"Do you not understand what that means?" Inui asks. You stare at him, furrowing your eyebrows.
"I know what a liability, but why are you saying I'm a liability?" You ask, still staring out the window, watching Draken and South interact.
"It was something Koko said to me last year when you and Chifuyu got in between the fight that Taiju and Hakkai had... the one on Christmas."
"Yeah, what about it?" You softly say, looking up at him.
"You're strong for a female... but you can't exactly fight when it comes down to it. You are someone important to a decent amount of people, and because of that, you cause them to become weak."
"I don't understand." You furrow your eyebrows. He slowly looks down at you.
"I'll give you an example..." He stares out the window, watching Draken and South. "South wants Draken to join him... if South had you in his arms, Draken would join, no doubt."
"... but- why?" You ask.
"Because you're a liability..." He responds.
"People believe if they had you beside them, Mikey would be easier to beat." A voice says. Your eyes narrow when you hear that.
"Yeah... that's what I mean by liability..." Inui says, nodding. He pauses when he realizes you didn't say that and looks down at you. You look towards him, noticing someone behind you. You slowly look behind you to see someone crouched down behind you.
"... hi-" You say, your heart dropping.
"That's why I want you to join us... if you do- Mikey might stagger... or faulter... it's just an assumption, though- but I believe in my own conspiracies." The person says. They have light pink hair and green eyes. They look pretty similar to another person you've seen before.
"Who are you?" You ask. Your eyes are panning down to what they are wearing.
A black hoodie with designs on the arms. Which one is that one? You question.
"Are you a member of-"
"The boss of Brahman." They answer. You stare at them, examining them. Your eyes widen, leaning towards her.
"Are you a girl?" You ask. Their eyes widen. They tilt their head, furrowing a bit.
"Yeah... do I not look like a girl?" She asks.
"You do... it's just- I didn't think the boss of a gang would be female. Not saying that wrongfully... just haven't seen that yet." You say, still feeling odd that she snuck up behind you. Her voice is also pretty deep.
"I visited the bakery that supposedly you stay at... but you weren't there... so I assumed you would be with Draken." She smiles.
"How did you guys get in?" Inui asks. The girl looks up at Inui.
"Your back door was unlocked..." She answers in a low tone. You watch someone walk in. He looks older. The girl looks behind you through the window.
"Takeomi... we should help out Draken." She says, standing up.
"Yeah." The guy replies, walking past Inui. He unlocks the door, walking out of the shop. Draken glares back at Takeomi and the girl who is still standing beside you. Inui closes the door. You stare out the window, watching more people gather. Your eyes drift around as you see new faces.
"You just came back to Tokyo?" The girl asks.
"Yeah, I came back yesterday..." You answer.
"Word spreads quick." She says. Your eyebrows furrow. Word does spread quickly... it hasn't been a full forty-eight hours yet... and word that you came back is spreading around. Why?
"Why do people want me that badly... I don't understand. I get the whole liability part, but this feels pretty ridiculous."
"It can seem that way... You know how some kids in school would want to team up with the smart kid because they have a better chance at getting a good grade. Or some want to team up with the guy who's fast because they have a better chance at winning a race." She pauses and pulls the hood off her head. "And in instances like being in a gang- some would want a good fighter to join them... because they have a better chance at winning the fight."
"But I'm none of those..."
"It may seem that way... but word about you has spread a lot in the past couple of years... about how you make the... invincible Mikey weak." She slowly says. Your eyes widen.
"What?"
"Was it true that you and Mikey had dated before?" She asks, looking at you.
"No." You shake your head.
"Interesting-" She says with wide eyes. "I wonder if that theory is still true..."
"That I make Mikey weak?" You ask.
"Yes. I wonder if you still do." She nods. Your eyebrows furrow.
"So that's why everyone is looking for me...? To have an advantage?" You ask.
"..." She stares out the window, watching people gathering more.
"Have you spoken to Mikey since you came back?" She asks.
"No... I haven't." You answer.
"Do you think he'd speak to you if you tried talking to him?" She asks.
"I don't know." Your eyes relax. You take a deep breath, rubbing your arm a bit.
"I want to defeat Mikey..." She says. You look at her. Her eyes are narrowed. "I heard about how he was an admirable person... but he's changed..." She takes a deep breath, walking towards the door. "He's a bad guy... and I want to destroy him... and only him..." She pauses, clenching onto the doorknob. Her eyebrows furrow as she prepares to open the door.
"I want you join us... in defeating the invincible Mikey." She says, her eyes boring into yours.
The girl's eyes widen when she hears sirens. Your eyes widen too. The groups of people disperse. Draken quickly walks into the shop.
"Turn off the lights, Inui." He motions for Inui to turn off the lights.
"We're leaving." Takeomi motions for the girl to follow him. She looks back at you.
"Think about it." She says before walking out the door. Draken locks the door. You, Inui, and Draken walk into the back of the shop. He sits down on the chair at the table. Inui sits down in another chair, and you stand beside Inui.
Draken wipes his face with a rag. He stands up and grabs a towel.
"Shit, I'm soaked." He sighs.
"Shits getting worse now that they know Yuki is back." Inui sighs.
"I know." Draken replies. He pulls his hair out of the braid. You watch as his hair falls to the sides.
"Am I really a liability, Draken?" You ask. Draken pulls off his shirt, hanging it on the back of a chair.
"..." He sighs, wrapping the towel around his neck. "Depends on what you're talking about."
"With Mikey." You answer.
"..." He grabs at his pants belt, groaning from frustration. "Inui... I think we should close for the night... I really need to take a shower-" he sighs. You furrow your eyebrows, waiting for Draken to respond.
"Alright." Inui nods, standing up and walking out of the room.
"You used to be a liability..." Draken answers. "But that might have changed... so as of now I have no idea." He answers. You stare at him, your eyes relaxing.
"Okay, I closed everything up." Inui says, walking back in.
"Alright. I'm going to drive Yuki back home." Draken says, walking out of the room, putting his shirt back on. He pauses by the couch and sighs.
"Also, try to get the couch into the other room... can ya?" He motions. Inui nods. Draken motions for you to follow him. You get on the back of his motorcycle, holding onto him. He pulls off driving in the direction of the bakery.
Draken stops the motorcycle right outside the alley. His eyes narrow when he sees Baji. Baji's eyes drift towards you and Draken. Draken and you get off the motorcycle.
"Oi, Baji." Draken says, moving the bike more into the alley.
"Was wondering when you'd come back..." Baji sighs, staring at you. "Brahman visited, looking for Yuki." He adds, looking at Draken. Draken sighs.
"Yeah, I heard."
"Izana is worried that Yuki staying here would cause problems... so it might be better for Yuki to stay elsewhere." Baji says.
"Why?" You ask.
"This place isn't very, like a home... more like a business."
"Odd..." You say, your eyes narrowing at Baji. You shake your head and sigh. "It's whatever... truthfully, it feels odd living here now anyway." You say, looking back at the bakery.
"So, where is she going to stay?" Draken asks.
"The Kawata twins offered." Baji implies.
"Smiley and Angry?" Draken questions. Baji nods.
"Alright..."
"After work, I'll drive her." Baji adds.
"Okay. If anything new happens, call me." Draken motions as he gets on his motorcycle.
"Alright." Baji nods. You and Baji watch as Draken pulls off. You sigh, looking at Baji.
"It hasn't even been two days, and things are already getting messy..." You sigh. "Do you think it would have been better if I stayed in Kyoto?" You ask. Baji sighs, tying his hair back up.
"You're making me feel bad for wanting you to come back." Baji smiles. You sigh loudly at his statement. He watches you walk inside. He prepares to walk in but pauses when he notices something in the corner of his eye.
"Back again... what's it this time?" Baji asks. The person comes from the corner. It's the girl. Brahman's boss. She approaches Baji, holding an umbrella above her head.
"Join Brahman." She says.
"Why should I do that?" Baji asks.
"Because we have the same goal, do we not?"
"..." His eyes narrow at hers.