Questionable Motives

A Fake Bliss

Kanra: So have you guys heard the news?

Setton: What news?

Kanra: Apparently there's a new online gang!

Taro Tanaka: What?

Setton: Where'd you hear that?

Kanra: It's all over the internet!

Taro Tanaka: So.

Taro Tanaka: They're like the Dollars?

Kanra: I don't really know yet.

Kanra: They're pretty popular now.

Kanra: But isn't it SCARY~?

Setton: How?

Kanra: What if they waged war with the Dollars? O_O

Taro Tanaka: I don't think that's going to happen.

Kanra: Ha ha! You never know~

Raira Academy, after school

"So~! What are you two lovebirds up to?" A golden eyed boy, hiding a yellow hued past.

"What? Masaomi, not this again." A blue eyed boy, more influential than others would like to believe.

"C'mon! Don't give me that. I bet you've been galloping away in the dead of night, meeting one another and-"

"That's not the case at all!"

Masaomi waved his hand in dismissal. "Yeah, yea. You know I was just kidding, right, Anri Dear?" A casual smile.

Did smiling even matter at this point? Pretending day in and day out. While facing his smile? What point did it have? Was he right? What reason did Masa-

"Masaomi?" The chocolate eyed girl tilted her head. How little a person knew, how fine a shade her eyes became within an instant.

Oh well! There was plenty of time to wonder!

"Huh? Oh!" His smile widened, as he brandished a dramatic bow.

"My apologies, dear maiden," he stated, leaning on a single knee, hand outstretched for her's. "But it seems I've become the bird caged within your beauty. I lost the resolve to chirp my praise, feathers ruffled in awe!"

Another dramatic show, as the curtains raised for yet another play.

Anri blinked in confusion, her usual blank expression adorning her face. "Um." She muttered.

The ravenette beside the two sighed, shaking his head. "Give it a rest, Masaomi."

Who asked you?

"Plenty of fish in the sea, I suppose!" Masaomi laughed, jumping back up, "Who would've thought I'd be outdone by a dork like you, eh, Mikado?" Hands resting behind his head, his smile remained.

The "air conditioner" merely frowned helplessly. "What's with calling me that?" He whined.

A carefree laugh. "You know I'm kiddin'! Tough love y'know? Gotta keep you on your toes!"

This was the life. Laughing and joking around with your best friend, and a hot babe.

At least on the surface.

Depression aside, Masaomi had it all.

Anri bit her lower lip, "So what do you two plan to do, now?" She stammered.

"Uh." Mikado trailed off.

What an idiot.

"Let's head over to Russia Sushi, it's always a great hangout for the three of us!"

A tentative nod. "Alright." She agreed.

Along the walk, it was quiet. Not even Masaomi, with all of Ikebukuro's vivacious females, was inclined.

Mikado couldn't tell why. Anri couldn't tell. Masaomi couldn't explain it.

Nor could they understand the blonde haired man, who walked past Mikado, followed by a brief wave and apology.

While the two boys stared in surprise at the bartender clad man who simply brushed them off, Masaomi looked on. Walking across the street, a trio. Two girls and one boy. Though he could not hear their conversation, Masaomi simply felt the excitement surrounding the three, holding their phones up for one another.

Soon enough, Masaomi returned to the front of the group. "Dude, Shizuo Heiwajima almost ran you over." He laughed.

"I wonder what that was about." Mikado commented, glancing behind him.

".shi! Eat Russian Sushi! It good!"

Music to this escapist's ears.

Masaomi waved over at Simon, "Yo! Simon!" He called out.

Soon, the cheerful day continued on. The teens smiling onwards.

Except for Masaomi. Who now noticed the ever smiling boy across the street. Behind were the two girls, speaking animatedly to each other, paying no mind as they walked away from the boy.

Smile adorned, the boy gave a short nod, walking in the opposite direction of the girls.

Eyes narrowed, Masaomi frowned, shaking his head.

Little did he know how much blame that young boy held. What he started. Who he knew. What he did. Who he led.

All in good time, though.