in the sense of the more you try to push yourself away from him, the more he pulls you right back in. i think if he understands he let you slip through the crevices of his fingers once, that when an opportunity arises to reel you back into him again, his grip is firm the moment you're back into his arms from even the slightest touch.

initially, you were the one that focused on him. you and him were neighbors, with you just admiring him from the sidelines and keeping tabs on him as his soccer career flourishes, always wishing him well when he comes back home from spain. it’s fine at first—nothing he’s not used to. but years go by, you stay the same, and he finds it suffocating, having someone that has access to him keeping a close eye, so he snaps at you one evening—tells you off, tells you you're weird for acting like such a fan in his proximity. poor you, all you wanted to do was just extend your support to him.

so he leaves you there for awhile, wallowing while he’s thinking good riddance—one less eye on him.

until a few years later, he discovers you're now a well-regarded sports journalist covering for soccer. and he thinks nothing of it, only assuming that this was your way of keeping an eye on him only now in the sense you're getting paid...

... but when he searches up your name in accordance with his, to see what you've written about him just out of curiosity… nothing pops up. and to sae, he's stunned. the most you mention about him is his last name, and it's in the context of rin, not him.

Pairing: Oikawa x reader

Genre: fluff

Summary: Your first kiss did not go well with Oikawa

Word count: ~600 words (haven’t officially counted

///////////////////////////////////

•°. *࿐ objective 

“Eh, you good?”, you may ask. And well… I’m opening commissions because the pandemic’s getting worse in my country, and my father, the only one in our family working, is getting sick more often. He works in a tyre shop, so his body is his only asset.

I would really really like to help my family out, even just a little, so please consider commissioning me, and reblog to spread if you can’t! Thank you so, so much, and bless your heart. I hope everyone is well in these times of trouble.

ft. oikawa x gn!reader.

wc: 0.5k; angst.

a/n: inspired by this drabble by @amjustagirl, this fic by @kuroolongtea, and sumire's confession in chihayafuru. (please let me know if you don't want to be tagged in this!)

you can do this, you tell yourself. it's just oikawa.

but try as you might, even you know that he's not just oikawa.

just oikawa would indicate that he was nothing more than an inexplicably talented volleyball player, an intellectual icon, and a ridiculously good looking face with perfectly quaffed hair.

no, the oikawa you knew was that and more.

the oikawa you knew was extraordinarily chivalrous, always holding the door open for you and patiently waiting for you to finish your club activities so that the two of you may walk home together. he was effortlessly charming, making sure that you always felt heard in group conversations and playfully teasing you every chance he got, but never going too far to hurt your feelings. and he was so wonderfully kind, offering half his bento when you forgot to pack your own lunch and comforting you after a poor exam grade.

oikawa tooru was your best friend,

for now.

...

you reach the junction where you and oikawa separate, heading in the direction of your respective homes.

"wait," you say before he can bid you goodnight, and hastily take out the clear plastic container from your bag, unevenly wrapped in a red ribbon and a lopsided bow.

you don't look at oikawa as he curiously peers inside the box, staring at the unfamiliar golden, doughy half circles confused.

"they're empandas," you murmur, awkwardly shuffling your feet against the porous concrete, "because you said you were thinking about moving to argentina after high school."

he smiles because it was an odd gift, incredibly thoughtful and endearing, but still odd.

then again, he didn't care for normal anyways.

he reaches for the box,

"-- and i know you don't like chocolates much."

and his hands still.

oh.

you nod along, eyes trained on the cracks in the sidewalk as you listen to oikawa deliver the same, tired and rehearsed rejection you had heard him give dozens of times before. it takes all your willpower to not bitterly recite it alongside him.

if you were just a regular bystander watching the scene unfold, you would've found it heartbreakingly thoughtful, a certain gentleness laced in his tone and a sense of compassion in his words.

but you weren't, not this time.

"please, look at me," he breathes, and for some unknown reason you begrudgingly oblige to his request.

"i really wish i did feel the same way."

you hate him. you hate how earnest he is when he rips your heart in two with those last few words. you hate how even now, he's still not just oikawa to you. you hate how in the midst of rejecting you, he still finds a way to comfort you and make you feel heard.

but most of all, you hate him for making it so damn hard to hate him.

thanks for reading!

since day one | chapter three

ft. miya osamu x f!reader.

wc: 1.5k; angst, fluff; exes to lovers au.

warnings: sexual themes (non explicit), swearing.

summary: three years ago, it was a case of the right person, wrong time. after briefly coming back into town and a series of poorly timed moments, you find yourself questioning, is it still the wrong time?

series index | two < three > four

previously on since day one...

there’s a sudden pang in your heart, and hurt flashes across your eyes before you regain your composure. twice, now. that’s two times he’s ignored your history. like it didn’t mean anything.

...

“she’s just a friend,” he blurts out, the words falling from his lips before he can figure out why he felt the need to say anything at all.

this time, you do very little to contain your disgust, rolling your eyes, appalled.

yeah, right. like that makes it better.

summary: when sleep escaped your clutches, he helped you find it again

pairing: kuroo tetsurou x g!n reader

word count: 0.9k

genres + themes: fluff, college!au, roommates

warnings: none

You weren’t sure how long you had been awake. The dorm room was completely silent, save for the low hum of the fan that spun in the corner, sending cool air across your face. The digital clock was all the way on the other side of the room, on the nightstand of the boy you had pined for all semester.

Said boy slept peacefully in the bed across from yours, barely tossing or turning it all. In times like these, you wondered how anyone could see the boy in front of you as menacing, considering how calm he looked when he slept. It was as if all his worries were tossed out the window the minute he hit the pillows.

In moments like this, you genuinely questioned how Kuroo Tetsurou was in any way approachable, because anybody who saw him like this, would never even want to be near him (you could never imagine anyone ruining his sleep, and feeling okay about it).

You tossed in your bed once more, growing a little frustrated at the predicament you were in. Come morning time, you had an exam to take, one that you had actually prepared for, and you’d be damned if you let sleep-deprivation be your downfall. However, you had struggled to sleep for the past week, the worries and insecurities creeping into your head at night, leaving you awake and uncomfortable as the minutes ticked by.

You wanted sleep, god, you wanted it bad, but you had no way to achieve it.

You raised your hand against the dark of your room, letting the moonlight shine onto the tips of your fingers, flexing them slightly. You weren’t sure how long you could go on with this.

Kuroo groaned into his pillow before he rose from his bed, black hair even more messy and...adorable? “Y/N?”

the first kiss

ft. kita, sakusa, kuroo // x gn!reader.

genre: crack

note: this is not sexual.

other: might rewrite in coherent english later; i promise i write fr but brain just can't handle it rn.

spoiler: it wasn't on the lips.

— kita

kita is the definition of the perfect gentleman. it's simply his blood type.

he always holds the door, always has the perfect manners, doesn't swear, and remembers everyone by name.

however, he's always been picky in his partners and therefore lacks the same finesse as you would see in a hotshot volleyball captain.

even in courting you, he's always tried to do it right and by the books.

this means confessing to you a meaningful way that also doesn't put too much pressure on you to say yes.

anyways, he takes you on your first date, and he is as cool as cucumber.

it's like a checklist: open the doors, pull out your chair, pay for dinner (despite your insistence to at least go halfsies), walk you home.

the only thing he hasn't fully deciphered is the physical (read: not sexual) aspect of the relationship.

when can he hold your hand? when can he hug you? when can he kiss you?

poor kita gets all his dating advice from the internet, rom com's, and his volleyball team, and well, he'd rather just stick to his wiki how pages and movies if that's the case.

anyways, after much thought, kita figures a kiss on the cheek is a safe way to end the date. it's intimate, but not too much. kind of like mama bear's porridge. just right.

but really his thought process is more like this: "well, the europeans do it all the time"

so at the end of the night, he leans in, your breath hitches, and you think "yes, this is it"

but when he moves past your lips and kisses your cheeks, you're startled (and a little disappointed) and turn your head faster than your realize, accidentally knocking foreheads.

after a round of giggles, this time you take the reigns.

you: "let's try that again."

you cup his cheeks and lean in.

okay, maybe it was on the lips.

[similar: read this]

— sakusa

contrary to popular belief, sakusa loves physical affection, given if it’s with the right person.

i think it's because he doesn't really allow it in other aspects of his life, so at some point he begins to crave it in a significant other?

when he first asked you out on the date, you grabbed his hand first.

it wasn't even because you were trying to hold his hand, you were just really excited because you saw a cool street show and wanted him to walk faster or else you would miss it.

but the moment you grabbed his hand, sakusa absolutely loved it.

throughout that date, and every single moment after, he just had to have his hands interlaced with yours.

cut to your second date, no kiss yet, but lots and lots of hand holding.

you're sitting on a park bench, hand held tight, overlooking the lake as the street lights and moon reflect across its surface.

it's a comfortable silence, and you're snuggled up against each other.

so sakusa brings your hands- that are interlocked together, up to his lips and places a kiss...

on the back of his own damn hand.

and you're just staring at him like ??? babysteps i guess?

but really, he was just gauging your reaction, because like kita, this was new territory for him.

and after seeing the disappointed look on your face, he takes one of your hands in both of his, and kisses the inside of your palm.

fin.

— kuroo

so you and kuroo weren't even dating before he kissed you

aka best friends to lovers trope

you're in your apartment cooking dinner, and you just happened to mention that he looked sexy with his hair pushed back*

this boy has selective hearing all he hears is that you thought he looks sexy

you roll your eyes and try to play it cool, explaining that sexy could actually be a pretty objective term; then proceed to list off all his friends and call them sexy too.

he's silent, but his stealthy eyes are trained on you.

you pay no mind so you go back to cooking: chop, chop, chop; saute, saute, saute**

then, kuroo circles behind you, arms on either side.

he moves your hair out of the way, and blows on the back of your neck.

in a much more hesitant kuroo voice than you're used to, you hear, "can i kiss you?"

"yeah," you squeak.

he takes one of his hands, and with his index and middle finger, walks it up your arm, onto your shoulders, stopping at your clavicle, moving any hair out of the way.

he gently tugs down the collar of your shirt and places a kiss right on your collarbone.

your breath hitches, your eyes flutter shut.

kuroo just smirks, reaches for a piece carrot you were chopping up, and walks out the door like nothing happened.

***did you catch the hidden references? let me know if you did!

thanks for reading!

Includes Osamu, Atsumu and Akaashi. Request are open

Warnings: Angst

Ver 1 here

Osamu does it in the most cruel way possible, he knows it himself. He had lead you on all this time, had held your hand, caressed your skin, played with your hair but also with your feelings, and to be fair, he had been leading himself too into believing he could forget her with your sweet smile. Then she appears again, walks into his life, and suddenly, he prefers the taste of those bitter lips of her. He leaves you there questioning why weren't you worth it anymore, why weren't you enough for him, all while he actually forgets you when she smiles. But you realize later that the problem wasn't you, is not that you weren't enough, is that he was too cought on on her to even notice your light.

Atsumu is the rejection that makes you see what kind of a person he is. It's not overly cruel, just a rude reminder that love was never a priority in his life. You're not his type, is what he tells you unapologetically, with a smile and a wink at your way. You could be heartbroken, instead you are annoyed and your ego has been wounded but you don't take it personally, not when a day later he's talking to your friend, not when two weeks later he's saying the same words to her. It doesn't hurt, you tell yourself, after you once again start hanging out with him, once you fully understand him. He's not a player or a fuckboy, he's just a boy to busy with volleyball to look for or maintain a partner.

pairing: suna rintarou x fem!reader (prns: she/her)

genre: fluff with some tension, idk if this can count as suggestive bc they don't even kiss?? NDNSN

warning(s): suna being a tease but otherwise none if you don't count the sexual tension

wc: 2.3k

summary: the students of Inarizaki had made a rule or some sorts, that of two students were dating the boyfriends must lend lend their girlfriends their ties. Suna refuses to give you his tie and you decide to take matters into your own hands.

a/n: i didnt proofread this seriously please excuse the grammar mistakes that i possibly made janssn feedback, constructive criticism and reblogs are always appreciated, and happy reading!

“Rin, please?” 

The whine falls out of your mouth for the umpteenth time today, yet you still fail to harbor a different response from Suna. He provides you with yet again another hum, identical to the ones he has been giving you throughout the day, likewise with your continuous whines. His eyes never left the papers of homework in front of him, dominant hand not once stopped scribbling on it.

summary: fate sure had a way with screwing with you, especially when it put oikawa tooru into your life as your rival and the #1 thorn in your side. it was another thing altogether when the two of you are paired together for a potions project, and manage to get detention for two months...together. for being one of the most accomplished students at hogwarts, it's a mystery how you can't succeed at dodging oikawa

pairing: oikawa tooru x fem!reader

word count: 14.8k (ahhhh sorry!!!!)

genres + themes: enemies to lovers, fluff, angst, a bit of funny stuff, hogwarts au!

warnings: some swearing, innuendos, kuroo being a conniving little shit™, iwaizumi being amazing, and makki being a lovely bastard™

It seemed like everywhere you looked, there was some little clue that hinted at destiny’s writings, a prequel, maybe, to the fate that awaited you at every turn. Of course, said clues only showed up if you paid enough attention, but the first contradiction to this was when you boarded the Hogwarts Express.

It had been a pleasant morning by all means, boarding the train with your best friend (who could almost be considered your brother) Kuroo Tetsurou, as well as waving goodbye to your parents and the muggle life that they had lived. Being eleven years old and finally getting to live the stories that their mothers had always talked about had shot excitement up into their spines, a tingle that never subsided until they sat down in the train compartment. Sun shone through the open panels of the glass, and in some distant part of you, you wondered if you’d ever miss home.

“It was about damn time!” Kuroo had yelled as the train began to move. “We’re finally off to Hogwarts! You and me, living the dream and–”

“Shut up Tetsu.” You had offered in response, hoping that the grin on your face was smug and not excited. You began to lift up your bag, checking for all the school books that were required when two people came bounding down the aisle.

“Hey,” the gray haired boy had greeted, shooting a gentle smile their way. “My name’s Sugawara Koushi, and this is my friend Sawamura Daichi.” At that moment, the boy with dark hair offered a friendly nod. “If you have any extra space in your compartment, would you mind if we sat with you?”

“Of course not.” Kuroo had responded, patting the seats across from him. “The more the merrier.”

“Thank you.” Sawamura had thanked them, before he and Sugawara sat down. “It’s a relief that you managed to find an actually peaceful compartment. Near the back of the train, it’s absolute chaos.”

“Hmm?” You hummed. “Why’s that?”

“Girls.” Sugawara and Sawamura had groaned simultaneously. Taking a pause, Sugawara glanced up at you, before his eyebrows shot upwards. “Shoot, how rude of me. What’s your name?” He had added frantically.

You chuckled good naturedly, as you slid a hand over Kuroo’s shoulder. “No worries Sugawara. I’m Y/L/N Y/N, and this idiot here is Kuroo Tetsurou.”

“Y/N, you’re insulting me too early!” Kuroo teased with his usual smirk. Turning sideways, he began digging through his pockets for the wizarding change he kept somewhere. “Any idea what house you’re going to end up in Sawamura?”

“Daichi is fine.” He added. “I’m hoping for Gryffindor, but Hufflepuff wouldn’t be too bad.”

“Those are good houses.” You added thoughtfully. “I personally want to see where I’ll end up. A little mystery is fun every now and then, right?”

What a mistake it had been to say that.

“Hmmm, I think mystery is overrated when there’s a clearer path ahead.” A voice sounded out from behind you. Turning around, you were met with a boy taller than you by a decent amount, with chocolate brown hair and warm brown eyes. Cute. “Besides, you should have studied enough about the houses if you hadn’t been exposed to them your entire life.”

“And why’s that the case?” You shot back. “It’s not like you’ll always be right about your guesses.”

“Oh, but I am.” The boy drawled. “It’s hilarious how you’re not even able to bring yourself to take a guess.”

You felt yourself stiffen from the tension of it all. Who even was this prick? “Well, I’m not exactly sure how this concerns you…whoever you are, for wanting to do whatever I’d like to.”

The boy’s eyes slipped into a practiced grin, his eyes intent on boring into your own. “I’m Oikawa Tooru.” He had said. “Let’s see if we’ll see more of each other, ‘kay?” He sauntered away, leaving a wink in your direction as he left.

“Who the hell even is that guy?” You grumbled, feeling the anger in your veins simmer down to a low boil. “I said something completely normal and he went and turned it into...whatever that was!”

“Oh, Oikawa is the son of the Head of the Department of International Cooperation. He’s usually been nice the times we’ve talked though.” Sugawara explained.

“I’m not sure what I'd call that.” Kuroo added. “But whatever it is, don’t take it too seriously Y/N, okay?”

“Mhm.” You said, though your mind was working in overdrive. For someone who believed in finding clues to fate everywhere, this seemed less like a clue and more like an entire reality forced upon you. If there was one thing you knew for sure, it was this.

You did not want to be in the same house as Oikawa Tooru.

“Gryffindor!” The hat had shouted into the Great Hall, the applause deafening as Kuroo joined the houses that their mothers had been in. As he walked, he left an assuring smile in your direction, and a part of you was nervous. What if they were separated?

“Y/L/N, Y/N.” Professor McGonagall eventually called. Taking deep breaths, you settled yourself onto the stool, and let the Sorting Hat cover your eyes.

“Slytherin!” The Hat bellowed, as you gleefully stepped off the stool, and walked towards the Slytherin table who offered the greatest applause that they could. You felt quite homey already, and settled into the seat as you watched the other sortings go by.

“Oikawa, Tooru.” McGonagall had said, as the boy from the train stepped onto the stool, grin blinding. You anxiously tapped your toe and crossed your fingers. Not here, not here, not here, not-

“Slytherin!” The hat had cried out, and another wave of applause overwhelmed the hall as Oikawa took broad, confident steps towards the table, slipping into one of the seats as the girls around him sighed.

Fate was a monster.

And it seemed like you were it’s victim.

Now in your sixth year, you had adjusted to the eccentricity and wonder that the world had to offer, finding exciting new things at every turn. It was the typical cliche of how the students from the muggle world were far more immersed in the magic culture than the kids that had grown up in it.

However, with the normalcy of magic, you also had gotten used to the blinding annoyance that Oikawa Tooru subjected you to day and night. He was a thorn in your side, and at times, you wondered how he was attractive to anyone, since his personality was absolute garbage.

“I don’t know how you put up with him Iwaizumi.” You sighed as you flipped through the pages of the book you were using to complete Binns’ essay on the Goblin Revolution. “He just gets more and more insufferable every time you see him.”

“I don’t know how I do it either.” He responded. The Gryffindor stalked over to one of the bookshelves, pulling out yet another book for himself to use. “But the library is peaceful without him.” The two of you chuckled lightly as you gestured for him to sit down across you, dipping your quill into the ink just by it.

He was right. Today, more so than usual, the library was a calmer space, with the occasional student scribbling away onto their parchment or collecting a book from the massive archive of shelves. It was cloudy outside, but the shadows casted inside the library felt more comforting than eerie. Pausing to read one of your sentences, you dropped your quill and stretched your arms.

“If only he wasn’t intelligent. Then I’d be able to happily learn in pea–”

“You think I’m intelligent Y/N?” You whipped around to see Oikawa sitting at the table right behind you, shit-eating grin on his face. At your silence, his grin widened further. “Ahhh, it’s okay. I know you’re so in love with me that–”

“Shittykawa, why the hell aren’t you at Quidditch practice?” Iwaizumi groaned. “Seriously, for somebody as motivated as you, you don’t have your priorities straight.”

“But Iwa!” He pouted. “It was canceled, and I was out of things to do.”

“So you decide that it’s a good idea to terrorize unsuspecting people?” You deadpanned. “Creative.”

At this, his grin fell off his face a bit, but the calculating stare was still there. “Hmmm, well, it seems like you need help. After all, getting an E on a Binns’ last essay is nothing short of pitiful. Need a little help dear?”

At this remark, you flushed, glaring at him. “That was because of something that was beyond my control. Now if you don’t mind, Iwaizumi and I have much better things to do then interact with the likes of you.”

“But Y/N.” He cooed, voice dangerously low. “You do think I’m intelligent after all. Why not just admit that I could beat you in any way possible.”

“Hey there,” Kuroo greeted, walking in at just the right moment. The piercing glare of Oikawa’s eyes mellowed down into something a lot more normal. Kuroo turned, looking at the scene in front of him before he pulled up a chair to the table that you sat at. “Oikawa, you are the captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team. As much as I want to pummel you at the championships, you should probably attend practice.”

“You Gryffindors never pay attention to the updated practice schedule.” Oikawa sighed. “Well thanks for your concern Kuroo, but I don’t have practice today, and needed to get a headstart on reviewing the ingredients for Amortentia.”

“Fucking Amortentia.” You groaned. “It’s going to be fun to brew, but god forbid you end up with someone who doesn’t know how much peppermint you need to add in.”

“On the contrary, Amortentia is by far one of the most fascinating potions.” Oikawa countered. “The fact that you can literally make anyone obsessed with you with just a sip is something amazing.”

“It’s overrated.” You responded. “Obsessive love isn’t real love, and quite honestly, it can be dangerous if the two are confused.”

“Y/N, maybe you’re just not as well read, but–”

“How come you only call me by my first name?” You interrogated. “For someone with high class parents, you’d think you’d never put anyone on the level to call them by their first name.”

That hit a nerve.

Oikawa’s face morphed into something unrecognizable. Hurt?

“My parents have never taught me anything like that.” He said seriously. “And it seems like yours never taught you common decency.” With that, he gathered his books and left the library, an awkward silence in his wake.

“That….” Kuroo began hesitantly. “That was….”

You felt the pit of your stomach drop with the realization of what you had said. You had overstepped your boundaries.

“He’ll get over it.” Iwaizumi’s eyes held a softness as he looked at you. “Don’t get too hung up over it.”

“I….overstepped.” You had managed. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

Kuroo stared down at the floor, eyebrows furrowed in deep thought. “Y/N, if you want to apologize, I don’t think that would be a bad idea.”

“I’ll write a note.” You said simply as you grabbed a piece of parchment and scribbled your apology. Grabbing your belongings, you waved goodbye to your friends as you headed to the Owlery. You could never manage to reign your pride in enough to apologize in person, but at least for your conscience, this was enough.

The owl soared away gracefully, and you watched it go off into the distance as you left the room. You still had quite a bit to accomplish, and the meeting with Oikawa had reminded you of the advanced Potions lesson that Snape had mentioned he would be teaching tomorrow.

Potions had always been the most complex subject, with the various ingredients creating concoctions with varying effects. Since the minute you had stepped in Hogwarts, you knew that you would enjoy it immensely. However, the coil in your gut seemed to imply one thing.

Whatever Snape was going to assign tomorrow would have some sort of catch.

You had no idea what it could be.

Oikawa had received your note. At the Slytherin table, he had run a thumb over the hastily written words, but surprisingly never commented on it. Something about his quietness rubbed you the wrong way, and you should have known how it would set the tone for the rest of the day.

Potions class was doubled with the Gryffindors, and you sat next to Kuroo in the hopes that you’d be paired together for whatever it was that Snape was going to assign.

“Your assignment today has been approved by the Ministry of Magic so that way they’ll have more experienced potioneers in the future to mass produce and hopefully improve upon this fairly recent potion.” Snape began.

Right away, everyone who wasn’t paying attention before shot up, interested.

“Now, with the base ingredient of aconite, can anybody tell me what you’re tasked to brew?”

Immediately, you shot your hand up into the air, along with Oikawa, who had previously been drawing on the side of Iwaizumi’s parchment.

Snape quirked his lips upwards, amused at the typical display of rivalry between them. “Mr. Oikawa, Miss. Y/L/N, hands down so the Gryffindors can answer.”

Slowly the two of you dropped your hands from the air, light giggling coming from the girls of the class, mumbling something along the lines of “Oikawa is so dreamy and smart.”

Snape surveyed the room until he landed on someone with spiky white and black hair next to Daichi in the back row.

“That’s Bokuto Koutarou.” Kuroo whispered into your ear. “This will either be extremely good or extremely chaotic.”

“Mr. Bokuto? Any idea of the potion?” Snape asked.

Bokuto had shot up quickly, and nodded. “Uhhhhhh…...Wolfsbane.”

Snape looked a bit shocked himself. “How did you deduce this?”

“Oh,” Bokuto had started excitedly, “Aconite is also referred to as wolfsbane and….I know someone who needs to take the potion.”

“Enlightening.” Snape added blandly. “I have chosen your partner for this project of yours. As you all have probably read, the process of making Wolfsbane potion is not easy and it requires months of diligent brewing. This will count towards your exams at the end of the year, so I suggest you take this seriously.”

Iwaizumi’s hand was gently raised in the air, attracting the attention of Snape almost immediately.

“Mr. Iwaizumi?”

“Professor,” Iwaizumi started, “In the scenario that you have disagreements with your partner, what happens then?”

“The pairings were chosen by the Ministry and myself so that way they could have a better output of successful potions. I’m afraid disagreements will not be tolerated.” Snape responded bluntly. Waving his wand, he tapped on the board at the front of the class. “Above is your pairing and table number. Please join your partner and wait for further instruction.”

Slowing your breath, you cross your fingers to look up and the board and oh. Oh no.

Oikawa.

Out of all the people in the room.

You turned to look at him wide eyed, only to be met with the same expression. Oh no.

Kuroo snickered beside you as he headed towards Iwaizumi, giving him a good natured pat on the back. Lucky bastard.

“Miss. Y/L/N and Mr. Oikawa, please take a seat at Table 14.” Snape called out. “You’ll have plenty more time to stare at each other.

Still shocked and appalled, the two of you walked to Table 14, still in disbelief.

“Please tell me I’m asleep.” Oikawa pleaded. “This is just a nightmare right?”

“I hope so too.” You shivered, sitting on the stool.

Oikawa’s eyes widened even further. “Did you just agree with me?” He whispered. “This is definitely not real.”

“I’ll only agree with you when hell freezes over.” You hissed. “Sit down before Snape kills us!” Oikawa quickly obeyed, sitting down in his shell-shocked state.

“Oh lord, save me. I’ve been paired with a gremlin.” Oikawa smirked. “Well won’t this be interesting?”

“Save me, I’ve been paired with a human leech.”

“Is that the worst you can come up with?” Oikawa teased. “Well, that can be expected from a–”

“Oikawa, care to share your thoughts with the class?” Snape interjected. “Such interesting conversations should not be kept a secret. Especially when in the midst of an important project.”

“Sorry sir.” He apologized sheepishly.

Snape ignored the murmurs. “The ingredients for the potion are rare and expensive, so when I instruct you to go to the cabinet, you will take your time and take only your allotted amount. Wolfsbane specifically takes about two and a half moon cycles to cook, and needs to be spun counterclockwise on the days that is a new moon. The final result should be a blue and smoky substance when placed in a goblet. You will spend the rest of the class gathering and preparing the base of the potion, and will be required to meet up outside of class to work on it’s maintenance.”

With that, Oikawa had soundlessly gotten up, being the first to retrieve the appropriate amount of all the ingredients and returning with full arms, and a concentrated expression.

“Oikawa. I’ll take care of pulverizing and sifting the Black Quicksilver. I think it’d be good for you to work with the aconite, and create the base so we can add the rest.” You said.

Oikawa nodded, as the two of you began the preparations. Staring back at the Black Quicksilver, you began shooting an assortment of spells to pulverize it, then found yourself digging through the cabinets to find a sifter.

Oikawa looked at you puzzled. “Aren’t you a witch? Why do it manually?”

You simply kept sifting, until it was a fine dust. Finer than even magic could achieve. “Because it’s better for me this way.”

Oikawa looked at the dust and nodded as he continued to extract the aconite and pour it’s contents into the cauldron. “Even a dimwit like you seems to be able to show competence in some small instances.” He mumbled something that sounded a lot like “intelligent.”

“You think I’m intelligent?” You immediately added a smirk. Ah, vengeance was always so sweet. “Wow, would you look at that. Looks like you didn’t mean the dimwit part.”

“Don’t let it get to your head Y/N.” He smoothly countered, as he continued to stir the contents of the cauldron counterclockwise. “Go make yourself useful and add the moonwort.”

You grabbed the moonwort, picking the leaves off the stems and gently adding them into the base that Oikawa stirred. Surprisingly, the two of you held down the fort well enough. “Does this work?”

Oikawa, ever so focused, began stirring clockwise, the base simmering to a tealish color as he left it to boil. “Good enough I suppose.”

“Is nothing ever good enough for you?” You had asked offhandedly. This wasn’t the first time you had noticed this. As much as you despised Oikawa for all his pomp and show, he was a very meticulous worker and always stressed about the littlest details. The smallest slip up could easily send him hurtling into the waters of overworking. You’ve heard the stories of Iwaizumi fishing Oikawa out of the library one too many times.

He looked back at you, slightly cautious. “Well I suppose if I were to lower my standards to fit the likes of you, then it may be.” You sigh loudly. That was nothing close to what you expected.

Professor Snape ceased everyone’s progress, and they filed out the door, not bothering to look back upon the Potions classroom. It had certainly gone much better than you had anticipated. Walking up the stairs, you decided that you’d spend your free time outside at the Great Lake. Hearing murmurs a bit ahead of you, you quickly climbed the extra flight of stairs only to see Iwaizumi restraining Oikawa.

“Iwa!” He yelled. “Give it back.”

“No,” Iwaizumi tucked whatever it is that he had been withholding from Oikawa into his pocket. “I’m not going to let you do this to yourself Oikawa.”

“But I can’t do what I normally do without it.” The look in Oikawa’s eyes was almost pleading, and you could see Iwaizumi’s sadness etched onto his face.

“Then maybe, you need to take a rest from it.” Iwaizumi suggested. Oikawa tensed, a hard set in his jaw, and suddenly, his wand was whipped out of his pocket and into the air.

“Then it looks like we’re doing this the hard way.” He said gleefully. “Rictusempra.” Iwaizumi dodged the spell immediately, grabbing the wand from his pocket and creating a shield for himself as Oikawa fired jinx after jinx at him.

“Tarantallegra.” You whispered as you aimed at Oikawa. Noticing the beam of light, he side stepped it, glaring at you with a venom you’d never seen from him.

“Y/N. Don’t be nosy and get out of here. This has nothing to do with you.” He deadpanned, his stare, reaching a dangerous level of intensity. Iwaizumi stood on guard but breathed a sigh of relief when he saw you standing, arm extended and pointing the wand towards his best friend (however that came to be was beyond you).

“Actually, you attacked him, and seeing how Iwaizumi is my friend, I’m not exactly going to let you walk away scot-free.”

“Y/N, you should probably get out of here.” Iwaizumi added. “Getting in trouble now would only ruin everyone’s chances of participating in the Interhouse Tournament or doing anything useful.”

“No!” Oikawa and you retorted simultaneously. The two of you used every charm, jinx, curse, and countercurse you could until the hallway was filled with nothing more than the shocked eyes of the other students and Iwaizumi trying to calm the two of you down as you shot more and more spells at each other.

This felt good. To be able to put all the frustration that had boiled up through years and years of torment had an almost therapeutic effect. Besides, with every flick of his wand, Oikawa was actively combatting everything you threw at him while effectively attacking you. It was by no means a one sided duel. Students began to crowd the halls as you continued, not letting up in the slightest.

Dodging Oikawa’s stunning spell, you put up yet another shield. “Running out of ideas?” You taunted, sending a disarming spell his way.

Oikawa defended against that almost too easily and shot back a reply of his own. “You’re dueling someone you can’t win against Buttercup.” He shot a body-bind curse at you, which you diffused with a spell of your own.

“Try me then.” You shot yet another spell, until Professor McGonagall thudded through the hall with so much purpose that the students around you felt like they would combust.

“What in the world!” She scolded. “Two sixth years having a duel in the middle of the hallway, disrupting classes, and being a bad example for the younger kids. I didn’t believe it when I heard it. And Iwaizumi!” Iwaizumi blinked fiercely before making eye contact with her. “How come you didn’t do anything to stop this?”

“He did Professor,” You immediately interjected. “It’s just that Oikawa here had no concept of respect and began attacking him. I merely swooped in as a means of self-defense.”

“Is this true?” McGonagall asked Oikawa, glare unwavering.

Some sort of switch flipped in Oikawa, and suddenly he was the all too charming model student that the rest of the school saw him as. “Professor, I acted out of turn when Iwaizumi, my best friend, took something that belonged to me and kept it from me even when I requested it be returned. As for Y/L/N, she cut in without context of the gravity of the situation.”

McGonagall exhaled tensely, looking between the three of them. “Iwaizumi, why did you take whatever it was that you did from Oikawa?”

Iwaizumi’s confidence returned full strength. “I did it for his well-being professor. I personally do not regret my actions one bit.”

“I do hope that you will make better choices in the future Iwaizumi,” She lectured. “As for Y/L/N, and Oikawa, I think I shall leave Professor Snape to deal with you since he is your Head of House. Please, follow me.”

A sense of dread pooled in your stomach of the thought of being subjected to Snape’s punishments. The fact that you could be banned from the magical world or even doing magic by expulsion from Hogwarts made the anxiety that thrummed inside you grow into a larger feeling of all encompassing fear. To think that you could lose everything just because you had witnessed Oikawa’s outburst was almost too much to bear. Turning to Oikawa, you could see his face set in stony impassiveness, knowing full well it was merely a facade. His wide eyes and twitching brow was a testament to this.

“Severus.” McGonagall had announced into their Head of House’s office. “I believe you must have heard of the earlier events.”

Snape emerged from the corner, clutching a quill in hand. “Hmm. Oh yes, I believe I have. It was the talk of my Potions class.”

Oikawa and you cringed at the statement. Snape glanced back at them. “Well, do come in Miss. Y/L/N and Mr. Oikawa. Thank you for escorting them here Minerva.” With that, the two of them walked in while McGonagall walked out, back to wherever she had meant to go before they were caught.

Snape’s office wasn’t exactly comforting when the air of dread and anxiety seemed to taint the air around them. Every breath you took sent the pit in your stomach even lower. Oikawa fiddled with his fingers as he stared down at the floor. Snape finally sat down at his desk, gaze unwavering as he stared at the two of them. “So,” He started, “Please inform me as to why two of the house’s most accomplished students were found by the Head of Gryffindor and dueling in the middle of the corridor.”

Oikawa rose his head to face Snape, a regretful look plastered on it. “Sir, I...my best friend took something that I needed and refused to give it back to me. He was doing it for more personal reasons, but the consensus was that he did not return it to me when I asked. I was desperate and resorted to a tickling charm to quickly distract him long enough to take back what was my possession, but Y/L/N interjected and she shot a spell at me in defense of my friend. The duel had escalated from there, sir.”

Snape contemplated this information, before moving his eyes to you. “Miss. Y/L/N, why exactly did you feel the urge to interject in this situation?”

You felt your hands clam up as you gulped back your nervousness. “Professor,” You said at nearly a whisper. “Iwaizumi is a good friend of mine. When I saw the exchange, I fully planned on walking past and ignoring it when I saw Oikawa shoot the tickling charm at him. From there, it had been instinct and just my urge to keep my friend out of harm.”

Snape nodded once, an indication that he had grasped the full extent of the situation, before his eyes settled between the two of you again. “Why was it that you two decided to duel in the middle of the hallway, even though the goal of protecting Mr. Iwaizumi had been fulfilled?”

“Well, it felt nice to duel her, sir.” Oikawa had said almost sheepishly. “Although at the time, I was more worried about my possession, so her interjecting merely stopped me from regaining it.”

“Likewise Professor.” You added. “I had been angry at Oikawa for hurting a friend for whatever it was that was taken from him, and felt like jinxing him was the only way to keep him from doing anything further.”

“The two of you do realize that dueling is forbidden and can result in expulsion, yes?” Snape pursed his lips as they both dropped their heads in anxiety. “However, I believe the petty rivalry between you two caused you to make an inaccurate judgement. I believe two months of detention is punishment enough.”

“Thank you sir!” They both thanked him, feeling the relief flood their veins.

“When will each of us start?” Oikawa had asked, a little life restored into his previously shocked eyes.

“You both will be doing manual tasks around the school starting Saturday at eight p.m. I will see to it that Mr. Oikawa’s quidditch practices are not disrupted by this. It won’t do us any good if the Gryffindors win the match against us purely because of petty rivalries and foolishness.” Snape had concluded. “That is all.”

Oikawa and you raised from your seats and exited the office in pure gratitude. You were safe. Looking towards Oikawa, you found him staring at you a bit longer than usual. “Is there something on my face?”

Oikawa backtracked for a moment, his stare changing into something a lot more alarming. “Oh hell no.” He murmured.

“Wait….” You had answered. The two of you froze.

Detention. TOGETHER?

“We….have to…….detention.” He sputtered, the color rising to his cheeks. “Fuck Y/N, you almost got us expelled and now we have to be stuck together for two months straight!?”

“You’re the one who shot the spell at Iwaizumi to begin with!” You argued. “Don’t blame this whole thing on me!”

“Fine fine, but aren’t you bothered at all by THIS?” He paced around outside the office, before deciding to stride towards the Common Room. “Gosh, it’ll be a miracle if I’m still alive by the end of this year.”

You began to jog after him, wanting nothing more than the comfort of your dormitory, “Don’t act all high and mighty Oikawa. I’m just as bothered about this as you are.”

“Why did you have to be so nosy?”

“Why did you have to shoot a spell at my friend?”

“He was my friend first you know!”

“And yet you always terrorize him.”

“I don’t want your time with Iwa to poison him and I–”

“Oikawa. Y/L/N.” Snape had said, following them into the Common Room. “I knew this was going to happen. Please, keep your bickering to a minimum. There are others around you who are not as fond of it as you are.” With that, he exited the room, his robe billowing out like a bat’s wings.

“Later Y/N.” Oikawa said simply as he began to climb the stairs to the boys' dormitories. You watched his retreating figure as you mounted the stairs towards your own dormitory. Oikawa was an enigma of sorts, and he was complex in all the ways he pretended not to be.

You knew that solving that mystery wasn’t something you wanted to do.

Then again, isn’t there a saying to keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer?

“Y/L/N!” Your roommate yelled. “You got a letter from Kuroo asking if you wanted to meet up at the Quidditch pitch for some flying.”

“Tell him to fuck off and bother someone else.” You groaned, shoving your head deeper into your pillow. After the shock of the events yesterday and the prospect of detention TODAY with Oikawa looming over your head like some sort of storm cloud, you found it easy to fall asleep and stay in bed. Plus, Kuroo knew full well that you were not the fondest of flying due to practical reasons, and most likely heard what happened from Iwaizumi.

“Well, it also says that he will personally request Oikawa to wake you up if you’re not there by nine-fifteen….which is in another fifteen minutes.”

Rolling out of bed, you quickly go through the motions of getting dressed, and sprinting to the Great Hall to grab breakfast. You had opted for some pumpkin juice and a strawberry tart as you navigated through the castle and eventually reached the pitch. Kuroo stood there happily, his hair a little more messy than usual, and a smirk on his face when he checked the watch.

“Impressive. A minute early.” He said, eyes glinting mischievously. “You must really be excited to spend some time with me.”

“Not a chance Tetsu,” You responded, grabbing him and heading towards the middle of the field, the grass tickling your ankles as you walked. “You threatened to use Oikawa on me, and considering the circumstances, I refuse to see him any more than I have to.”

“Oh yeah,” Kuroo chuckled. “What actually happened? Gryffindor and the rest of the houses are filled with so many rumors and Iwaizumi has refused to divulge anything to anyone.”

“What!” You found yourself saying before you could control yourself. “Iwaizumi didn’t say anything at all?”

“No, he didn’t. So you’re going to have to tell me what the hell happened because as your best-friend, I am entitled to know this shit.”

“Well…..Oikawa and I may or may not have had a duel in the middle of the corridor that’s maybe two minutes from Flitwick’s Charm’s class.” You mumurmed quickly. “And McGonagall caught us and sent us to Snape.”

Kuroo’s amusement was poorly hidden, his face contorted into a weird shape trying to suppress his laughter. “Iwaizumi let this happen?”

“Uhhh not exactly. He took something from Oikawa, and like the petulant child he is, he began jinxing Iwaizumi to get it back. I just didn’t feel right seeing the situation and letting Oikawa have the upper hand.”

“So what did he take?” Kuroo slipped his hands into his pockets as he walked a few steps behind you.

“I have no idea.”

“What’s the punishment?” Kuroo let out a breathy gasp. “Snape is usually pretty lenient with his house.”

You groaned loudly. You did not need a reminder of the horrid weeks you were about to be subjected to. “Two months of detention.”

“That’s not that bad,” Kuroo assured you. “It could have been way worse.”

“With Oikawa.” You choked out. “Together.”

Kuroo’s eyes widened incredulously before he doubled down cackling his hyena laugh. You found yourself wanting to kick him, or anything really, since the idea of spending four hours with Oikawa every night besides whatever they needed to do for their goddamned potions project…..well it made you want to commit arson.

“Shut up!” You growled. “What did you actually call me outside for Tetsurou?”

He slowed his laughter at the mention of his full first name and smirked. “Look behind you.” Pivoting around, you saw Oikawa, and the rest of the Slytherin quidditch team on the far end of the field, mounting their brooms and doing drills as Oikawa directed them, being a part of the action himself. Oikawa looked a lot more like the reputation he upheld when he was on the pitch….and it seemed his numerous fangirls thought so too. The entire stands were filled with girls of all ages from their house, crowded together and cheering for him when he caught the snitch in his hand, a childish and genuine smile on his face every time he did.

That wasn’t exactly the case when he saw you and Kuroo on the other side of the pitch. Oikawa slowed his speedy acceleration around the bleachers and almost fell off his broom from the shock of it all. When his fangirls discovered the direction he was looking, they sent a dreamy sigh in the direction of Kuroo (who had built up some odd reputation as a heartthrob) and a pointed glare in your direction (since no other female should be taking Oikawa’s attention, apparently). He dismounted his broom and began jogging to the end of the pitch.

“So this is what you meant.” You said, rolling your eyes. “You just wanted an excuse to watch Slytherin practice.”

“Can’t blame me for trying.” Kuroo smiled. “Besides, I think I got all the entertainment I needed today. He almost fell off his broom looking at you.”

“Looking at us, you conniving little shit.” You teased. Oikawa had reached you just as the conversation had closed, not even out of breath. Just how much stamina did he have?

“What,” He sighed out dramatically, “What the hell are you doing here Kuroo?” You quirked an eyebrow in surprise. This was a first.

“Spending time with my best friend,” Kuroo responded almost immediately. “It just so happened that our little dalliance coincided with your quidditch practice.”

Oikawa actually smiled at this, a teasing look on his face. “Seriously? I swear, you Gryffindors need to have the practice schedules spell-o-taped to every nook of that common room of yours.” He then turned to you, his gaze immediately switching to some other type of look. At this point, Oikawa had thrown so many types of looks at you that you didn’t even care which was what anymore.

“I think he invited you here, right?” He had asked simply. Your eyebrows shot up in surprise yet again. No insult? No witty comment? No cocky demeanor?

“He threatened me.” You laughed, glaring at Kuroo. “But I can get him off the field so that way he won’t be violating tournament rules.”

Oikawa smirked in his smug way, and you were already internally groaning because you knew what he was going to say. “Awww, you came all the way out here to see me?”

Kuroo snickered as you neutralized your face into a disinterested one. “Really? That’s the best you can do?”

“It doesn’t matter how I phrase it.” Oikawa defended. “Because you still came and you never come to these. Do you have a thing for me? Don’t worry, I won’t tell.” Oikawa winked.

“Disgusting. Has anyone ever told you that you’re an insufferably cocky bastard?” You tried.

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a pretentious little argumentative slob?” Oikawa fired right back.

“No, you’re kidding me.” A voice hollered from over the field. Turning to face the practice, you found a pinkish haired boy (Hanamaki, that lovely bastard) using a spell to amplify his vocal chords. “Captain, as much as you love that girl, you need to get that Gryffindor off the field.”

Oikawa had an angry flush coating his cheeks as he flipped the boy off.

“So, it seems like you actually love me.” You grinned triumphantly. “If you have a thing for me, it’s alright.”

Oikawa scoffed. “As if.” He began sprinting back to the other end, yelling something along the lines of “MAKKI, I WILL END YOU!,” at the top of his lungs.

You decided to laugh it off and dragged Kuroo through the other end of the pitch before walking around it, and back towards the castle. The weather was actually good today, with soft clouds and a sweet breeze through the normally stiff air. It was a shame that you’d have to attend detention later that night, or you would have gone to the Astronomy Tower to catch a glimpse of the stars.

“Hanamaki Takahiro deserves a prize.” You said, your shoulder brushing Kuroo’s arm. “He reigned Oikawa within three seconds of teasing. I need to learn the art.”

“You are petty.” Kuroo chuckled.

“He got us detention.” You deadpanned. “He deserves all that misery.”

“But didn’t you also choose to duel him?”

“That’s a minor detail.” You waved off.

By the time that eight p.m. had rolled around, you had completed most of the assignments that were due and ate a decent amount of dinner before heading to Snape’s office, Oikawa staying a fair distance behind you. Snape had nodded at their punctuality before telling them that their assignment was filing and organizing the books in the Potions room, sorting out which ones were new and which were old by hand. Oikawa had nodded, but he seemed to be questioning a number of things in his head.

“The two of you have my trust, hence the lack of supervision. However, I will be verifying every morning, that you did not use your wands for any spells that could aid you in the tasks I am assigning. Be responsible.” Snape opened the Potions classroom door and ushered them in before he closed it behind them. The room was fairly cozy, illuminated by the lanterns and candles that Snape had lit prior.

“You’re good at manual work.” Oikawa remarked plainly as he surveyed the room, eyes calculating. It could have been mistaken as a compliment if not for the situation they were in.

“Everyone is if they have a basic comprehension of what it is like to live without magic.” You responded absentmindedly. “You’re probably good at it too.” That statement was true to some extent. Kuroo and you had always done each other’s chores, or anything to do with your hands really. It had always been a way to connect with what you were doing, and the sense of accomplishment from lifting something heavier than you’d normally be able to manage was better than doing the same with a simple spell.

Oikawa on the other hand had been exposed to spells his whole life. However, you’d see how he’d pick up the quaffles he used at practice, cut his parchment, and even move piles of books around by hand. He was nowhere close to magic dependent, and yet he pretended as if the lack of it was some weird phenomenon. You knew he put up a façade due to the years of observing him, and trying to find a crack in that armor that he made around himself.

Maybe this was one of those things as well.

Oikawa let out an exhale that sounded suspiciously like a yawn, but you didn’t think much of it while you made your way under the cabinets. There were nearly five hundred different copies of each type of book and at least four different types of textbooks. Oikawa followed you to that position, crouching down to see what you saw.

“No wonder Snape tasked us with this.” He chuckled mirthlessly. “He’s milking me for the four hours I’m putting in.” You grimaced in response.

“We are both putting in the hours you self-absorbed narcissistic–-”

Oikawa dramatically flailed his hands before placing them at his side, placing a pointed glare in your direction. “If Iwa had just given me my fucking...thing, then I wouldn’t have had to put up with you even more then I already had to.”

This peaked your curiosity. “What did he take from you?”

Oikawa blanched. “That is none of your concern Y/N.” He began rapidly taking sets of books off the shelves and arranging them on the table by hand. He had set them up into four piles, one for each set of textbooks. He looked back at you while you struggled to carry a large load of books and laughed. “Look at you. That’s not even a lot of books and your arms are shaking. How pathetic!”

Grunting, you stacked the books on the table opposite Oikawa and rapidly sorted through the books before wordlessly adding them to the piles Oikawa had established. “You were saying?”

Oikawa didn’t give you the reaction you were looking for. Instead, he merely went over to the cabinet and lifted an even larger stack of books than you had a few minutes prior with barely any strain. Putting them down at the table you had been at, just minutes earlier, he also sorted through them fairly quickly before placing them into piles. He then looked back up at you, his brown eyes filled with taunting intention. “I didn’t say anything.”

“How you manage to come off as even mildly likeable is some weird mystery.” You said. “Your fangirls must be deluded.”

“I guess that means you are too.” He hummed a tune under his breath as he grabbed another large pile of books and placed them before you. “You showed up to see our practice, and got Kuroo off the field since you didn’t want him to see the amazing skills that I’ll use against them.” He leaned a little closer to you, invading your personal space just enough to give you shivers. “Sounds like fangirl behavior to me, Y/N.”

You backed away from him, sorting through that giant pile and placing them in their allotted spots. “You’ve got it all wrong Oikawa. I can’t have you poisoning Kuroo by being around him all the time. Besides, I’d never cheer for you.” You took the chance to meet his eyes in what you hoped looked like a challenge. “Never in a million years.”

Oikawa’s observant face morphed into something a lot more daring. “Oh? You’re on.”

It had been twelve days since Oikawa and you had begun your shared detentions at eight every night, and you decided that it was single-handedly, the shittiest thing you had to suffer through. While the weekend was manageable, the weekdays brought loads of schoolwork that you simply did not have time to finish during the day. You sat up late every night, even forsaking sleep, to complete those assignments to the best of your ability before you collapsed. In the midst of that stress, it seemed you had forgotten to study for the History of Magic Test.

The marked-up piece of parchment stared back at you, a simple “dreadful” written in the corner. How a ghost corrected your test so harshly wasn’t even your concern at this point, because the score on your paper was nothing short of a disgrace. Tucking the paper within the materials of other classes, you left as soon as you were dismissed, almost sprinting, because if there was one thing you needed to avoid right now, it was Oikawa.

You rushed in front of the Fat Lady, and gasped for breath as you said “ad meliora.” She opened up for you, and you immediately sat in one of the chairs in the Common Room when Iwaizumi bounded down the stairs of the boys dormitory.

He caught you almost immediately. “Y/N? What are you doing here?”

“Ahhh,” You began sheepishly, “I needed to hide away from Oikawa.”

“Why?” Iwaizumi sat down on the chair opposite to you, green eyes piercing your own.

“Bad test grade.”

“So the detentions have become deadly.” Iwaizumi chuckled lowly. “You’re not the only one you know. Oikawa’s been worse than usual too. I can bet he got the same score as you, or maybe even lower.”

“I don’t feel like risking it Hajime.” You groaned. A few seconds of silence followed that. You looked up at Iwaizumi, who seemed to be happily thinking something through. “Did I do something wrong?”

“Nope,” Iwaizumi smiled. “You called me by my first name.”

“Oh shit,” You flushed, feeling the embarrassment set in. “Sorry!”

“Oh hell no.” He laughed. “It’s been long enough. We’ve known each other since first year Y/N. Hell, even I call you by your first name. It’s fine!”

“If you say so Hajime.” You shrugged. “Hmm, actually, that does work. We’ll stick to first names now.”

“That’s the spirit!” Iwaizumi grinned. “So, about those detentions...I kind of got you into them in the first place, so could I offer some advice?”

“Anything. I’m too sleep-deprived.” You admitted.

“After detention the two of you should work on homework and study together. You’re both incredibly smart and already have the bantering thing that you can use to swap ideas. It’d most likely also cut down the time it takes for you to finish. Why not try it?”

“More Oikawa?” You spoke lowly. “He’d hold this over my head for centuries.”

“I think the two of you have too much pride to admit that you need each other’s help.” Iwaizumi leaned deeper into the loveseat. “Just think about it, okay?”

“Fine.” Leaning deeper into the chair, you found yourself on the verge of sleep. “Hmmm, it would be nice to nap here. I bet you Gryffindors do it all the time.”

“I’ll let you test that out after you solve your homework situation.”

“You’re so mean Hajime.” You blinked, gathering your class materials. You didn’t have time to nap, and settled on going to the library to finish Arithmancy homework.

During detention, the two of you had to clean the awards of the school by hand and thankfully, Snape had convinced Filch to spend his time elsewhere, telling them once again that they needed to be responsible.

Oikawa looked worse for wear with his normally styled hair lying messy against his head and dark bags surrounding his eyes. He went an entire hour of detention not even acknowledging you, and you couldn’t even be happy about it because you realized Iwaizumi was right. You just didn’t want to be at his mercy.

“Y/N.” He had said. You turned to face him, ceasing the cleaning you were doing before. “This whole detention thing...well it’s not being kind to my grades. I can only assume that you’re in the same boat as I am.” He bit his lip in thought. “I got a dreadful on the History of Magic test today.”

You felt relief overcome you. So Iwaizumi had been right. Oikawa was suffering just as much as you were. “So did I.” You rasped. “I think we should stop fighting since we need to–”

“Yup, we do.” He finished your sentence for you, thinking exactly what you were thinking before you had even managed to say it. “And I know the perfect place to start.”

After you had both made every plaque in that room shine with your reflections, Oikawa had gestured for you to follow him up the stairs and down a few unknown corridors until you reached the outside of an ordinary looking room.

“Isn’t this just a classroom?” You asked him curiously.

“You’ll see.” He opened the door and gestured for you to come inside when suddenly, you were met with a room filled with an archive of shelves, a coffee table, and holy shit! A COFFEE MAKER.

“Coffee maker.” Was all you managed to get out in your shock. Oikawa regarded you with a confused pout on his face.

“What’s coffee?”

You stared back at him in disbelief. “You’re kidding, right?”

He shook his head. “No Y/N, I literally have no clue what that is.”

You felt a smile tug at the corner of your lips, and you let yourself head over to the lovely machine, going through the motions you had desperately missed doing. “It’s a muggle drink that helps to give you a boost of energy and improves your brain function for a while.” You extracted the coffee from the pot and poured it into the two mugs that had magically appeared, adding the extras until both of you had identical cups. “Here you go.”

Oikawa cupped the mug and nodded once before sipping it. His brown eyes shot with excitement when he took another sip. “Y/N...this stuff is amazing.” He whispered in awe. He took another sip and suddenly, Oikawa was smiling a genuine smile ear to ear as he looked at the beverage and back at you. “How have I never heard of this before?”

“Well you were born in a family of all wizards.” You reasoned. “My Dad is a muggle and my Mom is a witch, so I grew up the muggle way until I got that letter. I do miss things like this sometimes.” You cringed. Sharing that much personal information with Oikawa was bound to be disastrous, since he always teased it or used it against you, but this time he listened to you completely. His brown eyes were warm and seemed tired at most.

You realized that maybe Oikawa Tooru wasn’t as bad as you had originally believed.

“My family is all Ravenclaw.” He had said, dragging you to the coffee table. Sitting down, he placed his mug on the top and admired the beverage again before making eye contact with you. “When I was sorted into Slytherin, I had immediately broken years of tradition. I have to compensate for that.”

“Is that always why you’re working in the library at times you should be resting?” You asked him.

He seemed surprised that you knew this. “You noticed?”

“Iwaizumi has told me a few stories. You’re a dumbass if you think that you need to compensate. You already seem like you’re doing enough.”

“And you’d be an ignorant twit if you didn’t realize that you’re working towards something and not giving yourself the credit.” He fired back.

Realizing what they had said to each other, they began laughing. They had never fathomed a day where they’d be able to look each other in the eye and not spit out insults, but to joke around and share core parts of their personalities was another thing altogether.

“Are we only getting along because we’re sleep deprived or because we’re ambitious little shits who need to get work done?” You had asked rhetorically.

Oikawa smirked, but it wasn’t smug. “I’ll have you know that if anyone is a little shit, it’s you, since you can’t even believe that I have the ability to be nice.”

“Don’t blame me! You were an asshole on the train.”

Oikawa had the audacity to look thoroughly shocked. “Well...I was a little ego drunk.”

You almost spit out the coffee you had just sipped at the word choice. “Ego drunk?”

“Well yeah,” He finished the last of his coffee with a contented sigh. “I had never had the attention of so many girls before.”

You rolled your eyes. “Typical. You can really be a cocky bastard sometimes.”

“Like how you can be an insufferable know-it-all.” You took the time to analyze him calmly. He seemed relaxed, although you could tell that his mind was racing with unsaid thoughts. “But it’s never been a bad thing.” He decided to add at the end.

You let yourself chuckle. “I think I’ll clear the air here. I’m sorry for what I said in the li–”

“You were forgiven the moment you sent that note.” He said, absolutely serious. “I was pissed since I’m used to other people saying that sort of stuff, but not you. That note was probably the nicest thing somebody had done to apologize, even though that was a crappy thing to say.”

“Oh.” You hadn’t expected him to forgive you so easily.

“I’m sorry for anything I’ve said that’s hurt you.” He brushed a lock of hair out of his eyes. “I got caught up in the–”

“I forgive you.” You allowed yourself to say. “I mean it.”

The two of them sat in silence, contemplating the words they had shared between them.

“Truce?” Oikawa had asked, holding up his hand. “You don’t have to.”

“I will.” Gripping his hand with your own, you shook it gently, ignoring the feel of his calloused palms on yours. “Truce.”

*******

The night after Oikawa and you had called a truce, you had slipped into a routine of sorts. Attend classes, swap notes in between free periods, take care of their Wolfsbane potion, do their own activities, do detention, do homework, repeat.

By introducing each other’s viewpoints into your daily academics, you not only managed to retain even more information, but found yourself getting higher scores again. Oikawa had been overjoyed at the results himself, saying that he had never been quite this successful at Transfiguration since fourth year. However, they had decided to keep the arrangement a secret.

They were Slytherins. Who were they if they didn’t mess with at least one Gryffindor?

“So,” Kuroo had begun saying as you sat at the foot of the tree by the Great Lake, giant squid flailing about. “I’m not hearing much about Oikawa lately. Hell, you don’t even argue in Potions anymore. Did something happen?”

Damn it. He was perceptive.

“The bastard is still a massive pain in the ass.” You had decided on saying. “It’s just that we keep our bickering outside of classrooms now.”

Kuroo rose an eyebrow suggestively. “Hmm. Okay. Make sure the bickering is safe and consensual.”

Oh that bastard–

“Yoo-hoo!” Oikawa called out in his typical fashion. He looked better than normal today for some reason. Maybe he had slept better. He took long strides and plopped down beside you, ignoring Kuroo’s clearly shocked face. “How have you been Y/N?”

“I’ve been better.” You responded, fighting the urge to point wildly in Kuroo’s direction. “Did you add the myrrh to the Wolfsbane? I already stirred it counterclockwise yesterday, and it began transforming into a somewhat blue-ish looking color.”

“Yeah, I saw that when I was adding the myrrh. Good job.”

“Wait wait wait, HOLD UP!” Kuroo had burst, not able to contain himself. “Did you two just have a CIVIL conversation?”

“Uhh, yes?” Oikawa shrugged. “Why is it so surprising?” Out of the corner of your eye, you saw him wink with his left eye. Ahh. He wanted to spill the secret.

“Because you guys are rivals! You’ve never gone more than two minutes without arguing, and now you’re telling me that you’re being civil?!” Kuroo ranted. “HOW?”

“Oikawa is my study buddy.” You smiled as you poked his shoulder. It had been an innocent comment, but like the pervert he was, Kuroo’s face deviated into the smug smirk you knew so well.

However, Oikawa’s fangirls that had been walking by said something first.

“Hey, Yuki. Y/L/N and Oikawa are study buddies now.” A girl whispered to her friend.

“Oh? Well, I can’t say I’m surprised. They’ve always had this super crazy chemistry. I guess the banter’s just as good in bed.”

Oikawa and you simultaneously choked while Kuroo laughed, sending a wink at the two girls.

“We ONLY study!” You buried your head in your arms, begging the burning embarrassment on your face to subside.

“Are you sure about that?” Oikawa had said lowly, but still loud enough for Kuroo to hear. “We have done some other things.”

“Fuck you.” You mumbled, head still in your arms.

“How about we do that a little later?”

You groaned yet again as Oikawa and Kuroo erupted into a laughing fit so loud, you were worried they were going to suffocate. Raising your head from your arms, you had a view of both of their faces, breathless from laughter. “Cut it out you pigs.”

“No….way!” Oikawa gasped. “You’re too fun to rile up.” You giggled at his antics.

“Oikawa. We should get going if we want to finish the fifteen-inch parchment essay on the fidelius charm.” Grabbing your books, you headed towards the castle, turning back to see Oikawa telling Kuroo something and jogging to catch up with you.

After detention, they had sat at the coffee table in the Room of Requirement (as Oikawa had called it) and sipped their iced lattes as they played hangman on a sheet of paper.

“Oikawa!” You playfully scolded. “What obscure phrase in your mind is so embarrassing that you won’t let me find it out the normal way?”

“It’s no fun if you don’t guess the entire phrase at once.” Oikawa pouted. “Muggle games need to be amped for intensity.”

“You’ve been using those types of words all day.” You murmured. Wait. “Is it ‘I will make you cheer for me at the Quidditch Cup tomorrow and you will wear my scarf?’”

“Spot on!” Oikawa grinned as he drew a large smiley face on the paper. “I still remember how you said that you wouldn’t cheer for me in a million years. I guess I can make you now.”

“Scarf?”

“I’ll hand it to you before the match.” He looked serious, and you were touched by the gesture.

“I was only joking about that.”

“I wanted to give it to you anyway.” He mumbled, shoving his flushed cheeks behind his palm. Regaining his composure, he re-emerged. “We’re playing against Ravenclaw in the first round, and I have to show my parents that being on Slytherin doesn’t make me any less of a player. We were known for fouling a lot back then, but nobody on our team now would dare.” He took a deep breath, looking into your eyes with some sparkle of hope. “What I’m trying to get at is that I’d feel a lot better seeing you in my scarf.”

You found your face heating up at the statement. “I’ll wear your scarf, but no guarantees about the cheering thing.”

“You being there is enough for me.” He smiled. “Besides, your teasing is probably going to wind up being more motivational than the cheesy stuff the fangirls come up with.”

You hesitantly reached to brush a lock of his hair out of his eyes, watching him marginally freeze because of the contact. “I don’t know how that didn’t tickle your eyelid.” You shrugged, “And did something happen? You’re being flirty. You know it–”

“Doesn’t work on you, believe me, third-year you drilled it into my head.” He sighed. “I’m just in a good mood.”

“You better keep that mood until tomorrow.” You teased. “The Grand King must please his royal subjects.”

“Cut that out!” He laughed.

“Well, it looks late. You think we should just conjure some beds and camp out?” You suggested. It was the safest option considering the looming tendencies of Filch and also seemed like the best option so he could get the right amount of rest before the game. Oikawa nodded as he rolled into the plush bed that the room had created.

“Don’t roll into my bed at night, Buttercup.”

You sighed “I would never.”

“Yeah…never.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

“Go to sleep Oikawa.”

Sleep had never been so rewarding.

The next morning, you woke up refreshed and were able to quickly get through your morning routine. However, when you came back, you were met with the sight of Oikawa manning the coffee machine. Once he caught sight of you, he smiled gently.

“Morning Y/N.” He greeted, handing you a cup of whatever type of coffee he had decided on. Taking a sip, you were shocked to find the same exact coffee you had prepared the night they had made their truce. It was….amazing.

“Holy shit, this is so good.” You praised. “Good morning to you too.” Oikawa was dressed and freshened up, seeming thoroughly awake. “What time is it?”

Oikawa looked for a clock in the room until he found one. “Ahh...it’s 7:25. We should head to the Great Hall.”

Finishing their last sip of coffee, they set the mugs down on the coffee table and began their walk to the Great Hall, marveling at the general silence of the usually bustling castle. A look outside showed absolutely horrid weather with the rain coming down faster by the second. Oikawa looked pleased with this.

“This weather seems awful.” You remarked casually as you sat at the Slytherin table. “Why do you look so excited?”

“Because I had the team do drills like this.” He reasoned. “We’re more than used to playing in watery conditions. I’m only worried about visibility at this point.”

“Alright.” You grinned. “Do what you do best Oikawa.” He grinned back.

The Quidditch Pitch was no longer as rainy as it had been during breakfast, but it still thundered occasionally as the fog enveloped the area. Oikawa had been right to worry about visibility. You could barely see the bleachers at the other side of the pitch, and the rain didn’t make anything easier. The Slytherin team had emerged from one side of the field, looking decently professional with Oikawa at the front. You could vaguely see him clutching something to him as he walked, as the girls around you screamed when he looked in your general direction.

“Y/N!” He hollered, gesturing for you to come down to where he was. You smirked as you ran down to meet him, the girls around you being disappointed that they weren’t the ones acknowledged. He was taller than you by a good amount, and while you never let that bother you before, standing in front of him now made you feel a bit small. However, you could finally see what he was holding. The scarf.

“Hi again.” You smiled.

“Hey,” He exhaled. “I told you I would.” He took the green and silver striped scarf and gently slung it around your neck. It was warm, comforting, and even smelled like a mix of pine and lavender. You were never going to tell him anything about that.

You made eye contact with a genuine smile on your face. “Thanks.”

His eyes flashed mischievously in response. Uh oh. “So, where’s my goodluck kiss?” He asked. “I did technically give you my good luck charm, so I’ll need something lucky in return.”

You kissed your fingertips lightly before placing them on his cheek. “Do well out there idiot.” He could only watch as you laughed and found a seat on the bleachers as the teams were called to the center of the field to play. However, what caught your eye was Oikawa’s disgruntled expression as he fought with the Ravenclaw captain, who had olive-brown hair and broad shoulders.

“Who’s that?” The girl behind you had asked into the crowd. “And why is Oikawa so mad? He’s better than the entire Ravenclaw team.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself.” You looked beside you to see a tall blond haired boy with glasses, staring intently at the field. “That would be Ushijima Wakatoshi. He’s a skilled chaser and has somehow always managed to keep Oikawa from catching the snitch in previous matches, despite the fact that he can’t even do anything directly to him. Raveclaw also has Kageyama Tobio, an academic idiot but a tactical genius when it comes to the game.”

“Oh! Kageyama is Ravenclaw’s seeker, right?” The girl said.

“That’s correct.” The blond haired boy had said. “It’s so unfortunate that he’s on Ravenclaw. It demolishes the entire reputation of the house for being clever, even if he is a magnificent seeker.”

“What do you have against him?” You had questioned. “And how come I’ve never heard of this? Oikawa’s conflicts are always front and center.”

“Ah,” The boy turned towards you, eyes golden and analyzing. “You’re Y/L/N Y/N, aren’t you? Do you really think your rival would give you the names of his other rivals? You could team up with them.”

“I prefer to fly solo.” You said cooly. “Who even are you?”

“Tsukishima Kei. Fourth year.” He introduced himself calmly. “Kageyama is in my classes. I despise him. Always so reckless. He should have been Gryffindor.”

“You seem to have a very set idea of what Ravenclaw should be like.” You insisted. “Otherwise you really wouldn’t care so much.”

“I know people on the Ravenclaw team.” Tsukishima shot back. “And they have difficulty controlling the King of the Court.”

They called Kageyama “the King of the Court”? Suddenly, Oikawa’s aggression towards Ravenclaw made sense. It wasn’t JUST his parents. It was the fact that Kageyama, a full two years younger, was a splendid seeker and on the house that Oikawa’s parents expected him to be in. It was Ushijima Wakatoshi’s chasing skills that put all of Oikawa’s persistence to shame. It was all these Ravenclaws pitted against the one Slytherin who wanted to succeed more than anything.

That was a gut-wrenching revelation.

The game started with a whistle, and suddenly everyone was in the air, in position, and ready to play. Hanamaki and Matsukawa frantically passed the quaffle to each other with Hanamaki shooting it through the hoop of the Ravenclaw side, effectively beating their Keeper. Ten points to Slytherin!

Their house cheered but quieted down when Ushijima weaved expertly through the players, narrowly avoiding a bludger from one of their beaters, and scored, earning points for Ravenclaw. Looking up, you could see the desperation on Oikawa’s face.

He flew upwards, trying to gain a large view of the field when suddenly, he dived, attracting the attention of Kageyama, who began to tail him. It was a race of speed and skill as Oikawa suddenly pulled up from the dive, narrowly missing Kageyama (who managed to save himself in time). A feint!!!

Slytherin yelled in praise as Ravenclaw cheered for Kageyama’s save. The Gryffindors were on the edge of their seats, and groaned when a beater nearly knocked Matsukawa off his broom. The Hufflepuffs on the other hand were cheering loudly as Ushijima sent yet another quaffle through their hoops.

Kageyama gritted his teeth as he tried to find Oikawa within the mix of players, finding him not even a minute later by the Gryffindors. The two of them frantically zoomed around the pitch, the sheer intensity of it sending shivers down your spine. The rain poured even harder, and one of the other chasers, a Ravenclaw named Akaashi Keiji had the quaffle slip from his hands before it was saved by Matsukawa.

You caught sight of a fleck of gold near the Hufflepuffs and it seemed like the Gryffindors did too before they all started yelling. “THE SNITCH!”

Oikawa had dashed towards the Hufflepuff bleachers so quickly as Kageyama followed behind. The two of them were neck and neck, changing their direction as the snitch constantly eluded them. You could vaguely hear Iwaizumi yelling “SHITTYKAWA, GO FASTER!” and found yourself gripping his scarf even harder.

He was almost there, his arm reaching, fingers grasping around the snitch, when suddenly, a bludger from Ravenclaw beater Aone Takanobu slammed straight into Oikawa’s broom, sending him free-falling.

Madam Hooch promptly screamed “Arresto momentum!” into the thundering skies, and Oikawa was saved from the fall, breathing still panicked, eyes widened. However, that wasn’t the only thing he seemed to panic about. Turning your glance, you saw Kageyama’s hand gripped firmly around the snitch, the Ravenclaws erupting in a bellowing cheer.

They had lost.

You immediately sprinted off the bleachers towards Oikawa, who was surrounded by teachers, as well by Kuroo and Iwaizumi while he was being examined for injuries. He looked so broken, that you felt your eyes burn at the sight of him.

“Tooru.” Iwaizumi said, voice unwavering. “You were extraordinary out there. That situation was out of your control.”

“I should have been a second faster.” He growled, the storm in his eyes more intense than the one they were currently in. “I was almost there. I should have gripped it harder. DAMN IT!”

“Oikawa, that wasn’t your fault! Kageyama needed your guidance to catch that damn thing in the first place!” Kuroo argued.

“But he still caught it!” Oikawa groaned. “We could have won. I screwed it up for everyone.”

“Captain,” Hanamaki yelled, running towards him. “That was an amazing game we played out there. That bludger was uncalled for.”

“No Makki.” He said, his voice strained. “You guys played an amazing game out there. You gave Ushiwaka a run for his money.” He laughed mirthlessly. “I just couldn’t beat them.”

The thunder was almost deafening as the teachers agreed that Oikawa was uninjured, and they walked away, leaving just them.

“Oikawa,” You said in almost a whisper. You crouched to meet him on the floor, his face set in stony impassiveness. “You were astonishing out there. I mean it,”

He looked at you, clearly trying to disguise the torment he was feeling on the inside. “I still wasn’t enough, Y/N.” He rapidly blinked his eyes. “I...wasn’t....enough.”

“Oikawa, that bludger wasn’t your fault. You were–”

“I should have practiced more.” He rasped. “I should have prepared for that situation. I should have spent more time at practice and less time doing anything else!”

“And overworked yourself?” You heard yourself ask incredulously. “How would that have helped anyone?”

“It would have at least meant our team had the chance to go play in the next round!” He groaned. “God, I should have spent less time with you in the Room of Requirement. Maybe then I would have been able to catch that damn snitch.”

“What does this have to do with me?” You asked, voice cold.

“You were a distraction.”

“So you’re saying that if you could, you’d undo that truce just so you could practice more?” You felt a sharp pain in your chest at the thought.

Oikawa glared at you. “In a heartbeat.”

You felt your heart clench terribly at the statement. Every second of laughter, every late-night discussion, every game of hangman played over different types of coffee...was a distraction? All the time they spent together was merely a hindrance?

“Fine.” You said, removing his scarf. “We don’t even have to be rivals. We can be nothing. I won’t be bothering you anymore.” You got up, walking away promptly, begging the burning sensation in your eyes to subside. He had never meant anything.

“Y/N wait!” He had called out, maybe realizing what he had said. You ignored him, sprinting off the pitch. You didn’t want anything to do with him anymore.

It seemed that fate was cruel to its subjects. It always seemed that way.

The next few days went on monotonously. You rose at the appropriate time for your classes, did all your homework in the library alone, and did your job at detention. Ignoring Oikawa was difficult.

He was an ever-present source of something in your life, whether it was misery or laughter, and the sudden absence of it was almost melancholy. You had realized that maybe the reason it hurt so much more was that you had begun to see a different side to the boy. The side that was funny and teasing, considerate and charming. You began to see what it was like when he was fond of someone.

You used to think he was fond of you.

Before you had even realized it, the Wolfsbane potion had been brewed to its completion, and much to the surprise of Snape and the rest of the class, it was perfect. You resisted the urge to grin at Oikawa, or yell “We did it!” because that’s what friends would do, and the two of them were nothing.

Detention had also been served and Snape commended their diligence before you walked out of his office, ignoring the pained look in Oikawa’s eyes as you sped past him, not even acknowledging his existence. You didn’t consider yourself to be particularly emotional, but you didn’t enjoy being used. That was where you drew the line.

You couldn’t sleep that night. You had been attempting to toss and turn for the better of two hours and found yourself wide awake and plagued with thoughts you didn’t want to have. You had realized over the past few days that you had certainly felt something for the brunette, otherwise, he wouldn't have been on your mind as often. Slipping on a pair of shoes, you wandered aimlessly through the castle before somehow landing in front of a familiar door.

“Get my mind off that prick.” You whispered, before opening the door.

The last thing you would have expected was to see said prick, asleep across the coffee table with a thick pile of paper around him. They were scattered all around the room, some listing quidditch strategies against….Gryffindor?

Right. Hufflepuff had lost to Ravenclaw in the first round, which was why Slytherin had to play Ravenclaw in the match a few days earlier. Gryffindor must have beaten Ravenclaw in the third round, and Slytherin must have beaten Hufflepuff to get back in the game. That meant the final round tomorrow was against Gryffindor.

Those weren’t the only types of parchment. Every now and then, there was a giant “I’m Sorry” written in the loopy cursive you knew so well. You had no idea who he was apologizing too.

Suddenly, the steady breathing that had been filling the room before stopped. You frantically turned towards the boy, shaking him gently.

“Oikawa.” You said, shaking him a little harder. “Oikawa. Get up.” When he didn’t respond, you began to check his pulse. The faint thrumming against your thumb only managed to panic you further. “Damn it!” You pulled out your wand, but realized you knew no spell to revive him quickly, considering he hadn’t been hit with any spell prior. You shook him one last time, tears running down your face. “Tooru!”

He flickered his eyes open, his eyes hazy and bloodshot. He had been awake, working or crying. Upon seeing you, his eyes softened into a look so fond that it unsettled you. He sat upwards, rubbing his eyes before he said anything. “Y/N.” He whispered, as if he didn’t believe it. “Is that actually you? Or am I dreaming again?”

He had been dreaming of you?

You walked over and made eye contact with him for the first time in days. “You’re not dreaming. I’ll get goi–”

“No!” He yelled, gripping your wrist. “Please stay. Please.” The look in his eyes was so desperate that you sat down across him, moving some of the parchment out of the way so his face wasn’t obscured. He sat up straight, before adjusting his hair slightly.

“I think you collapsed.” You breathed out, still shaken from his limp form a few minutes earlier. “I was so afraid.”

He hesitantly gripped your hand. “I’m sorry you had to see that.” The look in his eyes was earnest. “I’m sorry for telling you that I would have wrecked that truce in a heartbeat. God, that wasn’t true at all!” He let out a shaky exhale before he let his eyes flicker all over your face as if he was afraid you’d disappear if he looked away. “I missed you more than you could have ever imagined. I let my insecurities and torment push you away. I’m so sorry, I’m sor–”

“It’s okay Tooru.” You sighed, relief and comfort encompassing you. You had never meant to forgive him this easily, but the genuineness of his apology struck something within you. His face morphed into a face of disbelieving,

“You forgive me?” His eyes glittered with hopefulness. “You..”

“Yeah. I guess I do.” You smiled.

Oikawa’s face immediately burst into an expression of pure happiness and he squeezed your hand harder. He was glowing and a part of you realized just how much you missed seeing him. “I think I have a bit of explaining to do.” He almost giggled. “I’m so sorry. I’m just reli–”

You chuckled lightly. “Me too.”

He didn’t let go of your hand as he pushed a jar of ink away. “Two months ago, you found Iwa and I fighting in the corridor.”

“You don’t have to tell me if you’re not–”

“Nope,” He grinned. “You deserve to know. Iwa took away my last vial of Wideye Potion. I used to use it almost three times a week to stay awake and practice, or study. It was the only way I could work without falling asleep or collapsing. Him taking my last vial took away any chances of me doing those things naturally. That’s why I resorted to magic.”

All of a sudden, everything clicked into place. “That’s why you were always yawning during detention and needed Hajime to pull you out of the library.”

Oikawa nodded. “Yeah, he always had to keep me in check. That was until you came along.”

“Oh,” Was all you managed to get out before Oikawa began rubbing circles onto your hand.

He looked around the room before his eyes landed on the clock. “It’s already 3:00 a.m. You don’t have to, but could you stay here and just sleep with me? I haven’t been able to sleep for the past week.”

You raised an eyebrow. “We just resolved our conflict and you already want to sleep with me? I didn’t think you’d be someone of that sort, Oikawa.”

He blushed almost instantly. “Ugh, that’s not what I meant.” He placed his hands on his cheeks in an attempt to cool them down. “Tooru.”

“What?” You asked.

He looked back up at you, more composed now. “Call me Tooru.”

“But that’s your firs–”

“I’ve been calling you your first name forever,” He laughed. “Besides, my first name sounds much better when you say it.”

It was your turn to blush, the heat filling your cheeks. “You flirty menace.” You chuckled as you lied down on the mattress the room had provided. He only smiled from his own bed as the two of you fell asleep.

Maybe fate’s cruelties led to something a lot sweeter.

The Great Hall buzzed with anticipation before the final round of the Interhouse Tournament. Everywhere you looked, you could see the smiling faces of the players, as well as the competitive glances between Snape and McGonagall. The weather today was gorgeous with clear skies and the sun offering the perfect amount of warmth. It was the ideal condition to play, and you were excited for the turn-out.

During breakfast, you had flounced over to the Gryffindor table, waving hello to Iwaizumi and Kuroo. Iwaizumi had moved over so you could sit next to him.

“So,” Kuroo began. “Are you going to wish us good luck and hope for our victory?”

“Not a chance Tetsu.” You responded. Turning to Iwaizumi, you smiled. “Captain, I wish your team the best of luck in not falling off your brooms when your team faces mine.”

Iwaizumi’s face contorted into a playfully challenging glare. “Oh, you’re on!” You slapped him on the back as you headed back to your table, accidentally slamming into someone on the way.

“Shit, I’m sorry.” You said, only to be met with the hazel eyes of Sugawara Koushi.

“It’s okay Y/N. It’s been a while hasn’t it?” He asked good-naturedly.

“It has Koushi, hasn’t it.” The two of you began walking down the length of the hall. “I heard about the match against Slytherin. I’m sorry about Hufflepuff losing.”

Sugawara was still all smiles. “I think it was a good game all in all. Oikawa is no joke as a seeker when he’s focused.”

“Tell me about it.” You said, rolling your eyes. “Last night I found him sketching-out strategies and he actually passed out. His work is already impeccable, but he always goes the extra mile.”

“Ahh, so the rumors are true,” Sugawara smirked mischievously. “Who would’ve thought.”

“What rumors?” You asked before you felt a hand on your shoulder, turning around, you saw Oikawa clutching a glass of pumpkin juice. “Oh, hi Tooru.”

“Hey there, Y/N.” Instead of the usual smile or cheeky wink you usually got when he greeted you, you found his eyes in the calculating gaze you knew so well but directed at Sugawara. “Hello there Sugawara.”

Sugawara’s smirk changed into a knowing smile. “Morning to you too Oikawa. Best of luck in the tournament.”

You stepped off to the side to see Oikawa’s expression, but it was still guarded, the gears in his mind shifting as he put on a charming smile. “Thank you. We’ll do our best.” He then gently grabbed your arm and dragged you back to the Slytherin table.

“What was that?” You asked him as he sat across you, taking a sip of his pumpkin juice. “You weren’t jealous, were you?”

“Nope,” He smiled, his eyes still full of the fondness you had found from last night. “You two looked awfully chummy.”

“You’re definitely jealous then.” You winked. “Don’t worry, I won’t say anything.”

“I wasn’t jealous!” He pouted.

“You were!”

“Was not!”

“Y/L/N, Oikawa, get a room already!” Hanamaki yelled from the other side of the table. “This sexual tension is not appropriate for the Great Hall.

All the students laughed as Oikawa and you blushed.

The Quidditch pitch continued to be the source of much excitement as all the houses waited for the Slytherin and Gryffindor teams to emerge from the opposite sides of the field. The air was electric with excitement, and you could feel the nerves building up in your stomach.

Gryffindor began their walk onto the field, Iwaizumi and Kuroo attracting the most cheers as they strutted down the pitch. They both looked to you, and you shot them a thumbs up as they assembled near the center.

The Slytherin team appeared not even a minute after, and the air was filled with loud cheers for Oikawa as he jogged onto the field, not missing to throw a wink your way. Cheeky gremlin. Iwaizumi and Oikawa met at the center and to some of the students’ surprise began joking around, wishing each other good luck after shaking hands.

Madam Hooch blew the whistle, and they were in the air, a thundering cheer as they rose. Almost immediately, the quaffle was thrown back and forth between the two teams, the red and green jerseys clashing almost artfully as each fought for possession. Kuroo threw the quaffle through the Slytherin hoops, earning points for Gryffindor, the audible sighs of his fangirls heard all around the stadium.

Looking at Oikawa, you could see that the expression on his face was different...happy when he rose up on his broom to scour the stadium. In a flash, he began to dive, spotting the fleck of gold that was near the base of the pitch. The Gryffindor seeker by the name of Koganegawa Kanji blindly followed Oikawa into the dive but decided to turn when Oikawa hurtled straight near the ground, expecting a feint.

It wasn’t a feint.

Oikawa pulled out of the dive, snitch golden and fluttering against his hand with the widest, most amazing, grin on his face. Registering the victory, you stood with the rest of the houses and cheered as loudly as you could while the Gryffindors laughed at the short duration of the game.

You were running down to the pitch before you could even control yourself, and Oikawa was off his broom before anyone could even realize. The two of you raced towards each other, happy laughter coming out of the both of you.

“Y/N!” He yelled out with a wide and happy grin.

“Tooru, you did it, you beautiful bastard!” You laughed as he lifted you up and spun you around. It felt like it was just the two of you there when he put you down, looking deeply into your eyes.

“I guess we did, didn’t we.” He smiled boyishly. So engrossed in each other, they didn’t realize how the stadium had gone silent with the affection they had just witnessed. Hanamaki grinned deviously as Kuroo and Iwaizumi signaled to the other half of the stadium.

They all used their fingers to signal the countdown.

Three...two….one!

“OIKAWA!” The stadium bellowed at the top of their lungs. “JUST CONFESS AND KISS ALREADY!”

Oikawa was shaken from the sheer noise of it all, his face changing to a bright red realizing the words.

Confess? Did that mean…?

“Uhhhh Y/N.” He chuckled nervously. “You...you’ve been there for me during some of the toughest times of my life and got me through detentions and late nights. You always know what to say to me to get me to feel like an actual Grand King, and it always feels like I’ve conquered a kingdom whenever I see you smile. So...I guess what I’m trying to say is that I love you. A part of me thinks I always have.”

You felt the warmth bubble within you like your face split into the widest smile you’ve ever smiled. “Tooru. I love you too!” The stadium cheered as the two of them hugged, the feelings of relief, warmth, and comfort surrounding them.

When they pulled away, he looked at the ground shyly. “I...brought the scarf...would you–”

“Of course idiot,” You sighed. “That’s not even a question.” He pulled out the scarf, slinging it around your neck just as gently as he had done the first time, except this time the stadium was silent with anticipation.

“God, I’m so happy I could kiss you.” You admitted.

“So then why don’t you?” He teased.

So you did, leaning in and pressing your lips to his almost gently. You weren’t prepared for how soft his lips were, or how nice it felt to be able to put all your feelings into an action so delicate. You also weren’t prepared for the way he kissed you back, almost hesitantly as he poured in all the tension they had felt for weeks around each other.

The cheers of the stadium were audible as you pulled away, blushing. Kuroo and Iwaizumi gave you a thumbs up as Hanamaki clapped his captain on the back.

“God, maybe we’ve spellbound each other from the start.” Oikawa smiled.

“Maybe we did.” You laughed.

*******

spell·bound

verb

held the complete attention of (someone) as though by magic; fascinated

“I wish I could’ve loved you a little longer.“

Osamu turns around, fingers sliding through sweaty hair, eyes scrunched up in confusion.

The time justifies his expressions, there’s no way that at 3 a.m., lethargic from setting up his new office, he would be able to understand you. You, on the other hand, jet-lagged in such a way that you’re wide awake, conscious of the strain on your heart, know exactly what you mean.

Love is very complicated. Mostly, it hurts. Your heart yearns for its beloved even if he’s 4 centimetres away on the same table. It’s desperate and too naïve. All it knows is that it must be near him, around him, close to him, touching him, with him, in any way possible. 

Again, it hurts.

It hurts more when you’re not together. Separation is painful. For a brief minute your heart, or rather, you, think that you will be forgotten. Separation is brief, it’s temporary. But still. It hurts.

“Longer than three years?”

Longer than forever.

“Yes.”

Your eyes follow him as he manoeuvres around the desk, grabbing his phone to check the time. His eyes gloss over the screen and then gaze at yours. He smiles sadly, like he’s holding back regret. Maybe love, too. 

It’s really hard to describe painful love. But looking at Osamu, with pin-drop silence accompanying you two, it’s easy. Painful love doesn’t need to always be direct. Love can pain in the same way an awkward conversation does sometimes. It lulls. It stretches. It is simply there. You are in a small office with your ex and the painfulness of it all drones. Even though it’s summer, you get goose bumps.

You think back to all the goose bumps you’ve gotten without reason. Why the fuck do humans even get random goose bumps like that? Is it because our body is waking us up? And why do you need to wake up, body? Is it because you’re scared, too? That familiarity breeds contempt?

You wish familiarity would breed contempt. Unfortunately, absence which makes the heart grow fonder triumphs that.

“I wish I could’ve loved you a little longer, too.”

You can’t tell if he’s lying. Hell, you can’t tell if he even knows what he’s talking about. His eyes are lingering a little. Like a tropical storm looking for its next target. But you have always been the target.

“…Do you really?”

The silence is kind of deadly, it’s heavy with the weight of your sorrow. His eyes do speak volumes; he’s taken aback but he understands. In that moment, the window seems more alluring to him, so he averts his eyes from your face to the glass panes. You take two steps back, hands clasped together to stop the shaking.

“Maybe not as much as you wish you could’ve…But yes, a couple of weeks before, I did want to be with you a little longer. I wish I could’ve been better. I wish we could’ve been better.”

summary: on a night out, atsumu manages to get his next flings number. written on a flimsy napkin, they scribble a cute “call me” and their number. however, the next morning atsumu realizes the last few digits are smudged. with his superb guessing skills, he manages to guess the last 3 digits….or what he thinks is the 3 digits. so what happens when atsumu texts y/n some raunchy messages? he gets called a pervert.

masterlist ll prologue ll one

“Mom, I promise I'll be fine. I'm really excited to be back and I'll try my hardest to find a job. Plus I won't be alone, Shugo will be here too!” Placing the phone between your head and shoulder, you lean down to grab your suitcase from the belt, placing it on the ground and lifting the handle up.

“Sweetheart, I know you'll be fine, I'm just worried since its your first time being without us.”

“It was bound to happen mom!” Looking around the pickup area you spot him. At least a foot taller than every person in the airport, it's quite hard to miss him.

“Mom, I'll call you once i get back to my apartment, okay? I see Shugo. Love you, bye!”

Hearing your mom mumble an 'I love you too' back, you hang up the phone and walk towards him, a large smile plastered on your face.

“Shu!!”, you yell while running into his arms for a long overdue hug.

“Hey Y/N, its good to see you again” he mumbles into your hair.

At the age of 4 years old, your family had packed up and moved into a quiet neighborhood in Tokyo. They had promised you that moving would be a great time, as they were moving next door to their old high school friends who happened to have a son only 4 years older than you. From the moment you met him, the hearts in your eyes never disappeared. Your parents spent so much time together, and to your excitement, that meant that there was no way to avoid each other. As you both got older, (and the amount of his rejections lessened), you both saw a beautiful friendship blossom.

Helping you move your things into your new apartment, Meian says “You know, its actually quite nice.” He drags in your suitcase while looking around the small apartment.

“The price is also quite nice” you sigh as you begin to unzip your suitcase, "The landlord knew my parents so he was willing to give a bit of a discount, but I'll still need to find a job soon."

“You could have just lived with me until you found a job,” he looks at you as you hand him a pile of clothes to place in the dresser.

“I could have but I won't.... don't really want to live with you.” you flash a grin and he looks at you with mock offense.

“I think I would be a great roommate.”

“I never said you that wouldn't be, however, that offer would have been great when I was confessing my love to you every week.” You tsk at him before you both begin to laugh, as you think back to how many times you confessed to Meian...and how many times he rejected you.

He pulls a serious look on his face and as he begins to say something, your conversation is interrupted by his phone ringing.

“I'll be right back” you nod, as he leaves the room to answer the call. You begin to look around your bare room, planning how to decorate it enough to not feel so empty. The rest of your things will be shipped in next week, and although you did bring quite a bit with you, you know you are still missing some essentials. As you begin to make a mental checklist of things to buy on your next store trip, Meian enters the room.

“So, my team wants to get together at a club to celebrate our new season, do you want to come?” He asks while he walks up next to you, slinging an arm around your neck and looking down at you.

You lean your head against his shoulder and look up to meet his eyes as you say, “Honestly, not really. I'm exhausted and I need to finish unpacking too.”

“Then I'll stay and help-”

“No, no it's alright. You are literally the captain, you cant skip it." As he tries to argue with you, you begin again, "It's fine, I think I'm old enough to know how to unpack my things by myself.”

You both start to walk towards the front of the apartment. Opening the door for him and turning to face him, you remember something “Oh wait! I wanted to give you an extra key just in case.” You run back to your room and return to the entrance holding a silver key with two key chains connected, one of a black 'M' and the other, a mini photo of the two of you before you left Tokyo. “I even got you some cute key chains so you don't lose it!”

Handing him the key, he grabs it and smiles “I'll lose it? If anything you'll be the first one to lose your own key.”

“Hey!”

“Alright, well I'm gonna head out. Text me if you need anything alright? I'll be back to see you soon.” He places the keys you gave him in his pocket.

He opens his arms, letting you slump onto him and wrap your arms around him.

“Alrighty, see you later Shu, and have fun!”

As he starts to walk towards the elevator, you yell “Don't do anything I wouldn't do!”

And as the elevator doors close, he sends you a wink.

Yeah, you missed Japan.

prologue: reunion time!

riya's notes:

- this was meant to show more of meian and y/n's friendship, plus i though it was fun to write :-)

- i hope you enjoyed this little prologue, and chapter one will be out soon!

a soulmate who wasn’t meant to be

pairing; college! suna rintarou x reader

genre; angst (songfic / oneshot)

wc; 2,5k

would recommend listening to a soulmate who wasn’t meant to be by jess banko :)

notes; came up with thus during my physics lesson and tried to write it before i forgot about the idea ig. this is my first time writing a oneshot and even an angst so i tried my best, would really appreciate your opinions on it!!

i never should’ve kissed, kissed your hand

your eyes drifted to the hand that held his phone, scrolling through instagram. it was fine that he didn’t pay attention to you, he gave you enough during the times when he filled you up, stretching your folds, letting you experience pleasure beyond the imaginable. so it was fine, you told yourself.

➔ suna x reader

➔ angst

➔ word count: 1.1k

“Rin, let's go to the park and have a picnic for our anniversary!” you shout from across his living room. Seated on his couch, you wait for him to reenter from the kitchen to get an answer.

“You want to have a picnic for our four years?” he says as he walks towards you, placing a cup of iced coffee on the table in front of you.

“Yeah, the forecast says the weather will be great, it seems like it will actually be cooler tomorrow.” you say while turning your phone screen to face him, showing him the weather forecast.

“Plus, imagine all the good instagram pictures we can get!” you say in a sing-song voice.

“Okay, whatever you want baby.” he smiles at you while reaching to cup your cheeks.