The Misadventures of D(Ani).

Ani was known for her short tempered behaviour and also her somewhat decent self-control. Even the greatest of champions fall to their knees and she wasn’t that great.

She typically didn’t take well to others picking on people, especially when the victim didn’t fight back. That was one of the main things that cut her fuse down to near nothing. She tries, but she doesn’t always succeed.

A sigh passed her lips as she headed home after a tiring Football practice. Usually she’d have her ball tucked under her arm or dribbling at her feet but one of her classmates managed to get it confiscated for the week. Just thinking about it made her rage spark to life once more.

She inhaled and held her breath for a few seconds then exhaled. ‘Keep calm, Uminoya.’ She mumbled to herself as she stopped at a crossroads. Now that she had stopped walking, she was acutely aware of how tired her limbs were.

As her mind began to wander she felt herself be pushed to the side and she hit the traffic pole. 'The fuck?!’ She growled as she turned to glare at whoever bumped her.

'Watch it, bitch.’ A typical grunt, beanie hat, baggy trousers and hands in his pockets. A sneer was set on his face and the other two behind him.

Ani practically hissed at the man, 'Buzz off, you hooligan. You bumped into me.’ She readjusted the strap of her bag as the green man appeared. She made sure to bump past him on purpose.

She reached the other side and stepped into the park just as the streetlights buzzed to life. She heard the numerous footsteps behind her and she turned before ducking a fist aimed at her face.

She rolled her eyes at the guy who tried to punch her. Her anger was rising to a point she wasn’t too fond of. 'Are you seriously going out of your way to punch a high school girl?’ She quipped, realising she didn’t actually care — she was heavily irritated. 'You should find something better to do with your time.’

That set them off. They rushed at her, throwing wild punches that she had no trouble ducking under and pushing aside. The leader backed off as his two goons came at her from both sides.

Her splitsecond thought was to lean toward one and throw him into the other but like a lot of things that happened today, it didn’t go to plan. Ani twisted her body, catching his wrist with her left hand and as she went to tug him off balance she felt the other goon plant his foot into the back of her knee.

Her left leg snapped forwards and she knew at that moment, she fucked up. Her hand let go of the other guy, to brace her impact with the ground. Before she was yanked back up again by the two goons. One holding her by each arm.

She struggled but it only made them latch on tighter. She glared as the leader came back into the light, juggling what appeared to be a glass bottle. 'This is why you don’t fuck with a thug, bitch.’

Maybe it was the situation, or maybe she was losing her mind but she laughed and she laughed hard. 'Are you fucking stupid? 3v1, so drôle. The only bitch here is you.’ She spat and he wasted no time cracking the glass bottle over her head as hard as he could.

It shattered by the neck, a larger portion cutting into the end of her left eyebrow. For a second in her mind, everything seemed to stop. Both her lungs and her heart seized. She wasn’t sure what was happening. The gentle, but constant, flow of blood that trickled out of the cut seemed to bring back hostile memories. She looked up to see the leader move away from her. Had he hit her again? Their mouths were moving but she couldn’t hear what they were saying.

She fell to the ground, her vision bleary. She had realised they had let go of her. They stood over her as she blinked trying to clear her vision and fight off the bad memories that were regurgitating in the back of her mind.

'—talked so much shit yo.’

She could hear them again.

'Talk shit, get fucked.’

She blinked a few more times and her vision started to clear. Her eyes locked onto the leader as her breath returned, he leaned in close. Too close. Her body reacted on instinct alone, her fist making a swift beeline for the side of his jawline and throat. Contact.

He reeled back, unconscious. Ani slowly rolled over onto her stomach while the cries of the goons filled the air. She watched the blood drip to the floor and her hair spill downwards as she forced herself to her feet. Her mind ticked over into revenge mode as she looked over to the two that had their back to her.

She walked over, deciding to return the favour, her foot slammed into the back of the knees of her right target, followed by a fist to the head. He collapsed forwards as the final man turned. Her other fist rocketing into his kidney. He keeled over with a sharp intake of breath.

'Talk shit, get fucked, right?’ She asked rhetorically as she flashed him a fake smile. She picked up her bag, not once turning her back on them, breaking off into a run until she reached another section of the park.

The adrenaline seemed to evaporate from her system and she collapsed by a wall near the exit. She bit the inside of her cheek as the pain and tiredness hit her at once. Her body felt like lead and her conscious felt even more so.

She laughed softly to herself. 'God… why am I like this…?’ Her lip trembled as she felt disappointment alongside other emotions set in. 'I hate this. I hate me. I could have just walked away.’ She scolded herself as her eyes began to water. She folded herself together, bloody forehead resting against her bare knees.

She cried.

*

Volleyball practice had gone on for a little longer than usual and it was Dark out when Asahi left with Noya and Suga. Usually Ani would walk with them but she had dropped him a text saying she was heading straight home from practice because she had a rough day.

Asahi felt worried though. Usually if they went home separately she would text him that she got home safe regardless of her mood. But it had been a clean hour and fifteen minutes since she had sent her text.

Asahi coughed when he felt Suga strike him in the side 'Negative Goatee!’ He yelled, grabbing his attention. Noya laughed at the face he made before his face reverted back to tense from pain. 'Why so serious? Practice is over.’

Asahi shifted on his feet, realising that he had at some point stopped walking since Noya was a little ways ahead. 'It's…’ he stopped, wringing his hands together, wondering if he was just being over dramatic and worrisome. 'Uminoya-san hasn’t let me know that she got home safe is all…’ he trailed off and his face burned red.

Noya laughed again bounding up to his senpai, giving him a gentle elbow to the side 'You like Ani-senpai?’ Asahi’s face hitting a new shade of red. He gently pushed the smaller boy away with one hand while hiding his face away with the other.

The motion caused Suga and Noya to laugh again and begin walking, bringing up a new topic of coversation while the young ace slowly followed behind. The trio eventually reached the street where Noya had to take a different path and gave their hearty (and not so hearty) good nights, before they reached the crossroads.

The red man had just appeared as the two reached the street corner. As they came to a halt another pedestrian brushed past Asahi. He turned to apologise but he was already scurrying off with the arm of his friend thrown over his shoulder.

Asahi looked down at his phone and frowned when he still saw no message. 'You’re really worried, aren’t you?’ Suga asked and Asahi turned his gaze to him. 'Call her.’ Suga spoke, his tone serious, 'If you have a reason to be worried then call her.’

As the words left the setter’s mouth, he found his thumb pressed over the call button. Cars and heavy goods vehicles passed by and the red man changed to green. No answer. He pulled the phone from his ear and shook his head. As they were about to cross, blue flashing lights and a siren advised them against it. The ambulance swerved around the corner and out of sight.

Asahi felt a weight settle in his stomach and prayed he was just over thinking. They crossed safely and walked what was the last stretch before they split. They rounded the corner and their eyes were met with the ambulance once again, and Asahi was reunited with that sinking feeling again as they got closer.

In a brief moment he had hoped that she was at home safe and sound, having forgot to text him before falling asleep. He called again. His heart fell into the sinkhole of worry at the pit of his stomach when he heard the ringtone of her phone sing loud and clear through the bustle of the growing crowd.

His instincts took over and he pushed his way through the crowd. He reached the front and saw her face. Her eyes were red and there was a thick river of red down the left side of her face, that stained her crinkled white shirt. Her lip was busted and bloody too. He called out to her but she didn’t respond.

'Sir, do you know this young lady?’ One of the paramedics asked and he nodded, his words were lost in the shock. 'Would you please accompany her to the hospital, she’ll need need stitches for her eyebrow.’ He informed and Asahi turned back to Suga, who’s face was uncharacteristically serious. The silver haired boy waved him off and Asahi climbed in the back of the vehicle.

*

Asahi tried to talk to Ani, even after the doctors had looked at her eyebrow - having found a few glass shards inside. She laid down and Asahi sat in the chair next to her. Asahi observed her again, in the white light of the hospital. Her face had been cleaned up, the few stitches above her eye were hardly noticeable, her lip was swollen and assumed there was a bruise under the white bandage on her right cheek. He’d also taken in that her hair was down, as she, like himself, rarely ever wore it down - especially during school and sports.

She shifted, and her fingers twitched. She blinked. Once. Twice. Thrice. A sharp intake of breath. Her fingers gripping at the white sheet beneath her as he breathing laboured.

'It’s okay Ani!’ He tried as he leaned forward, she turned away her hair forming a curtain between them.

’D-dont look at me!’ She cried, 'I’m disgusting. Just go away!’ Her breathing got faster.

'Ani, I’m not leaving.’ He responded, his worry giving him the bravery to reach out and touch her hand. She tried to pull away but Asahi held on and she didn’t have the energy to put up a fight.

'I look disgusting. I feel disgusting. Why do I do this to myself…’ she mumbled as she gave up struggling. Asahi loosened his grip and ran his thumb in soft circles in the back of her hand. 'Why do I keep fighting so much?’ He felt her hand tense under his. 'I hate myself for it.’

'Even if you hate yourself for it, it’s still a part of the you I’ve fallen for.’

Her head snapped to face him, her face red and Asahi realised what he said. He let go of her hand and frantically waved it around before using it to hide his red face.

Ani stared incredulously. Starstruck. Her mind repeating his words and her heart skipping a beat every time. Maybe she misheard it. After all, her negative thoughts were loud and, at this point, derailed.

I FINISHED IT! I don’t really do these kinds of things often so I feel pretty proud of it! Dani loves it too <3

I did a thing.