[AllTakemichi] Control

Chapter 38

"What the hell took you so long? What's Haitani Ran doing meeting up with Takemichi?"

Hanma barely steps into the base before Kisaki snaps at him, clearly itching to know what just went down.

"Well... they're out eating crepes."

Hanma's lazy reply, paired with his oddly vague tone, instantly makes Kisaki suspicious.

"You what? They're eating crepes? Haitani goes all the way from Roppongi just to grab crepes with Takemichi?"

"Swear to God, I'm there watching and even I can't believe it. They're even strolling around like they're on some casual date."

Hanma sounds like he's still processing it himself.

Kisaki frowns deeper, still clearly doubtful - but then again, it's hard to imagine Hanma ever covering for anything weird Takemichi does. Out of everyone, Hanma's his most loyal, most reliable guy.

"Bunch of idiots wasting my precious time."

Kisaki grumbles, turning back to his desk. Hanma rolls his eyes behind his back and sticks out his tongue. Well, he is telling the truth - half of it, anyway. It's just... today, he's weird too. He doesn't even know why he keeps that scene to himself. He knows damn well Kisaki would take action the second he hears about it. At first, Hanma wants him to. But now... he doesn't. If someone's gonna do something, maybe it should be him. But not now. He doesn't feel like it.

Takemichi, huh ~ You've totally put a spell on me.

Hanma scratches his head. When he hears Kazutora's gang is on the way earlier, he backs off. But he still keeps an eye on Takemichi from afar. Watch him sitting quietly by the roadside, still wrapped in the jacket Hanma gave him. It almost looks like Takemichi uses it as some kind of shield - something to make himself feel safe. And for Hanma, that's the most ridiculous and pathetic thing ever. Him? A shield? For someone else?

He sees Baji, Chifuyu, and Kazutora rush over, all flustered and worried sick. Hanma clicks his tongue a few times at their dramatics. He frowns when Baji throws his jacket on the ground and Takemichi doesn't even react. Guess their arms still mean more than his jacket, huh?

But just when Hanma turns to leave, he freezes.

Takemichi bends down, picks up the jacket, dusts it off... and gently folds it into his bag. Like it's something important. Even with the others glaring. Hanma doesn't even know what kind of face he makes then. Or what the hell he's feeling. He has no clue.

He lights a cigarette, exhales slowly. The smoke curls into the air, drifting and fading just like his thoughts - unclear and all over the place.

Is this what people call being conflicted?

Unreal.

Next time he sees Takemichi, what's the kid gonna make him feel then? At this rate, it's gonna be a long, long while before he gets bored of him.

Haitani Ran returns to Roppongi as the sky darkens. His usual calm demeanor is gone - confusion and frustration clearly radiate from him, and Rindou picks up on it instantly. Rindou is taken aback. For his brother to look like that, something serious must have happened.

"You okay, Ran-nii?"

Ran looks at him. This is hard to talk about - but they've never kept secrets from each other. The bond between them is the kind that lets them share anything.

"I met Takemichi today."

The familiar name snaps Rindou to attention. He stares at his brother in surprise.