strawberry pocky | tsukishima kei [SLOW UPDATES]

the bet

It had been several weeks after you've started at Karasuno, and you were beginning to feel comfortable at the school. Your friendship with Yamaguchi had grown even stronger due to the fact that you now saw each other every day, and you'd made a few other friends too, like the passionate and energetic redhead that you bumped into on your first day. You'd also made yourself a rival of sorts. You thought that the small argument about the strawberry Pocky would a one-time thing, but now that the boy was best friends with your best friend, you had to see far too much of him for your liking, so the argument had become more of a feud. You two would  launch insults at each other while your poor friend did a version of enemy third-wheeling.

It wasn't like you could avoid him, either - Tadashi liked to have his two best friends sitting with him. He hoped you guys would get over your beef soon and if he was honest, it was entertaining to watch you try to one-up one another. Plus, you would never admit it, but you sort of enjoyed your rivalry. It kept school interesting for you and it also motivated you to do better on tests since you had another ultimate goal of beating Tsukishima in academics.

This was not to say that you liked his personality at all, though. You hated his cockiness and how apathetic he was. You hated how he would roll his eyes or make that "tch" noise when you said something he deemed to be stupid. You didn't understand how he was so popular with the girls in your year. Sure, you could admit he was attractive, but did personality not matter to these people anymore? Did they know the same Tsukishima that you did? You wondered why Yamaguchi wasn't the one to get that attention - he was cute and he was nicer to others than his best friend.

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As your math teacher announced an upcoming test, you looked over to Tsukishima and narrowed your eyes at him. He looked back at you and rolled his eyes. He had gotten a higher score than you on the last social studies quiz, so you were determined to beat him one way or another. While the teacher finished up the lesson, you devised a study plan in your head, as well as a way to keep things interesting.

When it was time for lunch, you moved your desk so that it was touching Yamaguchi's and put your food on top of it so that you two could eat together. Tsukishima joined you both (although he was likely just there for Yamaguchi) and sat so that he was facing you. Normally, you would have groaned at his arrival, but today, you were excited to see him. You had something you want to talk to him about.

"So," began Yamaguchi, "you guys wanna come over and study for the math test coming up over the weekend?" The idea sounded nice to you, but you figured you saw enough of Tsukishima as it was. Seeing him outside of school did not sound fun to you in the slightest.

"Maybe," said Tsukishima. "Although I'm guessing that this one needs the extra practice more than I do," he added, gesturing in your direction.

"You've got quite the ego there, four-eyes. You score higher than me in one measly social studies quiz and now you suddenly think you're all that, huh?" you retorted.

"That's exactly right," he answered with another one of his taunting smiles. You gave a mocking smile back.

"Let's see if you can put your money where your mouth is, Tsukishima."

"And what do you mean by that?"

"'To put one's money where one's mouth is'- to take action to support one's statement or opinions," you replied with the same taunting smile he had just given you a few seconds ago.

"I don't think he was asking about the definition, f/n..." interrupted Yamaguchi.

"I know that - I was just giving him a hard time," you whispered back. Yamaguchi nodded and let you continue.

You pulled out your notebook and a pen and slammed them on your desk for dramatic effect. The people around you flinched at the sudden noise, but you ignored them and went on, "Basically, I'd like to propose a bet." Tsukishima raised one eyebrow, indicating that he wanted you to continue. Yamaguchi turned his head to look at you, his interest piqued.

"If I score higher than you on the upcoming math test, you must perform a punishment of my choosing. And if you score higher than me, I'll perform a punishment of your choosing." you announced as you started a new page and wrote "L/n vs Tsukishima - math test score" at the top.

He mulled it over in his head for a few seconds, and then grumbled, "Fine. But only because I know I'll win."

"Oh, we'll see about that," you said confidently. "Now, let's decide on the terms of the bet, shall we? I'll start." You'd had this idea in your head since he had scored higher than you on the social studies quiz, so you knew exactly what you would make him do. "If I win, you will first reimburse me for the strawberry Pocky you stole from me," you continued, writing as you spoke, "AND you have to be nice to me for a week." You giggled at the thought of him attempting to be nice.

He scoffed. "Me? Be nice to you?  Not a chance."

"So win the bet, then." You handed him the notebook and pen so he could write down his terms.

"Ok, I suppose if I win, then...hmm...I'll start by placing a lifetime ban on you mentioning that strawberry Pocky situation. And then, what else...I know. I'll make you my personal servant for a week. Basically, anything I just don't feel like doing will become your job." You shuddered to think of how embarrassing that would be, carrying his bags for him and holding the door open and reaching things off high shelves. He probably noticed the look on your face, because he then said, "Oh, cheer up. I'm sure lots of girls would want to be in your position."

You fake gagged at his words and snatched the notebook back from him. "So, Tadashi, would you be the unbiased third-party moderator of this bet? As in, making sure that nobody violates the terms?"

He looked at you, then darted his eyes over to his other best friend, and then looked back at you. "Yeah, sure." You flashed him a grateful smile. "Okay, so shake hands to seal your deal, guys."

You narrowed your eyes at each other for a few seconds, but finally shook hands. "Hey, don't look so angry, guys, this is just a friendly bet, right?"

"Shut up, Yamaguchi."

"Sorry, Tsukki."

author's note: had to end on a classic "shut up yamaguchi gomen tsukki" lol. also characterization is so hard i cannot. also thank you for 100 reads and thank you for the votes!! <3 also i used this source https://spice.fsi.stanford.edu/docs/daily_life_in_japanese_high_schools to help me with writing this story and what life in japanese high school is like!

- lola.