Right now, Takemichi has two things to do. First, speed up the process of getting Mucho back to Izana's side, paving the way for Sanzu to act as a mole. Second, he needs to get a read on Izana's current mindset. He knows too well that one meeting alone only serves to stir up chaos in Izana's mind. That grudge against Mikey has been carved deep into him for years - so deep, so bitter, that just showing up won't suddenly make Izana want to let it go. His desire to burn Mikey to ashes doesn't just vanish because Takemichi appears. He needs to know how far that hatred still goes - and he needs a bigger push. And Takemichi already knows who can "help" him do that.

"Hanagaki, the hell are you doing here?"

Delinquents always have their hideouts. And now, Takemichi knows well enough where they are. This place - wasn't it where he got beaten unconscious and thrown out with Inupi like trash? Painful memory, that one. Literally.

Mucho approaches him. Sanzu trails behind. Their eyes meet for a brief second, a silent exchange of understanding.

"Long time no see, Mucho. I've been waiting for you."

Takemichi says with a calm smile. Of course he knows why Mucho's here right now - and who made it happen. All thanks to Sanzu. Mucho scans the area. No one's with Takemichi. No weapons. But that attitude - way too relaxed. He used to think Takemichi was just some weak idiot who couldn't fight, no clue why Mikey even liked him. But after Bloody Halloween... after that Christmas showdown... something's off. There's more to this kid than meets the eye. Is he hiding strength? A scheme? Mucho can't read a damn thing from those bright eyes or that clueless grin.

But if Takemichi came here alone... then he's basically handing himself over. Because today, the plan is to kidnap him. That's what Izana asked for.

"There are about thirty Black Dragon guys surrounding this place," Takemichi says flatly, as if reading Mucho's thoughts. "All armed. If you try anything funny, they'll strike before you even know where they're coming from."

Mucho flinches, then narrows his eyes in suspicion.

Takemichi steps closer. "Tell Izana-kun... to meet me this afternoon. At X Bridge."

Mucho tries to stay calm, but his face betrays a flicker of shock. How does he know about Izana? Why does he want to meet him? Just how much does he already know?

"You... how the hell - "

"Come on, Mucho. You think I got this far by luck? I've got a power that lets me know everything."

Takemichi half-jokes, his smile sly and sharp. It's not the Takemichi Mucho remembers. That tone, that look - it throws him off just enough to forget his next move. Takemichi doesn't give him time to recover.

"You want Kokonoi... or maybe even me? Then tell Izana to come alone. Got it, Mucho?"

With that, Takemichi turns and walks away. And just like that, guys from the Black Dragons - dressed in plain clothes, steel rods and wooden sticks in hand - emerge one by one from alleys and behind walls. They fall in step behind Takemichi, silent, ready.

"That guy, he... why would he...?"

Sanzu feigns confusion, his voice laced with questions.

"Mucho-san, what's going on? Who's Izana? What is that guy even talking about? Is he trying to betray Toman or something?"

Sanzu stays calm, playing his part perfectly as the clueless outsider.

Mucho stares at him for a moment before speaking. "I don't know what that guy's up to, but in this case, the one betraying Toman... is me."

"What do you mean, Mucho-san?" Sanzu's voice sounds genuinely shocked.

Mucho lets out a quiet sigh. "Before joining Toman, I already had a king of my own. Mikey knew that, and still invited me in. Hanagaki seems to have figured it out - he's not just some random kid. If he knows, then Mikey probably knows by now too. This is it. The moment I return to my king."

He glances at Sanzu. "You should choose your own path. Don't need to follow me."

Sanzu falls silent for a moment, putting on a confused expression before his face settles into firm resolve.

"If I could choose, I would still follow you, Mucho-san," Sanzu says with a narrowed smile. "Because this is where I belong."

And once again, Mucho believes him completely - grateful from the depths of his heart that Sanzu is standing by his side.

"I should've set an exact time instead of just saying 'afternoon.' It's been forever... even though I know Izana will show up."

Takemichi stands on the bridge where he's supposed to meet Izana, watching the sun sink westward. The warm glow of dusk spreads across the sky, bathing everything in sunset hues. The river beneath flows quietly - its water must be freezing. It's winter, after all. He glances down at the slow-moving stream and feels a strange calm. In the past, moments like this would've made his heart race with tension. But now, his emotions drift like the river - quiet, steady. Yet he wonders - are those ripples at the surface the whole story? What about the currents deep beneath?

A sound behind him. Takemichi turns around gently.

"Izana-kun. It's good to see you again," he greets with a smile.

"Hanagaki. That meeting last time... it wasn't a coincidence, was it?" Izana cuts straight to the point, eyes sharp and laced with anger. Takemichi can feel it - rage and instability swirling inside him. So he's been thinking about me these past three days, huh? That's a good sign.

Leaning against the bridge rail, Takemichi tilts his head and chuckles.

"Just experience, Izana-kun. Not the first time someone's tried to find me. Almost got me killed, too. Kisaki Tetta knows exactly what I mean."

Izana frowns.

When Mucho told him about this meeting, Izana didn't expect this scenario. But oddly enough, he isn't surprised. Instead, he's irritated. Irritated that Takemichi keeps popping up in his mind. Irritated that his plans - meticulously crafted - are starting to falter because of him. Even though Kisaki accepted on recruiting Takemichi instead of eliminating him, Izana never gave a final answer.

What bothers him the most is realizing this meeting wasn't his idea - Takemichi orchestrated it. And that answer Takemichi gave last time? It keeps echoing in his head.

It's annoying, Hanagaki Takemichi. Seriously annoying.

That's why he comes here alone today, ignoring Mucho's objections, telling no one in Tenjiku about it. Even now, he doesn't understand his own actions. And he sure as hell doesn't understand what the guy in front of him is trying to do.

"What do you want from me today, Hanagaki?"

"Izana-kun... have you seen Emma-chan?"

Izana stares at him for a moment, then lets out a cold laugh. "I'm not here to listen to nonsense. From what Mucho said, it sounds like you know too much already. Should I just kill you right here?"

His eyes flash with murderous intent, but Takemichi pretends not to notice and keeps talking.

"Emma-chan is a beautiful girl... kind too. She's like Mikey - she loves her family deeply." Takemichi meets those dark, lavender eyes that drown in loneliness and silence.

"She said... even though she doesn't remember his face clearly, she still remembers the promise her brother made - to come get her all those years ago."

In a flash, Izana moves. His hands clamp around Takemichi's neck, slamming him against the railing of the bridge. Takemichi's back hits the metal hard; pain shoots up his spine. He chokes, gasping for air as the grip tightens. Those purple eyes now burn with madness... and pain.

"What the hell do you know? You piece of trash - dying quickly is what you want, huh? I wonder how broken Mikey would be... if I killed you right here, Hanagaki!"

Takemichi's face turns pale, his breath ragged. His hands grip Izana's wrists desperately.

"Kill me if you want... but... please... don't hurt Emma... don't hurt the people Mikey loves... please... don't try to... turn Mikey into Shinichiro..."

He forces the words out, each one harder than the last. Izana's pupils shrink. His grip tightens even more - until Takemichi starts to go limp.

Then, finally, Izana throws him aside like a broken toy. Takemichi hits the ground, coughing violently, struggling just to breathe. His face is red, his whole body shaking.

Izana watches him then suddenly bursts into laughter.

"Hah... Hahaha! I underestimated you, Hanagaki. You're insane... just how much do you know?"

He crouches beside him, grabbing Takemichi's chin with a cruel grip.

"How the hell do you know the things I want to do?"

Takemichi manages a weak smile.

"That's a hard question to answer... Izana-kun."

Pain burns along Takemichi's back, a searing throb crawling up his neck. It's both sharp and scorching. Just a little more force - he's certain Izana could've ended his life just moments ago. But Takemichi stays calm. His gentle smile contrasts sharply with the fury blazing in Izana's eyes.

Izana lets out a mocking laugh. "So you knew exactly what I wanted to do to Mikey, and you still showed up that day, saying those things... Was it all just to make me think you'd be a better replacement for Shinichiro, Hanagaki? Where the hell did you get that naive idea from? You? Replacing him? Trash like you?"

Takemichi has expected those words. He meets Izana's rage with a steady, confident gaze, unflinching.

"Everyone says I'm a lot like Shinichiro. Don't you think so too, Izana-kun?"

He lifts his hand and places it gently against Izana's cheek. His smile is soft, the sky-blue light in his eyes far too bright - so blinding that Izana can't escape it. He's forced to look at Takemichi. No room to turn away.

"Izana-kun, look at me. Between me and Mikey... who reminds you more of Shinichiro?"

Izana doesn't answer. The words keep flowing - seductive, dangerous. They slither into his mind like a siren's song, pulling him into the depths where he might drown without even realizing it.

"Why do you think Mikey listens to me, Izana-kun? Why does he care about me so much? He treats me with a kind of gentleness that he doesn't show anyone else. Aren't you curious? He once told me to stay by his side... to scold him whenever he went off track. Just like your big brother used to do."

Izana's hand, clenched tightly around Takemichi's jaw, begins to loosen. Takemichi gently takes that hand, caressing it. Then, he places it against his own cheek and nuzzles into the palm. The sudden contact stuns Izana. His body tenses, instinct screaming that this is dangerous - but still, he doesn't pull away. He follows Takemichi's lead, against all logic. Warmth flows from his hand into the boy in front of him. And those bright eyes won't let him go.

"He'll kill everyone if I leave him. Mikey-kun and you... you're a lot alike, aren't you? You both go mad chasing after Shinichiro's shadow. So let's be honest here, Izana-kun. Only I can fill the space Shinichiro left behind. Mikey can't. It has to be me, Izana-kun."

There's something unshakable in those eyes. No escape. No resistance. Just an overwhelming truth that presses down on him. And those eyes seem to whisper: "Accept it, Izana. You're thinking the same thing too, aren't you?"

Infiltrating someone's mind. Controlling it. Bending it.

After everything with Kisaki, Takemichi learns - this is the most effective way to break someone: take over their mind. Their will. Kisaki was a master of it. Even the invincible Mikey became nothing more than a puppet in his hands. But Mikey... Mikey is weak.

Izana is not Mikey. Izana is cruel, ambitious, ruthless - a king who doesn't flinch from hard choices. But Takemichi knows where that power comes from: crushing loneliness, and a desperate hunger for love. It's that very longing that fuels Izana's strength. And that longing... is also his only weakness.

And Izana is not Kisaki, either. Kisaki without love destroys everything. But Izana - buried deep inside his darkness - still has a glimmer of light. He doesn't want to be alone. He doesn't want to lose the people who matter.

The way he took three bullets for Kakuchou... it says everything.

As long as that heart holds the slightest warmth - Takemichi is certain. He will save him.

The turmoil in Izana's eyes, written all over his face, truly satisfies Takemichi. But it's not enough. Not yet. He needs more - more impact, more chaos.

"Izana-kun," Takemichi says softly, "the other day, you asked me what's the scariest thing in this world. I said loneliness. That was your answer too, wasn't it?"

Izana glares at him. His jaw clenches, lips biting down hard. This bastard - he's doing it on purpose. Trying to shake him. Trying to break him. He wants to kill Takemichi, wants to silence those lips that keep saying things that blur his mind, cloud everything. But he can't. He doesn't know why, and it drives him insane.

This guy is the obstacle in his plan. Shut up. The target is Mikey. The one fit to replace Shinichiro is Mikey. Just shut the hell up!

"But... if we were already alone from the beginning," Takemichi continues, voice calm yet full of pain, "maybe loneliness wouldn't be so terrifying. I just... never want to be that alone again. No one to trust, no one to lean on, no one to love... No one by my side at all..."

Warm tears suddenly roll down from Takemichi's eyes, dropping onto Izana's hand. His lips still curl into a smile - yet it's a smile soaked in grief.

Yes. He hates those twelve years. Despises them with everything he's got. So no matter how bright the future turns out, if it comes at the cost of Mikey's loneliness - he won't accept it. He refuses to let Mikey carry that burden.

He's selfish. He admits it. The people he cares about - not a single one of them is allowed to be alone. Not one is allowed to disappear from his life.

"If you've already stepped into my life, then please... don't leave me," he says, voice trembling. "I've made it this far just for one thing - so they could stay happy beside me. I'd rather die than be left all alone again."

Izana's heart twists sharply. Because he feels it. That raw emptiness pouring out of Takemichi's clear eyes - it's real. It's not an act.

Takemichi... Weren't you born into a happy family? Don't you have tons of friends? So many people around you. Why do you wear that expression? Why do you carry that kind of pain?

The world has been fooled by Takemichi's smile - tricked into thinking he belongs to the warmth of sunlight, forgetting the truth.

He's someone who walked out of a life frozen in loneliness.

"Izana-kun," Takemichi says again, softly, "aren't we, in some way, the same? Kisaki... he'll never understand what it is you really want. So why not choose me instead? You only have to say the word, Izana-kun. I'll save you. We won't be alone anymore. We won't have to hurt anymore."

The words hit Izana like a blade straight through the heart - already riddled with scars. His face crumbles.

Don't be ridiculous, Takemichi. What the hell do you know? We're not the same. I could break free from you anytime. Someone as weak as you - I could crush without a second thought.

But... again and again... he doesn't.

The words choke in his throat. His heart pounds like never before. Izana doesn't even know what he's feeling anymore. He turns away, unable to meet Takemichi's eyes. Because he knows - if he keeps looking, if he lets those eyes swallow his reason - he will become weak.

He will no longer be himself.

He has to get out.

Izana snaps out of a daze, like waking from a dream. He shoves Takemichi away and jumps to his feet. A twisted smile tugs at his lips as he continues to mock him.

"That's enough. Don't make me laugh, Hanagaki. What the hell do you even understand? You'll never know what I've been through. You're just trying to protect Mikey and Toman. Don't act like some hero who's here to save everyone. Can you save me? You think you matter that much? You're nothing like Shinichiro. Scum like you - how dare you even say you're like him? No matter what you do, you're not going to change anything. Sooner or later, I will kill you."

His fists clench tightly, as if it takes every ounce of self-control not to reach for Takemichi's slender neck and end it right then and there - to silence him, to finally erase his face from his dreams. Izana turns and walks away. He'll talk to Kisaki. It's time to move forward and end this.

"Izana-kun..."

Takemichi's voice still reaches him. Izana doesn't turn around. He keeps walking.

"Do you really wish I was dead?"

Izana stops in his tracks. His head jerks back, fury flashing in his eyes. He glares at Takemichi, then laughs - cold, cruel.

"Hanagaki, whether you live or die doesn't matter to me. But if trash like you gets out of the way, all the better. It won't be long before I kill you," he spits out, each word sharp and venomous.

Takemichi lowers his eyes. The soft golden light of dusk paints the scene in a quiet melancholy. But then, unexpectedly, he looks up again - still calm, still gentle, as if Izana's words never touched him. A beautiful smile lingers on his face, but there's something strange in it.

"But I don't want Izana-kun to kill me. Because... if you do, I'm afraid you won't be able to go back to Mikey and Emma. I just want the three of you to be happy together."

Always with these meaningless words. When will he stop pretending to be some kind of savior? Always talking about other people's happiness - what nonsense. Is there really someone this foolish in the world?

Today's final card - the last move that will decide everything. Izana still doesn't realize it yet: Takemichi isn't just a fool. He's insane.

"Izana-kun, if you really want me dead that much..."

The small figure steps gently onto the edge of the bridge. Takemichi turns slightly, swaying in the cold air. He closes his eyes and spreads his arms as if he has wings, as if he could fly into that vast open sky. Winter wind wraps around him, golden hair fluttering. He feels light - as if his body is made of feathers.

So this is freedom, he thinks. He expected his heart to be terrified, but it's not. He can't even describe what he feels anymore. Maybe he just wants to forget everything - everyone, even himself.

Izana's eyes go wide. He freezes. Everything slows down, like a scene in a movie. Every movement, every expression on that boy's face, even the burning sky behind him - Izana sees it all with painful clarity. He hears nothing. The world is terrifyingly silent. Even his heart seems to stop.

But that silence... is only the calm before the storm.

Takemichi smiles - a soft, radiant smile like a spring flower blooming. He blends into the twilight, into the blaze of the setting sun. And in that moment, he looks so much... like an angel fallen to earth.