Tendou's POV

Basically smacking his forehead against his desk the moment his professor slid the exam paper off of it, 7th year Hufflepuff Tendou Satori was entirely exhausted from the sheer amount of strain both studying and the test itself has caused him over the last couple of weeks. Though it'd be hard to tell at first glance, naturally walking and sitting with a slight slouch, and eyes downturned and sunken in enough to make him look wayy more tired than necessary.

Arms hung at his sides, head laying semi-comfortably over his ink-stained desk, and forehead hurting from his dramatic display of exhaustion, he flickered his eyes around the room, a natural and cat-like smile forming on his lips.

He saw his friend Yamagata, also 7th year Hufflepuff, looking back at him, Eyes wide in despair and hair frayed at every end from rubbing it so much during the test. A small, scared frown and the slight motion of shaking his head was enough to tell Tendou he totally fucking bombed it.

Next was who was probably his best friend, Semi Eita (a 7th year Slytherin). Tired and yawning uncontrollably, yet with odd content on his features. He probably passed easy breezy.

But.. the last guy.

Satori's had a lingering eye on him for a while.

Sat next to everyone's favorite ginger Kawanishi Taichi, was Ushijima "Ushiwaka" Wakatoshi. The most impressive chaser on the Slytherin quidditch team. Everyone knew his name, no one knew his brain. He's a total mystery to everyone except for aforementioned Taichi, a Hufflepuff 7th year named Reon Ohira, and Semi, who he gave an extra quill to, like, once.

"That guy..." Tendou whispered and blinked, wide-eyed and intrigued.

"What's up with him?" He laughed with the corner's of his eyes squinting from his growing smile.

Tendou's eyes flickered again to the head of the room where their professor was now arranging all their finished tests. He set them onto his desk and turned back to the rest of the class.

"Now that your quiz is finished, you're all dismissed!" His gaze was cat-like and slightly intimidating for an old man. Professor Nekomata was strange, but also probably Tendou's favorite teacher here.

That said, he wasted absolutely no time stuffing his books, papers, quills and ink pots back into his bag. He jumped up with as much excitement his tired body could muster and basically glided out of the door only to slam backwards outside right next to it. But only to wait for his darling friends~

The door opened.

"Semisemi!"

"Shut the hell up Tendou I'm tired."

Very darling indeed.

"Well just be happy this is the last class we have today, 'kay?" Tendou couldn't help but ruffle his hair.

"Whatever.." He leaned next to Tendou on the stone wall, not making an effort to remove Tendou's hands from making an even bigger mess of his hair.

The door opened again.

But... instead of Yamagata...out stepped the one and only Ushijima.

Tendou's lips tightened at seeing him so up close, not that he was intimidated, nah not at all, he was just so... interested in this guy.

Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Tendou was surprised at just how hardened this man's gaze was.

"Excuse me." Was all he said as he walked past, not breaking eye contact as he past him.

"...you know Ushijima or something?"

"Not in the slightest! Why?"

"Well... he looked like he was sizing you up, dude." Tendou cocked his head.

"Whaddya mean???"

"The way he stared at you.. looked sorta angry."

"I think the word you're lookin' for is scrutinizing, Semi."

"Sure sure whatever... just don't do something to piss him off."

"What have I eeeever done to piss people off???" Tendou reeled back in pretend offense.

"Gee I wonder." Yamagata's voice was heard just as he walked out of the classroom.

"Wow! Some friends you guys are!!"

The trio walked through the outside corridor to head towards Slytherin dorms to hang out and wait around for dinner. All of them were finally getting in some good stretches after that excruciating exam. Tendou couldn't stop messing with his fingers, while the other two had back and neck problems that would make 100 year old grandparents blush.

"~🎶It is only the second month of schooool~
Why am I so TIRED?!🎶~"

"Nice singing, Semisemi~!"

"Eita, it's called depression."

Semi hung his head back with a loud groan, even more small snaps in his neck heard and bags seen wayyy more clearly under the shine of the sun in the outdoor corridor.

"Can it maybe, just maybe, fuck off for a while?" Yamagata snorts loudly next to Tendou, patting him nicely on the shoulder, even with a slightly smug expression plastered on his face.

"Well, it's probably depression, but you know what else?" Semi already looked disgusted.

"Don't you fucking..."

"That Ravenclaw 6th year! Seriously, he makes you so fuckin' angry! What's your damage with that kid?" Oh no. Semi's gonna start ranting again...

"He doesn't make me angry, he just irritates me ok?! Always so dismissive of any advice I try to give him, despite both of us being keepers and he has some obvious flaws in his form! It's like he doesn't even listen! And don't get me started on the-"

Time to dip.

"You know what... I'm gonna go smuggle us some food from the kitchens, I'll see you later guys!"

"Oh- sure, Tendou."

"See ya Satori!"

With a convincingly bright smile, he dashed off into the direction of the kitchens, and, once out of earshot from the other two, let out a sigh of relief.

"I'm betting five dollars to myself that Semi and Shirabu will end up together this year." He walked much more leisurely to the kitchens. Sure, he just said it to get out of whatever rant Semi had for them today, but some pumpkin pasties do sound pretty good right now.

Passing through the large number of disheartened and broken-dreamed students through the hallways, Tendou basically made a bee-line for the kitchen and was close to arriving to it way before he initially thought. All he had to do was round this corner aaaand...

Oh.

Oh boy.

He quickly slid back around the corner he was about to pass and hid behind it, poking out his eyes just slightly to keep an eye on his target.

Ushijima Wakatoshi.

He was just passing through the halls, figure tall and imposing on those around him, especially with that especially weird air of determination he had flowing around him right now!

He seemed so focused on a ser goal, Tendou just had to know where he was going. He knew for a fact that Slytherin didn't have quidditch practice today, so where else could he be going???

Tendou was going to find that out for sure.

Screw the pasties.

Sneakily, Tendou went from wall to wall, behind every corner Ushijima passed to avoid being seen at all costs. He tried his best to take notice and recognize the hallways they passed through to try and figure out where he was going.

The floor turned from carpet, to stone, to covered in moss and dirt; Ushijima was headed directly outside.

Not having much else to hide behind anymore, Tendou made his distance from Ushijima even wider and decided to just follow from far, far away.

"C'mon, miracle boy... where are you taking me?" He was starting to grow impatient.

His legs were soon getting tired, and he was about to call it quits, that is, before Ushijima made his way directly into one of the greenhouses used for herbology classes.

"God... maybe he's just talking about his grades with a teacher or something. I'm not a stupid stalker! What the hell am I doing?" Tendou shook his head and turned around..

...

..

But his curiosity was too strong and he immediately turned around into a sprint.

He ducked underneath one of the window sills and peaked his head lver just enough for his eyes to see Ushijima in the dew-covered glass.

There were no teachers to be found, and it was only him. Only Ushijima pulling on some gloves, only Ushijima getting a pail of water, only Ushijima watering and measuring the bountiful amount of plants in the house so gently and carefully, only Ushijima with an adorably small smile spreading across his face once he learns that his plants have grown since the last time he's seen them... only Ushijima...

Only a very soft Ushijima.

Tendou was about to start clutching his heart and rolling around in the grass outside. How can a man so tall and buff and terrifying look so cute by just taking care of plants?? Tendou was equally captivated as he was awestruck. Ushijima Wakatoshi really is some sort of specimen.. something out of this world entirely.

He didn't want to intrude, he didn't want to bother... but he really wanted to support him as well.

Fuck it. Balls to the wall let's go gamers.

Satori opened the door and let himself in entirely, sliding on the dirty and slightly rotting oakwood floors and letting the scent of pure vegetation, wet dirt and slight acidity seep into his nose. He saw that Ushijima was not only working on the potted plants that lined the shelves and sills across the wall, but also the overgrown plant that made themself home in the corner from floor to glass ceiling, as well as the long table of pots in the middle of the shack-like house.

"Well helloooo! Professor Mizo- oh! You're not Mizoguchi." Tendou cocked his head to try and act as convincing as possible. Ushijima, face speckled lightly in dirt Tendou couldn't see through the foggy window, turned to look at him with a look of indifference. Looks like cutie-jima's gone for now, sadly.

"No, I am not. Did you need something from him?" Despite only being an inch taller than Tendou, he felt tiny. Ushijima's presence alone was just so.... spooky. He was sure he was actually much nicer than he initially let off, but you can't get rid of that lingering feeling.

"Ahh yeah, just needed to talk with him about my grade from the we had lesson a few days ago! Extra credit and stuff, ya know?" He brightly smiled at the former, leaning on a dirt-covered table that held an extra pair of gloves and a trovel.

"Well, I'm sorry to say I don't know where he went. Although I'd check the astronomy room in case he's speaking with Professor Irihata." He spoke politely, never breaking eye contact, though anyone else who heard him would think he's simply brushing him off by how dull he sounded. Not Tendou, though, he could tell how well the boy meant.

"Well thank you...!" Tendou started and backed up a bit towards the door, but remembered his reason for coming in in the first place and lingered for just a moment.

Ushijima had already turned back around, trimming dead leaves off of an oddly tame fanged geranium. But Tendou walked up slowly behind him.

"Say... what're you doing here anyways? Dinner should be startin' soon, and you wouldn't want to be all dirty at the Slytherin table yeah?" He only realized after the words left his mouth how rude that could've sounded. Hopefully this guy really does just take everything at it's face value.

"Every day I don't have practice I immediately come here after classes, then practice after dinner to make up for lost time. I normally eat in here as well." Ushijima's eyes never left the plant he was caring for even as he spoke, putting a lot of care into trimming off loose stems. Tendou had to admire the guy, he was committed.

"Well.. uh... how 'bout I join you? I mean.. looks like fun and I bet some extra hands wouldn't hurt!" He raised both of his hands in front of him with a wide smile, flexing his fingers and successfully capturing the former's attention. Ushijima's eyes weren't as hardened as they usually were, now they were wider and filled with a bit more surprise.

"I don't see why not. There are extra gloves and an apron over there, and the asphodels do need to be watered." He pointed, dirtied shovel still in hand. Tendou shot him a couple thumbs up and raced back over to the table he was leaning on before. He pulled on the surprisingly clean gloves, took off his cloak to leave just his vest, tie and button up and put on the apron that was hung up next to it, and picked up the water can at the foot of the table's legs. He practically skipped over to the white and orange colored flower once he was finished.

"Yo, uh, miracle boy- how much water does the asphodel need?"

Like a ghost, Ushijima suddenly appeared next to him, making Tendou jump.

"God- don't scare me like that!"

"I'm sorry. Asphodels don't need as much water as other plants, so only give them a bit." He leaned slightly forward above him, and Tendou could already feel a bit of heat gather at the tips of his ears just from how close he was.

"I gotcha man!" As reckless as he normally was, he didn't want to embarrass himself or make miracle boy Ushijima angry, so he held the pail of water over the row of plants and tilted only slightly until the water started to come out, then he dragged it along the boxed flowers and watched as the water soaked into the dirt until he was finished.

"How's that for a first-timer?" He rested a hand on his hip with a smug smile.

"It wasn't bad at all, Tendou." He handed me a shovel.

"Well thank y-! wait, you know my name??"

"Of course, you're my classmate." He said all too simply and walked to the opposite side of the green house.

"You know all of our names?"

"..well, no."

"...suspicious. You're a weird one, Ushiwaka, but I like that!"

"You can't say I'm weird when you just called me miracle boy."

"Oh- I didn't say that in my head?"

"No. It was loud and clear."

"..well then."

Tendou thinks that barely, just barely.

He saw Ushijima Wakatoshi smile because of him.

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3rd Person POV

It'd been a week, and Ushijima barely went to scheduled afternoon practice anymore. It was only after hours, either by himself, or with as many teammates he could gather to play with him.

And it was all because of Tendou Satori.

Every day they'd been meeting up after school to tend to the greenhouse, and already, Tendou felt incredibly close to him. He had no way of telling if Ushijima felt the same, but he could only guess so considering he misses practice just to be with him.

They don't talk all that much during actual school hours, a simple wave when they see each other in the hallway, or sometimes saying hi when passing by each other's tables whether in class or the main hall.

They also ate dinner together, just the two of them, alone.

Semi and Yamagata were getting suspicious of Tendou, not knowing why they weren't seeing him in the hall for dinner. But they did see the looks exchanged between their friend Tendou and esteemed Ushiwaka.

So they decided to do some snooping by asking some friends of Ushijima what they'd been up to (because they know Tendou's a snotty little shit who would never give them a straight answer and turn it into a big game.)

...

Semi's POV

"So who does Ushiwaka even talk to again?" Yamagata asked as he and Semi were leaving their last class of the day, planning on visiting some dorm rooms to see if they could find out what Ushiwaka and Tendou had been doing together to have them on such friendly terms.

"Well first we're gonna check in with Kawanishi Taichi from Slytherin, they're always sat together and they talk pretty often, always being each other's partners if possible." Semi explains as he and Yamagata made their way down the stairs into the dungeons that would lead to the Slytherin common rooms they were both already very familiar with. Yet, despite being in here so often, not once have they spoken to, nor really seen, Kawanishi and Ushiwaka.

"Do you know any 6th years here? Maybe they share a dorm with him."

"Yeah, I know a few. I think one of them is out in Hufflepuff right now, though. I know someone who's staying in to study so maybe he's in the common room." They walk through two huge stone pillars and onto the green and silver-accented carpet of the Slytherin dorms. Looking around, Semi quickly spots two of his 6th year friends studying on the couch by the fire.

"Ennoshita! Kinoshita!" He calls out and waves, their heads immediately snap up and they smile once they see him and Yamagata.

"Hey dudes, you need something?" Kinoshita leans back onto the couch, feather tucked behind his ear.

"Yeah, you two are in the same dorm right?"

"Uh-huh."

"Well, Yamagata and I are looking for a 6th year. Is there a guy named Kawanishi Taichi in your dorm?" At his name, both of the 6th year Slytherin's faces relax into small smiles.

"Oh yeah! He's in our dorm, and he's pretty chill too. I didn't think you guys knew him."

"All we know is he talks to Ushiwaka a lot." Yamagata steals a licorice wand off of their tray of snacks and bites a chunk out of it. Kinoshita immediately sends him a death glare and pulls the tray back.

"Oh yeah, they're pretty good friends. He's hanging out in the dorm right now so he'll answer if you just knock."

"Great. See you later guys! Thanks so much!"

"See ya Semi."

"If Yamagata steals any more food I'll personally turn him into a frog." Yamagata turns a little more tense and wide-eyed as the licorice hangs from his mouth. He knows he isn't kidding, once Hayato took the last apple from the food trays here. Kinoshita turned him into a salamander on the spot and dangled him over the logfire in the commons. For really being such a sweet kid, Kinoshita could be pretty terrifying.

"I think he has it out for me, Semi..."

"Stop stealing food and he wouldn't have to. You're Hufflepuff aren't you? Don't you live right next to the kitchens?"

"Food tastes better if it's taken, okay?"

"...yeah you're right."

Their small walk ended as Yamagata quickly knocked on the door to the 'Noshita's dorm, and it was almost immediately swung open by someone unexpected.

An owl-headed Gryffindor.

He stared at us with piercing gold eyes for a second, it sent chills down their spine just like how Tendou's stares used to.

"Hey..uh.. we're looking for Kawanishi Taichi?"

Then a huge grin spread across his face and he moved aside to let us in. We walked in quickly and saw only two other people in the room. A ginger who was reading a book on his bed, and an.. admittedly gorgeous black-haired boy who looked like he was just studying on the floor.

"Taichiii! There are people here to see you!!" The Gryffindor said with way too much enthusiasm. Taichi didn't really seem bothered though.

"Thanks, Bokuto."

'Bokuto' gave him a thumbs up and went and sat across from the pretty 6th year. Kawanishi stood up from his bed slowly and made his way to the two of us, he looked pretty annoyed, but hopefully that was just some bad resting bitch face.

"Do we need to take it outside or is it fine to talk in here?" Thank god, he's tired not angry.

"In here's fine, we just wanted to ask some questions about Ushiwaka." Yamagata said simply and sat on the nearest bed to us, I shrugged and sat next to him. Kawanishi looked almost bored with what he said.

"If you're here looking for how to be as good of a chaser as he is..." he plopped back down onto his bed and across from us, picking his book back up to ovcupy himself, "then there's no secret. Just practice and some natural-born talent."

"...uh, that's not what we came to ask." He looked almost surprised as his face scrunched up, he shifted his head to look back at us.

"Then what do you want to know?"

"..has he been weird recently?"

Now, Kawanishi was completely sat up and intrigued.

"Yeah, he has been... he's been skipping afternoon practice every day for the past week and instead doing it in the evening."

Semi thought to himself about how that's around the same time Tendou's been leaving dinners, and also greeting him during school. And that one day where he said he went to get food from the kitchen, but never came back.

"Is there... a person involved with this?" Semi asked without even thinking. If Kawanishi wasn't surprised before, he definitely was now.

"I.. wasn't going to say anything before, but recently Ushijima's been telling me about how he thinks he's growing.. feelings for someone."

...cut the cameras. Deadass.

"HAS HE TOLD YOU WHO?!" Yamagata straight up shouts. Kawanishi didn't seem disturbed by it, shockingly enough.

"...well..."

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-(flaaaashbaaaack from Kawanishi's POV)-

"Excuse me, Kawanishi?" Looking up desperately from the 5 page arithmancy essay he was being forced to do, eyes bloodshot and baggy and hair a complete mess, he stared at Ushijima in the doorway.

"I'm sorry.. is this a bad time."

"No this is a perfect time please come in." He almost tripped over his strewn bedsheets as he went towards the door, clinging onto it and swinging open the door to let him in. Worriedly, Ushijima made his way in and sat at the foot of Kawanishi's bed. He followed suit and sat at the head of his bed, rubbing his eyes and looking at Ushijima with a much more sane stare.

"What's up?"

"You have feelings for a 6th year Gryffindor yes?"

"tAICHI HAS WH-"

His head drifting over to Futakuchi's side of the room, he can seen Aone slap his hand over Futakuchi's mouth, pick him up off of his bed and drag him out of the room. Thank god Aone knows hoe to respect privacy.

"...Perhaps I shouldn't have said that out loud with other people in the room."

"He's been pestering me about liking someone for a while now, this won't change anything, it's fine." He looked tiredly at the spot Futakuchi once lie, and then looked back at Ushijima.

"Well... I do, yeah. Why do you ask?"

"...how did you know?"

Well this was one conversation Taichi never thought he'd have with Ushijima.

Eyes drifting up to the ceiling, he blows a small raspberry between his lips and pats his legs.

"Honestly it was.. sort of difficult. I mean, the first time I saw him I immediately gained an interest in him. Then we were paired up for a project in herbology and seeing how he really acted as a person... it just hit me that I like him."

"...what do you like about him?"

"Really digging in deep, huh?" Taichi laughed, though mostly to himself.

"He..listened. He was very open minded and was willing to listen to me on anything I had to say. I felt really understood and listened to and.. that's probably the biggest thing for me." Taichi wasn't used to just spilling his heart out like that, even to his closest friends, so he felt himself get the smallest bit flustered and shaky, even if no one else could tell.

"I think I'm going through that. I met someone after school a couple days ago. It may sound childish, but I think I've already started growing.. feelings for him. He already intrigued me, like you said, by just how I saw he acted with his friends and in our classes in general. Then, when he started speaking to me... he acted the exact same way. He's very honest, but also joking. He understands what I mean by what I say even though others consider me blunt. He stays after school with me in the greenhouses for herbology, willingly working with me and doing an activity I like despite not doing it before... he feels me with a nice feeling, Kawanishi." Never before has Kawanishi seen Ushijima seen with such a tender expression. The pure softness in his eyes and voice, and the ever-growing smile that spread across his face. A big enough smile to show off his dimples that.. Taichi never even knew existed????

"...wow you've got it bad."

"..It appears so." At the end of his ramblings, Ushijima's face went back to normal.

"..the only advice I really have is to tell him once you're ready, other than that... he sounds like a pretty good guy. I hope he treats you right."

-(end of flaaaashbaaack)-

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Semi's POV

"Does that sound like your friend? Tendou, you said his name was?"

"Yep that sounds like him alright."

"Wow... thanks so much Kawanishi."

"No problem. You guys can come back if you need anything else." He says and both Semi and Yamagata nod their heads in understanding, getting up to leave and waving a quick goodbye to the 6th year.

"...well I'll be damned. Apparently Tendou has so much power he can even make Ushiwaka fall for him." Semi laughs at how absurd this situation is.

"But what if Tendou doesn't like him back?"

"You kidding? I've seen the looks Tendou shoots him from across the class. He's got it bad."

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Tendou's POV

The past week and a half, Tendou's completely lost track of time. He doesn't pay attention to the day of the week anymore, or what classes he'll have that day. He's sure he's walked into the wrong first period at least twice, and it's all because he only ever looks forward to spending the end of the day hanging out with Ushijima in the greenhouse.

He's not a coward, he's not afraid to admit that all the time he's spent staring at Ushijima in the greenhouse, apron tight around his chest and the top few button up buttons undone, as well as the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, was because he had it baaad for this man.

He liked Ushijima, and he was comfortable with it. Someone like him would never be able to be with someone like Ushijima. A monster (as he heard people whisper around him) wasn't allowed to be with a superstar like Ushiwaka. He honestly just feels thankful he could become his friend.

The thought does make him slightly sad, but his understanding far outweighs his feelings. No one would ever want to be with him anyways, lizard eyes always wide and unfocused, how sunken in they were didn't help with their creepiness factor either. How loud and excitable he could get in such a short amount of time, the song he'd always hum to himself that everyone found creepy. He once started singing it to himself once he thought he was alone in the common room, and made a 1st year girl cry.

He was gangly and weird, his fingers always covered in bandages, a weird cat smile that was on his face 24/7, extravagant red hair, weird voice, constantly popping joints, freakish intuition.. eyes constantly glazed over and shark-like from getting lost in thought... being able to read people so easily they get scared when he can point out any double meanings in their words....

What part of him wasn't monstrous?

"Good afternoon, Tendou. I must speak with... Tendou?" The amount of emotion Ushijima had in his voice as he said his name was enough to chill Tendou's blood. He'd never heard him speak so... openly.

"Hey, Wakatoshi!" Tendou turns around after he finishes repotting a set of yellow chrysanthemums. He didn't like the look on his face, he looked too worried over something..

"Everything alright?" He cocked his head to the side.

"..You should ask that to yourself. Satori.. why are you crying?" Tendou immediately slapped his hands against his face. It was only now that he could feel the stinging in his eyes... the moisture between and underneath his fingers only further selling just how much he'd been crying.

"Oh! It's! Um! I got bitten by the fanged germanium, no big deal!"

"...I thought they liked you?"

"Yeah- uh- well- uh-"

"...You can tell me Satori." Tendou hates hearing Ushijima using his name like that. His given name of all things shouldn't be something he says in such a.. concerned way.

"Just some insecurities getting to me! No big deal!" Maybe if Tendou told the truth while playing it off as being more lighthearted, he could get away with this.

"..insecurities over what? You have nothing to be insecure over Tendou. You're very honest and kind, also very enjoyable to be around. Your energy lights up an entire room, and you can tell."

"...(yeah well what about my face..)"

"Your face-?"

"Wait you weren't suppose to hear that-"

"I think you have a very nice face actually. Your eyes are big and expressive, and even when they go blank from getting lost in thought, it's so... interesting to just watch you think. Your hair is certainly different from others, but it makes you all the more unique, and the way you're always smiling... I'd say it's very cute."

...

To hear someone like Ushijima Wakatoshi say those things about Tendou, it was hard for him to be in denial. Someone who always takes things for their face value, and reflects it in the words he speaks.

"Oh, and, I meant to tell you something. I'm not sure if now is the right time, though."

"Nono! You're good, you're good, go ahead!" Tendou leaned over an empty table in front of him, resting his head in the palms of his hands.

"...I like you, Satori. As in as more than a friend." He says... so casually, it's almost sickening.

Meanwhile, Tendou's internally losing his shit.

"Wh- W- whenwhyhow- WHA-"

"It's alright if you don't feel the same, I just wanted to get it out there as to not keep any secrets."

"Ushijima you dumbass."

Ushijima cocks his head ever so slightly to the side.

"Whatever do you m-"

Without fear or hesitation, Tendou grips the collar of Ushijima's shirt, pulling him in for an almost aggressive kiss that lasts for only about 2 seconds.

"Of course I like you too!" Tendou's tongue pokes out of the side of his mouth as he smiles, wide and toothy.

Ushijima, seemingly unfazed, leans in again not too long after the first kiss, and from then on... basically no flowers were watered that day.

Guess they'll just have to make up for it tomorrow.

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(A/N: Taichi is 100% the therapist friend, you can't fight me on this.)