#windbreaker fluff

the first spray was cold, albeit the warm weather, it still gave sakura the chills. but he forgets about the cold sensation once he feels your soft hands, massaging the sunscreen onto his skin. your fingers slowly gliding from his shoulders to his upper back.

sakura almost missed the cold feeling of the second spray because he was too focused on how warm your hands felt om him. your hands gently making their way to his lower back.

then the third spray- your fingers suddenly stop moving. his eyes jump open, his eyebrows are up in confusion, where did the warn sensation of your touch go? he looks to the back to see you waving to a group of people on the other side of the beach.

"haru', i'm gonna go say hello to some old friends! give me a minute or two, and I'll be back, yeah?" you tell him all giddy before heading to your old friend group.

a huff leaves sakura's lips, just a tad bit annoyed some randoms stole your attention. he meticulously follows you with his eyes as you make your way to the group. sakura internally scolds himself for not telling you to wear something on top of your little two piece bikini. don't get him wrong! he thinks you look gorgeous, stunning even! but now he has to restrain himself from going over there and punching the guy who's been undressing you with his eyes the second you greeted the group.

his teeth are clenched, the veins in his neck are popped while he struggles to stay put and not make a scene. sakura knows you don't like it when he starts a fight, that's why he's using up all the patience he has to prevent himself from beating the guy. if it were up to him, he would've started a fight the moment that weirdo started smiling at you like that! who does he think he is? does he really think he stands a chance with someone like you? funny.

sakura doesn't even know what you see in him, but there's absolutely no way he's going to stand by while some sicko is flirting with his girlfriend!

as if on cue, you bump into sakura the moment he started agigatedly stomping your direction. "eh? you miss me already?" a giggle leaves your mouth as you wrap your arms around your boyfriend's neck. "I didn't know you needed me around so badly!" another silly joke of yours flew right past sakura, his attention still being at your former friend group.

"hey..! what're you looking at?" your head spins to the same direction sakura's looking at before you notice he's glaring at your old friend. after a while the realization hit; your tsundere boyfriend was jealous! ah, lovely, another thing to tease him about!

"baby~ are you jealous I was talking to him?" you laugh, turning his head to face you.

"w-what?! of course not! w-what are you on, you weirdo!" he stumbles backward a bit before gaining his balance again, your arms now detached from his neck. sakura continues to mumble, "he- he should just stop lookin' at you like that.." your raise your eyebrows as you see a blush creeps up on his face.

you bite the inside of your lip, trying your hardest to keep yourself from smiling. "like what haru'? hm?"

"you know what I mean."

you reconnect your hands with his neck, tilting your head to the side. "no~ I don't!"

"[ ♡ ]!" your first name rolls off of his tongue so smoothly, reminding him not everyone can call you that. not everyone could stand as close to you as he is standing right now. not everyone could feel your hot breath on their skin as your fingertips slowly caress their neck. and even if they could, he wouldn't let them. you're his and his only.

"like you're his girlfriend, cause you're not! he should know his damn place.." sakura sighs before hiding his face in the crook of your neck, hesitantly wrapping his arms around your waist. "y-you're mine. just- just don't forget that.."

you gulp as you stand in the middle of the beach, completely enveloped by your boyfriend, not able to move an inch because of the way he's holding you. you receive glances from passers-by but you don't care enough right now. he called you his, it felt as though you could've squealed when he uttered those 3 words.

but truth be told, you are most definitely his, and his only.

SUO HAYATO

if you squint your eyes -> a bitttt of yandere!suo at the end / nicknames / reader wears dresses !

"but- it looked so cute!" you protest, your eyebrows furrowed as you look at your boyfriend rolling his eyes playfully.

"hey now, I thought i already told you that it definitely carries like atleast 10 diseases," suo glances at you, noticing your lips were still pouted, "look, if you had touched it, you'd probably have ended up in a hospital, we don't want that now, do we pretty?" suo lets out a chuckle.

you slightly shake your head before intertwining your fingers with his.

he lets out a quiet sigh before admitting, "it did look cute, though.." you giggle at your boyfriend's statement, your giggles mixing with his chuckle.

suddenly, you hear a small thud, which makes you swiftly turn your head to the side at the sound of something falling.

"ah! su', gimme a minute, stay here with the bags please!" you let go of his hand as you make your way to the guy who had dropped some boxes. you get down and start helping him put the items back in the boxes. "h-hey, thanks for helping out!" the guy spills out before he continues grabbing his stuff, his hand accidentally touching yours as you both go to grab the water bottle. awkwardly laughing it off, you two finish up refilling the box.

little do you know on the other side of the street suo drops the shopping bags he was holding for you, he doesn't care less what could happen to those pretty pink bags filled with cute dresses you tried on earlier in the shops, which you decided were essential additions to your already filled to the brim closet. if the bags would end up stolen, suo would buy you new ones anyway. so they weren't that important right now.

not when some guy was gushing at his girlfriend. not when that same stranger had touched your hand, which only he was allowed to do. and oh, definitely not when he had the courage to shove his phone in your pretty hands, waiting for you to put your number in.

"[ ♡ ]," suo calls out your name as he reaches you. "we should go, sweetheart, we told the others we'd be at kotoha's in 10," he forces a smile before taking the guy's phone out of your hand and pointing it towards him. "yours?" cold, that was the only way to describe your boyfriend, whose smile had disappeared into thin air, tone.

the guy who you were so innocently helping earlier, started awkwardly thanking the both of you before hastily making his way to his car.

"ah, su'! my bags!" you sprint to the shopping bags on the other side of the street, worriedly checking if all the items were still inside. "everything's still inside?" your boyfriend's smile was showing again.

you nod as he grabs the bags in one hand and locks his other hand with yours. this time with a tighter grip, the last thing he'll allow is for you to stray from him again.

"stay close to me now, alright pretty? don't let go of my hand."

and you could've sworn you saw him clench his jaw before relaxing it and sending you his signature smile again. "love you."

NIREI AKIHIKO

no warnings, just nirei being adorable

how did nirei even get himself into this situation? no, but really, how? it was a perfect day; sunny weather with clouds nowhere in sight, nirei was hanging out with the people he loved being around, his friends, and of course, you! yet somehow, he finds himself in the bookstore, ignoring his friends' stories.

he isn't purposely ignoring them! it's just hard to listen to them when his, his girlfriend is being hit on by the employee.

you were talking him about how badly you wanted to read this book. it was of a psychological genre, and when you explained the story premise to your boyfriend, he got totally spooked by it! but when you two and your friends got to the store, you couldn't find it at all..

you were searching for an employee to help you find it as your earlier attempt with nirei and the others weren't really successful.

but, oh, the regret nirei's feeling right now about letting you go off on your own to find someone to help is absolutely tearing him apart! he doesn't want to seem like the possessive type by waltzing over there and snaking an arm around you, but he can't stand witnessing one more second of that guy flirting with you!

"hmm, what're you gonna do now, huh nirei?" suo teases the blond, elbowing kiryu to witness nirei's predicament.

"hah? you gonna let 'em take your girl, eh nirei?" kiryu chuckles, playfully pushing his shoulder.

nirei shakes his head before sending yet another glare at the employee. he was an older man, way too old to even think about flirting with you. what's worse is that you were completely oblivious to the situation, you probably just thought he was being friendly!

that's it. with that thought flowing in nirei's brain he makes his way to you.

"h-hey! you find the book yet, sweetheart?"

nirei usually sticks to calling you by your name or nickname, occasionally even calling you baby. but never had he called you sweetheart before. so that was what caught your attention.

"yes, darling, I have!" you giggle as you decide to play along this game of his, oblivious to the way your boyfriend's staring at the older man, waiting for him to get the hint and back off.

"well.. I'll be going then.." the employee abruptly leaves, after rolling his eyes at you two.

nirei's knot in his stomach finally seems to loosen as he intertwines his fingers with yours. "glad you found it," your blond boyfriend sends you a cheeky smile.

"thank you, sweetheart!"

"SWEETHEART?!" tsugeura yells out, fake-fainting into kiryu's arms. the pink-haired individual struggling with keeping tsugeura on his feet. "y-yo, you're 'bout to make me trip!"

suo smiles widely, one of his hands on nirei's shoulder. "my, my, you've progressed a lot in the past 5 minutes, haven't you? you even got sakura blushing like crazy.."

"hey shut up!" sakura hides his face behind the book he was holding, pretending he was checking it out. mind you, it was upside down..

oh my, nirei is going to be teased about this for the rest of the year. but honestly, he'd do it all again to see your pretty smile again. your laughing mixing in with all the ruckus the guys are making brings another genuine smile to nirei's face.

this was his happy place, right here with you.

(just look at him omg... i-)

KIRYU MITSUKI

nicknames

"ah! mitsuki, look at this top, isn't it adorable?!" completely in love with the clothing piece, you show it to your boyfriend, waiting for his opinion on it.

"mhm, it'd look so pretty on you. and it'd fit with your new shoes!" kiryu adds, slightly wiggling his eyebrows up and down to convince you the top is a must-have! "come on~, tried it on for me."

kiryu locks his hands with yours before pulling you along with him to the dressing rooms.

you hand your boyfriend your handbag and jacket before picking out where you'll try the top on. "I'll be quick, kay?" you tell him, earning a smiley nod from him.

after some time, kiryu sees your hand coming out of the dressing room, signing to him to come in. chuckling, he goes into the small space.

"baby, look how small it is! 's like a baby size.." you mumble, still trying to adjust the top.

the back of your top gets adjusted by kiryu before he shakes his head, "baby-, I'll just go grab another size for you. this size could actually be a baby's size.." you giggle as you nod, planting a quick kiss on his cheek before letting him go look for a different size.

kiryu searches at the original spot, but he doesn't seem to find the other sizes. after a long while of searching and asking the employees, going through 3 floors searching for the top, and then suddenly remembering there's a fourth floor, kiryu finally finds the infamous top.

this piece of fabric better be the best clothing piece ever.

with the top in his, your boyfriend makes his way back to you, eager to see you wearing the right size this time.

he turns the corner to get to the dressing rooms when he hears your voice. you're sitting on the couch, talking to some guy. that isn't a bad thing, it really isn't! what is, though, is the fact that the guy was giving you heavy heart eyes as he grabbed your phone to add his number. like yes, you're pretty, gorgeous, stunning, but you're taken, so no, thank you!

"h-hey.. maybe we should y'know go there togeth-"

"hey, princess, I found your top," kiryu walts over to the sofa, standing in front of the two of you. his smile disappears almost immediately once he shifts his gaze to the man next to you. "and you are?"

you widen your eyes a bit at your boyfriend's sharp tone. "baby-," you mumble

kiryu's fixed stare started to make him feel fiddly as he starts awkwardly laughing. "h-hey man, didn't know she was taken.. was just hitting up a pretty girl, right?" he chuckles before standing up.

"mhm, next time, don't hit on my pretty girl, yeah?"

another awkward laugh flows out of the man's mouth as he leaves the dressing rooms.

"mitsuki-"

"don't even get me started," kiryu hands you the top. he motions for you to try I on before plopping on the couch again, still annoyed at the individual trying to get with his pretty girlfriend.

but all that pent-up annoyance and frustration suddenly goes right out the window when he sees you walking out of the fitting room. wow, you look incredible.

the way the top hugs your figure so elegantly yet somehow still remains a casual vibe, surprises him.

"baby? what do you think?"

"you look so pretty, princess.." kiryu wraps his arms around your waist before pulling you closer to him. "you always do."

kiryu's bank account might be experiencing an existential crisis because of all the items he bought you, but he couldn't care less when he sees you smile like that.

KAJI REN

teenie tiny bit of swearing / reader's wearing a skirt

where is that damn soda of yours?! kaji's been roaming the grocery store, searching for another soda for you because you were all "baby, they're buy 1 get 1 free!". and how could he tell you he wasn't in the mood to go to the back of the store to get it for you when you were puppy-eyeing him.

damn you. (he loves you)

if kusumi were there with him, kaji just knows he'd be poking fun at him, calling him a simp again.

finally, he found the bottled soda! he angrily grabbed it, making his way back to you, who stayed in line, waiting for your turn at the cash register.

kaji moves past families with full carts, jumps over children playing on the ground, and almost knocks over a fabric softener stand.

reaching the line at the register, he hears your laugh and follows it past the others in line to get to you. wait, who were you laughing at? as he stands behind you, you turn around to greet him.

"baby! this is kai, he was telling me all about some trivia about fruits!" you giggle, waiting for ren to greet the man in front of you, who had reached out his hand to him.

your boyfriend only stares at him before the man retrieves his hand, uncomfortably running it through his hair before letting out a forced chuckle.

you smile awkwardly, turning your head a little to kaji's side. "ren. be nice," you warn with a smile still on your face.

"anyway, did you know figs aren't fruits! they're inverted flowers, isn't that crazy?" you start rambling, hoping to dissipate the awkward situation. you were completely amazed at what the stranger told you. unbeknownst to you though, kaji was fuming, he was humming at your rambles whilst scowling at the man in front of you.

you should've seen how the stranger was looking at you before kaji stood next to you! his toothy smile, flirtatious glances, the man even playfully touched your shoulder. but you, of course, being the clueless person you are, thought he was just being friendly!

as you ended your newly learned trivia about fruits, you saw the man grabbing his stuff and hastily walking off.

"y-yeah well, was nice to meet you too.. bye.." the guy turns around, not even sparing you another glance.

kaji rolls his eyes as you too load up your groceries in a bag and start heading out.

"baby, you were so rude!" you state while taking a sip from your soda, and then offering it to him. "the guy was just being nice.."

grabbing the sods, kaji lets out a scoff. unamused with your cluelessness. "the guy was trying to get in your pants," kaji's eyes shot down, only to see you were wearing a skirt. "..uh skirt, whatever, you know what I'm getting at..!"

"ren, you're exaggerating so much it's starting to give me a headache!" you joke, locking your arm with his.

another sigh leaves kaji's mouth. "baby, why else would a guy randomly tell a pretty girl some shitty trivia in a grocery store if not to get close to you?!"

a moment of silence lingers between the two of you before you look back at your boyfriend. "... you think I'm pretty?" you deadpan, holding in your laugh as you see kaji literally breaking.

"I should've let him have you-" as your boyfriend hears your giggles a tiny smile creeps up his face.

"love you too, rennie."

his arm slings around your waist and holds you even tighter to him than usual.

kusumi's right, he definitely is a simp.

your issue was ren kaji, a guy so pretty yet intimidating even the tiniest glance of him sent you running in the opposite direction. so... how exactly were you convinced to start working at the one place he and the rest gathered most often? (save for the roof, of course.)

"a bet? are you crazy?!" you looked at kotoha incredulously. "this is just setting me up for failure!"

her cunning grin only pissed you off more, "i'm just saying, staring at him from so far away all the time only makes you look like a creep. i'm just trying to motivate you a little. either talk to him, or start working with me~"

"besides," she nudges your side as you walk down the busy street, pothos as your destination, "you already help me out a ton, so actually working with me will only earn you extra if you lose."

a vein in your forehead popped, "you seem to be missing the point! if i work with you, i'll be seeing him so often i might get a heart attack! and i won't even be allowed to leave!"

you'll make a fool out of yourself sooner or later, and he'll definitely hate you and call you annoying-

she only cackles at your panic, "then just talk to him! saves you so much trouble."

your whole body flushes at the idea, and even the breezy sundress you've got on does little to cool you off on the surprisingly hot spring day, "it's not that easy," you grumble.

she rolls her eyes, "yeah, sure. as if the last guy that asked you out wasn't stumbling over his words like a fool with how flustered you got him."

"i wasn't even doing anything to warrant that, he was just shy!" you argue back. "i don't think someone like kaji would like me," you add, albeit a lot quieter.

that gives her pause, "huh..? why not?"

your face scrunches up in regret, you probably shouldn't have said that. now she'll worry a bunch and ask you questions you really don't want to answer because you'll just sound conceited again-

"i'm sure the guys from furin must have a bunch of admirers, right? there must be like.. a bunch of pretty girls in there, too," you sigh. "anyway, i'm just saying, i don't really stand out much."

your little 'explanation' is met with silence, making you look over to kotoha, "girl, you good-?"

it looks as if she's trying to explode you with her mind, causing a bunch of giggles to tickle at your throat at the sight, "did i say something funny?" you snort, worries temporarily dispelled.

"they're a bunch of losers!" she explodes on you, "like hell do they have admirers, unless you mean tsubaki and umemiya, but i can guarantee you there's little competition if we're looking at kaji specifically."

"are you saying he's not likeable?" you look offended on his behalf. "are you insulting my taste?" you prod further, brows furrowed, "i happen to think he's mighty cute-"

"who's mighty cute, huh?" a strong arm is wrapped around your shoulder, just as it is around kotoha. the cheery voice could be none other than mr furin himself, umemiya.

startled out of your minds, both you and your friend shriek at an ear piercing volume before you shove ume off of you both, making him land flat on his ass. "yowch! you guys are so rude!"

the tiniest glance back confirms your fear, where there is furin, there's a chance kaji is there too. the second your gaze falls on him, who's luckily looking down at his phone and has his headphones on so loud you can hear the music from about 3 yards away, you make a run for it. throwing some measly excuse of 'gotta walk the plants!' over your shoulder before you speed walk your way in some random direction. not even the one towards your house.

bet? officially lost. not like you even accepted it, but kotoha didn't seem to care much for that detail. which got you angrily scrubbing the dishes already the day after. at least you were allowed to customize your apron, so there's that.

"i still can't believe you ran off just like that," she laughs, "you looked stupid."

"gee, thanks," you glare at her over your shoulder, the little kitten clip you stuck onto your pocket glimmering under the light.

"you're usually so happy and chipper, though," she points out, "how come a guy is making you act this way?"

she's right, of course. unfortunately for you, she usually is.

"i dunno," you shrug, frowning. "he's just cool, i guess."

you don't see her face as you turn back to your dishes, but you already know she's got her stupid brow raised and is definitely mocking you. "cool? he's got his face punched in most of the time, what's so cool about that?"

"okay, now that's rude," you wipe your hands dry and sigh, turning back to face her, leaning your hips against the counter. "promise not to laugh if i tell you?"

she nods vigorously, "yeah, pinky promise!" she holds out her pinky, glaring at you once you refuse to take it that same second.

heat creeps up your chest and neck as you recall an evening about 6 weeks back. it was a tad colder, and darkness crept up the evenings a lot sooner than now.

how when you were walking back from a a hangout with her, a group of guys started bothering you, tugging you by the hand, whistling and trying to convince you to 'have some fun' with them.

the fear that consumed you, and the subsequent shock as one of the guys grunted, a tooth clattering to the floor, where he followed. blows were exchanged left and right as you looked on in horror.

but then, a flash of blond hair whooshed past, and how you couldn't look away. heart almost beating out of your chest for an entirely different reason now. an infatuation formed right then.

but instead of thanking your savior, you ran off just before he was done. like some coward.

when you look back up at your friend, kotoha promised not to laugh, and yet her face was red as a tomato just from having to hold back.

you pout, burning up from the embarrassment, "your pinky promises don't mean shit, i see."

she shakes her head, grinning and giggling away, "you're such an idiot."

"i feel bad," you continue, looking away at the ground, fists clenching, "he got his hands dirty for nothing."

"hey now," she steps closer, placing her hands on your shoulders. she squeezes them gently before she pulls you in for a hug, "you weren't hurt, right? that means it wasn't for nothing."

you lean your cheek against her shoulder, "yeah, but that just makes me feel worse. he prevented something seriously bad, and i just left."

"you were scared out of your mind, then proceeded to fall in love at first sight, i'd be running too-"

you pull away quickly, face burning up, "it's not love at first sight! he's just hot!"

the chime of the bell, followed by black and green jackets entering sends you into a panic. you quickly turn around, returning to your dishes as to avoid being noticed.

unfortunately, that's not how it goes.

"hey, you!" umemiya greets, "about time you started getting paid for all the work you do around here."

"that's right," kotoha agrees, nudging your side playfully, "i finally got her to agree."

as the boys take their seats, she takes the guys' orders one by one, until by the end her tone changes slightly, and she glances over to you, "and for you, kaji?"

you visibly stiffen. it would've been so much better for you had you not known he was here! curse her, of course she'd do it to you. probably thinking she's doing you a favor, too. your grip on the pan tightens before you put it away and turn off the water.

you help her prepare the orders, and as if things couldn't get any worse for you, she shoves the tray into your hands when you're done, "go on, you can bring it."

the glare you shoot her way makes her snicker. shaking in your boots just a bit, you make your way over to the bane of your existence. your ankle almost twists out from under you as you nearly trip over a chair leg you can't see because of the big-ass tray.

mustering up a smile, one that definitely looks just as clumsy as you feel, you set down the plates one by one. luckily you don't have to say much, the boys take their own food by themselves, all with their own distinctive 'thank you's'. all is well until you get to the man of the hour.

when you set down the final plate, his plate, hands shaking and sweat forming at your brow, you dare a brief glance at him. and when you do, it's like time stops. he's already looking at you too, his dark blue eyes wide, sucker hanging so far out of his mouth it's about to fall out.

his face reddens the longer you keep eye contact for, and you can't hear anything aside from your own heartbeat echoing in your ears.

tsubaki is the first one to notice, and he nudges sakura, who's sitting next to him, which causes a domino effect of everyone enjoying their first row seats of kaji falling for someone in real time.

you shake your head, startled out of your little moment when you hear someone's head slam against the table. sakura, unable to handle the tension, just had to look away into the one direction he surely wouldn't be able to see a thing.

utterly horrified, your heart beating out of your chest, you hurriedly apologize, "i'm so sorry! enjoy your food!" before you scurry off behind the counter. as far away from the table as you can get without getting in trouble.

meanwhile kaji's gaze follows you the entire time, basically burning holes into your back. face as pink as his strawberry lolipop, he barely acknowledges the teasing from his friends. instead, he turns to them, "i know her. couple of guys were bothering her a while back. she ran off before i could say anything, though."

"well, it seems you stuck in her mind~" tsubakino sighs dreamily, "she's real pretty too, and clearly into you! go on, go up to her!"

kaji's shoulders rush up to his reddened ears. he looks away, frowning. he still glances up at you, before he looks away again. you look really cute in that apron.

amongst grins and laughs at kaji's predicament, the others dig in to their food, while his gaze just keeps coming back to your flustered self. he's not good at talking to women, especially the cute ones. had he not been that much a loser at speaking, he would've stopped you from leaving that night, just so he could walk you home and personally make sure you got home safe.

maybe i can do that tonight, he thinks. the sky outside is slowly turning from orange to pink, and pothos closes after it's already dark. how can he ask, though? you're clearly avoiding them, just like you did the day prior when he and a few others saw you and kotoha outside. he only got a glimpse of the back of your head that time.

the sound of your laughter makes him look up again. you're giggling about something kotoha said to you, and while he definitely thinks you look cute while startled and shy, you're truly at your prettiest when you smile.

he can feel his heartbeat spike, he'll have to figure out a way to do that soon.

‘What a load of bullshit.’

You felt your eye twitch as you stared at your phone. 

Lollipop Thief 🍭

I may or may not have jumped into the water.

May or may not need a change of clothes.

9:43 am

Headache No. 1🎙️

Say sike rn.

9:45 am 

Lollipop Thief 🍭

Riso escaped again.

She jumped in.

9:45 am

Headache No. 1🎙️

Nahhhh

You got that chief 

Read 9:46 am

A pause.

Three dots appear.

Disappear.

Reappear.

Lollipop Thief 🍭

Please

9:47 am

You stare at the message longer than you should. Your thumbs hover over the keyboard. You already know you’ve lost.

Headache No. 1🎙️

…send me your location. 

Read 9:56 am 

Warmth lingered on your cheeks as you walked; the little GPS arrow marched forward with more confidence than you felt. You were only a few minutes away, but your thoughts wouldn’t settle, buzzing as you glanced down at the chat again. For the fourth time, you reread the same short exchange, as if seeing it one more time might somehow dull the way it made your chest tighten.  

He asked, and you went. Of course you did. You always do. 

It’s almost embarrassing how natural it feels — like slipping into an old rhythm you never quite outgrew. Late nights spent half studying and half arguing over stupid things. Scraped knees you patched up without thinking. Errands you pretended were inconveniences even though you never said no. And the quiet moments… the ones where you stayed, even when silence felt louder than words. 

You’d spent almost a year insisting it was nothing. That never meant more than the moment itself. 

But the lie had worn thin. 

“God damn it.” 

Your fingers curled into the hem of your shirt, tightening until the fabric wrinkled between your fists. You pulled in a slow breath — too slow — holding it like maybe you could trap the feeling before it crawled any higher in your chest. When you finally let it out, the air shook on the way past your lips. 

You wished you hadn’t noticed. 

“It’s just him,” you muttered, as if saying it out loud would make it come true. “It’s just Kaji.” 

But the way your heart reacted betrayed you long before the words left your mouth.  

The feeling in your chest catches you off guard — a tight, flickering awareness that shouldn’t be there. The warmth rising on your neck doesn’t help. You steady your breathing, focusing on the slow count in your head while the map on your phone keeps guiding you, as if this is just another walk. 

A few minutes pass in a blur of sidewalk cracks, distant traffic, and the steady rhythm of your footsteps.  

What are you worried about? At the end of the day, all you’re doing is bringing him a change of clothes, dropping them off, and heading back out. Simple. Clean. Controlled. A task so straightforward it barely deserves a second thought — and certainly not the whirlwind your nerves are trying to create. 

You keep telling yourself there’s nothing to freak out about, but the thought barely holds together as you turn the corner. Your backpack tugs at your shoulder, the strap digging in just enough to make you hesitate, like even your bag knows you’re not ready for whatever’s waiting. 

And then you see him. 

Kaji is sitting on the curb, completely unbothered and somehow looking like the universe has personally ruined his morning. His hoodie and uniform top are tossed beside him in a sad, soggy heap. A towel hangs around his neck, dripping steadily onto the concrete. His hair is plastered to his forehead and temples, still soaked, like he just walked out of a storm he didn’t remember stepping into. 

His jeans are dark and clingy from the water, his shoes look done with life, and he’s sitting there with this heavy, tired presence that makes the rest of the street blur out. It hits you all at once—how ridiculous the sight is. 

‘He looks like a grumpy cat after a bath.’ You snickered at the thought. 

Sakura spots you next. His eyes narrow as he leans forward slightly, muttering, “Who is that?”  

He turns back just in time to see you approaching Kaji, dropping into a crouch beside him with the kind of ease that says you’ve done this more times than anyone realizes. 

Nirei brightens immediately, practically vibrating with excitement as he flips open the ever‑present notebook in his hands, pages fluttering from how fast he’s searching. “Oh! You’re gonna want to know this,” he announces a little too loudly. “That’s Hiragi [name]. Her brother is one of the Four Heavenly Kings. And—listen to this—she and Kaji? They’ve known each other since childhood!” 

Suo gives a small, thoughtful hum. “If you think about it, that technically makes her a princess.” His gaze never leaves Sakura’s face, watching the color climb up his ears. 

Princess. 

The word lodged itself in Sakura’s mind with far more force than it deserved. His gaze snapped back to you as if he needed to double‑check the logic of it. You didn’t look like a princess. There was no distance around you, no cool refinement, no invisible barrier that separated you from the people around you. You were crouched on the pavement in front of a drenched delinquent; your brow furrowed at him like this was just another one of his usual disasters. 

Heat climbed up Sakura’s ears. 

It wasn’t just that you were close. It was how naturally you leaned toward Kaji, how comfortable the space between you seemed. Too comfortable. And the fact that Kaji didn’t shift away—not even a little—only made something twist sharply in Sakura’s chest. 

‘How is he not bothered by this?’ 

Suo caught every flicker of emotion crossing Sakura’s face: realization, confusion, and the beginnings of a panic he was clearly trying to hide. The corner of Suo’s mouth quirked upward. 

‘His affection meter is off the charts.’ 

Nirei, meanwhile, edged forward like he couldn’t help himself. “She also works at Café Pothos part-time,” he whispered, as if he were sharing a classified secret. 

“Shut up,” Sakura m, though the words came out softer than he intended. 

You didn’t notice any of it. Your focus stayed fixed on Kaji. 

“Kaji,” you said, voice steady. “What did we just talk about?” You shifted a little closer, your backpack slipping off your shoulder as you settled in. Everything else around Kaji seemed to fade, leaving only the two of you in sharp, quiet clarity. 

Kaji rubbed the back of his neck with a rough sigh. “It won’t happen again.” A sniff, then an unguarded sneeze. “I promise.” 

The street noise dulled further, the air tightening around the moment. Kaji didn’t fully understand why this always happened, but he recognized the pattern—how your presence seemed to turn the world down a few notches and pull his attention into a tighter focus, whether he liked it or not. 

“Alright,” you said gently. 

You unzipped your bag, the soft sound slicing through the stunned silence. Neatly folded clothes emerged, and you placed them in his lap with practiced care. 

“Here. Don’t you dare get sick.” 

“Yeah, yeah.” 

Only then did you glance at the three boys, all staring like their brains had collectively short‑circuited. You gave a small, casual wave, unbothered. 

“Teaching them the ropes?” 

“Yeah,” Kaji answered, tugging the dry hoodie over his head. The fabric swallowed the dampness as it settled on him. “They still have a lot of work to do.” 

The sleeves slipped over his hands. He didn’t bother adjusting them. 

You leaned back with a grin. “Aww. Look at you being a proper upperclassman. I’m proud of you.” 

Color flared across Kaji’s cheeks, racing the tips of his ears before he ducked into his collar. 

“Cut it out,” he muttered, harsher than he meant. “You’re being a moron.” 

You only rolled your eyes and stood, brushing off your pants before offering him your hand. 

“Come on. Off you go on patrol.” 

He took your hand without hesitation, letting you pull him to his feet. The warmth of his palm lingered—more than it should have, considering he’d been soaked moments ago—rough with calluses, yet gentle where his fingers curled around yours. 

For one suspended heartbeat, neither of you moved. And then he shifted, standing fully, and the contact broke far too quickly. 

You swallowed hard, trying to smother the flutter climbing up your throat before it could reach your face. You swung your bag across your chest like a shield, hoping it hid even a fraction of what you were feeling. 

“See ya later.” 

“Later.”  

You didn’t make it very far. 

The moment you turned the corner — out of his line of sight, out from under all those watching eyes — whatever fragile composure you’d been holding onto finally gave way. You managed a few more steps on autopilot before your back hit the nearest wall, the impact soft but enough to jolt the breath from your chest. 

You slid down until you were crouched on the pavement; elbows braced on your knees, face buried in your hands. 

Your heart, quiet just seconds ago, suddenly decided to come back online at full volume. It slammed against your ribs in uneven bursts, like it had been politely waiting for privacy before completely losing it. 

A groan escaped into your palms. “Why am I like this…” 

But your brain wasn’t asking questions. 

The moment replayed itself — stubbornly, vividly. 

You squeezed your eyes shut. 

It was a bad idea. Because your traitorous brain kept going. 

It ran with it, tripping over itself to replay every detail you were trying so hard to ignore. The moment looped in your mind with embarrassing clarity: the way he looked at you, the way everything else around you had blurred, the way your pulse had absolutely refused to behave. 

You let out a strangled noise and jolted forward, knocking your forehead lightly against your knees. “Nope. No, no, no. Stop right there.” 

You scrubbed your hands down your face as you could physically erase the thoughts before they got any louder. Your skin felt warm, your ears warmer, and none of it showed any sign of calming down. 

You stayed curled there for a few more seconds, breathing slowly through your nose, trying — and failing — to will your pulse into something resembling normal. Instead, it only seemed to spark more restless energy under your skin, the kind that made you feel like you couldn’t sit still inside your own body. 

Another groan slipped out, quieter this time. You needed an outlet. Something safe. Something that wouldn’t judge you for spiraling this hard over something so small. 

Your journal. 

Just thinking about it steadied your thoughts a fraction. It was the only place you could dump everything without worrying about how ridiculous you sounded. No teasing. No questions. No expectations. Just pages that would hold whatever you spilled into them. 

And right now, you needed that more than anything. 

Pushing yourself to your feet, nearly tripping over your own shoes in your haste. Your bag strap slid as you adjusted it, fingers fumbling while you hurried the rest of the way home. 

By the time you reached your door, your thoughts were practically vibrating. 

You shoved it open, slipped inside, and kicked it shut behind you with your heel. Your shoes were off in seconds — one landing somewhere near the couch, the other… you’d find later. 

Your bag hit your desk chair with a dull thud as you made a beeline for your bed. 

Your journal sat exactly where you left it. 

Thick. Worn. Pages stuffed with sticky notes, pressed flowers, messy confessions you’d never let another soul read. 

You grabbed it like a lifeline and flopped onto your stomach, flipping it open to the first blank page you could find. 

Your pen hovered for half a heartbeat. 

Then the dam broke. 

Ink spilled across the page in hurried strokes. It was messy, crowded, tripping over themselves trying to keep up with your thoughts. 

About his hand. 

About the warmth. 

About how unfair it was that he got flustered when you teased him, but somehow you were the one hiding against the walls five minutes later. 

You paused only once, the pen hovering again as your face heated. 

“…and I am not writing about the shirtless thing,” you whispered to yourself.  

A beat passed.  

Your pen lowered anyway, squeezing a single line between two sentences, smaller and cramped like it wouldn’t count if it barely existed. You gave a small, decisive nod and went to flip the page so you could continue emptying the rest of your spiraling thoughts, only for the paper not to move. 

You blinked, lifted the cover slightly, and found the inside of the back cover. The last page. You stared at it for a long second before slamming the journal shut and burying your face into your pillow with a muffled groan. 

"That big stupid oaf!"

And as expected, there sat Umemiya sitting on a wooden tool offered by the shopkeeper, an elderly woman tending to the cuts on his knuckles.

"Umimeya Hajime you're a dead man!" You said through gritted teeth, staring right into his eyes. The leader of Bofurin stood at attention at his now-furious-but-still-cute girlfriend's words.

"Yes ma'am!" He shouted.

Striding towards him, you hit him hard on the head. You didn't show it on your face but your knuckles did hurt a little. But the man took the hit without a sound, back straight.

"Haven't I told you not to get into pointless fights? And if you do, to let me know?"

"Yes ma'am, you have!"

You rub your temples, the townsfolk including your lover's underclassmen, watching the scene with a smile. Everyone except the new transfer-in student, Sakura.

"Then why did Hiragi inform me?"

Umemiya's face scrunched up in anticipation of another hit which never came. "I'm sorry, ma'am!"

You breathe out a deep sigh, shaking your head before pulling him for a hug, wrapping your hands around his body, Umemiya smiles to himself. His girlfriend's fury has finally settled.

Grinning like an idiot, he smiles, wrapping his buff arms around your smaller frame, resting his head atop your head. "Sorry, baby."

You pout, pulling on his cheek. "You really are a big stupid oaf."

Pulling him to where he was originally sitting, you take the first aid kit from the lady, kneeling down before him, cleaning his busted knuckles.

"It's amazing how she can bring out such a side to the leader of Bofurin," Suo chuckles. Nirei was writing everything that was happening into his small notebook with absolute dedication.

Sakura looks between his vice captains, his romance-meter blush yet to come. "W-what? Who's she?"

"His girlfriend, you stupid brat!" Informed Hiragi.

Sakura's face flushed deep red. If anyone looked hard enough, they would be able to see steam coming out from his head. "G-Girlfriend?!"

Suo laughs, finding his grade captain's reaction to romance to always be a treat.

"Hiragi. I'm gonna take this stupid oaf back home. You can manage the rest, right?" You asked Hiragi, holding a grinning Umemiya who resembled a lot like a kid being content after getting their favourite candy.

"Yeah, sure! See you around, Y/n."

"Bye kids. My wife is here to pick me," Umemiya said to Sakura's group.

Trying your best to hide the blush that crept up your cheeks, you smiled at the blushing Sakura. "You must be Sakura, right? The new one in town?" You smiled at the boy. "Hmm? What's wrong, your face is red!"

Suo rests a hand on his grade captian's shoulder, smiling brightly. "He's just a bit...overwhelmed."

Nirei bowed lowly. "Nice to see you, Y/n-san!"

"You're always such a sweetheart, Nirei. Anyways, I'll take your oaf a leader home," you roll your eyes with a smile. "Come around sometime, Sakura. It's always nice to meet new members and bring along your friends too!"

The three first-years stood watching, their leaders' whine wafting through the air. "'Sweetheart?' I thought i was the only one?!"

"I'm going to kill you, Hajime!"

"I love you too, wifey!" Beamed Umemiya.

You and Umemiya had been together for a while. You both adored each other, tender kisses and lingering touches were commonplace in your relationship. You had met Kotoha, and the others at the group home and have been attached to his side for almost a year. He wasn’t sure what was holding him back from saying those three little words. Perhaps it was his past, he had lost those who he had nearest and dearest to his heart. Their end unraveled right before his very eyes. Umemiya had so much love to give, and so many people he loved to give it to.

But often, he found it next to impossible to let the words slip past his lips. Instead, he showed his love in different ways. Bringing Kotoha patrons and supplying her with crops from his garden for her restaurant. A warming smile and a promise that Bofurin’s big brother would keep his found family safe. Always the first to offer a listening ear or a shoulder when needed. But never those words. Three short words, one syllable each. He knew he could say them but something deep down was stopping him. An irrational fear that if he had, the one he said it to would go too.

That was before he met you. Umemiya hid his darkness well. A well-placed smile and a childish affect cleared the thought anyone could ever have that the feelings he buried so deep even could exist within him. One you found easily. The light you had brought into his world shone brighter than any darkness that could ever threaten to shroud him. The warmth that settled in his chest when you looked his way. His laughter more genuine since you had come into his life. He knew from the moment he had met you, the moment he had first lost himself in your eyes, that they were the eyes he wanted to get lost in every day for the rest of his life. So why, even after all this time could he not say he loved you?

You had always joked that you had a grey thumb, unable to grow anything and that you were fortunate enough to have his abilities for gardening. One of the things he loved most about you was the amount of effort you put into his interests. He was coming up to the rooftop, it was late summer and he was excited to see what was ready to harvest. He was surprised to hear your voice, looking around the corner he saw you watering the plants. Just as he had shown you how to. “You're looking beautiful today, growing nice and big and strong.” You sighed, feeling ridiculous, shaking your head. You jumped, nearly out of your skin hearing Umemiya’s giggles. “Sunflower what are you doing?” He said between peals of laughter

“I read online that talking to the plants could help them grow, I don’t know how well it’ll work.” You sigh shaking your head feeling a little silly. However, Umemiya’s heart was soaring, you had taken it upon yourself not only to express interest in something important to him but to go out of your way to care for it even when out of his presence. His eyes softened, cupping your cheek he leaned down to slot his lips against yours. The embrace was gentle, lips molding together as if they were only made to be with the other. He parted from you after a moment, breaths fanning against your lips as he spoke. “I love you, my sunflower.” He smiled against your mouth as he kissed you once more, knowing no matter what came next he would be by your side until he drew his last breath.

Tsubaki had only felt comfortable in his own skin in recent years. Having spent so long conflicted with himself regarding his appearance. He was so fortunate that for those who didn’t support his choice in his appearance, he had so many who were right there by his side, rooting him on. But it wasn’t always like that. For longer than Tsubaki cares to remember he was all alone. Forced to walk his path in constant fear of ridicule. He was teaching himself to fight to protect himself from those who would try and hurt him on the sole premise of being true to himself. Those days felt like a lifetime ago. Because now he had Bofurin, because now he had you.

Tsubaki couldn’t forget the first time you had both met even if he tried. He was just starting to dress more feminine, his hair an awkward shoulder length. Still learning how to apply makeup. There were a few boys from his grade who were taunting him, calling him names, and throwing things in his direction. Normally he would have stood his ground, beating them to a pulp for what they were doing. But Tsubaki was tired, tired of having to defend himself, tired of having to be so strong just to live as he chose to. How he felt most beautiful. He wasn’t that strong by choice, he was strong because he had to be. Because Tsubaki had to be stronger than their ignorance. Tears welled up in his vision at their harsh words, about to get up and defend himself once more.

Before he could get to his feet, however, he heard a voice call out, capturing the attention of his assailants. Stood there was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, delicate features enhanced by the soft cosmetics that had adorned your face. He watched with wide-eyed fascination as you ran up, the closed fist of your manicured hand coming into contact with their leader’s jaw, sending him to the ground upon impact. Tsubaki couldn’t move, he watched, frozen as you gracefully fought the group that had been trying to bring him harm. Tsubaki was strong, and more than capable of handling them on his own, but in that moment he learned that he didn’t have to. He didn’t have to fight his battles alone anymore, because now he had you.

He remembered stumbling over his own name when you had asked for it, cheeks a dark shade of red when you smiled at him. He remembered the way your hand had felt in his grasp for the first time as you dragged him back to your house to get cleaned up. Humming as you wiped the dirt from his cheeks, in a very similar manner as you were doing right now. He lay in your bed, your thighs straddling his waist as you hummed, swiping the brush along his cheek, applying the peachy blush you said paired so well with his complexion. You paused in your humming meeting his eyes that gazed up into yours with adoration, giggling softly. “Welcome back, that was some daze you were in. What’s on your mind gorgeous?”

Tsubaki’s cheeks flushed deeper than the powder that painted his skin. Tucking your hair behind your ear, you sent him a smile, soft and full of tenderness. Tsubaki wasn’t sure he believed in love at first sight, but he knew from the moment he met you that he loved you, and over time that love had only grown. Reaching up a hand, thumb swiping your cheek as he returned your loving gaze. “Just thinking about how much I love you, that’s all beautiful.”

Haruka wasn’t familiar with love. Often times he found it nearly impossible to express his feelings. Before coming here, even something as simple as kindness was a foreign concept to him. Being so often judged upon first glance he never got the opportunity to even try to build relationships. So after a while he had given up trying, That was before he came here. Before he was welcomed in with open arms. Before he found the only place he felt like he truly belonged. But you. You had opened up his world to so much more. You showed him what love could feel like, An emotion he never thought he could ever feel let alone have bestowed upon him.

You were much more open with your love, taking care of him when he got sick after a fight, making sure he was eating and taking care of himself. You had teased him relentlessly when you first met. Adoring the deep flush in his cheeks and the reactions you could pull so easily from him. Eventually, that teasing morphed into affection, which blossomed into love. You still had a habit of teasing him, but it was never ill-mannered always coupled with your beautiful laughter. And if he got to hear that beautiful sound bubbling past your lips, he would deal with the heat that graced his cheeks and the pounding in his chest.

You both had been together for quite some time, well past the point of the outbursts you had first been met with when openly showing your affection. Long past the point where he would feel the urge to run for the hills the second you called him one of the plethora of pet names you had bestowed upon him. But he still struggled to verbalize his feelings for you. He knew you were well aware of his feelings toward you. What he couldn’t express through words he showed through his actions. He was eternally grateful to your seemingly unending patience with him. Being well aware of his past you knew he would say it when he was ready. It wasn’t as if he had never said it before, but those times were when you were fast asleep next to him. His fingers carded through your hair as he gazed upon your relaxed features, whispering those three words in the silence of night. But as you lay here in his arms, looking up at him with those beautiful eyes of yours he knew that he needed you to hear how he felt. Not just feel it. Leaning down he brushes his lips against your own, lips slotting together like two puzzle pieces, perfectly fit to one another.

His eyes are soft with fondness as you pull away from the kiss, head tilting to lean into the touch of your hand. His eyes locked with yours, lidded with adoration. His lips melting against yours, arms encircling your waist. He hums thoughtfully against your lips. His heart felt warm, pulling away he looked into your eyes, a soft smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “You know, I sit and I think to myself sometimes ‘god I can never love you more than I do right now’ and you consistently test that theory by making me fall more in love with you every day.” His heart raced in his chest, never the best at expressing his emotions, but in this moment Sakura needed to tell you how he felt. Never one to back down, despite being able to hear his heart racing in his ears as he continued to speak.  “Your smile still makes my heart pound, your laugh still makes my head feel fuzzy, and your kisses still make me feel like I’m floating. I love you so much.”

He gives you a soft smile pulling you close once more to kiss your lips, hand now coming to rest at the back of your neck to keep you in place as his lips meld with yours once more. Before moving here Sakura could confidently say that he had never felt at home anywhere. He was alone, perfectly fine never planting roots, he had believed it would always be that way. What he didn’t realize was that home was more than where you returned to at the end of the day. It would be something he found in you. Because his home was right here, in your arms. His home was you.

Suo hummed to himself, walking through the isles of the florist, perusing the flowers. He had made it a habit from your first date to always have fresh flowers for you, showcasing their beauty that in his eyes was rivaled only by your own. When he had presented you with the first bouquet, you had scrunched up your nose reporting to not understand the purpose of a gift that would eventually die. From that moment he decided he would always have fresh flowers to decorate your space. Showing you that their beauty may be temporary but the flora could hold deeper meaning.

He was fascinated by the symbolism of flowers. But he very specifically took delicate care in every single flower that was showcased in a bouquet he arranged for you. For a man like Suo, someone who never showed a crack in his armor, never showing his true feelings often relied on subtle ways to show his love. The first flower he had selected for the bouquet were violets, their heart-shaped petals reflecting their meaning of everlasting love and devotion. Historically a gift of violets was a declaration to always be true. These flowers were common amongst the arrangements he curated with their placement, a promise to offer you the same. The next flower to join the arrangement followed a similar sentiment. Representing strength and love was the gladiolus. It was once believed that the beauty of the gladiolus could pierce another’s heart with love, the same could be said for the way you had done to him. Their purple hue paired nicely with the violets, the color symbolizing the beauty in the love you shared. The flowers to follow would showcase similar significance. Baby’s breath for undying love, calla lilies for beauty, and pink camellias for longing.

Suo was always deliberate in each flower he chose for you, choosing to convey his emotion through the meaning behind each flower he placed delicately in the arrangement. Smiling to himself, satisfied with the selection he had chosen. Sitting at his table as he placed them in their wrapping, being sure to pluck one from the bunch, placing it in a vase so when it began to wilt he would know it was time to gift you a new arrangement. Once he was satisfied, he set off to your apartment, knocking on the door. His signature smile graced his handsome features as he took you in. “Hello there beautiful, I have something for you.”

You smiled at Suo, taking the flowers from his grasp, and replacing the old arrangement with his assistance. You were very aware of Suo’s knowledge of flora, he would often tell you the meanings they held while out together. So much so that you began to look into it yourself. Taking what you knew of the flowers now to assess the arrangement. Eyes soft as you turned to your boyfriend. Hand curling around the back of his neck to pull him down to your level, lips brushing against his. The both of you melted into the tender kiss, your other hand coming to cup his cheek as his found purchase on your waist. Pulling away, you pressed your forehead against his looking into the rich auburn of his visible eye. “I love you too, Haya.” Your words were met with his gentle laughter. Taking one of your hands in his own, his lips brushing against your knuckles. “I love you, more than words could ever express, my sweet baby.”

Suo smiled looking down at you, knowing each flower he had plucked from your bouquets had been dried and coated. Keeping a memento of how despite your initial feelings on the gift, even flowers that have died could still be enjoyed. Those flowers were placed in a special place, kept safe. One day he planned to have the dried flowers arranged into their own bouquet. One he would present you alongside a ring, a promise to love you until the very last one died, knowing these flowers never would.

Suo's eyebrows lifted in surprise, his eye changed. He seems taken aback by your unexpected answer.

"Me? Specifically, what do you want from me?" His head is tilted to the side and his smiling face is back on his facade again.

"I want hugs and kisses . . . and cuddles! From you. I want to snuggle up with you." You're already imagining your reward but you haven't even sat down at your desk not even open up a book!

Suo gives out a light chuckle. It would be a lie if he said he didn't melt from your request and felt suffocating, but in a good way, his heart became. He's just good at keeping a normal composure all throughout the day.

"You really are charming in your own way," he says. "Okay! But only if you study for at least one hour. Then you get what you want for the rest of the day."

Your face immediately lights up when you hear "the rest of the day". You thought that he might be a little more mean, something like saying cuddles and kisses are for your 5 minute breaks, or you have to recall to him what you learnt. But maybe you're just wrong for today? Or maybe he's feeling generous? Or maybe he's giving you a chance? Or maybe it was really just a wrong intuition?

Whatever it is, it made you feel motivated now to study. If you start now, you get more time with him. And so you do.

Suo checks in on you from time to time to make sure you're comfortable but not comfortable enough to accidentally fall asleep. He'll send you tea or snacks but never disturbed you. But, he was actually a little mean. You thought you were going to get a kiss or at least a head pat when he came to your room when sending those food to you, but he didn't. He didn't even touch you!

He really wants you to savour it so your reward will be worth while, that's all.

After an hour, as promised, he came back to your room and told you you can claim your reward now.

"Wait, let me finish this chapter real quick."

He smiles at this. That's why he tells you to study for one hour because he knows you'll start to be so focused on it that you don't even realize your surroundings. And seems like you almost forgot that feeling of wanting to be enveloped by a larger body.

However, he was a little sad to hear that you want to study more. He was actually looking forward to giving you cuddles too.

And finally, after another 30 minutes, you're finished. You closed up everything—your book, your notes, your laptop—got up from your chair, do a little stretch before turning to him and he's already standing near your bed, waiting for you. Just the sight of him makes those feelings earlier before starting to study rush back into you, especially when he reaches out a hand for you and that damn, sweet smile playing on his lips.

You pretty much dive right into his arms and Suo gave you the best hugs, kisses, cuddles and snuggles because you deserved it and he is proud of you.

SAKURA HARUKA

"But I don't wanna study!!" You whine while sprawled on the floor, kind of throwing a tantrum.

"Then don't study if you don't want to!" He retorts, his voice shows annoyance but he's not even annoyed the slightest.

"But I have to . . ."

"Fine, then what do you want after you study? I'll try and get it for you," he suggests while rubbing the back of his neck, his ears are turning red. Obviously, he mumbles the last part but you still hear it.

It surprises you to hear that, especially coming from him. It gets you excited to start studying. You hummed while making a decision for your prize later.

You don't exactly want anything from him but you do know one thing, or two, that you want but you know he might be hesitant about this.

"You."

Oh boy. You know he was going to get flustered but you didn't expect him to yell out a "HAAAA????!" that makes the roof shake.

"Wh—what the hell do you mean by that?!!!"

"I want you, Haruka," you say in a matter-of-fact tone, like it was an obvious answer—which it is. "I want you to hold me after. Is that okay?"

How could he say no to that? How could he say no to your pity face, puppy eyes, raised eyebrows and concerned voice? Gosh, he would hit himself and regret for the rest of his life if he said no.

He grumbles under his breath and in the smallest, tiniest voice he could muster, he said, "sure, whatever."

And you guessed it, with a burning red face.

You were so happy you almost wanted to hug him right then and there but you held back. And so, you open up your books and whatever that makes you focus and drown out your surroundings, and start studying while Sakura waits nearby while mentally—and physically—preparing himself for your reward. He'd say the biggest lie if he said he wasn't nervous!

Maybe he should've said no, maybe he shouldn't have accepted just because he wanted to get close to you, he wanted to be selfish, he wanted to feel another person's warmth, your warmth. But if he did say no, he'd probably make a mistake, you'd probably get sad, or mad, or even upset at him for taking back his words. Who wouldn't? You probably think he's a weirdo for accepting something like that so easily. Maybe he should've—

"Haruka?"

The voice in his head immediately stopped going a mile a minute once he heard your soft yet concerned voice.

"I've been calling for you for the past minute. Are you alright? It's already been an hour."

He looked at your face and he wasn't sure. Why do you look so . . . ? Can he feel this way towards you? Can he even think you're worried about him?

"We don't have to do that reward thing if you don't want that. I'll think of something else."

"No!" He said almost too immediately, too desperately. "I-I mean, no. You don't have to change it. It's something you want after all." His eyes are looking everywhere but you.

It's cute.

"Really? Are you sure?" You ask once again, just to get a hundred percent clarification. You don't want to do something only one person enjoys. You want the both of you to feel that joy.

"Tch, yes, I'm sure! After all . . . it's not only you who wants it."

He doesn't know how you can still hear him but somehow, when it comes to things like this, you suddenly have very sharp hearing.

You immediately dive into his arms and lap and snuggle up into his chest. Yes, you know it's a little too sudden for him, but you couldn't hold back the burst in your heart from how cute he was expressing his true feelings.

You can definitely hear his heartbeat thumping loudly and rapidly off his chest but you didn't mind that. You just prayed that he doesn't faint or anything. He's such a strong guy but a soft boy on the inside.

After he cleared his head a little, you feel arms wrapped around your body and immediately you melt in, if possible.

Maybe . . . he never should have said no.