I'd let the world burn for you... || Tokyo Revengers

Older siblings

That night, Kaiya found herself unexpectedly staying at Keisuke's apartment. After a warm and emotional evening with Ryoko, Keisuke's mother had asked her to come around more often, at least for dinner. Kaiya had agreed, her heart heavy but grateful for the comforting presence of someone who had also lost him. That night, she slept in Keisuke's bed, the familiar scent of the room wrapping around her like a bittersweet memory.

The next morning, the weather was colder than she had expected. As Kaiya prepared to leave, Ryoko insisted that she take one of Keisuke's old sweaters, one that was much too big for her, but comforting in its own way. She had also given Kaiya a knitted scarf, something handmade and filled with motherly love. The oversized sweater and the scarf felt like a piece of Keisuke and Ryoko, giving her a strange sense of closeness to the two of them, even in their absence.

She spent most of the day at Ryoko's apartment, caught between moments of quiet reflection and the warmth of Ryoko's company. As the day went on, Chifuyu called her to check in, his voice laced with both concern and a need to discuss something important. He invited her over to his place to meet Takemichi, and Kaiya barely could wait, feeling a need to understand the growing mysteries around Takemichi's behavior.

When Kaiya arrived at Chifuyu's door, her speed surprised him. She stood there, her skirt peeking out from beneath the oversized sweater that hung loosely on her frame. Chifuyu's eyes lingered on the sweater, and he recognized it instantly—it had belonged to Keisuke. His chest tightened at the sight, the sweater a poignant reminder of their friend.

- "Sooner than I expected," he said softly, a hint of surprise in his voice. He looked at her, then at the sweater, and nodded with a quiet understanding. "I see..."

Kaiya noticed his glance and followed his gaze to the sweater, offering him a small smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.

- "Please, come in," Chifuyu said, guiding her inside. They walked together into his room, where Takemichi was already waiting.

Takemichi greeted Kaiya with his usual friendly smile, but there was something different about him—he seemed lighter, more present, like the old Takemichi. Kaiya returned the greeting, feeling some of her own tension lift slightly.

- "I told her about your alliance with Kisaki," Chifuyu said as he sat down on the floor, signaling the start of a serious conversation. Takemichi sat in his chair, and Kaiya made herself comfortable on the edge of Chifuyu's bed. The room was quiet, but there was a sense of anticipation in the air.

- "She wants to help us," Chifuyu added.

Kaiya smiled warmly at Takemichi.

- "It's good to see you... well, being you," she said softly, her voice filled with relief. "I tried to talk to you a few times, but each time, you acted like a different person. Even Hina-chan mentioned she noticed changes in you."

Takemichi scratched the back of his head, a sheepish look crossing his face. 

- "About that..." He hesitated, clearly unsure of how much to reveal. "I'm sorry if I seemed... off." His eyes flickered between Chifuyu and Kaiya, as if seeking some form of reassurance.

Chifuyu, sensing Takemichi's hesitation, nodded at him in encouragement. He knew this conversation was necessary, and it was time for Takemichi to open up.

- "Chifuyu told me that you wanted to talk," Takemichi continued, his voice soft but serious.

- "Yes," Kaiya began, her tone curious but composed. "From the beginning, you've seemed different. You wanted to stop the conflict with Moebius, and Keisuke even told me that you asked him not to die before the fight with Valhalla... That was peculiar, to say the least. It's almost like you knew something that none of us did. Not even I knew, and my brother, Kazutora, was the one who wanted to kill him." Her voice remained steady, but there was an undeniable curiosity behind her words.