Bonus Round 1: Quotes

[referees]

Bonus Round 1: Quotes

SASO 2015 is over, but this round is perpetually open to new fills (no new prompts).

PLAY BALL! For this round, we'd like you to take inspiration from songs, sayings, poems, and other kinds of famous words.

Because this is our first full round, please read this post carefully before proceeding!

This round ends at 7PM on June 13 EDT. Countdown Timer.

RULES

• Submit prompts by commenting to this post with a quote attributed to a specific person or character, along with any ship/ot3/etc. from one of our nominated fandoms.
  • Example: "Hi-ho, Kermit the Frog here!" -Kermit the Frog
  • The quote can come from anywhere. Famous people, poetry, songs, books, movies, your neighbor, etc.
  • Your prompt MUST include some kind of relationship. (This is not the sports anime gen olympics.) Platonic relationships are indicated by an "&" between the names (e.g., Yachi & Kiyoko). Non-platonic relationships use "/" (e.g., Yachi/Kiyoko). Please don't say "Any pairing," either!
• Fill prompts by replying to the prompt with your quote-inspired fanwork.
• Remember to follow the general bonus round rules, outlined here.
• You cannot fill your team's prompts or your own prompts.

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)
• 14 lines (poetry)

There is no max work cap.

Format your comment in one of the following ways:

If PROMPTING:	If FILLING:	If FILLING as a TEAM GRANDSTAND participant:
PROMPT: TEAM [YOUR SHIP] Replace [YOUR SHIP] with the name of the team you belong to, including Grandstand or Sports Teams Write it exactly as it appears on the team roster or your team will not receive points Place the prompt's relationship in the first bolded line of the comment. Including the canon isn't required, but it's nice. Visual example	FILL: TEAM [YOUR SHIP], [RATING] Replace [YOUR SHIP] with the name of the team you belong to Write it exactly as it appears on the team roster or your team will not receive points Replace RATING with the rating of your fill (G - E) Place applicable major content tags and word count before your fill (when applicable) NSFW FILLS: Post written/text fills directly to the round with clear tags. Please link to art/visual fills. You can include a small safe-for-work preview if you'd like. To place an image in your comment, use this code: <img src="LINK TO YOUR IMAGE" /> Visual example	FILL: TEAM GRANDSTAND, [RATING] Replace RATING with the rating of your fill, G - E, as explained in the rules Place applicable major content tags and word count before the fill, where applicable NSFW FILLS: Post written/text fills directly to the round with clear tags. Please link to art/visual fills. You can include a small safe-for-work preview if you'd like. To place an image in your comment, use this code: <img src="LINK TO YOUR IMAGE" /> Visual example

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.

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 each (maximum of 50 prompt points per team per round)

For fills:

First 3 fills by any member of your team: 20 points each
Fills 4-10: 10 points each
Fills 11-20: 5 points each
Fills 21+: 2 points each

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.

Have a question? Check The FAQ first. If you still need help, feel free to contact the mods. Happy fanworking!

Comments

Re: FILL: TEAM DAIYA NO ACE, RATING: G

[mmmakichan]

;______________________________________;

Oh Rin, just break my heart a little more, why don't you? ;;; this is wonderful, I'll just be over there crying.

though, oh my god, THE WATER SLOSHING BECAUSE HARU IN THE TUB THE ENTIRE TIME, I'M JUST. PERFECT.

Re: FILL: TEAM KOUSAKA HONOKA/KOTORI MINAMI, E

[mmmakichan]

OMFG SUCH BROS, A+, THIS IS GREAT

PROMPT: TEAM FUKUTOMI JUICHI/KINJOU SHINGO

[krankran]

T2 (Aoyagi Hajime/Teshima Junta) Yowamushi Pedal

"This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me"
- Rachel Platten

Re: FILL: TEAM FUKUTOMI JUICHI/KINJOU SHINGO, G

[trueprinci]

THIS IS SO SWEET WHAT THE HECK....i'm so happy this got filled i can't thank you enough!!!! this is super cute and sweet....also asahi is so relatable i feel him so much?? i LOVE the support from noya and tanaka oh my gosh??!!!? i love this. thank you so much!!!!!!!!

PROMPT: TEAM KAGEYAMA TOBIO/OIKAWA TOORU

[momotarouuu]

Kageyama Tobio/Kuroo Tetsurou or Akaashi Keiji/Oikawa Tooru; Haikyuu!!

Well, I don't come from the city
I came here on the train
In search of something pretty
It's my heart, I have to blame

Silver City, Ghostland Observatory

PROMPT: TEAM NANASE HARUKA/YAMAZAKI SOUSUKE

[vashiane]

Kuroo Tetsurou/Tsukishima Kei (Kurotsukki), Haikyuu!!

"new phone who dis" - unknown

[jeilovesyou]

hooooly shit im SCREAMING

[jeilovesyou]

/gentle weeping in the distance

this is a thing of beauty

[jeilovesyou]

I gasped really hard and then I started coughing oh my GOD

FILL: TEAM MATSUOKA RIN/NANASE HARUKA, T

[demfeeeels]

None, Rated T for some suggestive content.
Word Count: 1496 words



Kisumi didn’t know what to do.

Maybe I should just leave… He thought, watching Haru take another lap of the pool. Rin was in the next lane, and the two of them seemed to be having an involuntary race.

He’d been at Iwatobi’s pool for the past half-an-hour, wanting to see Haru and actually talk to him properly. But when Haru had seen him, he’d merely given him a small, somewhat apologetic smile before diving back into the water.

Besides, he seems happy swimming with Rin.

Kisumi got up, heaving a little sigh. He should’ve been going to pick Hayato from his swimming class by now. He’d talk to Haru later.

“Kisumi! You’re leaving?” Rin called out, breaking for air as he finished his lap.

“Yeah, Hayato’s waiting,” Kisumi called back, giving Rin a little wave before turning away.

…Haru didn’t even say goodbye…


~~~


During the last month of summer, Makoto had gone to Tokyo with his family, and Rin had left Japan with his mother and Gou for a while. In that one month, Kisumi had gotten closer to his favorite blue-eyed swimmer than he’d ever anticipated.

Kisumi could easily admit that, back in middle school, he was near obsessed with Haru. He craved physical contact with him, he craved some sort of reaction from him, which usually ended up in him doing ridiculous things to rile Haru up. Getting the smallest emotion out of Haru would excite him like crazy.

But he and Haru were never really…close. Kisumi would hang around him at school, of course, but whenever Haru had the chance, he’d stick to Makoto like they were joined at the hip. And Kisumi could admit, that had made him a bit jealous. He liked Makoto, sure, but he liked Haru more.

Which had kind of led to him trying to hang around Makoto a lot more, just to see what Haru’s reaction would be. Though if Haru had felt anything, jealousy or whatnot, he definitely hadn’t shown it…

But that was Haru, after all.


And that’s why Kisumi had considered it a miracle when he ran into Haru that month, and he wasn’t with Makoto or Rin or anyone else. Even more of a miracle when Haru actually willingly stayed with him, talked to him (or most of the time, let Kisumi talk to him), let Kisumi throw his arm around his shoulders…

That alone had made Kisumi happy enough, but there’d been one night when they were walking along the beach, Kisumi talking about anything that came to mind and laughing, and Haru walking beside him, listening with a soft little smile on his face.

And Kisumi suddenly just…stopped. Stopped walking, stopped talking, and ended up, just…looking at Haru. Why hadn’t he noticed how…how beautiful Haru looked before? Sure, he’d always seen Haru as someone attractive, with that pale, slender figure and those pretty blue eyes. But here, under the moonlight, Haru looked…wow. His pale skin seemed to be glowing, his dark hair was falling into his eyes, and his eyes really, really matched the ocean beside them.

“Kisumi?” Haru asked, a small frown forming on his lips. They were perfect lips, really, all small and pink and so, so soft-looking…

And before Kisumi could even comprehend what he was doing, he was cupping Haru’s face in his hands and leaning in, pressing their lips together and kissing him.

He’d stayed at Haru’s place that night, and he honestly didn’t think he’d been more content in his whole life.


But…now that Kisumi thought about it, had they ever really been dating? They hadn’t thrown out any “I love you’s”, for sure, but Kisumi liked to add a “yet” to the end of that sentence.

Because when Makoto and Rin had returned, things sort of…went back to normal. Haru would still be around Makoto all the time, and he and Rin would be swimming together at either Samezuka or Iwatobi’s pool. And Kisumi marveled at how easily Rin could take a reaction out of Haru.

In other words, he’d barely even seen Haru since Makoto and Rin returned.

But…but Haru couldn’t have forgotten about him, right? That was ridiculous. There was no way everything they’d done last month was a fling. Haru meant far more to Kisumi than that.

But what exactly did Haru feel for Kisumi?

Kisumi sighed, turning over and burying his face in his pillow. He’d thought about it before, but… He just didn’t know. The easiest thing would’ve been to ask Haru directly, but that would’ve been awkward…

Kisumi gave a groan, trying to bury his face even deeper into his pillow. This was frustrating. Awkward conversation or not, he wanted to know. Maybe he should ask Haru to meet up with him tomorrow…? He’d tried that before, of course, but Haru was always busy, whether it was swim practice or having to go shopping with Makoto or whatnot.

But he found himself grabbing his phone and pulling out Haru’s contact, anyway.

‘See me at the coffee shop tomorrow?’ Kisumi texted. He knew Haru would know which coffee shop, as they’d gone there together nearly every day.

He waited for Haru to reply, waited for the text saying that he was busy. Heck, maybe Haru hadn’t even checked the text. He was aware of how Haru’s phone was usually tossed aside at his house.

He felt his phone vibrate.

Hands shaking ever so slightly, he held up the phone and read the text.

‘Yeah.’


~~~


“You’re late,” Haru frowned as Kisumi took his place across him on the little table.

Kisumi gave an almost sheepish-sounding laugh. “Sorry, sorry. I was dropping Hayato off.”

Haru gave a “hmm”, taking a sip of his coffee. After a few seconds of silence, Haru popped the question:

“So, why are we here?”

“Uh, well…” Kisumi muttered, keeping his eyes glued to his coffee. He could feel Haru’s blue eyes burning into him, and he could barely look up at them.

“…Okay. Later,” Haru said, looking to his side and taking another sip of his coffee. “How are you doing?”

“I’m…okay,” Kisumi said, heat creeping to his face. Now why was he blushing? This was ridiculous.

Haru was giving him this look, something part confused, part worried. He got up, leaving his mug on the table and dusting himself off. He looked at Kisumi with a raised eyebrow.

“Are you done?”

Kisumi wasn’t even half done with his coffee, honestly, but he didn’t want it. He got up.

“Yeah.”

As soon as they left, Haru’s fingers were curling around Kisumi’s, holding his hand.
“Are you alright, Kisumi? You’re acting…weird.”

Kisumi unexpectedly felt his heart do a little flip in his chest. “Yeah…”

Haru was frowning now. “You’re not. Tell me what’s wrong.”

Kisumi sighed, giving Haru’s hand a little squeeze. “It’s just…I don’t get to see you these days.”

Haru smirked. “You miss me, Kissi?”

Kisumi didn’t even smile at the fact that Haru called him ‘Kissi’. “Yeah, I do.”

Haru suddenly stopped in his tracks, peering at Kisumi’s face. “What exactly do you want to talk to me about, Kisumi?”

Kisumi pulled his hand away from Haru’s, pulling it to his side instead and looking away. Great, now I’m acting like some girl in a shoujo manga, Kisumi thought to himself.

And, shoujo manga scene on cue, Kisumi blurted out:

“Do you love me, Haru?”

…Shit.

Haru’s eyes widened for a second before he gain composure again, looking persistently up at Kisumi.

“Where’d that come from?”

“It’s just…” Kisumi started, his hand clenching into fists, “I never see you anymore. Since Makoto and Rin came back, you…you seem to have forgotten about me.”

Haru didn’t say anything, but Kisumi could see his eyes widening a considerable amount.

“And…and I love you, so…so I just-“

And Kisumi feels someone, Haru, cupping his face and leaning upwards, their chests pushed against each other. And then Haru’s leaning in and pressing his soft, soft lips against Kisumi’s, kissing him gently.

When Haru pulls away a few seconds later, Kisumi is stunned to see that he’s laughing. This cute, quiet giggle that makes Kisumi’s heart beat faster.

“What did you think, Kissi? Of course I love you, you idiot.”

If Kisumi’s heart was beating fast before, now his heart rate was positively jumping. And again, he was feeling the color rising to his cheeks.

“R-Really?!”

Haru gave him another soft kiss, then put his arms around him. “Really. And…I’m sorry I haven’t been able to spend time with you. I didn’t know you wanted it so much.”

And now it was Kisumi’s turn to laugh. “You’re the idiot, Haru! Why wouldn’t I want to spend time with the guy I loved?”

Haru gave a little snort. “You’re as sappy as Rin.”

Kisumi leaned down, tangling him fingers in Haru’s hair and kissing him, more passionately than before.

When they pulled away, out of breath, Kisumi gave Haru a huge grin.

“Let’s go to your place.”


(Hope this is okay! ^^)

Re: PROMPT: TEAM KUROO TETSUROU/OIKAWA TOORU

[chifuyu]

I wrote a whole fill for this before I noticed that we're in the same team.
I'm just....

//lies down and cries

FILL: TEAM KUROO TETSUROU/OIKAWA TOORU, M

[chifuyu]

Mentions of smut, violence, unbetaed
Words: 589

Kyoutani’s hands are rougher than usual, his thrusts more powerful, his teeth on Oikawa’s pulse sharper.

“Calm down, little dog. You’re mauling me here.”

The answer he gets is a vicious snap of Kyoutani’s hips and a low grunt. He’s not one for sweet talk.

Oikawa’s insides burn and his back hurts - the benches in the changing room are only so comfortable - but he smiles when Kyoutani lifts his head and stares at him. He’s like an animal with only one purpose to his erratic movements: gratification. It’s obvious he cares little for the pleasure of his partner but Oikawa can’t say he minds. He knew from the beginning what he got himself into. This isn’t for him or his amusement. It’s for the rabid dog on top of him who doesn’t know how to control the power inside him, doesn’t know how to release his strength in controlled bursts. The sex helps. It calms him and makes him easier to deal with on court.

Oikawa thinks it’s worth the bruises and bite marks that wouldn’t fade until a few days after. He gives as much as he takes though: The scratches, bruises and marks littered over Kyoutani’s body tell the whole tale of Oikawa’s resistance. He’s not the type to roll onto his back the moment another bares his fangs at him, after all.

Kyoutani’s gaze remains unwavering, his eyes drawn to small slits. They’re the only steady thing about him. The rest of his body is all tremors and mindless rutting.

“You’re making me blush if you keep looking at me like that.” Oikawa quips and flutters his lashes.

“As if.”

It’s the first thing leaving his mouth since Oikawa had pulled him back when he wanted to leave after training, everybody else but them already gone.

“Rude!” Oikawa pouts.

He arches his back and curls his legs tighter around Kyoutani’s hips before leaning up and kissing him on the cheek. The reaction is priceless. Kyoutani freezes and blushes right up to the dyed roots of his short cropped hair. It makes Oikawa want to burst into hysteric laughter. He doesn’t give in to the urge but he allows himself a soft giggle.

“Now look at that, the mad dog can be cute after all.”

It’s enough of deliberate provocation to pull Kyoutani out of his stupified daze. His hips snap forward and he pulls Oikawa’s upper lip in between his teeth while he buries himself into his captain as deeply as possible. It feels like punishment.

Oikawa screams but he doesn’t tell Kyoutani to stop. He would if being told - Oikawa knows from experience - but he doesn’t. Kyoutani needs this, all of it. The violence, the pain, the knowledge that Oikawa can take what he has to give and doesn’t judge him for it. He needs somebody who can keep up with him.

Oikawa screams a second time and rakes his nails down the other boy’s flesh so hard, his fingernails come back with blood. It’s enough to make Kyoutani come. Oikawa can feel the telltale wetness between his legs.

Kyoutani doesn’t bother to pull out. He simply sacks on top of Oikawa, his face pressed into the junction of shoulder and neck, and emits a low grumble. Oikawa likes to imagine it’s a sigh of contentment. He even dares to brush with his bloodied fingers through the blond hair. Surprisingly enough, Kyoutani allows the tender touch.

“You’re just a little puppy after all.” Oikawa mumbles and this time there’s no protest coming from above him.

FILL: Team Matsuoka Rin/Nanase Haruka, T

[squid_senpai_chan]

Romance, no major warnings apply

438 words



Red is the color of danger, yet Haru was drawn to it, like a moth to a flame. His hand would be entangled in it, enjoying the silky feel of it as it escaped his fingers in rivers of auburn. It is untamed and uncaged, nothing can hold it down, yet Haru could still call it his. Some nights it was draped across his pillow, framing the momentarily serene face before it burst into a rainbow of emotions the next day.


Red is the color of passion, the very source of life came from its lips in the form of bell like laughter. Sharp teeth contained in pale rose would curve into a smile, but would sometimes be connected with Haru. Cinnamon was the taste of red, it was his lover’s favorite flavor.


Red is the color of lust. Cheeks flushed pale cerise filled his vision in darkened rooms. Soft skin, free of the restrictions of clothing, graze against Haru. He drowns in twin rubies, filled with lust, twinkling with life. Sparkling, scarlet drops would be drawn from Haru’s skin, followed by genuine concern and several brown bandages. But brown was a dull color, and shortly after he would drown in red once more. Then, he’d wake up to auburn draped on his pillow once more, rays of light making his beloved glow (as he rightfully should, for there was no way he was human.)


Red is the color of anger. Pencil thin eyebrows crease soft skin. Twin rubies become narrow and dull, yet the core of it burns bright. Shark teeth lash out, and Haru is worried he was drawn too deep into the unknown. But it always fades away, and he is left with rubies glistening with tears or rose lips on his own.


Red is the color of risks and a burning spirit, things Haru would never have by himself. But drops of water clinging to pale rose lips quirked with the breathlessness of victory, he found himself being pulled into it. He was surprised to find it did not burn him like the lava he assumed it was made of, but instead embraced him and filled him with warmth. His heart hammered in his chest, pumping him of life, for he felt every moment in his life paled to the star that shone bright before him.


All the shades of red, in Haru’s world, belonged to a single man by the name of Rin, and everytime he confessed his love, it would fill him with the color of adoration.


((I just took your whole quote literally. Hidden meanings are too hidden for me XD. Its also posted on my AO3 just to prevent plagiarism accusations))

Prompt: Team Matsuoka Rin/Nanase Haruka

[squid_senpai_chan]

Aomine Daiki/Kuroko Tetsuya, Kuroko no Basket (KNB)
"Feelings" - by Maroon 5
Dorks in love

PROMPT: TEAM AOYAGI HAJIME/TESHIMA JUNTA

[hapaxlegomenon]

Hinata Shoyo & Onoda Sakamichi; Haikyuu!! and Yowamushi Pedal

"By any chance did you throw up in my urn?" (Juno)

Adorable little first-year wunderkinder who throw up on buses

Re: PROMPT: TEAM NANASE HARUKA/YAMAZAKI SOUSUKE

[squid_senpai_chan]

10/10 best quote ever next to "That's what" -She

Re: FILL: Team Matsuoka Rin/Nanase Haruka, T

[kuramochi]

heheh, literal is fine! and part of why i chose this poem for them is bc of rin's hair, so you're spot on tbh. thank you for the fill!!

FILL: TEAM AOYAGI HAJIME/TESHIMA JUNTA, G

[hapaxlegomenon]

Idk this is dumb and only tangentially related but here you go.

Word count: 863
Warnings: None.

Teshima had only asked him once.

“Hey, how do you feel about karaoke? Do you want to go with me sometime?”

Aoyagi was very much not interested, and had shaken his head vehemently. Singing, having strangers watching him, listening to other people trying to sing… it held absolutely no appeal whatsoever. At the time, Teshima had seemed a little disappointed, but he bounced back quickly and cheerfully launched into an explanation of a modification he wanted to make for their training schedule. So, that was that.

Except, as Aoyagi came to learn, karaoke was something that Teshima loved as much as he did racing. He talked about it constantly, he sang in the shower and during warm-ups, he always glanced towards the building when they rode past it during practice. So Aoyagi started thinking, ask me again, Junta, I’ll go with you. You’re important to me and it’s important to you so ask me again.

He never did. Respecting Aoyagi’s boundaries, which was a sweet thing to do, and Aoyagi appreciated it, but.

Then, they won their first race together. Teshima was ecstatic.

“See? We can do it! All that training with Tadokoro-san really paid off, huh Aoyagi? Hey, can I see the trophy? Wow, that’s so cool! I can’t believe you won! I mean, I thought we could do it, if we worked together, but wow. This is really great, Aoyagi.” Teshima babbled excitedly, and Aoyagi just clutched at their trophy and listened and felt vaguely guilty. He’d only won because of their teamwork – their team of two – but the records wouldn’t show that. Aoyagi finished first. Teshima finished somewhere in the top 25, nowhere near notable.

“We should do something to celebrate,” Teshima said, gripping Aoyagi’s shoulder.

Without even thinking, Aoyagi responded “Karaoke.”

Teshima’s entire face lit up. “Really? You’d want to? I’d love that – but I know it’s not really your thing, Aoyagi, we don’t have to do karaoke if you don’t want to.”

“I do,” Aoyagi said, with conviction. “With you.” He hoped that Teshima could read the intent behind his words – the gratitude, the affection, the obligation. Teshima’s smile was softer, now, so Aoyagi thought that perhaps he did.

“Thank you,” Teshima said, bumping their shoulders together, grin growing impossibly wider. “This is going to be so much fun! Geeze, I haven’t been to karaoke in such a long time, I can’t wait! Hmm, what time should we go? Is seven okay for you? I’ll come by and pick you up and we can go together, it’s closer to your place anyway.”

That seemed like a plan to Aoyagi.

It seemed like less of a good idea later that night, when he was waiting fretfully by the door, half-regretting agreeing to – suggesting – karaoke. It was going to be terrible. Terrible, and embarrassing, and he was seriously considering hiding in his bedroom when Teshima rang the doorbell.

“Hey Aoyagi! Are – oh.” Teshima’s face fell, just a little, at whatever he could read in Aoyagi’s expression. “We don’t have to go.”

Aoyagi shook his head, pushing down the nervousness and uncertainty, and steeled himself. They were going. This was their celebration – his thank you to Teshima – and they were going. Teshima smiled again, and broke into excited chattering as they walked side-by-side down the street.

“Man, my legs are still super sore, we were working really hard today, huh? That was an awesome win, though, I think we deserve to be proud of that one, especially you, that was a great final sprint. Hey, maybe someday you’ll be a sprinter like Tadokoro-san! That would be cool, I think it would suit you. Hmm, maybe we should think about that more later. Aaah, but I’m so excited to be going to karaoke with you! You don’t have to sing or anything if you don’t want to, that’s okay, you know, but I’m just really happy to be going with you! This is going to be so much fun!”

Aoyagi didn’t sing, he just sat at a little table and listened to Teshima talking about the people who did go up to sing. Teshima seemed to know a lot of the people there, and there was a constant trickle of passersby to their table, who’d introduce themselves to Aoyagi and laugh at inside jokes with Teshima and ask what song he was planning to do that night. It should have been uncomfortable, but it wasn’t, somehow.

Finally, practically vibrating with excitement, Teshima got up to sing. Aoyagi started to laugh as soon as the music played, and Teshima saw and winked at him. The song was a favourite from Teshima’s extensive CD collection, something they had listened to many times without Aoyagi bothering to learn all the words. Teshima sang his heart out, dancing all over the stage and looking like he was having the time of his life. The English didn’t sound quite right – or right at all, neither of them particularly excelled in English – but the on-screen translations showed that it was a particularly appropriate song and at least he hit all the notes. He reached the chorus and winked at Aoyagi again.

We are the champions, indeed, Aoyagi thought.

Re: FILL: TEAM FUKUTOMI JUICHI/KINJOU SHINGO, G

[blueminuet]

Ahhh, I'm so glad you liked it! Parks and Rec quotes are my weakness, so I absolutely had to do something for this one.

FILL: TEAM SAWAMURA DAICHI/SUGAWARA KOUSHI, G

[swiftling]

Implied/possible child neglect, Religion (Various)
590 words

[ note: "Nozomi" means "wish." ]

____________________________________________

Every woman in Nozomi's family had a different specialization. Her great-grandmother summoned spirits. Her grandmother read the messages in fire. Nozomi's specialty, of course, was tarot cards.

Her mother's power lay in reading the stars. It was her mother who named her: wishes and stars went hand in hand, after all. Her mother used to haunt the temple rooftop, sure-footed on the pantiles as she scanned the night sky. In the daytime, too, her gaze would drift upward.

"What are you looking for?" Nozomi asked once.

Her mother hummed, eyes skipping past the white clouds to the flat blue beyond. "Shooting stars," she murmured. "If I concentrate I can kind of—feel them, in the second before they vanish."

"Do we need one?" Nozomi asked. Shooting stars brought good fortune, but as far as she was concerned, their lives were blessed enough.

Her mother's mouth twisted, speculative. "I hope not," was all she said.

Nozomi wished she could say that she was surprised when her mother and father had to leave, but she wasn't. Her mother was always gazing into the distance, and her father was rarely home; it never felt like they were totally there anyway.

---

When she did her daily readings, the seventeeth major arcana card always popped up. The Star.

One day it moved from the sixth position to the fifth—from a future influence to a present force. The next day a new girl transferred into her class. Star-gold sunlight streamed in from the classroom window, and Nozomi felt her spine straighten with a strange feeling of relief, as if she were newly slotted into place. There, she heard her mother's voice say. A daytime shooting star.

---

When Eli's back was turned, Nozomi slipped the tarot card into the folder she'd been flipping through.

When Eli opened the folder again and saw the new addition, she glanced at Nozomi. Nozomi smiled back, serene. Eli's movements were brusque but neat as she lifted the card from the papers and set it down on the desk.

Eli found the card again when she opened her textbook, preparing for their third period class; again when she opened her bag to take out her lunch; again when she unfolded her gym t-shirt; again when she pulled her shoes from her locker at the end of the day.

"You should be more careful," Eli said, handing the card back to Nozomi. She tried to sound stern, but whenever she looked at Nozomi her frown never stayed for long, and this was no exception. "What if someone had seen you placing something in my locker?"

Nozomi shrugged, all innocence. "It wasn't me," she said. "The cards have a mind of their own. They're trying to tell you something."

Eli raised an unimpressed eyebrow, and Nozomi tucked The Star back into her deck's protective pouch.

"Those girls are waiting for you," Nozomi said, softer.

Eli bristled, but her expression was tired, edged with wistfulness. They've had this same conversation a hundred times before. "I can't do anything for them."

"You can," Nozomi replied, her fingers running along the worn-soft edges of her tarot cards, "but more importantly, they can do something for you."

---

Eli's skin glistened with sweat, warm and pink from exertion and the hot stage lights. Her face was alight with joy as she gazed across the cheering audience. Beside her, Nozomi stood in her proper place—to the right of the leader and slightly behind her, a wish trailing after her star's blazing path.

Eli squeezed her fingers, lifting their linked hands into the air. Smiling, Nozomi squeezed back.

PROMPT: team daiya no ace

[kuramochi]

sawamura eijun/narumiya mei or sawamura eijun/miyuki kazuya or some combination of both if you feel like it, daiya no ace

I got a feeling we are gonna win
Our bodies make it perfect
And your eyes can make me swim

Then again everything seems new
I can barely hold my tongue
To say the least I'm into you

― chet faker, i'm into you

[swiftling]

post it on AO3!!!!

[swiftling]

THIS IS AMAZING THIS IS SO AMAZING I'M CRYING

HONOR ON YOUR FAMILY
HONOR ON YOUR COW

FILL: TEAM GRANDSTAND [G]

[b_minor]

this did not go the way I expected and for that I am so sorry
word count 990
no major content warnings

Kenji knows that Ennoshita always keeps a small notepad in his pocket, believing it was best to be prepared whenever inspiration struck. He knows from their chats that there is a drawer in the other boy’s room where they are neatly stacked and labeled in chronological order, each book filled with small inspirations: thoughts, scattered phrases, and small doodles in the margins when he felt more artistic (or was bored in class).

Where Ennoshita captures moments and memories with words, jotting them down in sure, steady strokes of his pen, Kenji remembers in pictures. He pulls out his phone whenever he sees something that strikes him as worth remembering (or, when sent to Ennoshita, could potentially garner another one of his deadpan responses). Some are selfies with his sister. Most are shots of his teammates taken during lulls in practice that he enjoys decorating with tacky stickers and sparkle effects before posting to snapchat. He has a separate folder with photos of sunsets and scenery that he never shows to anyone because he is absolutely positive that they would never stop teasing him for being a secret romantic.

There are a few photos that he hasn’t covered in doodles. Among them: Aone seated on the gym floor as a stray tabby cat peeks out from the confines of his jacket, the third years on graduation day (Kamasaki’s eyes are hilariously watery), a slightly blurry Obara raising a peace sign, Nametsu grinning into the camera while the team doodles on a sleeping Koganegawa’s face behind her.

What he doesn’t have, he realizes one day, is a photo of Ennoshita. His sister pesters him, curious about the cutie who could leave her brat of a brother with such a normal smile on his face with just a single call. He relented--they’d been dating for what? A couple months now? Surely there must have been one. But there isn’t a single shot in his gallery where Ennoshita’s eyes aren’t covered by hearts eyes or sunglasses.

It’s with this thought in mind that Kenji shoots him a text asking if he’s free next weekend. In typical Ennoshita fashion, even though the message is sent at three in the morning he gets an immediate reply that yes, he’s available. It’s almost as if the guy never sleeps.

**

Ennoshita’s already waiting at their usual pillar when he arrives at the station. He raises a hand in a small wave, the accompanying smile just as subtle. Kenji stops in his tracks to take his phone out; by the time he opens the camera app Ennoshita’s expression is one quirked eyebrow different from before. He takes the photo anyway, then waves back as he approaches.

“Hope I didn’t keep you waiting for too long.”

**

“Hey, look over here.”

“Mm?”

Ennoshita looks up from whatever phrase he’s writing and Futakuchi quickly presses the shutter icon. Once the captured image loads, he frowns and skims through the rest that he’s taken that day. “Do you always look like you’re several seconds from falling asleep? I mean, it’s definitely a part of your charm and all, but it’s also kind of frustrating right now.”

A shrug. “It’s just my face, I think.” he replies. His boyfriend scribbles a few more things before he turns back to the crowd, resting his chin on one hand. Points to someone. “Your turn. The old woman with the stuffed lion in her tote bag.”

Kenji spots the lady in question and begins improvising a story, blatantly infringing on copyrights by borrowing heavily from the horror film they’d watched together the last time they met up. Also, the toy is definitely possessed.

**

“You’ve been taking a lot of photos of me today.”

“And you’re stating the obvious.”

They’re walking side by side through a park on the way back to the station, shoulders bumping. Their arms and hands brush together so often that Kenji eventually just lets out a frustrated noise and grabs Ennoshita’s wrist. Ennoshita blinks down at the connection and looks back to him, his expression mild but questioning. Kenji stubbornly maintains eye contact even as he feels the tips of his ears reddening. He refuses to be intimidated.

“It’s because,” Kenji starts. Falters. Forces himself to continue even as he cringes inwardly at how embarrassingly sentimental his next words are going to be. “I don’t have any nice ones of you.”

Ennoshita lets out a soft snort and Kenji feels his ears grow hotter. “You could’ve just asked.”

Ennoshita Chikara, perpetually sleepy-eyed wonder and stealth sassmaster, is above all an aspiring filmmaker. Of course he’d approach the task like one of his projects. Kenji’s holding his wrist, but it’s Ennoshita who leads them to a bench. Ennoshita who pulls out his own phone and selects the camera app, and leans in a bit closer to fit them both (and firmly but gently punches him in the side when Kenji starts making a duck face because ‘Do you want a good result or not, Futakuchi?’). He angles the lens until he’s satisfied with the lighting and how they’re framed.

Kenji glances at him after the shutter clicks. He wonders if a phone camera could properly capture how the light, golden in the way only sunsets can ever be, illuminates the smile on Ennoshita’s face. It definitely wouldn’t reveal how badly he wanted to screw convention and kiss his boyfriend senseless right now, scandalising all of the little old ladies walking their dogs at this hour.

When Ennoshita returns his gaze, smile widening imperceptibly, he gives in to temptation.

**

The house is quiet as Kenji flicks through the photos again later that night. Ennoshita sent him the selfie only after he swore not to deface it with his usual artistic flair. It wasn’t a hard promise to make (he’ll make a copy of the file later for that).

It really is a nice shot of them, he muses, and sets it as his wallpaper.

[uwu_anon]

im in paiN why does this make sense