#muta of haru

[rosaline-bonfamille]

猫の恩返し The Cat Returns

[ikemengoessbrrrrr]

There should be a story where the cat bureau members need to disguise themselves as guard/mafia/any job that use suit on their mission

[cymraegdragon21]

A scene that makes me snort. Rather than admit he's the guilty party Baron just tells Muta it's not the time for finger pointing 😄

[ploffskinpluffskin]

i couldn't tell you why exactly but i enjoy putting haru in a position where she's kind of Extending the same need to repay kindness that the cat king can be surmised to have without realizing she's playing into that circle of gratitude

she's naturally kind already, and with the events of the movie showing her just how powerful and how meaningful even her small actions can be, i do like the idea of her looking at some of the other characters who have helped her and offered her so much guidance, etc. and feeling that there must be something she can do in return for them as well

which is probably why i have a couple stories that only come about bc she sees some old hurt just covered up with a band-aid and wonders if maybe a little New Blood might be the trick to get that process going

i just like the idea of a haru who gets very determined and stubborn as she gets older, but never for the purposes of wounding someone, and not necessarily in a bull-headed or Sassy way, but just that she will see a problem that's not being dealt with and roll up her sleeves to go apply some gentle but Unending pressure lmao

she can be reasoned with of course! sometimes she doesn't understand all the nuances of what she's trying to fix. but sometimes she does manage to bring in a new perspective, i think, for problems that are Ages Old

[lin-iva]

morons

[tcrmommabear]

Toto: I need you to swear- Muta: Fuck Haru: Damn Hiromi: Shit Toto: ... Swear as in promise...

[atamagaitai]

2012-07

[gentlemewn]

Guys I think he wants to kiss Haru’s feet-

Idk tho :/

[soartsylola]

So...my friend got me into this movie-The Cat Returns

And oh lord-its actually rlly good!

[squaric-acid]

A Treat for the Eyes, Pt. 1

My contribution to the TCR Secret Santa 2023

I'm writing for @raythecomputerart, I hope you enjoy! I was going to write something short and sweet for the cozy tea party prompt but it got entangled with the high fashion prompt and this was the result.

=====

“Here’s your next assignment,” Natoru, assistant to the editor-in-chief of Cat Kingdom Magazine, said nasally, holding the manilla folder out to Muta.

Muta reached across the desk with a grumble.

“Probably another toothpaste ad,” he muttered under his breath.

Toto elbowed him hard in the ribs.

“It’s for Baron’s new collection. You’ll need to find a suitable model. Yuki’s called in sick again.”

Natoru hid it well but both Muta and Toto had known their boss’s simpering secretary long enough to detect the disdain in his voice for the magazine’s top model. Who also happened to be the fiancée of the editor’s son. Thankfully, neither Muta or Toto shared Natoru’s disdain for the model.

“Well, if it’s Baron’s work then it should be interesting,” Toto said cheerfully as Natoru sashayed out of the small office Toto and Muta shared.

Muta gave a long-suffering sigh as he flicked through the folder.

“Where are we going to find a suitable model in this short of time?”

~@~

“A modeling gig?” Haru gave Hiromi a quizzical look across the cafe table she was bussing.

“Not just any gig. Look!”

Hiromi shoved the flier in her skeptical friend’s face.

“It’s for Baron’s new spring collection!” Hiromi squealed.

Haru removed the flier from her face and gave it a glance.

“That’s nice,” Haru said blandly. “When did you hear about it?”

“Someone just put up a flier on the bulletin board. Some fatso from the photography department. Just as I was leaving.”

“That’s nice,” Haru said, turning back to her task.

“Oh, come on Haru! This is perfect for you! I know you’ve been angling for a change to work with Baron since you first laid eyes on his work.”

“Okay sure, but-“

“But nothing. Why not try? Yuki’s out sick and Louise is still in Kyoto.” A wheedling tone had snuck into Hiromi’s voice.

“Get serious, there’s no way he’d select me to be his model for his latest collection.”

~@~

Why does this always happen to me? Haru asked herself as she sat curled against the hallway wall outside of one of the many studio spaces in the Cat Kingdom Magazine’s creative department. A dozen or so models lingered around waiting to be assessed for their suitability and worthiness to model for Baron’s newest collection.

“Why did Hiromi have to call in sick? Now I’m here on my own!” Haru grumbled to herself. 

In the week since Hiromi had shoved the flier in her face, Haru had learned little else about Baron’s newest collection. She and Hiromi had clamored for spots in the modeling audition, luckily Haru’s second job at the cafe was accommodating. Despite being models for Cat Kingdom Magazine, the competition for the best gigs was cutthroat and she and Hiromi were among the more junior models.

Haru surveyed the other models all awaiting their turn to impress the famed designer. Baron was somewhat of an eccentric recluse amongst the top players in the fashion world. He always chose his models with the utmost care. And he favored the infamous photographer and stylist duo, Muta and Toto, for his shoots with the magazine.

The models around her all knew what a shoot like this could mean for their careers. They were dolled up to the nines and for models that’s saying a lot. Every single one harbored secret dreams of becoming Baron’s muse.

Haru, for all her aspirations in the fashion industry, had hardly bothered. Hiromi had convinced her to wear virtually no makeup to accentuate her features, instead of hiding them.

Muta and Toto worked extraordinarily well together but were exceedingly picky. Hence their infamy amongst the models of Cat Kingdom Magazine. When not called upon to work with Baron they often were out on small jobs, like toothpaste ads. If they were working for Baron on this shoot it meant that the standards would be astronomically high.

Hiromi and Haru had both done a couple gigs each with Muta and Toto for small ads. Cat Kingdom had originally been a talent acquisition company. It still kept up those programs and lots of models hoping to join the fashion seems started in Cat Kingdom’s talent agency. Apparently that’s how the son of Cat Kingdom’s editor came to know Yuki, one of the magazine supermodels. Haru and Hiromi had both met Yuki before, despite her newfound fame she always had the kindness of a hopeful new model.

The next model was called in to audition and Haru was pulled from her thoughts. She wondered if either Toto or Muta would recognize her. She wasn’t sure she wanted them to.

One by one the models went in and then came out. Each one sporting the tight smile of one who had been let down politely but rather scathingly too.

Soon Haru was alone in the hall. She stood and smoothed the wrinkles of her long skirt. She’d worn her favorite lacy socks and a pair of sandals over them. In retrospect not the most fashionable choice for an aspiring model.

Haru hadn’t been terribly self-conscious before this moment but she was now. And as the previous model exited with a classless upturned nose Haru felt her stomach sink down to rest around her toes.

“He’s so uptight,” she heard the previous model hiss to her friends who were waiting for her at the end of the hall.

“No wonder Louise left him.”

Haru felt her mouth go inexplicably dry. 

=====

I do hope you enjoyed this! Stay tuned for parts 2, 3, and 4!

[ro-visiting-the-bureau]

TCR Birthday Bash 2023 Prompts!

The votes are in, here is the official TCR Birthday Bash prompt list!

The Cat Returns Birthday Bash will be running from July 16th to July 22nd (7/16-7/22), to celebrate the anniversary of The Cat Returns. The prompts for this year’s bash are:

Sun 16th - Musical/Music

Mon 17th - Masquerade

Tues 18th - Revenge

Wed 19th - Secret Heritage

Thurs 20th - Happy Birthday/Free Day

Fri 21st - Beach Episode

Sat 22nd - Sci-Fi

Thank you to everyone who voted, and I cannot wait to see all of the awesome prompts we have this year!

[rosaline-bonfamille]

猫の恩返し The Cat Returns

[ikemengoessbrrrrr]

TCR Fake Screenshot

Muta is ready to use violence

[cymraegdragon21]

One Day

Birthday Bash Prompt 1 - Red Thread of Fate

"Fate - a destined path a person follows outside of their control. Often regarded as predestined by an outside force of supernatural power."

Haru frowned. She didn't like the idea of that. Of having no control of her life. She felt that it would be like being some sort of puppet to some unknown higher being. Using her thumb to scroll up the page back to the search box she tapped in another word.

"Soulmate - a destined person who one feels a deep or natural affinity for. This could either be a platonic or romantic relationship."

Haru sighed. Although she wasn't keen on the idea of a predetermined life the thought of someone special to spend it with who was perfect for her actually sounded rather nice. Haru couldn't help but grimace slightly as she searched her final phrase.

"Red Thread of Fate - an invisible red thread that connects people who are destined to meet regardless of place, time or circumstances. They will share a life path together and achieve something good together."

Haru threw an accusatory glance at her little finger before dropping her phone on the bed next to her and burying her face into her pillows. Her seventeenth birthday was supposed to be when she would finally be able to feel the tug of the thread to lead her to her destined person and all her excitement had ended in bitter disappointment. Her phone began to ring causing her to pad her hand around to grab it before bringing it up to her pillow mound.

'Hello?' she answered in a muffled tone.

'Haru where are you? Are you at home?' asked her best friend Hiromi.

'Maybe.' she murmured, her words still distorted by the pillow.

'Are you still sulking at home over Machida?' said Hiromi.

'I am not sulking!' objected Haru finally sitting up.

'Oh you definitely are.' snickered her best friend 'Come on Haru it's not the end of the world.'

Haru couldn't agree. She felt like the bottom of her world had fallen out. Her birthday was the day before and she had almost bounced out of bed with excitement which had alarmed her mother. She had enjoyed her breakfast and headed to school early ready for the red thread to pull her towards her crush as soon as she entered the classroom. Unfortunately there was nothing but a biting anti-climax followed by the realisation that there was no tug on her little finger and the one she had pinned her hopes on was not her destined person. She had managed to keep herself in check for the whole day but as soon as the final bell of the day tolled she ran. She went straight home to throw herself across her bed before letting the frustrated and disappointed tears fall.

'He's not worth it.' said Hiromi breaking Haru from her thoughts.

'I really thought he was the one.' she whispered 'I mean I had a crush on him.'

'Haru people can have crushes on those who aren't their soulmate. That's what we have boy bands for. Machida turned seventeen before you, didn't you realise that he wasn't suddenly paying you any extra attention?' asked her best friend.

'I guess I didn't even think about that.' she murmured.

Haru's stomach clenched. Thinking about it now, since his birthday a few months prior Machida had seemed to have taken interest in someone in another class. Haru had been so deep in her own day dream that she hadn't seen what was right in front of her. She threw herself back into her pillows.

'I'm going to die alone!' she declared.

'For goodness sake, will you stop being so dramatic!' scolded Hiromi 'You're seventeen not an old maid.'

'It's all right for you. You found your soulmate on your seventeenth birthday.' muttered Haru.

'Yeah well that was just luck. How many couples actually meet in high school?' replied Hiromi 'Come on Haru, one day will be your day!'

'I guess you're right.' she sighed thinking of her own parents who had randomly met in a haberdashery shop 'One day.'

'I'm always right.' responded Hiromi and Haru just knew she was grinning wildly 'Come on, don't mope it's still your birthday weekend. Let's go out, I'll treat you.'

'Where?' asked Haru.

'How about the cafe with that fat cat? I'll ask Chika if she wants to come as well. I'll get you your favourite sundae.' promised Hiromi.

'With two flakes?' asked Haru hopefully.

She heard her best friend snort.

'Yes with two flakes.' she agreed 'Now go wash your face and run a brush through you hair. I'll see you in an hour.'

'Thanks Hiromi.' replied Haru. 

She could always rely on her best friend to cheer her up.

'One day.' she whispered to herself.

Haru wandered to the meeting point. Her mood hadn't lifted much despite the promise of dessert and she couldn't help dragging her feet a little as she walked. The biggest excitement of her teenage life had turned into the biggest disappointment. Haru let out a sigh and shook her head in an attempt to clear the gloom surrounding her. She was jolted out of her daze as an arm slid through hers and took her hand. She looked over to see Hiromi grinning at her.

'I saw you walking aimlessly.' she said 'The speed you're moving at it will be dark before you arrive at the cafe.'

Haru couldn't help but giggle.

'That's better.' smiled Hiromi before squeezing Haru's hand and releasing it 'Come on, Chika will think that we've stood her up.'

'Okay.' replied Haru picking up her pace to follow her best friend.

They were just passing a man with an organ grinder when Haru felt a sharp tug on her finger. She looked down in surprise at her hand. She then looked up in the direction from where she had felt the pull. No-one was there.

'Haru!' called Hiromi doubling back on herself 'What's the matter?'

'I'm not sure.' she murmured rubbing her finger unconsciously 'I felt a pull from that direction.'

Hiromi followed her friend's gaze.

'There is nothing but back alleyways down there Haru. I really doubt your fated person is going to be down that path.' she replied.

'Yeah, you're probably right.' responded Haru 'Enough of this nonsense! Let's forget it all and celebrate my birthday!'

'That's the spirit.' grinned Hiromi linking arms with Haru and marching her to where their other friend was waiting for them.

Baron stood at the edge of the courtyard staring out through the archway that led to the Human world. He had been doing this more in recent times.

'Hey Birdbrain. What's he doing?' Muta called to Toto looking concerned.

Toto lifted his head from preening his feathers to look at Baron and then sighed.

'It's complicated.' he murmured.

Muta shot him a look of disbelief.

'Is it a creation thing?' he asked.

'No it's a Baron thing.' responded the crow.

'Oh.' murmured the cat.

It didn't sound like it was something to worry about so Muta returned to reading his newspaper. Although his eyes occasionally drifted to the cat creation.

Baron sighed and looked down at his gloved hand. Many years ago when he had been created a bright red thread was tied to his little finger linking him to the one he was created with. Unlike humans as a creation he could see the red thread of fate. When they had been separated the red thread gave him reassurance that she was still somewhere out in the world and they would meet again. The day the thread began to fizzle from view had been horrendous. In an instant he knew that she was no longer part of the living world. He had been swept into a depression and without Toto he really didn't know what he would have done. They say the bond never breaks but without her in the world what was the point? Baron threw himself into his work of assisting people and the Cat Bureau was born. Then seventeen years ago he had been alarmed to wake up one day to find a red thread wrapped around his little finger once again. What could it mean? He had followed the thread to the edge of the boundary of the Refuge and watched as it disappeared into the Human world. Occasionally like today he would feel a tug on the thread as whoever was on the other end neared by. Baron sighed. He didn't belong in the Human world. There he was a mere figurine. Also whoever was on the other end just couldn't be her. However no matter how much he dismissed it, the slightest pull he felt sent him almost running to the spot where he was currently standing. Maybe one day he would bravely cross between worlds or perhaps they would one day come and find him.

Baron's heart ached with loneliness. Whoever they were would no longer be Louise but perhaps if he could look past that then he could find happiness again. After all the thread meant they were destined to meet. Whoever they were had Louise's soul and he hoped they would be an open minded individual who held the same morals as himself. He felt the thread slacken as the individual moved away.

'One day.' he whispered to himself as he turned around to head back into the Bureau. 

[sindysugar]

I gotchu @catsafarithewriter !

The Cat Returns Coffee Shop AU ✨

[lin-iva]

dance scene dance scene dance-

Here is.. my version of the dance scene (the original is much better yes), oh yes and Haru’s dress. Muta here is about to get drowned, but i guess it’s a good thing that his sense of panic turns to annoyance (and hunger)