#reader is a character though don't get it confused

[maewphoria]

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⌗⠀양정원⠀⠀CAT⠀DISTRIBUTION⠀SYSTEM⠀꒰⠀PT.5⠀꒱

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SYNOPSIS⠀.⠀.⠀.⠀starting college in a new city, you’re settling into your apartment and trying to make it feel like home. on your first day, a fluffy calico cat appears on your neighbor's balcony, jumping towards yours as if to greet you, stealing your heart instantly. but when a voice calls out for the cat from the next balcony, panic sets in—you rush back inside, too shy to meet your new neighbor. that neighbor turns out to be yang jungwon, a fellow student in the same university who’s also new in town. thanks to his mischievous and adventurous cat, the two of you keep running into each other in the most unexpected ways. a friendship blossoms, slowly turning into something deeper—though jungwon keeps insisting it’s nothing more than friendship. as feelings grow stronger, the question remains: will their bond turn into something more—or remain just a college memory?

pairing⠀.⠀.⠀.⠀college student!yang jungwon x college student!f.reader. featuring⠀.⠀.⠀.⠀all enhypen members, le sserafim yunjin, kazuha, and chaewon, aespa winter and karina. word count⠀.⠀.⠀.⠀16.O8Ok genre⠀.⠀.⠀.⠀sfw, fluff, angst if you squint, kinda slow burn, college life, university life, slice of life, comedy (although i don't find myself funny), friendships, relationships, and the cat distribution system. (it has chosen you and gave you two lovely cats.) warnings⠀.⠀.⠀.⠀drinking alcohol, parties, getting drunk (obviously), misunderstandings, jealousy, denial (jungwon is in denial), cowardice behaviour (jungwon is also a coward), lots of flirting and tension, cat keeps breaking into your apartment, kissing, skinship, reader (aka us) is very delusional and does a lot of overthinking, a bit cringe (i think it's cringe bcs i wrote it), and might contain suggestive content in the later parts that are yet to be posted. lowercase letters intended. very proofread. tell me if i'm missing anything. mæw's notes⠀.⠀.⠀.⠀hi guys! pt.5 s finally out! please enjoy! likes, reblogs, and comments are highly appreciated.

library⠀.⠀.⠀.⠀part one. part two. part three. part four.

#⠀OO6⠀:⠀CAT’S OUT OF THE BAG.

syllabus week had drawn to a close, and in its place emerged the delightful chaos that every university student knows too well. gone were the comforting routines of organized orientation and tours; in their wake came the erratic, almost cruel, schedules that demanded you wake at five or six a.m. on mondays, only to stroll in lazily at noon the next day. some days gifted you a single class and yet, you were still expected to drag yourself to campus because a professor had declared it “necessary.”

to make matters more bewildering, certain professors—perhaps out of boredom or a secret joy in confusion—decided to revise their schedules altogether, as if the already unstable structure of student life needed further shaking.

and the worst part? the scattered timetable meant you often couldn’t even see your friends. some days, only kazuha was free to hang out with you. other times, it was just yunjin. occasionally, you’d spot chaewon between breaks and then there were days when you were entirely alone, wandering the halls until dismissal like some tragic literary character in a baggy shirt and sweats.

there were afternoons when you had endless hours to yourself—too much time and no one to spend it with—while your friends were already buried under piles of coursework and group activities. the imbalance was disorienting.

the first week of classes always felt like an improvisational drama. no one really knew where to go, when to show up, or what room they were supposed to be in. schedules were printed, then ignored. maps were studied, then forgotten. it could take weeks to truly memorize one’s timetable, and you just hoped you wouldn’t be among the last to piece it all together.

yet, amidst the chaos, one small blessing stood out: your club schedule. it was reliable, comforting. meetings were every tuesday and thursday—steady, predictable, something to hold on to.

your very first meeting with the club was held in the hushed embrace of the university library, the lucent library.

the atmosphere was cautious, like everyone was waiting for someone else to speak first. awkward smiles were exchanged over silent shelves, hesitant greetings spoken just above a whisper. but then, the seniors arrived—and everything changed.

there were three of them.

the first was a poised young woman with brown, shoulder length hair and an air of quiet authority. the second was a tall boy with sharp eyes and hair dyed an unapologetic shade of crimson—he looked like someone who didn’t shy away from anything, or hair bleach. and the third was jay.

the trio entered with effortless presence, trailing behind the girl like her loyal entourage. they greeted the librarian with soft nods and practiced smiles, then turned to face the group assembled just beside the librarian's desk.

the girl stepped forward, her voice clear and warm.

“good day, everyone. welcome to the multi-maybe club—where you’re free to do everything… or absolutely nothing,” she said, a subtle smirk tugging at her lips. “i’m sakura, your club president, and i’m in my final year here. these two behind me are your other seniors—jay, our vice president, and heeseung, our secretary.”

jay gave an exaggerated salute as if sakura had just drafted them into battle. “ma’am, yes, ma’am,” he said, his voice low but teasing, earning a few amused snorts from the room.

heeseung, in contrast, merely gave a silent nod, almost as if he wasn’t quite sure what to do with his hands. jay immediately elbowed him in the ribs, whispering something that made heeseung shoot him a half-annoyed glare. sakura, without saying a word, simply tilted her head at him expectantly.

defeated, heeseung finally lifted his hand in a lazy salute.

the entire room chuckled softly—tension lifted, just like that.

the atmosphere had changed. the awkward quiet was now something lighter, easier. the multi-maybe club had just begun.

after a little more of sakura’s light but purposeful speech—detailing the strange yet endearing philosophy behind the multi-maybe club—it was finally time for the new members to introduce themselves.

one by one, each person stood up, shared their name, major, and a little something about themselves. it was the usual awkward mixture of nervous laughter, quiet voices, and subtle fidgeting. introductions never really got easier, even in college, but somehow it felt less painful here—like everyone was in on some inside joke that hadn't been told yet.

as the last person sat back down, sakura clapped her hands softly, as though summoning everyone's attention without disturbing the sanctuary of the library.

“now that we're done with introductions,” she began, a sly grin forming, “i have the most important question of the day.”

she paused for dramatic effect.

“what will you all be doing today—everything, or absolutely nothing?”

a few members looked around, unsure whether this was rhetorical. but sakura, ever composed, raised her hand high. “raise your hand if you're doing everything today.”

a modest handful of arms floated upward—hers included—joined by a couple of enthusiastic new members.

“ah,” she said, nodding with mock solemnity, “so few diligent souls among us today. i, myself, will be doing everything—my thesis waits for no one, even though the semester’s barely begun.”

then her gaze shifted with a mischievous glint.

“now, who's going to do nothing today?”

this time, almost everyone—including you—raised their hands without hesitation. jay and heeseung joined in as well, their hands shooting up in a way that almost seemed too proud.

sakura turned slowly toward the two boys, dramatically narrowing her eyes at them as the room burst into soft laughter.

“enjoy it while it lasts, my dear slackers. next year, you’ll be like me—eyes dead, heart caffeinated, clinging to deadlines like lifeboats.” she said it with such flourish that jay lowered his gaze, pretending to mourn his own future, while heeseung stifled a grin behind his hand.

with the energy lifted and everyone comfortably amused, sakura clapped once again, eyes bright.

“should we take a photo, my dear m-and-m’s?” she asked sweetly, referring to the affectionate nickname the club had adopted for its members.

there were murmurs of yes, smiles exchanged, and an overall sense of warmth settling among the group. for a first meeting, it felt oddly familiar.

“this photo will be framed and placed on our beloved librarian’s desk, right, mrs. nora?” sakura turned to the kindly librarian, who looked up from her desk and nodded approvingly before pointing toward a neat little shelf filled with framed photos—snapshots of years past, immortalizing members who’d once stood where you stood now.

“now let’s get into place. heeseung, jay, hold the capital m’s,” sakura instructed, already pulling out her phone.

the boys obediently took their posts on either side of her, holding two large cut-out cardboard m’s. the librarian stepped out from behind her desk and joined sakura in the center. the rest of you began shuffling into positions—some standing, others kneeling, trying not to block the front while still aiming for visibility.

a student seated nearby was recruited to be the photographer. he counted down—“one, two, three”—and snapped several shots in quick succession, catching moments between laughter and composure.

after handing the phone back to sakura, you all thanked him politely before returning to your seats, some fixing their hair, others wanted to ask sakura to send them a copy but were to scared to talk to her.

“okay, now that’s done,” sakura said, slipping her phone into her coat pocket. “i must now leave you in the capable, and slightly chaotic, hands of these two rascals. jay, don’t forget to add everyone to the group chat and mark their attendance. goodbye, everyone—see you around campus.”

and just like that, your enigmatic club president walked away—her shoulder-length brown hair swaying softly like a curtain closing after a brief but memorable scene.

jay immediately took charge, clipboard in one hand and his phone in the other. “alright, attendance time. heeseung, you're on group chat duty.”

“i feel deeply honored,” heeseung muttered sarcastically, rolling his eyes but already reaching for jay's phone.

as jay called out names, heeseung helped cross-check and confirmed each new contact before adding everyone into the club's group chat in telegram. they made a surprisingly efficient team.

“do you guys want copies of the photo from earlier?” jay asked, eyes still glued to his clipboard.

everyone murmured agreement, and jay gave a satisfied thumbs up.

he then leaned toward heeseung, whispered something in his ear, and nudged him lightly with an elbow. heeseung, in response, raised a brow but said nothing—simply grabbed his phone, tapped for a few seconds, then turned to jay.

“done. sent her the message,” he muttered.

jay nodded in approval, gave him a matching thumbs up, and muttered, “teamwork makes the dream work.”

and just like that, day one of your club life had officially begun—with jokes, photos, quiet promises of chaos, and the feeling that maybe, just maybe, you'd found the right club for you.

as the days quietly unraveled, life began to settle into something resembling a rhythm. it wasn’t perfect—never was—but there was comfort in knowing what came next. your body, once stubborn and sleepy, had started aligning itself with your chaotic schedule, waking up with less resistance, moving with a bit more purpose.

you’d even begun forming small connections with your classmates and professors. when it came to professors, you noticed a strange duality—many of them carried an aura of solemn intensity, as though they held the world’s wisdom on their shoulders. they spoke with precision, eyes often unreadable, the kind that made students sit up straighter. but then, when you'd message them privately—maybe to ask for a deadline extension or clarification—they’d reply with surprising softness, almost like your well-being mattered more than the assignment. they looked strict, almost untouchable in class, yet behind the scenes, they were strangely warm, almost sweet.

others, however, were too chill for their own good. these were the ones who walked in and asked, “lesson today or self-study?” and you already knew what the answer would be. when they asked, “quiz or no quiz?” the class, in unison, begged the universe: ‘no quiz, please.’ and they’d nod with the wisdom of someone who, deep down, didn’t want a quiz either.

as for your classmates, your social position hovered somewhere in the pleasant middle. you weren’t the core of any group, but people knew you—smiled when they passed you, waved across hallways. the cool kids talked to you like an equal, while the quieter, book-smart ones seemed to enjoy your company too. it was a strange harmony, but one you liked. you belonged just enough to everyone without being bound to anyone.

time flew. the kind of fly that doesn’t feel like flying until you look back and realize a whole month had passed. and now here you were, wrapped in the soft hum of laziness, lounging in the dorm of yunjin, kazuha, and chaewon. it was the kind of day made for doing nothing and pretending that doing nothing was productive.

everyone was off doing their own thing—scattered between screens, snacks, and half-finished conversations—when kazuha suddenly snapped her laptop shut with an unexpected clack. the sound echoed just enough to make all of you jump slightly, eyes now fixed on her.

she took off her glasses like she was about to deliver a ted talk.

“now that we’re all here,” she said slowly, deliberately, eyes scanning the room like a detective mid-investigation, “i have something to share.”

no one took that lightly. the atmosphere shifted immediately—spines straightened, eyes sharpened, the room holding its collective breath.

“spill, kaz,” yunjin murmured, hugging a couch pillow like it could protect her from whatever was coming.

kazuha inhaled like she was preparing to recite a secret spell. “remember riki?”

of course you remembered riki. how could anyone forget that moment? the mysterious duo—riki and sunoo—bursting into your lives on the very first day of uni, casually dropping the bomb that they’d helped get your friends home after the architecture students’ welcome party. and when asked how they even knew who your friends were, they’d just shrugged and said, ‘a friend of ours is a friend of yours.’ cryptic. bold. strangely charming.

you all nodded, eyes glued to her.

“well,” kazuha continued, shifting slightly as if preparing for judgment, “no one asked me to do this… but i was curious about the welcome party incident. like, really curious. so i started chatting with him. just casual stuff at first, trying to get closer.”

you all stayed quiet, nodding along, waiting for her to peel back the curtain.

“we mostly got closer through dance,” she said, pushing her laptop further away as though it was distracting her. “he’d be practicing a tiktok trend and i’d pretend not to know it so he’d teach me.”

“uhuh,” the three of you echoed, perfectly in sync, your voices flat but intrigued.

“and then yesterday,” she continued, her voice rising just enough to signal a plot twist, “i finally asked him who ‘the friend of our friend’ was.”

immediate tension. the air became electric.

“he hesitated, obviously. like, really didn’t want to tell me at first. but…” she paused, dramatically. “i offered him takoyaki.”

a collective groan filled the room.

“kazuha, please,” chaewon groaned into her hands.

“just tell us already!” yunjin cried, tossing her pillow to the floor in protest.

kazuha simply chuckled, enjoying every second of her moment. then she gestured for all of you to lean in.

“closer,” she whispered, voice low and conspiratorial.

you leaned forward, the kind of lean that only happens when gossip turns sacred.

and then, with the perfect amount of suspense, she dropped it.

“the ‘friend of our friend’... was jungwon.”

chaewon gasped so hard she almost inhaled her own shock. yunjin slapped a hand over her mouth, wide-eyed. you? you just sat there—utterly frozen—brain stuttering as it tried to catch up with what you'd just heard.

but kazuha wasn’t done.

“and,” she added with flair, “he was the one who took you home. he helped you to your apartment. he took off your shoes. he tucked you in bed.”

you could practically hear the sound of your brain short-circuiting.

chaewon and yunjin screamed. not loudly—but that silent, high-pitched, open-mouthed scream that only best friends are capable of when the drama is that good. kazuha just sipped her water with the satisfaction of someone who had been sitting on a bombshell for days.

you, however, sat still. speechless. eyes fixed on the ceiling like it might suddenly offer you an explanation. jungwon? jungwon?

as the chaos erupted around you—pillows flying, yunjin yelling “he tucked you in like a fairytale princess!”—you remained in stunned silence, the weight of the revelation slowly sinking into your chest.

because now, the question wasn’t just why jungwon did all that.

the real question was—what were you going to do about it?

you’d had your doubts—plenty of them, in fact.

for weeks, you’d convinced yourself that jungwon had drifted away. it had been nearly two months since the two of you had held a proper conversation, and one whole month since the elevator incident that still clung to the edges of your memory like static.

in the time since, the only remnants of your connection were fleeting moments: bumping into each other in corridors, exchanging nods like polite strangers, trading awkward, fleeting smiles that never quite reached your eyes before parting ways.

you were convinced he’d been ignoring you. avoiding you. so you did the same—or tried to, at least.

but now… now you were hearing this.

he’d been there all along.

quietly, without a word, helping you. looking after you. tucking you in after what was clearly a night you didn’t remember but he didn’t forget. the weight of that realization settled heavily in your chest, tipping the scale of everything you thought you knew.

you glanced at your friends. they were still laughing—chaewon curled over from giggling, kazuha hiding her face behind a throw pillow, yunjin practically bouncing on the edge of the couch from how hard she was laughing.

and despite your spinning thoughts, a question broke through.

“guys,” you began slowly, voice hesitant, “remember when we first met at the café? and i asked if i should cook for jungwon or take him out?”

three heads turned toward you, nodding in perfect, amused sync.

“you all told me to cook, but also to cook for the whole apartment floor so it wouldn’t be obvious,” you added.

“yes, and?” yunjin raised a brow, already sensing something was off.

“well… i kinda forgot,” you admitted with a sheepish chuckle. “i haven’t done it yet.”

“huh?!” came the collective betrayal.

“i meant to!” you laughed, hands raised in defense. “it just… slipped my mind.”

“you know what, no,” chaewon said, sitting up straighter, “this is perfect. you can do it now. thank him properly—for the furniture, for taking care of you, for literally tucking you in like a k-drama lead.”

you snorted, feeling a bit of secondhand embarrassment.

“it’s genius,” yunjin cut in. “this is your moment! the delayed ‘thank you’ dinner with a side of romantic tension.”

“we’re still feeding the whole fifth floor?” kazuha asked, as if this detail mattered the most.

“not anymore,” chaewon shook her bead. “we should focus on jungwon because he's the one who helped y/n.”

“great,” yunjin grinned. her phone was already in hand. “operation: feed and flirt is a go. now, what do we cook? do we know what his favorite food is?”

“unfortunately… no,” chaewon sighed, leaning back.

“me neither,” you and kazuha chorused, your tone defeated as you pouted, shoulders slumping slightly.

“should we ask riki?” chaewon suggested, turning to kazuha.

but kazuha just shook her head, already anticipating the outcome. “i already used my curiosity token on him to find out about jungwon. if i push my luck, he might start charging me.”

“he really does seem super close with jungwon,” you added, chewing on the inside of your cheek.

“should we ask sunoo next?” yunjin asked, hopeful, as she places her phone on the space beside her.

everyone turned to chaewon.

she blinked slowly. then shrugged.

“i don’t know. he might tell jungwon. sunoo knows everything. he’s like a walking group chat. and if we ask him, we’re basically handing him popcorn and a front row seat to our drama.”

you sighed, shoulders sagging as you leaned back into the couch.

the mission was growing trickier by the minute.

“should we stalk jungwon’s instagram?” kazuha asked, voice low but mischievous, like someone about to commit a noble crime.

you all froze for a moment before slowly turning to her like she’d just uncovered the secret to the universe.

“genius,” yunjin breathed, already reaching for her phone. “on it!”

in seconds, the four of you huddled together like detectives mid-investigation, your eyes glued to the screen of yunjin’s phone as she pulled up jungwon’s profile. his feed was as clean and carefully curated as you’d expect—mostly pictures of yami and a few pictures of himself, still with yami.

you started scrolling through his following, not quite sure what you were looking for—until a familiar face stopped you.

“wait, stop,” you said, your hand darting out to pause her scrolling. you leaned in and tapped on the small circular profile. your breath caught. “that’s… that’s jay!”

“jay?” yunjin echoed, confused but intrigued. you didn’t even bother asking—your fingers were already moving, taking her phone like it was yours. she didn’t even protest. instead, she leaned in closer, as curious as the rest of you.

you scrolled a little more and there he was.

“and heeseung!” you pointed at the second name, now genuinely startled. “jay and heeseung? why is he following them? is he friends with them?”

your three friends turned their gazes on you simultaneously, expressions expectant, as if you’d just become the key to this delightful little mystery.

“jay and heeseung are the vice president and secretary of my club,” you explained, the pieces starting to connect like dominoes you didn’t know had been set up.

“ohhh,” they all said in unison.

“maybe we can ask jay or heeseung for help?” kazuha suggested, now deep into planning mode.

“when’s your next club meeting?” chaewon asked, tapping her chin like a serious strategist.

“tuesday,” you replied.

they all shook their heads with dramatic disappointment.

“nope, too late,” yunjin declared. “we need to get this done tomorrow. or sunday at the latest. the drama’s still hot—we strike while the iron is sizzling hot.”

as if answers might descend from the ceiling, the four of you all looked up, leaning back against the couch and each other, collectively pondering your next move like there might be an actual lightbulb moment hanging above.

“are you close with jay or heeseung?” kazuha asked, glancing sideways at you.

you shrugged slightly. “i’m kinda close with jay. we chat a lot, actually. but heeseung’s quiet. super quiet. but we do greet each other.”

“then jay it is,” yunjin announced like a captain making a call. “text him. ask if he knows what jungwon’s favorite food is.”

“i can try,” you said, already pulling out your phone with a small surge of nerves. “i just don’t know if he’ll know.”

nonetheless, your thumbs started flying across the screen.

you: hey vprez! jay: oh hey our future secretary! what’s with the sudden chat?

as soon as the reply popped up, everyone’s heads turned sharply toward your phone, their expressions a mix of suspense and glee.

you inhaled deeply, fingers poised dramatically above the screen.

“okay,” you whispered, glancing at them like you were about to defuse a bomb, “here goes nothing.”

and with that, you began typing your reply—trying to sound casual, curious, and not at all like you were orchestrating a covert operation to flirt with jungwon using his favorite foods.

you: i noticed that you know an acquaintance of mine. jay: oh really? who? you: jungwon :)) jay: 😲 wait what?!

everyone in the room hovered around your phone like moths to a screen-lit flame, the air thick with anticipation. you could almost hear the collective hope whispering through the silence, praying that this little plan of yours didn’t spiral into chaos.

you took a deep breath and typed your reply with steady fingers, even though your heart felt anything but steady.

you: ikr! he's my neighbor 🙃 jay: gosh, what a small world! we used to go to the same high school.

“he must know so much about jungwon then!” yunjin exclaimed, her voice practically bouncing off the walls with excitement.

everyone nodded in agreement, eyes wide with newfound hope. suddenly, this didn’t feel impossible—it felt destined.

“tell him you're trying to thank jungwon for helping you move your furniture and that you want to cook something for him. ask if he knows what his favorite food is,” kazuha immediately added, her voice hushed but urgent.

you nodded, thumbs tapping out your next message with purpose.

you: i actually need your help, vprez! please 😭🙏🏻 jay: what is it? i’ll try my best to help!

a collective breath was released, four girls exhaling at once. you all exchanged knowing glances and subtle nods—this was the green light.

you didn’t hesitate.

you: i'm planning to thank jungwon bcs he helped me with my furniture when i first moved in. do you happen to know what his favorite food is?

your eyes stayed fixed on the screen, watching the three animated dots as they bobbed and waved. it was somehow more suspenseful than the plot twist in a thriller.

jay: food or snacks?

“we’re in,” kazuha whispered.

the room erupted with quiet cheers, restrained only by the intensity of your focus. even the silence felt like it was vibrating with excitement.

you: i would like to know both please 😄 jay: if it's food then it's curry. as for snacks or dessert, strawberry dipped in chocolate.

screams. actual screams.

not loud enough to disturb the neighbors, but definitely loud enough to shake the couch cushions. everyone broke into smiles and started throwing high fives like confetti. it felt like winning a mini-lottery—except instead of cash, the prize was culinary knowledge.

yunjin grabbed you in a hug, squeezing the life out of you in pure celebration. “you’re gonna cook for the boy who tucked you in bed. this is peak romance!”

you laughed, your cheeks warm. and yet, a small part of you was still quietly processing everything—how someone you thought was drifting away had always been near.

you typed one more message, curiosity nudging at your fingertips.

you: you guys must be so close for you to know this much 😅 jay: yeah, we all go way back, along with sunoo and riki. they're basically my little brothers from high school. while sunoo and riki have been jungwon’s best friends since they were toddlers 😁

his words warmed you, but they also brought with them a twinge of something else—something delicate. a yearning to know more. not just the facts, but the memories, the meanings behind those long-standing friendships. yet you also felt the invisible line of respect; these were stories that belonged to jungwon, and part of you wanted to hear them from him.

so instead, you offered your gratitude.

you: thank you so much vprez! just tell me if you need anything, i’ll try my best to pay you back! jay: i’m just glad i could help! good luck with your cooking!

and just like that, the chat came to an end. you turned off your phone, setting it gently on the table as though the information inside had weight.

you looked at your friends, and they looked right back at you—all of them grinning, already standing, stretching, mentally preparing for what was clearly the next step.

they didn’t even have to say it.

you all were heading to the market to buy ingredients and then to your apartment.

time to test everyone's rusty cooking skills.

across town, tucked into a quiet corner of the city, there was a small, cozy café that doubled as a pet-friendly library. low shelves held mismatched books and comics, warm lamplight pooled onto bean bags and sunken couches, and the air smelled faintly of coffee and soft fur. it was the perfect retreat—quiet, warm, and comfortably chaotic in the way only a room full of animals and friends could be.

there, in the coziest corner near the window, jungwon sat with his usual crew—sunoo, riki, jake, sunghoon, heeseung, and jay—lounging with their drinks, surrounded by pets and books, all in various degrees of relaxation.

jay is currently sitting beside jungwon, his phone tilted ever so slightly away as he typed out a reply to your messages. he stifled a laugh—though not very well—because on the other end of that conversation, you were asking about jungwon’s favorite food, completely unaware that the very subject of your messages was sitting mere inches from jay, immersed in a novel, absentmindedly scratching behind yami’s ear.

jay finally slipped his phone into his bag and leaned back with a little sigh of triumph. then, with the mischievous expression of someone who knows far too much, he stared at jungwon.

jungwon looked up, catching the way jay was staring at him with a smug expression that all but screamed, i know something you don’t.

he blinked at him. “what—”

but jay, already standing, cut him off with a bright, too-innocent, “nothing,” and strolled off to the bookshelves, pretending to browse titles like how to keep a secret or the art of not spilling tea.

jungwon squinted after him, unsure whether to press or let it go. he decided on the latter, though the unease still lingered.

jay, of course, had no intention of reading. he detoured immediately to sunoo, who was lounging on a bean bag, tea in one hand and a romance novel in the other. jay bent down and whispered what he just found out into his ear.

sunoo gasped—loudly, dramatically. heads turned. even jungwon glanced up.

sunoo froze, caught mid-gasp. he slowly brought his book up to his face, feigning interest. once jungwon’s gaze shifted away again, he leaned toward jay and whispered behind his book.

“wait—are you serious?”

jay nodded, absolutely delighted with himself. “she messaged me. it’s probably happening tomorrow.”

sunoo's eyes gleamed with anticipation as he glanced at jungwon, who was now flipping a page. “he’s going to be so confused,” sunoo murmured. “should we give him a hint? tell him to wear something nice or emotionally prepare?”

jay shook his head firmly. “nope. we need the raw, unfiltered chaos. full authenticity.”

sunoo let out a quiet snort, already imagining it. “you’re so evil.”

“thank you,” jay replied, bowing slightly as if accepting an award.

they both looked back at jungwon just in time to see him scratch his ear like he sensed someone was talking about him. somehow, this simple motion sent both jay and sunoo into another fit of stifled giggles.

now it was impossible to hide the secret. curiosity spread like wildfire.

riki was the first to notice and trotted over, dragging sunghoon behind him. jake wasn’t far behind, sensing the juicy gossip from across the room. heeseung, ever calm, merely raised a brow and followed with mild intrigue.

“what’s going on?” riki whispered.

jay and sunoo exchanged glances, then leaned in and filled them in—quietly, dramatically, and without sparing any juicy detail. the boys listened intently, wide-eyed, grinning, already invested.

every single one of them turned to look at jungwon at the same time.

and he, sensing the weight of their collective gaze, looked up slowly, clearly feeling the shift in atmosphere.

“…what?”

“nothing!” they all chimed, too cheerfully, too quickly.

jungwon blinked, his gaze lingering suspiciously on each of their faces. yami meowed softly in his lap, as if echoing his skepticism.

he returned to his book, though his focus now drifted in and out, ears still attuned to the barely concealed whispers and laughter from his not-so-subtle friends.

everyone was in on the secret.

everyone... except jungwon.

and that, of course, was the best part.

the day had finally arrived.

after a long but laughter-filled night with your closest friends—yunjin, chaewon, and kazuha—you found yourself waking up in a home that smelled faintly of groceries, excitement, and the remnants of your midnight snack raid.

last night had been a chaotic delight: the four of you storming through the night market, weaving between stalls like a mission-ready squad, hunting down the best ingredients your budget could stretch to. vegetables were picked, spices sniffed, and strawberries selected with the precision of surgeons.

rather than part ways afterward, they all crashed at your place, arms heavy with bags and hearts light with anticipation. no one dared suggest commuting back and forth. this was war—culinary war—and you would face it together.

morning came like a thunderclap.

yunjin’s alarm blared through your apartment like an emergency broadcast from the apocalypse. she had, for some unknown reason (that she claimed was "strategic motivation"), changed her alarm to a military siren. the kind that made your soul leap out of your body and check itself into a bunker. the moment it screamed to life, everyone jolted up like soldiers on high alert.

“what the hell, yunjin!” chaewon shrieked, clutching her pillow like a shield.

“rise and shine, it’s curry o’clock!” yunjin announced proudly, already halfway out of bed.

and just like that, the mission resumed.

groggy but determined, the four of you assembled in the kitchen. chopping boards were laid out like weapons on a battlefield. onions were peeled with solemn focus, garlic minced with swift expertise, and carrots sliced with the kind of intensity usually reserved for anime training montages.

laughter wove in and out of your conversation, but beneath it all was a current of nerves. everyone was secretly wondering if they had messed something up—forgotten a step, misjudged a measurement, or committed an unpardonable culinary sin.

but you... you were a different kind of nervous.

because unlike the others, you were the one who would be delivering the food. facing the boy. jungwon.

still, there was no time to spiral. you all worked like clockwork, stirring and seasoning until finally, all that remained was the wait.

hours ticked by slowly but eventually, the kitchen timer rang—a crisp, satisfying ding that felt like the gates of heaven opening.

you stepped forward, took a deep breath, and dipped a spoon into the curry. silence fell. behind you, the girls watched with bated breath.

you tasted.

paused.

and then—smiled.

you turned and gave a small but decisive nod. your silent approval sent them into a frenzy. cheers erupted like a team winning gold. yunjin whooped. chaewon high-fived kazuha. yunjin hugged you like you’d just saved the world.

“we’re actually geniuses,” yunjin declared, peering into the pot with pride.

“don’t jinx it,” chaewon muttered, already opening the fridge to check on the chocolate-dipped strawberries.

thankfully, those looked flawless. glossy, plump, and adorable.

soon, the food was carefully packed into neat containers, each sealed with both precision and anxiety. you were about to help with cleanup when all three girls suddenly blocked you like bouncers at a VIP entrance.

“nope,” kazuha said firmly. “you’re on beauty duty now.”

“go shower,” chaewon added. “we’ve got this.”

“and don’t even think about picking your own outfit,” yunjin chimed in with a wink.

you laughed, heart fluttering with nerves and affection, and padded to your room with a towel in hand. the hot water felt like a blessing. it calmed your nerves for a moment—but only a little bit.

when you finally emerged from the bathroom, steam still clinging to your skin, you were met with the sight of your friends already in your room, raiding your closet like a team of stylists on a makeover show.

chaewon had a blouse in one hand, kazuha was holding up a skirt to the light, and yunjin was examining your shoes with the intensity of someone reviewing a museum exhibit.

“you guys act like i’m going to meet royalty,” you said with a small laugh, sinking onto your bed in a plain shirt and shorts.

yunjin, still crouched by your closet, didn’t miss a beat. “well, you did say yami acts like royalty. and by cat law, that makes her human the royal butler—so technically, yes.”

the room erupted in light laughter. even you couldn’t help the grin tugging at your lips.

soon enough, the transformation began—subtle, but thoughtful. they helped you pick an outfit that said, i totally didn’t plan this, i’m just naturally this charming. your hair was brushed out with care, and a hint of makeup was dabbed on here and there, enough to brighten your features without shouting effort.

“this is art,” chaewon whispered as she gently fixed a strand of your hair.

“you look like the girl-next-door in a romcom, but, like, the main character version,” kazuha declared, arms crossed proudly.

you stood before your door, hands clutching the carefully packed food containers, while your three friends crowded behind your door like nosy neighbors in a sitcom. they peeked through the crack, whispering like spies on a stakeout.

“you got this,” yunjin whispered dramatically.

“go, go, go,” chaewon whispered back, holding an invisible earpiece like a secret agent.

you took a deep breath and walked the short distance down the hall, each step making your heart thump louder in your ears. once in front of jungwon’s door, you glanced back. three thumbs-up shot up from your barely open door.

you nodded to yourself, exhaled slowly, and pressed the doorbell.

you had mentally prepared for jungwon’s familiar, boyish face to greet you—maybe with a lazy smile and a slightly confused “oh hey.”

but when the door opened, it wasn’t him.

instead, a girl stood before you.

her hair was blonde—just a shade lighter than jungwon’s, which only deepened your confusion. she had the effortless kind of beauty that could make people do a double-take.

her outfit was breezy and minimal: a cropped white t-shirt that skimmed her waist, paired with loose gray trousers that pooled slightly around her ankles in a way that screamed cool, casual, and expensive without trying. a black baseball cap was perched on her head, with a pop of red embroidery on the front, adding a sporty touch. and on her feet—fluffy bunny slippers. actual ones. pink ears and all.

“oh, hello!” she smiled, her voice as sweet and airy as a spring morning. “how may i help you?”

you blinked.

for a split second, your brain short-circuited. who was she? a cousin? a friend? a girlfriend?

you managed a polite smile, though internally, chaos was sounding the alarm.

she was stunning. she was sunshine and style and slippers. if you weren’t currently questioning your existence, you might have declared her your new girl crush on the spot.

but for now, you just stood there, still holding the curry and strawberries, your heart fumbling to catch up with your thoughts.

you opened your mouth, poised to speak, but before even a whisper could escape, a familiar voice called from inside the apartment.

“win, who’s at the door?”

your breath caught.

win turned her head slightly and replied over her shoulder, “a pretty girl!” then turned back to you with a mischievous smile, eyes briefly flicking to the containers in your hands.

“oh, are those for won?” she asked, her tone warm and knowing. her gaze lit up with curiosity, maybe even excitement.

you, however, were far too deep in existential panic.

‘they have nicknames? win? won? they have casual nicknames?!’ your thoughts spiraled as you watched her, every move of hers smooth and easy, as if she belonged right there beside him.

you felt like a misplaced extra in someone else’s scene.

before she could so much as turn her head to call for jungwon again, you quickly pushed the containers toward her with a forced smile. “please give these to him—thank you,” you said, words tumbling out too fast, like you were throwing them into the void.

and without waiting for a reply, you turned around and walked away.

well—speed walked.

no, sprinted in the most polite way possible.

your heartbeat thundered in your ears as you made the short yet excruciating journey back to your apartment. as you neared the door, you caught the wide-eyed stares of your friends, all of whom were still peeking out, expecting a soft rom-com moment—perhaps a sheepish smile exchange, or even a tiny wave.

but instead, they got... you, power-walking like you'd just seen a ghost.

you shut the door with a solid click behind you and leaned against it, exhaling dramatically. your friends stared at you in silent confusion.

“what happened?” kazuha asked first, cautiously, as if any wrong word might cause you to combust.you just smiled—tight-lipped, a little crooked—and shook your head.

“should we head out?” you said, voice a pitch higher than normal, trying desperately to reroute the emotional train wreck. “maybe eat out or something?”

they blinked, then looked over at the kitchen. the pot of curry—once a symbol of your collective effort and excitement—sat there on the stove, now untouched and strangely heavy with metaphor.

you expected someone to protest. after all, you’d all spent hours making that meal.

but to your surprise, one by one, they started pulling off their aprons.

“sure,” yunjin said, far too quickly, taking your hand with a bright smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “let’s get out of here. let’s have fun tonight.”

kazuha and chaewon nodded in quiet agreement, following behind as yunjin pulled you toward your room.

they didn’t push for answers. they didn’t ask again.

they knew something had gone wrong.

and in the way only real friends can, they decided you didn’t need to explain anything right now.

you just needed a distraction—and they were more than ready to be that for you.

as you slipped back into the safety of your apartment, the door clicking gently behind you, the girl—win—was still standing at jungwon’s door, containers in hand, brows slightly raised in confusion. she glanced down at them, then murmured a soft, “okay,” like she was answering your request earlier.

with a small shrug, she stepped backward and nudged the door shut, the sound quiet but final. her slippers padded softly against the floor as she made her way to the kitchen island, where she set the containers down carefully, then turned toward the living room.

jungwon was sprawled across the couch like a man waiting for divine intervention or at the very least, a good therapist. his expression was blank, eyes fixed on the ceiling as if it might reveal life’s great mysteries—or just a way to unthink a thought.

win let out a sigh, already half-exasperated as she flopped into the armchair opposite him.

“just so you know,” she began, her voice laced with casual amusement, “a very pretty girl was just at your door.”

jungwon didn’t even flinch. he blinked once, slowly, then turned his head toward her with an expression that clearly read, okay... and?

“i don’t care about that right now, kim minjeong,” he said dryly. “i was in the middle of a breakdown, thanks. mid-rant. mid-spiral. and you just walked off to answer the door like we weren’t having a moment.”

“wow,” she muttered, placing a hand over her heart mockingly. “full government name? harsh. i guess i deserve that, mr. yang jungwon.”

he didn’t bother hiding his eye roll. “are you gonna listen or not?”

“i’m all ears, drama king,” winter said, settling into the chair and folding her arms with the grace of someone fully prepared to play amateur psychologist.

jungwon took a breath, gathered his thoughts, and dove into the mess of emotions he’d been carrying for weeks. he told her everything. how he met you two months ago, how the connection had been so unexpectedly sharp it almost felt staged. he recounted the chaotic incidents—some fueled by recklessness, others by too much alcohol. the conversations that ran too deep for two people who claimed to be not close. the shared silences that said too much.

he even told her about the way he'd been avoiding you lately—proudly, almost—like a man pretending he’d outsmarted his own feelings.

“it’s complicated,” he muttered at the end, rubbing a hand over his face.

winter didn’t say anything at first. she nodded thoughtfully, brows lifting slightly in that way she always did when she was already ten steps ahead of him.

then she said, “it sounds like you’re deep in denial.”

jungwon blinked. “what?”

“you heard me,” she said, shifting to look at him head-on.

he sat up slowly, blinking like he hadn’t quite processed the betrayal.

“did you even listen to anything i just said?”

“i listened,” she replied smoothly. “didn’t judge. even read between the lines. and let me tell you—those lines were bolded and highlighted.”

jungwon narrowed his eyes at her, suspicious.

winter sat up straighter, her tone leveling into something firmer. “jungwon, i know you. we’ve known each other since diapers. our parents still call each other every weekend. i was your first ever friend.”

jungwon raised an eyebrow. “also my first ever bully,” he muttered under his breath.

“excuse me?” winter shot him a glare, one brow arching like a weapon. “i was preparing you for the real world. tough love builds character.”

jungwon just sighed, but the corner of his mouth twitched despite himself.

winter, catching that, smirked. “you’re hopeless.”

“and you’re nosy,” he shot back.

“yeah, but at least i’m not scared of my feelings.”

jungwon groaned, letting his head fall back against the cushion.

“as i was saying,” winter began, arms folded with the quiet authority of someone who was rarely wrong, “it sounds a lot like you have feelings for her.”

jungwon let out a dry chuckle, the kind that carried more weariness than amusement. his hand swept through his hair in one frustrated motion, fingers tangling briefly before dropping back into his lap. “feelings?” he repeated with a scoff. “what does that even mean—like? love? please. you know i don’t understand those.”

he glanced at winter, who remained still, her expression patient and unyielding.

“when i was younger, i thought i understood,” he said, his voice softening as the memories crept in. “i thought the affection i was shown meant something. i believed it. every word, every gesture.” he paused, jaw tightening. “but it was all a lie. an act. a performance.”

winter didn’t interrupt. she waited, letting him speak at his own pace.

“they made me think love was real but i was a idiot.” his voice grew quieter, the edge fading into something fragile.

winter leaned forward slightly. “won, i know,” she said gently. “what your parents did... it was cruel. but you were a child, jungwon. you didn’t know any better. and now that you do, you have the power to choose differently.”

he looked down, elbows resting on his knees, shoulders heavy with the weight of the past.

“i don’t know what i’m feeling,” he murmured, barely audible—like he was admitting something to the floor rather than her. “i don’t know what this is.”

winter smiled softly. “well, i do,” she said, the smugness seeping back into her tone. “i have a girlfriend, remember?” her smirk widened as she leaned back in her chair, pride practically glowing from her. “you might have heard of her—amazing, stunning, way out of my league?”

jungwon rolled his eyes. “okay, lover girl. educate me, then. enlighten me with your knowledge.”

winter didn’t hesitate. she launched into her story—how it felt when she first met her girlfriend, the flutter of uncertainty, the irrational pull toward someone who made her feel seen. she talked about the way her thoughts started lingering too long, how comfort turned into longing without her even noticing.

as she spoke, jungwon couldn’t help but listen closely. her words, though wrapped in humor, hit strangely close. the moments she described—he’d felt them too. the nervous anticipation, the confusing warmth, the lingering thoughts about you that refused to leave even when he tried to shove them away.

still, he clung to denial like a life vest. “yeah, but you know your girlfriend,” he said, waving a dismissive hand. “you’ve spent years together. i barely know her. we’ve known each other for two months, tops.”

winter gave him a look. “jungwon. it’s not about time. it’s about how you feel when you’re with them. and you? you’ve got it bad, whether you want to admit it or not.”

he leaned back on the sofa again, groaning. “i hate that you’re making sense.”

“i usually do,” winter replied smugly, stretching her legs out with theatrical ease. “face it, you’re a rookie at this. a baby deer just learning to walk the path of emotional vulnerability. but lucky for you, you’ve got me—your personal love guru.”

“ugh,” jungwon groaned. “do not call yourself that.”

“love. guru.” winter repeated, pointing at herself with both thumbs.

he rolled his eyes again, but this time, it didn’t feel as heavy.

as much as he didn’t want to admit it, talking to winter helped. her words cracked through something he'd sealed shut for a long time. maybe—just maybe—he didn’t have to keep running from this. maybe it was okay to feel confused, to not have all the answers yet.

and maybe, instead of avoiding you like a coward hiding from his own shadow, he could try something different.

maybe he could just... face you.

and see what comes of it.

jungwon let out a quiet sigh as he pushed himself off the couch, wandering into the kitchen with the sole intention of getting some water. but just as he reached for a glass, something on the counter caught his attention—two neat containers, still closed, almost as if they were waiting for him.

his brows furrowed in mild curiosity. he walked over and carefully lifted the lid of the first one.

a rich, savory aroma spilled into the air.curry. warm, fragrant, and clearly homemade. the scent alone tugged at his appetite, making his stomach twist with anticipation.

“okay, wow,” he muttered under his breath, eyes gleaming like he’d just found treasure.

he opened the second container and nearly beamed. perfectly dipped strawberries—some in dark chocolate, others in white, each one glistening like they’d been painted with sweet intentions.

his lips curled into a smile he couldn’t suppress. “now this is suspiciously thoughtful,” he said to no one in particular.

he popped his head out of the kitchen. “win! who brought these?”

winter, who was lounging on one of the chairs flipping through a magazine like it owed her money, called back, “i told you already—it was a pretty girl. and then when—”

before she could finish, jungwon’s phone started ringing from the living room table.

winter glanced over, checked the screen, and casually picked it up. “sunoo,” she said, recognizing the name. she answered with a sing-song voice, “yo sunoo! wassup?”

silence.

“hello?” she asked again, this time with a confused frown.

jungwon returned, now with a strawberry in hand, already halfway to his mouth. “who is it?” he asked, settling back on the couch.

“sunoo, but he’s just... breathing dramatically or something.” she gave the phone a skeptical look, then put it on speaker and slid it across the table toward him.

jungwon raised a brow. “hello? sunoo?”

and finally—sunoo’s voice erupted from the speaker, rapid-fire and full of alarm.

“what’s happening?! what are you doing?! why is winter there?!”

both jungwon and winter blinked in surprise.

“what—wait, one at a time.” jungwon said, half-laughing, completely caught off guard.

winter leaned closer to the phone and added dryly, “hi, nice to hear your voice too, sunoo. missed you.”

sunoo ignored her. “did she answer the door earlier? did she see her? was she the one who received the food?”

jungwon glanced at winter. “what is he even talking about?”

winter shrugged, eyes twinkling. “beats me. but now i’m invested.”

“what are you even talking about?” jungwon asked, brows pinched together as he looked down at the phone, then at winter, who simply shrugged back at him like this was just another saturday. “yes, she answered the door and received the food. what about it?”

a groan came from the other end of the line—long, dramatic, and utterly exasperated.

“ugh, jungwon! you messed up!” sunoo cried, as if jungwon had just committed a federal crime instead of... whatever this was.

jungwon paused, blinking. and then he heard it—multiple voices groaning in unison in the background. he even heard someone say ‘what about our bet?’.

he squinted at the speaker. “wait. who else is there?”

“everyone’s here,” came jake’s voice, clearly jumping in to add fuel to the fire, “and we’re all very disappointed in you, man.”

jungwon’s expression twisted into one of sheer confusion. “what—why?! what did i even do?!”

“someone gave you food, right?” sunoo asked slowly, like he was trying to speak to a particularly dense goldfish.

“yes,” jungwon replied, and winter chimed in with a casual, “yep.”

“do you even know who gave it to you?” sunoo pressed. jungwon paused, eyes darting toward winter.

“no?” he answered, tone hesitant, now sensing this might be more serious than he initially thought.

winter, who had been watching whatever's happening in front of her, then spoke. “i was trying to tell him who it was,” she said pointedly, “but then somebody had to call mid-sentence.”

there was another round of audible sighs on speaker, as if the group on the other side had just lost all collective hope.

“win, finish your sentence. now,” sunoo ordered like a general dispatching a mission.

“sir, yes sir,” winter replied dryly, tossing a mock salute toward the phone. she leaned back and continued, as if narrating the final scene in a mystery drama. “so. as i was saying. she was a very pretty girl—like, if i weren’t already taken, i would’ve made a move—anyway, she handed me the containers, super polite, then walked away. i watched her go into the apartment right next door.”

jungwon froze, halfway through eating a strawberry. the chocolate-dipped tip was still in his mouth when the realization hit him like a splash of cold water.

the leafy stem dropped from his fingers and hit the table with a soft thud.

“what?” he asked, staring wide-eyed at winter like she’d just confessed to being a time traveler.

“she said y/n was the one who cooked and dropped off the food,” sunoo said, dropping the final piece of the puzzle in a tone that was both smug and painfully disappointed—like he was handing jungwon a mirror and asking him to look at the consequences of his obliviousness.

“i— i didn’t know…” jungwon muttered, his voice small and dazed, as though reality had just slapped him across the face with a chocolate-covered strawberry.

from the other end of the line, a chorus of dramatic groans erupted.

“obviously!” his friends shouted in perfect, frustrated harmony.

“the bet is put on hold,” someone said in the background of the call, but he immediately recognized the voice—it was riki.

meanwhile, winter simply sat back, legs crossed and arms folded, watching the unfolding chaos like she had front-row seats to her favorite drama.

“this is so fun,” she whispered under her breath, lips curling into an amused grin as jungwon’s mental spiral continued at full speed.

“we’re coming over. i swear to god!” sunoo snapped, and then—click. the call ended.

jungwon groaned loudly, dragging his hands down his face like he could wipe the embarrassment off with enough pressure. he threw himself backward onto the couch, limbs flailing like a distressed cartoon character, and started kicking the air in pure emotional agony.

“hey, relax,” winter said, not even trying to hide her laughter now. “we’ll help you, okay? consider this a group project. we’re going to brainstorm a comeback story for you.”

she casually pulled out her phone, angled it perfectly, and snapped a photo of jungwon mid-crisis—face half-buried in a pillow, feet kicking like a toddler denied candy. she sent it to her girlfriend with a caption that read, “look at this loser. want to come over and watch the show in person?”

a reply came almost instantly: “say less. i’m on my way.”

winter smiled, already imagining the chaos that was about to double in size. her eyes returned to jungwon, who was still dramatically kicking his heels against the couch like the world had ended.

‘this is going to be so much fun,’ she thought, resting her chin on her hand as the real entertainment began.

monday had arrived rather quickly than expected. jungwon and his circle of loyal, if somewhat chaotic, friends—sunoo, riki, jake, and sunghoon, along with winter and her girlfriend karina—had spent every minute from saturday to sunday trying to devise the perfect plan to thank you for the food you'd dropped off so quietly, so unexpectedly.

jay and heeseung, tied up with their own obligations, had sent over some cash before replying with a simple message in the group chat saying, “bribe her with sweets. love is war.” not exactly heartfelt, but appreciated nonetheless.

their first plan? a simple, genuine gesture. show up at your door, boba teas in hand, offer a thank you and maybe even a charming smile or two from jungwon himself. but reality, as always, had other ideas.

jungwon had rung your doorbell that saturday with a hopeful heart and slightly clammy hands. minutes passed. the silence on the other side was deafening.

no answer.

he turned, disheartened, glancing at the cracked door of his own apartment where four heads peeked out like nosy neighbors in a sitcom. they all shrugged in unison, then waved him back inside like failed stagehands after a botched scene.

he trudged back in, and the entire crew collapsed into the cushions with a collective groan while winter and karina continued to stay calm and relax side by side on the couch.

“what are we even gonna do now?” riki asked dramatically, his eyes fixed on the ceiling like divine inspiration might be hiding up there.

“i don’t know… maybe cry?” sunoo offered, sounding ready to do exactly that.

another round of sighs echoed through the room like a sad little choir.winter and karina chuckled, sipping on their own boba with the smug serenity of women who had seen this kind of male panic far too many times.

“you guys seriously know nothing about women,” winter said, shaking her head as if she were watching toddlers try to build a rocket ship out of cardboard and hope.

the boys turned to her as one, eyes wide with desperate curiosity.

“then teach us! please. jungwon needs all the help he can get,” sunoo said, throwing himself into a dramatic pose, arms outstretched like he was pleading with a goddess.

winter simply raised a brow. “have you forgotten? she saw me. me, in jungwon’s apartment. what do you think she thought when she saw that?”

the room went quiet. winter looked around at the dumbfounded expressions now facing her, her tone turning almost instructional—like a preschool teacher trying to explain slowly for her students to understand.

jake was the first to raise his hand, wearing the face of someone who thought he had just solved the puzzle of the century.

“you’re stopping by?” he offered.

winter and karina turned to him slowly and, in perfect unison, shook their heads. the kind of synchronized disappointment usually reserved for exasperated older sisters.

sunoo, sitting beside jake, furrowed his brows at him—silently asking, ‘are you serious right now?’ jake only responded with a helpless shrug, as if to say, ‘worth a shot.’

“her first thought,” sunoo began, casting a look around as though he were revealing the answer to a riddle no one else could solve, “would be wondering whether win is jungwon’s friend… or his girlfriend.”

he leaned back, arms crossed smugly, satisfied with his deduction.

riki, ever the curious one, raised his hand as though they were in a classroom instead of the middle of jungwon’s living room crisis center.

“but… why would she assume that? can’t boys and girls just be friends?” he asked, genuinely puzzled.

winter and karina exchanged a knowing look, the kind only seasoned women shared when watching men fumble their way through emotional nuance.

karina took the floor like a lecturer stepping up to the podium. her voice was calm, yet laced with a certain weight that drew all eyes toward her.

“she saw a beautiful girl, aka my girlfriend, inside a guy’s apartment,” she said pointedly, pausing long enough for the boys to catch on.

then she turned toward jungwon, eyes narrowing just slightly. “jungwon, what would you think if a man, a good looking man, answered the door when you knock on her apartment?”

jungwon blinked, caught off guard. he opened his mouth, closed it, then finally admitted, “i’d probably think he’s her… boyfriend?”

“bingo,” karina replied, nodding once. “exactly.”

she let that settle in before continuing, pacing the floor with gentle authority. “so our first move—before we even think of thank-yous or apologies—is to clear up the misunderstanding. she needs to know winter, my girlfriend, is not your girlfriend.”

she paused to look around the room, reading their expressions like a teacher checking for comprehension. thankfully, this time, the boys were all nodding. even jake.

it was a rare moment of clarity in the usually chaotic brainstorm sessions. and as everyone sat there, absorbing karina’s words, the atmosphere shifted from frantic confusion to something a little more hopeful.

they had a plan now—or at least, a starting point. and in the tangled mess that was jungwon’s feelings and misunderstandings, that was already a small miracle.

karina, having delivered her impromptu masterclass on emotional clarity, gracefully sat back down beside winter. without a word, winter threw her arms around her, squeezing her in a half-hug that felt equal parts thank-you and applause. it was the kind of affectionate gesture that said, ‘well done, my brilliant girlfriend,’ without needing actual words.

and now, miles away from the comfort of his chaotic living room full of friends and unsolicited advice, jungwon stood alone in front of vanguard business hall. it was his break, and in his hand swung a modest plastic bag holding two cookies n cream boba milk teas—one slightly less cold than it should be, the other already starting to sweat through the plastic.

he wasn’t even sure if you’d be there. maybe you’d already left. maybe you were somewhere inside, far from the entrance and even further from him. but still, he stood there, clinging to a flicker of hope that fate might let him run into you—just for a moment.

he needed that moment. just long enough to explain and clear up the misunderstanding. to apologize. to somehow make up for lost time after he spent nearly two months pulling away from you for reasons you still didn’t know or noticed, hopefully. reasons he wasn’t even sure he could explain properly.

he thought that slipping away quietly would be easier than confronting the confusion in his own heart. but now, standing there with melting boba and nerves eating away at his composure, he knew that choice had been cowardly. and maybe a little stupid.

then, just as a group of students began trickling out of the building, jungwon straightened up, scanning each face with cautious hope. and there you were—just a blur at first, until that unmistakable silhouette came into focus. the second you spotted his blonde hair in the crowd, your instincts kicked in before your brain could stop you.

you turned right.

you walked.

you bolted.

and jungwon, unfortunately for your escape plan, caught sight of your retreat. he blinked, then broke into a light jog, calling your name with a tone far too hopeful for someone who knew he'd messed things up.

you ignored him. or at least you tried to. but it was difficult to pretend you didn’t hear someone very audibly calling your name in public—especially when everyone else around you clearly did.

so you stopped. turned. and watched as jungwon jogged the last few steps toward you, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips as he tried to catch his breath.

“umm… hi,” he said, voice soft, slightly breathless.you returned his smile, trying your best to seem composed—even though your heart was tap dancing in your chest.

“hi, jungwon.”

and just like that, the two of you stood there, steeped in a silence so awkward even strangers passing by could sense it—the way your shoulders both slightly tensed, the subtle shift in your gazes as you avoided locking eyes too long.

you glanced down and noticed the plastic bag. two bobas inside. his eyes followed yours and landed on the drinks.

“i, uh… i wanted to thank you for the food last saturday,” he began, holding up the bag like a peace offering. “i didn’t really know what to get you, so… i got boba?”

you tilted your head slightly, smiled politely, and delivered your blow with the gentleness of a paper cut.

“i actually don’t like boba that much.”

technically, it wasn’t a lie. you preferred mango shakes. but your taste for boba hadn’t disappeared—it was just temporarily sacrificed for the sake of pride. and maybe a little mischief.

jungwon blinked, stunned. “oh,” he said, glancing down at the drinks. “i didn’t know. sorry.”

“it’s okay,” you replied quickly. “oh, look at the time! i have to go now. bye, jungwon!”

you turned before he could say anything else, walking briskly toward the café where your friends were waiting. your steps were steady, deliberate. not too fast, not too slow.

and behind you, jungwon stood in the same spot, déjà vu wrapping around his chest like a weighted blanket. the irony wasn’t lost on him—how this mirrored the first day of uni, except this time, you were the one walking away.

“see you around, y/n!” he called out after you.

but you didn’t look back.

not this time.

as both of you walked away from that awkward encounter, walking back to your respective groups, it was almost comedic—two entire support teams unknowingly entering a silent war, armed with opposing strategies.

your team—composed of you, yunjin, kazuha, and chaewon—sat on dorm floors and café corners, whispering as if plotting a secret mission. the goal was simple: avoid jungwon at all costs. no eye contact, no conversations, and absolutely no accidental run-ins that could lead to a moment of weakness. you were in full avoidance mode.

jungwon's group, however, was another story entirely. his crew—sunoo, riki, jake, sunghoon, jay, and heeseung, occasionally joined by winter and karina via dramatic late-night calls—was tirelessly scheming with a singular purpose: get you and jungwon to meet, breath the same air, hopefully talk like normal human beings again.

thus, the chase began.

it was a quiet and chaotic. you'd linger in the classroom until it emptied, pretending to organize your notes just to avoid walking out of the building only to see jungwon at the entrance. sometimes, you'd even sneak out a back exit, ducking behind vending machines or walking long routes just to keep your distance.

jungwon, on the other hand, became something of a phantom—hovering near exits, loitering outside buildings he knew you had classes in, frequenting cafés you used to visit, pretending to browse books he didn’t even like at the campus library. all he wanted was a chance meeting—a bump on the sidewalk, a hello, anything.

but for two whole weeks, the universe (with your considerable effort) refused to cooperate.

sunoo and riki, growing impatient with jungwon’s tragic advances, decided it was time to play dirty. or at least strategic. they leaned on their “connections”—aka their friendship with chaewon and kazuha.

sunoo started chatting with chaewon during class breaks, sliding into conversation with all the charm and cheer of someone who’d known her for years. “you and i, we just click, don’t we?” he said, nudging her playfully. chaewon gave him a tight smile and didn’t budge an inch.

meanwhile, riki cornered kazuha with his own version of subtlety. “remember when you asked about jungwon and what happened at the welcome party?” he said, all casual as if he hadn’t rehearsed the line in the mirror three times. “i told you the truth. so technically, you owe me.”

kazuha blinked at him, unfazed. “technically, i said i was curious. you answered voluntarily. that’s on you.”

“well, you bribed me.” he replied but kazuha stayed quiet.

needless to say, both girls were loyal—impenetrably so. not a single word slipped, not a stray hint or eyebrow raise. and for that, you were deeply grateful. friends who hold the line in the face of chaos? priceless.

jungwon, however, was not about to give up. he began sending you texts—small ones at first. a simple ‘hi’, a gentle ‘how are you?’ followed by blurry pictures of his calico cat, yami, snuggled up on a sun-drenched windowsill or stretching dramatically across his desk.

you ignored most of them.

well, except the ones with yami. you had a soft spot for that fluffball. your replies were short—just the occasional heart emoji—but even that made jungwon hopeful.

and now, as the cat-and-mouse game dragged on, you found yourself sprawled across the familiar couch in your second home: the dorm shared by yunjin, kazuha, and chaewon. honestly, you might as well start paying rent. you'd been spending so much time there, partly for comfort, mostly for refuge.

“i swear, if jungwon shows up at our building again, i’m switching majors,” you muttered into a cushion, your voice muffled but full of exasperation.

“do it,” yunjin said from the kitchenette, “go full drama. law school who?”

you groaned and rolled over, staring at the ceiling, your mind tangled in a mess of what-ifs and overanalyzed glances. lately, it felt like jungwon was everywhere. in the hallways. near the elevators. appearing in your peripheral vision.

but maybe you were just being paranoid. maybe it was just your mind playing tricks on you, heightening your awareness because of that one moment two weeks ago—the one that still gnawed at the edge of your pride.

you had walked to his apartment that day, hoping to give jungwon his favorite home cooked meal and snacks, only to see a pretty girl inside. her voice soft, her presence too comfortable. she called him won. they had nicknames. and you, foolishly, had felt your stomach twist.

you told yourself it didn’t matter. you told yourself it wasn’t your business.

but it did matter. which is stupid because you don't have the right.

and now, here you were—on a couch that wasn’t yours, heart in a mood it refused to explain, while jungwon chased shadows and yami photobombed text messages.

meanwhile, across the city and several degrees of frustration later, jungwon sat slouched on his couch, surrounded by five of his closest friends, heeseung couldn't come because he's currently busy. the apartment, normally a sanctuary of quiet comfort, now felt like mission control for the most delicate and chaotic operation of his life: winning you back. (he knows it's all his fault.)

two more familiar faces flickered on the screen of sunoo’s phone—winter and karina, joining the gathering via video call. their pixelated faces lit up the dim room, casting a glow that did little to lift the somber atmosphere.

“so, how’s the operation going?” karina asked from the screen, her tone chipper but her brow slightly furrowed.

sunoo, holding the phone like it weighed a thousand tons, simply sighed and shook his head in defeat.

the mood in the room sank further.

“what’s with the long faces?” jay suddenly asked, raising a brow as he glanced around at the collective gloom. “you all look like someone just stepped on your dreams. come on—we’re not giving up yet.”

everyone turned toward him slowly, each face practically screaming the same thing: ‘unless you’ve got a miracle in your pocket, don’t talk to us about hope.’

jay merely smirked, arms crossing with theatrical flair. “you didn’t know this because none of you ever asked, but she’s in my club. we meet every tuesday and thursday.”

the room blinked in unison.

jungwon squinted. “wait, i thought you just saw her in the library sometimes? you always said that’s where you bumped into.”

jay rolled his eyes and leaned back like he’d just been waiting for this moment. “please. she goes to the library because that’s where we hold meetings. after the current club president graduates, i will become the president, heeseung will take over as vice president. and she’s our future secretary.”

he said it so matter-of-factly, as if he'd just informed them that the sky was blue and water was wet.

sunoo, visibly twitching, looked like he was about to launch himself at jay. “you’ve been holding this in? this whole time?! we all thought you guys got close because you just suddenly started talking to her in the library but what? you're in the same club?!”

he took a step forward, but riki reacted fast—looping his arms around sunoo’s waist from behind and restraining him like an overworked zookeeper holding back an angry flamingo.

jay, sensing imminent doom, ducked behind jungwon’s shoulder. “hey! i didn’t say anything because no one asked! plus, i didn’t want to overshare. i respect her privacy.”

sunoo narrowed his eyes into thin slits, lips pressed into a line. riki patted his head in an attempt to soothe him like a calming mother duck. it barely worked.

jungwon, now used to the emotional ping-pong that surrounded any discussion of you, exhaled a long, world-weary sigh.

“this is actually useful,” winter chimed in from the call, always the voice of reason dressed in a fashionable hoodie. “we have to use this. what if we surprise her on tuesday?”

karina nodded beside her. “yes! that’s the perfect chance. and don’t just show up empty-handed. bring something she loves.”

“like from that new mango shake place,” jay added, finally stepping out from behind jungwon like a child who knew the coast was clear. “you know, the one with crushed oreos and graham crackers on top? it’s ridiculously good.”

he placed both hands on jungwon’s shoulders with the same gravity as a knight offering a sword.

jungwon didn’t move. his head fell back against the couch as he stared blankly at the ceiling, his thoughts spiraling like the fan above.

“what if she just… pushes me away again?” he asked quietly, and the whole room stilled.

that one sentence carried more weight than anything he’d said in the past two weeks. even sunoo, still mid-glare at jay, softened. it was the kind of voice that sounded more like surrender than frustration.

the kind that comes when hope starts to feel heavy.

and for a brief moment, everyone in the room could feel it—the quiet ache behind jungwon’s usually careful expression. the boy who usually had all the right words was now barely hanging on, wondering if this effort was even worth it.

no one spoke right away.

because sometimes, silence is the only way to say ‘we get it. and we’re still here.’

jay gave jungwon’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze, his usual smirk replaced by something softer—something that resembled quiet loyalty and brotherly. the room, once buzzing with overlapping voices and chaotic energy, now fell into a thoughtful silence.

on the screen, winter’s expression softened. “i know it’s hard, jungwon,” she said gently, her voice threading through the hush like silk. “if this plan doesn’t work, we’ll call it quits. no more planning. we’ll let it go. how’s that sound?”

jungwon lifted his gaze slowly, taking in the faces around him—his friends, his chaotic co-conspirators, his pillars. they had all been there for him without hesitation, riding the highs of hope and the lows of rejection with him. his eyes lingered on each of them before he finally gave a small nod.

“this will be the last time,” he murmured, voice steady but laced with resignation. “if it still doesn’t work... i’ll stop bothering her.”

the words hung heavy in the air, like the final line in a letter he never wanted to write.

jay, ever the steady presence, threw an arm around his shoulders and gave him a firm pat. “we’ll be here. always.”

jungwon offered him a small, grateful smile. one that reached his eyes this time. he turned to the others too, giving them that same look of quiet gratitude—grateful that they stayed, even when the odds didn’t.

“okay then,” winter announced, her voice trying its best to sound upbeat despite the undertone of melancholy. “final operation. it’s been a ride, fellas.”

her words drew a few tired chuckles from the group, bittersweet and warm, like the final laugh shared at the end of a long day.

around the room, there was a shared feeling no one dared to voice aloud—‘i hope this isn’t the last time.’

because deep down, none of them wanted the fun and chaotic mission to help jungwon win you back to end here. not like this.

and so, with an unspoken pact and hearts quietly tethered to one final hope, they began to prepare.

just one last try.

tuesday had finally arrived. it was the kind of day you always secretly looked forward to—an oasis in the middle of your week. tuesdays and thursdays meant freedom, in a way. only two classes stood between you and your sanctuary: the library, where the multi-maybe club met and reality quietly faded into pages and possibilities.

you were curled up in your favorite corner of the library, flipping through a manga, the world around you growing soft and slow. the silence was comforting, like a well-worn sweater. then, without warning, you felt it—that strange shift in the air that only comes when someone enters your orbit. instinctively, you looked up.

there was heeseung.

he strode over casually, with his bright red hair, guitar in hand, like some boy-next-door character who just stepped out of a coming-of-age film. he slid into the seat near you, placing his guitar down with care, as if it were an old friend rather than an object.

your eyes immediately locked onto the instrument, your curiosity flickering to life like a lit match. heeseung caught the look and chuckled, already reaching for the guitar.

“wanna have a go?” he asked, strumming once, the note echoing softly between the shelves.

you sat up straighter, shaking your head, lips pursed in a little frown. “i don’t know how to play,” you confessed, eyes never leaving the guitar. “but i’ve always wanted to learn.”

heeseung gave a small, knowing nod—the kind older brothers give right before they do something effortlessly cool. “i mean, if you don’t mind,” he said, voice easy, eyes kind, “i could teach you.”

you blinked, surprised, as if someone had just offered you a ticket to another world. “you’d do that for me?” you asked, your tone laced with both disbelief and a touch of awe.

he laughed and gestured for you to scoot over so he could join you on the couch. you moved instinctively, making room, still watching him like he might disappear if you blinked too fast.

he settled in beside you, propped the guitar on his thigh, and began strumming again—light, fluid, the notes barely there but still enough to melt into the silence. “i don’t mind teaching you,” he said, eyes still on the strings. “it’s easy.”

“easy for you, you’ve got those piano player fingers,” you quipped, holding your hand up next to his in a sudden burst of boldness. your fingers looked comically small next to his, and he laughed as he mirrored your gesture.

“tiny hands aren’t a problem,” he said, smiling down at the difference. “do you really wanna learn?”

you nodded enthusiastically, eyes gleaming with so much sincerity. “then that’s enough,” he replied simply, and began walking you through a few basic chords, patient and clear.

you tried your best to focus. really, you did. but something was tugging at your attention—a whisper at the edge of your awareness, telling you to look up. and when you finally did, your breath caught in your throat.

jungwon.

he stood just beyond the library entrance, watching you and heeseung with an unreadable expression. and as soon as your eyes met, he turned. just like that. no wave, no smile—just the sharp turn of someone who didn’t want to be seen.

you blinked, unsure why your chest suddenly felt heavier than before. guilt—unexpected, unwelcome—gnawed at your ribs like a small, quiet thing.

you handed the guitar back to heeseung, your smile fading. he didn’t ask why. he just nodded, already turning his attention back to the strings as if sensing that some moments don’t require explanation.

and you stood, your steps soft but quick as you headed toward the door, toward the exit jungwon had just disappeared through.

toward whatever it was that had just shifted in the air between you.

meanwhile—just minutes earlier—jungwon stood on the stone steps outside the library, a slight breeze tugging at his sleeves. his friends were with him like an unofficial support squad, each of them clearly more tense than he was. in his hands, he held a plastic bag with two mango shakes inside—cold, creamy, topped with crushed oreos and graham crackers. the kind of sweet peace offering that, in theory, could melt even the iciest wall of awkward silence.

he glanced at the group and let out a quiet chuckle. “you guys look more nervous than me,” he said, shaking his head in amusement.

“are we?” jake muttered, clutching his own drink like it was a stress ball.

jay stepped forward dramatically, placing both hands on jungwon’s shoulders and locking eyes with him like he was about to send him into battle. “this is your last shot, won. your final boss. the season finale. go in there and finally make her talk to you again.”

jungwon raised a brow, lips twitching into a crooked smile. “no pressure, huh?”

jay grinned and patted his shoulder twice, stepping back. “none at all.”

jungwon took a breath, nodded, and with the silent encouragement of his makeshift entourage behind him, he finally stepped through the library’s glass doors.

the atmosphere inside was hushed and cool, scented faintly of paper and coffee. jungwon’s eyes scanned the room like a radar, searching for that one familiar silhouette. and then—there you were. nestled in your usual spot, completely immersed in something that made your eyes sparkle.

his smile began to form naturally, unconsciously, as his hand tightened slightly around the plastic bag. but then—he saw him.

heeseung, who he considered a friend.

sitting beside you, leaning in comfortably, guitar in hand, strumming softly while you looked on with curious delight. the sight stopped jungwon mid-step. his eyes narrowed just a bit as he watched you laugh at something heeseung said. and then—god, then—he saw the two of you holding your hands up together, comparing sizes, smiling like it was the most natural thing in the world.

a strange pang hit his chest—an unfamiliar blend of irritation, surprise, and... jealousy?

he stood there, frozen for a second, debating what to do. approach anyway? interrupt and risk looking desperate? or worse, pathetic?

and then you looked up—eyes meeting his.

jungwon panicked.

his heart skipped a beat as he immediately turned on his heel and exited the library as fast as he could without breaking into an all-out sprint. the moment he stepped back outside, his friends looked up from where they waited, eyes widening in surprise at his abrupt return.

“uh... that was quick,” jake murmured, brows lifting.

jungwon handed the plastic bag silently to riki, who took it with a frown. he ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated, and sunoo stepped closer with concern knitted into his expression.

“what happened, won? why’d you come back?” he asked, voice gentle.

jungwon let out a breath, short and clipped. “she’s busy,” he said, already stepping away from the group when riki stopped him, grabbing him by the arm.

sunoo blinked. “busy with... what?”

jungwon pulled his arm free from riki’s grasp and turned to face them, his jaw slightly clenched. “she’s busy—with heeseung,” he said, trying to stay calm, feeling a bit pathetic. before any of them could respond, he walked off.

there was a long beat of stunned silence.

“wait. heeseung?” sunoo asked, his voice cracking slightly in disbelief. his gaze bounced from face to face.

jay’s eyes widened and then his whole body deflated. he groaned loudly, slapping his own forehead. “oh my god. i forgot to tell heeseung about the plan today.”

the realization hit all of them at once like a collective brain freeze.

“he doesn’t know anything?” jake asked in a whisper.

“not a damn thing,” jay muttered miserably.

as they all turned to watch jungwon’s retreating figure grow smaller in the distance, riki let out a dramatic sigh.

“great,” he mumbled. “jungwon is obviously misunderstanding everything right now.”

“what do we do now?” jake asked, breaking the silence with a helpless shrug as his eyes scanned the group.

jay let out a long sigh and placed his hands on his hips, staring down at the ground as though it might offer some divine answer. “this is bad,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

“real bad,” sunoo echoed in a whisper, his voice tight with worry.

but before anyone could spiral further into panic—

“what’s bad?” came a voice behind them, calm yet curious—your voice.

the boys nearly jumped, spinning around to see you standing there, arms crossed lightly, brows raised, clearly sensing something was off.

you scanned their faces, then your eyes darted around the courtyard. there was someone missing. someone you had expected to see. “what are you guys doing here?” you asked again, your gaze flicking behind them, still searching.

none of them spoke at first. the air turned awkward, thick with guilt and tension. it didn’t take a genius to know who you were looking for, and the way you were craning your neck to glance past them only made that more obvious.

“uh—obviously, i’m here because of our club meeting,” jay finally said, throwing on a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “and, uh… these guys? they’re just curious. wanted to see what the multi-maybe club was all about.” he gestured vaguely to the others, eyes wide as if silently begging them to roll with it.

riki nodded a little too enthusiastically. “yeah! we’re thinking of starting a club called... uh... the maybe-multi club,” he said, clearly winging it.

sunghoon gave him a look but said nothing. one by one, the rest of them nodded as well, some more convincing than others.

you tilted your head slightly, eyes narrowing with a knowing look. it was obvious they were lying but for some reason, you didn’t push further. you simply crossed your arms tighter over your chest and asked the question that had been gnawing at you since you left the library.

“where’s jungwon?” you asked quietly. “i just saw him inside a few minutes ago.”

at your words, the group visibly stiffened. eyes darted. lips pressed tight. even jay lost his usual cool for a moment.

then, sunghoon—who had been uncharacteristically quiet—spoke up. “he already went home,” he said flatly.

the words came out sharper than he intended, laced with something unspoken. it wasn’t anger—no, not really. it was frustration. not with you, but with the situation. with how he had to watch jungwon get crushed over and over, even when everyone could see how hard he was trying.

sunghoon exhaled through his nose and looked away. he knew you weren’t the villain here—you had every right to be confused, to protect your heart. still, it didn’t make it easier to watch his friend walk away every time with disappointment written across his face.

you looked at sunghoon, noting the edge in his tone. your lips parted slightly, as if to ask something else—but then closed again. the silence hung awkwardly between all of you, heavy with misunderstandings and missed timing.

after that slightly awkward—perhaps even anticlimactic but still nerve-wracking—encounter with jungwon’s friends, you found yourself walking home with a sense of restless urgency coiling inside your chest. sunghoon had said he went home, and you clung to that sliver of hope.

the moment you stepped inside your apartment, you bypassed everything—your bag, your shoes, even the idea of changing clothes—and headed straight to the balcony. it had become something of a silent bridge between you and him. from yours, you could sometimes catch glimpses of him through the sliding glass doors of his own balcony. sometimes he would be there watering his plants, lost in thought, or just playing or chatting with yami.

but tonight, there was no jungwon.

you leaned forward over the railing, your eyes scanning the glass door of his apartment like you were waiting for a sign—any movement, any flicker of light or shadow that might mean he was near. nothing. the door was drawn shut. the balcony empty.

‘maybe he's in his room,’ you told yourself. ‘maybe in the shower.’ so you waited.

and waited.

you ended up lowering yourself into a small corner of your balcony, next to your little garden of potted plants that had seen better days. you hugged your knees to your chest, curling inward against the growing weight in your heart. the evening air settled gently around you, heavy with the promise of rain and things left unsaid.

minutes passed like clouds, slow and shapeless. nearly an hour slipped by—or maybe more. you weren’t sure anymore. your eyes were fixed downward now, watching your own bare feet tapping softly against the cool tiles.

then, a sound.

a quiet shift in the silence: the soft, unmistakable shhhhkt of a sliding glass door opening.

your breath hitched.

footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, almost guilty. you didn’t lift your head right away, letting the moment hang suspended in the stillness. then, the footsteps paused. something about their hesitation pulled at you, and you finally looked up.

there he was.

jungwon stood at the edge of his balcony, caught mid-step like a child trying to sneak past bedtime. he was tiptoeing—tiptoeing, of all things—as if hoping he could vanish before you noticed.

“stay,” you said softly, but your voice carried. not loud, not desperate—just steady. enough to make him freeze.

he stopped in his tracks, body tensing. then, wordlessly, he turned and leaned against the railing, facing away from you. a sigh slipped past his lips as he ran a hand through his hair, fingers tangled in frustration. he still wouldn’t look at you.

you slowly stood and took a few careful steps toward the edge of your balcony, closing the quiet space between you.

“can we just talk?” you asked gently, eyes searching his figure for something—anything—that might tell you he was still willing to listen.he said nothing.

so you filled the silence.

“you think i haven’t noticed?” your voice trembled slightly, but you kept going. “you’ve been avoiding me. i don’t know why. i don’t know what changed. but i know what i’ve seen.”

still, nothing. only the slight movement of his shoulders rising and falling with his breath.

“i waited,” you said, your voice softening now. “i kept telling myself that maybe you were just busy. maybe school, or your club, or life just got overwhelming. so i waited, hoping you’d talk to me again, even just for a minute—”

“and who told you to do that?”

his words came like a sudden gust of wind, cutting through the air and slicing straight into your chest.

you blinked.

“who told you to wait for me?” he asked again, louder now, turning to face you. the storm that had been brewing quietly behind his eyes had finally broken loose. and in it, you saw everything—frustration, confusion, a thread of anger, and just beneath it, unmistakable sadness.

the words hit harder than you expected. not because they were cruel, but because they were raw.

your expression mirrored his—eyebrows drawn in hurt, lips parted in shock. and for a second, both of you stood there, wounded reflections of each other on two separate balconies, too close and yet too far.

jungwon’s gaze faltered the moment he saw your face. he hadn’t meant for it to come out like that. not in that tone. he could see the weight of his words settling into your chest and he hated that he put it there.

so instead of speaking again, he fell into silence. afraid that whatever else he might say would only widen the space between you. afraid that if he let the words spill again, he wouldn’t be able to take them back.

“i waited because i thought we were friends.”

your voice didn’t tremble. it didn’t crack. it rang clear across the night air—steady, certain, as if you were reciting a truth he had somehow forgotten. a truth you could no longer carry in silence.

jungwon scoffed, the sound bitter and sharp. he turned his face away, jaw tightening as if trying to keep all the thoughts crashing in his mind from spilling out. he was holding back—desperately so. not out of pride, but out of fear. because if he said everything he was thinking, it wouldn’t just hurt you. it would destroy what little remained.

“you were the first one who welcomed me here,” you continued, the words tumbling from your mouth like memories you’d clung to too long. “you helped me with my furniture. twice when i was drunk. you stayed with me. you were—so nice to me. why?”

“i don’t owe you anything, y/n,” he cut in sharply, not even turning to look at you. “we barely know each other.”

that stung.

your breath caught in your throat, not because you believed it, but because he had the nerve to say it out loud. “really?” you said, incredulous. “that’s what you think? after everything?”

you took a step closer, your voice gaining strength. “you helped me get home. you stayed when you didn’t have to—”

“maybe i shouldn’t have,” he muttered.

it was quiet. so quiet you weren’t sure you heard him right. your heart paused, just briefly. “what?”

he finally looked at you. and in that gaze, you saw it. the weariness, the chaos, the wall he had built between himself and the world. he wasn’t angry at you—he was angry at himself.

“maybe i shouldn’t have gotten involved,” he repeated, louder this time. “me helping you with your furniture, those nights when you were drunk—it didn’t mean anything.”

there was a flicker of something behind his eyes. regret, maybe. or fear of being vulnerable. but the words were already out, hanging heavy between you.

you scoffed, letting out a humorless breath as you ran your hands through your hair, trying to steady the rush of emotion building in your chest. “then at least tell me why you’ve been avoiding me.”

your voice cracked just a little—not with weakness, but with all the weight you’d been carrying.

jungwon leaned back against the railing, the cool metal biting into his palms. “i wasn’t avoiding you.”

a blatant lie. he knew it. you knew it. it hung in the air like smoke.

your lips parted in disbelief, your brows raising in quiet fury. ‘unbelievable.’ you thought.

“really?” you said. “then what do you call letting the elevator doors close right in front of my face? what do you call running away when i tried to talk to you? two whole months of silence, jungwon. what is that, if not avoiding?”

he groaned, dragging a hand across his face as frustration mounted in him like a wave too tall to ride. and this time, when he opened his mouth, he didn’t hold back.

“maybe i just didn’t want to deal with… this!” he shouted, voice rough around the edges. “maybe i didn’t want to deal with you! you’re the one reading between the lines when you shouldn’t be!”

the moment the words left his mouth, he could already feel them slicing through the air like a knife.

you froze, the breath knocked out of you—not by the volume, but by the weight.

but he wasn’t done.

“and me avoiding you?” he scoffed, the bitterness returning with full force. “don’t flatter yourself. you’re not that special.”

there it was.

the moment everything changed.

the insult wasn’t loud, but it echoed like thunder between the two balconies. it was a low blow, uncalled for, soaked in something even he didn’t fully understand—hurt, anger, defensiveness… cowardice.

you didn’t yell back. you didn’t storm off or cry or scream.

you just stared.

not with rage. not even with sadness.

disappointment.

and that made it worse.

you slowly shook your head, once, like you were finally accepting something you’d tried so hard not to believe. your voice, when it came, was quiet. but it cut just the same.

“you didn’t have to say that,” you said. “but i get it now.”

you stepped back. not in retreat, but in resignation. the kind that comes when you finally let go of something that was never really yours to begin with.

your hand reached for the glass door behind you, fingers curling around the frame. you slid it open, but paused—just for a moment.

“thanks,” you said, voice steady despite the ache in your chest. “for taking care of me. for tucking me in. for… everything, i guess.”

and then, you disappeared behind the glass. the door closed with a soft thud. the curtains followed.

jungwon stood there, alone. the silence that followed was louder than anything either of you had said. it rang in his ears, echoing off the walls of his chest.

a breeze passed through, lifting the ends of his shirt. the night felt colder now, biting even.

yami hopped silently onto the balcony railing beside him. she blinked slowly at him as if to ask, ‘what have you done?’

jungwon didn’t notice.

his head dropped forward, both palms gripping the railing so tight his knuckles turned white. eyes closed.

“...i didn’t mean it,” he whispered.

his voice barely carried.

“any of it.”

taglist⠀.⠀.⠀.⠀ @morganaawriterr @wondoras @mypolka @meowwwon @dolliehue @in-somnias-world @yjwonsgf @kirijuns @iifrui @momisanalien @vieniee @drunkjazed @hhyvsstuff @readinmidnight @noona-neomu-yeppeo @cutehoons02 @robotinvenus @starfallia @nijisanjigenshin @kkamismom12 @kinamurariki @soobundle1009 @supershy3 @nodoubtily @vrikisn @jayjw16enxp @skzfangirl143 @0leelina0 @noriiluv @o2whre @nocturnebite @userprdx @fangirl125reader @slvrnm @jungwons-wife @joonsflwr @yunmislove (taglist is still open, comment to be added.) final notes⠀.⠀.⠀.⠀i hope you guys enjoyed! part six will probably be posted on saturday or wednesday. see you guys then!

©⠀mæwphoria⠀|⠀all works belong to me. strictly do not plagiarize, copy, translate, paraphrase, rewrite or repost my works on any other platforms. if it's inspiration gained from my work then it's appreciated and i wish you good luck with your own stories. thank you.

⠀

[ghostlynightpanda]

hai!!!!! I hope you’re doing super duper well!!!! I was wondering if you could do some hc for aib characters with a reader that’s really short? Plssssss I love how you write you’re amazing!!!!! Full creative liberty tho and also feel free to completely ignore this hehe mwah!!:3

AIB Characters react to a really short Reader

A/N: I hope you like the story! I’ll be honest, I don’t have much firsthand experience with height-related teasing — I’m around 185 cm, so I usually get the opposite. But I based a lot of the comments and moments on things a friend of mine (who’s pretty short) has actually experienced over the years. (She once got mistaken for a child at her workplace and someone even asked if she was there to visit her parents — she’s 26.)

content/warnings: Ann, Kuina, Aguni, Niragi, Last Boss, Chishiya, canon typical blood and violence, 3.045 words

Ann

The first time Ann saw you, she was standing on the second-floor balcony of the Beach, arms crossed, sharp eyes scanning the new arrivals like the former detective she still very much was.

Most were older teens and twenty-somethings. Tough faces. Broken shoes. Blood under their nails. Survivors.

And then there was you.

You stepped through the gates looking like you got lost on the way to school.

Short frame. Soft features. A hoodie two sizes too big. You barely reached the height of the guy next to you, and the guards didn't seem to take you seriously either — they barely even checked you.

Ann's brows knit together.

A kid? Here?

Her instinct kicked in before logic could catch up. She made her way down to the lobby, weaving through the crowd, already mentally preparing how to explain the rules gently. You didn't look like someone who had played many games. Honestly, you barely looked old enough to drive.

You were standing off to the side near the vending machines, eyes calmly watching the chaos.

Ann approached like she was handling a delicate situation — calm, cautious, steady.

“Hey,” she said, her voice low and kind. “You doing okay?”

You looked up at her, a little confused by the tone. “Yeah? Why?”

She gave a small smile, crouching slightly to meet your eyes. “I know this place is overwhelming. But I promise you, I'll help however I can. You don't have to be afraid.”

There was a beat of silence.

You blinked.

Then sighed — not annoyed, just… tiredly amused.

“Oh no,” you muttered. “It's happening again.”

Ann paused. “…What is?”

You gave her a dry smile. “You think I'm a child, don't you?”

She blinked. “I just—”

“I'm twenty-four.”

The silence that followed was loud.

You could see the realization dawn on her face — the subtle widening of her eyes, the way she slowly stood back up, visibly recalibrating her entire understanding of the situation.

“…Oh,” she said finally.

You gave a little shrug. “It's fine. Happens more often than I'd like to admit.”

Ann looked genuinely apologetic now, her posture shifting from protective to awkward professionalism. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make assumptions. It's just—”

“—I look like I wandered out of a school trip and into a death game,” you finished, deadpan.

A small laugh escaped her — quiet and sheepish. “Something like that.”

You smiled again, gentler this time. “Thanks, though. For trying to help. It's kind of refreshing.”

She studied you for a moment, then nodded with the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips.

“Well,” she said, folding her arms again, “if you're going to survive here, I guess I'll have to stop underestimating you.”

“Please do,” you said with mock grandeur. “I may be fun-sized, but I'm deadly.”

That made her laugh — a real one this time, low and warm. Then she tilted her head slightly and said, “Come on. Let's get you settled. Adult or not, it's easier here when someone's got your back.”

You fell into step beside her, feeling a little less out of place.

And from that moment on, Ann never once treated you like anything less than capable — though every now and then, you'd catch a glint of that protective instinct in her eye. Not because she thought you were short.

But because she cared.

Kuina 

“You really are bite-sized, huh?”

You froze mid-step, your face already heating up as Kuina sauntered into the room with that signature smirk of hers. She leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, amber eyes gleaming with mischief.

“I'm not bite-sized,” you mumbled, pulling the hem of your shirt down, like that would somehow add height. “Just… efficient.”

Kuina chuckled and walked over—long legs eating the distance effortlessly. “You sure? I feel like I could fit you in my jacket pocket.”

You gave her a flat look. “That's not how pockets work.”

“That's not how you work,” she teased, poking your cheek gently with one perfectly manicured finger. “You're like a keychain. Adorable. Easy to lose in a crowd. Very collectible.”

You swatted her hand away, pouting, but it only made her grin wider. “Okay, now you're just making stuff up.”

She leaned down until her face was level with yours. Even crouching, she was somehow graceful and smug all at once. “You're just mad because I'm right.”

You crossed your arms. “You're only taller because of genetics and vengeance.”

“Oh?” Kuina raised an eyebrow. “Vengeance?”

“Yeah. You look like the type who grew tall out of spite. Like, 'oh, I can't reach the cookies? Fine, I'll grow six inches and roundhouse kick the cabinet.'”

Kuina threw her head back and laughed—one of those rich, unrestrained laughs that made your chest flutter. “You really think I kicked my way into tallness?”

“I wouldn't put it past you.”

She ruffled your hair, something she did far too often. “You make it easy. You're practically inviting people to pat you.”

“I swear, if you start using me as an armrest—”

“Tempting,” she purred, dramatically pretending to rest her elbow on your head. “But I'm restraining myself.”

You rolled your eyes, but you couldn't deny the way your heart fluttered every time she got that close. The teasing wasn't mean—it was fond, effortless, laced with warmth.

Kuina noticed. Of course she did.

“Hey,” she said softly, hand dropping from your head to lightly tap your chin. “All jokes aside… I think it's cute. You're cute.”

You blinked. “That's not fair. You can't just—say things like that.”

“Why not?” she teased, leaning in closer, her lips brushing your ear. “You're fun to fluster.”

You covered your face with your hands. “You're evil.”

“And yet, you keep hanging around.” She stepped back, mock-sighing dramatically. “Short, brave, and foolish. My favorite combo.”

You looked up at her from between your fingers. “You're really not gonna stop teasing me, are you?”

She winked. “Not a chance, tiny.”

Aguni

”Stay close,” Aguni said gruffly as the game began.

You rolled your eyes. “I'm not a lost child.”

He glanced at you, skeptical. You barely came up to his shoulder. In the dim light of the industrial warehouse, with flickering floodlights casting long shadows, you looked even shorter.

Aguni wasn't the type to underestimate people—he'd seen too much for that—but when the game card flipped and showed 6 of Clubs, a simple yet cruel game where one group had to fight the other. Aguni instinctively positioned himself in front of you, muscles taut, ready to shield.

“I can handle myself,” you said quietly, stretching your arms, bouncing on your toes.

He grunted. “I'll believe it when I see it.”

Then the doors slammed shut and the game began.

The attackers came fast—two-on-one brawls in the corridors, tight spaces, metal pipes clanging against concrete. Aguni's strength was undeniable. He dropped one opponent with a single devastating elbow and used another as a human shield without hesitation.

But then he heard footsteps to his left—closer to where he'd last seen you.

He turned, expecting to see you needing backup.

Instead, he saw you dancing between attacks.

You weren't blocking blows—you didn't need to. You dodged with an ease that made it almost insulting for the guy trying to land a hit. Your frame was low to the ground, unpredictable, slippery like water. You dipped, ducked, flipped over a railing, kicked someone in the knee, and disappeared into the shadows like you belonged there.

Aguni froze, watching you. One of the enemies lunged at him while he was distracted and he snapped back into motion, annoyed at himself.

The rest of the game passed in a blur—fists, shouts, blood, and breath. But every now and then, Aguni caught glimpses of you moving through the chaos: quick, clever, ghostlike. Untouchable.

When the last opponent dropped and the timer beeped out the end of the game, you reappeared beside him, not even winded.

He stared at you. “You move like a damn stray cat.”

You raised an eyebrow, half-smirking. “That an insult or a compliment?”

He scoffed, shaking his head. “Didn't expect that.”

“I get that a lot,” you said, wiping a smear of blood off your cheek. “People see someone short and assume 'fragile.' But there's more than one kind of strength.”

Aguni studied you, this time with something different in his eyes—recognition. Respect.

“You're not strong,” he said bluntly.

You narrowed your eyes. “Gee, thanks.”

He stepped closer, his gaze heavy but not unkind. “You're not strong like me. But you're fast. Smart. Dangerous in your own way.”

You crossed your arms, tilting your head up to meet his eyes. “Was that… a compliment?”

He didn't answer right away. Then, with the faintest twitch of his lips, he said:

“…You'd still lose in an arm wrestle.”

You groaned. “Unbelievable.”

Aguni finally cracked a small smile and walked off, calling over his shoulder, “But I'd want you in my corner again. Short or not.”

And in his world, that was as close to a love letter as it got.

Niragi

You were walking beside Niragi through the desolate mall, scanning broken storefronts for supplies for the Beach, when he suddenly stopped mid-step.

“What?” you asked, turning to face him.

He stared at you through a cracked mirror, realizing you didn't even reach his shoulder. His brow furrowed like he was seeing something unbelievable—like he'd never truly noticed the height difference until seeing you side by side in the reflection.

“…Have you always been that short?”

You squinted. “Excuse me?”

He took a slow, exaggerated step back, hands out like he needed to process your existence. “Nah. There's no way. Did you shrink?”

You groaned. “Not this again.”

“I'm serious!” he said, clearly not serious at all. “You're like a limited-edition fun-size bar. If you were three centimeters shorter, I'd need a microscope.”

You started walking again, ignoring him. Predictably, he followed.

“Like, do you have to take twice the steps I do?” he asked, falling into stride just slightly ahead. “You must be burning calories like crazy. It's practically cardio for you to walk across the room.”

“Must be exhausting carrying all that height and ego,” you muttered.

He barked out a laugh. “Ego's proportional to leg length, baby. And guess what? These legs are premium.”

You shot him a flat look. “And your personality is what—on backorder?”

“Ouch,” he clutched his chest in mock pain. “Don't lash out just because your reach tops out at, like, a kitchen counter.”

You stopped walking. “I can reach shelves just fine.”

“Oh really?” he tilted his head. “Tell that to the box of crackers you knocked over trying to grab earlier. You nearly body slammed a cupboard.”

You rolled your eyes. “That shelf was rigged and you know it.”

Niragi smirked, leaning down so his face was closer to yours. “You're lucky you're cute when you're mad. Little angry hamster energy.”

You blinked, caught off guard. “Did you just say I'm cute?”

He didn't move. Didn't flinch. Just gave a grin that was all teeth and trouble. “I said you're cute when you're mad. The rest of the time you're just… compact.”

“Compact?”

“Portable. Travel-sized. Earthquake-safe.”

You opened your mouth to respond, but he raised a finger, eyes gleaming.

“In fact,” he said, mock-serious, “you're dangerously close to vanishing. If you were any shorter, I'd trip over you and not even realize it was a person. Just be like, 'oh, weird bump in the floor.'”

You stared at him, deadpan. “You done?”

“Almost,” he said, finally straightening up and walking ahead of you again. “Just trying to understand the daily struggles of being a sentient action figure.”

You muttered under your breath, “And I'm trying to understand how you're still alive with that mouth.”

He laughed again, loud and unfiltered. “Admit it,” he called back. “You love this. If I didn't bully you, you'd start to worry I was sick.”

You caught up to him, shaking your head. “You're insufferable.”

He glanced down at you with a glint in his eye, nudged your shoulder with his elbow, and said just low enough for only you to hear:

“Yeah, but I notice you always walk beside me. Even if you gotta take double the steps.”

And for once, you didn't have a comeback. Because he was right—and damn it, he knew it.

Last Boss 

The first time Last Boss took notice of you, you weren't even sure he was looking.

It was during a game — a brutal one. A Spades card, fast and violent. Everyone assumed you were the weak link. You were short, quiet, and didn't radiate danger like he did. But where others relied on brute strength, you were fast, clever, slippery. You never fought to overpower — you fought to outmaneuver.

And when the dust cleared, you weren't just still standing. You were the reason the team survived.

After that, Last Boss watched you. Quietly. Always from the edge of the room. Never saying anything. Never asking for attention. But you felt it — that shift in air, the way your presence mattered to someone who usually saw everyone else as background noise.

He never teased you about your height. That wasn't his style. He didn't speak unless it was necessary — and teasing wasn't ever necessary.

But you noticed things.

Like when you reached for a high shelf in the Beach's crumbling kitchen and, without a word, he appeared behind you, grabbed what you were reaching for, and handed it over before vanishing again. No comment. Just action.

Or the time someone snorted behind your back and muttered something about how “the kid should stay out of the next game.” You didn't even turn around — because he did. He didn't say anything. Just stared at the guy, hand resting lightly on the hilt of his blade. The silence stretched. Thickened. The guy backed off with an awkward laugh and didn't say another word.

And once, when the Beach was crowded and tense, you felt someone bump into you too hard — half-accident, half-challenge. Before you could even react, Last Boss was beside you, not speaking, just there like a stormcloud with a sword.

People stopped testing you after that.

He never treated you like you were fragile. He didn't hover. He didn't offer pity.

He just… noticed.

When you climbed a cracked wall during a Hearts game and nearly fell, a hand caught your wrist — quick, callused, strong. You looked up, heart racing, and saw him holding you steady, eyes unreadable beneath the darkness of his tattoos.

“Careful,” he said simply. A rare word. Heavy with meaning.

You nodded, breathless. “Thanks.”

He held your gaze for a long moment. Then, silently, he helped you up the rest of the way and kept close the entire game — just enough that you could feel him if you needed him. Never smothering. Just there.

No comments about your height. No jokes. No "short stuff" or "kid" like you'd heard from so many others. Just calm, steady help.

That was the thing with him.

Where others laughed, called you a kid, or acted like your size made you someone to protect or dismiss, he never did. He treated you like an equal.

He watched your movements in games with the same focus he gave anyone else. He handed you things from high shelves without a word. He stood behind you when someone looked at you wrong, not because you needed him, but because he had your back.

He treated you like everyone else.

Maybe even like you mattered.

And in a world where being short often meant being overlooked, that was rare.

That was enough to make you notice him too.

Chishiya

You and Chishiya were walking through the remains of an abandoned pharmacy, the faint smell of dust and expired medicine lingering in the air. He moved with his usual casual arrogance — hands in his hoodie pockets, white-bleached hair catching what little light filtered in through the broken windows.

You were focused on scanning the shelves for painkillers when you heard his voice behind you, smooth and dry as ever.

“Must be hard living in a world built for regular-sized people.”

You blinked, slowly turning to face him. “Excuse me?”

Chishiya leaned lazily against the doorway, one brow arched, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “It's cute, really. The way you had to tiptoe just to reach the middle shelf.”

You gave him a long, unimpressed stare.

“Funny coming from you,” you said flatly. “I'm pretty sure we'd see eye to eye if you didn't have that hair giving you a centimeter advantage.”

He blinked — just once — then let out the tiniest huff of amusement.

“Touché,” he said.

You crossed your arms. “Don't act like you're towering over anyone. For a guy, you're compact. If we were action figures, you'd come in a limited edition 'pocket strategist' line.”

“Better than being fun-sized chaos,” he murmured, that damn smirk deepening.

“Please. You're only pretending to be taller because you only hang around people like Kuina. It's all part of your illusion game.”

He gave a slow, sarcastic nod. “You've cracked my greatest deception. Well done.”

You shrugged, mock casual. “Don't worry. I won't expose your secrets. We short people have to stick together, after all.”

Chishiya tilted his head slightly, his gaze sharp but almost... amused. “So now I'm one of you?”

“You always were. You just hide it behind good posture and a god complex.”

There was a long pause.

Then, quietly, he said, “You know, most people don't talk to me like this.”

You smiled. “Most people don't get the chance.”

He looked at you for a moment longer than usual — no smirk now, just that quiet, calculating stillness he wore when something (or someone) had truly caught his attention.

Then, with a soft scoff, he turned away.

“Let's keep moving,” he said, already walking toward the back exit. “Before you need help reaching another shelf.”

You rolled your eyes and followed, calling out, “Don't trip on your ego, Chishiya. You're not tall enough to survive the fall.”

You didn't see it, but his smirk returned — just barely — and lingered longer than it probably should have.

Masterlist

[seijohneko]

The One That Got Away

At 15, Tooru Oikawa has one goal and one goal only: defeat Shiratorizawa.

That is until he's forced to attend club recruitment and his to do list gains a bullet-make the captain of the girls' swim club fall for him.

Just his luck she's a third year who plans on graduating early.

Good thing he was never one to back down from a challenge.

Part 1-Across a crowded room

"I still don’t see why we need to go to this thing-we literally only came to this school to play volleyball.” Oikawa whined to the ceiling as they waited in line to file into the gym for club recruitment.

“Can you go five seconds without complaining about something?” Iwaizumi snapped from behind him. “All us being here means is that we're not in class.”

“Hmm, good point.” Oikawa nodded, and then the line moved. They made their way to their seats and sat facing the small stage to await their would-be recruiters.

---------

All in all, Oikawa would have rather stayed in class.

At least in class, there was new information or a chance to be mentally stimulated. Here, it was just an endless parade of pointless, just like he’d thought it would be. Club after club making their recruiting pitches and talking about their activities…tedium on a scale his 15 year old mind was not able to handle without wandering.

A round of applause roused him from his stupor, and a group of kids in soccer gear shuffled their way off the stage.

“Our last group will be the girls' swimming club.” The vice principal said, and Iwaizumi elbowed him as he let out an audible groan.

“Dude.” He complained, but Iwaizumi just kicked his foot in response. Oikawa rolled his entire head around before settling his gaze back on the stage.

Then, the entire universe froze.

The girls' swim team were wearing their warm ups over their swimsuits, but it was enough. To their credit, most of the girls ignored the whispers and gasps that came over the assembled first years as they took the stage, but in that moment, only one of them even existed.

The girl who had just stopped time made her way to the podium, and as her body was obscured by the wood, Oikawa was able to blink again.

“Dude-shut your mouth you perv.” Iwaizumi hissed next to him.

He complied automatically without taking his eyes off the girl. Her light brown hair gleamed with a reddish tint under the harsh fluorescents, and while he couldn’t tell for sure what color they were from this far away, he could at least tell her eyes were bright.

“Hi everyone! I’m Keiko Taniguchi!”

Though her mouth kept moving, Oikawa didn’t hear anything after her name.

Keiko Taniguchi.

The name was burned into his mind forever now. He knew it.

She finished talking; Oikawa couldn’t be sure if it had been minutes, hours or days, but she was moving again, and his eyes followed as she loped to the end of the line of other swimmers.

“Dude!”

His world tipped sideways, and the next thing he knew, he was being held up by Iwaizumi, having nearly collapsed into his lap as he slid off his chair. He shook his head a little, and reality came rushing back as the swim team vanished off-stage.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Iwaizumi demanded, shoving him off. Oikawa straightened up.

“Let’s go to their table.” He said, jumping to his feet just as the vice principal dismissed them to do so.

“What happened to ‘what’s the point of being here?’” Iwaizumi mocked him, but he wasn’t listening, already looking around over the heads of the crowd to find the girls' swim club table.

He spotted them nearest the door and made a beeline, not really caring if Iwaizumi was keeping up.

“Hi boys!” A different girl greeted as they approached, but Oikawa ignored her, stopping in front of the girl who had been speaking on stage.

“Hello.” Iwaizumi said to the girl who had welcomed them before glaring at Oikawa.

“I’m Tooru Oikawa.” He said to Keiko Taniguchi. “Can I be your manager?”

Keiko smiled at him, and he checked to see what color her eyes were as she stared. Deep, honey gold perfection with just a hint of green around the edges. Iwaizumi could only blink at him.

“Uh, hi, Tooru Oikawa, I’m Keiko Taniguchi, and I don’t see why not. Do you know much about swimming?” She asked, looking a little embarrassed, presumably by his forwardness.

“I know why not, you idiot, we’re already on the volleyball team.” Iwaizumi stepped up beside him and smacked him in the back of the head.

“Ow.” Oikawa groaned, rubbing at the spot. Keiko laughed, and suddenly, his head didn’t hurt anymore.

“Well, I guess that answers that question.” She said. Oikawa frowned.

“I can do both.” He snapped, defiant. Iwaizumi hit him again.

“You can not.” he said gruffly.

“He’s right, you can only be in one sports club.” Keiko said, and Oikawa might have been imagining it because he wanted to, but he could swear she sounded a little disappointed.

“I’ll quit volleyball then.” He said. “Ow! Would you stop that?!”

This time, Iwaizumi had punched him in the arm, hard.

“You are not going to quit playing volleyball to go be a swimming manager, you idiot, I don’t care how pretty you think she is.”

Heat flooded Oikawa’s face as Keiko laughed again.

“It’s okay, I’d much rather someone stay an athlete than become a manager anyway. I’ll come watch some games as long as you guys promise to come to some meets.” She said, mercifully ignoring the rest of what Iwaizumi had blurted.

“Oh, we’ll be sure and do that.” Iwaizumi said, feeling a little awkward himself at his outburst and trying to salvage the interaction. “Goodbye, miss.” He added. He seized Oikawa by the collar and started to walk.

“Yeah, we’ll see you around!” Oikawa called back as he let himself be steered away.

--------

The second they made it out of the gym, Iwaizumi let go of him only to round on him.

“What the hell was that?! I’ve never seen you get so weird about a girl before, let alone a third year. Quit volleyball? Seriously?”

Oikawa merely shrugged.

“Yeah, I’ll admit, that was maybe a little far. But you mark my words Iwa…I don’t care how long it takes or what I have to do, I’m going to marry that girl.”

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and started off toward their classroom. Iwaizumi snorted and then fell in step with him.

“Yeah, ok man, whatever you say.”

[leatherbookmark]

i get it i get it i really get it but also it's very frustrating when a work of fiction raises you expectations, makes you thrilled for The Big Confrontation, and then the next post-clifhanger installment comes and it goes "after everything was over,"

[primofate]

"Where'd you get that bruise--Oh," in which your Genshin lover gets a good look at the first hickey he left

Warnings: please excuse mistakes as I'm on a time crunch and also sleep deprived, suggestive but still safe for work, humorous in some parts

Other works in this series: (You say I love you for the first time)

Characters: Aether, Albedo, Alhaitham, Ayato, Cyno, Dainsleif, Diluc, Itto, Kaeya, Lyney, Neuvillette, Scaramouche, Tartaglia, Tighnari, Wriothesley, Xiao, Zhongli, gn!reader  

Aether

gets flustered

"Uh-Umm... Maybe, you should..."

he wants to say cover it up but who is he to tell you what to do?

Starts to second guess if he really gave you that

Will start to think about the events of last night and deflates with embarrassment

Finally points it out, feels kind of bad that he left a mark

"It's just...distracting...I'm sorry if it hurt,"

Albedo

stares at it for the longest time.

There's a half smile, half amused look on his face, like he wants to be happy about it but doesn't want to be too obvious.

Just chuckles and points it out without any shyness whatsoever

"It's rather obvious, but do with it what you will,"

Comes up with some sort of concealing potion to help you hide it

Brews about a 100 of 'em

Alhaitham

Sort of does a double take, looks at it for a few seconds then looks you in the eye

"I'd advise you to hide it,"

he really only says that to keep things professional when the two of you go out

but in the next second he snakes a hand up your arm with a small secret smirk between the two of you

"However, I can't say that it won't happen again...Specially when..."

He recalls the events of last night at this moment, and it seems as if he's staring into your soul. He breaks away from you with a slight hum.

"...I best be going now."

He leaves you confused, but he only hurried off because he felt an urge to give you another one then and there.

Ayato

chuckles to himself

"Well, there's no hiding that I enjoyed myself,"

but gives you helpful suggestions on how to conceal it or at least make the colour less obvious, like putting ice against it, or something.

Speaking of ice, you can simply get it from the kitchen but Ayato is a tease... "I suppose my dear sister can adequately help you with that...Though what, pray tell, would you tell her?"

You kind of shrug and say that you'll tell her an animal bit you.

Ayato is amused "An animal," but there's a twinkle and hint of lust in his eyes. "Yes, perhaps that's what I become when it involves you. The statement isn't exactly a lie,"

Cyno

is silent. Not sure if he's happy about it or horrified.

Feels like a crime cause it looks like a bruise.

Does not say anything for a good minute because he simply doesn't know what to say and is talking to himself in his mind

Like Was I really the one who did that? Last night must've been...

Snaps out of his stupor when he's reminded of the events and clears his throat to catch your attention.

"Y/N...You...I...I've managed to leave a mark...on your neck..."

You absentmindedly touch it and let out a small ohhhhhhh in understanding

Clears his throat again and looks away, pretending to be busy with something. Flustered and doesn't know what else to say.

Dainsleif

Eyebrows involuntarily raise up at the marks.

Points it out immediately

"My dear, it seems that I had a favourite spot last night," and taps on your neck to let you know what exactly he means.

"I can conceal it with a little trick of mine, if you don't mind," he says he can make it invisible to the ordinary eye but some "special" people can see it, so...

"I suppose if you run into the traveller that you'd have to be honest about it. Hm? No, I don't quite mind if they know of our relationship,"

Diluc

is surprised, then apologetic

He didn't know is fully aware how rough he had been last night

Apologizes with a slight tint of red on his cheeks and can't seem to pry his eyes away from it.

"My apologies, Y/N. It looks like I was rather...careless...last night. You should wear something with a collar today...or perhaps, my coat?"

Is seriously considering repenting about it

Itto

"Whoa--"

Is legit about to throw hands but then remembers

"Oh yeah. I did that." while scratching his head bashfully

No shame about it afterwards, even has the gall to say

"I'm surprised it doesn't look worse! It was pretty wild last nig--"

You have to cover his mouth to save yourself from embarrassment

Kaeya

smirks and leans in close to brush his fingers against the hickey.

"It isn't the most flattering of marks but... it gives me quite the sense of accomplishment,"

winks, deadass tries to give you another one right away.

"How about we try that again? Just to even it out on both sides of your neck,"

is only half joking

Lyney

mischievous laugh

is more happy about it than shy, embarrassed or apologetic

"That wasn't very nice of me wasn't it?" but is still smiling

"Unfortunately I don't think I have any magic tricks up my sleeve to fix this one,"

Grabs and hugs you by the waist "I guess we'll just have to stay in, the two of us, until it's unnoticeable"

always looking for an excuse to spend alone time with you.

Neuvillette

clears his throat almost immediately when he sees it, like he choked on water

"Y/N," he starts rather sternly but falters and takes a few seconds to think.

"May I suggest wearing a scarf today?" is awkward about pointing it out so goes the roundabout way. You're so confused because it's the middle of summer.

"Well," he coughs once to try an explain to you. "I didn't have all manners of restraint last night...You were simply...irresistible,"

points it out by gently thumbing at it

Scaramouche

shit-eating grin at the sight of it

Doesn't tell you to cover it up, most likely wants you to go parading around with it.

"Tsk. What's the harm if people ask? Just be honest and tell them," he's just fucking around with your head now

but snatches your wrist and looks you straight in the eye with a confident smirk "And be sure to tell them who gave it to you. That'll teach them to back off,"

Tartaglia

laughs but is slightly apologetic

"Couldn't hold myself back, I'm sorry. How can I make it up to you?"

You tell him that the next time he leaves a hickey, he should leave it somewhere where it's more concealed.

"Oh?" sudden glint in his eyes. You might have said the wrong thing. "No take backs, Y/N,"

I think you know what or where he's thinking about

Tighnari

Doesn't say anything at first but immediately whips up a remedy for it. Some sort of green paste that helps with inflammation.

"Here," and hands you the bowl of herbs. "For that,"

He doesn't point at it but instead eyes it rather obviously

He also watches you put the paste on "Alright, just leave it for a few minutes and it should heal wonderfully,"

He doesn't exactly feel guilty but he's more worried that people will look at you weirdly.

"I suppose I'll have to be careful next time," with a sigh.

Wriothesley

laughs but bashfully face palms and tilts his head backwards

Recovers quickly and smiles apologetically

"Sorry love, couldn't hold myself back it looks like," lovingly takes your face in his palms

Can't hold his smile back "But can you blame me? I'm not gunna hide that I was way too excited,"

Suggests you to put a bandage of some sort over it.

"I'll try to be careful next time, but no promises,"

Xiao

Freezes while looking at it

For a split second is confused where you got such a mark but then flusters himself when he remembers it was from him.

"...Y/N..."

seriously does not know what to say

stands there staring at it that you finally just check in the mirror yourself. He hears you gasp and he kind of winces to himself and now feels a little guilty.

"I...didn't mean to hurt you,"

You quickly tell him it doesn't hurt, but you were just surprised.

Thinks for a moment, then mumbles, you can barely hear him "...So it's alright to do it again?"

Zhongli

chuckles, not shy about it. just amused.

"It's no one's fault except my own. I merely wasn't paying heed to how...carnal...my desires were,"

he again chuckles as he explains.

"Not to worry darling, I'm sure Bubu Pharmacy has something to remedy it. I'll be back with it in tow,"

brushes his fingers against the hickey as some sort of apology and promise that he'll fix it

End

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Here’s the Masterlist

[pomefioredove]

overblots and rollo with a reader who flirts a lot unknowingly? like they see it as friendly teasing or just genuinely giving someone a compliment they don’t think of it as romantic. (their reaction to you accidentally flirting with them or. someone else and they start seething perhaps?!)

oh... I'm guilty of this (｡- .•)

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ accidental flirting

type of post: headcanons characters: riddle, leona, azul, jamil, vil, idia, malleus, rollo ~☆ additional info: romantic, reader is gender neutral, reader is yuu

it's not like Riddle's fellow students have never complimented him, but this is different. his academic achievement is not like... what had you said? the color of his eyes?

no one would be so bold as to compliment his physical features, let alone call them "beautiful" ... no one except for you, of course

you seemed rather confused when his whole face turned red. hopefully, you won't think about it too much...

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

what was that? Leona looks nice when he dresses up? well, aren't you the flatterer? go on, then, say something else. he's listening!

Leona knows you didn't mean it that way, but that makes it even better. smug bastard. and it gives him the go ahead to flirt back, without you even realizing! if you weren't such a clueless little herbivore, he'd think you were trying to get something out of him... but you're you, so he knows you mean it

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

you're so strange. you're definitely just mirroring Azul's body language and flattery, but you're being genuine, too... you're so socially awkward, it's making you a flirt. he's trying to butter you up for a deal, not a date!

...well... he was, anyway

now he's got to figure out how exactly to flirt back in a way that'll sound genuine coming from him...

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

is it unconscious? are you teasing? or have you suddenly become a flirt overnight? Jamil is having a difficult time reading the room, which is unusual for him. the way you've been complimenting him, batting those pretty eyelashes of yours, is... distracting, to say the least

...he could also be reading too much into this. maybe he just needs a nap

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

Vil simply can't pass up the opportunity. can you blame him? there you are, looking adorable as per usual, telling him all this nonsense about how lucky his future partner will be, blah, blah...

and you're clueless. it's endearing, really. he'll call you sweet and leave you with a kiss on the cheek

something to think about for later ;3

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

are you trying to send Idia to an early grave??? of course, the one time he lets Ortho drag him outside, there you are, as cutesy and... sunshine-y as ever, telling him you like his hair with a smile. and what does he say?

"uh- um- uh-"

great work, everyone. he'll work on that

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

fae courting is... strange. you know this. you don't know all of it, though. so when you tell Malleus you've planted some Briar Valley flora around Ramshackle for him... he sort of takes it as a vow. it's basically like a promise ring to him

he's all sunshine and rainbows for the rest of the week, much to everyone else's confusion

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

Rollo will hit you with the most unamused look you've gotten in your entire life, politely tell you to be decent, thank you, and then leave to lie in bed and think about your future wedding for the rest of the day. that's just the kinda guy he is

[himasgod]

idk if its okay

but can I request for the tapis rouge boyos (vil, azul, jamil, ace) with a reader who gets hit on by a well known celebrity who has a reputation for being a playboy.

thank youuu

ACE, JAMIL, AZUL AND VIL X READER

Where a famous playboy actor wants to flirt with you in Tapis Rouge

How would guys react if, at the Vil's Red Carpet Cadets event, a famous actor with dark intentions approached you to hit on you?

I put Zane as the default name, if there is a Zane reading this, don't be offended😭 You don't need to have played the event to read the one-shot, I hope you enjoy it <3

Maquillaville was packed with rich, famous people who—according to Ace—were annoyingly full of themselves. He wasn't really used to this kind of fancy event, but he played it off well with his cocky grin and bold style. In his own way, he looked great.

You were chatting with a few guests when someone Ace couldn't ignore walked in.

Model, actor, and even film director. He had that fake-perfect smile and a dating history that probably broke some kind of record. Tall, tanned, and smooth-talking, he zoned in on you like a predator the second he saw you.

"Sorry to interrupt," "Zane" said with a charming smirk, "but your smile is brighter than the lights in this place. How about I buy you a drink… or better yet, take you out to dinner tomorrow?"

Ace stopped chewing his fancy canapé. He turned his head slowly, like he'd just heard the funniest joke ever.

"A drink? Seriously? Bro, do you think you're in some rom-com?"

Zane blinked at him, confused. “And you are…?”

Ace slid in next to you, his hand on your hip, flashing his most smug smile, though his eyes were sharp.

"The boyfriend. The only one who can make them smile like that without copy-pasting lines from Google."

Zane chuckled. "Well, lucky you, man. No harm in a compliment—"

“Sure, sure,” Ace said, crossing his arms.

"But there's a difference between a compliment and drooling all over my partner. If you want attention that bad, try flirting with a mirror. Bet it'll respond better."

Zane rolled his eyes and walked off in annoyance.

Once he was out of sight, you turned to Ace, one eyebrow raised.

“Jealous?”

“Jealous?!” Ace spun toward you, visibly offended.

"That wasn't jealousy! That was common sense! The guy was talking like you were a character in some cheesy pickup scene! And you laughed at one of his jokes! Like—seriously!?"

You laughed.

“Oh, Ace…”

He clicked his tongue, but his grin gave him away. He leaned in, wrapping an arm around your waist.

"Look, I don't care if you're the center of attention. Honestly, I love it. Let the whole world stare… just so they know exactly who you're with—"

His voice dropped to a murmur against your ear.

“—and who they’ll never be.”

Then he pulled back, smirking wider.

“And if that C-list actor tries flirting again, I swear I'm going to stuff his ego in a box and send it back with a bow.”

Jamil was at your side, impeccable. Although he tried to appear calm, he kept scanning every corner of the room… especially whoever looked at you for too long.

And then he saw it.

Internationally acclaimed actor and singer, known as much for his musical hits as for his romantic history. He was the kind of person who turned every interview into an opportunity to flirt and every gala into a hunt.

He approached you with that well-rehearsed smile of his, champagne glass in hand, his eyes shining with that invasive interest.

"I didn't know stars walked this red carpet," he said, scanning you from head to toe. "Do you have a date for after the event?"

Before you could answer, you felt Jamil's firm presence at your side. His smile was barely perceptible, and his dark eyes, fixed on him.

"I don't think you heard correctly," he said calmly. "They're with me."

Zane laughed sarcastically, never taking his eyes off you.

"Oh, I thought you were a stylish bodyguard. I didn't know you were the… boyfriend?"

Jamil took a step forward, placing himself completely between you and him, like a protective shadow.

"I'll tell you this only once. I don't know what kind of games you usually play with your 'conquests,' but if you want to keep your reputation from falling further, I suggest you back off now."

He raised an eyebrow, still defiant.

"And if I don't?"

Jamil smiled with disturbing slowness.

"Then I'll make you understand. And believe me, I know exactly how to do it without ruining your image… although I wouldn't mind that in the least."

There was a moment of tension. He, perhaps for the first time in a long time, felt insecure around someone. And he left.

You looked at Jamil, somewhat impressed.

"Are you always so calm when you're jealous?"

"Jealous?" Jamil sighed, taking your hand.

"I'm not jealous. I'm irritated. Because that guy dared to look at you like a trophy."

He turned to you, his expression softer.

"And you're not a trophy. You're someone I chose, and who chose me. I don't need to shout it… but I won't let anyone dare touch what I respect."

Every flashbulb seemed to follow you as you walked beside Vil, so perfect it outshone even the biggest stars. The whole world felt like a runway, and you, at his side, were part of the spectacle.

You were used to receiving stares, but this time you felt a particularly insistent one.

"Do you know him?"

Vil whispered near your ear, without taking his eyes off a certain famous actor who was approaching.

It was an international star known for his leading man roles… and for his many love scandals. Vil pursed his lips with the elegance of someone who knew perfectly well who this man was and how little he liked him.

"Only by sight…" you replied, a little uncomfortable as you noticed the actor coming straight toward you.

"Then don't stare at him so much." Vil murmured with a charming smile, but his eyes were sharp.

The actor arrived and, as if he had no idea who Vil was (which was impossible), offered you his hand.

"I didn't expect to see someone so charming tonight. Have we met? Because if not, I'd love to change that."

Vil took a subtle step, standing half in front of you. His face, still sporting a polite smile, was tense like a perfectly placed mask.

"Funny, I thought charm wasn't enough when it came to respect," he said, in that tone of his as polished as liquid poison.

"My partner doesn't usually fall for such cheap tricks, Mr. Zane."

The actor laughed, as if he didn't take the hint.

"A couple? What a shame… Although that's never been an obstacle in romantic movies," he joked, winking at you.

You opened your mouth to reply, but Vil was quicker. He took your hand and entwined it with his, raising his chin

"This isn't a movie. And if you think you can turn my relationship into just another chapter in your "red carpet romances," you're sorely mistaken."

The actor seemed amused by the reaction, but seeing Vil's sharp gaze with pride, jealousy, and elegance, he simply raised his hands.

"Well, well. I didn't know you were so committed, Schoenheit. Lucky for you. And for you too."

He winked at you with a mischievous smile before walking away.

The air seemed to have cooled a couple of degrees.

Vil turned to you, still frowning slightly.

"I warn you, that man is like cheap perfume: strong at first, but in the end, only an unpleasant aftertaste."

"Are you jealous?" You asked with a soft smile.

Vil stared at you, then sighed, smoothing out an invisible wrinkle in your attire.

"No. I'm forewarned. Because I value you. And I won't let someone like him touch you with even the hint of an intention."

He leaned in elegantly, his lips brushing the line of your jaw, just enough for you to feel it only for yourself.

"You're too precious to be trifled with. And if anyone tries… they'll have to face me."

The hair, his thin glasses, and that brown suit with subtle pinstripes gave him an air of sophistication that contrasted with his inner nerves whenever someone approached you.

You'd been walking through with him, just chatting, when a tall man with an easy smile and a foreign accent approached you.

"Are you the person everyone is whispering is stealing the event tonight? My name is Zane Duclair but you can call me Zane. Although I'd prefer it if you called me later."

He winked at you.

Azul blinked. He smiled, but his fingers trembled slightly as he gripped your hand.

"Zane Duclair… the actor with three public breakups and five harassment lawsuits… charming track record," he murmured.

Zane gave a carefree laugh, as if everything was slipping away.

"Oh, all in the past. Tonight I'm only interested in this beautiful person," he said, taking your hand without permission. "Would you do me the pleasure of dinner after the gala?"

Before you could respond, Azul placed a hand on your shoulder. His smile was still there, but his eyes were pure ice.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your attempt at 'conquest,' Zane, but my companion already has plans with me tonight. And they're non-negotiable."

Lucien raised an eyebrow.

"And who are you? Their manager?"

Azul let out a short, almost mocking laugh.

"No, I'm a bit more complicated than that. I'm the person who knows their every taste, every gesture, every look. And also the person who can't stand it when someone with a questionable reputation tries to fish in waters that don't belong to him."

Zane looked offended, but Azul stepped forward, still keeping his voice polite.

"And if you insist, I can present you with a complete list of legal clauses regarding harassment and non-consensual advances. I'm sure your lawyers will be able to read between the lines."

Zane left, visibly irritated, and Azul took your arm to lead you away, taking a deep breath.

"I'm sorry," you said. "I didn't expect someone like him to approach me like that."

Azul shook his head.

"Don't apologize. It's not your fault there are men who confuse charisma with entitlement. But if he approaches you again… I won't need contracts."

He glanced at you, lowering his voice.

"You are valuable. I will not allow anyone to see you as something they can buy or conquer. Because you are already… firmly committed to me."

[servicpop]

short n' sweet ♡ valentines day special　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　adrien ( delinquent oc ) x student president m reader

ⓘ　fluff fluff fluff ! jealous adrien , reader gets confessed to by a girl

A day where cupid strings his bow and aims his arrow at couples is the day you spend the most time stringing up heart decorations around the school. Its only a few small splashes of pink ribbons and red hearts since Valentines isn't a huge thing—some people simply don't enjoy it as much as Christmas or others—but it's a nice opportunity to liven up the school with some fun flare.

For the most part, you can see cheesy couples receive bouquets neatly arranged into something pretty for their partner or love letters being handed out the old-fashioned way. You weren't a big celebrator seeing as you didn't have a romantic partner. Of course the occasional chocolates being given to friends was a tradition you practised when nobody bothered to give you a flower or a sweet confession.

But this year was different.

After finishing the decorations, you took the time to wander the grounds before returning to your councillor room. It was early enough for the walk to be rather peaceful with the occasional wave to people you knew when they walked by. Reaching the room you, place your hand on the doorknob, twisting it until it makes that click before a hand plants on your shoulder.

“Been awhile.”

You turn your head to see him in the flesh. Adrien, with that shit-eating grin. It was completely out of character for him to show up so early—or show up at all. That fact alone sent shivers down your spine. A coincidence that he shows up bright and early on valentines day?

“Bit late but,” Adrien takes a moment to exhale before his eyes meet yours.

“Will you be my valentines?”

You stand there, blankly staring at him. No flowers, no chocolates and certainly no handwritten love letter stamped with a wax seal as you were wishing for. He couldn't have been this unromantic. For all you knew, Adrien was just some ill-mannered guy who weaseled his way into your life thinking he had you wrapped around his finger just because you two 'hooked up' underneath the staircase.

“No.” Short and sharp; unintentional or not. Sure you liked him, a little more than you'd ever wanted to admit, but Valentines was meant to be unrealistically romantic, a day where you can feel like you're living in those old romance films.

“What?” You could hear the confusion in Adrien's voice as he watches you brush past him and slam the door infront of his face, drowning out his complaints through the door.

That whole ordeal in the morning definitely wilted your mood. The entire morning session of classes felt like a drag as if time was purposefully going slower each time you glanced at the clock.

You were probably the first person to leave the classroom when you were dismissed, rushing out to your locker to reunite with your friends in hopes of charging your social battery.

“Hey— prez? I have, um, something for you.” The nickname felt like deja vu, like you've been called it countless times by a certain someone. But it wasn't him; it was a girl around your age or even younger. In her hands was a square, pink box with 'milk chocolate' printed in a cursive font. Her face was flushed pink and it looked as though if she met eyes with you, she'd melt under your gaze. On top of the chocolates was a pretty letter with equally pretty handwriting.

It undoubtedly made you smile even if it was just a little.

You accepted her gift, making sure you flashed a polite smile at her before watching her scurry off like it had been the hardest thing of her life to come up to you like that. It was charming in a way. You skimmed the letter which was mainly just her stating her appreciation for you and how she wanted to get to know you better with her name signed at the bottom with a small heart next to it.

A few of your friends who had just made it out of class had witnessed the whole scene, patting your back and pawing at the chocolates like hyenas. It wouldn't hurt to share the love, especially when your friends seemed like they'd die without sugar.

You let them all take one before sealing the box and placing it in your locker for later, you pocketed the note just so you didn't accidentally lose it or have it slip out.

Come to think of it, the more the day went by, the more you noticed a lack of Adrien. Usually he'd make an appearance by now, whether that was to stare at you with a smirk while you walked by eachother or to 'accidentally' brush your arm on any opportunity he got.

You made nothing of it though, it was probably because he thought today was boring—given all the couples would boast their affection towards eachother in the hallways—and decided to skip. It was typical of him to do so. But it still weighed in your mind all the way until the home bell rung.

Your locker was the last stop before you could go home, opening the metal door to see that your box of chocolates were gone; replaced.

Godiva chocolates in the shape of a heart, a letter sealed in an envelope, and a bouquet of flowers that look strangely like the ones from the school garden was neatly arranged in your locker.

“Do you like it?” You practically jump out your skin as your turn to see the man you haven't seen the while day.

“You put this here?” You ask, looking back at the gifts stuffed in your locker.

“Who else would— nevermind don't answer that.” You could tell from the furrowed set of his eyebrows that he was pissed off about something, like it bothered him enough to replace the chocolates you were given.

“I thought that maybe you didn't like how forward I was this morning.” It was one of those rare occasions where Adrien wouldn't have that cocky look on his face or that teasing lilt to his tone. He wore an almost shy expression, like he wasn't used to giving gifts this romantic.

“Seeing as you liked that girl's gift so much.” You could hear the venom roll off his tongue when he said that.

You glance down at what Adrien gave you. Godiva wasn't a cheap brand and those flowers would probably have taken Adrien awhile to personally pick and choose the ones you liked to plant in the gardens. Your heart flutters at the thought that maybe Adrien was gone the whole day because he was trying to pick up gifts for you, all cause he felt a little guilty.

“I know its over the top but—” “I like it.”

He pauses and stares down at you like its the most baffling thing in the world to hear you say 'I like it.' You look up at him, and you can't hold your smile back—this time, you smile wholeheartedly.

“Thanks, Adrien,” You look both ways to see if anyone was watching and you lean up to kiss just shy of his lips on the corners of his mouth. It was a quick peck as you almost instantly pulled back to pack up your things and walk past him.

He stands there, frozen in place before his own fingers touch his face, grazing over the spot you kissed him at.

There's a sharp bang of his fist against the neighbouring lockers as he internally crumbles, holding his face like he needed to shield what was left of your fleeting kiss.

A victory perhaps?

a / n ; dividers made by anitalenia , and the gift graphics are made by my dearest anby !

[prettyboykatsuki-moved]

objects in the mirror | j. togame

✮ tags ; afab!reader + fem!reader, reader is so painfully dense / naive, ambiguous relationships, friends to ???, somewhat unrelieved sexual tension, sex toys, guided masturbation kinda, kissing, groping, nipples play, squirting, dialogue heavy, vaguely post canon, petnames (kame-chan and jo-chan for togame, baby for reader) 18+

✮ wc ; 6.4k (you have got to be fucking with me)

✮ a/n ; the one fic i wont be mad if you ask for part two on lolol. title from a mac miller song (my favorite mac miller song) that reminds me of a lot of characters but i felt really fit this fic.

go listen to it. his best track. also this like... mega got away from me. togame sorry for blueballing you.

✮ synopsis ; your only goal is to have a half-way decent orgasm. togame, as your best friend, is determined to help you reach it.

"So," Togame leans back into your bed. "You bought a vibrator and... can't use it? Because you keep psyching yourself out?"

"Yeah," You sigh with your head hung low. "Paid good money for it and it's collecting dust in my drawer. I'm miserable."

Togame smiles a little from where he's laid across the width of your bed, back propped up against the wall slightly with his legs hanging off one edge. You kick his side lightly as he fails to contain his amusement.

"Do you enjoy seeing me suffer, huh? You take amusement in my pain, you bastard?"

"Pfft," He snickers, turning a little to face you better. "It's kinda hard not too. Just seems..."

"You think it's stupid," You frown. He scratches his jaw.

"I wouldn't say that. A little silly but—"

"Which is another word for stupid," You point out. He shakes his head.

"The connotations different. Stupid would mean I'm insulting you. I don't think it's stupid. Ridiculous, maybe." And then he laughs to himself like a jackass. "No... I take it back. It's definitely ridiculous."

"You asshole. I should kick you out of my house."

He smiles knowingly, lazy and bemused. "You're not gonna,"

Smug bastard. You groan in defeat. "But I should."

He doesn't reply, brushing you off as easy as ever. "Sorry. Just not sure what exactly you want me to do with that information."

You throw your hands up in the air. "I dunno? Fucking help me. Offer solutions. Use whats left of your brain after getting the shit beat out of you as a teenager. Something."

"Now who's being an asshole." He quips. You frown.

"I'm sorry," You say easily. Togame smiles softly though you miss it while you're looking away. "But...ugh."

"Got such a way with words." He hums sarcastically before sobering a touch. He's scrolling through his phone not entirely paying attenion. "I don't really get why you're askin' me. Don't you have better candidates for this conversation?"

You give him a long-suffering look. "No. Unfortunately I live here, so the answer is not really. I can't talk to Kotoha or Tsubaki about this. We talk about guys and stuff but it's usually pretty PG."

"So I'm your stand in for a girl best friend?"

You tilt your head. "Huh? No. You're just my best friend. I would bitch to you about this either way."

He stares at you for a long while before scrubbing a hand down his face. You can't understand his sudden reaction, watching in confusion as he takes a deep breath.

"Right. Right, I'm your best friend." Togame mutters mostly to himself, sighing before going back to his usual demeanor. He rubs his under his eye. "Really dunno what you're asking for. You can whine however much you want, though."

"I'm not whining," You pause before sighing again. "Okay. Maybe I am whining, like, a little. But you would too if you were me, okay? I want to..." You make a face, the words suddenly feeling clumsy on your lips. You're not even doing anything and you're getting all weird about it. "I just wanna...cum."

Togame pauses. He sits up, sort of suddenly after that and finally has the decency to take off his boots. He scoots to the edge of the bed with his feet on the floor to do it, and you can't see his face when he speaks again. You don't think twice about it.

"Have you not? Like... ever?"

"Huh? No, I have but it's not really satisfying. It doesn't scratch the itch for me, you know? That's what the toy was for."

Togame takes another minute or two of silence as he takes off his boots. You wonder if it always takes him so long to take them off. Seems inconvenient.

He goes back to laying down, leaning on the wall with his legs spread out. "What kinda toy is it anyway?

"Oh, it's—" You stop in the middle of your sentence, brow furrowing. "Wait. Should I be telling you this?"

"Are you suddenly gaining self-awareness? Little late for that." He smiles.

"That's true," You reply, relaxing again with your arms crossed. "Nothing complicated. A rabbit vibrator, but the kinda expensive ones."

"How much?"

"Twelve-thousand yen. I got it on sale too,"

"No wonder you're so peeved you can't use it," Togame comments evenly. "A lot of money to be collecting dust. You even take it out the box?"

You deflate all over again. "Yeah. Charged it. Cleaned it too. But I put it back."

"Lemme see,"

"Huh? Oh, okay. Sure."

You don't bother asking why Togame wants to see your sex toy. It doesn't occur to you that there'd be any reasons outside of plain curiosity which you can understand. Togame dated a girl long-term so he knows some things, but you figure any girl with a decent boyfriend wouldn't need to make the same use of toys as you do. It'd make sense he's never seen one up close and personal.

You scoot to the edge of the bed and lean slightly as you open the side drawer and pull the toy out where it sits in nice, cardboard package. You pass it off to Togame before sitting back comfortably against your headboard.

He sits the box in his lap and stares at it for a long while.

You wonder if this is weird.

It doesn't bother you much either way, but it it is...

Odd, just how long Togame stares at it. He undoes the top of the folded box, pulling it back to reveal the soft, baby blue vibrator. It's six inches long and curved, with a soft rubber attachment to stimulate your clit and angle for your g-spot at the same time. Made with a high quality velveteen silicone. It has a lot of settings, and does the sort of rumbly vibrations you know feel good as opposed to the mechanical buzz of cheaper kinds.

Completely unused, Togame holds in his hands for a while, grabbing it by the ends. He doesn't touch it in a way that's weird. More like he assesses it. Measures it. You don't know for what though.

"It's cute."

"Huh?"

"The vibrator, I mean." Togame comments, putting it back in the box. His expression is unreadable. Something simmers under the surface of his neutral face but you can't place what exactly. "It's a cute color and the little pointed part here is cute."

You place a hand on your chest and close your eyes in sincerity. "Thank you. I also think I have excellent aesthetic taste."

Another pause. Brief but not.

"Do you want help using it?"

"Wha—"

"The vibrator," Togame clarifies before you get through the rest of your sentence. "Do you want me to help you use it?"

Your mind blanks. Your mouth moves faster than you can.

"...In what way?"

Togame remains steady. "Getting you comfortable and putting in you. As far as solutions go, it's the best I've got."

...Huh?

"Wouldn't that be awkward for you?"

"Is it awkward for you?" Togame replies back.

You stop to consider the question then shake your head.

"I mean...It's you. I trust you and I'm grateful but this..." You furrow your brow and look towards him. "Can you really do something like that with me? Just to help me?"

"Yeah." He replies. The words come so easily to him you're startled. Was he always this casual? You guess in a way but still. It's surprising. "It's the most direct route to solve your problem, I think. Once you've done it once with someone else, you'll definitely be able to do it alone right?"

You reason about this and find it's a somewhat optimal solution. You can't figure out the exact source of your unease about all of it, though it's there. You can't figure out Togame either. You appreciate how much he seems to want to help you but it doesn't make your worries go away.

You frown a little deeper.

"You're thinking about it too hard." Togame interjects. His tone is warm and easy.

"You're not thinking about it hard enough," You respond back. "What are you trying to do anyway? To help."

"Scratch the itch for you. Just think of it like that."

"Does that do anything for you?"

He dodges the question. "Don't worry about me. I'm offering. Promise it's fine."

You frown with your legs crossed, staring at the empty space of the bed. "...I g-guess it's fine? I can't think of a reason to say no."

"You don't mind doing this with me? Or is it because you're okay with anyone?"

You shake your head.

"What are you saying? Of course it's because you're the one asking. I trust you."

He smiles genuinely at that, eyes closed in what seems like relief. "I just wanted to make sure."

Togame opens his eyes again and casts them your way. Your breathing feels shallow under the weighted glance. He sits up a little more and shrugs his jacket off his shoulders, placing it on the pillow next to you. He feels broader without the layer of fabric over his torso, white shirt stretching over his frame as he sits on the bed on his knees.

"Lay down. Get comfortable."

You nod, adjusting the pillows and things and trying not to feel self-conscious or get cold feet. It speaks to your desperation that you're taking this help so willingly and from your long time best friend no less. In the back of your head, you do feel a little strange.

Togame is just being a good friend, that's what you tell yourself. You believe it too.

He hovers above you first. You tilt your head to look at him, the short gap of space between you feeling particularly small while also being miles wide. Your stomach flutters as Togame's eyes fix on your lips.

He leans forward and presses his mouth to yours. It's chaste. You wonder if you look even half as surprised as you feel.

"What was that for?"

"Breaking the ice."

You mumble. "Oh..."

Togame kisses you again that time, and then one more time before speaking up. "You're so naive."

"Huh? No I'm not,"

He brushes you off again that time before sitting up again. He sits between your legs where you have them spread. You have no idea what he's thinking or why he's doing this.

Unlike most people, you usually do have a good read on what Togame is feeling. He's upfront most of the time, despite his posturing seeming wishy-washy. It's a little weird to feel so out of bounds around him, like he purposely has his guard up. You wonder if that guard is for you, or for him. Is he uncomfortable somehow? Is he trying not to hurt your feelings by not being interested? You're not really expecting that.

But if that were the case, there's no reason he would help you this way.

Before you get too entranced in your thoughts, Togame snaps you out of them.

"How do you normally do this?"

You blink and look up.

"Do what?"

"Get off," Togame answers. Your eyes meet and you find yourself wanting to look away. "You said it was unsatisfying so I thought it'd be better if we started there,"

"Uhm," You feel embarrassed trying to talk about this. You're not sure why. It's not something you'd feel self-conscious outside this specific context but Togame just seems more... intense then usual. Like he's being serious about your silly problem. "D-depends? Sometimes I watch porn or listen to audios or read. Not always."

"Got it. How do you touch yourself then?"

He looks expectant. You turn your head to look away from him. The minutes tick by.

"Uhm... just rubbing my c-clit usually. I have uhm, other toys I'll use sometimes too but I need to touch my clit to get off." You wonder if these are too many details. Togame is listening to it so carefully. "Uhm. If i-its too sensitive I'll touch over my clothes too. Sometimes I cum like that."

His face shifts. It lingers long enough for you to notice but not enough for you to process what it was. He's back to his usual self so quickly you wonder if you've made the entire thing up.

"Right. I think I know what your problem is,"

You feel a little relieved at that. "Really?"

He pauses before smiling a little with a friendly nod that reminds you of how you were when you were kids, a face that's unexpectedly kind. "Really."

You look at him expectantly.

"I think you're not building up to it enough." Togame comments, smoothly. You blink at him. "You're a girl, you know? Can't jump straight into it, you need to stimulate yourself more first and relax. You're so focused on cumming it backfires. I'll help you."

"How...?"

"I'll help you relax and help you figure out what you like. Don't think about it too hard and focus on feeling good."

"You really don't have to do this for me," You mumble. He smiles at you.

"C'mon. You just said I was your best friend right? I don't mind, so chill out and let me help."

"Okay," You nod, bright eyed. "Okay....thank you."

He makes a face at you before nodding. "Uh-huh. Of course."

Togame hovers above you with lazy smile. You close your eyes on instinct as you feel your lips press together. His lips are softer than you thought they'd be. A hand cups the back of your neck and brings you closer to him. The weight of his body makes you self-conscious about his proximity. You can smell the scent of his skin, feel his presence surround you as he kisses you soft to start.

The shift in the air surrounding you is gradual in a way that reminds you so much of Togame. He's not intense at the beginning, never is really is - but then his hand goes to hold your knees and pull your legs up. His tongue slips against the closed seam of your lips until they part, until he touches yours and you have to reconfigure how you breathe. He's so good at kissing you it makes you wonder if he's kissed you before and you can't remember. But then it feels good and you're reminded—

If it felt this good there's no way you would've forgotten it.

When you pull away for air to breathe, or start to stumble through a question on how this is helping - Togame shuts you up. It takes it happening twice for you realize it's deliberate. Every time he kisses you a little deeper, and the last time he slips his tongue in so far you'd think he's trying to eat you whole.

You're wet. You're unsure if you're allowed to feel guilty about it, or if you're even meant too. Anyone would be turned on getting kissed like this. You're really unsure about all of this but you're fine because it's Togame. There's no way he'd do anything bad to you or for you.

He's over protective in general, though he's rarely frank about it.

(If you were any less clueless, you'd would know that most times Togame is doing his best to protect from himself. Most times, he feels like the biggest danger to you)

Togame pulls away from your lips when you moan a little. You feel embarrassed at the state your left in and how he looks at you. Picking you apart in his mind but not with ill intent. Like he wants to know every thread of your want.

Again, you think he's going to tease you. Light but still teasing.

"Does that feel good?"

It's a serious question. It stuns you. Just a little. His hand on the back of neck feels hot. You notice the way his thumb caresses your nape and try not to stutter.

"Uh..y-yeah." You reply, trying not to look stupid. "I like kissing. Uhm. In general."

He doesn't react to that, nods in a way you find curt in comparison to how passionately he was kissing you just moments ago. "It'll help you relax." And then, a little softly. "If you want to kiss again and we're not already, ask."

An odd request but you acquiesce with another soft noise.

"Do you feel a little warmed up?"

His eyes are so strangely shaded in this light. You open your mouth to the awkward confession. "Oh... nn. I'm... y-yeah. I'm wet already."

"From kissing?"

You give him a sheepish look. Togame responds with another kiss that makes you feel like you're being driven into a corner. This one is hot and heavy, doesn't build up but starts with an almost oppressive air. He nips at you, teeth tugging at your lips and licking in earnest to your mouth. Long and deep until your brain feels melty, your thoughts swimming and clouded. Longing for touch and release. Arousal threads through the fibers of your muscles, makes you feel wound up tight - a serpents coil. You clench your thighs on instinct at the worsening wetness.

Your mouth feels swollen and bitten when you pull away again and Togame looks a little more like you're used to him looking. An underlying sense of smug self-satisfactions on his face as he looks down at you, not outweighed by his genuine ease.

A look on his face like he likes your company. You find him comforting in how easy it is to see.

"Is it okay to touch you in other places?"

"Uhm. Anywhere above the belt is fine, I think."

"Makes sense,"

He leans up and slides both hands underneath your hoodie. You're not really prepared for... this. You don't know if you can call it sex or not but whatever it is, you weren't intending for it to happening.

"You're not wearing a shirt," His hands feel so big on your waist. Big and calloused, split skin scarred over from fighting. "A bra?"

"A sports bra."

"Right."

He slides your hoodie up over your torso until it's bare and takes your sports bra along with it in one go. Your tits fall from them with a soft swish with how quick he does it, the light bounce making your skin grown hot. Togame hovers above you as he eyes them, palms just underneath but not touching.

"Stop looking so hard."

He brushes past that. "They're nice."

"Shut up," You say for the first time. Togame smiles slightly.

"Not a nice way to talk to someone who's helping you," He says sarcastically. You pout but refuse to apologize. He remains unbothered then goes back to being alarmingly serious. "Do you play with them?"

"H-huh? When I masturbate? Not really. I've never thought too."

"Why's that?"

You shrug. "The guys I dated used to touch them but it mostly felt weird, not good. Never thought of trying on my own."

He gives you a looking asking for permission. You nod. This really does not feel normal but the arousal clouding your brain is a lot louder than your sense of shame.

Togame's hands slide up your sides until he's cupping the roundness of your chest. His thumbs hover against hardened nipples, constrained in the touch. It's different than how other guys have done it for you. He's paying attention to that bit most, and he's going about it softly. Pushing the hardened bud with a light flick that sends a jolt of shock through your body.

He's quick to notice your reaction, green eyes flickering up before doing it again. You squirm, stretching your legs and shifting as another tick of arousal goes through your whole body. Your clit is starting to throb so much it hurts. If it were you, you would've started touching yourself a long while ago. As soon as you felt yourself get wet.

Togame is taking his time, though. And you're feeling it so much it's a little shameful for you. He does it again, touching your nipples - both side at the same time. Your body is pushing for more.

You've managed to keep the noise down but you're pushed over your usual limits. A moan spills from your lips as you push up into his touch. "That's good, huh? Just needed it a little softer and more focused."

You try not to be any more embarrassing. Wouldn't anyone feel weird over this?

He's the most important person in your entire life, and he's seeing you like this. Not judging you, just remaining even and consistent. Teasing you but not enough to make you upset. He's being so careful. Is this the kind of boyfriend he is? You think that must make him popular, so then... why does it never work out? He's never dated anyone longer than a year.

But he's being so sweet to you despite not dating. He's always kind but this is different. You can't imagine who would see this part of him and break up.

You try not to think about any of this but the only other thing you can focus on is him rubbing your nipples and how nice it feels. The moan of his name is pitchy, sounds foreign to your own ears with how high and broken it is.

"Kame-chan," Your voice is warbly when you ask. You just want to stop thinking. "Kiss?"

He pauses. You think he's going to deny you at first.

"Fuck. That ain't fair, you know?"

You don't know what he means, but he complies and kisses you open mouthed as he plays with your tits. Rubs and flicks them just the way you like. It feels so good. You've never felt anything like it before. Your tummy flutters, honeyed lust dripping down your inner thighs.

Your body moves on it's own, your hands carding through his hair as arousal starts to pool. Your panties feels soaked and sticky, through the fabric. You shift again trying to relieve the feeling, brain scrambled by Togame's touch.

You're so horny you can't make sense of anything. Your body is a relentless echo of your wants and needs - demanding attention. His attention, specifically. Need curls up in your chest.

Between kisses you confess this to Togame, who you trust now more than ever despite feeling so incredibly vulnerable. How could you not go with it when he's taking such good care of you?

"Wanna cum so bad," You mutter, sloppy between kisses. Togame takes in a deep breath as he pulls away.

"You think you're worked up enough for it?"

You see through him instantly even in your haze. "Don't be mean to me, you jerk."

"Caught me, huh? Okay, okay. How do you normally do this?"

"Do what?"

"Fuck yourself with something,."

The words send heat sparking against your spine. You tuck your face against his jacket where it's laying besides you and huff. It smells like him. "Ngh. Usually finger myself a little first."

"Got a good idea then." He hums. The sound of his voice, low and smooth, makes you feel comforted. "I'll lay next to you and help keep you distracted while you open yourself up, yeah? Nothing below the belt 'n all. And when you're already I'll put in for you and turn it on."

You sniff. "Okay."

He smiles at you, pulling his hands and body away from you before laying besides you instead. He lets you rest your head against his arm and shoulders - sneaking the rest of his arm around and underneath you, squeezing one of your tits. He presses your body into him and gropes around the bed for the box with your toy, grabbing it from inside before shoving it away.

Up close, you can feel his muscles even better than you could. You wonder how someone so relaxed could be this built but try not to let it burden your brain. He smells so nice. Did he always? You feel too horny to remember, but you like it.

You can feel him glancing down at you, amused.

"Comfy?" Togame's voice vibrates through your whole body.

"Uh-huh."

"If you turn your head towards me I can kiss you and touch you. Keep your mind occupied a bit."

"Oh. That makes sense."

"It does right? Go ahead and start."

You think you should tell him not to watch. Keeps his eyes for himself. But the focus of his gaze makes you burn so much hotter you don't bother. He's already seen so much, anyway.

You shimmy out of your sweat pants until they're down at your ankles revealing your panties. Baby blue printed boyshorts, fabric soaked until they look a nearly new navy shade. You feel his laughter less than you hear it, turning your head to glare at him. He smiles a little at you.

"Those are cute too," Togame comments. You can hear his voice so clearly like this you think you'll collapse if you pay too much attention to it. "Too bad you made 'em all messy."

You swallow a sound, too horny to protest. He stops you before you can take your panties off.

"Didn't you say you normally touch over the fabric when you're sensitive? Do that."

"But—"

"Just trust me," He promises. He kisses your hair. Your heart thuds when he does it. It's an innocent gesture. "It'll make it more satisfying, okay?"

Your shaky as you spread yourself a little wider and slip your hand down between your legs. All the desire you're holding starts to unwind as your middle finger slides over the soaked seam of your cotton panties. They're cuter than normal, printed with florals and lace trimmed. Absolutely drenched in your arousal. You rub a small circle into your clit and your whole body breaks out into shivers, your eyes fluttering closed at the sensation.

You could cum like this. Just from this. But you want something more, something better so you force yourself to go slow.

"It's messy," Togame hums, nonchalant. "You get easier than I thought you would. Are you going slow so you don't cum right away?"

"Don't point it out, aah,"

"You should cum if you want too," Togame suggests.

"No," You whine. "Wanna cum with the toy."

"Wanna cum with a cock inside you, ya mean? A silicone one but still. Not enough to just touch yourself, you need something more, is that it?"

He says the words so casually, so lightly. Almost friedly despite how filthy they are. There's no malice in them.

Spoken like high praise or affection. The kind you'd show a kitten,.

"Kame—"

"Didn't know your had such a need pussy. No wonder it's hard to cum all by yourself, huh?"

"Stop being mean," You gasp. "I'll cum,"

He laughs at that. It's genuine and bright.

"Too much for ya, huh? S'okay. Take these off now. Finger yourself. Make sure you get all that mess you made so we can use on your toy. It'll hurt if it's dry going in."

You feel blindsided by just how much Togame is talking. He's been so quiet, so brief and unreadable. He feels like his usual self too much, to your complete detriment. His voice is teasing, yet warm and sweet. He smells good and he's pressing you all against his chest. Your fingers tremble as you slide your panties down to your ankles same as before. You end up shimmying the rest of your clothes off.

You're so aroused it's easy to get the first finger in. Your hole twitches, the entrance pleasurable as slowly ease your middle finger down to knuckle. You til your head towards Togame as you get adjusted to the intrusion easily from how wet you are, pouting your lips. He gives into the kiss right away, warm tongue and soft lips familiar to you now. You ease yourself into the pace of his kiss, whimpering into his mouth as you slowly open yourself on second finger.

"I want it so bad," You mumble. He laughs against your mouth.

"I can tell. Can barely string a sentence together. You want to cum huh?"

"Uh-huh."

"What a naughty pussy. You're trembling from just fingering yourself. Won't you cum right away if I put in you at once? I'll have to go slowly," Togame explains. He speaks the filth so naturally. "Take my time so you're stretched nicely and not scared anymore. I'll turn the vibrator on after it's already inside so you can't run away from it. You can cum to your hearts content, then."

"I'm still scared," You admit. You're just so horny you're unsure of what else to do. He leans down to kiss you again, nose brushing against yours intimately.

"Don't be scared. Just focus on stretching so you're not so tight. I'll praise you if you take it in easily."

Your voice gives once you manage to get a third in. Togame doesn't stop kissing you, barely giving you enough air to breathe. He plays with your chest with his free hand, and holds the toy with the other.

A string of spit connects you. Your thighs are aching, body burning hot as you look at him directly.

"Wanna cum," You slur your words, speaking in short sentences. Togame grins a little.

"Take your fingers out and show them to me."

Your stomach flips but you comply with the request. Your face burns from how soaked they are.

"Good. Rub them on the toy now. Get it as sticky as you can."

Your heart is pounding is loud in your ears as you clumsily coat your new toy with your own mess. You watch it gain a fresh shine, baby blue turning reflective as you push it against and between your fingers until all of it's coated as best you can.

"That's it, good. Spread your legs now. Gonna put it in. Want me to kiss you?"

You nod sheepishly and close your eyes. Togame laughs warmly before kissing you again.

Your whole body throbs in anticipation for it. A muscular forearm and hand slip between your legs as you spread yourself open, your feet flat on the bed for easier access. Togame forces his tongue into your open mouth, kissing you wet and hard as he tweaks your nipples. You feel pleasantly suffocated from the pressure before gasping into his mouth.

The swollen silicone head of your toy stretches your pussy more than you thought it would. You've never had a toy with angles so the sensations are all new. You can feel it so well inside of you, you can barely keep your composure long enough to stop moaning as just the tip slides in. Togame swallows each noise from your mouth. His kisses feel almost ferocious now when they were so composed before, free hand cupping your jaw from one side.

He fucks it in slowly, rocking the toy by its handle slowly until you get used to it - giving you moments between to adjust. You can feel it bottom out inside of you, the head pressing so precise on your swollen gspot you could cum from bucking your hips. Your sensitivity is over the top. Every touch and and tease and bump makes your cunt clench and throb.

The blunt end of the rubber attachment presses against your needy little clit. Togame moves the toy a little, fucking you with it slightly again. Barely. It still nearly makes you cum.

You feel like he's edging you. Anymore than this, you think you'll go crazy.

"Kame-chan." Your voice is beyond wrecked, throat as one of your hands reaches to cling desperately to his short sleeves. You fist it, teary. "Jo, turn it on please. Make me cum. Wanna cum so bad, 'm so close, please, please. C'mon."

"Turning it on, baby. Easy."

The word baby makes your body melt.

A slight click sounds as Togame turns on the vibrator.

Your whole body lurches at the sudden change. Togame pins you with his own, keeps his hands steady and the toy inside of you without skipping a beat. The soft whirr of the first setting completely unravels you. It feels like every nerve in your body is being pulled apart, electricity through a frayed copper wire. The muscles in your body aching with anticipation after so many dissatisfying orgasms clench tight as your body prepares itself for something so vast your mind can't process it at all. Your hands fist at your sides, clutching the sheets as you get close to cumming.

You're thrashing from the sensation. It's so much, too much - you've never felt anything like it before. You feel full and euphoric and your head is spinning. It feels so good it terrifies you, makes you clench up hard in how unbearably unrelenting it is. There's no pace, no where to escape from. The vibrations are strong but not overwhelming to the point you can't feel them.

You're so senstive all over your body and it's touching you in two places.

Your spine starts to curl into an arch, hips stuttering and twisting as you feel it rushing over your consciousness. Fuck, you've wanted this for so long. It's exactly the high you've been chasing after on your own for so many months it's making your brain feel like like mush. Animal instinct forces your hips up, bucking against Togame's hand where he holds the toy. You're fucking yourself on it. You can hear him laugh as he moves to meet you ruts.

You feel like you're losing your fucking mind.

"G-gonna—fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck! I can't, I can't, I can't. Feels so good, Ican't."

He leans in and gets close to your ear, tongue caressing the lobe before biting it soft.

"Yes you can. You want it so bad don't you? Wanna cum all over this cock so bad you've been aching for it. I know you want it, I can see it. Look how much your moving your hips." His voice is shaking, hands flicking your nipples messy and harsh as he speaks. "Look what a mess you're making. You're leaking everywhere. You want it badly right? Don't think about it and cum. Cum as much as you want. Cum for me,"

The last words are the ones to snap the thread inside of you.

Your brain bluescreens as your body seizes before finally, finally giving you the orgasm you've been chasing. You smash your lips against Togame's as your spine arches off the bed, thrashing in place. Something in you undoes - and you feel a wet rush spray from between your legs at the same time your orgasm hits. Your mind feels completely and utterly blanked. Your body is in total rapture, uncontrollable pleasure fucking your brain until you're stupid and slack jawed. It feels so good, so so good. You didn't know anything could ever feel that good in your life. It's scary.

You feel like you could get addicted. Your high rides out for much longer than ever before. In between sloppy kisses, you say the same words over and over and over. Togame grips you close to him as you do.

"Jo," You mutter. "Thank you, thank you, thank you—feels so fffucking good, fuck. I can't, I can't. Off, off. 's too much, I'll pee."

Instead of turning it off, he turns the vibration up by one. Your eyes fly open as you gasp, words rushed. Panicked.

"I can't," You swear, looking at him for mercy. His face is flushed. "I can't, Jo-chan, I'll cum again, I'll—"

"Cum." He says, demands - voice rougher than you've heard it all night. "I know you can. Cum,"

On demand practically, your legs seize up and you cum again a second time in near succession. You feel so fucking incredible you think you're going to die.

"Fuck!"

You squirt again, body nearly giving out as more short spurts soak your sheets and mattress. Your pussy is pulsing in the after math, trembling and clenching so violently. You whine loudly as Togame stops the vibration and pulls the toy out, shivering as it catches on your tight hole before coming out of it with a soft pop.

Your legs are twitching.

Even though Togame has no more reason to kiss you he does. And even though you're well past the point of needing to kiss him back, you do more affectionately than any time prior.

"You made me feel so good it's freaking me out." You admit, shaking uncontrollably.

Togame pauses before breaking out into genuine laughter. He kisses your head, arm wrapping around your shoulders until you're hugged against him.

"You were so sexy like that."

You blink at him, face flushed.

"Sexy?"

"I was really hard seeing you cum," He says, casually looking down. "I didn't know you could be cute and ask for kisses. You're usually more—"

You put a hand over his mouth.

"Whatever you're gonna say shut up,"

He just smiles, cheek against your hair. "I'm glad you got to feel good."

"What about you?" You mumble, feeling your heart pick up just asking. "Are you still hard? I feel like I should pay you back somehow,"

He looks at you seriously. "Do you know what you're implying?"

You fold a little but nod anyway. "Yeah."

"Do you really? The monk thing is a joke, you know. If you offer something like that, I won't be able to stop."

"It's fine," You say confidently before adding, much quieter. "I r-really want to do... it with you."

Togame pauses before kissing you deeply. Your whole body feels molded to him now.

"Damn it." He looks down at you, black hair sticking to his skin. You wanna feel his undercut with your hands in his hair. "You know this ain't normal between friends, right?"

"Uhm, yeah? I figured."

"Don't go around getting help from anyone."

You shake your head. "It's only 'cause it's you."

He scrubs a hand over his face and laughs. "You don't need to stir me up anymore. I'm already hard enough. Can't keep my composure at all."

You tilt your head in confusion. Togame just sighs.

"Don't worry about it." He says, shaking his head. "How soon can I get my thanks?"

Your eyes widen as you clench again. "Uhm. Now, if you want it."

He grins a little lazy, eyes swimming with adoration.

"I do," He hums, laying back as you get up from where you've been laying. "Come over here and let me touch you properly then."

"Is that what you really want?"

You climb ontop of him, bare naked almost as your hoodie falls back down over your torse. Togame slides the fabric up and gives you a meaningful look.

"More than anything,"

[kxsagi]

hii, i hope you're doing well ^^ I really enjoy your style of writing :) i was wondering if you can make my request with tooth rotting fluff the reader's love is so gentle and she takes time trying to understand her S/O and she will always ask for permission to touch them even if they given her permission already, the reader cares for her S/O so gently and delicate like something so dear to her life? Feel free to do this with any blue lock characters ^^ and you can also ignore this if it's way too much work haha, another thing is that i love your works and please take some rest whenever you need it.

“𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞”

a/n: hi! i'm doing well and i hope you are too beautiful :) and thank you so much!!! take rest whenever you need it as well

this was some good needed fluff

ft. itoshi rin, isagi yoichi, bachira meguru, nagi seishiro, mikage reo, chigiri hyoma, kaiser michael, shidou ryusei, itoshi sae, ness alexis, niko ikki, hiori yo

itoshi rin

at first, he doesn't understand why you're so soft with him. you’re careful when touching his hand, always asking “can i hold you?” like he’ll shatter if you don't ask. 

it overwhelms him. the kind of love that doesn't demand, doesn’t press, but patiently waits for him to be ready. 

you’d brush hair from his face with trembling fingers and say, “is this okay?” even after years of dating, and he’d nod, ears pink, mumbling, “you don’t have to ask.” 

“i want to,” you’d smile. “you’re important to me.” 

that sentence alone makes his chest hurt (in a good way). 

sometimes he stares at you while you're fussing over his bruises, and all he can think is how the hell did i get this lucky? 

isagi yoichi

he melts like butter in the sun. absolutely smitten with how gently you love him. 

the first time you tucked a blanket around him after a long match, whispering, “can i kiss your forehead?” he blinked at you like you'd just proposed. 

he’s not used to being treated like he’s fragile, but you do it so sincerely that it never feels emasculating. just loving. 

you’ll brush your fingers over his knuckles and ask, “can i?” even though you’ve kissed him a million times, and he’ll smile like it’s the first time every time. 

he tries to match your softness. fails most of the time because he’s clumsy with words, but the love shows in how tightly he holds your pinky when you're walking together. 

bachira meguru

thinks your gentleness is the best thing to ever happen to him. 

he’s so used to loud, chaotic love that your careful affection hits different. it makes him slow down. breathe. 

when you cup his face and softly say, “can i kiss you right here?” pointing to his cheek, his grin goes all lopsided and shy. 

“why do you always ask?” he teases, nose bumping yours. 

“because you’re someone i never want to take for granted.” 

he’ll blink, then full-body tackle hug you like a golden retriever in love. “you’re my favorite human.” 

you take care of him in the little things: asking if he wants to be held, if he’s overstimulated, if he needs quiet or chaos, and he falls a little more in love every time. 

nagi seishiro

was confused at first. “you can just touch me, y’know. i’m fine with it.” 

but when you still ask every single time – "can i sit closer?" "can i touch your hair?" – he realizes something. 

you don’t do it because you think he’ll say no. you do it because you respect him. you love him with your whole heart, but never assume. 

“you’re so… careful,” he murmurs once as you gently rub lotion on his sore hands. 

“you’re important to me. and i want you to feel safe with me.” 

he didn’t even know he needed to feel safe until you made it so easy. 

now he’ll pout if you don’t ask first. “you forgot to ask,” he says, even though he’s already curled up in your lap like a sleepy cat. 

mikage reo

falls so stupidly hard for your gentle love. 

he’s used to grand gestures and flash, but your love is quiet and reverent, and it wrecks him. 

when you brush your thumb over his temple and whisper, “can i hold you for a little while?” he just nods and pulls you in like he’ll never let go. 

he’s amazed at how someone can be so kind, so considerate, and yet still make him feel absolutely cherished. 

you remember all the little things – asking before touching his hair, checking if he wants space after a stressful day – and it makes him fall in love a little harder every day. 

sometimes he’ll just stare at you and go, “you’re seriously the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” 

chigiri hyoma

you love him like he’s made of porcelain, and it gets him every single time. 

he acts cool about it – rolls his eyes when you ask for permission to touch his hair – but the tips of his ears go pink and he can’t stop smiling. 

after injuries and fear of fragility, your tenderness heals something deeper in him. 

“you can touch me,” he’ll whisper. “you don’t have to ask.” 

“i know,” you smile, “but i like knowing you still want me to.” 

that? that makes him blush so hard he covers his face with a pillow. 

he feels like a beloved treasure when he’s with you, and it makes his heart ache in the best way. 

kaiser michael

used to flirty, shallow affection, most times none, so your pure, patient love absolutely unravels him. 

you treat him like he’s so much more than his ego or his game. 

“can i touch your hair?” you ask, even after months together. and he just stares, like you’re something otherworldly. 

“you already know the answer,” he says, softer than he means to. 

“i want to hear it anyway.” 

you care for him like he’s someone worth loving for who he is, not what he shows, and for the first time, he believes it. 

when you hold his hand with both of yours and treat it like something precious, he suddenly forgets how to flirt. he’s just… quiet, overwhelmed, grateful. 

shidou ryusei

surprisingly receptive to your gentle love, even if he plays it off with grins and jokes. 

“asking permission? what is this, kindergarten?” he smirks. 

but the way he goes quiet when you softly say, “can i hold your hand?” gives him away. 

you’re the only person who touches him like he’s not a weapon, just a boy who wants to be held. 

sometimes, in rare moments of vulnerability, he’ll whisper, “you’re the only one who makes me feel... human.” 

and when you cradle his face like he’s something beautiful instead of dangerous, he leans into your palms like they’re the safest place on earth. 

itoshi sae

at first? he's confused. suspicious, even. 

he’s used to people either putting him on a pedestal or wanting something from him, so when you gently tuck his hair behind his ear and whisper, “can i touch you?”, he just blinks. like, actually short-circuits. 

“you’re already doing it,” he mumbles. but his voice comes out softer than he intends. 

and you just smile and say, “i still want to ask. you matter to me.” 

and that? that undoes him. 

you treat him like he’s not a prodigy, not a golden boy, but someone worth loving gently. and that’s something he didn’t know he needed. 

when you ask, “can i kiss you?” even after you've kissed him dozens of times, he’ll whisper, “yeah… but don’t stop asking.” 

he doesn’t say it outright, but he lives for the way you love him like something fragile. because sometimes, deep down, he feels like he is. 

he’ll rest his head in your lap during quiet nights, pretending to scroll on his phone. but the second you whisper, “can i play with your hair?”, his screen’s forgotten and he’s quietly nodding, eyes closing, letting himself exist in your love. 

it takes time, but eventually, he starts asking too. awkwardly. stiffly. like: “can i hold your hand?” “can i lean on you?” “can i stay over tonight?” 

all while pretending to be nonchalant, but his ears are burning, and he gets so soft when you say yes like it’s the most natural thing in the world. 

ness alexis

he’s so touch-starved and desperate for validation that when you treat him with gentle respect, he thinks he’s dreaming. 

you’ll brush your fingers along his arm and softly ask, “is this okay?” and he just blinks, stunned, because no one’s ever cared enough to ask. 

he says “yes” every time – quick, eager, needy – but the way you keep asking anyway? it makes his heart ache in the best way. 

“you’re so careful with me…” he murmurs one night as you tuck a blanket around his shoulders. “like i’m someone who matters.” 

“you are,” you say it simply, like it’s fact. 

and ness hides his face in your shoulder because he’s never felt so loved before.

he starts to mirror your habits – asking “can i hug you?” or “can i play with your hair?” – because you’ve made him believe love can be soft and mutual. 

niko ikki

gets really flustered at first. like, blushing to the tips of his ears when you ask, “can i hold your hand?” 

“y-you don’t need to ask,” he stammers, already squeezing your fingers. 

but when you keep doing it, every time, even for the smallest touches, he gets it. 

you don’t ask because you doubt, you ask because you respect him. and that’s what makes him fall so hard for you. 

niko’s love language becomes sitting in comfortable silence, your pinkies linked, as you glance over and softly whisper, “can i lean on you?” 

he nods every time, too stunned to speak. 

“you treat me like i’m precious,” he says one day, voice quiet. 

“you are,” you reply, just as gently, and niko short-circuits on the spot. 

hiori yo

oh, you destroy him (in the softest way possible). 

he’s always been scared of getting too close, of being a burden. but then you come along – so patient, so kind – and ask, “is this okay?” before every hug, every kiss, every forehead touch. 

and hiori just… melts. fully, completely, beautifully. 

you cup his face with both hands and ask, “can i hold you like this?” and he’s already nodding, eyes glossy with emotion. 

you ask him if he’s okay when he zones out. you check if he wants to be alone or held. you don’t assume, you care. 

“you make me feel safe,” he confesses one night, voice barely a whisper. “like… no one’s ever done that before.” 

you brush your thumb under his eye, smiling softly. “you deserve to be loved that way.” 

and hiori hugs you tighter than he ever has before, like he never wants to let go. 

© 𝐤𝐱𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐢

[floatyflowers]

Hi can you write something about The Lord of the Rings, Elves💗?

Dark Platonic Father Legolas x Isakeied Reader x Dark Platonic Grandfather Thranduil

You awoke in a room bathed in soft, golden light, the ceiling adorned with elegant carvings of trees and vines.

The air smelled of pine and rain, but the unfamiliar surroundings caused you to panic.

Sitting up, you realized something was terribly wrong with you.

Your body was not your own.

Small, delicate hands replaced the ones you remembered, and long strands of silver-blonde hair cascaded over your shoulders.

The reflection in a nearby mirror near your bed confirmed your fear.

This wasn’t you in any way or form, but the body of someone else, and clearly the vibe of the palace indicates you are in a different timeline.

Or rather a different place.

All you can remember is that you accidentally fall from your balcony.

Your breathing quickened, and you clutched at the bedcovers as your heart pounded in your chest.

This had to be a dream, a strange, vivid dream.

Also, something caught your attention...you have elf ears.

The door creaked open, and in stepped a figure who took your breath away, not from awe, but from the shock of recognition.

Legolas.

His impossibly perfect features were softer than you’d imagined, but his piercing blue eyes filled with concern.

"You have finally woken up, are you unwell, iel?" he asked, his voice gentle, filled with concern.

The word 'iel' refers to daughter.

Did you really get reincarnated into Lord of the rings?

How is that even possible?!

You shook your head intensely, unable to speak as confusion overtook you.

His brows furrowed, and he moved closer, kneeling by the bed.

"You’re safe," he said, mistaking your terror for something external like the accident that happened to you.

The accident where you tried to run away.

His hand reached out, but you flinched away.

Not out of fear, because you love Legolas as he is one of your favourite characters.

However, you still are wary of what is happening.

The hurt in his eyes was clear, though he quickly masked it.

"What’s wrong, meleth nín, are you still upset about what happened?"

Now this added more to your confusion, what exactly happened?

"I apologise...I don't remember anything."

It's safer for you to take this route, pretending to have amnesia makes it easier for them not to doubt you if you act strange.

Before the Elven prince could say anything or even think of what to say.

Another figure entered the room, his presence commanding and regal.

Thranduil.

The Elvenking’s icy gaze softened when he saw you, yet his posture remained stiff.

"What is happening here?" he asked, his tone calm but laced with the usual authority.

Legolas glanced at him helplessly, gesturing toward your trembling form.

"She lost her memories, she doesn't remember anything."

Thranduil’s eyes studied you intently, his sharp features is unreadable at first.

But then he smirks.

"Then we will teach her, and make her remember by reminding her."

This made you feel more relaxed than they brought your lie.

But you can't contain your excitement to explore the world of your favourite books.

Yet, you don't know that you won't be allowed to do that.

And what your new grandfather means by 'reminding' is that he and Legolas will tell you false memories.

Only to remodel you into an obedient daughter and granddaughter.

[life-is-more-than-just-a-game]

Can you make a jealous chishiya? Where chishiya tells the reader to thet information about arisu but the reader and arisu gets along prety well and chishiya gets jealous? Thank you.

♠️ Chishiya being jealous about you and Arisu getting along pretty well ♠️

A/N: Hey, sorry for letting you wait so long. Maybe you have already forget that you wrote me this request but I like the idea behind it, so I decided to make this my "comeback". 👀

I'm actually not sure if I understood it the correct way, but I definitely understood you want a Chishiya who is jealous about the fact Arisu and you are get along splendidly. 😋

Hopefully it reaches you and I also hope you will enjoy reading this. ♥️

Characters: Chishiya

POV: gn!reader

Warnings: Not given.

C h i s h i y a

I don't see him being a jealous person actually.

Unless you give him a reason to ...

Chishiya isn't even a person who falls in love easily.

But when he is falling for someone, he falls pretty hard.

So, you have to deal with his feelings and his behavior when he sees you together with Arisu, chatting and laughing together as if there would be no tomorrow.

Okay, to be fair, nobody knows if there would be a "Tomorrow" ... but that's something different!

Arisu may be a great help to him when it comes to collecting all the cards, but sometimes Chishiya thinks Arisu is his downfall.

Especially when it comes to you.

Yeah, but don't think he will talk about it- he is more concerned with hiding his feelings from you than actually speaking about them.

Even if you already have realized something isn't okay with him, he wouldn't admit it.

"I'm used to it that you are not talking much when there is nothing important to discuss about." "I can hear your "but" even though you didn't said it yet." "Then guess what I wanted to say next." "I don't have any problems, I feel fine, no worries."

Nobody said it would be easy with him. He can be as cold as he looks and it's hard seeing through him, even for you.

Still, he can be a calm and cool person as much as he wants- but he's just a human being. You can endure a lot, but at some point everyone reaches their limits.

You and Arisu are talking a lot? Fine.

Arisu makes a joke you find funny, so he watches both of you laughing and having fun with each other? Alright, you aren't his trophy, everyone can have other friends next to his own partner.

But seeing both of you hugging after a game ...

Because you saw someone die in front of your eyes and you are now overwhelmed by many different emotions ...

Well, enough is enough.

"Step aside, Arisu, that's not your part, alright?"

He was waiting for you the entire time you were in the building, so it's not hard for him to find you both outside being ... needy.

"In the future, you'd better keep your hands to yourself." "Excuse me what was that?" "You already understand."

While Chishiya switches positions with Arisu and holds you captive in his arms, he just gives the dark-haired man a warning look.

… Even if unintentionally.

… And unconsciously.

"Well ... I better go then and ... leave both of you alone ... for now." Arisu lets off of you, leaving you to the person who means the most to you. "You better do."

Trying to catch your breath and calm down, you look up to Chishiya and Arisu alternately, feeling the tension between them.

Still, you can't help but start giggling a little.

Arisu und Chishiya both start looking at you now, irritated and confused.

"W-Well, wait ... just to make it clear- is there someone ... really ... jealousy?" "Yes, he is." "No, I'm not", he says calmly. "Okay, then ... let me hug Arisu again ... s-shouldn't be a problem when everything is okay. Right?"

Silence.

You smiling up to Chishiya, who is now biting his tongue and pressing his lips together, not even thinking about letting off of you.

Arisu watching in amusement.

"I'm ... just not fine seeing another one be there for you while I can be there for you. It's my job to cheer you up- even though I'm not the best in it, but I'm trying very hard." "You ARE jealousy, Chi!" "Oi, stop saying this, will you ... ?"

[neeeooon]

Hello!

I really love your writing and i am going through your Blue Lock hc... so i don't know if you have already written my request,if so...i am sorry i didn't see it!

How about the Blue Lock guys get jealous over they own teammates?Like he introduce f!reader to his teammates and f!reader is laughing and having a good time? Maybe with Kaiser,Sae and Bachira or any other character you are comfortable with♡

hii thank you so much!! i have one jealousy post but it isn’t jealous toward members (except rin + karasu) SO THANK YOU FOR THE REQUEST 🩵

when they’re jealous of their teammate

jealous bf bllk x fem!reader

michael kaiser

-> kaiser already hates the fact that yoichi is trying to “take” his spot as the main character on the bm soccer team, but now he’s trying to take you too? absolutely not

-> in reality, isagi is not trying to steal you away from your boyfriend, leaving you completely clueless to kaiser’s jealous and unsure as to why he’s so upset whenever you ask to watch him practice or play games

-> “i just don’t know what’s up with him,” you confess to isagi as you both watch your fuming boyfriend dart across the field, scoring goals so loud you flinch. “ever since i started coming to games here, he seems pissed off. he was never upset when i did this before!”

-> isagi, totally unhelpful, shrugs and sips some water on the sidelines. “your boyfriend is creepy, y/n.” “he is not!” “is too!” you shove isagi in a playful manner, causing you both to laugh, and suddenly your stony-faced boyfriend is right in front of you

-> “oh, micha! done with pr—“ “we’re leaving.” you don’t have time to say goodbye to isagi before you’re on your feet and jogging after kaiser

-> “hey, what—“ “you’re my girlfriend, okay? mine. not his. he can’t have you, too.” you’re a little confused at who he means at first, but once you see the glare he shoots at isagi, you sigh. “he’s not trying to take me away, micha. even if he was, it wouldn’t matter because i’m in love with you.”

itoshi sae

-> he knows oliver is a flirt. he knows you’d never fall for the flattery. but when he overhears the player’s body count, he starts getting a bit nervous, because what could the guy possibly say to get so many people in his bed?

-> sae had a sneaking suspicion that oliver used banter and his witty sense of humor to draw others in, so when the sound of your lighthearted laughter fills his ears, he’s feeling all sorts of twisted inside as he spots you with oliver

-> you and oliver. together. his hand raised as if he’s about to caress the small of your back. he doesn’t get the chance, though, because sae is suddenly standing behind you with oliver’s wrist gripped in a fist

-> “problem?” oliver challenges him, eyes sparkling with mischief. sae scowls and shoved his temporary teammate away before placing his hand on your back and slowly pushing you to the exit with him

-> “hey, i haven’t had my fruit punch yet—woah, are you okay?” your playful tone dies in your mouth when you see how tensely your boyfriend is looking at you

-> “you were laughing.” “oh, um, yeah. he made a really bad dad pun, you know i’m a sucker for those.” “he was going to touch you, y/n. he’s clearly hitting on you.” you shuffle a bit, unsure of what to say. “oh. i didn’t realize..”

-> and you didn’t, because why would you look at anyone else when you were dating itoshi sae? the man worshiped you..! in his own ways. your smile throws him off. “no need to be jealous, cute boy. i only have eyes for you.”

bachira meguru

-> bachira doesn’t like feeling jealous. he trusts you, he really does, but watching you and rin makes him doubt that

-> you’ll admit that you have been shadowing the younger itoshi quite a bit, but it’s not the the reasons bachira’s mind plagues him with

-> your older brother passed away in an accident, and your last conversation with him hadn’t been the kindest. when you learned about the strained relationship between rin and his brother, you wanted to help in a familiar sense

-> “y/n, can you help me?” bachira whined as he frowned down at his english homework. “i’ll be right there, megs.” and then you wander off to huddle heads with rin

-> and then? you laughed. with rin! bachira has never seen the guy smile, and now he’s making you laugh? his cheeks puff and blush in envy as he discards his homework and stomps over to you

-> “y/n, i would very much like your help right now please!” you can tell that he’s frustrated, but he looks so adorable that you can’t help but smile as you stand. “okay, i’m coming, pretty boy. what’s up?”

-> “you and that. him! that guy! it makes me feel all icky inside watching you laugh with him, and i don’t like it.” his blatant honestly makes you grab his hands and pull him closer to you. “he reminds me of my brother… but you’re right, i’m sorry if i crossed a line. i’m only trying to help, but you’re my boyfriend, so if hanging out with him makes you uncomfortable, i’ll stop.”

[redr0sewrites]

NNN Hcs with the Dc Batboys

🥀A/n: exactly what is sounds like‼️ i love writing no nut november hcs sm-

🥀Character(s): Dick Grayson x reader, Jason Todd x reader, Bruce Wayne x reader,

🥀Cw: smut, teasing, switch!reader, use of the term(s) prince/ss in Bruce's pt, dirty talk

🥀divider: @chachachannah <3

🥀minors dni

Dick Grayson:

bringing up NNN to Dick definitely raises a brow- at first he's a little confused, you don't want to have sex for an entire month? who would ever want that?

once you explain it though, i think he'd be really into it. he's definitely a little pouty that he can't even masturbate, and would probably complain if you were abstaining from sex without telling him why. once you convince him to join you though, he starts taking it very seriously

Dick has a bit of a competitive streak, so i definitely think he's in it to "beat you". he's teasing you endlessly, trying to get you to give in before the month ends (and theres definitely a high chance of him outlasting you)

actually suuuuuch an unfair tease, like genuinely he's soo annoying throughout the month. you walk by him wearing shorts? he's kneading your ass and giving it an appreciative slap. you don't have a shirt on for any reason whatsoever? he's coming up behind you and groping your chest, whether you have boobs or not, and whispering filthy things in your ear.

he's also big on teasing you in your sleep- you can't tell me Dick wouldn't have the biggest somnophilia kink ever so he's absolutely trying to get you worked up while your asleep, in hopes of you waking up and giving in

i honestly see two outcomes: he either makes it to the end of the month, or he gives up about 3/4 through. i feel like Dick has a pretty high libido, but i also think he has really good self control and can resist temptation so there's definitely some internal conflict on his end.

it gets to a point where, at the end of the month, because his libido is so high and he's been untouched for so long, he's like tweaking out over every touch and is becoming veeerrryyy needy and sensitive. this is probably the time period where he's most likely to give in as he's just soooo sensitive and can't even touch himself to get off! you have a much higher chance of getting Dick to give in once he reaches this threshold, and if you play your cards right he'll be squirming.

if he does make it through the month, expect to be woken up at 12:01 on the first of december with Dick humping your thigh and whining in your ear. he's NOT in control right now, he's way too needy and sensitive, and he's definitely okay with letting you use him to get off- he needs to cum just as bad as you do

gives you the most AMAZING orgasms after waiting a month, he's mounting you like an incubus and rutting into you like his life depends on it until your both whimpering and overstimulated ♥️

he's probably gonna be a little mean too, considering you made him wait soooo long <\\3

"hnhah- ffuck." Dick's soft breath tickles your ear as he nips at the lobe, his hips rocking heavily against yours. "c'mon, baby, you can give me another, please.." his cock twitches against your tummy, tip sticky and wet from previous orgasms.

"Dickie, i just came-" you whine, yet your body betrays you as your hips roll up to meet his. he chuckles breathlessly against the soft column of your neck, pressing open-mouthed kisses into your sweat-soaked skin. "please, baby? jus' one more, f'me?" his tone is teasing, but you can tell he's desperate as you feel his cockhead twitch again. with a soft giggle, you nod, and Dick wastes no time in aligning himself with your hole. "you ready, hun?"

"mhm," you hum, and he slides in. your hole is already wet from previous orgasms, it had felt too good for Dick to not cum inside, and that only aided his sloppy thrusts as he rutted against you. your eyes flutter closed as the sound of skin slapping against skin fills the room, and Dick ducks back down to whisper in your ear as your orgasm draws closer. "so pretty, s'good for me, made me wait so long for this... ffucck- y'gonna cum for me, honey? gonna take it all?"

Jason Todd:

Jason is honestly a wild card, i think it could go a multitude of ways honestly depending on how you feel

when you suggest the idea to him, i either see him being a tiny bit petty and lowkey deciding to fuck you every day of november OR take it as a challenge and being determined to make it through the month with no screw ups.

if it ends up being the latter, than i feel as though Jason has a higher chance of succeeding then losing. i don't think his sex drive is super high, and he's also pretty stubborn, HOWEVER, you are his weak point, and if you end up teasing him or begging him, i can picture him snapping and fucking you

either way, he's at least making it through half the month if not longer.

the only way you'll get him to give in is if your REALLY desperate, because he could never see you needy- so teasing him or pleading with him to fuck you is probably how you can get him to break

i also see him teasing you, but only subtly. he'll wear those low rise sweatpants he knows you like around the house, he's shirtless more often than not, and somehow his hands always seem to find place on your thighs... what lovely coincidences!

Jason struggles more with not fucking you than not being able to masturbate. i honestly don't think he does so very often, so it wouldn't be much of an issue, but not being able to fuck you? not even being able to give you head? drives him insane.

all in all, Jason cares more about your satisfaction than his own. could probably go the whole month without your interference, but is probably pent up by the end of the month

speaking of pent up, he's going to be insane at the end of the month because you made him wait. probably going to be more dominant than usual, BUT he's still really gentle and sweet because he knows your sensitive,,, so its a win!

the first time he cums after no nut november he swears he sees stars, probably praises you to the moon and back over how perfect you are

i think he'd wait until the next day to ravish you, he'd let you both get your sleep, but encourages you both to take the day off and spend the day in bed catching up on lost time. december first is going to be a LOVELY day for you,,,,

"s'that feel good, baby?"

"ffuck- yes Jay, fucking me so good-" you whine into the pillows, drool soaking the fabric as Jason pounds into you from behind. strong arms frame your form as he fucks you, his dick just perfectly touching your g spot/prostate with each thrust.

"aren't you- hnghh- glad you took the day off? relaxed a bit?" Jason huffed, his breath tickling your ear as he tightened his one handed grip on your ass. "y'should let me take care of you more often, especially after waiting so long..." he coos, and you let out a strangled moan as the knot in your stomach begins to tighten faster and faster.

"y'gonna cum for me, pretty?"

"y-es, please, Jay-"

"shh, s'ok, me too, we'll cum together, okay honey?" he soothes, rocking against you as the bed frame quakes.

"gonna fill you up so nice," he murmurs under his breath, white curls plastered to his sweat-slick forehead. "gonna make you cum for every day i couldnt..."

Bruce Wayne:

Bruce is making it through the month, no questions asked. it does not matter how deeply and truly he loves you, this man is IN IT TO WIN IT. he is absolutely making it through the month and will not budge i fear

theres a few nights where he's pent up and irritated after batman-ing and considers giving in, but he never does

when you first suggested NNN to him, he's probably a bit lukewarm to the idea, but whatever makes you happy 🤷 ngl he probably thought you were mad at him and this was a punishment or something at first😭

he honestly didn't think you'd end up actually going through with it, and if you end up giving in at some point in the month he'll definitely feign disappointment

"such a shame, i thought you were challenging me to this...game."

he's absolutely evil when it comes to teasing. he'll come up behind you and press gentle kisses on your neck, his large hands holding a firm grip on your waist, only to pull away with a practiced, professional smile as you begin to curl into his touch <\\3 he also plays up the Brucie Wayne persona, and is a lot more subtly seductive in an attempt to get you to break

keeping a firm hand on your lower back in public, giving you gifts (specifically lingerie, with a note attached that states, "for the end of the month"), and overall being a bit more possessive

when the month is over??? PREPARE. it's late, almost 2AM on december first, and the second he returns from patrolling he's finding you. doesn't even take the batsuit off, hell, he probably fucks you right there in the batcave, bent over the batcomputer. he's a little harsher than usual, and definitely more needy. he also tells you to take the day off, so he can.. spoil you for the entire day <3

let me just say, after so long of abstaining, he FUCKS, and he fucks you hard. you swear your seeing stars with each thrust, and he's genuinely insatiable. probably wants to breed you too... doesn't matter if you can get pregnant or not, he's fucking you full of his cum

the desk beneath you rattles with each thrust, and your thighs tremble as large, gloved hands find purchase on your soft skin. the rough, cold temperature of the leather provides delicious contrast to your lust-warmed skin, and you let out a wanton moan as Bruce thrusts heavy and deep inside.

"you like that, doll? like making me wait?" he practically growls in your ear, and you let out a stuttering moan.

"n-no, please, s'too much-"

"aw, poor thing. can't even take my cock... guess it has been a month after all, you'll need some time to get used to it i suppose." you roll your eyes at his cockiness, but just as you go to spit back a retort, he rolls his hips against your again. you shudder, clenching around him as his pace speeds up.

"so good f'me," he coos, almost cruel in his ministrations as he rubs harsh circles into the soft flesh of your thighs. Bruce's thrusts increase in pace, his tip rearranging your guts as the coil in your stomach begins to tighten.

"o-oh! 'm gonna-"

"fuuck, i know, prince/ss. cum for me," he whispers, moving one hand to the small of your back, pushing you down more firmly against the desk. "you can take it."

[obsessedwrhys]

hi baby, you can make an hcs of the characters from The Boys with a Harley Quinn! readers?? With all characters including Soldier Boy

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ THE BOYS X HARLEY QUINN!READER

ᯓ★ looots of goofy shit, dark humour, gore, sensitive topics (abuse, toxic relationships, etc), toxicity, reader is fem!!

ᯓ★ Characters included (I couldn't do everyone so I just did these guys, I know yer kind missy 👴): Homelander, Black Noir (Old and New), Butcher, Soldier Boy

HOMELANDER

He's honestly so fed up with you.

Sure he loves watching you mess with people but he does not like it when YOU DO IT TO HIM!!!

"Quinn!" He'd shout for your name and you'd open the door to see him standing outside your room. You laugh when you see him covered in ketchup. One of your many pranks.

"What?? You needed the upgrade for the suit cupcake" You smiled all innocently.

That being said you LOVE pulling pranks on him.

Whether if it's putting hair dye in his shampoo or stealing his suit so he wakes up searching for it.

It's just your favourite thing to do.

There have been times he's tried to kill you due to his rage but it takes every cell in his body to stop himself because he knows that he's not able to do that.

Because why? Because he thinks you don't even deserve to be killed by him directly.

You disgust him that much.

He just wishes that you weren't such a pain in his ass.

If the pranks weren't bad enough that it had him double checking every item he uses, AKA worsening his trust issues. You've also came up with nicknames to mock his superhero status.

"If it ain't the flying dick!" You'd address his entrance to everybody the moment he walked in the meeting room.

Just imagine him suddenly stop and standing at the door like 🧍‍♂️

If you wanna know more nicknames, we've got captain narcissist, america's buttplug and sperm cell.

Trust you are never sent on safely planned missions, only the ones he knows are highly dangerous in hopes of you dying...

There was this one time he sent you on a suicide mission and he was all proud of himself, but just as he thought he finally got rid of you, the elevator door slides open to reveal you, some fabrics of your clothes were ripped and there were bruises all over your body but it didn't seem to bother you.

"What's up toots?" You'd smile even though your nose was bleeding. That's when he looked down to see the head of the guy he asked for you to assassinate.

Who also happened to be one of the most protected men in the nations by the way.

Like how the fuck did you do it?

You're not even an ACTUAL supe!!

Regardless, he has his respects for you but really why WONT YOU LEAVE HIM THE FUCK ALONE.

PLEASE STOP FLIRTING WITH HIM SO CASUALLY ITS WEIRD??!???!?

ALSO DONT PINCH HIS BUTT!!!

You once did that during a meeting and the sight of him yelping as his body jumps was unforgettable!!

You're JUST like a bee addicted to its pollen. P.S, he's the pollen.

BLACK NOIR (OLD)

He.. doesn't... understand you??

Why do you enjoy showering him with love??

You say it's in your nature but why do you always ask to be carried around the tower??

And why does he obliges each time??

Apparently how your mindset works is that you find extremely deadly things to be adorable.

In this case, he's the extremely deadly thing.

With his silent nature, you just NEEDED to get a reaction out of him.

You tried tickling him or making him sneeze but he always just stares at you in confusion.

You can't see his face but you can tell he's giving you the "What are you doing?" Face.

That's when your bright ass thought of a plan.

A dumb and reckless idea... but hey! You have suicidal tendencies so this is fine!

You'd put yourself in danger on purpose just for him to always come rescuing you. He has lost many body parts when doing so but you could care less, you would give him those heart eyes as he carried you back to Vought in bridal style...

Just for the managers to lock you up in a small prison cell to prevent you from pulling more of these stunts.

Though they were never enough to hold you back.

Naturally there would be rumours in the industry if you two were dating and you never hesitate to push those rumours even more.

Imagine for a premiere for your movie, you'd walk on the red carpet in a dress with Noir beside you, still in his signature suit.

"You're looking real good tonight, handsome. I'm liking what I see" You'd say with your arm wrapped around his. He looks at you as you winked at him seductively.

Someone save this poor boy from your endless flirting.

Jokes aside, there has been times he's seen you in your lowest, like that time you trashed your room with your makeup melted from your tears.

Apparently you got rejected from a movie role you wanted to get so badly. Which was Mario but stupid Chris fucking Pratt got it instead.

Seeing the state you were in, he'd grab you by the shoulders firmly and make you sit down, then putting a blanket around you. He'd leave the room for a couple of minutes... to come back with a bucket of ice cream for you to happily snack on as you rest your head on his shoulder.

BLACK NOIR (NEW)

"EW!! Get this mo'fuckin' bastard away from me!" Literally your words when you heard about the replacement.

Is a bit hurt by your disgust towards him??

But that just means he knows what he's doing right or wrong with this new role.

No because seriously everything he does, he would stop to watch for your reaction, most of the time you are never impressed.

Like how he killed those homelander fans to frame the starlighters. He'd hold the bat, his mask all bloody as he turned to see you, arms crossed, no reaction to his performance.

UNTIL at the end of season 4 where he began killing people within the company, that was what got you to start growing interest in his character.

Even though you're fine with him, for now, you really don't like it when he pushes things.

As in trying too hard to replace the old Black Noir. You just don't fw it 😡

"Hey! Hey! Harley wait up!" He'd call out for you while you ignored him and decided to speed walk away. Anyways, he manages to catch up with you.

"The team wants us to attend the premiere of your next movie together.. since.... y'know... we're rumoured to be dating??" He said and you had to stop walking to put your entire energy into giving him the most NASTIEST look. The second he sees you take a deep breath, he knew it was over.

"I ain't yer GODDAMN babysitter, and don't you think that for a second that wearin' the suit makes you my damn boyfriend, alright? I ain't here to hold yer hand and coddle you. I got better things to do than listen to yer constant whining and need for attention. So knock it off, ya copy-cat!" You'd point at him before walking off, hand on your hip.

You can bet that he asks Deep for advices on how to win your heart.

BRO IS TOO INVESTED IN HIS CHARACTER 😭

That's why he thinks making you fall for him is one of Noir's characteristics.

You love mysterious and threatening looking people? Okay gotcha.

You want hyenas for pets? Cha-Ching! Got it!

But seriously someone please tell him to stop before he gets his ass beat. He does not want that Brooklyn smoke.

BILLY BUTCHER

Ah great another crazy chick.

The only possibility to why you'd be apart of the boys is if someone vouched for you.

50/50 it's either Hughie or Frenchie.

Though surprisingly enough, you were the first to notice the symptoms of his virus. Like he could be fidgeting at the office and you'd point it out so casually that everybody turns to look at you in confusion.

Everybody thought you were crazy at first, it's to be expected, but the second his virus was confirmed to be lethal. Everybody has started to take you a bit more seriously.

Read carefully. A bit.

He finds your weapons fascinating though. Like how your gun has words engraved in it, your initials being the biggest. Not to mention the designs being the inspiration of poker cards.

"That must make you the clown" He once said when you whipped it out to shoot someone. You smile mischievously at his remark.

"Oh you'd better watch your tongue before I make you the punchline of my next joke!"

He likes you.

ONLY if you don't fuck anything up.

Sure you guys do argue a lot but theres also strange moments of understanding between you two.

There was this one time he found you alone in the office, your legs placed on the table and you were literally downing a bottle of alcohol. It was when he came closer that he noticed the bruises on your body.

"What the hell happened to you?" He said and you sniffed as you quickly wipe away the tears in your eyes.

"Oh, I'm just peachy, tough guy... Can't you see I'm having a little cry-fest over here after a lover's spat with my oh-so-darling ex-boyfriend. Yeah, he just looooves to use me as his personal punchin' bag, y'know? But don't worry 'bout me. I'll be back to my ol' crazy self in no time. Just need a minute to let the tears dry and the bruises heal"

For the rest of the night he'd stay to talk about how shitty both your lives are. You guys actually BOND over your past traumas.

The booze just making the conversation ever more fun.

Will go out of his way to take you to places for shopping or eating at a restaurant to make you feel better.

After understanding you better, he realised you're just a once normal person who became a psychotic sociopath after whatever the supes did to wrong you.

He may not show it to you but he really cares about you and would not hesitate to protect you despite how much he says he wish you'd just fuck off.

SOLDIER BOY

You have to be some kind of masochist right??

He says the most disrespectful shit to you and you just squeal in excitement from it.

It's starting to weird him out.

Everything he does or say, you love to mock him, like he could be giving orders and you'd be at the back using your hands to mimic his talking like a puppet as you mouthed along and made faces.

But he has to say, he finds your insanity amusing. Because deep down, he sees a tiny bit of himself in you.

He calls you Looney Tunes. Why exactly? Nobody knows its for his own entertainment.

He's into older women but that doesn't stop you from flirting with him. He finds your efforts interesting.

"You're a tough nut to crack, Soldier Boy, but I'll get you to crack a smile eventually" You'd say and it'll be enough to have him grinning at you.

"You gonna tickle me?" He'd say, returning the same energy.

But that doesn't mean he's interested in you, he's just toying with you.

AND YOU KNOW IT. But apparently red flags just look like a go flag to you 🤷‍♀️

Despite that, if any other guy did the things he did to you, he would be fast to knock out the fucker. That's because he knows you value loyalty and he does too.

Everything aside, he really appreciates it when at the end where everybody turned against him you stayed by his side. Just imagine him driving the car while you're in the passenger seat singing your heart out to Cherry Bomb by The Runaways.

He'd simply shake his head with a smile on his face.

But the more relationship develops, he'd actually start to show you his softer side. Not soft side. Soft-er side.

Will literally lecture you into standing up more for yourself and stop being a doormat for every man in your life.

How ironic huh?

"You might act all tough and macho, but I see that big, marshmallow heart under there, sweetheart" You'd boop him on the nose that has him rolling his eyes with a smirk.

"You already said that. Are you a broken record or just dim?" He said.

If you stay obedient and don't push the wrong buttons, he might just keep you around.

[primofate]

Confessions Series - Part 2: Description [Genshin Impact Male Characters]

In a nutshell: He asks if you have your eyes set on someone. You start describing HIS features and watch for his reaction. (Hint: He likes you too)

Other works in this series: (Part 1 - Overheard)

Warnings: The usual, haven't written in a while, please forgive mistakes, bit of angst in Diluc (couldn't help it), I am a sleep deprived mother, some profanity, for some reason did not feel like writing Zhongli though he's one of my faves.

Characters: Aether, Albedo, Alhaitham, Ayato, Baizhu, Bennett, Chongyun, Cyno, Dainsleif, Diluc, Gaming, Heizou, Itto, Kaeya, Lyney, Neuvillette, Scaramouche, Tartaglia, Wriothesley, Xiao, gn!reader

Personal Favourites: Diluc, Wriothesley

Aether

"Yeah, I do," you start. "He's very selfless...He's always running around helping other people,"

Aether nods, intense gaze in his eyes while listening.

"Hmm...He has...a partner. Like a companion he always travels with..."

Aether's brows start to furrow and his head tilts the slightest bit. Paimon flying next to him has no clue who it is whatsoever.

"He's not originally from Teyvat...He's on a journey, you see..." this is where you start getting nervous

You see it click in Aether's head slowly, and his eyes start to widen the slightest bit

"Hey, that sounds an awful lot like you, traveller! Why have we never met this person before, Y/N?" Paimon asks and you only smile.

"P-Paimon," Aether glances at her and then back to you. It's silent for a moment. Paimon is super confused.

But Aether being Aether didn't want to get the wrong idea and racks up the courage to ask you one last question. "He's on a journey...to look for his twin sister?"

You smile the brightest smile you've ever given him. "Correct!"

"Ah...Well..." Aether starts to feel the heat on his cheeks. "That's..." he doesn't say anything else for a few seconds. "Don't get me wrong, I'm just...I'm happy!"

Is basically flustered when he realizes you've technically just confessed to him.

Albedo

"Simply put, I think he's dedicated to his craft," You shrug and smile

"...An admirable trait," he responds.

"He's frequently in Dragonspine. He spends a bit of time in his lab there," you decide to just go straight for the obvious.

Albedo pauses. "I...see..." Turns to you with a small smile "I wasn't aware that you were that fond of me,"

"Now you know," you simply say and try to play it off with a wave of your hand.

He chuckles under his breath and strides over to you while saying. "Well then, I suppose it's my turn to talk about the person I've set my eyes on,"

Proceeds to describe you accurately, down to your likes and dislikes. In his eyes, you seem like something so precious and you can't help but feel a bit embarrassed.

Alhaitham

"Hmm... Sort of," you explain. "He's a little...hard to reach,"

Alhaitham "...and you still pursue him?"

You laugh a bit "I'm hardly pursuing him, I'm just...observing. I like watching him, even though he has the most unreadable face I've seen,"

Alhaitham goes quiet for a moment. He catches on fast, he already has an idea but is cautious about what he says. "...I see," he doesn't ask anything else, but you continue to offer information.

"He likes reading. Really smart guy...but kind of no nonsense type. Very straight to the point," You begin to feel a little nervous so you pretend to read your own book with a small shrug.

The silence is deafening.

"I suspect that type of person will be hard to put up with," he suddenly says aloud and you chuckle in response.

"Possibly, but he seems to be putting up with me too...I guess?"

He suddenly closes his book and leans forward to pry the one in your hands away. He locks his gaze with you. "...'Putting up' is hardly the word I would use." his lips twitch the slightest bit before continuing. "He has little to no patience for other people...so if he keeps you around...perhaps it signals something else,"

"Something else...As in, I'm special?"

Again he quiets for a moment, before he stands up, chair scraping the floor. "...Precisely," he turns to start walking out of the library, waving a hand behind him. "I'll pick you up in the morning tomorrow,"

Ayato

"I do, but he's a very busy sort of man,"

Ayato "Is that so?" he pours tea for you.

"Quite. He's also a very important person,"

He hums and watches the billowing steam from the tea. "It sounds as if I might know this person," but he genuinely doesn't know it's him, he just thinks its another noble.

"...You most definitely know him. He has a sister. Lovely girl." This is where you avert your gaze from him in fear of him instantly connecting the dots.

He talks in pauses "A...sister..." His mind is starting to make connections but he can't be quite sure yet. So he prods further. "...Does she happen to have a vision?"

"A cryo vision holder, yes," you're biting the inside of your lip at this point. There's a moment of silence before you hear Ayato laughing rather gleefully, like he was amused by a story.

"I see." he ends with a chuckle. "I apologize for being so busy, Y/N," he smiles at you "I promise I'll do my best to arrange my priorities in order to spend more time with you,"

Baizhu

"He takes his job too seriously and can be quite reckless...Sometimes he even puts himself in danger,"

Changsheng catches on immediately. The snake had already known for a while. Baizhu was just being dense. "Oh here we go," the snake half whines.

Baizhu gives it a weird look before turning his attention back to you. "That does sound reckless,"

"I've told him a couple of times to think about himself too...but I guess he's just really passionate about his job,"

Baizhu sort of shrugs, "What IS his job?"

"...Well for starters he owns a pharmacy around town,"

To Baizhu the realization hits all too slowly. It's not that he was slow or dense, but he was having a hard time believing that it was him you were talking about, specially when you hadn't said it outfront.

"...You do realize I'm the only one who owns a pharmacy around town?" he asks, eyes piercing through you and awaiting your answer.

Changsheng is the one who answers for you. "Yes you ridiculous doctor, Y/N's pertaining to you!"

It's the first time you've seen him blush and he turns his head away when he does so. "I-I see, well...that's rather, unexpected...but not unwelcome,"

Clears his throat "Just give me a moment"

Changsheng would roll its eyes if it could.

Bennett

"Has a lot of energy...Sometimes I wonder where he gets all of it. I really like him for that though."

Deflates as soon as you start talking about your "crush". What kind of answer was he expecting anyway? That you had eyes for him?

"He has a bit of a...problem when it comes to luck," you continue

Bennett stops, you look at him and you can practically see the gears in his head starting to turn a little faster.

"Y-Y/N? Are you talking about..." then the gears suddenly stop. "Oh what am I saying, it can't be. Ahahaha! Let's go!" starts walking again as if nothing happened

Your jaw drops and you're forced to just DIRECTLY tell him you're talking about him.

"...Oh...Oh! F-For real?! Oh...Sorry... I just thought... there's no way! B-But, I'm really glad! Really!"

Chongyun

"Hmm...He's a little shy...but he's very responsible,"

Chongyun stares at you intently and nods as if taking notes.

"He doesn't like spicy stuff,"

Chongyun nods twice, eagerly.

"He's very dedicated in learning about thaumaturgy,"

Chongyun blanks out, brows furrow but still nods. Slowly.

"He's really good with a claymore too!"

Chongyun stops and stares at you, you see a hint of red gracing his cheeks "Y/N...You can't possibly be...talking about... m-m-m-"

Can't seem to say it, so you outright say that it is, in fact, him.

Combusts into a tomato red

Cyno

"How do I say this...He's a pretty strict guy." The two of you are playing Invokation TCG during this convo.

"Mmhmm..." Cyno is focused on his cards, frankly he doesn't give a craps ass who you're into. He didn't even know why he asked, he just dug himself a hole.

"...but he really only takes his work seriously. It's his job to be serious, I guess. I think that's what Matras need to do," he finished his turn and its yours now, though he's still studying his cards intently. Until you get to the Matra part.

"He's a Matra?" You rarely see a surprised face on Cyno so you focus your gaze on him. "Which one?" He further asks. Honestly he looks about to murder someone.

You blank out a bit at how intense his stare was, "Well...You know. That one, the one who's really into Invokation TCG,"

He immediately follows up without missing a beat "I don't know anyone else who's into--" then it clicks.

It was so damn silent for a good 10 seconds. You clear your throat, tear your eyes off him "Um, it's your turn,"

STILL doesn't budge until he finally goes back to his cards with a whisper, you can't really tell but he looks slightly bashful and you can barely, BARELY hear him "...If I win then we go on a date,"

"Okay, and if you lose?"

Cyno "...I'm not gunna lose,"

"See, I told you he's a really serious guy,"

Dainsleif

"I think he's a very dedicated person," you get lost in thought a little, thinking about him. "Whenever I look at him...Sometimes I feel as if there's a certain sadness in him... Perhaps he blames himself for not being able to protect his nation,"

He IMMEDIATELY knows. And he knows that you hurt for him too. How could he not?

"He searches for answers... I don't know for how long, I suppose a long, long time," you close your eyes, imagining how long he must have been wandering Teyvat.

You only open your eyes when you feel a hand brush against yours. He's looking straight at you, neither happy nor sad. "...You don't have to feel that way, for my circumstances,"

The brush against your hand disappears and reappears next to your cheek, his fingers gently resting on it "...Knowing that you feel that way, has taken away some of the burden that I shoulder,"

His gaze suddenly hardens and his voice drops to a whisper, "But please, just don't end up in the same way as everyone else,"

Diluc (I don't know why I end up writing a whole novel for this guy. I guess he's my OG favourite)

You pause for a moment, wondering how to describe Diluc. "...Sometimes... I feel as if I know a lot about him and yet... he's still far off in the distance,"

Diluc, rifling through paperwork, doesn't even look at you. "...That tells me nothing about him," there's a bit of bite in his statement.

You sigh a little, "I mean, simply said he's a hardworking man. He always has Mondstadt's best interests in mind...but he prefers to work alone,"

He's silent, but you can still hear the paper shuffling.

"....but people love him. They care for him. I suppose I understand why he keeps a distance but..." at this point you don't even realize that you're just rambling and staring into space. Sort of in a daze of thinking out loud. "...isn't it lonely? ...I suppose I shouldn't assume how he feels. Maybe he's fine with it...I just wonder how long till he sees us..." there's silence, no ruffle of papers, you're still just staring at the bookshelf and you continue in a monotone voice. "...or sees me,"

You blink, and all of a sudden its as if a magic spell is cast on you and you wake up to the reality that you've been rambling about him. You sit up straight "Oh," then turn to him with a careful smile. You don't think he knows what or who you're talking about anyway. "I better get going," you stand, "Jean must be waiting for me."

You leave, and he doesn't stop you.

You don't really think anything of it, feeling as if your whole monologue was very vague...but to your surprise he knocks at your door in the evening, there's a bit of rain falling.

"Diluc? You're drenche--"

"I see you,"

The determination in his voice lulls you to keep quiet and only stare up at him, wondering if he had more to say, but instead of saying something, he leans in, wrapping his arms around you and resting his forehead on your shoulder, as if he had been defeated.

You only welcome his embrace, and, for the first time in a long time. Diluc finally feels like he's home.

Gaming

"Passion!" You nod your head as you say it. "He knows what he wants to do and is incredibly dedicated to it!"

Gaming looks surprised, has no idea you're talking about him. "Huh! That's really cool!" He thinks he's the total opposite. "Wish I could be as dedicated as him."

You kind of laugh out loud and he raises his eyebrows and tilts his head. "What?"

"Gosh you really sell yourself short," you shake your head "Anyway, this guy, right, he kinda works two jobs," you put out your hand to count one and two "One, for the Secure Transport Agency and two, he's in a Wushou Troupe,"

Gaming instantly straightens his back and looks at you wide-eyed. You figure you had to be direct when it came to him otherwise he'd never get it with how modest he was.

"...You're...talking about...me?" You smile at him sympathetically.

"You know, Gaming, I wish you saw yourself the way others saw you. You're a great person,"

Big smile, but legit looks like he's about to cry. "Between the two of us? I think you're greater Y/N,"

Heizou

"...Honestly he's kind of a flirt," you raise your eyebrows at the fact and kind of question yourself why you like this kind of person. "Makes me wonder if he does that to everyone, you know?"

Heizou hums and puts his hand under his chin in a "thinking position"

"That's not enough evidence to go by. Perhaps we can investigate this guy together to see if he's worthy,"

You look at him, pursing your lips while musing and giving him a suspicious look. You're not sure if he's figured it out.

He's got no idea. I mean, it was a pretty general description. "Any distinguishing features?" he asks.

You look at him in a deadpan manner. "Red hair, I guess. And moles under his eyes,"

He looks back at you with a matching blank face.

Then breaks into a wide, close eyed grin. "I see! From experience, that person is truly trustworthy,"

You sigh a little, "Is he though?"

He chuckles heartily. "I promise you he is," offers you his hand with a genuine smile. "Let me show you,"

Itto

"Ummm... big, tall, strong looking guy. Intimidating at first look but he's actually a dork," you explain.

Itto crosses his arms above his chest with an unamused face. "Tch! No way! Ain't no one taller than me in Inazuma!" Then he looks smug again. "Anyway, keep goin'. What else?" Only asked you because he wants to see what your "type" is.

"...Popular? Nah... Infamous is the word, I think. He kinda gets into a lot of trouble,"

Itto raises a brow "You serious? Whaddyou want with someone like that?" as if he wasn't a troublemaker himself.

"I mean... He also loves life and somehow always sees the good side of things."

Itto "Eh... guess that's a good thing..." folds his arms behind his head and huffs.

This guy is never gunna get it so you drop more obvious hints. "He's an oni who has his own gang."

For a split second he looked like he was going to get it, and then... "WHAT?! There's another oni who wants to challenge the Arataki Gang?"

"That's not what I--"

punches his fist onto his palm "Lead the way Y/N, let me at 'em!"

"I'm talking about you!"

"Huh?"

"Itto, there's no other oni around town!" leave it to him to make you exasperated.

He quiets for a few seconds. "...But Y/N..."

You expectantly stare at him, curious what he was going to say about your confession.

"...Did you just call me a dork?"

Of course that's what he picks up on.

When he finally processes it though, he's stoked and on an all time high.

Kaeya

"...good at talking to people, and he knows it... Exudes charisma like he breathes air," You're saying this with a glare.

He chuckles and rests his head on his fist. "Why, pray tell, do you look angry when saying that?"

"Not angry..." you mumble under your breath, eyes trailing away from him. "Just... probably a lot of people like him,"

"And you don't like that?" He smirks. He totally knows.

"...No...Well...I'm okay with it... It's just... I think he's so much more than what he shows to others,"

That, he wasn't expecting. He actually feels genuinely touched.

"Sure he jokes around a lot...Is good at making people feel comfortable...but he's also kind...and you can always count on him," there's a faraway gaze in your eyes now, a small smile on your face. "To me, he's...a safe space."

Kaeya's smile drops. It looks like he's unhappy and you think that maybe you've made a mistake. Still...there's no way he knows that it's him, right? It was kinda vague...

You're about to stand and excuse yourself but he catches your wrist easily. "...You know..." he starts, meeting you eye to eye. He looks at you as if he's looking into your soul, his eyes the gentlest you've seen them.

"You make it so hard, not to fall deeper in love with you,"

Lyney (I have no idea how this ended up so dramatic)

"He isn't exactly a trickster...but he has a lot of tricks up his sleeve,"

Lyney "Oh?" Raises an eyebrow. Something kind of clicks in him, but he shakes it off. "The good kind or the bad kind?"

You stall a little, thinking of the answer, knowing that he's Fatui. "The...good...kind,"

"You don't sound very sure," he gives you a lopsided smile.

"It's complicated," you admit. "Regardless of the circumstances though, I think he's a great magician,"

You watch his face turn into surprise quite quickly, but he still looks and feels unsure of himself. "Oh, perhaps...I can learn a thing or two from him?"

Your smile turns forced and hard. He can't be serious? He STILL doesn't know, or...what?

"I...Well..." You don't know what to say next, but he seems to get the idea.

"Sorry, have I put you in a hard place? Ahaha..." Scratches the back of his head. "My apologies, I was just curious,"

This, for some reason, really puts you off and you feel as if you've been rejected, even though you technically had not outright told him that you're talking about him.

It seems silly for you to get upset, but you are. So you stand, and make a request of him. "Can we... just pretend this conversation didn't happen?" and you give him some sort of excuse that you need to run an errand or something, and you're off, leaving him feeling...guilty. But he doesn't know why. Or does he?

Lyney would look like the type of person who would be confident about himself. But, really, as a magician, he had to be 1000% sure about something before he went ahead with it, and so...that's where his doubt stemmed from.

Lynnette is really the one who knocks some sense into him. "...and you...let Y/N leave?" after hearing the story from him.

"Oh, Lyney... Regardless of what Y/N feels... For you, next to Freminet and I, is there someone else that you love dearly?"

That's how he ends up at your doorstep. Though you've seen his disappearing rose trick hundreds of times, he was the most sincere at that moment, when he says sorry that he didn't get the hint and to give him a chance.

Neuvillette

"Serious person. He seems to put his work first, above all else," you say. "I respect him a lot for that,"

Neuvillette is interested in what you say, but doesn't know at all that it's him. "He does sound quite respectable," he says while looking through some files.

"A long time ago he said that he feels like he's an outsider...but really I feel like there isn't anyone who knows Fontaine the way that he does,"

Neuvillette, moves the file he was reading downwards, just to look at you questioningly. "He's from Fontaine?" this was surprising to him.

"Well...he currently resides in Fontaine, yes," you nod.

"Ah," he answered curtly. "And I have never met him?" he asks.

"...He's very busy." you bite your lip, about to say something and you know that the next sentence is the point of no return. "He's the Iudex...so it's hard to catch him,"

You swear you can hear your heart hammering in your chest.

You see him put his files down and just stare at you with a sort of...unsure look.

His shoulders relax, he wasn't even aware he had been tense that whole time. "That... must have taken a lot of consideration and courage to say," he clears his throat.

You only nod your head slowly, moving your gaze away from him with an awkward smile. Hand absentmindedly grabbing a book and flipping through the pages...you had no idea what you were doing out of nervousness.

"I apologize...I'm unfamiliar with what to do in these kinds of situations... However," he pauses and seems to think carefully about what he was going to say next. "Please don't take it as a rejection. I'd be honored to navigate this with you, if you would so graciously have me,"

Scaramouche

"He's an asshole," you bite back a laugh.

He instantly knows.

"Actually he acts all tough only to give in to his inner-kind-of-agreeable-personality,"

He snorts

"What? Am I wrong?" you challenge him. You KNOW that he knows. The two of you have been hovering around each other for a while, and there's a certain closeness between the two of you. Though that line was never crossed.

He doesn't answer you back but prods you more. "Is that all? You like that he's an asshole? Are you some type of masochist?"

You almost laugh. "No, you moron. I'm saying he has a weird way of showing he cares. He's always biting my head about not being careful enough. But if he really didn't care he wouldn't be screaming at me, you know what I mean?"

Scaramouche grumbles something under his breath and crosses his arms, turning away from you.

"Say that again?" You ask, not hearing what he said.

"...I said, you're not as stupid as I thought you were," shrugs his concealed embarrassment off and turns back to you all nonchalant again. "Anyway, stop yapping and get going, we got things to do,"

Snatches your hand and starts pulling you to walk with him.

Tartaglia (I feel like this is ridiculously short but I also feel like Tartaglia would have known a LONG time ago if the two of you had the feels for each other)

"Oh man...Probably the most reckless man I know,"

Also knows. Instantly. But shuts his mouth just so he can listen to you talk about him, but it gets deep real quick.

"In my opinion he's a handsome guy. Real charming," you smirk the tiniest bit. "but I don't know if I can keep up with him, honestly. It's a little hard not knowing when he's going to come back...or if he's even gunna come back at all,"

You weren't going to hide the fact that you were scared shitless he didn't return from Fontaine for ages. You legitimately thought he had died.

Tartaglia stops you there, by suddenly cradling your cheek. "Y/N," he's wearing a pained expression. "I'm sorry,"

"Don't be, it's your job, right?" You reassure him, and shrug.

He sighs "Yes, but I'll promise this to you as I've promised my family," he smiles, the most confident smile you've seen on him. Even more confident than when he wields his blades. "I'll come back to you, I always will,"

Wriothesley

"Er... How do I say this... He kind of has some... big boss energy?"

"Oh?" he sips at his tea, glancing at you while he looks at today's paper. "So he's a bigshot?" he asks curiously.

"Somewhat, yes. Intimidating at first look, but...he just has a great sense of responsibility," you pick at the selection of cakes and cookies he has.

"Huh," he lets out in a quick huff. In the deepest, DEEPEST parts of his mind there is a NANOSECOND that he thinks its him but it gets erased so quickly he's not even sure that he had thought about it.

"Sounds like a good person... Any interesting, weird quirks?" he grins as he says this, yet again glancing at your expression.

Your lips tremble a bit at what you're about to say, because you're SURE he was going to get it once you say it. You gulp and feel the hairs at the back of your neck stand before you say out loud "He likes tea. I kind of wonder if it's an addiction," you can't meet his eyes.

He's looking at the paper he's reading but nothing.registers.in.his.brain.its.like.it.stopped.working.

You shift in the uncomfortable silence but he calmly folds up the newspaper and places it on his table. "...I'm inclined to ask, because it would be embarrassing if I got the wrong idea,"

"Mmhmm," you pop a cookie in your mouth to distract yourself.

"By any chance, are you...talking about me?"

"Mm," you nod your head, still not looking at him and glue your eyes on the cookies instead, out of embarrassment.

Suddenly chuckles. You brave a peek at him, now covering his eyes with a single hand, head tipped back to rest on his chair.

You're not sure if that's a good or bad thing.

"Sorry, no, it's just... I didn't think it would happen this way." Visibly takes in a big breath and sighs it out slowly. Seems to have regained his composure and is back to his confident self, smiling at you. "Thanks Y/N, I... don't think it's much of a secret that I enjoy your company too. I'm just a little embarrassed that you beat me to it...some big boss energy huh?"

Xiao

"...He takes on everything by himself. I worry about him," You look at the stars as you say this. Xiao doesn't say anything.

"But I'm glad that he's opening up a lot more now. It's great to see him among friends,"

Xiao has a feeling at this point, that its him you're talking about, but he still doesn't say anything and keeps his gaze in front of him rather than on you.

"Yes, the road in front of him is long but...he's also already come a long way," you sigh a little "The time of Rex Lapis has long gone, but he still sticks to his principles. I think his dedication is part of what I like about him,"

This is when he turns to you, blank look on his face, contemplating on what to do. When you turn to meet his gaze, its then that he decides to bridge the gap between the two of you, shoulder to shoulder, leaning in sideways to catch your lips in a chaste and rather shy kiss.

"You should give a bit of credit to yourself, for putting up with me all these years, Y/N,"

End!

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