SLEEPING AT LAST | bajifuyu

thirteen

After his brief ordeal with Toman, Chifuyu is now an official member, under Baji's wing, as vice-captain of the first division of Tokyo Manji. His meeting with other members of Toman was a rollercoaster, unexpectedly this time, Baji wasn't the cause of chaos. He thought their meeting would be blood dripping from a busted lip and swollen knuckles, but it was more of a convenience store invasion, midnight strolls, and riding motorcycles at sunset.

The more time he spent with them, learning their nature, Tokyo Manji isn't just a mere show of power.

On the other hand, Chifuyu can say that his sleep improved. Constant visits and wacky suggestions from the long-haired lad were helpful as much as he didn't expect it. The dread of lingering dark bodies that appear at night no longer races his heart, finding solace in them when he noticed a resemblance to a man with luscious dark hair.

A journal was kept at the corner of his desk, a gift from Baji, or so he says. He recommended journaling the latter's emotions and thoughts, an indirect weapon for fighting his demise. Accidentally, it became a routine.

The autumn came by, and the blonde didn't notice the filled blank space of the journal piles halfway through.

The sound of scattered dead leaves under his feet was music to his ears. Chifuyu was delighted that his friend, autumn, has come to visit. He loves the earthy smell of leaves and soil dancing in his nostrils and the vibrant colors of red, orange, and yellow amusing in his eyes. Other than delight, Chifuyu feels livelier than usual, guessing that autumn might influence him or that he's doing well in school.

No, everything feels better, Chifuyu thought to himself as he walks with a skip on his steps.

Indeed, everything feels better. Five months ago, Chifuyu wasn't indifferent to that of a turtle, shy, scared, and hiding, never picturing himself to be the boy he is today. And, he swears gratitude to his friend who had done nothing but help him with his dilemma. He could never wish for anything more than this moment he's living.

"Chifuyu!" a familiar deep voice calls to him, knowing it was none other than the ball of chaos named Baji Keisuke, grinning that it exposes his canine. "Such an early bird, I see,"

"Yeah, too early to handle your bullshit," Chifuyu said, waiting for his friend to catch up.

Baji acted like a stabbed man, grunting, "You've hurt me, Chifuyu,"

You've hurt me, Chifuyu.

His words reverberated in his head while he stood at the cashier, waiting for the ecstatic lad to get his favorite treat. Believe it or not, Chifuyu is also baffled by how they went from the sidewalk to the premise of a local convenience store. His aquamarine could see the whole area and the boy jumping on his spot, deciding what variety of yakisoba they should eat.

At one glance, no one will expect the man to be a captain of a growing gang. Chifuyu thought that even though they are reckless goons, no one can take away the truth that they're still children. Passionate, living and enjoying their youth as much as they want.

Blood, violence, and pain are a part of life. It is a part of something bigger, and they're just experiencing them while they can.

"Hey," a deep masculine voice broke Chifuyu from his thoughts,

"The money," he said, anticipating the money to land on his palm.

Remembering their objective, a soft oh left Chifuyu's lips, and he took the wallet from his bag, giving Baji the exact amount of money needed for the purchased item.

"I'll prepare the food while you look for seats," Baji commands, taking the food in his hand to go on the other side of the store.

His eyes fixated on the open window located at the back of the store, it was a little dusty, but a view compensates for its ghastly state. Chifuyu's mind was blank, numb other than the buds of emotions blooming from his chest. It felt tighter than usual, near from bursting such funny feelings.

"You're out of it today, huh?" Baji said, placing the food in front of them, waiting for the noodles to cook.

Chifuyu stared at the steam escaping the uneven lid of the packaging entertained by the dancing smoke, he failed to notice Baji's face scrunching up and hands itching to comb his hair.

"Hey, are you okay?" Baji finally asked, and the latter turns to him.

"You. You've been silent and watching," Baji answered, opening the lid of the yakisoba to mix the seasonings. Chifuyu watched him intently, either from hunger or plain amusement.

"It's nothing," he said, still enthralled by the yakisoba, "I'm just thinking," Frown adorns the ebony boy's face and stops his mixing the seasoning of the food.

"Just hearing the word thinking hurts my head already. Tell me, what is it?" Baji said, one brow raised.

"The light is still yet to come, huh?" Chifuyu muttered, eyes still fixated on the glowing horizon. His hands went to take the yakisoba, mixing and eating it.

"No, shit Sherlock," he said, hands to his mouth to hide his planned gasp.

Laughing at his friend's antics, he could only sigh at his stupidity, "I dread the night before, Baji-san,"

"Since I was a child, I was afraid of its emptiness. I thought of it as an immediate death, falling into endless nothingness."