Chapter 6

The overground train rumbled on the tracks. Lucas waited on the train station nervously, his mind was moving too fast to pay attention to anything happening around him. He had asked Amaya to come with him to the prefecture meeting this weekend, it took him hours to send the text and waiting for her to reply felt like years. But she agreed.He knew logically it wasn't a date but it still felt like one. He had his hands in the pocket of his black jacket and his feet taped the floor anxious."The train will be arriving now, please stand behind the yellow lines."He took a deep breath combining his fingers through his messy hair, the train arrived causing the tracks to rumble again, he waited a few feet away looking at all the doors waiting to see her curly hair."Lucas!" He hears her before he could find her, she came running to him from his left with a big smile on her face. She was dressed simply in a pair of black leggings and a cropped hoodie. Her hair was braided into little braids and she looked so different.He felt better to see she had been eating well now. Her skin had regained it's luster and her bruises had mostly healed. She was still quite thin but at least now she didn't look like the wind could carry her at any second.He smiled waving at her to come to him."I hope I'm dressed ok, I didn't really know what to wear to a delinquent meeting." She said looking at herself."It's alright." He said coldly, she looked perfect, she looked so much better in clothes that fit her, her uniform was always awkwardly large on her.The two headed out of the station, she talked excited about what she had been up to, he only listened casually most of his attention was consumed with watching her.When he met Amaya he expected her to be afraid of him, his look was considered 'alternative' here despite it being pretty tame so most kids avoided him. He didn't blame them for what their society was like but it was isolating, and yet she didn't bat an eye when she saw him. It was silly but something like that warmed his heart a little. Like she didn't find him scary at all.They walked through their streets coming around to an abandoned construction site.The other students were already there. Three men were gathered around what looked like a tin fire. One of the men was squatting with a lollipop in mouth, he had such striking red hair she was immediately reminded of Riku's right hand man.The other was a guy with a buzz cut, he had a scar across his face and looked a bit older than the rest.The third looked quite prim and proper, he had a small English book in hand which he read while waiting for Lucas to arrive.Lucas led her to a central area where three other leaders were waiting. Each represented the four strongest schools in their prefecture. They eyed Lucas and Amaya; their gazes were quite fierce, even for teens.The guy with the buzz cut stepped forward. "Lucas, who's this?" he asked, his voice cold and authoritative."This is Amaya," Lucas replied. "She's with me."The boy's eyes narrowed as he studied Amaya. "You brought a girl to our meeting? Bold move.""Back off, I said she's with me." Lucas snarled, coming toe to toe with the scared student. 'Is it bad I'm enjoying this? Wow it's like a Tv show.'[I don't know what kind of Tv show comes with potential bodily harm]"The both of you stop the bullshit," a red-haired boy said, he had a casual look in his eyes like he didn't really care about anything happening. "It's just a girl. Have you never seen a girl before? Fucking virgin.""What did you call me!?" The buzz cut guy reacted violently, ready to attack the redhead if he hadn't been stopped by the third man."Enough. He's right; stop the bullshit," the tallest and probably the most handsome of the group intervened. He looked like a proper student, making her wonder how he came to lead a school gang. "Jean, what's the deal with the boys under you? The police have been poking around.""I'm still looking into it. It seems like someone has been shitting in my territory," Jean, the redhead, said in a nonchalant manner.With every foul word, a part of Amaya died inside. What kind of kids were these? Why so vulgar?"No one is shitting in your territory; you just can't control your men for shit," Buzz cut scoffed, crossing his arms."Seriously, can't we just get through this without a fight?" The studious one said, pressing his hands to the bridge of his nose. "Lucas, is your territory still clean?""For now. I told the gangs that anyone caught using will be beat up."'Oh, they're talking about drugs?'[Did you think he meant literal 'shitting'??]'... I thought they were just unique kids.'[...]"Takashi, any in your territory?" the leader asked.Buzz, now identified as Takashi, shook his head. "I dare anyone to sell that shit in my territory. I'll use them as a punching bag.""So it's just you, Jean."Jean turned his lollipop in his mouth. "It's strange, though. Why now? The King of Snakes runs this place. Even they don't sell stuff like that.""I heard there's been someone from Mamuchi hovering around our prefecture." Lucas said, Amaya had to stop herself from asking. The feeling of being stupid in a new world was unmatched to none."Fuck, I just wanted to graduate in peace. Ugh." Takashi groaned."If you guys need any help, you can just call me," the studious one, Hiroshi, offered."No one needs your fucking help, Hiroshi," Takashi retorted."Suit yourself. I have cram school, so I'll leave first.""I gotta take the girl home. I'll leave too," Lucas said, taking his leave next. Amaya was amused; he clearly said he didn't want to walk her home, but now he was using her as an excuse to leave."What's mamuchi?" She asked after they left, she assumed it was some kind of crime family like the one her father ran."Mamuchi isn't like a normal family. They consist of the top fifty strongest of the new generation." He explained to her. "So, for you to be recognized as part of the Mamuchi your reputation need to fight for your place, the positions change often in the lower levels but the number one hasn't changed in three years."She felt a chill down her spine. "Who is number one?""They're given the title of the unknown demon lord, no one knows his true statement but I heard he's a crime lord abroad now."She looked at Lucas curiosly, "are you part of the Mamuchi?"He shook his head, "most people there are older, if I start fighting for a position it will never end.""I admire your levelheadedness, you're right, there's no point fighting with adults when you haven't even graduated highschool."Her compliment caught him off guard. He laughed nervously, his face blushing. "Still, you shouldn't be saying that to a delinquent.""Oh? Am I not allowed to?" She didn't really know gangster etiquette. She never had to know before."N-no! It's not that. It's just psychological warfare...""Psychological.. warfare?" She tilted her head to the side confused, what did he mean.Seeing her cute expression was too much, "don't worry about it!" He said looking away, how deadly.Amaya felt her stomach rumbled, she had rushed out after overstaying in her virtual space and so didn't have a chance to eat breakfast. "Is it ok if we get lunch? I'm hungry.""Yeah come on there should be a convenience store nearby."The convenience store had the make your own ramen and so she got to work picking out food. He laughed after seeing her good appetite, at least she didn't look like she wanted to die today."Who is paying?" The cashier asked."I'll pay." Lucas said quickly, Amaya didn't bat an eyes, she even bought extra food to eat at home that night.The two sat outside and she dug into her food. She only spoke after taking a big slurp from her drink."Thank you for the food, I feel so much better." She said cheerfully. He watched her with a smile on his face, she was really pretty."So this is why you guys left early." A voice interrupted them, it was Jean in his red jacket and blue jorts. "I don't blame you."Amaya looked at Lucas, he didn't seem bothered to have him here so she didn't need to worry."Why are you wondering the streets? Where's your driver?""Dunno, I ditched." He said with a shrug.Lucas looked at him exasperated, "are you planning on not going home? Is that why you're wondering around here?""They had a tracker on me they'll find me soon."Amaya only listened, Jean was rich? Or did he just have a driver? He has a tracker? What the hell?"Your dad's just afraid you'll get into trouble again, if you actually go to juvie it'll be over." Lucas said."Whatever, I don't care."Amaya could sense Lucas's frustrations. "How old are you Jean?" She asked curiosly.He put a cheeky grin on his face and leaned in to her. "I'm 16, why do you ask, pretty nee-chan?"'That's one year younger than me.'"You're quite young." She said absentmindedly, "I'm just surprised you'd be one of the strongest.""Well it's fun to fight, so why not?"It was jarring to hear those words from his mouth. Wasn't he too young? Lucas was 18 and seemed to have a good head on his shoulders, but this kid..."It's fun till you're in Juvie for killing someone, then you can say bye-bye to college." Lucas muttered. ."I don't want to go to college anyway." As soon as he said that a sleek black car came riding down the street stopping in front of them. "Ugh, they found me already?" Jean muttered.A man got out of the car and approached them."Miss Suzuki?"The two boys looked at her curiosly."Ah yes?" She said swallowing her food."The Boss wants to meet you."Instantly Lucas and Jean stood up shielding her."Do you know these people?" Lucas asked clenching his fists.The man who was wearing a suit looked at the situation and understood this seemed quite scary. "My apologies, I did not introduce myself. I am the secretary of Boss Suzuki, your father.""Eh!?" Lucas and Jean said in shock.Amaya who had only just understood what was going on stood up immediately. "Oh! Yes! I'm Amaya!"She didn't expect him to just send a car to pick her up. He looked at Lucas and Jean who were ready to protect her. "It's ok, it's my dad, I'll see you guys later."She rushed to enter the car leaving the two shocked."Ani, your girl is the Suzuki's princess?"Lucas was also just as shocked, buthe managed to find the mind space to clarify their relationship. "She's not my girl.""Oh, so can I have her?""No."