#private swimming teacher near me | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

stargazer-sims · 1 year

Text

The Art of Redemption

(part 2)

previous // next // story index

__________

Despite blatantly violating the posted speed limit, Beth-Anne feels as if the drive between her house and Nikolai’s is taking far too long. She’s terrified of what she might find when she gets there, and her mind is flooded with worst-case scenarios like an unending reel of nightmares playing in her anxious brain. She questions everything; her decision not to stay on the phone with him, the extra minute she’d taken to text Stan, each tiny action or choice she’d made since hearing his voice tonight.

Anything could have happened in the last several minutes. Anything.

You have to calm down, she orders herself. You aren’t going to be of any use to him like this.

The problem is, she isn’t confident that she knows how to calm herself. She’s faced a lot of loss in her life and she’s never coped particularly well with it. Losing someone she loved had nearly sent her over the edge before, and the recollection of that makes the thought of losing Nikolai even more unbearable.

What would Stan tell her to do in these circumstances?

Think of something positive. A good memory. A time when you were hopeful and happy.

Yes, that’s it. She's had many happy, hopeful times over the past ten years. Being able to come back to the figure skating world after believing that part of her life was over, working side-by-side with her friend and former coach, getting to know Nikolai and watching him grow as a person and flourish as an athlete; all of that camaraderie, love and support has sustained her and taught her how to find hope and happiness within herself.

Everything will be okay. It has to be.

She remembers the day she first met Nikolai Pavlenko. It was on a Thursday in late July. School was out for the summer and most skating lessons and group classes were on a pause as well. Only the serious athletes were still at the rink when everybody else was at the park or the beach.

Beth-Anne herself had been spending as much time as possible at the beach. As a physical education teacher at an all-girls private school, she was largely free during July and August, and she preferred to spend the time outdoors, hiking, swimming, puttering around in her garden or working on her tan. Although she still skated at her local community centre for fun and exercise, going to the rink in July wasn't anywhere near the top of her to-do list.

So, when she'd received a call from Stan, asking if she'd come and join him at a practice session for a couple of his students, she was intrigued. Slightly suspicious, naturally, but certainly intrigued.

"Why would you want me to do that?" she asked.

"I have a very unique problem," Stan told her. "I have two potential champions on my hands. Absolutely top-tier talent."

"And?"

"I can't manage them both, can I? I thought you might like to meet them. Maybe pick one."

"Pick one? For what?"

"To coach," Stan said, his tone implying he shouldn't have had to point that out.

"I have a job, Stan."

"This Thursday at ten o'clock. Be there," he said. "Or not. It's up to you. I personally feel like it's a golden opportunity for you, but—"

She hung up on him.

But, she went to the rink that Thursday anyway.

If anyone asked her, she wouldn't have been able to describe her feelings when she stepped through the doors of the arena where she used to train. It was strange, coming back to a place she hadn't been to in over four years. It felt familiar, like coming home, yet at the same time she got the sense things had changed enough that she really couldn't call this her place any more.

She made her way to the rink area, where she found Stan out on the ice with two of his students. Stan was fifty, with a lot more salt in his salt-and-pepper hair than he'd had when Beth-Anne was first introduced to him.

How long ago had that been? Beth-Anne had been seventeen when Stan took her on as a student. Had they really known each other for fourteen years at that point?

That'd make it... twenty-four years to the present day. Nearly a quarter-century. God damn.

She recalls observing Stan and his students for a few minutes before announcing her presence. Stan looked healthy and fit, and she was glad to see he still put his skates on and went out there with the kids instead of coaching from behind the boards.

Both students were teenagers. The girl was clad in a form-fitting turquoise top and black athletic pants, and had a long rust-coloured braid secured on the end with a wide turquoise elastic. She was tall and lanky and moved as if she couldn't wait to unleash her power. The boy had a smudge of a moustache, and out of control hair that Beth-Anne guessed he'd allowed to grow a bit too much to compensate for his lack of success in growing facial hair. He was wearing the ubiquitous close-fitting black athletic pants and a baggy forest green sweatshirt with the tongue-in-cheek slogan 'I heart this shirt' emblazoned on it in bold white lettering.

Beth-Anne almost lost it when the boy called out, "Hey, Uncle Stan! Check out what I learned from a video!"

"Don't you dare—" Stan began.

But it was too late. He was already skating backwards, and with the momentum he'd built up, he leapt off the ice and into a heart-stopping back flip. He landed on his feet, arms spread wide and face alight with a rascal's grin.

The girl let out a whoop. "I knew you could do it, Nik!"

"Nikolai Pavlenko, don't you ever do that again!" Stan yelled.

Both Nikolai and the girl were laughing so hard that they fell to the ice in their mirth. They grabbed each other's hands and did a little cheer.

Beth-Anne didn't need to see Stan's face to tell that he was torn between being exasperated and being entertained. She could see it in his body language. These two were most certainly a handful, but she knew he loved them nevertheless.

Seeing her opportunity, Beth-Anne said, "I guess I'm not interrupting anything important."

Stan turned at the sound of her voice. He gave her a little wave and started skating in her direction. "Beth-Anne, you made it. Great!"

"I wanted to see what all the fuss was about," she said.

"Well, I guess you're getting an eyeful." He glanced over his shoulder quickly as he stepped off the ice to join her. "You two, get up. Practice what we were working on yesterday, and no more dumb shit, please."

"That means you, Nik," said the girl, and her companion rolled on the ice, taken over by another laughing fit.

"Nikolai!" Stan shouted.

"Sorry, coach," said the teenager. He rubbed briskly at his face with his palms and took an audible breath before scrambling to his feet. "Practice what we worked on yesterday. Got it."

Stan sighed. "I'm telling you, Beth. These two are going to be the goddamned end of me."

"I can tell you really care for them," Beth-Anne said.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean they're not a massive pain in my ass," he said. "Especially that one." He jabbed a thumb into the air, pointing behind himself at Nikolai.

"That one," Beth-Anne echoed, gesturing at the young man in the green sweater. "Tell me about him."

"Nikolai Pavlenko," Stan said, pronouncing the name in a way she was certain no non-Slavic language speaker could do. "Seventeen years old. Had his debut in the senior division two years ago, and was honestly pretty unremarkable. But, I think that had more to do with inexperience and poor coaching than lack of talent. He came here from Ontario last year, and placed fourth at Skate Canada with me."

"You saw something his last coach didn't?"

"Obviously," Stan said.

"And the girl? She's the one who came from the UK specifically to train with you, right?"

"Vivienne Holmes. Yeah, she's my girl," he said. "We call her Ginger."

"Because of her hair?"

"No, because she's full of it. Full of ginger, I mean. That kid is like the Energizer Bunny and she's cheeky as hell, especially when she's with Nikolai."

"Sounds like the perfect match to me."

"Only if you think two troublemakers are better than one," Stan scoffed. "Anyway, Ginger's going to be sixteen in a couple of months, and she's having her senior debut this season. I need to separate those two so she can focus. I'll be damned if she flops in her first year at senior level just because she was too busy joking around with her buddy to concentrate on skating."

"So, you didn't actually ask me here to pick one of them, did you?" Beth-Anne said. "You want me to coach Nikolai."

Stan smiled at her. "You saw right through me."

"Wily bastard. How did you know I'd even come?"

"Because you can never say no to me." Stan held up a hand. "Now, shh... just watch. There goes your new boy. He's about to fly."

Beth-Anne found she couldn't take her eyes off Nikolai, momentarily stunned into silence as she watched him perform a flawless quadruple toe loop. His form was excellent and he made the difficult jump look almost effortless.

"Well done, Nikolai! Very nice!" Stan called to him. "Way to impress your new coach!"

Beth-Anne let out the breath she hadn't even realized she'd been holding. "Holy shit, Stan."

"I taught him that," Stan told her, clearly pleased. "It's his first quad, and he just started doing it around the end of May, beginning of June. You should've seen the disaster it was when he first tried it this spring."

"He's only seventeen?"

"Hmm," Stan hummed in affirmation. "He'll be eighteen in December. He's got amazing potential and I can see him going all the way to the top some day, but I really don't think I'm the right coach to get him there."

"Why not?" she asked. "You coached me to gold once."

Stan looked amused. "You practically coached yourself. I was just along for the ride."

"That's not true. You were always—"

"Look," Stan said. "Nikolai is special. He and Ginger both are. They could be world champions, but you know working toward that takes a big commitment of time and effort. With all my other students, I can commit to one or the other of them, not both, and Nikolai is... Well, he's a charmer and he knows how to get what he wants, whether it's good for him or not."

"You mean, he walks all over you."

"With his skates on," Stan said. "Got the metaphorical blade marks on my back to prove it."

Beth-Anne laughed. "So, it's like that. You want to foist your problem child onto me."

"Foist? Is that even a word?"

"Learn fuckin’ English, Stan."

He snorted in his effort not to laugh, but soon turned serious again. "Nikolai needs a firm hand. A coach who's going to love him and let him have fun, but also who's gonna keep him focused and isn't going to put up with his usual shit."

"And you think that person is me?"

"I do."

"Are you forgetting that I've never coached before? You say this kid's got enough potential to possibly be a world champion, and you'd let him risk all that on a green coach?"

"You're not green. You teach P.E. for fuck's sake, and don't you coach volleyball and run the dance club at your school?"

"That's not figure skating. It doesn't count."

"Like hell it doesn't," Stan insisted. "You've got experience working with teenagers, and you sure as hell know about figure skating. Just put the two together, and you'll kick ass as a skating coach. Plus, I saw that article in the paper. The kids love you, and clearly the board of directors of your school does, too. I mean, they don't give out Teacher of the Year awards to just anybody, do they?"

"No, but... I don't know about the whole coaching thing," she said. "I never thought about doing that."

"Tell me something. Do you like being a teacher?"

"Yeah. I like working with the kids, but..."

"I knew there was gonna be a 'but'. Go on."

She sighed. "How the fuck can you possibly know me so well?"

"I'm waiting for the part that comes after the 'but', Beth-Anne," Stan prompted.

"Fine," she said. "I guess you know I still skate."

"Yeah," he said. "I know."

"I wasn't ready to give up competing. I still dream about it."

"Do you?"

"I really do love teaching. I'm proud of the girls when they win a volleyball game too, but it doesn't actually mean anything, you know? Some of those girls might go on to play volleyball at university, but none of them are going to make it their career. It's just something to distract them from math and English and history."

"Right," said Stan. "What I'm hearing is that you're feeling unfulfilled."

"I wouldn't say unfulfilled," she countered. "Just... maybe not as fulfilled as I wish I was."

Stan gazed at her for a second or two. "You want to know what watching your kid win a medal feels like? A kid you've trained with day in and day out, who you literally think of as yours because you see them more than their parents do?" He placed a hand on her shoulder. "You talk about fulfillment and doing something that means something. That's it, right there."

"I don't know..."

"At least meet Nikolai, yeah? Maybe skate with him for a little bit? If he likes you and he agrees to it, then come and join us at practice for the rest of the summer. Call it a trial run to see if it's gonna work for you."

"Okay," she said. "But no promises."

"You don't have to commit to anything right this second," Stan assured her. "Just try it out, and if you do decide it's what you want, I'll be here to help you. I promised you a long time ago that I'd always be there for you, didn't I? You're not gonna be in this alone."

And she hadn't been. Stan had been there every step of the way to help her and give her advice when she needed it, to keep her on track when she got discouraged, and to remind her that she and Nikolai were doing amazing things together. "Your Nikolai is going all the way," he'd say. "I can see it."

My Nikolai, she thinks now. When did that happen?

She'd liked Nikolai from the moment she met him, and it'd only taken her a week to make up her mind to resign from her teaching job and become his coach. She adored his personality and was enchanted by his big blue eyes and devil-may-care grin, but most of all she was inspired by his passion for skating.

Stan hadn't been wrong. Nikolai was a charmer and a troublemaker, and yes he did require an application of verbal discipline from time to time, but he was bright and genuine and had the greatest capacity for love that she'd ever seen in a person of his age, His obvious joy on the ice filled Beth-Anne's heart with a kind of reflected happiness that she hadn't felt in a very long time, and she knew she wanted to keep that sentiment alive, for herself as well as for him.

There must've been a definitive point at which she'd started thinking of him as hers, when she'd ceased to be just his coach and somehow became more like a bonus mother to him. His real mother, Elena, is a good woman and Beth-Anne doesn't doubt that she loves Nikolai and his sister Natalya very much, but as long as Beth-Anne has known Elena and Mikhail Pavlenko, she's always had the impression that they were emotionally unavailable for their kids.

From the start, she knew sweet, sensitive Nikolai required someone who’d try to understand all his feelings without judging him for them. For him, skating was more than just a technical sport. The rink was a canvas on which he painted his innermost thoughts. He poured out his soul onto the ice, and she stood by his side, cherishing him and the artistry of his emotions, hearing the things he couldn’t say with words alone.

In his own way, he'd done the same for her, offering his faith in her and his love for her as priceless gifts. God knows, she'd been desperate for someone to believe in her back then. Without doubt or judgment, Nikolai became that someone. He never saw her as a failure or a has-been. He'd opened up his heart and mind to her and let her guide him toward what would become their shared dream. Together, they found a connection beyond words, where the rink became an almost sacred place.

The first time he won gold in a competition with her as his coach and they placed that medal around his neck, Beth-Anne felt as if they were giving her an award too. She'd never been so proud of another person's accomplishments in her whole life. Even her own lone gold medal from long ago hadn't felt as good as that, and she could hardly wait to thank Stan and tell him he was right.

After the medal ceremony, Nikolai came down from the podium to find her at the edge of the crowd. He was practically bouncing, and the smile on his face could've lit up an entire room. He threw himself into her arms with a jubilant exclamation of, "Beth-Anne, we did it!"

She hugged him tight. "You did it, sweetheart. It was all you."

"No." He shook his head, causing his floppy brown hair to brush against her chin and cheek. "We did it. I couldn't have got here alone. I couldn't do any of it without you, and I'd never want to."

"I'll be with you as long as you want me to be," she said.

He leaned close and whispered. "Forever, okay?"

"Okay," she said, and deep inside she knew she meant it. She never wanted to leave him, not ever. Even when his competing days were over and they'd both moved on to other things, she hoped she could still be his friend, his confidante or mentor. The truth was, he'd saved her. He'd given meaning and purpose to her life when she felt it had none. He brought her back to the sport she loves, and she’ll always be grateful for that. She doesn’t consider it a sacrifice to do whatever she can to repay him for offering her that precious second chance.

After a moment, they let go of each other, and Nikolai took a step back. Then, he did the most extraordinary thing. He lifted the ribbon of his medal from around his own neck and placed it around hers instead.

"For you," he said. "Keep it."

She touched the cool metal disc. "Nik, I can't keep your medal. You earned it."

"You helped me earn it." He offered her that mischievous grin of his. "Besides, I'm going to win lots of them in the future, so I'll have plenty. You should have this one. You know, to keep yours company, because two together are always happier than just one alone."

To this day, she doesn't know if he realized the allusion he'd created. She is happier with him, with Stan, with her two up-and-coming junior skaters Brett and Mariah, and all her non-competitive students from her group classes.

Almost no one is better off alone. That was a lesson she had to learn, and she's thankful the ones who taught it to her were Stanislav Kovac and Nikolai Pavlenko.

She took Nikolai's medal home from that competition, and she hung it on the wall of her den, next to her own gold medal. Over the years, the display has grown with coaching awards, as well as photographs, newspaper clippings and framed magazine articles all featuring the successes of her students. The collection always expands outward, with the two gold medals eternally at the centre.

Wait... this is Nikolai's street!

Her truck's tires shriek as she takes the corner way too fast. Fortunately, the pavement isn't wet and nothing goes awry. She can't believe she’d distracted herself so successfully that she had nearly missed turning in the right place. She swears aloud, exhaling a string of foul language that'd doubtless make a dockyard worker blush.

Nikolai's house is the only one on the street with a light on inside. She parks her truck at the curb and sprints across the yard and up the front steps. Her heart hammers against the inside of her chest.

When she tries the door, she discovers it's unlocked. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she eases it open and steps inside. The air in the house is damp and cold as if there's a window open somewhere, allowing the chill February night to impose itself like an unwanted houseguest.

She doesn't have to look far to find Nikolai. He's sitting on the floor no more than two meters from the doorway, head down, staring at some undiscernible spot on the polished hardwood floor. It seems he'd done exactly as she instructed. He unlocked the door for her, and then did nothing else until she arrived.

She experiences a little pang of heartache as she takes in the situation. Nikolai is wearing the same red gym shorts and loose grey t-shirt he'd been wearing when she'd last seen him in person three days ago, and his overabundance of chocolate brown hair is dishevelled and stringy. His right knee — the injured one — is badly swollen, and she doesn't see his crutches anywhere. She knows his leg hadn't looked that bad the last time she was here, and she wonders what might've happened.

She says his name softly, and he looks up. His face is tear-streaked, and the edges of his eyes are red as if he's been rubbing at them.

"I'm cold," he says.

She shuts the door quickly. A thousand questions tumble through her head, but she rejects them all as either inane or inappropriate. At last, she settles on, "Where's Anya?" Somehow, she stops just short of adding 'What the hell did she do to you?' or 'Why the fuck would she leave you like this?'

Nikolai shakes his head. "I don't know. I... I'm alone."

"Sweetheart, no," Beth-Anne closes the distance between them in two long strides and then drops to the floor beside him. She takes him in her arms, and he instantly collapses against her, weeping. He's shivering. She thinks she should try to get him into warmer clothes, but first she has to make sure he's going to be okay. She strokes his back, just as she'd done a few weeks ago in Taiwan, like she's probably done a hundred other times. "I'm here. It's all right. You're safe, and you're not alone. I said I'd always be here for you, remember? I promise, you never have to be alone."

#writing #long form fiction #non illustrated #the art of redemption #theartofredemption #nikolai pavlenko #beth-anne jones #stanislav kovac #sapphire writes

20 notes · View notes

lunaraindrop · 3 months

Text

RL moment with Luna

Greetings, folks! Since I love you all, I'm going to give you a mini update on my life.

Let me give you a condensed recap for my new friends here.

Hi! I'm Luna. I graduated from college in 2020. Yes, during the pandemic. But yay graduating!!

I started working as a preschool teacher for a private school in 2021. The entire 3 years I worked for that school were an absolute nightmare. (If you want stories, DM me)

The program was year round, so I hardly had any time off, due to teacher/dub shortages, and I had to work late for the after-school program because, once again, teacher/sub shortage.I have an autoimmune disease that causes chronic fatigue if not managed properly. Less stress, more sleep, etc.

Basically, your girl was not doing well.

Despite everything, I got into grad school, a dream I've held close to my heart.

I needed out of that school, and fast. It was eating my life away and not giving me any time to have a life. But, since I live in the United States, I also needed a job for insurance.

After many, many months of applications, interviews, doctor's visits, and near breakdowns...I resigned. I couldn't handle the school anymore.

Since then, I have taken June and July as a time to rest, catch up on school work, and figure out my next step.

That also means that I have been living off my meager savings, and have spent the entire month of July without insurance. Thankfully, all the rest and time to do things I love like write, read, and swim have done wonders for me.

Back to the work issue, though. Despite me applying to every job imaginable, it seems that the only places that want to hire me are schools and child care centers.

So now, your girl Luna will be teaching public preschool starting in August! 🎉

What I like so far is that I have a set time that will not be messed with. School starts at this time. School ends at this time. I also love that I get a break (which is illegal not to give a teacher a break, but my former school just went 🤷‍♀️), and time to do lesson plans, which my old school told me to do on my own time.

What does this mean in the future of my writing?

Since I will FINALLY have a little breathing room in my schedule, I plan to do a lot more of it. It brings me joy, and I need that joy back. However, I'm also doing grad school. That will keep me busy.

Those things being said, my plans in the near future are to try and finish The Lie Becomes the Truth before tackling any of my long long loooong list of one-shots, wips, and other ideas I have waiting in my notes. I have a beta lined up to help me, so hopefully you will see chapters rolling out a bit faster soon. I'm currently working on chapter 18.

#lunaraindrop #luna is a writer #luna says #real life #preschool teacher #hashimoto's disease #steddie ao3

3 notes · View notes

balbharatineelbad94 · 4 months

Text

Excellence in Education: Choosing the Best CBSE Schools in Bhopal

Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, is renowned for its rich history, vibrant culture, and academic excellence. Among the myriad educational options available, the best CBSE schools in Bhopal stand out for their commitment to providing a robust curriculum and nurturing environment conducive to all-round development. This article delves into what makes these schools the preferred choice for parents and how they pave the way for future leaders.

Why Opt for the Best CBSE Schools in Bhopal?

Holistic Education Approach

The best CBSE schools in Bhopal adopt a holistic educational approach that goes beyond textbooks. These schools are dedicated to fostering intellectual, physical, emotional, and social development, preparing students to face the challenges of the modern world with confidence and resilience.

Comprehensive Curriculum

CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) is known for its comprehensive and rigorous curriculum that encourages students to pursue academic excellence while also engaging in extracurricular activities. The curriculum is continuously updated to meet global standards and help students thrive in competitive environments.

Features of Top CBSE Schools in Bhopal

State-of-the-Art Facilities

The best private school in Bhopal boasts state-of-the-art facilities that enhance the learning experience. Modern classrooms, science laboratories, computer labs, and extensive libraries with a vast collection of resources make these schools stand out. Sports facilities, such as swimming pools, tennis courts, and athletics tracks, support physical education.

Qualified and Dedicated Faculty

A school is only as good as its teachers. The top CBSE schools in Bhopal employ highly qualified and experienced faculty who are passionate about teaching and are committed to the success of their students. These educators use innovative teaching methods that make learning enjoyable and effective.

Focus on Early Education

The foundation of a child’s educational journey begins with early education. Recognizing this, the best pre primary school in Bhopal and the best preschool in Bhopal offer programs that focus on laying a strong educational foundation. These programs are designed to develop cognitive, motor, and social skills through play-based and structured learning activities.

Advantages of Studying in a CBSE School

National Recognition

The CBSE curriculum is recognized across all Indian states, making it easier for students to pursue higher education anywhere in the country. It is also accepted by many international universities, providing students with global opportunities.

Competitive Preparation

CBSE schools in Bhopal emphasize preparing students for various competitive exams such as the JEE, NEET, and others, which are essential for pursuing higher education in fields like engineering and medicine. The curriculum is designed to enhance analytical skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.

Cultural and Moral Development

Schools not only focus on academic excellence but also on cultural and moral development. This is achieved through various cultural programs, events, and activities that promote cultural understanding and moral values, fostering well-rounded personality development.

Choosing the Right CBSE School

Proximity and Accessibility

When searching for a CBSE school in Bhopal near me, consider the location's convenience and accessibility. Proximity to home can reduce travel time and stress for both students and parents, making daily commutes manageable.

Track Record of Academic Excellence

Review the academic performance of the schools, including board exam results and the achievements of their alumni. A consistent track record of excellence is a strong indicator of a school’s quality.

School Visits and Interactions

Visit potential schools to get a feel of the environment and interact with the faculty and staff. This can provide insights into the school’s ethos, the professionalism of its staff, and the facilities provided.

Conclusion

The best CBSE schools in Bhopal offer more than just education; they offer a pathway to success by nurturing young minds in a holistic manner. These schools equip students with the skills necessary to excel in their future academic and professional endeavors. Parents seeking the best educational experience for their children should consider these institutions for their proven excellence and commitment to fostering all-around development. As you evaluate your options, remember that the best choice will align with your child's specific needs and your educational aspirations for them.

#school with best infrastructure #CBSE school in Bhopal near me

0 notes

kidsvatikaschool · 10 months

Text

Best Kindergarten Near Me

A comprehensive guide to Kids Vatika, a leading pre-kindergarten school in Zirakpur, known for its personalized curriculum and extracurricular activities like swimming and summer camps. Discover the benefits of private education and how to choose the best school for your child’s early development.

Kids Vatika is recognized as a premier playway school located in Baltana, Zirakpur, near Panchkula also recognized best kindergarten near me. It has established a strong reputation in early childhood education, known for its nurturing environment and commitment to providing a solid educational foundation for pre-kindergarten children. With a focus on holistic development, Kids Vatika offers a range of programs designed to foster academic, social, and physical growth in young learners, setting them on a path to success from their earliest years.

Kids Vatika’s pre-kindergarten programs are meticulously designed to cater to the developmental needs of young learners. These programs emphasize a blend of academic learning and play, which is crucial at this formative stage. The curriculum is crafted to encourage curiosity, critical thinking, and a love for learning, with activities that are both engaging and educational.

The importance of proximity when choosing a ‘pre k school near me’ cannot be overstated for busy parents who value convenience as well as quality education. Being close to home means shorter commutes, which is less stressful for both children and parents. It also allows for easier involvement in school activities, fostering a stronger connection between the school community and families. Kids Vatika’s strategic location in Baltana, Zirakpur, near Panchkula, makes it an accessible choice for parents looking for top-notch early childhood education within their vicinity.

Personalized education at Kids Vatika — Best Kindergarten Near Me

To compare the benefits of ‘non public schools near me’ and ‘private schools near me’ over public schooling options and to highlight the advantages of the personalized education at Kids Vatika, we can consider the following points:

Individual Attention: Private schools like Kids Vatika often have smaller class sizes, which means each student can receive more individual attention from teachers. This personalized approach can be particularly beneficial in early education, where tailored learning strategies can have a significant impact on a child’s development.

Curriculum Flexibility: Non-public schools have more flexibility in their curriculum, allowing them to introduce innovative teaching methods and subjects that cater to the interests and strengths of their students. Kids Vatika, for instance, can adapt its programs to include a variety of learning experiences that go beyond the standard curriculum.

Parental Involvement: Private schools typically encourage greater parental involvement in their child’s education. This can lead to a more cohesive educational experience, as parents at Kids Vatika are welcomed to participate in school events and activities, fostering a strong community feel.

Specialized Programs: Kids Vatika may offer specialized programs that are not available in public schools, such as advanced arts, languages, or STEM activities. These programs can provide young learners with a head start in areas of interest and aptitude.

Facilities and Resources: Private schools often have access to better facilities and resources compared to their public counterparts. Kids Vatika, for example, might boast well-equipped classrooms, playgrounds, and technology that enhance the learning environment.

Community and Values: Non-public schools like Kids Vatika can create a strong sense of community and shared values, which can be an important consideration for families when choosing a school. This can create a supportive atmosphere that is conducive to learning.

Outcomes and Reputation: Private schools often have a reputation for high academic standards and success in preparing students for the next stages of their education. Kids Vatika’s reputation in the community can be a testament to its commitment to excellence in early childhood education.

These points collectively highlight the advantages of choosing a private educational institution like Kids Vatika for early childhood education over public schooling options. The personalized attention and tailored learning experiences can make a significant difference in a child’s educational journey.

Pre-nursery curriculum & Pre nursery school in Panchkula

The nursery and pre-nursery curriculum at Kids Vatika is designed to benefit child development in several key areas:

Cognitive Development: The curriculum includes activities that stimulate problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Puzzles, simple math games, and memory tasks help children develop these cognitive abilities.

Social Skills: Group activities and playtime are integral parts of the curriculum, allowing children to learn cooperation, sharing, and communication with peers.

Emotional Growth: Through storytelling, role-playing, and other expressive activities, children learn to understand and manage their emotions.

Physical Development: The inclusion of physical activities, such as age-appropriate sports and movement games, helps improve motor skills and overall health.

Creativity and Expression: Arts and crafts, music, and dance sessions encourage children to explore their creative talents and express themselves.

Language Skills: Interactive reading sessions, rhymes, and fun language games enhance vocabulary and language comprehension.

By emphasizing ‘nursery places near me’ and ‘pre nursery school in Panchkula’, Kids Vatika ensures that the curriculum is not only developmentally beneficial but also locally relevant and accessible to families in the area. This local focus makes it convenient for parents in Panchkula and the surrounding regions to provide their children with quality early education that lays a strong foundation for their future learning journey.

#daycare facility #play-based learning #caring environment.#child development #early childhood education #creative learning #early education #early learning center #educational playtime #educational childcare #panchkula #zirakpur #kids vatika

0 notes

acedolphinswim · 10 months

Text

Experience Joy: Ace Dolphin Swim School's Amazing Yio Chu Kang Lessons!

Swimming lessons teach kids life skills, fun, and confidence. Ace Dolphin Swim School in Yio Chu Kang offers pool skills, fun, and safety. Exclusive offer: enroll today and get 2 free months of expert-led Swimming Lessons Yio Chu Kang worth $240!

Come explore beyond swimming with us in November and December. In our lively swim community, your child will enjoy certified teachers and entertaining swim activities. Free two months of lessons after two months of registration! Start saving today with this offer.

Yio Chu Kang Group Swimming Classes: Plenty of Fun!

Our Yio Chu Kang group swimming classes make every splash fun. These classes combine the organized SwimSafer curriculum with the revolutionary Japanese Tatsuki Curriculum for passionate learners of all ages, giving your child a thorough and exciting learning experience.

What Makes Our Classes Special?

Expert Instructors: Our coaches combine Tatsuki discipline with Swim Safer safety.

Japan's Tatsuki method and Swim Safer's holistic safety techniques make up our complete swimming program.

Fun and Engaging Sessions: Each class is meant to make diving a fun adventure for your child.

Safety First: Swim Safer principles calm parents by emphasizing water safety with every stroke.

Class Details:

Swimmers of all levels can join Yio Chu Kang group classes from age 3. Every swimmer gains confidence in the water with the weekly sessions' creative, fun, and safe design. Come splash with us!

New Sign-Up Offer: Limited Time!

Enjoy this limited-time offer to celebrate, learn, and save. Our Yio Chu Kang group Swimming Lessons Yio Chu Kang offer expert-led teaching, a combined curriculum, engaging sessions, and a safety-first approach. Enroll your child today. Ace Dolphin Swim School offers enjoyable, confident swimming instruction!

Tags:Swimming Lessons For Kids, Swimming Class At Pasir Ris, Swimming Class At Toa Payoh, Swimming Class Singapore, Swimming Classes Singapore, Swimming Class For Adults Singapore, Swimming Classes For Adults Singapore, Swimming Class For Adults In Singapore, Swimming Lessons Near Me, Swimming Class At Bishan, Swimming Classes At Bishan, Bishan Swimming Lessons, Swimming Classes Near Me, Swimming Class Near Me, Swimming Instructor Singapore, Swimming Coach Singapore, Swimming Class At Tampines, Tampines Swimming Complex, Tampines Hub Swimming Pool, Our Tampines Hub Swimming Pool, Tampines Swimming Pool, Tampines Hub Swimming Pool Booking, Private Swimming Lessons Singapore, Private Swimming Lessons, Swimming Private Lesson, Swimming Lessons For Children, Swimming Lessons Yio Chu Kang, Yio Chu Kang Swimming Complex, Best Yio Chu Kang Swimming Lessons, Swimming Class At Yio Chu Kang.

#Swimming Lessons Yio Chu Kang

0 notes

maguro13-2 · 1 year

Text

Justice for All ~ Origins of the Ink Demon Chapter 2 Pt.8 ~

[SFX : Fighting Sounds and Magical shots fired]

[Underworld ~ Chaos - Hideaki Kobayashi]

Kimial Diehl : There's so many of them! They just keep coming!

Ashley : It's best that if we had any stronger weapons to deal with those guys! This is a Sonic Team game on steroids!

Kaguya : So much for these subterranean freaks! That's your plan to get them out of the way!? Who's idea was it to make a Sega game like this way too hard for us?!

Ashley : That's Sega business, ask Yuji Naka! That'll make you useful!

Jacqueline O'Lantern Dupre : There's a point of no return to get out of this situation! It's been heavy stuff since we arrive into this area you call it a "subterranean world". It's more like "Underworld Desert" for me!

Ashley : Let's get moving! The three of you!

Gang : Okay!

[scene changes to the group running on the bridge over lava]

Ashley : Woah! Hot lava! This is going to roast my ass off!

Jacqueline O'Lantern Dupre : Wow! That's really hot over here! Is that lava? Oh man, I don't wanna be dipped in hot lava. I hate to go dipping in hot stuff, I'm gonna get myself barbecued for all that matters!

Kaguya : [suddenly her hair changes back orange] Oh great! There goes my chance of getting water that not only destroys me.

Jacqueline O'Lantern Dupre : Well, it's not gonna roast us to death! Let's hurry and Cross over to the bridge!

Penny Crygor (via Communication) : Not only it takes up for yourselves! If anyone can't take the heat, better stay away from the area that is an oven!

Ashley : At least there's more where that came from! Time for us to be packing the heat! Hocus Pocus! (Knocks out a Goran Detonator with a Water spell) Quickly! We're almost there! The main access is almost near!

Gang : Roger!

Ashley : Alright! Let's give Death a taste of his own medicine! I'm going to find out what the true meaning of "Soul Eater" really is.

"Meanwhile back in Japan..."

Marie Mjolnir : Hello, Asuza!

Azusa Yumi : Hey, Marie! What's up!

Marie Mjolnir : Don't hey, me, Azusa! You left me out for something didn't you! I thought you never gave me a proper set back on the corner of something! So when did you get back after you went off for something that I'm not allowed to?

Azusa Yumi : [stutters, trying to change the subject] Okay, fine! Maybe I did went off without you! I only had a minor detail if you wanted to go out with you! I had some details of not going to look into corporate stuff around the time! More importantly, I wonder to know what are you doing here?

Marie Mjolnir : Well, I was doing something to teach girls in their lessons of skinny-dipping in the waters, probably on doing how to swim in the water without any clothes on.

[DBZ SFX : BOING]

Azusa Yumi : And why is that?

Marie Mjolnir : Because I was doing some swimming lessons in privacy and not to tell everyone that I'm having a private skinny-dipping class. This is no way to express my emotions to come up with that idea of mine! I would definitely blow my socks off if you were able to reach an important phone call.

Azusa Yumi : Yeah, I kinda admit it that I would skinny dip in the waters, if only you should never tell that you have no qualms of having your nudity in front of everyone, am I right?

Marie Mjolnir : ...Right. Basically, on the other hand, There's something that I really, really, need to tell you something. It's about someone that died in Tokyo, and I bet it's really an occasional truth.

Azusa Yumi : Really? Who died in Tokyo?

[cuts to the two naked at aquatics center]

Azusa Yumi : What? Franken Stein was murdered?

Marie Mjolnir : Yeah, I'm afraid so. The man that I have been with for 13 years has been long gone. I was afraid that I was going to get in contact with him, but then we had a short circuit when I discovered that the meister/teacher and former doctor was murdered by a man that goes by the name Sammy Lawrence.

Azusa Yumi : Hold the phone! Did you say "Sammy Lawrence"?

Marie Mjolnir : Mhm.

[Mistery - Seirou Okamoto]

Azusa Yumi : But Marie. No one has ever heard of him before. He's the guy that started a project which caused the closure of that studio in Brooklyn.

Marie Mjolnir : It's true. But also known as the the masked figure in inky darkness. He was once a human being living in the human world as a normal civilian in Brookyln. However after tragedy struck him, he became a black figure made of inky darkness when a machine spewed on him, and went insane. When the studio chosen a cartoon character as their mascot, Sammy started a project that he would use the Ink for himself and also uses to alchemy to create a demon modeled after the mascot.

Azusa Yumi : Wait a sec... Hold that thought.

Marie Mjolnir : Hmm?

[Since that Day - Fumie Kumatani]

Azusa Yumi : Did you say that weapons like us were created by Alchemy? That wouldn't be the Secret ingredient, would be?

Marie Mjolnir : It's true. We Demon weapons or death scythes aren't appeared what we used to be. It turns that the one "Secret ingredient" that created the weapons was Alchemy. The men of Shinra's Influence has all the nerves to keep all that in secrecies! This is the real reason why do we weapons wanted to put our hatred against witchkind.

Azusa Yumi : My god. All this time, we thought that we weapons were created by the witches. And to think that it was Alchemy that brought us to life. What kind of sick, twisted world have we've been living in? All of this, all of that, everything we believed in...everything that Shinra created...was all just a fluke. A lie, a deception! Why did I even brought myself into this? Why, why, why?! Lying wasn't the only thing for us to save humanity, why the lying!?

Marie Mjolnir : [pats on Azusa's back] There, there. All that matters now. Soul World is nothing like the real world we live in. But the Ohkubo verse would might be the end of us. All we're saying that we beings of Soul World wanted to live in the real world, like all humans do. I mean, I never actually met Franken Stein when I was in my late teens or in in my early 20s. I'm just a frail single woman with an eye patch, desperate to think that I'm the weapon of that Marvel Avenger. All that is left is for Japan to make it clear that Soul World is universe made from the Deception of Shinra.

Azusa Yumi : You're right, I truly understand. I understand what it means to be lonely without someone you love.

Marie Mjolnir : I agree. Okay, I better get the aquatics center closing before anyone sees us skinny dipping in the waters. [gets up and walks off]

Azusa Yumi : ...So, everyone knew that...[scene cuts to a pitch-black screen] the world of Soul Eater comes to an end in Darkness.

~ Twenty-Third Scene : World of Deception ~

1 note · View note

arrogantsoap · 2 years

Text

this is a long boy

i was with my mum and brother at the old place we used to live in. we went down to the supermarket near my old place. they went on to do some things and left me alone in the car to park it. but i think i was like thirteen so i got out of the car and started asking for help. some very fishy lady offered to help. she parked the car but i think she stole my wallet or something. i started walking down the street and saw tons of bars and pubs full of teenager and made a mental note to ask my friends to go there with me. my old literature teacher said something in my head and i don't remember what. when it was time to go back home i met up with my brother and mum to find the car. once we did find the place it was supposed to be in we found out that someone had stole it too. they got angry at me.

i woke up. fell back to sleep.

this second part is confusing. i don't know what happened when.

i was thirteen again. we had this field trip with school but the whole school was coming. i was hanging out with my friend h and this guy we used to be friends with when we were thirteen. the whole school was waiting at the bus stop and the three of us were trying to find our bus. we were actually gonna take the city bus not a private rented school bus. we saw that what was supposed to be our bus was arriving so we warned the teacher. since there were too many people he just told us to get in first and wait. we did. nobody else got in, just us. the bus started to drive away. the lady driving the bus charged us but i had no money because my wallet had been stolen in my previous dream. so h had to pay for me. we grabbed our seats and the lady said that people under eighteen weren't allowed on the bus so we had to show our ids. my friends showed her and she said it was fine. i told her i was eighteen and she believed me.

i think i woke up again. fell back to sleep.

still on a bus. different bus though. and now my friend l is with us. she's sitting right beside me and we're right in the front seat. we're watching the city go by. we start going through a visibly poorer region of the city, the road gets really bumpy because it had rained and nobody fixed the damage yet. we go down a hill that was so steep it was basically a wall. my friend tells me that in their last field trip (the one I had missed) they had visited somewhere near where we were and they saw sharks. we keep driving until I see a river running right in the middle of the city. people's backyards were facing the river and loads of people were swimming. once we get closer i notice it was full of sharks. hammer head sharks, tiger sharks and a few tiny ones I don't know the name of. we drive pass a bar that had a pool section (idk the name of that thing) that people could sit in and it was connected to the shark river. it didn't seem dangerous in my mind. i remember my nanny told me her son used to live in one of the houses with shark river backyards. i don't remember us getting anywhere, just sitting in the bus driving around this poorer part of the city forever. then things start switching.

i don't know if in my dream i was watching this movie or if i believed it to be a true event, but it was a movie. i think the bus stopped by this point. i don't remember how but suddenly i was this old guy. and we're poor factory workers living in this area of the city under some sort of dictator ship. at one point me and some other guys that i suppose worked with me started discussing the current government. we all agree it's bad. i think we should get to communism. but one them says that it's bad because it's not strict enough. and some other people start agreeing with him because he's very charming. like crazy charming. but in my mind I know there's something wrong with him. he's blue eyed and blonde. fuck him. he's starting to become some sort of leader of the people. he'd convince anyone. his point is basically that we're living like shit because the government is trying to implement socialism, and his main evidence is the book 1984. his whole point of view is literally "this is just like 1984". and he's winning. i find this woman who was working with us and we form some sort of alliance. we start digging up dirty on the blonde guy and we found a diary full of notes. we read it. and it turns out the guy was studying hitler and fascist leaders to form a personality convincing enough that he got to the top just through people's approval. we show everyone the evidence and we all defeat the guy together. we also take over the government and start implementing communism. it starts to rain. it's like the final scene in a war movie when the good guys won. me and the woman hug. we start kissing under the rain.

i woke up. fell back to sleep.

something about a hotel and my dad. i was going back and forth between his place and my mum's hotel room. they were both angry. i was using the elevator a lot. i meet up with a friend and we get into the elevator. a woman with braids walks in. we start talking to her about her hair and how pretty it looked. i woke up

#dream report #my post

0 notes

chosonore · 3 years

Text

part three | epiphany

epiphany [noun. a moment when you suddenly feel that you understand, or suddenly become conscious of, something that is very important to you ]

pairing: kamo noritoshi/f!reader

summary: your relationship with noritoshi was like a game of cat and mouse; no matter how hard you tried to escape from him, he would always find his way back to you.

wordcount: 9.1k

content/warnings: friends to enemies to lovers, language, angst, smut!!!!, dom!noritoshi, noritoshi is mean, oral sex, fingering, begging, edging, biting? (he gives u a bite like once), dry humping, riding, lowercase intended [UNEDITED]

a/n: i... will not comment on this. lmfao i can’t believe i wrote all of this filth. please have mercy on me, this is the first time i’ve every written smut and i’m not really good at it fhuewhiu (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄) i think this is the angstiest chapter by far but i promise, no more from the next chapter on! i hope you enjoy (´｡• ᵕ •｡`) ♡ will also add the series playlist to the masterpost so check it out if you wanna!

previous - masterlist - next

noritoshi watched as you angrily stormed out of the room, slamming the door forcefully. he leaned back against the wall, staring up at the ceiling. now you've gone and done it. the words came out harsh and hurtful, force of habit deeply engraved into his brain. never was it his intention to hurt you so deeply, to push you away. but it was the only way to protect you from his family. noritoshi was well aware that he was a mere pawn in the stupid game that the clans were playing. he was the golden child, only accepted into the family because of his cursed technique. the cruelty he experienced was something he would never forget. he seeked revenge, for his mother and himself. but this was his own problem to handle, not wanting to drag his mother or you into this mess.

for years, noritoshi had suffered quietly, his only motivation being the protection of his mother and you. rarely did he ever show any emotion, nor did he know many to begin with - but he knew he loved you. his suppressed adoration brought out ugly facettes of his personality: jealousy, frustration, anger. if his family ever caught wind of how much he loved and cherished you, it'd be the end for the both of you. he didn't doubt that they'd already arranged a partner for him to marry. noritoshi hated how they held onto traditions that had no place in this time any more. how they still engaged in these petty clan fights when now it was most crucial to stick together. he swore to himself, as soon as he would become clan head, everything was going to change. but until then, he had to get through this.

how much longer he could deal with this, he wasn't sure. it did bother him that you got so much attention from everyone else; it irked him even more to see that you flirted back sometimes, completely unaware of the effect you had on them. his heart yearned to be yours. as much as he didn't want to be selfish, he couldn't help but indulge. noritoshi still felt your lips on his, your smooth skin, how pliable you were in his arms and how you gave in, into him. was it unfair of him? he supposed so. if he ever got the chance to explain the entire issue to you, he would have to beg for your forgiveness, undoubtedly.

summer rolled around faster than you’d anticipated - it meant that you could finally get some room to breathe and just do nothing for a while. the third years had graduated a week prior, making you feel a little sad and wistful. you’d miss todo a lot now that he left the school but made him promise that he would drop by whenever possible. noritoshi however- you hadn’t spoken a word to him ever since that incident. it was frosty between the two of you, even the teachers had noticed and tried to not let you close to each other. while you hadn’t thought about him in a while, sometimes the thoughts were creeping up on you. some type of closure would have left you feel more at ease but having talked to your mum about the issue, it helped you move on. regardless of how he had made you feel, you would live your life for yourself now.

summer break was long and you didn’t have anything in particular planned - the two main events were your summer vacation with miwa as well as your training camp at tokyo tech. the spring tournament also had its good sides, you guessed, you were able to ask shoko and gojo to teach you over the summer. having witnessed shoko’s healing abilities first hand, you were hellbent to become as good as her. never again would you feel anxious and useless about your skills, you would become an excellent on field healer. you were looking forward to spending time with everyone there as well, especially since yuta was coming home for the summer break. you couldn’t shake the little crush you had on him, it creeped up on you whenever you talked on the phone or texted each other. subconsciously, you hoped that something would bloom out of it but hope was a fickle thing that could quickly turn into misery.

before you left for tokyo, you decided to visit your parents at the kamo estate, hoping that you wouldn’t run into noritoshi on your way there. as far as you knew, he was busy on missions, rarely ever coming home. you greeted the guard at the front entrance, making your way to your family’s little house near the outskirts of the estate. despite the uncomfortable atmosphere that was surrounding the entire estate, you still couldn’t help but fall in love with the gardens and sculptures over and over again. you couldn’t lie, growing up here was wonderful. deciding to make a little detour to the koi pond, you skipped towards the arch bridge. below you, the fish were happily swimming around, glimmering in all kinds of colours. you peered at them, leaning against the railing. as a child, you always liked to dip your feet into the water on hot summer days, promptly earning a disapproving glare from your mum. you always ignored her though, claiming that she couldn’t stop you from getting some kind of refreshment.

as you watched the koi and took in your surroundings, footsteps made you halt in your musings. one of the kamo elders must have gone on a stroll around the gardens; you whirled around to greet the person. your throat grew dry and constricted when you saw noritoshi walking towards you, looking so casual and carefree in his loosely tied yukata. should you greet him? after all, this place was his in some way. but your friendship (could you even call it friendship?) ended on a bad note, did you really owe it to him? neither of you made a sound until he stood next to you, leaning against the railing. you tried your best not to look at him and focused on the pond below you, staring so intensely that you thought you might have lasered some holes in the surface beneath you.

how much longer would you stand here? could you just leave? but then, wouldn’t it be even more awkward? not that you cared anyways. you hadn’t talked to each other in months. as you pushed away from the railing, noritoshi cleared his voice and turned his body towards you.

“y/n.”

you froze in your steps, looking at him like a deer in headlights. behind you, the wind was rustling up the leaves, adding to the tense and awkward atmosphere. you tried not to scream at him in frustration - it would only end up in yet another fight. yet, noritoshi looked strangely vulnerable in this state, seemingly not knowing what to say to you either. it appeared he simply spoke to you without considering how to further the conversation. he looked like he wanted to reach out to you but simply didn’t know how. you couldn’t fall for this - it had happened before.

“how have you been? i heard you’re going to tokyo tech for training,” he started after a moment of hesitation and gave you a wry smile. huh? you were confused. why was he asking you about this now? it was because of megumi and yuta, wasn’t it.

“it’s… it’s none of your business,” you said with a strained voice. even though you felt uncomfortable with his presence around you, you couldn’t take a step away from him. perhaps you were hoping for an explanation from his side. perhaps you were just relieved to see he was okay, after all the missions he’d already been sent on. “i don’t see how i owe you an answer after… everything that happened between us.”

noritoshi stayed silent, balling up his fists. “you’re right. i’m sorry,” he mumbled, hiding his hands in the sleeves of his yukata embarrassed. “i… i want to explain myself. at least as much as i can tell you and if you’re okay with it. can we move it somewhere more private? i don’t want any of the elders seeing us.”

you hesitated. on one hand, noritoshi sounded sincere but your history spoke for itself. and yet, you couldn’t bring yourself to deny him. like a moth to flames, you were always drawn to him. like the center of your universe, everything revolved around him. curiosity got the better of you, nodding before you could stop yourself. noritoshi let out a sigh in relief, stepping towards a more secluded area on the estate, one that you were very familiar with. as children, you used to spend time there a lot, hidden from your parents eyes and without any care in the world. the little corner was surrounded by tall cherry trees, adorned with smaller bushes and a little bench underneath the tree crowns. as noritoshi made his way there, he glanced behind him, making sure that you wouldn’t just leave him and vanish. true to your word, however, you trudged behind him and kept your distance. not once did you look him in the eyes, avoiding his gaze altogether. you were afraid it would make you weak in your resolve, walls crumbling and falling apart like paper mâché.

arriving at the bench, the two of you sat far apart, mirroring the distance between your hearts. you reminisced the old times, the memories making you queasy. whenever you spent time here as children, you would sit close to each other and read books together or just told each other stories. all that’s left was bitterness, heavy and suffocating on your tongue. “what is it that you wanted to tell me?” you questioned him, folding your hands on your lap. you were clenching your hands hard to keep them from trembling, not wanting to show him any weakness.

noritoshi was questioning his own resolve - he shouldn’t tell you anything, should’ve stayed away from you. the yearning was too strong; it was one of the few times he would ever get to see you again before being sent to yet another mission. noritoshi wanted to be selfish, to savour your presence until he was satisfied. maybe you would understand, at least a little bit. he didn’t expect you to forgive him, nor did he think you would let him crawl back into your space. but being close to you was enough.

“i know no amount of apologizing is going to make this better or even take the pain you’ve felt from my treatment but i want you to know that i’m really sorry. you didn’t deserve that whatsoever. i can’t tell you the exact reason why but- but i don’t want to leave you in the unknown any longer,” noritoshi recited his reasons so fast that you almost weren’t able to follow. with each word, your confusion visibly grew. but instead of feeling anger, as you should have, your heart grew heavier with disappointment. his confession was somewhat of closure but not quite. why couldn’t he tell you the reason? was it really so important? important enough to hurt you? you couldn’t understand and you didn’t want to.

“i don’t understand. why can’t you tell me? in case you didn’t realize yourself, this entire thing makes no sense. i don’t understand why you suddenly started hating me. we were close friends, we grew up together. are you telling me you never felt that way? that you weren’t and still aren’t able to trust me with this… reason? and why would you dump this onto me now? i would’ve been content not knowing anything at all,” you vented frustrated, sending him a glare. noritoshi was taken back by your outburst, gnawing at his bottom lip as he looked at you guiltily.

“i… fuck, i don’t know how to explain this without giving away too much, okay? i know it’s stupid but it’s complicated and i don’t want to drag you into this. i trust you, more than i trust anyone but this wasn’t… it wasn’t because i didn’t trust you,” noritoshi took a deep breath. “my entire goal was to protect you by keeping you away from me. and yeah, that was the only way.”

“but why-”

“now that i’ve left school, i’ll most likely be traveling a lot… i won’t be able to see you, let alone keep my eyes on you to make sure you’re okay. i just wanted to be fucking selfish for once, just needed to see you again. you don’t want to see me, i get it. i’ve been nothing but cruel to you and i don't expect you to ever forgive me. but i promise i'll make it up to you."

"noritoshi," you clenched your jaw, brows furrowed as you leaned over, jabbing your finger at his chest. "i don't want to play this game of cat and mouse with you. let's just stay away from each other, okay? nothing good comes out of it anyways. either you want me by your side or you don't, easy as that. you don't get to decide when to get back into my life just because you feel like it."

you just couldn't show him how hurt you were. whatever opening you would reveal, noritoshi would use it against you. he had always been and will always remain your weak point. you made peace with the fact that he was your first love but would probably not be your last. a dam broke inside you as you felt the warmth of his chest, memories flooding your senses. that day was long forgotten, exiled out of your memories until now. there was never a moment that allowed you to reflect on it. you couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it and his confession had confirmed the suspicions. noritoshi wasn't the type to engage with people he strongly disliked, much less be intimate with them. there was more to it that he simply refused to disclose to you. you had to put an end to this endless circle - a clean cut until the two of you were ready to face each other again.

taking a deep breath, you withdrew your hand and clutched it to your chest. "this isn't going to work out the way it is. you keep pulling and pushing, without giving me an explanation and- and i'm tired of it. i'm tired of getting hurt. i used to like you a lot, i had a crush on you-"

"you what?" noritoshi visibly paled, unnoticeably inching closer to you. he never realized.

"-and i kept hoping that one day you would return the feelings. i'm a fool, for thinking we could ever get anywhere," you smiled bitterly, slowly getting up from the bench. "let's go back to being enemies, okay? pretend this never happened. it's obvious we need to grow as people, independently from each other. maybe it's good that we'll go separate ways… if fate wants it, we'll find back to each other. and hopefully by then, you'll have a good explanation."

conflicted, you didn’t take another step, staring down at him. he looked small and meek as he sat there with his usually broad frame hunched over and kept his eyes on the grass below him, fiddling with his fingers. as if sensing your gaze on him, noritoshi tilted his head to look at you. his mind was elsewhere, far far away. he didn't realize he was staring at you with blank eyes until you came closer and leaned down concerned. you were so close to him, he could almost feel your breath fanning across his skin. you liked him. noritoshi fucked up, majorly, and he felt like everything was slipping from his fingers. his carefully constructed walls, the mask he kept on at all times and the unwavering resolve to push through until he'd become the head of the clan, they all came crumbling down when you announced that you would leave for an indefinite amount of time.

"don't leave," the words came out like a whisper, barely audible in the chimes of the wind. your eyes widened ever so slightly at his words, heart clenching at the sight of such a vulerable noritoshi - a reflection of your 'toshi. he reached out to you, hesitantly glasping your hand in a weak grip. as if he was afraid, prepared even, that you would go anyways. "please," he pleaded a second later, intertwining your fingers with his. like the wings of a hummingbird, your heart was fastly beating at this display of intimacy. it made you feel warm and cold at the same time, filling you with dread and the looming fear of consequences.

but what would he do if his last source of hope would leave him? ever since his mum left, he sparsely had contact with her until the contact eventually ceased to be. never did she reach out to him or react to his attempts to rekindle the relationship. throughout his adolescent years he had lonely, the guilt gnawing at his conscience. if only he could be stronger, more resilient. stand up to the elders and stand tall and proud, being nobody else but him. you gave him hope, that he could someday return to you, even if it remained a simple friendship. a beacon of light would always be one as there was always light at the end of the tunnel. panic filled his head as he realized that you would abandon him and this time it would be final.

"i'm sorry, i'm sorry," noritoshi mumbled in a begging tone and slowly drew you closer, until you stood between his legs. his face was basked in the evening light, accentuating all the features you liked about him. his kind, steel blue eyes that harboured depths of emotion and mystery like a restless ocean. his long hair that flowed with the wind, not being wrapped up in the bindings for once. the wisps of hair that framed his slim face. it was an unusual sight, making your heart clench in melancholy. he looked so innocent like this, the gentleness in his facial expressions more visible now. as if feeling your resolve slipping away, he took the opportunity to wrap his arms around your waist and pressed his face in your chest, exhaling shakily and slowly. you let him, gently petting his hair.

underneath his breath, noritoshi murmured something. his voice was muffled in the fabric, making it difficult to understand what he was saying. you made a confused sound, leaning down slightly to better listen to him. not expecting him to move as well, you suddenly found yourself face to face with him and much closer than before. "i love you," he breathed out, pressing his lips against yours in a fluid motion. they felt scalding against yours, as if reminding you to stay away and yet soft, inviting you back in. finally gasping for air, you pulled away, fingers coming up to touch your tingling lips. noritoshi gave you a hopeful look, fingers dancing across the expanse of your back.

slowly, you backed away from him, avoiding his glance. you were in shock, not being able to process his confession. the entire confrontation had quickly escalated and you weren't able to follow. though the words made your heart clench, you couldn't help but feel like they were empty words. empty, simply thrown into the mix to elicit some kind of reaction from you. "i'm sorry, noritoshi. i- i can't return this, nor do i… i don't feel like i can believe you," you told him with a heavy heart. he opened his mouth, about to retort something when you cut him off. "please just let us move on from this, okay? i- i'll leave now." you sprinted away from him, tears stinging in your eyes. how could words that you've always wanted to hear hurt this much? how dare he play with your emotions like this, using your weakness to his advantage. he wasn't serious, and you were sure of it. there was no way in hell, after all those years that he'd spent being a menacing asshole.

love was a fickle thing but what was it between noritoshi and you? treading the line between love and hate, tilting more towards the other but not quite. never far apart and connected to each other like an invisible thread of fate was intertwined between you. it wasn't love and it wasn't hate but everything in between.

you stared at the piece of paper in your hands, mildly offended. how dare gojo? why would he do this to you? yeah right, because he liked to see you suffer. and he wasn't even here to get an earful from you. clenching your teeth, you tossed the note on your table and moved towards your closet to pack. it was no use complaining about it, in the end the mission had to be accomplished either way. years you'd gotten away with rarely ever meeting noritoshi. the sorcerer community wasn't big to begin with but with skill and determination, you were able to dodge every encounter. the handful of times you met, he always kept his distance though you always felt his watching eyes on you. megumi had told you that noritoshi was to become clan head soon - the elders had finally given in and the handover would be taking place soon.

apparently noritoshi had proven himself to them, both in strength and leadership skills. even you had taken notice of this. you'd only caught a brief glimpse at him at the last gathering but could tell that he had matured, exuding an authoritative and strong aura. but you had grown as well, no longer the meek girl you had been. you were more confident in your skills now thanks to your diligent training with shoko and yuta. moments of insecurity rarely entered your mind anymore. the relationship, or rather lack thereof, between you was rather frosty now, merely limited to an awkward greeting or a simple nod. the tension was palpable, no one wanted to come in the line of fire. for the most part, people had left you alone and not dared asking about the issue, not even your own mum. but of course, gojo then had to enter and send you on this stupid mission that apparently had to be done in pairs. you would’ve been fine with anyone but noritoshi.

it was a rather unpleasant curse that you had to deal with, gojo told you that it required two people to keep it in check. though you didn’t understand his reasoning, seeing as noritoshi was a grade one sorcerer now. gojo had simply left you a note on your door after he left for his own business (pure cowardice, in your opinion). the note let you know that you would be staying overnight, gojo had already booked a hotel room for you and gave you instructions for the report that you had to fill out later. you were to meet up with noritoshi at the hotel before then heading out to investigate, work out a strategy before attacking. you sighed, tossing the bag near the door before crawling in your bed. how would you face him again, for an extended period of time, after all those years of silence? it was best to just get it over and done with, efficiently and quickly. depending on how fast you were, you might even be able to catch the last train home. you couldn’t sleep, feeling restless and anxious about the entire situation. still, you closed your eyes, trying to get your mind to rest. but all that floated around in your brain was the sound of rustling leaves, accompanied with soft lips on yours.

coincidentally, noritoshi was already in the city the curse was situated at, deciding to then check into the hotel first before you’d meet up. he would be lying if he said he wasn’t nervous - he didn’t know how to navigate the entire mission with minimal communication. he knew you didn’t want to talk to him, choosing to give him curt and snappy responses instead. cooperating was out of question, you disliked his presence and he could feel it. seeing that gojo had coordinated this (instead of doing the mission himself, like he was supposed to), noritoshi didn't expect anything to go well. weeks prior, gojo had pestered him about the title that was bestowed upon him. "so what's your first deed as the kamo clan head?" he had questioned noritoshi, grinning from ear to ear. noritoshi had shrugged and simply told him that he would go about his day. there were no plans, not yet at least. "so you're not gonna go and woo your lady?" this all knowing idiot. just thinking about it made his blood boil again.

noritoshi’s patience was already wearing thin upon seeing that gojo had booked one room for the two of you. with one bed only. he swore that gojo's secret skill was to give everyone headaches. complaining was useless, the hotel couldn't give him another room as everything was booked out due to it being the summer holidays. they'd deal with it somehow, even if he would have to sleep on the floor. noritoshi was placing his bag and outerwear in the closet when the door clicked, signaling that you'd arrived. for a brief moment, your eyes met but as soon as they did, your eyes had flitted somewhere else. you placed your bag on a nearby chair, rummaging in it until you found your sword and other supplies that you would be taking with you.

noritoshi remained silent, not wanting to upset you. he waited until you were ready to go, soundlessly following you. it was awkward but expected. at first, he was somewhat able to tell what you were looking for and gave you pointers in the right direction. it seemed to irritate you and you started venturing off on your own, simply leaving him behind. it frustrated him, after all you had a job to be done and needed to be as careful as possible. as a result of your uncooperativeness, it took longer than usual to map out a strategy. even longer because you refused to follow his suggestions and rather made up your own, knowing full well that they weren't as efficient.

the aftermath was… rather unpleasant. while there were no casualties, the two of you looked absolutely filthy and were in need of a good shower. noritoshi was angry, he didn't want to blame you but the entire situation got incredibly messy because of your stubborn head. hadn't you attacked him on your own, he would've been able to get rid of the curse swiftly. you'd snapped at him, asking him what his problem was. after all, the mission was finished and over with. involuntarily, noritoshi had to snort. you came back to the hotel late, far past midnight and still, you had the nerve to nag on him the entire way there. he'd let you use the shower first before hopping in himself. without a word you left the hotel room to grab yourself some snacks, stomach growling in protest.

noritoshi was seldom petty; as he put his robe on and entered the room, discovering that you hadn't come back yet, he promptly decided to give you a taste of your own medicine and stubbornly take the bed. what would you do about it now? he was peacefully reading a book in the dim lighting of the room when you came back. you almost dropped the snacks that you grabbed, narrowing your eyes at him. noritoshi ignored you, turning another page in the book unbothered. huffing in annoyance, you stomped over to the other side of the bed. noritoshi continued to ignore you.

"i'm not sharing a bed with you," you stated, crossing your arms in defiance. you didn't have any other solution but you were not going down without a fight.

noritoshi just narrowed his eyes at you and replied equally annoyed: "childish much, huh? just put some pillows between us if it bothers you that much. we're adults, for fuck's sake. and we've shared beds before, so i don't know what your problem is."

at this point you were fuming, you'd rather sleep on the floor than go anywhere near him. you wanted to wipe that stupid look off his face because you knew he was right and he knew it too. you were being childish and you couldn't deny it. there was no real reason to the quarrel, you wanted to be as insufferable as possible.

"it's different now!" you hissed indignantly. noritoshi looks at you incredulously, not getting your point. "you're a man now and- and it makes me uncomfortable!"

truthfully, it was more the fact that you were painfully aware of his presence now. noritoshi hadn't noticed but your feelings came crashing back in, filling the entirety of your being with yearning. each and every time he came too close, you dashed and didn't give him the opportunity to look at your face. the pained expression on your face was obvious, you weren't able to hide it. despite the hostility, you couldn't help but care. no matter how much you denied it, you would always habour feelings for him and were very much attracted to him.

"that's why i told you to put pillows between us??"

okay, that's it. "i can't stand being anywhere near you! you're a prick and i hate you," you snarled at him. to seal the deal, you hurled one of the pillows at him and watched triumphantly as it hit his chest. the angry look in noritoshi's eyes, however, told you that you fucked up. gritting his teeth, he tossed his book aside and lunged to grab you. you squeaked in surprise and wiggled out of his grasp, wrestling out of his arms until you stumbled and awkwardly landed on the bed, beside him. noritoshi keeps a tight grip on you, glaring down at you. now you've really crossed the line.

all confidence left your body when he hissed: "what. is. your. problem." you fucked up, royally. once noritoshi was mad, you were in for a ride. it was best to keep him in good spirits, appease him a little so he would ease up. you scrambled panicky and tried to apologize, pathetically wiggling in his arms.

"i'm sorry, i'm sorry! i didn't mean it, please let me go!"

noritoshi kept a steel grip on you, moving between your legs and pinning your hands to the mattress. his face inched closer, you could feel his breath fanning across your neck. you stayed still, breath hitched as you waited for his next move. noritoshi's voice was raspy, lilting with an emotion that you couldn't decipher. "you're being a brat, y/n. look at yourself, you've hurt me… tsk, how are you going to make it up to me?"

you couldn't tell whether he was joking or genuinely hurt - your intuition told you that he was simply playing with you as payback. no matter how far away you strayed, you always seemed to find yourself back in this position. he was hypnotizing, alluring even. not giving him a reply, you stared at the ceiling, frozen in thought. while you'd been intimate on more than one occasion, noritoshi had never acted this way. so… possessive and strict, the tone in his voice told you that he wasn't up for any more quarreling. you were at a loss for words.

noritoshi, not being happy with not receiving an answer, decided to take matters in his own hands. he nipped at your neck playfully, making you yelp in surprise before pressing kisses against your neck. your skin was tingling, shots of electricity moving up your spine. when there was no objection on your end, noritoshi took it was an okay to continue. hands squeezing yours, he resumes his work, giving you soft and almost unnoticeable kisses. other times, he was pressing harder, sucking your skin gently. you wondered whether he left some marks - delirious on pleasure, your mind focused back on him.desire overtook you, no longer was your rationality at the forefront. in the depths of your heart, an emotion that rarely made an appearance emerged. it was flooding your senses, your conscious and mind, begging you to give in.

by the time noritoshi reached your lips, you were writhing. you expected him to kiss you but then he stopped, making you involuntarily whimper. you wanted more, wanted to savour it. a small smile found its way onto his lips as he brushed your hair back and cupped your chin, making you look at him.

and you swore that he knew, he just had to know what a mess he's already made of you in such a short amount of time as he asked, "what's wrong hm? what do you need, baby?" you fell for it, hook line and sinker. you thought to yourself, fuck it, the opportunity was right there. he may be an insufferable dick and you might fight more than you get along but the opportunity was there and god, did you want to be selfish. for just one night, you wanted to be his. you leaned up to kiss him but noritoshi pulled back, clicking his tongue, repeating again and this time more firmly, "what do you need?"

you couldn't help but stare at him, how his slightly damp hair framed his face, his chest that was exposed by the loosely tied bathrobe and how it revealed parts of his thigh. you wanted to see more of him, touch him. there was a burning feeling inside your chest, it was clawing at your skin, trying to break free. you grew more restless as he stayed still and gave you a stern look until you grasped the hem of his sleeves and whimpered quietly, "please kiss me."

it felt like an eternity until he pressed his lips against yours, everything that was so unmistakably him flooded your senses. his scent wrapped around you until your brain couldn't make out any more coherent thoughts other than him. 'toshi, 'toshi, 'toshi, your 'toshi. he moved so languidly; his lips were warm and soft but bruising at the same time, kissing you with fervour. you began to ease into the kiss, letting go of all your inhibitions. you could worry about it later, you'd decided, this is a future you problem. you wiggled in his hold, hands coming up to push at his bathrobe. noritoshi didn't budge and continued to kiss you, sucking your bottom lip - your hands became more restless, desperate to touch him. he made an unenthused noise, biting your bottom lip as if warning you to not push him. still, he somehow obliged and sat back on his heels, taking his bathrobe off and throwing it haphazardly to the side.

he looked ethereal, somewhere in the distance you thought you can hear angels singing. you reached out to touch him again, earning you yet another warning glance from him. “where do you get the confidence to do whatever you want after that little stunt you pulled earlier?” he questioned you in a low voice. whatever snarky remark you had on your tongue was thrown out of the window when noritoshi leaned down to touch you, slowly pushing your oversized shirt up to reveal your shorts, then your bra.

your breath hitched in your throat, you couldn't tell what he was thinking because even in this state he kept his perfect poker face on. and when he undressed you, you almost felt embarrassed of how eager you were to rid yourself of your clothes. yet you felt exposed - noritoshi didn't make a sound as he just studied you as if you were a luxurious meal presented on a silver plate, the sound of his breathing alone making you squirmish. he didn't give you the satisfaction of a compliment nor did he let you know what he thought, instead leaning down to kiss you again.

before you could deepen the kiss, he’s already moved down to your neck. you mewled in disappointment, wrapping your arms around his neck and burying your hands in his hair. this time, he let you touch him, too absorbed in his mission to paint the skin of your neck in hues of red and purple. noritoshi moved lower when he was finally satisfied with his work of art, you’re a great canvas, he thought to himself. the burning feeling in your chest was flaring up again, you felt uncomfortably hot and the only relief you got was him touching you. he must know, he was doing this on purpose. you were convinced. a surprised gasp left your lips when his tongue swiped across your nipple before wrapping his lips around it. his fingers flicked the other one and- oh god did it feel so electrifying, so delicious, so good. you moaned his name, gently tugging on his hair as he continued his ministrations. “noritoshi,” you whimpered, trying to grind against his thigh. “please- please touch me.” he moved faster than you could react, snapping the waistband of your panties against your skin.

“i am touching you,” noritoshi responded matter-of-factly, cupping your breasts. “is this not enough?” you shook your head, making him chuckle. he took his sweet time, lathering your chest with the utmost attention. at this point you were sure you’d soaked through your panties and onto the sheets and you were desperate. finally, his lips left your nipple, his breath grazing them, making you shiver. he seemed to enjoy it, enjoy the effect he has on you, how you were writhing for him and him only. with swift movements, he removed your panties and your legs were thrown over his shoulders - how are his shoulders so broad - and he pressed kisses to your inner thighs. “look at you,” he cooed, glancing up at you. “you’re so wet for me and i haven’t even touched you here yet. are you craving me?”

“yes,” you mewled truthfully, wiggling your hips slightly. you missed how his face lights up in delight, loving how you’re slowly but surely coming undone for him. he was placing kisses everywhere but where you wanted him, where you needed him. you were at his mercy, he alone decided the pace. the desperate little tugs at his hair left him unbothered, you couldn't even move properly because he was keeping a tight grip on your hips, holding them down onto the mattress. “do you want me?” you nodded quickly. “then beg.”

"i'm not- i'm not gonna fucking b-" you didn't get to finish your sentence as noritoshi gave your inner thigh a bite.

"language," he hissed in irritation. "we can do this all night, baby. i don't have any qualms about keeping you here, making you squirm until you know not to treat me like that." to emphasize his threat, his hands languidly stroked your inner thighs, inching closer to your heat. goosebumps raised across your skin. noritoshi paid no mind to your laboured breathing or how you stared at him in disbelief. you would not beg him more than this, this stupid asshole, who did he think he is to expect you to do as he says? as if sensing that your attention wasn't on him anymore, one of his hands reached up to pinch your nipple.

you felt his fingers grazing your pussy, flicking over your clit but not quite touching it. yet the pleasure, coupled with the sharp pain of his pinching, was enough to make you delirious. you moaned his name, hips rutting up slightly to meet his hand. noritoshi pulled away abruptly and made you whine in frustration. "noritoshi!" you whimpered again, closing your eyes in embarrassment. "please just- just touch m-"

you felt another, harder pinch, tingles shooting straight to your core. "look at me," noritoshi growled and you opened your eyes quickly, not wanting to disappoint him again.

"please touch me, please just… i need you, need your lips or fingers," you struggled to find the right words, huffing in frustration at your weak attempt to persuade him. "please make me cum, please. i'll be good for you, i promise, i promise. wanna be good for you."

a sardonic smile graced noritoshi's lips, your begging music to his ears. he almost wished you could see yourself like this - the yearning evident in your eyes, your glossy eyes. what would you say? how quickly your resolve had crumbled, even though you'd vowed to yourself to keep him at an arm's length away from you. what was more heavenly to his ears are your moans and he intended to draw every last bit out of you tonight.

when his tongue finally made contact with your cunt, a loud moan leaves your lips, you almost sob in relief. your thighs trembled slightly, threatening to close but noritoshi was quick to pry them open and delved deeper into your heat. he alternated between lapping at your folds, then dragging his tongue across your clit before giving it a suck. your hips rocked against his face, meeting his movements as if it was already second nature to them. you thought you were seeing stars when you inched closer to your climax. tugging at his hair you whimpered out his name, letting him know that you're close, so close. that's when he pulled away, smirking at you as your high slowly ebbed away. you made a noise in protest, brows pinching in frustration but noritoshi just cooed at you condescendingly.

"you seem to forget who's in control here," he tsked at you, dragging his thumb across your clit. your hips jerked. "but, baby, you look so pitiful, i might just feel sorry for you."

hope sparked in your eyes when he pressed a brief kiss to your lips before slipping his fingers past your folds, his thumb drawing circles on your clit. "ride my fingers," he commanded and you reacted immediately, eagerly rutting against his fingers. you missed the dark glint in his eyes, the look that tells you you were not easily let off the hook whatsoever. pleasure was clouding your judgement, heightening your sensitivity to his touch. a loud moan fell from your lips when noritoshi curled his fingers, hitting a spot that otherwise was difficult for you to reach. your hand came up to cover your mouth, too embarrassed about other guests possibly hearing you.

noritoshi withdrew his fingers, thumb pressing against your clit. you gasped desperately, pawing at his chest to plead him to continue. "i want to hear you. don't you dare hide your moans," he told you, only sliding his fingers back into you when you complied. noritoshi was still kneeling, watching as you moved your hips against his fingers with fascination. while you'd kept a steady rhythm at the beginning, it was getting more and more sporadic. you were close again, noritoshi could tell. and yet it wasn't enough, he had to get you closer to the edge to then break you after.

"o- oh fuck," you cursed, gripping the sheets tightly as noritoshi moved his fingers, repeatedly hitting the spot that made your toes curl. you were to close, you could cum, soon-

"noritoshi!" a frustrated sob resounded from you as he pulled away, looking down at you with a satisfied smirk. your hands came up to wipe the tears that were welling in your eyes. you bit your bottom lip to keep yourself from crying as you watched him pop his fingers in his mouth, licking your essence from them. the sight alone made you feel hot and bothered. in the dim light of the room, noritoshi looked downright sinful. the way his broad frame was casting a shadow over your form, his glistening eyes, the sheen of sweat on his body and how his hair was hanging in his face.

"please let me cum, please! i- i want you so bad, want you in me… noritoshi, please give me it," you begged quietly, crawling towards him. noritoshi felt his heart soften at your cute face - you were so easy to read, he enjoyed teasing you. small hands reached out for the bulge in his boxers, experimentally pressing and nudging at it. noritoshi hissed uncomfortably; he was painfully hard and ready to cum as well but he couldn't, not yet. wanted to play with you more, mapping out the entirety of your body until he memorized how you reacted to his touch.

swiftly flipping positions, he pulled you on top of him, placing you directly above his crotch. you sank down immediately, sighing shakily as you pressed your cunt against the bulge. the boxers had to come off, they were the last barrier. you had to feel his skin on yours, wanted to be closer. noritoshi's hands shot out to stop you, giving you a warning look. you understood, withdrawing your arms to rest on your sides. pressing his bulge against you, he guided your hips to move against it, folds dragging across the fabric of his boxers. the friction was delicious, especially when he rutted against you, pressing against your clit. it took you a few tries until you figured out a comfortable rhythm, placing your hands against his chest as you moved on your own.

noritoshi kept his eyes on you. brushing your hair out of your face so he could get a better look at you, he then rested them near your thighs. "are you close?" he inquired when your movements became quicker and you nodded in reply, giving him a pleading look. he raised his eyebrows at you, shaking his head ever so slightly. "you don't get to cum without my permission."

he could see the conflict and hesitation, dancing in your eyes, how you were contemplating to go against his commands. noritoshi's heart filled with pride when you slowed down, thighs trembling from the restraint you kept on yourself. "good girl," he rewarded you, leaning up to kiss you. you whimpered against his lips, wrapping your arms around his neck to pull him closer. you were a sight to behold, noritoshi mused. slick spread across the fabric of his boxers and your thighs, kiss-bruised lips and the love bites that were blooming across your chest. he was proud to be able to have this effect on you.

it didn't take long until you were close again, this time begging and pleading him to let you continue. noritoshi supposed he toyed around enough, ready to give you what you were so desperately craving. lifting you up slightly, he pushed his boxers down and reached to the side, fumbling with the drawers of the night table before being able to pull out a condom. you watched in curiosity, as he put it on then lined his member up against your pussy. he dragged the head of his cock against your clit a couple of times, making you jump in surprise before letting you sink down. a long, relieved moan left your lips as you felt him fill you up to the brim. you'd never felt this full and good. jerking your hips against his slightly, your legs trembled as he perfectly hit that spot inside you effortlessly. his name fell from your lips like a mantra, letting everyone know that he was the one pleasuring you.

noritoshi let you adjust to him before wrapping his arms around you to keep you in place, driving his hips up against yours in an almost punishing tempo. your lips parted in a silent scream, no sounds leaving them other than heavy breaths. "f- fuck, noritoshi! i'm so close, please let me have it, please-" you begged sobbing. you didn't think you could survive another edging, it would utterly crush you. knowing that you were at his mercy, you complied with his orders. never had you felt this much pleasure, with anyone. noritoshi accomplished what others could never - setting your nerves ablaze with a simple touch.

"cum for me." your orgasm washed over you like a tsunami, leaving you writhing in his arms until you rode it out. noritoshi continued to move against you in a languid tempo, lovingly pressing kisses across your face. you slumped against his body exhausted, aftershocks still wracking through your body. he stroke your back gently, giving you a short kiss. "can you take another one?" he asked, making you look at him. though your mind was hazy, you could tell that he was caring, wanting to make you feel as comfortable as possible despite his mean side. you nodded, your words slurred as you told him: "mhmm, still want you, all of you."

noritoshi was laying you on the mattress, freezing mid-way as he hovered above you. could it be? there was no way. he brushed the thought off quickly, leaning down to kiss you. you sloppily returned the kiss, blindly moving your hands around until you found his, intertwining them happily. swiftly, he entered you again - now taking his sweet time. the pace was slow but filled with force, making you see stars. you wrapped your legs around his waist, heels digging into his skin. you blinked in confusion as noritoshi whispered sweet nothings into your ear. tears welled up in your eyes as you looked at him - you wanted him, so so much that it hurt you. you imagined you weren't in this situation, that this was simply intimacy between lovers. that you were his and he was yours, with no care in the world.

driving his hips against yours faster now, you could tell that he was close. lifting your hips to meet his movement, you whimpered against his lips. you wanted to pleasure him as much as he did you. the sight of his screwed shut eyes, panting heavily as he came, it nearly knocked the wind out of your lungs. noritoshi buried his face in the crook of your neck, whimpering quietly as he thrusted a few more times before coming to a halt. for a few minutes, you remain in this position, basking in the afterglow. he removes himself from you, telling you to stay put as he left to get some wet towels from the bathroom. as you laid there, your cunt wasn't the only thing that felt empty.

your eyes were glossing over and you were once again reminded of the fact that you couldn't have him. that he’s not your ‘toshi. you sat up slowly, spotting the mirror across the room. you stared at your reflection in your mirror, horrified at all the marks noritoshi had left behind and suddenly it dawned on you that you don’t understand why. you didn't care about each other - why would he mark you like this? your heartbeat sped up at the thought of him possibly, maybe, returning your feelings. that he wasn't just toying with your feelings to get back at you.

noritoshi returned, giving you a small smile as he signaled you to lift your arms a little so he could wipe you down. the gentleness in his actions made you sniffle emotionally; he paid attention to every single detail, making sure not to miss a spot. once done, he placed the towel on the nearby chair then returning to wrap you in the blankets and cradling you against his chest like a baby. the sound of his breath nearly lulled you into sleep. you leaned against his chest, sinking into the blankets. "are you okay? was i too rough?" noritoshi asked after a moment of silence. you didn't reply. why was he acting like this? as if you were a couple, as if he really cared.

"y/n? you don't have to reply, but at least give me a hand sign, so i know you're okay," he repeated again, looking at you with furrowed eyebrows. you turned your head away from him, trying to hide your tears. it wasn't long before you started crying uncontrollably, hiding your face in your hands. noritoshi started panicking, fussing over you and tried to pry your hands away so you would look at him. repeatedly shaking your head, you pushed him away from you.

"w- why couldn't you always be this gentle to me?" the words finally left your mouth, accusatory. "i- i didn't deserve any of this treatment and i still struggle to understand why it happened. i should hate you, hate you so much and yet i don't? why can't you love me the way i love you?"

speechless, noritoshi pulled away from you, arms sinking to his sides. it made you sob even harder, thinking that he was going to leave you again, like he always did. he never stayed, only came to wreck havoc, leaving you to pick up the pieces. "y/n, i'm sorry, i-" he drew you in, pressing you against his chest. you were confused at your own outbreak of emotions, not sure how to calm down. "i'm not sure what you thought, but i meant it when i told you that i love you, all those years back," noritoshi mumbled, pressing a kiss to the crown of your head.

you shook your head vehemently. "i don't believe that, not for one second. you've hurt me for so long and suddenly you had a change of heart?"

"i know it's hard to believe, but i promise i'm not lying. i do love you. with all my heart," noritoshi lifted your chin slightly, wiping the tears from your eyes. gently, he kissed you. "back then, i wasn't able to tell you but… things have changed now and i'll tell you, okay? but not now, tomorrow-"

"no! you'll just leave again and act like nothing happened and i-" you panicked, clinging onto him as dread washed over you again. he was going to leave again, the mission was over after all and you'd go separate ways again.

"i'm staying." noritoshi said firmly, holding your hands so you couldn't flail around anymore. "i'm not leaving you, okay? go to sleep, i know you're exhausted… when you wake up, i'll be there. we'll discuss things in the morning."

"promise?"

"i promise."

you didn't know why but this time, you trusted him. at least a little bit more than before. nodding slightly, you pressed your small frame against his. noritoshi's calming scent wrapped around you, lulling you into sleep. he watched as you fell asleep in his arms, pressing a kiss to your forehead before he settled as well, closing his eyes.

"i love you, y/n."

p.s.: i hurt myself writing this too haha but i swear this was it with the angst

#jujutsu kaisen #noritoshi kamo #kamo noritoshi #noritoshi #noritoshi x reader #noritoshi kamo x reader #kamo noritoshi x reader #noritoshi kamo x you #noritoshi x you #kamo noritoshi x you #noritoshi kamo imagines #kamo noritoshi imagines #noritoshi imagines #jujutsu kaisen imagines #fic: sanguine #writing

266 notes · View notes

hummingbird-of-light · 2 years

Text

Against All Odds

Part 79

McCoy

McCoy woke up with a plan. He grinned to himself as he got dressed and left the room quietly so Spock could finish his meditating. He was early for breakfast so he made his way to the main hall between the dining halls.

Christine was standing with a group chatting, but came over when she saw him.

“Well?” she asked for his ears only.

He nodded. She smiled back. He was glad they had become friends and could understand each other.

“Come on,” she said and held his arm. She brought him over to the group she had been standing with.

Classes drug on, but McCoy was engaged. He missed Dr. Boyce’s easy way of teaching, but he was getting used to each instructor’s style. He hated to admit that it was a nice change.

After his last class, he took his things to his room. Then he began a slow walk to the pool. McCoy couldn’t help the smile spreading on his face again. It wouldn’t exactly be a lie. He did want to be in the water again. He missed afternoons racing against Leah.

McCoy was disappointed when Archer said the pool wasn’t open, but he did get a surprise when the teacher asked him to stay and help. Scotty was fighting a smile where he was sitting on the pool deck behind Archer.

He hurried to the change room. He pressed his mouth together tightly to avoid a joyful laugh. They could be together right in front of Archer! He’d never know and he was the one who suggested it.

“If you’d like to take a lap or two first your highness,” Archer said when McCoy returned, “please do.”

“Please sir, call me Leonard.” McCoy said it with just a touch of despair. Just a touch. He’d said it to the man so many times already.

Archer nodded. It was something. McCoy dove in and swam a lap and back. He pulled himself up on his arms at the edge near Scotty and Archer.

“Would you please show Mr. Scott an easy back float… Leonard?” Archer asked.

McCoy felt his mouth trembling trying not to smile. He could see the struggle on the teacher’s face as he used McCoy’s name. He pushed gently off the wall and laid back in the water. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.

“Any way you can keep yourself up is good,” Archer was saying to Scotty. “Dog paddling, floating, whatever. Just not panicking. Getting more comfortable in the water will help.”

Archer asked McCoy to swim a forward stroke. He made Scotty practice the arm movements where he was sitting. McCoy couldn’t help a smile. Archer was a good teacher, even if he had some wrong ideas about McCoy. He could see the care he was putting into this private lesson.

“It may seem tricky at first,” Archer continued, “but it becomes second nature.” He paused again before he got McCoy’s name out. “Leonard, will you show us how to turn and breath as you go? A slow demonstration, please?”

McCoy swam halfway and back.

“Now, Mr. Scott, do you think you would like to get in and try?”

McCoy watched Scotty nod nervously.

“I’ll stay right by you, if you like,” he offered. “Until you’re comfortable.” He smiled pleasantly at Scotty.

“And I will come in too,” Archer said. “If at any time you don’t feel safe, let us know.”

Scotty nodded again and came to the edge of the pool. Slowly he lowered himself in, holding tight to the edge.

“Let’s do a float first,” Archer said. “It may feel strange to have your ears under, but we will be right here.” He nodded to McCoy, and McCoy nodded back.

Slowly Scotty let go of the edge and McCoy had his hands close to Scotty’s back, to help him into his float. He could see the flash of fear in Scotty’s eyes, so he reached over and squeezed Scotty’s hand reassuringly.

“You’re doing great,” he encouraged him.

Part 80

Scotty

His whole body was shivering when he got into the pool. Scotty loved water. He really did. He loved the rain. He loved to watch the sea or the lake.

But to feel himself covered in the wet element was always a strange sensation. The pool wasn't too chilly, the water was fine. So that wasn't the reason he was trembling. It... was the fact that he was scared. He couldn't stand in the pool.

But... he trusted Leonard. And, though he hated to admit it, Archer too. They were close by.

Archer was watching from the edge while Leonard helped the Scotsman into a float.

The water touched his head and he unwillingly flinched at the odd feeling. Fear made his chest tighten. But he wasn't alone.

Leonard quickly grabbed his hand and squeezed it.

"You're doing great."

Scotty moved his eyes to look at the prince's face. He didn't dare to move his head completely.

"Just relax."

Leonard's voice was so soothing. Carefully Scotty followed his advice and one by one his muscles relaxed.

He... was floating. He was lying in the water!

He lowered his head a bit more and the sensation Archer had mentioned earlier set in. His ears were underwater. At first it scared him a lot. He couldn't hear anything but the water. It filled his ears.

But eventually when he felt Leonard's hand on his back, he knew he was safe. He closed his eyes for a moment... and suddenly his body moved.

Scotty's heart stopped for a moment but when he opened his eyes again he saw that everything was fine.

Leonard was swimming and pulling him along.

There was a soft smile on his face.

"It's okay. I'm here."

He could hear it. Leonard's voice was fade but he could make out the words.

Scotty nodded and let the prince guide him.

He didn't know how long they had been floating in the water, but out of nowhere Scott heard another voice.

"That's enough for today!"

He felt Leonard moving a little bit faster and soon enough they were back at the edge.

Slowly, Leonard helped Scotty back into an upright position in the water.

The Scotsman looked up to to see Archer standing outside the pool.

Right... he had been here with them. Scotty had forgotten about that.

All he had thought of was Leonard carrying him through the water. Them floating. To be honest, it... had kinda felt like flying.

"Come on, Mr. Scott."

He looked at the outstretched hand of Archer and took it gratefully. With his and Leonard's help, Scotty managed to get out of the pool.

His body felt kinda strange after the time in the water. Archer helped him over to a bench where he sat down.

"Are you alright, Mr. Scott?"

He nodded slowly.

"A-aye, I am. Thanks."

Scotty's eyes moved over to Leonard who got out of the water all by himself.

"Thanks Leonard."

For a moment Scotty was scared about how Archer would react to him calling Leonard by his name, but by now the head of the house seemed to understand that it was the prince's wish.

"It was my pleasure, Scotty," Leonard replied with a smile.

"I think we'll resume the training next Wednesday," Archer suggested and Scotty nodded.

"Aye, I... would like that very much."

Leonard looked from Scotty to Archer.

"Would... you mind if I'd be there too, sir? If you allow it, I'd like to help more."

Scotty was surprised to see Archer nodding. He... was okay with that?

"Of course. I believe that you are a great role model... Mr. McCoy."

Now that was new. But Scotty supposed that it didn't feel right to Archer after all to call Leonard by his first name. So he chose to use his last name like he did with every other student.

It made Leonard smile even brighter.

"Thank you, sir."

They fell silent for a while before Archer cleared his throat.

"Well then... you should change and get ready for dinner."

The two boys nodded and quickly made their way to the change room.

There was nobody there. Nobody... but them.

#star trek #montgomery scott #leonard mccoy #scones #au #against all odds #archer #swimming lessons

4 notes · View notes

sweetchup · 4 years

Text

Little Fish; Big Fish

Type: Rin Obami x reader

Au?: None

Word Count: About 10,000 words

Warnings: Don’t think I need to say this but just in case, Yumeko and Kirari (Enough said). (This is also Kakegurui so everyone is a little bit insane)

Author note: Why is it always the smiley and soft looking boys that are actually bad guys that I simp for? Someone help.

“Are you nervous?”

Kirari's powerful voice resounds throughout the empty student council room and catches you off guard. At her sudden question, or rather statement, you can’t help but notice that your hands, that were holding your cards, were in fact shaking.

Ever so slightly, you begin to loosen the grip you had on the cards, hoping (practically praying at this point) to stop the shaking. Though, it was a futile attempt in the end as you still had ever so slight small twitches throughout your whole body that gave you away.

How did you get in this mess?

That’s the question you have been asking yourself ever since you got Kirari’s gamble invitation. One, you still haven’t understood why she would give you in the first place. After all, you weren’t rich. Not even in the slightest way. Both of your parents had normal office jobs and the only reason you had even got accepted into this school was due to your grandfather having worked here as a teacher in the past.

There was also the fact you didn’t gamble. Though, it wasn’t just because you couldn’t, it was also because you weren’t interested. The chips used in betting were often millions of yen anyways and you didn’t feel the joy of ending up in debt for the rest of your life. At the very least however, you understood why so many flocked to the thrill of gambling. The many times you ran into Yumeko Jabami and were roped into watching her nonsense with her gang of friends proved that.

But still…., even with being friends with Yumeko Jabami, you were still utterly nothing. Just someone that adorned the school halls. A wallflower that had somehow, through some unknown luck, has avoided becoming a housepet. So, just why were you here. It made no—

The sudden noise of Kirari placing her cards down on the table snaps you out of your thoughts. For the first time since you arrived, you finally gain the courage to glance at her face.

With her electric blue eyes that almost seemed to glow and a small, ever so slightly, smile that graced her also blue lips, you can’t help but gulp. You knew what was about to happen wasn’t good.

“(Y/n) (l/n). That’s who you are, right?” Kirari inquires, leaning back in her chair slightly as she turns her attention to the massive fish tank in the room. “You are the eldest daughter and only child of your (l/n) family name. With most of your family being mere pawns of larger companies. Honestly, your income is hardly a cent compared to other students at our school.”

You bite the edge of your lip slightly. It was the truth but you wished she didn’t have to spell it out so bluntly.

“Yet,...” Kirari turns her gaze back to you, “You still have lasted longer, even better, than others at this school. I wonder how...”

As she finishes her sentence, Kirari reaches over to examine a small box of traditional Japanese sweets. A box she had won off of you in the last round. Even though she had frazed her last sentence as a question, you could tell she already knew her own answer.

“I will admit, the strategy you have come up with to survive is actually incredibly smart. If you are ever forced to gamble, you bet these sweets you bought from some commoner’s shop. Since most students here don't know the price of average items, They over bet what the equivalent price is. Letting you have quite the side profit when you do happen to win.”

“Ah yes… it’s really all I can afford…” You say, letting out a small chuckle at the end in hopes of lightening the room. Which thankfully, on your end, does as Kirari laughs along as well.

“You know... I have something that could possibly help with that ‘wealth problem’ of yours.“

Caught off guard by her sudden statement, you looked at her bewildered.

“What do you mean by that?” You say in an unsure light filled tone, hoping she was just joking.

“Well, I heard from—“

However, before Kirari could finish what she was proposing, the student council doors open with a loud bang. Startling you so much you almost drop your cards. However, Kirari does not even flinch in the slightest. Almost as if she expected that to happen.

“Hello (y/n)!!” Yumi shouts out to you as she pushes Terano into the room along with Ibara following in tow. Once the pinked hair male notices you, he quickly walks, more like runs, over to your side.

“You didn’t lose anything right?” Ibara asks as he peers down at the table of cards. He must have noticed you were gone from morning classes today and had searched to come find you.

“A-ah nothing big. Just two boxes of candy.” You tell your classmate and friend as he checks your bag. Though, your answer doesn’t seem to reassure him in any way.

“I think that’s enough betting for today. Let’s go, break is about to end anyways.” Ibara states as he practically tries to drag you out of your seat.

“O-ok. Well, I better get going then. Thanks for the small game Kirari.” You say, giving the president a small bow as you stand and proceed to grab your bag.

“(Y/n),” You pause at what you are doing when you suddenly feel a hand scooping your cheek, looking up you see Kirari leaning over at the table. “If you want to hear the rest of my proposal, come stop by.”

Almost in a trance, perhaps it was her angelic looks that caused it, you can’t help but nod.

“Good. I will await for your arrival—“

“Kirari,” Kirari is once again cut off as Terano speaks. The two stare at each other, almost as if they are exchanging in some sort of conversation. You can’t tell what was being said but you noticed the atmosphere of the room had grown rather tense.

“Let’s leave…,” Ibara whispers in your ear as he gives your arm a light tug.

“Ok…” You give Terano a small bow and smile in thanks before you leave the room with Ibara. As the door finally closes with a loud thud, Terano lets out a heavy sigh.

“Can’t you for once in your life not treat something as some sort of gamble?”

Kirari can’t help but raise an eyebrow at Terano’s bold statement. It seemed she was right about the fact the other family members have grown attached to (y/n) as well.

“Well, it would be rather boring to watch on the sidelines.” Kirari says as she looks over to her fish tank. Just as she does so, two fishes appear, one big and one small. Even though there was a major difference in size, they weren’t hostile to each other and were actually being careful to not swim too far away from the other. “Rin Obami is painfully obviously in love with (y/n) (l/n) and I have a small hunch she does as well. Yet, neither has confessed and the slow game they are playing is starting to get rather boring. So, I just felt the need to spice things up a little.”

Suddenly, in the tank, another big fish appears and it is heading straight towards the smaller fish. It clearly plans to devour it.

“Still that isn’t your place to interfere.” Terano states pulling Kirari's attention away from the tank. Kirari watches as the girl before her suddenly scoffs, “What am I even saying… you don’t listen to logic anyways. I’m leaving, let’s go Yumi.”

“Okay Terano!”

As the two exit the room, Kirari stares at the closed door for a couple of seconds before turning her attention back to the tank. As she looks, she can’t find the three fish anymore and wonders what happened to them when she looked away. Was the small fish swallowed? Or did it perhaps run far away, leaving the bigger fish side?

Kirari can’t help but bite the edge of her nail in excitement as a sudden new thought comes across her mind.

Maybe…., both ended up being devoured. With the bigger fish attempting to save his smaller friend but failing and both perishing.

Kirari licks her lips as she walks over and presses herself up against the glass. Even in the off chance both of the fish did survive, it was only inevitable that another predator would soon pop up to try to devour the smaller fish again.

“Don’t get devoured so soon (y/n)... I wanna see you and Rin swim around more. Just struggling to stay alive.”

—.—.—.—.—.—.—

“Come on (y/n)! Can’t you tell me what Kirari proposed to you?” Ibara groans as he opens the door to your classroom. Most of the students of the Botan Class were already back from break and had already taken their seats.

“As I said before, I didn’t hear the full thing. Just that she wanted to help with my ‘wealth’ problem.”

After hearing Ibara let out another groan, you decide to just leave his side and walk back to your seat instead. You knew Ibara would still continue to press into you until you told Sumika, or Kawaru, to prove to him you were in fact telling the truth.

“(Y-y/n),” At the call of your name, you tilt your head up to see three of your female classmates standing near your desk. “Did you really get challenged by the President?”

“Hmm? Oh…” You take a glance to look at Ibara, who was two rows away, watching your conversation as well. Knowing that, you felt completely safe to tell the girls the truth, “I did actually. See?”

You pull out the invitation you got this morning to show the girls. As they excitedly go on to ask you questions, you can’t help but feel thankful that Ibara, and actually the rest of the “-Bami” branch families, transferred to Hyakkaou Private Academy.

Before they came, you weren’t treated as bad as a housepet but you were still looked down upon by many of your classmates. The only thing that stopped you from being bullied was your friendly gambles that kept your classmates excited for the next treat you could possibly bring in.

It was actually one of those friendly gambles that caused you to meet Rin and Ibara Obami, who had just transferred into your class, in the first place. Rin had actually thought that, based on your game, you were also from a swindler family. You didn’t quite get what he meant at the time (you actually felt slightly offended at the comment and yelled at him for it). But you soon understood what he was getting at when only a day later, a group of guys offered you way too much money and gifts for a haul of those treats.

Later that day, you begrudgingly apologized to Rin and, eventually over time, became friends with him and the rest of the “-Bami”s.

“Now, now ladies. I’m sure (y/n) can answer all of your questions later.” Speaking of the devil himself, you watch Rin take his seat right next to yours.

“O-ok Rin-sama.” You hold back a scoff as the girls run off, whispering and giggling amongst themselves. Even you, who doesn’t know how to swindle, noticed that Rin has only been buttering them up to use them as pawns later.

“So, (y/n),” Rin starts as he leans a little back in his chair and glances at you, “What happened with you and Kirari?”

“Ah. I’m actually not quite sure. I suddenly got this gamble invitation from her this morning and I know I definitely didn’t do anything recently to grab her attention.” You pick up the invitation to hand it off to Rin, slightly tensing as your fingers accidentally brush his.

Not now (y/n). You told yourself you wouldn’t.

One important thing that you have been trying to deal with recently, other than the chaos of this election of course, is your growing crush on Rin Obami. You tried to stomp it out when it first bloomed up, after all you were falling in love with one of the heirs of the famous Hundred Devouring Families, but that ended up failing... horribly.

After you tried to avoid Rin, and even Ibara eventually, the boys switched to being only hanging out with you in class to basically being by your side every single chance they got. Especially Rin, who even forced you to accompany him when he went to chat or discuss business with the other branch family members at the school.

Which is actually how you eventually became close to Terano and the others.

“How did the match go however?” Rin asks, handing the card back to you with a serious look.

“I didn’t get that far into the match before Terano and Ibara came in. We only got to two rounds, which I lost both to Kirari. However, she thankfully let me bet my sweets so I lost no money.”

“Well that’s good…” Rin says, his eyes quickly flickering to somewhere else in the room before going back to you, “Anything else happen?”

You let out a light laugh before looking up to the male with challenging eyes, “I don’t think I need to say something you already got from Ibara, Obami.”

Rin lets out a sigh and pouts a little, “Why do you always see right through me, (y/n)? And, calling me by my last name, Really?”

“Well, you and Ibara need to stop pressing into me about information that doesn’t exist. I already told everything that happened.”

After you finish speaking, Rin and you stare at each other for a couple of minutes. His blackish-purple eyes scanning for any detections of a lie almost makes you flustered. Though, thankfully before heat starts to travel up your neck, your teacher enters the room and shouts about class starting.

“Yes, Sensei!” The class resounds in unison.

As you lean down to grab out your notes for class, you feel Rin suddenly grab your hand. With Rin leaning over as well to grab his own notes, both of your heads were hidden under the desk. Helplessly, due to a firm grip on your hand, you can’t attempt to move away.

“(Y/n). If Kirari, or actually any the student council, approaches you about that offer again. Promise me that you will instantly come grab me or any of the others.”

Under Rin’s intense look, you can’t help but gulp. Why was he so nervous about you?

“I-I will try…“ You say quickly, averting your eyes from Rin as you use your other hand to pull out your notes. Even as you come back up to a sitting position, Rin still doesn’t let go of your hand.

“(Y/n). I want you to promise me you will definitely come grab us. I don’t want—“

“Obami. (L/n).” The teacher calls out, making you two snap your head to him. As well as making you realize everyone else in the class had been watching what was going on between you two. “I don’t think I have to say this but keep your relationship and hand holding out of my class.”

Hearing snickers and giggles from your fellow classmates, you quickly retract your hand from Rin’s and mumble out an apology.

“Ok. Then, with that squared away, let’s get started with class. We will begin where we left off last time with the sudden…”

As the teacher drones on and on about some history lesson from yesterday, you can’t help but sneak a glance at Rin. To everyone else in the class, he likely looked calmed and focused but you knew he wasn’t. Hell, from where you were next to him, you could practically feel the stress radiating off of him.

You knew the Hundred Devouring Families wasn't a nice family to be in but was Kirari really that dangerous? You knew she was really dangerous to someone average like you but to someone like Rin? Even if he was a branch family, he had a lot of power and money. Likely at least close, if not on par with Kirari.

Still, no matter what you thought, Rin was still stressed out that you were on Kirari’s radar.

Glancing away from Rin, you see the teacher was currently occupied with writing something on the board and the rest of the students weren’t paying any attention to you two whatsoever. However, even with them being distracted, if you tried to talk to Rin and got even the slightest bit too loud you could gain someone’s attention. So, how would you get his attention without interrupting class…

Thinking for a couple of minutes, an idea suddenly comes to your mind.

Shakily, you slip a hand down to your side and move it around a little. You can’t help but feel your stomach flutter when your hand accidently nudges against Rin’s. Which only grows worse as you can almost physically feel Rin’s attention shift from the board towards you.

Letting out a shaky breath, which you hoped Rin didn’t notice, you lightly enrap your hand around his.

“I’ll try to come grab one of you guys. I-It’s just I’m not exactly in a position to refuse someone as powerful as Kirari ....” You whisper out, your eyes still trained on the board as you can’t bring up the courage to look over at him.

You sit there tensely for what felt like forever, waiting for some sort of response. Perhaps your voice was too soft and he didn’t hear you?

However, just as you go to repeat yourself, you nearly end up choking on your own spit. The sudden feeling of Rin entwining his fingers with yours and placing your enwrapped hands in his jacket pocket so no one would notice, sent your heart into a frenzy and you were having a very hard time not melting on the spot right then and there.

Just as you think it couldn’t get any possibly worse for you it does. Your heart nearly explodes out of your chest as Rin casually leans closer to you so he can whisper in your ear. You could even, from how close he was, smell a hint of the expensive cologne he put on every day.

“Okay. I’ll stick by your side from now on then.” Rin whispers quickly, his breath ever so slightly tickling the shell of your ear, before sitting back into a normal position.

You are about to respond how that wasn’t needed in the slightest but before you can the teacher turns back around.

“Okay. So, to review…” The teacher looks around the class before finally stopping at you, “...(L/n).”

“Y-yes,” You squeak out, quickly trying to remove your hand from Rin’s before the teacher notices. However, as you attempt to do so, Rin only tightens his grip. Not enough to hurt, but definitely enough so you couldn’t possibly slip your hand out of his without creating a scene.

You give Rin a quick glare, which he of course responds with a smile, before turning your attention back to the teacher as he continues.

“What does Edo mean?” The teacher asks, leaning slightly back against the board.

“Well Sir, Edo could refer to two possible things. The first being the time period named after it, the Edo Period. This was when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa Shogunate. However, Edo could also mean—“

You suddenly choke up as you feel Rin adjust his grip so he can rub his thumb over the back of your hand. Even though it was such a small, almost trivial, gesture, it caused your brain to go blank. Almost as if it had fried itself.

“U-uh…” You jumble up your words for a couple of seconds before finally composing yourself, “E-Edo could also refer to the previous Japanese Capital, that was called ‘Edo’ before it got changed to ‘Tokyo’ in 1-1868…”

“Excellent! So, Can anybody tell me the name of that Shogunate from the Edo Period?“

As the Teacher turns around to write the answers down on the board, you turn your attention back to Rin, who looked quite proud of himself.

“What’s wrong (y/n)? Flustered much?” Rin whispered out, Jokingly yet also quite mischievously. You swore,

If ‘sadist’ had a picture in the Urban dictionary, it would be a picture of Rin Obami. Especially due to the fact, he took great joy from just messing with you, or sometimes other people.

“It’s your fault, dingbat. Are you trying to get us caught?”

“I doubt we would. I mean look at Ibara, even he hasn’t caught on yet.”

At Rin’s words you swing your head around to take a glance at Ibara. The pink haired brother looked bored out of his mind and only lightened up a little when he noticed your gaze on him. He gives you a small unaware wave in your direction which you return quickly before turning back around.

“Fine, I’ll admit you're correct by that.” You tell him, begrudgingly which he lightly laughs at.

“See~ don’t worry about it.” Rin mutters back and gives you a small wink before turning his attention back to the lesson. Which, after huffing for a second, you soon do as well.

You just wished he would quit messing around with stuff like this…

—.—.—.—.—.—.—

“Oh? What’s going on with you and—“

“Don’t ask.” You mutter out, cutting off whatever Yumeko was going to say as you take a seat next to her for dinner. Still slightly flustered at the fact, Rin insisted he held your hand the entire walk to dinner even though that bastard wasn’t actually having dinner in the dining hall in the first place.

Terano had told him that she wanted a meeting with branch family members only. But, due to his promise in history class, he insisted on at least walking you to dinner if he couldn’t join you. Which you can’t believe he actually did as it was incredibly embarrassing to see your classmates whispering and making kissy faces at you two.

“But, come on (y/n)~ You have to at least tell us what’s going on with you and Rin. We are friends aren’t we?” Yumeko whines, really wanting to know what’s happening.

“Or, at the very least, tell us about what happened between you and the President.” Mary suddenly says as she takes her seat on the other side of you.

“Oh yeah, I heard many people whispering about it in the classroom! I thought it was only a rumor? Well I hoped it was for your sake…” Ryota murmurs out, recalling what he heard before he left for dinner with Yumeko.

Speaking of Yumeko, Ryota noticed her suddenly getting very excited at the thought of the President. Quickly, she grabs your hands, her red crazed staring down at you.

“Oh, (y/n)! Please tell me it was true! I want to hear everything, everything, that happened at that gamble!”

“Well… Um… it wasn’t actually that exciting. I only—“ Just as you go to tell Yumeko what happened, your phone suddenly goes off. “Oh sorry guys, it’s my mom. I’ll be back.”

Quickly excusing yourself from the cafeteria, you answer your phone out in the empty hallway.

“Hello? Mom?“

“O-oh (y/n)! I-I-I’m so sorry!” You can’t help but be shocked as you hear the hiccuping of your mother from the other end.

“Mom? Are you alright? W-what’s wrong? Did something happen?” You worriedly asked. You’ve never, ever, seen your mother get so upset before.

“I-I just found out your father has been cheating on me for years. He actually has a whole-e-e secret family behind our back.” Your mother pauses her sentence as she tries to compose herself from another sob racking through her body.

“O-oh Mom,” You feel terrible yourself. That was your father, of course, and you couldn’t believe he would do something like that to you and your family. “I-If you want, you can call the school and I can get the quickest train home. I might miss class tomorrow but I can at least help you through this!”

“T-Thank you, Honey… but I’m afraid that you can’t.” You are stunned for a second. What did she mean you couldn’t, you could easily make up any missing classwork and homework you would miss.

“Mom what—“ A wretched sob from your mother on the other end of the phone cuts you off.

“B-before your father left, he took out every last cent of our savings-s. We have nothing left and I have to still wait for my paycheck next week!”

Your ears begin to ring as you attempt to process the tumble of words out of your mother’s mouth. You couldn’t quite believe it. You actually didn’t want to believe it and hoped this was some nightmare that you would wake up out of. Everything? All that money your family worked for… was really gone?

“(Y-y/n) sweetie?” Your mother suddenly calls, breaking you out of your daze.

“Y-yes mom?”

“I know this is a lot to ask, you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to—“

“Mom I’ll do it! Don’t worry about me!” You quickly reassure, ready to help take off any burden on your mother.

“O-okay. If possible, could you ask one of your friends if we can take out a loan of their money? We just need some to pay for rent and bills for a while and I will instantly try to pay them back.” As your mother finishes explaining the rest, you can’t help but be silent for a couple of minutes. Your brain was racking with any possible other ideas before you finally gave up and answered.

“Y-yeah I’ll try to see what I can do.” As your mother hangs up, you can’t help but collapse to the floor.

A loan from a friend? That your family can pay back? That would be impossible. Your father made a ton more money than your mother and was essentially the main breadwinner of the family. It would take at least a year, maybe even two, for you and your mother to get back on your feet. You can’t afford to pay back that much debt and can’t afford to ask your closest friends to support you for that long. That would just be so wrong… but, you also didn’t know what else you could do.

“You know... I have something that could possibly help with that ‘wealth problem’ of yours.“

Kirari… you could ask Kirari! You didn’t want to but she had already offered you money or financial stability and it was way better than putting your friends in that position. Her offer might also be good enough that your mother and you could get out of the old nasty apartment you rent.

As you get to your feet and are about to try and make your way down the hall, you feel someone grab your arm.

“A-ah. E-Erimi, Sumika. H-hello, how are you?” You can’t help but gulp. You weren’t paying attention to your surroundings while on that phone call, so they possibly could have heard all of it.

“(Y/n)-San, I apologize but I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation.” You freeze at Sumika’s words, “I hope I’m wrong by this but please tell me you're not thinking of going to Kirari about this.”

Shit, Sumika always got it right on the dot when it came to you.

“I-I’m not. I’m just going to try to find Itsuki.” You murmur out, trying to lie even though it was futile. Curse Sumika’s acting and reading skills.

“(Y/n). Please don’t lie about things like this.” Sumika says in a worried tone. However, you can’t bring yourself to continue the conversation you were having with her. Already you were embarrassed enough that this was happening to you in the first place, but it only got worse that likely the “-Bami” family will have to help you again. It mostly made you feel bad since you can’t do anything to repay them for their kindness.

“Sumika, Please I need to do this. I’ll be fine.” You reassure the girl in front of you, lightly grabbing her hand that was wrapped around your wrist, trying to pry it off.

“(Y/n), No. …Erimi!”

Erimi, who was standing on the side worriedly about what was happening, instantly turned to Sumika.

“Erimi, please go grab Terano-san and Rin-san. Please… quickly!” You instantly freeze as you watch Erimi nod before quickly running off and disappearing down the hall. You can’t get Terano and Rin involved. Those two need to save every cent of their money to help buy leftover votes nearing the end of the election. You can’t possibly have them waste all their hard work on you, not after they have been working so hard for it.

… You just can’t afford to be the cause of crushing Rin’s dream like that. You know how much being head of the “-Bami” family meant to him.

“S-Sumika please, I beg of you. Don’t get Rin involved, you know he needs as much money as he can for this election! I will only stand in his way if he helps support me. Please, just le—“

“(Y-y/n),” You can’t help but gasp and freeze as you see a tear roll down Sumika’s cheek. “D-do you really see yourself as a burden to Rin? To us?”

You suck in a breath, ready to answer back but find yourself unable to. Your stomach felt like it was twisted into so many knots that you were about to puke.

Using her free hand, Sumika wipes away her tears and takes a deep calming breath before continuing, “(Y/n), Please don’t think so low of yourself. We all care for you and have never seen you as a burden. Especially Rin. He would feel so guilty if he didn’t help you out in a desperate situation like this. All of us would. I don’t have the right to say this but Rin—“

“Oh my god. Is that Kawaru Natari?”

“Ah! I think it is!”

Suddenly, Sumika’s grip on your hand disappears as you are pushed away by a group of her fans. Even though Sumika is trying to find and call out your name, none of the fans seem to know or care about what’s going on with her. All they care about is trying to get her autograph or at least shake her hand.

Stumbling to your feet, you take a glance at Sumika who was still encircled in her fans. The bubbling feeling of guilt lumps up in your throat as you think… No, you decided about what you should do.

“Sorry Sumika…” You murmur to yourself as you run down the hallway and to the stairs. You had no time to waste because Erimi has likely already notified the others of what is happening.

—.—.—.—.—.—.—

“I-is this the room?” You ask Kirari, taking a look around as you enter a giant room you have never been in. It looked like any other formal dining hall with many white clothed tables decorating the room.

“Yes. After all, you said the others are searching for us and this will likely be the last place they will check,” Kirari says as she walks over and places a bunch of paper packets on the central table, “Let’s get started shall we?”

“Y-yes of course. But first, What is your offer?”

“It’s a thing I like to call a ‘Life Plan’.” Kirari explains, picking up one of the fancy packets to show you. As you flip through it, she continues, “As the name suggests, it’s a plan of your entire happy life. Usually, I give these to House Pets who have no hope of getting out of their debt, but I believe it has the ability to benefit you as well.”

“R-really?” You mutter out, slightly disgusted by the fact this packet says you will marry a 50 year old politician and have 5 children with him, “A-ah!”

You are startled as Kirari plucks the packet out of your hand and suddenly rips it apart, “Don’t worry that one wasn’t for you. Since you are close with my extended family, I have taken much care in picking the best bachelors… that are also around your age.”

“O-oh really? Thanks Kirari,” You tell Kirari relieved, flashing her a thankful smile. Well as thankful as you could. Your heart felt like it was slowly shattering at the thought you were essentially selling yourself off to someone you don’t even know.

Rin…

You quickly shake the thought of Rin out of your mind. You can’t think of him right now, you had to do this for your family. He was your friend, so he should understand. And eventually, though slowly and painfully, that silly crush you have on him will disappear.

However, the more you repeat that to yourself, it sounds like you were just desperately trying to convince yourself of that.

As you begin to walk with Kirari to the table, you speak again, “Are there any of these you specifically want me to start reading first?”

“Well…,” You watch as Kirari pulls out a deck of cards from her pocket, “I think it would be so boring to pick it out normally. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“W-well… I don’t exactly agree. I prefer—“

“(Y/n)!? (Y/n)!? Where are you?!”

“Ibara?” You whisper out, startled as you turn around to the door behind you. After a couple of minutes of more shouting, you see the knob of the door shake, “(y/n)? Are you in there?!”

“Uh—“

You freeze as you feel Kirari wrap her arms around your waist from behind. “Come on, let’s hurry (y/n). They haven’t noticed us yet but we have no time to waste. They could possibly come interrupt us at any time…. and you wouldn’t want that, would you?”

As you feel Kirari’s words sink in, you realize you had to get this done with, rather quickly as well. Meaning, it would take too much time to look through each individual packet, “No…I wouldn’t want that…”

“Good… Come, I’ll explain the game. It’s rather simple.”

You, almost in a trance like state, watch as Kirari shuffles the deck of cards and place them randomly over the table.

“You will slowly pick the cards one by one until a single one remains. Each card represents the matching life plan it is attached to.”

“It’s a fun game of fate!” Confused by the sudden new voice, you see Yumeko entering from the other side of the room from another door. As Yumeko makes her way in front of you, she instantly wraps her hands around yours before speaking again, “Oh (y/n), it will be so much fun! You have to play!!”

“W-what…? I mean, I already am. I have to after all.” You inform the girl, pulling your hands from hers to make your way to the table. You, at first, are shocked that she wanted you to continue but soon realize this was Yumeko Jabami. She was mentally insane and if she could, she would happily switch places with you instantly.

Hesitantly, after shaking your thoughts out of your head, you begin to pick up cards to get rid of. No real pattern in mind.

“(Y/n), be careful not to go too fast. You have to enjoy the process!” Yumeko exclaims, watching intently as you already give Kirari half of the deck that you have collected. “Unless, you are really just leaving it up to fate and luck…? Oh, that would be so fun! (Y/n), you really are a genius!”

“(Y/n)? (Y/n)!” You freeze as you hear someone else burst into the room. Nervously turning around, you spot Ibara and Miroslava at the doors. “She’s over here! Ibara quickly, go grab Rin!!”

As Ibara runs off, Miroslava makes her way to your side, “Kirari this gamble is over with! (Y/n) isn’t taking part in this anymore!”

“B-but Mir—“ “I’m pretty sure (y/n) can speak for herself, Miroslava.”

“You manipulative—“

“(Y/n),” As Miroslava bickers with Kirari, you hear Yumeko approach you from behind, “The President wanted me to tell you that if someone tried to interrupt the game, that you can instead just pick a single card from the rest.”

“O-oh Okay…”

As you reach out to grab a random card near you, you can’t help but feel yourself freeze. Why can’t you just grab it?

Almost in disgust you draw the hand back.

“Don’t worry (y/n). You just have to pick the card that calls to you!”

“The card that calls to me?” As you walked around the table, you didn’t understand what Yumeko meant. The card that called to you? But, they were all the same… none of the life plans were exactly what you wanted either.

After circling the table again, finally one of them catches your attention. There wasn’t anything special about it. There were no scratches, chips, or folds that would draw it to you. But, for some reason, you felt like you needed to pick that one.

Shakily, you pick up the card and hold it close to you. You know you should go give this to Kirari to get this over with but you felt rooted in place. Was this the one you chose? Actually,...

Were you making the right choice to begin with?

“Did you choose one (y/n)?” Yumeko asks from somewhere behind you.

“I-I don’t know… T-this…” You feel yourself suddenly getting choked up as you looked down to the card. You didn’t want to be a wife of some random attractive man with a peaceful happy life…

….You suddenly realized you wanted to be Rin’s.

The egotistical smiley boy that you had an enormous crush on. The one that takes every opportunity to find a way to make you flustered or choked up. The boy you now realize isn’t just a helpless crush but instead someone you have fallen head over heels in love with. The boy you likely—

“(Y/n)...” You are shocked as you are suddenly forcibly turned around.

It took you a second to realize it was in fact him with his normally neat hair pushed out of place and his uniform crooked and crinkled but you soon realize, Rin was right in front of you.

“Rin… I—,“ You stop speaking as you feel him shakily wipe a tear off your face. He looked at you with concerned eyes before glaring at the card in your hand. “H-hey. I—“

You can’t do anything but watch as he angrily grabs the card out of your hand and rips it apart. Taking the card scraps, he throws them up in the air towards Kirari.

“I swear… if you EVER come near me or (y/n) again!”

“Rin, calm down.” Miroslava states as she places a hand on Rin’s chest to stop him from approaching Kirari. Who looked quite amused with his unusual reaction. “Just take (y/n) and—“

“Oh, you picked the 2 of hearts Life Plan (y/n)?” Kirari states, trying to rile up Rin more as she picks up the corner scrap of the card. “I don’t believe I remember who that is… perhaps it was the son of a big medical center? He’s only a year older than you and is quite rich and handsome.”

“What the fuck are you going on about?” Rin barks out, confused at what she was talking about. Only to get angrier as Kirari lets out a laugh.

“Here. Why don’t you take a look for yourself?” Kirari states as she chucks one of the packets at his feet. He hesitantly grabs it up from the ground and begins to flip through it as Miroslava and Ibara, who had finally walked up to the two, look over his shoulder.

“What the fuck…” Ibara whispers out in disbelief before reading out loud was written on the page to make sure he wasn’t seeing things, “(Y/n) (L/n) will marry the youngest son of a computer company. She will get pregnant right after her wedding at age 19 and will have her first of 3 sons born that following year…”

Kirari can’t help but laugh as she watches the three’s expressions turn even angrier as they flip further and further into the packet. However, instead of addressing them, Kirari turns her attention to you. Making you feel as if you freezed on the spot from her icy blue eyes, “Come here (y/n). Let’s see what life plan you picked out. I want to see if I’m correct—“

“Oh hell she isn’t—!“

Miroslava and Ibara quickly grab onto Rin as he attempts to stop Kirari from grabbing the 2 of hearts' life plan.

“Rin! You can’t attack her, she’s from the main family remember? We can’t lay a physical finger on her!” Ibara mutters out, trying to remind his brother of the rules set in place by the clan.

“I-I don’t care about that! Let me g—“

“RIN! Enough!” Everyone turns their attention to Terano who was currently being wheeled into the room by Yumi. Even she wasn’t attempting to keep a calm persona as you could clearly see a scowl on her face. “(Y/n) hasn’t accepted the life plan yet so she isn’t obligated to follow it. So, calm down.”

Rin freezes under her words but It’s quiet for a couple of seconds before he finally speaks; in a rather bitter tone as well, “Fine…but you better have a plan in mind, Terano.”

“I do. Don’t worry about it.” Terano answers letting a small sigh out as she finally relaxes, “(y/n).”

You jolt a little as Terano suddenly calls you. However, you can’t bring yourself to look at her in the eyes as she is wheeled closer to you, “(y/n)... look at me please.”

Hesitantly, almost like a child who was scolded, you look at her, “We aren’t mad at you. We just don’t get why you would go through this extreme way of getting money when we could easily let you borrow some. I doubt helping support your mother a little would cost that—”

“T-that’s the thing! It’s not going to be a little, Terano.” You blurt out before quickly shutting up once you realize you cut her off. Terano, however, doesn’t look offended in the least.

“What do you mean (y/n)? Please, continue.”

“W-well, my father not only made most of the money in our family but also protected us since we live in a not so great area. Not only would it take my mother about a year or two to get back on her feet in terms of financial situation but someone could easily just come by and steal the money you give to my family.” You explain to the others in the room who seemed to finally realize what you were getting at.

“But, that wouldn’t cost us that much would it?” Ibara asks, trying to still figure out why it was still a problem.

“Well kind of, the basics (y/n)’s family would need is to buy food, pay bills and rent, and other necessities, which we could pay for. The problem comes with things like having security and perhaps unknown debts made by her father. Those would definitely end up stacking up over time.” Miroslava explains to Ibara, who nods at her in understanding, before she continues, “Which makes sense why she would come to Kirari. Not only did Kirari already offer (y/n) a chance of more money, she offered enough that she guaranteed (y/n)’s family to move up in terms of wealth. So, (y/n) not only could skip asking us to support her but she could possibly move to a new apartment or house in a safer area and skip having to pay the necessities of security.”

“Oh I see…” Ibara says before jolting up as he sees Rin suddenly move forward towards you. He quickly grabs his brother before he can move too far away, “Rin! Let’s have Terano handle this.”

Rin turns around to give Ibara a nasty glare, “Ibara, I’m not going to sit around here and do nothing! The Obami family easily has enough money to move (y/n)’s family out of that bad apartment as well as support them.”

“That’s where you are not thinking Rin.” Miroslava states as she steps in to intervene with the brothers’ conversation. “It might be enough to pay for now but think about what will happen towards the end of the election. All of us, especially you, will need a lot of money to pay for those leftover votes people are holding onto.”

“Yeah but it’s fine. I can—“

“Rin. Miroslava’s right. If we pay too much money and some of the other branch families find out the Obami family is low on money, it could cost us. Likely, we could get devoured.”

“But—“ “Oh my, Fate can’t be funny at times…”

The three stop bickering as they hear Kirari speak suddenly and quickly notice she was flipping through the life plan you had picked up. As Kirari walks over to give it to you, Rin has to grit his teeth to stop himself from attacking her.

“Kirari—“ “You were the one to interrupt our gamble, Terano and for the second time today that is. You know…That could possibly get you in a lot of trouble.” Kirari threatens Terano, giving her a look that told Terano she was done playing silly games.

“Ah please don’t! It was my fault, Kirari.” You voiced up, not wanting the possibility of Terano getting booted out of the election. Thankfully, Kirari seems to listen and turns her attention back to you.

“Okay then, if you truly are sorry (y/n). Then, please accept your life plan.” Kirari tells you, using your own words against you. As she passes the life plan into your shaking hands, Rin can’t hold it in any longer and walks over to you two.

“Kirari! Stop this, now.” Rin says, putting a hand on Kirari’s shoulder. Only for her to swat it off like it was some pest.

“Stop what? I know I haven’t done anything wrong. (Y/n) came up to me about this offer, you all are just interfering.”

“That’s only because you put that thought in her head in the first place! In the whole time I have been here, (y/n) looks like she just wants to bolt out of here but is only kept here by the false reassurance you give her! I—“

“I’m not giving her false reassurance. I’m telling her the truth and what she needs to hear.” Kirari interrupts, a smile on her lips as she grabs the Life Plan from your hands, “Her reasoning behind this thing is so simple and straight to the point, I’m surprised you haven’t figured it out yet.”

“What are you talking about? I get that she doesn’t want to cause me—“

“Ah, ah, ah.” Kirari says, tutting her finger back and forth in front of Rin, “I’m not talking about that, I’m talking about her inner feelings. The ones that mostly drove her to her current decision.”

You feel your stomach drop at what Kirari was talking about. She doesn’t know about— S-she couldn’t possibly know about your feelings for Rin. And even in the off chance she did, she wouldn’t reveal it to everyone right now,... would she?

“Her inner feelings?” Rin mutters out, confused as his eyes flash to your figure.

“Do I really have to spell this out for you? (Y/n), is in love with you. To her, you were more important than herself. So she simply couldn’t afford to hold you down, possibly costing you this election.”

You feel your stomach drop as it becomes dead silent. You can’t bring yourself to look up from your feet at Rin. You just couldn’t risk the chance of looking at his face and see the possible reaction of disgust or disappointment. As the silence goes on, embarrassment begins to come in waves throughout your whole body. Enough to almost bring you to tears.

You can’t help but choke on your labored breath as you see Rin’s shoes enter your view, “(Y/n)... look up at me…”

You instantly shake your head from side to side. You just couldn’t, couldn’t.

“(Y/n)... Please…” Rin asks again, his cold hands reaching up to grab your warm flushed face. Quickly, you grab his hands to stop him from pulling your head up.

“S-stop Rin. Please… it’s o-okay that you don’t have feelings for me. Don’t feel p-pity on me.” You choke out, starting to struggle on trying not to cry. It’s quiet for a couple of seconds as Rin still struggles to force your head up. Eventually, he seems to give up as he pulls his hands away from your face with a small sigh, “K-Kirari. I will accep—“

However it seems you are proven wrong as before you can finish your sentence to Kirari, Rin picks you up. With both arms wrapped around the back of your thighs, you are forced to hold onto his shoulders for support so you don’t fall forward.

“There you are…” Rin mutters out as he looks up at you, finally able to see your face. He gives you a small smile before jokingly saying, “How many times have I told you to stop jumping to conclusions before you even hear the answer, (y/n)?”

You bite your lip and turn your gaze away from him, “You do the same thing…”

“True but that’s not what we should be talking about right?”

It goes dead quiet as you choose to not answer him.

“…Can you at least look at me…, please?” Rin gently speaks out, basically begging at this point for at least something that confirmed you were listening to him.

“Okay… What should we be talking about then?” You mumble out, hesitantly turning your gaze back down to Rin. Which from what you can see makes him a bit more happier.

“Well first, I should tell you that I… I Love you as well.” Rin confesses. However, instead of making your heart flutter like it should, it makes it ache instead. Balling your hands into fist on Rin’s suit jacket, you can’t help but close your eyes to try to calm yourself down.

“Please Rin…” You say to him, your voice broken and begging him to knock it off, “Please don’t lie about something like this…”

“I’m not lying (y/n). I would never, ever, lie about something like this.” Rin rebuts instantly. Making you open your eyes in shock as he suddenly places you down on one of the tables. You would have ended up falling backwards if it wasn’t for him grabbing onto your shoulders, “(y/n), I’ll admit right now, In front of everyone and you, that I’m a greedy son of a bitch. S-so, If you go and take that life plan, I will make it my life mission to scam that guy’s family out of so much money that it forces him to let you go. Just because, you drive me insane to the point I want to keep you all to myself.”

“H-hey you shouldn’t do that Rin. I—“

“It’s illegal? I could get in trouble? (Y/n)... my whole family business is illegal. We devote our lives to scamming people out of their money and precious items. And, If someone from the Obami family wants something, we will most definitely find a way to get it.” You can’t help but keep silent as you allow Rin’s words to soak in. He wouldn’t actually go through with that right?

“(Y/n), Think of it this way,” Yumeko suddenly speaks up. Your eyes trained to her as she make her way next to Kirari before speaking again, “You can either not take the life plan and run the risk of Rin not being allowed to pay for those leftover votes students will be holding on to at the end…”

You watch in bewilderment as Kirari passes the Life plan to Yumeko.

“...Or, you can accept the life plan you have chosen and we open it up here in front of everyone. Allowing Rin to see who it is and having him make it his life goal to destroy your arranged husband’s life and steal you back from him! …(Y/n)!”

You jolt up in surprise as Yumeko and Kirari look at you with crazed looks in their eyes.

“(Y/n)! It’s essentially a gamble! Will you choose to run the risk of Rin failing his dreams or have your arranged husband being devoured by the Obami family?! The decision of two people’s lives are in your hands!”

You look at the two in bewilderment before struggling to spit out, “You can’t be serious! Rin wouldn’t actually…”

As you turn back to look at Rin, your voice dies in your throat. He had the same crazed look as the other two as he stared down at you. Noticing you are already shaken up, he decides to push it further by leaning down to place a kiss on the corner of your lip.

“(Y/n)...,” Rin whispers out as he pulls away, his kiss making a tingling feeling resound through the surface of your lips as you stare frozen into his eyes, “I hope that with whatever decision you make, you are ready to be stuck with me because…”

Rin tilts his head to the side slightly so he can lean in again.

“...I’m never letting you go…”

As Rin captures his lips with yours, he had only intended to give you a small kiss to signify his promise but found himself wanting, craving, more. Pulling one of his hands up, he entangles it in your hair so that he can lean in further to deepen the kiss.

After a couple of more seconds of kissing you, Rin finally pulls away. He can’t help but gulp at the dazed out expression you give him. He wanted nothing more than to swoop in to give you another kiss but knew he couldn’t. He needed to calm down from the crazed adrenaline rush running through his veins and wait for you to not be as frightened by all this madness.

“So, (Y/n)...” Terano’s voice suddenly rings out. As you look at her, it seemed her and Yumi were the only ones not with a crazed expression on. “What’s your choice?”

“I-I…” You look at the Life plan and gulp. To you the decision was obvious but you still couldn’t get rid of the feeling of your stomach twisting and turning, “I choose… to take the life plan…”

Your stomach can’t help but drop more in guilt. Not only for the fact of allowing yourself to some other man but also allowing whoever was in that plan, life to be ruined…Devoured,... by the Momobami clan.

“You sure?” Kirari asks, wanting you to repeat yourself with more confidence on the gamble you were taking.

“Yes, I don’t want Rin to lose his spot in the election. So, I’m going to choose the life plan.”

“Okay…Yumeko.”

Yumeko turns her attention to the President, a small innocent look on her face.

“Would you do the honor?”

“Of course!” Yumeko shouts out, her expression going back to pure crazed delight. “Ready (y/n)?”

Your voice suddenly feels lost as you watch Yumeko adjust her grip on the life plan, leaving you with no other option than to nod your head as a sign of confirmation. As you watched what felt like Yumeko opening the first page of the life plan in slow motion, your heart was practically thumping out of your chest. Who could it possibly be?

You take your eyes away from the life plan for a moment to look at Rin. You just hoped whoever it was it wasn’t someone at the school. Rin and the other -Bami’s would make their life here a living hell.

Suddenly, Rin’s calm face turned to one of surprise and then, weirdly, he laughed.

“Huh?” You can’t help but let out, unable to understand why he did that until you turned back to Yumeko, “W-wait.. what-t?”

“Holy shit!” Ibara yells out, unable to help himself as he comes up to ruffle your hair, “Look like your my sister in law now, huh?”

“B-b-but… how?” You say in disbelief as you continue to stare at the life plan. Starting to finally coming to terms that you weren’t going insane and that Rin’s school profile picture was in fact staring back at you.

“That is a good question…” Ibara mumbles out, both him and Rin looking at Kirari confused, “How did you get our old man to accept this, Kirari? I can understand if it was me but Rin’s the family heir. He normally wouldn’t allow this kind of stuff.”

Kirari lets out a light laugh, “True, Mr. Obami really didn’t want to accept my proposal when I called him. He almost hung up on me when I told him how (y/n) had nothing to her family name…But...”

Kirari pauses for a second, almost as if she was trying not to laugh, “But, once I explain how (y/n)’s family had a generally healthy medical background and how (y/n) would be able to produce many healthy children in the future. He reconsidered as long as she and her family lived at the Obami family estate so he can keep an eye on (y/n) and teach her a couple things.”

You let out a small groan as you hide your face in Rin’s neck. Purely embarrassed about the fact that's the reason your future in-laws were going to allow you to marry their son. Talk about a first impression…

“Sounds like your father…” Terano sighs out as she looks at Rin and Ibara who are both trying not to laugh.

“Well, on the bright side (y/n), you really lucked out! You got everything you wanted!” Yumeko tells you as she happily passes the life plan off to Rin.

“What do you mean?” You asked confused, sending a quick glare Ibara’s way as he snickers at something written down in the life plan.

“Well, obviously you got to be with Rin and avoided causing someone else’s life to be destroyed by him.” Yumeko explains, holding up one hand to signify the obvious before holding up her other hand to explain the other thing she was getting at, “But, you also gained the thing you were fighting for. With your family forced into moving in the Obami estate, Rin doesn’t have to pay for any of your life expenses that you were so worried about.”

“Oh yeah…” You mutter out as you take a glance up at Rin who was still reading the life plan. You really did end up lucking out. There’s really no downfall in this exact scenario.

“Hey Kirari…” Ibara suddenly speaks up. Based on his expression, it looked like he was thinking something hilarious. Which isn’t always the best when it comes to Ibara, “I think you got something wrong here.”

“Oh?”

Ibara's expression gets even worse as he tries to hold back his laughter before continuing, “Yeah. I doubt (y/n) and Rin are going to have their first kid at 20 when dad is going to likely room them together!”

At Ibara’s inappropriate comment, you can’t help but smack him.

“Ibara!”

“Booooo! That was bad”

“Ibara, That was way too inappropriate!”

“Hey! Come on guys… that was actually— Hey wait don’t leave!”

…You were wrong, there was always a downside to something. One of them being the fact you had to live the rest of your life listening to the Obami brother’s teasing.

#rin obami #obami rin #rin obami x reader #obami rin x reader #obami #kakeguri #kakeguri xx #kakegurui x reader #kakegurui x you #kakegurui x y/n

330 notes · View notes

nick-thecreator · 3 years

Text

“Finally, A Break” A RE8 Human!au Moreviento Fanfic

I had no fucking clue where I was taking this after a while, so here’s some fic vomit...

I might make more human!au RE8 stuff tho...

_________________________________________________________

“Sal?”

“Yes?”

“When do you think you’ll be home?” Donna asked, having been home alone for the past week and a half.

“I don’t know. it’s been really backed up here, so I’m needed much more than before. I’ll see if I can get Adrian to get here faster, but he’s not one to give up a vacation,” Salvatore replied, rubbing one of his temples, trying to soothe a headache. Donna sighed, placing a hand on her head.

“You sure?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“Sir, you’re needed again,” One of the nurses popped into his office. He sighed, looking from the nurse to the phone.

“Sorry Donna, I need to go.”

“Okay, I’m going to be at the library tonight again. I have a show.”

“Great, good luck. Make sure you have everything, okay?”

“Of course.”

“Okay, have a good show, bye.”

_________________________________________________________

“Thank you, good luck, bye.” He hung up before rising from his seat, walking over to the nurse.

“Who this time?”

“Alina’s son, Daniel, has had a hard cough and a loss of smell for the past 2 days,” The nurse explained as she led him to their room.

Everything else through the day was the same, just more tiring every time. Half of the cases were of people that either were sick with Covid, while the other half were either sick with something else or with just small ailments from either the lack of water or sleep. With the latter, he’d be almost jealous of the people who got to go home and get some rest. The naps he had been able to get during his breaks weren’t enough at this point. His back ached, along with a lack of sleep, it gave him a bad headache and aching joints. Even though he just wanted to collapse in his office, preferably on his chair, for some needed rest, he just gritted his teeth and kept working. He had patients to take care of, so he could only hope that Adrian would show up for once.

At around 5:30, he was in his office, trying to get some sleep, when someone knocked on the door. He groaned, hoping and praying that it was just an update and not being called to work on another patient.

“It’s unlocked.” The door opened, and Adrian stuck his head in. Salvatore shot up from his seat. “Adrian!?” His face twisted into anger. “You were supposed to be here a week ago!” Adrian smiled sheepishly.

“Well, listen man, the wife’s been a bitch about that-”

“Just- nevermind, just get ready for work. Luca should be here in three days to help you-”

“Three days!? You expect ME to man this place for three-”

“I ran this place for over a fucking week! Shut the FUCK UP!” Salvatore gritted his teeth, almost hissing his words. The lack of sleep was really messing with him. “Just man the place till then. When he gets here, you’ll switch off every other day. The schedule is in the break room, alright?” Adrian just nodded, his face in a form of shame. Salvatore just sighed, waving him off as Adrian left the room. He got all of his stuff in his briefcase before quickly making a beeline out of the clinic. The nurses wished him a good break, him quickly thanking them while walking out.

The hit of fresh sent a pleasant shiver down his spine, taking in a deep breath. A small smile on his face, he almost sprinted over to his car, planning to go straight home. He hopped into his car, starting it up and pulling out of the parking space. When he was about to drive out of the parking lot, he thought for a second. He’s spent over a week with people who have Covid. His face went from excitement to worry. He didn’t want to bring Covid home. He remembered his extra set of clothes, cleaning stuff, for both people and surfaces, and the towels he keeps in his trunk for emergencies, like if someone threw up on him. However, there was the threat of himself. He had been cleaning himself with wipes and dry shampoo, so, even though he was “clean”, he wasn’t completely clean.

He thought for a while as he drove down the road, he saw the gym. Surprisingly, it was still open, even through the pandemic. Most likely because it was privately owned, and some people don’t know when to stop. However, it was an opportunity for an answer. He turned around and drove to the gym, parking his car in a parking space. Before getting out of his car, he checked his wallet, just to make sure he had his membership card. He didn’t go to the gym much, besides using it to swim during the winter, so it wasn’t like him to remember it. Maybe that’s why he left it in his wallet. He stepped out of his car, walking over to the trunk after he closed the driver door. He pulled out the bag with clothes in it, putting a towel, a hairbrush, knowing he’d need it, and a bottle of shampoo into the bag before throwing it over his shoulder, closing the trunk and locking the car. He walked over to the gym, putting on his mask before stepping in. Luckily, at the very least, the gym had made masks mandatory, and had signs everywhere about it.

He checked into the front desk before walking into the full part of the gym. He walked along the side of the gym, keeping his eyes down to not cause anything awkward. He finally got to the back, where the locker rooms were located. He walked into the men’s locker room, walking to the back to get to the bathrooms. Inside was a line of urinals against the wall, with a stall right across from them. In the back of the room, there were showers lined up against the wall, enclosed behind a curtain. He walked to the back, placing the bag on the bench next to the showers against the wall, taking his towel, a hairbrush, and a bottle of shampoo with him into the shower, keeping it out enough so it wouldn’t get wet. He then stripped his clothes off, undoing his hair out of its hair tie before turning the shower on, getting hit with the cold water. He jumped back, sticking his hand in every now and then to see if it had warmed up. Eventually, it warmed up, him getting back underneath the shower. He quickly lathered himself in soap, waiting a bit, then rinsing it off before turning off the shower.

He grabbed the towel, drying his body off before trying to dry his hair. While he was drying his hair, it tangled under the towel, so when he pulled the towel off, it resembled a large fluffball on his head. He sighed before peaking out of the shower curtain before quickly stepping out, making sure he was alone in there. There was only one person in one of the stalls. He must have not heard them coming in from the loudness of the water hitting the floor. He dashed over to his bag, pulling out a pair of pants. He didn’t pack any underwear, never really needing to replace them during work hours, and he didn’t mind going commando, even just once. He grabbed the shirt in there after he got his pants on, pulling it over his head and his fluffed hair, straightening it out with his hands. He sat down on the bench, drying off his feet before putting on his socks and shoes. He then grabbed his shampoo and the clothes from work, using the bag so he wouldn’t touch the clothes. He made sure he had taken the hairbrush out first, placing it on the bench. He placed the bag on the bench before picking up the hairbrush. He tried to brush his hair regularly, but it pulled at knots, causing him pain. So, whenever he ran into a knot, he had to pry it apart with his own hands. After what felt like forever, he finally got his hair straightened out, putting the brush on the bench again, not wanting to contaminate the brush too. He placed the towel into the bag before putting his mask on.

He stood up, picking up the bag and the brush, walking out of the bathroom. He walked alongside the wall of the locker room, doing the same in the main gym, before ending up in the lobby again. He checked out, walking out to his car. He unlocked the car, putting the bag in the back before getting into the front seat. He placed the brush in the back before starting the car. Before he pulled out of the parking space, he got an idea. He looked up the schedule to the local library, seeing that a puppet show was scheduled for 6:30pm. He checked the time. 6:22pm. Just enough time. He pulled out of the parking spot, then the parking lot onto the road. After a ten minute drive, he pulled into the library parking lot, parking in one of its spaces. He put on his mask, getting out of his car before locking it. He walked to the entrance of the library, holding the door for a mother and her daughter. He walked in after them, looking around the place. Even though Donna worked there, he hadn’t been there much, so whenever he went there, he would always spend a moment confused on where everything was.

After a while of looking around, he heard some voices having a conversation near the children’s corner. He walked over to it, seeing a group of kids sitting around a puppet show stand. They socially distanced from each other as their parents stood behind them, talking quietly to each other about the performance. He just leaned on one of the bookshelves, watching the show. Donna would usually base her puppet shows off of children’s books and children’s lessons, mainly so it would guarantee that the story was appropriate and enjoyable for the kids. The story today was about a little girl who gets a sickness called “The Spots” from not washing her hands. It gives her rainbow spots all over her body and Covid-like symptoms, and turns everything she touches into candy, which infects the rest of her class. In the end, the teacher tells the kids that if they always wash their hands and make sure they live healthy, they will stay healthy and happy. The kids seemed to enjoy it, as they clapped and smiled at the end, and the adults didn’t complain.

After she had finished, she made the puppets bow as the kids clapped. The adults then collected their kids to go, since the puppet show had lasted till 7:00pm, and they probably had to get home for dinner. Once the majority of them were gone, Donna stood up, finally being able to look over the set up, seeing who was left. Salvatore was still against the wall, smiling at Donna, slowly walking over until she noticed him. Donna, in her see through veil, turned around to put her puppets away before turning around again. He had gotten up to the stand, looking down at her as she was putting the puppets away. She smiled as he smiled back at her, getting down to her level.

“Hey Donna.”

“Adrian finally showed up?” She asked.

“Yeah, finally…” He grumbled. She got all of her puppets put away neatly in her case, before turning to him and giving him a light hug.

“Good, I missed you.”

“I was only gone for a week.”

“Still. It wasn’t planned or anything.” He chuckled, hugging him back. After a bit more time hugging, she pulled away, grabbing her case and standing up. He stood up after her, walking behind her as she stepped out from behind the stand. Another worker walked into the stand behind them, nodding to Donna as she nodded back. The worker started to disassemble the stand as Sal took Donna’s hand in hers as they walked to the front desk.

“Were you able to-”

“Yes, it wasn’t as stressful as before.”

“Even without Angie?” She shuddered.

“Yeah…” She just refocused her attention onto the lady at the front desk.

“Hello Donna, good performance?” The lady asked.

“Yes, definitely,” Donna replied. She held onto Sal’s as they continued their conversation until the lady paid her for her time and energy. Donna thanked the lady and wished her well before gesturing to Salvatore that she wanted to leave. He smiled at the lady as he followed her out of the library.

Once outside, Donna let out a long sigh of relief, looking up at Salvatore. He looked back down at her.

“You couldn’t get a taxi, huh?” He asked. She turned away and nodded. “It’s okay Donna, come on.” He walked with her in the direction of his car. When they got to it, he unlocked the car as she noticed the bag and brush in the backseat.

“What’s that?” She pointed to the bag.

“Covid clothes-” She giggled. “Don’t touch it.” She went silent. Once the car was unlocked, they got into the car. As Salvatore started the car, Donna took her veil off and looked up at him.

“Hey Sal?” She asked.

“Yeah?” He replied, pulling the car out of the parking space.

“How much sleep have you gotten?” He went silent for a second, trying to think of the right answer.

“Over the whole week and a half?”

“Yeah.” He went silent again.

“Well… about…” He scratched his chin. “30-ish hours?” She wasn’t that shocked, considering how tired he looked, with the bags under his eyes.

“You sure you can drive?” He rolled his eyes.

“I’ll make it Donna.” She was going to question him more, but she thought that turning on the radio was a better idea. He was going to complain about it, but she put it on a classical music station, so he just asked if she could turn it down. They eventually got back to their house, getting out of their car once they got into the driveway. He locked the car and went to walk to the door before Donna stopped him.

“What about the bag?” She asked.

“Your bag?” He looked down at her hand, it holding her case of puppets.

“No, your bag? Of clothes?”

“I’ll get it tomorrow,” He answered, unlocking the front door to their small house, opening the door. He held the door open for her, who, after looking back to the car, walked into the house. The house was what you’d expect. The living room and kitchen were both open, with a dining room right in between. A small hallway in the back led to the bathroom and office on the left, and a large bedroom on the right. The rooms had what you’d expect in them. A couch and TV in the living room, a table and a three chairs in the dining room, stuff like a microwave and a pot/knife hanger in the kitchen, regular toiletries in the bathroom, a fax machine and a work desk in the office, and a bed, a TV, a bunch of games with a few consoles on a shelf, and a small desk with Angie on its cahir and stuff like sewing supplies on the desk in the bedroom. The walls in most of the rooms were mostly plain, except in the bedroom and office. The walls in the office had posters on almost every wall, from game posters to movie posters. Most of them were from old collections from when he was a teen, but some were new. The bedroom had mainly framed photos, mostly near the small desk. They contained pictures of Donna’s family and a few friends down at the library. There were only 2 pictures of her and Salvatore in the whole house, one was on the wall next to the desk, and the other was a small photo right above the office desk.

Once Salvatore locked the door behind them once they were both inside, she placed her case down on the couch. Salvatore yawned, stretching for a second, looking over to Donna. Donna looked back at him.

“Feels good to be home,” He stated, looking around.

“Yeah, I stayed in the bedroom for the most part, so the rest of the house should be clean,” She replied. “I did have to order out though…”

“When?” He asked. He knew that he couldn’t get much money home during the days he was gone, but he assumed that there was enough for the time he was gone. However, when he thought about it a bit more, he could see how it could’ve gone in that time. Thank god they had savings...

“Yesterday.”

“Oh, it sounded like it was a few days ago.”

“No, just recently.” She smiled before looking at him most closely. “Did… did you shower recently?”

“Yeah, at the gym. I didn’t want to risk anything.”

“Oh, ok, your hair is still a bit damp.” He chuckled, feeling his hair with one hand, still feeling damp from the shower. They continued their conversation for a minute, until Salvatore yawned again. “Tired?”

“Yeah…”

“You can go to bed if you want. I’ll just order something for dinner.”

“Okay, from where?” She shrugged.

“Yesterday I just got something from mcdonald’s, so if you want something from there?”

“Yeah, that’s fine. You have the code-”

“Of course.”

“Just making sure.” He stretched again. “Sounds like a plan.” She nodded.

“Yep, now you should head to bed before you pass out.”

“You sure you don’t need anything?”

“I’m positive, now bed.” She placed a hand on his shoulder. “You need it.” She felt so proud of herself for a second, considering that it’s usually Salvatore telling her to sleep. He just rolled his eyes, chuckling.

“Alright, alright, I’ll see if I can,” He replied as Donna guided him in the direction of the bedroom. He walked off into the bedroom, collapsing onto the bed on his stomach. The bed was made for the most part, besides a pillow that had been removed from Donna’s side, but he saw it on her seat next to the small desk. He flipped over, but was met with a shock of pain up his back. He gritted his teeth as he sat up, pulling his phone, keys, and wallet out of his pocket, placing them on the side table. He then placed a hand on his back, trying to soothe the pain as he laid back down. He kicked off his shoes, turning his body to be fully on the bed. He didn’t bother getting under the blanket, considering the time of year, it would just make him more uncomfortable. His back kept hurting, so he just sighed, rolling over and adjusting himself to be on his stomach. He grabbed his pillow, hugging it under his head as he tried to let his tiredness overwhelm the pain in his back.

“Hey Sal, what do you want from McDonald’s?” He looked up from the pillow to look at Donna, who had peeked her head into the room, phone in her hand with someone on the line.

“Just something simple.” He muttered, placing a hand on his back.

“Alright.” She turned back to the phone, resuming the order she was placing. After a bit more talking, mainly about price, payment, and location, she hung up the phone before turning back to Sal. “I just got some side stuff.”

“Like what?”

“Mostly fries, but I did get some ice cream too.”

“Really?” He chuckled. “Fries?”

“Should I have gotten something else?” She asked, slightly worried. “I didn’t-”

“It’s fine Donna, really, I just thought it was funny,” He tried to console her, sitting up slightly before going right back to laying down, gritting his teeth. She noticed, getting a bit closer to them, getting to his level.

“Your back okay?” She tilted her head. He nodded.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine.” She placed her hand on top of his.

“You sure? You don’t seem to be?” She pressed a bit on his back, making him groan. She quickly pulled her hand back, looking down. “Sorry sorry sorry sorry-”

“It’s okay Donna, you didn’t do anything wrong.” He took his hand off of his back, holding onto her hand. She looked back up at him and smiled slightly, Salvatore smiling back. “You gonna put your puppets away tonight?”

“Maybe, I’m not sure. I probably will,” Donna replied. “The food’s gonna be here in 30 minutes by the way.”

“Great, what do you wanna do until then?” He asked. She thought for a second before letting go of his hand, walking around the bed and sitting down on her side.

“We could watch something?” She held up the remote controller as he turned his head to see her on the other side.

“Like what?”

“Maybe… Little Women?” He thought for a second.

“Sure, the English or Romanian dub?”

“It’s the 1994 one.”

“Oh, English then.” He slowly went to get up again, before falling back down onto the bed, gritting his teeth again in pain.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” She asked again, a bit more serious this time.

“Yes, I am.”

“You don’t sound like you are.” She slipped her shoes off before getting closer to him. “You look like a dying walrus.” She giggled.

“I’m not that fat,” He joked. “And my teeth aren’t that big.” They both laughed as Donna got a bit closer.

“That’s not what I meant. I meant that you’re just… flopping every time you get up, and I think I know why.” She placed her hand on his upper back, feeling his scars under his shirt. He looked up at her.

“I really am fi-”

“You’re really hard here.” She pushed a bit on his back, it being very hard under her hand. “From working?” He looked down, nodding.

“Work’s been hard…”

“You sure you don’t want any help? I could try.” She placed her other hand on his back, lightly rubbing his upper back. Salvatore had rubbed her back plenty of times, whenever she would get stressed, but she hadn’t returned it as much, considering that she didn’t really know how to. There was also the fact that he had never bothered to ask. He usually just took a bath or could just fall asleep to relieve his pain, but the extra work had taken its toll. He thought for a second.

“Alright, fine. If you want to try, I can help.” She smiled, him smiling back.

“Okay, um… how should I do this?”

“Depends, you want me to sit up or will it be easier for you to do this with me laying down?”

“You can stay down, it’s fine.”

“Okay, you can get on my lower waist, if you want. You’ll be at a better angle.” She hesitated for a second, looking at his lower waist then back to him.

“Really?”

“I can always sit up instead-”

“No! Um… no, I can.”

“You sure? I don’t mind-”

“I can, don’t worry.” She slowly pulled herself up and over his waist, sitting down, straddling his waist under her. Donna tried not to think about it, placing her hands onto his back. “So… now what do I do?”

“Okay, you see where your hands are placed now?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, move your hands up a bit.” She did so till her hands were halfway over the hard places on his back. “Alright, you feel where it’s hard?”

“Uh huh.”

“Take your thumbs and push down and forward, guiding your hands with it. Okay?” She nodded, doing so on his back. He put his face back into the pillow for a second, letting out a light groan of relief.

“Like that?” She asked. He nodded, taking his head out of the pillow for a second.

“Yeah, just like that,” He replied. He put his face back into the pillow as she did it again. He slowly relaxed as she picked up a tempo, moving a bit once a while when he asked. It was silent for the most part, but it was also oddly peaceful in that silence. Both of their jobs usually had a lot of noise, even for Donna’s job in a library, but when they were home, the silence that came with that tended to be more comforting than uncomfortable, even if it did before they came together.

After a while, once they were done, the doorbell rang. Donna, who was getting off of Salvatore at this point, quickly got off and went to the door. Salvatore got up after her, his back feeling better than before. She got to the door first, opening it to nobody at the door, a bag and a drink holder left on the steps. She picked them up, bringing them in and closing the door.

“Hungry?” She asked, holding up the bag, smiling, walking into the dining room. He followed her there, her placing the bag and holder onto the table. He walked up to her, sticking his hand out a bit in front of her, before getting a nod so he could place a hand on her shoulder. She opened the bag, looking back up at him. “Well?”

“Yes, I am now,” He replied, slowly putting his arms around her. She started to take things out of the bag before Salvatore quickly kissed her head. She looked up again.

“What was that for?”

“My thanks.”

“For what?” He chuckled.

“You fully know what.” He kissed her head again. She smiled.

“You’re welcome.”

Ima just put this here and go now-

26 notes · View notes