Summary: Rin agrees to join the others at the amusement park just to spend time with you. However, the night takes an unexpected turn when the usually stoic striker gets extremely flustered because of you.
Warnings: none, just a loooooot of fluff🥹. Also this is pretty long (˵◝⩊◜˵マ
The neon lights of the amusement park bled into the evening sky, casting vibrant streaks of electric blue, hot pink, and gold against the twilight.
You looked up from your phone, your eyes instantly softening as they landed on the boy walking next to you, and then to the rest of the group a few meters ahead.
Rin looked entirely out of his comfort zone. He was wearing an oversized black hoodie and dark cargo pants. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets, while his gaze scanned the crowd, hoping that the evening would go smoothly and none of his friends will ruin his peace.
“You're still glaring at the cotton candy machine like it personally offended you," you teased softly, stepping closer to him so your shoulder brushed against his arm.
Rin let out a low click of his tongue, his teal eyes flicking down to meet yours for a second before he looked ahead again. "I just can’t understand how people enjoy being here"
"It's called having fun, Rin," you countered, reaching out to gently grab his sleeve, anchoring yourself to him amidst the sea of moving people. "Remember? The thing you promised you'd try to do tonight?"
"I'm only here because of you," he muttered. "If you weren't here, I’d be in the training room right now."
You couldn't help but chuckle, a warm feeling blossoming in your chest. You knew he meant every word.
Just a few days prior, the atmosphere had been entirely different.
Ego’s constant psychological pressure had pushed everyone to their absolute limits. Not only they were physically exhausted, but their minds were stretched like guitar strings ready to snap.
Then, a miracle happened. Ego announced a mandatory forty-eight-hour rest period to prevent a complete mental burnout, and within an hour of the announcement, a loud meeting had formed in one of the main common rooms.
"An amusement park! We have to go to an amusement park!" Bachira had cheered, literally vibrating with excitement.
Isagi sighed, but there was a bright spark of excitement in his eyes. He was sitting on the floor, leaning against the coffee table. "Honestly, getting out of this building sounds amazing. What do you think, Chigiri?"
He was carefully combing through his long hair and shrugged with a faint smile at the question. "I'm down. As long as Kunigami promises not to throw up on me if we go on some crazy ride."
"Hey! Shut up, you losers!" Kunigami’s attempts to protest protests were instantly drowned out by Barou, who was meticulously wiping down a spot on the table that no one else could see. "If we are going, I will not have you idiots wandering off, losing your wallets, or do some stupid shit!”
You had been sitting a few feet away at a smaller desk. Rin had called you as soon as he heard Ego’s demand, because otherwise, he would’ve continued his harsh training, ignoring his words.
Speaking of him, he was sitting in the furthest corner of the room, his eyes closed, trying to ignore the loud shouting of his “childish” teammates.
Isagi, being the bravesoul that he was, stood up and walked over to the corner. "Hey, Rin. You're coming with us, right? It's a team thing. Well, a temporary team thing."
Rin didn't even open his eyes. His expression remained a mask of cold indifference. "Don't annoy me with you lukewarm activities. I’m just fine staying here. Don't speak to me."
"Come on, Rim!" Bachira chimed in, suddenly appearing right behind Isagi, peering over his shoulder. "They have a haunted house! We can see who screams the loudest! I bet Barou screams like a little girl."
"What did you say, insect?!" Barou roared from across the room.
Rin's brow twitched in sheer annoyance. "Get out of my face."
Isagi sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. He knew when a wall was too thick to break down. He turned his head, his gaze wandering across the room until it landed on you. An idea visibly sparked in Isagi's eyes, while a slightly mischievous grin spread across his face.
"Hey, (name)," Isagi called out, raising his voice just enough to catch the room's attention. "You should definitely come with us. We could really use someone sane to keep these guys fromgetting in trouble. Plus, you’ve been working just as hard as any of us, with your studies."
You blinked, surprised by the sudden invitation. "Oh? I mean, I wouldn't want to intrude on your team bonding..."
"You wouldn't be intruding at all!" Chigiri offered, giving you a warm smile. "Honestly, please come. If it's just us, Barou is going to force us to march in a straight military line."
You chuckled, looking down at your legs. "Well, it does sound nice. I haven't been to an amusement park in forever."
The moment those words left your mouth, Rin opened his eyes. His intense gaze locked onto you and you caught his eyes, offering him a soft little smile, a silent apology for wanting to go.
Rin stood up and walked straight to you, his footsteps echoing slightly until he stopped right in front of your desk.
"You want to go?" Rin asked, his voice low, meant only for your ears.
"I think so," you said softly, looking up into his eyes. "It's been a really stressful few weeks, Rin. A night out sounds really fun. Are you sure you won't come? I... I was kind of hoping I'd get to spend some time with you since we’ve both been so busy."
You kept your voice gentle. You knew Rin. You knew that underneath the sharp exterior and the harsh words, he was carrying a weight heavier than anyone else in this facility. You knew how much he pushed himself, and how rarely he ever let himself just... relax.
Rin stared down at you. He looked at your hopeful expression and the soft curve of your lips.
Rin closed his eyes and let out a long defeated sigh.
"Fine," he muttered, his tone dripping with reluctance, though the faint tint of pink spreading across the tips of his ears told a completely different story. "I'll go."
"What?!" Bachira gasped, his jaw dropping. "Just like that?! (name), what kind of sorcery do you possess?!"
"Shut up before I murder both of you and bury you under the pitch," Rin hissed, glaring over his shoulder. He then looked back down at you, his expression softening. "But I'm staying next to you the whole time. If any of these idiots get annoying, we're leaving."
"Deal," you smiled, your heart fluttering.
And that was how you found yourself here, walking through the crowded pathways of the amusement park, with Rin firmly anchored to your side.
Despite Barou’s attempts, however, within half an hour, everyone had split up.
Bachira had dragged Isagi toward the massive roller coaster with a vertical drop. Kunigami and Chigiri had wandered off toward the food stalls, and Barou followed the rest.
For the past hour, you and Rin had been doing things at a much slower pace. You had managed to convince him to ride the Ferris wheel with you just as the sun was setting, offering a breathtaking view of the city skyline. Rin had spent most of the ride looking out the window, but his hand had found yours on the bench seat, his fingers locking tightly with yours in a quiet display of affection.
Now, you were wandering through the game section of the park. This area was a bit darker, illuminated by flashing lights (catch the reference🙂↔️), while the loud shouting of booth vendors trying to lure in couples and families could be heard over the music.
"Step right up! Step right up! Test your skills, show your strength! Win a prize for your beautiful lady!" a loud voice boomed ahead of you.
You slowed your pace as you walked past a particular booth. It was a soccer challenge. The game was simple: there were two circular targets, barely larger than a standard soccer ball, positioned in the top-left and top-right corners The rules were painted on a cardboard sign: *Score two points by hitting both targets to win a prize!*
You stopped walking, and as you scanned the booth, your eyes landed directly on the top shelf where the "prizes" were displayed.
Sitting right in the center of the top shelf was a massive plushie of Snorlax. It was gorgeous, and easily the size of a large torso.
You absolutely adored that Pokémon.
"Ah..." you softly breathed out, your feet coming to a complete halt. You stared at the plushie, your eyes wide with a sudden longing. It was so cute. It looked incredibly soft, and you could already imagine hugging it while studying late at night in your dorm.
Rin stopped when he felt the slight tug on his sleeve. He turned his head, his eyes immediately tracking your line of sight. He saw the exact direction of your gaze, locking onto the giant plushie.
He didn't say anything, but he noticed the way your bottom lip tucked slightly under your teeth, the way your eyes shone under the carnival lights, and the tiny sigh that escaped your lips.
But then, you caught yourself. It was a textbook scam. It was designed to make regular people think they could do it, only to drain their wallets 500 yen at a time.
You shook your head, pulling your eyes away from the beautiful plushie with a forced smile. You looked up at Rin, squeezing his arm lightly. "Come on, let's keep walking. Those games are totally rigged anyway."
You started to take a step forward, expecting Rin to follow you.
You blinked, looking back at him. Rin was standing perfectly still, his eyes no longer on the plushie, but at the booth vendor. A smirk suddenly carved its way onto his handsome face.
"Rin?" you asked, a sudden wave of apprehension washing over you. "It's fine, really. We don't need to play."
"Hey there, young man!" the booth operator called out, noticing Rin's stare. The man puffed out his chest, completely unaware of who he was currently addressing. "Think you got what it takes? Bring your girl over! Just five hundred yen for three tries. Hit both targets, and you can take home any prize on the top shelf! Show her what you're made of!"
Rin stepped forward, pulling his hands out of his hoodie pockets.
"Rin, seriously, you don't have to," you whispered, reaching for his hand.
Rin looked back at you over his shoulder. "You want that thing, don't you?"
"Well... yeah, it's really cute, but-"
"Then I'm getting it for you," he interrupted, "A rigged game is only rigged for people who don't know how to control the ball."
He turned back to the booth, pulling his wallet from his pocket. "One turn, please" Rin said to the vendor.
The operator quickly snatched the money. "Alright, alright! Here are your balls. Remember, you only have three attempts."
By this time, a few familiar faces had caught sight of the commotion.
"Whoa, wait a minute! Is that Rin?!"
You turned around to see Isagi, Bachira, and Chigiri walking up, holding half-eaten boxes of popcorn.
"Oh! It is Rin!" Bachira cheered, rushing over to stand right next to you, his eyes wide with excitement. "No way! I thought he hated inefficient things!"
"Shut up, you lukewarm extras," Rin growled, not even looking back at them. He picked up the first soccer ball from the counter and placed it down on the synthetic turf. He took three steps back, positioning himself at a specific angle, just to strike a few second after.
The sound was explosive. The ball didn't wobble, instead it flew in a perfectly straight line.
It slammed directly into the center of the top-left target. The electronic sensor flashed a bright red light.
"So cool!" Bachira cheered, jumping up and down.
The booth operator's jaw had dropped. He stared at Rin, then at the target, his face losing a bit of color. "U-Uh... lucky shot, kid! You still need one more!"
Rin didn't even blink. He grabbed the second ball, and placed it down. He took his stance, his eyes locking onto the top-right target.
The second ball slammed into the top-right target with the exact same precision. The buzzer blared again, and the lights on the booth began to flash green, signaling a prize victory.
The entire process had taken less than a minute. Rin stood there, and then politely pointed at the giant plushie.
"This one please." Rin asked.
"Sure…!" the man stammered, taking a small stepladder to pull down the massive Snoralx plushie. He handed it over the counter and Rin took it into his arms. It was so big it practically covered his entire chest.
Then, he turned around to face you.
The bright, flashing neon lights of the amusement park seemed to soften, focusing entirely on the two of you.
Rin walked over to you, stopping right in front of you. He extended his arms, pressing the incredibly soft plushie gently into your hands.
"Here," Rin said, his voice dropping into that soft tone he only ever used when the two of you were completely alone. "It’s yours."
You caught the plushie, your arms wrapping around its incredibly velvety body. It was even softer than you had imagined.
You looked over the top of the plushie's head, your eyes locking directly with Rin's.
In that exact moment, an overwhelming wave of emotion crashed over you. It wasn't just about the plushie. It was the fact that this incredibly stubborn and prideful boy, had completely set aside his pride and his hatred for 'inefficient' things just because he saw a brief look of longing in your eyes. Just to make you happy.
Your throat completely locked up. You wanted to thank him, you wanted to tell him how much you loved him, but the words stuck in your throat, completely taken over by the warmth blooming in your chest.
Instead, you just looked up at him. Your eyes, sparkling under the golden carnival lights, softened into a gaze of affection. A soft smile graced your lips as you hugged the plushie tighter against your chest, your entire soul projecting through your eyes just how much he meant to you.
He saw your expression. He saw the adoration shining in your eyes, directed entirely at him.
For a second, the great Rin Itoshi froze.
Then, a sudden wave of crimson flushed across his cheeks. A burning blush rushed up from his collarbone, flooding his entire face and lighting up the tips of his ears. His stoic composure completely shattered into a million pieces.
"U-Uh..." Rin choked out, his voice cracking slightly.
He looked at your beautiful, loving eyes, completely unable to handle the intensity of your affection. His chest tightened, and before you could say a word, Rin violently whipped his head away from you, turning his entire body around so his back was facing you. He shoved his hands aggressively back into his hoodie pockets.
"Don't look at me with those eyes, you idiot," Rin muttered, his voice muffled with an adorable mix of embarrassment and fluster. "It's just a stupid toy. Shut up."
You let out a soft giggle, your heart melting into absolute mush. He was so incredibly cute when he was flustered.
Later, when everyone left, you were laying on your bed, trying to get some sleep, but your phone suddenly vibrated.
It was a notification from Chigiri’s instagram account. It was an image, followed by a message: ‘Don’t thank me, use it wisely’
You clicked on the photo.
It was a perfectly timed shot. Rin was right in the center of the frame with his hands shoved into his pockets. His face was turned slightly over his shoulder, completely flushed and his eyes wide from embarrassment. The bright neon lights of the park illuminated his flustered expression beautifully. It was, without a doubt, the most adorable photo of Rin you had ever seen. (except his baby photos, of course)
You locked your phone and squeezed your giant plushie tightly, a soft sigh of happiness escaping your lips. It had been the best night ever.
However, your phone vibrated a second time. Now, it was your loving boyfriend: ‘Get some sleep. Don't stay up late. I love you.’
‘i love you too, rinnie’ was the last message, before you quickly dozed off.
╰┈➤ sooo, guess what… i actually prefer writing fluff 🥹🤞🏻. I saw the plushie online and had to write something since i don’t think i’ll ever own that thing.
Also as i was writing my pc crashed and i lost everything, so i had to rewrite the whole thing twice. I didn’t check for errors, sorry if there are any.
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