(timeskip era, fluff, soft romantic caretaking)
│ written in celebration of ennoshita chikara’s birthday (december 26)
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ennoshita wakes up the way he always does — slow, quiet, gentle.
the kind of man who doesn’t stretch dramatically or groan at the morning; he just exhales softly, runs a hand through his hair, and sits up with that sleepy, calm expression that makes you want to kiss him before he even opens his eyes.
he doesn’t mention that it’s his birthday.
of course he doesn’t.
he never celebrates himself.
never asks for anything.
never wants to be a bother.
which is exactly why you planned everything before he even woke — quietly, carefully, the same way he loves.
when he walks into the kitchen, still rubbing sleep from his eyes, he freezes.
the table is set.
breakfast warm and fragrant — miso soup steaming softly, rice perfectly fluffed, his favorite grilled fish resting on a small ceramic plate.
sunlight spills over everything in a warm, golden wash.
“good morning,” you say softly, turning toward him.
“happy birthday, love.”
his face goes pink immediately.
not embarrassed — just overwhelmed.
“you… didn’t have to do all this.”
you walk over and kiss his cheek, lingering there for a second because you can feel him melt beneath your lips.
“i wanted to.”
he sits down slowly, almost carefully, as if afraid touching anything will break the spell.
you watch the way his shoulders drop when he tastes the first bite — a soft tension leaving his body.
you spend the morning with him.
not doing anything extravagant — just existing.
you sit with him while he reads through birthday messages on his phone.
you kiss the back of his neck while he pours tea.
you laugh when he shyly asks if you’ll sit on his lap for a few minutes because “it’s my birthday, i’m allowed to ask for something… right?”
time moves gently around him.
he’s relaxed in a way he rarely lets himself be.
after breakfast and a slow morning on the couch — your legs draped over his, his thumb tracing lazy circles into your ankle — he finally decides to shower.
he stands, stretching lightly.
“i should get cleaned up,” he says softly.
“go ahead,” you smile, “the bathroom’s all set.”
he doesn’t question it.
he just nods and walks down the hall, opening the bathroom door—
and stops.
the lights are dim and warm.
candles flicker on the counter, casting soft shadows.
steam drifts lazily into the air.
the bath is drawn perfectly — water shimmering a pale gold, scented lightly with cedar and vanilla, his favorite soothing combination.
there’s a folded towel.
fresh clothes waiting.
your touch in every detail.
he stares.
“i—” he starts, but the words die.
he swallows, trying again.
“you did this?”
you step behind him, sliding your arms around his waist, chin resting between his shoulder blades.
“you take care of everyone,” you whisper.
“today, i want to take care of you.”
his shoulders tremble — just barely — with a quiet, emotional exhale.
“thank you,” he murmurs, voice thick and soft.
you help him undress, gentle and slow, your fingers brushing over his skin like warm breath.
he steps into the bath, lowering himself into the water with another soft sigh, head tipping back as the warmth sinks into his muscles.
you sit on the little stool beside the tub, dipping your hands into the water before running your fingers through his hair, massaging slow circles into his scalp.
his eyes flutter shut.
his lips part.
and for a moment, he looks like a man who finally remembers what peace feels like.
when he gets out — skin warm, hair damp, expression impossibly soft — you guide him to the table again.
lunch is ready.
comfort food.
gentle flavors he loves.
something warm simmering in the pot, the scent filling the kitchen like a soft embrace.
“you’re really spoiling me,” he whispers, sitting down, cheeks flushed with gratitude he doesn’t know how to hide.
“good,” you say simply.
the afternoon drifts by in quiet bliss.
you curl up with him on the couch, your legs tangled, your fingers tracing gentle patterns on the inside of his wrist.
you kiss his jaw.
you press your forehead to his temple.
you hold him through long, quiet moments where he doesn’t say anything —
but his breathing tells you everything.
as the evening settles in, you bring out a small wrapped gift. nothing flashy — just something personal, thoughtful, chosen with intention.
his hands tremble slightly as he unwraps it.
he looks at what you gave him.
then at you.
then back down.
his breath catches.
“i… i don’t even know what to say.”
his voice is barely above a whisper.
“you don’t have to say anything,” you murmur, brushing your thumb over his knuckles.
“just let yourself be loved today.”
he sets the gift down carefully — reverently — before pulling you into his arms, holding you like he’s afraid the moment will slip away if he doesn’t keep you close enough.
“this is the best birthday i’ve ever had,” he whispers into your hair.
“i didn’t know it could feel like this.”
you smile against his chest, warm and steady.
“get used to it,” you murmur.
“i plan on loving you like this every year.”
his arms tighten around you, his breath warm against your neck, and for the first time in his life, ennoshita chikara lets himself be held without guilt, without hesitation — completely, wholeheartedly cherished.
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i forgot to schedule this one it was sitting in drafts not queue :( happy belated birthday ennoshita
i meant pfp change yes whoopsies hi how are u i must confess im ur departed friend (?) but i missed u so i came to stalk ur account then i saw that then Etc Etc hi
OMG?? tbh i have a lot of "departed friends" on here and i miss you all so dearly too waaaa <3
thank you for checking in on me! am doing better and moving forward with my life goals :] i hope all is well for you too <3
hiiii stell 🤩 how are you and ennoshita working as a PT and SLP (professionally and…well, privately)? what’s the dynamic? your favorite parts about it? gimme all the yume deets >:)
OH MY GOD. took me a while to answer this but YAYAYAYAYAYAY finally, we have: ennoshita chikara (22) physical therapist and stellar (22) speech-language pathologist!
commission drawn by holograpeach on ig
i went into a deep dive on which sendai universities have both physical therapy and speech-language pathology programs. i settled on tohoku bunka gakuen university. ngl i'm so jealous of their facilities and their uni-owned clinic...so cute :,)
both their PT and SLP programs are 4 years long and have internships, similar to my uni's programs. BUT in terms of my lore, i still follow my own uni's curriculum and structure!
also, ennoshita graduates on time (4 years) while i stay back for one semester (4.5 years), which is similar to my irl situation.
the reason we ended up going to the same university was because we did college searches together and talked about which careers would suit us! we applied to multiple colleges, but the one i listed up there was the goal.
fun fact, he confessed to me on HS graduation day and did the cliché giving-your-crush-your-second-button thing. i also ended up cutting the second button from my uniform blouse and giving it to him when we got home.
have i mentioned that we're neighbors? LOL we travel to school together (and have been doing so since grade school). this also means that our dates are easier due to proximity & our families being close!
so in uni, we shared some subjects for non-major/interdisciplinary courses (research in allied health professions, community practice, evidence-based practice). then during senior year/internship year, we had two similar rotations where we worked as co-interns.
*each numbered column represents a 2-month period! those split in half are equivalent to a month. some are 1 month straight, or 2 months with a midweek split between sites
for pediatric setting, chikara and i had chances to work on a similar client who had gross motor and speech difficulties.
in the community-based setting, we lived together with our other co-interns at the chosen community's dedicated residential space. a lot of what we did was disability profiling and needs assessment.
there is an asterisk on the hospital because that's where i decided to stop and take a break due to mental health. i also requested a change to "slower" settings and care centers, which worked!
after graduation, chikara has decided to pursue sports and hospital rehabilitation. meanwhile, i primarily work in pediatric practice.
i am still wondering if i open a pediatric center in the future with colleagues. chikara might be a PT consultant there too for complex cases involving motor skills, but i see him continuing to work primarily with adolescents and adults.
in general, we both have thoughts of teaching at our university as well. sometime in the future, perhaps, when we gain more experience and are able to sustain ourselves more independently. not sure if i'd do a full-time position, but mentorships and clinical supervision for sure!
although speech-language pathology and physical therapy are different areas, we have overlapping clients. truth be told, there are a lot of considerations for clients with physical conditions or disabilities that aren't always explicitly taught. gross and fine motor skills aren't part of our scope, so this is where having a PT as a partner comes in handy (at least for gross motor stuff lol)!
fun facts: so when we teach clients about movement, we often start with the proximal (body parts closest to our core/center) to distal (going outwards, furthest parts of our body such as our fingers). so, before we can demand precise movements from limbs, hands/feet, and even our mouth, we need to ensure our core is stable. otherwise, it's shaky foundations all around. ennoshita's great at helping me with clients that have prominent core difficulties, such as some people with cerebral palsy (CP). the better the core stability, the better the produced speech.
on the flip side, i give ennoshita lots of advice for clients with communication difficulties. this shows up in clients with down syndrome, CP, post-stroke, or post-traumatic brain injury. usually, i give him strategies like alternate forms of communication (pictures, writing, typing, facial expressions, gestures) if speaking alone doesn't suffice (i.e., his client has difficulty speaking and/or understanding the speech of others).
so yeah, lots of interdisciplinary collaboration going on! and even if we don't share patients, it's great to have another person to share ideas with. i find that constantly thinking alone makes me more doubtful of myself too aaaa!
now, for the more personal aspect, ennoshita and i are still pretty anxious people. a lot of people do put their trust in us and it can be pressuring when we aren't sure if we're doing everything right or not.
addressing patient needs is never a one-size fits all thing, so we are still left with the need to make clinical judgments in unique situations. we have protocols and general principles, but how they're applied and delivered differs.
beyond the work expectations, ennoshita and i generally take many of things to heart. we think a lot about what others say and do involving us. it takes a lot out of us to consistently show up when things get challenging, and we try very very hard to keep it together. it is a genuine blessing that we understand each other better than anyone else.
and so, ennoshita and i ensure that we both have ample time to be together and time to be ourselves. hobby and rest times are also recognized as a must, not a reward for work.
we've grown very perceptive of each other's behavioral cues. i know when ennoshita's being a little stubborn and hiding how he feels about a personal problem from everyone. i get it, because i'm like that too.
i learn how to give him enough space for independence, while also reminding him that i'm there and willing to help whenever. he does the same for me. we've also learned not to be too tolerant of each other's avoidance; patience is important, but we also need a little nudge forward via tough love. :)
hajime headcanons on a scale of canon compliant to totally unhinged
so there's this guy...
canon compliant/widely accepted
big guy. big guy. big big guy. big guy spongebob pants okay. yeah he’s pretty huge. says he isn’t but that’s because his literal job is being around bigger guys.
filipino (MORENO) on his mother’s side
super athletic. like we been knew this
pokemon fan. he’d be so excited if you asked “hajime, if you were a gym leader, what pokemon type would you specialize in?” he will LIGHT up. “SO i actually have this written down, i have like, a whole team set up and everything—” ummm spoilers it's rock or bug
can cut an apple with his bare hands (ripping it apart with sheer force)
guess i'll add rich since no one talks about the fact that he went to a private school and then stays in california for uni (+ grad school)
canon to personal territory
runs hot, doesn’t get cold easily. he's a literal heater
he's got a socal accent when speaking english. no, like, for real!
romantic!!! and a hopeless one at that
carries a photo of both you and oikawa in his wallet
lets you win whenever you challenge him to an arm wrestling competition
uses earbuds. he exercises and runs, so he likes that he can just stick it in his pocket. doesn’t really care about sound quality either
not a jewelry guy. he uses his hands a lot and he's usually courtside for his job, so it gets in the way. but! will tuck a necklace under his collar if it meant a lot to him....and maybe perhaps wear one ring on a particular finger on a certain hand...
skateboards, surfs, and snowboards
career focused. don't expect to get married in college
where did that even come from
nerds gummy cluster whore. claims it’s “only for hikes, runs, and cycling, okay?”
he needs glasses but doesn’t wear them for reasons unknown (i’m turning into ilya rozanov as we speak) just kidding the reason is that they get in the way! they fog up! they fall down! they spin around when he's laying on his side! they get dirty every day! he believes there are no benefits to his glasses except seeing. and he CAN see. he can see JUST fine.
has teeny little dimples when he smiles real wide
clingy drunk
shitter. nasty farts, even nastier shits. has thrown up maybe twice in his life and both were in infancy
unfortunately doesn’t know how to answer dumb hypotheticals because it has literally never occurred to him that you would ever turn into a worm
doesn’t know how to wrap gifts. he tries but it’s not good. it's the problem of too much tape, not enough wrapping paper
he's dogshit at video games. you’d think with all that kinesthetic intelligence he’d be able to press buttons on a controller or keyboard but no
initially, you refuse to admit it, though your fascination slips past the aisle of your thoughts and starts to form in the rhythmic way you tread your fingers through his golden hair, eventually conceding as you comment. “you hair is so soft.”
tsukishima kei hums, eyes shut as he lay on your chest, feeling his scalp being massaged gently as you untangle the tensions.
“you sleepy?”
“yeah. sorry.”
“don’t be, get some rest.” you say, eliciting a yawn from him.
“is it normal to feel sleepy around your partner?”
“i guess so, heard they can regulate your nervous system or something.”
“you stress me out sometimes.”
you raise a brow, pausing your ministrations, eager to tease and be teased. “okay, and?"
“you love to ragebait me.”
“so do you?”
you see the wrinkling of his brow first before the purse of his lips, almost as if he's pouting. "it's not my fault, you're too easy anyway. and who said you could stop?"
you hum this time, fingers stayed put. "stop what?"
with his eyes closed and a scoff, his expression twists even more into something close to hesitation, "i see you, wipe that grin off your face."
"dunno what you're talking about, darling."
you like to think he's refusing to admit to the fact that he likes being teased by you—no, you're certain. you know him just as much.
long and sluggish arms snuggle your figure, he kicks off the blanket from his waist to reveal the expanse of his broad chest and exposing his calf down, only wearing boxers while the rain pours with intermittent strength. he mumbles against your chest, lips kissing the midline of your torso where the sternum protrudes, you feel his body sharing warmth, engulfing you whole.
then, he mutters, "please."
"please, what?"
he lifts his head to look at you, glasses left aside on your nightstand. his eyes are mellowed out so much you can't take his annoying expression seriously, holding your stare for a short minute, before succumbing to his fate, a subject to your whims. "please massage my hair like that."
"wasn't so hard now, was it?"
he can only dignify with a low groan. sighing when you finally continue to stroke his hair. "thank you."
"don't mention it."
you know you could stay like this forever, even when your blanket is strewn on the floor, or his weight on top of you, or how he becomes softer against the steady pulse of the rain. you wouldn't trade it for the world.
and in the way he sinks heavier against you, you know he wouldn't either.
hello mootiepies! this is an open invitation to send in requests for double date moodboards with our self-ships! romantic and platonic both welcome :]
here are lists of my fave characters + self-ships for reference!
please send in an ask on the corresponding fandom sideblog i own (just for me to remember pending requests). you may also dm me here/on discord so we can discuss ideas/themes!
some examples of past ones i did (so far, all haikyuu lol):
shirabu x reader, timeskip, established relationship, drabble
"I have an exam tomorrow and the study guide for..." Kenjirou mumbled- you didn't quite understand what he was saying. Was he already developing doctor's speech? (rather than doctor's handwriting, it seemed)
If you felt tired from watching him zombie his way through med school, how was he alive? You watched him trudge through the kitchen for a protein drink, opening the cabinet and grabbing the drink at a record low time- rare, for Kenjirou who had always did his best, even for the small things.
When he couldn't even smile properly at the sight of you, as he always did, you grabbed his face, cupped his cheeks and looked him straight in the eyes.
"Kiss." you demanded.
His eyes shot open. He let out a bit of a giggle and gave you a bit of a peck on the lips-
"Not enough. Five minute break," you pouted. At this point, Kenjirou would be the patient student, rather than the med student (and getting 200%s) He grumbled something you couldn't understand and followed you into the couch, falling into your arms as if he'd been famished.
Puffing your cheeks was Kenjirou's call to kiss, and rather than earlier's quick kiss, his lips lingered at yours, gently squeezing and breathing you in with no sign of haste.
His gaze after spoke nothing of the despair of med school- what more was there in this moment?
052826. IWAIZUMI HAJIME. your handsome neighbor who cares a lot about you
“hey! are you okay?!”
someone shouts over the loud bang of a door. wait, did your front door just get torn off its hinges?
“yeah? im—” its your neighbor, but more importantly, he’s holding the door completely broken off with a pale expression, panting, drenched in worry. he looks like he’s about to cry, you stand there, confused, “what happened to you?”
“what do you mean what hap-” iwaizumi hajime catches his breath, there’s a long pause sitting between the distance, he drops the door and walks up to you, eyes scanning you from top to bottom, “…you look fine. i swear i heard something fell, or thrown.”
“oh!”
shit. you didn’t mean to scare him.
you shrug it off with a laugh, “yeah so uhm, i was really angry with my work that uhm, i kind of threw all my stuff around and this bulky book made a fright. i’m not injured, though!”
“how come you weren’t answering the phone or the door?”
“…i was listening to music…”
you maintain a level of coolness even though you’re fully aware how awkward you sound. not to mention the puffiness around your eyes would most definitely give it all away, averting your gaze as much as possible.
he clearly isn't buying it. the panic in his eyes shifts into a heavy, stubborn focus as he rubs the back of his neck, letting out a deep sigh to steady his breathing.
the thing is, you don't exactly owe him your explanation. aside from polite greetings when you stumble home from a shift, the two of you don't really talk. your only real impression of iwaizumi comes from watching him help out the neighborhood elders—whether he's mowing their lawns or lugging their heavy packages. he's a good guy, sure, but he's still basically a stranger.
it doesn't help that he just ruined a good piece of wood because he thought you were dying.
but you tell him anyway, it's nice to know that he'd do such a thing for you.
"i mean it's not just work. it's a lot... and i really didn't mean for you to break your back- or my door-- over it."
he gives a blink, then slowly turns his head to look at the massive slab of wood lying flat in your entryway. the reality of what he just did finally seemed to register by the mumbled curse under his breath. his cheeks flushing a faint, probably embarrassed pink. "i.. yeah i guess i overdid it. i heard the crash and thought someone was breaking in or you were..." he trails off, clearing his throat. "anyway i'm sorry about the door."
before you can tell him it's fine (it's definitely not) he's already moving as he easily lifts the door back up to inspect the frame.
"the hinges are bent, but the wood didn't split too badly," he evaluates, thawing some of the tension with the way he assess without doubt. "i have a toolbox next door. i can replace the screws and straighten the brackets out so it at least locks for the night. won't take more than twenty minutes."
he sets the door carefully against the wall and looks back at you, his eyes softening as he takes in your exhausted stance. "look, if you're dealing with a mess, the last thing you need to worry about is a gaping hole in your apartment," he says, gesturing vaguely toward his own place. "and… uhm, i was just about to sit down for dinner. i made way too much anyway. if you haven't eaten, i can bring a plate over while I work on this. you look like you could use a break."
"you didn't have to-"
"i'm already doing it." he doesn't give you the chance to decline, before turning on his heel, he assures, "don't touch the door. i'll be right back."
true to his word, he returns less than three minutes later. his hands are full. with a heavy plastic toolbox gripped in one hand, and a large, cloth-wrapped container resting securely over his forearm, the source of the rich and savory scent of a home cooked meal that has your stomach groaning. he asks you where to set the food down, and you lead him to the kitchen counter with him completely dismissing the mess of your lot without a single judgement.
his eyes are on yours, "eat while it's hot." then, a nod that suggests something more than politeness, "i've got this covered, if you need me, just holler. or you could throw another loud bang, that works for me too."
hello friends, just wanted to say thank you for sticking around and reading my stuff :,)
i started writing on this account in 2024 during a pretty harsh time of my academic and pre-professional life, but i've pulled through!
happy to announce that i'm now a licensed speech-language pathologist and i can finally (and legally lol) serve and help people with communication difficulties <3
synopsis: you think your partner is pretty well-versed in love languages, but he quickly shows you a new one he's learned. (a.k.a. a very self-indulgent graduation + professional licensure gift fic to myself!)
details: fluff ┊ mild emotional hurt/comfort ┊ 872 words ┊ college grad gn! reader ┊ for the floriography collab event by @cloverbbun ┊ prompt: sunflower (pride; "stand tall, you were never meant to be small.") ┊ thank you @mikiruie for reading through this and listening to me yap about it <3
"You're so lucky I trust you. Anyone else, and I'd think they're kidnapping me."
Chikara laughs as he slowly guides you to sit down at a bench—a necessity, considering he blindfolded you with a bandana when you got in the car together.
"Again, I already told your parents about this beforehand. They have our location."
"I hope so."
You hear your partner huff in amusement as he sits down next to you.
"Okay, but there is a reason I brought you here."
"Mhm, I'm listening."
"Tanaka was talking about the love language of flowers the other day, which gave me an idea for your graduation celebration. At first, I was thinking about getting you a bouquet, or a flower that was easy to take care of. But then, I thought that a memory of something, grand, might be better."
"Grand?"
"I know you said you didn't need a huge celebration, but I still wanted to bring you somewhere special. Luckily, I found this place. Go on, have a look…"
You take off the blindfold at his request, but your sight is immediately flooded with brightness, causing you to squeeze your eyes shut. Chikara notices, and the two of you double over in a fit of giggles.
"Oops, sorry! I should've had you face the other way first. Take your time."
"It's alright. I would have forgotten to do the same in your place."
You blink and stare at the ground for a moment, giving yourself time to adjust.
"Okay, I'm ready to- oh."
In front of you is an entire field filled with sunflowers. You have no idea how many hectares of land it spans, but it is massive!
"Sunflowers? Chikara, this is so beautiful! I've never seen this many of them gathered in one place. I didn't even know we had a place like this in Sendai."
The sea of vibrant yellow is captivating; you can't tear your eyes away at all. You start to wonder how long these flowers have been here, and how much effort it takes to care for them all. Nature's beauty knows no bounds when preserved.
"Right? I couldn't believe the pictures either. They call it Sunflower Hill."
"That's a fitting name."
"It is." Chikara turns to you. "By the way, I'm gonna be a nerd about it, but-"
"Pfft, when are you not a nerd about anything?"
"I- Hey." He punches your shoulder lightly. "Okay, but listen. It's important I nerd out about it because…I think you're like a sunflower."
"Me?"
You look out at the flower field again, wondering what kind of similarities he even managed to identify.
"First of all, sunflowers are resilient."
There's a bittersweet pang in your chest.
"I know that's a word we've been hearing nonstop ever since they threw us into internship—you, especially, with your parents and supervisors."
You nod, short snippets of conversations flashing through your head.
"Resilience is the key to surviving your internship."
"You can't be like this, you know?"
"You need to be more resilient."
"Do you even want to do this anymore?"
"In the most unstable climates and conditions, sunflowers can survive," Chikara says, voice slicing through your momentary lapse in attention. "Apparently, it has something to do with their root structure, which allows the sunflowers to search for water deep in the ground, all while making sure the surrounding soil doesn't erode. Also, young sunflowers follow the direction of the sun as they grow."
"And you're saying that's me, Chikara?"
In the corner of your eye, you can tell he glances at you, but you keep your gaze focused ahead.
"Yeah. Things didn't go to plan, and we both know you had a difficult time. You stopped and took a break, but you never threw in the towel, did you? You stumbled multiple times, but told yourself you'd try again every time. You kept your goals in sight and hung on to every bit of optimism you could. If you ask me, you tick all the boxes of my sunflower analogy."
You close your eyes at the feeling of a familiar sting.
"And the thing about sunflowers is that they stand tall. Proud. Not arrogant, but proud. I know that some people have made you feel small—like you didn't deserve to be where you are. But you've proven them wrong. You made it. You were and are good enough, so stand tall. You deserve to take up space."
The first tear rolls down your cheek.
"I know it can be hard for you to see what I see at times, but I mean it. I never stopped believing. You grew while withstanding all the challenges in your way, and…you're still beautiful at the end of it all."
Chikara's calloused hands gently cup your face. "Yep. Even when you cry." He kisses your cheek and holds you in his arms for the next few minutes.
You may not feel like the embodiment of a bright, radiant sunflower in the moment, but you find that your heart still clings on to hope despite the arid world you live in.
In the warmth of your lover's embrace, you decide that when the sun rises tomorrow, you'll follow its lead and stand tall.
