Tanaka's Route [Braces. Hurt.]
Something was off with you; Tanaka could tell. You seemed… grumpier than you typically were.
It had started only a week ago when you were gone for a day. You didn't say why, but Tanaka figured it had something to do with that.
Upon your return the next day, you were in a semi-permanent state of discomfort, which made you irritable. Multiple people had tried to ask what was wrong, but you would only wave them off while rubbing your cheek.
He also noticed you hardly even opened your mouth. A few words here and there, but nothing more. This, expectantly, concerned him.
One day, after practice, you stayed behind on your own to clean up. Tanaka offered to stay as well, talking about how a "Pretty girl such as yourself shouldn't have to do all the work," but you shrugged and said it's fine.
He didn't listen, however.
₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪
Tanaka watched as you disappeared into the storage room. It had been ten minutes since everyone left and he still couldn't put his finger on it.
You spoke very little, as usual, and hardly even acknowledge him; like you were in your own microscopic world.
This, quite frankly, was the quietest you have ever seen him. It was kind of disturbing.
Staying true to his word, and knowing you wouldn't be out of the storage room for a few minutes, he took the time to scan the hardwood floors of the gym for any stray balls while trying to talk to you.
After said minutes, he heard you coming out. Turning abruptly, he failed to notice the ball directly in front of his foot. He also neglected to realize you were much closer to him than was intentional.
In a flash, the ball had slipped under his foot, creating him to fall forward, and crash right into you. It only took seconds before you both were on the floor, rubbing your foreheads in agony.
As [Name] hissed in pain, holding their head, he saw it. Metal brackets with [color] bands.
Braces.
You had braces.
That explains everything.
"That's it?" He exclaimed, more to himself than you.
Wincing, you looked up at him through half-lidded, pained eyes. "What the hell are you talking about?"
He made an "Are you kidding me?" face, gesturing to your braces. He hadn't noticed that he was still on you, trapping your legs underneath him. "Braces? That's why you've been so weird?"
"Oh. Yeah. I thought it was obvious."
"How is that obvious?"
"Tanaka-san, they're braces. Y'know, metal wiring and brackets that go on your teeth? They're kind of hard to miss." You stated as if it was crystal clear (when it wasn't. At all).
"You could've said something!" He shouted, but it wasn't angry.
"I didn't think I had too!" You yelled back, regretting it as your teeth chomped closed and pain shot through your mouth.
Your hands went straight there, covering your mouth as you whimpered softly, tears of pain pricking the corners of your eyes.
A look of concern flashed over his features. He knew that braces were painful when you first got them, but he didn't know they were that painful.
As he tried to figure out what to do, the pain soon subsided. Your nose tingled and you sniffled, thankful that it was short-lived.
Letting out a sigh of relief, you slowly removed your hands and ran your tongue over your teeth.
It was silent for a moment; a little awkward, in your opinion.
Taking an uncomfortable scratch at your cheek, you placed your arm behind you to prop you up as your other arm began to cramp up.
You looked straight ahead, then down. You gave a quick look of disdain to the second year.
"Can you get off me?" Came a deadpanned response to what you saw.
"What?" He glanced down. "Oh. Yeah, sure."
For a second, you thought he would succeed in getting to his feet. However, that thought disappeared when he slipped again and collided with your head once more.
In even further pain then you had initially been, you hissed out, "Tanaka-san, I love you, but you have to stop doing that."
He went to apologize when he realized what you said.
"Wait, did you just you love me?" He asked, a grin slowly emerging.
You looked at him incredulously. "What? No, I didn't."
"Yes, you did."
"I did not."
"You did~!" He stated in a sing-song voice as you mumbled something incoherently. "It's not a big deal since I like you too."
Before you could react, he gave you a surprisingly light before on your forehead and, hesitantly, your lips.
You felt your face slowly began to heat up as your breath hitched.
Embarrassed and with adrenaline running through you, you grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him down for something more than just a peck.
₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪
The next day, you caught Tanaka before class and took him to the gym. Concealer in hand, you began to press the foundation onto his forehead, being mindful of the painfully purple bruise.
"Why are you covering it up?" He asked, before flexing his muscles. "It makes me look badass!"
Chuckling, you continued to cover the bruise to the best of your ability. "Yes, because telling people you tripped on a volleyball and slammed your forehead against your girlfriends is definitely badass."
He pouted, grumbling as he grumpily crossed his arms over his chest.