#Spring competitive tests

[laurenloveslearning]

my district’s math department usually arranges for an algebra readiness test in the sixth grade. apparently they’ve done this for decades, in whatever format they decide. this year, the woman who usually plans for it has been on medical leave. we were told recently that there will be NO test — rather, we will receive a list of students the central math department has deemed eligible to take an advanced and accelerated math course in the seventh grade.

they refuse to discuss qualifications or provide information. if we knew the threshold would be something like “scored above # on online diagnostics, immediately invited” and “scored between #-#, invited upon teacher recommendation”, i could live with that. the diagnostics are not secure or on a lockdown browser.

but we know better. we know they’re going to shoehorn kids into the class who honestly can’t handle it, while ignoring kids who could but don’t take the online diagnostics seriously. they’re going to lower expectations so they can claim more kids are ready.

i’m so frustrated.

[gerlionrise]

A Game Within the Game  

001 x Reader Synopsis: In the deadly games where survival is the only rule, an unlikely bond forms between two players—one seemingly fragile and unassuming, the other strong-willed and determined. Amid the chaos, whispers of hidden alliances and unseen protections weave a tale of obsession, power, and unspoken truths. As danger looms at every corner, the line between trust and manipulation blurs, leaving one question: how far would someone go to protect what they desire by most?

This is Part 1. Part 2 is here

The eerie hum of the Squid Game facility never truly settled, the fluorescent lights buzzing faintly above as though mimicking the anxiety thrumming through the players. Every step, every breath was laced with uncertainty. But for you, there was one constant—a pair of watchful eyes.  

From the moment the games began, 001 stood out to you. His demeanor was different. Calm, collected, and always one step ahead, he carried himself with an authority that no one else seemed to notice. You’d felt his presence everywhere: a steady hand during the chaos, a voice of reason amidst the panic, and a protector in ways that no one else dared to be.  

---

The tension within the games had been escalating with each passing day. The players had grown desperate, alliances crumbling as the stakes rose higher. But for you, something felt different—subtler. A shadow loomed over you, not from the games themselves but from someone among the players.  

It began with whispers, fleeting glances from one of the players—a wiry man with sharp eyes and an unsettling smirk. His demeanor toward you was always off, his gaze lingering just a moment too long, his words dripping with something unspoken.  

“Watch yourself,” 001 had murmured to you the day before, his voice low and cautious as you stood in the corner of the dormitory.  

“Why?” you asked, studying him carefully.  

“There are those who see you as more than just competition,” he said. “They see you as a threat.”   ---

The tension in the air was palpable as the next game was announced. It was another test of trust, pairing players to navigate a labyrinth filled with hidden traps. Your partner, the same wiry man with shifty eyes, seemed eager, but his energy felt wrong—too forceful, too deliberate.  

“You and me,” he said, flashing a grin that didn’t reach his eyes. “We’ll make it to the end, no question.”  

You had no choice but to trust him, though his enthusiasm put you on edge. The guards herded everyone into the maze, their cold, impassive stares sending shivers down your spine.  

As the game began, your partner took the lead, moving erratically, almost as if he wanted you to falter.  

“Watch your step,” he snapped as you hesitated.  

The words seemed like concern, but his tone carried an edge, sharp enough to make you wary.  

---

From the sidelines, 001 observed the scene with practiced calm. His eyes missed nothing. Every misstep, every sideways glance from your partner, was noted. He had suspected the man’s intentions from the start. He played a dirty game.

Without drawing attention, he shifted closer to the masked guards stationed nearby. Despite the façade he wore as an ordinary player, his authority in the games was absolute. A single, subtle nod was all it took for the guards to spring into action.   ---

The labyrinth echoed with shouts as the alarms blared unexpectedly. A voice over the intercom declared an emergency pause in the game.  

“Return to the dormitory immediately,” the voice ordered.  

Confusion rippled through the players as they were escorted out of the maze. Your partner clung to his facade, but his eyes darted nervously toward the guards.  

Once the players were safely back in the dormitory, the guards surrounded him. Without ceremony, they hauled him to his knees, ignoring his protests.  

“I didn’t do anything! You’re making a mistake!” he shouted, his voice cracking with fear.  

His words fell on deaf ears. The guards dragged him away, and though no explanation was given, the tension in the room eased slightly once he was gone.  

---

Later that night, you sat on your bunk, replaying the day’s events. Something about your partner’s behavior had felt wrong from the beginning, but you couldn’t shake the feeling that someone had intervened on your behalf.  

Across the room, 001 sat quietly, his hands resting on his knees as he gazed into the distance. His presence was steady, calming, but something about the way he looked at you made your pulse quicken.  

“You handled yourself well today,” he said softly, his voice low enough that only you could hear.  

Your gaze snapped to his, startled by the unexpected compliment. “What do you mean?”  

“You didn’t let fear control you,” he replied, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “That’s rare in a place like this.”  

Something in his tone felt weighted, as though he knew far more than he let on. But before you could question him further, he leaned back, closing his eyes as if to rest.  

---

Over the next few days, you began to notice strange things. The guards seemed to linger near you more often, their silent presence a shield against unseen threats. During meals, your food was always served first, untouched and pristine. In the games, traps that should have been deadly seemed to miss you entirely.  

You weren’t the only one who noticed. Whispers circulated among the players, theories forming about why you seemed untouchable. Some believed it was luck, others thought it was favoritism. But no one dared to confront you directly.   --- One evening, as the dormitory settled into uneasy quiet, you found yourself beside 001 once more. He was playing with a few marbles, rolling them between his fingers with an absentminded ease.  

“Do you believe in fate?” he asked suddenly, his voice cutting through the silence.

The question caught you off guard. “I’m not sure,” you admitted cautiously. “Why?”  

His gaze met yours, piercing and unrelenting. “Because some things happen for a reason, whether we see it or not. Like you being here, alive.”  

There was something unspoken in his words, a quiet confession buried beneath layers of ambiguity. But before you could unravel it, he leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.  

“Be careful,” he murmured. “Not everyone in this place has your best interests at heart.”  

---

You didn’t know it, but 001’s orders had ensured your survival at every turn. The guards, bound to his silent commands, moved with precision, eliminating threats before they could touch you.  

To the other players, he was nothing more than just another man trying to get money, harmless and unassuming. But to you, his presence became a constant comfort, a silent promise that, no matter what, you would not face this nightmare alone.  

And though you couldn’t see the web of protection he wove around you, you felt its effects in every subtle glance, every unexpected reprieve. In the chaos of the games, his obsession became your salvation. If you have any requests - let me know!

[yourheart-inmyhands]

My brain is acting up again 😭

Yan! Diluc, Zhongli (I swear I love this man) and Dottore having a conversation with their darling and out of nowhere they spill facts about how to hide a body or make it decompose faster.

If they ask how they know they just chuckle and continue their conversation.

They got it from Reddit fr 💀

- Weird anon ✨

ah i am also obsessed with death and decomposition, with a good mix of anatomy, though i try to avoid just finding random facts, i buy textbooks and research books about the topics to further my knowledge on the subjects :3c

Warning: this post contains yandere-themes, including obsessive behaviors, mentions of violence, lots of talk about death and facts about death, creepy behavior, as well as other potential topics. Please read at your own risk!

Diluc:

He finds it amusing at first, not really commenting on it and simply letting it be. Soon enough though he starts sharing facts of his own, making minor corrections or suggestions to the ones you bring up. Sometimes he even adds on to what you already have, changing the course of the conversation momentarily.

It’s not talked about often but Diluc is no longer allowed in Snezhnaya for a reason, he’s seen more than his fair share of bloodshed and has no problem offering you better suggestions than what you previously thought to be best. 

He makes a little game out of it, even going as far as to offer to test your claims. Diluc doesn’t see the harm in it, if anything he’s merely indulging in your interests, bonding with you over it. Strange as it is, he thinks it’s fun.

“Did you know the main reason why corpses smell so bad is because when people die, their bladder empties out?” Diluc chuckles at your question, the conversation shifting from possible dinner options to that of death was nothing new to him, yet it never failed to amuse him. “I did. Did you know it’s because when you die every muscle in your body relaxes, which means anything in your bowels is emptied out, no longer held back?” A bit of a tangent never hurts, especially not when it comes to a topic you seem so sporadically fascinated with. Diluc could sit here and watch you talk about this endlessly, the way your face suddenly lights up as you blurt out a random, off-topic fact. It was like seeing a kid walk into a candy store.

Zhongli:

Zhongli takes it a bit too seriously, often correcting you on common misconceptions or myths. He’s still lighthearted about it, but he doesn’t want his beloved darling to be in the wrong about this kind of thing.

He’d hate to see your spirit crushed by someone else, their offense to the sudden topic change springing up as a rebuttal. He’s simply protecting you this way, making sure that no one can challenge anything you say.

All his knowledge doesn’t come from nowhere though, so do keep that in mind should you ever try to challenge him on anything. Not only has he lived far longer than you, but he and his spear have seen, and done, many things

“Zhongli! Did you know that after death, your hair and fingers still grow for a short period of time?” Pausing mid-explanation, Zhongli processes what you said before smiling fondly at you. “No, my gem, they do not. It is actually the skin shrinking back from loss of moisture. That movement of the skin gives the appearance of the nails and hair growing.” Zhongli doesn’t falter even the slightest in his correction, merely stating it as if it were common knowledge, which it ought to be. This is a fairly common occurrence, with your little interruptions being met with either encouragement from Zhongli, or simply corrections.

Dottore:

He’s probably the worst to bring this up around as he likes to make a competition out of it, going back and forth about gruesome facts until one or the other caves.

Not only has Dottore learned a lot about death, but he’s been responsible for just as many. His knowledge far extends past the random facts you collect.

It’s not surprising that Dottore knows more than you, he never holds it against you though. Every time he wins a little bit of the banter between the two of you he sees it as a win for both of you. You get more facts and he gets to assert his position of higher power over you.

“Rigor mortis occurs 6-12 hours after a death but can last 18-36 hours before the body returns to being soft and floppy.” Dottore doesn’t even falter as you shift the conversation, easily following your lead. “Suffocation is more than just a painful way to die. Oftentimes victims of suffocations will try to free or save themselves to no avail as their limbs will cease function, this is because their brain is trying to preserve oxygen which leads to them being unable to free themself and dying.” The smile on his face is only a few inches wider than normal, his eyes twinkling with the same challenging shine that always comes through when you bring up death. If you weren’t well aware of his affections for you, you’d almost believe he loved talking about death more than he loved you.

[shimmerandink]

Pinned & Breathless part 2

Vi x fem! Reader

Smut

Tags: Vi x fem! Reader, dirty talk, nsfw, licking, fingering, Dom! Vi

Summary: after a fighting match with each other you and Vi start escalating the training session.

Part 1 Masterlist

Vi’s breath was hot against your lips, her smirk still lingering even as you hovered over her. Her wrists were pinned beneath your grip, her own trick turned against her. You could see the flicker of surprise in her eyes, quickly masked by something more dangerous.

“Oh, you think you’ve got me now?” Her voice was low, teasing, but there was a challenge in it too.

You leaned in just enough that your breath ghosted over her lips, savoring the way her smirk faltered for a split second. “I know I do.”

Vi shifted beneath you, testing your grip, but you held firm. You felt her muscles tense, the pure strength coiled in her body like a spring waiting to snap, only she didn’t. She stayed right there, pinned beneath you, eyes dark with something far more heated than just competition.

Then she moved, fast.

Before you could react, Vi twisted just enough to free one wrist, her fingers immediately threading into your hair as she yanked you down into a kiss that stole the breath from your lungs. It was fierce, all heat and hunger, like she was still trying to win even now.

But if she thought you were going to make it easy for her, she had another thing coming.

Your fingers tighten in Vi’s hair, tugging just enough to draw a sharp breath from her lips. Her smirk wavers, eyes burning with something darker, hungrier.

“Oh, you’re playing dirty now?” she rasps, her voice lower, rougher. She’s still half-pinned beneath you, but her body shifts, pressing up against yours, making you feel every solid inch of her.

“I thought you liked it dirty,” you tease, just to see how far you can push her.

Vi’s response is immediate. One second, you’re on top, and the next, she’s flipped you, her weight pressing you down, her thigh slipping between yours. Heat pools low in your stomach as her mouth moves to your jaw, your throat, teeth grazing teasingly.

“You have no idea what you just started,” she murmurs, her fingers dragging slowly, deliberately down your side.

Vi’s grip tightens where her fingers press into your hips, holding you down as her mouth moves hungrily over your skin. Teeth, tongue, lips—she’s everywhere at once, setting your nerves on fire. The match was supposed to be about training, but neither of you had cared about that the second you pinned her.

Now, she’s making sure you regret it.

“You like teasing me, huh?” Vi’s voice is low, rough against your throat. “Think you can play my game and win?”

You barely get a word out before she grinds her thigh up against your core, ripping the air from your lungs. A smirk ghosts her lips as she watches you unravel. “Yeah. That’s what I thought.”

Your fingers tangle in her hair, tugging just hard enough to pull a growl from her lips. It only seems to make her hungrier. She drags her hands down your body, fast, desperate, like she’s been holding back too long and refuses to wait another second.

“Vi—”

“Shh.” She cuts you off with a kiss, messy and consuming, like she’s trying to claim every part of you at once. “I don’t wanna talk. I wanna hear you.”

She’s already moving lower, lips and teeth leaving a trail of heat as she tears away the last barriers between you. The second her fingers dip between your thighs, she curses under her breath, eyes dark with hunger.

“You’re already this wet for me?” Her voice is a rasp, half teasing, half wrecked with need. “Fuck, I can’t wait.”

There’s nothing slow or careful about the way she touches you, Vi is all urgency, all rough hands and impatient need. She doesn’t take her time, doesn’t hold back. She wants to feel every reaction, hear every sound, push you over the edge again and again until you’re wrecked beneath her.

And judging by the fire in her eyes, she won’t stop until she does.

Vi doesn’t waste time. She never does. The second her fingers slip between your thighs, she groans, low and rough, like she’s the one being touched.

“Fuck,” she breathes, her forehead pressing against yours as her fingers slide through your slick. “You’re so wet for me.”

You don’t get a chance to answer before she pushes one finger inside, then another, curling just right, just enough to make your hips jerk against her hand.

“That’s it.” Vi’s voice is wrecked, half-command, half-praise. “You’re gonna let me take you apart, yeah?”

You can’t do anything but nod, already arching against her as she starts moving. There’s nothing slow or teasing about it, she sets a relentless pace, fingers pumping into you, palm pressing against your clit with every thrust. The sound of it, slick and obscene, only makes her grin.

“Listen to you,” she murmurs, pressing a messy kiss to your jaw. “All desperate for me. You wanna come already?”

You do. You really fucking do. But Vi isn’t satisfied yet. She wants more.

Before you can break, she’s gone, her fingers slipping out, leaving you empty for half a second before she’s moving lower, dragging her mouth down your body like she can’t stand being anywhere else.

Then she’s between your thighs, and the second her tongue flicks over your clit, your whole body jolts. Vi groans against you, hands gripping your hips, holding you in place as she devours you without restraint.

“Fucking perfect,” she mumbles, voice muffled against your skin before she sucks your clit between her lips, rolling her tongue over it like she’s savoring every second.

The heat coils tighter, unbearable, and Vi can feel it, she can tell you’re right there, trembling beneath her. Instead of slowing, she doubles down, one hand sliding back between your thighs, pushing her fingers deep inside you again as her tongue works your clit in tandem.

That’s all it takes.

Your body arches, your fingers twisting in Vi’s hair, holding her against you as you come apart with a cry. She doesn’t let up, doesn’t stop, working you through every wave, drinking in your pleasure like she’s starving for it.

Only when you’re shaking does she finally slow, pressing one last, lingering kiss to your sensitive skin before dragging herself back up your body.

Her smirk is lazy, satisfied, lips slick as she presses them to yours, letting you taste yourself on her tongue.

“Guess that means I win this round.” She rolls onto her back, stretching with a satisfied sigh. “Think you’ll be ready for a rematch?”

[iridescentflamingo]

Silly stupid idea

You've known the turtles for less than a year and they told you that there's a few weeks in spring they have intense training and cannot have guests. You accept this and ask no questions about it. You're hanging out, playing cards after dinner and chilling. The few weeks are coming soon and you're trying to get more hang time with them.

Splinter enters the kitchen. He watches the five of you play for a bit before getting something out of the cupboards and glancing at the calendar. "Ah, is it already March? Have you boys warned Y/N about those upcoming weeks?"

Leonardo looks up and over to his father, "Yes, we told her about the intense spring training we'll be doing. She knows we'll call her when we're finished."

You glance up and see the brothers exchange looks that are subtle, but you've been getting better at picking up their body language.

Splinter makes a huff in his throat. "Ah, spring training, yes." He comes closer to the table, eyeing Leo's cards. "Training your wrists and testing my patience."

Michelangelo spits soda out of his nose and Donatello chokes on the snacks he was eating. You look around confused. Leo scrambles and quickly adds, "Yeah, Sensei, the weapons training can get pretty serious." He stares his father down, his face trying to remain neutral, but you can see his eyes twitch just slightly.

Splinter makes that huff noise again. It almost sounds like a scoff. "Weapons training, yes." He reaches across the table for a handful of pretzels as Mikey wipes the soda off his cards and Raph pats Donnie's chest.

Splinter munches one as the table gets uncomfortably quiet. He looks over to you. "You know, Raphael and Leonardo almost killed each other one year. I will never forget. It was the beginning of the season and we had just watched a movie. What was it? It had that one actress in it."

Mikey, not thinking, answers, "The Terminator."

"Yes, The Terminator. The action movie about robots with that muscle hero man from Europe. I thought it would be safe, you know, but Leonardo and Raphael got into this huge argument about the actress. Oh, her name was Hampton, something Hampton."

"Linda Hamilton." Mikey corrects. Raph reaches over and socks him in the arm. "Hey!"

"Yes! Linda Hamilton. They got in this huge fight about her and they started to yell and then it turned into a wrestling match and then they started to bellow at each other. Do you remember that, boys?" Splinter chuckled.

Leo and Raph looked mortified, but Mikey was laughing. "Yeah, Don and I had to pry them apart, there was blood everywhere."

"We were fifteen," Leo said through practically gritted teeth, "That was a long time ago, Sensei. We don't do that anymore. Spring training is a lot easier now. We don't get as competitive."

Splinter chuckled again. "Those first seasons were so rough. You boys were all over the place, so angry, so intense, and the smell. Ugh. I am so glad that you are more controlled these days."

"We're not teens anymore, Dad. We know how t' train without fighting about it." Raphael said, adding emphasis on the word train.

Splinter nodded his head, biting into another pretzel, a pensive look on his face. "This is true. You are all grown now, and I only grow older." He patted you on the shoulder as he made his move to depart. "Maybe next year one of you will invite Ms. Y/N to your spring training so that I will enjoy some grand-kids before I die, hmmm?"

As he made his way from the table, you turned and blinked, utterly confused and seeing mortified faces on all four turtles.

@thegirlwiththeninjaturtletattoos @sophiacloud28 @thelaundrybitch @the-cauldron-witch

@tmntngl @avery73 @milykins @adebauchedsloth

@justalotoffanfiction @truffle-reblogs

[mionemymind]

Chapter 2: Confessions for You

My Rival Series

Series Summary: The time where Y/n Y/l/n and Wanda Maximoff were academic rivals that fell for each other.

Chapter Summary: Y/n already is losing herself to her studies as competition looms closer and closer.

A/n: Gif credits to @elizabetholsens

Warnings: Rivals to Lovers, Obvious Feelings, Stubborn Reader, Cursing, Alcohol, Puking, Memory Loss? (ish)

Word Count: 5.1k

Masterlist

Series Masterlist

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 |

Last Month - Spring Semester

‘I fucking hate losing to her.’ Y/n’s fists were tightly clenched as she saw Wanda celebrate another perfect score. The glimmer in her eyes almost made Y/n’s vein burst from anger. The competition was in three weeks and the last day of school was in four weeks. 

It's been almost a month since she spoke to Dean Holloway about her scholarship. Since then, Y/n’s mental health has extremely deteriorated. The lack of sleep and the inability to eat was catching up to the bright student. 

She was making more mistakes in math club, simple ones that even the freshman could do with their eyes closed. Her confidence has gotten lower and lower the more she was unable to perfect her craft. 

And as Y/n stared at the ninety nine written on her test, all emotion was devoid from her. She was tired. Something that Wanda had noticed. The brunette had kept up on her usual appearances around Y/n. She taunted Y/n slightly over scores, grinned at every question she got right at math club, and overall proved to everyone why she was number one. 

But that wasn’t to say that the brunette didn’t notice all the changes happening to Y/n. If anything, Wanda was the first to notice all the changes. She noticed the appearance of deeper eyes bags, the short temper Y/n had over small mistakes, and even worse, the lack of focus Y/n had during lectures. 

There were other changes too like the way Y/n no longer engaged at all to Wanda’s banter. Instead, she would walk away, fists clenched, as if Y/n was holding herself back. Or the times that Wanda no longer spotted Y/n with her friends at all. It was like she was distancing herself from everyone she knew. 

While Wanda tried her best to look out for Y/n, all her kindness turned bitter when she thought of that meeting. 

Sitting across from each other, the two were finishing their project, looking over the final draft before submitting it. Wanda was looking over Y/n’s part of the essay when she came across a large paragraph that contained a lot of circular reasoning and hardly any sources. 

Wanda circled it and leaned forward to show Y/n. “Hey, you made a mist-,” Y/n snatched the paper, already rereading the paragraph at lightening speed. Her shoulders were tense as she squinted her eyes to read the paper better. 

“You didn’t explain your side well enough. I see what you’re trying to say but you end up using circular reasoning to back up your point rather the the sources we’ve gathered.” 

Feeling already embarrassed enough from math club, Y/n had enough. She got up, causing the chair to make a horrible screeching noise. Wanda grimaced at the sound as she noticed Y/n packing up. 

“Where are you-”

“Fuck off, Maximoff. I don’t need your input.” Wanda was caught off guard at Y/n’s hostility, but the smart girl had a sharp tongue and there was no way in hell she was going to allow Y/n to talk to her like that. 

“Clearly you do when you’re making basic mistakes like that.” Y/n scoffed as she stuffed her backup. 

“Always quick to call out someone’s mistakes. Would love for the day someone laughs at yours.” Wanda got up, her chair making the same awful sound. 

“Why are you being so rude? We are doing a peer review. What did you expect? That I let you mess up my grade.” Y/n rolled her eyes as she swung her backup over her shoulder. The zipper was barely over the arch, the swing almost causing her backup to open up. Y/n grabbed the remainder of her stuff and held it.

“You’re the last person I would ever call my peer. Do what you have to Maximoff but I’m fucking done here.” Y/n left without another word.

Wanda stood at her spot, offended at the fact that Y/n even snapped at her. What was worse, she genuinely felt hurt by Y/n’s tone. Y/n had never spoken to her like that, not in the three years they’ve known each other. 

So as she grabbed her stuff, her paper being last, Wanda didn’t notice the lack of marks on her paragraphs. All she noticed was the painful feeling in her heart left by Y/n.

“Okay everyone, let's please settle down so we can talk about the format for this upcoming state competition.” Up at the front of the lecture hall stood Y/n and Wanda. Naturally they stood a couple of feet apart as Wanda took the lead of the meeting. 

“This year we have the amazing honor of bringing in three teams to represent Evergreen University. Fortunately for us, Dean Holloway was able to get the approval to send in another team this year.” There were several claps coming from the students as Y/n somberly looked at the floor. 

‘He just wants to increase the odds of me losing.’ Y/n thought. Noticing that Y/n was not paying attention, Wanda shook her head and continued with the announcement. 

“As tradition has it, we will hold a bracket competition for those that would like to compete. Each team will have four slots to fill. Naturally as your co-captains for the club, we will only have 10 slots available for those that want to participate.” 

Wanda walked over to Y/n, giving her a slight pat on the back as she walked past her. “Your co-captain will list off how the competition will go.” 

Y/n cleared her throat, regaining her focus as she addressed the crowd. “In order to better assess senior and new member abilities, we will be holding a kahoot style competition as this will best mirror the real competition.”

Walking away from Wanda, “In order to avoid embarrassment of who did or did not get the answer correctly, we will be using the clickers that the University has provided our club. On the sign up sheet, I will write down your name beside the clicker number. The top ten members will receive a place for the competition. However, the members that place 11th through 13th will constitute as our substitutes in the case of anything happening to our members.” 

Y/n sat over to the desk of clickers, ready to write. “For those that are not wanting to participate but would like to see who has made it to our team, you are more than welcomed to stay as the questions on the screen will provide great practice. You may start lining up now for your clickers.” Wanda ended her speech with a gratuitous smile. 

A long line of students started to form as Y/n wrote each name down. Coincidentally enough, the first two clickers were reserved for Wanda and Y/n. Unbeknownst to Y/n, she wrote Wanda’s name at first and her name being second. Even her subconscious knew the truth. 

So as Wanda got the questions ready, Y/n sat at the table, away from everyone, hoping that her extreme hours spent studying were going to be worth it. Y/n looked at Wanda who sat with some of her friends in the club. There was still that stupid smile on her face. 

‘Eat dirt.’ Was all Y/n thought as the first question popped up on the screen. 

“Wait - you’re unable to pick me up when spring semester ends? Why?” Y/n sighed, still feeling the bitterness from math club as she sat under a tree that observed the Hodgekins Math building. 

“I’m sorry honey - your father and I are going to attend an important meeting for his company in Europe. Unfortunately, we were unable to reschedule it as your father’s clients were only able during that time to discuss the merge factors. I do hope you understand.” 

Y/n’s eyes teared up, feeling lower than ever before as she spotted Wanda finally leaving the building, the brunette’s words still in her mind. 

“How are you expected to lead when you can’t even get in the top ten?” Wanda whispered as she smiled at the students who made the team. “If you can’t even score top five, how can I trust you? Get your head back or I’m going to have to get someone else to fill your spot.” 

“Can you at least send Percy to help me out?” Y/n wiped her tears before they got a chance to fall. The weight of everything was crushing her down and it felt like no one even noticed. 

“Of course. He’ll be there to help you. How is school going by the way? Are you having fun? Your grades still okay?” Y/n leaned back on the tree, making sure no one was nearby. 

“It's been…okay. My state competition is less than a month away and I’ve been trying my best to study a lot for it.” Y/n bit her cheek, the feeling of losing gripped her heart. “But other than that, my grades are still good.” 

Y/n couldn’t see it, but her Mom was smiling on the other end of the phone. “Is that girl - what’s her name - oh yeah, Wanda, still there?” Y/n froze at the mention of the brunette, even worse, Wanda was oddly walking in her direction.

“Mom - I really don’t want to talk about her.” It’s like no matter what, Wanda somehow managed to pop up everywhere in her life. 

“Well, it has been a while since you’ve talked about her. I was starting to think she was no longer around.” Y/n knew when her Mom was acting oblivious and this happened to be one of those moments. 

“Mom-”

“You know if you can’t stand it just come back home. Your father is more than happy to help you get enrolled into-”

“Mom - I’m not going to Langford University. Dad can keep wishing but I will stay at Evergreen University.” The topic of Langford and her father was always a strain. While Y/n’s father was an alright man and honestly a great father, his vision for Y/n’s future never aligned for what his daughter wanted. 

Ever since she got accepted to Evergreen University, their relationship grew complicated. He even stopped calling after Thanksgiving break of her first semester in college. While Y/n did have a better relationship with her mother, it was still complicated nonetheless. 

“Look, I have to go. I’ll talk to you later Mom. Bye - love you.” Y/n hung up before her mother said anything back. The brunette that’s been in her mind stood right in front of her with a blank look on her face. 

“What do you want?” Wanda rolled her eyes at Y/n’s hostility. She hadn’t even said a word and she’s already managed to piss Y/n off. Had it been earlier in the year, Wanda would have enjoyed just how quick she could get under Y/n’s nerves. But now, Wanda couldn’t stand Y/n either. 

Taking a deep breath, Wanda calmed her anger and said, “Have you thought about what I said?” 

Standing up, Y/n wiped any possible dirt from her pants and glared at Wanda. “Don’t even think about replacing me. I’ll be at the competition and I’ll make sure that my group wins it all.” 

“You better be on your A-game at our next practice. If not, I’m pulling you.” Y/n’s jaw clenched at Wanda’s threat. Who was she to call the shots? They were co-captains after all. 

“Don’t worry your pretty head about me, Maximoff. I’ll be on my best behavior.”

‘I need to focus.’ It was a weeknight. As usual, Y/n was using this time to study for math club. Wanda had sent out a new packet for the competitors to use as practice for the real competition. 

For a majority of the questions, she had gotten ninety seven out of the hundred correct. But Y/n was on the brink of losing it all. She knew that any wrong answer would immediately lead to a Maximoff victory and that was the last thing she wanted. 

‘I need to be perfect.’ Erasing her calculations, Y/n redid it but still wasn’t able to match to the correct answer. Tightening the grip on her pencil, Y/n tried to not let this get to the best of her. But the constant sound of Natasha practicing her guitar started to aggravate her. 

In addition small music was already playing in the background, something Natasha was trying to play along with. So when Y/n redid her calculations once more and still got the wrong answer, she could feel her anger start to resurface. Still, she maintained her best composure and erased the wrong answer. \

Retrying for the third time, Y/n was close to reaching the correct answer when her pencil tip broke. ‘Just bad timing. That’s all. Get a new pencil and move on.’ She spoke internally. But the rational thoughts mixing with her anger were not a good combo. 

Was she hallucinating or was Natasha’s music suddenly getting louder? Ignoring it, Y/n grabbed a new pencil when the sound of a new email alerted her attention to her laptop. Going to Outlook, Y/n looked at the new email, its subject already signaling alarms in her head. 

Dean Holloway 

New Scholarship Requirements 

Feeling all sorts of anger and embarrassment, Y/n broke her pencil and slammed her computer shut. Standing up quickly, Y/n looked at Natasha, and without thinking, said, “Can you please cut that shit off?” 

Y/n was already fuming with anger, not caring if she pissed her best friend at all. At first, Natasha looked shocked at Y/n’s outburst, quickly turning the music off. But the realization of Y/n’s tone offended Natasha. 

“What’s up with you?” Natasha placed the guitar up against the wall. Y/n had never yelled at her like this before. 

“I need to study and I can’t when you’re distracting me.” Y/n waved towards the direction of the speakers and the guitar as if it was so obvious. 

“You could have asked nicely rather than being a dick about it.” Natasha did not like Y/n’s tone one bit. While they were best friends, Natasha did not take shit from anyone. 

“You could have been considerate of other people in the room rather than assuming.” Natasha scoffed knowing that this was not the first time she played music in front of Y/n. Heck, she always played music ever since freshman year of high school. Natasha could vividly recall the amount of times she asked Y/n in the beginning days of them dorming. Y/n would always respond with a smile, saying she never minded. So why would things change now? 

“Bullshit - tell me the real reason.” Natasha stood up and crossed her arms, not giving into Y/n’s lie. 

“I’ve had enough. Maybe that’s the reason.” Natasha rolled her eyes. She walked closer to Y/n, quickly lifting her shirt up to expose just how skinny she had gotten. 

“You’ve hardly been eating.” Feeling defensive, Y/n backed up, pushing her shirt back down. “You hardly sleep anymore. Not only that, I’ve barely been able to speak to you without you running away to study. Something is up. So tell me.” 

Y/n glanced down to the floor. Tears pricked her eyes as she thought of a way to get out of this. Guilt consumed her as quickly as her anger did. And now, she doesn't know what to say. 

So when the red head saw her friend silently cry, her shoulders dropped and immediately went in for a hug. “Whatever is eating you up, just please tell me. I’ll make sure to help you through it so you don’t have to go through it alone.” 

‘If I’m not perfect…I’m going to lose you.’ But as Y/n clutched on to Natasha, no words escaped her mouth for the redhead had enough to worry about. 

Day Before Competition - Spring Semester

“I can’t believe you’re actually going to a party.” Y/n looked over the simple outfit she had on, blue jeans, loose white shirt, and converse. This was the first time she was going to a party, vividly recalling the multiple lies she’s used to get out of one in the past. 

“I don’t understand why this one is suddenly mandatory for club members to go to. We literally have a competition tomorrow.” Today was supposed to be spent for late night studying, but according to Wanda’s orders, this was a must for all twelve members. 

“Who cares? I know you’re going to do well.” Natasha says behind Y/n. The red head admired Y/n’s outfit before looking eyes with her through the mirror. “You’ve been studying your ass off. I just know tomorrow is going to be your day.” 

Y/n didn’t want to overthink Natasha's words. Ever since she outlashed that night, she refused to for her anger to get the best of her even though her circumstances weren’t so great. Offering Natasha a wide smile, Y/n said, “I’ll be only drinking one cup tonight but nothing else. I can’t be too drunk.”

“And I’m going to do the opposite, I will be getting drunk especially since finals are this upcoming week.” 

‘I want to leave.’ Hours into the party, the crowd grew more alive. More people were in the center dancing while many small groups formed around the frat house. The backyard was filled with people vaping or smoking. 

Y/n didn’t quite recognize all that attended the party. If she was being honest, people started to come even when they weren’t part of a club. There were a few outliers from chemistry and movie club, but other than that, the crowd was overwhelming. 

Sipping on the last few bits of her drink, Y/n watched Natasha with a small buzzing feeling. The red head was downing her fifth shot. A smirk was wide spread on her face as she wiped the small bits of tequila that were on the corner of her mouth. The crowd around her cheered as the next person got their shot ready.

Natasha walked to where Y/n was standing and stood beside her. Feeling touchy, she decided to lay her head on Y/n’s shoulder and observed the crowd. She knew a lot of the outliers from the many parties she’s been to. Plus, with how outgoing of a personality Natasha had, a lot of people gravitated towards her. 

But no matter how many people Natasha was friends with, Y/n was always her favorite. The two were opposites but that made the friendship even better. The red head always viewed Y/n as the black cat that never wanted to be petted. But the day she was finally allowed was one that Natasha always remembers. 

“Having fun?” Y/n could smell the alcohol from Natasha’s breath but didn’t mind. 

“A little bit. This drink is helping me not stress so much though.” Natasha smiled at Y/n’s confession. The two didn’t really have a long talk about her outburst many nights ago. And while Natasha always had her guesses, she remained at Y/n’s side, never wanting her best friend to feel alone. 

As for Y/n, vowed to keep her anger in check. While she did still feel irritated at times, she focused on not letting her anger consume her as much. Even with the given circumstances, it wasn’t fair to Natasha or any of her friends to get the short end of the stick. It wasn’t their fault for the way things were. 

“Ya know Nat, for this party to have mandatory attendance, I have not seen Wanda or any of the math club members anywhere.” Natasha looked around the crowd that was in the dance room and couldn’t spot the all too familiar brunette at all. 

“That’s weird. Did y’all agree for a meet up spot?” Y/n shook her head no. 

“I haven’t even gotten a text from Wanda. She’s usually on top of these things.” The two watched for a moment, letting the loud music fill the comfortable silence between them. Wanting to get another shot, Natasha almost left when she saw Wanda amongst the crowd. 

“Why does Wanda affect you so much?” Y/n almost hadn’t heard Natasha’s question, but when Y/n followed the direction of her gaze, she knew. 

“She doesn’t affect me.” Although it was a small buzz, the ability to lie knowing she had drunk a little was all the confidence Y/n needed. 

“Well you talk about her,” Natasha pointed out. “Plus, anytime she’s around, you end up bickering for a while. Sometimes you would go on rants talking about what she said to you during class.”

The blush that appeared on Y/n’s cheek was hard to spot in the dark setting. The brown eyed girl clutched on her red solo cup, feeling embarrassed that she was easily called out with compelling evidence. 

Looking back at Wanda, Y/n could feel her heart rate increase as she saw her talking to other people. There was this different aura surrounding her. Maybe it was the drink or maybe it was the fact that she seemed to really enjoy herself. Like academics wasn’t the only thing she excelled in. 

“Is she the reason you’re acting so differently lately?” Natasha lifted her head as she felt Y/n stiffen up. Feeling like she overstepped, the red head was about to spout an apology.

“Yeah,” Y/n continued to look at Wanda. Even though it was rude to blame the situation on her, it was easier to admit it than speak the truth. “It’s just..I hate Wanda Maximoff. I hate her face and the way she hides her freckles. I hate her smile and how perfect she laughs. I hate how smart she is and how she knows everything. I hate her.” Y/n complained. 

But how could she hate the girl that always took number one in everything? How could she hate the girl that captivated her mind 24/7? How could she hate the girl she would willingly be number two for?

And as Natasha looked back at Wanda then Y/n, a realization suddenly hit her. ‘You like her.’ But Natasha didn’t dare to confess this outloud but it was so obvious. ‘What else would eat her up this way?’ Natasha thought. 

On the other side of the party, Wanda could feel eyes on her. Looking around the room, she finally connected to the brown eyes she knew well. Unknowingly, the sight of Natasha being so close aggravated the brunette for some reason.

But all Wanda could focus on was how soft Y/n’s stare was. There was no jealousy or bitterness about them. And that captivated Wanda even more because this was the first time that Y/n had ever looked at Wanda that way. 

Suddenly, all the air shifted in the room, and Wanda couldn’t help but think, “Why does she hate me?” 

Natasha left after her tenth shot as her girlfriend dragged her away. Feeling no reason to stay any longer, Y/n made her way out the frat house when she bumped into Wanda. 

The red head was unable to stand up straight, almost falling if it weren’t for Y/n’s arms. “Hey - hey - are you okay?” 

Here was the gaze again, the same one Wanda felt half an hour ago. It was almost too much to handle the first time, leading Wanda to drink even more. It was stupid, nonetheless, Wanda was drunk and the very reason why was the same one holding her. 

Feeling too much, Wanda leaned away as she puked into the bush. Almost wanting to puke from the sight, Y/n held Wanda’s hair back as she patted her back. “There - there.” 

Y/n looked around and was thankful that no one was here to witness this scene. As much as she hated Wanda, Y/n didn’t want this image to be in people’s heads. 

Standing back up, Wanda teared up, hating the feeling of puking. 

“Hey - it’s gonna be okay.” Not knowing what compelled her to do this, Y/n used the bottom of her shirt to wipe Wanda’s mouth. She didn’t care if puke got on her. The idea of Wanda crying infront of her was worse than puke. 

“Let me take you back home. You can’t walk in these conditions.” Was Y/n thankful that Wanda had bumped into her? No…well at least that’s what she would say out loud. But as Y/n walked Wanda back to her dorm, the awful thought of Wanda unsafely walking by herself at night made her sick. 

Arriving to dorm 321, Y/n swiped the key card, opening the door to a cold room. Carefully leading Wanda to her bed, Y/n lifted the white duvet, allowing Wanda to crawl in. 

When Wanda looked comfortable, Y/n looked around the room, noticing the minifridge at the corner. Opening it up, Y/n grabbed a water bottle and placed it at Wanda’s nightstand. 

Although Y/n could leave, the sight of Wanda sleeping made her freeze. Many thoughts slipped through her mind, some that she would blame the alcohol on. But there was this worrying feeling in her heart as the thought of Wanda puking in her sleep crossed her mind. 

No one would be able to help her in time considering she didn’t have a roommate. Groaning at her predicament, Y/n looked around the room. There was no spare pillow or blanket. It would be a rough night and the competition was soon. Looking at the clock on her wall, the bus would be ready to leave at 8:00 am giving Y/n around six and half hours to sleep. 

Was it worth it to stay at all? Would Wanda be fine? But as Y/n helped Wanda turn on her side to sleep, the brown eyed girl knew her answer. 

“Wanda, I’m going to be on the floor. If you need anything, just let me know.” There was no response from Wanda. Figuring she could leave before Wanda woke up in the morning, Y/n laid down on the ground, feeling cold from the intense air conditioning.

‘I can’t sleep if I’m freezing to death.’ The thought of using the rug below her as a blanket crossed her mind. Before she could say fuck it, Wanda’s voice caught her attention.

“Why do you hate me?” Glancing towards the bed, Y/n couldn’t see Wanda’s face from her view at the floor. Laying back down, Y/n looked at the ceiling, surprised that Wanda was even up.

“What makes you think that?” It was rude to dampen a drunk girl, that much was common sense for Y/n. So rather than outwardly admit anything, she rediverted it back to Wanda. 

“I can’t recall a moment where you were kind to me.” Y/n froze as she thought about that moment back in the library, wondering if Wanda had her flannel in her dresser. “And I don’t think you’ve said a nice thing about me…so you must hate me.” 

Oh how wrong Wanda was. Because the truth of it all, Y/n never hated Wanda. She could never hate the girl that pushed her to do her best everyday. She could never hate the girl that would go above and beyond for people that need help. She could never hate the girl she lived and breathed for. 

“I have said nice things about you,” Y/n whispered. The two never spoke like this before and it terrified Y/n to even admit such things. “You just have to look inbetween the lines. You’re smart - so I guess I hoped you saw through them.” 

Wanda was too drunk to really recall anything. She wanted so badly to ask but was afraid of the truth. “Are you ready for the competition?” 

Looking back up, Wanda had scooted to the edge of the bed, her eyes connecting with Y/n. “I think so. Do you think you’ll win?” 

Pulling the duvet away from her mouth, Wanda looked away as she said, “If I don’t, I’ll just disappoint my father.” 

“You wouldn’t disappoint me.” Wanda looked back at Y/n. Had she not been drunk, the intensity of her words and stare would have made her combust. 

But as the long night finally reached Wanda, she suddenly fell asleep before she could respond back. “Nothing you could ever do would disappoint me, Wanda.”

Competition Day - Spring Semester

Waking up to the sound of her alarm, Wanda panicked at the time. Immediately rushing to brush her teeth and change her clothes, she rushed out of her dorm, almost forgetting the important papers for the competition. 

As she ran on to the bus, sparing ten minutes, she looked around to see that everyone besides two people were left. The migraine in her head was hard to ignore, regardless, Wanda was thankful that she made it on time. 

Soon, the remainder of the team hopped on board, choosing a free row for themselves. Since it was a four hour ride, Wanda didn’t bother lecturing the team this early about the competition. She could do that later. 

Finding a free row near the front, she sat down at the seat closest to the window. Cursing herself for even drinking so much, Wanda glanced over and noticed that Y/n was across from her. She had jeans and white shirt on with a weird stain at the bottom. 

Wanda almost wanted to yell at her for not being in uniform when she noticed that she was asleep. Feeling another headache, Wanda focused on trying to find medicine in her backpack, the events of last night gone from her memory. 

Taking an ibuprofen, Wanda pulled out her notes and studied some problems. And although she didn’t remember, the girl across from her did as she finally got some sleep, having been up all night making sure that Wanda was safe and sound. 

Chapter 3

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[miyuki-fenn]

Junglavara Dorm Info

ஜுங்கிலவர/Junglavara

The dorm that reveres the Beast of the Wild's spirit of Strategy. 

Junglavara is composed mostly of beastmen, many of whom have come to feel at home in its wild, territorial atmosphere. Within their own ranks, Junglavara students operate like a tight knit pack, all while being at odds with one another. They’re efficient and quietly competitive. Strategy games, tests of strength, and evening sparring matches are common pastimes.

Housewarden Sarhan Khar is a tiger beastman with an ever-watchful gaze. Though his temperament can be cool and distant, it’s his intense protectiveness of his dorm that really defines him. Sarhan holds a deep distrust for those from other schools, and even other dorms. Under his leadership, Junglavara has become fiercely insular, with most students adopting similar sentiments. To be deemed an outsider is to be met with cold indifference, if not outright hostility.

Vice-Housewarden, Kaabera Python, a peckish python beastman that serves as Sarhan’s counterbalance. Where Sarhan is firm and commanding, Kaabera is silky and observant. He’s usually the face– or tail you’ll be greeted with should you wander into Junglavara uninvited.

I also finished it's dorm page! Go check it out here

The main structure of the dorm is an ancient temple, a grand complex of stone cloisters, intricately carved spires, and open rooms and courtyards that are overgrown in foliage yet still tidy, much like the wilds it resides in. Vines creep along moss-stained pillars, and traditional lanterns light the paths after sunset. This structure houses common areas, study halls, and even a communal hot spring!

The Beast of the Wilds is a noble Bengal tiger, known to be the protector of the Vanavine Wilds. When a reckless child of man wandered in, bringing fire and fear, the Beast rose not out of hatred, but out of duty. He warned the jungle of the danger this boy posed, knowing fire would consume all if left unchecked. Though painted as a villain by those who feared his power, the tiger was the jungle’s silent guardian. He was willing to be feared, if it meant the jungle could remain untouched by man’s destruction.

Dorm Uniform

[forwhatiam]

Happy 28th!! <3 Let's celebrate with some of the fics I've read this past month (and some from April)! Ordered from longest to shortest, look for the asterisks to see what landed in my bookmarks!

One More Time by BostonKatie617 (M, 166k)

One More Time is an AU fic, in which One Direction was a four-piece without Louis. Louis works in book publishing and lives in the Boston area where he supports his mum, who is stuck in a nursing home without any hope of recovery.

But while working too hard and caring too much, our protagonist Louis Tomlinson is granted one more extraordinary chance to recover from a broken heart… Maybe find some love… Help some friends… And definitely exact some revenge during an epic singing competition. An epic singing competition that just may include Harry Styles tripping down a stairwell and into the arms of a certain someone.

Is Louis brave enough to put it all on the line one more time?

The Dead of July by whimsicule (M, 117.4k)

Harry is Captain America, and Louis’ been dead for 70 years.

*Who Painted the Moon Black by throughthedark (E, 95.6k)

Hunger Games AU where Louis Tomlinson is district six's victor from the 69th Hunger Games and Harry Styles is district seven's victor from the 72nd Hunger Games.

Time Passed by coffinofachimera (E, 66.3k)

Louis struggles with their relationship as Harry grows into his identity.

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart) by thedeathchamber (E, 55.8k)

Harry thinks he has good reasons for avoiding relationships. Meeting Louis puts those reasons to the test.

Forever at Your Feet by larry_hiatus (E, 52.5k)

The one where Harry’s in a sex cult, and he’s the leader’s favorite.

All I've Ever Known by haztobegood (E, 34.8k)

The disruption was small, but mighty. It came hitched to the back of a black Dodge Ram pickup truck one sunny spring afternoon. With its shiny metal siding and sparkling windows, it stood out like a sore thumb. It was a Tiny House. The brand new tiny house was delivered to the empty lot at 28 Longbourn Lane, drawing a small crowd around the mailboxes. Gossip was a hot commodity in Princess Park and it had been ages since the neighbors had seen something so novel. “It is a truth universally acknowledged that anybody that wants to live in a tiny home must be lacking in both taste and sense.”

Six Ways to Sunday by SilverStuff50 (E, 11k)

Harry’s a fanboy and Louis secretly likes the fact. Or maybe not so secretly…

Superstition by Forestafay (E, 6k)

Harry has a pretty simple life: school, work at the local flower boutique, and Sunday night dance parties with her two black cats, Matilda and Anna, to RAYE’s 21st Century Blues. Everything fits, slotted in with the fabric fibres of her life—organised chaos, as she likes to call it. That is, until the moving trucks pull up outside Harry's apartment complex, and someone starts moving into the previously empty flat next door.

*Sweven by 1Diamondinthesun (NR, 4.4k)

"So this Harry,” Liam chuckled, reaching for the business card, “Harry Styles, witnessed you in a near nap state and gave you his card? And his personal number?”

Louis ducked his head and smiled at the memory. “I asked for it, actually.”

Louis glanced up at Liam to find him staring back with a speculative smile. Liam pointed Harry’s business card at Louis as he spoke:

“I’d say he’s worth a call, then.”

[nasa]

HBCU Students Make Moves with NASA Tech

In September 2023, students at HBCUs participated in a hackathon at the National HBCU Week Conference, where they used NASA’s technologies to create solutions to problems that affect Black communities. The winning team, Team Airtek, proposed a nano-sensor array for medical diagnoses that would give students on HBCU campuses a non-invasive, non-intensive way to test themselves for precursors for diseases and illnesses like diabetes and COVID.

The hackathon they participated in is a modified version of the full NASA Minority University Research and Education Project Innovation and Tech Transfer Idea Competition (MITTIC) that takes place each fall and spring semester at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

No matter what you’re studying, you can join the MITTIC competition and come up with new and innovative tech to help your community and the world.

MITTIC could be the beginning of your career pathway: Teams can go on exclusive NASA tours and network with industry experts. Show off your entrepreneurial skills and your team could earn money—and bragging rights.

Don’t wait too long to apply or to share with someone who should apply! The deadline for proposals is Oct. 16, 2023. Apply here: https://microgravityuniversity.jsc.nasa.gov/nasamittic.

[whitechocolate355]

full court press

part - 1

pairing - paige bueckers x azzi fudd

word count - 3.3k

warnings - language

synopsis: this is a throwback to their aau days, where paige and azzi's friendship begins with an intense interaction... however, both girls seem to have different expectations on how their relationship will grow... so what will it be? friends? lovers? or rivals?

(repost since my other acc has been shadowbanned 😖)

hey guys ... this is my first post on tumblr and i'm so excited to share this pazzi aau storyline!! i don't know exactly what direction this fanfic might go so i'd love all feedback and suggestions on what to write next! honestly not my best work but i'm planning for some competitiveness/rivalry romance in the following chapters - what do y'all think? hope u guys have fun reading xx (and hope u guys enjoy the #ihatemybf moments as much as i do 🤭)

p.s. i'm nearing the end of my holidays so i might not be posting as much but i'll try my very best💋

chapter 1: ten minutes to turbulence

The breeze met Azzi with a soft embrace as she stepped off her plane, sweeping her brunette hair right into Buecker's face, who seemed to be standing a little too close to her for her to be a stranger…

---------------

Paige -

“Her hair smells so good” Paige thought, taking in Azzi's scent just inches behind her. Her curls captured the scent of lavender with a hint of vanilla that made Paige weak every time she neared her.

"WHATTT?" Azzi shouted over the noise, unable to hear the blonde's mumbling over the plane's engine

Fuck. she did not just say that out loud.

Thanking the lord that Azzi hadn't heard her, she composed herself, leaning in so her mouth brushed the tip of Azzi's ear. "I said,” she smirked. “I didn't ask for a mouthful of your hair, princess"

Azzi jolted, feeling weirdly electrified by her touch, which was strange since she had only met the girl 5 hours ago.

"Are you really blaming me when you're the one who chose to stand so close to me? Obsessed much?" she lashed back, rolling her eyes.

Caught off guard, Paige didn't realise Azzi had such an attitude, pinning her as the shy, pushover, girl-next-door (not that it wasn't Paige's type) and it certainly didn't help that the flight had left Paige in a trance, making her question whether God had put the brunette next to her as her soulmate, or a test to her self-control.

During the plane ride, Azzi's adidas shorts had ridden up her legs, putting her tanned skin on display. And her arms— the same toned arms that lingered on Paige's shoulder for too long— kept verging near Paige's, sending a thrill down her spine each time their skin touched. She had to fight the urge to look next to her, because she knew she'd never be able to look away.

So when the flight attendant came around with snacks (Paige's favourite: Lays chips with ketchup packets), she groaned and pulled her hood back towards the window, knowing she would have no control over how her body reacted if she looked remotely in Azzi's direction.

Yet, why was she so... turned on by Azzi's comeback? Intrigue began to flicker as she smirked at the sight of the cute, brown-eyed girl. Maybe basketball won't be the only activity amusing her for the next few weeks...

---------------

Azzi -

Shuffling through the aisle of the plane, Azzi groaned as the single file line seemed to move at a rate of an inch per hour. She had already been exhausted from the load of homework assigned to her over the summer, despite being the youngest in her class by a year.

As she made her way into her row, she was too tired to look over to where she was sitting, not realising she had fully sat on a girl's lap instead of her seat until she heard an awkward "um... excuse me"

Azzi's eyes widened, immediately springing off the girl's lap. "Oh god I'm so sorry" She apologised, redness only intensifying as a passenger pushed past her, causing her arm to reach over the blonde's shoulder to stabilise herself. Shit.

An instinctive hand grasps onto Azzi's side, steadying her at her waist.

Azzi looks down in surprise, almost yelping at the touch of the blonde's hand.

Of course this is happening to me. Azzi thought, cursing the world for her already bad start to her trip.

"You alright there?" The blonde asks, reluctant to remove her hand from Azzi's waist.

Azzi nods in silence, unable to muster words with the girl's hand still resting on her waist, slowly inching towards her hips as if it belonged there.

Breaking the silence, the girl replies, "Listen, I'll just move over. It seems like this window seat isn't doing you any favours right now" Whilst shuffling over one.

Azzi inhaled sharply at the absence of the blonde's hand, secretly wishing it had lingered a little longer.

"Thanks" she sighed. But she knew this wouldn't be the only string of bad luck, considering the past week...

.

.

.

Paige -

Paige had just been mindlessly staring at her phone when the chaos started.

After recovering from the initial shock of a girl (who was exactly her type) falling helplessly like an angel into Paige's lap, some dude in the aisle— with his oversized bag swinging like a wrecking ball —shoved past her. The force knocked her sideways, and before Paige could even register what was happening, the girl's arm shot out, grasping onto Paige for balance.

The brunette's hand landed on Paige’s shoulder. Fingers splayed. The touch was a quick, instinctual.

But Holy hell, did it do something to Paige, as if the involuntary lap dance wasn't enough of a turn on.

It wasn’t a dramatic moment — not really. but Paige’s heart did a very dramatic thing anyway, stuttering like it had missed a beat. Her pulse hiccupped in her throat, and for a second, she froze. Azzi’s fingers were warm, firm — they wrapped for a split second around her shoulder before she immediately pulled away, looking flustered.

“Shit, i’m sorry!” Azzi’s voice was quiet but hurried.

Get yourself together, Bueckers.

The contact was brief, less than a second, but it left behind a static hum.

Getting flustered over a hand on her shoulder? now that was a first— which happened to be quite rare these days, considering Paige's extensive dating pool.

The girl pulled back quickly, her eyes wide with the sudden embarrassment. But all Paige could focus on was the electric buzz where the girl's hand had been.

“Sorry,” she said, half-wincing. “Didn’t mean—”

“No, no, it’s fine,” Paige said too fast. her voice jumped an octave. “Totally cool. Normal. People grab shoulders on planes all the time.”

She tried to sound unaffected, but her voice cracked at the end, betraying her. She could feel her pulse thudding in her neck, and her brain was still half a second behind.

She reached for her water in a desperate bid to look normal.

In the same motion, Paige leant over, trying to act casual and avoid meeting azzi’s gaze for too long.

Bad move.

The plastic cup wobbled before Paige even processed what was happening. Fingers fumbling, she hit the rim instead of the cup, and time slowed in that cruel, mocking way it does when you're about to embarrass yourself.

“Oh sh—” paige’s hands shot forward,

The cup tipped, arced through the air like a doomed free throw, and the entire contents of her water splashing across her lap.

Paige hissed under her breath. “Fucking hell”

Azzi blinked, surprised. “Are you okay?”

“I’m great,” Paige said, dripping. “Incredible reflexes. You saw that save, right?”

Azzi’s mouth twitched, trying to suppress a quiet giggle. “If you were going for a waterfall, you nailed it.”

Paige laughed— mostly to cover up the fact that her cheeks were burning. “I swear, i’m not usually this much of a disaster.”

Azzi gave her a half-smile, her voice softened. “Blame it on the plane turbulence?”

"More like Paige turbulence" she sighed, muttering under her breath.

Azzi offered her a napkin from her stash, her eyes softer than they’d been before. “You can have mine. I don’t spill things.”

And damn it, Paige smiled. Not the cocky, easy kind either— the real one, the kind that tugged at her lips like it hadn’t been used in a while.

“Guess I’ll just have to keep you around then.”

Azzi didn’t answer right away.

But her eyes remained on Paige. lingering.

.

.

.

Azzi -

As she finally settled into her new seat, her phone buzzed. Then again. Then—BUZZZZ!

"You sure you don't want to get that?" the blonde asked, and the hotness rushed over Azzi's cheek all over again.

"Sorry" she muttered for the millionth time, reaching for her phone to check what could've possibly made her phone this mad.

* Matt sent 4 texts*

Matt: "hey baby, i know you're mad about prom but i swear the girl threw herself onto me"

Azzi: "oh so is that why her selfies ended up on your snap story that night?"

Matt: "i don't even know how she took my phone in the first place i swear"

Azzi rolled her eyes. She was clearly not in the mood to do this right now.

Matt: "baby? i know your flight doesn't leave until 11"

Matt: "please, i have something to tell you"

Matt: "i've been thinking, and i think—

i might be in love with you"

Matt: "just think things over, will you?"

Matt: "hope this will cheer you up ;)"

*Matt🔥 sent you a snap*

Surprisingly, finding out her boyfriend had cheated on her with 2 girls at her first prom was not the worst thing on her mind. Actually, part of her was kind of relieved. Relieved to the point that she hadn't even bothered to tell him she knew about the other girl he got with later that night.

What was the worst thing though, was the thought that matt had sent her yet another shirtless pic, flexing his non-existent abs.

God, is this man trying to make my day worse?

Unless there was someone on God's green earth that had a thing for toneless stomachs and flabs for arms, (which was certainly not her), she assumed matt's snap was an attempt to violate her peace. And it certainly worked.

When Matt first started showing attention to Azzi during trig class, the overbearing snickering from his friends and the constant "Yo, Mrs Henderson" to get her attention was tolerable, maybe even sweet. But after a few days, the novelty began to wear off.

"You haveeeeee to date him, he's so cute" Nailyssa giggled with excitement. "And plus, think of all the senior parties we could go to" her best friend pleaded, beady eyes looking to her with desperation.

Azzi sighed. "When do you ever stop thinking about parties?", knowing she was the one having to save Nailyssa's drunk ass from random parties at 3am.

"When you stop thinking of basketball" she shot back teasingly, sticking out her tongue before going back to her innocent, doe-eyed plea of desperation.

So, when the third week of his pathetic courting came around, Azzi felt cornered into going out with him, especially with hundreds of phones shoved into her face when Matt held a torn out notebook page to his chest that read, "Will u be my gf?" with handwriting that almost convinced her she had become dyslexic.

She later found out that the note had been written last period.

10 minutes before he asked her out.

Catching herself mid zone-out, she felt a set of eyes peering from the side of her vision. "Sorry, did i do something?" Azzi asked, wondering what the hell she had done this time.

"No, uh— that guy sounds like a dick. You deserve better" Azzi looked at the girl in confusion, quickly glancing away when met with her intoxicating blue eyes.

Before she could think, she sputtered "Well, he's not all bad..." in defence, gazing down. Why would she say that?

Part of her felt bad for Matt, because while his actions were inexcusable, she clearly never gave him much attention, let alone affection. Guilt began to fill her mind.

"Oh yeah?" the blonde challenged, a hint of fire in here eyes. "From what I've seen he looks like a Class-A prick" Paige laughed. "I bet you can't say one thing you like about him"

"Who even told you that you could look at my phone?" Azzi scoffed, pretending to look offended when she really was trying to avoid the lingering question.

"Uh, i think my actions can be justified given you've given me an involuntary lap dance, then touched my shoulder, then made me knock my water bottle over all in the span of 10 minutes. You should be glad i'm not asking the flight attendant to switch you to a middle seat right now" she laughed.

Azzi felt the heat rising to her face again— a feeling that was beginning to feel all too familiar. "Hey— don't blame me for the last part, my hand went nowhere near your water bottle" Azzi protested, struggling to argue her point.

"Still avoiding the question, i see" she smirked, her eyes darkening.

"Who even are you?" Azzi asked flustered, deflecting her response for as long as humanly possible.

"Paige." she answered mindlessly. Her gaze refocused, leering at Azzi. "Now hurry up and stop avoiding the question" she beckoned, waiting for her answer with a smug look on her face.

After a few too many moments of silence, Azzi finally begins, "I guess— his zest for life?" Azzi responded, surprising even herself that she was able to come up with at least an answer.

Paige stared at the girl for a few moments, analysing her response with an inexplicable expression on her face.

Is she checking me out right now? what the—

Paige burst into laughter, covering her face with her hand.

As Azzi looked quizzically at Paige, she couldn't help but note the absence of Paige's soaked jacket, leaving only a plain white tee, fitted around her toned body. The outline of her black Nike bra was so apparent, she was sure she could trace it from memory.

Azzi gulped. Just from Paige's palm in her face, her arm tensed, creating a subtle outline of her biceps. Her rock hard biceps.

God, what training does this girl do?

This is definitely what matt thinks he looks like when he stares in the mirror...

Wait, what was she doing?

No. Clearly she just had a thing for biceps. Everyone has them, Right? She thought as she attempted to reassured herself.

And plus, being attracted to someone as cocky as her? That's laughable. She chuckles.

Torn out of her reverie, a smug grin meets her eyes. "Staring at something?" Paige asked with a little too much amusement.

Caught.

"Paige, in order for me to stare at something, there'd have to actually be something there" Azzi retorted.

For a moment— silence.

Shit. She thought.

Had she pushed the wrong buttons?

Welp, this was going to be an awkward plane flight, but at least her ego—

"Ouch—" paige slowly began. "Y'know, that would hurt a lot more if i thought you actually meant it" The blonde snickered, clearly entertained through Azzi's cute defensiveness rather than the selection of movies in front of her.

Yup, laughable. Azzi sighed, thinking to herself.

"Don't worry, you can feel them if you want, I don't mind" Paige offered, her grin turning devilish.

"You're too much" Azzi scoffed, relaxing into her neck pillow to avoid Paige's brutally honest conversation.

When Azzi finally stirred awake from her much needed nap, she felt a familiar gaze coming from a certain blonde next to her.

Paige had been staring intently at her face, as if examining her.

"Why are you staring again? do i have something on my face?" Azzi asked, quickly opening her phone camera as self-consciousness overcame her.

"Just wanted to" she shrugs, maintains eye contact, clearly not caring about being caught. Her mouth opened with a slight part, breathing deeply as she diverted her gaze to Azzi's lips, before quickly revisiting her eyes.

What. The. Fuck. Was. That.

Before Azzi could react, Paige sighs, "Listen, um. on a serious note, no man should treat you like that. I mean, you're gorge—"

The plane began to rattle as it prepared for takeoff, bumping the passengers on and off their seats.

Azzi turned back and began to ask Paige to finish her sentence before a sudden hand enveloped hers.

As Azzi looked toward Paige with surprise, she was met with a complete different person. Paige looked straight ahead, terrified. The blonde was shaking, her heart beating so loud that Azzi could feel it through Paige's grip.

At the sight of this, Azzi's hand immediately softened around Paige's, brushing lightly against Paige's hand with her thumb in reassurance. "Listen, just take deep breathes. turbulence will be over in less than a minute" she reassured her.

Paige nodded, blinking her eyes shut. Her hands squeezed Azzi's in comfort and gratitude, sending butterflies in her stomach.

What is this girl doing to her?

.

.

.

Paige -

Paige should’ve pulled her hand back. She really should’ve. But there was something calming about the way Azzi’s thumb twitched slightly in her sleep, her grip loosening and tightening with each breath.

She was supposed to be focusing on her form, her footwork, her free throws —hell, maybe NBA 2k stats— not the girl snoring lightly beside her, with one arm draped into Paige’s seat and the other still interlocked with hers like they were... something.

Paige shifted her face toward the window, but kept her eyes open. In reality, she was just watching Azzi from the reflection in the dark plane window, hoping to finally go unnoticed.

The sky outside was just navy and cloud now, but her thoughts were louder than any storm.

She pulled her hoodie tighter around her head, letting the hum of the plane lull her into stillness. But the space between them felt warmer now. Just, aware.

From the corner of her eye, she could tell Azzi wasn’t sleeping either.

“You’re not one of those people who actually sleeps on planes, are you?” Paige murmured.

Azzi didn’t move. “Why?”

“Just asking. You’re really committed to the whole mysterious silence thing.”

Azzi smirked faintly into the hoodie. “I like quiet.”

“Bet you don’t talk to matt either then” Paige said teasingly, voice drifting between tired and curious.

Did azzi really love a man like that? The thought made her heart ache.

Why should she care? She had only met the tanned girl 3 hours ago. except... why did she care?

A few beats passed. Paige looked over for her response, only to see the girl had nuzzled into her pillow, her breaths slowing.

Instead of getting her answer, she let herself turn to fully watch Azzi. Her strong jawline softened in sleep. The way her lashes fluttered. Her shirt had ridden up slightly, revealing a set of defined abs on the tan skin, hinting at a shimmering diamond: at the base of Azzi's core.

God damn. Paige huffed, biting her fist to suppress the inexplicable things that diamond stud was doing to her body.

Nope. No thoughts. Just focus. Focus on— basketball. The trials. Beating out 164 of the best girls in the country. Not... whatever this was.

Still, she didn’t pull her hand away.

.

.

.

Azzi -

As Paige drifted into a seemingly deep slumber, hands still firmly attached to Azzi's, Azzi was relieved when she remembered that she wouldn't encounter Paige after this flight, because Lord knows what this girl could do to her if she had the time.

Azzi sighed, might as well rest up too then.

She closed her eyes, but her mind didn’t. It couldn't. not with Paige's earlier words still floating around in her head, infiltrating her every thought.

That line — "you’re gorg-" was stuck in a loop in Azzi's brain, playing and replaying in Paige's husky voice.

What was she going to say? Was she about to call Azzi gorgeous?

Azzi groaned into her neck pillow, wracking her mind with frustration. The turbulence could not come at a worse time.

Did she mean to say that? Why did she have to stop there? Did she stop herself on purpose?

Paige had said it so casually. Like it meant nothing.

But, maybe it did.

Azzi turned away slightly, pretending to adjust her pillow. Trying to piece together this girl who flirted like it was her first language yet froze during takeoff like a terrified puppy. The contrast was… weirdly endearing.

Before she could spiral too deep, Paige nudged her thigh.

"Hey," she said, a soft whisper. "What are you going to Nevada for, anyway?"

Azzi paused. "Family trip" she smiled, pursing her lips. She had automatically given into her first instinct to lie. Why did she lie?

She sank further into her guilt as Paige was looking at her with that same open face she had when the turbulence hit— no teasing, no bravado. Her fingers tracing Azzi's hand.

Azzi sighed, at least she wouldn't have to see her again to explain.

Or so she thought...

---------------

When the plane touched down, Azzi shifted slightly, careful not to alert Paige, whose head had tilted forward now, chin tucked to chest. Paige's nerves had dissipated with a single, oddly familiar touch upon departure. And now, her arm had slipped away in the descent. The comforting weight no longer in her hands.

Azzi flexed her fingers, unsure why they felt colder.

She shook herself out of it. It was just a flight. A conversation. A coincidence.

Tomorrow, the real game began. And Paige? Well, she wasn't even on the starting five.

It was time to set her priorities straight.

Still, as she watched her stand and stretch, laugh with the flight attendant, glancing back reassuringly— Azzi couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if this moment wasn't the last time they met...

But as she began to stir out of her seat, Paige's backpack laid just inches away from Azzi. Inside, contained the same AAU practice jersey Azzi had in hers.

As if fate decided for her, this wouldn't be the last she'd see of Paige Bueckers.

Except... she should've known what's coming, because a bad luck trail really does follow Azzi Fudd. All. The. Damn. Time.

---------------

[ineedhaikyu]

Chapter One

Summary: How does Asahi find himself in these situations? He wasn’t the tough and scary guy everyone made him out to be. Why can’t someone just give him a chance? That’s what he thought until he met her…

Word Count: 5.4K

Warnings: So much FLUFF! Dealing with self-doubt and anxiety. I didn’t write Atsumu’s slang dialogue but maybe I’ll edit in the future.

A/N: My contribution to Asahi x Reader content. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEST BOY!! GIF credit to @akaashikoutarou

~

Today is the day. January 5th. Everyone’s hard work and determination will be put to the test on this day. A day where volleyball teams from all over Japan, the best from each prefecture, will meet with one another and have a chance to battle on the orange court. 

Today marks Day One in the All Japan High School Volleyball Championship. Otherwise known as the Spring Tournament.

The victor of each battle will be one step closer to reaching the summit, a place that is only reserved for one winning team. 

But until then, each team must go through the wringer and the emotional ties that come when playing the best of the best. Not only are the team members fighting for themselves to place a respectable standing in the tournament, they are also carrying the weight of their school’s pride and honor on their shoulders. The pressure that the Spring Tournament has always been great, but it’s even greater for those teams who are participating for the first time.

Teams such as the Karasuno High School Volleyball team.

A twelve member volleyball team from the Miyagi prefecture. For the past few years, Karasuno has fallen from their powerhouse status, but it seems that has all changed. Because now, here they are competing in the Spring Tournament for the first time in years.

Their methods of offense and defense were amazing to watch. It was almost too beautiful to describe but then again the concept is all the same: just keep the ball in play. 

“(Y/N)-san!” 

The third-year manager tore her gaze away from the orange court to meet with the familiar brown eyes of Miya Atsumu, the second-year setter of their volleyball team. 

“Hey Atsumu.” She greeted the popular setter with a smile before scanning the area around them. “Where’s Osamu?”

“That scrub is probably stuffing his face.” He huffed as he stood next to her. His eyes peered down at the active court. “What are you even doing here?”

(Y/N) followed his gaze and smiled. “Just want to check out the competition. I’m curious as to who our next opponent will be.”

“Who’s playing?”

“Tsubakihara Academy and Karasuno High.”

Atsumu furrowed his brow at the mention of the latter school. He’s sure that Goody-Two Shoes setter came from there. 

“Are they any good?”

He waited for her answer but when he didn’t receive one, the twin looked at her. Usually the older girl always had an answer for his questions, however silly the questions were. It was something Atsumu liked about (Y/N). No matter what silly antics he, his twin, and the rest of the volleyball team partook in, (Y/N) was always there to keep them in check. It was something Aran and Kita, her best friends, valued her for and the coach couldn’t agree more. 

Of course, there were times she played along with their shenanigans. It was why she got along so well with everyone on the team. As a manager, the girl knew there were times to be serious but also to just enjoy the moments with the best team she ever had. Even the annoying moments of Suna and the Miya twins prying into her non-existent love life. Take the conversation she had with them from last week.

Flashback

“You rejected another guy, (Y/N)-senpai.” Osamu commented as he ate his lunch. “How many is that now?”

His twin answered for her. “I’m pretty sure that makes him Unlucky Schmuck #5. But that guy didn’t even have a chance.”

“Oh?” (Y/N) stopped taking her notes and decided to indulge in the conversation. “And why’s that? Kenji’s a nice guy.”

“Easy because he’s boring. You don’t want to date a boring guy, do you?”

“The most interesting thing about him is that he’s on the basketball team.” Osamu piped in, reaching over the table to get some of her chips. “He’s not even on the starting line up.”

“His last post was just a picture of the ocean.” Suna piped in, his eyes showed so much disinterest in Unlucky Schmuck #5’s profile account. He showed his phone to her. “See?”

“So? That doesn’t mean he’s boring. Besides, I like the ocean. That’s why I liked his post.”

Suna rolled his eyes and turned off his phone. He leaned all his weight over (Y/N)’s shoulder. “That’s because you’re nice.”

“Sometimes too nice.” She grumbled as she jerked her shoulder so Suna could get off her and then slap the gray haired twin’s hand away from her chips. She looked back at Atsumu and said, “But I’m still waiting for the right guy to come around.”

The setter grinned. “Then quit waiting because I’m right here.”

Osamu and Suna scoffed, which irked Atsumu. “Aren’t you Unlucky Schmuck #1?”

“Am not!”

“Got the video on my phone if you want to relive it again.” Suna smirked as he taunted Atsumu with a wave of his phone. The video was pure gold. No way was he going to delete it. He needed all the memories, especially embarrassing moments of the Miya twins.

“Well, I’m glad you three are so interested in my love life but I already have my hands full dealing with you guys. I don’t need a jealous boyfriend on top of your crazy fangirls. My anxiety would not be able to handle it. Besides, nationals are literally next week. ”

The twins pouted in unison when the manager mentioned their fangirls. 

“Then get a guy who’ll understand. I’m sure there’s someone-”

“I’m right here-!” Atsumu exclaimed but was cut short when his twin hit the back of his head and at the same time Suna kicked his foot. “Quit abusing me!”

Suna ignored him and continued on. “Whoever this schmuck is, he’s going to be the luckiest guy in Japan.”

“He better be good at volleyball.” Atsumu grumbled, his head on the table. “That’s all I’m asking.”

Osamu joined his twin’s line of thinking. “Preferably from a powerhouse. The guy can’t be from a weak team. And cook some good food.” 

(Y/N) rolled her eyes at the Miya twins. Of course, they would say something like that. She looked back at Suna and asked, “Do you have a requirement for my future significant other?”

Suna thought for a moment before answering her question. “As long as he cares for you.”

“Thanks Suna.” 

“But the moment he hurts you,” Atsumu began.

“He has to deal with everyone on the team.” Osamu finished his brother’s sentence.

(Y/N) grinned at their protectiveness. “Thanks Unlucky Schmuck #1 and #2.”

“Hey!”/ “Don’t call me that!” The twins exclaimed in unison causing the middle blocker and manager to laugh once more.

End of Flashback

“Earth to (L/N) (Y/N)! Can you hear me, manager? This is future champion setter, Atsumu, speaking! Talk to me!”

(Y/N) blinked and tore her eyes away from the orange court. “Huh? What did you say?”

Atsumu narrowed his eyes and leaned close to (Y/N)’s face, causing the girl’s face to heat up. She quickly stepped back and looked away from the twin’s observant gaze. 

“What?” She asked him.

“Who were you looking at?”

“No one in particular. Just Karasuno's team in general.” 

She answered way too quickly and they both knew it. Atsumu grinned at his senpai’s poor attempt to lie. “Someone caught your eye?”

“Shouldn’t you be practicing your sets?”

“Oh no, don’t you avoid my question, (Y/N). Besides, my sets are perfect.” He turned his focus on the volleyball players that were still competing below. “Who’s the guy? Better not be that Goody-Two Shoes.”

(Y/N) furrowed her brow. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

“Karasuno’s #9. Kageyama Tobio.”

She looked at the roster and found the person Atsumu was talking about. She then looked back at the match that was still playing. 

“Wait a minute. Is this the same Goody-Two Shoes that you met at the National training camp?”

Atsumu huffed and nodded. His eyes narrowed at the impressive set Tobio just did. “Yeah, that’s him alright. Piece of work that guy. Always setting the ball exactly how the spiker wants it. Such a Goody-Two Shoes.”

“Oh my god, Atsumu. He’s just a first year student. Give him a break.” She paused for a moment before she asked, “Did you actually call him a Goody-Two Shoes?

The Inarizaki setter was just about to answer when he saw the familiar glare on his manager’s face. “Of course not.”

“You’re such a liar.” She scolded him as she flicked his forehead. “You always have to psych someone out and cause trouble.”

“Whatever! It’s not like I hurt his feelings. I was just telling him the truth. Ain’t nothing wrong with that.”

Just as she was about to reply, there was the familiar sound of a volleyball being slammed to the ground. Soon after, the announcer’s voice echoed throughout the stadium. “And Karasuno’s ace, Azumane Asahi, just did a flawless service ace!”

(Y/N)’s eyes searched for the mentioned ace. #3. The third-year wing spiker. A guy with long brown hair styled in a bun. He looked older than the rest of the team with his tall and strong build and with the service ace earlier, Azumane has proven himself that he’s the ace of the team.

He looked intimidating, just like how Aran would be when he was on a roll. But for some reason, Karasuno’s ace, didn’t scare her. 

‘It’s his smile. He has a beautiful smile.’ (Y/N) thought as she watched the ace high-fived his teammates. ‘It looks like he’s enjoying himself… Having the time of his life.’

The pair of students watched the match until it reached its conclusion with Karasuno winning the second set. Which means they’ll advance to the second round where they’ll face their own team. Tomorrow’s match: Inarizaki vs Karasuno. It will be an interesting match that would guarantee to excite the crowd.

“Well, at least we know who we’re going to beat tomorrow.” Atsumu’s eyes shimmered in excitement, knowing tomorrow’s match will be a battle between setters. He couldn’t wait to prove to everyone who the better setter was. “Come on, (Y/N), let’s get out of here. The team is probably waiting for us to go out for lunch.”

“Sure.” 

As Atsumu led the way, (Y/N) looked over her shoulder where her eyes landed on the members of Karasuno’s volleyball team cheering for joy. The ace’s smile was infectious as she felt her own lips smile as well. 

~

“Hey, Atsumu. You go ahead. I want to buy another T-shirt while I’m here. I’ll catch a bus to the hotel.”

“You sure? I can wait-” Atsumu’s stomach decided it was the perfect moment to announce its hunger out loud. 

(Y/N) laughed as the setter tried to cease his stomach’s rumbling. “Just go, ‘Tsumu. I’ll be fine on my own.”

“Fine! But hurry, will you? You know how ‘Samu gets when he’s hungry.”

The two parted ways. It always surprised her how large the crowd gets during intermission. She had to dodge and weave to avoid the hurdle of students carrying band instruments. She was successful and luckily the T-shirt stand was right there. There were so many options to consider and she was just about to make a selection when there was a sudden loud CRASH. 

The noise caused her to stiffen in fright, she looked behind her to find someone had dropped a pair of cymbals.

“Can someone pick those up?” A girl asked her bandmates.

“I got them.” A bright-eyed boy volunteered.

(Y/N) remembered to breathe to calm her nerves as she gave the worker of the T-shirt stand a wobbly smile. “Can I have-”

“Hey, you! Look out!”

While the boy meant to be helpful, everything went downhill from there. When the boy bent down to pick up the cymbals, he accidentally bumped the nearby bass drum causing it to fall out of its little wagon. The large drum began to roll away, causing the crowd to panic. 

(Y/N) looked behind her and saw that the drum was heading right towards her. She was just about to move when she felt a warm hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her out of the way. She watched as two guys her age, one with dark hair and the other with silver hair, stopped the drum from crashing into the T-shirt stand. 

“A-Are you okay, miss?” A male’s voice, deep with concern, asked her. “Are you hurt?”

“Y-Yeah. Thanks for that-” (Y/N)’s ability to talk disappeared when she saw the face of her hero. It was Karasuno’s ace, Azumane Asahi. 

And he looked even more handsome up close. She had to step back - not because she was scared of him but because she could feel her heart going into overdrive being so close to the guy she was beginning to have a crush on.

“Miss?”

‘He’s talking to you, dummy! Talk back!’

“Oh, um, yeah! Thanks again.” (Y/N) gave him a smile. “You’re Azumane, right? From Karasuno? I just watched your match. You were amazing, especially with that service ace.”

Asahi’s POV

A girl was talking to him. 

A pretty girl. Willingly talking. To him. 

It was enough to cause his brain to short circuit. He waited for the girl to come to her senses and realize that she was supposed to be scared of him, like how everyone else he came across. But to his surprise, the pretty girl was still talking to him. She didn’t have an ounce of fear in her eyes and the gentle smile she gave him made him feel better about himself. And to make matters even better, she was giving him compliments.

And he wasn’t the only one who noticed.

Daichi and Suga came up on either side of him and saw the girl. Asahi didn’t have to look at them to know his friends were giving each other a knowing smile behind his back.

The two introduced themselves to the girl who in turn introduced herself.

“My name is (L/N) (Y/N). I’m from Inarizaki High School in Hyōgo. I came here with my team.”

“You must be really good if you made it to Nationals.” Suga complimented.

She shook her head. “Oh no. I’m just the manager for the volleyball team. I was just telling your ace here how good your team was during your match.”

“We were nervous at first but we managed to get through this round.” Daichi told her. “The other team surprised us with that underhand serve.”

“Really? You manage to adapt to it very well.”

“We couldn’t have done it without this guy!” Suga slapped his hand against Asahi’s back. “Would you believe me if I told you he was single?”

“S-Suga!” He shouted in embarrassment. “W-Why w-would you say that?!”

“Oh come on, Asahi,” Daichi placed his hand on his shoulder. “It’s not like he’s lying. Besides, we're all single too.”

“Y-Yeah but that doesn’t mean she is.”

“Sorry to break the news but I’m single just like you.” 

He was shocked to hear that the girl in front of him was actually single. She was breathtaking. Literally. And she was so nice to him.

“My team thinks otherwise. They keep pushing me to have a boyfriend, but I have my hands full managing them and their crazy fangirls. A jealous boyfriend isn’t something I need, you know?”

“Oh, well, that’s reasonable. Maybe you need to find someone who’s understanding,” Suga elbowed his side. “Right, Asahi?”

“U-Um yeah?” What is Suga up to?

“It’s a good thing there are guys, like Asahi, in the world. He’s actually quite sensitive. The only time he feels confident is when he’s on the court.”

“Daichi, what are you doing?” He whispered, the heat from his neck began to crept onto his face. Is his face red? Can she tell?

“Oh, no. Look at the time. Daichi, we need to go.” Suga announced, grabbing the captain’s shoulders and pushing him in a random direction. “We have that meeting with the coach. Right now. Remember?”

“That’s right, Suga.” Daichi gave him a knowing smile, a smile that he knew meant trouble. “Asahi, why don’t you stay here with (L/N)? Make sure she’s safe from any more runaway instruments.”

“It was nice meeting you two! Good luck tomorrow! You’re going to need it. The boys of the Inarizaki team love a good challenge. Don’t disappoint them.”

“Right back at you.”

He watched as his friends walked away, leaving him alone with the girl who caused his anxiety to skyrocket to a whole new level. Not even Kiyoko made him feel like this.

“You're lucky to have such good friends, Azumane.” She told him, her voice bringing him out of his thoughts. “I bet there’s never a dull moment when you three are together.”

He laughed as he rubbed his neck out of habit. “Been that way since we were first years. Though the first and second years bring all the crazy.”

“I know exactly what you mean. The second years on the team love making my life crazy. I love them but sometimes they can be a bit much. Especially during Nationals. Speaking of which, is this your first time?”

“Yeah. And with this being my last year, I guess I should be grateful that I’m even here.”

He was so lost in his own world of self-deprecation that he didn’t notice what she was doing. Not until her fist punched his chest. It wasn’t gentle or strong, somewhere in between, but her touch didn’t surprise him. 

It was her eyes that surprised him. They seemed to shine with determination and, for some reason or another, inspire confidence. Even her voice was firm.

“Don’t sell yourself short, Asahi. Your team didn’t get here by chance. You all earned a spot here. You deserve to be here.”

Was it possible for a heart to beat so hard against a person’s ribs? Maybe it’s a medical condition? Because never before had he felt so anxious yet empowered. He wondered if (Y/N) could feel his heart underneath her hand. 

“I’m not saying you should just get over yourself because we all have experienced some level of negative emotion in our lives, right? And it’s not as easy as turning a page in a book. Trust me I know. So believe me when I say this, it’s okay to express those feelings. Maybe one day, you’ll find solace in someone.”

There was another feeling. He couldn’t find a label for it, but he could describe it. A warm sensation that bloomed from his chest to every cell in his body the moment she said his name. Not his surname. His actual name. Asahi. His brain felt as though it had melted inside his skull. But by some miracle, he found his voice again.

“You… You think so?” He asked her. “About me being here?”

Why was he asking her this? Just a few minutes ago, she was a stranger. She could just lie to make him feel better but he had a feeling (Y/N) wasn’t like that. 

“Are you kidding? I saw it with my own eyes.” She stepped back and mimicked a serve. The smile on her lips complimented the excitement in her eyes. “I’ve seen a lot of players these past three years, all of them possessing some kind of amazing skill. But you’re… Special.”

“Because I’m the ace?”

She smiled up at him. “That’s part of it, but if I’m being honest here I think you’re special even without the title of ace. The match from today proved it to me and I’m sure you’ll see it soon enough.”

“See what?”

“Your true self-worth.”

Normal POV

(Y/N) watched as Asahi mulled over her words and she hoped it gave him some confidence. While she didn’t know him all too well, Asahi looked like a nice enough guy. A bit self-conscious about his abilities, but hopefully she helped him loosen the strangling roots of insecurity that surrounded him.

Why did she care so much in helping him? Well, he did save her. The least she could do is give him some encouragement. She frowned at the thought. No… There must be something else she could do to give her thanks…

Her eyes wandered to the T-shirt stand and an idea was formed.

“Hey Asahi-san, let me buy you a T-shirt. It’s the least I could do since you saved me and all.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that. Really. As long as you're okay-”

She shook her head, grabbed his hand, and led him to the T-shirt stand. “Come on, please. You can choose whatever shirt you like. Consider it a gift.”

“G-Gift?” Asahi stammered and she couldn’t help but find his stammering cute. “From you?”

A small chuckle escaped her lips. “Yes from me. It wouldn’t make sense if it was someone else. Let me do this for you.”

Asahi contemplated for a moment before agreeing. The worker of the T-shirt stand, who watched their interaction the whole time, was extremely kind to them as (Y/N) picked her choice as well. Asahi stood awkwardly by, waiting for the transaction to be finished.

“You two would make a cute couple.” The worker said, quiet enough so only she could hear. “You should go for him.”

“You think so?” (Y/N) asked as she discreetly peered over her shoulder to look at the guy who made her feel all warm and fuzzy. 

“Believe it or not,” The worker handed her the two bags, hers and Asahi’s, “Before the whole chaos started, you already caught his eye. His two friends tried to get him to talk to you but I guess he was too nervous.”

(Y/N) smiled widely at this. Maybe he liked her too? She hoped so because the feeling was definitely mutual. Only one way to find out...

“Hey, do you have a pen and paper I can use?”

~

Turns out the two third-years were heading in the same direction. By some cosmic fate, Asahi and his team were staying at the inn right next to the hotel she was staying in with her own team. So during the whole bus ride there, they got to know more about each other.

Asahi learned about (Y/N)’s favorite foods, hobbies, and even her future dream of attending the university in Tokyo. He laughed at the stories she shared about the Inarizaki team members. And (Y/N) was happy to learn more about him. She learned that he was close to the libero of his team, he has taste in fashion, and that his birthday just passed four days ago.

All too soon, they reached their destination. They walked side by side until they reached the point where the path forked, one way led to her hotel while the other led to Asahi’s inn.

She turned to face him and flashed him another smile. “Thanks for your company, Asahi-san. It was really nice getting to know you.”

“Same here, (Y/N)-san.” Asahi replied, his voice no longer nervous around her. “And thanks again for the shirt. I’ll make sure to take care of it. I want it to last for years.”

“It’s no problem. After all, you did save me.” Her fingers rubbed the plastic material of her bag out of nerves. “Well, I should get going. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Y-Yeah, see you.” 

Asahi’s POV

With her back turned, there was sudden pull in his heart, as if begging for her to stay.

“(Y/N)! Wait!”

He was surprised to hear his voice sound so firm but she brought that feeling out of him. He didn’t want her to leave. Not yet. He enjoyed talking to (Y/N). She was so understanding, kind, and ever so confident. Their time together felt so short but at the same time so long. Those moments with her… He wanted more of those moments. 

And the moment his eyes met with her hopeful ones, he knew he had to at least try to ask for her number.

“Yes, Asahi?”

Oh, god. She looked so pretty… He wondered if (Y/N) knew the effect she has on him. The initial confidence he had was beginning to fade, but he steeled his nerves and took a deep breath.

“I was wondering, i-if it’s okay with you, that w-we could-”

“(Y/N)-SENPAI!” A guy with blond hair called out to her.

Right next to him was another guy, identical to the first only with silver hair, yelled, “WE’RE WAITING FOR YOU! I’M STARVING!”

“WHAT ‘SAMU SAID!”

‘They must be the Miya twins.’ He thought.

(Y/N) sighed before answering back, “Give me a minute!” She turned back and offered him a sheepish look. “Sorry about that Asahi. What were you saying?”

Over her shoulder, he saw the Miya twins frowning at him all the while staring daggers in his direction. His confidence, the little bit he had in supply, disappeared into thin air. He stammered out a reply, “Never mind. U-Um… Get a good night’s sleep. T-Take care of yourself.”

(Y/N)’s smile melted. Was that disappointment in her eyes? But she quickly recovered and offered him a bittersweet smile, “Oh, um, thanks Asahi. Good luck tomorrow.”

“Bye.”

“Bye.” She turned around and began to make her way to the twins when stopped in her tracks. “Oh, and Asahi-san?”

“Yeah?” He felt his heart hitch up to his throat when they made eye contact once again. Her eyes were a lovely shade of (E/C) filled with warmth and kindness. 

“Don’t be so hard on yourself the next few days. Remember what I said. Your team is lucky to have you as their ace. So do your best tomorrow. I’m sure you’ll do great.” She glanced down at the plastic bag containing the shirt she bought for him. “I hope you like the shirt. Consider it a birthday gift from me.”

And with that, the girl he developed to have feelings for walked away, but not before she gave one last smile that made his heart expand three times its size. 

~

“Asahi! You’re back!” Nishinoya’s loud voice echoed throughout the room where Karasuno's team was staying. “Is what Daichi and Suga are saying true? You met a girl?!”

Tanaka joined in his friend’s interrogation. “Yeah, Asahi! Daichi didn’t want to say anything but Suga said you saved her life!”

“Was she pretty?”

“What school does she go to?”

“What was she like?”

“What’s her name?”

“We need details!” The two second-years yelled out in unison. Their eyes shimmering in excitement as they waited for answers. 

“Uh, w-well…”

“Alright, that’s enough you two.” Daichi grabbed their shirt collars and pulled them back. “Give Asahi a break. He’s had an eventful day.”

“Yeah, come on, Asahi, let's get you a drink from the vending machine.” Suga offered, his hand already pushing him out of the room.

“I’m not thirsty-”

“Yes, you are.” Suga interrupted. “Our treat. Well, Daichi’s treat since he’s buying.”

The trio of third-years walked downstairs and true to Suga’s words, Daichi bought them a round of their favorite drink.

“Okay, spill! Don’t leave out a single detail. I want to know everything.” Suga pressed, just as Nishinoya and Tanaka were a few minutes ago.

“Suga, calm down.” Daichi told him. “You're worse than Nishinoya and Tanaka combined.”

“Oh, come on, Daichi,” Suga complained. “You want to know just as badly as I do.” 

“Ok, fine.” The captain admitted before turning to the ace. “So how did it go with (Y/N)?”

“Details.” Suga reminded him. 

So he told his friends everything that happened when they left them alone. How she raised his spirits, believing in his self-worth as an ace. How her words inspired him. How she made him feel nervous one moment and confident the next. How she bought him a new shirt as a gift.

“She sounds awesome for you, Asahi.” Suga complimented. “And if I remember correctly, doesn’t she fit your description of your ideal dream girl?”

“I mean- Yeah. She’s great but-”

Daichi interrupted him. “But what, Asahi? You're both single and you’re definitely interested in each other.”

“How do you know that? I mean she did say she wasn’t looking for a boyfriend.”

“She said she didn’t need a jealous boyfriend.” Daichi reminded him. “You’re the most sensitive guy I know.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“This time it is.”

“Seriously, Asahi,” Suga placed his hand on his shoulder. “Why do you think I highlighted your star qualities? You take other people’s feelings into account. She helped build your confidence. And you just told us, how you had a great time talking to her where it sounds like she did too. You’re literally perfect for each other.”

“You think so?” He asked, sounding hopeful. “I do like her. Do you think she likes me?”

“Dude, she wasn’t scared of you, she held down a meaningful conversation with you, and she even bought you a shirt.” Suga listed, his grin growing by the minute. “(Y/N) likes you.”

The small flame of hope in his heart, fueled by his friends’ words, began to burn brightly. He couldn’t wait to see her again. Even if she’ll be on the sidelines on the opposing team’s side, he’ll still be happy.

“So what will you do next, ace?” Daichi asked, crossing his arms. Suga did the same thing as they waited for a response. “Will you let this opportunity slip away?”

“No way.”

His friends grinned, happy to see their glass-hearted friend sound so confident.

~

It was nightfall. Everyone took a rain check and turned in early, knowing that the next day will be just as hard as the first. The only person not asleep was him. He volunteered to shower last as it gave him the chance to relive the afternoon.

How was he going to talk to her tomorrow? Will she want him to talk to her? His team is playing against hers tomorrow… If they win tomorrow, will she be angry and ignore him? 

Shaking his head at the thought, he finished his nightly routine. He decided to wear the shirt (Y/N) bought for him. He grabbed the bag and unfolded the shirt. Carefully as if it was woven by the most precious fabric in the world. In his mind, the T-shirt was a treasure given to him by an angel.

For some reason, he recalled (Y/N)’s words, ‘So believe me when I say this, it’s okay to express those feelings. Maybe one day, you’ll find solace in someone.’

He hoped she believed that to be true because he might have found that someone. 

The sound of paper falling caught his attention. At first he thought it was just the discarded T-shirt tags, when his eyes landed on a simple piece of folded notebook paper in the sink. He picked it up, unfolded it, and his heart stopped for the third time? Fourth? Maybe fifth?

In clean and elegant handwriting, the note displayed:

I hope this isn’t weird of me to do this, but I didn’t want to lose this chance. So this is me making the first move because while I try to play it cool, you make me nervous. (Hard to believe, right?) Anyways, this is my number: XXX-XXX-XXXX. 

We can just talk if you want. You seem like a cool guy and I still want to get to know you. If you don’t, I’ll understand. Anyways, I’ll cut this note short. Good luck tomorrow! Don’t hold back against Inarizaki. 

P.S: I hope your friends were telling the truth earlier.

~

Normal POV

(Y/N) ditched her cards the moment she heard her phone let out a small ding, signaling a new message.

“Hey, you can’t just do that in the middle of the game!” Atsumu’s voice called out.

She ignored him as she jumped on her bed and grabbed her phone. Her heart was racing as she quickly unlocked her phone, but then it expanded at the sight of the message that read:

Hey, it's Asahi. Is this (Y/N)-san?

Her face broke into a wide smile. Her thumbs danced over the keyboard as she typed out a reply:

Asahi! Yeah, it’s me. I’m glad you found my note.

She watched as the three dots appeared, signaling that Asahi was typing. God, he has no idea the effect he has on her.

It was a nice surprise. A bit of a shock, but it’s very much welcomed. The shirt fits by the way. I think it’s my new favorite. 

Another message appeared after the first and she felt every atom in her body seemed to explode after reading it.

By the way, my friends were telling the truth. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.

~

This was the first page of a story where two individuals found solace in one another.

~

Next: Chapter 2

[fandomtherapy44]

Work Rivals Gojo Satoru x Fem! reader

Paring: Satoru Gojo x Fem! Reader

Warnings: SMUT, language

Reblog Banner and 18+ Banner

and divider

cafekitsune

CW: 1,815

Summary: Y/n and Gojo have always been in competition fighting for who's the best. So what happens when an elevator breaks down and they are forced to face their real feelings?

Satoru Gojo, how do you describe someone who is a giant pain in my ass! My whole life I have been in consistent competition with him our whole life. It started in high school, where in each class and each test I felt like if he was just one point above me he would be laughing about it to everyone. I mean, I wouldn't know, I haven't really met him, but I knew if I was not on top, my family would think I was a failure. We both come from super old families that always expected that we were the best in everything from classes to who had the best lunch. I’m serious about the lunch thing in elementary school, our parents would send chefs to school and would make whatever we wanted.

And somehow he would always beat me, always one point ahead of me. It made me infuriated, also my parents breathing down my neck did not help. So when we finally got out of high school, I thought I could breathe and focus on myself, I was very wrong. First day Gojo had my job too. Every day got worse and worse to this little competition. Also, it wasn't great that my friend thought he was hot and would constantly talk about him.

“Y/n!” She ran after me as we went for coffee. “Did you see Gojo this morning, like oh my gosh, can he get even more perfect like I’m pretty sure he was wearing a Gucci shirt.” She sighed dreamily.

“Kai, what does it matter if it’s Gucchi or not?” I muttered while stirring my coffee in my cup. Trying to hold back my disdain.

“Um, how about the fact he’s rich too Y/n!” She shoved my shoulder in disbelief. 

“He’s not that great!” I raised my voice without meaning to everyone who looked at me.

“You talk about him like he’s the devil reincarnated but you've barely spoken to him.” Kai studied me with suspicion.

“Wait? Don’t tell me you guys used to date!?” My eyes widened at that.

“No! God No! It’s just that we went to school together.” I mumbled again.

“WHAT!” I spring up and cover her mouth and drag her into another room.

“Don’t scream that!” I swatted at her.

“Girl how could you keep that from me! That you went to school with Gojo Satoru!” 

“It’s not like we're friends we actually were in more of a rivalry then anything.” I crossed my arms looking down.

“Is that why you pretty much hate him?”

“I don’t hate him… It just annoys me how perfect he is.”

“Gotcha… well if that was me I would have hopped on that white-haired train a long time ago.” She moves her eyebrows up and down in a suggestive way.

“I know everyone would if they could.” Another thing that annoys me. 

Our elevator sucks we've told our boss like twenty times to get it fixed so you know we don’t die, but it’s still broken. I enter it sighing thinking about all the work I had to do and then I hear a voice yelling to hold the door.

“Wait, hold the door!” It was a smooth, low voice, the kind that would make any person pass out. And of course, it has to belong to fucking Gojo Satoru.

“Close close come on close!” I slammed on the button but the thing is broken so it’s slow as all hell.

“Thanks L/n.” He has a little pep in his step getting in the elevator. I roll my eyes and step to the side. I have to say he looks handsome today. A white button-up and black tailored pants. A silver Rolex on his wrist, pointing attention to his veiny-toned forearms. When he shifts, you can see his muscles bulge through the white fabric, making you want to see more. His leather briefcase scented with a light pine mixed with his cologne which was a Seawood and cinnamon musk. I hated how he could just be that handsome without even trying.

“So how is your project going?” He asks me to try to past the grueling three minutes.

“It’s fine Gojo,” I stated flatly.

“What you're not going to ask back?” 

“Why would I? I’m sure it’s going great for Gojo Satoru.” I scartiscally say huffing out my chest. 

“What’s with the attitude L/n?”

“I don’t know, Gojo, maybe it’s the fact that you don’t even have to try.”

“You don’t think I have to try!” He angrily expressed.

“Really you're playing the dumb card. Fine play it that way.” I couldn't believe him acting like he didn't know what I was talking about.

“I really don’t know what you're talking about!” He threw back. It seemed all my emotions of the last years had piled up and were being released like pompi.

“What about the fact that you have always won every competition, every test and now even at my job!” He lets the words sink in.

“You mean those stupid competitions that our parents put us in when we were kids!?”

“They were never stupid to me!” I’m practically in his face now. The anger in my veins pushing me forward.

“Oh my gosh L/n! Is that why you've always been so pissy towards me just because I've won all those things! When it’s not even my fault!” When he puts it like that, I look at my actions.

“Well, if you did-” I have to stop because the elevator stops abruptly, making me almost slam into Gojo, making him catch me.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure someone will come soon.” He tries to reassure me.

The small canvan of the elevator is now encased in a blue emergency light barely letting us each other. But I can’t even open my eyes, being terrified, if I did open them we would throw down the shaft. He notices my fear and grabs my hand.

“Hey Y/n we’re going to be okay.” With those words, I opened my eyes and did something that surprised both of us. I kiss him. I don’t know compled me do so the fear coursing through my body or maybe it was years of pent up sexual frustotion in one kiss. As soon as I realized I did I let go.

“Gojo, I’m so sorry. I-” I didn't get to finish before he pulled me right back and slammed his lips on mine. Our lips had found a groove that we didn't know we were missing. This second kiss was desperate, messy, unrealting as he lead me to hit the back mirror. Our hands clawing at each other’s bodies. When we finally let go in the blue hue I could see his lips puffy and red and mine were left with a sweet sting. In that moment, his hands go around my waist and his lips go for my neck this time.

“I've always wanted to do this with you,” he whispers in my ear, making shivers go down my spine.

BELOW

“Oh you little-” I’m shut up by him biting down on my neck. “Fuck Gojo!” I moaned out.

“That’s what I like to hear~” He purred out. Gojo licks over my hickie and makes a mess, he suckles at my neck. His tongue licks all over the sore spot. He keeps on nipping and tugging on the spot making my body junt out looking for some more relief. He lets go and my neck is left feeling the cold, I then feel his bulge through his pants on my knee. I pull him by the tie.

“Does pleasuring women turn you on, Gojo?” I tell him as I nip and lick his ear shell. He nods his head. “Then let me show you my appreciation.” I pull at his ear again and get down on my knees. I slowly pull down his pants zipper. 

“You don’t have to Y/n.” He breathed out.

“But I want to Gojo.” I can see through his briefs that his cock was already leaking pre cum. And his bulge was taking up a lot of space of the outline. I reach up and pull his briefs down his cock pop’s up. It is the biggest I have ever seen, it’s about seven inches and his head is red and puffy, ready to be squeezed. I lick my hand and start pumping it. As I touch it, it instantly gets harder.

“You're so big Gojo don’t know how I’m going to fit this.” At that I put my mouth around it. 

“Ahh shit Y/n you feel so good.” he throw his hand to the wall to steady himself. His cock pusles around my tongue. My tongue makes rings around it. I can feel veins and his taste is delicious, it was sweet and salty. Like a chocolate crossient that would melt on your tongue. I start to deep throat and he can barely stand it. It doesn’t fully fit in my mouth so I have to use my hand to ring the rest. He then grabs my hair and starts to fuck in. He starts to go faster and faster. “I’m going to cum!” He let’s go. His cock flops out. “That was… fucking amazing Y/n.” That sent confidene all through my body.

“Thank you now are you going to fuck me with that monster or not.” He smirks and lifts me up my legs wrap his waist. 

“Of course I will I got to fuck the attiude out of you don’t I?” There’s the cocky asshole I like. HE goes to kiss me again. Our teeth mashing together. His hand travels down under my pencil skirt and rips my fishnet tights at my crotch. I am soaked.

“All this is for me huh?” He slid my panties to the side and line’s uo his cock. “I’m going to go in okay?” I nod and he steadily sinks in. Just at that I felt so full. “You feel so tight, Y/n so good let me know when I can move in.” I barely hear anything because I am so distracted by this feeling.

“You can move kay.” I get out somehow and he starts slowly thrusting up. I put my arms around his neck. His cock get’s comfortablpe and thicker. His hip’s mett mine with each thrust. His balls slapping against my pussy. It goes in circles, drawing more and more out of me. 

“How is it, Sweetness?” 

“So good toru~” I moan out. He then add’s a finger to my clit to really drive it home. “FUck!” My wetness is now gushing like a waterfall.

“That’s my girl almost there right?” 

“Yes!” He pumps a couple more time’s and my pussy squzze’s and we an sexual explosion we cum together. I guess Gojo Satoru isn’t too bad.

I also have another Gojo smut fic if you like! Valentine's Day

[lilmarshie]

Soft Kang Dae-ho HC’s

- Dae-ho loves to cook with you

- Making new recipes and sharing them with you is one of his favorite pastimes

- He’s spoils you with the yummiest dishes and you compliment his cooking skills

- Dae-ho loves taste testing whatever you make as well and is particularly fond of your baking skills

- He came up with an adorable secret handshake that he uses when he greets you

- Dae-ho is so sweet he always ends up messing up the handshake somehow to make you smile

- Whenever you see each other, you always make a big deal out of it

- Dae-ho loves watching movies with you cozied up in a pile of blankets and surrounded by yummy snacks

- You both get super into it and enjoy quoting some of your favorite lines from the movies

- Dae-ho keeps a scrapbook where he logs all of your adventures

- He keeps ticket stubs, Polaroids, and fun mementos of your dates together

- Dae-ho loves talking with you late into the night

- Your laughter fills up the room into the early morning just cherishing the simple pleasures of being able to cuddle together and share a good laugh

- Dae-ho loves surprising you with little love notes

- His nicknames for you are, “princess,” “angel,” and, “sweetheart.”

- Dae-ho uses these pet names to show you how much he loves you

- He loves hosting game nights

- You both dive into playing board games, video games, or Mario Kart

- He gets super competitive but in a fun way, and he’s always trying to come up with clever strategies to beat you

- Spoiler: he usually loses, but he’s a good sport about it

- In the fall, he loves to go apple picking with you

- The wintertime, is spent enjoying hot cocoa and going ice skating

- Summertime, is spent swimming or going to the local park to enjoy a picnic together

- Springtime, is filled with making flower crowns for each other and, enjoying the beautiful Spring sunshine on a hike

- Dae-ho loves hearing about your dreams

- Whether it’s about what you want to do in the future or the wacky dreams you have at night

- He gets genuinely excited and offers encouragement, always reminding you that he believes in you and your goals

[rnnsdrms]

f1 drivers and popular romance tropes: oscar piastri !!

DEAREST READER. i have finally let this sweet boy out of my cage. the root of my inspiration for this whole mission. unlike charles’ though, i went completely overboard with this one. i couldn’t help myself 😭 i failed to make it as low as 1k. i wrote it in google docs and it took 6 pages 😭. so, this is for the piastri girlies out there! i hope you’ll enjoy this one because i had a smooth-sailing writing his compared to the others !

CONTENT WARNINGS. reader and oscar’s age are a bit vague, but anything from primary school to secondary school age. this content is sfw but only 18+ can visit my blog. as for minors, you can only interact with this post and the masterlist. stay in your lane and all shall be well. also, r.i.p my english grammar !

WORD COUNT. 2704 words !

Yep, this boy is the start of it all. When someone said that Oscar Piastri gives off a loser boyfriend-slash-childhood neighbour friends to lovers vibe, I couldn’t agree more. So, I decided to stick with this headcanon for him. 

It’s the kind of story where your parents move into a new neighbourhood due to unique circumstances when you are young, and Oscar’s parents are among the friendly neighbours who greet your parents and you, bringing a welcoming gift to help your family settle into the new community.

When they come to your new house, you spot a boy hiding behind his parents’ legs. When they tell him to say hello, he steps forward hesitantly and extends his hand. You shake it, and he pulls back his hand quickly. Since you and Oscar are about the same age, your parents begin secretly arranging playdates. One reason is that Oscar needs a friend to play with in the neighbourhood, and at the same time, having someone to play with you helps you familiarise yourself with the new surroundings. It’s perfect. Your parents even put you in the same school as Oscar.

Childhood is a blissful mix of shared memories. Every Halloween, you and Oscar go trick-or-treating together, scaring the other kids in the neighbourhood and swapping sweets on the sidewalk. During school breaks, your family and Oscar’s often go hiking together or take camping trips to enjoy the crisp air and the vibrant autumn scenery. While the adults set up the tents and prepare the meals, you and Oscar roam around the campsite, finding the best spots to explore. You get along brilliantly with his younger sisters too, much to Oscar’s frustration, because the three of you love to play pranks on him. Whether it’s hiding his shoes before a hike or sneaking extra marshmallows into his rucksack, your playful antics never fail to make him groan. But you can tell he enjoys these moments, rolling his eyes but smiling as he chases after you, trying to get his revenge.

The cold winters are filled with skiing and ice-skating, both of you putting on each other’s competitive spirit to the test by racing one another from one edge to the other, eager to set the fastest time. But when the chill becomes too much to bear, you both retreat indoors, compensating with cosy movie nights to warm the atmosphere and pass the time. Both your parents have grown accustomed to the two of you visiting each other’s homes, to the point where they prepare your ( or Oscar’s) favourite meals every time you (or Oscar) drop by.

You remember how spring is always the most chaotic time for you and Oscar, especially for him, as he also divided his time with go-karting, but you both always manage to find time to study together. You often joke, ‘Aw, what would you do without me?’ and Oscar can only sigh and nod his head in defeat, knowing he’d be completely lost and his grades would be abysmal without your generous help. It is the season where schools overwhelm their students with endless assignments and preparations for the final exams. You and Oscar either do them in the serene atmosphere of the school’s or public library or in the comfort of each other’s homes. The subjects are difficult, but what’s even more difficult is studying in front of Oscar. That isn’t a problem when you are kids. But adolescence literally alters your brain chemistry and body shape, and you realise, over time, that Oscar grows more and more attractive. You never think you’ll ever see him that way. Sure, you always considered him a very sweet and cute boy during your younger days, even though he can be a little mischievous when he wants to. But you can’t quite pinpoint when you started seeing him in a different light.

Summer holidays are filled with camping in the woods, surfing at the beach, and volunteering together at the community centre. There is never a boring moment. But a core memory that will latch onto you forever is the time he suddenly came to your house at night. You are just about to sleep when you suddenly hear constant sharp thumps against the glass of your window. Initially, you are scared, thinking it might be a ghost or something. But you approach it anyway because it wouldn’t stop. When you open the curtains of your window, you see Oscar hiding in the shadows, one hand in his pocket and the other cupping small rocks. You quickly open your window.

‘Are you crazy?! What are you doing?’ you hiss, trying not to raise suspicion with your parents and the whole neighbourhood.

‘Come down,’ he says, his whisper tinged with a slight urgence. ‘I need to talk to you.’

You hesitate, torn between the need to stay in your room and the pull of his words. It’s not like you have never snuck out before in the past, but who knows how long your luck can last. Oscar stands below, his posture firm, insistent. With a deep sigh, you make up your mind. You can’t ignore him any longer.

‘Give me a moment, I’ll come down.’

‘Okay,’ he says, appearing happy that you listen to his request. ‘I’ll meet you across the street.’

Oscar waits for you as you cross the street. You hope he has a good reason for pulling you out into the dark of night. The two of you begin to walk side by side, taking slow steps throughout the quiet neighbourhood. You ask him why he couldn’t wait until morning to talk about whatever that’s bothering him.

‘I’ve made my decision. I’m going to the UK to pursue racing.’

At that moment, a flood of emotions wash over you like a tsunami attacking a seawall. Your mind becomes muddled, preventing you from finding any words to respond to him. But you know how much he loves racing. You have watched him race at the local go-kart track, effortlessly beating other kids. You have seen the pride beaming through him when he stands on the podium, holding a trophy. You have seen the way his eyes gleam and his smile widens every time he talks about his dream: to be able to compete in Formula 1. This has always been what he wanted, and deep down, you know you’d be a terrible person to try to stop him from pursuing what he truly wants in life.

Trying to swallow the shock down your throat, you ask, ‘When will you be leaving?’

‘Next week. My parents bought the plane tickets already.’

You look up at him. ‘Are your family going as well?’  

‘No. It’ll just be me.’ He pauses. ‘But I won’t be alone. I’ll be staying at a boarding school.’

‘Oh, that’s nice.’ Yet, you don’t feel any reassurance or relief when he says that. He is leaving. With each passing moment, denial grips you more tightly. You know this day will come, and it has. He has been telling you for a while now that he might leave Australia someday. But now that you are being represented with this moment, hearing him finally confirming it, still manages to catch you off guard. It is as you expected, you were never prepared for it, after all. The weight of this moment and the silence that engulf you and him presses down on you, like a boulder lodged in your chest.

‘Well, I’m going to miss you.’ You smile, putting up a strong facade. The sadness that tightens around your heart is hard to remove, and you hope the dim lighting of the streetlight and the pale glow of moonlight do not threaten to show the tears welling in your eyes.

Oscar nods, lips pressed together like how one would when they try to hide something. ‘I’m going to miss you too. It’s going to be hard without you around. But I promise I’ll try to call you—and my family—every week.’ He says, sparing you another soft gaze.

You chuckle, and let out a gentle snort.

‘You better.’ You reciprocate his gaze while trying to sound fierce, but your voice cracks just a little when you say it. Yet, Oscar does not seem to notice.

The air between you and Oscar settles into silence once more, albeit it feels heavier than the previous moments as you both continue walking along the pavement. Despite the silence, your thoughts are screaming, louder than anything the night offers that it becomes deafening to you. There are words you have been dying to say. All these years, you want him to know how much you like him, and more than just a close friend—how he has become the only boy you want in this wide universe. You want to tell him how you wouldn’t want any other boys touching you except for his gentle hands, how even a faint of his smile is enough to light up your darkest days. You can guarantee that there is no one else who understands Oscar like you do, and no one understands you like he does.

Should I say it? What if he just sees me as his childhood friend and … nothing more? The words you have been holding back press against your lips, almost bursting out, but you hesitate. You have been debating with yourself for so long–wondering whether you should tell him how you feel. It was now or never.

But what if he doesn’t feel the same way? Just because we are childhood friends doesn’t mean he will reciprocate your feelings, does it? In the end, you can’t risk it—not when everything is about to change. Besides, Oscar’s unbroken silence seems to give you the answer. If he felt the same, surely he would have said something by now. So, you decide that staying quiet is the safer option. You are not about to ruin the friendship you have built with him over something as trivial as romantic feelings—especially not when he is flying to England next week. It just isn’t worth it. So, for the rest of the walk, you decide to stick to safe, meaningless chatter with Oscar. Once the clock almost hits midnight, you and Oscar exchange a brief smile, say your goodbyes, and part ways. (What you don’t know is that as you walk back to your house, Oscar stops in his tracks. He turns around to look back at you, taking in your figure, trying to carve every detail into his memory, as if he is afraid he might forget you the moment he looks away. It is only when you finally vanish from his view, he walks home). 

A few years later, you are in your first year of university. It’s been lonely without Oscar by your side through high school, but he kept his promise to keep in touch with you through video calls. As for Oscar, he has become a main driver for McLaren in Formula I, and you were thrilled beyond words when he shared the news with you. You still can’t believe he is a famous person now.

One day, he tells you he is coming back to Australia during one of the two-week holidays between Grand Prixs, and you pick him up at the airport along with his parents. The moment you see him, you are ecstatic that when you both finally hug, neither of you wants to let go. You can feel the way his arms press against your back, squeezing the air from your lungs. After a moment, you both pull back—although you sort of initiate it first because you are conscious of his parents and sisters watching. 

That night, his parents invite you to join them for dinner to celebrate Oscar’s return, and while you refuse at first, thinking that it is more of a family reunion, Oscar insists that you should come.

After the meal, you help Mrs Piastri clean up before heading home. But just as you are about to leave, Oscar races to the door, calling out, ‘Wait! I’ll walk you back.’

‘Oh, you don’t have to. You must be tired—’

‘No, I’m not. And I want to.’ He cut, giving you an unwavering gaze.

You release a defeated sigh through your mouth, realising there is no point in arguing with Oscar, so you let him accompany you as you walk back home. As usual, silence fills the air at first, heavy and awkward, but after gaining some distance from his house, Oscar finally breaks through it.

‘I have something to say to you … something I should have said a long time ago.’ He begins with a furtive note, making you feel slightly uneasy but curious enough to know.

‘Oh? Is there still something you need to say that you didn’t already say over dinner tonight?’ You joke, trying to ease the atmosphere and him.

You see him hesitate for a moment. Then, he stops walking, and you instinctively stop walking too. Confusion starts to seep into your facial features as you look up at him. Oscar takes a deep breath and exhales the air through his mouth, before looking straight into your eyes with a brand new motive.

‘During my time in the UK, I found myself … constantly … thinking about you. There wasn’t a day I didn’t think of you—well, maybe only when I was asleep. And even then, I sometimes … I dreamt of you.’ He pauses, rubbing the back of his neck nervously as he shifts his gaze downwards to the pavement. A faint pink hue colours his cheeks. ‘I guess I’ve been blind this whole time, or maybe I was just too afraid to say anything before I left. That eventually grew into regret.’

Your heart rate increases with every word he speaks, but your gaze never leaves his face. You can’t believe you are actually hearing this, especially after a few years. You think you might know what he is trying to say, but it sounds too good to be true, and you don’t want to get your hopes too high to protect yourself from the sting of a potential heartbreak.

‘I’ve always liked you, (y/n). More than a friend would. It’s … it’s always been you.’ He reaches his hand out to grasp yours. You almost shudder at his touch, but your desire for him channels through your hold on them, never wanting to let go. 

‘And I hope we can be more than just … friends.’

You stare at him with wide eyes, mouth slightly ajar. His confession has an effect similar to a nuclear bomb. Your mind is reduced to nothing. Oscar, noticing the blank expression on your face and your silence, shifts uncomfortably. But before he can say anything, you quickly avert your gaze, covering your mouth with your hand. There is a feeling of immense happiness and relief swelling in your chest that you can’t help but let tears pool in your eyes. But you pull yourself together, and turn to face him.

‘I never stopped thinking about you either.’ You admit, your voice trembling. ‘It was hard without you here. This place felt so much less like home when you weren’t around. Everywhere I went, everything I saw … It all reminded me of you. I’ve … I’ve grown feelings for you too. But I also didn’t say anything because I couldn’t risk ruining what we have, our friendship, and our friendship is so good.’ 

You take a shaky breath, smiling softly, finally letting your tears fall from your eyes. ‘But I’ve always hoped for more.’

For a moment, the two of you just stand where you are, overwhelmed by the weight of each other’s feelings. Then, out of nowhere, you both start laughing.

‘Oh my god,’ Oscar snorted, placing a hand over his eyes. ‘We’re both so dumb.’

‘Hey!’ You lightly protested, gently punching him in the arm. ‘Don’t lump me in with you!’

‘No can do,’ he teases, bringing his thumbs up to wipe the side of your eyes. ‘We’re together now … for real.’

You gaze at him. Your voice just above a whisper. ‘For real?’

Oscar nods. ‘For real.’

• ───────────────────────────•

SONGS FOR THIS SCENARIO: Taylor Swift – You Belong With Me, SEVENTEEN – Home, Dhruv – double take, lany – sharing you, Jeremy Zucker ft Chelsea Cutler – this is how you fall in love

• ───────────────────────────•

˗ˏˋ MASTERLIST ˎˊ˗ ✦ ˗ˏˋ KO-FI ˎˊ˗

RNNSDRMS™. SUPPORT WRITERS BY REBLOGGING THEIR WORK. DO NOT PLAGIARIZE, TRANSLATE, OR POST MY WORKS ON ANY SITE. I WILL POST MY POSTS ON OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA SITES MYSELF AND THAT’S ALL YOU GET.

[w1w2]

Skating the Divide

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 - Shattered Trust | Part 4

Myoui Mina x Fem!Reader

Word Count: ca. 6k

Synopsis: On the ice, every move tells a story. For two skaters with opposing styles, the competition is more than just a test of skill. It’s a clash of worlds.

English isn’t my first language so I apologize in advance for any mistakes.

♡ Enjoy! ♡

The change came quietly, almost imperceptibly at first, like the slow thaw of winter giving way to spring. Mina and Y/N still had their moments, snapping at each other over missed cues, rolling their eyes at opposing suggestions, but the edge in their arguments had dulled. Where there had once been sharpness, there was now a playful undercurrent, a grudging acceptance of each other’s quirks.

Y/N had stopped bristling at Mina’s critiques, instead taking them as challenges to prove her wrong. Mina, in turn, began to loosen her grip on perfection, allowing room for Y/N’s creativity to weave its way into their routines. They weren’t perfect yet, but the progress they made felt tangible.

On the ice, their transformation was undeniable. The awkwardness of their early days, hesitant holds, clashing rhythms, had melted away. Each lift, each spin, each step became smoother, more synchronized, as if they were beginning to anticipate each other’s movements.

Y/N no longer worried about balancing Mina’s weight during lifts. She had grown attuned to every subtle shift in Mina’s movements, trusting her completely to make each lift seamless. And Mina no longer tensed when Y/N added a flourish to their transitions. She had learned to anticipate and complement Y/N’s creative instincts. What had once felt awkward and forced now came naturally, as if they had always been meant to skate together.

It wasn’t just the technical improvement that marked the shift. It was the way they moved, fluid, almost instinctive. The routine wasn’t just a performance anymore, it was a conversation. Y/N’s bright, expressive energy flowed into Mina’s poised, elegant control, creating something neither of them could have achieved alone.

But along with the harmony came something unexpected, something unspoken.

It was in the way Mina found herself watching Y/N during breaks, her gaze lingering on the way Y/N laughed at her own jokes, her eyes bright and full of life. It was in the way Y/N felt her chest flutter when Mina offered the faintest hint of a smile, rare but genuine, a glimpse of the person beneath the ice queen exterior.

Neither of them spoke about it, but it was there. In the quiet moments between practice runs, in the fleeting touches that lingered a second too long, in the way their eyes would meet and hold just a beat longer than necessary.

The air between them felt warmer now, charged with something neither of them dared to name. It wasn’t just trust or understanding, it was something more, something fragile and thrilling.

And even though neither of them would admit it, they both felt it.

It happened during one of their later practices, after hours of refining the intricate details of their routine. The lift they’d been working on was unconventional. It had taken weeks to perfect, and even then, it was risky. Mina, who was used to being in control, had hesitated at first, but she’d eventually conceded.

“Ready?” Y/N asked, her voice steady despite the strain she already felt in her arms from earlier attempts.

Mina nodded, her posture straight, her expression calm. “Ready.”

Y/N bent her knees slightly, bracing herself as Mina stepped into position. With a burst of strength, Y/N hoisted her partner into the air, her arms steadying Mina as they executed the move flawlessly. Mina stretched her arms outward, her form graceful as the lift held strong.

The landing was seamless, Mina’s skates touching the ice as lightly as a feather. For a moment, neither of them moved, the quiet hum of the rink filling the space.

Y/N realized too late that her hands were still on Mina’s waist, her grip firm but gentle, as though she wasn’t quite ready to let go.

“Good job,” Mina said, her voice softer than Y/N had ever heard it. It wasn’t her usual polished tone, there was something almost shy about it.

Y/N glanced at her, her breath catching when their eyes met. The intensity in Mina’s gaze was unexpected, and Y/N felt her cheeks flush despite herself.

“Thanks,” Y/N replied, her voice quieter than usual. Her hands lingered for a heartbeat longer before she finally let go, stepping back and letting out a shaky breath.

Mina didn’t move right away. She stood there, her hands brushing over her waist as if she could still feel Y/N’s touch. Then she cleared her throat, straightened her posture, and resumed her usual composed demeanor.

“Let’s go again,” Mina said, her tone firm but laced with an almost imperceptible warmth.

Y/N nodded, gripping the edges of her sleeves to hide the slight tremble in her hands. She told herself the flutter in her chest was from the adrenaline of the lift, from the physical effort it had taken. But no matter how many times she repeated it in her head, the memory of Mina’s quiet gaze and the warmth of her waist stayed with her.

Mina, for her part, didn’t glance back as she skated into position. But her mind lingered on the moment, on the steadiness of Y/N’s hands, the way it had felt to trust her, if only for a few seconds.

Later that evening, after the rink had emptied and the chill of the night crept in, Y/N and Mina sat side by side in the dim glow of the locker room’s small television. The screen flickered as they reviewed footage of their latest practice session, each movement replayed in painstaking detail.

Y/N leaned forward, her elbows on her knees, squinting at the screen. “See? That spin was perfect. Nailed it.”

Mina hummed softly, tilting her head. “Your arm was a little low on the entry.” She pointed at the screen with a graceful finger, her tone as composed as ever. “You need to keep it higher if you want the lift to look seamless.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Y/N replied, waving a hand dismissively but with a playful grin. “Miss Perfection strikes again.”

Mina’s lips curved into a faint smile, and she shook her head slightly. “I’m just trying to make sure we don’t embarrass ourselves.”

“Hey, speak for yourself,” Y/N shot back, nudging Mina lightly with her elbow. “I think I look pretty great.”

Mina chuckled softly, a low, almost shy sound that felt like a secret being shared. It wasn’t the usual polished laugh Y/N had come to expect from her, it was real.

“You would think that,” Mina said, her voice laced with a rare hint of teasing.

Y/N turned her head to respond, but the words caught in her throat when she saw Mina already looking at her. The glow of the screen illuminated Mina’s face, her features softened by the dim light. Her dark eyes held something Y/N couldn’t quite place, something warm, quiet, and unguarded.

Y/N felt her heart skip, the playful retort she had been about to deliver vanishing from her mind. What’s she thinking? Y/N wondered, her chest tightening as she searched Mina’s expression for a clue. It wasn’t often that Mina let her guard down, and seeing her like this, soft, almost vulnerable, made something stir in Y/N’s chest.

Her gaze flickered to Mina’s lips for just a second before she caught herself, heat rising to her cheeks. She forced a grin, trying to cover the unexpected wave of emotion threatening to surface. “What?” she asked, her voice quieter than she intended.

Mina quickly turned her gaze back to the screen, her heart fluttering in a way that startled her. She had been caught staring, but she hadn’t meant to. Or had she?

Why does she have to smile like that? Mina thought, frowning slightly as she tried to refocus on the footage. The glow of the television couldn’t hide the way Y/N’s grin lit up her entire face, infectious and infuriatingly endearing.

“It’s nothing,” Mina said quickly, her voice betraying none of the turmoil stirring beneath the surface. But her cheeks betrayed her, flushing faintly as she avoided Y/N’s gaze.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The faint hum of the screen filled the silence, but the air between them felt charged. Y/N studied Mina out of the corner of her eye, taking in the slight blush on her cheeks and the way she avoided looking back. Mina, meanwhile, kept her eyes trained on the screen, her fingers absently brushing against her knee as if to ground herself.

“Alright,” Y/N finally said, breaking the silence with a teasing grin. “But if I lift my arm any higher, you owe me dinner.”

Mina turned her head, arching a delicate eyebrow. “Dinner?”

“Yeah,” Y/N said, leaning back with exaggerated confidence. “To celebrate our inevitable victory, of course.”

Mina rolled her eyes, but the corner of her lips twitched upward. “We’ll see.”

The air in the rink felt different that day. It wasn’t just the steady progress in their routine, it was the way they moved together, almost effortlessly now, as though their bodies had learned a language all their own. The moments of hesitation and missteps that once plagued their practices were fewer and further between, replaced by a fluidity that neither of them had expected.

But there was more to the change than just their skating. It was in the way they spoke to each other, the teasing banter that softened the sharp edges of their arguments. It was in the way they stood a little closer during breaks, sharing water bottles and quiet comments about their routine.

And most of all, it was in the way they looked at each other.

They were running through a particularly complex transition, a spin that ended with Y/N catching Mina in a low, sweeping dip. The move required precision and trust, and they had struggled with it for weeks.

This time, they nailed it. Y/N’s hands found Mina’s waist with perfect timing, guiding her into the dip with a steadiness that felt like second nature. Mina’s arms extended gracefully, her body arching into the motion as if she were weightless.

As they came out of the dip, Y/N spun Mina back upright, and for a brief moment, their eyes met.

Mina’s gaze lingered, soft and unguarded, her usual coolness nowhere to be found. There was something in her eyes, something vulnerable, something almost... tender.

Y/N felt her breath catch, her heart skipping in her chest. She wanted to say something, make a joke, tease Mina the way she usually did, but the words wouldn’t come.

Mina seemed to realize it too. She blinked and quickly looked away, her posture stiffening as if to shield herself from whatever had just passed between them.

“Good transition,” she said briskly, her voice betraying none of the emotion Y/N had seen in her eyes.

“Yeah,” Y/N replied, her voice quieter than usual.

Later, as they practiced a footwork sequence, Mina, who rarely made mistakes, stumbled over a tricky step. It was a small misstep, barely noticeable, but Y/N reacted instantly.

Her hand shot out to steady Mina, her grip firm but gentle as she caught her by the arm.

“Careful, Myoui,” Y/N said with a grin, her voice light but her touch lingering. Her hand was warm against the cool fabric of Mina’s sleeve, and she didn’t let go right away.

Mina’s eyes flicked to Y/N’s hand, then back up to her face. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and her reply came sharper than she intended. “I don’t need saving.”

Y/N raised an eyebrow, her grin unfaltering. “You sure about that?”

Mina opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat. Y/N’s hand was still on her arm, her fingers steady, her gaze warm and unwavering.

For a moment, the world outside the rink seemed to fade away. The faint hum of the lights, the muffled sounds of the skates, it all disappeared, leaving only the two of them standing there in the middle of the ice.

Mina’s lips parted slightly as though she wanted to say something, but the words didn’t come. Y/N watched her carefully, her grin softening into something gentler, something more sincere.

The moment stretched, the air between them charged with an intensity neither of them could fully understand.

Then, as if realizing how close they were standing, Y/N let her hand drop and stepped back. She cleared her throat, her usual playful tone slipping back into place. “Come on,” she said lightly, though her voice was tinged with something Mina couldn’t quite place. “Let’s try it again.”

Mina hesitated for half a beat before nodding, her usual composure sliding back into place like a well-worn mask. “Fine,” she said, skating back to her starting position.

But as they resumed their routine, the moment lingered in both their minds, a quiet echo of something unspoken but undeniable.

Mina’s arm still tingled where Y/N had touched her, and Y/N couldn’t quite shake the memory of Mina’s soft, unguarded expression.

Neither of them said anything about it. But they both felt it.

As the days passed, those small moments between Y/N and Mina began to add up. A lingering hand during a lift, the warmth of Y/N’s steady grip lasting just a second too long. A shared laugh after a stumble that neither could quite let go of, their voices mingling in the otherwise quiet rink. A glance during a break, their eyes meeting and holding, unspoken questions hanging between them.

Each moment was fleeting, but it left an impression.

Y/N found herself noticing the way Mina’s lips quirked when she was amused, the way her posture softened ever so slightly when she felt at ease. Mina, in turn, couldn’t help but admire the way Y/N’s energy seemed to fill every corner of the rink, a magnetic presence that made her feel less alone on the ice.

Neither was ready to acknowledge what those moments meant, but they both felt it, a quiet pull that tethered them together in ways neither fully understood. And though the ice between them still glistened underfoot, it was no longer the only thing keeping them bound to one another.

The rink buzzed with life, the low murmur of voices mixing with the faint scrape of skates against ice. Groups of skaters clustered near the boards, some comparing routines, others chatting casually. Mina stood among them, her dark hair pulled neatly back, her posture as composed as always.

Across from her was Momo, a talented skater known for her sharp techniques and easygoing demeanor. Momo leaned slightly against the boards, curiosity flickering in her eyes as she posed a question about doubles competition.

“How do you make it work?” Momo asked, her tone light but genuinely interested. “I mean, especially with someone as... let’s say, unconventional as Y/N?”

Mina crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful but unguarded. “It’s challenging,” she admitted, her voice low but clear. “Y/N’s lack of discipline makes her... well, impossible to work with at times.”

Y/N had finished practice minutes ago and was halfway out the door when she realized she’d left her water bottle behind. With a groan, she turned back, retracing her steps. Her skates slung over one shoulder, her footsteps were light against the rink floor as she approached the benches near the lockers.

That’s when she heard her name.

She slowed instinctively, her brow furrowing as she caught Mina’s voice coming from near the boards. Y/N hesitated, curiosity warring with unease. She knew she shouldn’t eavesdrop, but something about Mina’s tone kept her rooted in place.

Mina’s words came clear and sharp: “Y/N’s lack of discipline makes her... well, impossible to work with at times.”

The world seemed to tilt for a moment. Y/N froze in place, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. The words echoed in her head, each one landing like a blow.

Impossible to work with?

Her chest tightened, her heart pounding painfully as Mina’s voice continued.

“She’s unpredictable,” Mina added, her tone even, as though discussing a simple fact.

Y/N’s stomach sank further. She felt heat rise to her face, a mix of anger and humiliation surging through her veins.

Mina hesitated, her voice softening slightly as she continued. “But... she’s also fearless.” Her expression shifted, the usual coolness in her gaze replaced by something warmer. “That kind of energy is rare. It’s what makes her... exceptional.”

She glanced at Momo, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Honestly, I’ve never worked with anyone like her before. It’s frustrating sometimes, but it’s also...” She trailed off, searching for the right word. “Inspiring.”

Momo raised her eyebrows, intrigued. “Sounds like she’s gotten under your skin a little.”

Mina chuckled softly, shaking her head. “Maybe. But that’s not a bad thing.”

But Y/N didn’t hear that part.

Her feet carried her away before the words could reach her, her thoughts drowning out the conversation behind her. She stormed down the corridor, her breaths shallow and uneven.

Impossible to work with.

The phrase played over and over in her head, each repetition digging deeper into her chest. She couldn’t believe it, after everything, after all the progress they’d made, Mina still thought of her as nothing more than a reckless liability.

Her vision blurred slightly as she turned the corner into the locker room, slamming her bag onto the bench with more force than necessary.

Y/N’s fingers curled into fists as she tried to steady her breathing. The memory of Mina’s earlier smiles, the way she had steadied her during a lift, the quiet moments of camaraderie, all of it felt like a cruel joke now.

“She still doesn’t respect me,” Y/N muttered to herself, her voice cracking slightly.

The thought stung more than she wanted to admit. Y/N had grown to trust Mina, to value her approval in a way she hadn’t expected. But now, it felt like the foundation of that trust had been ripped away.

She blinked rapidly, willing herself not to cry as she yanked open her locker and began shoving her things inside. Her movements were quick, almost frantic, as though she could escape the words echoing in her mind if she just moved fast enough.

Back at the rink, Mina and Momo’s conversation had moved on, Mina’s expression lighter now as she recounted a moment from practice when Y/N had improvised an unexpected flourish that actually worked.

“She’s unpredictable, but sometimes, that’s what makes her brilliant,” Mina said with a small smile. “She sees things differently than I do, and it forces me to think differently too.”

“Sounds like you’re lucky to have her,” Momo said, her tone teasing.

Mina nodded, her smile lingering. “I am.”

Meanwhile the words replayed in Y/N’s mind like a broken record Impossible to work with. Lack of discipline.

She clenched her jaw, biting her lip hard enough to sting. How could Mina say that?

Her mind raced, replaying their practices, the moments she thought had brought them closer. The shared laughter when she’d teased Mina about being too rigid, the shy smiles they’d exchanged after nailing a particularly difficult move, the way Mina’s hands had lingered on her waist during that lift. Y/N had thought those moments meant something, that they had started to see each other as partners, maybe even friends.

But now...

“Impossible to work with,” Y/N muttered bitterly, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions.

Her shoulders slumped as a sharp ache bloomed in her chest, one she hadn’t expected. This wasn’t just frustration, wasn’t just anger. It was something deeper, something raw and painful that made her chest tighten and her throat burn.

She had trusted Mina.

The thought made her wince. She had let herself believe that Mina saw her as more than a liability, more than just some wildcard she had to deal with. Y/N had worked so hard to prove herself, to show Mina she wasn’t just reckless energy that she could be steady, dependable.

Was it all in my head? she wondered, her stomach twisting at the possibility.

Her gaze fell to her hands, trembling slightly as they rested on her lap. She had grown to care about Mina’s opinion, more than she should have, maybe. And now it felt like all that trust, all those moments, had been shattered.

“I thought we were getting somewhere,” she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible in the empty room. “Guess I was wrong.”

Back on the ice, Mina finished her conversation with Momo, oblivious to the storm brewing in Y/N’s mind. She exhaled softly, her shoulders relaxing as she leaned against the boards. The conversation had been more candid than usual, Momo had a way of asking questions that cut straight to the truth, but Mina didn’t regret what she’d said.

Still, as she replayed her words in her mind, a faint unease crept in.

“It’s challenging,” she had said. It wasn’t wrong. Working with Y/N had been an adjustment, a clash of styles that had tested Mina’s patience and forced her out of her comfort zone. But the way she’d phrased it, impossible to work with, sounded harsher now than it had in the moment.

That’s not what I meant, Mina thought, frowning slightly.

Because the truth was, Y/N had brought something to their partnership that Mina hadn’t expected.

She ran a hand through her hair, brushing a stray strand behind her ear. Y/N’s unpredictability had been frustrating at first, but it had also been... freeing. The way Y/N threw herself into every move, every jump, without hesitation, it was unlike anything Mina had ever experienced. It wasn’t just chaos; it was passion.

“Fearless,” Mina had said to Momo. The word still felt right.

Mina glanced around the rink, her gaze sweeping the ice for Y/N. She was usually lingering after practice, chatting with other skaters or trying out some impromptu routine, her laugh ringing through the air.

But now, the rink felt quieter, emptier.

Her mind flicked to their last practice, to the way Y/N had grinned at her after teasing her about their transitions. “You’re getting there, Myoui,” Y/N had said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

The memory brought a small smile to Mina’s lips. Y/N had a way of getting under her skin, but it wasn’t entirely unwelcome. Mina had grown to look forward to those moments. The banter, the laughter, the way Y/N challenged her in ways no one else had.

“She’s special,” Mina murmured to herself, the words slipping out unbidden.

The thought lingered, warm and undeniable. But when Mina glanced around the rink again, Y/N was nowhere to be found.

Her words meant to redeem the harshness of her earlier statement had gone unheard.

By the time Mina entered the locker room, the air inside felt thick with tension. Y/N stood by the bench, packing her things with sharp, hurried movements. Her shoulders were rigid, her back turned to the door.

Mina stopped just inside, her skates slung over one shoulder, her brows furrowing slightly as she took in the scene. Y/N’s usual energy, playful, teasing, and always just a bit chaotic was absent, replaced by a quiet storm that Mina could feel from across the room.

“You’re leaving early?” Mina asked, her tone neutral but laced with curiosity.

Y/N didn’t look up, her hands busy shoving her belongings into her bag. “Yeah,” she said shortly. “I have other things to do.”

Mina’s frown deepened. The clipped tone, the way Y/N avoided her gaze, it was unlike her. “Is something wrong?”

“Why would anything be wrong?” Y/N replied, her voice sharp and brittle. She threw her skates into her bag with more force than necessary, the sound of metal clinking against fabric echoing in the quiet room. The harshness of her tone surprised even herself, but she didn’t care.

Mina hesitated, the sting of Y/N’s tone settling uneasily in her chest. “Y/N...” she began, her voice softening.

“Save it,” Y/N snapped, finally turning to face her. Her eyes were bright, not with anger alone but with something raw and vulnerable. Hurt.

The sight made Mina’s breath catch, her practiced composure slipping for just a moment. “What’s going on?” she asked carefully, her voice quieter now.

Y/N let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “You’ve said enough, Mina.” Her voice cracked on the last word, and she quickly turned away, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

Mina’s mind raced, trying to piece together what had gone wrong, but before she could respond, Y/N was already walking toward the door.

“Wait,” Mina said, stepping forward, but Y/N didn’t stop. The sound of the door swinging shut with a loud thud echoed in the room, leaving Mina standing alone in the silence.

For a moment, she didn’t move, her chest tightening as she replayed the brief, tense exchange in her head. The look in Y/N’s eyes, the mix of anger and pain, lingered, cutting deeper than Mina expected.

What did I do? Mina wondered, frustration and confusion swirling in her chest.

She replayed the events of the day, her mind flicking to her conversation with Momo. Her stomach sank as the realization hit her.

Did she hear that?

Mina exhaled slowly, her fingers tightening around the strap of her skates. She wanted to brush it off, to convince herself that Y/N had misunderstood, but the memory of Y/N’s bright, hurt-filled eyes made it impossible to dismiss.

“She thinks I meant it,” Mina murmured to herself, her voice barely audible.

But Y/N was already gone, and Mina was left standing in the echo of a moment she couldn’t take back.

Y/N stormed down the corridor, her footsteps echoing loudly as she walked. Her vision blurred slightly, and she blinked rapidly, trying to keep the tears at bay. She hated how emotional she felt, hated that Mina’s words had hit her so hard.

You’ve said enough. The words she’d thrown at Mina replayed in her head, but even as she repeated them to herself, they felt hollow. What she really wanted was an explanation, something to make the ache in her chest go away.

Her grip on the strap of her bag tightened as she stepped into the cold air outside. She didn’t know where she was going, she just needed to get away. Away from the rink, away from the sharp echo of Mina’s voice in her mind.

The tension that had eased between them in recent weeks returned with a vengeance, heavy and suffocating. Y/N walked into practice with a bright, almost too-cheerful energy that felt more like a shield than anything genuine. She laughed louder than usual, her comments coming sharp and fast, and her movements on the ice were big, exaggerated, like she was performing for an audience only she could see.

It was all for show, a performance crafted to hide the storm raging inside her.

But the spark that had made their routines shine was gone.

They went through the motions, repeating sequences they’d once executed with grace and confidence. The lifts were technically sound, but the connection between them felt strained. Spins ended half a second off beat, their timing slightly but glaringly out of sync.

“Are you going to follow the choreography, or just wing it every time?” Mina asked sharply after a particularly messy run-through. Her voice was clipped, her frustration barely contained.

Y/N skated to the edge of the rink, grabbed her water bottle, and shrugged. “Why not both?” she quipped, tilting her head with a grin that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Keeps things interesting.”

Mina frowned, her gaze lingering on Y/N. There was something off about the way she smiled, too wide, too forced, and the restless way she shifted her weight from foot to foot.

“We need to be in sync,” Mina said, her tone firm but quieter. “This isn’t just about you.”

“Sure,” Y/N replied breezily, skating back toward center ice. “Whatever you say, Myoui.”

Mina’s frown deepened. The way Y/N said her name, light and teasing should have felt normal, but now it carried an edge that made Mina uneasy.

It was a return to their early days, before trust had taken root. Y/N was deflecting with humor, and Mina’s patience was beginning to fray. But now, it wasn’t just frustrating. It was heartbreaking.

The air between them felt heavier, the stakes higher.

During breaks, Mina found herself watching Y/N more closely, trying to figure out where the cracks had come from. She noticed how Y/N’s hands trembled slightly when she tightened her skates, how her laugh always came just a little too quickly. She noticed how Y/N’s gaze darted away every time Mina looked at her.

What happened? Mina wondered, frustration tightening in her chest.

Every time she tried to approach Y/N, to ask what was wrong, Y/N dodged her questions with a joke or skated away before the conversation could begin. It left Mina feeling off-balance in a way she hadn’t expected.

And for someone who thrived on control, it was unbearable.

Y/N threw herself into practice with everything she had, her movements fast, her energy frenetic. She practiced harder, pushed herself further, skating with a reckless intensity that bordered on desperation. But no matter how much effort she poured into her routine, she couldn’t drown out the words echoing in her mind.

Impossible to work with. Undisciplined. Unpredictable.

The sting of those words hadn’t faded. If anything, they had taken root, growing into a gnawing ache that wouldn’t let her go. Every time Mina looked at her, Y/N found herself wondering: Is that all she sees?

She told herself it didn’t matter, that she didn’t need Mina’s approval. But the truth was painfully clear.

It mattered because she cared about Mina’s approval, about their partnership, about... Mina.

The realization hurt almost as much as the words themselves.

Why do I even care? She asked herself again and again, but the answer was always the same. It was in the way Mina smiled, rare and fleeting but enough to make Y/N’s chest tighten. It was in the way Mina steadied her during lifts, her touch firm but gentle. It was in the way Mina’s voice softened when they talked late into the evening, discussing their shared goals and dreams.

But all of that felt like a distant memory now.

Instead, Y/N felt small and out of place, like she didn’t belong in Mina’s world. And if that was how Mina saw her, then maybe she didn’t.

So she deflected. She laughed louder, joked harder, made herself impossible to pin down. Because if Mina was going to see her as a wildcard, she might as well lean into it.

But deep down, the distance she was creating only made the ache worse.

The tension reached its breaking point at the end of a long, grueling practice. The rink was quiet except for the sound of their skates slicing across the ice, the muffled thud of movement echoing in the vast, empty space. Both of them were visibly tired, their shoulders slumped, their breaths uneven.

It had been a hard day, missed cues, shaky landings, and an undercurrent of frustration that neither had voiced aloud.

Y/N launched into a spin, her movements sharp and fast, but her timing was off. She landed with a stumble, her skate scraping awkwardly against the ice before she caught herself on one knee.

Mina sighed audibly, the sound cutting through the silence. She skated to a stop a few feet away, her hands resting on her hips. “What’s going on with you?” she asked, her voice sharper than usual. “You’re distracted, unfocused. You’re not even trying.”

Y/N stiffened, her back still to Mina as she skated toward the boards. She grabbed her towel, her movements stiff and deliberate. “I’m trying plenty,” she muttered, dabbing at the sweat on her face without turning around.

“Not hard enough,” Mina countered, crossing her arms. Her voice was calm but cold, each word striking like ice. “If you were, we wouldn’t be struggling with things we’ve already mastered.”

The towel slipped from Y/N’s fingers, landing on the boards with a dull thud. Slowly, she turned to face Mina, her jaw tight and her eyes burning with an intensity that made Mina falter.

“You think this is my fault?” Y/N asked, her voice low and trembling, but beneath the tremor was a fire threatening to erupt.

“I didn’t say that,” Mina replied, but her tone carried a defensive edge.

“You didn’t have to.” Y/N’s voice rose, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “It’s always my fault, isn’t it? I’m the reckless one, the wildcard, the one who doesn’t fit into your perfect little world.”

Mina’s eyes widened slightly, her usual composure slipping as she tried to process the weight behind Y/N’s words. “That’s not—”

“Save it,” Y/N interrupted, her voice breaking as emotion overtook her. Her chest heaved as she took a shaky breath. “I already know what you think of me, Mina. I heard you.”

The words hit Mina like a punch, her breath catching as her body went rigid. “You... what?”

“I heard you talking to Momo.” Y/N’s voice cracked as she pushed the words out, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “Impossible to work with. Undisciplined. Is that really all I am to you?”

Mina opened her mouth, but no words came out. She felt the ice beneath her feet sway as the realization hit her. Y/N had overheard her, misunderstood her. Mina wanted to explain, to tell her that those words hadn’t meant what Y/N thought, but the shock of the confrontation froze her in place.

Y/N let out a bitter laugh, the sound harsh and raw. “That’s what I thought,” she said, her voice dripping with disappointment. Her hands trembled as she turned back to the boards, grabbing her bag and slinging it over her shoulder.

Mina took a step forward, reaching out instinctively. “Y/N—”

But Y/N was already skating toward the exit, her strides fast and purposeful. The sound of her skates against the ice echoed louder than it should have, a sharp, grating noise that seemed to reverberate in Mina’s chest.

The door swung shut with a loud thud, leaving Mina standing alone in the empty rink.

For a moment, Mina didn’t move. She stared at the door Y/N had disappeared through, her chest tight and her thoughts racing.

She wanted to chase after her, to explain that the words she’d overheard weren’t the whole truth. Mina had meant what she’d said about Y/N being unpredictable, undisciplined, but she hadn’t meant it as a dismissal. She had wanted to say more, to explain that Y/N’s fearlessness, her raw energy, her passion for skating made her exceptional in ways Mina had never encountered.

But Mina hadn’t said that. And now, Y/N was gone, and Mina didn’t know how to fix it.

Her hands fell to her sides as she exhaled shakily. She had thought they’d made progress, that the walls between them had started to crumble. But now, it felt like they were back where they started or worse.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” she murmured to herself, her voice hollow in the empty rink.

But the truth didn’t matter if Y/N wouldn’t stay long enough to hear it.

[kuzure-collapse]

I know these were asked like forever ago but I feel like now is the right time to answer. So as of chapter 50:

Tomohiro:

where is all this competition springing up from? why is mc so willing to drop everything to help this 'friend' Yanagi when he doesn't even hang with tomohiro?

he's been pretty nice so far, but he wonders if he should keep mc on a tighter leash (or if he should've kept a tight leash from the beginning)

maybe he should be more obvious with his flirting. mc is cute when he gets flustered and stutters

relying a bit more on tomoe as his informant now. she has eyes everywhere.

Kotose:

he feels like he's getting somewhere! mc even came to his club practice and his house, played piano together...laughed together...

there's so much chemistry, he can't be imagining things, right?

why does he keep mentioning tsuda and asking kotose to hang with other girls though?

obviously, it must be a test to check kotose's interest. decline all of them.

argh, but there's no point in pursuing something like this. what is he thinking? he has a career to focus on and mc is a distraction! even if its reciprocated, this relationship will go nowhere.

get rid of these feelings now!!!

Satsuma:

mc thinks he's good-looking? wants his help? no one's ever mentioned that to him before. (people do think he's good-looking, but they don't say so to his face)

he's been getting better with setting and exercising. even indulges satsuma when he wants to hog all the hits. their chemistry is improving, it's like mc can read his mind or something

yumeki and takumo look up to him too. what a swell guy. even though those two are shy, they have an easier time talking to him than satsuma does.

he has so many questions to ask, but doesn't want to sound like he's interrogating mc. "what kind of food do you like?" "what kind of animals do you like?" "what kind of flowers do you like?" "what's your favorite smell--"

he'll help mc help others, but is there anything mc needs help with?

Yumeki:

he's got a good number of photos and sketches on his wall and in his drawers

it started as a hobby of drawing candids of random people, and eventually ended up being mostly mc

yumeki's first real friend visited his house! and they cooked together, and he didn't think Yumeki's slip-ups were weird! And he even felt safe enough to take a nap.

maybe he can tell mc his secret? he's been protecting him from all the other scary guys...but yumeki doesn't wanna scare mc away and lose their friendship

Yanagi:

the kiss was purely for the mission. tongue was absolutely necessary and not something that came about for no reason (his opinion). it's not gay if you were forced to do it, especially if the other guy looks like a girl

they have a lot of similar likes, huh... music and games, old tv shows. it's refreshing to talk about those things with someone once in a while

did mc like the kiss? hope he didn't get the wrong idea. yanagi was teasing him about being gay early on just to poke fun, but after mc's attempt to provoke him in the bathroom and satsuma's appearance, he wonder's if it's true

and if it is, did mc actually do stuff with the guys in the otome game?? imagining that leaves a bad taste in his brain

better to keep his distance just in case. he can't realize the difference between homophobia and growing jealousy