#because he comes across as a tsundere but you realize REAL fast the one who needs a little more redemption/growth is

[mutopians]

my personal dream set-up for a romance reincarnation/isekai/regression manwha/comic is that the main characters leaves her toxic lover, rebounds with a STILL shitty dude who follows all of the worst male lead tropes of the genre, and then realizes he's STILL kinda shitty and gets together with a nicer guy. who still follows some of the tropes, but NOT in a red flag kind of way

[tastyykpop]

Hiii Congrats on reaching the milestone💕💕love your blog btw!! Could you please do a Taeyong smut where he is kinda cold to her before but confesses after he becomes very jealous??

Hii ty so much u have no clue how much this means to me🥺

ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ, ɪᴅɪᴏᴛ

Pairings: tsundere!taeyong x reader

Genre: smut

Warnings: d/s themes, jealousy, possessiveness, marking, praising, a dash of spanking, fingering, hair pulling, unprotected sex

I finished this at 4am so it's not edited 💔

"Lee Taeyong!!" You chased the dark haired boy down the side walk, never turning to look back as his name was called, "Wait for me please!"

He scoffed. Luckily you couldn't hear him. "What an annoying brat." Taeyong continued on, still ignoring you and your protests of him walking away.

Running as fast as you could to catch up was easier said then done. You held boba and your food from a nearby fast food restaurant in one hand, Taeyongs in another with your purse flopping against you. You wouldn't be in this situation if Taeyong scare you into holding his food for you, threatening you with a cold stare.

Yes, you and Taeyong are friends. It's odd because of how cold and almost rude he is with you, but you're somehow friends, at least you think you are. Some people say he's got a soft spot for you but you're not too sure anymore. One day hes calling you an idiot for not taking care of yourself and the next hes rolling his eyes at you and telling you to fuck off. Coming to the conclusion that maybe he only thinks of you as a friend, you started pushing him away recently and hung out with another friend of yours. Too bad because you may have had feelings for Taeyong too. Something about him made you want to stick around even though most of the time he didn't want you around.

"Goddammit Taeyong...wait up!"

As annoying as it was to be running with food and drinks in both hands, the most annoying part had to be the purse. It was big, heavy, and swayed with every step, bumping into your left arm ever millisecond. Why couldn't you just man up to Taeyong before?

"Bastard."

"Did you say something?"

"Huh- what!? When did you-" you tilted your head upwards to meet Taeyongs arched brow and impatient face. How did you not realize you caught up?

You pushed his food and drink into his chest and grumbled, "Here." And without waiting for Taeyong, you readjusted your purse and walked to your house with expectations that he would follow.

Taeyong frowned yet tailed you like a lost puppy.. He didn't have any plans catching up to you or telling you to wait for him and just admired you from behind. He liked the way your hair bounced over your shoulders with every step, the way your hips swayed as you walked. He even liked how long the skirt made your legs look even though you were tiny compared to him. Taeyong liked you without a doubt, but he wouldnt actually tell you that.

"Are you coming?" You opened the door to your house. Taeyong didn't answer, only pushing you out of the way and beelining it to the table where he placed his food and drink. "I'll take that as a yes..." you sigh.

Placing your food gently on the table, you sat across from the male who eyed you up and down but with no expression crossing his face.

"Y/n." Taeyongs stern voice startled you as you almost choked on a boba pearl. "Whats on your neck?"

"My neck?" Softly, you touched the side of your neck before realizing what he meant. Yesterday, that friend of yours that you've started hanging out with asked you to hang out. And little did you know, hanging out didn't mean just watching movies or joking around. It soon turned to small touches, then kissing, then making out. Before you knew it, he was kissing and sucking your neck, creating the purple mark that now painted your skin. "Oh...it's nothing. Just a bruise."

"What are you stupid? Your telling me you just happened to bruise your neck? Dumbass."

"Then why did you ask if you already know?" You mumbled.

As you took the biggest bite from your burger, Taeyong had to speak up again, "I hate it."

"Its a good thing it's not on you then isn't it."

"I think you would look better covered in my marks." His voice never faltered and you were sure he was joking. Taeyongs always been straight forward with you, but this seemed like a joke, it had to be a joke. Your mind was playing tricks on you and this is what you wanted to hear. It can't be real.

"You're kidding right...?"

"Completely serious."

"So you're...jealous?"

"Stop asking so many questions." He said coldly, shutting you up quickly, but the smirk on your face still lingered.

"I just think it's funny that a small mark on my neck could make someone as cold as you are, jealous." You say, confidence flowing out of you out of nowhere and this time, Taeyong went quiet. "Its cute."

"Cute? You know what's cute is me bending you over this table and fucking the life out of you so you only remember my name and who owns that cute ass."

Heat rose to your cheeks and the tips of your ears, and maybe Taeyong could tell but youre sure your face was starting to show a hint of red, "Now I know you're just bluffing."

Taeyong rolled his eyes, "Come here and shut that mouth, I'll show you I'm not." It had to be the way his voice growled that made you suddenly get out of your seat and stand before the man. It's easy for you to be flustered but it's also easy for you to obey someone that shows more dominance and Taeyong- well he was just overflowing with it.

"We're gonna have a little fun, yeah?" He smiled devishly, "You trust me right?"

"Y-yeah, I m-mean we are f-friends."

Suddenly, your body was bent over the table and your wrists were bound by Taeyongs hand. If you wanted to escape, Taeyong wouldn't let allow it, so you were locked in place.

God, the way this position impacted Taeyong to the point where he just wanted to fuck you all day and night. With your skirt barely hiding your pretty pink panties, he could easily get off by himself at the sight. He didn't need to do that though, he had you after all.

"Did he touch you?" You hear him say, voice low and frightening, enough to paralyze you from moving and speaking. But to his dismay you didn't answer. Moreover, hesitated to answer because of the tone he used. "I asked you a question." He growled, "Did. He. Touch. You."

A soothing hand ran up the sides of you skin, it was cold, almost like a vampires touch compared to your warm skin. "Y-yes."

Taeyong stopped, "Where?"

"Why does it matter?" You say, finding your confidence again though that won't last since your bent over the table with your ass in Taeyongs face.

"I dont want you to remember his touch, only mine. So I'll touch any place he touched." He continued touching where he could reach, the hand binding your wrists let up and rested on your ass as if about to spank you. "Now answer me."

You grumbled and arched your back as a way to tell Taeyong to shut up and fuck you. The pain of something not filling you up was unbearable, you even thought about slipping your fingers inside dripping cunt for relief. "Stop asking me questions and fuck me please."

"God you're so annoying." He spoke. "Im not going to fuck you until you tell me. It shouldnt be that hard since you're so confident." Taeyong pulled you up by your hair and forced you on his lap where your back was pressed against his chest. You couldnt look him in the face, too afraid that you'd break into a blabbering mess.

"H-he touched m-me," you grab Taeyongs hand with hesitation and placed it on your panties that covered your leaking hole, "here."

Almost positive Taeyong could feel your juices soaking through your panties, you pulled your hand away letting his own linger where you needed him most.

"What did he do when he touched you here?" His middle finger went along the slit of your cunt, dragging up and down gently.

"N-nothing."

He crooked his head before pushing your panties to the side and dipping two fingers in, "He didn't do this?" As you body arched into him, he was able to go deeper and finger you slow enough that you were sure it was teasing. And the pain of wanting to be filled up slowly disappeared but not enough.

"N-no, he d-didnt." As he began picking up speed, you cursed a threw your head back. You cried for more, struggling to stay still in his lap and his fingers worked magically inside you.

Taeyong loved every second of this. To finally see you melt in his arms literally when you could so easily turn him down for this. And he'd like to think he was the only one who could make you feel this way. Make you whimper and whine and call out to him for more. He was the only one for you.

"Please T-Taeyong, i want you to f-fuck me so bad," with a third finger slipping inside you, you moaned uncontrollably at the pace. Though you weren't stuffed like you would be with his dick, it was obvious Taeyong knew how to work his fingers to make you act this way. "Please, please, please..."

"Where else did he touch you?" He ignored your please.

It irked you how he didn't bat an eyelash at your desperate self. If you had your confidence again, you would have taken his dick out and sat on it without a question, even so you knew Taeyong wouldn't allow it just yet. He wanted you to fall apart before he even started.

"Mmm Taeyong-" you moaned with content as his fingers curved against your walls, "H-He touched m-my ch-chest."

Taeyong bit the inside of his cheek trying to hide the smirk that formed, "Guess ill just do the same." His free hand worked its way to your mounds where he proceeded to grope you and brush over your sensitive buds. The combination of his fingers inside you and his hands fondling your boobs was sure to bring your to an orgasm soon.

"Youre so beautiful." Taeyong mumbles into your ear, "so fucking perfect."

As carefully as can be, his fingers pulled out of you as a string of your slick connected to his three fingers.

So delicious, Taeyong thought, everything about you was so delicious.

You were flipped around so you faced Taeyong. This time, you didn't look away from him or hide your face from him. Instead, you maintained eye contact with the pretty boy below you before you suddenly pulled him into a desperate and needy kiss.

His heart beat faster than before. His ears burning as his face was flushed. You kissed him. You, the girl that he's been crushing on for years finally kissed him. It only took his jealousy to make this all happen.

"You don't understand how much I love you," he unbuckled his belt, "I cherish every minute and every second I spend with you," soon his pants were unbuttoned, "I can't stand seeing you with someone else," He slipped his dick inside of you with ease, a moan falling from both of you, "Even if you don't love me back, I still fucking do."

You couldnt find words to speak. Your mind was running but not thinking. If you spoke, you weren't sure if it'd be babbling or moaning because of how hard Taeyong fucked up into you. "I-i lo-" No, you couldnt say it back, not while being fucked into a whole new galaxy.

Taeyong on the other hand, was anxious yet pounded into you, enough to bring tears to your eyes. He wanted you to speak, he wanted to hear those three words come out of your mouth, but all he got was your adorable moans and sighs. Yet he wasn't complaining, they sounded lovely apart from the skin against skin. He's just overthinking.

"Youre doing so well, baby." His voice slowly fading, you were so lost in the feeling that anything Taeyong said, went out the other ear.

"F-feels so g-good. Want m-more..." Your greedy hands tugged at Taeyongs locks, but you weren't the only one being touchy. Taeyong was also kneading the plush skin of your ass, giving small taps before digging his nails in, making you whimper.

"Youre so needy baby, huh? So cute and needy for me." He slapped your ass playfully. The smirk on his face was evident that he loved every second of this.

"F-fuck yes, i-im so needy f-for you." You cry, "Youre t-the only one who c-can make me f-feel t-this good."

Of course he is. And Taeyong couldn't be any happier hearing that from you. It gave him energy to fuck harder while now holding your hips still like you were his personal toy. You struggled with keeping the hold on his hair. Your light tugs now harsh pulls but Taeyong didn't mind, in fact he liked how his head was forced to look at your beautiful face.

"Pretty girl." He leaned over the slightest bit and sucked on your necks sweet skin as you tried bouncing on his cock along with him thrusting up. "How much do you love this cock?" He questioned against your neck.

"S-so so much, Taeyong!" Your hips stutter and you know youre close but refuse to faulter, "Y-you h-have the best c-cock."

Taeyong moved back from your neck and grabbed your chin, "Are you ever going to let that guy touch you like that again after this?" You shook your head quickly. "Good girl."

"Im g-gonna cum." You say and without a single thought or word, your body shook as pleasure washed before you. Still, though Taeyong was on the edge of cumming himself, he kept the quick pace from before. But you were so sensitive from the orgasm, and even started screaming Taeyongs name. It wasn't pain, but pleasure, very sensitive pleasure that could easily make you cum a second time.

Seconds before you were about to feel another wave, Taeyong shot his seed deep into you, thrusting slowly as he came down from his high.

"D-did you mean what you said?" Taeyong breathes heavily and raises his brow in question, "About you loving me."

"Duh. I love you, idiot. I wouldn't say that if I didn't mean it." He rolled his eyes. That's the Taeyong you knew. "And what about you? Are you gonna say something or leave me hanging."

"I l-love you t-too." You say quickly. "I mean it."

Taeyong smiles a real smile before patting your head like a puppy and lifting you off his dick, "Lets get you cleaned up, baby, then we can talk about planning a date."

"A date??"

"Mhm," he smirked, "but not after a round two."

[xjoonchildx]

guarded | jhs x reader | chapter three: exotic pets

summary: you’ve tried to separate yourself from your infamous crime family, but a new case has your carefully-constructed world crashing down around you.  now you have to figure out how to heal old wounds and handle the new man who enters your orbit.

pairing: hoseok x reader

genre: mafia AU, E2L, slow burn, tsundere, eventual smut

rating: 18+

word count: 3.4K

A/N: i hope you guys are enjoying the story so far! i’d love to hear what you think. thank you so much for your support. things are going to start ramping up on the whole slow burn angle from here. once again i must thank the fabulous @ladyartemesia​​ for both this killer graphic and beta reading for me -- as well as the amazing @taetaewonderland​​. pouring out a sunkist in your honor today xoxo

Chapter 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | EPILOGUE

********************

It’s funny how people believe the shit they see in movies.

For instance, most film fans think it’s entirely possible to break a bottle over someone’s head.  One character grabs for an empty beer during a fight and the glass explodes in dramatic fashion with just one crack across another character’s skull.

You know better.

You know there’s way too much give to the human body to shatter glass like that.  

If you want to break a bottle you’ve got to connect with something much harder. The corner of a table.  A fireplace mantle.  That’s how it works in the real world.

You stare into the mirror and run the pad of one finger along the raised scar that mars your left collarbone.  All these years later and it’s paler and smoother but it’s still hideous, taunting you in your reflection.  

Today you cover it with an oversized scarf carefully matched to a silk blouse. Tomorrow it will be a turtleneck.  You’ve come up with dozens of ways to hide the ruined skin, but there’s never going to be a way to get rid of it.

It will always be a physical reminder that there are some pieces of your past you can never leave behind.

************************

Hoseok has a cold.

There was extra gravel in his voice this morning as he went over your schedule for the day. You can detect the faint scent of a cough drop in the shared air of his car.

But he doesn’t mention it and neither do you.

This morning, you’re glad for it -- glad for the absence of small talk.

In a few minutes, you get to walk into your boss’s office and announce that half the evidence in what should be a home-run case has vanished into thin air.  You have to pretend to have no idea why someone would want to sabotage a seemingly minor prosecution of a couple of idiot gangsters and you have to do it without so much as hinting at your family’s connection to organized crime in this town.

There’s a knot in your stomach so tight you feel nauseous.

Hoseok’s phone buzzes with an incoming call from the mount on the dash and he frowns for a split-second before sending it to voicemail.  One minute later it buzzes again and he rejects it again.  Seconds later and he makes it three in a row.

You know damned well that if those calls were about business, Hoseok would have answered them right away.  The knot in your stomach tightens even more and you turn your head to stare out of the window.

It’s an unfair situation, this arrangement.  Hoseok has access to every corner of your life while you don’t know a damned thing about him.  Who would he be going home to every night if he weren’t under orders to stay with you?  Who is waiting for him when this is all over?

Someone, certainly.

Willing women are in abundance in his line of work.  You grew up around them -- a revolving door of beautiful, vulnerable girls who thought nothing of trading their bodies for gifts and cash. Women so eager for security and love they accepted whatever scraps were thrown their way.  

In a way, you were like them -- a motherless little girl living in the midst of male-dominated chaos and desperate for female connection.  You watched the way they styled their hair and applied their makeup and how they went about the myriad tasks of being women.  Then inevitably you’d grow too attached too fast only to have your heart broken when one day they just disappeared.  

And they always disappeared.

You wonder what the woman trying to reach Hoseok this morning looks like.  You wonder if she’s angry that he’s had to be away so long.  You wonder what version she gets of him and how different it must be from the version you get.  The knot in your stomach is replaced by something else.

Something you’d rather not examine too closely.

**************************

“You should let me take you to lunch.”

Donghyuk interrupts what must be the worst morning of your entire career without so much as a knock or a hello.  He drops into the empty chair in your office uninvited and doesn’t wait for you to answer.

“We could ditch the busy work, slip out the back entrance -- ” he grins conspiratorially,  “ -- have a two-martini meal at Congdu and then sneak into the bathroom to fool around.  What do you think?”

You groan out loud. You are not in the mood for this shit right now.

“This is not a good time, ‘Hyuk.”

He sighs. “Yeah, I heard.”

Of course he’s heard. Everyone in a hundred-foot radius has heard. To say your bosses were displeased with the bomb you dropped on them this morning is an understatement.

“So then why are you in my office asking me to go day drinking?  Do you want me to be fired?”

“Of course not,” he says, looking offended. “I just thought you deserved a break from the madness for a minute.”

You laugh without a hint of humor.

“I’m going to get a permanent break from the madness if I don’t rescue this case somehow.  So no -- no lunch today.  Probably no lunch for the next six months, actually.”

Donghyuk frowns.

“Dinner, then?  There’s a new spot in Gangnam I’ve been wanting to try. We could go tomorrow night.”

Christ, the man is insistent these days.

You are too mentally worn out to figure out why your casual arrangement with Donghyuk feels a hell of a lot less casual of late.  If he’s suddenly decided he wants more than just the occasional meal-to-mattress thing you’ve enjoyed for months, he’s in for a disappointment.  You are tapped out.

“I’ve got -- It’s just complicated for me right now,” you manage.

“Yeah, I get it,” he agrees sympathetically. “The bodyguard thing, right?”

“Right,” you repeat slowly, mind suddenly flipping back to Hoseok. Back to this morning’s car ride.

Back to those missed calls.

Something childish and petty and unbecoming stirs inside of you.

“You know what? Dinner tomorrow night could work, actually.”

Donghyuk leans back and smiles wide.

“Great.”

*********************

Hoseok’s cold hasn’t improved.

The ride to the restaurant is radio silent, but for the sound of his occasional sniffle.  You could have sworn you saw actual displeasure cross his face when you’d asked him to take you to meet Donghyuk tonight.  It feels like the air between you is crackling with tension.  

But it’s probably your imagination.

Hoseok says nothing as he closes the car door behind you, nothing as he holds the door to the restaurant open for you, and nothing when you thank him as you step inside.

Donghyuk has a table waiting. No small feat because this place is packed.  

It’s a brand-new restaurant and apparently one of the most expensive and coveted dining spots in the city.  In an instant, it dawns on you that there’s no table for Hoseok.  You turn to ask him where he wants to be, but he brushes past you to take a seat at the bar.

Again, he says nothing.

You huff your frustration under your breath as you slide into the chair across from Donghyuk.  He’s got a snifter of what’s sure to be some pricey brandy in his hand.

“Germain-Robin Select Barrel,” he declares, swirling the amber liquid in his glass before taking a sip.  “Best stuff in town.”

Of course it is.  

Donghyuk is accustomed to having only the best of the best; a natural by-product of his upbringing.  You’ve known one another since you were pupils at the same prep school, living parallel lives. You both had expensive homes and pricey tutors and fancy clothes -- but his family graced the pages of the society magazines while yours graced the pages of the newspapers.

This thing you have with him is supposed to be easy; an uncomplicated diversion. But lately, it's a hell of a lot less satisfying than it used to be.  Either Donghyuk is really getting more self-absorbed and less interesting -- or you are just starting to not give a shit about anything he has to say.

He’s droning on about something golf-related when you tune out completely. Your eyes wander to Hoseok at the bar.  

He still hasn’t ordered anything to eat and a drink sits untouched on the bartop.

“Sharp dresser, that guy.”

“What?”

You swing your focus back to Donghyuk like you’ve just come out of a trance.

“The bodyguard,” he says around a fork full of food.  “He’s got pretty good taste for some street gangster. I should find out where he shops.”

You’re caught by surprise -- by his comment, by the way it makes your chest tighten.  By the force of the second-hand embarrassment you suddenly feel on behalf of Hoseok.

“He’s not some -- street gangster,” you say quietly, slowly.

“Oh, he’s not?” Donghyuk asks, looking genuinely confused.  “He’s not one of your brother’s guys?”

Red-hot anger blossoms inside of you so fast you can barely contain it.  You stare Donghyuk down with the most venomous look you can muster.

“I didn’t say he wasn’t,” you bite out. “But you have no clue what you’re talking about. And keep any mention of my brother out of your mouth.”

“Jeez, sorry,” Donghyuk fires back, lifting his hands in surrender.  “I didn’t realize I was touching on a nerve. I thought you hated your family. That’s what everyone says, anyway.”

You jerk out of the chair so abruptly it nearly falls back.  The napkin in your lap falls to the floor and the people sitting at the tables nearby stop to look. Donghyuk’s mouth falls open with surprise.

“I’m done,” you grind out, grabbing for your purse.

“Sit down,” Donghyuk hisses. “You’re making a scene.”

“She said she’s done.”

You never saw Hoseok move, never registered him leaving the bar -- but when you rip your gaze away from Donghyuk, he is at your side.  

Hoseok opens his wallet and throws a pile of bills down on the table.  He doesn’t spare a glance at Donghyuk as he calmly ushers you away from the table.

“Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

***************************

The ride home from the restaurant is just as silent as the ride there.

Hoseok drives and you stare blankly out the window as you replay Donghyuk’s words in your mind.

I thought you hated your family. That’s what everyone says.

Yes -- you hated your father.  You had your reasons and you had earned that right.

But Namjoon?  Never.  You could never hate your brother.  

The fact that you’d given anyone -- even Donghyuk -- reason to believe otherwise makes you feel sick to your stomach.  Shames weighs so heavy on your chest it feels like you can’t breathe.

You don’t even have the energy to devote to being embarrassed at how that whole scene played out in front of Hoseok.  By the time he walks you into your apartment, you’re just desperate to wash up and fall into bed.  Hoseok lingers in the living room but you don’t even look at him.  You head straight for your bedroom.

The tears come the moment the latch clicks closed.

Followed closely by the screams.

**********************

HOSEOK

What a shitty way to end what had really shaped up to be an enjoyable night.

Hoseok could see the moment things went south at dinner.  You’d looked disinterested from the second you sat down, distracted the entire time you ate your meal.  But then the strangest look came over you at the end, something Hoseok couldn’t quite decipher.  Until it was replaced by something he understood loud and clear from all the way across the room.

Fury.

It was way too fucking satisfying, really.  

The look on that idiot’s face when you humiliated him in front of an entire restaurant full of his shitty little peers.  The way his mouth dropped open when you told him you were done and the way his cheeks burned red when Hoseok tossed the money on the table.

That would have been the perfect way to end the night.  

But then you started screaming.

Hoseok’s body is moving before his mind does. In seconds, he’s crossed the apartment and ripped your bedroom door open.

“Holy shit,” he breathes.

You are pressed against the far wall of the room, staring down at the floor.  Hoseok follows your terrified gaze down to the large black snake coiled just a few feet away.  

“Okay, wow. Fuck,” he mutters, shoving his hand through this hair, trying like hell to formulate a cohesive thought.  “Okay just...just stay calm for me, okay? Can you do that?”

You say nothing, out of screams and out of words as you stare back at him. It’s clear that no, staying calm is the last thing you can do right now but staying silent is a pretty good second option.

“I have to leave you for a second, okay?  Just one second.  Can you stay calm for me?” Hoseok repeats, taking a tentative step out the door.  “You don’t have to answer me, just nod. I’m going to be back in seconds and I’m going to get this thing out of here.  Are you with me?”  

Hoseok watches as you pull in one shaky breath and nod woodenly.  That’s all the affirmation he needs.

He runs to rip a pillowcase off one of the pillows on his bed.  When he gets back to your room, the snake has stretched it’s long body into a flat line and you look somehow more terrified than you did when he left.  

“I’m back, okay?” he reassures, even though he’s certain you already know that.  But you won’t take your eyes off that snake and he wants you to hear the artificial calm in his voice. “Don’t make any sudden moves. I’m going to get this thing into this pillowcase in my hands.”

He talks you through what he’s doing like it’s going to somehow reinforce that he’s in control when he knows that he’s anything but.  Hoseok has seen and done a lot of weird shit in this line of work, but he’s never had to wrangle a fucking snake.  He has a basic understanding of what needs to be done, but that’s still a far damned cry from actually doing it.  

He takes one deep breath and starts forward with careful steps.

The fact that the snake has uncoiled might work to his advantage, he reasons.  From this angle he can probably reach the tail without coming too close to the head.  He knows that whatever move he makes has to be fast and decisive -- and he understands instinctively that your composure relies almost entirely on him maintaining his.

He sees you clap a hand over your mouth to stop from screaming when he grabs for the snake.  The animal’s long body undulates in his grip, stronger than he expected, and he has to pull back when the snake swings its head in his direction.  The entire debacle couldn’t have lasted any more than five seconds, but by the time Hoseok gets an opportunity to pull the pillowcase over the snake’s body, it feels like an eternity.

He wonders if you could see how badly his hands were shaking the entire time.

*******************

“So wait, what kind of snake is it?”

“Fuck Yoongi, I don’t know,” Hoseok snaps, pulling the cabinets under your bathroom sink open. He rifles through the contents, checking to make sure nothing else has been left behind.

“Black. Shiny. Doesn’t look friendly.  You gonna come help me toss this apartment or do you want to talk exotic pets?”

“Don’t be a dick,” Yoongi chuckles, “and don’t do anything to that snake. I’ll be there in 15 minutes.”

Hoseok ends the call without so much as a goodbye.  

He takes a break from inspecting your room to walk out into the living room to check on you.  You are seated cross-legged on your couch, staring into nothing.

“Yoongi is on his way,” he says, rubbing one hand across the back of his neck. “He’s going to help me do a deep dive in all the rooms.”

You don’t respond.

“You okay?”

You turn your head slowly and blink up at him like you’ve just registered the sound of his voice.  

“Uh, yeah,” you say slowly, even though you sound anything but. “I’m okay.”

Hoseok tongues his cheek. He wishes he knew what to do or what to say to make you feel more at ease.  He chides himself for the thought almost as soon as it comes.  You probably wouldn’t want to hear it from him, anyway.

“Alright,” he sighs, turning back towards your bedroom. “Just give me a minute to get through everything in here and then you can get some sleep.”

“Hoseok?”

You call to him from the couch and he turns back to face you.  

“Thank you,” you say quietly.

Something twists inside Hoseok’s stomach at the despondent look on your face.  It’s such a contrast to the look he saw tonight at the restaurant -- the fiery, angry one that made him feel like he could understand you a bit more.  He would rather see any other version of you than the one he sees right now.

“You’re welcome,” he says thickly, turning away to get back to work.

***********************

You are still sleeping when Hoseok leaves Seokjin at your apartment in his place.

Namjoon is standing at his office window this morning, like he often does when he’s thinking.  Yoongi nods when Hoseok enters the office and helps himself to the only other empty chair.

“What happened last night?” Namjoon asks, not bothering to turn away from the window.  

Yoongi shoots Hoseok a look that says you first and Hoseok returns with one of his own that says no shit, sherlock.

“There’s not much that you’re not already briefed on,” Hoseok starts, “I brought your sister home from a social outing and when we got home she found a snake on her bedroom floor. I was able to contain the snake and Yoongi and I searched every inch of the apartment after that.  Didn’t turn up anything else.”

“Any sign of forced entry?”

“No,” Hoseok admits.  “I couldn’t find any.  I have a locksmith working with Seokjin on replacing the deadbolt again this morning.”

“Right,” Namjoon says, turning away from the window to walk back to his desk.  “So that makes twice now that we’ve changed her locks, twice now that someone has managed to get in anyway.  What about the cameras outside?”

“I checked the footage,” Yoongi says. “Someone used a pole or a stick to put a physical block over the lens.  It was still up there when I checked this morning.  Duct tape.”

Namjoon scrubs a hand across his jaw, sighs out loud.

“Fuck. Where are we with tracking the Lee girl?”

Yoongi clears his throat.  “I’ve been out on a few runs so far; nothing out of the norm.  Work to home to work. I’ve got Jimin and Tae checking out some other stuff but nothing to report back yet.”

“Keep digging,” Namjoon insists. “She has everything she needs.  The knowledge and the access, but most importantly she has my sister’s trust.  That’s what worries me the most.”

He turns his attention to Hoseok.  “My sister. How is she holding up?”

Hoseok thinks back to the way you looked last night, back to that blank look on your face.

Not well.

“She’s tired,” he replies carefully. “Stressed out because she’s trying to rescue her case.  The snake shit did not help.”

“I’m sure it didn’t.”

“Speaking of which -- ” Yoongi interjects, “ -- that snake.  It’s an Indigo snake.  Not venomous.”

Namjoon lifts one eyebrow.

“I’m saying the Ssijog are not trying to hurt her, not really.  They only want to scare her into fucking up this case,” Yoongi reasons. “Trust me, they don’t want to make shit worse for themselves right now by adding a dead prosecutor to the mix.”

Hoseok winces at the logical-but-clumsy delivery of that last line.

Namjoon’s mouth pulls into a tight line as he leans back in his chair and steeples his fingers.  Hoseok has worked for the man long enough to know that he’s not the type to lash out when he gets angry.  Namjoon is the type to go quiet.  

Like right now.

He narrows his eyes at Yoongi before opening his mouth to speak.

“You’re probably right about that, Yoongi,” he says in a low, careful tone.  “But let me ask you this.  Is that a bet you’re willing to make with my sister’s life on the line?”

Yoongi -- wisely -- doesn’t answer that.

****************************

tag list!

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[fineillsignup]

Unreleased Rumors and Secrets: Minor’s Memory Book

There was a scandal for the drop rates of the first wish tree event in China, and those cards were never released for any other server. Some of those cards had Rumors and Secrets attached. Some people have translated some, but Gavin’s don’t seem to have been so, and I was asked in the R18 Discord to translate the R&S from our beloved Minor.

Minor’s Memory Book

#1

I got beaten up.

This morning, I was super bold and stuck an “evil begone” sticker onto the school bully’s lunchbox as a challenge. Well, I stuck a bunch on, and that guy suddenly came with five other guys to corner me in the alley. I straightened my back, but I felt a chill. And the result was those four words I started this entry with... I got beaten up. With a bloody nose and a swollen face, I suddenly felt that this era really has no heroes... even a strapping young lad like myself must undergo such suffering...

Suddenly, a pair of white sneakers stood before my eyes. I lifted my swollen face and struggled to focus my eyes, only to see a fierce figure. He extended a hand and grasped the bully’s neck, with steel in his gaze!

“Holy crap... it’s actually Bai! Qi! Xue! Zhang! [Bai Qi is Gavin’s Chinese name. Xuezhang is an honorific used for male seniors in school, similar to Japanese -sempai or Korean -seonbae. I will translate as Gavin-sempai for ease of understanding by a Western nerd audience.]

Today I truly got to see with my own eyes the genuine 1v5. Gavin-sempai reduced them to ashes with his hands. He glanced down at me and was gonna leave, but I grabbed onto his pant leg.

Sempai is as cold as the legends said, all he said was one word: Scram.

What a man!!!

So now my heart has one goal: I want to learn the skill of going 1v5 from sempai!

#2

I keep trying to look for Gavin-sempai, but he heartlessly ignores me... he just keeps drinking his water or sleeping or whatever... I need to go on the attack! So I'll make a plan for perfect understanding! 

Ahem. Just "following" sempai is a dull life. Every morning at 7:30 sharp he's at the school gate, with a totally flat schoolbag. I don't know if it has any books inside it... wait, is this important to write down? No, whatever, move on. 

The first thing he does is go to the snack kiosk on the north side of the school! Break! Fast! Time! Could it be that Gavin-sempai eats an ordinary breakfast just like us puny mortal men? Oooooh~ it looks like sempai really likes to eat fishballs? This is the third day in a row he ordered them. Maybe it's bad to switch up what you eat? 

I made a special effort to go to the floor with the seniors, and went by the window of his class. Of course, usually he wouldn't be there, but!! Today he was there!! 

As I expected, he sits in the very back row, so he can go to sleep without hesitation. 

 Isn't anyone paying attention to him? Oh no, what is this feeling of admiration??? [you're gay honey] 

Sempai is tricky, I dunno where he goes after class, but he goes to the library eventually. I can't help thinking, sempai really does whatever he wants. 

Huh?! Wait a minute, why would a delinquent like sempai go to the library?! 

But even more than that, what made my jaw drop is:  I saw sempai get down a book from the top shelf for the prettiest girl in the school! And he was smiling! Smi.... ling..........

#3

I got beaten up again... it really pains my heart to write those words y'know. Why did I try to save that four-eyes who seemed so foolish and helpless but turned out to be a scoundrel? But, isn't that a hero? The times need a hero like me!

Although maybe the times don't need a weak little chicken hero like me...

When I was knocked to the ground by that school bully, that's what I was thinking. My faith was in tatters, but I thought again of the steely eyes of Gavin-sempai, how great it would be if he was there...

Maybe God happened to hear my prayer, because sempai appeared out of the blue! With his cool left hook, he knocked the other guy to the ground. I was so moved my vision was blurred with tears.

Sempai asked me, why are you always making trouble for yourself? I said with passion, because I wanna be a hero, I can't stand to see school bullies bullying the weak. Then sempai said, don't you know they all say I'm a school bully?

In my heart I said yeah I know, but with a firm resolution I shook my head. When he looked at my eyes, the light in them suddenly took on a mysterious glint... as if he was seeing a... what? An idiot?...

Sempai is really hard to get on with. He spoke to me about what real heroism means, but this went so far beyond what I expected from sempai, for him to actually speak to me! I can't remember it I can't remember it...

Anyway! In my opinion, heroism is rushing to the rescue when there's trouble!

#4

Today I am! a! hero!

I don't know for how many days I've been sneaking after sempai, but today I suddenly came across sempai in a real jam! It was all the school bullies who he saved me from before! Altogether there were ten of them! Damn! Using an unfair advantage! How could I, Minor, let something like this happen!

Without thinking much, I rushed out to help sempai! Of course, I was once again immediately beaten up... but I discovered that sempai does 1v10 like he's nuclear powered! So hot, so hot, I think he's hotter than Superman or Ironman! Sempai is a god in my eyes!

But sempai is really cold, he said just two words, like a dagger through my heart: "you trying to die?" [Zhao si “looking for death” in Chinese.]

I could only tell him petulantly, I'm not trying to die, this is my heroism.

Sempai snorted coldly, and said don't sneak after me anymore, it's annoying.

Hahaha? My perfect plan has already been unmasked huh?

I don't even know why I said one more thing then: Sempai, I saw you help the prettiest girl in our school get a book... won’t you...

#5

This is the first day that I've become sempai's—no, Bai-Ge [Big Brother Bai, Gavin-Bro, Gavin-nii-san]'s little brother, hehe, suddenly I feel like I'm floating. Today I can openly walk at Bai-Ge's side. Even though I'm walking on the ground I feel like I'm on a burst of wind, wahahaha! I saw people looking at me and my expression was like that! Just like that.

But I never realized that Bai-Ge would be so strict... I was just chatting idly, mentioning that even more people were giving our school flower [the prettiest girl in school] a love letter, and Bai-Ge suddenly got a weird vibe, and made me go collect those people.

Collecting people is really tiring y'know. I had to run around to a bunch of different classrooms, and getting them to come was annoying. I don't want to do this kind of work anymore.

Bai-Ge just stared at those guys without saying anything. Was it time for me to save the show??? Remembering something I had once been told by a senior, I repeated it for them verbatim, scolding them like: Young people should put their minds on learning, and not rush into romance.

 Seeing how they were all trembling with fear made me even more excited.

After I scolded them happily, Bai-Ge walked over, and just said one line: Go take your love letters back. If you scare her, don't blame me if I get rude.

Damn, Bai-Ge is so cool! But saying that, did I just disocver a little secret that I wasn't meant to discover?! Bai-Ge's feelings for the school flower are actually...

#6

I think Bai-Ge [Big Brother Gavin] is probably, sorta, definitely in love. Lately I have become Bai-Ge's private detective, but only specializing on our school flower [MC]. Maybe I should start calling the school flower "sis-in-law"... ah, in olden times heroes also loved beauties, right!

Bai-Ge is acting so different from Bai-Ge now~

Everyday he's at the library. If you wanna know where Bai-Ge is, just ask about where the school flower is and you'll know... he doesn't get in fights, he doesn't go to the track, he doesn't play ball. Like a shadow of his former self, I even saw him using test prep books... it brought me to tears.

In the afternoon when we were in the same gym class, I excitedly told Bai-Ge that Sis-in-Law chose to do basketball! I was thinking that thinking that Bai-Ge would want to grab a basketball court near her.

 But he said, this is fine. Fine? Fine??? What about my basketball plan... I wanted to be cool!

But then I found out, hehe, Bai-Ge is super sly...

The volleyball court is actually closer to Sis-in-Law's basketball court than the other basketball courts are! One time I was a little careless in my aim and the ball almost hit Sis-in-Law in the head, but Bai-Ge came out of nowhere and slammed it away... how did Bai-Ge do that?!

How could he move so fast to the opposite end of the gym?!?! Is this some kind of superpower? It was instant! But Bai-Ge is so unromantic...

Sis-in-Law thanked him, but his face was even colder than when he looks at me... and just when I had been careless to try to push them together! And my thanks was that he stalked back looking at me like he was going to kill me, it hurt me down to my soul...

No good deed goes unpunished, boohoohoo...

#7

Today I saw another Bai-Ge [Big Brother Gavin]! And that's the Bai-Ge in a sports competition! What a man what a man what a man!!!!

In the 10 laps race, Bai-Ge actually got first! He was way ahead of the guy in second and he wasn't even out of breath!

What kind of amazing skill is this? Before I only thought he had superpowers at fighting, it looks like I have much more to learn from Bai-Ge!

Today I finally learned, even though Bai-Ge is so fierce and everybody says he's a delinquent, but when they see him running all the girls' eyes were glued to his body~

Oh, drooling.

Bai-Ge looks like he's in a pretty good mood, but when I asked him to teach me about fighting 1v10, he made me go be his private detective again.......

He was really concerned about Sis-in-Law's [MC] performance in her sprint. I don't know why he's being such a tsundere, not going himself, but making me go! And he gave me his cell phone? Why? To take creep shots? Am I, Minor, that kind of person?

I called out to Sis-in-Law, she turned her head, and luckily I was able to take a beautiful shot. It was really good looking, so Bai-Ge will definitely teach me how to 1v10 right?

Result, he! Didn't!

So Bai-Ge is "hos before bros"! [In Chinese the phrase is not so negative towards the woman; it's literally "heavy on sex light on friends"]

What could I say? All I could do was squat there watching Bai-Ge staring at the pictures in his phone, from time to time letting a silly grin show.....

Damn, Bai-Ge's smiling again! How terrifying! Love makes people lose their minds!

#8

Bai-Ge looks so depressed recently. If I called him a sad sack before, right now he's not even a sack..... Lately it seems like all he does is stare broodily into space from love.

After brooding by the piano room, he goes to the library to brood. He keeps staring at the empty place where Sis-in-Law was sitting. I dunno what he's thinking about.

But I really never thought that a guy who slept through class would actually spend the whole afternoon staring into space in the library... could it be that Bai-Ge and Sis-in-Law had a fight?

I asked around out of curiosity. I discovered that, who knows why, but lately as soon as Sis-in-Law gets out of class she rushes away, not going to the library or the piano room. I heard she goes straight home from cram school too... could she be hiding from Bai-Ge?

God, I have such an imagination, I should write soap operas. Who can say, it might be a-ok again soon!

But getting back to the topic... should i tell Bai-Ge about this? If Bai-Ge thinks that Sis-in-Law is hiding from him, won't that break his heart?

Sigh...

#9

Bai-Ge disappeared for such a long time, but today he was finally back! But he came back all covered with wounds, how could somebody not be worried! He gave me a letter in an envelope, and said it was for Lil Sis-in-Law. The envelope was intact, but it was stained with blood.

Bai-Ge must have gone to do something really dangerous, to lose so much blood! I wanted him to go to the hospital but he wouldn't go... Bai-Ge is really too stubborn!

But he was really different today. Why do I have this kind of misgiving feeling about what's going to happen? Brrrr!

He said I need to wait longer for him to teach me 1v10... damn!! If Bai-Ge wasn't injured, I really would have thrown myself on top of him and given him two cheek smooches! Bai-Ge is the handsomest! Bai-Ge is the coolest!!!

That reminds me that Bai-Ge is gonna take the gaokao [college entrance exam]. The seniors in the graduating class are all acting sentimental lately. Is Bai-Ge's goodbye for summer vacation? Hehe, I just had an idea!

While Bai-Ge isn't here, there's only me to protect Lil Sis-in-Law from would-be Romeos! 

Other men, don't even think about getting near my Lil Sis-in-Law!

She! Is! Bai! Ge's!

#10

The whole summer vacation... I never saw Bai-Ge...

[idolish7rabbitchats]

Yaotome Gaku: Wonderful Octave Rabbit Chat Part 2

Tsumugi: Everyone, thank you for gathering! I was thinking that we could collect requests for Yaotome-san’s “RADIO STATION Twelve Hits!” here.

T: Continuing from Kujou-san’s turn, I’ll manage the chat. Please take care of it!

8: Thx. I’m looking forward to the requests.

Anesagi: Takanashi-san, thanks as always. Everyone, please take care of it.

10000: Us, the managers, will be attending too.

Okazaki: Please take care of me.

T: The requests gathered from everyone will be, like it has been up to this point, decided by a raffle pull in the show. I’m looking forward to what kind of requests will be chosen!

10: So it’s Gaku’s turn huh! I’m looking forward to what kind of requests will be collected.

8: Why are you looking forward to it? (lol)

10: Is it weird?! I’m always with Gaku and Tenn, so I might be exaggerating it, but you are like my family, so I’m interested. 

8: Ryuu...

9: I’m not interested much tho.

3: You are chilly huh, Kujou!

2: Friendly TRIGGER mode was totally severed huh. (lol)

10: But, Tenn was worried about having to decide on a request before this huh! Don’t you wonder what the others have come up with?

1: He was worried that other people could see it huh.

7: Tenn-nii, if you were worried you could’ve consulted with me though!

9: Ryuu, don’t exaggerate. 

100: Tsundere’s dere activated where you can’t see it~!

1000: He’s at a high level huh.

8: Geez, you’re not honest at all huh Tenn.

8: OUUUCH! He stepped on my foot!!!

9: Don’t smirk while Rabbit Chatting. 

9: I just won’t let TRIGGER’s leader do something weird. 

10: Because you worried a lot, maybe you came up with a nice request?

9: Don’t raise the hurdles Ryuu.

T: I’m also curious about the requests everyone thought of seriously..!

T: So then, I’ll ask for the requests now. This time we’ll also start from the youngest, Tamaki-san please!

4: K

4: Who’s Gakkun’s favorite in IDOLiSH7?

7: Ahh! I’m curious about that too!!

2: I definitely want to hear that (lol)

8: No no no, saying that now is embarrassing!

8: I mean, we are this close, there is no favorite and such.

3: What is that, don’t be embarrassed. lol

1: Who’s song you like or who’s dance you are attracted to or something, you would have it a little right.

8: Even if you say that, everyone has different strengths. Is it bad to say everyone?

4: Definitely bad!

5: But, it’s hard to pick one person. People become unit-oshi because they like the unit...

5: Of course they love each of the members but, the songs and atmosphere that they’ve created are special. The concept of being a unit-oshi is one of the goals that fans would reach at one point.

8: Ousaka, that’s deep (lol).

5: S-Sorry! I mean...

6: I only choose Kokona tho?

100: Single-oshi and unit-oshi’s problem is the hardest subject (＞д＜)

8: It’s difficult from the beginning, but I’ll casually think about it. 

4: Not casually, think seriously!!!

T: As the Manager of IDOLiSH7, I’m also curious about Yaotome-san’s favorite!

T: Next, Iori-san please!

1: From me it’s “Please tell me a project you would like to try with IDOLiSH7.”

1: We sometimes have opportunities of having lives and variety projects together. If Yaotome-san has a preference or request, I wanted to hear it. 

8: TRIGGER and IDOLiSH7 together?

1: Yes. But I also don’t mind if it’s just Yaotome-san.

8: If we’ll do it, I want to do it with TRIGGER. We can do anything.

10: That seems fun! How about an air hockey tournament?

9: That’s as expected of Ryuu who likes sports but, didn’t he want to ask about Gaku’s wish?

10: Right lol

1: No, Tsunashi-san’s opinion will also become an important reference.

8: Reference?

2: Meaning you wanted to study about the projects if you will be there right, Ichi?

1: That’s right.

8: When you said that, I realized that shoots don’t dragged on when I’m with Izumi-otouto. I’m always impressed by seeing you nicely adjust the schedule depending on the show’s progress.

1: Thank you. 

1: You don’t get confused even if any unexpected incidents happen during the show. I was also impressed by your courage to get over things without showing confusion.

8: Somehow it’s embarrassing to be praised by Izumi-otouto. (lol) I have to learn from you too.

3: My little brother’s amazing right!

100: I’m jealous over the younger people~! Let Re:vale join in (°ω°)ﾉｼ

1000: Elder people can be useful too.

100: Like a grandma’s recipes☆

1000: Like a walking dictionary in show business?

Anesagi: What are you guys saying while having baby smooth skin.

100: I got praised by Kaoru-chan. (ノ≧∀)/

T: It seems it would become a fun job with everyone huh!

T: Next is the request from Riku-san please! 

7: From me it’s “I want to see Yaotome-san do a comedy skit”!

8: Comedy skit?!

7: Yes! Yaotome-san is always cool and sexy so I can’t imagine you doing something comedic… I thought I wanted to try seeing it!

8: You are asking the most absurd request with excitement.

7: Waah! Was it bad?!

7: Yaotome-san, you’re a frank and funny person so I thought you’d be good at comedy...

7: I’m sorry!

1: Yaotome-san, there is no right of rejection in the request corner.

9: If you are a man, just give your consent.

8: I get it already! 

8: If I pull it, I’ll answer Nanase’s request.

7: Really?! Yay!

7: Thank you. I’m looking forward to it!

5: But, even if you say comedy, there are many kinds of comedy.

T: Certainly..! What kind of comedy Yaotome-san wants to try?

*T: Definitely a cross-talk comedy when you say comedy?

8: If I do it alone, will it be a comic chat? I’m not too good at talking but it seems it would become a good experience so I might want to try it. 

Anesagi: About the subject, I’ll carefully check it beforehand.

2: So it really does have to be checked by the manager huuh.

8: Eating really hot food seems fun. When I see it on TV, I somehow keep watching it.

Anesagi: Rejected!!!!

8: How about a hot bath?

Anesagi: Where do you plan on going…?

T: Yaotome-san’s new field, I’m interested about that as one of his fans!

T: So then, next can we hear a request from Kujou-san?

9: From me it’s “Heal the listeners with nice words.”

9: It’s seems Gaku’s radio might end up with him talking enthusiastically if I leave him, so I thought a refreshing request would be good.

8: Do I talk that much?

9: That’s something you wouldn’t understand about yourself huh.

7: Yaotome-san is nice!

8: THANK YOU!

100: Gaku, you seem happy. \’’(*´∀｀*)/

10: Gaku widely has a manly image so we want a lot of people to also know the gentle, friendly side of him.

10: Right, Tenn?

9: Well yeah.

9: It’s hard for Gaku’s kindness to come across so it’s important to show them intentionally.

8: So you requested it while thinking about that huh...

9: Not for Gaku’s sake, it’s also for TRIGGER’s sake tho.

8: Even so, I’m happy. Thanks!

T: That’s a wonderful request thinking about Gaku-san! I could feel TRIGGER-san’s bond...!

T: Next is Nagi-san please!

6: So finally it’s my turn huh. I thought of an exciting and very fun request.

6: From me it’s “Free talk from the vocabulary on a chosen card”!

8: What do you mean?

6: Here I have a bunch of cards I’ve written on. Yaotome-shi will pick a card and talk from the word written on it.

4: Amaziiing! Somehow it’s like a game!

2: Heeeh, even if you’re picking it yourself you don’t know what vocabulary will show up huh.

5: That’s seems full-scale and fun!

6: I choose special words. All words are amazing and worth talking about.

6: I’ll give you a hint. The first character is “Ko.”

6: Oops, to know more than this, looks forward to pulling the request. :-))))

3: It’s Kokona lol

100: Kokona huh!

10: Kokona-chan huh!

8: That’s too easy to understand.

6: You don’t though? It could be “Kokoyashi” though. [T/N: Kokoyashi means Japanese way to say Coconut]

8: Who wants to hear me talking about coconuts (lol)

6: ♪(´ε`)

T: I’m really interested in what follows the “ko” but we will move on to the next request! lol

T: Next is the request from Sougo-san please!

5: Yes. 

5: Um, about the request, this would be rude to you so, it’s fine only if you could do it so...

2: Somehow you are making long preliminary remarks (lol)

8: If you are that stiff, that makes me nervous (lol)

5: Right, I’m sorry! So then, allow me to suggest...

5: Would you teach me the knack of voice percussion?

8: You wanna know about voice percussion?

5: Yes. The other day, I heard that Mitsuki-san and Tamaki-kun were excited over doing voice percussion with you. 

5: I heard you were really skillful, so I wanted to aim to be the same level as Yaotome-san…!

8: Since you were so nervous I was wondering what you would ask but it’s just that huh. I did that for fun, it’s not like professional tho?

3: No no, Yaotome, it was seriously good though! Like you could master it if you practice it!

8: It was quite nice when the three of us did it huh?

4: With everyone we always just said underwear though.

5: While doing voice percussions ? Why underwear?

6: Tamaki… It’s because you forgot to wear it huh.

4: It’s nooot! If you say underwear underwear, it will turn into something like a voice percussion!

4: [Huffing Pudding Stamp]

2: Aaah, it became popular that one time huh. If you say the tongue twister, it turns into a voice percussion. 

2: Don’t you know the “Hattsuku Pantsu ka Hittsuku Pantsu ka Kuttsuku Pantsu ka Mukatsuku Pantsu ka” one? When you go drinking, there’s a person who does this one right.

1000: Yamato-kun, you participated in a flirty drinking party huh.

8: That’s so flirty (lol)

2: No no, I don’t want to be told that by you guys. Anyways, aren’t all drinking party like this?

10000: It was popular before huh. I’m quite good at it too.

1000: Ban is too flirty.

100: Flirty Ban-san is also handsome! 

7: Iori, let’s try it too!

1: I won’t do it. Do it yourself.

7: Eeeh!!

1: Shut up.

10: Hmmm, it’s difficult huh. I think I’m not good at it… I get stuck at the “Kuttsuku pantsu” part.

9: Ryuu you’re saying it too fast. It’s fine to slow down a little more. 

8: I’ve done it just for fun before this but I’ve gotten a request so I really need to practice huh...

8: I can’t just say pantsu if I pull the request. (lol)

Anesagi: You really hate losing huh.

5: Thank you..! I’m so grateful!

9: Sorry, can we take a quick break?

9: Ryuu bit his tongue so hard while doing the tongue twister.

8: It seems he’s not seriously hurt but his eyes are watering...

8: He’s saying his fine but it seems it hurts so much he can’t Rabbit Chat.

5: Tsunashi-san, I’m sorry! It’s because I did this kind of request that...

9: It’s not Ousaka Sougo’s fault, is what Ryuu said.

9: Probably.

8: His voice is gone so we can’t really understand though.

T: Let’s take a break! Tsunashi-san, even if you’re not hurt, please don’t push yourself too hard. ><

T: I’ll talk to everyone after the time has passed. It’s a short break but please spend it relaxedly.

[kagehinataboke]

For the writing prompts challenge, can you please do Bakudeku, AU 20, situation 1, sentence 11? ^.^

of course dear! from the prompt list we have bakudeku, neighbors AU, standing in the rain, and “Please stop making me fall in love with you! I swear, every time I see your face, I fall in love all over again.” oooh i’m so ready huhu~ ^~^

*****

Izuku knew upon first meeting him that Bakugou Katsuki was trouble. He was constantly scowling, as if the universe personally offended him, and had the general look of a mafia crime boss. Izuku, in particular, seemed to be the object of his worldly spite. The day after he moved in, he brought Bakugou a plant as an introductory gift, and he literally chucked it over the balcony.

If he really hated him, though, he went about it in a weird way. Normally, one would avoid the person they disliked, but Bakugou seemed to hang around Izuku more often than not. When he returned from evening classes, the scowling blond would be leaning against the railing outside his door, smoking or glaring at passersby. As soon as they locked eyes, he would tilt his head with a scoff, say something along the lines of, “About time, nerd,” and disappear back into his own apartment.

If Izuku was honest with himself, it was almost like Bakugou had been waiting for him to get home safely. You wouldn’t do that for someone you hated, right? Then again, it was more of a nuisance than anything else. There was a collection of cigarette butts growing outside his door. Izuku thought he ought to tell Bakugou smoking was bad for him, but he was a bit afraid he’d get punched, or perhaps chucked off the balcony like that poor potted yucca.

It wasn’t that Bakugou was unapproachable. The more time Izuku spent around him, the more he realized that he wasn’t a dangerous or threatening person in the least. He may have had the outward appearance of a thug, but he had a secret soft side. Waiting up for Izuku every night, helping the old man who lived downstairs carry his groceries, and even picking up lost strays: Bakugou had done all of those things, yet he still scowled and cursed and permeated the air outside of Izuku’s apartment with the stifling scent of smoke. It seemed an impossible feat to crack his shell and get to know the real him.

The tiniest bit of progress he made was offering him an umbrella on a rainy day. Bakugou had been waiting at the edge of the overhang for a solid twenty minutes, glaring at the dark sky with a murderous expression. Izuku thought it would be a perfect opportunity to get in his good graces—even if he only had one umbrella.

“Bakugou-san, here.” He nudged the blond’s arm lightly with the handle, hoping his head wouldn’t get ripped off.

“What?” Bakugou glared at him, but he snatched the umbrella out of his hand anyway. “I didn’t ask you for this, damn shitty nerd,” he grumbled under his breath. “Whatever… Thanks, I guess.”

Izuku felt his lips twitch, but he knew that Bakugou would be angry if he smiled, so he turned around to retreat. “I forgot something. See you later.” He disappeared into his apartment, waiting anxiously with his back pressed against the door for a solid five minutes. When he poked his head out again, Bakugou was gone, along with his only umbrella.

* * *

Izuku had to walk home in the rain after class, but it didn’t dampen his spirits in the least. An umbrella didn’t seem like a big deal, but it meant a lot to him that Bakugou accepted it. Having a neighbor who hated you was unbearable, so it was a relief to know there was even the smallest bit of hope for them to become friends. Bakugou had a terrible attitude, sure, but he was a good guy.

There’s no doubt about it, actually, Izuku thought, pausing at the crosswalk. He’s definitely a good guy. Even if he threw my plant, he’s got a soft side. Maybe like… a German Shepard puppy?

Izuku cracked up a bit thinking about his face when he took the umbrella. He’d been blushing a little, hadn’t he? Was he secretly the tsundere type? His personality certainly fit the bill. German Shepard tsundere.

“Oi, Deku!”

“Huh?” Izuku frowned at the childish name. “Deku? Nobody’s called me that since elementary school.”

“Fuck. Look up, you damn moron!”

Bakugou was standing across the street, pointing accusingly from under Izuku’s umbrella. “You gave me your only umbrella, didn’t you?!”

Izuku opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. He was still getting over the shock of being called Deku, and by such an unfriendly guy. Did Bakugou come after him because he knew he gave away his only umbrella? Was he really that nice?

The light turned green and Bakugou stormed across the street on a warpath. Seizing Izuku by the wrist, he pulled him under the umbrella, nearly against his chest. “Don’t you know walking in the rain will make you sick, you damn moron?”

“Uh… sorry,” was all Izuku could muster. “How’d you know?”

“I… saw you from the balcony.” Bakugou’s voice grew incredibly quiet and he quickly shoved the umbrella into Izuku’s hand. “Ugh, whatever! Take this shitty umbrella,” he growled, shoving his hands deep into his pockets. “I’m going back now.”

“Wait!” Izuku caught him by the sleeve before he could run off, gulping when Bakugou’s sharp eyes bore into his. “Uh, I mean… you’ll catch a cold, too. Can’t we just walk together?”

When Bakugou didn’t immediately protest, Izuku went for the killing blow. “It’s hard for me to carry the umbrella with my bags… and you’re taller.”

He seemed like he would refuse, but with an irritated click of the tongue, Bakugou took the umbrella and slammed the crosswalk button. “Fine, but don’t crowd me.”

They waited for the pedestrian crossing in silence, listening to the rain beating lightly against the umbrella. Izuku thought it was strangely calming with Bakugou standing so close. If he shifted only slightly left, their shoulders would be touching. Somehow, it was incredibly warm. Izuku still couldn’t believe Bakugou had chased after him with the umbrella like that. He really was a tsundere.

“Thanks for coming to get me,” he said lightly, hoping Bakugou wouldn’t get frightened off. “I didn’t realize that was my only umbrella.” That was a lie, but it wasn’t like he knew that.

Bakugou clicked his tongue. “Yeah, whatever. The light’s green. Start walking or you’ll get drenched.”

“Hey, you don’t have to go so fast!” Izuku hurried to keep up with his quick pace, grabbing the umbrella just above Bakugou’s hand. “We’re not that far from home. Don’t leave me behind.”

“Gross,” Bakugou grumbled. “If you say it that way, it sounds like we live together.”

“That wouldn’t be so bad,” Izuku dismissed before he could fully think it through. “Ah, I mean… roommates aren’t so bad. We already live next door to each other. Hey, Bakugou-san— You’re going way too fast!”

Bakugou stopped a few feet ahead of him, knuckles white against the handle of the umbrella. “You… you’re infuriating. Are you doing this on purpose?”

“Huh?” Izuku hesitated, staring at the spot between Bakugou’s tensed shoulders. The umbrella looked ready to snap in half. “What… do you mean by that?”

“Dammit.” The umbrella clattered to the sidewalk, rippling the puddles of water collected there. Bakugou’s face was twisted into the most anguished expression Izuku had ever seen. “Stop it already… I can’t take this.”

“Stop what?” Izuku demanded, resisting the urge to retrieve the umbrella. It was going to blow away, but Bakugou’s gaze had him locked in place. “What did I do to you? Do you seriously hate me so much that we can’t even share an umbrella?! All I’ve done is be nice to you from the start!”

“Exactly!” Bakugou snapped, stomping his foot in a puddle hard enough to splash them both, voice lowering until it was nearly impossible to hear with the loud drone of the rain. “Stop being nice to me already. Don’t bring me a plant or give me your umbrella. Get pissed and ignore me like everyone else.” He gritted his teeth. “Just please… stop making me fall in love with you!”

The words hit Izuku like a bolt of lighting to the chest. ‘Love,’ he said. Not ‘hate,’ but ‘love.’ Bakugou Katsuki; obnoxious neighbor; chronic jerk; killer of yucca plants… was in love with him? He had to be dreaming. I’m nowhere other than a dream would he be standing in the rain, receiving a confession from his would-be enemy. All he could do was stand there and stare at his anguished expression. Against all odds, had his umbrella become the harbinger of change?

“I hate everything about you.” Oh: he wasn’t done yet. “I hate the way your stupid hair curls up, and the way you smile so kindly at everyone, and the way you diligently help people like they genuinely deserve it. I hate how you never miss a class even if you’re overworked, and how you think the best of everyone right from the start.” He wiped at his eyes furiously. “Who gave you the right to be so kind? Why can’t you just hate me, dammit?!”

Izuku couldn’t follow what he was saying in the least. “Are you saying… you were trying to get me to hate you?”

“Of course I was!” Bakugou exploded, tearing a hand through his wet hair roughly. “What sane person would throw a plant off a two-story balcony?! I thought it would scare you off, but you just kept smiling at me like an idiot!” He kicked a nearby con into the street. “Fuck! I kept trying to ignore you but I swear, every time I see your face, I fall in love all over again!”

Wait… so then, everything that he did… was to get me to dislike him? Izuku’s head hurt thinking about it. Seriously, though? Is he an elementary schooler? 

Seemingly satisfied, Bakugou stooped down to pick up the umbrella. “I think you get the message now. Good. Just stay away from me—“

“I accept,” Izuku interrupted. His edgy expression was getting to be too much to handle. Izuku would have to add ‘childish’ to the list of adjectives that perfectly described Bakugou. Childish, angry, tsundere German Shepard.

“Huh?” Bakugou squinted at him in confusion. “You… Huh?”

“I said: I accept. That was a confession, right? So, my answer is yes.”

“Are you kidding?” The umbrella fell to Bakugou’s side uselessly. “Did you… did you not hear a damn word I just said, you bastard? I want you to stay the fuck away from—“

“You can’t really expect me to believe you after you said ‘I love you,’ right?”

Izuku took the umbrella from him, shaking out the gathered water. “Should we head back? It’s raining even harder.”

“Hey, wait just a fucking second!” Bakugou grabbed his wrist, but he quickly lost his nerve and released it again. “I… You… you aren’t serious, are you?”

“Dead serious.” Izuku raised the umbrella to cover them both, offering Bakugou his biggest grin. “Let’s go home.”

He couldn’t say he’d ever really thought of him in a romantic light, but if there was one thing Izuku knew for sure, it was that he really didn’t like being hated by Bakugou Katsuki.

[oh-my-otome]

I absolutely adore your thoughts on the psychological health within the SLBP characters! If you don’t mind, could you scale MidC, DtL, and IkeSen (pick whichever game you want!), too? If it’s not too much to ask ☺️

Hello, Precious! Let’s do all three!

Again, purely for fun! And, like the last time, there will be SPOILERS!

0=unstable, 50=borderline, 100=normal

MidCin, you’re up!

Louis (65):

Tsunderes, kuuderes and yanderes, by design, are not normal to begin with, because their logic only makes sense to themselves. 

Louis being both a kuudere and a yandere are what take his score down.

Frequently thinking it to himself, and sometimes saying it out loud, Louis has obsessive thoughts about wanting to keep his love interest to himself, and fantasizes about keeping her somewhere where only he can see.

He also thinks that acting like a frigid ass, like the nobles, will somehow save her from the nobles. 

Even though Louis falls deeply in love with the princess, he will also lie to her face without a hint of hesitation, undermine her hard work, and jeopardize the stability of the monarchy.

He also entertains a suicidal fantasy, and attempts to see it through.

Sid (80):

Even though he lies for a living, Sid praises honesty when it comes to his inner circle.

He has no qualms teasing Louis left and right, because he’s made it known to Louis that he wants to save him from himself. 

Finding himself trapped in a loveless engagement, Sid makes sure that his fiancée knows ahead of time that he doesn’t love her and never will. He gives her the chance to break it off, even making sure that she understands that he will take other lovers, and is only with her to get information about her father.

Because Sid always has to be “on,” in order to take advantage of any kind of situation, so that he gets the information he needs to do his job, Sid sometimes has a problem with reigning it in and just being himself– and not his trickster alter ego.

This causes communication problems between him and princess, but Sid always knows how to smooth it over.

In every case where parents are involved, in MidCin, Sid has the most positive and supporting relationship with his. 

He is close to his adopted father, who always has his back, and builds a positive relationship with his estranged parents.

Giles (70):

Anything– and I do mean A N Y T H I N G ! –that the princess does, whether positive or negative reflects on Giles. And I mean that the princess’ reactions reflect on Giles as a person and on his capacity as a Chamberlain who knows what he’s doing. 

We all give him crap for it, but one small mishap from princess could realistically cost Giles his entire life’s work, since the first thing out of anyone’s mouth would be to question why she wasn’t taught and trained better– which isn’t Leo’s job, but Giles’.

And “well, I told her not to!” isn’t a valid answer. It’s Giles’ job to ensure.

Understandably, we can see why he has a vested interest in breathing down Princess’ neck, all the time. It’s also why he’s always so stressed out, and persnickety.

To add to that, his family life is complicated, leaving him depressed and estranged. 

Giles is also sickly, and prone to bouts of fever, so his plate is quite full.

He works himself to the bone, and cant even get a decent amount of rest due to both lack of time, and a weak body.

Fortunately, Giles’ strong character keeps him running, even we he wants nothing more than to crawl into bed and cuddle up with his cat. 

Always able to be depended on, one would never know from looking at him that he’s hiding so much turmoil inside.

Alyn (75):

His biggest “quirk” is that he hates tomatoes. who can blame him

He’s pretty damn normal, aside from his random and intense one-sided feud with his twin brother, Leo. 

Alyn knows that his brother needs help, but doesn’t really do much to facilitate that, beyond throwing a few words of encouragement at his brother’s girlfriend.

His attitude toward Leo’s anguish is basically the embodiment of the phrase: “like pouring water on a drowning man.”

However, when he’s needed, Alyn will be there in a pinch, ready to make good on his promise to protect.

Although physically strong, he can be a bit of a pushover under the right conditions.

Leo (50):

You would think for someone who has women climbing into trebuchets in order to launch themselves at him, that Leo would be a little smoother than he is. 

What brings his score down so low is that Leo’s backstory isn’t just a backstory– it’s right there with him in the present. 

He (and Alyn) experience a trauma so deep that it continues into adulthood.

As such, Leo entertains the dangerous idea of pre-meditated murder in the hope of avenging his family, not realizing that he’s also contributing to its destruction.

Byron (65):

It’s supposed to be looked at as a way to get to know him, but not being aware of one’s own feelings– positive, negative, or neutral –and questioning whether it is “okay” to feel them, or express them, is neither normal nor cute.

Byron is also given to whims, either not giving a damn at all what the nobles say, or purposefully putting them in their place with ostentatious displays of affection.

Byron is very sweet to his romantic interest, but is also coldly indifferent to others who are close to him. 

He understands that he wields incredible power, but he’s not above making his own brother (Nico), another king (Alyn), and a close friend (Louis) essentially beg on their hands and knees before he’ll lift a finger to help them.

He can also be unnervingly detached, such as when he’s attacked in broad daylight and just shrugs it off while his best friend throws himself bodily in the way to block a sword.

Byron may not like his father, but the apple didn’t exactly fall far from the tree, either. 

They may not be exactly alike, as one wouldn’t expect them to be– they’re two different people –but he is definitely Gerald Wagner’s son, by blood and to some extent, personality.

Nico (65):

When the only thing that stops you from murdering a man in the middle of the woods is that your brother and his friend arrived just in time to prevent it, because they didn’t have much trouble following the trail of other people’s blood that you’ve been leaving, have a seat because you’re not normal.

Nico started out his young life as the bastard son of a king, who was forced by circumstances outside of his control to survive on the streets. 

Even when he was taken in by his brother, Nico was forced to live in two different worlds: in the light as someone that everyone in the castle can see and here, and know that he’s there, but also in the shadows, as his relationship to the royal family was still kept secret.

In that sense, the sins of the father were carried on by one of his sons, Byron, who wanted to rescue his brother, but also treated him to some extent like the nobles who had chased Nico and his mother from the castle.

Nico says himself that no one really takes him seriously about anything, and that his opinions don’t matter. 

Albert is very comfortable with making Nico his whipping boy right in front of Byron.

Byron, for his part, barely ever defends his brother.

All of this can’t be easy for Nico, who confesses to the first person he crushes on.

Not only that, he goes way out of his way, almost killing himself, to protect the person who truly loves him, and risks displacing a monarchy to ensure that he can maintain his relationship.

Albert (75):

Albert’s flippant nature stems from the fact that no one’s checked his ass, before Princess. 

If not for her, he would continue on forever, bowing and scraping before his king, without realizing that there can be loyalty beyond fealty, and devotion that transcends admiration and patriotism.

Through love, Albert comes to understand trust and forgiveness, and how to handle one’s emotions.

Albert likes to plan for every situation, but as a tsundere, he is also reactionary.

Robert (65):

Robert’s idea of dealing with the past is never talking about it, ever, which is neither helpful nor healthy.

He also likes to literally run away from his problems, and is just fine with up and leaving at a moment’s notice, with no regard for how that might potentially unnerve, frighten, or traumatize another person– in his case, a group of four specific individuals, all still technically children, who were close to him: Byron, Albert, Nico, and Princess.

While mature in every other regard, Robert is prone to lashing out verbally when people try to talk about his past, even in private. 

He also uses stone walling and pretending the incident didn’t happen, as defense mechanisms.

He will also actively ignore any past connections until doing otherwise suits his purposes, leaving the people he used to know in the awkward position of having to guess at whether they’re supposed to try to reach out to him, or go along with acting like strangers.

Now for DtL!

Todo (30):

Todo, first name Heisuke, is the identical twin of Kyo. 

Separated at birth, Todo grew up as the wealthy little lord (bocchama) of a crime-ridden family. 

At some point, that house fell, and Todo would frequently dream that was in a futuristic place.

In one dream, he discovered that he had a twin, Kyo. 

In his dreams, Todo would visit his brother regularly, and that’s when he realized that it wasn’t a dream at all!

Todo possesses the ability to travel across time, backwards and forwards, without restriction– and what he was seeing in his “dreams” was actually real.

Oh, and he’s also a pathokinetic empath who can control the emotions and physical well-being of others, most notably, Kyo.

Apparently, the knowledge that one has powers such as these will mess a person right up, and Todo proceeds to lose his damn mind.

Because time means nothing to him, death and life also mean nothing to him, since all he would have to do is press fast forward or rewind or whatever he does, and “fix” everything. 

It would also mean, if he chose to, he could go forward in time and know everything.

Living in an era where superstitions are still deeply rooted in the culture, Todo oscillates between understanding that Kyo is a completely separate person from himself, and thinking that Kyo is literally a part of him that was split off.

Kyo (70):

Pretty normal until he takes his NOTICE ME, SENPAI! act straight into outright threatening others to stay away from the woman he’s crushing on.

He is skeptical and hard-working.

Handsy, clingy and uncomfortably honest when drunk, Kyo is otherwise a good-natured person who enjoys helping others.

Yamazaki (85):

Yamazaki is as popular with the ladies as any other ikemen, but he is also insecure and occasionally distrusting of other’s intentions, particularly around women in the RLD, whom he suspects want to use him (he’s half-right).

He also lets Okita get away with far too much, but he also possesses the power to lay Okita out like a picnic blanket, if he wanted to, so maybe it’s a good thing that Yamazaki chooses to let so many of Okita’s shenanigans slide.

An unrepentant hand fetishist, Yamazaki may look and act innocent, but he’s a beast in the bedroom.

Saito (80):

Saito is secretive and mysterious, but also kind and helpful. 

He always keeps his promises, and trains his MC in self-defense so that she has an added layer of protection in an unfamiliar place, beyond ‘I know a bunch of samurai, so don’t mess with me.’

However, he can also be distant and secretive in a negative way, such as getting himself a fiancée when he’s still in love with his MC. 

Haru/Kirisato (45):

That moment when the year is 1864 and The Silence of the Lambs novel won’t be published until 124 years later, and you’re talking about someone else’s skin belonging to you– while being completely, creepily serious –is how you know you’re not normal and never will be.

That and the fact that he’s very firmly in yandere territory. 

Haru lives a double life as a spy, hitman, and courtesan, who seems to be keeping it all together, until he meets his love interest.

Keiki (60):

Not only does Keiki start out depressed, his own MC makes sure that he can barely climb his way back out, by actively traumatizing him when he needed her the most.

Keiki still carries the pain of watching a friend die in front of him, and as such, dislikes anything that reminds him that beauty– like life –is fleeting.

He is also surprisingly trusting, once he lets his guard down, and very fragile once his trust has been broken.

Kondo (90):

His biggest flaw is that he has no sense of direction, and that he loves animals, but they don’t love him,  AND THAT HE DOESN’T HAVE A ROUTE!

Sakamoto (85):

Stubborn and brusque, Sakamoto has a preternatural intuition that has saved him and The Exclusionists more than once.

Too bad it didn’t help in that alley!

Sakamoto is typically chased down and pestered by women, and to that end tries to make himself inconspicuous as much as possible, which is easy to do when you have flaming red hair.

He is thick-headed, but also sensitive, playful but considerate.

Okubo (85):

A graduate of the Byron Wagner School for Robots, Okubo doesn’t know what love is, but wants you to show him. 

But look out, because he is chock full of naughty kinks, such as being a very frisky and bold drunk, playing footsie, an unashamed ear kissing and biting fetish, and dominating during sex.

Okubo is very observant when he’s not reading at the speed of light, and his anger is prone to his whims– sometimes he briefly says what is bothering him, and other times he is quite angsty and demanding.

Although he often vague, he is a sincere person.

He is also forgetful, and has no qualms about mooching off of others.

Katsura (90):

Energetic and suave, calculating and capable, Katsura is surprisingly sensitive. 

Unable to leave others alone when they need him, he even goes so far as to politely ignore the fact that his former friend’s wife has been coming on to him for years, all because he doesn’t know how to say ‘no,’ without hurting her feelings.

Comfortably open about his hair fetish.

Okita (55):

Okita manages to be both gullible and naïve, which are not mutually exclusive.

His score is low because he is a yandere. He doesn’t find it odd in the slightest that the first thing to pop into in his mind is orchestrating another man’s death, rather than explaining the situation.

Because of his illness, Okita is understandably depressed and anxious, causing him to react to situations in ways that a healthy person wouldn’t.

He is also intensely loyal, and finds that a life spent living without the people he’s close to, is no life at all.

Hijikata (75):

Hijikata likes to take on more than he can chew, but at the same time, doing exactly that frustrates him. He’s super stressed, but finds it difficult to say no.

Like his real-life counterpart, Hijikata believes that someone must go down with the ship, and he has sworn undying loyalty to the Shinsengumi and the shogun, alike.

Because of his workload, and the fact that he is a light sleeper, Hijikata spends his days running on fumes, barely able to get any shut-eye, until he finds his MC.

Although his devotion to Kondo and Keiki is unshakable, Hijikata folds like a cheap suit when Kyo slides up to him and tells him to break up with his MC.

Doesn’t give a damn about anyone knowing that he likes women’s accessories, and wants to dress Yamazaki in women’s clothes.  

Yuki (90):

Gender-fluid, bi-sexual Yuki is almost always bubbly and positive. 

However, he is not above threatening others when he sees the need, as he doesn’t take kindly at all to having to watch the woman he likes be with a man whom he feels doesn’t deserve her.

His kimono shop is a legitimate business, but also a front where one can buy guns, swords and yes– smoke bombs!

He sometimes pretends to be drunk to get information, or further the romance of his love interest and her chosen partner.

He is stronger than Hijikata and Sakamoto. Combined. 

Yuki also has sword skills that make Saito weep.

Takasugi (55):

Retroactively forced into the kuudere box, Takasugi is now a kuu/tsun mix of volatile angst and depression, often using silence as a weapon just as much as his angry retorts.

Takasugi knows that his illness is getting the best of him, and uses others where he cannot succeed on his own.

Stubborn and prideful, Takasugi just wants to be loved, but doesn’t know how to be straightforward about it.

Your turn, IkeSen!

Nobunaga (75):

Nobunaga has inexhaustible trust and faith in his inner circle, and rather than treat them like lesser lords, he treats them like family.

Even as an adult, he still experiences the trauma of a failed assassination attempt, and cannot sleep comfortable until he meets his MC.

He is stubborn about his feelings, denying them and excusing them away, until they become so blatant that he can’t help but act on them.

Ieyasu (55):

Hard-headed and resistant, Ieyasu has a hard time letting others care for him. Quick to try to prove himself, Ieyasu is prove to bouts of seeking vengeance even when the situation is in control.

Obsessed with affirmations of love, Ieyasu is several different dere-types, most notably a yandere. 

He takes it personally when people have talent, but squander it.

Hideyoshi (60):

Loyal to the death, Hideyoshi is devoted to Nobunaga with every fiber of his being. 

When Nobunaga is believed dead, Hideyoshi proceeds nose dive into a pit of despair so deep that he can barely feel anything.

Mitsuhide (75):

Genuinely believing that there is nothing worth loving about him, Mitsuhide is a sadodere who enjoys teasing others– the closest thing to love that he thinks he’s allowed to have.

Because Mitsuhide keeps his feelings and secrets close to his chest, he is often mistaken as a villain, which exactly what he wants.

Mitsunari (80):

Obtuse and clueless, Mitsunari lovable and pure.

His score is lowered because he actively refuses, at his age, to learn to take care of himself, and has a co-dependent relationship with the other warlords, who merely joke or chastise him about it, rather than taking him aside and demanding that he get himself together, since he is in no capacity a child.

Kennyo (55):

Self-loathing, and chock full of martyr complex, Kennyo goes from murdering madman to regretful, forlorn monk at the speed of light.

His determination to see Nobunaga fall blinds him to the fact that he has other options such as forgiveness.

Shingen (90):

Laid back and chivalrous, Shingen is mature, and dependable to those in his inner circle.

He keeps his illness a secret, which is a personal choice.

Kenshin (50):

A yandere bent on keeping those close to him, Kenshin honestly believes that he cannot die. 

The first thing out of Kenshin’s mouth is that he won’t be cowed by a hostage, but the next time you turn around, he’s wrapping himself all kinds of ways around his MC’s (hostage) finger, the better to acquiesce to her every request.

As such, Kenshin experiences the cognitive dissonance of presenting himself one way, but behaving another.

Even knowing that that is how others see him, he is quick to defend himself when made fun of, as he doesn’t like his good intentions joked about.

Battle hungry and single-minded, Kenshin is often in the grip of ennui so strong that only extreme circumstances can pull him out.

Yukimura (70):

The only thing that brings Yukimura’s score down so low is his penchant for joking even when his MC has said she’s had enough, and the act that he’s extremely reactionary under the right circumstances, such as having sex on an unprotected battlefield and leaving his love interest there, deep asleep, with no shelter or anyone/thing to keep her safe.

Masamune (75):

Quixotic and capricious, Masamune is always raring to battle. He is preoccupied with appearing cool at any cost, but is also considerate and thoughtful.

His stubbornness is what cost him a higher score, as he contributes to his MC almost killing a man to prove herself, before he realizes that prattling about his own resolve has an effect on others’.

Sasuke (80):

Sasuke is incredibly smart, but he’s also a bit of a masochist, on top of being a huge fanboy.

He also subscribes to taking forever to notice/confess his feelings, but he is extremely loyal, and down-to-earth.

[fanta-ceo]

You Break Me Down (bit by bit) pt. 1

pairing: Chani x Reader

genre:  angst, romance, tsundere!chani

word count: 2,375

description: It’s been years since you last spoke to him, but one stupid impulsive text changes all of that. From the very beginning, you’ve wrecked havoc in his life in small, selfish ways. This really isn’t any different, is it?

~*~

So I have a question.

You don’t sign your text, and you wonder how likely it is that he’ll still have your number saved, or if he’ll write this simple, random text off like it’s nothing. Sent to the wrong number, coming from a stranger that he has no interest in humoring.

Knowing Chani, he wouldn’t even text back if he didn’t recognize the number. No “Sorry, wrong number!” or “Who is this?”

Knowing Chani, he’d look at it and consider doing both of those things. And then, he’d shove his phone in his pocket decidedly, because dealing with strangers isn’t worth it, and he doesn’t want to encourage a conversation with someone he doesn’t know over text. You used to laugh at him for that, stealing his phone and forcing him into interactions he hadn’t wanted to engage in. You’d always sworn it was in his best interest, but you know that at the time, you’d just thought it was funny.

From the very beginning, you’d wrecked havoc in his life in small, selfish ways.

Bitch, you think to yourself, letting your head fall back and your eyes fall closed as you curl up onto your dingy old couch. Your phone vibrates, and your heart drops to your stomach. You stare at it for a long moment before turning it facedown on the couch, leaving the living room and heading into the kitchen to pour yourself a glass of water and force yourself to focus on something, anything else right now.

Because you’re about to break down sobbing, and you don’t even know whether your phone was vibrating with a message from him or not. It could just be a standard message, from Aki or Makoto, or any of the other shallow relationships you’ve managed to create for yourself in the last few years, and you aren’t mentally stable enough to avoid an emotional breakdown over one of their stupid “Haven’t seen you in a few days” texts.

You don’t move for a long time, braced against your countertop as you inhale and exhale. Inhale and exhale. Inhale and exhale.

Taking one last shuddering breath, you pour out all the water you’re incapable of drinking and head back into the living room. Your breathing is too shallow and your heart rate is too fast. You don’t have enough air in your lungs to drink anything right now, but you do feel calm enough to at least look at your phone, and see who the message is from.

Hey [y/n]!!! (づ。◕‿‿◕｡)づ

Makoto and I miss you…

o(╥﹏╥)o

We’re inviting a lot of people over to celebrate Showa Day with cake and fruit! Please come~~~

Your heart sinks. Aki is a cute friend, and were you a better person, you would pursue the friendship more actively.

I’ll think about it. I miss you guys too.

You elect not to use any cute emojis, and instead collaps back onto your couch. You laugh, and your laugh is so hollow and joyless and pathetic that you come to an abrupt stop. Fuck. You’re ridiculous, aren’t you? The likelihood of Chani responding is so slim, so impossible and stupid… It’s been years since he last spoke to you. His phone number has probably changed.

Checking your phone one last time for a response from Aki, you turn the notifications off and walk out of the living room, heading into your bedroom and opening up your laptop. Your phone still sits on the couch, ignored, as you turn on Netflix to some stupid mindless show that you can focus on instead.

It’s not until the next morning that you’re brave enough to check your phone, and what you see has your heart stopping and your stomach clenching.

Shit. You curse in your head, over and over and over again. Shit, shit, shit, shit. Shit. Tossing the phone back down like it’s burned you, you can feel your eyes welling with tears and your breath seizing up, and you know you’re about to break out into desperate sobs, but you don’t know how to stop yourself. You weren’t expecting a response, and if you expected anything, it was probably just going to be something stupid and Chani-like, like “Wrong number. Don’t text again.”

Who is this?

You pick the phone up again with trembling fingers and type up a response. The glorious thing about texting? You can feign mental and emotional stability, crafting the persona of a sane person and creating a wall that was impenetrable through text. It’s easy.

Ahhh… I suppose that answers my question then, doesn’t it? You have changed.

An hour passes without any reply, and before you can psych yourself out of it, you’re sending another text.

A few years ago, you wouldn’t have responded.

It’s pathetic and desperate, and knowing him, he probably hasn’t even checked his phone yet, but there’s nothing you want more right now than to get a response. Any response. Even a “back off weirdo” would suffice at this point.

It’s another few nail-biting hours without response, and you are torn between knowing that you’re ridiculous to expect immediate feedback… and agonizing over the possibility that you actually scared him off.

You’re in the middle of ordering food online so that you don’t have to waste your energy on things like cooking and healthy food when your phone vibrates. You determinately don’t allow your hopes to raise as you finish ordering your food before checking the message.

Seriously, who is this?

You snort, loudly and unattractively, and quickly devolve into a fit of hollow, delirious laughter. Chani, it seems, is not amused by your cryptic messages. You could have guessed.

Did you not keep my number saved? Ouch. ╥﹏╥

It’s only been a few years, Chani.

It’s teasing in a cruel way, but you aren’t ready to reveal yourself yet. The second you do, you’ve got a fifty percent chance of losing him, and that’s not a risk you’re ready to take. Not yet. Not when he’s spoken less than ten words to you.

[Y/n]?

The text doesn’t come for another two hours, but when it does, your entire world shakes.

~*~

The walk back to your bedroom doesn’t feel real, but you know that, logically speaking, it’s where you need to be right now. You sink into the darkness, leaving your light off as you slowly get down onto the floor and lean with your back against your bed, your eyes closed.

Pathetic, you think to yourself, your phone squeezed tight in your palm as you drag your knees closer to your chest and take a deep breath. You’re logical right now—frighteningly so. A second ago you could have drowned in your own emotions, but the efficiency with which you’ve distanced yourself from those terrifyingly vulnerable feelings is something you would normally be proud of.

Now you just feel pathetic.

Pathetic for reaching out in the first place, pathetic for trying to hide, pathetic for being surprised when he guessed—because you’d given him hints, and you’d made yourself obvious, and what had you expected? Stupid.

Your fingers are shaking when you open your phone up again, opening your contacts and finding Chani’s name. The picture is the picture you’d taken of him in high school. He’s scowling at the camera, his face a shade of red you never got used to seeing on him, and he’s two seconds away from using his textbook to block his face.

Thumb hovering over the “block” button, you consider it—it would be the easiest way to take back your pathetic decision to text him. You could block him, move on with your life, and forget all about this. In fact, you could block everyone from your old life. It would be easy, and it would be cruel, but it would be safe.

It’s selfish. You’re selfish.

But you imagine what it might feel like for the person you once loved to pop into your life for barely a second and then to disappear before you even get the chance to tell them to screw off. Or before you even get the chance to confirm that they’re the one you’re talking to.

You know what this outcome is going to be, and for the first time in perhaps your entire relationship with Chani, you decide to let him break your heart.

It takes you a few minutes of procrastinating, tilting your head back, sighing and reconsidering over and over and over again, until you finally open the messaging app and types a quick, awful reply.

That’s me~

His response comes almost immediately, and you aren’t even little bit surprised.

What the hell?

You don’t have time to think of another reply before your phone is vibrating, Chani’s face flashing across the screen, the picture painfully reminiscent of the memories you’d shared together.

zzzz zzzz

You should probably answer it—he’s probably only calling to confirm that you are who you say you are.

zzzz zzzz

You wonder what it would be like to hear his voice again. His soft voice would be sharp and demanding—harsh, and you would be able to hear the slight tremor that was always present when he was angry. It’s not a sound you ever liked hearing, and it’s not one you ever want to hear again.

zzzz zzzz

That’s the thing, though. You were stupid enough to start this thing, and there’s no way to end it peacefully. The best you can do is put it off for as long as possible.

zzzz zzzz

Your phone vibrates for what seems like forever, and you watch as the vibrating finally ends, your screen goes back to normal, and you’re once again left in a vacuum of silence. Your lungs constrict, and you didn’t even realize you’d been holding your breath.

Inhaling sharply, you type out something useless and pathetic and throw your phone into a pile of dirty clothes. You tuck your head against your knees and give into the sobs wracking your body.

I’m sorry.

~*~

You’re surprised and offended when, a few hours later, Aki and Makoto are barging through your door, courtesy of the key you’d given them a week ago. They find you in your bedroom, still on the floor, but terrified—

“See? I told you, [y/n] is sick. No healthy person ignores their friends’ calls so effectively—“

“I’m not sick,” you snap. And it’s stupid, because they don’t deserve this kind of treatment. They’ve been loyal friends, accepting far less than they gave and never ragging on you when you needed to take time to yourself, to retreat from the world and be alone. They understood it.

Until now, apparently.

Aki moves to sit down next to you as Makoto flips the light switch and stands in your door awkwardly. You don’t blame him. You did just snap at him.

“You guys,” you mumble, frustrated. “I didn’t give you my key so that you could barge into my life like this. That was supposed to be for emergencies.”

“This is an emergency.” Makoto dismisses, waving a hand and sitting down in your doorway, cross-legged and serious.

Aki nudges your leg softly. “We haven’t seen you in forever,” she says, voice gentle. “I mean it. It’s been a really long time. We’re worried.”

You lean your head back against the mattress and sigh, closing your eyes. “I know,” you finally say after a moment. “I’m sorry for…getting mad. And for disappearing.”

At this, Makoto rolls his eyes, extending his arm as far as he possibly can for the sake of poking your knee closest to him. “Are you sick? You only have to tell us if you’re sick, and we’ll leave you alone.”

You snort. “Do I look sick?”

“You’re pale,” Makoto answers bluntly. “And your hair’s all…” He makes a vague gesture encompassing all of you, and you shoot him a glare even as Aki rubs your back gently.

“I’m not sick,” you say. “I just…” And you can’t tell them the truth. You can’t admit to them the relationships you’d left behind and how everything is your fault, much less the fact that you’re currently wrecking havoc on your ex-boyfriend’s emotional and mental well-being.

Instead you say, “My lease is ending next month.” Suddenly, the air feels heavy, and it’s hard to breathe again. You’ve told both Aki and Makoto multiple times that you plan on renewing your lease. It’s cheap, and it’s comfortable, and the neighbors are really nice, and…

“So?” Makoto asks, remaining stubbornly dense.

Aki’s hand on your back stops its rhythmic rubbing for a beat before she picks it back up again.

You can feel it though. She’s tensed up. Just like Makoto has tensed up. The air is heavy, and it’s hard like a brick wall, and how are you supposed to be able to breathe in an atmosphere like this—

“I think I’m going to go back to Korea.”

Suddenly, the tension is shattering, Makoto letting out a sharp breath and Aki reaching her arms around you to hug you tightly. “I’m sorry,” you say, feeling pathetic all over again, because friends as good as Aki and Makoto deserve to be treated better. They deserve a better heads up, and they deserve someone who’s good at staying connected across long distances, and they deserve a friend who tells them why you’re leaving.

But that’s not something you can do, because you don’t even know yourself.

In the end, Makoto and Aki prove themselves to be the best friends you could have hoped for. They help you pack, and they drive you to the airport, and they hug you and give you going away gifts, and they promise to stay in touch, whether you reach out to them or not.

A/N: This is part one of what will (hopefully) be a two part series. Let me know if you liked it and want me to keep writing! 

-Jongecca

[thedeliverygod]

Good Enough

yatori college AU

Chapter 20/?

AO3|ff.net

“Thanks for finally taking me out to dinner,” Hiyori bumped her shoulder against Yato’s as they exited the restaurant, adding in a teasing tone, “Even though you technically rejected me when I first asked.”

He gave a pout in return, followed by a sigh, “Aw, come on. You know why I did; it’s not like I wanted to say no.”

“I know, I’m just teasing.” She answered before matching his pout, “But my self-esteem definitely took a hit that day. It took a lot for me to ask you out, you know.”

“It must not have taken too big of a hit, cuz it wasn’t too long before you tried again and were successful.” Yato reached up to rub his chin in an intrigued fashion, commenting, “I must be pretty irresistible for you to be so persistent.”

She let out a huff and looked off to the side of the street, “Believe me, I would have given up if it weren’t for Ami-chan, Yama-chan, Kofuku-san, and Yukine-kun all telling me that you were interested, because I was really doubting it after that point. I was fine with just being friends, but you know…” She trailed off with a small pout.

“Ah, I’m sorry, Hiyori…” She looked back up to see him run a hand through his hair, meeting her eyes once he saw she had looked back, “I’m just sort of used to being emotionally distant with people at this point as a self-defense mechanism, I guess. But I was interested, even the first day we ran into each other. I was joking when I asked if you were asking me on a date, but in a way, I kind of hoped you were.” He smiled sheepishly and let out a small laugh, “Even though I knew you’d never be that blunt—or at least I thought. As it turns out, I guess you are that blunt.”

“Only because you gave me no other choice.” She fired back automatically before letting out a breath and giving a small smile, “But… that’s nice to know.”

He smiled back briefly before waving his hand across the street, “Want to go sit in the square for a bit? I’m sure it’s all decked out for Christmas.”

“Sure.” She nodded eagerly and followed after him.

As they crossed the street, Yato contemplated aloud, “Maybe I should have waited to take you out to dinner until actual Christmas Eve, since that’s supposed to be more romantic and stuff…”

Hiyori shrugged, “Everything’s decorated already and I’m sure a lot of places are completely booked specifically because it’s a popular date night. Not to mention they probably raise the prices because of that.” As they walked she looked up at the Christmas lights wrapped around the street lamps, as well as the fairly large tree that they had put in the center of the square.  There were a few other groups of people sitting outside at the tables despite the cold, a few being couples like them with others being groups of kids deciding where they should go next.

As they sat down, he smiled nervously as he started, “Well, it may not exactly be romantic, but you’re welcome to come to Kofuku’s on Christmas. In fact, it might be the opposite of romantic; Kofuku will be drinking, I’m sure, and if Kazuma and Bishamon show up, then she’ll probably cause some chaos too.”

“I’d love to go.” She answered excitedly, “I’m going to have to attend one of these infamous parties eventually, you know. You can’t protect me forever.”

Yato let out a laugh at that, “Hah, right.”

Tapping her fingers against the table lightly, she asked, “I can slightly imagine what Kofuku-san will be like drunk knowing her personality, but what do you mean about Bishamon-san?”

He put his elbow up on the table and leaned into his palm, “Depends. She either wants to fight, and I mean like for real physically fight, or she’ll cry over things that happened a million years ago. Sometimes both.”

“F-fight?” Hiyori repeated worriedly as she tried to see if he was joking or not. But judging by his expression, he was telling the truth.

His eyes studied her curiously before he parted his lips in realization and gave a small smile, “Oh, don’t worry. She’ll probably protect you like a mother hen; it’s me that she’ll lunge for.” He leaned back into his chair, “In fact, she might go on a rant of how terrible of a boyfriend I was and the things to look out for, so on and so forth.” He waved his hand before thinking out loud, “Hah, maybe it’s best if she and Kazuma don’t show up. I’d like for you to still love me after this.”

“Pfft. If I haven’t been scared off yet, I don’t think it’s going to happen.” She gave a playful roll of her eyes.

Yato shrugged and leaned back in his chair, dragging out, “I dunnoooo…”

“Seriously.” Hiyori crossed her arms over the top of the table and leaned towards him, “I think you’re safe.” Giving a light sigh, she added, “I’m the one who should be worried. Once I introduce you to my parents formally as my boyfriend, you might not want to stick around. I mean, you already know how my mom is.”

“Yeaaaaaah.” He looked off to the side, “Maybe we should just put that off for a few years and elope or something.”

“Yato.” She answered sharply, her cheeks quickly warming.

He looked back to her with a small grin, “Kidding, kidding.” He lowered his voice and muttered,”…Sort of, anyway.”

Hiyori rolled her eyes and huffed, “It’s too early to talk about those kinds of things.”

“So you’d say no if I asked you to marry me tonight?” He looked her over playfully, his smile widening as she continued to grow more and more sheepish, “I mean, we’re alone for once and we’ve got this romantic atmosphere and everything. Maybe that was my intention all along.”

Completely crimson, she hid her face and answered, “Shut up! And if you were being serious, I’d tell you it’s too soon and especially if you had a ring or something I’d tell you to take it back because you need that money. That’s my answer.”

“Wow, you really won’t play along at all.” She felt him reach out to twist a strand of her hair and peeked up at him sheepishly. His grin hadn’t faded in the slightest, “But then again, watching you react is pretty fun.”

She looked up at him with an annoyed stare, “How do you from joking that you want me to still date you after Kofuku-san’s Christmas party to joking about proposing to me tonight?”

“Well proposing to you tonight would be more of a guarantee that you’d stick around, right?” He quirked an eyebrow, his smile still not faltering.

Hiyori closed her eyes and let out a breath of air, “You are unbelievable.”

“Why, thank you!” He answered in a loud and enthusiastic tone, causing her to shoot him another glance before shaking her head.

“I would try to argue that that wasn’t a compliment, but I can’t really.” She answered in a mumble.

Yato scooted her chair closer to her and nuzzled his head against her cheek, “Aw, you do love me.”

“Y-Yato!” Whatever red tint had faded away from before quickly returned, “We’re in public.”

He sighed, “Man, I wish Japan wasn’t so uptight about all that. I mean like I understand being disgusted by people making out in public but like, I dunno, not even really being able to hold hands or anything kinda sucks.”

“Holding hands makes it difficult for other people walking around you. And… I don’t know, I’m fine with it. I understand why it could make people feel uncomfortable.” She responded with a small shrug.

“Well, Miss Prim and Proper Hiyori, would you like to escort me back to my apartment so we can do more couple-y things?” He took hold of her hands laying on the table.

She ripped her hands out of his grasp, causing him to look up at her in a mix of regret and concern. “Only if you never call me that ever again.” She replied with a stern look.

The shock wearing off of his face, he nodded, “Alright. I’m sorry.”

Hiyori stood up from the chair and pushed some of her hair back over her shoulder, “The day I’m actually prim and proper and meet my mother’s standards is the day I’ve given up literally all of my personality.”

“Aw, I wouldn’t say that.” He quickly followed after her, “You can be prim and proper in public and go home and go back to being a martial arts nerd. You just have to dress nicely and be polite, both things you already do. You don’t have to go overboard and be… what’s the word? Snotty?”

Hiyori gave a little bit of a snort at that, “I think you mean snobby, but snotty works for most of that crowd, honestly. And I guess you’re right.” As they started towards the direction of his apartment, she looked upward and commented, “I hope Yukine-kun isn’t working too hard with Kofuku-san and Daikoku-san.”

“He’s been asking for it and they offered…” He answered with a shrug, admitting, “I’m hoping he’ll realize trying to study, work, and do school work at the same time is too much. I really just want him to wait until the next school year, but then again he’s got to worry about entrance exams not long after that…”

Hiyori giggled but waved her hand dismissively, “I’m sure Yukine-kun will make whatever decision is best. Even if he can be stubborn, he is a really responsible boy. And don’t think too far ahead, he’s still only a first year.”

“But time goes by so fast! Especially with him, like, I really can’t believe he’s in high school already. And it’s weird because sometimes it feels like he hasn’t been in my life for that long and then other times it feels like we’ve been living together forever.” He put a hand up to his forehead, “Jeez, if I’m like this now, imagine when I have a kid from when they’re a baby; then I’ll really be a mess.”

She nodded in agreement with another giggle, “You really will. It’s sweet, though… As long as you keep it in check and don’t get too overbearing. I think Yukine-kun already believes you’re pretty close already.”

“That’s just because he’s so tsundere.” Yato answered automatically, “He pretends like he doesn’t want me to be affectionate in the slightest but I know deep down he likes it.”

“I won’t argue with you there.” Hiyori nodded again.

His eyes flickered over to her, “Kind of like you.”

“What?” She squinted her eyes in confusion.

“You’re the exact same way sometimes! Like just now.” He waved behind them, motioning back to the square that they had been sitting in.

“T-that’s just because I don’t want to make other people uncomfortable!” She shot back loudly, her face flushed yet again.

He gave a doubting look and tilted his head, “So if there was no one around, then you’d be fine?”

“Yes.” Hiyori grumbled.

“Hmmm… I dunno if I believe you.” He answered in sort of a sing song tone.

Giving an annoyed sigh, she glanced over into an alley before reaching up to pull him forward by the fabric of his hoodie.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. What are you doing!?” He looked at her with wide eyes as she led them both a little ways into the alley.

“Proving you wrong.” She answered in a determined tone, letting go of his hoodie and letting her hands return to her side.

“You don’t have to do that.” Yato took a step forward, his voice soft and unsure, “I was just joking, you don’t—”

“I want to.” Hiyori interrupted him and gently reached up to lower his head by lightly cupping his face, pressing her lips against his.

He made a noise of surprise before kissing her back gently, breaking away after only a few seconds. “Hiyori…” She opened her eyes to see him trying to search her expression.

She gave a small smile, “It’s okay, really.” She moved in closer to him again, “Just really quick.”

He exhaled and nodded against her forehead, “Okay.”

Hiyori led the kiss again but this time Yato followed suite instantly, gently running a hand through her hair as he returned her affection. She pulled away this time, giving him another peck before pulling away completely, “Let’s keep going now.”

He blinked as if he had been woken up from a daze, “Uh, yeah. Right.” As they wandered back out onto the main road, he let out a breath, “You’re just full of surprises, I swear.”

“Is that a good or a bad thing?” She looked at him curiously.

“A good thing.” Yato answered immediately, almost sounding just a little bit breathless, “Definitely a good thing.”

She gave a small laugh, “Well that’s a relief, I guess.” She was sure he was being overdramatic, but it still made her heart flutter to know that she could have that sort of effect on him, at least in some way.

Though after they had gotten back to Yato’s apartment, she started to think that maybe he hadn’t been being over dramatic; his kiss was much less gentle and much more passionate and almost urgent. She squeaked in surprise as he practically crashed into her, but kissed him back to the best of her ability as she tried to finish shrugging off her coat. Eventually pulling away, she commented in a giggle, “Jeez, hold on a second.”

He leaned back in to kiss her cheek impatiently, making a sort of annoyed groan to which Hiyori rolled her eyes.

“You’re ridiculous.” She exhaled as she reached up to hang her coat on the hook.

He crossed his arms, “Hey, you knew that from the start and still went after me anyway.”

“I know.” She nodded as she reached out for him.