Find your tribe in a Sea of Creativity
so osamu x reader angst au where osamu is deeply in love with the reader and decided to dye his hair blonde so reader can cope with tsumu's death but didn't like this idea anymore, he wanted her to love him for who he truly is,,, đđ
*GIF not mine*
Summary: A car crash has taken Osamuâs brother away, the boy you liked so dearly. Osamu was dull to the pain, his crush on you blinding him from reality. But when he dyes his hair in hopes that he could make you feel the same, he realizes he may have gone too far.Â
A/N: Sorry it took me a while. As per request, we got some major angst, but I gotta be honest, I donât think Osamuâs evil enough to focus on a girl rather than his brother, so I focused more on his desperation to replace what he had lost than anything else. Hope you enjoy!
Word count: 1412
        Maybe it was a mistake. A screw up of the royal kind.Â
        But at most, it was a lapse in judgement.Â
        High school boy found dead in a car accident. Thatâs what the newspapers said, but it didnât account for the total grief of it all.Â
        Boy, dead. Drunk driver, critical condition. The navy blue truck totalled the small SUV at eight oâ clock at night after running a red light. Witnesses called for help, and that was it.Â
        Except it wasnât.Â
        The journalists didnât talk about the empty bedroom across from Osamuâs. They didnât talk about the abandoned desk in Class 4b, the bare seat at the lunch table, the still-full locker in the hallway.Â
        Atsumu was gone, with only an indifferent news article to his name.Â
        Practice was never quite the same. Each time Osamu went, he couldnât help but stare at the floor where his brother once stood. Deep down, he knew he should have cried by now. Bawled tears at the funeral, or maybe let one slip when he saw the first layer of dust settle onto his brotherâs dresser.Â
        But the truth was that he hadnât. Yeah, it hurt, but he couldnât⌠feel it. Every sense in his body was numb as he got through each passing day like turning the pages of a book without reading them. Things were happening, he just didnât care enough to listen.Â
        Osamu guessed the one who was visibly taking it the hardest was you, who won by a landslide.Â
        The night he died, you had texted the quieter twin with wide-eyed innocence, revealing that the next day at school, you were going to give Atsumu a letter telling him how you feel.Â
        I can do it! Just watch me, Samu!
        The chance never came, and when Osamu informed you of what had happened, you had broken down in his arms.Â
        And he felt sick for the first time.Â
        Disgust at himself for actually being happy that he was the one to hold you now, it was horrifying. The bile that had risen up his throat lost out to the joy.Â
        Him, Osamu, he was the one you talked to now, each day asking him if he was okay, hugging him and confiding in him with your deepest thoughts.Â
        You and Atsumu had been close in a way Osamu had always been envious of. Teasing and flirting, all of it turned him into a green-eyed monster.
        So maybe that was what forced away his ache of loss. Around him, you were almost as happy, almost as teasing and playful, but you had lost that glint in your eyes. You didnât have that with Osamu.
        He knew that was what had sent him over the edge.Â
        Two weeks after his brotherâs death, still not a tear spilt. Instead, he spent all his time thinking about you. Your smile, less forced than before. The shine in your hair had returned, and your cheeks finally began to flush again.Â
        Osamu entered the school and made a beeline for the classroom, praying that you had attended school today so he could see you. So you could validate what he had done.Â
        And there you were, slipping into the classroom with the same dark circles under your eyes. They were no longer only from long nights of doing schoolwork.Â
        âYN.âÂ
        Your head snapped up and your eyes met his in a split second. Then your gaze rose to his hair. Your lips separated to let out a single, quick breath of air while your brow twitched.Â
        âAt- Osamu?âÂ
        He nodded, the newly-blond hair shifting to hang in front of his eyes.
        âYour⌠you changed your hair.âÂ
        âYeah, I did.â
        And that was that.
                                ~~~
        Having you by his side, Osamu could ignore all the stares he received. He never cared for attention, especially not now. Throughout the halls of school, peopleâs brows rose to their hairlines as they watched you both walk around, hand in hand and smile together.Â
        It never seemed weird, and Osamu had never felt happier.Â
        He wasnât⌠he wasnât alone anymore.Â
        The bedroom across from his never bothered him when you stayed over at night. He hadnât even travelled into it since the last time.Â
        âDo you want to come over tonight?â Osamu didnât really say it as a question, mostly because you were guaranteed to say yes anyways.Â
        âAgain? I think someone likes having me around.âÂ
        He did. God, he loved that adoring look on your face whenever he said he wanted you. Those puppy dog eyes of yours that you never seemed to notice you were giving him made his heart thump in a frantic pattern.Â
        Volleyball wasnât really a concern anymore. The new setter pissed him off, so he didnât bother attending practice. His jerseys hung in his closet, unworn for what mightâve been a month now.Â
        It was maybe⌠two months? Three? Osamu wasnât sure, but Atsumu had left a while ago.Â
        So he never bothered with the sport, meaning you could come over right after school, or he could even walk with you there.Â
        You both had a tradition now. Homework, then a movie or show, then a nap together. Then Osamu either walked you home or, if it was too late, let you sleep in his bed for the night.Â
        He found that your warmth fended off the nightmares that leered in on him at all hours in a day.Â
        Today was a day that you stayed the night. The moon was already falling from the sky by the time you two finished eating a dinner of box mac and cheese, and thus it was decided that you shouldnât bother going home.Â
        Osamuâs blond head rested on your chest, and one leg was intertwined with both of your own. His arm was strewn across your stomach, heavy enough to keep you in place for the night.Â
        You had two hands in his hair, head propped up on a pillow so you could make out the shape of the tufts in the black room. It was three am, and Osamuâs breathing had finally slowed and leveled.
        âAtsumu,â you whispered, your own voice not even loud enough to hit your own ears. âFuck, I miss you so much.âÂ
        Osamu shifted and your hands stilled, breath held in anticipation. Then he stopped and nuzzled his face back into your chest.Â
        After waiting a couple more minutes just in case, you let out a sigh and combed through the long tufts again. âIâll never stop loving you, Atsumu. I wish I couldâve told you that three months ago.âÂ
        Your eyelids grew heavy with sleep and you let out a yawn.Â
        âI love you, Atsumu.âÂ
        And then you slipped into unconsciousness.Â
        Atsumu was gone forever.Â
        His bedroom was still empty, and a few spiders had probably claimed the corners of the room by now. Dust must have caked over every single picture and piece of furniture the boy had ever owned.Â
        His bed was probably unmade, and would never be made again.Â
        He was dead, and nobody could fill the holes his absence had left.Â
        You couldnât fix Osamuâs loneliness, no matter how much you latched onto him.Â
        Osamu couldnât replace his brother for you. He wasnât really the boy you would love, no matter how hard he tried to be. Your words had confirmed that.
        Dying his hair was a lapse of judgement. A last ditch effort for both of you to keep his memory alive.Â
        But that effort was futile.Â
        And so, for the first time since he had lost his setter in volleyball, his friend in school, his rival in love, and his twin for life, Osamu let reality sink in.Â
        Against your chest, in the hold of the woman he loved unrequitedly, Osamu cried.
Sorry for always camping on your requests đđ but uhh dhhshd can i request a kuroo x reader (or if u do konoha pls do konoha) angst au with the song i cant make you love me by bon iver?
*GIF not mine*
Summary: Itâs hard to see a person fall in love with another who never intends on sharing a future with that person. Itâs even harder when that person is you. (Based on âI Canât Make You Love Meâ by Bon Iver)
A/N: Iâm really sorry this is so late, but I sincerely hope you like it. It might not be what you were expecting, but I saw a comment on the video of the song that just inspired me and also broke my heart, so I just hope you feel the same with this angsty fic. Again, I really hope you like it!
Word count: 900
        He was warm.Â
        The bed shook as he slipped under the covers, arms wrapping around you while you feigned sleep.Â
        Why did it hurt so much?Â
        His grip on you never tightened. It was as simple as that.Â
        His chest was hot near your back. You couldnât feel itâs solidity anymore though.Â
        There was a wall between you and Konoha now. Every inch of space between you two created a wall. You didnât like it.Â
        You couldn't stop it.Â
        Sitting in silence, you waited until his breathing slowed. Then you shifted in his grip, moving closer to feel him while also turning to face him. This was the closest you had gotten in weeks.Â
        He was so peaceful in his sleep, dirty blond hair splayed against his pillow. You couldnât see his dark eyes behind his closed lids, and for that you were thankful.Â
        In moments like these, you could pretend they still held love. You could pretend they would still squint in delight at the sight of you. You could pretend their pupils would still widen when you embraced him in a hug.
        But the fact was that they didnât. Your hopes, your requited love, your shared future, it was all just a dream. A fruitless dream.Â
        In your own eyes, Konoha was the one. One day, you wished you two would get married and spend the rest of your lives together. You wanted to walk down the aisle under his adoring gaze. You wanted to dip your toes in the hot sand of a gorgeous beach beside his grinning form. You wanted to watch him spill a single tear at the sight of a newborn in his arms.Â
        A whole future was visible before your eyes. Every detail was beautiful. Not perfect, but beautiful.Â
        Konoha couldnât see it. He didnât want to see it. God, how you wanted him to see it, wanted him to want it. But he didnât.Â
        Nothing was more hopeless than that wish. The idea of being together forever, loving each other for the rest of your lives was nothing but a pipe dream. Not even a pipe dream. It was just a damn dream. One you needed to let go.Â
        Tonight would be your last night in his arms. You should have ended it before he joined you in the bed, but you just wanted to feel him one last time. It was a lapse in judgement, but a final farewell all the same.
        Tomorrow you will move on. Tomorrow youâll let him go and carry on with your life. Youâll let him find someone else, someone who wanted the same things he wanted.
        And maybe one day you could find someone for yourself.Â
        Still, it hurt to think that there was nothing you could do. There was nothing left to salvage in your relationship.Â
        HowâŚ
        How can someone possibly describe the pain?
        It wasnât physical, but it was damn near close. Your heart was⌠aching, yearning for reciprocity.Â
        Konoha wanted a girlfriend. He wanted movie dates and posters at volleyball games. Study nights and silly little pranks. Posts and pictures online of the two of you everywhere and anywhere.Â
        You wanted the love of your life. A man to marry and have children with. Someone to hug in joy as you watched first steps, listened to first words. Someone to go to for comfort when work was stressful or when college days began.Â
        Konoha wanted good times.
        You wanted commitment. But you couldnât force that on him. So yes, tonight was the last night with him.Â
        So you wiped away your tears and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek. You wrapped your arms around his waist and pulled him close, intertwining your legs with his.Â
        He was warm. He always was.Â
        Then you closed your damp eyes and laid your head against his chest, letting out a broken sob when his hands squeezed just a bit tighter.Â
        You promised yourself this was it. This was the last night you would be in his arms. Then you would let him go. You promised.
        Then you fell asleep.
                                ***
        Within the span of a month, Konohaâs arm had already fallen over another girlâs shoulder.Â
        Within the span of a month, you still felt just as much love for him as you did when you let him go. But the truth was clear before your eyes.Â
        You couldnât force him to be with you for your own dreams.Â
        You couldnât force him to love you.
â§ď˝Ľďž: *â§ď˝Ľďž:* â§ď˝Ľďž: *â§ď˝Ľďž:* â§ď˝Ľďž: *â§ď˝Ľďž:* â§ď˝Ľďž: *â§ď˝Ľďž:* â§ď˝Ľďž: *â§ď˝Ľďž:* â§ď˝Ľďž: *â§ď˝Ľďž:*
jus' a silly guy who enjoys writing ! I do take requests sometimes but i mostly write what's on my mind. here's a breakdown of my blog! (things you might see and can requestŮŠ(â˘Ě¤Ěáľâ˘Ě¤Ěŕš)
âââ⯠. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . â°âââŽ
ŕ¨âŻ "trope wise" âŻŕ§
fake relationship
(best) friends to lovers
rivals to lovers
forbidden relationship
strangers to lovers (to strangers)
opposites attract
love at first sight
stalkerS to lovers
unreliable narrator
ŕ¨âŻ "genre wise" âŻŕ§
ANGST.
(sometimes) fluff
horror/thriller
(dark) romance
fantasy
ŕ¨âŻ "fandoms" âŻŕ§
jujutsu kaisen
haikyu!!
my hero academia
promised neverland
ŕ¨âŻ "readers (?)" âŻŕ§
oc x oc
oc x character
all gender readers
all body type readers
character x character
ŕ¨âŻ "POV" âŻŕ§
2nd person POV
1st person POV
ŕ¨âŻ "other" âŻŕ§
book rants!
random updates
twitch promotion! (staargaazing_)
âââ⯠. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . â°âââŽ
Everyone has their limits and boundaries, so do I! You've seen things you may request and stuff I will post about! Here's stuff I do NOT want to see in my comments/request...(ááŁá)Ő
âââ⯠. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . â°âââŽ
ŕ¨âŻ "trope wise" âŻŕ§
Age gap..(ex. 18 & 42)
INCEST/STEPCEST
kidnapper/kidnapped to lovers
love triangles...(、)
second chance (cheating wise)
ŕ¨âŻ "genre" âŻŕ§
SMUT. (minor lol)
ŕ¨âŻ "fandoms" âŻŕ§
literally anything bookwise b/c i feel like i would make everything OOC. i can't characterize anything that does not have a direct picture in my face
IRL/ live action shows. I don't watch any of those and i have a sever fear of mischaracterization
i guess we'll know when we get there!
ŕ¨âŻ "readers (?)" âŻŕ§
child reader. (ex. -16)
oc x reader
ŕ¨âŻ "POV" âŻŕ§
none. i can do third reader, it's just not typical
ŕ¨âŻ "other" âŻŕ§
racism
homophobia
non feminist agendas
ableism
religious themes
âââ⯠. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . â°âââŽ
this obviously isn't everything b/c I'm human and can't remember everything i will/won't do. but i will change and add as i go through everything.
i just ask for respect when coming here and for some constructive criticism!
ăž(*´ â `)ďž
â§ď˝Ľďž: *â§ď˝Ľďž:* â§ď˝Ľďž: *â§ď˝Ľďž:* â§ď˝Ľďž: *â§ď˝Ľďž:* â§ď˝Ľďž: *â§ď˝Ľďž:* â§ď˝Ľďž: *â§ď˝Ľďž:* â§ď˝Ľďž: *â§ď˝Ľďž:*
Kenma Kozume had never been good with change.
He liked things predictable. Safe. Video games had taught him that if he kept his strategy consistent, if he memorized the patterns and played smart, he could survive anything. Life was just another game to himâone where he preferred to stay in the background, keep things stable, and avoid unnecessary risks.
But nothing about this felt stable. Nothing about this felt safe.
Because you were leaving.
Kenma sat on the floor of your apartment, legs crossed, a cardboard box in his lap. Around him, the room looked smaller than it used to, packed with boxes stacked high, shelves stripped of their usual clutter. The air smelled like old books, packing tape, and a faint trace of your perfume, and for the first time since he had known you, your space didnât feel like home anymore.
Maybe because it wasnât. Not for much longer.
You had been a part of his life for so long that he barely remembered what it was like before you. Since childhood, you had been thereâfirst as a quiet presence at his side in elementary school, then as the only person who could sit with him for hours, gaming in comfortable silence. You never questioned the way he was, never pushed him to be anything other than himself. And as the years passed, you became his constant, his safe place, his person.
And now, you were leaving.
âSo, youâre really going, huh?â His voice was quiet, neutral, but even he could hear the strain in it.
You looked up from where you were sorting through a pile of miscellaneous thingsâold letters, tangled earbuds, random trinkets you had shoved into drawers over the years. You smiled, but it was the kind that didnât quite reach your eyes. âYeah. Itâs happening.â
Kenmaâs fingers curled around the edges of the box. He had known about this for weeks now, ever since you told him about the job opportunity in another city. It wasnât supposed to feel like this. He had told himself it wouldnât change anything. That you would still text him, call him, visit when you could.
But now, with everything packed up and your walls bare, the reality of it all settled like a weight in his chest.
He had never thought about a life where you werenât here. Where he couldnât just send a message and have you show up at his door an hour later with takeout, where you werenât sitting beside him on his couch, watching him play through whatever new game he was obsessed with that week. Where you werenât justâŚ
Here.
You sighed and flopped onto your back, staring at the ceiling. âIâm kind of freaking out,â you admitted, voice light, almost playful. âNew place, new people, new job. Itâs exciting, but also terrifying.â
Kenma swallowed. He should say something. Something encouraging, something that made it sound like he was happy for you, like he wasnât falling apart inside.
âYouâll be fine.â
You turned your head to look at him, and for a second, he thought you could see right through him. That you could tell he was barely keeping it together. But then you smiledâsoft, familiar, warm.
âThanks, Ken.â
He nodded, looking away. He focused on the box in his lap, on the way his hands clenched the cardboard just a little too tightly.
This wasnât how it was supposed to be. He had never needed to say anything before. He thought you just knewâthat you had always known. That there was no rush, no deadline, no moment where he would run out of time. Because you were always here.
But now, you werenât going to be.
And Kenma realized, too late, that he had never even given himself a chance.
The packing took hours, and Kenma stayed through all of it. It wasnât like he had anywhere else to be, and he didnât want to be anywhere else, anyway. He helped you sort through things, separate what you were keeping from what you were leaving behind. Every item had a story, a memory attached to it. The hoodie he had lent you once and never got back. The game controller he had bought for you so you could play co-op with him. The tiny cat figurine you had won at a festival and insisted looked just like him.
All these little things that made up you.
All these little things that reminded him of what he was losing.
He wasnât good with words. He never had been. He wasnât like Kuroo, who could charm his way through anything, or Bokuto, who could wear his heart on his sleeve without fear. Kenma had always been quiet, reserved, hesitant. But when it came to you, his feelings were loud, screaming inside him, demanding to be acknowledged.
But he had never said anything.
Because what if he did, and you left anyway? What if it changed everything? What if losing you as a friend hurt worse than losing you to distance?
âYou should take this,â you said at one point, holding out an old, well-loved game case. âWe never finished it together.â
Kenma stared at it, then at you. âThen take it with you.â
âI donât have my console anymore. Sold it.â You grinned sheepishly. âNew city, new start.â
His grip tightened on the game. He didnât like that answer. He didnât like any of this. He had never been an emotional person, but right now, something bitter sat at the back of his throat, something wrong.
You were leaving. You were letting go of all these things, of this life, of himâand you were acting like it was just something that had to happen.
Kenma had spent years convinced he had all the time in the world. But time was up. And for the first time, he didnât know what to do about it.
It was late by the time everything was packed. The apartment looked empty now, stripped of everything that made it yours. You stretched, yawning, then turned to him with an expression that was far too casual for what this moment felt like.
âThis is it, huh?â You nudged his arm lightly. âOne last night before I go.â
Kenmaâs stomach twisted. He forced himself to nod. âYeah.â
âHey.â You tilted your head, watching him. âAre you okay?â
No. No, he wasnât. Because this wasnât fair. Because he should have said something sooner. Because he didnât know how to deal with the fact that tomorrow, you wouldnât be here anymore.
âYeah.â
You frowned, unconvinced, but you let it go. Instead, you stepped closer, wrapping your arms around him in a tight hug. Kenma stiffened for a moment, caught off guard, before his body reacted on instinct, arms lifting to hold you back just as tightly.
âIâm gonna miss you, Ken.â
The words hit him harder than he expected. He closed his eyes, trying to steady his breathing, trying to memorize thisâthe feel of your arms around him, the warmth of you against his chest, the way your head fit perfectly against his shoulder. Trying to ignore the aching thought that this might be the last time.
He wanted to say donât go. Wanted to tell you to stay, that you didnât have to leave, that heâ
But he didnât.
Instead, he whispered, âMe too.â
And he held on for as long as he could.
You had been accepted to do a foreign exchange student program in Japan. For the rest of your high school career, you would be living in a completely different country and culture, filled with people with different mannerisms from you.
And you couldnât be more thrilled.
From a young age you had been studying the country, its culture, and their language. Reading, writing, and speaking for hours on end ever since you were nine. It simply enthralled you, for no particular reason. While itâll never be the most useful language, you didnât care. You found beauty in it, and it made you happy.
So, when you found an opportunity at your local high school to travel to the country you always wanted to, you jumped at the chance. Your parents were a little hesitant at first, not exactly keen to the thought of their child leaving for a huge majority of the year, but, to your honest surprise, you had managed to convince them after few weeks of begging. The easy part was getting accepted; Since you spoke the language at a high level, they couldnât have found a better candidate. All that was left was the paperwork and the preparations necessary.
Which only took a whole year.
To say you were impatient was a bit of an understatement, but once you had completed your first year at your local high school, they had given you the exciting news that next year you would be attending Karasuno High school in Miyagi. You were so ecstatic that the next couple of weeks flew by and soon you were on the plane heading to your greatest dream true.
When you got off the plane, you were greeted by your host family that you would be staying with for the rest of the program. It was quite a small family, with a single mother and two brothers. Not that you had minded. The mother and the oldest son, Akiteru, his name was, seemed quite nice actually, both exhibiting a friendly and pleasant aura. They were comforting to talk to and had settled any kind of nerves you had mustered on the plane.
You wish you could same about the other one.
The other boy, Kei, who was your age and was going to be going to the same school as you, seemed extremely cold and distant. He hadnât even said hello, but just looked at you funny. As if you were already somehow an inconvenience to him. He also was extremely intimidating, with not only his lackluster enthusiasm, but his almost 6â3 stature. He seemed to loom over you, eyes screaming distaste and annoyance. When egged on by his brother to âloosen upâ, he had uttered the most exhausted greeting, not bothering to listen to yours before turning to leave to the baggage area. Flipping his headphones to his ears and leaving any sort of social opportunity to get to know you.
If it werenât for the physical similarities, you wouldnât even think he was related to the other two. Definitely a black sheep if youâve ever seen one.
But nevertheless, you wouldnât let him ruin your experience. He was a speed bump at most, and it sure as hell wouldnât stop you.
That was your initial mindset. And while he certainly didnât stop you, he did manage to make it all kinds of shitty.
During the first month of you living with his family, Kei hadnât said a single word to you. He was always in his room and acted like he didnât even know you existed. The only time youâd ever see him, was during dinner. And even then, he acted like he didnât know you, not saying a single word as he quickly ate everything and marched right back up to his room.
Now, you didnât mind if someone didnât like you. You werenât a child; You knew that not everyone gets along. But it seemed liked he hated you for simply existing; without even giving you a chance. And it frustrated you. Yet, you couldnât figure out why it bothered you as much as it did.
You didnât even know him, and still, it was one of the most infuriating things youâve ever experienced.
Over the course of the days, (That felt more like months) you had reasoned that why it angered you so much was that it almost always was you and him alone together in the house. You had learned later on that Akiteru was a college student, so he rented a small apartment and only visited for the holidays, and that their motherâs job required her to often have full time shifts to support you all securely.
You figured that you were just insulted that you were the only option in this empty, silent house, and Kei still chose to not speak to you; opting to be left in virtual loneliness.
But you wouldnât dare admit that it hurt you more than it shouldâve.
To add on to the list of problems, since school wouldnât start for another two weeks, you were basically stuck with yourself. Which got boring really quickly, but manageable, nonetheless.
You moved on and acted as though you werenât bothered; Simply figuring that if Kei was that much of a prick that didnât want to speak with you it was his loss and your gain. School started, and the first term flew by. Not being cooped up in a house with someone that seemed to hate your guts proved useful to you, making some decent friends by the end of it, and soon the second term had started.
To your surprise, during those months he did start talking to you, but in classic asshole fashion, it was only to annoy you.
(Maybe it was the fact that he saw you thriving, but itâs not like heâll ever admit it).
Apparently, the man had the frustrating abilities to make fun of anything he put his mind to. To your dismay, this meant your clothes, the way you talked (Heaven forbid you mess something up in Japanese), your looks, your friends, and countless other little things.
It seemed that misery really did enjoy company, since Kei clearly couldnât stand the thought of you being happy, for some inexplicable reason.
Each and every comment had started to pile up inside you, and with each new one, your patience grew thinner and thinner for the tall blonde boy.
You had tried to let the little things go, since you could clearly tell that Kei was one of those people who loved getting a reaction out of others. Countless adults from speeches, presentations and logic said that if you showed you didnât care, he would stop.
But he didnât. In fact, it made him all the more relentless.
Heâd constantly torment you, no matter what you did. You found that whether or not you ignored him was irrelevant. So, if it didnât matter, you realized that at least you didnât have to take his shit sitting down.
If he wanted to play mean, you could play mean.
You slowly started fighting back, and that only caused him to fight back harder. He seemed to like a challenge and boy did you hate to lose. It went on like this for some time, your ârelationshipâ only growing more and more tense all the while filling with more annoyance and hatred for the other person. You enjoyed watching him reel back for a second, seeing him process if what you said was correct at first, but it had started to get exhausting extremely quickly.
It got to the point where all you wanted now was for him to stop. Not have anything else to say. Not have the last word in an argument. To say something and have him be silent. To see with your own eyes, him flustered and struggle to form words in anger and embarrassment. Just one time would make you satisfied. To give him a taste of his own medicine, and you would die happy with your life choices.
You were snapped out of your daydreaming when your history teacher stated he had just assigned a partnered task. To create a presentation about an influential moment in Japanese history. You have to stop a groan of pain from escaping your throat. It was just your luck. Although youâve never loved the concept of group work, with too many bad experiences in group projects, to add on to the shitlist, this was the one class that you had no friends in. So, in torment, you had to watch the excited students go to their chosen partners desk and wait until the teacher had to pick a partner for you from the scraps of the useless souls left behind.
At least until Kei had walked up to your desk.
You blink. You had forgotten he was in this class; you never paid him any mind in school, with him only talking to you to try and annoy you and all. You whistle lowly.
âWhat a surprise. I donât remember summoning a minion of the Antichrist.â Your tone is dry, not even having to look to know that Kei is rolling his eyes.
âAnd I donât remember asking to have you in my house. Things happen.â You scoff.
âWhat do you want, Tsukki?â You coo, using a mocking tone. After you found out that Kei had a friend, and accepted the reality that someone out there genuinely wanted to be his friend, used that nickname, you refused to let it go. You were quite happy with the way he reacted to it. He glares at you hard, and you only smile. He lets it go after a moment, and you watch is distaste as his face returns to the calm and indifferent expression that youâve come to despise.
âLetâs work together.â He said simply. Thereâs a beat of silence as you process the words.
You.
And Kei.
Working together⌠On a project that would require a lot of time⌠Hours, even daysâŚ
âŚ
Yeah, that isnât happening.
You didnât have to say anything, just with the quirk of a brow, you showed your hesitation. Or more like âEven if Hell freezes over, or if pigs fly, I still wouldnât say yesâ. He just tsked, as if you were a toddler not getting a simple concept. You felt your nails dig into your palms.
How did he always manage to get on your nerves so easily?
âWe already live in the same house. It would be easier than trying to meet up with others.â Kei spelled it out for you, and you look away. Unfortunately, he did have a point. And even more so, Kei wasnât an idiot. Sure, he acted like a complete jackass, but he did have good grades. Better than yours at least. And you needed to do well on this assignment too. You sigh, not seeing any real reason to say no.
But you werenât going down without a fight.
âGuess you really favour convenience over your asshole ways.â You click your tongue as the bellâs rings, signalling that the period is over. His reaction is cut off by that sound. You sigh heavily, before giving in.
âAlright.â He nods and goes back to his seat to collect his stuff. He walks away you feel a pit start to form in your stomach.
Suddenly you donât want to go home.
~~
The rest of the day had gone by smoothly enough, with you and Kei having different classes, the project had flown out of your mind. It was a Friday, so you had planned to walk home with your friends, and maybe get some food on the way. It would be a nice way to unwind and relax from a stressful week.
Key word *planned. *
Just as school was over you received a text from yours truly.
Are you going straight home?
You raise a brow at your phone. What did it matter to him?
No. Iâm hanging out with some friends.
Which ones?
Does it matter?
**Not anymore. Stay until Iâm done practice. **
You stop to stare. Heâs never asked you to stay before. Heâs actually quite quick to push you anyway when it came to his practice. Not that you minded.
Why?
**Itâs important. **
Care to explain?
**Just wait until after practice. **
Kei, I have plans.
Kei?
You let out a frustrated grunt, trying to decide what to do. About ninety percent of you wanted to forget that Kei ever existed and go out anyway, but the other ten percent is nagging you with the fact that he said it was important. It could be anything, and it could be serious. Ultimately, you gave into that ten percent, with a curse to your conscience and a grit of your teeth you cancelled your plans with your friends and went to sit in the library.
For the next five hours.
You were pretty sure that your soul had left your body when Kei finally texted you.
Where are you?
Library
You saw outside the doors, so you finally got up and went to him, your mind going insane over what could be so important that you wasted your precious Friday. But he doesnât say anything, only looking to you and walking to the entrance of the school to begin to walk home. You recoil with an extremely confused expression, having to jog to reach him. He doesnât say anything as you catch up to him. You clear your throat. He turns to look at you, raising a brow.
âWhat?â You give him a look of disbelief.
âWhat do you mean âwhat?â You made me miss my plans for something âimportantâ. Iâd like to know what it is.â You finish, hands on your hips. Kei simply looks you up and down, like heâs measuring you. You can feel your blood pressure start to raise.
âWe need to work on our project. Letâs work on it after dinner.â If this was a cartoon, your jaw wouldâve hit the floor, then maybe there would be steam coming out of your ears.
This bastard just kept surprising you. Itâs like he wanted to find new levels of low. You couldnât even believe he just did that. How could someone be so petty?
âAre you fucking serious?! I had to stay afterschool for five hours so you could tell me something that fucking stupid?!â You could barely think straight, not even having the mental capacity to come up with something witty. Kei rolls his shoulders, causally stretching while youâre about to combust, lazy smirk adorning his face. Youâve never wanted to slap a smile off moreâŚ
âYou didnât have to stay.â You almost choke.
âYou said-â
âExactly. âSaidâ. I never forced you to do anything. You couldâve left at anytime.â You let out a lot of strained sounds. What kind of argument was that? Couldnât he just for once, let go of his pride and accept he was an all-around asshole? You saw red.
âYou know what? Iâve seen a lot of shit in my day, but you are the most immature, petty-â Kei cuts you off.
âAnything new to say? Iâve heard it all before, trust me.â You practically growl. You see him smile even wider out of the corner of you eye. This was what he wanted. Remember, all he wants is a reaction. That thought calms you down considerably. You take a huge, tired sigh, all of your previous energy gone. He was like a parasite, you realized. He completely drained your being. Not to mention annoying as fuck.
âWhat Yamaguchi sees in you; Iâll never know.â Kei shrugs. âHeard that one too.â Kei slips on his headphones, clearly seeing that youâre not going to be entertaining him anytime soon.
One of these days, youâll get him back. Just be patient.
The rest of your walk was spent daydreaming about that day.
~~
Kei had told you to meet up in his room to start working on the project, so after a silent fuming dinner, you had reasonably calmed down enough and gotten the necessary supplies and knocked on his door. You seriously considered barging in to tell him to fuck himself and the project, but your grade average was at stake, and your schoolwork was something you could never risk over some stupid boy. You decided to bite the bullet, taking a deep breath, and attempt to let all of your previous irritation wash over you as he calls through the door.
âCome in.â You open the door to his room and take a look around. To no oneâs shock, you had never actually been in Keiâs room before, not really needing or wanting a reason to do so. It was fairly neat, with huge white desk and matching white walls with his volleyball jersey set cleanly on top. A couple of shelfs with some plushies of dinosaurs that you decided not to comment on but kept stored for future mockery. Boringly enough though, it just looked like a boyâs room, which did give your âKei is the source of all evil on earthâ theory a few heavy hits. You didnât realise you were staring until Kei pulled you out of it.
âAre we going to do some work? Or are you just going to stand there gawking?â You glared at him slightly.
âWell how often do you get to see the Devilâs lair? This might be the last thing I ever see if I donât get out here aliveâŚâ You mumble the last bit, ignoring his eye roll, before sitting down on his bed, spreading out all your work material on the mattress. Once finished you both just looked at each other.
Now what?
âUh⌠So⌠What do you think we should do our project on?â You ask awkwardly. Kei looks at you like youâre suddenly the biggest inconvenience known to man. You resist the urge to throw your notebook at his very hittable face.
âHow should I know?â You snort in annoyance. Someoneâs cranky. Is it his time of the month?
âWell sorry I was asking my partner a question about the project weâre both assigned to work on. We must alert the church elders at my audacity.â You can hear him âtskâ loudly, his swivelling chair moving to face away from you, slightly. You canât help but roll your eyes at his pettiness.
This wasnât going to lead anywhere, and you really wanted to get this over with. You take another deep breath, attempting to be the bigger person.
âOkay, how about we both start by researching some important events, then choose from there?â Kei takes you suggestion into consideration, before turning away from you.
âFine.â
And with that he opened his computer and when down to it. You as well opened up your laptop and started your research. Things start to move better than you wouldâve thought, because after about twenty minutes of searching, discussing, arguing you both finally decided to go with the Atomic Bomb dropping, with it piquing both Keiâs and your interest.
Well, with it piquing your interest and Kei being indifferent rather than disgusted at the âshittyâ choice.
You soon started researching, both going into your own little worlds, writing notes, and finding new sources. In the middle of the session, Kei had randomly got up and left the room. You assumed it was to get a drink or use the washroom.
You didnât take any notice to him leaving, too focused on the task at hand. You had been taking notes on the event and had gone to set down your pencil to remove a rebellious strand of hair that had been getting in the way of your vision. Truthfully, Keiâs bed wasnât the sturdiest material to study on, so when you set your pencil to the side, it had obeyed the laws of physics and rolled off, making a sound as it clattered on the wooded floor.
Sighing tiredly, you lean over the edge of the bed to look for the astray pencil, only to find it underneath his nightstand. Reaching your hand into the darkness to grab the pencil, you felt a small piece of folded paper near it. Curious, you picked it up and brushed it slightly. It had been covered in dust, lost, and forgotten.
You unfold the small piece of paper, like any person would, to find a picture. It looked to be an older picture; Maybe couple years at the least, with the colours fading and the edges being tattered, you guess.
Though the colours were fading, you could see the photo just fine. In the photo was a small boy, outside with trees surrounding what looked to be a park. He had a volleyball in his hands, the hugeness of the ball showing just how tiny his hands were. He wore a huge smile, the ones that were contagious, but with light hints of a smug and cheeky attitude; The kind of attitude that only looks cute with kids. With warm blonde hair, rosy cheeks, and huge black glasses sliding down the bridge of his small nose. You couldnât put off the fact that he looked extremely familiarâŚ
A light switch flicked in your head, putting two and two together.
Oh my God.
Thatâs Kei!
âŚ
Thatâs Kei?!
You let out a small laugh of shock as you inspected the picture closer.
He looks so different. Well, not really. Physically speaking, they were basically a shot for shot remake, but just the energy of Kei in and photo and Kei now was astoundingly different. Just looking at the photo made you smile. He seemed like such a happy kid. Not to mention completely and totally adorable.
I wonder what happenedâŚ
Well, he grew up, thatâs what happened. You thought cynically. But he had to have kept some of that childlike wonder and happiness. The debate continued on in your head. He was only fifteen after all, but it seemed like it had been stripped from him, and pretty early on. Thinking about that made your heart feel heavy, but you had managed to brush it off just as Kei had came back into the room. While you hadnât noticed his return, he sees you on the bed, not working, holding a small photo, and looking at it with the stupidest smile he had ever seen on you. To say he was a little confused was an understatement.
âWhat are you doing?â His voice makes you jump, looking up at him. You donât respond as you look back the old photo, then back at him. Now that you actually think about it, heâs still pretty cute.
You pause at your own thoughts.
Woah okay, that came out of nowhere.
You shake it off as you finally go to respond, the smile still plastered on your face, not able to stop. âLook at what I found.â You sing with small giggles, getting up as you show Kei his photo. His face is priceless. Itâs a mix of confusion, realization, then complete and total mortification. You canât hide your laugh as he tries to snatch the photo, but you pull it to you before he had the chance.
âWhere did you find that?!â He shouts, and you laugh harder.
âYour worst nightmares, apparently. Look at how cute you were!â You say between wheezes, laughing so hard your stomach started to hurt. You hold the picture to your chest when he tries again to grab it from you. He covers his face in his hands before giving you the hardest glare youâve ever seen. And if it were any other situation, you wouldâve been scared shitless, but the glare loses all intimidation when you see his cheeks and ears are flushed pink.
Heâs blushing. Heâs cute when he blushes. You take a mental picture of this moment as your laughter dies back down to small giggles.
âGive. It. Back.â He holds his hand out, expecting you to be completely compliant. You werenât going to give in that easily. It was thrilling to see him embarrassed. Seeing him so flustered that he couldnât form words.
The satisfaction was almost addicting.
You had always thought Kei needed a taste of his own medicine, to see just how bitter it was. Also, you wanted to keep the photo. It was just so precious, you bet that you could look at it after having the worst day and instantly feel better.
So, dawning his trademark smirk, you boldly utter the words.
âMake me.â
You two hold each othersâ eyes for a couple seconds, fighting a power struggle, and you clearly winning. But without any kind of warning, he charges at you, using his long arms to try and reach the photo. You laugh at his attempt and quickly step back from him, going into the centre of the room, and extend your arm behind your back.
âWhy do you even want the stupid picture?â He spits, extremely irritated, not to mention embarrassed, and you smirk. Oh, how the roles have reversed. You could see why he enjoyed it so much. It was an absolute riot.
âAre you kidding? This picture can make the usual unbothered Tsukishima Kei act like an embarrassed schoolgirl. This thing is gold. Plus, youâre adorable.â You add, and Kei blushes harder. Your eyes widen at an idea popping in your head.
âI wonder how your volleyball team would react to this pictureâŚâ You say excited, and Kei widens his eyes in, dare you say it, fear.
âYou wouldnât dare.â You scoff. He clearly doesnât know how serious you are. You were fully prepared to give him Hell. You hum.
âTo be honest, normally I wouldnât, but those five hours I spent in the library today have really changed me. You know, as a person.â As soon as you finished that sentence, Kei had had started trying even harder to get that photo away from you. Each time trying to reach your arm with newfound vigor, with you stepping back each time he got close. Eventually, after playing for a little while, he was actually managing to overpower you, which isnât a surprise. With those arms and legs there was only a matter of seconds until you would be backed into a corner.
So you decided to broaden the playing field.
âCâmon Kei~ Try a little harder, wonât you?â You teased, waving the picture in front of you, like a matador with a very, very angry bull. Once again, he reached for you, long arms trying to reach the photo you held behind your back, not expecting you to also pull his door open and dash out of his room, not even trying to contain your laughs as he stumbled through his doorway, letting out an angry groan.
His misstep gave you enough time to run down the stairs, and all the way down to the dining area. He was right on your tail though, sprinting to you, ending up on the other side of the table. Staring you down with heavy, infuriated eyes.
Neither of you move, the room being filled with only gasps for breath and your small giggles.
âYouâre acting like a child.â Kei spits at you, perhaps hoping for a response that wasnât a simple shrug, with you accepting the insult all the while dawning a lazy grin slapped on your face.
âProbably. But this is most fun Iâve had in this house. And youâre playing along. So, arenât we both the children here?â He doesnât respond, taking your moment of contemplation as his chance, running around the table, and attempting to reach the photograph in your hand.
Your reaction wasnât fast enough, running away from the table but not far enough to keep a safe distance. You were so concerned with where he was that you didnât see the couch behind you, legs hitting the front of the cushions. The movement way too strong for you to stay balanced.
Out of pure instinct, and with Kei being the closest upright object to you, you grabbed at him.
Apparently, he hadnât been expecting you to grab him, and with such force too, because when you fell you had taken him down with you, both landing on the couch. Hard. You both make sounds of surprise before falling on top of each other.
You could feel his weight on you, and you struggled to move as he used his arms to push himself up, looking directly at you. His face was still flushed pink, you bet yours was too. You could feel the mood instantly change, from hatefully playful toâŚ
Not.
You two were so close you could feel his breath on your skin, but you didnât care. Both of you hadnât said anything, staring at each other still, until ultimately you realized what kind of position you both were in.
Kei was between your legs, his pushing your thighs apart. You had unconsciously hooked your legs around his thin hips. When did that happen? You were so close that your chests were bumping into each other with every breath; His arms had caging your face in, causing you to only be able to look at him.
Your face and heart exploded.
âUh-uhm⌠Kei?â You whispered, not being able to say anything louder. He continued staring, not saying a single word. You could tell from his eyes that he was lost in thought, weirdly. You try to snap him out of it.
âKei, youâre crushing me- â
âShut up.â
Kei out of nowhere, slams his mouth on yours. You freeze, and so does your mind. Your body stiffens, but Kei doesnât stop. The kiss is aggressive, on his part at least, pouring out all of his frustrations into that single kiss. Your teeth clack together but you still donât respond, and Kei starts getting impatient, and bites your lip. Not hard to draw blood, but hard enough to make you gasp. With your mouth open, he pushes his tongue in and thatâs when you finally start to react. Feeling the bottom of stomach start to heat up, your mind buzzing, and your body giving you weird sensations, you slowly kiss him back, forgetting all common sense.
You could feel his smugness coming off in waves about that fact that you had started to respond, so put him in his place, you ran your hand up his arm to the back of his head. You comb your fingers through his amazingly soft fluffy hair and tug a little harder than necessary. He groans in slight pain. The sound sends shivers down your spine.
Things begin to get more heated, the kisses becoming longer and sloppier when Kei decides to run his hand up your thigh, leaving you to let out a soft mewl. His hand goes to rest on your hip, when he goes to kiss your cheek, down your jaw all the way to your neck. He gets into a rhythm there, with kissing, licking, sucking, and even biting lightly all down your neck. After some experimenting, he had found out where the most sensitive parts were, and absolutely ravished them. By then you were an absolute mess, hair sticking in all directions, lips swollen, a light sheen of sweat covering your body, and a completely destroyed neck much to Keiâs pleasure. His hands had gone from your hips to your back, pulling you up so he wouldnât have to crane his neck as much. His mouth reaches where your neck meets your shoulder, and starts leave light butterfly kisses, clearly teasing you. You whine in protest, but he just chuckles.
You tug his hair to indicate that you want him to face you again, once he removes his face from your neck you lock your lips with his. He returns it immediately, taking his hand to go under your shirt and rub your warm and slightly sweaty skin. You let out a light sigh.
Then it all stops.
The warmth, the kisses, his hands, his body, everything. You hadnât realized that you closed your eyes until you open them, to see Kei looking down on you, smirking as if he just won the lottery. In his hand, was the photo.
âI win.â He declares, as he rips up the photo and throws it in the trash. He goes to sit down in his desk, wiping his lips and sitting on the couch causally, as if nothing even happened. You canât say anything, your brain too stunned.
You inhale all the air you had lost in those moments, feeling the cogs in your mind turn as you abruptly stand, confused with all the new sensations and feelings that just happened.
And with Kei of all people.
KeiâŚ
âY-yeah, I guess you did.â You mutter, averting your eyes and refusing to look at him, knowing that his eyes were burning holes in your back.
âLetâs work the project some other time.â You say quickly as you practically run to your room, slamming the door, and sliding down it. Running your fingers on your lips before burying your hand in your arms. Face burning with red hot embarrassment and shame.
What in the fuck just happened?