"You're sure about this?" Koko asked me, "Are you sure you're happy this way?"
I didn't get why he cared so much.
"It doesn't matter if I'm happy. As long as they are."
"As long as she is..."
Koko exhales, "Yeah, I don't know about that last part," he tells me.
I tilt my head slightly to the side. My white hair touches my face as I look at him puzzlingly. The man looks at me. Surprised at my reaction.
"You know she's been tracking you, don't you?"
~
She was never involved with Brahman before... Mikey thinks, observing the situation he's in now. Staring out the tall windowed walls. The blonde wears a sour expression on his face.
That babbling idiot, Takemichi, must've told her everything.
Everything...
No... Takemichi wouldn't be able to know that. He wasn't there for the whole thing... Mikey continues to think about the future. Or rather, his present.
Now that he's a timeleaper, Mikey still remembers what his life was like in the present. How he led it. And how it eventually ended.
Mikey's unsure of what to do with this new power. Whether being given it was a blessing or a curse. Even with knowing he's a timeleaper, his life right now felt like a realistic dream.
"So... Any thoughts?" Mikey jolts a bit. The blonde was so spaced out, in his own mind, he wasn't even paying attention to Kokonoi.
He turns to the dark-haired boy. "On...?" Mikey asks for clarification. "The battle?" To Koko, it was obvious what thoughts he'd ask for.
Mikey squints at him, seemingly confused. "What about it?" He says obliviously.
I don't know, maybe the fact that your ex-girlfriend is involved? Koko replies in his head. He wouldn't dare say things like this out loud to Mikey. As much as he wished to.
Koko adjusts himself in his seat, "Will you be okay, knowing [Y/N] will be there?" He asks calmly. He kept his eyes on the laptop in front of him. Knowing Mikey will take a while to answer.
Mikey looks back out the window. He's right, I'm gonna have to face her again at some point... "I'll be fine," Mikey replies, not looking at Kokonoi.
Liar! Koko thinks. Furrowing his brows at the boy. Mikey, still, was looking out the window. "So, no plans? The battle will be pretty soon."
The blonde was growing tired of the questions but understood it was important for Kokonoi to know.
"I'll let Sanzu handle most of it," Mikey finally answers him, "I'll think of something when the time comes."
Ah, so 'I don't want to talk about it.' Koko translates in his head.
The two have been living together since Mikey ran away from home. To Mikey, Koko was quiet and smart enough to 'know his place' around him. It also helped that Koko lived in a penthouse apartment. Not only is he able to have a roof over his head, but a luxurious one.
He didn't ask if he could live with Koko, he decided. Even if Mikey did ask, Koko already knew he didn't have a choice.
To Mikey, Koko was just someone who could give him a home to go to. To Koko, Mikey was just his moody, unwanted roommate.
"You two... Seemed close," Mikey spoke again after the last conversation died down. Koko was surprised Mikey started a conversation. The topic, however, wasn't shocking. Since it's clearly about you.
"I'm the only Kanto Manji Gang member that's talked to her since Toman's disbandment," Koko says obviously, "Even so, she and I aren't exactly buddies."
The two are silent for a moment again. "Is she... Always like that?" Mikey asks. Koko lowers his laptop slightly to look at Mikey better. This is the first, in a while, Mikey was starting a conversation.
"Only to me," the black-haired boy answers. "I'm former Tenjiku, remember? She resents everyone who used to be in that gang."
"Yeah, I guess that makes sense," Mikey comments.
It was silent, yet again, between the two. Koko waited for a minute before propping his laptop back up again. Seeing that the conversation died down.
"She..." Mikey starts again.
Koko began to feel irritated with the back and forth of silence, talking, silence and talking again.
Either a full conversation or complete silence, pick one! Koko thinks, staring at Mikey agitatingly.
Koko was already busy dealing with businesses for the Kanto Manji Gang on the laptop. So, not only was Mikey annoying him but also disturbing the boy from doing work. Work involving the gang Mikey is the leader of.
"She looked cute..." Mikey quietly finishes his sentence. "She had a little pout when she said my name..." He looks away, covering his mouth with his palm. Staring back out the window.
That's it...? Koko was in disbelief. Was that really important to tell me...?
"You should've talked to her then. Would've seen her face, full view!" Koko says sarcastically.
"I can't," Mikey replies. He sounded serious. Kokonoi sighs. Wondering how long Mikey could keep up this 'act.'
He obviously still wants to see her, yet he doesn't allow himself to. I'm sure the girl would be stoked to have a chance to talk to him again. Koko sighs and goes back to work, seeing the conversation has died. Yet again.
There's no chance she's the same. Mikey thinks, comparing your future self with you now. She won't be bold enough to get to me first thing in the battle. I shouldn't stress over it. I'll win regardless.
'Do not follow me. I am unworthy of you.'
I still mean that. But why...?
The image of you smiling at Chifuyu plays in his head. How you held onto the boy, riding a passenger on his bike.
Why did I feel angry seeing her with another guy?
I wanted her to forget about me. She deserves better than me.
But...
What's better...
Than me?
"I'm going to bed," Mikey abruptly gets up and starts walking. "Goodnight," Koko replies, watching Mikey open the door to his room.
What's up with him now? Koko observes from the tone Mikey used to talk.
The door shuts close.
Mikey takes his elastic off and lets his hair down. His scalp feels relieved. He lazily combs through his hair with his fingers before sitting on the bed.
Did the future change now that she knows everything that happened? Is she alive in the future? Am I? Mikey ponders.
Is she happier now?
Without me...?
He falls back into his bed. Both his hands covering his eyes. "God, why am I still thinking about her...?" He mutters quietly. Mikey slowly takes his hands away from his face and gets up again.
He leans over to his nightstand, opening the drawer. He takes out a rectangular-shaped photo.
It was your photo booth photos from October 2005.
Mikey stares at what his life used to be. How you two used to be.
He reminisces about that day. The face you made when he asked you out so suddenly. The way you looked when he wiped whipped cream off your face. From the parfait you shared. And your triumphant expression when you finally won against him at the arcade.
Mikey loved every second of that day. Yet he felt he didn't deserve it.
And even though he feels unworthy of your love. The very thought of you giving it to anyone else irked him.
Hell, he despised it.
Mikey puts the photo back where he got it from. Shutting the drawer aggressively, he fully gets on the bed and lays down.
Staring at the ceiling in his dark room. He closes his eyes. With only one thought before he dozes off.
Who the hell does Matsuno Chifuyu think he is?
-
A while has gone by and Koko gets a sudden knock at his residence. "What do you want?" Koko answers.
"Where's Mikey?" The pink-haired boy lets himself in before Koko can approve.
Kokonoi closes the door, annoyed. This isn't the first time Sanzu has done this. "Sleeping," he answers the question.
"You hear that [Y/N] chick's in Brahman now?" Sanzu asks. Koko sits back down, in front of his laptop. "That's a real rumour?" He asks rhetorically, thinking he and Mikey were the first ones to see.
Sanzu hops on top of the table Koko was working at, sitting down. "Apparently, she came out of the Gojo gym last weekend. A bunch of people started talking about it."
Since the weekend, huh? Brahman must've tried recruiting her again after that first interaction. Koko assumes. "Yeah, she is. Confirmed it today, actually," he tells Sanzu, not looking at him.
"Well?"
"Well, what?" Koko side-eyes him.
"What's the plan?!" Sanzu irritatingly asks. Koko sighs, "He said he'd let you handle it. He'll 'think of something when the time comes,'" Koko finger quotes. "AKA, 'I don't feel like talking anymore'!"
Sanzu smacks his hand, "Hey! Don't mock the boss," he scolds. "Well, you're not my boss, so don't tell me what to do!" Koko replies, mocking Sanzu.
"You know that girl's only going to be a nuisance for Mikey, right?" Sanzu said, his tone more serious this time.
Koko stops his work and fully turns his head at Sanzu, "Don't even think of doing anything to her."
Sanzu was surprised at Koko's response. He snickers, "What's wrong? You like her or something?" The pink-haired boy teases.
"When I said Mikey would let you handle it, I meant the battle. Not [Y/N]," Kokonoi glares. "I only talk to her because Mikey orders me to," He continues, shutting down the accusation of liking you.
"Don't take on unnecessary tasks. Especially without his say," Koko said strictly, hoping it would end the conversation. Sanzu found his response both boring and annoying.
Sanzu gets off the table and walks to the door. Kokonoi feels both relieved and accomplished that this conversation died.
The pink-haired boy grins before turning the knob at the door. "You're not my boss, so don't tell me what to do," Sanzu mocks Koko before walking out.
Koko rolls his eyes. What a scumbag.
-
Koko knocks on Mikey's door a few times before opening it.
"Mikey, wake up," he calls, "Your bike is ready to be picked up now."
Mikey lifts his blanket over his head. "Like that'll do anything..." Koko responds to the blonde's action, "Don't you want your bike back?"
Mikey takes the blanket off his head. His hair was messily in his face. "You get it!" Mikey orders. More like a child rather than the strongest gang leader in Tokyo.
Koko was appalled at the boy's attitude. He closes the door behind him, not wanting to give his leader any reply.
I hate riding motorbikes...
Koko calls a cab to the bike shop. When he arrives, he walks to the front desk, letting the employee know he came for a pickup. They escort him to the mechanic.
Koko observes the bike before taking it and thanking them. He sighs, realizing that he's going to have to drive it back to his home.
He gets on the bike and turns it on. How do you do this again?
The boy takes it out of the shop, leaving. As he waits for an opening to turn on the street, he hears a similar engine roar from the street.
He looks up to see two familiar faces.
Inupi... And [Y/N]?!
Koko exclaims in his head. Watching his old friend ride the same bike with you as a passenger.
Is this chick a blonde magnet or something?!
On the way home, Koko couldn't help but feel like there was a pattern of guys you always hang around with.
He finally arrives back home. Phoning Mikey to come down, not knowing where he would want his bike to be parked.
The blonde comes out the front door of the penthouse, hair still messy and in his pajamas. He sits on his bike and leans into it. Practically laying down.
Looks like he loves this bike more than his girl "You couldn't care to freshen up?" Koko comments, looking at Mikey.
The long-haired blonde immediately gestures to take the keys. As Kokonoi hands it to him, he turns on the bike and finds a place to park it. Without uttering a word.
"Good talk!" Koko says sarcastically before heading back inside the luxurious apartment.
Mikey finally opens the door to their shared suite. Koko was sitting on the large couch, next to the windows in the living area. "I'm ordering food, is there anything you want?" Koko asks. He held flyers from restaurants in his hand.
"Not really," Mikey replies. He goes into the kitchen. Koko sits up to go to him. As Mikey looks into the fridge, he continuously moves his hair out of his face.
"If your hair's bothering you, why don't you get it cut?" Koko asks. "Too lazy..." Mikey replies, his voice still groggy.
Koko takes out an elastic from his pocket. With his fingers, he brushes through the top part of Mikey's hair. Once he felt there were no more knots, he tied his hair back for him. "You're 17, not 7," Koko scolds.
"I'm ordering steak, you want anything from here?" Koko asks about food again, handing Mikey one of the flyers.
"Chicken tenders and fries," the blonde finally answers.
Koko walks back to the living room, "Alright..." From the kid's menu? Seriously?
Chapter seventy-three, end.