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[ Ikebukuro is a scary city, especially for someone who's never left his smalltown bubble before. Sure, he'd always dreamed of moving somewhere that more goes on - Somewhere that thrives much more than the place he'd always been trapped in. So, when his parents sit him down and tell him that they'll be leaving to work overseas, and that he'll be sent to live with a friend in the big city... not only is he amazed that something so monstrously cliche is happening to him, but he can almost feel his heart in his throat from excitement at how different his life will be.

He hasn't seen Masaomi since they were little, though. No... Should he use "Kida-kun", then? He's older than him, anyway, and if it's been that long since they've met... He really should be more formal with him. He'll be living in his house and going to school with him for a year, so if he were to be strange about their relationship and make things awkward... it would be hard.

Most of his things have been sent ahead of time, so Mikado only shows up at Ikebukuro Station with one bag. It's early in the evening - His parents weren't unaware of the heavy gang activity in the city, and didn't want him out too late. ]

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[He's not sure how he feels about the arrangement, honestly.

On the one hand, it's great. The fact that his parents agreed to it -- that they surprised him with it, even -- was a phenomenal miracle. And of course he's always missed Mikado. Of course he's excited to see him. There's a special place in his heart for the best friend he grew up with, there's no denying that.

But... This isn't really the best place for a kid like Mikado. Around him isn't the best place. He might behave at school enough to get decent grades, for his family's sake, but he's not a good kid. His name is well known. How is he going to keep Mikado out of trouble, when he's living with the head of a gang that's pretty much running the youth side of the city underworld?

Jeez, what a pain... Well, if he can't keep dumb, he'll just have to end up protecting him. But that's a bridge they'll cross when they come to it. For now he's just got to get the kid home. And that means showing up at the station all kinda of chipper, then standing and waiting with a big grin on his face and his hands in his pockets, wondering if the little nerd will even be able to spot him in the crowd.]

[ he's a little scared, of the sheer volume of people in the subway station. this isn't like saitama at all - he's already been bumped into three times and nobody has stopped to apologize about it, even when he did.

he really just wants to go home, but... isn't ikebukuro his home now? so, with a sigh, he backs against a post and looks around the station. he really should be here, by now... ]

[Jeez, how hopeless... Mikado's instantly recognisable, of course. He's the same silly kid with the same big forehead and baby face that Kida remembers. But he's glanced right past him a few times already, so he figures he should do the approaching himself.]

Yo, Mikado.

Eh-?

[ he hears his name, looking around to see if he can find the source, and-- is thoroughly surprised. ]

K- Kida-kun...?

[ he's dyed his hair and pierced his ears, and it comes as a bit of a shock. he'd never really thought kida to be that kind of person, but... ah, is this what city life does to a person? ]

Biiiingo!

[He's definitely enjoying the shocked look. Of course Mikado's that kind of cute country bumpkin! Kida just can't resist slinging an arm around his shoulder right away, with enough weight to make them lean sideways.]

You're certainly looking like an innocent "entering a new and frightening world" protagonist this evening.

[ since kida leaving, he hasn't made many friends - let alone ones that were comfortable enough with him or liked him enough to hang off of him, making this much physical contact. it's foreign and familiar all at once, and he laughs a little at kida's words. ]

Th- that's because I am "entering a new and frightening world"... I've never been to the city, before, you know...

That's because you're a baby who couldn't even manage a weekend trip, right?

[Teasing feels natural, even after all this time. Partly that's just because teasing everyone is natural to Kida. It's just part of his natural charm. But it's easy especially with someone he teased for so long, even if it's been three years since he's done it. It's easy also to lead him towards the station exit, so they can head off towards home. He's not sure if they should do a nice walk around or if it's better to head straight back. On the one hand, fun. On the other, everyone knows him around here...]

[ it's breathtaking, as they reach the surface of the city. sure, he's seen pictures of it, has seen it draw in manga or anime or filmed in tv or dramas, but to actually be in this city makes his heart race, makes his hands tingle with excitement. ]

So this is... Ikebukuro...

Yep! This is our big sparkly glittering stinky jewel of a home! Try not to faint, okay?

I- I'm not going to faint...!

[ probably. it's just a city, right...? a city where everything is faster, bigger, more exciting than back in the country. anything can happen here, there's so much more than just an endless sky. even if he's scared from everything being so different, in the pit of his stomach that fear mixes with excitement and he almost wants to run off from his trusty tour guide and look at everything possible. ]

I'll believe you when we make it home.

[He snickers, letting go of Mikado's shoulders to trail a step behind him. The city's liveliest at this time of day, as everyone gets away from their obligations. People head home now, or stop to go have fun before they have to. The people who live at night are just getting started, and the daytime and nighttime crowds mingle on the sidewalks.

There's gang members around, of course. He just avoids making eye contact.]

There's a lot you've gotta know before that, though. I just don't know where to start! The list of things I could tell you is so long it's beyond rational numbers!

[ kida might be keeping his cool about this, but mikado visibly tenses. he knew, going into ikebukuro, about the saturation of colour gangs. he knew they were all so much better organized and violent and stronger than what he's made.

so, upon passing a group of people all wearing something of the same colour, he takes a few steps closer to kida. ]

...I- is it safe, to be out here at this time...?

Hm? Aah, you mean those guys?

[He shrugs, folding his hands behind his head and bumping Mikado with his hip.]

If you stay on the main streets and you're not alone, you should be fine. But don't wander around by yourself, and don't go off down alleys or through the park at night. These days the yellow ones have pretty much run everyone else off, so they're pretty bold, but... They're not going to rush a crowd.

So, look out for the yellow ones, then...?

Right! They're really bad news, so avoid them so no matter what.

There's some other stuff you should steer clear of too, though...

Like what?

Well...

[He has to think a moment. There's a lot of things to worry about, in the city. How should he put it? One at a time, or all in a row? In what order? Aah, filling someone in is harder than he thought it would be. Maybe he should have rehearsed.]

There's general criminals, there's conmen and scamming hookers... There's some urban legends and this guy named Heiwajima Shizuo with a hot temper that can even throw a car! There's Orihara Izaya, who's got a kind scary rep, so you should be careful of him too. And then there's rumors about this "Dollars" thing, but I don't know much about that...

[ it's hard, not to stop in his tracks or lose step when Dollars is brought up. they were pretty grassroots - started as a joke, opening the gates with good deeds, but then getting into a bit of trouble here and there. mikado had never been with them in person, that was another downside of saitama. but they'd done enough here for a normal highschooler to hear the rumours...? ]

Ah...? So the gang activity really is that bad...

It's an urban area, of course it is. But like I said, as far as "gangs", it's only the Yellow Flag Orchestra that's truly haunting the alleyways! Anybody else is small fry, or a single shining star of trouble.

...That's the name of the most notorious gang in Ikebukuro...?

It's not like it's Yakuza... A kids gang should have a fanciful name, right? I'd be more worried if they had a scary name.

If they're "haunting the alleyways", they should have a name that strikes fear into someone, not embarrassment...

Maybe they're trying to trick you. Or it's a reference to something!

I understand that it's a reference...

Well maybe someday you'll meet their boss and you can tell him you don't like the name, huh?

...Sorry, I'm not suicidal.

[He just laughs at that, dropping his hands to Mikado's shoulders so he can steer him off in the direction of Russia Sushi. There's people he needs to introduce him to!

And so they're going to do the rounds, meeting Simon and the van crew and spending some time grabbing fancy drinks before they head home. Which is where they are now. Kida's parents aren't actually home enough to need their office, so the furniture's all been rearranged, and Mikado has his own bedroom! It's the smallest room in the house, but there's a desk and a real bed, which Kida immediately throws himself on because he's an adult.]

Welcome to your new home!

[ there are a few boxes with his things. clothes and such - and one with fragile markings. his parents thought it rude to have a whole desktop set up at someone elses house, so opted to buy him a new laptop instead. he sets down the bag he'd brought with him at the foot of the bed, looking around here ad there. ]

Eeh-- Kida-kun, your house is so nice...

I guess so. We're not in bad shape, anyway.

[He picks up Mikado's pillow and squishes it, getting comfy as he watches him.]

My room's the next one over, and the bathroom's across the hall. My parents' bedroom is on the other side of the living room.

Ah, are your parents not here often...?

They work a lot. They're usually home late and take a lot of business trips. But they'll make sure we have enough money, so we're fine on our own!

[ sits on the bed! and gives a small smile. ]

I'm glad I don't need to face the city alone. ...To be honest, being here is a little scary.

Scary, huh?

[rolls over so he can drape across Mikado's lap]

You're a real country bumpkin after all.

Scary, but... Ah, also exciting. Like the rush you get from a suspenseful movie.

Let's hope you keep being excited, then. I'll do my very best to make it an interesting school year!

Please don't make it so interesting that you fail out of school.

That would be a gross waste of the effort to get into a private school, wouldn't it? We made the effort, so we've gotta take advantage! We'll have a perfect TV drama romance school life!

To be honest, I'm a little surprised that that's an effort you put forward. Kida-kun caring about school enough to take the tests to get into a private one is surprising.

Hey! If you wanna be popular with girls, you've gotta be successful, right? I'm not gonna be a super casanova as a janitor!

I think girls are mostly into idols and movie stars, not boys with dyed hair that are aiming to get into TokyoU.

Maybe I'll go to school for acting, huh? You have no idea of the depths of my potential!

You're dramatic enough... I could see it.

Better than you. You'll probably be a schoolteacher or a computer engineer or something, won't you?

There's nothing wrong with wanting to work with computers in 2010.

It still makes you a nerd.

[sits up and hops off of the bed, stretching his arms above his head]

Anyway, it's late. You can help yourself to the fridge if you want, but I'm heading to bed early. Gotta look fresh and sexy for all the new girls tomorrow!

Good night.

[ instead of helping himself to the fridge like a fatass, he waits until he hears kida's door close to... boot up his laptop and load up the chat. he tells kanrasan and settonsan about how he made it! he's excited for his new life in ikebukuro to begin. ]

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