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rainisawriter · 6 months

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Missing & Cursed – Choutarou (PSF #15)

Ficography

Genre: Fluff, supernatural, magic

Prompt: Emergency, Confession, Adventure (@flufftober)

Word Count: 6,162

Pairing: Reader x Choutarou

World: The Prince of Tennis

───── ⋆⋅🍂⋅⋆ ─────

You stifled a yawn as you sat behind the counter at the convenience store, trying not to fall asleep. It was pretty late at night and there weren’t many customers that came around this time which, truth be told, you were happy about. Still, it made it hard to stay awake because of how boring it was.

You were tempted to close the store early and just go home but you knew you’d get an earful from your boss if you did that. You felt confident that he wouldn’t fire you over it, but it wasn’t a risk you were willing to take. You needed the money and it had taken ages for you to get this job.

Your phone buzzed in your pocket, Choutarou’s picture popping up on the screen. Seeing his smiling face instantly woke you up, a smile coming to your lips as you brought the phone to your ear. “Chou-chan~”

“Good evening, senpai,” he replied politely. “Are you busy?“

You glanced around the empty store, resisting the urge to scoff. “I’m at work, but this place is a ghost town.”

“I’m sorry!” He apologized quickly. “I didn’t realize you were working tonight.“

“Don’t worry, Chou-chan,” you told him softly, hoping to calm him down. “You’re helping me stay awake, honestly.”

“Are you sure?“

“I’m positive. What’s up? You usually don’t call me this late.” You glanced at the clock, the time reading 10:23. He was usually asleep by now because he woke up so early to attend practice.

He was silent for a moment before speaking, his voice laced with worry. “I think Atobe-san is missing.“

“Missing?” Your brow furrowed, eyes flickering to the door when a man entered. “Why do you think that?”

“No one has heard from him since yesterday afternoon. He’s not answering his phone, either.“

“Maybe he just decided to go on vacation or something.”

“He wouldn’t leave without telling us, senpai.” He sounded completely confident in that fact.

“Well, what if he had a family emergency or something? He wouldn’t have time to tell you, right?”

“Maybe… I’m really worried, senpai.“

“I’m sure he’s fine, Chou-chan,” you reassured him, but a strange feeling had begun to settle in your gut and you didn’t like it.

The man was slowly approaching the counter, carrying an armful of energy drinks and a family-sized bag of Doritos.

“I have to get back to work. Try to get some rest, okay? I’m sure he’s fine.”

“Okay. I’m sorry for bothering you. Good night.“

“You could never bother me, love. Good night.” You hung up the phone, offering the guy a smile. “Good evening, sir.”

He just grunted, rubbing at his tired eyes. He honestly looked more zombie than human so you assumed he was a college kid studying for a big test or something.

As the night wore on and your shift came to a close, you found yourself unable to shake the feeling of dread that had settled itself around you like an unwanted blanket. Atobe kept appearing in your mind and, though you tried to convince yourself that you were just being paranoid, a tiny voice in the back of your mind told you that something wasn’t right.

───── ⋆⋅🍂⋅⋆ ─────

The sun was just beginning to peer over the horizon when you entered the Hyotei school grounds, sipping a tall energy drink to keep yourself awake. You hadn’t slept yet, having spent the entire night out searching for the missing Atobe as soon as your shift ended.

There truly was no sign of him. It was as if he had just poofed out of existence. Something definitely didn’t feel right to you.

The plonk of tennis balls grew louder as you approached the tennis court where the regulars were. Despite the early morning hour, they were already covered in sweat and had no doubt been there for at least an hour. You would never get over how insanely dedicated they were to the sport.

Your eyes scanned the courts before settling on the chair where Atobe usually sat. It had a blue umbrella to block out the sun, a round table sitting beside it. Kabaji kept staring at the empty chair, paying no attention to the match he was playing with Oshitari.

If not even Kabaji knew where he was, this was more serious than you thought. Atobe didn’t go anywhere without the large male at his side.

The autumn wind picked up and your hair stood on end when you caught the whiff of something familiar. It was faint, most likely left over from several hours earlier, but you could still smell it and it made your shoulders tense up.

There was magic lingering in the air.

Atobe Keigo was no stranger to pissing people off. He seemed to have a penchant for getting under people’s skin and pushing their buttons in a way no one else could. It was certainly possible that he had crossed a mage without realizing who he was talking to.

However, there were strict laws in place against the use of magic on normal folk. Doing so not only risked jail time, but it risked said mage being stripped of their power altogether. Very few mages were willing to take that risk.

You tilted your head back, closing your eyes as the cool breeze wrapped around your body. Your fingertips tingled with magic. Every type of magic has a specific code to it, one that could be detected with proper training. You just so happened to excel at this very thing.

Though impossible to detect what spell was used, you could tell that it didn’t belong to the school of dark magic. ‘It feels like…’ your brow furrowed in concentration as you moved your fingers back and forth, almost as if trying to wake them after they fell asleep.

It was definitely a curse, you concluded, but not a dark one. The stench of death certainly didn’t permeate the school. An invisibility curse, perhaps? It seemed a fitting one for someone as pretty and self-centered as Atobe. A woman scorned, perhaps?

No student at Hyotei possessed magic, though. You had made sure of that multiple times after you started to date Choutarou because you wanted to ensure his safety. Then again, girls from all over the area often snuck in to watch them practice. It could be one of them.

That certainly didn’t make your job any easier.

Choutarou jogged over to you, calling out your name. He still looked worried, but he offered you a smile nonetheless. “What are you doing here, senpai?”

“I missed you,” you told him honestly. While you had come to inspect the area, you also did miss him and wanted to make sure he was okay.

“I missed you, too,” he smiled brightly, but it fell a bit as he inspected you. His large hand rested against your cheek. “You look tired. Did you not sleep well?”

You took a large gulp of the energy drink, not wanting to tell him that you hadn’t even gone home. “It was a rough night.”

His eyes flickered to the drink, sending you a disapproving look. “You really shouldn’t drink those, senpai. They’re bad for you.”

“I know,” you chuckled, letting your eyes scan the courts. “I’m guessing there’s still no sign of Atobe?”

He shook his head. “No… his parents called the police last night but they haven’t found any sign of him.”

You nodded, not surprised by this information. You had seen the multiple cop cars at the Atobe property when you stopped by last night to do a little sleuthing. There had been no signs of magic used there.

“You don’t think…” Choutarou bit his bottom lip as if scared to speak the words lest they somehow make them come true. “Do you think he’s okay?”

‘If he pissed off a mage, there’s no way in hell he’s okay.’ You sure as hell weren’t going to tell him that, though. Instead, you offered him a reassuring smile, taking his hand in your own. “This is Atobe we’re talking about. He’s going to be fine.”

He squeezed your hand for comfort, slowly nodding. “I really hope you’re right, senpai.”

“I’m always right,” you smirked playfully, earning a soft laugh from him.

There was a sudden yelp of pain from the courts and you both exchanged a look before rushing over. Gakuto was on his ass, finger raised accusingly.

“That cat just bit me!” He cried. “What if it has rabies?!”

You frowned at the feline sitting on the bench. It was fat as hell, more closely resembling a balloon than a feline, with dark purple fur and a white patch on its nose. He turned his head, navy eyes meeting yours. It was as if a shockwave coursed through your body, a strangled sound escaping your lips.

Choutarou looked at you with concern. “What’s wrong?”

“At -” you started before biting your tongue. The feline’s eyes narrowed at you.

“At?” repeated Choutarou with a frown. “Senpai?”

You had attracted the attention of all the regulars, the boys staring at you with a mixture of concern and confusion. You forced a smile, rushing forward to pick up the feline. He was just as heavy as he looked and your words came out strained because of the effort it took to hold him.

“M-My cat… Atoy…”

The feline tilted his head back, glaring at you.

“You got a new cat?” Choutarou put his hand on his hip, looking curiously at him. “You didn’t tell me that.”

“If someone has one secret, they probably have a lot of secrets,” commented Shishido with a scoff, arms folded over his chest. He had never liked you but it got worse when you started dating his best friend. “Really makes you wonder, doesn’t it?”

“Shishido-san,” scolded the silverette with a frown. He hated the fact that the two of you didn’t get along. You were the person he loves and Shishido is his best friend. Both of you were very important to him and all he wanted was for you both to be friends.

You forced a smile to hide your annoyance. “I just got him this morning. Why do you think I came here, huh?”

“Bullshit.”

Gakuto pulled himself to his feet before stomping his foot against the ground like a child. “He bit me! What are you going to do about that, huh? What if he gave me rabies?! What if I die?!”

You rolled your eyes at his dramatics.

“You sat on his tail,” exposed Hiyoshi before drinking from his water bottle.

“It was an accident!”

“He doesn’t know that.”

“Who’s side are you on, huh?!”

Hiyoshi shrugged, sending you a soft smile before turning and stepping back onto the court.

“Right, well, I better get him home. See ya!” Before anyone could reply, you turned on your heel and ran away from the group, ignoring your boyfriend’s calls.

You barely made it out of the school before you were huffing and puffing, your back hurting from the weight of the cat in your arms. “Christ, you’re so fat.”

He growled at you, attempting to swipe at your arm but he couldn’t get a good angle.

“Will you knock it off before I drop you?” you scowled, readjusting your grip before continuing down the street. “Honestly, Atobe. You’re the only person who could piss off a mage enough to be turned into an animal. Do you have any idea how much trouble it’s going to be to fix this?”

He growled again, making you sigh.

───── ⋆⋅🍂⋅⋆ ─────

Kai blinked at you a few times as his brain processed the story you had told him. Then he burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. Atobe growled in annoyance, the fur on his back raised. He waited until your brother was leaning over before he hopped onto the coffee table, barely getting enough air to rake his claws across the male’s face.

“Shit!” Kai winced, bringing his hand to his face. “You brat! I hope you never get turned back!”

“Kai,” you scolded, sending him a scowl. “No matter how much you dislike Atobe, you know we can’t leave him like this. We have to help him.”

He clicked his tongue. “You’re only saying that because of Choutarou.”

“I won’t deny that.”

Atobe growled again but you glared at him, taking a step back.

“Don’t you even think about it!”

Kai sighed, holding out his hand and focusing his power. “Cursed you may be, cursed you will remain. Alter this curse, grant him the power offered by these words. Speak!”

White light shot out from his palm, engulfing the feline. It pulsed and expanded before disappearing with a bright flash. You and your brother leaned closer, staring at him.

His tail twitched angrily as his navy eyes shifted between the two of you. “Stop staring at me!”

“Holy shit, it worked,” the two of you chorused before exchanging a look.

Kai scowled at you. “What’s that supposed to mean? You had no faith in me?”

You snorted. “You didn’t even have faith in yourself. You totally pulled that spell out of your ass.”

His lips parted to protest but then he closed them, looking away with a scoff, knowing you were right.

You shook your head, settling down on the couch. “What happened, Atobe?”

He turned around to face you, whiskers twitching. “I was getting ready to leave the school. It was late so I was alone.”

“No Kabaji?”

“I sent him ahead because his sister was waiting for him.”

You hummed, nodding.

“As I exited the game, a woman was standing there waiting for me. She spoke another language and her eyes started to glow purple. I was hit by a purple light and, when I woke up, I was a damn cat.”

‘Another language? A purple glow? Good lord…’

Kai snorted, amusement dancing in his brown eyes. “You got cursed… by a damn fairy.”

“Fairies don’t exist.”

“You were turned into a cat, but you refuse to accept the existence of fairies? Aren’t you supposed to be smart?”

You sighed, pinching the bridge of your nose. “Fairy magic is super potent and hard to counteract. They’re on a whole ‘nother level.”

“What are you saying?” demanded Atobe, a hint of fear in his eyes. “You can’t cure me?”

“No.” “Yes.”

You sent your brother a glare, throwing a pillow at his face before addressing the cat. “You can be cured, but… it won’t be easy. Breaking fairy magic is quite tedious and I certainly don’t have any experience with it. I didn’t even know there were any fairy mages in the area…”

Kai hummed as he approached the bookshelf, eyes scanning the spines. “Fairy mages are notoriously good at hiding themselves. You could be staring one in the face and have no idea what they are. With all other mages, you can sense the magical lines within them but that doesn’t work in fairy mages. It’s pretty annoying, really.”

Your phone vibrated from your pocket and you didn’t have to check it to know who it was. You did anyway, frowning at the new message from Choutarou. He was worried, both about you and Atobe. You knew that but you weren’t sure how to appease him.

You hated lying to him and keeping secrets from him, but you were afraid to tell him the truth. Your biggest fear was losing him because you loved him so deeply. You knew it was wrong and you felt guilty about it, but you also didn’t know how to tell him.

Kai glanced at you over his shoulder before returning his attention to the bookcase. He finally found what he was looking for, tugging the book free. “Did you know the woman?”

“No. I’ve never seen her before.”

“Strange,” you mused thoughtfully, bringing your hand to your chin. “Mages rarely attack humans for no reason. It’s even less common for fairy mages.”

“Leave it to Atobe to piss off someone he’s never even met,” snorted Kai, the book resting against his forearm as he tugged it open. “This is gonna take some time to look into. You better get comfortable in that body.”

You sighed, pinching the bridge of your nose. The thought of living with Atobe was bad enough, but living with grumpy cat Atobe? You knew you were in for one hell of a ride.

───── ⋆⋅🍂⋅⋆ ─────

Your eyes scanned the crowds of people as they passed by the café, looking for any traces of magic. You were sitting at one of the outdoor tables with Atobe beside you, sitting in his own chair because you didn’t want him sitting on the table.

The two of you had been there for the better part of two hours without seeing anyone that even resembled the woman. Despite how many people lived in Tokyo, there was a surprisingly small number of mages. From your studies, you knew that they tended to avoid overpopulated areas simply because it increased the risk of them being exposed.

The world of normal folk was simply not ready to accept the existence of mages. They had proved that time and time again.

“This is useless,” snapped Atobe, slapping his paw against the table.

You quickly glanced around to ensure that no one was paying attention before you hissed, “Will you shut up? If people see a talking cat, they’ll freak.”

He huffed in annoyance, navy eyes narrowed. “Order me some warm chamomile tea. I’m thirsty.”

You sighed at how he completely ignored you. You waved the waitress over and she smiled politely at you. “Can I order a warm chamomile tea, please? In a saucer…”

“A… saucer?” She repeated as if worried she had heard you incorrectly.

You sent her a sheepish smile, motioning toward the feline. “My cat is, uh… he has very refined tastes…”

“Oh… I see.” She sent you an obviously forced smile before bowing and heading back inside. She returned a few minutes later, setting the steaming saucer down in front of Atobe. “Please be careful, it’s hot.” And then she patted him gently on the head and walked away.

“I am tired of being treated like an animal,” growled Atobe angrily. He placed his front paws on either side of the cup, pushing his upper body up so he could reach the contents inside.

“I mean, you are technically an animal, so…”

“I may be in the body of an animal, but I am no animal!”

You subconsciously glanced around, feeling thankful that you were the only one willing to sit at the outdoor tables due to the cold autumn air. Still, you felt anxious every time he spoke and your mind was constantly weaving excuses you could use should someone catch him.

“Ack!” He cried out, shaking his head in disgust. “I asked for chamomile tea, this is mint tea.”

You sent him an exasperated look. “It’s still tea, just deal with it.”

“They’re completely different flavors!”

“They’re both herbs, aren’t they?”

“I don’t know how Choutarou deals with someone so uncultured,” he huffed, shaking his head.

“Excuse me for not being able to name and distinguish all 842 tea flavors, half of which are more expensive than my entire house,” you snapped back, feeling annoyed by the comment.

“What a ridiculous number.”

“I was exaggerating for -“

“There are over 20,000 different types of tea in the world.”

You blinked dumbly, your brain taking a moment to process that number. “You’re… you’re joking…”

Atobe just sent you a look before returning to his tea.

“Damn rich people,” you muttered under your breath.

“Senpai?”

Your body tensed up at the familiar voice behind you, hoping you had just imagined it. No such luck.

Choutarou appeared beside you, a worried frown on his lips. “I’ve been calling you for days! I thought… I thought you had been taken, too…”

You took one look at his watery brown eyes and a wave of guilt washed over you like a tidal wave. “I’m really sorry, Choutarou. I’ve just been super busy dealing with…” your eyes flickered to the feline and you bit your lip. “Family stuff.”

The tall male frowned, not missing the hesitation or the way you had glanced at the cat. He knew you were hiding something and he felt torn. If you didn’t want him to know, if you didn’t trust him, he didn’t want to force it out of you. At the same time, he was terrified because of Atobe’s disappearance and the way you were suddenly acting so cold to him.

You stood up, resting your hand on his arm. “I promise I’ll explain everything, just… not right now.”

“I was really worried,” he stated softly, struggling to hold back his tears. “I thought I had lost you, too…”

Your heart felt like it was cracking at his pain. You quickly pulled him into a hug, wishing you were taller so you could rest your head against his. You settled for his shoulder, rubbing his back soothingly. “I’m really sorry, Choutarou. I… I should have made time to answer you.”

He held you tightly, fingers digging into the back of your shirt.

You considered asking him if he wanted to join you, but you couldn’t trust Atobe not to –

“This isn’t even good mint tea. It’s clearly cheap and not freshly made. You should have listened to me when I told you I wanted to visit La Villa instead!”

Your body tensed up, cursing under your breath when Choutarou slowly pulled away, looking around in confusion.

“Senpai, did you hear that? It sounded like -“

“Nope, I didn’t hear anything!” You replied quickly, patting his arm. “I really need to get going because I have to get to work -“

“You can’t hide it forever.” Atobe narrowed his eyes at you, front legs crossed over his chest. “He deserves to know the truth.”

Choutarou’s eyes widened, a soft gasp passing his lips. “Did Atoy just… speak?”

“My name is not Atoy! What a stupid name.”

“I am going to murder you, Atobe,” you growled angrily, fists clenched at your sides.

“Atobe?” Choutarou looked at you in confusion, his brow furrowed. “Senpai, please tell me what’s going on!”

You exhaled sharply through your nose, trying not to snap at him because it wasn’t his fault. “Grab the damn cat so I don’t strangle him.” And then you tossed some cash on the table and started walking away.

Choutarou carefully picked him up before jogging after you, his long legs allowing him to catch up easily. The tension in the air made him bite his lip, not wanting to push you when you were clearly annoyed.

You threw open the front door of your house harder than you meant to, muttering under your breath as you kicked your shoes off.

Kai quirked a brow at you when you rounded the corner. “The hell is your problem?” His eyes flickered to the tall male that appeared a few seconds later. “Oh.”

Choutarou carefully set the cat on the ground before bowing to your brother. “Sorry for the intrusion, Kai-san.”

The older male pouted. “I told you not to be so formal. You’ll be my brother-in-law one day!”

His cheeks darkened at the thought. You scowled, hitting your brother upside the back of his head before heading down the hall toward your room. Choutarou bowed to him again before following you. He found you sitting on the side of your bed, head in your hands.

He sat beside you, rubbing his hand across your back. You were waiting for him to ask you what was happening, to demand answers from you, but you knew he wasn’t that type of person.

You sighed deeply, letting your hands fall from your face. “I’m sorry… I… I’ve been lying to you since the day we met.”

“About what?” he questioned softly.

You took a deep breath, trying to focus on the warm hand against your back. “I… I’m scared to tell you.”

“Why? Do you… not trust me?”

“Of course, I do!” You replied quickly, turning to face him. “I trust you with my life, Choutarou. That’s why it’s so hard to tell you, because I’m scared to lose you.”

He gently cupped your face, a loving smile on his lips. “No matter what you tell me, I’m not going anywhere. I love you.”

You exhaled shakily, your hand resting over his. “The truth is… I’m a mage. My father’s side of the family have been mages for generations.”

“Mage?” His brow furrowed in confusion.

You tugged his hand from your cheek, resting your fingers above his palm. You focused on your power, a tiny spark coming from your fingertips. He watched with wonder as it grew into a ball of flame, morphing and shifting until it looked like a tiny, flaming bird.

“Magical folk. Wizards. Witches. Warlocks. We have many names, but we are mages, users of magic.”

“It’s warm,” he spoke softly, cupping the bird as if it were real. “It doesn’t hurt, though.”

“I specialize in fire magic so I have pretty good control over the temperature. It won’t hurt you unless I want it to and I would never, ever hurt you.”

“I know you wouldn’t.” When his brown eyes met yours, there was no fear within their depths, just warmth, love and, most importantly, trust.

You threw your arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. “Thank you, love.”

“You don’t have to thank me. It’s the least I can do as your future husband,” he teased, sounding embarrassed that he had brought it up. “If that’s what you want, I mean.”

You laughed, pulling back to rest your forehead against his. “I would be honored to have you as my husband one day.” Your lips met his in a soft embrace that lasted only a few seconds.

“What happened to Atobe-san?”

“We’re still trying to figure out the whole story,” you sighed, running a hand through your hair. “So far, we know that he was cursed by a fairy mage but we don’t know why. Kai has been trying to find a counterculture while Atobe and I have been trying to find the woman who cursed him.”

“I can’t believe Atobe-san is a cat…”

“Not even a cute one, either.”

“Senpai,” he sent you a scolding look. “That’s mean.”

“After what he did today, he’s lucky that’s all I’m doing.”

He hummed softly, slipping his hand into yours. “I’m grateful to Atobe-san for it. I’ve always known you were hiding something and I’m happy that you don’t have to feel as if you have to hide who you are from me.”

“I feel stupid for worrying so much. I should have known you would be the last person to judge.”

“It’s a valid thing to be afraid of,” he smiled reassuringly, pecking your cheek. “It may sound strange, but… knowing that you didn’t want to tell me because you were scared of losing me makes me really happy.”

“Really? Why?”

“Because it tells me how much you love me.”

Before you could reply, Kai burst into the room, the door smacking against the desk before bouncing back and hitting him in the face. He cried out, holding his nose. “We have a problem!”

“Yeah,” you scowled, standing up to check the door. “There’s a hole in my door now, you ass!”

“Are you okay, Kai-san?” asked Choutarou with worry.

Kai smiled warmly at him before scowling at you. “My brother-in-law cares more about me than you do. That’s so messed up!”

“Because he doesn’t have to live with you,” you scoffed, sending him an annoyed look. “What’s your problem?”

“Oh, right!” His eyes widened again as he grabbed you by the shoulders, shaking you. “We have a problem!”

“You said that already.” You shoved his hands away. “Spit it out.”

“We found the woman who cursed him and you’re not going to believe it.”

Your brow furrowed, sending your boyfriend a look before the two of you followed Kai from the room.

───── ⋆⋅🍂⋅⋆ ─────

“You have got to be kidding me…” you muttered, looking wearily at the black house you stood in front of.

Kai shifted nervously from one foot to the other, nearly shrinking into himself. “We shouldn’t be doing this. If dad finds out, he’s going to freak. Assuming we even make it out of this alive,” he muttered the last bit under his breath, jumping in surprise when a raven cawed loudly.

You took a deep breath, glancing over your shoulder. Choutarou was looking around nervously, clutching Atobe to his chest. You hit your brother’s arm to get his attention. “If you take Choutarou away from here, I’ll go in alone.”

“Absolutely not!” replied Choutarou firmly. “If she’s dangerous, I’m not letting you go alone.”

“My love,” you sent him a stern look. “I appreciate your bravery, but I’m not letting you face down a mage. Especially not this mage.”

He shook his head, stepping closer and slipping his hand into yours. “No matter how dangerous it is, we do it together or we don’t do it at all.”

Kai looked between the two of you. “Welp, have fun, kids!” And then he turned on his heel and darted down the path, jumping through the portal that led out of the mage’s deadlands.

The sky in the deadlands remained black no matter what time it was. Orange lanterns lit the pathway but they were spread pretty far apart, keeping the land dark. The area around the house was nothing but hard desert, with no trees or buildings in sight.

The house itself looked as if it had been made for a horror movie.

Choutarou squeezed your hand while simultaneously hugging Atobe tighter.

“Choutarou -“

“I’ve made up my mind.”

You were surprised by the determination in his eyes. He wasn’t a stubborn guy by any means, but he was loyal and cared deeply for his friends. You knew he was scared, but he couldn’t leave you and Atobe. Your eyes flickered to his hand, feeling a bit better to see the protection ring secured around his finger.

Taking a deep breath, you started toward the house. “This should be a fun adventure,” you muttered.

The wrought iron gate squealed loudly when you pushed it open, lightning streaking across the sky as if to announce your presence.

“Stay behind me,” you ordered him before reaching up to knock on the heavy wooden door.

A moment of silence passed before the door was pulled open, revealing Maira Aarons. She was a tall woman with long black hair that practically melted into the tight black robe she wore. Ruby eyes narrowed at you with recognition, purple lips pursed.

“You better have a good reason for appearing on my doorstep, child.”

You straightened your back and lifted your head. “I’d say you using magic against non-magic folk is a pretty good reason.”

Her eyes flashed and she quickly tried to slam the door in your face but you were quicker, sliding your foot between the door and the frame. “I don’t have time for your games,” she hissed, eyes glowing. “Move, child, before I curse you into -“

“Mom? Who is it?” came a female voice from within the house.

Atobe’s ears twitched at the sound, brow furrowed. You sent him a look as if to ask ‘do you recognize her?’ and he nodded, squirming in the younger male’s grip. This caught the attention of Maira, whose eyes grew wide. She cursed, trying harder to shut the door but you shoved your body against it, pushing with all of your strength.

“Mom? What’s happening?”

“Go back to your room!”

“What? No! What’s going on?”

“I’ll explain later, just please -“

With the older woman occupied, you were able to wrap your magic around your body, increasing your physical strength for a short period of time. It was enough to overpower her, shoving the door open and stumbling forward. Choutarou grabbed the back of your hoodie to keep you on your feet.

A young girl stood at the bottom of the stairs, magic encasing her fists as she took a defensive stance. “Who the hell are you?! What do you want?!”

Before you could answer, Atobe jumped from Choutarou’s grip, landing on the ground in front of you. A gasp passed her lips when she saw him, the light fading as she straightened up.

“Atobe?” she breathed out, eyes wide. “What happened?”

“Ask your mom,” you scoffed, feeling a bit lightheaded as the enhancement magic left your body. It wasn’t your strongest magic type so it always left you feeling drained when you used them and they didn’t last very long, either.

Her eyes snapped to the older woman. “Mom? What did you do?”

Maira huffed, brushing invisible dust from her robe. “I did what any mother would to someone who broke their daughter’s heart.”

“You cursed him! Are you kidding me?” She cried, throwing her hands up in exasperation. “Fix him right now!”

“I will,” started Maira, her eyes narrowed at the feline. “As soon as he agrees to date you, Maki.”

Her face burned with embarrassment, mouth opening and closing.

You scoffed, folding your arms over your chest. “Why would you want that? Forcing someone to date your daughter who doesn’t want to date her… that’s so much worse than being rejected because you know he doesn’t want to be there. All you’re doing is hurting her more.”

“Silence!” snapped Maira, eyes flashing. “This is a family issue.”

“It stopped being a family issue when you cursed an innocent non-magic!”

“He deserved it! He only rejected her because she doesn’t come from a wealthy family like he does, because she isn’t a student at that dreadful school! He broke her heart and he’s lucky he’s still breathing!”

Atobe growled at her, his fur raised. “I am not such an asshole to reject someone based on their social status. I don’t have time to date and I don’t even know her, of course I would reject her.”

“You arrogant little -” her eyes started to glow red, a ball of red magic appearing in her hand. You darted forward, conjuring a shield at the very last second.

Her magic was more powerful and it sent you flying backward, hitting the wall hard. The wind was knocked from your lungs, vision blurring for a moment. Choutarou cried out your name, rushing over to you with worry in his eyes.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” you winced, putting your arm across his chest and pushing him behind you as you forced yourself to step forward.

“Mom!” snapped Maki, her own eyes flashing red. “You’ve gone too far! You can’t just curse everyone I come into contact with! Turn him back or… or… I’ll go live with dad!”

Maira gasped, her eyes wide and hand covering her mouth. She looked as if someone had just threatened her unborn child. “You wouldn’t…”

“Try me!”

She scowled, glaring at the feline. “What has been done must now be undone, the curse you bear will be lifted, I declare!” She clapped her hands together and purple smoke engulfed Atobe, swirling around him like a tornado.

You could only see glimpses of him through the smoke, his body glowing and shifting as he returned to his original form. The smoke exploded outward before dissipating.

Atobe put his hand on his hip, running his other hand through his hair as he scowled.

“I am so sorry, Atobe-san!” Maki bowed low despite her mother’s protests.

You put your hand on his shoulder, tugging him toward the door. “Let’s get out of here before you say something dumb and get your ass cursed again.” You kept your gaze on the woman until both boys were out of the house.

“Are you okay?” Choutarou sent you a worried look, reaching for your hand.

You offered him a tired smile. “Yeah.”

“I was the one who was turned into a cat for a week,” scowled Atobe, shaking his head.

Choutarou sent him an apologetic look. “Are you okay, Atobe-san?”

“He’ll be hacking up hairballs for the next week, I bet,” you snickered, earning a glare from the male.

“That sounds terrible,” Choutarou covered his mouth, trying to hide his laughter.

Atobe just huffed, muttering under his breath as he walked down the path toward the portal.

“Everyone is going to be confused. What are we going to tell them?”

“Kai will handle that, don’t worry.” You brought his hand to your lips, pressing a kiss to the back of it. “Right now, all I care about is getting you home safely and going to bed.”

“Do you mind if I join you instead?”

A smile tugged at your lips. “I’d love that, future husband of mine~”

His cheeks turned pink as he smiled brightly at you, brown eyes closed.

───── ⋆⋅🍂⋅⋆ ─────

-> General Taglist: @asterhaze, @mrskenpachizaraki

#flufftober2023 #day 15 #ootori choutarou #the prince of tennis #anime #tenipuri #prince of tennis #tennis no oujisama #RFO - PSF #RFO - PSF23 #rains ficography #fanfic #fanfiction #reader insert

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therainroguefanfiction · 2 years

Text

A Special Birthday (Choutarou Otori)

Genre: Fluff, Romance, Friendship

Word Count: 3,461

Pairing: Reader x Choutarou

World: The Prince of Tennis

-- Author's Note: I'm so glad I was able to get this written in time. Hopefully, I did his birthday justice! <3

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You heaved a heavy sigh, slumping farther down the bench as you stared up at the sky. It was a brilliant shade of blue, dotted with white, fluffy-looking clouds that would occasionally shield the earth from the sun. Today was Valentine's day, the day of love and romance, but that was the last thing on your mind. Today was far more special than just some holiday that you didn't even care about.

"If you sigh again, I'm going to flick you," Ryoga commented as he flopped onto the bench beside you, wiping the sweat from his neck with a white towel. "What's your problem? Upset that you didn't get any valentine's chocolate?" His voice was teasing and amused, as it typically was.

You scoffed in reply, folding your arms over your chest. "Yeah, right. I don't care about valentine's gifts, you know that."

He hummed, a smirk on his lips. "Even if that gift comes from a certain silver-haired second year?"

Your eyes snapped to him, narrowed in warning but he wasn't the least bit intimidated, a laugh passing his lips. "This is serious, Ryoga."

"Fine, fine," he huffed, throwing his sweaty arm around your neck. "Tell me your woes, child, and I will advise you how to proceed."

"I'm older than you, idiot." You shoved his arm off and slid a bit down the bench, not enjoying the heat coming off of his body. Sure, it was winter, but you enjoyed the cold and didn't want to be subjected to a human heater like your best friend. And then you sighed deeply, a frown set on your lips. "I don't know what to do, Ryoga."

"About?"

"Today is Choutarou's birthday, but… what do you give someone that already has everything he could want?"

"In the words of the great and beautiful Loba - More," he tried to imitate her sultry voice, but it sounded ridiculous coming from him and you snorted.

"Bro, no. Never do that again - ahaha."

He scowled, shoving your arm. "Hey, don't mock my impression. You hate me because I'm beautiful."

"Yeah, that's it."

"For real, though," his expression became serious, a rarity for the playful male. "I'm sure whatever you give him, he'll love."

"That's the problem!" You threw your hands in the air as you stood up, pacing back and forth. "Even if I gave him a fifty yen toy from a damn capsule machine, he would smile and thank me earnestly!"

"Then what's the problem? He sounds easy to shop for."

"Because!" You threw your hands up again, coming to a stop in front of him with a frown. "Choutarou is special to me and today is his birthday. I want to give him something special, something he can look at and feel proud to own."

"This is really important to you, huh?" he commented softly, prompting a nod.

"Yeah... it's just... this is his first birthday with us as a couple and I want it to be special. Really special."

"Atobe special?" He quirked a brow, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"That's not special, it's cringe."

"Such a showoff, right?"

"Totally."

A moment of silence passed between you before he stood up, hand on his hip. "Let me take a shower and get changed, then we'll head into town and see what we can find."

"Thanks, Ryoga." You offered him a grateful smile which he returned with a pat to your shoulder.

"I'm your bestie, after all. It's my job."

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The shopping district was packed with people, mostly couples or partners that were trying to get last-minute gifts for the holiday. You and Ryoga had checked out several different shops already, but nothing had caught your eye or felt right, so you continued on. It had been an hour and a half now and you were quickly losing hope that you were going to find that special gift for your beloved.

"I'm gonna go grab something to drink. Be right back." Ryoga patted your shoulder before disappearing into the crowd.

Despite the winter chill hanging in the air, the sheer amount of people packed tightly on the street was making you feel as if you were overheating. With a frown, you glanced at the two shops on either side of you. On the left was a chocolate shop, selling a wide variety of chocolates baked into different shapes and styles. It was pretty packed, as well, though. On the right was an older-looking shop selling antiques and other oddities. There was only one couple inside.

You didn't hesitate to move through the crowd toward the shop, sighing in relief when you stepped through the door because you were no longer shoulder to shoulder with total strangers. The older woman sitting behind the counter offered you a smile and a small wave before returning to her book. You scanned the room, taking note of the short shelves that sat in lines across the floor, each one filled with an assortment of items from vases to jewelry. You could tell just by looking at them that they had real character, a story behind them rather than just some mass manufactured item. Hope returned to you and you felt as if you were on the right track. A one of a kind item might just be just what you needed to make Choutarou's day truly special.

You passed by a square table that just held jewelry, separated by glass columns to prevent them from falling off of the table. At first, you passed by the table without a second thought, knowing that the only jewelry he ever really wore was his cross, but something made you pause and you slowly backpedaled. Your eyes scanned the table for the item that had caught your attention just a moment ago. It was a bracelet.

A strip of worn metal with a dragon carved into the bronze, a small heart clutched between its claws. Two strips of brown, leather rope came from either side, forming the rest of the circle. You had a soft spot for dragons, so this instantly spoke to you, your fingers gently brushing over the surface of the carving. It was beautiful, but would Choutarou also think so?

"That's a nice choice, child."

You nearly jumped out of your skin, clutching the bracelet as you turned to look at the older woman now standing less than a foot from you, a smile on her wrinkled face and her hands behind her back. 'Kami-sama, is she a ninja?'

"I didn't mean to frighten you, my apologies." A small laugh passed her lips before she nodded toward the bracelet in your hand. "There's quite a nice story behind that particular piece. Would you care to hear it?"

You glanced at the bracelet, your thumb rubbing over the dragon. It definitely felt as if it had quite the tale to tell. "I'd like that."

"According to legend, there once was a mighty dragon that lived in harmony with those living in the village beneath his mountain. He protected them and, in return, they worshipped him, offering him gifts every month. He was given jewels and food beyond one's imagination, but nothing fulfilled him. They felt empty, not... hmm, what's the word I'm looking for?" She tapped her chin thoughtfully.

"Special?" you offered softly and she snapped her fingers.

"Ah, yes, that's the word. None of them felt very special to him. It was obvious that they were only giving him such gifts because they feared him, even though he had never hurt a human in all of his years. Gifts out of obligation can hardly be considered gifts at all. And then, one day, a young woman approached his mountain. He had never seen her before, which he found strange because he knew every member of the village. She smiled at him and he swore the world got the tiniest bit brighter. She was beautiful and soft-spoken, and she had come to offer him a gift. This was stranger still because it was not yet time to receive his monthly gifts from the village. Yet there she was, holding something wrapped in cloth."

A bead of sweat formed on your cheek and you swallowed hard. 'I've seen too many movies to know where this is going. It's a dagger, isn't it? She's going to try and slay him!'

But to your surprise, the story didn't go how you feared it would. The old woman seemed to sense this, an amused glint in her dark eyes. "Beneath the cloth was a rare flower, one that grew only near her village. It had been pressed and left to dry so that it may never wilt fade away. This flower was an ugly sight with not a single use. More of a weed than anything, really. Yet here this human woman stood, offering it to this mighty dragon. She told him, 'I apologize, sir dragon, for I know this gift is not good enough for a mighty dragon such as yourself. However, I have very little, and this is the best I can offer.' He was very confused now. This woman was not there out of obligation, out of fear of losing her village. She was there because she respected the mighty beast. Admired him, even. Why, he didn't know how to feel! He had been offered many things in his lifetime, but never a weed such as this."

"Was he insulted?" you wondered.

"Not at all." She shook her head. "On the contrary, he was flattered. Do you know why, child?"

Your brow furrowed as you thought it over, finally shaking your head no. You had no idea why he would be flattered to receive a weed.

"Because it was special," she told you softly, a warm smile on her lips. "Here was a woman that did not fear him, but admired him, offering a rare gift that no one had offered him before. She put her heart into it, whether she meant to or not. It seems like such a simple thing, doesn't it? But to him, it meant the world. Words could not express this, however, at least none that he could fathom. And so, he retreated into his cave where he worked tirelessly for a month, forging the very metal you now hold within your hand." Her smile turned sad. "Alas, the woman never returned and he was unable to show her how much her simple action had meant to him."

"That's sad," you muttered, looking down at the bracelet.

"It is, isn't it? Life is so fleeting, child. Humans often miss important moments even when they are right in front of their eyes. You must seize them while you can, or you may never get the opportunity to do so."

"That makes sense," you smiled at her, putting your hand on your hip. "Tell me; did you make up that story just to try and convince me to buy this bracelet or I might regret it?"

Her eyes shimmer with amusement, a soft chuckle leaving her lips. "Saa~"

You shook your head. "Well, it worked. I'll take it."

"Excellent," she clapped her hands before waving you after her. "Come along, now. I'll ring up your purchase so you can hurry back to your beloved."

You honestly didn't know if that story had been true or if she had just made it up on the spot, but you couldn't deny that something felt special about it and you knew you really would regret it if you didn't purchase it.

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"Will you stop fidgeting?" Ryoga sent you a deadpan look when you bumped into his shoulder again.

You frowned at him before looking away. "Sorry..."

He shook his head, folding his arms over his chest. "I never thought I'd see the day where one guy could make you this much of a nervous wreck. He must be a wizard!"

You scoffed but were too nervous to retort. He wasn't wrong. You had always prided yourself on being a calm and collected individual, even in times of great stress, but when it came to Choutarou... it's like you lost all ability to remain calm. He truly did have a strange power over you and he didn't even realize it. Your body tensed up as Choutarou finished his match with one of the high schoolers, approaching the bleachers where his bag sat.

He paused in confusion when he reached it, noticing the small, brown paper bag sitting beside his bag. Was it for him? There was a small white card sitting on top between the handles with his name scrawled across it. Curiously, he picked up the card and opened it, his eyes scanning the words within:

[Choutarou, Happy birthday. I hope your day is as special as you are. Please enjoy this gift. May it bring you love and warmth.]

"Fuck..." you muttered under your breath, wide eyes turning to your best friend.

He quirked a brow at you. "What? At least wait until he looks at the gift before you totally lose it."

"Ryoga..." You grabbed his arm tighter than you meant to. "I forgot to sign the fucking card."

He stared at you blankly for a moment before howling with laughter, quickly earning the attention of everyone within a fifty-foot radius. Choutarou also looked up to see what the commotion was and a soft smile overcame him as his gaze rested on you. To be honest, he had been feeling a bit down since he hadn't seen you at all that morning. He missed you and just wanted to spend his birthday with you, but you seemed to have other plans. Which was fine with him, he didn't want to force you to spend time with him if you didn't want to.

"S-Shut up!" you hissed, slapping your best friend upside the head, but he just wheezed, trying and failing to get his laughter under control.

"You're a - haha - total dumbass! Ahahaha!"

You scowled at him, glancing back to look at Choutarou. He was just pulling the bracelet from the bag, his thumb lightly rubbing over the metal. "Fuck my life," you muttered, turning on your head and rushing away in frustration. Surely it was a simple fix. You just had to bring it up casually, right? Then why did it seem like walking to war? You headed to your safe spot; a secluded area behind the complex that held an old bench and a vending machine that only worked half the time. No one ever came here, not with the perfectly pristine machines out front.

You fell onto the bench, holding your head in your hands. You had one job and you had royally screwed up. At least, that's what you told yourself. A simple mistake felt like a life-altering one when it came to Choutarou and the only appropriate course of action you could think of was to curse yourself for being so damn stupid. You're not sure how long you sat there for, but you eventually felt a warm hand resting on your arm. The calming aura and the scent of his vanilla lotion told you who it was before you even looked up, locking gazes with his warm, brown eyes.

He smiled softly at you. "Are you okay, senpai?"

"Yeah," you breathed out, straightening up a bit. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"You only come here when you're stressed," he commented, allowing his hand to slip down until it resting over your own. Your eyes shot to his wrist where the bracelet sat snugly against his skin. It looked so good on him, so elegant. It didn't look like some relic you had picked up in an antique shop, he made it look like the latest accessory from a high-end fashion brand. You hated it but also low-key kinda liked it.

Who did he think gave it to him? That was your main concern. What if someone else took credit? You'd look petty if you tried to deny it. You might even be accused of lying because you forgot his birthday! No one was better at catastrophic thoughts than you were and your mind was alive with possibilities.

Choutarou noticed your gaze lingering on the bracelet and he smiled, giving your hand a squeeze. "Thank you."

Your eyes snapped to his in confusion. "What?"

"For the bracelet. I really like it, I think it's super cute!" He leaned over to press a chaste kiss on your cheek. "Thank you, Y/N-senpai."

"Wait, you knew it was me?" you questioned in disbelief. "How? My dumbass forgot to sign the card."

He hummed. "You're the only one that's ever called me special. Plus, I know your handwriting by heart, even when you take your time to make it as neat as possible."

'For fuck's sake, he can tell when I'm actually trying?' You scowled, warm cheeks a stark contrast to the chilly wind blowing around you. Even so, you managed to mutter out a, "You're welcome." A moment of silence passed by before you slowly lifted his hand, bringing it to your lips. "Happy birthday... Choutarou."

His cheeks darkened and he couldn't fight back the smile lighting up his face. "Thank you." He hesitated a moment, chewing on his lip. "Senpai?"

"Hm?"

"Will you... spend the rest of the day with me?" He honestly felt guilty for being so selfish with his request, but he couldn't help himself. It was his birthday, didn't he deserve to be a little bit selfish?

But you didn't see it that way at all. You were elated that he wanted you by his side the rest of the day instead of being with his friends. "Of course. Today is your day, so anything you want, you've got it, my love."

Choutarou's heart skipped a beat at your words and he couldn't describe the sheer joy he felt in that moment.

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You stifled a yawn as you headed toward the dorm building, your arms stretched above your head. You were looking forward to crawling into your warm bed and getting some rest, especially after Niou managed to rope you in to playing doubles. On the bright side, you were with Choutarou. On the other hand, Niou was scheming the whole time, though you weren't sure if he was trying to help you get closer to Choutarou or embarrass yourself in front of him. Either way, he had run you ragged.

Just as you reached the door, you noticed something out of the corner of your eye and you glanced toward the sky but there was nothing out of the ordinary. The night sky was a velvety blue, devoid of clouds but filled with tiny, twinkling stars. Just as you went to turn, you saw it - a shooting star. But it wasn't just one, there were dozens of them.

'A meteor shower!' You didn't know how long it was supposed to last so you wasted no time darting into the dorm, heading straight for Choutarou's room. It was just before midnight so most of the camp was asleep already, but that didn't stop you from quietly pushing the door to his room open. The room was dark, the sound of snores and soft breathing filling the space. You knew his bunk was the bottom one on the left, so you carefully made your way over to him, gently grabbing his shoulder.

His eyes fluttered open, glazed over with sleep. "Senpai, what -"

You put your hand over his mouth and brought your finger to your lips, though you weren't sure if he could even see that in the darkness. He seemed to get the hint though, remaining quiet as you took his hand and pulled him up off the bed. His fingers curled around yours as you led him from the room, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. You led him around the building and through the small path into the woods that led to a circular clearing.

"Senpai," Choutarou called sleepily. "Where are you taking me?"

You came to a stop, giving his hand a squeeze before motioning toward the sky. He followed your gaze, his eyes widening in surprise as he watched the meteors streaking across the sky.

"It's... beautiful!"

You could see them reflected in his beautiful eyes and you smiled, releasing his hand so you could stand behind him, arms wrapped protectively around his waist as you pressed a soft kiss to his shoulder. His hands rested on your arms and he leaned back into your embrace. "Happy birthday," you whispered, kissing his shoulder again. "I love you, Otori Choutarou."

His chest felt warm and he wanted to remain there with you for the rest of eternity. "I love you too, Y/N."

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#ootori choutarou #otori choutarou #prince of tennis #The Prince of Tennis #tenipuri #anime #the prince of tennis ii

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