Confession in the Evening

“That was fun!” Momo stretched her arms above her with a pleasant sigh as they left the aquarium.

The golden hues of the evening sky painted a warm backdrop, its gentle rays providing a comforting touch after spending the entire day within the confines of an air-conditioned building.

“It has been a long day,” Chiaki stifled a yawn, his fatigue evident. “I want to get some sleep.”

“Do we want to have dinner together?” Nanami suggested.

“I’ll have to pass… Food isn’t that important.” Chiaki shrugged.

“What are you talking about? Food is a basic necessity.”

“In the same vein, so is sleep,” Chiaki retorted, the beginnings of a friendly debate forming between them.

As the two debated which was more important, their friendly banter prompted Akari to release an amused chuckle, marveling at the spirited discussion about the comparative importance of sleep and sustenance. Ayano took on the role of a mediator, carefully navigating the conversation to prevent it from escalating into a full-blown disagreement.

“Aki, Aki,” Momo covertly gestured toward Akari with her hand, beckoning him to join her by a quaint bench beneath the gentle glow of a street lamp. Settling onto the bench, Momo leaned back, her form relaxed against the support.

Her movements were infused with a mix of hesitance and embarrassment, her gaze flitting toward Akari as if seeking a way to broach a delicate topic. After a deep, fortifying breath, she finally spoke, her voice soft and quivering with uncertainty.

“Y-you’ve been friends with Chiaki for a while, haven’t you?” She began.

“Since middle school,” Akari nodded, affirming her inquiry. Seizing the unspoken cue, Momo gestured for him to lean in closer. With a shared conspiratorial air, she leaned forward, casting a quick glance at the others before mustering her courage.

“D-do you know what type of girl he likes?” Momo’s question hung in the air, tinged with a blend of anticipation and vulnerability. Akari furrowed his brows thoughtfully, his hand gently resting against his chin in contemplation.

“Chiaki? That’s a hard one…” He mused, oblivious to the true nature of Momo’s question. “Honestly, he’s not one to openly discuss that sort of thing. He does, however, enjoy pestering me about who I find attractive…”

“D-do you think he would like someone like me?” Momo asked, a flicker of hope dancing in her eyes.

“Huh? You?” The realization hit Akari like a sudden gust of wind, his eyes widening with newfound understanding.

“Do you like Chiaki—” Panicked, Momo sprang to her feet and swiftly covered Akari’s mouth with both hands, her gaze pleading with him to remain discreet. As her hands dropped away, a bashful smile played upon her lips, and she regarded Akari with a mix of anxiety and anticipation.

“P-please don’t tell anyone…”

“What are you two talking about?” Ayano asked as she strolled over.

“N-nothing!” Momo flustered, standing up straight. “I’m sorry, Ayano. I didn’t mean to borrow your boyfriend for this long!”

“B-boyfriend?” Ayano said, becoming flustered herself.

“Please don’t get the wrong idea! I wasn’t confessing to him or anything! Well, I was but—”

“The more you say, the more confusing it gets, Momo,” Akari interjected with a resigned sigh. Momo shut her mouth upon hearing this and nodded her head.

“In any case, I have absolutely no intentions of dating Aki!” She stated confidently. Ayano’s demeanor shifted to one of bashful uncertainty.

“Well, that’s good to know, but actually, we’re not dating,” Ayano sheepishly replied.

“You’re not?” Momo tilted her head. “When Nanami mentioned that Aki was bringing a girl, I assumed you were his girlfriend.”

“Aki’s cute but his personality is a bit rough around the edges,” Ayano let out a sheepish smile.

“I don’t know if I should feel complimented or insulted…” Akari mumbled.

“That’s kind of a shame,” Momo let out a sigh. “You two look good together.”

Before Akari could reply, he felt Chiaki place an arm on his shoulder.

Akari swiftly countered by playfully nudging his friend's chest, causing Chiaki to take an exaggerated step backward. “As if.”

“How rude,” Chiaki feigned indignation, though a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

“Did you two reach an agreement?” Ayano asked about their earlier debate.

“We decided to agree to disagree,” Nanami answered before an exasperated yawn unintentionally slipped out, providing Chiaki with ammunition.

“See?! Sleep is more important!” He triumphantly pointed out. Yet, before Nanami could retort, a rumbling growl emerged from Chiaki's stomach, robbing him of his victorious stance and painting his cheeks a telltale shade of red.

“What was that about sleep being more important?” Nanami couldn’t resist a smug smirk.

“Can we please stop discussing sleep and food?” Momo interjected, clearly annoyed. “You two have triggered both my hunger and sleepiness now.”

“Momo’s right,” Nanami concurred, her gaze drifting upward to the sky’s golden hues. “I think it’s time we headed home.”

“Please pardon me for leaving first then,” Chiaki excused himself with a weary sigh. He doubled over slightly, a mixture of exhaustion and hunger tugging at him. “I really need to recharge.”

“I’ll see you all soon then!”

“Goodbye!”

“Bai bai!”

With quick goodbyes exchanged, the group dispersed. Ayano and Akari were left behind, strolling home together. But something halted Akari in his tracks, diverting his attention from following Ayano.

“Aki?” she called as she glanced back over her shoulder.

“Ah, you go on ahead. I have to do something first,” Akari flashed her a reassuring smile. Ayano nodded and began to leave.

With Ayano resuming her departure, Akari took a deep breath before dashing toward a dimly lit alley. He knew the two individuals he was seeking were nearby, and he couldn't let the opportunity slip to confront them.

“Where did he go?!” Naoki’s voice echoed with disbelief, his eyes scanning their surroundings for any sign of Akari’s presence.. “He was just here a minute ago!”

“How would I know?” Ryoichi let out a sigh, sounding rather annoyed and perplexed. “Why are we even doing this?”

“Because Akari is here on a date,” Naoki replied, still trying to spot the young gangster. Ryoichi cast a brief glance at Naoki, seeking further clarification.

“Allow me to rephrase my question: Why am I doing this?” Ryoichi inquired with a touch of frustration in his voice.

“Because I said I’ll give you these,” Naoki held up a manila folder. Three photographs slipped from the folder and landed in Ryoichi’s palm.

A snapshot of Akari peacefully sleeping, another of him donning a stylish leather jacket posing like an actor, and one capturing him embarrassingly on the grass floor soaked during a water fight.

“T-t-t-these are—” Ryoichi’s face glimmered like a perverted idol-adorer but Naoki swiftly snatched the pictures back, concealing them within the folder.

“I’ll give them to you after today,” Naoki remarked, sliding the photographs back into their protective enclosure.

“Give what to Ryoichi?” Akari asked from behind them. The two other gangsters jumped up, taken aback by his sudden appearance.

“A-Akari,” Naoki gave a sheepish smile. “What a coincidence meeting you here!”

“Yeah! A coincidence…” Ryoichi half-heartedly played along with Naoki’s act. Despite their attempt to maintain the act, it was clear that Akari had caught them off guard.

“Drop the act,” Akari crossed his arms. “I know you two have been following me today.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…” Naoki placed a hand on the back of his head.

“I think you do.”

“Ryoichi, help me out here!” Naoki muttered to the repairman, tempting him by showing a glimpse of the photos. Akari’s eyes widened upon realizing what goods Naoki had.

“Hand that over!” He shot a finger at the folder.

“What? You mean these?” Naoki raised an eyebrow innocently. With a theatrical flourish, he revealed the manila envelope. Akari lunged to grab it, but Naoki nimbly danced away, eluding his attempts with a playful smirk.

“You can have them if you can get them!” Naoki taunted, keeping the folder just out of Akari’s reach.

Akari clenched his teeth, preparing for his move. He leaped with all his might but Naoki effortlessly sidestepped his assault, sending Akari sprawling forward, unable to halt his momentum. He crashed into someone abruptly.

“Watch where you're going, pipsqueak!” The stranger’s voice carried a venomous edge as he forcefully pushed Akari to the ground. Before Akari could react, Naoki swiftly intervened, bending down to check on his fallen friend as he crouched on the pavement.

“Akari, are you alright?!” Naoki stood between Akari and the hooligans while Akari eyed the man with an angry stare.

“Hey! What are you guys doing to him?! Ryoichi shouted as he positioned himself between the three strangers and his fellow gangsters in the dim alleyway.

“Vipers…” Naoki’s voice dropped to a hushed whisper as he recognized the snake tattoos. The name alone carried a weight of danger and unease.

“Young master, these guys seem familiar,” the other man in the black leather jacket whispered, concern etched across his features.

“Is that so?” The figure at the center responded calmly, his face obscured by the shadows of the alley. His voice seemed familiar to Akari but he couldn’t recognize who.

“We must deal with them now,” Naoki urged in a hushed tone. “Before things escalate further.”

“Naoki, don’t interfere,” Ryoichi muttered over his shoulder, a touch of frustration in his voice. “Have you not learned anything from the river incident?”

“Ah! He’s the guy from that fight with the Tiger gang!” The man who had knocked Akari down remembered their faces.

"You must be mistaken," Ryoichi’s face darkened, his voice strained. his gaze fixed on the ground. “My friends work at the same office I do.”

Refusing to back down, the man’s hostility escalated, his voice dripping with venomous certainty. “Don't lie to us. I recognize both of you! The ones behind you are definitely members of the Tiger gang!”

With a forceful shove, he attempted to push Ryoichi aside, closing in on Akari and Naoki with intent.

“Don’t you dare touch him!” Ryoichi’s protective instincts surged forth, his fist instinctively lashing out to defend his friend. However, the agile Viper member evaded the blow and swiftly retaliated, delivering a devastating knee strike to Ryoichi’s stomach. Pain pierced through Ryoichi’s body, forcing him to crumple forward and collapse onto the unforgiving pavement.

“You bastards!” Naoki sprang to his feet, striking out at the man closest to him. He connected with a punch, sending the man stumbling backward. However, consumed by his fury, Naoki overlooked the other Viper member, who swiftly landed a blow to his leg with a metal baton, causing him to collapse.

"Ryoichi! Naoki!" Akari's cry of concern was abruptly cut short as the other Viper member launched a vicious kick. The impact stole his breath, leaving him vulnerable and disoriented.

“Finally, we can get some payback,” he sneered, his words laced with malicious satisfaction as he leaned over Akari. The weight of their previous encounters hung heavily in the air, filling the moment with a dangerous mix of fear and trepidation.

“Leave him alone,” the voice from the center spoke with authority, causing the other Viper members to halt.

“Yes, young master!”

A hand extended down, offering assistance to Akari. As the young boy’s eyes traveled upward, they fell upon a serpent tattoo that coiled around the stranger's forearm. When Akari’s gaze finally reached the figure’s face, his eyes widened.

“Akari Inmura,” Shinji had a calm smile on his face. “What a coincidence meeting you here.”