[Pretty Blue Eyes]

For weeks, Shinichiro has been trying to introduce Takemichi to his brother and his friends but for some reason and somehow, Takemichi manages to avoid it every time. Now Takemichi is not stupid nor is a kid so he knows his ways.

Mikey and the others are starting to think that Shinichiro just had an imaginary friend or is just insane.

"I'm telling you! Takemichi is real and is just avoiding you for some reason, did you bully some kid Manjirou??" Shinichiro asked, frustrated because of his constant failures.

"I didn't do anything Shin, I'm pretty sure he's just your imagination." Mikey replied back as he ate his lollipop.

"You can ask Waka and Benkei, they know he's real." Shinichiro deadpanned his little brother.

"I'll come home later, me and the others are going to hang out." Mikey informed his brother as he started walking out.

"Sure, don't cause unnecessary trouble." Shinichiro gave up.

Shinichiro wanted to introduce Takemichi to them so that the raven head has more friends. It worries him because it seems like all that Takemichi does is be with them every day and even after school. Shinichiro sighed as he sees a familiar raven head coming in to his shop.

"Hi Takemichi, seems like your successful once again." Shinichiro grumbled and Takemichi just giggled.

"Why do you even avoid them? You can't just be hanging out with us, adults, every day you know? You have to be with kids around your age too." Shinichiro said to the raven head who rubbed his neck sheepishly.

If only you knew I'm way older than you. Takemichi thought to himself.

"What avoiding? I'm not avoiding them, it's just that you timing isn't right. It's just a coincidence that they leave after I come. Yea, a coincidence." Takemichi gives his lame ass excuse.

"Yea, definitely a coincidence. Keep trying Takemichi." Shinichiro scoffed.

"Hey! I'll see them when I want to okay?? Just not now." I'm not ready yet was left unsaid.

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Evening came by and takemichi decided to bid farewell to Shinichiro so that he could get home.

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Takemichi sat on his chair and propped up his journal and started planning again.

"It's already July... Next month, Shinichiro will die if I don't prevent everything. God, I have a chance to prevent this by meeting Kazutora but my cowardice won't let me. I feel like I'm going to break down if I see them. Actually, I did see them once and I felt like I was going to puke." Takemichi laughed humourlessly.

He thinks back to the time of when he was wandering outside and saw Kazutora with the other founders of Toman hanging out. When he laid his eyes on them, he felt like he would puke so he ran before they saw him. When takemichi reached an alley, he sat there and tried to calm himself down when he started hyperventilating all of a sudden.

Since then, I don't want to face them again, not yet at least. If I need to save them, I have to face them at some point, for now... Takemichi thought to himself.

"Such a coward you are... Takemitchy." Takemichi said out loud as tears started falling from his eyes.

"Guess we'll go the old-fashioned way, get injured for their sake... For him."

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It was already august and Takemichi was getting more and more nervous as the days pass by. He remembered that Shinichiro died on August 14 and It was a week away already. His plan is basically like this:

1st step: Pretend to get a nightmare in the evening of August 14.

2nd step: Find a way to stay over Shinichiro's shop for the night.

3rd step: Get rid of that damn wrench that killed him that night.

Seems easy enough... Right?

I mean I would say, it is a pretty genius plan. Takemichi thought to himself as he sat in front of Shinichiro's shop, not noticing the said person calling out to him.

"Takemichi!" Shinichiro shouted and this made Takemichi flinch.

"Ah- Shin-nii. Sorry, I didn't hear you there." Takemichi told the black-haired male.

Shinichiro just sighed and patted Takemichi.

"You've been nervous a lot for a week now, if there's anything troubling you, you can tell me." Shinichiro said as he sat with the younger male.

"I know." Takemichi answered. "Where's Waka-nii? I haven't seen him in a while." Takemichi changed the topic.

"Him? He went out to run some errands again, he's been avoiding me for a while now." Shinichiro pouted. Takemichi already had a vague idea why.

Ah, love, such a blissful thing. Too bad Shinichiro is a bit oblivious, runs in the family, I guess. I mean Emma, then Izana and well, I don't know about Mikey. Never really made it clear I liked him, too scared. Takemichi thinks to himself.

"Ah Shin-nii, I feel so bad for Waka-nii." Takemichi sighed.

"Eh? What did I do?" Shinichiro asked, suddenly feeling attacked.

"Figure it out yourself why don't you." Takemichi grinned at the older guy. "I should get going, it's almost sun down. I'll see you again tomorrow Shin-nii." Takemichi added as he stood up and walked out.

"That kid... I hope he's okay though." Shinichiro talked to himself as he watches the small figure walk away.

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Okay, when I said pretend to get a nightmare on the evening of August 14th, I didn't mean to get an actual one! Takemichi yelled inside his head as he looks at his shaking hand.

Yes, Takemichi did in fact get a nightmare on the evening of the said date. Takemichi was used to nightmares but he's quite vulnerable as of the moment because of the date and everything that might possibly follow.

Takemichi runs out of his house as planned without caring for his clothes, as he quite literally did just come out of his nightmare. Though Takemichi might not admit it but he did find comfort in Shinichiro's company. He truly did look up to the man as an older brother, and today, despite his plan he made, he really wanted to see Shinichiro and seek comfort from him.

Before Takemichi realized it, he was in front of Shinichiro's shop panting, exhausted from his run. Shinichiro, who was tinkering with a certain motorcycle, looked outside of his shop doors and was surprised to see Takemichi bent down panting. Worried, he ran out and approached Takemichi, kneeled to match the youngers height and held his head.

"Takemichi?! Kid! Why are you here in your pyjamas?? And your sweaty too, why did you run all the way here?!" Shinichiro started asking a line of panicked questions until Takemichi just spread his arms out and hugged Shinichiro on the neck and started sobbing.

This caught Shinichiro by surprise. Since he knew Takemichi, he was never one to cry in front of people.

Shinichiro just shut his mouth and hugged Takemichi back, patting his head as he whispers words of reassurance. Moments later, he carried the boy inside the shop and sat him down in a chair, trying to comfort the crying boy. When takemichi started to calm down and started hiccupping, Shinichiro handed him a glass of water.

"Here, now, please do tell me why you're on your pyjamas coming here without changing and also why you ran here." Shinichiro calmly asked Takemichi in a gentle voice.

"I- I just had a nightmare... I didn't want to stay alone in the house..." and I didn't want you dying tonight. Was left unsaid but he was in fact genuinely scared and didn't want to stay alone.

Shinichiro stared at the boy in pity and hugged Takemichi.

"I know you don't want to meet my siblings right now so all I can offer for you is to stay over here the shop for tonight..." Shinichiro said and Takemichi nodded furiously against his shoulders and gripped the taller man's shirt.

"Anything will do, so please, don't leave me alone." Takemichi begged the black-haired man.

I will do anything to save him, but I also want to save you too, for him, for me, for you... So please, get through tonight and grow up with us. Takemichi begged inside his mind as he gripped tighter.

Such a pitiful kid... I'll take him in for guardianship so he's not alone anymore. Shinichiro planned.

Shinichiro then led Takemichi to a small room in the shop where he apparently takes naps whenever there isn't much customers. Shinichiro tried his best to make the couch as comfortable as he can get.

"Here, sleep here, okay? I'll stay with you in the room, sounds good?" Shinichiro asked and Takemichi nodded and held out his hand.

"Hold my hand please..." Takemichi asked in a small voice. Shinichiro smiled and did hold Takemichi's hands as the younger snugs into the blanket Shinichiro gave him.

I'm a 26-year-old man... I must be acting like this because of my body... Takemichi thought to himself as he closed his eyes to sleep, hoping that his sleep is light enough for him to notice when Shinichiro let's go of his hand.

Don't fail me brain... I need to know once he stands up. He thinks one last time before succumbing to sleep, Shinichiro giving him a gentle grip on the hand as a sign of reassurance and Takemichi giving it back.

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Night has fallen, it was almost time for Baji and Kazutora to break in. Shinichiro was a natural light sleeper and doesn't often sleep heavily so when he heard a crash on his shop he was awoken. He did wake up though with his hand still intact with Takemichi's. It was adorable and Shinichiro would like to admire it a little longer but that couldn't wait as there was someone who broke in to his shop and he wasn't going to be nice about it.

So he slowly let's go of takemichi's hands and hopes that the smaller male doesn't wake up, and to his luck takemichi didn't wake up, at least that's what he thought.

The moment Shinichiro let go of the little raven's hand, the said smaller boy woke up from his sleep but pretended to be asleep as the taller one left his sight. When Shinichiro did leave, Takemichi acted fast and stood up. He knew that he had to pretend to be asleep or else Shinichiro would force him to stay in the room and not follow him, leading the taller man to his demise.

Takemichi follows Shinichiro discreetly and spots the taller man making his entrance without a weapon too.

Who goes out to check if there's robber without being armed?! Takemichi yelled inside his head. This is why you fuckin died! Idiot! He added in his thoughts.

Takemichi then saw Kazutora doing a running start with a wrench on his hand to most likely hit Shinichiro. The raven head tried his best to run faster than the tattooed male.

There was no way to get rid of the wrench because they brought it in the first place! You stupid idiot! Takemichi scolded himself.

Takemichi was, at this point, just trusting his instincts. Go in between or just pull Kazutora so he doesn't hit Shinichiro. He's sure as hell he's going to be scolded later, but for some reason, instead of choosing to just pull Kazutora, Takemichi decided to just run faster than Kazutora and get in between him and the taller man, not before yelling for the taller man though.

"Shin-nii!" Takemichi shouted.

It's as if everything went in slow-motion in Shinichiro's eyes, Takemichi jumping and getting in between and Takemichi getting hit by a wrench.

"Takemichi!"

It's a good thing Takemichi defended his head, with the cost of his arm. It's not that bad, well the impact still hurt the head making him fling to the side on his side.

"Ow, ow, ow... Shit that hurt like a bitch." Takemichi hissed at the pain as his head started to bleed.

I'm sure I'm going to live, after all I was a punching bag even as a kid. Busy saving kids from bullies. Takemichi thought to himself.

Then suddenly, everything looked a bit blurry.

Fuck, I am a kid after all. Takemichi sighed.

"Takemichi!" someone yelled. Takemichi tried to look up but couldn't.

The smaller male felt arms around his shoulders and head. He couldn't make out the words that was being said to him when suddenly everything went black.

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"Takemichi! Hey, kid, stay with me!" Shinichiro said as he ran to the smaller male and held his head. Before Shinichiro knew it, Takemichi had fainted.

"Keisuke, Hanemiya, we'll talk about the breaking in some other time, but right now I need an ambulance, Keisuke get to it, Hanemiya, get me a towel!" Shinichiro ordered and they went on it.

As Kazutora handed a towel to Shinichiro he muttered a line of apologies.

"Hey, it's okay... We'll talk later about this but for now I need help." Shinichiro comforted the crying male.

Kazutora, determined, nodded and willed himself to help Shinichiro right now.

"They said they'll be here in a bit!" Baji yelled.

"Okay, okay, he's breathing, he's fine. You two, I need you both to leave this place, pretend you ran away and hide somewhere. I'm sure your both best at running away. Go and hide somewhere and please don't get caught, we can talk about this." Shinichiro begged.

The two younger kids nodded hesitantly before doing as their told. Before Kazutora left Shinichiro said something to him.

"Kazutora, remember, none of this is yours or anyone's fault. We will talk later so don't run, okay? You both, meet me tomorrow in the shop, okay?" Shinichiro reassured and told the younger male who nodded with tearful eyes.

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"Takemichi! Please, wake up." Shinichiro pleaded.

"Shin-nii...?" a hoarse voice spoke up.

"Yes! Thank god, please, hang in there, the ambulance is going to be here soon." Shinichiro comforted Takemichi.

"Haha, it's sounds like you're comforting yourself rather than me." Takemichi chuckles. "Don't worry, I'm pretty durable. I'll be okay." Takemichi said.

The ambulance sirens were then heard and Shinichiro carried Takemichi outside.

"Here! Please help him!" Shinichiro yelled as he handed Takemichi to the paramedics.

"Sir, are you the guardian?" a paramedic asked.

"Yes! I'm the guardian." Shinichiro said.

"Come with us in the ambulance then." They told Shinichiro and the said male nodded.

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At the ambulance...

"How did this happen?" a policeman who came with them asked.

Before Shinichiro could speak, Takemichi started first.

"A couple of tall robbers, maybe as tall as Shin-nii came. They ran away already." Takemichi slurred.

Shinichiro was surprised but went along with the lie, he'll ask the smaller male later once he's better.

"He's going to be okay, right?" Shinichiro asked the paramedics.

"Yes, he should be okay. It's luck that he was able to block the blunt blow. If he didn't, he would most likely be dead upon arrival." The paramedic told Shin who deflated with relief on the chair.

"Thank god..." Shinichiro sighed in relief.

When they arrived, they rushed Takemichi to the emergency room and did what they had to do. Shinichiro was left on the waiting room worried to death but a part of him relieved that Takemichi is okay.

Shinichiro didn't realize that there was someone calling out his name in the waiting room until the said person rushed and hugged him.

"Shin!" they shouted. This took Shinichiro by surprise.

"Manjirou... Hey! What are you doing out of bed!" Shinichiro still had it in him to scold his little brother.

"You idiot. When I saw the ambulance, I thought something happened to you..." Manjirou said shakily.

"I'm fine, my friend isn't though... I'll come home later; I need to stay for my little friend first." Shinichiro patted the blonde's head.

Mikey shook his head on Shinichiro's shoulders.

"I'm staying, and I want to thank your friend." Mikey muttered against his shoulders. "Also, did you see who the robbers were? I'm going to kill them." Mikey blankly said.

"Manjirou, it's okay, their gone..." Shinichiro said, hoping that it's enough.

"But they almost killed you! Had your friend not been there you could've been dead and lying in a morgue and both me and Emma would've lost an older brother!" Mikey argued back.

"But you didn't! I don't want you to kill at a young age or at all, so please. Let it go and let adults handle adult stuff, the only thing you should be worrying about is school and your friends." Shinichiro said to younger boy who sighed in defeat.

"Excuse me? Are you Sano Shinichiro-san? Hanagaki Takemichi's guardian?" A nurse came by and asked. Shinichiro let go of Mikey and stood up, leaving Mikey to hold onto his waist.

"Yes, I am, is everything okay?" Shinichiro asked, worried.

"Oh, everything is okay, the little one is quite the fighter. For a small kid like him, he's strong. He's okay now, I just need you to sign some papers. You can visit him tomorrow when visiting hours are on, we would like to keep him in the hospital for a bit just for monitoring, we'll release him on the evening tomorrow." The nurse informed the taller man who sighed in relief and nodded.

"Manjirou, wait for me here, I'll be back." Shinichiro told Mikey who nodded and did what he was told.

After signing some papers, Shinichiro left with Mikey and they walked home.

"Manjirou, you want to come with me tomorrow to see him?" Shinichiro asked his little brother who nodded eagerly.

"Finally, I get to meet this not-so-imaginary-friend-after-all of yours." Mikey snickered.

"Hey! Is that what you've been thinking this whole time?! Mean. He was just avoiding you or just kids in general." Shinichiro muttered.

Mikey only hummed in reply and left it at that.

Hanagaki Takemichi... Weird, his name is pretty... I wonder if it's the same outside too... Mikey thought to himself as he held Shinichiro's hand.

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Tomorrow came by and Shinichiro was in the shop early in the morning waiting for two certain people, he was worried that the two ran away but was beyond relieved when they came.

"You two, come here, we have a lot to talk about." Shinichiro smiled at them. The kind of smile that adults usually give their kids when they did something stupid.

This made Kazutora and Baji gulp.

Ah, were fucked. Baji and Kazutora thought in unison.

Safe to say that they did get scolded a lot but comforted in the end. Kazutora was a crying mess saying sorry and Shinichiro did feel bad for the little guy. After all he knew what the kid was going through in his own home. Baji was also saying sorry for not being stubborn enough to stop Kazutora.

"Okay, now, you both are coming with me later tonight with Takemichi. You both are going to apologize to him, okay?" Shinichiro told them and they nodded furiously.

"Now come here." Shinichiro opened his arms and they both ran to him for a hug, once more, crying like little babies.

Well, they are