Manda jerked abruptly as he stared at Shoto, somewhat agitated, frowning. 

“What’s the problem with you today...” 

“I got it from the guys at the hideout, you know I always go there after school, what's your problem?”  

Shoto sighed, staring pitifully at Manda without speaking a word. Manda huffed in response to his further remark. 

“Oh, I see what is...” 

“You don’t like this lifestyle now?”  

“You changed, ever since you started going to that snobby ass middle school.” 

Shoto's eyelids fell and shook as he clutched firmly onto the pack of cigarettes in his grasp. Under his breath, loud enough for Manda to hear, he murmured. 

“Yasei-ji...you’re a kid...we are just kids...” 

“I know..you may not believe it but we are.."

"I learned that from seeing everyone around me at school, seeing them with their normal families...” 

Manda's eyes gradually widened as the traffic lights in front of them flashed incessantly. His eyes narrowed as he disagreed. 

“We aren’t like those kids, you know that...” 

“You can’t view our lives through their eyes.”  

“That’s just not how the world works, everyone is born into different families with different parents...we just have to live with what we have...” 

Manda hissed and clenched his palm into a fist and continued his ranting. 

“We are a part of the Yakuza by birthright. We don’t get to choose our paths...we don’t go against father’s will, we don’t disobey him, we don’t go against the gang, we don’t go against the rules of the family and we don’t look down on our lifestyle...” 

Manda’s eyes narrowed as he exclaimed to Shoto.  

“You know this...this is just how it is older brother.”  

Shoto shifted his gaze to Manda, speaking as a light illuminated his eyes. 

“What if...what if we could choose our own paths?” 

“What if we didn’t have to be a part of the Yakuza?”  

“Wouldn’t that be exciting...?”  

As he proceeded, he put his right hand on Manda's shoulder, a tiny smile on his face, emanating a faint sense of optimism. 

“There is much more to life than living in the shadows."

"I want to be in the light, to have a diversity of experiences... I wish I could be myself...” 

Shoto and Manda locked gazes as he proceeded to rant at his frightened younger brother. 

“I want to live...I want to make my own choices without asking...I just want to be free...I want to be happy.”  

Manda's eyes trembled as he spoke, destroying each and every notion Shoto had. 

“Wake up to your reality...” 

“That’s just a dream.” 

“A dream, nothing else.”  

Shoto's smile vanished instantly as everything went dark again, his eyes losing their life as he came to the understanding, gently agreeing. 

“Ah...yeah..” 

“It is huh? Nothing but a faint dream.” 

Shoto's hand was withdrawn from Manda's shoulder as he felt Manda's hand gripping his, informing in a concerned tone. 

“Make sure you don’t say anything like this to father.” 

“You know what will happen if you disobey him...you live in the main house, so you know him even more than I do, big brother.”  

Shoto's eyes quiver as terror gripped every bone in his body, compelling him to clutch Manda's hand firmly in a comforting grip as he reassured. 

“I won’t...it was just a thought...nothing else...” 

“I’m not that stupid.”  

Shoto's eyelids drooped slightly with sadness as he grasped the strap of his duffle bag over his shoulder and exclaimed. 

“I need to get home before 9 pm..or I’m going to get in trouble...”  

“Let’s not waste any more time here...”  

Manda gave a tiny nod as he inquired cynically. 

“Alright, can I have my pack of smokes back though?” 

Shoto walked ahead as he instantly debunked. 

“No way.” 

As Shoto approached the main house's front gate, he saw eight underlings inside guarding the home as they normally do. The gate was enormous, with a gold-lined inside and a black foundation. As he spoke to Manda, Shoto sighed. 

“Well, I’m off, tell everyone at the second house I said hello.”  

Manda gave a modest nod as he proceeded along the street, waving at Shoto who stood behind him, uttering. 

“See ya.”  

Shoto stood outside for a while with his fingers trembling; he leaned slightly against the brick wall, his palms on his face, sighed, and mumbled. 

“I don’t want to go in...”  

“I’m scared...I don’t know which side of him I’m going to get tonight...” 

The gate creaked slightly as it opened, and a lanky gentleman emerged, locking the gate behind him as he drew a cigarette from his pocket and lit it, placing the bud between his lips and gently inhaling and exhaling. He cocked his head to the side, catching a glimpse of Shoto caressing his own face. 

“Oi” 

Shoto gently removed his head from his palm, his eyes widening slightly as his cheeks flustered, he stood upright as he said faintly in slight disbelief. 

“Kagayaku...” 

Kagayaku blew smoke from his lips as he raised his free hand in greeting. 

“Babe.” 

Shoto's eyes widened as he dashed towards the well-dressed guy in full leather. He wasted no time leaping onto Kagayaku, causing the man to stumble slightly as he clutched Shoto firmly. Shoto's breath trembled as his eyes watered and he yelled. 

“Yaku...” 

“Yaku-San..!” 

Yaku embraced Shoto tightly as he felt the youngster rest his head in his neck; Shoto hugged Yaku's neck as he sobbed slightly and exclaimed. 

“W-what are you doing here?”  

“When did you get back to Tokyo...?” 

The guy chuckled faintly as he dropped his cigarette on the gravel, placing his feet against it as he lightly caressed Shoto's back, addressing him gently. 

“I came to see you; I finished my duties in Osaka.”  

“Finally.”  

Shoto inhaled Yaku's aroma as his anxiety calmed, his face lit up with a small grin as he murmured into the guy's ear. 

“I missed you...” 

Yaku grinned slightly as he squeezed the lad even closer, gradually lowering Shoto to his feet to avoid drawing attention, informing. 

“You must have missed me a lot, I’ve never got this kind of welcome from you before.” 

Shoto glanced up at Yaku, his face flustered as he fondled his hands, replying with a slight stammer.  

“I-I...thought you weren’t coming back...” 

Yaku leaned forward as he smiled, taunting Shoto before insisting.  

“Nah... I finished early, just to see you.”  

“So how much did you miss me?” 

Shoto’s face flushed as he glanced away, pouting followed by a reply.  

“I’m not answering that.”  

Shoto scoffed as he muttered under his breath.  

“Fucking Asshole...”  

Yaku chuckled, leaning slightly forward, and whispered in Shoto's ear. 

“Let’s go somewhere a bit private, away from everyone, I need to talk to you.”  

“How bout my place?” 

Shoto grumbled as he ran his hand through his hair, shortly after stuffing his hands into the pockets of his school uniform, informing. 

“I can't...today, I shouldn’t even be out here right now.” 

“It’s almost past my curfew..are you trying to get me killed?” 

Yaku encircled Shoto's neck with his arm as he stood alongside him, peering down and exclaiming. 

“I’ll tell the boss you were with me; you know that’s an extra hour or two.” 

Shoto glanced up at Yaku as his eyes narrowed, ordering. 

“Call him now, what did you guys even talk about?” 

“You said your last job would be Osaka.” 

“You said after that, you’d go back to school...” 

Yaku scoffed at Shoto, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his phone, scrolling down the screen, the light reflecting off his piercings illuminating his face, speaking to Shoto.

“I’ll talk to you about it later.”  

“You didn’t even kiss me or anything, you must not have missed me-” 

Shoto's eyes lit up as he sprang to his toes, grabbed Yaku's face before he could register, passionately kissing him, Shoto squint his eyes shut as he slowly pulled away, exclaiming. 

“Sorry...I’m not in a good mood...” 

Yaku's cheeks flushed as he locked his gaze on Shoto in front of him, stunned. He lost no time in seizing Sho's face and pressing his lips to his. As tiny groans fled from their lips, Yaku put his arm around Shoto's waist, drawing the boy closer to him as he intensified their kiss. Shoto attempted to disentangle himself as his breath escaped. 

“Yaku-san..cameras...”  

Yaku pulled away slowly as he panted, locking gazes with Shoto’s eyes as he smirked faintly, uttering.  

“You really would make anyone lose their mind.” 

Yaku scoffed as he chuckled faintly, continuing.  

“You have me risking my life just to steal a kiss.” 

Shoto pulled from the kiss as his cheeks flushed and his ears became as red as a tomato. He went over to the side of the gate and picked up his duffle bag off the pavement. He took a stand as he looked behind him, placing the bag strap over his shoulder and commanding softly as his eyes furrowed.

“Call him...”  

Yaku approached Shoto as he stood in front of him, quickly grabbing the bag off his shoulders and carrying it for him as he suggested.

“Nah it's late, let’s just talk inside your room.” 

“I’m sure the boss will allow me in there.” 

“I didn’t notice your duffle bag, had training today?” 

Yaku continued by grabbing Shoto's chin and forcing him to gaze at him.

“You must be tired, wouldn’t make sense.” 

Shoto frowned as he huffed, muttering under his breath.  

“If he’s in a good mood...”