#sendo x reader

"good evening, bestie. sorry i'm late."

you and akira sendoh go way back: you were always in the same class since freshman year, became friends, and now colleagues at ryonan high faculty. while you drifted away for a few years (when you both got busy and pursued your own paths), you warmed up to each other again when he turned up here at your alma mater.

"you shouldn't be working so hard, you know. we still have tomorrow." he starts the conversation, pulling a chair from a desk (that's not his) and crossing his arms on the headrest, eyes on you. he's wearing a dark blue hoodie and sweatpants, looking refreshed. 

it's past 6pm and you're still in the faculty room, checking your students' essays on one assigned reading. your fellow teachers have called it a day save for you and sendoh.

"i just want to sleep in peace tonight. besides, i'm nearly done checking these." you tell him, showing off the stack of papers that you finished checking. 

he chuckles. "good for you, then! can you can finish quicker so i can drive you home?" he hovers on your shoulder, scanning the paper you're currently reading.

you boop the tip of his nose with your pen to halt him from bugging you further. "maybe if you'll behave, then i can finish right away." you answer sternly, but with amused eyes darting at him.

he pouts and backs off, but not far enough from you still. "i'm sorry, miss (L/N). will you send me to detention for my behavior?" 

that mischievous voice is something you've always put up with. you giggle and shake your head.

but all these aside, since there's only the two of you here, you realize that now's the perfect time to confront tell him how you feel. so you turn your swivel chair to face him, crossing your legs and arms on your lap. you almost look like a therapist.

knowing you, he can sense that there could be a serious conversation. he mirrors your current stance and smirks. "tell me about it, (Y/N)." 

"akira. we were classmates since high school, freshman year to be exact."

he nods. "that's correct."

"from first year to third year, you were consistently incredible in basketball. many girls swooned over you, they were even asking me to give them your number. but of course i didn't."

he howls with laughter. "right. it was ridiculous. but that was the price of fame, i guess. but i gotta credit you for keeping my personal information private!" 

"nah. i'm just selfish and petty." 

"oh. well thank you still, for being selfish and petty, i guess." 

"you're welcome. i watched almost all of your game, though."

"i know. thank goodness you didn't have an army of cheering squad."

you hit his arm with force and chuckle, clearly recalling who he's alluding to. "no, not a chance, akira. like i said, selfish, but not that petty."

he nods to acknowledge your efforts in the past. "appreciate it, (Y/N)."

"and i know how hard you practiced to achieve high rankings. especially with coach taoka being brutal. so when you're not in class, i'd lend you my notes at the end of the day or the following day."

"yes, i remember that, too. if not for you, i don't think i could play all the way. you're the true MVP."

"nah. what choice do i have?"

"you could've let me flunk, but you didn't." he raises both eyebrows at you and winks.  

your cheeks flush with that stupid face he made. he also made a good point. you simply shrug. "of course i didn't. we're friends, right?"

that's the problem. we're only friends, (Y/N).

his eyes on you suddenly turn serious, like in those games where he reads the opponent's moves. "but no, really, (Y/N). tell me something."

you uncross your legs and lean your arms over your thighs. it's the most unserious stance just because you don't know how you'll break it to him. and yet you continue to interrogate him, "you played for the national team, didn't you?" 

he nods. "i did for a while. but other players were more passionate than me. i think winning a few times is amazing. it brings pride and joy to everyone, most especially to myself. but i think winning once should be enough."

you widen your eyes and cackle. "i can't believe you just said that, akira!"

he blinks at you, but also amused at your reaction, he laughs along. "i sounded stupid, didn't i?"

you wave your hands and shake your head vehemently. "no! i mean, winning only once? you wanted to reign supreme, didn't you? your younger self will be terrified if he'd hear you talking like that."

he scoffs. "ah," he straightens up and motions his swivel chair closer to you. "(Y/N), i think it's because when we're young, we're just hungry for everything. you used to be hungry for extra credits, school projects, recognition, and so on, right? i was hungry for wins, to be number one. you knew it back then, everyone knew. but once i got what i wanted–the win, the glory, all that jazz–i realized i had to stop or else i'd be greedy. it's great to experience it, but you shouldn't be up there at all times."

there's a change in his aura when he said those words. he just seems wiser and happier now that you're older. it makes you want him even more.

you smile and nod at him. "got it. winning is a great feeling, but being up there in the top could corrupt you."

he nods back. "precisely. besides, i feel that something's still lacking."

suddenly, he pauses from all the talking. crossing one leg over his knee and his arms on his chest, his gaze moves from the floor to you. tell me about it… how about i tell her about it instead–

he licks his lips and exhales through the mouth. he drags his chair closer to you again, making you lean back on your own chair. but he carries on, tone seemingly more confident than ever. "you might ask why i'm here at our beloved ryonan, teaching PE and coaching basketball instead of hooping again for myself."

you shrug. "teaching is a noble job. but yeah i've got to admit, i didn't picture you joining me here."

he grins, pulling your swivel chair to him. "there's a better opportunity for me here." he boops your nose with his index finger. "what if i pictured myself being with you?" 

what is the maximum level of redness that your skin can take? because you feel your cheeks just reached that threshold. you cannot believe him. nope. what is happening? it should be me confessing– 

you glance at his eyes once more. they are twinkling, there's not only mischief in them, there's something more that's fueling him. a small smile forms on your lips. "well, tell me about it, akira."

he shakes his head. "words get in the way. let me show you, (Y/N)." 

because he inches closer to you, you cannot resist brushing that spiky "porcupine" hair that he still sports, making you both giggle and stare at each other. he tilts your chin up, temporarily suspending the height difference since you're both seated. with just a breath away from each other, he softly asks, "may i?"

you look from his mouth to his eyes, batting your lashes and not holding back a wide smile. "please."

he grins as his lips capture yours. your eyebrows knit, faces flush. you cup his cheeks gently, while he clutches your arms and pulls you gently over to his lap. breathing in, breathing out, sighing, deepening your kiss.

you both pull away and exchange wide smiles. your foreheads start to sweat when you lean against each other, feeling your body heat rising.

still not satisfied, he pecks the corner of your lips, then presses them on yours again. you shower him more with kisses, breaths hitching, letting out sighs every now and then. neither of you dared to make out as teenagers, but now you're acting like it, as if you're making up for the time you lost when you parted ways. 

both of you pull away and gaze at each other. he tucks strands of your hair behind your ear. he brushes your cheek with the back of his hand and laces his fingers with yours. "take your essays home, (Y/N). i can help you." he tells you, then kisses the back of your hand.

you smile as you watch him indulge you with more smooches. "you'll help me?"

he holds back and nods, eyes turning to you again. "i'm decent in english, you know. a friend used to lend me her notes."

"don't flatter me, akira sendoh."

"but from the looks of it, she's gonna be my girlfriend now."

you grin and push his chest lightly. "real smooth, right there. but hey, it's getting late now."

and so you get yourself off from his lap to pack up your things, stacking both checked and unchecked essays in separate folders and placing them in your bag. before you can even slide the strap over your shoulder, he steals your bag for him to carry, then carries you, bridal style. 

you both laugh lightly and your gazes meet again, soft and misty. "i have a feeling that we're not gonna be checking the papers, akira."

he leans in close to you and whispers, "we've waited long enough, my (Y/N). let the papers wait."