[AllTakemichi] Control

Chapter 24

And then, the moment Takemichi has been eagerly waiting for finally arrives - he's discharged from the hospital. Takemichi wants to shout it to the world.

Takemichi has been in the hospital for over a week, and every day, different groups from Touman take turns visiting him. They bring heaps of food and toys, no matter how much Takemichi tries to stop them. It gets to the point where Takemichi has to give some of the snacks to the nurses and doctors who take care of him, and even asks his mom to take some home, otherwise, there wouldn't be enough space to carry everything when he leaves today.

Not to mention, they treat Takemichi like a baby, pampering him in a way that he finally understands the meaning of being "coddled like an egg, protected like a flower."

Mitsuya stands out the most, bringing homemade food, peeling fruit, and fetching water for Takemichi to take his medicine. He also constantly gives him advice and doesn't let him do anything whenever he's around. Then there's Draken, who - though he doesn't cook - takes care of Takemichi just as much. Mitsuya is gentle, while Draken is more domineering. Takemichi doesn't even get a say when Draken insists on doing something for him. Like changing his clothes, even when Takemichi can do it himself, Draken still insists, leaving Takemichi speechless.

And then Mikey, who clings to him every time he visits, calling his name non-stop. Chifuyu, Baji, and Kazutora also keep a close watch on him, making sure he's not even exposed to the slightest breeze to avoid catching a chill. Smiley and Angry bring loads of toys (or some really weird things), and they seem obsessed with guarding against the Haitani brothers.

Pah-chin, Peh-yan, and Hakkai spend money like it's nothing, buying so much stuff that Takemichi doesn't even dare calculate how much they've spent on the towering pile of snacks in his hospital room. Every time the nurses come in, they tease Takemichi about having so many amazing "husbands," and Takemichi just wants to hide his face in his pillow.

He truly feels like Touman has fattened him up in just one week - his cheeks are plumper, and it's kind of scary. His mom jokes that even she didn't spoil him like that. Takemichi feels like he's recovered really fast, maybe because he's been eating so well? While he can't run around yet, at least he no longer feels pain after just a few steps.

Today, there's a gang meeting, so as soon as Takemichi gets home, he heads to the shrine. When he arrives, he immediately sees Baji beating someone up, hitting them really hard. The other members are all wearing serious expressions. Takemichi hesitantly approaches.

"Hey Takemichi, didn't I tell you that you could stay home today? Why did you come?"

Chifuyu's voice breaks the silence, drawing everyone's attention to Takemichi. Chifuyu walks over with a cheerful face, but as soon as he turns toward the others, his expression turns cold, signaling something to the group. Seeing Takemichi, the core members of Touman look a bit surprised, relieved that the issue is already resolved. Their previously grim faces brighten up, and they smile at him.

Even Baji, who had been in the middle of beating someone, stops and looks over, smiling brightly. The frightening, menacing look on his face is completely gone, as if it never existed.

"Yo! Why'd you come? You just got home, didn't you?" Baji wipes his hands before walking over to Takemichi.

"I just got back. Chifuyu said you guys were having a meeting, so I came to check it out. I missed the feeling of the gang meetings," Takemichi replies with a smile.

"You just got back, why didn't you rest more, huh?" Chifuyu scolds him again.

"I've been resting for a whole week!"

"We were planning to head to your place once this was over," Baji says as he slings his arm around Takemichi's shoulders, blocking his view of the person he had just beaten up.