"Yeah, I'll keep that in mind, Ms.Baji."

    "Please, call me Rika–I thought we were way past last names!"

    "...I guess we are. Well thank you, Rika, it means alot."

    Shinichiro then leaves the hotel room, feeling just a bit lighter than he did before.

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Aside from that morning, the rest of the day passed in a migraine induced blur.

    It wasn't until they were all dressed in their Hanetos ready to experience yet another night of the festival that Shinichiro finally snapped out of whatever daze he was in.

    The four adults were on their way to a bar Wakasa had wanted to visit since the day they arrived in Aomori when Rika waved them off with a smile.

    "Eh?! You're not gonna join us?! But we had so much fun last night!!!" Benkei exclaims, his voice full of disappointment as he approaches Rika, his large figure looming over Rika until his shadow stretches over her body. Rather than backing away in intimidation, Rika knocks her fist against Benkei's fist, giving him a look that screams back up. Benkei, thankfully, does as instructed and gives the lady some space. Brown eyes land on each adult before it settles on Shinichiro–said man tenses up, feeling put on the spot.

    "Yeah, but–after what happened last night–I think it's fair to say that there has to be a sober adult, so you guys go have fun! I'll go join the boys." With that said, Rika waves and leaves the ex-delinquents in a pretty sour mood.

    Shinichiro notices that one delinquent in particular is more put down by the lady's request than the rest of them, but he decided to keep it to himself.

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OK, Shinichiro takes it back–there's no way in hell Shinichiro can keep this information to himself.

    "So Benkei...You've been real' friendly with Rika lately..." Shinichiro teases from over his shot glass, smiling at the way Benkei freezes up, the drink in his hand nearly falling out of his grasp.

    Wakasa, who's seated on the other side of Benkei, gasps with stars in his purple eyes.

    "Damn, I knew Shin had a thing for Milfs, but you, Benkei? Color me surprised!"

    With his face flushed from ear to ear, Benkei scowls at Wakasa, his grip on his drink tightening to keep it from accidentally falling again.

    "It ain't like that, Wakasa, and you know it!" Benkei sneers with a glare. "I just think she's a hardworking lady who needs to let loose a little."

    Shinichiro glances away with a blush, knowing damn well what happens when said lady lets loose a little too much...

    "Yeah, and i bet you wanna loosen her up in bed too–"

    CRASH!!!

    Shinichiro whirls back around and finds both Benkei and Wakasa on the floor of the bar wrestling with little regard to who's around.

    "YOU SICK BASTARD!!! I'LL PUT YOU IN A DAMN COMA IF YOU TALK ABOUT RIKA LIKE THAT AGAIN–"

    Shin sighs, already seeing flashing red, blue, and white lights from outside the establishment, and knew that his evening wasn't gonna get any better.

    Why couldn't he have just kept that information to himself?

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𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟒

    As fun as it is to join in on all the dances and shouting, Keisuke and his two boyfriends quickly found themselves sore and with aching muscles just begging to take a break.

Grudgingly, Keisuke expressed this to his mother who smiled down at him with a cheeky grin and ruffled up his hair.

"Huh? Well take a break from the Hanetos and throw on your kimonos tonight–the guys found an alley full of vendors last night when they were running from the cops. We can go there instead if you boys want."

Keisuke informed Takemichi and Mikey of this revelation and they decided that it would be best to explore more of the festival besides just dancing and screaming with random people.

"The Nebutas are cool and all...but I wanna go visit some vendors!" Takemichi had exclaimed rather shyly, his blue eyes looking anywhere but at Keisuke and Mikey.

The blonde nodded along with Takmeihci, his arm already wrapping itself around the curly haired boy's shoulders. "Yeah, same here! Besides, I need to show off how good I am at festival games!"

And that's how they all found themselves in the same alley Shin and his two friends had to use to escape the police. Beautiful stalls with strung up lanterns lit up the path of the alley, welcoming people of all ages, everyone wearing colorful kimonos and bright grins as they inspect each booth curiously.

Keisuke stares at the sight before him, completely taken aback by how beautiful Aomori truly is.

Since when did he care about silly shit like that?

About the pretty visuals or aesthetics of something as stupid as an alleyway?

He figures, quietly, that it all had to do with one boy in particular:

Takemichi Hanagaki.

Keisuke smiles to himself, allowing himself to bathe in the warmth the boy's name brings, and grabs hold of both Mikeys and Takemichi's hands, pulling his two beautiful boyfriends down the alley, leaving the adults in the dust.

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    "HAH! TWO RUBBER DUCKIES!!! BEAT THAT MIKEY!!!" Keisuke shouts, showing off his two prizes to Mikey and Takemichi.

However, he stops short at the armful of rubber ducks in Mikey's arms.

The blonde raises his head and smirks, a certain smugness radiating off his body in waves.

"Huh? Sorry Keisuke, I couldn't hear you over how awesome I am."

"FUCK OFF!!!"

"um...Guys?"

"Hm?"

Switching over his gaze to Takemichi, he sees the smaller boy patting his kimono down as if he's searching for something. His face is wild and frantic, and he doesn't stop until Mikey places a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, what's going on Takemitchy?" Mikey asks as he drops all of the rubber duckies on the floor, allowing many children to sweep them off the floor and run away laughing. Both Keisuke and Mikey ignore them, more worried about Takemichi than some stupid rubber ducks. "Did you lose something?"

"I–-I think so?" Takemichi says breathlessly, his eyes widening as some kind of realization hits the curly haired boy. "Ms.baji gave me her camera so we can all take pictures together and I was just about to take a picture of you guys arguing when–when someone bumped into me? And now–now I don't feel the camera on me..."

Keisuke immediately straightens up, his eyes set ablaze.

"Someone stole my mama's camera?!" Keisuke shouts, whipping his gaze around for the so-called culprit who was stupid enough to pull such a reckless move.

"What'd they look like, Mitchy?" Mikey asks, weirdly acting reasonably even though Keiuske can see his ears turning red in anger.

"I–I think they were wearing a red jacket and had...had a watch on their wrist–"

That's when Keisuke sees him.

Afar, up ahead in the crowd of people, Keisuke catches someone draped in a red jacket and then–

—then he spots the glistening of an expensive watch on their wrist.

Keisuke points at the stranger, his eyes narrowed as he declares:

"Him."

"H-Him?! You found them already–?"

Keisuke doesn't allow Takemichi to finish his sentence.

Before he knows what he's doing, Keisuke's storming through the crowd like a man on a mission, his gaze never straying from the bastard who thought it'd be a good idea to steal from Takemichi, from them, from him.

He's just a few steps away from him, just within arm reach, and then–

Keisuke reaches out and grabs ahold of the man's jacket, throwing him against one of the food stands.

Keisuke watches with satisfaction as the guy–no–middle schooler– 's body crashes into the food stand, making the fruits and vegetables fall around his feet ungracefully.

"WHAT THE FUCK–?!"

Keisuke cuts him off with a punch across the jaw, shutting the dumbass up.

The burn in his fists sends a thrill of adrenaline through Keisuke, so he keep punching, keeps laughing, keeps hurting the boy underneath him until he's nothing but a bloody mess of broken bones and split skin.

Vaguely, Keisuke feels someone tugging on his shoulder, but he brushes them off, going right back to punching the daylights out of this no name thief.

"Kei-chan! The cops! THE COPS ARE HERE!!!"

Keisuke scowls and grabs hold of the stranger's hair;roughly, he smashes his head into the ground.

A sickening crunch echoes through the air.

"Who gives a shit?! I'm teaching this guy a lesson, Takemichi!"

"I–I think he learned his lesson! You're gonna kill him at this rate!!!"

"So? Let Keisuke kill him."

"WHAT?!"

"Cmon Mitchy! Let's just go grab a bite while Keisuke's beating him senseless, ok?"

Keisuke freezes, finally registering the words leaving his boyfriends' lips.

Grab a bite?

WITHOUT KEISUKE?!

With a pout, Keisuke reaches into the stranger's jacket, grabs the camera he stole, and whirls around–his fists bruised and bloodied, and smiles maniacally. "HAH?! YOU GUYS WOULD GET DINNER WITHOUT ME?! TALK ABOUT RUDE!!!"

Leaving the crumbled stranger where he left him, Keisuke hands Takemichi the camera–pointedly ignores his horrified look–and grabs both of their arms, hauling them away from his miniature crime scene.

"You guys in the mood for Yakisoba? Cause I am!"

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𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟓

It's the last day of the festival and Takemichi couldn't be more relieved, especially after what happened the night before.

    The boy couldn't find it in himself to enjoy breakfast or lunch, simply going through the day with a fake smile and nodding along submissively to whatever Keisuke and Mikey say, the gruesome image in his head not leaving his head for the entire day.

    It had happened so fast–one minute Keisuke was in front of him, pointing the stranger out from the crowd and the next Keisuke was slamming his fist into him like a punching bag with Mikey cheering him on as blood splattered everywhere. The people around them were screaming in horror, some adults were calling Keisuke a demon, while some pulled their phones out, recording the ordeal as others called the police.

    It's been awhile since Takemichi had seen Keisuke like that–so full of bloodlust and violence–with nothing in his head but pure adrenaline, and it scared the shit out of Takemichi.

    Even when the group gathered in a plain field to watch the firework show, Takemichi couldn't even find it in himself to enjoy the beautiful display.

    His mind is spiraling with questions that need answers.

    Is the stranger ok?

    Did the stranger deserve that kind of punishment?

    Why was Keisuke so quick to jump at the chance to commit murder?

    And why was Mikey hyping him up? Instigating him to keep hurting the poor stranger over a small mishap?

    Is this normal?

    All this violence, all this blood, is it truly normal?

    ...It must be.

    There was so much violence in Takemichi's old town so why wouldn't there be even more violence in the new town Takemichi moved to?

    Violence is everywhere.

    Violence is normal.

    Bloodshed is a normal activity everyone takes part in.

    His mother did it.

    HIs so-called father did it too.

    So, in all honesty, it's Takemichi who needs to step up to the program and leave his fantasy of tranquility behind because–in reality–there's violence everywhere.

    It will continue to follow Takemichi like a clingy shadow.

    It will follow his footsteps.

    It will comfort him in even the hardest moments.

    The only non normal one here is Takemichi.

    He...He needs to change that.

    "Takemichi? Is everything ok?"

    Takemichi snaps out of his daze and looks up–finding none other than Shinichiro staring down at him curiously.

    In a bit of a panic, Takemichi looks around, unable to spot Keisuke or Mikey. "Yeah–I'm fine! Where's uh...where's Kei-chan and Mikey?"

    Shinichiro laughs at the question and takes a seat next to Takemichi, folding his legs up to his chest to lean his chin on top of his knees.

    "Oh–They snuck away to get you a present," Then, as if just realizing what he just said, Shinichiro turns to face Taskemichi, slightly panicking. "Ah, but don't tell them I told you! It was supposed to be a surprise!"

    Takemichi laughs and throws himself back against the grass, watching the fireworks glisten brightly in the sky.

    "Don't worry–i probably would've figured it out even if you hadn't told me!"

    "Hm...I kinda doubt that. You're pretty oblivious."

    An invisible arrow shoots through Takemichi's heart, making him squawk out in surprise. "O-Oblivious?!"

    Now it's Shinichiro's turn to laugh with Takemichi pouting at him with his cheeks puffed out. "Well, it did take you a few years to find out that you were in love with Keisuke and Mikey!" He points out, further souring Takemicchi's mood.

    "Ok, yeah, I guess you have a point..." Takemihci grumbles, once again letting his mind drift to the two boys who have taken his heart for their own.

    How is it that Takemichi managed to fall in love with two of the most dangerous kids he's ever met?

   "Ah, so there is something wrong with you."

    Takemichi perks up, surprised.

    "N-No there isn't!"

    Shinichiro completely disregards Takemichi's statement and tilts his head curiously, his dark eyes staring holes into Takemichi.

    "Does it have to do something with Keisuke and Mikey?"

    "...No?"

    Shinichiro smirks, as if he had won some kind of stupid game.

    "What'd they do this time? And don't worry, I won't speak a word to them about this!" Shinichiro says and Takemichi narrows his eyes, thinking back to how easily Shinichiro had given up Keisuke's and Mikey's plan to get Takemichi a gift.

    "...You promise?"

    Shinichiro's smile widens. Then, without being prompted to, Shinichiro holds out his pinkie.

    "Pinkie Promise!"

    A giggle slips past Takemichi's lips at the childish display and–despite himself–links pinkies with Shinichiro and tells him all about his sorrows.

     When Takemichi unlinks his pinkie from Shinichiro, he tells him about what happened in the alley way.

    He tells Shinichiro about the way Keisuke's fists relentlessly slammed into the poor stranger.

    He tells Shinichiro about how Mikey cheered him on with a smile.

    He tells Shinichiro how nonchalantly they all walked away while Takemichi listened to the two boys talk about what kind of Yakisoba they wanted to eat.

    By the time Takemichi finishes, he's bundled up in a ball with tears appearing out of the corners of his eyes.

    "I just–i'm scared, Shin," Takemichi confesses pathetically. "What if they go too far and actually end up killing someone? What will happen to us? What am i supposed to do, Shin? I don't–I don't want to mess things up."

    Shinichiro's quiet.

    He doesn't speak a word when Takemichi finishes.

    With each second that passes, Takemichi begins to back away, thinking that he might've said the wrong thing–

    Shinichiro suddenly holds his hand out to Takemihi, his lips turning up in a resigned smile.

    "The fact that you want to do something about this instead of looking the other way shows that you want to make a difference–that you're not scared," Shinichiro begins, his tone serious. "I know for a fact that Keisuk and Mikey are gonna make some mistakes in the future, you will too, but I know–with you there to guide them back into the light–that they'll be fine."

    "I–Thank you Shin..."

    "Ah, I'm not finished though."

    "H-huh?"

    His smile drops, causing chills to shoot up Takemichi's spine.

    The boy's eyes are then drawn to Shin's hand for an unexplainable reason that Takemichi can't name.

    "On the off chance that you feel like they've made a mistake so irreversible that even you can't fix it, then use this."

    "...use what?"

    "Shake my hand and you'll see."

    And so, with Takemichi none the wiser, he reaches for Shin's hand–

    "We're BACK!!!"

    At the sound of Mikey's voice, Takemichi pulls away, leaving Shin hanging with an open hand.

    Turning his head, he spots Mikey and Keisuke striding up to him with bright smiles, small bags held tightly in their hands.

    "Kei-chan! Mikey! You're back!" Takemichi greets with a smile, moving away from Shinichiro to make room for his two boyfriends.

    "Of course we are and–Eh? Are we interrupting something?" Keisuke asks, eyeing Takemichi and Shinichiro suspiciously.

    (Were they?)

    Takemichi opens his mouth to answer, but Shinichiro beats him to it. "Of course not! Don't worry, Takemichi is all yours," He laments while standing up, placing his hands on his hips to scan his eyes over the three boys.

    "He better be..." Mikey grumbles, earning a laugh out of his older brother.

   "Well I better go join Wakasa, Benkei, and Rika. You boys don't get into any trouble, ok?"

     "We'll try not to!"

    Then, with one last look aimed towards Takemichi, Shinichiro walks away.

    As Mikey and Keisuke flaunt the gifts they bought for Takemichi, the boy smiles and nods his head, but his mind was elsewhere.

    What exactly was Shin talking about?

    Why did he want Takemchi to shake his hand?

    Takemichi shook his head, ridding himself from such thoughts.

    He's sure it's nothing–Shinichiro was probably just trying to play a joke on him.

    Besides, it's not like Takemichi fell for it.

     Afterall–Takemichi didn't even shake his hand–so none of it truly matters.

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