Chapter 8: Planting seeds
Jinnai's gaze remained untrusting, even as Yoh extended a nonchalant hand towards him.
Jinnai, nursing his wounded arm with a muted wince, scrutinized Yoh through a lens of wariness and intrigue.
His blond locks, slightly tousled from the skirmish, subtly masked the pain etched into his youthful visage.
A moment lingered between them, tension twining through the alley's suffocated air, before the blond youth cautiously accepted the gesture.
Yoh's grip was firm, yet void of aggression.
"Name's Yoh," he introduced casually, dropping his hand.
Their hands disengaged, and Yoh, with a sense of unvoiced understanding, produced a neatly folded kerchief, offering it to Jinnai.
"For your wound," Yoh stated simply, a cryptic softness seeping through his stoic exterior.
Jinnai, despite his reservations, accepted the fabric, gently pressing it against the slicing pain that whispered along his arm.
His eyes, a mirror to his internal storm, flitted between the kerchief and Yoh.
A loaded silence threaded between them, interrupted only by the distant murmur of the awakening city beyond their secluded encounter.
"Why?" Jinnai finally voiced, his words not an accusation, but a genuine inquiry into Yoh's unanticipated assistance.
Yoh exhaled a plume of smoke slowly, a hint of amusement playing on his lips. "Because good help is hard to find these days."
Jinnai blinked, not expecting the absurd response. Before he could react further, Yoh gestured for him to follow.
Yoh turned away, starting to walk down the alley, his voice casting back over his shoulder, "Come on, I know a place where we can talk more... and they make a damn good sandwich."
Jinnai hesitated, then, with a slight nod, followed. His steps were cautious but there was an evident curiosity in his eyes.
Yoh led him through a series of winding alleyways and bustling streets until they reached "Shoreline 24/7 Gas & Go".
The bright lights of the convenience store cast a warm, inviting glow amidst the encroaching dusk.
Inside, the scent of freshly made sandwiches wafted through the air.
Yoh headed straight for the sandwich counter, where an assortment of ingredients lay behind the glass partition.
He pointed at a combination of roast beef, Swiss cheese, and a generous portion of vegetables, "One of these for me, and whatever he wants," he indicated Jinnai with a nod.
Jinnai, still somewhat guarded but evidently swayed by the aroma, ordered a simple turkey and cheese sandwich.
As they waited, Yoh leaned casually against the counter, "Friend of mine introduced me to this place," he said nonchalantly, "Said it was the one of the best sandwiches in town. Thought he was exaggerating until I tried it."
He accepted the freshly prepared sandwiches from the server with a grateful nod, leading Jinnai to a secluded corner of the store where they could talk in relative privacy.
"Trust me, you'll thank me later," Yoh said with a grin, handing one to Jinnai.
Jinnai unwrapped his sandwich slowly, his eyes still harboring that coiled wariness as they locked with Yoh's.
His first bite was cautious, but his eyes flickered with approval at the taste.
Just then, the door chimed and a boy around Yoh and Jinnai age walked in soda in hand.
Yoh gave a casual salute. "Speak of the devil. Kizu, my man!"
The boy ambled over. "Yoh! What brings you around this early?" His eyes slid to Jinnai appraisingly.
"Making a new friend," Yoh replied. "Kizu, meet..." He trailed off, pretending like he didn't know his name.
"Jinnai," the blond responded after a beat, inclining his head slightly.
The unlikely trio lingered over their sandwiches, the earlier tension dissipating as they ate and chatted casually.
Yoh was pleased to see Jinnai slowly lowering his guard as Kizu cracked jokes and told colorful stories from the neighborhood.
He even spotted a hint of a smile tug at Jinnai's lips at one ridiculous tale.
After finishing their meals, they headed back out into the streets.
The sun was setting, casting an orange glow across the cityscape.
"How about we walk off that food with a stroll through Hinode Park?" Yoh suggested breezily.
The other two agreed and they meandered over to the local park, Kizu filling the comfortable silence by chatting about places of interest along the way.
As they walked along the tranquil tree lined paths, Kizu and Jinnai fell into easy conversation.
Yoh followed slightly behind, observing thoughtfully and smoking as he pondered potential moves on this new playing field.
Yoh's eyes, partially obscured by a wisp of smoke from his cigarette, scanned the pair ahead, lingering on the slowly relaxing shoulders of Jinnai and the open, animated gestures of Kizu.
As we walked through the streets headed to Hinode Park, I mulled over how The Shore seemed to be the hometown of many strong characters in the universe of crow x worst, such as Kizu Kyosuke, Jinnai Kouhei, Parko, Kiiko, Teru and mayumi.
In this city, there's a peculiar blend of unyielding toughness and a deeply rooted sense of community and loyalty. It's quite the intriguing mix to witness.
The shore is overflowing with potential, waiting to be tapped by someone bold enough.
Given the right sway, they could each become crucial commanders in his unfolding empire.
The shore's talents would serve him, whether they realized it yet or not.
For now, I simply flashed an easy, carefree grin at my new companions as we walked.
We reached the park entrance and ambled along the paths, passing people relaxing on benches and kids running around the grassy fields.
The sun was starting to set, casting an orange glow over the scene.
Kizu and Jinnai fell into casual conversation as we walked. I trailed slightly behind, lost in thought as I observed them.
Jinnai seemed to be lowering his guard bit by bit, though his eyes still held an assessing glint beneath his relaxed demeanor.
We settled onto an empty bench overlooking the central pond.
As we sat at the bench overlooking the pond, I discretely pulled out a couple of phones from my pocket.
Spoils from my earlier run in with those Matsuda Middle school delinquents.
I had to hold back an easy grin at the memory.
Those dumb fucks had no idea who they were dealing with.
Relieving them of their phones and wallets had been child's play.
Not to mention, seeing that overconfident fool Daichi grunting on the ground after a swift kick to the ribs had been deeply satisfying.
I chuckled internally at how easy it was to crush ants like them when needed.
I handed one to Jinnai, who eyed it curiously before pocketing it.
When Kizu returned with drinks, I passed him a phone as well. "A little gift," I said with a casual grin.
Kizu's face lit up as he received the phone.
"Hey, thanks Yoh! You're alright, you know that?"
"With these, we'll always be able to find each other," I said casually as Kizu and Jinnai pocketed the phones.
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