Takemichi finishes his shower. His body feels warmer now, though his head still throbs a little. The nosebleed's stopped, but his nose still stings. Not that it matters anymore. He needs to calm down. Alright, he'll talk to Mikey - he'll calm him down. Mikey won't stay mad.

Even so, Takemichi tiptoes nervously into Mikey's private room. Mikey's sitting cross-legged on the bed, chin resting on his hand, his face clouded with a dark, unreadable expression. Takemichi can't even begin to imagine how much effort it took for this man to compose himself to that extent.

"Mikey-kun..."

"Takemitchy," Mikey says, voice sharp, "why do you know that white-haired guy? Why did you see him today? And how much have you been hiding from me?"

That serious tone makes Takemichi's nerves spike even more.

He opens his mouth, stammering. No words come out. All the mental preparation he had vanishes into thin air. The room goes quiet for a moment - just their breathing fills the silence. Mikey stares straight at him, unblinking.

Then Mikey lets out a breath.

"Takemitchy. Come here."

His voice softens. He thinks to himself - no matter what, he always loses to this guy. He hates seeing Takemichi looking so scared of him. Besides, just for today... he'll go easy on him.

Takemichi steps closer, slowly. He has no idea what Mikey wants, but the gentler tone eases some of his fear. As soon as he reaches Mikey, the boy grabs his wrist, pulls him forward, and wraps his arms tightly around Takemichi's waist, burying his face in his chest.

Takemichi freezes for a moment, caught off guard - then lets out a quiet chuckle. So the big cat just wants to cuddle, huh? Here he was thinking Mikey would scold him or something. Turns out, he's still the same hug maniac as always.

Takemichi gently strokes Mikey's hair, just like he always does when he's comforting him.

Mikey's mind drifts completely into another world. Takemichi is wearing his clothes - and he looks unbearably cute. That familiar scent of Mikey's own body wash lingers on Takemichi's skin now, blending into his natural scent, wrapping around Mikey like a gentle fog. He's warm. And now, he's even rubbing Mikey's head. It feels way too good. This feeling is... it's driving him insane.

He looks up - and crashes right into those soft, gentle blue eyes of Takemichi. The moment their eyes meet, Takemichi flashes him a sweet, cotton-candy smile.

Mikey's heart, which just started to calm down, begins to act up again. It doesn't matter how many times he sees that smile - he can never prepare himself for it. Why is it so beautiful? Why does it feel like it could destroy him? If only... if only that smile was meant for him and him alone.

Takemichi notices the way Mikey stares and tilts his head, puzzled. "What's wrong, Mikey-kun?"

Mikey presses his lips together, then leans in again, like a little cat rubbing up against him. Tilting his head up, his voice carries a soft pout.

"Call me Manjirou... like you did earlier."

Takemichi blinks. Oh right... when he had that nosebleed, when his body was throbbing with pain, he must've called Mikey by his real name without thinking. A strange mix of emotions suddenly stirs within him. It's the first time he's ever said that name out loud, and yet it's not tied to any happy memory. But maybe this time... maybe it can be different, can't it?

Holding onto that faint hope, Takemichi says it again - "Manjirou" - with a tenderness that carries traces of sorrow from the past and a fragile hope for the future.

Mikey's arms instinctively tighten around him. Takemichi can hear Mikey's deep inhale against his ear.

Then he sees Mikey's face - and it makes him freeze. He knows Mikey is happy. No, more than that - he's radiant. But those eyes... they hold something else. Something fierce. Something intense. It's not just joy. Takemichi can't quite place what that feeling is, but it makes his skin tingle. It's not just overwhelming - it's deep, bottomless. He feels like it could swallow him whole.

Just for a second, he remembers the way Ran once looked at him - predatory, consuming - but quickly pushes the thought away. Mikey, even in the past, has always looked at him differently than anyone else.

What Takemichi doesn't know is - this is just the first time he sees those eyes. It's not the first time they've been there.

The atmosphere is warm now. Mikey is genuinely happy. Takemichi bites his lip. He knows he has to tell him - eventually. It's just... he was hoping to wait until things go according to plan.

He brushes Mikey's bangs aside, his fingers brushing gently against Mikey's ear. Mikey seems to melt into the touch, his face blooming with contentment like a cat being pampered.

"Hey, Manjirou... about what happened today."

Mikey pauses for a moment. Takemichi takes a light breath and continues.

"The guy I met today - Izana. He's your brother, isn't he?"

Mikey immediately lets him go. He lowers his head slightly, a discomfort swelling in his chest.

"Takemitchy... how do you know that?" Does he know too much about him? The past - his, Baji's, Kazutora's - how can he possibly know all that?

It's a hard question. Takemichi doesn't want to lie, but he also can't tell the whole truth. He smiles, sits down beside Mikey, and gives that same half-joking, half-serious answer.

"I've got this power, you know, Manjirou-kun. I know everything."

Mikey frowns. Of course. Another vague answer. He hates it. And Takemichi knows it too.

"Manjirou, just give me a little more time, okay? I promise I'll tell you everything."

Mikey stays silent. How long does he have to wait? Waiting in the dark, not knowing what Takemichi's up to - is it dangerous? Will he get hurt? Will he suffer? Mikey doesn't care how much Takemichi knows. He only cares about one thing: his safety. Takemichi has scared him half to death too many times already. Mikey keeps avoiding Takemichi's gaze, sulking quietly.

"Manjirou... will you please look at me?" Takemichi says softly. He waits patiently until Mikey finally lifts his eyes.

"Please trust me. Everything I've done so far - it's all been for you, Manjirou."

There's a warmth and sincerity in Takemichi's eyes that makes Mikey's heart want to melt. But at the same time, emotions long buried start bubbling up.

"Takemitchy... just tell me, okay? I know you're doing this for me, but what is it exactly? What is it about me that makes you risk yourself over and over again? I'm begging you - please, just tell me."

Takemichi's heart aches hearing Mikey's voice break like that - his pain, his desperation.

"This time, Manjirou, I won't go it alone anymore. This time, I'll fight with you, and with everyone in Touman."

Takemichi begins choosing his words carefully, filtering what he can and should say. He tells Mikey about how powerful Tenjiku has become under Izana's leadership. He talks about Kisaki and the plan to use Izana to destroy Mikey and take over Touman. But Takemichi doesn't mention Izana's past intention to kill Emma - or those important to Mikey - to make him hollow and replace Shinichiro. After today, he believes Izana's no longer chasing that goal. He doesn't want to plant any more thorns between the two brothers.

Still, that doesn't mean Emma and the others are safe. Izana isn't the only one who wants to see Mikey empty. Kisaki won't back off. Izana might have let go of his desire to hurt Emma, but Baji and Kazutora... Takemichi isn't so sure. After all, they're the reason Shinichiro died.

"Does Izana really hate me that much?"

Takemichi doesn't know how to answer that. He doesn't understand it himself. In the letters Izana once sent to Shinichiro - the ones Takemichi read - there's a clear hatred towards Mikey. But wasn't there a future where Izana, with eyes full of rage, orders Kakuchou to kill him... because he "killed Izana's Mikey"? Maybe, in that moment, Izana realizes Mikey is the only family he has left in this world. Now that he thinks about it, Izana does call him "Mikey"... but does he really see him as the real Mikey? That kind of twisted feeling - Takemichi can't begin to understand.

But it doesn't really matter anymore. He's taken that spot now.

"Izana's your brother. Emma's too. And he's Shinichiro's little brother. That doesn't change, Manjirou. I know you want him back too... right?"

Mikey loves his family. He loves his friends. He's good - really good - when the dark part of him isn't in control. That's why Takemichi believes... Mikey will save Izana.

Back then, Mikey really tries to save him. But in the end, it only hurts him more. And Takemichi doesn't want that to happen again. He wants to save Izana - with Mikey and Emma. He wants to stop the pain. That must be what Shinichiro wants too.

Mikey stays quiet. He's still shaken. One day, out of nowhere, Emma told him about a brother he's never even met. She gave him letters - pages and pages - written between that brother and Shinichiro. And something inside him twisted when he found out that brother seemed to hate him so much. Emma said she hopes, someday, the three of them could be together again. That Izana could come home to the Sano family. Back then, Mikey didn't respond. First, he's shocked - he had forgotten that brother even existed. Then comes the weight of knowing this brother hates him. And beyond that, he doesn't even know where this person is. Who is he?

And now, today, after this sudden meeting... Mikey feels threatened. Takemichi says Izana is targeting Kokonoi, who's with him now. So sooner or later, they're going to clash. Takemichi went to see Izana to try to stop him, to make him give up whatever he's planning. But Mikey doesn't buy it. He doesn't trust it. Part of him even wonders - Did Emma suddenly bring up Izana... because of Takemichi?

"Manjirou, Manjirou," Takemichi calls out to him.

"Huh? What is it?"

Mikey snaps out of his thoughts, his voice distant.

Takemichi notices how distracted he is and frowns. He figures Mikey must be feeling down - after all, hearing that his own brother is teaming up with someone dangerous to come after him... that's gotta sting. But the truth is, Mikey's worries lie somewhere else entirely.

"Manjirou... I know it's hard to accept, but Izana needs your help. Let's stop him before he makes a mistake. Let's bring him home... together. Okay?"

Mikey falls silent. Even if they've never met, Izana is still his brother. Like Takemichi says, they're all Shinichiro's little brothers. They all loved him deeply. He remembers Shinichiro once asking him, 'How would you feel if you had another big brother?' He'd smiled and said he'd probably love that brother too. So yeah, it sounds like he's ready to save Izana and drag him back home.

But something's holding him back. A small, bitter feeling. Maybe it's the way that guy looks at Takemichi. He hates it. It feels like Izana wants to steal Takemichi from him. And Takemichi... Takemichi belongs to him. No one else.

"I'll do what you want, Takemitchy, but..." Mikey cups Takemichi's face gently. "...please don't ever leave me."

That hits Takemichi hard. A wave of emotion crashes through him, and for a moment, he feels like crying. The pain of the past still lingers, heavy and sharp. But he's almost there, right? Almost at the happiness he's been chasing for everyone. Once he reaches it, he'll stay by their side. He won't leave anyone behind... right?

Takemichi wraps his arms around Mikey, hugging him back.

"I won't leave you, Manjirou."

For their happiness - for the chance to stay with them - he'll do anything.

It takes Takemichi nearly thirty minutes to convince Mikey to drive him home. Mikey wants him to stay. But there's something Takemichi needs to do - something he can only do back at his place.

They go back and forth for a while, and at some point, Takemichi brings up Mucho's betrayal. Mikey just nods as he already knows. Turns out, someone from Mucho's own team showed up earlier to tell him. The guy said he didn't want to follow Mucho in betraying Toman. He'd overheard something - Mucho's boss is coming after Takemichi. And that's why Mikey rushed over. He was scared something would happen to him.

Takemichi doesn't need to ask. He knows it's someone Sanzu sent. Sanzu knows him too well. He even played it perfectly - now it sounds like Izana's the one coming after Takemichi, not the other way around. Otherwise, Mikey would've lost it, finding out Takemichi ran headfirst into danger again. Still... acting on his own like that - If Mikey had shown up just a bit earlier and seen him jumping off that bridge, who knows what would've happened? Everything might've fallen apart. Stupid Sanzu. Takemichi's gotta get home and yell at him.

It's already 10 PM when Takemichi gets home. Mikey keeps him there until that late before letting him go. Outwardly, he stays cheerful, but inside, anger boils over. The moment he walks through the door, he grabs his phone and dials a number. As soon as the call connects, he lets the fury loose.

"You idiot! Why the hell did you tell Mikey about what happened today? Who told you to do that? You almost ruined everything! My whole plan - gone! What were you thinking, you dumbass?!"

There's a five-second silence on the other end. Then Takemichi feels it - the chill, the bloodlust, as if he can see Sanzu's cold, murderous expression through the phone.

"Listen up. I'm working with you, not for you. Don't act like you're some big shot. What the hell do you even have to go up against someone like Izana? Useless. Maybe I should remind you to take a long, hard look at your pathetic self."

The words are ice-cold, dripping with contempt. Normally, Takemichi might brush them off. But not tonight. His head still aches, his whole body's worn out. He takes a deep breath. His face hardens. He keeps holding the phone, but says nothing. After a while, Sanzu breaks the silence.

"Cat got your tongue, sewer rat?"

"If I'm so damn useless, then let's not work together anymore. End it here. And don't flatter yourself - you're not that important to me. I can protect Mikey just fine without you."

Takemichi spits out each word, cold and sharp. He's had enough. The line goes silent. He adds one last jab.

"I hate you, bastard."

Then he hangs up before Sanzu can respond. Tossing the phone aside, he heads to the bathroom to brush his teeth and get ready for bed. He's completely drained. Every night feels like his energy's been sucked dry. Sleep comes hard, and anxiety about the future never lets up. Negative emotions crowd his mind, pushing in from all sides. Still, he always tries to smile, to treat everyone kindly and gently. But that doesn't give anyone the right to look down on him. Sanzu has really pissed him off tonight.

After cleaning up, he turns off the lights and crawls into bed, cursing the one who ruined his night. But barely thirty minutes later, his phone rings again. It's Sanzu.

He rejects the call immediately.

But Sanzu keeps calling.

Furious, Takemichi powers off his phone. Peace, finally - or so he thinks. A few minutes later, the doorbell rings.

It's almost 11 PM.

Panic floods him. No way... don't tell me he -

He jumps out of bed and rushes to his bedroom window. Peeking out, his jaw drops. He almost swears out loud.

Under the yellow glow of the streetlamp, in the biting cold of the winter night, Sanzu stands outside his house, staring up at his window. Takemichi can see his heavy breathing through the mask - Sanzu must have run here.

Then he hears movement downstairs. His parents are waking up. Crap. Is this guy trying to get them both into trouble?

Takemichi bolts down the stairs just in time to see his dad stumbling out of the bedroom, half-asleep, annoyed and heading for the door to see who the lunatic is ringing doorbells at this hour.

Takemichi quickly steps in.

"Dad, it's fine. I saw from upstairs - it was just some drunk dude messing around. He's gone already."

Mr. Hanagaki, still groggy, hears the doorbell just once and doesn't notice anything strange in his son's face. He mutters something about drunk idiots with no self-control and tells Takemichi to go to bed, then heads back to his room.

Once he's sure his dad is gone, Takemichi slips outside.

Sanzu is still standing there, eyes burning with anger. Takemichi feels irritated, but he doesn't dare raise his voice in front of his own house. He keeps a cold, indifferent face.

"Get out of here. We talk somewhere else. Don't stand outside my house."

They walk for only three minutes, a short distance, really. But to Sanzu, three minutes of Takemichi refusing to look at him or say a single word feels excruciatingly long.

"What now? You come here to fight? Or to punch me and get it out of your system?"

Because Sanzu keeps his mask on, Takemichi can't read his expression. All he sees are furrowed brows and eyes burning with something fierce. And then, without warning, Sanzu grabs his wrist and shoves him against the wall. His injured back slams into it again, pain shooting up and making his eyes water. His face twists in discomfort.

"Ow! I'm still hurt, damn it, Sanzu," Takemichi snaps.

Sanzu lets go immediately, clearly flustered, hands twitching as if unsure what to do next. He opens his mouth, seems like he wants to speak, but nothing comes out. Takemichi sighs, seeing that look on him. Slowly, gently, he reaches up and pulls Sanzu's mask down. Sanzu flinches but doesn't stop him.

The mask slips off, revealing a face riddled with confusion. At first, he tries to avert his eyes, but something in him makes him look back - straight into Takemichi's. Their faces are close now. Very close. Takemichi sees every detail - the soft curve of Sanzu's long lashes, those stunning emerald eyes, the way his chest rises and falls too fast. His breath is hot, tangled with Takemichi's own quiet breathing. His lips press into a tight line, and there's something in his gaze - maybe regret.

In that moment, the world falls away. The green in Sanzu's eyes reflects Takemichi, and the blue in Takemichi's reflects Sanzu. Time holds its breath. There's only the sound of mingled breathing and a wildly thudding heart.

Then Takemichi blinks, snapping out of it. And now he's the one who's flustered.

"Okay... Let's calm down. We can talk this out," he says, trying to cool himself off. He's twenty-six, for god's sake. Why's he acting like a sulky teenager?

They stay quiet a bit longer. Sanzu still has him pinned against the wall, though neither of them seems in a hurry to move. Takemichi rushed out in just his thin sleepwear, no jacket, and now the chill starts to bite at him. He sneezes - once, twice, again.

Shit. If this cold keeps up, he's definitely going to get sick.

Finally, Sanzu seems to notice. He blinks, looks at what Takemichi's wearing, then silently shrugs off his own coat and drapes it over him, arms wrapping around to make sure it stays.

Takemichi glances up, eyes wide. Those glittering eyes of his fix on Sanzu again. But Sanzu's face... Takemichi can't read it. Why does he look like he's in pain?

"Thanks," Takemichi mutters.

"Mm." The reply is quiet. Strangely quiet, for Sanzu.

"You're - "

"You okay - "

They both speak at the same time.

"You go first..."

Again, they echo each other. Then fall silent. Eyes meet. Takemichi suddenly snorts.

"God, this is straight out of some cheesy romance movie."

"Seriously? What the hell is in that brain of yours?"

Now this - this gruff, snappy tone - this is Sanzu. And somehow, that makes Takemichi smile for real again.

"You got any cash on you? There's a convenience store nearby. Let's get some noodles or something. It's freezing."

Sanzu sighs. Noodles again, he thinks. Is it that every time he sees me, he sees noodles too?

Still, he lets Sanzu drive him to the convenience store he mentioned. They end up sitting inside, slurping hot noodles, watching the winter night roll by through the window. Soft R&B plays in the background - a nostalgic tune from the early 2000s. Takemichi recognizes the melody but not the name. He's always been hopeless with music.

But the vibe? It's calming. Comforting, even. He feels lighter.

And Sanzu notices.

A small part of him - maybe the part that always worries - finally exhales.

"Then why are you here at this hour, Sanzu? I thought you were already in Yokohama."

"I told Mucho I had to come back to grab some stuff. No one suspects a thing."

"That's not what I asked, man. I asked why you're here."

Sanzu stays quiet for a moment, continuing to slurp his noodles like he's dodging the question altogether. Takemichi stares at him, helpless, mumbling to himself, "This guy's being weird again. Whatever."

"You said you got hurt earlier... Did Izana do something to you?" Sanzu hesitates a little.

"He choked me, shoved me into the bridge railing. Oh, and he threw me on the ground too. Lucky I'm not dead. Honestly, for Izana, that's going easy."

Takemichi says it so casually to Sanzu. It's oddly easier to tell Sanzu these things than Mikey, Chifuyu, or the others in Toman. They protect him too much, and sometimes, it feels suffocating. So he hides things.

Sanzu stays silent, then looks at him. "Tilt your head back."

Takemichi follows the instruction enthusiastically, even pointing it out. "Here, look. The finger marks are super clear. It's all purple. No idea how long it'll take to fade."

Sanzu eyes the bruises and that dumb grin on Takemichi's face, then gives him a sideways glance. Too cheerful for your own good.

"You'd probably still be smiling even if you were dying."

"No way! I can't smile if I'm dead."

"...Sorry."

"Yeah."

Sanzu suddenly gets irritated again and shoots him another look. Just earlier, he was losing his damn mind - panicking, overthinking everything, blowing up Takemichi's phone, ringing his doorbell at 11 PM. Even now, he can't believe he did all that just to see him and apologize. And then this idiot replies to his apology like that.

"Now what?" Takemichi notices his expression. "Come on, let it go already. We're good now. Truce. Forgive and forget. What more do you want?"

"Whatever. Up to you," Sanzu sighs in defeat.

"But you have to promise me something. From now on, no acting on your own. You have to follow my lead. One wrong move and the whole plan falls apart."

Sanzu doesn't answer. He just stares at him. But Takemichi isn't backing down this time. He sticks his pinky out right in front of Sanzu's face.

"Pinkie swear."

"Are you five?" Sanzu grumbles.

"Don't care. Swear it. No more crap like today. Do you even know how hard it was for me to deal with Mikey because of you?"

Still frowning, Sanzu reluctantly lifts his hand. Takemichi grins and hooks their fingers together, even makes him stamp it with his thumb to "seal the deal." Just as he's about to pull away, Sanzu grips his hand tight, holding it in place. Takemichi blinks at him in confusion.

Sanzu looks flustered, his voice low and hesitant. "Don't... say you hate me... ever again."

Takemichi is caught off guard. A faint blush appears on Sanzu's cheek. Takemichi finds it weirdly adorable. Just imagine it: a boy with long, pink hair, delicate features, a beauty that blurs the line between masculine and feminine. Usually cold and sharp, downright aggressive toward Takemichi - yet now, he's blushing and awkward, asking him not to hate him. To Takemichi, this scene is just too precious. Who would've thought Sanzu could be afraid of being hated? He can't help but laugh. Sanzu, mortified, grows flustered and raises his free hand to smack him out of sheer frustration- But Takemichi catches the movement, stifles his grin, and gently stops him.

"Okay, okay! Sorry!"

"You..." You have no idea how hard it was for me to say that, Sanzu thinks. When Takemichi said he hated him, that one sentence stunned him for nearly half an hour. He then showed up like an idiot, doing all this just to fix things, which he'll probably want to beat himself up for later.

"Come on, I don't really hate you. I mean, sure, you're annoying, and I did save your number as 'Annoying Bastard'..."

So is it hate or not? Is he trying to piss him off again?

"Haha, I seriously don't hate you at all, Sanzu-kun. Hey, after all this, can we be friends?"

Takemichi smiles playfully, pulling his hand in closer and tilting his face a bit toward him. His eyes sparkle with hope - sincere and sweet. Sanzu clenches his jaw, struggling to keep his cool. Those eyes just won't stop looking at him like that...

"Like hell I wanna be friends with you."

"Mou~ Sanzu-kun, you're doing it again."

"Doing what? Let go of me."

Sanzu yanks his hand away and turns to his noodles - except he already finished them all. Embarrassed and desperate to hide his face, he decides to go get a drink instead.

"What do you want? I'm buying."

"Hot coffee."

"No! It's late. You'll stay up."

"Then why ask me?"

"You're annoying."

In the end, Takemichi ends up with a box of milk. Sanzu gives him a ride home. When Takemichi hops off the bike, he hands back Sanzu's jacket and says with a grin:

"So... no more late-night hangouts like this until everything's settled, huh? Sanzu-kun, help me protect Mikey and Toman, alright?"

"I got it."

"That's it?"

"What else do you want?"

"Something cooler! Like, 'Leave it to me, I've got this!' You know, show some fire!"

"That's dumb."

Sanzu looks at him again - then, out of nowhere, he places his cold hand on Takemichi's cheek. Takemichi freezes, startled. For the first time, he sees the emerald green in Sanzu's eyes shimmer with a gentle light, like a precious gem glowing in the dark. It stuns him.

Takemichi stares, completely mesmerized. And then Sanzu smiles. A real, warm smile. Takemichi's heart skips a beat. He's never seen Sanzu smile like that - handsome, and now unfairly charming too?

Sanzu bumps his forehead lightly against Takemichi's and strokes his cheek with a soft touch. Takemichi can feel the warmth rising to his face.

"Take care of yourself too, idiot."

Then Sanzu rides off into the night, leaving Takemichi frozen in place. That forehead bump, the head pat, the soft "Goodnight, Takemichi" - all of it leaves him stunned.

Dear god, what did Sanzu eat today?

Takemichi's heart gives a loud thump. Even the way Sanzu called his name just now - it's unfair. Too unfair. Gorgeous boys shouldn't be allowed to act like this.

Takemichi tries to shake off the weird feelings so he can get some sleep. That night, he had a strange dream.

He dreams of an enormous hourglass. The first grains of sand begin to fall.

.

.

.

Bonus: