time after time

The morning after the starting revelation that Sano Manjiro and Mikey were one and the same greeted a Takemichi who was completely unwilling to face reality.

‘What do you mean???? What do you mean that he is Sano Manjiro??? They’re not even alike??????’ Were the only thoughts running through his mind as he got ready for school. 

Even after locking his front door, Takemichi ended up depositing himself on his porch, still mulling over the series of events that had occured the previous day. Takuya, who lived across the street, ended up having to drag him to class.

‘Okay, so let me get this straight… The younger version of the leader of the Tokyo Manji Gang just saved me and my friends from an awful life… and now he wants to be my friend??? And somehow he thinks I’m not a normal middle schooler??? And he is somehow a little nice???? What has the world come to?’

The day continued, and the bell signaled the beginning of what was several classes to come. Despite the fact that he now had the chance to pursue his education again, Takemichi chucked it out of the window (for the time being) to obsess over the enigma that was ‘Mikey’s existence.

‘From what I can remember, the leader of the Tokyo Manji Gang is a ruthless, uncaring man… and he’s done many awful things in the past. People even died as collateral damage. But then…. he seems a lot different from the guy I met yesterday.’

A part of Takemichi wanted to believe that Mikey was just an average everyday middle-schooler, but there had been no mistaking the power, not just physical, that he wielded. The more cynical part of Takemichi was willing to bet money that Mikey had been a violent maniac ever since he was a kid.

‘....oh, who am I kidding.’

Takemichi stopped trying to rationalize the two different realities he faced. He was here for a reason, and that was to stop Mikey from meeting Kisaki Tetta. How he would do that, he had no idea, but he could try.

‘The only way I can make sure that they don't meet is if I stick with Mikey… the other option is to stalk Kisaki somehow….’

Makoto, who sat next to Takemichi during class, decided that he ought to stop staying up late to watch adult movies and get some sleep when he heard his friend mutter about stalking someone. 

‘I don't even know what Kisaki looks like during this time period… My best bet is Mikey, because I know who he is and he’s offered an olive branch. But how to get close to him…’

At this point, the teacher got tired of Takemichi’s obvious disinterest in the class proceedings and called him up to the board to answer a question. Luckily for Takemichi, the problem was a relatively simple linear equation. As he mechanically scribbled down the steps to the problem, he tried to think of ways to get to his goal.

‘Let’s see… I can befriend him like he wants, and…’ Takemichi transposed the variable and ended up getting a negative integer for an answer. Well, at least it was correct. 

The teacher glared at the board, hoping to find something he could find fault with, but Lady Luck seemed to be smiling down on Takemichi. Unfortunately, or fortunately, Lady Fate seemed to want to speed up the events of the day, and soon sent him a gift in the form of a trainwreck of a human.

As soon as Takemichi set down the chalk, the door slammed open, and lo and behold! It appeared that Takemichi’s thoughts could summon people, now that the very boy he was trying to scheme about had entered.

“....HAH?!” 

“‘Mitchy! Did ya miss me?!” In all his truant glory, Sano Manjiro stepped into the room, completely derailing the classroom proceedings.

“What- What are YOU doing here?!” Takemichi sputtered. ‘I didn't prepare for this! What am I supposed to do now??”

“What am I doing here? I came here, personally, to pick you up! Come on, come on, let's get going! We have the entire day to ourselves!” Much like the excitable teen he was, Mikey grabbed onto Takemichi’s hand, trying to drag him out of the room. Takemichi could see Ken-chin, apparently called ‘Draken’ by the rest of Toman, waiting outside the room with what was quite possibly the most impressive resting bitch face he had ever seen.

“But, I have school, and…” Any argument he had in his mind saw itself out the front door when he saw the setting outside the door.

Several of his schoolmates were lying face first on the ground, enough to line the entire hallway.

Draken was standing on top of two of them.

“What….what happened?!”

“Oh, they pissed me off, so I knocked them down.”

Mikey looked ready to jump right onto the human carpet.

Takemichi, on the other hand, was ready to pass the fuck out, because what the fuck was he seeing???

‘The Tokyo Manji Gang sure is crazy, huh…’

Mikey went on ahead, casually stepping on their backs. Draken followed. Takemichi did not want to have to pay medical bills for all the people on the floor, so he stayed on the floor. Mikey and Draken made small talk, probably about beating up some other poor gang.

One of the people being stepped on grabbed his ankle, and Takemichi jolted. He looked down, only to see a heavily bruised Kojima staring up at him.

“Hey…. tell them to knock it off, will ya?” He gasped. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Mikey’s and Draken’s expressions go murky. 

‘Wait a minute….’

Takemichi glanced at the rest of the people on the floor. 

‘....all of these people were part of the gambling ring.’

Takemichi tried to forgive people when he could…. but he was only human, after all. In the original timeline, his friend had died under their hands. They could handle being stepped on for a few seconds.

Takemichi glared at Kojima before kicking his foot away. “Piss off!” he hissed under his breath. 

Mikey smirked a little, and there was a small leap in every step he took over each back on the ground.

His breath hitched in his throat. ‘Did they do this to try and get on my good side?’

Takemichi couldn't make out heads or tails as to why these two were being nice to him, but he decided to take the opportunity when he could.

“I, uhm, never got to thank you for yesterday. If it hadn't been for you two…”

“It was nothing. We had to teach these guys a lesson before they tarnished Toman’s reputation.” Draken sighed. Seemed like this happened a lot more often than they liked.

When the human carpet ended, Draken slung his arm over Takemichi. Takemichi, who’s pride was his height in Mizo Middle, immediately felt what was left of his ego decompose.

He could hear students in the corner whisper to each other, but he couldn't make out the words. Probably fuelling the rumor mill.

Meanwhile, Mizo Middle had followed after them as stealthily as they could. Even though they were glad that Takemichi had a friend who was powerful, they were afraid of that power turning on him. A certain somebody gritted her teeth and stepped towards them. Her little brother stood on the sidelines, ready to call the police if anything happened.

The trio were about to make their way out of the building before they were stopped by none other than Tachibana Hinata.

“Hold it! What are you guys doing with Takemichi-kun?” She snarled, looking like she wanted to bury Mikey 6 feet under.

“We’re just taking Takemitchy out for a ride. We’re friends, after all,” Mikey grinned winningly at Takemichi, and he couldn't help but look away, embarrassed.

‘He kidnapped me out of the classroom and I couldn't refuse him! What the hell?!’ 

‘Then again, this is the best opportunity I’ll have… saving the future - saving Hina - has to be my biggest priority here.’ Takemichi chuckled nervously. “Er, Hina…sorry, I realized I had to meet these two today…”

Before Takemichi could make his lie more believable, Hina raised her hand and slapped Mikey in the face.

The slap echoed across the room, and Takemichi let out a strangled noise as he realized the consequences of that action. Draken moved towards the two of them menacingly. Naoto realized that police would not come on time and crept as close to the scene as possible.

‘We’re gonna die, we're gonna die, WE’RE GONNA DIEE!’

“Now, listen here-” Mikey started, only to be interrupted by Hina tugging Takemichi away.

‘Draken’s going to KILL her! HINA?! What are you doing?!’

“Come on, Takemichi-kun,” She gripped his hand gently yet firmly, trying to hide her trembling. “You don't have to be nice to scum like them. You mustn't let such people dictate your actions.”

‘Her hands… they're shaking. She’s scared. Even then, she's willing to risk it for me…’

Draken stood in their way to the hallway. He looked pissed. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? You're gonna just slap someone and leave like that? Who do you think you're playing around with?” 

“....Playing around? Friends? Friends don't do that to each other!” Hinata snapped, balling her hands into fists. “Every day, every single day, Takemichi-kun and his friends have new bruises! He’s had to go to the hospital at least twice for it! If it was because of you guys…”

Hina turned around, baring her teeth. “...I’ll make you wish you’d never been born.”

Draken snarled, only to be stopped by Takemichi gripping his shoulder with a ferocity he hadn't expected.

“Leave her alone!” Takemichi hissed. He couldn't make eye contact with Draken as he tried to push him away, and that shame burned in his bones.

“Hah? What are you saying?!” Draken bent down slightly, unable to see the expression on Takemichi’s face. “I can't hear you, fucker!”

Takemichi felt his viscera twist and knot so painfully he was sure he would die on the spot. He could still remember the pain of losing both Hina and Naoto like it was yesterday, as if it wasn't a full timeline away. He remembered Hina’s wish for him to be safe, and Naoto’s belief that he could change people’s lives for the better. That seemed to rejuvenate his vocal cords, because he found the energy to scream.

“I said, LEAVE HER ALONE, IDIOT! DON’T YOU DARE HURT HER!”

Draken's voice turned deathly cold. “...Do you even know who you're talking to?”

“SHUT UP! I WON’T GIVE THEM UP EVER AGAIN!”

“Again? Huh?”

“Haaah…” Mikey sighed, seemingly bored of the drama. Honestly, Takemichi would probably be too if he and Hina weren't being threatened. “And here I thought we could be good friends.”

Mikey turned towards them with an unrecognizable glint in his eyes. 

“Too bad.”

Takemichi turned away from Draken to face Mikey, his stomach plummeting at those words. 

“Let go of my sister and Takemichi-kun!” Naoto screamed as loud as he could.

“Naoto, stay back! This could be dangerous!” Takemichi shouted back, stepping to the side to block Mikey's view of Naoto.

“Well then…. how do you want to die?!”

‘.....I hoped this would be a chance… I guess I was wrong. Even if it's a small glimmer…. I won't let anything risk Hina's and Naoto’s safety, even if it means I have to find a new solution.’

“...Promise me this one thing - whatever you do….” Takemichi’s voice wavered. “...Don't lay a finger on my friends!”

Mikey’s fist was already clenched by the time Takemichi had finished his sentence. “Huh?! Who cares?”

He stepped in front of Hina, instinctively closing his eyes just as the punch neared his face. 

The collision never came.

Takemichi cracked his eyes open just to see Mikey grinning at him. 

“Just kidding! Did you really think I’d go on with it?” Mikey patted him on the shoulder gently, much to his surprise. “You're way too gullible, Takemitchy!”

Mikey walked away. He probably realized that Takemichi was a second away from passing out in fear. He did turn back eventually, his smile a little gentler than the toothy grin he had flashed a second ago. “There's no way I’d hit a girl.”

‘This boy literally steps on other people but somehow has the utmost respect for women? Not that I'm complaining, but like, what a weird guy!’

Just as the tension in Takemichi’s shoulders dissipated, Draken slung his arm over them again. “So, you were trying to threaten me, huh, Takemitchy?”

“...sorry…”

“It’s all good.”

“Huh?!”

“ ‘I won’t give them up ever again’, and 'Don't lay a finger on my friends’. No one says that these days, you know?”

Takemichi chuckled awkwardly, not really sure if Draken was complimenting him or calling him cringe.

“You did surprise me though. Never expected you to do all that.”

“Ken-chin has beads for eyes and wool for his brain, then.” Mikey snickered. “How did you not realize he would do that? We literally met him that way.”

“Oi! I was busy cleaning up your mess!”

Hina looked extremely confused, so Takemichi took the opportunity to explain the situation to her.

“Hina… these guys are actually my friends. They saved me yesterday.”

“.....EXCUSE ME?!”

__________________________

“I’m so sorry! I didn't know!” Hina kept bowing her head down aggressively. “I misread the situation, and….I’m sorry!”

“It's fine,” Mikey lightly rubbed his cheek. “That really was an amazing slap, though.”

‘Did he…. He’s rubbing the wrong cheek!’ Takemichi did a double take. ‘Was Hina’s slap really that insignificant to him?’

“I’m sorry!”

Mikey chuckled. “Doing your best for the sake of the people you love is good and all… but you mustn't be reckless either. Depending on who you're dealing with, it might not end up well.” 

“Yes!” 

‘Huh. Didn't expect Mikey-kun to be a philosopher.’ Takemichi bit his lips to hide the smile that threatened to appear at the thought of comparing Mikey-kun to someone like Aristotle. ‘Though, what he did say was true. I just didn't expect him to say it. It's almost… like he's had experience with this.’

Hina turned back to the school. “I’ll take my leave now. Take care, Takemichi-kun,”

“Bye-bye!” Mikey called out to her. “Don't slap me the next time we meet!” That earned a laugh from Hina. Her shoulders shook as she tried to control her mirth before entering the building.

Takemichi couldn’t help but smile, hearing her laugh. Mikey noticed the look on his face.

“She's a good person. Like you.” Mikey smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. “Is she your girlfriend?”

“What the fuck, Mikey-kun?!” Takemichi sputtered. “She's my friend, not my lover!”

“Okay, okay, jeez.” His smile looked a lot more genuine now. 

“What, do you go around asking random people if they're single?” Takemichi huffed. Mikey’s grin seemed to turn feral as he opened his mouth to say something that was probably stupid.

“Well, I might if they were as pretty as-”

“Both of you, quit chit-chatting and get moving!” Draken cut in. Takemichi had the feeling that he didn't quite want to know what Mikey was planning to say.

The trio made it to the gates where there were a couple of bicycles. Takemichi and Mikey took one bike, while Draken took the other.

‘I learnt about the Tokyo Manji Gang from Naoto. They're a heinous gang that would do all sorts of awful crimes.’

‘But then… if they really were awful in this timeline… they wouldn't have saved me and Mizo Middle, and they wouldn't have let Hina go scot free.’

Takemichi watched Mikey out of the corner of his eye. ‘...Is he really the leader of such a gang?’

Mikey then ordered Takemichi and Draken to stop near a river, where they sat down on the grass.

“Uhm… Mikey-kun, why are we here…?”

“I asked you to be my friend, right? So here we are.”

“I never said yes, though.”

“What was that?” Mikey shot him a sharp look.

“Nothing! Nothing important!” Takemichi backpedaled. ‘What am I saying? I need him on my side!’

“...You saw how shitty the delinquents are nowadays, right?” Mikey sighed, throwing a stone into the water.

Takemichi didn’t respond, but he tried to give Mikey his full attention.

“I want to stop things like that from happening again. It's why people think delinquents are lame.” Mikey looked at Takemichi with his eerie black eyes. “Back then, people used to behave like they were big. All they did was fight, but they took care of their messes. What was so lame about those guys?....I want to create a new era for delinquents. One where we clean up our own messes and don't get involved in crime. And I’d like you to be a part of this new era.”

‘....I can tell he's been able to convince people with this speech before….it's just that I can't bring myself to believe him for some reason.’ Takemichi mulled over Mikey’s words. ‘Despite his best effort….the words feel so empty.’ 

‘....why is it that I want to join him just to see where this goes? I already know the end result, but still…’

“....Why did you take a liking to me, Mikey-kun?”

“That's a stupid question.” Takemichi felt like he had been stabbed with that response, but he shook it off.

“I’d still like to know,”

“...I have an older brother. Ten years older than me.” Mikey turned to face the sky. “It's almost been four years since he's woken up.”

Takemichi froze at the sudden undercurrent of emotion he heard in Mikey’s voice. 

“He was a reckless man. Kept fighting for what he believed in against people who could easily kick his ass in a fight.” Mikey grinned a little. “You kinda remind me of him.”

“Eh?!” Takemichi didn't think that he deserved the high comparison. Mikey-kun’s brother - whoever he was - sounded really cool, and he didn't deserve to be called that. He even said it out loud to Mikey-kun, who only laughed.

“It's true that he wasn't as lame as you-” Takemichi felt like he was being stabbed again. “-but at the same time, he never really thought much before doing stuff. You on the other hand..” Mikey's index finger lightly grazed his forehead. “...There's a lot going on behind here, isn't there?”

Takemichi flinched away. ‘I feel like he already knows everything… I should keep him at a distance for now.’

“There's a lot of people who can fight - just not enough who would stand up for what they can't give up.” Draken spoke up, startling Takemichi.

“Mikey-kun…Draken-kun…I don't know whether I should come with you or not.”

Mikey looked a little stunned at that. “Why not, Takemitchy?”

“I think I’ll take a break from delinquency, at least till my injuries get better. Besides, I’ve only known you for a day. I’d rather… I dunno, get to be friends with you both before making a decision? I’m not sure.” Takemichi rubbed the back of his neck slightly. “I’d rather not rush into this yet.”

‘I shouldn't make any promises I can't keep… besides, he's a lot different from how he is as an adult. I should probably mention that to Naoto as soon as possible.’

“...Fair enough,” Mikey-kun shrugged. “You’ve got guts, ‘Mitchy.”

“Think about it for a little while.”

 And that was that.

________________

….or so Takemichi thought.

He had gone to the Tachibanas’ house so that he would have company in misery (or studying). He had made it his goal to cram as much of the syllabus as possible, so that he would have a better life when he came back to the future.

The two (three, after Naoto had snuck in to do his homework) had ended up getting distracted anyway after seeing fireworks outside the window. Taking the opportunity to postpone boredom, they all went to the apartment terrace to see the view.

“So pretty!” Hina gushed as another round of fireworks lit up the sky.

Takemichi smiled, wishing he had his phone to take pictures. Naoto had gone to find a better place to see the show.

“Isn't this the fireworks for the festival this month?” Takemichi asked, stepping closer to the boundary.

“Mmhmm! Gion’s going to be held in a few weeks. I can't wait for the long weekend ahead!”

Takemichi laughed, stepping closer to his friend. ‘This time, we can enjoy the festival together. All three of us.’

“Are you going to rent out a yukata or anything?”

“I dunno, those are expensive, and it's difficult to wear…”

Takemichi felt someone hold his hand. He smiled, thinking it was Hina. 

….Only to realize that Hina was on his right side when his left hand was being held.

He jerked, startled to see Naoto looking at him awkwardly. “Uhm… Thanks for helping Hinata.”

“Oh, that was nothing.” ‘Oh, thank god, it was just Naoto, I don't mind holding his hand either…’

‘...Wait.’

He felt a tugging motion in his head…and it felt so familiar to all the times he had time leaped.

“Wait - NAOTO?!”

“Y-yeah?”

‘YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!'