SF2020 - Bonus Round 1: Three Words

[sportsfest_mods]

Three words can mean the world! Whether it is a sentence or disconnected terms, what will you choose to convey with limited words?
This bonus round will be open until Saturday, June 27th at 11:59pm (midnight) EDT. (Countdown)

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This round is now closed!

The screening period is over! You're still able to post prompts and fills for this round but they won't count for points!
If you posted or edited a fill while comments were being screened, please use the comment unscreening form to let us know so we can unscreen it!

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Rules

• Submit prompts by commenting any three words of your choosing! This can be a phrase or a list of words. Example:
  • I love you
    
  • Home, keys, together
    
  • Let them go
• Fill prompts by creating fanworks inspired by all three words, or only one or two! The choice is yours.
  
• Prompts can be in any language as long as you provide an English translation!
  
• You cannot earn points by filling your teammate's prompts or your own! (That said, we won't stop you from doing so for fun!)
  
• You must use the prompt/fill headers below, and you cannot leave any line blank nor delete a line! If this is your first time participation please read over our Bonus Round Guidelines.

Format

Required Work Minimums:

• 400 words (prose)
  
• 400px by 400px (art)
  • Traditional art is also allowed with a good quality photo/scan
• 14 lines (poetry)
  
• Playlists - 5 song minimum with artists. Link to either a video playlist, or each song separately. Be sure to warn for content in the music videos, and you may find linking to lyrics helpful. You may also write an explanation of why you chose each song.
  
• Moodboards - 9 photo min, source all photos, and no fanart allowed (unless it's your own)
  
• Fake Social Media - 4 images min
  
• If you’d like to use a different medium, please contact the mods if you have any questions about minimum requirements.

There is no max work cap.

Format your comment in one of the following ways:

If Prompting

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Please use the following subject line for your comment:

PROMPT: [Your Team]


• Replace [Your Team] with the name of your team (Grandstand included!). Please use your Official Team Name!
  
• You must include at least one specific character/ship and fandom in your prompt. You may add "any" after listing a few characters/ships/fandoms!
  
• That said, remember that "any" really means any. If there are characters/ships you don't want to see, feel free to list them under "Do Not Wants" or put "ask for other ships".
  

Copy/Paste the following into the body of your comment. Delete all instructional text in parentheses.

<strong>Ship/Character:</strong> (The relationship or character your prompt is focused on."&" indicates a platonic relationship, "/" is non-platonic. You must include at least one specific ship/character.) <strong>Fandom:</strong> (what fandom the character or ship is from. DO NOT write “Any”) <strong>Major Tags:</strong> (Major Character Death, Rape/Non-Con, Graphic Depictions of Violence, Underage, or Chose Not to Use Tags, when applicable; Otherwise, write "None".) <strong>Additional Tags:</strong> (Anything you feel requires tagging or mention. Not required, but it is highly encouraged to check the additional tags on the tags page (https://sportsfest.dreamwidth.org/3623.html) as they are things your fellow participants have asked to be tagged for! May also be humorous, tumblr-style tags.) <strong>Do Not Wants:</strong> (Anything you do not want to see in your fills including triggers, squicks, and even minor things like ships you do not like. Please use this space responsibly and not, say, to create crazy limitations for your fillers.) <strong>Prompt:</strong>

Future bonus rounds will have a much more simplified header to copy-paste!

NSFW prompts
All explicitly NSFW prompts must be posted in sf_afterhours in the corresponding Bonus Round post.
You can find the After Hours BR1 post here.

If Filling

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Please use the following subject line for your comment:

FILL: [Your Team], [Rating]


• Reply as a comment to the prompt you are filling.
  
• Replace [Your Team] with the name of your team (Grandstand included!). Please use your Official Team Name!
  
• Replace [Rating] with the rating of your fill (G-E).
  

Copy/Paste the following into the body of your comment. Delete all instructional text in parentheses.

<strong>Title:</strong> (Optional. Titling your work makes it easier to rec during the Rec Round, however, this is not necessary.) <strong>Ship/Character:</strong> (The relationship or character your prompt is focused on."&" indicates a platonic relationship, "/" is non-platonic. You must include at least one specific ship/character.) <strong>Additional Characters:</strong> (Optional. Any additional characters who are significantly present.) <strong>Fandom:</strong> (what fandom the character or ship is from) <strong>Major Tags:</strong> (Major Character Death, Rape/Non-Con, Graphic Depictions of Violence, Underage, or Chose Not to Use Tags, when applicable; otherwise write "None".) <strong>Other Tags:</strong> (anything else that you feel requires tagging; Not required, but it is highly encouraged to check the additional tags (https://sportsfest.dreamwidth.org/3623.html) on the tags page as they are things your fellow participants have asked to be tagged for! May also be humorous tumblr style tags.) <strong>Word Count:</strong> (if applicable; otherwise write "None") <strong>Remix Permission:</strong> <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Y1iX56fSJhK0Dqy4suBFAXgpCW01w3StSe-UeJO4iag/edit?usp=sharing">See Permissions Sheet</a> (Place any author/artist's notes BEFORE the asterisks.) *** (Place your fill here. You can use HTML after the asterisks.)

Future bonus rounds will have a much more simplified header to copy-paste!

NSFW Fills
NSFW Fills must be posted in sf_afterhours in the corresponding Bonus Round post.
You can find the After Hours post for BR1 here.

Scoring

These numbers apply to your team as a whole, not each individual member! It means, for instance: "The first 10 prompts by any team members grant 5 points each".

Prompts

• Prompts 1-10: 5 points each
  
• Prompts 10+: No points !

Fills

• Fills 1-10: 15 points each
  
• Fills 11-20: 5 points each
  
• Fills 21+: 2 points each

Additional Information

• Code for inserting links: <a href="LINK">your text</a>
  
• Code for inserting images: <img src="LINK" width="600px">
  
• The Bonus Round Guidelines further explain how bonus rounds function along with examples.
  
• We also have an official Ao3 Collection for you to post your fills to!
  
• If you see any prompts/fills improperly tagged, in the wrong community, or otherwise in need of mod attention, please use our mod contact form to let us know! In fact, this form can be used to report many things, anonymously or not!

If you have any further question or concerns, please contact us!

Comments

FILL: Team Grandstand, G

[novocaine_sea]

Title: when it rains
Ship/Character: Sanada Genichiro/Yukimura Seiichi
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Major Tags: None
Other Tags: mentions of previous fictional illness, set when they’re older
Word Count: 439
Remix Permission: See Permissions Sheet

My only characterization of these two comes from Toshiki and Shogo’s portrayals in Musical Prince of Tennis.

***

Yukimura has never been one to voice how he feels. He’s subdued in everyday life but on the court is when he comes alive. Sanada relates; its their passion and why their bond is so strong. They’d been friends for a while, dipping into something undefined and something more only recently. Not much has changed, other than the delicate touch of fingers against the back of his hand and the infrequent press of lips to his cheeks.

Sanada likes watching him, when they’re together, as all of Yukimura’s movements and actions are calculated and deliberate. Yukimura gazes out the window, watching the rain as it hits the window in a soft pitter-patter rhythm. Sanada remembers a similar time before this, of Yukimura in a hospital gown and the same emotionless stare out the window. It was raining then too. It always rains when they’re together, except when they’re on the court. There are nothing but sunny days ahead when the two of them are on the court together. It’s as if the gods themselves are smiling onto their child, pleased that he’s able to move without collapsing, granting his only wish of playing tennis again.

“Does it hurt?” Sanada asks, because he cannot keep his words to himself anymore. Too many times does he let the moment go, afraid of dampening the mood. Somehow he feels like the mood is always down on days like this, where Yukimura remembers the rain and how he was stuck inside in a bed while his teammates continued to roar on the courts.

“Sometimes,” Yukimura answers honestly and looks down at his wrists. They used to lock up, but now he rolls them with ease. There will always be an ache, however.

They sit in silence for some time. Sanada doesn’t mind, the rain has always calmed him, but when he looks over he feels himself stiffen at the lost look Yukimura has in his eyes.

“Yukimura-“

“Thank you for sitting with me, Genichiro,” nimble fingers touch his, so delicate, and the sadness from his eyes is gone, replaced with the ghost of a smile. Sanada cannot bring himself to call him Seiichi, despite the years they’ve known each other. It’s too informal; Yukimura is his captain at heart (and of his heart), there’s no way he can call him Seiichi.

“Of course,” his voice is tight. It’s a similar scene, Yukimura thanking him for visiting him, and Yukimura leaving him hours later to watch the rain alone. Luckily this time Sanada doesn’t have to leave; he gets to stay right by his side, where he’s always been, and where he’ll always be.

PROMPT: Team 29 Balls to the Face

[joshllyman]

Ship/Character: Azumane Asahi&/anyone, Bokuto Koutarou&/anyone, Sugawara Koushi&/anyone, Miyuki Kazuya&/anyone, Takigawa Chris Yuu&/anyone, polyam ships welcome, any
Fandom: Haikyuu!!, Daiya no A, any
Major Tags: None
Additional Tags: from My Cheating Heart by Love Fame Tragedy
Do Not Wants: mcd

Prompt: my cheating heart

PROMPT: Team Grandstand

[pocket_panda]

Ship/Character: Bokuto/Akaashi/Kuroo, Oikawa, Osamu/Akaashi, Miya Atsumu, Konoha&/Any, Sanada&/Yukimura, Haiji, Miyuki, Any character & or ship that fits
Fandom: Haikyuu, Oofuri, Daiya, KnB, Prince of Tenis
Major Tags: None
Additional Tags: it bait.
Do Not Wants: incest, anything else is free game as long as it's tagged!

Prompt: Not A Monster.

FILL: Team Grandstand, T

[novocaine_sea]

Title: one day at a time
Ship/Character: Konoha Akinori/Semi Eita
Fandom: Haikyuu
Major Tags: None
Other Tags: Mentions of hospitals, mentions of surgery, wounds, a sprinkle of angst, mentions of past arguments, painkillers (i’m just trying to tag any kind of squicks)
Word Count: 619
Remix Permission: See Permissions Sheet

This might look a little familiar to you...

***

“Stop staring at me.”

“I can’t help myself.”

Akinori huffs and his expelled breath fans out his bangs, making Eita snicker. He’s glad that Eita finds this hilarious, because he most certainly does not. Hearing his boyfriend collapse on the floor days earlier was not how he wanted to spend that afternoon, but Eita is stubborn, and Akinori was pissed and he’s still a little pissed quite frankly. This could have been avoided if maybe Eita had spoken up sooner rather than when he was half passed out on the kitchen floor.

“You’re beautiful,” Eita says as he stares into the pits of Akinori’s very soul. His words are a bit slurred, likely from the painkillers the nurses had loaded him up on before leaving the hospital. Despite his own anger, Akinori’s stomach flips at the words, the butterflies in there out of control.

“Can you take this seriously?” Akinori asks, pausing in his movements. He’s lucky he doesn’t get freaked out by this kind of thing; one sight of blood and Eita is already woozy but Akinori can handle it.

“I am!” Eita exclaims and then he winces as the pain torches his side and Akinori continues to gently peel back the bandages to clean the healing scar where they’d taken out his appendix. He’s an idiot really. Maybe he should have left Eita on the floor there. (He would never, he would miss him too much, his dumb smile, his jokes, the way he makes Akinori feel as if he’s the only man to ever walk this Earth).

“You’re not,” Akinori presses and he grabs the antibiotic cream they’d been given. He’d washed his hands thoroughly, three times to be exact just to be safe, and had barely touched a thing after lowering Eita against the pillows of their bed. He’s lucky they’d fixed the elevator in their apartment complex, or else they would’ve likely still been on the bottom floor. He’s not sure he would’ve been able to get a doped out Semi Eita up four flights of stairs without some kind of help. Komi had already raced off, pissed beyond words, even more so than Akinori himself.

“I already said sorry... cold...” Eita whines and shivers when there’s a delicate touch of fingers against the stitches as Akinori starts to rub in the cream. This is the true testament of love, cleaning and patching scars.

“Sometimes sorry doesn’t cut it, Eita.” His words are clipped and he focuses on the wound before he grabs the gauze and medical tape, starting to cover the wound. It’ll be difficult bathing and getting dressed, but Akinori is going to play nurse for the next few weeks.

“You’re not going to leave, right?”

The words are like a stab to the heart and Akinori’s eyes find Eita’s, clouded and sad. Akinori wipes his fingers on the hand towel he’d brought with him, making sure there’s no traces of ointment before he cups Eita’s cheeks.

“I would’ve left already. I’m here to stay, I promise.” The binding is done and Akinori maneuvers Eita’s arms so it’s not touching the wound or picking at the gauze. He’d ripped the stitches once, they don’t need him doing it again.

“Promise...” Eita murmurs and Akinori wants to say more, pour his heart and soul out like he had in the hospital room about how Eita’s stubbornness was like a punch to his gut, but he swallows it when Eita’s eyelids slip shut. He looks at peace, more than he had when in the hospital. All Akinori can do now is sigh and lean forward, pressing a delicate kiss to his cheek.

This discussion would just have to wait until another day.

PROMPT: Team Grandstand

[pocket_panda]

Ship/Character: Bokuto, Terushima, Taketora Akane, Sawamura Eijun, Any character that you think might fit the ADHD spectrum,
Fandom: Haikyuu, Oofuri, Daiya, KnB, Prince of Tenis
Major Tags: None
Additional Tags: shippy or gen is fine, ADHD baby! project all you want (or not), I'm just trying to scratch an itch here.
Do Not Wants: incest, 'curing' the character, abuse (past abuse is okay, as long as tagged and vague),

Prompt: I have ADHD

PROMPT: Team 29 Balls to the Face

[augustgreatsword]

Ship/Character: Terushima/Any, Daichi/Any, Kuroo/Daishou, Aomine/Momoi, Kise/Kasamatsu, Any
Fandom: Haikyuu, Kuroko no Basket, All Out, Free!, Stars Align, Oofuri, Prince of Tennis, Days
Major Tags: None
Additional Tags: Maybe they do, maybe they don't, is it about mental health?, a skill?, something completely different?
Do Not Wants: Haikyuu first years, the Jabbawocks, face slapping, suicide, hanging, throat mutilation

Prompt: you get it

Re: FILL: Team Grandstand, G

[onceakoala]

ahh, i love this so much! i love the shifts in their relationship and how they see each other, and getting to see Goshiki's internal thoughts. thank you for this fill!!

Re: FILL: Team Seijoh Third Years, T

[onceakoala]

SOMEONE PLEASE HUG THIS BOY
this fill fits in so easily with his character, i love and hate it at the same time it huRTS SO GOOD. thank u for the pain

FILL : Team Grandstand, G

[pocket_panda]

Title: Resonate
Ship/Character: Bokuto Koutarou
Additional Characters: Fukurodani VBC, oc therapist, Shiratorizawa VBC, Ushijima Wakatoshi, Goshiki Tsutomu
Fandom: Haikyuu !!
Major Tags: None
Other Tags: mention of teasing that could be read as bullying, neurodivergent characters, ADHD Bokuto, ADHD Goshiki, feeling left out, acceptance, kindred spirits, canon divergent? Character study?
Word Count: 1240
Remix Permission: See Permissions Sheet

Thank u for this ilu. and thank you for giving me permission to use ADHD Goshiki even though you had first years as DNW...the poor kid doesn't even get mentioned by name orz

ALso I have no idea how this reads bc I just projected A Lot and it’s 4:30am

***

Bokuto Koutarou spends most of his childhood feeling alone.

He’s surrounded by people, and still the world feels lonely.

Bokuto understands early on that he’s not like everyone else.

Focusing on nothing but volleyball and being completely incapable of thinking of anything else- to the point it almost hurts to try, isn’t something everyone does.

Being told to do the laundry and doing everything else but the laundry until his mother comes back into his room and asks him if he’s done the laundry makes him feel like a failure.

Putting off homework until the last possible minute, accusing himself of being lazy while he’s sat at his desk and yelling at himself to just start already is his kind of normal.

And so, Bokuto adapts, learns what other people’s ‘normal’ is and tries to make it his own.

He fails more than he succeeds, but Bokuto is stubborn and hard-headed, and he wants to fit in, so he does his best at being normal.

It doesn’t work, not really; Bokuto ends up running alone on more days than not, but shrugs it off, and lets it become his own version of normal.

Until he gets to Fukurodani, and he joins the volleyball team, meets his fellow first years, listens as one of them shoves another and calls him a weirdo.

Bokuto perks up and looks over, hopeful. Does he maybe get it?

But no, he doesn’t get it. Bokuto doesn’t understand; it’d been ‘teasing’ they’d called it, but Bokuto has never quite grasped the concept of being mean to strangers as a joke, doesn’t always understand why people do that if they’re not close. But it’s normal, so he pretends he does.

Those two first years drop out after a week, along with a couple others, until there’s only ten of them left, determined and focused and able to think of nothing more than volleyball.

Four of them stand out. One is tall and quiet, and the other three are loud and obnoxious and seem glued at the hips, and Bokuto wonders if they get it, because they seem to live and breathe volleyball as much as he does.

Bokuto rapidly finds out that they don’t actually get it, not really. He understands this when he asks them to stay late after practice for the third time that week and they tell him ‘not tonight’.

They don’t get it, but they sure try.

Washio sits with him at lunch and lets him talk freely, not even batting an eyelash at his constant change of subjects. Komi bemoans their workload and reassures him that procrastinating doesn’t necessarily mean he’s lazy. Konoha rolls his eyes and gives him a fondly exasperated look for forgetting to return his umbrella again but ruffles his hair and tells him it’s fine, that one day he’ll remember and that’s all that matters. Sarukui talks to him about his little sister and says sometimes it helps her to hide under tables to collect herself when she’s falling apart.

They don’t get it, but they understand in their own way, and let him be his own version of normal.

A little after his birthday, his mother sends him to a therapist, who probably tries to look him in the eye but Bokuto is too busy staring at the man’s hands and wondering if he gets his nails manicured.

“You have ADHD.” He’s told.

Great! He gets it! He must do, and Bokuto looks him in the eye for a brief second before focusing on his cheeks instead, and hope blossoms in his chest as he accepts the diagnosis and smiles at the idea of having someone who gets it.

But he doesn’t. He’s given ways to cope, and things to take, and some pamphlets to read. He’s given room to talk, but the man doesn’t get it.

He understands, but he doesn’t get it.

Bokuto is a second year now, and along comes Akaashi. Akaashi who fidgets and looks like the big bang is happening in his mind over and over and over again while still being still as a lake on the outside, and Bokuto gets that, he understands that, because his mind is on 400% all the time, and this time.

This time. Maybe he’s found someone who gets it.

But still, he doesn’t. Akaashi understands, they talk and share, and Bokuto hides under tables and Akaashi coaxes him out because he knows how Bokuto works, but he doesn’t get it.

It’s enough though, they don’t get it, but they accept it, and that’s more than Bokuto has had in his short life, and it’s nice, to be welcomed and accepted.

It takes until his third and final year at Fukurodani, and finally.

Someone gets it.

This isn’t how he’d wanted to meet Shiratorizawa, but they’re getting to play a match as a parting gift to both team’s third years, so Bokuto will take all he can from his encounter with Ushijima.

And with that, the second the Shiratorizawa bus pulls up, Bokuto is out the gym doors, the rest of his team following hopelessly behind, knowing it’s futile to try and stop him, and he halts in front of Ushijima, grinning broadly, hands on his hips, and announces he’s going to defeat him.

Ushijima halts, and stares at him in a way Bokuto has never been stared at, and simply tells him that Bokuto cannot predict the future, and that it’ll be Shiratorizwa that will win.

Bokuto laughs, Ushijima doesn’t.

Maybe he gets it.

There’s an itch in his mind as he watches Shiratorizwa. One he’s used to, that will sometimes be so loud and grating that he has to do something to stop it, but right now he doesn’t know what to do, and there’s volleyball to play, and that’s something he can always focus on to forget the itch.

Ushijima is calculating and logical, he’s blunt and doesn’t show much emotion. He feels like the opposite of Bokuto, and yet there’s maybe a little companionship there, a deeper understanding of feeling like you don’t quite belong, of pretending to be normal when your world is tilted off it’s axis just enough for it to be a struggle to keep up.

The match goes on, Bokuto is in his element, he looks over at his rival, Ushijima is staring back, impassive.

The setter, tiny next to his ace, says something, and Ushijima looks away, answers him without truly looking at him.

But then a loud voice interrupts the two, and along comes the boy with the bowl cut, declaring that he’ll get back as many points as they lose. The setter rolls his eyes, Ushijima deadpans, and there’s an acceptance there that he knows.

Knows because he sees it mirrored in his own team everyday.

The itch is back while also no longer being there at all.

Bokuto watches the kid with the number 8 jersey as he leaps and bounces and shouts and practically vibrates out of his own body, feels something resonate, waits for him to look his way.

Their gazes lock, and he and Bokuto exchange a brief grin before resuming the match, going back to their teams who open their arms and accept them and do their best at understanding.

On the other side of the net, playing the sport that he lives and breathes, Bokuto has finally found someone who’s existence proves he’s not alone.

You get it.

FILL: Team Seijoh Third Years, T

[tsukisyama]

Title: you played yourself
Ship/Character: Kuramochi Youichi & Sawamura Eijun
Fandom: Daiya no Ace
Major Tags: none
Other Tags: gamer!mochi, banter, Kuramochi has a video game demon inside of him
Word Count: 661
Remix Permission: See Permissions Sheet


***

Youichi thinks he understands video games pretty well.

He’s always been good at them, even when he was little. Particularly the button mashing ones - the artificial intelligence in Street Fighter and Super Smash Bros never knew what hit them, when Youichi really got in his groove. He remembers beating a level nine character in Super Smash Bros Melee with his hands tied behind his back, for crying out loud; he’s certainly some sort of video game prodigy.

Well… maybe not all video games.

“Aha! Do you admit defeat, Kuramochi-senpai!” Sawamura, Youichi’s over-exuberant freshman roommate, cries from behind his computer screen. (Seriously, Youichi’s not sure where he gets all that energy from. Like some sort of wild chipmunk. Or maybe a domesticated, yet still excitable puppy?) Still, though. Puppy or no puppy, they’ve been playing for all of… two minutes, it seems, and Youichi’s already cornered. “I was not expecting it to be so easy to best you in combat!”

Youichi feels one of his veins pop up in irritation. The nerve of this guy! Youichi’s gonna need to put him in his place, sooner or later. (Whether that’s physically with wrestling moves, or in a video game Youichi’s more capable of trouncing him in is still… up in the air, at the moment.)

“You think I’m finished?”

Sawamura barks out a laugh. “I know a cornered man when I see one. Not to worry, Kuramochi-senpai! I will make sure your defeat is a quick and painless one!”

Now that’s just cruel… way to rub salt into the wound, Sawamura. I’ll get you back somehow.

The game continues for a few minutes, and Youichi knows a losing battle when he sees one. He can quit the match right here, and not risk his ranking going down, or he could risk it, and…

What are you saying? Youichi’s inner gaming demon shouts. You’re really going to give up against Sawamura? No defeat against him could ever be quick or painless - the loss will eat you up for as long as you live!

Youichi’s inner gaming demon has a point. If he forfeits, Sawamura won’t be able to shut up about it for years. The only chance he’s got is to go into this match like a… like a champion!

So, with all the rest of his remaining might, he selects his last available beast. Youichi’s played this game long enough to know it’s not a strong creature - in fact, it’s only powerful if the opponent misses an attack.

“Aww, look at that,” Sawamura jeers. “Your last option is so cute! It is a shame that I must defeat it -”

“-Just get it over with, Sawamura, before I beat you to death.”

Sawamura loses the smile after his last click. “Aye, aye!”

Youichi closes his eyes before he makes his own move - bracing himself for the cheering that’s bound to wake everyone else down the hall.

… only, it never comes.

When Youichi opens his eyes, Sawamura’s expression can only be described as ghastly.

Did he really…?

Sure enough, once Youichi looks at the screen, he sees it - Sawamura’s combatant missed their attack. Thus, Youichi’s side got an omni-boost, and…

Maybe I really am a video gaming prodigy!

“Oi, Sawamura,” Youichi says, “I was just starting to get heated up.”

--

“How did you win that battle?” Sawamura asks, for the eighth time that evening.

Youichi was mortified to hear that Sawamura was, in fact, just pushing buttons the whole time during the game. Sure, Youichi hadn’t been given the strongest deck to begin with, but still… that was close.

Always eager to play the part of ‘wise and all knowing senpai,’ Youichi settles on laughing.

“It’s simple,” Youichi lies. “You played yourself.”

Sawamura nods eagerly. Man, that kid is so easy to rile up.

Re: FILL : Team Grandstand, G

[augustgreatsword]

YO IM CRYING IN THE FUCKING CLUB OVER THIS THANK YOU!!! (Goshiki was used with permission)

FILL: Team Seijoh Third Years, T

[tsukisyama]

Title: don't fall apart
Ship/Character: Akaashi Keiji & Bokuto Kotarou
Fandom: Haikyuu!!
Major Tags: none
Other Tags: spoilers for last match of Nationals, angsty
Word Count: 444
Remix Permission: See Permissions Sheet


***

Akaashi is used to keeping Bokuto from falling apart on the court. In fact, that’s one of his biggest roles as vice-captain. The other players, while immature at times, are able to manage themselves on their own in most cases. And it’s not like Bokuto isn’t independent or reliable - their entire team is built around him, after all, and he’s more than proven himself to be the cornerstone of their entire team. It’s only when small, insignificant things start to go south when they all go wrong, and suddenly Fukurodani is short a spiker that’s also their ace, and oh shit, Akaashi’s got to figure out how to best do damage control before it’s too late for them to make a recovery.

Of course, there are a variety of tactics Akaashi employs to make sure they’re still a functional team, while Bokuto’s having one of his moments. The path he opts for most often is the let Bokuto relax for a little while before giving him an easy shot to win back his confidence. Akaashi is particularly fond of that one, even if it can get a tad risky for the higher-intensity matches.

He’s not as fond of the get a substitute for Bokuto until the end of the set if they’re not in a dire situation, because that usually never works out. They can replace Bokuto with another wing spiker, sure, but Bokuto’s as good as out for the remainder of the game. If he’s not in the middle of the action, he’s bound to lose his confidence entirely, and that’s even worse than trying to start back at square one. It’s as if they’re playing the board game that is Bokuto’s mind, they’d be starting at space negative twelve, at the very greatest.

There’s also the let Bokuto play through his mental blocks option, but that might be Akaashi’s least favorite of all. Seeing Bokuto under extreme duress isn’t exactly something Akaashi wants to bring onto the court, much less have to witness for an extended period of time.

Akaashi’s never been that scared of losing, though, even when Bokuto’s having a moment. And he certainly wouldn’t have expected to lose in a game he was sure they could win, where Bokuto was playing at his 200 percent.

“You can’t fall apart,” Bokuto had whispered to him, once they’d gotten on the bus back to Fukurodani, “next year, when I’m gone. Promise me you’ll be every bit as good to them as you were to me?”

Akaashi wishes he could make that promise.

FILL: Seijoh Third Years, T

[rronanllynch]

Title: twice as many stars
Ship/Character: Oikawa Tooru/Iwaizumi Hajime
Additional Characters: none
Fandom: Haikyuu
Major Tags: None
Other Tags: light angst, hopeful ending, childhood friends, open ending, canon compliant i think?
Word Count: 584
Remix Permission: See Permissions Sheet

there's a poem called two headed calf by laura gilpin that this is accidentally inspired by but i didn't realize it until halfway through but u know win some lose some

***

When they’re 5, Iwaizumi climbs a huge tree in Tooru’s backyard. He’s taller than Tooru then, and stronger too, and when he lifts himself up effortlessly into the tree Tooru watches him with awe. The stars in the sky reflect the stars in Tooru’s eyes when he gazes up at Iwaizumi even though Tooru is too young to understand what that means.

And then he tries to climb up after him, using his thin arms to wrap around the branch the way Iwaizumi did, only to fall squarely onto his back. He lays there for a second before he bursts into embarrassed tears, begging Iwaizumi to come down and help him.

Iwaizumi is kinder, or maybe he’s just less sick of Tooru’s shit, but he climbs down eagerly to wipe away Tooru’s tears and offers to teach him how to climb a taller tree. As Tooru drags him away towards one that Tooru knows he can climb, they make a promise. Iwaizumi will never go where Tooru can’t follow.

When they’re 12, Hajime wrings his hands as he looks out the window in Oikawa’s room. He hates it when they’re like this. It’s always been him and Oikawa; a two-headed calf. But two headed-calves can’t survive the night and Iwaizumi thinks he sees morning coming.

“I’m going to Seijoh, Oikawa,” Hajime stopped calling him Tooru once they started middle school. He braces himself for the inevitable. Oikawa is going to go to Shiratorizawa. They’re going to separate.

Oikawa blinks up down at him from where he’s standing on his bed putting up glow in the dark stars.

“Okay. Me too, then.”

Hajime furrows his brow, but doesn’t have time to question Oikawa before he’s looking into the other boy’s eyes.

“We promised, remember. You’d never go where I can’t follow. And obviously,” Oikawa smirks, “I can follow you to Seijoh! They can’t have my ace without me. I’m where all your talent is.”

Hajime shoves Oikawa on the bed, and when it gets dark and Oikawa’s glow in the dark stars light up, there’s twice as many as usual.

It’s early morning when Tooru pulls Iwaizumi off to the side of the road on one of their runs. Iwaizumi doesn’t hesitate, just follows the path Tooru is setting across a field and to the shores of a lake spread out before them.

Tooru collapses, whining about being tired and sweaty, anything to get Iwaizumi to sit down next to him.

“What’re you doing now, Shittykawa?” Iwaizumi hasn’t called him Oikawa since second year.

Tooru picks at the grass beneath them.

“I got an offer. That recruiter that was at our match last week, he-” Tooru digs his fingers into the soft ground beneath them, “He wants me to go to Argentina. To play. Professionally.”

Iwaizumi sighs and settles into the soft grass. He’s reminded again, of the two-headed calf. Morning is dawning again.

“That’s great, it’s a great opportunity.”

And he means it. Tooru can tell that he means it, even if a small, petty part of Tooru wants him to not mean it. To beg Tooru to stay. To ask him not to go. To ask him to not go where he can’t follow.

But Iwaizumi would never do that. Instead he gets up, brushes the grass off his legs and holds his hand out to Tooru.

“Come on, Oikawa. I’ve gotta get home and get to work if I need to afford a ticket to come to Argentina to kick your ass.”

Re: FILL: Seijoh Third Years, T

[rronanllynch]

ah!! he is a sweat bean :3 thank u! i was worried about writing suga i've never written him before :0

FILL: Team Seijoh Third Years

[tsukisyama]

Ship/Character: Isashiki Jun & Yuuki Tetsuya
Fandom: Daiya no Ace
Major Tags: none
Other Tags: first year Isashiki and Yuuki, Isashiki being ridiculous
Word Count: 426
Remix Permission: See Permissions Sheet


***

Isashiki Jun is minding his own damn business in Precalculus when he feels a swift poke on the back of his neck.

He’s a bit on edge today, if only because he couldn’t hit anything other than popouts during morning practice - not that anyone could notice just by looking.

Jun is the image of poise in the classroom, especially during math. He is untouchable: a diligent worker both on and off the field, but he’s especially got his act together in the math classroom - it’s where his gruffness needs to be kept in check the most. Differential equations? Derivatives? Coordinates on the Z-plane? He’s got all of that. He’s been paying attention to every single word, so this poker who’s insistent on getting his attention will just have to wait.

They poke him again, harder.

Jun feels a vein on his forehead bulge with irritation. Now - don’t get the wrong idea. Usually, he’d be able to ignore this meaninglessdistraction, no problem. He’s Seidou’s very image of poise, after all, so he’s not usually ruffled while ignoring someone who’s trying to get his attention. If they’re really insistent, they can wait it out. There’s only… er, forty three minutes until class is out. And Jun knows it’s not urgent - who could possibly need him for something that badly?

Who could… who…?

Suddenly, Jun can’t remember who sits behind him - who the mystery insistent poker is.

Now, the next thing he does, it’s while he’s still very much engaged in the math lesson at the front of the room. Any getting lost in thought would be simply unacceptable, during class time. They’re bound to be those.... stragglers, who can’t keep their attention straight, but not Jun. He’s thinking about every person he’s ever known, at the same time as he’s thinking about… whatever it is they’re learning about today.

Could it possibly be… a girl?

The mystery person pokes him again, and Jun’s imagination offers him a resounding no. He’s sure he would remember if a girl was sitting behind him, especially if they had so much strength behind their poking skills.

“Jun-san,” the mystery poker who’s not a girl says, voice somehow unaffected by the apparent irritation that their poking technique would suggest.

And that’s when it hits Jun, that the person behind him is-

“Yuuki!”

Everyone in the class turns.

Uh oh. Jun thinks to himself. That could have gone… better.

Re: FILL: Team Seijoh Third Years, T

[stariceling]

Oh WOW This is gorgeous and it hurts and I love every single word. Akaashi's voice is spot on and it just shows how he knows how to support and manage Bokuto's confidence. I'm blown away by the dynamic between them. And then that last line killed me with feels. ;_;

FILL: Seijoh Third Years, T

[rronanllynch]

Title: artist's soul
Ship/Character: Akaashi Keiji/Bokuto Koutarou
Additional Characters: none
Fandom: Haikyuu
Major Tags: None
Other Tags: photographer bokuto, actor akaashi, meet cute, awkward meetings, bokuto has dancing feet, awkward bokuto
Word Count: 769
Remix Permission: See Permissions Sheet

this wasn't where i planned on this going but u know sometimes things get away from u. i love bokuto in any sort of artistic field :)

***

Koutarou loves being a photographer, even if Kuroo still mocks him for choosing a career where he has to be still most of the time. But even though his body is still when he’s closing the shutter, his mind isn’t, his eyes aren’t, his spirit isn’t.

Koutarou loves days like today. An experimental shoot, with a full studio to convey his vision. He’s already bouncing off the walls when he walks into the building, and by the time he gets in the elevator his music is at maximum volume while he drums his fingers against his legs.

The elevator is packed, so he does his best to stay still. He’s distractible, not a complete asshole. Even if it took him 28 years to get to that point. When the elevator clears out completely, he can finally stop restraining himself. It’s not his fault! He’s just so excited. He does a few of his more joyful, creative dance moves in the contained space before the elevator dings. As he steps out, he hears a noise behind him, and sees a beautiful man who had apparently been in the corner behind Koutarou. The whole time. Well. That’s embarrassing.

Koutarou turns bright red and runs to his office. He runs his hands nervously through his hair before shaking himself. After the initial embarrassment, it’s actually kind of funny. The guy just stood there. What would he have done if Koutarou would have hit him? That would’ve been hilarious! Plus Koutarou would never see him again. He can’t wait to tell Kuroo about it later.

The embarrassing incident quickly leaves Koutarou’s mind as he arranges his studio, instructing assistants to move things around and ignoring the editor’s snide remarks. Tsukishima was always like that and he ended up liking what Koutarou produced anyway, so Koutarou just ignores him until his husband comes to pick him up for a coffee break. If Koutarou had a husband, he certainly wouldn’t be so grumpy all the time.

And with a finishing touch, the room is staged and the subject is ready. Koutarou never paid much attention to who the subjects were. He didn’t really watch movies, could never focus on them. So Tsukishima usually just gives him the basic demographics and whether or not they’d be willing to go with Koutarou’s crazy plans. Tsukishima had grinned when he told Koutarou about this one.

“He’s known for taking risky roles. And he doesn’t care what people think. So I think you’ll get along great.”

Another reason for Koutarou’s buzzing mood. He lets out a little dance move. Today is gonna be great!

“Excuse me,” a soft voice interrupts Koutarou’s thoughts, “makeup said they were finished with me and sent me here.”

Koutarou spins around. He was even early! Great!

The beautiful man from the elevator gazes at Koutarou placidly, while Koutarou gapes like a fish at him. Well, at least his beauty will be good for the shoot, if not Koutarou’s dignity. The man offers him a small smile.

“Akaashi Keiji.”

Koutarou decides to power through. It’s always worked for him in the past! Shut up, Kuroo!

“I’m Bokuto Koutarou! Nice to meet you! I’m really excited about today. These are my favorite types of shoots because they let me have creative control. And Yamaguchi already took Tsukishima so I don’t have his dark clouds ruining my mood.”

The man’s small smile grows bigger as he listens to Koutarou ramble, and he follows easily as Koutarou guides him to the set and positions him how he wants him. They shoot for about 20 minutes before Koutarou calls for a break and moves some things around. He waves Akaashi over, enthusiasm not fading at all. He’s wiggling his body along with the movement, excitement finally bubbling up after being professional for a whole 20 minutes.

“Look! They look good!” Koutarou stops himself from dancing as Akaashi gets closer so the other man can look at the camera.

Akaashi’s hands softly take the camera from Koutarou.

“So you can keep dancing, while I look.”

Koutarou smiles sheepishly.

“Sorry, Akaashi. I’m just excited. And was excited before. And this morning.”

Akaashi smiles at him, open and wide and realer than anything he turned on for the camera.

“I know, Bokuto-san. It’s a good thing,” he gestures towards the set changing around them, “your art is just as vibrant as your personality.”

And just like that the man hands Koutarou’s camera back and walks away like he didn’t just drop that bomb. Koutarou stands there stunned before he runs after the other man.

“Akaaashiii! Did you mean that??? I’ll dance more!”

FILL: Seijoh Third Years, T

[rronanllynch]

Title: touch the sky
Ship/Character: Hinata Shouyou/Kozume Kenma
Additional Characters: Kuroo Tetsurou
Fandom: Haikyuu
Major Tags: None
Other Tags: very liberal interpretation of circus, meet cute, acrobat hinata,
Word Count: 478
Remix Permission: See Permissions Sheet

i've never written kenhina before! i just love their canon first meeting and wanted to give them another cute first meeting :)

***


Kenma drags his feet as Kuroo tugs him through the carnival, weaving them both between rows of tents and food stands before depositing Kenma in a corner. Kenma has yet to look up from his DS.

“Stay here, I’m going to find Bokuto and then we’re gonna get food.”

Kenma shrugs before turning back to his game. Where was he going to go anyway? He doesn’t even want to be here.

“Step right up, to see the amazing Little Crow. He can fly!”

Despite himself, Kenma is intrigued, and looks up to see a slackline set up between two tents with a crowd forming around it. He doesn’t move closer. Instead he watches with rapt attention as a small redhead easily balances on the line, addressing the crowd.

“I am Hinata Shouyou! And I can touch the sky!”

And then he jumps into the air and flips twice, landing neatly onto the slackline.

Kenma’s heart soared into the air with him, and it settles in his stomach with a plop when the boy—Shouyou—lands. He watches like that, video game forgotten next to him for the next fifteen minutes before Shoyou does an elaborate flip and takes a deep bow. He high fives the two boys that come to pack up the slackline and set up a stage for fire breathing or something, but Kenma’s already lost interest. He picks up his game and goes back to it, but his mind stays on the boy’s sunny smile.

A few minutes or hours later, he feels the air around him move to allow for another person to sit on the grass next to him. He ignores them.

“Whatcha playing?”

Kenma’s eyes snap up to see the sun himself, chewing on a granola bar and wearing a simple t-shirt instead of his flashy performing gear. Without thinking Kenma glances between the boy next to him and the spot where he was performing and then back to the boy. His grin is blinding.

“Did you see me perform!? I was like whah! And then blam! I almost fell off, did you see that one? Did you like it?”

Kenma blinks slowly at the boy.

“Yes, Shouyou, I liked it.”

The grin never fades. Kenma’s pretty sure he’s never smiled that much in his entire life, let alone one conversation.

“Agh! You remembered my name. You must have really liked it then,” the boy pauses but continues when he sees that Kenma isn’t going to respond, “what’s your name?”

Kenma pauses his game, turning to give Shouyou his full attention.
“Kenma.”

Shouyou jumps up, holding his hand out.

“Come on, Kenma! I can show you around.”

Kenma looks between his game and Shouyou, before giving in and letting Shouyou pull him up and into a maze of tents. Except instead of reluctantly like when Kuroo drags him around, Kenma grips Shouyou’s hand tightly.

FILL: Seijoh Third Years, T

[rronanllynch]

Title: under purple skies
Ship/Character: Oikawa Tooru/Iwaizumi Hajime
Additional Characters: None
Fandom: Haikyuu
Major Tags: None
Other Tags: confessions, first kiss, stargazing, give iwa a truck 2020
Word Count: 560
Remix Permission: See Permissions Sheet

"And I confessed, confessed to you
Riding shotgun underneath the purple skies"

***

Tooru hates driving in Iwaizumi’s truck. It’s a thousand years old and could fall apart at any second and he always plays shitty pop punk music from 2007. He won’t even let Tooru choose the songs! Ever! And he makes Tooru pay for gas.

Tooru loves driving in Iwaizumi’s truck. It smells like Iwaizumi and their childhood and always a little bit like gasoline. The bed is always clean because Iwaizumi is a nerd but that means that they can spread out blankets and look at the stars. And maybe sometimes the 2007 pop punk is okay. Sometimes. And sometimes he’ll buy Tooru snacks from the gas station, and it’ll make up for Tooru having to buy gas.

Except this time, unlike every other time they’ve driven in Iwaizumi’s truck, is different. This time they’re going to camp out for the night. This time they’re graduating tomorrow. This time everything is going to change.

This time Tooru is going to confess.

Sure, he’s thought about confessing before. Last week, when they went to get ramen. The week before, after they played volleyball in the park until it was pitch dark. Months ago, when they lost to Karasuno. But tonight is definite. Tonight is going to happen. Tonight is his last chance.

Iwaizumi flips through his ipod at a stoplight before he settles on a song, the familiar melody filling the truck around them.
Iwaizumi is singing along quietly, and even though he’s trying to be subtle Tooru can still hear it and he hides his smile in his hand. This, this little stuff that no one else ever sees. That’s what Tooru loves about him. And tonight he’s gonna tell him. No, really, he is.

You were the song stuck in my head
Every song I've ever loved

They make eye contact as Iwaizumi sings along, and Tooru tries to have it mean anything. Tries not to hope. But he’s always been foolish and he hopes anyway. He continues hoping, as they park on the top of the look out, sky turning shades of sunset.

He hopes, as they unpack their snacks and their blankets and his laptop with a movie already downloaded on it. He hopes, as Iwaizumi hands him a few ice cold beers he snuck out of his parents house.

And he hopes and he hopes until he’s so full of it, he can’t help but blurt it out underneath the setting sun.

“I love you, Hajime”

Iwaizumi extracts himself from the truck so quickly he hits his head on the roof.

“Fuck.”

Iwaizumi rushes around to the truck bed.

“Seriously?”

His eyes reflect the sky above them perfectly.

“Duh, Iwa-chan, or are you hard of hearing in addition to being stupid?” Tooru grins at him before he’s tackled to the truck bed and Iwaizumi is giving him a noogie.

“You can’t just say that and then insult me! Tooru, don’t be an idiot!”

Tooru’s retort dies on his lips.

“You called me Tooru.”

Iwaizumi stops messing up Tooru’s hair to lean over him, elbows bracketing his head.

“Well, I-” Iwaizumi’s voice softens, “Yeah, I did. I love you too, Tooru. How could you think I wouldn’t?”

Tooru decides to save his witty retorts to that for later, and instead pulls Iwaizumi down for a kiss, the first of many they’d share under the stars that night.

FILL: Team 29 Balls to the Face, T

[joshllyman]

Title: the way you taught me
Ship/Character: Akaashi Keiji/Bokuto Koutarou/Kuroo Tetsurou
Additional Characters: none
Fandom: Haikyuu!!
Major Tags: none
Other Tags: i have been told this qualifies as "heavy" angst, proceed with caution i guess, alternate universe - fantasy, polyamory
Word Count: 1398
Remix Permission: See Permissions Sheet

sequel to the weight of water

***

It’s early fall and there’s a gentle rain coming down outside the cabin.

Keiji is wrapped in Koutarou’s arms. Tetsurou has his eye on both of them as he leans against the counter in the kitchen, waiting for the kettle to boil. Keiji’s eyes are deep blue today, and he has smiled more than Tetsurou can remember ever having seen before. Every few minutes, he chances a glance out the window, but the rain seems to be a temporarily permanent fixture.

Beside him, the kettle starts to scream. Keiji’s soft laughter carries across the cabin as he jumps slightly at the noise. Koutarou was too caught up in Keiji to notice.

When the tea is done steeping, Tetsurou will politely offer a cup to Keiji and Keiji will politely decline, as always. Tetsurou has never asked what Keiji eats or drinks. He’s not sure he wants to know.

Koutarou prefers citrusy flavors.

While it sits, Tetsurou crosses the room and nudges Keiji’s feet out of the way so he can occupy the sliver of cushion not taken by his lovers. Keiji immediately replaces his feet in Tetsurou’s lap; they’re currently covered in a pair of Koutarou’s socks, and his right pinky toe is sticking out of a hole in the fabric. Tetsurou lightly grasps Keiji’s ankle with his hand.

“Tetsu.”

Tetsurou looks up sharply, afraid he’s done something to disturb Keiji. But Keiji’s eyes are soft; his head is resting against Koutarou’s chest, and Koutarou has his nose pressed into the hair behind his ear.

“Yeah?”

“It’s going to rain all night.”

Koutarou opens his eyes; he opens his mouth too, to say something, but changes his mind and looks at Tetsurou. Tetsurou feels the weight of both of their gazes heavy in his bones. Questions form rapidly inside his mind, arranging themselves in a list, sorted from most important to least. He chooses one down at the bottom.

“I’ve always wondered how you know,” he says lightly. He turns his gaze intentionally toward the window and watches rivulets drip down from the top to the bottom. “How long it’s going to rain, I mean.”

“I can feel it,” Keiji answers. “I could go into detail, but it’s not the most precise of sciences even amongst those familiar with...my anatomy.”

There’s nothing quite like a preternatural sense of the weather to remind him that his partner isn’t human.

“I’d say we’re pretty familiar with your anatomy,” he says, and that earns a snort from Koutarou.

Keiji smiles. Tetsurou can see the tension in his shoulders. He grips Keiji’s ankle a little tighter.

“I’m not expected anywhere tomorrow,” Keiji says. Trepidation in his voice, and the slightest bit of hope. More questions, endless questions. Tetsurou’s list becomes numbered and lettered with sub-questions and follow-ups.

“Are you asking if you can stay the night?” Koutarou asks.

Keiji takes a deep breath. “If I wouldn’t be a burden, and if you don’t mind if I share the space—”

“Of course you’re not a burden,” Koutarou interrupts. He hugs Keiji’s waist tightly. Keiji’s eyes are still trained on Tetsurou, as if it’s his decision to make.

“Stay,” Tetsurou says firmly. His heart skips a beat, and he takes a moment to bury the feeling of hope soaring in his chest. It’s only for the night, he takes care to remind himself.

Keiji looks back and forth between Koutarou and Tetsurou. After a moment, he lets out a breath, and the line of his shoulders sags with relief.

“Alright,” he says quietly. “I’ll stay.”

---

Tetsurou can only hope Keiji doesn’t mind sleeping in the middle, because Koutarou had more or less insisted on it. He’s generally in the middle when they’re in bed together, anyway, but a whole night of sleeping is far different from an hour or two of cuddling.

He’s got his back pressed to Tetsurou’s chest. Tetsurou’s hand is draped lightly around his waist. Equal parts fear and hope slosh around in Tetsurou’s stomach, a constant stream of thoughts parading around in his brain.

Koutarou shines in the dark of the night, his sleepy smile illuminating his face. Tetsurou can see where his hand is linked with Keiji’s in the tiny space between their bodies.

“Can you pull the blanket over us?” Keiji whispers, turning his head slightly to direct his words at Tetsurou.

“You’re not too warm between us?”

“I’m quite cold, actually.”

Koutarou takes that as a cue to scoot a little closer. Tetsurou pulls the blanket over all three of them. Keiji sticks one of his feet, the only part of him still clothed, between Tetsurou’s calves, and Tetsurou can feel how cold it is even through Koutarou’s ratty old sock.

Tetsurou runs a hand along the hard plane of Keiji’s stomach, up to his chest, and down his arm. Keiji shivers underneath his touch.

“Tetsu,” he breathes, his voice coming out ragged.

Tetsurou lets his lips drag along the skin of Keiji’s shoulder. Koutarou grips Keiji’s hip; Tetsurou can feel his fingers between their bodies.

“Let’s warm you up, then,” Tetsurou murmurs.

Outside, there’s a flash of lightning.

---

The first thing Tetsurou notices when he wakes is the sunlight streaming in through the window.

He reaches up to scrub at his eyes. His hand drags along hard edges instead of soft curves.

“Keiji!”

Tetsurou scrambles backward, the blanket wrapping around his feet and tugging away from Keiji and Koutarou as he clambers out of bed. Keiji’s skin is gone, replaced by bluish-green scales. His hands are webbed, his fingers long and clawed. Koutarou’s socks are in tatters around Keiji’s elongated feet.

He’s never let them see him like this.

Tetsurou can’t help but think he’s beautiful.

Keiji turns over, his eyes already opened and filled with dread. Koutarou is stirring slowly, reaching out for them in his sleep.

“I have to go,” Keiji whispers.

Tetsurou’s throat is dry, and his tongue is stuck to the roof of his mouth, and all he can do is nod. Keiji looks at him for a moment, and if Tetsurou didn’t know better, he’d think there were tears forming in Keiji’s eyes. When he turns back to Koutarou, his hand twitches at his side.

Stay, Tetsurou thinks.

Keiji swings his legs out of the bed. “I can’t—Tetsurou, I can’t—”

Wordlessly, Tetsurou slips on the shorts that Koutarou had discarded on the floor the night before. He kneels down and lifts Keiji under the knees. Keiji wraps his arms around Tetsurou’s neck, too loose, and Tetsurou stands. He stills for a moment, looking at Koutarou. Keiji turns his head away.

“I don’t want him to see me like this,” he murmurs.

“Please,” Tetsurou says.

Keiji turns his head into Tetsurou’s chest.

The ocean is exactly thirty-seven steps from Tetsurou and Koutarou’s front door. Koutarou had counted once, childlike and innocent, when they’d first found the little cabin they now call home. Tetsurou counts each step now, and in his mind he pleads with Keiji to tell him to turn around, to at least give Koutarou a chance to say goodbye.

Keiji never does.

Tetsurou takes three extra steps into the ocean before kneeling down. The waves roll gently into his waist as he sets Keiji in the water.

Keiji dips his head underwater and comes back up. Drops of the ocean run down his skin like rain running down the window. He won’t look Tetsurou in the eyes.

“I’m sorry,” he says. Out here his voice is different, a little louder and a little harsher. Waves slapping against the side of a cliff. “I never meant for you to see this.”

“You don’t need to apologize, Keiji—”

“Tell Koutarou...tell him I’m sorry.”

“Wait—please, don’t go yet—”

Keiji dunks underwater and doesn’t resurface.

Tetsurou kneels in the ocean and wonders if Keiji will ever come back. When he turns back to the cabin, sorrow wades right along with him.

---

“You can’t go too near the ocean on rainy days,” his mother said.

Tetsurou laughed. “Why not, mama?”

His mother looked stern. “There’s monsters in that ocean, child. They want to lure you in so they can kill you.”

Even when he was young, he was skeptical. He crossed his arms over his chest. “How do they do that?”

His mother kneeled down. Her eyes were serious when they met his. “Tetsurou...they’ll take your heart right out of your chest.”

Re: Fill: Team Grandstand, G

[stariceling]

This is so much fun. Tanaka's enthusiasm! I love how you've written their dynamic. I can just see the day's little grudge match continuing from there.

Fill: Team Grandstand, T

[oaktoont]

Title: cross my heart
Ship/Character: Takigawa Chris Yuu/Miyuki Kazuya
Additional Characters: None
Fandom: Daiya no Ace
Major Tags: None
Other Tags: Canon Compliant, Little Bit of Angst and a Little Bit of Fluff
Word Count: 796
Remix Permission: See Permissions Sheet

Also posted to Ao3.

***

Miyuki didn’t know if he should laugh or cry.

This game had been his last chance at beating Takigawa Chris Yuu while they were both in Middle School. And it had ended like their games against each other always ended. In Miyuki’s total and complete defeat.

Miyuki accepted his defeat. What he didn’t accept was that this was the end.

Which was why he found himself crossing the field. Walking right up to Takigawa as he said, “I’m going to beat you one day.”

Takigawa paused in packing up his gear and glanced over his shoulder. And he smirked. And if that wasn’t annoying enough he asked, “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Takigawa zipped up his duffle bag and tossed it over his shoulder. He turned to face Miyuki and Miyuki hated that he looked so amused. “I’m going to Seido.”

Of course he was. Takigawa had been scouted by Seido since Miyuki was a First Year.

Miyuki huffed. “Why does that matter?”

“Well, if you were to go to Seido too we’d get a chance to fight for the starting catcher spot.”

It took a moment for those words to sink in, but when they did Miyuki let out a surprised laugh. “Yeah? You promise?”

Takigawa grinned as he adjusted the strap on his shoulder and said in English, “Cross my heart.”

And he left Miyuki gaping after him. Because...because…

“What the hell does that mean?”

---

Miyuki had done more research into English idioms than he liked to admit, but he eventually figured out what Chris had said to him back in Middle School.

For all of the good that it did him now.

Chris carried himself carefully now. Now that his arm was in a sling.

Miyuki wanted to be mad at Chris for hiding his injury for so long. It was a purely selfish thought. One that Miyuki shoved aside. That wasn’t what the team needed. That wasn’t what Chris needed.

It wasn’t lost on Miyuki how Chris seemed to be fading away. The presence that used to be so central to Miyuki’s life had been relegated to shadows. His presence reduced to short glimpses caught out of the corner of the eye.

And the thing was...Miyuki didn’t blame Chris. The weight of the world had crushed him. And Miyuki didn’t know what to do or say...because it could have easily been him.

What Miyuki could do was drop to his knee when the books Chris was carrying with his one good shoulder/arm/wrist/hand slipped and clattered to the floor of the hallway. Miyuki picked the books off the ground and he looked up as he handed them to Chris. And Chris looked back at him...almost uncomprehending. And Miyuki forced himself to not look away.

Chris gave a short nod of thanks before continuing down the hall towards the dorms.

Miyuki let him go...but he wondered if Chris remembered the promise they had made as kids.

It had been a childish thing for them to do.

And they weren’t children anymore.

---

Miyuki wasn’t good at goodbyes.

He could put his formal blazer and his dress shoes on. He could put a smile on his face. He could go with the rest of the Second and First Years to the graduation ceremony. He understood the part that he had to play. He could go through the motions.

But for the first time...he didn’t want to.

For the first time, he wished he had the words to sum up the past two years at Seido. The frustration and the sadness and the excitement and the joy--the joy of playing baseball with this team. This team that had been unlike any other team Miyuki had been a part of.

But he didn’t have the words and never would. And Miyuki was too practical to let himself linger on regret.

Reminiscing wasn’t a luxury he could afford. With the Third Years graduating Seido’s team would look vastly different. They were losing all of the heavy hitters in their lineup. That meant next year the team would be strongly dependent on its defense--and on the pitching of their First Years. And that wasn’t as scary of a thought as it used to be.

Chris had made sure of that.

Miyuki stood off to the side as he watched the rest of the team mingle but his eyes drifted to Chris.

Chris stood on the other side of the crowd next to Tetsu and Masuko. He looked to be in the middle of a conversation when he turned--and his eyes met Miyuki’s. And Miyuki couldn’t look away even if he wanted to. Not when Chris smiled at him.

And lifted a finger to cross his heart with an X.

Re: FILL: Team Seijoh Third Years

[oaktoont]

Oh my gosh, I love them and I love the idea of them being ridiculous first years together. Thank you for another amazing fill!

PROMPT: Team Grandstand

[starianprincess]

Ship/Character: Mitsui/Kogure, Sakuragi/Rukawa, Sendoh/Rukawa, Mitsui/Rukawa, Sendoh/Rukawa/Sakuragi
Fandom: Slam Dunk
Major Tags: None
Additional Tags: maybe scars, alcohol, Mitsu's potty mouth, Sendoh being lethal
Do Not Wants: death, character/ship bashing, poop, golden showers, vomit

Prompt: show me yours

PROMPT: Team Grandstand

[starianprincess]

Ship/Character: Inui/Kikumaru, Atobe/Tezuka, Atobe/Hiyoshi, Yanagi/Kirihara, Momoshiro/Kaidoh, Mizuki/Yuuta, I'd prefer the ships I listed but feel free to choose any of your own
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Major Tags: Underage Characters (possibly)
Additional Tags: Inui Juice, Atobe Keigo, mischief and hijinks, boys being boys
Do Not Wants: death, character/ship bashing, poop, golden showers, vomit

Prompt: our little secret