I'm So Done With Seeing And Finding Purely Smut Fics, What Happened To Yearning?? What Happened To Developing

Sealed Secrets

Part 1/?

Synopsis:

Knight!Shinsou x Princess!Reader

A princess, known for her reckless and cheerful nature, and her knight, Shinsou, who is her polar opposite and is stuck always looking out for her safety. There's no way the two could ever get along. Right? However after countless mysterious murders, secrets, and riddles, the princess finds herself being drawn to her knight, and it seems like he's starting to tolerate her too.

Cw: death, fem!reader, slowburn (they hate each other lol), no quirks

Wc: 4.0k

Not beta read!

It was a sunday afternoon when you had just met Archie Wellington, the prince of Solandria. The Wellington family had been visiting your kingdom; your families had decided to have the two of you wed to ensure peace between Solandria and Hortensia after many years of war.

As much as you hated the idea of being wed to a stranger, you had to admit- Archie wasn't all that bad, especially compared to some of your other suitors. He was sweet and most important of all respectful, quite handsome as well; With his sleek blonde hair and dazzling brown eyes that crinkled when he smiled, he had a certain charm. And although it seemed that neither of you wanted a romantic relationship, Archie was most likely your best option for a somewhat happy marriage, you thought.

That was, of course, before the maids had found him dead in the guest room the next morning.

It was a surprise for everyone. Just the evening before the prince was alive and well.

The two royal families were dining together and discussing the upcoming wedding, After multiple generations of war between the kingdoms, the two rulers had agreed to make peace. And since both royal offsprings were approximately the same age, the decision to wed them was made.

Now, you weren’t the royal heir so you knew that you would be “given away” in marriage at some point. Non-heir princesses were often married off to princes, dukes, or other nobles. Since they were not first in line for the throne, their primary role was often seen as forging alliances through marriage.

Of course your brother, the heir, was also expected to marry, but the pressure on him wasn’t as heavy; while marriage was important to produce heirs and secure succession, the crown prince had more freedom, he had more leeway in choosing a spouse who aligns with his personal preferences. In your case, however, you’d be married off to whoever your father saw more fit for the kingdom's political situation.

You hated that fact. It truly wasn’t fair. You didn’t want to marry some stranger, you wanted to fall in love just like in those romance books you loved to read! But clearly that wasn’t going to happen.

Archie was far more pleasant than your other candidates for husband; you liked him, sure, but still, you didn’t love him. In fact, you didn’t even see yourself loving him in the future. He was a decent man, yet he came across as overly proper. His posture was so rigid it seemed as if he had a stick lodged in his back, and his table manners made you feel a bit self-conscious about your own; dear god, what if he was judging your table manners??

He spoke only when addressed and did so with extreme formality. He embodied the very definition of a gentleman. And that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, however he seemed to lack authenticity. It felt as though he had been conditioned by chivalry and etiquette to the point where he no longer could express any thoughts of his own.

Nonetheless, you made every effort to appear polite and gracious throughout the dinner. You were acutely aware of the importance of making a good impression, especially with your mother casting you stern glances that seemed to say, “Don’t mess this up.”

“Your Majesty, please do indulge in some of our finest fish! I know seafood is a rarity in Solandria, so please, help yourself to as much as you like. Our seas yield the world’s best salmon,” your father said cheerfully as the maids set several plates of smoked salmon before the guests. It was evident that he was eager to impress the Solandrian king and queen, who responded with a courteous nod and a smile.

After a few long hours of various dinner courses and the after-dinner music performances- an endeavor your mother insisted upon to impress the guests and showcase your kingdom’s cultural richness- you finally made your way to your chambers.

As much as you loved to indulge in music performances, the constant need to be at your best behaviour had really left you drained.

Thinking back to the performance, it seemed that Prince Archie was quite exhausted as well. His usual rigid posture had softened; he leaned back in his armchair, gripping its edges tightly as the loud music played on. His eyebrows were slightly furrowed and his complexion appeared paler than usual.

Still, he was hiding his discomfort quite well, better than you at least. The only reason you had noticed his unease was because you had been staring at him for the past ten minutes, trying to decide if you were willing to have children with him or not; honestly, with his looks it’d be a shame not to.

It was quite strange that you hadn’t made eye contact yet, given your intense staring.

You let out a sigh, pushing thoughts about your soon-to-be husband from your mind as you prepare for bed. Once nestled beneath the soft covers, you wish your ladymaid goodnight and gradually drift off to sleep.

It was at breakfast when you learned of the unfortunate news: the prince of Solandria had died some time at night. The physician had stated that the cause of death was illness. Of course, the Wellington’s were devastated- their son showed no signs of illness and now he’s suddenly dropped dead. In response to their grievance the physycian only explained that the illness was one of which he’d never seen, and recommended the king impose a quarantine to prevent further deaths until apothecaries and herbalists could discover a remedy.

You feel a chill run down your spine at the thought of an unknown illness sweeping through the kingdom. Not to mention the quarantine. That could mean isolation for everyone, including you and your family. The mere idea filled you with dread; your freedom to step outside the palace was already incredibly limited, and now you might be confined to your room for weeks.

Your father nodded gravely at the physician’s suggestion, his expression serious and contemplative. By that afternoon, a quarantine was officially ordered. Guards would be stationed at every door to ensure no one could leave, and meals would be delivered directly to each family member's quarters.

The Wellingtons announced their intention to depart the following day, instructing that their carriage be prepared by then. It was understandable; their sole purpose for visiting had been to arrange their son’s wedding, and now he was no more. It was no surprise they wished to return home as swiftly as possible.

The whole situation was surreal to you. You were unsure of how to feel. You felt horrible for the prince and his family, of course, but you hadn’t known him that well. Grieving for someone you hardly knew felt strange.

You couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt over your lack of intense sadness and care for the prince. He had been kind to you, he'd never done anything wrong to you, and yet here you were, struggling to feel a deep sense of sorrow for his passing. It wasn't that you didn't care at all, no, you did. But you felt that your reaction should be stronger, given that he was supposed to be your husband.

With a deep sigh, you lie down on your bed, feeling a sense of resignation. No one need know the true extent of your feelings, or lack thereof. You could just act devastated and everything would be fine. It wouldn't matter what you truly felt. Besides, given the quarantine, no would even see you for the next few weeks exept your lady-in-waiting.

The thought of being completely alone for the upcoming weeks was less than appealing. You stood up from the bed, and, hoping to find some distraction, moved briskly to the bookshelf, scanning the spines of books in search of something to cure your boredom.

You selected a book at random, hoping that the pages would provide some much-needed respite.

After what seemed like hours of reading, you just couldn't take it anymore. You needed to get out of here somehow. The maid had just brought you dinner, which you didn’t really feel like eating. In a few hours the maid would return to clear your meal and prepare you for bed. That’s when it struck you: now’s a window of time when no one would check on you, roughly four hours. The guards stationed outside your door offered no means of escape, the window however…

You gently untied the long silk bed sheets from her bedpost, carefully knotting them together into a sturdy rope. Your fingers trembled slightly. Once secure, you looped the makeshift ladder over the windowsill.

Taking a deep breath, you slipped out of her chamber onto the windowsill. The cool night air brushed against your skin as you carefully lowered yourself down, gripping the rope tightly. Below, just within reach, was a large oak tree- its branches sprawling close to the palace wall.

With a final glance back at your room, you began to descend. Once your feet found the first sturdy branch,you slowly eased yourself onto it and untied the knot around your waist.

Halfway down, you paused briefly to listen—no sounds of alarm or footsteps. Heart pounding in your chest, you continued until your feet touched the soft grass outside the palace walls.

You ran towards the hamlet village located just besides the royal palace. You wore one of your simpler dresses, making sure to blend in and not draw too much attention to yourself. This wasn’t your first time here, you had visited the village a number of times before and even sneaked some coins to the struggling families.

The village was a great place, probably your favourite place even. It really held a special place in your heart. Everyone there was so warm and friendly, it was as if the whole village was one big happy family.

Everything was simple there, no need for exquisite table manners or polite facades.

Your favourite part though was when the village would gather and dance around the fire and eat all kinds of goods every evening. It was comforting.

After spending some time participating in the dances and having friendly chit-chats with the villagers, you knew it was time to head back to the palace before your maid discovered your absence. Reluctantly saying farewell, you bid the villagers goodnight and made your way back to the royal residence, hoping to return unnoticed.

All was going well- you were practically in your room as you climbed up the bedsheet-rope. That is until a low "ahem" echoed through the silence, breaking your focus. Startled, you glanced down to find a palace guard standing below, the visor of his helmet hiding his visage, but his head unmistakably tilted in your direction.

“Oh..haha..good evening sir! I was just..taking a breath of fresh air is all..”

The knight seemed unamused with your cheap excuse. His stoic demeanor signaled that your attempt at nonchalance was far from successful.

"Taking a breath of air, were you, your highness?" The guard's voice was flat, laced with a hint of disbelief. "By scaling down the side of the palace wall?"

There was a moment of silence.

“Could you..maybe..perhaps..keep this a secret?” you said weakly, there wasn’t much you could do except beg him.

"And why should I keep this little escapade of yours a secret, my lady? If his royal majesty finds out about this both you and I will get in big trouble. Except for you it would mean a lecture and maybe heightened security, while for me it would mean beheading."

You grimaced at his words, he had every right to rat you out. But maybe you could convince him otherwise..?

“I understand it’s only right for you to report my escape to my father,” you said hurriedly, desperation creeping into your voice. “But I swear, sir- no one saw me. No one will even suspect I was gone for a few hours. If you keep this secret, I could speak well of you to my father. Convince him to elevate you in rank!”

The knight, however, still seemed unconvinced. He crossed his arms and stared up at you silently.

You sighed deeply before looking at him with pleading eyes,

“Just…please..?This is my chance at freedom. I’ll do anything for you to keep silent.”

The guard's stern expression remained hidden behind the visor, betraying no hint of his thoughts.

The weight of his decision seemed heavy on his shoulders, and he continued to stare in silence.

After a moment of quiet contemplation, his stance subtly shifted and his arms uncrossed. Something about your pleas seemed to strike a chord with him.

Then, without a single word, he suddenly turned and walked away briskly.

What?

Your eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

He just… left?

Was that a ‘no’ or a ‘yes’? Did he want something from you? He hadn’t even given his name, so you couldn’t tell your father about him. You were left more puzzled than ever. Still, you quickly climbed through the window and hid away your handmade rope just before the maid knocked on your door.

She entered your room, taking note of your untouched dinner. You were lying on your bed, pretending to read a book.

“No appetite, my lady? I could ask the cook to make you something else, if you wish?”

You simply shook your head. You had stuffed your mouth with all sorts of delicious food at the village. You didn’t think you could handle any more.

“No thank you, Agatha. I’m not really hungry.” you replied, earning a nod from the woman.

That’s how the next few nights unfolded- every evening, the moment your maid dropped off you dinner you would quietly slip out of your window to visit the village. And almost every time, the same guard- Shinsou Hitoshi, as you later learned his name- would catch you again. Each encounter was silent; you would simply nod at each other and then continue on your way.

You were sprawled on the floor when Agatha brought you dinner. In one hand, you held a piece of fabric; in the other, a needle.

“Embroidery? Have you picked up a new hobby, my lady?” she asked curiously, placing the food on your bedside table.

You let out a bitter laugh. “‘Picked up’ is quite an overstatement. The only thing I’ve managed to pick up is this stupid needle, which I cannot for the life of me thread,” you groaned.

“Well, you have plenty of time to learn, princess,” Agatha chuckled softly at your frustration before her expression grew more somber. “It doesn’t seem like the herbalists are close to discovering more about the illness, so you’ll have to stay here a while longer.”

You huffed unhappily at her words.

“Are there no updates whatsoever? Absolutely nothing new?” you asked, sitting up from the floor.

“Many of the pigs have started dying,” she replied grimly. “We’re not quite sure why. I doubt it’s related to the illness, though.”

You sighed quietly before dismissing her.

Your night out went as usual- you had even made some friends at the village through your frequent visits. Dancing, eating, chatting- everything was perfect.

As you were returning home, climbing the rope to your room, your hand suddenly slipped, causing you to lose your grip. You gasped and closed your eyes, bracing for the fall. But it never came. Instead, you felt the cold touch of metal and heard a small grunt.

Your eyes fluttered open to find yourself face-to-face with piercing purple eyes peering at you through the slit of a visor. For a moment, there was only silence. Then, Shinsou carefully placed you back on your feet.

He placed you back on your feet, his grip steady but cautious.

“You do realize that if I hadn’t caught you just then, you would have fallen to your death, right, princess?” he said, his voice tinged with a hint of annoyance.

“Oh… yes, of course! Thank you for saving me, Sir Hitoshi,” you replied hurriedly, trying to mask your embarrassment.

“You should stop sneaking out,” he added firmly, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Your eyebrows furrowed in frustration. “What?” you exclaimed a bit louder than you intended.

“This is too risky. Too dangerous. I shouldn’t have agreed to keep this secret in the first place,” he said with conviction.

“No, you can’t out me! I’ll go crazy if I’m stuck in my room all day!” you protested. “The herbalists are nowhere near finding a cure, and even the pigs are dying off now,” your hands gesticulating your frustration. “If father finds out about this, I’ll never be allowed out again! No more dancing, singing, or delicious village food cooked with love. Instead, I’ll be stuck with the soulless dinners our so-called cook makes,” you complained bitterly.

You knew that Shisou most likely thought of you as a spoiled noble, who takes things for granted, but at this moment you couldn’t care less about what he thought of you.

The moment you finished your sentence, his head snapped sharply toward you.

“Wait, you don’t eat your dinners?” he inquired, his tone cautious.

“Uh... no? I usually eat dinner at the village,” you shrugged, confused as to why this was relevant to your conversation.

“And all leftovers go to the pigs, correct?”

“I think so, yes,” you replied, still puzzled by where he was going with this line of questioning.

He nodded to himself and mumbled almost inaudibly, “I had my theories, but this makes sense…”

“Huh? What are you even talking about?” you said, feeling a bit annoyed at his crypticness.

“Say, princess,” he continued, “if the quarantine was to be lifted, you wouldn’t have to sneak out anymore, right? I wouldn’t have to deal with you anymore?”

“I..yes? I suppose so?” you responded, a little offended but more surprised by the question itself.

He nodded again and then walked away quietly, murmuring something under his breath. You stood there flabbergasted, watching him go, your mind trying to make sense of the conversation you just had.

The next morning, you were surprised when Agatha told you to go to the main hall. Seeing your confused face, she shrugged. “A knight has asked for the royal family’s immediate attention.”

Huh?

You immediately thought of Shinsou’s words from last night. Was he going to tell the king about your escapes? Or was this about something else?

Trying not to overthink it, you quickly got dressed and headed to the main hall.

Your parents were already sitting on their thrones, regal and composed, while your brother entered right after you did. Once everyone was ready, your father nodded to a purple-haired knight to come forward.

“I sincerely hope that the matter is indeed important, seeing as we are risking our health at this moment,” he said with a hint of impatience.

“Of course, Your Majesty. I believe I have discovered something you will find useful.” When you heard the knight’s voice, you realized it was indeed Shinsou Hitoshi. You had never seen him without his helmet, and you had to admit: he was quite good-looking. Unruly indigo locks fell over his forehead, partially obscuring his eyes. The dark shadows beneath his eyes accentuated the sharp, angular features of his face-likely a result of his night duties. High, angular cheekbones framed by a few stray strands of hair added to the intensity of his gaze.

You felt your cheeks heat up when his eyes met yours; his expression was still mostly inscrutable.

Why was he so hot???

Shinsou cleared his throat again, his gaze steady and unwavering.

“There are two things I wanted to tell you. First—I believe there is no illness. Second—there is a chance that someone has been trying to harm the princess.”

A collective gasp echoed through the hall, low murmurs spreading among the gathered knights and servants. Your eyes widened at his words.

What was he on about?

“Elaborate,” commanded the King, his voice edged with skepticism.

Shinsou nodded solemnly.

“I have a suspicion that the cause of the Solandrian prince’s death was a severe allergic reaction, not an illness. Most likely, he was allergic to fish but was unaware of his intolerance, as he had never experienced such symptoms before. I am confident that if we ask the maids and butlers, they will confirm that the prince showed signs of an allergic reaction shortly before his death. Conversely, there are no signs of a contagious disease spreading among others. If it had been an illness, I believe we would see at least some additional cases or fatalities—yet none have arisen.”

The King turned toward the royal physician, seeking confirmation.

“I... I suppose that could be a possible reason for his death,” the physician admitted hesitantly. “Quite... likely, actually.”

Your father’s expression darkened. “So, what you are telling me is that you suggested a quarantine to be ordered simply because you didn’t think of checking other possible causes?” he said, gritting his teeth. His tone was sharp, clearly displeased.

The physician nervously fiddled with his hands and lowered his gaze, clearly uncomfortable under the scrutiny.

Your father’s gaze shifted back to Shinsou and he signaled for him to continue.

“As for the princess,” Shinsou began carefully, “I believe someone has attempted to poison her. The sudden series of deaths among the pigs has nothing to do with any ‘illness’. The princess has not been eating dinner for the past few days, and if I’m not mistaken, all the leftovers are fed to the pigs. If there was poison in the food, it would explain why most of the pigs are unwell. To confirm this theory, I suggest the physicians perform a necropsy on the deceased animals or test their blood samples for toxins.”

He paused briefly, meeting the king’s eyes with calm confidence. “This way, we can determine whether foul play is involved and take appropriate action.”

The hall fell into a tense silence as everyone considered his words. Your father looked thoughtful.

“And how do you know that the Princess has not been eating dinner, Sir?” the Queen suddenly inquired, her voice sharp with suspicion.

Your eyes immediately met Shinsou’s, a look of desperation flashing across your face. He was going to tell on you. He was going to tell them about your sneak-outs. There was no way he wouldn’t—especially when your mother was questioning him so directly.

Shinsou’s gaze shifted back to the Queen, calm and composed.

You bit your lip, heart pounding as you anxiously waited for his next words.

“I overheard two of the maids worrying about it, Your Majesty,” he said smoothly, a subtle smile playing on his lips.

You blinked in surprise—he had lied to the Queen to protect you. You hadn’t expected him to do that, you felt a flicker of gratitude.

Shinsou’s eyes flickered to yours again, offering a barely perceptible ghost of a smile. You responded with a quick, grateful look.

After a moment of silence, the King finally spoke.

“Thank you for your input, Sir Hitoshi. The information you’ve provided will help us determine our next course of action. I believe it’s fitting to reward your loyalty.” He paused briefly before continuing. “Therefore, I promote you to Guard Knight of the Princess. If someone truly is trying to harm her, I trust that you will be able to protect her.”

What..?

You sharply turned your head towards your father with an unhappy look.

You didn’t need a personal guard! You were certainly fine as you were, you didn’t need Shinsou following your every step.

Shinsou bowed his head respectfully, a modest smile touching his lips, but you could see his eye twitch with annoyance.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. I will do my utmost to fulfill my duties and ensure the princess’s safety.”

Ugh. What a disaster.

Please do not repost or translate my work. Reblogs and comments are appreciated though!

Deviders are by @thecutestgrotto !!

fictionally, i love men with attitude (i.e. tsukishima, daiki, kuroo, shinso, katsuki, etc.) realistically, i’d want them all to absolutely eat dogshit if we meet irl

This.

Since we're all gonna die, there is one more secret I feel I have to share with you-

I did not care for Dabi.

012. grudges, growth, and you — yaku morisuke.

wc: 0.6k cw: gn!reader. enemies to lovers <3 a/n: i've never particularly favored yaku, but this makes me like him a little more haha <3 i hope you enjoy! requested by @rumik09 and @solvisun

you’ve known yaku since you were six, and you’ve wanted to throw a dodgeball at his face since approximately the second week.

he called you a cheater during p.e. and you spent the rest of elementary school making his life mildly inconvenient. swapping his indoor shoes. hiding his pencil case. once, in fifth grade, you signed him up for the school play and gave him the role of “talking tree #3.” he never forgave you.

in return, he told your entire class you had a crush on the music teacher.

by middle school, your war had quieted into occasional eye-rolls and passive-aggressive comments.

by high school, it had become something stranger.

“you’re short,” you tell him in second year.

“you’re loud,” he snaps back.

you share a math class. he borrows your notes once when he’s sick and grumbles out a “thanks” like it burns his throat.

you shrug. “you’d do the same.”

he stares at you like you’ve said something deeply offensive.

“i wouldn’t,” he mutters.

but next week, when you’re out with a fever, he drops off your homework at your front gate without saying anything.

you find out because your mom tells you a “tiny blonde boy with a very serious face” came by.

you text him: that was weirdly nice of you.

he replies: shut up or i’ll take it back.

in third year, he becomes someone you text when you can’t sleep.

not often. just… sometimes.

on nights when the pressure feels too loud or your brain won’t shut up. you don’t say anything serious. just little things.

what if we all just dropped out and became frogs.

he replies three minutes later: you wouldn’t survive the winter. frogs don’t have heaters.

you laugh into your pillow and think maybe this thing between you isn’t war anymore.

you end up at the same college.

not on purpose.

just luck. or bad luck. depending on the day.

you spot him across campus during orientation and your heart does something weird.

you don’t say hi.

he does.

“oh great,” he mutters, falling into step beside you like it’s inevitable. “you again.”

you grin. “missed me?”

“like a cavity.”

but his smile lingers a little too long.

you grow into something real slowly.

too slowly, maybe.

he makes tea for you when you’re up late studying. never coffee. he says it makes your hands shake.

you throw a pillow at him once for memorizing your class schedule. he throws it back and adds a blanket over your shoulders before leaving your dorm.

neither of you says the word for it.

not until third year.

you’re on the floor of his apartment, surrounded by snack wrappers and overdue assignments. you’ve been laughing for twenty minutes about a terrible movie.

your face hurts. your stomach aches.

he’s looking at you with this expression like he can’t believe you’re real.

you stop laughing.

he doesn’t.

“what,” you say, suspicious.

“nothing,” he says, but his ears go pink.

you sit up. “what?”

he sighs. presses a hand to his face.

“i used to hate you,” he mumbles.

“i know.”

“like, really hate you.”

“yeah. you made that clear.”

he glances at you. then away.

“i don’t anymore.”

you go quiet.

“okay,” you say finally.

“okay,” he repeats.

you stare at each other.

then you say it.

not dramatic. not heavy. not a confession.

just honest.

“i don’t hate you either.”

his face breaks into something unsure and bright and so very yaku.

and when he leans in, you don’t flinch.

you kiss like you’re still unsure what to call this thing between you.

but it’s soft. and a little clumsy. and warm.

after, he doesn’t say anything.

taglist (open. ask to be added <3): @tangerinelovr @oligbia @megapteraurelia @iwantfoodpleasebuymefood

© everything here is written with care — please don’t repost, copy, or alter my work without permission.

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Read before you request!

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Right and why is he in every episode too like omg you're not the main character

watching My hero acadamia season 5- why are they making me gaf about Endeavor ? 🤨

YES PLEASEEEEEE

we should SOOO bring back obey me like I miss the fandom 🥀

Hello hello! Welcome to my blog!! It's quite new so I don't really know what I'm doing..

You can call me Kcandy, I go by she/her, and this is where I will be posting my fanfiction!

Some fandoms I'm planning on writing for:

•My hero academia

•Haikyuu

•Cupid's chatroom

•Harry Potter (marauders era only)

(Might add more later idk)

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Soft spot

Synopsis:

You wake up in the library with Tsukishima's jacket draped over you. You realize maybe he doesn't hate you as much as you thought he did.

Cw: gn!reader, college au, academic rivals to more(?), tsukishima is kind of a tsundere, silly banter

Wc: 0.8k

Not beta read!

Tsukushima Kei was a jerk, you knew that. You knew that from the moment you had met him.

At first he didn’t pay any mind to you. Hell, he probably didn’t even know you existed. That was until he saw your name above his on the results board.

Two points. You had passed him by two points— and that’s when he started noticing you.

As you hurriedly shuffled through your bag for your notebook, your phone slipped from your grasp and clattered loudly onto the floor.

A few heads turned, and you quickly bent down to retrieve it. Just as you did, a sharp voice sneered behind you.

“Did you drop your brain along with that?”

He leaned slightly over his desk, eyes glinting with amusement as he pointed at the red 87/100 inked on the corner of your paper on your desk. “Here I thought I had competition.”

At first, you genuinely thought he hated you—his snarky comments and dismissive attitude made that pretty clear. But after a few similar encounters, you started to realize that he saw this as a game in which he wanted to prove he was better than you. Once you figured that out you started treating it like a game. And soon you learnt that irritating him was incredibly fun.

Now, you and Tsukishima weren’t friends—far from it—but you weren’t enemies either. You could even have a decent chat once in a while (though not without some banter). Still, being in the same course meant constant competition. As exhausting as it was sometimes, it also kept you motivated to study harder. If it weren’t for this rivalry you would be slacking off a lot more. But you didn’t. Not when he made sure to drop a snarky comment whenever you got a question wrong; in return, whenever you scored higher than him on an exam or assignment, you'd make sure to rub it in his face just as much.

So yes, Tsukishima was a jerk. He was dry, sarcastic, and lacked any redeeming qualities. He’d slam the door right in front of your face if you were walking behind him, he would purposefully bump his shoulder into yours in the hallway just to annoy you. Which is why it was a complete surprise when you woke up in the library with a jacket draped over your shoulders. A jacket that definitely wasn’t yours.

Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Turning your head slightly, you saw Tsukishima sitting on your left, focused on some assignment.

Huh. That was odd. He only sat next to you if the library was full.

Feeling your confused gaze on him, his usual cold eyes met yours, his indifference unchanged.

“You’re awake,” he stated flatly before turning back to his work. “If you keep dozing off instead of actually studying, you won’t even have a chance of passing me on this assignment.” His eyes never left his notebook, but a smirk crept onto his face as he added, “Not that you ever had one to begin with. But keep dozing like that, and you'll definitely fail.”

You blinked a few times. Still feeling a bit drowsy but amused, you chuckled softly and shot him a smirk of your own, tilting your head slightly.

“Is the great Tsukishima worried about me falling behind? How sweet of you.”

He always liked teasing you. You always reacted to his taunts and that only fed his already humongous ego. But honestly? You liked teasing Tsukishima just as much.

“Don’t worry your pretty little head about it,” you said with a playful grin. “I’m perfectly capable of beating you on this assignment. Actually, that’s why I was napping—I don’t even need to do the assignment to pass you. I’m just that good, y’know.” You stretched your arms lazily and grinned wider.

Tsukishima just snorted, “Right.”

It was when the jack slipped from your shoulders as you stretched you remembered about it.

“Even made sure I wasn’t cold. Truly a gentleman, Tsuki!” You picked it up with a giggle and handed it back to him.

He took it back with a scoff “Oh please,” he dismissed, "you were shaking like a leaf on a tree. It was impossible to concentrate with the sound of your teeth chattering. And don’t call me that.”

"Aww. Don’t tell me your cold heart was warmed up by little ol’ me. "

Tsukishima simply raised an eyebrow at your cheeky smile, clearly annoyed.

"Don’t flatter yourself," he drawled in his usual condescending tone, "you were simply an inconvenience, nothing more."

You quietly smile to yourself, knowing he didn’t really mean it. Because if he did, he’d be sitting anywhere else in the empty library, not right next to you.

Maybe Tsukishima Kei wasn’t such a jerk after all.

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Deviders are by @/thecutestgrotto !!