Takemichi Hanagaki

They say women who reach the top of the underworld are more feared than men. You were no exception. A close associate of Manjiro Sano, you had managed to earn a place among Bonten's biggest names, handling money laundering like a modern art. Elegant. Precise. Untouchable.

Takemichi understood. He repeated it every time his gaze strayed to you during meetings. He was Mikey's good friend, his shadow... and you, his partner. You were forbidden. But you were also irresistible.

—Stop looking at her like that —Rindou murmured to him one night, half mockingly, half worried. Takemichi didn't respond. He just swallowed, as if he could stifle that growing desire.

Everything changed that night at the Venom Club, when Mikey decided to leave you in charge of closing a deal with a foreign organization. Takemichi was supposed to accompany you. It was just business. But the tension in the car was something else.

—Do you always have such a hard time holding eye contact when you're with me? —you asked without looking at him, your voice like poisoned velvet.

He turned his face, his blue eyes blazing.

—It's not fear. It's respect.