Thread by @queenhyatsuwu

SakuAtsu | College & Idol AU | Meet Ugly

"INRZK member Miya Atsumu enrolled at Tokyo University to pursue a degree in Performance & Arts."
It was all over the news.
Well, there's no going back now, Atsumu thought. Not like he considered quitting.

He knew this was a good opportunity.
A degree wouldn't hurt in the long run and it wasn't like they were /that/ popular, yet. Two of their members (Aran-san and Kita-san) left for the army and their latest single had been charting in the Top 50 for a few weeks before it tanked.

They had a loyal and fierce fanbase, and he was forever grateful for their hard work. But maybe lying low for a bit might be a good idea for a change.

🎶 🎶 🎶

His first few days were peaceful. He enrolled in his classes and everything went smoothly. For additional credits

Atsumu decided to join a marketing class where he spotted a cute guy in the front row. Pale skin, twin moles and curly hair made him look like a statue. Atsumu winked at him and grinned when he blushed.
Maybe a little college fling would fuel his inspiration to write new songs?

🎶 🎶 🎶

Apparently, it had been only the silence before the storm. As the first week went by, rumors of an idol on campus spread and his agency asked him to hold a small fan signing event.
Nothing out of the ordinary, he thought, and indulged them by setting up a small table

with a bunch of their latest mini-album and a few photo cards to sign.
What he couldn't have predicted, though, was the curly-haired boy (who went by the name Sakusa Kiyoomi as Atsumu had
overheard a few of their classmates call him) to show up first in line.

He put on his most charming smile.
"I'm gonna sue you."
Wait what? This was not how Atsumu had envisioned it would go.
"Excuse me?!" He asked incredulously and gasped when Sakusa slammed his hand on the table.
Gone was the shy demeanor and, in its stead, a killing glance.

"I tried to do group work for an important project but no one was able to concentrate because of your song."
Atsumu just gaped at him as Sakusa further elaborated on his accusation.
"We had to cut it short, and I tried to study but that song was stuck in my head."

Atsumu didn't know what to do, this was a brand new scenario that he, despite undergoing years of training, was obviously not prepared for.
"Uh," he started but was cut off again.
"You need to take responsibility for that." Sakusa looked at him expectantly. What the hell?

Irritation started to grow in his gut and he desperately tried to keep it at bay. Atsumu had always worn his heart on his sleeve, it wouldn't take long for his annoyance to manifest on his face as well. But he also didn't think it was okay for Sakusa to confront him like that.

He counted to ten in his mind and asked in the most neutral voice he could muster, "What? Why me? What about the other members?"
Sakusa rolled his eyes which just further aggravated Atsumu.
"Well, they aren't here now, are they?"

"Sakusa-kun, I don't really think this is any of my concern—" Atsumu tried to stay levelheaded. He really did. He couldn't just do anything rash since it was his image that was at stake, after all.
"Well, I sure think you do. Aren't you one of the composers of the song?

And weren't you involved with writing the lyrics, too?"
Sakusa pointed out as if he knew all the details about their songwriting like the back of his hand. It should have been an obvious clue to Atsumu, but he was more focused on not freaking out because a total stranger was

making a scene because of one of their songs.
Sure, he did participate in the creation of the song, but he never thought it would come back to bite him in the ass some day. It was actually something he prided himself on.

He sighed, "Look, Sakusa-kun, I appreciate yer concerns, but I'm not the right person for this."
A crowd was already forming with several students pulling out their phones to record them.
"I don't care." Sakusa crossed his arms and cocked an eyebrow. "Do something about it."

Atsumu hated the small pout on his face. Hated his /stupid/ face. Hated the words coming out of that pretty mouth. He couldn't believe he had a crush on this Sakusa person.
"You have what?" Oh no, he must have said it aloud.
"I didn't mean it like that."

How on earth should he explain this to the PR team? This was possibly the worst case scenario and he had stumbled right into it.
"Is there a different meaning to having a crush that I'm not aware of?" Sakusa questioned seemingly ignoring Atsumu's obvious dilemma.
"Listen—"

Thankfully his manager finally arrived because Atsumu didn't know if he could have kept up the facade any longer. He watched as the crowd was forcefully broken up until only the staff, Sakusa and himself remained.
Sakusa cleared his throat to draw Atsumu's attention to his

unanswered question.
Atsumu felt his face growing hotter by the minute. He stared at Sakusa, who simply stared back. How had it come to this? Atsumu just wanted to experience college life. It was supposed to be a fun and fond memory to look back at.

Now it was simply a disaster.

🎶 🎶 🎶

It was not a disaster.
Atsumu didn't know what good deeds he had done in his previous life but miraculously the scandal resulted in a mostly positive resonance from the public.
What was more surprising: Their song climbed up the charts and stayed at the top for weeks.

People found it mostly endearing how flustered Atsumu had been. They cited listening to the song out of curiousity and agreeing that it was addicting which fueled a whole other discussion about catchy songs getting banned during exam season.
All in all, somehow the worst case

turned into the best outcome Atsumu could have imagined.
And he had Sakusa to thank for it? The mere thought about it made him blush furiously, because what the hell? He hadn't been smooth nor smug like he used to be on stage.
His reputation was beyond repair now. Fuck Sakusa!

Suna and Osamu would never let him live this down, Atsumu was sure of it. The next time he crossed paths with Sakusa, he would definitely give him a piece of his mind!

🎶 🎶 🎶

Kiyoomi was giddy. Ecstatic. /Delirious/. Not only had he somehow managed to talk to his bias

without stuttering and blushing, no Kiyoomi had actually made /him/ blush.
Miya Atsumu. His bias in INRZK and the sole reason he had picked up marketing as his major in college. It seemed impossible, but he dreamt of signing a contract with their agency and work for the group.

He knew pretty much everything about the group. There wasn't a single piece of merch he didn't own and his dorm room was living proof of that.
His research about how some groups came to be as successful as they were, turned out to be essential to his plans.

Never, not even in his wildest dreams could he have imagined that it would come to this though. INRZK was on its way to the top and he had been a vital part of it.
Loud knocking on his door roused Kiyoomi from his daydreams and he hurried to see who it was.

It was Miya Atsumu.

His bias and protagonist of basically all his dreams, entered his room and he didn't look very amused.
Oh, no. Kiyoomi realized, belatedly that he couldn't stop him from seeing all the fan articles neatly displayed in his room.
Well, more specifically articles of himself.

Atsumu stepped into the room and then stopped in shock.
Of course, Atsumu would be shocked. His face was staring back at him from every corner.
"Atsumu, uh I can explain-"
"Huh, first name basis already? I don't think we are that close yet, Sakusa-kun." Atsumu squinted at him.

Kiyoomi didn't know what to do. He frantically tried to think of something.
"Guess, yer not that opposed to hearing that song, are ya?"
Now it was Kiyoomi's turn to feel embarrassed. What was he supposed to say?
If he explained everything to Atsumu, perhaps they could laugh

about it and move on to become friends. Or maybe Atsumu hated him now and would call security and then he'd never see him again.
"Ya know, I think I have to thank ya." Atsumu's face was neutral but Kiyoomi thought there was a hint of a grin. For some reason it made him feel bold.

Bold enough to reply, "I think you should."
His voice came out more stable than he actually felt.
"Yeah? Does a dinner sound good enough to ya as a token of my appreciation?"
Kiyoomi swore the fluttering in his gut was the cause of a thousand butterflies, or a million.

He didn't really care.
"Only if it's a date."
Atsumu's smile was familiar. He had seen it countless times in videos, and every time, without fail, would it take his breath away.
"If I recall correctly, you mentioned something about a crush." Kiyoomi teased him and watched

a blush bloom across Atsumu's cheeks, which just added to his handsomeness. He was standing so close to Kiyoomi, too, and what was Kiyoomi supposed to do? He was a hardcore fan, after all. Who wouldn't jump at the chance to go on a date with their bias?

"It's a date, then."

🎶 🎶 🎶

"I can't believe you took all my firsts."
Atsumu blushed furiously at that and waved his hands frantically.
"Don't say it like /that/, Omi-omi!"
"What? It's true, first job - check, first boyfriend - check, first kiss - check, first tim-"
"Yer gonna be the death of me."

Kiyoomi smirked. Then his face softened, and he grabbed Atsumu's face to peck him on the lips.
"Congratulations on winning Song of the year, baby"
"It's all thanks to ya, manager Sakusa Kiyoomi."

_______end.

Written for @sktsweek #SakuAtsuWeek2023 Day 1: College, Firsts & Day 2: Meet Ugly & Day 5: Canon Divergent

A/N: If you thought this was ridiculous, I have some receipts:
aespa's "Next Level" Banned During The CSAT Period After SHINee's "Ring Ding Dong" - KpopPost kpoppost.com/aespas-next-le…

And a fancam that accidentally brought immense fame to this group:

EXID Member Hani’s Viral “Up and Down” Fancam Exceeds 20 Million Views | Soompi soompi.com/article/863723… didn't really care.