In Another Life (Tokyo Revengers: Chifuyu's fanfic)

Part 1: Chifuyu

You possess formidable fighting skills. Should anyone underestimate you due to your young age or gender, you'll assert your authority. Despite being just 13 years old, you've equipped yourself with the art of judo. Your motivation stems simply from your innate curiosity and boundless passion typical of youth.

You have a neighbour next door. The name's Baji, Baji Keisuke. His mom is kind to your mom so you are close to her, except for him. You had no idea what the real reason was. He always wore a grumpy face or it was his thick angry eyebrows. It resembles a bird the more you stare at it.

He frequently darted in and out of his house, continuously decorated in messy attire, his appearance consistently unkempt. In the most alarming instances, you've noticed bruises and injuries he struggled to conceal. You've formulated a hypothesis regarding his lifestyle—he might be involved with one of the local biker gangs. Despite this speculation, you've always held a disrespectful view towards such groups, finding their showy displays of power with roaring bikes unimpressive and, frankly, quite lame.

Despite your distaste for the noisy bikes, you can't shake the feeling that your life lacks excitement. The idea of Baji being part of a biker gang sparks a curious thrill within you. Imagining the rush of wind as you ride alongside him seems oddly appealing, if only as a fleeting fantasy. However, you're well aware that expressing any interest in such a reckless pursuit would undoubtedly displease your mom.

Still, you wouldn't get caught unless you told her. By that point, you'd already made your decision. You were going to join a biker gang. However, you were unaware of what being in a biker gang truly entailed. All you knew was that you were looking forward to a thrilling ride in the wind. Big mistake.

Choosing the perfect biker gang was easy for you. Despite having no prior knowledge about them, you had a specific lead: Takashi Mitsuya. You heard he was part of a gang called the Tokyo Manji Gang. Initially, you doubted this information. How could someone, who was the home economics club president, be in a biker gang? It didn't seem right to you. What made you abandon all doubt was seeing him in an unmistakable black biker gang uniform with "Tokyo Manji Gang" stitched on the back. What a shock.

As dusk approached, the sky displayed a fading orange gradient illuminated by the setting sun. Engaging in conversation with your best friend Mia, you ponder her concerns. "Y/N, are you really considering joining the Tokyo Manji Gang? I'm genuinely worried about you. It's risky. Haven't you heard the rumors about their leader, the so-called 'invincible Mikey'?" Mia sighed, expressing her willingness to accompany you home despite residing in the same building as you.

"Well, isn't that even better! I'm nostalgic for the carefree days of my childhood. Having the 'invincible' guy on your side sounds like a win, right?" you teased, rolling your eyes in jest. Your friend surrendered with a sigh, recognizing the futility of trying to sway your decision. After all these years, she knows you're not one to heed advice. You're prone to making impulsive choices before realizing their folly—it's just part of who you are. Plus, you're only 13, she thought to herself. "Do as you please," she conceded before heading back to her apartment on the fourth floor.

As your friend's figure slowly receded down the dimly lit staircase, you lingered outside, captivated by the orange hues painting the sky. The gentle warmth of the fading sunlight kissed your skin, contrasting with the encroaching chill of the deepening night. With nothing particularly eventful to mark the day, there was little cause for celebration. Reflecting briefly, you resolved to speak with Mitsuya tomorrow—a decision made hastily yet resolutely. Lost in your thoughts, you became aware of footsteps approaching from your right, interrupting your solitude.

With only a handful of familiar faces who typically return home around this time, none of them match the pace of "Baji." Calling out his name, you swiveled your head to the right, confirming your expectation when you spotted him. Observing him closely, you couldn't help but make a few assessments. His attire was disheveled, marked by dirt stains, while his hair appeared tousled, and his face bore unmistakable bruises. "Hey, Baji. You're a sight for sore eyes again. What trouble did you get into this time?" you quizzed, a hint of teasing in your tone. It was a game you played occasionally, hoping to coax out the truth about his latest scuffle, whether it confirmed his affiliation with a gang or simply reaffirmed the adage that boys will be boys.

Baji's eye roll accompanied his response, "I was just out for a jog and stumbled, alright?" His explanation nearly tempted a laugh from you. How could a mere jog result in such disarray? "Sure thing, Baji," you replied dismissively, averting your gaze. It was a familiar routine—his attempts at innocence were transparent. Suddenly, your attention shifted to the figure behind him, who appeared even more disheveled than Baji. With widened eyes, you inspected him from head to toe, concluding that his appearance alone was enough evidence to confirm Baji's delinquent tendencies. No one in their right mind would accompany someone so unkempt. It was evident that Baji had been fighting, regardless of his claims about jogging and stumbling.

After a prolonged stare, a flicker of recognition sparked in your mind. "You seem familiar. You're... Matsuno, right?" you inquired, tilting your head slightly as you tried to recall his last name. Sensing your attempt to remember, the person gulped nervously, offering a polite bow before confirming, "Matsuno Chifuyu." His appearance differed slightly from your previous encounter; his hair lacked its usual pompadour, and there was a softness about him that you hadn't noticed before. Memories resurfaced of the time you stumbled upon him playing with street cats on your way to school. Although you never exchanged words, witnessing his enjoyment with the cats had stirred something within you. Seeing a delinquent-looking individual engaging with cats wasn't entirely unusual.

"Oh, that explains it. No wonder you seem familiar," you shrugged, attempting to downplay the significance of the recognition. As you became acutely aware of your prolonged gaze, you found yourself momentarily captivated by Chifuyu's eyes, their intensity prompting you to avert your gaze hastily. Unsettled by the inexplicable feelings stirring within you, you struggled to comprehend why you had asked in the first place. His eyes seemed to convey something beyond mere acquaintance—perhaps admiration, or even... love? The thought left you feeling disconcerted and unsure. Desperate to escape the awkwardness of the moment, you offered a brief bow. "Well, goodnight to you both. Take care of yourself, Chifuyu," you bid, eager to depart from the peculiar encounter.

Exiting the scene, you retreated into your own residence, leaving the two boys to their own devices. Your casual remark to Chifuyu to take care wasn't intended as a gesture of comfort, yet it seemed to have that effect. Your concern stemmed solely from his disheveled appearance compared to Baji's. There were no hard feelings; it was a simple observation. Little did you know, your seemingly innocuous gesture would leave a lasting impression. Unrecognized to you, someone harbored a small crush on you, ignited by that simple act of kindness. Such is the unpredictability of human interactions.

It seems like Chifuyu was struck by love at first sight.