SHE DIDN'T THINK HER first draft would be good. First drafts were there to excist. They're there as your ground, as something you'll usually need to rewrite later because of how bad it turned out.

And yet, after finishing the first chapter, Y/n felt quite satisfied with how it turned out. Surely it was just a in-the-moment feeling. She'll probably find it horrible later, but she felt accomplished for today. She finally started to write her novel and that was a step forward, right?

A satisfied smile stretched over her face as she leaned back in her desk chair. The first chapter took her around fifteen hand-written pages and her hand was dying, so she decided to take a short break. Picking up her phone, she flipped it open and opened her contacts, seeing her most recent call - Baji called her yesterday to talk about something stupid and they stayed on the phone for an hour.

Keisuke would be glad to hear, right? Y/n thought as she pressed the green button and put the phone up to her ear. There was one, two, three beeps before she removed the phone from her ear and was about to press the end call button, though as she noticed Baji had picked up, she hurriedly put the phone back at her ear.

''Hey pretty, what's up?'' Baji spoke rather cheerfully. Y/n could only wonder what he was doing.

''Keisuke, guess what?'' Y/n said, but didn't give him the time to actually guess before speaking again. ''I wrote the first chapter! It's done!''

''That's great!'' Baji said, followed by a grunt. ''Sorry, I'm just in the middle of something. I'll swing by later to read it, yeah? Can't- CAN'T YOU SEE I'M ON A CALL, FUCKER? Can't wait to see you later, pretty.''

Is he . . . in the middle of a fight? ''Yeah, yeah, just don't get too beat up! See you later!''

''Yup! Love you, bye!''

Y/n didn't get a chance to reply before Baji ended the call. Her mouth was wide open and her phone fell out of her palm. She jumped up when it hit the ground, scrambling to pick it up and huddle it close to her chest.

He just said he loves me. He just said the L word. This can't be happening. He didn't even realize, did he? Oh God, I didn't say it back! She started to panic as the thoughts ran through her head. Looking down at her phone, she was about to call him again when she remembered he was busy and she'd rather not be the reason for a broken bone.

Her whole body warmed up and there was a stupid grin on her face. With a faster than usual heartbeat and a churning stomach, she felt like a little girl that just got the doll she wanted.

Folding her arms on top of her desk, she laid her head on them, still unable to wipe the smile off her face. There was that feeling in the pit of her stomach that felt extremely guilty for rejecting Baji when she did, but she was so very thankful that it all worked out at the end. Whoever was up there had really blessed her this time.

How the fuck am I going to tell him I love him, too?

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It has been around two hours since she finished writing and didn't have the motivation to continue for today. She now laid in her bed, blankly staring at the ceiling and wondering how to waste her day.

Should she knit? She didn't feel like it. Read? Too much work. If she had to be honest, she wanted to go out with someone - she wanted to call Baji, but he had plans for today. She didn't want to disturb him.

Though, it's his fault she's becoming more social. She didn't know how to feel about that fact.

Picking up her phone, she started scrolling through her contacts. Her parents, Baji, Chufuyu, some classmates she didn't particularly like. Her eyes fell on a person she'd met just recently and she seemed to click with. Might as well give it a try.

''Hello?''

''Hi, Emma!'' Y/n spoke once the other girl answered her phone. ''It's Y/n, we met at the beach with the others?''

''Y/n, hello!" Emma said, immediately remembering her. ''What's up?''

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''He's literally so dense!'' Emma said after she slurped her drink. ''Like, I think I'm being obvious enough, right? But his whole attention is on Mikey! I feel like I can't even begin to compete with Mikey.''

Y/n wasn't sure how they ended up about how Draken never notices Emma, but she tried to be a supportive friend. ''You know, maybe he's just shy. Didn't you say he won you a bear from the arcade for your birthday once?''

''Well, yeah, but he could've felt like it's out of an obligation since I'm his best friend's little sister,'' Emma said, letting out a sigh. ''Honestly. I wish it worked out as easy as it did for you and Baji or for Hina and Takemichi.''

I wouldn't say it was that easy getting with Baji . . . Y/n patted Emma's shoulder. ''You're just being too negative. I'm sure there's a side of Draken that likes you and he just doesn't show it.''

''Hopefully,'' Emma said, swirling her straw. ''Honestly, he's so-''

The ring of her phone interrupted her. Taking it out of her bag, her eyes widened. ''It's Draken! What's he calling me for, isn't he with Mikey and the others?''

Y/n waved her hand at her. ''Just answer! Go!''

Emma pressed the answer button and put it to her ear. ''Draken? Hello?'' Y/n could only hear Emma's side of the conversation. ''I'm outside . . . Yeah, with Y/n . . . yeah, she's with me . . . Tell Baji not to worry, she's with me . . . yeah, alright. We're at the usual café . . . Bye, bye!''

Ending the call, Emma looked at Y/n. ''Baji has been looking for you, apparently. You should probably check your phone.''

Y/n furrowed her eyebrows as she took out her phone from her own bag, flipping it open and seeing the ten missed calls from Baji. It was kind of worrysome to see so many, did something happen?

''Y/n! Why didn't you answer your phone, I was worried!''

''I'm outside with Emma,'' Y/n explained herself after Baji's question. ''What's with all the missed calls anyway? Did something happen?''

''I wanted to come over and you weren't answering. I thought something happened.''

She blinked a few times. ''. . . What could possibly happen to me, Keisuke?''

''Well, I don't know! Maybe a meteorite fell on your house or something.''

''You're not even making sense right now.'' She couldn't help but roll her eyes at how dramatic he was being.

''Yeah, blame me for being worried about my girlfriend,'' Baji said and she could hear the rev of an engine from his side. ''Anyway, Draken and I are coming to the café, we'll be there in a bit.''

''Weren't you guys hanging out?'' Y/n asked as she looked at Emma, who listened to the one-sided conversation in amusement.

''Yeah, but Chifuyu's mom called him so he had to leave, then Takemichi got called by Hina and left too. Mikey fell asleep so we brought him home and Misuya went to pick up his sisters from a friend's house,'' Baji explained. ''So it's just me and Draken now.''

''So you decided to crash our hang-out?'' Y/n spoke in half-annoyance. It was more of a win-win situation, really - Baji was coming and she could hang out with him and that would leave Emma alone with Draken. Perfect. ''Whatever, we're waiting for you.''

''Yeah, see you in a bit.''

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It wasn't long before Baji and Draken arrived at the café, quickly finding the two girls. Baji sat down next to Y/n, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pressing a kiss to her cheek, whilst Draken sat next to Emma and they simply greeted each other, though Y/n could make out the faint blush on Emma's cheeks as she looked away from him.

''Keisuke,'' Y/n said, grabbing his attention. ''I just remembered I had to go buy something for my mom, can you drive me there?''

''Is it urgent? Their cake looks really good-''

''It's urgent, Kei, she'll ground me if I don't bring it.'' Y/n gave him a look as if to tell him to just play along, but he didn't seem to take the hint.

''Just one piece of cake! I'll eat it quick!'' Baji pleaded, to which Y/n glared at him.

''Keisuke, we gotta go now,'' Y/n said and took out her money to pay for her drink whilst Baji groaned in annoyance. ''See you another time, Emma, it was nice hanging out with you!''

Emma watched her with wide eyes, her cheeks red at the fact she was getting left alone with Draken. Did Y/n plan this? ''It was nice hanging out with you, too!''

''See ya, Draken,'' Baji said before Y/n dragged him out like a mother dragging her child away from the playground.

Once out, Y/n chuckled at Baji's childish behavior. ''What do you have to buy for your mom that's so urgent.'' She could feel the annoyance lacing his voice.

''Nothing.'' Baji glared at her answer. ''I just wanted to leave Emma alone with Draken.''

''OH!'' Baji exclaimed, finally realizing what all the fuss is about. He let out a chuckle as he led her towards his motorbike. ''Yeah, that dumbass has a huge-ass crush on her and I know she does too. The idiots just won't admit it to each other.''

Y/n pointed at Baji. ''I knew he probably had a crush on her as well!''

As the two climbed on the motorbike, Baji looked at her over his shoulder. ''Can we still go for some cake?''

Y/n rolled her eyes. ''Sure. There's a bakery near my house with good cake. My treat for forcing you out of the café.''

Baji revved his bike and laughed. ''Hell yeah, you're awesome!''

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Music was playing in the background as Baji and Y/n laid on her bed. Baji had laid his head on her chest, one of his arms wrapped around her whilst his other hand held up her notebook, reading the first chapter she had written. It felt soothing to feel her fingers run through his hair and he almost wanted to fall asleep, but he was too invested in the words written in her handwriting.

Unlike Baji's relaxed mood, Y/n felt anxious. Him telling her he loves her earlier was still lingering in her mind and she wasn't sure how to say it back. She wasn't even sure if he'd realized what he said. What if he didn't actually mean it?

No, fuck it, I'll just say it, Y/n thought, taking a deep breath.

''Kei-''

''This was so good!" Unfortunately for Y/n, Baji had just finished reading her first chapter and was excited to tell her his opinion. ''This was so good! Ya don't have more, do you?''

Every time they talked about this Y/n got surprised over and over again at how a person like Baji would enjoy reading something she'd written. ''Not yet. This is just the first draft, though. I'll probably end up rewriting it later.''

''It's still really, really good,'' Baji said, closing the notebook and putting it on her nightstand so he could cuddle closer to her. ''Ah, I can't wait to read more.''

Y/n chuckled, twirling a strang of his hair between her fingers. ''I'll probably continue tomorrow or something.''

Their peaceful and romantic moment had to come to an end the moment they heard her parent's calls from the front door. This time, they were prepared - Baji sprung up and quickly put on his shoes; they were placed on a towel in front of her window for a quick escape if needed.

While he was tying his laces, Y/n quickly opened her window and made sure the lid of the trash was closed so Baji wouldn't end up falling inside but on top.

As he sat himself on the windowsill and prepared himself to jump down from the second floor, he turned around with a grin. ''A goodbye kiss?''

Y/n rolled her eyes and gave him a quick peck as they didn't have time for more. It was still enough for Baji, who said he'd see her tomorrow and jumped down. The metal creaked under the added weight, but it thankfully didn't break. Giving a salute, Baji rushed down and towards his motorbike so he can leave without her parents seeing him.

She realized she didn't get to tell him what she wanted to as she watched him ride away. It's okay, I'll tell him tomorrow. That's okay, right?