#Leaderboard Arcade | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

suniix · 5 months ago

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stupid horse | kenma x reader

synopsis | stupid horse i just fell out of the porsche, lost the money in my bank account oh no!

in which you frequently visit an arcade to destress after school and have the highest score on your favorite game, until one day you don’t. someone named applepi has dethroned you and you almost go broke trying to reclaim your spot.

details | slow burn, kind of crack, rivals (?) to friends to almost lovers, possibly ooc kenma, no use of ‘y/n’

word count | 10.3k

note | for @xoxojisu and @tlissablr and all the other kenma enjoyers 🫶 anyways this is my second long fic and i kinda think the pacing sucks? the fic is mostly me yapping. also i tried to be very vague when it came to the games because i wanted you 🫵 the reader to insert whatever you wanted BUT while writing i imagined the reader was obsessed with space invaders and kenma was playing brawl stars on his phone! (random yes i know) also i literally had no idea how to end this so sorry if the ending sucks :/

You stare at the screen, hoping the reason the name ranked first is unfamiliar due to the adrenaline running through you after losing a few seconds ago.

With jittery hands you move the joystick, spelling out the name you always use to claim your spot as second on the leaderboard for the first time in ages. It was only then that you truly realized you had been dethroned by someone with an odd name.

“Who the hell is Applepi..” You grumble, taking out more coins from your pocket before inserting them into the slot.

You spent a lot of time at the arcade and therefore recognized a lot of faces, especially those from your school. Normally people used their real name or a recognizable nickname so they could easily boast about their score to their friends, so it was a bit odd you couldn’t place your finger on who the name belonged to. You could only assume they really enjoyed apple pie.

Hearing the familiar start-up tune of the game you lock your eyes onto the screen, watching as the enemies roll in. You play as usual, pushing the buttons and timing your attacks just right to gain points. It was a simple process: attack, dodge, repeat.

From what you remember his score was just a couple points higher than yours, so all you needed to do was put in a little more effort and you’d win.

As you continued to play you felt the initial hurt of losing your place in the leaderboard drift away. You don’t know why you got so bothered— you come to the arcade to relieve stress, not stress yourself out.

You were having fun again, that’s what matters now.

The game itself was pretty old, with newer games and models surrounding it it almost looked out of place if it weren’t for the fact that you were in an arcade. Due to that, it didn’t receive much attention so the leaderboard always remained stagnant, the same people had been in their spots for months without it changing and with you at the top. It’s because of this that you unofficially claimed it as your game, so when you saw someone else had taken your spot you were thrown off. Who likes losing at something they’re good at?

You huff, almost feeling angry again at the thought before focusing back on the game. The enemies were getting faster now. It was around here that you died last time, so all you need to do is survive for a little longer.

You followed the usual pattern, attack dodge repeat, before eventually succumbing to an attack.

You watched as the leaderboard came back up and just as you had predicted you were in first place again. This time you were ahead of Applepi by a couple hundred points, so you’d be good for a while in case they ever tried to take your spot again.

You looked at the leaderboard again, observing the new spots of the players since everyone got knocked down by one. The person in last place was entirely kicked out.

“Poor guy,” You mumble, reaching into your pocket for more coins. It’s then you realize you’re out, you had spent your last few on the round you just played.

Momentarily you contemplated going to the counter to buy more but ultimately settled on being done for the day. You had spent enough time at the arcade for today, now it was time to head home and catch up on school work.

You picked up your bag and walked towards the exit.

The arcade was unsurprisingly busy today.

It was the weekend, to be specific Saturday. Those free from work and students who finished their assignments roamed the streets to destress after a long week, your friend and yourself included.

By some miracle your schedules aligned and after days of not being able to hang out the two of you finally set a date. Initially, the plan was to just hit a couple of stores since your friend, Riko, claimed she needed some retail therapy after a hectic week of school combined with work. Soon clothing stores turned into food stalls, then into shoe stores, followed by stores that sold trinkets, and the list went on.

While Riko planned to spend most of her paycheck, you had different ideas. Before the day ended you wanted to stop by the arcade. You claimed it was to wind down, but you secretly wanted to see the leaderboard on your favorite game. Since she had been dragging you around everywhere she wanted to go that day and she knew how much you liked going she complied with your request.

Upon entering you noticed the claw machines had restocked their prizes and among them was the most adorable cat plush you had ever seen. The leaderboard could wait, you had to have it no matter what.

Amongst the loud chatter and music in the room, you were able to hear your friend calling your name from somewhere behind you.

“Yeah?” You answered, focusing on the task in front of you.

You had promised yourself you would only try to win the plush three times before giving up and you were on your final try. Your hand was hovering over the red button that would drop the claw when pressed, waiting for the right moment. It was nearly in the perfect spot over the plush. Just a few more taps to the left and—

“Some guy took your first place.”

SLAM!

You watched in horror as the claw swung violently left and right from your accidental jab, dropping slowly and missing what would’ve been your plush completely. You stare at the glass for a moment in sorrow before turning around and walking to your friend.

Luckily your favorite game was only a few steps away from the claw machine so you made it in time to see the leaderboard before it disappeared, and she was right. Applepi had once again taken your spot, this time by a significant margin.

“Whoa, what’s with that face? Are you shocked that someone finally took your spot?”

It was obvious you couldn’t hide the look of surprise on your face given your friend’s reaction. You quickly looked away in embarrassment. “It’s not that, this happened like two weeks ago and I just never expected they’d do it again.”

Riko’s eyes widened in surprise, before narrowing in on you. A smile slowly creeps in on their face. “Again?! So that’s why you were so insistent on coming here! I know you like this place, but I felt like this time you were being extra pushy—”

“I was not that pushy!” You gasp at her dramatics before picking out tokens from your pocket and inserting them into the machine.

She giggles before leaning against the side of the machine, watching you focus on the game. “Can’t believe you didn’t tell me about this earlier! I feel like a boring show I was watching just got slightly interesting.”

“No way you just called me boring,” You shot her a glare before looking back at the screen. “And I didn’t tell you because I didn’t think it mattered. Last time they only beat me by a few points so I never thought I’d see their name above mine again.”

“You’re not boring, but I just don’t understand how you can play the same thing over and over again without getting bored.” She sighed.

“It’s my comfort game, it helps me relieve stress. It's kind of like how you love to go shopping, if you already have a lot of everything, why buy more?” You reply, hoping you explained it in a way she understands.

It’s still a mystery how the two of you become friends when you couldn’t be more different. The two of you had different likes and dislikes, but the two of you still indulged in each other’s interests where you could. You guys understood each other and wouldn’t push each other into doing anything the other didn’t like, which is probably why you’ve remained best friends for as long as you have.

A childhood bond that likely won’t ever be broken.

“Mm, guess you have a point.” She nodded. “Or maybe you’re just saying that ‘cause you’re unemployed.”

You let out a sigh that sounded more like a laugh. “Fair point—”

The game stopped and the death music silenced you. You feel your stomach drop, you had gotten so wrapped up in the conversation that you forgot to focus. There was no possible way you could have beat his score.

“Did you beat them?!” Riko quickly invades your space, eyes looking all over the screen for a sign of your score.

You watch with her in anticipation as the screen loads, bringing up the leaderboard.

“Fuck..” Your friend curses and you groan, throwing your head back in frustration.

Your eyes catch her various shopping bags on the dirty floor and you can’t help but feel bad. “You can head out if you want, it might take me a while to beat their score.”

Your friend, the loyal angel she is, shakes her head and crosses her arms. “No way, I’m staying with you until you win!”

You won't say it out loud but her response made you genuinely happy. Before you could say anything she held her hand up, stopping you. “Shh! Don’t say anything! I just want to see you happy, so hurry up and win so you can be happy!”

You smile and nod, sliding in another coin and starting over.

The two of you are there for nearly another twenty minutes. The arcade isn’t as full as it was when the two of you first got there, but there were still a good handful of people. Your friend continued to remain by your side but had taken out her phone to pass the time. It’s only when she hears the death music followed by your gasp that she puts her phone down and rushes to your side, grabbing your shaky hands.

“What is it?! Did you do it?!” She asks, glancing between you and the screen for a reaction that could indicate an answer.

You don’t respond, your eyes remaining fixated on the screen. You’re honestly not sure, you had been playing for a while but Applepi had gotten further than you ever have, so you were in the dark when it came to your score. When you see the words new high score pop up on the screen you and your friend squeal. It was only by a few points, but you had beaten Applepi once again. She shook you by the shoulders from joy and screamed ‘You did it! You did it!’ repeatedly. You shush her after noticing the silent glares you two were getting from other players.

“Can’t believe I actually did it,” You said shakily while plugging in your name again.

“Never doubted you for a second!” Riko laughed seeing your glare.

You quickly glance at the claw machine. One more try couldn’t hurt, and you were currently riding the high of your win. This time you’d win.

The two of you walk over with you helping carry your friend's multiple bags. Once you set them down you reach into your pocket for more coins. “Now that that’s done I can finally try and—” You pause when you don’t feel any in your pocket.

You turn to look at your favorite game, wondering just how many rounds you played.

Doesn’t matter, you tell yourself while pulling out your wallet, I’ll just—

Everything in your system nearly shuts down after seeing your wallet was completely empty, excluding your student ID. Your friend notices your silence and looks up, seeing your empty wallet.

“No cash?” She asks before pulling out her own wallet. “Don’t worry, your beautiful and employed friend has got you covered—” She gasped while peering down into her wallet. The look of horror on her face told you she in fact did not have you covered.

Just as you started to pick up her bags she stopped you. “Wait! I know I probably have something in my bank account!” She quickly tapped the screen on her phone. Her face quickly morphed into distress.

“S-Sorry.. I got nothing..”

The two of you turned to look at the plush. It sat there, stranded in the middle of the claw machine, almost beckoning you to save it from its misery.

You put your forehead to the glass. “I’ll come back for you soon..”

To keep your promise the next day once school ended you wanted to head back to the arcade to check the leaderboard and get that cat plush. As a result, your friend called you paranoid.

“Please come with me, it’s not like you work today.” You begged, tugging on her backpack as you walked together.

“I don’t work, but I have homework I gotta catch up on!” Riko argued back, quickening her pace in the hopes she’d get away from you. “Besides, I’m sure that person has a life outside of the arcade. They couldn’t have beaten your score that fast!”

When you didn’t respond she glanced behind her, which was a mistake.

Your hands still gripped her bag strap tightly, but your face held the most adorable pout. She knew she was in a losing battle with you now, you wouldn’t give up until she said yes. Besides, she stood by her point. Once you guys went to the arcade you’d see she was right and you’d stop being paranoid all the time. Hell, maybe she’d stay with you so you could win the plush in the claw machine, but that’s it.

“Fine! But I’m just accompanying you, if you stay to play I’m leaving.”

To both of you guys's surprise, your score had been beaten, once again by a significant amount, by none other than Applepi. To make things worse the cat plush you had been eyeing had disappeared too.

“I stand corrected, I guess whoever Applepi is does not in fact have a life.” Riko sighed. “Look man, I’d give you some change to play but I’m still all out, I work tomorrow though so—”

“Don’t worry about it, I brought some with me just in case.”

“… What?”

Your friend could only watch as you pulled out some coins and an extremely wrinkly bill from your pocket. She had no idea where you even got the money from, unless…

“Did you search through your couch for money?”

“.. These are desperate times..”

Your friend had no words. She can’t believe she was ready to help fund your new addiction, almost did too, until you pulled out your suspicious money. She couldn’t lie though, she admired the dedication you had. She silently watched as you inserted a coin to start playing.

“Alright then.. goodluck with your one-sided competition.” She waved goodbye and you reciprocated the action.

Normally you’d visit the arcade a couple times a week. She knew this because she would walk you part of the way before she split off to either go home or go to her job. Once, twice, on the rare occasion three times you’d go to the arcade, but now it was basically everyday. Once school ended as usual you two would walk together before you split, walking in a direction that she knew was not where your home was.

She wanted to say something, but she didn’t know how to bring it up to you without making you seem crazy. She knew this game brought you comfort, and this new rivalry excited you, but you were spending money you did not have. You were addicted, whether you knew it or not, and you needed to take a break away from the game.

And she missed spending time with you.

Luckily, as fate would have it, the opportunity presented itself in the form of a job application.

“Please help me get a job.” You placed the form on your friend's desk.

She stopped packing away her things to pick up the sheet of paper. The job application form was from her job. “When did you get this?” She asked, wondering how you got the paper since she hadn’t seen you around.

“A while ago when I went to visit you while you were working, I thought it’d be cool if we worked in the same place.”

“Uh-huh..” She eyed you suspiciously. “What’s the real reason you’re applying?”

You scratched your cheek nervously. “I told you, it’d be cool if—”

“No, the real reason.”

You sighed knowing there was no way you could lie about it when she already knew. You don’t even know why you tried to lie when the reason was so obvious. She just wanted to hear you say it.

“I want to get a job so I can continue playing at the arcade.” You sighed while looking down at your feet. Once you said it out loud you realized it was a little embarrassing especially considering the extra context.

She called your name softly and you looked up. “Listen, I love you and I’ll gladly help you get a job, but you gotta take a break from that damn game.”

If she’s telling you this, that means you’re really in deep. She’s not one to judge but when she does usually has a good reason. You take a moment to think about when this first started and do some quick mental math. It’s then you realize you’ve spent an alarming amount of money and time at the arcade.

“.. It’s gotten really bad hasn’t it?”

“I’m glad you’re self aware.” She stood up from her chair and gave you a harsh back on the back. “Now let’s go get you a job.”

“You know, I wasn’t lying when I said it’d be cool if we worked at the same place.” You said while wiping down the counter.

After school you walked with your friend to her job to submit the application. The place she worked at, a cat cafe, was run by the sweetest old lady who immediately gave you the job since you came recommended by your friend. She nearly handed you a uniform right then and there.

“I know, who wouldn’t want their best friend so they can chat while they work?” Riko laughed.

The other cafe employees were young students mostly within your age group and you’d momentarily see them when they came in for their shift before you headed out. The employee who would work during your friend’s shift recently resigned, leaving a vacant spot open just for you.

“I’m gonna go on break, will you be good out here by yourself?” She asked.

“Go for it,” You waved her off. “It’s late, I doubt any big parties will come in.”

She thanked you before proceeding to grab a snack and dashing to somewhere in the back. While standing at the register the lack of customers allowed your mind to wander. It had nearly been a week since you last visited the arcade and you missed it. What you missed most of all was playing your comfort game.

You’d be lying if you said you weren’t tempted to go back and check the leaderboard. On multiple occasions while walking home you almost ended up walking in the direction of the arcade, but your friend pulled you back every time. If it wasn’t for her, you likely would’ve ended up back at the arcade and drained your bank account.

Slowly, your obsession faded, but every so often you still wondered if Applepi had beaten you once again. You let out a frustrated sigh at the thought, you did not expect to get so invested. Now you’re dealing with the consequences and having withdrawals from the game.

Note to self: never gamble.

The gentle chime of a bell rang throughout the store, signaling someone had entered. You and your friend let out a synchronized ‘Welcome’ to acknowledge them.

The two who entered were boys around your age. One was tall with black hair styled in a.. unique way while the other was shorter, his hair bleached. What caught your eye was the familiar shade of red they wore. Then it dawned on you— they were wearing your school’s sports jackets!

For a moment you wondered what they were doing out so late since school ended a couple of hours ago, but you quickly realized they must’ve just finished with practice. Out of all the places they came here to relax? Your eyes shifted around the small store. That’s not to say the energy wasn’t nice, playing with the cats was definitely fun, but you personally would much rather spend your time relaxing at home.. or at the arcade—

“Hello! What can I get you started with?” You asked in your best customer service voice once they reached the counter.

The tall one’s eyes slightly widened once they landed on you before subtly glancing behind you, looking for something. You assumed he was looking at the menu so you didn’t rush him.

“Hi, um.. I’ll just have a green tea.” He sighs.

You try not to question why he said it in such a defeated tone while you plug in his order. “Will that be all?” You ask, eyes shifting briefly to his companion.

“I’ll have a slice of apple pie and a hot chocolate.” He answered softly, eyes quickly shifting back down to his phone.

Your eye twitches at the mention of the sweet treat. You once again plug in the order and the tall one says that’ll be all they’re having. They pay and walk to one of the furthest tables while you begin making their order.

While grabbing the cups for the drinks you could’ve sworn you heard one of the guys sniffing, almost as if he was crying. As tempting as it was to look, you decided to mind your business this time.

“Yo!” Your friend peaked her head from the back door before walking over to you. “Did you miss me?”

“That was the longest five minute break.”

“Sorry sorry, I got caught up watching my videos.” She giggled.

“Alright iPad kid, since you’re out now help me with this order.”

She rolled her eyes but helped you nonetheless. You started preparing the hot chocolate while your friend prepared the green tea. Once you finished the base drink you prepared yourself for the final step. You brought out another cup and began frothing some whip cream. Once that was done you gently added it into the drink, sculpting the froth to make it look like a cat was popping out of the drink. You then added two small drops of chocolate syrup for the eyes, completing the drink. You took a step back to admire the cat, smiling at the outcome.

Your friend was quick to notice. “Wow, I think this is your best one yet.” She smiles.

As you two finished up the drinks the dreaded final item came up. “.. Can you grab the last thing we need?” You ask.

Your friend checks the order to see what’s missing and lets out a loud laugh. “No way, don’t tell me you’re that triggered by it?”

“Don’t start..” You sigh.

Thankfully your friend complies without much more teasing. “Help me take these to their table?” You ask.

Your friend agrees and you both make your way to the table. The tall guy seemed to be sulking, sadly moving around a cat toy that didn’t catch any cat’s attention while his friend’s eyes remained glued to his phone.

“Sorry for the wait!” Your friend apologized while placing down a drink.

Like a switch was flipped his demeanor completely changed. Suddenly he was cheerful, looking at your friend like she made the drink personally for him. Oh, you understand now.

You resist the urge to laugh as you place down the other guy’s order, hearing the two converse. The guy with bleached hair perks up seeing his food and you feel a twinge of pride when you see him snap a quick pic of your drink.

Your and your friend head back behind the counter. Not caring about being ‘professional’ you pull a chair up to the chair and sit while your friend leans against the counter. You eye the distance between you and the customers before mentally declaring you’re at a safe enough distance that they won’t hear your conversation.

“So..” You start.

Your friend raises an eyebrow, but decides to bite. “So?”

“You and that guy?”

“I knew you were gonna say something.” She laughed. “He’s just a frequent customer. Him and his friend would come in all the time after practice, but once you started working they stopped. I asked him about it and apparently they’ve been practicing extra ‘cause they have a big game coming up or something.”

You eyed her suspiciously, taking note of the slight blush on her cheek. “Alright if you say so..”

Work went by fast after that. Later that night the two of you decided to hang out a little bit before parting ways. Your friend, noticing how antsy you’d been, suggested playing Roblox.

The two of you were holed up in Riko’s room, deciding on which game to play. The initial idea was to bully kids on Brookhaven, but a popular show involving surviving kids games had inspired many to create their own version on Roblox.

This you settled on the game, Shrimp Game.

Trial after trial both of you survived. When it was time for Mingle the both of you were doing good the first couple of rounds, occasionally getting separated but surviving nonetheless.

Once you reached the center of the stage the music started up again. You stared at the screen, anxious to see the number of how many could be in a group.

The music stopped and the screen flashed. 3 players.

You and your friend immediately raced to an empty room, hoping a single player would follow. As soon as the two of you entered another two player group followed suit.

“What the,” You grumbled, “Get them out, we were here first.”

You go to push one of the players but one of them had the same idea, reacting quicker and instead pushing you out and shutting the door.

“What the!—” You sat up in a panic. “Riko open the door!”

“I can’t!” She panicked. “The other guy pushed me down and I can’t get up!”

You quickly looked around seeing players scrambling to get into rooms, the only open one was across the stage from you. The countdown began, you knew you wouldn’t make it if you ran. You accepted your fate.

There was a player standing at the door, looking through the peephole almost as if he was taunting you that you couldn’t get in. It was then you noticed the username.

Applepi.

“No way,” You gasped. “Riko it’s them!!”

The countdown ended and your avatar was shot.

Your friend dramatically calls out your name and hugs you tightly. “I’ll never forget you!” She gave you a side hug while proceeding with the round.

“Quick turn on voice chat so I can cuss them out!—”

“No way!” She pulled back, “You’ll get me banned!”

You were tempted to spend money (now that you had it) to revive yourself but ultimately decided against it. You’d get your revenge in a different way.

“Want me to leave?” She asked since you guys were only playing to play together.

“No,” You flipped through the perspectives and landed on Applepi’s, “I’m gonna spectate.”

They played a couple of more rounds before moving on to the next game. You watched, unable to take your eyes off the screen while you thought about the possibilities.

“You think that’s actually Applepi?” You asked your friend.

“Dunno,” She mumbled, concentrating on the game. “What are the chances someone else uses the same username?”

The sound of her frequently tapping on the screen is dulled once you begin to think. She was right, what are the chances? This couldn’t be a coincidence, they were spelled the same odd way. Plus, it's very common for a person to stick with the same name, almost like they’re marking their online identity. It seemed as though the universe was pointing you in the direction back to the arcade. First the guy from work who ordered an apple pie, now this random with the same name.

“Damn!” Your friend groaned, putting down her phone. “I’m out.”

This was a sign. You were going to the arcade tomorrow.

“I think I’m finally gonna go back.”

Your friend looked at you, puzzled by your sudden declaration. “Go back to the arcade?” She hesitantly asked.

You nodded, confirming her statement.

“Well, it has been almost two weeks. I’m surprised you lasted this long without going.” She leaned back against the bench, basking in the sun while she clutched her juicebox.

It had been a week since you played Roblox and possibly met your archnemesis. You mimicked her and leaned back, staring up at the clouds. Somewhere in the distance you could hear the sound of squeaky shoes echoing from the gym. “I surprised myself too, but you made me realize I was obsessing over the competition too much for it to be healthy, and my wallet was really suffering…”

She smirked and ruffled your hair. “See what happens when you listen to me? You evolve as a person.”

You groan and gently push her away, attempting to fix your hair. She was right, but you’d never say it to her face. She knows she’s right most of the time and you saw no need to boost her ego at the moment.

“So, why go back now?”

“After we played Roblox I swore I was gonna go check the next day, but once school ended I didn’t feel like rushing to see the leaderboard and ruining my mood. Since I don’t work today I figured now’s a good time, I can relax and play the game how I want. Also, I really want to see if they restocked the claw machine for that plush.”

Your friend gasped. “Oh wow, you’ve really changed!”

Suddenly she engulfed you in a hug, ranting about how proud she was of you. “I would go with you but I picked up an extra shift today,” She pulled away and looked at you with a pout, “But text me how it goes!”

“I will.” You laugh.

Soon after the school bell rings, signaling the end of your lunch break.

The rest of the school day goes by quickly, but not without a small hitch. During your final class your teacher announced a pop quiz. You would’ve been fine, except you quickly realized you had lost your only pencil sometime throughout the day.

You quickly look around to see if anyone had their pencil pouches out, subtly turning around to look at the back of the class, only to see a familiar face you weren’t expecting to see. You don’t know how you didn’t realize he was in your class earlier since he stood out because of his hair. In a sea of mostly black hair, his bleached blonde hair and overgrown roots caught your eye since it reminded you of pudding.

You gulped, feeling anxiety creep in. You didn’t know him well enough to casually ask for a pencil like you would with Riko and you didn’t want to seem like one of those classmates who’s always mooching off of other’s supplies, but you had no choice since he was the only person you sort of knew.

“Excuse me,” You whispered, catching his attention. “Could I borrow a pencil?”

He blinked at you, golden eyes staring at you momentarily in confusion, almost as if he was surprised you were talking to him. He says nothing though, only nodding and pulling out a second pencil for you to use before handing it to you.

“Thank you! I promise I’ll give it back after class!” You smile and quickly turn back to face your quiz.

Minutes pass and miraculously you finish just in time. You let out a sigh of relief as the teacher takes away your exam, relaxing into your seat. You think you had a solid chance of passing this quiz.

You hear a scuffle behind you and turn around to look, only to see your blonde classmate getting dragged away by his tall friend from the cafe. You could only stare in shock as they quickly disappeared into the halls. You looked down at the pencil in your hand, wondering how you’d give it back to him.

As you pack away your things you remember he was on a sports team— possibly the volleyball team. Should I quickly pass by the gym or just give it tomorrow? You ask yourself. You were in no rush to get to the arcade and you knew if you waited until tomorrow you’d likely forget to give it back and end up keeping it, making it seem like you’re the type of classmate to never give stuff back.

You shiver at the thought— a quick trip to the gym wouldn’t hurt.

The walk doesn’t take long, but once you reach the gym you’re confused to see it’s empty. Since the two players rushed out of your class you assumed they were in a hurry to get to practice. Had you gotten the sport wrong? For a moment you thought maybe he was on the soccer team, but he didn’t exactly seem like the running type. You try knocking and jiggle the doorknob, only to see it’s locked. It isn’t until a random student passing by lets you know the boys volleyball team practiced earlier in the day.

You sighed, guess you’d give it back tomorrow after all.

Without any more distractions you began walking towards the arcade. As you walked the familiar path you couldn’t help but feel a little giddy. Maybe this time you’d go around the arcade and play some games you haven’t tried yet. The familiar neon lights eventually came into view and you smiled at the sight. It had been a long time.

You made your way inside, avoiding multiple running kids when you saw people standing in front of your favorite game. It was the two from the cafe!

You watched as the blonde one fiddled with the keys for a moment, before receiving a game over. He briefly looked at the screen before walking away from the machine. Instead of taking this opportunity to look at the leaderboard you followed behind them, ready to give back the pencil when they began talking.

“So, anything?” His companion asked.

The blonde shook his head, brows furrowed with what almost looked like a pout on his face. “No, it was boring today too.”

You paused in your tracks, his answer echoing in your mind before you rushed back to the game. Just as you had arrived the top scores disappeared, going back to the title screen.

“Dammit,” You mumbled to yourself, pulling out your wallet to take out some change.

You entered the token and began to play. Could it be a coincidence seeing that guy here at this machine? Possibly, but what could he have meant by ‘it was boring today too’? It had been a while since you played, could he have been referring to that? Not to mention when he came to the cafe he ordered an—

Your eyes widened, you had connected the dots.

At that moment you received a game over. The screen dissolved briefly before revealing the list. Your eyes raked through the lineup, not shocked to see you were still in second place with Applepi at the top. It had been awhile since you played, but you knew his score was different. You’re not sure of the exact numbers, but it was slightly higher from the last time you played.

You glanced at the exit. Had he been coming here to see if you had beat him?

Part of you felt bad, he probably thought you stopped trying to beat him when you were actually in rehab (work), but you were happy to know the competition wasn’t one sided.

Inserting another token you prepare to try your best this round. You’re about to make this a little less boring.

You open the door to the cafe, the smell of caffeine and sweets hitting you in the face. You made your way to the counter where your friend stood as the cashier. She lit up upon seeing your face, waving excitedly. “I thought I told you to text me! You didn’t have to show up during my shift!”

“Thought it’d be better if I told you in person,” You giggled. “I have some slightly crazy news.”

“Oh!” She raised her eyebrows, curious as to what you could mean by that before gasping. “You got the plush!” She exclaimed while glancing at your backpack, expecting to see it bulky or misshapen.

“Ugh don’t remind me,” You sighed. “Turns out it was some super rare limited edition thing so I doubt I’ll ever see it again.”

“Damn, that sucks. Anyways, are you gonna order something or are you just here to gossip?”

You briefly remember the guy you loaned you a pencil and how his hair resembled pudding. As slightly embarrassing as it was to admit you had been craving the sweet treat ever since.

“I’ll have the caramel custard pudding.”

“Ugh,” Your friend made a face as she tapped the screen for your order. “Can’t believe you actually like that, tried it once while on my break and just couldn’t finish it. You and that guy over there would probably get along.”

You look up from your wallet and shoot her a confused look, “What guy?”

You gestured to someone behind you. Slowly you turned your head, only to see the duo from earlier. You quickly look back at her, trying to hide your shocked expression. “Damn, do they come here everyday?” You whisper, trying to act as if that was the reason you were surprised.

“I guess? I think their schedules cleared up a bit so now they’re coming more often.” She responded, not even noticing your panic. “Anyways your order will be out in a sec, I’m gonna take my break and go sit with you after it’s done.”

“Thanks,” You nervously laugh and go to the cat area to sit. You take a seat at the furthest table away from the duo, wondering if it’d be possible to talk about your discovery without them overhearing. You take a quick glance at them, noticing how the tall one frequently looks over at your friend and decide it’s too risky.

You spend your time scrolling through your phone, occasionally giving affection to any cat that brushes up against your leg when your friend approaches your table with two plates. “Alright,” She starts, placing the plates down before taking a seat. “What’s up? Did you end up spending all your money again?”

You can’t help but laugh at her comment. “No Riko, I’m not bankrupt just yet,” You reply while taking a bite out of your pudding.

You don’t know how she sensed it, but she was almost right. While playing you got a little too into it, inserting token after token. Without realizing you had spent a little more than what you planned on that single game alone. Seeing the numbers go higher and higher was addicting, you almost fell back into bad habits before pulling away and trying other games. You weren’t going to tell her that though.

The sudden sound of chairs being pushed out caught your attention. You looked back to see the duo were packing away their things and couldn’t help but feel joy swell up in your heart. They were leaving!

You went back to happily eating your pudding, unaware that they were making their way to your table until someone cleared their throat.

Both you and your friend turn to look at the tall man. “Hey, thanks again for the discount.”

Your friend waved her hand. “It was no problem! I feel bad you keep spending all your money here.” She laughed. You couldn’t help but notice the tint of red on her cheeks before hiding your smile behind your hand.

“You should come to our game tomorrow,” He suddenly suggested, looking eager before turning to you. “You too, we could use the extra support.”

“Mm, volleyball right?” You asked, really hoping you hadn’t gotten the sport wrong. It would’ve been embarrassing if you ended up going to the wrong place earlier.

“Right,” He clarified. “Think you guys will be able to make it?”

Before you even had a chance to respond your friend quickly answered for you. “We’ll be there!”

“Great! I’ll let the team know, they’ll be super excited,” He smiled before waving goodbye. His friend peaked from behind him and waved a reluctant goodbye which made you immediately remember.

“Oh before I forget!” You rummage around in your bag before pulling out the grey mechanical pencil, handing it to the blonde. “Here’s your pencil! Thanks for letting me borrow it.”

He looks at you surprised, almost like he had forgotten he gave you the pencil. “Oh, thanks.” Is all he said before gently taking it back.

During the brief moment he was up close you got the chance to observe him. His hair was long, but it framed his face nicely. His eyes were gold and catlike, fitting given your school’s mascot was a cat. You would’ve admitted he was cute if it wasn’t for the fact he’d possibly been the one tormenting you.

They left the shop after that, leaving you and your friend alone in the room. “Thanks for asking me if I wanted to go.” You broke the small moment of silence.

“Ok listen, me and Testurou—”

“Testurou?” You asked, both shocked and confused at the fact they were on a first name basis when you didn’t even know his name. As far as you know the two only interacted when he came to the cafe, just how often was he visiting? And dragging his poor friend with him to third wheel?

“Yes, his name is Testurou Kuroo.” She sighed dreamily while resting her cheek on her hand, enhancing that ‘totally in love’ look.

“When did this happen?!” You gasped. “Why didn’t you tell me this was happening?!”

“Ok first, calm down,” She giggled, acting as if she wasn’t hiding any big news from her best friend. “Nothings happened yet, we’ve just been talking when he comes in. I was literally planning on telling you when I told you to text me.”

You eyed her suspiciously, taking another spoonful of pudding into your mouth. “Ok, if he means that much to you I’ll go to the game tomorrow,” You give up, not wanting to put up much of a fight.

“Great! Now what about you? How do you know Kenma?” She smirked, hoping to flip the tables on you. So that’s his name, you mentally note. You open your mouth to explain the situation when she holds her hand up, silencing you. “Nevermind, what did you want to tell me earlier? About the arcade?”

“Actually, it’s about Kuroo’s buddy and the arcade.” You quickly looked around, eyeing the exit to make sure the duo had truly left.

She looked at you confused, gesturing for you to elaborate. You recount how you had seen the two of them at the arcade and how Kenma was playing your favorite game. You make sure to include his comment about how boring it’s been lately, leading you to your highly believable theory.

“I think he’s Applepi.”

“That.. actually makes some sense.” She nodded in agreement, surprising you.

“Really? Just like that?” You ask, raising an eyebrow suspiciously. She’s normally so quick to call you delusional— maybe you actually have a point this time.

She nods, “Tetsu usually visits me alone, but when he visits with Kenma he’s always late. I’m guessing that extra time is them being at the arcade. Plus, Kenma’s always playing games on his phone while they’re here so he’s probably a little nerdy, just like you.”

You ignore the nerd comment and focus on the facts she just presented to you. Everything lines up, but there’s only one way to confirm his identity.

“Just ask him about it tomorrow—”

“Tomorrow?! Are you crazy?!” You panic.

“Relax, just be casual about it.” She says in an attempt to calm you. “It’s not like you’re confronting him, just asking him about it. Who knows, maybe you guys can bond over that stuff.”

Casual, yeah, like this guy hasn’t been driving me insane for weeks.. you roll your eyes. She had a point though (lately she’s been having many of those), if you didn’t ask him you’d be stuck wondering forever.

It’s decided, you’re going to ask him tomorrow.

Tomorrow came sooner than you would’ve liked it to. Without knowing the school day quickly passed and you had arrived at the gym, your friend dragging you alongside her.

Inside there were a handful of people eagerly chatting and rushing to their seats to watch the teams warm up. You were anxious, but not about the game’s outcome. You were worried about making a fool of yourself in front of Kenma when it came to asking him about his possible secret identity.

“Remember, just be casual about it,” Your friend attempted to soothe you, but it didn’t help much.

She led you further into the gym until you stumbled upon a group of kids wearing your school’s volleyball jackets. You're quick to notice the duo that frequent the cafe. Ok, just keep it casual.

“Hey!” Your friend calls out, catching the attention of the captain and his friend. She drags you closer to the group before letting go of your hand, a quiet signal to leave so they can talk privately.

You take the hint, walking away with Kenma wordlessly. He walks towards a wall and you essentially follow him, trying to figure out a way to talk to him. If he notices your inner turmoil, he doesn’t say anything. He leans against a wall and pulls out his phone, tapping away at his screen. It isn’t until you hear a familiar sound coming from his phone that you look over, recognizing the game he’s playing.

“You play that game?” You ask, genuinely surprised seeing another person play.

Kenma briefly looks over at you, almost as if he was surprised to see you next to him, before quickly looking back down at his phone, “Yeah.”

Simple and quick— you should’ve expected that given what you see during your shifts. He didn’t seem like the type for conversations with people he didn’t know well. In fact, if you looked close enough, it seemed he’d rather be anywhere but here. Silence ensued and only the sounds from his phone could be heard.

“Have you had the chance to check out the arcade a couple blocks from here? The one in front of that one restaurant?” You nervously ask, fiddling with a loose end at the bottom of your shirt.

He stops and for a moment you think you’ve distracted him and accidentally killed him in the process, but he nods. “I have, it’s fun. I only really play one game though.”

Your eyes widen at his comment and you try your best to compose yourself. “By any chance.. are you Applepi?”

That gets him.

He stops moving again and you look over at his screen— this time it seems you did kill him. He looks at you with confusion swirling in his eyes. “How do you know that?” He asked hesitantly, almost like he was afraid of your answer.

You tell him the name you use when playing, one he quickly recognizes. “For the past couple of weeks you’ve been beating my score and I finally found you.” You laughed, partially because you found the situation funny and partially because you were anxious about his response.

When he didn’t respond you got nervous. You looked over at your friend and found she was still talking to Kuroo. You internally groaned, there was no way for her to come save you. You slowly turned your head to face Kenma and saw him looking at you with an unrecognizable look in his eyes. It was almost akin to sparkles— but there was a hint of something else.

“How’d you know?” He asked, keeping his eyes on you. It was the first time he ever really looked at you directly, like he was curious about how you figured it out.

“I saw you eating an apple pie once at the cafe.” You responded honestly before realizing you sounded crazy for remembering what he ate. “Then I saw you at the arcade after you finished playing.”

He hummed and looked down at his phone despite it being turned off. You pretended not to notice the tips of his ears turning red.

“You said it had been boring, so let’s make it interesting and place a bet.”

That caught his attention. “A bet?” He repeated, eyeing you nervously.

You nodded. “A bet. We continue doing what we’ve been doing but at the end of the month whoever has the highest score wins.”

He looks at you with suspicious eyes. “And what does the winner get?”

“.. Did you by any chance happen to win a calico plushie at the claw machine? One with a yellow spot over its eye?”

A surprised look quickly comes on to his face again. “..Yeah?”

You feel your eye twitch at his answer. “I want that.” You quickly stated. You know you sounded demanding, like a spoiled child crying about wanting something they didn’t have, but you had been eyeing it for so long you couldn’t help but want it. You feel it’s only right too after all the emotional and financial damage he caused you.

Kenma hesitates, but ultimately gives in to your request. “Then what do I get?”

“Well, what do you want?” You ask, not knowing him well enough to suggest anything. Hopefully it’s not money. You shiver at the thought. Your bank account just recovered, you couldn’t go back now.

He doesn’t answer, looking away from you. “I’ll think about it.” He mumbles.

“Alright then!” You cheer, excitement filling your body. “So it’s a bet?” You ask, extending your hand.

Kenma looked at your hand, slowly reaching out and accepting. You couldn’t help but notice how warm his hands were.

After your little bet the two of you had exchanged numbers to settle some things.

Something you were quick to notice was how much of a dry texter he was, though it wasn’t surprising given how he was in real life. During a conversation (that you initiated) Kenma commented on how it wasn’t fair that you’d have more time to spend at the arcade than him because of his volleyball practice, but you reassured him that you wouldn’t spend all day there since you had work (and homework) to focus on.

Now if this was the old you participating, you would’ve immediately headed straight to the arcade after school to rack up as many points as you could and get a head start, but you had changed for the better. This was a little friendly rivalry, it wasn’t anything too serious.

But you still planned on winning to maintain your title as number one and get that cat plush.

The two of you also decided not to tell each other when you’d be at the arcade. Your schedules had to remain a mystery just as they had always been.

“It’s not like we don’t already have a general idea of each other’s schedules.” Kenma mumbled, picking at his desert. “I’m basically here everyday now.”

You nodded in agreement, eyes shifting over to your friend and Kuroo’s table. After the game they had officially become an item. They were giggling together and on their table was a single drink containing two straws— truly a romantic sight.

“Yeah, but without confirming anything neither of us really know, it makes this a little more exciting.” You smiled at the scene before turning to look at Kenma. “Wait, why do you even come anyway? You don’t need to third wheel Kuroo anymore since he’s with Riko.”

You saw his eye twitch and held back a giggle. You knew he’d say the same thing back to you if it weren’t for the fact you worked here.

It was currently about halfway through the month and you and Kenma had steadily become friends. With his frequent visits you noticed him becoming more expressive, he was almost like a cat. As long as you fed him treats he’d keep coming back, despite what he says.

“Kuroo still drags me along, he says I need to go out more.” He mumbled, taking a small bite of his pie.

“And he’s right, you need more sun.” You giggled, ignoring the glare he sent your way. “Can’t have my favorite cryptid hiding away forever.”

Lately this has become the norm. The two of you would share playful banter while your friends flirted just a table away. You bonded over both being the third wheel and lately, video games.

“Who do you think is gonna win?” You asked, genuinely curious about his thoughts.

He continues playing with the food on his plate, pushing around small pieces with his fork. “.. I don’t know. You’re actually pretty good at the game so it’ll be close.”

“Wow, is that a compliment from the Kenma Kozume?” You gasp dramatically, but your shock was genuine. If you had learned anything from spending time with him it was that it wasn’t common for him to praise someone so openly.

What caught you off guard was the smile he sent your way. “It was boring at first, especially when you stopped playing, but you made it interesting again.”

It was almost unsettling, he smiled as if he had something up his sleeve— no, he was enjoying this, and you were too.

Everyday you woke up you felt the thrill of the rivalry gnawing at your bones, making you excited to get through the day and head over to the arcade to see where you two stood. It wasn’t until a day before the competition ended that you remembered what your friend had said back at the arcade and realized what she meant.

She was right, this had gotten interesting.

A month had officially passed.

It was easy to see your excitement throughout the day. While on your way to school you nearly ran the whole way there as if rushing to school would make the day go by faster. During lunch you talked Riko’s ear off to the point where she traded you for Kuroo, leaving you with Kenma. He didn’t seem to mind as you talked, just nodded and continued playing on his psp. During the last class of the day Kenma was quick to notice you bouncing your leg, fidgeting with your pencil, and tapping your fingers on the desk.

He was surprised to see how this was affecting you. While he was excited to see the results you were clearly more eager than anyone to see who took the top spot. For a moment he questioned why this mattered so much, but then he remembered how you told him he’d been the only one to beat your score and held back a chuckle. He couldn’t lie, he enjoyed seeing you like this.

Once the bell rang you quickly turned around in your seat to face him, a common occurrence since the two of you became friends. “Are you ready?” You asked, placing your arms on his desk and leaning in close.

The giant grin on your face was contagious, he couldn’t help but let a small smile slip through. “Yeah, I’m ready.” He responded, grabbing his bag and standing from his seat.

Unlike in the morning this time you slowed your pace (mostly because Kenma refused to walk any faster than he needed to).

“You didn’t bring the cat plush,” You pouted, gripping the straps of your bag tightly to keep it in place.

“Are you that confident you’re gonna win?” He raised a brow. “Why are you obsessed with it anyway? You never told me.”

You shrug, “I don’t really have a reason, I just thought it was cute. I just remember the day I was gonna try and win it I didn't have any more coins left because I spent all my money trying to beat your score.”

He quickly whipped his head to face you. “You seriously have a problem..”

“Well it’s partially your fault, you made me competitive.” You crossed your arms.

The whole way to the arcade you bickered about whose fault it was until the bright neon lights came into view. You couldn’t help but grab Kenma’s arm to drag him inside faster, sprinting further inside until the game came into view.

You slowly approached the machine, still slightly anxious about the outcome. Kenma nudged your shoulder with his, catching your attention. He held up a coin in his hand, giving it to you. “Play a quick game, but don’t go crazy.”

You felt your heart do a small flip at the gesture. Kenma often came off as uncaring, but the truth is he cared a lot about those he was close with. You accept the coin from his hand, ignoring the brief skin contact before quickly shuffling towards the machine in hopes he wouldn’t see your expression.

You play a quick round, making sure not to go all out like Kenma said. Moments later you take a hit and lose the game, watching the screen shift. You take a step back and stand side by side with Kenma, eyes unblinking as the leaderboard pops up. Your eyes quickly glance over the names until they land on yours and Kenma’s.

“No way,” You mumble, clutching on to Kenma’s bag.

He said nothing at the action, only staring at the screen for a couple seconds before turning his head to face you. “Congrats.”

You cheered, shaking him from the joy you were experiencing. Kenma tried to lean away from you, especially after noticing the stares you were getting. He didn’t want to ruin your fun, but he seriously didn’t like the attention.

You notice and let go of his backpack. “Should’ve brought that cat,” You giggled.

“There’s no way I was going to carry that all day,” He sighed before pulling out his phone to check the home. You look at his screen and see it’s still early in the day, it would be a waste to leave.

“Hey since we’re already here, why not play a few games?” You ask, silently hoping he’d agree.

He shrugged and you took his answer as a yes. The two of you went around playing most of the two player games you could find. It was nice, most of the time you didn’t get to play these because Riko didn’t want to (she was extremely bad at them and hated losing).

“You’re actually kind of good..” You laughed after seeing both your scores on the screen.

“I play a lot,” He responded, taking a quick look at his phone. He gestured towards the exit and you nodded.

“I know you do,” You laughed. “I hear you all the time before class playing on your phone. It’s almost like you have an addiction..”

Kenma huffed at your claim. He never denied it, you held back a giggle. Once the two of you exit you see the sky is darker than it was when you first arrived. The two of you spent a lot of time there and you didn’t even realize it.

“I’m curious,” You start, catching his attention, “if you had won what would’ve you asked for?”

He didn’t answer right away, remaining silent. The sounds of footsteps were the only thing that could be heard between the two of you. Maybe he never decided what he wanted, you told yourself. You couldn’t blame him for it, you were mainly doing this to win and to keep your spot at the top. Though you were glad you won because you couldn’t risk him asking you for money (especially with his addiction).

Kenma cleared his throat, grabbing your attention. He avoided your gaze, keeping his eyes down at the ground before turning to look at you.

“I would’ve asked to keep playing with you.”

Extra:

You laid on Kenma’s bed, happily fidgeting with the cat plush you won against him. You sit up and see him sitting on the floor, his posture reminding you of a shrimp. Suddenly a thought crossed your mind.

“I have a question,” You start. Kenma hums from below you, acknowledging you but keeping his eyes glued on the screen in front of him.

“When you were playing Roblox, specifically Shrimp Games, why did you push me out?”

He quickly looks at you, confused, before looking back at his game. “Well obviously I didn’t know it was you back then, but I did it because I wanted to win and you were the closest to the door.”

You huff and lay back down. “Ok, well if you did know it was me would you still have pushed me out?”

He didn't respond and from this angle you couldn’t see his face. When you hear the sounds coming from the TV you turn your head and see he’s paused the game. He’s looking at you, a small smile on his face, almost like he wants to laugh.

“No, I wouldn’t.”

thank you for reading till the end! reblogs are greatly appreciated :D

masterlist

#kenma x reader #kenma x you #kenma x y/n #kenma kozume x reader #hq x reader #hq x you #hq x y/n #kenma kozume #haikyuu!!

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skywalkerssgirl · 3 months ago

Note

need bf anakin being wholesome on a date bc i've been going thru sm lately 😭😭

a/n: aw i hope ur ok bb and since this prompt was more vague and gave me more creative freedom i hope this was okay?? p.s. guys. my asks are always open and feel free to request any writing for whatever!! or if u ever need advice lmk

Premise: Anakin takes you out on a date to the arcade in the lower levels of Coruscant.

Determined | Anakin Skywalker x Reader

As you step into the bustling arcade nestled deep in the heart of Coruscant’s lower levels, colors burst to life around you upon the dark, bustling background. The lights from the arcade games flickered bright neon reds, blues, and greens, casting vibrant patterns across floors worn smooth by generations of eager visitors. Even among such a lively atmosphere, one presence loomed the brightest beside you.

Anakin Skywalker moved with quiet purpose, a hand firmly pressed against your shoulder, holding you close as you walked beside him. The corner of his mouth curled in a rare, relaxed smile, and his blue gaze fixed protectively upon you. The Jedi Knight wore a simple black tunic beneath his robe tonight, sporting a look much softer than the one you were used to seeing beside you on missions. His golden brown curls hung loose, framing defined features that softened in your presence alone.

"You like it here?" His smooth-like-honey voice broke through your silent thoughts, velvety yet edged with a subtle seriousness—always alert, always observant.

You nodded with genuine delight, looking around at the seemingly endless selection of games in the large arcade before you. "Yeah, it's wonderful, Ani. I haven't been in an arcade like this since I was a youngling, before I came to the Temple."

"I'm glad you agreed to come then," Anakin replied quietly, gently threading his fingers through yours as he meets your gaze. A thrill raced up your spine at his simple touch; warmth unfurled within you, blooming from his fingertips to your heart. "I'll let you choose where we start."

As you two wandered through the crowded aisles, your playfully competitive natures helping you win—maybe use the Force, sometimes—each game you stopped to partake in. As you walked around, browsing to see which arcade game to play next, the prize display near the front entrance caught your eyes. Among the brightly-colored toys, unusually strange looking candies, and elaborate decorations, a large plush tooka cat perched prominently on the top shelf, overlooking the patrons. Its big bright eyes, perked-up ears, and fluffy lavender fur tugged instantly at your heart. You lingered a moment, warmth blooming inside your chest, silently admiring its adorable face before moving onward.

Anakin’s observant eyes hadn't missed this slight softening in your eyes, but he didn't immediately acknowledge it, filing away the moment for later.

Minutes later, your laughter rang loud as you raced each other through the winding digital tracks of a pod-racing game. Of course, you just had to try to beat the one man who’d kick your ass in a podracer even incapacitated. The motion blur of colors and the sounds of the cheering animated crowd seemed muted against Anakin's contagious laughter. His genuine smile broadened when you cheered or protested dramatically at losing…again.

“Now this,” Anakin gestured toward the podracing simulators with a cocky grin, “is my kind of game.”

You raised an eyebrow teasingly in response. “Is that so, Skywalker? Can you beat that high score then?” You nod to the highest number on the leaderboard lit in blue, daring him to beat it.

He flashed a playful smirk, eyes glittering challengingly. “Just watch and see.”

Sliding gracefully into the seat, Anakin gripped the controls again, the ease of his movement oddly graceful and powerful as his slender hands curled firmly around the handles. You watched, captivated, as his narrowed eyes fixated intently upon the screens lighting his face in vibrant flashes of reds, oranges, and yellows. The simulated engines roared, the pod surging digitally forward in a kaleidoscopic swirl.

It was impossible not to smile as you observed him. The muscles of his arms flexed subtly with every turn, every maneuver deftly executed, his expression focused yet somehow lighter than usual. Behind that intensity lay something carefree, tender—something only you ever truly saw.

Anakin moved as if he were flying again over Tatooine’s scorching sands at Boonta Eve, his instincts sharpened through years of war. The final turn sped lucent against his ethereal face, and within seconds, Anakin earned you a perfect score, lighting every indicator in swathes of victory lights.

Grinning boyishly, he stepped down triumphantly from the platform. You warmly clasped his forearm, pride blazing through you. "You're incredible," you murmured sincerely, meeting his gaze.

A faint flush crept onto his high cheeks, his bravado instantly subdued by your genuine praise. "Just lucky, I guess," he joked quietly, leaning briefly into your touch. His stare softened as it met yours, protective and affectionate beneath the noise around you. He reached to gently brush a strand of hair from your cheek.

"You hungry yet?" you asked softly, heart quickening at those small touches he always seemed to find an innocent excuse for.

"Starving," came Anakin’s soft affirmation. "I'll handle ordering the food; you just sit down and relax."

You knew better than to protest his protective nature; instead, you smiled, resigning yourself to his attentive nature. He gently kissed your temple before vanishing toward the busy bar area. You settled comfortably into a nearby booth, glancing around at the vibrant surroundings still buzzing with excitement.

After some time had passed, you checked the entrance to the restaurant section and waited. Anakin typically wasn't gone this long for simple errands. Your worry melted away when the waitress brought drinks to your table, advising kindly: “A tall young gentleman asked me to reassure you; he stepped away for a moment but will return shortly.”

Trusting Anakin completely, you sipped your drink leisurely, relaxed but curious at his mysterious absence. You knew he would always return to you, though.

In truth, Anakin had slipped back into the expansive maze of arcade attractions, his determination etched firmly upon every line of his handsome face. With admitted stubbornness fueling his every move, he poured credits generously into game after game, a generous wad of tickets pooling rapidly around him. His focus was intense, his piercing blue eyes steady. Anakin felt keenly aware of your absence beside him, an ache in his chest intensifying his resolve to win the plush for you.

“All right.” With purposeful strides, Anakin approached the redemption counter, a bundle of tickets filling his arms. “That tooka plush—the lavender one. Give me your finest, fluffiest one.”

The attendant handed it over, bidding Anakin farewell with a knowing smile. A wave of joy and relief washed over Anakin as he carefully tucked the plush protectively against his side, strolling hurriedly back toward where you waited.

Meanwhile, you idly swirled the cool, sweet liquid in your glass, watching patrons bustling around you. Then, finally, the sound of confident footsteps and the timbre of Anakin’s boots you somehow knew far too well; a familiar presence drew closer behind you. You twisted around to greet his return, excitement glowing across your features.

"Hey, stranger," you chuckled, "thought you'd forgotten about—"

Your words died on your tongue as he revealed the surprise he’d hidden behind his broad figure. Lavender fur shone gently beneath the warm, golden light of the table lamps, and his wide blue eyes practically begged for an embrace. Your lips parted softly, warmed through by profound gratitude and tenderness.

"Anakin," your voice barely whispered through emotion, "You... didn't have to."

He slid easily into your booth, the large plush placed gently between you. Cautiously, gently, Anakin captured your hand, threading his fingers firmly yet tenderly through yours.

"I noticed the expression on your face when you looked at it," Anakin confessed softly, casting his gaze downwards shyly before meeting your eyes once more, a curl of his hair cascading gently over his forehead as he did so. His voice lowered deeply, intimately, "I'd have won a thousand more tickets to see you smile again."

Your heart hammered within your chest. Gently laying your hand upon his forearm, your fingers tracing soft, affectionate circles, you said earnestly, "Ani, your presence alone is more than enough."

Colors danced gently upon his thoughtful brow, and his blue eyes warmly studied yours in quiet contemplation. He drew you against him tenderly, closing those precious few inches until your head tucked comfortably upon his shoulder, beneath the embrace of his protective arm.

"I've never...experienced anything like this before you," Anakin murmured reverently, his voice vibrating through his chest beneath your cheek. "Caring like this... being cared for."

"You're allowed to, Ani," you affirmed, your sincerity rich within every gentle syllable. Your fingers traced comforting patterns upon his hand. "You deserve it."

His grip tightened lightly in response, and brief tremors sighed softly through his steady breathing. He held you gently like that for a while, savoring this rare peace reserved only for the two of you.

When your food arrived seconds later, he reluctantly released you, though his thigh remained closely pressed against yours throughout the meal. His reassuring presence anchors you amongst the mingled voices and chaos outside.

The evening drew to a close as you journeyed back to the Jedi Temple. The tooka plush, tucked securely between your thighs and in your arms as you sat in the passenger seat of his speeder, served as another ceaseless reminder of the quiet affection lurking deeply beneath Anakin Skywalker’s fierce and turbulent exterior.

"Did you enjoy yourself, love?" he asked, with a vulnerability mingled with hope and the subtle confidence that followed Anakin wherever he went. He turned to study your lovely face, lit softly by the distant city glow.

You smiled gently, placing a palm warmly upon his cheek as you nodded silently. No words could adequately convey every tenderness swelling profoundly within you. Leaning to rest his forehead lightly upon yours, Anakin whispered tender reassurance into the quiet space bridging you both:

"For you, anything."

And the Force itself seemed to hum in understanding.

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