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sportsanime2017-06-11 06:56 pm
referees) wrote in sportsanime2017-06-11 06:56 pm
Entry tags:
Bonus Round 2: Tic-Tac-Toe
Please read this whole post before commenting to ensure that your team gets the most points possible. There's a lot of text here, but if you read carefully and follow the instructions step by step, you will be okay.
RULES
Please refer to the first comment thread of this post for an example of how this round works.PROMPTING
- Select a ship to create your prompt card about. Platonic relationships are indicated by an "&" between the names (e.g., Haruki & Kazuma). Non-platonic relationships use "/" (e.g., Haruki/Kazuma). Please don't say "Any pairing," either!
- Visit this card generator.
- Here is a visual guide to using it.
- The large text box is where you can list prompts if you have your own ideas. Please list at least 9 prompts; you can list more if you want. (The generator says you need at least 24, but it's lying.) Single words or short phrases are better than sentences.
- Otherwise, you can use the dropdown menu found right below it. Note: some of these prompts lists are NSFW. (NSFW prompts are a-ok as long as you tag for it.) If you don't like some of the options that appear in a prompt list, you can delete them.
- Text prompts only, please. Also, each card square must be unique—don't list the same prompt 9 times.
- In "Configuration Options," make sure you select 3x3 and (Normal prompt). This is the most important step!
- Leave the tic-tac-toe card with its default colors, so everyone can read it clearly.
- Click the "Create a bingo card" button.
- Scroll down to see the card that was created for you. If you don't like the prompts it picked, you can reroll by clicking "Create a bingo card" again.
- When you're satisfied, scroll further down the page until you see a textarea box full of HTML.
- Copy and paste the HTML from the box and into the body of your prompt comment, then post!
FILLING
Fill prompts by selecting an individual square to create fanwork for, then leaving a responding comment to the prompt with your newly-created work. (Optional:) If you can fill three squares from a prompt in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line, you get a tic-tac-toe (and an additional point bonus)! You can also just fill prompts as you please and get standard points.
- Prompt squares are labeled as follows:
A1 B1 C1 A2 B2 C2 A3 B3 C3 - If you're trying for tic-tac-toe, you cannot combine squares into one fill. If your fill can satisfy multiple squares, pick the most relevant square: e.g., one square is sailing and another is pirates and you make a fill about pirates sailing, it's mostly pirates so put down the pirates square.
- Each fill must stand alone as an individual piece, but all your fills can slot into a larger universe if you'd like.
- You cannot fill a prompt square more than once, but you can fill every square on a tic tac toe card if you want to.
- You cannot work with your teammates to get a tic-tac-toe. Only individually achieved tic-tac-toes get the bonus.
- Multiple people can fill the same prompt square. You cannot "block" others from getting tic-tac-toe.
- Remember to also follow the general bonus round rules, outlined here.
- Here is a prompt/fill index for your convenience.
FORMAT
Bonus round shenanigans all happen in the comments below. Brand-new works only, please.Required Work Minimums:
- 400 words (prose)
- 400px by 400px (art/images)
- 14 lines (poetry)
Format your comment in one of the following ways:
| If PROMPTING: | If FILLING: | If FILLING as a TEAM GRANDSTAND participant: |
PROMPT: TEAM [YOUR SHIP]
| FILL: TEAM [YOUR SHIP], [SQUARE], [RATING]
| FILL: TEAM GRANDSTAND, [SQUARE], [RATING]
|
Posts not using this format will be understood to be unofficial discussion posts, regardless of what they contain. They, like all comments in this community, are subject to the code of conduct.
If you see anyone breaking the code of conduct (e.g., causing drama, being rude) anywhere (not just DW), please contact the mods immediately.
SCORING
These numbers apply to your team as a whole, not each individual teammate. Make as many prompts/fills as you want!For prompts: 5 points for each tic-tac-toe card (maximum of 50 prompt points per team per round)
For fills:First 4 fills by any member of your team: 20 points each
Fills 5-10: 15 points each
Fills 11-20: 5 points each
Fills 21-50: 2 points each
Fills 51+: 1 point each
Tic-tac-toe Bonus: 2 points each for the first 12 achieved by your team
All scored content must be created new for this round.
Etc.
If you're hunting through the prompts looking for what to fill, a good trick is to view top-level comments only (see the line of links below this post).Have a question? Check The FAQ first. If you still need help, feel free to contact the mods. Happy fanworking!
PROMPT: TEAM PRINCE OF TENNIS
Fandom: yowamushi pedal
Major Tags: none.
Other Tags: honestly these are all just ygo abridged quotes
Prompt:
FILL: TEAM KAGEYAMA TOBIO/OIKAWA TOORU, C1, G
Fandom: yowapeda
Major tags: none
Other tags: talk about personal finances, future fic
Square: screw the rules! i have money!!
Word count: 466
***
Naruko's old Toshiba officially dies on a Friday, when he's surfing niconico. "Ack!" He throws both hands to his head and nearly falls off his stool at the kitchen counter until Imaizumi comes over and gently sets his own iPad in front of Naruko.
"Just use this," Imaizumi says, which should have been the end of it.
It's not, because the iPad is sitting perfectly on Imaizumi's desk when he comes back from practice the next day. Naruko is already gone by them, and a cursory glance at their calendar says he's off to a team event in Yokohama. Imaizumi almost laughs because in their four years of dating and two years of cohabiting, Naruko has very rarely put remote controls, spice bottles, and clothes where they belong. Despite having a cleaner come in twice a month, Imaizumi still finds red Kamen Rider action figures and magazines where they don't belong.
After that, Naruko defaults to using his smartphone for everything. It's not a bad idea, but his red Toshiba still sits on the coffee table. It's covered by stickers and almost unrecognizable from the laptop Naruko had bought with his first official league paycheck. Imaizumi spends a week staring at it before taking action.
"What's this?" Naruko asks when the new Macbook Air gets delivered to their apartment. He's spread out across the couch with his hair spilling over the side arms, looking very much like the 15-year-old Imaizumi had first met at cycling club practice. "Something from your mom?"
"Something for you." Imaizumi says, and hands the box over. He watches patiently as Naruko's confusion turns to excitement, then to something more subdued.
"Ah, hotshot," Naruko says softly. "You didn't have to get me this."
Imaizumi raises an eyebrow. "You needed it."
"This is so expensive!" Naruko adds, cradling the laptop like it's a baby. "You could've just gotten something cheaper!"
"I wanted you to have this."
This makes Naruko pout. Even after becoming a professional athlete, Naruko hardly spends money on anything besides his bike. Even that is mostly covered by his team now. They'd fought, in the beginning, about paying rent until Imaizumi revealed that he had bought out their apartment in Ueno. Imaizumi knows that Naruko sends most of his money home to his parents and siblings, and he tries not to make Naruko uncomfortable with his standard of living.
"I wanted you to have something nice," Imaizumi explains slowly. He pauses when Naruko sets the laptop down and makes a grabby hand motion at Imaizumi.
Naruko waits for Imaizumi to step into his space before headbutting Imaizumi's chest. "Aw, hotshot! You're already the nicest thing in my life!" He pauses. "Now we just gotta find a red case for this!"
Imaizumi just smiles into Naruko's hair. Some things never change.
Re: FILL: TEAM KAGEYAMA TOBIO/OIKAWA TOORU, C1, G
Re: FILL: TEAM KAGEYAMA TOBIO/OIKAWA TOORU, C1, G
FILL: TEAM KAGEYAMA TOBIO/OIKAWA TOORU, A3, T
Fandom: yowapeda
Major tags: none
Other tags: ikemen auction, art club nude model
Square: we're both hot! hot hot hot! we are quite sexy!
Word count: 910
rip Imai
***
By the time Kanzaki comes over to readjust Imaizumi's jacket, he has already voiced his scorn a hundred times in his head. "This is your fault," he tells her seriously and frowns when she laughs.
"Sure," Kanzaki says. "Good luck out there!"
Someone from the student council comes over then, holding a clipboard. "Cycling club. Are you ready for the auction?"
"Yes," Kanzaki answers for Imaizumi.
"The girls in the crowd have been going wild," a theater club sound tech adds from behind them. "They're all saying something about number..." Her eyes land on Imaizumi's button. "Six. Yes. You."
Imaizumi would like to blame the following people for his current predicament:
Kanzaki, for bringing the school festival's annual Date-An-Ikemen charity fundraiser to Teshima's attention.
Teshima, for telling the student council representative that the cycling club has quite a number of "elites" to auction off for money.
And finally, Naruko, for being so indignant at the prospect that he didn't get picked by Teshima that he starts an argument challenging Imaizumi's qualifications that ended with Imaizumi shouting "Of course I can do it!"
Then Kanzaki had the nerve to tell Imaizumi's fanclub (whose existence he's still ignoring two years into his high school career) about the auction, which resulted in an embarrassingly public rumor mill about everyone who wanted to bid on him. Onoda had helpfully told Imaizumi that the president of the art club planned on winning the auction to make Imaizumi model nude for them, at which point Imaizumi's soul left his body for the nth time until his head was filled with nothing but the dying sounds of Naruko cackling in the distance.
Now Imaizumi is here, tugging uncomfortably at his tie as one of the organizers push him onto stage. If possible, the crowd gets louder as Imaizumi spots classmates, teachers, and strangers in the audience. He hates noise and he hates school festivals. But more than anything, Imaizumi hates the feeling of anxiousness at the pit of his stomach as the MC outlines Imaizumi's life story ("Cycling club ace! Handsome! Tall! His ideal type is someone smaller and louder than him!" Which, Imaizumi has never told anyone, so he's not even sure how Kanzaki knew to supply this info to the MC).
"Now you can win a date with him!" The MC continues. "The bidding starts at 1000 yen!"
"2000!" A girl in pink shouts.
"2500!"
Someone in an unfamiliar uniform raises her hand. "3000!"
"3500!" Cries a voice that sounds suspiciously like Teshima-senpai. Imaizumi is going to quit the team and transfer. He's going to-
"4500!"
"5000!" Says the president of the art club.
Imaizumi's headache is getting worse. He's probably hallucinating by the time Naruko appears at the front of the crowd and shouts. "8000!"
The audience, perhaps shocked that Imaizumi is being bid on by another boy, is only silent for a beat before the president of the art club speaks up again. "10000."
"Oi!" Naruko is pointing now as someone from the newspaper club appears with a wireless mic near him. "What's your deal!?"
The art club president is also intercepted by another person with a mic. She accepts it rapidly and glares at Naruko. "We want Imaizumi-kun to model for us! He is doing us a service." A group of girls around her nod knowingly.
"Just sketch him from afar like you always do!" Naruko shouts into his own mic.
"Tha-that's not true! Why do you need to bid on Imaizumi-kun anyway? You spend all your time with him."
Naruko turns almost as red as his hair. Still, he's displaying the same stubbornness that got Imaizumi into this mess in the first place. "DOES NOT!"
"Does too!!"
The MC, for the most part, seems to be enjoying the commotion. Imaizumi wonders if he can sneak off the stage and disappear from the festival and life before anyone notices. A cursory glance at the exit reveals that Kanzaki is blocking it off while watching the exchange with wide eyes.
"We need Imaizumi-kun!" The art club present says decidedly. "He's going to be our model."
"WELL HE'S GOING TO BE MY BOYFRIEND!" Naruko screams.
This leaves the crowd completely baffled. Even Naruko's opponent seems to be lacking words until the MC announces, "The winner is Class 2-E's Naruko-kun!"
Later, after Imaizumi has left the stage and gone to hide in an empty classroom, Naruko appears with his winning ticket. "Look happy, hotshot! I just saved you!"
Imaizumi is so, so tired. Yet, he looks up and says, quietly, "You called me your boyfriend." In the months they've spent going home together, holding hands, kissing, laughing, and fighting... Naruko has never once put a label on their relationship.
"My soon to be boyfriend," Naruko corrects. "Eh... If you want."
"I want-" Imaizumi trails off. He wants a lot of things: to stop being put into embarrassing situations, to stop succumbing to his misplaced anxiety, and to win the interhigh again. But now, more than anything else, he wants a hug from Naruko. "Yes."
Naruko seems to read his mind as he throws an arm around Imaizumi. "Don't stress out! I'm here!"
"Okay," Imaizumi says. Familiar fondness for Naruko begin to replace his nerves, and Imazumi finds himself leaning into Naruko's embrace.
"Sorry if I cost you some fangirls," Naruko adds as an afterthought for having just publicly outed them.
Imaizumi is not sorry about that at all, yet he accepts Naruko's consolatory kiss regardless.
FILL: TEAM KAGEYAMA TOBIO/OIKAWA TOORU, B2, T
Fandom: yowapeda
Major tags: implied sexual content
Other tags: genderswap
Square: my breasts are not fake!
Word count: 819
Im so gay
***
Naruko is wearing a sports bra that's too small for her again. It had been pretty obvious during lunch, when Naruko had run face-first into Imaizumi's back after snatching the last batch of curry pan from the cafeteria. Now, with Naruko's jersey zipped halfway down to reveal the rise of her hot red sports bra, Imaizumi is officially suffering.
"Staring is rude, you know," Teshima hums pleasantly after Naruko rides off with Aoyagi. She laughs when Imaizumi gives her a look of alarm. "I see even elites have weaknesses."
"Senpai-" Imaizumi tries to argue, but finds that she has nothing valid to say. Instead, she hops onto her own bike and ignores Kanzaki's quiet laughter behind them. Riding will take her mind off all this, she thinks.
Instead, Imaizumi has the misfortune of being paired with Kaburagi, who babbles on about how much time she's shaved off her climb. Imaizumi does her best to focus on the road, but her mind eventually wanders to the cute tiger motif on Naruko's endless collection of sports bras that she basically lives in. The thought of it spurs Imaizumi into action, and she gets that last kick of adrenaline and leaves Kaburagi behind towards the end of their route. Imaizumi arrives back at the club house just in time to see Naruko still in practice clothes, with her bag across her shoulders.
"Oi, hotshot-" Naruko starts to say.
"Race you to the lamp," Imaizumi replies, which sends Naruko into a familiar cackle. "Loser buys dinner."
"What about your bag, Imaizumi-kun?" Onoda asks behind the glare of her glasses.
Imaizumi waits two beats as Naruko remounts her Pinarello. "My driver has my stuff. See you tomorrow, Onoda."
"Bye, Onoda-chan!" Naruko shouts before taking off, prompting Imaizumi to follow.
The race to the lamp is their standard post-practice cool down. It's short enough that their records are pretty evenly tied, but Imaizumi still smiles to herself when Naruko beats her by a sliver. "Come to my house, then. I'll order delivery."
"Score!" Naruko throws her hands into the air in victory.
By the time they get to the house, Imaizumi is already covered in a layer of sweat. Still, she lets Naruko use her bathroom and goes downstairs to use the guest one instead. They're both showered and clean in record time, and Naruko's hair is almost half-dry by the time Imaizumi finishes combing out her own locks.
While Imaizumi puts in an order for pizza, Naruko busies herself with touching everything in Imaizumi's room. It's a habit of Naruko's, even though she visits so often that even Imaizumi's sister has gotten over the surprise of seeing someone wandering around their empty home in Imaizumi's old t-shirts.
Today, Naruko has stolen Imaizumi's middle school club shirt. It's fading and pilling, but still manages to look big on Naruko's small frame. The blue of the logo, however, looks nice contrasted against Naruko's tan skin and red hair.
The only problem is that Naruko is not wearing a bra. Again.
Naruko knows this too, and she uses it to her advantage to plop down on Imaizumi's lap and knock Imaizumi's cellphone away.
"There are other places to sit, you know," Imaizumi says, but stops complaining when Naruko loops her arms around Imaizumi's neck. "Delivery will be here in twenty minutes."
Naruko just grins. "That's plenty of time, hotshot."
"Time for what?" Imaizumi tries to sound casual.
"For you to admire my beauty," Naruko says. She grabs one of Imaizumi's hands and brings it to her own chest, laughing when Imaizumi automatically cups Naruko’s breast through her shirt. "Kakaka! I knew you've been dying to do that."
Imaizumi can feel her face heat up. "I have not." Instinctively, she leans in closer. Naruko is so small. She's rough around the edges but soft where it counts. Imaizumi doesn't understand how Naruko can aggressively elbow her so hard during class yet revert to hugging her moments later, the swell of Naruko's chest pressing against Imaizumi and making her forget whatever made her mad in the first place.
"Your hair is getting long," Naruko says, bringing Imaizumi back to the present. Naruko's free hand is playing with the end of Imaizumi's damp hair, twirling it around her nimble fingers.
"Short hair is harder to put up," Imaizumi replies absently. She knows, that Naruko knows, that there are a handful of photos of Imaizumi with short hair spread out through the living room. Naruko had found them on her first visit and cackled over how cute "baby hotshot" looked.
Naruko isn't cackling now. She's grinning with a familiar light in her eyes. "But you look best with that bunny headband."
Recognition flashes back to Imaizumi as she remembers the last time her bangs had gotten in the way of their activities. If possible, Imaizumi turns more red.
"Relax," Naruko says slyly. "That can wait for after dinner."
Imaizumi just nods.
FILL: TEAM KAGEYAMA TOBIO/OIKAWA TOORU, A1, G
Fandom: yowapeda
Major tags: none
Other tags: REDBLUE IS SO GOOD IT'S JUST SO GOOD
Square: the following cartoon is based on real events.
Word count: 430
***
"I like Kotaro-kun," Naruko says before Imaizumi's shock has even worn off. "He seems like a fine fella."
"He's annoying, like you," Imaizumi replies as he tries to digest the new development. How can Love Hime throw in a twist like this? Does this mean Arimaru is no longer the main love interest? After the events from last season, maybe the showrunners are now trying to change Arimaru from a lover and rival role to something more meaningful? He really wishes there was a source content manga to reference. He wishes-
Naruko's huff interrupts him. He's peeling the tangerines that Imaizumi's housekeeper had brought up. "I'm not annoying! And I bet Onoda-kun agrees with me."
Onoda is in Hakone for the weekend, but Imaizumi suspects he'll message them shortly to discuss the contents of today's episode. "Onoda likes everything," Imaizumi replies easily. "Even Arimaru."
"Yeah! Because Arimaru reminds him of you, Hotshot!" Naruko throws a piece of tangerine into his mouth and has the audacity to keep talking with his mouth full. "You're both snobby and plotty and emo kakaka-" His cackle turns into coughing midway.
Imaizumi sighs and pats absently at Naruko's back. "Don't hurt yourself." It's half sarcasm and half concern, because this isn't the first time Naruko has choked on his food. Imaizumi doesn't want a repeat of the time Aoyagi had to perform the heimlich on Naruko, bambi-style. "And I'm not emo."
Naruko just sighs and drapes himself over Imaizumi's back. His breath smells faintly of tangerines as he sets his head on Imaizumi's shoulder, Naruko's hair brushing against Imaizumi's neck. "You worry too much, just like Arimaru! Live a little, Hotshot! I'm here!"
"You're here too often," Imaizumi mumbles, which is a total lie. He likes it when Naruko comes over during Love Hime episodes. He likes the little notes Naruko leaves on Imaizumi's family whiteboard, which no one has used to jot down their schedule in years. He likes finding traces of Naruko in his room, from bike models Naruko has rearranged into action scenes with Imaizumi's older kamen rider figures, to strands of red hair left across Imaizumi's pillow. Imaizumi, probably, just likes Naruko.
Naruko makes a soft noise against the back of Imaizumi's neck. He's heavy, not like the weight of anxiety but more like comfort of a soft blanket on nights Imaizumi can't sleep. "Ya think Kotaro and Arimaru will get along?"
"Probably not," Imaizumi says and runs a hand through Naruko's hair. He smiles when Naruko starts humming. "But they will eventually."
Naruko just laughs in agreement. “Sounds about right.”
FILL: TEAM KAGEYAMA TOBIO/OIKAWA TOORU, B1, G
Fandom: yowapeda
Major tags: none
Other tags: genderswap, hogwarts au
Square: you can't fix all your problems by mind-crushing people!
Word count: 529
***
Naruko finds Imaizumi in the potions hall, where Imaizumi is staring resolutely into her steaming cauldron. The smoke billows out in a brownish hue that matches the bronze of Imaizumi's Ravenclaw tie. In another world, this would be a tranquil scene of Imaizumi framed by light from the setting sun coming through large casement windows.
Yet, to Naruko, Imaizumi just looks like any other harried fifth year scowling into her assignment.
"Why so blue, Hotshot?" Naruko asks as she hops onto an empty table. They both know that the potions master will throw a fit if he finds Naruko sitting on it. "Everyone is out celebrating that Slytherin and Hufflepuff match."
Imaizumi shoots Naruko a look that's half frustration and half helplessness. "I don't want to interact with people." Still, she makes no attempt to shoo Naruko out of her work space.
"So moody," Naruko comments. She's known Imaizumi long enough to identify one of her sullen moods. Imaizumi likes to overthink things and work herself into stressful circles. Naruko had learned this much in their first year at Hogwarts, when Gryffindor and Ravenclaw had been paired together in charms class. "Who annoyed you today?"
Imaizumi is silent for a beat as she stares at the bubbles on the surface of her concoction. "Boys won't stop confessing to me, and Kinjou-san says hexing suitors is unbecoming of a prefect."
This makes Naruko laugh. It doesn't surprise her that Imaizumi is popular, with her slim figure and silky long hair. Naruko doesn't have to sit through years of locker room chatter to know that Imaizumi is highly sought after. Yet, here she was, whacking anyone who dared to bring up Imaizumi's name in the Gryffindor locker room with her Cleansweep. "You can't fix all your problems by hexing people!"
Imaizumi mumbles something incoherent that gives Naruko pause.
"Wait! Are you brewing something nasty!?" Naruko leans in far enough to stick her face over the cauldron, and laughs when Imaizumi pushes her back. She grabs a hold of Imaizumi's long fingers and pulls her forward until Imaizumi is standing between Naruko's dangling legs. "Why don't you just tell them you're already dating Gryffindor's star seeker?"
"People will talk," Imaizumi says quietly. Yet, she doesn't let go of Naruko's hand. Imaizumi's shirt is pristine and smooth, unlike Naruko's ruffled blouse and loosened tie. Still, the faint splash of pink across Imaizumi's cheeks betrays her normally calm demeanor.
"I don't care what people say," Naruko declares. It's the truth. "I didn't come all the way to Hogwarts and wear this stupid robe to be told I can't date the hottest girl in school!"
Imaizumi flushes even more. "I'm not-"
"Yah, you totally are!" Naruko laughs as her hands land on Imaizumi's waist. "You're the prettiest and smartest witch and also the most ruthless chaser! I still have a scar from when you collided into me on the pitch, yanno!"
"That was an accident!" Imaizumi insists, but presses her hip against Naruko's leg anyways.
"You just wanted me to notice you!" Naruko cackles. "But don't worry! I always did!"
Imaizumi just smiles in return. It's a rare but genuine sight. "I know. Me too."
FILL: TEAM KAGEYAMA TOBIO/OIKAWA TOORU, A2, G
Fandom: yowapeda
Major tags: none
Other tags: ygo au, what's the difference between imaizumi and kaiba anyway
Square: your mother plays card games in hell
Word count: 602
***
Naruko and Imaizumi's relationship doesn't improve even after Duelist Kingdom. If, Naruko thinks, it can even be called a relationship. Onoda may be kind enough to forgive Imaizumi for his bouts of insanity and willingness to throw everything away for a card game, but Naruko would like to consider himself more sane. Sure, he's not disgustingly rich or the head of a tech empire like Moneybags, but Naruko considers himself a good friend who has his pals' back.
Friendship, unfortunately, is not enough to get him a qualifying spot in Battle City. This is ridiculous, because Naruko is just as good as Onoda at duel monsters! Well, Naruko amends, he may be almost as good as the winner of Duelist Kingdom. Onoda, at least, has the gracefulness not to rub his King of Games title over everyone else.
"Just ask Imaizumi-kun!" Kanzaki suggests again. "He's the creator of Battle City. He has the power to grant you entry."
Naruko rolls his eyes so hard they almost fall out of his head. "Sorry, Kanzaki-chan. There's no talking to that guy!"
Onoda looks up from organizing his deck. It's lunch time, and Imaizumi is skipping school again. Not that anyone in class misses him after his multi-channel announcement last night. "Imaizumi-kun isn't so bad, Naruko-kun."
"He's the worst," Naruko says instead.
The actual worst, Naruko thinks, had been going to the nearest tournament shop with Onoda and getting his duel disk request rejected.
This is why Naruko steps in front of Imaizumi’s limo the next morning and nearly gets run over. "Do you want to die?" Imaizumi asks when he emerges from the backseat, the tail of his blue trench coat flowing behind him like a benevolent shadow. He tugs Naruko up by one arm while the driver steps out.
"Imaizumi-sama, shall I call for an ambulance?"
Naruko subjects himself to a halfhearted pat down by Imaizumi while gritting his teeth. Other students are starting to stare as they enter the school gates, and Naruko is glad he decided to come early today to avoid fussing from Kanzaki and Onoda. "I'm fine! I just want to talk to Hotshot here!"
"Then talk," Imaizumi says.
Naruko tries to square his shoulders. "I want in on Batte City."
"The participant list has already been decided," Imaizumi replies stiffly. Having deemed this conversation unnecessary, he heads for the gates and yelps when Naruko grabs the end of his coat. "What?" He hisses, trying to bat Naruko's hand off his expensive ass clothes.
"GET ME ON THAT LIST!" Naruko yells as he tries to jump on Imaizumi's back. He ends up with his arms looped around Imaizumi's shoulder. "PLEASE?!"
Imaizumi pauses for a moment from swatting at Naruko. "Why? You're just a third rate duelist with a fourth rate deck."
"Cut the act! You know I'm good! Tell the truth for once in your damn life, Hotshot!"
As if deliberating Naruko's offer, Imaizumi stops struggling. "Fine! Now get off me!"
Naruko takes a moment to let go. He watches as Imaizumi stumbles out of his grasp, Imaizumi's face uncharacteristically red as he turns around to glare at Naruko. "What? A little roughhousing got you out of breath, Hotshot?"
"Shut up! I'll inform the regional organizer. You can pick up your duel disk by the end of the day. Now leave me alone." Then Imaizumi is off, disappearing into the courtyard with the other students.
Huh, Naruko thinks. If he'd known it was this easy to convince Imaizumi, he would've wrestled him into submission forever ago. "Whatever," Naruko says to no one in particular. "Battle City, here I come!"
FILL: TEAM KAGEYAMA TOBIO/OIKAWA TOORU, C2, G
Fandom: yowapeda
Major tags: none
Other tags: none
Square: it looks like the rules (puts on a pair of sunglasses) just got screwed! YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
Word count: 408
***
"We shouldn't be here," Imaizumi says for the nth time as Naruko carelessly ducks under the chain fence separating the hiking trail from the rocky overlook facing the sea. "There's a sign."
"Forget the sign!" Naruko yells back as he stumbles over a rock and nearly gives Imaizumi a heart attack. Thankfully, he catches his footing and slowly treads over to the overlook. There are smudges of dirt smeared across his knees as Naruko climbs onto the largest rock. "Fuck the police, Hotshot! No one is here! Come take a look at this view!"
Imaizumi sighs. He knew they shouldn't have interrupted their leisurely ride with this "super super short" hike, as told by Naruko. Imaizumi has such a hard time saying no to Naruko these days. "If I die, my ghost is going to haunt you."
Naruko just grins as Imaizumi climbs over the chain. He’s practically bouncing on the heels of his feet, the red spandex of his bike shorts flexing against his thighs and making Imaizumi’s eyes linger there. "You’re already haunting me, Hotshot! That's what dating is all about!"
"That is not-" Imaizumi starts to say. His thoughts trail off at the first sight of the waves crashing against the cliff. Up here, the water is fantastically cerulean and clear. Imaizumi can see the coral reefs not far from shore, framed by the vehicle path he'd taken with Naruko to get here. "Wow."
Naruko hums in satisfaction as he links his fingers through Imaizumi's. "Come closer to me," he demands with a small tug and grins when Imaizumi complies.
"I'm close enough," Imaizumi says as he watches his footing. Naruko's hand is clammy from the ride and the subsequent hike, but Imaizumi can't find it in himself to let go. The breeze from the shore feels good against his skin. "This is nice."
"Of course it is! Gimme your phone! I want to snap a picture!"
Imaizumi hadn't meant the view, but he hands over his phone regardless. Surprisingly enough, Naruko doesn't let go of Imaizumi and attempts to wrangle the lock screen with his one free hand. "Don't drop it," Imaizumi says slowly.
"Have some faith, Hotshot! I take good care of my things!" Naruko blows his cheeks up like a goldfish.
This time, Imaizumi had meant his phone. Yet he smiles as Naruko maneuvers them into a selfie and thinks the same applies for his heart.
FILL: TEAM KAGEYAMA TOBIO/OIKAWA TOORU, C3, G
Fandom: yowapeda
Major tags: none
Other tags: genderswap
Square: i can't believe what i'm seeing! a giant rock! it's a rock and it's giant!
Word count: 471
***
Imaizumi has never considered herself a particularly smart shopper, for she spent most of her childhood wearing clothes her mother picked from expensive catalogues. Even after getting to an age where her peers began shopping for themselves, Imaizumi had preferred wearing her school uniform and cycling jerseys. She never cooked, much less shopped for ingredients. Most of the things in the apartment she shared with Naruko had been hand-me-downs from Naruko or gifts from Imaizumi's parents.
So really, Imaizumi hadn't given it much thought when she spotted a red necklace in the window front of a store after meeting Onoda for lunch. The shine of the jewel was dazzling enough that Imaizumi had slapped down her credit card without paying attention to the price tag. She kept the necklace in the back of her drawers, for even she wasn't sentimental enough to gift Naruko something out of the blue.
Naruko, however, had other plans.
"What's this?" Naruko asks a week later. She's holding Imaizumi's black spandex shorts in one hand and the gift bag from the jewelry store in the other. Naruko doesn't wait for Imaizumi to respond before taking out the necklace box.
Imaizumi looks away from her book and frowns. "Stop stealing my clothes. They don't fit you."
"But I don't want to do laundry!" Naruko huffs, her hair tied back into the messy ponytail she preferred to wear on runs. "And answer the question! What this?! You don't even like jewelry!"
"It's, um, for you." Imaizumi sets her book aside on the bed. "I thought you'd like it."
Naruko's jaw drops after opening the box. "Holy shit," she says. "This is a huge rock!"
"It's a diamond," Imaizumi corrects, now feeling embarrassed. "A red diamond, actually. I thought you'd like it."
Naruko snaps the lid of the box shut and drops Imaizumi’s shorts. "What's going on? Are you proposing to me? Are we getting married?"
"W-what? No." Imaizumi pauses. "I just thought you'd like it. It suits you. I can return it if you don't-" She stops talking when Naruko throws herself at Imaizumi.
"I want it!" Naruko declares against a mouthful of Imaizumi's hair. "It's red and pretty and flashy, li-"
"Like you, I know," Imaizumi says with a smile. How could she not know, after years spent racing Naruko on that hot red Pinarello, Naruko's laughter echoing in the air and filling every empty space in Imaizumi's life with something bright and warm. These days, Naruko prefers to go to the salon, yet Imaizumi still remembers the countless summer days she spent helping Naruko dye her hair.
"I'm gonna get you something equally snazzy!"
"Please don't," Imaizumi laughs.
"Whatever!" Naruko huffs. "It's gonna be great anyways. Anticipate it, kakaka!"
"I always do," Imaizumi says with 50% fondness and 50% exasperation.
“Now help me put this on!”
FILL: TEAM KAGEYAMA TOBIO/OIKAWA TOORU, B3, G
Ship: imaizumi shunsuke / naruko shoukichi
Fandom: yowapeda
Major tags: none
Other tags: none
Square: it's like something out of h. p. lovecraft only gay
Word count: 654
BLACK OUT BLACK OUT!!!
***
Naruko is pretty sure there's a ghost haunting the Kanzaki Cycling Shop.
He first notices it when he takes his bike in for a routine repair. The store is busy on a Saturday, and Naruko wanders off to check out grip tape while the the owner's son takes Naruko's Pinarello into the back. There's a boy in blue standing in the corner of the shop reading a sports magazine in English.
"Anything good in there?" Naruko asks as he peers over the boy's shoulder. He expects the stranger to either regard him with awkwardness or engage him in conversation.
Instead, the boy gives him a look of annoyance and says nothing.
Naruko opens his mouth to continue the conversation, but gets distracted when a store staff calls him over to discuss the issue with his front fork. By the time Naruko turns around again, the boy is gone. Weird, Naruko thinks, but then promptly forgets the incident.
He sees the same boy two weeks later, on Naruko's regular route up Mount Minegayama. The bike shop boy is wearing blue again as he makes his way up the slopes. "Oi! Wait up!" Naruko calls as he switches gears to catch up. He's huffing a little by the time the stranger turns to him with blank eyes. "Where are you going?"
"To the top," the stranger says quietly. His Giant is an older model, one that Naruko hasn't seen in any recent catalogues.
Naruko grins. "Do you take this route a lot? Wanna race?"
"Sure. I'll see you at the top," the boy says as he grips his handles tighter. Then he's speeding up the hill, paying no attention to Naruko's struggles. He disappears from Naruko's sight after a particularly round and difficult turn, and isn't waiting at the peak when Naruko finally arrives, gasping for breath.
What a jerk, Naruko thinks.
Weirdly enough, Naruko start seeing more and more glimpses of the boy. Naruko spots him sometimes, in the distance, on back roads. He's a blur in blue, just around the corner on Naruko's ride to school. Naruko is even convinced that he sees the boy in line at the local konbini, but he always disappears before Naruko can finish paying the cashier.
So it's with great concern that he walks into the Kanzaki Cycling Shop months later and finds Miki, the store owner's daughter, maintaining a bike while The Ghost approaches her menacingly with a wrench.
"LOOK OUT!" Naruko cries as he tackles the weirdly solid ghost down.
Miki turns around in time to see Naruko struggling on the ground. "What's going on, Naruko-kun? Imaizumi-kun?"
"This guy is a ghost and he's haunting you!"
Miki looks between the two of them, then laughs. "Well, that's new."
"Get off me," The Ghost mumbles as he shoves Naruko off with a large hand placed on Naruko's face. "And I'm not dead."
"Nice try, ghostman!" Naruko squints. "You always materialize and disappear around town!"
The Ghost's scowl is evident on his weirdly handsome face. "That's because I live here."
"You always disappear on the slopes before I can catch you!"
"That's because you're slow at climbing!"
This makes Naruko huff. "Yeah, well... You never speak to anyone, and no one ever acts like they acknowledge your existence!"
Miki is the one who breaks the silence that follows. "Naruko-kun, Imaizumi-kun prefers the quiet. That's why he never interacts or rides with anyone."
"Well," Naruko says as a last ditch effort. "He looked like he was about to attack you!"
"My face always looks like this!" Imaizumi shouts, then flushes at how his voice carries across the shop. He brings both hands to his face, then sits down to Miki's soft giggles.
Naruko pats him sympathetically on the arm. "Hey, it's okay. Don't be mad!"
"I'm not mad," Imaizumi mumbles without moving.
"I'll race you again! That'll make you feel better!"
Imaizumi pauses for a beat before saying, "Okay."