A New Resolve

Eleven months had passed since the BEGA League had risen and fallen, leaving the Beyblade world reeling from its betrayal. Despite the restoration of the BBA and the resumption of tournaments, Takao Kinomiya couldn't shake the lingering unease. The scars of that incident ran deeper than he admitted, and as each month passed, a quiet determination simmered within him.

Sitting cross-legged on the porch of his grandfather's house, Takao stared into the distance. The evening sun painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, but his thoughts were elsewhere. In the yard, the sound of sparrows chirping filled the silence, but they couldn't drown out the questions plaguing his mind.

"What are you brooding about this time?"

Takao looked up to see Hiromi Tachibana standing a few feet away, her hands on her hips. She had been watching him for a while, waiting for him to snap out of his daze, but when he didn't, she decided to intervene.

"Hiromi," he muttered, running a hand through his navy-blue hair. "I was just thinking."

"That much is obvious," Hiromi replied, stepping closer. She sat down beside him, tucking her legs beneath her. "What's eating at you now?"

Takao hesitated, his gaze dropping to the wooden floorboards. "Do you remember what happened with BEGA?"

Hiromi frowned. "Of course I do. It's not something anyone could forget."

"That's exactly the problem," Takao said, his voice tightening. "I can't forget it. I don't like how Boris even had the chance to take over the BBA's place. How could something like that even happen? How could so many people turn their backs on us bladers?"

Hiromi studied him for a moment, noting the frustration etched on his face. "It wasn't just the people, Takao. Mr. Daitenji explained it himself. The shareholders—those on the board of directors—they gave in to Boris. They're the ones who let it happen."

Takao clenched his fists. "Exactly. And I don't want anything like that to ever happen again. But what can I do? I'm just a blader. I'm not… I'm not someone who can fight that kind of corruption."

Hiromi leaned back, folding her arms. "Maybe not yet, but who says you can't become someone who can?"

"What do you mean?" Takao asked, glancing at her.

"I've been thinking about this for a while," Hiromi admitted. "What if you—and maybe the rest of us—took control of the BBA shares?"

Takao blinked. "What?"

"It makes sense if you think about it," Hiromi said, warming up to her idea. "The reason Boris was able to take over was because the shareholders cared more about money than about Beyblade. But if you and the others owned the shares, no one would be able to manipulate the organization again. And it's not like you'd ever sell out for money, right?"

Takao stared at her, his mind racing. "That's… I don't know, Hiromi. I don't even have that kind of money. And when did you start caring so much about this stuff, anyway?"

Hiromi rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't stick around you for so long if I didn't care about Beyblade. And besides, I hate seeing you like this—moping around and feeling sorry for yourself."

Takao's lips twitched into a small smile despite himself. "You've got a weird way of cheering people up, you know that?"

"It's called being honest," Hiromi shot back. "Now, about the money—you've won a lot of championship prize money, haven't you? What's happened to all of it?"

"It's with Gramps," Takao admitted sheepishly. "He thought I'd blow it all on something stupid, so he's been keeping it safe."

Hiromi's eyes lit up. "Then that's our starting point! You can use that money to buy some of the shares."

"But would it be enough?" Takao asked, skepticism creeping into his voice.

"No, probably not," Hiromi said, undeterred. "But you don't have to buy all the shares yourself. Mr. Daitenji already owns 31%. If you can convince Max, Kyoujyu, Rei, and Kai to help, you could pool your resources and buy a majority of the shares. That would be enough to give you control."

Takao was silent, absorbing her words. It was an ambitious plan—bordering on crazy—but the more he thought about it, the more it made sense.

"You'd really help me with this?" he asked, his voice soft.

"Of course," Hiromi said, her tone firm. "This isn't just about you, Takao. It's about Beyblade. If anyone can make this happen, it's you. And I'll be right there with you every step of the way."

Takao felt a swell of gratitude as he looked at her. Without thinking, he pulled her into a hug, holding her tightly. "Thanks, Hiromi."

Hiromi stiffened in surprise before relaxing into the embrace. "Just don't screw this up, okay?" she murmured, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

Takao chuckled, releasing her. "No promises, but I'll do my best."

The hug between Takao and Hiromi was brief but grounding for both of them. It was a moment of silent gratitude and mutual understanding. However, it was cut short as footsteps approached from the side of the house. The rest of the Bladebreakers—Kai Hiwatari, Max Mizuhara, Rei Kon, and Kyoujyu—had gathered, each wearing varying expressions of curiosity and concern.

"What's going on?" Rei asked, glancing between Takao and Hiromi. "You two look like you've come up with something serious."

Takao straightened, clearing his throat as Hiromi rose to her feet beside him. "We've got an idea," Takao said, meeting their gazes. "It's about making sure no one like Boris can ever take over the BBA again."

"Yeah?" Max prompted, crossing his arms. "How do we do that?"

Hiromi took the lead, her tone confident as she outlined the plan. She explained how the board of directors had allowed Boris to seize control due to their greed and lack of care for the Beyblade community. She then proposed the idea of buying the shares from the current shareholders to gain majority control.

As she spoke, the group listened intently. Even Kai, who usually maintained an air of aloofness, seemed intrigued.

"So, the idea is to pool our resources to buy the shares," Hiromi concluded. "With Mr. Daitenji already holding 31%, So atleast 20% or more is better to gain control. If we all chip in, we can make it happen."

"20%?"

""That's right. If we combine 31% of Mr. Daitenji and our 20% then that totals 51%. If we have more shares then that would be even more excellent."

The group exchanged glances, weighing the gravity of the plan. Finally, Kai broke the silence. "It's not impossible," he said, his voice calm but firm. "But it'll take a lot of coordination. And money."

"That's the tricky part," Takao admitted. "I've got my championship prize money, but it's not enough. We'll need everyone's help to pull this off."

Max was the first to step forward, his cheerful demeanor replaced with rare seriousness. "I'm in," he said. "I'll ask my mom for some help, and I've got some savings of my own. Beyblade means everything to us—I'm not letting anyone mess with it again."

Rei nodded in agreement. "I've got money from my part-time jobs and prize winnings. It's not much, but I'll contribute whatever I can."

Kyoujyu adjusted his glasses, a determined look on his face. "I've been saving for research projects, but I can use it for this instead. It's for the greater good of Beyblade, after all."

Kai crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "I could buy all the shares if I wanted to," he said, his voice steady. "But if I use my grandfather's money, it'll come with strings attached—and I refuse to let his influence creep into the BBA. I'll use my savings and prize money instead."

Takao's heart swelled with gratitude as he looked at his friends. "Thanks, everyone. This means a lot."

Hiromi wasn't done yet. "And Takao, I'll help you too," she said, meeting his surprised gaze.

"What?" Takao blinked. "Hiromi, you don't have to—"

"Yes, I do," she interrupted firmly. "I've got my scholarship money and some savings. I'll even ask my parents to chip in. You'll need every bit of help you can get, and I'm not letting you do this alone."

The Final Push

Over the next few weeks, the Bladebreakers worked tirelessly to gather the funds and negotiate with the shareholders. As promised, each member contributed what they could:

Takao used his championship prize money, carefully managed by his grandfather, to secure 24% of the shares.

Kai, true to his word, used his personal savings and prize money to acquire 17%.

Max, Kyoujyu, Rei pooled their resources to obtain 28% in total.

Hiromi played a crucial role in helping Takao reach his 24%. She used her scholarship money, drained her savings, and even enlisted the help of her parents, who contributed generously.

One evening, as the two of them reviewed the finalized numbers in Takao's room, Takao leaned back with a sigh. "This is incredible," he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Hiromi, you didn't have to go this far for me."

Hiromi looked up from her notes, a small smile playing on her lips. "Why wouldn't I? You'd do the same for me if the situation were reversed, wouldn't you?"

"Well, yeah, but still," Takao said, scratching the back of his neck. "You could've just bought the shares in your own name instead of using all that money to help me."

Hiromi's smile widened slightly, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She leaned closer to him, lowering her voice. "You'll pay me back someday, won't you?"

Takao chuckled nervously. "Of course I will. How about in installments?"

Hiromi's cheeks flushed faintly as she leaned even closer, her lips brushing against his ear. "I wouldn't mind if you considered it a dowry instead."

Takao froze, his face turning as red as a tomato. "D-Dowry?!" he stammered, pulling back to stare at her.

Hiromi laughed, her cheeks still tinged with pink. "Relax, Takao. I'm just kidding… mostly."

But her words lingered in the air, leaving Takao flustered and, for once, completely at a loss for words.

The board of directors, faced with the overwhelming unity and determination of the team, had no choice but to relinquish their hold on the organization. Takao and his friends were now the guardians of the BBA's future, ensuring that no one like Boris would ever threaten the Beyblade world again.

As they stood together in the BBA headquarters, the weight of their accomplishment sinking in, Takao turned to his friends with a grin. "We did it, guys. This is our victory—not just for us, but for all bladers out there."

Hiromi stepped forward, her eyes shining with pride. "And it's just the beginning. We've got a lot of work ahead of us, but I know we'll handle it together."

Takao met her gaze, his grin softening into a genuine smile. "Yeah. Together."

And as the sun set on that chapter of their journey, the Bladebreakers knew that they had not only secured the future of Beyblade but had also grown stronger as a team—and as a family.

The mood in the room was celebratory after their victory over the BBA's former shareholders. The Bladebreakers had officially secured the future of Beyblade, ensuring no one like Boris could ever manipulate the sport again. The group gathered at Takao's house that evening, talking and laughing, their hard work finally paying off.

As they settled in, Max leaned back on the couch with a sly grin. "Hey, Takao, I've been meaning to ask… how did you end up with 24% of the shares? That's a lot more than the rest of us."

The question immediately drew everyone's attention. Rei raised an eyebrow, Kyoujyu adjusted his glasses, and even Kai gave Takao a side glance, his usual indifferent expression replaced with mild curiosity.

"Well, duh," Takao said, puffing out his chest. "I'm the defending world champion, remember? Championship prize money comes with perks!"

Rei folded his arms, his gaze skeptical but amused. "Really? That's your story?"

"Yeah, really!" Takao insisted, though his voice wavered slightly under Rei's piercing stare.

Hiromi, who was sitting beside Takao, rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. She knew where this was going.

"Alright, alright!" Takao said, throwing up his hands in surrender. "Hiromi helped, too. Happy now?"

"Ohhh," Max teased, leaning forward with a wide grin. "So you're gonna pay her back, right?"

"Pay her back?" Takao repeated, feigning confusion. "Nah, she said I could just consider it as d—"

Hiromi's reflexes kicked in immediately. She lunged forward and clamped her hand over Takao's mouth, silencing him mid-sentence. Her cheeks burned crimson as the rest of the team erupted into laughter.

"Oh no," Max said, his grin growing impossibly wider. "What was that, Takao? Consider it as what?"

Takao mumbled something incomprehensible against Hiromi's hand, his face equally flushed. Hiromi glared at him, her ruby eyes narrowing. "Not another word," she hissed through gritted teeth, leaning closer to emphasize her point.

Kai smirked from his corner of the room, his arms crossed as he watched the scene unfold. "You're terrible at keeping secrets, Takao."

"Honestly," Rei said, shaking his head with a grin. "I don't even want to know anymore."

Kyoujyu, however, was still curious. "Wait, wait, wait. What exactly did you mean by—"

"Nothing!" Hiromi snapped, cutting him off before he could finish. "It's nothing. Right, Takao?"

Takao nodded furiously, though he couldn't help the mischievous twinkle in his eye.

The rest of the evening was filled with more teasing, laughter, and shared memories of their journey. But every time someone tried to circle back to what Takao had almost said, Hiromi shot them a warning glare that could rival Kai's.

Later That Night

The night had grown quieter as the team dispersed, leaving Takao and Hiromi alone on the porch of the Kinomiya household. Hiromi leaned against the wooden railing, the cool breeze brushing past her face as she gazed at the stars. Takao stood beside her, shifting from foot to foot, clearly working through something in his head.

"About earlier…" he finally said, breaking the silence.

Hiromi glanced at him with a raised brow. "Earlier?"

"You know, about me paying you back." He scratched the back of his head, looking both sheepish and determined. "I've been thinking about it."

Hiromi smirked slightly. "Oh, so you've decided to pay me back already? You didn't waste any time."

"Not now," he corrected, his voice steady. "But I do plan to pay it all back. Every bit of it."

Hiromi tilted her head, her smile fading into something softer. "It doesn't have to be so soon, Takao. Take your time."

Takao hesitated before speaking again. "It's not just about the money," he admitted, his tone more serious. "I don't want to owe you anything, Hiromi. I want us to be on equal footing before… well, before I willingly hand everything over to you in the future."

Hiromi blinked, the words catching her off guard. "What?" she asked, her cheeks warming.

"You know," he said with a nervous grin. "In the future. When… well, you'd probably be handling things for me anyway."

Hiromi's face turned a shade deeper. "Why would you think I'd handle anything of yours?"

"Oh, is it?" Takao asked, feigning innocence. "I thought you wanted to, especially since you told me to consider it as dowry."

Hiromi's eyes widened in alarm, and her cheeks burned. "That… I… That was just teasing! Don't twist my words!"

"Oh really?" Takao teased back, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "I thought you meant it for real."

"I did not!" she snapped, her voice indignant, though the flush on her face betrayed her embarrassment.

"Well, how about this then?" Takao said, his tone light but laced with playfulness.

Hiromi narrowed her eyes. "What now?"

"Why don't I just change the shareholder name of that 24%?" he suggested, his grin widening. "From Takao Kinomiya to Hiromi Kinomiya. That way, it's like our joint shares. Makes sense, right?"

Hiromi stared at him, her mouth falling open slightly. "You're ridiculous!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands up in frustration. "That's not how this works!"

"Why not?" Takao asked, laughing as he leaned back against the railing. "You've already invested so much. Might as well make it official."

"You're impossible," Hiromi muttered, turning away to hide her growing smile.

Takao shrugged, clearly enjoying himself. "Hey, it's practical! I mean, if you're going to handle my money in the future, why not start now?"

Hiromi froze for a moment, the sincerity in his words catching her off guard. She huffed, turning her face away, though her lips curved into a small, barely-there smile.

Takao didn't press further. He simply stood beside her, his teasing grin fading into a contented expression. For all their banter and bickering, there was an unspoken understanding between them. It wasn't perfect, but it was theirs—and that was more than enough.

After a moment of quiet, Hiromi sighed, rolling her eyes as she spoke. "Okay, okay. I surrender. I feel like I'll be more trapped in your words if I tried to talk back." She looked up at him with a resigned smile. "It's better to just shut up and let you have the last word."

Takao raised an eyebrow at her, a playful smirk creeping back onto his face. "I knew you'd come around eventually."

Hiromi groaned, shaking her head in mock frustration. "I'm just giving up so you stop running your mouth."

"Aw, you really do love me, don't you?" Takao teased, his grin widening.

Hiromi shot him a glare. "Don't flatter yourself, Takao Kinomiya."

But despite her words, her smile softened, and Takao could see the affection in her eyes. The playful teasing, the quiet moments—they might have been wrapped in bickering, but underneath it all, there was something unspoken between them that neither of them could deny.

The End.

I hope you have enjoyed this one shot. And I am aware of the long break. Please don't mind. Also share your thoughts in comments. I would like it if you have any suggestions regarding my writing or you could just encourage either way is alright.