𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐄𝐍~ 𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐎 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐈𝐑𝐎

♡Chapter-16♡

Your point of view.

"I'm not gonna run away."

Takemichi stepped forward, squaring his shoulders and locking eyes with Kiyomasa. There was no hesitation in his stance, no fear in his expression.

"The hell? You wanna die too?" Kiyomasa sneered, his knife glinting in the dim streetlight.

"Kiyomasa... I guess we haven't settled things yet. From our one-on-one at the fight club." Takemichi said, his voice steady.

Kiyomasa let out a mocking laugh, echoed by his lackeys. "What the hell are you talking about? Everyone there saw you lose!"

Takemichi clenched his fists, stepping closer. "I didn't lose."

A snicker escaped me before I could stop it, and Kiyomasa's gaze flicked toward me in irritation. "What the hell are you laughing at?"

Draken, leaning weakly against Emma for support, chuckled hoarsely. "I'm betting a hundred million on Takemitchy. This is stupid as hell, but I'll play along."

"Me too. A hundred million." Emma chimed in with a grin, though her eyes betrayed her worry.

The others followed suit, throwing out exaggerated bets, their words a mixture of genuine belief in Takemichi and a desperate attempt to keep spirits high.

Kiyomasa's grin faltered as his men exchanged uneasy glances. "You're all insane!"

"Nah." Draken rasped, his gaze sharpening. "Takemitchy's gonna win."

"Don't let us down, Takemichi."

Takemichi's lips curled into a faint smile. He nodded, stepping toward Kiyomasa with renewed resolve. "We're finishing this!" He declared, launching himself forward.

Kiyomasa's knife gleamed as it arced toward Takemichi, slashing into his hand. Blood spattered across the ground as Takemichi cried out in pain, clutching the blade.

"Takemichi!" Hina's scream cut through the rain, but Emma held her back. "Hina, stop! It's dangerous!"

Kiyomasa sneered, twisting the knife. "You're livelier than I thought for someone who should already be dead."

Rage boiled inside me, and I stepped forward, fists clenched. "You're gonna pay for that, you piece of-"

"Y/n-" Draken interrupted, his weak voice cutting through my fury. "-Trust him."

I froze, turning to meet Draken's steady gaze. Something about his tone was so sincere it wanted me to follow his words. Reluctantly, I stepped back, watching Takemichi.

"This isn't a fight. It's an execution." Kiyomasa growled, pulling the knife free and raising it again.

But Takemichi didn't flinch. Instead, he grabbed Kiyomasa by the waist, throwing his weight against him. The larger boy staggered, cursing, and drove his knee into Takemichi's stomach.

Takemichi grunted in pain but didn’t let go. "I don't care if I can't be like Mikey-kun. I'm Hanagaki Takemichi!"

With a feral scream, he sank his teeth into Kiyomasa's arm. Kiyomasa howled, trying to shake him off, but Takemichi held on like a man possessed. He shifted, throwing himself onto his back, locking his arms around his neck in a desperate chokehold.

"Don't let go, Takemitchy!" Draken roared, his voice rough but filled with unshakable belief.

Takemichi's arms tightened, his screams echoing in the rain until Kiyomasa's struggles grew weaker, his face paling as his eyes rolled back. Finally, he collapsed, his body hitting the ground with a dull thud.