Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Maki Shiiko wasn’t someone that likes to gossip, but in high school it is pretty much impossible to avoid it completely.

Almost everyone in school knows That Weird Group™ that is mostly a bunch of weirdos following around another weirdo. Shiiko doesn’t think they are weird, they’re just… different.

Everyone that is part of that group is very recognizable, and pretty much everyone knows their names. They attract a lot of attention, and most of the time is a bad type of attention.

Shiiko isn’t surprised when she hears a new rumor about Saiki, the kid with pink hair that everyone follows around for some reason. She also isn’t surprised when she hears that Nendou is also involved.

Listen, Shiiko understands why Nendou has a bad reputation, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t get upset every time someone says something mean about him. 

She used to feel really indifferent towards Nendou until that time at the baseball game, so she doesn’t really blame everyone else that believes what everyone says about him.

Now she tries to discreetly say something to discredit the rumors about Nendou when they start. She isn’t vocal about it, because while she wants to be a good person and try to help his image, she isn’t that brave. She doesn’t want people to dump her with That Weird Group™, as mean as it sounds.

Now, she isn’t sure what she could do to discredit the rumor. She isn’t sure that it isn’t real, because it pretty much could be. Actually, all evidence points towards it being true.

Shiiko isn’t homophobic. She isn’t part of the LGBT community, but it’s pretty well known that there are students which are part of it. One of them being Saiki.

(And isn’t that weird? While the bullying in the school isn’t as bad as it is in many others, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t occur. Apparently, many people in school will bully you for being ugly, but not for being part of the LGBT community. Who would have thought? Certainly not Maki, and she isn’t sure how to feel about all of this.)

Nobody knows Saiki’s sexuality, but everyone knows that he likes both girls and boys. Or at least that’s what everyone assumes, and Shiiko has to agree with everyone on this one. 

(Rumors are wild, there are some crazy things that Shiiko has heard about Saiki’s love life that she doesn’t believe because it doesn’t seem like something he would do, but she doesn’t actually know him, so who knows? Maybe Saiki has done the horizontal tango with two girls  in one of the club classrooms, Shiiko doesn’t know and she also doesn’t want to. Thank you very much.)

The point is, Shiiko isn’t surprised when the rumor that Saiki and Nendou are dating starts again. That rumor is old news. There are people that believe it and people that don’t, and Shiiko is included in the second group.

Sure, she can understand why people would think that they’re dating, but she only sees two good friends being, well, not friendly, because Saiki doesn’t do friendly, but close enough.

Maybe people that are on their year know more? She doesn’t really see Nendou or Saiki that often, maybe she’s missing information.

Shiiko wasn’t trying to figure out if the rumors were true or not. She just happened to pass by and now she knows more than she wanted. 

It wasn’t anything bad, but well, Nendou is ugly, that’s just a fact, but it turns out that he turns uglier when he’s crying. The face that he was making is going to cause Shiiko nightmares.

She was just walking in one of the school hallways, she mostly walks with her head down, something that many people criticize her for.

(“Pay attention where you’re going!” “You’re going to crash with someone!” “You’re going to crash with a wall one of this days!”)

It was lunch, so there weren’t many students there. In fact, Shiiko thought she was alone until she heard a loud sob followed by a sniffle. 

Alarmed, she lifted her head to look at the person that made that sound. She was shocked when she saw Nendou hugging Saiki with what appeared to be all his strength. Shiiko was kind of surprised that Saiki was alive.

(Maybe he was barely alive, he wasn’t moving and because Nendou is way taller than him, Nendou was lifting him. Saiki’s legs weren’t touching the ground and he wasn’t struggling, he was probably without air by that point.)

“Partner!,” sobbed Nendou. “I love you so much!”.

Shiiko now could say that she fully believed the rumors, there was no way this was platonic. Not when Nendou was showing this much emotion. She couldn’t see Saiki’s face, but the fact that he wasn’t trying to run away must count as a love confession.

While Shiiko wouldn’t date Saiki herself, she really couldn’t see what Saiki saw on Nendou to make him want to date Nendou.

She was a “prefer feelings over looks” type of person, but she didn’t think she could ignore Nendou’s face even for the prettiest and purest of feelings. But well, that’s not her business.

That relationship was only theirs, they didn’t have to explain anything to anyone.

She didn’t notice that she hadn't moved for several seconds, that was until she heard an ugly-sob louder than the last one. She ran away from there following the same way that she used to get there. She wasn’t sure if either of them saw her, but she would pretend that she didn’t see anything.

When she entered the cafeteria she sat down with her friends and started eating her lunch.

“Hey!,” said one of her friends. “What happened? You looked like you ran to get here, you’re blushing a little bit.”

Shiiko thought about her response for a few seconds while she chewed her food. When she swallowed she turned to look at her friend and gave her a smile.

“Nothing,” Shiiko responded. “I was just thinking about how I want to experience love.”

Her friends started to awe and coo, but she zoned out. 

It really wasn’t her place to tell anyone about what she saw in the hallway. Yeah, they’re relationship was hardly a secret, but neither of them have ever actually confirmed it. And until that happened, Shiiko was going to stay quiet.

Shiiko wanted to experience love, maybe not now, and certainly not how it is shown in the movies, but she wanted someone that could love all of her. Someone that could love all her imperfections and not only love her despite of them.

If Nendou could have that, then so could her.

In the meantime, she would enjoy watching the young couple love each other and show their love in their own ways. Maybe she could learn something about it.

Chapter Text

Nakanishi Shinya didn’t pay attention to gossip. Sure, he heard things from time to time but it wasn’t something he was interested in.

Shinya mostly blended in the background. There’s not many things to say about him, neither good nor bad. The most interesting thing about him was probably his attempt at a band with his friends. And Toritsuka.

Shinya wasn’t sure if Toritsuka was his friend. He certainly didn’t want to be too associated with him but they did spend time together. Toritsuka wasn’t half bad when he wasn't chasing around girls or lying about seeing ghosts.

Shinya’s name never was part of the new rumor circulating the school, and he was happy that way. Toritsuka’s on the other hand… Well, Shinya tried not to be seen in public with him for a reason.

Shinya wasn’t surprised when he heard his classmates say Toritsuka’s name. He was actually surprised that he hadn’t heard it for almost three days, considering how often he was causing trouble.

“Dude, I just can’t understand why someone like Saiki would date someone like Toritsuka, ” said Ooshima to Oohori. “I just can’t believe the rumors when they say that Toritsuka calls him master.”

That- that was something . Shinya paused where he was at the door of the classroom, he had just been entering from recess to the next class.

They’re in high school, obviously people start to try and experiment new things, even the sexual type. Shinya wasn’t saying that it was bad, he would be trying new things in bed if he had someone to do it with.

(Which he doesn’t. It wouldn’t even be trying new things in bed, that would imply that he has done something before, and he hasn’t, he’s a virgin. He hasn’t even given his first kiss yet.)

Shinya could name many students that could have a kinky side, but none of them were Saiki. Almost everyone knows Saiki at least by name, but depending on who you ask you’re going to get a different response about what he’s like.

Shinya would say that Saiki is a quiet and somewhat shy kid. He has many friends, but that wasn’t exactly by choice, he just had that attracting aura. Saiki makes you want to be near him. Shinya couldn't tell you why, but he had felt it himself on that one occasion when he taught them how to play their instruments.

(Because both Saiki and Toritsuka weren’t fooling anyone, Shinya could tell that Saiki was the one there.)

So no, Shinya couldn’t believe that Saiki would have that kind of relationship with Toritsuka even if they were dating.

(Which they aren’t, Shinya would know. Hell, everyone in school would know. Toritsuka would be bragging everywhere that he has finally gotten a partner.)

(That, and the fact that Torisuka was straight the last time Shinya checked.)

“I could see Toritsuka having a degrading kink, but I can’t see Saiki going along with it,” responded Oohori. “He’s too shy.”

“Hmm, I can actually see it,” said Itano from her seat, inserting herself in the conversation. “I’m pretty sure I have heard Saiki speaking rude to Toritsuka. I think he even gave him a slap on the back.”

“The back as in…” trailed off Ooshima.

“God, no! Why would you even think that!” shouted Itano. “I meant literally the back.”

Ooshima responded something else but Shinya didn’t hear him thanks to his friends arriving. Shinya remembered at that moment that he was blocking the entrance of the classroom so he walked to his desk with his friends walking behind him.

“What are they talking about?” Asked Shinoda while pointing towards Ooshima, Itano and Oohori. Shinya sat on his chair, Shinoda stood on his left and Tadatsugu was on his right.

“About Saiki and Toritsuka,” responded Shinya. “They think they’re dating or something like that. I don’t believe it.”

“I can believe it,” said Tadatsugu, he bended and put his arms on Shinya’s desk to support himself. “I have seen them doing some things that you don’t do with people that are just your friends.”

“Really?” questioned Shinoda while raising an eyebrow. “I thought Yumehara and Saiki were together.”

“Why would you think that?” asked Tadatsugu. “They barely talk to each other.”

“People like to tell me about Yumehara’s love life,” responded Shinoda at the same time as he bends backwards to prop his elbows on the desk behind him. “Everyone thinks that I still haven’t moved on from her.”

“You haven’t,” Shinya said accusingly. 

“That's not the point,” Shinoda rolled his eyes. “People say that the other day Saiki and Yumehara were fooling around in the bathroom.”

Before either of them could say anything else, the teacher entered the classroom and everyone went to their seats.

Shinya was walking out of the school after classes had ended. He was tired and just wanted to arrive at his house and eat the delicious dinner that his mom had made, but he saw a flash of pink hair and he heard Toritsuka’s voice, so he stopped on his way towards the exit.

“Saikiiiiii,” whined Toritsuka, he was wrapping Saiki from behind with his arms . “Just one time, please.”

Saiki turned to look at him with a venomous look and kept walking, acting like there wasn’t someone on his back. Which was actually impressive considering that Toritsuka was putting too much of his weight on him and he was both taller and heavier than Saiki.

“Come ooooon,” kept Toritsuka whining until he gained a mischievous look. “Hey, what would happen if I told someone about- ahhh!”

Toritsuka was interrupted by Saiki grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and dragging him towards a tree that was near them. Saiki pushed Torisuka to the tree now using both hands grabbing the collar.

That- that was considered kabedon right? Shinya really felt like he was intruding in something private even though they were doing it in public and in school. He debated with himself whether he should stop watching and leave or if he should stay and watch what will happen. At the end his curiosity won and he stayed where he was watching.

“Master!” screamed Toritsuka. “It was a joke! I’m sorry!”

Well, apparently the “nickname” was real. Shinya wasn’t sure how to feel about that. He watched how Saiki tightened his grip and got closer to Torisuka. For a moment Shinya thought that they were going to kiss but Saiki stopped just when they were nose to nose.

“I won’t do it again! Please forgive me!” begged Toritsuka while raising his arms to grab Saiki by the shoulders.

Apparently that was enough to stop Saiki from doing whatever the fuck he was doing, as he let him go and started to walk again towards the exit of the school. Toritsuka let out a breath and then started running to catch up to Saiki, this time he only put one arm around Saiki’s shoulders.

Shinya watched them go, and he took a couple of minutes to start walking again. He now could believe that they were together, or if they weren’t, they at least had a thing going on that wasn’t completely platonic.

But for his mental health he wouldn’t try to figure out what exactly was their relationship, he didn’t want to risk seeing more than he already had. 

So he just kept walking, acting as if he hadn’t seen what happened minutes ago. Maybe tomorrow he would remember again and tell his friends of what he saw, but today he would pretend to be ignorant of the strange relationship that Saiki and Toritsuka had. 

Chapter Text

Shinoda Takeru wasn’t pathetic. Really, he wasn’t. And even if he was, Tadatsugu and Nakanishi shouldn’t be the one criticizing him, they’re more pathetic than he could ever be.

Takeru knew that he broke up with Yumehara very long ago, and sure, he hadn’t moved on, but that didn’t make him lame. He was just a person with really strong feelings, obviously it was going to take a while to get rid of them. 

And besides, isn’t your first love supposed to be unforgettable or something like that? Yeah, Takeru was sure that there are people who say that, so he wasn't wrong for not being able to forget someone that he dated almost four years ag- wait no, that doesn’t make sense, he wasn't even in high school four years ago, he couldn’t have met her then, much less date her…

Anyway, the point was that he had a totally reasonable reason to be there. “There” being at the door of the occult club room. He was not jealous, that would actually be pathetic and lame, things that he was clearly not. He just… he was curious.

People say that you shouldn’t trust rumors, but there has to be at least some part of the story that is true, right? Someone can’t just make up something out of nothing. Maybe the only part that was true was that they were at the club room, or maybe the part that was true was that they’re dating.

Takeru didn’t know, that’s why he was there. He needed to know if there was something going on between Saiki and Yumehara. Maybe Saiki was taking advantage of sweet Yumehara and no one knew. Takeru would be the one to save her.

(And maybe they could get back together.)

So there he was, his ear glued to the door trying to catch any type of conversation that could be going on inside the room.

 It wasn’t working, he couldn’t hear anything. Maybe he got the day or the time wrong? But that wasn’t possible, he checked the schedule multiple times, he was sure he got it right.

Takeru was getting bored, he had already spent too much time there, standing in front of a door trying to hear anything that could tell him that Yumehara and Saiki were seeing each other. 

(Maybe he was pathetic after all.)

He wasn’t going to spend more time there, it was getting late and he was hungry. He would just go home and pretend that this never happened. Maybe he could preserve some dignity if he went to his house at that moment.

But since when did Takeru have any luck? Just as he was walking down the hallway, he heard a door opening, so he turned his head to look and obviously it had to be the club’s door. 

He wanted the floor to swallow him and spit him out on Mars. But because that was not happening, he ran. Whoever was there had probably not seen him. He hoped that they had not seen him. It would be very humiliating if they had.

Forget about Saiki’s and Yumehara’s relationship, he would be part of the next rumor, and the worst part was going to be that it was partially true . Everyone already thought that he was gross and rude, he couldn’t make everyone believe that he was also a creep, a stalker , or (please not this) a pervert. Everyone was going to put him in the same group as Toritsuka , his social life was over.

(Not that he had a very large one to begin with.)

He liked Toritsuka, he really did, but there was a reason why he tried not to be seen with him. It would ruin him. He couldn’t lose all his hard work over a mistake caused by curiosity. He refused to make his being-a-bad-friend-to-Toritsuka go to waste. He refused.

He somehow managed to make it to the end of the hallway, so he (very happy that his social life wasn’t ruined forever) hid behind the wall.

Apparently he hasn’t learned his lesson, so he tried to see who came out of the room. He wasn’t surprised to see Yumehara, however, he was surprised that Saiki wasn’t the one that came out with her. Instead, it was a girl with black wavy hair that covered her face.

Takeru wasn’t sure how to feel about that. Maybe he should try to listen to their conversation? Yes, that was a reasonable course of action.

“Ugh, he didn’t come again ,” whined Yumehara. She was pouting, she looked cu- pay attention Takeru!

“I don’t know why you thought that he would,” said the strange girl with a monotone voice. What was her name?

“He came the other day, he enjoyed himself. He should have come back” said Yumehara, frowning.

“Maybe he didn’t actually enjoy himself?”

“No, no. If he hadn’t he would have left earlier,” responded Yumehara shaking her head. Couldn’t she be more beautiful and adorable?

But, wait, they were talking about a “he”. Maybe it was Saiki?

“Really? He didn’t even make a sound, his face never even made a twitch.”

This was getting interesting, but Takeru wasn’t sure if he wanted to keep listening. If they were talking about Saiki’s reactions, or well, lack of reaction during sex, Takeru really didn’t want to know.

He couldn’t believe that his ex had a threesome with Saiki and a strange girl that was probably her friend. How could that boring and ugly boy have sex with two people, one of them being a really pretty and amazing girl, and not have a reaction?

And to make matters worse, those girls wanted to do it again . Takeru could have done a better job at whatever they did with Saiki. He could appreciate what they were doing.

(He could, right? Wasn’t his lack of appreciation one the reasons Yumehara broke up with him in the first place? Meh, it didn’t matter. He was pretty sure he did a good job as a boyfriend, Yumehara just had really high standards.)

“Yeah, if he really wasn’t enjoying himself he would have left without saying anything.”

What an asshole. Takeru couldn’t believe that Saiki has that many friends following him around when he has that personality. They should have left him a long time ago. He clearly didn’t deserve them.

“Maybe he forgot?” asked the girl with black hair.

Seriously, they should stop trying to make excuses for him. Even if he had forgotten it was still bad, you just don’t forget things like that. It was rude and inconsiderate.

(He will ignore that he forgot his anniversary of… how many months was it? It doesn’t matter, next time that he dates someone he will write it down on his calendar. Yumehara hasn’t told him that anniversaries were important to her, how was he supposed to know?)

“No,” Yumehara shakes her head. “He has a really good memory. Maybe we should have just told him to come, even when hanging out with his friends someone has to go to his house to pick him up, otherwise he won’t go. I think he’s shy.”

Saiki? Shy? Having sex in school and people still think he’s shy? Maybe Saiki was really manipulative, Takeru will have to save Yumehara from his lies, he wouldn’t want her to get her feelings hurt.

(Shut up brain. He didn’t hurt her that much while they were dating.)

“What if he still doesn’t want to come?”

They should just leave him alone, maybe that will teach him that not everyone is there just to please him. Takeru was starting to think that maybe Saiki has everyone under mind control, making everyone want to be with him just to elevate his ego.

“We could…” Yumehara started to tap her index finger against her chin, she seemed to gain an idea and smirked. “We could always try to convince him with something… sweet.”

Takeru officially didn’t want to know anymore. He didn’t want to know what they were planning on doing to convince him. He wished he hadn’t heard anything since the beginning.

He was just going to continue walking down this hallway, run in the stairs to get downstairs as quickly as possible, and then run on his way home.

Next time he wouldn’t let his curiosity win, he would try to get far away from rumors. It’s not of his business what anyone else does or doesn’t do, he should have realized that earlier.

Now he just wished there was something out there that could erase his memory. He wished he hadn’t learned anything that day.

(He wished he could understand how Saiki was better than him when they were clearly the same. He wished he could change everything that is wrong about him.

He wished he could see what is wrong about him without losing everything first.)

Chapter Text

Hellooo! Did you miss me? Xd

No, I'm not going to cancel this story. I don't know when I'm going to update but I promise you that this year I will release at least 2 new chapters.

I'm looking for a beta reader ;-; It would be for a new fanfic about the YouTuber Gonzok, specifically Univerzok. (It's in Spanish)

If anyone is interested please comment here or send DM on ig or TikTok: Jamoncito_Fail

I want to finish the Univerzok fanfic first before I start updating all my other stories, having a beta reader would help me a lot to make the process faster :}

Well, that's all. Sorry if you got excited thinking it was a new chapter xd

Byeeee