#of this gal eventually | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

imogenkol · 10 months ago

Text

— WIP WEDNESDAY

tag list (ask to be added or removed!): @adelaidedrubman @florbelles @marivenah @simonxriley @voidika @kyber-infinitygems @inafieldofdaisies @socially-awkward-skeleton @aceghosts @carlosoliveiraa @risingsh0t @unholymilf @cassietrn @jackiesarch @gwynbleidd @shellibisshe @loriane-elmuerto @katsigian @statichvm @captastra @simplegenius042 @theelderhazelnut

It’s Wednesday my dudes. have a snippet of this OG thing I’ve been freshening up. I might post the rest of it within the next couple weeks, but for now enjoy the girls having a totally normal coffee date :)

“So, Jay,” Nadya said coyly, lifting her steaming mug of coffee up to her lips for a quick sip, “Is this a date?”

Jayde released an amused breath as she scanned the humble cafe before settling back on her with a crooked grin. “What else would it be?”

The irresistible warmth of her brown eyes reflected the string lights that hung in the window they sat by, adding a twinkle to her next lighthearted words. “Well, you did try to pass it off as a stakeout, but I’m not so sure it is.”

Nadya only teased to relieve some of the tension. They were on a stakeout. Jayde had received word of hunter activity a mere few towns away from The Lodge. Far too close for comfort. If it were up to her, Jayde would have come by herself and dealt with the situation before it got out of hand, but even she knew when to approach a problem a little more tactfully. Besides, she would draw too much attention on her own. Two young women enjoying coffee together? Couldn’t get more normal and inconspicuous than that.

Which was why the two of them had been there all morning, seated by the window with the best view of the main street. Though, Jayde also kept a very watchful eye on every customer that came and went. Anyone could be an enemy.

Nadya didn’t serve only as cover. Stakeouts could take days and Jayde could hardly stand being separated from her for hours. Surely it wasn’t so bad to utilize some of the downtime to enjoy her company.

“You caught me,” Jayde replied with a smooth sarcastic timbre, crossing her arms on the table and leaning in. “I made up the hunters so I could drag you to a random coffee shop an hour and a half away. Figured you were bored with the one at home.”

Nadya leaned in, too, and matched the wolf’s smirk. “You’re so romantic.”

Jayde eyed the display case of freshly made pastries and various other baked goods by the front counter, the scents of which were almost nauseatingly sweet, but no less enticing. “How about I buy you a piece of pie to make up for it?”

One of Nadya’s brows shot up in intrigue. “You really know your way to a woman’s heart, Jayde Thatcher.”

“Proud to say that I know yours very well,” she replied with a wink and got up.

Jayde made her way to the counter and returned the barista’s warm smile and greeting. She had learned enough not to have to rely on her heightened senses in order to tell if a stranger was genuine or not, but Jayde always found it more difficult to discern when it came to customer service workers. It impressed her. If Jayde had to deal with ill mannered stupidity every day for hours on end, she would not have the patience to maintain a happy-go-lucky act in the slightest.

The boy manning the espresso machine behind the woman taking her order didn’t seem to have that particular talent, either. He grumbled profanities under his breath and hit every visible button, but the machine only stuttered and grumbled in response.

Jayde ignored it and motioned to the display case as she fished a few bills out of her pocket. “I’ll take a slice of the pecan pie.”

The barista accepted the money, her grin still present even when another coworker groaned loudly as they swooped in to save the — no doubt expensive — espresso machine from further abuse. “We could warm it up for you, if you’d like?”

“Sure, sounds great,” Jayde answered, dropping her change in the tip jar and returning to her table.

“What’s the plan if we find hunters?” Nadya asked as soon as Jayde sat back down.

The blonde shrugged and took a swig from her mug. “Depends on how many there are. If it’s only a few, I can take care of it. If it turns out to be a big group, we’ll have to go back to The Lodge and figure out a plan to lead them away.”

The human’s expression grew a bit dark. “By take care of it, you mean…”

“Nadya, you know I can’t let hunters be this close to us.”

“I know,” she said quickly and gripped her mug in both hands. “And I know what these people do. I’m not trying to argue against it.”

“You don’t have to be involved,” Jayde assured her.

“I already am,” Nadya said quietly.

Jayde didn’t realize until that moment that Nadya was right. The concept hadn’t even crossed her mind. Killing hunters had become second nature to her after so many years of survival. Jayde hated them. She hated the constant threat they posed to her family. Wiping a hunter out of existence was just as easy as getting rid of any pest. But regardless of how she felt about it, the truth was it was still taking a life. Nadya preserved life. It went against her nature to cause harm. Jayde loved her for that. The fact that she unintentionally made her complicit felt like a worse offense than murder, and it hadn’t been the first time.

Jayde shook her head and stared down at the contents of her mug in shame. She felt so selfish for taking her human girlfriend on such an endeavor instead of Toby or even Skye. “Fuck, I wasn’t thinking. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought you with me.”

“No, no,” Nadya said quickly and rested her hand on Jayde’s. “I chose to come. I want to help keep home safe – keep you safe, I just… I guess I’m still trying to accept everything that comes along with that.”

A very brief smile tugged at the corner of Jayde’s mouth. She appreciated the bravery it took for someone like her to be a part of this, but also understood the grim reality that Nadya must come to terms with about the life she now had to live. Half of Jayde was shocked it hadn’t scared the human away from her yet.

“I know,” Jayde said solemnly.

“Here’s your pie,” a young male voice interrupted.

Jayde looked up to see the boy who struggled with the espresso machine place a plate down between them, along with utensils and napkins. He seemed in better spirits now, but he still avoided their gazes with a reddish tint to his soft features. Jayde heard the thrum of his heartbeat and felt a small measure of pity for his embarrassment.

“Thank you,” Nadya said warmly with a grateful smile. The boy nodded and walked away. Then she addressed Jayde. “Let’s pause the morality talk for some pie, yeah?”

Jayde laughed at the lighthearted suggestion and the playful look on Nadya’s features as the girl dug in. “Pie beats morality every time.”

Nadya chuckled and shook her head, but still shrugged in agreement. She speared another bite onto her fork before she even finished chewing the first. “You want some of this? It’s pretty good.”

“Sure,” Jayde accepted and reached for her own fork.

As soon as her fingers made contact, a violent burst of white-hot pain assaulted her skin. It shocked her enough that she dropped the fork unceremoniously and sent it clattering against the ceramic plate and onto the wood table with a few loud clangs. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw startled heads snap in their direction from around the entire cafe. Nadya jumped a bit in surprise, too, and stared at Jayde in question.

The werewolf had about half a beat to understand and react. The fork was silver. It had been intentionally placed as a trap to expose her. There were no doubts within her mind. Somewhere in the shop, a hunter had their eyes on her.

Jayde would not give them the satisfaction. The encounter had to be on her terms. She needed to pretend the slip up had been a regular case of mundane clumsiness.

With a shake of her head and a light laugh, Jayde met Nadya’s confused gaze and forced herself to pick up the fork again.

Agony flared across her entire hand as if she had reached into a furnace to pull the utensil out. Jayde dealt with silver fairly often, but never so voluntarily. No matter how many times she endured direct contact, she just never got used to the unique burn of it. Seconds ticked by like minutes as it felt like her skin was being flayed off with a molten knife. It took all of her willpower to keep a calm expression.

“It’s okay,” she told Nadya quietly through clenched teeth, trying to keep her hand from trembling as she speared a bite of the pie. “It’s silver.”

Nadya’s eyes widened as she glanced down at her hand in alarm. “What are you –?”

“Relax,” Jayde instructed. She placed the bite in her mouth, careful not to come in direct contact with the silver more than she had to, and set the fork back down. The relief was so immense after she let go that she almost slumped in her chair with a heavy sigh. “What coffee shop has genuine silver utensils?”

Jayde saw Nadya’s swift thought process put it together in hardly a second. She put on a calm façade just as quickly and casually took another bite, though the sudden scent of her fear caused the wolf in Jayde to stir protectively. “What do we do?”

“Just finish our stuff,” Jayde answered plainly and tried to hide her injured hand. “Then we’ll take a walk and see if anyone follows us.”

“Your hand,” she said and reached across the table. Her fingers gently wrapped around Jayde’s wrist and subtly twisted her palm upwards to inspect the damage with a glance. In an effort to pass it off as flirtation, she caressed all the way up Jayde’s forearm and picked off a loose thread from her jacket. It wasn’t all an act. Jayde felt the underlying effects of her genuine comfort.

Jayde flashed an easygoing smile and shrugged. “It’s nothing.”

A quick grimace of concern came across Nadya’s face and Jayde guessed it wasn’t only for her hand. The stakeout suddenly became very real. Jayde’s own fear for her beloved human’s safety gripped her heart in a vice, but she pushed it aside in order to stay focused.

The two of them continued on as if nothing was wrong, hoping to throw the hunters off. Jayde still felt a deep unease at the back of her mind that grew steadily by the minute. It told her they definitely hadn’t gone unnoticed or completely diffused suspicion. Eyes were on them and it took more than a little self control not to look.

Once they finished up, Jayde nodded and they casually headed towards the exit. Again, she felt those eyes on her back, scrutinizing their every movement. Her spine prickled.

She pulled Nadya close and instructed her quietly, “Do not leave my side unless I tell you to.”

“Wasn’t planning on it,” the human replied and laced their fingers together.

#oc insp: Jayde Thatcher #oc insp: Nadya Bishop #ship insp: woven and thatched #Jayde is a take direct action kinda gal #and don’t worry. Nadya does eventually get to kill as a little trauma-I mean little treat.

28 notes · View notes

fudgesoup · 1 month ago

Text

The Stars are Cheering for You

Chapter 4: Determination

Rated: Teen - 4.1k - Rena Natsukawa x Original Character

Previous chapter | current chapter | Next Chapter | Masterlist | AO3

Tags: Hokkaido Gals are Super Adorable, Rena Natsukawa x Original Character, Rena Natsukawa x OC, Rena x OC, Fuyuki Minami, Natsukawa Rena, Shiki Tsubasa, Original Character, Rena Natsukawa, Minami Fuyuki, Tsubasa Shiki, Akino Sayuri, Manga & Anime, Alternate Universe, College/University AU, Fluff, Friendship, College, Romance, Eventual Romance, Slow Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Fate, Drama, Light Angst, Tokyo, I didn't sleep to write this, Gossip, Love Confessions, Confessions, Crushes, Dating, Falling In Love, I Wrote This Instead of Sleeping, Kendo, Plot, Slice of Life, Canon Spoilers, Tension, Family Drama, Plot Twists, Idiots in Love, post-epilogue

Finals came and went in a whirlwind, leaving Rena feeling triumphant, as if she had just slain a beast. Each test that had once stood in her way, now lay defeated. She had slayed them all: every problem, every essay, and every equation, claiming what felt like an inevitable victory over Akimitsu. In the week that followed, she allowed herself a rare indulgence: a well-earned break. With the semester officially behind her, Rena found herself in a state of restless anticipation, eagerly awaiting the moment when Akimitsu would reveal his scores. She had been chasing this moment for so long, desperate to see all her efforts pay off..

During those carefree post-finals days, Rena often took walks through her neighborhood, occasionally with Umi and Hikari at her side. Unlike before, they went relatively unnoticed during their outings, a stark contrast to the unwanted attention that had once been a constant nuisance. However, Rena had begun to notice a peculiarity. Whenever she arrived at a place, any men who appeared to be university students mysteriously vanished. For someone of her petite stature, who didn’t exactly exude an intimidating presence, this sudden avoidance was strange.

One afternoon, curiosity got the better of her, and she turned to Umi with a puzzled expression. "Hey, have you noticed how guys just seem to… vanish whenever we show up?"

Umi raised an eyebrow, clearly not having given it much thought. “Huh. Now that you mention it, yeah, that is weird. I hadn’t really paid attention until you pointed it out.” She shared Rena's confusion, glancing around as if trying to catch one of these disappearing men in the act.

“Bizarre, right?” Rena mused, shaking her head with a soft laugh. "Not that I’m complaining. It’s actually kind of nice not to be harassed every other time we’re out."

They both laughed, but Rena couldn’t shake the peculiarity of it all. Ever since that incident when she was rescued, when those miscreants had assaulted her, and someone had stepped in to help, things had been different. Odd, yet refreshingly different. She could go anywhere now without constantly being on edge, without glancing over her shoulder.

On one particularly bright and sunny afternoon, Hikari was busy with drama club, leaving Rena and Umi free to wander the bustling streets of the shopping district. Their walk led them to a cozy little bookstore tucked away in a side alley, one of Umi’s favorite hidden gems. Umi, an avid reader with a love for historical and romantic novels, had brought Rena here before, but today she was especially animated. As they browsed through the shelves, Rena couldn’t help but notice Umi’s eyes light up when she spotted a series she adored.

“Oh my gosh, you have to read this!” Umi exclaimed, clutching a book to her chest as if it were a precious treasure. The excitement in her voice was contagious.

Rena raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Umi’s enthusiasm. “What’s it about?”

“It’s about these two lovers from different social classes who meet in secret, despite the risks. It’s so tragic but so beautiful!” Umi’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she spoke, clearly lost in the story already.

Rena chuckled, watching this new side of her friend with amusement. “Wow, I didn’t know you were such a romantic,” a playful grin spread across her face.

Umi blushed, laughing a little at her own giddiness. “Well, I guess I can be,” she admitted, glancing down at the book with a shy smile. “But Hikari isn’t really into the lovey-dovey stuff, you know? She’s more into the… uh, steamy, adult themes.” Umi squirmed as she confessed this, clearly embarrassed.

Rena couldn’t help but laugh at the contrast. “Really? Hikari’s into that?”

Umi nodded, still a little red. “Yeah, but it’s fine. I mean, it’s not really my thing, but I’m glad she doesn’t judge me for being, you know… more of a hopeless romantic.”

Rena gave her a playful nudge. “Hey, no judgment here. Besides, someone’s gotta balance out all the steam with some pure, heartwarming love stories.”

Umi was relieved, laughing off her earlier embarrassment.. "Thanks, Rena. I’ll leave the steamy stuff to Hikari, and I’ll stick to my tragic romances."

They both laughed, Umi grabbed a couple of books and they found a table to sit and read the back cover teasers.

Umi leaned in just a touch closer to Rena examining her, her eyes gleamed with mischief. “So,” she began, voice dripping with curiosity, “what’s your take on romantic novels, hmm?” Her question seemed innocent enough, but the undertone gave ulterior motives. Umi wasn’t just idly wondering about Rena’s reading habits—she was fishing, trying to unearth something deeper, a suspicion that had been brewing in her mind for a while now.

Much like Akino and Minami before her, Umi had started to notice little signs, small shifts in Rena's demeanor whenever Akimitsu's name came up. It wasn’t anything over the top though, just small instances noticed in their time in class. Rena, after all, was nothing if not composed, but there was definitely something there; A flicker in her eyes, a hesitation in her speech. Umi, ever the detective, was determined to get to the bottom of it.

Rena played it cool, though the question had caught her off guard. She tapped her fingers lightly on the table, a thoughtful look crossing her face as she considered her response. Umi, however, was having none of her aloofness. She raised an eyebrow and went to work. “Oh, don’t think too hard about it, Rena. Just tell me, do you swoon over all those grand romantic gestures, or are you more of a realist?”

Rena narrowed her eyes playfully. “And what exactly are you insinuating, Umi?”

“Oh, nothing,” Umi said feigning innocence with a shrug.. “Just that… maybe, just maybe, someone we know has a secret soft spot for a certain someone. You know, someone tall, rugged, and easy on the eyes?”

Rena felt the heat rise to her cheeks before she could stop it, and Umi, ever observant, did not miss the faint blush.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Rena shot back, trying to maintain her usual calm. But her attempt to deflect only made Umi more convinced she was on the right track.

“Sure,” Umi teased, an expression of complete amusement sprawled on her face. “But you know, they say that romantic novels tend to reveal more about what we want in real life than we think. Just a thought.”

Rena tried to hold her composure, but Umi’s probing had clearly struck a nerve. “Romantic novels, huh?” she echoed, leaning back slightly as she pretended to mull over the question further. But in reality, her mind stalled at her questions. Why was Umi digging around this subject? This wasn’t just about books anymore, and Rena could feel the unspoken topic hanging in the air between them.

Of course, Umi wasn’t going to let her off easy. She had a glint in her eye, she was onto something and wasn’t about to let it go. “Come on, Rena,” Umi pressed, “Are you telling me you’ve never been swept off your feet by some grand romantic gesture in one of those novels? Or at least imagined what it’d be like?”

Rena scoffed, her fingers now drumming a steady rhythm on the table as if that might distract her from the creeping chills she could feel rising up her neck. “Swooning over some fictional prince charming isn’t exactly my style,” she replied, trying to sound dismissive.

Umi wasn’t buying it. “Really? Not even once? I mean, what about someone who’s not fictional? Someone… real?”

Rena rolled her eyes, but she could feel Umi’s gaze on her, sharp and unrelenting. It was obvious now that Umi wasn’t just talking about some random love story, she was digging for something far more specific.

“I think you’re reading too much into this,” Rena said with a sigh, but her voice didn’t carry the conviction she had hoped for. There was a slight waver, and Umi’s smile only grew wider.

“Am I, though?” Umi tilted her head, her voice turning sing-song. “Because, you know… you’ve been acting a little funny lately. Especially when a certain someone’s name comes up.”

Rena stiffened, and Umi pounced. “Akimitsu,” she said, dropping the name with a dramatic flourish. “You can’t tell me you haven’t noticed how often his name gets brought up in conversation these days. And how you always get just a little, what’s the word, flustered?”

Rena felt her heart skip a beat, but she refused to let it show. “Umi!” she scoffed in an attempt to play it cool but failing miserably. “That’s a bit of a stretch, don’t you think?”

But Umi wasn’t backing down. “I don’t know… is it?” she teased. “I mean, come on, Rena. You’ve been locked in these ‘fights’ with him forever, right? And now that finals are over, you’re just sitting here, waiting for him to reveal his scores like it’s some kind of life-or-death showdown. Don’t tell me there isn’t more to it than just who scored higher on the math test. You've been at each other's throats all semester.”

Rena’s fingers paused mid-drum as Umi’s words sank in. It was true, she had been obsessing over Akimitsu’s scores more than usual. But wasn’t that just part of the deal? Part of the competition she thrived on? She tried to convince herself that’s all it was, but Umi’s knowing smirk was making it harder to believe.

“His deal is a big part of it,” Rena said after a moment, her voice carefully measured. “I’ve been dying to find out why he only goes by his first name all semester. Of course, I want to know how he did even though I hate him”

Umi let out a dramatic sigh, leaning back in her chair. “Yeah, yeah, The Deal. But you know what they say, right?”

Rena blinked. “What?”

“There’s a fine line between hate and… something else.” Umi gave her a pointed look, one that said she wasn’t fooled by Rena’s cool exterior.

Rena crossed her arms, leaning back herself as if mimicking Umi’s posture might give her some control over the conversation. “I think you’re confusing this with something it’s not,” she replied, but the defensiveness in her tone was impossible to miss.

“Or maybe you’re not ready to admit that there’s more going on here. It’s fine, you know? You wouldn’t be the first person in history to develop feelings for the person they’ve been beefing with,” Umi added.

Rena opened her mouth to protest, but no words came out. She wasn’t sure why Umi’s words had gotten under her skin the way they had. It wasn’t like she hadn’t thought about Akimitsu before, he was boorish, carefree, and unmannered. All things she despised. Feelings of romance toward him? That was a complete stretch. Wasn’t it?

“I don’t have feelings for Akimitsu,” she bluntly stated, the words feeling strange on her tongue.

“Of course you don’t,” Umi replied smoothly, but the sarcasm cut through Rena’s statement. She leaned forward, her tone playful but pointed. “I’m just saying, if you did, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.”

Rena narrowed her eyes. “I don’t.”

“Uh-huh.” Umi stood up, her smile still firmly in place as she stretched and grabbed her bag. “Well, when you finally figure out what’s going on in that overachieving brain of yours, let me know. I’ll be waiting.”

Rena watched her go and purchase the books, her mind spinning in the wake of the conversation. She didn’t have feelings for Akimitsu… did she? It was just a competition for the sake of information. Just fighting and irritation. That’s all it had ever been. But as she sat there, her fingers tapping absentmindedly on the table once more, she couldn’t help but wonder if Umi had a point.

With a frustrated sigh, Rena grabbed her things, bought a book that caught her attention, and headed out of the bookstore. Umi’s words had disturbed a side of her that lay dormant inside.

Days later, Rena found herself lounging on her sofa, trying to lose herself in the historical novel she had picked up during her last outing with Umi. The summer heat was at its peak, but her thoughts were elsewhere, constantly drifting to Akimitsu. His scores still hadn’t come in, and the waiting was gnawing at her. She had done everything she could to distract herself from the anticipation, but it lingered like a shadow in the back of her mind. She needed to know that she had succeeded. To her, victory over him was inevitable, a confirmation of her hard work. Damn it Umi… She thought to herself as she was reminded of her friend's analysis from the other day. But speak of the devil and she shall appear:

The universe had heard her inner thoughts, her phone buzzed on the armrest beside her. It was a message from Umi: Meet Hikari and I at the diner in half an hour. I have something for you. It’s from him.

Rena’s heart leapt into her throat the second she read the message. This was it—the moment. The triumph she had been waiting for. She shot up from the couch, her heart pounding. Her hands were trembling as she hurried to change into something more suitable, opting for a nicer top, fitted shorts, and her white sneakers. She hesitated for a moment before grabbing her fan, the one she never left home without these days. It was her comfort, her shield, the thing that always steadied her when the world felt too chaotic.

Once she was ready, she set off for the diner, the tension and excitement building with every step. She couldn’t wait to finally claim her victory over Akimitsu, to throw his smugness back in his face after enduring his ridiculous attitude for the latter half the semester. As she walked, her fingers subconsciously tightened around the fan, clutching it close to her chest.

When she arrived at the diner, she spotted Umi and Hikari sitting at their usual booth, the same spot they always gathered for late-night talks and spontaneous get-togethers. Rena crept up behind them, sliding into the booth without a sound, grinning mischievously as she caught them both by surprise.

Hikari jumped, nearly spilling her drink. “Jeez, Rena! Could you not be a ninja for once? Say something next time!”

Umi burst out laughing, wiping a tear from her eye as she tried to catch her breath. “I swear, Rena, you’re way too good at sneaking up on people! Poor Hikari didn’t stand a chance.”

Rena grinned, pleased with herself as they exchanged greetings, but she quickly cut to the chase. “Alright, enough messing around. Where is it?”

“I’m happy to see you too Rena,” Umi joked, “I'm kidding, I know exactly how much you've been wanting this. Luckily I saw him out in the wild and badgered him for it.”

Umi’s playful expression softened, and she reached into her bag, pulling out an unopened envelope. She slid it across the table towards her, a glimmer of curiosity in eyes. On the front, it read: To Natsukawa

Rena’s fingers shook slightly as she tore open the envelope, and inside were two sheets of paper. The first was a letter labeled ‘READ THIS FIRST’, while the second, folded beneath it, could only be his results. Her instincts screamed at her to skip the letter and dive straight into the numbers, to see the proof of her victory, but something about the letter demanded her attention. Why would he write a personal note? What is he playing at? Her curiosity won out, and she unfolded the letter, eyes darting over the words.

To Natsukawa,

I do hope there aren’t any hard feelings. I know how much you wanted to win this little competition of ours. I respect your dedication, and I’m sure you gave it your best. As promised, my results are enclosed. But, as you’ll soon see, there was only ever one outcome.

This semester has been… entertaining, to say the least. Watching you get agitated at my presence was amusing. You tried so hard not to show it, but I could tell. You snuck more than a few glances my way during class—don’t think I didn’t notice.

Unfortunately, this is goodbye. At least for a while. I won’t be around to enjoy your attempts at scolding me or that adorable blush that matches your pink hair.

Until fate allows us to meet again, -Akimitsu S.

Rena's heart hammered in her chest. The arrogance in his words was maddening, but that wasn’t what froze her in place. It was the way he’d written his name at the end…that final hint... Akimitsu S. The letter had given her something she hadn’t expected, a small clue about his family name. She was a step closer to figuring out who he really was.

But her mind barely had time to process it before she remembered—the results. She quickly unfolded the second page, her eyes scanning the numbers, and then… her breath hitched.

She had lost.

The numbers didn’t lie. Akimitsu had beaten her by a narrow margin, just enough to rob her of the victory she had been so certain of. She sat there, staring at the page, her heart sinking. The smugness in his letter made sense now—he had known. Of course, he had known all along that he had won. And now, he was rubbing it in her face, his final words taunting her: until fate allows us to meet again.

For a moment, Rena couldn’t speak. The shock of her defeat was too fresh, too sharp. She had worked tirelessly, pushing herself past her limits all semester. How did this happen?

Umi and Hikari exchanged concerned glances, noticing the change in Rena’s expression. Umi leaned forward, waving her hand in front of Rena’s face. “Rena? You okay? What does it say?”

Rena blinked, still numb from the shock. She swallowed, forcing her voice to work. “I… lost.”

The silence that followed was palpable. Both Umi and Hikari stared at her, disbelief flickering in their eyes. Hikari was the first to speak, her voice soft but incredulous. “You lost? To Akimitsu?”

Rena nodded, barely able to process it herself. “By a tiny margin… but yeah. He won.”

Umi leaned back in her seat, folding her arms with a sigh. “Well, damn. I thought for sure you had this one.”

Rena sat in stunned silence for a moment, she switched back to the letter and kept on rereading his final words. The way he signed it—Akimitsu S.—was maddeningly vague. His family name was within her grasp, but that single letter wasn’t enough. Not for her. She had to know more, to uncover the full truth behind this elusive, frustrating guy who had gotten under her skin.

“S? Just S? What kind of ridiculous hint is that?” she muttered, her fingers tightening around the letter.

Hikari, always quick to jump to conclusions, scoffed. “Honestly, are we even sure he didn’t cheat? I mean, it’s Akimitsu! He seems like the type who would do anything to win.”

That accusation made Rena’s blood boil. She snapped her gaze to Hikari, eyes flashing. “Cheat? No way. Akimitsu may be obnoxious, but he wouldn’t cheat. He’d want to win fair and square, just so he could rub it in my face.”

Hikari raised her hands defensively. “Okay, okay, just saying! You don’t have to get all fiery about it, jeez.. Anyway, whatever, don't worry about it, what are you going to do now? You’re obviously not going to drop it.”

She was right on the money, Rena gritted her teeth. She couldn’t just accept this loss, not without at least finding out who he really was. She stood up abruptly, startling both Umi and Hikari. “I need to find him.”

Umi frowned, a flicker of concern in her eyes. “Really? Right now? Sit down and I'll order you a milkshake or boba.”

“No,” Rena responded. “I’m not thirsty… I’m so lost right now, I’ve never felt this way before. I want to find him and I don’t know where to start.”

Umi examined her with the utmost concern and took Rena’s hand in her own.

Hikari bit her lip as if deep in thought before her face lit up with sudden realization. “Actually… wait a minute. I think I have a lead.”

Rena faced her, her heart skipping. “What lead?”

“Well, I know someone who dated him back in high school,” Hikari responded calmly. “My friend Mai’s older sister went out with Akimitsu for a little while. You know I always thought he was a jerk, but maybe she knows something useful.”

Rena’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

Hikari nodded, already pulling out her phone. “I’ll text Mai and ask.”

The minutes dragged by slowly. Rena’s pulse thrummed with nervous energy as she waited. It wasn’t long before Hikari’s phone buzzed, and she glanced down at the screen, eyes widening.

“She says she knows where he goes often, a rec center nearby. He goes there for some kind of regular event.”

“Event?” Rena asked, leaning in, eager for details.

“Yeah. Mai says it’s something extra. Hold on, let me get more info.” Hikari typed furiously, and after another tense few seconds, she raised her head with a smirk. “It’s a kendo tournament. Apparently, Akimitsu is really into it. She even sent me a link to the event’s website.” Hikari scanned the website thoroughly, “Hey, there’s a tournament coming up soon, and you can buy tickets. And there’s a catch: formal traditional attire is required for spectators.”

“Kendo?” Rena blinked, the pieces of Akimitsu’s hidden life clicking into place. Kendo? Of all things, she hadn’t expected that. He didn’t strike her as the traditional, martial arts type. “There's so much I don't know about him,” she murmured, both surprised and intrigued. This was a side of him she hadn’t anticipated before, one that added more layers to his mysterious persona. And formal attire? That detail had stirred her personal interest. She had always loved traditional dress, the grace and poise it required. Now, she had even more reason to go.

Without missing a beat, Rena pulled out her phone and quickly looked up the event. The tournament was happening in just a few days. She scanned the page, taking in the details. This was her best shot at finding him, at getting some real answers.

She let out a determined huff and couldn’t risk waiting any longer. This was the perfect opportunity to confront Akimitsu, to finally get the truth about his family name and maybe, just maybe, to understand why he had been so enigmatic and difficult all semester.

Rena clenched her fists, her stubbornness and determination swelling within her. “I’m going,” she declared, the fire in her eyes burning brighter. “I have to go to this event. It’s the only way.”

Umi leaned forward, mingling with curiosity and concern. “Are you sure about this, Rena? What if he’s not even there?”

“He’ll be there,” Rena said firmly, her gaze locked on the website. “He wouldn’t miss this. I just know it.”

Hikari grinned, clearly enjoying Rena’s fiery determination. “Wow Rena, you have it bad. In that case, you’d better go all out then. You’ll need to get your hands on some formal attire. You can’t show up to a kendo tournament looking casual.”

Rena didn't pay any mind to her comment, her actions were beyond rationality. She was already mentally planning her outfit. “Don’t worry, I know exactly what I’m going to wear.”

Knowing her next step, Rena was finally able to relax and socialize with her friends in a normal fashion. Umi and Hikari offered their support and teased Rena about her newfound determination to track Akimitsu down.

Umi couldn’t help but give Rena an encouraging pat on the shoulder. “You’ve got this. Just… don’t kill him when you find him, alright?”

Rena laughed, the fire in her eyes had not dimmed. “No promises.”

With a final round of thanks to both of her friends, Rena stood up, determination radiating off her. She knew what she had to do next—prepare for the tournament, plan her outfit, and, most importantly, confront Akimitsu. She couldn’t let this opportunity slip away.

As she left the diner, her mind buzzed with plans. The clock was ticking, and the tournament was fast approaching. She only had a short time to prepare, but that only made her more determined.

This wasn’t over… not until she had her answers.

Previous chapter | current chapter | Next Chapter | Masterlist | AO3

3 notes · View notes