#year of the otp

[yzeltia]

If you can't stomach Drake's voice for this month's prompt Florence+ the Machine did a lovely cover

hello fan creators!

Year of the OTP is officially back for 2025 with a new set of prompts!

we've switched some of the prompt categories around in an effort to make the event more inclusive of all kinds of fanworks. we've also included song prompts this year! the playlist is on spotify here.

we want to give a huge thank you to everyone who participated in the last event - it grew so much larger than we ever expected and it's truly amazing how you all took our last set of prompts and made so many wonderful things. keep it up!

a couple housekeeping notes: we will not be reblogging every entry this year. mods will keep an eye on the blog if you have any questions, but the reblogs were too much last time. thank you for your understanding!

we will be closing the 2023 collection on December 31. thank you for your continued participation, but it's time to look forward!

the link for the new collection will be posted here January 1.

we're looking forward to seeing what you create this year!

alt text below the cut.

Year of the OTP 2025

The Rules: the Ao3 collection accepts any /-ship works inspired by a prompt from this sheet The Challenge: make 12 works for one ship in one year, using prompts from each month

*you do not need to do the challenge to post to the AO3 collection, as long as you follow the rules*

January first kiss ♦ “may I have this dance” ♦ sharing clothes ♦ BDSM AU ♦ stockholm syndrome ♦ Strong – One Direction

February Valentine’s Day ♦ “it made me think of you” ♦ bed sharing ♦ multiple penetration ♦ mind control/mind break ♦ Like Real People Do – Hozier

March fresh starts ♦ “what are you doing with that”♦ florist/tattoo artist ♦ phone sex ♦ major character death ♦ Take Care – Drake

April pranks ♦ “right in front of my salad” ♦ running away together ♦ dom bottom/sub top ♦ raised to be a killer ♦ Drops of Jupiter – Train

May hanahaki ♦ “we’re dating? since when?” ♦ body swap ♦ magical sex toys ♦ stalking ♦ Paper Rings – Taylor Swift

June pride ♦ “I can’t get you out of my mind” ♦ relationship reveal ♦ unconventional sex positions ♦ paying a debt with your body ♦ Good Looking – Dixon Dallas

July vacation together ♦ “I like my _ how I like my coffee” ♦ kidfic ♦ mutual masturbation ♦ dehumanization ♦ You May Be Right – Billy Joel

August Sports AU ♦ “you’re thinking too much”♦ cooking together ♦ object insertion/ penetration ♦ becoming a monster ♦ You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC

September high school/college sweethearts ♦ “come here” ♦ date night gone wrong ♦ semi-public sex ♦ abduction ♦ Thinking Bout You – Frank Ocean

October costumes ♦ “boo” ♦ online dating ♦ shibari ♦ mutual non-con ♦ Mr. Brightside – The Killers

November camping ♦ “are you sure” ♦ touch-starved ♦ cockwarming ♦ abusive relationship ♦ A Thousand Years – Christina Perri

December holiday traditions ♦ “where are you taking me” ♦ bathing together ♦ food play ♦ tortured for information ♦ Everything Is Alright – Laura Shigihara

[its-luna-noel]

took a sip of what's drowning us | satosugu

Suguru tries to get a fresh start after the KFC breakup. Satoru holds a bit of a grudge.

tags: au - no curses, post-breakup, fresh starts, yandere!gojo, bottom gojo, knife play, smut, major character death, angst, hurt/no comfort

word count: 1.9k

masterlist | link to ao3

notes: hello again! this is part 3 to the year of the otp event for this year; i hope you enjoy! i had a lot of fun writing this one (i'm a bottom gojo truther till i die).

Suguru isn’t happy, but he’s trying.

He tries to tell himself that it’s normal to feel like this; it’s only been a week since he broke up with Satoru on that busy street in Shinjuku, and although he’s relieved to be in a new place – he already moved out of his old apartment they shared – the sudden emptiness still gets to him at times. He misses the good times, the times when things weren’t so complicated and they could just have a laugh together.

But those times are over, now.

And so he moves on. Or he tries to, at least. He buries himself in his work, arriving at the tattoo shop for his apprenticeship early every morning and leaving late into the night, a new sleeve of fake skin beautifully decorated with black ink.

Then the next morning starts the same way.

As he unlocks the front door of the shop, keys jingling as he fumbles with them, the owner of the next-door flower shop sidles up beside him, flashing a friendly smile. “Morning, Suguru,” they say in a sleepy voice.

“Morning, Hanami,” he greets amiably, smiling back. “How are you this morning?”

They yawn, shrugging slightly. “Alright. You?”

“Just fine, thanks.” He swings the door open, shoving his keys into his pocket. “Have a good day!”

“You, too, Suguru.” Their eyes linger on him for just a moment longer before they duck inside the flower shop, disappearing to start their day.

Suguru smiles to himself, shaking his head. This is exactly what he needs: a fresh start.

He heads over to his station and starts on sketches, trying to build his own flash as his apprenticeship starts to ramp up. Soon he’ll be able to tattoo on his own clients, which he’s excited for.

It’s a strange feeling, to look forward to something after all this time.

So for now he sticks with his fake skin, getting used to holding the tattoo gun and figuring out his own style.

Little does he know, the next day Hanami will go missing under mysterious circumstances. Until their body is found in their apartment dumpster, mutilated and cut apart in an obvious crime of passion, of rage, of revenge.

Suguru feels the loss like an open wound. It’s just one more thing he’s lost in such a short amount of time.

It’s not until he’s awoken in the dead of night that he finally understands what’s happening.

There’s a creaking noise, like a slow, deliberate footstep on his floorboards. Suguru tries to jolt out of bed, reaching blindly in the darkness for anything he can use for a weapon, because he’s not going to be next, not after Hanami–

Then there’s a body on his, and Suguru lets out a yelp when chilling metal is pressed against his throat. But the body feels familiar, feels like coming home, and Suguru’s body stiffens against the bed.

“Satoru,” he hisses through his teeth, panic quelling in favor of frustration and bewilderment, “what the hell?”

A grin like the flash of a knife, and Satoru leans in, his breath warm against Suguru’s cheek. “Hey, babe,” he whispers, and the sharp edge of the blade digs just a little bit deeper, enough to make Suguru swallow nervously. “Didn’t you miss me?”

“Satoru,” he repeats himself, his voice wavering nervously, “get out.”

Satoru pouts, and the expression is almost cute, but his stunning eyes are wild and dangerous as they flicker down to watch the knife against Suguru’s beautiful throat. God, the desire to see red flowing, to lean down and taste… It’s almost overwhelming.

Suguru fights to swallow again. His voice is surprisingly even when he asks, “What are you doing with that?”

Satoru grins again, and he licks his teeth, humming under his breath. The sound is almost thoughtful. “Just saying hi. You know you always liked it when I was a bit of a freak.”

Suguru feels his cheeks flush pink, but he just grits his teeth and says, “A bit? This is crossing several lines.”

Satoru’s quiet for a long moment. Then, in a voice that’s almost sad, regretful, “I missed you.”

Suguru’s heart clenches, but he doesn’t let up. He asks incredulously, “So you decided to break into my apartment and threaten me?”

“I’m not threatening you.” Satoru says it like it’s obvious. “I’m getting you back.”

“Oh, and the knife is just for shits and giggles,” Suguru remarks sarcastically.

Satoru’s smile returns, and he leans back in, breath fanning over Suguru’s face again. “I already told you, it’s ‘cause you know you like it.” His lips brush against Suguru’s.

Suguru’s entire body stiffens, and he has to hold back a groan, because despite everything, he’s been dreaming about those lips for days. Been dreaming about his body pressing up against his, wrapped around his, and – he has to admit – been dreaming about this absolute freak.

Satoru’s right – he always has been. And Suguru’s always been obsessed.

Satoru can see the internal conflict in those violet eyes, can see how he’s struggling, how badly he wants to give in. And something inside Satoru rejoices, because despite everything, despite all the ways he’s fucked up, Suguru still wants him, even if it’s deep down.

That just means he has to dig it out of him.

So he leans down a little further, and he parts his lips to lick a slow, sensual stripe over Suguru’s mouth. Suguru shudders beneath him, holding back a moan at the sensation of his hot tongue on his lips, and his fingers tightly grip the sheets beneath him as Satoru nips at his lower lip.

“Tell me I can kiss you,” Satoru whispers against his mouth.

Suguru shivers again, before reaching up one hand and grabbing the back of Satoru’s head. Then he crushes his lips against Satoru’s, and both of them let out soft, mirrored groans of pleasure at finally coming back together.

Satoru removes the knife from Suguru’s neck, but not without shallowly slicing a cut across his skin. Suguru hisses in slight pain, but he just buries the noise against Satoru’s mouth, his lips parting. His tongue brushes against Satoru’s, tasting and wanting, and Satoru returns the movement with desperation of his own. Satoru’s hands are already tearing at Suguru’s sweatpants, and Suguru growls low in his throat before he rips off Satoru’s shirt, tossing it to the side.

Fingers roam over familiar features, reacquainting themselves with the body against them.

Once Suguru’s sweatpants are off, thrown to the opposite side of the bed, Satoru reaches down to his own joggers and pushes them down his muscular thighs. In one slow movement, he frees his own aching cock from his boxers, the tip blushing pink in anticipation of what's coming.

Suguru knows they shouldn’t be doing this. Knows how this ends, knows it doesn’t change a damn thing between them. But he’s desperate, he needs Satoru like he needs air to breathe, and so he grabs Satoru by the hips and grinds him down onto his dick.

Suguru groans. Satoru whimpers.

Satoru reaches over to the nightstand and searches around for lube. When he finds some, he hands it to Suguru and lets him slowly stretch him open with his fingers, lubricating Satoru’s waiting hole.

He’s already opening up for him.

Then, when he’s ready, Suguru guides Satoru’s hips down onto his waiting cock, the blunt head slowly pushing inside. Satoru moans pathetically, like he always does, and Suguru can’t help the breathless chuckle at the melody of his voice.

It’s slow, aching. Satoru would call it loving.

Once Suguru has bottomed out, his balls flush against Satoru’s ass, both of them moan again, panting heavily. Then Satoru lifts up onto his knees, slowly pulling himself up off of Suguru’s dick until only the tip is left inside.

“It was always going to end like this, baby,” Satoru whispers passionately, head falling back as his hips rock down onto Suguru’s, stretching himself open on his veiny length. “Was always going to be us, just like this.”

“Satoru,” Suguru chokes out, hands unconsciously coming to grip his ass. His fingers tighten into muscular flesh.

Satoru practically snarls, gripping Suguru’s hair and yanking his head back. “Say it again.”

Suguru moans loudly, lashes fluttering closed in ecstasy. “Satoru,” he repeats, and he feels Satoru pull back his hips, movements achingly slow, before dropping himself back down onto Suguru’s aching cock. Satoru’s moaning, too, but it sounds feral, like he’s fucking himself in an animalistic frenzy. He leans down to bite at Suguru’s throat, to leave bruising marks right above the red welt his knife left.

Suguru keens, his head falling back against the pillows as he plants his feet on the mattress and starts fucking up into Satoru’s hole. He’s no longer allowing the slow pace, instead chasing their highs with a brutal intensity. Satoru’s mouth pauses its attack on his throat, and all he can do is moan and whine into the crook of his neck. He just takes the punishing thrusts, clenching around Suguru hard enough to make his lover grunt and groan.

“Feels so good,” Satoru gasps against Suguru’s shoulder, pushing his hips into Suguru’s to force him even deeper. “Oh my god.”

“Fuck,” Suguru grits through his teeth. He rams his hips even faster, over and over again. It’s enough to make Satoru drool, spit dripping from the corner of his mouth until his tongue lolls out to catch it. “Gonna cum.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Satoru pants, shoulders heaving as he nods desperately. “Cum inside me, Suguru. Please.”

Suguru groans, his body arching as he does, and he cums, painting Satoru’s insides in white. At the sensation of Suguru’s perfect cock twitching inside him, at the sight of his blissed out expression, Satoru shudders with his own orgasm, ropes of cum spurting over Suguru’s muscular belly.

They pant heavily, in synchrony, perfectly in tune, as always.

As they come down, Suguru slowly helps Satoru off of his softening dick, making him whimper softly. Then he turns over and lets him get comfortable in bed, covering up his limp body with the blankets.

Satoru can’t help but smile as he closes his eyes. He’s gotten him back, he thinks. His Suguru.

But in the stillness comes a soft voice. “Satoru,” Suguru whispers from beside him, and Satoru can hear the anguish in his voice. “We can’t keep doing this.”

Satoru stiffens a little at his words. “Keep doing what?”

“Keep thinking things will change. It’s…it’s not going to.” Satoru stays silent, and Suguru speaks again, his voice mournful and melancholic. “We’re not good for each other, Satoru.”

He hisses, “We’re the only ones for each other.”

This time Suguru remains quiet, and neither of them speak again. Suguru slowly falls asleep, and Satoru wishes he could follow.

Instead, in the silence of night, Satoru reaches blindly into the darkness, fingers gripping the hilt of his blade. His fingers flex, and he wonders if this is really what he wants. He’s never wanted to hurt Suguru, even if that’s what they’ve been destined to do their entire lives.

But if he can’t be with Suguru in this life, then maybe the next will have to do.

So Satoru lifts the knife, aiming under ribs, and when he pushes inside his lover, blood runs slick. Suguru makes one last choking noise, gurgling into the darkness, violet eyes wide as they meet startling blue.

Then, nothing. And for a moment, Satoru is left alone, just like last time.

So, in the stillness, Satoru turns his knife on himself, and follows Suguru into their next life, hoping his sins won’t condemn him to repeating the cycle over again.

thank you for reading! -luna xx link to ao3

[morganali-art]

Year of the OTP 2025 - January First Kiss (Cysaille x Elliott)

Been on the "to draw" list since I watched Elliott's 10 heart event a ways back 🥰

[wreckless-tempestry]

“May I have this dance?”

Year of the OTP 2025 — January Prompt

Characters: Finn x Shrimpo (Dandy’s World)

AN: WHOO I managed to make this 4.2k words exactly lmao. Anyway euhh this is my first time posting my writing to Tumblr so I hope you enjoy! These two tickle my brain so I dedicated my January to them (and will probably do so again for the rest of 2025 💀). Not sure how many shrimpbowl enjoyers are on Tumblr but pspspsps come out come out wherever you are.

As far as the whole New Years thing went, Shrimpo wasn’t a fan. Maybe other Toons felt the need to make silly resolutions, or claim it was time for a ‘new them’ but not him – he was already awesome and the best of all Toons just the way he was; there was no need for change! Thus, every January 1st that rolled around was met with Shrimpo’s typical disdain. Clearly such a meaningless date change warranted no means for celebration.

His obviously impeccable logic never seemed to pick up with the other Toons, however, and just like every year Gardenview was hosting a dance that night in the center, with all Toons being welcome to attend. A certain hum of anticipation could be felt throughout the day, with all of Gardenview’s inhabitants bustling about to make sure everything was ready for the big event. Several Toons were helping to set up the final decorations, with Dandy’s supervision, and the rest were getting themselves properly dressed and prepared for the evening.

Shrimpo was… in his room, predictably. He was trying to get in some boxing practice, but it was proving rather difficult to get in the zone when Scraps was loudly rummaging through her closet next door, giggling with her brother Goob all the while. He hated Scraps, he hated Goob, he hated dances, hated hated hated—

“Heya, Shrimpo! You pumped about the dance too?”

Shrimpo’s fist missed the punching bag entirely at the sudden voice behind him, and he whirled around with boiling ire to yell in some idiot’s face — to be met with a familiar gap-toothed grin.

Finn had traded out his usual orange life vest (god how Shrimpo despised that thing) for a white dress shirt and crimson tie, accompanied with slacks that matched the shirt. The cuffs were folded back several times, and those shoes had to be at least 2 sizes too big, yet the fishbowl seemed practically ecstatic. Like staring at a goddamn sun, Shrimpo thought, his previous loathing bubbling down to faint annoyance.

“Your tie’s crooked, dummy,” Shrimpo commented rather than replying, turning back to his punching bag.

“Ack! Come on, Goob, I trusted you!” Finn replied semi-jokingly as he attempted to tighten the offending tie, with little success. Shrimpo sighed in agitation, staring at the bag in front of him for one fleeting moment before reluctantly beginning to take his boxing gloves off. 

“You asked Goob to do your tie? That’s the dumbest thing I've ever heard.” Shrimpo snorted as he approached the other Toon. 

“Well, it was his tie, and he seemed so happy about–” 

In one swift movement Shrimpo grabbed the tie in his hands and yanked the knot upward (albeit perhaps a little too forcefully) so that it rested snugly against Finn’s neck. The boy in question coughed in mild surprise and tugged on his collar slightly. “Are ties supposed to be this tight?” he queried.

“Of course it is! I always tie them right,” Shrimpo boasted, a small smirk appearing on his face as he stepped back to admire his handiwork. No need to mention it was the only time he’d ever tied a tie — surely this was proof enough. 

“Well, if you say so,” Finn conceded, his previous grin reemerging. “Thanks, Shrimpo! You’re a big kelp.”

Of course. Shrimpo knew it was too good to be true, to have evaded any aquatic puns for so long. His smirk fell almost instantly. “That doesn’t even make sense!” he answered with a scowl, crossing his arms. “All you did was switch out a letter!”

“I’m running low on material right now, okay?” Finn complained in response. “I’m going out to pick up some more books tomorrow, and then I’ll have a ton of good jokes for you, promise!”

Shrimpo was tempted to retort that all of Finn’s jokes were terrible and he was a menace to everyone around him, but the fishbowl was already backing out of the room. “Thanks again! Can’t wait to see you at the dance!” were Finn’s final words before he scampered off down the hall.

“Huh? Hey, wait—!” Shrimpo was far too late to call out to Finn and explain that he had no intention whatsoever of leaving his room tonight. What, did Finn think he’d be caught dead on a dance floor? Hell no. Besides, with all the other toons up at Gardenview Center, he might finally be able to get a moment of peace and quiet down here. 

With an exasperated groan, Shrimpo shuffled over to his bed and flopped down onto the somewhat stiff mattress. Punching the pillow once, he rolled onto his back and stared up at his remarkably unextraordinary ceiling. The hallway outside had quieted down significantly, he realized; most of the Toons must already be making their way upstairs to the dance. “I hate pillows,” he muttered for good measure.

It was at rare moments like these, when there was no one around to berate and nothing to profess his undying hatred towards, that Shrimpo presumed he would have some peace of mind. Usually he did, or at least his thoughts weren’t quite so loud. Today, however, his brain seemed to have different plans. Against his own will, he started to think with purpose, and not only about his hate for remarkably unextraordinary ceilings.

The hall was silent. Everyone else was at the dance. Shrimpo was alone in the dorms. The dance would last a couple hours. He had nothing important to do and a lot of time to fill. Thinking would only last him so long before he didn’t want to anymore. Nobody had any plans of running into him. 

Well… almost nobody.

Heya Shrimpo! You pumped about the dance too?

Are ties supposed to be this tight?

Thanks again! Can’t wait to see you at the dance!

Might as well go to bed a little earlier than usual, eh? Not much else to do anyway. He closed his eyes. He could hear the faint buzz of the fluorescent lamps out in the hall. He opened his eyes. He looked at the clock. Four minutes had passed since the dorms had cleared out. 

Thanks again! Can’t wait to see you at the dance!

He looked back up at the empty, empty ceiling.

Thanks again! Can’t wait to see you at the dance!

He swung his legs over the edge of the bed. He walked over to where he had placed his boxing gloves, stared down at them, and turned back around again. Shuffling a little ways, he opened his closet and stared at what little contents it harbored. He closed it, looked at the bed, looked at the doorway.

Thanks again! Can’t wait to–

He slammed the closet open again. The room felt smaller, the silence deafening. The air hung about him like a blanket made to smother.

‘I need to get out of here.’ He whipped around again to make for the hall, then paused. Where to? Hell would freeze over the day anything worth visiting popped up in this hellhole. The food in the cafeteria might as well be garbage, and he didn’t particularly have an appetite at the moment anyway. Stopping by the rooms of other Toons would be weird, not to mention pointless — everyone and their mother was probably at the goddamn…

He stood in the center of his room, breathing out of his mouth and his sights fixed on nothing. He looked up and to the side. Four minutes had turned to seven.

Thanks aga–

He turned, excruciatingly slowly, and glanced back at his closet. 

Gardenview Center was, predictably, chock-full with guests. Several were up on the dais in the center of the room dancing to the music being broadcast over the speakers. Others were milling around by the food and beverage stations, and yet others were wandering aimlessly about, whether by themselves or with friends. Finn was nowhere in sight.

Shrimpo stood stiffly in the entryway, hands in fists at his side. The most remotely formal thing he could find was some unlabeled letterman jacket, which he had slung over his regular attire. 

“Shrimpo! Glad t’see ya here, friend!” Goob waved at him as he walked past, his sister at his side. He sported an uncharacteristically dignified tuxedo, bowtie and all.

“Shut up!” Shrimpo hissed immediately. “I hate dances and I hate you!” He silently congratulated himself on not completely losing his touch; he still had his fiery tongue after all. Goob gave him a weird look before turning and making his way inside. Scraps gave Shrimpo a dirty side-eye as she passed; he shot her the finger in return.

This is stupid. He whipped around on his heel, fully prepared to take his leave. Why the hell was he here? He had made it abundantly clear to everyone that he wasn't all for such events. Finn would just have to suck it up and deal with it; what sort of imbecile leaves a guy hanging after all but–

A hand grabbed his own from behind him. For the second time that day, Shrimpo spun to shoot a scathing remark at an unfortunate Toon, and was met with the same face.

“There you are! I was waiting for you.” Finn shot him his trademark grin. When the hell would that tooth grow in again? “Not trying to leave yet, are ya? You haven't tried the punch yet!”

“Wh–” Shrimpo was already being all but dragged across the room to the food stations. A couple of Toons glanced at him in what looked like surprise – Shrimpo made a point to glare at them all, despite his slight daze from the abrupt change in plans that was occurring in front of his very eyes.

He blinked, and then he stood in front of a bowl full of some crimson liquid, which Finn was currently ladling into a Solo cup. “Trust me, it’s great stuff!” the fishbowl assured Shrimpo, extending the cup to him. “Teagan was the one who made it, so you know it’s COD-ta be good! Hehehe.”

Shrimpo stared at the offending cup, and the contents of which were the reason his plans of escape had been foiled. Coming back to himself somewhat, he briskly snatched the thing from Finn’s hand, glared at the punch it held within, and downed the thing in one angry gulp. Sweet was the first word that came to mind, though not unbearably so. Tasted sort of like strawberries.

“I hate punch,” he muttered, not with the same bite as he thought it would have. He wondered where all his capability with Goob had gone. All that had changed was the audience, so what was it that kept him from speaking with the venom he knew he was capable of?

“You say that about everything, silly,” Finn chuckled, his eyes glinting in the dim lighting as he helped himself to his own cup. “SHORE-ley there must be something you don’t hate, right?”

Shrimpo was fully ready to counter that it was entirely possible and absolutely true that he despised everything, and maybe Finn should come to terms with that and stop trying so hard – and then all of a sudden they weren’t alone. Skittering towards them was a familiar little runt with a wide smile on her face, Rodger tailing close behind.

“Finn!!” Toodles hopped in place upon reaching them, hands clasped tightly together. Her usual hoodie had been replaced with a remarkably similar dress, except with a lot more unnecessary frills. “Hi hi hi!” Her gaze drifted briefly to Shrimpo, and her facial expression switched to the sort of look bratty little children give you when trying (and failing) to appear aloof. “And you’re here too, I guess.” 

“You little–” Shrimpo had the sudden urge to upend the punch bowl over Toodles’ sorry mug, but was interrupted by Rodger’s more even tone.

“I apologize. Toodles, be nice,” he hummed, his one eye half-lidded as always (though he didn’t look too apologetic). “Though I will say I am… pleasantly surprised to meet you here, Shrimpo.” The older man continued on before Shrimpo could cut in. “Finn, I asked Teagan to reserve Toodles and I a table, and she requested that I open an invitation to you as well. It’s… quite a large table for only three.” Glancing at Shrimpo once more, he added, “I suppose you can bring along your company, if you’d like.”  

“Really?!” Finn brightened immediately, his smile widening. “Well… gee, I’d love to!” His gaze turned to Shrimpo suddenly, fixing him with his bright, questioning gaze. “Only if you want to as well, though,” he added with a light laugh.

‘What the hell –?’ Why was Finn so adamant on keeping him around? Shrimpo wasn’t dumb; he was well aware that he would not be what other Toons might consider good company or whatever. Even Rodger, who was arguably one of the more level-headed members of Gardenview, seemed somewhat hesitant about extending the offer to him – his sole reason for doing so seemed to be out of politeness for Finn’s sake. The boy could have used this opportunity to slip away and head off to do whatever it is normal people do at a party.  Yet for whatever reason, Finn seemed to be completely unbothered by Shrimpo’s demeanor. It baffled the shrimp to no end. And Shrimpo hated being baffled. 

 “Whatever,” he grumbled after a brief pause, glowering at the floor. Seeming to take this as a yes, Finn took Shrimpo’s free hand once more and proclaimed “Lead the way!” to Toodles, who seemed to have gotten bored of her withdrawn charade and was already beginning to skip off in the direction of wherever the hell they were headed, Rodger close behind and Finn and Shrimpo taking up the rear. The latter got the sense that he would not be arriving back at his dorm for a long while. 

Sitting with Rodger and the rest wasn’t… horrible, Shrimpo supposed. Much better than dancing at least, God forbid. He had sort of tuned out the second the rest of the group had moved on from greeting each other, and was now staring off into space with his resting bitch face. 

At least Finn seemed to be enjoying himself, Shrimpo mused with a sideways glance at the boy, who was amiably chatting it up with Teagan. The two of them had always had some sort of friendship, with the latter often inviting Finn to some dumb tea party or whatever. What was the point, anyway?— He would just end up drinking water the entire time. Somebody should host a water party instead; Finn would surely all but jump for joy at the—

“Alllright folks!” Dandy’s sunshiny voice echoing from the speakers derailed Shrimpo’s train of thought. Jeez, could he finish one sentence even in his thoughts?! “We’ll be wrapping tonight up with one more song! Everybody, grab a partner or two and head up to the dance floor!” Cheers rose joyously from the crowd, before hands started grabbing other hands and any Toons not already on the dais began to swarm forwards in small crowds. Toodles grabbed the hands of Rodger and Teagan and leaped out of her seat to join the throng, towing along the two chuckling adults.

‘Ugh.’ Shrimpo had never attended one of these godforsaken parties before, but already he could tell that this was his cue to head out. He rose from his seat, empty plastic cup still in hand – only for his free palm to be captured by another. 

“May I have this dance?” Once again, Finn’s eyes that seemed to almost sparkle met Shrimpo’s, his hand extended towards him. Briefly taken aback, Shrimpo hurriedly regained his scowl. “Are you kidding me? You couldn’t bribe me a million dollars to go up there.” (If such an amount was actually procured, Shrimpo may have reconsidered, but no matter.) 

“Oh, come on. Would it kill you to enjoy yourself, just this once?” Finn’s voice had gotten quieter. “It’s only one song.” 

“I hate dances.” The words sounded less convincing then they had the first time around. 

“You say that about everything,” Finn answered softly for the second time that night. He wasn’t laughing this time. The room seemed to get a couple degrees warmer.

“I can’t promise you you’ll like it, but better to try now than to be left wondering later, right? I have a feeling you’d be even less satisfied than if you just take the risk and see for yourself.” 

People did not look at Shrimpo the way Finn was looking at him now. “I…” Shrimpo scrambled to speak, to refute Finn’s abruptly silken words – what do you care? How can you claim to know how I feel? – and for once in his life found his jaw unwilling to let the words loose. 

Why? When any other Toon could have easily left him aside with little remorse, Finn seemed determined to pull him off the sidelines. He didn’t have to invite Shrimpo to the party, nor did he have to extend a seating invitation meant primarily for him to Shrimpo. And most certainly he did not have to invite him to dance. It could have been anybody that Finn invited. So then why him?

Shrimpo did not know. This he could not deny, no matter how much it terrified infuriated him. 

The music was starting, sounding as if it were reaching him from underwater. Finn’s other hand reached forward to join its twin, wrapping lightly around the back of Shrimpo’s palm. The twinkle in his eye had become warmer. “Please? For me?”

One other fact Shrimpo was forced to acknowledge: Finn did know him, perhaps alarmingly well. Though his brain urged him to refuse, to play it safe as he always did, there was a nagging little flicker of curiosity that could not be beaten down. It whispered possibilities and queries in his ear, one after the other.

What’s it like to dance? Would people be looking? Would I care? Would I enjoy it?

Would I enjoy it more with Finn?

Finn knew the answer to none of these questions.

But maybe he’d be able to find them out.

“Fine.” His voice was almost a whisper, his gaze set on the ground underfoot. He could almost hear Finn’s eyebrows raise. The silence between them seemed to ring in Shrimpo’s ears.

Had Finn remained quiet for any longer, Shrimpo would have disappeared from Gardenview Center faster than Pebbles could bark, but such a thing was never to happen, for Finn smiled and replied, “Okay.” And then the two of them were walking towards the dais, their hands still intertwined. Shrimpo didn’t know if he felt weightless or even more weighed down than before. 

The lights were glaring and the music was even louder and Shrimpo was already having second thoughts, but Finn captured his attention and kept it, and he felt a little more grounded. It took a second of standing and staring at one another to realize that the action of dancing was now a requirement.

“...Um. I might not actually know how to dance,” Finn admitted, giggling sheepishly.

“Are you for real?” Shrimpo quirked one irritated eyebrow, though he found he didn’t feel the familiar boil of anger beneath his skin. It felt funny… not necessarily in a bad context. 

“Oh, I’m sure it’s not that hard,” Finn dismissed with a carefree wave of his hand, glancing over at some of the other dancers. “Uh, let me see… okay, okay, I think I get it! Sorta. Just… try to copy me, I guess. Okay?”

Not unsurprisingly, the instinct to make a snappy comment threatened to resurface, but no words ended up leaving his mouth. Instead he watched where Finn was stepping, how he held himself, and he took the same step. And he did it again. And again. 

Not once did their hands part.

If other Toons had been looking, Shrimpo hadn't been paying attention.

“Let's give a round of applause to Boxten for helping to assemble tonight's playlist!” Clapping ensued from the crowd, with Glisten grinning and uttering a whoo! The music box in question turned a light shade of crimson and ducked his eyes, though a small smile flickered across his lips. “Thank you all for attending, and have a wonderful rest of your year!” The speakers shut off with a click, and all the gathered Toons erupted in jubilant chatter. Some began to file out, while others lingered around for conversation.

Shrimpo stared at it all, unmoving. He didn’t know how to feel. His naturally angry front seemed pointless to him now, so how should he be instead? His chest felt tight, his head a little dizzy, but the sensation was… certainly not unpleasant.

The warm pressure on his hand tightened slightly, returning his attention to the present. “So?” Finn surveyed him inquisitively, grinning from ear to ear. His eyes were brighter than stars. “Was it okay?”

Shrimpo seemed to be having a bit of trouble with his reaction time, for it took a moment of all but gawking at the other boy before he could muster up a response. “...It… wasn’t bad,” he finally answered. 

“Are you glad you tried it?” The two had started ambling out of the center along with the rest of the lingering partygoers, almost without their knowledge. 

“...Uh-huh.”

“I thought so.” 

Neither Toon spoke for the rest of the trip to the dorms. 

“I guess this is where part ways for the night,” Finn hummed as the two paused outside of Shrimpo’s room. The muffled sounds of Toons winding down for the evening could be heard around them. 

“Eh? Oh.” Shrimpo had thought the walk would take longer than that, but he supposed he wasn’t in the most capable state of mind to be the judge of such things.

“Well… Goodnight, then. And, uh…” Finn lingered, looking almost uncertain for a moment. “…I had fun, earlier.” Shrimpo’s hand was released, leaving his hand abruptly cold. He tucked it into his pants pocket, feeling an odd sense of loss.

“Um. Me too. I guess,” he added, his usual habits refusing to be fully abandoned even now. A brief pause, in which the two boys stared unblinkingly at each other. Finn had small specks of amber in his eyes amidst the usual blue — like grains of sand, Shrimpo noted.

The silence quickly devolved into awkwardness, so to spare himself from further tension he muttered, “See you tomorrow,” and began to turn towards his doorway. 

He felt the faint brush of warmth against his cheek, a single soft breath close to his ear, and when he glanced to the side Finn was already dashing off down the hall, whipping around a corner and out of sight in a matter of seconds. He blinked, then blinked again. The hand that had been occupied by someone else’s moment before now raised to touch his fingertips to the skin. 

If he thought about it a little too hard he started feeling weird and fizzy, so he put that train of thought aside, shook his head and entered his room.

Other thoughts quickly rose to fill the empty space in his brain as he took off his letterman jacket. He felt as if something had shifted slightly between him and Finn tonight, though what exactly it had become he could not pinpoint. Should he ask about it, or should he just… know? Or maybe he wasn’t supposed to talk about it at all? Where did they stand with one another now?

Come to think of it, he had never really known what the two of them shared. He had thought that he would naturally be unapproachable with everyone, but a certain someone seemed to not apply to this dynamic the way everyone else seemed to. He found himself acting differently around Finn than he might with other Toons, even if it was but a slight difference — and what had transpired at the dance was decidedly not slight.

But… looking back, although he had certainly felt a little out of place and unnatural, he had felt almost… liberated, in a way. The act of ire came easily to him now with how often he used it around others, but back up on the dais, when the people around him were the last thing on his mind and his only focus was the mimicry of Finn’s steps… he hadn’t felt that uninhibited in years. And, he realized with shock, he wanted to feel that way again in the future.

Which left him wondering: 

How many things did he do, did he say, simply because he wanted to?

Perhaps he should save this revelation for another time. He slipped on his sleepwear and rolled onto his mattress, laying in the same position which he was in only a couple of hours before; the high of the night’s events was beginning to catch up to him. His ceiling was still remarkably unextraordinary. He didn’t mind; there were plenty of other, more extraordinary things he could think about instead.

He rolled over to face the wall and shut his eyes. He was out in seconds.

He dreamed of sparkling eyes and a gap-toothed grin. 

[sofya-fanfics]

First Kiss

Fandom : Ranma ½

Relationship : Ranma x Akane

My Year of the OTP 2025 contribution for the prompt : First Kiss.

I’m sorry for the mistakes, English is not my native language. I hope you like it.

Summary : Ranma would never admit it to her, but if he was sulking it was not because of the adhesive mark, or because he felt like his lips were stuck together, but because he had thought that he and Akane were going to kiss. Even if he had never imagined that their first kiss would happen like this. The two of them playing Romeo and Juliet in a play, in front of the whole school.

Disclaimer : Ranma 1/2 belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

@yearoftheotpevent

AO3 / FF.NET

Ranma walked on the fence, while Akane walked on the sidewalk next to him. He had not spoken to her since the end of the play. He was sulking. He knew it was childish, but he did not care. He moistened his lips and made a face. He could still feel the tape Akane had stuck on his mouth. She had dared to use on him the technique he had used on Kuno.

“Ranma, don’t tell me you’re still sulking.”

“What do you think ?”

He turned his head towards her and she laughed. He frowned, annoyed. Looks like the mark of the tape was still visible on his face.

“I’m sorry.”

She did not look that sorry, Ranma thought. He would never admit it to her, but if he was sulking it was not because of the adhesive mark, or because he felt like his lips were stuck together, but because he had thought that he and Akane were going to kiss. Even if he had never imagined that their first kiss would happen like this. The two of them playing Romeo and Juliet in a play, in front of the whole school.

It was not the first time they had almost kissed, but each time someone or something broke the moment. But this time he had really believed it and he really wanted it. And he was convinced that Akane felt the same.

“It’s not that bad,” she said.

“It’s not that bad?” He repeated.

Why did not she understand ? He jumped off the fence and landed in front of her.

“What if I had done the same thing to you, how would you have reacted ?”

“I wouldn't behave like a child like you're doing.”

She was getting angry and so was he.

“You took me for an idiot, you acted with me as if I were Kuno.”

“So that's why ? Because you were offended ?”

“Are you stupid or are you pretending not to understand ?”

He could feel that she was more and more angry, but he did not care, he wanted to provoke her. And he knew what could make her lose her temper.

“Kawaikune !”

“Ranma no baka !”

Little by little, without either of them realizing it, they had gotten closer. He could feel the heat of her body, her breath mixing with his. He looked into her eyes. He was flustered, more than he had ever been.

“Why didn’t you kiss me ?” He asked in a breath.

“Because I didn’t want to do it in front of everyone.”

Ranma opened his eyes wide. She had wanted to kiss him too. He moved a little closer to her. Or maybe it was Akane who had moved closer. Their lips brushed hesitantly until they touched. Ranma felt his heart beating fast and a shiver ran through his body. Akane put her hands around the back of his neck, pulling him a little closer to her. He put his arms around her waist, holding her against him. It was not the first time he had held her in his arms, but they had never been this intimate.

They pulled apart slightly. Akane was blushing and he could feel his face went red. She laughed lightly.

“Your lips are still sticky,” she explained.

He laughed too. Their first kiss, he thought. It had not gone the way he had imagined, but to him, it was the perfect kiss.

The end

[captastra]

Chapters: 1/? Fandom: Dragon Age: The Veilguard (Video Game) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Illario Dellamorte/Rook, Lucanis Dellamorte/Rook Characters: Rook (Dragon Age), Illario Dellamorte, Lucanis Dellamorte Additional Tags: Unrequited Love, Jealousy, First Kiss, Rebound Kiss, conflicted feelings, Sexual Content, Love Triangle, Minor Lucanis Dellamorte/Neve Gallus Summary:

After witnessing Lucanis and Neve together, Nesiri struggles to understand her feelings and ends up in the arms of none other than Illario Dellamorte.

~

Minors DNI!! Thanks to @lustaniasaxon (who also beta’d <333), I have gotten into Illario/Rook hell and loving it!! Decided to write this for @yearoftheotpevent as well using the First Kiss prompt.

Tagalist (check pinned post to opt in/out): @olliesaurus-rex @poetikat @confidentandgood @spaceratprodigy @darkfire1177 @theelderhazelnut @jellisdraws @oh-nostalgiaa @seliviawanders @thisisrigged4 @bitchesofostwick @orionlancasterr @incognito-insomniac @amadeus-lmao @finding-comfort-in-rain @euryalex @mxanigel @darkqueen458 @arendaes @adelaidedrubman @aceghosts @iobsessoverfictionalmen @inafieldofdaisies @bearcina @shellibisshe @mathlann @cloudofbutterflies92 @imogenkol @undyingembers @carlosoliveiraa @tommyarashikage @neonshrike @space-whalesharks @davrinsgriffons @ronqueesha @miscneilleaneous @saintvalentinex @thedeadthree  

[solarskips]

MUTUAL PINING 

March prompt for the year of the otp

to me, none of these boys could get their shit together to actually confess to their crushes, for what feels like the longest time!

[artificial-absinthe]

For the @yearoftheotpevent , using the prompt Mutual pinning.

I gave a lighter gladiator armor to Soundwave. I tried to make it bulkier as it was, but it turned out much more slender.

I love his slender shapes so much that I'm unconsciously unable to draw him otherwise, it seems.

[primalmusic]

Decided to try @yearoftheotpevent this year! For the January prompts "first kiss" and "may I have this dance?":

nothing I'm running from (you make me strong) Fandom: Roswell New Mexico Rating: General Audiences Relationship: Rosa Ortecho/Isobel Evans Characters: Rosa Ortecho, Isobel Evans Additional Tags: Pride, Art

[lilac-hecox]

Title: The Vow

Pairing: Ian/Anthony - ianthony

Rating: General

Summary:

“Crazy, isn’t it?” Anthony says. His eyes slide to Ian before they turn to the skyline stretched out before the two of them, “it’s ours again.”

Ian nods. It’s been such a journey, a long road with and without Anthony. To be able to make it through to the other side and to own Smosh, to reclaim it, and with Anthony, it feels like a dream in the very best way. It’s something Ian never even dared to let himself dream might happen.

“Thank you,” Anthony says, continuing when Ian doesn’t speak. It’s not the first time he’s said this to Ian since they’ve reunited, “for keeping it alive.”

Notes: This was written for @yearoftheotpevent 2025! January prompt: first dance. Was also inspired by Ian mentioning that Anthony made a vow to never leave him during the latest fan fix episode!

[fallenasleepyetagain]

Prompt: Mind Control/Mind Break

Prompt From: @yearoftheotpevent​

Fandom: Sonic the Hedgehog

Genres/CW: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Manipulation, Time Travel, Kidnapping, Tyranny, Dystopian, Bad Ending, King Shadow AU

Characters: Silver, Shadow, Sonic, Amy, Surge, Kit, & Various OCs

Pairing(s): Sonic/Amy, Silver/Shadow

Word Count: 17K

this fic. KILLED ME. ignore how it’s March 1st. yaaaay February!!! i had a good time writing it and i hope you enjoy <3

Summary:

Nothing ever fills this hole inside your heart. Shadow the Hedgehog is alone.

But that's fine.

Bow your heads low, He won!

ALL HAIL SHADOW! He's preserved all of it,

Bow your heads low Their legacies are immortal, just like him,

ALL HAIL SHADOW!

"Sir? There's someone- here, for you."

"Who?"

"I-, err. We don't know. There's no record of him anywhere."

"...Hmph. I'll come investigate myself."

[yearoftheotpevent]

hello fan creators!! your January prompts are....

first kiss | "may I have this dance" | sharing clothes | BDSM AU | stockholm syndrome | Strong by One Direction

we look forward to seeing anything you create!

here are a couple reminders:

we welcome all fanworks. gifsets, art, fic, comics, playlists. create to your heart's content!

we don't judge ships. write for any ship you want! poly? sure! someone told you it's problematic? we don't care!

please only put slash-tagged (romantic relationship) works in the AO3 collection

we've made a tumblr community! come find us here under "Year of the OTP 2025"

[its-luna-noel]

honey, just put your sweet lips on my lips | satosugu

Suguru finds a body in the bog.

warnings: horror elements, body horror, based on "like real people do" by hozier, sharing a bed, sleepy kisses

word count: 0.9k

masterlist | link to ao3

notes: hello! here's the second part of the year of the otp event for 2025; hope you enjoy!

Satoru Gojo has been rotting for centuries.

He doesn’t remember when he died; he can’t recall what day or month or year it was when his horse got stuck in the bog and drowned with him on its back. All he knows is that his jaw is permanently agape with his last aching breath, taken right before he drowned in the thick mud and standing water.

His snowy white hair was stained with thick muck; reeds got stuck between his teeth while he tried to claw for one more breath. He was selfish, so greedy, just one more…

And it never came.

So he began to rot, the taste of wetlands on his tongue as his flesh grew papery around brittle bones. His face grew sunken around his skull, lips peeling back from teeth until he was unrecognizable as the handsome adventurer that once traversed these lands.

Decades passed as his body sank lower and lower in the bog, every new rainy season piling a new layer of sediment over his remains. His eyes, decayed in their sockets, now stare ahead blindly into the eternal darkness, fingers yearning to claw their way up to the surface for one last look at the wide open hillside. But they lie stone-still at his sides, forever wondering what would’ve come from his life if he’d just survived to take one more breath.

Rapid footsteps storm along the quagmire.

The sound of heavy footfalls wakes Satoru’s consciousness once more, just like it has time and time again over the last several hundred years. His thoughts, still stuck like feet in the mud, scream for the next adventurer to grab his hand and drag him onto dry land, to save him from this watery death. But they were decades too late, and they themselves would either run on by or get stuck in this mud, cursed to the same agonizing end that he once met.

Suguru Geto is treading water, digging with desperation at the thick, sticky mud.

Every handful he digs away is replaced by more water, until he’s up to his elbows in muck. But he just keeps digging, desperate, dark bangs stuck to his forehead with sweat. Bugs and beetles crawled up over his clawing hands, and Suguru shakes them away with a yelp, but redoubles his efforts, until he’s finally deep enough to bury away something to never be found again, and he drops the locket of memories in that pocket of mud, before pushing dirt and moss back over that spot.

Memories disappear into the wetlands, buried deep.

As his hands push through mud and he starts to drag himself out of the muck, clothes stained with the ichor of this bog, his foot catches on something, and he stumbles, catching himself on his hands. His chest grows heavy with panic, terrified that he’s going to join those memories in this place of death and rot. But when he reaches down to free himself from whatever branch or vine is wrapped around his ankle, he lets out a shaky gasp, because it’s not a plant that’s grabbing him.

It’s a skeletal hand, mummified from years buried, forsaken as memory.

Suguru reaches down to pry the hand from his ankle, finger by finger until he’s free, but the hand just reaches out and grabs his own, begging to be pulled from the bog, begging to be gifted just one more gasp of air before the body sinks back into the filth.

So Suguru swallows his disgust and wraps his hands around the mummified arm, gently tugging, holding back a shudder of horror as more of the body is revealed. Atrophied muscles wrapped in petrified skin, bony fingers frozen in grotesque claws, reaching for the sunlight they’d never see again.

That is, until Suguru came around.

He pulls and pulls, until Satoru is unburied, matted strands of blackened hair plastered to the cap of his cranium. Suguru stares down at the body, taking in the sunken cheeks and sharp jawbone, deciding that this bogman must have been handsome, once.

And because Satoru has been begging for one more breath of fresh air, Suguru leans down and brushes his lips against the mud-stained teeth of Satoru’s body, breathing life once more into his drowned lungs.

~

Satoru’s lovely blue eyes flutter open to the deep darkness of midnight.

It’s quiet, peaceful, in the bedroom; the only sound is soft breathing beside him. He turns his head to see Suguru curled up on his side, his bare shoulders revealed by the blanket, only pulled up under his arms.

Satoru’s heart aches at the sight.

He rolls onto his side, pressing his chest against Suguru’s bare back, and gently pulls the blanket up over his arms, tucking him in lovingly. He gazes at his form in the darkness, watching him breathe in and out slowly.

He’s not sure what he buried that day out in the bog; he never asked. Just like Suguru never asked what caused Satoru to drown in the mud, all those years ago. The pain of the past wasn’t what they wanted to share, and so instead Satoru just leaned over and brushed his lips against Suguru’s cheek, showing his affection in the softest way he knows how.

And when Suguru turns his head, sleepily searching, Satoru smiles and puts his sweet lips on his, offering back the breath of life he’d once given so freely.

thanks for reading! -luna xx link to ao3 | next: march

[morganali-art]

Year of the OTP 2025 - January Sharing Clothes (Cessalie x Artoirel)

I've done my back again so I might be doing more sketches from the couch at the moment 🤕

Very much inspired by @bigbadmonstertruck 's lovely exchange art 🥺💕🙏

[fossilized-beetle]

dancers in the dark

Rating: G No Archive Warnings Apply Words: 811 Fandom: Ensemble Stars! Pairing: Anzu x Hakaze Kaoru

Summary:

It’s infuriating just how much Anzu has come to love Kaoru.

Read on Ao3 | Read on SqWA

~•~

Last-minute January entry for @yearoftheotpevent!! I used the prompts “First Kiss” and “‘May I have this dance?’” I had a lot of fun working on this and am really glad I was able to get it done before January ended (even if it’s the last day of the month, haha).

[sofya-fanfics]

I Would Have Preferred To Spend Valentine's Day With You

Fandom : Ranma ½

Relationship : Ranma x Akane

My Year of the OTP 2025 contribution for the prompt : Valentine’s Day.

I’m sorry for the mistakes, English is not my native language. I hope you like it.

Summary : Akane took the chocolates out of the fridge and smiled. They were finally ready. She had been studying this recipe for several days. She had even asked Kasumi to help her and she was proud of the result. She was impatient to give them to Ranma.

Disclaimer : Ranma 1/2 belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

@yearoftheotpevent

AO3 / FF.NET

Akane took the chocolates out of the fridge and smiled. They were finally ready. She had been studying this recipe for several days. She had even asked Kasumi to help her and she was proud of the result. She put them in a small light blue bag and closed it with a dark blue bow. She had not tasted them, for once she was sure she had succeeded. She was impatient to give them to Ranma.

She took her bag, left the kitchen and headed for the dojo. She had heard him say that he wanted to train. She entered the dojo, but he was not there. Akane frowned. Had she been in the kitchen for so long ? Usually, she had to force him out of the dojo to stop training. She went back into the house and passed Kasumi who was carrying the laundry basket.

“Do you know where Ranma is ?”

“Are your chocolates ready ? Are you going to give them to him ?”

Akane blushed and shook her head violently.

“That's not why I want to see him !”

Kasumi smiled affectionately at her.

“I asked him if he could take a book back to Doctor Tofu for me. He shouldn't be long.”

She headed out to the garden to hang out the laundry. Akane smiled, she could meet Ranma halfway and give him her chocolates. At least there would not be the family watching them. That was a much better idea, she thought.

She made her way to Doctor Tofu's office, but she did not run into Ranma. The doctor had told her that he had taken the book back to him and that he had left. She looked at the time and noticed that it was past noon. She sighed. She should have known that if he did not eat at home, he would have lunch at Ucchan. And since it was Valentine's Day, she was sure Ukyo would try to keep him by stuffing him with heart-shaped okonomiyakis. And Ranma loved her okonomiyakis too much to refuse.

She made her way to Ucchan. She was almost there when she saw the door to the restaurant explode and Kodachi come out laughing. She left, calling out “Ranma-sama !” and leaving black rose petals behind her. Ukyo came out, holding her giant spatula, ready to fight Kodachi who was already far away.

“Ukyo, are you okay ?”

Even though she was also engaged to Ranma, Akane considered her a friend despite their rivalry.

“She almost blew up my restaurant and scared Ran-chan away !”

She went back into the restaurant and Akane followed her. She opened her eyes wide when she saw the room that looked like a real battlefield. The chairs and tables were overturned and there were black rose petals absolutely everywhere.

“It's going to take me hours to tidy everything up,” Ukyo said on the verge of tears. “I'm never going to be able to open today.”

“I'll help you.”

Akane would feel guilty if she left her to fend for herself in this mess. She would give Ranma her chocolates later.

******

Akane left the Ucchan after helping Ukyo put everything back in place. If she had not been there, poor Ukyo would have taken all day. To thank her, she had offered okonomiyakis for her and her family, not forgetting the heart-shaped one for “Ran-chan”.

Akane walked a little further down a few streets. She had just seen Ranma in the distance, who had transformed into a girl and was being chased by Kuno who was holding a huge bouquet of roses. She decided it was time to go home. She sighed, disappointed. She had not been able to give him her chocolates, but at least she would be able to when he would come back for dinner. Valentine's Day would not be over yet. She dawdled downtown for a bit, looking at the shop windows. Then, she went through the park to go home. That was when she saw Ranma with Shampoo. She did not see any good coming of all this. She got closer and she heard Ranma saying :

“Shampoo, I love you.”

“Airen, me being so happy !”

Shampoo threw herself into his arms. Akane felt tears well up in her eyes. He had told Shampoo that he loved her ! That sentence echoed in her head. She thought she was going to be sick.

“Ranma !” She exclaimed.

He turned to her, looking both guilty and terrified. He managed to free himself from Shampoo's grip. Akane did not know whether to burst into tears or burst into anger.

“Akane, it's not what you think !”

She turned on her heel and walked away. She did not want to listen to him. He loved Shampoo, she had heard it clearly.

“Akane, I love you !”

She looked at him, furious. Ranma put his hands over his mouth and blushed.

“You're making fun of me,” she said. “Ranma no baka !”

She punched him hard, sending him flying. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. She ran away.

******

Akane was sitting on the roof of her house, her legs curled up to her chest and her arms wrapped around her knees. She could not stop thinking about what had happened with Ranma. She had never been so hurt. She glanced at the bag of chocolate she had placed next to her. She did not know why she had not thrown it away. She buried her face in her knees, feeling her tears well up again.

“Is this where you were hiding ? I’ve been looking for you for hours.”

“Go away, Ranma.”

She did not want him to see how hurt she had been.

“You got mad before I could explain.”

“There’s nothing to explain.”

“You are as stubborn as a mule.”

She heard him sit down next to her, but she refused to look at him.

“Shampoo made me eat magic chocolates. I don’t know what was in them, but whenever I saw someone, I told them : I love you.”

Akane raised her head and looked at him. He seemed sincere and it would not surprise her that Shampoo had managed to make him eat something so dangerous.

“I even told Mrs. Fukuhara that I loved her.”

Akane smiled. Mrs. Fukuhara was their eighty-year-old neighbor who strangely had a soft spot for Genma.

“Are these Valentine’s Day chocolates ?” He asked, grabbing the bag.

“Didn’t you get enough chocolates from your other fiancées ?”

Ranma frowned.

“Don't you think I would have preferred to spend Valentine's Day with you ?”

He blushed. Akane opened her eyes wide, not expecting that kind of statement. She was just as red as he was. Ranma tried to pull himself together and as if nothing had happened, he opened the bag and swallowed a chocolate.

“Did you bake them ?”

Akane nodded and a huge smile lit up her face.

“Do you like them ? You can eat them all, I baked them just for you.”

If he had listened to himself, he would have refused to eat another one. They were both hard and doughy and he wondered what she had done to make them taste like vinegar. But he did not want to see her sad again because of him. He swallowed the chocolates with great difficulty. He managed to eat them all. But he would never admit to Akane that it made him sick all night long.

The end