Yuta wiped the blood from his lip, his breathing heavy but controlled. The last of the Shishitoren thugs groaned on the ground at his feet, defeated. Togame stood a few steps away, his posture more relaxed but still on edge, scanning the area for any remaining threats.
"Damn, that was close," Togame muttered, shaking out the tension from his arms.
Yuta nodded, still catching his breath, but before either of them could speak further, a voice broke through the quiet street, high-pitched and bubbling with excitement.
"Whoa! That was amazing! You defeated them all by yourself?"
Yuta and Togame turned to see a short boy with wavy beige hair bounding toward them, his eyes wide with admiration. He wore a black and orange jacket with the Shishitoren emblem emblazoned on the back, but unlike the others, he seemed less aggressive—almost... cheerful.
"You're amazing!" the boy continued, practically bouncing on his feet as he looked between Yuta and Togame, his smile wide. "You took them all down without even breaking a sweat!"
Yuta narrowed his eyes, stepping forward, instantly wary. "Who the hell are you?"
The boy grinned, unfazed by Yuta's harsh tone. "Name's Choji Tomiyama! I just joined Shishitoren not too long ago, but man, you guys—wow! You should totally join our team!"
Togame blinked, caught off guard by the boy's enthusiasm. "What are you talking about?"
Choji's smile didn't waver as he gestured toward the unconscious Shishitoren members sprawled on the ground. "Shishitoren! We're a gang, you know, and I bet with your skills, you'd fit right in. I mean, you took these guys down like it was nothing. We could use people like you."
Togame exchanged a quick glance with Yuta, unsure how to respond. There was something almost contagious about Choji's excitement, and though Togame wasn't exactly interested in joining a gang, the idea of power, of being part of something bigger, tugged at the back of his mind.
"You guys are Shishitoren?" Togame asked, his voice more thoughtful now, curiosity piqued.
Choji nodded enthusiastically, his wavy hair bouncing with the motion. "Yep! I'm new, but trust me, it's a blast. You get to fight, hang out with cool people, and no one messes with you. What's not to like?"
Yuta, however, wasn't swayed. He stepped forward, his eyes dark and cold. "We're not interested."
Choji blinked, his grin faltering for just a moment before he turned his attention to Togame, sensing an opportunity. "What about you, huh? You look like the type who doesn't like following rules. Shishitoren gives you freedom. You can fight when you want, do what you want—no one tells you what to do."
Togame hesitated. The idea of freedom, of being able to fight and live on his own terms, gnawed at him. Shishitoren represented something different from the day-to-day grind of his life—something exciting, even dangerous. His gaze shifted briefly to Yuta, who was staring at him with a fierce, unwavering look.
"We're not joining," Yuta repeated, his voice sharp and commanding. "This isn't a game, Togame."
Togame clenched his fists, the tension between him and Yuta suddenly palpable. Yuta had always been the one calling the shots, always the protector, but something about the way he dismissed Choji's offer so quickly rankled Togame.
"Maybe I'm not so sure," Togame muttered, his eyes flicking toward the Shishitoren jacket Choji wore. "What if I want something different, Yuta? Something... bigger?"
Yuta's expression hardened, his voice low and dangerous. "You want to end up like them? A bunch of punks who follow orders from idiots who think power comes from beating people up?"
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SUB ROSA | Wind Breaker
Fanfiction❝ She was like light slipping through the cracks-out of place, yet impossible to ignore.❞ Akame finds herself in a world that was never meant for her, a quiet contrast to Furin's chaos. But in a place that challenges her at every turn, she begins to...
