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If Kisaki had to name the moment he fell for Hanagaki Takemichi, it would be the very day they met all those summers ago. 

Hina and him had been walking home from cram school when they’d come upon some older kids tormenting a cat. The typical burgeoning sociopathic bullshit that came over kids their age with startling frequency.

Kisaki had been perfectly happy to ignore the incident and keep going home. But Hina, his schoolmate, his crush, his only friend, intervened. Drawing the attention and ire of the bullies. 

For Hina, she’d been mocked to tears. Acerbic comments about everything from her hair to her shoes. All the things women tended to care and grieve over. Kisaki could only imagine how devastating it was.  

Kisaki, on the other hand, was immediately singled out as a punching bag for the dregs of society. They’d taken his glasses and stolen his bag, forced him to stay still and pinned his arms to his sides as they took turns whaling on him. Any sloppy attempts to try and get his possessions back was met with another fist to the face. The brutes may have been small and still developing but they knew how to dig their knuckles into the meat of Kisaki’s cheek, to the point that he knew he’d be icing an entire half of his face well into the night.

His struggle was inevitable, giving a fight to try and get all his things back. But it was amazing how a few inches and pounds of difference made it a near impossible feat. 

He’d been ready to give up the things for good. To just swallow back his pride and bitterness and crawl home to ask his parents for new glasses and a bag 

Then Hanagaki Takemichi came crashing in like a tsunami. All the grace of a bull in a china shop. And all the ferocity of a blind and deaf dog. 

He’d thrown himself onto the boy holding his bag with his full weight, like he was desperately trying to mimic some professional wrestler he’d seen on TV.  There was what looked like an attempt to use the momentum to snatch his glasses from another boy. One who was also wearing glasses and Kisaki found it ironic how the numbskull didn’t see the slightest bit of irony when he’d been mocking Kisaki’s ‘blind helplessness’ without them.

“Middle schoolers shouldn’t be bullying younger kids!” It’d been said with all the heart someone in a small package could manage.

“If you want to fight, then pick on someone your own size!” Kisaki’s savior was also a few inches too short and pounds too light to proclaim that but it seemed enough to get the oaf behind Kisaki to dump him into a shallow puddle.

Takemichi put himself between the thugs and Kisaki and Hina. He also struck a frankly humiliating ‘power’ pose for good measure with his fists planted at his waist and his cape fluttering behind him. 

All the makings of a hero. Had he not been shaking in place like a chihuahua in the winter and cracked his voice at the end of his heroic statement. His bottom lip was quivering in the same way Kisaki’s toddler neighbor did when he was about to cry. His feet were nervously shifting and Kisaki was sure he was about to tremble out of his light-up velcro sneakers.

Kisaki had just been accosted by a gang of playground bullies. The kind that ran shit and ruled other kids Kisaki’s age. The kind that sent people home crying and sputtering over cuts and bloody noses.

This kid was pathetic. Small, and clearly terrified, but he still had the gall to stand before them. Like his presence could possibly be enough to deter any of them from doing what they wanted.

Kisaki wouldn’t be intimidated. He knew for sure the other boys wouldn’t be either.

“Look at this kid!” jeered one of the bullies, a gap between his front teeth making the words sound more like a whistle, “Who does he think he is, some kind of hero ?”

“He’s even got a cape, what a baby!” mocked another one. This one’s hands were already clenched in a meaty fist. Kisaki knew from personal experience that it would hurt.

“Pick on someone our own size, huh?” Taunted glasses, wide grin splitting his face as he reared back an arm for a punch, “Put ‘em up hero !”

What followed was an entirely one sided beating that seemed to go one forever. The caped crusader lasted about two punches and a strand of hair getting ripped out before he started sobbing. The beat down continued even when the other boy was forced into a fetal position on the dirty ground, taking kick after kick until the older boys seemingly got bored. 

It was a humiliating defeat. By the time the little gang turned a corner away from their little group, Hanagaki Takemichi had unrolled himself from his protective shell and was left utterly defeated and disgustingly humiliated. 

Then again, that was always going to be the end result. Three against one, all opponents bigger and heavier and more willing to hurt . Had this kid seriously expected to win? 

Hina, who had been silently sobbing throughout the altercation, frantically scurried over to the boy to check on him. He rolled over on his own, face wet with tears and eyes swollen, having cried enough for the both of them. 

“I’m fine,” he got out between his hiccuping sobs, picking himself up slowly and brushing the dirt off his arms. Mud was caked to the side of his shirt and Kisaki could only imagine the secondary scolding he would be getting from his parents when he returned home looking like a wreck.

“But you lost and you’re crying,” Kisaki couldn’t help but point out.

“I didn’t lose!” The boy immediately shot back with a weak glare, blue eyes filled with the ferocity of a startled kitten. “And I wasn’t crying!” 

Kisaki had already witnessed one pitiful sight after another today and decided not to correct him. 

“You two should be more careful next time! Middle schoolers don’t hold back!” 

Kisaki could certainly believe that. 

“I’m sorry!” cried Hina, doing her best to wipe her face. Her cheeks were flushed red from hysteria, her cheeks shiny with salty tears. Between the two of them still silently sobbing between breaths, Kisaki only had one handkerchief. His eyes caught onto a muddied pile of fabric in the dirty puddle he’d picked himself up from. Scratch that, Kisaki had no handkerchief.

“Hm, Well as long as you’re sorry,” replied the boy, nodding his head like he had just finished a job well done. Although the image was completely ruined by his swollen eyes and sniffling nose. 

Then he turned to Kisaki and held out his glasses. 

“I did my best to keep these safe, my mom says glasses are expensive, I hope they weren’t scratched up too badly.” 

It took a moment before Kisaki reached over to take his glasses from the boy, even more flabbergasted. This kid was utterly inconceivable, he’d taken a beating from some middle schoolers all to protect them and he’d been thinking about some glasses that didn’t even belong to him. 

Just what was this kid on! Kisaki silently ran through the checklist of all the various forms of lunacy and insanity he’d read about recently.

Eventually he settled on the default. Stupidity.

With his mission seemingly accomplished and without another word, Hanagaki Takemichi left their lives just as abruptly as he’d entered it. 

Kisaki returned home with a lot to think about. Hina had undoubtedly fallen in love at first sight with Hanagaki for his stupidly heroic deeds. But he wasn’t as upset at the thought of losing Hina’s affections to the other boy. Strangely enough.

He’d gone to bed that night going over the events of that day again and again. Recalling every detail he could pull from his memory. The dirt under Takemichi’s fingernails. The red popsicle stained corners of his mouth. The way his palms had been grossly sticky when Kisaki had taken his glasses back. The way his hair curled around his ears.

A warm feeling settled in his stomach everytime he thought about the boy saving his glasses. The way he had a protective hand curled around them, the dirty fingerprints that he’d left on the lens. The same ones that Kisaki hadn’t cleaned off with his shirt even though it’d obstructed his view as he walked home.

This feeling. The thick and syrupy feeling in the pit of his stomach swirled around in his stomach when he conjured up images of dark hair and kitten blue eyes. This feeling, when morning came and his wounds didn’t hurt as much and his head was cleared, he knows, he would later identify as love.

Life moved on for Hina and Kisaki, but Kisaki couldn’t let that boy out of his thoughts. Something about him just settled into Kisaki’s guts. Like an infection. Or some kind of food poisoning.

He found himself following Takemichi around, trying to understand this visceral desire to be near him. 

Through his observation he met Takemichi’s ‘friends’. All of whom he found annoying and nowhere near as tolerable. He was particularly irritated by Takuya, who appeared to be both on good terms with Hanagaki and his best friend. 

Before he knew it, he’d already started making plans to steal that position for himself. It was a petty thing. But it was something Kisaki wanted. Desperately. 

The way Takemichi would ride behind Takuya on his bicycle, the way their fingers would collide with one another while sharing a plate of fries after both had already drained their allowance for the week. The laughs, the nudges, the inside jokes between them. The way Takemichi would look at him so brightly, would perk to attention like a dog seeing their master after a long day of work once catching a glimpse of him.

Kisaki wanted it.

After manufacturing a good moment to make contact (it was a grocery store, Takemichi’s mother always bought canned foods on Wednesday’s and such a heavy bag would require at least a little bit of assistance to carry home, wouldn’t it?). 

He’d introduced himself to Hanagaki on a sunny afternoon, invited over by his mother for tea and an introduction to her son. After a few exchanged words it became clear he seemingly had no memory of meeting Kisaki before that day.

That was fine, Kisaki thought, Hanagaki didn’t need to remember right away.

As soon as he could he ingratiated himself with Takemichi’s parents, who were impressed by his ‘intelligence’ and ‘studious nature’. They were quick to say he’d be a good influence on their son, who was more interested in running around the neighborhood than picking up a book. Their friendship was now supported and encouraged by Takemichi’s parents and from there it was natural, expected, accepted for him to engrave himself further into Takemichi’s life.

He hadn’t intended for Hina to find out about his budding relationship with Takemichi, and if he could have his way then they would never meet again. Hina had always been pretty and delightful and irresistable, it was what drew Kisaki to her in the first place, but that mattered little to Takemichi who did not remember Hina either.

“Oh!” Takemichi said with a thousand watt smile, imaginary tail wagging in excitement behind him. “You’re Kisa-kun’s friend too?”

“How many times do I have to tell you, it’s Kisaki.” He said, not nearly as angry or annoyed as he should be by the ridiculous nickname. “And this is Hinata Tachibana, she’s a classmate from my cram school.”

“ Awesome ! So you must be as smart as Kisa-kun then?” Takemichi asked happily. Hina was blushing lightly and fiddling with the straps of her bag shyly. Her shoes scuffed against the ground as she seemingly tried to decide between staring at the floor and gazing up at a friendly Takemichi.

“N-No,” She began slowly after having taken a steadying breath. “I’m not nearly as smart as Kisaki-kun.”, she continued humbly, “Did you know he placed first in the national mock exams several times in a row?”

“Wow, that’s amazing!” Takemichi exclaimed, smiling widely and as proud of his friend’s achievement as if it was his own. “Bet you Kisa-kun’s the smartest person in the world , he knows everything!” 

It would feel like that wouldn’t it? Especially to a boy who could hardly remember what day of the month it was let alone understand the homework.

Still the words sparked that familiar surge of warmth in his chest and Kisaki did his best to hide his blush by pushing up his glasses and turning away.

“It’s not that big of a deal,” he cut in, secretly exhilarated by Takemichi’s praise, basking in his undivided attention. Because that was the only way Takemichi would know how smart Kisaki was. Was if he paid attention to him. All the time, everyday. “Anyone could do it.” 

No they couldn’t. Kisaki had already gotten the letter in the mail congratulating him for the particularly outstanding performance.

Even then Hina continued gushing about Kisaki alongside Takemichi, likely having sensed Takemichi’s increased enthusiasm to talk to her when he was the topic of their conversations. Maybe having Hina around Takemichi, even with her nascent crush, wouldn’t be so bad. 

As long as it doesn’t grow further than that.

From then on they frequently hung out, usually at Kisaki’s house as it was closest to Takemichi’s and still in the same neighborhood as Hina’s. 

Takuya hung around Takemichi as well, but he seemed to back away a bit once Kisaki made it clear he would be Takemichi’s new best friend. The looks he shot when Takemichi’s back was turned, the short tone when Takemichi wasn’t listening. The lull in conversation when Takemichi wasn’t there and it was just them. Kisaki made a clear point of who he favored in their dynamic and while Takuya was present, he was only tolerated . For Takemichi’s sake.

While ideally Kisaki would’ve preferred to have Takemichi all to himself, he was willing to endure the presence of others, as long as they knew their place. 

Life was good, Hina and Takemichi ended up going to the same middle school. Mizo Middle School, where Takemichi picked up even more strays that followed him around. But he made sure Takemichi always made time for him, having him meet outside Kisaki’s school to walk home together. He also made it abundantly clear to the rabble Takemichi had picked up, that he was number one in Takemichi’s life. 

He ignored their disapproving gazes and barely whispered insults when he had his back turned. Jealousy did things like that to people he supposed.

Takemichi, with all his soft custard insides, did his best to mediate any agitation between them.

“Kisa-kun is just like that to everyone , don’t take it to heart.” Takemichi soothed when a conversation grew too heated with the boy Takemichi called Akkun.

“Doesn’t mean he has to be an asshole 24/7 ”, Sendo grumbled. His brows were furrowed tightly and Kisaki could see the lines of anger verging on agitation deepening into his forehead.

“Not my fault I was born this way,” Kisaki replied, shrugging and smirking, and not sorry at all. 

Takemichi laughed, cheeks turning a light pink in joy, as he wrapped an arm around Kisaki’s shoulder, agreeing wholeheartedly. 

Kisaki was mostly civil around Takemich’s Mizo Middle group, but when Takemichi was not around he dropped any pretenses at niceties. They could insist as much as they want that they dislike Kisaki and that Kisaki hates them. That he wants them dead, that he’d watch them burn and then stomp on their ashes. It didn’t matter how true it was, thanks to the solid relationship Kisaki had carefully crafted with Takemichi, any such comments were disregarded.

“All of you guys are my friends,” Takemichi insisted, hands patting at shoulders and gently grasping hands like he was the male love interest in a teen romance. “I want you to get along, Kisaki is just like that with everyone.” 

Takemichi defended Kisaki, went up to bat for him and how he really was a good and kind person and if they just gave him a chance they could see it too. And Kisaki could sit, smug and secure in the trust he had with Takemichi. 

Eventually the complaints stopped, fizzled out by themselves in the face of Takemichi’s unfaltering loyalty and dedication. The Mizo Middle group learned their place, and they did their best to avoid Kisaki whenever he came by to hang out with Takemichi.

Hina’s crush continued, and did not die out like Kisaki hoped it would, although he could hardly blame her. 

But he also couldn’t have her involving herself with Takemichi any more than she already was. So he made the not-so-difficult decision to rid her of any ideas of confessing. 

He dropped sly hints about Takemichi’s disinterest in dating, all lies, of course. Said them casually when they’d meet outside the doors of their cram school. He’d watch as the bright light in her eyes would dim slightly, and would pretend like he didn’t notice the slight slump of her shoulders.

He made it clear that any confession from anyone would be met with rejection when Hina asked for his opinion on her possibly dating Takemichi. Her face fell instantly in disappointment when he confirmed, as Takemichi’s closest friend, that the boy only saw her as a good friend, nothing more. Never anything more. 

“I’m sorry I have to tell you this,” Kisaki said with false sympathy, making sure to tilt his eyebrows up in that same way he always did when he was being particularly earnest, “I wouldn’t want to give you false hope, I care for you deeply as my friend, but,” He stopped for a moment, letting the pause fill the air with her heartbreak, “Takemichi just doesn’t see you that way.”

“No it’s fine, Thank you Kisaki-kun,” she sniffled, smiling despite the tears, her hands shook as she steadied herself, “You’re right, I wouldn’t want to ruin our friendship by making things awkward. I...I won’t tell him about my feelings.” 

She wiped at her face and turned to go, her small shoulders trembling like she was just barely holding herself back from tears. 

Kisaki waved at her back, he really did feel bad for making Hina cry. She had at one point been his crush, and she was one of the few people he could stand having in his presence without wanting to tear his hair out in frustration. But there was only space for one person in Takemichi’s heart, and that place belonged solely to Kisaki Tetta.

Kisaki did his best to steer Takemichi clear of any ideas that might take away time from him. He already had their life together planned out. Once they graduated Middle School, they’d go on to highschool and Takemichi would follow him as he got a high paying career. After that was the life they would live together, dazzlingly, expensively, comfortably, and most importantly together . 

So when Takemichi had gotten it into his head that he should become a delinquent, Kisaki shot down his idea as quickly as possible.

“You don’t actually want to be a delinquent,” he said, lips tilted down with the slightest bit of disapproval, “They’re not what they used to be anyway, at the very least they don’t represent what you think they do.” He informed a disheartened Takemichi. “ It’s just a bunch of scum coagulating and giving themselves a name and purpose to run away from the fact they have no future.” 

Takemichi looked slightly hurt at Kisaki’s choice of words.

“There are delinquents worth admiring though,” Takemichi objected, tears already glistening with that familiar shine, “cool ones”, he went on just as Kisaki began protesting. 

“They use nothing but their bodies and fists to take what they want from the world! They’re free and are always having fun!” Takemichi was practically vibrating in place as he continued, “I want to be like that too! I want to see how far I can go!”

“I just don’t want to see you hurt ,” Kisaki offered after a moment, adding some emotion to his voice, catching Takemichi’s attention, “Do you have any idea what you getting hurt would do to the people around you? Your parents? Hina? And all your friends at Mizo Middle?” 

Takemichi faltered and scrunched his eyebrows in concern. Like he was beginning to actually consider the consequences of his actions. Kisaki just needed another push before he could permanently erase the idea of delinquency from his mind. 

“Are you really going to be that selfish?” 

Takemichi flinched, body jolting and mouth dropping slightly open. There, Kisaki had it. Just a little more.

“Don’t you care what happens to the people around you?” At that Takemichi teared up, and looked down. Despite its frequency, Takemichi didn’t like it when Kisaki saw him cry. Even though fat tears always ended up streaming down his face whenever they were together. It was inevitable. Like death or taxes. Even over the many years they’ve spent together, Takemichi was still prone to crying easily, something that Kisaki found endearing. Even if some part of him told him he should feel bad.

“I’m sorry Kisa-kun,” He sniffled wetly, “I don’t want to worry you guys or cause you any trouble.” He wiped at his face, sleeve leaving red trail marks on his cheek from the force and Kisaki knew then that he had convinced him. 

Kisaki reached over to hug Takemichi, bringing him into his arms and letting him bury his cold nose into the crook of Kisaki’s neck., comforting the boy and hiding the slight smile on Kisaki’s face.

“It’s okay,” He cooed, running a comforting hand down Takemichi’s back and hiding his growing smirk into his shoulder when he felt the shiver run through him. “I know you didn’t mean it that way,” Kisaki comforted, as he continued patting Takemichi’s back soothingly as the first of the tears came down.

“But.” He continued, pulling Takemichi’s face off his shoulder to stare into his eyes.” You have to promise not to do anything so dangerous.” 

Takimichi sniffled and nodded, immediately going back to huddle closer to Kisaki. Takemichi had been such a soft baby when they’d been young. As he’d grown older, he’d grown out of it. But not with Kisaki. Takemichi’s agreement continued lingering in Kisaki’s mind as he held Takemichi closer to his body.

Good , thought Kisaki, there was no need for Takemichi to become a delinquent or become anything other than Kisaki’s. 

And just like that the matter was resolved.

Kisaki killed any wayward thoughts and the occasional bubbled word about delinquency and they continued their lives through middle school in peace. 

Or at least that’s how it was supposed to go.

Sano Manjiro aka “Mikey”, was by far the most annoying and persistent of all the parasites to stick himself to his Takemichi to date. 

Sano had met Takemichi on one of the few rare days that Kisaki allowed the Mizo gang to have him. Apparently they’d attracted the ire of some 3rd years thanks to the stupidity of Takemichi’s cousin, Masaru. A decision Kisaki would make sure the boy paid for later. 

Takemichi, the big hearted fool, had challenged the biggest of the 3rd years to a one on one in exchange for the release of his friends. The beatdown that followed had been witnessed by the boss and second in command of the Tokyo Manji Gang, the former of which had declared Takemichi his friend and subsequently beat the 3rd year who’d been causing trouble for Takemichi and his friends. 

Normally an act like that would make someone slightly more bearable in Kisaki’s eyes. But not Mikey.

The entirety of that first dreaded encounter was recreated, in detail, by the Mizo Middle. All of whom were frustratingly free of major injuries, and Takemitchi, who looked like he’d gotten his nose broken in several places and then beaten over the head with an old broom like he was a rat spotted in someone’s kitchen. 

Kisaki simmered, just barely controlling his rage.

“And, what of it?” Kisaki gritted out between clenched teeth at the end of the mock performance where Yamagishi took a fake kick to the stomach. “These are the same people responsible for Takemichi getting hurt!”

“But, they weren’t the ones who beat him up,” Makoto protested, already frowning at Kisaki, “it was-”

“I fucking know who it was! I’m not slow like you stupid wretches .” Kisaki cut him off quickly, that prompted Takemichi to perk to attention from his seat with Sendo.

“Hey, Hey Kisa-kun,” Takemichi began, a light frown pulling at the corners of his lips as he gazed softly at Kisaki. “I know you’re just worried because I got hurt, but there’s no reason to be so mean to Yamagishi and the others-” 

“Don’t even get me started on you!” Kisaki turned, fixing his glare on Takemichi. Who looked surprised at the extent and direction of Kisaki’s fury, but he composed himself as best as he could.

“I swear that was a one off thing, we just got unlucky,” Takemichi said more nervously than before, dark brows furrowed as he clasped his hands in front of him like he was about to plead Kisaki to not get angrier.

Kisaki felt the sharp bite of his anger loosen slightly at the sight. His raised hackles lowering at Takemichi’s open gaze.

“And what about that leader of this ‘tomato’ gang or whatever it’s called?” asked Kisaki. Still not at all fully comforted. “He named himself your friend, what do you think that entails?!”

“Uh, gofer duties?” Takemichi asked, scratching his head.

It must be bliss to be so simple. Normally it would be endearing. Not this time. Not when the stakes had risen so high while Kisaki hadn’t even been there.

“ Anything !” Kisaki yelled, startling the Mizo Middle for good measure, “It means he’ll make you do anything ! Even more things like this!”

“But, Mikey didn’t seem like that kinda person!” Takemichi protested, immediately rushing to defend this ‘Mikey’. “I swear Kisaki I think he’s a good guy!”

“I don’t give a shit if he seems like the kinda person who’d give sponge baths to the elderly! You will contact me immediately if he tries at all to interact with you!” 

At that moment, Kisaki saw something in Takemichi’s eyes that he hadn’t seen in awhile. Resentment.

“Look, I’m sorry I caused you so much trouble!” Takemichi began, rising up to his feet as Sendo and the others watched in wide eyed silence. “But we’re already in middle school and I think I can take care of my problems myself !” Takemichi got closer to Kisaki’s face, “And I think I can judge a person’s character just fine, you’re my friend, you should trust me on this!” 

Around them the Mizo Middle group was looking very nervous, they’d never seen Kisaki even raise his voice at Takemichi and they’d certainly never seen Takemichi completely blow off Kisaki. Especially when Kisaki was pretty sure they thought Takemichi hung onto his every word. That couldn’t stand. In private, when they were alone- he and Takemichi could air all their grievances and hash it out as they pleased.

Not in front of others. Not in front of people like Sendo who watched with a particular eager gleam to their eye as Takemichi got in his face.

Kisaki stood quietly for a moment before hitting back with the most cutting remarkhe could think of, 

“Friends huh?” He asked laxly, like this entire conversation was beneath him. “I thought friends were also supposed to keep their promises, but I guess that’s also your perfectly sound judgement speaking.” 

Takemichi recoiled like he’d been slapped and began to tear up for the second time that day.

“Ki-” Takemichi had barely called out to him before Kisaki was walking away. Leaving Takemichi in tears. The burn in his chest, the quiet voice that had been getting quieter for years whispered in the back of Kisaki’s mind to go back. Kisaki wouldn’t. Because sometimes Takemichi had to learn his place.

Kisaki ignored Takemichi’s texts for the rest of the evening, shutting off his phone for good measure. 

A full 24 hours without contact should be sufficient to punish Takemichi, especially with his last comment, he’d be guilt-ridden and sobbing at Kisaki’s door apologizing for his wayward behavior within the day. 

Kisaki knew Takemichi, he knew exactly what to say and do to make the boy conform to Kisaki’s point of view, he’d done it plenty of times in the past. But that wasn’t the issue right now. 

What concerned Kisaki the most was the brief hate he saw in Takemichi’s eyes. That was most definitely Sano’s fault as well. If he hadn’t come into their lives, Kisaki wouldn’t be having this problem. He’d have to be stricter with Takemichi if he was to avoid future rebellions like this in the future. He just hoped that this was the last time he’d have to hear about Manjiro ‘Mikey’ Sano from Takemichi again.

It was, in fact, not the last time he’d hear of Sano, or Mikey as Takemichi insisted on calling him. 

Of course a teary-eyed Takemichi was at his door the next evening apologizing, but regrettably not crying as Kisaki had hoped. He was also no less intent on continuing his budding friendship with Mikey who, as Kisaki heard from Hina later that day, had kidnapped him from school in the middle of class. 

Hina had told him with an embarrassed blush about how she’d caused a spectacle when she’d heard what was happening and slapped Mikey. Kisaki had to remember to get her something nice, after hearing that. Especially given the passion she had displayed, refusing to let Takemichi leave. 

Luckily, it had ended with no one hurt. Well, no one except for Sano. In the end, Mikey and his tall shadow, Ken Ryuguji, spirited away Takemichi, just to the river after a short bike ride and talk. 

That was where Takemichi’s belief in Sano’s character was reaffirmed. The way his eyes had lit up to Kisaki as he described Sano’s dream, to usher in a new era of delinquency, one that valued the very ideals Takemichi had waxed poetic about when he’d first made claims about becoming a delinquent.

“So I know, you’re worried,” He began after a long pause, no doubt feeling the piercing stare Kisaki had been leveling at him since he began talking. “I broke my promise, and hanging out with Mikey might lead to more fights in the future, but I really need you to trust me on this” Takemichi continued, begging Kisaki with those big beautiful eyes of his. Kisaki sighed, exhaustion weighted into every molecule of carbon dioxide. He could hold his ground, remain firm to solve his immediate problem with Sano, but it would make things difficult in the future if he refused to cave.

A compromise. A boon. Something to soothe over the rough edges of emotion that he’d seen in Takemichi’s eyes when he’d denied him the first time.

“Fine,” he said begrudgingly. “But only because it’s you,” he pointed out as Takemichi began shifting beside him, a wide smile covering his face as he shifted even closer to where Kisaki sat, “afterall, you wouldn’t be Takemichi if you didn’t stand up for your friends and beliefs.” 

Kisaki smiled softly at Takemichi who immediately opened the floodgates and started bawling, throwing himself into a hug with Kisaki. Takemichi’s gratitude was largely overshadowed by his wails, but Kisaki got the point. He still had Takemichi fully under his thumb even with this one constriction. He’d find a way to deal with Sano later. 

For now though, Kisaki squeezed Takemichi close and breathed in his syrupy scent as Takemichi continued to cry and get snot all over his clothes, he would enjoy his position in Takemichi’s life.

Kisaki had to find a way to deal with Sano quickly. 

He’d been loath to discover that allowing that particular vermin in meant that he kept stealing Takemichi’s precious time. 

Takemichi could no longer walk home with him as ‘Mikey-kun’ and ‘Draken-kun’ were always inviting him out with them. 

They couldn’t hang out as much on weekends as that was mostly dominated by Toman activities. 

Takemichi was increasingly shooting him regretful looks and bailing in the middle of their time together, because ‘Mikey-kun’ wanted to see him. That first month was almost unbearable , the only comfort he had were his methodical preparations for Mikey and Toman. 

He couldn’t intimidate Mikey or his gang like he did with the Mizo Middle group, they would certainly win any physical conflict regardless of the circumstance. Kisaki’s defeat in a straight up confrontation was guaranteed. 

He couldn’t push Takemichi to break off the friendship from his end; he'd already failed to get Takemichi to pull away from them of his own volition. Kisaki did not want a repeat of their past altercation. So he needed to act more subtly, he needed proxies, puppets, soldiers who would follow his command and bring down Toman from the shadows. 

Finding dissatisfied Toman members on the inside was easy, no matter how good the organization there would always be dissenters, that was assured. So getting them to work with him was also not hard. Those that had been embarrassed and beaten by Mikey and his second in command, Draken were the easiest to sink into; any respect they had in Toman was gone. They were simply clinging on to the fringes of Toman, quietly stewing in their anger with no way to vent. 

Finding a good puppet to be his main man was also not hard. He’d heard rumors of a violent youth, nicknamed the ‘God of Death’, who was notorious for being wickedly strong and no stranger to cruelty. From the moment they met Kisaki had Shuji Hanma pinned down. He offered him the only thing he could ever want, a new form of amusement.

“Entertain me , Ki-sa-ki” Hanma grinned as he shook Kisaki’s hand. Kisaki let a smirk bloom on his face. Small, reserved, but no less joyous.

“Don’t worry,” He assured the rabid dog, “I’m about to start a show you won’t ever forget.” 

From there the plan came together without much manipulation from Kisaki. 

Using the Moebius group as well as a collected number of delinquents Hanma recruited he was quickly able to create strife within Toman, getting one of their members arrested, and splitting the group into two. 

Getting Toman to take itself out would have been a sure thing, had it not been, ironically, for Takemichi’s help on the matter. He’d somehow convinced Mikey and Draken to put aside their differences and make up. Leaving Kisaki to change tactics and quickly move up the second phase of his plan. 

He had Hanma’s group dress as Toman members and commit crimes throughout the city, assault and property damage were just some of the tamer crimes attributed to Toman’s name. Quickly Toman’s reputation began to fall and pressure was put on the newly restored friendship between Draken and Mikey. Takemichi was frequently returning home distressed as Mikey and his captains tried desperately to search out the source of the rumors and attacks. 

“Toman might be finished,” Takemichi quietly confided to Kisaki one night. “Mikey and the others are getting angrier and angrier with each other- no one knows who’s doing this either.” Takemichi shook his head slowly, forehead creased in pain. “The Toman committing the crimes are too close to the actual Toman to be copycats, it has to be someone in Toman doing this.” Takemichi said, sadly picking at his fries. 

Due to the increased tension, Toman meetings had become heavy and serious, Mikey and Draken had stopped inviting Takemichi, saying Toman’s problems were its own and they would figure it out themselves. 

At least they had the decency to avoid dragging Takemichi into their mess, a mess he created but his point still stood. 

“I don’t know what to do!” Takemichi cried, big fat baby tears making their way down his face. Kisaki always thought he looked his best when he was like this. “I just got to know them! I don’t want Toman to break apart because of this!” 

Kisaki reached over the table to wipe away Takemichi’s tears, making sure to put up a convincingly sympathetic face.

“This isn’t your problem to fix,” Kisaki soothed, gently like he was comforting a child. Takemichi always responded best when he was treated like one. “If Toman is finished then that is just how things are meant to be.”

“But I don’t want Toman to be finished!” Takemichi continued to sob, burying his face into his hands like a widow who’d just been informed of her husband’s untimely death. The noise and motion drew some stares from the other patrons. A murderous look from Kisaki was enough to make them mind their own business. 

“I’m too weak and stupid to do anything,” Takemichi wept, breath hitching as Kisaki unhelpfully offered him his napkin. “I can’t help anyone, what am I even good for?”

Kisaki finally moved around the table to hold Takemichi in his arms and caress his back. He laid his palm on the other boy’s trembling back, feeling his hitched crying breaths caress his neck.

“Don’t talk about yourself like that,” Kisaki said mildly reproachful, “None of the people who care for you think that. You’re too good of a person- you always try to help others and you always end up crying because you get hurt trying.” Kisaki caressed the back of Takemichi’s neck with his hand, letting his thumb stroke against the collar of Takemichi’s shirt. 

“But that’s more than anyone else does, the fact that you tried is good enough for people. You don’t have to win to succeed.” Kisaki continued petting Takemichi’s back as his sobs slowly died down. “If you ask me you’re way better than someone who can solve complicated math problems or punch really hard. You’re easily worth a thousand Tomans.” 

Takemichi pulled away, eyes red and swollen but somewhat appeased. The apples of his cheeks were red from exertion, his nose still running but quickly wiped away with Kisaki’s offered napkin.

Takemichi took a moment to compose himself, straighten his shirt and take a slow sip of water just like how Kisaki always told him to do.

“Thanks Kisa-kun, you always know what to say.” Takemichi wiped at his nose one final time and then gave himself a light slap on both cheeks, breaking out of his despair. “You’re right, just trying is enough! I can’t do everything myself, even if I’m not good at fighting or very smart, I have friends who are!” 

Takemichi looked at Kisaki with such hope and adoration, Kisaki almost kissed him right there. 

“Kisa-kun, can you help me save Toman?”

“Hmph” Kisaki huffed,  pushing up his glasses, “That will be child’s play for us, now tell me which of these incidents started this whole debacle.”

In the end, Kiyomasa and his cronies made the perfect scapegoats. Their grudge against Toman provided good motive and stolen pieces of their Toman uniforms were connected to the scene of many crimes. They would be locked up for some time, especially since some of the victims ended up succumbing to their injuries. 

Kisaki then ran an aggressive PR campaign for Toman, clearing up the nasty rumours and raising Toman’s image to an even better light than it had been before. 

All according to his plan. 

He’d gotten Takemichi back from the clutches of Mikey and Toman, and even put them in his debt for good measure too. Mikey and his executives were thankful, they invited him to a meeting to properly thank both him and Takemichi for saving Toman from destruction twice. 

However, Kisaki couldn’t help but feel the skepticism from some of the captains, who were awful at hiding their suspicion. Guess Toman wasn’t all brawn, they had some intelligence and common sense. If only it was enough to help them. Then they might’ve really given Kisaki a challenge.

“Kisa-kun has always been so smart and capable,” Takemichi gushed, singing his praises to Mikey and the other higher ups. It was exactly as he’d done with Hina, with the Mizo gang “I just knew he could solve this mystery and find the real culprits to clear Toman’s name!”

“Like I said,” Kisaki said coolly as he basked in Takemichi’s praise and attention, “child’s play.”

“Still though, it’s amazing you were able to find such evidence on Kiyomasa,” Mitsuya offered. He was one of the more wary members and eyeing Kisaki with something heavy with doubt. He should learn how to hide his emotions better. “It’s weird we couldn’t dig up something like that despite combing the area multiple times.”

“It’s all about looking in the right places,” Kisaki demurred, smiling good naturedly at Mitsuya but lacking all the friendliness. “Besides I barely did anything, it was having a different set of eyes that helped me see the inconsistencies.”

“That’s Kisa-kun for you, always so humble.” laughed Takemichi, eyes sparkling and body absolutely elated at having saved his precious Toman. “He’s been like this since we were kids!”

“You two grew up together?” Draken asked, raising an eyebrow at the new information. A heavier glower was layered over the blonde delinquents face. Good instincts that one. 

“Yeah we’ve been friends since sixth Elementary!” beamed Takemichi, the picture of a devoted puppy. “He goes to a fancy private school for smart kids, which is why I don’t see him a lot.” 

Takemichi was always all too happy to boast about Kisaki’s incredible intelligence, all well deserved of course. Kisaki never tired of hearing it. 

“I told him about you guys and how you’re so cool, it’s because of how amazing Toman is that it changed Kisaki’s views on delinquency!”

“Is that so?” Mikey asked, finally speaking after observing the whole interaction from the top of the shrine steps. Kisaki could see where his sandaled feet were crossed at the ankles, elbow resting on the knees of his loose black pants. His gaze had been blank, and Kisaki could almost say it was absent but there was a sharp focus about him. Like the entire time Kisaki had been there, nothing he’d done had escaped Sano’s notice. 

“Well with the stories Takemichi tells me; I couldn’t help but imagine such a cast of incredibly outstanding individuals, my expectations are more than exceeded.” Kisaki offered, standing more carefully now that the tone of the meeting had begun to shift.

The pieces were falling into place and Kisaki could see them connecting the dots in their little peanut brains. They’d all been agonizing over the attacks for weeks. Checking and then rechecking leads. Interrogating and then re-interrogating witnesses, bystanders, anyone even remotely involved. Knocking heads and punching out teeth. Like a snake that’d been eating it’s own tail, they were stuck in a loop, forever attacking themselves.

Then came along this stranger. This outsider. This nobody. Who put it all together, who fixed it up, and like magic their problems disappeared almost overnight. Like he’d known who was responsible right from the beginning.

“Well, Takemichi we should get home now,” Kisaki knew his voice cut into the racing thoughts of several around him. Mitsuya in particular raised his head at the sound of Kisaki’s voice, his grey eyes locking onto him like a target. “It's getting late, my mother had the housekeeper bring the car to pick us up since it was being taken out to get cleaned anyway. Could you go check to see if she’s arrived? I'd like to chat and get to know your friends more.” 

Kisaki ended that statement with a smile, and Takemichi, his adorably oblivious Takemichi took his statement at face value. After giving his hurried farewells, he walked to the exit with a spring in his step. Like everything was jolly and good. Like everything was right in the world.

As Kisaki turned back to meet the heavy stares of the delinquents around him, as he knew it would be. 

As soon as he saw Takemichi’s form disappear down the stairs of the temple, Kisaki turned back to the others, smile falling and dropping any pretenses. 

“So you figured it out, huh?” 

Kisaki turned light eyes back to Mitsuya, meeting his dark stare. Some of the vice captains standing behind their captains were confused. Kisaki could hear their low murmurs, their shifting bodies, could see them turning their heads to one another.

The founding members, though, all seemed to be on the same page.

“ You were responsible for the attacks,” Mitsuya began, fists clenched at his sides. The words brought any murmuring to a quick close. “You were just using Kiyomasa to give Toman a bad rap- just so you could come in like a hero to save the day.” Mitsuya said very matter of fact. There was a strange disconnect from his words and a lesser person might think that the other boy was barely phased. But Kisaki could see how his nails were digging into his jacket. He could see the pronounced veins beginning to emerge along the sides of a pale neck. The corners of a mouth tugging down. Anger. Agitation. Disgust. Rage .

The few members that were confused quickly switched gears, even if they didn’t know what was exactly going on they were at least now certain that Kisaki was not their friend.

Good. As it should be. 

“So close,” Kisaki sighed. And he had been. But the thing about teenagers was that they were all so entirely convinced that the world revolved around them. As if Kisaki planned and schemed and plotted all just for them . Disappointed didn’t even reach the tip of the iceberg. And to think Takemichi sang their praises. 

“It’s true I used Kiyomasa, but that’s not all.”

“ You started the conflict with Moebius, Hanma Shuji’s attack and Pa’s arrest, you were responsible for that too, weren’t you?” Mikey was finally up from his sitting position. His stance was still loose, like he didn’t pose a single threat to Kisaki. His body had no tells, none of the anger or disgust he saw in Mitsuya. But there was no emotion in his eyes, just a chilling sense of calm before a storm. A warning for Kisaki to tread lightly.

“Yes,” Kisaki nodded, not a single denial in his face or voice. “My goal was to wipe Toman from existence, but you proved to be harder to kill than a cockroach , I had to get creative with my methods.”
“You bastard!”

“You did that?!”
“Son of bitch, you’re why Pa’s not here!”

“I’ll kill you! I’ll fucking kill you!”

Immediately Kisaki’s vision was filled with angry Toman members all trembling in rage, cracking their knuckles and ready to let loose a flurry of fists. Kisaki could see the occasional flash of a knife from the crowd.

“ Stop ,” Mikey ordered, allowing no room for objection, prompting many of the members to look back in shock.

“ Buh -Mikey! He admitted it himself, he’s the reason Pa is rotting behind bars!” Snarled a gangly teen with too wide eyes, the acting 3rd division captain.

“We only have his confession, no proof.” Mikey said back calmly, his eyes never shifting away from Kisaki. “If we retaliate we would just be proving those rumors correct, then we’d be right back to where we started, isn’t that right?” 

Mikey continued staring down at Kisaki with disguised disinterest, standing from his throne and looking Kisaki dead on, 

“The only thing I can’t understand is why .”

Kisaki met the stare with his own heavy glower.

“Until this meeting we’d never even met before; the amount of work that went into this,  just to destroy us. For what?” His question and predator-like gaze that held an ounce of something that felt like promise made Kisaki perspire for the first time. The edge of something rattling him like some primordial instinct of self preservation was ringing in the back of his head. Kisaki quickly composed himself. 

Manjiro Sano was a monster. Not one to be underestimated.

“You were getting ahead of yourselves,” Kisaki offered slowly, tilting his head and relaxing the tensed calves of his legs. “If you were going to involve yourself with Hanagaki Takemichi, I needed you to know your place .” 

A layer of tranquility filled the space between Kisaki and Sano. Because this, this was something Kisaki was sure of. Something no one could take from him no matter how strong.

“Takemichi is mine , I was simply allowing you into his company because he respects and admires you so much.” He spit out venomously. That, no matter how much he hated it, was not something he could take from Takemichi without destroying the boy himself.

 “He’s not aware of any of this, of course, nor would he believe it.” Kiskai continued as he heard delinquents shift around him, half of them obeying their leader and the other half itching to disobey. “I’m his beloved childhood friend after all, who just saved the people he admires most.” 

Kisaki finally allowed himself a smile, showing all his teeth, as he watched with glee the frustration, the anger, the pure loathing on the faces of the Toman members. 

Mikey and Toman knowing he was behind these incidents was also part of the plan, he needed them to know. 

‘I nearly destroyed you and I could do it again.’ 

“Well. I’ll be off now, I don’t want to keep Takemichi waiting.” 

Kisaki left a parting sweet smile as he made to leave. The same one Takemichi always gave him when he did something particularly admirable.

 “ Oh and one more thing.” 

Kisaki slowed to a stop at the top of the shrine steps, eyes locking down at the dark haired figure anxiously hopping from foot to foot at the base of the climb. 

“I highly recommend, for your own sakes, that we pretend to be friendly in front of Takemichi. That is, unless you want Takemichi to end up hating you.” 

With that being said, Kisaki left the shrine with a jump in his step and a group of furious delinquents in his wake. His parents’ car was ready at the bottom of the steps with Takemichi already inside, opening the door as he came down.

“How was your talk?” Takemichi asked, almost vibrating in place from the excitement of the day.

“Hmm, Good” Kisaki said, buckling himself in, “I can see why you like them so much.”

“I know, right?!” Takemichi beamed, eyes wet with happiness “I’m so happy you can be friends with Toman as well! You’re all so important to me, I want all of my friends to get along!”

“Yes,” Kisaki smiled, satisfied and exhilarated. Messing with Toman was much more fun than he thought it would be. 

He was eager and already anticipating their next move. If they had one. 

“We will get along just fine .”