Living A Dead Dream (Baji x OC)

8

The next day came and I was laying in bed, practically paralyzed from excitement.

"Tonight at 4. Be at the Musashi shrine." I read aloud for the umpteenth time as my sore cheeks kept smiling. Today was the day and it was already three. I had one more hour until I'd be a bonafide member of Toman. And for the last two hours, I could do nothing but stare at the ceiling with absolutely no thoughts.

"Hanagaki! You got an hour! You gotta get ready!" Sayu exclaimed as she barged into my room. She came over and pulled me out of bed. "Come on, get up and brush your hair, I'll get you a change of clothes."

I took a deep breath. "Okay," I said as I got up. Now that I was up, I could feel the excited jitters setting in. Quickly, I styled my hair as usual before going back into my room where Sayu had a brand new set of clothes laid out. "Where did you get these?" I asked as I held the white shirt up. It was similar to the school's shirt, but it had gold embroidery along the edges of the sleeves, collar, chest pocket, and hem.

"They're the school's standard boy's uniform, I just added a little pizzaz," she said with a smile and a proud look at her work. "So? What do you think?"

"Definitely better than the normal uniforms," I said as I looked at the pants. They had similar designs along the ankles, pockets, and even in the folds of the fabric. "It really screams badass."

"Yeah," she chuckled. "Get changed, then I have one more thing to complete the look," she added before walking out and shutting the door behind her.

After changing into the clothes, I found out that they were a perfect fit and the extra embroidery added a little extra flare, but not too much. It was perfect for days like this and for when I felt a little extra.

"Oh, my gosh!" she squealed upon seeing me. "It goes with your look way better than I thought!" she gushed as she looked at me from different angles. "Bend your knee." I followed her directions with a smile. She hadn't been into embroidering for too long, but the simple things she did were always perfect. "Perfect! Now," she took a folded-up cloth that was maybe about ten inches long out of her pocket, "the final touch. It's a one-time thing, okay? And if you lose or break it, I will kill you."

I quickly nodded before she unfolded it. "Whoa..." Laying in the pristine white cloth was an exquisitely beautiful golden hair sword with a small tear-shaped blue gem hanging from the hilt. I may have seen her wear it before, but I never got a close enough look to see just how beautiful it was.

"It's not pure gold, but it is a gold alloy, and the stone is genuine sapphire."

"It's beautiful."

"Yep, which is why, best friend or not, you're dead if something happens to it. Understand?"

"Yes, Ma'am," I nodded.

"Good. Now, come here and turn around," she directed, waving me over.

I had to crouch a little for her to properly do it. A few hair pulls later, she was done. I looked in the mirror with a smile. She had pulled back my longer bangs, leaving the shorter pieces, and the hilt poked out a bit at the right side of my head while the tip of the sword was visible on the left. "Well, it's easily accessible if I need to stab someone," I said with seriousness.

"You better not!" she exclaimed with a bit of a laugh.

"Fine, fine," I chuckled before looking at the time. I gulped, feeling a little nervous. "Half an hour..."

"Don't tell me you're getting cold feet now." She grinned.

I took a deep breath. "Nope. Not me." I shook my head.

"You finally got some new friends, they're nothing to be scared of," she said, grabbing my hands.

"I know," I sighed. "It's just kinda weird, having more people that can actually deal with me."

She chuckled. "That's how you know that you have some keepers."

I nodded with a small smile. It really was weird. I've had an acquaintance or two throughout the years and maybe a friend for a little while here and there, but none of them knew the real me. They didn't know about my past anger issues, my motivational problems, or even how I hate major changes. Sayu has been the only one to know everything. Even Take doesn't know as much as her.

"Alright! It's time to get our coyote to the wolves to be accepted into the pack!" Sayu excitedly said as she started dragging me out of the door.

"Why is that the analogy you chose?" I chuckled.

~

"For the first order of business... we're welcoming a new member into Toman!" Mikey announced from the same spot he had been last time. "Danaju Hanagaki!"

Steeling myself, I walked confidently to him, stopping mid-way up the stairs in front of him. This is to save Hinata... that was how it started, but I'd like to save them all. To save the Toman Mikey started. If I can make a future where everyone is alive, I'll do anything to protect them.

"Danny, from here on out, you'll be under command of division one. I formally welcome you into Toman, Danny Hanagaki!" he announced with a proud smile.

"Thank you. I accept this honor!" I said with a bow and a growing smile. I made it. I joined Toman.

"You'll receive your uniform by next week," he said after I stood back up straight. He motioned me to the first division's section. As he went on about a few other things, I went and stood next to the people in the front row. It was a bit awkward not knowing exactly where to stand, but I didn't pay much mind to it. Pride swelled up in my chest as it set in that I was officially part of Toman now. I may be hidden behind lies right now, but I don't want it to be that way forever. I do want them to know. But that kind of reveal is better done down the line. For now, I'm a boy. And I will be for quite some time. If it means I can be part of this group and be friends with Mikey and Kenny, I'm fine with lying.

Soon enough, the meeting was over and everyone dispersed, except for Mikey, Kenny, and me. "Congrats on joining," Kenny said with a smile.

"Thanks, I was kinda surprised it was so soon after you guys made up," I said with a smile of my own.

"Well, there's no time like the present," Mikey said, coming over to us.

"Yeah, so who's the captain of division one?" I've seen Mitsuya and some of the others, but I still have no clue about the first division's captain.

"That'd be Keisuke Baji," Kenny said with a bit of a sigh. "He's a bit... forward, so he's banned from the meetings."

"Yeah, but he's still a good guy," Mikey added. Footsteps sounded from the long flight of stairs, prompting me to look over. "Speak of the devil."

"So, this is the pipsqueak everyone's been talking about?" he asked as he rubbed his neck. He was definitely in the category of hot delinquents. He had shoulder-length jet-black wavy hair, sharp brown eyes, and wore the Toman uniform. He was also a bit shorter than Kenny.

"Oh? So I'm famous now?" I asked with raised brows. I had definitely noticed that not many local people have tried picking a fight with me, so maybe rumors finally started circulating.

"Well, breaking a bat with a single punch isn't an easy feat," he said as he held out his hand for a handshake. "I'm Keisuke Baji, and you'll be under my command."

"Danny Hanagaki," I nodded, taking his hand and shaking it. "It's a pleasure."

No sooner did I let go of his hand, did he send a punch straight at my face. A bit surprised, I dodged, moving my head to the side a bit. So this is what Kenny meant by forward... And that wouldn't have been a soft blow either...

"Heh." He smirked. "I like you. Welcome to the first division, Danny." And then he left, just as suddenly as he arrived.

"So, forward as in "I'll punch who I want, when I want," kinda thing?" I asked with raised brows as I looked back at Mikey and Kenny.

They nodded. "I'm surprised you dodged that, though," Mikey said.

Not long after, we parted ways and I met up with Sayu to give her the hair ornament and give her all the nitty gritty. It was a blast, and I was finally starting to feel comfortable in the past again.