You bid goodbye to your English teacher and the clock has struck 3.45 p.m. Your cram school starts at 5.00 p.m so you still have plenty of time.

When you walked out of the classroom, you were roaming your eyes in the hallways, searching for a certain someone.

As your eyes landed on your target, an annoyed expression was etched on your face.

Asu with her hard-to-get facade again.

The blackcurrant-coloured hair girl, with her hair in a messy ponytail, you couldn't deny that your friend is gorgeous.

And that's why Haru had been flirting with her since you guys were first-years. Asuka said before that "I wouldn't fall for him" but in the end...she did give in. Seeing how persistent and loyal Haru was, you were being observant for the past 2 years and Asuka was the only girl he ever flirted with.

Asuka sure was getting all those butterflies in her stomach but she still put on her 'disinterested mask' on Haru. She does like Haru. She always had been.

You never know how long she's going to keep this act but you know for sure, you don't want to get involved between them.

"Asu!" you shouted her name since your presence didn't bother her once.

She turned herself to you and gave you a wave. Haru that was beside her still had a flirty smile on his face with both his hands in his pockets. (Maybe it's a way to look cool and mysterious)

"Well...see you later, Asuka~" he bid her goodbye but his tone was so flirty that you wished you didn't wax your ear yesterday.

Asuka let out an unamused hum, not even bothered to say goodbye or reciprocate his flirtiness. As Haru left the scene, Asuka's stoic expression changed out of the blue.

She cupped her mouth with her right hand, suppressing her fangirling noises so only muffled sounds can be heard. You let out a sigh with her demeanour. If she does like him, why can't she just go for it? Like making the first move?

It doesn't matter if she's a girl or not, it shouldn't just be boys that need to start asking someone out.

You closed your distance to her and narrowed your eyes, showing to that close friend of yours, that you had enough with this hard-to-get act of hers.

"First name basis already?" You teased her with an evil smirk on your face.

She panicked a little and removed her hands from her face.

"W-what? No, I'm pretty sure Haru lets everyone use his first name." Waving her hands in the air,  denying whatever you said before.

"It's not about Haru-kun, you idiot. It's about you! You don't let people use your name that easily." You emphasized the word 'you' so she could be clear about who you were talking about.

Asuka was lost in words, having no idea how to defend herself as she quickly wanted to change the topic. She never admitted that she likes Haru to you, but you can see it was so obvious that at this point, even Haru can notice it. 

 But there's no use anyway because even if the moon and earth collide, you know for sure that Asuka was never going to ask out that 'lamppost' first.

"Anyways...I heard that Nakamura-sensei assigned the pairs on her own for your class writing portfolio."

Both of you started walking while you were busy unwrapping a (favourite flavour) lollipop that somehow you accidentally found in the pocket of your bag during recess.

"Yeah... everyone's pissed."

Asuka let out a chuckle, you and her didn't get to be in the same class this year, your best friend might have admitted that she was quite not focused last year. Being one class behind you instead.

But somehow there were advantages for not being in the highest rank class. 

Fortunately, her English teacher let the students choose their own partners.

"Who's that lucky partner of yours?"

"Well... it's a bit complicated. But at first, I was assigned with Arai-kun...and then somehow your lovely Haru informed Nakamura-sensei that he will be absent for 3 months or so..."

"So in the end I got partnered up with someone named 'Rindou'...

... who's that actually?"

Asuka stopped her steps and looked at you in utter shock.

"WHAT?!"

Her scream echoed in the empty hallways and it pierced your ears. Never did you expect her reaction to be equivalent to Nakamura-sensei's (at least the teacher didn't scream) but somehow it was a warning again, that this 'Rindou' is bad news.

She snatched your lollipop from your hands, making sure that you focus on her instead of that savouring candy. Hiding your lollipop behind her back so your attention will shift to her.

"Hey, what was th-"

"Are you serious?"

"...I'm (First Name), not serious." you laughed at your own joke pathetically.

 A sigh escaped from her small thin lips."It's not the time to joke around, (Nickname)."

You scratched your not itchy head a little, already giving up with everyone's reaction that's always negative about this 'Rindou'.

"Shit doesn't make sense to me. Why is everyone reacting the same? Is he that bad?" You are genuinely clueless about everything that's happening to you now. It's not that you tried to act tough or brave, because it's logical, you can't be scared of someone you don't know...

right?

"You seriously don't know who he is?" Asuka's tense posture was now a little more relaxed. Her hands both at her side and revealing your lollipop that had been 'kidnapped' by her.

"No! Please, enlighten me."

An exasperated sigh left out her mouth. ( she could win a sighing contest, to be honest)

"The Haitani Brothers." Only 3 words were needed to describe who Rindou was, she didn't need to explain who he is or what he does, no, she didn't need much effort to answer your genuine bewilderment. She was too lazy even to elucidate anyways, and she knows that you were smart enough to figure out on your own who the actual hell was your writing portfolio partner.

"What does the Hai-"

Your words came to a halt. Your (eye colour) eyes looked into the seafoam-colour ones. Trying your best to figure out what she had stated.

Even though you and your family moved to Roppongi 2 years ago, it still feels like it was recently. There are still lots of stories and people around here that you didn't know yet.

But you have heard of the Haitani Brothers. Guess in the delinquent world of Roppongi, they are number one or at the highest place to be exact. Some people spout shit and their abhorrence of them, some people call them Kings of Roppongi and worship them, then, there are groups of girls that fangirl whenever they pass by. They were like famous celebrities.

Well, even if it's been 2 years, never have you seen them before. All information that you gained about them was just from other people's mouths and none of them was from your own witness.

So what do you know about the Haitani Brothers?

Reminiscing from the stories your friends used to tell, you remembered that they were 2 siblings and they only have a one-year age gap.

I mean, it's siblings we are talking about, so, of course, people will compare both of them. The older one was more popular since he is more talkative and friendlier in a way, while the younger one was just a shadow of him. If you're not mistaken the older brother's name is Ran, since his name was short so it was easier to remember.

Come to think of it, you couldn't recall the name of the younger brother.

Was it because he is unmemorable or people don't talk about him much as they did with his older brother.

What was his name? It's like no one ever said his name before but they just labelled him as 'Ran's brother' or 'younger Haitani' or you even heard people call him the 'rude one'.

It could take light years to find out his name.

But suddenly, a light bulb pops up above your head.

Now it makes sense!

"So Rindou is the younger Haitani... isn't he?"

"Bullseye." Asuka knew you could figure it out on your own. Sometimes it's a blessing indeed to be friends with someone smart like you, she didn't have to use up her energy much.

It was exciting to gossip about them when they were at their peak popularity a long time ago, but now it's just getting boring and repetitive.

Or maybe because the more Asuka grew up, the more she realised how fucked up it is to talk things about them when they never did something good in the first place. Most likely those brothers can get away with shit that they do because of their alluring charisma and pretty privilege. So yeah, most people ignored the crimes they did and continue to glorify them.

If those two looked like 'Bananas in Pajamas', there's no way in fuck people cared and continue to ramble dreadful remarks on their appearance for sure.

After solving the mystery of who this Rindou is, your blood starts to get cold. Out of all humans that exist on this expensive land, why in the hell do you have to end up with a Haitani?

You never gave a damn about these delinquents that are just here to be irksome and most likely act like they own this place.

It's so pathetic to think that they never even built this colourful city with their own hands or efforts from the first place, and claiming it's their territory doesn't make any sense.

A bunch of gangs beat up each other and whichever gang that won will 'own' the place, meaning they will rule the underworld.  Speaking of the underworld, it's not about marine animals or coral reefs, but the 'black market' to be specific, a world where illegal deeds occur.

That sends shivers up to your spine indeed.

These types of people don't have a conscience in them anymore, so it means that any worse crime possible or unimaginable for a normal human to do, Haitani Rindou might have already done it. He might just be a 17-year-old boy but with that much influence he has and the amount of exposure he has in the 'delinquent world', you wouldn't hesitate to assume that he might have done illegal businesses like drug trading, selling weaponry, homicide and all those bullshit that you never knew will even get close to you or getting yourself involved.

Involving yourself with Haitani Rindou himself is a crime indeed.

"You alright?" Asuka asked. Seems she saw your hands were slightly trembling but your expression stays stagnant, no emotion in it. You know the feeling when you were so frightened that you somehow forgot to feel any emotions.

But these petrifying thoughts of yours, wouldn't stop you from doing the craziest thing you might have ever done your entire life...

"I'm gonna ask for help from him."

Asuka's mouth fell agape. She couldn't comprehend your words and she wished that you were joking around, but it seems like her wish would never come true.

"...You're joking...right?..." a nervous chuckle left her mouth.

You ignored her inquiry and acted like it was not a big deal. Everything that roamed in your mind is how can you approach Rindou or even see him because it had been 2 years of you living in Roppongi, but somehow fate wouldn't let the both of you meet each other.

Where do the delinquents live anyways? Under a bridge? Now that's just illogical since there are mostly a huge number of people. They must have a hideout of their own, where they gather and do meetings and discuss who's ass they're going to beat on a beautiful sunny day.

"(Nickname), I think it's better for you to do-

"Asu, I'm not going to do the writing portfolio alone! It's so unfair to get the same marks with people that have partners."

"...But it's Haitani Rindou we're talking about! It's not just some lazy dude that you can just put him in his place so easily!"

You let out a sigh. Tired of all this overwhelming shit that you keep going through. It just gradually gets worse, just like cancerous cells. But for the love of God, you don't want to do the writing portfolio alone, you have other stuff to think about and English is not the only subject that you're learning in school.

Last year was so hectic since there were a bunch of Maths, Science and Writing competitions you have entered. You know for sure this year will be no different because as the teachers always say, you are the valuable gem in Roppongi High, giving it a bigger name from the past two years since you have been countlessly winning many championships due to your natural talent in STEM subjects to be precise.

You're even in your third year now, there's going to be a last and huge final exam before you exit high school, so there's no need to make yourself busier than you were before. You might lose your marbles if you agreed to it.

"But I have to at least ask...." You take back your lollipop from her hand, gripping it tightly between your fists. You let out your fearful emotions on the lollipop stick, instead of you showing it to Asuka.

 "Don't you just... hate these types of people, Asu?" your eyes started to move away from hers. Thinking deeply about the words you are about to say later on.

Asuka tilted her head a little to the side, not understanding your incomplete words.

"Because I do. These stupid delinquents exist to just ruin people's lives, disobeying the laws and somehow they could get away with any dumb shit they do...and I'm not having it."

You cleared your throat for a moment since you're speaking with a firm and harsh tone, and it made your throat dry a little. A sudden strong spirit fired up inside of you.

"Just like Haitani. Don't you think me doing the writing portfolio alone means that I'm willingly letting him slack off and get away from his responsibility?" You scoffed when you listened to the words you said.

"It's like already giving in to him and not even trying to fight for my own rights...

There's no way in fuck I'll ever be a pushover! So, Asu...please

...tell me where I can find Haitani Rindou?"

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