Red Jiw

I've waited over 10 long years for this moment. I still can't believe it; Doumeki has finally fulfilled his dream, and I hope Yashiro finds some peace before the storm breaks. Are you ready? I hope you enjoy it too until the chapter is released in better quality.

💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞

The opening pages are the conversation between Amou and Tsunakawa that was previewed officially.

Tsunakawa reminds Amou:

"You said that guy has nowhere to go back to, right?"

Amou apologizes.

Tsunakawa responds sarcastically:

 "Funny. Even the guy himself isn't apologizing."

Amou says he had hoped that during the past four years Doumeki would learn things like obligation and gratitude.

Tsunakawa replies:

 "Maybe he'll understand from here on."

Then Tsunakawa says:

 "Not that I'm bragging, but I've never devoted myself to another person. I can't understand it, and I don't want to."

Amou answers:

 "That probably has something to do with your upbringing."

Tsunakawa:

"But you understand it, don't you? That's why you brought him here."

A flashback panel shows a young Amou looking slightly embarrassed while Misumi rests a hand on his head.

Amou reveals that bringing Doumeki to Tsunakawa was a personal favor he asked of him, and Tsunakawa only accepted it because they were old acquaintances.

As Amou leaves, he tells Tsunakawa:

 "You can count it as a debt I owe you."

But once in the car he thinks:

 "He's absolutely going to make me pay him back later."

Then they arrive at their destination.

---

Yashiro and Nanahara

Back at the office.

Yashiro returns visibly irritated.

Nanahara approaches him.

While covering part of his face with one hand, Yashiro complains that they still haven't found Kai's hideout.

Nanahara asks:

"Were you maybe going to see Doumeki?"

Yashiro immediately shoots him a sharp look, throws an ashtray at his head, and snaps:

"Don't stick your nose into this."

Nanahara pushes back.

He says:

Ever since Doumeki appeared, Yashiro has been acting strange.

Maybe Doumeki said something to him.

He's not stupid; he can put things together.

He was the last person who spoke to Doumeki four years ago.

Then Nanahara reveals:

"Back then, he said that if he wasn't in this world anymore, he'd no longer have any connection to you."

At first Nanahara thought Doumeki had simply changed after joining the Sakura family.

But now he realizes:

"That wasn't it. It was because of that, wasn't it?"

Yashiro tries to brush it off:

"Who knows? It has nothing to do with me."

Nanahara continues:

"Then why are you so miserable?"

Yashiro:

"I'm just tired. What, are you trying to tell me what to do now?"

Nanahara says he isn't.

He only thinks that maybe Doumeki no longer has anywhere he belongs.

Maybe someone should help him.

Yashiro cuts him off:

"Nobody can help him."

Then Yashiro says:

"Ignoring Tsunakawa's pride, pretending I forgot him, throwing him away just so he could stay in the same world as me... how is that any different from obsession?"

At that moment,

Amou appears.

---

Amou and Yashiro

The two talk at a café.

The dialogue isn't shown, but Amou apparently explains how Doumeki came to be under Tsunakawa's care.

Yashiro says he understands now, though he's genuinely surprised.

Then he asks Amou:

"Why did you go so far as to help Doumeki behind Misumi's back?"

Amou begins talking about his relationship with Misumi.

He explains:

Misumi married Amou's mother.

They were never legally adopted.

Misumi offered to pay his living expenses and tuition, but Amou refused and graduated university through his own efforts.

It was at university that he met Tsunakawa.

Amou says he always admired Misumi.

Even though he understood why Misumi never adopted him, he still wanted to become family.

He wanted to exist in the same world as him.

So instead of becoming a yakuza, he became Misumi's secretary. (After Misumi finally gave in.)

Amou says:

"I wanted to be someone like a son to him... the way you are."

Yashiro immediately replies:

"People don't sleep with their sons."

Then Amou asks the crucial question:

"Four years ago, when you abandoned Doumeki... was it for his sake? Or for your own?"

Yashiro freezes in shock.

Seeing his reaction, Amou stands up and leaves.

Beside Yashiro's seat, rain has begun to strike the window.

---

Yashiro gets a phone call.

Someone asks:

"Where are you right now?"

Heavy rain is falling.

Yashiro walks through it without an umbrella.

A car suddenly stops beside him.

Then, 

"Don't move. Do you know how long I've been looking for you?"

It's Kamiya.

Kamiya says:

"I don't understand what's so great about you."

"That stubborn bastard is completely wrapped around your finger. Either you're incredible in bed, or you're unbelievably compatible."

"Either way, only a weirdo would go this far."

Yashiro keeps walking.

Kamiya continues:

"You must really be worth enough to throw a man's whole life into chaos."

Still no reaction.

Finally Kamiya clicks his tongue.

"Say something, damn it. You're disgusting."

Then he throws a hotel key at Yashiro's back.

Yashiro stops and glances over his shoulder.

Kamiya says:

"'His reason for living'... that's what you are."

"Aren't you embarrassed?"

Then:

"The night after tomorrow, Kai gets killed. After serving prison time for it, he'll be expelled from the organization."

"If he only comes to his senses when he's an old man, he'll be completely screwed."

Then Kamiya drives away.

Yashiro stands there.

The hotel key lies on the wet ground.

He closes his eyes and looks up at the rainy sky.

---

The Hotel

The scene shifts.

Doumeki is in the hotel room handling his gun.

The doorbell rings.

He opens the door.

Standing there is Yashiro, soaked by the rain.

Doumeki is stunned.

Without saying a word, Yashiro places a hand against his face and leans in himself.

Then... 

He kisses him (❗❗❗❗❗) 

Doumeki's eyes remain open in shock.

Yashiro closes his eyes and kisses him desperately, completely absorbed in it.

They move inside the room.

Their lips part once.

They stare at each other.

Then, 

Doumeki firmly wraps his arms around Yashiro.

Yashiro loops both arms around Doumeki's neck.

And they kiss again.

--------------------------------------

After the page from the second preview where doumeki collapses while trying to stand up

• Doumeki: "…S-sorry…"

• Yashiro: "It's fine. Don’t talk."

• Saying that, Yashiro puts Doumeki's arm around his shoulder and carries him to the bed

• Doumeki grabs Yashiro’s arm and says, "Don't go…" and then loses consciousness

• Yashiro prepares a towel for Doumeki's forehead and some water, and stays to nurse him

_____________

• Doumeki wakes up

• When he sits up, he sees Yashiro sleeping while seated against the wall

• Doumeki moves closer, notices the bucket of water nearby, and understands what happened.

• As he looks at Yashiro’s sleeping face, he recalls Kageyama's words and reaches out-

• but just then, his phone rings.

• The ringtone wakes Yashiro.

• Tsunakawa: "It's me."

• Doumeki: "…Yes."

• Tsunakawa: "Come to the main house. Now."

• Doumeki: "Understood."

• Yashiro looks up at Doumeki, who has lowered his gaze

• Yashiro asks if it was Tsunakawa calling

• Doumeki asks what Yashiro had originally come for

• Yashiro dodges the question

"What was it again?"

• He pretends he’s forgotten

• Yashiro then asks whether it was really okay to send the club mama who people think Doumeki is involved with home.

• Doumeki: "When did I ever say I was dating her?"

• Yashiro: "…You're not?"

• Doumeki’s wound starts to hurt, so he sits down and explains

 • The club mama is his childhood friend

• He was her tattoo practice model

• She was saving money at the club so she could become independent as a tattoo artist

• Yashiro: "I… see."

• Doumeki: "Would it have been more convenient if we were dating?"

• Yashiro: "…What do you mean by that?"

• Doumeki: "I wondered if that would make you feel more at ease."

• Yashiro: "At ease…? What are you talking about?"

• Doumeki: "Do you really not understand?"

• Yashiro: "It doesn’t matter to me either way. I don’t care who you’re dating as long as I can have sex, It doesn’t even have to be you"

• Doumeki: "I-"

(the scene shown in the first official preview.)

• Doumeki: "What if I told you that… I still have feelings for you?"

• Doumeki: "Do you want to know how I feel?"

"If I said I still love you, if you knew I’m still chasing after you"

• Doumeki: "Even so, do you still want to hear it from my own mouth?"

"Do you truly believe I could ever love anyone other than you?" (😭😭♥️) 

• They look at each other at the same eye level.

______________

Doumeki’s past (inner monologue)

"Because you were there, I chose to live in this world."

"It didn’t matter which organization it was."

"I didn’t care if people thought I was disloyal or a terrible person."

"I decided I just wanted to exist in the same world as you any way I could."

"I wanted to become a man who could stand beside you."

"I didn’t care how many years it took."

"But I met you sooner than I expected, and I became greedy. I got jealous."

"I thought I had let those feelings go-" "but I couldn’t go against my own heart."

_______________

Back to the present

• Doumeki reaches out and touches Yashiro’s right cheek

• Doumeki: "Can you not see?"

• Yashiro: "…Why?"

• Doumeki: "Is it a lingering effect from back then?"

• Yashiro: "It's nothing serious."

• Doumeki: "Is it because of me?"

• Yashiro: "No."

• Yashiro grabs Doumeki’s wrist.

• Doumeki: "Even if it isn't…"

• Yashiro: "You’re overthinking it."

• Doumeki: "…Even so, to me, you are kind, strong, and beautiful."

• Yashiro: "…I-"

• Yashiro: "All this time, you’ve been making me listen to this"

"what kind of feelings did you expect me to hear it with…?"

• Doumeki leans in and kisses him.

• They part.

• Yashiro opens his eyes, stunned

• Doumeki stands up

• Yashiro: "You… why… why say it now?"

 "You hid it all this time"

 "why now?"

• Doumeki looks down at him silently,

• He takes his jacket and leaves

• Doumeki’s face turns serious

• Yashiro stares at the door.

_________________________________

Sentai Film Works has the Twittering Birds Never Fly Blu-Ray on sale for $8.99!

Flagged for being too hot. So you can see them here. Crumblr you suck!

I’ll post a summary after I read it. The full chapter should be up in a few days 💛

Ho. Ly. SHIT you guys are going to freak the fuck out over this chapter. While reading most of it I was just shouting various expletives into the ether in my apartment lol

There's a detailed summary under the cut for those who wish to avoid spoilers ^^

I’m glad they are still evading the “love talk” They both must know that it’s dangerous to say the L word when tomorrow they will be looking for trouble or trouble will be looking for them.

https://x.com/bs_garden/status/1750716438837674487?s=46&t=2e7-wJKCMG1-wjVF2M6vIg

“I want a reason to be around”

“I’ve suppressed my feelings, has this person?”

Here we goooooooooooo!!!! Yashiro might get some love for his birthday! 🥳

It was leaning against my door when I came home from running errands and I made a little yelp sound when I saw it that freaked out my neighbor 😂

MAJOR CH 55 SPOILERS AHEAD

Doumeki is deeply flabbergasted by Inami's confirmation that Yashiro is impotent. He makes a really good surprised face for a few panels. lol

Inami volunteers the information that Okuyama hasn't been seen around in a while.

Doumeki calls Inami gross, lol.

D has a moment alone in his car reflecting on the sex he's had with Y since they met again after the time skip along with the information he's just received from Inami. It seems he does indeed realize the gravity of the situation (again, with the really good facial expressions).

The dude with the scar on his cheek who works for Kai (who's name is Nishio btw) reports to Kai about Yashiro and Nanahara's scuffle with the two guys after leaving the restaurant. Nishio had followed Y and Nana to the casino in Shibuya, which he connected to Doushinkai. He's able to discover Yashiro's name and reports this to Kai.

Initially Kai thinks Y and Nana must have been watching Kyouseikai / Ryuuzu from the restaurant because of the small fight that broke out between Doushinkai and Ryuuzu (mentioned in a previous chapter) - just as Yashiro expected in ch 54. BUT, Nishio recognizes Doumeki with Y and Nana in a picture sent by the damn waiter in the restaurant. Kai connects the dots and suspects that Doushinkai and Sakuraikka are working together in some way.

Kai orders Nishio to get more info about Yashiro.

Yamakawa is with Kai and he's very scared, lol.

Thanks to a flashback from 10 years ago, we learn a lot about Kai and Tsunakawa's relationship (which helps put Tsunakawa's reluctance to take Doumeki in when Amou asks into context and makes it all the more poignant that Tsunakawa seems to trust D). It turns out that D and Kai came to Sakuraikka in somewhat similar ways. Kai betrayed Tsunakawa in the flashback which resulted in his expulsion from Sakuraikka.

By the way, Tsunakawa's first name is Reiji ^^

We learn that Kai was a member of Sakuraikka thanks to Okuyama's recommendation. Something drove Kai out of western Japan and for some reason Okuyama urged Sakuraikka to take him in. Kai worked under Okuyama's branch in Sakuraikka. Okuyama tried to defend Kai against Tsunakawa when Tsunakawa expelled Kai from the group, apparently to no avail. It seems that Kai should be grateful to Okuyama, but for some reason in the present (based on previous chapters) they have a strained relationship.

Back in the present day, Doumeki reports all the info from Inami to Tsunakawa, including that Okuyama appears to be MIA. They decide Okuyama may or may not be the one who ordered the kidnapping of Niki, which was apparently planned by Kai, but at any rate he and his group have got to be dealt with.

Doumeki is ordered to search for Okuyama AND (dun, dun, dunnnn) stop keeping an eye on Yashiro.

D is told to tell Yashiro that Sakuraikka will handle this matter alone and that Tsunakawa will speak with Misumi himself if Doushinkai has any issues with that.

D goes to Y's place, holding the data card he received from Inami (it's not totally clear what exactly is on this card - if it's just the info about Kai or if the alleged Inami-Yashiro sex video is also on the card).

Doumeki and Yashiro have a very business-like conversation in which D relays what Tsunakawa has said. Yashiro acknowledges without any complaints.

Yashiro tells D about the two dudes who fought Nana when they left the restaurant. Y tells D that it's likely that Ryuuzu know who Y is and his connection to Doushinkai, but because Y assumes that Ryuuzu will connect Y and Nana's presence with the small fight between Ryuuzu and Doushinkai, he says Doumeki shouldn't concern himself about it - he thinks his and Nana's presence won't be connected to Sakuraikka. Yashiro and Doumeki don't realize that Doumeki was also identified by Nishio to be at the restaurant as well.

Y tells D to leave so he does and then Y pulls out a cigarette... when suddenly D reappears and takes the cigarette from his mouth - 嫌です (I don't like it/ I don't want to) 🫠

End of summary

Very poor quality.

Doumeki telling Reiji-kun about Okuyama.

Doumeki contemplating all he’s learned before going to Yashiro.

Yashiro answers the door in his pajamas!!! (Second-hand spoilers can never be trusted!)

Yashiro and Doumeki always have the most uneventful conversations.

I’ll just let you all absorb the next two pages.

Yashiro’s face looked sad. Doumeki may not like it but we sure do!

What it takes to forget

More concepts for my Wings of Pages series

High res image, longer time lapse, and layered PSD file available on my Patreon.com/yuumei

More from the series

CHAPTER 52 SPOILERS WITH MORE TOUCHING.