Anime Crossover : Living in the Heart of Tokyo

By the time Hojou Kyousuke made it downstairs, Yamauchi Sakura was already waiting for him by the side of the road.

Under the streetlight, Sakura stood with her arms behind her back, head lowered, playfully stepping on her own shadow.

She looked nothing like the anxious person from just moments ago.

The yellow streetlight cast a warm glow, making her slim figure even more graceful.

"Should I just get a taxi to take you back to school?" Kyousuke asked as he approached her.

"Huh? But your motorcycle's parked by the shrine. Why would we need a taxi?" Sakura lifted her head, giving him a puzzled look.

"Didn't you say you'd be late getting back to school?"

"Ah, I was just joking about that," Sakura shrugged nonchalantly.

"Huh?"

"Kyousuke, you're so slow! My strict school wouldn't let me hang around outside this late, so I just took the night off," she explained casually.

"Then where are you staying tonight? Aren't you staying with Shouko and the others?"

"Not a chance! It's rare that I get to spend time alone with you."

Suddenly, Sakura's expression turned a little angry as she glared at Kyousuke.

"How long has it been since we've been alone together?"

Kyousuke blinked, caught off guard.

After thinking for a moment, he realized it had actually been a while.

Ever since meeting Shouko and getting closer to Naoka, they'd mostly been hanging out as a group.

Except for their morning workouts, it was always the three of them together.

"I don't care! Take me for a ride now! That thief cat stole the button on my graduation jacket, so your first ride has to be with me!" Sakura declared.

"Do you even know what you're saying? What kind of ridiculous things are you spouting?"

"Come on, hurry up!" Sakura pushed Kyousuke forward, taking the lead as they headed toward the shrine where his bike was parked.

"I'm telling you in advance, this is the first time I'm riding this bike today."

"The kind of speedy rush you're expecting won't happen. I'll just take it slow," Kyousuke warned.

"Hehe, 'rush'? You're funny, Kyousuke," Sakura giggled.

"Alright, hop on." Kyousuke mounted the motorcycle, patting the seat behind him.

"So exciting! The second-generation leader of Tokyo's most notorious delinquent group, 'Rampaging Angels,' is taking me for a ride!" Sakura teased, her voice filled with a playful tone.

She knew Kyousuke, despite looking like a laid-back, carefree guy, had a low tolerance for this type of "chuunibyou" stuff.

'Clang.'

With that sound, there was silence between them.

Kyousuke pulled his hand back, recalling the soft, warm feeling he'd just felt.

"Kyousuke!"

Sakura, now embarrassed after his action, yelled out in a mix of indignation and shyness.

"Ah, sorry, sorry, I couldn't help it. Hurry up and hold on tight, I'm starting the bike," Kyousuke apologized quickly, twisting the throttle.

The bike's exhaust roared to life.

"Mm~" Sakura hummed a little, wrapping her arms around Kyousuke's waist.

Her small face pressed gently against his back.

"I'm starting now," Kyousuke warned, then slowly drove onto the road.

"Sakura, is there anywhere you want to go?"

"Not really… Let's just follow this road and keep turning left at each intersection."

"Alright!" Kyousuke grinned, speeding up just a little.

April in Tokyo was the most comfortable time of the year, and as the motorcycle zoomed along, the city lights blurred in the distance, giving them the sensation of traveling through time.

Feeling the cool breeze rush by, Kyousuke slowed down and stopped at the side of the road. He touched Sakura's arm and asked, "Are you cold?"

He could feel the chill on his face and realized she was wearing very little. When he touched her arm, it was already icy to the touch.

"A little, but it's okay. Your body is so warm, Kyousuke."

"Idiot, if you're cold, you should tell me immediately!" Kyousuke scolded, taking off his jacket and handing it to her.

"Hehe, now I'm a delinquent too!" Sakura grinned as she put on his jacket, twirling the long sleeves in a playful manner.

"Kyousuke, Kyousuke, get off for a second. Let me ride it! I want to take a picture to scare those rich girls at school tomorrow."

Suddenly, Sakura's face lit up with excitement, and she grabbed Kyousuke's arm, urging him.

"In that case, how about I take you to the Tokyo Ring Road to meet Makki and the others? They can help you take pictures too."

Kyousuke offered, always willing to indulge Sakura's whims.

"Ah, that sounds amazing! Let's go, hurry up!" Sakura quickly climbed onto the bike, wrapping her arms around Kyousuke's waist and reaching one hand out toward the sky, shouting "Go go!"

Kyousuke couldn't help but smile at her infectious energy.

Sakura had a way of lifting everyone's spirits, making them feel as if they were all sharing in her joy.

He sent a quick message to Makki Hojou, confirming they were still cruising on the Tokyo Ring Road, then told them to wait for a bit.

Kyousuke and Sakura sped off in the direction of their meeting spot.

Meanwhile, Makki Hojou and the gang eagerly awaited their arrival.

As soon as they heard their leader was coming, the bad boys started howling in excitement, anticipating the first motorcycle rally with the boss.

Once they reached the Tokyo Ring Road, Kyousuke kicked up the speed slightly, making full use of the bike's massive engine.

Sakura, feeling the speed increase, held on tightly to him, letting out a surprised squeal that sent a warm, sweet breath against Kyousuke's neck, making him feel strangely ticklish inside.

The sensation of her soft, elastic body against his back made him recall their earlier moments at the shrine, where her strap had left an impression.

He turned his head slightly, glancing at Sakura through the rearview mirror.

Her brown hair was flying in the wind, her lips slightly parted, flushed with excitement, and her amber eyes gleaming in the light.

"Kyousuke, I'm catching the wind!" Sakura shouted joyfully, lifting her hand high in the air, her fingers spread wide.

"Wow, Kyousuke, everything they said online is true! It feels just like grabbing boo-…"

Kyousuke froze for a moment, caught off guard by her words.

"Sakura! Stop looking at that kind of stuff!"

"What? It's not like that! Oh, I get it now, Kyousuke doesn't know what that feels like yet~"

Sakura laughed mischievously, her bright voice floating in the wind, while her hand mischievously squeezed and released, squeezing and releasing…

"Kyousuke?"

"Yeah?"

"You asked me where I'm sleeping tonight, right?"

"Yeah, I'll take you back to Shouko and the others later, right?"

"No way, tonight, you're staying with me!" Sakura said matter-of-factly.

"What?" Kyousuke choked on his words.

"Stop joking around."

"I'm not joking! Don't you remember?"

"I bought your pillow, your duvet, and the bedsheets. I told you about it before, remember?" Sakura said, a teasing grin on her face.

"..."

Kyousuke was left speechless, but luckily the sound of approaching motorcycles saved him from the awkward moment.

"We're here. Up ahead are Makki and the others," Sakura said, her voice full of mischief.

"Hehe, Kyousuke, you're such a coward."

Sakura lowered her hand, pressing her face against his back and laughing softly.

Beep beep—

The sound of motorcycle horns echoed as Kyousuke approached his gang.

The loud noise shattered the night's silence, but they were far enough out of the city that it didn't disturb anyone.

Looking ahead, the headlights in the dark resembled wolves on a hunt, or some unknown monster ready to pounce.

Once the noise died down, Kyousuke rode up, stopping in front of them.

"President!" His subordinates shouted in unison, a greeting Kyousuke had long gotten used to.

Sakura, still behind him, froze in surprise before quickly hiding behind him, giggling softly, clearly enjoying the scene.

"Relax, everyone. I still need to learn how to enjoy the ride too," Kyousuke said with a smile.

His eyes were warm and gentle, inherited from his mother, and when he smiled, a few of his subordinates blushed, unable to tear their eyes away from his handsome face.

"Ha! You don't need to overthink it. Just twist the throttle and take a lap to feel the thrill!" Kisaki Tetta laughed loudly.

"Yeah, let's race!" Even the normally quiet Hazama Ryoudan smiled, his Harley-Davidson looking rather imposing.

"Alright then!" Kyousuke took the two helmets from Kisaki Tetta and handed one to Sakura before putting the other one on himself.

His subordinates might be reckless, fearless "badasses," but Kyousuke wasn't about to ride recklessly.

He had no intention of speeding.

As Sakura giggled beneath her large helmet, Kyousuke sighed inwardly.

He was definitely the health-conscious one here.

The night passed quickly with the motorcycle ride, and Kyousuke felt like he'd gotten closer to his subordinates.

By the end, Eikichi Onizuka even teased him, calling him slow, which made Kyousuke twist the throttle just a little harder, speeding up by a small margin.

He tried to get his subordinates to come up with a new nickname for him—anything but "The Handless Demon." 

But they rejected the idea with no mercy.

"Are you kidding? 'The Handless Demon' sounds so badass! It's an advantage in a fight! We'll be more focused on protecting our hands if we're up against you!" one of them argued.

Kyousuke sighed, deciding he'd have to switch to a different group.

Anything to get away from that nickname.

After turning down Makki's offer to race some more, he took Sakura back to the city.