'Ahh... That old man really screwed up my dinner plans...' Minoru fumed internally as he meandered through the lively streets, almost letting out an audible sigh of irritation before he even left the house.
[MINORU IMAGE]
"Oh wow! Check him out, he's hot!"
"Is that silver hair for real?!"
"Does he model or something...!?"
"I'm totally falling for him... I need his digits..."
These were just a few of the whispers floating around as various women ogled the visibly annoyed Minoru ambling along with his hands shoved deep in his pockets.
"Ah... Hello..." he muttered half-heartedly, only to be met with a chorus of delighted screams.
'Jesus, desperate much? As if I'd ever go for old hags like you! Try again when you're at least Shiori's size,' Minoru scoffed to himself, brushing off their advances with a blend of disdain and haste.
He had a type, clearly: young, petite, definitely closer to his age... Well, more like his sister's age. But right now, his only mission, albeit reluctantly accepted, was to track down his sister, not navigate through an unwanted admirer minefield.
As Minoru waddled through the bustling city streets, a whimsical thought crossed his mind, 'Ahh... Shiori, so young and naive, yet possessing a heart so pure it could mend this battlefield of a heart, strewn with the shards of countless defeats. If only you weren't my sister, and maybe just a tad older, I'd have no doubt in winning over your heart,' The young man shamelessly thought as he walked through the crowded streets of the big city.
Eager anticipation tugged at him, the thought of returning to her warm smile a comforting beacon. Yet, the reality that she'd likely be asleep by the time he returned cast a shadow over his spirits. This meant he'd be welcomed not by her gentle presence but by the disdainful sight of him... that detestable old man.
'You miserable excuse for a father... How I loathe you. Just disappear already... Well, since Shiori likes you, disappear only for me, somehow.' he silently cursed, his frustration boiling over into a silent plea to the skies above.
Deciding he had aimlessly wandered the streets long enough, Minoru resolved it was time to track down Sakura. But then, a critical snag hit him —
'Now, what was that address she mentioned over the phone? 46-Root Beer-something...?' he wracked his brain. 'Ahhhh...! It's completely slipped my mind... Now I'm doomed to check every '46th' street around here!!! Aaaahh.... I should have run after her, I thought I had the address completely figured-ouuttttttttt.... Why is my life like this...? Kill my self already...' The realization sank in as he lost strength in his knees.
Meanwhile, at the oh so illusive mixer...
"Aniki's brother! She ended up calling me! She said she wanted to come after all! I told you, I have some great charms!" Gon exclaimed with pride to Yuuno.
"Aha... I told you I wasn't interested in that girl," Yuuno replied nonchalantly.
"What..? Why? She's one of the most popular girls in school," Gon argued.
"If she agreed so easily," Yuuno said aloud, then thinking to himself 'To an ape like you,' "She probably isn't worth all that much. Just a closeted slut or something. Not my style. Be more mindful of who you invite... Gon," he muttered, visibly reluctant as he uttered his name.
"Ah... I see... But isn't her being slutty a good thing!? We're here to have fun, and since you're aniki's brother, we're gonna make sure you have the best time of your life here!" Gon said enthusiastically, signaling Konro to agree.
"Y-yeah..." Konro reluctantly agreed.
Yuuno mentally sighed, "...As I pointed out already, I'm not interested. I'm going elsewhere. But since you insist on her and the other chicks you invite being slutty, you don't mind if I invite my friends to this, right? They also want to have their fun, after all," Yuuno said uninterestedly as he pulled out his phone, typing.
"Uh... N-no... But we really wanted to hang out with you! Since you're aniki's brother and all—"
"One more thing," Yuuno interjected abruptly, startling Gon and Konro.
"W-what is it...?" Gon asked nervously.
"My name is Yuuno. Not 'Aniki's brother.' If you really respect my older brother that much, and in turn, ME, address me as Aniki as well," Yuuno demanded firmly.
"W-what...? But we call Sendo-kun just Sendo-kun and he doesn't min—" Gon started, his expression confused.
"Do I look like him? Do I resemble my younger... sibling for you to extend the same lousy courtesy you do him, to ME?" Yuuno interrupted, his voice laced with disdain as he raised his voice, clearly annoyed at the mention of Sendo's name.
"A-Ani... B-bro... We didn't mean it like that!! It's just that Aniki said that—"
"You're still arguing. I told you to do something, and you're still arguing..." Yuuno menaced, his demeanor becoming imposing as he began towering over the two.
"S-sorry..!! Aniki... We're sorry!!" Gon and Konro apologized hastily, their voices trembling.
Yuuno breathed deeply, his frustration simmering beneath the surface. "At least you're willing to learn... Even if it takes a while," he muttered, his words hanging heavy in the air.
Silence greeted his statement, neither Gon nor Konro offering any response.
"Well, I'll be off," Yuuno announced, turning around and exiting the mixer room, closing the door behind him with a definitive click.
"What's his problem!? He was about to beat us up for nothing!!" Konro exclaimed immediately, his voice edged with confusion and frustration.
"Dumbass! Don't you know?! Aniki's brother was apparently in a juvenile facility for his entire high school until this point. We have to be patient with him, he was in a very troubled environment," Gon explained, his tone tinged with exasperation.
Konro's face contorted in disbelief at Gon's revelation, his expression bordering on cartoonish.
"HUUUUH!?" Konro exclaimed loudly, startling Gon.
"W-what!?" Gon responded, taken aback by Konro's outburst.
"Since when do you care about someone's environment if they act like an ass around you?!!" Konro retorted, his frustration evident.
"Since this is Aniki's brother!! Don't start with me now over basic knowledge, Kon! The girls are about to show up! Be mature for once?" Gon shot back, his patience wearing thin.
"Oh, here they are! This is your chance to actually get some, Kon," Gon added, attempting to divert the conversation.
"*I* need to be mature...?" Konro muttered to himself, his frustration evident as he clenched his fist, a vein throbbing on his forehead as he forced a strained smile. 'Coming from a gorrila like you!?'
He then sighed, "Whatever..."
Konro reluctantly opened the doors as two girls and four more guys arrived.
"Takagi-chan isn't here... Well, she did call late, so it would take a while until she's here..." Gon remarked, his attention shifting to the newcomers.
'Wait. Aniki's brother also said that his friends are also coming... He invited girls, right? Just girls, right...!?' Gon realized a little too late, a flicker of concern crossing his mind about this potential 'issue'.
Amid the bustling city vibes, another figure was weaving through the eventful evening.
"Aight! Time ta' hit up this mixer an' see if she's alright!" Sendo blurted out, his steps echoing on the concrete as he made his way through the city maze.
"If only I knew which mixer Takagi-senpai hit up, it'd be a whole lot easier," he mumbled to himself, brows knitted in thought.
-----FLASHBACK------
"...So yes, Sendo. I need your help.. Please," Yuuto's voice came through the phone, laced with an urgency that was out of character.
'Please? Ain't like senpai to play nice. Must be big. Are dey a thing?' Sendo pondered, tuning in more closely.
"Sure, senpai. Any idea where she might be, tho?" Sendo asked, curiosity sparked.
"...Nope. She mentioned she's at a karaoke spot, so probably some mixer in the city," Yuuto offered, his words veiled in mystery.
Yuuto (Thinking): 'Can't spill I went through her profile and Gon's to draft a list of spots. That'd be spilling too much tea, even for Sendo.'
"Ah, cool. I'll sniff her out. Laters, senpai," Sendo wrapped up the call, cutting off Yuuto's attempt to add, "Wait, Sendo, try checkin' mixers near the Water—"
"Shoot, battery's 'bout to kick it. Better shut this down 'fore it does," Sendo muttered, ending the call prematurely, missing Yuuto's parting advice.
-------END----------------
"Aw well," Sendo exhaled, steeling himself for the challenge as he set off to comb the city for that elusive mixer.
Weaving through the crowd, Sendo's adventure took a sudden turn as he bumped into someone leaned against a wall, deep in thought. He stumbled but managed to save himself from a fall, arms outstretched.
"Hey, little kid!! Eyes on the road... Can't this poor, troubled soul, pick out the perfect building to jump off from in peace?" the stranger retorted lazily, hardly bothered by the bump.
'...A homeless dude?' Sendo wondered briefly, taking in the stranger's silver locks, his lazily-put clothes and his loose sandals. His mission momentarily forgotten.