Hello everybody!! I’m Margaret but you can call me Mag or Maggie. Please send in a request or talk to me! I’d love to write for you. I can do !!character x character!! and !!x reader!!
!!Please specify what gender you want in requests!!
You can find my work under the hashtag #Mag writes★
Some info about me :
☆ I’m an INFP
★ I’m a Libra! My birthday is October 21!
☆ I love writing! (obviously Mag why do you think you’re here), but I also want to go into the medical field
Debrief: you and Tenya have been married for years, and you still get flowers every Thursday
Case Notes: so, I wrote a whole fic for a romantic confession before I realized you wanted an established relationship. But I fixed it 😂 enjoy your bouquet, @jakiicomics
Domestic romance with Tenya Iida is not flashy. It runs on schedule like most everything else in your life. Date nights are planned well in advanced. He plans his surprises for you out thoughtfully (though it took him awhile to not spoil them as he was planning), and every Thursday at 6:32pm without fail.
The florist near the agency already knows him. The arrangements rotate by season, by symbolism, by careful research he absolutely still conducts despite being married for years. He keeps notes in his phone so the weekly arrangements can be made with the gratitude he wishes to express.
Because love, to Tenya, is maintenance. It requires precision, intentional repetition, and the utmost care.
You are usually in the kitchen when the door opens. The sound of his boots by the entryway. The soft thud of his helmet being placed in its designated spot. Keys aligned on the hook by the door.
Then his voice, warm and clear, “I am home, darling!”
There is something softer under it now. A current only you hear. He rounds the corner holding this week’s bouquet. Today it’s sunflowers and lavender, baby’s breath scattered amongst the blooms. Bright and fragrant. Structured but warm in appearance. They look almost ceremonial in his hands.
“For you,” he says, stepping forward with the same respectful presentation he’s used since the first week of your marriage.
You raise a brow playfully, “and what did I do to deserve this?”
He looks mildly scandalized, replying immediately, “You continue to choose me, that warrants recognition. Sunflowers for loyalty and lavender for devotion… the baby’s breath is everlasting love.”
That is how he is. Not dramatic. Not careless. Steady as a metronome with a heartbeat.
He explains the flowers every time. The symbolism. The reason for the pairing. The way the colors complement the season. He does not rush through it, even if you’ve heard variations before. Because to him, the repetition does not dull meaning. It reinforces it.
Sometimes he arrives with faint scuffs on his armor. Sometimes with exhaustion tucked behind his eyes. But the flowers are never forgotten on Thursday.
If patrol ran long, he sends one of his staff to pick them up for him. If he’s overseas on a mission he has them delivered directly to your job or the home with a note. Every single time, before he hands them to you, he says something new.
Not recycled vows. Not routine affection.
“I admire the way you handled that interview.”
“I noticed you’ve been overworking. Please remember to rest.”
“I am grateful for the home you have built with me.”
He pays attention. That’s the secret to the relationship, really. The flowers are visible proof of an invisible habit. Observation. Appreciation. And action.
One evening you tease him, placing the flowers in a vase and keeping one of each kind to press from the old bouquet, You know you don’t have to keep doing this every week, right? I’m already married to you.”
He straightens, pushing his glasses up his nose though they haven’t moved, “That is precisely why I must continue. Marriage is not a finish line,” he says, his voice earnest and steady, “It is an ongoing commitment. I refuse to become complacent in expressing my gratitude for you.”
And then, he moves closer to you, large hand cupping your cheek as he pulls you in, his voice softer, “You are my partner. My equal. My home. I will not allow routine to erode reverence.”
It is such a Tenya thing to say that your chest aches. Some weeks the bouquet is extravagant. Some weeks modest. But it is always thoughtful, thought through in a way that’s so perfectly him.
And sometimes, when he wraps his arms around you after setting the flowers in water, he murmurs quietly against your hair,
SUMMARY ✩ in which you post a video online of a hot setter from schweiden adlers in hopes of finding said player, only for it to blow up online. you find out he's your childhood friend from kitagawa daiichi?! and the internet breaks at the thought of the two of you 'dating'. so, the two of you do what you think is right - date each other. fake, of course...until it doesn't feel fake anymore.
PAIRING ✩ contentcreator!uni!fem!reader x schweidenadlers!kageyama
CONTENT WARNINGS / GENRES / TAGS ✩ smau (will be some written chapters), clueless!kags, vulgar/dirty/nsfw jokes
When Tenya and y/n were six years old, they were inseparable. Their moms were best friends at U.A and they just loved setting up little play dates with their children. Tenya would play the big and brave hero who would come and save the scared y/n. Don't tell them, but they often teased them about being a good-looking couple. The children never understood it, didn't they know it was super important hero training for Tenya?
A year later, the play dates had to end, as y/n and her family were moving to the States. They promised to stay in touch until Tenya got the news that his brother, Tensei, was paralyzed by a villain named Stain. And although he had unnamed feelings for his childhood friend, it was more important for him to focus on his journey to becoming a hero. And y/n knew that. So they grew apart.
Until five years later, when y/n gets a job as the project manager for Suneater, a Pro-hero at Fatgum's agency, bringing her back to Japan. Unsure how she would feel seeing Tenya again after all these years, she attempts to reject Kirishima's invitation to after work bar visits. Will she be successful in avoiding him? Or will her heart break when she realizes they are completely different people?
Also read on Ao3
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Author's Note: Hiiiiii! Thank you for clicking on my story. :) I am a little frustrated with myself b/c I was inspired to write this from a song that randomly shuffled on my Spotify, and now I can't remember which one it was! If I remember it, I will go back and add it to the story summary or something.
Please let me know if you would like to be added to the taglist for future updates. Or you can subscribed to the "Always Be My Hero" on Ao3.
— oikawa with hinata posting you are their biggest mistake yet.
timeskip!hinata shōyō x f!reader x timeskip!oikawa tōru
i just slapped the usernames there, i’m TOO tired to search em. i’m sorry for the accidental mentions pls don’t kill me
i literally did this on a whim, running high on coffee since i suddenly saw garfingbarfing post on ig.
TIMELINE IS 2016 OR SO; THAT’S WHY IT’S STILL TWT and i refuse to do the fake twitter stuff cs i’ll only be able to upload 10 photos, no way. i don’t think i’ll do this for other characters, it just came up while i was studying.
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
twitter timeline
@ oikawatoru · 3h
📍rio de janeiro
caption: reunited with the little orange gremlin 🧡 ignore him and just focus on me ✨
[photo: oikawa left, y/n in the middle, hinata right. both boys sticking tongues out like idiots. you? radiant.]
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
immediate chaos ensues.
@ iwaizumihajime · 2h
bro. WHO IS THAT.
↳ @ oikawatoru · 2h
your dream girl but unfortunately she picked me 😘
↳ @ iwaizumihajime · 2h
picked you?? no way.
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ king_kageyama · 2h
what’s her name.
↳ @ shoyospike · 2h
you are NOT getting it.💀
↳ @ king_kageyama · 2h
GIVE ME HER @.
↳ @ shoyospike · 2h
no.
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ bettermiya · 1h
wait she’s gorgeous wtf?? hinata hand her over.
↳ @ shoyospike · 1h
hand her over??? bro what is she, a volleyball??
↳ @ oikawatoru · 1h
also, die.
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
back in rio, you’re sipping a smoothie in peace, totally unaware that both men beside you are glued to their phones, scrolling through chaos.
hinata’s laughing so hard he nearly drops his cup. “bro, bokuto just said ‘she deserves me.’”
“she does not deserve him,” oikawa snaps, thumbs flying. his jaw is tight, but his knee is pressed against yours under the table, grounding. “she deserves us. only us.”
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
meanwhile, twitter gets worse
@ kodzuken · 55m
stream chat rn just wants her @. i’m begging y’all please.
↳ @ oikawatoru · 55m
no twitch boy.
↳ @ shoyospike · 54m
stay in ur lane gamer.
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ chocol8_satori · 49m
pretty girl blink twice if THEY kidnapped YOU.
↳ @ shoyospike · 49m
we didn’t kidnap her (yet)
↳ @ oikawatoru· 48m
delete this immediately.
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ zendaya · 40m
she’s unreal. who is she.
↳ @ shoyospike · 40m
sorry zendaya i love u but denied.
↳ @ oikawatoru · 39m
ma’am step away from our girlfriend.
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ Harry_Styles · 36m
tell her i’ll fly to rio.
↳ @ oikawatoru · 35m
BLOCKED.
↳ @ shoyospike · 35m
get in line harry.
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ rihanna · 33m
so y’all gatekeeping her huh.
↳ @ shoyospike · 32m
yes ma’am. respectfully.
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
“harry styles?? rihanna???” hinata’s voice cracks like he just saw god. “they’re all asking about her, dude!”
oikawa sets his phone down, eyes narrowing. “then we just have to remind the world,” he says smoothly, leaning over to press a kiss to your temple before snapping a story. “she’s ours.”
oikawa + hinata start replying to randoms out of pure jealousy. hinata argues with a rando fan for 20 tweets straight. oikawa writes “respectfully, perish” to cha eunwoo. kodzuken streams and chat spams “#freeY/N.”
meanwhile, you’re scrolling tiktok blissfully watching dance challenges, totally unaware that the world is burning down in your honor.
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
this man will post a story, he never learns.
@ oikawatoru · 29m
[photo: you sipping from your straw, his jacket over your shoulders, his hand on your thigh.]
caption: mine.
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
the internet was already in flames, but that photo? gasoline. suddenly every corner of twitter was screaming—sports fans, music fans, kpop stans, even people who didn’t know how to spell volleyball.
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
@ randomfan999 · 27m
nah oikawa marking his territory like a golden retriever is actually killing me
@ akaashikei · 26m
it’s not marking territory if he’s literally growling in the comments.
@ bokuto_owl · 25m
pick me instead 🦉💍
↳ @ akaashikei · 25m
no.
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ Harry_Styles · 24m
i respect the jacket move but she would look better in mine.
↳ @ oikawatoru · 23m
respectfully, harry, you should focus on your concerts instead of MY girlfriend.
↳ @ shoyospike · 23m
@ Harry_Styles she doesn’t even listen to your music like that bro 😭😭😭
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ rihanna · 22m
not u boys blocking harry in real time.
↳ @ shoyospike · 22m
we’ll block you too if we have to 😔✋
↳ @ rihanna · 21m
lmfao i respect it. carry on.
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
back at the café, hinata’s practically vibrating with laughter, tears in his eyes as he shoves his phone at you.
“babe, babe, look—rihanna said she respects us!!”
oikawa, however, is not laughing. he’s scrolling so fast his thumb blurs, jaw tight, muttering about “how dare harry think he has a chance.” you pat his arm soothingly, sip your smoothie again, and both boys soften instantly like whipped puppies.
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
meanwhile, twitter spiraled further.
@ zendaya · 20m
this is a public request: drop her @.
↳ @ oikawatoru · 20m
hi queen zendaya, no.
↳ @ shoyospike · 19m
u already have tom pls leave us our girlfriend 🥺
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ hybe · 18m
who is she and why is she not an ambassador already
↳ @ oikawatoru · 18m
she’s already ambassador to my heart ❤️
↳ @ shoyospike · 17m
delete pls.
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
your phone buzzes again, and you notice oikawa’s screen lighting up with a dozen notifications a second. he hasn’t stopped glaring at it. hinata, on the other hand, is openly live-tweeting his meltdown.
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
@ shoyospike · 16m
actually insane how ppl see her smile once and immediately wanna marry her. like chill she already married to us (spiritually).
↳ @ oikawatoru · 16m
take spiritually out.
↳ @ shoyospike · 15m
physically, emotionally, metaphysically. better?
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ kodzuken · 14m
my stream chat rn: 90% “free Y/N.” guys. GUYS.
↳ @ oikawatoru · 14m
i’ll free YOU from life.
↳ @ shoyospike · 13m
LMAOOO GET HIM OIKAWA
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ hoshiumi_k · 12m
wait why does she look like she could spike better than hinata.
↳ @ shoyospike · 12m
??? shut up chicken little.
↳ @ oikawatoru · 11m
she absolutely could.
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
the funniest part is that you don’t even know what’s happening. you’re scrolling tiktok, watching cat videos, while the entire internet falls to its knees for you. hinata is grinning like an idiot, oikawa looks ready to start international war, and all you’ve done is exist.
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
the hashtags keep stacking:
#whosY/N
#stepawayharry
#protectY/N
#oikawaislosingit
#hinataneedshelp
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
@ randomceleb23 · 9m
don’t even care about volleyball but she’s literally ethereal.
@ kpopstanlife · 9m
petition to debut her in a girl group immediately
↳ @ shoyospike · 9m
no. she’s debuting in OUR house as OUR wife.
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ mbappe · 7m
if she wants to come watch football in paris she has a seat waiting.
↳ @ oikawatoru · 7m
take your cleats and go home.
↳ @ shoyospike · 7m
mbappe ur fast but u ain’t fast enough to steal her sorry bro 😔
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
the jealousy is palpable now. oikawa posts another photo—this time a blurry close-up of your hands intertwined with theirs. hinata immediately follows with a video of you laughing, his arm slung tight around your shoulders. the captions don’t even try to hide it anymore.
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
@ oikawatoru · 5m
she’s ours. stop asking.
@ shoyospike · 5m
OURS.
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
twitter loses its mind.
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ fanacc999 · 4m
they’re literally going feral.
@ cryingaccount · 4m
god i wanna be fought over like this
↳ @ akaashikei · 4m
not like you’ll be as beautiful as her but you have a dream.
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
you’re so pretty, you attract everyone.
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ charlidamelio · 3m
girl pls duet a dance with me
↳ @ shoyospike · 3m
blocked.
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ shawnmendes · 2m
can she at least hear me out 😭
↳ @ oikawatoru · 2m
no.
↳ @ shoyospike · 2m
what part of “ours” don’t u get??
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
by the end of the day, the hashtag #handsOffY/N is trending worldwide. everyone wants to know who you are. everyone wants your @. and oikawa and hinata? they’re sitting on either side of you in the hotel room, scrolling with identical looks of grim satisfaction as they watch the world descend into chaos.
“they can scream all they want,” oikawa murmurs, resting his head on your shoulder.
hinata buries his face into your side, muffled voice cheerful but stubborn. “but you’re not going anywhere.”
and with both of them holding on like you’re the only thing tethering them to earth—you believe it.
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
day 2
@ oikawatoru · 4h
caption: life is unfair when ur gf looks like a goddess even while bullying u 💔
[photo: you stealing fries off his plate, oikawa fake crying, hinata cackling in the bg]
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ shoyospike · 4h
she laughed harder when she stole my fries 😭 soulmates confirmed
↳ @ iwaizumihajime · 3h
nah she just likes fries, dumbass.
↳ @ akaashikei · 3h
iwaizumi’s right. she’s demonstrating dominance.
↳ @ bokuto_owl · 3h
SHE CAN DEMONSTRATE DOMINANCE OVER ME TOO 🦉🔥
↳ @ akaashike1 · 3h
she won’t.
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ kodzuken · 3h
chat says she’s way out of ur league. unanimous vote.
↳ @ oikawatoru · 3h
tell ur chat they can catch these hands.
↳ @ kodzuken · 3h
they said they’d “speedrun ur life.”
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ chocol8_tendo · 2h
blink twice if THEY kidnapped YOU.
↳ @ shoyospike · 2h
STOP SAYING THAT SHE’S HAPPY AND SHE LIKES FRIES
↳ @ chocol8_tendo · 2h
classic stockholm syndrome.
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ zendaya · 2h
ok but imagine if she starred in a show with me.
↳ @ oikawatoru · 2h
imagine minding your own business, zendaya.
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ billieeilish · 1h
girl if u ever get tired of being their gf lmk, i’ll adopt u.
↳ @ shoyospike · 1h
SHE DOESN’T NEED A NEW FAMILY STOPPPP
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ jungkook · 1h
south korea is waiting 🇰🇷
↳ @ oikawatoru · 1h
i WILL spike a ball on your face.
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ oliviarodrigo · 55m
i’d write six entire breakup albums about her.
↳ @ shoyospike · 55m
funny bc there’s nothing to break up she’s NOT DATING YOU
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ straykidsreal · 50m
our group chat rn: “who’s dropping the first dm??”
↳ @ felixsunshiine · 49m
okay but her smile >>> everything.
↳ @ oikawatoru · 49m
u guys are literally 8 people LEAVE HER ALONE.
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ beyonce · 45m
she owns the stage without stepping on it.
↳ @ shoyospike · 44m
😫 she can step on me instead.
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
at a restaurant, fries continue to disappear into your mouth as your boyfriends spiral deeper into online warfare. oikawa’s scrolling like his life depends on it, muttering “beyoncé?? really??” while hinata keeps shoving fries in his mouth like comfort food. you don’t notice any of this.
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
groupchat leak — “old teammates & friends foes”
[atsumu]: drop her @ rn or i’ll fight both of u in the airport.
[kuroo]: respectfully, oikawa, ur out of ur depth here. she’s fine.
[iwa]: THIS IS A FACT. you got lucky once, don’t test god again.
[kenma]: twitch donos jumped by 5k when i mentioned her. chat calls her “queen fry.”
[bokuto]: DOES SHE LIKE OWLS YES OR NO 🦉
[akaashi]: bokuto, i swear to god.
[tendou]: the fries symbolize captivity.
[ushijima]: i think she would like spinach.
[sugawara]: hi hello, just wanted to say she’s beautiful 💕
[oikawa renamed the chat → “STOP HITTING ON OUR GF”]
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
twitter — 30m later
@ haaland · 30m
man city has a VIP box waiting for her anytime.
↳ @ shoyospike · 30m
she doesn’t like football stopppppp
↳ @ oikawatoru · 30m
YES SHE DOES SHE WATCHED ONE GAME AND CHEERED FOR A THROW-IN
↳ @ shoyospike · 29m
IDC. STOP ENCOURAGING THEM?
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ rihanna · 25m
i’d let her model for fenty for free.
↳ @ oikawatoru · 25m
LEAVE OUR WIFE ALONE.
𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹
@ jackblack · 20m
petition to cast her in school of rock 2.
↳ @ shoyospike · 20m
no she’s busy eating fries with us.
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
the comments snowball. volleyball bros, hollywood A-listers, k-pop idols, random athletes—everyone’s desperate for your attention. but you? you’re just reaching over to steal one last fry, grinning when hinata smacks oikawa’s hand away from the basket like a jealous child.
to them, it’s the apocalypse.
to you, it’s just lunch.
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡
a/n: yea i do have the day three in my drafts, i don’t want to edit it just yet. so y’all better pray that my new phone arrives soon. one day i’ll do a taglist
╱ 𝒘𝒄 # 8.6k
— 𝒂uthor's 𝒏ote ﹕ reader is left handed btw! i really really like this one used all my brain power. it's been in my drafts for oh so very long (january 11) and i've just been slowly working on it :) hope you enjoy hah
more in the number neighbour collection
akaashi — smau
you're bored, to say the least.
it's a seemingly normal tuesday night, your homework is staring back at you with judgmental eyes, and you've scrolled through every social media app at least twice.
at this rate, you'll be forced to do your homework! and you really don't wanna do that..
that's when you see the trend going around again when you eventually reach for your phone: message your number neighbor.
it's stupid, risky, and exactly the kind of distraction you need right now. (anything to avoid homework ig)
your phone number ends in five.
you take a breath, open a new message thread, and type in your number, but change the last digit to a six.
you better be damn grateful i didn't make that six seven
you
hey number neighbour!
hope you arent a serial killer
you put your phone face down on your bed and wait. you expect to be ignored, left on read, or maybe blocked, like majority of the people out there on the internet.
five minutes pass. ten. then, your phone vibrates. with a racing heart, you glance at it.
xxx-xxx-xxx
I'm not a serial killer, I am a student.
you snort, fingers already flying across the screen. who texts like that, apart from emailing a teacher? it's so.. stiff.
also, who just reveals that information?
okay then. you'll do the same.
you
thats exactly what a serial killer would say
im a student too
how's life on the other side of the digit?
xxx-xxx-xxx
Life is fine.
I'm currently finishing my evening meal. It's important to maintain a consistent schedule for digestion and recovery.
you
.
okay 🥹
thanks for the health tip doc
xxx-xxx-xxx
You're welcome.
you
are you always this serious
xxx-xxx-xxx
I'm told I can be quite literal. I don't really see the point in unnecessary fluff.
you
unnecessary fluff 😭
well, im bored entertain me !
tell me something interesting about yourself without giving away your secret identity
xxx-xxx-xxx
I enjoy volleyball, and I'm left handed.
you
woah two fun facts and another lefty omg
me too
xxx-xxx-xxx
Being right handed is more common, but it doesn't mean you cannot follow your interests effectively.
you stare at the screen. they sound like a textbook come to life.
you
thanks for the pep talk, i feel so much more effective now 🤞
anyway im gonna go back to avoiding my essay
xxx-xxx-xxx
Okay
you
dont kill anyone tonight neighbor
xxx-xxx-xxx
I have already stated I'm not a murderer.
Good luck with your essay. It's better to finish it now so you can sleep early.
you toss your phone aside, collapsing back on your pillows.
"what a weirdo."
you're sitting in the cafeteria, picking at your lunch, when your phone vibrates in your pocket.
xxx-xxx-xxx
Did you finish the essay?
you almost choke on your own spit.
you
hi to you too
i did
barely
stayed up till two am
xxx-xxx-xxx
That is inefficient.
Lack of sleep leads to decreased performance and physical sluggishness.
you
okay doctor
xxx-xxx-xxx
As I've stated before, if you scroll up to read our past conversation, I am not a doctor.
you
nvm
what about you
did you do your homework
xxx-xxx-xxx
I finished mine yesterday at 8pm.
you
sweat
xxx-xxx-xxx
Funny you should say, I'm actually at practice at the moment.
you
volleyball?
xxx-xxx-xxx
Yes.
My teammate is yelling because I'm on my phone during a water break.
He says I'm evolving because I'm texting a stranger.
you
LMAOO tell your teammate hes right
you ARE becoming a social butterfly
wait
stranger?? we're neighbors theres a bond there
xxx-xxx-xxx
We share a numerical sequence.
That is all.
you
ouch my heart 🥺
fine go back to your balls =3
xxx-xxx-xxx
That is a crude way to phrase it, but I will.
And what equals 3?
⤷ you hearted this message
you put your phone away, grinning. then you pull it from your pocket again, and change the contact name.
health inspector.
you're supposed to be hanging out with your friend, but they're currently hovering over your shoulder. still counts as a hangout, right?
"who are you texting?" they ask, squinting at your screen. "you've been smiling at your phone for, like, ten minutes straight."
"just my number neighbor," you say, tilting the screen away. you really need to buy a privacy screen protector.. "he's super intense. like, 'i eat for digestion' intense. well, im think they're a he."
"is he hot?"
"wha- i don't even know his name! we agreed – well, we didn't agree, but we haven't asked. it's more fun this way. no expectations."
your phone pings again, and your friend groans.
health inspector
My teammate took my phone and saw your contact name.
you
oh no
what did you set it as
health inspector
Number Neighbor.
you
BRO THATS BORING
i have you set as health inspector hah
health inspector
I don't inspect health.
Anyway, he changed your name to 'Eagle Bait'. I don't know why.
you
eagle bait 💔
tell your friend he'd better start running
health inspector
He is very fast.
I doubt you could catch him.
you
bruh i hate u
health inspector
Well, I don't hate you. I don't know you well enough to harbor such strong emotions.
you groan and bury your face in your hands. he's so frustratingly literal that it's actually.. cute?
you find yourself wondering what his voice sounds like. does he talk as formally as he texts?
you
hey neighbor?
health inspector
Yes?
you
nothing
just making sure u were still there
health inspector
I am always here.
wednesday arrives with a heavy rainstorm that swiftly cancels your outdoor plans.
with nothing else to do, you're lounging on your couch, watching a movie you've already seen (and cried to) three times, when your phone lights up.
it's a photo – a blurry, shaky shot of a red haired guy making a peace sign right in front of the camera lens. he has a wild grin on his face, eyes wide and mouth leering.
health inspector
My teammate took my phone again.
He says hello, and that he doesn't care if you see what he looks like.
His name is Tendou.
you
lol hi tendou
tell him he has very chaotic energy even through a blurry photo 🥹
health inspector
He says that it's his specialty.
you
i can imagine
health inspector
He's currently trying to read our previous messages over my shoulder.
I've placed him in a headlock to prevent this.
you choke on your microwaved, triple butter popcorn. the mental image of someone putting a hyperactive redhead in a headlock is a bit too much for you.
you
damn
rip tendou
health inspector
Oh don't worry.
He isn't dead
you
i cant with you 😭
you actually have friends?
i thought you were a robot /j
health inspector
I'm not a robot.
Tendou is my friend, although he is loud sometimes.
you
sometimes or all of the time?
health inspector
Both
He's asking if you are cute.
I told him I don't know.
you
well
what did you tell him after that
health inspector
I told him that physical appearance is subjective and that based on your texting, you seem pretty
you
aw thanks 🥺
health inspector
capable of basic communication.
Sorry, I accidently pressed send.
you
wow i knew something was off you didnt use a full stop 😔
capable of basic communication..
i should put that on my tinder bio!
health inspector
Oh.
Do you use Tinder?
you
no lol
i was joking
do you?
health inspector
No.
I don't have time.
you
you sounds like you never have fun.
do you ever just eat junk food
watch a bad movie
etc
health inspector
I eat what is necessary for my muscles.
you
okay mr buff guy
health inspector
How did you know I was male?
you
magic
ABRACADABRA
health inspector
Okay.
Occasionally, I have hayashi rice.
That is enjoyable.
you
hayashi rice is your wild side?
health inspector
Yes.
you
jeez
we need to get you out more
⤷ health inspector reacted ? to this message
the next time you get a text from Health Inspector™, you're at the shopping centre with your friends.
it's unusual because he usually only texts in the evenings after his apparently strict schedule is done.
health inspector
We won.
you
oh
a volleyball thing?
congratsss (congratakaashilations)
health inspector
Yes. It was a practice match, but we won in straight sets.
I scored 19 points.
you
19 oh wow
is that good?
idk much about volleyball
health inspector
It's a high number for a three set match. My setter was very efficient today.
you
go celebrate!
get some uh
hayashi rice or something
health inspector
We're going to a convenience store.
Tendou is buying icy poles. The blue double ones. echo reference??
you
what flavor are u getting?
health inspector
I don't like sweets very much.
I'll have water.
you
you're literally the most boring person ive ever met 😑
health inspector
But we haven't met
you
oh COME ON
get a chocolate bar
live a little
⤷ seen by health inspector
when he doesn't reply, you go back to window shopping because you're broke asf with your friends.
five minutes later, a picture comes through, a large, slightly calloused hand holding a small chocolate bar. in the corner, it has a small nibble in the corner, as though someone has taken a tentative bite.
health inspector
I bought it.
It's too sweet.
you
CRYING
i can literally feel the regret through the screen 💔💔
health inspector
My teammates are staring at me.
They think I'm possessed because I'm eating chocolate.
you
tell them your neighbor made you do it trust 😏
health inspector
Okay
Tendou is now screaming that I have a secret lover.
your heart does a weird little skip at the word lover, even though it's just a joke.. right?
you
tell tendou i said hi and that hes a visionary
health inspector
I will tell him hi, but I won't tell him the other part.
It will only encourage him.
⤷ you liked this message
you
hey
health inspector
Yes?
you
we've been talking for a while now
i still dont know your name
or what you look like
or how old you are
health inspector
I am 18.
you
okay
one mystery solved
im 17
health inspector
Haha. 😂
I'm older than you
you
please never laugh over text again.
what about a name
health inspector
I would prefer not to.
If we find out who each other are, things might change.
I like that you don't know who I am.
you pause, thumbs hovering over the screen.
he sounds like people usually treat him differently because of who he is.
orrrr maybe you're overthinking things again.
you
fair enough
i kind of like it too
you can just be my health inspector
health inspector
And you can be my Eagle Bait.
you
NOT EAGLE BAIT AGAIN
health inspector
It's what's written on my screen, I've grown used to it.
Also, I've said multiple times I'm not a health inspector.
you
touché
health inspector
I'm going to sleep now.
Goodnight, Eagle Bait.
Oh, that almost rhymes
you
night hi
get it
hi
health inspector
h.i
hello
oh youre gone
GRANDPA
delivered
it's a monday morning, so of course you're dragging yourself through the school hallways, clutching a coffee like it's the only thing keeping you sane.
your school is buzzing because the volleyball team has just won something huge, but you aren't really one for sports. you literally know nothing about the volleyball team - you just know their gym is always squeaky and smells like sweaty feet.
your phone buzzes in your pocket.
health inspector
I am tired.
you
omg
what happened to consistent schedules for recovery??
health inspector
Our coach was dissatisfied with our blocking.
We had to stay late.
I didn't get to bed until 11:30pm yesterday.
you
uh
11:30 is a normal bedtime for most people yk
also why did you have practice on a sunday..
health inspector
Not for me
My legs feel heavy.
⤷ replied to also why did you have practice on a sunday..
My coach says otherwise we will forget how to play.
you
thats stupid
do you want me to send you a virtual hug
there's a long pause, and you watch the three bubbles appear and disappear.
health inspector
I don't know what a virtual hug is.
Is it a digital sticker?
Do you want to call me?
you
LMFAO no
it's just me saying i feel bad for you
health inspector
Oh
you
but here
(づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ
health inspector
That is a strange collection of symbols.
It looks like a person with very long arms.
you
thats because it is a person with very long arms 😭
health inspector
I showed Tendou.
Now he's trying to recreate the face.
It's unsettling.
you burst into giggles, earning a sharp look from your teacher and bemused looks from your classmates.
"sorry," you murmur to no one in particular.
after school, your friend drags you to the gym, against your will.
"just for a bit," she pleads. "my brother is playing, and i promised i'd bring him his knee pads. the fat lump forgot them."
you groan but follow her.
you stand by the entrance, on your phone, completely disinterested in the teenagers jumping around.
you
im stuck in a gym
well, not in the gym, but close enough
the squeaking is giving me a headache
health inspector
I'm also in a gym.
The squeaking is the sound of effort.
you
yeah no.
it smells like stinky socks in here
health inspector
That is a valid description.
you
SEE
health inspector
My setter just messed up. He's angry now.
I should go.
you look up from your phone, scanning the court in front of you, but none of them seem to be checking their phones.
"ready?" your friend asks, returning from where she's just thrown the kneepads at her brother.
"yeah, let's go. this place is too loud," you say. she laughs. "and stinks."
as you turn to leave, a volleyball rockets off the court and bounces toward the door. you stop it with your foot.
"sorry," a deep voice calls out.
a tall guy with dark hair and a bit of a scowl starts jogging toward you. he looks intimidating, but his eyes are focused entirely on the ball.
you kick it back to him. he nods once - not a smile but rather a blunt acknowledgement of your existence - and heads back to his team.
you don't think twice about it.
you
heyy neighbor
guess what i ate today
health inspector
If it's not a balanced meal, I don't want to know.
you
it was an oreo with ham on it
health inspector
Why would you put meat on a sweet?
you
because it tastes good why else
you should try it
health inspector
I refuse.
you
suit yourself
health inspector
I have a question.
you
shoot
health inspector
Why do you continue to talk to me?
Most people find me difficult to converse with.
you lean back against your headboard, brow furrowing as you type your response.
you
because you arent fake
everyone else tries so hard to be cool or funny
you just tell me about your diet and your early ass bedtime
it's refreshing
health inspector
Huh.
you
plus you bought that chocolate bar because i told you to
that was nice :)
health inspector
It was very sweet.
I still have half of it in my locker.
you
HELP WHAT
are you saving it 😭
health inspector
I didn't want to waste it.
you
has anyone told you you're such a dork
health inspector
I am told that often by Tendou.
you
of course
⤷ health inspector liked this message
you
so since you wont tell me your name
can i give you a nickname
health inspector is getting old
health inspector
What did you have in mind?
you
toshi
you don't know why you picked it - it just popped into your head.
somewhere, a tall boy with dark, olive green hair freezes. his heart thumps against his ribs.
toshi.
only his family and his closest friends call him that. it's a fragment of his actual name.
health inspector
Why that name?
you
idk
it just suits you
health inspector
....
you
it's fine if not i know that was random
health inspector
Fine.
You may use it.
you
YES
( you have changed health inspector to toshi )
you
okay toshi
go do your squats or whatever it is you do
toshi
I will.
Goodbye Eagle Bait
you
bruh i dont get a new name 😔??
⤷ seen by toshi
kys
toshi
Okay I will keep myself safe
⤷ you disliked this message
tonight, your screen stays dark.
you find yourself checking your phone every ten minutes, which is annoying. you aren't supposed to care this much about a guy who thinks salt is a bold seasoning. like, seriously!
finally, a message arrives, and it isn't a 'goodnight'.
toshi
I'm at a team dinner.
Tendou is standing on a chair.
you
of course
it wouldnt be tendou if he wasnt
toshi
He's singing a song about chocolate bars and secret neighbors.
I believe he is trying to provoke me into showing him our messages again.
you
and
did you
toshi
No.
I told him that privacy is a human right.
He told me I'm whipped
your face heats up.
you
whipped? 😭
pleasee you barely like me
you just like having someone to tell about your digestion and shit
toshi
That is inaccurate.
I quite look forward to our conversations
you
wow
i think thats actually the nicest thing youve said
toshi
It's the truth.
People usually only talk to me about volleyball.
Or they are intimidated and don't talk at all.
you
damn
toshi
You just call me a dork.
you
because you ARE a dork toshi
but a cool one
in an i follow all the rules kind of way
toshi
That is nice to hear.
⤷ you liked this message
saturday morning, you're at a local cafe. you snap a photo of your overly complicated iced latte - the kind with a mountain of whipped cream.
you
[attachment]
look at this
it's the complete opposite of your water bottle 😝
toshi
That looks like a heart attack desguised as a drink.
you
it's delicious!
i wish i could send you a sip
toshi
I'd decline
you
aw man
hey if i sent you something would you eat it?
toshi
I don't give out my address to strangers, number neighbours or not.
you
no shit that would be dumb 😑
i meant like
ill leave it somewhere
toshi
That seems unnecessary.
you
fine
have it your way
⤷ seen by toshi
you put your phone down with more force than necessary, a little irritated. you weren't actually going to stalk him or anything, but his immediate rejection wasn't exactly a nice feeling.
you go back to your book, feeling a bit silly.
around an hour later, your phone buzzes.
toshi
I'm at the park near Miyagi Prefectural Library.
There's a large oak tree by the fountain.
your heart skips.
that's- not far from where you are now.
you
..and?
toshi
I'm leaving practice now.
I'll be passing that tree in twenty minutes.
If you were to leave something there, I might find it.
you're already shoving your book into your bag.
you run to the bakery next door, grab a single, high quality dark chocolate brownie (less sugar, more toshi friendly), and sprint toward the park as fast as you can.
the oak tree is huge and gnarled. you tuck the small white bakery box into a crook in the roots, hidden behind some leaves, then run again.
you hide behind a nearby gazebo, peeking through the slats.
not long after, a tall figure walks down the path.
he's wearing a tracksuit - white and purple. broad shoulders, long legs, and a walk that screams 'i own this sidewalk'. from where you're crouching, you can see he has dark, olive toned hair.
it doesn't occur to you that this is the same guy from the gym..
he looks serious, his eyes scanning the ground.
he stops at the tree, looks around, making sure no one is watching, and reaches into the roots to pulls out the white box.
he opens it.
he stares at the brownie for a long time. then, he looks around again, a tiny, almost invisible soften to his expression.
he tucks the box into his gym bag and walks away.
your phone vibrates.
toshi
I found it.
you
it's a brownie!
try it before you judge it
toshi
I'll eat it when I get home.
Thank you.
⤷ you liked this message
toshi
You were there
Weren't you?
you
guilty
⤷ seen by toshi
great.
he's much more intimidating in person than he is in a text message.
toshi
It was acceptable
you
acceptable??
thats it?
toshi
It was the best thing I've eaten that wasn't healthy.
you
HA
I KNEW IT
toshi
Perhaps.
My mother asked who gave it to me.
I told her it was a neighbor, and she seemed confused as to why our elderly neighbor, Mr. Sato, would give me a brownie.
you
LMAAOAOO 😭💔
did you tell her the truth?
toshi
No.
I find I like having this to myself.
you bite your lip, a slow blush creeping up your neck.
you
me too toshi
me too
⤷ seen by toshi
—
toshi
I'm at the doctor.
you
shit what happened??
are you okay?
did the brownie take you out?
fuck im sorry are you allergic i shouldve checked oh my gosh
toshi
No.
The brownie was fine.
you
oh
toshi
My ankle is slightly inflamed.
It's a common occurrence.
you
does it hurt?
toshi
Not really.
I have been instructed to ice it and refrain from jumping for 48 hours.
you
oh noo
forty eight hours of no jumping
how will you survive? 🥹
you can go relax and sit on a couch
toshi
I don't like sitting on a couch.
It makes me feel stagnant.
you
you are SO dramatic
just watch a movie or something
toshi
I am watching a video of our last match to analyse my footwork.
you
NO that doesnt count
watch something that doesnt involve a ball
toshi
Suggest something.
you spend the next ten minutes arguing over movies. he shoots down every romantic comedy you suggest (highly unrealistic human behaviour) and every horror movie (i dont find jumpscares logical).
finally, he decides on a documentary about deep sea creatures.
toshi
The giant squid is impressive.
you
awh do you relate to a squid
toshi
Yes
⤷ you reacted 😑 to this message
you're walking through the school courtyard during lunch when you see a group of girls whispering and giggling over a phone.
"he's so stoic," one of them sighs. "i wonder if he ever smiles."
curiosity kills the cat, so you peek over.
they're looking at an instagram post from a local sports magazine. it's a photo of a volleyball player mid air.
the caption reads: Shiratorizawa's Ace continues his dominant streak.
your heart stops.
the jersey is white and purple.
just like the tracksuit the guy in the park was wearing.
aka. your number neighbour.
aka, toshi.
you can't see his face clearly, but the build is unmistakable. the thick legs, the broad shoulders, the hair.
then it occurs to you - it's the same guy in the gym from so long ago. you just didn't recognise him without the tracksuit.
you scramble for your phone.
you
hey
quick question
toshi
What is the question?
you
do you go to shiratorizawa?
the 'typing...' bubble appears, and stays there for a long, long time.
you're holding your breath. if he says yes, the mystery is basically over. you could find him in ten minutes.
toshi
Why do you ask?
you
i saw a photo
of a player
he looked like the guy i saw in the park
another long pause.
toshi
I have told you before.
If we know too much, this changes.
you
i know
but
toshi
Are you disappointed?
you
what??
no
why would i be disappointed?
toshi
Because I'm not telling you who I am
you
toshi
ive been talking to you for a while
i know you think water is a treat and you relate to squids
you can't disappoint me
toshi
I see.
Then I won't confirm or deny.
But I will tell you this:
My ankle is feeling better because I'm distracted by this conversation.
And you.
your face turns five shades of red, and you have to put your phone face down on a concrete bench to cool off.
you're back in the gym, this time because you left your sweater on the bleachers after gym class. you'd hoped you could wear it somehow, but the gym teacher had promptly sent you away.
you spot a familiar head of bright red hair.
it's..
wait.
tendou?
he's leaning against the net, looking bored while who you guess is the coach talks to someone else.
suddenly, tendou spots you walking toward the bleachers. he narrows his eyes, then a huge, mischievous grin spreads across his face.
he points at you and then turns to the giant guy standing next to him.
the guy turns his head.
you freeze.
you're wearing your school uniform.
you look normal.
but you feel like you have 'NEIGHBOUR' written on your forehead in black sharpie.
the guy looks at you.
he doesn't wave or smile. he just stares for a second too long before the coach barks an order and he turns back to the court.
you grab your sweater and bolt.
once you're safely in the outside, your phone vibrates.
toshi
You were in the gym.
you
i was not
toshi
Tendou said, "There's the girl who smells like brownies."
you
i do NOT smell like brownies
AND HOW COULD HE EVEN SMELL THAT
toshi
You didn't say hello.
you
because you were BUSY
and INTIMIDATING
and we have a DEAL
no names
no faces
⤷ replied to no faces
we've broken that
toshi
I'm not intimidating.
I was just standing there
you
toshi
you are a 6 foot something mountain of muscle
you are the definition of intimidating
toshi
6'2
I didn't think you would be afraid of me.
you
im not afraid
im uhm
preserving the mystery
toshi
I think you were running away.
you
no i was walking fast
toshi
Tendou is laughing.
He says you looked like a startled rabbit.
you
tell tendou im gonna put salt in his next chocolate bar.
toshi
I will relay the message.
He says he likes salt in his chocolate bar.
you
for fucks sake
toshi
And for the record..
That sweater would look nice on you.
It's a good colour.
you groan and trip over your own feet.
"fuck-!"
you can't stop thinking about what he said.
about the sweater.
because it means he was actually looking.
toshi
I have a question about the long armed person face
you
(づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ
this one?
what about it
toshi
If it's a hug, does that mean you are a physical person?
you
you're gonna have to give me more info than that
toshiTendou says some people show affection through touch, while others show it through acts of service.
you
tendou is getting deep
and idk! maybe?
i think im a bit of both
what about you?
toshi
I give them my full attention.
If I'm talking to you, it's because I believe you're worth my time.
I don't engage in idle chatter with people I don't respect.
it's so blunt – there's no 'i think you're cute' or 'i like talking to you'.
just the fact that because he's texting you, you're officially worth it.
you
wait thats actually really sweet
does that mean i have your respect sir 🫡
toshi
You have had it for a very long time now.
⤷ you reacted 🥺 to this message
it was his texts like this that had you speechless.
you just.. didn't know how to reply.
it's the night before a big game for him.
you know this because he's been texting less, which usually means he's, quote, 'in the zone'.
you
big day tomorrow?
toshi
Yes.
We're playing a team with very persistent defense.
It'll be tiring
you
you got this!
just think of the giant squid or smt
toshi
I will.
Will you be there?
you
i dunno
wouldnt that break the rules
toshi
What rules?
The gym is a public space.
I cannot stop you from entering.
you
yeah it'd be weird if you could
toshi
Besides, Tendou keeps looking for 'the brownie girl' in the stands.
It would be easier if I knew where you were so I could tell him to focus on the match.
you
oh
so u want me there for team productivity
toshi
Precisely
you
ill consider it
⤷ toshi liked this message
the stadium is packed – you've never seen so many people there for a high school game.
you're wearing a simple hoodie, your hood pulled up slightly, feeling like a spy. (cue spy music!) you find a seat way up, far enough that you're just a speck in the crowd.
the whistle blows, and the teams walk onto the court.
and there he is.
number one.
he seems.. different on the court. at the park, he was just a tall, imtimidating guy. here, he's still intimidating, but he's also a force of nature.
when he scores, he doesn't celebrate much. he just resets, expression completely blank, eyes fixed on the ball.
in one word, he's magnificent.
during a timeout, you see him take a drink from his water bottle. his eyes scan the crowd.
they move slowly, methodically, starting from the front row and working their way up.
your breath hitches. you know he can't see you – there are thousands of people here. you turn your gaze away, looking somewhere else.
your phone vibrates.
toshi
You're here.
I can feel it.
you nearly drop your phone in absolute shock.
you
how??
you're literally in the middle of a game PUT YOUR PHONE AWAY
toshi
My manager is holding it. I asked her to check for a message during the break.
My coach isn't very happy but I don't care.
you
I CARE
YOUR COACH IS SCARY ASF
whats his name again
washing board
toshi
Washijo
You're in the upper area. To the left of the scoreboard.
yes in this shiratorizawa has a manager idc
you are exactly where he said.
you
you are a freak.
FOCUS ON THE GAME
toshi
I am focused.
Watching you watch me is not a distraction.
the whistle blows again.
you watch him hand the phone to the manager and walk back onto the court.
he looks up directly toward your section and gives a single, sharp nod.
then proceeds to absolutely demolish the other team.
you slip out before they officially announce the winner, not wanting to get caught in the crowd – or by a certain redhead.
you're halfway home when the text comes through.
toshi
We won.
you
i saw! you were incredible toshi
seriously
toshi
Thank you.
I'm tired now.
My muscles are aching
you
do you want another long armed person hug?
toshi
No.
ouch.
toshi
I think, next time, I would like a real one.
you stop walking in the middle of the sidewalk, nearly walking into a mailbox, your face burning.
a real one.
the man who finds unnecessary fluff unnecessary – just asked for a real hug.
or at least, he admitted he wanted one.
you
a real one?
who are you and what have you done with the robot?
toshi
I'm the same. I'm just tired.
Fatigue makes people more honest.
you
well go to sleep then mr honest
toshi
But it's still early.
And I'm not home yet.
you
i dont care
⤷ seen by toshi
—
toshi
Tendou is asking why I'm smiling at my phone.
you
youre SMILING??
toshi
It's not a large smile
My mouth is simply less straight than usual.
you
mmm sure ill take it
so whats got u smilin
toshi
I was thinking about the way you ran away in the gym.
you
?? I TOLD YOU I WAS WALKING FAST
besides youre scary in person
you have main character energy
toshi
I don't know what that means.
It's my job to be reliable. And intimidating if necessary.
you
youre very reliable at making me nervous :/
toshi
Why are you nervous? 🤔🤔
you
BECAUSE
we've been talking for months and i still dont know your real name
i could find out rn but im respecting your privacy be grateful 😤
toshi
I am grateful.
⤷ you liked this message
toshi
If I tell you my name, will you tell me yours?
you
maybe
toshi
Then not yet.
I want to see how long we can last like this.
It's like a game.
you
youre so competitive 💔
istg is everything a game to you
toshi
Only the things that matter.
you're in your room, folding your laundry and humming a song that has been fixated in your head lately. you really need to stop doomscrolling on tiktok. no, seriously ik damn well get off
your phone is on your bed.
not so wise decision.
you reach for a sock, stumble, and your palm lands flat on the screen.
and you had only been texting a specific someone moments earlier, so the screen is still on.
the phone starts ringing.
calling.. toshi
"no, no, no!" you scramble, fingers fumbling to hang up, but your phone is glitching. great – out of all times. it freezes on the calling screen.
he picks up.
on the other end, there's silence. you hold the phone to your ear, too nervous to breathe. you're too terrified to speak.
"hello?"
his voice. it's so much deeper than you imagined.
"eagle bait?" he asks.
"hi," you whisper. your voice sounds tiny compared to his.
"you called me," he states.
"..it was an accident. i was.. folding laundry."
"i see."
there's a pause. you can hear faint chatter in the background – he's probably in the locker room.
"you sound.. like i expected."
"and how is that?"
"kind. and a bit terrified right now."
you let out a shaky laugh. "me? never."
"i have to go to practice," he says ever so softly. "but.. i liked hearing your voice."
you smile into the phone. "i liked hearing yours too.. toshi."
"i will text you tonight." before you can utter a goodbye, he hangs up.
you collapse onto your bed, staring at the ceiling.
now you aren't just texting a number anymore.
you're talking to a living, breathing person.
a person with a voice that makes your toes curl.
you're walking past the gym again – actually, lets be honest. you're taking the long way home just to catch a glimpse.
the gym doors fly open.
"BROWNIE GIRL!"
tendou is sprinting toward you, waving his arms like a windmill. behind him, he is walking out at a normal pace, looking slightly exasperated.
you freeze. you can't run this time; tendou is too fast.
"it's you! i knew it!" tendou skids to a stop in front of you, leaning down to look you square in the face. "ushijima is always staring at his screen with this look like he's trying to solve a very intense math problem, but the math problem is love!"
"satori," ushijima booms. he catches up, stepping between you and the redhead. "leave her alone. you're being intrusive."
toshi looks down at you.
"are you okay?" he asks, a genuine look of concern on his face.
"yeah," you squeak. "im fine. just.. laundry. i mean, walking home."
tendou snickers. "laundry.." he scoffs under his breath.
the other man looks at you for a long moment. you notice his eyes are a dark olive, like his hair.
"you're wearing the sweater."
"it's my favorite," you admit, fiddling with a loose thread.
he nods, a tiny twitch at the corner of his mouth. "it suits you. as i said before."
"WAKATOSHI-KUN!" tendou screams. "you're doing it! you're flirting! my eyes! they've never seen such a thing! actually.. she's shown me before.." echo reference??
toshi ignores him entirely. "ill text you later. i have to take satori away before he causes a scene."
"too late for that," you joke. "i've got to go as well."
he actually huffs a small laugh. it's a sound that blesses your ears.
"you're right. goodbye.. eagle bait."
"bye, toshi."
you walk away, feeling his gaze on your back until you turn the corner.
tendou turns to ushijima, grinning. "eagle bait? still?"
"she doesn't mind it. i think."
"you think-"
when you reach the front door, your heart is still trying to beat out of your chest through your throat.
you keep replaying it – the way he looked down at you, the way his voice dropped when he noticed your sweater, and, most importantly, the fact that he laughed.
your phone vibrates again before you even get the chance to take your shoes off.
toshi
I apologise for Tendou, he has no sense of personal boundaries.
you
lol it's fine
hes funny :)
toshi
He's a nuisance sometimes.
But.. he wasn't entirely wrong.
you stop mid step, one shoe on, one shoe off.
you
about
toshi
About the way I look at my phone.
friday evening, you're trying to study when a text comes through that isn't a text at all. it's a link to a destination on google maps.
toshi
I'm going to a park tomorrow.
Not the one with the oak tree.
This one is further away, near the river.
you
okay?
are you going to look for squids 😭
toshi
No.
I'm going for a run.
oh.
oh.
if hes asking u to run w him we cooked asf
toshi
I'll be finished at 10am, and there's a bench near the bridge.
you
waiiit
are you asking me to meet you
like for real without any distractions or people around
toshi
I would like to see if you are the same in person as you are over text without Tendou present, if that's what you mean.
you
wow. rude
justice for tendou
ill be there
toshi
Nice 👍
⤷ you reacted 🥹 to this message
toshi
?
you
nothing
toshi
Also, I brought a brownie the other day.
you
you WHAT
toshi
Yes. It was good, but not as good as the one you brought me.
you
thats because i sprinkled it with some neighbourly love otw!
toshi
Oh is that a seasoning? I'll have to try it out
you
oh gosh
⤷ toshi reacted ? to this message
you arrive at exactly 9:55am. you're wearing a fresh outfit, your hair is actually done, and you've checked your breath, like, five times.
more like fifty.
the park is quiet, the morning mist still clinging to the river. you see a figure running toward the bridge.
he's wearing a black compression shirt and shorts. he slows to a jog, then a walk, as he nears the bench. drenched in sweat, his skin glows in the morning light. he looks like a perfect sculpture come to life.
ushijima stops in front of you, breathing hard. "you came," he says. his voice is a little raspy from the run.
"i said i would," you say, trying to sound cool. you fail miserably. "uhh, nice running?"
toshi wipes his forehead with the back of his hand. "thank you."
a beat, and you stare at eachother awkwardly.
"i realised something," he says, stepping a bit closer.
"what?"
"i don't know your name."
you smile, reaching out and gently poking his arm. damn, his muscles are like rock- "it's l/n. y/n."
he repeats it, testing the weight of the syllables in his mouth. "y/n. it is a good name. better than eagle bait."
you let out an unflattering snort. "i think everything is better than eagle bait."
toshi sits down on the bench, gesturing for you to join him. you sit, and for a while, you both just watch the river flow.
he reaches into his gym bag and pulls out a small, crumpled paper bag. he hands it to you.
inside is a single, slightly squashed chocolate bar. the same one you told him to buy weeks ago.
"i bought it this morning," he says, looking at his feet. "i thought.. maybe we could share it."
you feel a lump rise in your throat.
breaking the bar in half, you hand him the bigger piece. he promptly nudges it back to you and takes the smaller piece.
"to living a little," you say.
"to being neighbors," he replies.
the chocolate is slightly warm and has a papery taste to it, but it's easily one of the best thing you've ever tasted.
you sit on that bench for an hour. you talk about things that aren't volleyball, like how he likes the smell of old books and how you're terrified shitless of spiders.
"i am not afraid of spiders," ushijima says, looking at the remainder of his chocolate. "they're helpful. they eat mosquitoes."
"spoken like a true fearless soldier," you laugh. "but if one crawls on me, i'm using you as a human shield."
he glances at you, expression softening into a lopsided half smile. "i'm a very large shield. you'll be safe."
the.. peace lasts exactly forty eight hours.
by monday lunch, the school is buzzing (gossiping). apparently, someone (tendou) saw (spied) a mystery girl (you) sitting with the ace (ushijima) at the river.
you're trying to blend into the cafeteria wall when a shadow falls over your table. you look up, and it's not toshi.
it's guy with a black bowl cut and a guy with light brown hair, in a slightly more lopsided bowl cut.
"is it you?" the first one asks, pointing a finger at you like he's accusing you of a crime. "are you the one who made ushijima-san eat a brownie?"
"i.. maybe?"
"he hasn't stopped looking at his phone during stretches," the other one says, sounding personally offended.
before you can defend yourself, a hand lands on their heads and pushes them aside.
it's.. toshi!
he looks down at his apparently teammates with a look that would wither a cactus.
"go away," he states. "you are bothering her."
"we just wanted to see if she was real!" black bowl cut squeaks. "tendou-san said she was a forest spirit that lived in an oak tree!"
"uh. clearly im not a forest spirit," you say, finally finding your voice. "im a student."
toshi looks at you, then back at his teammates. "she is y/n."
light hair shrugs. "'kay. cmon goshiki."
they leave, albeit reluctantly.
"i'm going to practice. do you want to walk with me to the gym doors?"
you feel a hundred eyes on you, and you step forward, legs a little shaky.
"sure, toshi. let's go."
toshi
Tendou has been banned from my phone.
I've changed the passcode.
you
nah what was it before 😭
0000
toshi
No
It was 1111
you
..youre so predictable
toshi
I was joking
Predictability is a sign of stability
you
in what world 🥹
toshi
Anyway
I have Friday evening free. My coach is attending a conference
you
are you asking me on a date perchance
toshi
I am proposing an evening with you.
I'd like to go to the cinema.
you
oh?
no documentaries about squids
toshi
There's a film about a man who survives in the wilderness.
It seems logical.
you
okay
it's a date
but i get to pick the popcorn seasoning‼️
toshi
Yes 👍
But no bacon flavour please.
you
DO THEY MAKE THAT
toshi
...
No.
you
ohhh they do dont they 😼
⤷ toshi disliked this message
the cinema is oh so very dark and smells of buttered popcorn. you're sitting next to him, and even though you aren't touching, you can feel the heat radiating off him.
he's sitting perfectly upright, staring at the screen.
halfway through the movie, the main character gets lost in a blizzard. ironically, you shiver – the theater is a little cold.
without a word, toshi shifts. he doesn't put his arm around you – that would be too smooth for him. instead, he reaches over, takes your hand, and simply places it on his thigh, covering it with his own massive, warm hand.
"you're cold," he whispers. "this will help."
you bite your lip to keep from giggling. he is such an awkward romantic, and you love it.
you squeeze his hand, and he squeezes back. his hand is rough with callouses from thousands of spikes, yet it's incredibly gentle.
you spend the rest of the movie not watching the screen at all, just focusing on the feeling of his thumb tracing small, absent minded circles on the back of your hand.
when the lights come up and the movie ends, he doesn't let go immediately. he looks at you, eyes thoughtful.
"the movie was.. acceptable," he says.
"was it better than the brownie?" you tease, grinning.
"no. but it is unfair to compare food and entertainment." he says, leaning in. "the company was better than the movie."
you think he might kiss you right there in the cinema, but then his phone buzzes.
yay. cockblocker
( 38 notifications from tendou )
tendou
HOW WAS THE MOVIE
DID U HOLD HANDS
I CAN FEEL THE ROMANCE FROM MY DOOM
SOOM
ROON
ROOM
TELL ME EVEYYITMG
EVERYTING
EVERYTGING
ECERTITN
fucj
EVERYTHING
USHIJIMA
WAKATOSHI
USHIWAKA
U
S
H
I
J
I
M
A
W
A
K
A
T
O
S
H
I
ANSWER MEEEEEEEE
ew are u making out
OR WORSE.. DOING THE NAUGHTY ‼️‼️
ewwwwwwwww
that's naaasty
wear protection kids 😏
toshi sighs, deep and weary. "i'm going to change my phone number."
"don't you dare," you laugh, standing up and pulling him toward the exit. "i like my number neighbor right where he is."
it turns out that when the most stoic, volleyball obsessed boy in shiratorizawa starts walking someone to class, people notice. i know! absolute shocker.
you're standing by the school lockers in the morning when you see him. he's, well, hard to miss – he towers over the crowd like a giant.
a group of first year girls is hovering near him, one of them holding a pink envelope.
ah.
"ushijima-senpai!" she chirps, her face bright red. "ive watched all your games! please, take this!"
you pause, feeling a weird, cold prickle in your chest. you've never been the jealous type, but seeing a literal fan club form around your.. you don't know what he is, but! it feels different.
ushijima doesn't take the envelope. he doesn't even look at it LMAO. he's looking over their heads, his eyes scanning the hallway until they land on you.
"i cannot take that," he says to the girl, his voice loud and clear. "it would be an inefficient use of my time, and i am already spoken for."
the hallway goes dead silent. the girl's jaw drops, and her friends giggle awkwardly.
toshi walks straight past them and stops in front of you.
"you're late," he says.
"sorry, captain," you answer, hiding a grin. "i didn't want to interrupt your, erm, fan meeting."
"it was not a meeting. it was disturbance. let us go."
and so the two of you walk off together, leaving the girl and her friends behind, her still clutching the envelope pathetically.
your phone pings during your afternoon break. it's a notification from instagram – you've been tagged in a post.
it's a photo someone took of you and ushijima at the cinema. the two of you walking out, hands briefly brushing.
and.. the comments are a war zone.
@.user1 who is she she looks so plain
@.user2 does he even like her? he looks bored asf
@.user3 ushijima kun deserves someone more athletic!
↳ @.tendersatoes definitely not you then 😂😂
a lump rises in your throat. you know you shouldn't care what strangers think, but it still hurts.
although tendou's comment does make you crack a smile. seriously, tendersatoes??
you're about to close the app when a new comment loads.
@.Ushijima_Wakatoshi Her name is Y/n. She is not plain, she is observant. And I'm not bored. I'm focused. If you have time to comment on my personal life, you have time to practice on whatever you need to do. You're lacking in discipline.
@.Ushijima_Wakatoshi Fuckers.
↳ @.tendersatoes pop off ushiwaka 🤪 CLOCKED BITCHES
↳ @.user2 whatever
you stare at the screen.
toshi just commented a whole paragraph for you.
and on top of that – fuckers.
you
toshi
did u just flame your uh FANS in the comments
toshi
I didn't flame them.
I provided an objective assessment of their behavior and their priorities.
you
yeah..
you basically told them to go touch grass
toshi
Grass is good for them.
Are you upset? I can delete the comment, but I think many people have seen it already.
you
no actually
i'm really happy
but pls dont get suspended for me
toshi
If it means I have more time to spend with you, then I welcome it.
you
TOSHI 🥹🥹
⤷ toshi liked this message
since the gym is being renovated for two days, ushijima actually has an afternoon off.
you invite him over to your house to study, which mostly consists of you trying to talk about work while he stares at your bookshelves.
"why do you have so many books about people who don't exist?" he asks, picking up one of your romance novels.
"because fiction is fun, toshi! it's about feelings and drama and shit."
he puts it down, then reaches for another one.
you gasp, jumping on his back. "not that one-!"
"drama is just a lack of communication," he says, sitting down on your rug. he's so big that your room suddenly feels half its size.
you sit next to him, leaning your head on his shoulder. he freezes for a second before he slowly relaxes, resting his head on top of yours.
"i like your house," he says softly. "it smells like you."
you laugh, the sound muffled against his arm.
ushijima suddenly shifts, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his phone. he opens up your contact info.
"i have changed your name again," he says.
you look at the screen.
it doesn't say 'eagle bait' anymore.
it just says,
y/n ❤️
"the red heart means affection," he says, his face turning a very unnatural shade of pink. "tendou told me it was mandatory for this stage of a relationship."
"for once," you whisper, leaning up to kiss his cheek, "i think tendou is right."
but ushijima turns his head at the last second, catching your lips with his.
"i agree," he says matter of factly once you pull away, then lifts your chin to kiss you again.
called both of my number neighbours once on a dare, one sent me to voicemail and the other was a woman with a child crying in the background. and i was reading the manga the other day and ml ushijima does not talk like a robot all the time 😭 bro fanon ushijima is scary.
genuinely really proud of myself for this one tysm for reading (new top 3 fav unlocked ?!)
tumblr, please allow more than 30 images. thank you.
also ! im making this a number neighbour collection/series so lmk through my inbox if reqs are open if u want any other characters with a specific plot, and smau or chatfic :D (if a character's already been done, i won't do it again. at time of this post ive got akaashi, ushijima, oikawa and suna)
taglist ( to be added OR removed, fill out the tag form )
@n-o-b-o-d-y123 @owl-captain-of-fukurodani @tc-selmarillian @blythmourning @sevslover @fosfatodna @tearsoftae @heavenquilll @perlleta @noemivalorr @bookworm-center @thesmithslvr17 @lottiekarottiqd @fweakygyatt @wellitseugi @haniipie @charukii @imgonnashartmyself @toorubae @kotarosangel @leosxrealm @irethepotato @lithiumval @dreamayy @wanderless-musings @sunnyl1ght
iwaoi is my current hyperfixation and i think i've exhausted ao3's list of jealous oikawa fanfictions... please drop some recs i'm an addict going through withdrawal.
