back for once JUST to post about this picture like UGHHHH DO WE SEE THE VISUALS??? THEYRE SO BADDDD OH MY GOODNESS 🥹🥹 AND BRO? ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY? YEAH????? THE HELL?
Now we can finally answer the all important question: Just exactly how high is Hinata/Noya/[Insert Favorite Volleydork] jumping?
First of all, let’s sort them by height. (HS stands for highschool)
The way to measure the vertical jump is to first get a player to reach up against a wall and mark the highest point he can reach flat-footed (this is the “standing reach”). Then the player jumps from a standstill and marks off the highest point he can reach (I labeled it the “jumping reach”, and this data is provided by the Haikyuu Guidebook). Subtract standing reach from jumping reach, and viola, vertical jump.
Note that the players are propelling themselves up into the air using their leg muscles alone, without a run to help the jump. This ability is very important for the blockers.
Below is a table sorted by jumping reach. (Not surprised to see all those middleblockers, and then there are those weirdo setters)
Okay, now the problem :D The guidebook did not provide the standing reach, so I have to estimate. What I do know for sure is data from the Japanese National Teams. So using that as a reference, I tested several calculation methods based on heights and body proportions. Long story short, I believe the simplest one (Height * 1.3) makes the most sense here.
So here it is, sorted by vertical jump. (Not surprisingly, all the liberos sink to the bottom, and then there’s Noya)
The world record of vertical jump is about 140 cm, so Hinata’s 115.4 cm is not out of the realm of reality, but it’s also quite possible that he was a grasshopper in another life so
⤻ in which sophia laforteza, praised for her all-round skills and leadership, is tasked with guiding the new trainee to catch up with the others. but as y/n l/n struggles to keep up, sophia can't help but see the girl as a burden holding her back from her own success – and with each misstep, her resentment grows.
wc: 529 | not proofread, i apologise for any mistakes!
the only time sophia moved after you left was when she was called down for dinner. but she immediately went back to the spot you left her in, waiting for you.
she didn't know what she was expecting — for you to come back, smiling and teasing her like nothing happened? for her to be right and you actually went out partying?
it wasn't until yoonchae arrived a few hours later, dropping her things on the floor with a tired sigh, that her stomach twisted.
"y/n unnie is crazy," yoonchae muttered. "she has been practicing choreo for three hours."
sophia froze, "she actually went to practice?"
yoonchae blinked innocently at her, "yeah." and continued to unpack her things.
"so.. she's still there?" the filipina asked, earning a nod from the younger girl. "did she say when she'd come back?"
"nope, she was still dancing when i left."
sophia stayed silent, debating on whether she should text the girl or not.
but she didn't. she waited. she was sat up on her bed, switching between staring at her hands and staring at the door. she waited, and waited. until she couldn't anymore.
she didn't realise she had fallen asleep until yoonchae shook her awake. "sophia, breakfast is ready downstairs."
she looked around the room, but to her dismay - there was no sight of you. your bed was as neat as it was yesterday.
she rubbed her eyes and nodded silently. she groggily got up and followed yoonchae downstairs.
she halted when she saw you with daniela and marquise, giggling about something with a bowl in your hands. you looked up to the staircase when you heard footsteps and met eyes with the filipina girl. your smile slightly faltered, but you looked away when marquise made another joke about the tiktok you shared with her.
you avoided each other, despite the cameras pointing towards you. after finishing breakfast, you made your way upstairs to get ready for practice, unaware that sophia was trailing behind you. you entered your room and flinched when it closed behind you. you turned on your heel, hands flying to your chest.
"jesus, sophia. give a little warning next time–"
"you didn't come home last night." she stated. you awkwardly shifted from one foot to another, "uh, i did. i just crashed in dani's because i didn't want to wake you guys up."
sophia stayed silent before taking a hesitant step towards you. "y/n, can we... can we talk?"
"there's no need, sophia. i'll talk to missy about our arrangement so you can focus on yourself and your own practice."
"y/n–"
"no. there's no need for us to talk. you said what you said, i said what i said. that's all. i don't hold grudges and we don't have time to be worrying about things like this. so.. we can just pretend like nothing happened."
“i–” sophia began before you cut her off, “look, i gotta get ready. let’s just.. move past this, okay? i’ll talk to missy later, and we can continue to pretend to be ‘besties’ in front of the cameras.”
before she could get another word in, you walked into the bathroom and shut the door, leaving her in your shared room alone.
masterlist | next
a/n ; currently lazy so i'll make it look pretty and add taglist another time hehe
⤻ in which sophia laforteza, praised for her all-round skills and leadership, is tasked with guiding the new trainee to catch up with the others. but as y/n l/n struggles to keep up, sophia can't help but see the girl as a burden holding her back from her own success – and with each misstep, her resentment grows.
half-written.
wc: 598
you started packing your bag after changing into your workout clothes, not knowing sophia’s eyes were digging holes into the back of your head.
“don’t you think you should take advantage of the one day we actually get to rest our bodies instead of going out to hang out with your friends?” sophia said sharply, surprised by the bite in her own voice.
“where do you think i’m going..?” you asked. “i don’t know, wherever you normally go. probably out with manon and you’ll be back after curfew and you won’t get reprimanded because for some reason, you’re exempted from everything. you get to do whatever the hell you want.”
you stared at her, stunned by the outburst. “e-excuse me?”
“yeah, you can break the rules and hey! no one says a word. but the moment anyone else does the same thing, it’s suddenly the end of the world–talks of kicking us out. you get to slack off and it’s fine because everyone else will just pick up after you. everyone else has to clean up your mess, and somehow we’re the ones blamed for it. it’s totally okay to do whatever you want, because you’re y/n! the favourite trainee! the inexperienced one who ‘doesn’t know any better’. it’s okay for you to suck because you’re y/n. and for whatever reason, you have whatever it is they’re looking for.”
you stared at her like she had just slapped you. “are you serious right now?”
sophia’s jaw clenched, crossing her arms and looking away.
you let out a small laugh, but there was no humour behind it. “do you think i want this? do you think i want to be treated differently? like i don’t hear all the whispers or the pressure whenever i walk into a room?”
she stayed silent, but you stood your ground.
“do you know how it feels to be constantly reminded you’re not good enough? that the only reason you’re here is some undefined potential everyone keeps talking about? i practice just as hard–maybe even harder, because i know how many people don’t think i deserve to be here.”
sophia looked up, her eyes unreadable.
“i know you don’t see me practicing, sophia. i know you think when i come home at 3 am that i was out getting drunk, partying–but no. i come home past curfew almost every night because i am in that fucking practice room, torturing myself. i don’t ask for your help because i know how much you hate having to take care of me. i know you already have enough on your plate. so i try to help myself. i try to stay out of your way. so maybe–just maybe–you’ll have one less thing to worry about.”
you exhaled, breath shaky.
“so, no. i’m not going out with manon to party, i’m going to the studio to practice. because god forbid i continue to fall behind and continue to give reasons for everyone to hate me.”
the silence that followed was deafening. you grabbed your bag off the bed, quickly walking towards the door of your shared room.
“but thanks, really. for confirming what everyone else is too polite to say to my face.”
you didn’t wait for a reply. just turned on your heel and walked out, the door clicking shut behind you.
sophia blinked slowly, the silence in the room starting to suffocate her.
she didn’t move. she couldn’t. the weight of her own words sat heavy on her chest, echoing louder now that y/n was gone.
I hope you see thisI’m not a bot and this is not a spam messageI’m a real person from Gaza trying to survivePlease don’t scroll past me I’m just asking to be heard 🙏
On this day every month, I used to receive my salary, buy groceries, and give a portion to those in need. Now, after 22 months of war, I’m begging strangers to help my sick mother and father — just to afford $25 for a kilo of flour. Please be the reason we eat today. Thank you for your kind heart.🫂💔
Kira loves her fish because they’re something she can pour affection into without being ridiculed or seen as weak. Feeding schedule, water temperatures, light level, foliage changes, water cycling and regulation. Love from her comes in the form of attention, precious time from her busy life to show something or someone care.
Fish are easy. They don’t stare back and they don’t make Kira feel like she’s going to lose her grip any moment. Just the quiet gurgling of tanks around her to soothe the racing thoughts she pretends she doesn’t have.
𝓚ira timurov was not slick. she was vindictive, she was calculated, but the last thing she was, was subtle with her intentions. as ominous and mysterious she wanted her image to be, to hoax the school into obeying with fear, she was much easier to read than she seemed to realize. at least to you.
securing your place on student council had to be one of the easier things st. dominic’s has offered you. gambling wasn’t a gift, it wasn’t an art to be mastered, it was innate--an instinct.
you didn’t need tricks, you didn’t need skills, it came to you like like a lioness sinking her teeth in the throat of her prey, despite not being taught how to hunt--to kill. it was to nobody’s surprise when you had rose the ranks in just weeks of arriving at st. dominic’s. now, you sat snugly in top three as a junior.
“i choose the game,” she barked, “you know that, y/n.”
of course, that didn’t keep the president from using everything at her disposal to knock you under the cut. she was desperate to see that badge leashed around you neck. and kira timurov always got what she wanted, even if her hands had to be dirty.
she never lost in her life, and she wasn’t going to start now.
“it won’t matter,” you purred, cocking your head to the side as you peered up at her through your lashes. your lips spread slowly. “whatever you choose, you know you’ll lose.”
kira’s jaw locked, her nostrils flaring. riri raised an eyebrow at her sister’s silence, tilting to check the tense expression on the older’s face. her public persona tore through, smiling from ear to ear as she took a step closer. her hand played with the heart pin on your tie, before toying with the ends of your hair.
“so arrogant. you’ll look so cute with that collar around your neck,” she whispered, dragging a finger down your jaw, patting your cheek lightly, “crawling around like my little house pet.”
“you have more house pets than they have debt. how much dirty laundry do you have, kira?” you taunted, “honestly, i’m almost surprised they haven’t made an alliance against you yet.” her smug expression soured for a moment, before her signature timurov poker face resurfaced. “but then again, you are st. dom’s best and brightest… who’d defy your wishes?”
“you, i presume.” she scoffed, “such a smartass.”
“and yet, you keep coming back,” you mocked, pouring. “but i am on your council. so, what game are we playing, president?”
she pondered for a second, before tilting her head. “poker.”
a chuckle escaped you. “poker? only idiots would be arrogant enough to challenge mozart to the piano.” you sighed, smiling. you stood to your feet, the downhearted expression sprawled across her sharp features. you laid a hand on her shoulder just before you struggled past her, she tensed at the contact, but didn’t pull away from your touch. “i’m only in third because i refuse to gamble against players like you, kira. amateurs who treat gambling like a political stunt leeches the fun from it.”
as your heels clicked away, you couldn’t help but throw one smug smirk back at the russian. she only stared, unsatisfied.
her sister stood wordless behind her, hands clasped behind her back, awaiting direction. kira loosened her clenched jaw, her nostrils flaring as she sighed deeply. “go get mary, i think it’s time her and i have a little chat about her… scandals.”
mary was hardly close to being your favourite on the council, but you respected the way she manipulated the hands she was dealt (pun intended). though it brought shame to the core concepts st. dom’s stood for, you weren’t exactly one to disregard another’s hustle. besides, she was a good laugh.
“and she chose poker?” mary asked. you twirled the pen between your fingers, nodding. she bursted into loud, hysteric laughter. “oh my god, what a fucking moron!”
you cocked your head backwards, deep in thought--you knew kira, she was easier to read than most. she was raised to conceal herself, only showing slivers of what she wanted the world to see. but players like kira, ones born into a mold of perfection, extort their opponent. they intimidate, they deter, and they ravenously devour everything standing between them and their thorned crown. but you couldn’t understand why she was so hung up on you, why she was so desperate to prove herself better than you. the more you resisted, the more she craved the taste of triumph at your will.
“hey!” mary’s bark snapped you from drowning in your own head. she thrusted her heel into ryan’s back, the boy jerked beneath her feet. “stop fidgeting, it’s annoying as hell.”
your ears perked at heels clicking against the floor, rhythmic thuds bled past the chatter and clamour of st. dom gamblers. your gaze flickered up, and following the brash strides was a familiar, masked woman. and her gaze… wasn’t fixed on you.
halting just before your couch, riri nodded her head at mary.
the shorter raised an eyebrow skeptically, eyeing you out the corner of her eye before pointing at herself. “me?”
st. dom’s second best gambler nodded once again, gesturing towards the door leading to the student council office. though she was hesitant, mary wasn’t one to piss off the silent but deadly type. she nudged ryan away, the boy propped himself up, dusting his hands off with a grimace. you shot him a small smile, enjoying the way it flustered him, watching him trudge behind his handler, who was being lead away by riri.
now, basking in st. dom’s tumult, you got lost in the chaos.
you felt the couch dip on the other end, a strong citrusy aroma wafted over, piercing your nose. alert, your gaze darted to the corner of your eye, catching glimpse of a tall, slender brunette taking a seat as she leant back into the cushions. you paid her no mind; though, her frame looked eerily foreign.
“a black blazer… i’m assuming it’s not just a fashion choice?”
you snapped your head towards her, breath caught in your throat at the beautiful woman sat cross-legged a few feet away from you. her glossy hazel eyes taunted your wonder, a small smirk played on her plump lips, punctuated with two tiny dimples just below the corners. she raised an eyebrow, disappearing into her clean-cut bangs.
you smiled, a tight, polite one you used most on adults. “you’d assume correct. black is a student council privilege.”
“student council?” she gasped, giggling. her hand hovered just over her mouth. “how prestigious. what qualified you?”
your pen lied still between your pointer and middle finger. you studied her carefully--her unfaltering kind facade, and the way she was analyzing your every move just as intently.
“the top ten gamblers of st. dom’s make up the council. the better you are at gambling, the higher you rank.” you glanced over at the leaderboard, her eyes followed. “you’ll find every student’s name in the standings over there, uh…?”
“yumeko kawamoto,” she introduced, “today’s my first day.”
“well, yumeko, looks like you’re starting at a humble…” you waved a hand at the screen from afar, the list swiftly browsed through, to just above the cut of debt. there her name was, flickering a shade of gold, ‘yumeko kawamoto - $0’. “75.”
“hm… well, ms. student council, what’s your rank?”
you grinned, watching the list fly back upwards:
#1. kira timurov - $520,300
#2. riri timurov - $480,100
#3. y/n l/n - $455,800
“oh, my.” she purred, cocking her head sideways. “you must be a big deal around here then?” you shrugged, holding her gaze. “as a student council member, i imagine you know this place intimately. care to show a newcomer around?”
you tucked your pen in your pocket. “i don’t see why not.”
kira’s favourite rig in the student council hub was the monitoring grid. she could see every acre the school owned on a single screen. though, at times she considered the privilege more of a burden than a blessing. right then, she watched as a new face inched its way closer to what was supposed to be hers. she was livid, and she could feel her authority slowly slip between her fingers--it was time to welcome the new girl.
the door creaked open, echoes rippled across the room. two pairs of footsteps neared kira from behind. and through the faint reflection on the tv screen, she caught sight of ryan peering through the slimming door crack. the doors slammed shut behind mary, who halted just as riri did.
“uhm, what the fuck is going on?” she piped, tone challenging, “what’s with the whole ‘men in black’ thing?”
“word on the street is your secret tactics aren’t so secret,” the president spoke, voice booming. she let out a breathy chuckle, glancing down. kira spun on her heel, turning to glare at the shorter. her arms were crossed, pointer finger tapping against her arm. “and honestly, i can’t have your dishonest little tricks soiling the student council name, mary.”
the latter swallowed thickly, lips quivering. still, she stood tall, feinting composure. “i don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“playing dumb is for the guilty, davis. and the guilty deserve punishment.” she toyed with a loose strand of the shorter’s braids. her hands trailed down to mary’s bow, before harshly yanking the woman to her knees. she let out a sharp mewl of pain, looking up at a smirking kira, gritting her teeth. riri could only look away, her eyes fixed on the ground and her eyebrows furrowed. her hands trembled slightly behind her. kira grabbed her jaw harshly, lips brushing the shell of her ear. “if you don’t want to be 86ed, you’re gonna do exactly as i say.”
yumeko had heard murmurs about a legendary game to be played between the best gamblers at st. dom’s since she first stepped on campus. whispers of an almighty kira timurov recklessly taking on the one girl born bleeding chips. she just couldn’t resist meeting this infamous ‘child of hermes’--the greek god of luck, trickery, and games of chance.
and, god, was she so glad she caught you just sitting about.
of course she had figured out you were ranked third by then, and of course she had already gotten a tour from an eager ryan adebayo, but would it really be a fresh beginning for yumeko if she didn’t play pretend somehow? she had gotten an earful of sweet, but spicy, y/n from blake just minutes into moving in.
she could see the objective appeal straight away--suave, a mature, sensual aura with a sweet, gentle aftertaste. your eyes eradicated a poised sobriety, but the way they softened when you would smile washed the harsh edges away with charm. if what was buzzing through the st. dom hallways were true, your finesse on the felt may be just as breathtaking as you were.
your last name sounded awfully familiar. it intrigued her.
“--honestly, the last time i saw someone use the study room might’ve been in a yearbook from the 80s.” you chuckled.
it must’ve been, what? three? four wings, already? not a single word you’ve said about the dusty, old school was registered in her head. your voice dripped like nectar, the kind that drew bees in without thinking. it didn’t speak; it lured, and yumeko followed. she wasn’t listening, she was feeding.
“i’m sorry, your last name sounds very familiar.” she cut you off. taken aback, you froze, before looking off at students passing by the library. “l/n… is that french? italian?”
“latin (or wtv you want), actually.” you replied, “it means luck.”
“oh,” she purred, giggling. her finger tugged at her bottom lip. “how fitting for a gambler. does the blessing comes in handy?”
you chuckled lightly. “gambling isn’t about luck. it’s not about skill either. it’s about instinct, and enjoying the rush.”
she followed you into lace hall, or the cafeteria, as normal high schoolers would call it, where everybody had gathered.
you waved, smiled, greeting acquaintances and house mates as you made your way through the hall. yumeko tailed closely behind, her hands behind her back as she watched you thrive in your element. eventually, you stopped, facing her. glancing past her glossy doe eyes, you caught sight of mary and ryan emerging through the grand doors. an unsettling feeling sunk in your chest when she only gave you a cool glare from afar.
“it’s just about lunch time. i’d invite you to join me, but the president’s pretty strict on house rules.” you tapped the crest on your blazer, looking past your own shoulder at a few of your fellow student council members taking their seat at the medieval table at the very end of the hall. the gaudy throne at its centre sat bare, its grandeur dimmed in the absence of its owner. “i wouldn’t want to get you in trouble on the first day.”
“now, y/n, don’t make me sound like such a tyrant.”
both your heads snapped towards the sisters striding towards you. per usual, kira just a foot ahead, mirroring their familial standings. she eyed you up and down, then glared at yumeko.
“i’m glad you’re getting yourself familiar with the newcomer. yumeko, right?” her voice was almost too darling to be genuine. she smiled from ear to ear at yumeko’s nod. “let me look at you.” she paused, eyes roaming all over the latter, as if noting any apparent flaws she could weaponize. “i’m kira, student council president. this is riri, my sister.” she gestured towards the latter, who dragged her thumb across her own neck. “welcome to st. dominic’s, yumeko kawamoto.”
yumeko tilted her head, unwilling to back down from kira’s challenging gaze. “i’ve felt plenty welcome, thank you.”
“if you wanted a tour guide, we could’ve arranged for a house pet to show you the ins and outs of the school. it isn’t exactly… customary for top tens like y/n here to do such low work.” the president drawled. she fixed the crooked collar of your blazer, tightening the tie around your neck. you let her fix your uniform however she wished, wordlessly submitting. just the way she liked it. “but ever tactful, you wouldn’t turn down a fellow student’s cry for help, would you now?”
you shook your head, flashing her a gracious smile. “no, kira.”
her hand rested on your chest, but she eyed yumeko, who just stood. if anything, she found it interesting, the way kira was so threatened by something as simple as a tour.
this was the pair about to gamble the wildest game in st. dom history? the girl and her president draped all over her?
“we don’t get a lot of midterm transfers. you’re not legacy either.” she announced. you shared a look with riri, who just stared back blankly. the younger timurov left her sister’s side, taking her own seat by the throne as suki scrambled out of her seat. kira cocked her head aside, her hand still possessive on you. “so, yumeko. what kinda games do you like?”
yumeko chortled awkwardly. “anything for fun, really.”
“ooh, i’d love a long round of ddr with this one.” dori announced, her eyes widening manically. she scraped the tip of her dagger against her tongue.
kira’s head could not have snapped towards her faster.
“you’re interrupting.” she sneered. one stern look her way was enough to shut the bigger girl up. even with an eye roll.
“i’d love a challenge sometime. but i heard you have a rather big match coming up?” yumeko queried, her gaze softening when it landed on you. you felt kira’s fingers tense against you. you could feel her nails through your dress shirt. “tomorrow?”
“you heard right,” kira replied, “i’ve been working to get this one to a challenge since she’s been here. she’s finally agreed.”
“you’ve never gambled each other before?” the japanese pressed, “hard to believe you haven’t played at least once.”
“if y/n challenges you, you’re literally cooked for life. it’s a dead end.” chad added, “she’s picky with her opponents, i can’t even remember the last time she’s played with little old me.”
“i certainly do, chadwick.” you giggled, a hand over your grin to contain your amusement, “you begged for a game of strip poker, so i indulged you. you couldn’t get me out of both shoes, but you looked so adorable sitting there in your boxers.” house pet chad. always insisted on being in just underwear whenever he was around you. it wasn’t until you couldn’t stand his relentless flirting did you offer to help charity gamble him just out of debt. now he managed to worm his way onto student council, still, with an insatiable thirst for you.
“yeah, and you quit just before you got to the good part.” he emphasized, pointing down to his crotch. “your loss, baby.”
kira promptly snarled at riri, who shot up. she yanked dori’s knife from her hand, stabbing it straight into chad’s sleeve, nailing it to the table. the boy squeaked, flinching at the thud.
“another word and it’s your hand, white.” she hissed.
“i’ve brought a little gift for you.” yumeko fished through the inner-pockets of her red blazer, pulling out a tiny wrapped box. a blue bow held it together. she held it out, bowing her head slightly. “student council president, kira-san.”
she took the box, examining it briefly. “i’ll be keeping my eye on you, new girl. and thanks for… whatever this is.”
her hand slid from your chest to her side. with a nod of her head, she ordered for your compliance as she circled the table.
yumeko’s hands found your arm, giving you a quick squeeze. she smiled. you mirrored her grin, holding her velvet gaze. she sighed softly, whispering, “thank you for the tour, y/n-san.”
you watched the girl pace towards michael, who seemed to be watching the ordeal intently. you could feel kira’s piercing grey eyes burn holes in the back of your skull. you made your way around the table, hearing kira scold dori for taking the seat beside the throne. when the left side of the table made way for you, you could only sit obediently by her side.
“for the game,” she began, not looking up from her food. “i say we play in the courtyard instead of the stuffy black box.”
you hummed. “wouldn’t make much of a difference.”
“still so cocky, hm?” she chuckled, passively slicing her steak. “at least when you’re demoted to house pet, you’ll get an actual excuse to tour new girls around the school.”
“heart’s house hospitality.” you insisted, “just helping out.”
“your help isn’t needed.” she snapped, “kawamoto has a history of juvenile rebellion. there’s something off about her and i need to figure out what” she titled her head, fidgeting with her fork. “don’t make my job harder, y/n.”
she was so hot and cold. one moment she was trying to bed you, the next she was yelling at you. three years, confusion and annoyance gradually converted to pure entertainment. you’ve made it your mission to really push all the buttons kira had on her sleeve. it grew to be one of your favourite pastimes.
“yes, ma’am.” you drawled, batting your lashes at her.
you were just quick enough to catch the way her eyes widened, but she cleared her throat. she was so easy to play with.
you watched mary out the corner of your eye, just before she whipped her head away. she pushed ryan’s head, scolding him for some silly reason as the boy rolled his eyes. she was avoiding you, just after she was dragged away by riri. you had no doubt kira had something to do with it, but you knew the ninth-ranked girl was going to put her own survival first.
when you found mary in the hearts house common room later on, she was alone. odd enough, ryan seemed to be getting himself acquainted with the new girl. yumeko. who seemed to have taken an interest in you. you felt her eyes on you when you emerged from your room, but you paid her no mind, on one track, and determined to talk to mary davis.
when she noticed you nearing her, she scrambled to close the magazine in her hands. she shot up from her place on the couch, but grimaced when you called out her name.
“don’t even think about it, davis.” you barked, “stay right here.”
she spun around, a fake smile hung high. “haven’t seen you since this morning. what can i do for you, y/n?”
you raised an eyebrow at her apparent act, crossing your arms. “you’re dodging me. skip the bs and get to the truth.”
she stiffened, fondling her braids. she exhaled slowly, buying herself time for a lame excuse to formulate in her head. the tension, the deception, which she should be so used to, curled her spine. “get over yourself, l/n, running house pets and staying in top ten isn’t a walk in the park, y’know.”
“that’s not an answer,” you stated firmly, “don’t waste my time. i’ll gamble you for the truth if that’s how you prefer to go.”
no. the last time she did that, it took her months to recover.
“you’re imagining things.” she insisted, “now get lost.”
you took a step closer, peering down at her. she glanced at the floor, visibly gulping as she rolled her eyes. you smiled softly, tilting your head. “for a cheater, you sure are a bad liar.”
mary laughed bitterly. “why do you even care?”
“you’re my friend.” you replied curtly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “so either tell me what i did wrong, or tell me who’s holding the gun to your head.”
you watched her shoulders tense. her gaze still averted. your determination suddenly made her too small for her anger.
“just stay away from kawamoto. she’s not who you think.”
“did kira tell you that?” she physically brushed off the discomfort at just the mention of her name. you’ve hit the right spot. “and you’ve agreed to help her, ‘cuz if you didn’t--”
“she’ll slit my throat, and then yours.” mary finished, “look, i can’t give less of a shit about whatever homoerotic shtick ya’ll got goin’ on, but i just want her off my ass.” mary’s breath hitched. she doesn’t wait for a reply, just turned and walked away with a warning glare at you. “if you know what’s good for you, don’t start a war you can’t finish, yeah?”
you let her words soak in, standing in place. since mary’s become unavailable, guess some other friend will have to do.
somewhere, not too far away, attentive ears were listening.
yumeko knew your last name sounded familiar. l/n, your name was practically engraved on every notable artifact in the school--your father was a st. dom legacy, one most wouldn’t cross twice in the pit. he was known for his ruthless gambling style, never a trick, never a charm, just pure love for the game. he’d slain his way to the top in just two days into his freshman year, and he stayed there until he graduated four years later. f/n l/n, the best the academy had ever fostered. and now, his daughter inherited the mantle of being the st. dom slayer.
“yeah, well y/n’s just as brutal as her dad... but, y’know, with the party spirit.” michael explained, sighing like even just saying your name gave him whiplash. “she’s straight trouble.”
yumeko silenced, absorbing what ryan had just told her: the st. dom slayer… perhaps she was looking forward to tomorrow’s game just as much as the rest of the school.
“she’s fucking satan is what she is,” ryan scoffed, shaking his head. he stood between the two, hands in his pockets, and the house pet chain dangled around his neck. he always had mixed feelings about you; on one hand, you were an absolute menace at gambling, on the other, you were cute, and always nice to him despite mary’s constant abuse. “she’s gambled so many people into debt, half her victims have been pets for years.”
“aren’t you like in love with her?” michael added.
ryan froze, his shoulders tensing. yumeko raised an eyebrow, suddenly finding the conversation quite interesting again.
“w-what?” his english accent tore through, “no, mate, what?”
“yeah, you’re the one who tried asking her to the gala last year, aren’t you? the one who got like publicly rejected, and suki had a three part docu-series about you having a crush on her.” the spade-house hacker added, to which ryan slapped a hand over his mouth quickly. he jerked away. “yeah, it was you!”
“shut up, bruv! i don’t need that getting brought up again!”
“that lives on suki’s tiktok page, you think im the only one talking about it still?” michael scowled, “get off me!”
“are kira and y/n dating?” yumeko suddenly spoke.
the boys paused, staring blankly at her like she had said the most ridiculous they had ever heard--because she did.
“what?” ryan chortled, “is that a serious question?”
she nodded, clueless. they shared a look, before michael clicked his tongue. “now, see, that’s an interesting thing.” he scrambled for words, his hands grasping at the air like it would spell his thoughts out. “kira is, how do i put this, hungry.”
“no, she ain’t hungry, mate, she’s thirsty.” ryan corrected.
michael shrugged. “have you ever seen kira lose composure?”
ryan shook his head. “nah. and she doesn’t. not for games, not for money. but for y/n?” he scoffed, “she absolutely spirals.”
the three of them all gazed over at you talking to mary, who seemed nervous. she refused to meet your eye, even when you titled your head to see her better. the corner of yumeko’s lips quirked at your effect on people, even when you were just standing in front of mary with your hands in your pockets.
“third-ranked, and never plays more than twice a week. no alliances, no tells, no side bets. most people would kill for kira’s attention.” michael whistled, “y/n won’t even look at her.”
“it drives her nuts. rulers like kira are used to being worshipped. crowned. y’know, the whole ‘gambling deity in heels’ thing.” ryan wiggled his fingers in air-quotes. he paused, watching you. he sighed, “and there she is. walking around like kira’s throne is just another chair. that kinda aura? that’s a power play even kira can’t ignore.”
“which just makes kira crave her victory more.” michael ended.
ryan grinned. one of the greater things he liked about you was the way you didn’t let kira intimidate you. she couldn’t ruin your momentum if she tried, and he loved that you of all people were sticking it to the student council president.
he shook his head, chuckling. “deadliest game kira’s ever wagered in. poor chap doesn’t even realize she’s losing.”
“is that right?” yumeko murmured, smirking to herself.
“oh, no,” michael shook her head, sensing the mischief in the girl’s demeanour. “don’t even think about it. if you try and go after that predator, you’re gonna get ripped from limb to limb.”
“oh, michael, i’m not here to hunt.” she stared over at you sitting on a couch, twirling your pen, just as you had the first time she laid eyes on you. “i’m just… curious, is all. fascinated, really. that kind of restraint is… delicious.”
ryan chuckled nervously, “you mean dangerous.”
“exactly,” yumeko’s smile widened into a sweet grin, her eyes creasing. “there’s something more to her i want to figure out.”
“that is a catastrophic idea,” the english boy scoffed, shaking his head. “you’re not understanding y/n isn’t human. she loves the devastation, the chaos destroying people gives her. it’s not just gambling to her, it’s--it’s like she feeds off of it.”
“oh, ryan,” yumeko hummed, caressing his cheek. “i appreciate your worry, but i can tame dragons just fine.” his attitude completely changed, softening even after her hand left his skin. she watched you with wandering eyes, smirking to herself. “players like that have victories, scars, and layers. i’m going to peel back every single one.”
michael grimaced, “you want to get in her head?”
the girl shrugged. “mmh, maybe. or her heart. whichever cracks first.” she squealed, clasping her hands together. “thanks for the help, boys. who’s up for a few games?”
as she spun around, she knocked into someone with a squeak.
“oh!” yumeko grinned, “well, hello. mary, was it?”
“that’s my name,” the latter clicked her tongue. “how about a game of skirmish with me, kawamoto? y’know, as a welcome.”
yumeko bit her lip. “well, isn’t that lovely.”
ryan scoffed, “it’s still her first day, mary, can you--!”
“was i talking to you, incel prince?” she snapped, then sighed softly, “come on. show me what you’re made of, new girl.”
how could she resist? “will you bring your friend?” she asked, head turning so she could look at you. your eyes were already on them, knowing there was no stopping mary’s plans.
mary raised an eyebrow. “is that the only way you’ll play?”
yumeko shrugged, but it was quite obvious what she meant.
“okay. if that’s what you want.” she grinned, eyes narrowing as yumeko beamed back at her. “gambling hall in ten?”
the last thing you wanted to end your day with was watching mary cheat another person into debt, much less the new, unsuspecting transfer. you weren’t one to meddle, not when kira had a knife to mary’s throat; nonetheless, you agreed to come upon your friend’s text message. you were curious to see what the president and her lap dog had up their sleeve, especially regarding yumeko kawamoto.
it had barely been a minute since mary’s challenge of the new girl was announced across the school and students were already crowing around the table ryan had set up upon his handler’s instructions. you already knew he had tampered with the cards, something mary usually did, when you entered the room. the english boy was awful at concealing his unease.
at the table, mary sat stiffly, her fingers wrapped around her chips tightly. across from her, yumeko radiated serenity, cards flicking between her fingers. her face lit up when she saw you settle beside ryan and michael. you mirrored her smile.
you casually leant against the column, arms crossed and eyes locked on the match. mary was reaching for anything she could manipulate in the new girl’s behaviour, which only seemed to encourage the dangerous glint in yumeko’s smile.
“this is gonna get ugly fast,” ryan murmured, fidgeting.
“yeah, half the school’s here,” michael muttered, glancing around the room. “kira’s plotting on something, i can feel it.”
as mary contemplated her bets, yumeko stared up at you. your eyes weren’t on her, nor were they on mary--you looked rather disinterested. and she was determined to give you a show.
“you’re so tense, new girl,” mary cooed, tilting her head in mockery. “is it me? or is it ‘cuz y’know everyone’s watching?”
yumeko doesn’t answer, her eyes flick down back to mary. but she couldn’t resist sneaking just one glance at you, who she could only describe as aloof. mary caught it.
“ahh… so it’s that,” she teased, she turned back to catch your eye for a moment, scanning you up and down. she spun back, now yumeko’s smile was much less prominent. “i wondered why you’d want her here for your first game. i mean, it would be pretty embarrassing if you, well, y’know, lose.”
their card hit the felt again. mary played aggressive--predictably so. she’s leaning on misdirection, pushing forward with faux confidence. but it’s forced. off rhythm. you didn’t have to look for her tells--they found you, as hairs standing tall on the back of your hand. you couldn’t wait to get out of there.
“do you have a boyfriend?” mary asked, organizing her deck.
yumeko giggled, as if the question was outrageous. “no.”
“girlfriend?” the council member added, raising an eyebrow.
“no.” yumeko’s smirk grew, her eyes landing on you. you cocked your head aside, holding her gaze. her attention fell back on mary, setting down. their first pair. yumeko wins, but the two weren’t as interested in the game.
“you could’ve tried making it less obvious,” you whispered.
ryan’s head whipped towards you, like a child caught with a hand in the cookie jar. “what?”
“low-tier bait. an idiot’s going to sniff it out in seconds.”
on cue, yumeko’s eyes glint as she laid down her next card just as mary does--a control breaker. she’s caught onto mary’s lies, and she knew she had the right moment. mary panics.
“how about we up the stakes,” yumeko suggested, glancing at the 90k worth of chips sitting between them. she pulled a golden plated chip from under her dress shirt, toying with the token. the light bouncing off it caught your attention, just as the japanese wanted. “100k. whoever loses is a house pet.”
mary glances at her standing: 9th, with just shy of 100k.
she then met kira’s eye from atop the off-limits balcony. she knew she had no choice, she couldn’t risk shaming the council.
“okay,” she agreed, earning muffled whispers from the crowd.
“fun.” yumeko squealed, slamming both hands against the table. the chips rocked with her, some tumbled off its pile. a maniac smile crossed her quivering lips. “let’s do it!”
and in the shuffle, as they laid down one pair after another:
mary’s nine of clovers to yumeko’s king of clover’s. 0-1
mary’s six of spades to yumeko’s eight of spades. 0-2
yumeko giggled, taunting mary. she was antsy, desperate. the japanese couldn’t resist a bounce in her seat. mary looked like she was about to throw up, as they laid down their final pair:
mary’s five of spades to yumeko’s seven of hearts. 0-3
mary lets out a shrill scream, yanked from the deepest part of her spine. yumeko laughed hysterically at her reaction. “fuck!”
silence. then murmurs. accusations. eyes on mary, no longer impressed--now watching, circling her like vultures. michael moved in, verifying the cards. the match is forfeit. the penalty? debt she won’t be able to wring free from easily. before mary could run, the boy stepped between her and the path towards the door. he dangled the house pet badge he had ripped off ryan before her eyes. “i believe this belongs to you now.”
he handed it to yumeko, who refused to receive it. she smiled.
“oh, no. i’m not much of a pet person.” she stated, pushing away from the table to sway her way next to you. you still had an indifferent expression on your face. she then eyed the english boy beside you. “ryan? will you do the honours?”
mary’s loss had freed ryan from his house pet status.
“how’d i do for a first game, y/n?” she asked you, uninterested in the chaos unravelling feet away from you. “did you like it?”
you raised an eyebrow, flashing her a civil smile. “i’m glad you’re enjoying yourself. it was just unfortunate for mary.” you watched your friend hyperventilate, but you remained poised, unbothered by her devastating loss. you knew it was probably the least of her worries for the coming week. dropping from student council to house pet wasn’t exactly a normal occurrence--and knowing kira, a punishment was in store for disgracing her empire. “alas, she was trying too hard to win a game for two minds. not two faces.”
yumeko hummed, tilting her head, joining you in observing ryan collaring a fuming mary. “i’ll get to you eventually.” she giggled, “i’ll work my way up to you one, by one.”
how bold, you thought, perhaps kira’s paranoia was just.
up above, perched on the mezzanine balcony, kira’s knuckles whiten at how hard she gripped the railing. her eyes fluttered shut--she knew she shouldn’t have trusted a conwoman like mary davis. but now, she had a greater worry: if even cheating couldn’t take mary the win, what could she do?
kira turned her head slightly. she didn’t have to speak.
riri nodded, backing towards the door. just before mary could storm out the grand doors, the masked girl stood. she held an open hand out, her piercing blue eyes meeting her teary ones.
she shrugged her blazer off, yielding to her forced resignation.
“if you say, ‘i told you so’, i’ll ram this thing so far up your ass, you taste it for a week.” her threat, though harsh, was nothing short of benign. she held her house pet collar, before letting go of it like it burnt her fingers. you settled on the other end of the bench, hair stuck to your cheeks from the rain. you let the serene sounds of the downpour engulf you. “she knew.”
you sighed through your nose, glancing over. she was drenched, water dribbling from her hair. her streaming tears blurred into the rain. though, her red nose was hard to miss.
“i’m sorry,” was all you could utter, “it wouldn’t have mattered how you cheated. the cards were never in your favour.”
she knew it was true. yumeko’s luck was an undeniable force.
“and now i’m stuck being that virgin fuck’s house pet.” she hissed, burying her face in her palms. “i need to ask her for a rematch or something. at least gamble out of debt.”
“you’re digging yourself into a deeper hole,” you warned. she groaned in frustration, but she didn’t argue.
“then tell me, what am i supposed to do, hm?” she scoffed, “i’m sure as hell not gonna be that dickless sack of shit’s house pet forever.” she let out a scream. “fuck! what the fuck!”
“i have a plan.” you simply stated. she finally glanced over.
she slid over, body knocking into yours. she grabbed your hands. “well? what is it, don’t fuck with me right now.”
you gulped. “you have to trust me. this isn’t a game we can play in the short run.” she nodded frantically, eagerly ushering you to continue. “kira’s dead set on taking the new girl down, yeah?” she nodded once again. “tomorrow, i’ll give her what she wants.” mary’s eyes widened upon picking up on what you were implying. you remained stoic expression. she flinched before you could even utter, “i’ll lose, and be her house pet.”
“no,” mary scoffed, “your legacy, your reputation--!”
“doesn’t matter to me.” you finished. “my entire heritage was built off st. dom myths and written notoriety. what good does so much status do when i can’t take advantage of it?”
“y/n, no.” she insisted firmly, “you’re being fucking stupid.”
“i’m having fun,” you shrugged, “i’ve always wanted to see what being a house pet’s like. i mean, i’ve collared so many people, but has never known what it feels like.”
“doesn’t change the fact it’s a stupid fucking idea.” mary couldn’t even fathom ever wanting to be a house pet, considering the way she treated them, herself. “how is you being kira’s house pet getting me out of debt?”
“come on, mary, why do you think kira wants me as her house pet in the first place?” you asked, she fell silent in thought.
“okay, i get it, she wants you, but that’s not helping me.”
“hey,” you held a hand up, ceasing her protests. “when have i ever given you a reason to doubt me?” the girl didn’t answer. she couldn’t name one. “you can trust me and trust my game. i’ll keep kira away from yumeko, and you will slide in, get close with her bandwagon of friends and get yourself out of debt.” you had a good feeling yumeko wasn’t one to deny a chance at a thrill. “you just need to make sure she has something to gain from it, give her a reason to trust you, to help you. listen, i don’t know what she’s gonna do, but just watching her play today, you have to give her one hell of a ride, got it?”
she nodded wordlessly. you sighed, “good. we can’t talk once i become kira’s house pet. she’ll be watching and listening for sure. and once you get yourself back up to top ten, i’ll challenge her again… and i’ll get myself back on the council.”
“i don’t know, this is just…” she scoffed, “why?”
“y’know me, y’know how i play.” you smiled, an enticing grin. if you were anybody else, mary would consider getting you committed to a mental institution. “you say it best, ‘no winners without losers’. what’s the fun in wining if you never lose?”
“that’s the point. you never lose. why would you give up so much for what--for me? student council isn’t easy to get back on once you’ve indebted yourself, especially to kira.”
“i’ll be just fine.” you shrugged, “gambling isn’t that hard.”
it was almost mockery, taunting the cheater with a line like that. still, mary was desperate. and she was willing to put aside her pride just this once. she had nothing to lose.
a knock sounded through your room. you were thankful your roommate was away on some trip her house had arranged. when you swung your door open, a familiar japanese figure stood leant against your doorway, a hand pawing at the wooden frame, and the other behind her back. you furrowed your eyebrows, tilting your head in question at her appearance.
“i’m sorry to come knocking so late, but i figured i’d rather make some friends than sit in my room with blake.” she said. she glanced past your shoulder, “am i… bothering you?”
“no. just doing some work.” you answered skeptically, but gestured for her to come in anyway. “if you’re looking for ryan or michael’s room, the boy’s wing is just down the hall--”
“i came looking for you, actually.” yumeko giggled, strutting around your room, caressing your things. “i had an idea.”
you closed your door softly, leaning against it. you watched her pick up a picture of you and your father, one taken your first day of freshman year. the memory brunt fresh, the way everybody practically bowed to his feet with every step he took. he was the prince of st. dom, and you were now the princess the academy needed to really solidify their gambling title. you looked so young then, standing tall under your father’s arm. yumeko could see slivers of that child through the cracks of your smile, except, matured. better.
“and that is…?” you smiled, amused, crossing your arms.
“i want to play a little game with you.” she suggested, stepping back towards you. she cocked her head aside, smiling with her dimples. “since you’re playing such an important one against kira-san tomorrow, i wanted a taste of your hand first.”
you giggled, “your first win getting to your head already?”
she shrugged, “no, i wouldn’t cross you just yet. i promised i’d make my way up to you, remember?” she circled you, picking up a deck of cards sitting on your shelf. it was one your father had gifted you when you were old enough to pick up a deck. it was worn and flimsy. still, your favourite deck. “blackjack?”
you hissed, “if you’re open to your first loss, then sure.”
“are you as good as they say, ms. student council?” yumeko purred, kicking your chair towards you. you reluctantly took a seat, watching her grab your roommate’s chair.
“yes. and i’d recommend you take my word for it.”
yumeko loved the arrogance, it turned her on. “well.” she dragged your bedside table in between your chairs, taking the cards out of its box. “blackjack’s fast. honest in a way… poker, never is.” you had a hunch the comment had a double meaning. “simple. just like me, wouldn’t you say?”
what was she playing at? you thought, a girl you barely knew in your room, living out some manipulative fantasy.
“simple doesn’t exactly come to mind when i think of you.”
“so you think of me?” she bit her lip, nimble fingers working to shuffle the cards. your gaze locked, not on her hands, not on the cards, but on her. on the subtle quirk her lips made when she thought she had your attention. her smile curled too easy, and you made sure to really watch her performance. she dealt the cards, fanning them out before her. “i’m flattered, but i did hope we could get to know each other better.” she caught your eyes, they glimmered, like your interest ignited something in her. “you’re looking at me like you’re trying to figure out something--like if i’m playing with the cards… or with you.”
you grinned, tongue dragging across your teeth. you leant forward, resting your elbows against the ledge. you tilted your head, eyes wandering down to her growing smirk. “i’m trying to figure out which one matters more to you right now.”
she tidied the fanned out cards, sliding them across to you. slow, deliberate, letting her fingertips deliberately brush against yours. your eyes never left each other’s.
“isn’t it obvious? these cards are predictable. you’re not.”
you raised an eyebrow, tapping against your unplayed hand. “you flirt like it’s part of the game. you didn’t do it with mary. i’m checking if it’s a tell, or a trap.”
she grinned at you playing along. “mmh. guess i’ll just have to stay very unpredictable, hm?”
the cards hit the table, but you barely looked down. yumeko’s eyes land first, but yours stayed on her--every flick of her wrist, every twitch of her eye. she isn’t trying to win, but she’s here for something. she’s fishing, probing, testing your boundaries.
she leant in, voice dangerously sweet. “how about a wager?”
you hummed, “i’m always up for a risk or two.”
she giggled, sighing. “delicious. rummy feels so… personal, doesn’t it? like we’re trading in little pieces of ourselves one set at a time.” she picked a card from the stock pile, squealing when she sets down a new set--three sevens, one of diamonds, one of clovers, and one of spades. “if i win… i want you to agree to whatever i want at the end of this game.”
you picked up a card from the stock pile, picking out two others from the deck in your hand. you set them dow--an ace, a two, and a three of hearts. “and when i win?”
her nose scrunched. “you’re so confident, i love it.” she tapped her chin, humming. she picked another card, but it wasn’t one she needed. she set it down in the discarded pile. “if you win, i’ll give you a little surprise… a kiss, maybe?”
you couldn’t help the laugh that escaped you, grabbing a card. you put down a set: three fives, one of clovers, hearts, spades.
“isn’t that just another win for you?” you watched her contemplate her next move, as if you weren’t playing a game entirely up to fate. your stomach churned when her fingers grazed the stock pile, and down came a set of queens, one of diamonds, one of hearts, one of spades.
“ouch.” she pouted, “i won’t take that to heart, i suppose you don’t know me.” she drew her next card--an eight of spades. she doesn’t need it. she’s stalling. and the way a chill crept up the back of your neck when she let out a fake hum proved it. she nodded towards your dresser, where the framed picture of your dad holding you at st. dom’s gates laid comfortably. “that’s a cute picture over there. are you close to your dad?”
the mention of your father threw you off, but you managed to keep your poker face. you tilted your head, smirking. “i am.”
“you look very much like him,” she eyed the picture: your hair was different, your uniform worn properly. shirt tucked, buttons all done up and your ribbon strongly neatly around your neck. the two of you smiled the same, with the same crease in your eye. he hadn’t really spoken to you as much since you started boarding school, but you made sure every year ended with the two of you smiling and toasting parents and top tens at the meet. you were suddenly y/n l/n. “i’ve seen his name around school a lot. that is him, right? f/n l/n?”
you nodded, fishing for a new card. a throw, you put it down.
“was it his idea for you to come here?” she asked, picking out another set after a new draw—a four, a five, and a six of spades. “legacies have quite a place at this school, don’t you?”
“actually, it was mine. it was my dream to be here as a kid.”
yumeko gasped. “really? that’s quite the mold-breaker. legacies like chad couldn’t care less about where he went to school. but you, you’re so… controlled.”
you picked out another set, setting down three tens.
“control keeps you from being owned.” ranking third wasn’t what your father wanted, but he wasn’t one to listen. he made it so you thought it was because he knew you could do better, but really, he was frustrated you were willingly holding yourself behind timurov’s, of all people. you knew his history with ivan timurov was complicated. “sometimes it’s better to stay under your fort, then stand in a spotlight. it keeps you from setting an open target on your back.” her smile flickered, just for a heartbeat. she placed a set of three jacks, the flick in her wrist just a bit sharper than before. “but judging from your match against mary today, i’d say you don’t share the same thinking.”
you discarded a card, anticipating her next reaction. when she paused for a beat too long, you dove straight back in.
“do you flirt with everyone while digging through their childhood?” you asked, “or is this another reward for me?”
“only the ones who are worth the mess.” she held the last two of her cards up, flaunting them, mocking you. she reached for a card, a little too confident. your stomach didn’t churn, it didn’t hurt. you smirked to yourself at her letting her guard down. “too bad you’re so distractible. i was hoping for a more… exciting game against the st. dom slayer.”
when she pulled a discarded card, she sighed. the stock pile was still high, but you had more than three pairs sitting in your deck. she had nothing to worry about… logically.
you eyed the pile, and you knew when your heart raced.
“careful what you ask for, new girl.”
first draw, you laid down one set; three aces. yumeko inhaled sharply, but kept her smile. second draw, you laid down another set; three twos. her smile was fading slowly, inching its way back to the centre of her lips. third and final draw, you laid down your hand: a perfect run. you smiled softly. “rummy.”
yumeko stared at the cards, then her eyes flickered up at you. her persona stuttered, a fraction too long, before she laughed, pitched. “ohh…” she leant forward, hands gripping the table like she had a surge of adrenaline flush through her veins, “and here i thought i was playing you… bravo, ms. student council.”
she controlled the circumstances. she shuffled the cards, she stacked your hand, she was getting in your head. miraculously, you came out victorious. almost like you were clairvoyant.
“normal people just ask when they want to get to know someone, y’know.” you chuckled, standing. you walked past the pucture yumeko seemed oddly fixated on the entire game, and grabbed the mug sitting on your desk. you took a dragged sip, obviously amused at the girl’s stunned state.
yumeko shrugged. “where’s the fun in that?”
you took a peek at your phone, it was damn near midnight. “it’s getting late, is blake not worried about where you are?”
yumeko rised, the dim glow from your bedside lamp lighting her features just right. she stepped closer to you, until you could hear her soft breath. “blake’s probably snuck chad into our room. i doubt my whereabouts are her top priority.”
“give yourself a little credit, new girl. if you were my roommate, i’d notice if you weren’t around.” you murmured, tapping the tip of her nose. she was now leaning too close for comfort, but neither of you were ones to back away first. “but then again, you like the spotlight, so anyone would.”
yumeko tilted her head, blinking. she played coy, batting her lashes. “well, i guess i’ll have to keep standing there if it means you’ll notice me.” she let out a soft laugh, a genuine one of delight. then, without warning, she stepped into you space and pressed a soft kiss against you cheek. she doesn’t pull away, lips brushing against your ear to whisper, “thanks for the game, y/n-san. i’ll be watching tomorrow, play well for me.”
she pulled back with a wicked grin, leaving you with the dreadful silence that was just filled with a welcomed chaos.
who the hell was yumeko kawamoto?
see, kira wouldn’t consider herself a very jealous person. but if you were to ask her, ‘what would you do if i pet your dog?’ or ‘what would happen if i asked y/n to the dance?’ the answer would either be to suffer riri’s wrath, or have mary davis sent after you and become a house pet (probecito ryan). that’s the thing, kira isn’t a jealous person, until you tread on what’s hers. and yumeko--oh, yumeko--was on ground zero.
from her dorm balcony, she oversaw every crevice of st. dom’s campus, which stretched beyond acres of just the quad beneath. but kira doesn’t look at it. her arm rested against the marble railing, eyes narrowed downward, locked on the singular window peering into the room she needed to be in.
yumeko kawamoto. she’s only been here one day, and there she was, shamelessly moving in on you like you were free game. she drew your attention so easily, like it’s owed to her. like its effortless--as if it wasn’t something kira had to burn through blood and many house pets just for a brief taste.
riri stood just behind her, silent as usual. few words exchanged between the sisters, but the younger could always feel the anger seething from the older’s being.
“do you remember how long it took for y/n to speak more than one sentence to me?” kira asked. riri doesn’t answer.
she watched as the japanese transfer backed you into your desk. kira’s fingers dug under the curve of the railing, nails biting into stone. she leant too close, honeyed voice and tempting lips scrawled all over you like they belonged.
oh, kira wasn’t just angry. she was absolutely fucking livid.
“one day, one smile, one game.” kira scoffed, shaking her head. she loosened her grip on the balcony, adjusting her robe instead. “there’s something off about that girl.” she paused for a beat. “she’s looking for something… in y/n, and she’s too love drunk to notice.” she turned, but just when she was about to pass riri, she stopped, head turning towards her sister. “keep an eye on her. if she gets too comfortable--” riri knew it was code for, ‘if she got too close to y/n’. “--then break her before she thinks she belongs here. i don’t tolerate cheaters.”
she strolled back into her room, a single connected to riri’s through the bathroom.
she took her robe off, slipping into bed. her sister followed, closing the doors. riri stood by her bed obediently, waiting for kira to finish making herself comfortable.
“oh, and make sure everything’s ready for tomorrow. i don’t want another council mishap… father won’t be happy.”
riri nodded, retiring to her room. but not to sleep, not just yet.
“are you scared for your face-off later?” seemed to be the one question circulating you. since you woke up this morning, only one thing has been on everyone’s minds: the great game between st. domina and her godforsaken slayer. you answered every one with, “i feel how i do every game.”
when you got there, yumeko and her group greeted you by your chair. you and mary shared a look, but you could sense the hesitance in her eyes. michael agreed to be the dealer upon your request. and ryan… well, ryan’s just here to idolize you like he always does. still, they stood in your corner.
the japanese made sure to whisper a good mantra in your ear just before the president arrived, “it’s another kiss if you win, ms. student council. this time, wherever you like.”
the room falls quiet when the double doors creak open.
kira stepped in like a storm dressed in silk, and her sister a close thundering clap tailing behind. every head turned. every voice died. the air shifted. she doesn’t walk—she arrives. heels clicking on marble like a countdown. her gaze sweeping the hall as someone who owned more than just the room.
she walked straight toward the raised platform where the table waits. you were already watching. her eyes? only for one. you.
a slow, knowing smile curled on her lips. she doesn’t speak right away--no, she let the moment build, let the silence beg for her voice. her eyes trailed up and down you like you were steak dangling before a hungry tiger.
“well, don’t you look tense,” she smirked, “scared i might make you mine tonight?” you raised an eyebrow, unbothered. she leant just close enough to lower her voice. “you act cool now, but we both know you’ll melt just fine when you’re under me.” she pulled back, her eyes widening, silently mocking you for immediately jumping to impure thoughts. “in rank, of course.”
the crowd gasped. you don’t flinch at the humiliation.
because the game hasn’t started. and kira was already trying to win. she was overcompensating, you knew she was worried.
“if i melt, you’ll know, kira. you’ll be the one gasping for air.”
if she wanted to play this game, you could play it better.
“enough with the eye-fucking, will you take your seats?” michael interrupted. kira almost wrung his head off for the good moment he had ruined, but decided against it. he began shuffling. “you two know the drill. you each get two private cards, five community cards are dealt face up in stages. whoever makes the best hand wins.” he fanned out five cards, glancing between the two of you. “wager?”
you shared a glance. before kira spoke up, “521 thousand. whoever loses, is the other’s house pet.”
and so michael dealt. the room was silent, the gathered masses waited in bated breath, as the tension thickened. not a single utterance from the crowd could be heard, despite the entire student body coming to watch this legendary feat.
kira had her hair slicked back with a headband--her ‘game getup’, as she called it--and her cold, unwavering eyes stared at the hand she was just dealt. she drummed her finger against her mountain of chips, a twitch betraying what years of flawless victories never had: pressure. across from her, you slouched slightly, eyes half-lidded, and a small smile threatening to crack from your lips. you didn’t fidget with your chips, or your pen, you just sat still and watched her squirm--not calculated, not to study, but to savour the pure pleasure flushing into your body at the fact you nerved the president.
you didn’t spare your cards a second glance, they laid covered before you on the table. you don’t look at the cards, you looked at her, like you could read the game on her, not on the felt.
the flop hit: queen of hearts, six of spades, ace of diamonds.
your gut whispered in your ear, and the game became the last thing on your mind. first, of course, was telling yourself to have the memory of kira’s twitching expression etched in your mind.
she exhaled quietly through her nose. then she raised.
the turn: two of hearts. and you could see her eyes widen.
you wanted to giggle, but your teeth sunk into your bottom lip to hold it in instead. you knew exactly what she was thinking--this was the moment, she should have you. she always had them here. always. it was like her prayers were answered.
then you spoke, your voice low, velvet-smooth: “you’re sweating. i thought gods didn’t do that.” you taunted her.
she scoffed, but it was too quick. “oh, please. i’m beyond god.”
you smiled, slow and wolfish, relishing her defensive reflex. “mmh, maybe it’s the mortality finally catching up to you.” you leant in, pushing your stack in further, raising the gamble. “all thrones fall eventually, kira. you’re in my territory now.”
time doesn’t stop, but hers certainly does.
she couldn’t read you, and that’s what she had always prided herself on--what her father drilled into her since she could breathe. because, for the first time, she couldn’t read you. and that’s what terrified her most--she didn’t have the upper hand.
she knows; this just might be kira timurov’s time to lose.
she doesn’t fold. not yet. she stared at you like she was trying to pry you open with just her icy-blue eyes, to find the lie behind your unbothered face. but there’s nothing--no twitch, no pulse, no hesitation. just that infuriating l/n stillness.
a predator who doesn’t chase, knowing her prey comes to her.
she called. deciding there was no easier way she could walk out of this game. she was really regretting challenging you, but the reward was just that much sweeter than the consequences. the room exhaled as the river card hit the felt--king of clubs. final. irreversible. michael glanced between the two of you, his own heart drumming in his mouth.
“come on, president,” you smirked, blinking slowly. your sultry tone almost bringing her to her knees. riri’s head dropped behind her sister. she knew. “show me if the throne still fits.”
she glanced at the pile of chips sitting in the middle. then at the cards in front of michael. then back up at you.
with a forced sense of calmness, she set her cards down, the room so quite you heard her royal blue nails scratching the cards as they were revealed: a two pair. an ace and a king.
the stark difference between riri and kira’s expression sent you. kira’s ambition really held her back, and you could appreciate when riri could see through certain smoke screens.
whispers rippled through kira’s silence. solid. confident.
all eyes fell on you, fixated on every, tiny movement you made. you sighed softly, glancing down. it gave kira hope, was you accepting defeat? was this it? your eyes found hers, undoing every block she had built to reach her presidential pedestal. you hummed, and fanned your cards open with a simple flick:
queen of hearts. queen of diamonds. full house.
the room watched kira timurov crumble piece by piece.
#1. y/n l/n - $977,100
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BELOW THE CUT
#76. kira timurov - $-700
you smirked, grabbing the house pet chain from michael, swinging it around your finger. “well, isn’t this charming?”
you could feel mary seething in confusion behind you. but you just grinned in satisfaction at kira’s panic.
she slammed both fists against the table, her eyes wide in a desperate manner. she huffed shakily, her icy eyes meeting your unwavering ones. you could hear her next words before she even said them, and you were never one to turn down a challenge: “i raise a rematch. double or nothing!”
𝒂𝒏; ya’ll lmk what you want more to see from this cuz i had SUCH A RIDE writing this. i needed to scratch the bet itch and i am OPEN to any yumeko/kira solo reqs. and yes ill make it both yumekira for this fic for now.
It’s the headband Kira gave her, okay? That’s why she won’t take it off. Am I being delulu? Absolutely. Am I wrong? Absolutely not. I need to CUT the next part.
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