#about a fandom I barely post about-

[sweepweep]

Reigen was an incredible parental figure in Mob Psycho 100. Arguably better than Mob’s actual parents.

(this was sparked by @whatthehellami ‘s post

)

He may have been a con man, but he always made decisions based on what he thought were in Mob’s best interest.

He wasn’t always correct, don’t get me wrong, but he did so so much more than so so many other adults in media

Mob was 14; a CHILD. He may have matured in his abilities, but Reigen had been through it all: he’s hit rock bottom, he’s climbed to the top, and he’s fallen all the way down again. But unlike so many other adults in media, he used that to help the characters out

What i love about him is that he let the kids find their way: he gave them freedom to make mistakes and grow. But he knew when it would be too much and he actually stepped in and took over

He disregarded Mob’s psychic abilities in serious situations. Because while Mob could be super powerful, it would be dangerous and very emotionally draining for him. Throughout the series, Reigen was able to speak up and say “hey, I’m the adult here. These are teenagers - middle schoolers.” and he stepped in instead of letting the literal children handle it

He was a liar and a con man but he was an incredible paternal figure

[15teal]

[mxrtified777]

krunk

[stiffyck]

I WISH ARO HEADCANONS WERE MORE POPULAR IN FANDOMS

[firstactloadedgun]

man years of shows queerbaiting have really done a number on people huh

so weird to see people talking about "the possibility of canon Buddie" and approaching it with this very cautious optimism like they REFUSE TO BE FOOLED AGAIN or something but like, it's the clear progression of what the show has been doing for a season and a half now, if they were a straight couple people would be calling it straight up formulaic

Like Buck's ex-boyfriend literally calls Eddie the competition and his sister is barely keeping it together trying to gently guide him through the "maybe you're in love with your best friend" talk, it's not SUBTLE

[faynthearted]

maybe I'm overthinking things, but whenever I see people talking about significant/transformative moments in tianshan's relationship (barring their fight, the kiss, the ear piercing, etc.), I'm always a little disappointed no one points out the scene where the boys are going through the cardboard boxes of random things from he tian's childhood and he tian says something to the effect of, "the entire world is out there but everything I've ever owned only fits in these two boxes" and then he discreetly places his hand palm-up between him and guan shan. and guan shan pauses for a moment before placing his glass in his hand. and then the chapter ends.

this moment is one of the few panels I've saved over the years:

like... it's short but there's so much emotion behind this scene, it's hard for me to put it into words succinctly. and it stands out to me because it's not particularly intense or climatic like their other big moments. it happens soon after she li assaulted guan shan on the riverbank — which was heavy on the drama and ultimately the catalyst for tianshan's relationship. he tian had also just been financially cut off from his family and guan shan had been physically and emotionally vulnerable/exhausted for some time. basically, things were still raw and hectic for both of them in different ways

so this quiet, subdued, and wordless interaction between them on the balcony was very interesting. I honestly think it's one of the first instances in which tianshan have a personal/intimate mutual understanding of one another without an outside force influencing it or the moment being interrupted. and somehow, it's both abnormal and very fitting that he tian didn't make a grand gesture in this moment. like, if you think about it, he simply turned his hand on the cushion and looked at guan shan. it wasn't obvious; he wasn't making a scene. but of course guan shan, hyperaware of him, noticed

and the fact that the chapter ends after that also stands out to me. again, if he tian was being his normal self, he probably would've said/complained outright that he obviously wanted guan shan to give him his hand, not his glass, or he probably would've grabbed guan shan's hand as he was placing the glass down because he tian always just takes what he wants and tames guan shan's defiance or embarrassment after the fact

but instead, the chapter ends. and it doesn't even feel abrupt, really. it feels complete. and it makes me assume that he tian accepted the glass as guan shan's response and didn't press the issue. he might've just held onto the glass in his lap (or drank from it while maintaining eye contact) and then moved his attention back to the group at large. and, again, that's both abnormal and fitting for him in this scene

and I know I just said "guan shan's response" but what's frustrating — and fascinating! — is that I've yet to come to a definitive conclusion about what the (unspoken) question/response between them was to begin with. of course, he tian had just finished talking about the paradoxical state of his life — about how he could have everything and yet he has next to nothing — so maybe his "question" for guan shan was as simple as: "even if I don't have/want anything else, can I at least have you?"

but I also think it's interesting to consider that jian yi immediately laughed at he tian after he finished talking, accusing him of being dramatic (and in jian yi's defense, he'd never really seen an honest version of he tian like guan shan had at that point, so I don't blame him for thinking he tian was just being melodramatic for attention as per usual). anyway, jian yi and zheng xi got a good chuckle out of it, but guan shan didn't. iirc, he actually looked a bit lost in thought before he noticed he tian looking at him, and then his hand between them

with that small detail, it makes me think he tian's question leaned more toward: "do you believe me?" or maybe "do you understand me in the ways I want you to?"

I'd like to think he tian wouldn't have offered his hand if guan shan had also rolled his eyes with zhanyi — poor little rich boy — and dismissed what he'd said. but then again, with the state of their situation/relationship at that point, I don't think there was a chance in hell that guan shan would've dismissed him. I'm sure we can all agree that he tian's intense emotional response to finding guan shan injured and subsequently taking care of him without expecting anything in return drastically changed guan shan's perspective of him. guan shan had a lot to process at that point in the manhua, and a lot of hard truths to start acknowledging. it was clear that he tian had a lot on his mind during that time, too

so guan shan placing the glass in he tian's palm might've been him saying, "I'm still figuring this (us) out... but my answer isn't no" (hence the reason why he tian presumably didn't push the issue further bc he was more cognizant of guan shan's boundaries by this point) or it might've been him saying, "yeah, I'm starting to understand you, and you're not what I thought you were but that's not scaring me away" (therefore affirming he tian's question so he didn't feel the need to pursue the moment or make a bigger scene)

in any case, although there's no continuation after that scene, I think they were both satisfied by the end of the evening. I don't think he tian was disappointed by guan shan's response, and guan shan would've known that too. in fact, I'd argue that guan shan wanted to reaffirm he tian's emotions in that moment. the worst (yet easiest) thing guan shan could've done is look at him, look at his hand, and then look away and ignore him — literally leaving him empty-handed. that would've left he tian in a sour fucking mood... or at least a bit wounded

but instead, guan shan chose the more honest/reciprocal route even if he wasn't 100% sure yet. and... I don't know. it really stands out to me and I think a lot more was happening in that interaction than what could've been expressed in words. and yet I've literally never seen anyone talk about that scene since it was posted — which, fair enough. it's only a couple of panels. but I think about it constantly!

[kayotic-catgirl]

confession that could probably get me executed by the tma fandom:

as someone on the asexual spectrum (please keep this part in mind), i enjoy seeing all the different interpretations of jon's asexuality, instead of acting like he can only be asexual in one specific way like a lot of this fandom does.

[hiding behind a giant rock trembling in fear]

[cosmicredcadet]

Sometimes fandom can be incredibly alienating as someone who is aspec and doesn't participate in shipping. I go into the tags of a media I like and I find 99.9% of posts are about either shipping the character or how attractive people find them. I post anything about a character I like and I'm met with sexualizing comments or shipping tags on my posts. I talk about aspec headcanons for a character and get met with anger and told I'm homophobic. I talk about a character being canonically aspec and get met with arguments about how wrong I am. I cannot relate to 99.9% of fandom. And whenever I express this, I am met with hostility. I am told to go find a space that will accept me because I'm not welcomed in the wider fandom. They never even stop to think if a space like that even exists. They never stop to realize that spaces like that often get taken over by the rest of fandom eventually, forcing the ones who made it once more. They never tell you how to find that space because if they thought about it they too would realize how near impossible it is to find such a space in any fandom.

But they don't actually care about that. they just want me to shut up. They expect me to conform to the hyper amatonormativity and allonormativity of fandom spaces. They expect me to put up with blatant and rampant aphobia within fandom spaces. They expect me to be a "good aspec" who is a hopeless romantic shipper and loves smut. When I fail or refuse to meet those expectations, then I'm the problem. and I'm left alienated and isolated in a space that is supposed to be social and supposedly for everyone.

"Fandom is for everyone" except people like me.

[xadeone]

I understand why people make human Perry the Platypus mute, since his original character doesn't talk the way the rest of human characters do in the show. I can see that it's interesting to keep that non verbal part of his character.

But like, I'm sure that if Heinz took the time to learn platypus the same way he learnt whale, he could actually talk with Perry. Maybe Perry wouldn't talk a lot, but he would respond if prompted, would maintain conversation. (They kinda already do? But that's besides my point)

So while I like and understand mute Human Perry, the closer to canon in my opinion is for him to speak. Perhaps be a quiet guy who doesn't say much or who usually waits for others to speak first, but he does answer and talk out loud.

[ingravinoveritas]

Speaking choices. It shows who a person is to repost the Jesus on the cross scene from GO and the importance of kindness and then spend the entire weekend shitting on a person’s social media posts because you think they didn’t express their love for their spouse enough or reposted something with or without knowing the possible problematic content and a picture you dislike.

Why do you spend your time picking apart someone’s lives? Do you think David Tennant would thank you that you are the breeder of critical content about his wife? That you and the others pick at every little thing searching for secret meanings that their relationship is a sham or abusive. It’s all well and fine to not be a fan of someone, but you do realize you are a creating a bullying atmosphere and encouraging others to judge a person by their social media posts. This is not the kind behavior you claim to want.

There are actual real and immediate problems in this world. The government is kidnapping people and putting them into gulags. A new Joseph Goebbles wants to “cure” autism and speaks about the autistic population in dehumanizing and dangerous language. This woman is not your enemy. She has never hurt you. She has never wronged you. And the fact you cannot help but revel in a completely benign post by being a judgmental, self-important, self-righteous person says more about you than her. The fact you spend your time attacking her than people doing you actually harm is really telling. Even if her social media posts can be awkward at least she’s fighting for social injustices, too.

Again, David Tennant would not thank you for what you are doing. You don’t know him. You don’t know his wife. And the fact that you think you do is really unsettling.

A person is not only who they are from their social media posts. From your posts I would presume you have a erotomania fixation on two actors and attack their spouse and partner because you think they’re unworthy of your fixations. I would think you are an arrogant, self-important individual who craves attention from sycophants. But I know that social media is not who we only are and I know you probably try to do good in this world. I don’t doubt you are someone who capable of kindness, but from what I see on your blog is hypocritical to your post asking for a kinder world. Do better.

Hello, Anon.

I hope this helped you feel better. I can tell that you must have a lot on your mind, to make the choice to put this message in my inbox. To say all of this--well, I suppose not to my face, since we are online and you're anonymous--but directly to me, or at least to the person you think I am.

In point of correction, I did not "spend the entire weekend shitting on someone's social media posts." I barely had time to even be on Tumblr this past weekend because of what I was actually doing.

What I did this weekend was take care of my parents. Not sleep, because my mother, who has Parkinson's, needed my help to get from bed to the bathroom at 4:30 in the morning. Ran around to the point of exhaustion helping my dad, who is still not very mobile because of his fractured ankle, and cooking an entire Easter dinner for the first time ever. All of this while also processing and coping with the emotions of that same day being exactly 20 years to the day my grandmother passed away. My Grandma, who always made every Easter so special.

That is what I did this weekend. And in the tiny moments where I didn't want to either cry or collapse, I posted on Tumblr. And out of the 1,000+ asks in my inbox, I answered two that were right at the top, because they were the easiest to answer. I also received multiple DMs that came in from others who had seen Georgia's posts and had a similar reaction, and there were public posts and comments made by other people hours before I'd even seen what Georgia posted.

The point I'm making here, Anon, is that you know fully well that I am not the only person who saw something wrong in what Georgia posted (particularly the video of the African dancers, which is a hell of a thing to reduce to "possible problematic content"). But you decided to come for me because although I am not your enemy, and I have never wronged you, I am the easiest target. Other people have made it acceptable to hate me. And that somehow means it's okay. In that same vein, how do we describe a bullying atmosphere? Would that be an environment where someone shares their observations based on multiple sources of information and opinions formed gradually over time? Where someone tells people not to blindly agree with anything, to make up their own minds, and speaks out against sending threats or hateful comments directly? Or would it be an environment where someone creates a blog (multiple blogs, even) solely for the sake of attacking someone? Talking about how ugly they are, how worthless their life is? Calling them things like "stupid bitch" and flooding the tags with hateful rhetoric almost every day for the last ten months, while encouraging attacks to where that person had to turn off Anon for almost a year because they were getting so many threats and insults.

That certainly seems a lot like bullying to me.

What's also interesting is that you go on to talk about the bigger things happening in the world and how it's more important to focus on those, a statement that is then contradicted by your subsequent point. By your definition, there should not be a reason to get upset about what RFK Jr. has said because I do not know him. He has never wronged or hurt me. But according to you, I'm only allowed to care if it affects me personally.

What this ultimately means is that someone does not have to (and should not have to) be personally affected to care about how something affects other people. I don't need RFK's behavior or actions to affect me specifically to care about others being potentially hurt by them, and the same thing applies to Georgia and how she treats people. That is where I am coming from, and that is why I care. Because I'm not the most important part of this equation, nor have I ever claimed to be.

(Also, in talking about attacking RFK Jr., perhaps you might have missed that I did exactly that last week, when I gave an interview in Newsweek and spoke out against his abhorrent comments about autistic people. Every facet of my life is dedicated to fighting for autistic people, particularly in the area of sex education and sexual health. Which tells me that you've never actually looked at anything on my blog other than what you needed to create a narrative about me that suited your purposes.)

My final point of contention is this notion of "do better," which I notice is only applied to people you dislike. The fans who have viciously attacked me and others earn a free pass. As does Georgia, whom it seems you expect absolutely nothing from. I fail to comprehend how it's possible that she can set someone up to receive death threats (as happened on Twitter a few years ago), "jokingly" insult her husband over and over, block fans for absolutely no reason at all (including an account that only posts about David's fashion)...and you will not hold her to a single standard. Yet you will come here and tell me to "do better."

Also, I very periodically receive kind comments/Anons from followers of my blog--comments I'm always surprised to get, as I still tend to be more prepared to read something negative than positive. I enjoy reading those comments and they make me happy, and by your definition, that makes me "arrogant" and "self-important" and someone who "craves attention from sycophants"...yet just last week, Georgia reshared hundreds of Insta stories from fans who'd listened to the recent podcasts, almost all of which were telling her how amazing she is, calling her "queen," saying what a great interviewer she is, how she should have her own podcast, etc. How is that different? Do you suppose Georgia shared those because she doesn't crave attention from admirers? Because that doesn't seem to make much sense.

The truth is, Anon, that if you genuinely believed that it's wrong to attack someone you don't know and who has never wronged you, you wouldn't have sent me this message in the first place. Because you would believe that no one deserves to be talked to this way. I believe that no one deserves to be bullied or made to feel worthless, and I have actively spoken against behavior that I've seen from fans to that effect. Hell, I've even defended Georgia on more than one occasion, because I don't have to like someone to think they don't deserve to be treated a certain way.

And if that is how you feel, then it is certainly not apparent from this message, because it seems to me that you think nastiness is just fine as long as it's aimed at someone you don't like.

I'm sure you do good things in this world, Anon. I don't doubt you are capable of kindness. But I have to stop and wonder when the only part of you I'm seeing here is a message full of needless cruelty.

[milkywayes]

this might be controversial but i actually think it’s more interesting and perhaps even more in the spirit of the narrative if we don’t make garrus’ dad out to be some super swell guy who was right all along and whose only mistake was getting saddled with a headstrong child who couldn’t see reason. actually. it’s also funnier imo if the relationship is more than one-sidedly dysfunctional

[theoneinmultiplefandoms]

[sketches/w.i.p.s?] a random crossover involving fixations, old and new 🥼⚠️

check out below for some more doodles + silly ramblings about this crossover for those who wanna! (p.s.: involves angst + existential dread, so be advised!!)

my crossovering multifandom brain: "hey since Bill C. can break 4th Walls™️ and see parallel universes, do you think he'd see Flint's alternate versions of himself being a different person / being more successful / being an actual innovator like his concept arts rather than the flimsy inventor that he is now? how would Flint even react to all of that, the fact that he's just a mere concept of what he could have been, boiled down into an inconsistent joke that no creator(s) of his would bother to further develop? that he's just a mere puppet for a story that was never his?"

me: "bro chill i just want to draw Flint again calm down (/lhj) 😭😭"

[bixels]

What did/do you like about Pharah?

Uh, gameplay-wise, I really love characters in shooters who rely on three-dimensional movement techs. Chaining together hover and jump to stay in the air for as long as possible and keep momentum is so satisfying, and picking enemies off from the sky made me feel like a bird of prey. I was a good Pharah main.

Story-wise, there unfortunately isn't much to canonically go off because Pharah is so underutilized and neglected. Her personality's pretty boilerplate "heroic hero" (she's literally inspired by Captain America).

But it's the crumbs/bits and pieces that I really latched onto. Pharah's a confirmed lesbian; her short story with Baptiste implies she harbors a crush on Mercy (fucking thank you.). She's biracial Egyptian/First Nations. She has major mommy issues, having grown up both admiring and resenting Ana. She's the bridge between Old Overwatch, inspired by the idealized heroes who surrounded her childhood, and New Overwatch. She's one of the only inter-generational characters in the cast; someone whose experiences span the gap, which is why I seriously believe Pharah would make a great main character.

There isn't much to go off of, though; she's a very uncomplicated character (she's a soldier for a private military corporation, lol.). But that just means she's a blank slate character, so I've seen fanfic writers run wild and create some really interesting takes on her. My favorite interpretation of her's a dense, herbo gym-bro type (a lot of her liens are about work outs, exercising, and playing sports) who's easily excitable under her seemingly self-serious, armored visage. We see how she tends to gloat and hype herself up when she's on a streak too, so Pharah definitely has a competitive and boastful side under her more professional and militant performance.

Now Mercy? Mercy is a real complex character.

[luukka]

OK but peak team 7/Kakashi was after Sakura cut her hair and they just had fun training, yes

[clearancecreedwatersurvival]

Look people can discourse about how problematic a ship is and how terrible people are for shipping it all they want, but the reasons they try and assign for shipping something are usually pretty ridiculous. The only actual point of discrimination on whether or not I’m gonna ship a pairing is just how narratively compelling the character dynamic is. Do they play off each in an interesting way? Is there some good narrative symbolism involved?? I’m there.

Yes that does mean I’m often a basic bitch and end up enjoying whichever slash and femslash ships are popular BUT there’s usually a reason why a bunch of writers have gotten into something! Tbh! Shit being popular doesn’t mean it’s bad, stuff usually pops off for A reason, regardless of it’s a reason you personally agree with.

[anoant-haikyuu-dump]

Quick fic about Kenma and Fukunaga rooming together in college! 

Roughly 2300 words, Kenma POV, platonic, basically Fukunaga being odd and Kenma dealing with that. 

*Sidenote: i know roommate/dorm culture isn't the same in Japan as it is in the US but just suspend your disbelief lol

------

Kenma had no idea what to expect when he agreed to room with Fukunaga in their freshman year of university. Sure, the two had spent the better part of three years together— suffer through enough early-morning practices, grueling training camps, and endless bus rides with a guy and you come out the other side soul-bonded whether you like it or not. What truly solidified their bond was their third year. With Kuroo off to college and Hinata a whole prefecture away Kenma was practically forced to hang out with his fellow second-now-third years lest he fall back into the arms of his old hermit lifestyle, and as tempting as that was he promised Kuroo he’d leave the house more than once a month. Stupid childhood friends being concerned about your mental well-being. 

Although first-year Kenma would shudder at the thought of wasting all his free time on a weirdo like Fukunaga, much less Tora, it wasn’t nearly as miserable as he’d dreaded. The two were freaks— loud, obnoxious, guts-obsessed freaks in a certain ace’s case— but overtime he’d grown accustomed to their quirks. Those were his captains; they’d joined the club together, grown together, gone to nationals together. Laughed at Tora when he tangled himself in the net together (minus Tora, he was pissed). It’d be a lie to claim they didn't worm their way into his heart like the persistent little parasites they were. Those freaks were his friends, Kenma begrudgingly came to accept. Yes, even Tora. Besides, what other option did he have? Lev? He didn’t hate himself that much.

All that’s to say Kenma and Fukunaga were close. Tight, even. Enough for Fukunaga to know where the Kozume’s hid their spare key under a rock in the garden (though that was Kuroo’s fault for snitching). But three years of friendship and easy-access to one’s house doesn't instantly unlock all the mysteries of a person. Especially when that person is a complete and utter enigma like Shouhei Fukunga. 

This was proven not even a week into their first semester. Kenma had just finished a business class, which he’d spent pretending to take notes on his laptop while actually grinding away at some RPG from his steam library. He was expecting Fukunaga to be home since he didn't have class till the afternoon. 

He wasn’t expecting the unicycle. 

Where he got the thing was beyond Kenma, as was the way he effortlessly navigated their shoebox dorm without ramming into a single piece of furniture. It was honestly more impressive than surprising— Kenma wondered when he learned, how, why, before remembering who he was talking about. Fukunaga doing weird shit without explanation. Fork found in kitchen. Kenma had more important things to worry about, ignoring lectures on marketing management or whatever was a full-time job and he wanted to lie down. 

“I’m back.” He said with a yawn, kicking off his shoes as he shuffled over to his bed. 

“Hey.” Fukunaga replied. No acknowledgement of the situation, not that he expected any. 

Kenma got nice and cozy under the covers, then pulled out his computer to continue his game. He’d finished most of it while his professor was rambling on about how “this is going to be on the exam, blah blah blah” but he wanted to 100% it. Nothing better than an afternoon of achievement hunting. He spent a good 10 minutes combing through a dungeon in search of a secret boss, but for some reason he just couldn’t get into the zone. Probably had something to do with, oh you know, the whole-ass circus routine playing out not even five-feet away. He sighed and shut his laptop. Fine, he’ll bite. “What are you doing?” 

“Practicing.” A man of many words. 

He was tempted to ask “What for?” but knew that would only create more questions. Instead he called, “Know any tricks?” Without missing a beat Fukunaga reached into his hoodie pocket, whipped out three plastic balls, and started juggling. Figures.

Kenma sat there watching for god knows how long, long enough that Fukunaga had to hop down to get ready for class. He stuffed the unicycle under his bed, answering Kenma’s question of where he stored the thing, but creating the new question of what other garbage he had hidden down there. A secret for another day. With a classic “See ya later Alligator.” Fukunaga headed out, leaving Kenma alone with his thoughts. It was only then that it fully sunk-in— he’d just wasted the past few hours watching his roommate unicycle around their room like a clown-in-training and he didn’t even realize. Should he be pissed? Impressed that Fukunaga managed to hold his attention for so long? (some of those tricks were seriously complex). It wasn’t exactly the most productive use of an afternoon, but then again was he ever productive? Games, unicycling roommates, who’s to say what constitutes a good use of time? He figured a little change of pace wouldn’t kill him. 

---

The rest of the semester went on much like that, always something going on. One day Kenma came home to at least five kittens scampering around their dorm. All pets minus service animals were strictly off-limits so he wasn’t sure how Fuku,naga got them past security, nor how they vanished the next day without a trace. Another time he got super into chinese yoyo and nearly broke the overhead light with a misplaced throw. After that he got into regular yoyo and nearly broke a lamp.

A common Fukunaga-ism was for him to stop by random flea markets and buy whatever knick-knacks he could find. Because of that his side of the room was constantly cycling decor. Take, for instance, the inflatable tube man taped to the ceiling that always freaked Kenma out at night, or the kiddie pool in the corner full of ball pit balls from a kids’ center that’d shut down. Most of his purchases were bought purely based on their potential for puns, of which Fukunaga had plenty. Kenma always knew when he’d thought of a new one cause he’d silently giggle to himself in that way that makes him look like a chipmunk. Sometimes Kenma would ask to hear them, he’s always found Fukunaga funny. If he ever makes it as a big comedian Kenma’s taking credit for being the first person to tell him that. 

To put a long story short, rooming with Fukunaga was like living in a sitcom, except the writers ran out of normal scenarios six seasons ago and had resorted to throwing the most outlandish shit at the wall to see what stuck. The most surprising part?  Kenma didn’t even mind. It was a lot, yeah, but Fukunaga never dragged him into his shenanigans or invaded his space. Honestly the most annoying thing he did was invite Tora over, who was 10x more annoying than whatever new hobby Fukunaga had adopted for the week. Plus, it’s not like Kenma was the greatest roommate either. He was getting into streaming around this time so it wasn’t rare to find him shouting at his monitor past 4am or hogging 90% of the room’s outlets. Together they were the most dysfunctionally-functional duo in the building, and an infamous one at that.  

---

Kenma and Fukunaga were not popular among their floormates. They weren’t hated per say but if everyone else had to vote on a pair to banish from the building Kenma had a sneaking suspicion they’d be first in line. One reason for this was Kenma’s aforementioned streaming— Fukunaga didn’t mind the late-night noise but their neighbors weren’t too keen. The second reason was the unmistakeable stench that wafted from their room any time Fukunaga pulled out his little instant pot to make dinner. Kenma couldn't blame him, personally he’d rather knaw on uncooked blocks of ramen for every meal than step foot in their university’s dining hall. If it wasn’t for his streaming career taking off Kenma would be drowning in debt from all his food delivery fees. And to be fair the smell wasn’t always bad, Fukunaga was phenomenal at cooking after all. As a part-time chef he knew his stuff. The problem was his favorite foods. Octopus. Squid. Dousing everything in fish sauce. Their dorm might as well have been a seafood market. It didn’t help that Fukunaga always went way overboard— no hot pockets or box mac and cheese here, he had every prohibited appliance under the sun from a hot pot to a griddle to a waffle maker. Air fryer salmon doesn’t smell like roses. 

Kenma had never been the biggest eater. In highschool Kuroo always bothered him about that— skipping lunch isn’t healthy Kenma, you have to eat vegetables Kenma, three mints and a granola bar doesn’t count as dinner Kemna. It was annoying sometimes, especially at training camp when Bokuto got involved, but it was nice to know they cared. When Kuroo left for university the role of “Kenma’s feeder” was taken up by Tora (“OI KENMA, IF YOU DON’T EAT YOU’LL COLLAPSE ON COURT AND WE WON'T MAKE IT TO NATIONALS! THAT PLATE BETTER BE EMPTY WHEN I GET BACK”). Then graduation rolled around and for better or worse Kenma was free. He tried his best to eat decently as a promise to Kuroo but he often found himself forgetting to order food before restaurants closed. 

One night at some unholy hour Kenma was on his usual stream grind— he’d started in the afternoon and ended up getting so invested that he skipped class…and lunch…and dinner. It was a new game, ok? The cup noodles he planned on eating sat unopened at the edge of his desk. Noodles meant microwave, which meant getting up, which meant pausing his game, and that wasn’t an option at the moment. He was in for the long haul. Chat had been pestering him about eating for hours now but who cares about their opinion? They’d also been yapping about a ghost or some bullshit looming behind him all night so why should he trust them with anything? He didn’t even realize Fukunaga was still awake until he felt a light tap on his shoulder. With a yelp he spun around, spooked by the sudden touch. There he was holding out a bowl of curry, chat’s ghost. “Eat.” When Kenma didn’t take the bowl Fukunaga bopped him on the head with it. “Pretty sure starving on stream is against TOS.” Then he set the bowl down on his desk and disappeared. Every stream after that chat bothered Kenma about his “guardian angel” and asked for him to come say hi.

---

By their second year both Kenma and Fukunaga realized that university wasn’t for them. Kenma’s online career had skyrocketed and he was teaching himself more about business through the start of his own company than lectures and exams ever could. Fukunaga was gradually finding an audience at a nearby comedy club and had his own taste of internet fame when one of his sets got reposted online and went viral. It just wasn't worth staying enrolled for their future plans, thus the two were officially drop outs. With that said and done the time had come for them to part ways—there was no need to share an apartment, Kenma had enough cash to afford his own and Fukunaga made plans to move in with Tora. 

On the final day they stood outside next to the road, boxes stacked high as they waited for Kuroo and Tora to come pick them up. “Welp,” Fukunaga said, giving him a salute “It’s been an honor captain.”

“You were Nekoma's captain, not me.”

“First mate doesn’t have the same ring.” They laughed. Fukunaga went in for a hug, and for once Kenma let it happen. “Until we meet again boss.” 

Kenma snorted into his shoulder. “Please, our new places are only a few train stops away.” 

“How about until I ask Kuroo where your house key is hidden again.” 

“Don’t you dare.” 

In the passenger's seat of Kuroo’s sedan Kenma pressed against the window, watching as the world around him blurred into one big blob of city. Kuroo was saying something, idle chatter about classes or work or their friends, but Kenma was only half listening. On the one hand he was excited to have his own space for the first time in his life, the freedom to do anything he wanted any time he wanted without prying eyes. He could finally have a dedicated stream room, that was cool. On the other hand he had to admit, he was gonna miss the oddities that accompanied living with Fukunaga. The unpredictability, the jokes, the ever-changing decor, even the inflatable tube man hanging from the ceiling. And the home-cooked meals of course, going back to DoorDash was gonna be an adjustment. He figured if he missed his food that much he could drop by their apartment anytime. He’d have to deal with Tora now but maybe that wasn’t so bad. They were all adults now, more mature. Mellowed out (at least for Tora standards). He decided that he'd make a point to call his friends more often. 

“You ok?” a voice called, snapping Kenma out of his trance. Kuroo nudged his foot with his own. “You’ve been pretty quiet today, more than usual.” 

Kenma shot him a small smile. “Yeah, I'm good.” 

“Great, cause i'm gonna need you to listen to this next part-”  Years later when Fukunaga started appearing on tv interviews and variety shows Kenma was proud to say that they used to be roommates way back when, and that he was the first one to tell him his jokes were funny.