Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Everything about it was achingly familiar. He had long gotten used to the absence of laughter, the sounds of other skaters all around him, the presence of friends by his side. Those were all distractions after all: worthless clusters of noise that would only prove to drag him down. No, he was used to his current surroundings. Cameras, the quiet pitter-patter of footsteps by impressed adults, hushed chatter and choruses of gasps as he pulled off yet another trick. It was annoying, yet also kind of amusing to him. Everyone was always so impressed by a couple of beginners' tricks . How lame. 

But he couldn’t show off much, not now at least. Miya was in the middle of practice, he wasn’t supposed to be at level 10. Besides, he didn’t have a bowl to work with. Not even a ramp , due to their training session being in a gym. It was infuriatingly dull, and Miya found himself fighting off a bored yawn as he spun in a circle once again. He’d lost track of how many times he’d done that already. 

Miya let himself scan the crowd for a quick moment. It was just as he had heard: full of nosy reporters and their cameras. He caught the stares of a group of well-dressed men, faces impressed and akin to awe as they watched him. His eyes shifted over, and he saw a group of parents standing by their children. The parents seemed equally as impressed, while their kids looked more-so envious and pissed off. ( Makes sense . Miya figured. Considering they got kicked off the floor so I could practice in front of everyone. ) He then saw the gaze of his parents. His mother, watching with a stern expression that did not soften as their eyes met, and his father, seeming to focus more on the younger woman to his left and her slightly unbuttoned blouse.

From the back of his head though, he could feel a piercing stare. He already knew who it belonged to. He didn't have to turn his head- he didn't even want to. Catching the gaze of his manager was the last thing he wanted right now. It would only throw him off.

Lowering himself down, he focused on his board once again. Placing his hands flat on the surface, he gripped onto the edges and swiftly (yet carefully) lifted himself into a handstand on the still rolling board. There was an anticipated eruption of surprised gasps, and the clicking of cameras increased. Miya stuck his tongue out slightly in concentration, bending his knees to help himself stay balanced. 

Before he could even think about exiting the trick, he heard the loud sound of rolling wheels. Miya barely had time to blink as two skateboards came barreling towards him. In that split second, he reacted. His body was already moving before he even had the chance to think about it. 

The skateboard from behind him crashed first, slamming into his own board and clattering a few feet in front of him. He was in the air for a brief moment, quickly snatching up the board from his front as it came speeding towards him and sliding it under his feet. He quickly let go of it, allowing his body to do the work for him as he played off the entire incident as if it was nothing. 

The crowd around him began clapping, all too easily impressed. He heard the mutter of “Jealous brats…” by a frustrated reporter. He couldn’t help but agree- but he wasn’t surprised. He was used to this. Level 2 slimes who couldn’t handle the fact that Miya was just better , who felt rage at the mere sight of his skill. It was almost funny. 

He quickly wrapped things up after that, bowing politely and flashing a smile towards those watching him before picking up the skateboard that had been launched at him. As he approached the glaring boy at fault, he slammed the board into his chest unkindly. With a sneer, he spoke. 

“Trying to mess me up only makes you look more insignificant when I come out on top. Remember that next time, slime.”

Without sparing another glance, he ‘accidentally’ knocked their shoulders against each other and walked off. Ignoring the pissed growl from behind him, he gathered up his gym bag and skateboard, popping a piece of bubblegum in his mouth. As he prepared to walk over to his parents, he felt a buzz through his bag. Miya paused for a brief moment- because who could be trying to text him right now?

As he fished his phone out, he felt his eyebrow twitch at the contact. 

Adam (14:00):

Meet me in my car out back. 15 minutes. 

Miya rolled his eyes, sending an annoyed glare up at the man who stood in the overhead. 

Miya (14:01):

y.

Adam (14:01):

We have more to discuss. I’ll take you to my place and treat you to dinner.

Miya (14:01):

i want to be home for dinner. ur food sucks and im tired

“Miya.” The boy glanced up to see his mother and father standing in front of him. His mom looked bored, speaking in a tired voice. “Are you ready to go home yet?”

“Not yet..” He muttered, looking back down at his phone and waiting for a response. 

“Why not?” His mother said in a clipped tone, a small frown on her lips. “I want to go home already. Your father is tired too, you know his knees are bad Miya-”

“Just give me a second!” Miya snapped, feeling himself reel almost immediately as he saw his mother’s face twist at his tone. He quickly added, “Mr. Shindo is asking for me.”

Miya’s mom went to speak, before seemingly stopping herself. She took in a deep sigh, adjusting her purse on her bony shoulder. “Fine. Then he better take you home, because we have to go.”

“Alright.” Miya mumbled, looking back down at his phone. 

Adam (14:03): 

Do you really want to be home for dinner, or are you trying to avoid me again Miya?

Adam (14:03): 

Don’t be so ungrateful after everything I’m doing for you. You’ll get home when you get home. 

Miya bit his lip, hating the small pang that went through his chest. It was true he supposed, he was putting Adam out by having him drive him home and helping him excel in his junior skating career. His manager was doing a lot for him.. Despite how annoying he could be, he didn’t deserve to receive the brunt of Miya’s attitude. 

Miya (14:05):

alr. srry. ill be there soon  

The boy looked back up, seeing his mother fishing her keys out of her bag. “Watch your mouth with me, understand?” She spoke, lowering her voice to a quiet whisper as she lowered beside his ear. “Everyone else might put up with your attitude- your manager, your teachers- but I won’t. Talk to me like that again and see where it gets you.”

Miya knew she was gravely serious. He only nodded, avoiding eye contact completely. He waited in the tense silence that followed, seeing his mother try to collect herself from the corner of his eye. Eventually, she stood up straight once again, smoothing out her dress and holding her husband’s arm. He only seemed to tune in then, looking at her tiredly. 

“Are we leaving now?”

Miya held the roll of his eyes back, shoving his headphones over his ears and walking away. He turned on his favorite playlist- the soundtrack from his favorite RPG- and headed towards the back doors of the gym. He let his gaze sweep over everyone else once again. He saw the reporters packing up, uncaring of the other young skaters there. Most of them had begun skating again, majorly in groups of 2-4. He felt his mood sour even further, eyebrow twitching in annoyance as he saw them laughing and having fun with each other. 

“How ridiculous.” He thought bitterly. “They’ll never get to my level at that rate. Distracting themselves with ‘fun’. They have no right to be jealous when they’re clearly self sabotaging. Idiots…”

Miya wasn’t surprised at seeing the familiar black limousine parked behind the building, Tadashi standing by the backseat doors. He nodded silently at Miya, opening the door for him. The boy didn’t acknowledge him as he stepped inside, kicking his feet up on the seats and leaning up against the opposite door. Tadashi only glanced at his feet on the expensive leather, clearly in distaste, before shutting the door behind him.  

The 13-year old scrolled through his phone for a while, idly blowing bubbles with his gum as he waited for his manager’s arrival. His headphones provided him solace from the piercing silence of the car, and he found himself quietly humming along with the 8-bit song playing. He remembered this part of the game well- when the main character approached the unknown land before him, a dull slingshot as his only weapon. It was only the beginning of the game after all, he hadn’t been able to level up yet. Miya remembers the feeling of wonder he felt when he first began to explore the area, finding hidden items and talking to strange NPCs. 

It reminded him a lot of his early life. Meeting new people and actually being able to befriend them. Unfortunately, his story deviated from that of the main character’s when, instead of making more and more friends, he lost all-..

Miya frowned, nibbling at his nail and pointedly ending that train of thought. 

He only waited in that car for about 10 more minutes before the door opened again. He saw the familiar sight of Adam’s suit, and dutifully lowered his feet from the seat beside him. He pulled his headphones off his ears, having nothing to do but watch as the man settled in beside him. Adam reached into his pocket, seemingly searching for something as he still didn’t make eye contact with the boy beside him. 

“0.5 seconds.” Was all he said. Miya stared at him, glancing to the side for a moment as he searched for a clue on what the hell this man was going on about. Adam didn’t seem bothered by the silence, simply lighting a cigarette and taking a deep inhale. 

Eventually, Miya couldn’t hold back his irritation. “What are you talking about?” Smoke wafted over to his face, and he immediately began swatting his hands around to get it out of his face. “ Hey-!” 

“When you did the backside flip, you were 0.5 seconds late on the execution. You almost kicked the board and sent it flying out of your reach.” His voice sharpened. “Messing up on such an elementary level trick, Miya?”

Miya felt his heart drop, hearing Adam’s voice dripping with disappointment. Fists gripping onto his shorts, he spoke with false confidence.

“Okay.. but I didn’t. The trick was fine, so why does it m-”

“Just fine ? So it’s suddenly okay to settle for mediocrity? Do you think people who get into the national team skate only at the bare minimum? Do you think your competition will show up and only show off their fine skills?” Adam spoke slowly, as if he was talking to a dog who didn’t know right from wrong. It made Miya’s stomach turn, and he fought back the way his eyes wanted to burn at his tone. 

The man took another drag of his cigarette, shaking his head and tutting his tongue. 

“I don’t know how you expect to ever excel when you’re so seemingly okay with underwhelming performances.” He finally turned to look at Miya, his gaze strategically softening. Miya didn’t mean to look at him with such a vulnerable gaze in return. “I only want what’s best for you. You understand, don’t you? I can’t have all your hard work go to waste over some small mistakes.”

A hand landed on his head, fingers combing through his hair. Miya didn’t move away. 

“...Yeah. Sorry, Adam..”

Adam only smiled, a glint to his eyes that Miya chose to ignore. 

“Good boy…”

Miya got home hours later. The sun had already set, casting his bedroom in soft moonlight. He was comfortable in his bed, curled up in the corner and playing on his Switch. A triumphant smile crossed his face as he beat yet another group of strangers in Super Smash Bros . Some people were just so bad at the game, it made Miya genuinely laugh. He grabbed his phone, taking a quick picture of his victory while snickering to himself. 

He opened up his browser, quickly logging onto the familiar social media site he’d been using for the past year and going to his profile. He was never one to even think about having social media- not until Adam instructed him to make an account. It was to get his name out there, to post clips of his skating competitions and gain a steady following, as well as catch the eyes of any big names who might be able to help in getting him to the National Team. Adam had given him the okay to post other things as well, like anything he was interested in personally. Said it would be good for fans to see what his personality was like. 

Which didn’t make much sense to him. He didn’t have fans . He only ever saw important looking men and women watching him at his competitions. Grown adults. Adam couldn’t be talking about them. That would be.. Weird. 

He didn’t care to give it much more thought. At least this gave him something to do. 

Clicking on the ‘New Post’ button, Miya attached a picture of his impressive victory.

Miya • @chinenmiya_

(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧

(Image Attached)

-

Not long after, he got a text notification. He felt a small smile raise to his lips, already knowing who it was. Nobody else ever texted him at this time. 

Adam (20:00):

That was cute Miya. Yet another victory?

Miya (20:00): 

its not hard when everyone else sucks !!

Miya (20:00):

when r u going to play against me old man

Adam (20:01):

Haha. Now why would I set myself up for failure like that?

Miya (20:01):

dont be lameeee. play against me so i can beat u :3

Miya (20:01):

u cant say no to a cute little kid !!

Adam (20:02)

You are very cute.

Adam (20:02):

Go to sleep, Miya. I have something I need you to do tomorrow, and I need you to be at your best. 

Miya felt his smile fade a little. 

Miya (20:04):

y what is it

Adam (20:04):

S business. 

Adam (20:04):

Aw. I get the feeling my little Miya may be pouting.

Adam (20:04):

We can discuss your little video games afterwards sweetheart.

Adam (20:05):

💙

Miya groaned, leaving Adam on read as he turned his phone off. It was weird.. Adam never let him have a satisfying conversation- always veering off to talk about skating or something of the sort. Whenever he would begin to show him even a little bit of attention, a little bit of warmth , he always ripped it away at the very last minute, leaving Miya slightly lost and grasping at the leftover honeyed words. 

It was frustrating for reasons Miya couldn't understand.

—

Miya absentmindedly chewed on the lollipop in his mouth, scrolling through the posts from the link Adam sent him. 

“That rookie is awesome!” 

“He fr taped his feet?!?!?”
“That’s way too much air! Is this snowboarding?”

An amused smirk played on his lips. 

“Who would have thought Shadow would lose?”

“What a letdown…”

“I was looking forward to him crushing a rookie, too..”

“Shadow’s days are over, dude.”

Miya couldn’t help but be intrigued. He hadn’t been to S in a few weeks, too busy with practice and competitions. Apparently, there was a rookie there who skated like a freak and managed to beat Shadow. Everyone was talking about it, and somehow, he had even caught Adam’s eye. 

A snowboarder, huh… 

Miya couldn’t wipe the cocky feeling in his chest. He could play along with this.

That was why Miya was here, standing outside of some skate shop called ‘Dope Sketch’. He shut his phone off, tucking it in his pocket and swirling the lollipop around in his mouth once more. As he walked in, he took in his surroundings. The shop had a comfortable atmosphere, despite its slightly messy look. The walls were decorated with wooden shelves stocked full with skateboards, helmets, shirts, caps, and even some graffiti. There were a few colorful mats on the ground, each having their own designs and shapes. It smelled faintly of spray paint, and there was quiet hip-hop playing from the speakers. Overall, Miya could tell why somebody would like the place. He saw a slightly exasperated looking man behind the counter, watching as two of his employees goofed off in front of him. When he heard the jingle of the doorbells, he looked over with an easy smile. 

“Hey, how can we help you?” The kind look on his face almost immediately gave way to shock however, as he took in the sight of Miya. “Wait, you’re…”

The redhead looked his way boredly, almost immediately snapping upright as he saw who he was. “No freaking way!”

Miya smirked, standing tall as he held his skateboard behind his back. The redhead continued, seemingly in awe. “Japanese National hopeful Miya Chinen?! ”

“There you are.” Miya said, voice full of cocky mirth as he stared down the blue-haired boy. “I want to run a beef against you at S.”

The redhead gaped, his eyes the size of saucers. “A beef..?” He breathed, staring at Miya for a long moment before looking to the side, flushing pink and rubbing the back of his head. “That’s so random, but okay!-”

Miya breezed past him, not even sparing him a glance. “I wasn’t talking to you, slime.” He said in a clipped tone. The redhead immediately whirled around, a look of shock on his face as he complained in a high pitched voice. 

“ You called me a what?! ”

“I need a challenge.” Miya continued, staring up at the slightly confused looking teenager he came here for. “It’s been a while since I’ve leveled up.”

The snowboarder stared at him, a look of surprised understanding crossing his face. 

Miya tilted his head, smiling as if he already had his answer. 

“Are you in?”

Before the teenager could answer, that annoying redhead from before butted in. 

“Don’t even think about it.” He sighed. “He’s in a totally different class.”

“I heard you’re actually a snowboarder, is that right?” Miya cut in, disregarding the other boy’s agitating comments. “Very fascinating. I’d love to see how you managed to beat Shadow.”

“... I get that.” The blue-haired one finally spoke, surprising Miya with the softness of his voice. “I just don’t know if I could ever do it again…” He trailed off, shutting his eyes in what looked like defeat. Miya felt his lips start to turn down, and he briefly wondered if this entire trip was a waste of his time. Adam was so going to hear it from him after this. Telling him to race against a rookie who won on a self-proclaimed fluke? Seriously? Now he looked like an idiot in front of these people-

“But I accept.” The snowboarder added, eyes snapping open in a determined gaze. 

‘Oh..?’

The smile returned to Miya’s face.

“Slow your roll! Don’t get cocky ‘cause you nailed an ollie!” His friend exclaimed from behind Miya. “This guys’ a hardcore professional!” 

Miya only felt bigger as the slime stroked his ego. Suddenly, a small fennec fox chirped softly at him from the counter, sniffing his hands. The boy held them out, allowing the animal to jump into his arms. He gently stroked its forehead, feeling a small warmth go through him as it happily nuzzled into his chest.

“I’m in.” The teenager reiterated, looking determined. 

“ Really!?”

“Then it’s settled.” Miya chuckled, hugging the fennec fox closer and looking up at them slyly. “What will the stakes be? Any ideas on what we should bet?” 

Chapter Text

Kaoru took in a deep breath, gently running his fingers through the soft fur of the cat resting on his lap. She yawned dramatically, twisting around and remaining in that arched state as she continued to doze. He chuckled quietly, scratching her small head as he watched the TV in front of him. It was playing some game show he wasn't all that interested in, but it was good background noise, so he let it stay.

The faint sound of keys clinking together reached his ears, before the door to their cozy apartment opened. Kaoru didn't need to turn his head to know who it was.

“Welcome home.” He chimed quietly, resting his head back against the comfortable cushion of the couch. He heard heavy footsteps approaching him from behind, and let an amused smile cross his face as his husband peered at him from above.

“What’cha watching here?” Kojiro asked, leaning down to peck his lips before looking back up at the TV. “Seems.. interesting..?”

“Oh please, don't try. I don't care for this, there was nothing good on tonight.” Kaoru rolled his eyes, watching as Kojiro rounded the couch and prepared to sit beside him. He was quickly stopped by an offended look from his husband, and a raised hand. 

Kojiro quirked an eyebrow up in momentary confusion before groaning.

“Babe come on-”

“Nope. I don't want to hear it, you dopey gorilla. You are not sitting on this couch until you take a shower.”

“This is my house too you know! I can do what I want!”

“You reek of oil and pasta!” Kaoru snapped back, sounding almost scandalized at the thought of Kojiro sitting down beside him. “You know better, I have never let you sit on the couch after work and that has never changed. Stop acting so surprised, pouting and complaining won't change my mind.” 

Kojiro only groaned louder. “Seriously? This is how you treat your poor, poor husband after a long grueling day at work?”

Kaoru rolled his eyes, fighting down a chuckle that wanted to escape. “My husband will manage.”

Kojiro smirked, seeming to get an idea. It made Kaoru dread whatever was coming next. 

“Oh yeah? Well how about this-” He suddenly jumped on the couch, wrapping his arms fully around Kaoru’s body and smothering him completely. Their cat immediately jumped off, sprinting out of the room to avoid the rowdy couple. Kaoru gasped, attempting to shove him off as he left relentless, sloppy, wet, disgusting kisses all over his face. 

“ Kojiro! Get off- hey- stop it you- Ko- Kojiro!” He attempted between laughs, moving around as he tried to get the large man off. This wasn't anything new- the two of them sharing lighthearted bickering that usually ended up in some sort of wrestle. Back when they were only friends, the wrestling had incorporated a lot more jabbing of elbows and kicking in.. sensitive areas. They weren't quite sure when all that ended, and tickling and kisses took its spot.

After a few more minutes of their playfulness, Kojiro eventually tired himself out, sitting up with a triumphant smile nonetheless. Carefully, he swept a lock of Kaoru’s hair behind his ear as he watched him with a goofy smile. Kaoru could only return his look of complete affection, pressing mindless kisses to knuckles.

“I missed you today..” He muttered against the skin, eyes shifting back to the TV. Kojiro sat closer, hooking his arm around his shoulders instead and pulling him into his side. 

“You know I missed you too, love… You got any plans for tomorrow?”

The pink-haired man only hummed, still keeping his focus on the TV. Kojiro noticed how he had grabbed the remote and was flipping through channels, probably to find something they could both enjoy.

“Not exactly. I've got a client coming into the office at 9:00, besides that I’m all but free.” Kaoru turned to glance briefly at his husband, who was kicking off his shoes and settling comfortably into the couch. Completely disregarding what he’d said. He tried not to roll his eyes. “Why do you ask?”

“Been thinking about going back to S sometime soon. What do you think?” 

Kaoru paused his channel flipping, landing on some random local news station. He put his full attention on Kojiro, seemingly trying to figure out what to say. Before he could form another thought, the green-haired man quickly continued.

“It's no sweat if you don't want to. We don't know if.. you know who is going to be there. If that's not something you're comfortable with, then that's that. We’ll leave it until you’re ready t-”

“Quit your rambling, gorilla.” Kaoru cut in, chuckling to himself as Kojiro doubled-back at his response. “I don't care. I mean- I do , but.. We haven't been back in a while, and I refuse to live in fear of that man.”

Kojiro remained quiet for a moment. “Only if you're sure.”

“Would you relax? Like I said-”

“ Kaoru.” He interrupted, stern yet visibly worried. “I'm being serious.”

“So am I. ” Kaoru responded, eyebrows furrowing. “I’m not stupid, I wouldn't go back if I thought I couldn't handle it. We’ve waited long enough, and I’m fine now.”

He softened slightly, reaching up to cup his husband’s cheek. Softly, he stroked his thumb back and forth. “I appreciate you looking out for me. But I assure you, I will be okay.”

Kojiro seemed unsure. Gently, Kaoru prompted, “ Okay?” 

A sigh. “..Alright. I trust you.” 

With a satisfied nod, Kaoru turned back to the TV. The news station was flashing a headline in the middle of the screen, one that read: “Young Prodigy Chinen Miya! Undefeated Up-And-Coming Skateboarding Professional Takes Yet Another Win!”. As the headline moved down to the bottom of the screen, they showed a clip of the young skater pulling off an impressive victory; beating the other skaters by an entire 15 second gap. 

Kojiro whistled. “That kids’ impressive.”

“Indeed.” Kaoru agreed, his eyebrow furrowing slightly as another clip popped up of the boy speaking into a microphone held in front of him. 

“Everyone I raced against today was amazing. I’m so happy I had this opportunity to experience so many different styles of skating!” The boy said, his smile seemingly plastered onto his face. “I have a lot more work to do, but I’m so grateful I was able to pull through today and get this win. Thank you very much to everyone who supported me and helped me get here.” 

There was a bit of back and forth between him and the reporter speaking to him, before he politely bowed and the clip ended. 

Kojiro looked at his husband from the side of his eye, seeing a few gears turning in his head. “What’re you thinking about?” 

Kaoru seemed to be suddenly pulled out of his stupor, blinking a few times before shaking his head. “Oh. It’s probably nothing.” He worried at his bottom lip, glancing back at the TV and the static image of that boy in the corner of the screen, smiling and holding up his trophy. “It’s just…” 

“... He doesn’t seem to be enjoying himself.”

—

Miya swerved his skateboard left and right, his hair fluttering from inside his hoodie as he skated down the bumpy path. He was focused: he had a goal in mind, and he was going to achieve it. He wasn’t even the slightest bit worried- why would he be? This guy was a rookie who somehow managed to beat old man Shadow, nothing special. Nowhere near Miya’s level. He would crush the underleveled slime the same way he crushed all the other ones. An easy victory for the hero. 

At the sound of laughter, Miya looked up from where he was staring at the front of his board. He saw that redhead from the skate shop, and skating alongside him, the rookie. The redhead was laughing so hard he had to hold his stomach, folding over slightly to point at his friend’s feet. “No way bro, look! Your feet- pfft!” 

Miya’s face turned into a scowl, a newfound strike of hatred beginning to form inside him. “Those two..” He grit out.

“Heroes don’t associate with slimes, didn’t your manager teach you that?!”

The brief flash of the unpleasant memory made his stomach swirl, and Miya found himself watching the two in front of him with a strange mix of annoyance and envy. The pair babbled on about the name of the rookie’s board, some stupid nickname that the redhead swore up and down the girls called him. 

Without thinking much of it, Miya leaned down, increasing his speed and barrelling right through the two of them. They were clearly caught off guard, the redhead fumbling to make sure he didn’t fall backwards. As he made it a few feet in front of them, Miya turned his board around and came to a stop. 

The redhead glared at him, waving a hand in the air. “You could have hurt someone!” 

“That’s one thing about trash.” Miya felt a mocking smirk rise to his lips, and he lowered his hoodie to get a better look at them. “It all gets thrown in the same pile!”

The redhead fumed. “What was that?!” He all but growled. 

Miya doubled down. “Practicing with losers is not a good look.” He giggled to himself, turning around on his board. “Well, later slime boy .” Raising a hand, the young boy continued to skate off. He couldn’t help but instigate sometimes- it was so amusing to see people lose all their composure over a few simple words. 

“Gimme a break!” The redhead sped off right behind him, a short call of “Reki!” following right after. Miya looked behind himself, seeing as the angry teenager got closer. 

Reki, huh… 

As they made eye contact, Miya smirked again. Lifting the nose of his board into the air, he swung around in a quick spin, silently challenging Reki to do the same. The teenager raised an eyebrow. “Please, you think I’m scared of a spin?” 

A beat later, he did the same thing. Miya hummed. “Ah.. Fine, kick it up a notch!”

Once again, the boy lifted the nose of his board into the air, this time swerving side to side a few times before finishing it off with another spin. “Too hard?” He taunted, only sparing half a glance back. 

Reki glared. “You’re askin’ for it.”

Using almost his entire body, he completed this trick as well. Albeit a bit shakily, but he still did it. Miya didn’t even wait until he was done before speaking up again. “Not bad, slime! I say we skip level 2 and head straight to 5.”

Without even a moment’s hesitation, Miya executed one of his favorite tricks. A half casper flip. As he looked back, Reki seemed to hesitate. He watched in amusement as the teenager seemed to be trying to figure out what he just pulled off. However, the look of apprehension on his face quickly disappeared, and a smile replaced it. 

“Easy. Just jump, and go-!” 

As he lifted himself into the air, Miya briefly believed that he would do it. That is until he saw the flicker of confusion on Reki’s face, and he already knew it was over. 

The teenager’s foot kicked the side of the board, causing him to shout out as he bailed right into the ground. The tumble looked painful, and Miya didn’t slow down for a moment. “Damn it!” Reki shouted in frustration. Miya snickered, raising his voice to make sure he could hear him as he continued to speed off. 

“Sorry! This is hard to do if you’re not talented!”

He didn’t pay any mind to what was happening behind him. Miya was certain that Reki’s friend was probably helping him up, brushing him off and calling Miya a jerk. Just the thought soured his mood. 

You’re going to be the famous one. You just want us around to be your entourage.

Miya grit his teeth, willing his stupid head to shut up already. 

Before he could dwell on it any longer, the sound of wheels rolling up from behind him made him turn his head. He was surprised- it was the rookie. He chose to follow him instead of stay with his friend..? Why?

In any case, Miya chuckled to himself. This guy was kind of interesting. 

“Well, what a surprise. I was only planning on tuning up today.”

With that, Miya sped up. He took the curve with ease, not even bothering to put in more than 10% of his effort. The rookie seemed a little thrown off by his speed, momentarily struggling to reach him again. There was a focused furrow to his eyebrows, and it was more emotion than Miya had ever seen on his face. He found himself wanting to poke the bear once again. 

“Were you really the one that beat Shadow? Just wondering, because that slime was actually better than you.”

The rookie seemed unbothered by his taunting, instead focusing more on the upcoming curve. As Miya took this one with ease as well, the rookie spun his board around, pressing all of his weight into those stupid handles as he performed what Miya could tell was a textbook snowboarding move. He was almost impressed.

Until there was the sound of something breaking, and the rookie came crashing down from his board, sliding forward a few feet by his hands and knees. 

Miya paused, turning around and approaching the discarded board. He felt any trace of his good mood almost immediately fade away as he saw what he had been using.

“You’re skating on this ?” He spat out, kicking the board over to the teenager on the ground. “Maybe lose the training wheels for the actual race.”

Standing back up on his board, he gave the rookie an angry and downright disgusted glare. “I want to win because I’m better. Not because your rig sucks.”

Miya left them behind, feeling his teeth grinding against each other. Who did these idiots think they were? Were they trying to antagonize him? Make him win on purpose so they wouldn’t hurt his feelings or some crap like that? He was the best, he was the hero . He didn’t need the level 1 goblins to dumb themselves down for him. He could beat them no matter what- to come skating like that was just insulting. 

He ignored the lingering sting of jealousy in his chest as he remembered their laughter and playfulness with one another.

Miya turned another corner, approaching one of the larger open areas full of skaters. He liked S before nightfall. It was more chill at this time, and gave him more space to skate freely. However, now with his bad mood, he didn’t exactly feel like skating around right now. Rolling at a comfortable pace, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and texted his manager. 

Miya (13:00):

this is stupid. ur rookie sucks and so does his lapdog

Miya (13:00): 

why r u making me waste my energy on this

Tucking his phone back in his pocket, Miya swerved through a few small groups of people before coming to a stop at one of the many benches placed alongside the fence. He sat down, pulling his legs up to his chest and resting his chin on his knees. 

“This is so dumb.” He muttered angrily. “Those stupid slimes and their stupid board and stupid Adam. I could be home studying right now.”

The race wasn’t until tomorrow night, but Adam had told Miya to come down to S this afternoon. Suggested that he “re-familiarize” himself with the course, or whatever. It was so stupid. Miya had a sneaking suspicion that he just liked ordering Miya to do things- knowing that the boy would follow his instruction dutifully. It pissed him off. 

Miya spent a while on his phone, playing some weird FPS game he’d convinced Adam to buy him a while back. As the sun’s heat continued to beat down on him, Miya started to feel beads of sweat roll down the side of his head. He sighed, wiping at it idly while continuing to focus on his game. He was almost done, just a few more kills and he would be on the top of the leaderboard. All he had to do was find a way to take out that coward who was camping by the respawn point and-

A notification popped up on his screen. 

Adam (13:25): 

If you think you’re going to lose, just say so. 

Adam (13:25):

Call it off if you’re so worried, but don’t message me during work hours to throw a temper tantrum.

Adam (13:25):

I don’t want you racing a rookie if you’re going to lose. That’s just embarrassing for both of us. 

Adam (13:26):

If I had known you wouldn’t be able to handle something this simple, I wouldn’t have asked you to do it in the first place. Now you’ve wasted both of our time.

Miya felt sick. His screen flashed the Game Over screen as he stopped playing, the messages he received making tears spring to his eyes. How could Adam say that to him? Of course he wasn’t scared that he’d lose! Miya wasn’t a waste of his time, he was his prodigy! He wouldn’t let Adam down- of course not! Fumbling with his phone, he hurriedly opened their messages. 

Miya (13:30):
thats not what i meant

Miya (13:30):
im going to win

Adam (13:35)

Then what was the point of messaging this to me?

Miya felt his hands trembling. Why was he being so cold to him? Adam always listened to what he had to say, always entertained his bouts of attitude, finding it amusing. Why was he shutting him down like this? Why was he getting annoyed? And why was he taking minutes to answer?!

Miya (13:35):

idk. 

      Seen ( 13:37)

Miya (13:37):

im sorry alr ?

     Seen (13:38)

Miya couldn’t will the frustrated tears to leave his eyes. Sniffling pathetically, he wiped his eyes on his sleeve and dug his fingernails into his palms. He hated this, he hated the way his heart was twisting at the feeling of utter rejection from the one person who’s opinion actually mattered to him. 

Adam didn’t want to talk to him right now, that much was clear. But Miya couldn’t understand why . What had he done to annoy him so badly? He barely even complained when he texted him, he was just telling him what he felt! Miya wished he could take it all back- wished he could go back in time to 30 minutes ago and take his text back. 

Would Adam still let him text him whenever he wanted? Would he still talk about Miya’s favorite games with him, would he still show up to every practice and competition? Praise him and critique him where he saw fit? Buy him dinner when his parents were out again for days? 

He was overthinking- he knew it. Still, Miya couldn’t slow his breathing or his tears. Stumbling slightly, he stood from the bench and snatched up his board, speed-walking to where two vending machines sat side-by-side to each other in a more isolated area. He barely managed to insert the crumpled bills he brought with him (Adam’s money), fingers fumbling to press the buttons. The large machine grumbled, rattling slightly before dispensing a cold bottle of water. Lowering himself to the ground, Miya snatched the water and sat with his back against the side of the machine.

He took a few long gulps, eyes stinging as he held back his tears with every bit of his will. He felt so pathetic, crying over what? Adam getting frustrated with him? His mom got frustrated all the time, what the hell was the difference?

Frustrated, Miya banged his head back against the vending machine. The wave of pain grounded him for a quick moment, distracting him from the sick feeling in his stomach. He slammed his head back again, then again, then once more, and then-

“Jesus- the hell is that?”

Miya froze, eyes shooting open at the sound of a voice. Two pairs of footsteps approached him, and he quickly wiped his eyes on his sleeve and raised his hoodie back up. No way he could let anyone at S see him crying. 

He glared at the ground in front of him, refusing to make eye contact at whoever stepped in front of him. He heard a soft hitch of breath, and the voice turned into a quiet murmur.

“..It’s only a child.” The second voice said quietly.

“Since when did kids show up at S..?!” The first one hissed, still keeping a low volume. 

Miya grit his teeth. Did these idiots live under a rock? He had been attending S for almost a year now! And why did it matter if he was a kid- he was still better than half of these slimes by a mile! 

Miya finally risked a glance up, ready to glare these two stupid old people down and maybe even toss in a colorful word or two- but he didn't. He couldn't, not when he saw just who it was standing in front of him. Miya’s throat went dry, his eyes going wide on their own accord. This was..

“Cherry Blossom and Joe..?”

As he faced them, the two in question seemed taken aback themselves. 

“ Chinen ??”

Chapter Text

Miya was momentarily starstruck. Who wouldn't be- Cherry and Joe were legends! They hadn't been seen at S in two years, and everyone had different speculations as to why that may be. Miya knew they were co-founders of S, so he wondered why it was that they were never around. ( He tried asking Adam about it once- big mistake .)

“Chinen??”

Miya snapped out of his daze, scrambling up to his feet. “You-” The boy quickly cleared his throat as his voice cracked. “You know my name..?”

Joe huffed out an incredulous laugh. “Yeah kid, hard not to when you’re all the news lately in the junior skating scene. Saw you on the news last night actually- impressive victory, gotta say.” 

Miya felt his face warm in embarrassment, immediately turning his head to the side and avoiding eye contact. “Those competitions are child’s play. Not worth mentioning.” 

Cherry raised an eyebrow at his response, while Joe simply prompted, “Says who? I don’t know many 12 year olds who could pull something like that off.” 

Miya sneered, snapping his head back to glare defiantly at him. “I'm 13.” He felt his face grow hotter as Joe only chuckled at his response. “Stop laughing! What’s so funny, old man?!” 

“Hey, I’m not old! I’m 27, thank you very much!” Joe snapped back, though his tone was lighthearted, and his facial expression was amused. Miya could feel the irritation slowly fading from his body, instead an unfamiliar warmth filling his chest and relaxing his previously tense muscles. He always thought Joe was cool, laid-back and easygoing, but he never expected it to be this.. easy to talk to him. Miya thought that he’d be a bit more intimidating, or even more… Well, an asshole, if his rumored interactions of yelling and arguing with Cherry was anything to go by. 

“Please, you’re practically pushing 30.” Miya rolled his eyes, leering up at him. “You’re twice my age, grandpa.”

“Wha- excuse me?!”

“Sorry, need me to speak into your good ear?” Miya snickered. 

“You know, your generation is so-”

He was promptly cut off by Cherry swiftly slamming his heel into his foot, an agitated glare on his face. “Stop arguing with the child, Joe. Seriously.” He rolled his eyes, ignoring the man as he groaned and tried to hold his foot in pain. When he shifted his gaze to Miya, the boy tried not to tense up. Cherry’s gaze was sharp, calculating and almost judgemental as he looked at him. Miya felt himself shift from foot to foot, eyes darting around a bit. It took a while, but eventually, Cherry sighed and crossed his arms. 

“Isn’t today a school day? You’re in middle school, are you not? What are you doing at S?”

‘… Huh?’ Miya thought, staring blankly up at the man. ‘Am I getting scolded..? By Cherry Blossom???’ 

“Uh..?” The boy thought it was a joke, waited for Cherry to laugh it off and tell him that he was only teasing. However, the man remained deadly serious, patiently waiting for a response. Miya almost wanted to laugh at how ridiculous it was. 

“Well?” He pushed lightly, raising an eyebrow. 

“It’s- Yeah, it is.. But I don’t go to school on Thursdays.” Miya responded awkwardly, tugging on his hoodie sleeves. Cherry only looked confused. 

“For what purpose?”

“Ad- My manager arranged it. The school mails me my work on these days so I can get in more practice.”

Cherry and Joe looked at each other, seeming confused and disbelieving. It made Miya shrivel up slightly- he could never settle down when it felt like adults were judging him. He didn’t know why, but he had always wanted to make them all proud. Prove that he was mature for his age, that he had everything under control on his own, that he was perfect just the way he was. Whenever he got the hint that they might be displeased with him, he felt his world tilt on its axis. 

“.. Why ?” Cherry eventually forced out, looking conflicted.

“Cause… I need it..? How am I supposed to stay on top if I don’t keep up with my skills?” 

“I think you’re plenty good as it is Miya.” Joe cut in from where he stood. “You’re a kid, you shouldn’t be missing school.” 

“I already told you, they mail me my work and I turn it all in on time! I have straight A’s you know!”

“Grades aren’t all that matter.” Cherry chimed in. Miya frowned. 

“What else is there to go to school for?”

“Well, what about your friends?”

The boy went silent. A flash of some emotion flickered in his eyes, almost too quick for Cherry and Joe to see. But as soon as it was there, Miya erased it from his face, replacing it with a stony glare. His little hands balled up into tight fists, nails digging deep into his palms.

“You’re not my parents, I don’t have to explain myself to you!” The boy snapped, visibly catching Cherry and Joe off-guard. “This is so stupid.”

He picked up his board from where it had been abandoned on the ground, jaw clenched as he turned on his heel to walk away. Joe shot out a hand, looking almost guilty. 

“Hold on kid!” He waited for Miya to still. “Look, you’re right. We’re not your parents. We’ll drop it, ‘kay?”

The boy was silent, still not turning to face them. The tense quiet hung in the air between them for a few moments before Joe spoke up again. “...You hungry?”

“No.” Miya immediately protested, yet was instantly betrayed by the piercing sound of his stomach growling. His face flushed a dark red, heart rate speeding up in embarrassment as he hurried to press his hands against his stomach. Joe smiled in amusement, holding back his laughter simply for the sake of Cherry’s warning glare to his left.

“I’m hungry as well. It’s nearing lunchtime, we should get something to eat. Come on child.” 

Miya crossed his arms tightly, still hiding his bright red face as he faced the opposite direction. “As if I’d go somewhere with two strange old men.” He said snottily, ignoring the painful pleading of his stomach. “I was going to eat at home.” 

“Have you eaten at all yet?”

“N-” Miya bit his tongue. Why wouldn't they just leave him be? “Yeah. Whatever, just-”

A deep sigh. Miya stilled. “I’m not going to stand here in the hot sun and argue with you. Come to Sia La Luce later if you're hungry. Your meal will be on the house.” Cherry stated simply, turning around and walking off. Joe immediately followed, floundering as he battled what he said.

“On the house?? You paying for his meal or something?” 

“No.”

“Then don't just volunteer free meals! It’s my restaurant, douche!”

“Oh, please.” 

“You-”

Miya turned his head slightly, watching as the two bickered and walked away. He found himself feeling.. confused. That entire interaction felt like some sort of fever dream, coming quickly and vanishing even quicker. He eyed their retreating figures, Cherry’s words still lingering in his head. 

Were they really extending their kindness so easily? Why? If they were any other people, maybe some random kid’s parents, then he'd understand. It wasn't uncommon for them to approach Miya or his parents and offer some sort of gift or free meal in exchange for Miya befriending their child. It was irritating, and even more annoying that his parents almost always accepted. (Those friendships never lasted more than two days. Not that Miya was complaining.)

But Joe and Cherry had literally nothing to gain from Miya. They were both practically pros already, having every single qualification besides the official title. Not only that, but they were more than successful in their personal lives as well. Miya had seen Sia La Luce takeout boxes everywhere around the city, and Cherry’s calligraphy posted up on billboards and displayed in some pretty prestigious art museums. 

Maybe it was pity, seeing Miya in his pathetic state on the ground of S as he cried and slammed his head against their vending machines like a freak. Maybe they felt a sense of responsibility as adults. Either way, he felt embarrassed that they had even felt the need to worry over him. 

Miya worried on his bottom lip with his teeth, gazing down at the ground as he considered everything that just happened. His still growling stomach reminded him of how tempting their offer seemed. He did have training scheduled with his manager later, and knowing his sour mood, he probably shouldn't miss it. He didn't want to have any more reason to anger Adam than he already did.

It was fine, Miya told himself as he boarded his skateboard and began rolling off. He would tuck away Joe and Cherry’s offer for another time.

—

Somehow, for some reason, Miya found himself at Sia La Luce anyways.

He wasn't sure why his body had taken him here. Maybe it was the promise of a free meal, maybe it was the tight grip of fear at whatever Adam would say to him when he got to his estate. Either way, here he was, standing before the restaurant with his board clutched in his arms. 

It seemed small, quaint yet pretty. Before him stood a wooden door, an open sign dangling from it and a few windows surrounding it. There was a sign with the restaurant’s name in English on the right side, and on the left, the colors of the Italian flag. Plants decorated the front walls, however it wasn't so many that it looked tacky. The now setting sun cast everything in a soft orange, and the small lights hanging from the roof were beginning to light up. Everything about it looked tastefully done, warm and welcoming. 

Miya swallowed his last bit of apprehension before grabbing the handle and pulling the door open. 

A light jingle sounded from above him, the bells on top of the doorframe alerting the people inside that someone had just entered. A few customers briefly turned their heads before focusing back on their meals, chatting uninterrupted by his arrival. Awkwardly, Miya shuffled inside. 

He saw a familiar head of pink hair sitting alone at the bar, dutifully typing away at something as a steaming plate of some pasta dish sat to his right. As he took a moment to have a bite, he seemed to notice Miya from the corner of his eye. Pushing his glasses up, he turned to the boy and waved him over. “You really showed. I was beginning to think you wouldn't.”

I almost didn't. Miya thought to himself, uncomfortably looking away as he slowed to a stop near where Cherry sat. 

“I’m hungry.” Was all he said, simple and to the point. He really didn't know what else to say. He felt strangely out of his element, like his cocky and uptight persona had abandoned him in this moment. Cherry hummed, motioning for Miya to take a seat with him at the bar. Thankful to finally have some sort of direction, Miya climbed up and sat on a stool two seats away. 

“That ape should be coming out again soon. Tell him what you want when he does.” Cherry said simply before turning back to his laptop, continuing to type away. Miya watched him for a brief moment before gazing around the inside. It was warm, smelling like fresh bread and garlic. There was quiet music playing, mixing in easily with the light conversation of customers and faint sound of dishes clattering from the kitchen. 

Miya brought his knees up to his chest in the familiar motion he had gotten so used to doing, pulling his Nintendo Switch out of where it was carefully tucked in an inside pocket of his hoodie. The screen flickered to life, and Miya consciously lowered the volume almost all the way. He let himself zone out, idly playing one of his many games as he felt the serene atmosphere envelop him. 

There was the quiet tapping of Cherry’s typing, only briefly pausing from time to time for him to indulge in the meal beside him. Occasionally, Miya would glance at the man, watching as he seemingly poured all of his attention into the task at hand. He either didn't notice, or didn't care that Miya was watching him. Either way, he didn't say another word to the boy, content to sit silently next to him. It felt a little awkward to Miya, sitting there in silence beside someone who he’d only ever heard stories of in the past. 

In the back of his mind, he heard an anxious voice that sounded far too similar to his own whispering frantically. 

‘Adam is going to be mad.’ It urged, causing Miya to pause for a quick second before returning his focus back to his game. ‘Even more mad than you already made him. You were supposed to already be at his place by now.’

Miya shook the voice off, telling himself it was fine. It was fine. 

‘He’s probably texting you right now to ask where you are.’

No. He doesn't care that much, he has better things to do. If anything, he’s relieved I’ve left him alone.

‘Have you even checked your phone to confirm that?’

… Miya nervously bit his lip, eyes wandering to the outline of his phone through the pocket of his shorts. 

‘You haven’t, have you? He’s only going to be more angry if you're ignoring him. He hates that, we both know.’

Miya practically pleaded his traitorous brain to shut up, hands trembling slightly as he gripped onto his switch. He was just starting to settle down again, letting the comfort of the warm restaurant wrap him in a gentle embrace. Thinking about stupid Adam was not going to do anything but upset him. 

As inconspicuously as he could manage, Miya shuffled off of the bar stool and hurried over to where the bathroom signs hung. Pushing open the door, Miya was relieved to see it was a private bathroom rather than one full of stalls. He locked the door behind him, almost immediately sinking down to his knees in front of the toilet. He felt disgusting, kneeling on the floor of a public bathroom in front of a toilet that has seen God knows what. But he didn't have many choices. 

He could feel himself dry heaving, stomach twisting and turning painfully as he coughed up nothing. His lithe body trembled with every jerk, yet he couldn't find himself really able to focus on it. Miya’s mind was entirely focused on panic, on the sick yet longing feeling he got whenever he thought about Adam. He was torn- he was always torn. He wanted Adam to leave him alone, but he didn't want him to stop texting him. He wanted his praise, but he needed him to stop using those strange compliments that made his skin crawl for some reason. He wanted to make him proud, but he also wanted to let him down just to piss him off. 

His head was pounding. Miya felt the pit in his stomach only growing heavier, his heart pounding against his chest. This was nothing new to him, the tight grip of panic and fear shaking him down to his core. He just had to wait, it would pass. It always stopped eventually. Pulling himself back, the boy pressed his back against the cold tile of the wall and hugged his legs close to his chest. With a tear stained face buried into his knees, he waited. 

Miya barely registered the quiet knock at the door. His ears were buzzing loudly, his shuddering breaths echoing in the otherwise silent bathroom. All of his focus was trained on calming back down, shoving the thoughts deep down and forgetting they ever existed. Moments like these made him feel so weak. So helpless. If Adam saw him like this… He’d leave him behind in a second. Miya wasn't supposed to be weak like this- he was better. He was mature for his age, practically an adult. Adults didn't cry. They didn't run away to a bathroom to freak out over hypotheticals. 

Another knock came, louder this time. Miya lifted his head in the slightest, forcing his suddenly dry throat to work. “Someone’s in here!” He hoarsely called out. There was a pause, the person on the other side seemingly thinking about something, before they eventually sighed. 

“Your food is ready.”

Miya froze. Fuck. There was no way he could let Cherry of all people see him this way. “...What food. I didn't even order.” Turning his bratty persona right back on, Miya used his sleeves to hastily scrub away his tears. Maybe this would work. If he just played his role, maybe that would calm him down quicker.

“Yes, I’m aware you didn’t order. But It’s getting late, the restaurant won’t be open for much longer, and we didn’t know how long you planned on hiding in the bathroom.”

Miya scowled. “I’m not hiding!” He snapped defensively. “I’ve only been in here for- like-”

“It’s been 25 minutes.”

The boy froze, eyebrows slowly dipping into a furrow. There was no way, right..? He just came into the bathroom! It had to be- what- 5 minutes max? Was Cherry messing with him? Being dramatic to make it seem like he's spent forever in here just to prove his point? And why did he say that he was hiding ? Did Miya seem off to him when he left? God, that was the last thing he wanted. He wasn't supposed to look like a stupid little kid, especially not in front of adults. Why was he so off today? Was it those stupid boys he had that mini-race with earlier? The conversation with Adam? 

A small sigh made Miya’s head snap back to the door. It was only then that he realized he didn't respond to what Cherry said. Shit. 

“Just come eat, child. I don’t know what you like, but Kojiro insisted that you’d enjoy a pizza. Don’t ask me why.” The sound of clothes rustling faintly indicated Cherry turning around. “Your food will get cold the longer you wait, and we won't warm it up for you.”

“ You won't warm it up for me. You don't even work here…” Miya mumbled, slowly pushing himself up to his feet. Quietly, he shuffled over to the sink and cringed when he caught sight of himself. He quickly turned the water on, pushing up his sleeves and washing his hands first, then his face. The water was warm, and felt refreshing against his skin. Taking in a few deep breaths, Miya gripped onto the edges of the sink. 

“Yeah, just like that. It’s alright man.” A soft hand on Miya’s back, rubbing gentle circles. The boy smiled warmly, washing away all of his worries. Miya’s chest felt lighter, and he gazed up at his best friend with teary eyes. “I’m here, don’t worry.” Takashi continued. “I’ll always help you calm down.” 

Miya’s lips turned down sharply at the flash of memory. 

What a dirty liar.

Snatching up some paper towels, the boy dried off his hands and face before exiting the restroom. Many of the customers from before had already left, catching Miya slightly off guard. He supposed Cherry did say it had been 25 minutes. Miya still found that hard to believe. Then again, he really wasn't focusing on the passage of time in there. He was a bit preoccupied. 

Pointedly ignoring catching the eyes of Cherry, or Joe, who was now working behind the bar, he pulled himself back up on his barstool. There was now a plate of flatbread pizza sitting in front of him. Cheese, plain and simple. It happened to be Miya’s favorite topping, so he couldn't really complain. He was too exhausted to make any remarks anyways, so he grabbed a piece and took a bite. His stomach thanked him the second he did so, overjoyed at finally getting some fuel for the day. 

“Is it good?” Joe’s voice startled him slightly, though he wasn't sure why. Wishful thinking to assume that they’d shut up and let him eat in peace. 

“No, actually. It's disgusting. I'm forcing it down my throat.” Miya deadpanned, giving Joe a bored look as he took another bite of the pizza. To his surprise, he heard a quiet chuckle come from the pink haired man to his left. Joe seemed less amused, narrowing his eyes at his companion before turning back to Miya. 

“Man, kids these days are brats. That attitude would get me in trouble big time, back when I was a kid.”

“Yeah, good thing we’re not back in 1923 then.” 

This time, Cherry actually snorted from beside him. Miya couldn't fight down the small smile raising to his lips in response. 

“Wh- Just how old do you think I am ?!” Joe gaped, hands on his hips as he glared at Miya with an accusatory look. The boy only smirked, his slouch now giving way to a more confident stature. His previous feelings were slowly being washed away. Miya felt like.. himself. Not cocky, not quiet. Just himself. 

Joe shook his head, muttering something about how Miya was lucky he got free food and should respect his elders more, blah blah blah. He didn’t feel all that bad. Not when he still had Cherry’s shoulders shaking in the slightest as the man settled down from his laughing. He could even see the faint traces of a smile on Joe’s face. 

“Miya.” Cherry spoke up, his voice more gentle than Miya had heard it yet. The boy hummed to acknowledge him. 

“It’s getting late. Would you call your parents and alert them of your whereabouts so they can come collect you soon?”

Miya cringed. There’s no way Adam hasn't told them yet that he didn’t show up to practice. They’re probably livid right now. Even if not, never in a million years would he ask his parents to do something for him, to go out of their way for him. He was a good kid. He could handle things like this on his own. Requiring his parents to hold his hand and help him with trivial things like getting back home was something babies did. He was practically an adult. Mature for his age. 

“No.” He simply responded, taking another bite of his pizza. “Om jus’ gonna shkaye-”

“Finish chewing first.” Cherry narrowed his eyes, lightly slapping Miya’s arm with his fan. Miya rolled his eyes. 

“I said ,” The boy started, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “I’m just gonna skate home.”

A pause punctuated the air. Miya slowly looked back and forth between the two men, trying to decipher whatever that look they were exchanging between them meant. He had a daunting feeling that he'd said something wrong. 

“...Are you aware of how late it is?” Cherry pressed.

Miya felt like rolling his eyes. Duh. He didn’t know the exact time, but he could guess based on how dark it had gotten outside. 

“Yeah. What’s your point?”

“Kid, there's no way in hell we’re gonna let you skate back home in the dark like this.” Joe sighed. 

“ Huh ?” Miya stared at them, his mouth falling open slightly. “What- why ? I’m not some amateur, I can skate perfectly fine in the dark.”

“It’s not just that. It’s dangerous, you're only a kid.” Miya felt his stomach twist at that. “Anything could happen out there. Call your mom and tell her to come pick you up.” 

Joe’s words made Miya feel slightly ill, yet annoyed at the same time. He’s always skated home alone, especially after S. Nothing had happened to him so far, he would be fine. Adults always assumed the worst, thinking the boogeyman or whatever would come get kids if they spent even a moment alone. How ridiculous. Even more ridiculous that they assumed his mother would be fine with coming to pick him up from a restaurant where he was skipping out on practice at. Not like he would bother her with it to begin with. Skipping or not, he wouldn’t put her out like that. 

“..I’ll be fine. I skate back home from S all the time, and that's way further than the distance from here to my hous-”

“ Pause. You said what?” Joe seemed taken aback. “The hell are you doing, skating home alone after S?”

Miya fell quiet again, warily glancing between the two skaters once again. Why could he never find the right thing to say to these two to make them stop being such worrisome grandpas? 

“Well- I mean, who else would take me?! You know I can’t call my parents to come get me after S of all places!” Miya responded defensively. 

“Still, don't you at the very least wait to skate back with a few friends? Anything is better than going back alone!” 

Friends. Miya wanted to laugh. He really would find it funny if he could. If the thought of the friends he used to skate every day with didn’t make his heart sink, didn’t make tears build up behind his eyes. The thought of him , the one who would always skate alongside him, showing him videos of tricks he wanted to learn together or laughing when they failed horribly at a new trick. 

Instead, Miya glared at the table. 

“I told you. I skate home alone all the time.” He muttered, dodging the question, which didn't go unnoticed by the two adults. “I’ll be fine.”

There was a brief moment of silence, the atmosphere suddenly tense. Miya was desperate to leave all of a sudden. He felt judged, inconvenient, bothersome, annoying- He wanted to leave. 

All of a sudden, Cherry stood up from his stool. “Very well then. I will drive you home.”

Miya paused. “...What.” 

“You said you wanted to leave.” Miya felt like slapping himself across the face. He said that out loud?! Idiot! “I’m not letting you skate alone at night. Let’s go.”

He didn't know what to do with himself. Miya stared at the pink haired man silently, trying to figure out something to say. He wasn't sure where he wanted to go with it though. Would he insist on going alone? Say it was creepy to drive a kid home all by themselves, just to rile him up? Simply thank him and let him take him home?

“Good idea.” Joe chimed in, catching Miya’s attention. “I’ll see you later then. Get to bed kid, alright?” 

A heavy hand patted Miya on the shoulder twice before the large man turned around to focus on something else. Still grasping for something to say, Miya felt Cherry’s own hand land gently on his arm, urging him to stand. And, not knowing what else he could possibly do, Miya followed his guidance and stepped down from the stool. 

They exited the restaurant in silence, Miya following Cherry to his car. He sat in the backseat robotically, buckling himself in and staring awkwardly at his lap. The car smelled faintly of peach air freshener and ink, leather seats all clean and pristine. As Cherry turned his car on, what sounded like a podcast played from his radio. It seemed.. fitting. 

Miya almost felt like he was somewhere he shouldn't be, getting all these personal snippets of Cherry Blossom’s personal life. Just this morning, Cherry was nobody but a legendary skater to him. He didn’t even know the man’s eye color. And now here he was, sitting in the backseat of his car and quietly telling him his address so he could take him home. 

The car ride felt like a blur to Miya, barely any words being exchanged between the two. The boy stared out the window for a majority of the time, not feeling like pulling out his phone and seeing whatever messages could possibly be waiting for him. From time to time, Cherry would mutter something to himself as he recognized his surroundings and figured out where to go. After a certain turn, Miya felt something lightly hit his foot.

Glancing down, the boy felt his eyes go wide. 

There was Carla, the infamous AI board. Miya felt slightly starstruck as he looked at it. Cherry was known to take extreme pride and care of his board, and Miya wasn't exactly sure what to do now that it had fallen against his foot. Did he just shift it back off? But he didn't think something this precious to Cherry should just be on the floor of his car. What if Miya accidentally stepped on it?

“Um…” Miya spoke up awkwardly, avoiding Cherry’s gaze through the rearview mirror. “..Your uh.. Carla is on the floor. Do you want me to.. pick her up?”

Cherry went quiet for a moment, and God Miya felt so awkward he wanted to jump out the window. Why did he have to ask a meaningless question? He should have just left the damn board where it was and let that be that. And calling it her ? Cherry probably thought he was so strange, he f-

“..Yes, please and thank you. Just set her on the seat beside you if you would.” Cherry responded softly, almost sounding.. fond ? Miya couldn't imagine why. All he did was ask if he wanted him to move his skateboard from one spot to another. Not exactly anything life-changing. 

Whatever, he wouldn't dwell on it. Miya took a gentle hold of the board, admiring it as he carefully placed it down on the seat. It was a bit heavier than it may seem, what with all the tech built in. The design made it smooth to the touch, Miya was almost afraid he might ruin it just by holding it. 

“I made her myself.” Cherry added gently, turning into Miya’s neighborhood.

“..How long did it take you?” Miya found himself asking, his voice uncharacteristically soft in return. 

A small, amused huff. “15 years.”

“ What?!”  

Cherry chuckled fully this time. “Carla is an advanced, high-tech, fast performing skateboard with artificial intelligence. She can answer questions faster than the usual search engine, scan humans, relay data to me, etc. That isn’t something you create in just a few short years.”

“Well- duh.” Miya breathed. “I just- that's a long time.” Longer than I’ve even been alive. “You must be super proud of it.” 

“..” Cherry's face formed a pleased smile. “I am.” 

The car slowed to a stop when Miya pointed out his house. Cherry unlocked the doors, glancing at Miya over his shoulder. 

“You get to bed, alright child? As I said earlier, it's a school night.”

“Yeah yeah, I heard you.” Miya grumbled, exiting the car with his skateboard under one arm and his switch under the other. He shut the door, pausing for a quick moment. He didn't know what he was doing… This was probably going to be so embarrassing. Should he even ask..? 

Cherry watched the boy stay still, raising an eyebrow. “Everything alright?” He prodded gently.

Miya took another moment before turning to face him. “Are you and Joe going to S tomorrow?”

The man looked confused. “..We weren't exactly planning on it, but it isn't out of the question. Why?” 

Miya was quiet for a moment. Cherry almost saw a flash of self-doubt cross his features, his small hands nervously grasping at the edges of his large hoodie. But that only lasted a second, because the boy quickly wiped the anxious disposition away and replaced the look with a confident smirk. 

“I’m running a beef tomorrow against this supposed monster rookie . I want you two to see me crush him.”

Chapter Text

Miya poked at his notebook with a pen, slouching in his chair as his teacher droned on in the background. Everything he was saying, Miya already knew. He was always ahead in school, ever since he was little. There was rarely new information for him to learn, and when there was, he grasped it in no time. School had become beyond boring at this point, just another part of his repetitive daily routine that never seemed to change. 

He breathed out lightly in relief as they were dismissed, gathering his things and tucking them into his bag. As he walked down the long hallway, he dug his phone out of his back pocket and powered it back on. Numbly dodging the shoulders of his classmates, Miya steered himself to a bench by one of the windows and sat down. As he fished in his backpack for his headphones, he couldn't help but freeze as an all too familiar voice reached his ears. 

“What are your plans for the weekend, then?” An amused chuckle. Miya slowly raised his head, a sick feeling rising inside as he recognized that messy brown hair.

“Me, Yua and Kazuki were going to head to the arcade tonight!” The girl beside him chirped, a warm smile on her face. “Our parents all said yes already! Plus, they're all going to spend the night at my place! You should totally join us!” 

Takashi smiled, though the mention of the arcade made it become strained. “Maybe..” He trailed off slightly. Miya fisted his shorts tightly, trying desperately to ignore the way his chest ached. 

The arcade used to be their thing. He couldn't count how many times they'd race there after school together, using Takashi’s parents’ money to compete at their favorite game. They would spend hours there, only ever going home when they were so tired they could barely keep their eyes open. He remembered every time they'd crowd together in front of the small screen, watching the bright flashing colors announce a new high score made, or playfully shoving one another to try and mess them up. 

Almost as quickly as the onslaught of memory came on, it vanished as Takashi’s eyes met his. Immediately, Miya snapped his gaze down to his lap, hiding his face behind his hair. 

“Hm? Who are you looking at, Taka?” 

“...Nobody.”

The girl followed his gaze, a look of vague surprise following soon after. “Woah, isn't that Chinen?”

“Don't know..”

Miya grit his teeth, fighting back the tears raising to his eyes. Once upon a time, Takashi would proudly announce that Miya was his best friend , slinging an arm around his shoulder and pulling him impossibly closer. 

“He looks kinda lonely over there… Hey- didn’t you two used to hang out?”

“Chiyo…” Takashi sighed, a mix of tiredness and warning filling his voice. The so-called Chiyo didn't seem to care.

“Oh! Why don't we invite him with us? He doesn't talk much in class, maybe he could use a friend!”

He couldn't bear this anymore. Shooting up from his seat, Miya snatched up his bag and stormed off, keeping his gaze on the ground and pushing past everyone in the way. Tears dripped down his cheeks, making the skin sticky and flush a bright red. He quickly scrubbed the area with his sleeve, sniffling deeply as his nose became runny. 

This was stupid. It was so, so stupid. He thought he was long past crying over dumb Takashi. They weren't friends anymore, that was all. He had to let it go. He didn't need Takashi anymore- no, he never needed him. Someone so willing to abandon him after a mere misunderstanding wasn't worth his time to begin with. It didn't matter that they were close, that they were self proclaimed best friends. All Takashi would do is drag him down anyways. 

Rounding the corner of the school building, Miya slid down the wall and hugged his legs. The warm summer air blew his hair around in a comforting breeze, though he felt anything but comforted. His tears continued to spill down. soaking his sleeve as he buried his face in his arms. Shaking his head, the boy tried desperately to force the unwanted feelings back down.

“I-I don’t need him. I don't.” Miya whimpered pathetically to himself, a tremble shaking through him. “He’s just a stupid slime. A-A-.. A stupid- A-”

A sob tore through his chest, ending his sentence where it attempted to start. His nails dug deeply into his palms, bringing a stinging pain to them. Miya found that it grounded him in times like these, but this time, it didn't seem to be working. At this point, he wasn't sure how long he spent, crying on the ground at the side of his school. If anyone saw him like this, he would be utterly humiliated. He knew he had to get going soon, but he couldn't get these stupid tears to stop!

“Quit being a b-big baby already..” He shuddered, fists slamming up against his face to soak up the moisture pouring from his tear ducts. “Y-You’re so embarrassing.. So damn useless.”

In a frustrated fit, he raised his fists to slam against his head. Once, then twice, then continuously. “I hate you so much.” Miya’s voice cracked. “I-I hate you. I hate you, I hate you I hate you-” 

Bzzzt… Bzzzt… Bzzzt

As his phone began to buzz aggressively in his pocket, Miya stilled. He wasn't sure exactly who would be calling him right now, but he didn't exactly care. There was no way he was answering the phone right now, the wreck that he was. Whoever it was would just have to wait, or text him. 

The buzzing stopped, and Miya almost sighed out in relief. That was, of course, until it continued immediately after. 

Bzzzt… Bzzzt… Bzzzt

Frustrated, he dug his hand in and snatched the phone out. Ready this time to hang up and send a clear message to leave him alone , Miya glared at the screen. However, when he saw just who it was calling… he froze. 

Incoming Call:

Old Loser (Adam)

Accept?

Yes   No

Adam hadn't spoken to him since their conversation over private messages, when he was annoyed with Miya. Apparently, he hadn't even told Miya’s parents that he didn't attend practice that night when he was at Sia La Luce, because they had nothing to say to him when he got home. It had the boy wondering if Adam would leave him behind too. If he had finally grown tired of him. 

He wasn't sure if he could handle another person leaving him. 

Without having to think twice, Miya accepted the call. 

“Ah, there you are. I was beginning to think I may have forgotten what time you get out of school.” Adam chuckled, sounding easy-going and relaxed. “Why didn't you respond?”

Miya sniffled. “..Um.. I was- busy…”

He cringed at the sound of his own voice. It was thick with tears, and his runny nose causing his very loud sniffle wasn't helpful either. 

Adam was quiet for a few seconds. “Now why is my poor dear sounding so upset? Who hurt your feelings, little Miya?” 

The boy scowled. “God- Whatever Adam. Just-”

“Don’t misunderstand my tone, dear. I’m deadly serious. I don’t like to see you cry, don't you know?” He cooed, his voice gentle and caring. Miya went silent. “What happened?”

He idly removed his hat, fumbling with the fabric in his lap. “...Nothing.. Just-.. I made myself upset over something dumb…”

“Nothing you feel is dumb, sweet thing. You don't need to discuss it with me, just know that it’s fine to let yourself feel every little emotion you have, no matter how stupid it may seem.”

“...Do you really mean that..?” Miya asked weakly, his lower lip wobbling as a new wave of tears began to build up. 

“Absolutely.” Adam was quiet for a few moments before tutting softly. “This certainly won't do. I can’t have my Miya crying like this all on his own. Where are you now?”

“I-I’m-” Miya quickly cleared his throat as his voice cracked. “I’m.. still at school. Outside..”

A hum. “I see. Might I send Tadashi to come pick you up? You can spend some time here, before you attend S later tonight.” 

Right. S. His beef. Miya almost forgot. 

“Unless of course, you're not feeling up to it anymore-”

“No!” He blurted out, voice desperate. “I’m still doing it. I am.” 

I have to. 

Adam chuckled softly. “Alright then. I’ll see you soon.”

The wind blew through his hair once again. 

“...’Kay.. I’ll see you…” 

It didn't take long at all for Tadashi to arrive. Miya had managed to dry his tears, though it seemed impossible to rub away the flush to his cheeks or the swollen puffiness of his red-rimmed eyes. He trudged over to the sleek black vehicle, pointedly ignoring the stares of his classmates around him. As he got closer, Tadashi exited the car and opened the back door for Miya. It only embarrassed him further. Ignoring that, Miya didn’t even spare him a greeting as he sat inside and tossed his bag on the seat beside him. 

In that split second before Tadashi shut the door, Miya raised his head and caught sight of Takashi already staring, an unreadable look on his face. 

He chose to ignore it this time. 

The car ride was silent, and it would have felt suffocating if it wasn't for the fact that Miya was beyond used to this by now. Tadashi was always silent, 90% of the time he never had anything to say unless spoken to first. Those other times that he would say something unprompted was to tell Miya something cryptic about Adam and then refuse to elaborate. It was weird. He was pretty weird. 

The car slowed to a stop, Adam’s looming estate casting a shadow above them. Tadashi exited the drivers seat, swiftly walking back to open Miya’s door for him. As the boy stepped out, Tadashi suddenly spoke, his eyes trained on the car. 

“I have to go run a few errands.” 

“...Okay?” Miya huffed, eyebrows furrowed in annoyance. He didn't exactly care.

Tadashi went quiet for a few long moments. “You’ll be alone with him for a while. Just…”

The man trailed off for a few moments, eyes slowly drifting to Miya before snapping back away. 

“Just be careful.” He muttered before promptly re-entering the car and rolling off. Miya stood there, stunned and extremely confused. Why would he have to be careful? If anything crazy was to happen, Adam would protect him. He always did. 

Miya mindlessly walked in, adjusting the strap of his backpack on his shoulder while his legs carried him to Adam’s office. It was second nature really- that was where they spent most of their time when Miya would come over. If not there, then they were practicing in the private skatepark a few miles behind Adam’s estate. He had been here so many times by now, gotten so used to this routine that it felt like a second home to him. 

Even more like home than his real house was. 

With a brief moment of hesitation, Miya sighed and knocked on the door of the office in front of him. There was the faint sound of a keyboard clacking before a quiet hum just barely made its way to his ears. 

“Come in.” 

With a sudden increase in his heartbeat, Miya turned the handle and pushed the door open. Adam was sitting comfortably, one leg crossed over the other as he poured his focus into the screen in front of him, dutifully typing away. He almost reminded the boy of Cherry when he was at Sia La Luce. 

Slowly, Miya trudged over to Adam’s desk, completely silent with his eyes fixed on the ground. He wasn't sure what to say- everything still felt so awkward to him. Deep down he knew he had been overreacting from their last conversation, Adam didn't mean anything by it when he had gotten frustrated. Miya understood that. He was probably just having a bad day, and Miya’s attitude didn't make things any better. But still, it didn't change how uncomfortable it made actually facing him be. 

A quiet chuckle made Miya snap his gaze up. 

“Why so apprehensive to face me, Miya? Have I done something to upset you?”

Immediately, Miya shook his head. 

In response, Adam raised an eyebrow. As if prompting elaboration. 

“No. I just-..” Miya’s voice grew quieter. “It's stupid..”

“I’m sure it isn't.”

“It is. You’re gonna laugh.” 

“I would never laugh at you.” Adam said, sounding so serious that Miya’s eyes began to burn at the sincerity of his words. 

“...’S just..” He hated the way his voice began to grow heavy with emotion. Seriously, what was wrong with him today?! “..You sounded.. really mad at me yesterday. I-I didn't mean to upset you..”

A soft coo left Adam’s lips, his face turning down in worry. “Oh sweetheart. Of course I wasn't angry with you. I was frustrated, that's all. Watanabe released this campaign ad against me that was utter bullshit , and it ruined my entire day.” He sighed. Instantly, things clicked for Miya. He knew Adam’s main opponent had been getting tricky recently due to the man frequently ranting on and on about it. It couldn't make more sense that this would have ruined his mood and set him on a short fuse.

“I was frustrated, and unfortunately, I carried that tone when I spoke to you shortly after.” Adam continued. “I felt so horrible afterwards. When you didn’t show up to practice after that, I knew I had truly messed up.”

“..Why.. didn’t you call my parents when I didn't show up..?”

He smiled lightly. “I figured you needed space after how I behaved. I didn't want to send you home to those troublesome parents of yours who would overreact at the slightest thing wrong. I decided to just wait until today, when I could call and invite you here to share my apologies.”

…Miya felt like a huge idiot.

The tears in his eyes welled up even further, and to his horror, dripped down his cheeks. Adam tutted softly, opening his arms and turning his chair towards him. Without even thinking twice, Miya dropped his bag off his shoulder and fell into his open embrace. Burying his face in his shoulder, the boy let his tears soak the fabric of Adam’s sharp suit. 

“Y-You don't have to apologize to me.” Miya sniffled, clenching his eyes shut as he felt Adam rub soothing circles into his back. “I was- was dumb, and overreacted. I shouldn't have t-texted you like that. It was rude.”

“Shh, hush now sweetheart. I’m not hearing that from you. You did nothing wrong.” 

“I-I’m sorry.. I’m really sorry..” Miya whined, his hands gripping his suit jacket. 

Adam only continued to soothe him, rubbing his back and murmuring his reassurances. It was so warm, Miya felt so comforted and safe. He could never cry like this in front of anyone- nobody but Adam. Nobody would ever hug him like this, calm him down and say sweet things that made him feel like he wasn't insane . No one would do this for him but Adam. He has no one else but him. 

As he nuzzled his face into the man’s shoulder, he missed the sick grin spread across his face. He missed the slow lick of his lips as Miya's sobs shook and jerked his body. He didn't think to check, either. Obviously, Adam would never do something like that. He had no reason to think otherwise. 

“There there, everything is alright darling.” Adam spoke gently once the crying had slowed, grabbing a delicate hold of the side of Miya’s head to raise it. Then, he slid his hands up to cup both cheeks, using one to twirl a strand of his dark hair around two fingers. “You're okay now, hm?”

Miya nodded, sniffling up his runny nose and weakly wiping at his swollen and red eyes. 

“Mhm..” His gaze fell down. “Thank you Adam. I’m sorry…” 

Adam’s amused and light chuckle was like music to his ears. “Don’t thank me sweetheart.” Twirling his hair between his pointer finger, the man watched in silent delight as the boy leaned into his touch. 

“But you do so much for me.. You just let me cry all over your shoulder like a big baby!” Miya’s face turned to a pout, his nose and cheeks a bright red from all the sobbing. It was beyond cute to Adam. “Just let me thank you, old man…”

With the slow rise of a smirk, Adam tucked the strand of hair behind the boy’s ear.

“Then you can thank me tonight, by winning your beef against that rookie. As a matter of fact, let me tell you a bit more about him…”

—

Miya was so pissed off. 

Livid. Enraged. Infuriated. Fuming, even. 

He was here. It was 23:45, exactly 45 minutes after his beef was supposed to start. He was here, standing at the starting line, with no opponent to his right. This guy was supposed to be here forty-five minutes ago. Forty-Five! And yet here he was, standing around like an idiot all by himself. 

Langa. Miya had learned his name from Adam. While he did have the urge to question how the hell Adam found this out, he didn't exactly have the energy to at the time. Or the care to. He really didn't care all that much. Nonetheless, this guy had some serious gall. Miya would absolutely wring his neck if he ever saw this guy outside of S.

The previously excited skaters standing all around him were beginning to grow bored, confused and almost agitated chatter filling the space around them as it grew later and later. Miya’s teeth dug into his bottom lip, eyebrows creased in an angry glare. He was beyond mad at this point. He didn't care how bad it might go, he was going to give Adam a piece of his mind the second he sees him next. This wasn't just irritating, it was embarrassing. He was standing here and waiting for someone who was probably not going to show up, like some sort of lost puppy . 

“Where is that guy at?”

“Probably chickened out. No way he could beat Miya.”

“Seriously? I think he could!”

“Huh? Are you stupid or something?”

“Not like it matters anyway. Dude isn't showing up.”

Miya dug his nails into his palms, fists shaking dangerously. 1 hour. He would only wait 1 full hour before calling the stupid beef off and leaving. Adam would just have to deal with it. It wasn't like it would be his fault either- the stupid rookie quit on him! How was he supposed to help something like that?! He sure as hell wasn't going to wait all night for this bozo, that was for sure. 

He barely even cared about this beef to begin with!

As the time creeped by, Miya’s patience wearing thinner and thinner, the faint sound of stomping feet came to his ears. Miya looked behind himself, his eyes going wide as he saw Langa sprinting towards the starting line. His face and shirt were clearly drenched in sweat, shoulders and chest heaving from taking in deep breaths for what the boy assumed was prolonged periods of time. Miya probably would have felt a little bad for him if he wasn't so livid. 

As Langa slowed to a stop beside him, he hunched over to rest his hands on his knees, taking in desperate breaths. Miya's face twisted, slamming his foot down on the teenager’s, feeling a spike of delight as he yelped. 

“What the hell took you so long?! It’s almost an hour after our beef was supposed to start!” He placed his hands on his hips, glaring at the older teenager. 

Langa groaned as he held his now aching foot. “That really hurt…”

“Good!” 

Langa sighed, though he did look genuinely remorseful. “I’m really sorry. I got kinda caught up… But I didn’t forget. I’m here.”

“Obviously you're here, idiot.” Miya scoffed, crossing his arms and glaring him down. “Why did you run all the way here like you don't have a board-”

… 

“ Where the hell is your board?!” 

Langa cringed. “It’s… still being made.” 

“ What?! Why the hell are you getting a new board made the day of our race?!”

“You didn't like my old one. You looked like I hurt your feelings by using it.” Miya’s face flared red at the bluntness of his words. “Besides, it wasn't really working out too well for me either. I’m getting a better one made. Reki should be bringing it soon…”

As Langa finished explaining, he turned to face the same direction he had just ran in from. His face lit up suddenly, a warm smile completely brightening his features. “There he is!” 

Miya turned to see Reki jogging over, a blue, white and black skateboard tucked under his arm. He bypassed everyone around him, coming to a stop in front of a pleased looking Langa. The blue-haired teen placed a hand on Reki’s shoulder, grounding him as he heaved for breath himself. 

“You made it.” Langa said, with so much reverence in his voice it almost made Miya sick to hear.

“Sure did. A little late, but no harm done!” 

“Excuse me?” Miya squawked. Reki ignored him, lightly shoving the board into Langa’s arms while grinning excitedly. 

“There you are. Nothing's gonna stop you now.” 

Langa smiled then, looking at Reki as if he just gifted him the sun itself. The sight only bothered Miya even further, gritting his teeth as his nails dug impossibly further into his palms. 

“Move it.” He demanded, shoving his shoulder against Reki as he took his spot standing in front of Langa. To his surprise, Reki only rolled his eyes and stepped aside, placing an arm on Langa’s shoulder to lean on him. “Do you know what you’re going to bet?” 

Langa raised an eyebrow. “Bet?”

Miya smirked, crossing his arms. “For what you’ll get if you win the beef, obviously. I've thought a lot about it… If I win,” He pointed directly at Reki. “You’re going to become my lapdog.” 

Silence permeated the air between them.

“... What?!!” Reki shrieked, almost tripping over himself as he stared at Miya in disbelief. “ Why me?!!” 

“I’ve always wanted a puppy!” Miya said snottily, having to suppress the amused snort building up as he watched Reki flounder for something to say. “And if the world comes crashing down and I somehow lose, then I’ll be a dog or cat for you. Sound good?” 

Langa nodded. “Why not.”

“Why not?!!” Reki yelled, jumping on Langa and swinging their bodies back and forth, almost like a bobble head. “I’ll tell you why! Don’t volunteer me as part of your creepy human-pet trafficking ring!”

Miya’s amusement faded quickly, replaced by anger at the display of their relationship. They were all over each other. Constantly. It was so frustrating.

“Ha! I won!” Miya grinned, raising a fist to the air in victory as his friend deflated beside him. 

“Come on Miya!” Takashi pouted. “Best out of three..?”

“No way! You sore loser!” He laughed, eagerly running behind him and patting his shoulders. “You know the rules! You lose, you become my taxi!” 

Takashi couldn't help but chuckle, lowering down to one knee and bracing his arms. It was a routine they’d developed a year ago. Every morning, as they met up to walk to school together, they would play a game of rock paper scissors. Whoever lost had to give the winner a piggyback ride all the way to school. To his “dismay”, Takashi usually lost. 

He found he didn't mind much. 

How could he? When his best friend would smile with such happiness, jumping up on his back and giggling all the way there. He wouldn't mind losing to Miya if it meant seeing that smile more often. 

Miya threw his skateboard down, catching the attention of the two teenagers to his right. As he got into his starting position, his message seemed to get across. Reki detached himself from his friend, giving him an encouraging smile and pat on the back before running to the sidelines. Langa stepped a bit closer to Miya again, turning to face the starting line. 

“Good luck.” He smiled as the lights began to go off.

Miya sneered. “I don’t want your luck. Keep it for yourself- we know you need it.” 

The second the green light showed, they were off. 

Chapter Text

He was 5 years old when he first picked up a skateboard. 

It was Christmas day. Miya had crept downstairs bright and early in the morning, before the sun even rose. His favorite cat onesie hugged his body tightly, the faux fur keeping him warm as the low temperature from outside casted the home in a dull chill. His mom always complained about not having the money to afford heating.

When he finally made it down, he grinned and sprinted over to the living room, where he had left a plate of cookies and milk. He couldn't wait to see everything Santa left under the tree. Of course, he wouldn’t dare to open any until his parents were awake too. He was a good kid. But his curiosity got the best of him, and he figured there was no harm in trying to see what kind of presents he got.

However, as he slowed to a stop in front of the area, his smile slowly dropped from his face. 

The cookies were sitting there, untouched. The glass of milk was still as full as he had poured it to be. Furthermore, the tree was completely bare. There were no presents. Swallowing thickly, Miya padded over to where his stocking hung on the fireplace. Daring to peek inside, he felt his heart slamming against his chest as he found that to be empty as well. 

What was going on? Did Santa decide not to visit..? Why? Miya had made extra certain that he was good this year! He didn’t bother his parents, he took his first year of school very seriously, and he didn’t ask for anything extra either! 

The boy felt his eyes burn with tears, dropping the stocking from his loose grip and running to his parent’s room. He knew they didn’t like him coming in there, but this was an emergency. Hopefully they would forgive him. 

It took him a few tries to get a good grip on their door’s handle, his small hands still slightly numb from the coldness of their house. Eventually, he managed, pushing the door open and slowly shuffling inside. His father’s snores were loud, coming in short bursts from deep in his chest. The noise usually scared Miya. 

“..Mommy…?” He tried quietly, his voice barely traveling over the sound of his father. After his mother didn’t stir, he dared to move closer. He tried a few more times, to no avail. Taking in a deep breath, Miya nervously fisted the cloth of his onesie before apprehensively climbing up on the bed beside them. 

His mom looked so peaceful, her hair tied back in a loose bun and her usually pinched expression completely relaxed. This made Miya pause. She was always so stressed out, voicing her complaints frequently about bills or his father’s laziness, and he barely ever saw her with a smile on her face. He considered leaving, letting his mom sleep as long as she wanted and only letting her know of the problem when she woke up on her own. 

But then, she let out a quiet breath. Then a groan. Miya felt his heart speed up in something akin to fear as her eyes peeled open. She was clearly taken aback by seeing her son sitting on the bed, tiredly rubbing the sleep from her eyes as her eyebrows furrowed. 

“Miya.” She groaned tiredly, her voice full of exhaustion. “What are you doing? Go back to bed.”

“...” Miya bit his lip, glancing down at his lap before looking back up at her. “But… Mommy, Santa didn’t come..”

His mother stared at him, unamused. “What are you talking about?”

The boy swallowed nervously. “The… The tree is empty. So is my stocking. And.. And he didn’t eat any cookies or milk…” Tears rapidly began to drip down his cheeks, his mother visibly becoming more alarmed. “I-I… I wasn’t good this year..? I’m sorry mommy…”

His mother remained silent for a few long moments. Pushing herself to sit up, she clicked on the lamp at their bedside before swiftly turning over and slapping his father’s arm. Miya flinched, watching with wide eyes as his father slowly awoke, a look of annoyance immediately on his face. 

“The hell are you doing?” He asked his wife with a glare, before noticing Miya and looking downright exasperated. “What is the kid doing in here?”

“I told you not to drink last night.” She hissed. “You overslept. Now our son is crying because Santa didn’t bring him his gifts.”

His father blinked a few times before sighing. “Oh brother.” He grumbled, throwing the blankets off of himself and slowly walking over to their closet. Miya sniffled, only able to lean against his mother as she stood and swept him up in her arms. She quickly exited the room, carrying him all the way back to his bedroom. 

“Go back to sleep.” She said, though her voice lacked the sharp edge it usually had. “I’m sure Santa is just running late. When you wake back up, he’ll be here with all your presents.”

Miya sniffled. “Promise…?”

She tucked him under his sheets, hand delicately stroking his hair. “I promise. Goodnight, Miya.”

And she was right. When Miya woke again a few hours later, he dragged himself downstairs to see presents sitting under the tree. The smile immediately returned to his face, and he couldn’t contain himself from sprinting over and kneeling down in front of them. His mother chuckled, pushing some of his hair out of his face before encouraging him to open them. He grinned at her, briefly hugging around her legs before tearing into his gifts. He got a lot of cool things- a new Wii, more plushies, a few trucks, even a racetrack for his nascar toys from last year. However, what really caught his attention was the tiny skateboard and protective gear paired along with it. 

He couldn’t believe it. Months ago, he was walking around the mall with his mom, when they passed by a group of older kids skateboarding in the parking lot. He couldn’t take his eyes off of them, they looked so free, like they were having so much fun. Then, a few weeks after that, he saw Takashi get his very own skateboard. They’d played on it together for hours, and Miya couldn’t believe the amount of fun he was having. He raced home that day, telling his mother all about it and begging her for one of his own. 

He never got around to writing it down on his list for Santa. That was how he knew, this gift was from his mother herself. 

She giggled at his shocked expression, her voice soft. “Now you can play with Takashi on one of your own.” She chimed, a look of amusement on her features. Miya couldn’t help but find her at her most beautiful when she was like this, smiling and talking to him so gently. And now, she had gotten him a gift he wanted so badly . 

Miya jumped up from the ground, climbing up into his mother’s lap and hugging her with all the strength he could muster. He was so, so grateful. He swore in that moment that he would make his mother proud. He would use this gift she gave him and prove to her that it was worth it, that he could give back to her by getting so good that he could even make money for her. Maybe then they could have a heater in their house. His mom could start buying herself things, instead of only Miya. Maybe, just maybe, he could see his mother’s smile more often. 

At 8 years old, Miya won his first competition. 

He was the youngest skater to ever win that competition, and he remembers the bright flashes of light from the dozens of cameras practically blinding him. He was in a daze, barely able to mutter a word into the microphone shoved into his hands by the reporter at the event. He left it up to his mother, who was beaming with pride and holding him so tightly to her side with one hand, the other one busy holding the check he’d won.

Miya remained in that daze for a while, up until someone came crashing into his back. As he glanced to the side, that bright and familiar smile lit up his entire chest. 

“That was so awesome, Miya!” Takashi grinned, arms wrapped tightly around his torso in a crushing hug. “You beat all those old people! You’re so cool!” He gushed. Miya laughed, blushing a faint pink in embarrassment as he tried to wrestle his friend off of him. 

“Stop, stop!” He giggled. “You’re so extra! It was nothing, they just kinda sucked. Even you could have beat them.”

Takashi gasped, feigning offense at Miya’s regular teasing words. “Oh God, my best friend’s head is already too big for his little body. He’s too good for me! Already planning on leaving me behind! Oh, the horror!” 

Miya only laughed more, squealing in surprise as his friend threw himself over his back entirely. “Stop being an idiot! Get off of me- Takashi!”

They both went tumbling to the floor in a fit of giggles, playfully wrestling for what felt like forever. They were only broken apart when they were too tired to continue, instead resting with their backs to the wall and Miya’s head on his shoulder. The skatepark was starting to clear out, everyone who had attended the competition long past packing up and making their way home. Miya spent a while there, resting against his best friend peacefully whilst their parents were busy talking. 

“I saw your skills out there, Chinen. I must say, I’m extremely impressed.” A voice suddenly came through, making both boys flinch slightly as they turned their heads to see a man standing a few feet away from them. 

“Uh.. Thanks…” Miya mumbled, looking away almost as quickly as he looked at him in the first place. He was always shy when talking to new people- especially adults. 

The man smiled, and Takashi stiffened. 

“Say, would you be interested in-”

“Who are you again?” Takashi interrupted, a steady frown on his face. 

The man paused for a moment, addressing Takashi with a look briefly full of disdain before masking it perfectly with a smile. “My, how rude of me! My name is Shindo Ainosuke, I’m a politician. You see, I happen to be looking for young local talents as a part of my organization supporting… less than fortunate youths and their families. Chinen, you caught my eye almost instantly.” 

Miya felt a slight flush to his cheeks. “...T-Thanks..?” 

Ainosuke’s smile only sharpened. “Might I speak with your paren-”

“Actually, we have to go soon.” Takashi suddenly spoke, standing back up and quickly pulling Miya along with him. Miya stumbled a bit, looking up at his friend (who was now standing slightly in front of him) as he spoke so abruptly with this man. It shocked him a bit- some could even interpret Takashi’s tone as rude. His best friend was one of the nicest people he knew though, so why was he being so standoffish towards an adult of all people?

Ainosuke’s smile became strained. “Is that so. How convenient.”

“Guess so.” Takashi grumbled, grabbing a dazed Miya's board for him and tugging him away. “C’mon Miya. Let's go. You can come sleepover tonight, I’m sure your parents won't mind.” 

“Uh- Okay…” Miya rushed out, hurrying to follow his friend’s quick footsteps. Out of pure curiosity, he glanced over his shoulder at the man they’d just left. His gaze had darkened considerably, seeming blatantly annoyed with how everything had just transpired. Miya found that holding his gaze only creeped him out, so he urgently turned back around and followed his best friend.

He wondered, though. Would it be so bad to talk to that man some other time? Probably when Takashi wasn't there, since they didn't seem to get along. But what he said was enticing… Miya didn't know much about politics, but he also wasn't stupid. Far from it. Those flowery words were basically short for “Join me and I can give your family money.” Or something like that. That was all Miya gathered from the quick conversation anyways. 

Perhaps if he ever ran into Mr. Ainosuke again, he could think that offer over. He could help his mom. 

—

And now, at age 13, Miya was gliding on his board, his face blank and his posture slouched. Behind him was Langa, who seemed extremely focused and driven. Miya couldn't help but sigh, easily pulling ahead at every turn and straightaway. He sighed, his eyes trained on the ground ahead of him.

“What a waste of energy. I don't understand why Adam wanted me to do this.” He mumbled, not noticing how the teenager behind him caught his words. Langa’s eyebrows furrowed for a moment, only barely having time to consider Miya’s words before he noticed a small slope ahead. Filled with determination, he increased his speed and executed a backside rodeo, one of his favorite tricks. 

Miya gazed up at him in shock, gritting his teeth as Langa pulled ahead. 

‘Since when could a rookie do something like that?’ His mind angrily supplied. ‘That show-off.’

He wasn't going to back down so easily though. Miya took the next few moments to think, calculating his opponent's moves more closely now. He watched as Langa took the corners by spinning his board somehow, twisting in ways Miya had never seen anyone else do before on a skateboard. He bit his tongue as he began to decide in his head what his next move should be. He could try to just pull ahead of Langa with sheer speed, but Langa’s agility with turns might get him caught in the crossfire and knocked off his board. Maybe he could-

A loud honk and barrage of shouts from behind him snapped Miya’s attention over his shoulder.

“You rock that L2S!” An annoyingly familiar voice shouted, a stupid head of red hair popping out from the window. From the windshield, he could see Shadow of all people behind the driver’s seat. Since when did these people all get so buddy buddy with each other? Why did this nobody have so many people in his corner just from showing up? Miya sneered, sweat dripping down the side of his face.

“Looks like the slime-combo.” He said, meaning to shout it out as a taunt, though it came out much weaker than he intended. 

“We’re nothing like you.” 

Miya’s heart stopped. 

Not now. Why this memory? Why right now?

“Yeah, you’re going to be the famous one.”

“You think you’re so much better than us!” Takashi glared at him, his eyes so full of pure distaste that Miya almost felt like he’d just been slapped.

“No, I don’t..” He tried weakly. 

“You just want us around to be your entourage.”

“Not true!” Miya battled immediately. These guys- Takashi’s friends, not his- never liked him to begin with. Miya could always tell. He didn't care if they stuck around or left him in the dust. All he cared about was the one standing in the middle, the one glaring at him as if he was nothing more than a stain on his favorite shirt. 

“Heroes don’t associate with slimes.” Takashi said, eyes narrowing as his voice came out full of anger, though an undertone of hurt was clear. “Didn’t your manager teach you that?” 

His… manager…? 

Miya stared at Langa, his confident yet relaxed form only fueling the fire raging inside his chest. 

Miya couldn't lose this. Not after everything he’s had to deal with, not after all he’s done to prove himself, not after the person- the people he cared about leaving him behind over it. If he lost this race, this downright ridiculous beef with some random beginner , then what did that say about him? What was all of it for? What good was he for his mother, for Adam , if not the one skill he could always rely on?

“Stupid slime!” Miya nearly growled out, lowering his posture and gaining more and more speed. Langa stared after him, eyes widening in pure surprise as Miya went faster and faster before his very eyes. The next corner was fast approaching, and there was no way the kid could take it without falling off. What was his strategy here? Langa only hoped he had something in mind. It wouldn't exactly be fun if his opponent injured himself because he wanted to win. 

Suddenly, Langa noticed the same tree he had seen when he was racing against Shadow. Last time he had ignored it, having enough sense to realize that trying to use it on the board he had would only spell out disaster. But now with this board, maybe he could…?

With a small smile, Langa threw all caution to the wind and jumped, slamming his board into the branch and using the momentum to jump right back ahead. Miya gaped, his anger only fueling at the ridiculous display. 

“What?!” He grit out, once again staring at the back of Langa’s head. ‘Is he serious? Rookie my ass!’ 

Miya clenched his fists, shaking as the large factory ahead of them began to come into view. They were getting too close to the end at this point, too close for Miya to be comfortable with having struggled for so long against this guy. He was done with this. Apparently, 40% of his effort wouldn't be enough to get him through this. Humiliating as it was, Miya was willing to crank out the majority of his effort to win this thing. 

Taking the lead using just speed clearly wasn't enough. He was right in his assumption that doing so would only end in him getting shown up by Langa’s strange tricks. He would have to take this next corner a different way. 

“I can’t lose… I won’t!!” 

Miya sped up as much as he could manage, lining up side by side with Langa before kicking his board up to the edge of the course, executing a rail slide like it was nothing. Langa’s eyes widened in what looked like both surprise and awe, yet Miya paid him no mind whatsoever. 

“ I’m the hero. I’m not a slime!” Miya exclaimed, slamming his board down as he finally took the lead again. Luckily for him, there were no more trees or slopes up ahead that Langa could use to his advantage. In terms of speed, Miya knew he had him beat. Since the factory was all but a game of whoever could make it there first, Miya had his victory secured. 

As they approached the entrance, Miya barely noticed as the car behind them pulled to the side and headed lower for the factory’s other entrance. The bright LED lights strained his eyes, but none of that mattered. His victory was so close he could taste it. A wild, desperate and somehow cocky smile took its place on Miya’s face as he shot down the walkway, keeping an eye on Langa over his shoulder and swerving directly in front of him every time he looked like he was trying to jump forward. 

From what Miya had seen, Langa couldn’t jump and execute those insane moves of his without enough space. And judging from how he kept falling back, it seemed he wasn't willing to knock Miya’s head down with his board just for the sake of winning. 

“I never lose.” Miya taunted, whatever look he had on his face clearly taking Langa aback. “That’s why I’m the hero.”

They continued this back and forth for a while, Miya swerving right in Langa’s way every time he tried to gain some traction. Langa looked lost, as if he was trying to figure out some way out of his predicament. If Miya wasn’t so preoccupied with making sure Langa had absolutely no way of getting anywhere ahead, maybe he would have noticed the sound of a car door slamming, or the shouts coming from Reki all the way downstairs. 

Instead, all he could see was the moment an idea formed in Langa’s head. As he prepared for a jump, Miya smirked. 

“I told you.” He grinned, quickly turning his board completely to the side and skidding to a stop, knowing this would completely knock him off his balance and allow Miya to take the win. “It’s useless!” 

However, what he wasn’t expecting at all was for Langa to take the handrail. 

The rail that was so rusted and broken down that Miya would rather swallow glass than attempt to use it from that height. 

“ Stop! The handrail is too jacked up!” He shrieked, eyes widening rapidly as his knees began to shake. Watching Langa wobble on it made his heart sink down to his feet. “Get down already! Stop ! You’re not gonna make it!!” 

He almost shut his eyes, not wanting to look as Langa approached a part with a huge gap in it. However, right before disaster inevitably struck, Langa twisted his body, and miraculously, the board followed his movement. Somehow, some way , Reki had made him a board so insane that he could twist the axles as he damn pleased. 

And almost as quickly as Langa had pulled that off, he was back to zooming down to the finish line. Hearing his heartbeat in his ears, Miya fumbled to jump down the flight of stairs and regain his speed. 

He couldn't believe it. Was that all meant to be some sort of ploy? Trying to get Miya scared, thinking Langa would fall only to set him back a few precious seconds? Or was the guy actually dumb enough to try out a possibly life threatening trick for the first time ever at a place like S?

It didn't matter right now. None of that mattered. Miya had completely zeroed in on the finish line ahead of him, jumping over each flight of stairs as quickly as his body would take him while Langa continued to dart around on the handrail. Once they both landed back on solid ground, Miya felt a sudden ache shoot through his ankle. He wobbled dangerously for half a second, not even noticing as Langa and his little sidekick shot him a glance of worry.

Miya lowered himself down as far as he reasonably could while keeping a good posture, teeth grinding against one another as they rapidly approached that line on the ground. They were so close. Just a few more seconds, a few seconds left for Miya to pull ahead. He could do it- he had to do it, he was going to. He was going to win, he always won. That was what made him the hero, that was what put him on top, that was what gave him any of his worth-

Cheers rang out all around them. Miya sharply skidded to a stop. Langa did the same to his left. The race was over. Langa pulled ahead by a second. Just one little second. He won. He won, and Miya had-

…Miya lost. 

Sweat dripped down his face in thick streams, the back of his hoodie soaked in it as well. He could barely believe it. Eyes downcast, settled on the spray painted ground in front of him, Miya felt like he was lost in some sort of trance. 

“The rookie won after all!”

“That was insane!”

“Did you see that move he did on the rail?”

“Forget the rail- that flip was insane!”

“How did Miya lose?!”

Miya’s arms shook, his eyes glazing over slightly as his breath felt like it got punched out of him. In the heat of the moment, he didn't even think about how many people were watching him. How many people just witnessed him failing like that? So miserably, so embarrassingly? After he talked all that shit at the beginning, he managed to lose against a newbie? What was wrong with him? Their tones- they sounded so shocked, so let down by his defeat. How could he mess up so badly? 

Everyone’s chatter faded in the background as they discussed the match amongst other things between themselves. Miya couldn't find it within him to pick up his board and leave. His knees felt weak, the ache in his ankle was becoming more noticeable, and the sting of failure was locking him down to his spot. 

“I-I don’t understand how I lost…” He whispered, digging his nails deep into the skin of his knees where his hands rested. 

“I can explain it to you if you want.” A calm yet firm voice responded. Miya snarled, eyes snapping up to see Reki slowly approaching him. 

“What do you mean.” He demanded, his voice shaking. 

Reki stood in front of him, his eyebrows furrowed, yet he didn't look angry. He just looked-.. frustrated. Frustrated in the way an older brother looks frustrated at his younger siblings when they're not listening. Definitely not the kind of frustrated look Miya was used to being on the receiving end of. 

“The reason we started skating was to have fun.” Reki pressed. “That’s what’s most important.” 

Miya felt his body go stiff. An onslaught of memories, both good and bad, flashed behind his eyes.

“...Fun?” He murmured, all the fight draining from his voice. “...Yeah, sure. Whatever. It.. It was fun. I think I had a lot of fun… In the beginning.”

“Then, what changed..?” Langa’s voice gently pressed from behind Reki, who seemed to be paying close attention to Miya’s words. Miya didn't know why he was speaking to them like this, why he was being so open to them when just a moment ago he’d be fine with never seeing their faces again. 

“Everyone disappears. Doesn't matter how long they've known you. How long you’ve been friends- the promises you’ve made to each other. They leave you behind when you get good.” He forced out weakly. “Nobody wants to play when you win all the time…” 

A few moments of tense silence filled the space between them, and Miya was ready to grab his board and make his exit when Reki suddenly stepped forward and landed a bruising flick to his forehead. 

“Ouch!” Miya stumbled back, hands immediately coming up to hold his forehead. He glared defiantly up at Reki, voice turning into a shrill shriek. “Why’d you do that?!”

“Why are you a dumbass?” Reki deadpanned, only staring in a playful disappointment as Miya floundered for some sort of response to such a blunt, left-field statement.

“You just gotta find the right people.” Reki continued, a kind smile taking its place on his face. “Those who matter aren't gonna leave you behind just because you're good at something. They’ll be happy for you, and be your #1 supporters. Those are who your real friends are.”

“Hey Miya.” Langa piped up, smiling warmly at the boy. “I had a great time. Let’s skate again soon, yeah?”

The boy could only stare, his hardened gaze softening into one of genuine disbelief.

And… hope too.

Reki chuckled. “It doesn't matter whether you win or lose, dork. We’re still your friends who love to skate.” 

Miya froze. Everything seemed to stop as he registered those words. 

His.. His friends?

They-

These people, these guys who he had done nothing but mock and insult, wanted to be friends with him? They wanted to continue skating with him..? Why? Weren't they… Wouldn't they leave too? What reason did they have for wanting to be Miya’s friend? He didn't have a good personality, so he didn't understand what the hell could be their reasoning.

Or.. did they really have that much fun skating with him that they deemed him worthy of their friendship? Now that he really thought about it, he supposed it did make sense… Between Langa’s looks of amazement at every new trick Miya showcased these past two days and Reki’s excitement as he saw his handmade board in action, they looked like they were having a stupid amount of fun. Fun that Miya could have shared if he wasn't so focused on winning. 

Without his permission, tears built up in his eyes, wasting absolutely no time before sliding down his cheeks. With a wobbling lip, Miya quickly hid his face in his hands and spun around. 

“Y-You’ll never stand by me.” He whimpered out, trying in a last ditch effort to push them away before he could get attached. 

Reki scoffed, though instead of annoyance, it was full of amusement. “Don’t think you’re all that just cause you know a few tricks!”

“Shut up you slime..” Miya responded on instinct, sniffling and weakly wiping his eyes. Reki rolled his eyes before a mischievous look replaced it, bounding up behind Miya and grabbing his cheeks. Miya squeaked, eyes widening as Reki began to stretch and squish his face.

“Where’s that smileeee? Where is itttt?” He teased, lowering his face down beside Miya with one of the dumbest looks he had ever seen. Quickly, he spun them around, continuing to mess with Miya's face as if it was putty. 

“Wha- Get off me-!”

“ Blehhhhh! Baaahhhh!” Reki groaned out weirdly, sticking his tongue out and even swaying them both from side to side. Langa stared at them, an eyebrow raised and a faint trace of amusement on his face. 

“Reki, I never realized how.. strange your face looks…” He trailed off, immediately grabbing the attention of his friend as he released his grip on Miya’s face, though he remained draped over his back.

“Huh?! You saying I have a weird face?!”

“I said it was uhh.. a unique face.”

“Don't try to trick me with your big English words!!” 

Miya couldn't help himself. The look of mock offense on Reki’s admittedly dumb face while Langa feigned innocence was just too funny. He sputtered out the breath he’d been holding, before breaking out into full blown laughs. His cheeks flushed, and he had to close his eyes as his laughing fit only got worse when Reki struggled to understand what Langa meant. He didn't catch it as the two teens exchanged a warm glance, one that looked pleased and reassured as a result of Miya’s mirth. 

Reki chuckled, shaking his head as he loosened his grip on the younger boy. “Hey Miya, you landed kinda off earlier. Let me see your an-”

“How touching.” An all too familiar voice cooed. Miya felt the smile immediately drop from his face, his heart racing against his chest almost instantly. 

There was no way… He was watching all of that..? 

“Yes, friends skating should be fun.” He chuckled dangerously, and Miya knew that tone like he knew the back of his hand.

Adam was here.

Chapter Text

Initially, Reki felt mildly annoyed. 

It took way too long already to get this cocky little kid to relax for a solid minute and let them get through to him. He reminded Reki way too much of Koyomi, always having something slick to say and carrying an aura of authority that a kid like them just looked goofy having. Except there was something different about Miya. Reki had watched him long enough to see that thinly veiled sadness beneath it all. 

He didn't look exhilarated when he nailed a trick, he didn't smile when his board took him speeding down a hill, he didn't even see this beef as something to enjoy. He treated it like a task, like Langa was just someone he had to defeat to move on with his day. 

At first, Reki only wanted to teach him a lesson. Show him what happened when cocky douchebags talked shit about people without even knowing them first. But now, now that he had this kid standing in front of him with tear stains on his cheeks, pink from laughing at Reki’s teasing, he figured that maybe it wasn't necessary to rub it in. 

Because he understood the problem pretty quickly. Miya was just lonely. He was a lonely kid who needed a friend. After all, skating is no fun when you're on your own. 

Reki knew that better than anyone. 

And now that he’d finally gotten this kid to chill with the cold shoulder, he was interrupted by an obnoxious voice. 

Then, Reki felt a very very brief amazement. 

When The Adam rolled in slowly on his board, Reki’s jaw dropped. He’d only ever heard stories about this dude, his so-called Love Hug move that nobody could beat, his almost inhumane speed, the way he could dance on his board while racing down the track and remaining completely stable. Actually seeing him in the flesh for the first time ever , one of the founders of S?

“No way…” He gaped, sparkles almost forming in his eyes. He was too caught up in how awesome it felt to actually see the iconic skater that he completely missed the way Miya tensed up beside him. “The legendary Adam?!” 

Adam wore a smirk full of danger, mixed in with the unmistakable hints of amusement. 

“I agree, friends skating together is wonderful.” He said airily, slowing to a stop beside them. When his gaze turned to Miya, his smile dropped completely. 

When he spoke next, Reki’s amazement almost immediately turned into anger. 

“Don't you know what that means for you? At this point in your life, you have nothing left.” 

Miya’s eyes shot open wide, his hands shaking at his sides. Reki glanced at him, barely even having the time to form a response as Adam continued. 

“You’re running on empty again, little Miya.” He stepped off his board, taking long strides to the boy and towering over him. He lowered his hand to his chin, lifting Miya’s head so he would make eye contact. “Don’t bother showing up next Thursday. No amount of practice is going to fix failure if you’ve lost your touch.”

“ No, A-Adam I-!”

“But you.” Adam purred, turning away from Miya entirely and walking towards Langa as if he never existed to begin with. “You’re something special. The way you skate- oh I just felt my heart go all aflutter!” 

Langa stared at him, though his eyebrow was tense. “Thanks.” 

Adam slid up behind Langa, muttering something Reki couldn't exactly make out. What he did notice, was the way Miya trembled beside him, his face covered by his hair. He couldn't see his expression, but that tremor was unmistakable, and when he heard the faint sound of Miya’s breath wavering, he had enough. 

“Hold on.” He said authoritatively, glaring at Adam who turned to him tiredly. “Take back what you said about Miya.” 

Miya paused, his head shooting up to stare at Reki. His eyes were rimmed red, muddled with confusion and desperation, and Reki swore he felt his stomach sink.

Adam simply stared, unimpressed. “What did you say to me?”

“You heard me. I know you did, I can see your ears sticking out of your mask.” Reki spat. “Take it back.”

“Who do you think you are, boy?”

“Who do you think you are?!” Reki took a step closer. “You don't get to talk to people like that!”

“Shut up Reki!” Miya hissed, though his voice was thick with a dreadful mix of fear and despair. “Just- leave it alone! I don’t need your pity!”

“It's not pity.” Reki responded sternly, watching as Miya’s jaw clicked shut. “It’s about assholes like him thinking he can treat people like scum! A kid even!” 

Adam chuckled deeply, all too amused by the situation. “You've got quite the little cheerleader here, don't you?” He took slow steps forward, ignoring the way Reki shifted in front of Miya more. “I'd think you actually won the race and made him your lapdog as promised, with all that yapping he's doing.”

Reki’s face twisted up. “How long have you been watching us from the shadows, you creep?”

Adam continued to ignore him, staring directly at Miya. “I'm glad you're so confident in this new companionship of yours.” He drawled, suddenly leaning down and lining his lips right beside his ear. Whatever he said, Reki couldn't hear, but it was clearly enough to shut Miya down entirely. 

The boy’s face completely dropped, his gaze slowly sinking to the ground. Reki clenched his fists, digging his nails into the plush skin. “Hey, back up dude!” He raised his voice, speed walking over to the two and lightly shoving Adam in the chest, whose face lowered into a glower. Miya stumbled backwards, seeming to barely even notice it. 

In an instant, Shadow was standing between Reki and Adam, ending what could have escalated in a second. “Drop it kid! Take a walk or go home, but he ain't worth it!” He demanded. Reki grit his teeth.

“Someone has to-”

“Reki, stop.” A calmer voice said, though just as authoritative as Shadow’s. “Shadow is right. Let's go home.”

“ Langa.” 

Before Reki could speak his peace, Miya was suddenly away from his side. The boy snatched his board up off the ground, making a sudden b-line to where Adam stood, straight as a rod and staring into Reki’s direction. Miya wasted no time, shoving the board into Adam’s chest before raising his head to glare at him, tears running down his face. 

“Y-You’re the worst.” He hiccuped, swiftly turning on his heel as if he was planning on making a run for it. 

Adam only smiled, an ugly, cocky little thing.

“Miya, wait!” Reki called out, his eyebrows furrowed into a worried expression. Langa placed a hand on his shoulder, opening his mouth to say something, but he was immediately interrupted.

“And where exactly are you going, Miya?” Adam’s voice cut through, shrouding the area in silence. His voice was mocking, and so condescending that it filled Reki with a fresh wave of hatred. 

The boy in question stilled, his hands balled up into tight fists. “Anywhere.” His voice broke, shoulders visibly shaking as he fruitlessly fought back his tears.

“...Is that so?”

Miya’s fists only tightened. 

They sat side by side on the plush white couch, a small plate of cat shaped cookies resting on Miya’s lap. They remained untouched, a few of them now tainted with droplets of salty water from the 10 year old’s tears. His small body jumped from the force of his sobs, only soothed by a warm hand rubbing his back.

“There there.. You don't have to cry, Miya.” A smooth voice comforted. “It isn't your fault.”

“It is. ” Miya insisted, gasping for air as his fists dug into his eyes. “He- He left me behind. All cause I was- I-”

“Because you were what? Better? Talented? A winner?”

“No! None of that even matters! I-I was- He said I was stuck up.. That I thought I was better than him.. But I-I don’t think that! Not at all!” 

Adam sighed, running a hand through the boy’s hair. “Of course you don't think that way. But that doesn't mean it isn't true.”

Miya’s head shot up, giving Adam an incredulous glare through tear soaked eyes. “I. Am not. Better. Than. Him. I-I never-”

“Shh, relax little one. You misunderstand me.” Adam chuckled softly, causing the defensive tension to slowly release from Miya’s shoulders. “I'm not claiming that you believe you’re above him. However, you are objectively better. More.. talented, I should say. It is nobody’s fault but his own that he took it to heart.”

Miya remained silent, aside from small sniffles and little gasps for air. Adam continued. 

“Isn't it better that he's gone? He was nothing but a distraction, a hindrance to your improvement. What with all the.. playing he was so insistent on dragging you out of practice for, and that nasty attitude of his.” He huffed. “And now that he's shown his true colors to you, it makes moving upwards all the more easier.” 

“...But.. Takashi was like home to me… What am I supposed to do without-”

“You still have me. Don't you, Miya?” 

..Did he?

Did he still have Adam, even now? Even after his failure?

Slowly, Miya turned back around to face him. The sheer vulnerability in his eyes took Reki aback. 

“...I’m sorry..” He whispered. 

He ignored the way Reki seemed to double back. At Adam’s silence, he felt his heart racing. 

“ Miya, don't apologize to this guy!” Reki abruptly turned to Adam. “What's your beef with the 13 year old?! Seriously!”

Adam only continued to ignore him. He stared at Miya blankly, letting the tense silence drag on for longer than what seemed necessary. Eventually, however, he let out a sigh. 

“We’ll discuss this at a later date.” He said dryly, slowly walking past Miya and back towards the exit. Miya kept his eyes trained on the ground, looking so entirely defeated that it broke Reki’s heart. 

“...Sorry…” He whispered again, the apology not even reaching its intended recipient as Adam had finally vacated the area. 

Almost as if he was caught in a trance, Miya slowly grabbed his board again and began to trudge out. 

“Hold on a second-”

“What.” Miya spat, his voice sharp yet weak. He seemed like all the fight had drained from his body, looking undeniably.. tired. 

“...You okay..?” Reki prodded softly, his eyebrows drawn together in concern. “That was.. a lot.”

“Why do you care?” He huffed tiredly. “Stop trying to pretend like you're my friend. I barely know you.” 

“Nuh uh, nope, we’re not going through this song and dance again.” Reki huffed, pulling himself out of Langa’s soft hold and placing a hand on Miya’s shoulder. Unsurprisingly, he was shrugged off instantaneously. But he didn't let it deter him- if anything, he was more intent on making sure Miya was okay. He was so tired of seeing people fizzle out.

“..Come on, let's grab a bite to eat.” 

Miya’s face twisted down. “I've told you countless times, I don't want your pity sli-”

“Shadow’s treat!” Reki grinned, slinging an arm around Miya’s shoulders and pulling him along. Miya couldn't help but follow with a short yelp, a tired glare on his face as he was tugged to the small pink car. Shadow voiced his complaints loudly the entire way there, though he made no move to get them out of his car as they packed in alongside Langa. 

Miya didn't do much but cross his arms and stare out the window as the others chatted about whatever they deemed important enough at the moment. Regardless though, for the first time in years, Miya felt.. warm. 

Like he had friends. 

When the small car eventually pulled up by a convenience store, Shadow barely glanced over his shoulder before stepping out of the vehicle and loudly shutting the door behind him. “Go ahead then, get whatever you punks want.” He said with a wave of his hand, reaching for one of the gas pumps boredly. Reki balked, leaning over Langa uncomfortably to stick his head through the window. 

“ Seriously? We want food, not convenience store junk!” 

“This place is sketchy..” Langa muttered, warily eyeing the darkly lit store. Miya snorted. 

“I never promised I’d get you dumb kids anything to eat in the first place, let alone a full course meal! Grab a snack or don't, but you better be done by the time I’m finished getting gas!” 

With an overdramatic groan, Reki leaned off of Langa and pushed the door open. Though he seemed unsure, Langa followed suit, stepping out of the car before pausing and turning to Miya. 

“Are you coming?” He asked, his voice gentle, yet still holding an air of nervousness. Miya tried to wrestle down his amusement. 

“Gonna wet yourself if I don't?” He muttered snarkly, dragging himself along the seats before exiting the car as well. Langa flushed slightly, glancing to the side in what seemed like an attempt to save face. 

“You can't tell me this place doesn't look shady..” He trailed off quietly, trying to inconspicuously follow behind Reki rather than his usual place beside him. He wasn’t entirely wrong- the convenience store only had a few flickering lights working, along with one lone gas pump now occupied by Shadow. There were a few random people scattered around the building, shooting withering side eyes to the group of teenagers before seemingly deciding they weren't worth the attention, turning back to themselves and nursing what Miya hoped was just a cigarette. Reki grinned, throwing an unnecessarily rough arm around his shoulders. 

“Aww, don't be such a scaredy cat Langa!” He laughed mischievously, digging an annoying finger into his cheek as Langa halfheartedly tried to push him off. “What, fancy American boy never visited a convenience store before?”

“ Canadian. ” Langa huffed. “And of course I did. Just.. Not any that looked like this.” 

“You're both being stupid.” Miya rolled his eyes, pushing past the older pair and marching into the store on his own. Pulling his hoodie over his head, the boy browsed the shelves with only one thing in mind. He was an athlete, so convenience store junk food was never really something he could indulge in. When his eyes finally landed on the all too familiar sight of protein bars, he lazily grabbed one of his preferred flavors. 

His stomach growled lowly, belatedly reminding Miya that he hadn't eaten yet today. With a sigh, he snatched up a small pack of peanuts to go with it, before turning towards the fridge section and fishing out one of those large water bottles. He barely had the opportunity to turn around before a presence was suddenly right behind him, a voice directly next to his ear.

“Are you seriously getting that crap?”

Miya screeched, flinching and dropping everything he was holding. He whirled around, his face of shock settling into an aggravated glare as he saw Reki’s horribly annoying face. He deeply resisted the urge to smack him.

“You asshole , you scared the crap out of me!” He hissed, snatching up everything he just dropped. Reki didn't seem phased, only tugging the items out of the boy's hands and pointedly ignoring the squawk of confusion he got in return. 

“You don't get free reign on convenience store food and decide to get protein bars and nuts, you freak.” He sighed, tossing the items to some empty shelf before grabbing Miya’s arm and tugging him to the aisles stocked full of processed crap. “This is where the good stuff is.”

“You have to be joking.” Miya sneered. “Are you trying to get me fat? I’m not eating this!” 

Reki paused, looking at Miya weirdly. When he spoke, his words were lighthearted, though they carried a hint of underlying seriousness. “Don't be stupid, you aren't going to get fat just from a few snacks. Be a kid for once, would you?”

Miya barely had time to think about what he just said before he was pulled closer to the vast array of snacks. 

“Come on, what's your favorite thing to eat?”

Miya remained silent for a few moments, before offering, “I like fish..?” 

Reki scrunched his nose up. “Yeah, you're not gonna find that here. Even if you did, I’m not gonna let you eat convenience store fish. That'd be like, irresponsible of me.” He looked around, humming to himself before grinning triumphantly. “Aha! Look, what about these?”

Miya watched as Reki pulled down a bag of some spicy chips, the bright label displaying a picture of what they looked like. Miya outwardly cringed, pushing Reki’s arm away. 

“No way. That would kill me.” 

Reki rolled his eyes, though a smile remained on his face. “You're so extra. Let's see… what about these?” 

They went through that back and forth for a while, even after Langa had made his own selection and stood beside them, still warily glancing around. After a while, Miya decided on green-tea chocolates, senbei, and at Reki’s insistence, a frozen strawberry drink. Miya had never had this much junk food in his life, at most a cupcake on his birthdays. Even that was pushing it, and he almost always would be put on a correctional diet right after the fact. 

Though there was a slight simmer of guilt at indulging so much, he couldn't help the childish part of him that was ecstatic at the sight of the treats. He just had to make sure his mom didn't find out, lest she find another reason to nag at him. 

After another quick drive, they found themselves at a skatepark. It wasn't hard to jump the fence around the closed area, and they all settled on doing their own things. Shadow took his board, practicing a few tricks in the bowl and on the ramps alongside Reki. Langa sat on a bench, heartily enjoying the entire armful of snacks he’d bought (to Shadow’s dismay. When he saw the group exit the convenience store with armfuls of snacks and not one for him, he couldn't help the annoyed glare he shot at them. Miya only responded with a tug at his eyelid and sticking his tongue out.)

On the other hand, Miya sat further away from them, criss-crossed against one of the ramps across from the others. He nibbled at his chocolates, rubbing one of his eyes tiredly. It was extremely late at this point, and that mixed in with his exhaustion from crying so much was only weighing him down. 

He felt a brief rush of embarrassment flush his cheeks at the reminder of what happened just an hour earlier, as well as his heart sinking. The way Adam spoke to him, his voice full of disgust and contempt, as if Miya was nothing more than the stain on his shoe still sent a shiver down his spine. He told Miya not to show up to their next practice, but he also said that they would talk about things later. That meant he still wanted to see him, right? He hadn't completely ruined things… right?

He couldn't afford to. Adam was all he had, he was the only person Miya could rely on to stick around even when the boy proved he wasn't good enough. After every mistake he made, Adam would always stay beside him and lift him back up, offering forgiveness and corrections instead of abandoning him. Who else did he have if not Adam?

Not only that- he was the sole reason his family was still afloat. His father barely worked, and his mother had grown dependent on Miya being their main source of income. Sure, that was initially what Miya was striving for when he first took Adam up on his offer to sponsor him. He'd make enough money from competitions and professional skating, and Adam would send a steady stream of money to his parents every month to support Miya at home as well. It was an extremely generous amount, if the way his mom constantly shopping and traveling were any indication. They had a heater in their house now too. Miya didn't have to hear the mumbled words of bitterness from his mother about the disgustingly high bills she received in the mail as a result of her son and husband. 

But even so, Miya dared to think that his parents were all too dependent on him now. The way they pressured him and left him completely to the whims of Adam were clear cut signs of that. Selfishly, he found himself wishing that for just one day, they would be the ones giving him attention. They would be fussing over him when he was sick, comforting him when he had a hard day, taking him out with them whenever they traveled somewhere or had dinner out, wiping the tears from his cheeks when he cried, hugging him…

It was a pipe dream, and Miya knew that. But that didn't mean he had to let the slight amount of peace in the household slip away as it was. It was important, both for him and the sake of his parents that he kept on Adam’s good side. That he didn't let this relationship, however transactional it may be, slip away from him. 

—

Kaoru prided himself on keeping a level-head in stressful situations. 

When Kojiro lost his keys the day they were running late for some cocktail party held by one of his investors, Kaoru was able to settle him down and help him find them in a flash. When their car broke down on the side of a highway as they made their way to Kaoru’s birthday vacation, he barely broke a sweat as he figured out a way to get them to their destination in less than an hour. Even at work, Kaoru never let trivial things get to him, he never let things or people make him lose his cool. 

He was composed, and prided himself in his use of common sense. 

But when he heard that voice. When he heard that sickening, disgustingly familiar voice ring through the area, Kaoru almost instantly felt the floor escape from beneath his feet. Suddenly, he was hyper-aware of the clothes on his body, the way his hair stuck to the nape of his neck from the sweat beginning to slip down, the slightly too cold breeze raising goosebumps to his skin. The corners of his vision were turning black, and God, was breathing always this difficult? Was his face always this damp?

“..-ey, Kaoru.. Kaoru!” 

A hand landed on his shoulder, stiff and heavy yet strangely comforting. Kaoru only flinched slightly before his brain caught up with his eyes, relief flooding his body as he finally recognized who it was standing in front of him. 

“...Sorry.. Sorry, I-...”

Kojiro frowned. “Don’t be sorry. Come on, let's get out of here.” He said simply, strategically standing in Kaoru’s line of sight. 

Before Kaoru could even agree with that, their attention was immediately turned to the display in front of them. 

That Reki kid had been boldly arguing with Adam ever since he arrived, coming to Miya’s defense as if the two were lifelong friends. Now though, it seemed as though Adam had made his exit already. With him gone, Miya looked so downtrodden, so filled with hurt and despair that it made Kaoru’s heart positively ache . 

Yet he couldn't find the strength within himself to approach the boy, offer words of comfort or anything of the sort. The mere sight of Adam had been enough to throw Kaoru in that horrible headspace he was usually in when the man made his presence known. He thought he was over it, that he could handle seeing this ghost of his past again. But the undeniable shake of his legs proved him wrong. 

How foolish he was to insist otherwise. 

Kojiro seemed torn, glancing between the small group who were attempting to pick up the pieces, and his husband. And as much as it pained him to walk away, he knew what his priority was at that moment: Kaoru. It would always be him. 

With the immediate threat gone, he carefully held the pink-haired man’s arm and started to tug him away towards one of the back exits. Kaoru remained silent, putting up no fight as he walked towards the familiar clearing they always parked their car in whenever they attended S. It was quiet between them, but it was far from tense. No, if anything, it was comforting. The mere fact that they were side by side, just the two of them, was enough to start bringing Kaoru back down to reality. 

As they sat in the car, Kojiro pressing an absentminded kiss to Kaoru’s cheek before pulling out of the area, Kaoru finally decided to speak. 

“...I apologize.” He said gently, already sensing Kojiro’s refusal of his apology from a mile away. 

“I told you, don't say sorry to me for that.” He sighed, glancing at his husband before turning back to the road. “That guy is a serious piece of shit. The things you went through with him… It’s understandable that you'd react like that, that's all.” 

Kaoru didn't respond, opting to tug his mask down and pull his small fan out of where he kept it tucked in their glove compartment. The street lights casted the car in brief flashes of illumination, making them both all too aware of the angry crease in Kojiro’s forehead, and the tear stains on Kaoru’s cheeks. Neither of them mentioned it. 

The car hung in silence for a while, both men seeming to think over the events of the night. Though they both knew what their thoughts kept circling to- Miya. 

Kaoru could feel his stomach twisting at the memory of Adam’s pinched words directed towards the boy. Not only that, but the strong reaction Miya had as a result of them, as if Adam was destroying his heart right there in front of them. It was the most emotion they had ever seen from him, and the fact that it was because of Adam only made them feel sick. 

Now that his breathing was fully under control, Kaoru decided to break the silence. 

"Something strange is going on..." Kaoru mumbled, fan covering the bottom half of his face as he gazed out the window of their car. Kojiro glanced over at him, a frown tugging at his lips.

"I know.. Just- something about the way that kid looked. It ain't sitting right with me."

Kaoru caught his gaze, a crease in his forehead as he spoke with a certain seriousness he only ever used when discussing Adam.

"..Kojiro."

Kojiro sighed, looking back at the road.

"I know. We're not leaving this to fester, trust me. That kid.. He needs help."

His grip tightened on the wheel.

"We won't let that man keep hurting innocent people."

Chapter Text

Not much happened in the week that followed. Miya dutifully attended school, pouring all of his focus into upkeeping his grades and maintaining his perfect attendance. His parents weren't aware that he hadn't spoken to Adam since the week before, so instead of heading to practice after school, Miya found himself using the time to skate with Reki and Langa. 

It was.. nice. Admittedly, Miya enjoyed spending time with them more than he thought he would. It was fun teaching Langa new tricks, and even more fun watching him bail miserably, shooting them withering glares as both Reki and Miya laughed at the sight.

It was just past dinner time when the trio met up again, doing a few rounds around the humble skatepark the two teenagers frequented. Not many people passed by, making it the perfect place to hang out without interruption. Miya sat at the top of a ramp, kicking his feet in the air as he smashed his fingers against the screen of his switch. 

The screen lit up, flashing a victory screen that spread a bright smile across Miya’s face. “Ha! Freaking finally!” He pumped a fist, looking down at the sound of Langa’s confused hum. 

“What happened? Did you win?” 

Miya smirked. “Of course I did. I’d never lose a game like that.” Tucking his switch into his pocket, Miya slid down the ramp and walked over to the bench that held all their bags. He dug into his own, pulling out his phone and checking for notifications. As expected- nothing of great importance. 

Nothing from Adam.

“Yo, Miya.” Reki slid up beside him, skidding his board to a stop as he leaned on his shoulder. Miya shrugged him off, but turned to him nonetheless. “My mom is making dinner, Unagi. You like fish right? You should come over.”

Miya ignored the small flush on his cheeks as a result of Reki actually remembering a small detail like that. “I can't, I have to go home after this. Plus, wouldn't that be weird? I'm sure your mom doesn't want random people in her house.”

“Nah, she doesn't care. Langa's coming too.” He shrugged, taking a seat on the bench and cracking open the soda he bought earlier. Miya cringed at the fizzy drink. “Come on, don't be lame!”

“I really can't, slime. I have to be home.”

Reki only groaned, dramatically loud. “Whyyyy? What do you even have to do?” 

“Study.”

The groaning increased in volume. Miya was deciding on how hard he should kick him to make him shut up before Langa sat beside him. “Makes sense. Let us walk you home then, the sun is setting soon.” 

“I’ll be fine on my own.” Miya mumbled, shoving his things back into his bag after sending his mom a text that he would be on his way home soon. He made sure to time their meetups after school so it always ended around the same time his practice usually did. If his mom knew what he was really doing- he’d be in deep shit. She was strict with a lot when it came to Miya, but she definitely didn't mess around when it came to his skating. Anything even slightly regarding it was taken extremely seriously by her, and she tended to control every aspect of it that she was able to. Miya didn’t care all that much, it wasn’t anything but kind of annoying to him. 

“Come on Reki.” Langa hummed, grabbing ahold of his board and waiting for Miya to lead the way, completely ignoring what he said before. Miya’s eyebrow twitched, but he tiredly turned away and began to walk towards the direction of his house. After hanging out with them almost every day for a week, Miya was all too used to their stubbornness. They really never knew how to take no for an answer, always trying to coddle Miya in one way or another. It was really irritating.

Reki chatted nonstop to Langa as the trio walked down the busy sidewalk, not seeming to mind the one word answers he got in response from the blue haired teen. Miya didn’t pay their conversation too much mind, only pitching in from time to time to make fun of something Reki mispronounced or was generally incorrect about. It was worth it to hear the annoyed responses from the older boy, providing Miya with plenty of entertainment on their walk to his house. 

“Man, I gotta pee so bad.” Reki complained for the fifth time as the sight of Miya’s house finally came into view. “Miya, can I use your bathroom?”

The boy immediately responded. “Absolutely not.”

“Wha- Why not?!”

“Are you kidding me? My parents don’t know you, why would I invite some random dude into their house?” 

“It’s your house too y’know. C’mon man, just tell them I’m a friend and I was gonna piss my pants!”

Miya sneered. “I’m not saying that. Why didn’t you just go before we started walking?!”

“Obviously I didn’t have to go then!”

Miya let out an irritated groan, punching Reki’s arm with all the strength he could muster before sharply turning to his house. They had approached the door by now, and as much as Miya wasn’t looking forward to it, he wasn’t so cruel as to send Reki away with a bursting bladder. 

He stuck his key into the keyhole, dreading the entire ordeal. “Be quick, you stupid goblin. Take your shoes off when you get in and just let me do the talking.”

“Yeah yeah sure- hurry !”

Miya pushed the door open, holding it for Reki, who quickly removed his shoes and stood around impatiently, and Langa, who was much more civilized and muttered an apology for the intrusion. 

“Miya? Is that you?” His mother’s voice called out from the living room. Miya took in a deep breath before responding in his practiced even-tone. 

“Yes mother. Um… Could you please come here for a second?” He heard Reki snicker from behind at his polite speech and swiftly sent an elbow into his bladder, feeling a swell of satisfaction at the whimper he got in return. 

His mother eventually came into view, the slight look of irritation on her face quickly turning to that of confusion as she saw the two strangers standing behind him. She raised an eyebrow, slowly walking closer as if she was apprehensive to even be near them. 

“..Who are these people?”

‘Hello to you too, mother.’ Miya thought bitterly, though his expression didn’t betray him. “I apologize for bringing them here unannounced. Mr. Shindo wanted to practice at a more local skatepark today since the weather was nice, and I met them there. Turns out we have quite a bit in common! They wanted to walk me home since it was getting dark, but Reki here needs to use the restroom. Is it okay if-”

“Why did you walk home in the first place? Doesn’t Shindo drive you?”

Miya paused, a slight rush of fear running through him for a split second. He didn’t notice how silent his friends had gotten behind him. “..Yes, usually he does. But I..”

“We wanted to hang out for a little while longer, Ma’am.” Langa suddenly spoke up, and Miya snapped his head back to look at him incredulously. He had a polite smile on his face, though it was small and so obviously fabricated. “Miya’s a great skater, so we couldn’t help but want to know more about him. We’re really sorry for the intrusion.”

His mother stared at them for a few moments, her calculating eyes shooting from Langa, to Miya, to Reki, then back at Miya. Eventually, she let out a quiet sigh before plastering on a smile that Miya could tell was entirely fake the second it graced her face. 

“Thank you for taking care of my Miya. The bathroom is just down this hallway, first door on the right.” She pointed to the area, getting a rushed ‘Thank you-!’ from Reki before the teen all but sprinted to the room. Miya kept his eyes trained on his mother, swallowing thickly as her gaze traveled back to his own. They held eye contact for a few seconds, her plastic smile still remaining across her features. 

Without another word, she suddenly turned away and retreated back into the house. Miya let out the breath he was holding, posture relaxing once again as she was out of sight. He turned back to Langa, cringing slightly at the weird look on the boy’s face. “Sorry. My mom is weird.” He said in English, rousing a look of utter shock on Langa’s previously tense face. Miya figured the best way to talk about his parents while they were in the same house was by using the language they never bothered to learn. He’s glad those lessons he took in Elementary school were finally useful for something other than confused tourists on the street.

“You know English?” Langa asked, and Miya noticed how much more naturally his words came out when he spoke in his native language. 

“Of course I do. That’s not the point-”

Langa laughed softly and suddenly. “Your accent is cute.”

Miya’s face burned, and he shot an agitated glare at the taller. “It is not! ” He hissed, clenching his fists as the teenager only continued to giggle. Once he was done though, he spoke again with a nonchalance Miya was relieved to hear. 

“It’s fine, I get it. I don’t know why you had to lie to her, but it’s none of my business.” He shrugged. “Who’s Mr. Shindo though?”

Miya paused for a split second, though it didn’t go unnoticed by his friend. “..No one. I made him up.”

“...Right. Okay.” Langa nodded, one of his eyebrows unabashedly raised. It was bullshit, Langa knew it and Miya knew that Langa knew it. But Langa didn't seem to want to pry, or maybe he felt like he'd already overstepped enough. Either way, they didn't have any need to continue the conversation as Reki came back with a pleased smile. 

“Man, thanks a lot. Your bathroom is so clean, I almost didn't want to touch it.” 

“Yeah, now I have to get a special grade bleach to wash out any traces of you being in there before I can use it again.” Miya replied, snickering at Reki’s offended glare. 

“You’re such a-!”

“Reki.” Langa warned. “You’re being loud.”

The boy in question had the decency to look embarrassed, thoroughly scolded. “Right. Inside voice and all- my bad.”

Miya rolled his eyes. “You guys should go now. I’ll see you later.” 

The two teens put their shoes back on, Reki glancing around what he could see of the house curiously. It was strange to him- the house reminded him of those model homes he would look at online when he was bored. Everything was pristine, smooth marble counters and clean tile floors. Almost all the furniture was either white or black, the walls lined with paintings or photography instead of pictures framing the family. The only noise was the sound of the air conditioning and the TV droning on from the living room. Reki only then noticed that his parents were completely silent- to the point where he knew they could hear every word. 

It was strange, and entirely off-putting. The house reflected nothing like what Miya was like. 

“Earth to Reki?” Miya snapped in front of his face, drawing Reki out of his thoughts. Langa was already standing in the doorway, waiting for Reki to follow him out. 

He ignored how weird it felt for Miya to call him by his actual name instead of an insulting nickname and hurried out. He probably didn't want his parents hearing him call him that- but why? Wouldn't they be used to their son’s way of speaking by now? 

Then again, Miya had spoken to his mom so politely. Not even that, but he went as far as to fabricate a whole story as to what they were doing and how they met. The whole situation was just weird , and Reki found himself stopping the door before Miya could shut it on him. 

Miya gave him an impatient sigh. “What do you want?” He hissed, his voice now a hushed whisper. 

“I- uh…” Reki blanched, trying to figure out exactly what he stopped the door for. 

“..Nothing. Sorry, haha.” He laughed sheepishly, pulling his hand back and scratching his head. “See you later then. Bye Miya!” 

Miya stared after them as they walked off, confusion and an undeniable fondness filling him as they left. When he finally shut the door and turned back around, he flinched at seeing his mother standing right behind him. The fake smile she had previously adorned vanished from her face entirely, leaving only a deep frown and raised eyebrow.

“You're friends with those boys?”

She asked, almost interrogatively. Miya felt stuck in his spot, unsure of how he could even begin to respond. What kind of answer was she looking for? She was never particularly invested in her son having friends, she barely even noticed when Takashi stopped coming around. She even tended to use it against him when she felt he was slacking off on skating. Saying that without having a distraction around anymore, he shouldn't be performing in any way that wasn't exceptional. 

Luckily for him, she continued without him responding. “You shouldn't be. I didn't like them. Especially not that red-head.” She huffed, paying no mind to the look of defeat that Miya desperately tried to hide. “You don't have time to focus on them anyways. Dinner is almost done, go finish your homework.” 

Miya mustered up a nod in response before rushing past her to his room, no exchange of greeting going between him and his father as he passed by him. Their relationship had always been tense, Miya felt like no matter what he did he would never be what his father wanted him to be. Seriously, he couldn't even stub his toe and cry as a child without his father huffing at him to man up. He held a lot of resentment towards the man, and it seemed like the feeling was mutual.

Miya shut the door to his room, sighing to himself as he finally changed out of his school uniform. He changed into more comfortable attire, a well worn pair of cotton shorts and a T-Shirt that was too large for his frame. Placing his bag on his small desk, Miya fished out his homework for the day before reaching for a pencil. 

He was always focused when doing schoolwork, so it wasn't hard for him to power through a good chunk of it before his phone was buzzing incessantly. He was able to ignore it at first, chalking it up to notifications from a social media app or maybe even reminders to log into one of his games. But the buzzing continued, annoyingly persistent. Groaning, the boy snatched up his phone and stared at the screen. 

Messages: 

24+ 

Miya felt his eyebrow twitch as he opened the notifications. 

Sk8 🛹 

Miya (18:43): 

wtf is this 

Reki (18:43): 

MIYA !!!! 

Reki (18:43): 

took u long enough jfc 

Reki (18:43):

didnt u see our texts -_-

Miya (18:45): 

did it maybe click that i was ignoring you

Miya (18:45):

when did you add me to this 

Reki (18:45):

i just made it !!1!

Reki (18:45):

cool right

Miya (18:48):

no

Reki (18:48):

WHY DID IT TAKE U 3 MINUTES TO SAY THAT

Miya (18:49):

unlike you slimes i actually have things to do 

Miya (18:49):

i bet you thought you were so clever with the gc name

Miya (18:49):

loser :p

Reki (18:50)

WTF ???

Reki (18:50):

langa help me dude 

Langa (18:51):

Hi Miya

Miya (18:51):

hey langa

Reki (18:51):

. 

Reki (18:52):

ur both the worst 

Miya (18:52):

ik how awful k bye 

Reki (18:53): 

WAIT !!!!

Reki (18:53):

we have a question

Reki (18:53):

miya

Reki (18:53):

miya

Reki (18:53):

miya

Reki (18:53):

miya

Reki (18:54):

MIYA

Reki (18:54):

MIYA

Reki (18:54):

MIYA CHINEN

Miya (18:54):

LITERALLY WHAT. 

Reki (18:54):

omg hi

Miya (18:55):

i swear to god. 

Langa (18:55):

Reki chill

Langa (18:56):

We want to hang out tomorrow since it's the weekend.

Miya (18:56):

and ???

Langa (18:56):

Are you busy?

Miya (18:57):

uh why?

Reki (18:57):

u dweeb omg 

Reki (18:57):

we want u to come with us 

Miya (19:01):

oh

Langa (19:02):

Reki and I just got paid. So if you're not doing anything you should join us. We’re probably going to skate around a bit and then have dinner. 

Reki (19:02):

at this super fancy place!!!!!1!!1

Reki (19:02):

having money is awesome

Miya (19:05):

uh

Miya (19:05)

idk i might be studying

Reki (19:05):

stop being a DORK jfc

Reki (19:05): 

and stop taking so long to reply (╥﹏╥)

Miya (19:06):

clingy loser 

Miya (19:06):

fine wtvr i'll be there

Miya (19:06): 

idk if ill be able to skate but i can meet up for dinner 

Miya (19:07):

what time and where 

Reki (19:07): 

LETS GO OMG 

Langa (19:07):

At Sia la Luce I think it's called?

Reki (19:07):

ya

Langa (19:08):

It's supposed to be pretty good. We’re meeting there at like 19:30. 

Miya (19:10):

sia la luce ?

Miya (19:10)

lol

Miya (19:10)

ok 

—

Miya popped the gum in his mouth, skating down the dimly lit street. The sun had set a bit ago, the now colder air nipping at his skin as he cruised down the road. He'd been around enough to easily memorize the layout of the city, hence how he was able to find his destination of his own accord. Sure enough, he hooked a right and traveled down a relatively empty street before the warm lights from Sia La Luce came into view. 

He slowed to a stop, a small smile crossing his face when he saw the familiar boards of Langa and Reki leaning against the wall. Setting up his own beside theirs, Miya paused before taking a quick picture of the sight. He hadn't uploaded to his social media in a while, and given how his schedule would pick up soon, it might not be a bad idea to drop back in with something innocuous. 

–

Miya • @chinenmiya_

⋆｡°✩ •⩊•

(Image Attached)

–

Stepping inside, Miya was hit with the familiar smell of fresh bread and soup alongside the sounds of soft chatter and cluttering from the kitchen. He stepped around the tables in the dining area, relatively full of different customers. As he approached the spot he occupied the last time, he felt an amused smirk raising to his lips at the sight he was met with.

“How did I not know this?! Cherry Blossom himself is actually friends with Joe, who literally owns this place?!” Reki’s voice.

“Lower your voice!” And that was Cherry’s, followed by a rough thwack from his fan crashing into the back of Reki’s head. The boy in question yelped, holding the now stinging spot as he pouted. 

“Jeez, is that thing made of steel? That hurt..” He complained, though his voice had lowered considerably. Langa sat next to him, watching with only a slight look of surprise still on his face. He noticed Miya first, turning to face him as his gaping was replaced with a small smile. 

“You made it. Hey.” 

The other two sitting at the bar turned around as well, their respective expressions turning into excitement and surprise. Reki swirled around in the seat, still seeming taken aback. 

“Miya! Dude, did you know that Cherry-”

“Yeah I knew. Stop using S names in public, stupid slime.” He huffed, having to suppress a laugh as Reki seemed even more dumbfounded at the knowledge that Miya was already well aware. “You're making a big deal out of nothing.”

“Am not..” He frowned, crossing his arms petulantly as Miya pulled himself up to sit in one of the barstools as well. Cherry seemed contemplative, probably not noticing how he was full on staring at the boy. Miya shifted a bit. 

“Uh.. Hey?” He said quietly, successfully snapping Cherry out of whatever thoughts he had floating around. The man hummed, placing a single pat on Miya’s head in greeting before turning back to his plate. 

“What are you kids all doing here?” 

“Uh, eating?” Reki raised an eyebrow. “Langa and me got paid yesterday, so we wanted to try this place out. Didn't know freaking Joe was the owner..”

Cherry huffed a laugh. “That bumbling gorilla probably forgets it himself sometimes.” 

“Aren't you two friends?” Langa questioned. 

“Something like that.” 

They passed around pleasant conversation back and forth for a short while, mainly consisting of Reki and Langa’s incessant questions about Cherry and his skating. Lots of them were answered apprehensively, though anything regarding interest in Carla received much more enthusiasm from the man. Eventually, Joe came from inside the kitchen and greeted the boys with a slight look of surprise. Miya was confused when the same strange look Cherry gave him came from Joe as well, but it was quickly wiped from his face and replaced with a smile. 

It didn’t take too long for their plates to be brought to them after they ordered, all steaming hot and having the most mouth-watering smell wafting from them. Langa ordered the Manicotti Parmigiana, a pasta dish full of sauce and cheese, while Reki had an all-too fancy looking plate of spaghetti and meatballs. When Joe brought over Miya’s dish, the boy raised an eyebrow and shot him a glare.

“This isn’t what I ordered, old man.”

“Hm? Yes it is.”

Miya scowled. “No, it isn’t. I asked for the salad, not this… Whatever this is.”

“It’s Acqua Pazza. It’s fish! You like fish don’t you?”

Miya redirected his glare to the two teenagers sitting beside him, both conveniently avoiding his gaze. “Seriously?”

“What? You don’t go to a fancy Italian joint and order a salad , you little weirdo.”

“Do you think I’m made out of money? I only have enough to afford a-”

“It’s on us. I thought we said that.” Langa stated through a mouth stuffed entirely full of cheesy pasta. “Didn’t we say that Reki?”

“Dude, swallow your food first.” Reki sighed, shaking his head before turning to a confused looking Miya. “And yeah, we are. So stop being extra and eat the damn thing.” 

Miya rolled his eyes, turning back to his plate. It definitely wasn’t within his diet, he could see the oils and seasoning all over the damn thing. But the smell… it smelled amazing. It looked amazing too, and Miya was unfortunately hungry at the moment. It would be fine, just.. Another thing he had to make sure his mother didn’t find out about. He did swear to himself that this would be the end of his overindulgence that broke his diet so often recently, especially due to competitions being right around the corner. Just.. one more night. 

“..Thank you for the meal.” He muttered, receiving an unnecessarily enthusiastic ruffle of his hair and an ‘Atta boy’ from Joe before he finally dug in. 

As they cleared their plates, the full restaurant finally began to dwindle down, leaving only the group of skaters lounging around. Joe was busy with wiping down the table tops and taking stock behind the counter when the uncomfortable topic of Adam was brought up. Miya kept his head down, not able to notice the stiffening of Cherry and Joe’s shoulders when the man’s name was brought up. 

“It's just.. weird. He's such an asshole.” Reki grumbled, picking at the casing for his straw. “I’m gonna teach him a lesson, I swear to-!” He made a frustrated noise, flicking the crumpled paper across the table with a glower. 

“Language.” Cherry chided, eyebrows furrowed as he examined Reki’s disposition. “And what do you expect to do, child?”

“I’m gonna-”

“You're going to do nothing, that's what.” The man snapped. “You’d do well to stay far away from that man. I'm serious Reki.” 

Miya couldn't help the feeling of irritation that flooded his chest at their words. Adam could be harsh sometimes, sure. But he wasn't a bad person. His outburst at S had been the fault of Miya and only Miya. If he had just been a little better, he could have lived up to his expectations. How did that make it Adam’s fault that he was exhibiting sub-par talents? 

Adam had invested a lot into Miya, personal time and money. He couldn't have made it this far without his guiding hand. Hell, Miya had never lost a single competition in his entire junior skating career. Who did he have to thank for that if not Adam? He couldn't have done it himself- the mere thought of it made him laugh. 

That laugh came out as more of a bitter chuckle, unknowingly dragging the attention of the others sitting around him. 

“What’s funny?” Joe asked, his voice a strange mix of curious and tentative. 

Miya didn't raise his gaze, still glaring at his half-eaten plate and poking at it with his fork. “..He’s not that bad.” 

You could hear a pin drop in the silence that followed. 

Reki didn't let things stay that way for long though, jumping out of his seat and practically fuming. “How can you say that?! Did you not see the shit he was saying? Especially to you!”

Miya shot a glare at him. “It wasn't even that serious! You’re being over dramatic yet again, surprise surprise.” 

“It's not over dramatic. He’s a douchebag Miya! Why are you so hell-bent on defending this dude? Back then you even apologized to him, and I don't understand why .” 

“Why is that any of your business?”

“You brought it up!”

“Except I literally did not ? You’re the one who keeps running his big mouth about it!” 

“Because you’re-”

“That's enough, both of you.” Cherry sharply interrupted, glaring both of them down sternly. “Honestly, have you any decorum? Stop arguing.”

“But he-”

“Reki.” Cherry stared the teen down, his eyebrow twitching in absolute frustration. “I said. Enough.” 

Both boys quieted down, and the tense silence only slowly began to alleviate with the efforts of Joe offering up some story about a crazy customer. Even as the atmosphere lifted again, Miya kept his gaze down, thoroughly bummed out. It was clear in the way he didn't react to anything being said, didn't look at any of them or add in his own comments on anything. He seemed so.. lost in thought. But whatever he was thinking of surely wasn't productive, if that look on his face was anything to go by. So, with a small sigh, Cherry gently tapped his arm to get his attention. 

“Listen, child. I don't know how you know Adam, or what your relationship with him is like. But I’ve known him for years, and what I do know about him is nothing pleasant. If you cannot relate to that sentiment, then I’m glad. I’m not going to pry, but…” He paused, seeming to consider his words. “..Do not let him abuse the trust you seem to put so faithfully in him. That’s all I ask.” 

Miya froze, the words punching him right in the gut. He swallowed thickly, picking at his nails and avoiding Cherry's steady yet piercing gaze. 

“...Kay.” Was all he muttered in response. Cherry stayed that way for a moment, most likely not satisfied with Miya’s response, but he nodded anyway and placed a slightly unsure pat on his shoulder. 

The truth of the matter was that Cherry had spent enough time around the boy by now to understand that he had to approach delicate topics in an equally delicate manner. It was all too easy to cause the kid to shut down, or revert to anger as a defense mechanism. Whatever was going on between Adam and this child, Cherry swore to himself that he would put an end to it. Adam simply could not be trusted around someone so vulnerable, let alone a child . It would just take time, and patience. Back when Cherry was the one under Adam's influence, it took Joe far too much patience to get to him, remove those rose-tinted glasses from his face and show just how sick that man really was. 

Someone had done it for him, and now, it was his duty to do it for Miya. 

It didn't help that he had relatively no information on how exactly those two were even connected. Adam had mentioned during his spiel that he did not want Miya to “show up” that following Thursday. But what did he mean by that? Show up where? Not only that, but Miya had cried his poor little heart out from every word that came from Adam’s harsh lips. How could that man have such an effect on him? Truly, how ? Miya never seemed like the type to take punches laying down, that much was clear in the way he always snapped back at any challenging turns of phrase from anyone he interacted with. What made Adam so different?

Cherry entertained the thought that perhaps he was afraid of Adam, but that didn't exactly click either. He didn't seem afraid so much as he seemed.. reverent. Someone who was afraid of another person wouldn't be constantly jumping to their defense.

Simply thinking about it wouldn't be enough. If Cherry wanted to help him, he would have to win Miya’s trust. It was a task he was more than willing to complete, of course. He only hoped that the boy would let him in. 

A part of him did feel guilty though. Of course, he wanted to help Miya, stop whatever was going on before things escalated to a point that it shouldn't get to, but.. another part of him knew that he wanted to do this because he needed that closure for himself. It was all very anticlimactic when he left Adam, in the sense that Adam had seemed to already be bored of him. It was definitely a blessing that he was able to go without much fuss, but he couldn't deny how deeply it hurt him at the time. The way Adam could use him so flippantly and then leave when he was finally through with playing. 

Now, he didn't feel that way anymore. Adam could, frankly, rot in hell for all he cared. But if anything, his peace of mind deserved this. He deserved this. And if that meant preventing the same thing from ever happening again, then he would do all he could to make it a reality. 

Chapter Text

Cherry and Joe insisted on driving Miya home again that night. The boy was reluctant, but had no choice but to give in when they showed no signs of letting up on the matter. They dropped off Reki and Langa first, both teenagers giving their profuse thanks and waving goodbyes as the car rolled off again. Miya remained curled up in the backseat, avoiding the awkward eye contact he would have otherwise made with Reki after their little spat in the restaurant.

“What kinda music you listen to, kid?” Joe questioned from the driver’s seat as they rolled down the street, his free hand flipping through channels on the radio. Miya shrugged, lazily tracing shapes in the window from the fog that had built up on the surface. “Ah come on, give me something to work with. If I have to listen to Kaoru’s podcasts one more time I’m gonna pull the wheel.”

“Oh for crying out loud.” Cherry huffed, rolling his eyes as if that would negate the amused smile on his face. “You’re so dramatic. There’s nothing wrong with my podcasts. They cover a vast amount of topics, each one-”

“Each one unique and enthralling in their own ways, yeah yeah.” Joe waved him off. “I’ve heard it a million times, imagine how tired I am.”

Miya couldn’t stifle the small giggle bubbling past his lips at their bickering, scooting over to sit in the middle seat and lean in between them. Removing his seatbelt, Miya half-stood as he reached his hand forward and began flipping through the stations on the radio. Joe dramatically doubled back as the boy was suddenly at his side, giving him an incredulous look. 

“Eyes on the road, old man.” Miya snickered, jabbing his elbow into the man’s arm. 

“Miya- put your seatbelt back on.” Cherry sighed. 

“Hold on a sec, I’m finding a good station.” 

“Oh, you seatbelt’s off?” Joe grinned, checking the empty street before swerving the car to the left for a brief moment. It sent Miya tumbling to the side, crashing into Cherry with a bubbling laugh. 

“ Kojiro, don’t drive so recklessly!” Cherry tried to scold, but he could barely make it over the bright sound of Miya’s giggles as the boy attempted to steady himself again. Joe waited for him to lift himself back up before swerving the car a second time, causing Miya to fall right back into Cherry and laugh even harder.

“C’mon, the kid loves it. And I’m teaching him a lesson on why he should wear his seatbelt, so I win either way.” 

“Quit talking about me like I’m not here, you fossil.” Miya said past his dopey smile, jabbing a finger into the man’s neck before continuing to flip through stations. Cherry only sighed at being ignored, though he couldn’t find it within himself to wrestle down the smile on his own face. How could he bring himself to be genuinely annoyed when these two fools were being so silly. After seeing Miya’s all-too despaired expressions these last few times he saw him, it was a refreshing change to suddenly see him with such a bright disposition. For once, acting like the kid he was.

Eventually, he settled on a station playing some electronic-pop songs and sat back in his seat. With another stern reminder (read: demand) from Cherry, he clicked his seatbelt back on and offered him a falsely-enthused thumbs up. That little brat. Cherry could only huff out a small laugh and shake his head. 

Their rowdiness died down after that, the car full of amicable chatter between Joe and Miya- Joe asking how school was going and unabashedly providing praise for every academic achievement the boy had, Miya seeming genuinely stunned by the sincere appreciation, and Cherry adding in hums of agreement from time to time. The quiet music only added to the comfort of the space, filling in the gaps of silence with an upbeat sound. 

“Hey, this isn’t too bad.” Joe commented, tapping his fingers on the wheel along with the beat. “What song is this, Miya?”

“What makes you think I know?” Miya chuckled, still leaning forward and resting his arms on the middle console. Cherry would have preferred he sat back, but he still had his seatbelt on, so the man decided to pick his battles. 

“Uh, hello? You’re the one who put the station on.” Joe rolled his eyes, his tone all too bratty. Cherry ccould tell the way he was trying to match Miya’s energy, always so considerate of making those around him comfortable. A tried and true way of this was mirroring their mannerisms, not too much of course, but enough to make them feel at ease in unfamiliar spaces. Cherry couldn’t deny the rush of warmth that filled his chest- his husband really was something. 

“ So? Putting on the station doesn’t mean I know every song playing from it, bozo. Do you know how radios work? They were invented in the 20’s, so it wasn’t that long after your prime.” He snickered, earning a weak slap on the side of his head from the man in question. Cherry on the other hand laughed wholeheartedly, barely registering it as he smoothed down Miya’s hair affectionately. The darkness of the car made Miya grateful, able to hide the warm flush to his cheeks at the action. 

Eventually, the car pulled into the familiar neighborhood Miya was dreading to re-enter. The brief uncomfortable moment aside, tonight had been really pleasant for him. He couldn’t remember the last time he enjoyed a dinner so much, or even a car ride home. He was used to quiet rides, full of tense and unbearably thick silence. Silence he was always too intimidated to break, whether he be with Adam or his parents. He didn’t understand why things were so different with Joe and Cherry, why they treated him so differently compared to the other adult figures in his life. They joked around with him, spoke to him gently and gave him respect. They doted on him, but never did anything in an over-the-top manner, giving him space and regarding him more-so as an equal than a baby. 

He supposed there was a difference. Being treated as a baby was one thing- that was something he never experienced before. He was always mature for his age, that wasn’t something he was afraid to own. But he had to admit, being treated and watched after the way other kids his age were was… nice. He didn’t mind it as much as he thought he would.

“This one yours?” Joe asked as the GPS led him to the end of the road, a well-sized house standing proudly and strangely isolated from all the others. Miya only nodded, gathering his board and the small bag of his leftovers that Joe insisted on him taking with him. He pushed the car door open, pausing when he noticed through one of the windows that the lights were still on in the house. That was weird.. It was almost midnight, what were his parents still doing awake? They never did anything but sit around all day, and usually ended up in bed barely two hours after sunset. Now he had to sneak in through his window, which was always a hassle.

“Goodnight, Miya.” Cherry’s soft voice broke him out of his stupor. He turned his head to face the two adults, a strange feeling swirling in his stomach when he saw their gentle gazes. “Get some sleep tonight, okay?” 

Miya swallowed. “...You uh-” His voice cracked. “Um. Will I.. see you at S?”

There was a brief pause, the two in question glancing at each other as if they were communicating with nothing but a look, scrutinizing what Miya just said. The boy felt strangely embarrassed, and wanted to take it back, but didn’t have the chance to as Joe turned back to him with a warm smile. 

“Course you will, kid.” He reached back, ruffling the boy’s hair up. Miya didn’t swat him away. “Hey, keep up the good work in school, alright?”

Fighting down a bashful smile, Miya only nodded as he stepped out of the car, quietly shutting the door behind him. Cherry rolled his window down, raising his hand and signaling Miya to come closer. 

“Hold on a moment. Miya, let me put my number in your phone.” 

Miya paused. “Why..?”

Cherry kept eye contact, as if trying to convey his sincerity in a gaze. “Just in case. You ever need anything, and your parents aren't available, you can call me. We don't live too far away, so it won't be any sort of hassle. Just don't go calling me at midnight for non-emergencies. I will not answer, you hear me?”

Joe snorted. “He will.” 

Miya couldn't help but give in, for some reason not having to think twice about handing his phone over. Cherry took it gently, opening his contacts and going to put in his number. He froze momentarily, eyes widening a fraction of a second before he steeled his expression, punching in the number. “I’m adding Kojiro’s number as well. Just in case.” He hummed. Miya only nodded. For some reason, he couldn't find the words right now.

“There. Here you are.” Cherry hummed, handing the phone back to him. Miya looked down, seeing the two contacts assigned as simply ‘Kaoru’ and ‘Kojiro’. It gave Miya a strange sense of pride, them seeming to trust him enough to want him to address them personally by their real names. Not Cherry or Joe. 

“..Night guys.” Miya said quietly, waving slightly before swiftly turning around to avoid them noticing the flush on his cheeks. Approaching his house, Miya punched in their gate code before walking in, noticing how the car had yet to roll away. Were they waiting to make sure he got inside safely..? 

..Those dramatic blockheads. 

It didn’t take too much effort for him to sneak in through his window, now more than used to it. It wasn’t like his parents ever got the urge to check on him at night. Miya joked with himself that even if he was turned inside out, they still wouldn’t spare him a second glance. As he stepped into his pitch black room and slid his window shut, he couldn’t help the curiosity filling him as he saw the light slipping in from under his door. His parents really were still awake, he could even faintly hear their voices coming from the living room. Tip-toeing towards the door, he slowly turned the door handle and pulled it open, just a crack. Leaning his ear against the small opening, he didn’t have to strain to hear the venomous words they were exchanging. 

“You’re overreacting!” That was his father. Miya felt himself flinch- he barely ever heard his father speak louder than a monotonous mumble. Shouting was so uncharacteristic it was almost frightening. 

“Are you kidding me?! You want to tell me I’m overreacting? Those messages speak for themselves!” His mom. She almost sounded delirious, as if she’s been arguing with a brick wall for hours.

“What the hell were you even doing with my phone in the first place, you fucking.. clingy leech!”

“Oh, screw you Ritsu!” Her voice was borderline shrill at this point. Miya held his breath. “I’m your wife, it shouldn’t even matter that I’m on your phone! And in any case, I was only trying to find our doctor’s phone number since I lost it! You know how important that is- now of all times!”

What was she talking about..? Now of all times? Why?

“Then you could have just asked, instead of waiting until I was in the shower to check. If this was really about the doctor you wouldn’t have gone into my phone when I wasn’t around! You have always been like this Ayame. You’re so fucking insecure that you-”

“Oh, here you go again with this shit!” There was a loud crash, as if something had just been thrown, and Miya flinched again. His breathing picked up. This was getting extremely out of hand, extremely quickly. 

“The fuck is wrong with you, you crazy bitch?! Throw my shit one more time and see what happens!”

“I’ll throw whatever I want! You refuse to listen to me, I’m showing you proof of you- God, you're acting like I’m crazy! I'm not fucking crazy!” She shrieked.

There was a heavy silence, and Miya held his breath. His heart was racing in his chest, his palms soaked in sweat. 

“Where- Where are you going? Ritsu- where the hell are you going?!”

Heavy footsteps shook the paintings on the walls. A jingle of keys. The front door opened, and promptly slammed right after. Silence followed. 

Then, another loud slam. A groan of anger, a crash. Clattering of wood, shattering glass. 

Then, his mother began to weep. 

Miya felt sick. He should.. He should go out there, right..? Make sure she was okay..? She could be hurt, and she’s.. she’s crying. He’s a good son, he should ask if she was okay, comfort her, make sure she got something to eat and get her to bed. Maybe.. maybe she would even let him hug her.

He should do that. He really should. 

..He shut the door silently. 

Slowly, he crept back to his bed, nestling under the covers and gripping onto his old, worn out stuffed animal from years ago. He should have thrown it out with everything else that reminded him of him, but for whatever reason, he couldn't let this go. 

Miya closed his eyes, pretending to sleep as his mother sobbed through the night. 

—

“Chinen. Wake up sweetheart..” 

Miya groaned, peeling his eyes open and raising his head from where it rested on his arms. His teacher gave him a sad smile, her hand gently rubbing his back. “Mmh… Sorry, Ms. Nakamura…”

“Don't worry about it dear. The final bell just rang, it's time to go home.” She gave his back an encouraging pat. “Now, get some sleep when you get home. Your personal health is just as important as your skating.” She chuckled. Miya pushed down the urge to roll his eyes. She didn't even know the half of it. 

Instead, he smiled, laughing fakely. “Yes ma’am.” 

Rubbing his eyes, Miya trudged out of the classroom and walked down the empty halls. Mostly all of the students had already rushed out, a swarm outside where they all left to walk or catch a ride. Miya pushed open the large doors at the front, groaning as the bright sunlight assaulted his eyes. He kept walking through it, eyes squinted so hard they were practically shut. He only made it kind of near the exit before he slammed into somebody, falling backwards and landing with a yelp.

“Oh- sorry. Are you oka-...” 

Miya opened his eyes as the shadow of whoever he just bumped into draped over him, blocking the sunlight. He was just about to share his own apology when he noticed who exactly it was. His breath was knocked out of him, and he felt a heavy ache settle in the pit of his stomach. 

Takashi looked just as surprised, and extremely uncomfortable. He hesitated for a long moment, extending his hand for just a second before immediately retracting it and taking a step back. Miya ignored the pain that shot through his chest and pulled himself to stand back up. 

“..My bad.” Miya muttered, turning his gaze away from his old friend. Takashi was silent, but Miya could tell through his peripheral vision that the boy was full on staring at him. 

“..It's cool.” 

Miya huffed, his face turning down bitterly as his grip on his bag tightened and he tried to walk past him. Suddenly though, Takashi turned around and grabbed his arm. “Miya wait-!”

Miya tore his arm out of his grasp. “Don't touch me.” He spat, regret tugging at his heartstrings when he saw the brief flash of hurt at his words. He couldn't understand why- didn't Takashi hate him?

“..Sorry.” 

..What. 

“..Huh?” Miya asked dumbly. 

“I- Look I just-...” Takashi groaned, running his fingers through his hair in the nervous manner he always did when he was fumbling to find his words. It was such a familiar sight that Miya could cry. “..I- Can we talk?”

“..Aren’t we talking right now?”

Takashi narrowed his eyes. “Come on Miya, don't be like that.” He sighed. “I’m- I’m serious. We haven't spoken since-..” 

Since you abandoned me. “Since you swore me off? Yeah, I know.” Miya glared at him. Takashi looked away from him for the first time since they started talking, what looked like.. shame, gracing his features. 

“I-I… Miya, why don't we just-”

“Miya.” 

The boy in question froze at the voice he heard. Takashi tensed up, turning around and almost immediately scowling. He always had an intense distaste for this man, and it seemed that even as the years passed, his hate did not fade in the slightest. To this day, Miya didn't know why.

“..Nevermind.” He grit out bitterly, pushing past the imposing man and storming off. Miya was barely able to watch him go before his name was repeated. 

He turned towards the source, a dazed and slightly hesitant expression pulled on his face. 

“..Adam? What are you doing h-”

“Come on.” He said, his tone stern yet indifferent as he turned back around and sat in his car. Miya stood there for a few moments, frozen in place and briefly entertaining the idea of running in the other direction, anything to avoid this interaction, but decided against it. Slowly, he got in the car beside Adam, still leaving quite a few seats between the two of them. As Tadashi rolled off from the school, a heavy silence filled the car, almost suffocating Miya with the oppressiveness. He said nothing, not even as Adam lit a cigarette and smoke filled the car. Miya’s nose scrunched up, hating the smell deeply, but he ignored it for the sake of feeling too uncomfortable to say anything at all. 

The entire ride, Adam didn't utter a word. It was.. terrifying. The guy was never silent like this, always having some sort of flowery words to spew and make Miya’s mind feel confused and muddled. That feeling was never pleasant, but he would take that a million times over whatever this was. 

As they reached their destination, things didn't seem to get any better. When Tadashi opened the door for them, Adam practically barreled out and made his way inside his estate. Miya swallowed, slowly shuffling out behind him and clenching his now incredibly sweaty hands. Tadashi frowned lightly, though he didn't say anything. He usually didn't. However, he did have this unsettling look on his face that told Miya he’d been dealing with this all week.

As he entered the house, he felt the pit in his stomach only grow as he noticed which room Adam walked into. As if it would bring him any sort of comfort, Miya gripped onto his bag impossibly tighter before trudging in behind him, seeing Adam already standing in the middle of the room. He stared at Miya impatiently, motioning lazily for him to shut the door behind him. Miya complied. 

Adam remained silent, simply standing there, waiting. Miya shuffled from one foot to the other, wholly uncomfortable. He almost felt out of place in his own skin as he stood there, scrutinized by Adam’s sharp eyes. After a few more moments of uncomfortable silence passed, Adam huffed frustratingly, causing Miya to flinch slightly. 

“You know what to do. Get a move on already.” 

His voice was so pointed, sharp and with a hint of boredness to it. Miya felt his heart sink at that, and immediately hurried to go through their familiar monthly routine of this. He had been so caught up in his head recently that he nearly forgot about their checkup, or maybe his subconscious thought that Adam wouldn't be bothered to follow up with it again after not talking to him for days. 

He pulled off his hat first, lightly placing it on one of the chairs set around in the room. Next came his uniform jacket and tie, and the belt along with it. Only when he was dressed in his black turtleneck, shorts and socks did he stop, turning around to face Adam once again. He'd long gotten over the embarrassment of going through this with him, especially since Adam wouldn't do anything but poke a few places and comment where he needed to improve on. Today though, Adam stepped forward with that familiar pencil and clipboard in hand, making more notes than usual. Miya tried not to fidget as he stood there- Adam always hated fidgeting. 

Suddenly, Adam was right behind him, a hand moving to Miya’s side and pinching. The boy couldn't help but jump slightly, a small yelp leaving his lips as he shot a glare at the man over his shoulder. Adam paid him no mind whatsoever, only doing it again. Over and over again did he pinch his stomach and sides, before moving up to do the same to his cheeks, and his arms, and only when a hand reached to his leg did Miya shuffle away, face red as an embarrassed glare pierced right through Adam.

 “What- What the hell are you doing?!” He spat, crossing his arms over his torso. “Stop pinching me!”

“2 Kilograms.” 

Miya froze, though his glare remained stony. “What are you talking about.” He demanded. Adam did not break their eye contact even once, stepping closer and unconsciously, Miya stepped back. 

“I can see it all over you. You’ve gained somewhere around 2 Kilograms.” He shook his head disapprovingly, grabbing Miya by the shoulder and unkindly urging him towards the scale in the corner of the room. “And based on what I can see, it isn't muscle mass.”

Miya felt strangely sick, staring down the scale in slight confusion and hesitation. Adam only nudged his shoulder again, hissing an all too impatient “Get on.” Unable to find the fight in him to argue, Miya slowly stepped on. 

44.3kg

Adam tsked, shaking his head and scribbling it down on his clipboard so roughly that Miya could almost hear the pencil creaking. 

“I knew it.” He huffed. “I suppose it's to be expected, what with the way you've been slacking on your exercise and diet. Just look at you, growing complacent enough to gallivant around the city, inhaling whatever you see as if we hadn't perfected your self control years ago.”

His words stung. They hurt, and Miya wanted to deny them, but his throat was strangely dry. He couldn't get his mouth to open. 

“Tell me Miya, what kind of professional skater looks like this ? We reached perfection for this already, an exact and consistent 42.5kg, and now look at you. You truly can't take any of this seriously, can you? Do you think you're indestructible? Untouchable? Do you honestly think that I’m never going to get sick of your behavior? Because if that's the case I strongly recommend that you rethink that mindset.”

Stop it. No. That's not what I think. Please stop it Adam.

“Running all around, entertaining those two buffoons you like to think are your friends and forgetting all about your duties. I'm supposed to bring you to competitions like this? In the state your body is in right now, signing you up for them would be nothing but asking for public humiliation.” He tossed the clipboard down on the counter. Miya flinched. 

“Now look at what you've done, throwing my entire schedule off. I didn't allot time to call your mother and tell her that she apparently has to keep a closer eye on you, but if that's what it will take-”

“No!” Miya suddenly burst, eyes wide and pleading. “Please don't- you can't call her!”

“And who do you think you are, telling me what to do?”

“I’m not! I'm not trying to- just please don't tell her! I-I’ll do anything, I’ll fix it all, I swear! I swear Adam, please don't tell her.”

He couldn't do that, not to her or himself. Improvement wasn't difficult, he could fix all these mistakes in a second. But hurting his mother with his lackluster performance? Adding on top of all her stress with him throwing his skating career in the balance, their very livelihood? He refused to do that to her. He couldn't bring himself to comfort her last night, but he would endure any necessary changes in order to keep from adding additional pain to her life.

Her sobs from the previous day echoed in his head. 

Adam stared at him, eyes trailing up and down before he let out a sigh. 

“If you disappoint me one more time, I won't be so lenient. You have two weeks.” He said, snatching up the articles Miya had removed and chucking them into his arms. The boy fumbled to catch them, tears springing to his eyes as Adam exited the room and slammed the door behind himself. 

With almost mechanical movements, Miya pulled his jacket and belt back on, stepping into his shoes and holding his hat in a weak grasp as he dragged himself out of the estate. Tadashi was standing by the door, seemingly having been waiting for him for a while now.

“..Do you need a ride home?” He asked quietly, politely. 

“Screw off.” Miya responded bitterly, though his voice was too weak to have any heat to it. Tadashi didn't say anything else, simply holding the door open for him and shutting it behind him once he was out. Miya sniffled, wiping his eyes in two rough swipes as he walked away from the estate. His mind was racing, yet it somehow also felt uncomfortably quiescent. Fishing his phone out of his pocket, he was momentarily surprised to see a few text messages. He never really got those before. 

10+ Notifications

Reki (16:45): 

yoo miya u want to skate later w me langa and shadow ?

Reki (16:45): 

shadow is buying burgers for us afterwards !

Reki (16:45):

he just doesn't know it yet.. ¬‿¬

Reki (16:58):

miyaaa 

Reki (17:25):

hey there's no hard feelings right dude ?

Reki (17:36):

miya ?

+4 more

Langa (17:40):

Hey. We haven't talked in a few. Everything okay?

Langa (17:41):

You should really join us tonight. We’ll miss you.

+2 more

Unknown Number (17:09):

im really sorry. i miss you. can we please talk things through?

That last one caught his eye. Miya couldn't recognize the number for the life of him. His interest was peaked for only a moment before he snuffed it out. Anyone important in his life was already saved in his phone, so this wasn't likely to be anything but a spam number. With a scoff, he blocked the number and deleted the message before shutting his phone off. 

He didn't feel like answering Reki or Langa right now. Adam's words crawled around his head like a parasite, that venomous sentence of “Those two buffoons you like to think are your friends” piercing his heart. Was Adam right? Was he just reading too much into it? Sure, Reki called himself his friend, but that was just when Miya was pouting like a child from his loss and he wanted to make him feel better. There couldn't be any way they actually saw him as a friend. Them reaching out to him, texting him and inviting him places.. it was pity. It had to be, right? If it was so clear that even Adam could see…

He would just.. stop intruding then. He had more important things to focus on now anyways, far more important than juvenile hangouts with the others. He had to lose 2 kilograms in 2 weeks, which shouldn't be too hard. Just following his diet wouldn't be enough, Miya thought, mentally cutting out half of the meals he knew in it by heart so as to switch to a weight loss plan. God, he really shouldn't have had that meal yesterday at Sia La Luce… How foolish of him to expect that it wouldn't negatively impact him. 

Then there was the mess of his parents. They were clearly going through.. something with each other. When he left for school that morning, he noticed his father’s car still wasn't back. The living room was a mess of broken glass and flipped furniture, most likely the source of his mother’s borderline breakdown after his father left. He spent a solid 20 minutes cleaning it all up before he went off to school, his mother sleeping through it all. He wasn't sure what was going on there, or if there was any possible way he could help. Would his assistance even be welcome? Realistically, there wasn't much he could do but stay out of the way. 

And.. oh. There it was. 

All he had to do was stay out of the way. Stay out of Reki and Langa’s way, stop intruding on their friendship in his pitiful delusions of having companions. Stay out of Adam’s way and improve for him, become better and better so he could never open his stupid mouth about him again. Stay out of his parents’ way, let them sort things out on their own and be there behind them to clean up the messes. That was something he could do, something he was good for. Something he couldn't mess up. 

Miya was determined. He would be better. A good student, and a great son. A quiet, well-put together young man who never faltered. Never failed, never fell behind. Couldn't he prove himself then? Wouldn't everything be normal again then? 

Yes. Yes it would. 

With this reassurance in mind and a steeled resolve, Miya made his way home, ready to leave this pathetic version of himself behind for as long as he lived.

Chapter Text

Miya had very rarely let himself feel like this. 

After all, it was not just lazy, but counterproductive and wholly unnecessary. He had things to do- practice, study, workout- anything but what he was doing now. The rational part of his head, though, reasoned that it wasn't exactly his fault. 

Once they both landed back on solid ground, Miya felt a sudden ache shoot through his ankle. He wobbled dangerously for half a second, not even noticing as Langa and his little sidekick shot him a glance of worry.

At this point, his entire ankle was swollen and even starting to turn purple. He knew he shouldn't have ignored it- especially when the dull ache turned into sharp stinging pains. He had just been.. busy. He had more important things to focus on than a little pain that would eventually alleviate. 

Or so he thought. Miya was definitely eating his words now, sitting on his bedroom floor with dried tears sticking to his flushed cheeks. He had attempted to stand up and brush his teeth that morning, but the moment his foot touched the ground, he was sent tumbling down to his carpet. 

The pain was excruciating. It was sharp and hot, yet somehow also felt slightly numb. The feeling shot up his leg and knee, sending the discomfort all throughout his limb. He had bitten his fist in an attempt to cover up the cries that left his mouth, his ankle ugly and disfigured. 

And now, here he was. Curled up on the ground against his bed, sniffling weakly as his ankle continued to throb. He barely even felt the strength to call for his mother, let alone stand up and get her. His mind screamed at him to try anyways, regardless of how tentative he was to face her ire. Ever since that argument between her and his father that he caught the tail end of, he hasn't seen his father back at home. It was probably the reason his mother had been cooped up in her bedroom the entire time as well. He hadn't seen her once- not even for dinner or just in passing. 

It made his new diet easier, at least. He was worried about having to explain himself to her, so he was glad that she was so preoccupied that she couldn't analyze his new eating habits. Not that she would really care anyways- if it was for his skating career, she’d co-sign anything. 

Miya swallowed around nothing, braving a shaky hand against his floorboards as he leaned towards the door. 

“Mother..?” He tried, his voice scratchy and barely audible- even to himself. With a deep breath, he tried again. 

..And, again. 

And again.

Two more times. 

“God- Mom!” He cried out, a fresh onslaught of tears trailing down his cheeks. Heavy moments of silence passed by, and Miya almost started sobbing all over again before his door swung open. 

There she stood, with hair messy and knotted and a tired scowl on her face.

“What are you yelling about?” She hissed, dragging herself over to where he was cowering on the ground.

Miya didn't pay her tone any mind. “My- My ankle. I-I hurt it..” 

She sighed deeply, lowering down into a kneel and almost immediately cringing when she saw the dark purple of his ankle. 

“Christ Miya, what did you do?!”

Miya swallowed back a sob. “I-I fell- yesterday during practice..” A lie, but he couldn't exactly tell her his injury was from participating in a race at an illegal skating rink. 

Her frown only deepened, an irritated groan leaving her lips. “I swear, you're more trouble than you're worth sometimes. How am I supposed to explain this to anyone, huh? Competitions are right around the corner and here you go being reckless!” 

“I-I didn't mean for this to happen! It was an accident, I thought-”

“And you didn't go to the doctor’s with Shindo the minute it happened?” She hissed, frustration clear on her face as she grabbed his leg to get a closer look. Miya bit back another cry. 

“I-I.. It didn't look this bad before..” He whimpered, rubbing his eyes with his fist. “I-I promise, it was just an accident. I didn't mean to-!”

Ayame's hand halted Miya's words mid-sentence, her expression a mix of anger and disappointment. "I don't want to hear your excuses, Miya," she snapped, her voice dripping with disdain. "You always have to find a way to mess things up, don't you?"

Miya's chest tightened at her words, a familiar sense of shame washing over him. "But Mom, I-" he began to protest, but Ayame cut him off with a sharp glare.

"No, I'm not interested in your lies," she spat, her eyes flashing with anger. "You're just like your father – selfish and irresponsible."

Miya recoiled as if he had been physically struck, his heart sinking with the weight of her words. "Mom, please, I didn't mean for this to happen," he pleaded, his voice trembling with emotion. "I need your help."

Ayame scoffed, her lip curling in derision. "Help? Why should I help you when all you do is cause trouble?" she retorted, her voice laced with bitterness. "Once again, you’ve let me down Miya. I don't know why I bother."

Tears pricked at the corners of Miya's eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He had learned long ago that showing weakness only made things worse. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Ayame's expression softened slightly, a hint of regret flickering in her eyes. "I'll call the doctor," she said with a sigh, her tone weary. "But don't expect me to clean up your messes forever, Miya. You need to start taking responsibility for yourself."

Miya nodded silently, his throat tight with emotion. As his mother turned to leave the room, he couldn't help but feel a sense of loneliness wash over him. He knew that he shouldn't expect much from her, especially not comfort or understanding, but that didn't make it hurt any less. His ankle still throbbed, and he was still alone. 

Maybe he could.. call them..? 

They'd want to help him, right? Why else was he given their phone numbers anyways? Cherry did say not to call if it wasn't an emergency, but this counted as one, didn't it? The pain was becoming unbearable at this point, and he was at risk of jeopardizing his competitions. Adam wouldn't accept that, nobody would. He wouldn't accept that. 

Although, his mom did resign to calling his doctor. Her reservations about going to urgent care was something he was long used to by now. She hated attention that came with negative connotations, and Miya being injured would only deeply embarrass her. They'd had his doctor make house calls countless times already, so he supposed he would just have to wait until the time came. 

Miya waited for a while, the minutes stretching into an hour before the pain finally lulled him into a fitful slumber. When he awoke once more, disoriented and groggy, he couldn't ascertain the duration of his sleep, only feeling the stiffness in his neck from the uncomfortable position he had drifted off in on the floor.

Unfortunately for him, the agony in his ankle hadn't eased in the slightest. And it made itself known the moment he laid eyes on it again, pulsing with discomfort. Miya winced, distantly wondering just how long he had been napping. Where was his doctor? He should have been here by now, he wasn't too far away anyways. Perhaps his mom forgot to call?

Speaking of, what was she doing-

*CRASH*

Miya froze. His breathing slowly began to pick up, his sleep riddled mind quickly clearing up as panic began to set in. 

“Uh-.. M-Mom?” He tried, calling out with a small shake to his voice. 

He received.. no response. He felt his heart sink with each heavy moment of silence that rolled by, the implications that his mind crafted up coming in wildly out of control. “Mom!” He tried again, this time louder. And still, nothing. The only noise he could make out was the air conditioning kicking on, alongside the faint rumble of their washing machine. 

This felt all too familiar- and not in a good way. The last time this happened, the night of the argument, he had ignored it and went to bed. And as a result, his mother had ended up completely shutting herself in. That was his fault, wasn't it? He could have checked on her, he even thought of it and consciously decided against it. If that happened again, who knew what his mom would act out like again? He didn't even know what that sound was, what if she actually was hurt this time? Her lack of response too.. 

His stomach churned.

Miya lifted himself up, body wobbling as he kept all of his weight off his foot. Slowly, the boy practically hopped over to the door, pulling it open and peeking his head out tentatively. He tried calling his mom’s name out again, but to no avail. 

With a wave of apprehension, Miya hopped towards the daunting set of stairs and lowered himself down. He had no other way of scaling them, and he refused to let himself fall all the way down with his foot in the state it's in. So, he swallowed his own pride and scooted down each step, avoiding any direct contact with his injury. When he reached the bottom, it was with a near tumble to the ground that he lifted himself back up using the railing. 

“Mom..?” He slowly hopped to the kitchen. “I.. I heard a noise.. Is everything o-...kay..”

..His mother was there. 

Collapsed. 

—

“He had his phone number saved.”

Joe raised an eyebrow, glancing at his husband who had been otherwise silent the entire evening. S was as lively as ever, a beef running between Shadow and the poor rookie that had, apparently, “looked at him wrong.” Cherry was deep in thought the entire night, and it was only until just now that he decided to open up about the matter. 

“Who had who’s number saved?” Joe prompted, idly watching the match running on the large screen hung in front of them. The jeering of the crowd was loud enough that their voices seemed to get lost, only being heard by the two of them. 

Cherry’s eyebrows were tense. “Miya. He had Ainosuke’s number saved.” 

“Hold on a moment. Miya, let me put my number in your phone.” 

“..Why?”

“Just in case. You ever need anything, and your parents aren't available, you can call me. We don't live too far away, so it won't be any sort of hassle. Just don't go calling me at midnight for non-emergencies. I will not answer, you hear me?” Kaoru reasoned, the softness of his own voice embarrassing him slightly. His husband’s snort at his words didn't make it any better, and he ignored the urge to slap his arm. 

As the boy meekly handed his phone over, Kaoru did nothing but open the app holding his contacts when his heart suddenly slammed against his chest. 

‘Old Loser (Adam)’

His stomach turned. 

“I wanted to delete it right then and there.” Cherry spat venomously, arms crossed. Joe couldn't see beneath the man’s mask, but he didn't have to to know that his jaw was clenched. “Honestly. I almost did.”

“I'm glad you didn't.” Joe sighed. “The kid would have had a fit, and then what help could we be?” 

“I know . I know that. It’s just-” A groan. “What the hell is that man doing in his phone? With a nickname at that? I don't like this, Joe. With every new thing I learn about this I only feel more sick.”

“Hey.” Joe murmured, placing a discreet hand on his arm. “Try not to get worked up right now, okay? The kid should be here somewhere, right? He’s the one who asked for us to make it here. Just keep an eye out for him. The sun hasn't even set yet, we still have time.”

As the match continued to unfold on the screen, Joe's words hung in the air, a reminder of the tension swirling between them. Cherry took a deep breath, trying to quell the rising tide of unease threatening to overwhelm him. He knew Joe was right – they needed to focus on finding Miya and offering him their support, regardless of the unsettling revelation about Adam's presence in his phone.

But despite his efforts to remain calm, Cherry couldn't shake the gnawing sense of dread that had settled in the pit of his stomach. The thought of Miya being entangled with someone like Adam, especially given his troubled past, sent a shiver down Cherry's spine. He couldn't bear the idea of Miya being manipulated or hurt by someone who had already caused so much pain.

Joe's hand on his arm provided a grounding presence, a silent reassurance that they were in this together. Cherry drew strength from his husband's touch, steeling himself for the task ahead. They had promised to be there for Miya, to offer him a safe haven and unconditional support, and they would honor that commitment no matter what.

As the match reached its climax, Cherry kept a watchful eye on the crowd, scanning the faces for any sign of Miya's familiar green hoodie. Despite the roar of the crowd and the chaotic energy of the event, he remained focused, determined to find Miya and ensure his safety.

And then, amidst the growing anxiety rising within him, he was startled by the buzz of his phone from his pocket. With a furrowed eyebrow, he reached back and pulled it out in a swift movement.

The moment he saw the caller ID, he reached for Joe’s arm. 

“Kojiro.” He breathed. “The boy is calling me.” 

Joe raised an eyebrow, almost immediately turning his full attention towards him. “Wh- Answer, answer..!” He urged, leaning in undeniably close to his ear to catch whatever was going to be said. Cherry sighed, side-eyeing him briefly before promptly answering the call. 

“Miya?” He pressed after a few moments of silence. “Are you there?” 

“...C-Cherry..?” 

He did not sound right. Not in the slightest.

Cherry schooled his expression. “Miya, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” Joe visibly tensed up from beside him, leaning in even closer to try and catch what was being said. Cherry tugged him away from the crowd by the sleeve, his steps rapidly taking him to the car. 

“I…” A pause. “..Mom is hurt..”

Shit. 

“What do you mean she's hurt, dear? What happened?” He asked, his voice carrying a softness that it almost never did. 

The boy sniffled. “..Can you help?”

“Yes Miya, me and Kojiro are on our way right now. But I need you to tell me what’s wrong, okay? Maybe we can start helping from here as well.”

“..O-Okay.. She.. She’s on the floor. S-She was uhm.. At the table. She- I think she fell..” 

“Okay. Is she bleeding anywhere?”

There was a brief silence as he checked. “..Uhm- No.”

Cherry stepped into the car, quickly motioning for Joe to get going. The man looked confused yet majorly concerned, and Cherry dutifully put the phone on speaker instead. “Alright, that's good. Do you have any idea as to why she fell?” 

This time, Miya paused for longer. “..S-She’s not a bad person.”

Cherry glanced at his husband. 

“Hey, I’m sure she isn't kiddo.” Joe piped up, the car accelerating audibly as he made haste. “We’re just asking so we know how to help, ‘kay?”

“..There’s.. bottles. I think she was d-drinking..”

Shit. 

“Alright. Can you do a few things for me Miya?” Cherry kept the shake out of his voice. “Check her pulse, make sure she's still breathing. 

Miya’s breathing trembled slightly. “I-I think it's- yeah. Yeah, s-she’s- she’s okay. That's okay.”

“Good, very good Miya. You're doing wonderful.” Cherry said gently, biting his nails viciously. He hated the fact that he was making Miya do something like this, but the wellbeing of his mother right now was taking priority. He would just have to apologize profusely later. “Now, if your mother is lying face up or down, would you mind turning her on her side for me?”

“O-Okay.. I can- I can try..”

“Kojiro, faster.” Cherry muttered, taking in a deep breath as Miya shuffled to adjust his mom.

“Kaoru, I’m already going 20 over.” Joe reasoned, his grip on the wheel deathly tight as sped down the road. It did little to console Cherry. 

“A-Ah- Ow!” 

“What’s wrong?” Joe and Cherry both immediately questioned, the worry in their voices unmistakable.

“A-Ah..” Miya whimpered. “N-Nothing, I just.. hit my ankle. I’m fine- what do I do now?”

Cherry’s heart almost stopped from the scare. “Shit- Okay. Just stay there with her, alright sweetheart? Make sure she keeps breathing, and nothing worsens. Kojiro and I are only minutes away now, okay?” 

“..P-Please hurry..” Miya whispered, the tone of his voice sending a shock of despair through the two adults. 

As Cherry and Joe sped towards Miya's location, Cherry couldn't shake the feeling of dread that hung heavy in the air. With each passing moment, his mind raced with worry for Miya and his mother. He couldn't bear the thought of the young boy facing such turmoil alone.

"Miya," Cherry spoke into the phone, his voice laced with urgency, "is your mother conscious? Can you talk to her? Keep her engaged, reassure her that help is on the way."

Miya's voice trembled on the other end of the line. "I-I'll try.. She's not responding much, but I'll keep talking to her.."

"Good boy," Cherry said softly, his heart breaking for the young boy. "Just keep her comfortable, Miya. We'll be there soon."

As they raced through the streets, Cherry's mind raced with questions and concerns. What had happened to Miya's mother? How had she ended up injured? Was this.. drinking of hers a common habit? God forbid this was something Miya was used to. Cherry felt like vomiting at the mere thought.

Joe glanced over at Cherry, concern etched into his features. "We're almost there, Kaoru," he said reassuringly. "Just hold on a little longer."

Cherry nodded, his grip tightening on the phone as he listened intently to Miya's voice on the other end. He could hear the fear and uncertainty in the boy's words, and it only served to fuel his determination to reach them as quickly as possible.

Finally, they arrived at Miya's house, and Cherry wasted no time in rushing inside. With Joe close behind him, they made their way up the stairs to Miya's door, their hearts pounding with anticipation.

As they reached the entrance, Cherry hesitated for a moment before knocking softly. "Miya?" he called out, his voice filled with concern. "It's Cherry and Joe. We're here."

The door swung open, revealing Miya standing there, his eyes red-rimmed with tears. Without a word, he hobbled aside, allowing Cherry and Joe to enter.

Inside, they found Miya's mother lying on the floor, her face pale and drawn. Cherry rushed to her side, checking her pulse and assessing her condition as Joe knelt down beside Miya, offering him a comforting embrace.

"We're here now, Miya," Joe said softly, his voice gentle yet firm. "Everything is going to be okay. We'll take care of you both."

Miya nodded, tears streaming down his cheeks as he clung to Joe’s hand. He made the crucial mistake of wobbling slightly, causing Joe’s attention to be drawn down to his injury.

Almost instantly, his eyes shot wide open. “Holy- Jesus Miya, what happened to you?!”

Miya winced as Joe's gaze fell upon his injured ankle. He tried to brush it off, but the pain was evident in his eyes.

"It's nothing, really," Miya muttered, trying to downplay the severity of his injury. "Just a little twist."

But Joe wasn't convinced. He gently lifted Miya's pant leg to get a better look at the injury, his expression growing increasingly concerned as he assessed the damage.

"Miya, this looks bad," Joe said, his voice laced with worry. "We need to get you to a doctor."

Miya's heart sank at Joe's words. He knew he couldn't afford to go to the hospital, not with his mother in her current state. But the pain shooting through his ankle told him that Joe was right.

"I can't," Miya said, his voice trembling with fear. "Not now. My mom needs me."

Cherry, who had been tending to Miya's mother, turned to look at them, concern etched into his features. "What's going on?"

Joe quickly explained the situation, his voice urgent as he urged Cherry to help him convince Miya to seek medical attention.

Cherry's expression softened as he looked at Miya, his heart breaking for the young boy who was clearly torn between his duty to his mother and his own well-being.

"Miya," Cherry said gently, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Your mother needs you, but you can't help her if you're injured yourself. Let us take care of you, okay? Look, your mother is going to be just fine." He motioned to where he had set her on the couch. She looked more.. peaceful, like that, covered in a knit blanket with her head supported on a plush pillow. “Her breathing is fine, she just seems to have passed out. I highly doubt it's anything more than that. Your ankle, however, appears to be broken. Please, let us help you..”

Miya hesitated for a moment, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. But ultimately, he knew that he couldn't ignore the pain any longer, or Cherry’s sound logic.

"O-Okay," Miya whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of his own heartbeat. "But please, make it quick. I need to get back to my mom."

Cherry nodded, his heart aching for Miya and the impossible choices he was forced to make. With Joe's help, he carefully lifted Miya up into his arms and carried him out to the car, his mind racing with worry for both Miya and his mother.

As they sped towards the hospital, Cherry couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that gnawed at him. Realistically, he knew there was no way he could have even imagined a situation like this would happen, let alone been able to prevent it. Even so, as he sat in the backseat with the sniffling boy and tried to console him, he couldn't help but feel as though he was already.. failing him. 

But, Miya had called him. He chose to call him, to trust him. That counted for something, right? 

“Cherry..” Miya whispered, pulling the adult out of his mind. 

“Yes dear?” He murmured, softly running his fingers through his hair. 

“I.. It really hurts..” 

Cherry’s heart twisted at Miya’s words, his own pain mirroring the boy’s. He wished he could take away Miya’s suffering, but all he could do was offer whatever comfort he could.

“I know, Miya,” Cherry said softly, his voice filled with empathy. “But we’re almost there. The doctors will take care of you, I promise.”

Miya nodded weakly, tears glistening in his eyes as he tried to suppress his cries of pain. Cherry felt a surge of protectiveness wash over him, a fierce determination to do whatever it took to ease Miya’s suffering.

As they arrived at the hospital, Cherry and Joe wasted no time in rushing Miya inside. Unfortunately, they were not able to go back with Miya, as they weren't legal guardians of his in any way. Cherry was ready to argue with the nurses out of pure worry for the little one, but Joe’s tired hand grabbing his shoulder stopped him. 

And now, here they were. Joe paced anxiously in the waiting room, their minds consumed with worry for the young skater. Time seemed to drag on endlessly as they waited for news, the tension in the air almost palpable.

“Shit, Kaoru.” He breathed, anxiously running a hand through his hair. “The hell just happened?”

Cherry could barely grasp the situation himself. It all felt like a blur- not long ago were they at S, completely unaware of how their night would unfold. And so quickly too- everything moving all too quickly to the point where it left them borderline disoriented. Miya.. that poor boy. He could only imagine how torn up he must be about his injury, what with his junior skating career only just starting to fully take off. They hadn't known him personally for long, but it was obvious how seriously the child took skating. And with the state of his ankle.. Cherry wasn't sure how long it would be until he could get back to it. 

“..I don't know.” Cherry eventually responded, chewing at his nails yet again. “..What if his mother does that often?” 

Joe paused, jaw clenching in a show of undeniable worry. “..We don't know that.”

“I said what if.”

“I know you, Kaoru. ‘What if’ to you means you've already assumed it as fact.” 

Cherry scowled. “Do not pretend to know what I’m thinking, you ape.”

“Not in the mood.” Joe groaned, resting his forehead against one of the walls. “Just.. Look, if it's a problem, I don't think the kid would have any reason to hide it from us at this point, right?”

“I feel like you’d be surprised.” 

Joe ignored that. “He sounded and looked confused about the whole situation. If this was something he was used to, I doubt he would have called us and gotten us involved, right?”

“You don't know that. This could have just been the first time she passed out. Doesn't mean it's the first time she’s ever-”

“Kaoru.” Joe’s stern and audibly frustrated voice sliced through, silencing Cherry instantly. “Stop it. We don't know the woman, don't go assuming the worst of people you don't know.”

..Cherry remained silent. 

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a doctor emerged from the treatment area and approached them, Miya at his side. The boy was maneuvering himself with the use of crutches, a dark purple cast encasing the skin from his foot all the way up to his mid-calf. Cherry’s heart pounded in his chest as he still braced himself for the worst.

“Is he okay?” Cherry blurted out, unable to contain his anxiety any longer.

The doctor offered them a reassuring smile. “Miya is going to be fine,” he said, his voice calm and reassuring. “He has a fractured ankle, but it’s nothing too serious. We got him patched up, and he’ll be on the road to recovery in no time.”

Cherry let out a sigh of relief, the tension draining from his body as he sagged slightly. “Thank goodness,” he murmured, his voice filled with gratitude.

Joe wrapped an arm around Cherry, pulling him close in a comforting embrace. “See? I told you he’d be okay,” he said softly, his voice laced with relief and their previous spat completely forgotten.

Cherry nodded, a sense of overwhelming gratitude washing over him. In that moment, he felt an immense sense of relief knowing that Miya was safe and taken care of. He ushered the boy over, receiving a look of muted embarrassment as he shakily made his way closer. Gently, he wrapped an arm around his small shoulders and gave him a once-over. According to the doctor, the bill was being addressed to Miya’s parents, so they were good to go as of now. 

Miya was silent the entire time, even as they re-entered the car. He didn't make eye contact with them once, opting to stare at his cast as if it had just personally forsaken him. 

“Hey,” Joe started, glancing at the boy through the rearview mirror. “you hungry kid? We can stop and grab some fast food if you want.”

Miya only shook his head. 

“You sure?” Joe gave a teasing tilt to his voice, though the crease in his forehead clearly showed his lingering worry. “You can get a milkshake..!”

“Just take me home.” Miya snapped, a weak glare on his tear-stained face. Joe quieted down, glancing at Cherry in the passenger seat before sighing softly and resigning to his wishes. The car was silent once again, not even having the comfort of background noise from the radio. It was such a stark difference from the last time they were all here together, Miya could have laughed if he wasn't so upset. 

That doctor. That damn doctor. He slapped a cast on Miya and gave him a sentence of 6 weeks of rest. Six. And then another two to let his ankle finish healing before he could get the stupid thing off. He simply could not wait that long- he didn't have the time to. He had competitions in a month, how on Earth would he be able to practice and make it to them with this dumb thing hindering his every movement?! Missing out on those races was unacceptable- what kind of son would he be if he did that? A selfish one, that's what. His mom, Adam- they were counting on him. They were both going through more than enough, and Miya promised himself he would stop being such a burden. 8 weeks of doing nothing was completely out of the question. 

And here he was, even putting Cherry and Joe out and making them deal with his stupid drama. He was sure this wasn't what Cherry meant when he gave Miya the privilege of having his phone number. Now that Miya had shamelessly abused that privilege, he was sure he wouldn't respond ever again. Not that he could blame him of course, but that didn't make it any less hurtful. 

“Miya.” Cherry suddenly spoke, and only then did Miya realize they were still driving, long past Miya’s street. 

“Wh-” Tiredly, Miya leveled them with a glare. “Where the hell are we going.” 

“Kojiro and I.. don't think you should go home tonight.”

“Are you kidding me? I don't care what you think, my mom needs-!”

“Your mother is okay, Miya. She only passed out, and she's comfortably where we left her. There's nothing more that you can do for her at the moment.” Cherry’s words were pointed and logical, yet still with softness around the edges. “We only want you to get a good night’s sleep, in an environment away from all.. that.” 

Miya bit his lip, scowling at the man. “What’s that supposed to mean.”

“I’m only saying-”

“She didn't do anything wrong!” Miya snapped, fists shaking in his lap. “Mom- she didn't mean for any of that to happen!” 

“And we don't think she did either, Miya.” Joe quickly added, easing some of the boy’s prickly attitude. “We just want you to be okay, that's all. We’ll bring you back home tomorrow, okay? And.. if you really don't want to come with us, just say the word and I’ll take you back home right now. At the end of the day, what's most important here is your comfort.” 

Miya’s eyes trailed back down to his lap, a heavy silence settling between the three of them. He didn't.. hate the idea. In all honesty, he had this undeniable feeling of dread swirling in his stomach at the thought of going back home to see his mother the way she was again. Cherry was right, his mom was physically okay, and now with his crutches there was even less he could realistically do for her. 

Cherry watched Miya closely, his heart aching for the young boy who was clearly torn between his loyalty to his mother and his own well-being. He knew that Miya was struggling, grappling with the weight of his responsibilities and the overwhelming sense of guilt that threatened to consume him.

"Miya," Cherry said gently, his voice filled with compassion, "we're not asking you to abandon your mother. We just want to make sure that you're taking care of yourself too. You've been through a lot today, and you deserve some rest."

Miya hesitated for a moment, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. He wanted to stay with his mother, to make sure she was okay and to be there for her when she woke up. But he also knew that Cherry and Joe were right – he needed to take care of himself too.

Finally, after a long moment of silence, Miya nodded slowly, his shoulders slumping with exhaustion. "Okay," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Cherry and Joe exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them. Without another word, Joe turned the car around and headed towards their home, his hand resting reassuringly on Cherry’s thigh the entire time.

As they arrived at their house, Cherry helped Miya out of the car and guided him inside, Joe trailing behind them with a supportive hand on Miya's back. The house was warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the tension and uncertainty that had plagued them earlier in the day.

Cherry led Miya to the guest room, ensuring that he was comfortable before leaving him to rest. Miya sank down onto the bed, his exhaustion washing over him in waves as he closed his eyes and allowed himself to finally relax. Maybe.. maybe this was fine. If Cherry and Joe insisted so vigorously, they couldn't have minded too much that Miya was here, right? If he just.. let himself rest for tonight, he could be better tomorrow. Yeah.. he would be better tomorrow. 

Ignoring the way small droplets of tears trailed down his cheeks, Miya buried his face into the soft pillows of their guest room and let his fatigue finally catch up to him.

Chapter Text

When Miya awoke, he panicked for a quick second at the unrecognizable surroundings. It definitely wasn't his bedroom, nor was it Adam’s spare room. Those were the only places Miya ever went to sleep in, so where exactly was he right now?

Before true panic could really set in, Miya felt the brush of his cast against his other leg and- oh. Suddenly, the memories from the night before came flooding back to him. He cringed as he remembered it all, his mother's drunken figure crumpled on the floor, him burdening Cherry and Joe with his issues, them taking him to the hospital- humiliated didn't even begin to cover it. 

Miya's stomach churned with a mix of shame and embarrassment as he relived the events of the previous night. The image of his mother, vulnerable and broken, sent a pang of guilt through him, while the memory of relying on Cherry and Joe for help left him feeling exposed and weak.

But as he lay there, tangled in his thoughts, Miya couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that he needed to face reality head-on. He couldn't hide away in this unfamiliar room forever, pretending that everything would eventually go away when it clearly wouldn't. His mother needed him, and as much as he dreaded the confrontation with the two adults, he knew he couldn't avoid it any longer.

With a heavy sigh, Miya pushed himself up into a sitting position, wincing as pain shot through his injured ankle. The cast felt like a physical reminder of his own vulnerability, a stark contrast to the strength he so desperately wanted to portray.

But despite the ache in his body and the turmoil in his mind, Miya knew that he couldn't stay hidden away in this room forever. Gathering his resolve, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and reached for his crutches, steeling himself for the challenges that lay ahead.

As he made his way to the door, each step felt like a small victory, a testament to his determination to face whatever lay on the other side. With one last deep breath, Miya pushed open the door and stepped out into the hallway. Immediately, he could hear the sizzling of food on the stove and the smell of eggs. 

The unfamiliar scent of breakfast cooking brought a strange sense of comfort to Miya, even in the midst of his inner struggle. It was a reminder of normalcy, of simpler times before everything had spiraled out of control.

With renewed determination, Miya navigated his way through the unfamiliar hallway, leaning heavily on his crutches for support. Each step was a struggle, but he refused to let his physical pain deter him from his mission.

As he reached the end of the hallway, Miya hesitated for a moment before pushing onward to the kitchen. The sight that greeted him was both reassuring and overwhelming. Cherry and Joe were bustling around the small kitchen, their voices mingling as they worked together to prepare breakfast.

For a moment, Miya stood in the doorway, unsure of what to say or do. He felt like an intruder in their space, like he didn’t belong here amidst the chaos of their morning routine.

But before he could retreat back to the safety of his room, Joe looked up and caught sight of him. A warm smile spread across his face, and he motioned for Miya to join them at the table.

“Hey there, sleepyhead,” Joe said, his voice gentle and reassuring. “We were just about to sit down for breakfast. Come join us.”

Miya hesitated for a moment, his conflicting emotions warring within him. Part of him wanted to retreat back to the safety of his room, to hide away from the world and wallow in his own misery. But another part of him longed for the comfort of Cherry and Joe’s presence, for the sense of normalcy that they represented.

With a silent nod, Miya shuffled over to the table and took a seat, trying to ignore the ache in his ankle as he settled in. As he watched Cherry plate the food, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude towards the two adults who had taken him in, despite his own stubbornness and pride. He found it hard to understand exactly why they were so patient and giving towards him, despite him never having done anything to deserve it. Maybe they were just.. really good people.

“How did you sleep?” Cherry questioned gently, taking a seat across from Miya as he poured himself a cup of coffee. The boy shrugged at first, but at Cherry’s dissatisfied look he continued.

“Uhm- fine.. Your.. bed is really comfortable.”

“I'm glad.” Cherry smiled, glancing at Joe as the man settled in beside him. He set down a carton of orange juice as well as Miya’s plate in front of him. The plate contained a pretty simple breakfast- buttered toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, and a side bowl of cut up fruit. Miya stared down at it, his mind racing as he could do nothing but wonder about the fat contents and sheer amount of butter coating each and every thing on the plate. His apprehension was on the tip of his tongue, and he was seconds away from voicing his complaints before he clenched his jaw. How ungrateful would he sound at that point? They'd already done so much for him- way more than he would ever ask for. What kind of person would it make him if he had the audacity to complain over something like breakfast.

Taking a deep breath, Miya held back his voice and poked at the bowl of fruit. 

“How’s your foot doing, kid?” Joe asked, taking a hearty bite from his own overflowing plate. 

“‘S fine..” He muttered, a small shrug coming from his shoulders as he nibbled on a cantaloupe cube. “Itchy though.”

“I bet. Kaoru, remember that time you broke your arm back in highschool?”

“Kojiro..” The mentioned sighed, shooting him a weak glare as the grinning man continued.

“This guy broke his arm practicing an ollie of all things. Can you believe it?” 

Miya couldn't fight down the surprised smile of amusement rising to his face. “Seriously?” He snickered lightly. 

“What about it?” Cherry snapped halfheartedly, barely able to hide the embarrassed flush to his cheek. “I was 15 years old, sue me.”

“No excuse!” Joe sing-songed. “This kid is 13 and does tricks you could still only dream of.” He pointed at Miya, receiving an annoyed eye roll from the pink-haired man.

“Oh please, if you're trying to use the child to make me jealous you're more stupid than you look.” He hummed, taking a sip of his coffee. “Miya is more skilled than half the professional skaters in the game.”

The boy flushed a bright pink. “Shut up..” He mumbled, now somehow the embarrassed one out of the three of them. 

As Miya sat at the table, his mind continued to race with conflicting thoughts and emotions. Despite the light-hearted banter between Cherry and Joe, he couldn't shake the weight of guilt and uncertainty that hung heavy on his shoulders.

He felt grateful for the warm hospitality and camaraderie they offered him, yet at the same time, he couldn't help but feel like he didn't belong. How could he sit here and enjoy breakfast with them when his mother was likely still struggling at home, alone and in pain? The memory of her tear-streaked face haunted him, a constant reminder of his own failure to protect her. He wanted nothing more than to rush back home and make things right, to erase the pain and suffering he had caused.

But a small voice in the back of his mind whispered words of doubt and hesitation. What could he possibly do to help his mother in her current state? Wasn't it better to stay here with Cherry and Joe, where he was safe and cared for? Though.. did he even deserve to be cared for so delicately?

Lost in his thoughts, Miya barely registered the conversation swirling around him. He picked at his food, his appetite diminished by the turmoil in his mind. He felt like a stranger in his own body, disconnected from the world around him.

But as Cherry and Joe's laughter filled the air, Miya couldn't help but feel a flicker of warmth in his heart. Despite everything, he was grateful for their presence, for the sense of normalcy they brought into his life. The domestic peace he had wanted for years and years now. 

With a sigh, Miya pushed aside his doubts and fears, allowing himself to be swept up in the warmth and comfort of Cherry and Joe's company. For now, that was enough. 

"So, Miya," Joe said, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled over them. "What do you like to do for fun when you're not out there skating?"

Miya glanced up, caught off guard by the question. "Um, I don't know, I guess I like to play video games.."

Cherry nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "That's interesting. Video games can be both intellectually stimulating and beneficial for hand eye coordination, an essential skill when it comes to skating."

Miya shrugged, feeling a blush creep up his cheeks at the praise. "I guess so. It's just something I like to do."

Joe grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Well, you’ll have plenty of time to beat some high scores while that ankle of yours heals up."

Miya's heart skipped a beat at the mention of his injury, a fresh wave of guilt washing over him. "Yeah, I guess so," he mumbled, suddenly feeling self-conscious about his limitations. He couldn't believe he had done something so reckless- potentially ruined his chances at proving himself to Adam and his mother. 

Cherry reached out and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry about it, Miya. It happens to every skater once in a while. You’ll be back on your feet in no time."

Miya glanced up at Cherry, giving him a halfhearted shrug. He couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that gnawed at him from within. How could he just brush aside his mistakes and pretend like everything was fine? He had let his mother down, put himself in danger, and now he was sitting here as if none of it mattered.

"Thanks, I guess.." Miya said quietly, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "But I don't know if I deserve your kindness. I messed up so badly, and now... now I don't even know how to fix it. It's not just my ankle, but my mom too.. And- And Ad-.." he trailed off into a sigh, staring down at the table. 

Cherry's expression softened even further, his hand squeezing Miya's shoulder in a gesture of support. "Miya, you're being too hard on yourself," he said gently. "We all make mistakes, but that doesn't mean we're not worthy of care and forgiveness. And as for your mother, I'm sure she knows how much you care about her. Sometimes, just being there is enough. You were there last night, when she needed it most. You’re a good son, Miya. And she knows that."

Miya sniffed lightly, his eyes welling up with tears as he absorbed Cherry's words. It was a lot to take in, but even so, he wasn't sure that he could believe him. So many consistent failures he had been producing, all for what? To sit here and pretend like he deserved this?

As breakfast continued, these thoughts weighed heavily on his mind. He couldn't shake the feeling of unworthiness that clawed at him from within. Finally, unable to contain his doubts any longer, he turned to Cherry and Joe with a furrowed brow.

"Hey," Miya began tentatively, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've been thinking... Why do you care about me so much? I mean, we've only known each other for a short time, and yet you've done so much for me. Why?"

Cherry and Joe exchanged a surprised glance, caught off guard by Miya's question. Cherry's expression softened with understanding, realizing the depth of Miya's self-doubt. "Miya," he said gently, "you're not just some kid we met randomly. You're a part of our community now, and that means something to us. Besides, you're going through a tough time, and we just want to help."

Joe nodded in agreement, his eyes reflecting a mixture of concern and compassion. "You're worthy of care and support, Miya. Everyone deserves a helping hand when they need it, especially someone as young as you."

Miya's eyes widened in disbelief, struggling to comprehend their kindness. "But why me?" he persisted, his voice tinged with vulnerability. "Why would you go out of your way for someone like me?"

Cherry placed a comforting hand on Miya's shoulder, his gaze unwavering. "Because you're important, Miya. You may not see it now, but you're stronger and more resilient than you give yourself credit for. And you're not alone in this. We're here for you, every step of the way."

Miya felt a lump form in his throat, overwhelmed by the sincerity in Cherry and Joe's words. 

“In any case, you're a kid Miya. You're a kid who needs help, and we’re both adults who have the means to provide you with it.” Joe added, a gentle smile on his face that Miya knew was there to soothe him. “Don't overthink it, ‘kay?”

Easier said than done.. Miya thought, trying to stifle the small shake of his hands. "Thank you," He eventually whispered, his voice thick with emotion. Joe smiled, patting the boy's back encouragingly before settling back in his seat and focusing on his meal. The conversation lulled then, Cherry and Joe exchanging small words between each other as they discussed menial things regarding work or their plans for the week. Miya let his mind rest for the time being, poking at his fruit and idly watching the juice ooze from the small holes he created. 

**Meanwhile**

“Reki, are you sure this is a good idea?” Langa breathed uneasily, giving his friend a wary look as he was dragged along to the lone house at the end of the road.

“Of course it is!” The red-head huffed. “That little brat has been ignoring all our messages for days now. I'll show him what happens when he worries me!” 

“Still…” Langa sighed. “This is a breach of privacy. He’s not gonna let us in..” 

Reki ignored him, tugging him along with vigor as they finally came face to face with Miya's front door. Raising his hand, Reki proudly knocked against the surface. They waited for a few moments, confidence slowly waning as they received no response.  

Reki raised his fist again, knocking against the door even louder. Langa cringed, face flushing a bright red as he glanced around in embarrassment. 

“Reki seriously- stop.”

“What? Why?”

“You're causing a scene..!” He groaned. “People are gonna think we’re some troublemakers..” 

“Oh please.” Reki huffed. “I doubt anyone can even hear, I’m not knocking that loud!” 

“You really are.”

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

“Am not!”

“Are t-”

"Hey, what's going on here?" A voice called out, tone wary yet curious. A young boy walked up to them, brown shaggy hair on his head and a middle-school uniform on. He eyed Reki and Langa, his posture subtly defensive as he tried to assess the situation.

Reki turned towards him, his expression a mix of surprise and suspicion. "Who are you?" he countered, his voice laced with a hint of challenge. "Do you know Miya?"

The boy hesitated but eventually nodded, his gaze steady as he replied, "Yeah, I know him. We’re-... we used to be close." There was a weight to his words, a hint of regret in his tone that didn't go unnoticed by Reki and Langa.

Langa stepped forward, trying to figure out the situation. "We're friends of his," he explained easily, gesturing towards the house. "We were just checking on Miya. Is he home?"

He hesitated for a moment, studying the two boys carefully. Despite his obvious reservations, he could sense their genuine concern for Miya. "I.. I’m not sure. He didn't come to school either.." He admitted, his expression softening slightly. "Is everything okay with him? We haven't talked in a while."

Reki's demeanor shifted, his earlier defensiveness giving way to a more earnest tone. "We're not sure," he confessed, his concern evident. "He’s been avoiding us, and we're worried about the little dork. We thought maybe he'd be here."

The young boy’s guard lowered slightly, empathy flickering in his eyes as he nodded in understanding. "I see," he murmured, rubbing the back of his neck. "I haven't been able to reach him either. Things between us got... complicated."

Langa stepped closer, a note of encouragement in his voice. "Do you know where he might be? We really just want to make sure he's okay."

He sighed, a mixture of guilt and determination settling in his chest. "If he’s not home.. I have an idea," he admitted reluctantly, glancing towards Miya's house before looking back at Reki and Langa. 

Reki breathed out in relief, an easy smile crossing his face. “Awesome. Can you tell us? Oh- I’m Reki by the way! This is Langa.” 

The boy still looked on edge, but he sighed and tightened his grip on his backpack. 

“Takashi. And- I don't know if I should tell you. I shouldn't have even come here in the first place.” He groaned, frustratingly running his fingers through his hair. “Miya is gonna be pissed.. Maybe I should just go home..” 

“Wh- Hey, no! You can't just dip after saying you know where he might be!” Reki gaped, running to block the shorter from pivoting and walking off. “Come on, just tell us where he's at and you can go!” 

Takashi pursed his lips, a look of annoyance flickering across his face. “I don't even know if he's there for sure! Even if he is, you don't wanna go. That guy is-” His voice tapered off into an annoyed groan, distaste completely covering his features. 

Langa raised an eyebrow. “Who?”

Takashi clenched his jaw, his glare seeming fixed more on some distant memory rather than the two teens in front of him. “What, you haven't met his big fat manager yet?” 

Reki glanced at Langa. “Uh- no? What, did he do something?” 

“What didn’t he do?!” The younger suddenly exploded, nails digging into his palms. “He ruined everything! He- God! He’s the whole reason we don't talk anymore, he’s annoying and creepy and I wish I could just wrap my hands around his stupid fat neck and-!”

“Okay okay! Christ kid.” Reki breathed, sweatdropping slightly. “Bad dude, we got it. All the more reason to get to Miya if that's the company he's with. Where are they at?” 

Takashi huffed, crossing his arms. “There's only a few places they're ever at, but since Miya wasn't at school today, it’s probably safe to assume he’s at that ugly guy’s place.” 

“At his house?” Langa frowned. “That's.. strange.” 

“Yeah, tell me about it.” Takashi spat.

“Okay- well, if he's not gonna answer his phone then he has no one to blame but himself when we show up where he's at.” Reki shrugged, tossing his board on the ground and bracing a foot against it. He didn't miss the way Takashi’s eyes followed the movement a bit too closely. 

“..Did you guys meet Miya through skating?”

“Oh- Yeah, I guess you could say that. Langa Raced against him once.” 

“.. How? He doesn't let any of his opponents even talk to him, let alone get close like that. There's no way he'd become one of their friends.”

Reki frowned, a streak of protectiveness shooting through him. “He’s not like that at all. On the surface- sure, he might come off that way. But he's a good kid. He’s got a big heart, and anyone who thinks of him like that is just too hard-headed to try and understand him.”

Takashi's expression softened slightly at Reki's words, a mix of surprise and contemplation crossing his features. He had known Miya for years, back when they were inseparable, before things took a turn for the worse. His memories of Miya were of a passionate and fiercely determined individual, but also someone who could be guarded and distant at times.

Flashes of memory from their last time speaking as friends came to his mind, spreading a grimace across his face. The harsh words that left his lips, the look of pain that spread across Miya’s face-

"I see..." Takashi muttered, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. "Maybe I misjudged him," he admitted quietly, more to himself than to Reki and Langa.

Langa nodded understandingly, sensing the shift in Takashi's perspective amongst.. something else. "People can surprise you sometimes," he offered, a gentle smile on his face. "Maybe it's worth giving things another chance."

Takashi sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I don't know," he mumbled, his gaze shifting towards Miya's house. "He probably doesn't want to see me anyway." 

Of course he doesn't. A bitter voice scoffed in his head. He blocked your number. You texted him to try and mend things and he almost immediately blocked you. Just give up already. Why won't you give up?

Reki placed a hand on Takashi's shoulder, offering a reassuring squeeze and pulling him from his thoughts. "You won't know until you try," he encouraged, his own determination reflecting in his eyes. "Let's go see Miya. Maybe we can sort things out together."

Takashi hesitated, torn between his own doubts and the possibility of reconciliation. He glanced back at Reki and Langa, noting the genuine concern in their expressions. Taking a deep breath, he nodded reluctantly. "Fine," he relented, steeling himself for whatever awaited them at that stupid man’s house.

With renewed determination from the teenagers - and complete apprehension from Takashi - the trio set off towards Adam's house, each step filled with a mix of anxiety and hope. As they traveled down twisting sidewalks and busy streets, Takashi couldn't help but feel a sense of unease creeping up on him. He wasn't sure what to expect, but he knew that facing the past was the only way to move forward. Whether things ended with Miya cursing him out and forsaking him for good, or somehow wanting to mend things, Takashi would accept the outcome either way. 

Reki, ever the optimist, tried to lighten the mood as they walked. "You know, Miya's probably just being stubborn as usual," he joked half-heartedly, hoping to ease the tension. “I bet you the second he sees us he’ll laugh at us for worrying like old ladies or something.”

Takashi managed a weak smile, grateful for the attempt at levity. "Yeah, that sounds like him," he admitted, a hint of fondness creeping into his tone despite everything. “One time, when we were little,  me and him were skating around my neighborhood way after sunset. We were supposed to be long asleep by then, but he was so adamant about spending our sleepover having as much fun as possible. But he- the little brat rolled over a huge rock and face planted into these rose bushes. He was covered in scratches and dirt - but somehow I was the one who ended up crying.” 

Langa huffed out a short chuckle. “What? How does that even happen?”

Takashi couldn't fight the fond smile rising to his face at the memory. “Cuz I was worried about him. But that little shit just laughed at me. He laughed and laughed the entire way home, until he laughed so hard that my parents woke up and scolded us for leaving the house so late at night.”

“Damn, good to know that kid has been bratty since the womb.” Reki groaned, though he looked thoroughly amused. “You two really go way back then, huh? It's weird he hasn't really mentioned you before.”

Takashi’s smile fell, his gaze lowering down to the pathway in front of him. “Yeah, well… I told you, we don't talk much anymore.” He mumbled, kicking a stray stone out of the way. “He probably doesn't even remember such a stupid little thing.” 

As they continued walking towards Adam's estate, Takashi's nerves seemed to amplify with each step. The memories of his past interactions with Miya, both good and bad, swirled in his mind, creating a whirlwind of emotions that he struggled to contain.

Reki noticed the change in Takashi's demeanor, furrowing his brows in concern. "Hey, you okay there?" he asked, casting a sideways glance at Takashi.

Takashi forced a smile, though it appeared strained. "Yeah, just... nervous, I guess," he admitted, his voice betraying his anxiety.

Langa walked closer to Takashi, offering a supportive pat on the back. "It's understandable. We're all feeling a bit on edge," he reassured, though he didn't understand exactly why the younger was so anxious. He couldn't understand.

As they approached the imposing gates of Adam's estate, Takashi's steps faltered slightly. He glanced up at the grandeur of the mansion, feeling a knot form in his stomach at the familiarity. "I-I don't know about this, guys," he stammered, his confidence wavering.

Reki turned to face Takashi, determination gleaming in his eyes. "Come on dude. We've come this far." he urged, his tone firm yet encouraging.

Takashi took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. "I know, but... what if it makes things worse?" he voiced his fears, looking genuinely worried.

Langa stepped closer to Takashi, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Takashi, we’ve come this far,” he said gently. “We can’t turn back now. Miya needs to know that you’re trying to make things right.”

Takashi looked between his two newfound companions, a mix of gratitude and fear swirling in his chest. He had never expected to find himself in this situation, seeking reconciliation with someone he had hurt deeply. But seeing the earnestness in Reki and Langa’s eyes, he knew he couldn’t back down now. This wasn't just important to him- it was important to them too. Miya was more their friend right now than his own, he was in no place to stop them from reaching out when he failed to do so all those years ago.

The trio stood outside the gates for a moment, their collective resolve being tested by Takashi's apprehension. Finally, with a determined nod from Takashi, they pushed open the gates and entered the sprawling grounds of the estate.

The path to the front door seemed longer than ever to Takashi, each step echoing his internal struggle. Reki and Langa walked alongside him, offering silent support as they approached the entrance.

As they reached the door, Takashi's heartbeat quickened, his palms growing clammy. He glanced back at Reki and Langa, uncertainty evident in his eyes. "Guys, maybe I should just wait outside," he suggested again, his voice tinged with desperation. “Like- y’know. Outside. Preferably outside of Okinawa as a whole.”

Reki shook his head firmly, placing a hand on Takashi's shoulder. "No way, man. We're in this together," he insisted, determination burning brightly in his gaze.

Langa nodded in agreement. "It won't be as bad as you're thinking." he added, offering a reassuring smile.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Takashi nodded reluctantly, steeling his resolve once more. "Okay.. Okay- fine.." he muttered, more to himself than to his companions.

Reki raised a hand and knocked on the door, the sound echoing through the grand foyer beyond. They waited, tension thick in the air as they anticipated what awaited them on the other side of the door. From what Takashi had said, Reki was expecting some beefy dude with a cold gaze and an overall scary exterior. Maybe some sharp business suit and an even sharper glare - a heavy handed asshole, really. 

What he absolutely did not expect, 

Was to see fucking Adam open the door. 

As Adam opened the door, a disdainful sneer crossed his face as his eyes fell upon the trio. His gaze lingered on Takashi for a moment longer, a silent challenge in his icy stare. "What do you want?" Adam's voice dripped with condescension, his posture radiating superiority.

Reki's jaw clenched at Adam's attitude, his fists tightening at his sides. "What- What the hell are you doing here?!” He exclaimed, his eyes wide as that familiar surge of rage ignited in his veins. 

“What do you think, boy? I live here.” He stated firmly, his voice tinged with frustration. 

Reki could vomit. Seriously. And if he did, he would definitely aim it right at this guys ugly shoes. 

Adam was Miya’s manager ?!

“We're looking for Miya.” Langa spoke up, his voice steady as he regarded Adam with an apprehensive look. 

A humorless chuckle escaped Adam's lips, his eyes glimmering slightly as he regarded Langa in particular. "Well, you won't find him here. So sorry, little snowbunny." he retorted dismissively.

Langa shifted uncomfortably, feeling the tension in the air palpably. "Then, do you know where he might be?" he pressed, his voice a mix of determination and unease.

Adam's lip curled into a sneer, his patience wearing thin. "I have no idea, and frankly, I don't care," he replied curtly, his arrogance evident in every word.

Takashi's fists clenched tighter at his sides, his gaze burning with suppressed anger and frustration. He wanted to lash out, to demand answers, but the memories of past conflicts and unresolved issues held him back, leaving him speechless. 

“..What did you just say?” Takashi had whispered, the little 10 year old shivering from the coldness his tears brought him. Adam was unforgiving, his threatening aura so thick it was almost suffocating. 

Fuck, even just looking at the man made it hard for him to breathe. He felt so pathetic- so useless! 

Reki, unable to contain his anger any longer, stepped forward, his voice laced with barely contained rage. “Listen here, you pompous jerk!” His words cut through the tense atmosphere, his eyes narrowed in a fiery glare at Adam. “Miya’s not some commodity for you to discard whenever it suits you. Even if he’s not here , you damn well better start caring about where he is! Or is your chest actually devoid of anything capable of caring about another human being?”

Adam's smirk grew wider, his arrogance unfazed by Reki's confrontation. "And what are a bunch of kids going to do about it?" he taunted, his tone dripping with disdain. "Miya's a big boy, he can take care of himself."

Reki's temper flared, his voice rising in anger. "He’s only 13." he spat out, his gaze piercing through Adam. "If you're actually his manager, why don't you show the slightest bit of fucking concern for once?!”

Langa stepped up beside Reki, his expression resolute despite the unease gnawing at him. "We just want to make sure Miya is safe," he added, his voice calm but determined. "He's our friend, and we won't leave until we know he's okay."

Takashi remained silent but his glare spoke volumes. Years of resentment and anger simmered beneath the surface, fueled by Adam's dismissive attitude and the memories of past conflicts. His grip on his bag tightened even more, the fabric straining slightly under the pressure of his grip.

Adam's facade cracked slightly, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features before he regained his composure. "Fine," he relented grudgingly, his eyes narrowing as he regarded the trio. "But if you want to know anything about his whereabouts, I’ll need something in return."

Reki narrowed his eyes, truly wishing murder was legal in that moment. "You’re such a fucking pest.” 

Adam paid him no mind. “And fortunately, I already know what to wager.”

His eyes settled on Langa, making the blue-haired teen’s stomach twist. “What are you talking about?” He quietly demanded. 

“A race with you, of course. That isn't too much to ask for, now is it?” 

“What- fuck no!” Reki floundered, stepping in front of his friend in a protective manner that only made Adam laugh condescendingly. “He's only a beginner - you’ll kill him!” 

Adam shrugged nonchalantly, a smirk playing on his lips. "Then this conversation is over, isn't it?" he replied cryptically, enjoying the discomfort evident on the teenagers' faces.

Takashi took a step forward, his voice low but filled with intensity. "You better hope nothing happens to Miya," he warned, his gaze locked with Adam's.

Adam's smirk faltered for a moment, a flash of irritation crossing his eyes before he masked it with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Didn't I get rid of you already? Get off my property," he ordered, his voice cold and final.

“Hold on a second-!”

Adam's patience wore thin, his cold demeanor hardening even further. "I suggest you leave before I have to take matters into my own hands," he warned, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Reki gritted his teeth, anger and frustration bubbling inside him like a boiling cauldron. He shot one last scathing glare at Adam before turning on his heel, grabbing Langa’s arm and pulling him away from the imposing mansion.

As they walked away from Adam’s estate, Takashi’s hands trembled with a mix of fear and anger. He clenched his fists tighter, feeling the weight of his own helplessness pressing down on him. “I can’t believe that bastard,” he muttered through gritted teeth, his eyes burning with unshed tears of frustration. “He's exactly the same - of course he is. Of course. Cold and intimidating and such a goddamn creep-” 

Langa’s brows furrowed in concern as he glanced at Takashi. “Hey, it’s going to be okay,” he offered softly, though uncertainty lingered in his own voice. “Try not to get too worked up.” 

Reki, seething with rage, kicked a stray fast food cup across the pavement. “No, it’s not okay!” he burst out, his voice laced with anger and desperation. “We have to find Miya, but that jerk won’t even give us a hint! He's not at home and he's not with him, so where the hell could he be?!”

As Langa tried to settle Reki back down, Takashi let himself simmer in his own thoughts. He still felt slightly sick in the stomach from talking to Adam, his hands trembling for reasons he wasn't all that sure of. He seemed the same he had all the way back then too, pompous and arrogant, yet carrying an undeniable air of authority and power. He made Takashi fearful, as if it was second nature to him at this point. Distractedly, he wondered - was this how Miya felt around the man as well? Hopeless, frozen in place but unbearably stuck with him as his pupil? 

That.. That must be horrible. 

With trembling hands, Takashi pulled out his phone and opened up his messages, the very same ones he had refreshed daily in hopes of a change. 

Takashi (16:31):

hey. it's me again.

Not Delivered 

Takashi (16:31):

i'm getting rly worried about u. ur okay, right?

Not Delivered 

Takashi (16:32):

ur friends are cool. i'm glad you met them - they seem like they really care about you. 

Not Delivered

Takashi (16:33):

i'm so sorry miya. for everything. and i'm sorry i'm too much of a coward to ever say it to you. 

Not Delivered 

Takashi (16:35):

could you ever forgive me?

Not Delivered  

Chapter Text

“This movie sucks. Bad.” 

“Be quiet, child.” 

“I’m just saying. Who even put this trash on to begin with?”

“ I did, and it's not trash, it's a classic!” 

“A classic Joe letdown, that's for sure.” 

Joe wasted no time in throwing a nearby pillow right at the little brat’s face, receiving a bundle of mischievous giggles in return. Miya lowered the pillow, still snickering as he stuck his tongue out. 

“Remind me to never watch a film with the two of you again.” Cherry sighed, rubbing his forehead tiredly. “All you both do is talk through the entire thing.” 

“Ah c’mon, you love it.” Joe grinned, amusement only fueled as his husband glared at him weakly. 

“Not even in the slightest.” 

Miya giggled, opening his mouth to reply when a sudden clatter from the kitchen interrupted him. All heads turned towards the noise, and Miya felt a slight unease rising in his stomach. 

“..What was that?” He questioned warily, grip tightening slightly on the pillow now resting in his lap. Cherry and Joe seemed far more relaxed however, only exchanging glances and sighing. 

“I'll get her.” Is all Joe said before standing up and walking into the pitch black room. Miya frowned, glancing at Cherry in hopes for an answer. The pink-haired man only smiled slightly. 

“It’s nothing to worry about, trust me.” 

Miya was seconds away from letting the topic go when Joe re-emerged from the dark room, a ball of fluff in his arms. 

“Holy shit. You guys have a cat?!” 

“ Language!”

“Hell yeah we do. Wanna hold her?” 

Miya grinned, nodding quickly and immediately sitting up in his spot. Careful not to bump it into anything, he lowered his cast-covered leg to the ground and eagerly patted his lap. Joe walked over, gently placing the sleepy looking cat onto his legs and giving him a small smile. 

“Careful, she can be a bit feisty when she meets new people.” He warned carefully, though Miya only shushed him and offered her his fingertips. The cat eyed him curiously, seeming wary at first, but ultimately leaned closer and sniffed at his fingers. She remained that way for a few moments, though Miya remained patient. Eventually, the little cat began to lick at the digits in front of her, her small and rough tongue causing the boy to giggle slightly. He brought his other hand up, gently stroking her head and delighting in the purrs he got in return. Lazily, the cat flopped down completely in his lap, shoving herself against his stomach and going limp in his hold. 

Cherry chuckled lightly. “Well, look at that. Vivie seems to like you, little one.” 

Miya looked nothing short of ecstatic. “Of course she does. Cats always love me.” 

“Yeah, cause they probably mistake you as one of them.” Joe snickered. Miya stuck his tongue out.

“That's not the diss you think it is. If little furry angels think of me as one of them, I’ve succeeded in life.” 

Joe and Cherry chuckled at Miya’s response, the playful banter easing the tension that had briefly crept into the room at the boy’s unease. Vivie seemed completely at ease in Miya’s lap, her purring a soothing sound to the three of them. 

As Miya continued to pet Vivie, his eyes lit up with joy and contentment. For a moment, the worries and stresses of the outside world faded away, replaced by the simple pleasure of companionship and warmth. He always wanted a pet - preferably a cat - but any fluffy animal he could snuggle really would have sufficed. He used to beg and beg his parents for one. A dog, cat, hamster, bird, fennec fox, bunny- anything at all. Unfortunately for him, he never lucked out on that, his parents very vocal on how they wanted absolutely no animals in their home and how they believed Miya wouldn't take care of it. Despite how hard he denied these assumptions, they refused to have the possibility of being responsible for a pet. So, the boy had to settle on catching glimpses of the furry babies whenever he could. 

“You know, Vivie’s been a bit lonely lately,” Cherry remarked casually, earning a curious look from Miya. “Maybe having you around will cheer her up.”

Miya’s grin widened, his heart feeling lighter. “You really think so?” 

Joe smiled, ruffling Miya’s hair playfully. “Just don’t let her boss you around too much. She’s got a bit of a diva streak.”

Miya rolled his eyes, but there was a fondness in his gaze as he looked at Vivie. “I can handle her. We’ll get along just fine.” His grin turned slightly mischievous. “Maybe you only think she's a diva cause she doesn't like you.” 

“Don't push it kid, i’ll take her right back from you.” 

Cherry could only smile as he watched the two playfully tease each other, rolling his eyes slightly as he leaned his cheek on his fist. It was such a stark contrast to the thickly tense morning they had that he almost felt as though he had gotten whiplash - but he wasn't complaining. How could he, when he saw the way Miya was so pleasantly relaxed for the first time since they met. A part of it scared him, how fond he was growing towards the boy in such a short amount of time. He wanted to tell himself not to, to force any kind of distance between the two of them so he wouldn't start viewing Miya as anything other than a ( very ) temporary ward. 

But when he watched the boy smile at Vivie and pet her with such gentleness, when he watched him ease into the cushions and fight to stay awake with an adorable pout, he couldn't help his instincts to brush the hair from his face. He couldn't stop the words of reassurance that it was fine, he could fall asleep right there if he wanted. And when the boy finally fell limp with his hand atop a fuzzy ball of warmth, he couldn't stop himself from looking at Kojiro with a vulnerable gaze. 

“..He fits so well.”

“Hm..?”

“Here. With.. With us.” 

Joe went quiet, looking down at the sleeping boy thoughtfully. When he turned back to Kaoru, his smile was gentle, yet strained nonetheless. 

“..Kaoru..” 

Cherry sighed, lowering his gaze down to his lap. At his silence, Joe continued, though it sounded like the words were being punched out of him. 

“He.. He already has parents.” 

Kaoru couldn't understand the strike of pain that shot through his heart at that. That simple admission of nothing but the truth came alongside a horrible feeling of both guilt and frustration. Because yes, he did already have parents. But where were they? When Miya was clearly in a state of needing them both desperately, where were they? Drunk and passed out? MIA? Don't make him laugh- they clearly weren't doing their job. They shouldn't have even been able to go an hour not knowing where their child was without freaking out, let alone a full day. If Miya was his child, he surely wouldn't-

And oh. There it was. 

That reminder of what he always wanted, ever since he and Kojiro finally tied the knot. 

“..He could be so much happier with us. Healthier.” 

Joe’s expression softened as he listened to his words, understanding the pain and longing beneath them. He reached out, resting a comforting hand on his shoulder. “I know, Kaoru. I know.” he murmured, his voice filled with empathy.

Kaoru’s gaze remained fixed on Miya’s peaceful sleeping form, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. “He deserves so much more than what he’s been given.” He murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “He deserves stability, love, a home where he can truly be himself.”

Joe nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with understanding. “We can give him that, Kaoru. We already are.”

A heavy sigh escaped Kaoru as he leaned back into the couch, his gaze never leaving Miya. “I just wish…”

“I know,” Joe repeated softly, squeezing his shoulder reassuringly. “But we can only do our best for him now.”

But that wasn't enough. Because Miya’s life was longer than just now. He had so much more ahead of him, so much more growing and nurturing left to endure. He needed somewhere safe to do that - by God he was only a child. 

“I just want what’s best for him,” he admitted quietly, his voice tinged with sadness and a hint of anger. “I don’t want him to feel alone or neglected ever again. The way he cried, and the way he looked so afraid just by us giving him kindness? Is that any way for a child to feel?” Kaoru demanded.

Joe frowned, his gaze shifting to Miya’s sleeping form as he silently urged Kaoru to settle down. “Of course it isn't. I'm not disagreeing with you, you know that. That boy.. He’s been through a lot,” He agreed softly, his tone thoughtful. “But he’s resilient. And he’s lucky to have found us, even if it’s just for a little while.”

A moment of silence passed between them, the only sound in the room being Vivie’s gentle purring and Miya’s soft breathing. Joe spoke up again, his voice gentle but firm. “We’ll do everything we can to make sure he’s happy and safe while he’s with us.” He assured Kaoru, his eyes reflecting determination. “For now.. That’s all we can do.”

Kaoru nodded slowly, his shoulders relaxing slightly as he took in Joe’s words. He knew Joe was right, and deep down, he felt grateful for having his husband there to always stabilize him. “You’re right,” Kaoru muttered, his voice carrying a mixture of admittance and undeniable disappointment. “We’ll do everything we can for him while he’s with us.”

Joe smiled softly, a reassuring glint in his eyes. “That’s the spirit,” he encouraged, giving Kaoru’s shoulder another supportive squeeze. “And who knows, maybe things will work out in a way we didn’t expect.”

Kaoru couldn’t help but let out a humorless chuckle, though he appreciated Joe’s attempt to lighten the mood. “Yeah, maybe,” he agreed nonetheless, a small frown still playing on his lips. Joe sighed, leaning closer and pressing small kisses to his temple. 

The movie eventually ended, loud credits causing Miya to stir. Joe immediately rushed to turn the volume down while Kaoru gently smoothed down the boy’s hair. 

“Welcome back sleepyhead.” He spoke softly, chuckling slightly and the irritated look he got in return.

“Why didn't you wake me up?”

“Hm? Why would we? You were sleeping so peacefully.” 

Miya yawned, stretching out what limbs he could with Vivie still sleeping heavily on him. “I missed the whole movie..”

Joe grinned from where he sat. “ Oh? So you did like the movie after all, huh?” 

“In your dreams old man. I missed laughing at how corny it is.” 

“Mhm. Suuure…” 

“I'm serious!” 

“I'm sure you are!” 

“I am!” 

“Alright children.” Kaoru scolded lightly, giving Joe a pointed look before standing up and adjusting the smushed cushions of his couch. “Enough bickering. It's beyond late at this point, and we all need to get some rest. Kojiro, you have work in the morning, and Miya, you have to get back to school.”

The boy in question frowned at this, looking off to the side with a strange look in his eyes. 

“Actually… um.. is it okay if I just.. just miss one more day?” 

Kaoru decided to tread carefully with this one, giving Miya a gentle look as Joe wordlessly gathered up their empty dinner plates and brought them to the kitchen. 

“And why do you want to do that?” He questioned, furrowing his eyebrows as the boy nervously cracked his fingers. 

Miya hesitated, shifting uncomfortably as he searched for the right words. “It’s just… I’m still feeling a bit off, you know? And the school stuff… I can catch up. I’m not too far behind.”

Kaoru’s expression softened as he watched Miya struggle to explain himself. He could see the lingering shadows of exhaustion and anxiety in the boy’s eyes, as if the mere action of asking for something was scaring him. He hated that - he hated how this little one carried so much fear around so constantly. He didn't deserve it.

“Miya, missing school isn’t something to take lightly,” Kaoru began gently, crouching down to be at eye level with him. The boy deflated slightly, but Kaoru didn't let that stop him. “However.. I do understand that you might need a bit more time to adjust and rest.”

Miya nodded quickly, visibly grateful for Kaoru’s understanding. “Y-Yeah! Just one more day, and I promise I’ll go back. I don’t want to fall behind either, I swear.”

Kaoru sighed softly, considering Miya’s request. He knew the importance of routine and education, especially for a child like Miya who had already faced disruptions in his life. At the same time, he didn’t want to push the boy too hard, especially when he seemed to finally be opening up and feeling more comfortable with them.

“Alright, one more day,” Kaoru finally relented, giving Miya a serious look despite the warmth undoubtedly crossing his features. “But you have to promise me that you’ll use this time to rest and maybe catch up on some schoolwork.”

Miya’s face lit up with gratitude, nodding eagerly. “I promise, Cherry. Thank you!”

Joe returned from the kitchen, drying his hands on a towel as he glanced between Kaoru and Miya. “So? What’s the verdict?”

Kaoru stood up, absentmindedly smoothing down the boy’s unruly hair once again. It was slightly greasy, an uncomfortable reminder that Miya probably hadn't washed it in a while. This boy.. He would have to teach him the importance of proper hair care sometime, wouldn't he? What a pain.. “Miya will stay one more day before going back to school. We’ll make sure he uses this time wisely to rest and recover a bit more.”

Joe nodded in agreement, offering Miya a playful wink. “Well, I guess that means we get to spend another day together. Lucky us!”

Miya grinned softly, stroking Vivie’s smooth fur as she began to stir. The small cat yawned, pushing her head further against his hand as she continued to relax on him. 

“Can.. Can she sleep in the room with me?” Miya piped up softly, a small flush coating his cheeks. “It's fine if not, but.. she's really cute. I think she really likes me..” 

Joe and Kaoru exchanged a knowing glance, both understanding the unspoken request behind Miya’s words. They had noticed the bond forming between Miya and the little cat, and the comfort it seemed to bring the boy.

Joe chuckled lightly, nodding in agreement. “Of course she can. Vivie seems to have taken a liking to you, and I’m sure she’d appreciate the company too.”

Miya’s eyes widened in surprise and delight, a bright smile spreading across his face. “Really? Thank you so much!”

Kaoru chuckled, a warm smile on his lips. “Just make sure she doesn’t keep you up all night with her antics. She can get quite restless during the night.

Miya’s eyes sparkled with delight as he carefully lifted Vivie off his lap, cradling her gently in his arms. The cat purred contentedly, snuggling closer to Miya’s chest as he beamed down at her. “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her.”

And so, that was that. Joe bid Miya a goodnight and a gentle pat on the shoulder before he retreated to the main bedroom, mentioning that he would get the bed ready. With that, Kaoru easily lifted Miya into his arms and carried the boy to the guest room. (Too easily, he felt. Kaoru was plenty built, but even then he knew this boy was far too light.) His crutches had been left behind, but he couldn't use them anyways due to the cat in his arms. Miya seemed a bit embarrassed and miffed at being carried, but he didn't complain. 

He gently set the boy down on the bed, walking over to shut the open window and lock it. As he was lowering the blinds and shutting the curtains, he heard Miya speak up amongst the sound of ruffling sheets and pillows. 

“So.. You and Joe really are a thing , huh..?” 

Kaoru snorted. “Yes. Unfortunately, me and that foolish ape are a thing, as you put it.” 

“Huh.. How much of a thing thing are you two?” 

“A married thing.”

“Oh.” Miya sounded only slightly surprised, to his credit. “..Is being married nice?”

A strange question for sure, but Kaoru didn't mind answering it. “It's wonderful.”

“But you guys are always bickering - doesn't that ever make you actually mad?”

“Hm, sometimes I suppose. He can get under my skin, as I can to him. But it doesn't matter all that much. At the end of the day, my love for him will always overpower any amount of silly arguments or disagreements. There's nobody else I would rather spend my life with.”

There was silence for a few moments, and when Kaoru turned to face the boy, he seemed to be deep in thought. 

That is until he wiped that expression away and unabashedly scrunched up his nose. “Ew. Gross.” 

Kaoru laughed softly, walking by and weakly flicking Miya’s forehead before helping him get more comfortably under the sheets. The sudden questioning was a bit strange, but Kaoru wouldn't ask any further questions on it. Perhaps Miya was asking in regards to his own parents’ relationship? Either way, it wasn't any of his business unless the boy explicitly asked for his input. So instead of prodding like his gut told him to, he tucked Miya into bed and helped Vivie lay comfortably beside him. (It wasn't good enough for the little cat, who huffed lightly and flopped right up against the kid’s side.) 

Kaoru smiled at the scene, adjusting the covers around Miya and Vivie to ensure they were both comfortable. The warmth in his chest swelled as he watched Miya interact with the cat, a small flicker of joy evident in the boy’s eyes despite his clear exhaustion.

“Alright, get some rest now,” Kaoru said softly, brushing a stray hair away from Miya’s forehead. “And remember, if you need anything through the night, don't hesitate to let us know.”

Miya nodded sleepily, already feeling the heaviness of sleep pulling at his eyelids. “Thanks, Cherry. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Miya,” Kaoru replied warmly, turning off the bedside lamp and leaving the bedroom with a soft click of the door.

The room fell into a comforting silence, Miya settling down under the covers. Vivie pressed her small head against his ribcage with a contented purr, pulling a sleepy smile from the boy as he nudged his fingers against her back in small petting motions. With an overwhelming sense of pure security and comfort, Miya allowed the warmth of her presence and the rhythmic sound of her purring to quickly lull him into a peaceful sleep.

—

Miya's heart raced as he found himself back in the familiar corridors of his old school. The chatter of students, the slamming of lockers, and the distant echoes of laughter filled the air. He walked through the halls, a smile on his face as he searched for Takashi, his best friend. His only friend. The only one he ever needed.

Finally spotting Takashi by the schoolyard, Miya hurried over, his steps light with anticipation. Takashi turned to greet him, a bright smile initially on his face. They exchanged playful banter and shared jokes, just like old times. Everything felt perfect, and Miya's heart swelled with happiness.

But then, as if a switch had been flipped, Takashi's smile faded, replaced by a cold, distant expression. Miya felt a knot form in his stomach, a sinking feeling of dread creeping over him.

"What's wrong, Takashi?" Miya asked tentatively, his voice barely a whisper amid the noise of the schoolyard.

Takashi’s expression darkened, and he sneered, “Oh, Miya, don’t pretend like you don’t know. Geez, you’re so goddamn annoying, it's like you never know when to shut up.”

Miya felt like he had been punched in the gut.

“..W-What..?”

“Do you need me to repeat myself? For someone who's supposed to be so smart, you can be a real fucking idiot.”

He couldn't comprehend what was happening. This wasn't the Takashi he knew, the friend who had stood by him through thick and thin. The friend he had grown up with. 

He tried to protest, to defend himself, but Takashi’s taunts grew louder, echoing in the emptying hallway. Miya stumbled backward, his eyes filling with tears of confusion and hurt. He turned and ran, his footsteps clamoring in the emptying schoolyard.

The nightmare didn't end as he fled. He didn't know how or when, but he was suddenly at S, soaked in sweat and freshly beaten by Langa. Except this was different. He didn't know how he knew this but he just knew . Langa beat him, and by much more than half an inch this time. The teenager didn't smile at him, didn't offer to race again sometime, and Reki didn't so much as look his way anymore. Why would they? He was just a brat, right? A brat who couldn't live up to his own shit talking. How pathetic was that?

A shadow casted over him, and there stood Adam. Miya couldn't even get a word out before Adam’s hand came swinging down, slamming against the side of his head and sending him down to the ground. As he collided with it, a loud ringing went off in his head. Tears filled his eyes as  searched for something to say, figure out what his reaction should be so Adam didn't get even more angry. But what could he say? What should he say? What did he do? Why did Adam hit him? Didn't he care about him? Wasn't he still his favorite?

“I knew I shouldn't have wasted all that time on you.” The man sighed, looking thoroughly disgusted by the boy’s very existence. “How disappointing. You've become virtually useless to me Miya.” 

No. No no no no no no no. He wasn't- He wasn't useless! Not yet! Not while he could still skate! He could still improve, he could still beat Langa and all the others! He wasn't useless! He wasn't! He wasn't useless- He- He wasn't- He-

Miya’s eyes shot open, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. The remnants of the nightmare still lingered in his mind, the hurtful words and the sense of betrayal haunting him even in wakefulness. He blinked back tears, his hands trembling slightly as he reached up to wipe his face.

Vivie, sensing his distress, nuzzled closer, her purring a soothing melody in the otherwise quiet room. Miya took deep breaths, focusing on the rhythmic sound to ground himself back to reality. It was just a nightmare, he reminded himself, though the emotions it stirred were all too real.

Slowly, he sat up in bed, his gaze wandering around the room. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the now familiar surroundings. He did what he could to force the unpleasant images from his head, hands trembling where they gripped the blankets surrounding him. It was already morning.. but he didn't hear the same clatter from the kitchen like he did yesterday. As his eyes fanned across the room in his attempts to regain his bearings, Miya paused when he noticed a small sticky note on the nightstand beside him. 

Hey kid. Kaoru and I are off at work. If you need anything, shoot him a call. Or me, but I can't guarantee I’ll answer right away. Restaurant business, ya know? Anyways, there's some overnight oats in the fridge if you want. If that's not your style, there's plenty of other things you can munch on. See you later buddy. 

   -Joe

Miya rubbed his eyes tiredly, the urge to spill tears over his dream now fading away. He sunk back into the soft sheets, absentmindedly running his fingers along Vivie’s fur as he let out an unsteady sigh. He was alone again, which was.. a mixed bag in his case. For one, he appreciated the personal time where he wasn't under constant scrutiny or being perceived by anyone, but on the other hand.. now he was left with no distraction from his racing thoughts. 

His mom.. she hadn't called or texted yet. It's been a full day, two nights, and she still hasn't reached out to him. In all honesty- he didn't know what that could mean. She could just not care, which was extremely likely. She didn't tend to bother herself that much with Miya’s whereabouts on a regular day, and even more so now that she had done.. that in front of him. But.. There was also the scary thought that maybe she wasn't ignoring him. Maybe something was really wrong, maybe ever since he left her that night she hadn't moved, she was still passed out and slowly becoming dehydrated or hungry or her muscles were tightening up or she was uncomfortable or- or-

Shit. Miya pressed a hand to his head as he started to work himself up, just as he knew he would. Without knowing another way to soothe the racing of his thoughts, Miya picked his phone up from where it lay previously untouched the past 33 hours of his life. He had set it in a way that only high priority calls and messages would come through the minute they turned from the hospital to the small apartment. He didn't want to deal with anyone but the three people on his emergency contacts. His mom, his dad, and Ad-.. Adam…

Adam who he hadn't spoken to in days. Adam who.. was going to be beyond furious when he sees what Miya did to his ankle-

No. Now wasn't the time to stress about thoughts of his manager.  He picked up his phone for a reason, and it wasn’t that. 

Ignoring the frankly obnoxious number of text messages he had from two teenagers and a certain clown, he opened his mother’s contact. 

Miya’s heart raced as his finger hovered over the call button. He felt a surge of conflicting emotions, uncertainty clouding his mind. What if his mother didn’t answer? What if she did, and their conversation only led to more pain and disappointment? The fear of rejection and abandonment gnawed at him, but so did the need for closure and reassurance.

Taking a deep breath, Miya finally pressed the call button, the familiar ringing tone echoing in the quiet room. Each ring felt like an eternity, his heart pounding louder in his ears with every passing second. His mind raced with thoughts of what he would say, how he would explain his absence and his feelings. If he would even have the strength and courage to do that.

After several rings, the call went to voicemail. Miya’s heart sank, a mix of relief and disappointment washing over him. He hadn’t expected her to answer, but a small part of him had hoped for some form of acknowledgment. Her phone rang, it didn't go straight to voicemail. Meaning it wasn't dead, so she must have charged it at some point, right?

He hesitated before leaving a message, unsure of what to say. “Hey, Mom… It’s me, Miya. I just wanted to… check in. I hope you’re okay. Call me back when you can.”

He paused for a heavy moment. 

“I… I love you.”

Ending the call, Miya set his phone aside, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders and settle back down at the same time. He wasn’t sure what he had expected, but now at least he had made an attempt. The ball was in her court, and he couldn’t force her to respond or change her actions. At least logically, he knew she must be okay enough to get up and worry about things like charging her phone. That did alleviate some of the panic in his chest. 

And now.. he didn't really have anything to do. Breakfast wasn't exactly an option in his head, both due to his diet and the slight nausea his attempted phone call brought him. That left him with.. sitting here and watching TV? Brain rotting for sure, mind numbing too, but he couldn't let himself do that for a full day. He wasn't used to slacking off like that, it just wasn't how he worked. At all. He knew his foot hindered his ability to fully exercise the way he was used to, but.. maybe he could still walk around? With his crutches, yeah, but that didn't mean he couldn't move. He could still get some sort of activity in. 

With a small sigh, Miya gently shifted Vivie off of him, giving the cat an apologetic smile as she woke up because of it. She stared at him offendedly for a few moments before yawning and flopping on her other side to continue snoring away. Lucky cat. 

Miya slowly pulled his legs off the side of the bed, wincing as he attempted to put some weight on his injury. That was a big no no it seemed.. To his surprise though, his crutches were back beside the bed. Joe must have brought them in from the living room when he dropped off that little note. Carefully, Miya grabbed them and wobbled as he stood with their help. 

It was weird, moving around with crutches. As he stepped into the living area, he glanced around awkwardly. It was.. really quiet. The AC blew quietly, uncomfortably being the only thing filling the silence. For a 2 bedroom apartment, it was pretty spacious, and Miya decided to wander around a bit. He came by a side table, full of framed pictures showing the two owners throughout different stages of their lives. There was one of them as teenagers, surprisingly showing Cherry with a lip piercing and Joe with an undercut. Cherry looked bored, glancing at the camera from the side while Joe grinned and held up a peace sign. 

The picture seemed to be cut off abruptly on the side, someone’s sleeve just barely making it in. It made Miya wonder briefly who was there with them - maybe some friend they had a falling out with? Or maybe they just ruined the picture. He wasn't sure. He didn't care that much either. 

The other pictures showed more recent milestones. Sia La Luce’s opening day, their hands interlocked with their rings showing, them at vacation somewhere, Vivie as a kitten - and a lot more. Miya found himself smiling at each new photo he picked up, giggling to himself as he noted Cherry’s similar look of exasperation at every picture Joe took of the two of them. He was probably like Miya in that aspect - he hated having his picture taken. Frustratingly enough, those stupid reporters at all of his competitions could never seem to get enough and snapped photos 24/7. It was so irritating. 

After perusing around the apartment a bit longer, Miya settled in a heap on the couch with a deep sigh. He was bored. He was so, so bored. Distractedly, his mind wandered to the note Joe had left on the nightstand this morning. He said he would be busy, but Cherry on the other hand… 

Well, what was the worst that could happen? If he was busy, he just wouldn't answer. No harm no foul. 

Sliding his phone from his pocket, Miya only hesitated for a moment before pressing on Cherry’s contact. It rang once, then twice, and before Miya could even rethink this silly decision, the line picked up. 

“Miya?” Cherry’s voice rang through, the quiet sound of a keyboard clacking in the background. “Is everything alright?” 

Miya blinked. That was.. fast. “Uh.. No, I’m fine. I was just..” 

“..? Just what?” 

Shit. “I-I was.. bored?” Miya sighed, his face heating up. “Sorry, I shouldn't have interrupted you. I'll find something else to do.” 

Cherry hummed. “No, it's fine. I don't have any clients until an hour from now, so don't worry. Did you eat yet?”

“Hm, no.” 

The clacking paused. “Child. Go eat.” 

“Wh- I'm not hungry.” 

“I didn't ask if you were hungry or not. Go eat, now.” 

“Cherry-”

“Now.” 

Miya groaned petulantly, balancing his phone on his shoulder before regaining his bearings and hopping over to the kitchen. Grabbing his crutches was too much work anyways. 

“I don't want overnight oats.” He grumbled into the phone as he opened the fridge, leaning on the door slightly for support. 

“That's not the only thing in the fridge. We have cereal.”

“Too sugary.” 

“There's eggs.” 

“I don't cook.” 

“Yogurt?”

“Ew.”

“What do you like then?” Cherry huffed, yet he couldn't keep the fondness from his voice even if he tried. “What do you usually eat for breakfast?” 

Miya shrugged, though he quickly remembered that Cherry couldn't see him. “Like, a lemon water? I don't know, I don't really eat breakfast.”

Cherry let out an exasperated sigh. “Miya, you can’t just survive on lemon water. You need proper nutrition, especially since you’re healing. How about some toast with peanut butter and a banana?”

Miya wrinkled his nose at the suggestion. “Peanut butter is too sticky.”

Cherry chuckled softly. “Alright, how about some toast with avocado then? It’s healthy and easy to make.”

“Avocado toast? Isn’t that like, a fancy thing?”

“It’s a delicious and nutritious thing,” Cherry countered. “Come on, Miya, you need to take care of yourself. Breakfast is important.”

Miya relented with a sigh, realizing that arguing with Cherry about breakfast choices was futile. “Fine, avocado toast it is.”

“Good choice. Now, do you need help making it?”

Miya hesitated, glancing at the ingredients in the fridge. “Maybe just a little guidance.”

Cherry chuckled again. “ Alright, listen carefully…”

As Cherry guided Miya through the simple process of making avocado toast, their conversation flowed easily. Miya found himself smiling despite his earlier boredom and worries. It felt good to have someone to talk to, especially someone who cared about his well-being. 

He sat at the table, feeling Vivie rub against his legs as he munched on his toast. He was currently going on about one of his favorite games, only pausing occasionally when Cherry reminded him to keep eating. 

“Hold on- I thought this ‘Joker’ character was from Batman.” 

“Pfft- No. We’re talking about two different Jokers here dude.” 

“Really? There's two?” 

“Duh. There can be two different characters with the same name. One is a crazy clown and the other is a phantom thief. Could not be more different.”

“Well they’re both criminals, are they not?”

“Wh- Hell no!”

“Language.” 

“Sorry. Heck no! Joker isn't a criminal, he's more like a vigilante. He's doing what's right through means outside of the law. It's badass.” 

“Language, again.” Cherry sighed. “And alright, not a criminal. I suppose you'll have to teach me more about this game of yours when I get home later.” 

Miya paused, a bashful smile spreading across his face. “You.. You actually care?” 

“Of course I do.” Cherry sounded surprised. “Why else would I be asking questions?” 

..And this one time, Miya didn't let himself overthink it. 

“..Sure then. I’ll show you some videos when you get home!” 

“Sounds good.”

Chapter Text

Realistically, Miya knew he shouldn't have opened the door. 

It wasn't his home, and he was by himself. That was just asking for trouble at that point, right? But what if it was some package they were having delivered? Someone had to accept it, right? He was already mooching off of Joe and Cherry by staying in their home, so this would be the least he could do. 

Whoever was on the other side knocked again, this time louder. Miya grimaced as he hopped over, the knot of worry tightening in his stomach. He took a deep breath to steady himself before unlocking and cracking the door open, revealing a stern face framed by the dim porch light.

Miya’s stomach sank. What.. what was he doing here? How did he even know Miya was here?! What did he want? And oh shit oh shit he's looking at the cast- 

"Can I come in?" his voice was as icy as his expression, his tone implying that it wasn't so much a question as a demand.

Miya hesitated, his instinct screaming at him to refuse. But his fear of his potential wrath outweighed his better judgment. Slowly, almost dazedly, he nodded and moved aside, allowing the man entry into the house.

As he brushed past him, Miya couldn't help but feel a shiver of apprehension. He closed the door quietly, trying to compose himself as he watched him stalk in, gaze filtering around the living room. His mere presence loomed heavily, casting a thick tension in the air.

The man slowly turned to face him again, a look of barely masked disgust on his face. “So this is where you scurry off to when you want attention, hm.” 

Miya felt sick. “N-No, that's not- I..” 

“Well? Spit it out.”

“I-I..” What do I say? Shit, what do I say? Do I explain my injury or will that make him more angry? Why is he here? He looks so mad, shit shit what do I say what do I s-

“Are you aware,” he began, eyes boring into Miya’s as the boy gripped onto the door handle for both balance and his own bearings. “That those little vermin you call friends these days showed up? At my doorstep?”

..What? 

“..h-huh..?”

“Did I stutter?” Adam’s voice was ice cold. 

His gaze turned piercing, his features unreadable. "I told you, Miya. I care about you. Someone needs to look out for you since you clearly can't do it yourself."

Miya swallowed hard, his discomfort growing with each passing second. He knew Adam's version of "caring" often came with strings attached, and he braced himself for whatever was to come. 

His mind raced as he tried to process Adam’s words. What did he mean by “those little vermin”? Did he mean Cherry and Joe? Reki and Langa? Why would they go to Adam’s doorstep? The situation was spiraling out of control, and Miya felt a sense of panic creeping in.

“I-I don’t understand,” Miya stammered, his voice trembling with uncertainty. “What do you mean they showed up at your doorstep?”

Adam’s expression darkened, his eyes narrowing into slits as he regarded Miya with thinly veiled contempt. “Don’t play dumb with me, Miya. Those idiotic teenagers who are convinced you're some damsel in distress caused a scene on my property. It was the first I was hearing of you not being home, so imagine my surprise when I go to your house and hear that you up and left.” 

Adam let his gaze drift around the home, eyes landing on the several picture frames of the two owners. “And here I find you, with none other than Joe and Cherry Blossom.” He spat. “Before you start- don't even try. I know they’re the ones who took you in when you ran away. Trying to turn them against me, are you?”

Miya’s heart pounded in his chest, his mind reeling with confusion and fear. He had never intended for his actions to cause this much trouble for Cherry and Joe, and the thought of putting them in danger filled him with guilt.

“I-I didn’t tell Reki and Langa to come to you,” Miya protested, his voice barely above a whisper. “I-I didn’t even know they went to your house. And Cherry and Joe- they’re just helping me out. I.. After my mom got hurt I needed-”

Adam’s lip curled into a sneer, his tone dripping with disdain. “Save it, Miya. I don’t need your pathetic excuses. You’re lucky I don’t report them to the authorities for harboring a runaway.”

Miya’s breath caught in his throat, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of Adam’s threats. He knew that Adam had the power to make good on his words, and the thought of Cherry and Joe facing repercussions because of him filled him with a sickening sense of dread.

“I-I’m sorry,” Miya whispered, his voice barely audible as he struggled to hold back tears. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. Please, don’t do anything to them. They were just trying to help me.”

Adam’s expression eased slightly, but there was still a glint of malice in his eyes. “You always were too soft-hearted for your own good, Miya,” he said, his tone laced with condescension. “But mark my words, if they interfere in my affairs again, there will be consequences.”

As Adam’s words echoed in the room, Miya felt a wave of dread wash over him. He knew he couldn’t risk Cherry and Joe facing any more trouble because of him. But as much as he wanted to protect them, he couldn’t deny the fear that gnawed at him in Adam’s presence.

As if sensing Miya’s inner turmoil, Adam’s expression softened slightly, his gaze fixing on Miya with an intensity that sent a chill down his spine. “I don’t want to cause you any more trouble, Miya,” he said, his voice surprisingly gentle. “But I need your help.”

Miya’s heart skipped a beat, his mind racing with apprehension. What could Adam possibly want from him? And why was he asking for his help now, after everything that had happened?

“What kind of help?” Miya asked cautiously, his voice barely above a whisper.

Adam’s lips curved into a subtle smirk, his eyes gleaming with a calculating glint. “I need you to keep an eye on Joe and Cherry for me,” he said, his tone casual yet tinged with underlying menace. “I need to know what they’re up to, who they’re associating with. And I need someone I can trust to do it discreetly. Since you're already here, you should have no trouble doing that for me.”

Miya’s heart sank as he realized what Adam was asking of him. The thought of betraying Cherry and Joe filled him with a sense of revulsion, but he couldn’t ignore the fear that clawed at him in Adam’s presence.

“I-I don’t know if I can do that,” Miya stammered, his voice trembling with uncertainty. “I-I don’t want to betray their trust. They’ve done so much for me, and-”

Adam’s gaze hardened, his expression growing cold and impassive. “Miya, you need to understand something,” he said, his voice low and menacing. “You owe me. I’ve been looking out for you, protecting you, uplifting you and supporting you. And now I need you to do this one thing for me. One. If you refuse... Well, let’s just say there will be consequences. I have the power to completely withdraw my sponsorship and management from your career. And then what will you be without me, hm? Exactly how far do you think you’ll go?” 

Miya’s breath caught in his throat as he realized the full extent of Adam’s manipulation. He was trapped, caught between his loyalty to Cherry and Joe and his fear of Adam’s wrath. And in that moment, he knew that he had no choice but to comply.

With a heavy heart and a sense of resignation, Miya nodded slowly, his voice barely a whisper. “Okay,” he said, his words feeling like a betrayal even as they left his lips. “I’ll do it.”

As Adam’s smirk widened into a satisfied grin, Miya couldn’t shake the feeling that he had just made a deal with the devil. 

With a smug satisfaction, Adam reached into his pocket and withdrew a small listening device, holding it out to Miya with a mocking flourish. “Here,” he said, his voice dripping with condescension. “This should make your job easier. Just hide it somewhere in the house where they won’t find it.”

Miya’s hands trembled as he reluctantly accepted the device, his stomach churning with guilt and unease. He knew he was betraying Cherry and Joe’s trust, but the fear of Adam’s retribution loomed larger in his mind.

“Th-thank you,” Miya muttered, his voice barely audible as he stared down at the device in his hands.

Adam’s smirk widened into a predatory grin as he reached out and gently stroked Miya’s cheek, his touch sending a shiver down Miya’s spine. “You’re doing the right thing, Miya,” he said, his voice oozing with false warmth. “I knew I could count on you. Just remember, this is for your own good. And for theirs too, in a way. Now, discretion is key. Don’t let them suspect a thing, understand?”

Miya nodded weakly, his heart heavy with guilt and regret. As Adam turned and strode out of the room, leaving Miya alone with his thoughts, a sense of dread settled over him like a dark cloud. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had just made a Faustian bargain, trading his integrity for a semblance of safety in Adam's twisted world.

With a heavy heart, Miya made his way through the dimly lit house, the weight of the listening device in his pocket serving as a constant reminder of his betrayal. Every creak of the floorboards, every flicker of shadow, seemed to whisper accusations at him, amplifying the guilt that gnawed at his conscience.

As he reached their bedroom door, Miya hesitated, his hand hovering over the handle. He knew that planting the listening device would betray the trust they had placed in him, but he also knew that he had no other choice. With a heavy sigh, he pushed open the door and slipped inside, the weight of his decision bearing down on him like a leaden cloak.

He hated this. He wanted to leave. He wanted to go, so so badly. He would say he wanted to go home, but where was that at this point? With his mom and dad? Adam’s place? At the skatepark with Reki and Langa? 

...Here, with Joe and Cherry?

No. It couldn’t be. Not anymore, not with everything he’s done. Everything he’s currently doing. If they ever found out... When they found out, they would hate him. And he knew he couldn’t blame them. But that didn’t change how sick the thought made Miya feel. His stomach twisted, tightening up sharply as his breaths came in quicker, shorter bursts. 

Without spending even one more second on deliberation, Miya scanned the room, searching for the perfect hiding spot for the device. His gaze landed on a shelf tucked away in the corner, cluttered with knick-knacks and mementos. With a trembling hand, he reached out and concealed the device among the trinkets, praying that it would go unnoticed.

As he stepped back, a wave of nausea washed over him, the reality of what he had just done hitting him like a physical blow. He had crossed a line that he could never uncross, betraying the trust of those who had shown him nothing but kindness.

Would they hate him after this? They didn't like Adam, that much was pretty obvious from the few conversations they'd had about the man. But clearly their beef went deeper than skating, if Adam was willing to go this far to get information about them. What was it though? What did Adam want to gain from this? How long had he known the two older skaters? 

What had he just started?

---

Kojiro was exhausted. 

He had a long day at the restaurant, dealing with demanding customers and a never-ending stream of orders. All he wanted was to come home, collapse on the couch, and forget about the stress of the day.

As he pushed open the door to his apartment, the comforting smell of home greeted him, along with the sound of the TV playing softly in the background. Kojiro’s tired muscles relaxed slightly at the familiar sight, but as he stepped further into the living room, his exhaustion turned to confusion.

There, on the couch, sat Kaoru, looking relaxed as he flipped through channels on the television. But what caught Kojiro off guard was the sight of Miya, sitting stiffly beside him, his eyes darting nervously around the room.

“Hey, babe,” Kojiro said, his voice tinged with fatigue as he dropped his bag by the door. “What’s going on?”

Kaoru glanced up, a small smile playing on his lips. “Oh, nothing much,” he replied casually. “Miya and I just wanted  to hang out for a bit. Thought we could watch a movie together.”

Miya nodded stiffly in greeting, but there was an undeniable tension in the air that Kojiro couldn’t ignore. He frowned slightly, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten as he took in the scene before him.

“Everything okay?” he asked, his gaze flickering between Kaoru and Miya.

Kaoru’s smile remained gentle, but there was a hint of something unreadable in his eyes. “Of course,” he said smoothly. “Just enjoying some downtime together. You look beat, though. Why don’t you go take a shower and relax? Miya and I can handle things here, I’ll even start on dinner soon.”

Kojiro hesitated, a nagging feeling of unease gnawing at him, but his exhaustion won out in the end. With a weary nod, he trudged towards the bathroom, the events of the day weighing heavily on his mind.

As he stood under the warm spray of the shower, Kojiro couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but the tension in the air lingered like a heavy presence, casting a shadow over what should have been a peaceful evening at home.

And as he dried off and made his way back to the living room, the knot of worry in his stomach only tightened. He didn’t know what was going on between Kaoru and Miya, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that it was something he wouldn’t like. He knew his husband, and he could tell when something was off. But for now, he would just have to focus on letting go of all the stress of the day.

When he re-entered the room, he noticed Kaoru had since gotten up and started on dinner, just like he said he would. Miya on the other hand, was curled up on the couch, fingers stroking Vivie with a noticeable gentleness.

Kojiro couldn’t help but feel a pang of concern as he watched Miya. There was something about the way he held himself, a stiffness in his posture that spoke volumes despite his attempts to appear relaxed. It was clear to Kojiro that Miya was not at ease, and that troubled him deeply.

“Kojiro, can you help me really quick?” 

At the call of his name, Kojiro nodded, joining his husband in the kitchen to assist with dinner. As they seamlessly worked together, Kojiro couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air. Finally, unable to contain his concern any longer, he spoke up.

"Kaoru, is everything okay with Miya?" He asked quietly, his voice laced with worry. "He seems really off tonight."

Kaoru glanced at Kojiro, his expression thoughtful. "I noticed that too," he admitted, his brow furrowing slightly. "He's been acting strange ever since I got home from work. I tried to ask him what was wrong, but he just brushed it off."

Kojiro frowned, his concern deepening. He knew that Miya had been dealing with a lot lately, especially with everything going on with his mother. But something about his behavior tonight felt... different, and Kojiro couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story than they knew.

"Do you think it's about his mom?" He wondered aloud, his voice barely above a whisper. "I know he's been really stressed about her situation lately. Or maybe it has to do with his injury..?” 

Kaoru nodded thoughtfully, his expression troubled. "It's possible," he conceded. "But there's something about the way he's been acting that feels... off. I can't quite put my finger on it."

But before Kojiro could respond, their conversation was interrupted by a loud clatter coming from the living room. Both men exchanged a worried glance before hurrying out of the kitchen to investigate.

Miya had abandoned his spot on the couch, sickness rushing up through his body as he overheard the two adults' quiet discussion regarding him. He barely managed to get the lid of the toilet seat up before he was emptying his stomach into it completely. His throat burned, eyes watering so badly that everything in his sights were completely blurred. 

In his hurry to make it here in the first place, he only realized that he forgot to shut the door as two pairs of rushed footsteps made their way to him. He heard the faint creak of the door being pushed open the rest of the way, before Cherry’s worried voice muttered a hushed “Oh- Jesus.” and he was almost immediately kneeling at Miya’s side. 

“Shh, it’s alright dear. Just let it all out, you’re okay. There there, you’re alright.” Cherry muttered, carefully gathering Miya’s hair from in front of his face and sweeping it behind his ears, holding it back for him all the while. “Kojiro, go get him some water.”

“Yeah- Yeah of course. Just a sec-” Miya heard him rush out of the bathroom soon after, though he didn’t pay much attention to it as Cherry returned to his gentle attentiveness. As Miya began to dry heave, Cherry softly stroked his back. 

“It’s okay, just let it out Mimi..” He sighed softly, shaking his head. “Goodness, why didn’t you tell us you were feeling sick? We could have made you soup for dinner instead.. Better yet- you’d have been resting rather than being up and about all day.”

He could have made something up then. Miya could have told Cherry that he wasn’t feeling sick, just that something upset his stomach. Or, he could have played along, pretended to really feel ill and let them fuss over him to distract them from even possibly finding out about what he’d just done. He could even have told them the truth. Maybe if he took this moment to tell them everything, every horrible little thing he’s done for Adam at their expense, maybe they wouldn’t be too angry. Maybe they could even understand...

Instead, Miya cried. 

He crumpled completely, pulling back from the toilet bowl and sobbing hopelessly into his hands. Cherry’s soft, alarmed gasp sounded from above him, and there was a brief moment of nothingness before gentle yet strong arms pulled him in for a hug. Miya didn’t have to think twice before melting into Cherry’s embrace, sobbing out deep and tortured cries into the man’s chest. 

Miya’s tears flowed freely as he clung to Cherry, the weight of his guilt and fear pressing down on him like a suffocating blanket. He wanted to tell them everything, to confess his betrayal and beg for their forgiveness, but the words caught in his throat, choked by his overwhelming sense of shame.

Cherry held him close, murmuring soothing words of comfort as he gently rocked Miya back and forth. Kojiro returned with a glass of water, his expression filled with concern as he knelt beside them, offering the drink to Miya with a sympathetic smile.

“Here you go, Miya,” Kojiro said softly, his voice gentle. “Drink some water, it might help settle your stomach.”

Miya took the glass with trembling hands, his tears still flowing unchecked as he took small sips of the cool liquid. He felt like he was drowning in a sea of his own emotions, unable to find solid ground amidst the turmoil raging within him.

Cherry rubbed soothing circles on Miya’s back, his touch a comforting anchor in the storm of Miya’s despair. “It’s okay, sweetheart,” he murmured, his voice soft and reassuring. “You’re safe here. Whatever’s troubling you, you don’t have to face it alone.”

Miya’s heart clenched at Cherry’s words, his guilt twisting into a sharp pain in his chest. He wanted to tell them the truth, to unburden himself of the secrets that threatened to tear him apart from the inside out. But he couldn’t bear the thought of the disappointment and betrayal that would surely follow.

“I-I’m sorry,” Miya choked out, his voice barely above a whisper as he clung to Cherry with desperate strength. “I-I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. I-I just- I don’t know what to do anymore.”

Cherry’s arms tightened around him, offering silent reassurance and support. Kojiro placed a comforting hand on Miya’s shoulder, his gaze filled with empathy and understanding, despite his being completely lost on why Miya was hurting so badly.

“You don’t have to figure it all out right now,” He said gently, his voice a soothing balm to Miya’s frayed nerves. “We’re here for you, kid. Whatever you’re going through, we’ll face it together.”

Miya buried his face against Cherry’s chest, his tears mingling with the fabric of his shirt as he clung to him. The man held Miya close, his heart aching with empathy for the young boy who was clearly struggling with something heavy. He whispered words of comfort, his voice a soft melody in the midst of Miya’s storm of emotions. Kojiro’s hand remained a steady presence on Miya’s shoulder, offering silent support and understanding.

**Meanwhile**

Langa had never been selfish. 

Even when he was just 7 years old, he demonstrated a remarkable sense of selflessness. One sunny afternoon, while playing at the park with his friends, he noticed a younger child sitting alone on a bench, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Without hesitation, Langa approached the child, his heart filled with empathy. He learned that the boy, named Taro, had lost his favorite toy, a small stuffed bear he had received as a birthday gift. Taro's distress touched Langa deeply, and he made it his mission to help.

Despite knowing that his own playtime would be cut short, Langa spent the rest of the afternoon scouring the park, searching high and low for Taro's lost bear. With unwavering determination, he checked under benches, behind bushes, and even climbed trees in his quest to find the precious toy.

Finally, just as the sun began to set, Langa spotted a flash of fur tucked away in the branches of a nearby tree. With a triumphant grin, he retrieved the lost bear and rushed back to Taro, who greeted him with tears of joy and gratitude.

In that moment, Langa's heart swelled with happiness, knowing that he had made a difference in someone else's life. From that day forward, he carried with him the belief that kindness and compassion were the greatest gifts one could give, and he lived his life striving to help others whenever he could.

Another time, on a snowy winter day, as he walked home from school with his classmates they stumbled upon a stray kitten shivering in the cold. While the other children hesitated, Langa immediately took off his own jacket and wrapped it around the tiny creature, ignoring his own discomfort in the freezing weather.

When his friends asked why he did it, Langa simply shrugged and said, “The kitten needed it more than me.”

Even as he suffered for the next week with an awful cold as a result, he couldn't find it within himself to regret his decision. That's why now, as he was faced with this whole Miya situation, he couldn't let it go. Especially not when the solution to the whole problem was right in his hands. 

“Hey mom.. can I ask you something?” He questioned quietly. “But you have to promise you won't ask questions.”

Nanako smiled at her son from where she stood above the stove, stirring the pot of gravy to make the boy’s favorite food. He was diligently doing his homework at the dinner table, but there was an unmistakable furrow to his brow. His nails were freshly bitten, and Nanako could see all the telltale signs of her son feeling stressed out. 

“Of course baby, what’s up?” 

Langa chewed on the end of his pen, eyes focused tensely on the table in front of him. 

“If.. If you knew you could do something to help someone, but it might put you yourself in danger, would you do it?”

Nanako froze. 

“..Is something going on?”

Langa sighed. “You promised not to ask questions.”

“Langa Hasegawa.” 

“Mom, please.” The boy sighed, resting his forehead in his hand. “I promise I’m not in any danger. I’m just curious, it's a question somebody asked in class today and I was wondering what your thoughts on it were.” 

“Well- then why did you tell me not to ask questions?” 

“Cause.. it's kind of embarrassing..?” 

Nanako bit her lip, narrowing her eyes slightly at his response. It was.. wholly suspicious, but she didn't want him to withdraw back into himself by her asking too many questions. 

“Hm.. Well, I guess it would depend on how much danger it put me in. If it was life threatening, then most likely not- I have you to come back home to after all!” She smiled, stirring the small pot gently. “However.. if it was for you, then the amount of danger I was in wouldn't matter.”

“..Why’s that?”

“Isn't it obvious?” She sounded genuinely surprised. “You're my son, my precious baby boy. My gem, my everything- I would die and kill for you. Not only because I love you more than life, but because, well... I’m your mother. You’re my son. It’s my job as the adult you depend on to be there for you throughout anything you might go through. My duty and pleasure.” 

Nanako giggled after that, bringing a small smile to Langa’s face. “What about for any other kid..? Like... Do you think it's your responsibility as someone older to help those younger than you?”

She leaned against the counter, her gaze drifting to the simmering pot as she pondered her answer. "You know, Langa, being older comes with its own set of responsibilities. It's not just about taking care of ourselves but also looking out for others, especially those who may need guidance or support. So, yes, I do believe it's our responsibility as older individuals to help those younger than us."

She paused, stirring the pot absentmindedly as her thoughts took shape. "Think about it this way: when we offer help to someone younger, we're not just assisting them in that moment; we're also shaping their future. We're teaching them about compassion, empathy, and the importance of lending a hand. And who knows, maybe one day, when they're older, they'll pay it forward and help someone else in need."

Nanako glanced at her son, a soft smile playing on her lips. "So, whether it's helping a classmate with their homework or standing up for someone who's being bullied, every act of kindness, big or small, matters. It's what makes us human, what connects us to one another." She reached out and ruffled Langa's hair affectionately. "And I have no doubt that you, my dear, will grow up to be someone who makes a difference in the lives of others."

As Nanako's words echoed in his mind, Langa felt a sense of determination stirring within him. He thought about Miya, clearly struggling with some strange dynamic with Adam. He wasn’t entirely sure of what was going on, but he wasn’t an idiot. Adam was beyond creepy, and that was no situation for a 13 year old boy to be in. Despite Nanako's advice about considering the danger, he couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to help Miya, even if it meant putting himself at risk.

‘I have to do something,’ Langa thought to himself, his grip tightening on the pen. ‘Miya needs someone to stand up for him, and if I don't do it, who will?’

Despite the fear gnawing at the pit of his stomach, Langa made a silent promise to himself that he would take action. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he couldn't ignore the call to help a friend in need.

With newfound resolve, Langa returned his focus to his homework, his mind already formulating a plan to support Miya and put an end to the situation once and for all.

After all, how hard could a race against an old man really be?

Chapter Text

When Ayame woke up, initially, she was livid. 

Her head was killing her. Not just from the raging hangover, but her neck was at a horrible angle from where she slept on the couch. How she got there, she didn't know. The last thing she remembered was sitting at the table, the neck of a bottle of sochu between her manicured fingers as she took gulp after gulp. 

Honestly though- could you really blame her? Her good for nothing husband stormed out and was yet to be seen again after she caught him cheating. Again. Her son who only had the responsibilities of going to school and keeping up with his career went off throwing a tantrum over a bruised ankle, and practically demanded that she pity him and bother their doctor to come see him. It was so infuriating. 

The rest of the night after that was a blur, and she couldn't remember much of anything after she snatched down the first bottle from her alcohol cabinet. 

“Miya?” She called out, her voice hoarse and grainy. With a groan, she held her head and slowly stood up, dragging her feet from the couch and to the hallway. She waited a few heavy moments for a response, yet when she received none, her face dropped into a scowl. 

“Miya!” Her head stabbed with pain. “Fuck- Miya, don’t make me come up there!” 

Still, nothing. 

As Ayame stumbled down the hallway, her head throbbing with each step, she couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that gnawed at her insides. She called out for her son again, her voice growing louder and more frantic with each passing moment.

“Miya, where are you?” she called out, her heart pounding in her chest. “Answer me, damn it!”

But still, there was no response. Panic surged through Ayame’s veins, her mind racing with a thousand terrifying possibilities. What if something had happened to Miya? What if he was more hurt than she thought, or in trouble and she was too drunk to help him?

The thought was enough to send her staggering up the stairs, her head spinning and her stomach churning with fear. She flung open the door to Miya’s room, her heart in her throat as she searched desperately for any sign of her son.

But the room was empty, the bed neatly made and the curtains drawn shut. Panic gripped Ayame’s chest like a vice as she realized that Miya was nowhere to be found.

“Miya!” she screamed, her voice raw with fear. “Where are you?”

With trembling hands, Ayame reached for her phone, her fingers fumbling through the fabric of her pockets until she remembered that she had left it on the kitchen table. Not only that, but she hadn't plugged it in yet. It was probably dead anyways..

Tears stung Ayame’s eyes as she collapsed onto the bed, her body shaking with sobs. She felt so lost and alone, so overwhelmed by the weight of her problems and the pain of her fractured family. Her husband had left, maybe even for good this time, and now her son was nowhere to be found. Where could he have gone? Did he leave too, right along with his good for nothing father? Abandon her, just like he did?

Just as she was on the brink of fully breaking down, there was a soft knock at the door, followed by the sound of voices outside. Ayame’s heart skipped a beat as she stumbled to her feet, a slight hope sparking in her chest at the sound of familiar voices.

With a shaky breath, she made her way to the door, her eyes red and swollen from crying. She hesitated for a moment, her hand hovering over the doorknob as she tried to compose herself.

When Ayame finally opened the door, her eyes were red and swollen from crying, her face a mask of exhaustion and despair. But as she looked out into the doorway, her heart skipped a beat at the sight of Ainosuke and Tadashi standing on her doorstep.

“Mrs. Chinen,” Ainosuke said softly, his voice smooth and comforting. “I hope we’re not disturbing you.”

She shook her head, her throat tight with emotion. “No, of course not,” she managed to choke out, her voice thick with tears. “Please, come in.”

The man smiled sympathetically, his eyes filled with concern as he stepped into the apartment, Tadashi trailing silently behind him. “We’ve been so worried about you and Miya,” he said, his voice warm and reassuring. “Is everything okay?”

Ayame’s heart ached at the concern in Ainosuke’s voice, her eyes filling with tears once more as she thought about her missing son. “I-I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “Miya’s gone, and I don’t know where he is. I wanted to call him, but- but I was so upset and- ”

His expression softened with sympathy, his eyes filled with understanding. “Oh, Mrs. Chinen, I’m so sorry,” he said gently, his voice a soothing balm to Ayame’s frayed nerves. “But don’t worry, I know where Miya is.”

The woman's heart leaped with hope at his words, relief flooding through her as she looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. “You do?” she asked, her voice trembling with emotion.

Ainosuke nodded, his smile warm and reassuring. “Yes,” he said. “He’s at my estate, doing some extra training before his competitions. I wanted to give him some extra help, make sure he’s in top form.”

Ayame felt a surge of gratitude towards her son’s manager, her heart overflowing with relief at the thought of him being safe and sound. “Oh, thank you,” she whispered, tears of gratitude streaming down her cheeks. “Thank you so much.”

Ainosuke’s smile widened at Ayame’s words, his eyes shining with satisfaction. “Of course, Mrs. Chinen,” he said smoothly. “Anything for you and Miya. And speaking of which, I was wondering if he could stay with me for a while longer. I know you’re going through a hard time right now, and I want to be here to support him while you sort through everything. Of course, I’ll compensate you with additional funds alongside your usual amount as a result.”

Ayame’s heart swelled with gratitude at his offer, her eyes filling with tears once more at his kindness. “Oh, Ainosuke, that’s so sweet of you,” she said, her voice choked with emotion. “But I couldn’t possibly ask you to do that. You’ve already done so much for us.”

He shook his head, his smile warm and sincere. “Nonsense,” he said. “I insist. You and Miya are like family to me, and I want to be here for you in your time of need.”

Ayame felt a rush of emotion at his words, her heart overflowing with gratitude and relief. “Thank you,” she whispered, tears of gratitude streaming down her cheeks. “Thank you so much.”

As Ainosuke stepped further into the home, his smile filled with satisfaction, Ayame couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope begin to stir within her. Maybe there was still hope for her fractured family, and a chance to find happiness once again.

—

“I gotta go home.”

It’s not like Kaoru wasn’t expecting to hear these words at some point- after all, Miya had all his belongings and practically his entire life back at his home- he just wasn’t expecting to hear them so soon. And so out of the blue as well. 

When Kaoru arrived home from work that evening, he couldn’t help but notice the strange stiffness in the air as he walked in. He saw Miya curled up on the couch, Vivie curled up on his lap as he carefully scratched behind her ears, his eyes glued to the same movie he had previously teased Kojiro for liking so much. Kaoru huffed softly, opening his mouth to quietly tease the boy, but was quickly shut down when Miya practically jumped out of his skin when a floorboard creaked beneath Kaoru’s foot, signaling his arrival. 

Now, he hadn’t known Miya for too long at all. But he didn’t have to to know that the look of panicked terror that crossed the young boy’s face was extremely out of character. He’d seen him sad, scared, angry, annoyed, happy, and playful many times already, yet this expression that found its home on his face stopped Kaoru in his tracks. 

Miya had frozen, blinking a few times before he recognized who it actually was standing behind him, and the tension in his shoulders eased in the slightest as a result. “Sorry..” He had breathed out, mumbling something about how he didn’t hear Kaoru enter the house and that was why he had gotten so scared. Kaoru wasn’t sure if he fully believed him, but he left it alone. 

However, things only got more suspicious from there. While he intentionally didn’t give it any attention, Kaoru noticed every time Miya would glance at the front door, all the while anxiously biting at his nails. As if he was waiting for someone to come in at any moment. When the pink-haired man asked if the boy was okay, he received a nod that was far too half-hearted for his liking. Yet again, he left it alone. For the sake of Miya’s comfort, he wouldn’t continue to pry. 

He thought that when Kojiro got home, things would ease up. He continued to pretend as if everything was alright, keeping up the facade up until he was cooking alongside Kojiro in the kitchen. His husband had clearly noticed just as much as Kaoru did in regards to how tense Miya was, a stark contrast to his upbeat mood just the night before. They discussed for a while what they thought could be wrong, when they heard a clamor coming from the living room and the sound of a door slamming in the apartment. On instinct, they both dropped what they were holding and rushed to where Miya was now, kneeling in front of the toilet and puking with vigor. 

Kaoru tried his best to comfort the boy, his efforts doubling when he started to sob in his arms and apologize. For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out what was wrong. Miya refused to elaborate, and they didn’t have much to go on besides the heightened anxiety and apparent sickness. Kojiro took the liberty to carry Miya out of the bathroom and into the spare bedroom, setting him down onto the bed with delicacy while the boy sniffled and sobbed. 

It was only in the hours that followed, when Kaoru and Kojiro were bringing him freshly prepared soup and medicine that Miya muttered those words. 

“..Um.. Is everything okay?” Kojiro blanched, raising an eyebrow as the boy refused to even meet their eyes. His gaze was trained on his phone, his grip around it almost looking painful. When Kaoru glanced at the device, Miya quickly shut it off and slammed it face down on the bed. 

“Fine. I just.. Got a text. From.. my mom. She’s awake, and she wants me home. And.. Um.. School. Yeah, I gotta get back to school soon and my uniform and stuff is over there, so…”

He wasn't telling the truth. That much was very obvious. Kaoru exchanged a worried glance with Kojiro, both of them sensing that something was off about Miya's sudden insistence on leaving. But they couldn't force him to stay if he didn't want to, especially if it involved his mother. 

"Are you sure you're okay to travel, Mimi?" Cherry asked softly, his voice filled with concern as he gently placed a hand on Miya's shoulder. He tried to ignore the way the boy trembled under his touch. "You were just sick, maybe you should rest a little longer before you go."

Miya shrugged off Cherry's hand, his gaze still fixed on the floor as he mumbled, "I'll be fine. I just need to get out of here."

Kojiro's heart clenched at the defeated tone in Miya's voice, his worry for the boy growing with each passing moment. "Okay, if that's what you want," he said quietly, his voice tinged with sadness. "Let me just get my shoes on and I’ll give you a ride.” 

“No. She’s-.. my manager is picking me up. She sent him- he's already on his way..” 

This is strange. Something is off about this. Kaoru thought, but he couldn't find a solid reason why he felt this way. Eventually, he let out a deep sigh. Miya was set on leaving, and he wouldn't force him to stay anywhere he didn't want to be. “Alright then.. But please, Miya, if you need anything, anything at all, don't hesitate to call us, okay? We're here for you. You know that."

Miya nodded, his expression unreadable as he mumbled a quiet "Thanks" before going silent once again, his bowl of soup remaining untouched.. Kojiro watched him for a moment, a sinking feeling settling in the pit of his stomach as he wondered what could have possibly happened to make Miya act this way.

An hour passed before Miya finally announced that he had to leave. He stood up, wincing slightly as he put weight on his injured ankle. He grabbed his crutches, struggling to balance as he made his way to the door. Kaoru and Kojiro watched him silently, their worry for the boy growing with each passing moment.

“Wait.” Kaoru spoke up, receiving a small glance over the shoulder from the visibly nervous young boy. “...Text us when you get home, okay? So we know you arrived safely..” 

“...’Kay..” 

When Miya finally reached the sleek black car parked outside, Kaoru couldn’t shake the feeling that he had seen it before. It looked familiar, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. As Miya climbed into the car with the help of his crutches, Kaoru’s brow furrowed with concern.

As they stood side by side, watching Miya drive away, a heavy silence settled between them. Kojiro could see the worry etched on Kaoru's face, mirrored by his own concern.

"Do you think we should have let him go?" Kaoru finally asked, his voice heavy with doubt.

Kojiro sighed, running a hand through his hair as he struggled to find an answer. "I don't know," he admitted, his heart heavy with concern. "But if he needs some space, maybe it's for the best. We'll just have to trust that he'll be okay."

But even as he said the words, Kojiro couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air. Something wasn't right, and he couldn't help but worry that they were missing something important.

As they cleaned up the dishes in the kitchen, the apartment felt emptier than it had in a long time. Miya's absence hung in the air like a heavy cloud, casting a shadow over everything they did. Kojiro couldn't help but worry about the boy he had come to think of as his own, his heart heavy with concern for whatever troubles Miya was facing.

But for now, all they could do was wait and hope that everything would turn out okay in the end. They may not know what was going on, but they would do everything in their power to support Miya through whatever he may be going through.

In the car, Miya sat quietly in the backseat, his gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside. Tadashi sat behind the wheel, while Adam sat in the passenger seat beside him. The atmosphere inside the car was tense, a heavy silence settling over them as they drove through the city streets.

Adam glanced back at Miya through the rearview mirror, his eyes cold and calculating as they studied the young skater. Miya shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, his heart pounding in his chest as he tried to avoid eye contact.

"So, Miya," Adam said suddenly, his voice sharp and aggressive. "I see you’ve injured yourself again. Seems like you're always getting hurt somehow, these days. Can't handle the pressure, is that it?"

Miya flinched at the harshness in Adam's tone, his hands tightening around the handle of his crutches as they lay across his lap. He knew he should say something, defend himself against Adam's accusations, but he couldn't find the words. He was too afraid of what Adam might do if he spoke up in retaliation.

"I-It's not like that," Miya finally muttered after a heavy silence, his voice barely above a whisper. "It was just an accident. I didn't mean-"

Adam cut him off with a scoff, rolling his eyes in obvious disbelief. "Sure, Miya. Whatever you say. But you better shape up soon, or else you're going to find yourself out of a job. And we both know you can't afford that, can you?"

Miya's heart sank at Adam's words, his fear and anxiety growing with each passing moment. He knew he wasn't performing as well as he should be, but he was trying his best. He just needed more time to get back on track.

"I'm trying," he said quietly, his voice trembling with emotion. "I promise, I'll do better. Just please, give me a chance."

But Adam just laughed, a cold, humorless sound that sent shivers down Miya's spine. "We'll see about that," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "But just remember, Miya, you're skating on thin ice. And one wrong move could send you crashing down.”

Miya swallowed hard, his hands shaking with fear as he stared out the window, his heart racing. “I know..” He whispered. “I said I’m sorry, o-okay? I’m gonna listen to whatever you say now, I swear..”

Adam didn’t satisfy him with a response, casting the car back in a heavy silence. Miya felt sick, like he could throw up again at any moment now. He’d never felt this way around Adam, never felt so sickeningly anxious and on edge just from being in the man’s presence. He trusted Adam with his life, he had since the day he started taking care of his family and boosting his career. This was the first time he could confidently say that he didn’t feel.. entirely safe around his manager. 

“Huh? That weird guy at your competition showed up again?” A young Takashi questioned, a small frown on his face. Miya hummed and nodded, hands idly twisting the boy’s brown strands of hair and braiding them. 

“Mhm. Said he wanted my parent’s contact information to talk about deals and stuff.”

Takashi’s brow furrowed. “You didn’t give it to him, right?”

Miya huffed. “I’m not an idiot Taka, I know about stranger danger. I just told him I had to go and get to school.”

His friend didn’t seem very pleased. “That’s still weird though… why is he so obsessed with sponsoring you?”

“Maybe ‘cause I’m awesome?” 

At that, Takashi finally huffed a small laugh, gently shoving his friend’s shoulder. “Shut up, you know what I mean. It’s just.. Weird. I don’t know. Be careful when it comes to that guy, okay? If he tries to talk to you alone again, tell him you’ll call the police.”

“You're such a worrywart.” Miya giggled. “Scared he’s gonna take me away from you?”

“I'm serious Miya!” Takashi defended, though a small laugh bled into his voice. “He gave me the creeps!”  

“Don’t worry Taka, I promise I’ll be careful.”

“Don’t just be careful- stay away from him. Seriously Miya. You’re crazy talented, you can get any sponsorship in the world. Just.. Not from him. Promise?”

“..Okay. I promise.” 

“Are you even listening?”

Miya flinched. He didn't even know Adam had started talking again, too absorbed in the random flash of memory. It was one of his last conversations with Takashi as best friends, and one he tried not to think of too frequently.

“S-Sorry, I zoned out.. What did you say?”

Adam sighed. “I'm going to take a look at your ankle when we get to my estate. See how we can work around it.” 

Miya paused. “..Your estate..? I thought.. You said my mom is awake. T-That I’m going home..” 

“I did say your mother is awake, but I never said you were going home. You’re going to be staying with me so we can get you back on track for competitions. You’ve lazed around enough, and clearly I can't trust you to practice on your own time.”

Miya’s heart sank at Adam’s words, his chest tightening with fear and anxiety. He had been hoping to go home, to find some comfort and solace in the familiar surroundings of his own bedroom. But now it seemed that hope had been dashed, replaced with a sinking feeling of dread at the thought of staying with Adam at his estate. For who knows how long. 

“But.. but I want to go home,” Miya said quietly, his voice trembling with emotion. “I.. I don’t want to stay with you.” He dared to force out, hands shaking as tears began to fill his eyes and drip onto his lap. 

Adam’s expression hardened, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he turned to glare at Miya. “Well, you don’t have a choice,” he said coldly, his voice sending shivers down the boy’s spine. “You’re coming with me whether you like it or not. And if you try to run off again, I’ll make sure you regret it. Such drastic measures would have never been necessary had you done what you were told. I’m not the one who told you to run off and play the victim to Joe and Cherry.” He practically spat their names out. “You did that of your own accord. Take responsibility for your actions for once, you brat.” 

Miya felt his stomach churn with fear at Adam’s threat, his hands shaking as he tried to hold back tears. He knew he was trapped, at the mercy of a man who clearly had no qualms about using his power to control him. And there was nothing he could do to escape, that much was made clear.

He wanted to go home. He wanted to lay in his bed and play on his switch. He wanted Cherry and Joe to watch a movie with him again. He wanted to skate with Reki, Shadow, and Langa again. He wanted his ankle to heal. He wanted to talk to Takashi again, even if it was just once. He wanted anything but to be where he was right now. Even disappearing into thin air would be better. 

As the car pulled up to Adam's estate, Miya's anxiety reached its peak. He felt trapped, suffocated by the overwhelming presence of his manager and the looming threat of his power. He had everything in his hands, the most prevalent ones being Miya’s future and his mother’s wellbeing. As much as he hated this.. there was nothing he could do. With a sinking feeling in his chest, he came to terms with the fact that he had no choice but to go along with whatever Adam had planned for him.

Adam got out of the car first, leaving Tadashi to help Miya out. With a heavy heart and a growing sense of dread, Miya allowed Tadashi to assist him, feeling the weight of his crutches as he struggled to stand.

The estate loomed before them, an imposing structure that seemed to swallow up the surrounding landscape. Miya felt a shiver run down his spine as he gazed up at the grand building, his anxiety reaching new heights with each passing moment. He’d never felt so uneasy in this place before, not even when Adam would call him in for weigh-ins. He felt sick. Really, really sick.

Adam led the way, his expression cold and indifferent as he walked towards the front door. Tadashi followed closely behind, his gaze mainly blank yet holding a hint of sympathy as he glanced back at Miya, silently offering him what little comfort he could. Miya only shot him a weak and entirely un-intimidating glare in response.

As they entered the estate, the boy felt a wave of unease wash over him. The interior was just as strangely imposing as the exterior, with dark wood paneling and heavy, ornate furniture that seemed to suffocate him with its oppressive presence.

Adam led Miya to a sitting room off to the side, motioning for him to sit down on one of the plush armchairs. Miya did as he was told, his heart pounding in his chest as he waited for Adam to speak.

"Now then, let's take a look at that ankle of yours," He said, his voice cold and businesslike as he approached Miya. He never spoke to him like this- it made his hands shake. "We need to see how bad the damage is and what we can do to fix it."

Miya nodded silently, his stomach churning with fear as he watched Adam approach. He knew he was in for a world of pain, but he had no choice but to endure it. With a sinking feeling in his chest, he braced himself for the agony that was sure to come. As Adam roughly removed the cast, Miya gritted his teeth and bit back a cry of pain, his hands gripping the armrests of the chair tightly. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He wouldn't give Adam the satisfaction of seeing him break down.

But the pain was excruciating, far worse than anything he had ever experienced before. His ankle throbbed relentlessly, sending waves of agony shooting up his leg with each movement. He felt like he was going to be sick, his vision swimming as he struggled to stay conscious.

Adam worked quickly and efficiently, his movements rough and careless as he examined Miya's injured ankle. Miya winced as Adam prodded and poked at the swollen, bruised flesh, his hands trembling with pain.

"It's not as bad as I thought," Adam said finally, his tone clipped and dismissive. "But you're going to need to stay off it for a while. You’ll rest for two days- aside from light walking to get your leg more accustomed to movement again- and then we’ll get back to practice. Understand?"

Miya nodded weakly, too exhausted and in too much pain to argue. He just wanted this nightmare to be over, wanted to go home and forget that any of this had ever happened. But he knew that wasn't going to happen, not with Adam calling the shots.

Adam finished his examination and stood up, his expression unreadable as he turned to leave the room. "I'll have Tadashi show you to your room," he said curtly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You'll be staying here until your competitions are over. And don't even think about trying to run off again. As I said before, I'll be keeping a close eye on you, and I won't hesitate to punish you if you step out of line."

With that, Adam left the room, leaving Miya alone with his thoughts. The room felt suffocating, the walls closing in around him as he struggled to catch his breath. He felt like he was drowning, trapped in a nightmare from which he couldn't wake up, and holy shit his ankle hurt so fucking bad-

Tadashi approached him tentatively, his expression carefully blank as he helped Miya to his feet. "Come on, Chinen," he said softly, his voice quiet yet tight with some emotion he was too exhausted to decipher. "I'll show you to your room. You can rest there, and I’ll be bringing dinner up to your room. We.. heard that you hadn't gotten to eat."

Because of the listening device you left in their house.

Miya nodded silently, too exhausted and defeated to open his mouth. With Tadashi's help, he made his way to his room, each step sending a jolt of pain shooting up his injured leg. He collapsed onto the bed with a weary sigh, his body aching and his mind reeling with fear and uncertainty.

As he lay there, staring up at the ceiling, he couldn't help but wonder how he had ended up in this nightmare. How had everything gone so wrong, so quickly? He wanted to leave. Screw skating, screw Adam- screw it all. He wanted to go home. 

And if the place he imagined when he thought of home was a cozy apartment with a cute and fluffy cat, then that was nobody’s business but his own.

Chapter Text

Reki (9:32) : 

anything from miya yet?

Langa (9:40) : 

We’re in class. Put your phone away.

Reki (9:40) :

CAN U STOP BEING AN OLD LADY 

Reki (9:40) :

dude i haven't heard from him in forever 

Reki (9:41) : 

im starting to get really worried man. 

Reki (9:41) :

did u get that kid’s number ????

Langa (9:47) :

Takashi?

Reki (9:48) :

yea

Langa (9:55) :

I didn’t. I didn’t really have the opportunity to after we walked him home. He was really upset that day, remember?

Reki (9:56) :

yeah.. bc of adam.

Reki (9:56) :

that asshole is so weird. 

Langa (10:01) :

Yeah. 

Reki (10:10) :

the middle school gets out in like 3 hours right?

Langa (10:15) :

Um. I believe so? Why??

Reki (10:17) :

skip our last 3 classes w me. we should go see if miya is at least at school

Reki (10:17) :

if not then we can talk to takashi

Langa (10:20) :

You want to skip class??? Reki…

Reki (10:21) :

langa dude i don't care. 

Reki (10:21) :

miya reminds me of my little sister. and if she was going through something like this i would want people doing everything they could to help her. 

Reki (10:21) :

he's just a kid man. 

Langa (10:30) :

.. You’re right. 

Langa (10:31) :

Matter of fact, I have something to tell you. Let’s meet up at our spot. 

Reki (10:32) :

awesome. see you then 

Reki (10:32) :

<

Langa (10:34) :

3

—

A week passed. 

At least, he thought so. 

A week. Three days, maybe. Hell, maybe even a month. Miya wasn’t so sure anymore. 

Realistically, it couldn't have been longer than 2 weeks total. Miya’s competitions still hadn't come around. That wasn’t to say he had the privilege of taking it easy though. Quite the opposite.

Miya crashed into the concrete again, a muted cry of pain shaking through his entire body. He clutched at his now bleeding knees, tears dripping down his cheeks. A quiet ‘tsk tsk’ sounded from behind him, followed by heavy footsteps as Adam stalked over to him. 

“Get up.” He said, bored and irritated. 

“I-It hurts..” Miya whimpered in response, a small sob leaving his lips as the back of his shirt was grabbed and he was practically heaved up. Adam settled him down on his feet, causing the boy to feel the same reoccurring pain he had been feeling for days now in his purple ankle. It hurt, it hurt so bad. The pain was becoming unbearable. And every day, it only got worse. 

“If you would just do it right, maybe it wouldn't hurt so bad.” Adam hissed in response, kicking Miya’s board back at him and not even reacting as the wood slammed into the boy's shin. “Get back on.”

“A-Adam, please. I can’t. It hurts so much-” 

Adam cut him off with a sharp glare, his eyes cold and unforgiving. "I don't care," he said harshly, his voice dripping with disdain. "You're going to keep skating until you get it right. And if you don't, there will be consequences. Do you understand?"

Miya nodded weakly, his entire body trembling with pain and fear. He knew he didn't have a choice but to obey, no matter how much he wanted to run away and never look back.

With a heavy heart and a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, he forced himself to stand up and get back on his board. Every movement sent a wave of agony shooting through his injured ankle, but he pushed through the pain, determined to do as he was told.

However, no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't seem to get it right. Every time he attempted a trick, he fell, the pain in his ankle too much to bear. And every time he fell, Adam's anger only grew, his insults becoming more and more vicious with each passing moment.

"You're pathetic," He spat, his voice filled with contempt. "A disgrace to the sport. I should have dropped you a long time ago."

Miya felt tears welling up in his eyes, his heart breaking with each cruel word that fell from Adam's lips. He knew he wasn't performing as well as he should be, but he was trying his best. He just needed more time to heal, more time to get back on track. He could do it. He would do it. He had to. He just.. He needed time. Was that really so much to ask for?

But regardless, Adam didn't care about any of that. All he cared about were immediate results, and if Miya couldn't deliver, then he was worthless to him.

Miya skated for hours, his body aching and his mind numb with pain. He fell more times than he could count, each fall sending a jolt of agony shooting through his entire body. But he didn't dare to stop, didn't dare to disobey. He knew what would happen if he did.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Adam called for a break. Miya collapsed onto the ground, his entire body shaking with exhaustion and pain. He couldn't take much more of this, couldn't bear to endure another moment of Adam's training. It had never been this bad before, never this unbearable. His vision was blurry and swirling around his surroundings. 

Lighter footsteps approached him from behind, ones that he knew belonged to Tadashi. By now, he was quite good at matching the sounds of different people’s footsteps to the person they belonged to. He’d been doing it ever since he had to start either faking sleep or pretending to study, depending on which of his parents would walk by his room. 

He was lifted, his board being left behind in the small skating bowl they were in and he was carried back inside. Tadashi was silent, as he always was, and said nothing to his boss as he passed by him. Miya could barely even think at this point, but he was at least aware enough to understand that he was being carried to the bathroom. 

Things moved by in a blur. He was set on the counter, the bright red scrapes on his arms and legs being dutifully cleaned and wrapped up. Tadashi wordlessly wiped away the slim trail of blood dripping down Miya’s head, a result of the small cut he'd gotten after a failed attempt at a frontside heelflip. A heelflip. One of the easiest tricks he ever had to do, and he still failed. It was no wonder Adam got so frustrated with him. 

Miya… Miya really was losing his spark, wasn't he?

“Open.” 

The boy flinched slightly as Tadashi finally spoke, his eyes hazily refocusing. The man held out a small plastic cup with two white pills in one hand, and a small cup of water in the other. 

Miya glared at him, though he was too weak to pack any heat into it. “What is that.” He forced out, his voice scratchy. 

“For your pain.” 

“I said what is it, not what is it for you i-idiot..” 

“..Oxycodone.” 

…

Miya’s jaw dropped. 

“Wh- Huh?! I’m not taking a- a fucking opioid!” 

“It’s for your pain.” Tadashi simply repeated, his face just as indifferent as his tone. “To help you skate on that ankle. If you don't take it, your pain won't go away. Your pain doesn't go away, and you can't skate. You can't skate, Mr. Shindo will get angry again.” 

Miya hesitated, his mind swirling with fear and confusion. He knew the dangers of opioids, knew how addictive and dangerous they could be. Miya was a lot of things, and an idiot wasn't one of them. But at the same time, he couldn’t bear the thought of enduring another moment of Adam’s training without some kind of relief.

Reluctantly, he reached out and took the pills from Tadashi, his hands trembling as he did so. He stared at them for a moment, his heart pounding in his chest as he considered his options. He knew he shouldn’t take them, knew it was a downright bad idea. But at the same time, he didn’t see any other choice.

With a heavy sigh, he popped the pills into his mouth and washed them down with a gulp of water, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He knew he was making a mistake, knew he would regret it later. But for now, all he cared about was getting through the pain, getting through another day of this bullshit.

As the pills took effect and the pain began to dull, Miya felt a wave of relief wash over him. It was only temporary, he knew, but it was better than nothing. He could deal with the consequences later. Things passed by in an even more fuzzy haze this time, and Miya felt as though he was moving in slow motion. 

When Tadashi set him on the bed, he let his eyes flutter shut without much care if he woke up again or not. 

—

Kaoru (16:22):

Hello Miya. I hope you are doing well. Sending you and your mother well wishes. Do not forget to reach out if you ever need anything at all.

-

Kojiro (23:42):

Sheesh, I FINALLY closed up shop for tonight. Real busy day here, but pretty productive. Got a lot of new recipes I’m cooking up, and one of them uses fish as the main hero ;) Come down soon and I’ll let you get first dibs. 

Kojiro (23:50):

We hope you're alright kiddo. :)

-

Reki (17:10):

miya

Reki (17:10): 

would you stop this shit already 

Reki (17:10): 

look if you're still mad at me for what i said about adam.. im not sorry for what i said. i meant every word. but i am sorry that it hurt your feelings. genuinely.

Reki (17:10):

listen man, i never want to step on your toes or anything. you're a cool dude. 

Reki (17:11):

im really worried about you. can you at least just read these messages so ik ur okay? 

Reki (18:37):

your friend has been really worried too

Reki (18:38):

tikashi or something?

Reki (18:38):

mb langa just reminded me it's takashi

Reki (18:38):

he's worried too btw. and he has a really, really stupid plan to try and help you. so pls just show up and talk some sense into the loser lol

Reki (18:39):

please just be okay kid.

Reki (18:39):

we're still your friends who love to skate.

-

Hiromi (11:00):

Hey. Quit freaking everyone out would you? 

Hiromi (11:00):

S has been lame and weird. Tense as fuck. 

Hiromi (11:01):

Reki totally busted his balls the other day when he fucked up a casper slide. You woulda laughed your ass off just like I did. 

Hiromi (11:01):

So quit being a boring brat and show your face again ya little punk 

Hiromi (11:01):

Anyways, gotta go, lunch break is almost over. Gimmie a call if you need a ride or anything. 

-

Langa (20:40):

Reki told Shadow what I plan on doing. Now they're ganging up on me to try and convince me to change my mind. 

Langa (20:42):

But I won’t though. I’m still going to do it. 

Langa (20:46):

After all, he never said I had to win the beef. Just said I have to do it. It can't be that bad. I’ve gotten better, you know? I’ll prove it to you soon enough. Hope you're okay. We all miss you a lot Miya. 

-

Takashi (1:00):

hey miya. can't sleep again, lol

Takashi (1:00):

you still haven't come back to school. our teachers are really worried

Takashi (1:02):

1. i'm really worried. 

Takashi (1:04):

you're all i can ever think about man. seriously. i worry about you and i miss you, all the damn time. i don't want things to be like this anymore. there's so many things i still have to say to you 

Takashi (1:07):

please. just stop this, you're seriously freaking me out. i can't sleep or eat and i can barely focus in class when all i can see is your empty chair. your mom won't even answer the door anymore and i haven't seen your dad’s car in your driveway for weeks at this point. is everything okay with that? i know that him and your mom had some issues when we were younger.. is that what's bothering you? you can talk to me about it, i really swear. i can help, just like i used to.

Takashi (1:08):

if you’re reading these then please. just know that the second i see you again, if you let me in, i’m going to fix everything i ruined. i swear on my life miya. 

Takashi (1:08):

im so sorry. im so, so sorry. 

—

“And when is this little hunger strike of yours coming to an end?” 

Miya didn't respond. He kept his lips sealed, his lithe body curled up in the corner of the bedroom with his bony arms hugging his legs. Even now, he barely had the strength to focus his eyes on anything around him. It was all so blurry, his vision constantly swimming. His body ached, but at this point he was so pumped up with those pain medications that it was barely noticeable anymore. 

A plate of food on a tray clattered in front of him. There was a small chicken breast, alongside diced potatoes and some greens he couldn't really identify at the moment. It smelled fine, yet the thought of swallowing anything Adam had to give to him made him feel like vomiting.

Miya glanced up at the tray of food, his stomach churning at the sight of it. He knew he needed to eat, knew he couldn't keep starving himself like this. But at the same time, the thought of putting anything Adam gave him into his mouth made him feel sick to his stomach.

"I'm not hungry," he mumbled weakly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Adam scoffed, a look of contempt crossing his face. "You need to eat," he said sharply, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You can't keep starving yourself like this. It's not healthy for an athlete."

Miya shook his head, his stomach churning with nausea. "I can't," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I-I can't eat this. Don't make me."

Adam's expression hardened, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "You will eat," he said, his voice cold and unforgiving. "Whether you want to or not."

With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, Miya knew he had no choice but to obey. Slowly, reluctantly, he reached out and picked up the fork, his hands trembling as he forced himself to take a bite of the chicken breast. It tasted like cardboard, dry and flavorless, but he forced himself to swallow it, his stomach roiling with disgust.

He forced himself to take another bite, then another, until finally, he had finished the entire meal. But even as he set the fork down and pushed the tray away, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the pit of his stomach. Something was wrong, he knew it. And no amount of food was going to change that. No amount of training or resting was going to fix it. 

There was something wrong with him. With Miya. 

That was why all of this was happening to him. Why Adam was so angry with him and so cruel. Why he wasn't allowed to have his phone anymore. Why his dad left without so much as a goodbye. Why his mom wouldn't even come to see him. It was all because of him. It was his fault. It was always his fault. 

There was a faint sound of the doorbell buzzing from downstairs. Miya didn't react. Not even as Adam stood abruptly and snatched the empty plate from in front of him. 

“Go to sleep, you petulant little boy. We shall pick up on training tomorrow.” 

His bedroom door slammed shut. Miya could only blink, staring listlessly at the floor in front of him. Too tired to muster up the strength required for getting in bed, Miya let his eyes slip shut in that very spot, curled up on the floor. 

As he drifted in and out of consciousness, the pain in his body seemed to ebb and flow like waves crashing against the shore. Each time he slipped into sleep, it was as if he was plunged into a dark abyss, his mind clouded by a thick fog of pain and medication. But even in those moments of darkness, he could still feel the weight of Adam’s presence bearing down on him, his harsh words echoing in his ears like a sinister refrain.

When he finally managed to open his eyes again, the room was still bathed in darkness, the only light filtering in through the small crack under the door. Miya tried to push himself up, but his body felt heavy and sluggish, as if he were moving through molasses. He breathed in deeply, and then immediately regretted it as he caught a whiff of his extremely sweaty body. Disgusting.

With a groan of effort, he managed to pull himself into a sitting position, his back leaning against the wall for support. He could hear the faint sound of voices coming from downstairs, but they sounded distant and muffled, as if he were hearing them through a thick layer of cotton.

For a moment, Miya considered calling out for help, but the thought of drawing Adam’s attention terrified him. He knew what the man was capable of, knew the kind of pain and suffering he could inflict not only on him, but on his mother as well. And yet, even in the midst of his fear, a selfish little part of his mind begged for him to do it anyway. It couldn't get much worse than this, right? 

..No. What was he even thinking? Of course it could get worse than this. It could always get worse. 

His stomach was still rolling, the bland food from earlier swirling around in his gut. Miya tried, he tried so desperately to hold it back, but by the time he felt tears rise to his eyes involuntarily and his throat fill, he knew it was too late. 

The few contents in his stomach came rushing back up, a disgusting white and chunky sludge with hints of green mixed in. Miya felt his stomach clenching in on itself as he struggled to even breathe, feeling an aching pain each time another rush came up through his throat. 

Great. Now his room reeked of vomit and sweat. Adam was going to kill him. He deserved it though. Because of course he did. All of this was his own fault. Maybe if he was a better skater. Maybe if he was a better son. Maybe if he was a better friend. Maybe.

But he wasn't. So he didn't know. 

Miya only (just barely) found the strength to crawl a bit further away from the sickening pile of vomit, collapsing fully on the ground and weakly sobbing into the dusty tile. Exactly what you would expect from such a pathetic excuse of a person.

—

“Seriously, do you want money or something?!”

“No.”

“I'm serious! Me and peepaw Shadow can put both of our next paychecks together for you if you just back out!”

“We’re doing what?!”

Langa huffed, his eyebrows furrowed as he shot Reki and Shadow a glare. “I’m not backing out. This is the only way we can help him. It’s just a race, Reki.” 

“Alright tough guy,” Reki huffed sarcastically, his arms crossed tightly. “And why do you think I’m even saying no to begin with? It's not just that you’ll lose, the man is insane! He puts people in the hospital- he’ll literally kill you!!”

“No, he won't.” 

“I’m going to jump you man, I swear to-”

“We’re here.” Hiromi’s gruff voice sounded from the driver’s seat. The two teenagers quieted down, looking out the window of the small pink car at the quaint yet fancy restaurant. Sia la Luce was the same as it always looked, the entrance lit up with soft yellow lamps and a pretty white fence. 

“And do we seriously think they’re gonna help us?” Reki sighed, following Langa as he stepped out of the car. “How much would these old guys even know about Adam?”

“What are you smoking?” Hiromi scoffed, pocketing his keys as he walked towards the door. “From what I’ve heard at S, those three go way back. Don't know the details though.”

Langa hesitated for a moment before following Hiromi and Reki into the restaurant. His heart pounded in his chest, his mind filled with doubts and fears. But he pushed them aside, focusing on the task at hand. He had to help Miya, no matter what it took.

As they entered the restaurant, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, the soft glow of the lamps casting a comforting light over everything. Cherry and Joe were sitting at a table near the back, their expressions serious as they talked quietly amongst themselves.

"Hey, guys," Reki greeted, his voice nervous. "Can we talk to you for a minute?"

Cherry looked up, his expression softening only slightly as he saw Langa and the others. "What do you want?" he asked, his tone entirely tired.

Langa took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to say. "I need your help," he said, his voice steady. "I need to beat Adam in a race."

Cherry's eyes widened in shock, his expression turning to one of disbelief. "Are you out of your mind?" he exclaimed, his voice filled with concern and a sharp edge of barely restrained anger. "Under no circumstances should you be racing Adam. It's too dangerous, especially for a rookie like you. You get that thought out of your head immediately.”

Joe nodded in agreement, his expression grave. "He's right," he said, his voice serious. "Adam is a dangerous man. He's put people in the hospital before, and he won't hesitate to do it again. It's not worth the risk, Langa. You’re talented, I’ll give you that. But you're nowhere near his level. Don't even try it."

Langa shook his head, his resolve firm. "I have to do this," he said, his voice remaining determined. "It's the only way we can help Miya."

Cherry and Joe froze at the mention of Miya's name, their expressions hardening with something the other three could not recognize. They exchanged a quick glance before turning back to Langa, their expressions conflicted.

"..Miya?" Cherry breathed, his voice strained. "...No. We-.. We can't let you do this. It's too dangerous."

Langa clenched his jaw, his gaze unwavering. "I'm doing it with or without your help," he said, his voice firm. "But I'd rather have you on my side."

Cherry and Joe exchanged another glance, their expressions grim. Finally, after a long moment of silence, Cherry let out a heavy sigh.

"Fine," he said, his voice tight. "We'll help you."

Langa's heart soared with relief at the words, his gratitude overwhelming. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but with Cherry and Joe's help, he at least  had a fighting chance. And for his friend’s sake, he was willing to do whatever it took. “Thank you.” He said, bowing deeply. 

Joe sighed, rubbing his forehead stressfully before rising to his feet. “Not so fast. First, tell us what's going on. How exactly is this supposed to help Miya? What's been going on with the kid?” 

“..We.. We aren't entirely sure.” 

“Well- What does Adam even have to do with it?” 

“You don't know?” Reki spoke up, a sour look on his face. “He’s his manager.”

Cherry and Joe both looked shocked and horrified at the news of Adam being Miya's manager. Their expressions turned from concern to something much darker, their eyes filled with a mixture of anger and fear.

"Adam?!" Cherry exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief. "That maniac is Miya's manager?!"

Langa nodded grimly, his expression serious. "Yeah," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "We just found out, not too long ago.."

Joe shook his head, his expression one of disbelief. "That's... that's terrible," he said, his voice heavy with concern. "That man is dangerous , Langa. I'm deadly serious. You have.. no idea what you're getting yourself into."

Cherry's expression hardened, his jaw set in a tight line. "We have to do something, Kojiro." He said, his voice firm. "We can't let that maniac anywhere near Miya. Not anymore, never again." He spat, his fists tightening as he dug his nails into his palms.

Langa nodded in agreement, his expression determined. "That's why I need to beat him," he said, his voice steady. "If we can win this race, then Adam will have to tell us where Miya is. That was what he told me, at least.. He said if I skate with him, then he’ll tell me where he is. It's.. It’s the only way to help him."

Cherry and Joe exchanged a glance, their expressions grim. They knew the risks, they knew the dangers. They knew it better than anyone. But they also knew that they had to do something to help that poor child. And if Langa racing Adam was the only way to do that, then so be it.

"Alright," Cherry said, his voice serious. "We'll help you. But you need to be prepared. This won't be easy. And it won't be safe. You.. You will not come out unscathed, especially not if Adam especially pointed you out in particular. When that man gets his eyes on someone who interests him.. It's almost like it fuels him to instill as much fear as he possibly can into them."

Langa and Reki exchanged a glance, their expressions determined and fearful, respectively. They knew exactly what Langa was getting himself into. But they also knew that they had to do something to help Miya. The boy they swore to be good friends to, the boy they promised to watch over. The boy they deeply, deeply cared about. 

“I understand.. I really do. But like I said, I've made up my mind. Miya.. He’s a really good kid. But you can see it in his face, he’s.. he’s always hurting. If not over one thing, then another. And yet, he wants to pretend like he isn't. Like everything is always fine. But we know it's not. We've seen it. We've seen the tears he tries to hide when we mention anything about friendship. We've seen the way he flinches whenever someone raises their voice. We can't just stand by and do nothing. We have to help him."

Cherry and Joe exchanged another glance, their expressions conflicted. They knew Langa was right, but they also knew the deathwish that was going up against Adam. They had seen firsthand what the man was capable of, and they knew it wasn't something to be taken lightly. And to put another mere child in the fray for a simple chance that Adam would keep his word made Cherry feel like vomiting. 

But at the same time, they couldn't just sit back and do nothing . They couldn't let Miya suffer at the hands of that man any longer. They had to do something, anything, to help him. And unfortunately.. at this point, Adam was their only lead. 

"Like I said," Cherry forced out finally, his voice heavy with resignation. "We'll help you. But you have to promise us something, Langa."

Langa nodded, his expression serious. "Anything," he said, his voice firm. "I'll do whatever it takes to help Miya."

Cherry's expression softened slightly, his eyes filled with a gentle worry. "Promise me that if we give you tips to go against him, that you'll be as careful as you possibly can be.” He said, his voice serious. "Promise me you won't take any unnecessary risks. Promise me you'll come back to us in one piece."

Langa nodded, his heart filled with gratitude. "I promise," he said, his voice steady. "I won't let you down, and I’m not accepting this beef to worry you. I wouldn't even try if I didn't have some sort of faith that I could do it.”

A brief silence hung over them before Joe let out a heavy sigh. 

“Right then. First order of business, let me tell you about the Love Hug.”

Chapter Text

5 Days Later.

When Miya stepped on the scale, he could barely keep his eyes focused enough to see the numbers that flashed back at him. Adam stood directly beside him, sighing deeply and sucking his teeth as he wrote the number down in his log. He didn't tell Miya what it was, and Miya didn't ask. He didn't care anymore. Honestly, he found that there was a lot he didn't care about anymore. 

“I don't understand how you keep losing weight. If you continue like this you’ll be in no shape for competitions. You only have 2 days left, Miya. Are you truly that eager to sabotage your mother’s livelihood?” 

Miya blinked. “U-Uhm.. Huh..?” He breathed quietly, forcefully digging his nails into his arms as he hugged around his bare middle. He didn't exactly hear what Adam just said, but based on the look on his face, he wasn't pleased. 

Adam grabbed Miya by the arm, pulling him off the scale and tugging him along to the full-body mirror that sat in the corner of the room. Miya caught a glimpse of his reflection, and while it was shocking enough to make his heart skip a beat, he found himself unable to muster up the energy to physically react. 

He was bony. A lot more bony than ever. The muscle he had built up over the years that toned his stomach was all but completely gone. There were dark and ugly circles sitting beneath his eyes, with skin so pale and hair so greasy that one would think he hadn't been a part of society for years. 

“Look at yourself.” Adam grit out, roughly shaking the boy in place to get his point across. “Look. Is this any way for an athlete to look like?! You practice every day, I provide you with the most ideal possible meals you could ever ask for, and this is what I get in return? You give me nothing, Miya. Absolutely nothing. What have I invested in you for? Hm?”

Miya only stared listlessly at the mirror. 

He was shaken again, this time rougher. “Answer me, child!” 

“..’M sorry..” He whispered, his voice hoarse. “..I’ll.. Do better-”

“Oh, but that's what you always say.” Adam hissed, his heavy hand feeling like a thousand weights on his shoulder. “It's always you saying you’ll do better, but you never actually do. You disgust me, in every way. If you can't pull yourself together in 2 days, I will not hesitate to drop you completely. Am I understood?”

Miya’s exhaustion and pain had reached a breaking point. He was tired of Adam’s constant berating, tired of the pain, tired of feeling like he was nothing more than a pawn in someone else’s game. With a surge of frustration and anger, he found himself snapping back at Adam, his voice tinged with a newfound defiance.

“You think I don’t want to do better?” Miya retorted, his voice trembling with anger and exhaustion. “You think I enjoy feeling like this? Like I’m nothing but a shell of who I used to be? You have no idea what it’s like, Adam. No idea what I’ve been through, what I’m still going through. So don’t you dare stand there and lecture me about doing better, about pulling myself together. You have no right.”

Adam’s expression twisted with rage, his grip on Miya’s shoulder tightening painfully. “How dare you speak to me like that,” he spat, his voice low and dangerous. “I am your coach, your mentor. You will show me the respect I deserve, or so help me, I will make you regret it.”

Miya’s heart pounded in his chest, his fear warring with his anger. But despite the fear, despite the pain, he refused to back down. Maybe it was the exhaustion he had been feeling. Maybe it was a result of everything building up inside him over the years. It didn't matter, not in this moment. He was tired of being pushed around, tired of being treated like he was nothing. He had to stand up for himself, had to fight back, even if it meant risking Adam’s wrath.

"Drop me then!" he snapped, his voice filled with a raw intensity that surprised even himself. "I don't need you! I don't need any of this!"

Adam's eyes narrowed dangerously, his expression darkening with rage. "You still dare to speak to me like that? After everything I've done for you?!"

Miya's chest heaved with anger and exhaustion, his body trembling with the effort to stand his ground. "You haven't done anything for me!" he spat, his voice shaking with emotion. "You've only hurt me, tortured me, made me feel like I'm nothing! I would have- have been so much better off without you!"

Adam's face contorted with fury, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "You ungrateful little brat!" he snarled, his voice filled with venom. "I took you in when no one else would! I gave you everything you needed to succeed, and this is how you repay me?!"

Miya shook his head, his eyes blazing with defiance. "I don't want your help!" he shouted, his voice echoing off the walls of the room. "Screw you, screw the competitions- screw all of this ‘next junior skating prodigy’ bullshit! I don't want anything from you! Just leave me alone!"

But Adam wasn't listening. With a roar of rage, he lunged forward, his hand raised to strike. Miya barely had time to flinch before the blow landed, the force of it sending him crashing to the ground, his forehead slamming into the wall behind him. Pain exploded in his head, his vision swimming as he struggled to stay conscious.

Through the haze of pain and confusion, he heard Adam's voice, filled with cruel satisfaction. "You will learn to respect me, Miya," he hissed, his voice dripping with malice. "One way or another, you will learn."

Did he bite his tongue? He could taste something metallic in his mouth, though he couldn't find it within him to care. All he felt right now was rage, a burning hot hatred for the man who towered above him. How could he have ever idolized this guy? How could he have let himself look up to someone like him? Trust him with his family, trust him with himself? He felt humiliated- defending this dogshit excuse of a man to everyone who spoke ill of him. Never again. Never again would he let himself be shamed like this, disgraced and degraded. 

“I hate you..” He spat out, his body trembling as he raised himself up on thin arms. “I.. I-I hope you.. I hope you die, you stupid f-fucking slime-!” 

A foot crashed into his ribs. Miya let out a cry, hacking up a small bit of the sludge that was last night’s dinner. He rolled over on the floor, groaning quietly as the pain shook him from the inside out. Barely did he have any time to recover, as he was kicked twice more in that very same spot. 

The boy crashed on his side, curling up in a feeble attempt to protect his aching body. It seemed like that didn't matter, however. Adam already had his sights on something else, and with a sickening sneer, he slammed his heeled shoe down right onto Miya’s disgustingly purple ankle. 

He screamed. He screamed so loudly even his own ears hurt from the volume. He was sobbing, sobbing harder than he ever had before. It hurt, it hurt it hurt it hurt so badly, Miya couldn't breathe, he couldn't see he couldn't think- the pain was unbearable. He'd never felt anything like this before and all he wanted was for it to stop. Please. Please make it stop. He’d do anything. He would grovel at Adam’s feet and apologize instantly just for him to get off of his injury. He would take those disgusting pills again to get rid of the pain, even though they made him a zombie. He would rather die than keep feeling this burning hot pain. 

Miya’s world had narrowed down to the excruciating pain radiating from his ankle. He couldn’t think, couldn’t focus on anything except the agony that consumed him. Through the haze of pain and his own screaming, he barely registered Adam’s voice, filled with malice and satisfaction.

“You will learn, Miya,” Adam repeated, his voice a low, sinister whisper. “You will learn to respect me, to obey me. Even if I have to break you to get there. I will not let a mere dog speak to me that way without consequences.”

Miya’s mind was a whirlwind of pain and fear. He couldn’t think, couldn’t process anything except the searing pain that consumed him. But through it all, one thought burned brighter than all the rest.

“The fight or flight response is an automatic, physiological reaction to an event that is perceived as stressful or frightening.” Ms. Nakamura spoke, pointing at a weird image split down the middle. On the right side, there was a lion depicted to be running away in the distance. On the left, the lion was clearly angered, it’s mouth wide open in a roar as its claws were bared and raised. 

“The perception of threat activates the sympathetic nervous system and triggers an acute stress response that prepares the body to fight or flee.” She continued, gesturing to the pictures once again. “As you can see, the lion on the right felt threatened, and her immediate response was to flee from the danger. However, on the left, you can see the lion preparing to attack the threat, lashing out in hopes to eliminate whatever she’s feeling afraid of. This is a deeply-rooted reaction not only in all animals, but in us humans as well. We’ve all experienced it before, even if we didn't know that's what it was!” 

A hand raised. “Wait, so.. What does it feel like when we’re the ones in fight or flight mode?” 

“Good question.” She smiled, turning to the next slide of the slideshow that listed more facts. “Some of the physical consequences of acute stress are high blood pressure, migraine headaches, TMJ symptoms, and more. Most commonly though, people have reported feeling their heart racing, almost as if it was going to beat out of their chests.” 

Slowly, another hand raised. 

“Hm? Oh- Yes, Chinen! What’s your question, sweetheart?” 

“U-Uh..” Miya flustered slightly as every head in the class turned to look at him. “..I was just wondering.. Is it possible for someone to experience both fight and flight responses..?” 

Ms. Nakamura smiled. “Absolutely. A lot of the time, a person’s initial reaction to more extreme cases of danger will lead to a response like that. They may try to defend themselves against the immediate threat, and once they’ve done that, they see it as an opportunity to get as far away from the situation as possible.”

He had to escape. He had to get out of here, before Adam hurt him again, before it was too late. Summoning every last ounce of strength he had left, he reached out blindly, grasping for anything, anything that would help him escape the nightmare he found himself trapped in.

His hand closed around something solid, something heavy. With a desperate cry, he swung it blindly, striking out at Adam with all the force he could muster. There was a sickening thud as the object connected with something soft, and Adam stumbled backward with a cry of surprise and pain.

Miya didn’t wait to see what happened next. With a burst of adrenaline-fueled strength, he pushed himself to his feet, ignoring the pain that shot through his body with every movement. With a desperate, sobbing gasp, he limped toward the door, his vision swimming, his head pounding with every heartbeat. He had to leave, now, he had to get out. It was all his mind could register. 

Leave. Go. Leave. Leave now. Get out. Leave. Get out get out get out get out get out get out get-

Just as his hand closed around the room’s doorknob, a large hand slammed it back shut right above Miya’s head. Adam was seething with rage, Miya could tell. As the man towered behind him, he could hear his angered heaving for breath, the tremble of his arms as he roughly grabbed a handful of the boy’s ratty hair and turned him around, pinning him to the door. 

“You.. You.” Adam spat, a downright murderous look in his eyes that made Miya freeze entirely. “You.. Are going to apologize. And you are going to do so, right. Now.”

..Miya stared at him, his eyes wide and his body shaking with an overwhelming fear. A fear he had never felt before. 

“APOLOGIZE!” He roared, flecks of spit hitting the boy right in the face, mixing in with the tears streaming down. 

“I-I... I don’t want to.” Miya forced out with a shudder. Adam stilled entirely. “..Fuck y-you.”

There were a few moments of heavy, horrible silence. Miya almost thought Adam didn’t hear him, until the man acted so quickly he couldn't register the fact that he was moving before it was too late. He didn’t even have time to flinch before Adam’s hand was wrapped around his throat, and he was slammed up against the door. 

Miya’s eyes went impossibly wide, choking out a weak gasp as his hands immediately went up to fight against his grip. Adam didn’t seem to notice or care. 

“You little shit. You ungrateful, useless little piece of shit!” He snarled, even more spit flying from his lips and dribbling disgustingly down his lips. “I have done everything for you. I gave you everything! And this is what I get in return? I ask one thing of you after getting nothing but consistent failures, and you have the audacity to tell me no?! Who exactly do you think you are to me?!”

“Adam-let go- please-” Miya coughed hoarsely, eyes welling up from the strain to his windpipe. “Please- I-I- I can’t-”

“Do you see yourself as my peer? As someone anywhere near my level?” He continued, glaring deeply into his eyes. “No! You’re nothing but the pathetic little lapdog whom I pitied enough to take in! I’ve done everything for you, time and time again. And before you made all these pathetic little friends of yours, I was the only one who would put up with you! Yet you forget so easily, all because you don’t want to do one simple thing I’m asking you?!”

He couldn’t breathe. Miya’s fingernails weakly dug into the skin of Adam’s hand, feet kicking desperately as he tried to get away in any way he could. His mind deliriously begged someone to pass by, for someone to see the predicament he was in and help him. And in this very moment, Miya couldn’t help but fully realize just how small he was in comparison to Adam. How he paled in comparison to Adam’s sheer size. He was horrified, and that just barely began to cover it. With every second passing by, as more and more of his oxygen depleted, Miya genuinely feared he would die. 

Moments that felt like hours dragged by, and Adam was suddenly silent. Maybe he realized exactly what he was doing, or maybe he realized Miya was barely able to register his words anyways. Either way, his grip loosened, causing Miya to collapse to the floor. He heaved for breath, his throat practically crying as he coughed and regurgitated nothing but stomach acid on the ground. 

Adam stared down at him, his expression.. horrifyingly blank. 

“..I hope you are pleased with yourself, you little rat.” He growled, uncaringly kicking Miya aside and opening the door. Miya didn't move. He didn't think he could anymore.

“... I am going to make you regret the day you were born, filthy child.”

Miya believed him.

The door slammed shut. 

The room was dark again.

Unable to do anything else, Miya hugged his legs close to his aching ribs, and sobbed into them. 

“Hm? Why are you crying Miya?” Takashi asked, kneeling in front of the sobbing boy. 

Miya glanced up. “T-... Taka..?” He whispered hoarsely. What was his friend doing here..?

“What do you mean doofus?” He laughed. “I go wherever you go. We are best friends after all. Gotta say though.. this place is whack.”

“..y-yeah.. yeah it.. it sucks. i don't like it here taka.. can.. can we go..?” 

“..I don't know, Miya. Not yet, I don't think. But we will. I swear.”

“p-pinkie swear..?” He sniffled against the carpet. 

“Mhm. I pinkie swear.” 

“kay..” Miya coughed, tasting the disgusting mix of blood and vomit in his throat. “..please.. stay with me, taka..” 

“Course, Miya. I’m not going anywhere. Not again. You can count on that.” 

Slowly, Miya nodded. His small sobs died down to small whimpers, and eventually into quiet sniffles. And as he lay there on the ground, he found himself accompanied by more wonderful people in his mind. Takashi stayed there with him, playing with his hair and telling him funny stories. Reki and Langa were there too, they were sitting just across from him and watching some youtube video on Reki’s phone, occasionally flipping it around to show Miya a funny clip. Cherry and Joe, they were a few feet away. But they were there, they were playfully bickering back and forth about who Vivie favored. Even Shadow made it there, funnily enough, still in his work uniform while surrounded by cute pink flowers. It was enough to make the boy giggle.

And when Tadashi opened the door slightly a few minutes later to check on him, he felt his blood run cold at the sight of a bloodied and pale young child, with tears running down his cheeks as he laughed and conversed with nobody but himself. 

---

~ 3 years ago ~

“Be safe baby! Call me when you want me to pick you boys up!” 

“I will mom! See you!” Takashi called over his shoulder, waving at his mom before tossing his board on the floor and skating down the street. The wind whipped up his hair, cooling him down from the blazing sun’s heat. Not to jinx it, but was having an awesome day. Tomorrow was his birthday, and today he got to hang out with Miya! His friend had been really busy recently, especially since he got signed with.. that guy. 

Takashi hated him. He truly did. A part of him felt bad for hating that man based entirely on having a bad feeling about him, but he couldn't help it. He was old and creepy and had just too much of an interest in Miya. It was weird, really, really weird. But if Miya was happy.. Takashi supposed he could swallow his pride and bear it. He trusted his friend, and who knows, maybe he was the one who was wrong about the old man.

As he approached the gas station, Takashi hopped off his board and tucked it under his arm. The plan for the day was simple- get some snacks, meet his friends at the gym Miya used for practice, skate together, and then head back to his place with Miya for a sleepover. It was perfect, and the only way he wanted to spend his birthday. Every year, they would have a sleepover and bake a cake completely from scratch. They pretty much never got it right, but it was so much fun to bake with him when they both had no idea what they were doing. (The cleanup afterwards was definitely not as fun though.)

Takashi grabbed a few bags of chips, alongside some soda, juices, and water, and topped it all off with hoards of candy. His mom specifically gave him the cash he needed to splurge a bit on snacks, always more than willing to provide him and his friends with all they could eat. He knew it was one of her many ways of showing love, and his stomach appreciated it like hell. 

He paid at the front, somehow managing to fit it all in his backpack before rolling off on his board again. The sun had begun to set, and his wheels rolled loudly against the pavement that made up the sidewalks. It only took a handful longer to make it there, and once he finally arrived, his smile grew as he saw his other two friends waiting outside for him. 

“Yo! Shiro, Kishi!” He called out, smiling as he jogged over to them. The two boys returned his smile, Shiro gently knocking his shoulder with his fist. 

“Hey man, you finally made it. I was worried you were gonna leave us to hang with Chinen alone for a while.” He laughed, causing Takashi’s smile to fade slightly as he rolled his eyes.

“Don't be like that. I know you guys don't get along that well, but give him a chance. He's an awesome dude, seriously.” 

“Awesome or not, it's really annoying that we have to sit out here until he's done practicing.” Kishi grumbled, wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead. “Why can't we just go in now?”

“I already told you guys, it's easier for him to focus when he's alone. Besides, this is like, important professional skater stuff he's being taught. I don't think any random person can just walk in and listen to all the ins-and-outs.” Takashi chuckled, leaning against the wall of the building and sliding down to sit. His friends looked slightly miffed, but they bit their tongues and sat down beside him. 

Half an hour passed, the three boys exchanging casual banter and boisterous laughter. Takashi didn't mind the wait- what was important to Miya was important to him. And if he wanted to keep training, that was fine. Takashi could always make time for him. Even as he saw his two friends get more and more annoyed with how long it was taking, he didn't pay it any mind. After all, if they didn't like it that much, they could go home. Takashi wouldn't leave Miya behind here, no way! 

As the setting sun began to cast the area in a dark orange hue, the two front doors of the gym slammed open. Takashi grinned, immediately jumping up and running to face the door. 

“Miya! Finally dude, what's up! How was trai-..ning..”

Shindo stared back at him, a look of pointed confusion on his features. 

Almost immediately, Takashi's expression soured. Silence stretched between the two of them, with Shindo unmoving where he stood in front of the doors. 

“..Do you need something?” Takashi couldn't help but spit, an annoyed glare on his face. “We’re trying to get in.”

“..Why on Earth would you want to go in there? You do know that Miya is inside, don't you?”

That’s Chinen to you, weirdo. “Um. Duh? That’s why we’re here. We’re gonna hang out.” 

Shindo only looked even more confused, glancing between the group of boys before a look of understanding crossed his face, a small sigh leaving his lips. “Oh. I see.. This is quite awkward. It appears Miya hasn't told you yet.”

“Huh? What are you talking about??” Takashi frowned, crossing his arms. “Didn't tell me what? Is- Is he okay?!”

Shindo pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yes yes, the boy is fine. Perfectly fine, actually. He just recently told me some of the.. frustrations he deals with that tend to affect his mood, and by association, his performance.”

“Hell are you talking about dude?” Shiro raised an eyebrow, looking annoyed by the conversation before it had even really started. “What does this even have to do with us? Let us in, it's hot out here and-”

“I simply find it strange that Miya would want to see you three after what he said about you.” 

What?

Takashi’s eyebrows furrowed, his face slipping into a deep frown. “What do you mean.” He demanded, feeling his gut curling with something sick as he saw Shindo’s uncertain expression, almost as if he was uncomfortable with what they were talking about. Like he didn't want to have to be the one to say it. 

“..Miya confided in me that he believes his friends are dragging him down.” 

...

..What?

“He said that?!” Kishi exclaimed, his mouth agape as he stared in offense. “What the hell?!”

“You- You're lying. You’re lying, Miya would never say something like that!” Takashi immediately defended, his hands tightening into fists at his sides. “Why on Earth would I believe my best friend would say something like tha-”

“It's true. He told me specifically that you, Takashi, was only still kept around because he felt too guilty to tell you that he's outgrown you. And as for the other two.. he believes you're both extremely subpar when it comes to skating. He said he feels embarrassed to be seen with you.” 

..No. No, there's no way. Miya would never say something like that! His best friend, his other half- This guy was lying! He had to be! There was no way-

“I believe the exact words he used were, ‘Heroes don’t associate with slimes’. Does that sound familiar at all?”

...That was one of Miya’s favorite lines from his favorite video game. There was nobody else who knew that besides Takashi, because Miya had never played it with anybody else. It was their thing, it was their inside joke. Shindo.. Shindo had no way of knowing that unless Miya.. really did say that..

Takashi’s heart broke. 

As Shindo muttered an awkward farewell and walked off to his car, Takashi could barely hear the bitter words being spewed behind his back by his two friends. He couldn't hear the rustling of the leaves in the wind, he couldn't hear anything but the sound of his own blood rushing in his ears. 

It hurt. Takashi.. was hurt. But even more than that, in this very moment-

Takashi was enraged.

He stormed into the gym, his heart pounding with a mix of hurt and anger. His friends followed behind him, their own expressions a mix of confusion and annoyance. Miya was nowhere in sight, but Takashi was determined to find him and confront him about what his manager had said.

He found Miya in the locker room, changing out of his practice clothes. His face lit up when he saw Takashi, but he stilled slightly when he caught sight of the anger in his eyes.

"Hey! You made it!" Miya still exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine happiness. But Takashi wasn't in the mood for pleasantries.

"What the hell, Miya?!" Takashi spat, his voice trembling with emotion. "Why would you say those things about us? About me?!"

Miya's smile faltered, confusion clouding his features. "What... What are you talking about, Taka?"

"Don't play dumb with me!" Takashi snapped, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. "Your manager just told us everything! He said you think we're dragging you down, that you're embarrassed to be seen with us! Is that true?!"

Miya's eyes widened in shock, his mouth hanging open in disbelief. "No! No, Taka, I never said any of that! I swear!"

Takashi shook his head, his anger boiling over. "Don't lie to me, Miya! He said you called us slimes, that you're ashamed to be friends with us! Is that how you really feel?!"

"No, Taka, I swear! I never said any of that!" Miya protested, his voice shaking with emotion. "I would never say something like that about you guys! You're my best friend, I... I love you, Taka. You know that!"

Takashi's anger flared even hotter at Miya's denial. "Stop lying to me!" he shouted, his voice echoing off the walls of the locker room. "I can't believe I ever trusted you! You're just like everyone else, using me until you don't need me anymore! If you’re really so much better than me, then allow me to take this burden off your shoulders."

Miya's eyes filled with tears, his heart breaking at Takashi's words. "No, please, you have to believe me! I would never say those things about you! You're my best friend, you’ve always been! I... I need you, Taka, I need you!"

But Takashi wasn't listening. He turned on his heel and stormed out of the locker room, leaving Miya alone and devastated, but mostly confused. The boy dropped his bag, chasing after Takashi who was charging for the exit, his friends right beside him as they stared in shock and anger. 

“Wait! Please- Just wait a minute! What the hell is going on?!” Miya pleaded, his hands shaking as the situation spiraled out of his control right before his very eyes. “Takashi! Answer me, don't just walk awa-!”

“Shut up Miya!” He yelled, spinning around on his heel as tears streamed down his face. Miya froze, his blood running cold at the sight of his dearest friend crying. Because of him. “Just.. Just shut up! We know what you really think about us, there's no need to keep lying! You think you're above us, right? All ‘cause you're gonna be famous or whatever?! That doesn't make you better than us, you stuck up-!” 

“I-I don't know what you're talking about, Taka! I would never say those things about you! You're my friends, I-”

“Friends? Is that what you really think, Miya?” Takashi’s voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a knife. It was so cold, tinged with bitterness and betrayal and sounding so wrong coming from him. “Because from what I’ve heard, I'm nothing but deadweight holding you back.”

“I just told you, I never said that!” 

“Save it. We always knew you would be the type.” Kishi hissed, a hand resting on Takashi’s trembling shoulder. “So damn full of yourself that you're willing to say that crap about your one real friend.” 

“That must be why you kept acting pleasant around us, right? Wanted us around to be your entourage?”

“N-No-”

Takashi snatched his backpack off of his back, digging into it and throwing the stupid water bottle and snacks he had handpicked for Miya. His supposed best friend. The boy who betrayed him and now had the audacity to lie in his face about it. “Keep it. It was for you.”

“..t-taka, what-”

“I don't want to see you again. Don't come to my house, don't talk to me at school. You.. You’re an awful friend, Chinen.” 

..Chinen..? No, no no no no no no no please, please no-

With that, Takashi stormed out of the gym, leaving Miya alone in the middle, his heart breaking into a million pieces. He wanted to call out to his best friend, to beg him to listen, to believe him. But the words caught in his throat, and all he could do was watch helplessly as his better half walked away, leaving him alone in the disgustingly silent gym.

The doors slammed. 

Miya crumpled to the floor, and sobbed until he could barely breathe anymore. 

---

“You nervous?”

“Reki, this is the 15th time you've asked me.”

“Wh- Nuh uh!” 

“Yeah huh.”

“Nuh uh!!”

“Yeah huh.” 

“Nu-”

“Oh for the love of God,” Cherry snapped, sharply turning from where he sat in the passenger seat to glare at the two teenagers. “If I need to listen to this back and forth one more time, everyone is getting the hell out of my car and walking the rest of the way.” 

“But Cherry-!”

“Don’t you make me come back there, child!” 

Joe chuckled. “That's enough, you two. Momma bear Cherry isn't gonna kick you out of the car, but you really should stop bickering over the same topic. It's getting tiring.”

“Wha- Who are you calling a mother, you damn-”

“Like you're one to talk..” 

“Joe, he started it!”

“I'm hungry...”

The car was full of different voices, the same way it had been for the entirety of the ride there. Langa appreciated it, for as much as he wanted to deny he was nervous, he most certainly was. Don't get him wrong, he loved skating. Ever since Reki started teaching him, he’s been having a blast. He gets that same rush he used to feel when he was snowboarding with his dad, his heart racing and his mouth stretched in a wide smile. It was so much fun. 

Maybe he wouldn't be nervous if it wasn't for the circumstances. There was.. a lot riding on this race. Both Miya’s wellbeing, and his own. He couldn't lie, all that talk from everyone about how dangerous it was and how he was definitely going to come out injured was more than a little daunting, but it wasn't enough to deter him. His mom was the smartest person he knew, and while she didn't have all the facts on what he was doing, she did agree that it was important to look out for those younger than you. So hopefully, she would understand. He thinks his dad would be proud too. 

Please watch over me, dad. I’ll show you just how much I can still do. 

“Uh, Earth to Hasegawa?” 

“Hm- What?” Langa stuttered, turning to see Shadow side eyeing him while applying his clown makeup in a small handheld mirror. 

“You keep spacin’ out. It's getting creepy dude.” 

“Sorry.” 

“Nah, don't apologize to this old geezer.” Reki responded, languidly slinging an arm around Langa’s shoulders. “..But..”

Langa raised an eyebrow at the tense look on his face. “What?”

“...Seriously Langa. I’m.. I’m beggin’ ya.” He tried to laugh, though it came out strained. “Be careful out there. I.. I don’t wanna see you hurt.” 

Langa blinked a few times. 

The red-head wore a pout on his face that he most likely didn't even know he was doing. His hand gripped onto Langa’s shirt loosely, as if he was trying to make sure the snowboarder was still there beside him. Langa knew it was out of pure worry for him, that his friend was beside himself right now with fear for his safety. But.. When he looked at how he fidgeted with his pants and shifted in his seat, Langa just couldn't help but crack a small smile.

Reki.. was really cute when he was worried like this. 

“What the hell are you smiling about?!” Reki only pouted further, which even caused Langa to giggle. “Hey! I'm being serious here!”

“Sorry, sorry.” Langa chuckled. “I know, Reki. Trust me, I don't wanna get hurt either. But you guys have taught me a lot this past week. Not just about skating in general, but about racing Adam in specific. I really, really think I can do this. I just.. need you guys to trust in me too. I can't really do this alone.”

“And you won't.” Cherry responded in an instant. “We will all be right there, Langa. Do you hear me? If at any point, you feel threatened in any capacity, I want you to call the beef off and leave his vicinity immediately. Do not put your safety last on your list of priorities. Am I understood?”

Langa nodded earnestly, his heart warmed by the genuine concern in his voice. “I understand, Cherry. I promise, I won't put myself in unnecessary danger.”

Cherry nodded in approval before turning back to face the road. “Good. Now,” He turned towards where Joe was giving him a cheeky smile. “To address the idiotic monkey sitting beside me, why don’t you focus on the road and get us there safely.”

Langa felt a surge of gratitude wash over him, accompanied by a renewed determination. He wasn't alone in this. He had friends who cared about him, who were willing to support him no matter what. With their encouragement, he only felt even more confident in himself.

As the car continued on the slightly bumpy road, Langa couldn't help but steal a glance at Reki, who was still wearing a worried expression. Leaning closer to him, he whispered, “Hey, Reki. I'll be okay, alright? Trust me.”

Reki met his gaze, his expression softening slightly. “I.. I know you will, Langa. I trust you.” He raised his hand, giving Langa a small smile. “Dap me up?”

With a gentle laugh, he nodded, doing their newly improved dap with ease as the scenery around them began to resemble less of the busy city and more of the secluded mountains that made up S. When they ended on their infinity sign, Reki suddenly shifted his hand, grabbing a steady hold of Langa’s and intertwining their fingers. 

“Hey, Langa..” He said gently. 

“Y-Yeah..?”

Reki gave him a bright, blazing smile. “Give that son of a bitch hell for me.”

With a wide smile, Langa returned the tight grip to Reki’s hand. 

“You know it.”

Chapter Text

This couldn't go on anymore. 

If this was his life now, Miya didn't want it. 

He couldn't remember when, but at some point, Tadashi came in and carried him into bed. The sting from antiseptic being applied to the scratches on his stomach and bandages wrapping around his ankle were barely noticeable at this point. Miya felt like he was floating, half dead and half alive. The room had become dark, the sun having fully set with nothing but a pale lamp lighting the area. 

“He isn't here.” 

Miya flinched at the sudden sound of Tadashi’s voice, his eyes tiredly dragging over to the man who had now moved on to treating the hand-shaped bruises on his neck. 

“..what..?” He forced out, his throat painfully dry and cracking as he attempted to speak. 

“Adam. He isn’t here right now. And he most likely will not return until the extremely early hours of the morning.”

“...I d-don’t care.” Miya glared with all the heat he could muster. “He could go die for all I-I care. Hope he does..” 

Tadashi gave him a complicated look before sighing and looking down at his sheets. “Chinen.. There’s something wrong with him. Deeply, wrong.” 

“Wow. Great observation. Big news. Eye opening. Thanks for the heads up.” 

“Just listen to me.” Tadashi frowned, though he didn't seem too bothered by the boy’s sarcasm. Which he shouldn't be, because if anything, Miya deserved to be as bitchy as he wanted to be. And he really wanted to be bitchy right now. “Adam.. he’s changed. Ever since things fell through with Kaoru and Kojiro all those years ago, he’s done a complete 180.” 

Miya stilled. “...What? D-Did-.. Did you just say-?”

“Yes. Joe and Cherry, like you may be more familiar with calling them.” Tadashi muttered. “They were his friends. And Kaoru.. He was more to him. I would teach Adam how to skate at home, and then he would take those skills and show them off proudly to Kaoru. It was one of the only times I would see him so genuinely happy.” 

“What.. happened?”

“..He got greedy. Adam was never entirely right in his head, there is no denying that. Pressures from his extended family and the abandonment from his parents affected him greatly. He liked to pretend as though those issues were never there, and therefore they only festered until they grew into something wildly out of control. He kept pursuing Kaoru, kept flirting with him and selling him a dream. He put up an entirely different persona around him, and when he realized how it was angering Kojiro, he only doubled his efforts. It was working, too. He had Kaoru wrapped around his finger. Until..”

“...Until what..?”

Tadashi pursed his lips, looking slightly sick all of a sudden. It was the most emotion Miya had ever seen on the man. 

“He.. He got greedy, as I said. Kaoru placed a lot of trust in him, and Adam decided to abuse that. He decided to.. abuse him. In ways that.. I can't bring myself to describe to a child such as yourself. But ever since then, Adam has never been the same. He’s continued down this path of sadistic skating, manipulation, and.. disgusting behavior towards those he deems inferior to him. The day he signed you on, I was terrified for you Chinen. Truly. I didn't know what he would do to you, I didn't know how far he would be willing to go with.. with a child. When I saw that you seemed happy under his management, I foolishly assumed that meant everything was fine. That he was treating you just fine. But.. Now I see the error in my ways. Now I see how idiotic I was to assume that there was nothing wrong with the way he was handling you. Just because you weren't physically injured does not mean he wasn't damaging you. I’m…”

Tadashi trailed off, his hands trembling as he hid his face behind his hair. Miya stared at him, speechless and slightly ill at the implications behind his words. 

“I'm.. I am so sorry.” The man forced out, lowering himself to the ground and bowing with his head pressed to the floor. “I’m so deeply sorry, Chinen. For my ignorance, my complacency, and for letting this become something it never should have progressed to. I am sorry.”

Miya listened to Tadashi's words, feeling a mixture of anger, confusion, and sadness swirling inside him. His apology felt genuine, but it didn't change the fact that he had stood by and allowed Adam to manipulate and mistreat him. It didn't change that he knowingly allowed this wolf in sheep’s clothing to ruin Miya’s entire life while the young boy was all the wiser. 

"You're sorry?" Miya's voice was barely above a whisper, filled with bitterness and resentment. "That's supposed to make everything okay? You stood by and let him do this to me, and now you're sorry?"

Tadashi didn’t flinch at the harshness in his tone. "No, Miya, it doesn't make everything okay. Nothing I say or do can change what happened. But I want you to know that I'm here for you now. I'll do whatever it takes to make things right, to help you get away from him."

Miya wanted to believe him. He wanted to believe that Tadashi was sincere, that he truly regretted his inaction. But it was hard to trust anyone right now, especially after everything that had happened.

“Right,” Miya replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “You’re here for me now. After everything’s already been done.”

Tadashi only nodded. “I understand your anger, Miya. I deserve it. But please, let me help you now.”

Miya’s eyes filled with tears, the overwhelming mixture of emotions finally breaking through his fragile composure. He didn’t want to be here, didn’t want to be in this situation where he was dependent on someone who had failed him so thoroughly. But he also didn’t want to be alone. His anger and fear tangled together, making it hard to breathe.

“I hate him,” Miya choked out, his voice trembling. “I hate him so much. And.. And I hate you. Do you understand that? I hate you. So much.” 

“I know,” Tadashi whispered. “And you have every right to. But you’re not alone in this, Miya. You have people who care about you, who want to help you.”

Miya wiped at his eyes angrily. “Like who? Who cares about me? I don't.. I don't have anyone. Nobody except him, he’s.. He’s the only fucking person I have left at this point. It's so pathetic..”

“Your friends,” Tadashi said gently. 

“Ha. Funny joke.” Miya seethed, glaring darkly at the man. “In case you haven't realized, my friends all left me.”

“Not them. I mean those boys you've gotten close with recently. Reki and Langa.

“I.. I didn’t want them to get sick of me too..” Miya admitted, his voice barely audible. “I thought if I stayed away, they.. they would like me more. But we haven't spoken in ages. They probably don't even give a damn about me anymore- not that I'd blame them.”

“I think they care about you more than you realize. Aren’t you aware of what that Langa boy is doing for you right now?”

That made Miya pause, a small look of confusion and distrust crossing his features. “..What are you talking about?”

Tadashi suddenly looked slightly puzzled. “I.. I assumed Adam would have made you aware..”

“Made me aware of what? What are you talking about?!” What is that idiot planning on doing now?

“He’s.. He challenged Adam to a beef, in exchange for knowledge on your whereabouts. Adam accepted eagerly.”

“What?!” Miya shrieked, his face going deathly pale in a matter of seconds. “That.. That moron! What the hell is he thinking?! Doesn’t he know where I am already?! Why would he race Adam? Who even let that stupid fool even challenge him in the first place?!”

Langa, please. Please, don’t actually be doing something like this. Don’t do something like this just for someone like me. Please. 

“I.. I thought you knew..” Tadashi murmured, a troubled expression crossing his features. 

“Of course I didn’t fucking know you idiot!”

He couldn’t do this. There was no way- that guy would kill him! Seriously! Langa was talented, of course there was no doubting that. But he was just a beginner. He had only just started skating. Adam was a monster on his board, and there was no way in heaven or hell that Langa would be able to beat him, let alone come out in one piece. He was doomed, he was so, so doomed. Why the hell had anyone let him go through with something like this?! Morons, all of them!

“I-I have to stop him. I can’t let him- I have to stop him-!” Miya felt himself trembling, his weak limbs struggling to push his own body out of bed. Immediately, Tadashi reached out, placing his hands on the boy’s shoulders to hold him down. Miya hated the way he flinched at the contact, so instead of dwelling on that, he bared his teeth in a low growl of anger. “Let go of me you- you creep! I’m not letting that bastard hurt my- my friend!”

Tadashi pulled his hands back, though he kept them raised in a placating manner. “Please, don’t misunderstand. I’m not trying to stop you from going to him. But you are not in a state right now where you can go on your own.”

“I’m not some weak little kid.” Miya sneered.

“As of this moment, yes, you are. But there’s no helping that.” At the boy’s clear increase in rage, Tadashi calmly continued. “I don’t say this to upset you. I say this because I want you to let me help you.” 

“Help me? After everything is all said and done, now is when you want to put yourself to use and help me?! Screw you! I didn’t need you back then, and I don’t need you now. So just stay out of my way, do you hear me?”

"I know, Miya. I know I failed you, and I'll never forgive myself for that. There’s no excusing my past negligence, but please, let me help you now. Let me aid in making things right from here on out."

"You think I care if you can forgive yourself or not? I don’t. In fact, I hope you can never forgive yourself for what you’ve done- or, I guess, what you didn’t do.” Miya said sourly, his voice trembling with emotion. "You should have done something. You should have protected me. You should have done anything but stand back and let me get my mind fucked by him! But you didn't. You didn’t. And now... now I don't know what to do. Now.. Now I’m stuck..”

God, Miya despised the way tears began to roll down his cheeks, a show of his weakness in front of this person he despised. He hated everything about this situation. As much as it angered him, Tadashi was right about one thing. Miya was currently powerless on his own. There was nothing he could do- his body was weak and battered. His head was foggy, and he was sure that the only way he was even coherent enough right now to be angry was because of pure adrenaline.

The man at his bedside didn’t respond, and Miya wasn’t sure that he even wanted him to, his heart heavy with pain and uncertainty. He knew he could never forgive Tadashi for what he had done, but.. he also knew that he couldn't do this alone. He needed someone on his side, someone who would help him stand up and get the hell away from this godforsaken estate. 

With a deep sigh, Miya closed his eyes, feeling the weight of exhaustion and sorrow pressing down on him. He didn't know what the future held, but for now, he had no choice but to swallow his pride and let Tadashi help him. He didn't know if it was the right decision, but it was the only one he had.

“..If you really mean what you said, then.. get me out of here.” He grit out, bruised knuckles trembling where they gripped onto the sheets. “I.. I don't wanna be here anymore. Please.” 

Tadashi immediately agreed. "Of course, Miya. I'll take you home right away."

But Miya interrupted him, shaking his head weakly. "No... I don't want to go there."

Tadashi paused, surprised by Miya's response. "Then... where do you want to go?"

The boy only scoffed, a weak little noise. “You really are stupid, aren’t you? Where do you think? Take me to S.”

Tadashi hesitated for a quick moment, but ultimately nodded, understanding. He slowly reached his arms behind the boy’s back, helping Miya to sit up before carefully wrapping a blanket around his shoulders. Miya winced as he shifted, feeling a sharp pain shoot through his entire body. He tried to ignore it, focusing instead on the thought of being far away from these suffocating walls.

As Tadashi helped him out of the room and down the stairs, Miya felt a flicker of hope ignite inside him. Maybe things could get better from here. Now that he at least had some sort of help from someone, he had the slightest chance of making it out of this shithole of a situation.

But as they stepped out into the night, Miya couldn't shake the feeling of dread that lingered in the pit of his stomach. The hardest part was undoubtedly going to be opening up about all the things he'd worked so hard to keep hidden for years now. Everything he'd buried deep down within himself and ignored, telling himself that it was normal. That it was all things he had to endure for the sake of his life and his mother’s. Even as he was being buckled into his seat, he doubted himself. Doubted that this was the right choice, doubted that there was any chance of escape from his manager’s impressively wide reach. 

But more than anything, a devilish voice in the back of his mind doubted that anyone would truly even want to help him. 

That thought was more frightening than anything else. 

—

“Here. Have some.” 

Langa glanced up from where he sat on his board to see Shadow, who was holding out a cold bottle of water towards him. The man’s face was pinched, as if he was biting back a few choice words about what Langa was preparing to do. He had just finished doing some stretches (the ones his dad taught him, which were supposedly extremely important to knock out before getting on a board. Langa never questioned it, and to this day he still did the exact same stretches before skateboarding with Reki. He wasn't sure if there were different stretches he should be doing for a different sport, but they seemed to work for him so far, so that didn't matter much.) and was now simply waiting for his opponent to arrive. 

“Thanks.” He smiled simply, taking the icy bottle out of Shadow’s hand and nursing a few sips. The man sighed, lowering down and sitting on the ground beside him. He cracked open his own can of soda, taking long and surprisingly deep gulps of the drink before unabashedly belching. Langa tried not to cringe- he truly did. Maybe it was a Japanese thing..?

“Ugh. Fuckin’ gross dude.” Reki pulled a face, slinging an arm around Langa like he seemed pretty fond of doing, and pulling him closer to his side. Okay. Guess that wasn’t a Japanese thing. “Your breath reeks.” 

“Says you!” Shadow glared, earning an offended gasp in response. 

“What the hell do you mean by that?!”

“Real talk. Do you brush your teeth?” Langa muttered, mostly to garner a reaction out of the redhead, which ended up working beautifully as he gasped even more dramatically. 

“Of course I do!” 

Cherry sighed from where he stood a few feet away from them, only slightly grounded by Joe’s hand resting on his shoulder. Their eyes met, and Joe seemed to understand what he was thinking just by a glance. 

“They’re kids, Kaoru.” 

“They should understand the gravity of this situation regardless.” He grit out in response, his hands trembling where they rested at his side. “If they don’t take this seriously-”

“They are. You know they are. You can’t blame them for trying to bring some sort of levity to the situation. It’s enough of a burden on their shoulders as it is, you can’t expect for them to mope around the entire time and make themselves even more nervous.” Joe tried, rubbing the nape of his neck as he tried to fight off the worry that attempted to consume him as well. “Besides, Langa is a beast. We explained the basics of one of Adam’s signature moves and he got it down in a single afternoon. He’ll be okay.” 

Cherry wanted to believe him. He wanted to believe in him, believe wholeheartedly that Langa could win this race, or at the very least make it out without sustaining any injuries. But he just couldn’t. There was no way, not after everything he had witnessed with Adam. That man- he was vile. Ruthless and violent and entirely uncaring of anything but his own satisfaction. He didn’t believe in holding back or pulling his punches, especially not when it came to someone he took a particular interest in. And judging by the fact that he had been showing consistent, sickening interest in Langa since the day he first saw him skate, Cherry was beyond believing that this would end in any positive way. 

But what more could he do? He already begged Langa several times to back out, attempted reassurance that they could help Miya in another way, that there was something else they could figure out to get him out of his current situation. He offered to switch out with him, to be the one racing against Adam in his stead. At a certain point in his desperation, he threatened to break his board before he could even get the chance to step back on it during one of their practice sessions. 

Of course, this was all met with refusal. 

“No, Adam Made it clear that this was the only deal he would agree to. I went to his estate twice, Cherry, anything else I offered up was outright refused.” 

“What makes you think he won’t just refuse to race if he gets there and sees you at the starting line instead? Getting tricked like that might just make him angry, and make things worse for Miya..”

“I’ll just have Reki make me a new one.”

It was clear as day- Langa was not backing out. It enraged Cherry as much as it made him proud. He was an admirable young man, but… But-

“I’m afraid, Kojiro. I am utterly terrified for that boy. Adam could- no, Adam will destroy him. I.. I can’t help but feel as though I’m leading this child right into a damn lion’s den.” 

Joe frowned, opening his mouth to attempt to console his husband in any way possible, when there was a sudden, and extremely loud bang coming from the center stage. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, and Joe felt his stomach tighten as Adam shot out from wherever the hell he had managed to enter. 

A long, almost blindingly bright red carpet rolled out from where the crowd split down the middle, ending perfectly at Langa’s feet. The teenager paused, blinking in a slight confusion before his expression settled into one of seriousness as he watched Adam roll down the smooth fabric on his board. He slowed to a stop in front of Langa, all dressed in his usual getup and holding a hand behind his back. Most notably, however, was the clear and almost sickening sight of a dark purple bruise, hidden just beneath his hairline. It was well hidden for the most part, but it was clearly painful- there was a noticeable bump on the spot after all. 

Adam grinned, leaning down to be even closer to the boy before whipping his hand from behind his back. With a flourish, he held out a practically sparkling bouquet of roses. 

“For you, my love.” He crooned. “A symbol of courtship.” 

Courtship? Does that mean something different here? Is.. Is that a Japanese thing too?

“Uh. Thanks.” Langa replied, gingerly taking the bouquet and almost immediately hearing Reki’s indignation from beside him. 

“Wh- Well don't accept them!” 

Huh. Guess that’s also not a Japanese thing. 

“Disgusting.” 

Adam’s cheshire grin faded for a moment at the sound of that voice before he took in a deep breath, sighing ruefully. “Ah. My beloved Cherry Blossom. I’ve been eager to see you again, don't you know? Look, I even brought you something as well!” He giggled, whipping out his other hand and showing off a crumbled cherry blossom flower. 

“Hmph. How clever.” Cherry responded sarcastically, slapping Adam’s hand away. It was a sorry excuse for a diss, that was for sure. “Do you just carry that around, waiting for an opportune moment to try and offend me?” 

“Oh of course not sweetie, I don't care about you enough to do all that.” He laughed. “I knew you would be here. The same way I knew your little guard dog would be here too. You two have been making quite the fuss about this day I must say, going out of your way to tell my little snowbunny all the ins-and-outs of my lovemaking.” 

Cherry recoiled, cringing so hard at his choice of language that he almost threw up right then and there. This was a child he was speaking about. To use those words was so offensive and borderline perverse that-

“Hell do you mean you knew we would be here?” Joe huffed, a deep frown on his face as he crossed his arms, slyly stepping closer as if he was attempting to shield Cherry from him. “And how would you know if we’ve been helping Langa or not?”

Adam’s grin widened. “You’d be surprised to know.” He said cryptically, seemingly content with leaving it at that as he pivoted and turned back to Langa. “Anyways, back to us, my Eve. Are you ready?” 

“What happened to your face?” Langa responded instead, unfortunately unable to hold back his small curiosity. Adam blanched for a moment, a look of brief irritation crossing his face before he wiped the expression away entirely. 

“Just a little spat with a past lover, that's all.” He sighed airily. “They can get quite feisty when unable to handle the intensity of my love. It's a fatal flaw, really. Let's hope you're nothing like that, and our love can go beyond all barriers!”

Langa’s expression remained stoic as he absorbed Adam’s theatrics. He wasn’t about to let the man’s unnerving behavior shake him, not when Miya’s fate depended on his focus and resolve.

“Enough with the games,” Langa said, his voice steady. “Let’s just get this over with.”

Adam’s grin broadened, seemingly delighted by Langa’s directness. “Ah, straight to the point! That’s what I like about you, snowbunny. Always so determined.” He turned on his heel and started towards the starting line, the crowd parting like a sea around him.

Reki tightened his grip around Langa’s shoulder. “You got this, man. Just remember everything we practiced.”

Langa nodded, feeling the weight of the situation fully beginning to dawn on him. He glanced over at Cherry and Joe, seeing their concerned and slightly sickened faces. It was clear how badly they still wanted to step in and put an end to this entire ordeal. And he appreciated their support, truly he did, but knew this was something he had to face himself. 

As Langa moved to the starting line, Shadow clapped a hand on his back. “Kick his ass, kid.”

Langa only nodded once more. “That’s the plan.”

The starting area was tense with anticipation, the crowd’s excitement heavy. Adam took his position, eyes gleaming with a predatory light. Langa mirrored him, every muscle in his body coiled and ready.

“Let’s make this memorable,” Adam said, almost purring.

The signal to start blared, and they launched off.

Chapter Text

Just knock. 

It can't be that hard. It shouldn't be that hard. All he had to do was raise his fist, and knock on the door. What was the worst that could realistically happen? He could get turned away and told to go sleep in his own room, but that was about as bad as it would get. He was always nice to Miya, and earlier today, he was so gentle in soothing the boy and calming him back down. It reminded him of when he was little, when his mom used to cuddle with him after a nightmare and wipe his tears all away. 

He was greedy, and he wanted more of that comfort. 

Who cares that it was currently 2 in the morning? Who cares? He promised Miya that he would always be there, and that had to count for now too, right? Surely he wouldn't get angry with him. 

No.. No, he never got angry with him. He cared about Miya, he truly did. 

He loved Miya. 

No one else did, no one except for him. 

With a shaky swallow, Miya raised his fist and knocked on the door. A few heavy moments of silence rolled by, almost enough to send Miya trailing back to his little room, when the door suddenly creaked open. 

Adam yawned, his hair tousled and his eyes slightly scrunched up as he eyed the boy standing before him. 

“Mm… Miya darling, what time is it..? What are you doing awake?”

“I..” The boy swallowed thickly. Why was talking suddenly so hard? “Um.. I couldn't sleep.. I'm sorry. I just..”

“You just what?”

God, his voice was so soft, so patient it made Miya’s eyes water. Why did nobody else ever talk to him like this? Was Adam really just that good of a person? Did he truly care about Miya so deeply?