1) Beast

                                    

                                          
Definition of Again: 
adverb
another time; once more.
Similar:
once more
one more time
another time
a second time
afresh
anew
returning to a previous position or condition.
— • — • — • —
You make your way over to the mountain's ledge, slowly nearing your target.  You freeze as the beast twitches at your slight movement, you don't move a muscle until the animal turns forward again.  
You don't waste time.  You're so close.  
Reaching out for the target, you get your hand on the sticky substance, carefully pulling it out of the beast's basket.  Smiling with glee you take a bite of the white object. Big mistake. 
The beast reels around, grabbing the wooden spoon from its pan. You see the mountain's ledge was just the kitchen counter, the 'target' was a simple onigiri, and the beast?  
"Get out of here y/n!"  Said 'beast' smacks you with the spoon as you run away, both of you laughing. 
"Y/n stole an onigiri again!" Emma Oikawa shouts jokingly out to the house, her son, Oikawa Tooru, rolls his eyes from the couch. 
He responds lazily, "Fat ass."  But you were already long gone, in your room just down the hall from the kitchen.  You hop on your bed, munching down happily on the onigiri you stole from Mrs. Oikawa. 
Sorry Emma-san a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.  
As you lay on your stomach, chewing slowly, you begin to reflect.
How long had it been?  You asked yourself this pretty often.  How long had it been since you moved from Canada to Japan?  How long had it been since you moved in with the Oikawas?    
It had been months since you had moved, about three and a half since you moved in with the Oikawas.  
You finished up your snack and wiped any spare rice off your face, you reached into your pocket and grabbed your phone.  Thoughts of home reminded you of your best friend from Canada. 
Ashley 😔💔
Sunday
{5:45PM}
Ashleyyy
y/nnn
what's up?
is that freak of a vball player 
bothering you again
lmao not rn no
then what's wrong?
you're texting rlly sad
i just miss you
and the team
how'd the big tournie go?
I miss u too
especially as a beach partner
You liked a message
and we did fine
got 3rd
We'd have won if you were there
awwwwweeeee don't flatter me
You're right ur ego is alrdy too big🙄
You disliked a message
 shut up
Ashley😔💔 liked a message
anyway 
I'm starting at the new school tmr 
OMG THAT'S SO EXCITING
R U EXCITED
Y/N?  
HELLO?
not you ghosting me
did u fucking fall asleep at 4 fucking pm
wait dif time zones right
Y/NNNN
BROOO


Ignoring the pinging from your phone, you stare nonchalantly at Tooru Oikawa, who is standing in your room.  Just wearing shorts. Posing in your mirror. 
"Are you done?" You snap, he turns around, running a hand through his wet hair. You involuntarily let your eyes travel down his torso to his abs.  
ABS>>>>>> not tooru's tho. 
He smirks at you, "Like what you see?"  Clicking your tongue you stand up next to him in the mirror, lifting up your shirt to reveal your own toned stomach.  
"Mine are better."  He peers over at them, "Like hell yours are better than mine.  Feel them." He takes a step closer to you, urging you to feel his muscles.  "Ew no." 
He scoffs, "Oh grow up." He reaches down and touches your stomach.  You flinch back, his hands are extremely cold.  
"My god your hands are frigid." He looks down, reaching his hands up and putting them on his face. He jolts back, "Holy shit they are."  
You blink, exasperated.  "Ok, now please get the fuck out of my room."  You dismiss him while sitting back on your bed, he huffs but complies.  As he leaves, he holds out his arm and knocks all your books off the book shelf.
ffs--
"Grow up Tooru," you mutter under your breath in a high pitched voice. Picking your phone back up, you chuckle lightly at the messages. 
Ashley😔💔
Sunday
{5:53PM}
ok I'm back 
sorry stupid Tooru 
came in and 
was being annoying
fuck that guy
he's such a dick 
ik
anyway, I've gotta go eat 
dinner soon so ill text u later
ook
love u
don't forget about me
love you too
and I could never
Good.
Seen.  


You sat down at the table finally, Emma-san had called you in early so you could help set the table as payback for stealing the onigiri.  You didn't complain, simple household chores were the least you could do since you were living in their house rent-free. 
You happily waited for Tooru and his mom to sit down, excited to finally chow down.  The three of you said your thanks and started eating.  
"So y/n," Emma-san piped up after a while, "Are you excited for your first day of school?" You smile lightly, "Yeah, I'm just sad there's no beach team here."  
At the end of the table, Tooru scoffs. "That's because beach volleyball is stupid." 
Any trace of a smile falls off of your face, you feel the annoyance grow inside of you. You tried not to let him get under your skin, inhaling deeply.
"Tooru do you really feel the need to downplay people's interests all the time?" Emma-San counters and he rolls his eyes, "Whatever."
"Apologize." His mom states firmly, "Yeah, yeah, sorry." He mumbles, clearly not meaning it and only doing it to get out of trouble with his mother. 
Staying calm. Staying calm.  
You take a deep breath, before returning to your eating.