#swift student winner

[mssorceressupreme]

The Way I Loved You | F.W

———

Pairing: Fred Weasley x reader

Summary: Dumbledore has asked for every house to put on a performance during the Yule Ball, the winner will earn 250 House Points. For this particular dance you’re partnered up with George though you wish it was Fred, however during the dance George is nowhere to be found. You’re left there on the dance floor right before your performance, stranded, alone & embarrassed, will anyone save you?

Warnings: jealousy, mutual-pining, dance lessons from Fred Weasley, nothing else lol this one’s fluffy <3

A/N: was superrr inspired by that one scene in The Summer I Turned Pretty during the debutante ball where Conrad dances with Belly instead of Jeremiah 🥹🥹 feel free to listen to ‘That’s the Way I Loved You by Taylor swifts’ for this read

Sorry this one's kinda long, got a bit carried away but he's just so scrumdilicious x

———

The Gryffindor common room was lively with the crackle of the fireplace and the chatter of students winding down after a long day.

You sat cross-legged on the floor near Hermione, flipping through a book on charms, while Fred and George lounged on the sofa, tossing a chocolate frog back and forth like it was a Quaffle.

Lee was perched on the armrest, chiming in with his usual quips, and Ron was attempting—and failing—to beat Harry in wizard chess.

The portrait door swung open with a thud, and Ginny burst in, her face alight with excitement. “Everyone, listen up!” she called, cutting through the noise.

Fred groaned, tossing the chocolate frog into George’s lap. “What now?”

Ginny ignored him, standing proudly at the centre of the room. “Professor Dumbledore’s announced a competition taking place during the Yule Ball. Each house has to put on a performance, and the best one wins 250 house points!”

The room fell silent, except for the crackle of the fire.

“A performance?” Fred repeated, eyebrows raised. “You mean like... dancing in front of the entire school? Nope. No way. Count me out.”

“Oh, come on,” Ginny said, rolling her eyes. “You’re not scared, are you?”

“Scared? No. Smart? Yes,” Fred replied, sticking his tongue out at her teasingly.

Ginny mimicked him. “Fine. I wasn’t planning on pairing you anyway.”

“Good,” Fred said, leaning back smugly.

Lee raised his hand. “Yeah, same here. I’ll pass on the public humiliation, thanks.”

Fred breathed a slight sigh of relief at Ginny's words, thankful he had escaped that particular disaster. He noticed her next comment, however, and a feeling of dread settled in the pit of his stomach.

“Great,” Ginny said, undeterred. “McGongall's put me in charge of organising's Gryffindor performance and I’ve already got pairs in mind! Harry and me, Ron and Hermione, Neville and Angelina, and—” she paused, grinning at you, “you and George.”

Fred perked up slightly at this but quickly masked it with a yawn.

"Let's goo Georgie!" Lifting your hand up for a high-five with George.

Fred watched as you high-fived George, his eyes narrow slightly with jealousy. He couldn't believe Ginny would pair YOU and George together. The thought of the two of you dancing together, moving in sync, made his stomach twist uncomfortably.

As the others continued discussing the dance, Fred's gaze flickered to you, watching as you interacted with the others. He couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to dance with you, spin you around the dance floor, hold you close...

Fred quickly shook his head, banishing the thoughts from his mind. He had to keep it together. He couldn't let everyone know that he was secretly hoping to dance with you. Besides, Ginny had already paired you with George. There was no way to change that now.

“Practice starts at 7 in the Great Hall tomorrow,” Ginny continued. “Don’t be late!” ___

Right at 7 the next day, the eight of you plus Fred and Lee started making their way to the great hall, the energy in the air buzzing with anticipation.

Fred reluctantly followed, his heart pounding in his chest as he entered the grand room. "Oi Fred what are you doing here, I don't recall you being in the dance." Ron teased.

Fred rolled his eyes at Ron's comment, feigning indifference. "Just thought I'd come see how the professionals do it. Don't get too cocky, Ronald."

George snickered at Fred's response, clearly enjoying watching his twin squirm. In reality, Fred was here solely to keep an eye on you and George dancing together.

"Alright Gin, what do you have in mind?" You asked excitedly about the choreography.

Ginny beamed at your enthusiasm and clapped her hands together. "So, for the slow part, we're doing a simple box-step. Just a few basic steps with some swaying and twirling, nothing too complicated."

She demonstrated the steps with one of the boys. It looked fairly simple, a basic back and forth moving step with some twirling and having your arms around your partner.

"It's a fairly easy dance, with clear instructions for each step, just remember to move in sync with your partner, or it'll look like a chaotic mess." She chuckled.

She demonstrated the dance, moving her body to the beat of the imaginary music. It involved swaying, spinning, and stepping, all in time with the music. "That looks amazing, should be a piece of cake to get down." You noted.

You and George paired off going to one corner to rehearse while Ginny helped the others, and to your surprise, the two of you picked up the routine quickly.

“You’re a natural,” George said with a grin as you spun gracefully under his arm.

Across the hall, Fred and Lee sat against the wall, their arms crossed. Fred was trying to act indifferent, but his eyes kept wandering to you.

“You’re staring,” Lee said, nudging him.

“Am not,” Fred muttered, tearing his gaze away.

“Yes, you are. You’re jealous,” Lee teased, smirking.

Fred scoffed. “Jealous? Of George? Don’t be ridiculous.”

But the flush creeping up his neck betrayed him.

George, with a cheeky grin, took the lead, his hands confidently on your waist. He led you through the basic box-step, his movements smooth and precise. You, too, followed his guidance gracefully, executing the steps effortlessly.  You blushed, looking into his eyes as this was the first time you'd properly danced with a guy.

Though George was a delight to dance with, you couldn't help but secretly wish it was Fred, your long-time crush. But no way would you admit that to anyone, you did not want to ruin the long-term friendship you had with him, or worse, change the dynamic of the friend group.

Thinking of Fred, you looked over at him, making eye contact with him momentarily. 

Fred, watching from the corner, felt a sting in his chest when he met your eyes. The sight of you and George dancing together was almost too painful to bear. He tried to stay neutral, but the longing in his eyes betrayed his emotions. ___

The next day, you found yourself in the courtyard, practicing under a tree. George had been called away for something, so you were left to rehearse the steps alone.

“Left foot back, right foot forward... no, wait—” you muttered, stumbling.

Unbeknownst to you, Fred had been passing by when he noticed you under the tree. He paused, watching as you put your books aside and started recalling the dance steps. He stood there for a moment, debating whether to approach you or not. 

His heart was telling him to go over, strike up a conversation, flirt a bit. But his mind, the rational part of him, held him back.

He knew he should keep his distance, not get involved further. But he seemed to be losing the battle with himself.

Taking a deep breath, he decided he couldn't resist anymore. He walked over to you, trying to maintain his usual carefree demeanour.

From behind you came a familiar voice. “You’re doing it all wrong.”

You spun around to see Fred leaning against the tree, arms crossed and a smug grin on his face.

“Fred, go away,” you said, exasperated. “I’m trying to practice.”

“I can see that,” he said, strolling over. “And failing spectacularly, I might add.”

"I'm serious, I don't want to let Ginny down." You glared at him, pushing him away playfully.

Fred stumbled back a step, faking defeat. He chuckled as he regained his footing, his smirk widening. "Oh, I know, I know, can't have dear Ginny's dance being ruined, can we?" "Exactly. Now if you mind, i'm trying to recall my steps." You mentally practice in you head, moving slightly as you did so to your own rhythm. Fred chuckled, finding it slightly amusing and endearing how focused you were on remembering the steps. He leaned against the tree, crossing his arms, watching you with a mixture of playful mockery and genuine admiration. You then mimick the steps, putting your arm out pretending George was in front of you but it was hard without someone in front to guide you, "Wait no like this...? Two steps to the right?...or left was it?"

Fred watched you struggle, your movements clearly off without a partner to guide you. He couldn't help but smirk at your frustration and confusion, finding it quite charming how determined you were despite the difficulty. He pushed off the tree, coming to stand beside you.

"You know, I could help you, if you want. I'm an expert dance teacher, you know."  "Yeah right 'Mr. I Hate Dancing'..." You roll your eyes.

"Hey, don't underestimate me. I'll have you dancing like a pro in no time." He was confident, folding his arms proudly at his proclamation. "Fine, whatever, show me." You feigned defeat, desperately needing more help. Fred chuckled, pleased by your acceptance and secretly happy that he could be the one helping you for a change. "Alright, let's get started. Firstly, you need to focus on your stance. Feet slightly apart, weight slightly forward."

He demonstrated by adjusting his own stance, and then stepped closer to you, gesturing towards you to do the same. As you adjusted your stance accordingly, Fred came to stand directly in front of you, facing you.

His eyes traveled from your face down to your feet, sizing you up as he mentally began planning the steps he was about to explain. 

He continued, instructing you further as he shifted a bit closer. His voice was now lower, a hint of command in his tone.

"Now, you step back with your left leg first. Slightly bend your right knee as you do." He instructed and you nodded, watching him in a serious demeanour was rather attractive.

Unusual from his playful self, you observed his face, how he was focused, eyebrows furrowed, focused on helping you. "Good, now bring your right foot up to meet your left, closing the gap. Good, good. Keep your weight balanced between your feet. Don't lock your knees, just a little bend will do." You tried doing so but tripped, losing balance. Fred reacted quickly, his hands instinctively reaching out to steady you. He caught you in his arms, pulling you against his chest to prevent you from falling.

He chuckled softly, his hands still on your hips to keep you upright. "Woah, easy there. You're a bit clumsy today, aren't ya?" Yeah because you're so close to me right now Fred. You chuckle nervously. "Whoops, my bad!"

"It's a good thing I've got my reflexes, or you would have kissed the ground just now." He laughed, helping you steady yourself. "Hey maybe the ground needed a good kiss." You tease back jokingly.

Fred laughed aloud at your cheeky remark, his hands still on your waist, thumbs tracing small circles against your sides. He tilted his head slightly, arching one eyebrow mischievously.

"Oh really? And what about me? Do I get a kiss too since I saved you from kissing the ground?" He joked, but something in his eyes told you he partly meant what he said.

You blushed but played it off, "Yeah yeah you wish Weasley, now come on show me the steps."

Fred chuckled at your attempt to brush off his comment, but he couldn't help feeling a twinge of disappointment. Nevertheless, he complied, refocusing his attention back on the dancing lesson.

"Alright, alright. Let's try that again. Back step, knees bent, weight balanced, and..."

He demonstrated each step as he spoke, his hands guiding your hips gently on your left and right. As he moved, his body was incredibly close to yours.

The heat from his breath fanned against your skin, and his hands firmly grasping your hips sent tingles through your body. He could sense the effect his touch was having on you, yet he kept a calm and composed expression, maintaining the facade of a dancing teacher. Fred continued the lesson, occasionally correcting your stance, or gently repositioning your hips. Each time his touch lingered for a few moments longer than necessary, his fingers gently grazing your skin sending a small spark of electricity through your entire body.

Yet, he kept his focus on the lesson, acting as if he was completely oblivious to the effect he was having on you.

"Like this?" You ask, then show him your steps. Fred watched you closely, his eyes following the movement of your feet and hips as you demonstrated the steps.

He smiled approvingly, impressed with how quickly you were catching on. "Yes, yes, that's it. You've got it. Just keep your weight balanced and move with the rhythm. You're doing great." "Wow really?" You gleamed with joy, finally noting the steps down. 

Fred chuckled, enjoying the joy and excitement on your face as you realised you were getting the steps down. He nodded, a proud smile on his face."Of course really. I told you, didn't I? I'm an excellent dance teacher. Just a few more practices, and you'll be gliding across the dance floor like a pro tomorrow." "I'spose I do have a okay teacher." You remarked nonchalantly. 

George watched us then cleared his throat, holding himself back from chortling, "Okay, okay nice show. It's time for some real dancing now Y/N."

As George cleared his throat, both you and Fred looked over at him, having been so engrossed in the dancing lesson that you hadn't noticed his presence.

"Enjoying the show, were you Georgie?" Fred hummed.

"More like trying not to throw up from the eyes you were giving each other." George joked, knowing Fred's evident crush on you, "Anyway, it's time for practice, it's 7. Came looking for Y/N." George spoke, walking over to me.

As Fred released you from his grip, you felt a short wave of disappointment as his hands left your hips. But before you could dwell on that, George's hand took its place, his touch familiar and comforting yet lacking the spark that Fred's had.

George smiled at you, oblivious to the lingering tension between you and Fred. You looked back at Fred who stood there by himself, then turned to George who was walking with you.  As you followed George, you couldn't help but glance back at Fred. He remained by the tree, watching you as you moved away with George.

There was a mix of emotions in his eyes - disappointment, longing, and perhaps a hint of jealousy. Fred tried to act casually, leaning against the tree with his arms crossed, but his mind was swirling with conflicting thoughts and emotions.

Though he knew George meant no harm, seeing you with George was painful, especially since he was the one who had just been holding you close, teaching you the steps just moments ago.

___ The night of the Yule Ball arrived, and the Great Hall was a vision of sparkling decorations and twinkling lights. As you lined up with the other Gryffindors in one of the waiting rooms before your performance, George suddenly clutched his stomach.

"You alright George?" You ask, placing a hand on his back.

George waved his hand dismissively, trying to downplay his discomfort. "Yeah, I'm good. Just a bit of an upset stomach. Probably ate something rotten earlier. I'll be alright, don't worry." 

George then excused himself and went to the bathroom, feeling unwell. He hurried to the bathroom, trying to compose himself.

Meanwhile, Ginny, Angelina, and Hermione approached you, wearing concerned expressions.

"Is George okay? He look a bit pale just now..." Concern lacing in Hermione's voice.

"Tummy ache, probably ate something wrong earlier, its okay he'll be back in time for the dance..." You hoped, nervously as you began walking toward the hall, everyone waiting for your Gryffindor group, or team, to perform. 

Hermione nodded, her worry still visible. The three girls followed you out of the room, walking down the corridor toward the Great Hall where the entire school was waiting.

As the four of you reached the entrance to the Great Hall, the sound of hushed whispers and applause grew louder and louder. Every student in Hogwarts was gathered within, their eyes fixed on the stage, eagerly awaiting your grand performance. With every step you took toward the stage, the crowd's applause grew louder and louder. As the four of you finally took your places at the front of the stage, the audience erupted into cheers.

The boys then took their positions in their respective places, and the energy in the room was electric with anticipation. Still, George was no where to be seen. "Hey Ron, have you seen George?"you asked, but no luck.

Ron shook his head, looking just as concerned as you. "No, mate. I thought he was with you guys. Have you checked the bathroom?" You shook your head, "Harry, do you know where George is?"

Harry looked just as puzzled, worry etched on his face. "No, haven't seen him. He ran off earlier. Thought he was just going to the bathroom." "Neville, have you seen George?" You asked. Neville scratched his head, thinking. "Last I saw him, he was heading to the bathrooms. I thought he was just feeling a bit under the weather."The minutes ticked by, the tension in the room building. Everyone was in their positions, ready to dance, but you were standing there, feeling anxious without your partner. The audience started noticing the delay, their whispers turning into murmurs of confusion and anticipation. Oh no, you glanced around the room looking at the audience, this was the worst thing ever, you felt humiliated. Your heart raced, the feeling of embarrassment and hopelessness washing over you.

Every pair in the room was in their positions, ready to dance, except for you. Your eyes darted around the room, seeing the murmurs and whispers of the audience. You felt exposed, the spotlight on you as the delay continued.Hermione, Ginny, and Angelina watched you with sympathetic and worried expressions. They wanted to help, but there was nothing they could do. The situation was growing more embarrassing by the second as the absence of your partner became more glaringly obvious to everyone in the great hall. Professor McGonagall, standing at the back of the great hall, noticed the delay and the lack of a partner for you. She furrowed her eyebrows, puzzled by the situation.

The murmurs and whispers from the audience grew louder, filling the air with a sense of suspense. Just as the whispers grew even louder, Fred's gaze fell upon you.

His eyes widened in shock upon seeing you standing alone, looking visibly upset. He exchanged a worried look with Lee, who looked just as concerned. Fred's heart ached seeing you alone up there. 

Fred's mind raced, torn between his conflicting emotions. He wanted to charge up onto the stage and take your place as your partner, but something held him back. He looked at Lee, silently pleading for advice.

--- cue: That's the Way I Loved You by Taylor Swift ---

Fred couldn't bear the sight of you standing there alone, feeling more helpless by the second. He shot a determined look at Lee, silently letting him know that he had made up his mind.

Without another moment of hesitation, Fred pushed past the other couples and walked confidently toward the stage.

The murmurs in the audience grew louder, watching the unexpected scene unfold before them.

It felt as though time slowed down when you watched him approach you, your gazes fixed on each other, drowning out everyone else in the room. As Fred approached the front of the stage, his heart thumping in his chest, he met your worried eyes. He offered you a reassuring smile, silently letting you know everything was going to be alright now. 

Fred took his position beside you, the audience watching in stunned surprise as the change of plan unfolded before their eyes. Fred glanced at you once more, his eyes brimming with a mix of concern and determination.

You smiled at him, relieved, comforted, excited, all at once. Fred smiled back at you, mirroring your own excitement and relief. He offered you a wink, trying to lighten the moment a bit. "You didn't think I'd let you dance alone like this, did you?" "The steps..do you...?" You smile widely but was worried he might've forgotten the steps.

Fred chuckled, noticing your concern. "Please, I've been watching you guys practicing for ages. I know these steps as well as I know the back of my hand."  You smile widely...it was him. Fred, your Fred that you would be dancing with.  Fred grinned in return, loving the look of joy on your face. He couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement himself. He had dreamt of dancing with you like this for so long, and now here he was, finally getting the chance.

As the music started, you and Fred began moving in perfect sync, his strong hands effortlessly leading you through the steps of the dance.

The worry and uncertainty from earlier melted away, replaced by a feeling of pure magic as the two of you danced together on the stage. You gazed into his eyes lovingly, blushing, your heart beating faster because of how close your were.  Fred's eyes met yours, his heart racing with every step you took together. He was acutely aware of how close you were, the feel of your body near his sending his body into heat.

He could practically feel your heart beating as fast as his own. He tried to keep his composure, concentrating on leading you through the dance, but the way you looked at him made it incredibly difficult. As Fred pulled you closer, your bodies now almost pressed up against each other, he couldn't help but smile. Your shy smile sent his heart into a frenzy, making the dance even more thrilling.

As the music came to an end, the great hall erupted in a chorus of loud cheers and applause. You and Fred stood side by side, panting slightly from the exertion.

Your hearts were still racing, the excitement of the dance lingering in the air. Fred's hand was still holding yours, a warm smile on his face as he looked at you.

"I love you." Fred suddenly said.

"What?!" You responded, over the loud yelling and cheers. "I said, I love you." He confessed, stepping closer cupping your cheeks tenderly, "I always have Y/N. You're the only thing that's been on my mind for awhile now. Merlin, you consume my thoughts 24/7, I just, you're the best thing that has happened to me and I-"

You cut him off with a passionate kiss, meeting his lips with gentleness.

Warmth blossomed in your chest, sparks igniting as your lips brushed together with Fred's, for the first time. The smell of his cologne, was dizzying, electrifying, sending butterflies in your stomach.

His lips soft and gentle against yours, they were gentle, the way he was gentle with you, the way he cared for you spoke volumes through this kiss.

The both of you pulled away, he leaned down, resting forehead to forehead and grinning widely. "I love you too, Fred Weasley."

[bloodb3nders]

dvd 002: cardigan.

| toshinori yagi (all might) x fem!reader |

wc: 3.6k

content warnings: same as masterlist

a/n: why is this lowkey goblet of fire core

NOW PLAYING: cardigan t. swift

when you are young, they assume you know nothing

you knew that toshinori yagi will easily become the number one hero. after all, he was easily one of the most powerful kids in your class, smile constantly painted on his face through all trainings, good and bad. even when he'd pushed himself to the brink of exhaustion, he would still shoot you a smile and a thumbs up. even when he didn't win, when he failed, he never ceased to let his upbeat energy die.

but that's not what you made you fall so head over heels for him. no, not the smile everyone got to see, not the bravado you knew he put on when he was scared. but for all those moments in between. the moments where it all falters, and you see him. not all might, but toshinori yagi, the boy who wouldn't leave you alone after your first day of UA, the boy who was constantly trying to make you smile. the boy who shared his hopes and dreams, but also his darkest fears and untold secrets. the boy who makes you run around outside with him when it's raining in the dead of night, dancing in that white t-shirt he fills out almost a little too well, and his old, tattered jeans he refuses to get rid of, no matter how many times you tease him for it.

to most people, they wouldn't be able to catch it. they wouldn't be able to catch the look behind his eyes when he's in a tough spot, to see all the gears turning in his mind, before he shifts back to the boisterous hero he's promised you he'll turn about to be. at first, towards the end of your first year, you felt his radiance, and you wondered if he'd ditch you, now that he was in the spotlight. everyone wanted to be friends with him, because it was obvious to anyone with eyes that toshi was built for greatness.

"you don't have to sit with only me at lunch y'know," you had spoken once, towards the last month before final exams at the end of your first year.

"why would you say that?" he'd responded, voice soft and low, surprise written all over his face, and his face scrunched slightly, as if what you'd said had hurt him.

"well, i know so many people are dying to just talk to you toshi. i'm just saying, you don't have to only hang out with me, y'know? i'll be fine on my own, promise," you'd replied, not daring to look at him, opting to twirl with the end of your uniform skirt instead.

"y/n, i choose to sit with you because i want to. besides, you always wanted to be my friend, even from before people knew what my quirk was," he said, his voice firm, and you glanced at him, looking into his eyes.

"you're my best friend, so of course i'm always going to want to hang out with you," he added, and you smiled at him.

"thanks toshi."

and after that, you were pretty sure you'd fallen for him right there and then.

"dvd 2 it titled UASF, no clue what that stands for," izuku midoriya spoke, popping in the second dvd, the whole of class 1-a on edge as they mumbled in excitement over seeing what the next disc would hold, as the tv flashed to life. UA Sports Festival, appeared in big blue letters, and a grainy image of the UA stadium appeared on the television.

"oh! U.A. Sports Festival! that makes so much sense," momo yaoyorozu spoke as the television flickered, introducing the festival. old heroes, some known and some unknown flashed across the screen, as the students watched the familiar event unfold. despite the decades difference, it was set up mostly the same, three main events, the first two being group events, and the last being duels to determine a winner. the first even began, and the screen flashed to a bunch of students standing on the rim of an expansive lake, all wearing what seemed to be some sort of breathing device on their mouths.

a timer flashed on screen, signaling a countdown as the students seemed to brace themselves to jump into the lake. the students quickly spot a head of familiar blonde hair, as all might stands at the front of the pack of students. "there's that girl again!" mina points out, and there you stand, next to him, a determined look on your face as you prepare for the first event of the sports festival. suddenly, a loud buzzing went off in the air, and dozens of UA students jumped into the lake, and the scene shifted to the numerous underwater cameras planted in the expansive lake.

class 1-a watched on as the students started swimming deep underwater, and as the first set of obstacles appeared. some sort of underwater robots approached them, shooting out ropes to attempt to capture the students. they watched as several students were easily captured, flotation devices immediately activating and sending them to the top, rendering the students unable to compete. cameras flashed around to several more students swimming through the murky depths, avoiding the mechanical tendrils that shot out like underwater lightning. however, it was you and all might who caught their attention the most. despite it being a free for all, you two were relatively close to each other, moving in perfect synchronization, a reflection of your years of training together.

"look! they're helping each other!" ochaco gasped, pointing at the screen as you and all might seamlessly deflected robot attacks while maintaining a constant speed through the water.

the cameras followed as all might powered through a cluster of robots with raw strength, his quirk creating powerful currents that pushed you forward. you suddenly took to the spotlight, using your quirk to manipulate the water around you. you redirected the water around you while simultaneously lifting debris out of your path without even touching it.

suddenly, out of the corner of your eye, a large mechanical octopus-like robot cornered you against some underwater ruins. before it could shoot out a net at you, all might was there in an instant. he created an opening for you, and in an instant, the mechanical robot immediately began pummeling towards sea level, and you raised it up, before bringing your hands down, slamming it down onto three other approaching robots.

"damn, mystery girl is powerful," kirishima breathed, and even bakugo looked somewhat interested despite himself. "she's moving all that stuff without even touching it! her quirk is crazy!" kaminari added.

as the first event progressed, more obstacles appeared. underwater mazes that shifted and changed, pressure zones that could crush someone if they weren't careful, and whirlpools generated by massive mechanical devices. through it all, all might maintained his spot as leader of the pack, but you stayed close behind, using your telekinesis to move through the water with an almost supernatural grace, never falling below fourth place. you were not to be underestimated, that was for sure.

the most impressive moment came when a section of the underwater course began collapsing. massive concrete pillars started tumbling toward a group of struggling students. without a moment's notice, you threw out your hands and caught all six pillars, holding tons of concrete suspended in the water while the other students swam to safety. class 1-a watched your face twist in exhaustion, but despite how strained you look, you pushed forward, refusing to give up an inch of ground to your fellow classmates.

the finish line soon came into view. a glowing archway at the far end of the lake stood, welcoming the students. all might burst through first, water cascading off him as he surfaced with a smile that blinded. you emerged seconds later in third place, just behind a student with a speed quirk who'd barely edged you out in the final stretch. the announcer's voice boomed out, listing off the winner as the camera panned to show him helping you out of the water, his hand lingering in yours just a moment longer than necessary. as soon as you saw the camera come into view, you offered a shy smile to it, throwing up a thumbs up.

class 1-a watched on, completely absorbed, as the scene shifted to the second event of the sports festival.

"the second event will test your strategic thinking and combat coordination!" the announcer continued as the camera showed the students being divided into teams of four. "teams will face off all together in direct combat scenarios. each member is given a number, an amount of points based off how they placed in the previous event. the four teams with the most amount of points advances to the final round!"

the students watched as their teacher was immediately swarmed by classmates wanting to team up with him. after all, very unlike how this same scene unfolded at their own sports festival. but all might was incredible strong, and in this case, being on the strongest student's team seemed like a guaranteed path to the finals. as numerous voices called for him, his eyes glanced passed them, landing on you, awkwardly rubbing your arm as you looked around in search of people who'd be willing to team up with you.

your name slipped from his lips, and your body betrayed you, head perking up in and instant as you locked eyes with him, a brief moment of toshinori on display for you, and only you. "you really didn't think i wasn't going to team up with you? i'm offended if you did," he joked, gripping his chest dramatically, which made you smile in amusement.

"we've been partners for two years straight, don't you want to switch it up?" you offered, insecurity pooling in your chest as you tried to drive down your feelings. him wanting to partner up with you didn't mean he wanted you. not like that.

"no one else i'd rather fight with, mind reader," he said, your nickname falling from his plush lips that taunted you so.

"fine, we can team up," you said softly, and he grinned at you. you approached two other students who'd been overlooked in the initial team-picking frenzy. a quiet girl with a barrier quirk and a nervous boy whose quirk allowed him to turn invisible.

"an interesting team composition," the old commentary crackled through the footage. "the number one has chosen more of a support team rather than going for full power!"

the battle arena was elaborate, including a multi-level urban environment with buildings, bridges, and plenty of cover. all teams would enter simultaneously and attempt to steal each other's headbands with their number of points. combat was allowed, so if you got ko'd, you were automatically down. the catch? if one member of your team went down, you were automatically eliminated.

"it's like they can just predict each other's moves" momo observed as the camera followed your team through the opening moments of the second event.

all might took point as expected, drawing attention with his usual bravado and strength. but what made class 1-a lean forward in amazement was watching you control the entire battlefield from behind the scenes with your quirk. while all might engaged the strongest opponents directly, you were lifting your invisible teammate to high vantage points, all the while moving your barrier-quirk teammate's shields to block attacks from multiple directions. between that, you were hurling debris at enemies who thought they were safely out of reach. it was safe to say, you were amazing.

"she's fighting like four people at once," midoriya whispered in awe as the camera captured you deflecting three separate attacks, eyes glancing around to your teammates.

the cameras showed other teams struggling with to work together. some team members getting in each other's way, losing track of each other, failing to realize when they had the upper hand. but your team moved like extensions of your will, quite literally in some cases, as you used your quirk to guide your teammates' movements and enhance their success.

with three teams out of the running, tensions heightened as your team attacked against two other teams simultaneously. a student with an explosion quirk was raining down destruction from a rooftop while his teammates attacked from ground level. they'd figured out you were running the operations part of your team, and two of them charged at you while the other two made a move to take out toshinori.

with a harsh crinkle in your brow and a look of unshakeable determination written across your face, you threw your arms out in front of you. quickly, you lifted chunks of rubble to create a spiral staircase in mid-air while toshinori ran up it at full speed. your barrier-quirk teammate quickly created a large shield around the two of you, rendering the explosions useless. you shot your right arm out to the side, raising up your invisible teammate who came down with a sickening crunch, delivering a surprise attack from above onto the second attacker. another thwack sounded from the air as toshinori reached the explosion user, effectively knocking him out and taking his headband.

as just five teams remained, class 1-a could see the exhuastion emanating from the students. all might was facing off against the a team composed of pure strength and power. he was quickly attacked by a student with a strength quirk near to his own. the two were trading devastating blows that shook the entire arena, but, to his students' shock, he was slowly being pushed back.

you grunted in pain as your head throbbed with every object you moved. your attention quickly snapped to toshi as he took a sharp punch to his jaw, and your heart fell to your gut as you watched him wince in pain. without thinking, you quickly flung your opponent out of your way, and made a mad dash towards toshi. although you had trained defensively with your quirk far more than offensively, you launched yourself at the strength quirk villain, and unbeknownst to you, your quirk leveled up ever so slightly.

with the determination of a girl trying to save the boy she had a hopeless crush on, which is not to be underestimated, you threw yourself at him, feet first, connecting with his side and blowing him away.

a bell rang out across the arena, signaling the end of the match, right as you stumbled a bit, only to be stabilized by the calming hand of toshi at your side.

"don't worry about me," you said softly, eyes meeting his dazzling blue pair as worry etched into his face.

"team one consisting of toshinori yagi, y/n l/n, xx, and xx, have won with an amazing amount of points!" a voice boomed out as the arena erupted in cheers.

"and now, the moment you've all been waiting for: the final event! individual duels will now be held to determine this year's sports festival champion!"

the tournament bracket appeared on screen, showing the top sixteen students who'd made it through both previous events. all might's name sat at the top of the bracket, while you were seeded fourth.

class 1-a watched on as you stepped into the arena to face your first opponent.

your opponent was the speedster who'd beaten you to second place in the underwater event. he was cocky, and clearly underestimating you. the match was over in under two minutes. the moment he tried to rush you, you threw a hand out, stopping him mid-charge, holding him suspended in the air for a few seconds before gently placing him outside the boundary ring.

"did she just... catch him?" kaminari asked in disbelief.

the second match was more challenging for you, as you were pitted against a student with a duplication quirk. but you were patient, using your quirk to lift all of them up in the air, and you sensed which one actually weighed the most, and quickly slammed him down into the ground, effectively ko'ing him.

meanwhile, all might was blazing through his side of the bracket, though class 1-a caught him glancing toward your matches every so often when the cameras panned towards the student section.

"the semifinals!" the commentator announced as the bracket narrowed down to four students: all might, you, a girl with a powerful energy projection quirk, and the student with the barrier ability from your team.

your were pitted against the energy projector, and it was the most visually spectacular fight yet. she fired devastating beams of pure energy, and you barely deflected them with rogue debris, trying to get close enough to grab her with your quirk. the arena floor became a warzone of craters and floating rubble as you two went all out.

in a sloppy move, you accidentally left yourself ungaurded, and a rogue beam of energy hit you square in the chest, almost pushing you out of bounds if you hadn't forced stopped yourself. head woozy, you looked up, watching as she readied another beam of energy, and you threw your hand out, putting all your focus into the beam, and redirected the blast back at her, pushing the girl out of bounds.

you were breathing hard and clearly exhausted, having pushed your quirk to its limits. "shit, i'm gonna die next round," you muttered to yourself as you made your way off the arena's square.

the other semifinal was far more anticlimactic. all might easily defeated his opponent, one smash and he was out.

the final pairing was all might against you, and boy was class 1-a invested in how this match would go down.

you stood across from all might in the center of the arena, both of you showing the wear from your previous matches. however, it was clear to the eye that you looked far more exhausted than the future number one hero.

"no holding back," you called out, voice hoarse, but still full of determination and excitement.

"wouldn't dream of it, mind reader!" all might called back, bumping his fists excitedly as the match began.

all might flew at you with incredible speed and power, but you'd been watching him fight for two years now, you knew his patterns, his technique, his ultimate moves. you moved into a defensive stance, ripping up the ground in an attempt to allow the debris to slow him down so you could build up some sort of attack.

however, all might continued charging forward at you with a devastating force, while you responded by hurling massive chunks of the arena itself at him or trying to catch him directly with your quirk. however, it was clear he knew your boundaries too, and you needed to be within five-ish feet of someone to catch them. he kept using air waves to push you back, and you found yourself barely making up any ground toward him.

"she's actually managing keeping up with him," shoto spoke, voice monotone as the camera captured you managing to grab all might's ankle mid-charge, sending him stumbling just long enough for you to launch a counterattack.

but, the difference in raw power was undeniable. your telekinesis was incredibly versatile, but it had limits, and all might's strength seemed boundless. as the match wore on, you began to show signs of the mental strain that came with using your quirk so intensively. every so often, you'd rub your temple, and you could feel your head pounding as you tried to concentrate on what toshi would do next.

a particularly powerful smash from all might shattered the entire section of arena floor you'd been standing on, and you were launched up into the air, flying backwards toward the boundary. surely, the match was about to end. with a cry of pure determination, you used your telekinesis to stop your own fall, suspending yourself in mid-air above the boundary line. then, in a display of power that had the entire crowd hollering, you began lifting and hurling every piece of debris in the arena at once.

"she's going, plus ultra," midoriya whispered in awe as rocks, concrete chunks, and metal fragments filled the air in a telekinetic storm centered on you.

for a moment, even all might looked genuinely concerned as he found himself in the middle of what was essentially a localized tornado of debris. but then, he smiled, that bright, invincible smile, and launched himself straight through your telekinetic storm with a jump that cracked what remained of the arena floor.

your quirk was a feat, but you couldn't stop the concentrated force of all might's most powerful attack. the collision of his punch against the debris created a hail storm of concrete as it all came pouring down on you, too much for you to stop all of it, as you were covered in rubble and chunks of rock. when the dust settled, you were unconscious, the upper half of your body free from the rubble, but your legs trapped under some concrete.

"TOSHINORI YAGI WINS THE U.A. SPORTS FESTIVAL!"

the crowd erupted, but the camera stayed focused on all might as he immediately jogged over to you, lifting off pieces of rubble from your body, pulling you out from the cocoon of concrete.

"come on, y/n, wake up!" he willed, and your eyes fluttered open, giving him a weak smile.

"remind me never to pick a fight with you again," you said weakly, and he chuckled, helping you up to your feet.

"what a sports festival!" the announcer boomed medics arrived to check on you and confetti rained down from above.

the screen flashed to the medal ceremony, as all might stood on the top podium, and you on the second-place podium looking tired but proud, a small bandage on your forehead from overusing your quirk.

"hey," toshi called out to you, as the two of you sat on a bench, enjoying some strawberry mochi after the sport's festival had come to a close. you turned your head towards him, capturing his features as you savored the moment around you.

"i always want you by my side, fighting with me," he said firmly, and you couldn't help the smile that broke onto your face.

"always is a long time, toshi," you responded, and he snorted.

"always and forever then."

and when i felt like i was an old cardigan, under someone's bed. you put me on and said i was your favorite

taglist (4/50): @pixelcafe-network @mjuhgydxf @musclefanatica @dick-blender

[my-rewrite-academia]

Week Four

At the start of the week, students who previously had complaints about their costumes are given their new and improved ones! Again, most of these are only changed in small ways, such as removing heels, Ochako's belt being higher, and so on. Momo, Rikidou, Tooru, Minoru, and Kouji have major redesigns:

Momo - A black sports bra, with a short, red cape over it. Black hot-pants, with the button undone just enough to show her black biker underwear. Red boots that travel only to just above her ankles. A smart-watch that holographically shows her anything she searches. And a red strap on her thigh holding emergency rations.

Rikidou - A hoodie, with a beige base but topped with pink dye and white dots, resembling a cupcake. Dark-brown, baggy trousers/pants. Dark-brown boots half-way up his calves. To top it all off, a baby-pink apron with a zipper pocket full of sugar sticks.

Tooru - Not much to say. It's a blue latex suit infused with her DNA so she can bend light-waves around it, making so she can trigger her invisibility, so to speak, and not walk around naked.

Minoru - Same mask/helmet, but his yellow scarf is now a cape, and his bowl/diaper thing is now proper, baggy trousers, with the same dotted design on the seams. He also has a slingshot infused with his DNA to help fling his balls further.

Kouji - Completely different. A green tunic with the sleeves cut off just below his shoulders, and a brown, long-sleeved shirt underneath. Fur in his collar, spreading out. A brown sash tied around his body, with a bag hooked onto it full of animal food. Baggy, dark-brown trousers, and knee-high, lace-up boots. Desaturated, yellow gloves. And a crown made of sticks and leaves atop his head.

Those are the major redesigns.

-

The students get a few days to become used to their new costumes, testing how it feels to engage in combat and use their quirks against dummies, gaining a much more positive result than before, with many agreeing that it's a good thing to have changed now, because the quirk battles begin on the last day of the week!

These battles are done in a controlled environment - in an outdoor training area with no obstacles and a steady field. Because they need to learn how to use their quirks in combat first before they do any scenerio-based ones in an enclosed environment.

Aizawa is there to shut off anyone's quirks if they go too far or lose control, and to make sure All Might matches people up well.

Instead of drawing a lottery, All Might, for the entire week before, had been deliberating on how to go about this. How to pair them up. Who would work best against each other. How to make this fair.

It's clear he's put a lot of effort into this, but is still somewhat scared, unsure of if he's made the right choices. Nevertheless, he goes ahead with it.

Each duo will fight, and the successor will go onto fight in the next round, which Aizawa will decide on the match-ups. Due to Bakugou being unable to participate, one person will automatically be put into the second round.

The battle ends when one leaves the boundaries, someone gives up, or the teachers intervene.

Round 1 - START!

Aoyama Yuuga vs Tokoyami Fumikage:

Light vs Darkness. The match-up is well-thought out, however, All Might forgot to take into account the drawbacks of Yuuga's quirk.

Yuuga puts up a good enough fight, with the light given by his blasts quelling Dark Shadow, making it hard for them to hit him. However, with his drawback - that of making his stomach hurt - it doesn't take long for Dark Shadow to strike him, and Fumikage wins.

Winner: Fumikage.

Ashido Mina vs Asui Tsuyu:

Frog girl vs slip-n-slid... Except, Mina can do a bit more than slip and slide with her acid.

It looks as though Tsuyu is winning at first. While Mina is acrobatic, Tsuyu's frog mutation make her far more flexible and swift, confusing Mina and allowing her to strike first and dodge with ease. But, with each hit, Mina coats her exposed skin with acid, which hurts Tsuyu with each attack.

They're both hurting, however, it ends when Mina begins to spin, spewing acid as she does. Random as it is, the acid lands on Tsuyu, burning her some more, and she accepts defeat, escorted by Yuuga to Recovery Girl to heal her burns.

Winner: Mina.

Hagakure Tooru vs Shouji Mezou:

The invisible girl against one with elevated senses. An even match-up. Props to All Might. Well, it would be. Had Izuku not analysed her quirk, that is.

The fight starts, and Tooru disappears. Mezou listens out for her, finding her scent, and does manage to find her, after a minute of nothing. He throws a punch, which grazes her. And again, and again. Always a hit that just-about connects.

But invisibility is not all Tooru can do. She has control over radiation, and that includes heat. So, the next time Mezou strikes, she grabs onto him, and bends the heat around them, burning his arm. And when she doesn't burn him, she's freezing him.

In the end, Mezou bows out, and Tooru stands victorious as Mezou joins Tsuyu and Yuuga in the infirmary. (They don't last long, going back as soon as Recovery Girl heals them.)

Winner: Tooru.

Iida Tenya vs Kirishima Eijirou:

An unstoppable force meets an unmoving object - that is what this fight is about! Super speed versus super durability!

Tenya strikes first, fast, aiming a kick at Eijirou's stomach, an attempt to end the fight sooner rather than later. But it's thwarted when Eijirou hardens his skin, leaving him uninjured. It's there that everyone realises: this is going to take a long time. A battle of endurance and stamina.

Tenya continues to attack, Eijirou mostly left on the defensive with how frequently Tenya hits. He manages to grab Tenya's calf, but is quick to let go when his hand meets the hot metal of his engines. Like that, he realises exactly how to end this.

With one last lunge, instead of kicking him, Tenya jumps on his back, apologises, then blasts his engines. Eijirou's skin may be nigh indestructible, but it's not impervious to heat. Unable to bear it, Eijirou surrenders before his skin dehardens, but is not burnt due to his quirk protecting him.

Winner: Tenya.

Jirou Kyouka vs Kouda Kouji:

A fight between sound and nature's friend. As this is taking place outside, there are plenty of wildlife Kouji can call upon.

Although neither moved for a while, both as anxious as the other, Kouji finally makes the first move, screaming into the sky - at a flock of birds soaring overhead. They heed his call, diving towards Kyouka. She panics, of course, and attempts to fight them off to no avail, as her punches miss and their beaks peck into her arms.

A minutes goes by, and All Might is close to calling it off. Until Kyouka plugs her ears into her shoulder speakers and the resulting blast scares off the birds. Kouji tries to summon them once more, but his cries are drowned out by Kyouka's blasts. Kouji's ensuing panic is more than enough for Kyouka to make her move, punching him in the jaw, and he resigns.

Winner: Kyouka.

Kaminari Denki vs Todoroki Shouto:

Two elements at play here, people! Get excited!

Denki is nervous at first, as ice is a very poor conductor of electricity. And Shouto knows this - confident that he'll win.

And he does. Sorry, folks, but Shouto immediately ices over the floor, making Denki fall onto his front, and he gets up to be met with a spike of ice hovering just before him. Needless to say, he bows out.

Winner: Shouto.

Midoriya Izuku vs Yaoyorozu Momo:

Two weapons experts fighting against one another. This will be the swordfight of the ages, people! (Don't worry, their blade are blunted.)

Izuku and Momo face each other, both wielding their blades. A katana for Izuku, and a rapier for Momo. The second they're given the 'go-ahead', they lunge for each other. The tip of Momo's epee drives towards Izuku, but he meets it with his own blade, batting it away. And when she spins with it, just to slice at him once more, he uses his guard to block it, striking at her, only for her to dodge it completely.

At some point, Izuku knocks her epee out of her hand, and she quickly forms a baton, giving him the same treatment. Then he flicks his hands, activating a switch hidden behind his bandages. Kunais fall into his hands, and he blocks her attack.

The fights wanes on, people cheering them on from the sidelines, many confused on if they even want someone to win with how glorious the fight is.

But, of course, someone does win. Metal strikes metal, and a weapon falls to the ground. The one still equipped with one their trips the other over and hold their weapons to the fallen one's throat. They conceed.

Winner: Izuku.

Mineta Minoru vs Sero Hanta:

Long-range sticky man vs long-range sticky man. What to do?

After the previous match, both feel a bit of pressure. Of course, it doesn't match up as well, as the first half of their battle is Minoru throwing ball after ball at Hanta, and Hanta shooting tape after tape at Minoru. Both continue to miss.

After enough of this, Mina yells at them to get on with it, leading to Hanta diving in. Some of the balls hit him, but Minoru's head is bleeding at this point, so it barely affects Hanta as he shoots one last strand of tape, wrapping Minoru up and obtaining his victory.

Winner: Hanta.

Ojirou Mashirao vs Satou Rikidou:

Strength versus strength. Let's see how this works out.

The fight starts with Rikidou downing three sugar packets, enough to buff him but not enough for him to lose any IQ points. Mashirao rushes in, jabbing at him, only to be caught by Rikidou. Instead of panicking, however, Mashirao uses him as leverage, latching onto his arm and using his tail to strike Rikidou's side. Because of this, he's dropped, but he has his opening.

Mashirao strikes again with his tail, and Rikidou catches it. Lesson learned, he throws him afar as opposed to letting him climb him once more. Mashirao gains his balance easily, righting himself in the air, and he rushes at Rikidou, kicking up and striking Rikidou's chin.

The pattern continues. While Rikidou tanks a lot of the hits, it also means he's getting hit. Mashirao, far less hurt than him, lands the final blow, and RIkidou has to back out and retreat to Recovery Girl.

Winner: Mashirao

Now, Ochako is not paired up in the first round, due to All Might not knowing how to fairly match her up against someone, considering a single touch from her could end a match.

And thus comes the second round, with the losers returning from the infirmary and watching.

Round 2 - START!

Tokoyami Fumikage vs Sero Hanta:

Once again, two long-rangers - one with a more impressive battle than the other...

Yeah, this fight doesn't last long. Not with Dark Shadow cutting through Hanta's tape. In fact, many of the fights in this round don't last too long with natural advantages.

Winner: Fumikage.

Ashido Mina vs Iida Tenya:

Now. While this may sound like an even match-up...

Slip-n-slide.

It's trivially easy for Mina to spread a high-viscosity acid on the ground and make Tenya slip out of bounds. He's embarrassed by the fast loss, but he accepts it with pride and a red-face.

Winner: Mina.

Hagakure Tooru vs Todoroki Shouto:

Oh, Shouto wins for sure!

... Is what you thought I would say! Plot twist: yeah, Tooru can control radiation, as seen with her battle against Mezou, so it's very easy for her to just. melt the ice.

His pride is downfall, as Shouto expected the fight to end as easily as his one against Denki, but is so shocked by Tooru melting his ice, even as he struggles against her ridiculously strong push outside of the ring.

Winner: Tooru.

Midoriya Izuku vs Ojirou Mashirao:

Expert combatants. Their fight is as graceful as it is viscious, attacks barely missing, barely hitting.

Mashirao may have a tail, but Izuku has his weapons. They're evenly matched, and this battle is as intense as Izuku and Momo's match.

Alas, it has to end, and it does with Mashirao knocking Izuku's weapons out of his hands and throwing him out of bounds.

Winner: Mashirao.

Jirou Kyouka vs Uraraka Ochako:

A bit unfair, however, Kyouka is long-range while Ochako needs to get in close.

A lot less tentative than her first match, Kyouka starts off with a blast, aiming to disorientate, but Ochako uses her quirk on herself, shooting up to the sky, dodging it entirely.

Kyouka looks up, blinded by the sun, and recoils, just as Ochako drops, a hand reaching out to her. Ochako lands, as her hand does, and pushes Kyouka out of the ring.

Winner: Ochako.

Round 3 - START!

Due to the uneven numbers, instead of one-on-ones, all five of the previous winners are to gang up on Aizawa. While they're concerned at first, with Izuku pointing out that Aizawa works best in one-on-one fights, Aizawa doesn't budge, stating that no good hero is a one-trick pony.

And so, it begins.

Tokoyami Fumikage, Ashido Mina, Hagakure Tooru, Ojirou Mashirao & Uraraka Ochako vs Aizawa Shouta

Yeah, this is very one-sided. After all, Aizawa has had years worth of experience, whereas the students have had only this lesson.

Before anyone can really understand what happened, Aizawa has each of them out, with Fumikage, Mina, and Ochako out of the ring, and Tooru and Mashirao wrapped in his capture scarf.

"Power doesn't mean anything without skill," he says. Izuku watches with stars in his eyes and new notes to add to his Eraserhead entry.

(In the back, Bakugou is struck once more, as he watches this skinny hobo barely use his quirk to take down five with strong ones, or at least strong enough to beat the better half of the class. And he wonders if he's weak.)

-

Notes:

Momo and Izuku's fight was such a joy to think about, mainly because I love swordfights. It was a close fight, and they would draw if they fought multiple times

Ochako's quirk goes well against most - it's only really long-ranged opponents she has to look out for

Kouji, Rikidou, and Momo's outfits are my worst enemies in canon. There's no creativity in the former two, and Momo's is so unpractical that it physically hurts!!

-

Conclusion:

Quirk battles start!

New costumes are returned with much better reception

Izuku isn't immediately great at combat, though he is far from the worse

[loyaldeserter]

Approaching with a red, Black Eagles bandana tied around her left arm, Shamir offers a swift greeting as she adjusts the quiver of arrows slung over her shoulder. It's certainly a rare sight to see her somewhat willingly participate in a group event like this, but the chance to keep her skills sharp is too much of a good opportunity to pass up. Heath may not be joining in the fray, but it doesn't mean that she can't drag him into a tiny bit of the fun. "Hey," She calls to him softly, bow slung over her shoulder before she prepares to depart to the field of battle. "Want to spice things up a bit?" "I'll make a bet with you. Whoever guesses the correct winner gets to have the other pay for drinks for a night." "Blue Lions." Yes, she's fighting for the Black Eagles. Clearly, she doesn't care about that part. "Your move."

It's not that Heath is uninterested in the mock battle tournament, but between strenuous recent missions and no real loyalty, he figures watching will be his best bet. He might help out in the med tents, too. Keep an eye on things.

Shamir's got about as much house spirit as he does, evidently, betting against her own team like that. Heath chuckles, a grin on his face. Shamir always keeps things interesting.

"Yeah, I'm down." Hmmmm. If Shamir lacks confidence in her own team, that doesn't bode well. Heath hasn't paid a lot of attention to which students are in what house, really, but if she's going Lions and lacks faith in the Eagles, that leaves one option. "Golden Deer. Their name isn't even in the fight, I'll take the dark horse."

A firm handshake confirms the deal. Now to look at the matchups and figure out who he's supposed to root for...

[foxes-that-run]

The best birthday interview

The Interview published by Glamour Germany January 8 2013. Taylor went to Cologne from her birthday trip to The Lakes on 18 December 2012, Harry drove her to the Airport. (Translated from German) (x)

Taylor Swift in an interview: lucky child

Taylor Swift is currently really taking off in Europe. She was the big winner at the MTV Europe Music Awards with three trophies. It's not just musically that she's on the rise. Her first self-created perfume 'Wonderstruck' is also well received by her fans. We met the American singer for an interview and talked to her about her fragrance, her favorite make-up and the perfect day

We meet Taylor Swift in the library at Bensberg Castle. Her look fits in well with the setting. She is wearing a dark checked dress and looks almost like a college student. Her hair is side-swept in light waves, her bangs are straightened. Taylor Swift looks at us with large, darkly made-up cat eyes. She is in a good mood, she had her 23rd birthday the day before...

GLAMOUR: Happy belated birthday, Taylor! How did you celebrate your birthday?

Taylor Swift: I was in England and celebrated with some really lovely people. I also found out there that I was nominated for a Golden Globe for a song I wrote for Hunger Games. Unbelievable news! And then my new music video was shown for the first time on MTV, which I am so proud of. The song is called "I knew you were trouble". My birthday couldn't have been more exciting.

GLAMOUR: Would you describe him as perfect?

Taylor Swift: Pretty much. It was probably the best birthday I've had since I was about six years old.

GLAMOUR: You always look wonderful. How do you do it?

Taylor Swift: I think it's important to let your skin breathe. Often, when I have a day off, I don't wear any makeup at all. And when I do wear makeup, I prefer to use a tinted moisturizer instead of a regular foundation. I think it's better for your skin. One of my favorites is definitely Kiehl's.

GLAMOUR: And if you really want to put yourself in the spotlight?

Taylor Swift: Then I always use a black eyeliner and a good red lipstick. The eyeliner is called 'LineExact Liquid Liner' by Covergirl, it looks like a felt-tip pen and is really easy to apply. My favorite lipstick is 'Hot' by Covergirl.  

GLAMOUR: What other beauty products can you find in your handbag?

Taylor Swift: Definitely lip balm and perfume. I keep all my perfume samples in my handbag. I get them all from Elizabeth Arden, who we work with.

GLAMOUR: … like your perfume 'Wonderstruck'. What do you associate with the scent?

Taylor Swift:  'Wonderstruck' describes the feeling when you meet someone for the first time. It invites you to dream about how this encounter might develop. It's a really sweet scent.

GLAMOUR: How did it feel to create a perfume?

Taylor Swift: It was amazing how many different processes are needed to produce a perfume. You have to create the scent, come up with a name, take photos, design the bottle, design the packaging and so on. There is a lot of planning and decision-making involved. It was a lot of fun to be part of this process.

GLAMOUR: You often change your look. Sometimes you style your hair in wild curls, sometimes completely straightened.

Taylor Swift: I like to play with different styles. At the moment, I like the look I'm wearing today the most: sleek, light waves and straightened bangs. It's simply timeless.  

GLAMOUR: What do you do on bad hair days?

Taylor Swift: I either hide my hair under a hat or I put my hair in a ponytail. That always works.

GLAMOUR: Do you have a lucky charm?

Taylor Swift: I have a lucky number. My lucky number is 13. Whenever I see the number somewhere, I see it as a sign. As a sign that things are moving in the right direction and everything will be okay. For example, at the Grammys in 2010. We won four awards in one night, which was really crazy. I saw 13 over and over again, on street signs, on walls. Every time I looked at the clock, the time had something to do with 13. Even here, when I came to the library, I browsed through the books and picked up a book that had the number 13 on it. That shows that it stays that way, that I am really, really lucky.

GLAMOUR: You are really successful in Europe. How important is Europe and especially Germany to you?

Taylor Swift: Europe and Germany have always been very special to me. I love coming here. And if the album is successful, I'll have an excuse to come here again, visit my fans and play concerts. And I think it's so great that my fans learn my lyrics even though they speak a different language. That means so much to me.

[ohanny]

pit babe x tfln vol 2

way: i'm drinking until i'm someone else’s problem.

winner: did you put 9 pounds of birdseed all over my car?

sonic: you weighed it?

alan: is 36 too old to fuck a college student? THIS IS BOTH IMPORTANT AND TIME SENSITIVE.

north: nothing but goodness could come from two friends getting naked. just think of all the good advice and other things we could give to each other!

kenta: i told my therapist about the other night and he actually whistled and said ‘wow, that is not good.’

charlie: how many times do you have to sleep with a guy before you get him to kiss you?

babe: i had a dream i dropped the L word and immediately threatened to kill myself.

alan: you probably shouldn't be having nightmares about expressing affection.

kim: i’ve decided to see your threat against my life as you flirting.

sonic: taylor swift needs more songs about threesomes. i'm not sure she gets me anymore.

way: i’m trying to think of an appropriate time to say ‘when i suck other dicks they seem like training dicks compared to yours’ but i really can't think of a good way to say that.

pete: problem. drunk. stepbrother hitting on me again. help.

about winner: wow, when i’m done with him, he's going to have to pop his collar in necessity and not just douchery.

[natscqtorccio]

https://x.com/gardenare/status/1876976255200841768?s=46

And how about twins gryffindor yjm and slytherin karina fighting for ravenclaw genius kmj?? Imagine they are also both seekers for their respective houses or even chaser jm and beater k… one swift and agile another aggressive and relentless… kmj would be the prefect of her house actually and on a stellar path to become an auror!

They both have inflated egos so they think each of them is much more superior than the other and thus a clear winner of mj’s affection but she finds them both insufferable… (well not really but she is a tough cookie and is enjoying the attention of two of the most popular girls in school, even if she’d never admit it to anyone 😌)

i am here for this… STAR STUDENT AND FUTURE AUROR MJ… obsessed…

jdjsks tsundere mj 😭😭😭 gonna take them Ages to Break Down Her Walls and admit her feelings for them

[gngayul]

hi everyone and sorry for the late intro!! i'm august (he/they) and i've joined gaenari with both gayul here and @gnseohan! i should probably make a separate into post on him but realistically i'll only be monitoring one account at a time so. gayul is the big winner this time !

lmao anyway i don't really have a discord for rp purposes so i'm stuck in ims for now but i'll put a little detail about both muses under the cut and leave this as an open plot call for anyone!

CHU GAYUL:

gaenari native born & raised; for a quick family background she has upstanding parents, three (much) older brothers who have all moved out of town, and a younger brother (@gngaram) who is the black sheep of the family but her favorite brother by far.

her father owns chu's, a diner that's been in the town for decades and was originally founded by her grandfather. gayul currently works at the diner for her parents, kinda filling in wherever is needed; she's there most nights including tuesdays, when her mother takes over the restaurant and turns it into a soup kitchen with the help of her church. mrs. chu is quite religious, by the way.

gayul herself had different dreams, though... she wanted to be a singer-songwriter, even teaching herself guitar (and having previously suffered through childhood piano lessons that she didn't appreciate until later in life). her idols are taylor swift, olivia rodrigo, heize, iu, and similar female solo acts & creatives. unfortunately, that career has obviously not yet taken off and has been put on the backburner while she prioritizes her family.

while her older brothers all went to university and have very successful careers all over the country, gayul was never able (see: allowed) to pursue higher education, instead only earning her high school diploma before she was more or less expected to just take care of her family. her father is getting old and can't physically keep up with the restaurant like he used to, so gayul and her limitless loyalty stepped up to help out.

she sort of knows that the restaurant will be passed to one of her older brothers and that they'll likely sell it off or close it down once they inherit it. she's working hard and learning the ins and outs so she can hopefully change her parents' minds on that decision and make sure that chu's stays in the family for generations to come.

as you might be able to tell, her family is incredibly conservative overall with very traditional views especially regarding gender roles. for these reasons, gayul has not told anyone that she's been dating @jiyeongn since high school and is very much in love with her.

gayul's sensitive and emotional and overall incredible soft and gentle; i kinda describe her as a "new soul" and she's incredibly pure of heart; she's loyal to a fault and her family is more important to her than anything, despite the way they treat her unfairly based on her sex. she quietly works toward her own goals when she can but helping her family will always take priority, whether that's helping to mend bridges and make amends or physical labor in the sense of running the restaurant or practically raising her little brother (who's really only three years younger than herself).

POTENTIAL PLOTS/CONNECTIONS: former classmates? gayul was a good student, maybe old friends who don't understand why she didn't go to uni. regulars at the diner; she knows your order by heart and will give occasional freebies if you look like you're having a rough day. family friends or friends from her mother's church? the chu family has been a well-known family in gaenari for generations, so surely there's a connection there somewhere. one of her older brother's ex-girlfriends who she actually really liked and hoped they would marry... friends, rivals, etc., anything really!

KIM SEOHAN:

here he is... gaenari's golden boy... the pinnacle of success... a hometown hero with the pressure of everyone's expectations on his shoulders...

to make a very long story short, seohan was born blessed. first of all, he was a "rainbow baby", a miracle to his parents who had been struggling with fertility issues for a while. and he had the bad luck to be born handsome, and intelligent, and talented. but these are good things? you say; well, not when it creates the expectation that he will always be handsome and intelligent and talented.

basically, seohan's grandfather introduced him to baseball at a young age; seohan fell in love with the sport. he played little league, then joined his high school team, then eventually got a scholarship to play for a prestigious university in seoul where he was also studying athletic training (so when his sports career inevitably ended, he could still find a job in the industry somehow).

good luck stuck again and seohan ended up not finishing his studies; he was scouted to join the KBO (national baseball league) and found himself on the futures team (minor league/farm team) for the hanhwa eagles, close to home in daejeon. he might have only been a minor league player but he was good looking enough that he ended up being requested for sponsorships and endorsements, at least on a local/regional level, and garnered some amount of fame.

however. he was pulled up to the major leagues for his first game. he was projected to have his big breakout, to make a name for himself on a national level, but unfortunately he suffered a season-ending injury to his right knee; ruptured ACL and torn meniscus; he's already undergone surgery and has many months of physical therapy and conditioning ahead of him before he'll be on the field again. so that's why he's in gaenari; he's recovering with the help of his family while he waits to heal up for next season.

he originally planned to stay in daejeon and recover with the help of his girlfriend, but she left him shortly after his repair operation, saying she lost all attraction to him after seeing him "like that."

so while he's in town, his old high school coach convinced him to help coach the high school team he used to play for and encourage the kids who probably have dreams of making it big like him someday. he agreed only as a favor to his coach, and it's about the only thing that gets him out of the house these days other than physical therapy appointments and the occasional endorsement or sponsorship that still trickles in despite the injury, though on a much smaller scale than he had been reaching before.

oh, also, he's gay. no one knows that and he keeps it very close to his chest. he did love his most recent ex-girlfriend but he wasn't attracted to her either.

in terms of his personality, he's rather conservative/reserved and really thinks before speaking; he's incredibly conscious of his image and it's like his biggest fear is letting people down or disappointing them. he's a bit sullen right now because he's struggling with failure for what might be the first time in this life and he doesn't know how to cope with it yet. still, he tries to fulfill the "image" that the town must have for him; he smiles even though it's faked and forced, he's polite and kind to everyone, and he's been hitting the gym a lot to stay in shape as much as he can while still healing. he's on the quiet side normally, but he's capable of holding a conversation.

POTENTIAL PLOTS/CONNECTIONS: old rivals? people he pissed off in high school for supposedly being "arrogant" or something? seohan definitely could've come off that way though it wasn't intentional. fans who have been rooting for him since his kbo futures debut; old friends who he hasn't been good at keeping up with who might be mad at him for that now that he's back in town or oppositely understanding and just happy to hang with him again... i'd love a best friend for him who he can actually trust with everything since he keeps a lot of his true thoughts and feelings so private... again, anything really!

[cheesewritings]

Random Blurb I thought of last night

Erica Sinclair, future president of the United States of America, upon her graduation from Howard University decides to start a creative writing scholarship. The requirements? The student must be pursuing a degree in creative writing or something similar, and they must submit a 1000 word essay in the fantasy genre. Erica, Dustin, Lucas, Max, Mike (who whines the entire time because he’s a little bitch resulting in a swift smack upside the head from Erica), and Will all judge the entries. Applicant information remains confidential until a winner is selected.

Late one night Erica reads one of the top five entries on her own. As she reads, she pulls out an old worn out composition book. The cover is littered with doodles and quotes. She looks between the two pieces of writing and can't help but notice the similarities. "This is it" she decides. "This is the winner of the first scholarship." Erica sets the notebook and submission down on her coffee table and retires for the evening. The next morning, she calls up her friend Nancy to see about getting the front cover of the composition book scanned so it can be turned into a plaque presented to the winner of the scholarship.

Later on, at a high school graduation in San Francisco, Erica Sinclair is proud to present the Edward Munson Creative Writing Scholarship, to none other than Stevie Buckley, as her moms and favorite uncle beam from the audience.

[steadytrinitynexus]

WWDC 2025: Key Highlights for Indian iOS Developers

Focus on Developer Tools, Not Just Apple Intelligence While global attention is on Apple Intelligence, Indian developers are especially looking forward to enhancements in Xcode, Apple’s suite for developing apps across iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS.

Xcode Performance Matters

Akshat Srivastava, a winner of Apple’s 2024 Swift Student Challenge, highlights the need for:

Faster compile times

More stable simulators

Better SwiftUI preview reliability

He notes that even small gains can make a big impact on enterprise app development.

Need for iOS-Native AI Tools Srivastava also emphasized the potential of AI tools tailored for iOS workflows, which can address the limitations of general-purpose code assistants.

Excitement Around Unified Design Language

Developer Harshil Shah is hopeful about the rumored design unification across iOS and macOS.

A consistent UI/UX approach can simplify development and improve user experience across platforms.

APIs and Accessibility are Key for AI Integration Shah also pointed out that accessible APIs without hardware restrictions would significantly benefit the developer community.

Enterprise-Ready AI Experiences

iOS engineer Keshav Kishore (based in Tokyo, with Indian roots) sees the potential of on-device AI.

He notes tools like GitHub Copilot don’t always align with enterprise compliance needs.

An AI-native Xcode experience built and secured by Apple would be ideal.

SwiftUI vs UIKit: The Ongoing Transition

Mayank Gupta from Swift Anytime notes that SwiftUI adoption is rising, especially among startups.

However, UIKit remains dominant for legacy apps, showing a transitional phase in the developer ecosystem.

Growing Developer Engagement in India

Apple’s recent community events in Bengaluru signal more localized support.

Gupta emphasizes the need for more open developer engagement in India, home to one of the largest iOS talent pools globally.

Beyond the Headlines: What Developers Really Want While media focuses on AI and design changes, Indian developers are more interested in the hands-on tools that help them build, iterate, and ship better apps every day.

The Big Picture As WWDC 2025 unfolds, Indian developers are hoping Apple will deliver meaningful updates that boost efficiency, enable smarter development, and strengthen the ecosystem for years to come.

[reni-reads]

Reni Reviews

You Bet Your Heart by Danielle Parker

Finished: 1st September 2024

Genre: YA Romcom

May be for you if you like: Academic rivals to lovers, POC lead characters, discussion of family trauma, type A protagonists

Synopsis

Sasha Johnson-Sun might not know everything—like how to fully heal after her dad’s passing or how many more Saturdays her mom can spend cleaning houses. But the one thing Sasha is certain of? She will graduate this year as Skyline High’s class valedictorian.

At least, she was sure before the principal calls Sasha and her cute, effortlessly gifted ex–best friend, Ezra Davis-Goldberg, into his office to deliver earth-shattering news: they’re tied for valedictorian and the scholarship attached…

This outcome can’t be left to chance. So, Sasha and Ezra agree on a best-of-three, winner-take-all academic bet. As they go head-to-head, they are forced not only to reexamine why they drifted apart but also to figure out who they’ve become since. With her future hanging in the balance, Sasha must choose: honor her family’s sacrifices by winning (at all costs) or give her heart a shot at finding happiness?

Review

Let's cut to the chase: This book was right up my alley! Sasha is basically me at 18 lol - stubborn, an overachiever, dead father trauma, and excited about cute stationary - so it was extremely easy to relate to her as a person, and her specific struggles. Being a senior in high school is hard for anyone; balancing grades, friendships, relationships, and family issues just sucks okay. It sucks especially for Sasha, who imposes so much pressure on herself to be perfect all the time as a means to cope with her father's passing. This book touched upon this so gently and with quite a bit of humor as well - you can tell that Danielle Parker is a (former?) teacher who probably saw a lot of students struggle like this.

Ezra, Sasha's ex-bestie, academic rival and potential love interest was a pure cinnamon roll and as such a great foil for our closed-off protagonist. They had an amazing dynamic and and their (re-)connection over the course of the novel felt very organic. However, I will say that I somehow didn't quite catch the reason for their initial falling out in childhood, so that part was super lost on me. Could have been a personal issue though lol.

One thing I want to highlight explicitedly is the representation: Sasha is Blasian and Ezra is a Black Jew, and Parker paid tribute to the cultural aspects and dynamics that arise within these contexts. A lot of novels attempt good representation, this book actually delivers it!

The narration was pretty nice too, as it felt authentic and didn't fall into this weird cringezone of "adult tries to write about young people but doesn't know anything about young people".

All in all, it made for a swift, engaging and entertaining read with a little bit to be desired. Nontheless, I'd recommend this to anyone who likes a good YA romance and who believes they have to get external validation from grades (you don't!).

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Plot and Storylines: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Characters and Relationships: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Writing Style and Narration: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Setting and Worldbuilding: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Entertainment: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Other Books by The Author

Love on Paper

[vertechbd]

The Laptop Quest: A Fun Adventure for Everyone

Once upon a time, there was a girl named Mia. Her laptop was ancient—it groaned like a sleepy dinosaur and took forever to load anything. “I need something that won’t make me wanna scream,” she told me (her sibling, aka the “tech person”). And so, our wild laptop hunt began!

The “Homework Hero” Laptop

Mia’s first worry: “What’s the best laptop for students?”

I said: “Students need laptops that are light (like a cloud!), last through back-to-back classes, and survive oops-I-spilled-my-soda moments.” We checked out the MacBook Air (pricey but lives longer than a cactus) and the HP Pavilion Aero (cheaper, cute, and zips through tasks). Mia whispered: “The HP won’t make my backpack feel like a brick.”

The “Future-Proof” Laptop

Mia saw ads for “top-rated laptops 2025” and panicked. “Should I wait?!”

I giggled. “2024’s laptops are already magic! The Dell XPS 13 has a screen so clear, it’s like staring at a rainbow. The Lenovo Yoga 9i can fold into a tablet—like a high-tech origami! You don’t need a time machine, Mia.” She relaxed. “Okay, no waiting. Let’s go!”

The “Wallet-Friendly” Laptop

Mia’s budget screamed: “Don’t ruin me!” So we hunted for budget-friendly laptops.

The Acer Swift 3 was the winner—under $700, handles Zoom calls like a pro, and weighs less than a chihuahua. “But what about gaming?” Mia asked. Ohhh, that’s a whole new world…

The “Gaming Beast” Battle

Mia’s boyfriend wanted a gaming laptop comparison. “Which one goes vroom vroom?!”

We tested the ASUS ROG Zephyrus (slim, glows like a spaceship) vs. the Lenovo Legion 5 (thick but runs games smoother than ice). The Zephyrus is like a race car; the Legion is a monster truck. Both play Fortnite without lagging, but the Legion costs less. Mia grinned: “No more rage-quitting!”

The “Fancy-Pants” Ultrabook

Mia’s friend Lily wanted an Ultrabook review. “Something shiny and strong!”

Ultrabooks are the celebrities of laptops—thin, gorgeous, and powerful. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 feels like typing on marshmallows. The MacBook Pro 14-inch is for people who edit videos while drinking matcha lattes. Mia gasped: “Lily will sell her skateboard for that MacBook!”

The “No-BS” Buying Guide

Mia was overwhelmed. “Just tell me how to choose!”

I made a laptop buying guide even a 5-year-old could get:

What’s it for? Gaming? Get a beefy GPU. For essays? Save money.

Battery life: 8 hours = decent. 12+ = mythical creature.

Weight: If it’s heavier than your pet hamster, skip it.

Keyboard test: Tap it. If it feels like typing on rocks, run.

The “Speed Test” Drama

Mia asked about laptop performance tests. “How do I know it’s fast?!”

We did this:

Open 50 TikTok tabs. If it doesn’t freeze, it’s a champ.

Play a 4K cat video. If it’s smooth, the processor’s happy.

Copy a huge file. If it’s done before you yawn, the SSD rocks.

The HP Spectre x360 aced everything. Mia did a happy dance.

The End Mia bought the Acer Swift 3 (student life = ramen budget). Her boyfriend got the Lenovo Legion. Lily’s mowing lawns for that MacBook. And me? I napped for 10 hours.

Moral of the story: Laptops are like pizza toppings—pick what you love, not what others say. And maybe bribe your tech-savvy sibling with snacks next time.

[buzzleaktv]

Apple Announcing 2025 Swift Student Challenge Winners on March 27

When unveiling the WWDC 2025 dates today, Apple said that it will announce this year’s Swift Student Challenge Winners on Thursday, March 27. The Swift Student Challenge tasks students with creating an innovative coding project using Swift Playground or Xcode. This year’s event began on February 3, and Apple accepted submissions for a three-week period before judging began. Apple plans to select…

[maryschepherd]

Why Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince reminds me of Revolutionary Girl Utena [Part One]

TOTAL SPOILERS for Revolutionary Girl Utena

If you grew up in the 1990's in America you probably watched at least one Anime. Anime was hugely popular in America with shows like Sailor Moon and Pokémon. One of the lesser know shows that still managed to get an English dub was Revolutionary Girl Utena. I first learned about RGU reading Anime magazines.

Revolutionary Girl Utena was a passion project from Kunihiko Ikuhara who directed some of the early episodes of Sailor Moon. RGU deals with a girl named Utena who is a middle schooler at a prestigious school. She is constantly getting in trouble with teachers because she wears the boys uniform instead of the girls. In addition to wearing more masculine clothing, Utena also tends to be more of a tomboy than her peers. She attributes her boyishness to wanting be like the prince she met as a child who gave her a rose embossed ring.

One day Utena stops a boy from bullying a girl named Anthy in the school's greenhouse. The bully challenges Utena to a duel which Utena only accepts on the condition the bully will leave Anthy alone. The duel turns out to be a way bigger deal that Utena expected. After winning the dual Anthy tells Utena they are engaged. This freaks out Utena, but she continues dueling to protect Anthy from the other power hungry students that want Anthy's magic for their own ends.

The show deals alot with fairytales and how society views women (at the time in Japan Feminists were working hard to get more equality for women in the workplace simlar to the 9 to 5 movement in the US.) Also the show has quite a few LGBTQIA characters.

Ever since I first heard "Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince" the school and fairytale themes remind me of RGU. I have no real way of knowing, but there are so many simlarites to RGU that it makes me wonder if Taylor Swift watched the show. I'm going to compare the lyrics of MAATHP to RGU,

You know I adore you, I'm crazier for you

Than I was at sixteen, lost in a film scene

Waving at homecoming queens, marching band playing

I'm lost in the lights

I think that Taylor is relating to Anthy who lost her identity and agency to becoming a prized princess for her school (ae the music industry). It's not til Utena show up that she starts to think about what actually she wants.

American glory faded before me

Now I'm feeling hopeless, ripped up my prom dress

Running through rose thorns, I saw the scoreboard

And ran for my life (Ah)

Prior to Utena entering Anthy's life she is at the mercy of the weird wims of her abusive bother who owns the school. He once was a prince but now he has become a soulless demigod that just takes and takes from others. This has lead to Anthy losing her faith in humanity and herself. There is even a episode of RGU where Utena saves Anthy after a mean girl ruined her dress by quickly making a dress magically out of a table cloth. Also roses are constantly referred to in RGU.

No cameras catch my pageant smile

I counted days, I counted miles

To see you there, to see you there

It's been a long time coming, but

Over the course of the show Anthy and Utena slowly become friends, and later, more than friends. Anthy before Utena was very serious and solemn. Now that Anthy has a person she can trust, she smiles and laughs. It's implied that before Utena, Anthy was in an endless cycle of being engaged to current winner of the rose duels that just saw her as a means to an end.

It's you and me, that's my whole world

As Utena wins more duels over the course of the show she and Anthy become really close. They team up to defeat the other challengers for Anthy's hand as the rose bride.

They whisper in the hallway, "She's a bad, bad girl" (Okay)

Utena is considered a rulebreaker for not being as girly as her peers. Anthy is also considered tainted or damaged by her classmates.

The whole school is rolling fake dice

Play stupid games win stupid prizes

The entire school turns out to be an illusion that breaks down when Utena wins the final duel. RGU deconstructs classic fairytales and gender based biases.

It's you and me, there's nothing like this

Miss Americana and The Heartbreak Prince (Okay)

[See first use of the refrain]

We're so sad, we paint the town blue

Voted most likely to run away with you

Both Anthy and Utena have had difficult childhoods that they have unresolved trauma from. To end the constant dueling the girls must break free from the illusion.

[newspagesonline]

Apple has officially launched the 2025 Swift Student Challenge

Apple’s Swift Student Challenge is officially open, with participants vying for the top prize — an all-inclusive three-day trip to Apple Park. Swift Student Challenge 2025 is now open Just as it did in 2024, Apple will select 350 winners in total and, recognize 50 of them as Distinguished Winners for their “outstanding submissions.” Distinguished Winners will need to demonstrate “excellence in…

[bibberly]

Reblogging this one again because my coworker was talking about how she saw Taylor Swift before her first album came out at her local county fair for less than $10.

Everyone needs to start somewhere. Go see a local band for cheap, and maybe you'll be the teacher casually mentioning to your students that you saw their idol for less than the price of a Happy Meal while they're trying to get into a lottery to pay an exorbitant amount for a ticket.

(I once saw future Grammy winner Jennifer Nettles perform for $5 in a small club, but that doesn't impress the kids as much, alas.)

I think it’s funny when fans are shocked people saw mcr in 2005 for $20… like yeah you too can go see a future world famous band at a local venue for $20 right now