Good morning! I just read your Platonic Yandere Toman Fic A Friend in Me but sadly the link to part 4 isn't working :c And I don't know if I accidentally scrolled over it but looking throug ur AO3 acc I couldn't find it either.
Could you maybe fix the link or repost that part?
Hope u have a wonderful day!
heya! thanks for reaching out!
not sure what's wrong with the linking ngl ;-; i tried to replace the link but its still showing as missing :')
here's a direct link to chapter 4 on tumblr!
and here's the link to the ao3 fic!
💬 3 🔁 6 ❤️ 138 · A Friend In Me: Chapter 4 · Yandere Platonic Toman
Chapters 1 | 2 | 3
Masterlist
my usual pink line divide n
continuation from my other Rollo fic Letters, but can be read as a standalone as well!
good time to mention that I have been and am on a current semi-hiatus as I've kind fallen off all my fandoms at the same time, but i'm slowly working my way back! thank you for your support so far!
Two hours and forty five minutes down, fifteen minutes left.
“Still can’t believe you actually came all the way,” you said over the cup of hot chocolate copper between both hands as you glanced around the Isle of Sages' crowded main town square, the stone paved area jam packed with people inching past each other. This was certainly no place that one would usually find the Nobel Bell’s Student Council President. “I can’t even spend all night here. You shouldn’t have.”
But Rollo could hear the genuine appreciation in your voice for all his efforts, if you were even trying to hide it. “It’s no bother,” the white-haired boy responded, his usual purple robe and striped cap having been forgone for an elegant black long coat and pressed trousers, one pale hands tucked into a pocket and the other holding a matching cup as narrowed green eyes tailed a laughing couple who brushed past you. Tainting your perfect otherworldly self with their disgusting stench of a magical world they could never run from, a sin he would have incinerated them for, but he took a deep breath and tore his eyes away. Focus. “Barely an inconvenience.”
A lie.
The sheer amount of arrangements Rollo had to make just to be present here aside from the letters with strict instructions to you was something he would never disclose. The previous trip he made a week ago to scout out the place that he told his vice president was a research trip, the contingency plans he had in place so that your wretched schoolmates wouldn’t interrupt him, the entire flow of activities, locations and conversations he had all planned out in his mind in the weeks leading up to this - but you didn’t need to know any of that.
No, everything had been carefully planned with one goal in mind: to make sure you had the perfect countdown with him. Nothing that Malleus and his cronies would be able to top.
Lifting his cup to thin lips to take a careful sip, the stoic Noble Bell student watched steam curling lazily into the windless air, the hustle and bustle of the masses blending into the background as people jostled for the best spots to catch fireworks. Filthy magic-laden fireworks, but Rollo had already scouted a quiet spot where you would have an unblocked view. He just had to make sure that you stayed till then.
Time had flown by like water - you had been here at 9.30pm sharp, as per requested by his latest letter, but he had managed to burn and wheedle down the hours and minutes to just the last few minutes to midnight. Presenting the bouquet of flowers and your favourite pie that he had brought for you: ten minutes. A leisurely stroll around the fountain, followed by a planned sit and chat: another seventy-five minutes down. The queue for hot chocolate: thirty minutes, the queue carefully joined behind two individuals who hemmed and hawed at the counter.
“Are you at least staying until the countdown?” He asked smoothly as he turned away from the fountain that occupied the center of the square and began to walk. You followed, because of course you did, and Rollo slowed his stride when he noticed you doing those little short runs to keep up.
“Um, I don’t know,” you answered uncertainly as the two of you came upon the small alcove built into the old stone wall, with a scattering of couples lingering along the sidewalk bordering the mariana. “Some of my friends are hosting a countdown party back at Ramshackle-”
Rollo sneered before he could catch himself, though he decided to simply play into it instead of making up excuses; you would certainly see through his act before he’d be able to convince you otherwise, considering what he had attempted to already do to them back in Fleur City. “You wouldn’t be able to make it back in time,” he stated coolly, free hand shooting out to steady you when you stumbled on a protruding stone tile. “Not without…running. Fast.”
You gaped for a moment at him, before bursting into giggles. No doubt not only at his awkward pause, but also the absurdity of a mage suggesting running. He hadn’t rehearsed that, but the way your face lit up as you laughed made the stutter slightly more bearable. “Alright then,” you agreed. “Guess I’ll head back after the countdown instead.”
Well. That was easy enough. Another milestone in his disruption of Malleus’ plans achieved.
The view here of the town square was impeccable, because of course it was. On one side, a gentle breeze blew in from the sea, the horizon where sea and sky met lost in the dark of night, the glittering reflection of stars swallowed by the dancing waves washing up against the sea cliff far below. And on the other, the town floor spread out beneath the two of you like a picnic mat, the numerous people mulling about blending into waves, their conservations and the music from the live band blending into the hustle and bustle of a busy background that only grew and grew into an almost coordinated swell of numbers as midnight approached.
“Three! Two!” Rollo kept silent as he watched you cheer along. “One!”
Your eyes shimmer in that unmistakable way that betrayed your excitement as fireworks whizzed into the sky, bursting into a multitude of colored flowers with a life on their own granted by magic. The Noble Bell Student Council President reaches over to gingerly tuck a strand of your hair behind your ear in a calculated move. “Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year!” You returned, toasting your cup at Rollo and giggling when the cocoa from your cup splashed slightly onto the ground, before returning to admire the blooming fireworks against the starry night sky. “They’re beautiful!”
“Indeed.” The white-haired boy replied without glancing away from you. His plan to rid the world of magic and Malleus was advancing nicely with every play he made, but maybe, he had some space for you, where you had wheedled yourself into the hollow in his chest.
continuation from my other Rollo fic Letters, but can be read as a standalone as well!
good time to mention that I have been and am on a current semi-hiatus as I've kind fallen off all my fandoms at the same time, but i'm slowly working my way back! thank you for your support so far!
Two hours and forty five minutes down, fifteen minutes left.
“Still can’t believe you actually came all the way,” you said over the cup of hot chocolate copper between both hands as you glanced around the Isle of Sages' crowded main town square, the stone paved area jam packed with people inching past each other. This was certainly no place that one would usually find the Nobel Bell’s Student Council President. “I can’t even spend all night here. You shouldn’t have.”
But Rollo could hear the genuine appreciation in your voice for all his efforts, if you were even trying to hide it. “It’s no bother,” the white-haired boy responded, his usual purple robe and striped cap having been forgone for an elegant black long coat and pressed trousers, one pale hands tucked into a pocket and the other holding a matching cup as narrowed green eyes tailed a laughing couple who brushed past you. Tainting your perfect otherworldly self with their disgusting stench of a magical world they could never run from, a sin he would have incinerated them for, but he took a deep breath and tore his eyes away. Focus. “Barely an inconvenience.”
A lie.
The sheer amount of arrangements Rollo had to make just to be present here aside from the letters with strict instructions to you was something he would never disclose. The previous trip he made a week ago to scout out the place that he told his vice president was a research trip, the contingency plans he had in place so that your wretched schoolmates wouldn’t interrupt him, the entire flow of activities, locations and conversations he had all planned out in his mind in the weeks leading up to this - but you didn’t need to know any of that.
No, everything had been carefully planned with one goal in mind: to make sure you had the perfect countdown with him. Nothing that Malleus and his cronies would be able to top.
Lifting his cup to thin lips to take a careful sip, the stoic Noble Bell student watched steam curling lazily into the windless air, the hustle and bustle of the masses blending into the background as people jostled for the best spots to catch fireworks. Filthy magic-laden fireworks, but Rollo had already scouted a quiet spot where you would have an unblocked view. He just had to make sure that you stayed till then.
Time had flown by like water - you had been here at 9.30pm sharp, as per requested by his latest letter, but he had managed to burn and wheedle down the hours and minutes to just the last few minutes to midnight. Presenting the bouquet of flowers and your favourite pie that he had brought for you: ten minutes. A leisurely stroll around the fountain, followed by a planned sit and chat: another seventy-five minutes down. The queue for hot chocolate: thirty minutes, the queue carefully joined behind two individuals who hemmed and hawed at the counter.
“Are you at least staying until the countdown?” He asked smoothly as he turned away from the fountain that occupied the center of the square and began to walk. You followed, because of course you did, and Rollo slowed his stride when he noticed you doing those little short runs to keep up.
“Um, I don’t know,” you answered uncertainly as the two of you came upon the small alcove built into the old stone wall, with a scattering of couples lingering along the sidewalk bordering the mariana. “Some of my friends are hosting a countdown party back at Ramshackle-”
Rollo sneered before he could catch himself, though he decided to simply play into it instead of making up excuses; you would certainly see through his act before he’d be able to convince you otherwise, considering what he had attempted to already do to them back in Fleur City. “You wouldn’t be able to make it back in time,” he stated coolly, free hand shooting out to steady you when you stumbled on a protruding stone tile. “Not without…running. Fast.”
You gaped for a moment at him, before bursting into giggles. No doubt not only at his awkward pause, but also the absurdity of a mage suggesting running. He hadn’t rehearsed that, but the way your face lit up as you laughed made the stutter slightly more bearable. “Alright then,” you agreed. “Guess I’ll head back after the countdown instead.”
Well. That was easy enough. Another milestone in his disruption of Malleus’ plans achieved.
The view here of the town square was impeccable, because of course it was. On one side, a gentle breeze blew in from the sea, the horizon where sea and sky met lost in the dark of night, the glittering reflection of stars swallowed by the dancing waves washing up against the sea cliff far below. And on the other, the town floor spread out beneath the two of you like a picnic mat, the numerous people mulling about blending into waves, their conservations and the music from the live band blending into the hustle and bustle of a busy background that only grew and grew into an almost coordinated swell of numbers as midnight approached.
“Three! Two!” Rollo kept silent as he watched you cheer along. “One!”
Your eyes shimmer in that unmistakable way that betrayed your excitement as fireworks whizzed into the sky, bursting into a multitude of colored flowers with a life on their own granted by magic. The Noble Bell Student Council President reaches over to gingerly tuck a strand of your hair behind your ear in a calculated move. “Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year!” You returned, toasting your cup at Rollo and giggling when the cocoa from your cup splashed slightly onto the ground, before returning to admire the blooming fireworks against the starry night sky. “They’re beautiful!”
“Indeed.” The white-haired boy replied without glancing away from you. His plan to rid the world of magic and Malleus was advancing nicely with every play he made, but maybe, he had some space for you, where you had wheedled yourself into the hollow in his chest.
continuation from my other Rollo fic Letters, but can be read as a standalone as well!
good time to mention that I have been and am on a current semi-hiatus as I've kind fallen off all my fandoms at the same time, but i'm slowly working my way back! thank you for your support so far!
Two hours and forty five minutes down, fifteen minutes left.
“Still can’t believe you actually came all the way,” you said over the cup of hot chocolate copper between both hands as you glanced around the Isle of Sages' crowded main town square, the stone paved area jam packed with people inching past each other. This was certainly no place that one would usually find the Nobel Bell’s Student Council President. “I can’t even spend all night here. You shouldn’t have.”
But Rollo could hear the genuine appreciation in your voice for all his efforts, if you were even trying to hide it. “It’s no bother,” the white-haired boy responded, his usual purple robe and striped cap having been forgone for an elegant black long coat and pressed trousers, one pale hands tucked into a pocket and the other holding a matching cup as narrowed green eyes tailed a laughing couple who brushed past you. Tainting your perfect otherworldly self with their disgusting stench of a magical world they could never run from, a sin he would have incinerated them for, but he took a deep breath and tore his eyes away. Focus. “Barely an inconvenience.”
A lie.
The sheer amount of arrangements Rollo had to make just to be present here aside from the letters with strict instructions to you was something he would never disclose. The previous trip he made a week ago to scout out the place that he told his vice president was a research trip, the contingency plans he had in place so that your wretched schoolmates wouldn’t interrupt him, the entire flow of activities, locations and conversations he had all planned out in his mind in the weeks leading up to this - but you didn’t need to know any of that.
No, everything had been carefully planned with one goal in mind: to make sure you had the perfect countdown with him. Nothing that Malleus and his cronies would be able to top.
Lifting his cup to thin lips to take a careful sip, the stoic Noble Bell student watched steam curling lazily into the windless air, the hustle and bustle of the masses blending into the background as people jostled for the best spots to catch fireworks. Filthy magic-laden fireworks, but Rollo had already scouted a quiet spot where you would have an unblocked view. He just had to make sure that you stayed till then.
Time had flown by like water - you had been here at 9.30pm sharp, as per requested by his latest letter, but he had managed to burn and wheedle down the hours and minutes to just the last few minutes to midnight. Presenting the bouquet of flowers and your favourite pie that he had brought for you: ten minutes. A leisurely stroll around the fountain, followed by a planned sit and chat: another seventy-five minutes down. The queue for hot chocolate: thirty minutes, the queue carefully joined behind two individuals who hemmed and hawed at the counter.
“Are you at least staying until the countdown?” He asked smoothly as he turned away from the fountain that occupied the center of the square and began to walk. You followed, because of course you did, and Rollo slowed his stride when he noticed you doing those little short runs to keep up.
“Um, I don’t know,” you answered uncertainly as the two of you came upon the small alcove built into the old stone wall, with a scattering of couples lingering along the sidewalk bordering the mariana. “Some of my friends are hosting a countdown party back at Ramshackle-”
Rollo sneered before he could catch himself, though he decided to simply play into it instead of making up excuses; you would certainly see through his act before he’d be able to convince you otherwise, considering what he had attempted to already do to them back in Fleur City. “You wouldn’t be able to make it back in time,” he stated coolly, free hand shooting out to steady you when you stumbled on a protruding stone tile. “Not without…running. Fast.”
You gaped for a moment at him, before bursting into giggles. No doubt not only at his awkward pause, but also the absurdity of a mage suggesting running. He hadn’t rehearsed that, but the way your face lit up as you laughed made the stutter slightly more bearable. “Alright then,” you agreed. “Guess I’ll head back after the countdown instead.”
Well. That was easy enough. Another milestone in his disruption of Malleus’ plans achieved.
The view here of the town square was impeccable, because of course it was. On one side, a gentle breeze blew in from the sea, the horizon where sea and sky met lost in the dark of night, the glittering reflection of stars swallowed by the dancing waves washing up against the sea cliff far below. And on the other, the town floor spread out beneath the two of you like a picnic mat, the numerous people mulling about blending into waves, their conservations and the music from the live band blending into the hustle and bustle of a busy background that only grew and grew into an almost coordinated swell of numbers as midnight approached.
“Three! Two!” Rollo kept silent as he watched you cheer along. “One!”
Your eyes shimmer in that unmistakable way that betrayed your excitement as fireworks whizzed into the sky, bursting into a multitude of colored flowers with a life on their own granted by magic. The Noble Bell Student Council President reaches over to gingerly tuck a strand of your hair behind your ear in a calculated move. “Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year!” You returned, toasting your cup at Rollo and giggling when the cocoa from your cup splashed slightly onto the ground, before returning to admire the blooming fireworks against the starry night sky. “They’re beautiful!”
“Indeed.” The white-haired boy replied without glancing away from you. His plan to rid the world of magic and Malleus was advancing nicely with every play he made, but maybe, he had some space for you, where you had wheedled yourself into the hollow in his chest.
More thoughts on Izana and Rindou's BFF, how did bestie deal with or find out about the aftermath of the battle against Toman? How did bestie react to Izana dying and Rindou going to jail once again? and how does Rindou feel about being separated from bestie once again? In canon the Tenjiuku members stayed behind and willingly got arrested, but in this scenario I can't imagine Rindou willingly staying behind and knowing he'd be separated from bestie.
why friend why would you make me think about this ;w; first and only time imma write about this because it's digging into memories in an uncomfortable place...
Rindo Tags | Masterlist
tw: major character death, discussion about death & depression
I actually think that Rindo would willingly stay behind and go to juvenile prison with the rest of the remaining Tenjiku executives after Izana’s death, despite knowing that would mean a separation from you, his BFF.
My reasoning for this is that despite the way Izana has treated his subordinates, I think all the executives hold a lot of respect for the Tenjiku President and look up to him, either as some sort of role model or just in awe of his abilities. So no doubt that Rindo and the other executives would feel a lot of guilt over how they let things get so out of hand with Kisaki’s involvement that it resulted in his death, though I think the person bearing the most guilt would most likely still be Kakucho (after he had recovered), given he already knew how dangerous and poisonous Kisaki had been to Izana's psyche from the start.
Rindo's fraying at the edges at having been dealt so many heavy emotions and events to handle at the same time. Losing Izana was one gut punch, but the realization that he would have to spend even longer away from you - this time without anyone left to protect you on the outside - was another blow Rindo could barely take. The younger Haitani would spend a lot of time stewing over this, the sleepless nights only darkening his eyebags with every passing day, as Ran could barely force Rindo to eat, let alone call you to break the news.
Despite Rindo despising the closeness Izana shared with you, he still respected the tanned boy, and he knew that breaking the news to you would shatter your naive, glowing world, and it would be entirely his fault.
Either way, you would eventually find out about it, one way or another, most likely through seeing Izana’s obituary in the local newspaper. Despite the beef between Mikey and Izana, I think Mikey did really want to reconnect with his long-lost brother, related or not, and the Sanos would treat Izana with the respect that Shinichiro would want him to be treated with. And despite being completely air-headed and naive, seeing who you thought was a good friend staring back at you from the newspaper would be like a punch in the gut. You'll have to reread it again and again, though it still didn't feel real.
Things become even worse when you happen across the article where you find out what really happened, a small blurb about a gang fight that ended with a casualty and a serious injury.
Your world comes crashing down, the whole event leaving you stunned. You couldn't really accept it at first, even a week after the wake and funeral was over. Life went on as normal, you still attended school, ate by yourself, and then went home to struggle through homework, making sure to carve out time to visit Kakucho in hospital and Rindo in juvie. But then it was a regular sunny day after you had just visited Rindo that the sadness and grief began to set in, and you find yourself unable to stop the tears.
Your appetite crashes, and the nightmares became endless, not helped by the fact that Rindo couldn't be with you to scare off the darkness. The paranoia that settled in the base of your gut refused to be shaken, the constant whisper from the back of your head that you would lose Rindo, Ran, Kakucho in the same way.
It haunted your every thought, Izana's pale, lifeless body framed by the coffin, and your nightmares where you would see Rindo's face instead. Every bruise, cut and bandage he showed up with became another gnawing fear. You stopped going to school for a bit, taking a break to try and deal with the grief, to try and heal.
Time does heal some wounds, and you eventually find yourself again, though that innocence lost never comes back. There's always a darkness in those eyes that Rindo couldn't unsee when you visit him, even though your jolly self returns, slowly. You aren't as trusting or open as you used to be, and though you stopped trying to convince Rindo to stop fighting entirely, Rindo notes that you started to track his bruises and injuries, the way your smile becomes more strained and you try to hide your clenched fists when he appears with new injuries.
More thoughts on Izana and Rindou's BFF, how did bestie deal with or find out about the aftermath of the battle against Toman? How did bestie react to Izana dying and Rindou going to jail once again? and how does Rindou feel about being separated from bestie once again? In canon the Tenjiuku members stayed behind and willingly got arrested, but in this scenario I can't imagine Rindou willingly staying behind and knowing he'd be separated from bestie.
why friend why would you make me think about this ;w; first and only time imma write about this because it's digging into memories in an uncomfortable place...
Rindo Tags | Masterlist
tw: major character death, discussion about death & depression
I actually think that Rindo would willingly stay behind and go to juvenile prison with the rest of the remaining Tenjiku executives after Izana’s death, despite knowing that would mean a separation from you, his BFF.
My reasoning for this is that despite the way Izana has treated his subordinates, I think all the executives hold a lot of respect for the Tenjiku President and look up to him, either as some sort of role model or just in awe of his abilities. So no doubt that Rindo and the other executives would feel a lot of guilt over how they let things get so out of hand with Kisaki’s involvement that it resulted in his death, though I think the person bearing the most guilt would most likely still be Kakucho (after he had recovered), given he already knew how dangerous and poisonous Kisaki had been to Izana's psyche from the start.
Rindo's fraying at the edges at having been dealt so many heavy emotions and events to handle at the same time. Losing Izana was one gut punch, but the realization that he would have to spend even longer away from you - this time without anyone left to protect you on the outside - was another blow Rindo could barely take. The younger Haitani would spend a lot of time stewing over this, the sleepless nights only darkening his eyebags with every passing day, as Ran could barely force Rindo to eat, let alone call you to break the news.
Despite Rindo despising the closeness Izana shared with you, he still respected the tanned boy, and he knew that breaking the news to you would shatter your naive, glowing world, and it would be entirely his fault.
Either way, you would eventually find out about it, one way or another, most likely through seeing Izana’s obituary in the local newspaper. Despite the beef between Mikey and Izana, I think Mikey did really want to reconnect with his long-lost brother, related or not, and the Sanos would treat Izana with the respect that Shinichiro would want him to be treated with. And despite being completely air-headed and naive, seeing who you thought was a good friend staring back at you from the newspaper would be like a punch in the gut. You'll have to reread it again and again, though it still didn't feel real.
Things become even worse when you happen across the article where you find out what really happened, a small blurb about a gang fight that ended with a casualty and a serious injury.
Your world comes crashing down, the whole event leaving you stunned. You couldn't really accept it at first, even a week after the wake and funeral was over. Life went on as normal, you still attended school, ate by yourself, and then went home to struggle through homework, making sure to carve out time to visit Kakucho in hospital and Rindo in juvie. But then it was a regular sunny day after you had just visited Rindo that the sadness and grief began to set in, and you find yourself unable to stop the tears.
Your appetite crashes, and the nightmares became endless, not helped by the fact that Rindo couldn't be with you to scare off the darkness. The paranoia that settled in the base of your gut refused to be shaken, the constant whisper from the back of your head that you would lose Rindo, Ran, Kakucho in the same way.
It haunted your every thought, Izana's pale, lifeless body framed by the coffin, and your nightmares where you would see Rindo's face instead. Every bruise, cut and bandage he showed up with became another gnawing fear. You stopped going to school for a bit, taking a break to try and deal with the grief, to try and heal.
Time does heal some wounds, and you eventually find yourself again, though that innocence lost never comes back. There's always a darkness in those eyes that Rindo couldn't unsee when you visit him, even though your jolly self returns, slowly. You aren't as trusting or open as you used to be, and though you stopped trying to convince Rindo to stop fighting entirely, Rindo notes that you started to track his bruises and injuries, the way your smile becomes more strained and you try to hide your clenched fists when he appears with new injuries.
Kakucho rubbed his temple, biting back the groan he could feel building in his throat, opting instead of the far safer option of a sigh. Not this shit again.
“If you look at her, I will kill you,” Izana continued calmly, his arms folded and hidden within the sleeves of his kimono, those blank violet eyes giving nothing away even as he stared down the rest of the Tenjiku executives. “If you breathe at her, I will kill you.”
Every single goddamn year since you and Izana have been together, this exact scenario has never failed not to play out on New Year’s Eve, like some sort of devious divine torture that Kakucho couldn’t stop from recurring. “Izana, this really isn’t the best way to start the new year,” was all he could get out as the black-haired Vice-Captain rubbed at his temples, watching the two Haitani brothers awkwardly shuffling their feet at that empty violet gaze fell on them accusingly, their eyes falling to the ground in a rare show of deference.
It was crystal clear who the Tenjiku President thought were the biggest threats to you, but what Kakucho couldn’t understand was why Izana didn’t simply order them out of the queue. This could all have been a private affair.
Maybe he wanted to show you off to his executives, as he usually did. Maybe he wanted to flex his might at you.
Whatever it was, it was between Izana and the divines, but Kakucho did wish that Izana took some pity on them from time to time.
The temple grounds buzzed with the sound of conversations of the crowds waiting in a line that seemed to stretch out a mile behind them like a larger-than-life snake. Kakucho checked his watch again. Another five minutes before the queue started moving, the first rings of the suzu bell ushering in the new year alongside the explosion of fireworks overhead.
And yet, you were still nowhere in sight.
No wonder Izana was getting angsty.
Not that the white-haired boy had been the one to get here three hours early to be so in the front of the queue, no. He had instead simply ‘suggested’ his Tenjiku executives not make him wait in line. And all six of them had turned up to make it happen, unwilling to risk his wrath when it came to something as important as celebrating New Year’s Eve with you. The group of six executives had split into two groups, with Kakucho, Ran and Rindo staying in the main queue for the suzu bell, and Muto, Shion and Mochi heading off for the Joya no Kane ceremony queue on the other side of the temple.
Izana had only wandered up around five minutes ago with a hot drink in hand for himself and none for them. But he had clearly expected you to be already here waiting for him like the rest of Tenjiku, despite Izana hating the idea of leaving you alone with his executives without his supervision, despite Izana refusing to drive up to Tokyo to meet you, instead insisting you travel down to Yokohama to meet him even if it took you twice as long to get here by public transportation.
Ye, the tan-skinned boy was hardly in the best of moods at the moment. And it was only getting fouler with every second you weren’t here, his eyes starting to narrow and his brows creasing as he scanned down the orderly line. Kakucho felt a bead of perspiration roll down the side of his head as he looked at his watch again, willing it to go slower so that you could get here in time.
“How if we go to the back of the queue?” Ran suggested almost cheerfully, with Rindo simply nodding along as fast as he humanly can, his blue and yellow hair whipping around with gusto as he did. “Or we can go check on the others. We really don’t mind much.”
Really, they would rather just exit the line that they had been queuing in and go over and bully Shion than be the target of Izana’s wrath.
“There you are, Izzy!”
The moment your voice floated over, the Tenjiku Heavenly Kings could only watch in awe as any promise of violence on Izana’s face instantly evaporated, melting away to reveal a soft, indulgent look, purple eyes whirling around to land on you as you excused your way past everyone else towards the front of the line where they had been waiting. Hurrying over the uneven stone steps, you had the bottom of your kimono slightly pulled up to keep yourself from tripping, long sleeves swaying freely with every shuffle-step you took, kinchaku hanging from one wrist.
Next to Izana’s handsome yet angry red and black-patterned kimono, yours looked gentle. The ying to his yang, Kakucho thought, watching you nuzzle into the white-haired boy’s side, one tanned arm slipping around your waist to hold you steady.
“You’re late,” Izana mumbled to you, right as the first fireworks lit up the cloudless night sky, bursting into vibrant colors that momentarily shone brighter than the full moon.
“I couldn’t find you,” you responded, turning your face up to beam at him. “That and the train station is quite a walk away.”
Kakucho took a deep breath, letting out a sigh of relief as his sole working red eye caught Ran’s violet ones, right before the older Haitani arched one eyebrow in a silent response and the two brothers slipped off, disappearing into the crowds. Another New Year Eve’s down without incident. The black-haired boy really couldn’t wish for a better outcome.
Omg I really really love how you write Rindou!!! It feels so on character, not like some mean toxic boy or overly lovestruck perfect man either, but nuanced. Writers usually dance around the topic of him having someone not involved in gang life at all, usually brushing it off or placing reader into that enviorment as well. Kudos to you for shinning light into how actually scary that must be for him!! Hope you post more
Rindo Tags | Masterlist (outdated)
I apologize that I took so long to reply to you, but this really means a ton to me!! Thank you for your kind words, I'm super happy to hear you like my portrayal of Rindo!
He has always come off to me as someone that acts tough on the inside but is all mushy on the inside especially when it comes to people he cares for (especially so that scene after the Tenjiku arc where he actually seemed to regret what happened), and I love to capture that relationship by introducing someone who is squishy through and through for Rindo to act macho around.
I can't imagine Ran acting the same way so Rindo is a very character to play around with!
I definitely look forward to exploring more on him and his relationship with reader <3
Kakucho rubbed his temple, biting back the groan he could feel building in his throat, opting instead of the far safer option of a sigh. Not this shit again.
“If you look at her, I will kill you,” Izana continued calmly, his arms folded and hidden within the sleeves of his kimono, those blank violet eyes giving nothing away even as he stared down the rest of the Tenjiku executives. “If you breathe at her, I will kill you.”
Every single goddamn year since you and Izana have been together, this exact scenario has never failed not to play out on New Year’s Eve, like some sort of devious divine torture that Kakucho couldn’t stop from recurring. “Izana, this really isn’t the best way to start the new year,” was all he could get out as the black-haired Vice-Captain rubbed at his temples, watching the two Haitani brothers awkwardly shuffling their feet at that empty violet gaze fell on them accusingly, their eyes falling to the ground in a rare show of deference.
It was crystal clear who the Tenjiku President thought were the biggest threats to you, but what Kakucho couldn’t understand was why Izana didn’t simply order them out of the queue. This could all have been a private affair.
Maybe he wanted to show you off to his executives, as he usually did. Maybe he wanted to flex his might at you.
Whatever it was, it was between Izana and the divines, but Kakucho did wish that Izana took some pity on them from time to time.
The temple grounds buzzed with the sound of conversations of the crowds waiting in a line that seemed to stretch out a mile behind them like a larger-than-life snake. Kakucho checked his watch again. Another five minutes before the queue started moving, the first rings of the suzu bell ushering in the new year alongside the explosion of fireworks overhead.
And yet, you were still nowhere in sight.
No wonder Izana was getting angsty.
Not that the white-haired boy had been the one to get here three hours early to be so in the front of the queue, no. He had instead simply ‘suggested’ his Tenjiku executives not make him wait in line. And all six of them had turned up to make it happen, unwilling to risk his wrath when it came to something as important as celebrating New Year’s Eve with you. The group of six executives had split into two groups, with Kakucho, Ran and Rindo staying in the main queue for the suzu bell, and Muto, Shion and Mochi heading off for the Joya no Kane ceremony queue on the other side of the temple.
Izana had only wandered up around five minutes ago with a hot drink in hand for himself and none for them. But he had clearly expected you to be already here waiting for him like the rest of Tenjiku, despite Izana hating the idea of leaving you alone with his executives without his supervision, despite Izana refusing to drive up to Tokyo to meet you, instead insisting you travel down to Yokohama to meet him even if it took you twice as long to get here by public transportation.
Ye, the tan-skinned boy was hardly in the best of moods at the moment. And it was only getting fouler with every second you weren’t here, his eyes starting to narrow and his brows creasing as he scanned down the orderly line. Kakucho felt a bead of perspiration roll down the side of his head as he looked at his watch again, willing it to go slower so that you could get here in time.
“How if we go to the back of the queue?” Ran suggested almost cheerfully, with Rindo simply nodding along as fast as he humanly can, his blue and yellow hair whipping around with gusto as he did. “Or we can go check on the others. We really don’t mind much.”
Really, they would rather just exit the line that they had been queuing in and go over and bully Shion than be the target of Izana’s wrath.
“There you are, Izzy!”
The moment your voice floated over, the Tenjiku Heavenly Kings could only watch in awe as any promise of violence on Izana’s face instantly evaporated, melting away to reveal a soft, indulgent look, purple eyes whirling around to land on you as you excused your way past everyone else towards the front of the line where they had been waiting. Hurrying over the uneven stone steps, you had the bottom of your kimono slightly pulled up to keep yourself from tripping, long sleeves swaying freely with every shuffle-step you took, kinchaku hanging from one wrist.
Next to Izana’s handsome yet angry red and black-patterned kimono, yours looked gentle. The ying to his yang, Kakucho thought, watching you nuzzle into the white-haired boy’s side, one tanned arm slipping around your waist to hold you steady.
“You’re late,” Izana mumbled to you, right as the first fireworks lit up the cloudless night sky, bursting into vibrant colors that momentarily shone brighter than the full moon.
“I couldn’t find you,” you responded, turning your face up to beam at him. “That and the train station is quite a walk away.”
Kakucho took a deep breath, letting out a sigh of relief as his sole working red eye caught Ran’s violet ones, right before the older Haitani arched one eyebrow in a silent response and the two brothers slipped off, disappearing into the crowds. Another New Year Eve’s down without incident. The black-haired boy really couldn’t wish for a better outcome.
spin off from my AL series "The Flag We Serve Under", though you don't have to read that to read this! got three more new year mini-fics lined up, one more AL, one Twst, and one more TR!
“I can’t believe your nerve,” Alabama huffed, crossing her arms in a sulk as she turned away from you, the usually easygoing battleship clearly upset at something you’ve done. “First, you only arrived back today - today - from god knows where, and then you spend the whole day partying it up with everyone else? What am I, spoiled meat?”
You hummed at her rebuke, making no attempt to scoot closer and close the gap between you and the white-haired girl. At least you knew what she was mad about this time, even if there wasn’t much you could do to fix either issues hanging like a storm cloud over her head. “Sorry Alabama, but you know, duty calls. I had to make some rounds, especially since we have so many new faces with us.”
“Some rounds?” the white-haired girl snapped back, turning to give you the stink eye. “You were having tea and cakes with that blond brat before you even came to tell me that you were back.”
Scratching the back of your neck, you looked away, chuckling awkwardly; ah, Queen Elizabeth. She ambushed you as soon as you stepped off the gangplank, but that one was on you. At least she was speaking to you again. “I’m here now?”
That wasn’t quite the right thing to say, it seemed. “That’s not the same,” she insisted, turning to face you head-on. “I’m your best friend, aren’t I? You should have spent the whole day with me, not just the last two hours of New Year’s Eve.”
The manifested boat under you rocked gently with the lapping of waves against its hull, the groan of the anchor chain echoing through the silent night sky dotted with a glittering blanket of stars that reflected across calm seas. It was just the two of you out here, with Alabama anchoring a few miles off from the base’s harbour. The stillness filled your ears, an almost unworldly peace that was a balm to your weary soul. The clock on your watch ticked on quietly, the seconds left to this year slipping through your fingers.
It was the first time you had been back at base in one month since your assignment to a classified mission that Alabama couldn’t accompany you on. You couldn’t really blame her either: this was the longest period of time the two of you had ever been apart, and it was clear that she hadn’t forgiven you for leaving her behind.
You sighed. Picking up three-quarter full tankard of beer you had set down to the side earlier, you sipped at it carefully, mindful not to spill it all over your face and accidentally waterboard yourself again. Those half-lidded red eyes slided over to watch you, the Eagle Union shipgirl mirroring your action and picking up her own tankard.
The plates of finger food that you had hastily prepared in an air fryer were placed in a questionably neat semi-circle around where the two of you sat, the open ocean stretching out as far as the eye can see, the pitch black horizon blending the edges of both sea and sky. You had tried to surprise Alabama with a picnic, but you unfortunately had somehow burned the chicken fingers and had been instantly caught when the other burst into the kitchen in panic. At least you had some backup nuggets.
This New Year Eve would be the fourth year since Alabama had joined your fleet as the first ever ship under your command. “Sorry Alabama,” you looked away guiltily. “Seems like I haven’t even realized that my job’s eating up more and more of my time.”
The world seemed to still for just a moment, the sound of the waves quieting until all you could hear was the steady beat of your heart in your ears. Your watch continued to tick down to midnight.
All of a sudden, your tankard was yanked away from you, and you could only watch jaw-dropped as the white-haired battleship girl emptied your remaining beer effortlessly down her throat in under twenty seconds. “W-wha-” You could only stutter out before the now-empty wooden mug was shoved back into your hands. “Hey! That’s mine.”
”You’re going to black out if you finish that,” she stated matter-of-factly.
No lie there. “Still,” you protested, reaching out in an attempt to grab hers only for said Eagle Union ship to slap your hand away, Alabama smoothly shifting to keep her own far away and out of reach from you. She definitely had added something to make hers stronger, and your secretary ship and best friend had never been too keen to share.
“Absolutely not.”
“But you drank mine!”
“How are you going to watch the fireworks if you’re drunk?”
You paused, ruby eyes that seemed to shimmer in the black night meeting yours easily. “Fireworks?” You echoed, unable to keep the intrigue out of your voice.
The heavy mechanisms of Alabama’s manifested battleship swirled to life as if on cue, the giant barrels of her navy guns that towered above you groaning as they turned their sights towards the sky, commanded solely by the will of your white-haired companion. And as her 16-inch guns fired a salvo, the reverberation of gunfire shook you to your bones, drowning out anything else you could hear as it filled your ears and your soul.
You whirled to look up - and just in time - your eyes sparkling with fireworks that burst into a multitude of colors right as your watch hand hit midnight, lighting up the cloudless sky and the shiny sea like fiery flowers. And Alabama’s were quickly joined by the rest of the ships still docked at base, and you couldn’t help the tears that welled in the corner of your eyes as you watched the night sky explode into a million colors.
Alabama said nothing, though one tanned arm moved to wrap around your waist, pulling you closer to her. ”Happy New Year, Commander.”
You leaned your head on her shoulder, rubbing at your eyes though never once tearing your eyes away from the spectacle. ”Happy New Year to you too, Alabama.”
spin off from my AL series "The Flag We Serve Under", though you don't have to read that to read this! got three more new year mini-fics lined up, one more AL, one Twst, and one more TR!
“I can’t believe your nerve,” Alabama huffed, crossing her arms in a sulk as she turned away from you, the usually easygoing battleship clearly upset at something you’ve done. “First, you only arrived back today - today - from god knows where, and then you spend the whole day partying it up with everyone else? What am I, spoiled meat?”
You hummed at her rebuke, making no attempt to scoot closer and close the gap between you and the white-haired girl. At least you knew what she was mad about this time, even if there wasn’t much you could do to fix either issues hanging like a storm cloud over her head. “Sorry Alabama, but you know, duty calls. I had to make some rounds, especially since we have so many new faces with us.”
“Some rounds?” the white-haired girl snapped back, turning to give you the stink eye. “You were having tea and cakes with that blond brat before you even came to tell me that you were back.”
Scratching the back of your neck, you looked away, chuckling awkwardly; ah, Queen Elizabeth. She ambushed you as soon as you stepped off the gangplank, but that one was on you. At least she was speaking to you again. “I’m here now?”
That wasn’t quite the right thing to say, it seemed. “That’s not the same,” she insisted, turning to face you head-on. “I’m your best friend, aren’t I? You should have spent the whole day with me, not just the last two hours of New Year’s Eve.”
The manifested boat under you rocked gently with the lapping of waves against its hull, the groan of the anchor chain echoing through the silent night sky dotted with a glittering blanket of stars that reflected across calm seas. It was just the two of you out here, with Alabama anchoring a few miles off from the base’s harbour. The stillness filled your ears, an almost unworldly peace that was a balm to your weary soul. The clock on your watch ticked on quietly, the seconds left to this year slipping through your fingers.
It was the first time you had been back at base in one month since your assignment to a classified mission that Alabama couldn’t accompany you on. You couldn’t really blame her either: this was the longest period of time the two of you had ever been apart, and it was clear that she hadn’t forgiven you for leaving her behind.
You sighed. Picking up three-quarter full tankard of beer you had set down to the side earlier, you sipped at it carefully, mindful not to spill it all over your face and accidentally waterboard yourself again. Those half-lidded red eyes slided over to watch you, the Eagle Union shipgirl mirroring your action and picking up her own tankard.
The plates of finger food that you had hastily prepared in an air fryer were placed in a questionably neat semi-circle around where the two of you sat, the open ocean stretching out as far as the eye can see, the pitch black horizon blending the edges of both sea and sky. You had tried to surprise Alabama with a picnic, but you unfortunately had somehow burned the chicken fingers and had been instantly caught when the other burst into the kitchen in panic. At least you had some backup nuggets.
This New Year Eve would be the fourth year since Alabama had joined your fleet as the first ever ship under your command. “Sorry Alabama,” you looked away guiltily. “Seems like I haven’t even realized that my job’s eating up more and more of my time.”
The world seemed to still for just a moment, the sound of the waves quieting until all you could hear was the steady beat of your heart in your ears. Your watch continued to tick down to midnight.
All of a sudden, your tankard was yanked away from you, and you could only watch jaw-dropped as the white-haired battleship girl emptied your remaining beer effortlessly down her throat in under twenty seconds. “W-wha-” You could only stutter out before the now-empty wooden mug was shoved back into your hands. “Hey! That’s mine.”
”You’re going to black out if you finish that,” she stated matter-of-factly.
No lie there. “Still,” you protested, reaching out in an attempt to grab hers only for said Eagle Union ship to slap your hand away, Alabama smoothly shifting to keep her own far away and out of reach from you. She definitely had added something to make hers stronger, and your secretary ship and best friend had never been too keen to share.
“Absolutely not.”
“But you drank mine!”
“How are you going to watch the fireworks if you’re drunk?”
You paused, ruby eyes that seemed to shimmer in the black night meeting yours easily. “Fireworks?” You echoed, unable to keep the intrigue out of your voice.
The heavy mechanisms of Alabama’s manifested battleship swirled to life as if on cue, the giant barrels of her navy guns that towered above you groaning as they turned their sights towards the sky, commanded solely by the will of your white-haired companion. And as her 16-inch guns fired a salvo, the reverberation of gunfire shook you to your bones, drowning out anything else you could hear as it filled your ears and your soul.
You whirled to look up - and just in time - your eyes sparkling with fireworks that burst into a multitude of colors right as your watch hand hit midnight, lighting up the cloudless sky and the shiny sea like fiery flowers. And Alabama’s were quickly joined by the rest of the ships still docked at base, and you couldn’t help the tears that welled in the corner of your eyes as you watched the night sky explode into a million colors.
Alabama said nothing, though one tanned arm moved to wrap around your waist, pulling you closer to her. ”Happy New Year, Commander.”
You leaned your head on her shoulder, rubbing at your eyes though never once tearing your eyes away from the spectacle. ”Happy New Year to you too, Alabama.”
Had this cute idea about writing some small New Year Eve scenarios but this massive writer’s block got me good ;w; it’s a bit late but i’m glad to have gotten this done! more to come in a bit
“Stuff it! I already called dibs!”
Kazutora, however, wasn’t having it, his leg shooting out to connect with the back of Mikey’s side as the duo-colored hair delinquent attempted to dislodge the other. “No! I got here first!”
You simply sighed, returning apologetic looks to the disapproving and wary glances your little group was receiving from the surrounding crowd, your kimono sleeve hitching as you reached to rub the back of your neck. The stars that usually blanketed the night sky were unfortunately covered behind a rolling group of clouds, though that was the last thing on your mind at the moment, you spotting from the corner of your eye Baji starting to fidget, his amber gaze eyeing the squabbling pair of delinquents still latched onto either of your arms.
You couldn’t even say for sure what they were bickering about, but knowing your three boys, it was probably something mundane.
The red lanterns that lined both sides of the path leading up to the shrine swayed in the gentle breeze, the strong sense of incense wafting down from the censor at the top of the stairs stinging your nose. It was New Year’s Eve, and you had been standing in the frigid air for a good part of the past hour, and it was clear that the constant waiting was getting to your Toman boys, even if it was their idea to do this. Kazutora and Mikey have escalated to butting heads right now, hands tangled in and yanking at each others’ hair, with an amused Draken and Mitsuya egging them on from the sidelines. Pah was more worried about when the food stalls would open.
The piercing stares from the general public were getting unbearable at this point. You checked your watch again, even as you were yanked right, then left, and then right again, the once tranquil night quickly filling with their bickering that kept growing louder and louder. Another half hour to go before midnight. “Guys, this really isn’t the best time,” you attempted to shush the two, as you turned to send a warning glance to Baji, who was right on the verge of jumping in on the action. “Can we decide this later? At home?” Your words fell on deaf ears as expected, with Kazutora and Mikey having escalated to a full-scale brawl in public, with punches to the face and kicks flying in every which direction.
It was right about then that Draken and Mitsuya changed their minds from instigators to interveners - and you could only be partially sure that it was from your polite request that got through to them and not due to the fact that you barely dodged a leg being swung your way. “Hey!” The Toman Vice President snapped, his arms swiping to catch Mikey in the chest, while the Second Division Captain stamped his foot horizontally and straight into Kauztora’s waist, effectively separating the two from tearing each other apart. “I said to stop it!”
He said to stop it? Well, you were sure it was you who proposed the idea, but whatever worked.
Baji however, in his misguided attempt to ‘help’, looped one arm through yours, the black-haired boy puffing up his chest as he announced loudly: “You shitheads don’t have to fight because I’ll be ringing the suzu bell with her.”
Oh so that’s what they were fighting about.
Instantly, you could see the veins throbbing in the foreheads of every Toman founder present (save Pah), as four pairs of eyes turned to lock onto Baji like clockwork. One second passed. Then two. Everyone in the line including you held their breaths, scared to be the one to ignite the leaking gasoline. Too little too late however, and as the silent bell went off, Toman’s First Division Captain thankfully freed you from his grip as the other delinquents lunged for him, with what remained of the sanctity of shrine grounds forgotten in the tussle that ensued.
The crowd around your group shuffled a little further, eager to give the brawling boys as much space as possible. You didn’t think your face could turn another redder under the judging stares. Instead you turned your back on them, determined to pretend as much as possible that you weren’t a part of their silly fights, huffing slightly as you did so. It was almost the new year for crying out loud, couldn’t they behave just this time?
But then you looked at your group of friends now sprawled across the floor and yanking at each other’s hakamas, and your eyes softened as you failed to bite back the chuckle that slipped your lips watching them quarrel. You really couldn’t ask for better friends than them.
Thankfully for you, you were truly saved by the bell, with the line beginning to shuffle forward as your watch reached midnight. In the distance, the sound of fireworks lighting up the night sky ushered in what you hoped would be another great year in the company of your friends. Though that didn’t mean you would be waiting for the five delinquents to finish their fight. You simply stepped forward with the moving line, slowly but surely leaving the Toman founders behind, still engrossed in their arguments.
Boys, honestly.
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