Sakura Haruka

“Tell me who did this.”

You flinched upon hearing the cold, hard edge in your partner’s voice. The school nurse gave you a worried look before applying the final layer of ointment to your wound. She firmly wrapped your bleeding elbow and knee with rolls of bandages and dusted off the dirt from your uniform.

“You’ll have to go home immediately, I’m afraid. The cuts on your arms aren’t very deep, but the one on your knee is. You won’t require stitches, but you should avoid moving around for the next couple of days. Can you—?” She turned to look at your partner, who was looking at you with a forlorn expression on his face. “You must be their partner. Can you take them home, Sakura-kun?”

“Not until they tell me who did this.”

You cowered even further under his intimidating stare. Standing in the dim lighting of the school infirmary, Sakura’s dark eyes glimmered menacingly as he walked over to you.

“I’m not leaving until I slam my foot down the asshole’s throat responsible for hurting my partner.”

“Haru, it’s alrigh—”

“Complete that sentence, I dare you. Complete that sentence, and I am calling Suo and Nieri right this instant and asking them to interrogate every single classmate of yours. Hell, I’ll call everyone in Furin for this.” His expression softened when he saw the guilty look on your face. Sighing, he knelt on one knee and ran his fingers over your bruised knuckles. Your shoulders relaxed instantly. His familiar touch calmed your frazzled nerves.

Sakura, however, was not reassured. Seeing the innumerable purple-and-black bruises blemishing your delicate arms seemed to snap something inside him. You were startled to see frustrated tears swimming in his eyes.

“Please tell me, (Y/N). Please tell me who did this. This is not how a relationship works, (Name). You have to tell me these things.” His voice slightly cracked. “Or I will fail to protect you again. Please.”

“Haru…”

“He’s right, child,” the school nurse added kindly. “I know you had your partner’s best interest at heart, but you do not keep such things from him. Being in a relationship means being honest with each other, despite the truth being bitter or painful. Lying never helps.”

You nodded, tears prickling the corners of your vision. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m sorry, Haru. I just—”

“Hey, it’s alright. I am sorry I wasn’t observant enough to notice this. Though I am glad you fought back. I know you must have kicked their asses.” He smiled when you laughed at his words. “Don’t worry any more. I've got your back now.”

“Nobody is ever hurting you again. I will make sure of it.”

Kaji Ren

“Don’t touch them. Don’t you fucking dare touch my partner.”

A strangled sob of relief escaped your lips, and you slid down the length of your locker, your trembling legs too weak to support the weight of your body. Behind the loose semi-circle of jerks who’d surrounded you during recess stood your partner, Kaji Ren, clad in his Furin uniform, his headphones dangling from his neck, a menacing aura surrounding his figure.

“What did you just call them, you asshole?” He growled, grabbing one of them by his collar. “How dare you even cast your filthy eyes on my partner?”

The boy whimpered in fear. The others looked at each other nervously. They hadn’t expected your partner to pop in unexpectedly during their “friendly teasing” session, as they called it, which, in reality, hovered dangerously near physical harassment. How he managed to enter your school was a mystery to you, but you were too tired to care. You hugged your knees tightly, watching through moist eyes as Kaji let go of the boy and ordered them to scram before he snapped their spines in half. The boys ran away with their tails between their legs. You had a feeling Ren wasn’t done with them, and you honestly couldn’t bring yourself to care.

“Hey,” a voice snapped you out of your thoughts. “Can I hug you?”

You glanced up and saw Ren looking at you with the tenderest expression on his face. Unsurprisingly, you burst out crying and pulled him in a tight hug. He wrapped his arms around you without a word. You both stayed like that for a while: him holding your shaking form and you crying into his chest. When he felt your hiccups die down a little, he cupped your face with his hands and pressed his forehead against yours.

“I am so sorry I wasn’t there when you needed me. Asking you to forget this whole incident would be simply preposterous, but I promise you I won’t let you go through this alone. I will be here, right next to you. Don’t worry. Let’s head home for now. I’ll text Kusumi and Enomoto to deal with those scumbags.”

You nodded as you stood up, Ren’s hand wrapped reassuringly around your waist. The tightness in your chest slowly dissipated, and you breathed more freely. He flashed you a small smile and handed you a strawberry lollipop.

“Let’s go. I’ll buy you boba tea.”

Umemiya Hajime

“Is there a problem?”

The laughing ceased. A few people shifted nervously, eyes darting around as they realised who was standing in front of them. You, on the other hand, didn’t dare raise your head, afraid it might all prove to be a dream. But then, instead of the rough hands that had been shoving you around, gentle hands enveloped your trembling frame as a ragged sob escaped your lips and you leaned into the warmth of him.

“Holy fuck, that’s Bofurin’s Umemiya. Shit, they weren’t lying,” someone from the crowd murmured. “What is he doing here at our school?”

“A few days ago, my sweet partner suddenly came home with bruises littering their body,” Umemiya answered, his voice low and dark, his eyes completely devoid of life. “When I asked, they said they fell and refused to talk about it. At first, I didn’t want to press too hard, but something kept nagging at me, and so I came today to pick them up so we could talk. But—” and a shiver went down everyone’s spine as they heard the rage in his voice “—imagine my surprise when I see them surrounded by a group of lowlife thugs who’re harassing them. Makes me wonder, I suppose, how you people could have been so stupid.”

He pressed you closer to himself. If not for his arms supporting your weight, you were sure you would’ve crumpled to the ground in relief.

“I’m gonna give you fools exactly ten seconds to run. If I see you in front of me after ten seconds, I’m going to pummel you to the ground. I will start now. One, t—”

And they were gone.

For all the harassment and bullying you had endured the last couple of days, you could not help but let out a small laugh at the way they had dashed off, tails tucked between their legs.

“I am going to call a meeting,” Hajime suddenly said. You craned your neck and your heart broke a little when you saw the crushed look on his face. “I am going to call a meeting of the Four Kings, and we’re going to patrol this year until we catch all those bastards and teach them a lesson. And I am going to walk you to and from school every day. And next time someone threatens you, I want you to tell me. Because when I saw you today, (Name), injured and surrounded by those assholes, I—” He took in a deep breath to mask his rising anger. “Please, you have to tell me, okay? Please, let me protect you. There’s no point in being the saviour of the town if I can’t even protect my partner.”

“I am sorry, Haji,” you said softly. “I was scared.”

He smiled and ruffled your hair affectionately. “Then I will make sure you have no more reasons to be scared.”

Suo Hayato

You were confused.

Entering your classroom, you were confused to see a clean desk and chair waiting for you. No scribbled insults. No broken chair legs. No drink spilled over your books. Yes, you were very confused.

Your eyes hesitantly drifted to the group of girls who sat behind you and were usually responsible for making your life miserable. To your surprise, today they sat meekly in their seats, avoiding eye contact. No jeers or taunts greeted you as you slowly sat down in your seat.

Okay, you were beyond confused now.

A sudden tap on your shoulder broke you out of your thoughts. You sighed internally. Of course, the peace was too good to be true. Any moment now, you would be pelted with erasers and pencils.

Another tap on your shoulder, this time more hesitant and soft. You furrowed your brows. This was not like them at all. Usually, they would’ve dumped water all over you by now.

“Um-m, (Last Name)-san!”

Last Name-san?

You whipped your head around in surprise.

They never called you that.

What the hell was going on?

“Wha—” Before you could even verbalise your thoughts, a gasp escaped your mouth as the entire group of bullies, your classmates, the people who made your life a living hell, knelt on the floor, their heads bowed, their frames quivering in fear.

“We are very sorry to have bullied you, (Name)-san! We are utter trash of human beings, and we were absolutely wrong to treat you like that. We’re very ashamed of our behaviour. Please, accept our sincere apologies,” they said in unison, as if they had been made to learn and recite this.

Your jaw hung open as you continued to stare in silence.

A quick glance around the room made you realise all your classmates were tactfully avoiding eye contact with you.

Usually, they were quick to join in on your bullying. But today, they seemed nervous and on edge.

Just what happened to them?

Your questions were answered when your classroom door slid open and you heard a familiar voice call out to you:

“Morning, my dear (Name).”

“Hayato?” you asked, surprised. “What are you doing here? Don’t you have class right now?” Furin was on the other end of town!

He hummed noncommittally and strolled in, looking every bit the master of the place, as if this was a garden he visited daily.

Strangely, with every step he took, you saw your classmates' postures go stiff, fists clenched tightly as if expecting a blow to their faces.

Come to think of it...

A few of your male classmates were wearing bandages.

“I just came to check on my darling partner,” he replied smoothly, coming to a halt in front of your desk and gently tucking a flyaway strand of your hair behind your ear. “Is it a crime for a man to miss their sweet partner?”

You blushed slightly, the warmth of his touch still lingering.

However, for all his flirting and easy smiles, his eyes were cold and hard.

He turned to face your classmates, and you heard a few frightened gasps as he trained his steely eyes on them.

“And, of course, I came to say hello to your dear old classmates. You see, because you were absent yesterday due to the fever you caught from the bucket of cold water balanced precariously on the classroom door, I thought I would pay them a nice little social visit. They were most gracious to receive me, and we had quite a fun chat yesterday. We even played a few games after school in the abandoned park nearby.”

He smiled at the boys adorned in bandages and plasters.

“Things got a little rough, but we all had fun, didn’t we?”

The boys immediately nodded so hard you were half-convinced they were about to give themselves whiplash.

Suo’s smile widened.

“Huh,” you murmured.

That explains a lot.

Suo had come over to help you with your homework when suddenly the lights went out. With the curtains drawn and the evening sun rapidly disappearing on the horizon, your room was suddenly flooded with darkness. Although Suo has known you for over a year, you’d only recently started dating. He had considered himself sharp and observant, more so when it came to his s/o; he was well-versed with your likes and dislikes, your favourite movie (My Neighbour Totoro), your favourite band, your order at the local cafe — Suo liked to believe he knew you well enough.

Which is why he was surprised when he discovered you were trembling as you snuggled closer to him. You were afraid of the darkness, he realised with a start.

“Hey,” he said softly, pulling you closer and wrapping a hand around your waist. “Are you okay?”

“I don’t like the dark,” you whimpered. “I, um, it’s really silly, but, back in middle school, some of my classmates locked me up in one of the bathroom cubicles because I refused to let them copy my homework. A teacher rescued me after I banged on the door and cried myself hoarse. I wasn’t locked for a very long time, but, um, Hayato, it was so dark inside. And the air was so stale and musty, and I could hear them laughing outside and making scary noises, and I just…” You broke down crying, burying your face in his chest.

Suo froze momentarily. Never in a million years had he imagined anything like this. A wave of searing anger washed over him, blurring his vision. No, he thought, exhaling slowly. Now’s not the time for this. He had to focus on you right now.

Gently, he ran his fingers through your hair, rubbing soothing circles on your back with the other. 

“It’s okay, love. You’re safe now,” he said, swaying your intertwined bodies side-to-side. “I will never let anything of that sort ever happen to you again. I promise.”

“Okay,” you whispered. “Can we hug for a little longer?”

He chuckled, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “I am not going anywhere. Oh, and by the way, do you remember your classmates’ addresses?”

Sakura Haruka

“Oi, w-what the hell? Get off me!”

Sakura was flustered. Beyond flustered, actually. He was going to combust on the spot. You two had only started dating recently, barely a month ago. The first time you held his hand, he let out an audible squeak and turned the brightest shade of red. But right now? You’d literally thrown yourself at him, wrapping your arms around him and burying your face in the crook of his neck. Before Sakura could even continue spluttering indignantly, he froze when he noticed you were shaking. With fear.

It was night, and the two of you had gone out for a short walk to the park because you claimed you hadn’t seen him in ages (you saw him in the morning, but Sakura could never say no to you). Suddenly, all the streetlights went out, and the whole town of Makochi was plunged into darkness. A power outage, Sakura realised, piecing together everything. You were scared of the darkness.

However, he had an inkling there was something more to it; you kept darting your eyes around nervously. Almost as if…

“Did someone attack you?” It came out sharper and angrier than he had expected. He didn’t even realise, but his fists were clenched tightly. “Were you jumped?”

You looked up, eyes swimming with fear and unease. “Once,” you admitted. “Back in middle school. I was returning from my friend’s house. It got a little late, and then this town was still overrun by gangs. Some men circled me when I was crossing a dim-lit street. I managed to escape before they could hurt me, but ever since then, I have been so afraid of the dark. I feel so scared, I…” You trailed off, suddenly realising you were still holding him in a deadly grip. “Oh my God, Haru, I am so sorry! I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable. I was just—”

“‘S fine,” he grumbled. “I-I don’t mind. And you should’ve told me this earlier, I-I would’ve protected you. Come on.” He grabbed your hand and pulled you closer. “Stay close to me. Nothing bad will ever happen to you again, okay?”

“Okay,” you said, smiling softly. “Thank you.”

You will tease him about his flushed cheeks tomorrow. 

TOGAME JO

“(Name)?”

His voice was uncharacteristically soft. You said nothing, only tightening your grip on his hoodie, a sob lodged in your throat. Warm hands circled your waist and pulled you onto his lap, head tucked under his chin, and your hands resting on his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat calming your pounding ones. 

“Are you okay, love?” Togame’s voice was soft and mellow. It was the weekend; you were over at his place to watch a movie. It was no secret to anyone in Shishitoren that you were scared of horror movies, and if someone so much as played the trailer of any scary show or movie, they would incur the wrath of Shishitoren’s second-in-command. Which is why Togame was surprised when you chose Weapons as this week’s pick. Concerned, he told you it was a horror movie, a very scary one from what the reviews suggested, but you were insistent. 

“All of my friends have watched it, Jo,” you whined. “I too wanna join their conversations. And besides, you’re here with me, aren’t you? It will be fine.”

Well, he mused, that didn’t go as planned.

The movie had barely started and you were already clinging onto him for your dear life. But when the house was suddenly plunged into darkness? And when you heard your shocked gasp followed by the frightened whimpers and tremors? Oh, he knew you were gone for good.

“Baby,” he cooed. You responded by burying your face further in his chest, muttering something about scary children and stupid basements. He had to stifle a laugh then. Angling his body, he lay down on the couch and pulled you on top of him, continuing to encase you in a hug. He was warm, deliciously so, and, with your chests pressed together, you could hear his heartbeat. Combined with the reassuring pats and the quietness of your surroundings, you felt your eyes grow heavy.

“Sleep,” he whispered. “I will fight the demon children for you.”

But he remained rooted to the spot. His body ached, from the muscles in his legs to the migraine building up to the soreness in his throat from the constant travelling. He could feel the jet lag settling in, feel the drowsiness softening the edges of his vision. He should go home; he had gone home. Girolain had booked a taxi for him from the airport to his luxurious apartment; he had also sent Sae a pre-packaged, protein-rich meal produced especially for athletes, which he just had to heat in the oven. 

But the second Sae entered his apartment, which was devoid of any warmth and light, devoid of you and your Conan Gray playlist, of your voice greeting him excitedly, and no pans sizzling on the stove, the prodigy immediately closed the door and began walking the long distance to your apartment.

He needed to see you, to be with you.

You woke up to the feeling of someone snuggling against your figure, strong arms wrapped around your body. Pink hair tickled your nose as you breathed in the familiar scent.

“Sae,” you said groggily. “You’re back.”

He hummed in response, burying his face in the crook of your neck. You ran your hand through his hair, shivers running down your spine as you felt his hot breath on your bare skin. He was unusually quiet, which lifted the veil of sleepiness.

“Shouldn’t you be home, love?” You asked softly, tucking a stray hair behind his ear. “You’ve an early morning practice tomorrow.”

“No,” he mumbled. He exhaled slowly and tightened his grip around you. “I don’t want to go back to that cold, barren apartment where you aren’t there.. ‘M sorry I woke you up. I missed you.”

“Sae,” you whispered, placing your hand on his cheek. “You don’t have to apologise. You have no idea how much I have missed you. I nearly went crazy without you. I wore your T-shirts to bed because I couldn’t sleep without you. I felt like crying every morning when I saw your toothbrush in the morning, and then I actually cried in the evenings when I saw those godawful protein snacks you always kept in the cupboards. Oh, and don’t get me started on the video call withdrawals. After every video call, I would stare at my home screen, which by the way is a picture of you scoring the winning goal in the last match, and I would stare out of my window, like a Victorian lady, hoping to catch a glimpse of her beloved. And I screamed so loud during your matches, the neighbours actually called the police on me once! Can you believe the audacity?”

You heard him chuckle as he finally raised his head from your neck. Teal eyes met yours, and you felt your heart skip a beat as he pressed a soft kiss on your forehead.

“I love you.”

sae, just one chance, i beg thee

Tsubakino would be a very understanding and supportive significant other! Because of your shy and introverted nature, you two must have met through friends; it could be either through Umemiya, Kotoha, or even the twins!

When you two first met, Tsubakino was instantly enamoured by your shy demeanour and developed a soft spot for you. At first, you two wouldn’t meet much outside of group settings, as you were too shy to have a one-on-one conversation with the beautiful stranger with the most gorgeous red-and-black locks and the kindest smile! Seriously, any time Tsubakino smiled at you, your face would heat up and you would quickly avert your gaze. But you finally became comfortable enough to seek out the third-year captain outside your friend group.

Initially, you two would hang out all over Makochi! From shopping to cafe-hopping to visiting the elderly and helping out with little chores here and there. Tsubakino first fell for your when despite your shy and introverted nature, you still made it a point to help an elderly woman out on your own.

Knowing your shy disposition, Tsubakino ensured the confession was nothing too grand, in fear of making you uncomfortable. It was in the small, quaint cafe you two frequented often and Tsubakino ordered your favourite pastry before calling your name softly.

“Hey, (Name).”

“Yeah?” You asked, smiling.

“I like you.”

Needless to say, you were stunned. And then you started crying a little, which had Tsubakino jumping comically out of the chair, afraid they had overwhelmed you with their sudden confession. But you were crying tears of gratitude and relief. For you had felt the same about Tsubakino for so long, the love neatly stored away in your heart since the first day you met; and now it overflowed, filling your body with warmth as he pulled funny faces to make you laugh. If Tsubakino had never confessed first, you don’t know how much longer you could’ve carried the heavy feelings inside.

I don’t see Tsubakino making a great deal out of the whole affair. He definitely tells Umemiya, the remaining Four Kings, the twins, and Shizuka about your relationship, but other than that, they keep it lowkey so as not to spook you.

Cafe dates! Cafe dates! Cafe dates! I see both of you going on so many cafe dates together. And shopping together! I think Tsubakino would love to wear matching outfits, but he would definitely start small, like matching jewellery, so you get comfortable with the idea first. Tsubakino would also not hesitate to order for you in restaurants and cafes or make appointments at the dentist for you! But he would also encourage you gently to try doing it yourself.

Overall, Tsubakino would be a 10/10 significant other.

Kiryu Mitsuki

“Leave them alone.”

Lounging on your boyfriend’s bed, you could not help but laugh as you reminisced your first meeting with him. Kiryu tilted his head back, which rested comfortably on your stomach, to glance at your grinning face.

“What’s got you smiling like that, love?”

Ever the gentleman, Kiryu first met you when he saved you from a couple of douchebags who had surrounded you outside your prep school, forcing you to accept their friend’s confession. Immediately recognising the Furin jacket and the pink hair, the guys dashed off before Kiryu had a chance to give them a piece of his mind. Sighing, he turned around and offered to walk you some since you looked shaken up.

And soon, these walks became a regular part of your daily routine. At first, you insisted you were fine and he didn’t have to go out of his way to escort you home. You knew he had patrols and his studies to manage. But Kiryu refused to listen, saying it wasn’t a bother and he was ensuring your safety in case the guys came back. To be honest, Kiryu had hunted down the guys the very next day and had a ‘civil’ conversation with them, which definitely did not end in bruised knuckles and a split lip. But you’d brushed it off, thinking it was common for Bofurin members to get embroiled in skirmishes now and then.

But for Kiryu, the first time he walked you home, something changed. He could tell you were still disturbed by what had happened and was just about to ask you when you turned around suddenly, eyes wide.

“T-They won’t come after you, right? I don’t want to get you in trouble.”

And oh, he was floored. Even in such a frightened state, you were still concerned about him. Kiryu swore a Cupi’s arrow hit him right then and there. And he could only stare wordlessly at you.

So, he made up excuses. He walked you home everyday. He learned of your shy demeanour and swore his heart thundered in his throat the first you shyly asked him if he wanted to come in for coffee. Kiryu ensured he never rushed you; before even asking you out, he made it a point to become friends with you, to learn your likes and dislikes, to understand your boundaries, so he would never make you uncomfortable.

And it was during one of these walks back home, when he suddenly stopped, and you looked, blinking in surprise. But all Kiryu saw was your face framed with the fading light of the setting sun, and the words were out of his mouth before he could control himself.

“I like you. Will you go out with me?”

Your feet moved faster than your words, and you found hugging the pink-haired boy tightly, a soft ‘yes’ heard by only you two and the setting sun. And from then on, if it’s even possible. Kiryu became even more perfect. He walked you back home still, but he also took you out on weekend dates, whether to cafes, on picnics, to the zoo or to the amusement park. He was never shy of being seen with you in public, but he also made it a point to withhold the news from his friends for as long as possible, because, well, of a certain orange-haired, muscular idiot.

“WOAH, KIRYU, YOU HAVE A SIGNIFICANT OTHER? IS THAT YOUR VIRTUE?”

“That doesn’t even make sense, Tsuege-chan.”

Overall, he would be a very attentive and caring boyfriend!

SAKURA HARUKA

“Huh? I can’t hear you. Speak up.”

Months down the line, Suo continues to tease him for making his s/o cry the first time they met him. And although he immediately threatens to kill the “eyepatch-wearing freak”, Sakura still feels guilty for scaring you the first time you guys met. But it truly wasn’t his fault. You guys almost kissed!

He was out on patrol on the faithful day, a little sour because both Suo and Nirei were assigned to a joint mission with the second-years, whereas he had to continue the boring patrols alone. And he was definitely not watching where he was going when he bumped into you, harshly, knocking down your drink and school bag.

His quick reflexes allowed him to catch your wrist before you fell as well; however, in the process, your faces came close together and Sakura felt your warm breath hit his face and with a yell, he jerked back, face flushed red.

“W-What the hell! Stay away from me, you creep!”

A pang of hurt shot through your chest as his words registered. You opened your mouth to apologise, but with his Furin jacket, his loud voice, and his intimidating stare, you felt yourself shrink in your jacket as you struggled to form a coherent sentence. Sakura, however, had long abandoned patience and said the line he would regret wholeheartedly for years to come.

Instantly, your eyes filled with tears and you ran away, grabbing your stuff. And Sakura had already realised the cruelty of his words as soon as they left his mouth. And even though he was a brash, loud-mouthed idiot, he was also an idiot who knew when he was wrong. So he ran after you, and though you had a head start, you were no match for the force of nature that Sakura Haruka was.

And Sakura had no idea how his life was about to change completely when you accepted his apology (a slow, stuttering, but sincere apology) with a gracious smile. Sakura was never used to forgiveness; he was used to scorn. And once again, his mouth moved before his brain could register the words, but this time, he would thank his younger self for eternity for saying those words:

“I-I’ll buy you a new drink. Come with me.”

And soon, the convenience store runs became a daily routine. And Sakura grew softer around you. More gentle. More controlled. He would wait for you outside your school when he didn’t have patrols. He would let you ramble about your favourite TV shows, never interrupting you, but mentally making a note to check it out later. He would hold your arm in crowded areas (blushing wildly like a tomato) and shield you from any one who dared to approach you aggressively. Sakura knew there was a lot he needed to learn. He was all bloodied fists and street fights and snarky remarks. But with you, he observed more. He asked questions; he asked for your number with trembling hands and an averted gaze.

Becoming friends with you was already a huge ordeal for Sakura. The only way I see him asking you out is if Suo and Nirei interfered. And even if Sakura did not divulge any information about you (partly because of your shy nature, partly because of his shy nature), it wouldn’t be long before his two closest friends figured everything out. And suddenly, he was standing in front of you, a small bouquet in his hands, his heart in his throat, a confession on his trembling lips. And he felt his knees buckle, him, one of the strongest fighters in Bofurin, when you leaned in to press a kiss to his cheek.

A relationship with Sakura would mean figuring out a lot of things slowly and gradually. But for you, he was always willing to try.

i am having the most terrible cramps and this fucking uni is really messing up my academic year shalalalalala somebody transport me to makochi

requests are open!

Your eyes were trained on Re Al’s star midfielder, the crimson-haired playmaker, who was the key to the final breakthrough. A lot was riding for Re Al on this match; it was the decisive finale of this season. You’ve seen Sae go beyond the limits of human tenacity to prepare for this match, of the training regime which began in the quiet of the dawn and ended in the melancholy of twilight. You saw the quiet determination in his eyes before he entered the changing room today. The soft brush of his lips over your knuckles, eliciting a promise of  “watch me carefully, cariño” from your trembling lips. Fool. As if anyone could not watch Sae, not be consumed by his entire being when he was on the field. He shone with the fierceness of a comet striking the Earth’s surface, not the delicate twinkle of a star, but a rare and devastating event, which destroyed everyone in his path, beautifully.

And so you watched, you never let your eyes wander from him as he seamlessly intercepted a pass, and suddenly, the crowd being you surged, like a wave crashing on the shore, eyes wide as they followed the prodigy’s dash across the field, gasps erupting as the match reached it’s tipping point, and the audience were the bewitched sailors, atop their sinking ships, as the gave in to the Siren’s song.

And you braced yourself against the railing, breath caught in your throat, as Sae planted his right foot and raised his left leg, and you blinked, and the ball was in an arch above the player’s head, landing with a terrifying precision in the centre of the goal. And you blinked, again, again, and the score changed to 3-2. And then the scream erupted.

❝ Shirts off, and your friends lift you up over their heads,

Beer sticking to the floor. ❞

“A beautiful shot from Re Al’s Itoshi Sae! What a wonderful performance from the Japanese prodigy.” The announcer’s booming voice could barely be heard over the cheers from the crowd and the chants of his name. On the field, Re Al members bellowed with unbridled joy; jerseys were ripped off and chestbumps exchanged with great gusto. Every Re Al fan, around the world, was on their feet, chanting, maybe even screaming Sae’s name. They would be armed with posters and banners, Sae’s stern face adorned with hearts and doodles.

And you? You sat quietly in your seat, the din of the crowd fading, as your eyes zeroed in on the celebrated hero of the pitch. 

Sae was still standing by the goal post, his back to you.

❝ Cheers chanted, cause they said,

There was no chance, trying to be,

The greatest in the league. ❞

He came to Spain at the tender age of 13, just a young, bright-eyed boy chasing his dreams across the globe. He endured the harsh training of the world alone, in a country alien to him and a language that didn’t clearly express his already few words. He lived alone, trained alone, and climbed the summit alone. And somewhere along the climb, filled, no doubt, with precarious falls, he nursed his wounds alone.

He was devoted to the sport; he had devoted his childhood, his body, his everything to it, but, in spite of the world burdening his shoulders with their expectations, he had asked you out in the quiet hum of your apartment in a voice so gentle you could only respond with a sob and arms flung around his shoulders. He was a man of a sharp tongue and piercing gaze, but he was your Sae. 

He was your Sae who ate every meal you packed him with quiet reverence, never failing to whisper a thank you every night and rinsing the bento still clad in his tracksuit. He was your Sae who insisted on paying for everything, from your health bills to grocery bills, even buying you a premium Netflix subscription! And when argued with, he simply claimed this didn’t even come close to what you had for him.

The meticulously prepared bento boxes, the chilled protein shake he always found in the fridge before his run, his favourite Kombucha lining your shelves when you clearly despised the drink. Sae didn’t know how he could have gone on without you offering to pick him up from late-night practices so he could save his energy, offering to massage his sore muscles (though he was pretty sure it was also to ogle at his back muscles), or just being by his side on the days he could feel the pressure on his chest, like Atlas holding up the weight of the sky. Nobody told him he didn’t have to do this alone. 

Sae was still sharp as ever on the field, but when at home doing the dishes, shopping for your favourite snacks at the grocery store, picking up your usual from the bakery across the street, he was soft around the edges.

And now you saw your boyfriend, your lover, your partner, turn around, sweat clinging to his hair, oblivious to the chants of the crowd. All his attention was now focused on you, as if it was the most natural thing, the way his eyes immediately found yours in a crowd of thousands. And you raised your knuckles to your lips, the promise ring he’d gifted you shining on your ring finger, and kissed it, never once breaking eye contact with him. He tilted his head, studying your actions as he studies the moves of players, searching for the best play to ruin you, beautifully. From under his collar, he pulled out his ring, hanging on a silver chain, and, as if daring you to look away, pressed it to his lips.

And then he started jogging. And then he was running. He was dashing across the field, past his rivals stumped in defeat, past his celebrating teammates, past the confused referee, ignoring the surprised shouts of the crowd and the announcer, everything fading in the background, as he ran towards you.

And every camera, every pair of eyes watched as he leapt over the barricades, over the security guards, and dived into your waiting arms. There was so much in the hug, the warmth of his body, his sweat, his arms tight around your waist, pressing you impossibly close as if he couldn’t bear any distance, and finally his breath, his mouth, close to your ear, whispering: “Did you watch me, mi cariño?”

And you nodded, just barely, and then his lips were on yours. 

❝ Where's the trophy?

He just comes running over to me. ❞

MASTERLIST

can you tell i am very normal about this man? had kaji not existed, my blog would have been called saepops lmao

and PLS i am so obsessed with this concept you don't understand that one Olympic video lives in my rent free (yk which one). lowkey want to this for more blue lock characters and even haikyuu. BUT I LOVE SOFT SAE OMIGOD

Normally, you would’ve handed your phone with no trepidation. You had nothing to hide except maybe a crippling BL manga edition, but Sae never seemed to have any problem with that. Perks of having Shidou as your boyfriend’s teammate, you guessed.

And to the third eye, Sae’s posture and expression betrayed no ulterior motives. He was seated on the wooden dining chair in your cosy, little apartment, wearing a bland expression and a bland white-and-black outfit.

But to the trained eye, trained in the elder Itoshi’s idiosyncrasies, you noticed the mischievous gleam in his eyes, the slight curl of his lips, the way his right arm lounged on the back of the chair, and the way he was staring at you, like a predator chalking up their prey.

The sandwich suddenly tasted like sand in your mouth. “...Why do you need my phone?” 

He shrugged, this time more nonchalant. “Just because.”

Something was definitely wrong now. Itoshi Sae wasn’t the one for vague replies; no, he was succinct and to the point. 

You let your wander over the dining room, trying to desperately locate your phone, before you realised it was right in front of you, on the table, exactly in the middle, just as Itoshi Sae zeroed in on the device too.

Before you could lunge for your phone, his voice rang out, calm and steady, with a hint of amusement: “I recently met your friend. You know, your roommate from college.”

You stilled, your mouth dry. Oh, no. No, no, no.

“She told me something very interesting,” he continued, fixing you with an intense stare. You felt yourself shrink under his gaze. “The last time you guys went drinking, you confessed a secret to her. You made her pinky swear she would never tell anyone, but unfortunately, instead of linking your pinky, you offered your thumb, so your friend considered the deal void. Anyways, she said that you showed her your gallery—” you could tell he was trying his best to hold back a grin “—and very proudly confessed that you had an album titled ‘Sae, my love’ with 6 thousand photos of me. 6 thousand. I doubt even the entire country’s paparazzi has that many photos of me. I just wanted to check if your dear friend was lying. Is that true, mi cariño?”

“No,” you blurted out instantly. No, it wasn’t true, because the count was now at 8k photos. Oh, you were going to kill your friend.

“Hmm, I see. So you won’t mind if I took a quick look, right?” Oh, bless the heaven and the earth, that bastard was full-on grinning now. There was an unguarded affection and domesticity in that grin, which, on any other occasion, you would’ve memorialised in a photograph, but that certainly was out of question.

“No, Sae, no, don’t touch my phone, you asshole!” But alas, you were no match for the world-class athlete as he quickly snatched your phone and unlocked it with ease, because, of course, you had given him your password. Of course, it was the bastard’s birthday itself.

“Saeeeeeeee,” you whined as his grin widened as he went through the special album. Pictures of him sleeping, training, washing the dishes, changing the sheets, and so many more mundane moments captured and treasured with all your love in a neat album. His eyes softened as he went through every photo, as you slumped in defeat. “You suck.”

He chuckled softly and passed you your phone. “Sorry, cariño, you’re too fun to tease. And don’t worry, I find this only marginally creepy and stalkerish.”

And he wasn’t lying when he said these, because as he gazed at your pouty, indignant face, he realised his album with over 12k pictures was a lot more concerning.

can you tell i am down bad for this man? requests are open!

The call was from an unknown number. He picked up the call, a sense of foreboding building in his chest. “Hello?”

“Kiryu-kun? Hello, I am (Name)’s friend speaking.”

Your friend? You were having a sleepover with your friends tonight, Kiryu knew that. So why was she calling him? Where were you?

“Yes, I am (Name)’s boyfriend.” His grip on the phone tightened. “What’s wrong?”

“(Name) had a nightmare. They woke up hysterical, panting heavily, and tears streaming down their face. We managed to calm them down, but they’re asking for you. Can you please come quickly? I live across the supermarket on the main street—”

Kiryu was out of the door as soon as he heard the word ‘nightmare’. He knew you had trouble falling asleep with nightmares plaguing you every other day. He’d hoped a sleepover with your friends would help you relax and get your mind off things, but he was wrong. And right now, he was very scared and concerned.

Two minutes later, he was standing in front of your friend’s house, hands on his knees, panting. He heard the gate creak open and barely had time to register anything before you flung yourself into the arms of your boyfriend. Immediately wrapping his arms around your trembling frame, he gives a quick nod of thanks to your friends, who nod back and quietly shut the door to provide you with privacy.

Kiryu waited until your sobs had calmed down and then gently disentangled himself from the hug to look at your face. His heart ached when he saw your swollen eyes and tear-streaked face, and, without missing a beat, cradled your face and pressed a soft kiss to your forehead.

“Hey,” he said gently. “How are you feeling?”

“Better,” you said quietly, eyes still glossy. “Better now that you’re here. I am sorry for calling you so late. The dream was so scary, and I panicked so bad, and I wanted to see you and—”

“Hey,” he interrupted you, rubbing slow circles on your shoulders. “I told you not to worry about it. I always keep my phone near me in case you need me. Please, (Name), don’t think you’re burdening me with your troubles. I love you, and I want you to rely on me. Do you want to sleep at my place tonight? We can look for a new sleep specialist or psychiatrist tomorrow.”

“Okay,” you said, feeling a sense of calm settle over your frazzled nerves as Kiryu held your hand. “I love you.”

He smiled. “I love you too. Let’s go; I’ll make us some hot chocolate too.”

Suo Hayato

Contrary to most Bofurin members, Suo Hayato preferred night patrols over daytime patrols.

Sure, he had to sacrifice a little bit of his sleep, but the pros far outweighed the cons. For starters, he was free to spend his afternoons and evenings with you, ensure that you got home safely from school, visit Pothos or any other cafes with you, and help you with your homework in the evening. It’s a nice routine and one Suo cherishes deeply. And after he’s done with his night patrols, he can take a quick detour to your street and soothe his poor, anxious heart that you’re safely tucked in bed and there’s no one causing trouble and disturbing your sleep.

And so, like all nights, he turns into your street, a little after midnight. Hands clasped behind his back, he does a quick survey of the area and hums in satisfaction when he’s greeted with a silent darkness. There was nobody on the streets, and the only light was coming from your window, and Suo turned, ready to go home, when—

Wait. He blinked. Why were your lights on?

He felt a flicker of worry as he jogged to your house. He knew your parents weren’t home tonight. You had texted him at 10 that you were going to bed and a “good luck on your patrol, hayato!! please rest well, and thank you for always protecting us. ily <3”. (Even the cold wind of the night was no match for the warmth blossoming in his chest as he read your message).

And so he stood in front of your door, wondering if he should ring the bell or not, when he heard a voice softly ask: “Hayato? Is that you?”

He looked up to see your pale face peering down from the window. “Hey, angel. Yes, it’s me. What’s wrong? You look scared. Did something happen?”

“I had a nightmare.” Your voice was small, as if you were trying to calm yourself. “Can you come up? I don’t wanna be alone right now.”

“Of course.” He was already unlocking the door with the spare key you’d given him. “Go back to bed, dear. I’ll bring you some chamomile tea. And I’ll stay for as long as you need me.”

Yes, Suo Hayato was really glad he chose the night patrol today. Even though he had to lie to Sakura that he was allergic to sunlight.

Kaji Ren

Kaji was going to install a water fountain in your room.

To explain the series of events which led to this pragmatic conclusion, we began when the clock in your house struck midnight. With your parents out on an overnight business trip, you had invited your boyfriend for a sleepover. Although you had planned on having a movie marathon (the Shrek franchise, much to Kaji’s chagrin), you had fallen asleep midway through the first movie, leaving a sighing Kaji to clean up after you and carry your knocked-out figure to bed.

Once he had tucked you in, he lay beside you, headphones on, listening to Conan’s newest track, “Vodka Cranberry”, because you’d hyped it up as the Song of the Year (though he liked the song and the beat, he hoped you weren’t planning on breaking up with me, because the lyrics were brutal). Around midnight, he felt thirsty and went downstairs to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. And so things went wrong.

He had only opened the refrigerator door when a loud bang echoed throughout the house. Kaji blinked. That was your door being banged open. Soon, he heard footsteps thundering down the stairs, and, lo and behold, there you stood at the kitchen entrance, your eyes glossy and a pisses expression on your face (Kaji would never admit this out loud, but with your hair sticking out in all directions, you reminded him of a very angry but very tiny porcupine).

“What—” he started, but cut off as you stomped (yes, stomped) forward and grabbed him by the collar. “H-Huh?”

“You asshole.” You were seething. “How dare you leave me all alone when I was in danger?”

In danger? Kaji was clueless. “What…?”

You threw up your hands in frustration. “I was being chased by the Donkey from Shrek in my dreams, and when I woke up, scared and trembling, you weren’t there to comfort me. You didn’t even show up in my dreams to help me! What kind of boyfriend are you?”

“I…what are you…how does that even work?” He was at a loss for words. The refrigerator door was still open, and the cold air was numbing his feet, but he was too afraid to move, lest he trigger you again.

He must have missed the mark with his response because your eyes suddenly filled with tears and your lips started wobbling. “No, no, no, no, please don’t cry, pretty. I…fuck, I am sorry, okay? I promise never to leave you alone again, okay? I love you, (Name), and I promise I will save you from the Donkey the next time he, uh, I don’t know, they attack you.” He gently pulled you into a hug and was glad when you melted in his touch, burying your face in his chest, as he raised his chin on your head. He swayed you back and forth, and you eventually raised your head to look at him with soft, pleading eyes.

“Promise me you’ll never leave me alone again?”

“I promise you,” he replied solemnly. Yeah, he was definitely installing a water fountain in your room.

Sakura Haruka

The water was cold and dark.

You were floating in a cosmos of blackness. Your senses were dulled, and your body was rigid and weighed down by the force of the water. You could see the shoreline, but your tongue rested heavily in your mouth. You were sinking, slowly but steadily. You couldn’t move your body but your mind was terrified. You tried screaming, but nothing came out again. Slowly, the shoreline disappeared, and you screamed and screamed, and screamed, and—

“(Name)!”

You jolted awake with a start. Somebody was shaking you by your shoulders. Their touch was warm, and their voice was laced with concern. Slowly, you blinked out the last remnants of the nightmare, and you saw your boyfriend, his dual-haired tousled and his mismatched eyes wide with worry, as he lifted you into a sitting position.

“Hey, (Name), what’s wrong? Why were you screaming? Did you have a bad dream? Talk to me, please.”

You grasped his hands tightly and bit back a chuckle when you saw his cheeks redden. But as he was laser-focused on your well-being, you figured you would tease him later. “It’s nothing, Haru. It was just a bad dream. I..I had a dream I was drowning, and when I tried to call for help, my voice wouldn’t come out. And the shore was disappearing, and I was so scared, and I-I-I.” You choked back a sob.

“Hey,” he said gently, pulling you towards him as you lay your head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around you as you continued to cry. He said nothing but rubbed little circles on your back. When you calmed down, he grasped you by your shoulders and forced you to look him in the eyes. “Listen to me carefully, okay? No matter what happens, I will never leave your side. And you will never find yourself alone in sort of danger. I will always be there to protect you. Okay?”

And you looked at him. You really looked at your boyfriend, with his fierce eyes and the look of determination on his face. And you looked at his room, where traces of you could be found in every corner, a hair tie there, a lipbalm there, the food you brought for the sleepover resting on the windowsill. And the thin mattress adjacent to the futon where you slept, because your boyfriend had insisted you take the futon, as he was more than comfortable sleeping on the floor. And slowly, the rapid thumping of your heart ebbed away, and you felt yourself relax in his arms.

“Okay.” You smiled. “Okay, Haruka.”

That night, your boyfriend slept with an arm around your waist, hesitant at first, blushing and stammering, but fiercely protective nonetheless.

tags: @sashimi020

“Yamato?” You said, surprised. It was close to midnight, and you and your friends were just exiting the library building when you caught sight of your boyfriend leaning by the exit gates. He was dressed in a black tank top, which released a flurry of butterflies in your stomach, and grey sweatpants. His lips curled in a small smile as he caught sight of your figure, illuminated by the soft lights of the library. Beautiful, he thought. 

“Hey, pretty,” he greeted, coming forward to take your books and bag from your hand. He slung your bag over his shoulder and reached out his free hand to intertwine with yours. “Ready to go home?”

“Were you waiting for long?” You asked, worried. “I am sorry, I didn’t know you were here. I would’ve left ear—”

“Hey, don’t sweat it,” he interrupted. “You know I would never let you walk home alone at night. And anyway, I wasn’t waiting for that long.” (He left the house as soon as he saw your text that you were going to be late tonight. That was three hours ago.) 

“(Name),” your friend called out. “Is that your boyfriend?”

“Yeah, he came to pick me up,” you said, a soft smile playing on your face as you squeezed his hand. I love you. His green eyes shone with fondness as he squeezed back gently. I love you too.

Behind you, your friends let out a collective groan as they recounted the various excuses their boyfriends had given:

“Mine said he has school tomorrow, so he can’t be awake so late.”

“Mine said he had to log in for an online game later and disconnected the call!”

“Seriously? Mine didn’t even pick up the phone!”

You chuckled. “Sorry, guys. But looks like I won the boyfriend lottery.”

SUO HAYATO

“You know,” you started, slipping on your favourite earrings, a miniature version of the ones Suo wears regularly. He bought it for your six-month anniversary so you guys could match. “My girl friends hate going on a double date with us.”

“Oh? I never noticed. Why’s that?” Your boyfriend asked, sitting on your bed as he watched you get ready for Umemiya’s barbecue party. In the mirror, you could see your boyfriend’s fond expression as he watched you apply lip gloss, and your lips curled in a huge grin.

“Because you’re too perfect.”

“Hm?” He made a surprised noise. “Me? But that couldn’t possibly be so when it’s you who arrives on these dates looking so pretty and perfect.”

“See!” You suddenly turned around and wildly jabbed your finger in his direction. “That is exactly what I meant. Every time after a double date, my friends always compare their boyfriends to you. You pull my chair every time we go to a cafe or restaurant, know my order by heart, lay a napkin on my lap, remove tomatoes from my food because I hate them, and you always give me your dessert at the end of every meal.” You threw your hands up in mock despair. “And this is not even counting the countless compliments you give me throughout the date. Or that you get me flowers without asking, hold my stuff, walk me back from school, even though Furin is far from our school, and you have patrol daily. My friends are sick and tired of you because their boyfriends can’t even do the bare minimum, and you’re out here giving me the entire world!”

Suo blinked in surprise. “But what I am doing is the bare minimum. How can someone not show their partners the basic love and respect they deserve?”

You stood up from your vanity and leaned down to press a kiss on his forehead. “Every day, I fall for you even more. How did I get so lucky?”

Suo cradled your face and pressed a soft kiss on your lips. “You deserve everything in this world, and I will not stop until I give you the whole world.”

Kaji Ren

Kaji knew he was in trouble when he saw Enomoto, Kusumi, and Umemiya grinning like maniacs. Behind them, Hiragi gave him an apologetic look. Oh yeah, he was definitely screwed. 

“What?” He grumbled, eyeing the clown trio with suspicion. Somehow, that seemed to fuel their mirth more as they openly started giggling like toddlers.

“Oh my god, I can’t believe how fast Kaji has grown up!” Umemiya wiped a fake tear from his eye. Enomoto was now openly cackling, and even Hiragi was chuckling.

Kaji was wondering if he should make a run for it when a phone was suddenly shoved in his face. It took him a second to focus, but once he realised what he was looking at, his face turned the colour of the ripest tomato, and the lollipop fell from his mouth as his jaw slackened.

“H-How did you even get this?” 

It was a photo of you and Kaji from yesterday when you went grocery shopping. In the photo, Kaji was holding 4 huge bags in each hand while you walked beside him, hands empty, a blissful expression on your face as you ate your mango ice cream. Even your pink sling bag was on Kaji’s shoulder; he had refused to let you carry anything. And as if that wasn’t enough, there was a dopey, lovesick expression on his face as he stared at you with fond eyes and a small smile, a far cry from his rough and brash demeanour. 

What took him out even more was that the photo was posted on Makochi’s residential group by the old lady from whom you’d purchased your ice cream, with the caption: “I have never seen Kaji-kun look so happy before. He even paid for her ice cream despite her protests. Ah, young love!”

Ah, fuck. He was screwed.

check out my latest windbre work: when you have nightmares

You knew leaving the house at this hour was dangerous, but you ran out of pads and painkillers, and there was no way you were going to survive the night without those. You had sent a text to your boyfriend with your location, but you doubt he is awake right now. Besides, the convenience store was just around the corner; your luck couldn't be so bad.

Oh, how you regretted those words. 

"Hey, pretty girl, do you want some company? A pretty lady like you shouldn't be walking around alone at night!"

Guffaws broke out among the group of men blocking the entrance to the convenience store. Inside, the store clerk looked on uneasily. You took a step back hesitantly, fear coursing through your veins, before you felt your vision tunnel as searing pain shot through your stomach again. Oh, how you loved being a woman. 

"Ooooh, looks like the pretty lady is in some pain over there. Here, let us lend you a hand."

Before you could reach for your pepper spray, a loud crash reached your ears as the leader of the pack was thrown across the street. You looked up, surprised, only to find your boyfriend standing over your hunched frame, a furious look on his face.

Sakura Haruka

"You absolute fuckers. How dare you harass women, you disgusting pigs?"

Even though he wasn't dressed in his school attire, his heterochromatic eyes and the split hair were enough to send a wave of terror among the lowlife thugs previously harassing you. They scurried out of there, running with their tails between their legs, but not before Sakura got a few more kicks in. 

You felt your body relax as he turned his gaze towards you, a look of concern replacing his previously ferocious expression.

"Hey," he said gently, hurrying to your side. His touch was soft as he held your face, scanning for any injuries. "Are you alright? They didn't hurt you, right?"

Maybe it was the horrendous ordeal you had to go through. Maybe it was your hormones messing with your head. Maybe it was the excruciating pain in your stomach. Maybe it was because you missed your boyfriend. Or because it was all of the above, but you broke down crying in your boyfriend's embrace, burying your face in the crook of his neck.

"I was s-so scared, Haru. All I wanted were some pads and medicines, but I can't even go to the store near my house without these stupid, stupid men harassing me every time. And my stomach hurts so much. A-and I," you sniffle, raising your tear-streaked face to his heterochromatic eyes, "I missed you so much. I am sorry I interrupted your sleep." You buried your face again, a fresh wave of tears in your eyes. 

"H-Hey, what are you crying about?" He stuttered, face red because of the proximity of your bodies, but he grabbed your chin determinedly and forced you to look at him. "You didn't interrupt my sleep. I had Kiryuu set a different notification sound for your calls and messages, so I woke up right away when you texted. And I am sorry you have to deal with these lowlife bastards daily."

"Next time," he said, intertwining your fingers with his and gently lifting you from the ground, "just give me a call and I'll pick you up. Or better yet, just let me know what you need and I'll deliver it to you. You shouldn't push yourself when you're in pain." 

You nodded, too overwhelmed with love for your black-cat-coded boyfriend to speak. "Okay."

He finally smiled that lovely smile of his. "Good girl. Let's go get you some chocolates."

SUO HAYATO

"Hayato," you cried, as your boyfriend landed gracefully in front of your crumpled form. His antique tassel earrings and the leather eyepatch served as enough recognition for the thugs, who trembled with fear as they realised they were facing one of Bofurin's strongest fighters. Suo only had to assume a fighting stance for them to scamper like rats. 

"Hey, darling, I am so sorry I was late," he said, crouching beside you. He interlaced your hand with his and, using his free hand, checked for any injuries, brushing back stray hairs from your eyes. "I hope they didn't lay a hand on you, or otherwise I fear I would have to hunt them down and make them pay."

"N-No, I am fine, please don't do that," you said, panicked that he would actually launch a manhunt. 

"Then I must say I am quite relieved," he said, smiling, and only then did you realise how frazzled Suo actually looked. Although his hair and attire were meticulous — who sleeps in silk clothes? — his breathing was ragged, as if he had sprinted all the way here, and concern swirled in his eyes (you were sure his covered eye was also concerned) as he took in your scared state.

"Hey," he said gently, cradling your face with his hands. "Don't worry now, I am here. It's over."

Unexpectedly, this unlocked a flood of tears as relief finally settled on your tense body. You leaned forward and loosely wrapped your arms around his shoulders, sobs wracking your body, as Suo rubbed your back reassuringly. 

"Hey, hey, hey, please don't cry anymore. You'll wake up with a splitting headache tomorrow. How about I buy you some cupcakes and we can have them together with chamomile tea?"

You nodded, face still buried in his shoulder, but made no attempts to disentangle yourself from the comforting hug. Sensing your unwillingness to leave his embrace, Suo chuckled before scooping you up in his arms, bridal style. A yelp escaped your lips as you tightened your arms around his shoulder. 

"Hold tight, dear. I'll be done with shopping in a jiffy."

KAJI REN

"You little shits. I am going to kill you all."

The crunch of the lollipop and the sight of the headphones were enough to force the group of grown ass men on their knees, begging the platinum blond for his forgiveness. But Kaji Ren had long turned his back on the scums, well aware they posed no further threat, his attention zeroed in on one person: you. 

"Hey," he said softly, spitting out his half-eaten candy. He cradled your face as his eyes scanned for any signs of injuries. "Are you hurt?"

"No," you whispered, your heart thudding painfully in your chest. "No, I am fine, I-I-I was so scared, Ren." Tears welled in your eyes. "I am so sorry, I know it was stupid of me to step out so late, but I forgot to stock up on pads and painkillers, and my cramps were so bad, and I thought I was for sure dead today, and oh my god, what if you didn't come, Ren?" You started to sob uncontrollably, burying your face in his chest. 

"Hey, hey, hey, listen to me, babe," Kaji said, grabbing your arms as he leaned down to lay his forehead on yours. Your watery eyes meet his steely blue-grey ones, and you feel the sobs subside as his calm presence provides an anchor in the turbulent sea of emotions. 

"Nothing will ever happen to you, okay? I knew your periods were going to begin today, so I was already out of the house before you texted me; I was going to your place to ask me if you needed anything. And," he said firmly, "don't apologise for this, please. I will ensure you're stocked up on everything every month, and if you ever need anything at any point of the day, do not hesitate to call me. Your number bypasses even my DND setting, so please, please, call me, okay?"

Words died on your tongue as you stared into the determined eyes of your boyfriend. True to his words, he was not dressed in his nightsuit but had a hoodie and jeans on. But you could see his tousled hair and the temporary wrinkles on one side of his face, as if he had just rolled out of bed. And your heart swelled with love for your boyfriend, your cute little fesity boyfriend who tracked your periods and sacrificed his sleep for your comfort, but would hiss like a street cat if you ever pointed it out. And the love poured from your heart into every fibre of your body as you grabbed him by his hoodie and pressed your lips softly against his.

Your kiss caught Kaji by surprise, but he quickly deepened the kiss, placing his hand behind your neck and leaning into you. The kiss was delicate and yet full of passion, and you felt warmth spreading through your body, the kind which extinguished the cold fear that previously beset you. When you finally separated, you laid your hands on his chest, you glanced up lovingly at your boyfriend, who still had a dazed expression on his face, his eyes staring at your swollen lips. 

"I love you."

Which is why Sakura Haruka was at a loss for words when he arrived at Furin High's rooftop that ordinary Monday afternoon.

"What the fuck am I witnessing?" He mumbled, standing beside Nirei, and Suo, who looked equal parts confused and, well, confused.

Umemiya Hajima was seated on his toes, fists resting on his knees, and his head hung low, while you, his girlfriend, stood over his cowering figure, brows furrowed and hands on your hips. Behind you, Hiragi had the smugest look possible on his face and Sugishita looked like he wanted to die.

"How many times do I have to tell you, Hajime, you can't pick fights with people just because they badmouthed me!"

"Yes, ma'am."

"And you can not skip classes to buy 'limited-edition' seeds! And don't you dare drag Hiragi and Sugishita in your shenanigans."

"Yes, ma'am."

"I don't mind, (Y/N)-san-"

"Do you want to join him on the floor, Sugishita?"

"No, ma'am."

"And you," you said, glaring at the white-haired male who shriveled under your gaze, "stop calling me ma'am."

"Yes, ma'a- I mean, (Y/N)."

You groaned. "Hajime, I am so annoyed with you right now."

Umemiya had the most pitiful look on his face as he pleaded, on his knees and hands: "Nooo, please don't me mad, sweetie. I swear I will do better." If everyone on the roof concentrated hard enough, they could see a tail wagging behind Umemiya's back.

"Ridiculous. Is this the man who stands at the top?" Sakura grumbled, his face tinted red as Umemiya continued to grovel at your feet.