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𝟏𝟕 || 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐒 𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋 𝐏.𝟏 ||

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"A Sports Festival? For students and parents?"

    Katsumi looks down at her adorable son who's practically vibrating in excitement. She can feel her whole body relax with one glance at Takemichi's blinding smile.

    "Uh huh! I want you to go! Pleeeaaaassseee!!!" Takemichi pleads with his big puppy dog eyes and a puffed out lip. Her son begins waving a flashy flier in front of her face, like it would somehow make the mother instantly go along with his whims.

    "Gimme that flier and I'll think about it," Katsumi holds her hand out and waits for her overly excited child to cool off and calm down. Takemichi gives her an adorable pout and hands the flier over with little to no resistance.

    Katsumi looks over the piece of paper, scanning the list of activities the parents are expected to participate in as well as their kids. She hums thoughtfully, reading the description of each event and how they were gonna play out with her small Michi skipping around her while singing some silly song.

    This is the first time Takemichi has ever invited her to a school event, granted the events Michi's old school would host weren't exactly...well funded or enjoyable in any way. But even so...

    Katsumi's grip on the paper tightens.

    As much as she loves her son, she can't afford to see him hurt again.

    Katsumi will do anything to ensure her child's safety, even if she has to be the bad guy.

    "Hm, I dunno bout' this baby...what if you get hurt again? We don't have the money in case some kid decides to hurt you and—"

    "Kei-Chan's mom is going!"

    Katsumi pauses.

    Rika's gonna be there?

    Well...if the event is safe enough for someone like Rika to agree to going, then maybe...

    "She is?" Katsumi decides to ask, just to double check and make sure her child isn't lying—not that Takemichi has ever really lied to her. But hey—Better safe than sorry, right?

    Instead of breaking out into a cold sweat, or doing anything to indicate that he wasn't telling the truth, Takemichi's smile brightens.

    "Yep! She's bringing snacks for all of us!" He exclaims excitedly while waving his arms in the air. As Takemichi goes on to ramble about all the delicious goodies Rika is gonna have prepared for Baji and Takemichi, Katsumi begins to think it over.

    Maybe Katsumi should let loose for a bit...yeah...she isn't in that old rubbage town anymore! They're safe from all those sketchy desperate people whose moral compasses were straight up fucked up. Things are different now! Takemichi's in a good school with plenty of friends who are willing to do anything for her lovely son and he's happy.

    Isn't that the most important thing of all? Her child's happiness?

    Katsumi cracks a smile. "Oh well that's sweet of her—"

    "Shin and Take-Chan are going too!"

    Her blue eyes widened.

    "...they're what?"

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Takemichi can barely contain his excitement long enough to put his shoes on.

    He can't help it, ok?! This is the first time his mom has ever agreed to anything that involved school and it's just...just...AHHH HE CAN'T EVEN DESCRIBE IT!!!

    And this is his very first Sports Festival! Not only is it gonna be a memorable one, but he wants it to be enjoyable for both himself and the person he cares about the most.

    His mama.

    If it weren't for her moving the both of them out of the wretched old town then Takemichi wouldn't have had the chance to meet Keisuke, Mikey, Hakkai, yuzuha, and so many more amazing kids who he can now call his friends! She's been working her butt off day and night trying to get back all the money she lost when they moved—she needs a day to just relax and be herself. She needs a break. A BIG one. She deserves it. Why?

    Because she's the most amazing mom in the whole wide world!!!

    Takemichi can already see it: He and his mom are working together to win first place in every game they participate in as the crowd cheers the Hanagaki family on with their colorful banners, flags, and signs. Words of encouragement would leave their lips and a big smile would spread across his mother's face. She'd grab him by the hips and hold him up in the air for everyone to see as they cheer and chant his name with excitement and enthusiasm and admiration because he and his mom are unstoppable!

    "Michi? You almost ready to go?" Takemichi immediately perks up at the sound of his mother's voice. Looking back, he catches sight of his mama throwing on a black windbreaker. Her curly hair is pulled back into a ponytail and small band aids were placed on her neck to hide the small marks from work.

    Takemichi breaks out into a big smile.

    "Yep!"

    His mama smirks and reaches him with just a few steps. She holds her hand out for Takemichi to take and the boy doesn't hesitate to grab and lace their fingers together.

    "Let's go kick some ass Michi!"

    Takemichi hoots and hollers at his mother's enthusiasm.

   "Yeah! Let's kick some booty!"

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Upon arriving at the school's sports festival, Takemichi instantly spots Hakkai with his older sister Yuzuha among the many kids and parents.

    The Shiba's are already in their P.E. Uniforms with their different colored headbands wrapped around their heads. Their hands were interlaced with eachother's and their heads kept whipping around like they were inspecting the area around them like a couple of spies on a mission.

    However, the second they catch sight of Takemichi they stop their aimless search and shout excited greetings to the blue eyed boy.

    Takemichi will admit that he feels a little bad for running off without his mother's permission, but this is Hakkai and Yuzuha! Surely she'll understand!

    "Hi Haki-Chan! Hi Yuzu-Chan!" Takemichi exclaims loudly, completely oblivious to the looks he's getting from the people around him. Meh, not like they really matter at the moment. All Takemichi cares about is talking to his awesome friends!

    "Haki-Chan?" Hakkai repeats with a glimmer in his indigo eyes. "Is that my new nickname?" Michi nods his head. Hakkai's eyes widened and sparkled at the confession. "Really?! Thanks Michi! I like it a lot!" The taller boy sends Takemichi a thumbs up, surprising a laugh out of Yuzuha and Michi.

    "Thanks!" Takemichi flushes a little and his hands move to fidget with a string hanging off his shirt. "My mama helped me think of it!" He admits, eyeing the way Hakkai's cheeks darken in color.

    Is he getting a fever?

    "O-Oh! Uhh tell her I said thanks or um...something..."

    Takemichi laughs and waves the boy off. "Thank her yourself, Haki-Chan! She's with me today for the sports festival!"

    Hakkai's face instantly drops.

    "I-I don't think I should...maybe you can do it for me?" Hakkai suggests, making Takemichi tilt his head.

    Is Hakkai still nervous around his mom? The boy thought the youngest Shiba was past his initial nervousness when it came to the sassy woman.

    "But why? She's—"

    "Hakkai's still shy around girls, Michi," Yuzuha interrupts, placing a hand on her brother's shoulder. "But that's ok! At least Hakkai won't be getting a girlfriend anytime soon!"

    Both Hakkai and Takemichi sweat drop at the girl's bluntness.

    "H-How is that ok?" Takemichi dares to ask, even though he himself hasn't found any girl interesting enough to have a crush on. That's how crushes work, right? They have to be really cool and you have to have a lot in common?

    He'll just ask his mom later.

    "It's ok because I get Hakkai all to myself!" Yuzuha exclaims loudly while trapping her younger brother in a bear hug.

    Right...and Yuzuha is just as protective as ever...

    "Hey! Get off Yuzuha! People are watching!!!" Hakkai shouts loudly while trying to shake his older sister off. His efforts were, of course, in vain. She continues to hang onto her brother while laughing loudly into the open air. Just looking at the way she's gripping onto Hakkai's shirt is enough to make Takemichi break out into a cold (hot?) sweat.

    She's just as strong as Senju...

    Should Takemichi be proud or scared at the new revelation?

    "So? Nobody cares, you big baby!"

    This isn't true; in fact, Takemichi's and Hakkai's classmates are staring at them like they're a bunch of aliens. Takemichi wants to chalk it up to them not being used to seeing the two siblings so carefree, but he isn't too confident in that answer.

    Deciding to take pity on his friend, Takemichi calls out to the older sibling with a sweet voice.

    "Hey Yuzu-Chan, I think I hear our classmates calling for us! We don't wanna be late heh..."

    "Huh?" Yuzuha drops Hakkai and raises an eyebrow.

    "Really? But i don't hear anything—"

    Before Yuzuha can even finish her sentence, Takemichi is reaching over to grab ahold of Hakkai and is dragging him to his feet with a look of urgency. Hakkai thankfully catches on.

    "CMON HAKI-CHAN LETS GO, LETS GO, LETS GO!!!"

    "HEY!!!"

    Hakkai and Takemichi run away from the older Shiba with joyful laughter leaving their lips, all the while a certain parent watches from afar.

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"...what's with Keisuke and Mikey? They've been mopey all day..." Rika sighs at Shinichiro's question and tightens her hold on her tote bag that's full of many delicious delicacies.

    "Yeah, Haru's been acting the same way this morning when we were getting ready! You'd have thought I told him our pet guinea pig got ran over or something..." Takeomi adds on while chancing a glance over at his younger brother from across the field.

    "You have a guinea pig?"

    "...you know the answer to that Shin."

    "Do I?"

    With an exaggerated roll of her eyes, Rika sets the tote bag down on the grass as she gets their small little area ready for the games and festivities.

    "They're probably upset that they won't be able to be with Takemichi during the sports festival," Rika answers with amusement laced in her voice. The two delinquents perk up at Rika, both wearing indiscernible expressions on their faces.

    "Huh? Why? Is Takemichi not here today?" Takeomi asks with a creased brow. Rika can't stop the laugh that leaves her lips as she spreads their used blanket across the grass. The two stupid young adults decide to finally help Rika by placing their things on the corner's of the blanket, keeping it from blowing away.

    "No, I saw them check in earlier."

    "Then what—"

    "They're not in the same grade. Kids from different grades don't compete against each other to keep things fair. Haven't you guys been to a sport's festival?"

    Both delinquents sheepishly look away, instantly answering Rika's question.

    "W-Well yeah! Obviously!" Shinichiro exclaims loudly while scratching the back of his neck. Takeomi on the other hand decides to be a little less obvious by setting his own bag of snacks on the blanket to keep it from flying away. Oh well. At least he's helping?

    "Then why are you two here?"

    The two delinquents raise an eyebrow at the lady's question.

    "What do you mean? We're here for the sports festival!" Shinichiro answers like Rika's the crazy one.

     Takeomi's not any better.

    "Yeah, you got a problem with us supporting our siblings and participating in school...stuff? Is it because we're delinquents? You discriminating—?" And THIS is where Rika decides to cut them off.

    "This is a student-parent sport's festival, not a student-sibling sports festival."

    "...we know that..."

    "Y-yeah! Totally!"

    They clearly didn't...

    Meh, Rika will give them the benefit of the doubt.

    Shinichiro points an accusing finger at the older lady, an embarrassed scowl written all over his face. Great. Fantastic.

    "You don't believe us!!"

    Rika scoffs and decides to sit her ass down on the blanket. She'll need to rest as much as she can before they start the events.

    "What? Of course I do," She states sarcastically before rummaging around in her tote bag. Now where did she put her camera—

    "My gramps is too old to participate in this type of stuff Ms.Baji! That's why I'm here!" Shinichiro exclaims a little too loudly.

    Oh. Right. How did Rika forget about that?

    "And Takeomi just won custody over Senju and Haru so now he's technically a dad now!"

    Rika's eyes widened.

    "YOU WHAT?!"

    "Yep! No more evil stepdad!" Takeomi pipes in with a smirk. "Gaining custody over the brats was a piece of cake since there were so many charges against the bastard," he explains while sitting down on the large blanket next to Rika. Rika turns her body to face Takeomi as the young adult gives the woman the small details.

    "I'm proud of you Takeomi! Now those kids will be able to grow up in a safe environment!" Rika has known for awhile that there was something happening in the Akashi household, but it was mostly just speculation. However, hearing that her suspicions were correct and that the monster will no longer a threat to them makes her heart swell up with joy.

    Takeomi flushes from the compliment and smiles sheepishly.

    "Heh, well, I wouldn't have been able to do it without Shin, Waka, or Ben so—"

    "Heya everyone~" a delicate voice interrupts from behind the three.

    Turning their heads, they spot a young lady striding up to them with a smirk gracing her red lips. Her black curly hair is pulled up into a high ponytail and sways gently with the wind. She's wearing a low cut tank top and shorts as well as a black windbreaker in case the weather decides to be bitch and change from hot to cold.

    While Takeomi grunts in annoyance (what's up with that?), Shinichiro and Rika get to their feet with excited smiles.

    "Katsumi!"

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"You ready to kick ass and win this thing Mikey?!"

    "...no."

    "Eh?!"

    Keisuke turns to face his mopey friend. The blonde, who's crouching on the floor with his head in his hands, doesn't make an effort to get up.

    Ugh, of course Mikey would get like this. Why wouldn't he when Keisuke was in the same state as he was just a few seconds ago?

    "What's the point of this thing if Takemitchy isn't gonna be here to watch me?" Mikey whines pathetically, earning a few curious looks from his classmates. Some of them are used to the blonde's sudden mood changes while others still found it strange, not that Keisuke can really blame them for thinking that.

    Keisuke sighs with the exhaustion of an overworked mother of six and pats the boy's back comfortingly...or he hopes Mikey finds it comforting. If not then Keisuke is screwed.

    "So?! We'll just show off our awesome first place medals for Michi when we're done!"

    "But still..."

    The sound of feet kicking up dirt catches both of the boy's attention. Looking back, they catch sight of Haru having a stare down with a girl with short brown hair.

    ...oh shit, wait a second, that's—

    "You're going down Akashi!" Yuzuha sneers with the viciousness of a snake. Haru balls up his fists and shoots the girl a menacing glare as well.

    "Yeah right Shiba! Don't you have a baby brother to coddle over?"

    "I dunno! Don't you have a baby sister to babysit, you creepy loser?"

    "Creepy?!"

    "You heard me!"

    As the two kids keep shouting swears and insults at each other, Mikey and Keisuke both sweat drop at the scene before them.

    How could they have forgotten the animosity between Yuzuha and Haru?! The two boys should've kept a closer eye on their blonde friend before he decided to do something stupid!

    "Don't start getting a big head just because you won the obstacle race last year, Shiba!" Haru shouts with a finger pointed directly at the brown haired girl. Yuzuha just scoffs and smirks with her arms crossed in front of her chest—expression as smug as ever.

    "And I'll win it again just like I did last year!" Yuzuha flaunts, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "Try not to break your leg again while jumping the hurdles shortie!" And with that, she begins skipping away to her classmates who had been watching the ordeal with big grins and eyes full of amusement.

    "See ya later alligator! Don't break anything while I'm gone!" She taunts before disappearing into the crowd of laughing children, leaving the three boys to wallow in rage, frustration and, most importantly, determination.

    Haruchiyo slowly turns to face the two boys with the expression of someone ready to beat the snot out of their victim. He stalks towards Keisuke and Mikey with a purpose, yanks the moping blonde off the ground, and knocks all their heads together.

    Hard.

    "Ow! The hell was that for Haru?!" Keisuke whines, fighting the urge to reach up and rub the spot where Haru practically slammed their heads together. He understands that Haru's upset—Hell—just listening to the way Yuzuha was talking to his best friend made his blood boil, but that doesn't mean he has to knock their heads together like tambourines!

    Keisuke's question, however, was left unanswered.

    "We need to beat Yuzuha's class in every event. Got it?" Haru orders. Since when did he start giving out commands?

    Despite the change in character, Keisuke and Mikey nod their heads in unison, both feeling the fire burning in their veins as they think back to that demeaning look Yuzuha was sending them. She isn't gonna win a single game, not if they can help it.

    "Then we'll bring the gold medals back to our families and be greeted as heroes for defeating the evil witch of the east."

    "Yeah!!!" Keisuke and Mikey exclaim at the same time.

    Haru smirks and leans back, removing his forehead from Mikey's and Keisuke's. The two other boys follow his lead with matching smirks and determination swimming in their veins.

    They're gonna win this sports festival and bring back gold! Keisuke's mother will cheer with joy and Takemichi will congratulate him with that blinding smile of his that sends Keisuke's