Chapter Text
It was just another Tuesday in the school cafeteria. The background chatter, the clatter of cutlery, and the constant hum of students moving through the halls blended into the soundtrack of yet another ordinary lunch. But for Miriam, Tyler, Mei, Abby, and Priya, there was only one topic that truly mattered:
4★Town.
“Okay, but can we talk about how insanely good Jesse looks in that new blazer?” Priya said, absentmindedly stirring her salad.
“Pfft, obviously,” Abby replied, her brow furrowed with dramatic intensity. “But is no one going to mention Aaron T’s new TikTok dancing to ‘Turn Up Tonight’? Literally—my soul left my body.”
“Aaron T never misses,” Mei sighed, resting her chin in her hands, completely mesmerized. “But I have to say it—Aaron Z is climbing up my ranking. That video where he talks about his creative process… ugh. I melted.”
“Aaron Z?” Tyler said, raising an eyebrow and pointing with his fork. “Obviously. Total quiet-guy-with-a-sea-of-emotions vibe. He’s the most underrated one. Don’t even argue with me.”
“You say that like it’s some big revelation,” Miriam laughed. “Everyone here knows the Aarons have tension.”
“Exactly!” Tyler high-fived her. “Best ship in the fandom, and you know it.”
Abby let out a half-strangled squeal.
“Don’t tell me you’re shipping the Aarons again!”
“Of course we are,” Miriam and Tyler said in unison.
Mei laughed, more amused than surprised.
“Oh no. Here it comes. I can feel it…”
“Because obviously Aaron T is the seme,” Miriam said, lifting her index finger like she was defending a thesis.
“Excuse me?” Tyler almost spit out his juice. “Aaron T the seme? Please. Aaron Z is clearly the one in charge. Tall, calm, mysterious—he’s the ultimate seme.”
“What?! WHAT?! WHAT?!” Miriam gasped, clutching her chest like someone had just insulted her dog. “Aaron T could princess-carry him if he wanted! He’s the emotional leader of the duo! Aaron Z? He blushes if someone just says ‘thank you’!”
“And doesn’t that tell you everything?!” Tyler leaned fully across the table, ready for battle. “Quiet semes are the most powerful! Aaron Z doesn’t need to talk to dominate the room. Height, serious gaze, sexy rapper voice!”
Abby leaned back, calmly chewing on a piece of bread.
“And here we go again.”
“We should make a bet,” Priya said evenly, her tone calm but her eyes sharp. “Or better yet… everyone writes their own version.”
“…Version?” Mei asked, equal parts scared and excited.
“Yes. A fanfic. Everyone writes their own story with their version of the ship. Then you share it with the group, and the rest of us decide which one is best.”
Miriam’s and Tyler’s eyes lit up like they’d just been handed a secret mission.
“Deal,” they said together.
“Get ready, Tyler,” Miriam said, pulling out her notebook like a sword. “You’re about to read the most romantic, epic story the world has ever seen—with a dominant but soft Aaron T.”
“Please,” Tyler said, already opening his notes app. “You’re going to melt when you read how Aaron Z pins him against a wall.”
“AAAAA!” Abby and Mei screamed, clutching Priya’s arm, while Priya simply smiled.
“Let the fanfic war begin,” Priya said, taking her first sip of juice.
And just like that, with creative rivalry ignited and two writers determined to defend their favorite Aaron, the fanfic war began.