#STILL. I LOVE SHOUJO MANGA W ALL MY HEART !!!!!!!!!!!!

[relampagueando]

i got asked on ao3 recently why i thought matoba and natori are still Like That when it is clear that matoba wants natori to be his side piece and natori would be more than ok w/ that. i wanted to post it here too and also expand more bc i wrote my reply like 4 min before i went to work, and i've just tweeted similar things in bursts that i should probably compile the short answer is: bc their circumstances are stupid, and so are they long answer below the cut

on matoba

as much as i love him having been clingy and annoying and blinking morse code KISS ME to natori when they were teens, i think he was still considerate enough not to do anything about it bc he could see how jumpy natori was. how easy it would have been to lose him w/ the wrong thing said, the wrong thing done. better to just have his companionship in their ambiguity and plausible deniability of just how deeper he would prefer their friendship to be than to have nothing at all. esp for someone already as much of an outsider as matoba seiji - he's the clan heir, so he's getting primed for it; he's a teen, and besides his sister who hates him, natori is the only one around his age; he can see youkai, already a rare thing; and he can see them w/ exceptional power. their imbalance was predetermined when matoba met natori it would have especially been pointless to act upon any feeling when he is the matoba clan head. while as far as i've read the manga i don't recall them saying explicitly a matoba clan head has to be matoba by blood as opposed to marriage/adoption, i think it's an easy conclusion that blood would be prioritized since seiji is a matoba by name. he's probably gonna have to have beget a matoba heir and by blood is easiest, and natori has always been a rival clan, and they're both guys... the classic trope! but it has its place here, since they Are in jpn and on top of it they are in politics, and on top of THAT it's exorcist politics where as mentioned blood is going to matter. i actually think matoba wouldn't give a fuck about liking another guy - they used to be all over that in the yr 1545, why can't He in 20xx. granted he wouldn't be skipping about at pride w/ a rainbow flag over his shoulders; jpn's history w/ homosexuality has been Complex and it would also be in matoba's little proper traditional boy head. i don't know enough about this history to have any further comment on it, just my impression that, in the end, matoba isn't losing sleep over his natori dreams. also he is a spoiled brat. he wants that boy and he will construct intricate rituals to hold his hand and then, when natori inevitably puffs up like a kitten and turns red like his real shoujo maiden heart, matoba can safely say Just kidding! unfortunately for him, the clan/the world/NATORI would give a fuck if he admitted he's not really ever been kidding not even a bit

the pointlessness of having done anything about his baby crush stands when smth does actually pull natori away. which we are patiently waiting to find out: was it 1 singular event, or was it a continuum of realization that their methods of exorcising/youkai views were too incompatible? at any rate, now it's definitely too late to do anything! matoba is suffering not from internalized homophobia but internalized resignation that his life is not his own. duty is a weight and matoba is sisyphus w/ the fuckingfng boulder. the only thing that keeps his path crossing natori's is that the exorcist world is small, they are actually more alike than they think, and that singular incompatibility was not enough to undo all their other compatibilities - and so how much they still care about e/o

on natori

for natori tho, he was so unwanted as a kid that it has really fucked up his feelings forever. and it doesn't help at all that the person he is having even more complex feelings about is MATOBA..... he's hard to read; like is he trying to piss natori off bc he likes to, or is he being flirty? (the answer is both). and why would he be flirty? they are both guys <- bl manga protag natori shuuichi, who unlike matoba is absolutely going thru it, and part of it not just bc matoba is a guy but bc matoba is a rude little princess i mean brat. natori represses what starts to feel a little too intensely to just be friend feelings somewhere he can't reach. this has not worked so well!

just on top of the crush, i think natori would also be grappling w/ if he even feels that way bc he's finally found someone who can see youkai and is around his age. bc god knows him chasing after takuma and yorishima isn't gonna do anything. matoba in shambles that natori likes older men. anyway. on top of That, too, is natori's mopey Everyone hates me and wants to leave me that ultimately haunts all his interactions, esp as a teen. even if matoba can see youkai, he isn't branded by one (except matoba's brand is the eye, the target, that he will have to wear one day, but that he was also born w/. natori just couldn't see it. i digress). matoba has an entire clan around him and natori has no one; matoba cannot possibly understand natori, and vice versa - or so natori thinks. their imbalance was predetermined!!!

their biggest hurdle is ofc their way of exorcising differing from e/o, bc tho they are both men they are first and foremost exorcists. matoba has no qualms about the means taken for the end, doesn't give a shit about youkai being sentient. natori meanwhile is trying to be #nice. matoba would have been fine, delighted really, if the matoba clan took in a woobie still unconfident natori bc it would have meant literally having him at his side, but natori is so prideful and determined to keep being alone - both for pride and his childhood fears - that he does not join the matoba clan. he has to do what he can, how he wants, and do it alone. and when it comes to matoba, he has to be strong, too, and not let himself be affected by how matoba goads him or just generally exists somewhere he can never reach. he loves matoba, but not his methods, but the methods comprise half of who matoba is. there's no getting around that. so natori has to keep the distance between them unless he starts to compromise his beliefs or dust off his repressed feelings. instead he has to wait for matoba to go away before divulging unprovoked to anyone in his vicinity, by which ofc i just mean poor natsume, Btw the way matoba likes cats. And i thought he'd wear a hat when he exorcised bc it's just one extra little safety precaution. And we're not really rival clans not anymore. And and and. then he turns around after his first delicate momence w/ matoba in god knows how long and says directly to him, bearer of the burden and curse, A burden can be shared. ok girl. what am i supposed to make of this. an olive branch offered, a hope for reconciliation and closing the distance he himself is far likelier to have put between them than matoba, who has always known what he wants but has been kept from it by life and natori's own frustrating Standing There emoji self....

and now natori is an actor-model-singer! the only other careers he could have possibly chosen that doomed him to be more cognizant of his relationships than matoba's heirdom. even w/ his burden proposal, he can't do much more than just say gay things to get matoba's and my hopes up. that's a lie, he can also act upon those gay things. and he has! not joining the clan but helping matoba out... remembering things about him... stealing him from his house and they just let him apparently....

but these still aren't the bow-wrapped conclusion they need after w/e happened between them to have the rift to begin w/. they need a bit more of a push. w/ their circumstances, it wouldn't be smart to do more; matoba's clan is still v important to him, and natori still hasn't found his full confidence/sense of self. but they want to. my god they want to

[hisui-dreamer]

warming up to you

Pairing: Lilia Vanrouge x gn!reader

Synopsis: you weren't too keen on the school playboy, but maybe his persistent efforts have started to wear you down?

Tags: fluff, shoujo manga inspired, modern au, mixed school, flirting, lilia cooks, silver is lilia's adopted sibling, reader (millie) likes more masculine men for a bit

Word count: 1k+

Notes: this was requested by my dearest millie @hheun!! mwah mwah i love talking to you and every time i get a notif from you im just smiling automatically at how you're handling Lilia ꒰⁠⑅⁠ᵕ⁠༚⁠ᵕ⁠꒱⁠˖⁠♡

her request was very long so maybe i'll post it separately (cuz funni), but this takes place in a modern school au and the events that take place were specifically designed for millie hehehe #millia

to millie: heart attack incoming!! hope u enjoy it ;)

Masterlist

lilia vanrouge is the vice president of the diasomnia house

so when you first saw him, you respected him quite a bit, though his features did make him seem a little out of place as compared to malleus, silver and sebek

you quickly learned that those exact features made him incredibly popular

maybe overly so, because every time you saw him, you could see him flirting with an entirely different person

the first time you actually spoke to him, he was looking for his misplaced pencil case, still wearing the overly large science coat with the large goggles resting atop his head

"Excuse me dear, I seem to have misplaced my pencil case and I have no idea where it could be. Would you be a dear and join me in my search?"

you simply raised an eyebrow, and shook your head no

he pursued his lips and made a pouting face, but you just stared blankly at him

relenting, he sighed and turned around to find someone else to help him with his search

you could faintly hear a "... Am I not cute enough today?"

fortunately (or not), you stumbled across a pencil case at the edge of the staircase, with diasomnia, light music club, and bat keychains attached to the one zipper

hmm, he must have dropped it while switching classrooms

so you bring it to the diasomnia house room, where you were greeted by silver

you entrusted the pencil case to silver, but not without him asking for your name and class so Lilia could say thank you properly

of course, you tried to leave, really not wanting to get involved in any sense with the playboy and his fanbase

but silver being the dear that he is insisted on having your name

the next day, as you were walking to your classroom, Lilia appeared seemingly out of nowhere

he thanks you, but starts rambling off "Oh I knew I was cute enough yesterday! How sweet of you to help little old me, khee hee!"

ಠಿ⁠_⁠ಠ ...sure, lilia-senpai

you try to brush off his gratitude with a quick "you're welcome" and "it wasn't a bother really"

but then he's spouting "It must be fate that you were the one to help me! Darling, won't you let me return the favour? Perhaps, with a date?" he says while batting his eyelashes cutely

??? no??? you weren't into the cute type of guys, you liked more masculine, muscular men ahem leona senpai

so you rejected him honestly, but rather than be upset, his eyes are just twinkling mischievously (uh oh)

after that event, you just started encountering him randomly in your school life

popping up randomly to ask you out because he looked particularly cute that day

asking you to come over to the light music club after school

you continued to reject him, thinking he was just playing around like with all the other girls

but then one day, he came up to you with a request

"Dear, would you happen to be good at baking?"

see, silver's birthday is coming up, and apparently it's all the rage nowadays (so he says) to have a homemade cake rather than a store-bought one and "of course, it's also more nutritious"

but, rather infamously, Lilia's not the best cook

see the white day incident, where he made chocolates in return for all the ones he received and almost succeeded in murdering everyone's tastebuds

so nobody really wants to work with Lilia in the kitchen, not even his devoted(?) fangirls

usually you would've rejected his request, for two reasons, one being the rumours of his cooking, and two being not wanting to become further involved with him

but he seemed so sincere about his wish for silver, and so downcast at being unable to make the perfect birthday cake that you couldn't help but agree

on the condition that he listen to your every word whilst working in the kitchen

and thank god for that condition, because you quickly learned why he was a bad cook

"But this recipe isn't nearly nutritious enough! Shall we add some lettuce? Or perhaps..."

Lilia, we're baking a cake, not a salad...

you felt so bad for whoever was his partner in home economics

but you gave him the task of whisking the eggs after having him prepare the stovetop, where you planned to melt the butter in a saucepan...

"There was one time I went abroad and brought something back for Silver..." Lilia recounted, his hand hard at work whisking the eggs.

But just as you were getting lost in his storytelling, disaster struck. The stovetop suddenly caught on fire, flames dancing dangerously high. Panic welled up within you, and before you could react, Lilia acted swiftly.

"Careful!" he exclaimed with urgency. With the grace of a gallant knight, he pulled you close, his body a protective shield against the fire. His surprisingly serious face caught you off guard, the fiery glow reflected in the depths of his crimson eyes. His arms were a fortress, secure and tight around you.

Thump. Thump.

In a matter of moments, Lilia turned off the gas and moved the saucepan away from the stovetop, as if he were used to dealing with emergencies in the kitchen.

"Are you alright, dearest?" he asked, genuine concern in his eyes.

You took a moment to collect yourself, your heart still racing. "Oh, uhmm, yes, I'm fine... Wait, did you turn the stove all the way up?"

Lilia looked a bit confused as he admitted, "Yes? I wanted to melt the butter faster."

You couldn't help but shake your head in exasperation. "Lilia!!!" you exclaimed, incredulous at his impulsive cooking decisions.

He chuckled, seemingly unfazed by the near-disaster. "Well, it did the job, didn't it?"

thankfully, you manage to finish the cake without either of you getting hurt

it's not the best looking cake, but it definitely has a homemade feel to it, only enhanced by the chopsticks used to support it

you also get invited to silver's birthday party! lilia keeps trying to take pictures with you and ask you out

only this time, you can't help but feel more affected by his attempts than you were before

maybe you've taken a liking to the playboy afterall ;)

"Goodness, isn't it about time you give me a chance, darling?" Lilia playfully pouts, placing his hands on his hips in a mock display of irritation.

He sighs, before a rueful smile graces his lips. "Well, I suppose it's alright for now. I'm a very persistent man, you see," he says, his unwavering gaze fixed on yours.

Masterlist

if you liked this post, don't forget to reblog!

[nicoroni]

OMG CHARACTER ASK GAME 🤩 Please, Kotetsu and questions, uhhh, 2, 6, 12, 18, 21, 22, 23? 🙏💚

(And if you want to answer the same questions for Bunny, too, consider them asked ❤️)

2. Favorite canon thing about this character?

Kotetsu: he's so fucking stupid his dumb beard he has a really big heart, but he's still also like, just a dude? so he makes mistakes!! But he learns from them. :3

Bunny: he's a bitch. That sounds like a joke but that's it, lmao, especially in ssn1 he is SO RUDE and it's great. Also though, the fact that he acts like he's More Mature than Kotetsu, and then gives him the silent treatment for an entire episode.

6. What's something you have in common with this character?

Kotetsu: oh no I'm sure there's something but I don't know. =O

Barnaby: I, too, want to fuck Kotetsu

12. What's a headcanon you have for this character?

How often do we talk about this and yet as soon as you ask, I've got nothing.

I'll come back to this one after my brain stops playing elevator music.

18. How about a relationship they have in canon with another character that you admire?

Okay I'm not totally sure I understand this question, but I'll do my best-

Kotetsu: Him and Kaede!!!! He's Not A Good Dad (esp in ssn1, sorry Kotetsu) but he tries really hard? Like he loves her and he's doing what he thinks is right and it often just sucks for her??? But he also DOES learn to listen to her and tries to do better and I'm soft about them.

Barnaby: I guess him and Kotetsu? Like, we joke about how Bunny fell REAL HARD for Kotetsu (notably after the Jake incident) but when you really think about how goddamn sad Bunny's life is, it feels like a miracle he has any friends at all, lmao. Especially since he and Kotetsu didn't get along at first!!

21. If you're a fic writer and have written for this character, what's your favorite thing to do when you're writing for this character? What's something you don't like?

I see this was a ploy to get me to talk more about fic stuff. =P

Kotetsu: The answer to both is the same, lmao. He's REALLY DORKY and it's so fun but also I feel like I struggle to capture his voice.

Barnaby: am I allowed to say it's that he's a bitch again? UM. I think the fave thing is to write him SUPER IN LOVE with Kotetsu. I guess the thing I don't like is that because I write him SUPER IN LOVE I have to fucking wrangle him back into the plot when all he wants to do is kiss Kotetsu, lmao.

22. If you're a fic reader, what's something you like in fics when it comes to ths character? Something you don't like?

Kotetsu: Ohhh, hmmm - well the thing I don't like is easy, when people write him stupid. He's and idiot but he's not dumb!! (No, I will not elaborate.) This maybe doesn't answer the question but the thing I like is when they remember he had a wife whom he loved, regardless of if they're shipping him w someone else now?

Barnaby: I don't see it often but I suppose it's that because he's blonde and pretty we occasionally fall into the "uwu twink" thing and make him... not him? I think the thing I like reading is - when we get his internal monologue so when he's being a bitch, you get to understand that he DOES care, he's just gotta complain while he does it.

23. Favorite picture of this character?

Okay I'm cheating because I don't have them handy and I don't wanna go hunting, and I know you'll know what I'm talking about anyway -

Kotetsu: That one from the manga where Nathan dresses him up and he's holding his tiddies.

Barnaby: Literally any time he looks at Kotetsu and they give him soft shoujo eyes, which happens... all the time.

[strawberryseeded]

no shoujo manga no life etc but even tho i very much enjoy literally every typical shoujo beat, themes, events, long etc, i cant help but notice more and more how the ideas of fashion/trendyness, make-up and weight loss are so intrinsically tied with the idea of 'love' and 'growth' and 'trying hard for ur partner/s/o’ in a way thats... tbh incredibly insidious, especially since most of the time its framed in a cutesy way. like... i get it, trust me. i get the meaning behind it. its about methamorphosis. its a conceptual/visual methaphor to show how a character is making changes on the inside (which manifest outwardly). the occidental version of this wud be the (infamous) classic ‘glow up’/’makeover’ scenes in romance movies (which has already been discussed and dissected, and deservedly so, infinite times)

but the thing is.. when theres an entire chapter dedicated to the weight loss of an already skinny character (and btw, the conclusion is, in fact, that you absolutely should not get fatter if you respect yourself), or multiple plot points feeding into the idea that not putting ‘enough’ effort in the way you look is immature (a notion that makes sense from a societal point of view, tbh. but its such a complex matter that when its simply glossed over it just ends up sounding...bleak, in my opinion), or whole ARCS about unkept 15 y/o girls who didnt give a fuck abt her own appearence are now self-conscious and thats good actually..... well that just sucks, you know

maybe its not all (most of it, at least) as in-your-face as im making it sound, but still. its.. its bad dude. obviously i wud not love shoujo manga as much as i do if it always were so fucking cringe. the genre has so many beautiful stories to offer. so many lovable characters with immense growth, and actually very complex & difficult themes that it explores in very nuanced and mature ways!!!!!!!!! its just that i dont rly agree with the way a loooot of them handle the topic of beauty standars (for young girls and women especially).

like, 4 ex im reading this cute af story which could have been handle very poorly in the wrong hands, since it deals with toxic behaviours in romantic relationships. but its. so fucking well done?? it explores all the gray areas in suchhhhh a respectful way, and never sacrificing the heart-warming feel/overall positiveness of the series.. but when it comes to the topic i previously mentioned? i feel it lacks a bit of.. deconstruction, i guess its the word?

[melodiesofblueroses]

russian caravan tea; how experienced are they with relationships? w/ yoosung, saeran and seven

I love your fics keep up the good work!¡

Ahh tysm for your sweet words anon!! They always make me so happy fr, and I'm so glad you enjoy my writing ! Thank you for your request though! I hope I managed to write them in character lol. Hope you enjoy 💕

tea prompts: yoosung kim, saeyoung choi, and saeran choi

Yoosung Kim

russian caravan tea; how experienced are they with relationships?

It comes as no surprise that Yoosung had absolutely zero experience when it came to romantic relationships when you take into consideration his constant yearning for a significant other. Honestly, this was more of a recent development. When he was still in grade school, Yoosung didn't have much time to think about relationships between being class president, his studies, college entrance exams, volunteer opportunities, etc. A relationship was the last thing on his mind. Even in college, with all his freetime (well, time he made for himself), Yoosung still didn't pay much attention to relationships despite his want for being in one. He didn't know anyone, and the sight of couples being all lovey-dovey, which was rather cute, and the strange actions they followed were all foreign to him, all explained by his inexperience.

When he does manage to land a date or begin a relationship, the first thing Yoosung consults is his loads of shoujo manga or cheesy romcoms that he poured hours of his time into, many of which he takes to heart and tries to replicate. Then again, he is quite nervous, so at times it ends up being a bit awkward, such as the way he might rush into a kiss, bumping noses and foreheads, or how tight his grip on your hand is and how sweaty (geez, he hoped you didn't notice that) when you guys were walking down the streetm Again, he's very inexperienced, but it's rather endearing to see how determined he is to make his first ever relationship right. You'd have to lead and help him at first, experienced yourself or not, given how nervous he is about the whole thing. He does eventually get the hang of it though, albeit he certainly is cheesy at times, and Yoosung is definitely a one-of-a-kind lover.

Saeyoung Choi

russian caravan tea; how experienced are they with relationships?

For the most part, Seven is also rather inexperienced when it came to romantic relationships. They never were something he paid much attention to given that he had other more important things going on in his life. Between taking on jobs from his agency to managing the security and private information of the RFA, it's no wonder Seven never once thought of getting into a relationship, something he didn't know much about except from the couples he's seen wandering the streets on the off chance he managed to get out. That and the cheesy romcoms that used to play in the background while he worked on his computer was where all his knowledge on romance came from. Besides, even if there was someone he liked, he was more prone to trying to drown those feelings in order to protect his crush. There were many more downsides to getting into a relationship than ups.

When he does have a change of heart (read: when his situation managed to get a little better), Seven, despite having zero relationship experience, shockingly seems to know of the ins and outs of romantic relationships. It was quite strange, really, the way he was rather comfortable with pda or playfully messing around despite it being his first. You'd think that he'd be somewhat more nervous, for some reason. Seven is rather perceptive, however, and picks up on the tiniest things quite quicky. So he simply mimicks the actions of couples he's seen and tries to replicate them with you. Seven is certainly out there, more so than what one would expect. Though there is still that sense of awkwardness from him, which does make sense. I mean, this was his first relationship, and as playful as he could be, Seven wasn't too keen on pushing you away so soon. And this shines through in the way he seems to tense up ever so slightly when you guys share kisses for the first time or even when cuddling. He's trying his best not to hurt you, which is pretty obvious. So when you kiss back or even huddle in closer to him, Seven does relax and assures himself that maybe he was doing alright.

Saeran Choi

russian caravan tea; how experienced are they with relationships?

Saeran pretty much knew next to nothing about relationships once considering the sort of environment he grew up in. To an extent, perhaps he didn't even seem to believe in such a thing that was a loving relationship, romantic or not. Everyone in his life up to this point had treated him nothing but badly after all, so how could such a thing exist? It wasn't that easy to learn to trust again after all. Besides, Saeran, at first, would have a pretty warped view of relationships as well, which only adds on to his inexperience. They may even seem a bit strange at first, the whole idea of romance and whatnot, as much as he seems to yearn for it in a way. Also, given how he was rather secluded from the world for most of his life, Saeran didn't see much of romance and couples and whatnot in the first place. Basically, reiterating from above, he knew absolutely nothing when it came to romance or relationships. Rather, the only thing he was sure of was the fact that each time he saw you, his heart skipped a beat and it was difficult of his face not to flush. So he did have feelings, that was for certain, though it was a bit terrifying in a way.

But he, of course, can't really ignore those blossoming feelings, that crush he has. And when one thing leads to another, Saeran soon finds himself in his very own romantic relationship with you. He's nervous, of course, and rather awkward. Things are perhaps even somewhat rocky at the start, and you'd certainly have to hold his hand and guide him the entire way at first. He wasn't even entirely sure why he had such an urge to be close to you, to hear you compliment him or even to hold your hand while strolling through gardens and kiss you amidst the flowers. Those urges were for sure strange to him, as much as he indulges in them though. He isn't quite sure how to act around you as well, when the appropriate time was to show affection or even to ask for cuddles because of a particularly bad day. It's all rather difficult and new to him. It may even take a while for him to open up too given his past, but once he sees your unconditional love for him, as well as his brother's and his support system, Saeran does strive to get better. It's a long process, definitely, but in the end, there's a loving and long-lasting relationship, and he's right there by your side just as you were all those times.

[nikikyuuun]

could i rq hc’s of jun w a crush? ty in advance! btw your blog theme is super cute i love it sm

fellow junps RISE!!!!! i'm still reading up on his stories so i'm afraid he might not be the most in character, but in the case i...severely misread his character, please do let me know! i'd love to get a better grasp of all the characters~

also, tysm anon!! i'm glad you like my theme ♡ i hope you enjoy!

❧ jun with a crush

content warnings: none

❧ one of the very first things jun does. he opens google. "why does my chest feel funny," he types, smartly ignoring all of the websites saying that he's having a heart attack. ...kidding, mostly—jun doesn't seem like the type to acknowledge right away that he actually has a crush on someone. he'll definitely notice some things, like how he's more easily distracted—his mind seems especially drawn to you, lately—or that he uncharacteristically stumbles over his words while talking to you. it's not like he reads much shoujo manga to begin with—he's kind of flying blind, here.

❧ he tries to keep things as normal as possible! maybe he's just having an off day—eden's been having more frequent practices lately, so maybe that could be it? jun's life pretty much goes on as normal, but his, er, admiration for you isn't exactly subtle.

❧ he's the type to do little things as excuses to spend more time with you—he was out on a morning jog anyways, why doesn't he walk you to the station? he stopped by that cafe you like on the way back to ensemble square, so he might as well have gotten you a drink too, right? jun isn't a hundred percent sure why his stomach ties itself into knots when you smile your thanks at him, or why his face gets a little warmer when your hands brush against his, but it isn't so bad a feeling, he thinks. he just knows he needs to keep it a secret from hiyori.

❧ it takes him a while to identify exactly what these new feelings for you are, but once he does it's like things have started to click into place, almost. jun takes a moment to look back on it all—the flubbed practices when you'd laugh at something across the room, the bags of takeout from your favourite restaurants he left on your desk on days when you'd work well into your break, the strange tightness in his chest when you'd smile, or laugh, or say his name, or—

❧ jun takes a breath. inhale. exhale. well—it all makes sense now, doesn't it?

[the-himawari]

A3! Sakisaka Muku - Translation [SR] Brilliance of Blooming (2/2)

*Please read disclaimer on blog; default name set as Izumi

---

Izumi: And ready. Alright. Can we start, Muku-kun?

Muku: I-it’s fine. Please go ahead!

Izumi: Okay. InsteLive stream start!

-pause-

Muku: H-h-hello! It’s MANKAI Company Summer troupe’s Sakisaka Muku!

Comment: “Hey there~”

Comment: “Are you nervous, Muku-kun?”

Muku: Ah, y-yes… I’m a little nervous.

Comment: “You don’t need to be”

Comment: “Be yourself, Muku-kun!”

Muku: Thank you so much, everyone. I feel like I’ve calmed down. I appreciate all of you coming to watch my live stream.

Comment: “I was looking forward to it!”

Comment: “What are you gonna do today~?”

Muku: Lots of people asked me to introduce my recommended shoujo manga in the survey… So today, I’ll introduce some shoujo manga that have a live-action adaption! Up until now, I don't think I've ever really talked about which live-actions are good.

Comment: “True. We haven’t heard much about that!”

Comment: “I can’t wait for Muku-kun’s recs~”

Muku: I’m glad. Alright then, let’s start with the very first one. I just couldn’t forget about this one, so I’m going to introduce it first. Tah dah! “Your Goal Line”!*

Comment: “It’s a masterpiece!”

Comment: “Ikr. You can’t miss that one!”

Muku: It’s loaded with the manga’s heart-throbbing moments… And the rivalry between Kisaragi-kun and Kanzaki-kun is also full of feels. Plus, Tenma-kun plays the live-action Kanzaki-kun. Were there lots of people who watched the drama while it was airing?

Comment: “I watched it!”

Comment: “Tenma-kun was so cool~!”

Muku: Wasn’t he! It’s a masterpiece I don’t get tired of no matter how many times I watch it! Alright, I will introduce the second work! It’s this one! “Pot In Love”.**

Comment: “I was eyeing that one!”

Comment: “What kind of work is it~?”

Muku: It’s a classic story about the love between childhood friends. This one’s full of swoon-worthy scenes too! One of the must-sees is the Sleeping Bear Omurice! It’s a famous scene where Hiroto-kun, the childhood friend, makes it for Ena-chan, the main character. That scene was recreated beautifully in live-action! It really is the best!

Comment: “I FEEL YOU!! MY HEART TOTALLY FLUTTERED!”

Comment: “A close-up of the manga! Lol”

Comment: “The camera’s too close so I can’t see Muku-kun haha”

Muku: Ahh, I-I’m so sorry! I just got excited…! There were other lovely scenes of Hiroto-kun's cool and sometimes cute sides… My heart couldn’t stop beating during the live-action too, so please watch it!

Option 1: “Your love has gotten through!”

Comment: “Your love has really gotten through, Muku-kun!”

Muku: Thank you very much…! Fufu, I’m also really happy that I can enjoy my favourite works with all of you. Please let me know your impressions and favourite scenes in your comments and letters! Let’s chat a lot together!

Comment: “We’re glad we can talk with you, Muku-kun!”

Comment: “Muku-kun’s smile shot through my heart…!”

Option 2: “Muku-kun’s cute and cool too!”

Comment: “Muku-kun’s cute and cool too!”

Muku: Ehh, I’m cute and cool… too?

Comment: “You know it!”

Comment: “You also suit cool roles. My heart can’t take it…!”

Comment: “Both cute Muku-kun and cool Muku-kun are the best!”

Muku: No way, I still have such a long way to go…! But I’m really glad if you say so…! I appreciate it. I’ll keep working hard from now on!

Comment: “I LOVE YOU, MUKU-KUN!”

Comment: “I’m cheering for you!”

*door opens*

Citron: Muku~!

Muku: Wahh!? Citron-sama!? W-why…!

Comment: “Citron-kun!?”

Comment: “Citron-kun suddenly appeared!”

Citron: This came to mind when I was watching Muku’s stream. If you’re talking about movies, then you gotta have this too! POPCORN!!

Comment: “It’s popcorn! Lmao”

Comment: “I see lolol”

Muku: …Fufu, thank you very much! You’re right. Err, everyone. Spring troupe’s Citron-sama dropped by!

Citron: Sorry for suddenly bursting in, everyone!

Comment: “I’m happy Citron-kun came too!”

Comment: “What do you guys eat when you watch movies?”

Citron: Of course I munch on popcorn! It’s fun since there’s also lots of different flavours~!

Muku: I eat that too. I also go for the limited-time menu items.

Comment: “I see~!”

Comment: “I eat the limited menu too!”

Muku: …Ah, it looks like we’re approaching the time. That passed by in the blink of an eye, huh? Lastly, I’m going to take the photo to upload to Inste. Like this…

*click*

Muku: Alright, I took it! It’s a shame I have to go, but this is the end of the InsteLive. Thank you very much for watching today, everyone!

Comment: “I’ll try reading the manga you introduced!”

Comment: “Thanks, Muku-kun!”

Muku: Let’s meet again!

Citron: Thanks~!

-pause-

Izumi: Great job, Muku-kun! Geez, Citron-kun. You surprised me.

Citron: Sorry! When I saw Muku’s stream, I couldn't help but give him popcorn!

Muku: Fufu, it livened up a whole lot thanks to that!

Izumi: Everyone enjoyed the shoujo manga recs, the talk about movies, and Citron-kun's appearance. It was a fun stream!

Muku: Thank you very much! I had such a blast too.

Citron: Same here~.

Izumi: Choose a pic to upload to Inste, alright?

Muku: Yes, I will!

-pause-

Muku: I’ve selected my photo for Inste, Director-san! I think I’ll go with this one.

Izumi: Great. Your smile looks wonderful!

Muku: Ehehe, I’m glad to hear that. Alright, I’ll write a comment and upload it right away.

Thank you very much for the InsteLive! I had so much fun being able to talk with everyone!

#MANKAICompany #TellMeYourRecommendedMovies #NextTimeEveryone

---

*References The Floral Prince event (and “Your Goal Line” also reappears in the Trump the PT event). **References Sakyo’s N Welcome to Akebono-so! card.

previous |

[omimigod]

Aquarium dates

-------------------------------------------------

Feat: Chifuyu Matsuno x F.Reader!

A/n: Got the idea from @introvert--weeb and I had to do one for this beautiful boy <3

------------------------------------------------------

Chifuyu Matsuno

“Maybe I got here way too early”the blonde wondered as he looked around the half empty entrance of the newly opened aquarium.You had promised to go with Chifuyu to the aquarium on Saturday since that was the only day Chifuyu was free and you promised to make time out of your schedule for him

He stood there,playing with the hem of his hoodie as he restlessly looked at his phone every few seconds to see if you had sent something

‘Did you forget that it was today?’ or ‘Did you get attacked by another gang?’his face turned pale,mind filling up with only the worst possible scenarios.He cursed himself for not asking to pick you up from your house.Not planning on wasting anymore time,he turned and headed towards his bike

“Wait! Chifuyu! Where are you going?”a familiar voice asked as her hand gripped his wrist in an attempt to stop him.The blonde whipped his head in the girls direction,pink dusting his cheeks as she smiled brightly at him

“What’s the hurry, partner?”she asked,giggling at him

’Partner’.That was the name he had given her when she joined Toman and now it was the one name that got him the most flustered.At some point Chifuyu had realized that he had fallen for her,pointed out to him by Takemichi of course.Sure he read a lot of Shoujo mangas but experiencing it was a completely different thing.Was it the way she’d always make time for him? or the way she’d walk back home from school only with him?.He wasn’t sure when it started.Was it when he first saw her hanging out with Baji at school?Or was it when he met her at a Toman meeting,standing beside Baji of course.He wondered if you two had been dating since you two were inseparable and even questioned the male only to get a disgusted reply as a response

“Ew! There’s no way I’d date my own cousin!”he hissed as the blonde nodded in agreement

Ever since that day he had attempted to talk to you but never really found the right time to approach you,until one day of course

Flashback starts

“Ah! I like that manga too!”you yelled,pointing to the book in his hands as the male looked at you wide eyed

“You like it too?!”he squealed as you nodded your head vigorously

“I love how he’s always there for her and how he takes care of her so well”you admitted,eyes sparking as you spoke about the love interest of the heroine

“Right?They’re perfect for eachother!”he excitedly replied back

“Wait-Haven’t I seen you somewhere?”she questioned,hand gripping her chin as she tried to remember where

“You mean in our school and the toman meetings?”he teased as the girls cheeks turned pink

“Oh please,I knew that”she lied as she took a seat beside the male.He giggled at her,extending a hand out to her

“The name’s Chifuyu Matsuno,Nice to meet you partner”he said,waiting for her to shake his hand

“Partner?like friends?I like that!”she excitedly stated,shaking the males hand

“My names (F/n) (L/n),Nice to meet you partner”she grinned widely as the male only grinned back in response

Flashback Ends

At that time, the word ‘partner’ had meant something different to him.It was more like a buddy but now to Chifuyu it was definitely a romantic term. ’A lover’ would fit that perfectly

“You took so long that the next olympics started”Chifuyu whined as the girl only looked at him in disbelief

“I didn not! You got here way to early”she stated as the boy only looked elsewhere,knowing very well that what she said was true

“I wanted to look good today and that’s what I get?”she asked,crossing her arms over her chest.Chifuyus eyes scanned the girls attire,cheeks getting warmer as he realized something

You hated skirts so much.The only reason you’d wear it was because you were forced to and didn’t want to do anything that would cause any problems to you or your family and here you were,dressed in a beautiful white blouse whose front had a ruffled collar.That was paired with a maroon pleated skirt that reached your knee.The shoes consisted of a pair of navy blue pumps

“Why do you look like you’re wearing a different version of our school uniform?”he teased as the girl looked at him in disbelief.Of course it was a lie.He couldn't take his eyes off of her.He’d only seen her in the school uniform and hoodies at home so seeing her like this drove him insane

“I’ll have you know that HIna and Emma helped me pick this out”she said,visibly upset by his comment

“I’m kidding,It looks beautiful on you”he admitted,now looking straight into the girls eyes.she flinched and looked away

“A-Ah well,thank you”she said taking a step away from the male

“Shall we head in?”he asked,offering a hand to the girl.She nodded excitedly before holding his hand.It was a thing that they did.Holding hands was normal to them but it just felt different today

“Let��s go see the sharks first!”she demanded as the boy eagerly nodded,the two running to see the sharks

“Woah! That looks like Baji doesn’t it?”she asked,laughing as the shark only came closer to the glass,displaying its sharp teeth to the two

“Woah! I’ve gotta take a photo and send it to him”he hurriedly fished out his phone from his pocket and snapped a quick photo of the shark before looking at you.You had a wide grin spread across your face as you looked at the shark.His heart couldn’t take it anymore.He quickly snapped a photo of you,mentally telling himself to set it as his lock screen after he got back home

“Let’s go see the dolphins now!”she exclaimed running to where the dolphins were,leaving the boy behind

“(F/n)! Wait for me!”he called out as he chased the girl only to find out that she got lost in the crowd

“What the-Where did all these people come from?”he mumbled as he pushed through a group of people only to find her standing near a souvenir shop

“I told you not to run”he whined as the girl didn’t reply.Her eyes were glued to a penguin plushie.It was a bit chubby and had a tiny bow around its neck but the most noticeable feature was its blue eyes

“You like it?”Chifuyu questioned as the girl nodded,eyes not leaving the plushie

“How much is it old man?”he questioned pulling out his wallet

“Y-you really don’t have to,I don’t think my parents would want me spending money on something this silly”she assured as she gave him her usual smile

“It’ll be 600¥”he stated

“That’s way too costly”he argued as the old man only raised a brow at him

“I’ll give it to you for free if you kiss her”he stated,a smile spreading across his lips

“W-What the hell are you saying?”Chifuyu asked,face turning red as he processed what the old man told him

“Goodbye then”he blankly said before getting back to reading the newspaper

“Chifuyu,let’s go shall we?”

“No! You really liked it so”he started before gently grabbing your shoulders to face him

“A-A kiss is nothing right?”he asked,face beet red from embarrassment.Your face mirrored his as the male leaned in,only a few centimeters away before something hit Chifuyu on the face.He quickly grabbed the plushie before looking back at the old man

“You really think I’d ask you to do that?Youngsters these days are so eager to kiss”he laughed as Chifuyu looked at the man in embarrassment ,bowing his head down to apologize to him

“Take good care of her”the old man grinned as Chifuyu nodde before handing you the plushie.You smiled at the male,unable to look him in the eye after the incident that took place

“Let’s go see the penguins last okay?”he suggested as you nodded,now holding his hand so you wouldn’t get lost

After almost an hour you two finally made your way to where the penguins were.The whole time you were unable to make eye contact with him.Your heart was racing every time he spoke or every time he held your hand.you really couldn’t take it anymore and just wanted to curl up into a ball from embarrassment

“We’re here!”he excitedly announced as you snapped out of your thoughts ,looking at the adorable penguins swimming around.Completely forgetting about what you were troubled about, you ran to the glass and excitedly looked at the penguins,eyes sparking

“They’re so adorable Chifuyu!”you exclaimed

“I can’t take it anymore”you heard him mumble.you turned to face the male only to see his lips inches away from yours.You panicked and placed the plushie that was in your hand between the two of you.His eyes shot open as he met (e/c) eyes,face flushed in a deep shade of red

“I-I uh-”you stuttered.Chifuyu lowered the plush toy from his lips and looked at you for a split second before his hands made its way to your cheeks,cupping them as he placed his lips on yours.The plushie fell from your hand to the floor as your eyes widened slightly before closing to enjoy the kiss

He pulled back,cheeks flushed as his hand still cupped your cheeks

“I’m obviously gonna say that you’re the cutest thing to see at the aquarium”he stated as you blushed

“S-Since when have you liked me?”you asked,Confused as to when it happened

“Beats me,I guess i realized it on the day we went for the festival”he sheepishly stated ,eyes still glued to yours

“I-I wanted to confess first though”you pouted as the male giggled

“I’d say that this is better than any other shoujo manga I’ve read”

“How did i ever fall for you I wonder”you said,as you chuckled at his words

“Don’t know but would you still like to be my partner?”

[bruh-haikyuu]

REQUEST: Before I ask can I just say HOW MUCH I LOVE YOUR BLOG SJSGSGWJIWND THIS IS THE BEST HAIKYUU BLOG IVE EVER SEEN 💕💕ok but can I request tsukki and oikawa where whenever they’re around their s/o they get all lovey dovey and the team sees it for the first time and freaks out (probably teases them) and s/o gets really red? Sorry it’s so long I just love this-💕🥺

A/N: Thank you soo much anon!! I’m glad you enjoy my writing :DD Also. RAS in Bandori. I’m gonna go “DAKARA LONELY LONELY” for a week.

A (Not-So) Secret Rendezvous w/ Tsukishima and Oikawa

warnings: none

Tsukishima Kei

Tsukishima Kei was a reserved man. A man without frills or laces. A man who doesn’t mince his words. A simple man who was a bit more of a piece of work than other first years. And that was what people fathomed out of him—

Until this.

“Crouch down, Ryuu, I want to see!”

Scuffling behind him, Karasuno’s libero craned his neck over the curve of the stucco walls. Nishinoya squinted at the private spectacle then gasped theatrically.

Standing too closely together to be modest were the seemingly pensive Tsukishima and you. Someone cute who either had the confidence or the lack of distaste to be holding his hands with a buddy-buddy swing. But you were smiling, and he was smiling, and that itself was like the world had suddenly decided to do a handstand.

“Kei-kun, are you sure it’s fine to be holding hands here? You only ever want to get close to me when we’re far away from school,” you muttered.

Kei-kun! the nickname etched itself into the second years’ beings. Did this brute put mind tricks on you or something? Tanaka felt veins popping out from his knuckles—what the hell did you see in this bespectacled jerk?! Aside from his annoyingly handsome face, once Tsukishima opened his mouth, everything was over.

Shaking his head, the man in question pulled the tips of your fingers towards his lips, gently kissing them. “I’m sorry I’ve been avoiding you for so long. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

You gave him a toothy smile, enough to make the hearts of both your lover and your spectators melt. “‘Don’t mind’! That’s what you say in volleyball, right? As long as we can spend some time together like this once in a while, then I’m happy.”

Your boyfriend thought that it was plain luck that you were in school. If it were any place else... away from the prying eyes of his seniors and his clubmates, then who could tell how much longer he’d be able to hold himself back from you? Hiding his obvious blush behind the back of his hands, the quiet middle blocker looked away.

“Geez, you should be careful what you say to me, you know,” he murmured.

Meanwhile, you still hadn’t realized that your audience had multiplied. From the two zestful second-years who’d been passing by, to the two third years Asahi and Sugawara who’d gone out of their way to look for their juniors.

“Ehh... Tsukishima, that’s so cute,” Sugawara cooed, pressing down on Tanaka’s shaved head for leverage. “It’s like a panel from a shoujo manga.”

Hinata stuck out his tongue. “That’s gross...”

“Oi, Hinata, dumbass! You’re stepping on my foot!”

“Hey, you two... don’t fight, okay? W-whoa—!”

“Aaah?!”

Losing their footing altogether, the boys of the Karasuno Volleyball Club came tumbling on top of each other like dominos. Groaning at the weight of the ace’s leg on his stomach, Tanaka turned as white as a sheet at the pair of demonic eyes that met his.

“How much did you see.” It wasn’t a question. It was a command, and when faced with someone who looked like he was about to eat you, Tanaka could only squeak a small “everything”.

You were beyond abashed. Rooted to the spot, you could only soak in the sight of your not-so-secret boyfriend boring holes through his clubmates with his steely gaze. But oh God, if you didn’t stop him, who knew what would happen to those poor souls—and he was just getting a little more motivated about the club too!

“I-It’s okay! If they keep this a secret, it’ll be fine, r-right?” you interrupted, getting redder with every word.

“Y/N, it’s not that,” Tsukishima griped. “They’ll only bug me about it me afterwards.”

It was your turn to squeak. Suddenly, just as the tall first year was about to coerce his clubmates into a knelt apology, a loud voice boomed from within the empty gymnasium.

“Hey! Where is everyone?! Get back here and practice!”

Tanaka, mid-way into pressing his forehead onto the ground, sighed. Thank you, Daichi-san...

Oikawa Tooru

Being in a relationship was hard work. Being in a relationship with the Oikawa Tooru was... an effort you had to double in with your tight schedule. That meant having to answer questions from his admirers about what color of underwear he was wearing today, eating the foods he didn’t like and making sure he didn’t stay up late before an important match or exam.

Today, it was bringing him the Classic Literature homework he’d forgotten to pick up from your teacher. And for the fifth time of the day, you wondered if you were his lover or a nagging parent.

“Excuse me,” you knocked on the open doors of the gymnasium. “Is Oikawa here?”

A ball tucked under his arm, the vice-captain approached you. Tall. Were all the members of the Volleyball Club so insanely collosal? “Yo, L/N-san. Oikawa’s out to refill his bottle, he’ll be back in a while.”

“In that case, Iwaizumi-san, could you give these to him? I need to—”

“Y/N-chaaan!”

Whipping your head towards the direction of your boyfriend, you weren’t given a moment to spare as a pair lean arms swaddled you into warmth. Oikawa was already burrowing himself on the crown of your hair, smiling at the scent that weaved through his nostrils.

“Did you come to see me practice, Y/N-chan?” he giggled, spinning you around by your waist. “Aah, that makes me so happy to hear that...”

“O-Oikawa, let me go! I have Cleaning Duty to get back to!” you grappled for air, a twinge of freedom. But this stubborn mule of your boyfriend wasn’t called a service ace for nothing.

“C’moon... Let me kiss you, alright? You look really cute today~”

You almost forgot about Iwaizumi who was tugging on the back of Oikawa’s collar, which was proving to be just as fruitless as the saying goes. “Oi, Shittykawa! You’re gonna get reported for sexual harrasment!”

They’re watching. It just had to be your pure luck that fate bound you to this shameless exhibitionist. The warmth from Oikawa’s embrace added to the searing gazes of his teammates turned to a scorching heat that burst into red on your face.

There was only one way out of this vice-like grip, and you would rather eat cement than say it. But if it meant escaping from the unneeded attention from the public, then there was no other way. I want to crawl into a hole and die, you sighed.

“...T-Tooru...” you murmured into his chest, feeling Oikawa’s clutches go slack. “Tooru, just take your homework and let me go back to my duties, please? Tooru-chan~?”

Stifling their laughter, Matsukawa and Hanamaki who’d been watching the entire debacle go down into flames were now coughing in an adamant attempts to hide their shock.

Finally setting you down on your feet, Oikawa muttered lowly, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. “... Again.”

“H-huh?”

“‘Tooru-chan’! Please say that again one more time! That’ll be enough to keep me going for weeks!”

Slamming the papers into his chest, you scrambled out of the gym, blushing madly. “Oikawa, you pervert! I’m leaving!”

Ogling the lovestruck captain who was being mangled like a limp rag by Iwaizumi, Kindaichi put his fingers under his chin in a faux expression of deep thought. Kunimi, who was already considering bleaching his eyes after what he’d seen, perked up at his teammate’s low hum.

“Kindaichi, you okay?”

“Kunimi...” he said, digging the heel of his palm into his hips, “Do you think I’ll get myself someone as cute as L/N-senpai one day?”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Shallot Head.”

“Kunimi!”

[doyouevenshipbr0]

hi! im bored and in quarantine so i am gonna post my top 10 ships of allllllll time! so over the course of all the anime ive watched and the manga ive read, these are my 10 favs. this list changes sometimes, but all in all it relatively stays the same. okkkk lets go!

10. Tomoe and Nanami from Kamisama Kiss

shoujo is very hit or miss with me, but this one is a BIG hit. the relationship between tomoe and nanami is sooo well paced and really enjoyable to watch blossom. they bicker, they hug, they are real cuties. also im a sucker for fantasy and gods and things like that so this is nice hehe

9. Jacuzzi and Nice from Baccano

we love them. a lot. if u talk to anyone who has seen baccano they will tell u it is CRIMINALLY underrated which is very true. on top of that, jacuzzi and nice are an underrated couple. they have such a sweet backstory and their personalities work soooo well together!!!!! they are adorable. watch baccano.

8. Akihito and Mirai from Beyond the Boundary

omggggg! a beautiful couple from a BEAUTIFUL anime. they are sooooooooo sweet. they are both just adorable ok. the movie made me love them 18972938230 times more omfg. if u are a sucker for cuties being cute while also risking their lives pls watch this lmao.

7. Tsuyopon and Yukirin from Rainbow Days

omfg. they are one of those couples that is together from the very beginning and good lord is it incredible. the show/manga revolves around four “couples” and unfortunately, they are the one that is probably shown the least but when they do have moments i just wanna curl up and cry they’re so cute. towards the end of the manga they have.... an AMAZING moment it is so sweet i legitimately go back and read it like once a month. shy broody boy x sweet girl who is so in love with him are always the best pairings.

6.  Otani and Koizumi from Lovely Complex

ahhh lovely complex. SUCH a good show. short boy and tall girl who r both goofballs and argue! we love it. riza reminds me a lot of myself, so she will always have a special place in my heart. i really enjoy otani and riza’s relationship bc its realistic! they have their ups and downs but its still so enjoyable to see them develop. pleaseee watch this show ok u will not regret it.

5. Kabakura and Koyanagi from Wotakoi

kabakura and koyanagi are simply elite. its as simple as that. again, another couple that is together since the beginning (for a few years in fact) and i LOVE them. imma just say it.... they should be the main couple....... i love narumi and hirotaka tho! its just... i love these two a lottttt. their fights are so funny but they always make up in the end and they’re always there for each other ughhhh they love each other sm u can just tell. all of their moments are godly and i wanna see more of these two BADLY.

4. Ryuji and Taiga from Toradora

my<3 favorite<3 romance<3 anime<3. wow. these two go way back w me lmao. its like one of the first anime i watched and i just fell IN LOVE w them. i think these two are definitely more of a slowburn but theyre clearly soulmates from the very start. they got each other’s backs while also kickcing each other’s asses. they r made for each other and while this is, like i said, a slowburn, i think the pacing of their relationship is perfect and the payoff is so worth it. watch toradora ok.

3. Soul and Maka from Soul Eater

sigh. soul and maka. talk about ACTUAL soulmates. they are just actually perfect for each other and...... the fact that there is no sequel to soul eater is simply CRIMINAL. i need more of these two sososo bad and ill never get it but ya know what thats ok<3 doesnt change the fact that their compatibility is unmatched and they are so much fun to watch. they kick ass and manage to still be adorable and soft for each other<3 stan soma.

2. Edward and Winry from Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood

oh and here we have my fav anime! of all time! yeah fmab is certainly not a romance by any means, but it still managed to portray edward and winry’s relationship perfectly. ofc i would have loved to see more of them BUT i get it, fmab isnt about romance. but when we do get moments w these two, they are just perfect. alllllll their moments and dialogue is always so MEANINGFUL even if its just when theyre bickering like a married couple! u just cant help but love these two and if you say they aren’t perfect for each other then u are just a big fat liar. 

1. Gray and Juvia from Fairy Tail

who is surprised here? WHO? yea do i even have to go into my reasoning for these two? theyve been my otp for a longgggg time now. so imma just leave it at this,i love them. they are perfect. period.

ok if u actually read all of this i love u a lot hehe<3

[kuroopaisen]

the in-between | iii (kuroo tetsurou)

➵  it took you and kuroo far too long to learn that love was never singularly defined. it can be both striking and understated, sudden and unhurried, gentle and all-consuming. and most of all, it can be anything else in-between.

wc: 7.2k (part 3 of 3)

warnings: f!reader, depiction of anxiety & mentions of depression (kind of)

a/n: a grand final thank you to @w-yuren once again for going through ALL OF THIS,,, anyway, i hope you enjoy this finally!  

m.list |  ch. 2 ↞ ch. 3

"You gotta make sure you squish it down," Kuroo said, patting his hair.

"I know," you laughed, on your tiptoes as you balanced yourself on one of his shoulders. You tried not to think too much about how close the two of you were, and how unnecessary it was. Measuring the heights of the rest of the team hadn’t felt this weird. Was it because you’d stood on a step ladder for the other behemoths of the team? Was it because Kuroo was kind of attractive? Hard to say. 

You really should’ve just used the step ladder. That way, you wouldn’t have to rely on your admittedly shoddy sense of balance– 

Oh shit. You felt yourself falling backwards, squeezing your eyes shut as you prepared for your inevitable and humiliating collision with the gym floor. 

But you didn’t fall. A pair of hands grabbed you, hoisting you up. 

You opened your eyes. 

He may have had a shit-eating grin on his face, but the look that Kuroo was giving you was undeniably fond. Although, fond in the way you might look at a puppy that was chasing its own tail. 

His hands were on your waist. You’re close, closer than you’d ever been before. You looked up at him, unable to shake the feeling that this was a bit like something out of a shoujo manga.

"You and your damn lack of balance," he chuckled, that aggravating smile of his painting his lips. "You've really gotta do something about that, you know."

"I'm well aware," you huffed, plopping your heels back on the ground. You tried to ignore the hammering in your chest and the way you couldn’t take your eyes away from his face. You tried to stop your mind from flicking back to the day he’d been crowned captain, and how it had felt to be in his arms like that. 

You’re doing a rather shit job at it, really. So instead you half-dove for your notebook, jotting down his height. You’d already prepared all the measurements from the last assessment in order to compare them. 

"You've barely grown," you mused, brows all furrowed as you looked at the notebook.

"As long as I'm still taller than Bokuto, it's fine."

You laughed. He's glad for it. "Isn't he catching up to you?" You asked, looking over your shoulder at him.

Kuroo waved a hand. "We don't talk about that."

You smiled, taking the opportunity to jog over to Coach Nekomata and hand him these new stats. You really needed a moment to distance yourself from him, to let yourself catch your breath. 

Those weird little feelings had been cropping up more and more. Frankly, they were annoying. You enjoyed your friendship with Kuroo. It was comfortable. It was safe. And you didn’t know what you’d do without it. Feeling… whatever it was that you were feeling could jeopardise that. So, you were determined to suppress them as aggressively as you could. 

Meanwhile, he’s trying to get the thought of just how pretty you looked in his arms out of his own head.  

✉

[YOU] 8:31 PM: if i told you you've shrunk a few mms since last year, what would you do?

[taller than bokuto (for now)] 8:31 PM: don't even joke about that

[taller than bokuto (for now)] 8:31 PM: i’m a respectable 187.9cm thank you very much

[taller than bokuto (for now)] 8:32 PM: that's basically 188. and up from, what? 186.4 cm last year?

[YOU] 8:32 PM: aw you sound just like yaku

[taller than bokuto (for now)] 8:32 PM: now that's just uncalled for

✧ ✧ ✧

Your approach to training camp was quite similar to how a zoo animal might respond to being released into the wild. Excitement, followed by a brief spurt of anxiety, and then flitting about relentlessly as you experienced all you could. 

He hadn’t had many chances to talk to you, given how busy you both were. He was actually kind of miffed at that, much to his own surprise. But, he knew it’d only be for a week. 

You were always with the other managers, sorting out food and water, and making sure that everyone was doing okay. You had some friends on Karasuno, too, and you’d been taking the time to catch up with them. 

Somewhere along the way, you’d ended up becoming friends with Bokuto of all people. You’d been acquainted before from previous practice matches, but for some reason you’d really clicked at this camp. 

And that was fine. Wonderful, even. But sometimes Kuroo really needed your help to control the kids, but he never knew where you were. 

At that moment, he needed you to whip Lev into shape. So he was doing his daily scan of the gym, hoping to catch sight of you. 

Ah. There you were.

You were peering at… something, brows furrowed and bottom lip jutted out just a little. You were sitting on the gym floor, hunched over your knees. You looked like a little gremlin. It's kind of cute, but he's not going to say that.

"What're you thinking about?" Kuroo flopped down next to you, legs spread wide.

You nudged him with your foot. "Give me some space, would you?"

"Nah," he shrugged, spreading his legs even wider.  

“You doing alright?” You murmured, slumping down to sit properly. 

“Lev’s being a little shit,” Kuroo said, “I need you to talk to him.”

“Same as always, then,” you smiled. But, you still weren’t looking at him. Your gaze was somewhere else entirely. Frowning, Kuroo did his best to follow your gaze across the busy gym. 

Were you looking at… Bokuto?

He glanced back at your face, trying not to get distracted by your eyes as he followed your gaze once more.

Yeah. There's no way you weren’t.

Bokuto was two courts away, rapt in deep conversation with Akaashi. Kuroo knew, deep in his heart, that it was probably about something stupid. But nonetheless, you were staring at him. 

"Don't tell me you have a thing for dumbasses," Kuroo chuckled, trying to ignore that weird little pit forming in his stomach.

"And what if I did?" You hummed, tilting your head.

"Really?" Kuroo scoffed. "Bokuto's your type?"

You used to be so easy to fluster. But you knew each other too well now. 

If he wanted to know if you really thought about Bokuto that way, he’d have to be bolder. 

He wished he could ask the question more directly. He wished he could ask in a way that'd get him a definite answer.

You grinned, shaking your head. "I'm not admiring him, if that's what you're asking." 

"Then why are you staring at him like some kind of superfan?"

"He's just… serotonin in human form," you shrugged. "Literally, he's always smiling about something." You bit your lip. "I don't know, he just seems like someone who's… always making people… happy."

Kuroo snorted. "You really don't know him very well."

"Hey, don't be mean!" You slapped his arm gently for that one.

"I wasn't insulting him!" Kuroo grinned, holding up his hands. "I'm just saying–"

"I thought you were friends."

"We are!" Kuroo couldn’t tell if you were genuinely upset or not. "I just… not sure if his team would agree with you on that," he grinned. "Have you seen him in a slump?"

You shrugged. "Not my problem." A pause. "Thank God."

Kuroo chuckled. "You know, I can put in a good word for you if you'd like." He didn’t know why he offered. Maybe to ignore that swell in his stomach. Maybe to hear you say 'no thanks.’

You shook your head, a smile tugging at your lips. He thanked whatever deity was looking over him. 

"Can't I just admire someone for being a good person, Tetsu?"

He didn’t miss a beat. He quirked an eyebrow at you. "Calling me that here, huh?" A grin swept across his face before he could suppress it. "What if people hear you? They might get the wrong idea."

You blushed at his words. You blushed. He didn’t know why he loved it so much when you did.  

"Shut up," you mumbled, crossing your arms. It's like you’re shrinking. Some part of him, unruly and foolish, wanted to wrap his arms around you.

Instead, he smiled, reaching up to ruffle your hair. "I don't mind, at least."

You glared at him. You didn’t know how that name had come out of your mouth. You’re still not sure if it's okay for you to call him that. You just knew that the little smile that touched his lips whenever you used that nickname made you happy.

But it's a small fondness; the sort that made you feel all giddy inside, but usually went unnoticed regardless. 

But nothing went unnoticed with Kuroo. No remark, no glance. He's infuriatingly observant.

You finally understood what his opponents must feel.

His hand was still tangled in your hair. Neither of you had broken eye contact; and you’d been looking at each other for much longer than usual. There’s a voice in the back of your mind, begging you not to let your mind wander. But it’s hard, when you’re this close. When he felt barely a breath away. Your ears thrummed as you came back down to earth, the pounding of volleyballs and the chatter of far too many sweaty boys reminding you of where you are.

"Hey, Kuroo!”

A voice called out. You’re not quite sure who it belonged to. You’re too distracted by the look in his eyes.

His head whipped around, brow creased ever so slightly. But it was enough for you to know he's annoyed. You wouldn’t let yourself wonder why.

But he's up on his feet, and the air suddenly felt a lot cooler. And you couldn’t help but wonder, 'what was that?’

As he walked away, he couldn’t stop thinking about you. About Bokuto. About the fact he's so bothered by the mere thought that you might have a crush on his friend. You’d said you didn’t like him, right? That should’ve been enough. And yet, he couldn’t stop thinking about it. There's something about it being someone he knew that got on his nerves.

He’d convinced himself that this wasn’t love. So why did he feel like this? 

✉

[a respectable 187.9cm] 11:54 PM: i literally cannot believe that bokuto’s your type

[YOU] 11:54 PM: okay FIRST OF ALL

[YOU] 11:54 PM: i told you he’s not my type omfg i can’t believe you’re still thinking about this 

[YOU] 11:54 PM: second of all

[YOU] 11:54 PM: tetsu you should be asleep 

[YOU] 11:55 PM: go to sleep or there’ll be consequences 

[a respectable 187.9cm] 11:55 PM: i just

[a respectable 187.9cm] 11:55 PM: i thought you’d have better taste than that, you know? 

[YOU] 11:55 PM: I Am Going To Kill You

✧ ✧ ✧

“Okay,” Kuroo nodded, pen in hand. “So what exactly are you worried about?” 

You were both sat at the desk in your room, huddled over a textbook. You’d been trying to pay attention, but you just couldn’t. Your brain was too frazzled from stress. And Kuroo, as always, had picked up on that. 

You took a deep breath, straightening out your shoulders. Quite frankly, you were worried about a lot. But, you weren’t about to drop every single little anxiety you had on him all at once. 

“It’s the uni exams, right?” He asked, tilting his head at you. “Amongst other things.”

You nodded slowly. “Yeah…” 

“Did you want to do more practice exams?” He asked, reaching for his laptop. 

You shook your head. “No, I’m just…” You took another deep breath, your fists balling in the fabric of your sweatpants. “I feel like I can’t keep up with all the content we’ve been learning, and I genuinely have no idea what I’m going to do if I bomb the entrance exams.” 

Kuroo gazed at you with just the right amount of sympathy. 

“My chemistry grade’s been improving, yes, but I feel like…” You took another deep breath, trying to ground yourself. “It’s been… really, really hard trying to stay on top of everything, and… and I don’t even know what I want to do with my life, so I have no idea how hard I’m supposed to be working, or what I’m supposed to be focused on, and… and I’m scared, and I’m worried I’m letting people down, and I’m.. I’m scared that I’m not going to do anything meaningful with my life, and–” 

Your words caught in your throat as you felt a hand on your head, smoothing over your hair. It wasn’t an unusual spiel for you; Kuroo was quite used to them. And he was getting better and better at handling them. 

“Listen,” he sighed, wrapping an arm around your shoulders. “I know it’s hard for you to see your own merits. And I know that things are getting pretty overwhelming. But you’ve got to have faith in yourself.” 

You swallowed, leaning into his touch instinctively. 

“I know that’s easier said than done, but you’re smarter than you think you are,” he said, giving your arm a squeeze. “You’ve improved a lot over this past year, you know? You finally know what a compound is!”

“Hey,” you whined. 

“I know, I know,” he grinned, hand now ruffling your hair. “But believe me. You can do this. I know you can.” 

You bit your lip. Oh, no. Your chest was constricting again. 

“I’m just… scared,” you mumbled, looking down at your hands. 

“I know,” he murmured, giving your arm another a light squeeze. “Let’s take this one step at a time, yeah?”

You nodded, but you didn’t lift your head back up. You kept staring at your balled up fists, trying your best to take a long, measured breath, in the hopes that doing so would help ground you. 

Don’t think too much. Just focus on the moment. On his voice. 

“Hey,” he murmured, unlooping his arm from your shoulders and instead taking your hand. You flinched at the suddenness of it, but you didn’t pull away. He brought his pen to the back of your hand, the nib tickling you as he scribbled something over your skin. 

It’s going to be okay. You can do this. Those words stared at you from the back of your hand, emblazoned in Kuroo’s chicken-scratch script. 

He’d always been saying this sort of stuff to you. He’d always been trying to help ground you, to bring you back down to earth. And above it all, he’d always had an unshakeable faith in you. A faith you didn’t quite feel like you deserved. But he was always there, always supporting you. 

He meant more to you than you could even put into words.

“I’m sorry,” you sniffed, squeezing your eyes shut as you felt an all-too-familiar sting in them. “I didn’t mean to freak out on you, I’m–”

“No,” Kuroo shook his head, smiling at you. “Don’t do that.” 

You bit your lip. He hated it when you apologised for stuff like this. Totally unwarranted, he’d said. 

“Do you still have it?” Kuroo asked, letting go of your hand. 

You dug around in your bag, pulling out a little booklet. “This thing?” 

He grinned. “Yeah. You told me it’d be useful.” 

“It has been,” you murmured, fiddling with the corner of the booklet.

You’d been a little surprised when he’d first handed it to you a few months ago, but now it was well-worn. It was a collection of articles, each one dedicated to different types of coping strategies for all sorts of problems. Stress, anxiety, melancholy, a lack of motivation… any potential problem you could face, he’d found at least a handful of potential solutions for. 

Honestly, you weren’t sure if things would be running so smoothly if it wasn’t for him. Kuroo was the sort of person who always liked to be on top of things – ‘it gives me more time to goof off,’ he’d said. But you knew that he also wanted to do well; to see his hard work pay off, to get into a good university, and to make his family proud.

And he’d helped you stay on top of things as well. His timetables and this booklet were just one small part of that.  

As you ran your thumb over the booklet, a lump began to form in your throat. 

You really couldn’t have predicted that the two of you would get so close. And each and every day, you grew closer still. 

You’d noticed the little affections between the two of you. The way your hands would brush when he walked you home. The way you leant against one another whenever you had movie nights. They way his hand always lingered in your hair when he ruffled it. They were only little moments, nothing particularly grand. It was nothing that transgressed either of your boundaries. Everything you shared was nebulously platonic; more a testament to just how comfortable you really were with each other than to any undercurrent that ran differently to friendship. 

But you knew that some part of you wanted it to speak to something else. That frightened you.

And yet, romance didn’t cover it nicely. It felt almost disrespectful to try and think of your feelings that way. You had the suspicion that this love of yours didn’t fall neatly into either camp.

There’s so much at play – he meant so much to you, and you honestly couldn’t imagine your life without him in it. Where would you be? Who would you be? 

You loved Kuroo Tetsurou. Deeply. And you had for a while. 

Your love for him was somewhere in the in-between. There’s a wealth of feeling here, deep and powerful and intimidating. But you were scared of the grey. Scared of what it meant. Scared of how those feelings might express themselves. And you had no idea what he was feeling. No idea if he was even on the same page. The last thing you wanted to do was to make him uncomfortable.  

So, it’s easier to call them platonic. For the sake of your friendship, if nothing else. 

✉

[passable at best] 11:34 PM: i hope you’re asleep right now

[passable at best] 11:34 PM: but don’t forget to look after yourself, okay? 

[passable at best] 11:34 PM: i know you’re really stressed, but don’t forget to eat well and keep your fluids up 

[passable at best] 11:35 PM: and when you’re stressed, take a deep breath 

[passable at best] 11:35 PM: your brain needs the oxygen, if it’s going to run smoothly ;) 

✧ ✧ ✧

It took everything within you not to squeal at the top of your lungs as you watched that final spike from Yamamoto go flying off the hand of one of Nohebi’s blockers. 

Your kids had done it. They’d won. 

You’re running on pure adrenaline as you launched yourself in the air, jumping being the only way to properly express your delight. Yamamoto dashed towards you, hands held up. You high-fived him with a grin, saying something that you were sure was totally incoherent. But you just didn’t quite know how to put your overwhelming pride into words. 

Lev was next, running at you while screaming. You screamed back, standing on your tip-toes in an attempt to ruffle his hair. Oh, you had words for him; but you’d wait until you’d calmed down a bit. 

There was someone in particular that you wanted to see, though. Someone– 

“Oi!” You flinched, turning around. 

Kuroo. With his arms spread wide, already anticipating you. 

You threw yourself into his embrace, and his arms found their way around your waist. He wanted nothing more than to be close to you, to share the joy and elation coursing through his veins. What he wanted most, in that moment, was to be with you. 

You melted into him, your face nestled in the crook of his neck. And then, he knew. 

It’s love.

It’s not love in the way it’s always been sold to him. It’s not a love that burns bright with passion and spectacle.

But it’s how he loves you. It’s a quiet, peaceful love, an impressionist watercolour of every shade and tone of affection. 

You looked up at him, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling with joy. 

And he wondered, in that moment, if he should kiss you.

You’re looking up at him with such resolve, such determination that he felt like maybe, just maybe, the things he'd dreamt of might be possible.

There's a pleasant remembrance, a deep gratitude for the fact that all this time, you’d been there. Supporting him. Like you always had.

But it wasn't time to think about it. You’re still technically on the court, and there were so many people around. He wasn’t going to put you on the spot like that. 

He merely wrapped his arms around you again, pulling you into his chest. "I can't thank you enough, you know."

"Me?" Your face was burning red, and you’re glad he couldn’t see that.

“Yeah,” he chuckled, resisting the urge to kiss the top of your head. “You’ve done a lot for me. Both as a manager, and as a friend.” 

Your arms were around his waist, and you squeezed him tight for just a moment. “You too.” 

He knew he should let you go. He knew that the two of you had been entwined like this for far too long to pass it off as platonic. But he didn’t want to let go. He wanted this moment to last forever. 

He only found the courage to let you go when Lev came thundering towards the two of you, arms raised above his head and elated smile on his face. Kuroo managed to release you, watching with an unabashedly fond smile as Lev gave you a highly dramatised play-by play of the game you’d just been watching. 

But you were smiling, all the way up to your eyes. And for Kuroo, part of loving you was feeling nothing but joy when he saw that look on your face. 

And he knew he would be blessed with that sight for the rest of the evening. 

By the time you’d all left the stadium, you and Yaku were in tears. The first years were flitting around, offering you both a copious amount of tissues. Both of you refused them, content on just using your shirts. 

Usually, the sight of you in tears would break his heart. But he knew these were happy tears. And he wouldn’t trade that brilliant smile that accompanied them for anything. 

You’d calmed down a bit by the time you all settled into a nearby ramen joint. The tears had stopped, replaced by nothing but high spirits. Kuroo, for one, was having the time of his life. There wasn’t much time to just let go these days; entrance exams were closer than he wanted them to be, and finals were growing more and more imminent. And that wasn’t even taking volleyball into account. 

But for now, he could lose himself in this moment; in sharing his glee with this team that he loved so much, that he’d fought alongside with everything he had. 

And you, of course. 

As he sat next to you, watching your face light up as you spoke to Kai about nothing of consequence, he knew that he was done with tip-toeing around the issue. Done with denying his feelings. He knew that he’s feeling something on top of friendship. Not instead of it, but alongside it. And maybe that was the realisation he should’ve come to a while ago.  

But that didn’t matter. He knew now. He had to say something. 

He tried his best as he walked you home. But confessing was harder than he’d given it credit for. 

You were chatting away so animatedly about how proud you were, your entire face lit from within by nothing but pure adoration for your kids. You even pulled out specific examples from today’s game, complimenting each person who’d been on the court. 

Seeing you like this made him so soft. So fond. 

And he wanted to kiss you really, really badly. 

Say something, he thought to himself. Say something, you absolute idiot. 

“And Lev,” you breathed, a hand on his chest. “Can you believe it?” 

Kuroo chuckled, shaking his head. “I’ll be honest, I thought it’d take a bit longer for the whole teammate thing to click.” 

“I’m so proud of him,” you said, shaking your head. “He’s grown so much in just one year.” 

So have you, Kuroo thought to himself. 

“Will Yaku be okay?” You asked, looking up at him. Fuck, you were so pretty. 

“He should be,” Kuroo nodded. “Honestly, at least that sprain means he’s obligated to take a couple days rest.”

You grinned. “That’s true.” 

Your arm kept brushing against his, your hands so close to touching. 

Why were his palms so sweaty? He might’ve reached out and taken your hand if his own didn’t feel so gross. 

Fuck. You’ve already reached your house. 

“Well,” you sighed, rocking on your feet a little. “Thanks.” 

“For what?” He raised an eyebrow at you. 

“For tricking me into being your manager,” you laughed, moving to stand right in front of him. “It’s been fun.” 

“Geez, you don’t have to say it like it’s over.” He scoffed, too nervous to reach out and ruffle your hair like he usually would. 

“Sorry,” you grinned. “I’m just… happy.”

“Me too,” he admitted. 

You smiled at him, eyes bright and full of wonder. Were you letting the moment linger? Did you not want this to end either? Was there any possibility that you felt the same way he did? 

Do it, he thought to himself. She’s right there. Just… just do it. 

Something in your face shifted. Just a little. But you stepped back, giving him a resolute nod. 

The moment was gone. 

“Make sure you get plenty of rest, okay?” You smiled at him. 

Do something, he pleaded. 

But the adrenaline’s gone. That bright flame of courage he’d felt when you were in his arms had flickered out. And now you felt just out of reach. 

“I will,” he nodded. 

By the time you made it up to your room, you knew. 

You threw yourself on the bed, burying your head in your pillow. 

He was going to kiss you. 

You could see it in his eyes. In how he’d looked at you in his arms at the stadium. In the way he’d hesitated before dropping you home. 

You’d wanted him to kiss you. You’d felt nothing but crushing disappointment when he hadn’t. 

You rolled over onto your back, staring at your ceiling for a second. You took a few deep breaths – just as that little booklet of yours instructed you to. You needed to calm down. To sort out your thoughts. 

You sat up, reaching for the photo album sitting on your bedside table. 

It was his birthday tomorrow. It’d been lost in the hub-bub of the qualifiers, but you’d been preparing this gift for a couple of months now. You just had to get the photos from today printed, and it’d be complete. 

You flicked through the last few pages, gazing over the pictures of the past few months with a strange lump in your throat. 

It hit you as you looked at his face in one photo. It’s decorated with a genuine smile as he gazed at you, sat next to him in a little booth at a ramen joint. You’re not doing anything special. Just laughing, probably at something stupid he had said. But he looked so happy, and that made your heart ache in the way it only did for him. 

You couldn’t chalk your feelings up as just friendship. You had feelings for Kuroo Tetsurou, and they’re multiplicious. They’re something in-between friendship and romance, something you hadn’t given shape and form to. 

But they’re something you wanted to explore. 

✉

[YOU] 8:43 PM: hey

[YOU] 8:43 PM: i don’t think i made it clear enough today, but i’m so proud of you 

[tetsuwu] 8:44 PM: yeah, the team really gave it their all 

[YOU] 8:44 PM: they did! but i meant, like you. i’m proud of you

[tetsuwu] 8:47 PM: oi

[YOU] 8:47 PM: ????

[tetsuwu] 8:48 PM: what did i say about warning a guy before you say sappy stuff like that? 

[YOU] 8:48 PM: look, i just wanted to let you know! and you should really be proud of yourself, you know?

[tetsuwu] 8:49 PM: just. give me a moment 

[tetsuwu] 8:50 PM: also did you have to change my name back to tetsuwu?

[YOU] 8:50 PM: it’s a classic :) 

✧ ✧ ✧

Birthday mornings were always a gamble in the Kuroo household. 

Was the rest of the family going to pretend they forgot? Were they going to be standing in the corner of your room, waiting for you to wake up and scream? Were they going to be hiding in the garden as you woke up to an empty house? 

Most years he tried to wake up early to get the jump on them. But he’d permitted himself a sleep-in, just this once.

He’d been up late, after all, cursing himself out for being such a coward. The thought’s still with him when he woke up. 

He had to push it out of his mind. There was a lot to be happy about – a spot at nationals, a chance to make the Battle At The Garbage Dump actually happen, his birthday. He knew he shouldn’t dwell too much on you. He also had to check on Kenma; chances were he was suffering from a fever, as usual. 

He’d confess. Eventually. But first he had to actually enjoy his birthday. 

And the only way to kick that off was with a tea. 

He’s still a bit bleary from sleep as he walked into the kitchen, intent only on getting some caffeine into his body. He didn’t need to peek at the mirror to know that he looked like a damn mess. His family would chew him out for it regardless. 

So he tried to steel himself for the typical morning tirade, playful jabs that he had to be lucid enough to return. 

What he didn’t steel himself for, however, was seeing you standing in his kitchen. 

He froze. What were you doing here? Why were you speaking to his grandmother? Why did you look so cute in your jumper? 

The questions flooded his mind all at once, a mental labyrinth that he couldn’t quite make his way through. 

Your arms were around his neck before he even had the chance to process it.

“Happy birthday!”

Oh, oh–

He’d been awake for barely fifteen minutes, and he had to act like this wasn’t making him melt into a puddle? His mind was back at the play-offs, his arms around your waist as you pressed your body against his. He needed to regain his composure, and desperately.

“Thanks,” he managed to mumble out, his arms hovering awkwardly above your waist. 

At that moment, he locked eyes with his grandmother. Her face was plastered with the trademark Kuroo grin, and she winked at him. 

That’s it. His composure was completely in shambles. He grabbed your shoulders and pushed you away from him, giving him the space he needed to think clearly.  

“So…” He cleared his throat, one hand pressed on his neck as if to ground himself. “What are you doing here?”

Your face fell ever so slightly, and it broke his heart. 

“Isn’t it obvious?” You frowned, tilting your head at him. “It’s your birthday. I wanted to come and say hi.” 

He locked eyes with his grandmother again. She took a sip of her tea. 

“Let’s… let’s go to my room,” he suggested, painfully aware of the fact that the flush in his cheeks had made its way to his neck. It’s not ideal, being alone with you in his room when he’s feeling like this. But if he was going to embarrass himself, he’d prefer to do it somewhere his grandmother couldn’t watch. 

He didn’t wait for your response. 

He turned on his heels, stalking out of the kitchen as quickly as he could. 

He’d wanted at least twenty-four hours to pull himself together. At least. Then maybe he would’ve stood a chance while talking to you. But here you were, one of the first faces he’d seen today. How long had he been awake? Twenty minutes? 

This was, quite frankly, a disaster. 

He thundered into his room and sat himself on his bed, back a little too straight and hands balled up in his lap. 

You sat yourself down next to him after shutting his door, close enough to make him a little more nervous. You’ve got a gift bag in your hand and a look of concern painted on your face. 

“Tetsu, are you okay?” 

Did you have to use his nickname? You’d called him that plenty of times before, but now it just felt… strange. Now it made his stomach flutter in all sorts of ways.

“Yeah,” he blushed, looking away from you. “Do I seem… not okay?”

“You seem uneasy.” 

Idiot, he thought to himself. Of course you’d be able to read him. And it’s not like he’s being subtle. 

“I’m fine,” he said, trying to replicate his usual easy smile. “Just feeling old, you know?” 

You laughed. “Sure.” 

He could feel his face burning up. And he could feel you watching him. That just made it worse. 

He didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know what he even wanted to say. Blurting out a confession wasn’t the best way to go about it. But he didn’t even know how to start a conversation with you right now. 

“I, uh… I brought you something,” you said, holding out the bag. 

He took it with a nod, setting it in his lap. Okay. This was a start. At the very least, he now had something to talk to you about. 

He took a deep breath as he reached into the bag, pulling out a thick, square-shaped present. Peering into the bag, he caught sight of an envelope. 

“Read the letter later, please,” you said, your cheeks a little pink. 

He nodded. You probably got all sappy in it. If he read it now, he’d probably explode. 

“You can open the present, though,” you said, gesturing to it. 

“Right,” he mumbled, taking a second to collect himself before tearing into the wrapping.

It’s a photo album. The photo you’d slipped into the cover was one of the team, collapsed in a human pile as they beamed at the camera. 

He looked at you tentatively. You offered him a beautiful smile. 

“I hope you like it,” you said, a hint of blush to your cheeks. 

He already knew he would. 

But he wasn’t ready for the absolute flood of emotions that was stuffed between these pages. There was that time from second year, when the team had gone to a theme park. It was just after Kenma had started to bleach his hair. Kuroo, Yaku and Kai beamed up from the page, completely unaware of Yamamoto pulling a face in the background.  

There’s the day you, Kuroo and Kenma had gone to get ice cream in celebration of Kuroo’s captaincy. Kuroo’s beaming at the camera, one arm looped around Kenma’s shoulder. It’s only slightly, but Kenma’s smiling, too.

There’s a selfie from that trip to the temple, both your cheeks flushed. He couldn’t tell if it’s from the cold or from the promises you’d made that day. 

There’s photos from the New Years’ Festival you’d both attended with Yaku and Kai. You’re all dressed up in your nicest clothes, pressed together for a poorly lit selfie. 

There’s the first group photo from this year, the entire team huddled together. The taller guys had to hunch to accommodate the likes of Yaku, even if they weren’t about to say it out loud. But, half of Lev’s head still got cut off. 

And that’s just a handful of them. His heart was already overwhelmed as he flicked through countless photos of birthday celebrations, the training camp, and many other little moments he’d forgotten about. 

There’s even photos from yesterday, each member of the team grinning like idiots. 

The tears welled up before he could stop them. 

He wasn’t the sort to get sentimental. But this just got to him. Seeing every happy, joyful memory of the past two years made him feel like he was about to collapse in on himself. It filled him with a certain sense of adoration that he couldn’t hold back. 

He covered his face with his hands, bending over. 

“Hey,” you murmured, placing a hand on his back. “You alright?”

“I’m–” He choked on his words, clearing his throat. “I’m great.” 

When he finally dropped his hands and let you see his face, your heart stuttered. Tears pricked the corners of his eyes, his nose was all red, and his cheeks were flushed a deep, deep scarlet. But you didn’t have time to process it. 

His arms wrapped around you, pulling you towards him. You conceded, resting your face in the crook of his neck and wrapping your arms around his chest. He’s warm, comforting. 

"I wouldn't be who I am today without you."

His breath fanned your neck as he said those words. And as fuzzy as that made your mind, you knew you felt the same way. 

You genuinely couldn’t imagine who you’d be without him. He’d had such an impact on you, and you couldn’t be more grateful for all the ways he’d helped you grow as a person. 

And you knew now that, it’s okay to love him in the in-between. You didn’t need to be afraid of how you felt. You could love him in all sorts of ways; in ways that were cleanly defined, and in ways that weren’t. You could love him as you needed to. As you’re able to. 

"Me neither," you mumbled. 

He drew back, bringing one of his hands to cup your cheek. You didn’t shy away. 

He was looking at you with such affection, his eyes still a little watery, still a little red. You loved this Kuroo – this big, dense softie. 

His thumb ran over your cheek gently, and you hoped your face didn’t look as flushed as it felt. 

He thought you were the most precious thing he’d ever seen. 

“Can I kiss you?” His words were soft, his voice low and gentle. 

You could feel your heart hammering in your chest, your mind abuzz with excitement, nervousness and everything in-between. 

You managed to nod. 

The smile on his face rivalled even the most beautiful sunrise you’d ever seen. 

When his lips met yours, you felt everything from elation to relief. Elation at being able to hold him like this. Relief that you could finally hold him in all the ways you wanted to. 

His lips were softer than you’d expected them to be, and his touch so gentle and hesitant that you felt like you’re about to melt. 

But there’s desperation in this kiss, a testament to all the build-up. You wanted more of him. You wanted to give him more of you. 

He pulled you into his lap gently, both hands on your waist. One of your hands was twined in his hair, the other running over his shoulder and collarbone with a feather-light touch. You’re just so glad, so grateful that you finally get to be with him like this. 

His hands moved from your waist, to your hips, to your thighs, to your shoulders. The only thought running through his brain was you – how good it felt to kiss you, how exhilarating it felt to hold you close to him like this with no hesitation, how it felt like he’d waited his whole life for this. For you. 

Some part of his brain thought that was oh-so-adolescent and stupid. Most of his brain didn’t care.

You pulled away, lips pink and cheeks flushed. He blinked at you, dazed and a little startled. How did your post-kissing face look so cute and pretty? Why hadn’t he kissed you sooner? Why’d he deprived you both of this for so long? 

“Tetsu,” you hummed, cupping his face in your hands. 

“Hm?” 

“Your family is home.” 

“Oh,” he swallowed, a little embarrassed by how much he’d let his mind wander. “Yeah.” You both knew that his grandmother wasn’t the type to knock. 

You laughed, pressing a kiss to his nose. 

He smiled at you. A sudden swell of gratitude gripped his heart; you felt the same way as he did. You hadn’t necessarily traded those words yet, but he had a feeling that they were in that letter you’d written for him. 

But you didn’t need to talk about it right now. You could just enjoy this moment. Enjoy the fact that neither of you were holding back anymore. 

He couldn’t wait to tell Kenma–

Oh shit. Kenma. 

“You alright?” You asked, brushing his fringe out of his face. 

“Huh?” He asked, blinking at you. 

“Your face went all weird,” you pouted. 

“I just remembered that I’ve gotta go check on Kenma,” he said, resting his hands on your hips. “I want to make sure he hasn’t got a fever from yesterday.” 

Oh. Oh. Your heart was going again. 

There was a lot you could say about Kuroo Tetsurou. And there were so many things you couldn’t put into words. You adored him. You adored him for his perspective on things, for how he always managed to bring you back down to earth. You adored him for just how much he cared, even if that was veiled by his playful deflections. You adored him for the fact that, even though he’d never admit it, he’s soft, and had a penchant for offering people all that he could give. 

And he’d given you so much. He’d been your resource to use as you pleased, and so much more. He’d held you up without complaint, and he’d done nothing but support you. He’d been one of your closest friends, if not the closest. And ever since you’d gotten to know one another, he’d been someone you’ve always felt comfortable with. In many ways, he’d been your safe place. 

Yet on top of it all, he’s a dork. He’s clever, yes, and one of the most interesting people you’d ever known. But he’s such an idiot, so endearingly goofy. He always seemed to find the levity in things, even though he knew when to take things seriously. And for all his maturity, for all those wonderful things about him, he’s still just a guy.   

You wouldn’t want him any other way. 

✉

[whipped] 2:01 PM: okay but… can i call you my girlfriend now? 

[whipped] 2:01 PM: am i... your boyfriend?

[YOU] 2:01 PM: tetsu we’re in the same room 

[whipped] 2:01 PM: yeah but i don’t wanna say it out loud 

[whipped] 2:02 PM: also kenma’s here and he’ll get uncomfortable 

[YOU] 2:02 PM: sounds suspiciously like you planned this 

[YOU] 2:02 PM: anyway, i thought that much was clear? 

[whipped] 2:03 PM: not necessarily 

[whipped] 2:03 PM: just wanted to check 

[YOU] 2:03 PM: you’re such a nerd 

[whipped] 2:03 PM: yeah well… i also wanted you to know that you’re the best birthday present i could’ve asked for ;)

[YOU] 2:03 PM: oh my god

[YOU] 2:03 PM: you’re so cheesy 

[whipped] 2:04 PM: :) 

[yioh]

Hey Yura! You've been reblogging posts on what looks really good wlw mangas lately and I'm dying for some good recommendations (especially since u have great taste🌸🌸)! Could you maybe list what you're reading (or watching) and what vibe each story has?

Hope you're having a great day and I'm sending lots of love your way!!!

hi hiii !!! sorry for taking so long to reply >_< i wanted to properly write an answer and then i .. never found time aaaaaaaa but here are my faves !!!!

relationship guidelines - this one is a manhwa about these 2 girls who have been friends since they were born !!! myeong in is aloof and rarely shows her emotions and is 'cold hearted' and ji won is cute and quirky and super flirty and overall a dumbass 101, somehow they find themselves kissing eachother and their relationship becomes ........ something they cant seem to understand themselves jsdhdkjh, i rly love this manhwa its so funny and so pretty and the characters r so fun and relatable its so lovely !!!! the pacing is so good too

not so shoujo love story - fellas this one . this one is SO good omfg its the funniest webtoon ever like the humour is just complete crack kldhkjh, its abt a 'delinquent' girl called rei who is in love w her senior (called ...ochinchin ... because... he has a massive chin..) and she rly rly wants ur typical shoujo style romance, only, plot twist the one whos in love w her isnt the cool popular senpai guy (who might be ??an alien??) but the perfect pretty vice president hanna !!!! its SO so cute also super slowburn and SO wholesome , also theres so much tension between hanna and rei i dshjsdhfh, the art style is GORGEOUS and the writing is amazing and i just . its a masterpiece pls read it, altho its hilarious its also ... so gentle and so loving i :')

she is still cute today - a slice of life abt wholesome puppy qi lin who is kinda an outcast and how she befriends a girl called cang shu, someone who prioritises her grades over everything else, to the point she barely has a life. its a story abt how they positively influence eachothers lives for the better and heal with eachother through their simple everyday school life(also mega mega mega slowburn, theyre friends rn but also ... gfs somehow lol)  :) its v funny ad cute and pretty also theres a bonus mlm side couple that r rly funny lol, they have a rly gay friendship group and its SO cute and wholesome 

tamen de gushi - i havent caught up w this in ages rip sdhjdsh but its just a cute slice of life abt 2 girls who befriend eachother and one of them has a HUGEEEEEE crush on the other, v v v v wholesome !!!!

still sick! - oh my god . this one is a masterpiece..... its a manga that revolves around shimizu, this super dorky girl that has a secret hobby of drawing doujinshi of her fave wlw ships lmao, and her work place colleague, maekawa, finds out about her secret hobby and barges into her everyday life and changes it in a way that she'll never expect ! from the synopsis it sounds p average but god the LAYERS this manga has . it deals w burn outs and love for drawings and has such wonderful characterisation and writing and the characters r so vibrant and fun and !!!!! the romance !!!!! they r so so so cute like i genuinely got butterflies at this kssdhkjdsh

soulmate - this manhua is so unique !! so its abt this girl who switches body w her teenage self, so she gets to experience falling in love with her lover all over again whilst her teenage self finds herself, 27 years old, and dating a girl ????!!! it deals with regret and first love and loneliness and dreams and just . i was v cautious abt this one because it could get weird but it was so beautiful and respectful and so .. melancholy and yet cute and joyful... the art is also so pretty !!!

bloom into you - this one’s an anime and its about a girl called yuu who believes she isn’t capable of falling in love even though she always longed to have that feeling, and then she meets her senpai, touko. somehow they get into a relationship where they brush hands and kiss secretly in the student council room after school and know all of eachothers secrets, touko tells her not to fall in love with her and yet yuu... doesn’t even understand her own feelings. ok as for vibes, its just TENDER tender TE n d er and . sad and it will make u so touch starved oh my god. its a very beautiful story and the soundtrack, colours and general vibe of the story is so nice and the characters r so freaking well written u will melt, i rly rly love this anime alot lmao its one of the very few romance anime i really adore, it doesn’t feel cringey at all and all the characters feel so painfully real ? its so good !!!!!!!!!!

that time I was blackmailed by the class’ green tea bitch - ok ok ik the title sounds wack but this is actually one of my faves rn, it’s just the softest cutest high school love story and it’s the perfect amount of funny and adorable and the art is also super cute and the relationship with the mc and her mum is so cute I’m 🥺 also it goes into other topics like academic pressure and loneliness (not too deeply tho) and it’s just a v good read … as of now it’s ongoing and has 17 chapters :)

i have some more i havent read yet :’) but these ones r 10/10 i hope u enjoy them !!! 

[theflowercrownlady]

Writers Month 2021 #6 - I’ll definitely tell him... (but not yet)

Writers Month (August) 2021

Day #6

Word: Amnesia / Setting: Science Fiction World

Fandom: Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun (Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun)

Characters: Chiyo (Sakura), Nozaki

Pairings: Nozaki x Sakura (they’re not their first names, but I’m more used to these)

Warnings: None

A/N: The Nozaki version of events before this happened is “That must be it,,, (but I’ll ask her anyway)”. You don’t need to read it to understand this, but if you want to, there it is -w-

“Who are you?”

Yelp!

Her shoulders slumped, dejectedly. Why, out of everything, Nozaki-kun had to forget about the more recent years of his life…? Why did he have to forget all about her...?

If they were inside one of the love stories he used to write, that would have been…!

...exactly what would’ve happened, actually...

She pondered on this in amazement, before his penetrant stare, scrutinizing up and down, made her raise her head quickly. “Y-yes, you see, I’m…”

“My girlfriend?”

“WHAT!”

She felt her world spin, visualizing an explosion on top of her head. “W-wha- what, what…”

She stuttered so hard she suddenly understood western cartoons with bashful piggies at the credits.

“You were holding my hand.”

Chiyo Sakura was rendered speechless, mouth agape with horror. “O-oh. That was…”

“Also, I have an uncommon amount of pictures of you in my cell phone.”

“That’s because-- wait” she turned her head in his direction, blinking “Really?”

“I know I use a lot of reference pictures” he replied, “But although I have plenty of those, you are the one that’s constantly appearing, over and over… Why’s that?”

“Well, I… I don’t know” she lowered her gaze. “Only you can know that… Ah! I mean, I know it's impossible right now, but someday you’ll remember. You’ll see.”

Nozaki, still in the hospital bed, nodded absent-mindedly.

“Meanwhile, you need to put all your effort into recovering, and getting healthy again!” She exclaimed, eyes shining with determination, trying to change the subject to something that didn’t make her have to explain why she had been holding his hand.

But then he looked at her with a deadpan expression. “I understand if you do not want to tell me.”

She winced, blurting out “That’s not what--!”

She stopped abruptly before completing the sentence, and he nodded again, as if he had just gained a great understanding. “Ah, I see. So that’s how it is.”

“What are you talking about?!”

“I’m sure I’ve gained a vast amount of valuable experience from this relationship” he kept going, as if he hadn’t heard her the first time, smiling lightly. “It must be very very useful! I’m sure Mamiko must have greatly improved in time... “

“So you remember your manga, and your protagonists, but you do not…”

“No, I do not remember it, but someone explained it to me and brought a volume. And I don’t remember you either” he said. “But I don’t need more evidence to know who you are.”

She dared to look at him, with a bewildered stare, her heart loudly beating, in a restless thump thump.

She just couldn’t believe her luck.

The way he was looking at her was something she had never seen before!

“Look at this.”

He stretched an arm, putting his hand inside a backpack near his bed. He took out one heavy volume of his manga, and opened it from the very first page.

Chiyo held her breath.

It was Mamiko, of course. But the amazing part was that never before she had noticed such a clear connection between the manga protagonist and herself. True, Mamiko had her light blonde hair tied in one beautiful ribbon… And her features, something in them almost made her believe…

“Why else would she look like you?”

His voice made her return to reality, looking at him in shock. They looked at each other, right in the eye, and she flustered, like a cherry popsicle. But she didn’t turn her gaze away.

He smiled triumphantly, eyes filled with conviction. “You have to tell me all about it.”

“Ohh, errr, uh--”

“All of our relationship. Since the beginning. I’ll write it down.”

“Don’t do that please!”

“I’m sure you are used to it”, he replied without looking up from the paper and pen he had just grabbed from the backpack. “As a mangaka’s girlfriend. I must ask this from you very often.”

As a mangaka’s girlfriend.

“As a mangaka’s girlfriend…”

“My girlfriend.”

She felt her soul leave her body. “My... girlfriend…”

He stared at her, and she shook her head violently. “I mean your girlfriend!”

And so it was. The simultaneously best and worst decision Chiyo Sakura took in her whole life (or one of the list, at least).

I didn’t want to lie to him.... But I didn’t lie to him...! I’ll tell him the truth. I’ll definitely tell him, she said to herself, nodding with certainty.

...But not just yet...

[irregirl]

🌺Shoujo Live Action Pt.2🌺

Halu^^ i'm back with part 2 now. You may see the pt. 1 HERE

1. Heroine Shikaku

Rate : ⭐⭐

Mangaka : Koda Momoko

This one is suck😭😭it broke my fragile heart💔💔maybe this why it called heroine shikaku (no longer heroine) cause the heroine herself a failure.

I have side character syndrom and i'm grief crying over him😢😢

2. Marmalade Boy

Rate : ⭐⭐

Mangaka : Wataru Yoshizumi

I'm confuse from the start till the end, even i can't even accept the fact that they end up together😦😦I'M HAPPY!! SERIOUSLY HAPPY FOR THEM, but still, i'm confuse af

What make me confuse is that the mains couple parents are exchange spouse. So the girl's dad w/ the boy's mom and the girl's mom w/ the boy's dad😵🤯😵🤯

3. Ao Haru Ride

Rate : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mangaka : Sakisaka Io

I have no more except, WONDERFULL😭💘you guys may know the anime already right? If you haven't, WATCH IT! You'll feel the uwu overload!! 💞💞if you still not satisfied with the anime READ the manga!! You'll feel pissed like want to cry😅😅and the last watch the live action, you'll crying with boxes of tissues😭😭

4. Hirunaka no Ryuusei

Rate : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mangaka : Mika Yamamori

I have no regret watch this live action!! 😤👍👍I following the manga till the end, and i'm so happy its exactly the same with the live action🤗🤗

If you like plot twist watch/read this one!! 👍👍I RECOMMENDED!!

5. Ookami Shoujo to Kuro Ouji

Rate : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mangaka : Ayuko Hatta

I once following the manga cause already watch the anime, why?? CAUSE I'M ADDICTED bitj😍😍and then i watch the live action and I LOVED ALL OF IT!! 🥰🥰there's no failure for this one!!

Don't expect this will be sadistic stuff cause the tittle😏😏its abseloutly normal😂😂the manga they end up having daughter🥰🥰

Tumblr had error when edited this on my laptop😩😩so I have to do it over again with my phone now😢😢 wait for the pt.3 all😉😉

[wheredemdokis]

[doki review #2] The Story Between a Dumb Prefect and a High School Girl with an Inappropriate Skirt Length (ongoing)

After having binged quite a few shoujo manga series, I'd say most shoujo male characters would fall into certain "templates" of personalities: aggressive tsundere type, cold tsundere type (that sometimes bullies the heck out of our girl), gentle soft type, extroverted friendly type. Seeing all these personalities being recycled again and again without much alteration can get, well, rather mundane (though I do admit there is the comfortable familiarity when you dive into those series at times). Female shoujo characters have even less background for quirky personalities - frankly speaking, most of them usually have the, well, what I'd call a "fluffy personality" - warm, emotional, usually acts before thinking. Sprinkle it with some obliviousness and doormat tendencies. That formula pretty much works for any combination with the categories of the male characters, and that's how you get about, well, 75% of shoujo manga I have read (as I have said, I can't assert for all shoujo manga series). I'm pretty sure looking at my list of templates, you probably already have some titles popping up in your minds.

Now, don't get me wrong. The fluffy personality, if written well, can be very endearing to read. However, same for male characters, if it is the same recycled formula with not much room for quirks... honestly, to me at least, it gets really boring.

As I was about to give up this venture into shoujo manga after having read titles of the almost identical structure of characters, I stumble across the masterpiece of them all.

The Story of Between a Dumb Prefect and a High School Girl with an Inappropriate Skirt Length, by Takuma Yokota.

- How did I start reading this?

I always had a thing for well-written quirky tsundere characters, both males and females alike, and I was quickly drawn to the female character, Poemu-chan. More on that very soon.

- And how is it so far?

*joyful tears appear at the corner of my eyes* ok, maybe not. But you know what I mean.

- Genres and overarching themes?

Genres: Comedy, Romance, School life, Shoujo

Overarching themes: youth (really makes me rethink in what parallel universe would I ever have this kind of high school life...), friendships, one's blooming feelings, some denial of feelings

- Plot: 3.8/5

I'll be frank - if you're looking for a quirky plot filled with excitement, or a cerebral, reflective plot prompting you to think, this is not exactly where you'd find all those things. This manga has a rather typical school life plot - beach episode, school festival, just the typical daily school life episodes. Being a fan of slice-of-life stories, I'd say this is a rather well-executed slice-of-life story - it is a calm review of high school years that focuses on the relationships between characters, and the emotional aspects that come with it. What really pushes me to continue reading is how well the wholesome interactions are drawn, making me want to root for more romantic development between the characters, how the author seasons the daily school life episodes with fun dialogues and very well-written comedy, and the extremely adorable characters, which I'll be talking about soon. //w//

- Characters: 4.25/5

The characters, main and side, are really entertaining. Poemu Konihata, our main female character, is just adorable. A carefree girl that does what she wants, not bothering to conform to any rules (including school rules, yes, which is the main pivot of the story lol), Poemu is a quirky, fiery character with the right bit of tsundere, and a very soft side that she tries not to show, but ends up unconsciously showing to our main male character, which makes it even more wholesome to read. The just-right denial of her feelings is so... heck, it makes you want to hug the manga and the author, if he allows it, of course. OwO

Our main male character, Sakuradaimon Tougo, is probably one of the most refreshing male shoujo characters I have ever read. He's very much a dork - being a school prefect, he follows the school rules to a T, and is passionate about values such as discipline. Together with a large douse of obliviousness, Sakuradaimon is easily the exact polar opposite of beloved male shoujo characters, the one that would probably star as a comedic relief rather than a potential interest in typical shoujo mangas... but not this one hohoh. His refreshing straightforwardness - the way he easily says the things on his mind, and the utmost respect he has for our female character is so cool - reading it really makes you want to root for him. After a few chapters, his quirky personality really starts to grow on you, and he becomes an extremely endearing character, whilst at the same time being extremely badass in his own unique way. He really is a best boy. //w//

The side characters each have their own quirks - and I absolutely love how female characters have their own unique personality traits. For more information, you can go ahead and dive right into the series hehe. ;3

- Art: 4/5

As seen from the cover, you can probably realize that the art style is really different from most shoujo mangas... and it's so, so cute! You have Sakuradaimon's stiff movements that very much suit his personality, Poemu-chan's blush, all these details just further make this series an extremely fluffy read.

- Doki moments?

Oh yes... honestly, everything that Sakuradaimon says lol - his dialogue come out straight from a typical shoujo manga without him even realizing it, and the way he so honestly and earnestly says them is just... urghhhh, even I feel the dokis with Poemu //w//, that dodgeball scene ahhh, the end of the supplementary lessons episode AND Sakuradaimon visiting Poemu's house omg and dont let me get started on the real g - the volume 5 akhaksdgakjsdhg bruv it's so,,, fluffy,,,,, my kokoro bro

- Enjoyment: 4.25/5

Really great if you're looking for a very unique, light-hearted, funny, fluffy read c":

- Overall: 4 - 4.3/5

Again, I'll lower it for now because it's still ongoing, but it's definitely near a 4.3 for me. A joy to read, definitely.

- Read it or neh?

Oh yes, please read it. Doki approved. UwU

[made-me-deep-blue]

high school au! poppy x bea - bea wants a kiss from poppy

based on this post by @somewillwin 

taglist: @poppy-sin-clair @uhh-the-green-thing @stanzoeywade

-

When Poppy Min Sinclair and Bea Hughes had started dating, both of them made a promise that they would not be seen with each other until they’ve reached their meeting point.

However, ever since that football incident a few months back, Poppy started worrying less about being seen with Bea, even taking pride in walking next to the female quarterback. Her head usually makes excuses in return to combat her ego, but whenever Poppy looks up at Bea next to her, hands tucked into the pockets of her jeans and looking forward with an unreadable expression, it lets Poppy’s heart rest in ease a little.

On this particular day though, Poppy could literally feel eyes on her as she and Bea walked through the campus towards their favourite spot in school; the large oak tree behind the football stadium. The cheerleading captain writhed nervously under the intent gazes of the student population.

“What’s wrong?” Bea asked. “You look...tense.”

Poppy’s face flushed pink. “N-Nothing,” she tightened her grip on her bag. “I just feel...uncomfortable.”

Bea’s eyes scanned the vicinity, and although there’s no one within sights, if this were an anime series, there would be literally gleaming eyes in the shadows of the unoccupied rooms. The quarterback hesitated as she reached her hand out, but still got the courage to grab the fair-skinned hand of her girlfriend.

“C’mon, let’s go before we become a shoujo manga ourselves.”

“H-Hey!”

Bea weaved through the hallways and different buildings with expertise, and Poppy only realised that they had slipped through parts of the school that were out of bounds to them when they had reached their spot within five minutes when it would usually take them longer if they took their usual route.

“What’re you waiting for?” Bea looked behind at Poppy and nodded over to the shade underneath the oak tree, raising the packed lunch in her hand. “Lunch’s gonna get cold.”

“Alright.”

With the absence of an audience, both of them started cosying up to each other. Poppy shared the kimbap that her family’s private chef had made for her, while Bea shared her mom’s homemade Mexican pinwheels. After their lunches were cleared, both of them looked into the distance at the main school building, sipping on their juice boxes (Bea’s mom had packed two juice boxes because she just knows her own daughter).

Bea turned her head slightly and admired Poppy’s side profile. Spending more time with her when I found out about her family really made her more radiant.

“Is there something on my face, Hughes?”

Now it was Bea’s turn to get flushed. But in frustration.

“N-Nothing! Nothing at all…” Bea’s words trailed off as she looked away.

Poppy looked at Bea quizically, pausing her drinking to try to get Bea to look her in the eyes. “You don’t get to hide anything from me, Bea. You remember what we promised that day, don’t you-”

Bea’s lips were on hers before she could even finish the last syllable of her sentence. 

The kiss was chaste, but it was something that Bea always cherished whenever they were alone together. The little moments they shared; when they were cramped in the janitor’s closet when Bea couldn’t wait for a moment alone, or when Poppy had attempted to corner Bea in the locker room because Bea had looked so hot when she had taken off her helmet to drench her hair with her water bottle. Bea cherished all of them.

The air between them felt charged, heard it crackle with energy before both of them visibly went red and pulled away instantly.

Poppy patted on her red, heated cheeks with surprise. “W-What was that for, you dummy?!”

“I-” It took all the mental capacity that Bea had left to sputter out what she wanted to say. “I just wanted to kiss you!”

While Bea sheepishly rubbed the back of her neck whilst looking the other way, sizzling, Poppy touched her lips. God, she’ll never get over the feeling of kissing that himbo of a quarterback whom she’s stupidly into.

“...you wore my favourite chapstick flavour.”

“Huh?”

Bea turned over and her eyes were still on the grass, bottom lip jutting out. “I said...you wore my favourite chapstick flavour.” The words slowly went silent towards the end.

Poppy’s face right at that moment could compete with the colour of cherries.

“W-Why did you have to state the obvious like that?!” She shoved Bea’s head away with her hand, squeezing her eyes shut.

“Because it’s true!” Bea retorted. “That means you remembered, Poppy.”

Poppy tried to look up at Bea. Her face was exactly as red, but her hazel brown eyes were gleaming. It definitely wasn’t the afternoon sun since they were under the shade, but it was a look of...commitment. The commitment to love the complex woman Poppy is. The commitment to be with Poppy no matter where she came from.

The commitment to love Poppy.

There will be a time where that word will come out of Poppy’s mouth, but she’d known better than to not ruin what they have between them.

“Of course, you dummy. Of course, I did.”

The silence was about to stretch on, before Bea huffed and made herself comfortable, laying her head on Poppy’s lap. “Now if you would excuse me, I’ll be taking my nap.”

The cheerleading captain then proceeded to stroke her fingers through Bea’s blonde hair to a familiar, calming rhythm and pace that would usually send Bea to her nap within minutes. As she twirled a strand of Bea’s hair around her finger, she smiled to herself.

Maybe someday, someday...I can properly convey my feelings to you.