Thanks for the hype, y'all! Love reading your comments, but all I can do is drop a thanks or a like. Hope that's cool! Keep 'em coming though - makes my day!

Quick note before the story: See the image for this chapter? It's the first cover the author used! The title 'Control' made me wonder back then: does Takemichi control his destiny, or is he controlled by the pain of fate? Funny how I only noticed when translating it into English. What do you think? Which meaning do you prefer? Anyway, this chapter really shows that. Enjoy the read!

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On December 25, 2005, snow covers all of Tokyo in white. The freezing winter air cannot extinguish the fighting spirit of an unusual team.

"Haitani-kun, Kazutora-kun, and Chifuyu will handle the 100 Black Dragon members outside with Koko-kun and Inupee-kun. Baji-kun, Mitsuya-kun, and I will take care of Taiju inside the church."

Takemichi doesn't expect that one day he leads a team like this. Touman and the S62 generation, even though he is the one who gathers them, he finds it strange.

Rindou and Kazutora glare at each other, clearly unhappy.

"I'm cooperating only because of Takemichi, so stay out of my way," Kazutora snaps. Rindou retorts, "I should say that to you, the guy Takemitchy almost beat to death."

Takemichi tries to smile, has to smile for the cooperative atmosphere... ignoring the fact that this Rindou guy still loves to tease him like crazy.

"Stop arguing! If you want, settle it after this is all over," Takemichi warns with a glare.

Rindou sticks out his tongue and looks away, while Kazutora feigns a hurt expression. Beside them, Ran grins with amusement as he watches Takemichi. Meanwhile, Touman looks visibly annoyed. Why does someone as notoriously cruel and arrogant as Rindou behave so oddly toward Takemichi? If anyone else had said that to him, Rindou would probably have broken a few bones. Even his older brother, Ran, just watches with a curious expression.

They suddenly realize that the Kawata brothers' frustration last time was not because the Haitani brothers harmed Takemichi but because they seem to have some shady intentions toward him.

Takemichi tilts his head to signal Chifuyu, reminding him to keep an eye on the Haitani brothers. Takemichi does not fully trust them and worries they might do something unusual halfway through.

With the roles assigned, the team moves into position as planned.

The ancient church stands in solemn silence, its grand and sacred space leaving a lasting impression on Takemichi. Inside, Hakkai waits for everyone, ready to face Taiju. The quiet and solemn atmosphere of the religious place seems to make the air even tenser.

The church doors creak open, and Taiju strides in with an imposing presence. The sight of the group, along with his younger brother, catches him off guard. His expression remains terrifying, and his deep voice echoes in the stillness:

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Amen."

"What are you all planning to do here?"

Takemichi steps forward. "Shiba Taiju, the 10th leader of the Black Dragon, we're here to defeat you."

Taiju lets out a mocking, arrogant laugh. "You piece of trash, bringing your little gang here and trying to corrupt my brother? Letting you live was clearly a mistake. I'll fix that mistake today. You'll die here, garbage."

He takes a step forward, but Mitsuya and Baji immediately block his path: "You'll have to get through us before you even think about touching Takemichi, you bastard."

Baji ties his hair up, ready to fight. Facing a strong opponent, Taiju immediately shows his excitement, flashing his wild grin.

"Fine. I'll kill all of you today."

"I don't think you can," Mitsuya replies with a confident smile.

The two Touman captains stand together, and Takemichi has faith in victory. Still, he knows that today's real protagonist must be Hakkai. Takemichi pushes Hakkai forward, smiling to encourage him to step up and fight his brother. Hakkai must prove he is strong, and only then will Taiju stop the violence.

"You've betrayed the love I've shown you, Hakkai. You brought these worthless outsiders to turn against your own brother? God, why do You test me like this? The brother I've loved and taught now wants to harm me."

Hakkai trembles with anger, clenching his fists. "Love? All you've done is hurt me and our sister. You only care about yourself. Today, I'm going to protect her and free us from your abuse."

Hakkai screams out his inner feelings. Takemichi shows a satisfied expression, seeing that Hakkai no longer feels like fighting alone or holding a grudge so strong that he wants to kill his brother. He seems more relaxed and has greater faith in victory.

Taiju laughs mockingly: "You, Hakkai? Someone weak like you? Aren't you always the one hiding behind Yuzuha? Protect her? Haha. If you want to abandon your own brother, then come here quickly and fight me alone."

Talking about the thing Hakkai wants to hide, he presses his lips tightly together, feeling a lump in his throat.

"So what if Hakkai is weak?" Takemichi interrupts calmly, his gaze steady on Hakkai.

"Hakkai, I'm really not happy that you hid a part of the truth from me. You want to run away from your weakness. I understand! But now, you should learn how to face it. You are weak, and so am I. We're just normal humans, after all. Being weak is not wrong. So, Hakkai, today, the person you're fighting is not your brother - it's yourself."

Takemichi grins widely and pats his chest: "Because we are weak, we need to stand by our loved ones, right? Don't worry, Hakkai, you're not alone today. We're here with you. Touman is your friends and also your family. Show your brother that today, you're the one protecting Yuzuha, and let him understand what true love and care mean."

Hakkai looks at Takemichi, emotions swirling in his eyes. He worries that the secret he wants to hide will be revealed, but Takemichi just calmly faces it and understands him. This makes Hakkai feel both guilty and happy.

"Takemichi... I..."

"I, Mitsuya, and Baji believe in you. When this is over, come back with us," Takemichi says warmly.

Mitsuya and Baji smile at Hakkai, reinforcing Takemichi's words.

"You think those empty words can change Hakkai's nature? You make me laugh too much." Taiju sneers, his anger rising. "Today, I'll destroy his delusions - and all of you."

Hakkai takes a deep breath to get ready, his resolve shining in his eyes. Taiju's taunts no longer shake him. Takemichi's words have given him more courage. In his heart, Hakkai silently thanks Takemichi, knowing he has placed his trust in the right person. Takemichi, the one they all strive to protect, is also the one who gives them strength. It feels reassuring to have him around.

"When this is over, I'm coming back with you all."

"Yeah!" Takemichi beams at him.

Hakkai steps forward alongside Mitsuya and Baji, standing face-to-face with his brother. He won't betray the trust Takemichi and everyone else have placed in him.

"It's been a while since we've teamed up for a fight like this, huh?" Baji grins.

"Today, I'll show this guy what being a real brother means," Mitsuya declares confidently.

"I will defeat you," Hakkai says with determination.

The fierce battle begins. Taiju proves himself a true monster, his endurance and resilience far beyond normal. Each punch he delivers carries immense power, making Baji wince every time he takes a hit. The Touman team's combined strength puts pressure on Taiju, but defeating him outright seems impossible. He absorbs the blows and retaliates with a seemingly endless reserve of energy.

"This guy has insane stamina. This is turning out to be a really fun fight," Baji says, his excitement growing as he faces a worthy opponent.

Things seem to be going well. Takemichi, the weakest among them, only needs to stand back and watch. But in Takemichi's life, nothing ever goes as planned.

A shadow suddenly looms behind him. Before Takemichi can react, a sharp pain strikes the back of his head. His vision blurs, and he collapses to the ground. Through the haze, he faintly hears the panicked voices of his friends calling his name. Damn it. He had let his guard down.

Meanwhile, Chifuyu struggles to break free from the Black Dragon members. They've managed to take down more than half the group, thanks in part to the Haitani brothers, whose efforts make everything progress smoothly. However, two of Taiju's closest allies use the chaos as an opportunity to move inside and support him. Chifuyu knows he must act quickly to warn the others.

"Haitani, Kazutora-kun, handle the rest. I'm going to check on those two," Chifuyu orders.

"Protect Takemichi, Chifuyu!" Kazutora shouts as he lands a punch that knocks an opponent out cold.

"I hate these Black Dragon guys. Let's finish them off quickly so I can watch the fun inside," Rindou says, feigning boredom.

Ran smirks lazily, humoring his younger brother. "Got it. It's more interesting there anyway."

Chifuyu rushes inside, but the scene tells him it's too late. The fight has stopped. Baji, Mitsuya, and Hakkai look alarmed as Takemichi lies on the ground, ambushed by Inupee with an iron pipe from behind. They try to rush to him, but Kokonoi and Inupee block their way.

As Baji charges forward, Takemichi slowly stirs behind the two opponents. He shakily touches the wound on the back of his head and then screams in rage. Clutching his head, he writhes in pain. The Touman members immediately sense something ominous - this scene feels disturbingly familiar. But to anyone unfamiliar, Takemichi looks like a madman.

"Agh... Agh... It hurts! It hurts! I hate pain! I hate pain!"

'Takemichi' yells, his voice filled with irritation. Kokonoi and Inupee exchange confused glances, sensing something strange about his behavior.

"You two, step back," Baji says, his face stiffening as he warns Kokonoi and Inupee, feeling something dangerous. Though they don't understand what's happening, the seriousness in his voice makes them retreat a few steps.

Chifuyu tries to approach Takemichi, but Baji stops him. "Be careful, Chifuyu. That might not be Takemichi."

Chifuyu freezes, realization dawning on him. His worry only deepens.
"Takemichi... Partner!" he calls out desperately.

The odd reactions from Touman make Kokonoi and Inupee even more wary.

"What's wrong with them?" Kokonoi asks, his usual smirk replaced by concern as he senses the tension.

The trembling figure finally stops writhing and slowly stands up, still mumbling under his breath.

"I hate pain. I hate pain."

As he lifts his face, everyone notices the change in Takemichi's eyes. Instead of the usual teary, determined gaze, there's a manic, furious glint - one filled with darkness and murderous intent. That stare is definitely not Takemichi's.

"I hate being hurt... Takemichi hates being hurt too. And you dared to do this to him?"

The voice rises, harsher and more sinister than Takemichi's usual tone. The eerie sound sends chills down their spines.

"It's not the one from last time," Mitsuya quickly realizes.

"Michi... It's that snappy, annoying one Takemichi always talks about," Chifuyu mutters, his worry deepening.

"What the hell is going on here? I don't have time to stand around watching you cry about being hurt!"

Taiju's patience snaps as he watches the scene before him. But then, he freezes in place when the crying figure suddenly moves at a shocking speed, landing a punch that sends Inupee flying. Kokonoi, standing beside him, doesn't even have time to react.

Inupee hits the ground, stunned by the sheer power of the blow. It's overwhelming. Meanwhile, 'Takemichi' picks up the iron pipe Inupee had dropped, his face still streaked with tears.

"Takemichi is always so stupid," he mutters. "Like that guy said, I should just kill all of you. Then he wouldn't have to suffer anymore. Takemichi hates pain, and so do I."

Chifuyu remembers Takemichi saying that the personalities inside him are cold and rebellious toward him. But something feels off about this personality. Hate? No way! This one "loves" Takemichi so much that he's ready to kill anyone who hurts Takemichi.

"What the hell is this guy even saying? Is he insane?"

Taiju's voice rises with anger as he struggles to make sense of the scene. He notices Touman's members shrinking back in fear from their own ally. The weakling he had just fought earlier now exudes a frightening strength, looking more like a madman than before.

Inupee struggles to get up, still in shock that someone he deemed so weak could take him down with one punch. Seeing him get up, Takemichi immediately aims at him again. Kokonoi rushes in to push Takemichi down but fails. When Takemichi is about to strike Kokonoi with the metal pipe in his hand, Baji intervenes just in time, knocking Kokonoi out of the way and avoiding a potentially fatal blow. Kokonoi, Inupee, and even Taiju can't believe what they're seeing - an enemy helping them and attacking each other?

"I didn't plan to kill you because I thought he'd get mad at me," Takemichi's other self snarls, his anger escalating. "But you dared to stop me from killing these bastards?"

"Takemichi wouldn't want you to hurt others like this. Stop it!" Baji shouts.

"Shut up!"

"Hakkai, what's happening to that brat?" Taiju growls, visibly irritated by the chaos.

Hakkai stares blankly, his mouth opening as if to speak but no words come out. Grinding his teeth in frustration, Taiju decides to end the madness himself. He strides toward Takemichi.

"You piece of trash, stop causing trouble here!"

The iron pipe swings at him, forcing him to retreat just in time, but he still feels the force of the blow. The intent to kill radiating from Takemichi is no joke.

"How dare you call Takemichi trash? You're the one who gave him that scar on his face, aren't you?"

"Shut the hell up with your crazy talk!" Taiju roars, ready to attack again, but Hakkai wraps his arms around Taiju's waist, holding him back.

"You can't hurt him!" Hakkai yells.

"Get out of my way!"

Before anyone can react, the sound of metal striking flesh echoes through the air. Taiju collapses to the ground. Blood streams from a deep wound on his forehead.

"Big brother! Big brother!" Hakkai cries out, his hands trembling as he checks on Taiju. Despite their violent feud, seeing his brother injured fills him with fear and guilt. Tears begin to fall uncontrollably. No matter what, they are still brothers, still family.

From childhood to now, since their mother passed away and their father became absent from their sprawling house, they've only had each other.

Taiju opens his eyes slightly, spotting Hakkai's tear-streaked face above him, his tears falling onto Taiju's face. Despite his condition, Taiju lets out a mocking laugh at himself and his sibling, who had just fought fiercely moments ago. Now, when he's attacked, his younger sibling cries out of fear for him. Any hatred they had seems to fade away with those tears.

"You're such a weakling," he mutters. "I'm not dying, so stop crying like you're at my funeral."

"Takemichi, wake up! Please, wake up!"

Chifuyu keeps calling out to him, hoping it will work like during the fight at the Valhalla battle when he brought Takemichi back to his senses.

Meanwhile, Kokonoi and Inupee move toward Taiju to check his condition. Under Taiju's command, this is the first time they've faced a situation where they don't know whether to advance or retreat.

Baji, Mitsuya, and Chifuyu stand frozen with worry. If they don't act, Takemichi's personality might wreak havoc. But if they attack, they risk injuring him since it's still his body.

Suddenly, the church doors swing open again. The Haitani brothers and Kazutora enter with triumphant smiles, but those quickly fade when they take in the scene, unsure of what to say.

Takemichi stands in the middle of the room, holding an iron pipe. Taiju lies on the ground, with Kokonoi, Inupee, and Hakkai crying beside him. Baji, Mitsuya, and Chifuyu seem tense, as if trying to stop Takemichi from doing something drastic.

The Haitani brothers find the situation bizarre and the heavy atmosphere unsettling. The source of this tension is none other than the blond-haired boy who was smiling so brightly earlier.

This moment reminds the Haitani brothers of Takemichi's brutal demeanor during the Valhalla battle. They can't help but wonder - who exactly is Takemichi?

Sensing the instability in the room, Kazutora rushes toward the Touman members.

"What's wrong with Takemichi? Why is he here?"

"Takemichi was ambushed, and then he lost consciousness," Chifuyu explains briefly, but it is enough to shock Kazutora.

Kazutora knows all too well about Takemichi's personality shifts, but on the field, they always avoid him or give him hateful looks. He hates them because they use Takemichi's eyes to look at him like that. This scene only reminds him of the haunting memory from the Valhalla battle.

"We need to disarm him first," Baji says decisively. "Then we'll restrain him until Takemichi comes back to his senses."

Chifuyu rushes forward to distract Takemichi, while Kazutora aims to take the iron pipe from his hands. Once disarmed, Baji and Mitsuya pin him to the ground.

"You bastards!" Takemichi growls angrily, cursing at them.

The Haitani brothers are stunned. Why did Touman attack Takemichi? They also approach to observe the situation.

"What the hell is Touman doing? Why are they fighting among themselves?" Rindou asks, confused.

"Just watch, Rindou." This might be a secret of Takemichi's, and Ran has to find out.

"Takemichi, please wake up! It's okay now. I'm here. You won't feel pain anymore, I promise. Just wake up!" Chifuyu pleads, his voice breaking as if he's on the verge of tears.

The figure on the ground stops resisting. In a weak voice, he mutters, "I'm fine. Let me go."

Relief floods the room. Baji and Mitsuya loosen their hold, but the moment they do, 'Takemichi' punches Baji in the face and kicks Mitsuya in the chest, breaking free.

"Idiots!" he sneers, his tone dripping with contempt. "I still need to kill the bastard who hurt Takemichi. Since you useless fools can't do it, I'll handle it myself!"

Takemichi fixes his vicious gaze on Taiju and Inupee. Hakkai, tears streaming down his face, stands protectively in front of his brother.

Taiju doesn't know how to feel about the scene before him. The weak little brother who always hid behind their sister, trembling in fear of him, is now standing tall to shield him.

Hakkai has changed, and Taiju isn't sure if this is the version of his brother he had hoped for. A bitter smile tugs at his lips. He doesn't want to admit it, but somewhere along the way, he might have gone wrong.

All those years he spent trying to shape his brother have only resulted in a sibling who hates and fears him. And yet, this brat causing chaos now has managed to transform Hakkai into someone brave and confrontational with just a short amount of time and a few words.

But for now, Taiju focuses on figuring out exactly what kind of person this Takemichi really is. He's sharp enough to notice that the one standing before him now is entirely different from the person he faced before. The eyes - those eyes - are nothing alike.

"Takemichi told me that killing is a sin," Hakkai says with fury. "No matter how much pain he's in, he would never kill anyone. Why are you using his own hands to kill? I won't allow it!"

Hakkai's anger flares as he confronts the opposing personality within Takemichi.

He charges forward, shoving 'Takemichi' into the rows of pews. "Takemichi, you need to fight yourself! Wake up! Don't let this part of you control you. Please, wake up!"

Takemichi struggles, landing punches on Hakkai's back. Each blow is excruciating, as though they could break his bones. But Hakkai refuses to let go. He's determined to bring Takemichi back.

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What do you think will wake Takemichi up this time? Could it be Hakkai? Or Chifuyu's voice again? Or maybe another factor entirely? Drop a comment and let me know!