The questionably happy cheers raised in mass as conflict riled up the front lines and made its way to the back. The rivals notoriously gathered at a rusty basketball court in downtown Edogawa, one hidden between apartment complexes—which at this point have been abandoned—but the gangs could no longer stay within boundaries. Kip had an ugly fear of crowds, but that side of him had been numbed with all the other stress that knotted into his stomach. For this moment, he had to ignore all of his worries and inherit the confidence that Eliu carried. 

He straightened his shoulders and strode through the middle of the crowd, set in a direction with his intent eyes. He created his own path, rather than asking for permission, and they listened without command. As his side began to lower to a normal volume, the rival gang dropped quiet. From a few rows behind, he already recognized the co-executive controlling the other side, who stood on top of a stool to heighten himself above everyone else.

“This is all you got? Hah! Is this even a fight?” he shouted above the rumbles. He was ready to call off the attacks when the stool was kicked from underneath him. He flailed backwards and hit his back against the wired fence. As he opened his eyes, his vision dimmed from the sight of Kip towering above him.

“We won’t be doing this today.”

“What?”

Instead of explaining, Kip’s pointed face was left unyielding with loose strands of his slicked back hair shadowing his eyes. He turned around and almost entered the crowd that became eerily quiet when the man spoke again.

“And who are you?” he seethed with a newly provoked voice. Kip met him once more as he picked himself up from the ground, slapping off the gravel on his arms.

He debated answering for a second. “Kip,” he said, retaining his unwavering expression.

“Huh?” He laughed. “What sorta name—you pushed my gang out of your way? Are you offerin’ to die first?” 

The mocking was inept to Kip at this point. It was a worthless name to him. Albeit everyone used it offensively, so it was a good buffer from a real insult. The real thing that set him off, shoving the man up against the wall, was for not listening. This caused both crowds to start yelling—one was irked, and the other was cheering.

He grappled Kip’s wrists and built up all his fiery into strength. “Oh, you really got a death wish you little—” The sound of a girl idol interrupted his threat, singing sweetly to a sparkly jingle. The rumbling from the crowd fell again.

Bop bop bop! You’ve fallen for my love again!

Bop bi bop! Take this kiss to make you mine!

Snickers replaced the tense atmosphere. Everyone looked around to find the source, but Kip could feel the vibrations. He released the man from his grasp and walked the other direction. The man cleared his throat and tried to discreetly answer his phone, but when he removed it from his pocket, the ringtone grew louder. He hurried to press the button. “Yes, sir?”

“Call off the clash. We’re getting ambushed by another gang.”

His jaw dropped, his stare tailing Kip before he was swallowed by the crowd. “Yes, sir…” he muttered under his breath.

The person told him a few more details until he ended the call. He dropped his hand to his side, his lips firming up as he thought back to what just happened. Maybe they won’t be doing this today.

“Get outta here! Who ordered you to come over?!” Sumati exclaimed as her fingertip pointed to the direction she saw the CRK members come from. 

“B-Banlue told us to,” the lone member responded with his trembling wrists rubbing against each other.

“Well he ain’t good with directions! Go tell your little friends to get out!” She shook her hand violently to emphasize her words.

He nodded as if his life depended on it, then darted away in the instant she let him go. The others followed after him. She sighed a breath of exasperation. 

It was really a gamble whether Eliu would notice her absence. From what she experienced working undercover previously, guys would either take two seconds or ten minutes in the bathroom—no in between. If they stayed any longer though, it would ruin her disguise had anyone recognized her. She was not expecting to be yelling at a bunch of rookies on her date.

Sumati scrunched up her hair and combed it downwards as she returned inside. When she returned to the table, she instinctively took two steps back as she found Eliu waiting there. She covered her mouth, ready to get on her knees and apologize profusely, but she was taken off guard by the change of hopelessness to light in his eyes.

“You came back?” he asked. He seemed baffled by the idea.

“Yeah..?” she asked back. “I had to get my cash. I forgot it in my car,” she laughed her lie right off.

“Oh…” He laughed with her, scratching his head. “I thought you stood me up. I shouldn’t be assumin’, I guess.” 

Her brows pushed up to the ceiling in a slant. He came off so confident, with comments he judged himself to be compliments, yet… he was really a little puppy, in her eyes. 

“I’m sorry! I should’ve just told you.” She smiled, setting her purse down as she took her seat. “Let’s continue our date,” she said assuredly.

“Okay.” Eliu grinned with anticipation. Now she couldn’t erase it from her head. He was definitely a puppy.