#The red decorations coming out of Yuuko’s hair | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

chiiwifruit · 4 years

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TCM Day 7: Horitsuba

Sakura and Himawari waited outside the Home Economics classroom for the final stragglers of Fai’s last class of the day to filter out of the room. Once the other students had gone and Fai was wiping down the demonstration counter at the front of the room, the girls knocked on the classroom door and stepped inside.

Fai looked up at the knock and smiled. “Sakura-chan and Himawari-chan! Did you need something?” he asked, straightening and wiping his hands on his apron.

Sakura fidgeted, flustered. “Um-!” she began, and faltered from nerves.

“Fai-sensei, we’re sorry to bother you.” Himawari took charge, clasping her hands and smiling. “We have a request. We know that it’s extra work for you, but everyone enjoyed your cake seminar last time, and we were wondering if you would be willing to do another one. Valentine’s Day is coming up, and we would love to learn to make chocolate desserts if you have the time and it’s not too much of a bother.”

“Oh, of course!” Fai said, pleased. “Same group as last time?”

Both girls nodded, delighted.

Fai chuckled. “I doubt Syaoran-kun, Shaoron-kun, and Watanuki-kun need the instruction, but I’ll be happy to teach them all the same.”

“Great! Thank you so much!” Sakura exclaimed, clapping her hands.

“We’ll let everyone know. Thank you, Sensei,” Himawari said.

The two girls left the classroom, giggling and chattering, to go tell their friends.

On Valentine’s Day, the whole group gathered in the Home Ec room after school to make chocolate almond petit fours.

“Wow, you’re skillful as always, Watanuki-kun!” Yuui remarked, leaning across the counter to admire Watanuki’s work.

Watanuki’s cheeks went pink. “You praise me too much,” he said, ducking his head with embarrassment.

“Yes, Watanuki is my star student,” Fai said as he stopped the Mokonas from feeding each other handfuls of chocolate ganache. Watanuki’s cheeks went even pinker from pleasure. “Now stop leaning into his workspace.” Fai set the black Mokona well away from the bowl of ganache and took Yuui’s arm to lead him away from where the students were working. He deposited Yuui at the back of the classroom where Yuuko and Kurogane were playing mahjong. Yuuko sent Fai a pitiful look, still sulking because he blocked her from bringing alcohol into the classroom, spoiling her plans for a drinking party.

“Why are you here anyway?” Fai asked Yuuko while Yuui flitted over to peek over Kurogane’s shoulder at his tiles.

Yuuko made an eleborate gesture. “Chocolate tax!” she said with a fiendish glint in her eye.

“A chocolate tax?” Syaoran asked. He and Sakura were working near the back of the room, and they overheard. Both turned to the teachers, puzzled. “What is that?”

Shaoron, who was also nearby, met Fai’s eyes with a ‘here we go again’ expression as Yuuko explained.

Yuuko perked out of her sulk at the interest. “You se, it’s written in the Horitsuba school rules that any chocolate prepared on campus during non-instructional hours must be shared with the school faculty!” Yuuko said. Her explanation was lapped up by Sayoran and Sakura.

“Oh, is that so? I didn’t know!” Sakura said. She looked down at her partially-finished petit fours in concern. Would she have enough?

“Which is why we came to tell you! Otherwise, you would be in violation of school rules,” Yuuko said. She was going to get her hands on some delicious cakes no matter what!

“How many are we supposed to give you?” rule-abiding Syaoran asked, anxious to comply.

Despite her greed, Yuuko knew there was only so much Fai would tolerate of her taking advantage of his students. The man was rather fierce under that softly-smiling exterior. “Oh, one or two per student will be plenty!” she said.

Meanwhile, Doumeki and Himawari were looking at each other in confusion.

“Was there such a rule?” Himawari asked, though she kept her voice down so that the group at the back couldn’t hear.

“...I don’t recall reading about it in the student handbook,” Doumeki replied.

“Ha! As if you’d read the student handbook!” Watanuki stabbed his spatula in Doumeki’s direction. “A rule breaker like you!”

Doumeki raised an eyebrow at him. It was his only change in expression.

“Whose cake are you eating right now?” Watanuki lowered his spatula to point at the plate of cake in Doumeki’s hands.

“Yours,” Doumeki said around a mouthful.

“Exactly! Mine! And did I give you permission? No!” Watanuki flung the spatula into the sink and pulled at his hair in frustration.

“But Watanuki-kun, Valentine’s Day is when you’re supposed to give chocolate to the people you care about,” Himawari said, smiling at Watanuki as if he weren’t making a huge scene in the middle of the classroom.

Near tears, Watanuki turned to Himawari. “Yes, which is why I was going to give cakes to you, Himawari-chan. But this guy-” Having discarded his spatula, Watanuki stabbed his finger at Doumeki, who was helping himself to another cake, “Is not my friend!”

“But you get along so well!” Himawari said. “You can have some of my cake as well.”

Watanuki looked elated.

“I think I made enough for both of you, even with the chocolate tax.”

Watanuki’s face fell.

Fai chuckled as he once again herded the Mokonas away from the ganache. Both of them were quite covered by now. “What about you?” he asked the other students, scrubbing at the white Mokona with a damp cloth while she squealed in protest. “Do you have someone special you intend to give your cakes to?”

Syaoran and Sakura blushed simultaneously. The black Mokona popped up between them, startling both. “I will give mine to Mokona!” he said.

“Aw,” the white Mokona said, playing shy. “I will also give my cakes to Mokona!”

The white Mokona wiggled out of Fai’s hands and bounced off with the black Mokona to feed each other bits of cake.

Sakura turned to Syaoran. Her cheeks were red as she offered her decorated box of petit fours. “I-if you would accept them, I’ll give mine to Syaoran-kun.”

“Sakura...” Syaoran’s face was red as a tomato as he accepted the box. “Thank you. Mine as well... Sakura can have them...”

Unnoticed by the blushing couple, Shaoron slipped away to give them some privacy and spare himself the embarrassment of watching them flirt. His own pretty box of treats was tucked under his arm as he retreated to the front of the classroom where Yuui was hanging off Fai, who was trying to box up the demonstration cakes.

“Yes, yes, you can have them, Yuui,” Fai was saying. “Just like always. But you have to let me box them up first.”

“Yay!” Yuui cheered. Rather than letting go, he nuzzled Fai’s cheek.

“Do you always give chocolate to Yuui-sensei?” Shaoron asked as Yuui snatched the box and darted out of the classroom with his spoils, pursued by Yuuko.

“Since we came to Japan, yes. It’s not a tradition where we’re from, and I don’t have anyone special.” Yuui shrugged and continued cleaning. “He’s going to share them with Kurogane-sensei anyway.”

Shaoron chuckled, and Fai smiled at him. “Are you going to see your special person after this?” Fai asked.

“Yes. I hope they’ll like the cakes.”

“I’m sure they will,” Fai said. “You made them. And after Watanuki-kun, you’re my best student.”

Shaoron smiled, pleased. “Thank you.”

Meanwhile, Yuui had escaped from Yuuko by hiding in the PE supply closet with Kurogane. They sat on the stack of gymnastics mats while Yuui offered Kurogane a petit four.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Kuro-tan!” he said, also handing Kurogane a fork.

Kurogane accepted both, looking fond but exasperated. He wasn’t overfond of sweets, but he’d eat the damn cake if it made Yuui happy. But he couldn’t help but ask. “Does this even count as Valentine’s gift? Your brother made it.” Kurogane grimaced when Yuui pretended to fall to the floor in despair. “I’m eating it, I’m eating it. I said I would, didn’t I?”

Still grumbling, Kurogane took a big bite. Recovered from his despair, Yuui slid back into his seat with a dopey smile. While Kurogane continued to eat, Yuui dug around in the pocket of his lab coat.

Something poked Kurogane’s cheek. Yuui was holding a small box wrapped in tissue paper to Kurogane’s face. “What?”

“I made these ones,” Yuui said as Kurogane pulled the box away from his face. “Dark chocolate truffles. They shouldn’t be too sweet. Happy Valentine’s.”

Kurogane rolled his eyes. Yuui had made him eat the sweet cake just to mess with him. Typical. But he took the box. “Heh. Thanks.”

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belovedyuuri · 7 years

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take my heart (I don't need it anyway) (ao3) 7.3k for @extranikiforov

Working in a pet store, Viktor expects many things: crazy dog owners, old cat ladies, escaping hamsters and parrots - everything. He doesn't, however, expect Yuuri Katsuki. (And neither does Yuuri Katsuki expect Viktor Nikiforov.)

20. ‘You can borrow mine.’ in the 100 ways to say ‘I love you’ series.

There are perks to owning a pet store. One, you are the first person in town to get your hands on a hot deal for your dog. Two, you get to make those hot deals happen if your dog and wallet are in need of them. Three, people bring their animals with them so you get to give free headrubs and sometimes receive a newfound affection in return.

There are also several disadvantages, though, the first being the urge to buy everything in the store for your own dog, the second having to remember to restock and actually doing it, and the third – being responsible enough to keep talking to the customers even when he walks by. He, being black hair and glasses and a passing glance at the photo of puppies on the store's window.

If you asked Viktor, he couldn't tell you when he started paying attention to that one man in particular. All he knows is one day the man stopped by the store to pet the dog Viktor’s customer left outside and didn't leave until the dog was taken away. From then on, Viktor has considered himself lucky if he caught a glance of the man.

Those have always been lovely days.

Those are rare occurrences, though. Mostly, the man runs by Viktor’s store, not even giving it a look.

One day, though… He probably won’t forget that day for the rest of his life. One day the man glances at the window display, then turns his head away—like he always does—and then stops and looks again, eyes wide and staring. It would make Viktor laugh if he weren’t on the other side of that window, falling victim to the thrill that the brown eyes awakened, as though they were staring at him and not at something else entirely.

The man jerks a bit, looks in the direction he was walking in, then back at the window.

“Come in,” Viktor utters under his breath.

“I’m sorry?”

In a blink of an eye, Viktor remembers why exactly he can’t go out to meet the young man – he has a rather excited Chihuahua, Pinky, waggling her tail on his counter as he blindly tries to put a collar over her head. He just smiles in apology at her owner, Mrs. Lewis, and secures Pinky’s new collar on the dog’s neck.

“Here,” he says and lifts the dog’s front paws so she stands on her hind ones. He chuckles and gives the paws a gentle swing, as to make her dance. “All pretty.”

Mrs. Lewis eyes the collar critically, humming and clearing her throat repeatedly in tune with the bells jingling in the store.

“I’m not sure…” she says. “Red isn’t her colour, don’t you think? Do you have any browns? Or golds?”

Viktor rubs Pinky’s head as he removes the collar and disappears in the backroom to fetch different colours. Mrs. Lewis is one of his best customers, after all; she pampers her doggo even more than Viktor does Makkachin, and that's saying something.

Ten minutes later, Mrs. Lewis is gone and the shop is only filled with the screeching of many parrots that live in there.

“Yum time!” screeches Cecily, one of them.

Viktor looks at the wall clock. 2pm, right on the dot. He sighs, accompanied by other parrots echoing the first one. “Yes, yes, I remember.”

He didn't a moment ago, but Cecily doesn't have to know about that. He grabs a box of parrot treats from behind the counter, making a mental note to refill the container in the following days, and walks out to feed his charges. Cecily gives out a victorious screech and flies away from the little door in her cage. She knows better than to get out by now.

“You're a little menace, you know that?” he coos after he's poured a reasonable amount of feed into her bowl. He slides his hand into the cage and gently strokes Cecily’s head, smiling at the way she pinches his thumb in reply and flies to the bowl.

Viktor tsks at that, relocks the cage, and moves on to other parrots. He’s just rounding the corner of one of the shelves to reach Tu-Tu and Peek-a-Boo’s cage when somebody grows out of the ground right in front of him.

He acts on instinct - like any sane person would - and like any sane person, he yells and jerks his arms, completely forgetting the unlidded box in his hand.

The stranger yelps and jumps himself, probably more startled by Viktor’s reaction than his presence.

A mix of wheat and a variety of dried vegetable pieces rains on the man, landing on his coat, scarf, even getting stuck in his hair.

As if that weren't horrifying enough, the man looks up at him and Viktor realises with a sinking heart that - oh Mother Russia - that's him. It's the man Viktor has been looking forward to spotting out his window every day of the past weeks.

Black hair, brown eyes, glasses—blue glasses—and everything.

“...fuck,” croaks Cecily, very helpfully.

Viktor wants to tell her to shut her beak but he can't move, can't look away from the man.

He looks positively frozen now, a piece of red fabric he's clutching to lifted like a shield—and then—

“I'm sorry!”

He's… apologising?

“I didn't mean to scare you,” he pleads almost, eyes still wide and round, “I was just… looking at… things.” He looks down at the red fabric and hurriedly puts it away on the shelf full of similar designs.

Viktor just stares. The man whose entire life he's made up in his mind in his free time is standing right in front of him, shifting from foot to foot, wringing his fingers, avoiding his eyes.

He touched one of the dog kerchiefs in Viktor’s store. He won't sell that one to anybody, no matter the price.

“Yum time!” calls Tu-Tu and Peek-a-Boo parrots him. Soon enough all the other parrots are screeching again and Viktor realises in the back of his mind that for one moment there, the store was surrounded in perfect silence.

Blue Glasses jerks back to life. “I'll clean this up,” he says at the same time Viktor reaches out and picks a stray corn kernel out of his hair. He freezes, eyes widening even more.

“You don't have to help,” Viktor says, plucking three more kernels and brushing the grains off the man’s scarf and shoulders. “I'll sweep it all right up, don't you worry.”

‘You don't have to help’? Does he want to get to know the guy or not?

He doesn't need to help, though. It was Viktor’s clumsiness that caused the entire mess in the first place.

Once Viktor’s done with removing the feed from Blue Glasses’s shoulders, he crouches down and saves what he can into the feed box.

“I… I'll pay, then! For the—for what you—what I made you spill. I'm really sorry.”

Viktor looks up and gives him a smile. “That's truly unnecessary. I have more in the backroom.”

The next several seconds are heavy with silence and palpable discomfort easing off the man. He moves from one foot to the other, glances around the shop, fidgets with his hands.

This is his chance, Viktor thinks. Nothing could make this situation more uncomfortable. He can very well go for it.

He gets up to his feet. “I'm Viktor, by the way.”

“I'm sorry,” is what Blue Glasses says, nearly at the same time, and rushes out of the shop.

What just…?

...

Oh well. It… could have gone worse?

Was it something he said? Something he did? Maybe he should have—he doesn't know what. It was a very awkward moment for sure and he didn't even get to know Blue Glasses’s name.

For the next three days, whenever Viktor catches a glimpse of him passing the store, Blue Glasses’s always rushing and more often than not, he passes by with a hand shielding his eyes from the view, like he can't even stand looking anymore.

On the fourth day, he halts briefly, eyes fixed on the window display again, only to quickly resume his walk.

On the fifth, he's accompanied by another man clad in a maroon hoodie and a green hamster hat that Viktor envies even just for a second. The two stop at the store and from what Viktor can see over the grumpy Seung-gil Lee’s shoulder, the Hamster Hat is lively gesticulating, only to shake his head at whatever Blue Glasses says in return.

Viktor rings Seung-gil up, adds a packet of dental dog treats for the man’s sweetest, Meong-Meong, for free, and when he looks up, Blue Glasses and Hamster Hat are gone.

The weekend passes in a blur, quite literally - as always when Christophe drops by for a visit. Before Viktor even notices, he's selling the red kerchief from the window display and changes the entire decor for the upcoming winter. He's pretty proud of the way he arranged everything, it truly looks like Santa's Christmas factory with the elf dog costumes, cat collars with bells on them, and the red-and-green accessories for small rodents.

Maybe Blue Glasses will look at the display and be so amazed that he'll come in again?

He does come in the very same day. Just like the day he walked in for the first time, a passing glance turns into a wide-eyed double take and he stands there like that for the minute that it takes Viktor to show Yuuko’s triplets how to properly groom their new kitten.

Damn. The display must be better than Viktor thought if it enchanted Blue Glasses so much.

Yuuko buys the cat brush and her daughters cheer and try to make her buy the bell collar as well but she puts her foot down and they soon make their leave.

Just when Viktor gathers enough courage to goddamn move, he's right there, apologise!, the man jerks awake and rushes into the store.

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

“Where is it?” he asks the second the door opens. His eyes are frantic, running over the room like he's not exactly aware of Viktor standing right there.

Viktor blinks. “Where is... what—?”

“The red thing!”

Viktor glances to the side, then back at Blue Glasses and tilts his head in confusion.

“The dog scarf. That you tie around a dog's neck. The—the thing. The red one.” Blue Glasses points at the window display. “It was still right there yesterday. It was there.”

Viktor perks up. “You came by yesterday? We're closed on Sundays.”

“I know.”

Oh…

Ouch.

They stand in silence for a moment. The man’s cheeks are slightly redder than when he entered the store. (Not that Viktor has been looking.) He opens his mouth once or twice, like he wants to say something but decides against it.

That's okay, he doesn't need to say anything.

‘The red thing’.

...wait a minute.

“Do you mean the red kerchief that has been on display for the last two weeks?”

Blue Glasses nods, looking at him intently, so unlike the first time they talked.

“It sold out.”

“It—,” The man visibly deflates and looks away for the first time since he entered the store. “Oh.”

It's as though a heavy weight fell from Viktor’s shoulders along with that stare, leaving him empty. He wants the intensity of it back.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, it's—” Blue Glasses frowns and glances up, his eyes softer now, pleading. “Will you—restock?”

He looks so hopeful. Viktor wants to give him the world.

It's unfair how beautiful he is.

“It was a seasonal offer,” Viktor says as softly as he can. “I bought the last units from the warehouse which is why I got them pretty cheap in the first place.”

If it's possible, the man looks even more resigned now. “Oh.”

Don't do it.

Viktor takes in a breath and clenches his fists as the man turns around.

It's impossible. Do. Not. Do. it.

The bells chime softly.

...do it.

“What's your name?”

The man turns his head, his hand still on the doorknob. He hesitates for a moment but eventually says, “Yuuri.”

“Yuuri,” Viktor repeats. He knows Blue Glasses’s name. “I'm—”

“Viktor,” Yuuri says. “I remember.”

Viktor’s heart skips a beat.

Oh no.

“I'll see what I can do,” Viktor says, still in the same breath. “With the kerchief. For your dog.”

Yuuri flushes, his mouth opens again but he instantly shuts it close, nods, and walks out.

Yuuri.

The bells chime just when Viktor is picking up the loose change from the floor.

“I'll be with you in a sec!” he calls as he rushes to collect all coins.

“Um… Viktor?”

He promptly lets go of the coins.

“Yuuri!” he means to say but as he rushes to stand up, he bangs his head against the counter. What comes out instead is “Yuu—ow!”

“Are you okay?!”

Yuuri is leaning against the counter, trying to look over the edge when Viktor finally emerges, both his head and pride aching. He massages the first and quietens the second.

For a moment, he swears he can see Yuuri’s eyes in great detail but they soon move away.

He breathes again. “I'm alright.”

“I should really stop doing this,” Yuuri mumbles into his scarf as he worries his fingers over the counter. “Scaring you.”

Please, never stop.

“You don't scare me,” Viktor says. “You surprise me.”

“What's the difference?”

“The difference is…” Viktor smiles. “I like surprises.”

‘I like surprises’?

I. like. surprises.

“O—oh,” Yuuri says, and then, “I see.”

Viktor doubts he does.

“How can I help you?” he asks when silence stretches over them again. Somehow, it always comes up during their brief meetings; ironically, when Viktor has the most to say.

“Oh—right… It's—” Yuuri softly taps his fingers against the counter and laughs, a forced sound. “It's embarrassing, to be honest...”

Viktor leans against the counter, intrigued. “More embarrassing than spilling bird feed all over you and banging my head when you called me?” When Yuuri immediately stands straighter, he waves his hand. “Don't apologise. So?”

Yuuri sighs and drops his eyes back to the counter. “Actually, it is more embarrassing. See…” He takes a breath, glances up, and says, “I lied to you.”

When did he even have a chance to lie? He spoke so little both times.

“About… your name?”

“What?” Yuuri frowns and shakes his head. “No, I—I don't have a dog.”

“Oh…” Viktor’s heart sinks a little bit. “You poor thing! Did you want to get a pet? Sadly, I can only offer fish or birds or rodents but I can give you the address of the nearest animal shelter if you're interested in cats or dogs!” He doesn't give Yuuri a chance to react before he pulls out a flyer with all the information printed. “It's a very good shelter, good conditions, the animals are well taken care of. Trust me,” he adds with a wink, “I have an inside source. My cousin volunteers there.”

Yuuri gawks at the flyer, then back at Viktor, then at the flyer again.

“Unless,” Viktor says, lowering the flyer, “You want a brand new dog. A puppy? I know several breeders in this town. One of their dogs has just given birth to a litter of the cutest Cocker Spaniels you've ever seen! You'll have to wait to buy one but I can give you the owner's contact—”

“Viktor!”

His brain melts at the sound.

Yuuri has the worried frown on his face again. It's different from his confused frown; Viktor feels strangely accomplished that he can spot the difference.

“I can't have a dog,” Yuuri says. “My landlord doesn't allow pets.”

Viktor’s heart breaks in two in sympathy. He puts his hand over it and massages the ache away. “What a horrible human being,” he says.

Yuuri hides a smile in his scarf and mumbles, “And to think that we're living in the 21st century, right?”

Viktor laughs; the short sound startles him with how sudden and true it is.

Yuuri made a joke.

Don't people joke with those they feel comfortable around?

“Such a cruel fate,” Viktor agrees and positively grows when Yuuri buries his face even further in his scarf, his eyes crinkling a little. “But if you don't have a dog, then why are you interested in the kerchief?”

Yuuri’s smile slowly ebbs away.

“Is it for somebody else? A gift, perhaps?” Viktor supplies immediately.

Yuuri stills for a second and nods, a minute gesture, but Viktor notices it straight away.

And then Viktor does that. Again. “I'll see what I can do,” he says. And he will, doesn't matter if he has to stalk those of his clients who bought one of the damned things to get it back. Or knit it himself. For some reason, just a flutter of Yuuri’s eyelashes and the reddening of his cheeks is enough to convince him even further.

Yuuri’s ‘thank you’ is barely audible from beneath the heavy wool of his scarf and then he's on his way out before Viktor’s mind is able to process that their conversation is over.

“I'll see you soon!” Viktor calls after him. The door shuts close before he gets a reply. He sighs. “I guess…”

“...fuck,” croaks Cecily from the perch in her cage.

Viktor nods. “Tell me about it.” He sighs again and shakes his head, finally looking away from the door. He frowns at the parrot. “You, my dear, are not allowed to talk to Yuri ever again. He only teaches you obscenities.”

Cecily tilts her head. “...fuck?”

“My point exactly.”

“I lied to you again,” are the first words Yuuri utters Thursday morning when Viktor does his rounds around the store, feeding the animals and cleaning their cages. It's the earliest Viktor’s seen him yet.

It's no surprise that he ends up with hamster bedding all over the floor, startled, as always.

No, not startled. Surprised.

Yuuri’s there in two seconds. His face falls as he looks at all the mess. “I'm so sorry,” he mumbles, resigned, shoulders drooping. Before Viktor gets to take all the blame on himself, Yuuri unwraps his scarf and takes his coat off.

Mastered, effortless seduction. Oh, Mother Russia.

“What are you—”

“Let me help you this time?”

Standing there, with his coat hanging over one arm, clad in the softest-looking sweater Viktor’s ever seen, Yuuri is—he's simply—Viktor doesn't stand a chance.

He never really has.

He agrees, of course he does, and after he gets them both brooms, they get to work.

Yuuri is a quiet sweeper, unlike Viktor. Viktor likes to hum or sing and sometimes dance as he cleans - Yuuri approaches mess methodically, brows furrowed, almost as though he's planning his strategy for overcoming an enemy. Quiet and focused. Viktor lets him do that and doesn't disturb him.

Only when they're done, does Yuuri look up at him. The scarf is gone from around his neck so he can't hide anymore—he still tries before sighing and shaking his head.

“I don't want to get the kerchief for a friend's dog,” Yuuri says quietly, hands wrapped around the stick of the broom, joined together at the top of it. He's looking at his fingers rather than at Viktor. “Actually, none of my friends even have a dog. One of them has several hamsters but that's it.” He pauses. "I mean—my friend's boyfriend does have a dog but we're not that close and—" He sighs. "Never mind."

Viktor swipes hamster bedding onto the dustpan and looks up.

“Why lie about it, then?” he asks as he gets up. “Do you want to buy the kerchief?”

“Yes,” Yuuri answers at once, looking up at him—only to deflate when their eyes meet. “...No.” He groans and drops his head. “I don't know. It's weird. I'm so sorry. You—you're going through all that trouble and I'm—I'm just...”

Viktor tilts his head in confusion. He takes the broom out of Yuuri’s hands, nods at him to follow him, and goes back to the counter to throw the dirt away.

“Yuuri,” he says after all is done. He can continue taking care of the pets later. “What's the matter? Why do you want that kerchief? I've seen you looking at it for a long time. Why that one?”

Yuuri sighs and cradles his coat to his body, hands hidden under the fabric where it hangs over his arms. “It's because of my dog.”

Viktor frowns. “But you told me you didn't have a dog? Or was that a lie, too?”

“It wasn't.” Yuuri gives him a small, apologetic smile. “I don't have a dog now but I used to have one. He died several months ago.” He swallows down and lowers his eyes. “His name was Vicchan. He had the same red kerchief as the one on the window display. He loved it. I guess it just—reminded me of him.”

Oh.

Viktor’s heart aches at the story. He tries to imagine what it would feel like to lose Makkachin—and has to stop himself right away. She’s been there for him ever since his teenage years.

And Vicchan—it's only been months. Of course Yuuri is still affected.

“Yuuri,” Viktor says, as gently as he can, and when Yuuri doesn't look up, he puts his hand over his shoulder. It's not a very comfortable position with the counter between them but it doesn't matter. “I understand. The wound is still fresh. It must all be very confusing.” He lets his breath out and shakes his head. “It mustn't have been easy to say goodbye.”

“I didn't get to do that.”

Viktor’s head jerks up, focused solely on Yuuri’s eyes now. Sad, sad eyes. “What?”

Yuuri bites his lip and glances up, then away. “I'm originally from Japan. I couldn't take Vicchan with me when I moved to the States, the travel would be too stressful for him and the landlord didn't allow pets. Besides, I came here to study. With all the classes and exams and everything, I wouldn't have been a very good caretaker. So I left him back there with my family, where he was fed and taken care of and got all the time and affection he deserved.

“When he died, I was in the middle of exam week, I couldn't fly back.” Yuuri tips his head even lower. “I haven't been home since then.”

Of course.

“It makes it feel like a bad dream,” Viktor guesses. “Like it didn't really happen.”

Yuuri nods slowly and breathes in wetly through his nose. He forces a small, short laugh at that, a human weakness, and pulls one of his hands from underneath his coat to dry his eyes. “I'm sorry.”

Viktor gives him a soft, pained smile. “It's alright. Would you like a tissue?”

Yuuri jerks his head in a no—but then closes his eyes, looks at Viktor, and nods. “Yes, please.”

Viktor immediately starts searching for a pack of tissues. He vaguely remembers it being on the counter but it's not there. He shuffles the few things that are on display, then quickly checks the floor. “I could have sworn they were there,” he mutters to no one in particular and gets on his crouches to look through the drawers. Nothing but dry pet treats in the first one.

“You don't have to,” Yuuri says, “I can just go home.”

Viktor shakes his head and opens another drawer which is full of receipts and store management notebooks. He closes it and pulls open the last drawer, one hardly ever used.

There's an open ten pack of tissues, alright. Viktor grins up at Yuuri, grabs the tissues and gets up.

“Here.” He gives Yuuri the tissues who pulls one out of the pack and gives the rest back, mumbling a quick ‘thank you’ before his face disappears behind a flutter of white.

“I'm really sorry,” Yuuri says after blowing his nose. His voice sounds a little clearer now.

“It's really okay.”

“I just miss Vicchan a lot.” He crumbles the used tissue in his hands. “I know it's silly since he's…”

“Yuuri.” Viktor shakes his head. “I have a dog myself, I can imagine.”

That gets Yuuri’s attention. He looks up, eyes a bit wider than before. “You do?”

“Makkachin,” Viktor says proudly. “She's a puppy, really. Always so excited and eager to play.”

Yuuri smiles and sniffles. “Does she do the thing when you're sad where she doesn't leave your side?”

Viktor laughs and nods. “All the time! But I don't mind at all, I love her very dearly.”

Yuuri slowly nods his head, his smile getting softer and smaller with every second until it only dances in the corners of his eyes. He sighs. “I miss having a dog.”

The words curl around Viktor’s tongue before he can even think about them.

“You can borrow mine.”

And they're out.

Yuuri’s eyes snap back up to his and he stares for what seems like minutes. “What… What did you say?”

Viktor’s face grows impossibly warm despite the cold of the morning. Did he just sell Makkachin?

No, he thinks, he's not selling her. He's helping a fellow dog lover. Makkachin will be happy to meet such a lovely person.

“I said,” Viktor drawls, “You can borrow Makkachin. Not literally but… You could join us for walks?” As he says that, his world seems to shift a little.

Oh dear lord. This is such a great idea.

“You could spend some time with her.” And with me. “She'd love you.” And I'd… And it would make me very happy, too.

Yuuri makes the move like he wants to hide in his scarf again, cheeks and nose pink, but, to Viktor’s delight, there is still no scarf around his neck to hide behind.

He gives Yuuri time to think it over. He grabs the tissues and drops them back into the drawer—but before he closes it, something else catches his attention.

There, pushed to the deepest corner of the drawer, a piece of red.

He touched one of the dog kerchiefs in Viktor’s store. He won't sell that one to anybody, no matter the price.

Viktor looks up at Yuuri, at his reddened eyes and nose and his glasses, brows furrowed as though it's not an offer of a walk he's mulling over but a matter of utter importance. Yuuri, who has recently lost a dog while being away from his mother country and hasn't really found his peace ever since.

Viktor made an uncertain promise to him four days ago and it looks like he can keep it after all.

He pulls the red kerchief and pushes the drawer shut.

“Yuuri.”

He was supposed to keep the thing for himself, he thinks as he cradles the kerchief to his heart, but when Yuuri looks up from the used tissue in his hand, Viktor knows exactly what to do.

He offers Yuuri the fabric. There's still a tag on it so he rips it away and throws it aside. “Here.”

Yuuri gawks at him, as still as a photograph. If Viktor didn't know any better, he would reach to him and poke a finger against his cheek to make sure he's still real. But he does know better. They cleaned the floor together before. Yuuri joked with him. Yuuri told him about his dog. Yuuri teared up and blew his nose.

He blew his nose in front of him. Such a human thing to do.

“But—this is—”

Viktor smiles and nudges the folded fabric against Yuuri’s hand. “For you. I know it's not the same, but… Whenever you miss Vicchan too much to bear, you can have it within your reach.” With his free hand, he unfolds Yuuri’s hand, removes the tissue and places the kerchief there instead. He curls their fingers around it. “It's alright to remember. It helps with grieving.”

Yuuri’s eyes are fixed on the fabric. He sniffles again, glances briefly into Viktor’s eyes and drops his look again. When he tightens their hands together, Viktor’s heart sings.

“Thank you,” he whispers. “How much—”

“It's free,” Viktor cuts in with a gentle smile. At Yuuri’s confused look, he gathers all of his courage and adds, “It's been yours since the moment you walked in that first time.”

Makkachin loves the park just around the corner. She always busies herself with sniffing all the new smells and tracking them to other dogs still roaming around the place. Viktor enjoys his time there as well. Even though he mostly works in solitude, only talking with customers—and lately, Yuuri—he enjoys sitting in silence among nature. Seeing Makkachin even more excited than usual fills him with joy, too. She's always made friends easily, unlike Vikor. It takes him time to establish new, meaningful relationships and it feels like a failure if somebody ever leaves dissatisfied.

Like a relationship between a shopkeeper and his clients; that is his life.

Makkachin barks cheerfully and rushes towards him - she bites on the loose leash he's holding in his hands and pulls.

Viktor chuckles and pulls the leash back. “No, Makka,” he says. “We're waiting for Yuuri. We're meeting him here, remember?”

She lets go of the leash and sits down patiently, tongue lolling out.

People stroll through the park, leaves crunching underneath their shoes. Viktor pays them no mind, just as they pay no attention to him.

“Good girl,” Viktor praises Makkachin and rubs her behind her ear. Her tail starts thumping against the coloured leaves blanketing the ground as she visibly perks up. “You need to be on your best behaviour, alright? I like him a lot. You'll like him, too, I'm sure. We need to make a very good impression.”

Makka barks and gets even more animated. Viktor boops her nose with a laugh.

“You already did, you know,” somebody says in a familiar voice, causing Viktor to drop the leash and twist around.

Yuuri stands there, hands pushed deep in his pockets, face half-hidden behind his scarf. Only the tops of his blushing cheeks are visible. His eyes are smiling.

Viktor jumps to his feet and breathes out in relief. He grins. “You came.”

Makkachin is already on Yuuri, though, so whatever he has to say in reply is lost in surprised yelps and slobbering, overexcited dog.

Seconds pass before Viktor manages to grab Makka’s collar and pull her away. Yuuri still ends up on the ground among a mix of yellow, orange, and red leaves.

“I'm sorry.” Viktor offers him a hand and helps him get up. “Normally she's a well-behaved dog but when it comes to meeting new people...”

“N-no, it's fine.”

Makkachin struggles a bit in Viktor’s hold and whines but eventually, she sits down again. She must have realised patience is the key in getting free again. Viktor nods at her and gives her a head rub.

“She's not a puppy,” Yuuri blurts out after a moment and promptly flails his arms. “I mean—!”

Viktor laughs. “Oh no, she is.” He leans a little closer. “Especially when you mention a B-A-L-L,” he spells out in a hushed tone. He lets go of Makka’s collar, fully prepared for her jerking away and jumping in front of him. He gives Yuuri an ‘I told you so’ look and reaches for the ball in his pocket.

Yuuri’s face is fully uncovered by the scarf and he doesn't seem to notice it at all. His lips are stretched in a gentle smile as he watches Makkachin, the space between his eyebrows wrinkled. It's such a conflicting look, it takes Viktor a moment to decipher the emotion behind it—but when he finally does, he feels like a fool. Yuuri has lost a dog, of course he's feeling bitter-sweetness right now.

“I miss having a dog.”

“Do you want to play with her?” Viktor asks and offers him the aged ball. There are marks of dog teeth on it but he made sure it's clean exactly for this purpose.

Yuuri twitches slightly, like he seems to do every time he’s lost in thought, and takes the ball without a word. He comes a little closer to the clearing, no benches separating them anymore. If not for the ball, Makka would be on him again and Viktor would have to help him up one more time.

Not that he'd complain about it.

As it is, Makkachin is already in front of Yuuri, her spine stretched down and tail flying right-left-right, panting with excitement, eyes fixed on the ball as it's held, then raised and—

She's off the second Yuuri throws the ball. Viktor isn’t even watching her take off but he can clearly pinpoint the moment in Yuuri’s face.

What a sight it is, his lips split in a wide grin, biggest he's seen yet, and chuckling with glee.

Maybe it's too personal. Maybe it's not his place, but Viktor still finds himself asking.

“How are you doing?”

Yuuri glances at him briefly then back at Makka and pushes his hands in his pockets.

“Strange,” he says. It sounds honest. “He was a poodle, too. Toy poodle, a little darker fur. But he had the same eyes.”

Viktor nods. “Is this too much?”

Makkachin chooses the moment to trot back. She drops the ball into Yuuri’s hand and accepts the awaiting head rubs.

“No.” Yuuri smiles up at Viktor and laughs when Makka gives him a doggy kiss on the cheek. “It's perfect.”

He throws the ball again. Makka’s off in an instant.

Viktor takes a seat on the bench. “You know,” he says, watching the dog this time, “She's not usually that affectionate with everybody.”

Yuuri chuckles and sits down, too. He reaches to his pocket and rummages in it for a second. He pulls out a tissue, then his phone (the tiny diode on it lights up every several seconds, Viktor notices; his fingers itch to open the message so it stops), and then a packet that looks suspiciously like…

Viktor laughs. “Dog treats?”

Yuuri smiles, guilty as charged. “I had to come prepared. What if she didn't like me?” He glances at the blinking diode on his phone but stuffs it in his pocket without checking the message.

Viktor’s impressed—and if possible, even more enamoured with him.

“Is that okay?”

“Hmm?”

Yuuri lifts the packet. “The dog treats. I can just hide them again.”

“Oh,” Viktor drawls and shakes his head. Makkachin has probably already smelled them on him. “She ate very well at home, you can treat her if you want.”

When Yuuri rips the pack open, Makkachin is on her way back to them. She freezes, her ears moving up a little, then drops the ball and rushes to their bench like her life depends on it.

“Makka,” Viktor scolds her—wants to scold her but she's already licking her treat from Yuuri’s fingers. “Where's the ball, Makka? Where's the ball?”

Yuuri laughs. “Where's the ball, girl?” He gives her another treat and rubs her behind the ear, like she did a good job.

Viktor can't help thinking that Yuuri wasn't truly the one who taught Vicchan how to behave at the Katsuki household if he spoils Makka like that. He shakes his head with a breathy laugh and gets up. Somebody has to get the ball, after all, and it sure isn't going to be Makkachin.

“Thank you for this,” Yuuri says as they stop at the exit of the park and Viktor attaches the leash to Makka’s collar. The bottom of Yuuri’s face is hidden behind his scarf again but his cheeks hold a healthy glow, unlike any other time Viktor has seen him. “It truly means a lot.”

Viktor smiles up at him. “No need to thank me.” He pats Makkachin’s back and gets up. “We've had a lot of fun.”

Yuuri nods. “Me, too.” He sighs and adds, much softer now, “Most fun I've had in a while.”

They stand there in silence for a moment. Makkachin sits down between them, looking up at them with her tongue out. She behaved in such a lovely way around Yuuri, running after the ball and bringing it back to him. Doesn't matter she was getting treats in return. She gave Yuuri her paw when he offered his hand and sat still when he shook it. And she licked at his nose one time, surprising him so much he fell backward and landed on the ground again.

(For that, Viktor gave her a treat himself.)

Damn it. He doesn't want their meeting to end. There must be something more to do.

“Do you want to get some coffee?” Viktor asks. Coffee is good. Coffee means conversation and good company and warm interior and no scarves to hide behind.

“I don't really drink coffee.”

“Oh.”

Was that a little too obvious?

“I mean.” Yuuri frowns. “Not this late in the day.”

Oh. That's not bad. Maybe…

Viktor plays with the leash, curling it around his fingers. “What about dinner? Would you like to—grab something to eat? With me?”

Makkachin whines.

“With us?” he corrects.

Yuuri glances over Viktor’s shoulder, a little to the side, and then back to Viktor. He's quiet for a moment before he seems to get to some conclusion and shakes his head.

“I'm sorry,” he says, “I have dinner with my roommate tonight. It's my turn to cook.”

There's a sound of a hand hitting skin somewhere behind Viktor but he doesn't pay it any attention - right now he's fully focused on the sting of rejection.

“I see,” he mutters. He looks at Makkachin, then back at Yuuri.

And then he smiles.

He’s had a lovely time regardless. Yuuri agreed to meet him and Makkachin and there were no expectations on him whatsoever. He doesn't owe him anything.

“Thank you for joining us today. We really enjoyed your company,” he says. He curls the leash around his wrist and nods at Makkachin. “We should go eat something, too. Although I doubt you'll eat a lot after all these treats, huh?”

Makka stands up as well and waggles her tail.

Viktor gives Yuuri a smile. “Have a good evening, Yuuri.”

Yuuri seems distracted for a moment but when Viktor only starts moving, his eyes jump back to him.

“Let's do this again!” he calls. As Viktor stops and looks at him, Yuuri blushes. “I mean—could we do this again? Could we…” He glances around at the park behind Viktor and then back at him. “Could we meet here again? With Makkachin?”

Viktor tilts his head. “Would you want to do that?”

Yuuri quickly nods. “Yes! I would! And…” he squints a little, just a little to the left of Viktor’s face.

He's been doing that quite a bit, Viktor realises with suspicion.

“A phone!” Yuuri adds, quite hysterically, startling Makkachin. Instinctively, Viktor pats his right pocket to make sure his mobile is still there. “Could I give you—no, I mean, get your number?”

Viktor frowns at Yuuri’s behaviour and turns his head to look behind his own back against his better judgment.

Seung-gil Lee is sitting at one of the benches in the park, his dog nestled on the ground next to it. He gives Viktor a stiff nod when their eyes meet. Right by his side is Hamster Hat, who...

Has his right hand by his ear. In a “call me” gesture.

As soon as he sees that Viktor is looking, his eyes grow wide and he drops his hand slightly—before giving him a wave.

Viktor blinks. “What's going on?” He turns to Yuuri, whose cheeks seem to not know whether they're blushing or growing pale.

“I don't—”

Something heavy and unpleasant drops in Viktor’s stomach.

“Is this a joke?” he asks, doing his best not to sound hurt.

What if it is? Everything he knows about Yuuri, lies?

“No! No no no, I promise it's not!”

Viktor frowns. “Then why…?”

Yuuri looks between Hamster Hat and Viktor, body tense before he visibly deflates. “I was—” he starts, looking at the ground, then shakes his head, steals a glance at Viktor’s face, and looks down again, brows furrowed. “I was nervous about meeting you—so Phichit offered to come with me. As emotional support.” He looks up, eyes wide with apology. “I don't usually go out with people I don't know—not if I can help it—but I really wanted to meet you. And Makkachin. And I'd really want to meet you again.” He bites his lip. “...without Phichit this time.”

This Viktor can understand when he thinks about it. They are strangers—or were until today. Yuuri had no way of knowing that Viktor was as harmless as Makkachin during her nap or that his intentions were pure (even though not entirely selfless).

He even started doubting Yuuri a moment ago. That's what strangers do.

But they don't have to stay strangers forever.

“I really had fun today,” Yuuri adds quietly after a moment.

Viktor smiles.

“Me, too.” He curls his fingers around Makka’a leash. “Could you give me your phone?” At Yuuri’s hesitant face, he smiles again and adds, “I'll just type in my number.”

“Oh!” Yuuri scrambles to pull out his phone and hands it to Viktor with only a glance at it.

The diode still blinks from time to time and when Viktor unlocks the phone, the first thing he sees are unread messages from Phichit.

Hamster Hat.

>>Everything going ok? 18:28

>>*Viktor, apparently 17:46

>>Seung-gil approves of ur date, says Victor’s always sweet to Meong-Meong 17:45

>>If u want to go home just yell ‘marmalade’ & I got u boo 17:31

He blushes when he catches himself reading the texts and swipes away—only to gasp at the background picture of a puppy lying on his back and offering its belly for all the rubs.

“Is that Vicchan?” he asks before he can stop himself but when Yuuri only nods with a small smile, he coos and strokes the middle of the screen. “So cute!” And because he can't help himself, he crouches down and puts the phone right in front of Makka’s snout. “Look how cute!”

Yuuri lets out a startled laugh at that and then hides his giggle behind his scarf when Makka surges forward to lick at the screen.

Viktor immediately pulls the phone away. “No, Makka, no licking!” He gets up and finally opens a new contact, then types in his number and saves it under his name. Before he gives it back to Yuuri, he dials his number and cancels the call when his own phone vibrates in his pocket.

“Thank you,” mumbles Yuuri and looks at the contact with a smile before he pockets the phone away.

When they finally part ways, the skip in Viktor’s step is even more noticeable than before their meeting.

This evening, when Viktor’s relaxing on his couch with Makkachin as he’s waiting for dinner to finish cooking, he gets a message from Yuuri’s number.

>>Could I borrow your dog more often?

He smiles and immediately types back.

<<Depends. Can I come, too?

>>Of course :D

“Good girl,” Viktor coos at Makkachin and gently rubs the bridge of her snout.

<<Well, then. You can borrow us anytime you want.

Was it too bold?, he starts to worry after minutes of no reply.

But then—

>>Saturday afternoon?

>>We could also eat lunch if you want…?

>>It’d be my treat. For the kerchief and everything.

If it wasn’t for Makkachin lying on his knees, Viktor would have been kicking his legs.

<<Saturday it is ♥

He burns dinner that night, too busy hugging Makka and laughing his heart out.

He just can’t wait for Saturday.

#victuuriwriters #victuuri #viktuuri #yoi #victuuri fic #yoi fic #b tries to write #100 ways to say i love you #pet store owner viktor #college student yuuri #au #makkachin #caring viktor #anxious yuuri

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amahontl · 7 years

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SINoALICE - Famitsu App Interview with Jino on Character Design

An interview with SINoALICE’s character designer, Jino

Published on August 25th 2017.

The untold story of the birth of the girls from the illustrator of “SINoALICE”, Jino! As well as info on a new character…..!?

Why are the girls so gorgeous?

“SINoALICE”, a mobile RPG that is the work of a collaboration between PokeLabo and Square Enix.

One of the reasons why this title became popular is because of its charming ‘character designs’. Jino, the illustrator who gave birth to the beautiful girls from the world of “SINoALICE”, of who you wouldn’t think at first glance that they would come from a dark tale spun by Yoko Taro.

▲ One of the concept art that Jino conceived. Jino possesses a rather unique touch which resonates well with the “NieR” series and the very essence of Yoko’s own world. This is truly ‘art’.

From the previous interview, we learned that Jino, with a professional mindset in place, visited a library and even looked up the story’s own setting of its era. Just how did he bring the 9 girls to life? We’ll unravel the truth!

The 9 girls brought to life by Jino

From here on, we will go through Jino’s creative process as well as some rough sketches. We hear the players asking questions about the design, such as “Why did you go with this design?” “Where is the point of focus?” and so on. Jino shares with us his comments regarding the matter.

Alice (CV: M.A.O)

Alice, you may call her the main character of SINoALICE. The keyword is “Restriction”, not to restrict someone in the game, rather, to restrict your own self. This trait of Alice’s shows one side of her largely mysterious character.

▲ Coupled with a large pocket watch and a distinctive sword, as well as an aura of blue, filled with valiant air. Completed with a frilly maid outfit, creating a gap that received much praise from the players.

Jino’s comment

The maid outfit was a proper request (from Yoko). There are gothic motifs in the sword as well, which was created faithfully to Yoko’s orders…. That’s my intention!

“In a scenario where her original flange broke off in a fierce battle and she fled off to somewhere, what weapon would she use as a substitute?”, which was the delusion I had which lead to me to the idea that she’d use a circular-shaped weapon. So I thought, slap a pocket watch on it! And so, that was the conclusion I arrived at.

There was also the “If the apron shoulder straps come off then I’ll fool em by wrapping it around” and “The scabbard was quickly lost so in order to put back the sword, I’ll give Alice a harness”, as well as “The knee socks look like it’ll tear apart so I’ll add in something simple instead” and etc, in addition with that sort of behaviour and combat style (which I simply made up myself) I imagined and I designed it from there.

▲ Underneath the maid outfit are the harness and its belt and even a ton of pocket watches. These are details you won’t be able to notice in the game, all mixed in with my tastes.

Snow White (CV: Ueda Reina)

The keyword for the titular character of her own story, ‘Snow White’, is “Justice”. In the story, she’s easily taken as self-centered, however, she strongly enforces her own twisted form of ‘Justice’.

Jino’s comment

Actually, her hair and clothes and all give off a very general looking silhouette, as per request. There’s a contrast between a katana and a greatsword, so I designed it in a way that would have the same difference between a samurai and a knight.

If you give her some clunky armor… Well, you wouldn’t be happy with it, would you? (darkly smirks) Which was what I thought, so I gave her a great sword that’s easy to wield, coupled with a light outfit. I tried to make it so that the armor would assemble as much as possible on the front part of the design.

▲ Adorned with a pure white dress, decorated with a bouquet of blood-smeared roses leaves quite the impression. She seems to have settled in with the dirt sullying the end of her dress.

Hansel and Gretel (CV: Uchida Maaya)

Gretel, a girl with a few screws loose who has a relentless obsession with her older brother. I’ve gotten a snippet that she has already laid her hands on him…… The keyword for her is “Delusion”.

Jino’s comment

I’ve gotten a request to implement a robe but that would’ve made Gretel’s silhouette to be similar to Red Riding Hood’s. I was troubled on how to make Gretel more distinct. I felt that I made a pretty good impression with it.

In the game, Gretel is shown to be messed-up so her clothes mimic that trait of hers. Her exposure is also sort of mismatched. The mismatch is a specialty of Gretel’s, I wonder if I conveyed that correctly, even my comment became mismatched.

▲ The cage that Gretel carries is her feature. This cage has a motif of teeth and gums.

Pinocchio (CV: Sanpei Yuuko)

Due to not knowing what to do on his own, Pinocchio sets out to revive his Author. In contrast, I didn’t think much about the verbally abusive staff-Pinocchio. His keyword is “Dependency”.

Jino’s comment

The request was to make him look like he was brought up with proper manners. The head that’s attached to the weapon was originally supposed to be eerie-looking, as if it’s cursed, there’s also the setting where it’s able to talk and the result of focusing on that gave birth to a rather charming chap.

My favourite is this mysterious flapping open bag. I think it’s actually hard to use but I wonder if that’s alright…..

▲ Pinocchio’s staff is able to grow limbs and is able to move freely. With the upcoming Job designs for Pinocchio, I’d like to fully utilize that setting.

Little Mermaid (CV: Noto Mamiko)

The Little Mermaid, a girl who expresses her own story as a ‘Tragedy’. She holds a twisted ideology where “Tragedy is Beauty”. Her keyword is “Sorrow”.

Jino’s comment

It was a setting where her hair would have fish fins protruding out, but, there wasn’t any twin-tailed character so far so. “The tail end will have fins then!” was what I went with and so she has an extremely thick tail fin extending from her head.

I tried reading the setting book again, but I have a feeling I’ve made a mistake. I think there was a request to make her look like Medusa…… N-nah, I’m able to present the final design like so, so that means I did the job! Yes I did!

▲ Her weapon has ocean motifs embroidered on it. “You can break coconuts with it”, according to Jino’s comment.

Princess Kaguya (CV: Itou Shizuka)

Princess Kaguya, she has the most mature physique amongst the 9 girls. In the game, she stands out with her masochistic trait where she seeks out a companion who will torment her. Her keyword is “Suffering”.

Jino’s comment

Her outfit originally was supposed to be that of a courtesan’s, but, when I looked up the fashion in the Heian-period to see how it looks like, I decided to go against the request. (What) Or so I thought, I had to implement her twelve-layered ceremonial kimono no matter what so I was put in a really tough spot. As a result of trying to find a solution, “A person who returns to the Moon is an Alien!” and with that, I mixed in Alien-like elements into a courtesan. (What)

It all looks pretty messy to me but, I’m truly grateful to Yoko’s big heart!

▲ The skull ornaments on the weapon and her clothes give out quite the impression. Her characteristic is her bewitching aura.

Briar Rose (CV: Hondo Kaede)

“Briar Rose”, a girl who wishes for a world of everlasting slumber. One who disturbs her from her sleep will be torn apart by her cage of thorns. Her keyword is “Slumber”.

Jino’s comment

The request what that for her to be sleeping in an encasement of thorns but, in terms of the game system, how is her sprite going to be animated was a problem. So, the Art Director and I pondered about it together. In the middle of all that, somehow, a certain famed post-apocalyptic game’s “that vehicle” popped into my head.

Thanks to that, we now have a bit of a firmly established character. And also thanks to having settled on the character, I was able to make the weapon more flashy, it was like killing two birds with one stone. Wasn’t she supposed to be a much more docile character? Uhh…...

▲ The doll that Briar holds in her hands can be associated with her “childishness”. But, the thorns surrounding her give off a sinister impression.

Red Riding Hood (CV: Imamura Ayaka)

“Red Riding Hood’, a girl who holds a psychopathic line of thinking no matter how much she kills, kills, and kills, will never be enough. In accordance with her keyword; “Violence”, she holds her greatest desire of slaughter with pride.

Jino’s comment

I had torture tools as the first image in mind but at the same time, her violent personality gives me the impression of “I don’t feel any sort of attachment to the tools themselves”, with that, I shifted the outfit and weapon design into a dicey manner.

Just like Jac◯y Chan where he picks up things that are around him and use it, if he likes it, he takes it home. I feel like I’m wrong about the comparison.

▲ The huge gap between a pure and innocent smile and a ferocious-looking weapon. It truly compliments the aspect of a psychopath.

Cinderella (CV: Kitamura Eri)

“Cinderella”, a strong-willed character. Her personality is rotten to the point that it feels good, you often see her being gleeful in-game when she sees others suffer. Her keyword is “Depravity”.

Jino’s comment

Truth is, the final design is radically different from the initial request. It seems I’ve added a lot of my tastes into it…..

I had a hunch where Cinderella’s colour palate and silhouette would look similar with the other characters, so I pretty much went with a discriminative approach, Cinderella is designed in a way when someone looks at her, they’ll go “Huh?”.

Small arms aren’t my specialty, so I had a quite a tough time.

▲ The combination of a rotten facial expression and a gun as a weapon goes hand in hand. Inside her skirt is another weapon cramped inside of it.

Jino’s Untold Story of Development

After the game launched, “SINoALICE” has gained a lot of responses of the players, I would like to hear your current impression of the game.

Jino: I’ve never had a career before this, I’m just but an inexperienced illustrator, so reality hasn’t quite set inside me just yet. This was the kind of work where I kept pondering on whether “Was this right?” during the long period of time before the game launched, but no matter how much I ponder, it’s tough to answer it. Honestly speaking, I feel quite relieved to see the huge reception for the designs. Thank you very much.

In addition to be the one to supervise the designs, what was the hardest thing about it? And also, what was it that bore in mind during the process?

Jino: The question was how to shape up Yoko’s worldview, which left me exhausted. The designs I made for the characters must match up entirely with the theme of the game or else we would’ve failed our goal. Characters are often regarded as the face of the game, likewise, I kept in mind that they are one part of the game. With regards to the comment from above, isn’t it absurd……? That was the impression I had but, I’m doing a proper job! A proper…. Job…. Especially receiving a piece of advice of having a consistent coloring style. If I’m not aware of what I’m doing, then there will be messy areas so this has been quite the learning experience for me.

We’d like to hear who your favourite character is and the reason for it.

Jino: It’s a bit of an unfair response but “Everyone!” is what I’d like to say. I did have a go at the game, saw some fan art and that’s when it came to me, the aspect I never thought possible and all the pairings, that’s when my indecisiveness struck. But of course, my impression might change along the course of development…..?

Could you spare us some details about the currently-under-development character?

Jino: It’s definitely a fairytale character! Even though it’s a fairytale character, it’s an old story yet also relatively new, the next character is quite new! I’m beating around the bush but I have a feeling people will quuuuickly figure it out! Yeah?

▲ A special acquisition of the silhouette of the 10th character! Of what seems to be hair braided into three and a coat that extends down to the knees…..!?

And finally, a word you’d like to say to the players?

Jino: Thank you very much for playing SINoALICE! We’ve only just begun so I’d like to give it my all for the road ahead. I’ll also beat the producer’s butt! To the people who are interested in this article, please give the game a try. Thank you!

Source: Famitsu App

#sinoalice #シノアリス #jino #ジノ #interview #translation #yoko taro

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dewa-chan · 7 years

Note

If that's how Viktor got seahorse Makkachin, how did Yuuri get seahorse Vicchan?

Yuuri had always wanted a pet, but he had no idea what animal he wanted to get. None of them seemed right to him-- not that they weren’t pretty or interesting, but they just didn’t ‘click’ with him. Yuuri struggled to find a pet he felt a connection with.

Most of his classmates had pets. That one merman with a red tail had a cool starfish, that other mermaid with the flowy black hair had a cute pufferfish, the merman wih spiky blond hair in front of him had a jellyfish.

Yuuri, shy and gentle Yuuri who struggled with his social anxiety, wanted a little compation. Not that Yuuko and Takeshi weren’t enough, but he wanted the kind of company that only a pet could give him.

As he got older, the idea of having a pet got stuck under thousands of other worries. School, competitions, family, it was piling up and he had no time left to think about a pet.

Until one day, when he got back home, there was a seahorse holding onto one of the algaes decorating the front door.

He was sure the seahorse wasn’t a customer’s pet, since they had an area for pet in their onsen. But the onsen wasn’t close to seahorse territory either. Was it lost?

Yuuri tried to reach out for the tiny animal, who wrapped its tail around one of the merman’s fingers. The animal fascinated Yuuri in a way no other animal did. The seahorse wasn’t super colorful, or had complex patterns, or had some different appendage. It was just a common, brown seahorse, but to Yuuri it was the seahorse.

Instead of going to his bedroom, Yuuri waited by the front door for his parents to come back from afternoon hunt. The seahorse, meanwhile, continued by Yuuri’s side, seeming comfortable.

When Yuuri’s parents got back, the boy showed them the tiny animal in his hand. They asked about the animal’s origins, how did it get there, which Yuuri answered with ‘i don’t know. I think it’s lost.’

In the end, he kept the seahorse.

As for the name, he had an idea. Not too much time ago he had entered the Figures divisions and a certain silver haired merman was starting to catch his attention more and more everyday. And one day, it was revealed that the boy had a brown seahorse, like Yuuri’s.

Yuuri, as a small tribute to the boy who was quickly becoming his goals as a competitor, named his seahorse “Viktor”. But the name changed as his mother, who always came up with the most catchy nicknames, kept adressing the animal as “Vicchan”.

#Anonymous

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helly-watermelonsmellinfellon · 8 years

Note

Do you know of any yoi fics in the HP universe?

I wrote one but I haven’t seen any others. You certainly won’t find any on FF.net. Try AO3.

Ch. 11 of Always My Soulmate

Pairing: Victuuri

Fandom: Yuri!!! On Ice

Tags: AU, No skating, instead there is Quidditch, Fluff, the chapter on AO3 has more notes to read.

Sum: This is a Victuuri AU in the Harry Potter universe, where certain cultures believe that the Patronus(spirit guardian) can show you your soulmate if it matches another’s Patronus. Victor shares this belief because he has a mushy heart.

“We’re hosting a few students from Koldovstoretz?”

Yuuri and Yuuko shared a look, finding the news to be interesting. Rarely did they ever get visitors, and technically it would only the Americans or the English. So to get some visitors from a non-English speaking region would be lovely.

Nishigori wasn’t finished however. He pulled out a Quidditch magazine from seemingly nowhere and shoved it in their faces. “Victor Nikiforov of the Ramenskoye Rarógs is coming personally!”

Yuuri’s interest was caught immediately. He could tell that Yuuko was also ready to explode.

Victor Nikiforov was one of the best Quidditch players in the world and had been playing Seeker for his team for five years! Ever since he joined the team, Russia had yet to lose a game. He’d even lead his team to victory three years ago at the World Cup.

Yuuri himself was also a Quidditch player. He was Seeker for the Toyohashi Tengu. Had been Seeker for the past three years.

Unlike certain countries, they were not the sort to raise their standards for Quidditch players. If the person had the skill and their parents’ permission, then they could join the team if they were accepted. They didn’t have to be a certain age to join. Skill, not age, dictated entry.

Yuuri was considered the top Seeker in the Asian continent. Victor was considered the top Seeker in the European continent. Both of them would be sharing space for however long the Koldovstoretz students remained.

What could happen?

Yuuko giggled. “I can’t wait to go and tell everyone!”

Yuuri and Nishigori shared a look, but Yuuko was already gone.

Nishigori summoned his Tsunami and mounted it. “Alright Katsuki-san, there no time for playing around. Let’s train you up so if Nikiforov-san challenges you in any way, you can drill him into the water on your own turf.”

With a sigh, Yuuri hopped onto his Uzumaki and ascended into the stormy clouds.

Victor was so excited! Especially since unlike his classmates, he wasn’t going to be using a translation spell. He actually spoke Japanese, and English and Portuguese, not that those mattered at the moment.

Getting the Highmistress to even agree to an exchange program had been hard, but in the end, Victor had gotten what he wanted while letting the woman think she was benefitting more than he. It was all a part of the plan!

Victor got to travel to a new country for free, experience the culture for free, and meet his favorite Quidditch player for free!

Katsuki Yuuri had been on Victor’s mind for the past two years, and next year, Japan would make it to the World Cup where Russia would also be playing, and Victor could face the other in a real match finally.

He was looking forward to it! Mahoutokoro was said to reside at the top of a volcano after all!

Yuuri always regretted being one of the top students, simply because the color of his robes made him stand out. It was annoying.

Yes, gold was nice and it earned him a lot of respect as a top student, but too much attention made him uncomfortable. He already had enough fans from being a Quidditch player and having a cherry wood wand, he didn’t need any more fame.

“They’re here! They’re here!” Yuuko yelled, smacking Yuuri’s arm repeatedly in her excitement.

The skys were blue and cloudless for the first time in a long while. In the distance, they could see that a large, red creature that had a very rough likeness to a dragon, or maybe a hydra, was flying their way. Attached to it, were large golden reins that were being controlled by a very large man. Probably a half-giant if Yuuri was to guess.

The carriage connected to the creature was enormous. The size of a house even. Yuuri was sure that the inside was enchanted to make it even larger. It was lovely, decorated in shades of gold and silver, with intricate carvings. It was like a miniature Western castle on wheels.

An entire strip of rock had been cleared at the top of the mountain, in order to allow them to land. Yurri had a feeling that the landing would probably shake the foundations of the castle.

His assumption was proven to be correct. Also, the former idea turned out to be right, as about one hundred students stepped out of the carriage. They all looked perfectly comfortable, and no one seemed to be tired. Or irritable form long travel.

He could easily see Victor Nikiforov in the very front of the large group, smiling widely up at the white jade castle that Yuuri currently called home.

Victor was as attractive in person as he was in his photographs. Yuuri couldn’t help but sigh with delight.

The grandmistress of Mahoutokoro stood front and center of her gathered students, her arms folded as she bowed. The Highmistress of the other school, returned the respect given, and smiled. The two clasped hands in greeting.

They were polar opposites.

Yagiri-O-Sensei was small and thin, with long black hair that she merely kept back in a top knot. Her fringe was cut around her face perfectly, not one hair out of place. She was the no-nonsense sort, but did have a soft side here and there. Her eyes were as black as the night.

The other woman, whom Yuuri was informed was named Zlata Petrova, was long. It was the only way he could describe her. Not just tall. Every limb just seemed to be incredibly long. Her hair was golden, and he couldn’t see her eyes from his position, but he knew that they were light in color, otherwise they would stand out more.

Yuuri was lined up with his friends and fellow schoolmates.

They made twenty lines of almost ten each, the best students taking the front position, so their golden robes were perfectly on display.

It was always reputation first. Sometimes Yuuri just wanted to hide in a hole and sleep. Where no one gave a shit about his reputation or skills. Just peace and quiet.

“Konnichiwa!”

Yuuri blinked and looked up, finding none other than Victor Nikiforov leaning over him.

Yuuri had been reclined on the grassy slope on the western side of the castle, in a small place he liked to go when things became too loud. Sometimes it was hard to force himself to communicate with people. He needed regular breaks from becoming overloaded far too quickly.

Only Yuuko knew about this place, but somehow Nikiforov-san had found it anyway.

“Hello,” the smaller Seeker murmured carefully.

“I’ve been wanting to meet you for a long time, and now we can talk without being stalked!”

Victor plopped down on the grass right beside Yuuri, a grin on his attractive face.

Yuuri sat up then, looking the Russian over. His hair was grey. He’d actually been born with grey hair, which wasn’t that unusual in the wizarding world. Yuri’s sister was part Metamorph and had a purple streak in her hair when she was born. It happened.

Last time he’d seen her, she’d riddled her hair with blonde highlights because ‘why not?’.

“What did you want to talk about?”

“Everything!”

He found himself bombarded with many questions in which he struggled to answer quickly so he didn’t forget the answer to the next question.

“Gold is a status symbol. It shows that you are at the top of your studies and magical prowess. It usually takes until the second to last year to reach gold, especially for the hardworking students.

"The robes are enchanted to change color as you grow in magical ability. White is a shameful color for those who betray the magical society of Japan.

"The volcanoes do erupt on a yearly basis, though not at the same time or in a specific order. We are safe here, worry not.

"I do not have a girlfriend and I don’t want one. Why do you need to know?”

Victor smiled. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

“No. Despite the much lighter views here than in some other places - especially because of soulmates and all - we aren’t so open with relationships here. No one at the school would really mind, but even opposite sex couples aren’t overly affectionate in Japan’s magical community. That’s a private thing. Usually. Circumstances depend.”

Victor hummed. “I’ve had many girlfriends and boyfriends. They were kind of… lacking, I guess.”

“Are you looking for your soulmate?” asked Yuuri. “You do know that the chance of you actually meeting your perfect match in incredibly low, right?”

“I know! But that doesn’t mean I’m going to give up! Besides, I have a Patronus!”

“A what?”

Victor blinked. “We adapted the Latin version of the word. Hold on.” The other stared off into the distance for a moment, before his eyes lit up once again. “Shugo Seishin!”

Oh. In some magical communities, it was a belief that if two people had matching spirit guardians, then they were soulmates. It was supposedly one of the ways that people could tell if they were meant for each other. Another was sexual intercourse. Some other methods were wrong and not legal in Japan.

He wouldn’t even consider them.

“Do you have one?” asked Victor.

“No. That kind of magic is harder to do for those of us who’ve had relatively good lives. No joyful memory we use is ever good enough.”

Victor scoffed. “You don’t need memories, you need emotion!” He stood then, clasping a hand around Yuuri’s arm and pulling him up as well. “I don’t use memories because no memory will last forever. But happiness can be eternal. Come, let us try now!”

Yuuri stuttered and tried to pull away, but Victor was insistent, pulling out his wand and taking a familiar stance.

A few seconds later, a silvery figure leapt forth from the end of the wand, and galloped about the small knoll that Yuuri loved sleeping on.

Victor’s Shugo Seishin was an Abraxan. It was beautiful, with long wings that stretched out, and a perfect main of silver hair.

“Abraxans stand for beauty and quiet strength, according to my people. I like to think that it holds special meaning.”

Victor gestured for Yuuri to come and try.

The brunet stepped forward, only to be drawn into a light embrace, where Victor gripped his wand arm with one hand, and his hip with the other.

“You need to think of something happy. Something that could make you fly without magic even.”

Yuuri shivered, but closed his eyes to concentrate anyway. His current predicament was nice enough, and when he let his mind wander, it got even better.

Waving his wand and thinking really hard, Yuuri tried to cast the spell that had eluded him for so long.

Opening his eyes, he could see a small funnel of silver sprouting from the tip of his wand. Nothing grandiose or amazing, but for he who had never managed anything of the sort before, it was a big deal.

Unable to help himself, he turned around and embraced the Russian in his excitement.

“All you need to do is detail the thought that made this possible,” Victor whispered in his ear, making Yuuri shiver again.

That thought probably shouldn’t be publicized. Ever.

News spread fast that Victor Nikiforov and Yuuri Katsuki were now friends. Where every one of Yuuri’s classmates expected a pompous ass who would start fights with their star Seeker, they instead found a kind-hearted young man with a desire for happiness and peace.

Victor was a breath of fresh air. He also inspired many to step up their training. His presence made them feel like they could accomplish anything. And with the way he spoke of never giving up and always trying, Yuuri could understand their astonishment.

He was still shocked, and he was the one that Victor had chosen to spend time with the most.

Of course Victor brought his own friends into the fold as well. Yuuri’s small group of friends got on with Victor’s friends well enough, and they had already made a study group that would go out into one of the courtyards at lunch and do assignments together.

Yuuko was the leader of the study group, so to speak. She had the most efficient study methods available and together, the groups helped one another excel.

Victor was very… clingy. He liked to touch and be touched. It seemed to be his thing, and Yuuri had to get used to it because it happened all the time.

There was a running joke going around that Victor wanted Yuuri as a lover, but no one was willing to say it to their faces. It was whispered in dark corners and among the most quiet places in the castle.

Victor knew all about the rumors and he did absolutely nothing to quell them. Eventually, Yuuri lost interest in starting arguments over it, so he just dropped it. If people wanted to think it, then who was he to care? It wasn’t like he and Victor were being disrespected. They didn’t have partners or anything so no one could really be offended.

Victor’s arm was casually thrown around Yuuri’s shoulders, the two were on their way toward the stables where they and several others would be taking some of the Giant Storm Petrels out for a bit of a fly. Usually they would be having Quidditch practice, but the skies were perfect, and Nishigori preferred to train during terrifying storms. More work, he claimed.

Victor was excited because he’d never ridden a bird before.

“At my school, we have the Zmey. They are a relation to dragons, but aren’t considered dragons by most magical societies because they have multiple heads. Some of the mothers will let me near their clutches, and some mothers let me play with their drakelings.”

“Are they the same as the creature that carried your group here?” Yuuri asked, remembering the large being.

“Exactly! We have many of them, but Rostislav is the largest and strongest. He doesn’t let anyone ride him however. Stubborn.”

Yuuri smiled and thought of the creature that had managed to annoy the keeper of the stables.

He was apparently very picky on what he preferred to eat, which made feeding him difficult.

“I’m excited! Do you ride bareback?”

Yuuri face flamed. “Excuse me?”

“For the Petrels? Do you bridle them and have saddles of some sort or do you simply sit there?” Victor clarified, his mind obviously not going where Yuuri’s had.

With deep shame at his own lecherous mind, Yuuri responded in a positive. “We have saddles. You’ll see.”

Yuuri endeavored to keep his mind clear for the rest of the day, even when Victor insisted they share a bird. Even when they actually shared the seat. Even when he was forced to ride up front because he was shorter and 'should be able to see everything too’ according to Victor.

No, his mind did not wander once.

“Do you get snow around here during the Winter months?” Victor asked, curious about the current climate and the fact that it was in the middle of November and the temperature hadn’t changed yet.

Yuuri, who was busy sipping from a cup of tea, froze for a second. “Naturally, the islands do not get snow because the temperature stays around 22 °C year 'round. However, O-sensei takes ten days in December where she influences the weather and the atmosphere, to force snow to fall.

"The mahounashi at the nearby military base haven’t really noticed anything beyond the suddenness coming in December. O-sensei doesn’t keep the same dates every year, just so it can’t be tracked. So there will be snow, but only for a little while. She’ll tell us when.”

That was good. Victor loved the snow. “I hope it happens during my birthday.”

“When’s your birthday?”

“Christmas. When is yours?”

“The twenty-ninth of November.”

Victor would have to get him something then.

He’d heard some students talking about being allowed to have pets, and Yuuri didn’t have one at the school. And Yuuri also liked poodles.

Victor’s smile went wide.

He knew what to get Yuuri!

“Have you heard from Mari-chan lately?”

Yuuri shook his head. “She’s been really busy and I don’t want to get in the way.”

At Victor’s confused look, Yuuko explained. “She’s Yuuri-kun’s older sister. She’s away on a job right now, so she hasn’t been home in a while.”

“Oh.”

Yuuri was smiling though. “She’s out there being awesome, so I can’t complain too much.”

Victor got him a puppy! It was tiny and cute and he loved it!

He also decided to name it Victor, but called it Vic-chan when around others. Vic-chan came from the same litter as Victor’s own poodle, Makka-chin.

This made getting Victor a good gift even more important. He just didn’t know what to get someone who seemed to have everything already.

“I just want you to manage to create a Shugo Seishin. That’s all I need.”

And so Yuuri applied himself more fastidiously to training. If only to see Victor smile at him like Yuuri lit up his world.

Unlike the westerners, the Japanese did not rely on words to convey their magic. Intent was the most important thing, which was why only rituals needed words.

Yuuri meditated more than he ever had before. He studied carefully, and tried to find the amount of happiness within himself in order to conjure a spirit guardian of his own.

Yagiri-O-sensei decided to surprise everyone directly on Christmas Eve, by beginning her ten days of snowfall. The courtyards could be seen covered in couples rolling around in the snow and having snowball fights.

Victor was obviously excited and had somehow gotten into Yuuri’s dorm - someone probably let him in - in order to wake him up early to 'go play’. Yuuri allowed himself to be convinced because it was a special day and he wasn’t going to ruin it for anyone. Let alone Victor.

“I learned that the Japanese don’t really celebrate Christmas, but I wanted to get you a gift anyway. It’s outside. I was afraid of shrinking it, for fear of possibly ruining it.”

Yuuri was dragged along to the common room where very few people resided. Most were reading by the fireplace. The dormitory was rarely ever full on Christmas Eve. Romance was too busy being spread to do anything else really.

“I was surprised not to see Yuuko-chan here! She’s usually awake already!”

Yuuri yawned. “Yuuk-chan is a part of the Jizen group. She doesn’t have early morning classes today, so she’ll be sleeping in for now. Nishigori-san is a part of the Yuuki group. He had to wake up two hours ago for his classes. My group, Chugi, has no classes today.”

“Interesting.”

Victor pulled how in front of the fireplace and told him to wait. He then scampered off, leaving Yuuri standing in his pajamas.

There were a few snickers that he chose to ignore because he did not want to feed into their ideas.

“Here it is!”

Victor reappeared with a large box floating in front of him. It was wrapped in black paper and was sprinkled with glitter.

“Happy Christmas, Yuuri!” Victor exclaimed, throwing his arms around Yuuri and nuzzling his face into the brunet’s hair.

More snickers followed because Victor did not understand the significance of giving gifts on Christmas Eve. Still Yuuri was touched and resolved to complete his spirit guardian training as soon as possible.

With a wave of the hand, the wrapping vanished, leaving a simple, brown box and a lid. The lid levitated off the gift and was dropped on the floor so that Yuuri could look inside.

“Yu-chan!”

Yuuri’s mouth dropped open when his older sister popped out of the box to throw her arms around his shoulders.

Mari’s squad had been stationed over in Australia. They were supposed to be uncovering some kind of dangerous creature in one of the Australian deserts, at the behest of the Australian Ministry. Mari was a Magizoologist, and was considered one of the best in her field.

She had been gone for two years, and they’d only been able to Fire-Call one another a few times. Letters were even less frequent.

Yuuri took comfort in the lingering smell of tobacco in her hair. She hadn’t changed much, if at all. A little older and a little scarred on the one arm, but she was still the same.

And Victor had somehow brought her here.

Yuuri couldn’t help but send the other teen a grateful smile. This was the best gift he could have ever gotten!

Victor wasn’t expecting Yuuri to burst into his room. Rarely did the inhabitants of Mahoutokoro venture inside their visitors’ ship. But Yuuri looked insistent.

“Victor-kun, I wanted to give you a gift as well,” said the other, slightly out of breath.

Before Victor could even ask, Yuuri lifted his wand and made a small, circular motion with it. Immediately, a silver Abraxan shot forth, tiptoeing nearer to where Victor was seated in order to headbutt him.

The Russian gaped for a moment, before leaping off his bed and capturing Yuuri into his arms, kissing him soundly on the mouth.

From where they were peeking around the corner, Yuuko and Mari smiled.

“I don’t think they understand that the guardian’s only show who you love most. They don’t actually show soulmates,” Mari murmured, a small frown in place.

Yuuko tsked. “It’s adorable either way. And no one said soulmates have to get together anyhow.”

“True. Hey look, they’re tonguing now.”

Yuuko giggled.

{6 Months Later}

“I want a good, clean game,” the referee said sternly, eyeing up the players on both teams.

Victor and Yuuri shared a grin. There they both were, though it wasn’t as if no one expected it.

The Quidditch World Cup was held in Germany this year, and Victor’s team was up against Yuuri’s team, as many had predicted the former year.

Just because they were in a relationship, did not mean that they would not make each other work for the victory. If anything, this would just push both of them on to try even harder!

The Seekers both shook hands for good showmanship, and even shared a wink between them.

The players hunched over their brooms, and when the whistle sounded, they took off amidst the roars of the crowd.

Victor wouldn’t trade this for the world.

Check out my other Soulmate AUs!

#Victuuri #Victuri #fanfiction #fanfic #fic #yoi #yuri on ice #yuri!!! on ice #otp #gay otp #victor nikiforov #yuri katsuki #this

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theinqusition · 8 years

Text

Music of the heart ch1

[G] • 3809 words • Violinist!Victor and Pianist!Yuuri au

Victor Nikiforov was one of the most successful and well-recognized violinists from all over the world

Yuuri Katsuki was a dime in a dozen pianist, who was Nikiforov's number one fan and, unlike his idol, was barely succeeding

Victor realizes he's exactly what he needs.

Also on Ao3

Yuuri ran to the front of his school’s auditorium, Yuuko and Takeshi following behind, and sat on the middle of the first row of chairs. He looked around in awe at the big room with shining lights that focused on the stage and big red curtains so long they touched the floor.

News that a Russian violinist had come to Hasetsu quickly spread through the school’s classrooms and before Yuuri could react everyone was being told to go to the auditorium

Yuuri moved around his seat, perking his head up trying to catch someone or something backstage, but it was too dark to see anything.

The teacher handed out the programs and Yuuri squinted his eyes trying to read the violinist’s name. Victor Nikiforov. He jumped in his seat from excitement.

Not because he particularly knew the violinist. Not at all. He was excited because he had always wanted to see a live recital, ever since he had memory, he had been glued to the TV from his house, watching concerts on the Classical Music channel. He would sit through every minute of it and had already memorized some performances and songs from watching the repetitions on weekends

His parents even bought him CDs: Mozart, Dvorak, Beethoven, Chopin, and countless others.

He tried to recall if he had heard Nikiforov's name before, however it didn't ring a bell. He figured he must've been new.

But because this was Yuuri, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy; like this was the most important moment in his life yet. He wanted it to be perfect, to fall in love with the music even more and hopefully convince his parents to pay for his violin lessons.

He was checking the songs of the program when suddenly everything fell silent and all of his worries were gone when he saw a young man appear on stage. He was tall and thin, wearing a black suit with a sparkly bowtie which was decorated with two musical notes Yuuri didn't recognize. Half of his face was slightly hidden by his long silver-colored hair that cascaded down to his hips. His skin was so pale you could see the obvious blush on his face, whether it was because he was hot or embarrassed Yuuri didn't know. If he was already marvelled by his looks, he couldn't wait to see how he performed. His accompanist had followed behind and Yuuri had barely noticed him. He checked the program, looking for his name. He was Georgi Popovich, his looks weren't as breathtaking as Victor's however he wasn't bad looking, just dull. He positioned himself on the piano, looked at Victor and waited as he placed the violin under his chin and raised his bow.

Yuuri looked down at the program once again. The first song was “ Violin Sonata in A Major No. 9, Op. 47 ”. There were four songs in total, it was a short recital compared to the ones he had watched on TV. As soon as Victor started playing it grasped his attention, his rapid movements were graceful yet harsh, just like the piece he was playing. He was the center of the stage and Yuuri couldn't keep his eyes off him, he found himself forgetting to blink or even breathe, Victor had taken it all.

His accompanist took the lead sometimes for a few seconds, but it was nothing compared to the beautiful monster Victor was.

The second song was “ Sonata For Piano and Violin in E Minor ”. It started with Georgi’s piano,but soon Victor’s violin took the audience away, focusing on him. The song was softer, kinder to the ears and relaxing after the energy-filled song from earlier.

The following song, “ Violin Sonata in A Major No.9, Op 47 ” had taken Yuuri aback. It was shorter and it sounded almost goofy in a way that made him smile at the simplicity of it and at the fact that he was probably the only one to notice that Victor was smiling, too.

The last song was “ Liebeslied ”. This one's was sad, as if someone was mourning over a lost love or love yet to be found. The way Victor played it almost made Yuuri tear up, his pained expression had him questioned whether he was acting or actually feeling the song. Either way the performance was breathtaking, and it ended way too soon for Yuuri's liking.

He found himself being the first one to stand up and began clapping, cheering, and crying altogether. He was probably being embarrassing but he didn't care. His first live recital had been the best he had ever seen.

Yuuri must've been dreaming because Victor looked directly into his eyes, waved and smiled at him just before leaving the stage. He fell back into his chair and clutched his chest. He didn't know if it was possible to have a crush on someone who he had just barely met, nevertheless he was sure he wouldn't forget his name. And he didn't.

He didn't forget his silver-coloured hair, or the blush on his cheeks. He didn't forget the way his body moved in tune with the violin. He didn't forget his music, those mesmerizing sounds that were so heavenly. And he couldn't forget it, all of these things were etched in his mind and each day he thought about them more and more.

His parents had heard all about Victor, about how wonderful and talented he was and how badly Yuuri wanted to meet him again, but that was something his parents couldn't help him with.

So Yuuri waited. Everyday he'd watch the music channel, hopeful to see him up there on stage. He bought every music magazine and as the months passed he started seeing him get more famous, at first it was just small articles, but soon enough Victor was on the front covers which, of course, he would rip off and hang up as posters in his bedroom. He was the first face he saw in the mornings and the last before going to sleep

“How about being his accompanist?” She suggested one sunny day when she had come over to Yuuri's house. They were sitting on the floor of the guest room right next to Yuuri's room, taking advantage of the air conditioner,

“His accompa-” Yuuko suddenly stood up, interrupting Yuuri in the middle of his sentence.

“YES!” If you learn how to play the piano you can become his accompanist and play on the same stage as him,” Yuuko let out a dreamy sigh, smiling to herself. Yuuri wasn't the only one who admired Victor. “Oh! And I know exactly who can help!” She ran out of the guest’s room without a warning, leaving Yuuri to his new founded thoughts.

Now, Yuuri couldn’t stop thinking about sharing the stage with Victor. He couldn’t stop thinking about being so close to him, in the background, but still sharing the lights. He couldn’t help but to cover his smile with his hand whenever the thought came to his mind. He really liked the idea.

He also couldn’t stop watching pianists on the Classical Music channel on tv. If there was a concert or a recital he would pay only attention to the sounds of the piano, something he had never done before. He hadn’t realized until then that the sound coming from it was utterly beautiful.

Yuuri found himself looking forward to her friend’s “help”.

It turned out that Yuuko’s “help” was someone he knew actually. It was Minako,she was an old friend of his mother’s. Apparently she had travelled around the world as a pianist, and had given concerts and recitals to thousands of people.

One afternoon, when Minako had visited the Katsuki’s and Yuuri's mother had left the room to tend to one of the clients, he asked;

“Would you teach me how to play the piano?”

Her eyes widened taken by surprise, but smiled shortly afterwards.

“Of course I will Yuuri, but from now on it's Minako-sensei,” she said, ruffling his hair, any questions she had such as ‘why the piano?’ and 'what happened to the violin lessons you wanted?’ were saved for later.

Yuuri took a little crumpled paper from his back pocket, it was a list of things he wanted to get done and so he ticked the first one off.

Minako took a quick look to Yuuri's list.

“We can use the piano from my studio to practice, it's a bit dusted and it needs to be tuned, but it'll work” She said taking a quick sip from her drink.

Smiling widely, Yuuri ticked the second thing off the list.

Later, when Minako had left stumbling a bit from the drinks she had taken, Yuuri talked to his parents about the piano lessons and, surprisingly, it was easier than he thought it would be. Maybe because this time Yuuri had planned everything, he already had a teacher and a place to practice so his parents agreed almost without hesitation.

He ticked the third one off the list and kept staring at the last one

Yuuri’s plan

Find a piano teacher ✔

T̶a̶l̶k̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶p̶a̶r̶e̶n̶t̶s̶ get a piano or keyboard?? ✔

Talk to mom and dad!! ✔

Become a pianist and Victor’s future accompanist (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و

Once he was back in his room, he folded the paper and put it inside the drawer of his desk.

Whatever came his way, he would take it and move on.

Minako was a good teacher. She wasn't strict or not too harsh on Yuuri, she'd let him take his time to learn, but still gave him homework, which if it wasn't completed for the next class then he wasn't allowed to leave the studio until he had done it but it was okay, Yuuri didn't mind most of the time.

Minako's studio was part of her apartment and big enough for a pianist and her music. Besides the piano, she had two big shelves. One of them was filled with books and folders, most of them were scores, some of them were biographies of famous pianists and others were just educational books.

The second shelf had in display all of Minako's achievements; she had trophies and medals, a few were bronze, some silver and most of them were gold. Yuuri looked at them with his big and bring brown eyes hoping he'd have as much gold as her one day.

Or any trophy at all.

If one asked Minako, Yuuri was a good student. In one year he had learned to read the notes like they were a new language and to play the piano like it was a part of him. He felt bad for it, for neglecting it for so long, the perfect instrument had been in front of him and he hadn't even realized.

When Yuuri was fourteen he saw a picture of Victor on a magazine hugging a dog, so Yuuri -after begging to his parents for days- got one as well and he named him Vicchan.

He also named his keyboard, which was given by his parents for his Sixteenth birthday, the same name

And when Yuuri turned eighteen, Vicchan -the dog not the keyboard- couldn't go with him to Detroit. He had to stay back home and take care of his family for him.

He couldn't help but cry and feel a little bit of guilt in his guts as he left for Detroit.

Minako had been the one to tell him about the city, about Celestino’s music school and how he had been her teacher a long time ago, she could not recommend him enough. So Yuuri travelled, alone and scared, but determined and excited all at once.

And If it hadn't been for Phichit Chulanot he was sure he would have spent all those five years alone.

Detroit was fun, different and new, but it was supposed to be where he would get big, where his music would flourish and would get his recognition.

He participated in all the competitions being held in the city and even some that were out of town. Celestino was with him all the way, he knew the judges, he knew the audience and he knew the piano. Throughout the years he helped Yuuri become better than he ever was, his performances were something everyone would look up and there was no doubt about that however Yuuri still lacked confidence, his songs were usually predictable, he didn't step out of the classical old tunes most people had already listened to.

When he was 23, Yuuri participated in the International Cochran Piano Competition, one of the biggest and most important competition for pianist all over the world. He didn't win the prize, however he had an honorable mentions from the judges.

But those hadn't been enough. He had always felt like he was one step behind Victor, that he wasn't good enough. It pained him to even think about his idol and a success he could never have. He decided to take a break and think about his future.Celestino tried to convince him to keep trying but he had just wanted to go back home.

Yuuri travelled back home to Japan after five years and was welcomed with open arms. He brought bronze, and silver medals from small competitions. Gifts and the like from people who had been at his recitals.

But all of these things weren't enough to excuse his absence. He hadn't been there to help his parents when the work at the onsen was too much, he hadn't been there for the triplets or her sister's birthdays and he hadn't been there when Vicchan had died.

All for a dream too big to reach alone.

When his thoughts were too loud and overwhelming, the ice rink Yuuko and Takeshi owned was the only place where his mind could wander, be at peace and was good source of inspiration when none was left. He put the ice skates on and hopped on.

The ice reminded him of Victor, of his silver hair and pale skin, of his music that he never stopped listening to, the posters he had never taken down off his bedroom walls and the admiration that never ceased to exist. As he skated he was reminded of the reason why he had started playing in the first place.

Before travelling to Detroit, when he was Minako's student, Victor had always been his inspiration. What he played on the violin Yuuri would play it on the piano, even it there wasn't a sheet for it, he'd make his own just by listening. In Detroit it was different, Celestino had told him to choose his own songs, to find himself and what he wanted to play,

Something Celestino had suggested and was to record himself when playing the piano, that way he could see his own improvement and get better. It took several talks from Celestino to persuade him however he eventually gives in. It had been a little weird at first but he got used to it; every weekend he'd record himself playing something (usually a piece already covered by Victor) he had been practicing all week. And Phichit suggested or more like forced Yuuri to upload some of those videos on YouTube, after all there were a lot of ways to become a successful musician; winning competitions was just one of those means.. Yuuri knew this, but he had been too frightened to try anything else.

However after many threats from Phichit, such as posting all those pictures from that one time he got drunk, which he insisted were worse than uploading his videos on youtube, Yuuri was convinced. He uploaded four videos to his channel, each one was a different song and because he had wanted to feel comfortable he recorded himself playing the songs Victor played when he had come to Hasetsu all those years ago

For Phichit 200-300 views per video wasn’t a lot, but for Yuuri it was huge, he was aware that his friend had shared the videos in almost every social media however he’d never thought that they would get attention. The comments were the best part, some of them were really nice;

-“I really love how you play the piano!”- christy.e

-“So Relaxing!! ”- Katie

-“i love y̶o̶u̶ your music! ”- skye

-“Wow! Amazing! ” - V.N

Others were helpful;

-“You should relax your shoulders while you play, you seem tense c:”- Paul

-“don’t rush!!” - marcus

Others unique;

-“You should cover the Theme of King JJ! ”- JJStyle

And finally, others were... discouraging;

-“So sad” - Pianoenthusiast01

-“you give me depression ”- mark

Thankfully those were the least type of comments that didn't stop Phichit from replying to every single one of them.

For the last month Yuuri had been practicing Victor's new song, which had been written by Victor himself, a song called “ Stammi Vicino Non Te Ne Andare”. The only sheets available were for violin so he had to listen to it several times to learn it and make a piano sheet. It wasn't as good as the original, but it was close enough to be satisfied.

He told Yuuko to meet him at Minako's studio, that he wanted to show her something. Yuuri prepared the camera because even though he wasn't planning to upload the video he wanted to keep it for himself or give it to Yuuko.

Yuuri sat down on the piano stool and prepared himself, re-reading the sheet he had written, filled with highlights and reminders, and organized the papers next to each other on the music rack. Yuuko arrived just in time. She was about to greet him, but stopped mid-track. Yuuri simply smiled at her and waved.

“Please watch me” he said, arranging his glasses and straightening his back. Yuuri took a big breath, closed his eyes and began playing the piece.

Yuuko didn't recognize it immediately but as he kept going she realized what he was playing. Yuuri's posture slouched down as he got more into the song, his head down as his fingers glided over the keys and not even looking at the sheet anymore. Tears started forming in Yuuko’s eyes, compared to the original, Yuuri's version was much more… passionate. Victor had always performed Stammi Vicino with sadness on his face, as if it was a cry for help and Yuuri was reaching out, answering to his call and he didn't even know.

Yuuko clapped and cheered once the piece had ended, going as far as to call it even better than the original , to which he denied but that didn’t stop her praising. Yuuri walked over to where the camera was and stopped the recording, handing it over to Yuuko

“You keep it, I don't know what to do with it and maybe the girls would like to see it?” Yuuko took the camera and promised to show it to them as soon as she got home. Yuuri sighed, feeling relieved that he wouldn't have to deal with the anxiety of dealing with it anymore- He practiced Stammi Vicino several times and although Yuuko had told him he had played marvelously, he still didn't want to see it or even listen to it. He was too afraid he'd ruined his favorite song.

Nevertheless that problem was solved and Yuuri walked back home and relaxed at the onsen, he had dinner with his family, realising he had missed home, the delicious smell of katsudon, the warmth of his family, the satisfaction of speaking in his mother tongue, and catching up with everything that had happened the last five years.

He went back to his bedroom and sat down on the floor, staring at the countless Viktor posters he had. He needed to be back on stage. He had shared the same ones as him, but they had never been in the same room, never breathe the same air except for the first time he had seen him perform.

There had to be a way…

And almost like a call from the heavens, his phone rang. Takeshi had sent him a link to a YouTube video, when he opened it he almost threw his phone across the room, muffling his own scream with his hand so that his family wouldn't hear him, but it was inevitable,

“ Stammi Vicino Non Te Andare- Piano cover by Yuuri Katsuki”

Yuuri froze in shock as he watched the video, something he promised he would never do. He was too speechless to tell if his cover was actually good and he couldn't even finish it when he got a call from Takeshi.

“Yuuri… I'm sorry my daughters uploaded that video of you playing the piano…” He kept talking but all Yuuri could hear was the screams from Yuuko in the background and the girls trying to justify to their mother “all the music otaku will love it!” he heard in the distance.

He had to turn off his phone from getting too many calls and texts from his friends, especially Phichit, and his old teacher Celestino. Even the people from around Hasetsu had seen it and had been very nice about it, telling him that he was very talented and they had been stunned by his performance.

A month passed and the video seemed more distant now, almost like it had never happened. Almost.

It was already winter and Yuuri decided to go practice at Minako's studio, it had always been warm during winters there.

When he opened the door to his apartment he was suddenly knocked back by something ridiculously heavy, and it was licking him! Yuuri opened his eyes and saw a dog that looked a lot like Vicchan, but he couldn't be, his old dog was much smaller and this one's almost looks like Vic-

His thoughts were interrupted when Minako stepped out of her apartment and helped Yuuri get up.

“Yuuri you need to go to the studio. Now” Minako had a expression on her face that was a mix of surprise, shock, happiness. Yuuri hesitated but walked slowly to the apartment, getting closer to the studio. He waited outside the door and heard someone playing some of the keys of the piano, it was definitely not a pianist. Maybe a new student? But Minako wasn't planning on teaching anyone else.

Yuuri walked into the studio and his eyes widened as he saw Victor Nikiforov, sitting on the piano stool and staring at the keys pressing them one by one as if they were alien. He seemed to have noticed he wasn't alone because he stood up, placed both of his hand on his hips and smiled at Yuuri

“Yuuri Katsuki?” He asked the pianist, way too eagerly.

“Yes… why are you here?” Out of all the million questions he had, that was the only one he could ask.

“For you of course” he answered.

#my writing #yuri on ice #yoi #yuri on ice fanfic #AHH it's the first chapter

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