SLEEPING AT LAST | bajifuyu

twenty-three

"What can I help you with?" his steps followed the blond, turning around the corner to the engawa.

Their garden was pure white with fresh snowfall, imitating a soft blanket Chifuyu has. It wasn't too cold, thanks to the warmth radiating off the shoji from the inside. Mikey was quiet, maybe too silent to his liking, getting nervous as he spent time staring at his back.

"You're with Baji, aren't you?" Mikey's eyes were dead trained on his, turning around to look at him. His face was unreadable, a master of hiding his emotions, waiting for his answer.

Chifuyu sighs as he let go of the tension tied on his shoulders, "Uhm, yes."

There's no need to hide anything, especially with Mikey. The man who—no matter how hard you tried hiding—knows everyone's secret with one look.

"Just tell me if he forced you into liking him, and I'll beat his ass," the sudden 180 degrees changed surprised him, blinking at the guy in front of him.

Chifuyu tried processing what the latter had said because he thought the boy would do something, and this isn't the exact reaction he expected. He was thankful, nonetheless. It eases his heart tenfold at Mikey's approach.

"No," leaving a gap between them, "No. If you wonder, it's the other way around."

"Oh, man," Mikey looks dumbfounded at his newfound information, "Baji manipulated you, huh? I will kill that man-"

"No! I swear it's not!"

Sometimes Chifuyu blames his luck or even his decision-making skills. He takes pride in his, rather, logical thinking, and now he's shamelessly sitting in front of other Toman captains. They eye him as if he had committed a grave sin, or is it? He bashfully lowers his head down, an attempt to hide from their unwanted attention. It isn't supposed like this. he had expected quite a reaction, but not as formal as a round table with lights directed at him.

"Since when?" Draken cleared his throat as he adjusts his collar.

Still fixated on his hands, Chifuyu forced a "What?"

"Since when-"

"Why are you guys just connecting the dots right now?" Smiley taps his finger on the table, heads turning to him. Even Chifuyu, the man who just had his shit together, surprised at the fluffy-haired boy.

Angry, beside him, huffed a sigh, "We all know that you guys are dumb but damn."

"It's pretty obvious that they're head-over-heel with one another," the pastel-haired boy pointed at him, "Even now, if you see how Chifuyu would light up with Baji's name."

He bobbed his head up, lips quivering at the exposure, earning a hearty laugh from the captains, "This is embarrassing."

"Ah, love," Draken sigh as if he's an old man reminiscing his tale days.

Mikey smacks him in the head, "Said by a coward who can't confess to my sister,"

Another round of laughter fills the room, and Draken tried to protests against their claims. An attempt to salvage his already deflating reputation. Soon enough, Chifuyu joins them, teasing one another.

Until Mikey went up to him as close as possible, "I have a thing in mind!"

Either it was the way how Mikey's eyes had the lights beaming in his eyes or how close their proximity is, Chifuyu fears that thing in his mind.

"So, why the fuck are we wearing these?"

Baji turns to them, all dressed up in a yukata, grabbing Mikey's collar. The rest of the Tokyo Manji Captains also wore yukata—more like forced to, with a grin that stretches from ear to ear. Mikey, the perpetrator of the last-minute change of plans, messaged everyone to prepare their yukatas. An hour before the time of the party. He wouldn't mind it if the blond decided it later in the afternoon, but an hour before the party? Such a sociopath.

Mikey grabs his hand, muttering about crumpling his yukata, "You will see, Ed."

Hearing that nickname sends shivers down his spine, Baji whispers curses under his breath. If Mikey used that nickname, that only means the boy is up to no good; he must prepare for the worst-case scenario. Rather than rant a string of complaints, he decided to run his eyes to the place, observing once more.

It wasn't as bad as he initially thought. Lanterns scattered the place, providing a dim light for everyone, while tables gather up in the front near the shrine with the food Mitsuya and the others prepared. There is also some attempt at origami designs that are tattered and torn by the time the party starts. Extensions were professionally hidden—somewhere Baji doesn't know, he'll ask the PehPah duo later, expected to be in a tangled situation. It's not the time to worry about that now. He noticed everyone is here, except for the yellow-haired lad he adored and a couple of captains.

"Say, Mikey," going back to the boy eating his dorayaki, "Where's Chifuyu?"

"Oh, another lovesick,"

Before he could say any comebacks, he catches a glimpse of two people at the entrance. Mitsuya enters gracefully, tucking his arms in the sleeves of his yukata beside Angry that has a casual scowl on his face. They greet each other as the duo approaches them, exchanging a few words before their topic went to the missing blond.

"I bet this man is wondering where Chifuyu is," Mitsuya snickers,

"I am to think you have killed him," Baji sighs, tapping his foot impatiently while his eyes trained at the entrance.

Smiley pops out behind him, "What a dark mind you have there, Baji,"

"Well, everyone is here except him. So, what conclusion do I have to offer?"

Draken smacks his head, "You're fucking dumb."

"Hey, there they are! Mana! Luna!"

Everyone's heads turn to the entrance, gawking at the person holding Mitsuya's sisters' hands. Chifuyu wore a deep blue yukata, adorning with several accessories, blending colors with the dim red lantern. His slicked-back hair compliments his face, exposing the beauty he hides underneath his casual hairstyle.

"Hey, Baji-san," his smile, Chifuyu's smile, causes his heart to skip a beat.

He didn't notice how his feet move on their own, now standing in front of Chifuyu. From the colors of his cheeks to the light in his eyes, Chifuyu is lovely. And his smile, is he even going to repeat it, never fails to make his heart jump. This Chifuyu, his lover, and one he wants to spend everything through thick and thin. Beautiful and pure, like the snow that falls into his hair.

"Fuck God, is this real?" cupping the latter's cheeks, "You're so beautiful,"

Chifuyu wipes the tears that tried to escape in Baji's eyes, "Very much real, Baji-san."

"Now, lovebirds! Come here!"

Both of them shoot the boy with a questioning look, surprised at how everyone gathers behind him. Every face had a smile sticking to them, giddy at the sight of their captain and vice-captain.

"Let's make it official, Tokyo Manji Style!"