#senomon tech

A/N: this is literally the first time EVER that i've written something that had made its way out of my drafts hahaha pls pls be nice if I have made any grammatical or any other errors in this. I hope you guys like this little one shot! and let me know if you guys would want to see this story continue! <333

warnings: angsty, reiji is toxic, reiji is also violent, mention of weapons.

The hallway echoed with heavy footsteps and the clatter of metal. Reiji and his crew had just returned from their clash with Oya High. His knuckles were raw, bloodied, the skin torn beneath bruises and the knuckle dusters still clung to his fingers, a brutal reminder of their victory against Oya High. Behind him, Gandhi and the other Kama High delinquents walked through the corridor with smug grins, pride practically dripping from their battered silhouettes. They hadn’t beaten Oya High clean, Reiji himself had lost against Fuijo, but the plan had worked. The ambush had left Oya High weakened and shaken. And for the three-school alliance, that was enough. For now.

His footsteps came to a halt when he noticed a figure standing at the end of the hallway, which was no other than his girlfriend. Her arms were crossed, her eyes betraying a hint of disappointment she tried to hide behind a fierce mask. Despite Reiji being her boyfriend for quite a while now, she couldn’t help but be terrified of him — especially when he was involved in a fight. It was as if he was a completely different person when it came to them. 

Usually, she’d try her best to ignore the Kama high boys’ methods of fighting, despite them being renowned to be fighting ‘dirty’. However, this time was different. Not only had Reiji and his gang fought with weapons against unarmed Oya High boys, they had ambushed them. Word spread around quickly, and she found herself stuck in a moral dilemma. Once again ignore her boyfriend’s obviously dirty methods, or stand up for what was fair?

Reiji on the other hand, did not expect to see her standing there in front of him. As he got closer to her, he noticed the look of disappointment in her eyes. Had she been crying?

“I know what you did.” She said, 

He didn’t answer right away. Just cracked his neck and leaned against the lockers, like he hadn’t heard her. But the silence dragged. Long enough that she stepped closer.

“I heard about what happened at Oya High,” she said. “About the ambush. About the weapons.”

He scoffed. “You sound like a damn teacher.”

“No,” she snapped. “I sound like someone who’s tired of watching you throw yourself off a cliff.”

He looked back at her with fierce eyes, and for a second, something flickered in his eyes. Regret, maybe. Then it was gone, swallowed by the heat rising in his chest.

“You don’t get it,” he said, voice sharp. “This isn’t your world. You don’t know what it’s like out there.” Reiji wanted to tell her it wasn’t about pride. It was survival. He believed that you didn’t win by fighting fair — you won by making sure they didn’t get back up. 

“I know you didn’t used to carry weapons,” she said. “I know you didn’t used to beat people so bad they couldn’t stand, and I know for a fact that you didn’t used to ambush unarmed people who did nothing wrong to you!” her voice grew louder.

“Stop acting like you know me!” he growled. “You don’t.”

She flinched, barely, but he saw it. It made something twist in his gut.

Then she said it. Quiet, like it hurt her just to say it.

“I used to.”

He moved without thinking and slammed his fist into the locker beside her head. The metal screamed under the force. Tears threatened to roll down her face, but she contained herself. She didn’t scream. Didn’t cry. Just stood there, staring at him with those same eyes. 

Eyes that weren’t afraid. Just disappointed. And somehow, that was worse.

He looked at his hand, then at her, the way she wouldn’t even move. The silence pressed in, loud and confronting.

“I didn’t mean—” he started.

But she was already walking away.

Reiji slumped against the locker, knuckle dusters digging into his palm like they were mocking him. He didn’t chase her. He didn’t dare to. He feared it was too late, and that the damage was irreversible. 

...

She didn’t let herself cry in front of him.

Not when he slammed his fist into the locker. Not when his eyes turned cold like they didn’t remember who she was. Not even when he said she didn’t know him, as if the last year had meant nothing.

But the second she turned the corner and the hallway vanished behind her, it hit. Reiji hadn’t always been like this. She remembered his laugh and how real it used to sound. Now, it felt like the boy she loved had been swallowed whole by someone else. 

Her steps faltered, and she ducked into the nearest stairwell, gripping the rail like it was the only thing holding her together. Her throat burned. Her chest ached like something inside had cracked open.

She’d seen him fight before. Bruised, bloodied, grinning like he couldn’t feel pain. But now, he was different. The way he moved, the way he didn’t even hesitate once to land hit after hit to someone who was obviously incapable of fighting any more. The way his fist landed so hard she could still hear the echo hours later. He wasn’t just trying to win.

He was trying to destroy.

Her fingers trembled as she sank to the steps. She didn’t want to be the kind of girl who cried over boys who broke things — and people. But Reiji wasn’t just some boy. He was the boy who used to walk her home after cram school. The one who used to hold her hand like it was the only thing grounding him. The one who only ever fought when it was absolutely necessary.

And yet, here they were. There he was. Swallowed by his greed to win.

She pulled out her phone, stared at the blank screen. No messages. Not even a “sorry.” 

Part of her wanted to text him and demand an explanation, a reason, anything.

I was watching High and Low The Worst X while I was on lunch break and then had more realizations and wanted to write about them lol

These are probably nothing new and someone else probably already noticed these but I wanted to make a post about them sooooo

I’ve watched the movie so many times now idk why I just realized the weight of the three scenes I’m about to talk about. But also I feel like I notice something new every time I watch the movies so I'm gonna cut myself some slack.

Amagai being the only character in the movie who genuinely doesn’t have a sense of friendship/comradery with anyone else.

The first time we see the 3 schools alliance meeting is the opening of the movie, and I remember when I first watched the movie I was like "well damn this looks like a solid ass team" only to find out later that they were in fact not really a team lol 😂 but anywaysss

Watching the movie this time I just realized what Fujin says to Amagai in the first scene in the restaurant where the 3 schools are holding their meetings.

Reiji is first to jump up and say "Let's get this brawl started," and Ghandi jumps in telling Amamgai that their troupes and weapons are ready. Shoji laughs and says that weapons are typical Kamasaka behavior which prompts them to jump at him and Fujin, Raijin, and the other Ebara guys jump straight to his defense while Shoji continues sitting. Amagai tells them to "get us more" while tossing the money bundles in their direction.

Every single fuckin character in this scene's facial expressions have me dying because the disbelief on their faces😂

Shoji looking at Amagai like he's full of shit.

Fujin, Raijin, and Ghandi are looking at him like "wtf?"

The background characters are looking at him in disbelief also like I was WHEEZING when I realized this. Back to the characters who are the main focus of this specific camera frame though, Ghandi and Fujin.

Both characters turn to Amagai with the BIGGEST look of disbelief on their faces and Fujin says "You don't trust we can do it huh?"

To which Amagai says "What's the use in trusting you guys?" and goes on a spiel about how being powerful means you trust no one and not even giving them a slight chance. He also goes on to say that being powerful means bringing everyone else down to their knees and tells the other 3 schools "Just shut up and stick with me. I'll show you what it's like to be at the top." Ryo's face when he says this is a whole other conversation for another day.

I'M SORRY BUT THE LOOKS REIJI AND SHOJI GIVE HIM AFTER HIS LITTLE SPIEL HAD ME ROLLING🤣 Like both characters gave him the most judgmental expression and then you got Shoji over here looking away and rolling his eyes PUH-LEASE I AM DEAD🤣

Aside from all of this being extremely funny to me, this plays into my point from above. Yes, all these looks are super funny but it really shows how as "bad" as the other guys are they still run in the same way that Oya and the other S.W.O.R.D gangs do, through friendship and comradery.

Fujin asked "You don't trust we can do it huh?" because Ebara most likely runs on comradery as well. You don't pay someone to do shit for you, they just know to trust each other to get it done. This is a concept that Amagai does not and can not understand because he's been conditioned to believe that the people around him are not worthy of trust or friendship due to his status, they just work for him. As long as he throws money at their feet, they'll do what he wants.

That's like kind of sad actually, the fact that the other "antagonists" of the film still know friendship and he doesn't... I still hate his guts though. We love Ryoki but we don't love his character Amagai.

The way Shoji vs Tsukasa asks Suzaki why he’s working for Amagai

I think everyone can agree that within that 3 school alliance, Shoji Sameoka was the only character with working brain cells (full offense to all the other characters lol no one else in that room had critical thinking skills I swear). From the first meeting we see, the audience can already tell Shoji is the only character who has doubts about this alliance but also questions it; while everyone else has doubts but proceed to just follow Amagai's orders. This eventually leads to Shoji being the one to suggest that Ebara drop out of the alliance because he thinks it’s stupid which then leads to him agreeing to Todoroki’s terms of dropping out of the alliance if Todoroki wins against Fujin and Raijin. I feel like Shoji as a person judges the other characters based on what he knows/hears about them.

We see this when he confronts Suzaki. Shoji asks Suzaki why he would come to Senomon and work under Amagai when he was the one running Nami High. Suzaki tells him to mind his own business. Shoji is asking Suzaki from a place of strength. Based on the dialogue, it seems like Shoji knew Suzaki and Amagai’s reputations before this alliance. I deduce this down to Shoji knowing that Suzaki was the strongest at Nami High and knowing that Amagai isn’t actually physically strong compared to the other characters, he just likes to cause trouble and make others work for him. People fear Amagai not for his strength or skills as a fighter, but simply because he has the money and status to be at the “top”.

This brings me to believe that Shoji was asking why someone as strong as Suzaki would even work under Amagai who is clearly not a match for him strength wise. It seems like Shoji is asking Suzaki why he would be scared of Amagai’s money and work under him when Suzaki is clearly stronger. I think this is because the Ebara guys ranks are based on their strength/who is the strongest (I make this assumption from the fact that Fujin and Raijin are straight up gym bros lol) so Shoji can’t understand why Suzaki is working under someone clearly weaker than him.

Tsukasa’s question is the same….. but also different.

Tsukasa strikes me as someone who really gets to know someone personally to the best of his abilities before he makes his own judgment on them. We see this with Rao in the movie. Tsukasa could’ve taken everyone’s word for it and been like “oh Rao is a big mean monster” but he takes it upon himself to find out who Rao actually is through Mercy. This is how he finds out Rao isn’t actually all that bad like the stories suggests and that Rao fights for good reason (for his siblings). This trait about Tsukasa is why he asks Suzaki why he fights for Amagai but is also why he’s the only one who is able to understand why Suzaki fights for Amagai without a direct answer.

When Tsukasa asks Suzaki why he works for Amagai, he says “why do you work for a guy like him? Does he has some kind of dirt on you?” and Suzaki just keeps quiet. This brings me to believe that Suzaki probably had a reputation for being the strongest at Nani High but also fought people within reason, he didn’t flaunt his strength just because he felt like it.

Tsukasa asked him based off the kind of person he is and not his strength. I'm assuming Ryo fought people within reason and not so much for fun or to assert his dominance over others with his strength, so him working under someone who has as shitty of a personality as Amagai probably threw Tsukasa off a bit.

He is also however able to tell that there is a friendship there even if it isn't great. At the end when Yuken and Todoroki ask why Ryo would work for someone like Amagai, Tsukasa says it's because he means more to Ryo than that. Alluding to the fact that Ryo is doing stuff for Amagai because he sees him as a friend even if everyone else doesn't.

Okay, I'm done now😂 this wasn't as deep as my other analysis because it's not super deep with comparisons or anything like that it was just stuff I noticed while watching the movie again.

- my headcanons

MY headcanons about the three school alliance because LDH did not get them nearly enough screentime in the movie !

Ebara commercial

I just KNOW they are located in the Sannoh district. (don’t ask me why, we go off of vibes here ok)

Probably aren’t the types to get into fights as often as you imagine.

I think that Ebara High’s students would resemble Sameoka’s personality. They’re fiighters but not bullies.

Fujin and Raijin probably were the ones to convince Shoji to stay in the alliance

Its not just Shoji who hates Amagai, Fujin and Raijin hate him equally.

Fujin and Raijin likely outperform Shoji when it comes to strength

But Shoji outperforms them in terms of tactic.

Basically, like suzuran’s Mashii, he’s the only one with the brain in his skull

I think all three of them look up to Sannoh Rengokai, especially to Cobra because of his leadership

Dare I say Shoji probably wants to join Sannoh later on

Fujin and Raijin work part time as gym instructors

probably have made a kid cry when he couldn’t squat his bodyweight in his first week

Shoji is a cat person

Shoji also probably gets decent grades in school

I see Shoji as a volunteer lifeguard or even a swimming instructor which would explain his braids.

Fujin and Raijin probably befriended Todoroki after the fight, especially after they heard that Amagai was defeated.

Once they became friends they definitely hit gym sessions together

I think Fujin and Raijin’s beef with Todoroki began in middle school, likely when he was at the height of his quest to become the strongest

Todoroki likely beat them badly

which is why when they saw him again, they saw the change in him, and definitely saw that he wasn’t the arrogant little shit person he once was

Kamasaka High

We already know they’re located in the Tendo region

Who else lives in the Tendo region you ask?

You guessed it— our favourite arm-breaking gremlins— Daruma Ikka 👹

Honestly, explains the weapons and knuckle dusters.

Reiji 100% has connections with Daruma Ikka and Gandhi would probably be recruited to join them once he graduates.

Reiji definitely calls the Daruma Babies “senpai” and they probably bully him😭

Reiji is definitely an only child, from a well off family

I don’t think Reiji is inherently evil, I think he would probably come from a background where he was absolutely powerless which caused him to use dirty tactics to rise above everyone else.

Definitely still 100% loyal to his school though.

Probably regrets suggesting to beat up Shidaken.

Gandhi on the other hand — that mf is a demon.

Which is why he said that Kama high brought the weapons, and not Reiji.

Reiji and Gandhi have a total of one braincell. 3/4 of it belongs to Reiji and the remaining belongs to Gandhi.

Reiji probably is very smart, like both academically and street smart.

Reiji and Gandhi definitely got yelled at by the car owner, for breaking the windshield. which is why they are shown pushing it during the credits

Imagine them bowing to the car owner💀💀

Reiji definitely got his parents to pay for the repairs and got grounded.

Reiji definitely challenged Fujio again, without weapons this time

Senomon Technical

Okay hear me out— I am convinced that amagai’s dad has some connection to the Kuryu group.

which makes perfect sense to me because it explains why he was so adamant on destroying oya high, and why he was able to bribe so many people into creating the alliance with him, because he intimidated them with his father’s status

Poor Ryo my baby just wants Amagai’s attention

Its pretty obvious in the movie itself but Suzaki just wanted his best friend back.

He didn’t want a friend to be consumed by the greed to win

Senomon is likely the weakest (in terms of strength) in the alliance

mainly because they likely don’t have that strong sense of brotherhood we see with the other schools

After the fight at Senomon, its likely that Amagai made Suzaki the leader (if we lived in an ideal world that is)

Or if he’s still the same (the spoiled and selfish little shit) and hasn’t learned his lesson then its him who is the leader

Amagai probably makes Ryo do his homework

I think Ryo and Tsukasa also became somewhat acquainted after the fight

a/n: to think that there was a time that I DESPISED Todoroki because of his attitude towards Murayama hahaha. and now look at me, writing fanfics about this man🥹 I hope you guys enjoy reading this as much as I loved writing this!

Synopsis: She thought she knew Todoroki Yosuke. Cold, blunt, and dangerously magnetic. But when a brutal fight between three rival schools leaves him missing, she’s forced to confront just how much he's gotten under her skin.

❕Warnings: slight swearing, Todoroki is sassy (as he should be), mention of blood. female pronouns used.

There are a lot of ways to ruin someone’s day. Spill their drink. Crack their phone. Hit them with a flying human body and Todoroki Yosuke managed to do all three in under five seconds.

She wasn’t even supposed to be near that alley. She was just grabbing a drink after school — minding her own business. But fate, or whatever kind of cosmic joke the universe was running that day, had other plans.

The first sign of trouble was the low thud of fists meeting flesh, like someone drumming on concrete. The second was the blur of a figure flying toward her, arms flailing, and next thing she knew, she had hit the ground hard, unable to get up because of the weight of an unconscious guy on top of her.

Her phone skid out of her pocket and across the pavement with a sickening crack, and as a cherry on top Her coffee exploded in her hand, splattering her jacket and the sidewalk. She stared at him for a beat, stunned. He was out cold. Bloody lip, bruised cheek, knocked halfway into next week. Hurriedly, she pulled herself together and pushed the unconscious guy off of her, her face red from fuming rage she now held against the person standing in front of her.

“What the hell!?” She snapped, glaring daggers into him. “Are you actually kidding me!? If you need to fight go do it somewhere else! Look at what you’ve done!“

“Move next time then.” Todoroki looked at her. Cold. Calm. Barely winded.

“Move!? You threw him at me you asshole!” She snapped back, marching towards him. However, Todoroki remained his unfazed demeanour. He blinked, and turned to walk away.

“Oi! Stop ignoring me you-“ Todoroki stopped in his tracks before she could finish her sentence, causing her nose to collide with his back. She rubbed her nose with her palm as Todoroki turned around, his tall frame now towering over her. He bent down just enough to close the distance between them and calmly said:

“You shouldn’t stand so close to a fight.”

That was it. That was the exact moment she decided that she hated Todoroki Yosuke.

…

She didn’t know his name at first. Just that he had this impossible calm in the middle of chaos. black uniform, blood on his collar, and that dead-cold stare that made it seem like the whole world could explode and he’d still be leaning against a wall, bored. She didn’t find out who he was until the next day. As she continued her rant in the stairwell to her friend, still mad about her spilled corfee with a now bruised hip, her friend suddenly stopped mid-chew on her gum.

“Wait. Tall guy, kinda scary-looking? Wears glasses? Didn’t say much?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s Todoroki Yosuke. From Oya High.”

“Oya High?”

“Yeah. You know that all-boys hell pit where all they do is fight? He’s one of their top guys.”

Her stomach dropped. Todoroki. Of course it was. She’d heard that name in passing, from rumors and warnings. The kind of guy people only talked about with half-lowered voices. Great. Now he had a name. And a reputation. And a permanent spot on her personal hit list.

…

It was later than she’d meant to stay out. The train had been delayed, and the shortcut she usually took home, past the backstreets near the station, felt suddenly different tonight. It felt quieter and darker than usual.

She heard footsteps behind her. Not close, but steady.

She didn’t want to panic, but something in her gut twisted. She ducked into the side alley near an old shuttered bookstore, hiding in the shadows. The footsteps passed... then stopped.

She didn’t move.

“You always walk around like this?” The voice made her flinch. Not because it was threatening—but because it was him. She turned sharply. Todoroki stood just beyond the alley entrance, hands in his pockets, and of course, with an unreadable gaze. Seeing him, she straightened her posture immediately.

“What? You’re following me now?”

Hearing this, Todoroki scoffed. “No.” He paused. “I saw you in the alley. You looked… unsettled.”

“I’m fine.”

“I didn’t say you weren’t.”

She would’ve argued. But she chose not to. Because his presence, as annoying as he was, and as much as she hated to admit it, was comforting. She felt safe now that he was here.

Suddenly Todoroki turned around, taking steps towards the opposite direction. “Come on.” He said casually, confusing her even more. Why was he being so nice?

“Where?” she asked, her tone indicating a sense of caution, unsure of his intentions.

“I’ll walk you home. It’s dangerous.” He said, again, so casually that it was infuriating. However, she obliged. She jogged to catch up to him, and they both walked in silence. Not awkward. Not tense. But rather a comfortable one.

“I can go ahead on my own from here. Thanks.” Todoroki didn’t reply. He gave her a slight nod, and turned back around.

However, after a few steps, he turned his head ever so slightly and called from his shoulder, his back still facing her. “Next time, call someone so you’re not by yourself.” And with that, he had disappeared out of her sight.

…

Following that unusual incident, Todoroki would cross her mind more often than she would’ve liked. For reasons unknown to even her. Everytime the scene replayed in her head against her will she would pretend it was solely due to how infuriating Todoroki was. However, little did she know that at the exact moment where he walked her home that day, her heart fluttered, a feeling she had never felt before for someone.

Lost in deep thoughts, fighting with her own brain to stop thinking about him, her train of thought was interrupted by the words of one of her friends—

“By the way, did you hear? Oya High got jumped. Bad.” her head snapped towards her friend.

“What?”

“Yeah, when I was coming to school this morning, I saw some Ebara high and Kamasaka High hooligans beating up two boys from Oya High, I’m pretty sure it was the two guys who follow Todoroki around everywhere.” Hearing the news made her heart drop. The breeze suddenly felt cold against her neck.

“Was Todoroki there too?” She asked, trying not to show her concern.

Her friend shrugged. “They got ambushed from what the word on the street says. I’m guessing all the factions got attacked separately. But no, I don’t think I saw Todoroki”

“Wait — did you say Ebara High?” She clarified. Her friend nodded, but she didn’t hear the rest. She was already moving.

By the time her feet reached the staircase, she was sprinting. It wasn’t a decision—it was instinct. She burst through the school doors and paused just long enough to catch her breath, heart pounding. She hadn’t meant to care. She still didn’t want to care. But she did.

Because she remembered something no one else knew: Her cousin, a loudmouth from Ebara himself, had let it slip once, bragging about how all the schools in the SWORD district were sick of Oya High’s dominance. Especially the part-time students. The ones who made Oya unstoppable. He'd talked about it like it was inevitable. That sooner or later, the other schools would rise up. That they wouldn’t keep letting Oya High walk all over them. He even told her where they'd meet to celebrate when they struck. A rusted old rooftop on a forgotten warehouse near a scrapyard.

She told herself now that this wasn't about Todoroki. That she just hated cowards. Hated sneak attacks. That it was about fairness or justice or something.

But deep down, her heart knew the truth.

It was him. It was the way his eyes had softened that night in the alley. The way he walked her to the bus stop without asking for anything in return. The way he made her feel like someone was looking out for her.

And suddenly, the idea of never seeing that again terrified her.

She didn’t grab her bag. She didn’t think about how insane this was. All she knew was that Todoroki might be bleeding out somewhere, and that not knowing was worse than anything else.

Halfway there, she heard sounds. Footsteps that indicated a group of people running. She hid behind a wall, watching as a group of boys with distinct blue uniforms and plaid trousers ran past her, too scared and too beat up to notice her. She waited until their footsteps faded, then slipped out, following the direction they’d come from. Broken glass crunched under her shoes. A streetlamp flickered overhead, throwing jittery shadows across the alley walls. She noticed a small trail of blood, illuminated by the street lamp. She decided to follow the trail in the hopes of finding Todoroki, praying with every step that the blood not be his. She turned one last corner, and there he was, sitting on a staircase, panting, but still radiating that impossible calm. A wave of relief went through her veins, as she felt herself getting weaker in the knees. She didn’t realise that she was running on pure adrenaline. Having sprinted about 5 blocks to reach Todoroki.

“Todoroki.” She said, breathing heavily.

His head lifted, slow, wary. Recognition flashed in his eyes. followed by confusion, then something softer.

That was all she needed. She reached into her pocket for the folded scrap of paper with the warehouse address, willing her voice not to shake. Walking towards him, she grabbed his hand, and placed the piece of paper in his palm. He stared at her, confused. “what is this?”

“Address. Where the leaders of Ebara High like to train. You’ll find them there.” She replied.

He finally stood, a little stiff. His shadow stretched long behind him in the fading light. He took the paper, eyes still locked on her.

“Why?” he asked. Not skeptical. Just quiet. Like he genuinely didn’t understand.

She took a deep breath, trying to even her breathing and her racing heart. “Maybe I hate ambushes. Or maybe I just hate Ebara High more than you. I don’t know.”

He folded the paper and tucked it into his jacket pocket, slow and deliberate. Then his voice softened.

“You okay?” The question caught her off guard.

She blinked. “I’m not the one who just took on half a school.”

“You looked like you were about to pass out.” He smirked. She let out a small laugh in return, and for a moment, the world went quiet. No sounds of footsteps, no screaming. It was just them with the breeze blowing past. Heat rushed to her to face as she cleared her throat.

“I didn’t do this for you okay.” She said suddenly.

He took another step towards her. The distance between the two now merely centimeters apart. Her heart skipped a beat. He looked at her differently. Not like she was in the way anymore. Not like some unlucky bystander. But something softer. She saw his lips curl ever so slightly to form a smile— or more correctly the beginning of one. “Go home. It’s dangerous out here, especially right now.” She hummed in response. Unsure of what to say.

“What about you?” She asked. Trying to hide the rosy hue of her cheeks.

“I’m going to clear some business with Ebara High.” With that, he turned towards the alley and looked over his shoulder. “Come on, I’ll walk you to the bus stop.”

He didn’t wait for a thank you. Just turned and started walking slowly. She jogged a few steps to catch up. Neither of them spoke—but the silence didn’t feel cold. It felt... grounded. Comforting. They walked side by side until the bus stop came into view. Just as they were about to reach it, Todoroki suddenly slowed, then stopped. Without facing her fully, he turned just enough to meet her eyes. Gone was the cocky smirk he always wore like armor. His expression was unreadable—still, calm—but his eyes held something else. Something quieter. Not soft, exactly. Just real.

“I owe you.” He said. Before she could say anything, the sharp sound of screeching tires broke the moment—the bus pulling up to the stop. She glanced at it, then back at him.

"Good luck," she called over her shoulder as she ran for the door. He didn’t respond. Just watched her go, hands in his pockets, posture relaxed—but not careless.

As the bus pulled away, she looked back one more time. He was still standing there. And suddenly, she hated the idea of not knowing what would happen to him next.

…

She didn’t know how she managed to survive through the next few days. The anxiety was killing her, and there was no news regarding Todoroki. All she could do was hope that he was okay.

She was starting to think maybe that night had been it. That she’d never see him again. That maybe the fight with Ebara had ended him in a way fists couldn’t.

Then she saw him, waiting by the school gate. Leaning against the wall like it was nothing. Bandages still fresh on his arm, a small cut near his eyebrow. His uniform jacket slung over one shoulder. His eyes found hers instantly.

Her breath caught.

He didn’t speak until she was a few steps away.

“Took you long enough.” He said with the faintest smirk. It appeared as if he’d been waiting for her for a while.

She stared at him, dumbfounded. Her voice cracked when she finally spoke:

“Are you okay? What happened to you?”

Todoroki looked at her, and slowly pushed himself off the fence. He stepped toward her, slow, like he didn’t want to scare her. Or maybe like he wasn’t sure if he should. She didn’t move.

“I came to thank you. If it wasn’t for you… we wouldn’t be able to defeat defeat the three school alliance.” He said. Hesitation was a first to come from someone so apparently collected like Todoroki. It was as if he was picking his words very carefully. This time, his lips curled into a full, genuine smile.

“I didn’t say it properly back then… I hoped to see you again, to say it properly, once things had calmed down. And also-“

He continued. “To say sorry. I shouldn’t have thrown that guy towards you.” The word “sorry” took her by surprise. Todoroki? the same guy who ignored her as if she was non existent was now apologising?

“You’re apologising?” she asked, half laughing.

“You, Todoroki Yosuke, can apologise to people?”

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Don’t make me say it twice.”

She crossed her arms, a playful spark returning to her voice. “And what about my coffee?” That pulled a low, surprised laugh from him. She swore the air around them shifted. It was less cold now, warmer somehow.

He stepped closer once again. This time, bending down to her eye level. Her breath hitched.

Was he—

Her eyes widened slightly, heart now full-blown sprinting inside her chest. His face was just inches away, the soft curve of his mouth, the glint in his eyes. Her brain short-circuited with the very real possibility that he was about to kiss her. However, He dipped just a little lower and, with the same calm composure as always, reached past her and grabbed something.

Her bag.

“Relax,” he said, standing upright again with her bag slung effortlessly over his shoulder. “You dropped this.”

She blinked, trying to regain function of her limbs, her face now burning. “You—”

He didn’t give her time to finish.

“Let’s go,” he said casually, already turning toward the school gate.

She narrowed her eyes, still recovering. “Go where?”

He glanced over his shoulder, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “To your favorite coffee shop. I owe you a drink, don’t I?”

She stared, stunned. “Wait… are you asking me out?”

He slowed just enough to fall into step beside her. “Depends.”

“On what?”

He looked at her again, not teasing this time, but calm and steady. “On whether you say yes.”

She opened her mouth, then closed it. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected — a cold dismissal, maybe a nod and goodbye. But this? Him offering to buy her coffee like it was nothing, like it was everything?

“I- Okay.” she said, finally.

His smirk deepened just a little, satisfied. They walked in silence again, steps falling into rhythm as the distance between them closed—not just physically, but in every way that mattered. The silence wasn’t awkward. It was full. Full of things unspoken, but felt. As they continued walking, her hand accidentally brushed against his. She stiffened slightly, but didn’t pull away.

A few steps later, it happened again. Slower this time. And then, as if neither of them wanted to say anything out loud, their hands lingered just a little longer the next time they touched. Not fully holding. Not quite letting go.

Neither did he.

She didn’t look at him. He didn’t say anything. But the warmth of his skin against hers made something in her chest twist, and her heart race.

this is part 2 of "come back for a fourth" as promised teehehe I finally will stop writing in my slow-burn style and I want to add part twos to most of the one shots so i can do the romance justice i PROMISE. But i hope you enjoy this hehehe

The convenience store was unusually quiet that evening. She was stacking cans behind the counter during a lull, chatting softly with her coworker to pass the time.

“You going to the festival tomorrow?” her coworker asked with a smile.

She nodded, a small, wistful smile playing on her lips. “Yeah… I’m planning to. I’ve never really been to one, not properly. But I don’t really have anyone to go with.”

Shoji stood just a few feet away, pretending to chat with Fujin and Raijin near the drink fridge. His posture was casual, but his eyes never fully left her. He knew better than to get too close when his friends were around—there were things he didn’t want dragging him down, and he wasn’t about to let anyone think they were more than just acquaintances.

Still, the moment the words left her lips, his fingers froze mid-motion as a shadow flickered across his usually composed face.

She didn’t realize he was still there. She always kept her guard up around him too—protecting herself from getting caught in whatever world his friends belonged to. They shared smiles and light teasing when alone, but with Fujin and Raijin nearby, distance was the safest option.

Shoji said nothing then. He knew she wasn’t ready to share more, and he wasn’t about to pry in front of his friends. But hearing her like that, so quietly vulnerable, made something in him shift.

When the night of the festival came, he was already there.

...

The summer festival was alive with colours and noise, a world away from the quiet convenience store where she usually worked. Lanterns hung like stars above the crowded streets, casting warm glows on faces flushed from excitement and sticky from festival treats.

She hadn’t been to a festival in years, and tonight was supposed to be special. She’d saved for weeks, promising herself a night out but the absence of a familiar face made the crowd suddenly feel overwhelming.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached for the paper scoop at a goldfish game stall. The thin paper tore easily, slipping beneath her grasp before she could catch even one. A soft sigh escaped her lips.

“You’re bad at hiding when you’re sulking.”

The voice was low but unmistakable. She turned sharply, heart skipping.

Shoji stood there, hands tucked casually in the pockets of his jeans. His usual blue jacket was folded over one arm, the sharp bruise on his cheek now faint in the festival’s glowing light. In his other hand, he held two bottles of ramune, the glass catching the lantern light like liquid stars.

“For company,” he said, offering her a bottle.

Her mouth went dry. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

He shrugged, expression unreadable, but there was something softer in his eyes tonight. “Didn’t plan to come. Just… heard you didn’t have anyone to go with.”

"You're eavesdropping on me now?" She chuckled.

The simplicity of the statement caught her off guard. The crowded noise around them faded for a moment, replaced by a quiet she hadn’t known she was craving.

She accepted the bottle, the cool glass warm in her hands, and together they moved deeper into the festival.

Shoji didn’t say much, but his presence was grounding. As they weaved between booths selling candied apples and grilled corn, she noticed the way he subtly steered her away from groups of rowdy boys shouting insults in the distance—likely from one of the rival schools.

The lanterns swayed gently overhead, casting warm pools of light on the bustling festival streets. She kept close to Shoji’s side, grateful for the steady calm he brought to the noisy chaos around them.

As they weaved through clusters of laughing teenagers and families, a sudden shout startled her—someone bumped into her roughly, nearly making her stumble.

Without thinking, Shoji’s hand closed around hers, firm but gentle. The contact grounded her, steadying her heart as much as her footing.

For a moment, neither of them said a word. Their fingers intertwined naturally, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

She glanced up at him, surprised to find his usual sharp gaze softened by something like quiet protectiveness.

The crowd pressed around them, but in that simple touch, she felt like she wasn’t alone anymore.

They stopped by a ring toss game, the prizes bright and gaudy under a flickering light. With a teasing glance, she challenged, “Bet you can’t win.”

He shot her a rare smirk and picked up the rings. Each toss was precise, landing with a satisfying clink on the bottles. When the last ring dropped perfectly over the top, he turned to her, holding out a small plush keychain—a chubby tanuki with a mischievous grin.

“For the onigiri,” he said softly.

She laughed, the sound light and easy, fingers brushing against his as she took the prize.

As the sky darkened further, the first fireworks exploded in bursts of red and gold. They found a spot on a nearby rooftop—quiet, removed from the bustling crowd below. The glow of the fireworks illuminated Shoji’s profile, softening his usually sharp features.

“I never knew you liked festivals,” she said, watching the colourful explosions paint the sky.

He shrugged, eyes fixed on the lights. “I don’t.”

She frowned. “Then why are you here?”

Shoji’s gaze shifted to her, steady and direct. “Because you were alone. Because sometimes even the strongest need company.”

The confession was almost too quiet to hear, but it lingered between them like a fragile promise.

When the show ended, they descended back to the street. The warm summer night smelled of grilled food and laughter, but the walk home felt calm, private.

At her street corner, Shoji stopped, his fingers still laced with hers.

“Same time tomorrow?” he asked.

She smiled, a little breathless. “For onigiri?”

His smirk was slow, deliberate, but there was something vulnerable in his eyes she hadn’t seen before.

“No,” he said, stepping a little closer, “To see you. And maybe… something more.”

Her cheeks flushed, and she swallowed hard.

Shoji’s hand lingered near her face, thumb lightly tracing her cheek.

She froze, breath catching at the unexpected touch. Then, before she could think twice, he leaned in. His hand wrapped around her waist, the other gently pulling her face closer. She closed her eyes, and felt his lips finally— ever so gently— touch hers.

The kiss was soft, careful, like testing the waters, but full of all the things unspoken between them: gratitude, curiosity, something tender hiding beneath the tough exterior.

Her eyes fluttered closed, and when they parted, Shoji rested his forehead against hers, voice barely a whisper.

“I’ve been coming back… not just for the onigiri”

this took longer than i expected🥹🥹 it was my boyfriend’s birthday so i was literally so busy w prep that i had no time to post but here it is!! i think ppl can tell that I love writing about the first meet than established relationships😭😭 idk whats wrong w me💔 but i hope u enjoy reading this!!

requested by @pixxx-ieee “Ahhhhhhh I need more fics for the 3 school alliance boys 😩 this is so good, could I request one for Sameoka? Blue braid guy?

❕warnings: this is straight fluff i promise

The fluorescent lights buzzed softly in the near-empty convenience store. The shift was almost over—just one more hour and she could go home. It had been quiet most of the night. A couple of students had come in, bought instant noodles and energy drinks, nothing unusual.

She was restocking the shelf behind the counter when they came in. Loud, careless footsteps, laughter that didn’t belong in a place so small. Three boys, most likely seniors in high school uniforms. The kind that swaggered like the city belonged to them.

One of them kicked a display shelf just to hear it clatter.

She didn’t say anything. This area was full of delinquents, but they mostly fought amongst themselves. They didn’t bother anyone who wasn’t part of one of the schools.

So she had nothing to worry about. Right?

Still, she remained alert. Cautious. She tried her absolute best to hide her expression. It wasn’t that she was scared of them, but she knew that these boys were the types to deliberately look for reasons to fight or cause a scene.

It wasn’t until a young boy entered the store—the chime of the bell alerting the ones already present—that her stomach tightened.

He wore the same uniform as them, but his expression was far from the confident one of his peers. He looked almost scared, especially after making eye contact with one of them. She noticed his face go instantly pale, as if he had seen a ghost.

“Oh look who it is! The newbie!” one of them laughed mockingly.

The boy tried to ignore him, focusing on grabbing his ramen packet. But the three persisted, trying to get his attention. He hurriedly grabbed his packet and rushed to the register.

“Are they bothering you?” she asked, concerned.

“It’s okay. T-they’re just playing arou—”

Before he could finish his sentence, one of the boys kicked him in the leg, causing him to fall to the ground with a thud. She gasped, seeing his figure crumple to the floor, hugging his knee in pain.

“Leave him alone!” she exclaimed, coming to the boy’s rescue.

The tallest one just laughed in return.

“Don’t get in our way. Or you might get injured by accident,” he replied mockingly, taking slow steps toward her.

As he got closer, her heart rate picked up. She was scared. But she couldn’t let him see it. She stood in front of the younger boy, shielding him from the delinquent making his way toward them.

“Move. Now.” He warned. He extended his hand out to push her aside, but before he could, the door chimed, signaling the entry of someone else.

At the entrance stood a tall guy, hands tucked casually in his pockets, his sharp gaze cutting through the room. The faint bruise on his cheek did nothing to dull his composed presence, and the distinctive blue jacket he wore marked him unmistakably as a student of Ebara Commercial High—a name enough on its own to send shivers down someone’s spine.

Ebara High students were strong. Unbelievably strong. They prided themselves on having a strong sense of personal honor and valuing fair play in any fight. And standing in front of her was one of their leaders.

He didn’t speak. Just stepped inside.

The tallest boy’s jaw tightened. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Shoji’s gaze slid to the boy still on the ground, then back to them. “Didn’t realize you were brave enough to fight first-years,” he said calmly.

It was clear to her that the three guys in front of him were absolutely no threat to him.

“Mind your business—” The tallest one’s fist clenched.

Shoji took one slow step forward. “It is my business. Unless you want me to show you what a fair fight looks like.”

She saw their confident, smug expressions drop instantly, replaced with fear. The tension in the room shifted sharply.

The tallest boy clicked his tongue, turning away. “Whatever. Let’s go.”

And just like that, they were gone.

Shoji didn’t watch them leave. He just looked at the younger boy. “Can you stand?”

The boy scrambled up quickly. “Y-yeah. Thank you.”

Shoji nodded once, then glanced at her. “You okay?”

She nodded slowly, still processing. “…Thank you.”

As if nothing had happened just minutes prior, he got up and headed straight to the onigiri shelves. He picked up a tuna onigiri and made his way to the register to pay. She hurriedly rushed behind the counter, just before Shoji reached it.

He didn’t say much, his replies short and cool to her usual customer-service questions. And just like that, he was gone. She debated whether to thank him again, but before she could, he was out of her sight.

Over the next week, she noticed him again.

It was never planned. But every couple of days, around the same time, Sameoka Shoji walked in. Always quiet. Always buying the same salmon onigiri.

It was… oddly endearing.

She started wondering if he actually liked it that much, or if it was just habit.

And then, on her day off, she made some herself. Carefully wrapped, tucked into a small paper packet.

The next time he came in, she had it ready.

She wanted to show him appreciation for helping her out, but approaching him seemed like such a daunting task. It didn’t help that he was a man of barely any words.

When he placed the familiar onigiri on the counter, she slid the packet toward him.

He paused. “…What’s this?”

“Onigiri,” she said, a little nervous. “I’ve seen you buy the same kind a lot… so I made some. Sorry if that’s weird. Plus, I wanted to thank you properly for helping that boy and me that night.”

She realized she didn’t even know his name. So she’d written a small note on the wrapping: “For the cute boy with the cute braids.”

Shoji stared at the note for a second. The corner of his mouth twitched—almost a smile.

“Cute braids, huh?” he said, holding the note in his hand, amused.

Her face heated. “I didn’t know your name.”

He met her eyes, his own softening slightly. “…Sameoka Shoji.”

She nodded. “And you can call me…”

“Convenience store girl?” he offered, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

She laughed, a quiet, genuine sound that pulled an almost imperceptible smile from him. “Guess we’re even now.”

He glanced down at the small paper packet in his hand. “You always make onigiri for strangers?”

She shook her head. “Only for customers who buy the same one three times in a row.”

“Huh,” he said, pocketing the packet. “Guess I’ll have to come back for a fourth.”

She rolled her eyes lightly, pretending not to notice the way her heart skipped. “You better. I need someone to eat my failed experiments.”

Shoji turned to leave, but just before the door closed behind him, he looked back, the faintest curve to his mouth.