a mutually arranged attachment. [yoriichi tsugikini x reader]

[♡] chapter one: partner up

Time ticked away slowly as you held your head in between you arms as you waited for your professor to begin class. You wanted to snooze the whole day away if it were possible. Well, it was. You could have slept in and turned your alarm clock off and skipped class all together, but you weren't that kind of student. You showed up every Tuesday and Thursday a few minutes before your Western Civilization course started which was usually before the professor showed up all together. So every morning, you'd wait at the door for your instructor to show up along with a handful of other students. One of them being, a taller male with long dark hair that was always gathered in a high pontail that reached the middle of his back. His hair seemed to be colored at the ends in a dip dyed fashion underlying his reddish undertones. You always found yourself wondering if it were natural and sometimes you wondered a little too long. And by wondering, you meant ogling. So long in fact, that he would catch you checking him out from time to time. His reaction was always indifferent. Like he had no care in the world. Merely coming to class and going to his next. You didn't even recall a time where he had actually spoken to another student outside of assigned work.

Much like him, you did the same. Attended class, did the work and then went about your day. You never really attempted to make friends. College wasn't exactly where you peaked in socialization and to be honest you really didn't want to. But something about him made you want to talk. Made you want to know him. Anything and everything. What made him tick. Did he prefer coffee or tea? Cats or dogs? His major? Questions befuddled your mind as you watched him scribble something onto his notebook from the makeshift peephole between your hand and sweater. His peripheral was quite compelling considering he noticed your gaze immediately. You jumped a little rattled by his sudden glare. It didn't feel cold, just guarded.

You let out a small shaky breath not realizing you had been holding it the whole time and quickly averted your eyes. How did he know that you were looking at him every goddamn time? Though, if anything, it made a shiver go down your spine.

The sound of your professor clapping his hands together caught your attention inviting you to sit up from your slumped position.

"Good morning, class. As most of you know, we have an upcoming project in the next few weeks." He paused for a moment looking at his students who were staring blankly at him. Their morning caffeine just barely kicking in. "So, actually instead of it being a few weeks from today–"

The class groaned in unison. Professor Garrison had a habit of shifting due dates of assignments and his students were absolutely sick of it.

"Now, now." He began again. He smile was meek and understanding in the face of his students. "I know this isn't my first time switching up due dates."

"Try the tenth time." A student called out from the back earning a few laughs.

Professor Garrison looked down abashedly as he shoved his hands in his pockets and adjusted the glasses on his face. "Yes, well. Like I was saying before, the upcoming project I planned out for you all to start in March will now start today."

Another audible groan.

"So anyway," He half rotated his body to grab the stack of papers behind him and began to pass out. "You're going to partner up with someone and do research project on..."

You zoned his voice out the moment you heard "partner up". Your cortisol levels were soaring. Partner up?! You thought you were more than capable of doing a research project on your own. Usually, you were the one picking up the slack and dreading having to write shitty peer reviews about how your partner didn't participate.

You raise hand in annoyance. Your professor sighed as he looked at you with a tired smile. "No, you cannot work by yourself."

You exhaled softly. Why? Just why? Partnered projects just had to be the bane of your exis—

"[name], you're going to be partnered with Yoriichi. You two will be doing the Global Effects of Western Civilization."

Maybe a partnered research project wasn't so bad. Your cheeks pinkened at the mentioning of his name and yours in the same sentence. Your professor moved on to the next pair and you were left with the man sitting beside you.

"So we should probably start by exchanges numbers." His voice was cool as he spoke to you. Your eyes flickered to meet his maroon gaze. He was already staring intently at you and you felt like it was almost passive aggressive. A means to get back at you for all those times you would ogle him.

You laughed nervously. "Yeah, that would probably be best."

He fished out his phone, unlocked it and hands it to you and vice versa.

"Dates?"

Your heart slips to your feet. "Huh?"

"Like dates that you're free so we can meet up."

"Oh." You cleared your chest before speaking. Yikes. You were like a train wreck waiting to happen. He hands you back your phone and you do the same. "Um, let me see."

You rummaged through your calendar app and racked your brain for anything important coming up, but nothing seemed to alert you.

"I'm free later today. Like around 3? I have two more classes today before I'm done, so if you don't mind starting today I don't either."

"Sure, sounds good to me. I can reserve a room or we could meet somewhere else?"

He spoke so casually it made your heart tug. His eyes were trained on you. He was watching, observing every movement, capturing every word you said and how you said it. Not that he was necessarily enamored, well to you you didn't think so. But you could tell that he was taking you in, studying you. He was clearly trying to see what kind of person you were, most likely in terms of how you would carry yourself in the project you were both paired in.

You swallowed dryly. "Mmm, doesn't matter me. Either works."

"We could meet over at that cafe that's right off campus. I got there a lot to study."

"Sounds good. At 3:15 ish?"

"Yeah, that works." He reached for his bag to grab a pen and hands it to you.

You reflexively take it. "Oh, thank you."

He doesn't say anything back just a half smile before he gets back to scribbling dates that the professor had written down on the board. You didn't question it nor did you take time to take a gander at him.

How did he know? Maybe he really was watching you this whole this whole time. You didn't linger too long on the thought as class was already in full session and your notes needed to be thorough to prepare for whatever you had coming next.