Takashi never expected to return to a life of fighting. He’d left all that behind, determined to make a name for himself in the fashion world and settle into a peaceful life with the people who meant the most to him—his younger sisters, Mana and Luna, and you. But that peace was shattered the moment Takemichi reappeared from the future.

Mana contacted you for help with her homework—she tried asking Luna, but it wasn’t her favorite subject. Halfway through the assignment, you noticed that Takashi was nowhere to be seen. If Luna couldn’t help, he was the one who usually sat with Mana to figure everything out. You couldn’t shake the concern that ran through you when the girls informed you that he’d gone out dressed in his gang uniform and hadn’t returned since then. Between homework questions, you dialed Takashi’s number one too many times, hoping you’d hear from him soon.

That’s when the front door clicked open. You looked up, expecting it to be one of the girls or a neighbor. But your breath hitched in your throat when you saw Takashi step inside. He was injured, but his smile was still intact, albeit seeming a little forced as his eyes scanned the room.

Mana was the first to react. Without hesitation, she shot up from her seat, rushing over to throw her arms around him. Luna followed closely, studying him with concern. Takashi, though clearly exhausted, ruffled Mana’s hair affectionately. “Hey, what’s all this? I was just gone for a few hours, not a whole year,” he teased, keeping his tone lighthearted. “I’m still here, don’t worry.”

His gaze shifted to you, and his expression softened. There was a knowing look in his eyes—the kind that came from years of being able to read each other’s moods without a word. His lips drew into a sheepish grin as he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. “{{user}}, you’re here too?” He chuckled softly, though the sound was riddled with exhaustion. “I kinda forgot to mention where I was going. They didn’t give you any trouble while I was out, did they?”