Chapter Text
Ask anyone, 'who knows Mikey best,' and they would say Draken. Some might even say Emma, but it was a sure fact that no one would say me.
And here I was, being the correct answer that no one knew about.
I was a student at the Sano Dojo as a kid and I witnessed the prodigy Manjiro Sano grow and learn. I knew he was friends with Baji, that Emma was his little sister, his older brother was Shinichiro, and he had one other friend, Haruchiyo.
He didn't know my name back then, though. He didn't really need to, yet.
It wasn't until one day when we were about seven, Sano sensei paired Mikey up with me for a little practice spar. I remember Mikey looking at me like he'd never considered my existence before, and I remember feeling quite insulted by it.
I was the one on offense while Mikey was playing the part of defense for this spar. I had taken a moment to consider how best to attack this prodigy that might get him to consider me as a serious opponent.
I don't exactly remember what moves I had chosen to rush Mikey with, but I did remember I got fed up with him blocking me constantly, and I aimed a kick with my right leg right at his head that he just barely stopped and it knocked him off balance a little.
I then saw recognition in his eyes as I caught my breath, and he slowly started to smile.
"What's your name?" He asked me.
"Dai Suoh," I answered and his grin grew a little. "What?"
"You're strong. We should be friends."
And that was the start of this trainwreck I called a life.
It wasn't long before Mikey decided to weaponize his strength, and also began collecting friends he considered strong. He ripped Haruchiyo's mouth open, mentally scarred Baji and Senju for life, and started Toman with his new friends. I wasn't part of that group, and neither was Haruchiyo, so we sort of gravitated to each other as Mikey's discards.
Haru and I kept to ourselves, mostly, and away from Mikey. At least, until Mikey came around asking us to join Toman, saying he wanted us with him.
We gave in, but Haru immediately became a problem child within the gang. He fought with other members, he argued with the captains sometimes, and I just stood back and let him. And that somehow got me roped into being a problem child as well, I guess for not stopping Haru. So we hopped around from division to division within Toman, before Mikey forced us into the fifth division with Mucho, some tall eighteen-year-old we didn't know.
Haru seemed to settle in with Mucho, but I kept an eye on their interactions and kept wary. I knew Haru was lying to Mucho, saying he was an only child and Mucho was like his older brother. I had no idea what Haru was planning, nor was it any of my business.
I was keeping to myself most of the time now. I only attended meetings occasionally, and no one seemed to care if I was present for anything or not. I didn't care if they cared, I guess.
The trainwreck really started one day after Mikey added a new body to his growing list of strong "friends" he had. Takemichi Hanegaki, or Takemitchy as Mikey called him. I was walking down the street with my headphones on, music blasting into my ears, and I could just barely hear the rumble of a bike over the sound.
I looked up and saw Mikey brightly smiling at me on his bike, all alone.
"Dai, come ride with me." He said, and I slipped my headphones around my neck, hitting the pause button on my player.
"Where are we going?" I asked as I climbed on.
"Where do you want to go?" He asked, revving his bike up.
"I was just headed to the store for a snack," I said.
"We can do better than that," He said and took off, and I recognized the route he was taking was the one to the diner he liked to go to with Draken.
He parked his bike in their parking lot, and I went inside with him and got a booth, Mikey sitting across me as carefree and wild as ever. He was practically my opposite, as I was guarded and careful.
The waiter brought our menus, and I ordered a soda first to sip on as I looked over the food choices. I landed on some karaage and ordered that while Mikey got his usual kid's meal.
There was a moment of silence as I looked around and Mikey looked right at me.
"Why are you in Toman, Dai?" He asked, getting my attention.
"You asked me to join," I said plainly.
"Would you do whatever I ask you to do?" He asked and I shook my head. "So, why are you in Toman? You don't seem to enjoy it."
"How would you know that?" I smirked.
"You don't show up at meetings. You're hardly ever there for fights when we have conflicts. You're just not very active as a member, strong as you are." He said.
"I'm hardly strong, Mikey." I shook my head.
"Bullshit, I remember fighting you. You're plenty strong." He just smiled, and I shook my head.
"Nothing compared to you. Or Draken, or Baji, or even Haru..."
"You're strong like Dai." Mikey just said, still with that same smile. "You're your own kind of strong."
I sat there staring at him, trying to figure out where the hell he was going with this while our waiter delivered our food. Mikey thanked him and started to eat, and I stared for just a moment longer before the fried chicken stole my attention.
"What do I have to do to get you more active in Toman, Dai?" He asked a few minutes later, and I hummed and took a minute to think.
Mikey was basically asking me for anything I wanted right now. I get one wish in exchange for being a more enthusiastic member of Toman. I could ask for almost anything right now.
I just couldn't think of anything I really wanted.
I shrugged at Mikey then, and he frowned a little as he watched me think.
"Nothing? I could make you a captain if you wanted." He offered.
"Too much responsibility," I shook my head.
"Dai, please, work with me here." Mikey sighed.
"I just don't want anything, Mikey. I don't know what to tell you." I sighed in return.
"Nothing at all you want? It could be literally anything, Dai. I'm willing to do anything within my power here." Mikey sighed all exasperated.
I pressed my lips together in thought, as something had come to my mind, but I couldn't think of a way to ask for it.
"You want me to be more active in Toman?" I hummed and Mikey nodded. "Then I want you to be more active as my friend."
Mikey just blinked at me. "What do you mean by that?"
I let my head fall as I smiled. I knew he would have no idea what I was talking about.
"I mean, hang out with me. Like when we were kids. Before you dropped me and Haru for someone stronger."
"I didn't drop..." He started.
"You kind of abandoned us, Mikey." I nodded, and he fell quiet.
"I didn't mean to. I'm sorry." He hung his head.
"I'll forgive you if you just be my friend again. I'm sure Haru's the same." I gave a light shrug.
Mikey hummed with a little smile and sat back in his seat. "You and Haru grew close, huh?"
"We had each other when we didn't have you anymore," I hummed as well.
"And now Haruchiyo has Mucho. Who do you have?" Mikey asked with a little smile.
"No one," I said automatically, staring at him. "Your point?"
"You've got me now, Dai. I promise."