Cassandra walked through the garage, the '67 Impala gleaming—a promise of peace. She delayed going home as much as possible; just thinking about her stepmother and father waiting there made her stomach churn.
She barely made it through the door when she felt the slap—sharp, hot—across her cheek, knocking her down.
"You curse!" her stepmother screamed, face red with fury. "My boy got suspended because of you!"
"Takemichi doesn't need me to fuck up, witch!" Cassandra snarled, trying to get up, her knee throbbing.
"He wouldn't get into trouble if you didn't provoke him!" her father roared, yanking her up and throwing her onto the couch.
"Go to your room. Don't come out until the suspension is over!" he finished.
Cassandra bit her tongue, grabbed her cane, and headed to her room. Her chest felt like it was exploding, heat rising, making it hard to breathe. She barely locked the door before collapsing to the floor, clawing at her throat, desperately searching for air.
The infirmary discharge came with arguments, complaints, and the nurse yelling "NO RUNNING IN THE HALLWAY!"
Five minutes later, the three of them were already at the park, each pushing a borrowed bike from the station.
"…Why are we doing this again?" Draken huffed, adjusting the seat height with his bandaged hand.
"Because it's fun," Mikey replied, as if it were obvious. "And because Takemichi needs to learn how to stop just taking beatings." He shrugged with an amused smile.
Takemichi nearly tripped before managing to mount his own bike.
"I-I know how to ride! I think… more or less…" he said, fighting gravity and the fear of Mikey and Draken combined.
Mikey flashed that smile that looked innocent—until you realized he could have you buried alive without even blinking.
"Then let's find out."
The three began pedaling along the bike path. The park was calm: trees swaying, children running, a couple arguing in the distance—perfect setting for three random delinquents.
Takemichi rode like he was fleeing death. Which, honestly, was his default state.
"You're doing great, Takemichi!" Mikey shouted, passing him sideways. "Haven't fallen yet!" His voice was full of fun and even a hint of pride.
"THIS IS PSYCHOLOGICAL PRESSURE!!" Takemichi yelled, indignant.
Draken rode past slowly—just to annoy… or intimidate. Same thing coming from him.
"Relax, blondie. If you fall, we'll take you back to the nurse. Again." He rolled his eyes.
"I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK THERE!!!" Takemichi screamed, nearly crashing as he swerved to avoid Mikey.
Mikey laughed loudly, speeding up even more.
The Invitation
After a few minutes of wobbly pedaling, they stopped in an open area of the park near a lake. Mikey leaned his bike against a tree and sat on the grass like he owned the place.
"Very good," he began, pulling a taiyaki out of his pocket (no one knows where he gets food from). "Takemichi Hanagaki." The way the name rolled off Mikey's tongue made Takemichi shudder. Nothing good was coming.
Takemichi swallowed hard.
Draken crossed his arms, waiting.
"W-what do you mean 'very good'?" Takemichi muttered, incredulous.
Mikey took a bite of the dorayaki.
"I like you," Mikey said, completely sincere—and still terrifying.
Takemichi blinked, trying to process.
"What?" he blurted, unable to hold his tongue.
"You're weak," Mikey said in the happiest tone imaginable.
"Huh?!" Takemichi exclaimed, stunned by the honesty.
"But you've got heart. And courage. People who protect the ones they care about even when they're gonna get beaten up… that's good people," Draken finished, his deep, firm voice sounding like a final verdict.
"I… I just did what I thought was right…" Takemichi insisted.
"So—" Mikey wiped his mouth and pointed at him "—join Toman." He continued as casually as if he were asking for the time.
Takemichi froze. This was his chance… but it was terrifying.
Draken let out a long sigh, rubbing his bandaged hand. Mikey was impossible.
"Here we go," he grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Takemichi stammered:
"M-me? I-in Toman? W-with you guys? I don't even know how to fight! I just scream and run! And sometimes I miss the turn and fall!" He fumbled. It made no sense for them to go after someone like him.
Mikey smiled.
"We need people like you," he said, as if giving a lecture.
"Weak?!" Takemichi reinforced.
"Courageous, Takemichi," Draken corrected.
Draken nodded seriously.
"Most people just talk tough. You bleed for the people you care about. That earns respect."
Takemichi turned red.
Scared.
And… strangely proud. That's why he came back, right? To prevent Hina's death? This was the golden opportunity. No time to run.
"Then come tomorrow," Mikey said, standing up and dusting off his hands. "I want to introduce you to the gang." It wasn't an invitation… it was an order.
Takemichi took a deep breath.
"O-okay… I'll go," he stammered, agreeing.
"AWESOME!" Mikey threw an arm around his shoulders, nearly bending his spine. "Draken, look! Takemichi said yes!" He grinned, watching the blond sweat and try to stop shaking.
"He deserves a prize for that," Draken muttered, but a faint smile betrayed him.
When the sun began to set, Mikey pushed Takemichi toward the exit path.
"Go home before Hina kills me," he said, waving. "Don't skip tomorrow!"
Takemichi waved back, a mix of fear and hope swirling inside him.
"Thanks, Mikey… Draken… see you tomorrow!" He waved awkwardly and ran off.
The two watched the blond disappear among the trees.
Silence.
A light breeze passed.
Mikey sighed deeply.
"Drakennnn…" Mikey called, with that typical excitement he got whenever he found new people… or new toys.
"What now?" Draken rolled his eyes, already predicting a headache.
Mikey tilted his head.
"Cassy is cool, right?" he asked suddenly, looking at his friend, the mischievous smile still on his lips.
Draken snorted immediately.
"No. She's crazy," he shot back, though a stubborn smile appeared that he tried to hide with a yawn.
"You're the one who provoked her," Mikey replied innocently.
"I LITERALLY JUST PICKED TAKEMICHI UP," Draken almost shouted. How could Mikey be like this…?
Mikey gave a little grin.
"Small, angry, violent…" Mikey cut through Draken's train of thought.
"Here we go…" the taller one sighed, lying back and staring at the orange sky.
"We could invite her to Toman too," Mikey said, so naturally, as if he were commenting that it might rain. Of course this was going to happen, Draken thought, barely holding back the urge to say it out loud.
Draken snapped his neck toward him with a look that screamed "no."
"Hell no," he replied quickly, even knowing Mikey wasn't great at hearing "no."
"But she has a knife," Mikey countered, proud.
"THAT'S THE PROBLEM!" Draken snapped, staring at Mikey seriously.
Mikey kicked a pebble.
"I bet she and Baji would fight every week," Mikey continued, ignoring Draken completely.
Draken didn't hesitate.
"They'd kill each other," he shot back. There were already enough fights, and the cane-wielding Hanagaki didn't look like someone who'd put up with Baji around.
"But they'd be friends first!" Mikey insisted.
"Sano… don't start," Draken tried to stay impassive.
Mikey rolled in the grass, laughing.
"Cassandra Hanagaki… I wanna see her again," Mikey said, gazing at the river reflecting the sky.
Draken sighed, defeated.
"I feel like this is gonna go to shit."
Mikey gave that calm smile—the one that made anyone shudder.
"It's gonna make a good story, Kenzinho," he corrected.
"Stop—" Ah, forget it. The smaller one wasn't going to stop.
The wind rustled the trees.
Draken adjusted his bandaged hand.
Mikey looked at the sky, thoughtful.