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Rin walked back to his house as he contemplated what he just heard. So, they left me out, huh. I'll just meet them there on Christmas! Surprise! The awesome Rin will be your Christmas gift!
///
"I can't wait for Christmas!" Hina smiled.
Oh crap. Takemichi thought. Am I double booked?
"Hey, sis!" A black haired boy frowned as he interrupted the conversation, "I'm going home. I don't like to waste time."
"Uh, okay." Hina shrugged.
"Jeez, I wish you wouldn't flirt in front of your younger brother..." Naoto mumbled as he walked away.
"What's his problem?" Takemichi asked. "He sounded like Kisaki!"
"Haha, he did." Hina giggled. "Just like him!"
"What did you just say?"
"Huh? I said it was just like him."
"Like who?"
"Tetta Kisaki, who else?"
"Y-you know Kisaki?"
"Of course I do! We went to the same cram school in elementary. Rin too! I introduced the two of them basically."
"What?!"
"Mhm! Kisaki was the most studious kid at cram school while Rin was the complete opposite. He never listened to anyone! Well, until he met Kisaki. After the two met, Rin followed Kisaki around like a dog to its owner." Hina explained. "But he went to a private middle school so I don't know where he's been since."
"He's running with a gang now."
"What?!"
"And he's a captain in Toman!"
"No way! That doesn't suit him!"
"Oh, it totally does!"
Hina smiled in response, standing up with a small chuckle before checking the time, her smile switching to a frown. "We're meeting up at Umishita Park on Christmas Eve — don't forget!" She informed. "Bye!"
"Later."
///
Rin sat at a bench inside the church Koko mentioned Taiju would be at. Although he wasn't here yet, his little brother Hakkai was here, praying at the front.
"Hakkai." Rin called out, "Come join me here."
"Rin?! What are you doing here?" Hakkai gasped as he quickly sat next to Rin.
"Just relaxing." Rin lied. "Figured I should pay my respects."
Suddenly, the doors to the church opened, revealing Takemichi.
"Takemitchy? What're you doing here?" Hakkai asked the blonde.
"I came to stop you."
"Takemitchy...I didn't have that talk with you because I wanted you to stop me." Hakkai exclaimed, standing up. "It was so I could strengthen my resolve! If you get in my way, I'll kill you too!"
Wait a second...does Hakkai want to kill Taiju? Rin thought to himself as his eyes widened in realization. "Hakkai. You want to kill your older brother?"
"He won't." Takemichi responded instead. "Whenever I share my worries with someone it's because I can't decide what I want to do. I know how you feel, Hakkai. You think there's no other way to stop Taiju's tyranny — no other way but to kill him. But, choosing murder won't protect him. Don't you want to protect your sister?"
"What the hell do you know?" Hakkai yelled out. "If the food tastes bad, he hits me! If I don't greet him properly, he forces me to sit kneeling all day. If I didn't wake up earlier than he does, he kicks me until I throw up blood! If our eyes meet when he's in a bad mood, he beats the shit outta me. That's life in the Shiba household. Stay out of our family's business!"
"Hakkai..." Rin muttered.
"Go home. Both of you."
Smiling slightly, Takemichi looked to the floor. "Yesterday I broke up with Hina-"
"WHAT." Rin yelled.
"-I broke up with Hina to protect her. I'm weak. I'm gutless. And I'm a huge idiot. But, she loved me anyway. So, I'd do anything to protect her! But, I would never kill someone! No matter how much I hated my enemy, no matter how hard the alternative was, I'd never do something that makes Hina sad!" Both Rin and Hakkai stared at Takemichi in shock and pride. "Hey, Hakkai! You think this is going to make Yuzuha happy? Don't you think this will make Yuzuha sad if you become a murderer?!"
"Takemichi watch out-" Rin called out to him.
"Our father, who art in heaven. I pray in thy holy name. Amen." Taiju sneered as he walked in, standing behind Takemichi. "What the hell are you bastards doing here?"
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We are just going to pretend that Takemichi isn't questioning why Rin is there 🤷
