Chapter 5 – Beer, Friendship, and a Cigarette.

And so... We were standing in front of Makima again. In the morning, it seemed normal, without any bruises or bloodstains. 

But now it's evening. 

- So...you're saying...that you, the demon hunters from public safety, were attacked by some bandits and you were able to fight them off? - Makima asked, tilting her head in question. - But Aki got 'pussy' and you saved him, did I get that right, Danji?

- Yeah. - I answered without any doubt, smiling through my teeth. 

I was smiling because I'd managed to free up some steam by beating somebody up. And that someone was leaning on my shoulder and almost falling over every time he tried to get to his feet. 

This guy's face should be familiar to you, but unfortunately, after beating this boy up, you don't recognize Aki.

I beat him up pretty bad. His nose is swollen, his lips are cracked, but his teeth... thank Satan are intact, not to mention his eyes, which are now bruised. What can I say... His face is mincemeat. 

- Mwis... Makma... He's lie!... - he was about to turn the tables on me. 

- What-what, Aki? Was I cool when I saved you? - I scoffed. - Pfft...

- Hee-hee. You two seem to be getting along. - Makima said, laughing a little. 

"We didn't get along worth a damn..." - ran through my head. 

- Danji. Can you close your eyes and ears? - Makima seemed to be asking me to, or ordering me to. - You too, Aki. 

- He can't close his eyes any harder. Ha ha.

After doing what she said, I even turned away, while not forgetting to mock the kid. Closing my eyes and putting my hands to my ears, I waited patiently. 

I guess I'd better listen to her, because I didn't want to get in trouble on my ass the first day... What am I saying? It's been a hectic day anyway. 

I could hear more or less what was going on behind me, but not that much. After a couple seconds, Makima's slender fingers poked me a couple times on the back, signaling that I could open my eyes and ears. 

Looking up at my senpai, I was pleasantly surprised. 

Aki was suddenly back to factory settings and his face had regained its light color. All the bruises, beatings, and even blood were gone. The only thing that hadn't changed was his clothes, which meant she couldn't manipulate time. 

Here's the first day in this world, and I don't even have time to properly wonder and get used to everything. 

- S-thank you, Ms. Makima. - He touched his face.

He must have been happy that I'm beautiful again. 

- So what's up? Are you gonna get along? - She asked us. 

We all said the same thing:

- Fuck knows. 

- No way.

At least I agree with him on that one. 

- I'm glad you two are getting along so well. - Makima kept smiling in a way that was starting to scare me. - That's why I've decided to enroll Danji-kun in your squad, Hayakawa. 

- What squad? - I asked, but I was interrupted by Aki. 

- That bastard?! Really?! - The kid was indignant. - We can't even handle our own, and now he's here!

"So what kind of squad is this, huh? I guess no one will answer me..."

- I warned you, Aki. When we created this unit, it would be an experimental unit and I would be changing its composition often. - Makima was no longer as kind as she had been recently. 

She had already stopped smiling and was talking about a certain unit with all seriousness. I liked her like that better than with a fake smile. 

Hayakawa swallowed and turned his head towards me, gulping. 

- Who the hell is he anyway? - The guy asked. 

- So you didn't tell him, Danji-kun? - The redheaded boss asked me. 

- Ah... He kinda ignored me himself when I wanted to meet him. Then he wanted to fight at all... Huh..." I looked at the guy with a sigh.

He looked a little ashamed and hid his gaze. 

- My name is Danji and I'm not human. - I smiled at him. - I'm half-demon and I can turn into a demon. - I saluted him. 

Aki fell silent and huffed a little so-and-so. Nah, I'd be just as freaked out if the frog I'd hit on turned out to be a demon. 

Well... Half-demon, to be exact. 

- I've heard it's possible, but-- 

- Hearing and seeing are different things. - I interrupted him. - Anyway, I hope you'll take me seriously now. 

- Danji is special, so we had to approach his case in a special way. I made an equal contract with him and if he breaks any of the above points he will die, so please treat him well. - replied Makima to Aki's surprise. 

- Anyway, Aki. I'm living for myself and trying not to die before my time. So let's live with the concept of friendship-gum? - Smiling I patted him on the shoulder. 

His eyes in turn rounded at the situation... Or because of me. 

- And by the way. Since 'friendship-gum', Danji will be living with you Aki. - she said it all with a smile from the bottom of her heart. 

- Me?! With him?! - we pointed at each other while asking that question. 

I was stunned too! I wanted a place to live, but not with a man! I want to live alone so I can take the broads there and work out and sleep in peace. 

- That's it. Just like I told you. You two are bonding. Hee-hee. - She pulled out some papers and started signing. 

- Stop, Maki-chan! - I slammed my two palms on the table. - Didn't we agree on a big house where I could live and train!?

She's already breaking the contract. I feel like punching her. 

- I have a cramped apartment of 90 square meters! I'm not going to get along with him! - Aki was clearly against having guests in the apartment. 

And 90 square meters is pretty big for one... 

- I'm sorry, I shared my thoughts with you a little wrongly. - she handed us a stack of papers. - Sign here. 

"This is the paper... My residence registration?"

After reading the papers in detail, I raised my eyebrows. A 170 square meter two-story house with two baths, four bedrooms, and a huge American kitchen. Also two toilets, an empty field behind the house and high walls. 

Too perfect a dwelling! Is there a catch?! There's definitely a catch... But... The hut! A big one!

But before I did, I tried to read the whole contract so I wouldn't get screwed. 

- I think it's okay. - and looking for the fine print, I nodded. 

- I wouldn't be fooled. A contract is a contract. - she smiled at me. 

- Well, that's understandable. But why are you on the registration besides Danji and me? - Aki asked me a logical question. 

- I bought the house in my name, and as one of the guardians, I have to look after you sometimes. 

- Are you going to live with us? - I grinned. - With two hungry men who could eat you? - I grinned and bared my teeth as I slowly leaned toward her. 

She didn't flinch and continued to stare at me.

- You fool! How dare you say that you pervert! - Aki kicked me in the side. 

Well. I expected the kick, but I still gave him the rights to kick me once. Say, even for me beating him to a pulp. 

- I'm kidding, I'm kidding. - I waved my hand. - I'm in no hurry to get a girlfriend.

"Besides, I wouldn't dare hook up with that weird lady. To sleep with, yes. But hook up? No way."

- Hee-hee. Even though I live there on paper, I won't be there. I'll just come and check on you occasionally. 

- I see..." Aki nodded kind of disappointedly. 

- Well, then I agree. - I wanted to sign, but I remembered that I don't have a signature, and in Japan they put a stamp with a name, not a pen signature... - Oh, I don't have my own stamp. 

- Don't worry. You can sign the contract later. Your documents and the seal are being prepared. But you'll have to take a 3*4 and 5*6 photo. - She said taking the papers in her hands. - Aki dear. Give Danji a hand, okay? - she asked her trusted person. 

- Okay, Makima-san. Thank you. - he bowed.

- Uh-huh. Thank you, Maki-chan. - I nodded and asked. - When do we check in? 

- Fool!.... 

- You can check in now. 

Aki wanted to scold me, but Makima replied by cutting him off. Which I'm grateful for. Although I should be respectful to her and see her as a boss by now. 

Okay. We'll deal with etiquette tomorrow. 

- That's it for today. Any questions, call me. - she pulled an envelope out of her desk drawer and handed it to me. - It's a one-time payment for signing a contract with me. Even though it's verbal, I still need to give you money to buy a cell phone and everything else. 

- Thank you. - Accepting the envelope, I didn't hurry to look at it, but just put it in the inside pocket of my jacket. 

The envelope was heavy, so there was a lot of money, which was good. I can shop today. 

- That's great. I've shown you the address, the keys will be handed to you at reception. See you tomorrow. 

After saying goodbye to Makima, we went about our business. I told Aki that I would go shopping for personal items, but he just nodded and said that he would go to his old apartment to get his things. 

We agreed to meet up at home, and after sharing our keys, we parted ways ourselves. 

....

I spent the rest of the day shopping for different things. They gave me enough money, but I was in no hurry to spend it all. Even when choosing a phone, I thought long and hard about the future. 

After all, I'm a hunter, which meant a lot of dirty work. For example, I could lose it, accidentally break it, and other cases could happen again. Huh...

So, bought one nice clamshell phone that was a hit in Japan. Yeah yeah... There are no smartphones yet, and that's bad.

And for the mission and the fight against the demons, I bought three cheap cell phones. Eh, I wish I could live to see touch screen cell phones..... 

"By the way, that's an idea. We can invest in stocks. Is there an Apple and a Samsung?"

Anyway, the rest of what I bought was bathroom supplies, a change of clothes, underwear, socks, towels, and a photo for the documents.

With a couple dozen bags already in my hands that were light for me, I decided to stop by the grocery store for some more temporary sustenance. 

Oddly enough, I can cook, not a true Dangee. Therefore, cooking won't be a big problem for me.

Finally, after finishing with all the important stuff, I caught a cab... A big cab... And with a bunch of bags, headed to my new abode!

The ride was a bit expensive for me... No wonder, because I had to pay for the bridge and the heavy traffic as a passenger. And I had a lot of cargo. 

Well, I wasn't complaining. For in front of me was my new home. 

A two-story house of white color with high stone walls, as well as black tile shade. Our house also had a garage, and judging by the tire tracks, my housemate had a vehicle. 

Across from me was a large door with an intercom. 

In the house, where the lights were already on full blast, and on the balcony, which was also the roof of the garage, Aki was standing there smoking. 

He noticed me a long time ago, but didn't even bother to greet me. 

- Can you help me? - I smirked at him, pointing at the number of packages. 

Aki only sighed, and extinguished his cigarette, muttering, and went inside. 

I didn't wait long. I thought he would ignore my request, but he came out and opened the main gate. He helped me with the bags, and I could see our new house. 

Nice yard and porch, and inside... Semi-Japanese style mixed with European style. The house was awesome. 

I didn't want to look around right now, just sit down on the soft couch in the living room and stretch out on a high of bliss. 

After loosening my tie and taking off my jacket, I rummaged through the bags and found a pack of cigarettes and alcohol in another. I didn't want to get drunk on my first day, so instead of whiskey, I took a bunch of beer. 

- Hey, you... - I wanted to say something to Aki, but he wasn't here anymore. - Huh...

Sighing, I got up from my seat and grabbed the bag of food along with the beer. 

Finding Aki was pretty easy. 

The guy was sitting on a bench outside in the back patio. He wanted a smoke, but his lighter wouldn't give off a spark. 

- You want a light? - I went over to him and pulled out a zippo lighter with my free hand. 

I lit it and handed it to him. 

He looked strangely at the fire, then at me, and then still held out the cigarette. 

- Thank you...

- Wow! Emo-boy knows how to say warm words. - I sat down next to him.

Putting a bag of fried chicken and a tray of beer between us, I started looking for a cigarette. 

- Shit... I forgot my cigarette. - I was about to go back inside the house to get my pack, Aki stopped me. 

- Here. 

He handed me the pack of cigarettes, just as I had recently handed him a lighter. Smirking, I took two at once. 

- Isn't it impertinent to take two? - He asked. 

- Don't be greedy. From today we are not just neighbors, but colleagues. - I answered him, holding out a can of beer. 

He looked at the can, but he accepted the gift with a snort, not forgetting to get on my nerves. 

- I'm older than you in age and rank anyway.

- If Makima was able to heal you... Will she be able to heal you a second time? - I smirked, exhaling a thick smoke. 

- I don't think so. 

Although our acquaintance didn't go very smoothly, but we managed to get along in the end... Even though it was awkward.

Beer, friendship and a cigarette... Everything a man needs in a reconciliation. And that's how I survived my first day...

To be continued...

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