Matsukawa x Reader - "It's Always Been You"

05

"You'll be working in pairs for the first project of the semester." The students all got excited, eagerly shooting looks at their closest friends planning to work with them. Your sensei cleared his throat to grab the attention of the class again. "They will be assigned as I have written on my list." The class groaned.

He went through the entire list of teams. Makki got paired with a guy up front, making his dramatic, heartbroken exit as he went to go greet his new partner. After the next few groups were announced, you found that you and Mattsun managed to get paired together, thankfully. You felt that projects always went better when you were assigned to work with someone you knew and were comfortable enough to hold accountable. The boy grinned widely as he slid his desk next to yours, wiggling his eyebrows at you.

"Howdy pardner" he said in a goofy Southern American accent.

"Howdy. Didn't expect to see a city-slicker like you 'round these parts" you returned in the same accent, you two giggling as you waited for your assignment. You were assigned to do research on the role of oxytocin in humans bonding with each other. In addition to writing a paper on it, you had to provide examples featuring diagrams detailing your own experiments. Both of your eyes widened at your assignment.

"Isn't oxytocin the 'feel good' chemical your brain releases when you have--uh" he coughed, stopping himself. "--you know. Cuddling. Hugs. Touch. Uh all that stuff with other people, of course. Right?"

"Yeah, I wonder how we'll be able to execute an experiment to prove its role, but I suppose we can just brainstorm when we get more time to work on it" you said casually, honestly completely unsure of how you both were going to accomplish this assignment together. "Are you free this weekend to start it?"

Matsukawa pursed his lips, thinking for a moment. "I have a rest day tomorrow if you're free."

"Ah sorry, I promised I'd help my grandmother out tomorrow with housework since she's recovering from an injury."

"That's ok, I can do Sunday after my practice then? We get out at 6, so let's meet at 6:30 if that's not too late for you. I know a really great cafe we can work at, we just have to take a train to get there if you don't mind."

"That's perfect! I'm meeting up with my friend for udon earlier in the day so I'll meet you at the train station and we can head there together if you'd like."

"That works for me" he grinned.

-------------

A volleyball was spiked down with such tremendous force that it echoed throughout the gymnasium with a dominating 'THWAP' that prompted everyone to look at who it came from in awe.

"Wow Mad Dog, that was pretty damn cool!" you cheered for the boy.

"Don't call me that."

"What, 'Mad Dog'? I thought you liked that nickname?"

"I hate it."

"Then why don't you tell them to stop calling you it?"

"I try to, they don't fucking listen" he growled in frustration, but you weren't intimidated in the slightest.

"I see, well what's your name?"

".....Kyotani Kentaro."

You nodded at the boy. "Well Kyotani, your hit was pretty damn cool! How'd you hit the serve down that hard?" you beamed, fascinated. The genuine interest in your voice and expression combining with your immediate correction in how you approached him had surprised him for a moment, prompting him to actually answer you properly.