Ayoshi and Engeika were at the back of the school, looking at the blueberries grown in the garden. "I'm so happy they're almost ready. I've been wanting to bake a pie," Engeika said as she dropped the blueberries into her basket. Ayoshi picked a blueberry off the bush, wanting to eat it, but she placed her hand on his, stopping him. She let out a soft chuckle, "You can't eat them yet. We have to wash them first."
Ayohsi's head dropped down as he nodded his head. He dropped the blueberry into the basket. "Ok."
Ayoshi got up from his kneeling position and helped Engeika up. She smiled up at him, "Thank you." She dusted off her skirt, and the two walked off with baskets in their hands. As the two were having a nice chat, they were being secretly watched.
Someone hid behind a wall as he watched the pleasant atmosphere between the two. A scowl formed on his face as he tightly gripped the wall, almost causing a crack to form with his immense strength. With clenched teeth, he growled out, "Aishi Ayoshi…"
***
Ayoshi was alone in his classroom, putting his things away in his bag when someone roughly turned him around. He saw a delinquent with a silly hairstyle. "What do you want?"
Togo's eyebrows scrunched up as he frowned. The two were the same height, so he looked into Ayoshi's eyes. "Stay away from Uekiya-chan!" Ayoshi looked at him like he was an idiot, provoking him. "You better listen to me or you'll regret it! Stay away from her!"
Ayoshi grabbed at the boy's wrist with a tight grip as he pulled it away from his shoulder, causing him pain. "Why should I listen to you?"
With clenched teeth, Togo snatched away his wrist. His face turned red from anger. "You better listen to me!"
Ayoshi nodded his head, saying, "I see."
"You see what?!"
Ayoshi turned back around and went back to packing his things. "You like her."
Togo let out a strangled sound as his face flushed from embarrassment. "So what?! Uekiya-chan is the most beautiful girl in the world. I will do whatever it takes to make her mine and you're standing in my way!" Ayoshi started walking out of the room, leaving him behind. He saw Ayoshi's retreating back and chased after him. "Hey, wait!"
Ayoshi didn't stop walking, but asked, "What is your name?"
Togo let out a huff, "Atatsuma Togo."
"So you want Uekiya-chan to like you?"
Togo balled up his fist, almost exploding. "Obviously, I just said that!"
Ayoshi took out a strawberry milk from his bag and started sipping on it. "And you think by getting rid of me, she'll like you."
"We-well, not exactly! But how will I get her to fall in love with me if you're always in the way!? What if you fall in love with her?"
"Uekiya-chan is a lovely girl, but I would never fall in love with her."
Togo grounded his teeth, "What is that supposed to mean!? Uekiya-chan is the most beautiful, smartest, and kindest girl in this school. Only a fool wouldn't fall in love with her!"
"Didn't you just say you didn't want me to like her?"
Togo waved his hands around, "That doesn't matter! You just need to get out of my way!"
"I wasn't in your way in the first place."
"Yes you are! You guys are always together! Always laughing! Always smiling! Always talking!"
"That's what friends do."
"Then stop being friends!"
Ayoshi took a small sip from his milk box before saying, "I don't think Uekiya-chan would be very happy if you chased away her friends."
Togo started making weird sounds as he tried to think of something to say. He pursed his lips, "Th-then help me win Uekiya-chan over!"
"Why should I?"
Togo ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "Because I told you to!"
"Will you treat Uekiya-chan right?"
Togo put on an arrogant facade. "I will do my best to treat her like a princess and do my best to make her as happy as possible. I really like her and I want to spend the rest of my life with her." Ayoshi stared into his eyes as he slipped his milk. He could feel a shiver run down his back as he was being examined by such dark eyes. It felt like Ayoshi was staring into his soul. He nervously wiped the sweat off his forehead. "Well?!"
Ayoshi nodded, "I will help you."
"I wasn't giving you a choice!"
Ayoshi walked up to a trashcan and threw away the milk box. "We will meet tomorrow on the roof during lunch." He said nothing else and walked off, not giving Togo a chance to say anything.
***
It's the next day. Ayoshi and Togo had already met up on a roof and were sitting on a bench. Ayoshi ate his bento and asked, "What is your plan to win over Uekiya-chan?"
Togo scratched his head, "Umm… well, I was thinking of… umm…"
"You want to make Uekiya-chan fall in love with you, but you don't even have a plan."
Togo gripped his pants, "I'm a delinquent! I've never been in love and I've never tried to make someone like me before! I have no idea what I'm doing…"
"Have you even talked to her before?"
Togo's face turned red, "Well… not exactly…" Ayoshi gave him a look, causing him to avoid eye contact. "Ok! We've never talked, she doesn't even know who I am!"
"Then why do you like her?"
"I have a little brother and he isn't like me. He's a good kid, who wants to work hard in school and have a good life in the future. However, he's been having trouble in math, so my parents hired a tutor."
"Uekiya-chan?"
Togo nodded his head, "Mm, one day I came home and there she was. Her laugh rang throughout the house. It was so soft and sweet, like small bells. Her smile was so bright, making my heart fill with warmth. Before I would stay out late, but when she started coming over I came home earlier just to see her. She was so wonderful with my little brother. Sometimes she would stay later to play with him. Watching those two together made me so happy. I quickly fell in love with her and knew I had to win her over. Sadly, she doesn't tutor my brother anymore, so I barely get the chance to see her. I don't know what to do."
"You're a delinquent, right?"
"Well, that's a dumbass question, obviously!"
"If you want to win over Uekiya-chan, you're going to have to give that up."
Togo shot up from his slouching position. "What do you mean!?"
"Uekiya-chan is a sweet girl. She is not meant to be surrounded by a violent environment like that. Can you promise to always be there to protect her?"
Togo let out a groan as he ran his fingers through his hair. "How do I do that?"
"You're a part of Osoro's gang, right?"
"Yeah? What about it?"
"You need to go to him and tell him you're leaving the gang."
Togo started to panic, "I can't do that!"
"I can help you."
Togo's face scrunched into a doubtful look. "Really? How?"
Ayoshi gave him a nod, "I know him. We just need to talk to him."
Togo scratched his head in a nervous manner. "... fine."
Ayoshi put his bento back into his bag. "Ok, let's go."
"Ri-right now!?"
"Of course."
Togo grabbed onto Ayoshi's sleeve. "I'm… I'm not ready! I need time to mentally prepare!"
"It's important to get it done as soon as possible."
Togo let go of Ayoshi and groaned into his hands. "... ok…" He got up and dragged his feet as he followed Ayoshi to the back of the school.
Osoro leaned against the wall smoking a cigarette. A few of his lackeys surrounded him, seeming to be guarding him.
The two walked up to Osoro, and when they noticed Togo and they made a bigger opening for the two.
Osoro's gaze switched between Ayoshi and Togo. "Why are you two together?"
Togo looked back at Ayoshi with a frown, trying to communicate with his eyes. Ayoshi ignored him and just pushed him forward. He let out a huff and wiped the sweat off his brow. "Bo-boss I… have something to tell yo-you, I…"
Osoro frowned, growing irritated. "Spit it out!"
Togo couldn't hold it in anymore and shouted, "I want to leave the gang!"
Osoro furrowed his brows in confusion as the others dropped their weapons in shock. Before Osoro could get a word in, the others started bombarding Togo with questions. "Shut up," he shouted, scaring the others into snapping their mouths shut. After everything quieted down, he looked at Togo and asked, "Why?"
"I'm in love!"
Osoro's eyes sharpened with a cold light as he looked between Ayoshi and Togo. With a deep and terrifying voice, he asked, "Who is it?"
Togo started shaking with fear. "Her… her name is Uekiya Engeika!"
Osoro let out a loud breath from his nose. "You want to turn over a new leaf for this girl?"
Togo nodded his head so aggressively that it looked like it could fall off at any second. "I want to make myself a better man for her!"
Osoro lifted his hand, causing Togo to flinch. "I'm not going to hit you," he said as he patted Togo on the shoulder. "From today onwards, you are no longer part of my gang, but if you ever need anything in the future, you can come to us."
Togo's eyes started to water, "Really?"
The other delinquents started to speak up.
"Of course! We've been through so much together."
"You're our friend, that isn't going to change because you're leaving."
"Go win that girl, Togo!"
"We know you can do it."
Tears and snot started running down Togo's face. "You guys are the best! I love you guys so much," he said as he jumped into their arms.
They tried to get away, faces full of disgust. "Togo, you're getting snot all over us!"
While they were distracted, Osoro grabbed Ayoshi's hand and pulled him away. Once they were out of earshot, he turned to face Ayoshi and pulled him into his arms. He grabbed Ayoshi's face and made him look at him. "Don't scare me like that."
Ayoshi was held in a tight grip and he could only place his hands on Osoro's chest. "What do you mean?"
Osoro lowered his face towards Ayoshi, their breaths intertwining. He hoped his actions would make things obvious to Ayoshi, but all he did was give him a confused look. He gently tilted Ayoshi's head and pressed his lips to Ayoshi's ear. "God, when will you stop being so oblivious?"