Take a chance | mikey

7

As the meeting dispersed and the crowd began to thin out, only a few members remained. I found myself standing off to the side, taking in the scene. My mind was still reeling from the intensity of the gathering and the sudden shift in Mikey's demeanor.

Mitsuya was one of the last to linger, organizing some of the younger members. He seemed calm and collected, a stark contrast to the earlier atmosphere. I noticed him looking my way, and before I knew it, we were standing next to each other.

"Hey," he greeted with a friendly smile. "Yuri, right?"

I nodded. "Yeah. And you're Mitsuya, right? Second Division Captain?"

"That's right," he confirmed, his smile widening. "Pretty intense meeting, huh?"

"Yeah, it was," I replied. "I didn't realize how serious things were getting."

Mitsuya nodded thoughtfully. "It can be overwhelming. But Mikey knows what he's doing. We all trust him."

"I can see that," I said, glancing around at the remaining members. "It's impressive how everyone respects him so much."

He chuckled softly. "He's a good leader. And we're all like a big family, really. We look out for each other."

"That's nice to hear," I said with a smile. "Family is important."

Mitsuya's smile grew softer, and he seemed genuinely pleased by my response. "Yeah, it is. So, Yuri, how did you end up here? I mean, with Mikey and all."

I shrugged, feeling a bit more at ease. "I know Emma, and through her, I met Mikey and the rest. It's been... interesting, to say the least."

"I bet," Mitsuya said with a laugh. "And it looks like you're getting along well with everyone."

"Trying to," I replied, my eyes meeting his. "It's still a bit overwhelming, but I'm getting used to it."

Mitsuya nodded. "If you ever need someone to talk to or if things get too overwhelming, you can always come to me. We're all here for each other, remember?"

"Thanks, Mitsuya," I said, feeling a warmth in his offer. "I'll keep that in mind."

As we stood there, I couldn't help but notice his easy smile again. There was something about it that made everything feel a bit more manageable. I had a feeling that this wouldn't be the last time we'd have a conversation like this.

"YURII WE HAVE SCHOOL TOMORROW YOU SHOULD GET BACK HOME SOON!!" Yelled Emma.

I turned to see Emma waving at me, her earlier anger seemingly forgotten. "Coming!" I called back.

Mitsuya smiled. "Looks like you've got to go. Don't worry, we'll see each other around."

"Yeah, I'm sure we will," I replied.

"Isn't it late to go by yourself?" asked Mikey.

"Nah, it's okay, I'll be fine alone," I said, surprised that he cared.

"You live in Shinjuku, right?" Mikey asked.

"Yeah, but that's okay. It's just a quick ride," I replied.

"I'll come with you," Mikey said coolly.

"Huh?"

"It's no trouble. Let's go," he said, already moving toward the station.

Emma raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything as Mikey and I headed to the train station. The ride was quiet, with Mikey occasionally glancing over at me, making sure I was okay. I could feel the tension in the air from the earlier meeting and the upcoming conflict with Moebius.

After a while, I broke the silence. "Mikey, about Moebius... Is it really as bad as Mitsuya said?"

Mikey's expression turned serious. "Yeah, it's pretty bad. They're not just some random gang; they're dangerous. They've done a lot of terrible things."

"You sure you guys can defeat them? Aren't they older?" I asked, genuinely concerned.

"It's not just about the fight," he explained. "It's about protecting our people. If we don't stand up to them, they'll keep hurting more people. Pa's friend was just one victim. We can't let them think they can do whatever they want."

I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I get it."

"Don't worry, I'll protect everyone. That's why this gang was created in the first place."

"But be careful. I don't want you to get hurt," I replied.

Mikey nodded, smiling. "Give me your number."

"What? Yeah, sure. No, wait, what?" I said, confused by the abrupt change in topic.

"You should call me if something comes up, like earlier. I'm sure you were pretty lost not being able to contact both of us."

I smirked, trying to lighten the mood. "You just want my number, don't you?"

Mikey chuckled. "Maybe, but it's also so you can reach me when you need to."

I rolled my eyes but pulled out my phone. "Fine, fine. Here."

We exchanged numbers, and I felt a bit more at ease. "Thanks, Mikey."

I glanced at Mikey as the train pulled into the Shinjuku station. "You really didn't have to come all the way with me."

Mikey shrugged. "It's no big deal. I wanted to make sure you got home safe."

"You don't have to walk me home. The train back is in just 10 minutes, what if you miss it?"

"But—"

"No buts. It's okay, it's only a short distance from here. Now, come on, shoo, go away."

Mikey still looked worried but complied. "Alright, alright. Just be careful, okay?"

I smiled. "I will. Thanks, Mikey."

With a reluctant wave, Mikey turned back towards the train station, and I headed home, feeling a strange mix of emotions. As I walked, I couldn't help but feel a bit touched by his concern. 

As I got into the house, I realized mom was home. I didn't want to ruin my mood by interacting with her so I headed straight to my room upstairs ignoring his presence.

"Yuri, you're back late," I heard her call out, but I pretended not to hear and quickly closed my bedroom door behind me.

Flopping onto my bed, I stared at the ceiling, replaying the day's events in my mind.

Ah, I hope Mikey shows up at school tomorrow. But he probably won't sh-

NO, SAYURI, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? MY THOUGHTS WERE FILLED WITH MIKEY.

Shit, GET A GRIP.

Let's just go to sleep.

I turned off the light, pulled the blanket over me, and closed my eyes, trying to push all the thoughts away. Tomorrow was another day, and I needed to rest. But even as I drifted off, I couldn't completely shake the image of Mikey's smile from my mind.