Takemichi lies unconscious until the next morning. When he wakes up, he vaguely sees a group of people in his hospital room. This scene reminds him of the time he was hospitalized after the Battle of Valhalla. Oh no, at this rate, the hospital might as well become his home.

The doctor comes to check on him. His condition is stable, but he has a mild traumatic brain injury causing neurological dysfunctions that could last from a few days to several months. Takemichi realizes he really needs to be careful.

Takemichi leans back on the hospital bed and now realizes he is in a VIP hospital room with too many people around. He doesn't mention the people from Touman, but Taiju with a bandage on his forehead, Inupee, Kokonoi, and the Haitani brothers are all here.

"You guys haven't told Mikey yet, have you?"

Thinking of others as soon as he wakes up - should they scold him for this?

"Don't worry. We haven't said a word," Chifuyu sighs as he answers. Takemichi smiles with relief and turns to look at Ran and Rindou.

"Thank you both for waiting for me until now. You've been here all night, so please go home and rest."

"I waited all night for you, and now you're already trying to kick me out?" Ran replies, pretending to feel hurt.

"No, it's not like that... It's just that you were already tired yesterday, and since you're all the way from Roppongi, I think you need to rest," Takemichi responds sincerely.

His genuine concern leaves the Haitani brothers momentarily speechless. Takemichi's genuine care for them, especially when he's still injured, makes it hard for them to continue teasing him. Besides, Touman is glaring at them with a fierce, threatening look. It's clear they shouldn't stay any longer. After all, now that Takemichi is awake, their worries have eased.

"Well then, see you later, Takemichi-kun," Ran says with a gentle smile so unexpected it almost startles Takemichi, who wonders if he's imagining things. Touman, however, notices how "Hanagaki-kun" has suddenly turned into "Takemichi-kun." What does that mean?

"See you, Takemitchy. I'll visit you again soon," Rindou says mischievously, winking at him. Takemichi just smiles back, too tired to argue.

Next, Takemichi knows he has to deal with some matters regarding Black Dragon.

"Could everyone wait outside for a moment? I need to talk to Taiju-kun," he says.

Even though they don't understand why he wants to have this conversation in his weakened state, they just nod and step out.

Taiju crosses his arms and looks at him seriously. His tone is still rough, but at least he's a bit gentler now.

"You want to talk about Black Dragon?"

"Yes!"

"I'll never accept losing to a punk like you, but I've decided to step back. If you want Black Dragon, it's yours."

"Actually, I want more than that, Taiju-kun. Please, hear me out," Takemichi replies.

Takemichi and Taiju talk for a long time - over 30 minutes. The others don't want to intrude, so they move down to the hospital lobby. Kokonoi and Inupee stand apart from the Touman members.

"What's your plan now, Koko? Taiju has stepped back," Inupee asks.

"I'll follow you, of course. Whatever you decide, I'm with you," Kokonoi replies with a shrug, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.

"Then I'll hand Black Dragon over to Hanagaki," Inupee decides.

Kokonoi raises an eyebrow, looking intrigued. "You seem to like that guy a lot, huh?"

Inupee stays silent. Suddenly, Kazutora appears in front of them. Before Inupee can react, Kazutora punches him square in the face. Everyone - Baji, Chifuyu, Mitsuya, and Hakkai - jumps in surprise, not realizing when Kazutora arrived so quietly. Kokonoi, clearly angry, snaps, "What the hell are you doing?"

Kazutora glares coldly at Inupee. "This all happened because of you. If you hadn't attacked him, he wouldn't have gotten hurt like this."

Inupee doesn't retaliate or deny it. He simply accepts Kazutora's accusation. The Touman members quickly intervene to stop Kazutora.

"Kazutora, that's enough. Takemichi wouldn't be happy about this. This is a hospital - don't start a fight here," Baji says, trying to calm him down.

"Damn it! I don't know what you guys plan to do with Takemichi, but if he gets hurt again, I'll kill you both," Kazutora warns.

Everyone are used to seeing Kazutora happy with Baji, Chifuyu, and gentle with Takemichi, so they forget how crazy he can be. Touching the things important to Kazutora definitely makes him lose his calm. That murderous look truly makes Kokonoi frown in discomfort.

Inupee merely touches the spot where he was hit without saying a word. The Touman members pull Kazutora aside, away from further conflict.

"So, the rumor that Hanagaki is Touman's treasure isn't just for fun, huh?" Kokonoi mutters.

Yuzuha also arrives to visit Takemichi. By this time, Takemichi and Taiju's conversation has ended. Taiju says nothing more, looks deep in thought, Taiju looks deep in thought?! Even after spending so much time with him, Kokonoi and Inupee are surprised to see this side of Taiju. They're more curious about what Takemichi said to him. Hanagaki isn't as simple as he seems, they realize.

Yuzuha, emotional after hearing what happened, comes to thank Takemichi, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. Takemichi, flustered, doesn't know what to do. Hakkai, teary-eyed as well, apologizes for accidentally knocking him over. Takemichi assures him that he understands it wasn't intentional, given the dire situation.

"Well then, Inupee-kun, Koko-kun, I just want to confirm what Taiju-kun said. Are you both okay with handing Black Dragon over to me?" Takemichi asks, looking at them expectantly.

Inupee steps forward with his usual calm demeanor. "I'm entrusting Black Dragon to you, Hanagaki. Become the 11th leader of Black Dragon."

Takemichi's face lights up with a wide grin. He extends his hand toward Inupee, who slowly takes it. A faint smile appears on Inupee's face as well.

"Don't worry. From now on, I'll take full responsibility for Black Dragon."

With this, Takemichi reaches another important milestone. The path ahead will be more dangerous and complicated, but for now, his plan proceeds smoothly.

Takemichi wants to get discharged quickly because he promises to report to Mikey today. However, everyone insists he stays at least one more night for further observation. Baji promises to come up with an excuse so Mikey won't find out, urging Takemichi to rest. After a tiring and anxious night, Takemichi sends everyone home to rest while he stays alone in the hospital room, his headache still lingering.

Despite the pain, Takemichi keeps thinking about what he needs to do next because what comes next holds Mikey's ultimate sorrow. He must stop the deaths of Emma, Izana, and even Kisaki. How can he make Izana give up his madness and hatred so he can return to Emma and Mikey? Izana and Kazutora are similar, both hurt children lost in the darkness. But Izana is far more brutal and unhinged than Kazutora. Deep in thought, Takemichi eventually drifts off to sleep.

He finds himself again in the white room. Take sits quietly at a table, deep in thought, looking at him. Where's Michi? Takemichi wonders who showed up at that moment. In a corner, he hears soft sobbing. He looks over and sees Michi with his back turned, shoulders trembling. Takemichi approaches and calls the kid. But he refuses to respond.

"Yesterday, it was you, wasn't it? You caused all that trouble and now you're crying?" Takemichi teases.

Surprisingly, this usually cunning boy looks so vulnerable - still just a child in the end.

"Takemichi nii-chan, I hate pain. You hate it too, don't you?" Michi says.

Takemichi freezes for a moment, as if realizing something new about this part of himself. He pulls Michi around to face him. The boy's face is a mess of tears. Is this how bad I look when I cry? Takemichi wonders.

"No one likes pain, but to protect the people who matter to us, isn't pain worth enduring?"

"Takemichi nii-chan, please don't hate me. I don't want to hurt the people around you," Michi pleads.

Takemichi smiles softly and hugs him. It seems the boy doesn't dislike him as much as he thought. Is this the legendary tsundere personality? Takemichi muses. Comforting this boy feels like he's comforting the weakest part of himself.

"I don't hate you. Just don't cause any more trouble, okay?" Takemichi says.

Michi bursts into loud sobs, filling the white room with his cries.

A concussion, even as a mild traumatic brain injury, can heal faster than more severe brain injuries, but it still carries its risks. Takemichi is warned that he may experience headaches, nausea, and loss of coordination, which could cause him to stumble or trip. There's also a possibility of neurological conditions like depression, anxiety disorders, or sleep disturbances. These effects might last only a short time if the injury is mild. The doctor advises Takemichi to rest and keep his mind relaxed.

Takemichi nods and listens carefully. The headaches are intense, but he doesn't think he'll develop issues like depression. Being with Touman brings him a lot of joy, and his plans are progressing as he hopes. He decides to give his mind some time to relax before facing the next battle.

In the afternoon, Chifuyu quickly returns to Takemichi, his face full of sorrow. Sitting beside Takemichi, Chifuyu holds his hand tightly, his voice trembling as if he's about to cry. He still feels guilty for failing to stop Kokonoi and Inupee.

"You did very well, Chifuyu. It's my fault for relying too much on the Haitani brothers. Leaving you and Kazutora to deal with those two, plus Black Dragon's numbers, it was normal to lose control in that situation," Takemichi says.

Chifuyu presses his lips tightly together, saying nothing. Takemichi's words don't ease the weight in his heart. The guilt won't go away, especially when his other personality appears. At that moment, Chifuyu realizes the truth - Takemichi actually hates pain, or maybe even fears it. Yet Takemichi always throws himself into every fight, always gets hurt, all to save everyone's future.

"What happens in the next future? Please tell me," Chifuyu pleads.

He wants to know so he can prepare himself. This time, Chifuyu is determined not to let Takemichi endure the pain alone.

The next future? It's Touman's biggest battle yet, against their strongest and most dangerous enemy so far. It's also the most painful time for Mikey, the turning point that makes him an empty shell, the leader of the most ruthless gang in Japan later on.

If Takemichi keeps pushing forward, if he can overcome this battle, he'll achieve what he wants most. Everyone will be happy, and he'll be happy too.

"The toughest part is just ahead, Chifuyu," Takemichi says.

Takemichi leaves the hospital after two days. Before worrying about Mikey's side, he first has to face his mother's full wrath. Takemichi lies, saying he went out for Christmas with friends, stayed at their house for a few days, and then got a head injury while playing around.

As for the VIP room hospital fees, Takemichi doesn't have to worry since the wealthy Taiju covers them. Taiju insists on paying because he says Takemichi's injury is Hakkai's fault for pushing him. Hakkai also insists that his family cover the costs. Since Takemichi doesn't have any money, he reluctantly accepts, though he feels quite embarrassed.

As soon as he gets home, Takemichi removes the head bandages even though it's not time yet. He can't let Mikey know he got seriously hurt. To hide the injury, he wraps a thick scarf around his neck and wears a warm coat with a hood. Now, in this cold weather, Takemichi looks like a walking puffball - so cozy he practically invites a hug.

"Takemitchy, you're here!"

Mikey immediately tries to rush over and hug him like usual, but Baji, knowing Takemichi is injured, grabs Mikey by the waist to stop him.

"Alright, alright, just greet him normally," Baji says.

"Baji, you're such a spoilsport," Mikey grumbles in frustration.

Today, the meeting includes only Mikey, Draken, and Baji. Takemichi has come to discuss a few matters regarding Black Dragon.

"After the Christmas fight, Taiju decided to step down and handed Black Dragon over to me. They'll join Touman, but I want Mikey to agree to these conditions first."

First, Black Dragon will operate under Touman's command but retain their name and uniforms. They will become Touman's Sixth Division, and Takemichi will serve as their captain. The Sixth Division - Black Dragon - will act as Touman's guard unit but remain autonomous. All of their actions will follow Takemichi's decisions, with no interference, not even from the president. In other words, Black Dragon will operate independently from Touman's main body.

Takemichi knows this proposal sounds unreasonable and might make him look like a traitor, but he trusts that Mikey and Draken understand that he doesn't mean it that way.

"I know it sounds unreasonable, but please, trust me," Takemichi says.

Mikey and Draken fall silent for a moment, their gazes fixed on him.

"So, from the start, you were aiming for Black Dragon, weren't you, Takemitchy?" Draken asks, his tone probing.

"That's why you insisted Mikey and I stay out of it and let you lead the fight."

Takemichi hesitates, feeling anxious, but eventually nods. He's scared they'll see him as someone scheming against Touman and get angry.

"Yeah... it's true. But I swear, I had no hidden agenda, and I'm not trying to betray Touman."

Draken frowns, and the atmosphere grows tense. Baji wants to step in to defend Takemichi, but Draken speaks first.

"If you wanted Black Dragon, you should've just told us. Mikey and I would've gotten them for you. Instead, you left us behind and even involved those two brothers. Takemitchy, you're such a handful. Do you even know how worried we were about you?"

Draken's tone is scolding, but as Takemichi looks at his and Mikey's smiling faces, he finally feels the tension and doubts in his heart melt away.

"Takemitchy, Black Dragon is yours now. Do what you want with them. I approve," Mikey says with a cheerful smile. "At the year's first gang meeting, I'll announce it to everyone."

"Thank you, guys," Takemichi says, smiling in relief.

"That's great, isn't it, Takemichi?"

Takemichi walks home with Baji, who insists on accompanying him.

"Yeah, I was so worried earlier," Takemichi replies.

"Don't worry. We'll always trust you. Even though I don't fully understand why you're so determined to take Black Dragon, I'm sure it's for Touman. Thank you, Takemichi, for always trying your best to protect Touman."

"What are you saying? Touman is my family too! Are you treating me like an outsider?" Takemichi says, pretending to be annoyed.

Baji smiles and looks at Takemichi with a gentle expression.

"Touman is a treasure, a family to me. And of course, you're a precious treasure to me too, Takemichi. How could I ever treat you like an outsider?"

Takemichi freezes, staring at Baji with sparkling eyes. Baji blinks, also stopping in his tracks for a moment. Takemichi bites his lip and looks down, feeling both happy and shy. Most importantly, Baji's words carry an unusual tenderness, so different from his usual demeanor. It makes him shine ten times brighter, a thousand times more handsome, and it leaves Takemichi blushing. He quickly ducks his face into his scarf to hide it.

"Too cheesy," Takemichi mumbles.

"Haha, I'm just expressing my feelings, and you call it cheesy? You're bold, Takemichi," Baji laughs.

Though he's laughing, Baji turns his face away to hide his own embarrassment. Seeing Takemichi's blushing cheeks and reflecting on his own words makes him feel self-conscious. Even someone as rough as Baji isn't immune to being flustered by his own heartfelt statements.

The two of them walk in silence for a moment, but after a few steps, Takemichi stumbles over his own feet. Luckily, Baji quickly catches him by the waist, pulling him into his arms.

"It's a symptom of a concussion. The doctor said so! I'm not clumsy or anything," Takemichi says with a small laugh, looking up at Baji while still in his arms. He speaks quickly, worried Baji might scold him.

Baji looks down at him, and the mention of Takemichi's condition stirs a sense of guilt in his chest. He blames himself for not protecting Takemichi despite being there with him. His hands, still holding Takemichi by the waist, tighten slightly.

With a sigh, Baji gently lets him go before crouching down and turning his back toward him.

"Get on. I'll carry you home."

"Huh? It's just a little stumble, Baji-kun. I don't need a piggyback ride," Takemichi protests.

"Stop arguing and get on already. We need to get home faster, and the road is slippery. If you fall again, it'll turn into a serious head injury," Baji says firmly.

When Baji makes up his mind, no one can stop him. Reluctantly, Takemichi climbs onto Baji's back, feeling incredibly embarrassed. With so many people watching them, Takemichi buries his face into Baji's shoulder to hide his flushed cheeks.

Baji, on the other hand, grins and teases Takemichi a little more, clearly enjoying the situation. His pace is leisurely, savoring the warmth on his back. It reminds him of what Chifuyu once said - it really does feel like carrying a living heat pack. At that moment, Baji secretly wishes Takemichi's house were just a little farther away.

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Hey hey, we've got some sweet little interactions starting to pop up, and it's gonna get even more explosive soon, haha. Can you guess who's gonna be the first guy to show his feelings for Takemichi? OMG, if anyone gets it right, I swear I'll drop 10 chapters in one month for y'all. Hmm... just a few more chapters till that event, but with my release speed, the guessing window might last till the 20th of this month. I won't tell you exactly which chapter it'll happen in, though. It'd ruin the fun if you knew in advance, haha. It's gotta catch you off guard to really hit, right? Hehe. Oh, but to make it more challenging (and to give myself a break, lol), since I'm scared y'all will just list every possible character and I'll be doomed, each person can only guess one character. Same deal, if even one of you guesses right, I'll drop those chapters for everyone. Love ya!

P.S. I've posted about this mini-game on my profile, so please leave your guesses in the comments there so I can easily track and compile the results. Thanks!