shohei ohtani (fighters era) x fem!reader
the room is quiet except for the soft rustle of notebook pages and the faint hum of the old dorm heater that never quite works right.
“i need to study and you need to get going or you’ll be late for practice,” you say, pushing shohei’s arms from around you.
“it’s okay, they won’t start without me,” he replies, a cheeky grin pulling at his lips as he settles right back into place.
you roll your eyes, but you don’t move away this time.
when you decided to study abroad for your last semester of college, you never imagined this.
shohei, looking up at you like this, like he belongs here, like this is where he’s meant to be, stretched across your dorm bed that’s barely big enough for one person, let alone two.
this had become a routine.
for the past months, he’s sacrificed comfort just to be here, showing up quietly, slipping in like he isn’t supposed to, folding himself into your space without ever asking.
and somehow, it started to feel normal.
like this was always part of the plan.
your highlighter drags across the page slow, deliberate until it stops.
because he’s staring again.
“shohei,” you sigh without looking up, “i can feel you.”
he doesn’t even try to hide it, lying on his side across your too-small bed, one arm tucked under his head, the other draped lazily across your waist like it belongs there. like you belong there.
“you’re supposed to be at practice,” you remind him.
“shohei” you warned him sounding like a whine.
you turn fully this time, eyebrows raised. “you left practice?”
he shrugs, a small, unapologetic smile tugging at his lips. “i wanted to see you.”
you stare at him for a second. “you’re going to get in trouble.”
no hesitation. no teasing. just quiet certainty.
your chest tightens a little.
“you say that now,” you mutter, trying to turn back to your notes but his hand tightens slightly at your waist, pulling you back before you can move away.
“i am staying. you’re the one who’s supposed to leave.”
“no,” he says softly, nudging his forehead against your arm. “like this.”
you exhale, half annoyed, half smiling. “i need to study.”
“you’ve been studying all day.”
“because i have exams, shohei.”
“and i have you,” he replies, like that’s enough.
you pause. “that doesn’t even make sense.”
you try to ignore the way your heart flips at that. you fail.
you set your highlighter down. “you’re going to ruin your career over me,” you say lightly.
he shifts closer. “no,” he murmurs. “i won’t.”
“then stop skipping practice.”
a pause. “i’ll go,” he says.
you blink, surprised. “really?”
if anything, his arm tightens around you just a little more.
you huff a quiet laugh. “you said that ten minutes ago.”
you turn your head to look at him, skeptical.
he meets your gaze, completely serious and then, softer, “i just like being here.”
your expression softens. “it’s a tiny dorm room,” you tease. “there’s nothing special about it.”
he doesn’t look away when he says it. doesn’t laugh it off. doesn’t soften it. he just means it. completely.
you reach down, brushing your fingers lightly through his hair. “you’re a lot, you know that?”
he smiles faintly, eyes closing for a second as he leans into your touch.
“four months,” you murmur.
he opens his eyes again, looking up at you. “yeah.”
“in a good way,” you add quickly.
his hand shifts at your waist, thumb brushing slow, absent circles against your side. “i know.”
another quiet moment passes.
“you should go,” you say softly.
“okay,” he sighs like it physically pains him.
but instead of getting up, he leans up just enough to press his face into your shoulder, arms tightening around you in one quick, warm squeeze. “i’ll come back later,” he murmurs.
you smile, already knowing he will. “you always do.”
he pulls back just enough to look at you again, something soft settling in his expression. “of course i do.”
your fingers brush lightly against his cheek. “you’re in love with me,” you tease.
he doesn’t even hesitate. “yeah.”
your heart skips. “that wasn’t supposed to be that easy.”
“it is,” he says quietly.
you hold his gaze for a second longer, something warm and overwhelming settling in your chest. “me too,” you admit.
his expression softens in a way you haven’t seen before, quieter, deeper, like he’s holding onto the moment. “i know,” he says gently.
you laugh under your breath. “you’re so sure.”
he leans in then, slow, unhurried, pressing a soft kiss to your lips, like he has nowhere else to be. like this matters more.
when he pulls back, he stays close for a second, forehead resting lightly against yours. “i should go,” he murmurs.
“one more minute,” he adds.
you smile, closing your eyes. “okay.”
and somehow, with him there, too close, too warm, too distracting.
you don’t mind falling behind on your studying.
