kento nanami would unconsciously close jars a little bit too tight due to his fear of spoiled food, causing you to need his help every time you wanted to access a jar he had used in the past. yet, he never realised how tight these jars were and the level of difficulty in opening it.
slowly, he started to realise a pattern. every single jar you'd ask for help to open, it would be a jar he had used recently. the jam he used to eat along with his bread daily, the jar of mayonnaise, every single other jar he had opened, you asked for assistance.
realising this pattern, he started loosening the jars by just a little bit every time he closes it. and you just stopped asking for help, that's when his suspicions were confirmed. you were struggling because of him...
a little voice in him tells him to tighten a jar once in while, to see you asking him for help as he desperately missed. but he just can't bring himself to consciously continue this behaviour, his love for you stepping over any personal need of his, knowing that in the end, a simple pleasure towards him could cause a debilitating stress towards you, he couldn't bear that thought.
warning: no spoilers, gn! reader, pining/soft sunday, Sunday info dumping as usual
summary: where Sunday will do everything except confess, and you just think heโs emotionally stunted.
a/n: i read about birds for this
halovian courting rituals
1. Gift giving. Like their close bird companions, Halovians participate in 'nuptial gifts,' a form of gift giving to a potential partner.
You were walking into the Oak Family Headquarters, Dewlight Pavilion, sent to deliver some letters. Although, youโve been here before, it was still a bit nerve wracking to be in such a place, undetached from your usual position as a lower end employee.
The entrance to Oak Family Headโs office was right in front of you. You bite your lip, shifting the documents to your other arm and knock.
โNightingale Famil-โ
The door swings open. The family head holding the door stands to the side.
โAh,โ Sunday says your name, โitโs you.โ
Your eyes widen, blinking a couple times. He remembers me?
โYes, itโs nice to see you again Mr. Sunday. Iโve come with documents from the Nightingale family detailing a new plan for the dreamscape.โ
He looks a bit disappointed?
He chuckles, then calls out to a lone employee, โyouโre dismissed for today, Iโll take care of the rest.โ
The Oak employee dips his head and leaves. Watching him leave fills a pit in your stomach.
โMr. Sunday, is something wrong?โ
Sunday sits up suddenly, โOh, no. Not at all.โ Itโs that movement that makes you realize that heโs been fidgeting with something in his lapโฆIs he always like this?
โI guess I was just a bit surprised,โ he smiles, looking down to the side. You caught him.
โSurprised? To see me?โ Although Sunday and you have met a few times. It was always business, just like nowโwell maybe he did stare a bit intently at you before, but something really was different this time!
He looks up and sheepishly slides a box across the table. โTake it asโฆbeing a good part of The Family.โ
For a few moments, your eyes set upon him. What is he planning? Itโs a small box. Almost nothing could fit in there. You lift the top up.
You gasp. Earrings worth more than your entire lifeโs salary. You slam it shut.
โM-Mr. Sunday. This really isnโt necessary. I justโโ you ramble on. Sunday places his gloved hand on yours.
โPlease, take it.โ
Looking into his eyes, you realize that putting up a fight with the Oak Head wonโt get you anywhere. You reluctantly take the box.
2. Preening. Similar to nature, touching a Halovian's wings is an intimate gesture to show one's interest in a romantic partner. Someone should never touch a Halovian's wings without asking!
Soon after, you come across Sunday again. This time at the Nightingale Familyโs institution. You were putting away blueprints, plans and documents your coworkers left laying around haphazardly. When a familiar voice calls out to you.
โGood evening. Working hard, I see.โ
โMr. Sunday?โ
He approached you, then looked around the room. He seemed to realize the situation you were in and scorned your coworkers. He mumbled something about you and moving to the โOak Family.โ As he spoke his wings were fluttering. They looked smooth and soft.
โYouโve been staring at my wings. Do they interest you that much?โ He chuckles.
โWell, they are very pretty butโโ
โWould you like to touch them?โ A light blush spreads across his face. Despite that, he seemed perfectly poised. His hands clasped behind his back, standing straight and looking right at you.
โI-is that alright?โ tumbles from your lips. You hesitantly reach out.
โI wouldnโt have offered otherwise.โ
Upon touching them, Sundayโs wings twitched away from you before settling down. The feathers are soft and plush. Some are darker in color while others are more pale. Theyโre surprisingly fluffy. A bit like fur but more delicate.
The blush darkened, his gaze shifted off to the wall. His composure utterly broken, his hands fidgeted behind his back.
โDid you know that birds groom each other as a social activity? It occurs betweenโฆma-members of a flock.โ He sputters. What is he saying?
Your fingers stroking his feathers create a flutter within his stomach. He leans into the touch. Taking that as a sign to continue, you reach farther up, a light brush into the coverts of his feathers. Sunday gasps and pulls away.
โโฆYou must take good care of them. Are all Halovian wings soft like yours?โ
He wishes that moment would never end.
3. Song. During courtship rituals many birds of different species tend to sing and dance. While that is popular among Halovian people, some may chose show affection through instruments instead.
One day, a notice appears at your door. Upon examining it you realize itโs an invitation from Sunday, instructing you to his office within the Dewlight Pavilion.
Could it be about the documents you sent him last time? You wrack your brain for any possible explanation. He had been acting weirder than usual.
Heat build up in your face upon recalling Sundayโs recent appreciation for you. The earrings that are far too expensive to wear anywhere, and even worseโyou bury your face into your hands. In a profound display of unprofessionalism, he let you touch his wings.
Still, every muscle in your body jittered with excitement, even though it shouldnโt.
โซ โฌ โฉ
Suddenly, the closer you got, the more the hallway echoed with the sound of a violin. Slowly, you carefully stepped towards the sound, till you found its source.
Sunday was playing the violin. You couldnโt help but freeze where you were and watch him. He truly did look like angel. As he drew his bow across the strings, the light from the window shined down on him. His hair reflected the light appearing almost white. Was he always this beautiful?
Abruptly, he stands up, โYouโre early. Sorry, I didnโt hear you come in.โ
โSorry, I didnโt mean to startle you,โ you closed the door behind you, โI didnโt know you could play. What song was it?โ
He places the violin down on his table and approached you, โItโs โSalut dโamor,โ one of the first pieces I learned how to play,โ Sunday put his hand behind his back, โthe dream master was the one that taught me.โ
โIt was very pretty, I can tell youโve been playing for a long time.โ
โThank you.โ A light blush spreads onto his cheeks, but itโs gone before you can realize it.
A loud silence sweeps the room. The two of you avert your eyes. This side of Sunday feels so different from what youโve been told. He always maintains a professional barrier. But if so, what was this?
Sunday calls your name, โhow do you feel about me?โ
โWhat?โ The question is so out of the blue, you mustโve heard wrong, โI think youโre a nice guyโโ
โI meant as a partner, I thought you knew. Was I not obvious enough?โ He mumbles over the last sentence.
โIโwellโโ you stumble over your words. He was serious. The earrings, the wing touching, the invitation. You dismissed it as him buttering you up. The โmost handsome man in Penaconyโ as delegated by the latest magazines, had feelings for you?
Your face felt so hot, you felt as if you could combust into flames at any moment, โI feel the same.โ
His expression softened. โThatโs a relief, I donโt have to cancel those reservations then.โ
โReservations?! Mr. Sunday-โ
โJust Sunday. Iโll pick you up later then,โ he smiled, then placed his hand near your ear, as if looking for something, โOh, but this time remember to wear those earrings.โ
a/n #2: soft Sunday is real, did u see how protective he was of Robin in the quest? i need more hoyo. feed my delusion
be cringe about your interests!! be embarrassing about the things that matter to you!! be unashamedly annoying with regards to the things that make your world go round!! the world is a better place because of it!!
โหโก โ FOUR TIMES MUALANI SUSPECTED SOMETHING WAS GOING ON (AND ONE TIME SHE WAS RIGHT)
pairing: kinich x reader
cw: no pronouns mentioned. ajaw is in a vacation. slight but not slight pda. mualani overreacting but she is a sweet. best friends trio. pyro vision reader mentioned. not beta-read.
reblogs and comments are appreciated โก
Mualani knew Kinich and you were friendsโclose best friends, just like you two were with herโbut lately, she couldnโt shake the feeling that something was off.ย
It started with little things, almost too subtle to be noticeable but somehow it didnโt escape from her perception. Things like how Kinich, ever the quiet guy, had begun lingering a little too long when he talked to you, or how youโd run all your way to the Scions of the Canopy's village just to welcome him back after a mission.ย
At first, she didnโt pay too much attention thinking you guys were just being more affectionative and caring to each other. However, as time passed by, it has been shown to be more than a mutual friendly appreciation and certainly beyond a mere coincidence.ย
I.
The first time Mualani noticed something different was in an early morning by the coast, watching the waves curl and crash. She often started her day stretching at the shore and riding the first waves of dawn. But this time, as she rounded a cliff, she spotted Kinich and you sitting on a rock overlooking the sea. The two of you were close enough that your arms brushed every time the wind picked up.
Kinichโs usual stern expression was softer than usual. Mualani squinted at you suspiciously. Were you... holding hands?
She jogged closer, but just as she got near enough to say something, Kinich quickly stood up, putting a considerable distance between you and himself. โYou're up early,โ he said, his voice in its usual calm.
You smiled warmly. โHey girl! How are the waves? We were just discussing about it.โ
Mualani tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. โYou were? Really?โ
You let out a light and confusing laugh, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear. โOf course.โ
She didnโt quite buy it, but you didnโt give her any reason to push further. โWell, the waves are good today! You guys joining?โ
Kinich only gave her a polite headshaking, while you nodded smiling. Maybe she was imagining things.
II.
Except she wasnโt.ย
A few days later, you were hanging out by Tequemecan Valley' canyons with Kinich standing quietly while you and Mualani chatted. However, every time she glanced toward him, Kinich seemed to be watching you a little too intently. It wasnโt the usual hunterโs focus; it was softer, caring, almost like... adoring.
The girl squinted, pretending to be interested in some flowers nearby while keeping an eye on you two. You didnโt seem to notice anything, or if did, you didnโt mind. You just kept talking, your laughter filling the air.
When Mualani caught Kinich staring again, she couldnโt help but ask, โKinich, you okay? Youโve been zoning out all day.โ
He blinked, his neutral mask slipping back into place. โIโm fine.โ
โHeโs just tired from all the training,โ you teased, winking at him.
Mualani raised an eyebrow, astonished by the scene before her eyes. Something was definitely going on.
III.
The third time came on a day when Mualani was guiding a group of Sumeruโs travelers near the springs when she spotted you and Kinich again, standing by the water. As she approached, she saw Kinich leaning down to whisper something to you, his lips close to your ear. You giggled softly in response.
Wait a minute... Kinich never whispers to anyone. Much less in such an intimate way and even less to make someone laugh. Mualani's instincts flared up immediately. What was he saying? And why did you look so happy about it?
She cleared her throat loudly as she walked up. โHey. What are you two whispering about?โ
Kinich straightened up quickly, crossing his arms. โNothing important.โ
You smiled at her, but there was a glimmer in your eyes that made the girl even more suspicious. โJust a silly joke,โ you said lightly.
A joke, huh? Mualani filed it away in her mind. This time she was very determined to figure out what was going on between you two.
IV.
It was late afternoon, and Mualani had just finished surfing when she saw you two by the waterside. Kinich and you stood close, so close as it has strangely been, and for a brief moment, she could have sworn Kinich was about to lean in and kiss you.
She froze, watching from a distance as you smiled up at him, your palm softly pushing his chest away. Were you two really about to kiss? It couldnโt be just her angle view. Could it be?
But just as quickly as it happened, Kinich stepped back, his usual stoic demeanor falling back into place. You turned and waved at her, your smile as bright as ever.
โLani. Hey! How was the surf?โ you called out.
Mualani, still in shock, shook her head. โUh... good. Really good.โ
She stared at you both for a moment longer, convinced sheโd almost witnessed something, but there was no proof. Again.
V.
In the several days that followed, Mualani continued to witness that strangeness that kept repeating itself every time you thought she wasnโt around, creating a certain tension between her and you and Kinichโalthough she doubted that you had noticed any difference, treating her as you always did from the beginning.
Even if it relieved her to know that nothing had changed in your friendship, the surfer couldn't help but feel upset too. Was it that bad if she found out? Didn't you trust her the same way she trusted you? She wanted to be able to release all of her thoughts and ask you if maybe there was something in your bond that was bothering you. But she didn't. And so, things remained the same.
That was a quiet evening, and the moon hung low over the mountains. Mualani had been taking a stroll, enjoying the peaceful night, when she stumbled upon you.
This time, though, there was no mistaking itโKinich and you stood together under some trees, locked in a slow, deep kiss.
The girlโs cheeks burned as red as the pyro vision you hold so dear closely, eyes widely opening and heart skipping a beat.ย She gasped, louder than she intended, and both of you quickly turned toward her. You blinked twice before smiling stiffly, even daring to look a bit embarrassed, while Kinich gave her a calm look, his hands still resting on your waist.
โYou two!โ She exclaimed shaking her head, โI canโt believe you didnโt tell me earlier! I mean, I knew something was up, but really?โ
You bit your lip while Kinich just blinked at her, slightly starting to look more guilty as well.
โWe didnโt mean to keep it from you for long,โ you said as you stepped out of Kinichโs arms and reached for her hand. โWe were just... taking our time.โ
Mualani arched an eyebrow. โTaking your time? You two were being so weird and annoying with all those suspicious interactions for weeks now! Iโm supposed to be your best friend!โ
Kinich rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable with the attention. โWe wanted to keep it quiet,โ he said, his voice low. โAt first, anyway.โ
Mualani softened, her fake scold melting away into genuine affection. โStill, I wouldโve loved to know sooner,โ she said, her tone gentler now. โYou know me better than anyone else. You know I would never judge you,โ she sighed as she watches the sorrow on your face. โNevertheless, Iโm really happy for you both. Really am.โ
You beamed and even Kinichโs usual stoic expression seemed to relax slightly.
Mualani continued, her voice full of warmth. โIโve always known you two had something special. And now that I know for sure, you better believe Iโm fully on board with this!โ She shot Kinich a playful look. โJust make sure you treat (Y/N) right, okay?โ
Kinich nodded, his eyes softening as he glanced at you. โI will.โ
You squeezed Mualaniโs hand, your eyes sparkling with gratitude and pure happiness. โThank you, Lani. Your support means a lot to us.โ
Mualani grinned, pulling you both into a tight hug. โJust donโt keep secrets from me again, alright? Iโm always here for you two.โ
You all laughed but shared a quick but sweet bond moment, the atmosphere light and easy. And somehow, Mualani couldnโt help but feel like everything had fallen into place just the way it was meant to.
โBut just for your information. If the day comes of you get engaged and donโt tell me immediately, Iโll crash the proposal myself, make a huge scene, and tell everyone how long Iโve had to put up with your not so secret glances and not so subtle hand-holding. Trust me, it wonโt be pretty!โ
To any Nanami writers out there I have a prompt for you guys
Imagine reader (or oc) is Haibara's sister and after his death, Nanami would come over every now and then to check up on you. During the time that passed you eventually ended up growing feelings for him but they were never revealed to him because after you guys grew to be adults and started your careers, you didn't have time to meet up.
One day nanami, tired after work, decides to treat himself to a nice dinner. There was a small restaurant near his work that his coworkers would always recommend so he decided to check it out.
The restaurant is actually reader's. She always loved cooking and after her brother's death she made the restaurant in his memory.
Basically it would be Nanami visiting every now and then (like when they were younger) and this time they both have time to develop feelings for eachother and actually get together. (or do they?? cough shibuya cough)
Anyways do what you will with this and if you decide to use this prompt plspls tag me in it I wanna read abt this so bad
Imagine Nanami Kento waking up from anesthesia after surgery, his bleary and unfocused gaze landing on you (his wife) standing beside him and holding his hand in yours. You smile at him warmly, softly reassuring him that he's okay and that you're right here beside him as he stares at you silently.
Nanami looks down at your joined hands, his gaze seems to focus on the wedding band adorning his ring finger. He stares at it for a moment before looking back up at you.
"Who are you?" He slurs, his words sloshy and imprecise. So unlike him, and so very adorable. "Are you a nurse?"
You giggle at Nanami's question.
"No, I'm not a nurse."
Nanami seems puzzled at your response. His brows furrow as his fingers move against yours, thumb stroking across your knuckles in that gentle motion he always does to soothe you. Your smile widens. Looks like there are some things that even ketamine can't erase.
"Wow. You got the most gorgeous smile. Are you a model? You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my whole life. You got really pretty teeth too..."
Kento's fingers tighten around yours, his voice falling into a groggy whisper.
"But...I think I'm married. We shouldn't be holding hands like this."
You bite your lip, fighting against the bubbling laughter in your throat and failing.
"O-Oh?"
Nanami nods, his expression shifting from one of appreciative awe to adorable seriousness.
"I want to be a good husband."
Well that just about melted your whole damn heart. Even the hospital staff in the background can't repress their "awww"s and "that's a keeper"s.
"Don't worry, you are a wonderful husband, Kento. I know that for sure."
He's confused again, those unfocused honey brown's searching yours, trying to figure out the situation as best as he can given the circumstances.
"How do you know?"
You raise your left hand, bringing it into his line of sight and wiggle your ring finger, the golden band surrounding it captures Nanami's attention in an instant.
"Because I'm your wife."
Nanami's eyes instantly grow wide, his expression morphing into one of childlike wonder.
"You're my wife?"
You laugh.
"Yes."
He squeezes your hand with a surprising amount of strength given that he was knocked out cold not that long ago.
"We're really married?"
"Yes."
"Wow..." Kento breathes, drifting off for a moment before asking you another question. "Have we kissed yet?"
His innocent yet hilarious question sends you into another fit of laugher.
"Y-yes! Many times."
Nanami rewards you with a dopey smile, his gaze so utterly loving, enchanted by your unrestrained joy.
"My wife." He murmurs adoringly, his fingers reaching up to caress your cheek.
"I love hearing you laugh." His palm cups your face. "You really are so beautiful. I hit the jackpot, didn't I?"
Grinning from ear to ear, you press a tender kiss to Kento's fingertips before guiding his hand back down to the bed.
"Alright sweetest man alive, you need to stop talking before you make every person in this room fall in love with you. I'm going to grab a snack for us for later. I'll be right back, okay?"
Kento nods.
"Okay. Can I get another kiss when you come back?"
Hey I really love your writings and drawings, could I request a capitano one shot, where he meets the embodiment of death on a battlefield and after some time they fall in love, please. I hope you have a great day/night.
(anon, you are literally speaking my language rn, because I had that same idea. Hope I did it justice โฃ slight enemies to lovers, fluff, reader hinted to have abyss powers)ย
โฆ A dance between the unyielding & the unconquerable
โง The current Pyro Archon, Mavuika, harbored a profound distaste for dealing with You and Il Capitano.
Not because of the obvious concerns such as the 1st Harbinger jeopardizing the safety of the gnosis, or you being an entity of abyssal nature. But because currently, the two of you stood in the grand arena exchanging too manyโฆ pleasantries.ย
โTo see you grace this battle arena with your might is truly an honor no man can ever hope to achieve. I'm looking forward to witnessing your grandeur once more.โย
The Captain held your hand in his armored one, his helmeted head leaned for a reverence kiss, knowing well these same hands could end him if you so desired. You mirrored his polite gentleness and smiled with a soft bow - โNonsense, the honor is all mine to see you in action.โย
Mavuika was already removing her red optics and sighing dejectedly. They will never get this over with. She saw a fair share of competitive banter between opponents in her time: tense bickering, respectful encouragement, or excited chatter. But witnessing the stoic, stern Harbinger exchanging smitten words with his immortal enemy? You two looked more like a couple ready to slow dance.ย
Perhaps your and Capitano's everlasting rivalry always resembled a dance.ย
โง Centuries ago, when the enigmatic faceless Fatuus first acquired the title of โThe Captainโ, he was employed by The Jester for one simple task โ Find you and eliminate you. You resembled a simple mortal, yet one gaze at your eyes, and the vision of abyssal hell could be reflected. The personification of oblivion, strolling the surface of Teyvat innocently, leaving no trace behind yet appearing soundlessly.ย
Your first exchange with him proved uneventful, as well. โA Fatuiโฆ Harbinger? What's that?โ - was all you said back then. Nonetheless, Capitano knew he shouldn't underestimate your anomalous powers, he is a powerful man himself, and his blade knows no deception.ย
He almost died that day.ย
Years passed, and the scars or toils of your battles with him remained. With constant expedition to the abyss, The Harbinger ventured between realms seeking you out for revenge. Each time you crossed paths, the outcome remained the same - a polite exchange, followed by earth-shattering battles where both of your weapons clash and bodies are exerted. However, was the Harbinger seeking you out of his obligation for the Fatui, or because you were the only one who witnessed his full might? Perhaps, because you were the one to draw scars along his skin, a fair result of the duels he ignited. Or because only you knew of the thrill the two of you provided when battling?ย
When bodies are taught with swift agility, blood surges hot with each evade. He feels your movement, swift and soundless, yet each murderous blow carries elegance as you fight him. This wasn't a gentle dance where he'll hold your delicate hand, and guide you on the ballroom floor by the waist. No, even if he secretly wished to. Alas, this was a dance where you would crush him to his knees, feel his sword pinning back against your weapon, holding his knuckles to block his direct attack.ย
And he loved every second of it. The way you moved effortlessly, mirrored his excitement and triumphantly knocked him to the floor, or used your abilities to loom over him. The Captain makes sure that all his attacks are up close and personal against yours.ย
โง At times, when fate mockingly sends him back following your shadow, heโd encounter you in less hostile places. You sat at some ledge of a cliff, not far away from the People of the Springs tribe, your head raised to look at the fake stars of Teyvat. The Harbinger knew there were civilians nearby, initiating the usual duels would be unwise. Instead, he would sit next to you and raise his helmeted face at the taunting stars that brought you together. It was a rare moment of solitude, to see your figure next to him, so human-like and simple. Even he feels so human in your presence.ย
And on such quiet, gentle nights โ you two would just talk. Legs inching closer to sit close by. A hand gently placed on top of another. Silhouettes of two faces leaning tenderly into one, unseen by the dark sky as they exchange silent kisses.ย
It was a foolish fate, for the immovable to fall in love with the indestructible. Thus, this was your life with the 1st Fatui Harbinger.ย ย
โง Going back to the present with Mavuika; the Pyro Archon received reports that not only did the Fatui send their strongest Harbinger, but the Abyss also sent their most formidable entity. For Natlan, this would be grave news, but as she delves deeper into understanding the two of you, the pieces of the puzzle start to fit together. How come the Captain is always conveniently there when you are sighted? How come when you two are supposedly meant to clash, no actual devastations happen?ย
Instead, Il Capitano stays close to you. His armored hand is often clasped around yours to kiss the skin that can shower the world with annihilation. He'd drape his coat over your figure protectively, shielding you from stranger's fearful stares. You never liked unwanted attention, only he had the right to bask you in his. And most importantly, he'd kneel beside you so you may cup his helmeted face and bestow upon him tender kisses on his pitch-black visage.
Perhaps Mavuika has nothing to worry about. If the immovable cancels out the indestructible, then you two are not here to wreck chaos onto Natlan. Maybe you two are using it as a honeymoon destination.ย
in which : both you and jiaoqiu are deeply concerned about each other's health but have an unconventional way of showing it.
pairing : jiaoqiu x gn!reader
wc 850, established relationship, 2.5 spoilers woops (but this isn't angst trust), also ib by an iconic line in 2.5 iykwim, art by @/Lianzi_ on x, reblogs r much appreciated!!!
how do we get a picky eater to eat green peppers?
being a picky eater isn't easy, especially when you have a sly fox like jiaoqiu in your kitchen.
you think you're safe when you see a simple, mouthwatering dish; but with him, there's always a catch. beneath the savoury aroma of perfectly cooked meatballs or the comforting warmth of a soup, he hides the things you avoid โfinely diced peppers, a hint of spice, or icky vegetables you swore youโd never touch.
jiaoqiu doesnโt say a word, but the way his ears twitch gives him away. he watches with a subtle, knowing grin as you take a bite, waiting for you to realize what heโs done. though by the time you do notice, itโs already too late. despite your best efforts, the subtle icky flavour of green peppers have already permeated your taste buds.
โyou didnโt even notice, did you?โ he teases, his voice laced with mischief.
you shoot him a glare as you reluctantly finish the dish, the flavours blending together so seamlessly that you almost forget what you were trying to avoid in the first place. (seems like his culinary skills managed to win you over once again)
โthatโs not very polite of you, doctor.โย
jiaoqiuโs smile widens at your response. โah, come on now,โ he says, feigning a hurt expression. โit's all in good fun. besides, you know those peppers are packed with vitamins. itโs good for you.โ
you let out an exaggerated sigh, your irritation still simmering. โwell, just because your dish turned out good, donโt think iโm letting you off the hook that easily,โ you say, rolling your eyes, though a small smile tugs at the corners of your mouth.
jiaoqiu only chuckles at your response, clearly amused. โi see how it is,โ his tone taking on a teasing lilt as he steps a little closer, โyou best stay on your guard then, dearest.โย
โhow do we get a picky eater to eat green peppers?โ the answer is quite simple. chop the peppers and mix them with minced meat to make meatballs, allowing the meatโs flavor to mask the peppers so even your fussy spouse can enjoy them.
how do we get a stubborn doctor to drink his medicine?
being a doctor isn't easy, especially when youโre injured and your partner is more worried about your own health than you are.
โqiuโer, iโm back!โ the sound of your voice instantly draws his attention, he turns his head in your direction, the subtle rustle of sheets accompanying his movement. the bed dips slightly under your weight as you settle beside him, the warmth of your presence soothing. โhere, i brought you some tea,โ you murmur.ย
โcareful, itโs hot.โ you gently lift the cup to his lips, the steam rising and carrying with it the sweet, spiced scent of cinnamon โhe immediately notices the strong overpowering smell right away.
ahโฆ cinnamon? so you took his advice from years ago, but unfortunately a foxโs senses are sharper than most.ย
his nose scrunches slightly as the liquid gently brushes against his lips. โspiked my tea with something, dearest?โ you pause, setting the cup down with a soft clink. though just as youโre about to retort, his hand reaches out, searching for you with a gentle touch. his fingers graze your arm, then find your hand, which he clasps with a tender grip.
โcinnamon is excellent for masking strong odors and is even used to conceal the scent of poison... but you wouldnโt be so cruel to me, would you?โ he remarks with a playful smile, though thereโs an ironic edge to his words, given his current condition.
you let out an exasperated sigh, โyou wouldnโt take your medicine, qiuโer. i never thought youโd be such a stubborn doctor.โย
he chuckles softly, the sound low and a little raspy. โstubborn? i prefer โselective.โโ his grip on your hand tightening ever so slightly. โand i chose to have you as my doctor.โย
โif it means i get to be the one who takes care of you, then iโll gladly accept that,โ you reply, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. โnow get some rest โdoctorโs orders.โ you help him settle back on the bed, careful not to accidentally press on his bandaged wounds, before gently pulling the sheets up to cover him.
you lean down to kiss the crown of his head, running your fingers through his hair in a soothing, rhythmic motion. โiโm only following your orders, baobei,โ he mumbles softly, his words trailing off as he drifts into a peaceful sleep.
today the sun may blaze brightly in the sky, but its brilliance fades next to the warmth of your smile, a light that, though he may not be able to see, touches his heart more profoundly than the brightest day ever could.
how do we get a stubborn doctor to drink his medicine? easy. disguise it in a comforting cup of tea, masking the bitterness with cinnamon, so even he wonโt notice until itโs too late. of course, your tricks never really fool him, but he lets you win anyway.
in which : both you and jiaoqiu are deeply concerned about each other's health but have an unconventional way of showing it.
pairing : jiaoqiu x gn!reader
wc 850, established relationship, 2.5 spoilers woops (but this isn't angst trust), also ib by an iconic line in 2.5 iykwim, art by @/Lianzi_ on x, reblogs r much appreciated!!!
how do we get a picky eater to eat green peppers?
being a picky eater isn't easy, especially when you have a sly fox like jiaoqiu in your kitchen.
you think you're safe when you see a simple, mouthwatering dish; but with him, there's always a catch. beneath the savoury aroma of perfectly cooked meatballs or the comforting warmth of a soup, he hides the things you avoid โfinely diced peppers, a hint of spice, or icky vegetables you swore youโd never touch.
jiaoqiu doesnโt say a word, but the way his ears twitch gives him away. he watches with a subtle, knowing grin as you take a bite, waiting for you to realize what heโs done. though by the time you do notice, itโs already too late. despite your best efforts, the subtle icky flavour of green peppers have already permeated your taste buds.
โyou didnโt even notice, did you?โ he teases, his voice laced with mischief.
you shoot him a glare as you reluctantly finish the dish, the flavours blending together so seamlessly that you almost forget what you were trying to avoid in the first place. (seems like his culinary skills managed to win you over once again)
โthatโs not very polite of you, doctor.โย
jiaoqiuโs smile widens at your response. โah, come on now,โ he says, feigning a hurt expression. โit's all in good fun. besides, you know those peppers are packed with vitamins. itโs good for you.โ
you let out an exaggerated sigh, your irritation still simmering. โwell, just because your dish turned out good, donโt think iโm letting you off the hook that easily,โ you say, rolling your eyes, though a small smile tugs at the corners of your mouth.
jiaoqiu only chuckles at your response, clearly amused. โi see how it is,โ his tone taking on a teasing lilt as he steps a little closer, โyou best stay on your guard then, dearest.โย
โhow do we get a picky eater to eat green peppers?โ the answer is quite simple. chop the peppers and mix them with minced meat to make meatballs, allowing the meatโs flavor to mask the peppers so even your fussy spouse can enjoy them.
how do we get a stubborn doctor to drink his medicine?
being a doctor isn't easy, especially when youโre injured and your partner is more worried about your own health than you are.
โqiuโer, iโm back!โ the sound of your voice instantly draws his attention, he turns his head in your direction, the subtle rustle of sheets accompanying his movement. the bed dips slightly under your weight as you settle beside him, the warmth of your presence soothing. โhere, i brought you some tea,โ you murmur.ย
โcareful, itโs hot.โ you gently lift the cup to his lips, the steam rising and carrying with it the sweet, spiced scent of cinnamon โhe immediately notices the strong overpowering smell right away.
ahโฆ cinnamon? so you took his advice from years ago, but unfortunately a foxโs senses are sharper than most.ย
his nose scrunches slightly as the liquid gently brushes against his lips. โspiked my tea with something, dearest?โ you pause, setting the cup down with a soft clink. though just as youโre about to retort, his hand reaches out, searching for you with a gentle touch. his fingers graze your arm, then find your hand, which he clasps with a tender grip.
โcinnamon is excellent for masking strong odors and is even used to conceal the scent of poison... but you wouldnโt be so cruel to me, would you?โ he remarks with a playful smile, though thereโs an ironic edge to his words, given his current condition.
you let out an exasperated sigh, โyou wouldnโt take your medicine, qiuโer. i never thought youโd be such a stubborn doctor.โย
he chuckles softly, the sound low and a little raspy. โstubborn? i prefer โselective.โโ his grip on your hand tightening ever so slightly. โand i chose to have you as my doctor.โย
โif it means i get to be the one who takes care of you, then iโll gladly accept that,โ you reply, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. โnow get some rest โdoctorโs orders.โ you help him settle back on the bed, careful not to accidentally press on his bandaged wounds, before gently pulling the sheets up to cover him.
you lean down to kiss the crown of his head, running your fingers through his hair in a soothing, rhythmic motion. โiโm only following your orders, baobei,โ he mumbles softly, his words trailing off as he drifts into a peaceful sleep.
today the sun may blaze brightly in the sky, but its brilliance fades next to the warmth of your smile, a light that, though he may not be able to see, touches his heart more profoundly than the brightest day ever could.
how do we get a stubborn doctor to drink his medicine? easy. disguise it in a comforting cup of tea, masking the bitterness with cinnamon, so even he wonโt notice until itโs too late. of course, your tricks never really fool him, but he lets you win anyway.
OMGGG SO I SAW YOUR HCS ABOUT KYOYA AND I HAD TO ASK ONE TOO. Can your write a Kyoya x reader ( the reader is a commoner like Haruhi ) AND LIKE KYOYA SPOILS HER ??AND FELL IN LOVE WITH HER LIKE WHEN HARUHI INTRODUCE HER TO THE CLUB . Maybe fluff . TYSM ILY๐ค๐ค๐ค
this req is so cute wtf, watch me lock in and do hcs PLUS drabbles :3
kyoya x commoner fem! reader hcs
warnings: none, just language like always
no nsfw under the cut, just suggestive
โข safe to say you two definitely met through haruhi
โข haruhiโs a close friend of yours and she invites you to come and take a look at the club after school
โข since you guys wanna spend more time together but school + work gets both of you busy
โข so when you come in with haruhi whoโs normally by herself and assumed to not have a social life outside of the host club, nothing short of chaos ensues
โข i pity you if you have a short social battery bc youโre gonna be pulled in every which way by our fav short tempered blondie!
โข you get to meet tamaki first obvi, given heโs usually the first one to meet haruhi at the door most days anyways
โข heโs super cliche in a good way, greeting you happily and telling you how pretty your name sounds
โข and then haruhi eventually swats his ass off the both of you and walks you further in to take your first look around
~
your shoes click against the floor as your hand remains lightly holding hers, your eyes wandering around the room as she guides you through it. โyou never told me how pretty this place was, haruhi,โ you murmur, your gaze still shifting to different spaces.
she scoffs softly, but thereโs no malice in her voice with her next words. โitโs less exciting after youโve gotten used to it, but iโm happy you like it,โ she replies sincerely, tilting her head slightly to watch your expression as you look around.
~
โข for plotโs sake, you know everyone by name already and like their upbringing/family because haruhiโs been keeping you up to speed
โข so today was just a matter of seeing everyoneโs faces for the first time and getting to meet them in person
โข after a while you and haruhi get some tea and find somewhere to sit, just chatting and enjoying each otherโs company
โข and heโs walking around and making sure the guests are pleased like tamaki and the other hosts are, and thatโs how you end up meeting each other
โข he was charming as always, it wasnโt a surprise you fell for him
~
โso which twin ended up being pink?โ you ask with a smile, earning a stunted chuckle from haruhi as she finishes her tea. โyour guess is good as mine.โ
โyou all seem to make a surprisingly good team, considering your unorganized โking of the host club,โโ you mutter teasingly, taking another sip of your tea. โiโd say the same,โ she agrees, โbut iโd say some hosts take care of things better than others.โ
another set of shoes is heard against the floor, and haruhi seems to recognize the pair. she looks to the right of you, and you tilt your head to follow her gaze. your eyes soften. heโs gorgeous.
โspeaking of which,โ haruhi continues, as he moves to stand beside you twoโs shared table. โhave i introduced you to kyoya yet?โ
โootori?โ you confirm quietly, your voice died down from an awe of some kind. he seems to notice and a ghost of a smirk is on his face as he nods.
โiโve heard your family spoken of highly,โ you say politely, lifting your hand out for him to shake. โitโs nice to finally meet you.โ
he eyes your hand for a moment, his gaze a bit softer from your words as he takes it and kisses the back of it, haruhiโs eyes just barely widening at the rare sight. his response is a quiet mumble against your hand before he lets go. โlikewise.โ
~
โข itโs easy to tell he likes you
โข heโs not usually very affectionate with guests unless he knows itโs needed to satisfy them
โข he talks with haruhi about like budgets and things for a quick second and then goes back to work
โข but he canโt stop thinking about you
โข so naturally he wants to see you again, and drops like crazy subtle hints to haruhi that sheโs allowed to bring around her friends
โข and our lovely haruhi takes the bait and brings you back around, and slowly it becomes a common occurrence
โข youโd meet up with her after school and youโd walk to music room 3 together, and youโd catch up with her or help each other study while the other hosts paid you two sporadic visits
โข except kyo, heโd make an effort to come see you everytime
โข this goes on for a couple months
โข and after a while you started catching on because the man is not as sneaky as he thinks he is
โข so naturally you end up asking him out one day while haruhiโs away and hosting
~
โootori?โ
he looks up from his laptop and meets your eyes, a silent sign for you to continue talking. โis it hard developing romantic feelings for people as a host?โ
he hums in contemplation and shakes his head. โiโd say itโs about the same, considering this is nothing more than a job for me,โ he murmurs truthfully, a slight smirk brimming on his face as he adds, โwhy do you ask? are you falling for a host?โ
you shrug. โmaybe. but itโs hard to tell if i should do anything about it.โ
โand whyโs that?โ
โhosting is nothing more than a job for them,โ you retort softly, a hint of a smile on your face as you look back down at the paper youโre working on. heโs silent for a moment as he takes in your words, before his collected facade transitions into something softer.
โand how would you feel if you were their one exception?โ he inquires nonchalantly, his confession making your eyes widen slightly as you look back up at him.
โi think you should kiss me,โ you ask bluntly, your words tentative but genuine. you donโt have to ask him twice, and itโs light and careful but his lips meet yours and his free hand moves to the back of your head to gently hold you still.
thereโs a calmer look on his face that mirrors yours once he pulls away, his words soft and clear and almost teasing. โi think you should start calling me by my first name.โ
you donโt fight the widening of your tiny smile and nod in understanding, gently pulling him in by his uniform collar for another kiss. he leans into and returns it, and itโs right now that he realizes heโs never gonna get enough of you.
Could you make an idea where Bokuto, Iwaizumi, and Suna,Wakatoshi find out that Readers had a crush on them in the past.
Hey love sure I can ^^ my pleasure
I only did 3 characters (*ยฏ๏ธถยฏ*) (it's more about length than anything) oh and you didn't specify the genre so I took some liberties there
Pairings (separate): Timeskip! Ushijima, Bokuto & Iwaizumi x Fem! Reader
Prompt: They find out you had a crush on them in the past
Genre: Angsty (barely there), crack, fluff
Warnings & content: Grammar - cursing- kinda short ugh - Honorifics - Argentinian Tooru ๐ค๐ป - Reader is Oikawa's sister on Iwa's
Ushijima Wakatoshi
"A ton of girls had crushes on you Wakatoshi"
"I find that.... Non probable"
"No no, he's right"
Since Ushijima had finally spare time on his busy schedule he could meet with some of his former teammates and still friends.
Stories came and went, memories, little inside jokes. And finally, the subject of high-school or college crushes, first loves, you name it, came into conversation
"Shirabu probably had more fans in that aspect?"
"With that bowl cut?!?!"
"Because he's a med student you dumbass!"
"No need to yell Semi Semi"
"Stop that!"
"Now now uh.... Wakatoshi are you alright?"
Ushijima looked like he had a revelation or rather as he was depicting some big enigma
"How would those people act when having a crush... On me"
Both of the once spiky haired friends looked at each other, one more amused than the other
"Well it depended on the person Wakatoshi-kun. Some of them were more shy and looked at you from the bleachers"
"I saw one being bolder and leaving some notes on your locker, you never told us about it so we let it go"
Ah yes, notes. Little notepads or post it mainly in green with encouragement words, compliments to his appearance, to his devotion to the sport and so on
"The notes one... I.... I know her"
A dual toned of a "What?!?!" screeched comically to the sky
And there was a sudden change in the vibes of the cafรฉ you were sitting down, as you felt a shiver running through your spine
"Who's talking shit about me?"
"No one geez. Get to work, we're under the deadline you have to move" Your co-worker said with a whine. You both had taken your laptops to keep on track as the official time at the office wasn't enough
Thankfully you were at least enjoying a little treat before arriving home to deploy into your bed and sleep like a bear but....
People around couldn't help to notice 3 tall grown men, one in rock-punk attire, another with a red buzzcut and THE Ushijima Wakatoshi
Safe to say you're quite clueless when tired and tasting a late night iced coffee with double whipped cream
"That's her?"
"How do you know her?"
Ushijima sighed and didn't take off his gaze from you as he wrote down on something that was in his hands
"She works in the monthly volleyball magazine... We kind of have been finding each other even after school"
"Soooo a sports journalist, nice Wakatoshi-kun, oh?"
The tease didn't reach Ushijima's ears as he was walking up to you with an unusual shy stance and with the something he wrote on clutched in his big hands
He was practically at your nose when you noticed his presence, and his extended hand with a pink post it
"Ushijima?"
"May I give back those words you sent to me?"
Cue two (three with your coworkers) distand gasps and chuckles, in synch to the memories that flew to your mind
"What words do you - Ohhhhh right....."
You coughed awkwardly
"Umm do you know what those meant? Like what little me wanted to achieve?"
Ushijima nodded and sat down by your side with a look you recognised
The one he had when he targeted a place to spike, a goal
"I understand now, quite shamefully.... But the intention is now, I hope, the same"
Your brain stopped working and the only sight was of 16 year old you giving up and just delivering Ushijima the notes in person, not caring since his reaction was always the same: A soft "Thank you, I'll work hard" and sometimes a pat on your head
You were sure your feelings weren't reciprocated. And while it hurt a little, you didn't stop giving the little snippets of your puppy love, just wanting him to feel cared of, feel loved even...
So imagine your poor heart when you saw the post it
A little wobbly heart and a "I liked you too, I still do"
And when you glanced at him you couldn't suppress the palpitations and heat over your face. As if you were a teenager over again
Ushijima wasn't at a better state.
He remembered himself, fixed on his first love: the court and the feeling of victory. He knew you were special to him and vice versa, after all, who would spend so many ink and paper on him? He appreciated the gestures and the fuzzy feeling in the pit of his stomach, he thought it was because your words were always sincere, without a second intention, he liked that. That was all, he swore
But like some sort of cinematic flashback he realised how many other people made known their affection for him, and while he had noticed them he never felt the same as with yours.
Guess some form of love was what he felt everytime he saw your gifts, even after when he saw you on your classroom or club room. Almost as when he played volleyball with his dad on his little backyard
Adult Ushijima wanted to smack his poor oblivious self, even his self of half an hour ago. Alas it was too late to be at the end of your fondness
"You can always pretend this didn't happen-"
He said, as a way to save you from the embarrassment
But it was your turn to surprise him, as you interrupted him
"Over my dead body"
You saw him smile at your dramatic answer and when he was about to grab your hand your coworker dissipated the little glittery pink atmosphere you had
"Hey earth to my friend? Sorry Ushijima-san I need her to finish this. After that she's all yours"
Safe to say you worked faster than ever with the new hope sown into your heart and the pinky holding yours under the table
Bokuto Kลtaro
Right now the only thing your mind could be concentrated on was the way Bokuto stuffed down your batch of muffins. His squirrel like cheeks making you giggle internally, you couldn't believe this hunk of a man would be enjoying your work so much
"They're always so good! I swear you make the best comfort pastries here!"
You hummed as you gently swiped some of the crumbs plastered on his cheeks "Glad to see they bring such much joy Bokuto-san"
"You sound just like Akaashi, just Bokuto is fine really"
"I refuse to. Remember, it's like we met again"
It was somewhat true. You've had met on a Fukorodani vs Nekoma practice match and while you were cheering for your own team the one who caught your eye was the opposite team's ace.
Crushing on him wasn't difficult
The difficult part was to go up to him and confess. As emotionally intelligent as he was, it seemed like his ability died when you were on his ratio
You gave him a letter on the training camp "Oh thanks for the support! I love encouraging notes!"
Gave him something for valentines, when you sneaked out of school to deliver it "D'awww you didn't have to. I'll share these with the team, there's a lot!"
At one point you just decided to stop. Fortunately at the same time you both graduated and, since you wouldn't follow volleyball steps, you didn't think you would find him again
Except you did, when he was broader, more cheerful, more mature.... Even more handsome.
The little bakery escapade leadered by Hinata ended up in your heart feeling the same twisting motion you did on your cinnamon rolls.
And now you're here, after some months were Bokuto had spent quite literally all of his free time with you. He didn't even eat in all his visits, which you thanked since you didn't want to be on the watch list of his nutritionist
"All of this starting again and stuff, why?"
Golden eyes now watching into your very soul. One that was still yearning
"It's silly Bokuto-San...."
And what's best for the weak of heart than to let go? You're an adult after all, you should be able to talk about feelings and high-school crushes without feeling overwhelmed
"I liked you when we were at school so I wanted a fresh start, a new me that wouldn't be so head over heels for you" you tried to entone in a playful manner
Yeah that's it, this would give you the closure your heart needed
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?"
Was the slight exasperation from Bokuto's mouth
"H-huh?"
You were kinda used to his sudden outburst of energy, his expressions of sadness, pride everything else. But this, this was raw pain
His hands were gripping his hair, almost hurting the scalp. And you almost jump on your seat when he let out a heartbreaking whine
"I had the fattest crush on you since I met you" he then cursed softly and hid his face on his hands, his hair going automatically down
"I messed up, didn't I? Why would you be trying to fall out of me? Oh I swear to-" he continued his ramble, loud enough to scape through his fingers
"Bokuto-San"
You called once
"Bokuto"
Then twice
And at the third time his words were almost materializing in the air and clouding the view
"Kลtaro"
Oh that did the trick, his hands on his thighs and his full attention on you
"Y-yeah?"
Were those tears on his eyes? No, never mind, why did he ignored your confessions if he liked you too? You needed answers
"I think I was rather obvious back then, why didn't you say anything?"
His eyes widened once again and grimaced as he let his head hit the table
"I thought you were just being kind and nice" he turned his face and looked at you "Thought you liked Yaku, you know? He seemed more like your type than me" the last part said with a pout
And with the confusion resolved you giggled at you both's naiveness and placed your palm against his chin, taking his face away from the table
"Well, I never gave Yaku a love letter or a basket full of home made pastries for valentines"
"Oh" was his answer as he looked down to the floor with a sheepish expression
"Oh" You mirrored and left a tentative kiss on his cheek. A kiss that made him recover the color of his face and the glint of his eyes
"Is this another way to start again?"
"mmm?"
"Cuz I'd love to take you on a date"
Iwaizumi Hajime
"Iwa-chanIwa-chanIwa-chan"
"God dammit what do you want Oikawa?"
"Le gustabas a mi hermana cuando estรกbamos en el colegio"
"What the hell is that suppose to mean?!"
Ah yes, another day of Oikawa saying stuff to Iwaizumi in full spanish just to leave him hanging on the meaning. Typical Monday evening at the Oikawa household when he came to visit
"I might ruin your source of income for when you ruin your knees and shoulders"
"And that is?"
"Your face"
Oikawa faked a faint and rested his head on Iwa's shoulder
"Oh poor me with all my money, and my fans y los sobrinos que me hubieras dado si fueras mรกs atento"
"I swear to every good thing on heaven that if you don't tell me what on God's earth that means-"
"Hajime"
Bingo, you could answer his questions. You were Oikawa's little sister and when you finished high school you followed your brother steps to Argentina, being a tad bit more fluent than him even mastering the accent
"Is Tลru making fun of you again?" You giggled as you pushed your brothers face out of his bicep
Yeah, you were sweeter but still an Oikawa. A tease, a menace and the source of pain of his heart
Fuck the clichรฉ of falling for your best friend's sibling. Iwaizumi swore to every deity it wasn't funny, might as well make him fall for a celebrity that studied in the same school, at least his delusions wouldn't be fed everyday
You teased the living lights out of him, but most of your shenanigans were directed at Oikawa so it was a weird alliance between the two of you.
And he couldn't help but hope. You didn't give home made meals to the whole team, just him.... And Oikawa, sometimes the whole Seijoh four.... Yeah that crosses it out
Or when you let him rest his head on your lap--Ah shit you did that with Kyotani once, mostly because his dog had died but nothing else
Hugs? You were physically affectionate with everyone and that just doubled when you went abroad
Special attention? You were basically the non official manager for them and the president of your class, you gave attention to everyone
Third year Iwaizumi concluded his attraction for you was a cruel destiny's game
At least he had your friendship
"I just need you to translate something your idiotic brother has been saying to me"
"Iwa-chan rude!"
"Ah the magic word Hajime"
Seriously?
"Ple-"
"No Hajime, how I taught you"
He just rolled his eyes but a smirk set on his lips
"Por favor"
Oikawa looked like that meme/gif cat who's in shock moving their face around as he heard the soft not so foreign words
"You little traitor you've been teaching him stuff!? IDIOTA!"
Iwaizumi lost your focus as you started bickering with Oikawa, until a tiny eeny secret was dropped
"Why do you care so much Tลru!?"
"I just told him you liked him!"
What. In Iwaizumi's voice
What. In your voice
Mierda. In Oikawa's voice
I'm kind of a sucker for this trope, when it's reciprocated is super cute (๏พยดใฎ`) (tho I feel my writing in this is wack)
Iwa's it's a bit of crack but like, it just flowed jsjs
Hope you're still there anon and that you like this huhu
Ushijima Wakatoshi x f!reader
The Super Ace of Shiratorizawa overheard a conversation between his teammates and his crushโฆ and he did not like it.
The first time Ushijima Wakatoshi met you was when you went to the gym to return Tendou Satoriโs book. Apparently the two of you had gotten your books mixed up. After profusely apologizing, Tendou had asked the stoic captain to accompany you while he ran to the locker room to get your book from his bag.ย
Awkwardly, Ushijima carried out his mission, making small talk with you (the small talk was asking for your name and class, then proceeding to stay silent). His first impression of you was that youโre quite shy and polite. He felt pleasantly surprised when you didnโt show an ounce of awkwardness even when the two of you stood silently. His teammates would always say that heโs bad at socializing and can often seem intimidating because of his quietness, but the silence that engulfed the two of you was comfortable and natural.
So imagine his surprise when Tendou returned and a switch in you immediately flips: there are not a lot of people who can match Tendouโs energy, but you easily adjusted yourself to his quirkiness, laughing along with his jokes. You waved to Tendou casually before turning to him and bowing slightly, bidding him goodbye with a โWell, see you around, Ushijima-kun.โ
As time goes by, he starts to notice how you seem to appear more often. Sometimes you accompanied Tendou to the gym before going somewhere else, other times you arrived after the team finished practice, walking off with Tendou. The Shiratorizawa team has also gotten to know you as โ(Name), Tendouโs friendโ, as youโre really the only person they have seen Tendou hang out with.
To say that he is curious is an understatement. He canโt deny that he really wants to know who you are. Since when did Tendou have such a pretty friend? Why didnโt he ever tell him about you, when he would yap about anything and everything? Were you dating?
โOh, sheโs my seatmate. Sheโs a really cool kid, so we kinda vibe.โ Was Tendouโs answer when he asked more about you. Truthfully, he wasnโt satisfied with that answer. But he kept quiet because he felt weird asking questions about his friendโs friend.
And then, that thing happened.
It was just another afternoon. The team just finished practice, everyone was chatting amongst themselves, and you were there again to pick up Tendou. Lately Goshiki and Ohira had also joined your conversations with Tendou, and the four of you were chatting away happily.
Ushijima pretended to drop his towel near the four of you and took his sweet time to pick it from the ground, shamelessly eavesdropping on your conversation.
โSo, youโve watched our matches, right? Do you think we did just as well as when we practice?โ Goshiki asked curiously.
You hummed, โI donโt know much about volleyball, butโฆ I think so, yeah! Itโs always fun watching you guys play.โ
โThenโฆโ Ohira looked at you, โwho do you think plays the best?โ He asked, half jokingly.
โThatโs an easy question, senpai,โ Goshiki interjected, โOf course itโs gotta be our ace, right?โ
โYeah, thatโs not fair! You shouldโve asked for second best.โ Tendou begrudgingly agreed.
Ushijimaโs ears perked up as he pretended to wipe his forehead, turning around to look the other way with his feet still rooted to the ground. His heart started beating a bit faster at the thought of you complimenting him. โLogically speaking, I usually score the most points, so it can be said that I play the best, right?โ
โActually,โ You grinned, โI have a different opinion.โ
โEhhh?? Really?? No way!!โ Goshiki exclaimed excitedly, โSenpai, you think Iโm better than our teamโs ace?!โ
โHey now, she didnโt say thatโฆโ
โMaybe soon, Goshiki-kun. But now, I thinkโฆ Tori-kun plays the best!โ You cheered as the three boys cried out in surprise.
โTendou?! Really?! Umm, no offense to you, Tendou..โ
โWell, I have to admit, the Guess Monster is terrifying when he gets all pumped upโฆโ
โEhhh, (Name)-chan, youโre making me blush!โ
Ushijimaโs skin crawled.
โIโm not lying! The way your hand suddenly changes directions and BOOM! Blocked! Iโm like, how the heck does he do that?!โ
โDamn, Tendou, it must be nice to have a friend who hypes you up like (Name)-san.โ
โOh, but youโre really cool too, Reon-kun! I mean, thatโs not even up for debate! And you too, Goshiki-kun! I think one of these days you can become the new ace!โ
โEhhhh!??! Senpai, I like you!โ
โDonโt feed into his delusions.โ
Ushijima knew that you were a kind person, and maybe you werenโt that familiar with volleyball, or you were just trying to make your friends happy, butโฆ
He gripped his towel.
Hard.
BAM!
The ball went flying through Tendouโs outstretched arms at such a speed that he thought it would blow his head off with it.
Tendou was used to Ushiwakaโs spikes. He was the Super Aceโs teammate, after all, butโฆ He looked up, his heart nearly stopping when he saw the expression on Ushijimaโs face.
Like he was going to swallow him whole.
โDonโt mind, Tori-kun!!โ
Upon hearing your cheer, Tendou raised an eyebrow at how his captainโs expression twisted even more. He put on a wronged face as Ushijima gave him a glare and turned away.
โWhat did I do?!โ
Next to him, Ohira Reon was gasping for breath. He had been running around, digging balls and sending spikes, trying to win the 2v2 against Ushijima Wakatoshi and Semi Eita. But it was just not working. Of course it wasnโt working, the game was rigged! Whoever got Ushiwaka on his team is playing with cheats!
On the other side of the net, Semi glanced at Ushijima in hesitation. Ushijima had played like a cannon, receiving the ball perfectly for him to set and missing no beat in jumping and spiking the ball, sometimes right into the hands of his teammates on the other side, only for the ball to immediately bounce away. He couldโve aimed it elsewhere, butโฆ to aim it towards Tendou and Ohiraโs hands was like highlighting that even if the ball made contact with their hands, they couldnโt receive it anyway.
Well, it wasnโt that hard to guess where Ushijima would spike the ball. To be able to receive those spikes, thoughโฆ now that was a skill on its own. Especially when he was playing like heโs trying to impress an Olympics coach.
To no oneโs surprise, the practice ended with Ushijima-Semiโs win. Well, it was more like Ushijimaโs win, with more than half of the points being his service aces. On any other day, their opponents would put up more of a fight, however Tendou had said earlier that he was feeling a bit under the weather.
Pretending like he didnโt hear anything, Ushijima insisted on playing against Tendou and Ohira, choosing not to cut Tendou any slack, spiking balls to his direction like he was trying to hit him on purpose. Ohira was no better, getting almost no chance to spike since receiving Ushijimaโs unusually harder-than-ever spike serves was a real struggle in itself.
Tendou and Ohira regrouped with Semi and exchanged glances with the rest of the team, wondering what on earth caused their captainโs horrible mood. Ignoring their stares, Ushijima walked towards the person he had been focusing on.
โ(Name).โ Towering above you with a height of 189cm, Ushijima addressed you stoically, causing you to gasp in surprise.
You looked up at him. โY.. yes, Ushijima-kun?โ
โDid I do well?โ
Flabbergasted, your mouth hangs open. โW-well, I..โ Your eyes flitted at your friends but they only returned your glance with their own shocked silent stare.
โWell? Do you still think that Tendou plays better than me?โ
You did a double take, your breath caught in your throat, the conversation you had with Tendou, Ohira and Goshiki a few days ago replaying in your head. โW-well, Ushijima-kun, itโs just thatโฆ Tori-kun is my friend, and-โ
He bent down, gazing down at you in curiosity. โDo you think he plays better than me?โ
โI-is there a wrong answer?โ You breathed out at the close proximity between you two. Ushijima held his gaze, his eyes shining in amusement. You blushed at Ushijimaโs confidence and obliviousness, thankful that Coach Washijo wasnโt in the room. โI-I-I think you play better than Tori-kun, sorry Tori-kun!โ You yelled out, flustered.
Your friend could only give you a thumbs up, his mouth still hanging open.
โWhat about Ohira? Do you think he plays better than me?โ
Gaping at him in shock, you stuttered out a โN-no, Ushijima-kun..โ
Ushijima hummed, โAnd Goshiki?โ
โNo, youโฆ youโre the best..โ Horrifically embarrassed and confused, you finally gave him the answer he was looking for.
The entire Shiratorizawa team gaped at this hilarious interaction.
โI thought so as well.โ Ushijima nodded, โBut it still feels nice to hear it from you.โ Satisfied, he rose up to his full height and turned to look at his team. โWhy are you just standing there? Do you want to go for another round?โ
Quickly, the team dispersed, no one wanting to be the victim of Ushiwakaโs spikes, all the while muttering about what the HECK just happened between Ushijima Wakatoshi and Tendouโs friend.
You sat, frozen in shock, not expecting that your crush would ask you a string of shocking questions while keeping his face so close to yours, as if challenging you to give him the wrong answers. Of course you thought he was the best, but you couldnโt admit that in front of your friends and his teammates!
Your cheeks still continued to burn even after Tendou plopped down next to you in confusion. โWellโฆ that was something. My hand hurts.โ
โTori-kun, did I.. did I offend him somehow?!โ You whispered to him in a panic.
โHonestly, that guy is a mystery. He usually doesnโt care about these things, though.โ Your friend replied with a knowing look in his eyes, โBut just to be sure, talk to him, I guess?โ
After the practice, the rest of the team headed outside while Ushijima busied himself with his bag, as if waiting for you to talk to him. After saying goodbye to your friends, you took determined steps towards the tall male, your heart beating out of your chest.
โUshijima-kun!โ You called out as he instantly turned to look at you, โI-Iโm sorry if I offended you! I donโt know much about volleyball and aces and stuff, so I was just yapping about Goshiki being the new ace and-โ
โOh, I donโt really care about that.โ Ushijima cut you off, staring blankly at you.
โH-huh?โ
โThat wonโt ever happen, at least not while Iโm still on the team.โ He stated as-a-matter-of-factly, โI am the countryโs top three aces, after all.โ
You had to admit, his confidence was hella attractive. โBut thenโฆ why were you angry earlier, Ushijima-kun?โ
โWakatoshi.โ
Your heart jumped out of your chest once more.
Ushijima didnโt seem to notice your flustered state. โCall me Wakatoshi.โ
โWell, then.. Wakatoshi-kun, why did you..โ
โIโm not angry.โ He cut you off again, before placing a hand on your shoulder. โDid I scare you? I apologize.โ
โNo, you didnโt scare me! Butโฆ itโs more likeโฆ well, your face was so close, and Iโฆโ
Tilting his head, he leaned down to gaze at you, his face dangerously close. โLike this?โ
โW-Wakatoshi-kun!โ
He hummed, looking away. โWhat to do, Iโm still not satisfied.โ You blinked up at him owlishly, waiting for him to continue, โYou always call Tendou so intimately. I wonder why, but Iโm not satisfied with you just calling me by my first name.โ He stated like it was the most obvious thing in the world, catching you off guard.
For a second you wondered if Ushijima Wakatoshi was flirting with you, but the way he said those words so stoically made you unsure. โThen!โ Gathering all your courage, you bravely met his gaze, โIs Toshi-kunโฆ okay?โ You offered shyly, feeling your ears start to burn.
Ushijima tilted his head to the other side, his eyes widening slightly. โSay that again?โ
โToshi-kun?โ
โWeโll go with that.โ He placed a hand on your head, a smile ghosting his lips as you hide your face behind your hands.
And that day was the start of your friendship(?) with Ushijima Wakatoshi.
