Responsible Driver

One-shot

A/N: Tokyo Revengers belongs to Wakui Ken. The cover is a cropped panel from chapter 72 and is not my work.

Canon was rather vague about what happened in this future, so I'm taking a few liberties with it.

Everyone has a different sense of humor. If yours coincides with mine, I'd like to hear it! If it doesn't, I'd also like to hear it! Thanks in advance.

---

"I'm sorry, I...can't accept it."

Kisaki paused as he was about to fill the remaining glass with the bottle of cognac. Two completed highballs sat beside the empty glass in the middle of the varnished table, their ice glinting in the light of the nearby chandelier.

"I didn't expect you to so easily." Kisaki sighed and pushed up his glasses. He set the bottle down and ambled along to the expansive skylight spanning a wall of the room while straightening his pressed suit. The nightscape of the city below glittered past the window, and the acting leader of Toman's face was transposed on it as it reflected off the dark glass. He bore a tired smile. "Baji was such a close friend of yours, and I doubt you'll ever be able to forgive me for what I did, even if it was during my unrestrained and immature years, but I at least want you to know that I do regret my—"

"No, it's not that. I accept your apology. I just can't have any alcohol cause I'm driving tonight." Matsuno Chifuyu said.

"Oh yeah, that's true. You probably shouldn't," Takemichi mumbled from the armchair in front of him.

Chifuyu had never seen this side from Kisaki. This vulnerable, head-bowing, mistake-admitting reaction was the last thing he'd expected from the prideful and power-hungry man, who'd sacrificed everyone and everything in his way in pursuit of his ambitions. He'd never forget about Kisaki's incitement of Baji's death no matter how many years passed, but Chifuyu had to admit that people could change. Kazutora sure had, after his incarceration. But even if he hadn't, that wouldn't have stopped Chifuyu from helping him back up onto his feet by finding him a residence and list of (legal) work opportunities. Kazutora probably didn't fancy going to jail a third time.

Perhaps Kisaki had also changed after attaining the power he used to seek so desperately.

Something about Kisaki did seem to change in front of his eyes. His back straightened as he turned away from the skylight, and he carried himself with a bit more of his usual pride and confidence while he walked back to his chair. "Oh? You don't have a driver tonight? I could have one arranged for you."

"You ordered our previous driver to go kill himself—"

"It was an order from above, from Mikey. I wished that I didn't have to sacrifice anymore lives, but I couldn't do anything to stop it."

"Well, I guess you couldn't have," Chifuyu said. Even if Kisaki was the acting leader, he still couldn't disobey Mikey's direct orders. It...it felt like Kisaki really had changed. They were a criminal syndicate, and they would never escape committing violence. Even Chifuyu himself had taken lives, although never directly. Maybe he could trust Kisaki—Chifuyu himself wasn't an innocent man either.

"But the driver must be someone trusted by the boss. I won't allow anyone less, so I'm driving until we find a suitable replacement." Takemichi glanced back from his seat at Chifuyu in confusion. Normally Chifuyu wasn't too formal with him in private, but some posturing was necessary in public.

Takemichi would usually smile and nod at the respect, but he'd looked like a lost puppy today since coming back from the record shop and lacked his typical smugness. Chifuyu wondered what freak accident had happened to transform Takemichi into a humble and in his opinion, which Chifuyu would never, ever reveal on risk of demotion, a better man.