How you ended up as Gojo's fiancé in a fantasy tale masterlist
Your life takes a tragic turn as you perish in a car crash, only to awaken in a whimsical world of fantasy with none other than Jujustu Kaisen characters as its main protagonists. But as if that wasn't enough, you're about to marry the prince version of Gojo Satoru. How will you navigate through this world of history and fantasy? Does your life take the same sudden twist of fate as that of your favorite characters?
Opposites Attract
Being the daughter of the Zenin clan made it your mission to defeat him. Him, Satoru Gojo, the honored one. Him, who makes your life a living hell. Him, who begins to get so much more than your curse...
One Shots
Touch her and you'll burn
Your boyfriend Gojo goes berserk after finding out that Toji kidnapped you.
You saved me
After Suguru tried to kill his former girlfriend, Satoru is there to cure your depression.
She is my weakness
While you are on the brink of death through Suguru's hands, Satoru realizes just how much you really mean to him.
A word of power
When his wife is sent to missions over and over until it visibly gets to her, Gojo decides to do something against it.
Lies in the dark
You boyfriend Gojo cheated on you with another woman, leaving you heartbroken. Did he, though?
Keep doing it
Satoru loves coming to your office everyday to finally win your heart. But it seems like you're more subborn than he thinks.
Having to share a bed with Satoru Gojo at a love hotel
... no words needed.
Golden girl
Satoru Gojo really hates everything about you, especially the fact that you are stronger than him. Is it even possible to get along with you, let alone like you? (Spoiler: yes)
The heart wants what it wants 18+
The farewell of your boyfriend Suguru left a wound so deep that it seems like no one is able to fix it. Is the Satoru Gojo, who's secretly in love with you, able to pick your pieces back together?
Promises you can't keep
When Sukuna realizes that you did not only break your oath to wait until he returns back to you but married Gojo Satoru after 1000 years of him waiting for you, he goes insane.
Don't touch her
Gojo going berserk when you get injured by a curse
Gojo eavesdropping on his wife when she's talking about him While you kept your relationship with Satoru private, you always admire him when you meet at work. However, when your students ask you about your type in men, you can't help but describe the love of your life who hears every single word
Gojo recklessly flirting with Choso's little sister at Shibuya After being set in Shibuya to distract and exhaust none other than Satoru Gojo, Choso's little sister soon learns that the rumors about his charm are true.
Gojo teasing the heck out of you after realizing you get flustered by his eyes
After working with smooth operator Gojo Satoru for years, he slowly but surely began to realize what your true weakness is: his bright blue orbs. And he wouldn't be Satoru Gojo if he wouldn't use that against you...
Gojo's and (y/n)'s son wanting to marry (y/n)
no words needed
Gojo going nuts when his students don't believe him that you are his wife
When Satoru wears his wedding ring for the first time in front of his students, Nobara can't help but wonder who he's married to. But when Gojo confesses it's you, his students just don't believe him.
Gojo getting flustered by his sweaty wife and smacked at their training session
Your beloved husband never fails to beat you without mercy when training together. But this time, something seems to catch his eye - your chance to finally hit him with your best shot.
Megumi accidentaly calling Gojo's wife "mum"
no words needed
Gojo calling (y/n) a burden to keep her safe
Despite the fact that Satoru Gojo was the one who lifted you up and gave you the confidence to go on your very first solo-mission, it was also him who shattered your confidence in order to keep you safe.
Gojo's wife showing her maniac side when it comes to protecting her precious students (Part 1) Despite Gojo's wife spoke vehemently against sending the first and second years on a way too difficult mission, the elders decided against her suggestion. Her calm and collected self changes drastically when she makes them regret their decicion...
Gojo's wife going berserk in order to protect her students (Part 2) Like your bad feeling already suggested, especially Toge's and Yuji's lives hang on a threat when their mission doesn't go as planned. Good for them that Gojo's wife and their teacher rushes to their side and shows everyone just how much she cares about them.
Gojo's girlfriend being there for Shoko when no one else is Shibuya brings even a strong and collected woman like Shoko down to her knees. Especially when you, the only person who seems to truly care about her, ask her about her well-being when your boyfriend just got sealed....
Gojo dressing up as Santa for his girlfriend, Megumi and Tsumiki Satoru Gojo expected a lot of things, but not his girlfriend and two rescued kids making fun of him after he put on a Santa costume only for them.
Gojo being your enemy (or lover?)
Your family told you over and over, pounded it into your head since childhood: Satoru Gojo is your enemy, you are simply not allowed to feel anything but hatred towards the Gojo clan. But why do you find yourself lost in his arms each and every night, begging him to love you right?
Gojo buying (y/n) souvenirs after every mission and finding out she kept EVERYTHING
Since your joyful smile is so addictive, Satoru can't help but buy you a souvenir every time he goes on a mission. After a few months, he realizes by accident that you do, in fact, keep everything he gifts you...
Geto's little sister finding out her husband got sealed by her big brother
You thought you lost him forever, your big brother. Until Shibuya brings you back to reality, until your beloved husband gets sealed by none other than your dead big brother. Until you show your enemy what you're made off...
Gojo's wife supposedly getting executed by kicking ass instead
When Sibuya is finally over, you find yourself facing none other than the elders who want to execute you. Little do they know you are no one to be messed with, that even without your husband by your side, you are a true threat if you want to...
Satoru Gojo purposely keeping the scar you gave him
When his skin gets busted by your sheer excitement, it doesn't feel right to Satoru to use his reversed technique and simply heal.
Gojo's and (y/n)'s daughter buying a prom dress for her mum because she never had one
When you told your little one about the fact that you never got to wear a prom dress, it was clear for your husband and daughter they needed to change that for your birthday.
(y/n) comforting her husband after he was forced to kill his best friend
The man who seems goofy all day, who never takes anything serious breaks down in his wife's arms after he killed his best friend.
Satoru Gojo trying to make bun with his daughter's kinky hair
It always looked so easy to him, the way you put your thick hair into the most breathtaking hairstyles. But when his daughter asked him to do a sleek bun on her, he was confronted with the stinging fact how difficult styling kinky hair can be. But that doesn't stop the dad of the year from learning... (POC reader!)
Reader going from being Gojo's lover to being his worst enemy
You were always the perfect girlfriend for Satoru Gojo: innocent, quiet and weak. Until something inside you snapped. Until you decided you don't want to be weak anymore. Until you realized that Satoru Gojo isn't your lover, but your enemy...
Gojo's daughter insisting on him brushing her hair because he's so gentle
You are pretty suprised when your daughter insists on your husband brushing her hair depite the fact that this is normally your job. Until you find out why...
Reader finishing Gojo's missions for him when he's sick and he finds out
When your husband falls sick, you don't think twice about completing all of his tasks in order for him to not be stressed - even if it means multiple sleepless nights for youself. Little did you know that your husband will find out about it and thank you in his own way…
Realizing your true feelings for Gojo when he stands up for you
You told yourself countless times that you aren't able to like Gojo Satoru, that he is nothing but a jerk. Until he stands up for you, until he shows you what he really thinks of you...
I Love You When I Drink Champagne
In the late hours, with champagne in hand, Gojo’s teasing fades into something deeper. Beneath city lights and whispered confessions, you begin to wonder if his midnight promises mean more than he’ll ever admit in daylight.
DISCLAIMER — All works included were written by me. Please do not copy, repost, or plagiarize any of it on any other platforms. I do not own any characters of any franchise. All my works are purely fiction. Warnings will be specified in each work.
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STEVE ROGERS
The Send Off (series)
— Being his best friend and assistant, Howard Stark asked you to be the first one to be tested on his time machine project. After some unexpected errors, you ended up stuck in the modern times of the 21st century. Where you meet the man you thought died years ago: Steve Rogers.
Hide & Seek (mini-seies)
— What happened when you and Steve see Peggy once again while collecting the Tesseract and Pym Particles in the 70s?
Fill in the Blanks (drabble series)
— What he thought was a five-hour stay in the past, turns out to be five years of absence in the present times. After some realizations, Steve came back for you. Only to learn that he has a kid and five years to fill.
I sometimes wish Kuroko no Basket had been released in 2020 instead of 2012. The fanfiction featuring original characters or reader inserts is often cringeworthy, they all seem to share the same personality traits with only minor differences. It's really confusing why the female character is always portrayed as the only girl playing basketball with the boys, even more so that she is better than them and she is very Smart on the court but totally clueless in school. Her name is typically something like "Queen of Basketball" or another title starting with "Queen." She’s often depicted with an unrealistic body type and a mean demeanor, yet everyone seems to love her.
The writing quality is generally poor it’s so 2010s in bad way. Haikyuu and Blue Lock fans are so lucky you guys have a wider variety of fanfiction. While there are certainly some cringe-worthy stories, there are also many well-written ones. You have fanfics that actually explore relationships and don't just stick to the main plot and also most Kuroko no Basket fanfics are short, and if they are longer, they tend to fall into the reverse harem category. I’d be fine if they developed the relationships better, but most of the time, the characters just like her for dumb reasons. Can we please get an OC/reader who doesn’t play basketball, is nice and has a complex personality! (Also, if you know any good KNB fanfics, please share!)
Click here for your link to heaven (aka seperate Gojo Satoru Masterlist)
Dying ray of sunshine
The year after the incident with Toji has put your longtime relationship with Suguru Geto to the test. But one fateful decicion will change everything forever.
Dying ray on sunshine pt. ll
After searching for your former boyfriend Suguru for 10 years, he finally shows himself again at the Night Parade. You try your best to convince him back into your open arms, but it seems like the man you love is gone forever.
Us against the world
Suguru and you are inseperable, like ying and yang long before the both of you joined Jujutsu High. Despite you are technically a non-jujutsu sorcerer, you made your way up with him always by your side. Until something changed. Until it wasn't "us against the world" anymore.
(y/n) gifting Geto sweets against the bad taste of curses
Being used to the fact that nobody seems to care about how awful curses taste, Suguru Geto is absolutely blown away when you start noticing and bringing him candy after each and every mission.
Getting back home drunk after an argument with Suguru Geto
You always supressed the pain in your heart when your boyfriend dumps you for his best friend again. Until one day you've had enough. Until you get uncontrollably drunk to forget your fight.
Geto encouraging you to eat more after growing up in a toxic household
After your toxic parents tried to force you into their picture of a thin and docile wife, you left them as soon as possible and became the best version of yourself - if it wasn't for your bad eating habits still haunting you down when you're out with your boyfriend. Until he decides to have a talk with you...
Die with a smile
Despite the dark part he has chosen, Suguru finds himself drawn back to you. In a rain-soaked encounter, both of you face the heartbreaking reality that love can't save him from the path of destruction he's committed to.
Geto being forced to kiss you during a mission but shamelessly making out with you instead
It was an easy mission like many others before. Get in, find the suspect, free the innocent. Well, if it wasn't for none other than Geto Suguru who has to play your boyfriend. If it wasn't for that fateful situation that forces you into a heated kiss.
Should have told her
While being secretely in love with you since joining Jujutsu High, Nanami never admitted his feelings to you. Only after you nearly die in a fight and are on the brink of death, he begins to realize how much you really mean to him
Don't be shy
You are an outspoken, confident and skilled member of Jujutsu High. But when it comes to Nanami Kento, you suddendly become all flustered and shy. When you are set on a mission together he finally confronts you.
Whisper of the death
With your character of pure gold, it isn't hard for Nanami to fall for you despite the fact that you are the little sister of his best friend. However, your world is turned upside down after both men return from their last mission...
Beautiful mistake
You are in a secret but healthy relationship with none other than Nanami Kento despite being the sunshine to his rain. Until one day, you accidentaly spoil your secret to Gojo Satoru.
Nanami losing it completely when (y/n) gets severely injured at Shibuya
After receiving a message with your location, Nanami rushes to your side, showing no mercy with the man who laid his hands on you.
Nanami hiding his scars from his girlfriend after surviving Shibuya
no words needed
Nanami and Gojo's little sister meeting up again years after their ugly breakup
It's been some hell of years since Nanami left Gojo's younger sister for another woman. But when her big brother invites her to Jujutsu HIgh again, things start to unveil...
Haruta seeking revenge on Nanami's heavy pregnant wife
When Haruta hears about Nanami's wife, he is more than delighted to search and kill her. He didn't think about (y/n)'s very own abilities and her furious husband though.
Nanami fearing rejection from his wife and daughter after Shibuya left him seriously wounded
Even though he survived Shibuya, Kento Nanami dies from the inside just by the thought of losing you and his precious little daughter due to his severe wounds and scarred skin. But despite his great fear, your reaction turns out completely different than expected.
Nanami's girlfriend watching him being in full dad-mode with Yuji
After finally coming back home from a mission far away, all you want to do is seeing your precious boyfriend Kento again. But instead of a afternoon of cuddling him, you get to see him act like a real dad towards a new student.
Nanami's reaction to his daughter wearing a jumper saying "I love daddy"
After the incidents of Shibuya and his wife getting severely injured, Nanami is relieved to know his new family safe and sound. A little suprise from his precious wife seems to be enough to make a grown man cry in joy though...
Kento Nanami and his wife losing their unborn child in Shibuya
It seemed like a normal evening when you passed out on the couch, not aware of Haruta sneaking into your shared apartment until he pierces his blade through your pregnant stomach. How will your husband react, finding out what happened to you?
Nanami Kento raising his voice at you (apparentely yellow text is gone wtf)
He had no other choice but to scream at you in the middle of a fight, snapping at you like he never did before. It took both of you a few weeks to realize that you can't be with each other...
In Quiet Understanding
At a lively work party, you're cornered by the pressure to drink - a personal boundary you’re not ready to cross. Just as the moment becomes unbearable, Nanami steps in, quietly taking the shot for you. In his calm, understated way, he shows that sometimes the loudest support is silent.
Nanami realizing you're pregnant before you do
Caught
Megumi knows it isn't allowed to visit you after curfew late at night, but the temptation is just too great. However, it is percisely this night that Gojo noticed the both of you and finds you in a rather unfavorable situation.
Luck in misfortune
After you get seriously injured by a cursed and saved by Megumi, he begins to develop feelings for you he never imagined could exist.
The razor's edge
The news that your boyfriend Megumi got badly injured on a mission makes you come to Jujutsu High immediately to stand by his side.
Opposites attract
Megumi hated you the moment you stepped into Jujutsu High for the first time. As time flies, he always sees himself confronted with you on missions. However, one of these missions makes him rethink his feelings towards you
Save you
After you recklessly risk your own life to save his, Megumi can't hold back his feelings any longer
Yuji's sunshine sister with grumpy Megumi
Despite the fact that Megumi is the complete opposite of you, he can't help but secretely having a crush on you. It isn't until you get severely injured by Mahito that Megumi begins to realize it can't go on like this...
Gojo's little sister kissing her childhood crush Megumi for the first time at Shibuya
Even though your brother told you over and over to stay away from Shibuya, you are on your way to save him when you fall into the open arms of Megumi. Is this the right time to finally confess your feelings to your childhood crush?
Getting lost at a haunted house only to get saved by Megumi Fushiguro
After your friends dragged you into a tunnel of terror at an amusement park despite your irrational fear of creepy stuff, you find yourself lost in your own panic. Until a sudden blue-eyed boy appears and helps you out...
Megumi losing his will to carry on until (y/n) shows up
Megumi can't take it anymore. All the death, the grief, the misery he caused. He'll never forgive himself for losing you...But are you really dead?
Keeping your relationship with Megumi a secret until you can't anymore
Megumi Fushiguro’s secret relationship with you has been going smoothly—until his friends start noticing his odd behavior. Yuji and Nobara grow suspicious, launching a hilariously relentless mission to uncover what he’s hiding, while Gojo sits back, amused by the chaos. Will the two of you finally confess?
I told you to stay
When finding out your boyfriend of a year, Toji, secretly has a whole family behind your back, you decide to leave him. Of course, he won't allow that so easily.
Toji Fushiguro coming back to live to save (y/n) at Shibuya
No words needed
Geto's little sister melting like butter in Toji's hands
When your brother and Satoru arrive at Jujutsu High with the star plasma vessel, things start to get heated. But instead of running away like you're told to, you follow your brother. Only to be alone with a certain someone...
Choso with injured (y/n) who has blood phobia
no words needed
Gojo's little sister seducing Choso at Shibuya
no words needed
Gojo's little sister seducing Choso at Shibuya pt. ll
After getting back on track of saving her big brother, (y/n) catches Mahito's attention. Choso has to decide if he continues searching for Yuji or rushed to her aid before she gets killed.
Teaching Choso about Christmas and kissing under the mistletoe
Even though Choso thinks he's seen it all by now, the idea of Christmas just doesn't reach him until you show him the tradition of kissing underneath a mistletoe...
Choso realizing what love is when you almost sacrifice your life to save his
It was always a mystery to Choso Kamo, the way human emotions seem to work. But when you yank yourself right into Uraume's attack in order to save him, he slowly but surely begins to understand.
Choso getting hopelessly seduced by another blood manipulator
It seemed so easy at first: find Itadori Yuji, kill him, take revenge. Only until you showed up and captivated Choso Kamo, only until you showed him what you can...
Megumi's little sister falling head over heels for Yuji (and maybe Sukuna?) pt. l
After being set on a mission with your crush Yuji, your big brother and Nobara, things don't go as planned as all and force Yuji to sacrifice himself before you have the chance to tell him how you feel. Until Sukuna appears...
Sukuna coming for Megumi's little sister at Shibuya (pt. ll)
After the incident of Yuji almost losing his life and Megumi's little sister confessing her feelings to him, they finally live in peace. But then Shibuya comes around as well as suppressed Sukuna who takes interest in you...
Sukuna coming for Megumi's little sister at Shibuya (pt. lll)
After promising Sukuna to do everything he wants in exchange for him sparing your friends, you find yourself in a bitter fight with Jogo. While you feel like dying, Sukuna enjoys teasing the hell out of you...
Sukuna coming for Megumi's little sister at Shibuya (pt. lV)
Sukuna enjoys every second with you by his side. But when Yuji slowly but surely begins to fight back, Sukuna has to act quickly. A sweet innocent kiss before he has to go, before Yuji Itadori gains back his body...
(y/n)'s deal with the devil to save Nobara's life (pt. V)
You've been through so much at Shibuya, seeing the love of you get taken over by Sukuna and finally getting him back. But this time, it will be you who begs on her knees for the king of curses to arrive in order to save your best friend's life...
You being made from Yuji's and Megumi's big booty dreams
Personality counts, but a big ass does as well
Telling Sukuna you're pregnant after not seeing him for 500 years
For more than 1.500 years, you found yourself in a love and hate relationship with none other than Ryomen Sukuna. But when he began to ignore you for more than 500 years, you decide to bind him to you forever - with the help of a pregnancy that shouldn't be possible...
Part 2
After dropping the bomb of getting yourself pregnant from him despite not seeing each other for 500 years, Sukuna can't contain his temper. But you're too strong, you are too hot to resist you any longer...
Yuji taking you on an ice-skating date
You never went ice-skating in your entire life, but when Yuji asks you out...Who are you to say no to your secret crush?
Sukuna comforting you after a breakup
short lil comfort for whoever needs it
Ryomen Sukuna getting on his knees for his wife
For more than 500 years, you waited for your husband's return. When he finally shows himself again in Shibuya, he can't help but worship his wife the way she deserves it
Being held hostage by Ryomen Sukuna
How you ended up in Sukuna's prison instead of getting killed in an instant? You don't know. What you do know however that the king of curse has more to offer than what you ever imagined...
Darlin', can I be your favorite?
In a world full of death and tortue, wouldn't it be the easiest to seduce a man who is able to protect you at any cost? Ryomen Sukuna definetely is exactly that. Now, the seduction part...
Sukuna pretending he's Yuji to catch a taste of you
What you expected after finally meeting your boyfriend after losing him in Shibuya? Definitely not the king of curses trying to kiss you.
Sweet Affection
Until he met you, Sukuna never believed in something as worthless as love and affection. But when you treated him like no one ever did before, when you showed him what affection might look like, he tumbles...
Wicked games
From the second Ryomen Sukuna appears on the surface on earth again, you are bound to each other. Until the Shibuya accident. Until Sukuna gets confronted with the fear of losing you first-hand.
Daring Sukuna and getting what you wished for 18+
What's even more stupid than encountering Ryomen Sukuna by accident? Betting with Yuji that you'll touch his soul on your own. Setting him free. Getting pleasured by him like never before.
Yuta going nuts when finding out you've got severely injured at Shibuya
When the news of Shibuya begin to flood in, Yuta almost loses his mind over you. Without thinking twice he pays you, the secret love of his life, a visit.
We're just friends...right?
You told it yourself over and over while you whimpered against his neck. You are nothing but friends, no one has to know about him and you. Until Yuta ignores your presence the next day, until you realize that you don't want him like a best friend...
Yuta saving your ass in Shibuya
You have enough. After fighting for multiple hours in Shibuya, you are the brink of giving up your life, of giving up the pondering about a future with Yuta. Little do you know he's already on his way to Shibuya...
Comforting Toge Inumaki after he lost his arm in Shibuya
yup that's basically it
How JJK men react to other girls flirting with them/reader getting insulted
ft. Gojo, Megumi and Yuta
JJK men sharing a bed with reader
ft. Megumi, Nanami and Yuta
JJK men sharing a bed with reader part lll
ft. Toji, Geto, Haibara and Choso
How JJK men act when they're jealous
ft. Megumi and Gojo
JJK men turning the usual confident reader shy
ft. Yuta, Geto and Megumi
Shibuya arc scenarios that live in my head rent free part l
ft. getting sealed along with Gojo, Geto awakening by the sound of your voice
How JJK men react when (y/n) gets injured
ft. Nanami, Megumi, Toji and Geto
JJK men in and after a fight
ft. Goto, Megumi and Nanami
JJK men in and after a fight pt. ll
ft. Geto, Choso and Yuji
JJK men with drunk reader
ft. Choso and Nanami
JJK men with drunk reader pt. ll
ft. Geto, Megumi and Gojo
JJK men meeting you for the first time (aka Megumi catching you buying condoms)
ft. Gojo, Nanami and Megumi
JJK men after hurting (y/n)
ft. Choso and Gojo
How JJK men react when you fall asleep on top of them
ft. Nanami, Gojo and Inumaki
How JJK men react to different insecurities Part 1
ft. Nanami (gn!reader's facial scars), Megumi (fem!reader with small breasts) and Sukuna (gn!reader with acne)
How JJK men react to different insecurities Part 2
ft. Nanami (reader doesn't want kids), Gojo (reader who gained weight), Megumi (reader with hooked nose)
How JJK men react to different insecurities Part 3
ft. Nanami (overweight reader), Choso (reader with big breasts), Yuji/Todo (tall/curvy reader)
How JJK men act when you can't sleep
ft. Gojo, Inumaki and Megumi
JJK men with a small-chested reader
ft. Toji, Gojo, Choso, Nanami, Sukuna and Geto
JJK men with a big-chested reader
ft. Nanami, Geto, Yuji/Sukuna and Gojo
Stitching JJK men up or at least trying to
ft. Gojo, Toji and Yuta
Doing the ribbon around biceps trend with JJK men
ft. Gojo, Nanami, Toji and Sukuna
Making JJK men realize what love is
ft. Geto, Sukuna and Toji
Seeing JJK men shirtless for the first time
ft. trueform! Sukuna, Nanami, Choso, Gojo and Geto, Ino, Toji and Ijichi
Getting caught while making out with JJK men
ft. Geto, Gojo and Nanami
Slow kissing turning into aggressively making out with JJK men
ft. Gojo, Sukuna and Toji
Meeting your ex jjk boyfriend again after your breakup
ft. Gojo and Toji
JJK men when you go into labor
ft. Toji, Geto, Gojo and Sukuna
JJK men pretending to date you to get rid of unwanted attention
ft. Geto, Megumi, Choso and Gojo
How JJK men react to seeing you in their clothes
ft. Gojo, Megumi, Yuta and Nanami
Going to "your spot" after the breakup and finding your ex jjk men there
ft. Gojo, Geto, Megumi and Yuji/Sukuna
Click here for a full list of shorts and drabbles!
I recently told an ao3 writer that I keep going back to their 260k word unfinished slowburn checking for updates for the last 2 years. They said I'm like that puppy that waits for his dead owner at the train station every day.
That's the realest thing anyone's told me online, I ain't even mad.
Summary: It's the summer tournament. Y/n is trying to tackle her own fears in order to support her best friend
Word Count: 6.1 k
Previous Masterlist Next
The summer heat slowly began to creep in as time passed. It’s nearing summer already; spring has long been forgotten. Their uniforms had been replaced with shorter versions, as everyone was already preparing for the summer season.
For the past few weeks, the sun had been hotter than ever. It persistently shone up in the sky, giving them its warm embrace without fail.
Summer means a lot of things. It means the golden week will be coming very soon – as well as its tons and tons of homework. It means going to the pool and the beaches. It means summer festival and fireworks. It means what a time to be alive, especially for teenagers like them. Teenagers who are still searching for more adventure in their life.
But so some, summer, means some other things.
Y/n knows, that to Shohei, Summer means Koshien.
“Are you nervous for this weekend?”
Sipping on a bottle of orange juice, Shohei shook his head. Typical, thought y/n with a raised eyebrow. The other teen had always been hardly fazed by anything.
The two of them are sitting on the rooftop, watching the soccer match that’s happening down the field. It was lunchtime, and the two of them decided to eat their lunch while basking in the summer heat. Truthfully, y/n hates getting under the sun without any good reason, but Shohei’s good at pleading.
And the heaps of sunscreen that she had plastered across her face and arm definitely helped.
“Well, aren’t you a confident person?” she mumbled as a response.
Shohei had always been a confident person, after all. He is so sure of himself and his skill that he becomes hardly unfazed by anything.
“I’m more excited than nervous,” answered the boy, a grin already forming on his face. No doubt, he’s already imagining the upcoming match this weekend. “I mean, I’ve been waiting for it for so long.”
He must’ve been waiting for the opportunity for so long. She knows that he has practiced day and night, every day, after all.
“I’m excited to go to Koshien,” he continued. “I can’t wait already.”
Y/n raised an eyebrow at that. “You’re sure that the team will be going to Koshien?”
Shohei let out a laugh at that as if she had just said something funny. Sue her for having a bit of doubt. Even if you don’t follow baseball, as long as you live in Japan, you will know that Koshien is the pinnacle of high school baseball. It’s the highest stage that you can achieve before going pro. It’s the stage where major baseball stars have been scouted in the past.
“I am,” he replied. “I’ve never been surer in anything.”
It must be nice to be that confident.
Letting out a nod, she gave his shoulder a soft nudge. “Koshien or no, I think you will do great during the tournament.”
“I know I will be great.”
At this, she hits his back softly. “And here I am trying to be a good friend,” grumbled the girl. “I’m not going to wish you any more good luck in the future.”
A bark of laughter escaped Shohei at that as he tipped his head back. He sounds so amused that it irks her a bit. “I’m just joking,” he said, tears already forming in his eyes due to the sudden laughter. “I know I will be great, but your good luck wish will make my performance greater,” he stopped at this. “I think.”
“You think!?”
He merely let out an even louder laugh.
Biting on her chocolate bread, y/n kept listening to the other teen ramble about the upcoming match. Chocolate bread had not been her first choice for lunch, but the moment Shohei had seen her salad with a meager portion, he had insisted that she eats the bread that he had brought for snacking.
“-And you’re really coming right to the match?”
It took her a moment to respond. Y/n remembers the smile that Shohei shot her a few days ago when he had asked her to come. How the sun draped across his features as he uttered words that she didn’t think she would ever hear again in her lifetime.
She is coming to a baseball game.
What a joke.
Past her probably would’ve laughed at her face.
After so many years of hating baseball, now she decided that she’s going to finally watch a match? And it’s not even a professional match. It’s a high school baseball match played by students. The level of skill should be different from that of pro players.
It doesn’t make sense. Everything doesn’t make sense.
“Yeah,” she said. “I’ll be coming,” she finally answered, throat bobbled uncomfortably for a bit. There’s an uncomfortable feeling that’s looming inside her gut. Something persistent. Something dreadful.
And yet, why is she agreeing on this?
“That’s nice,” he replied with a large smile, it made her almost forget the unpleasant feeling that she was having right now. Almost. It’s something that his smile managed to consistently do. Always made her feel better. “My parents will also be coming to that match, considering it’s my debut and all.”
“Debut?” she laughed, desperately squashing her nervousness and dread. “I thought I’m the idol between the two of us?”
“Baseball debut,” he replied with a huff.
“But yeah, I will be coming,” continued y/n. “I do have some auditions to attend during this weekend, though, so I’ll probably go to Tokyo straight after the games. How long do you think the game will take?”
“Straight to Tokyo?” echoed Shohei. “Are you not tired? And it’s usually 2 to 3 hours by train.”
“I am tired,” grumbled out y/n as she leaned back on her chair. “But what can I do? Most of the auditions happen in Tokyo.”
Shohei hummed at that, finally finishing his orange juice. Crumbling the box with his hand, he tossed it to the trash bin near them. He did it with almost perfect accuracy. Athletes.
“Do you have the time to chat after the game?” he said after a while. “Just for a bit?”
Her mind went to her booked train ticket. It really depends on how long the game will last. If it’s a long game, well, she won’t have the time to do it. But if it’s a short one, she will be able to squeeze in a chat with Shohei for a while.
“Depends,” she answered. “Are you going to strike out the batters quickly?”
The boy hummed at that.
“With the right motivation, I probably can.”
When he was five, Shohei decided that he was going to be a baseball player.
Despite his young age, it was not a decision that he made on a whim. He made the decision when he realized how fun baseball is that the sport had become an integral part of his young age. That there will always be a proud gleam in his father’s eyes whenever he sees Shohei playing baseball.
Ever since then, he had always followed the expected path of a budding baseball talent.
He joins the little league team that his father coached. He follows his father’s guidance, concentrating on how to become the best player out there. He joined all the expected tournaments and won and broke records – as expected of him.
Entering Hanamaki Higashi for high school, too, had always been something expected of him. After all, it’s the best baseball school in Iwate. It’s the school that produced Yusei Kikuchi. It’s the high school that managed to go to Koshien before.
For someone who lives and breathes baseball, entering Hanamaki Higashi is expected.
Expected, expected, expected. It’s the path that had been laid out in front of him. Just like the piece of paper that the coach had asked him to fill during his first day in the team. A piece of paper full of his dreams and expectations of the future. A carefully made plan that he had planned with his father for years.
But still-
Friendship with y/n is something unexpected to him.
The first time he had seen her was during the first day when the class quieted down as she entered the room, and everyone stared at her with something akin to reverence.
Y/n looks as if she’s an angel that was dropped down from the sky.
Glittering hair under the sunlight and a healthy flush across her face. She walks with so much grace that it automatically makes people’s eyes to follow her. Every time she smiles, someone seems to hold their breath, just watching the girl brighten up the room with a simple quirk on her lips.
He knows that the girl is beautiful. He thinks that everyone in the school knows that. The excited chatters of his team as they talked about the prettiest girl in school. The hushed whispers about her already debuting as an idol back in Tokyo, as well as her half-foreign blood, make her the school idol in no time.
Frankly, back then, he couldn’t see him being friends with y/n.
After all, they lived in a different world. Her, under the glitz and glamor of the entertainment industry, and him, under the scorching sun and dirt as he played baseball. If he had looked at it objectively, the friendship between people with such different interests is almost hard to do.
When they got put to sit together, he really couldn’t find any topic to talk about with the girl. He doesn’t recognize anything that she talks about with her friends, and y/n looks disinterested in baseball. For some time, their conversations are only limited to school subjects and their homework.
But then, as he watched an NPB match, he accidentally saw a familiar figure.
Glittering hair under the stadium lights and a healthy flush across her face. A smile so bright that it made the stadium watch this unknown girl who was doing the first pitch.
Y/n-san, he had thought, eyes widening as he watched the girl moving on the screen.
Thoughts about the match almost went forgotten as he watched the first pitch ceremony. The stadium itself was not full, which is understandable, considering it’s not time for the game to start yet. But still, as someone who lives and breathes baseball, to see someone that he knows throwing the first pitch of an NPB team had been an interesting experience.
After that, he fell into a rabbit hole. He recalled the conversation from the locker room, how she was an idol from Tokyo. Shohei immediately looked it up, mostly because of the curiosity that was gnawing inside of his mind. One video turns into another, and before he knew it, he had watched more than a dozen videos of the small-time idol called y/n l/n.
Their meeting in the mall that led to their daily jog together, their growing conversations in class, and the way they spent almost every second of their time together.
Months ago, if you asked Shohei if he thinks he will befriend the girl who’s sitting at the desk next to him, he would’ve said no.
But alas, here he is, waving at the girl who had come to watch the baseball club practice.
Now, a few months after their initial first meeting, he’s confident to say that y/n is his best friend. His closest confidante. The one that he told everything about.
Noticing his small wave almost immediately, y/n waved back, a cheeky grin on her face as she sat there with a friend of hers – Nishikawa-san. The both of them are sitting in a seat just outside of the tall fence that separates the baseball field and the school grounds. Around them, are other students and teachers that sometimes also watch the baseball team’s practice.
Nishikawa-san said something to Y/n’s ear, making her laugh, and for a second, Shohei had a hard time averting his gaze. He thinks anyone in the world will have a hard time looking away when they see that laugh.
“Dude,” whispered one of the baseball club members, yanking him by the shoulder. “Did l/n-san just wave at you!?”
Shohei blinked. “We’re friends,” he said simply, finally turning his gaze towards his teammate.
“With the prettiest girl in school!” answered the other a bit aggressively. “I’m so jealous!”
He knows that y/n is popular. She’s always in the conversation when they’re talking about the prettiest girls in school. He also had seen a couple of letters being shoved into her shoe locker, but most of them remained unopened as y/n decided to ignore them often. However, knowing her popularity and seeing it firsthand is a bit different.
“We sit together,” he replied, slinging an arm around his teammate’s shoulder. “Let’s go, the coach is calling for us.”
As they jog towards the rest of the team, his mind still wanders towards the girl. It’s a bit hard not to think about her, as she always commands the majority of the attention inside of a room. Even now, he could see several glances directed towards her or plain staring from the people around them.
But Shohei needs to focus. Summer is approaching, and they have a goal to achieve this year.
Koshien, he thought. The field of dreams for every high school baseball player. The tournament that will change the life of every high school baseball player.
So many stars are born through Koshien. So many scouts came for Koshien, searching for the next big thing through their keen eyes. Shohei himself is determined to become a professional baseball player. He has no career option besides professional baseball players. His future is basically that or a bust. That or nothing.
This weekend, Shohei will start for his school for the first time. It’s the summer tournament, the very tournament that will decide their Koshien ambition. It will be a lie to say that he’s not nervous. After all, he’s so nervous that he can’t sleep at night. There are more than a thousand things that could go wrong. More than a million things that could go wrong because of him, ending their Koshien journey this year.
Maybe that’s why he had asked y/n to come and attend the game. He thinks, that if he sees the girl on the stand, it can relieve some of his nervousness.
To see her cheering for him will be an energizer that he needs for his first start in his high school career. This is a pivotal moment for his future. Whether the coach thinks that he has the potential or not for the big stage will be decided this weekend.
He thinks that the girl is not interested in baseball, but that’s okay. Shohei thinks that he can change her mind after the game.
After all, baseball is the best.
What is she doing here? Thought y/n as she stands in front of the stadium.
Y/n could feel the dread that was slowly climbing into her throat. It’s a bit suffocating. A bit alarming.
It’s been years since she watched a baseball game. An amazing feat considering how baseball-obsessed Japan as a country is. She had avoided the sport for so long and had been so successful in doing it, too.
So why is she here?
Will she abandon all of her efforts just for a boy?
But it’s not just a boy, a voice whispered inside his mind. It’s her best friend. The boy with a bright smile and such a big love for baseball. Shohei always looks so bright and happy every time he talks about baseball. She knows that the sport is everything to him. That his asking her to be here and watch his first baseball game is an important request for him.
That her presence her matters. That he will be looking at her through the crowd.
The dread is still there, though. It’s still clawing at her throat insistently. It still reminds her why she hates the sport. Why, for her future sake, she should avoid it altogether.
She shouldn’t be here.
She hates baseball! Why is she even here-
“Hey,” said Ami, hitting her shoulder lightly. “What are you staring at? The game is starting soon!”
Ami decided to tag along. Y/n thinks she did this because she realized how pale she had become when she accepted Shohei’s request. The girl had always had a keen eye, after all, which is one reason why they got along so well.
“I- “started y/n. “I don’t think I can do this-“
“What are you talking about!” exclaimed Ami as she practically dragged the other girl into their seat. “We’re already here!”
“No-“ she started, stopping the both of them on their track. “I don’t- Seriously, I don’t think I can- I- I-“
“Hey,” Ami’s voice stopped her sentence. There’s a grounding hand on her shoulder, effectively clearing her mind for a bit. Beneath her lashes, y/n could see the concerned look that the other girl was wearing now. “Y/n-chan, are you okay?”
Are you okay?
Is she okay?
Is she okay standing here in the middle of a baseball stadium?
No- no. No, she’s not okay.
“No,” she rasped out. “I- I don’t think I’m okay.”
Ami shifted her gaze towards the clock near them. There’s still plenty of time before the game starts. Deciding in an instant, Ami immediately grabbed y/n’s hand before guiding her elsewhere. A more secluded spot where not many people will be around.
Sitting on one of the benches, she touched y/n’s cheek gently, forcing her to stare at her eyes.
“Hey,” she said. “What happened?”
“I-“ started y/n, but she stopped. She could tell her. She could tell the girl in front of her the reason why she hated baseball so much, why she didn’t want to be here. Why her being in this stadium just to watch a high school baseball game is a mistake?
But by doing so, it means that she will have to bear all of her heart to see.
Y/n likes to think that she’s a simple person.
She’s someone closed off. Someone cheery and happy in front and broody and solemn behind everyone’s back. It’s part of her idol mask. A demand that she should always keep this extroverted mask for all to see.
For Ami to understand why she hates being here, she will have to tell her everything. Everything about the mistake of her birth.
She hates it.
She hates being vulnerable.
Ami still sat there, right in front of her, watching her silently. Forever seems to pass between the two of them as y/n’s throat bobbles uncomfortably. She’s at a loss for what she should do.
“Hey,” started the other girl. “If you don’t want to tell me, it’s okay. I won’t prod anymore.”
Y/n is still silent at that, peering at Ami through her lashes.
Ami let out a sigh, the grounding hand on her shoulder was still there. Rubbing small circles.
“I’” started y/n. “My father left me and my mom before I was born.”
“… Ah,” said Ami after a long silence.
“He was a baseball player.”
“… Ah.”
Silence descends between the two of them again.
“My mom also left me when I was 10,” said Ami finally. “She was an asshole.”
“… at least you have a father?”
The other girl let out a small snort at that. “I could say the same thing about your mom.”
Another silence descends between the two of them.
Distantly, she could see the people that were passing in front of them. All of them are enraptured in their own world. Barely paying any attention to a girl with puffy eyes and uneven breathing.
It feels oddly calming. That despite everything, a lot of people won’t notice her vulnerability.
The silence was broken by Ami’s question. “Do you still want to watch the match?”
Her first instinct is to say no.
But Shohei’s bright grin and the promise that they had made on the school rooftop echoed inside her mind.
It played inside of her head over and over again. Repeating itself as if y/n would ever forget. As if she will ever forget the way Shohei’s face brightened at the healthy tan that decorated his skin – a sign of his dedication to the craft of baseball.
She closed her eyes, trying to tame her mind.
This is different, she thought. This match is different.
It’s not her father who is playing down the field. It’s Shohei. Her best friend. The boy that’s sitting next to her.
Down there, it’s not her American father who left her mom when she was heavily pregnant with her mom. It’s not her father who never bothered to call back despite all of the desperate voice notes that her mom had sent. It’s not her father who had never taken any responsibility towards her, resulting in her mom having three different jobs just to make sure that they’ll stay afloat.
It’s not her father who parades around his American dream family to everyone on national television.
Down there, the one who will be playing is Ohtani Shohei.
The boy who had dragged her for an early jog every morning. The boy with a sweet tooth and an even sweeter smile. The boy who had told her that she will become a star with such an utter conviction that she started to believe in herself despite all of her previous failures and setbacks.
It’s Shohei who will be playing.
Not her father.
The color that will be flying today is the familiar grey and purple of Hanamaki Higashi. Not the familiar and yet distant white and blue.
Letting out a deep breath, y/n lets out a nod. “Yeah,” she replied after a long while. “Let’s go inside.”
Ami stared at her, unblinking.
“You know,” she started. “If we go home right now, I won’t complain,” said the other girl. “Are you really sure that you’re okay with it?”
You have a heavy trauma with baseball; after all, it was left unsaid. Y/n appreciates it. Currently, she’s not in the mood to tackle it head-on.
“Yeah,” answered y/n. “I just needed some time to think.”
With a nod, Ami stood up, arm reaching for her. They walked inside the stadium like that, with their arm linked together.
“If it’s ever too much,” murmured Ami, “Just let me know, okay?”
Y/n gave her a grateful nod as she squeezed the girl’s hand.
As they enter, for the first time in years, y/n gets her first glimpse of a baseball match.
She could see the green grass stretching across the field as well as rows and rows of spectators. The air around them was buzzing, as she could hear horns and yells of celebrations being thrown left and right by the people around them. The announcers could be heard through the air, hyping the crowd for today’s match.
Y/n had expected a big crowd. After all, this is the quarterfinals of the summer tournament.
But still, she could feel the shiver running down her spine as she took up the atmosphere around them.
Even when she threw the first pitch for the Tigers all those months ago, the atmosphere back then can’t be compared to what she’s seeing right now. The height of everyone’s excitement could be seen across everyone’s faces, a far cry from the half-empty stadium that she saw during her first pitch ceremony.
Ami immediately dragged her toward their designated seat.
She watched at the rows and rows of purple and purple near them. The cheering squad of their baseball team is highly spirited, already hollering and cheering for the team despite the first pitch not being thrown yet. There are rows of baseball team members, as well as cheerleaders, already prepared to cheer for the team with all their might.
Merchandises with purple and grey themes could be seen, such as small flags or trumpets. Even the cheerleaders are wearing forms with that color format.
Looking down at her purple top, y/n felt a bit unprepared as she didn’t bring anything to cheer for the team. Ami, too, stared at the cheering squad with amazement clear on her face.
“They really come prepared,” said the girl as the both of them took their seat. They’re sitting really closely with the cheering squad.
Nodding, she lets out a sheepish laugh. “And we brought nothing.”
Their conversation caught one of the cheering squad member’s attention, and he widened his eyes at the sight of them.
“Oh!,” he said, gaining both of their attention. “You guys are students at our school, right?”
Sharing a glance with Ami, y/n gave him a bright smile, trying to look a tad more friendly despite the red rimming his eyes. “Yeah,” she replied. “We’re cheering for the team.”
“We’re friends with Ohtani-san,” added Ami, as if to add some kind of credibility to their claim.
“Ohtani-kun?” said the member. “Do you guys want some flags or something to cheer the team? We brought extras.”
Nodding gratefully, both y/n and Ami received the flag from the other boy.
“I didn’t expect Ohtani-kun to have friends coming over,” said the boy as they were making a conversation. “He seems really devoted to baseball.”
“He is really devoted to baseball,” replied y/n as she waved the small Hanamaki Higashi flag playfully. “You’re close with him?”
“Ah, no, not really,” answered the other boy. “Ohtani-kun is just famous in the club. He’s the only first year that managed to get into the main team, you know?”
Ami let out a whistle at that. “That’s amazing,” she said. “So, the rest of the cheering squad here are first and second years?”
“Yeah, but we do have some third years, not a lot.”
The game started soon after that. Y/n could feel Ami’s gaze on her as she watched Shohei take up the mound at the top of the first inning. She had seen Shohei in his baseball uniform as she had watched some of the baseball team practice, but still, seeing him like this-
It was as if the one who was standing on the mound was a different person than the bright boy who was sitting next to her during class.
There’s some kind of aura on him as well as a cold look on his face – something that she rarely sees these days. Shohei is a cheery and goofy person. Someone with smiles and laughs can brighten up the room.
The one who is standing down there is Ohtani Shohei, the baseball player.
“He looks good, isn’t he?” asked Ami, a teasing tilt in her tone.
Y/n decided to ignore the teasing. “Yeah,” she said. “He is.”
To say that Shohei did amazing during his first start would be an understatement.
After all, he was dominant. He pitched for seven innings, not letting any run go past him. The batters barely got hits and those who did barely got any good ones. Shohei contributed so much to the team’s defense this game that some people started to whisper his name in awe.
Ohtani this, Ohtani that.
Through it all, y/n watched.
Oh, thought the girl, amidst the loud cheers and celebration around her as the last out was recorded. He is going to be a baseball star, isn’t he?
She watched Shohei impressing everyone in the stadium. She sees how he pitched, how he basically owns all the batters that he faced.
She watched Hanamaki Higashi winning the game, as well as the bright smile on Shohei’s face. It’s the face that she’s familiar with. It's not the cold front that he puts during pitching.
Y/n sees it all, and with that, the first baseball game that she has watched in years ends.
They’re standing just behind the stadium, the hustle and bustle of the crowd around them.
“Do you like the game?” he asked, mouth grinning.
Y/n stared at him. Stared at this tall teen in front of her who was smiling at her like the sun. She stared at this teen who managed to drag her into a baseball game. At the teen who forced her to watch a baseball game despite all of her reservations towards the game.
She was afraid.
Afraid that she will only see her father during the game. Afraid that she would remember the tears that fell onto her mom’s face as she watched the celebration when her dad clinched the World Series. The celebration is where her dad proudly says that his oldest child – a son younger than her – is playing baseball on his little league team.
She watched the older woman grip the necklace around her neck. The only gift that her father had ever given her. She watched and watched. Heart growing cold and gaze going dead as she, too, gazed at the man who had contributed to her birth in this world celebrate the best moment of his life with his little family. A family that does not consist of y/n and her mother.
Today, too, she watched. She watched the baseball game in front of her. She watched Shohei take up the mound with the familiar purple and white uniform of Hanamaki Higashi. She watched as the teen managed to go through seven scoreless innings before being replaced by the closer. She watched and watched, the sun beating down on her face, and yet, it was not the only warmth that she felt during the game.
It was almost a miracle that she didn’t even remember her father throughout the game. It was a miracle that she didn’t even think about him for a second.
All she remembers thinking throughout the game is Shohei and Shohei. How her best friend is taking the mound, how her best friend is finally playing his first big game in his high school baseball career.
It’s Shohei and Shohei inside her head. Only him.
She likes it.
“I like it,” she managed to say, throat bobbing, “I like to see you win.”
I like to see more left unsaid. I like to see you, left unsaid.
Shohei let out a laugh at that, cheeks blooming in happiness. “I like it when I win, too,” he replied. She thinks that it’s a trick of the light, but she swears that the world has become clearer for a bit.
“Of course you do,” she laughed, nudging his arm gently. “You have a competitive streak a mile wide.”
“Like you don’t,” he teased back. “You’re going to Tokyo after this, yeah? For that magazine photoshoot?”
Y/n lets out a hum, eyes drifting towards one of the digital clocks that littered the stadium. “Yeah, my train is leaving in an hour,” she said. “I have to go to the station right after this.”
“And you’re going back tomorrow?” asked Shohei, head tilted a bit. It’s a habit that she finds cute.
“I’ll arrive back here tomorrow night,” she shrugged. “I still have a music video audition tomorrow morning.”
Shohei seems to be thinking about something, brows furrowing together. “Do you want me to pick you up?” he asked. “It’s dangerous for a girl to go home alone.”
Laughing a bit, she shook her head. “I’ll have my manager bring me home, don’t worry about my safety. He’s a big guy.”
“But still-“
“You don’t have to worry, you know, you’re in the middle of the tournament, right?” said y/n, reminding the other teen about the looming tournament. She may not follow baseball so intently, but she knows how important the summer tournament is. After all, it’s the key that will bring them to Koshien. The dream stage for the team. “Focus on that, don’t want my best friend to fail in becoming a baseball superstar.”
Letting out a sigh, he seems resigned before letting out a small smile. “And I don’t want my best friend to fail in becoming a star too.”
“A star? Just a star?” she teased.
“Yeah,” he said, smile blinding. “A star.”
A star, she thinks.
Y/n likes the sound of that.
The magazine photoshoot went well.
Her manager told her that the brand and the magazine really liked her and wanted to use her again for their next collection. The photographer and the makeup artist praised her endlessly. Saying that she has the type of face that will catch a lot of attention.
Y/n thinks that it’s their own way, saying that her half-foreign look is distracting.
Stepping out of her dingy agency, she could feel her phone buzzing. Glancing at it, she sees Shohei’s contact appearing on her home screen.
“Boyfriend?” asked her manager, walking next to her.
“No,” she replied, though the girl couldn’t contain the smile that was threatening to break out of her face. “A friend.”
Typing down a response, she glanced back towards her manager, who was staring at her with a raised eyebrow.
“Doesn’t seem like a friend to me,” replied the man as they climbed into the car together, ready to head out to her music video audition.
“You’re right, it’s not a friend, it’s my best friend,” she huffed out. “Anyway, you said that this was for a music video?”
“It is, for a boyband, you may have heard of them,” answered the man as he gave her the name. She had heard it before, they were pretty famous in her year, after all.
Reading through the script, y/n tried to understand the concept of the music video. It’s a typical boyband music video, a reverse harem trope. The girl will basically be stuck in a love maze between all the members in a high school setting. The members of the boyband will be older than normal high school students, but the fans seem to like them wearing a uniform. That’s why they’re searching for a model that will fit the school setting down to the t.
“I think you will get the role,” said her manager after a moment of silence.
Raising an eyebrow, she asked, “Why? My idol debut is a flop, you know.”
Sighing, the man continues to drive. “You, for one, in my opinion, are one of the most talented artists that I’ve ever seen in my life,” started the man.
She lets out a laugh at that. “Of course, you’re saying that,” she said, a bit teasing. “You’re my manager. You have to say something like that to encourage me despite everything.”
There was a hesitant silence between the two of them after that. “I think your failure came mostly from our part,” he said after a while. He sounds a bit reluctant. “If you were in any other company – bigger ones or more established ones – I think you would already be thriving.”
“I like our company,” she defends, sinking back in her chair.
Y/n knows that her company is far too small for her to make it big in the industry. She knows that, realistically, she should’ve aimed for bigger names in the industry.
And it’s not like she doesn’t have the chance to do so. She has been offered – many times – to audition or even to join other bigger companies. Scouts had been coming to her to take her back to their own companies multiple times. If she wants to, y/n won’t even glance at her current company, considering all the other offers that she received back then.
But still, she thought, a bit sullen.
Her current company is the only company that doesn’t require her to do gravure shoots.
She knows that it’s a bit ridiculous for her to reject gravure shoots because it’s basically a rite of passage for young girls in the Japanese entertainment company. She knows that so many big celebrities out there have to do gravure shoots during their earlier years to make it in the industry. Countless female celebrities did it to put their name out there.
But y/n can’t do it. She will never do it.
She remembers the text messages or envelopes that her mother received. Countless letters and messages from her father’s lawful wife.
Whore.
Bitch.
Slut.
It’s always those words. Those accusing words that accused her mother of being someone that’s selling her body to everyone.
She’s afraid that the moment she does gravure shoot, it will only prove that the accusation is being directed at her mother. That a whore like her mother will raise a whore of a daughter like her.
That if she does it, that bitch’s word will become the actual truth.
Even in death, y/n will never let that happen. She will never give her mother another thing to grieve upon, and she will never give that woman any kind of satisfaction.
She will thrive in this industry in one way or another. She will survive here.