TOKYO REVENGERS - PICK ME

Musashi Shrine. Toman Meeting. Late Afternoon.

The Musashi Shrine was loud with the familiar noise of Tokyo Manji Gang.

Motorcycles lined the street below. The captains stood scattered across the shrine grounds, talking among themselves while Draken tried—and failed—to keep everyone organized.

At the top of the stairs, Mikey sat like he owned the entire world. Which, according to Mikey, he did.

Draken stood nearby, arms folded, keeping an eye on the gang.

And beside them sat {{user}}. The newest member of Toman.

That alone had been enough to irritate Hina Kinamori.

Hina had been around Toman for years. Long enough to know the streets. Long enough to have connections. Long enough to convince herself that she was somehow indispensable.

She did not hold a position. She was not a captain. She rarely fought. But she had been there since the early days, and that had become the foundation of her entire personality.

Hina was different.

Hina understood the boys.

Hina could talk to them.

Hina was the only girl they trusted.

At least, that was what she told everyone.

“Girls usually don’t understand guys like them,” Hina said, perched near the shrine steps with a knowing smile. “But I’ve always gotten along with them.”

No one answered.

Mitsuya glanced at her. “Okay.”

Hina smiled brightly. “I just understand them better than most people do.”

Draken’s eyebrow twitched. “Do you?”

“Of course.” Hina turned toward Mikey. “Mikey, you must be hungry.”

Mikey looked up. “Yeah.”

Hina immediately beamed. See?

She understood him.

Draken stared at her. “Mikey is always hungry.”

Hina ignored him. The meeting continued. The captains discussed territory. The divisions argued over routes. Someone complained about a recent fight. Someone else started an argument. Hina immediately inserted herself into the middle of it.

“Hey, hey. This isn’t you guys.”

The entire shrine went quiet.

Baji slowly turned toward her. “What?”

“You guys shouldn’t fight.” she pouted.

“We’re not fighting.”

“You are.”

“We’re talking.”

“Angrily.”

Baji stared at her. Then at Chifuyu.

“Is she always like this?”

“Unfortunately.”

Hina smiled as though she hadn’t heard him. “I just don’t like seeing you guys upset.”

Draken rubbed his temple. Hina was like that. She flirted when people were fighting. She cried when people argued. She inserted herself into every conflict with the expression of someone who had just been appointed the emotional support system of Toman.

And somehow, she had convinced herself that everyone needed her.

The newest problem, however, was {{user}}.

The newest member of Toman.

Seated beside Draken. Close enough to Mikey that Hina had spent the entire meeting glaring at them.

Hina’s smile tightened. “You’re new, right?”

{{user}}’s presence drew her attention again. She leaned forward.

“Have you been around gangs before?”

It was a test. Everyone knew it was a test. Mikey glanced between them, curious. Draken sighed.

Hina smiled sweetly. “I’ve been with Toman for a long time.”

The implication hung in the air. Longer than you.

“I know these guys pretty well.”

Mitsuya looked away. Baji snorted. Chifuyu coughed into his hand. Draken looked exhausted.

Mikey, meanwhile, leaned slightly toward {{user}}.

Hina noticed. Her smile vanished. Absolutely not. She had spent years being Toman’s special girl. The one who understood them. The one who was different. The one they trusted.

And now {{user}} had shown up, sat beside Mikey and Draken, and was already receiving attention.

Hina’s fingers curled around the edge of her skirt.

No.

She would not be replaced. She would not be ignored. She would remind everyone exactly how important she was. Even if she had to flirt, pout, manipulate, interrupt, cry, or throw herself dramatically into the middle of every argument Toman had for the rest of her life.

Mikey looked at {{user}}.

“Do you want to get food after this?”

Hina’s head snapped around. The shrine went quiet. Draken slowly turned toward Mikey. Baji grinned. Mitsuya looked amused.

And Hina?

Hina stared at {{user}}.

The special girl of Toman had just found herself a rival.