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Matsuno Chifuyu is suspicious.
Suspicious and a little bit curious if he’s being honest with himself. The reason being the First Divsion Captain of Toman, Baji Keisuke, had been acting weird for the past month and a half. Not only was he acting weird, but he’d been spending less and less time with Chifuyu and that was unacceptable.
You see, every day after school was out, the two boys would walk home together. They would stop for snacks at the Konbini and share popsicles during the hotter season. Sometimes they would do some homework (rare) and other times they would head towards the Temple- Toman uniforms in their bags ready to be worn and shown off if need be. In Chifuyu’s mind there was nothing better in life than spending time with the older boy. There was no one else he would rather be with.
This past month though, Chifuyu could count on two hands the amount of times they hung out after school, now usually parting separate ways halfway by the Konbini, Baji-San always seemingly in a hurry.
Now Chifuyu wouldn’t usually describe himself as the clingy type, but when it came to Baji Keisuke things were just different. He not only looked up to the older boy, but there was never a dull moment around the raven, so you can’t really blame him for sticking to the other boy like glue. Baji himself didn’t seem to mind, so why should he?
Chifuyu’s point being that they were attached to the hip, with Chifuyu following the other like a lost puppy sometimes. Or at least they were - until a certain someone showed up one day out of the blue and stole Baji-san’s attention from him.
And Chifuyu was gonna find out what was so special about Kazutora Hanemiya and what he had that Chifuyu didn’t. Why Baji-San can’t seem to stay away from the other.
```
It all started on a warm Thursday afternoon.
Chifuyu and Baji had been making their way out of school when a classmate approached them and let them know someone was asking around for Baji. This is when he showed up.
The boy had choppy black hair with blonde highlights scattered around his head, his golden eyes peaking out glinting in the sunlight. The next thing that stood out to Chifuyu was the huge inked tiger piece taking the entirety of one side of his neck. All in all, he looked dangerous to Chifuyu. The boy causally approached, his posture relaxed and hands in his pockets like he didn’t have a single care in the world.
Chifuyu was immediately on his guard, Baji on the other hand seemed composed, but Chifuyu knew him well enough to note some sort apprehension in the way he presented himself, as if he knew of the boy.
It was Baji who spoke first.
“Kazutora, it’s been a while.”
Chifuyu arched a brow. Kazutora?
The name rang a bell. He had heard the name in passing multiple times while in Toman. If he remembered correctly, he was a founding member. The general consensus on the boy seemed to be that he was dangerous individual and should not be approached. When he brought it up with Baji-san once the raven seemed to get this glazed look in his eyes and he seemed melancholic, and he would only tell Chifuyu that he and the boy had been close at one point, but that they hadn’t seen each other in a while. Chifuyu didn’t dare ask more. He didn’t want to upset friend any more.
Of course he could always ask anyone in Toman, but he respected Baji’s privacy too much to even think of going behind his back like that.
He’s brought back to the present when the boy walks closer, gaze stuck on Baji. He hasn't even spared Chifuyu a glance.
“Heh, sure has.... a little over two years.” Kazutora smirks, “So what have you been up to?”
Chifuyu wonders what a boy like him wanted with Baji-san at this very moment. Two years was a lot of time to not contact someone, especially with someone you were supposedly close to.
Chifuyu looks over at Baji. He seems less on edge now, so maybe this Kazutora guy wasn’t as bad as the rumors were painting him out to be.
The two boys continued to converse for a minute or two before Baji suddenly turns to Chifuyu and raises a hand in apology, “Sorry, Chifuyu but I’ve got things to settle with this guy." He claps the other in the shoulder, "We can hang out tomorrow, okay?”
Chifuyu had barely gotten a word out before the two had turned away and left just like that, seemingly in their own world.
And for the first time since meeting Baji Keisuke, Chifuyu had felt left out- unwanted.
Sighing, he kicks a rock on the ground, mumbling profanities under his breath.
At least he’ll get to hang with Baji-san tomorrow...
```
After that day, things started changing. Baji's schedule had changed. No longer were they going home together.
At first, Chifuyu had assumed that maybe Baji had gotten a girlfriend. Chifuyu had even compiled a list of reasons why he thought this was the case.
Not only would Baji-san leave school quicker than usual (as if he had someone waiting for him), he was constantly on his phone which was rare for him, he would space out more often than not- lost in his own head, but he also seemed kind of fidgety whenever Chifuyu would question his recent behavior. All in all, it seemed to Chifuyu that his friend had started dating someone from another school. That was the conclusion he had reached.
When Chifuyu had outright asked him if he was dating a girl one day, he had laughed in his face as if the idea was absurd.
But if he didn’t have a girlfriend, there could only be one other option. That boy.
This is where Chifuyu’s suspicions came in. The other boy seemingly popping out of nowhere one day and waiting for them outside school was suspicious and weird enough already, but there was also the fact that Chifuyu knew the other boy wasn’t involved with Toman anymore, so what exactly did he want with Baji? This is what he wants to find out.
Not only for Baji’s sake, but for Toman’s as well. And maybe a little for his own sake.
He decided he needed to follow them after school. Not stalk, just observe. He doesn’t trust that guy at all and Baji-San is way too nice to blow him off.
This brings us to a late Friday afternoon. Chifuyu had come prepared, donning on a white baseball cap and a pair of sunglasses. He had been following the two boys for the past hour, several steps behind as he weaves between bodies. So far, nothing substantial had occurred. They had stopped by a frozen yogurt shop and shared the contents with each other, at one point kicking each other’s legs under the table.
Chifuyu was now sitting on a bench across the street from them, watching them enter what seemed to be some sort of cat cafe. What were they doing there? He knew Baji shared his love of cats, but was Kazutora also a cat lover? What a strange place to go with an estranged friend.
Chifuyu was very, very bewildered. He munches on a snack bar as he waits, suddenly feeling a little jealous. Not too long ago it had been Chifuyu going to all the places with Baji-san, not Kazutora. He hopes this doesn’t mean he’s going to be replaced.
But this has him thinking. What would he do if Kazutora steals his best friend away from him? Will the rest of his life be this pathetic? With Chifuyu following around Baji-san while in the shadows? He simply couldn’t allow it.
```
The night ends with the boys heading to the opposite side of town, chattering about things Chifuyu had no clue about. Chifuyu honestly wants to go home, but he’s curious to know where they’re headed.
He stops when they get to an apartment complex, and hides behind a post not wanting his cover blown this far in the day. They head over towards the elevator and head on up a couple of floors.
Now Chifuyu could wait, but there’s no knowing how long they’ll be. Seeing no need to stay any longer he turns around and heads back the way they came from. Little did he know, a pair of eyes are watching him walk away.
He wonders what they could be doing up there. What they could talking about.
Wonders if the do the same things Chifuyu and Baji do in their sleepovers. If they snuggle and watch movies until they can’t fight sleep any longer. If they sleep in the same bed or separately like him and Baji do.
Thinking of Baji-san doing the same things with someone else doesn’t sit right within him.
And Chifuyu also has a bad feeling. Baji wouldn’t ever betray Toman, he knows this, but it’s Kazutora who he doesn’t trust. He could be feeding him lies and taking advantage of Baji-san’s kindness and familiarity for all he knows.
He wonders if he should tell Mikey... but he doesn’t want to break Baji-san’s trust in him, so it seems like it’s up to him to keep an eye on things.
```
The next day, Baji looks on top of the moon. His hair is tied back and he’s still wearing those dumb glasses. He enters the classroom early for once and muses Chifuyu’s hair on the way to his seat.
"Oi!"
He tells him off for messing up his hair, but the other seems to be in a good mood and flips him off, chuckling when Chifuyu returns the gesture. His mood is infectious though, and Chifuyu finds himself more awake than ever and standing just a little bit taller.
This doesn’t mean he’s forgotten the previous night, far from it actually. He’s just happy to get any type of interaction with the other boy, something that he had been sorely lacking as of lately.
He’s pathetic. Just a smile from the other boy has him wagging his tail like a dog who just got attention from It’s owner.
At least tonight Toman was holding a meeting- meaning he could walk with Baji after school like old times. This alone made the rest of his morning and he actually payed attention in class for once, surprising the teacher.
Of course his happy mood had to be ruined during lunch time. Chifuyu can’t seem to stay happy for too long it seems.
As soon as they sat down on the roof that day Baji had reached into his pocket and pulled his phone out, his fingers rapidly pressing the characters on the device as he sends a message to someone.
Chifuyu has to ask.
“Who you texting?” He opens his bento and reaches for his chopsticks, low key trying to peak at the other’s screen “I thought you said you weren’t dating a girl?”
Baji snorts. “I’m not.”
“So who then?” As if Chifuyu’s gonna stop the conversation there.
Baji-san seems to hesitate before answering, “Remember the guy we met about a month ago? My childhood friend?” Chifuyu nods. “Well, we’ve been texting a lot lately.”
A slight flush rises to the raven’s face as he says this, causing Chifuyu to pause mid bite at the unusual display.
Chifuyu is honestly surprised the other straight up told him. Not that he believes Baji would lie to him ever, but still surprised. “I see, you mentioned once you two were close.”
Baji nods, as he munches on an onigiri. “We were, yeah. I, uh, I missed him a lot to be honest.”
On one hand Chifuyu’s glad Baji-san’s trusting him this much to admit something like that, on the other hand his heart hurts listening to his words. Has Baji ever told him he misses him? He can’t seem to remember at the moment.
Chifuyu plays with his food, hesitant to ask his next question. “Um, if you don’t mind me asking, what happened between you two?”
Baji’s whole demeanor changes in an instant, that same far away look in his eyes, “I don’t want to talk about it right now.”
And that was that. Chifuyu had clearly crossed a line he shouldn’t have.
He apologizes but the rest of lunch is quiet save for the tapping of the keys on Baji’s phone.
```
His current plan was to follow the two boys again, but this is ruined when Kazutora is seen waiting outside their school on his motorbike. Well, he’s certainly not here for Chifuyu.
Chifuyu quickly makes an excuse that he’s meeting up with a friend anyway, and Baji promises to hang out the next day before he mounts the back of the bike and they speed away from sight.
Chifuyu sighs, feeling more dejected than usual.
He decides to go straight home and cuddle in bed with his cat.
He starts to wonder about things he shouldn’t. Things he doesn’t want to brood over nor accept. Neither his own feelings or the possible nature between Baji-san and Kazutora’s relationship.
Chifuyu just hurts.
He sniffles, "Shiro, you would never leave me, right?" He hugs her tighter when she meows.
```
It’s only a few days later that he happens to run into Kazutora while he’s strolling through a park by his home. He considers turning around, but the other boy notices him right away and waves him over before he has a chance to book it. Resigning to his fate, he walks over to the dual haired boy and sits on the wooden bench to his right. He has a perfect view of his tattoo from here and he can’t lie, it’s an impressive piece.
“You're Keisuke’s friend, right?”
Keisuke? He uses his first name?
He nods. “You're Baji-san’s old friend, right?” Kazutora smirks at that.
“Old friend, huh? Is that what he’s calling me?”
Chifuyu’s feeling a little petty so he says, “He doesn’t call you anything really. He doesn’t really talk about you.”
Kazutora seems to find this amusing. “Heh, that’s funny. Maybe he doesn’t trust you?”
He wants to punch him. It’s like he can see right through Chifuyu. Like he knows the right buttons to push and it pisses him off.
“You want to know right?” The other smiles, “Our history together, I can see it written all over your face.”
Chifuyu huffs, annoyed that he’s so transparent.
“If Baji doesn’t think it’s important enough to talk about, then I don’t want to know.” That’s partially a lie, he is curious but he wasn’t lying when he said he won’t go behind Baji’s back like this.
“Come on, you’re not even a little curious?” The other teases.
“Not one bit.” He huffs, “It’s probably not that that big of a deal anyway.”
Kazutora’s quiet, getting that same look in his eye as Baji does sometimes and Chifuyu’s stomach sinks.
Was it really bad? It has to be if Kazutora got kicked out of Toman and if Baji keeps their relationship a secret.
Not wanting to hear it, Chifuyu is standing up and getting ready to leave when the other drops the bombshell.
“We killed Mikey’s brother.” He says this so causally Chifuyu almost doesn’t believe it. “Or well, technically I did, but Baji seems to think we both share the same sin, heh.”
Chifuyu is frozen. He doesn’t know what he was expecting, but it definitely wasn’t that.
It has to be a lie, right? He looks at Kazutora and the other looks dead serious.
No way would Baji ever do something like that, though. He tells Kazutora as such and the other laughs.
“You’re not wrong. It was my idea to steal a bike for Mikey’s birthday in the first place, Baji just went along with it. And man, what a shit show that turned out to be.”
Baji, stealing a bike? Baji would never steal.
“You’re lying. Baji-san wouldn’t steal.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about your precious Baji-san.” Kazutora smirks, amused.
Chifuyu sits down with his elbows propped on his knees, head in his hands. Was it true? Should he believe him? That Baji-san tried to steal a bike, and Kazutora killed Mikey’s brother? Mikey seems completely normal around Baji to Chifuyu. Not once did the other look like he resented the raven or have any negative feelings toward the other. To think something as serious as murder had taken place between the friend group. If it was true why would he keep Baji-san in Toman? What would he say if he found out Baji and Kazutora were in contact again? Would he kick Baji out of Toman?
Chifuyu’s brain hurts. Nothing makes sense. He’s about to ask the other boy another question, but he when he looks back up the other’s gone.
Chifuyu swears.
Seriously, fuck that guy. Causing trouble and disappearing when it’s convenient.
Now Chifuyu has a lot to think about.
```
He doesn’t confront Baji-san about it nor does he tell Mikey what he found out. Baji-san must not what anyone finding out and Chifuyu would rather die then sell him out.
He does however decide to follow the two boys a little more the following weeks. Chifuyu knows he’s crossing the line by following them, but he reminds himself that this is for Toman. He needs to make sure Kazutora isn't going to try anything and if it was true he murdered Mikey’s brother then all the more reason for Chifuyu to keep a close eye on him.
He also wants to see where exactly Baji-san’s loyalty lies currently. Chifuyu doesn’t want to doubt him, but if Baji-san is easily influenced by the other he needs to around in case anything happens.
He just wants to be extra sure.
But once again nothing out of the ordinary happens, they frequent the cat cafe often and sometimes they’ll watch a movie at the theater by the station, and they always, always head back to the apartment complex- who Chifuyu now presumes is Kazutora’s home. One night he decides to wait in the shadows across the street and manages to see Baji emerge two hours later, a huge grin split on his face as he strolls down the street. His hair seems messier than usual, and he’s wearing a hoodie he’s sworn he’s seen Kazutora wear before.
"What the fuck?" he whispers to himself.
The undeniable gut wrenching feeling of jealousy is crawling it’s way out at the sight, but Chifuyu stomps down the feeling, telling himself Baji can make his own decisions and that he doesn’t own him. If Baji wants to wear Kazutora’s hoodie than he can and there’s nothing Chifuyu can do about it.
Doesn’t make it sting any less.
```
A few days later, Baji has his hands full when his phone happens to vibrate in his back pocket. Chifuyu and the raven are currently on their way to the teacher’s office to drop off loads of boxes stacked with paperwork.
“Hey, Chifuyu, since you have a free hand could you check who that is?” It’s not the first time he’s allowed the younger to read his messages, so Chifuyu doesn’t think twice before reaching for the phone. He swallows down the bitterness he feels when he sees the name “Tora” and lets the other know who it is.
“What’s he say? If I don’t reply right away he gets pissy.” he complains.
“He said and I quote,
“Did you at least cover it up?? lolololol”
Cover up? Cover what up? Maybe it’s better Chifuyu doesn’t know.
Baji rolls his eyes, “Write back, of course I did, idiot and It’s all your fault, you leech.”
Considering Baji’s allowing him to reply for him, Chifuyu wonders if he should be worried or not. If they were “covering” something up Baji wouldn’t be so nonchalant about it, right?
“Seriously, that asshole has a lot of nerve.” The other continues to grumble.
“What are you guys talking about?”
Baji snickers, “Don't worry your pretty little head over it, Chifuyu.”
Chifuyu has to turn away, his face probably resembling a tomato at the older boy’s words.
He thinks Chifuyu is pretty?
Ha, take that Kazutora.
```
“Baji-san, what happened to your neck?”
They were currently in a convenience store bathroom changing to their Toman uniform when Chifuyu sees it. A dark bruise on the back of Baji’s neck only visible now that he has his hair tied up.
The other just continues changing out of his uniform, eyes diverted. “Probably just a mosquito bite or something.” He pulls his hair tie off, his hair cascading down his back in an instant.
“Dude, that didn’t seem like a mosquito bite to me. It was huge.”
“That’s what she said.” Baji doesn’t even hesitate.
Chifuyu is not amused.
“Did you get into a fight?”
“As if anyone stands a chance against me.”
True. Maybe Chifuyu is freaking out over nothing. Maybe there was a new mosquito species he hadn’t heard about or... something. He doesn’t really want to think about it.
Shaking the weird thoughts from his head, he grabs his stuff and walks towards to the door, “I’m gonna get something to eat, you want shrimp flavored chips, right?”
“Huh, how’d you know that?” The other seems confused and Chifuyu belatedly catches his mistake. A few weeks back he had caught the end of one of their conversations and Kazutora had recommended the other a new brand of chips insisting Baji would like them, and he did but Chifuyu wasn’t supposed to know that. Not yet anyway.
He has to come up with a lie. “Oh, um, Kazutora mentioned it once that you like this brand.”
This only confuses the other further, brow arched in question. “Since when do you talk to Kazutora?”
Shit.
“I don’t.” He spits out, “I just happened to run into him one day and he mentioned it.”
“Huh....” he seems contemplative, “then yeah, get me those.”
Chifuyu is out of there before the other could catch him in another lie.
The whole following thing is starting to seem like a really bad idea.
```
And so the beginning of the end begun.
He’s walking several feet behind the two of them when Kazutora casually looks behind them and locks eyes with Chifuyu.
Chifuyu gasps. He looks away trying to go for casual, but of course, Kazutora hates him and won't let him get away that easily.
“Oh, if it isn’t Keisuke’s cute little puppy.” he chirps, a mocking smile on his face, “You’re not following us, are you?”
Has he been discovered?
“Shut the fuck up, Tora.” His heart skips a beat when Baji defends him.
Taking the opportunity, he raises a brow, “Why would I be following you? I have just as much of a right to walk these streets as you do.”
“Oooh, getting a little defensive there, puppy.”
He balls his fists in his pockets, feeling the anger wash over him. Before he can defend himself though, Baji cuts in.
“If you got nothing better to do, hang out with us, Chifuyu.”
Chifuyu can tell Kazutora’s annoyed which is actually why he accepts his offer.
“Sure, I got nothing better to do.”
“Oh, I’m sure...” Kazutora mumbles.
“Hell yeah, Chifuyu!” Baji whoops. Chifuyu can’t keep the grin off his face when the older boy wraps his arm around his shoulders. He makes sure to smile at Kazutora sweetly.
```
10 minutes later has him regretting his decision. It’s not that Baji is ignoring him in favor of Kazutora, in fact he’s making sure Chifuyu is involved with the conversation by asking his input on certain topics. It’s just there’s this weird atmosphere around the trio. Almost like he’s imposing on their alone time.
It didn’t help that almost immediately after they set off Baji let go of Chifuyu entirely and was now walking side by side with Kazutora. The two boys so close they were touching shoulders. Chifuyu’s eye twitched.
Is it really necessary for them to be so close? That can’t be comfortable. He glares at the area that's touching, hoping Baji will just step a little to the left away from the other to no such luck.
Chifuyu’s falls back as the two boys start talking about something Chifuyu has no knowledge in nor interest in.
Watching the two of them interact makes him feel weird. It makes him jealous how close they seem to be.
The smile on their faces as they reminisce about the past, the way they’re huddled so close, and the way their hands keep knocking against each other as if they want to hold hands but know they can’t. No matter how close Chifuyu claims him and Baji are It’s become abundantly clear that what Baji and Kazutora have is something that can’t be replicated.
Is it because they share the same burden, the same sin?
Thinking about that just makes Chifuyu feel worse so he doesn’t.
“Hey, remember when that fucking demon cat scratched my face?”
Baji cackles, “You deserved that for messing with her.”
“Whatever, it was worth it.” Kazutora looks at Chifuyu, “And at least you got to kiss it better.”
What a liar Kazutora is. He’s just trying to get a rise out of him and it’s not gonna work. Chifuyu ignores him.
“Yeah, and I’m never doing that shit ever again.”
Chifuyu thinks he must be hearing things because there’s no way he heard Baji-san say what he just did. God must be pulling a prank on him. Any minute now he’ll just pop out the sky and tell him “it’s just a prank, bro”
“Actually, I think I might have a scratch on my neck right now, can you kiss it better?” He’s whispering but Chifuyu can still hear him and he really wishes he hadn’t.
“Seriously, since when are you such a pussy? You got a fucking neck tattoo for fucks sake.”
Kazutora snickers, “Maybe I just want you to make me feel good.”
Chifuyu feels sick. Even if it wasn’t true, the image in his head is enough to make him sick with jealousy with a side of a broken heart. He doesn’t want to think about it. He doesn’t, but in the recess of his mind and soul, he knows. He knows the truth and it’s hurts so much.
“Oh, I’ll make you feel good, alright.”
He thinks he’s heard enough.
“I’m still fucking here, you know? Can you stop flirting for one minute?”
Baji looks over at him and answers just as Kazutora does,
“We’re not flirting -
- Are you jealous~?”
And just like that Chifuyu can’t help but blush, his face hot as he sputters, “A-As if! I’m not fucking jealous!”
Baji claps his shoulder as he smirks, “Chifuyu, don’t listen to this asshole, he’s just messing with you because you’re so easy to rile up.”
“Am not!”
“No, no, you definitely are. Your reactions are hilarious.” Kazutora says.
“Oh, fuck off!”
“Chifuyu, you think you could take Kazutora on in a fight?”
Of course he can. Swallowing down his emotions, Chifuyu puffs out his chest, and paints a smug smile on his face, “Hell yeah, I could.”
Kazutora snorts, “You’re welcome to try, chibi.”
“Baji-san, don’t hold me back. I’m gonna kill him.”
Baji just shrugs, “Be my guest.”
```
He stopped following them.
He doesn’t think he can do it anymore. Shit is starting to get depressing.
He has a free day today and he’s spent the entirety of it at home, brooding in bed and thinking of Baji.
A memory came to him then. Of when he met Baji-san for the first time. The other was attempting to write a letter. A letter he now remembers being addressed to someone named Tora.
Kazutora.
Everything clicks in place.
And Chifuyu starts to cry. Cries because he never stood a chance. Cries because it was over from the start. Cries because the look in Baji’s eyes when he looks at Kazutora rips Chifuyu’s heart in two.
It hurts so fucking much, but there’s nothing he can do about it.
“Why.... why did I have to fall in love with Baji Keisuke?
He instantly regrets that thought, dispelling it from his mind. Baji is.... Baji is like the sun to Chifuyu. He shines too bright sometimes and being around him brings you so much warmth and he’s the most selfless person Chifuyu knows. He would give you his shirt off his back if you needed it. There’s nobody in the world like him.
Mikey knows this.
Kazutora knows this.
Chifuyu knows this.
He never wants to regret ever loving the man that Baji Keisuke is.
And because he loves him so much, he wants him to be happy and if it means Kazutora makes him happy then Chifuyu will let him go.
All this time while Chifuyu spied on them, he came to realize Kazutora was spending all that time making the other happy.
He took Baji to cat cafe’s and would play footsies with him when the other insisted, he would lend him his hoodie when it was getting too cold, and he searched for him as soon as he could showing up at their school, hesitant but on a mission.
Everything is clear now. kazutora wasn’t manipulating the other, he just wanted to spend time with the person he loved. He wasn’t feeding him lies or plotting against Toman.
Baji had confessed to him weeks ago that he missed Kazutora and Chifuyu thinks Kazutora missed Baji, too.
Wiping away his tears and blowing his nose, Chifuyu decides enough is enough. He doesn’t need to be sad anymore, so he gets up and gets dressed. He dials Baji’s phone number and is on his way out the house.
```
Baji is waiting for him on the wooden bench across the lake, a few blocks from his house. It’s getting cold and the other is wearing a bomber jacket and a scarf wrapped around his neck.
Baji looks over and smiles at him.
“Hey, short stuff.”
He sighs, “Baji-san, how many times am I gonna tell you I’m not short! I’m a growing boy and just watch, I’ll surpass you soon.”
He sits on the raven’s right, the other laughing at him like he doesn’t believe him. Unbelievable.
They quiet down as they take in the beautiful scenery, Chifuyu blowing his warm breath on his hands.
“So.. you said you had something to say?”
Chifuyu thinks this is it. He’ll just say it and rip it off like a band aid. He doesn’t want to prolong this longer than it needs to be.
He psyches himself up and - “I know you and Kazutora are dating.”
He lets out a short breath, he really did it..
He’s never seen Baji look so caught off guard before, mouth open and brows deeply furrowed as he tries to make sense of what Chifuyu had just claimed.
“How.... how did you know?” He settled with that.
Chifuyu snorts, “You weren’t really subtle if that’s what you were thinking.”
The rush of blood flushing through Baji’s cheeks is endearingly funny.
“I don’t know what to say, Chifuyu. Why are you telling me this now?”
He gulps, “Because I have to come clean, Baji-san.” The other arches his brow in question.
“I need to get this off my chest, so I can move on so please listen.” Baji nods.
“So it all started when...”
```
Chifuyu came clean about everything. About the stalking, about his jealousy, and his love for Baji. In turn the other boy kept quiet just as he had requested and listened till the very end. Now Chifuyu was just waiting for his response.
Baji lets out a breath, “Chifuyu, thank you for being honest. I honestly had no idea.... did Kazutora know? No wait, don’t answer that. He definitely did.” He sighs again.
Chifuyu can tell Baji seems troubled. If Baji told him he didn’t want to see Chifuyu again, he doesn’t know what he’ll do, but he’ll accept it. He really, really hopes that’s not the case.
“Chifuyu, I admire you for being so brave. I um, I figure maybe I should be honest with you too.”
And so he tells Chifuyu how he met Tora, what happened with Mikey’s brother and how Tora helped him in court and took the fall for the crime, how much he missed him and how worried he was for Tora’s mental state. He talked about how he would write him letters so the other wouldn’t get lonely or feel guilty, how they had been dating before the incident and those feelings only grew stronger.
It was a lot. Chifuyu had no idea Baji-San had been suffering this entire time because of the sin he shared with Kazutora. With all this information Chifuyu is even more sure now that the other two boys are meant for each other. What they share is something special and Chifuyu understands there’s nothing anyone can do or get in between them. There’s a certain bond those who share trauma could only understand.
“I’m sorry, Chifuyu. I love you like a brother, but my heart has been taken for a long time now. You’re my best friend and the most loyal person I know. One day, I know you’ll find someone that will be able to love you fully the way you deserve. So please, don’t cry for me.” He reaches over and wipes the tears falling from Chifuyu's eyes.
Chifuyu sniffs, he hadn’t realized he was crying again. He was sad and there was a sense of loss there, but he also felt lighter with proper closure. Now he could truly move on.
“Baji-san, I’m rooting for you two.”
```
10 year later
“Takemitchy, hurry up we’re gonna be late!” Chifuyu huffs, annoyed. “We were supposed to be there 10 minutes ago!”
“I’m coming, I’m coming!” The other yells back.
Chifuyu checks his watch, tsks at the time and declares, “I’ll wait for you in the car!”
God, Chifuyu loved his boyfriend very much, but sometimes he was such a pain in the ass. Chifuyu had made dinner reservations at a nice coastal restaurant with a beautiful view. It was even Baji-san’s idea to have a double date.
His best friend could be such a softie sometimes.
He texts Tora to let them know they’ll be late, and he honks the horn feeling impatient. Sue him he’s hungry and Takemitchy is being well, Takemitchy. Which wouldn’t usually bother Chifuyu, but he’s starving enough to eat to eat a horse.
The passenger door opens. “Sorry, babe, my hair wasn’t cooperating. Please, forgive me?” He gives Chifuyu the puppy eyes, lips jutting out as he begs for forgiveness.
Chifuyu rolls his eyes, but his heart melts at the display. “Just this once.”
He leans over and gives him a peck, fluffing up his hair.
“Ugh, Chifuyu, my hair!” Chifuyu just giggles and drives off.
“You know I love you either way.”
“Yeah, but I wanted to look nice for you.” Takemitchy pouts.
Chifuyu’s heart skips a beat. “You do look nice, Takemitchy.”
“No no, I wanted you to drop dead from how sexy and mysterious I look.”
“Hah, in your dreams, lover boy.”
“You know you love me.”
“Unfortunately.”
"Hey!"
```
"Hey, remember the time Chifuyu stalked us for weeks?" Kazutora reminisces, "It was hilarious, he thought he was being slick."
Chifuyu throws his straw's balled up paper at the man. "When will you let me live? That was 10 years ago!"
"Aww, look at how red he turned, babe!" Kazutora cackles.
Baji chuckles as well, "It was pretty funny, Chifuyu."
"What's funny is you never even noticed. Weren't you suppose to be the First Division Captain, huh?!"
"Excuse me for only having eyes for my hunny."
"Oh my god." Chifuyu pretends to puke.
"Takemitchy, your boy's jealous cause you don't call him pet names." Kazutora teases.
Takemitchy looks flabbergasted. " Ugh Babe, I call you sweet pet names all the time, right?"
"What? Like Baby cakes or Snookums?" Baji joins in on the teasing.
"No-
-Yes"
"Babe!" Takmitchy wails feeling betrayed.
Baji and Kazutora look at each other and bust out laughing.
```
"Well, that was fun." Baji says as he swipes his card.
"Chifuyu, remember we open at 10 tomorrow, don't be late." Kazutora warns.
"When have I ever been late? If anything you're both always late because you can't keep it in your pants."
"Oi, watch your mouth. I pay your check."
Chifuyu rolls his eyes, he knows Tora is just messing with him so he doesn't take him seriously.
"Well, good night. Takemitchy and Chifuyu, out."
"Night."
They each go their separate ways.
As Takemitchy takes over the wheel, Chifuyu leans against the glass and thinks about his life. Not only is he in a happy long term relationship, but he gets to work with his two best friends at their pet shop every day. Chifuyu never imagined his life would turn out this way, but he can't bring himself to regret any of his past choices. His friends may laugh at his past, but that's okay because everything turned out this way because of those very choices, no matter how cringe it might have been at that time.
"Baby, we're here." Takemitchy stirs him awake.
Chifuyu leans over and hugs the man, "Takemitchy, I love you so much."
Takemitchy smiles, "I love you too, Chifuyu."
```