Chapter Text
"Not much to look at, Ijincho."
"Well if you compare it to Kamurocho... but by the looks of things even Kamurocho won't shine for that much longer."
"That's such depressing shit. Hey you want to hit up Galaxy Land later?"
"Two blokes, at Galaxy Land? That's gay, man."
"Dude it's 2020, who cares? I want to go on that ferris wheel."
To speak right now would be disrespectful, but the conversation behind Mine is a greater disrespect.
"Silence," he says, his eyes firmly on the doors. "This is not a leisure trip."
The voices behind him promptly shut up.
A couple of the funeral home's staff have shown up, so the service must be over. Any time now, the Chairman will come out with the other lieutenants. Normally it would not be Mine's task to secure the perimeter, but these are extraordinary times. Plus he hardly knew the deceased; it would have made little sense for him to attend the service.
Mine doesn't give a damn about Watase, but there have been several attempts at Daigo's life already. Until this backlash is quashed — and Mine doesn't care how, though he is aware that for the sake of the new venture he should at least try to keep within the limits of the law — he will be here, however long it takes, to ensure Daigo's complete safety.
The oath he had made over a decade ago was to Daigo, not Tojo. The dissolution of the clan doesn't matter to him.
A few hours later, at the office of Ichiban Holdings, where it is considered safe and they will all be staying for the night, Saejima, Majima and Mine discuss sleeping arrangements when Daigo is in the staff shower.
"Where's Watase?"
"Who cares? He's got his own boys." Majima rolls his one good eye at Saejima, then uses his chin to point at the folding camp bed they bought. It was the last one from some run-down shop. Who knew this blasted town wouldn't have a Don Quijote? "That thing, what's it like?"
Mine puts a foot on the bedframe and leans on it. It creaks like one would expect, but holds well enough.
"Right, bagsie that," says Majima. "It's too narrow for you anyway, kyodai."
"Hmph. I'll take that big chair at the desk," says Saejima. "It tilts back, I think."
"Daigo gets the sofa, of course." Finally, Majima turns to Mine, grinning. "You want to share my bed?"
"No will do."
A mock gasp. "I'm offended! Fine, we can sleep top to tail — wait, you look like someone who likes feet."
"Please stop projecting. I will take that seat." Mine points at one of the single-seater sofas, where he has already put his bag. It looks good enough. And although in rank — what's rank these days, when there is no Tojo? — he is the same as the other two, they are still senior to him at least in age. They can have the first pick. Besides, it means Mine sleeps close to Daigo, a useful thing if there are intruders.
One of their remaining underlings deliver food, and Mine insists they eat in the corridor outside the office so that it doesn't make the place smell. Afterwards, Saejima heads for the shower and Majima stays just outside to have a smoke, while Mine follows Daigo back to the office.
After the earlier shower, Daigo is dressed down in a long sleeved t-shirt and drawstring trousers. He eyes Mine, who is still in his pinstripes.
"You're wearing that to sleep?"
"I didn't pack pyjamas."
Daigo smiles a little and arches on eyebrow. "I must've been working you too hard; it's rare for you to forget things."
It is rare, but Mine doesn't own pyjamas, so it hasn't crossed his mind that he'd need sleepwear. But he just sidesteps the remark, because Daigo doesn't need to know that detail. "I have a fresh suit for tomorrow. I will be presentable."
Daigo nods, and strolls towards the floor-to-ceiling windows, Mine following behind him. "You being presentable is much less important than you being present, Mine. And I don't just mean right now. Of us all, you are the one with real business experience and acumen—"
"Majima-san would object and say that Majima Construction was a real company."
Daigo laughs softly. "He certainly would. But it is you whom I shall be depending heavily on when we start that security business."
"We?"
"Of course. I know it's not what you signed up for, but if you would help me, I want to provide employment for those who stayed with us."
This is so very much the Dojima Daigo Mine knows, and he can't see why so many do not understand. Daigo dissolved the clan, he hasn't dissolved their bonds. He will still look out for them, if they let him.
"I understand."
"But who knows how difficult it might be to train them to operate in the legitimate world..."
"You already have their loyalty, Daigo-san," and that's more than Mine had, back in the day, "that's the hardest part. The rest, I will handle."
At that, Daigo actually snorts lightly. "One day we will become colleagues, equals. Or you may even become my boss. I should call you Mine-san."
It is a joke. Probably. Because Mine cannot wrap his head around it. Keeping his face neutral to the point of deadpan, he looks Daigo straight in the eye. "Never, Daigo-san."
"Yoshitaka-san then?"
This is the first time Daigo has ever used Mine's given name. Mine doesn't even know how to react. "I..."
Eyes shifting from Mine to the scenery outside the window, Daigo looks quietly amused, and thoughtful. "Hmm, too soon, perhaps. I will try again later."
Mine decides to say nothing, because that's easier. Daigo is being genial, but that's not too odd; he has spent a long time working on dissolving the organisation and it has now finally happened. But this friendliness doesn't mean Mine should get any closer. Mine doesn't assume. And if he does, the only thing he assumes is that his current relationship, current distance with Daigo is the perfect one. The safe one.
He isn't adverse to taking risks in life, but not with this. He can't risk this.
Sensing Mine's unease, Daigo changes the topic, and points at the neon-lit nightscape outside. "This is quite a view. I've not been to Yokohama before."
"You haven't?" asks Mine, a little surprised. This is only a stone's throw from Tokyo.
"I've only ever passed through, never had a reason to stop. You?"
"A few times, for business."
"I don't suppose you've been on that ferris wheel then."
"No." And Mine doesn't see the point. He can see Yokohama just as well from a building like this one. "It's a popular dating spot."
"You say that with such disdain."
"That's not... it's just not for me."
"Ferris wheels, or dating?"
Mine draws a slow, deep breath, and avoids the question. "Daigo-san, let's get away from the windows."
This time, Daigo lets his question hang in the air for a bit longer, as if enjoying Mine's discomfort, before moving on. "We aren't facing any building. So unless someone shoots at us from a helicopter... and this isn't the Millennium Tower."
"Daigo-san..."
"Still too soon? I don't think Kashiwagi-san would mind," says Daigo, but he does follow Mine, moving away from the window and to the sofas. "It turns out that people don't always die when they are killed, anyway."
"Either way, just don't get shot, please." Mine sits down after Daigo does.
"You say that like I enjoy it," says Daigo, his face suddenly turning serious. "I know I caused a lot of trouble for you, Mine. I am thankful that you are still here with me."
All of a sudden... what does he mean by that?
Arms resting on his thighs, Daigo leans forward, his eyes capturing Mine's. Handsome, charismatic, captivating.
"It's been ten years since I was shot and woke up on the rooftop of Touto Hospital. A line has been drawn under Tojo. Are we finally ready to talk about it?"
It? Which it? Why Daigo was moved to that rooftop? Why he and Kiryu had to talk Mine down from throwing himself off the edge? Why Mine did what he did when Daigo was in a coma?
Why he did it, not what he did, because Daigo was no fool. He would have found out all about it soon after.
Mine has his own question for Daigo as well: why did Daigo still keep him in the family, even after all that?
"Chairman," Mine says simply, his back stiff and straight, his hands clutching at his knees. In front of Daigo, he cannot summon the poise he prides himself in.
Daigo waits, and Mine feels like a failure for wasting Daigo's time. After a minute, Daigo shakes his head.
"I've put you on the spot. My apologies." Looking away, Daigo gets up, striding to the coffee machine at one corner of the room. "I'm making myself a coffee. Would you like one?"
Somehow, Mine finally finds his voice. "No, Daigo-san, I'll make them."
"It's just a coffee."
A moment later, Mine finds himself back at the windows, holding a cup of apology coffee he doesn't deserve.
"We have work to do, but one day I'd like to come back here, not for business."
Mine glances at Daigo. Is he being told to arrange the trip? "What has Yokohama got that Tokyo hasn't?"
"I don't know. Does it matter? Maybe I'll go on that ferris wheel; I'm not afraid of it."
Now Daigo is poking fun. Mine frowns a little. "There is one in Odaiba."
"Perhaps I will go on that one too. Have you been on it?"
"No."
"Good. It will be a first time for us both."
The frown between Mine's brows deepens, and Daigo gives him a look.
"Unless you object?"
Daigo puts that as a question, but his tone brooks no argument. Mine feels like he has been cornered in another way.
"If it is travel that you're after, there are many places beside Yokohama that are worth visiting. Some countries even have ferris wheels by a river or coastline."
Daigo snorts into his coffee. "And which of those countries would grant me entry?"
Ah. Mine hasn't considered that. How stupid of him. "Is there anywhere in particular you wish to visit? I'll find a way."
"You don't need to do that."
"There are always loopholes for exploiting and palms for greasing."
"I've not even finished high school, Mine. I can't speak a word that's not Japanese."
"Then I'll go with you."
Daigo gives Mine a sidelong look. "As my chaperone?"
"As—" his friend? Mine doesn't dare assume. " —two people bound by oath to lift each other."
"Hmm," Daigo considers this, "perhaps we could do that."
"If you really wish, I will even find us a ferris wheel."
"Ah, now I'm sold."
Well done, Mine thinks to himself. Now you've cornered yourself.
Silence falls over them, and eventually the other lieutenants return, Majima stripping his jacket and declaring himself ready for bed. Suddenly Mine doesn't feel so awkward sleeping in his suit; he'd rather sleep in silk than leather trousers.
But he does remove his jacket and tie, drawing a gentle laugh from Saejima.
"It comes off? I didn't know it came off."
"Believe it or not, I wasn't born wearing a suit."
"I'm shocked!" exclaims Majima without a shred of shock in his voice. "Then why are you always in one?"
Not that Mine owes anyone an explanation, but he gives it anyway. "I like them."
The feel of quality fabric, the silhouette of a well-tailored suit, the image it helps him project. Mine likes all of it.
"I am actually looking forward to not having to be in a suit all the time," says Daigo, running a hand through his hair, which has been allowed to dry naturally after the shower. "Maybe I will have my hair cut shorter and even shave a bit more often."
"That reminds me of when you were in your early twenties. The trendy kid who's always picking random fights in Kamurocho. Aw, you were adorbs."
"I'm too old for that now, Majima-san. Both the trendiness and the fight picking."
"Bullshit. But it's true you don't need to always dress like you're going to a funeral anymore. Try wearing some colours, eh?"
"I honestly don't think I can pull off animal print the way you can," Daigo says with a half smirk. "Just a look that actually matches my age and doesn't scream 'crime boss' will do."
Mine can't help himself. "I'd recommend one change at a time. You wouldn't want to give our older members heart attacks," he quips, eyes fixed on Majima.
Admist half-hearted jabs and gentle laughter, they switch the lights off and settle down for the night.
It's surreal, Mine thinks as he takes his daily medication in the dark, to be spending the night in a room with these three. It's not something he will need to get used to, hopefully, both the sleeping arrangement and Daigo's funny mood, talking about what happened all that time ago, and going on leisure trips with him.
He'd rather be at home, surrounded by predictable things.
Although the trip thing is his own fault, sort of.
"Daigo-san."
"Yes?"
"If you need any assistance with clothes shopping..."
Shit, Mine, you sound like you're treating Daigo like an idiot. And what are you even doing?
"I think I can manage that by myself, but thank you."
"You're thinking of giving the Chairman a makeover, Mine-chan?"
And fuck Majima. "That's not—"
"Cos I can clear Kamurocho Hills, if ya like."
"No, Majima-san," says Daigo firmly, though with a hint of amusement as well.
From the other end of the office, Saejima's voice rings out. "Is anyone actually going to sleep, cos I'm tired."
Mine sends a silent thanks to Saejima.
"Goodnight, thanks for your work today."
"It's nothing, Daigo-san."