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𝟔 || 𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐉𝐈𝐒 ||

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"You wanna have who over for dinner?"

    Baji's mom stared down at her son, amusement bubbling up inside her as she watched the boy pout and cross his arms.

    "I said I wanna have Mitchy over!" Keisuke exclaimed like it was his hundredth time saying the same thing. God, he could be such a drama king sometimes.

    Aside from her son's adorableness, she was a tad bit surprised at her child's insistence to invite this Mitchy kid over to their apartment. He's never wanted anything to do with anyone that wasn't her or Manjiro and suddenly this mysterious kid shows up and Keisuke is fawning all over him like some Greek god.

    And apparently, they lived next door to them.

    How has she not run into them by now?

    The mother tried not thinking too much about it, instead turning her attention back to her son who, for the record, looked like a baseball bobble head with the way his head was practically vibrating off his shoulders.

    "So can we mom?! Can we invite him over?! Please, please, pleeeeaaase?!" Keisuke pleaded,

attempting to give his mother the best puppy dog eyes he could muster (his sharp canines kinda worked in his favor).

    His mother sighed heavily, slowly dragging a hand down her face. It wasn't like she was against the idea of having the boy over, if anything she was grateful for the mystery boy's existence; ever since their neighbors moved in next door, Keisuke seemed to be getting in trouble a lot less than he normally does.

    It was the extra food she was dreading to cook that had her exasperated. She rubbed her temple tiredly, doing her best to avoid her child's adorable gaze.

    If Baji's mother was gonna have Mitchy over, then she should go ahead and invite the kid's mother too.

    Well, what trouble will a few extra mouths bring to the table? Little to none, of course!

    "Keisuke." The black haired boy immediately stood to attention, like a soldier about to get deported off to war. "You're in charge of inviting the...?"

    "Hanagakis."

    "Right—the Hanagakis. I'm leaving you in charge of inviting the Hanagakis over to dinner. Can you do that?" Keisuke nodded his head enthusiastically.

    "Good, now get to work, soldier. We've got a meal to prepare."

    Keisuke's hooting and hollering filled the apartment as his mother worked on grabbing the pans and pots from the cupboards, a sprinkle of excitement sprouting from within the tired woman.

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From her spot in the kitchen stirring a pot of noodles in her pot, Keisuke's mother watched from the corner of her eye as her son chatted animatedly with a small curly haired boy whose eyes were bluer than the endless sea.

    When Keisuke had first introduced the small boy to her, he had immediately shied away, opting to hide behind the leg of his mother. It baffled the woman at first because how on earth did Keisuke manage to befriend someone so...innocent?!

    However, after the introductions, the little boy— otherwise known as Takemichi—ran from his hiding place and straight towards Keisuke, who was waiting with a pleased smile on his face. Keisuke threw an arm around Takemichi's shoulders and guided him to their small living room where his newly bought gaming console was set up.

    From what Keisuke's mother could discern, Takemichi was a good kid and very polite for his age. He appeared to be a little cautious at first, but that was the case with most kids when putting them against someone they've never met before. It was only a matter of time, while excitedly playing donkey kong, that Takemichi began to open up—beaming and shining like a radiant sun.

    And Takemichi's mother—

    "Woah, your cooking smells amazing Baji-San!" Sitting in one of the tall chairs behind the kitchen counter was Ms.Hanagaki, who was wiping something away from the corner of her mouth with her arm.

    Was that drool?

    Keisuke's mother smiled, flattered that her new guest was attracted to the aroma of their meal. "Thank you—Keisuke loves it when I make Yakisoba, so I've gotten used to making it by now," She explained while stirring the pot of noodles.

    "...Think you can write me a recipe for Yakisoba? I've um..." Keisuke's mother glances back, a little put off by the embarrassed expression Takemichi's mother was making. "I've never really been good at cooking. Me and Michi mostly eat out," The younger woman admitted, a light pink color dusting her cheeks.

    Keisuke's mother couldn't help but compare her guest to a teenager with the younger woman's face reddening in embarrassment. She didn't dare comment on it, instead she turned back around to finish stirring the noodles.

    Takemichi's mother was without a doubt younger than her.

   When Keisuke's mom first opened the door to let the pair in, It shocked the older woman at first, but she's gotten pretty good at cooling her expression over the years. The thought that someone so...young was the mother of what appeared to be a seven year old boy saddened her.

    Keisuke's mother will admit, Takemichi's mother is a beautiful young lady. With her long black unruly hair in a messy bun, faint reminisce's of blush and makeup decorating her frame, small body hidden under a large black sweater, and blue doe eyes that matched those of her son's.

    If the older lady was a lesser woman, she would've assumed Ms.Hanagaki was Takemichi's older sister or aunt, but she knew better. Afterall, Keisuke's mother had her son at seventeen, so the possibility of someone giving birth at a much younger age didn't seem impossible.

    And her son is so well mannered...how did she manage to do that?

    "...Would you like to help me prepare dinner then? That way you can get a better feel for how to use the ingredients correctly," Keisuke's mother recommended, not bothering to look back to gauge the younger woman's reaction. "I'll make sure to write the recipe down for you to take home too, but sometimes it's better to learn visually than on a piece of paper."

    "Um—won't I mess you up?"

    Keisuke's mother scoffed. "Of course not! I'll be here to watch over you," she reassured full heartedly. "Plus I could use an extra set of hands."

    "An extra set of hands huh? Well, aren't you perverted."

    Keisuke's mother spun around as she felt her face grow hot and flustered. "P-Perverted?!" She exclaimed incredulously, her eyes darting from the smirking lady behind the kitchen counter to the kids playing Mario Kart.

    Does she have no shame for what comes out of her mouth?! What if the kids heard her and started repeating that—that scandalous word?!

    "Ms.Hanagaki! There are—" Ms.Baji was interrupted by the younger lady's laughter, a soft ring that reverberated around the kitchen area.

    "No need to be so uptight, Ma'am—they're not listening to us! Besides—" Ms.Hanagaki slyly placed a strand of hair behind her ear, her blue eyes staring straight into Keisuke's mother's soul, sending shivers down her spine. "—my kid knows better than to repeat what comes out of my mouth."

    "R-Really now?"

    "Yep!" Ms.Hanagaki then jumped out of her chair (a little too enthusiastically) and made her way around the counter to stand next to Ms.Baji. "I told him that it's illegal for kids to say mean words in front of adults."

    Keisuke's mother raised an eyebrow. "What about in front of other kids?"

    "Ah, I don't care if he says them in front of others his age."

    "You don't!?"

    "Nope!" The younger woman exclaimed, leaning her elbows on the kitchen counter. "Why should l? If he ever needs to use those nasty words to put some kid in their place then so be it," she explained sassily while blowing a curl away from her face. Ms.Hanagaki then turned to Keisuke's mother—her face set in a serious expression.

    "You've seen my baby—the boy looks like he could barely hurt a fly...it also doesn't help that he has a knack for attracting trouble whether it's intentional or not." Ms.Baji momentarily stopped cooking, taking the time to absorb the information given to her before nodding, signaling for the younger lady to continue.

    "So if my boy can't physically defend himself against bullies, then he's free to call them the most disgusting names in the book but..."

    "...but?"

    "...but I know he won't use 'em—he's too sweet for his own good," She finished with a sigh, seemingly unaware of the jealous expression on Keisuke's mother's face.

    Jeez—if only she could say something like that. If anything, Keisuke was too feral for his own good!

    "Anyways!—" Takemichi's mother straightens back up, rolling up the sleeves of her black sweater with excitement. "Let's get to cookin' Ma'am!"

    Baji's mother laughed at the other woman's childish antics—the sound unknowingly catching the attention of the two boys sitting in the living room.

    "Why do you keep calling me that? 'Ma'am' is only used for old ladies—I'm only twenty five!" That earned a chuckle out of the younger lady.

    "What should I call you then?"

    Ms.Baji smiled.

    "Rika's fine."

    For a second, Rika swore she saw Ms.Hanagaki's expression drop, but it was quickly replaced by a soft smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

    Did she do something wrong?

    Ms.Hanagaki looked away from the older woman, moving to grab the vegetables that were laid across the counter. With her face still turned away from the older lady, she gathered the ingredients close to her.

    "So what's the first step Baji-san?"

    Oh. Right.

    Rika felt her face heat up in embarrassment. She must've gotten a little too ahead of herself, huh? Well, they did just meet! It wasn't a big deal if Ms.Hanagaki felt more comfortable with using her last name.

    Even if this is the most Rika's talked in ages, she needs to slow down. She barely knows the woman for pete's sake!

    Keisuke's mother smiled sadly at the pot of food she was stirring.

    Slow down. There's no need to rush things.

    "In the drawer on your left, there should be a bunch of kitchen knives. Grab one and start chopping up the Green Bell Pepper!"

    Not a moment later, the sound of something hard hitting a cutting board reached her ears.

    Rika was too distracted by the younger lady's behavior to notice the two giggling boys exiting the living room.

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"And this is my room—I only let cool kids in though!"

    "Am I a cool kid?"

    "Hell yeah! Any friend of mine is the coolest of all cool kids!" Keisuke exclaimed while pushing a giggling Takemichi into his room. The boy watched with satisfaction as his friend gawked at his surroundings, his blue eyes sparkling with fascination and unbridled interest. Of course Takemichi would like his room—it's Keisuke's afterall!

    "Is that a picture of Manjiro?" Takemichi exclaimed, excitement pouring out of his voice. Keisuke leaned over Michi to see what he was peering at and, sure enough, he was met with a polaroid picture of himself and Manjiro sticking to the bulletin board on his wall along with many others.

    "Yep! My mom took our pictures at the dojo," Keisuke explained, reaching over Michi to point at a specific picture that had the two boys dressed in their gees. "And at a amusement park," another picture with Manjiro and Keisuke stuffing their faces with cotton candy. "And that's us at the shrine," another picture of Keisuke and Manjiro posing like the badass gods they were in front of the city's temple. "And a bunch of other ones my mom took without us looking," Keisuke gestured to the other five pictures hanging up with the two boys doing simple day to day things like eating breakfast, laughing at a funny part in a movie, having a tickle war, and many more.

    Keisuke never really cared much about the pictures, but his mom insisted on putting them up to add some spice to his already awesome room.

    "Woah..." Keisuke peered down at Takemichi to see him still staring at the pictures hanging up on the bulletin board, his face filled with nothing but amazement. "You guys are really good friends..." he muttered under his breath, barely loud enough for Keisuke to hear.

    "Yep!" Keisuke answered with a bright grin. "He's my bestest friend!" The boy confirmed, a little bit confused at the sad tone placed in Takemichi's voice. "Something wrong?" He asked hesitantly, forcefully spinning his friend around to get a better look at his face.

    Blue eyes were down casting to the floor, avoiding Keisuke's copper ones. Keisuke pouted at Takemichi's change in demeanor. "Well? What's up?" He asked again, snapping his fingers in front of Takemichi's face to get him to look up at him.

    "I—I don't know," Takemichi admits sheepishly, making Keisuke tilt his head confused.

    "You don't know?"

    "Nope!"

    Keisuke had the gall to laugh, once again slinging an arm around Takemichi's shoulders to pull him closer, dragging him away from the polaroid pictures. "You're really weird Mitchy!" He exclaimed loudly, watching with satisfaction as the smaller boy's face contorted into a look of frustration.

    "I'm not weird! You're the weird one!"

    "Hah?! How am I weird?!"

    "You just are!"

    With one arm, Keisuke playfully coenhoerced Takemichi in a headlock and started rubbing the top of the curly haired boy's head, successfully giving him a noogie. The fanged boy laughed full heartedly at the smaller boy's weak attempts at trying to escape.

    He's kinda scrawny...maybe Keisuke can get him to go to the dojo with him and Manjiro so he won't be as weak.

    Keisuke was brought back to reality by something biting his arm.

    "OW!" Did Takemichi just bite his arm? Like a DOG?!

    Woah! Talk about badass!

    With Keisuke distracted, Takemichi manages to escape Keisuke's grasp, throwing himself onto the floor in a laughing heap. "YAY! I ESCAPED! TAKE THAT BAJI!!!" Standing above the boy sprawled out on his red rug in the middle of his room, Keisuke suddenly grimaced at the damn name Takemichi kept using.

    It was always 'Baji this!' And 'Baji that!' Not ONCE had Takemichi used his first name and it was starting to get on his nerves. Like seriously, Mitchy? He even calls Manjiro by his first name but god forbid it be Keisuke's!!!

    (It also didn't help that Takemichi supposedly made a few friends at school who he referred to by their FIRST NAMES!!!)

    Keisuke stomped his foot on the floor, gaining Takemichi's attention. "STOP CALLING ME THAT!"

    Takemichi immediately stopped laughing. Keisuke could practically see the boy on the floor gulping in nervousness, which he should be. The fanged boy crossed his arms in front of his chest and glared down at the shaking boy below him.

    "When are you gonna stop calling me 'Baji'?!" Keisuke growled through gritted teeth, observing Takemichi's face for any type of reaction, any change to his frightened expression.

    His face didn't change.

    It was like peering down at a cornered animal.

    Was he being too harsh? Too forward?

    ...too violent?

    With a sigh, Keisuke sat down in front of Takemichi on the red rug, who visibly flinched at their close proximity.

    The hell was up with that?

    Keisuke tried to mimic his mother, attempting to cool his aggravated expression long enough to get through to Takemichi.

    "Why you acting like I'm gonna hurt you?" Keisuke asked, a little dumbfounded as he continued to study Takemichi's blue irises. For a second, it looked like Takemichi was gonna answer his question, but —for some reason—thought better of it and kept his mouth shut.

    What on earth is making the boy so—

    A memory of the two boys' first meeting ran through his head, causing Keisuke to wince.

    Right...he did beat Takemichi into a bloody pulp when they first met...

    "Actually—don't answer that," Keisuke muttered, a feeling of shame crawling up his neck and keeping him in a choke hold.

    How did they even manage to get to this? They were having such a fun time before Keisuke decided to drag the smaller boy into his room. Maybe they should go back out to the living room?

No...Keisuke's not gonna give up! Something's wrong with his friend and he's gonna be the one to find out what's bothering him!

    "...Sorry Baji..." Keisuke snapped his head up at that infuriating name (he was starting to hate it...), but he refrained from strangling Takemichi. After all, he finally spoke!

    Keisuke huffed frustratedly. "Stop being sorry! I just want you to use my first name!" Keisuke declared albeit a bit angrily.

    Wait, was that too much?

    Instead of expecting to see Takemichi shrink into himself, those blue eyes finally returned to their original starstruck state. To say that Keisuke was blown away by the expression Takemichi was making would be an understatement.

    "I—I can use your first name?!" Takemichi gasped excitedly, inching closer to Keisuke. The fanged boy huffed in triumph; he finally got Takemichi out of whatever sad mood he was in!

    "Of course you big idiot! We're best friends now!"

    "We're...but I thought Manjiro was your best friend!"

    Keisuke scoffed. "I'm allowed to have more than one best friend!"

    "O-Ok then!" Takemichi exclaimed, practically vibrating in his spot.

    Keisuke couldn't help but stare at his best friend with amazement. It really shocked the boy how fast he grew attached to him, but he didn't regret a single second of it. There were things he didn't know about the boy in front of him and that was ok—only time will help reveal the secrets and wonders that are hidden behind his dark blue irises and shy smile.

    Even though Keisuke wants nothing more than to ask question after question about Takemichi, his mother's words would ring through his ears—stopping him from uttering his first question.

    Patience. With befriending some kids, he needed patience.

    With any other kid, Keisuke would've kicked the bucket and ran off to go beat up some kids with Manjiro...but this was Takemichi; A boy full of wonders and emotions that never fails to bring a bright smile