Trash Heap Prompts

"Nee-chan, you're the best!" he shouts over his shoulder as he gobbles down half of his cotton candy in one bite. "Today's been lots and lots and lots of fun!"

"Hehe, I'm glad," she says with a laugh. It was a good idea to take him to carnival - she wasn't sure if she could bear to see him so glum and forlorn for much longer. As long as his smile is back, she's happy.

They pass by a stand hosting some kind of target hitting game. Kids are already there with wooden paddles, trying to hit a ball into the targets displayed behind the counter. Kintaro gobbles down the rest of his takoyaki.

"I wanna play!" He gives her a grin and a thumbs up. "I'm gonna win the biggest prize just for you!"

"E-eh? Me?"

He was already in front of the stand, and didn't hear her. "Excuse me!" Kintaro calls to the host. "I wanna get the biggest prize!"

The host hands him a ball and a paddle. "Here ya go, then. You gotta hit the middle target perfectly if you wanna get the big plush, got it? Good lu--"

Blam!

The tiny bullseye sitting in the middle of the other targets is now a perfect, smoking circular hole. Kintaro whoops with delight, leaps up and plucks the fat stuffed dragon hanging just above the host, who is standing frozen and agape. The red-headed rookie runs back, holding the prize above his head.

"This is for you, Nee-chan, hehehe!"

"K-Kin-chan..." Gently, she takes the squishy dragon doll from him, surprised at his generosity. She becomes even more shocked when he hugs her from the side.

"You're the best nee-chan ever," he says happily. "Thanks for taking me out today. I'm feeling better now."

"Aren’t you being affectionate today…" Yukimura murmurs.

Sanada stops suckling Yukimura's collarbone for a moment. “I really need you right now,” he growls in a low voice.

Yukimura smiles. “We have time.”

The two had sat in the woods and talked, learning more about each other, and realizing they were hearing a reflection of their own story, their own fears and sadnesses. After the conversation petered out into a somber silence, Lucina began to speak again, but her voice was more quiet this time.

"Noel," she said tightly. "I’m sorry."

"Huh? What for?"

She hugged her knees tightly. “I… I always had this thought that I had the most unimaginable burden. That there was no one who could understand the desperate times that me and my comrades had to go through. But at least I had friends with me, to encourage me along the hard journey. Yet Noel, you were all alone. I feel terrible for being so self-piteous before now.”

To her surprise, Noel was laughing softly. “You sound just like Serah,” he said with a sad smile. Was that just her imagination, or did his voice waver a little? He continued, “She was always worried about being too selfish, and always put everyone before herself.”

Noel let out a breathy sigh and ran a hand through his hair. “Let me tell you this. Whatever pain you felt, well, it’s your pain. Whether someone had it worse than you or not doesn’t matter, because it still hurt anyway, right?”

When Lucina looked away, Noel couldn’t help but give her a good-natured pat on the head. She turned to him in surprise at the sudden contact. “Wh-what was that for?” she asked.

"Oh, uh… I wasn’t sure what else to do to make you feel better." The hunter scratched his head sheepishly. Lucina couldn’t help but giggle at his sudden awkwardness, especially after how sure and serious he sounded just moments before.

Shiraishi and Kenya read at own risk lol

"Haise...you need me." whispers a gentle voice that is also full of murderous intent. I find myself lying on a black floor surrounded by darkness. Sounds of an approaching shadow rings through the empty room.

"I need you." The voice whispers again, this time closer. I quickly picked my body off the ground and started to slowly walk away.

"So, let me get this straight," Ai says. "You want me to help you with watching a documentary?"

Kenya nods. "It's so slow and boring I can't get through it at all, and I need to watch it for class. I end up spinning my pencil and next thing you know I'm not paying attention."

"If that's the case," Ai states in a manner-of-fact tone of voice as if she's saying the obvious. "Then we should tie up your hands so you CAN'T spin your pencil."

Soon enough they have the Speed Star tied to a chair, hands behind him. Kenya mentions that he also taps his feet, which can be distracting, so they tie his legs too. Just as Ai is readjusting the ropes, the door opens.

"Hey, Ai-chan, I---" Yano is cut off when Shiraishi dives forward and quickly covers her eyes and pulls her from the room.

"Sorry to disturb you," he says, bowing his head and shutting the door.

It takes a moment for Kenya and Ai to realize what's wrong.

"H-hold on!"

"Are you okay?" is the first thing he asks when she comes toward him. Ayano gives a start in surprise, which she tries very hard to mask as a regular shiver.

"Ehh? O-of course I am, what makes you ask that?"

"You keep pulling your scarf up over your mouth."

Her hand immediately shoots away from the bright red scarf wrapped around her neck. “Sh-Shintaro…”

Her boyfriend let out a sigh and pushes himself away from the laptop. “You always do that when you’re stressed out…” Reaching up, he gently takes her hand and pulls her down to the floor. She doesn’t resist when he pulls her to sit between his legs, her back nestled warmly against his chest. It’s a comforting position, one that Ayano feels secure in. She smiles softly at the gentle arms wrapping around her waist.

"You’re in luck," Shintaro murmurs into her ear. He reaches around her to grab the headphones on the table and hands them to her. "I just finished arranging that tune you told me to use. Could you listen to it and tell me what you think?"

With a nod, Ayano slips the headphones on and taps the spacebar to play the song. It’s a mellow tune, but the emotion in it is strong. Being wrapped in the simple comforts of love and music is enough for the knot of stress in her stomach to unravel and melt away.

Once the song had ended, Shintaro asks, “So what do you think?”

Ayano leans against him and smiles. “I love you, Shintaro.”

The blow to his chin has left him momentarily reeling and he sits back, blinking in stunned confusion before he realizes what happened. "Hey, what the hell? Why did you hit me?"

You take a moment to catch your breath, holding your unclasped bra in place. "That's now how I want to do it today," you say, taking his hand in yours. "I want to take it slow."

"I always lied about forgetting my gloves, nya~"

"Merry Christmas! I managed to finish this in time to give it to you."

He looks surprised for a moment before he thanks her and wraps part of the scarf around her neck and pulls her to him so that they're both wearing it. She protests that he's too close but he disagrees: "You have to be this close for me to kiss you." Before she can say anything else he gently presses his lips against hers.

Shishido hadn’t anticipated any rain that morning - then again, now was the season of rising from bed earlier than the sun, so early morning darkness was to be expected as he went on his daily run with his dog pattering alongside of him. The first raindrop hit pretty hard, and before he knew it there was a sheet of water covering his field of vision. Cursing, he stumbled towards the nearest shop front to take shelter beneath the roof.

"Shit, this is super lame…" He was already soaked to the bone, but he was more concerned about his precious pet. He knelt down by the golden retriever and patted it. "You okay there pal? The rain soaked you pretty quickly, huh?"

His dog didn’t seem to mind. As if to show this, it gave itself a brisk shake, giving Shishido a face full of dog-water. He sputtered, “G-gah! Hey, what was that for???”

"Woof!"

Shishido’s cell phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket. He took it out, wondering who on earth would want to text him this morning. “Hm…? From Choutaro? What does that guy want?”

"Shishido-san," it read. "I know you go jogging every morning at around this time. It’s pouring rain outside right now, so make sure you wear something waterproof so you don’t get sick."

"Pft, that Choutaro…" He shook his head and put the phone away. "Is he my mother or something? What a worrywart." 

He looked down at his dog, who was looking up at him with wide shining eyes. Shishido shrugged. “What? I’m just stating the truth.”

"Arf! Arf!"

Marui pokes his head into the kitchen and is greeted by a freshly baked cake cooling on a rack, and her wearing an apron, a canister of frosting in her hand.

"Ah, Bunta. I'm baking a cake for Kuwahara-san since he was so gracious to let us stay the weekend."

"For Jackal? Hm...." He pouts as he wraps his arms around her waist.

"What's wrong?"

His chin rests on her shoulder. "No one would like the idea of his scantily clad girlfriend making something for another guy."

"How is a t-shirt and shorts scantily clad?"

"There's nothing underneath." As if to prove his point, his hands slide up her shirt, and she gasps.

"B-Bunta! What if Kuwahara-san comes back?"

"It's alright," he murmurs into her neck as he undoes her apron. "He won't be back for a while. Hm? Maybe we should keep the apron on, actually."

"Bunta!"

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When Kuwahara returns home, his "Tadaima!" is left unanswered. He follows a sweet scent into the kitchen and is greeted by a cake left on the counter.

Suddenly the work phone in your pocket rings. You pull it out and look at the screen which reads "CHECKOUT 3". Shiraishi's till? He's watching you and holding the phone to his ear. It's a quiet night, so he doesn't have any customers in his lineup.

"Yes?" you ask tentatively.

"Bottom shelf, to your left."

You turn, and sure enough, the space where your can of tuna was supposed to go is there. As you put the item away, he continues, "You make such a serious face while you work."

"Do I?"

"Un. It's really cute."