Chapter Text
In the quiet town of Makochi, freedom and control used to be decided by one small thing—a glowing mark etched into skin.
They called it the Tie .
It wasn’t just a symbol. It was a binding. Once placed, it connected a Bearer to a Commander . The mark could appear anywhere—on the chest, the neck, curled around the wrist. Wherever it landed, it glowed softly, like the faint shimmer of a candle in the dark.
It wasn’t necessarily a romantic relationship, but one of trust, protection and support. A Bearer could be marked with as many Ties as they could bear, usually it depended on the strength of the Bearer. A Tie took up a lot of mental and physical strain since it practically linked up both the Bearer and the Commander as if they were one; the most Ties a Bearer was seen with was two. On the other hand, a Commander could give out as many Ties as he pleased.
Through this Tie, Commanders were able to ‘command’ their Bearer’s actions.
But there was a truth that all Bearers knew, even the young ones. The Tie wasn’t always given with permission.
Removing the Tie forcibly was painful. Terribly painful. Like ripping away a part of yourself. It was a banned procedure that could cause permanent damage to the Bearer.
In past centuries, Commanders were powerful. People looked up to them, feared them. They used their natural strength to control others. To build armies of Bearers. They called it leadership—but most of the time, it was just control.
Bearers, although some as powerful as Commanders, were created to trust. They were loyal—devoted like swans, unwavering in their protection. But the world had turned cruel. Bearers ran, hiding from Commanders who would force the Tie upon them. Who would steal their will and call it belonging. That was how things used to be.
While the world progressed through the centuries, Makochi was a town known for battles where such ideals still remained. This was until two years ago.
Now, Makochi was different. Much more peaceful. Much more kind. And it all began when a Commander named Umemiya Hajime rose to power. He was different from the ones before. And with his four trusted Bearers by his side, people began to feel safe again. For the first time in years, Makochi had two whole years without major violence. Without fear.
That’s when Sakura Haruka arrived.
Sakura had always known he wasn’t like everyone else. And it wasn’t just his strange appearance—his eyes were different shades, and his hair was split into two colors. People always stared at him, feared him and cursed him. He wore silence in his eyes. A guarded look. The feeling that he’d been through things that never fully healed.
Sakura didn’t trust people. Especially not Commanders.
He hated the way they looked at him. Like they owned him. Like just because he was born a Bearer, they had the right to chain him. To use him. Many had tried. Some thought it was funny. A challenge. Others wanted him like a prize—something rare they could keep. He had been chased, mocked, even betrayed by the people who were supposed to protect him. So now, Sakura kept to himself.
He didn’t kneel. He didn’t follow. He had a goal instead—take over Furin High. Prove to everyone, and especially to himself, that he didn’t need a Commander to be strong. That he could be on top without being anyone’s.
Not now. Not ever.
////
…Unfortunately his plan didn’t really go as he imagined. Sakura thought he knew what to expect from Furin High because of the rumors. He imagined chaos. Power-hungry Commanders barking orders. Bearers walking with their heads down, their glowing Ties practically screaming ownership. He thought he’d see the same cold system he’d tried to escape from, just with different uniforms. But Furin surprised him.
And it started when he first met Hiragi, one of the four kings and a Bearer.
Sakura met him on his first day in town. The guy had this calm presence, like a storm that had already passed. His Tie—shaped like a silver lion—shone boldly on his left shoulder, not hidden under fabric, not something he was ashamed of. In fact, it felt like it protected him. Like it was watching his back.
Sakura stared at it longer than he meant to.
Then he moved on and met Sugishita, another Bearer, and that’s when his world tilted a little more. Sakura had pegged him as the perfect puppet—loud, dramatic, and kind of insane. If anyone was going to be the favorite toy of a controlling Commander, it had to be him. But what he learned shocked him.
Sugishita hadn’t even been Tied.
Umemiya, the head of Furin and the guy who apparently had the loyalty of these monsters, had turned him down. Told him to look around. To decide if he really wanted it. That a Tie wasn’t something you rushed into. Sakura didn’t even know Commanders could say that kind of thing.
And then came Nirei, and Sakura wasn’t surprised to know he was also a Bearer. They met by accident on his second day, and Sakura immediately hated him—at first. Nirei had this anxious, almost awkward energy, like he didn’t belong in a school known for street fights. But when he spoke about his Tie, his eyes held a quiet kind of strength.
He was bonded to his parents. Had been since he was born. It was a tradition for some Bearer families—a way for parents to protect their children when they were young. Usually the bond ended by the time they were teens, but Nirei’s still held. Sakura didn’t understand what that was like. He’d never had someone look at him and want to protect him just because.
And then, of course, there was Suo.
Suo felt like a Commander the second Sakura met him. Not because he was arrogant—he wasn’t. But because he had this presence. Strong. Steady. Like a mountain you couldn’t shake. Sakura wanted to fight him immediately. It was instinct. But Suo refused. Every time. It confused the hell out of him.
Eventually, Sakura cornered him. Demanded an explanation. Even asked why he didn’t have any Bearers, since not even Nirei, who was practically glued to his side, knew the answer.
Suo had just smiled, leaned in like he was about to tell his deepest secret, and said, “I’m saving myself for marriage.”
Sakura had nearly exploded. “ HAH?! What the hell kind of answer is that?!”
–
Umemiya’s other Bearers—the infamous Four Kings of Bofurin—were terrifying in their own right. Each had chosen him. Chosen. Sakura couldn’t understand it.
How could they give themselves so freely?
He found the answer when he finally met Umemiya Hajime himself. Umemiya was… bright. Almost painfully so. People called him an idiot, and Sakura had too—at first. But after the battle with Shishitoren, he saw it clearly. Umemiya didn’t control . He inspired. Led by example. He shone.
He wasn’t Sugishita, and never would be, but Sakura had come to respect him. Even to feel a quiet, aching urge to protect him.
–
Shishitoren was another surprise. When he had first met them, a blaring anger resounded in his chest. How the entirety of Shishitoren treated their own people was absolutely disgusting. The only thing that Sakura could appreciate—kind of— was that the beatings weren’t discriminatory in any way. It didn’t matter if you were a Commander or a Bearer, if you were weak— you were out.
Their second in command, Togame, had been a great fighter. Sakura had the most fun while kicking his ass. It was hard, and painful but his conversation— as Umemiya liked to call it— had shined the light on many issues.
Before the fight, Togame had told Furin he was Choyi Tomiyama’s Bearer, but Sakura had his doubts. However, he wasn’t one to put his nose into other people's business, so as much as he was curious, he beated the man without asking questions.
Only after Choyi was beaten up by his leader and they were all grouping together for a celebratory meal, had Togame admitted to actually being a Commander. Apparently he had pretended to be a Bearer the entire time to cover for Choji, their leader, by taking all the dirty work onto his hands. Rumors went as far as calling him the ‘rogue Bearer’, which he was happy about if that could somehow protect his leader’s image and smile.
Sakura hadn’t shown much care until Togame had asked him to stay back to talk, just them.
The rooftop was quiet. The kind of quiet that wrapped around you like a blanket. The kind that only came after a long day of fighting and shouting. Sakura leaned back against the wall, arms crossed loosely, the soft wind brushing through his hair. His body ached in the way it always did after a fight, but the tension in his chest had nothing to do with bruises.
Togame sat beside him, not too close, but not far either. They weren’t talking yet. Just... sitting. The sunset stretched out in front of them, painting the sky in warm golds and soft lavenders. He glanced at Togame from the corner of his eye. The guy looked relaxed, tired in a way that wasn’t just physical. There were bags under his eyes, and his hands were bandaged from the last fight.
But still, he smiled.
“I thought ya wanted to talk.” Sakura muttered, impatient.
Togame chuckled. “Try not to ruin the mood.”
Sakura didn’t answer. He let the wind fill the silence.
Then, softly, Togame spoke again. “You didn’t seem shocked when I told you I was a Commander.”
Sakura raised an eyebrow but didn’t turn his head. “Because I wasn’t.”
A beat passed.
Togame blinked. “Really?”
Sakura finally looked at him. “You didn’t have a visible Tie. And the way you kept shouting about loyalty and power... it felt too loud. Too fake. Like you were trying to convince yourself.”
Togame looked surprised for a moment. Then he laughed. “So you were checking out my body?”
“Wha—?! Shut it, rat-tail!” Sakura’s face turned red instantly, and he looked away, cursing under his breath.
Togame smiled wider, but there was something softer in it this time. Something that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Sorry,” he said. “But I’m glad you didn’t look at me differently.”
Sakura said nothing.
The wind blew again, brushing his bangs into his face. He didn’t move them.
He remembered a different rooftop, years ago. Back when he was still running.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
He was thirteen. Bleeding from a cut on his shoulder, hiding behind an old temple wall. Two Commanders had tried to catch him—teenagers, laughing like it was a game.
“Come on! Freak Bearers like you should be grateful we’re interested!”
He had kicked one in the stomach and ran.
That night, he climbed to the top of an abandoned building, curled up against the railing, and cried silently into his arm.
______________________________________________________________________________________
“I have a feeling,” Togame said gently, breaking the silence, “that you’ve had rough times with Commanders.”
Sakura blinked. His body tensed, but his voice was low when he answered.
“My past has nothin’ to do with ya” he said while scoffing
Togame didn’t push. He just looked out at the horizon. Sakura followed his gaze, watching the last slivers of light slip beneath the rooftops.
“But... you’re different. Commanders like you, who protect,” Sakura added, looking at him with a gentle, almost unconscious smile, “give me hope.”
Togame froze. Sakura immediately looked away, cheeks burning.
“Don’t get the wrong idea,” he said quickly. “I still think you’re annoying.”
“Too late,” Togame replied with a grin. “I’m taking the compliment.”
Another silence passed, this one warmer.
Then, Togame’s voice dropped again.
“Can I ask you something?”
Sakura gave him a wary glance. “What?”
“Have you ever been forced? Into a Tie?”
Sakura’s jaw tightened. His hand curled slightly against his knee.
The wind blew again.
“No,” he said after a long pause.
Togame stayed quiet after that. Enjoying Sakura’s presence. He opened his mouth just briefly,
“I’ve never wanted a Bearer. I always thought having someone constantly relying on you was terrifying. To take control, to have their lives in your hands.” he started, “once a Bearer tried to lure me into a contract by threatening to end her life.”
_______________________________________________________________________________________
“IF YOU WON’T TAKE ME AS YOUR BEARER, THEN I MIGHT AS WELL JUST END IT! THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN STOP ME IS TO COMMAND ME THROUGH A TIE!”
First year Togame stood in front of the girl who he had rejected the previous evening. She had stepped over the railings of the roof, her hands trembling. The Commander was frozen in doubt.
‘She wouldn’t actually do it, would she?’
Such thoughts only lasted a second before the girl slipped, Togame had tried to reach her as fast as she could but it wasn’t enough. He saw her figure disappear behind the roof as she fell. He heard her scream, and then nothing.
He was too afraid to look, too scared to see–
“Phew! That was close!”
Togame heard Choyi’s voice as he immediately looked down. There he was, holding the unconscious–but safe– girl in his arms. He had caught her.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Togame turned to Sakura.
“I just wanted to tell ya. Since you shared something of yours”
“Mm… ” Sakura seemed to think hard about his response. Togame wanted to tell him not to bother, that he hadn’t expected anything. But contrary to his thoughts, he listened for a reply.
But instead of that, he just turned to a blushing Sakura, his hands shaking as if trying to grasp a hard concept.
“W-what am I supposed to say!?”
His panic shocked Togame. Before a hard laugh escaped his throat.
“AHAHAHAHA, SAKURA WHAT’S WITH THE REACTION AHAHA”
The other flinched.
“S-SHUT IT!” he added
Togame dried a few tears from his eyes from the laugh. “You really are a good guy, Sakura.”
‘Maybe, having a Bearer like Sakura wouldn’t be so bad’ he thought briefly before he caught himself and flinched.
“W-what?” the boy in front of him looked nervous from the sudden change in expression
Togame sighed, smiling.
“Nothin’, I’ll tell you next time.” he got up and brushed the back of his loose pants, “You better go, you don’t want to make your friends worried.
Sakura turned toward the ladder, confused and his hands in his pockets. “Fine.”
Togame stood there on the rooftop, heart beating a little too fast, watching the last glimmers of sun catch in Sakura’s hair as he disappeared below.