I'll let it slide this time. Never a dull moment with you, is there?"

Sensing her anger subside, he chuckled. Meanwhile, finally relaxing, Tsuki returned his embrace.

"You're leaving tonight, then?"

"Yeah. Nishida's s'pposed to pick me up in, lemme see…" He pulled out his cell phone to check the time. "'Bout five minutes ago."

"Then what are you still doing here? Off you go," she said, pulling away far enough to see his face.

He looked at her with both warmth and sadness, a small smile playing in the corners of his mouth.

"I'll see ya when I get back, yeah?"

Gently, she pulled him in for a short kiss before they would part ways.

"Be safe out there."

"Ya too. Don't do anythin' too reckless while I'm gone."

"I'll try."

Chuckling lightly, he let her go; having exchanged one last look, they went their separate ways. Once she was far away enough, Tsuki shook her head, thinking about what had just happened, and laughed.