wait but why did i quit updating this? this story is so cute hahah. the fluff had me dying in the first chapters cuz i completely forgot what i wrote lololll

anyway, this is me trying again.

••••

We all had some free time, and I thought I'd put in some extra practice with my new technique.

But as I sat here on the training fields, I realized I really didn't have the motivation to do anything. Instead, I just stretched, zoning out and letting my mind wander where it wanted.

Which, of course, somehow always brought me back to Inumaki.

"Y/n! I've been looking for you everywhere!!"

I looked up and saw Nobara headed towards me, "Well, you found me."

"This is literally the last place I had left to look. You're never out here when you don't have to be!"

I smirked a little as I continued my stretching. She wasn't wrong. I barely showed up when we were supposed to be out here.

"Guess what?" she smiled as she sat down next to me.

"Hmm?"

She bit her lip, "Maki likes me back. Now, she's my girlfriend."

My eyes immediately shot up as I squealed, "Nobara!!!"

"I know!!" she started laughing. "Y/n, I'm so fucking happy."

"Aww, that's honestly the cutest shit."

She giggled as she laid back, stretching out her arms and legs across the grass, "It feels like a dream. Seriously, she kissed me and I thought I was going to float away."

"You two deserve it. You guys are such a good match," I smiled at her. I loved seeing her so full of excitement.

She sighed out, "I just hope everyone else is ok with it..."

"Of course they will be," I encouraged her. "And if anyone says something, you let me know. We'll handle it."

She laughed, "That is if Maki doesn't handle it first. You know her temper."

"Yea, but my queens don't need to get their hands dirty," I teased as I leaned towards her. "That's what Megumi and Yuuji are for."

"What're we for!?" Yuuji yelled as the two boys walked towards us.

"Speaking of the peasants," Nobara smirked, causing me to laugh even more.

Megumi huffed out as they sat with us, "Amusing, coming from the person who can't even land a blow on me during training."

"Wanna try that again!?" Nobara yelled. "I'll beat your ass right here!"

"Ok, that's enough," I laughed. "Don't ruin my nice afternoon."

"Yea, or mine. I just had the best morning of my life," Nobara grumbled before laying back on the grass again.

"We heard," Yuuji smirked.

Nobara just shot him a glare before rolling her eyes, obviously still a bit bitter about Megumi's comment.

Not that she should take it personally. Megumi's been training with Gojo since he was a kid. Of course he's going to be better than us.

"Damn, news travels fast," I mumbled.

"Mm, we heard some other news too," Yuuji wiggled his eyebrows.

"And what's that?" I asked annoyed.

Nobara chimed in, "Yes, please Yuuji, enlighten us."

"Only that a certain first year has been spending a little more time, a lot of time actually, with another certain second year."

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Nobara scowled as she stared down Yuuji.

"Yea, that didn't make any sense," I laughed as I teased him.

"Ugh you guys know what I'm talking about!!" he whined. "It's Y/n!! She's like always with Inumaki!"

"Well, I'm currently with you guys, so not always..."

"Do you like him?" Megumi asked.

"Ew, what's with you two being all nosy?" Nobara asked as she sat up.

"Yea, I mean, I'm hardly ever with him anyway."

Of course I liked Inumaki, but I wasn't about to admit it all three of them. The schools not big. It's really not even an actual school.

The minute I said it out loud, it'd be sure to find its way back to Inumaki. Which I definitely wasn't ready for.

"Well we heard he likes Y/n!" Yuuji added defensively.

As much as I'd love to believe that was true, this conversation was starting to piss me off a little. How would he even know that?

"Don't go starting rumors, Yuuji," I chastised him. "Think about how Inumaki would feel if he heard you making shit up. We're friends."

"See, I told you," Megumi huffed. "How would you even like someone you've never actually spoken with?"

Ouch. Ok. Too far.

"You guys are assholes," I muttered.

"Seriously who the hell would've even said anything to you? I know it wasn't Maki," Nobara was clearly annoyed too.

"How are we the bad guys!?"

"Okkotsu told us," Megumi explained.

"Okkotsu?" my ears perked up. "He's back?"

I guess he's the only one who would say something. Him and Inumaki were probably the closest out of the second years.

Apparently, it took Okkotsu awhile to open up, but now him and Inumaki are like best friends. And they love to mess with each other. He was probably giving him a hard time...

Which made me stop and think a bit.

Does Inumaki really like me? He would only tease him if it would mess with Inumaki, so there might actually be some truth to it.

Or I'm just the only single girl at the Tokyo school since Maki and Nobara are official.

Maybe I'm just a joke?

Fuck... That could be it.

Dammit, and now Okkotsu's back all suddenly which means there's somewhat more important things to worry about.

Yuuji nodded, "Mm, got back last night I guess. We saw him this morning at breakfast."

"And you decided to talk about Y/n?" Nobara raised an eyebrow.

"Well..." Yuuji hesitated. "And other things."

I quickly pushed myself up off the soft grass, "I gotta go."

"What? Why?"

"Y/n no! Stay with us!"

"We're sorry!"

I waved as I walked away, "I'll catch up with you soon."

If Okkotsu is back, I should probably find him and Gojo before they get to plotting.

My head was in daze as I hustled across campus.

Why the hell were the training fields so far away? Honestly, it was a workout just walking to them. They could've at least made it a bit more convenient.

"Ow!" I smacked right into a body and found myself stumbling to the ground.

Inumaki turned around, staring at me as I sat rubbing my forehead that had just connected with his shoulder blade.

"Mustard leaf?" he cocked his head to the side.

"Fine," I huffed out embarrassed.

He had offered his hand to help me up, but I decided not to take it. Still, he ignored that and held my arm anyway, pulling me to my feet.

"Sorry, I didn't see you. I'm in a rush."

I could barely even look at him after what Megumi and Yuuji told me.

He either did like me, or the thought of liking me was so ridiculous it made him and Okkotsu laugh... either way, it's not something I was prepared to think about.

But staring at him would make it difficult to ignore.

"Seaweed?"

"I just need to find Gojo," I muttered.

I felt my eyes threatening to well up with tears so I kept them locked on the ground.

I'm so fucking embarrassing... And it doesn't help that I've been sleeping like shit. My emotions are all over the place.

What if I'm just a joke to him...

"Mustard leaf?" he asked again, this time his voice softened as he put his hand on my arm.

How does he know me so well? Why is he even trying to comfort me? Why bother?

It's like Megumi said, it's not like we've ever really been able to talk.

"I said I'm fine."

I went to step around him, but he followed my movement, cutting off my exit.

He took a step closer, leaving barely inches between us and making my nerves an absolute mess. My heart was smashing against my chest.

I had never wanted to run away more than I did in this moment.

He shook his head, his voice coming out barely above a whisper, "Y/n..."

My head shot up as he spoke my name, my eyes going wide.

I definitely told him to quit trying to talk to me since I hurts him, but here he was... And to hear him say my name.

I loved it.

"Oh Toge!!" a voice called out, interrupting us.

Inumaki let out a soft sigh as his eyes shut in disappointment. Still, I couldn't look away.

He said my name, and selfishly, I wanted to hear him say it a thousand more times.

"Eh? Standing a little close aren't you?" Okkotsu teased as he came and approached us, a smirk on his face.

I immediately took a step back, fighting every urge to run away or lock my eyes onto the ground.

I didn't like showing weakness in front of Okkotsu. It's not that I was afraid of him, and he definitely wasn't mean.

Actually, we were kind of friends.

It's just, well, complicated I guess. And the last thing I wanted was to give him any reason to doubt that I should be here.

"Good timing," I smiled, faking my confidence. "I was actually just coming to look for you."

"And I was just coming to look for you!"

"Seaweed?"

"Gojo and I just have some things to talk to Y/n about," Okkotsu smiled.

Ok so he made it to Gojo before I did... that's unfortunate.

"And I think Nanami is joining us too, actually."

"Really?"

"Mm, he's probably here by now."

Thank goodness... Nanami is the only one who agrees that I shouldn't be shipped off to who knows where.

Even though he'll never admit it, I know I'm his favorite too. I don't think he could function if he wasn't able to check on me.

And even though Gojo could be similar, Okkotsu has a way of persuading Gojo's point of view.

"Seaweed?"

"Y/n has nightmares," Okkotsu shrugged. "Amongst other issues. We're just figuring out what's best for her."

"Mm?" Inumaki furrowed his eyes at me, and I nodded reluctantly.

Damn Okkotsu. Did you really have to say all that? Geez this guy doesn't have a filter. He just doesn't always have social awareness...

"Well now that you've exposed all my secrets, can we please go?" I rolled my eyes at Okkotsu.

"Yea, yea. Come on," he walked away, ushering me to follow.

"See ya," I mumbled to Inumaki, whose eyes were full of concern and confusion.

I wish I could tell him more. Honestly, I wanted to tell him everything.

But this was just so confusing. My feelings for him were clear enough, but what he thought about me was as uncertain as ever.

Why did he have to say my name like that?

As if I needed anymore reasons to keep thinking about him...

"Kelp."