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𝟐𝟎 || 𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐁𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 ||

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1999 - Shibuya, Japan

"I can't believe it's already been a year since we've moved to Shibuya," Emma says from her place up on her bed. Takemichi can't help but shoot the girl a giddy smile from beside her, a warm feeling blossoming from his chest at the very thought of feeling safe.

    It's still hard to believe that Takemichi's been in Shibuya for a whole year. He was no longer the scared, hesitant boy he had been before meeting Keisuke and he's never been happier. He made countless friends—kids who are all fun to hangout with—and slowly, but surely, gained his confidence back.

    Today he thought he'd celebrate the day with Emma Sano. Today was also a very special day for the smaller girl seeing as it's officially been a year since she's been with the Sano family. They decided to hide away in her room, sneaking away from a clingy Mikey who might steal Takemichi away for himself.

    "I know right?! It's amazing—hey, what's with those letters?" Takemichi catches himself asking as he watches the blonde haired girl sort through an abundance of written papers.

    "Hm? Oh, these are from my brother." Takemichi raises a brow at Emma's answer.

    Which brother? Shinichiro or Mikey? Actually, now that Takemichi ponders more about it, they were probably written by the older brother; there's no way Mikey would write that many letters. Speaking of which, why letters? If her brother has something important to tell her then why write it down in a bunch of papers?

    Regardless of the reason behind the letters, Takemichi can't help but find the sentiment sweet.

    "Shinichiro has really good handwriting!" Takemichi exclaims when he gets a closer look at the letters. Emma scoffs and rolls her eyes at Takemichi.

    "Shin didn't write these," The blonde says as she continues to scan the letter in her hands.

    Ok, this just made things ten times more confusing...

    "Then who wrote them? Mikey?" It definitely isn't Takemichi's first guess but, well, maybe Mikey wanted to practice his handwriting skills? He is amazing at a lot of things, so it wouldn't surprise Takemichi if he suddenly picked up the talent to write beautifully in black pen.

    The question earns a giggle from Emma. "No way—Mikey's handwriting sucks!"

    Takemichi scrunches up his brow in concentration.

    Did he miss a brother or something? He's pretty sure Emma only has two brothers...unless...?

    "These are from my other brother Izana!"

    The curly haired boy narrows his eyes at the letters.

    Izana...Takemichi doesn't remember hearing or meeting someone with the name Izana. Are there more family members in the Sano family than he originally thought?

    "Have I met him?" He decides to ask. Expecting to hear a reasonable answer, Takemichi's a bit offended to earn a scoff from the long haired girl.

    "I dunno, have you?"

    Takemichi groans at Emma's sassiness. "Does he live here? With you, Mikey, and Shin?"

    That question pulls a small grimace from the girl.

    "No...he doesn't," she answers sadly. Just as Takemichi is reaching out to pat her shoulder in a comforting manner, she perks up and beams at the blue-eyed boy. "But I heard Shin is trying to make him a part of our family!"

    Takemichi immediately lights up. "Woah, really?! That's awesome Emma!"

    Her grin gets bigger at Takemichi's enthusiasm. "I know right? Shin is always working to make us happy—oh! That's right—" her voice trails off with a smirk gracing her lips. "—He's been working on this airplane model for Mikey."

    Airplane model?

    "Like a toy?"

    "Yeah!" Emma says—her yellow eyes twinkling with glee as she sets the letter to the side and smiles at Takemichi. "Shin said he was gonna make me one too when he finishes Mikey's! Maybe he can make you one too!"

    Eh?!

    "Huh? Really?!" Rather than properly answering Takemichi, Emma giggles and flings her arms around Takemichi, pushing him down onto the bed.

    "Hehehehe! You're so funny Michi~" did...did he say something funny?

    "What are you-" Emma silences him by placing her finger against his lips. Takemichi can feel his skin heating up from the sly smirk Emma was sending him.

    "You're a part of our family too Michi, so stop acting like a stranger!" She exclaims with an exasperated tone laced in her voice.

    "Besides, you're my boyfriend! Anything my boyfriend wants he gets!"

    Takemichi's eyes widened.

    "B-BOYFRIEND?!"

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Takemichi finally got a look at the plane model Emma was talking about a week later when he visited the Akashis' residence.

    The curly haired boy follows behind Keisuke, Senju, and Haru as they chase after Mikey. The blonde weaves through the furniture, jumps over couches, and almost tackles Takeomi in his haste to get away from his friends.

    "VROOOOOOOOM!!! LOOK AT IT GO!!!" Mikey shouts excitedly as he holds the plane model up in the air for everyone to see. A wave of jealousy washes over Takemichi as he watches Mikey flaunt his new toy.

    Maybe he should get Emma to convince Shin to make one for him too...

    Before Takemichi can dive more into that thought, Haru is seizing him by the wrist and helping him catch up with Senju and Keisuke.

    "Cmon Takemichi! We gotta catch up to them or else we'll fall behind!" Haru yells with a bright smile stretched across his face. There's no way Takemichi is gonna let Haru and himself fall behind those three! They'll never hear the end of it if they do!

    Takemichi immediately starts picking up more speed. "Let's go Haru!"

    "Yeah!"

    When they do end up catching up to Mikey, Keisuke, and Senju, they barge in on Takeomi scolding Mikey for his carelessness.

    "That's dangerous Mikey!" He reprimands with a furrow in his brow. Mikey, however, is clearly unbothered by Takeomi's words of concern. He spins around to face the group in a dramatic manner and poses, showing off the plane he held in his hand.

    "Isn't it cool?!" He exclaims loudly for everyone to hear. "This Concorde Plastic Model—the Supersonic Airliner!!!"

    Takeomi, for some reason, doesn't share the same excitement over the plane as everyone else. "...Huh?"

    Shinichiro—who was sitting next to him on the sofa, laughs at his friend's reaction. "What's wrong Takeomi? Not a fan of my creation?" He asks teasingly, earning a confused look from the scarred man.

    "'Creation'? You made that thing?" Takeomi questions in surprise. Takemichi can't stop his eye from twitching in annoyance at Takeomi's comment. How dare he call that masterpiece a thing! The disrespect! No wonder his mama isn't a fan of Takeomi...

    "Yep!" Shinichiro answers. "It took me a month to finish that model," he explains, causing Takemichi to gasp in amazement.

    "It took you a whole month?! That's a long time!" Takemichi exclaims, gaining the attention of both adults. Takemichi can't imagine how much time and effort it takes for Shin to be able to complete a single model airplane—it's truly incredible! "You're gonna make another one too, right? For Emma?" Takemichi's question earns himself a head tilt from the dark haired man.

    "Where'd you hear that?"

    "From Emma!" Shinichiro smirks mischievously.

    "Oh—you're girlfriend?"

    Takemichi's jaw drops at Shinichiro's harmless question. Was Emma seriously going around calling them boyfriend and girlfriend?! That's ridiculous—and just a flat out lie!

    "You're dating Emma?!" Haru asks while grabbing ahold of Takemichi's shoulders.

     "N-no way—"

    "When did this happen?! Does Mikey and Keisuke know?! Why didn't you tell us?! Have you guys kissed yet—" ok, Takemichi needs to stop this rambling before it escalates into something else.

    "WE'RE NOT DATING—AND TELL EMMA TO STOP TELLING PEOPLE THAT WE'RE DATING!!!" Takemichi hollers to both a shocked Haru and a laughing Shin. While Haru wears a look of relief, Shin's face is full of mischief and playfulness.

    Thankfully, Senju's excitement over Mikey's new toy saves Takemichi from having to suffer through anymore embarrassing comments from Shinichiro.

    "THAT MODEL LOOKS SO COOL!" Senju screams with her face lighting up like a Christmas tree. "I WANT ONE TOO!!!" Takemichi winces at the masculine form of I That Senju decided to use.

    Takeomi, sadly, doesn't let it go unnoticed.

    "Hey man, that's not girlish of you!" Takeomi reprimands. The man's complaints fall on deaf ears; Senju's fascination with the model airplane practically helps her cancel out any background noise. Takeomi doesn't get the chance to talk his little sister's ear off—she follows Keisuke out the door where both Mikey and the plane awaits, leaving Takemichi and Haru to deal with a frustrated Takeomi.

    "Psst—cmon Takemichi!" Haru whispers frantically, pulling at Takemichi's wrist to try and get him moving. The curly haired boy quickly nods his head—he also isn't in the mood to get caught up in the crossfire between Takeomi and Senju...

    "OI, HARUCHIYO!"

    Crap.

    Both Takemichi and Haru turn around at the sound of Takeomi's harsh voice. The older Akashi immediately fixes Haru with a look of disappointment, completely ignoring Takemichi. A brief wave of relief washes over Takemichi—don't get him wrong, he loves his friend, but he'd rather not be the center of attention at the moment.

    "Have you not realized that you've been teaching Senju the wrong words?" Takeomi scolds with a glare. Takemichi catches the way Haru tenses up—the way his face contorts into a look of shame. "Since I'm not leaving home anymore you have to set a good example for her!"

    Haru's shoulder's nearly reached his ears with how much they were raised. "I'm sorry, big bro Take..." he apologizes softly. Instead of just accepting the apology, Takeomi openly scoffs and rolls his eyes.

    "You need to set a good example for Senju, got it?" Takeomi's words are like a knife—tearing and slicing the poor blonde boy apart.

    "Got it, big bro Take..."

    "Good—now go back to your friends."

    Haru nods his head and doesn't waste a single second—he quickly leads Takemichi out the door without a sound, his green eyes focusing more on his own shoes than the path in front of him.

    Takemichi's heart tightens for the blonde boy; he didn't deserve to be scolded that badly by Takeomi for something so small and insignificant. Takeomi should have given him some advice at the very least instead of reprimanding him with those cut throat words. And what does Takeomi know about setting a good example? Haru has been doing just fine looking over Senju; he helps her with her schoolwork, teaches her new vocabulary, and so much more.

    Haru deserves to know this. He deserves to know that he did nothing wrong—not in Takemichi's eyes at least.

    "...Haru?" Takemichi mumbles out, hoping to break through Haru's gloomy mood.

    The grip around Takemichi's wrist tightens instead.

    "I don't wanna talk right now, Takemichi."

    Takemichi gulps and nods his head.

    Fine. That's fine. If Haru doesn't wanna talk then Takemichi won't force him.

    The two continue their way towards Mikey, Keisuke and Senju in silence.

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While Keisuke, Mikey and Senju played with Mikey's new airplane model, Takemichi and Haru hung back and watched from afar.

    It's not that Takemichi doesn't want to join in on the fun, but the last thing he wants to do is leave Haru by himself. The poor boy had already gotten shunned by his older brother for something so silly and ridiculous! There's no telling what'll happen if Takemichi decides to leave the boy alone to his thoughts and feelings.

    They just sat in silence, side-by-side, shoulder-to-shoulder, listening to the cheers and Hollering of their other friends from a distance. It was rather peaceful—being able to just sit and enjoy his surroundings was calming to Takemichi for some reason.

    He hopes Haru feels the same way.

    After about twenty minutes of sitting in silence, Haru finally opens his mouth.

    "...I don't think big bro Take likes me very much..." Takemichi immediately furrows his brow at Haru's words.

    "Of course he likes you Haru!" Takemichi exclaims despite the other part of him that slightly agrees with Haru. "He's your brother and siblings are supposed to love each other!!!" Haru snaps his head to look at Takemichi.

    "You don't know anything about what it's like to have siblings!" He shouts, making Takemichi reel back in shock. "You're an only child—you don't have a younger sister who causes trouble or a big brother that blames you for everything!!!" Tears start to appear In the corners of his eyes. "I—I wish I was an only child...like you..."

    Without a second to waste, Takemichi pulls Haru in for a hug. Rather than pulling away like he normally does, he gives into the embrace—wrapping his arms around Takemichi and clutches onto his shirt like a lifeline.

    "...you should talk to Takeomi about this..."

    Haru immediately stuffs his face into the crook of Takemichi's neck, hiding away in the warm embrace. "No way!" He mumbles out against Takemichi's skin. "He'll think I'm...weak or something..."

    "But he's your—"

    "My brother? That doesn't mean anything..."

    Takemichi just sits there at a loss for words, rubbing circles into his back like his mama would do for him when he was feeling down. What can he say to make Haru feel better? What would his mama do? She always knew how to make Takemichi feel better when he was at his lowest! There has to be something he can do that will make Haru feel better...

    An idea pops into Takemichi's mind.

    "If you can't talk to Takeomi about it, then talk to Senju!"

    Haru pulls away from the embrace and pins Takemichi with a sour look. "Senju? Seriously?"

    Takemichi nods his head, feeling much more confident about this idea of his, even his Haru doesn't agree with him at the moment.

    "She's the reason Takeomi got mad at you! If you guys just...y'know...talk it out then everything will go back to normal!"

    Haru's face is carefully blank after Takemichi's explanation. The curly haired boy knows this look—it's the expression Haru would make if he's deep in thought.

    A few moments pass with Takemichi waiting patiently to hear Haru's thoughts on the matter at hand. Haru can very well do whatever he pleases, but it would give Takemichi a peace of mind if he decides to go with Takemichi's plan. If not...then oh well. At least Takemichi tried, right?

    "...This is Senju's fault..." Takemichi perks up at the sound of Senju's name.

    "Well, yeah?" When Takemichi takes another peek at Haru's face he's met with a cold, nervous stare with tear stained cheeks. Haru's lips are set in a straight line and a bead of sweat rolls down the side of his head.

     It was at times like these that Takemichi wished that he had the ability to read minds...

    "I got in trouble because of her..." Haru's quiet mumbling is beginning to get a little unnerving...

    "Um, Haru? Are you ok—"

    "If I stop talking to Senju...then I wont get in trouble anymore..."

    H-huh?!

    "Eh?"

    Takemichi whips his head around to see Senju standing behind them with a nervous expression plastered on her face.

    Wasn't she just with Keisuke and Mikey? How did she sneak up behind them without them noticing?

    "Senju! What are you—"

    Takemichi's abruptly cut off by Haru himself.

    "I don't want to talk to you anymore..."

    Both Takemichi and Senju tense up at Haru's words.

    "Because of you, I'm always the one who gets yelled at! Do you understand?" Haru's voice shakes and more beads of sweat start to roll down his face. He pulls his legs up his chest and places his chin on top of his knees, avoiding Takemichi and Senju's faces. "Why me..."

    Takemichi reaches over and places a comforting hand on Haru's shoulder in hopes of making him feel better. Turning to face Senju, he expects to hear the girl object, shout, yell, and ridicule Haru for his stupid decision. Instead, Senju just stands there with tears rolling down her cheeks in steady streams.

    "I'm sorry Haru..." she mutters out with her eyes pinned to the floor beneath her feet.

    "I wish I knew how to...talk back to big bro like how Mikey and Baji do..."

    "...I'm really sorry Har—"

    "Just leave." Haru finally lifts his head up from his knees and turns to face Takemichi with the same heart clenching expression as before. "You too Takemichi. Both of you just leave me alone..." he wacks Takemichi's hand off his shoulder as the words leave his lips.

    Takemichi just stares in shock and...

    Before he can stop himself, he's crying. Like a crybaby. Like a small child who got their feelings hurt.

    "But Haru—"

    "LEAVE ME ALONE!!! JUST LEAVE!!!" Haru shouts with furrowed brows.

    What did Takmeichi do wrong? He was just trying to help—did he make things worse? Is this his fault? It has to be, it's always, always his fault what does he do what does he do—

    Takemichi's thoughts are interrupted by two hands roughly pushing him away. His back hits the wooden floor with a loud thud and a sharp wave of pain that washes over the boy's backside. Fear and pain are the only things Takemichi can feel at that moment as he stares up at Haru...no, this isn't Haru. Haru can be cold, but he's sweet—he's always been kind even if he doesn't want to admit it and—

    "I SAID LEAVE!!!"

    He can't move. He's frozen. On the floor. With Haru looming over him like those menacing kids that used to beat Takemichi for fun on the playgrounds and Takemichi can't move!!!

    His body's shaking, shivering, trembling, but—for the life of him—he can't bring himself to move a single limb. Why? Why is this happening? Why now when he's about to get brutally punished by his friend?

    Before he knew what was happening, A pair of arms are dragging him away from the beast and into one of the rooms inside the Akashi's house.

    He lets it happen. He lets his body be dragged away, lets it be manhandled on a sofa and left alone for who knows how