Fanfic or fanart, as long as it includes character(s) from KnB. It doesnât have to be Valentine day's themed. White Day themed, or stories focused on romantic, platonic, or familial relationships are welcome.
Minimum requirements for making a gift?
Following our 2022 Holiday Exchange:
1k words for fanfic; or
lineart with some shading for fanart.
Schedule:
Jan 12: Sign ups for the exchange open. Tell us what you want to give and what you want to get. (And what you don't want to get!)
Jan 26: Sign ups close.
Jan 29: Gifter-giftee matches emailed out. A reply will be required to let us know youâve received the exchange prompt. If you have a Tumblr, check that you have anonymous asks turned on in case your gifter wants to ask something about your prompt.
Feb 14: Check-in. Confirm that you are still participating in the exchange and are on track to complete your gift by the end of the posting period. A draft of your work thus far may be requested.
Mar 1-14: Posting period. Pinch hitters may request an extension past the posting deadline.
Rules
You must be 18+ to create or receive NSFW gifts
Let us know as soon as possible if you are unable to complete your gift so we can organise a pinch hitter
Use common sense with tags and warnings when posting your gift. If you have something NSFW, be prepared for tumblrâs censorship
When posting your gift, @ this blog (@knbexchange) and send us a link to your giftâespecially if you aren't posting your gift on Tumblr. Weâll share a link or preview if you post the gift offsite
You need to be contactable around important dates
Make your best effort to give your giftee something theyâd enjoy
Respect people's DNWs (=Do Not Want). If your giftee lists something as a DNW, don't include that in your gift.
If you need further clarification on your giftee's prompts you may contact them directly or through a mod.
Please follow the post formats and remember to use relevant tags so other people can find your post too
If posting on Ao3, don't forget to add your work to the exchange collection: KnB_Valentines_Exchange_2024
Art gifts:
@ your giftee and @ this blog. Include a message if you like. Please tag appropriately.
If posting outside Tumblr, send us a link to your post.
Fic gifts:
@ your giftee and @ this blog. Include a message if you like. Please also include the following information:
Title:
Rating:
Warnings:
Characters & ships:
Word count:
Summary:
Link or read more for the fic
If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to contact us here on Tumblr or by email ([email protected])
hi! will there be a 2024 secret santa or 2025 valentine exchange?
Wow how is it already September đ I'm going to be realistic and say no to both, unfortunately đą I'm dealing with some very stressful things irl at the moment and cannot handle modding either event well.
So, unless someone wants to take over as the main mod, I don't think it's going to happen through this blog đ I'm sorry.
Thank you for your ask. It's nice to know someone cared about the exchanges enough to ask about it đ I will try to get a handle on rl and be back next year đȘ
Part 2 of 3 of my gift for @istps / @discordia-eris for the valentine's day @knbexchange o7 thanks for your patience - i hope you like this chapter. also, special thanks to @wannabe-cartoonist-blog for beta reading <3
Title: the boy is mine
Rating: Teen & Up
Warnings: None
Characters & Ships: Aomine Daiki/Kagami Taiga, Kise Ryouta, Akashi Seijuuro
Total Word Count: 2,753
Chapters: 2/3
Chapter Summary: Kagami, Akashi, Aomine, and Kise get dinner after their game. Somehow they end up talking about romance.
Here is my @knbexchange gift for @kucho04! Himukuro is such a good ship, they are so soft spoken together and chill and just god bless them ⥠I imagine them going on cute dates with Nigou tagging along hehee
There was supposed to be two other panels (they kissed!) but they went poof because god knows why :/ Maybe if I ever got around to redrawing the test of the panels, I'll upload them too!
Hope you enjoy! Love your fanarts too by the way, they are all such an inspo to me (*ÂŽË`*)âĄ
momoi & midorima | rated g | word count: 1776 | where momoi and midorima go on a shopping trip together
for @mason-ajar for the 2024 @knbexchange !! prompt: character a and character b pick out outfits for eachother
i was super excited to see that we've been paired up for the exchange !! i haven't been able to write in a long while, but seeing your prompts gave me the inspiration needed to to write about a friendship that is just so important... and so here they are!!
Momoi was lying on her bed, mindlessly reading a sports magazine until her phone rang. It was too early in the morning for Aomine to be calling her. Maybe it was Kise?Â
âHello?â She held her phone in between her head and shoulders.
âMomoi.â To her surprise, it was Midorima. âThere is something I would like to talk to you about.â
âMidorin!â Momoi practically sang. She immediately sat up, abandoning the magazine. âYou rarely call first! What is it? Oh, let me guess! Do you need a lucky item? Or are you having boy troubles?â
âNo, I am not having, as you say, âboy troubles.ââ There was a pause. Momoi figured it was Midorima pushing his glasses up. âI also have acquired my lucky item for the day. I need your assistance. Could you accompany me on a shopping trip?â
Momoi felt her already wide smile go even wider. âOf course, Iâll go with you!â She loved being invited to thingsâ be it eating lunches at Maji Burger or coordinating streetball lessons for the local kids. Usually, she was the one doing the coordinatingâ which, for the record, wasnât something she minded! But it was nice having the invitation go the other way every once in a while. Especially from Midorima!Â
People may think he was someone who wanted to be uninvolved, but it was not true! When luck permitted, he always came to different events like the teamâs after practice ice cream trips. Sometimes he needed just a bit of nudging, nowadays in the form of Takao, but regardless, he didnât often initiate events with her. Sheâd noticed that lucky item shopping is usually his excuse to hang out with others, but he already got his lucky item of the day.Â
She wondered if anyone else was coming. Takao or Kise maybe? She couldnât help but ask. âAre we going with anyone else? Takao-kun? Or Ki-chan?â
âNo, it would just be the two of us, if that would be alright with you.â There was a pause. âI understand that it may be⊠unusual for it to be just us, but you were the friend that I deemed would be able to help me best.â
âAww Midorin, thatâs so sweet of you!â She could imagine him blushing at the compliment. âSend me the details over email, and Iâll be there in an hour!â
Momoi saw Midorima standing on the outside of the clothing store. He wore a simple dark blue t-shirt and beige pants. He tightly held onto a giant penguin plush. When his eyes met with Momoiâs, his grip loosened.Â
She ran up to him, stopped right before him, and started bouncing on her feet. âSo? Whatâs the occasion? What are we shopping for?â
âI⊠would like your help in choosing an outfit.â He turned his head to avoid eye contact. Momoi knew what that meant.
âSo you were having boy troubles!â After everything thatâs happened in the past few months, itâs been getting easier and easier to read Midorima and this was no exception. She will admit, however, that she hadnât quite figured out whoâd captured Midorimaâs affection. Most people would say it was Takao who held the title as âThe Boy Midorima Likes,â but Momoi had a theory she had been brewing up. It was still a work in progress, but her âKagami Taiga: The Boy Who Has Captured Everyoneâs Heartâ thesis had a lot of evidence. Momoi would simply have to take into account both possibilities today.
âThat would⊠that would imply that I am struggling, which I assure you is not the case,â Midorimaâs face flushed and his voice was louder than usual. Momoi couldnât help but laugh.
âBut youâre not denying that this is a boy-related problem!â She winked. âThereâs nothing to be embarrassed about Midorin! I understand completely! Whenever Iâm with the person I like, I always want to look my best. I wonât ask who it is, but Iâll give it my all in helping you out!â
âI⊠appreciate itâŠâÂ
âYouâll definitely capture his heart, Midorin!â She began urging him into the clothes store. âLetâs go!â
âI think this outfit will be the one, Midorin!â Momoi held up a green sweater with an argyle pattern. âItâll go great with your eyes!â
Midorima took the sweater to examine it.Â
âBesides the color being the same as my eyes, is there anything else to take note of?â
Momoi giggled. Midorimaâs questions reminded her of a time in middle school where Midorima asked about her notes and note taking strategies. He was always serious in his studies, and this was no exception. âYou want to pick clothes that fit well and that youâre comfortable wearing! Make sure that colors and patterns donât clash. Like two very bright colors! It can work, but Iâm not too sure if thatâs what you want to go with.âÂ
Throughout her speech, she could see Midorima nodding and paying very close attention to her words. âSo for the pants, should I go with one of the darker ones?âÂ
âYes! Let me chooseâŠâ Momoi looked around, surveying each pair of pants until she found one she thought to be suitable. âI think those black pants should work! Check to see if they fit!â
âThank you.â He gently placed his giant penguin plush down and grabbed the pair from Momoi. âI truly do appreciate the time youâve taken out of your day to help me with this.â The tips of his ears were red. She found it quite cute, but chose not to comment.
âOf course, Midorin!â Momoi beamed at him. âIâm honored you asked me to help you out with this! Iâll be cheering you on!â
His blush spread to his face. He managed to mutter a thank you before shuffling off to try on the outfit. She sat down to wait for Midorima. Would this be a one time thing? While it was the first time that itâs been just the two of them, Momoi found that she quite enjoyed the experience. With just the two of them, the energy wasnât as face paced, which Momoi appreciated. Sometimes, she needed the break from the constant running around of her daily life. And not only that, but Midorima had definitely changed. It was easier to understand him now.Â
When Midorima walked out, she saw some people began to sneak glances at her friend. Unfortunately for the interested party, his heart had been taken by someone else. She bounced on over and eyeâd her friend at all sorts of angles. Midorima stiffened at the attention, not knowing what to do.
Momoi laughed. âItâs fine Midorin! You look great!â She gave him a thumbs up.Â
At that, Midorima sighed, finally letting the tension escape. âThat endeavor was just as difficult as I imagined it to be.â He pushed his glasses up. âThank you Momoi for making this trip much easier. Your knowledge was crucial and your guidance saved me a lot of frustration. Is there any way to repay you?â
Momoi thought about it and couldnât think of anything she needed at the moment. Just spending time with a friend was already a gift in itself. But she knew that he wouldnât take that as an answer. She placed a finger on her chin as she thought of her options.Â
âI want you to pick an outfit for me!â
âI beg your pardon?â Momoi could see the gears running in Midorimaâs head. âDo you not already have suitable clothes?â
âI want to test what youâve learned! Letâs see if you can make an outfit for me.â
âIâm not sure ifââ
âCâmon Midorin! I know you can do it! Youâre not one to back away from a challenge are you?â With that, Momoi knew she won.Â
âGive me ten minutes.â Midorima rushed towards the center of the score, scanning all around to find an outfit that would look well on her. She couldnât help but laugh at the fact that his penguin plush was tucked between Midorimaâs arms.Â
âA brown plaid skirt, a white blouse without any patterns, and a light brown sweater that clashes with neither of these colors.â Midorima used his penguin to hold onto the clothes, as its flippers served the clothes like how thereâs a waiter serving food at a restaurant. âIs this a suitable outfit?â
âThereâs only one way to find out!â It was her turn to try on something new. She came out with a little twirl, âWell, Midorin? I have my thoughts, but letâs check your sense of fashion. What do you think?â
Midorima wasted no time. âFor the skirt and jacket, I was hesitant at first since you chose a sweater that specifically matched the colors of my eyes, but the neutral colors appear to coordinate well. I also ensured that the blouse had no patterns. I do believe that it fits the criteria.â
She saw a slight hint of a smile. Was he proud? She hoped so, as she truly did love the outfit that Midorima chose. âBut do you think I look cute? Do you think I can capture the hearts of anyone I set my eyes on?â
âYou⊠you asked me for my thoughts and I believe I answered appropriately. Was I incorrect in this assessment?â
âIâm just messing with you Midorin!â She saw the hint of exasperation on Midorimaâs face and so she finally relented. âItâs such a cute outfit! Iâm impressed!â
âHmph.â He turned away and began walking towards the cash register. âIn that case, letâs go.â
Momoi followed along happily.
Outside of the store, Midorima said, âThank you again. I found myself enjoying our time together.â There was a pause as he ruminated on what to say next. âI hope we can do this again. Iâve been told it would be beneficial to be the one to reach out more, so I will try to do just that.â
Momoi felt a tinge of tears begin to form, but she willed them away. To think only a year ago, she was wishing for a time where everyone could smile together again. So much had changed, and she hoped that it would continue to do so.Â
âAnd thank you Midorin,â She gave her friend a very wide smile. âLetâs definitely do this again. But before you leave, you definitely have to tell me about who you like! Come on! Tell me! Tell me!â
Midorimaâs cheeks reddened as he tried to back away, but he realized fairly quickly that this was a battle he would not win. âFine. But letâs do it somewhere else.â
âOf course, Midorin,â she said as she walked with her friend towards their next destination.
notes:
i couldn't decide if i wanted to have hints of midotaka or hints of midokaga bc i like both ships a lot! i ended up just keeping it vague on both ends, so YOU, the reader, can decide who The Boy Midorima Likes is :)
outfits are based on some merchandise art and official art! midorima's outfit is this:
to @axebreaker i present an aokuro drawing!! specifically referencing their request to include winter clothes and a dessert, so i had them in a jacket and sweater enjoying the popsicles they used in during their teiko days!!
additional thanks to @knbexchange for making all of this possible!!! i had a lot of fun with it!!
Part 1 of 3 of my gift for @istps / @discordia-eris <3 Thanks to the mod of @knbexchange for pairing us up! I loved all of your prompts it was so hard to choose lol
Title: the boy is mine
Rating: Teen & Up
Warnings: None
Characters & ships: Aomine
Word count: 1,720
Summary:
Aomine knew that Kagami had been with other people before him, and he happily reaped the benefits of Kagami's experience. But, that didnât mean he wanted to hear all the gory details about it.
I have finally finished my piece for the @knbexchangeâ and Iâm so excited to be able to share it!!! My giftee is @hazure-cyan who I hope really likes the story!Â
My gift for @takao-in-sekai <3 Kuroko and Takao spending time together, featuring some fun wings âš
I love both characters dearly and the prompts were very interesting! I hope you like it as much as I enjoyed working on it.
Thank you @knbexchange for hosting this event :)
Iâve never used tumblr in my lifeâŠor any partially media like this, but hello! For the KnB exchange (@knbexchange), ( I got @pxgophagia as my gifter, and they specifically asked for a Kuroko-centric type of thing, so I drew Kuroko! Also, I particularly saw Nash and Hanamiya mentioned so I added them as well ^^
Also, note that I apologise that it looks a bit odd, I suffered some difficulties (which were annoying), so Iâm sincerely sorry receiver. Anywho, I still hope you enjoy this doodle đ«¶
Hello, @sidvishess! It's very nice to meet you. You can find my @knbexchange Valentine's gift fic for you on AO3. I hope you have a good time reading it. âš Above is a mood board for the story, and in the fic's end notes there's a playlist, if you're interested.
Title: A Murphy's Mercy
Rating: Teen and Up
Warnings: No archive warnings apply
Characters & Ships: Kagami/Kuroko
Word count: 13 198
Summary: Life is stressful, so Kagami surprises Kuroko with an adventure.
Summary: It was their senior year of high school, and it had been off to an amazing start for Kagami, with he and Kuroko upgrading their status from basketball partners to romantic (yet still basketball) partners. But...there's an issue. Actually, a few issues - five (5) of them to be exact. It seemed Kagami would never escape the Generation of Miracles even after defeating the bastards, who take it upon themselves to stay actively involved in Kuroko's (and now, unfortunately, Kagami's) life. Yet, Kuroko is smiling so much more now than he ever has before now that things are normal(ish) between them all.
And so, as his devoted boyfriend, Kagami is going to give it his all and try to get along with the rainbow weirdos. Could this be the start of their friendship arc? Kagami has no idea, but for Kuroko, he's willing to try his damn hardest to like them - well, that's a bit much, maybe tolerate them, at the very least.
painty piece âŠ. i do not often use this style of rendering but it was so fun !! (plus version without the background and all my lighting bs :3)
doodles !! i LOVE takakise and akafuri they r so dear to me. the takakise drawing makes me laugh sm i found the ref while scrolling pinterest and was like i NEED to draw them like this ! (sorry abt their bare dogs being out it was for the sake of the piece)
The one where Kazunari and Satsuki are roommates, and everybody loves Takao.
â for @aomine-in-gensokyo, for KnB Valentineâs Day Exchange 2024 đ prompts: momoi being included, takao hanging out with kise, momoi, and midorima. post-canon, college. rated T for Aomineâs Big Mouth. 4340 words. @knbexchange
i. Kao-chan
All things considered, Satsuki was enjoying her first year in university. It was nice to finally be free of the babysitting duties she had undertaken for the better part of her adolescent life. Now that she no longer managed a basketball club, it was also nice to no longer have as much of a stake in a continuous thrum of basketball-related drama, and to have more time to herself.
The biggest dent in all of this, however, was probably that Aomine did not seem to share this sentiment. Presently, he was on her doorstep, caustically addressing her new roommate.
âThatâs Kao-chan?â he demanded accusingly, no small amount of betrayal evident in his voice. âShuutokuâs little point guard?â
She could have appreciated if the question had been prefaced with a hello, but with Aomine, the sooner you learnt not to expect too much, the better. And Satsuki had certainly learnt this lesson well. So instead, she was already thinking unhappily about how she had gotten new throw pillows (they were one pink and one orange, and clashed horribly with the couch, but she was very warmed up to the idea of everything in their house being colour-coded to represent each respective roommate) and Aomine was sure to lie all over them and have them smelling like the horrible musky body spray that he always used. This thought had her asking impatiently, âWell, what were you expecting?â
Not that her patience threshold was particularly high to begin with â it didnât have to be, when she knew Aomine like the back of her hand. He probably neednât have answered, for her to know, but that didnât stop Aomine from counting off sullenly anyway as he kicked off his shoes. âBoobier, curvier. Hotter.â Â He tore off his jacket and threw it into the couch, before promptly falling on top of it. Sure enough, he got his feet all over the rug and throw pillows. âI was hoping for a Kao-chan with more tits. More ass.â
âYouâre so uncouth,â she told him. He could keep hoping.
âOi, Satsuki, listen,â Aomine had dropped his voice as if they werenât alone. âI know how men like him think â and if he even thinks of trying anything with you â Hhgh.â
That last bit was because Satsuki had made her way over to him in time to smother his face with a pillow. He was so embarrassing! âYouâre one to give a lecture about respecting women,â she said crossly, folding her arms to keep herself from batting at Aomineâs feet till he took them off the coffee table. She knew from experience that he would only have them back up in the next minute. And truthfully, there was nothing much she could do â now that they didnât live up each othersâ asses and she no longer knew where he kept his stash of Horikita Mai magazines, there werenât many immediate threats to his personal belongings she could make.
As best as he could from under the pillow, Aomine was making indignant protests about looking out for her and being her best friend, which was rich, considering that sheâd chosen high schools pretty much with the singular intent of three years of caretaking. âIâve been friends with Kao-chan since second year of high school, which you should know. I trust him!â
âYeah, butââ
âDonât speak over women!â Satsuki admonished, shoving the pillow all the more crossly into his mouth. âStupid Dai-chan!â She decided that the pillow had had enough and let it drop into Aomineâs lap before flinging herself into the couch as well, leaving a pointed gap between them. This was why Satsuki never, ever introduced any of her friends to him. She had never agreed with the opinion floating around their friend groups that Kagami and Aomine were anything alike. Kagami was good to the women in his life.
Aomine turned to her grouchily, folding his arms. âY'wanna at least tell me how this happened?â
It was right at this moment that the click of the passcode being punched into the door let them know that Takao had chosen to return. He had stellar timing â it was one of the things Satsuki loved about her friend. He didnât look at all surprised to see Aomine in their living room (that was also their kitchen that was also their entryway), which said a lot about Aomineâs reputation for dependence on her for general survival.
âIf it isnât Aho-chan!â Takao said cheerily, in a manner that implied that he had no issue believing that it was Aho-chan. Aomine scowled, which had no effect on Takao, since heâd spent the better part of three years pulling Midorima around in a cart.
âTakao-chan goes to the same university as me,â Satsuki huffed. âWhich you might have known if you kept up with the group chat. Or with me.â That last part was not just bluster â it was a point of pride for her that she checked in with all their friends regularly. Even Murasakibara knew to send her updates at least bimonthly â simple texts ranging from, âSachin, thereâs a new mauibo flavour at the mall near your uni.â to âwhat a dragâ accompanied by pictures of whatever heâd been up to in culinary school. Akashi had taken to the initiation of correspondence so well that he had begun to send her weekly newsletters. Pictures of Yukimaru, his plain lunches, and even snaps of himself taken in the lobby of his apartment building â âSatsuki, I must thank you for your recommendation of the dark brown suit for this occasion.â â attached primly to his emails signed Akashi Seijuurou, Akashi Corporation, Kyoto Division.
Of course, Satsuki and Takao had discussed Aomine at length, since they lived together, and Aomine was an undeniable part of Satsukiâs life, in a manner similar to that of a chronic rash. And so Takao was well-aware of the questions that Aomine most likely wanted to ask. âIâm studying medicine as well,â he explained preemptively, as he put his shoes neatly onto their shoe rack, which pleased Satsuki. Another great thing about Takao and his association with the Midorima family premises was that he came pre-drilled in household etiquette. âJust at somewhere less prestigious.â
Aomine groaned in disgust, which was rude, and also predictable. âGross. So the plan is you and Midorima, small family practice and like, twenty disgusting, colicky kids, huh?â
âShin-chan will most likely be a surgeon,â Takao corrected. âAlso, Iâm impressed that you know the word âcolickyâ.â
âFuck you.â
Takao grinned. âYou and me, twenty colicky kids?â
Aomine decided promptly that he didnât like Takao, and Satsuki took great pleasure in proclaiming that this was not her problem. She was also not above adding on, âAnd itâs his house! You canât dislike him in his own house, go outside.â
The great problem with this, it turned out, was that it simply was not in fact true â and Aomine resolved to make the most out of disliking Takao under Takaoâs (and Satsukiâs) roof that afternoon, and for many afternoons after.
ii. Midorin & Ki-chan
On occasion, she needed the apartment to herself, and so sheâd send them all packing. She and Takao had a system â they rotated through different chores, so it was just as well that it was his turn to go shopping for the week when Midorima and Kise came over.
Sometimes, she gave them instructions for an errand, or two.
âThe both of you are hopeless,â Midorima admonished for the fourtieth time that afternoon. Kise and Takao were crouched in front of the little display of lip balms, and they had been there for a significant amount of time. âHow can you not tell a gloss from a balm.â
âI just use whatever PR is sent to me!â Kise twinkled.
âStop twinkling,â Takao said, reaching for a shiny red package closest to his eye-level.
Midorima snapped, âDonât be a buffoon. Cart out the strawberry-flavoured one or god so help me, Takao. The notion that Momoi would be a cherry girl over a strawberry one is preposterous and ill-informed.â
Since it had been a while since he had been called Takao, and because Shin-chan was beginning to use words like âpreposterousâ, Takao knew when it was time to shut his mouth. He dutifully picked the strawberry lip balm off its rack. He placed it into the basket, which Midorima diligently held aloft.
It was over this tube of strawberry lip balm that Satsuki later found herself in conversation with Kise, back at the apartment. Midorima had insisted that it was a poor day for Cancers and that he should walk back to his university dorm by foot â an endeavour that would take no less than three hours, two and a half, Satsuki was generous to concede, keeping in mind that Midorin had extremely long legs. Takao, who still checked Oha Asa every morning, knew that Scorpios were in first, and had made the argument that his luck would allow them to scrape by on the train if he accompanied his friend.
âHonestly, if Midorimacchi doesnâtââ Kise cut himself off here, and Satsuki recognised that look in his eyes â Kise was highly facetious, as a rule, but that hard edge in his gaze was very real. âTakaocchi is very fun to be around,â he said instead, mildly.
âWhat about Kasamatsu-san?â Satsuki asked.
âWhat about him?â Kise denied bitterly. âThis doesnât have anything to do with him.â
It had everything to do with him, that much Satsuki was sure of. The thing about Kise was that he burned too bright, perpetually and so much that it spilled over â the Miracles all had their strengths but Kise had potential, boundless and protean. Aomine had unleashed him, and when that hadnât worked out, heâd found Kasamatsu, who could contain him. And now Kasamatsu was busy with life, and Kise felt alone again. Satsuki didnât know too much about Kaijouâs ex-captain, but she understood that he was the no-nonsense and pragmatic sort, and was likely just caught up in university in a way that was likely to be the norm for a third-year undergraduate.
âNot everything is like high school, Ki-chan,â Satsuki said gently. âThe same way that not everything was like middle school â and that turned out to be a great thing. For all of you.â
Kise had to come into his own â and he was, slowly. It helped that he spent a lot of time with Satsuki, Takao, and Midorima, especially now that the latter two werenât pursuing basketball, at least not at a professional level. It freed Kise from the burden of measuring himself against the Miracles â against Aomine, in a way that ran far deeper than the sport and into his worth. The issue was that Kise didnât yet know how to see this as a freedom, and Satsuki hoped that the bonds of their friendship, having now transcended the realm of high school clubs and training camps and awkward adolescent aspiration, would give him the push he needed. âThank you, Momoicchi,â Kise said, with a sigh. âFor listening. For always letting me be myself.â
Coming from Kise, who could be anything he wanted to be, that counted for a lot.
If Kise was having trouble adjusting to university, Midorima was the entire opposite â he had taken to the structure and routine of medical school like a fish to water. Through high school, Midorima had grown more slightly more open, a little more accommodating of others, and his neurosis all in all had slackened its hold on him. His central character and convictions remained pretty much unchanged otherwise â he still believed very much in doing everything possible and frequently coupled this with a conscientious eschewing of frivolity.
It was needless to say then, that he was finding their time at the piercing shop a heinous waste of time.
âIt gets rid of headaches,â Takao offered helpfully.
âThat is complete pseudoscience,â Midorima snapped. âEven if true, it would hardly be the most efficient or effective method to deal withââ
âIf you donât let me do it here, Midorin, Kazunari-kun will do it with a needle back at our place,â Satsuki threatened brightly.
âWhat sort of foolishââ
âWith a paperclip,â Takao added, with a smile. Midorima knew him well enough to know it wasnât his trustworthy one. âSharpened on sandpaper.â
With a sigh so exaggeratedly aggrieved you could tell that he had been practising it for many years, Midorima allowed himself to be led into the shop. One thing about Takao and Satsuki, they were a terrible, terrible duo. No one had experienced this sooner than Midorima, beginning from when heâd found himself carted to Kurokoâs birthday game in their first year of high school. By the time theyâd lied to him that they were going to an oncology conference and taken him to a gay club for his 20th birthday instead, Midorima was so worn down that he hadnât even attempted to beat up Takao that much when someone had accosted him at the bar and told him he was so into the megane type.
It for reasons along this line that Midorima inevitably found himself in the chair â sat stiff and tense and angry, while Takao stuffed his fist in his mouth and tried not to laugh, and Satsuki admired the little black X sitting in the snug of Midorimaâs ear and told the piercer that yes, that position did look good. She herself was sporting a brand-new pink heart, shining where it had just been clipped through her still mildly-stinging flesh.
âDo you like it,â Takao asked smugly, to which he was instructed to shut up, and Satsuki made them both lean in for a picture.
iii. Aomine & Takao
Aomine was looking for Satsuki. Heâd forgotten to account for the fact that now that Takao Kazunari was her roommate, he ran the chance of running into him, in addition to the chance that Satsuki might be out. He could text ahead of time, sure â but Aomine did not, as a habit, text ahead of time.
âLook,â Takao said. âDo you remember, in our second year of high school â that charity basketball event we all took part in?â
âYeah,â Aomine snorted, âAs if I could forget.â
âRight,â Takao nodded. âRemember when Akashi asked her to join in?â
âSo? He always does that.â
âAnd when you taught her how to do a layup, did you notice how much she liked that?â
âShe wasnât even good at it,â Aomine frowned.
âThatâs not the point,â Takao said patiently. âIt wasnât about the layup.â
Aomine didnât exactly have the widest range of expressions, so his frown deepened even further. âBut thatâs what I was sâposed to be teaching her,â he said, and then it was like everything hit at once. âOh.â
ââbasketball.â Aomine finished sheepishly. âWhatever,â he said gruffly, âThanks. For talking to me even though I was being difficult.â
âIâve had a lot of practice,â Takao snorted, and closed the door in his face. Aomine couldnât say that he appreciated being likened to Midorima, but then again Takao adored the guy, so who could say if it was a bad thing or otherwise.
And anyway, Takaoâs text read, There arenât any practices scheduled next Wednesday so the uni gym should be free.
He had probably gotten Aomineâs number from Midorima or from Kise or from Satsuki or from Kuroko, and wasn't that an annoying thought, that all his friends were also Aomineâs.
iv. Tetsu-kun
When Satsuki returned home on a Thursday evening, she saw that Kuroko was at their place. She knew this because she only had so many friends under 170cm, and so there were only a few logical deductions for a pair of basketball shoes in a size 25.
âMomoi-san,â he greeted her when she stepped into the apartment, politely neutral, but she could see that heâd been a little startled. âYouâre home early. Kazunari-kun has just headed out for his class.â
There were two cups that had been left abandoned on the table, one orange, and one blue. The blue cup had big print around its body that declared that Kuroko was JAPANâS SEXIEST TEACHER, a gag gift and his designated mug at the Momoi-Takao household. From the condensation pooled onto the table, Satsuki could tell that he had been here for a while.
Kuroko had never let go of his precise formality, even through the years as old middle school wounds had healed over and theyâd found new peace with each other. Their nicknames had always been a way of holding onto closeness even in their worst times, when they werenât â they had been Tetsu, Midorin, Mukkun, Ki-chan, and Dai-chan to her even when theyâd fallen apart and bled into each other all through the end of middle school. For Kuroko, though, sheâd always had the inkling that it was the opposite â that it was his way of maintaining distance, even in the closeness, first from people heâd never thought heâd be a part of, and then from people heâd never thought heâd be a part of ever again. She imagined how it must be for him, who had found his light once in Aomine, and that had turned outâ well. And once more in Kagami, who, while not Aomine, had still left to America for college.
âWe could order in,â she found herself blurting across the room. Kuroko, who looked like heâd been about to rise from his chair, glanced at her, surprised at the abruptness of her speech. âSince we both, you knowâŠâ she trailed off. It was well-known that the two of them were the worst cooks their friends knew, sans Riko-chan from Seirin. Even Midorin had learnt to make a serviceable instant curry sometime between the second and fifth times he had given himself food poisoning, which was of course deeply humiliating for someone in medical school.
Her impulsivity proved to be well-worth the reward when Kuroko broke into a small smile â the same one that sheâd swooned over many times back when sheâd fancied herself in love with him â and said, âI would like that very much, Momoi-san. Thank you.â
She beamed back, smile twice as large and twice as warm. âOf course, Tetsu-kun, youâre welcome anytime.â Satsuki said, and meant it. âI hope you and Takao-kun had fun today.â
Kuroko went very still at this, which was not unusual for him, but all the same, Satsuki waited patiently.
They all shared Kuroko, in that odd way they always had, but it wasnât quite the same the other way around. It felt unfair somehow that Kuroko would have to share, when his was the sort of person who lent themselves wholly to others. He had lost Aomine to himself, Kagami to dreams that were ever broader and farther across the globe, and Satsuki was aware of the way Kurokoâs expression would draw flat whenever they met up as a group, when it would be obvious that Takao was Kazunari to him and Midorima both. It would have been easier, she thought with a faint pang of longing, if she and Kuroko had just been in love with each other.
Eventually, he answered quietly, âWe did, thank you. Itâs nice to be around someone who can always see me.â It didnât sound like he was talking about basketball, so she pulled him into a hug, which he returned.
v. Kazunari & Satsuki
They did Kazu & Satsu Nights on Saturdays, whenever they could. They each had on a face mask of their choice â nourishing honey for Satsuki and blemish control tea tree for Takao â while they were engaged in a bit of an argument that theyâd had a few times before already.
âItâs not about if he cares, itâs about if he cares enough,â Takao was shooting back. Satsuki could tell that he had spent a lot of time thinking about this. âHeâs in a good place, heâs chasing his dreams, why would heââ His tone was grim and his words bitter. âShin-chan has never been the type to take unnecessary risks, much less when everything is already going good.â
âAnd you see yourself as one of those?â Satsuki asked thoughtfully. âAn unnecessary risk?â
It was a moot question, because it was hard not to feel like a risk, to people like her friends. She understood what Takao was saying all too well.
âI donât know how you do it, honestly,â Takao said, and his smile was crooked at its edges when she looked at him, a little bit wry and a little bit resigned. Under the wet face mask, his disparaged expression looked misshapen and silly.
âWhat,â Satsuki asked, âPut up with them?â
âLove them,â Takao corrected.
She laughed, because she understood the feeling. âI donât understand how I do it either,â she admitted, thinking a little wistfully of having time to herself if Dai-chan hadnât been two hands full all through middle and high school. All the cute dates she could have almost definitely gone on if everyone hadnât known that she was preoccupied at all times with Aomine. She sighed, âIt gets easier over time.â
Takao looked at her very carefully, and then said, âYeah, I probably wouldnât have traded in being Shin-chanâs keeper, either.â
She liked Takao like this, when they were alone â pensive, a little mean. He was thoughtful in a serious way, and she could see why some of their friends liked him when he got like this, away from the usual jocularity that was not quite a facade but certainly a choice made for an audience.
âYou could go out with Ki-chan,â Satsuki suggested as smoothly as she could, âI think he tried to ask you out last week. When he offered to go card shopping at Nakano Broadway. Ki-chan doesnât know anything about cards, he only has older sisters.â
âHeâs a stupid idiot,â Takao said.
âAnd so is Midorin.â
âFair point,â Takao conceded, sounding a little surprised, âOkay. Maybe Iâll take him up on it.â
âOr Tetsu-kun,â Satsuki added, a little more confidently this time. âHeâs usually got time on weekends.â
Takao raised an eyebrow at her â âThatâs kind of your thing, no?â
Satsuki hummed, leaning back onto her bed. She enjoyed the feeling of the cool mask for a moment, the way the wind from the fan chilled the essence and seeped into her skin on a summer night. âI donât think so,â she decided, âAt least, it hasnât been for a while.â
âWhat changed?â
It was a good question. There was something to be said about Kuroko, the way the other five seemed to coalesce around him â him joining the team had been the beginning of the possibility of friendship between them, where Satsuki thought that, if left alone, they might have been nothing more than colleagues on the court. For someone like her, who loved not just her friends, but loved them together â Kuroko represented that crucial centre of it all, and she loved him for that, even now.
âI donât think anything changed,â she told Takao. âI just realised some things.â
Takao rolled over to lie on his back, peeling off the mask and balling it up in his fist before he tossing it lazily in the air. She heard the wet smack and then crinkle of it hitting the sides of the trash on its way in. âThis does seem to be the time for that,â Takao agreed sympathetically. Then, exhaling harshly, added, âHow would they do it without us?â
âI suppose that theyâre miracles,â she said, which made Takao laugh.
âYouâre a Miracle too, Momo-chan,â he said. âAnd my favourite one. Donât forget.â
vi. Dai-chan
She was surprised when Aomine asked her to attend one of his games â she did, usually, but most of the time she did so of her own volition, and sheâd have to check for the dates herself. Much of their relationship had occurred along these lines â Satsuki keeping an eye out, keeping track, keeping pace; so her heart exploded in her chest when she realised that sheâd been tricked.
âSurprise,â Aomine muttered, gaze flickering towards the ground. He held the cake out to her. âHappy birthday.â
The gym was empty, save for a few stragglers in the far-end, winding down from whatever sport theyâd been practicing, and no doubt getting ready to head off for a late dinner at this hour. Satsuki should have questioned the suggestion of a practice game at eight at night, but she had been so thrown off by even being invited on Aomineâs own initiative.
âButâ the game?â she stuttered out, not yet having found her words, staring wide-eyed, wondrous, into the flickering hot flames of the candles set atop copious icing.
âThere is no game,â Aomine said impatiently, still not quite meeting her eyes. âDonât be dense, Satsuki.â
âDonât be a bitch!â she scolded, with no heat in her words. She couldnât even be bothered to hide the excitement seeping through to her tone. âYou did this all for me?â
âYou donât gotta make a big deal outta it,â Aomine muttered. Then, he asked, with hesitance that was out of place in his voice: âYâlike it?â
Through the softly curling vapour from the candles it looked like his eyes were, his whole face was, wavering, and in that moment it felt like sheâd been looking at him like this her whole life â cast-warm and through gentle ripples like the top of a lake; cosy like being settled at the hearth, natural, meant to be, familiar, and very real.
âItâs perfect,â she said, smiling into the smoke. âThank you, Dai-chan.â
Mukkun had made the cake and it was exquisite, though he had told Aomine that it wasnât a big deal, that it would be suuuuch a bother if Satsuki found out he had done it, and it had been strawberry and iced in all her favourite shades of pink and teal; and she loved her friends, and she loved being Momoi Satsuki.
Notes:
Thank you for reading!
The requested characters were aomine daiki, momoi satsuki, takao kazunari, and the pairings were momoi & takao, kuroko / takao, kise & takao. I kept everything pretty open-ended here, so you are welcome to read things how you wish. To my giftee, I really hope that this fell within your expectations, I don't really write, so thank you for the chance to work on this lovely prompt.
I chose momoi as the primary perspective but the relationships are a takao-bowl, as I thought it would be interesting to explore the idea of momoi and takao as the central towers in the tokyo miragenâs lives post-canon. I think that the relationships that the knb characters have with each other are very complex and they individually all have a lot of issues to work through â so realistically, entering their 20s, I see things as still being figured out. I think takao is someone who is very easily loved because he knows how to accommodate someoneâs idiosyncrasies â but heâs also very complicated himself and the question of him loving is harder than the reverse. I like the idea of momoi and him having friends in each other, being able to level with each other, and the idea that momoi can understand him and he can be mellow and serious around her :)
This is my exchange gift for @pinkheichou! I was delighted to write you some AoKise, and while I didn't quite manage your specific prompts, I felt like you vibed with "idiots to lovers" and so I hope you enjoy this small offering!
đ to @ni-kol-koru for @knbexchange ! happy valentine's exchange, i was so excited to work on this for you, my beloved mutual.
wanting you is messy business
rating: T
warnings: none
characters & ships: Hayama Kotarou, Miyaji Kiyoshi, Hayama/Miyaji
word count: 3,849
At exactly 10.30 on Friday nights, Miyaji will arrive in exactly the same jacket and ripped jeans, and order exactly the same thing â an apple and cranberry float â and sit in exactly the same booth with an open laptop and scattered textbooks.
At exactly 10.30 p.m. on Friday nights, Hayama will abandon any remaining grief the week has given him and convince himself that he doesnât spend the shift waiting for exactly this moment. He never really succeeds, but that doesnât stop him from trying.
Hayama is oblivious and Miyaji is clumsy, which makes for very awkward confessions.