Previously, a few days after the New Year gang meeting, Takemichi received a CB250T - Bab from Mikey and Draken. Back then, Draken said that as the First Division Captain, not having a bike is not cool. Now, even though he is no longer the First Division Captain and the Sixth Division has only recently been announced, Takemichi never expects them to give him this bike. But he is wrong. Even as an ordinary member, Draken and Mikey still secretly gather parts to build it for him. Takemichi only realizes this when Baji and Chifuyu, acting mysteriously, lead him to the bike. Chifuyu is the one who blindfolds him. Seriously, do these two forget that he comes from the future?

"Ta-daaa!" Baji and Mikey wave their hands toward the Bab as Chifuyu removes his hands from Takemichi's eyes.

"Isn't it amazing, Takemichi? Mikey and Draken have been collecting parts to build this bike for you," Baji says, putting an arm around his shoulder.

"The CB250T, also known as Bab, is the twin brother of my Bob. My brother brought them from the Philippines long ago..."

Mikey tells the story of how these two engines are abandoned in a scrapyard and how Shinichiro retrieves them, turning one into a complete bike as a gift for Takemichi. Memories, both beautiful and painful, rush back to Takemichi. The last time he returns to the future, everyone is dead, and Mikey dies in his arms. He thinks that Mikey at that moment is in the worst pain, but in the future, Mikey continues to suffer even more. Overwhelmed by emotions from his memories and gratitude for the gift, Takemichi cannot hold back his tears. His tears flow like a waterfall, making Mikey, Draken, Baji, and Chifuyu panic.

"Takemitchy, why are you crying so much? It's just a small gift," Mikey immediately tries to comfort him, lifting Takemichi's face and wiping away his tears.

Baji and Chifuyu suspect the gift reminds him of painful moments from his time travels. They feel a bit sad and worried because Takemichi still carries too many burdens in his heart.

"This idiot..." Baji and Chifuyu murmur in unison.

No, he cannot cry. He must be happy because there will be no more painful futures. Takemichi quickly wipes his tears and forces a bright smile.

"Thank you so much! This is so cool!"

Everyone still looks at him in confusion. Seeing this, Takemichi suggests they go for a ride together.

"Huh? Takemitchy, you know how to ride a bike now?" Draken asks in surprise.

"No idea," Mikey tilts his head, equally puzzled.

Takemichi chuckles, It's you who taught me, Mikey: "Mikey-kun, this time let me drive you."

Mikey's eyes immediately sparkle with excitement. Baji takes Chifuyu, Takemichi takes Mikey, and Draken rides alone. Mikey hugs Takemichi from behind, thoroughly enjoying the ride, laughing cheerfully.

"Takemitchy, you're actually pretty good at this."

Takemichi silently thinks, It's because Mikey scolded me so much last time that I finally learned.

"Mikey-kun, next time you go for a ride, remember to call me too. You and I, with Bob and Bab - it'll be awesome."

"Of course! We'll bring taiyaki to the beach - it'll be perfect!" Mikey immediately gets excited.

"Hey! What about us?" Draken, riding beside them, protests.

"Nope, this is our date only. Move aside."

Mikey pouts, hugging Takemichi even tighter like a child afraid of losing his toy. Takemichi bursts into laughter. Baji and Chifuyu, riding nearby, feel like they're in a completely different world from the two of them.

"Hey, you two! Let Takemichi focus on driving, or I'll knock both of you out!"

That evening, Takemichi rides Bab to meet Kokonoi and Inupee, excitedly telling them about Mikey and Draken's gift. However, their faces immediately darken.

"I was planning to take you to buy a cool motorcycle. A Black Dragon leader riding this? Not cool at all."

What matters is that this isn't something he buys, but a gift from Toman. These guys are too fast...

Kokonoi grabs Takemichi's shoulders. "Forget about this bike. I'll buy you a better one."

Takemichi shakes his head. "I really like this one, and there's no need to waste money."

"Black Dragon's money is yours too! Don't worry about the cost - I got it covered," Kokonoi insists, his eyes full of expectation.

"But Bab is special to me. I only want this one."

One sentence from Takemichi completely defeats Kokonoi. Meanwhile, Inupee silently studies the bike.

"Bab is the twin of Mikey's Bob?"

"Yeah, both came from Shinichiro's old engines."

Inupee looks heartbroken, slumping forward like he wants to plant mushrooms.

"If Hanagaki rides with Mikey, that means I can't take him home anymore..."

Does that mean I won't have an excuse to invite him inside either? A dark cloud looms over Kokonoi and Inupee. Takemichi, clueless, tilts his head in confusion.

"What's wrong with you two?"

"Boss..." Kokonoi and Inupee each grab one of Takemichi's arms.

"From now on, if you want anything, you tell me first. Whatever you want, let me buy it for you." - Kokonoi.

"If you need help with anything, come to us first. Don't ask Toman." - Inupee.

They need to reclaim their leader. He belongs to them, not Toman. Kokonoi and Inupee completely ignore the fact that they, too, are now part of Toman's Sixth Division.

"Huh?" Takemichi is startled by their burning determination, their grips tightening.

"Alright, alright. From now on, I'll tell you guys first," Takemichi agrees, making them finally relax and smile.

Since taking over Black Dragon, Takemichi frequently visits their hideout to manage affairs. He struggles to get used to the underground dealings, even though Kokonoi assures him he's doing well. Illegal transactions, dirty money, and the invisible pressure all weigh on him.

Moreover, Tenjiku will arrive soon. He can't afford to be careless.

Lately, his headaches persist, and his sleep disorder worsens. His past injuries still leave lingering effects. The worst part is the constant nightmares.

At least his life with Take and Michi is progressing. Since Christmas, Michi has toned down his mischief. Takemichi realizes the boy really likes him and enjoys being spoiled - plus, he's a bit of a tsundere. As long as it's within his limit, he spoils him and treats him gently. He's starting to feel like an older brother. Meanwhile, Take is off fighting somewhere again, despite Takemichi warning him. Hopefully, this won't cause trouble.

Tonight, Takemichi stays at the hideout late. There's so much work to do - being a day off means he has to make the most of it since he still has school tomorrow. Currently, Takemichi is an ordinary second-year high school student, a member of Touman, and the president of the Black Dragons - his life is so hectic that he can barely catch his breath. On top of that, the sleepless nights and endless tasks are making his eyes feel heavy, as if magnets are pulling his eyelids together. Takemichi shook his head a few times, trying to stay awake.

"Boss, if you're tired, just sleep. You've done enough today," Kokonoi notices.

"There's a blanket here. Get some rest," Inupee quickly hands him one.

Takemichi gives a sleepy smile. "Alright, I'll nap for a bit."

Fatigue and insomnia makes Takemichi fall asleep quickly, even letting out soft snores. Inupee adjusts the blanket for him and smiles gently.

Night falls, and Takemichi is still sleeping soundly. Neither of them has the heart to wake him up because he truly looks exhausted.

"I go buy dinner, about 30 minutes or so. Keep an eye on Hanagaki and wake him up so he can eat before going home."

Inupee sees it's about dinner time, quietly reminds Kokonoi, and then goes to buy food for all three of them. Kokonoi nods in agreement. Now, the only sounds in the room are the soft clacking of Kokonoi's keyboard and Takemichi's steady breathing. Somehow, this makes Kokonoi feel strangely at peace. From time to time, he pauses to glance at the boy curled up in the warm blanket. Keeping track of time, he thinks Inupee will be back soon, so he moves closer to wake Takemichi up.

"Boss, wake up."

Kokonoi gently wakes Takemichi. Takemichi shifts slightly; he's still not fully awake, his whiny voice sounding like a cat's purr..

"H...Hmm?"

Kokonoi chuckles and leans closer, gently shaking Takemichi. This time, Takemichi finally turns over, his sleepy blue eyes slowly opening to meet Kokonoi's gaze. Kokonoi freezes, feeling his throat tighten as he looks into those dreamy, jewel-like eyes. Takemichi's eyes always shine so brightly and innocently, capturing anyone's attention from the very first glance. Sometimes, Kokonoi can't help but wonder why Takemichi gets involved with Black Dragon. Although Takemichi brings a fresh and brighter atmosphere to the gang, the core of Black Dragon remains unchanged - a gang that operates through violence and illegal dealings.

Why, Takemichi? Someone like you should be spending your days hanging out with friends, living a life full of sunlight and happiness. Why do you choose to be here? What if, one day, those bright eyes lose their light?

Kokonoi finds himself staring at Takemichi in a daze. Despite still being half-asleep, Takemichi flashes a soft smile at him, his voice drowsy and sweet.

"Koko-kun... I'm still sleepy. Let me sleep a bit more," Takemichi mumbles, sounding like a kitten asking for affection.

Kokonoi takes a deep breath, trying to suppress the unfamiliar warmth rising within him. His voice softens even more as he responds.

"Boss, Inupee will be back soon with food. You should get up and eat, then head home - it's getting late."

With a sigh of defeat, Takemichi struggles to sit up, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. Kokonoi watches him fondly, thinking how much Takemichi resembles an adorable kitten. The warmth in his chest lingers, but he quickly reminds himself to stay composed. This isn't right, Kokonoi thinks, turning his face away to hide his expression. I can't feel this way.

Kokonoi has already loved someone once - Akane. He knows what these feelings mean. There is no way he could have romantic feelings for someone else, especially not for a boy like Takemichi. It has to be just a professional bond or, at most, friendship.

Suddenly, Takemichi, still drowsy, grabs onto Kokonoi's pinky finger. The touch sends a jolt through Kokonoi's body, as if an electric current runs between them. Startled, he quickly pulls his hand away. Realizing how abrupt his reaction is, he glances nervously at Takemichi, who looks just as confused.

"S-Sorry, you startled me," Kokonoi stammers, trying to recover his composure.

"Ah, no, it's my fault. I grabbed your hand out of nowhere," Takemichi just laughs it off casually; he's only a little startled, not really bothered by it. But Kokonoi hides his face away. He wonders what the heck he is doing.

At that moment, the sound of Inupee opening the door startles Kokonoi, then he tries to adjust back to his normal mood.

"I brought dinner. Hanagaki, eat up. I'll take you home after," Inupee says calmly.

Hearing the mention of food, Takemichi brightens up immediately. "I'm actually really hungry! Inupee-kun, you're the best!"

As they sit down to eat, Kokonoi shifts the conversation back to business after calming himself down. "Boss, since you're the head of Black Dragon, our money is technically yours to manage. But can you tell me why you've been using such a large sum lately? I don't think it's for personal expenses."

Recently, Takemichi has been taking a significant amount of money without explaining what he's using it for. Kokonoi didn't say anything the first couple of times, but Takemichi has done it quite often now. Even if Takemichi says it's for business, Kokonoi still needs to know where the money goes - he doesn't like using money that doesn't generate profit.

But as soon as he finishes his sentence, he freezes. Takemichi's easy-going expression fades. His brows furrow slightly, and his eyes sharpen with authority. For a moment, the warmth in his demeanor disappears, replaced by a commanding presence.

"Koko-kun, I already told you. I won't use the money for anything useless. We agreed from the beginning that you wouldn't question me," Takemichi replies, his voice cold and firm.

Kokonoi immediately realizes he has overstepped. Takemichi may act like a carefree boy most of the time, but in reality, he is their leader. And as members of Black Dragon, their duty is to follow him.

"I'm sorry, Boss," Kokonoi quickly apologizes, bowing his head slightly.

Takemichi softens his tone again. "Don't worry. The results of this investment won't disappoint you, Koko-kun."

He pauses for a moment before continuing, his voice growing more serious. "Koko-kun, Inupee-kun, I need you and the Black Dragon to always be ready. Something big is coming."

Meanwhile, under the dim lights of a pedestrian bridge, two figures stand overlooking the busy street below.

"Hanma, get ready. This time, I won't fail. I will create my own version of Toman..." and crush his so-called hero. Kisaki clenches his fists tightly. No matter how many times he tries, that hero always stands in his way, ruining everything. Not only has he failed to destroy him, but now, that hero holds power.

Ha! He's underestimated him for too long. But this time will be different. He'll tear that smile off his face, definitely.

Beside him, Hanma leans against the railing, a wicked glint in his eyes. He knows exactly who Kisaki is talking about. The mere mention of Takemichi makes Hanma feel an exhilarating thrill.

Takemichi always manages to drive Kisaki mad. Sometimes, Hanma wonders if Kisaki is obsessed with Takemichi. Even the "feelings" Kisaki has for Takemichi intrigue him, something he can never fully understand. The way Kisaki refers to him as his "hero" is oddly respectful coming from him. But beneath that respect is a burning desire to break him.

Hanma himself feels a strange contradiction toward Takemichi. He has told Toman that, next time they meet, he will take Takemichi away. There is something captivating about the reckless bravery hidden behind Takemichi's heroism. But at the same time, he is perfectly willing to stand by Kisaki and tear apart Takemichi's radiant smile, dragging those bright, determined eyes into the darkness of despair.

Takemichi... What do I really want to do with you? Maybe time will tell.

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I have something to say:

Honestly, my mood can be a bit all over the place sometimes, going up and down, and I'm not exactly the most persistent type. The reason I've made it this far is because I've been trying to keep my promise to the author, and also thanks to the author's trust and all the support from you readers.

Hic, every time I feel lazy about translating a new chapter, I go check the notifications to see if anyone left a comment. Seeing you guys enjoying the story makes me enjoy it too. Honestly, yesterday I really didn't feel like translating the next chapter because it's going to be a tough one - I don't have enough vocabulary for it, and that makes me super nervous. At that time, I also messed up the chapter schedule, so that's why I was hesitant.

Then I read the comments and saw that Alaparis14 left such an adorable one! What stuck with me the most was: 'the most beautiful novel I've ever read' - wait, really??? Even though I'm just the translator, hearing that made me so happy! It's like I'm contributing to helping more people read this novel. Hic, as a Vietnamese person, seeing a foreign reader praise a Vietnamese author's work makes me feel so proud!

As a reader myself, I totally get it - sometimes you stumble upon a story that's just so your taste, and it brings you so much happiness. Your comment gave me such a big boost, sending my motivation straight to the sky and making me drop all thoughts of procrastination. Kkk. Even if I do procrastinate, I wouldn't dare break my promise!

Anyway, to all of you - whether you vote, comment, follow, or add this story to your list - I see all the notifications, and they all make me so happy. Thank you for sticking with me up to this chapter. Love you all!" ❤️