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[color=fff200][b]"It's not in my nature to be mysterious. There's just something I want to keep between us three."[/b][/color] Minato let the implications that what they were about to discuss was a private matter weigh in the air for a moment before continuing. Of the two of the gang members on the rooftop with him, Ana was a more trustworthy person. She and Minato have been in each other's lives the longest, and of everyone, she was often the only one he could confide in when it came to things outside of just the gang. Of everyone else at Sarayashiki, it was likely that Ana knew him the most.

It was because of this bond that Minato knew that she was probably doubtful that this was the sort of conversation to have in front of Yuya. More than once Ana had not so subtly implied that she thought Yuya was "a shit." Minato didn't exactly agree with her, but knew the sort of thing she meant - he was somewhat abrasive, and someone who furrows their brow as much as they do is apt to give themselves a headache. Yuya might be angry, proud, whatever the case may be - but there was a particular kind of code he carried himself with that Minato saw in small glimpses. With his added physical strength and propensity for willing to slug someone, his role was one that could be honed to perfection. For now, the two of them would have to get along.

[color=fff200][b]"The Diamonds are making some sort of play. Word getting around is that there's been some sort of open invite to a summons of all the gang's. But not by the way you're expecting. Ikebukuro is letting their power plays get out of hand. They want schools to fight."[/b][/color] Minato pointed at them both.

[color=fff200][b]"Tomorrow night, you two going to meet at Teiko Middle School, and beat whichever punk they choose as their fighter. There's no telling if they'll be a boy, girl, or whoever else. One of the Diamonds is supposed to be in attendance to deliver the real invite to the summons to whichever gang wins. And that's going to be us."[/b][/color] 

Minato told them what to expect, how they aren't allowed any additional support, and the same would be expected of Teiko Middle School. He also informed them that since Teiko had a bigger rep, they got to fight on their own turf. It was a challenge that the Sarayashiki Gang would have to step up to. Minato let it known to Ana and Yuya that he was going to keep this quiet for this fight due to not wanting to distract the others from their tasks. 

With that, Minato was finished with their instructions. After their reactions, he walks with them down off the rooftop, before they all go their separate ways...

[hr]

[u][i]The Following Day, after school...[/i][/u]

[b]"I'm not sure this is going to go over very well, boss."[/b] Ten Ton whispered to Minato, as the blue haired boy put away his bookbag. It had been an arduous school day, slow-moving. Minato had passed the hours barely able to pay attention to his teachers, instead gazing up at the clouds just outside his window. There was a lot of moving parts going on all at once with his friends. Not the least of which being the physical danger that some of them may find themselves in soon. He didn't like the prospect of Yuya and Ana being in the presence of one of the Diamonds, not to mention Li and Yonaka diving head first into an investigation into whatever violent force was disrupting the hallways of their school. But being a leader came with trusting his gang to deliver.

Of course, he didn't know at the time that things were going to get much more volatile, and fast. Could it all have been avoided? Only maybe.

[color=fff200][b]"Ten Ton, don't worry. What could possibly go wrong?"[/b][/color]

"We're walking right into the lion's den. You know the Student Council gives me the creeps. And the Vice President is going to be there. Yeah sure, she may be hot and all, but she's scary as hell." Ten Ton looked around with that nervous energy he sometimes had. Minato smiled at him. If people knew that beneath all that muscle and scariness, was actually a really soft-hearted ne'er do well delinquent, they'd be shocked.

[color=fff200][b]"Ikue is going to take care of us getting in, don't worry about that. And with Akina with us we look that much more legitimate. You know she's one of the most popular girls here. Speaking of, she said she'd be waiting for us outside the assembly room."[/b][/color]

Minato and Ten Ton hoofed it over to the assembly room, passing by a few of the others as they went. Yonaka was standing alongside a vending machine in the hallway. Minato noticed that the other students were giving her a wide berth as they passed. Li wasn't around her just yet. Minato stopped to say hello, dropping some coins into the machine to get drinks. A strawberry milk tea, a canned coffee, and a bottle of water all rolled to the bottom of the machine after a few button presses. Minato offered one up to Yonaka - her choice. With a smile and nod, the two boys left her and after a few turns in the hallway, made it to the assembly room doors.

Minato stopped. The doorway had a table in front of it, and it looks like two members of the student council were checking names on a clipboard, comparing clubs before letting people inside. Minato didn't recognize them - they weren't any of [color=ec008c][b]The Big 4.[/b][/color] He looked around - no sign of Ikue just yet. That wasn't totally unlike her. She tended to wait until the last possible moment before making a grand appearance from the shadows. For an information broker, she had a flair for the dramatic.

Then from around the corner, came Akina. Ten Ton waved her over, nervously sweating already at the prospect of crossing paths with the Student Council. Minato meanwhile was leaning on the wall behind him, making himself scarce for the moment...

Ten Ton smiled down at Akina, rubbing the back of his own heaad nervously.

[b]"Lets um...well let's go up there and see if we can sign in?"[/b]