Pulling Your Heartstrings

Songwriting sesh 1

After the troubling events of Saturday, Semi and I had finished our performance for Sunday and started chilling in my changing room.

"How're Kenma and Kuroo doing?"

I looked up at Semi, smiling. "They're good. Just kinda tired already from the practice matches they have."

He leaned back against the couch. "Maybe we should schedule a match against them."

"They might like that. Try talking to your coach and I'll say something to Tetsu about it."

"Ok."

I looked back to the blank page of my notebook. I had to get a new one for the songs Semi and I write together. "Help."

He scooted closer. "Already?"

"Writer's block. Help. These are songs we're gonna be singing together."

"I know. How are you struggling?"

"I can't even think of a concept for a single song." I lied. I was just too embarrassed to say that the only ideas that came to my mind were love songs."

Semi remained silent for a while, talking time to think about it. "Hmm. Well, those other ones had a romantic concept. Wouldn't that work? It sounded really good when we debuted as a duet while we were singing them."

My heart rate increased. "Well... yeah...."

"How'd you even write duet songs anyways? You've always performed solo acts, right?"

I didn't look at him, just stared at the blank page. "It was just something I did one day. I was thinking about love songs and ended up writing a few that seemed like they'd be better as duets. But I never had anyone to sing a duet with, so those songs never got used for anything."

He hummed. "Then, use that kind of inspiration."

"Well, when I wrote them, I didn't have the intention of performing them as duets. But when I looked over them, it just seemed like it would turn out better when performed with someone. It's harder to just write songs when I'm aware that I'll be singing with someone."

Semi sighed. "Is it harder when you know you'll be singing a love song with someone else?"

I felt my face heat up. "I-I don't know. Maybe?"

"What's so hard about it? Just think of a situation between two people and write a song to fit them. And then we can come up with the instrumentals afterwords."

I finally looked at him. "That's the hard part.... I've never really been in love and it seems like I don't really understand the concept as much as I used to..."

"Used to?"

I gulped, suddenly feeling uncomfortable with Semi looking at me. "I guess... I'm not really good with romantic feelings...." I broke eye contact and looked back to my blank page.

I felt an arm wrap around me, soon my head was pressed against a from, muscular chest. "What about Lev?" There was something in his voice that I couldn't place.

"It was just a crush.... Nothing serious. And he ended up liking Yaku, who likes him back. When it comes to love, or at least truly liking someone in a romantic sense, feelings shouldn't be able to go away so easily." I felt tears building in my eyes, my vision going slightly blurry.

"If you're not good with romantic feelings, then how can you form that kind of thought about love?"

I wasn't able to look up at him. "B/n told me the differences between different variations of like and love. He wanted me to know the differences so I wouldn't accidentally lead someone on or confuse my feelings."

"He's a great brother, isn't he?" Semi held me tighter, refusing to let me get a look at his face.

But just being this close to him was enough to make me feel like my heart was about to explode. "S-Semi?"

"Yeah?"

"H-have you ever been in a relationship?"

"A few, but they never worked out. Mainly cuz most girls end up being crazy fan girls or they don't understand how important studying and playing volleyball is to me. You?"

"Never."

"It seems like you have something else on your mind."

"Have you ever really loved any of them? Like, to the point where it hurt and still hurts to not be with them?"

"No."

That response made my heart flutter. "With... my former crush, it only hurt momentarily. But, when I started singing and hanging out with all you guys on Saturday, it seemed like it didn't even bother me. I didn't think about it at all, not unless it was brought up."

Semi hummed. "Do you wanna try writing some songs together now? They don't have to involve love. Just be songs we can sing together.

I nodded against his chest. "Yeah. Thanks for talking with me."

He slowly let go and pulled away, causing us to make eye contact. He looked at my face, not moving further away or looking at something else. There was something in his eyes that I couldn't name.

"Semi?"

He snapped out of it. "Right. Let's get to writing." He had a pink tint to his cheeks.

"R-right."

I groaned, completely laying down on the couch. "It's been over an hour, and we've got nothing!"

Semi sighed. "I can't even think of anything. Also, your legs are on my lap." He looked down, staring at my legs which were, in fact, on his lap.

I rolled onto my side. "Why can't we think of anything for these songs?"

He turned his attention to my somewhat covered face. "Maybe we should eat?"

"Or maybe.... I should watch anime."

"That's not gonna help write a song."

"Shhh. It'll help destress."

He moved my legs off his lap, moving to bring his face closer to mine. "Eat, Y/n."

I turned my head and made eye contact with him, noticing that there was only about 6 centimeters in between our faces. "O-ok."

He helped me off the couch and we went into the dining area. "What're you in the mood to eat?"

"Cake."

"Maybe think of some actual food?"

"Cake is real food."

"It's not a meal."

"If you eat enough of it, it can be."

"Y/n...." Semi sighed, shaking his head. "Please think of something you'd actually have at dinner."

"Cake."

"No sweets until you eat a real dinner."

I pouted. "Cake."

"Don't be stubborn and listen to your partner."

We both jumped and spun around to see B/n.

"Heart attack!" I grabbed my shirt, right around where my heart is.

B/n rolled his eyes. "You two can sit at that table in the corner." He pointed at a table for two in the quietest corner of the cafe.

"So I get cake?"

He frowned. "I'm not giving you any more cake today."

I pouted. "Meanie."

Semi and I walked to our table and sat down across from each other.

"Why do I feel like B/n secretly made this out to be a date?" I sighed, disappointed that I wouldn't get cake.

Semi chuckled. "So... what do you want?"

"Cake."

What I want?

Semi Eita