#study buddies

ps. its short, excuse me

"I thought I'd find you here." you mused, stepping into the quiet space of the library. nobody was around, the booths long cleared out after classes came to a close. the only other occupant besides your intended person being the elderly librarian, deaf in one ear and far too busy reading ancient novels you've never even heard the name of to notice your entrance.

startled by the sound of your voice, something he's heard filtering throughout campus countless of times before, Satoru looks up from the physiology book he was studying. he looks left, then right, then pin straight at you--oddly like a startled deer caught in headlights.

when he sees you, he does a double take. "[Name]?" he mumbled, blinking behind his thick black rimmed glasses. his white hair falls in tousles against his forehead, messy, finger brushed like he's spent too many hours combing through the strands while he studied.

and, of course, he'd be here way into the afternoon, studying dutifully even when the campus cleared out and people returned to their dorms. somewhere you would normally be by now.

"satoru." you smiled, offering a half assed wave of your hand as you approached the cozy booth he occupies. It was tucked away, off to the left, somewhere you're sure he always sits at.

the large physiology book sits most prominently in front of him, and scattered around the table were loose pieces of paper. some scribbled with neatly written notes, others messily scribbled with interpretations and diagrams. chaotically organized in his own way.

satoru scrambled to neaten everything.

"i.. wasn't expecting you [name]. well--not saying that you don't come to libraries, or anything like that. but it's pretty late, so I thought you'd be with my brother--"

"yeah, you'd be right." you shrug easily, charmed by his fluster, lingering by one of the seats. "I usually would be, but I was looking for you."

his jerky motions to clear up his study space halts. cerulean blue eyes dart up to you in astonishment. you? the girl that was always within five feet of his twin brother? who laughed like nobody was around, and was fond of making a statement. the same girl that was tight-knit with shoko? the frat sweetheart?

smoothing out his papers like there was a crinkle in them only he could see, he tucks away his analytical rambles manifested on paper. he clears his throat, his free hand pushing his glasses back up the bridge of his nose.

"oh, is that so?" his voice wavered.

you let out a low hum, sparing a glance around the library as you take a seat in the chair you were idling by. dull yellow lighting, shelves lined with messily stacked books. the topmost shelves coated in a thin layer of dust--since the old librarian couldn't get to those places anymore. but the thin layer suggested it was at least maintained every now and then.

satoru cleared his throat again, out of nervousness more so out of the intention to gain your attention. he got it anyway.

"say satoru, you're good at physics right?" you ask, coyly drawing your pointer finger against the polished wooden table.

it took a moment for him to register the question, too distracted by your finger tracing unknown patterns and the gaze that held steady against his own. jittery nerves coiled in his gut, mouth parting in shock that, for one, you were actually sitting here and talking to him.

nobody ever really paid attention to him, not when his brother shined far brighter in comparison. gojo was a frat brother, closely knit with the popular students. he had the potential of a football star. so no, satoru never really got used to the eyes of others, or the singling attention of girls like his brother was so used to.

he was used to the quietness of the shadows, slipping through with astonishing grades, praise of their professors, and the secret studious help in gojo's dorm when big exams were coming up.

you were on the same level as gojo. popular, or as popular as a witty mouth and sly grin could get you. you were the type of person to be known by everybody, not particularly liked, especially with your close relation to the gojo, but still within the spotlight. there was a drive to you, an academic mind that a lot of people seemed to gloss over.

slowly, satoru nodded. he mentally shook off his thoughts to finally zero his attention on your question. "uh, yes, I am. it's one of my favorite subjects, actually."

his utmost favorite subject.

satoru was internally excited about the way this conversation was going. talking about physics, something he enjoyed a lot, with the person he admired from afar.

you smile, pleased. "that's great. my degree requires me to do a semester on physics, so would you mind helping me out? I don't really understand it and Gojo isn't any better off than I am."

the nerves seem to melt off his shoulders the more you talked, like the topic of studying was enough to crack through his shell, even by a bit. he nods again, dutifully agreeing with your sentiment. gojo was near impossible to teach.

"I've explained the concepts of physics to him all the times he's asked, none ever stuck unfortunately. so.. I guess if you're a better student than gojo, I think I can make it work."

a light redness spreads across his cheeks when you beam.

"thank you so much! this really means a lot."

previous

synopsis: after weeks of working together, studying with hinata starts feeling a little too comfortable. what should’ve been another ordinary afternoon in the library quickly turns awkward when kei unexpectedly shows up and witnesses more than he wanted to. meanwhile, the pressure of the upcoming race continues to weigh heavily on you—along with emotions no one is addressing out loud.

a week goes by and presentations were due in a few days. you look at hinata sitting across from you in the library talking about something that isn’t related to the project and you nod and listen attentively.

you hear the library door open and see a tall figure walking in-not that your attention was focused on it but the shadow was hard to ignore when the sun was shining creating this dark figure.

“yeah- honestly i think we’re going to ace this project” hinata laughs “get it because of ace- volleyball.” you look at him almost unimpressed but try to keep your laugh in “you’re being way to loud again, it’s like you want us to be kicked out.” you chuckle softly. he immediately straightens up and clears his throat “wait im so sorry,-“ he continues to talk “i heard you having a race against that other school..is that true?” your eyebrows furrow slightly, caught off guard. you nod “yeah..i’ve been practicing for it..they counting on me.” you mutter the last part a bit quiet.

you’ve been doubting yourself because this race means a lot- the opposing school has beaten your school a few times and you hate losing, even if it’s just small. you are really competitive by nature and naturally that makes you doubt yourself, your abilities. hinata had noticed that part being a tad bit quieter, he looks at you, his eyes more softer. he doesn’t comment on it though. “you know..i really do admire the way you train and have all those things and still managing to be team captain.” he comments. you look at him and chuckle softly even thought there’s no humour to it “well..i appreciate that a lot. thank you hinata-“ he quickly stops you “shoyo. my name is shoyo.. i mean we have been working for a good amount of time so cut the formality.”

your ears are slightly red, almost embarrassed. “ha- okay then..i’m sorry. shoyo it is. thank you..shoyo.” you say with a soft smile on your face. little did you know that someone is near by. kei had quickly found out where you guys had studied. the school library after practice. you’d always post something on your spam instagram account and since majority of your time you’ve been in the library for this project you’d post something in there. his slender fingers grip the pen his holding tighter.

he looks over at you, his head snapping to the back of your head at your table. he knows that laugh. that soft, quiet one that you do when you’re embarrassed or flustered. he doesn’t even know what his doing at the school library out of all places. he had said to you before that the schools library was for friends who just want to hang out and not for studying. he loves studying in his own room, either with headphones in playing his music or silence.

hinata speaks again “it’s quite warm..i’ll buy us drinks when it’s time to go since we can’t drink in the library.” you nod and start packing your stationary away in your bag “ah thank you..i’m actually thirsty.” you smile softly, slightly push your hair out of your face. the slight sweat letting your hair sticking to your face.

kei notices immediately because he knows your expressions too well. how you smiled. like it was easy. soft. almost automatic.

hinata looks around the library and sees kei. you call out “shoyo” while packing your bag noticing how quiet he had gotten. kei overhears how you call out hinata name that it sounds natural, no hesitation. his pencil pauses mid-sentence he was writing. because somehow hearing you say some elses first name so easily feels strangely personal.

you, hinata and even kei hear a crack. kei looks down at his hands. you and hinatas heads snap to the sound. “shit.” kei mutters to himself. he had accidentally squeezed his pen to hard until the ink stains his book, hand and even the table.

your eyes widen slightly- in your head why is he here? why?

you quickly compose yourself, you eyes make eye contact. you freeze. he looks away first- like his ashamed. hinata oblivious to the tension between you and kei blurts out “oh?..tsukishima?” he says.

awkward.

hinata quickly gets up and finds tissues to help kei clean up his mess of pen ink. you look down at your lap your heart slightly beating out of your chest. so many unanswered questions. you quickly get up and then put on your bag on your back.

you excuse yourself to hinata “sorry shoyo- my parents want me earlier home. thank you.” you say before he can’t even reply you start walking, “wait y/n-“ he says, kei looks at your figure, your hair that fell perfectly in place as you walk. the way you carried yourself was always something he admired, the way the sun hit your skin making it glow. you look over your shoulder and accidentally make eye contact with him and see hinata trying to help kei and you look away exiting the library. his thoughts and vision of you was quickly interrupted by hinatas voice. kei groaned to himself, he didn’t like hinata as much and the fact his hanging out with you and now helping him clean up- god time was so against kei.

he looks at hinata “tch- i can do this myself. i don’t need your help.” he says irritatedly. hinata presses his lips into a straight line but continues to give kei tissues to help him wipe up the ink. he knows how kei gets. nothing new.

after that whole ordeal hinata left too and it left kei to sit down and realise what he was doing. he felt pathetic. he technically stalked you, can’t even look you in the eye. he feels weird seeing you being close to someone he doesn’t necessarily like, hinata being so likeable and friendly- it was infuriating. something on board-line jealousy?..he quickly shakes that thought out of his head before throwing the discarded pen shards in the bin near the exit before heading home.

kei unlocks his phone absentmindedly while walking home.

your spam account is still open.

the newest story posted only ten minutes ago.

a blurry picture of scattered notes across the library table.

hinata’s sleeve barely visible in the corner.

the caption:

“going insane.”

kei stares at the screen longer than he should.

then exits the story immediately.

his jaw tightens.

pathetic.

Studying in bed

Midnight Mass screenshot #StudyBuddies ~2hrs

The Rookie 7x14 promo photos ⬆️ and 7x16 episode description ⬇️ ©️DGE Press / ABC.