Akira's pov
King drops a plastic bag onto the table with a sigh, pulling out a few convenience store rice balls and a bottle of water. "Here. Eat up."
Kyouko's face lights up as she eagerly reaches for the food. "Thank you so much!" she says cheerfully before unwrapping one of the rice balls. Without hesitation, she takes a bite, humming in delight as if it's the best thing she's had in ages.
Kuro walks closer, his hands tucked in his pockets, watching her with an amused smile. "Slow down, you're gonna choke if you keep eating like that."
She pauses mid-bite, cheeks puffed like a squirrel, and sheepishly nods before taking a sip of water.
I lean back against the wall, arms crossed as I watch them interact. Instead of gazing out the window like before, my focus stays on the two in front of me. Kuro, always the calm and composed one, and Kyouko, who despite everything she's been through, still manages to smile like nothing's wrong.
Kuro then crouches down in front of her, resting his arms on his knees. "Are you scared of Ryuuji?" he asks casually, but there's weight behind his words.
Kyouko's chewing slows. Her eyes flicker with hesitation, but she doesn't look away. "Yes," she admits quietly. "Every day."
Kuro hums as if he already expected that answer. "Then stay here."
Kyouko blinks in surprise. "Eh?"
"Stay here with us. With me." His voice is steady, like he's just stating a simple fact rather than offering her a life-changing decision.
I let out a quiet sigh. Here he goes again. Kuro isn't the type to say things he doesn't mean. Once he sets his mind to something, there's no changing it. And if he's made up his mind about Kyouko, then that's that.
Kyouko stares at him, mouth slightly open, as if she's still processing what he just said.
Kuro glances at me and jerks his thumb in my direction with an easy smirk tugging at his lips. "Besides, you'll be safe here, especially with that guy around."
Kyouko follows his gesture and turns to look at me.
I just raise an eyebrow. "What, you think I'm a babysitter now?"
Kyouko giggles, covering her mouth with her hand. "No, but if Kuro says I'll be safe with you guys, then I believe him."
I click my tongue and shake my head. "Tch. You're trusting someone so easily." I sighed "But fine. Do what you want. Just don't cause trouble."
She nods enthusiastically before taking another bite of her rice ball, clearly satisfied with her decision. Kuro leans back with a grin, as if everything is going exactly as he planned.
And just like that, I know this is only the beginning of a whole new mess.
***
Days have been passing by in a way that almost feels... normal. For the first time in a long time, there's no immediate tension, no fights breaking out every other day, no one watching their backs every second. It's a strange feeling, like the calm before a storm. But for now, we take what we can get.
Kyouko is fitting in with our crew way too easily. She's got that kind of energy—the kind that makes it hard to dislike her. She's a happy-go-lucky type, easy to deal with, and surprisingly fun to be around. It's like she's always been here, a part of Sensō High, a part of us. Kuro, King, and I? We're already getting used to her presence. Especially Kuro.
With some effort, Kuro and I managed to secure a small apartment for her near Sensō High. It wasn't easy. Finding a place that wouldn't raise suspicion, that was close enough for us to keep an eye on her, and that wouldn't tip off Housen was a challenge. But we pulled it off.
Kyouko's apartment is nothing fancy—just a one-bedroom place with simple furniture. A futon, a small kitchen, and a tiny balcony that overlooks the city. But she loves it. The way she smiled when we handed her the keys? You'd think we just gave her a palace.
"This is mine?" she had asked, looking at us with wide, sparkling eyes.
Kuro had just chuckled and ruffled her hair like he always does. "Yeah. So don't go bringing trouble here."
I had crossed my arms, leaning against the doorframe. "And don't trash it. We're not your maids."
She had just laughed, completely unbothered. "No promises."
Since then, the three of us have gotten closer. We eat together at our hideout, play games at my apartment, crash at King's place when we pull all-nighters, and eat Kuro's cooking whenever we get the chance. Hell, even Shiro—Kuro's younger brother and leader of Phantom Six—sometimes joins us. It's almost like we've always been a group. Almost like nothing could break this peace.
But peace never lasts long in Sensō High.
Now, we're at a park near Sensō High, just hanging out. King went to grab some drinks while Kuro and Kyouko are off flying a kite in the open field and here I am just lounging under a tree, watching them with half-lidded eyes, just enjoying the rare moment of quiet.
It's rare to see Kuro smile as much as he does around Kyouko. He's always been the quiet type—reserved, calculating. But with her, it's like he's loosened up. Maybe a little too much.
I exhale, my arms resting over my knees as I scan the area. That's when I spot them.
Housen bastards.
Three... no, five... seven... ten of them. Lurking nearby, watching. Their eyes are locked onto Kuro and Kyouko.
Shit.
I push myself up, shoving my hands into my pockets as I casually stroll toward them. I make sure not to move too fast, not to make it obvious. My body language needs to stay relaxed.
"Kuro." My voice is low but firm as I approach them.
Kuro catches on immediately, dropping his carefree demeanor as he glances at me. "What?"
I tilt my head slightly in the direction of the incoming bastards. "Get going."
Kyouko frowns, sensing the shift in my tone. "Huh? What's wrong?"
"Go," I repeat, my voice sharper this time. "Now."
Kuro doesn't question it. He grabs Kyouko's wrist and starts walking, keeping their pace normal—just another stroll through the park. Nothing suspicious.
Before they leave, I mutter just loud enough for them to hear, "There are Housen idiots."
Kyouko gives me a questioning look, but Kuro sighs and nods. "Got it. Let's go."
I turn back around just as the ten bastards close in.
One of them, a taller guy with a cocky smirk, steps forward. "Oi. You're in our way."
I scoff, cracking my neck as I plant my feet firmly. "What the hell are you fuckers doing on our turf again?"
The guy laughs, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Relax. We just found what we were looking for. No need to start shit."
I roll my shoulders, keeping my eyes locked on them. "Yeah? Well, you're not getting her."
"Tch." Another guy clicks his tongue, shaking his head. "You sure you wanna do this? You're outnumbered, asshole. Just step aside and we won't beat you too bad."
I exhale sharply. "You're not getting her."
There's a tense pause before the leader shrugs. "It's your funeral."
And just like that, they rush me.
The first one swings—sloppy. I sidestep and drive my fist into his gut, making him double over. The second guy tries to grab me from behind, but I stomp on his foot and slam my elbow into his face.
Three more come at me together. One goes low, trying to sweep my legs. I jump back, but another guy manages to land a punch on my side. A sharp sting shoots through my ribs, but I shake it off.
I twist my body, grabbing one of them by the collar and slamming his face into my knee. Blood splatters, and he crumples to the ground.
Two more try to tackle me at once. I let them. I let them get close—just enough. Then I drive my knee into the first guy's stomach and throw the second over my shoulder. They hit the ground hard.
The leader grits his teeth. "Tch. This guy's a fucking monster."
I wipe a bit of blood from my lip, smirking. "You just figuring that out?"
One of them rushes at me with a wild swing. I duck, grabbing his arm and twisting it until I hear a pop. He screams, collapsing as he clutches his dislocated shoulder.
Seven down. Three left.
They hesitate now. They've seen what I can do. Their confidence is cracking.
"Still wanna do this?" I ask, cracking my knuckles.
One of them makes the mistake of charging. I sidestep and drive my fist into his jaw. He's out before he even hits the ground.
The last two exchange nervous glances. Then, without another word, they turn and bolt.
Cowards.
I sigh, rolling my shoulders. My knuckles throb, and my ribs ache from the few hits I took, but it's nothing I can't handle.
I glance toward the direction Kuro and Kyouko went. No time to waste.
I need to get back to the hideout. Fast!
I rush into the hideout, barely catching my breath. My mind is racing, my knuckles still sting from earlier, and there's only one thought repeating in my head—we're screwed.
Kuro is already there, sitting on the couch with his arms crossed, like he knew I'd come running in like this. His sharp eyes lock onto me immediately.
"This is bad," I say, voice low but urgent. "They found out. We don't have time."
Kuro exhales through his nose, but there's no surprise on his face. Just a quiet understanding. "How many aside from the ones you fought?"
"I don't know, they're definitely watching from a distance by now. Doesn't matter though. They made their move."
Before he can respond, the door swings open with a loud bang, and in stomps King, looking pissed.
"The hell, man?!" he barks, holding up two plastic bags full of drinks. "I go grab some damn drinks, and you two just fuck off without a word?"
I barely glance at him before muttering, "We're in trouble."
King's annoyed expression fades. "...What?"
I exhale sharply, trying to get the words out as fast as possible. "The Housen bastards found out about Kyouko. They were at the park, watching us. It's not a matter of if they'll make a move—it's when."
King curses under his breath, dropping the plastic bag onto the floor with a heavy thud. "Son of a bitch."
Kuro, now fully serious, leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "How many were there?"
"I encountered ten, many more will definitely come."
King scoffs, running a hand down his face. "Fucking fantastic."
Kuro doesn't waste time dwelling on it. He pushes himself off the couch and stretches his arms before cracking his neck. "Alright, we're not waiting around for them to make a move. We're getting ahead of this."
I already know what he's about to say, but he confirms it when he turns to King. "Get Shiro Ryota, Akami Holmes, Damian Jung, and Kevin Hyun. We're gonna need all of them for this."
King crosses his arms. "You sure about this? Shiro's your brother, yeah, but the others... we don't exactly have the best relationship with them, well except for Hyun though."
"They don't have to like us," Kuro says, his voice calm but firm. "They just need to understand what's at stake. If Housen gets to Kyouko, we're all screwed. They won't stop at her. They'll come for every single one of us."
King exhales sharply, but he doesn't argue. He knows Kuro's right.
King doesn't hesitate. He snatches his jacket off the chair and heads straight for the door, throwing a glance over his shoulder. "I'll be back." Then he's gone.
The moment the door shuts, I exhale and lean against the wall, rubbing my temples. "This was bound to happen."
Kuro crosses his arms again. "Yeah. Just sooner than expected."
Silence lingers between us, thick with unspoken thoughts. We both know what's coming. We've been in enough fights to recognize the patterns. This isn't just another scuffle—it's a declaration.
"She's one of us now," I say, pushing off the wall. "And if they think they can just take her—"
"They won't," Kuro interrupts, his voice calm but firm. "We'll make sure of it."
I nod, letting the tension in my shoulders ease just a little. We both know what needs to be done. There's no point wasting time on what-ifs.
Minutes pass. Then, footsteps echo from outside.
The door swings open, and in steps King, leading the others inside.
Shiro Ryota walks in first, his usual confident stride unfazed. His co-leader, Ken Nobunaga, follows closely behind. Akami Holmes and his right-hand man, Kiro Yuri, step in next, their expressions sharp with curiosity. Damian Jung from Dark Knights walks in with Faith Ishida by his side, both of them unreadable. And finally, Kevin Hyun enters last, closing the door behind him.
Everyone's here.
I exchange a glance with Kuro. "It's time."
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A/N: During this time, Satoshi Cruz is still not Akami's Co-Leader nor he's still attending the school yet, he will become his Co-Leader the next year, and that was the time where Briana, and Kailey arrived at Sensō High as well, in addition, Jerzy Lim is still part of Phantom Six during this time and also Kev is still going solo here, Ryu still hasn't transferred to Sensō High just yet.