[AllTakemichi] Control

Chapter 69

Draken doesn't know when his heart first starts beating out of rhythm, nor does he realize just how deep his feelings have already grown.

It all begins with an ordinary meeting, touched by a hint of suspicion.

Who is this guy? Why does Mikey seem to like him so much? He doesn't look all that special - if anything, he looks ridiculously weak. The way he is now, even an elementary school kid could probably beat the crap out of him. Getting close to Mikey... there's no way he doesn't have some kind of hidden motive, right?

At first, Draken simply follows Mikey's lead. Whatever. It doesn't matter.

But that indifference slowly turns into, "Huh. He's kinda cool. Not bad at all."

Because Draken sees it then - the fierce determination burning bright inside those clear blue eyes. Takemichi throws himself at the bad guys to protect the weak, refuses to stand by while someone disgraces Touman, even when he has absolutely nothing to do with them.

And just like that, the walls Draken puts up at the beginning disappear faster than he expects.

"I like the way he looks at me."

Draken never once imagined he could end up like Mikey, liking someone simply because of the way they look at him. But he has to admit it - Hanagaki Takemichi slowly grows on him. Little by little, Draken comes to care deeply about this friend of his.

Takemichi is weak, yet his spirit is unbreakable. He refuses to lose to anyone. He looks like a coward at first glance, but when it matters most, nobody is braver than him.

The moment Draken watches him defeat an enemy, raising his fist high into the sky in triumph, one thought crosses his mind.

Fighting beside someone like this... feels pretty damn amazing.

And before he realizes it, he is already paying far too much attention to the blond boy.

It is Draken himself who suggests the idea to their chibi commander - the same commander who is too busy wanting to see his own reflection in Takemichi's eyes - that they should invite Takemichi to hang out with the Touman members more often, help him get familiar with everyone, see what the others think of him... and maybe even coax him into joining the gang.

Takemichi ends up joining Touman smoothly, blending in so naturally it almost feels as though he has always been a part of them. Everyone finds themselves getting swept up by him, unable not to grow fond of him.

He is kind, gentle, and innocent, fresh and pure like a young green leaf. And whenever he smiles warmly at people, he looks like a sunflower blooming under the sun. His bright laughter chases away the heaviness buried inside them. He becomes a little sun of his own, carrying warmth and positivity wherever he goes, making everyone around him feel lighter.

Yet when he stands up to fight, he is as fierce as a true warrior - never surrendering, never accepting defeat. The determination blazing in his eyes is so strong that no one can understand where someone like him even finds that kind of strength.

That is the strange charm everyone discovers once they stay by his side.

And as time passes, everyone gradually realizes something else.

Takemichi loves Touman just as deeply as any of its founding members do.

From the very beginning, Takemichi is always the one giving first. The love and affection he receives from everyone else is simply their way of giving something back in return.

But Draken starts to notice something strange happening inside himself.

Maybe it begins the moment Takemichi takes a knife for him. The instant it happens, his breath catches in his throat, his heart trembles with fear, and a horrifying panic crashes over him - something Draken has never felt before.