Mikey had informed that he'll be at the old abandoned warehouse with Draken, Pah-chin and Peh-yan to discuss about the upcoming fight with Moebius. The last thing on Suzume's mind was to visit the warehouse but Mikey was thirsty and since she was already at the supermarket with Takemichi, he'd requested her to get them some drinks since she'd be crossing the warehouse anyway. He wasn't really thirsty, he just wanted to see her. The girl knew him all too well.

"So if it's one of TOMAN's meetings, can I just waltz in? I'm not a member..." Takemichi said over his shoulder, she took another bite of the ice cream biscuit. "Chill!"

"Is that an ice cream or a biscuit?"

"It's a biscuit with ice cream in the middle."

The boy's expression was blank, "weird!"

Mikey was seated on top of a large wooden trunk, while the others surrounded him. His face lighted up automatically as he saw her, "little sparrow, you're here."

Takemichi nodded at the boys as both of his hands were occupied with paper bags, "I'm here as well."

"Why are you here?" Draken asked.

"You again?" Pah-chin turned around annoyingly.

"Get lost, shithead!" Peh-yan said.

Suzume gestured Takemichi to follow her, "he's here with me, you guys have a problem with that?"

"Sorry, Hime but we're having an important discussion here." Draken apologised.

Mikey moved towards the girl a smile plastered across his comely face, "we don't have a problem with anything you do."

"You better." She handed him the paper bag filled with soft drinks.

Mikey helped himself to a can of coke and tossed the paper bag to Draken for him to pass it around, "any plans later?"

"After I stuff the fridge with the groceries, I need to give Taro a bath."

He pulled her close, "can I come over?"

If the boy is around, she'll not be able to get anything done in time. She furrowed her brows, "I'd have to think about it."

"I'll behave," he gave her a little wink as he sipped the coke.

In a breath Pah-chin had pushed Takemichi on the ground, the contents of the paper bags scattered. "You really should stop goofing around."

"What happened?" Suzume turned towards the boys in confusion, Takemichi was helping her with her groceries and now they were all scattered on the dusty ground.

Mikey frowned at the boys, "we're having a moment here."

Takemichi slowly rose up dusting himself. "I just suggested if they could stop the fight with Moebius."

"Get lost. One more word and you're dead." Pah-chin threatened.

"Fighting isn't_" before Takemichi could even complete his sentence Pah-chin began to punch him left and right.

Suzume's hand automatically reached for Mikey's forearm, the boy understood the gesture. She wanted him to stop the quarrel. "Takemichi. I get what you're saying. We will fight Moebius. You don't understand at all. I've decided that we're gonna fight. So TOMAN's gonna fight Moebius."

Pah-chin let go of the boy, pleased by Mikey's words.

"Maybe it's not a bad idea to first see what Moebius is all about." Draken said thoughtfully.

"Ken-chin, are you defying TOMAN?" Mikey turned towards the tall boy.

"That's not what this is about."

"Yes, it is."

Mikey and Draken were in a intense staring competition.

Suzume huffed a breath of disbelief as she bend down to pick up the scattered groceries, because of Pah-chin's short temper her groceries were on the ground and instead of helping her with it, Draken and Mikey are staring at each other. "Will anyone help me with this?"

Peh-yan and Takemichi nodded as they bend to the task but before they could finish the task.

"Sorry to interrupt your little group implosion." A voice cut through, "Moebius that, Moebius this. Could you please stop yelling our name so many time?" The man held a comb on one hand as he brushed his yellow bleached hair and smoked a cigarette. "You mid-school babies."

"You are...Osanai!" Pah-chin jaws ticked.

Nobutaka Osanai wore the traditional Moebius uniform. On the left sleeve, there are the words 'Eighth generation president'. His prominent feature is a diagonal scar across his forehead. "Shut it, dickhead!"

"You bastard..." Pah-chin was shaking with rage.

The man pointed his comb at them, "hey, I'm two years older than you. That's Mr. Bastard to you."

Pah-chin charged towards the man screaming, Osanai threw a punch and Pah-chin was on the ground. "You guys are nothing but middle school punks. Tokyo Manji Gang? You should change your name. To 'mid-school infant alliance.'"

Suzume could feel Takemichi shaking besides her. The boy had never been to an actual gang fight before and it shows. As for her, she'd witnessed countless violence hanging around with the boys but she could never get used to it.

"I heard you guys were planning to pick a fight with Moebius." The man snapped his finger and behind him a crowd appeared wearing the official Moebius uniform. "So we came to you ourselves."

"Let's do this."

"Dance, mid-schoolers."

"Look, they're so scrawny."

Osanai's evil eyes landed on Suzume, "there's the guest of honour as well." He grinned widely, "this is going to be so much fun!"

The girl suppressed the shudder that ran through her spine. The tragedy of Pah-chin's buddy and his girlfriend image crossing her mind.

Mikey glanced at her assuring everything will be okay, she knew in her bones as long as the boy is with her, she'd be safe. But she did fear for the safety of her friends.

"We came for you. Mikey! From mid-school infant alliance." Osanai killed his cigarette.

They were now surrounded by Moebius members inside a circle.

"A surprise attack of this scale against mid-schoolers? You're as scummy as I imagined, Osanai."

"Huh? Can't hear ya' pipsqueak!" Osanai mocked.

His members laughed.

"Hey! Why are you staring at me like that?" He looked at Takemichi who was staring at the guy in red. Before the boy could reply, Osanai threw a punch. "You were looking down on me, weren't you?" He began to hit Takemichi left and right. "I hate that look more than anything else!"

Suzume gasped at the sight. Why is everyone beating poor Takemichi for no valid reason?

Pah-chin held Osanai back, "your opponent is me, bastard."

Takemichi fell on the ground weakly, the boy's face was swollen and he was bleeding from his nose. "Takemichi," Suzume squatted down and pulled out a handkerchief, "you okay?"

"Pah-chin mustn't fight Moebius," he responded weakly.

"You better not underestimate Pah-chin, Hanagaki." Peh-yan told Takemichi. "Pah-chin is a full on fighter, even among those in TOMAN. He's the kind of guy who takes in an entire team empty handed and wins. There's no way he would lose to someone like Osanai!"

"He's right," Suzume assured Takemichi as the boy took the handkerchief from her, "Pah-kun can take care of himself."

"Takemichi, stay still and watch." Mikey told the boy as he offered his hand to Suzume, the girl took his hand as he gently pulled her up. "This is Pah's fight."

Suzume knew it too, that this fight was between Osanai and Pah-chin and the others were just spectators but Takemichi was still new to know about the workings of gang fights. Mikey pulled her close as they watched Osanai and Pah-chin pitted against each other. This is not how the day was supposed to go.

Osanai was throwing one punch after the other at Pah-chin. "What's wrong?" The boy sing-song.

"You practice boxing, don't you?" Pah-chin asked grimly.

The boy threw a hard blow, blood splattered across Pah-chin's face.

"Oh no! He took a clean hit!" Peh-yan's mouth agape.

Blood dripped on the dusty floor. "You can't even kill an ant with a punch like that!" Pah-chin mocked.

"No way! What is he? A monster?" Peh-yan moved towards the boys.

"Peh!" Mikey yelled, "I told you to stay still and watch."

The boy stopped on his tracks and apologised. "Sorry, Mikey."

"Stay still and watch?" Takemichi said from behind. "Aren't you being too cruel, Mikey? Pah-chin's nose just broke and he's seconds away from passing out! This won't end well! Pah-chin will die! Let's stop them!"

Mikey said over his shoulder, "why? He hasn't given up yet."

Takemichi's pleading eyes landed on Suzume. If she could she'd stop the fight but this isn't how it works, the only thing she could do is root for Pah-chin because it's his decision to fight Osanai.

"Look, this guy passed out while standing!" Osanai mocked as his gang members laughed hysterically.

Pah-chin was bleeding and wobbly, like he's going to pass out any second. He fell on Mikey's shoulder, "sorry. Mikey. I'm...so pathetic."

"What are you talking about, Pah-chin? You didn't lose."

"What are you saying?" The Mobeius members began to laugh louder. "How the hell did he not lose?"

Osanai grinned as he pulled out a cigarette.

"Little sparrow," Mikey looked at her thoughtfully, "look out for Pah, will you?"

The girl nodded as Mikey gently laid his friend down on the ground.

"Hey, Mikey! Hurry up and get down on your knees!"

"Not like we'll forgive you, though!"

"Strip down and get on your knees, everyone!"

"Try not to piss your pants, okay?"

"You can cry all you want, but we won't forgive you!"

"Get ready for a spanking!"

The Moebius members were mocking all around.

Mikey walked upto Osanai without a word, the guy looked down on him. "You want some, Mikey?" He puffed his cigarette, "you'll be dead in ten_" before he could complete his sentence Mikey threw a high right roundhouse kick at a blinding speed at Osanai's temple, which hooked his head and slammed it into the ground. He was knocked out instantly.

The warehouse went completely still. Then all the Moebius members jaws were on the floor.

Mikey is the strongest member of TOMAN and one of the strongest delinquent out there. His epithet, the Invincible Mikey, is indicative of his strength and how he is revered among other delinquent groups. Suzume and the boys knew this all too well so they weren't surprised to witness what went down. But the others were.

"All of you who think Pah-chin lost, step forward. I will kill you. TOMAN belongs to me. As long as I'm standing, we will never lose."

Then he turned around. "Sorry, little sparrow," a smile spread across his face. "I did it."

Her response was a little laugh.

"Nothing can stop you, right Mikey?" Draken said.

In a blink, Osanai had picked up a broken bottle and charged towards Mikey. "Watch out Mikey!" Draken yelled and then he'd kicked Osanai on the gut. "Osanai, let me tell you why you lost. You strayed from the way of the delinquents. You attacked a guy's parents and raped his girlfriend. Those are things only a scum would do. You hear me? If you dare to do such scummy things ever again, we will track down every single one of you and kill you."

The other Mobeius members were backing off in terror. "These guys are nuts! Are they seriously mid-schoolers?"

"Our boss Mikey just defeated your boss!" Draken yelled, "any of you got a problem with that? If there isn't any, then from today onward, Moebius will be under the command of Tokyo Manji Gang!"

"Amazing! They won!" Takemichi blinked in disbelief. "We won!"

Police sirens were heard at a distant.

"Carp. The cops are coming." Draken informed.

"What? You mean the police?" Takemichi trembled.

"Are they here to celebrate our victory?" Peh-yan smirked. Mikey agreed with a laugh.

"Why are you all so relaxed?" Takemichi looked at the boys in confusion.

"Hey, Moebius!" Draken yelled as he's still holding the half conscious boy on his arms, "don't run away by yourself, give Osanai here a hand."

But at that very moment, Pah-chin reached into his pocket and pulled out a pocket knife. Before any of them could make sense of what's he's upto, he stabbed Osanai from behind, "I can't forgive you just like that. Osanai."

Draken pushed Pah-chin away from Osanai. "What are you doing, Pah?"

Mikey looked at the boy. "Pah...you..."

"Pah-chin...where did you get that knife?" Peh-yan asked in horror.

Suzume covered her mouth with her hands. Did Pah-chin really stabbed Nobutaka Osanai?

"What? He stabbed Osanai?" Takemichi asked in complete and utter disbelief.

Draken was on his knees, "Osanai! Osanai!" He shook the bleeding boy.

"Are you kidding me? That guy seriously just stabbed him!" The Mobeius members gaped.

The sirens were getting closer.

"Run Pah!" Mikey urged Pah-chin.

"Sorry. Mikey." Pah-chin apologised. "Peh-yan, I'm leaving the Third Division to you. I'll turn myself in."

"Stop screwing around!" Mikey yelled at him.

"We need to go!" Draken said.

"Pah! Come with us!" Mikey looked at the boy in frustration.

"They will catch all of us, if we don't leave." Peh-yan stated the obvious.

"Leave," Pah-chin told them, "think about Hime."

"Dammit!" Mikey cursed as he grabbed Suzume's hand and pulled her towards the other exit. The girl followed him but her eyes were on Pah-chin who was standing all alone next to Osanai's unresponsive body. Is Nobutaka Osani dead? She prays not.

As they ran on the streets and the warehouse disappeared from view. Suzume could feel the building tension among the boys, even though Mikey hadn't said a word since they left the warehouse she could feel the pulsing energy within him. And then Takemichi collapsed on the street.

⌛️⏳

Takemichi Hanagaki had been hospitalised after the incident. The girl couldn't visit him because her mother had grounded her after she lost a month's worth of packed food, that cost thousands of yen. The girl lied that; she'd lost it on the public transport because she couldn't really tell her mother the truth about the warehouse incident or she'd be grounded for life.

Now, Takemichi was discharged and Suzume was finally able to visit him with Akkun; the three friends hanged around in the boy's bedroom. Like most teenagers, his shelves were filled with mangas, collectables and magazines. There wasn't a single dumbbell on sight, the girl noticed he doesn't workout like most guy's his age.

"What's this? It's so detailed!" Akkun examined the motorcycle puzzle, displayed on the coffee table. "Maybe, I can move this piece."

"Hey, don't touch that! It took me three days to finish my giant puzzle of 2,005 pieces."

"What? You were bored, huh."

"It can't be helped, okay?" Takemichi muttered. "I was told to stay still and rest."

"Like you should," Suzume mumbled flipping through the pages of Chainsaw man, she'd not read this manga before.

"I love this manga." Akkun said lifting the comic, "the main character Denji gets motivated by boobs."

"Hmm...like you..."

"You see right through me Suzume-chan," a wide grin passed his personable face. If he wasn't this flirty and pervy—he might just get a good girl.

"That's not a compliment! And stop staring at my chest." She waved a hand over his face.

"Any news on Mikey and Draken?" Takemichi interjected as he snatched the comic from Akkun's unexpected hands.

Akkun turned to him lazily, "you don't know do you? TOMAN is at a point of no return, they say it might split into two."

"Wh-at?"

Atsushi Sendo also known as Akkun is one among Suzume's oldest friend. The plum pompadour hair boy have a tendency to joke and flirt at the wrong time. "What I just said."

"They're fighting for sure, but it's no different from usual." Suzume informed.

"Really?"

At that moment, the bedroom door swung open and Draken peeped in.

"Dra-ken?" The boys looked at him surprised.

"I came to check on you, Takemichi." He literally hunched to enter the doorframe.

"There's soda." Suzume nodded at the table, she'd brought a bag full of Dr Pepper for Takemichi since it's his favourite drink.

Draken picked up a can. "Pah won't get out for at least a year but the good news is Osanai is out of danger. If he wasn't, Pah won't be free until he's an adult."

The girl gave a sigh of relief. Even though what Pah-chin did was wrong, she couldn't blame him—he was furious for what happened to his friend and the girlfriend. And when anger takes over, even the sharpest minds falter.

"What about Mikey?" Takemichi asked, like he was waiting for this moment.

Draken banged the coffee table where the puzzle was displayed, "that bastard is full of crap!"

Takemichi pulled his hair in horror as the pieces of the puzzle scattered all across his room.

"Ah sorry."

"My three days of hard work!" The boy was on his knees.

Draken frowned, "didn't I already apologise?"

"Yes, I'm fine now. It only took three days of losing sleep to finish it." Takemichi said weakly.

"Anyway, I'm cutting ties with Mikey." Draken said sourly. "TOMAN's over."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm going now." Draken said as he left the room with the can.

"He's kidding right?" Takemichi looked at Suzume.

Suzume have witness endless quarrels and fights between Mikey and Draken, but till date she's not really sure about any of it. "Maybe..."

"How can you say that?"

"Mikey is coming over, he'll answer your questions."

"You mean now?"

"He's at the door." The girl shoved the text message on his face.

Takemichi was already running down the stairs, without a word. Akkun and Suzume followed.

"Hey!" He tried to stop Draken from opening the door but the boy missed him by a second.

"Huh? Why are you here?" Mikey asked as soon as he saw Draken.

"Huh? More like, why are you here?"

"I'm here to check on Takemichi."

"Same goes for me." Draken frowned.

"Huh? Takemichi is my buddy. He's got nothing to do with you. Isn't that right, Takemichi?"

"This is bad," Akkun whispered to Suzume, the girl let out a sigh, "they're being kids."

"Huh? What are you talking about? You're my best bud, right? Takemichi?" Draken turned to Takemichi who was turning his head from left to right, in utter confusion.

"Move out, you useless meat wall. You're blocking the way." Mikey muttered at Draken but he did give Suzume a cherry wave in the process. The girl responded with a smile.

"Huh? You move. Pipsqueak."

"Wait! Please wait, both of you!" Takemichi said.

"Does Takemichi has a death wish or something? Why is he getting in between them." Akkun whispered again.

"I don't know what happened but fighting is no good! So both of you, please calm down!"

"Hey," Draken pulled Takemichi by the collar. "Who do you think you are?"

In an instant, Mikey picked up Takemichi's bicycle.

"Mikey! That's my precious bike Harrier!" Takemichi said nervously.

Before any of them could blink, Mikey threw the cycle towards Draken. The boy dodged it but the cycle hit the wall and broke.

Takemichi was yelling in frustration. "My memories!"

"Are you freaking insane!" Draken picked up a baseball bat.

"Draken! That's the golden bat I hit my first home run with in fourth grade!"

"If you wanna start this, then I won't hold back!" Draken broke the bat into two.

Takemichi's face was pure horror as Mikey and Draken threw away skateboard, balls, toys etc at each other. Suzume had never interfered in their fights or gang affairs but this was going out of hand—they were literally destroying stuffs that means something to Takemichi.

"You bastards...I'm losing my patience now!" Takemichi was furious now. "Don't screw with me!" He was suddenly throwing punches at Mikey who was dodging them so easily. Then the boy tripped and fell into the trash.

"You okay, Takemichi?" Mikey looked at him.

"Shut up!" The boy screamed. "You don't even care about my memories, do you!"

"Well, well, just chill, okay?" Draken said trying to calm the boy down.

"Just chill? Screw that! It was you guys who started this!" He grabbed Draken's shirt.

"Takemichi!" Akkun moved forward and grabbed him. "Do you want to die or something?"

"Shut up! Let me go." The boy struggled. "Do you even care about the people around you?"

"I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean to hurt you."

"That's because you don't care!"

"Just stop it already, Takemichi!" Akkun scolded.

"You don't care about anyone...that's why you're fighting right?" Takemichi gasped as he fell on the ground. "I bet you don't even know how much trouble you cause for everyone when you fight. It's not just about you..." the boy was tearing up, "everyone who looks upto the two of you will start fighting, too! It's not just the problem between you two! Everyone in TOMAN is going to be split in half. That's just sad! I don't want that. I don't want to see that happen, I want you guys to be cooler than that."

"Takemichi..." Mikey finally spoke, "listen...this whole time...there's been a poop on your head."

"What? What the heck is this?" The boy yelled as a dog poop fell from his head.

Draken backed away. "That's gross!"

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

They were all laughing by now.

"Because you were being so serious!" Mikey stated the obvious.

Takemichi rose up. "Of course I was serious! You guys are_"

"Let's run, Ken-chin! The poop is coming!"

"Gross!" Draken laughed as he ran away with Mikey.

And they've made up already, like always. Thanks to Takemichi and his poop head.

➿➿➿➿➿

Draken and Mikey ran away to the park, Suzume and Akkun had followed the boys and texted Takemichi to join them after he wash his hair. As they lazily chilled at the park sipping coconut water, Takemichi showed up his hair still dripping with some droplets as he let his bleached yellow hair air dry.

"That was hilarious," Draken said recollecting the event that took place.

"It has been a while since I laughed this hard." Mikey agreed gazing at the moving clouds above.

"And it was stinky as hell."

"I already washed my hair, okay?" Takemichi looked at the boys uncomfortably as he smoothed his hair.

"It was my fault, Mikey." Draken crossed his arms across his chest.

"No. I'm sorry, too."

"But why were you guys fighting, anyway?" Takemichi asked slowly.

"I forgot." They both replied in unison.

Takemichi and Akkun passed a confused look, outsiders won't understand the bond between Mikey and Draken. It's not easy to understand.

Akkun excused himself, "I need to use the loo."

"I'm coming with you." Takemichi tagged along.

As the two boys left, Mikey rose up and said. "But Ken-chin's right. Pah turned himself in."

Mikey wanted to free Pah-chin from his crime. Even though he knew that he's wrong. Mikey, wanted to save Pah-chin as his friend. Draken, wanted to respect Pah-chin's resolve. They both have principles they refuse to bend, and that's why they started fighting. The fight escalated when Mikey tried to use money and Draken was against it.

But finally, things were back to normal and Suzume has Takemichi to thank for. The boy have solved the dispute between Mikey and Draken unknowingly.

"Let's have a huge party when Pah gets out."

Draken looked at his friend a small smile appearing on his face as he nodded.

Mikey reached into his pocket and pulled out a lollipop for Suzume. "Do you just have these with you all the time?" She chuckled unwrapping the plastic cover.

"As a matter of fact I do."

"Bribing me with candy is not going to make up for the mess, Mikey!"

"I'm sorry but I'll make it up to you. I promise." He said softly.

"Don't make promises you can't keep." She mumbled, as she tasted the sweet cherry flavour of the candy. Always her favourite.

"What about I take you to the festival, this weekend?"

"You don't like going to events!" She stated the obvious.

"But I know you do," he took her hand on his, "and I'd do anything for you."

"If that's the case, you'd need to win me one of those colourful fans."

"Anything for my little sparrow." He said pulling her close to his chest, "you smell nice."

"Don't I smell nice?"

"Of course you always do," the boy chuckled as he drew circles around her back.

Draken was spinning a ball on his finger. "Mikey, wanna play?" But then he saw the couple wrapped around each other, so he turned the other way. "Forget it."

"Go and play with Ken-bou," she took a step back.

He smiled at her, "I'll be right back."

As Mikey bounced the ball on his head, Suzume sat on the bench and watched him. The boy looked so carefree and jolly, like an ordinary teenager who hadn't gone through terrible hardships. How can someone still live the way Mikey lives after losing so much at such a young age? She may never know. But what she knows is; she's not finished falling in love with him yet.

March 04, 2023.

⌛️⏳

Atsushi Sendo aka Akkun.

Nobutaka Osanai (Moebius 8th president).