Marionette(My Strings Are Titanium, You Cannot Cut Them)

Goro really couldn't ask for a better opportunity. He'd been invited as a guest to Shujin Academy's school festival, and naturally he'd accepted. After all, Akira invited him personally, and how could he turn down a chance to spend time with his friend?

Speaking and answering questions from the student body sounded atrocious, but knowing Akira would be happy made it well worth his time. When had he become so desperate?

After the interview, Goro would enact his modified plan. Everything else would be set in motion from there, and the next month would fly by even quicker. But today, it wasn't time yet. Today, he'd promised to stop by and do any necessary work in preparation for tomorrow. He'd also agreed to hang out with Akira and his friends.

He'd arrived early, and was pleased to note they were all gathered at the entrance due to having just arrived once he'd finished up. There was already a large crowd, but he was skilled enough to avoid bumping into anyone as he walked through the halls. He'd also tied his hair up and worn casual clothing as opposed to his uniform. It was incredible how little it took to keep people from recognizing him at first glance. Akira, as always, was the exception.

"Goro!" Akira waved him over the moment he saw him. Goro realized just how much the man seemed to perk up simply at the sight of him. He'd been standing quietly before, posture withdrawn. He seemed happy to fade into the background, even around his friends. Based on the teasing smirk the girl he recognized as Ann Takamaki shot towards Akira, Goro had a feeling it was typical of him. Akira had mentioned that he preferred it.

Goro smiled as he approached them, not like he did on TV but like he did, well, around Akira. It sounded silly, but it was true. Nothing else made him feel that way.

He learned quickly just how affectionate of a person Akira was, and didn't argue even in the crowded school as he stepped forward to hug Goro. It was far from a typical hello, but they both needed it, and Goro wasn't about to argue. Since they received no odd looks from Akira's group of friends, he assumed the gesture wasn't one he showed only to Goro. 

Less due to the setting and more because of the people in his immediate vicinity, Goro didn't linger. While he'd love to intertwine their hands while walking through the festival and prove that he was the one who made Akira so happy, it was too selfish a wish to entertain.

The looks Goro got from Akira's friends ranged from mischievous to disbelief, and he couldn't help but chuckle. He figured that they hadn't dismissed all of their previous assumptions about him. Everyone except Sakura introduced themselves after, to which Goro returned the favor. 

His eyes flicked to the girl hiding behind Kitagawa and offered her a small smile of encouragement. She seemed more annoyed by it than anything, though, and Goro's heart sank. He didn't care if the girl liked him, he certainly didn't deserve for her to, but he didn't want to ruin someone else's day just by being there.

With a loud groan, Sakura walked toward him and put her hands on her hips. "You make Akira really happy. You're dumb, but since he trusts you, I guess you must be okay." She seems to want to say more, so Goro doesn't interrupt as she tries to sort through her words. "Akira is sorta like a brother to me, so I can't let you hurt him." She stared at him with a surprising amount of intensity, but Goro doesn't falter.

Instead, he glanced toward Akira before looking back at her. "What I want most is for him to be happy. You have my word, I'd much prefer to die than cause him pain." Goro didn't mean for it to come off so harsh, but Sakura seemed shocked by his answer.

He was about to apologize before she nodded. "Got it. Welp, you're Futaba approved!" She grinned cheerfully and gave Akira a thumbs up.

Goro had learned from their first encounter that Sakura wasn't someone to be messed with, but he was as shocked as he was relieved to see it peek into a real conversation for her. She must really care for Akira. He tried not to dwell on the knowledge that he'd soon be taking her brother from her, too.