"Save him!! BOOOOM —cassy-chan… so, is it true you're getting with akinho? —a girl asked me.
Wait. What's happening? Where's the… who was I with, my God?
The warehouse… the fire. Where's Kisaki? The smell of gasoline is stuck on me.
What a fucked-up dream!
—we're just friends —said-ralho, grabbing my stuff.
I stand up. This is just a dream! But the throbbing in my knee… I need air, now.
—Sit down, Miss Hanagaki! —Mr. Mendes orders, his eternally dirty mustache making my stomach turn.
—Go to hell if you think I'm gonna sit through the torture of your class, you filthy pig! —I almost shout, grabbing my things and storming out of the room. Giggles come from the students while my cane echoes down the hallway.
The next scene shocked me… students on the ground, beaten up, Hinata behind Takemichi, who's beyond purple, being intimidated by a guy three times his size. Damn idiot half-brother!
The courtyard of Shibuya High School was dead silent. Takemichi stood in front of Hinata, face swollen, lip split, fresh bandages—great, I'm gonna get yelled at because the moron doesn't know his place. Hinata was screaming at Mikey and Draken, but her words were muffled by the buzzing in his ears.
Draken stepped forward, his huge hand reaching to grab Takemichi's collar and lift him like a wet cat.
—GET YOUR HAND OFF MY BROTHER, YOU TATTOOED GIANT!
The scream sliced through the air like a stiletto.
Cassandra Hanagaki appeared out of nowhere. 1.58m of pure rage. Loose brown hair whipping in the wind, brown eyes blazing like embers. The school uniform was impeccable—pleated skirt, white shirt, loose tie—but what no one saw was the pocket knife she pulled from inside her skirt with a metallic click-clack.
Draken didn't even have time to react.
She charged. Pushed his chest with her left hand and the cane. When his tattooed arm moved on reflex to shove her away, the knife flashed.
Clean cut.
The 7 cm blade sliced the palm of Draken's right hand from top to bottom, right between thumb and index finger. Blood spurted instantly, thick red drops hitting the concrete. The knife was small, but razor-sharp—gift from her grandfather, "for opening letters," she always said.
Draken let out a low grunt, more surprise than pain. He stepped back, hand bleeding between his fingers.
—YOU DAUGHTER OF A—
Cassandra positioned herself in front of Takemichi, knife still in hand, pointed at Draken. The cane spinning in the other. The blade trembled slightly—not from fear, but from adrenaline.
—Touch him again —she growled, voice low, almost a whisper— and next time I cut to the bone. I swear I'll gut you like a pig from navel to nose.
She traced an imaginary line with the knife from his navel up to his nose.
Mikey, who had been watching with his usual half-smile, froze. His golden eyes widened for a millisecond. Then… he laughed. A short, dry laugh, almost impressed.
—Draken. —He raised his hand, stopping his friend from advancing. —Let it go.
Draken pressed the bleeding hand to his chest, blood staining the black Toman uniform. The cut was deep—it would leave a crescent-shaped scar from the base of the thumb to the middle of the palm. He looked at Cassandra like he was seeing her for the first time.
—You're insane —he muttered, but there was a hint of respect in his voice.
Cassandra didn't answer. She just wiped the knife on her own skirt without breaking eye contact and pocketed the blade. The cane tapped the ground once, dry.
—Get up, Takemichi —she said without turning.
He obeyed, shaking. She slung her arm around his shoulders, pulling him behind her like a living human shield.
Hinata, pale, whispered:
—…She just cut Draken.
Mikey took a step forward. Looked at the blood on the ground. At Draken's hand. At Cassandra's face—dusty but steady.
—You related to Takemichi? —he asked, voice calm, head tilted, innocent—if it weren't for those eyes, so heavy.
—Unfortunately… yes. —I shrug, my body shivering under the pressure of his gaze. How can someone with such an angelic face have this kind of energy?
—What's the reason you hurt Ken-chin?
—Don't fucking call me that! —Draken growls, but he's ignored.
She lifted her chin.
—He's my brother… and I don't like seeing him get beaten up, even if he deserves a few smacks. That's all.
Mikey nodded slowly. Then, to everyone's surprise, he extended his right hand.
—Starting now, you're my new… friend.
She stared at the hand. At Draken's blood on the ground. At Takemichi, who was mumbling things like I'm screwed before lunch.
—I don't remember applying —she crossed her arms.
—C-Cassie… you're crazy…
—I don't need to ask —Mikey shrugged.
The principal rushed in, taking in the mess.
—To the office, all of you! What happened here? —he asked, eyes flicking from Draken's hand to the bloody knife in the girl's grip. —Miss Secretary Hanagaki, I'm calling the authorities.
—It was an accident, right Cassie? —Draken cut in. —Just… friends messing around. —He finished, crossing his arms, imposing.
—To the office, young lady. This will need explaining… and you, Miss… three-day suspension. —The principal sighed deeply. —You too, Takemichi Hanagaki.
—But why?! —Takemichi whined, shocked.
—I don't know, but I'm sure it's your fault somehow. —The principal turned away. Mikey was already hugging Takemichi, laughing like a kid.
—Look at that, Ken-chin, Takemichi's free to hang out now —he said, almost knocking the blond over.
—And I'm going out with Hina today. —Takemichi tried to push him off.
—It's okay, Takemichi. I don't mind. And I'm sorry again for the slap, Mikey. —Hinata apologized once more with a small bow.
—And you're not gonna apologize? —Draken asked Cassandra, who was already walking toward the exit.
—I don't apologize. —She shrugged as she left, the click-clack of her cane fading away.
—The infirmary is at the end of the hall. Take him there, have a good walk —Hinata said goodbye and headed to class, leaving the battered blond at Mikey's mercy.
The small infirmary felt even smaller with Draken sitting on the cot getting stitched up, Mikey in the chair stealing lollipops from the jar, and Takemichi beside him trying not to puke while watching the needle go into Draken's flesh.
—This is overkill —Draken grumbled as Mrs. Perl cut the thread and started bandaging.
So Takemichi… didn't know you had a sister. She's pretty fierce, huh? —Mikey asked, voice soft, but his eyes made it clear the blond had no escape.
—Well… it's complicated —Takemichi scratched his head, uncomfortable. He didn't want to share his personal life with the future murderer of Hina, but he had no choice. —Cassandra is my half-sister. Same dad. —He hoped that would be enough.
—That doesn't explain the whole cane drama —Draken said, swallowing painkillers the nurse gave him. —Spill it.
—My parents split up just before I was conceived. One week. That was enough for my dad to hook up with another girl and… nine months later she was born. But my parents were already back together and I was on the way. She lived with her mom until she was ten, when her stepdad tried… —Takemichi took a deep breath and whispered —to assault her. But she fought back, stabbed him with a knife. He grabbed a crowbar and beat her. Shattered her knee forever… Her custody was transferred and… well, she doesn't like men touching her, loud noises… and especially my mom. They hate each other.
Takemichi's voice cracked, revealing his inner conflict: on one side his tough, visibly exhausted half-sister, and on the other his mother—the woman who's good to him…