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fluentmoviequoter · 12 days

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Lonely in Misery

Requested Here!

Part 2 Here: Lonelier in Misery

Pairing: Tim Bradford x fem!paramedic!reader

Summary: Bailey notices that you're lonely and miserable while Nolan notices the same about Tim. They decide to set you up on a blind date, but it only ends with more sadness.

Warnings: mention of motorcycle accident, pure fluff (the title and summary are misleading, my bad)

Word Count: 2.0k+ words

A/N: @newobsessionweekly here's some soft Tim if you're interested🥰

Masterlist | Tim Bradford Masterlist | Request Info/Fandom List

“Let’s go!” your chief calls. “Motorcycle accident on Wilshire.”

You nod as you gather your equipment. Being a paramedic is stressful, but you work with an amazing team. It’s too bad you don’t have the same kind of community in your personal life. Working with your best friends is great until you can’t hang out or talk to anyone because they’re on different shifts.

“Single rider?” you ask as you climb into the ambulance.

“Dispatch didn’t say. Only called for one ambulance, so I assume,” your chief replies.

“Hey, maybe it’ll be a single guy and you can nurse him back to health and finally get a date,” your teammate in the driver’s seat jokes.

“Ignore him,” Bailey says, rolling her eyes.

“Ignore who?” you tease.

As the BLS rescue ambulance pulls out, you sit back in your seat.

“Are you okay?” Bailey asks softly.

“Fine,” you reply. “Just… I don’t know.”

“I get it. We, uh, we haven’t been able to hang out in a while. What have you been up to?”

“Nothing. Work, eat, workout, sleep, repeat.”

“Yeah, you’ve been kind of mopey.” She reaches her hand toward you and smiles when you lay your hand in hers. “This job is hard enough without being lonely. Why don’t you go on a date or just go hang out somewhere, meet somebody?”

You shake your head and brush off her concern with a half-true promise, “I’ll be fine. I’m looking forward to when our schedules give us time to be friends again. If I can get out away from Nolan, of course.”

Bailey smiles and rolls her eyes but squeezes your hand reassuringly. You know she isn’t convinced that you’re fine. Your job is more important, though, so you decide to focus on the motorcycle rider who needs your help rather than the empty home, the empty life you’ll go home to after your shift ends.

“Hey!” Tim yells harshly. “Socialize on your own time, boot!”

His new rookie ducks his head and walks quickly after abandoning his conversation. Tim has been grumpier than usual lately, and he’s taking it out on everyone in the station. When he yelled at Sergeant Grey, who only shook his head and told Tim to take a breather, Nolan knew what was happening.

“He’s lonely, right?” Nolan asks Angela.

“Incredibly,” she answers without hesitation. “It’s been worse, though, so his sports buddies must have gotten busy, married, something.”

Nolan nods. He has an idea, but he knows better than to suggest Tim go on a date where he could overhear or be told. As he walks toward his shop, Nolan makes a mental note to ask Bailey if she knows anyone who would be willing to go on a date with Mid-Wilshire’s resident grump.

“Do I look like I care about your engagement party?” Tim asks across the garage.

“Hey,” Nolan says as he walks into the house.

“Hi,” Bailey replies.

Nolan hugs Bailey and sighs against her.

“I need your help with something,” Bailey says.

“Anything,” Nolan replies as he steps back. “But I need a favor, too.”

“My best friend is lonely and needs a date.”

Nolan’s brows raise as he adds, “My coworker is lonely and needs a date.”

“Did we just plan a blind date in under thirty seconds? Are we really that good?”

“Depends. Is your friend interested in someone like Tim Bradford?”

Bailey considers the pairing for a moment but smiles as she pictures you balancing Tim and him providing an edge that you haven’t experienced in years.

“Oh, yeah,” Bailey decides. “She’ll be interested.”

“Great! Now I just have to convince him to actually go on the date,” Nolan muses.

“Good luck.” Bailey laughs before she realizes, “I have to get her to let me set her up too.”

“Well, if she’s anything like Tim, appeal to her misery.”

“Yeah, because it’s better than absolutely nothing and complete unhappiness is the perfect way to pitch a date,” Bailey scoffs. “I’ll get my friend there, and you convince Tim your way.”

“I hope this works,” they say together.

“What’d you do last night?” Bailey asks as you exit the locker room.

You step back in surprise at being ambushed the moment you arrive but recover quickly. “I made dinner, watched a movie, and went to bed. Why?”

“Because you’ve got a date tonight, so we’re switching it up.”

“Bailey,” you begin.

“No, no, hear me out before you decline. Please? I’m doing this as your best friend, I promise.”

“Okay,” you sigh. “Pitch this guy. But, Bailey Nune, if you say it’s Nolan’s brother Pete I will find a new best friend.”

“Oh, no. I love you, I would never do that. Besides, the whole point of a blind date is that I don’t tell you the guy’s name. But…” She raises her finger to emphasize as she adds, “Nolan and I both know him well and he’s a great guy.”

“You’re gonna have to give me more. I don’t want to go on a date just to say that I didn’t spend another night alone, Bailey.”

“Completely. I know you, though, okay, and this guy he’s- he can do and be everything you want. The romance, the connection, the best friend that is also your life partner, what you are looking for in a guy, this is it. I promise. And, if I’m wrong, I’ll bail you out of the date and I will clean your equipment for the rest of the month.”

You purse your lips as you think about her offer. She does know exactly what you want in a man, and you trust Bailey’s judgement. “Fine. I’ll go on the date.”

“Yes!” Bailey cheers as she hugs you. “I’m so glad. You’ll feel so much better after you’re not miserable and lonely anymore.”

“You should’ve been a motivational speaker,” you deadpan. “Now don’t mention it again until we get off. This can’t be the topic of conversation for the rest of the day; I’ll never live it down.”

“I’ll stay quiet and think of the perfect outfit for you,” Bailey says as she follows you into the heart of the station.

“Officer Bradford,” Nolan calls as he walks across the bullpen.

“Yeah?” Tim asks.

“I’ve got a proposition for you. Or a question, idea, whatever you want to call it.”

“Then spit it out, Nolan.”

“Right, yes, sir. Bailey has a single friend, and we want to set you up on a blind date.”

Tim’s face remains impassive as he shakes his head. “Pass. Ask Aaron.”

“No, Tim, I’m asking you.”

“And I’m not interested,” Tim argues.

“Look, you’re lonely and miserable, so you’re making all of us miserable. I know you – sort of – and I know this woman. She could be really good for you.”

“If you’re wrong? Because I think you are.”

“Then leave the date! You’re not losing anything more than a few hours.”

Tim takes a deep breath before he asks, “Why do you think she’d be good for me?”

“She can be the balance that you need, and she understands some of what we deal with daily.”

“Don’t tell me she’s a lawyer.”

“Oh, no, I know better than that. So… is that a yes?”

“It’s a hesitant yes,” Tim answers. “When?”

“Tonight.”

Tim nods once before he walks away to reprimand a rookie. Nolan watches him yell and hopes that he and Bailey are right. Because if they’re wrong and the date goes poorly, Tim will be worse in the morning.

You sit in the front of the restaurant and await your date. Bailey said he’d arrive after you. She never explained how you were supposed to find each other, though. As you watch people come and go, you grow discouraged. You shift your attention from the door to your hands. Several minutes pass before the door opens again, and you look up but don’t expect anything.

“Tim?” you ask.

You’ve seen Tim Bradford several times in passing. At wrecks, crime scenes, and various Los Angeles law enforcement meetings. He’s always been kind to you, and you remember that you may have mentioned finding him attractive to Bailey before.

“I’ll assume you’re my blind date, then,” Tim replies. He smiles as he adds, “I’m not as disappointed as I expected to be.”

“Wow,” you say through laughter. “If I’d known you were such a flirt, I would’ve asked Bailey to set us up sooner.”

Tim shakes his head, and you join his side as he gives his name to the hostess. As you walk to the table, a sudden awkwardness descends. There’s no good way to begin a conversation on a blind date, you realize. Tim takes his hand against the menu but looks similarly lost about what to say.

“I guess being lonely and desperate worked in my favor,” you joke.

“Oh, I can guarantee that I was lonelier and more desperate,” Tim replies. “Nolan used that to convince me to come tonight; said I was making everyone else miserable with my misery.”

The mood lightens with your playful jokes, and you smile at Tim.

“Since you’ve had to pull an arson suspect off me before, should we skip the small talk?” you ask Tim over your menu. “Or do this the normal way?”

“There’s nothing normal about this,” Tim comments.

Your phone buzzes in your bag, but the Are you still miserable? text from Bailey goes unread.

“Okay, I hate this,” you murmur as you set the menu aside. “Can I just sit beside you?”

Tim’s smile grows as he stands and offers his hand. Once you’re seated beside him, where you don’t have to lean across the table to talk, you don’t even remember the miserable feeling that led Bailey to set this date up.

Tim leans over to whisper, “I’m glad I agreed to the date,” and you move closer to him as you answer, “Me too.”

As you walk out of the restaurant with your hand in Tim’s and a joyful smile on your face, you don’t want the night to end.

“Same time next week?” you ask as Tim slows.

“What about the same time another day this week?” he suggests. “I had a great time, and I want to go out again. If that’s what you want, of course.”

You pull your phone out and hand it to Tim, ignoring Bailey’s text. He puts his number in and texts himself, so he has your number, too. You grow giddy, something you thought was a thing of your past.

“I think this is the best date I’ve ever been on,” you tell Tim as you begin walking again. “Thank you.”

“Nolan and Bailey are gonna take credit if we tell them the blind date worked,” Tim points out.

“Yeah,” you agree, drawing out the word. “But I don’t think I can hide how happy tonight made me. Not from Bailey, at least.”

Tim nods like he understands as you stop. You turn to face him, and he raises the hand that isn’t in yours to hold your cheek. There isn’t a question or doubt in your mind as you kiss Tim. What was supposed to be a date to cheer you up and get you back out of your mundane, lonely life is already becoming so much more. As Tim releases your hand to hold you and pull you closer, your entire world brightens. Neither you nor Tim are lonely, let alone miserable, with the prospect of a new relationship with one another. You pull back when you can’t stop smiling against Tim’s lips.

“Thanks,” you whisper.

“For what?”

“All of it.”

Tim smiles and brushes his thumb under your bottom lip. “If I don’t see you before Friday, I’m looking forward to our date. And I’ll pick you up at the fire station.”

“Are you sure about that?” you question. “Bailey will tell John.”

“They’ll have to learn sooner rather than later that there’s no room for them in our relationship.”

Your smile grows at our relationship, but you lick your lips to keep your excitement from showing. “They’re both born meddlers.”

“Let’s stop talking about them,” Tim murmurs as he leans in again.

Bonus:

When you arrive home, you see the text from Bailey and answer: More miserable than you can imagine. I’m going to sleep to escape it. Sure, you left off the part about being sad because the date ended, but she’ll find out soon enough.

#tim bradford x reader #tim bradford x y/n #tim bradford x you #tim bradford x fem!reader #tim bradford fic #tim bradford fluff #tim bradford imagine #tim bradford the rookie #tim bradford #the rookie x reader #the rookie abc #fem!reader #requests #hanna writes✯

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babyangelsky · 3 months

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BL Challenge 2k24 ✨Day 7✨

Hello and welcome to @negrowhat's 15 Day BL Challenge! Full challenge can be found here.

Favorite Villain: Korn Theerapanyakul

It isn't often that we get an actual villain in a BL. We have plenty of love rivals but those are rarely ever villains in the true sense of the word. We also have a large, unfortunate array of shitty parents and parental figures, some of which absolutely do fall into the villain category, but they don't deserve my effort or your attention.

But then we have Korn.

Korn is a villain. Make absolutely no mistake about that. This man has dedicated his life to playing 4D chess with everyone around him, including and especially his sons, and he's brilliant at it. There is never a moment where he isn't in control, there is never a moment where he hasn't thought at least five steps ahead, and he has very few blind spots.

What gets me—and what makes him that much more insidious in my opinion—is how he presents himself to the world.

♡ gif by @guzhufuren from this set

"This man, a villain? Never! He's just a nice, soft-spoken dad in a sweater vest! Sure he's a bit intimidating but he's in the mafia, it's to be expected. And just look at how accepting he is of his gay sons! He's looking at a photo of his son and his son-in-law and smiling, isn't that lovely?"

False!

Korn's image is perfectly curated and if you only look on the surface, from the outside that's exactly what he is: a nice dad and a respectable businessman. He's rational, calm, and level-head, especially when you compare him to Gun—which you can't not do. It's impossible to have a conversation about Korn without talking about Gun, who is absolutely just as bad and who I easily could've chosen.

The difference is that Gun's evil is overt and in a way, it's more...honest because of it. He's not out here pretending to be a good person or trying to be anything other than exactly what he is. What you see is what you get. However, I chose Korn precisely because of that insidiousness, because his evil appears so much more subtle but only when it remains in the shadows.

♡ gif by @kinnbig from this set

Because when everything gets brought to light? Hoooooo BOY.

This man kept his foster sister in isolation under lock and key for years after he killed her husband and took her away from her two little boys. Then he left those little boys in the care of a degenerate gambler and watched them sink further and further into debt. And that's only the thin end of the wedge! If we got into all the ways he fucked up his OWN boys, we'd be here all damn day.

Kidnapping on perhaps more than one occasion, a hit squad, Kim's entire personality, Kinn's emotional range, need I go on?

But getting back to Porsche and Chay, Korn could've helped them at literally any point but he didn't lift a finger until they grew up and became useful to him. He could've cleared their debts, paid for Chay's education, provided for them, kept them from getting remotely close to a situation were men were beating them and trashing their home. But he did exactly none of that because whatever sense of obligation Korn might have felt toward them absolutely pales in comparison to his need for control.

♡ gif by @kinnbig from this set

That's what this all comes down to: control. The world is a chessboard and everyone in Korn's orbit is a piece on it. He proposed an outcome for himself and he got it.

He made sure Kinn was cemented as head of the main family and found a way to cement Porsche as head of the minor family. He got rid of Gun and the threat he presented and succeeded in burying the truth of what happened to Porsche's parents with him, because the truth that Korn gave simply is not the whole truth. It never will be because divulging the truth means giving up control, and that is something he will never do.

I could literally talk for hours about Korn. He's a fascinating character. He's got so many layers. Bottom line?

Este señor es el mismísimo diablo. This man is the living breathing devil.

#BLChallenge2k24 #korn theerapanyakul #kinnporsche

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sweetvoidstuff · 5 months

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See you later, sweetheart II Cha Hyun Su x Reader

Cha Hyun Su x Reader

Summary: In the aftermath of a battle, the dimly lit staircase is charged with tension as Hyun Su's monstrous side emerges, questioning your loyalty to Hyun Su. You stand your ground, earning an unexpected shift in the monster's demeanor.

the first part, kinda ~~~~~ the next part, kinda

Masterlist

~~~~~

The atmosphere in the dimly lit staircase is heavy with the aftermath of the battle, the air thick with the scent of adrenaline and the metallic tang of blood. Hyun Su's spear leans against the wall, and you glance over at him, catching the blackened eyes that signal the presence of his monstrous side. His usual gentleness is eclipsed by the emergence of this alter ego. A shiver runs down your spine, having seen his blackened eyes only in passing until now. As you approach cautiously, his monstrous self smirks.

"Well, look who decided to stick around," the monster purrs, a flirtatious edge to its voice. "He must be something special to you to endure the chaos that is Hyun Su."

Your response was swift, your tone firm and scolding. "He fought to protect me. You should appreciate that."

The monster chuckles, its demeanor still confident. "Oh, I do. But let's be real, sweetheart. You've been hanging around a weakling. Why stay?"

Your response is swift, defending Hyun Su with determination. "Hyun Su isn't weak. He cares. He helps wherever he can. He protects us."

Before you can continue, the monster raises an intrigued eyebrow. "You really believe that, huh? Weaklings like him need protection, and you seem more than willing to provide it."

Undeterred, you stand your ground. "He's worth it. I won't abandon him."

A smirk plays on the monster's lips as it issues a veiled threat. "You've got spirit, I'll give you that. But don't think I won't get rid of you if you become a problem."

With a step closer, you declare boldly, "Good luck with that. I'm not going anywhere."

Unexpectedly, the monster's demeanor shifts, and its smirk transforms into a full-on smile. "Well, well. Quite the brave one, aren't you? Looks like Hyun Su has found someone who won't break easily. Maybe you're not so bad after all."

As the tension eases, the monster steps even closer, closely watching your every expression. Your confusion is apparent, along with your sweet smell that reaches its heightened senses. The dismissive attitude begins to shift, replaced by an acknowledgment of your resilience and, perhaps, an unusual fondness.

Before you can say more, the monster straightens its back with a chuckle. "We will see." Hyun Su's body slumps forward, and you instinctively catch him. The blackened eyes revert to their normal dark brown, signaling the return of the Cha Hyun Su you knew.

Hyun Su blinks, his eyes slowly returning to their usual dark brown. A flicker of fear and confusion crosses his face as he finds himself in your arms, the intensity of the moment bringing a sense of vulnerability. His breathing is uneven, and he stammers, "I-I'm so sorry. I don't know what happened. Did I hurt you?"

You shake your head, a comforting smile on your lips as you reassure him, "No, you didn't hurt me. Your... other side just talked, that's all. But we should probably get out of here before another monster finds us."

Realizing that he is still in your arms, Hyun Su's cheeks flush with embarrassment. However, rather than stepping back, he instinctively holds onto you, pulling you into a more intimate embrace. "Sorry," he whispers, his voice soft and genuine, "I just thought he could have…" unable to finish his sentence.

Your heart skips a beat at the closeness, and you smile, placing a reassuring hand on his back. The two of you stand in the dimly lit staircase, finding solace in each other's arms. The tension begins to melt away as Hyun Su's uncertainty transforms into a shared understanding. "I'm not going anywhere."

He steps back slowly, creating some distance between you two, and nods in agreement, blushing. "Y-yeah, you're right. We should go."

The two of you carefully make your way down the staircase, navigating through the remnants of the battle. As you walk, Hyun Su can't help but steal glances at you, his gaze searching for any sign of discomfort or fear. You catch his eyes and offer a reassuring smile, silently affirming the bond that has deepened between you.

The air between you becomes charged with unspoken words, a mix of vulnerability and trust. As you reach the bottom of the staircase, you glance back, making sure no lurking monsters are ready to ambush you. The atmosphere is tense before you walk back to the others. Hyun Su, still wrestling with the fear that his monstrous side instilled, speaks hesitantly, "I never wanted you to see that side of me. It's... unpredictable and dangerous."

You turn to look at him, offering a warm smile. "Hyun Su, you're not a danger. Your other side, it's a part of you, but it didn't harm me. I trust you."

As the tension from the encounter began to dissipate, Hyun Su's steps became lighter, and he glanced at you with a newfound warmth. "Thank you," he whispered, his gratitude echoing through the empty halls.

With newfound determination, the two of you continued your journey, navigating the labyrinth of dangers that awaited. The bond between you and Hyun Su, tested by the shadows of his monstrous side, seemed to grow stronger as you faced the challenges together.

#cha hyun soo #cha hyun su x reader #cha hyunsu #sweet home netflix #sweet home x reader #cha hyun soo x reader #kdrama #song kang #sweet home #sweet home imagines #hyun soo x reader #x reader #hyun su x reader #hyun soo #hyun su

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absolutebl · 7 months

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This Week in BL - A Lot Ended, Quite Bit Started, I got things to say about it all

Organized, in each category, by ones I'm enjoying most at the top.

Nov 2023 Wk 2

Ongoing Series - Thai

My Dear Gangster Oppa (Thurs iQIYI) 3 of 8 - This is just a great BL. So fun with few frills and paced nicely. Thai talent + Korean story is proving very harmonious for narrative flow. I’m delighted. I love that they don’t shy away from letting Tew be an actual violent criminal who is just gone and mushy for this one geeky cutie. Also I appreciate it when a show hangs a lantern on its own plot failing. In this case, the main character being drunk as a plot devise 2x in subsequent eps.

Twins the series (Fri GaGa) ep 2 of 10 - Love it. Love Spite and his chronic guilt over his younger brother, the golden child. Love that he is driven to repair for a past that no longer exists. Evil mom who cares more for what her son can do than that son, let alone his brother. The volleyball well…. erm. I played varsity (setter) so this is amusing to me but I’m not mad about it.

I agree that this Not Me just sports and pulp.

Last Twilight (Fri YT) 1 of 12 - JimmySea are back and is this... good? Do I like this? I don't have faith, GMMTV has been doing us dirty lately. But I think I like it! Why The Little Prince AGAIN? Ugh.

Middleman’s Love (Fri YT & iQIYI 1 of 8 - Domundi giving us an office comedy hyung romance staring TutorYim (Cutie Pie) with NetJames (Bed Friend) and LeoTai (Friend Forever) providing support. Lets hope they stick to only 8 eps. Buckle up, I got shit talking to type.

I warned ya out the gate that this is a Cheewin comedy, so tonally it could be very OFF, and boy howdy is it EVER off. There's a place this kind of show goes where it's so cringe it's visually rotten and this one went there out that gate. Also, I'm gonna say it because no one else has, Yim is not good in this role. Comedy is HARD to do and Cheewin isn't doing this green actor any favors. He's chewing the scenery like a woodchuck after a diet.

To be fair, Tutor isn't great either, but he's been given less rope to hang himself with. Mai is currently suffering from seme obscurity: the love interest's defining characterization being = tall and handsome. (Which is not characterization... agony... glares at Cdramas.) We will see if he gets a personality, but based on past work form this director and this writer, don't bank on it.

Frankly? I'm not convinced either of them are mature enough as a pair or as actors to carry something this abrasive and to stand up to Cheewin's visual abuse of our eyeballs. I think this is going to be a rocky ride. HOWEVER, because it has tropes I'm good with (as opposed to SCOY) I'm sticking with it for now but this is gonna be ROUGH going for everyone.

Backstory: This used to be a JimmyTommy vehicle before the pair split (also prev title Middle Love). Adapted from a Y-novel. I can actually see Tommy in this role very clearly and I suspect he may have been bettern(and I am more a TutorYim fan as a pair). Also I will likely be referencing SCOY a lot while watching this because SCOY is peak Cheewin nonsense comedy but with an incredibly strong lead pair, so comparisons will be drawn.

Absolute Zero (Weds iQIYI) ep 7 of 12 - Sigh. Linguistic negotiation but for sad reasons? It fascinating but it hurts. Look, the cast is very good I just don’t like the premise.

My Universe (Sun iQIYI) The Camp Fire ep 12 of 24 - Well that was extremely odd. I’m not sure how I feel about it. If it hadn’t had the strange framework and horror component and been just a simple BL story I probably would’ve enjoyed it. Why do the pulps always squander their best pairs? 5/10 New installment (Friends Forever) looks terrible and not BL.

Beyond The Star (Weds iQIYI) qp 1 of 8 - House of Stars meets Boyband. I am not impressed. Thailand just needs to leave everything music related to Korea. I’m enacting a ban. The framework on this is truly awful. The talent is not talented in acting let alone dance or song. I thought about sticking with it a few more eps but i putting in on hold. It’s too wooden even for me.

@heretherebedork I depend on you to report back. This is the kind of thing only you can watch. It’s like Cupid 2023.

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

A Breeze of Love (Korea iQIYI) 1-2 of 8 - previously know as Weather Forecast Love this one popped up in MDL's currently airing, and I was like, what what? Basically: Tsundere insomniac grump and his sunshine jock ex bestie (human sleeping pill) who now hates him. Basketball is involved and I love it.

It ended, are we sad? REVIEWS

Kiseki: Dear to Me (Taiwan Viki & Gaga)

Yes, we sad! Ai Di and his dumb oversized sweaters and flappy flappy sleeves are EVERYTHING.

Final ep? Nice that the elder gays got screen time, more of this please? Sides dominated this finale, matched outfits and all. Also I’m living for the Bless this Mess shirt. Finally Taiwan gave us lots of biting and a counter lift. It’s like they know me!

Quick pitch for KDTM?

The plot is totally ridiculous and slightly unhinged, but that’s normal for Taiwan. It involves all the tropes under a very casual framework of gay mafia gangs + food = love. Absolutely every character is queer. There’s a gum-ball machine of cameos, elder gay rep, great chemistry from all pairs, and a KILLER side couple. As a result Kiseki is a poster child for Taiwanese BL, and I happen to love Taiwanese BL. Bonus? They also managed to END IT WELL, which we cannot expect from Taiwan. 9/10 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Triggers for knife play, child abuse, lingering trauma. I found both platforms did not do a great job on subs, but I will give the edge to Viki for pure usability.

You Are Mine (Taiwan Viki & Gaga)

We are more disappointed than sad.

Far be it from me to extend this show, but we should’ve had 2 episodes of quality supportive boyfriends coping with family drama before the mom-confrontation climax and defense of the ESTABLISHED relationship. Baby's little speach had no power or impact coming where it did in this narrative, even though it was sweet. And while the make-out scenes were charming it mostly jsut felt like we'd squandered this pair. This last ep was good and rewatchable, but a series cannot be judged on its last ep alone.

Finally... could have used some side dishes. My vote? Lesbian secretaries!

Conclusion

I am sorry Taiwan, you know I love you, but I have to say it: this show was a mess of terrible pacing. And not a hot mess, sadly. I should have liked everything about this: it’s an office drama, it’s mature characters, it’s grumpy/sunshine, it’s a strong power dynamic, and it’s Taiwan - which means good chemistry. YAM was all those things and yet… something went horribly wrong with the narrative structure. You tried dears, but not hard enough. 7/10

Bump Up Business (Korea Gaga)

Well, poop. Don’t have them speak English. Also no playing drunk. Meanwhile, all the manipulative gay drama. No kiss of course.

How do I summate this?

An idol group did the best they could with a script tailored to idols but which they were not allowed to fully realize because they are active idols in the same group. Ultimately it felt a bit like OnlyOneOf were just doing one of those Kpop skits for a variety show were two of of them dresses in drag/gay/BL and "ha ha isn't it funny?" I don’t know, it was fine? 6/10

stop wasting my time, Korea

Mr Cinderella 2 (Vietnam YT)

DNF on the advice of several of my BL spies I will not be finishing this. Apparently it pretty much ends sad. Here's an explanation.

It's Airing But...

I Cannot Reach You AKA I Can't Reach You AKA Kimi ni wa Todokanai (Japan Tues Netflix-Japan & ????) 8 eps - in classic JBL fashion, I Cannot Reach You could not be reached. I will try it when I have some time and access to my home computer.

One Room Angel (Japan Gaga) 6 eps - adaptation of Harada’s manga (which I did not like) about a clerk who's stabbed, nearly dies, and returns home to find an angel waiting for him. With only 5 eps and a good chance this won’t end happy, I'm gonna wait and let you tell me how it goes.

WAITING FOR VERDICT OR TO BINGE

What Did You Eat Yesterday Season 2 AKA Kinou Nani Tabeta? Season 2 (Japan Gaga) 10 eps - I find this series more fun to binge, so I'm waiting until it completes its run.

SHADOW (Thai Gaga) 14eps - this is a horror BL with ghosts & paranormal elements in a boarding school setting. I'm not wild about Thai horror (or horror at all). It features Singto (who did paranormal BL He's Coming to Me) opposite Fluke N (who's done a couple horror's before). Also Fiat. Dan suffers from sleep paralysis, and in his dreams he sees a shadow that suffocates him. It gets worse when he transfers schools. I'm holding off on this one and if told it's good I'll binge watch.

Next Week Looks Like This

11/15 Let's Eat Together Aki and Haru AKA Aki wa Haru to Gohan wo (Japan Gaga) - this BL movie is coming to Gaga.

11/16 PLAYBOYY (Thurs ????) 10 eps - trailer here, high heat and it's helmed by Cheewin (shudder) with screenplay by Den (Only Friends) under Copy A Bangkok. It's gonna be a shizz show people. It's predicting Thai style "dark" (War of Y) one of my least favorites. Apparently there is a "plot" but when has Cheewin ever bothered with plot? A university kid who was involved with escorts, sex-trade, porn, online hook-ups, drugs, prostitution, blackmail, revenge, and so forth goes missing. His twin (sigh) and two friends look for him.

11/17 Pit Babe (Fri iQIYI) ep 1 of 14 - high heat teaser here, based on alittlebixth's omegaverse novel #พิษเบ๊บ’ set in the world of car racing (author says show will not be omegaverse). Charlie (fresh face), a young hot nerd, approaches his driver idol (Pavel "my love" 2 Moons 2) to borrow a racing car and win one for the team. Production house is new to BL but behind the Club Friday stuff. Show stars many known actors: Nut (Oxygen), Pop (Ram in La Cuisine), Pon (Phai in Gen Y, we LOVE him), Benz (twins in En of Love: This Is Love Story).

Thailand bring the November heat, I guess?

Upcoming November BL

11/19 Bake Me Please (Sun Gaga) ep 1 of 6 - trailer here, stars Ohm (of OhmFluke) opposite Guide (bestie from IFYLITA) and possibly also Poom (well known, but not for BL). This looks like an actually gay version of Antique Bakery (play it again, BL). Still, I'm intrigued, it looks HELLA pretty.

11/22 7 Days Before Valentine (Weds ????) ep 1 of 10 - trailer here, horror-esk. Adapted from y-novel of the same name, directed by Tu (180 Degree) stars Jet (Why You… Y Me?). When you want your old love again, but fate sends you a reaper instead. All he can do for you is kill people. I'll likely give this a pass and wait to binge if safe.

11/25 The Sign (Sat ????) ep 1 of 10 - trailer here, horror-esk, but with a suspense and adult characters. Special investigators who loved each other in previous lives reunite in new bodies. Stars Billy Patchanon (BillySeng) & Babe Tanatat (new). Includes other SCOY favorites as a special investigation team. I may give this a try because I'm into the non-horror bits.

11/26 The Whisperer (Sun ????) 1 of 10 - trailer here. Thai horror BL that ALSO involves cheating (what joy is mine). He has dimples (My Ride) but I don't think even that gives me the will. Maybe a binge for me.

11/26 Cooking Crush (Sun YT) 1 of 12 - OffGun are back, trailer here. Adapted from the novel “Love Course! เสื้อกาวน์รุกเสื้อกุ๊กรับ” by iJune4S this is about Prem who runs a not-so-popular restaurant with 2 friends. About to go on a cooking competition with a huge reward, Prem gets involved with Ten, a stressed-out med student who wants Prem to teach him to cook.

11/30 For Him (Thurs ????) ep 1 of 10 - high heat trailer, I suspect iQIYI will scoop this one up. From the people who brought us Unforgotten Night (please no) based on a y-novel, man nursing a heartbreak has a one-night stand, but the other boy didn't want it to end. It looks terribly trashy so I'm in! Maybe I'll do a trash watch?

VIP Only (Taiwan) - may be delayed/canceled

Wuju Bakery AKA Space Bakery (Korea) - this one may be DOA

A Breeze of Love (Korea) - I know less than nothing about this.

Nov 2023 line up with screen caps here. Not kept updated.

Original 2023 forthcoming BL master post (see comments, some are inaccurate, NOT KEPT UPDATED).

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

This is in the intro card of My Dear Gangster Oppa, I'm just amusing myself.

Thank you Keseki for givign this to us twice!

Also the tears! So pretty crying.

And, of course, my favorite the biting!

Have I mentioned recently how much I love Taiwanese BL?

(Last week)

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chaos0pikachu · 4 months

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Film Making? In My BL? - The Sign ep01 Edition

So, if we're doing this we're doing this, so buckle in baby.

I'm gonna focus how the opening scene below, uses two narrative devices and one film technique to build out the scene as a whole: in media res, misdirection, and the long take.

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Okay so to begin, we have to start at the beginning, or well, the middle lmao

In Media Res

I saw a post in the tag that said something to the effect of how The Sign starting with no context and providing no information at the beginning was strange, with the implication it was bad writing. I disagree, fundamentally, because The Sign is using a very common literary device called 'In Media Res'. And in my opinion, uses this device very well.

If you're familiar with basic storytelling terms I ain't telling you anything new, but for folks who may not know, in media res is a latin term that means "in the midst of things" and lots of stories - both prose, comics, and film - use this device.

The most famous is The Iliad by Homer, which if you've ever read - and you should it's glorious also it'll give some context to Song of Achilles - you know it drops you full-on no context into the middle of things. The beginning will differ in verbiage depending on the translation you pick up, this free version starts with:

THE CONTENTION OF ACHILLES AND AGAMEMNON. In the war of Troy, the Greeks having sacked some of the neighboring towns, and taken from thence two beautiful captives, Chryseis and Briseis, allotted the first to Agamemnon, and the last to Achilles.

Right off the bat the story drops four character names and the setting with no real context. Who are all these people? Why is there a war? Well, keep reading to find out! It also starts the story with an action aka an argument - nay A CONTENTION!! Achilles and Agamemnon are such bratty bitches lol

Other (more mainstream) examples include:

The Dark Knight

Lost

28 Days Later

Mission Impossible (pick one)

Fight Club

Full Metal Alchemist (both)

MDZS

Inception

And, The Sign.

"In contrast to linear storytelling, which starts at the beginning and moves sequentially, in medias res is a nonlinear approach that can make stories more dynamic and immersive.

It's a technique that challenges the audience to make sense of the narrative puzzle, often revealing essential information about the characters and their motivations gradually." (source)

What's described above is exactly how The Sign, starts it's story, in the middle of things, specifically to create a puzzle for the audience to figure out gradually. If you watch the above scene, what's happening?

We get a (well done) overshot of an island (establishing setting), we see a group of soldiers (establishing the characters we'll be following) we see them doing military things (okay these are their skills, and they're on some sort of mission), their drone spots a group of people inside and a character says the dialogue "Listen up, you only have 15 minutes" (this establishes stakes, okay there's a time limit to this mission) "Team A will rescue the hostage" (okay now we know what the mission is and informs these characters are on a rescue mission).

Who is speaking here? We don't know yet, but a safe assertion would be this character, since they are the first character who speaks on screen, will be important.

And we'd be right because it's Phaya speaking, one of our main protagonists as well soon find out.

All this happens within the first minute; the show provides an interesting set-up. It deals out information in tidbits - setting, characters we'll be following, situation set-up, stakes - but not enough information for the audience not to ask questions.

I want to iterate that at this point, the goal isn't to "care" about the characters yet, so much as create an intriguing set-up based in action that will showcase various information about the tone, setting, and skills of the piece that will engage the audience. To make the audience ask questions, to engage with them.

When you open up on MDZS the protagonist, Wei Wuxian is dead and we have no context for this. Everyone is just in the middle of celebrating his death and we, the readers, do not care that he's dead or why he died. The story could have started in a more linear way, with him arriving at Cloud Recesses arguably the beginning of his journey, but would that have been as interesting? As engaging?

I like how this article breaks down the why of starting your story in media res is a powerful and often used device:

This is what The Sign is doing in this opening part. Starting the action of the series off with action and creating that immediate engagement. The scene also ends with a plot twist which connects to that final point about information control.

This isn't a technique I've seen often used in BL because BL is a sub-genre of romance and most romances are told in chronological order, rather than non-linearly - there are, of course non-linear romances, but most mainstream romances, and by extension most BL aren't told in this way - BL shows don't often have actual physical action. A majority, especially in Thailand, are grounded, closer to slice-of-life, coming-of-age, and comedy dramas - though we are starting to see a change in that trend.

So starting in the middle of things, like chepa the middle of what? Two dudes walking~ to Engineering class?

The goal of this opening scene is to pull in the audience, make them wonder and ask questions: "who are these characters? will they rescue the hostages? who are the bad guys? who is this character who's having visions?" and so on and so forth. It's a way to engage in the audience without having to slow down the narrative with a ton of exposition, or build up stakes slowly, rather it grabs the audience immediately and sets them in the middle of the tension asking them to engage with what's happening.

The Long Take

You've probably heard about "the long take" but to break it down, a long take is one continuous take without any edits/cuts. The film 1917 was famously filmed to "look" like one long take. One of the most cited and well known long takes is from Children of Men by Alfonso Cuarón:

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Now if you watch this movie you can tell why there isn't a lot of BL long takes because, god damn, they built a new type of car just to get that one scene. [read here for more on long takes]

So, The Sign. It's long take starts at about 2:08, following Phaya - again, we the audience don't know this is Phaya BUT since the camera is spending specific time with him we assume he is An Important Character and he is! Set up and payoff! Funny how that works - and ends at around 4:27.

[Sidenote I love that the take ends, not with a cut but a transition. Which I'll cover in another post but in the land of Thai BLs which favor cuts so damn much transitions were so refreshing to see]

During this long take, we establish that these characters are competent at what they do. We understand that they're military trained, in both hand-to-hand combat and firearms. We also get these two mid-close ups, which signifies these will be Important Characters:

And they are, the first shot is of Phaya, Khem and Thongthai and the second is Tharn and Yai.

This also sets-up the character dynamics; Yai and Tharn are already close and know each other so they are drawn to each other while on the mission, while Khem and Thongthai have a pre-established relationship but are still supporting behind Phaya.

This type of shot also allows for the audience to better see and follow the fighting that's happening on screen. Filming fight scenes are their own beast, and while there's no one school of thought on how a film scene "should" be filmed, there are techniques that that place some fight scenes above others.

The first video showcases some techniques on how to film a fight scene, while the second one at the 8min mark talks about the long take in John Woo's classic action film Hard Boiled.

This long take in Hard Boiled really showcases why long takes are so powerful in filming a fight scene specifically. They pull the audience further into the action and create a palpable energy that just works better than a scene with lots of quick cuts.

There's a reason one of the biggest criticisms of Mortal Kombat (2021) was that all the fights were edited to pieces while John Wick (2014) was a refreshing jolt to the industry.

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The Sign takes a page out of John Woo's book, and places the characters, and the physicality of the scene front and center, pulling the audience along with the camera in one long shot.

Long takes are hard, I can't really emphasize this enough, if you watched that video on Children of Men you can see all the intricate work that went into scenes that amounted to maybe 5mins of actual film time. Likewise this long take in The Sign is only about 2mins of actual time in the show BUT it's effective, it's engaging, its ambitious.

Which is why, I gotta give The Sign it's roses because of that ambition. Long takes are a lot of hard work, time, effort, blocking, rehearsals, on top of incorporating the fight chorography that's a lot and it looks good.

Now is this the best~~~ long take I've ever seen? lol no god but it's well done and ambitious especially for the sub-genre of BL.

Misdirection

Misdirection has more in common with in media res than the long take as it's a literary device and not a filming technique.

From Gotham Writers:

"In fiction misdirection can be either external or internal. That is, the author can be using the story as a frame to misdirect the reader, or a character in the story may be misdirecting one or more of the other characters. Or, of course, both." (source)

Misdirection is often used in thrillers or mystery narratives, Hitchcock used misdirection a lot in his films.

In Psycho the audience is lured to believe that Marion, the character the film opens with, builds up, and essentially sets up as our protagonist, is in fact our protagonist. She's not, she's murdered and her sister, Lila, is the actual protagonist of the movie. Sorry if this is a spoiler for an almost 70 year old film lmao

Misdirection is often used to set-up plot twists down the line. A good misdirection will leave clues for the audience when they watch back and go, "oh! I can't believe I missed that!"

In film The Sixth Sense is a good example of this, where the plot twist at the end doesn't weaken the film once you know it but rather, it enhances the film itself on a rewatch. Another good example of misdirection in film are both Knives Out and Glass Onion, where Rian Johnson will set up a non-linear story and then slowly unravel the information for the audience.

Take the scene where Marta, in Knives Out, finds Fran's body and hears Fran say "it was you" at least to audience ears. Then stands up looming above Fran's body. The scene cuts, and the audience is led to believe Marta has let Fran die to protect herself (since we the audience also have been led to believe Fran is dead) only to find out later that Marta didn't let Fran die, she is alive, and she knew Ransom was the killer.

The Sign uses misdirection in a much more simple way. It sets up an expectation: Phaya is going to die, upping the stakes from "must save hostages" to "must save a comrade" aka the character we, the audience, have been following for the last 11 minutes. It sets two characters, Chart and Phaya, as opposing against each other, for reasons we don't know - is Chart one of the villains? Why is he trying to kill Phaya? etc - and the audience is led to believe this is a life or death situation.

Then, plot twist. The reveal happens that this was all a training exercise, and there was never any "real" danger whilst also keeping the audience on their toes. And like in The Iliad, now we have context for the mission, and then the story is able to step back and explain.

It's not like, the best~~~ use of misdirection but there was a purpose to it. It sets up an expectation, and subverts that expectation of the audience - but in a good way not a Game of Thrones way. While also pulling the audience into the show by starting in the middle of the action rather than slowing down the story with exposition or giving their hand away to much that this was a training exercise.

If you knew it was a training exercise, suddenly the stakes feel less intense because none of the characters are in any real danger, but not knowing that, withholding that information until it's relevant, ups the stakes of the scene.

The opening scene of The Sign imparts a lot of information without using a lot of dialogue and I find that impressive. We learn which characters will be relevant to the story - Phaya, Tharn, Yai, Khem, Thongthai and now we know, Chart is also important - that they are skilled combat fighters, knowledgeable in firearms, there's a fantasy element to the story via Tharn's visions, they're on an island which the setting for right now, and the tone and aesthetic of the show itself.

It's actually a fun scene to rewatch again with more context because I appreciated it even more. Which is just good film making.

I didn't talk much about the camera work - needless to say it's notable and fun - but maybe I'll save that for the next post. What other shows or scenes would be fun to breakdown? Drop me a line but heads up I don't actually watch a ton of shows so idk if I've seen xyz show lmao

Later chepies ✌️✌️

Other posts in the series:

Aspect Ratio in Love for Love's Sake | Cinematography in My BL - Our Skyy2 vs kinnporsche, 2gether vs semantic error, 1000 Stars vs The Sign | How The Sign Uses CGI

[like these posts? drop me a couple pennies on ko-fi]

#the sign #the sign the series #idol factory #phayatharn #chaos pikachu metas #chaos film metas #idk what to tag this as anymore rip #these posts are so looooooooong #brain is a fried egg someone pass the soy sauce #Youtube #pikachu's bl film series

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fatsalpakistan · 2 months

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Basic Life Support | Apr 28 | Lahore

Basic Life Support (BLS) program is for participants to gain or improve knowledge and skill proficiency in high-quality CPR skills. In our hands-on approach, students participate in scenarios and learning stations to become a Lifesaver! BLS reflects the latest resuscitation science and treatment recommendations published and conforms with the American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines Update for…

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yellowocaballero · 5 months

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on one hand, idk how flayn might've helped in the breakdown dimitri had, other than maybe having more experience w the human condition bc she's longer-lived. On the other... I am choosing to find it hilarious that right after she temporarily leaves to go help seteth, the blue lions are confronted w how Not Okay dimitri and their general situation is... Lol

HAH YEAH. I think Flayn is a weird sort of character where she's halfway between the children and the adults. I think in some ways I felt as if she was auditing the classes. Still 100% a Blue Lion, but undoubtedly in a very different situation than the rest and coming from a very different place. Petra's the same - I wrote the two late joiners as very much having their own stories that intersect significantly with the BL. Dedue was here from the start, but I don't think he ever becomes actual friends with Ingrid, Sylvain, and Felix, so he entered the academy pretty isolated.

I didn't want to homogenize the characters and give them the exact same relationship with each other and the cult BL, so different characters absolutely put a lot of their identity into the cult (the kids who were childhood friends and the kids from broken homes, mostly) and others just have intersecting lives (the outsider kids). They all care for each other the same (for reasons I'll reveal next chapter which I personally think are VERY funny), but each character has a separate reason why they need the BL found family, and if they need it or just want it.

I don't think Flayn would have known how to help at the time. I think she would have been pretty frightened, but not devastated or terrified like a lot of the other BL. Her sense of self isn't tied up in Dimitri, unlike a lot of her classmates lol. But Flayn's relationship with Dimitri becomes important, and we'll see much more of it next chapter. Dimitri's relationships with everybody in the BL changes drastically once he gets severely sick. Again, we'll see more of it.

I don't think I've mentioned this yet, but we're done closely following the game. Part 1 basically set up why the big canon divergent thing happens, and then during the timeskip the big canon divergent thing happens and then Part 2 is absolutely different. Good news for readers unfamiliar with the game I guess lol. Thanks for the ask - I'm super looking forward to posting the next chapter!

#my writing #my asks #what i liked about the BL dynamics #is that there would be discrete reasons why all of them #would pour their entire lives and identities into each other #and byleth.#because byleth provides them an adult who cares and a family who accepts you #kids need that.#the cult is so. good thing? bad thing?#i do think holistically good thing. as we see.#but it happened for bad reasons.#again like byleth ripped any sense of normalacy from these kids #but they're alive so!! was it really for the worse!!!#it's complex.

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healtheducationcenter · 1 year

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mononijikayu · 4 months

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phase four – 24/7 = heaven.

As she finished showering and watched the washing machine whir to life, she couldn't help but wonder about Suguru's past relationships. How many people had he taken care of like this before her? The thought made her pout as she mulled over the complexities of their newfound romantic involvement. It was already hard to date her best friend, but it was even harder when her logic went out of the window. She doesn’t know if she loves Suguru just yet, in the way that lovers do. But she likes him a lot. The thought of someone else by his side, it made her uncomfortable. It made her…anxious.

Genre: No Curses AU, University Professors AU!

Warning/s: Fluff, Banter, Romance, Co-Workers, One Sided Romance, Childhood Friends, Friends to Lovers, Co-Workers to Lovers, They're Figuring It Out!;

note: i changed the title of this song, but i like to think it really fits, the two of them find heaven in each other one way or another!!!

masterlist

logic ≠ love masterlist

SHE COULDN’T HANDLE THE WAY SUGURU WAS STARING AT HER. As they sat in the cafeteria together, it was a rare moment of respite in their busy schedules. Wednesdays had become a cherished tradition for them, a day when they could steal away a few precious moments to share a meal and catch up on each other's lives. The bustling atmosphere of the cafeteria provided a comforting backdrop to their conversations, a familiar routine that brought a sense of normalcy to their otherwise hectic days.

Normally, their meetings were filled with light-hearted banter and shared laughter. Suguru would take charge of ordering their meals while she caught up with Satoru’s tears over a new BL manga and recently, Nanami-kun and her exchange baking recipes. When her boyfriend would come back, the two of them would exchange stories about their days, sharing anecdotes and updates on their respective projects. But today was different. Today, the air between them was heavy with unspoken tension, and even the simple act of picking up her utensils felt like a daunting task.

She could feel Suguru's gaze on her, sharp and penetrating, as though he could see right through her facade. The weight of his scrutiny made her stomach churn with anxiety, and she found herself fidgeting nervously in her seat. The strawberry milkshake in front of her remained untouched, the swirling motion of the straw against the rim of the glass a feeble attempt to distract herself from his piercing eyes.

Every glance in his direction felt like a risk, as though she was tiptoeing on a tightrope between revealing too much and keeping her emotions guarded. She swallowed hard, willing herself to maintain her composure and avoid his penetrating gaze. It was a delicate dance of restraint, each movement calculated to avoid detection, yet every fiber of her being screamed with the need to break free from the suffocating silence that hung between them.

“You know….you can tell me.” Suguru whispered to her as he drank his earl gray tea, still eyeing her. “I don’t think you have to keep it a secret from me.”

Suguru's gentle voice cut through the tense atmosphere, his words a soothing balm to her frayed nerves. Yet, his piercing gaze bore into her, silently urging her to open up and share her burden. He was always kind, Suguru. His voice always tends to make her feel calm. Yet, it was hard to feel calm right now. She didn’t know how to. It always gets like this. But then again, she supposed it's her own doing.

"What are you talking about?" she replied, attempting to deflect his probing questions with a nervous laugh, all the while continuing to stir her strawberry milkshake in a feeble attempt to appear nonchalant.

But Suguru was not easily deterred. Setting down his cup of tea, he leaned forward slightly, his eyes never leaving hers. "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Feeling the weight of his unwavering gaze, she began to ramble incoherently, her words stumbling over each other as she desperately tried to change the subject. "Maybe we should reschedule our date for another day," she blurted out, her voice trembling. "We might have a day off then, and Itadori-kun might actually do his work, so I won't have to check it later—"

Suguru's sharp eyes bore into her once more, cutting through her flimsy attempt at diversion. "Hey," he interjected firmly, his tone leaving no room for evasion. "If you want me to understand what you're trying to say, start talking straight to the point."

Taking a deep breath, she summoned the courage to meet his gaze. "Suguru," she began weakly, her voice barely above a whisper.

He lifted his tea cup to his lips, "How's your update progress?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly at the sudden change of topic, panic setting in. She faltered, unable to bring herself to admit the truth. "About that... I’m……almost done. But—"

"So you haven't written anything yet," Suguru stated flatly, his expression unreadable.

She averted her gaze, her hands shaking as she continued to stir her milkshake nervously. "Yes," she admitted quietly, her voice barely audible.

Suguru had a sixth sense when it came to her work habits—well, more like a 6.5th sense, considering how often she second-guessed herself and got distracted by the smallest of things. It was like he had a radar for procrastination and a built-in alarm system for tardiness. He was the silent guardian, the watchful protector of deadlines, the unsung hero who made sure she submitted what she needed to pass each year, even if it meant resorting to desperate measures like hiding her phone or locking her in a closet until she finished her work.

It was a comedic dance of cat and mouse, with Suguru playing the role of the strict taskmaster and her as the perennially distracted scatterbrain. But somehow, against all odds, they always managed to pull through—mostly thanks to Suguru's unwavering patience and knack for keeping her in check, whether she liked it or not. She supposes, its why she graduated middle school at all.

Just then, her phone buzzed with an incoming message. Glancing at the screen, she felt a pang of anxiety shoot through her.

Her editor.

She gulped nervously, her eyes darting between her phone and Suguru.

He let out a resigned sigh, his shoulders sagging slightly. "When's the deadline?" he asked, his voice tinged with resignation.

Her stirring became more frenzied, the clinking of the spoon against the glass echoing loudly in the tense silence. "Saturday," she finally confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Saturday?

Suguru’s brows furrowed.

That was their date.

Suguru sighed, his expression softening with understanding. "I see," he murmured, his tone gentle as he reached out to place a reassuring hand on hers. "That doesn't leave you with much time."

She nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over her as Suguru's comforting touch grounded her. "I know, and I'm sorry for not telling you sooner," she admitted, her voice tinged with regret.

"It's alright," Suguru reassured her, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "We'll figure this out together."

Feeling a surge of gratitude for his unwavering support, she managed a weak smile. "Thank you," she whispered, her eyes meeting him with heartfelt sincerity.

Suguru returned her smile, his gaze warm and reassuring. "Don't worry," he said softly, his voice filled with quiet determination. "We'll make sure you meet your deadline."

She thinks Suguru seems like a god.

She looks at him with deep emotions.

She thinks she’s about to cry out loud.

He gives her the palm of his free hand. “Give it to me.”

You blink, “Huh, what?”

“Your phone.” He says to her with a charming smile. “I have to make sure your editor doesn’t kill you.”

She gulps. He’s right. With a hesitant nod, she reluctantly handed over her phone to Suguru, feeling a sense of resignation wash over her. As he took the device with a charming smile, she couldn't help but feel a mixture of gratitude and trepidation. He was right—her editor might as well have been a mythical beast with a fiery temper, ready to pounce at any moment.

Suguru answered the phone with a calm demeanor that contrasted sharply with her inner turmoil. "Hello?" he greeted, his voice smooth and composed.

Meanwhile, she couldn't help but fidget nervously as she awaited the verdict of her fate, her heart pounding in her chest. She had no doubt that Suguru would smooth things over with her editor, but the anticipation of what he might say hung heavy in the air.

"Hello, this is Suguru," he greeted smoothly, his voice carrying a reassuring tone. "Yes, I understand the urgency of the situation... Absolutely, the draft will be ready on time... You have my word."

As Suguru continued to speak with her editor, his words were punctuated by nods and reassuring smiles directed at her. Despite the anxiety gnawing at her, she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over her as she watched him handle the situation with ease.

Finally, Suguru wrapped up the call with a confident tone. "Thank you for your understanding. Rest assured, the draft will be submitted on time this time. Have a great day."

After ending the call, Suguru turned to her with a knowing smile, his eyes twinkling with determination. She knew that smile all too well—it was a silent promise that he would ensure she completed the draft, no matter what. Memories of the past served as a reminder, almost a trauma. Suguru took to tasks very fast; he wanted them done precisely and done as soon as possible. And it didn’t help that tomorrow was a holiday. And then the weekends. She gulped nervously as his hands rested jointly together, his smile widening. He was terrifying when he was serious.

“I’m coming over,” he stated firmly.

She stirred her melted milkshake, nodding in acknowledgment. “Okay.”

“You’re getting this done,” he asserted, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“.....Yes, sir,” she replied in an obedient murmur.

“Good girl,” he praised, his tone shifting as he smiled.

Chills went throughout her spine.

She felt herself become flustered.

She lowers her head and sips her drink.

There’s no logic to why he said that.

IN THE END, ITS HER THAT CAME OVER HIS HOUSE. She couldn't remember how long her eyes had been watery, but it wasn't an unfamiliar sensation. This time, however, it felt more intense, perhaps because she hadn't made any significant progress until that night when Suguru invited her to his house. She had once again gotten distracted and ended up working overtime. He didn’t get mad about that. She already took their date away, but she also made him wait. She could feel guilt eating at her. But he just sighed and patted her head. He tells her that the last train had already left. Since Suguru's house was closer, it seemed like the best option to get things done before anything else.

In truth, she was nervous about sleeping over at Suguru's house. While she had visited before for cooking sessions and game nights, spending the night was uncharted territory for her. As Suguru nonchalantly led her inside, slipping off his work shoes and offering her a pair of house slippers, she couldn't help but feel a flutter of nervousness. All her life, Suguru had been her friend, and now he was someone she was romantically involved with. The sudden shift in dynamic left her feeling flustered and uncertain. How was she supposed to be? What should she do, to be an even better girlfriend?

Stuck with those thoughts, Suguru ushered her in and reassured her that he had a spare room where she could sleep. She felt her heart pound at that moment, but she did not know why. What were these feelings? She sighed, shaking her head before turning back to him and smiled. She soon settled her things, and she gratefully followed him to the designated space. Fortunately, she had brought her drawing materials and an extra set of clothes, so she was prepared for the impromptu stay. Suguru even offered the use of his washing machine if she wanted to freshen up her clothes, further adding to her flustered state.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice Suguru entering the laundry room until he spoke up, breaking the silence. "Hey there," he greeted her with a warm smile, leaning against the doorframe. "Feeling better after the shower?"

She blinked, startled by his sudden appearance, but managed a nod. "Yeah, thanks," she replied softly, her mind still preoccupied with thoughts of their relationship.

Suguru's smile softened as he approached her, his gaze gentle. "What do you feel like eating?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern. "I can whip up something quick if you're hungry."

She hesitated for a moment, torn between her appetite and her swirling emotions. "Um... I'm not sure," she admitted, feeling a knot form in her stomach. "Maybe just something light?"

Suguru nodded understandingly. "Got it. I'll make us some sandwiches," he suggested, already moving toward the kitchen. "You stay here and relax. I'll take care of everything."

Lost in her thoughts, she followed Suguru out of the laundry room, watching him move about the kitchen with a sense of grace and purpose. The warmth of the room enveloped her, a stark contrast to the chilly apprehension that had gripped her moments ago.

Geto Suguru hummed a sweet tune as he prepared the sandwiches, his movements fluid and efficient. He looked like he was a prince, a beautiful fantasy before her eyes. She couldn't help but admire the way he seemed to effortlessly navigate the kitchen, his every action imbued with a sense of care and attention to detail. She smiles, leaning against the doorframe.

"Need any help?" she offered tentatively, stepping closer to him.

Suguru glanced up, a soft smile playing on his lips. "No, I've got it covered," he assured her, his eyes warm with affection. "Just sit back and relax."

She purses her lips and nodded, content to watch him work as she sank into a nearby chair. The rhythmic clinking of utensils and the fragrant aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air, soothing her frazzled nerves.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence filled only by the sound of their utensils clinking against the plates, Suguru finished assembling the sandwiches with practiced precision. He arranged them meticulously on a plate, a masterpiece of culinary artistry that he presented to her with a warm smile.

"Here you go," he said gently, his eyes reflecting his genuine desire to please her. "I hope you like them."

She couldn't help but return his smile with equal warmth, feeling a rush of gratitude for his thoughtfulness. "Thank you, Suguru," she murmured appreciatively, reaching out to pick up a sandwich and take a bite.

The flavors exploded in her mouth like a symphony of sensations, a harmonious blend of textures and tastes that danced on her palate with each bite. Each ingredient seemed to complement the other flawlessly, creating a culinary masterpiece that surpassed her expectations. It was delicious, just like everything else Suguru made. She couldn't help but marvel at his skills, a talent he seemed to possess effortlessly. Geto Suguru had always been good at everything he did. And it seems he’s only gotten even better.

As she savored the sandwich, memories from the past flooded her mind, bringing a nostalgic smile to her lips. She remembered how Suguru had always been good at cooking, even back in middle school when he was part of the home cooking club. Everything he made then was delicious too. It was no surprise that his skills had only improved over the years, he lived alone and had to learn to feed himself more and more.

With each bite, she couldn't help but appreciate the care and attention he had put into making the sandwiches. Cute little happy sounds emit from her lips. Suguru seemed surprised about it, but he seemed to smile a little when she wasn’t looking. He was happy that she liked it. No words were needed.

As they ate in companionable silence later on, Suguru's expression gradually shifted from one of relaxed contentment to a more serious demeanor. He had already finished, but she was savoring the meal and ate slowly. His gaze bore into hers with unwavering intensity, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air.

"I think it's time we focus on your manga," he said softly, his voice carrying an undercurrent of determination. She felt a pang of nervousness as she gulped, realizing the gravity of the situation. "We've got a deadline to meet, and I want to make sure we're on track."

His words resonated within her, stirring a mixture of anxiety and determination. She nodded slowly, steeling herself for the task ahead. And lo and behold, these two days passed as though they were in a crunch against time. As though her finishing this manga chapter would save the world. She gritted her teeth, continuing to draw and draw.

Throughout the past two days, she had shed quite a few tears, sniffling through each stroke of her stylus pen against the drawing tablet. Geto Suguru wore his glasses, his hair tied in a messy bun, and was on his second cup of coffee. He sat across from her, his laptop open, diligently scanning through the shared file document she had been working on, checking for flaws and edits.

"It's coming along nicely," Suguru remarked, glancing up from his laptop to offer her a reassuring smile. "You're making good progress."

She forced a tired smile in return, her eyes red-rimmed from lack of sleep and endless hours of work. "Thanks," she mumbled, her voice hoarse from hours of non-stop drawing.

Suguru leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful as he surveyed her work. "Just a few more tweaks and adjustments, and I think we'll be ready to submit it," he said, his tone calm and encouraging.

She nodded wearily, feeling a glimmer of hope amidst the exhaustion. "I'll do my best," she promised, determined to push through until the very end. She sighed, her shoulders sagging under the weight of her fatigue. "I'm really sorry."

He looked at her with a raised brow, his expression softened with understanding. "Why?" he asked gently.

"I really shouldn't have gotten you roped into this," she confessed, her voice trembling with emotion. She sniffled, her gaze fixed on the drawing board on her screen. "You could be rewatching Rome right now, and you're here, stuck with me. I feel horrible."

Suguru sighed, reaching out to gently place a hand on her shoulder. "You really don't have to apologize," he reassured her, his tone gentle yet firm. He couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy at her pitiful state. "I think even if this isn't my thing... I know you're suffering a lot."

Her tears began to flow once more, and he offered her a tissue from the nearby box, his heart aching at the sight of her distress. "Anyway, can you check page 25?" she asked, her voice shaky but determined. "I corrected a line for that paragraph. And on page 29, there's this blurb of ink on the character's arm. Fix that."

She sniffled, her fingers swiftly moving across the screen to make the necessary adjustments. "You really are too good at your job," she mumbled between sniffles, her admiration for him evident in her voice.

As the minutes ticked by, the pressure of the looming deadline intensified, but Suguru and she refused to succumb to the mounting stress. With unwavering determination, they poured their hearts and souls into their work, their shared dedication driving them forward as they raced against the clock to complete the BL manga chapter. Suguru's steadfast encouragement and support served as a beacon of hope amidst the chaos, and she drew strength from his unwavering belief in her abilities.

Despite the exhaustion that threatened to engulf them, Suguru remained resolute, refusing to let her give up. She cried tears of frustration and exhaustion, but Suguru's unwavering support helped her push through until the very end. It was a grueling battle against time, but they fought tooth and nail, determined to meet the deadline no matter what.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of relentless work and emotional turmoil, they reached the finish line. With Suguru's final approval, she cheered through tears as she hastily compiled the pages into one cohesive file and began frantically emailing her editor the completed manuscript. The sense of relief that washed over her was palpable as she hit send, knowing that they had given their all and completed the task against all odds.

As she sat back, her heart still racing from the adrenaline of the past few hours, she couldn't help but steal a glance at Suguru, who sat slumped in his chair, his exhaustion palpable. Despite the toll the frantic rush to meet the deadline had taken on both of them, she felt a surge of gratitude for his unwavering support and dedication throughout the ordeal.

The guilt of ruining their weekend plans weighed heavily on her mind, and with tears still lingering in her eyes, she turned to Suguru once more, her voice quivering with emotion as she apologized again. "I'm really sorry for ruining our weekend," she murmured, her words laced with regret.

However, Suguru's response was not one of frustration or disappointment. Instead, he offered her a warm and reassuring smile, his eyes sparkling with understanding. "I think this triumphs going out on a date anyway," he said playfully, his tone light and teasing. "It's not bad, to have a date indoors."

His words brought a small smile to her lips, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over her. Despite the unexpected turn of events, Suguru's unwavering positivity and lighthearted demeanor helped ease her guilt and lift her spirits.

She blinked in surprise, a faint glimmer of hope flickering in her heart as Suguru's words sank in. "Really?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Geto Suguru nodded, his smile widening as he met her gaze. "Yeah, I had fun," he admitted, his eyes sparkling with genuine fondness. "Besides, it's not every day we get to work together. Let alone a manga, right? I had fun. I mean that.”

Her heart swelled with gratitude and relief at his understanding and positive attitude. Despite the challenges they faced, Suguru had managed to find joy in their shared experience, and she couldn't help but feel grateful to have him by her side. He really was just so kind. No one would have done this with her. Not even her exes. But Suguru? He would. She knew he would.

"Thank you, Suguru," she whispered, her voice filled with genuine appreciation.

Reaching out, Suguru gently wiped away her tears, his touch gentle and comforting. "Anytime," he murmured, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "We make a good team, you know?"

She nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Yeah, we do," she agreed, feeling ever so warm with him by her side.

As they stood there in silence, the air thick with unspoken emotions, she couldn't help but admire Suguru's beauty. His earnest gaze held her captive, drawing her in with its intensity. Her lips parted involuntarily as she studied him, her eyes tracing every curve and contour of his face.

Suguru mirrored her actions, his own gaze unwavering as he met her eyes. The tension between them was palpable, a silent acknowledgment of the unspoken desires that lingered beneath the surface.

Suddenly, she felt him leaning closer, his warm breath brushing against her skin as he exhaled. Her heart raced in her chest, the anticipation of what was to come sending a surge of adrenaline through her veins.

In that moment, her mind raced with a million thoughts, each one competing for her attention. But amidst the chaos, one thought stood out above the rest.

‘Are they matching?’ she panicked internally, her mind racing to recall the color of her underwear. ‘If we end up going for it, it has to be a match!’

The heavy stain of blush that echoed across her cheeks intensified as she felt Suguru pressing closer, his presence overwhelming her senses. Is he really going to go for it? The realization struck her like a bolt of lightning — Suguru was a man, and he had always been a man. The thought sent a flurry of conflicting emotions coursing through her veins. She was torn between the desire to lean into his embrace and the fear of crossing a line that could change everything between them.

As the absurdity of her inner turmoil dawned on her, she couldn't help but let out a nervous laugh, a feeble attempt to mask the intensity of her emotions. But even as she chuckled inwardly, the underlying tension remained, a silent reminder of the unspoken desires that simmered between them. The air crackled with anticipation, each moment pregnant with the possibility of something more, yet neither daring to take the first step into the unknown.

"Suguru, if we're gonna do this, maybe wait until it's pink," she blurted out, her voice trembling with nervousness as she struggled to articulate her thoughts.

Suguru's brows furrowed in confusion as he looked at her, clearly taken aback by her sudden comment. "Wait until what's pink?" he asked, his tone laced with curiosity.

She felt her cheeks burn even hotter, her blush deepening as she realized how her words might have sounded. That was stupid, that was horribly stupid. "Oh, uh, it's nothing," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper as she hid her face in her hands, mortified by her own awkwardness.

But before she could dwell on her embarrassment any longer, Suguru reached into his laptop bag and pulled out his Nintendo Switch, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Hey, do you want to play a game?" he asked, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “I don’t have a pink controller, but would this do?”

With a mixture of relief and amusement, she couldn't help but chuckle softly at Suguru's playful demeanor. "Yeah, sure," she replied, her voice still tinged with a hint of nervousness as she accepted the Nintendo Switch from him.

As they settled into a comfortable silence, their attention focused on the game, she felt a sense of ease wash over her. The tension that had filled the air moments ago seemed to dissipate, replaced by a light-hearted atmosphere as they immersed themselves in the virtual world before them.

As she sank deeper into the comfort of Suguru's presence, she couldn't help but appreciate the way he effortlessly eased her anxieties and allowed her to be herself. He had a way of making her feel human, of reminding her that it was okay to be imperfect and vulnerable.

"I swear, you're getting better at this," Suguru remarked with a teasing grin as he watched her lose yet another game.

She chuckled softly, shaking her head in defeat. "I don't know about that. You're just too good at this."

His grin widened, a playful glint in his eyes. "Maybe I should go easy on you," he suggested, leaning closer to her as he reached for the controller.

She playfully swatted his hand away, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "No way. I want the full experience."

Suguru was about to reply something back to her, but then he heard the doorbell ring. His brows furrowed lowly. He wasn’t really expecting anyone and especially not at this hour. She looks at him and he shakes his head and shrugs. He wasn’t expecting anyone either.

As Suguru got up to answer the doorbell, she blinked in surprise when she followed him to the door. Suguru pursed his lips at the unexpected visitors standing outside his door. There, at Suguru's doorstep, stood Suguru’s closest friends: a smiling Gojo Satoru, a disgruntled Nanami Kento, and a smoking Shoko Ieiri

"What are you doing here?" Geto Suguru frowned as he opened the door to find Gojo Satoru, Nanami Kento, and Shoko Ieiri standing outside his apartment.

"Is that how you talk to the love of your life?" Gojo Satoru echoed with a fake gasp, his face exaggeratedly sorrowful. "How dare you, Geto Suguru? Forgetting about me, your one true—"

Nanami Kento swiftly placed his hand over Gojo's mouth, cutting off his playful banter. "I'm sorry for disturbing you this late," he apologized, his tone calm and composed.

Shoko couldn't help but snicker at her friend's words as she casually took a drag from her cigarette before stomping it out on the ground. "Honestly, you shouldn’t feel bad about disturbing Suguru and his little love session," she teased. "He’s not at that second base yet."

Suguru's face flushed bright red at Shoko's remark. "I really didn’t miss you at all. Go back to Utahime or something."

"That crybaby Kyoto for work, so I really don’t have anything to do," Gojo chimed in, removing Nanami's hand from his mouth with a mischievous smile. "Which is why we’re here!"

“My girlfriend is not a crybaby, Gojo.”

Satoru grins at Shoko. “But she is!”

Suguru glanced at Gojo with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, while Nanami simply sighed. "He's had a drink," Nanami remarked, his voice tinged with mild disapproval.

"Tsk, lightweight," Suguru muttered under his breath.

"What do you say, bangs?" Gojo turned his attention to him with a small frown. You wanna go?”

"Well, what are you saying, grandpa?" Suguru quipped back with his own glare. “Yeah, come on, throw down, right now!”

"Oh, it's begun," Shoko observed with a smirk as Gojo and Suguru exchanged playful glares. She then turned to her with a friendly wave. "I haven’t seen you yet, nice to meet you!"

Feeling slightly stunned by the lively interaction, she managed a small wave back. "N-nice to meet you too."

“Satoru, we should go home.” Nanami was pulling his lover out of glaring at his best friend. “You’re drunk.”

“No, I’m not.” The blue eyed man argues back. “I only drank one cinderella!”

Nanami shakes his head. “You drank more than a cinderella.”

“Lightweight.”

“You wanna go, stingy bangs?”

“Bring it on, paint brush!”

She blushed at Shoko's words, feeling a mix of embarrassment and warmth at the attention. "It's nice to meet you, Shoko," she said, offering a shy smile. "Thanks for dropping by."

Her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red at Shoko's compliment, feeling a flutter of nerves at the unexpected attention. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, trying to compose herself as she exchanged glances with Suguru.

Suguru rolled his eyes at Shoko's playful banter, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "She's not going anywhere, Shoko," he replied, his tone teasing yet firm.

Shoko chuckled, her eyes twinkling mischievously as she leaned in closer. "You're really pretty," she whispered in her ear again, sending another wave of warmth through her cheeks.

Suguru let out an exasperated sigh, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes as he watched their interaction. "Okay, okay, enough with the flirting," he interjected, unable to suppress a grin.

Shoko grinned back at him, her playful demeanor undeterred. "Aw, come on, Suguru, where's your sense of fun?" she teased, nudging him playfully.

He rolled his eyes again, but there was a fondness in his gaze as he looked at Shoko. "You're lucky you're my friend," he remarked, unable to hide a small smile.

“You should let us in,” Gojo Satoru insists to his black-haired friend. “Have a drink or two?”

Nanami shakes his head at his boyfriend. “You couldn’t handle whiskey.”

Gojo frowns. “It tastes like crap, Nanamin.”

Suguru's girlfriend smiles at them and says, "We have some wine left over, come in."

Suguru frowned. "We don't have to let them in."

She shakes her head. "They're your friends, we can't just turn them away this late."

Suguru crosses his arms. "Yes, we can."

"Listen to your girlfriend," Shoko teased. "Or she'll leave you."

Suguru's eyes rolled skyward in a display of mild exasperation, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "As if," he muttered under his breath, though the fondness in his tone was unmistakable. Reluctantly, he stepped aside, gesturing for his friends to enter with a resigned shrug.

“Sorry for this again, Suguru.” Nanami says, shaking his head. “He wouldn’t stop going on about how he needs to drink with you.”

Suguru sighed. “Nothing I can do about this idiot.”

As Suguru's friends made their way into the room, she felt a surge of conflicting emotions coursing through her. The sight of them filled her with a flutter of excitement, tinged with a touch of apprehension. It was an unexpected visit that brought forth a whirlwind of emotions, ranging from curiosity to nervousness, swirling within her like a tempestuous storm.

As Suguru's friends settled into their living space, it felt like a delightful departure from the routine work-related interactions they were accustomed to. She observed the dynamics between Satoru and Nanami, their affectionate banter and the comfort that emanated from their shared space. The two seemed like a perfect match, and she couldn't help but admire the ease with which they conversed, Satoru laying on Nanami's lap as they talked about everything under the sun.

Shoko, on the other hand, was a captivating presence, even surpassing the vivid descriptions Satoru had shared about her in stories. Her vibrancy and charm were enigmatic, and she radiated an energy that made her think Shoko would make a perfect romantic partner. It made her wonder what sort of person her girlfriend was, what sort of lover she was like. She seemed so perfect. She purses her lips for a moment. Inspired, she grabbed her phone and quickly jotted down an idea for a story, the creativity sparked by the lively atmosphere around her.

As Suguru's friends settled more comfortably into the living room, their presence brought an energetic and lively atmosphere to the space. Nanami, known for his responsible nature, took charge in the kitchen, determined to whip up something to help sober up Satoru, who had indulged in more wine than he could handle and was starting to feel the effects. Meanwhile, Shoko, with her vivacious personality, took the initiative to set up the karaoke machine, eager to showcase her vocal prowess.

Taking a swig of her beer, Shoko launched into another song, her voice filling the room with enthusiasm. Suguru, knowing his luck that his nearest neighbor lived a couple of houses away, couldn't help but smile at the spirited scene unfolding before him. Satoru, always up for a good time, joined Shoko with a mischievous grin, ready to belt out tunes and add to the jovial atmosphere.

Amidst the music and laughter, she found herself swept up in the infectious energy of Suguru's friends. Singing along to the karaoke tunes, dancing to the rhythm, and sharing in the laughter, she couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and belonging. It had been a while since she had experienced such genuine fun and she cherished every moment spent in the company of Suguru's little circle of friends.

Suguru observed the unfolding scene with a mix of amusement and exasperation, a faint sigh escaping his lips as he acknowledged the unexpected disruption to their evening. With a gentle turn towards his girlfriend, he offered an apologetic smile, his expression tinged with regret.

"I'm sorry about all this," he murmured softly, a hint of concern evident in his voice. "You must be tired from your work."

His girlfriend simply shook her head, a warm smile gracing her lips as she reassured him. "It's nothing," she replied with genuine affection shining in her eyes. "I'm happy to see your friends around too. It's nice to have everyone together like this."

Her understanding and acceptance brought a sense of relief to Suguru, who couldn't help but feel grateful for her unwavering support. He met her gaze, his eyes widening slightly before a soft smile curved his lips. "Okay," he responded, his voice sincere and warm. "Let's do this more often."

She grinned in agreement. "Whenever you want!"

Taking her hand in his, Suguru smiled tenderly at her. "And for the record," he added playfully, "they're your friends now too."

She blinked, touched by his words. "Really?"

"Yeah," Suguru affirmed with a gleam in his eyes. "They're here for you too."

Encouraged by Suguru's words, she felt a rush of warmth fill her heart. It was comforting to know that she was not just welcomed but embraced by his circle of friends. As she glanced around at the lively atmosphere in the room, she couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging settling over her.

"Thank you," she whispered, squeezing Suguru's hand affectionately. "I appreciate it."

Suguru flashed her a grin, his eyes softening with affection. "Of course," he replied warmly. "We're all in this together."

With a contented smile, she settled back into the cozy atmosphere, feeling grateful for the bonds of friendship that surrounded her. As the evening unfolded with laughter, music, and shared moments, she knew that this unexpected gathering would be a cherished memory to hold onto.

She was glad to be here together.

She was glad she was laughing

She was glad to be dancing.

She was glad it was with Suguru.

Suddenly, she felt her heart jump.

Once more, logic has no place in love.

extra, monday back to work;

The atmosphere was serene as Suguru and his girlfriend savored their brief reprieve from their demanding work schedules. Seated comfortably beside each other, they cradled steaming cups of coffee in their hands, the rich aroma wafting around them like a comforting embrace. The gentle hum of the coffee shop provided a soothing backdrop, contrasting the bustling energy of the city streets just beyond the window. Despite the hectic pace of their lives, they cherished these moments of tranquility, grateful for the chance to unwind together. With each sip of coffee, they felt the tension of the day slowly melt away, replaced by a sense of contentment and relaxation. It was a simple pleasure, yet one they both treasured deeply. As they sat side by side, lost in the quiet intimacy of the moment, they exchanged soft smiles and knowing glances, their connection unspoken yet palpable. In the midst of their busy lives, these stolen moments of togetherness were like precious jewels, reminding them of the strength of their bond and the importance of prioritizing their relationship amidst the chaos of the world. "Hey, I have something for you," Suguru said suddenly, as he took a bag from the corner. There was a glint in his eyes. “From what you said last time.” She looks at him confused. “What about last time?” As Suguru handed her the bag, her grip tightened around her coffee cup, almost causing her to spill its contents as she struggled to suppress a sudden bout of nervousness. His casual remark about her previous mention of pink sent her mind into a whirlwind of panicked thoughts. Did he really just buy her pink underwear? The thought alone was enough to make her cheeks burn with embarrassment, and she found herself echoing in horror at the possibility. Before she could voice her concerns or protest, Suguru deftly pulled out the pink Nintendo Switch from the bag, and relief flooded through her like a wave. Her eyes widened in realization, and she couldn't help but feel a rush of gratitude mixed with embarrassment at her initial assumption. "Oh, that pink," she murmured, her voice tinged with both relief and embarrassment. Suguru's chuckle was warm and reassuring, his smile widening as he confirmed, "Yeah, this pink," his gaze filled with genuine amusement. "Do you like it?" Her cheeks still flushed with embarrassment, but now also tinged with relief, she nodded eagerly. "I love it," she confessed, a genuine smile spreading across her face as she reached out to take the gift from him. "Thank you, Suguru." He beamed at her, his eyes sparkling with happiness. "You're welcome," he replied, his voice filled with affection. "I thought it would be a nice surprise."

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