[Rudimental— These Days]
“I hope someday we'll sit down together
And laugh with each other about these days, these days
All our troubles, we'll lay to rest and
We'll wish we could come back to these days, these days”
//:::\\
"Eh?"
You blinked. Early in the morning and you already found a delinquent-looking person perched in your shop. Quickly, you masked your face with the fox mask and cautiously entered the scene.
"Hmm? Are 'ya Mirai?"
This delinquent was particularly tall, you were in height with his neck. He had this loop-sided eyes and loop-sided smile that made him dangerous to approach.
"Name's Hanma, and I'm here to get my palm read,"
You blinked again. Such a mean looking person was here for a simple reason? "I didn't know delinquents also believe in superstitions like future reading," you said aloud.
Hanma cackled at your comment. He shook his head and leaned his body near the wall. "Are 'ya gonna open up or am I gonna have to force you,"
"Open! I'll open up…" you sighed.
"I'm ase—"
"Not that kind of open up you fucker." Hanma slapped your back with a grin. "It's too early to be pullin stunts in front of a gang leader, I suggest you just listen to me."
"...Fine," you sighed and opened up the shop with your keys.
"Cool looking shop you got here," Hanma whistled and began to touch the figurines from the corner. You couldn't do anything to stop him. He was a bit scary looking.
But he looks hot though.
"Welp, c'mere and gimme your palm," you flopped on your pillow and didn't even use polite words anymore. It's not like Hanma minds.
"What d'ja wanna see?" you slurred and took off your gloves, flexing your slender fingers and without noticing Hanma eye it.
"Hm, dunno." Hanma pretended to think. "How 'bout see if we win this upcoming fight with an enemy group,"
And by the enemy, you knew he was talking about another gang. "Fine, gimme your hand,"
Hanma flopped his hand into yours and you examined it. For being such a rough looking fella, his hands sure are soft and long.
"I know 'ya like hands but seriously? mine?" Hanma snickered and you glared.
"Don't speak like you weren't eyeing mine," you rolled your eyes.
"Fair enough, "Hanma's eyes twinkled in amusement. He wonders what kind of person is behind that mask, someone who's brave enough to speak back to someone psychotic looking like him.
"Hm…" Hanma watched you circle your thumbs in his palm.
He never really believed in superstitions like thi, just like you suspected. But he caught wind of one of his lackeys boasting about your ability.
"Because of him, I finally got the girl I've been seeing. He just said I'll have to give her something like flowers on her birthday! And it worked!"
To think it wasn't just the former boss wanting you, but even the other members found themselves in awe of your ability.
Hanma had snorted, telling his buddy Kisaki if he wanted to follow him. Kisaki was a snappy bitch, and said he needs to do more important stuff than go out to a shabby looking scammer.
But somehow...Hanma found it worth it to come here.
"You're gonna win…" Hanma smirked. "...But you're also gonna lose," He frowned.
"What's that s'pose to mean?" Hanma gripped your arm and you subtly flinched.
"It means you'll achieve what you wanted! But you won't get the outcome you predicted," you hurriedly said.
Hanma hummed and let go, gazing you up and down then nodding. "Okay, how do I avoid that?"
You looked at him in ridicule, "You think I know? I only give out your future! I can't decide for you,"
Hanma clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes. "Fine, I guess I gotta do it my way," he shrugged and stood up. He patted his pants and took out the amount of money you needed as a price.
"Thank~you~" you sang and gratefully took out the money. Hanma rolled his eyes again and bid a small wave of goodbye before exiting the store and completely disappearing.
"..."
"Ahhh!" you sighed and leaned your head on the table.
You could see the time pass by, your meeting with Draken and Takemichi didn't continue.
Your shoulders slumped and you exhaled heavily. To think that what you saw in Hanma's future relates to Draken's future death.
Should you help? Miko was already in the process of creating what you needed, and the fight will happen this week.
...But how?
---
If there was one thing Mikey had to be so secretive about, it would be about the living replica of his dead brother.
The brother who came to their life once the main one died. He who became hopeless grew obsessive and kept [m/n] all to himself. He wanted to feel selfish for once, regretting not being able to do it when Shinichiro was still here.
And now, unfortunately, [m/n] became the victim.
But now…as he watched Takemichi and figured out just how much Takemichi can influence people to calm down, he had major respect.
In many ways, Takemichi was more like Shinichiro than [m/n] ever was.
“Ken-chin,”
“Yeah?”
Both of them walked at night together soon to go back to their houses after a long day off visiting Takemichi.
Draken was a bit sad to not see you but he didn't pry further.
It was kind of needed anyway. Takemichi performed a slight miracle to get him and Mikey to be on terms again. In many ways Takemichi was a blessing.
And now, he and Mikey are back to being friends. The dispute was long gone.
“Do you think I made the right decision? right choice?”
"About what?"
Mikey looked up at the night sky and hummed. "Y'know, about keeping everything away from [m/n]? Emma knows, but he doesn't…"
Draken looked up at the starry sky too, knowing what Mikey was talking about. “Honestly Mikey, I don’t know.”
“…”
“I’m not [m/n]. I don’t know what he thinks about, but I’m sure that he’ll listen to whatever it is you have to explain to him,” Draken said.
“Yeah, he’s like that.” Mikey nodded with a small smile. “You know, I’m thinking of slowly introducing [m/n] to our friends,”
Draken blinked in surprise. “Heh? Are you sure?” he had to hesitate on this one. Although you had a vague knowledge of what Mikey was in, the further you were involved the harder it’ll be to keep everything they’ve worked hard away.
“I don't really know,” Mikey supported the back of his head with his hands. “He's such a complex guy, but he’s my brother and if there’s one thing we all have in common, it's that we understand each other to a high degree.”
Mikey wasn’t confident, but he knew you were forgiving. The 2 years you’ve been around, he never made the effort to get too close and only worry about your safety.
Maybe he’ll soon grow to know that what he was taking care of was a mere delusion that his broken mind had reproduced.
You never needed help, at least not from him. Though Mikey doesn’t know that.