You seem surprised. Did you not expect me to prepare my own meals?
My duties with the Shogunate leave me little time for such things. Given that, I suppose your reaction is understandable.
Even so, on the rare occasions when I have time to spare, I find cooking rather enjoyable. It offers a welcome taste of ordinary life, would you not agree?
It is nothing special â only a few simple home-cooked dishes. Still, if you do not mind, please sit and join me.
A Wattpad account is stealing writings of MHA male characters x reader from Tumblr and translating them into Spanish, passing them off as theirs.
When I first noticed I thought it was just one, but later I realized that I had already read many of those writings. I'm trying to find the respective authors to notify them, but there are many stories and many one-shots, and I canât do it alone.
The account
One-shots with different MHA male characters
Please, if you can spread this around and get it to other writers, or help me find the respective creators, I would be very grateful (and they probably would too) đ¤
So, since the weather is so good, I decided to bring this little duckling along with me to the beach to soak up some sun!
Look, I even drew a picture of my big sister in the sand. Can you... not tell what it is?
Looks like I'll need to work on my drawing skills... I'll ask Klee for tips next time!
Remember, even if you have a lot on your plate, you have to take a break every now and then. Get out there and listen to the sound of the waves, feel the sea breeze, and enjoy the beauty of nature.
i honestly really hope some asshole will see this so i can give them a lil slice of truth
saying that trans people are evil and the downfall of society doesnât make them not exist
saying that women deserved to be raped and are toys and pawns for men does not make them that
saying that gay people are pedophiles and are unnatural does not make them fit into your stupid ass cookie cutter views
saying that people of color are murderers, rapists and criminals does not mean that they are, or that you can be any different
if you are not a straight, white, rich man, and have felt any prejudice whatsoever, i stand with you. any person with common decency will understand the barriers of that statement
i am not a person of color, so i do not speak for you, but i stand with you
with all else, you are wonderful people.
threaten away incels, because you will never, ever, crawl out of that basement and do what you say you can do online
⥠ËâŚËâ What if I'm someone I don't want around?
ŕťęąâ âšÂ you send them the "would you miss me if I was gone" text đ.
ŕťęąâ âšÂ characters: N. Kento, F. Toji, I. Shoko, R. Sukuna, K. Choso, G. Suguru, G. Satoru, H. Yu
ŕťęąâ âšÂ warnings: depression, self harm, death (no one dies donât worry itâs not angsty in that way)
ŕťęąâ âšÂ extra stuff to notice: Sukuna is not a curse in this verse, nor is Choso, and theyâre all older brothers of Yuuji. Toji isnât an assassin, he left and he now works as a chef in a restaurant bc I said so. Kento and Satoruâs readers are siblings and heirs of their family business empire. Fem reader intended.
pairing. satoru gojo x reader (fanart by 28cg_ on x!)
synopsis. itâs christmas. youâre alone again after pulling away from the only people whoâve made you feel seen. youâve never belonged. why would it be different with them? gojo surprises you by showing up at your door anyway. (wc 7k)
warnings/tags. hurt/comfort, angst, allusion to depression, social anxiety, loneliness, self isolation, & abandonment issues (pls donât read if any of these might trigger you!), eventual fluff, pet names, comfort kisses, use of y/n in just one scene, gojo is the best boy and shoko and suguru are the best friends :(
ę° âď¸ ęą iâm sorry for dropping this angst for christmas (my first angst fic too?!) BUT weâre all good bc thereâs comfort! right?? please enjoy! bc i may have or may not have sobbed multiple times writing this + this is a backstory for gojo x shy!reader ehhe. iâll be getting more into their history before i continue writing smut with them so it all hits a little sweeter <3
another christmas alone.
only this time, it was entirely your fault.
you had met the most wonderful people this year: shoko, suguru, and satoru. as friends, they all fit together in a way that felt effortless, as if theyâd been carved from the same place and just found each other.
when they took you in, their conversations flowed on as they always had. their inside jokes slipped past you, memories you werenât part of surfacing without warning.
of course, they never shut you outâno, not once. never on purpose. they were all too kind for that. but sometimes knowing that fact made you feel even worse. it was as if they were constantly making space you hadnât earned.
you laughed when you were supposed to, showed up when invited and told yourself that was enough. but every time they looked at you with that warmth and curiosity, something in your chest twisted.
kindness that unguarded had to be intentional. and if it was? then it had to be pity.
their texts started early that morning.
shoko greeting you with âmerry chistmas!!â then asking what time youâd be over for the christmas party.
an hour passed. when you didnât answer, suguruâs concern slipped throughâgentle at first, then heavier when you still hadnât shown up like youâd promised the day before.
satoru followed, loud and insistent, demanding you get over there already because he was âdying to see you.â
you sincerely doubted that last bit.
your phone buzzed again and again until your hands started to shake and sweatâand then you just muted their contacts altogether because answering meant stepping back into space you were already afraid of taking up.
you imagined them sitting together, warm, laughing, wondering why you werenât there⌠but not wondering for too long.
they mustâve been relieved when you didnât reply. one less obligation. less pity. more fun. less faking now that they didnât have to go out of their way to include you.
so you stayed quiet like you always did.
it wasnât like you contributed much anyway. they wouldnât miss youâyou were sure of that.
you knew you were boring. you knew you were painfully awkward. every word felt wrong the second you considered saying it. youâd been this way for all youâve known.
all your friends came into your life the same way. they noticed you because you were alone and because they felt bad for you at first. they stayed just long enough to make you hope, then left when the silence became uncomfortableâwhen you were somehow too much and too little at the same time.
âno wonder she doesnât have any friends. sheâs so boring!â
âright? she doesnât even try!â
thatâs what theyâd all say.
you got used to it.
conversations always seemed to stall when you spoke. every bumbling word felt like something you had to apologize for. you felt like you were taking up air meant for someone louder, easier, and more interesting.
with the three of them, you were always hyperaware of yourself. well, scratch thatâyou were hyperaware with everyone.
you laughed a second too late, every time. one-on-one conversations stretched thin, filled with pauses you didnât know how to fix. silence settled in your chest and stayed there, heavy and accusing.
shoko and suguru could sit together without speaking and they still felt comfortable. when the same happened to you, it was like a dead weight and as if something had gone wrong and it was all your fault.
satoru tried the hardest to pull you inâtoo bright, too loud, always reaching. it felt even more wrong, as if he was overcompensating, smoothing over the rough edges you couldnât hide.
the thing was, nobody had ever tried this hard before. no friends, no supposed friend group. the most theyâd let you do was tag along like a lost puppy. smile politely. blend in just enough to not be a nuisance until you were.
but that never happened with them. not yet.
shoko asked you about the little thingsâyour favorite books, what music you liked, the way you liked to spend a lazy afternoon.
suguru remembered every answer and brought it up later, as if your words mattered, as if they had weight.
satoru teased you relentlessly, yes, but he also asked, really asked, what you thought, what you wanted, noticed what made you laughâreally laugh. not just for show, but because he wanted to know.
they were curious about you. maybe out of genuine care.
so that was why you knew it would hurt so much more when theyâd eventually leave you like everyone else always did.
and that was why you stayed in bed all christmas day, cocooned in blankets.
the world outside your apartment and even outside your room felt too loud and too full of happy people who didnât understand how much effort it took just to breathe.
you only got up once, drawn by the rumble of your empty stomach. the kitchen was cold, at your feet, even in fuzzy socksâan early christmas present satoru got you, their blue color that reminded you of his eyes. they mocked you now.
even the act of making tea felt like climbing a mountain.
you moved on autopilot, filling a mug, heating water, staring blankly at the counter as if it might answer all the questions swirling in your head.
the quiet felt accusing. it always did when you were alone. every shadow seemed to whisper that maybe this was exactly where you belonged.
alone. forgotten. left behind.
the tea steamed in your hands, warm and meaningless, while your phone lay ignored on the table.
you wanted to tell yourself it was okay. that hiding like you always did was easier and that retreating under blankets, pretending the world had forgotten you was safer.
if you expected nothing there was nothing to loose.
you set the mug down untouched. itâs steam curled up and vanished into the cold air, like all the warmth in the world that couldnât reach you. your hands trembled slightly, and for a moment you just stared at the mug, wishing it could carry your burdens.
finally, you give up.
you trudge back to your room and crawl beneath the blankets, pulling them over your head like they might muffle everything youâre feeling. you curl into yourself, arms tight around your middle, jaw clenched so hard it aches. you tell yourself not to cry. just breathe. just donât.
your eyes burn. your throat closes up.
one tear slips, traitorous, soaking into your pillow before you can wipe it away. you swallow hard, trying to force it down, but your chest aches and a quiet sound escapes you.
then another tear follows. and another.
after that, thereâs no stopping it.
the tears come silent, pressed into fabric, shaking out of you like something youâve been holding hostage all day. they spill freely, hot and relentless, streaking your cheeks, blurring everything. your breathing turns uneven, chest heaving as if it canât quite remember how to work, shoulders trembling with the effort of keeping it quiet.
you cry until it hurtsâuntil your ribs ache, until your throat feels raw and scraped bare, until the hiccups rip through you in soft, humiliating bursts.
thereâs nobody to comfort you. not now. not ever.
the blankets twist around your body, heavy and useless, offering nothing but warmth without comfort. your room stays stillâdark and indifferent, watching you fall apart.
when the tears slow eventually, thinning into shaky breaths, your body sags in on itself. emptied out and exhausted.
your eyes throb, swollen and sore, lashes clumped together with dried tears. the last broken cry slips from your chest, barely more than a breath.
sleep takes you thenânot gentle, not kindâbut restless and thin, pulling you under while the ache still lingers in your bones.
you hadnât even remembered falling asleep but banging on your door jolts you awake.
panic hits you immediately. the knocks are impatient. almost angry� for a split second, your half asleep mind spirals.
were you about to be robbed?
your heart slams against your ribs as you scramble upright, sheets tangling around your legs. you reach for your phone, fingers shaking, only to remember you had left it on the kitchen table.
the banging comes again, louder this time, rattling the door in its frame. you swallow hard.
clutching your blanket around your shoulders like armor, you slip out of your room on shaky feet, every step careful, silent.
you grab your phone just as the knocking turns more frantic.
then a voice cuts through itâurgent, rough around the edges, painfully familiar.
ây/n? iâm really fucking worried now. open the door please! i swear toââ
your breathing stills just as he cuts himself off.
itâs satoru.
softer now stripped of all his loud confidence, âplease y/n⌠open the door.â
the way he says your name, like heâs been pacing and trying not to panic, makes your heart twist. the teasing lilt you know so well is gone. the bravado is gone. itâs just worry. real, naked worry.
you stand there frozen, blanket clutched tight, blinking against the sting building behind your eyes, throat closing up.
he came.
he actually came.
nevertheless, panic swarms you all over again. what were you supposed to do? would he be angry? were the others with him? godâyou were a mess. your hair tangled with sleep, eyes swollen, face still tight from crying. you couldnât let anyone see you like this. you couldnât let him see you like this.
every instinct screams at you to disappear back under the covers and pretend none of this is happening.
but you canât. heâs right outside your door.
youâre stuck there, suspended between panic and disbelief, feet rooted to the floor.
but then his voice breaks through againâsharper now, threaded with something dangerously close to desperation.
âcâmonâ y/n? please. open the door. i need to know if youâre okay⌠i- iâll break it down if i have to!â
you flinch.
before fear can talk you out of it youâre moving.
your hands shake so badly as you fumble with the lock, breath coming in shallow, uneven pulls. the door swings open just a crack, and for one terrifying second, you donât know if youâre ready to meet his eyes.
but there he is.
satoruâs hand is mid knock and he almost stumbles forward when the door opens.
his usual grin is nowhere to be found. instead, thereâs worry carved into every line of his face, raw and unguardedâand it hits you harder than anything else tonight.
he exhales your name the second he sees you, relief flooding his voice like itâs been trapped there.
âare you okay?â
the simple question catches you so off guard. itâs not a where where you? or why have you been ignoring us?
heâs asking if youâre okay.
your throat tightens painfully. you canât answer. you canât make yourself look at him.
he says your name again, softer this time, almost a plea, but the sound barely reaches you over the storm building in your chest.
everything caves in at onceâevery wall you put up. every breath you forced to stay steady.
before you can stop it, the dam breaks.
and when it does? his arms are around you.
theyâre warm and solid, making your body collapse into him like instinct.
he holds you like heâs afraid to let go, like heâs anchoring you in place when youâre falling apart. his palm cups the back of your head, careful, reverent, like youâre something fragile and worth protecting.
the real sobs that have been clawing at your chest finally spill free.
satoru doesnât even even pull away or flinch. if anything he settles closer like this is what he was made for.
he murmurs your name again and again, letting you cry it out against him. you cling to him, face buried in his chest, shoulders trembling so hard they ache.
your hair is damp where tears have soaked through, breath hitching in uneven pulls. the scent of himâclean soap, warmth, himâfills your lungs, grounding in a way nothing else has been all day.
for the first time, the crushing weight on your chest eases. just a little. maybe more.
his hand moves through your hair in slow, soothing circles, patient and unhurried. then his fingers catch the edge of the blanket youâre still clutching uselessly between you, and without another word, he tugs it higher around your shoulders. snug and protective.
the gesture is so gentleâso considerateâthat your breath stutters all over again.
the words repeat like a mantra, quiet but insistent, making your chest ache. âitâs okay, baby,â he murmurs. âitâs okay⌠iâve got you. youâre not alone. youâre not alone, okay?â
the word baby lands like a shock straight to your chest.
nobody had ever called you that. nobody had called you that in a way that felt like thisâcare and tenderness instead of something you had to earn. your fingers curl tighter in his shirt, knuckles whitening as if your body is afraid that if you let go, even a little, heâll vanish.
a broken sound tears out of your throat, sharper than the sobs before it, like something inside you has finally split open. your face presses harder into his chest, tears soaking through as your body trembles.
you want to stopâyou really do, itâs embarrassing to be like this in front of him, but each sob is pulled from somewhere deep and bruised, all your fear spilling out at once.
youâd been so sureâso sureâthat being held like this was never meant for you.
but now⌠satoru is giving it to you.
his arms tighten, firm and grounding when your knees threaten to buckle, keeping you upright because he wonât let you collapse completely. one hand stays cradled at the back of your head while the other rubs slow, reassuring circles into your back.
âhey,â he murmurs, voice thick now, like he feels it too. âitâs okay. you donât have to hold back anymore. cry if you need to. iâm right here.â
you gasp, trying to speak, but all that comes out is a choked, broken soundâyour words dissolving into sobs as soon as they reach your throat. you shake your head against his chest like youâre arguing and trying to deny everything spilling out of you.
when you sob against him again, you donât feel so alone doing it.
he still doesnât let go, only holding you closer, resting his cheek against the top of your head, breathing slow and deliberately until your body starts to follow his lead.
âiâm not going anywhere,â he whispers, a promise meant only for you. ânot tonight. okay?â
your chest still hurts. the tears still come. but somewhere between the steady thump of his heart and the quiet certainty in his voice, the pain shiftsâno longer sharp, just heavy. something you can carry.
you nod against him.
the next thing you know, satoru is lifting you effortlessly into his arms. he carries you across the room like youâre the most fragile thing in the world.
your apartment feels too big and too empty as he walks, but the space between the two of you feels impossibly small. impossibly safe.
he sits down on the couch without letting you go, keeping you tucked against his chest, your arms still looped around his waist. his hand never leaves the back of your head, fingers threading gently through your hair like they belong there.
you can feel his warmth seeping into you.
he hums softly under his breath, repeating those reassurances that wrap around you like a warm hug.
âiâve got you,â he murmurs again, âyou donât have to be brave right now. not for anyone. just be here with me.â
and you try to do just that.
you let the tears fall, let yourself shudder against him, let yourself finally rest against someone who refuses to let you crumble alone.
youâve never felt so seenâso heard without even saying a word.
slowly but surely, the cries eventually fade, replacing themselves with slow, heavy breathing.
he shifts slightly, cradling you closer, and you feel the gentle press of his chin atop your heat. he waits, patient, giving you a long moment to breathe.
when youâve calmed down more he speaks, breaking the quiet.
âhi, pretty girl⌠can i see you?â
your chest tightens at his words. your brain scrambles. pretty? me?
it hits you all at once how big this is for you and your face heats like fire. you feel your cheeks burn, your lips parting, unsure what to say. flustered, vulnerable, and entirely unguarded, you nod slightly, still buried against his chest.
his fingers tilts your chin up gently, the other hand brushing your damp hair from your face.
your eyes meet his blue ones that you adore so much and he smiles. it makes your chest ache in a new way. not with pain, but with the strange, overwhelming relief of being noticed.
âthere you are,â he whispers, almost to himself.
you blink, still caught somewhere between disbelief and a growing warmth. he leans in just slightly, close enough that you can feel his warm breath without pressure, close enough that you know heâs not going anywhere.
his thumb brushes along your cheek, tracing the damp tracks of your tears, and a shiver runs through you. not from fear or from the cold, from the way heâs holding you making you feel safe.
âitâs okay,â he says again, softer this time, âyou donât have to hide. not from me. not ever.â
you swallow the lump in your throat.
when you finally talk, your voice is hoarse.
âthank you,â you whisper, the words barely making it past your lips.
it feels small compared to everything heâs doneâshowing up, holding you, stayingâbut itâs all you can offer. your fingers curl into his shirt again, not quite ready to let go, your heart fluttering in a way that feels dangerous.
he exhales softly, something warm and fond in the sound, and dips his forehead to rest against yours. âhey,â he murmurs, gentle, âyou donât have to thank me for anything. i actually shouldâve come much earlierâŚâ
âhuh?â you murmur.
your chest tightens with something tender and aching. youâve always felt it for him, even before today. his presence made everything feel a little lighter, a little safer. youâd told yourself it was nothing. but right now, wrapped up in his arms, it feels impossible to deny.
he pulls back just enough to look at you, eyes soft, unguarded in a way you donât see often. one of his hands stays firm at your waist, grounding, now like heâs afraid you might slip away if he lets go.
âyeah,â he says quietly. âi was so worried when you didnât answer us. i kept hoping youâd show upâŚâ
âi shouldâve noticed sooner⌠youâve been trying so hard to be okay, and i let you do it alone.â his thumb brushes absentmindedly over your side, slow and soothing. âthatâs on me. iâm sorryâŚâ
your chest tightens further with the overwhelming weight of being seen. you know now that he doesn't pity you. he cares enough for you to regret missing the signs.
you shake your head quickly, instinctively. âi didnât want to bother anyone,â you admit, voice small. âespecially you.â
his brows knit together, and for the first time thereâs something fierce under the softness. âyou could never bother me,â he says immediately, like itâs obvious. like itâs always been obvious. âi just⌠i thought you knew that.â
your heart stutters. you swallow, eyes dropping to his chest, suddenly shy. âi didnât,â you confess.
thereâs a beat of silence. not awkwardâheavy. meaningful.
then he tilts his head, smiling faintly, something vulnerable flickering across his face. âguess i should be clearer, then.â
you thinkâoh. maybe heâs going to say something else. maybe heâs just close because he always is.
but then his lips brush your cheek.
itâs so light you almost miss it.
but how could you?
you freeze instantly, breath catching sharp in your chest, eyes widening in pure surprise. before your mind can catch up, he presses another kiss just beneath your eyeâright where your tears had fallen. then another, careful and unhurried, like heâs testing something fragile.
your heart stumbles violently. heâs not teasing. not rushing. heâs kissing your faceâlike it means something. like you mean something.
âsatoruââ you breathe, startled, his name slipping out on instinct alone.
he pauses instantly, forehead resting against yours again, thumb still warm against your cheek.
he searches your face. âis this okay?â
you nod before you can think, cheeks burning, pulse racing, still stunned.
âmhm,â you whisper.
something soft breaks across his face at thatârelief, affection, something dangerously sincere. he presses one last kiss to your cheek, lingering just a second longer this time, like heâs memorizing the feeling of you here, alive and real in his arms.
âiâve always wanted to do that,â he admits quietly.
your chest tightens, breath shallow. you donât know what to say. youâd never imagined thisânot really. never let yourself believe heâd want to kiss you like this. but now, held gently, kissed so carefully, you realize how long youâve been aching for it too.
he doesnât push. doesnât take more.
âmerry christmas,â he says with a small, almost shy smile.
you let out a breathless, disbelieving huff of a laugh.
âmerry christmas,â you echo, just as softly.
his smile widens at that, eyes crinkling in a way that makes your stomach flutter. he squeezes you just a little tighter, like heâs grounding himself too, like this means as much to him as it does to you.
and then heâs pulling something out of this pocket.
âi have this for you.â
your heart stutters. âwait- you didnât have toââ
âI know,â he says gently. âbut i wanted to.â
he opens his palm, revealing a small box. your hands shake as you take it.
when you lift the lid, your breath catches in a gasp.
inside is a necklace. itâs so delicate and itâs in the jewelry color you always wear. the small charm makes your chest ache instantly. itâs a tiny origami crane.
he remembered. he really remembered.
weeks ago, youâd mentioned in passing, how much you loved origamiâhow a single crane could hold a wish, a hope, or a secret meaning. it hadnât even been a full conversation. youâd never imagined he was really listeningâlet alone care enough to turn it into something like this.
âyou remembered?â you whisper.
he shrugs, almost shy, a small grin tugging at his lips. âof course i did.â then, softer, âit reminded me of you.â
your eyes sting. again. you laugh softly, pressing the tiny crane to your chest like like it might hold every little ache and joy youâve been carrying. no one had ever paid attention like thisânot enough to remember, not enough to choose something that spoke to you.
âcan i?â he asks, already reaching.
you nod. he inches closer, fingers brushing your hair aside as he fastens it around your neck. his touch lingers at the nape for half a second too long.
when he pulls back, his gaze softens. âit looks perfect on you,â he says quietly.
your heart feels like it might burst.
âwait,â you blurt suddenly, panic and courage colliding. âi- i have something for you too.â
his brows lift in surprise. âyeah?â
you pull away reluctantly and hurry to your room, heart racing. the gift had been tucked away in your closet for weeksâa stupid, impulsive thing you bought because it made you think of him immediately. you never thought youâd actually get the chance to give it to him.
you come back clutching it behind your back, suddenly painfully shy. âitâs not⌠i mean, itâs kind of silly,â you mumble, holding it out.
he blinks when he sees itâthen a smile envelops his entire face.
itâs a plushie of a white cat with blue eyes. soft and ridiculous.
he takes it from you carefully, eyes flicking from the plushie to you, a slow smile spreading across his face.
you stumble over your words to fill the gap, âitâs⌠itâs stupid, i meanâi just saw it and it reminded me of you and i didnât think iâd ever actually get the chance to give it to youââ
instead of replying, heâs tugging you onto his lap.
instead, heâs tugging you gently onto his lap.
the soft plushie gets tucked between you, pressed to his chest as his arms come around you, laughter bubbling out of him like he canât help it.
âoh my god,â he laughs softly, voice fond and warm, âyouâre so cute.â
then he leans inâand suddenly his lips are on your face again.
âitâs perfect, baby,â he murmurs into your hair, squeezing the plushie again like he needs to make the point stick.
the kisses start soft. then teasing. then faster, lighterâpressed everywhere without warning. your cheeks, your temples, the tip of your nose. he laughs between them, breath warm against your skin, eyes bright and sparkling like heâs having the time of his life.
your hands clutch at his shirt, breath going shallow as you whine in embarrassment, but he doesnât let you go. he cradles you easily, the plushie snug between you while his arms hold you close.
âiâm so happy,â he says, smiling in a dopey way that makes your chest acheâand makes you want to kiss him back properly, except you can barely think straight. his forehead rests against yours, close enough that you can feel his breath. âiâm so happy youâre here⌠and that you got me this little thingâŚâ
all you can do is laugh, breathless, cheeks burning, head spinning from the way heâs holding you, kissing you, making you feel.
you manage a small, breathless laugh, voice trembling. âyou really like it, huh?â
he looks down at the plushie, then back at you, eyes sparkling. âlike it? i love it,â he says, squeezing it gently before glancing at you again, smile wide and unrestrained. âthank you for thinking of me.â
your cheeks burn hotter, heart hammering. âi⌠i should be the one saying thatâŚâ you murmur, fingers fidgeting.
he laughs softly, a warm, light sound that makes your stomach flutter, then leans in and presses a quick kiss to your forehead and you canât help but laugh and squirm a little on his lap, trying to catch your breath.
and the way he looks at you after thatâsoft, fond, unmistakably pleasedâmakes your chest feel too full.
you feel like youâre the grinch and your heart has grown three sizes.
heâs still smiling at you like thatâsoft, pleased, a little stunnedâwhen something beyond you catches his eye.
the laughter in his chest slows. his gaze drifts past your shoulder, toward the window.
ââŚwait,â he says, squinting slightly.
you follow his line of sight just as his eyes widen, excitement lighting up his face all at once.
âwaitâlook!â
thick snowflakes are falling outside.
his whole demeanor changes instantlyâlike a switch has flipped. he practically bounces in place, and you knew he actually wouldâve if your werenât sitting on his lap. he grips you just a little tighter in his excitement.
âitâs christmas snow! actual christmas snow! do you see this?!â
you laugh, covering your mouth with your hands, gaze stuck between the window and him. âitâs beautiful.â
you donât know which is better.
he looks back at you, eyes sparkling. thereâs something boyish and unfiltered about him this way that makes you feel the same.
âhey,â he says suddenly, leaning closer like heâs about to share a secret. âhave you ever made a snow angel?â
you shake your head slowly. âno⌠my parents never let me. they were always worried iâd get sick.â
his expression shifts instantlyâmock offense, dramatic disbelief.
âno way!â he groans. âthatâs unacceptable. today, we make snow angels. non-negotiable.â
before you can even respond, heâs already movingâhands on your waist, lifting you easily off his lap and tugging you toward the door. you stumble after him, laughing, heart racing.
âwaitâwait!â you protest, breathless. âi need to get dressed first!â
he freezes mid-step, blinks, then laughs at himself. âoh my godâyeah. okay. wow. what am i doing?â he steps back, holding his hands up dramatically. âbundle up. iâll wait. promise.â
the way he says itâeasy, unhurried, like he truly had nowhere else to be even when he had been so excitedâmakes something in you soften even more.
you retreat into your room, heart still pounding, movements a little clumsy from leftover adrenaline and excitement. you pull on your jacket quickly, then a knit hat, gloves, and a scarf. just as youâre about to head back out, you pause. you hadnât seen satoru bring anything with him except a jacket.
without really thinking, you grab an extra scarf and another pair of gloves, folding them over your arm before leaving the room.
when you step back out, he looks up from where heâs waiting by the door. his eyes flick over youâand then down.
ââŚaww,â he grins, pointing. âthose are the socks i got you.â
you glance down, suddenly aware of the fuzzy fabric peeking out beneath your pants. your face warms. âoh. yeah,â you admit quietly. âi wore them all day.â
something in his expression shifts, fond and gentle all at once. he grins in his boyish way, âi like that,â
you hold out the extra gloves and scarf, shy. âi⌠grabbed these for you. just in case. i didnât have an extra hat thoughâŚâ
his eyebrows lift, surprisedâand then he smiles wider. âyouâre really sweet, you know that?â
outside, the cold hits you immediately. thick flakes drift down like the world has softened just for christmas. there had already been snow on the ground from last week, but now a fresh layer was settling over everything making it all untouched.
satoru drops down first, landing flat on his back with a dramatic oof.
âokay! like this,â he announces, already spreading his arms and legs wide against the snow as if he was demonstrating something very serious.
you hesitate for half a secondâjust long enough for the cold to feel realâbefore lowering yourself down beside him. you sit, then lie back, the snow immediately seeping through your coat, cold enough to pull a sharp gasp from your chest before it turns into laughter. you start moving your arms and legs, copying him, the rhythm awkward at first.
âyouâre doing it!â he says, turning his head toward you, grin bright and uncontained. âyour first snow angel!â
you turn toward him too, cheeks flushed both from the cold and from him. snow clings to your lashes, almost like youâre trying to match his naturally white ones. âi canât believe iâve never done this before,â you admit, breath fogging the air.
âwell, it only matters youâre doing it now!â he grins, stretching his arms wider, deliberately exaggerating his movements. âand you gotta commit,â he says. âbigger wings. like this.â
âthatâs not fair! my arms arenât as long as yours!â
you try to follow, laughing harder nowâand then your glove slips, accidentally flinging snow straight into his hair.
he freezes.
dramatically, he gasps. âhey! was that an attack?!â
you sit up immediately, laughing so hard your sides ache. âi didnât mean to!â
âoh, itâs on!â he says, already scooping up a handful of snow. he lobs it at you with zero aim, the clump falling apart midair and barely dusting your sleeve.
âthat doesnât even count!â you tease, scrambling to your feet.
your boots crunch loudly against the snow. he chases after you, laughing, long strides intentionally slowing just enough for you to stay ahead. you can tell heâs letting you winâand it makes you giggle even more.
but then your foot slips.
before you can panic, heâs there, catching you around the waist. the two of you tumble down together in a messy heap, snow puffing up around you as you land.
you end up tangled together, his arm braced beside your head, your hands gripping his jacket. for a moment, neither of you move.
your faces are close, too closeâbreaths fogging the space between you as the laughter fades into something quieter. you feel so warm inside despite the cold snow biting at you.
the world feels still, like itâs waiting for the two of you.
snow keeps drifting down lazily, catching in his bright hair and melting against his pinkened cheeks.
youâre suddenly aware of how close you areâtoo close to pretend this is still just an accidentâbut neither of you pull away.
you huff the way your stomach is fluttering with a soft laugh, eyes flicking up to his hair. âyouâre matching the snow.â
he pouts immediately, exaggerated and offended, and it makes you want to kiss it right off his face.
ârude.â
you shake your head quickly, flustered, fingers tightening in his jacket. âno- i meant like- in a good way. youâre like a real snow angel.â
he blinks. once. then again. the tips of his ears turn pink almost instantly.
ââŚhey,â he mutters, suddenly looking anywhere but at you. âthatâs not fair.â
âhuh?â
âyou canât just say things like that,â he says, rubbing the back of his neck, flustered.
âohâŚâ
when he finally looks back at you, thereâs something nervous and earnest there, something softer than youâve ever seen.
his gaze slips down to your lips.
itâs almost like he canât seem to help it. he exhales slowly, steadying himself.
you gulp.
the realization hits you all at onceâwhatâs about to happen. what you want to happen. your hands tighten in his jacket, knuckles brushing the fabric as your heart stumbles, caught somewhere between nerves and longing.
was this how your first kiss is going to happen?
he wets his lips without thinking, then looks at your own. really looks.
âi⌠can iâŚ?â he murmurs, voice low, almost breaking.
you nod, barely able to breathe. âmhmâŚ.â
he leans in slowly, like heâs afraid of breaking the moment. each inch feels deliberate and suspended, the space between you stretching thin with anticipation. you donât pull away. not even a little. and your lips part on instinct.
he notices. his breath catches, eyes flicking to your mouth before lifting to meet yours again, searching, making sure youâre still with him.
the world narrows.
he closes the distance carefully. the brush of his nose against yours sends a quiet spark through you, your pulse roaring in your ears as the last sliver of space lingersâjust long enough to feel unbearable.
then itâs gone.
his lips meet yours⌠soft as a promise. warmth blooms instantly like fireworks, chasing away the cold that clings to your skin.
his hand stays at your jaw, thumb tracing slow arcs that make your breath hitch against him.
you register distantly that his gloves are gone, that his skin is warm against yours despite the cold somehow, but the thought drifts away before it can settle.
your fingers are already knotted in his jacket, unsure and clumsy, so you cling harder, grounding yourself in the familiar weight of him, the fabric wrinkling beneath your grip.
he notices. the kiss lingers as if heâs reassuring you without words. he doesnât rush you, only leaning in just a touch more.
you feel the curve of a smile against your lips before it fades into something deeper.
the kiss deepens and you exhale into him without meaning to, and he hums low in his chest, pleased. like heâd been waiting for that.
the sound sends a small shiver through you and your grip tightens again, knuckles brushing the warmth of his chest beneath the layers.
his thumb stills at your jaw when you finally pull back a fraction, just enough to breathe, your foreheads resting together.
you breaths fog between you, uneven, and he lets out a soft laugh under his breath, something shy and disbelieving.
âwow,â he murmurs, like heâs afraid to break the spell.
you look at him in awe, as if youâre seeing him for the first time but somehow have always known him. his white lashes are dusted with snow, cheeks flushed pink, blue eyes soft and a little stunned like he canât quite believe this is real either.
for a second, you forget everything else. the pain youâd felt for your whole life? heâs taking it away, little by little until thereâs just him, this close, breathing the same air as you.
your lips still tingle where they had met his so intimately, warmth blooming low in your chest, spreading slow and sweet.
ââŚhi,â you whisper. you donât know what else to say. the word is barely there, more breath than sound.
his mouth curves into a small, crooked smile, shy in a way youâve never seen before. âhi pretty girl,â he echoes, quieter, like heâs matching you on purpose.
he leans his forehead against yours again and your fingers relax just a little in his jacket. not because youâre ready to let goâonly because you donât feel like you have to hold on so tightly anymore.
snow keeps falling around you, soft and steady, and for once, it feels like the world got something right.
but then a startled gasp breaks the quiet.
âughâ! you guys are alive!â
the sound makes both of you jump. you and satoru jerk upright at the same time, scrambling out of your tangled sprawl in the snow, hearts leaping into your throats as you turn toward the voice.
shoko stands a few steps away, one hand pressed to her chest like sheâs catching her breath, the other already pointing accusingly at satoru. suguru lingers beside her, calmer, but his posture eases the second he sees you both.
âweâve been worried sick,â shoko says, relief tumbling out on top of her irritation. âsatoru, you said you were just checking on her and then you disappear without letting us know sheâs fine! no texts, no calls, nothing!â
satoru winces, rubbing the back of his neck. âoh⌠sorry about that.â
but then she stops.
actually looks at the two of you.
at how close youâre still sitting despite jumping apart. at the way his knee is almost touching yours, his arm hovering awkwardly like heâs not sure where to put it now. at your embarrassed face, snow clinging to your lashes, hands still half curled like theyâd only just let go of his jacket.
ââŚwait,â she says slowly.
her eyes widen. âoh my gosh. you twoâ?â
your face heats instantly. âweââ
satoru lets out a small, caught laugh. âuhhâŚâ
thereâs a beat of silenceâthen shokoâs expression flips completely. her mouth drops open, then curls into a grin so wide itâs almost blinding.
âare you serious?â she whispers, delighted. âis this happening right now?â
suguru exhales, something like a chuckle slipping free. âuh huh. it was about time,â he says, easy and knowing.
shoko lets out a sound thatâs simply delighted, and before either of you can react, she drops straight down into the snow, arms flinging wide around both of you.
âoh my god,â she laughs, pressing her cold cheek against yours. âiâm actually going to cry. this is so overdue.â
you freeze for a moment, flustered by how close sheâs pressed against you. an unrestrained giggle escapes your lips and satoru groans, trying to push her the two of you.
âokay! okay, shoko! get off!â
âwhat? iâm celebrating!â she protests, holding on tighter. âiâve been waiting forever for this moment!â
satoru huffs, mock exasperated, gently trying to pry her off. âhey! hands off my girl, jeez! sheâs mine!â
my girl.
you laugh through your blush, squirming a little as shoko giggles, clearly unbothered by satoruâs mock jealousy.
from the side, suguru stands with his arms crossed, snow crunching under his boots as he watches, outwardly begrudging, but the faintest crease of a smile betrays him.
âunbelievable,â he mutters, voice dry, and then, with a resigned huff, he kneels down and lets himself join the tangle of limbs on the snow.
he rests his weight next to you and whispers, âglad youâre okay.â
your bashful âthank youâ is swallowed by shoko squealing as she wiggles happily between you and satoru.âthis is a christmas miracle!â she laughs, pressing her cheek closer to yours and tightening her grip. âiâve been waiting forever for this!â
satoru groans, exasperated but laughing at the same time. âshoko! seriously! youâre going to crush us!â
you canât stop the laugh that escapes you, breathless and shaky, cheeks warm, heart hammering. over shokoâs shoulder, your eyes meet satoruâsâbright, steady, and impossibly blue. for a moment, the rest of the world disappears and even shokoâs excited giggles fade into the background.
his hands reach out to intertwine with yours behind shokoâs back and your fingers tighten instinctively around him when they meet.
suguru sits nearby, looking like heâs enduring the chaos, but that small invisible smile is always there to show heâs truly happy too.
snow drifts down around you, soft and quiet, and everything feels rightâtangled in the snow, pressed together, hearts still racing from laughter and relief, you realize why this moment will linger in your memory.
and somehow, in the midst of it all, your world had changed to a different kind of blue than the one youâd known before.
now, it was only the blue of his eyes that mattered.
best friend alhaitham who somehow has become your designated "will this guy be a good boyfriend or not" detector. except he keeps rejecting every single one of the candidates you brought up to him with the most ridiculous but logical reasons that you can't really refute.
"you've reiterated that you wanted a man who wouldn't prioritize his career over family, and he has confessed that his dream is to become the akademiya's grand sage. continuing to see him would merely expend meaningless energy on your part."
"he dislikes your favorite color and is allergic to cats. your future living arrangements are bleak."
it's when you've finally had enough, when you yell in frustration for him why don't you just pick someone who would make a good boyfriend for me, then!ăź he finally stares at you, snaps his book close, and declares with the utmost confidence: "objectively speaking, that would be me."
Oh? Is Dvalin yawning? Then here, try some apple cake! One bite and you'll be feeling refreshed in no time!
Well? Good, isn't it? I went out of my way to learn this recipe from the Traveler.
Ahaha, no need to rush... We made plenty. Here, have an apple cookie too.
Looks like Dvalin likes my cooking... You'll have to teach me another dessert recipe sometime. Or maybe we should call it, "One Hundred Ways to Make Apples"?