Culmination [Tokyo Revengers]

Chapter XI - Growth

[One Week Later]

(Y/n), Takemichi, Chifuyu, and Hakkai arrive at the facility that hosted the Fashion Design Newcomer Awards, awaiting for the ceremony to start. Each of them were anxious to see what Mitsuya had come up with, anticipating his victory.

"Ah, I'm so nervous!" Takemichi remarks. He glances over at his right, where (Y/n) sat. "Do you know what he made, (Y/n)?"

"He refused to show me." (Y/n) reveals. "So not even I know how the project came out..." She prays that the outfits had turned out to be the most superior.

"When is it Mitsuya's turn?" Chifuyu asks Hakkai, who's looking down at a pamphlet that contained the list of competitors.

"Let's see..." Hakkai is looking through the thin booklet, searching for Mitsuya's name.

"And so, the final round of the National Fashion Design Newcomer Award commences!" The host begins the competition. "Introducing the judges..." The light flashes on the three judges that stand at the front of the walkway.

Not long after, models came out from the back of the stage, wearing a variety of outfits that differed from one another, each of them portraying the project that each competitor had made.

"Wow! How gorgeous!" Takemichi is already impressed, despite this being the first competitor's entry.

"Entry number one, Suzukui Miho with their theme "Multi-layered-ness." The host gives a condensed description on the competitor and their work.

"So cool!" Hakkai, Chifuyu, and (Y/n) agree with Takemichi.

Chifuyu would then feel the need to say. "Couldn't top my style, though."

"And he's still going..." (Y/n) deadpans.

"Chifuyu...get over it, will ya?" Takemichi has yet to be honest about the t-shirts. Once again, no one among the group dared to say how atrocious the design was.

Looking at all these entries, (Y/n) couldn't help but to wonder if the competition was somewhat overwhelming for Mitsuya. She would assume that even he had stolen a glance at a few of them backstage, and worries. "I wonder if Mitsuya can win." She says flat out.

"Yeah, isn't this some high level competition?" Chifuyu can see why she would say that.

"Taka-chan will win!" Hakkai has little to no doubt in his former captain.

Takemichi smiles at (Y/n), reading off her expression with ease. "It was really nice of you to take care of him this past week, (Y/n)."

"Huh?" (Y/n) interlocks eyes with Takemichi, taking a good second to realize what he had said to her. "Oh, right." A genuine smile appears on her face. "I just thought he could use some comfort, from someone who could understand a bit on...what was he going through." She sheepishly scratches the corner of her chin. "It's the least I can do."

"What're you talking about, (Y/n)?" Hakkai couldn't help but to laugh a bit. "Hanging out with you is all Taka-chan could ask for!"

"He's right." Chifuyu admits. "Ever since you joined Toman, he's always felt the need to put some kind of distance between you and him, unless you had a reason to interact with him."

(Y/n) blinks a few times, confused at first. "Now that you think about it..." A few beads of sweat forms on her forehead when she realizes. "—he always was quiet around me, until I actually spoke to him directly...and even now, he has that habit from time to time."

Takemichi teases her right then and there. "Maybe he had a crush on you back then!"

(Y/n) denies it immediately. "Don't say something so absurd. We hardly talked to each other in the past. How could that even be?"