Chapter Text
Hey. What’s up? _
No.
So, how does it feel like a losing? _
No. That’s just —
So, how does it feel like being second? _
UGH. That isn’t good either. Toudou, after all, is the kind of boy who likes to leave a good first impression, a flashy memorable reminder of his existence unto those who have been stricken by his awesome.
Just so you know, I got 20 girls who asked for _
“Hookin’ up, Toudou?”
Toudou finds himself fumbling for his phone when a towel gets thrown his way. Arakita smirks, pushing the towel down on the climber’s face while sneakily picking up the phone before it hits the ground.
Toudou quickly tugs the towel away, ready to scream profanities until he sees Arakita holding up his phone to Shinkai. Shinkai’s brows twist as he looks at the screen, letting out a thoughtful hum.
“Yeah. Totally flirting,” Shinkai says.
“Well, he’s at that age, after all.” Fukutomi adds.
Toudou feels his blood boil as he shoves Arakita aside, reaching for his phone until Arakita throws it to Shinkai. Shinkai grabs it quick while Fukutomi feigns to be uninterested as he picks up the weights behind Shinkai.
“Hou… so the girls’ name is Maki-chan, eh? Yasutomo, do you know anyone in school named Maki-chan?” Arakita looks up at Shinkai, but not without stopping Toudou’s whining and protests with a quick jab under the climber’s rib. Toudou wonders what he has done to deserve this until he sees Arakita’s sinister grin. Once a thug, always a thug. It seems Arakita's day is never finished until he bullies someone. Unfortunately for today, he was the best target.
“There’s this cute senpai named Maki who’s dating the leader in my old crew. Remember Momo, Fuku-chan?” Fukutomi nods while Toudou attempts to regain his composure. As if that Momo-bastard matters. His Maki-chan is different after all.
His... Maki-chan.
His Maki…chan.
His… Maki…
“Give me back my phone!” Toudou shouts, gaining a bit of strength as blood rushed in his veins thanks to the small slip of his heart. Shinkai evades Toudou by taking a step to his side, raising his hand high and far from Toudou’s reach before tossing the phone to Arakita who has rushed to the other end of the club room.
“Ya know, isn’t it kinda rude to be sending a confession via text?” Shinkai and Fukutomi nod at Arakita’s question. “If you really wanna convey your feelings you got to tell it to her, right?” Arakita presses dial, bringing horror to Toudou’s eyes.
Toudou “runs" towards Arakita even when it feels like his feet are heavier than lead. With each step, he hopes that he’ll beat the dial, beat the ring, and save himself from any further awkwardness from his Maki-chan. He’s had far too many uncool moments that adding another to his belt won’t help him achieve his goal. And just what was his goal? Right now, his goal is threatened by one ugly thug who’s having too much fun with his misery.
“I SWEAR TO GOD, I WILL BRING YOU DOWN ON YOUR KNEES AND POUND YOU HARD,” Toudou shouts loudly, his voice echoing around the clubroom.
“AH. IS THAT SO? WHO IS THIS AGAIN? THAT STALKER WITH A HEADBAND?”
Arakita freezes as soon as he hears the voice on the other line. Do girls sound that deep? Was that... even a... girl?
He quickly glances at Shinkai whose power bar drops from his mouth. Shinkai turned to Fukutomi for some answers but the ace feigns innocence, taking a hard swallow after hearing that voice.
It would take an idiot not to figure out the person behind the other line. But as Toudou takes his phone back, his ears beet red, his voice stuttering as he tries to find words and courage to even say a proper comeback, it is crystal clear that more than the legion of girls crazy over him, this Maki-chan is important to him and that this will be the first of many phone calls they’ll have to get used to.