Replay

4-6 Charge

A/N: I'll probably switch to bi-monthly updates or simply update whenever I finish a chapter. I don't want to go on hiatus as we approach the climax of this arc, but I've not been too motivated recently.

Anyway, here's the chapter! Although it starts with a Blake scene, most of it is in Takemichi's perspective as he strengthens his resolve and prepares for the battle. For this arc especially, Takemichi and Blake are dual protagonists.

"You have the gall to call us here and then show up late? I'd beat you up if I could!"

"Don't fight him, Smiley. You'll only get hurt again."

"Sheesh, have more faith in your bro. I'd kill him, no sweat."

Past the partition concealing my small table, I peeked at the uniformed delinquents lounging about the center booths. As Kisaki had described, seven Toman members were present: Baji and Chifuyu, patting flecks of snow off their clothes as they joined the waiting members; the twin 4th Division leaders, standing to receive the latecomers; the 5th Division leaders, sitting in silence beside the brothers; and Peh-yan, turning around in his chair to watch the 1st Division arrive. Representatives from each division except the 2nd. Because Kisaki assumed control of the 3rd Division with Moebius's remnants, Peh-yan no longer had official authority, but he was still symbolic as one of its previous leaders.

The bell hanging from the door rattled as it fell shut.

Most of their orders had arrived, and they'd begun eating while chatting about frivolous matters, seemingly avoiding discussing the truce. Other customers had shied away from sitting near the gang members and glanced at them from behind their booths, but they relaxed after the boys proved themselves to be civil. I held my second mug of hot chocolate to my lips as the two latecomers sat at the booth behind the partition.

"Sorry guys, the snow held us up," Chifuyu said. "Thanks for waiting. Let's move onto why we called everyone—."

"About fighting the Black Dragons, yeah?" Nahoya sounded chipper. "You've been pretty unsubtle during the meetings about wanting a fight, and now you wanna do it behind Mikey's back."

"Mikey decided that we preserve the truce," Mucho intoned. "Have you two decided to disobey his orders?"

"Mikey this, Mikey that—are you all unable to act on your own volition? What, would you mindlessly obey a tyrant who ordered you to kill and plunder?" Baji scoffed. I dared peep past the partition at him. His scowl was as scathing as his remarks. "If you all can't do anything without Mikey's permission, then this meeting is a waste of time." He stood up.

I ducked out of sight after Chifuyu grabbed Baji's sleeve. "Don't leave yet, Baji-san! They're only worried about maintaining Toman's integrity, and they still came to listen to us even though Mikey-kun said to not fight. If...if we do fight the Black Dragons, we need their help."

A shoe scraped the floor. "And none of them will help because Mikey told them to roll over and do nothing."

"But if we lose to them, we'll make it worse on Hakkai. You're super strong, but Taiju is, too. Didn't you tell me that you wanted to help Hakkai?" Chifuyu's question was met with silence, after which Baji sighed and slumped against the booth. The partition creaked under his weight.

"It really feels like you called this meeting, not Baji," Nahoya said, "because whenever Baji sets his mind on something, he just does it without telling anyone. In my entire time in Toman, I've never seen him ask for help, until now."

"I'm not asking you to help me," Baji muttered. "I'm asking if you're willing to help another one of us, and you're all answering 'no.'"

"...if you convince us, we could help you argue with Mikey," Souya said.