Confronting Shinji Akihara

 The sounds of excited cheering filled the air on a sunny day during gym class. Underneath the cloudless blue sky, the students’ eyes glimmered as they admired the transfer student maneuvering the soccer ball across the field as if guiding his opponents through a swift dance. Planting his foot on the goalkeeper’s line, Shinji pulled his foot back before shooting toward the white goalpost. The ball curved towards the corner, missing the goalie’s hands before striking the back of the net.

His teammates ran up to him, giving their ace player high fives while a few resting girls cheered Shinji on for another goal. He wiped the seat off his forehead with the top of his white T-shirt while sharing his charismatic smile.

But while the entire class was caught up in the excitement, Akari was intensely staring at the blue-haired boy as he sat by the sidelines in silence. The young gangster was more focused on the questions that lingered in his head rather than the soccer match.

Throughout the entire first half of the day, Akari had his gaze focused on the rival gangster. If his eyes could kill, the young boy would have bored holes through Shinji’s head with the intensity of his staring.

But despite all his undivided attention toward the rival gangster, Shinji remained his usual charismatic self. Either he was completely oblivious to Akari’s deadly glare or he was intentionally ignoring him while diligently taking notes throughout class or conversing with their classmates.

“Team One, switch out with Team Four!” Their gym teacher instructed. Slowly, Akari stood up to enter the field. As he switched out with Shinji, they exchanged a quick glance as they passed by. Akari eyed him suspiciously as Shinji smiled back, their positions now reversed.

Shinji Akihara. There was something Akari didn’t like about him but he couldn’t explain the unsettling feeling. Perhaps it was because the popular school prince was also the young master of the Viper gang but Akari’s gut feeling didn’t believe that was the case.

The troubled gangster recalled the meeting with his gang the day after the nightclub confrontation. Ryoichi had reported the incident to Yuuta who brought them into a carpeted room along with Naoki. The four of them sat around a low wooden table on white cushions with a grave glare trying to come up with a solution. While Yuuta and Ryoichi appeared very concerned, Akari felt somewhat confused as he nibbled upon a square cookie.

"You should take this more seriously, Aka-cchi. Shinji's knowledge about you poses a serious danger to us," Yuuta scolded him as the young gangster reached out for another snack.

“How dangerous could one boy be?” Naoki let out an amused huff. “Just give that snake a taste of his own medicine!”

"We mustn’t act without planning,” Ryoichi gently placed a hand on his stomach, “The Viper gang is known for their ruthless tactics. We need to approach this situation with caution.”

“Back at square one again then!” Naoki groaned, bored of this seemingly stupid meeting. “We’re just wasting time! Get rid of the boy!”

“Don’t forget you are the one who riled them up in the first place,” Yuuta warned as he glared at the laid-back troublemaker. Despite his calm tone, his malicious eyes immediately shut Naoki up as the room fell into silence.

Hearing a gentle clicking sound, Akari turned around as the grid-patterned door slid open. With another plate of cookies held in her hands, Misha entered the room, commanding attention with her presence.

“Forgive my intrusion,” she murmured, her voice as smooth as silk. “But I may have information that could aid you in this looming conflict.”

All eyes turned to Misha, their curiosity piqued. She strolled over to the table and formally switched out the empty green plate with hers.

“Why don't you simply become friends with him?” Misha suggested with a nonchalant tone. The others collapsed to the ground upon hearing such a normal statement.

“That's the useful information you have?!” Naoki countered, clearly unimpressed. “It sucks!”

“Or does it?” Yuuta began to ponder, placing his hand on his chin. Akari glanced at him, uncertain of what he was thinking.

“Think about it,” Yuuta explained. “If Aka-cchi can become friends with Shinji, why would he hurt him? Furthermore, both of them are in gangs, so it wouldn't make sense for him to expose Akari's secret anyway. We might even have leverage if we were to reveal his secret.”

“But that sounds just like what the man wants in the first place!” Ryoichi countered.

“That doesn't matter,” Yuuta declared firmly and turned his attention toward Akari. "Misha is right. Befriending Shinji could ensure your safety. Besides, from what you've told me, you've already met him before, and you have his number from the group chat, right?"

Akari glanced away, unsure about the plan as he reached out for another cookie. “That is true, but... I don't like him.”

“This isn't a matter of whether you like him or not, Aka-cchi,” Yuuta grasped Akari's shoulders causing the young boy to drop his treat. “The fate of your personal life rests upon this! Got it?!”

“G-Got it…”

Despite the concluding decision, Akari still didn’t know how to approach Shinji. Due to his handsome face and charismatic personality, the transfer student had become the most popular student in his class. In order to talk to Shinji, Akari would have to navigate his way through all the swooned students around the smiling boy. That itself felt like a tedious challenge.

“Look out!” Before Akari could react to the warning, the ball struck him straight on his head. He fell to the ground, feeling his face burn from the impact. As he sat up on the grassy field, Akari saw an extended hand reach out toward him.

“Are you alright?” Ayano asked with a concerned stare. Her hair had been tied back into a similar ponytail to when Akari saw her at the restaurant. It felt strange seeing her so close in the same hairstyle now, offering help rather than being annoyed by his presence. As he caught himself staring, Akari glanced down at the rustling grass to clear his mind before accepting her hand.

“You look a bit red, maybe you should take a break,” Ayano suggested while gesturing towards the wash basin. The embarrassed gangster gave a shy nod before he stumbled away from the game. As usual, Akari could feel his eyes upon him but while the rumored gangster was used to his classmates’ stares, this was a new type of stare altogether. An embarrassed one.

♦_______✭❀✭_______♦

Akari angrily grumbled to himself as he turned on the metal faucet. Cool spring water flowed into the turquoise-blue basin, sparkling under the bright sun. He cupped his hands allowing a small pool to form before splashing it over his face.

“That must have hurt,” Shinji called out. Akari lifted his head away from the basin to see the sportive student standing by the basin with his arms crossed.

“I’m fine,” Akari lowered his head back down. “I was just caught off guard.”

“I meant being mocked,” Shinji smiled at him. “It doesn’t feel nice to have people laugh behind your back.”

“People only ever seem to be scared of me so I don’t mind being laughed at for once,” Akari replied with a pondering thought. He stared at the resumed game where his classmates were all smiling as the ball was passed around between them. “I can at least have them view me differently.”

“I can see why your friends call you cute,” Shinji chuckled, causing Akari to splash water into his eyes. “You’re like a deer lost in headlights when you’re thinking. But it sure is strange. I had thought you didn’t care what others thought about you.”

“This isn’t about that!” He shouted a bit too abruptly as he felt his face flush red. “Just how do you know so much about me?!”

“Know how you’re cute? By simply looking at you.” Shinji continued to play with the boy. His statements worked effectively against Akari as he began to stammer with his words, confused by Shinji’s strange compliments.

“You clearly don’t like being treated that way,” Shinji acknowledged but his devious smile indicated no stop to his teasing.

“Whatever you’re trying to do, it’s not going to work!” Akari stomped over to Shinji until he was up in his face. The two glared at one another in silence with only the soft breeze rustling their hair.

Akari finally snapped out of his fury as he heard a startled gasp. Glancing to the side, Akari noticed Ayano was standing just a few feet away from them with a concerned expression.

“Sorry! Am… Am I interrupting?” Ayano asked with her hands held up against her chest. Akari noticed that she was holding a cold compress.

“Class president,” Shinji let out a breath, “You’re not interrupting. Inmura-kun and I were just having a friendly chat.”

“Is that so..?” Ayano wasn’t too sure based on the two’s close proximity.

“Don’t worry, he’s all yours.” Shinji chuckled as he turned to leave. With his hands in his pockets, the Viper gangster strolled back towards the soccer field. The red-haired gangster kept his gaze on Shinji with a scowl. There was no way on earth Akari was ever going to be his friend.

“You don’t seem to get along with Akihara-kun,” Ayano cautiously walked over to the basin and handed Akari the cold compress. The young boy let out a sigh as he held the ice pack against his forehead.

“I just don’t get along with guys like him,” Akari pouted. “I can never tell what he’s thinking.”

“Do you like reading people?” Ayano glanced at him with her curiosity piqued. “Hey, can you figure out what I’m thinking of right now?”

“I’m not a mind reader,” Akari ignored her request as he lowered the cold compress. “It’s just body language.”

“That’s still very impressive,” Ayano's eyes glimmered. “Is that a skill you learn from being a gangster—”

“Please, not in public!” Akari placed a finger in front of his lips, indicating for her to be quiet.

“Oh, sorry, that was my bad.” Ayano giggled playfully, completely disregarding his concerns. Akari let out a sigh.

“About Akihara-kun, why don’t you give him a chance?” Ayano asked as she returned their conversation to Shinji.

“I…” Akari’s voice trailed off as he couldn’t find a plausible excuse.

“You know, I gave you a chance,” Ayano told him as she twirled around. “I had believed you were a scary dangerous gangster like the rumors said. And while it is true that you’re a gangster, you’re nothing like I had expected. Akari-kun is a sweet boy who cares deeply for his friends and enjoys childish things.”

“Childish is a bit much…” The young gangster pouted. Ayano giggled as she stared outside at the cherry blossoms in the afternoon sun.

“Maybe, but the real you is far different than what I would have thought of you if I never gave you a chance.” She slowly turned her attention from the scenery to stare into Akari’s eyes with a warm smile. “And I sure am glad to have gotten to know you, Akari-kun.”

Akari stared back, unsure about how to reply before glancing away shyly.

“I guess…” He let out a sigh, “I can give Akihara-kun a chance.”

“As I’d thought, Akari-kun sure is kind.” Ayano smiled encouragingly.