Mikey! (Manjiro Sano x OC) [Tokyo Revengers]

VII. Mikey

She's incorrigible.

That's Mikey's opinion on Karina Maya.

She's always unsure, fumbling, gullible, and weak. Just so weak.

But it's not that Mikey has something against weak people. Oh no. He knows and is close with other people who he considers weak. Also, he judges not those who easily shed tears.

It's just that there's something about Maya's weakness that irritates Mikey.

How can she let others boss her around and let them have their way with her when she could rush toward and shield an old man?

Was she really kind or is she just an idiot?

She often just agrees with others like she doesn't have her own opinion.

Is she really a plain fool or are the wounds within her so deep that she feels like her own voice doesn't matter?

Should he pity her?

Let his younger sister console and befriend Maya until all her wounds heal?

But what if... Maya is put in a position where she needs to choose between Emma and another person? And someone would be harmed.

Or choose between two evil acts at the expense of another person? That she needs to choose the lesser evil...

What will she do then?

Hasn't it already happened? And she did choose, placing Emma in harm's way.

Karina Maya is dangerous.

Because she's predictable and her weakness is constantly followed by blind kindness.

Mikey huffs. He already told her that he doesn't trust her. But he needs to do more.

"Oi, Mikey. I said who are you betting on?" Ken-chin's large frame comes into Mikey's view. It's his birthday today and Mikey doesn't want to spoil it by not being like himself.

On the table before them are Nahoya and Matsuno, doing arm wrestling. Toman members flock around the table, shouting and cheering on who they are betting on.

Mikey smiles. "Of course, I'm betting on Matsuno. Matsuno! Don't you dare lose!"

The crowd shouts another round of cheers.

"I'm betting on Nahoya then!" Draken places a handful of chips on the table.

Each of them has five chips and every time they win, they acquire chips from those who lose. The person with the most number of chips after all bets end would have the special pudding made by one of the women taking care of Draken.

The table shakes. Matsuno is defeated.

Mikey laughs despite his loss.

Then, the crowd turns quiet. Everyone's looking at the girl approaching them--Emma.

"Draken," she starts to say. "I have something to give you."

The boys whistle and tease Draken who immediately stands up at the sight of the girl. Before the two lovebirds leave, Emma says to her big brother, "Mikey, grab a drink and give it to Karina-chan then stay and talk with her."

"Huh?" Mikey frowns. "But I don't want to."

"Come on, Mikey. Poor Karina-chan. She doesn't have anyone to talk to when everybody else is having so much fun."

"But—"

"Please." Emma's eyes are pleading. How can he resist? "For me."

Mikey sighs, stands up, grabs a drink from the other table, and heads toward the gray-haired girl.

Looking at her makes Mikey irritated once more. How can she just look at the ground, never meeting others' eyes just because she feels so ugly when she looks... adorable in that light brown dress?

What?

Did he just think "adorable"?

What the fuck?

The blond boy shakes his head. Got to clear his mind of such thoughts. Maya may not be ugly but he'll never find someone like her attractive.

When he gets near the shy girl, he offers the drink to her.

"T-t-thank you, Sano-san."

Mikey can hear the other Toman members snickering and chuckling. Never mind them. He doesn't care what they think about him and Maya anyway.

The girl looks like she wants to say something but Mikey immediately closes his eyes and says, "This is not my idea. It's Emma who wants me to give you that." Just to make things clear.

"I-i know," the girl replies.

"And she's the one who wants me to talk to you."

"Y-yes."

"And no matter how Ken-chin and Emma would like us to be close to each other, we wouldn't be."

"Yes."

"Because I don't like you." Surprised by what he just said, Mikey's eyes open wide, meeting the brown orbs of the girl in front of him.

Mikey swears that his world is suddenly drowned in noises. The Toman members are chatting and laughing too loud. The women speak loudly in their shrill voices. And Karina Maya's labored breathing reaches his ears.

He just said he doesn't like her.

In a way like he's rejecting her. Though there is definitely nothing between the two young teens.

Then why are tears now flowing from the eyes of the girl before him?

For a quick moment, Mikey is tempted to reach for the girl's face and wipe those tears away.

No.

No. No. No.

Why the hell would he want to do that?

As he clearly said, he doesn't even like her.

That clumsy, untrustworthy creature.

He feels a heavy arm drape over his shoulders. "Mikey! So the rumors are true. That you found your own woman—" He stops when he sees Maya.

"Baji, come on. Let's go find Pah-chin." This time, It seems better if he just leaves the girl to be alone by herself.

"Okay," the other boy responds.

"Maya," the blond boy says, "wipe your tears." She doesn't even notice that they're already dripping on her face, landing on her beautiful light brown dress, and leaving a silent pang in Mikey's chest.

Baji and he joins the crowd, their guffaw and tittering fill the air. But Mikey doesn't feel joyous. He looks back at Karina Maya and sees her exiting the room.

That's right. Get out, he thinks, you don't belong here.