A snowflake for halocinated!

[snowmods09]

Title: With This Ring Pop I Do
Pairings: Abe Ryohei/Mukai Koji with background Tanaka Juri/Fukazawa Tatsuya
Genres: Alternate Reality, Magic
Rating: PG
Summary: When Abe is randomly proposed to randomly one night, it is all he can think of the next day, and then it hits social media. Shame it isn’t a person, though.
Warnings: n/a
Author's notes: I’m hoping you’ll enjoy this, it kind of got away from me and I was like “is this a tad ridiculous?” so idk. Thanks to my supernova of a beta for getting this back to me.

Abe paced around his room with a huff as he mumbled pi to himself. It was honestly kind of frustrating that this event was bothering him so much, but he could not sleep. Not after that!

He'd gone out with his friends, two he hadn't seen for a while since his friends were usually off adventuring without him. In fairness, Abe was stuck at the newly opened Academy of Magicks and Sciences teaching a course on illusion magic as a favour. Previously, he had been in a group with his longtime friends, Fukka, Hikaru, and Sakuma. While Hikaru and Sakuma had continued adventuring with two other friends of theirs, Shota and Date, Fukka had also been convinced to teach a course or two, in his case healing magic and first aid for the not magically inclined. Unfortunate that the Dean was their old professor at the college they'd gone to.

It should be noted at this time, adventures were just them being a travelling dance troupe. Abe and Fukka were the only magically inclined outside of a few abilities and that was okay. Anyway, back to Abe's pacing.

This, of course, is how he had a tired-looking Fukka opening his door at 3 am. They had keys for each other's place in the instructors' dorms.

"Abe-chan, you should sleep," Fukka mumbled groggily.

"Ahh, sorry!" Abe exclaimed, "though aren't you normally awake now anyway?"

This caused Fukka to glower at him.

Abe sat down at his desk and faced Fukka. "It's just, who was that guy tonight?"

Fukka sighed and settled into Abe's armchair that was used for, to be honest, Fukka wasn't sure what it was used for. Anytime he dropped by, Abe was usually studying or lesson planning at his desk. Fukka never saw Abe in the chair. Weird.

"Why did he do it?" Abe asked.

"Better yet, why did you say yes?" Fukka asked as he fidgeted with the tie for his robe.

The blood drained from Abe's face. "I don't know," he said. He honestly didn't know.

"Moron," Fukka said softly.

"If you're lucky it'll blow over. Who knows, you might see them again and you can say 'tell me why.'" Fukka said with a grin.

Abe nodded. "You're right," he said, "I'm sure it was just a prank."

"Exactly," Fukka said with a nod. "Now, get some sleep." He stood up and headed to the door, ready to relax and play some games.

"You too," Abe said.

Fukka raised his arm in acknowledgement as he left to go next door.

Abe steadied himself. He was exhausted and as he crawled into bed he hoped to hell he could sleep.

Spoiler, he did, though had he not, maybe he would be prepared for him tomorrow.

♤

The next day started normally enough. He got up to have breakfast at his usual time, though he was a bit more tired than usual. How Sakuma and Fukka survived on so little sleep he'd never know.

Groggily, Abe managed to make it to his morning office hours, though he knew this morning's slot would be taken up by his student quiz team, who thankfully didn't need that much help. They were training to win the provincial tournament after all. Unfortunately for Abe, he never noticed his team of five students arrive.

Nor did he notice the text message he received from Fukka. Had he, he probably would have been prepared for what came next.

"Abe-chan-sensei," Noel said, startling the groggy man, "are you okay?"

"Huh?" Abe asked as he snapped more awake, "yeah, I'm okay. Long night."

Katsuki snorted at this answer while Taisei's eyebrows raised.

"I would expect you did," Ukisho said.

Abe was now even more confused by this response.

"Yeah, he did just get proposed to by his boyfriend," Nasu said with a nod.

"A boyfriend we didn't know he had," Taisei added. All five then nodded with a sound of affirmation.

Abe's blood ran cold. He knew they weren't at the bar last night. It was a pretty small place, he would have seen them. At least that's what Abe told himself.

"What do you mean?" Abe asked.

"It's the talk of the school," Noel said. "Your boyfriend proposed to you last night. Everyone has seen it on social media by now."

Abe wasn't sure if he suddenly went pale, but his students were casting him concerned looks. Placing his hands on his desk he excused himself and ran out the door with his phone. That group would be fine alone after all.

He went to the nearest stairwell and hit the side button to activate his phone. 20 missed messages and 5 missed calls from Fukka and another fellow teacher, Juri. Who also happened to be Fukka's boyfriend, so the messages still might have been from Fukka.

Hey Abe-chan, you should probably check social media this morning.

Abe?

Did you even sleep last night?

Give me a call when you get this.

Oh, right. It's Wednesday.

Let the Quiz Team know I said hi.

Okay, it's spreading.

Fuck.

Oi, Abe-chan!

Shit, my phone is going to die.

Maybe I'll steal Juri's.

The messages on Juri's phone were much of the same and Abe had to wonder if Fukka still had it. They needed to talk.

As Abe listened to the ringer, his mind wandered to the night before.

♡♡

"So, where are you guys off to next?" Fukka asked their friends.

"We have a job a few towns over," Hikaru said before taking a sip of his drink.

"Yeah, it's supposed to be an easy one. Meme is meeting us there, too," Sakuma said with a massive grin on his face.

"Meme?" Abe asked.

"Oh! You haven't met him, right!" Sakuma exclaimed.

"He's Shota's friend," Hikaru added.

The eyes of Sakuma, Fukka, Hikaru, Abe and Miyadate all turned to Shota. All of them took sips of their drinks with expectation.

"He's an old friend," Shota said.

Miyadate scoffed at that. "One I didn't even know he had."

Abe sat with anticipation. It wasn't often Yurigumi had a small spat in his presence.

"We went over this, you were at culinary school," Shota said with a sigh.

Miyadate seemed to ponder this for a moment before smiling. "Oh, right."

Shota sighed and shook his head. Abe was over the moon. He possibly enjoyed their interactions a little much, these two best friends from childhood.

"Why weren't you with us during that?" Hikaru asked.

Shota shrugged before he said, "Our families wanted to see us and then I just stuck around while Date-san was in class. Seemed easier and at least I made a new friend." Before he continued, he turned to look pointedly at Miyadate, "One you seem to enjoy being around a lot might I add."

Miyadate shrugged and gained a light dusting of pink on his face.

"Whatever, we're just happy to join you guys finally. It's been a while," Shota said.

Miyadate nodded. "It's a shame Abe-chan and Fukka-san can't join us," he said.

Fukka merely shrugged at this while Abe said, "It'll be okay and besides you guys can always call."

They talked over drinks for a while longer, catching up on the last job the others had, which was taking care of a problem family of basilisks. It helped that Sakuma was a skilled zoolinguist. At that point it became precautionary blindfolds as they moved them to a safer location for the basilisk, away from the humans.

It was when Shota was complaining about how they lacked a healer now that Abe was tapped on the shoulder.

"Excuse me," the man said, fashionable in an orange toque.

"Oh, uh, hi," Abe responded. The rest of Abe's table clammed up to watch.

"I, uhh, have something important to ask you," he said.

Abe smiled encouragingly in response.

The man went down on one knee and gently grabbed Abe's left hand. He looked down and cleared his throat before glancing into Abe's confused eyes.

"Will you marry me?" he asked sincerely.

Abe's mouth moved on autopilot for a few seconds, not producing any sounds as his brain had come to a screeching halt, which was unusual. It was normally Sakuma whose brain had errors.

Luckily, Abe didn't have to deal with the blue brain of death for too long, and he let out a questioning, "Yes?"

The man's eyes lit up as a smile graced his face. "Really?"

"Yes," Abe confirmed. Not that he knew why.

The man quickly produced a ring pop from what appeared to be thin air and quickly kissed the back of Abe's hand before slipping it on his ring finger.

"Thank you," the man said before he ran back to his table, where two shorter men were waiting for him. One, dressed almost rock-like and his hair a blond shade, while the other was wearing goggles and coveralls tied at his waist, exposing a white shirt. His hair partially in braids with the rest of his curly hair tied up in the back. Both of them gave the man a high five.

Abe continued to stare at him with his friends, eventually snapped out of it by Hikaru.

"Did you just say yes?" he asked.

Abe glanced at him and when he glanced back to the table the man came from, he was gone.

Like, completely gone. Abe checked the bar and outside after all. At least the ring pop was blue flavour?

♡♡♡

"Hello?" said the voice on the other end of the line. It was Juri.

"Oh, Juri. I thought Fukka's phone might still be dead," Abe said.

"Oh," Juri said, Abe could practically hear the smile in his voice, "It is, he's just busy talking to Raul about medical magic. Office hours."

Abe sighed. Raul was a smart kid and he seemed to like learning from Fukka and himself a lot.

"Don't you have office hours right now?" Juri asked.

"I do," Abe said, "But It is quiz-bu right now so they'll be fine. Admittedly, I'm kind of panicking."

Juri made a noise on the other end, almost as if he just realized why Abe would be calling. "You saw the videos, huh?" he asked.

Abe sat there for a moment. "Yeah, I did," he replied. "I already got congratulated by my students."

"Do you think you'll try to find the guy?" Juri asked.

"I don't even know his name!" Abe exclaimed before he heard a beep. "Hold on, I'm getting a text."

Before Juri could respond, Abe took a glance at the message. It was from Sakuma.

I can try to look into who this guy is if you'd like!!

Abe sighed at this. Sakuma would get results, he knew this, even if the process was probably going to involve multiple pigeons.

Sure, he replied.

Lifting the receiver back to his ear he gave a laugh at the conversation that had formed on the other end.

"Abe-chan's busy," He heard Juri say.

"Yeah, but he called to talk to me," he heard Fukka say.

"We've been working it out," Juri said, though it was followed by a long pause before he spoke again. "Fine, Shishou, but only because it's you", Juri said softly. Abe couldn't help but smile at that. Their relationship was so delightful to watch, err, listen to. They're cute and all, especially given Juri's 'bad boy' charm.

"Hello?" Abe said.

"Ahh, Abe-chan, so what is your plan?" Fukka asked.

"So far find him," Abe said, "and then ask him what the hell."

"Maybe it was just a prank?" Fukka asked.

"Just because you'd do it…"

"Oi!" Fukka yelled.

Abe laughed in response. "I'm going to go do some investigation, but Sakuma also said he'd help," he said.

Fukka hummed in response. "I'm sure his pigeons will bring results."

They spoke more about gameplan, such as doing a social media deep dive, though they'd have to get a friend to help with that, or just asking online. Yet, neither of them knew that would eventually become pointless. Especially if it eventually meant that night.

♡♡♡♡

That night, Abe began by searching pretty heavily online with next to no results. The clarity on the image wasn't very good to begin with and no one responded to say they knew who the mystery man was.

He also absentmindedly began sucking on the ring pop. It was a green apple flavour. In his defense, it was calling to him.

It was only a few minutes later when Fukka and Juri barged in.

"Abe-chan!" Fukka yelled, startling the man from his research.

"Fukka!" he yelped in surprise before respectfully nodding at an exasperated-looking Juri. Juri nodded back.

"Where'd you get the ring pop?" Juri asked.

"Huh?" Abe asked before he looked at his hand. The ring pop was there. Realization hit Abe swiftly. "Oh… It's the one from last night."

"Should you even be eating it?" Juri asked.

Fukka shook his head and grabbed it from Abe. "He definitely shouldn't. We don't even know if it is safe."

Abe appreciated the concern from Fukka, if unusual.

"I feel fine," Abe said, "though I didn't realize I was eating it."

Fukka stood there in thought, running his hands through a non-existent goatee. "Hmm, a real mystery is at foot," he said.

"Fukka…" Abe said as he bit back a laugh.

"If you feel fine, I guess it's probably okay?" Fukka asked.

"You would have eaten it immediately, huh?" Juri asked his boyfriend, who only sheepishly nodded. Abe was amused.

"Well, we still need to find him," Abe said before taking another lick of the ring pop. Somehow this was a bad idea as he immediately collapsed.

♡♡♡♡♡

When Abe came to, it was to a blast of colour above him. Swirls of orange and greens mixing with other colours against a bright white background. He was also lying on a bed, though it wasn't his own.

"Oh! You're awake," a semi-familiar voice said. "I was getting worried I'd have to call on a healer, though I don't know if I can do that from here…"

Abe turned to look at the voice; it was him. The man who proposed to Abe.

"What?" Abe asked with confusion before he began to sit up. Well, he began before he noticed the floor was also white with swirling colours.

"Oh, it's safe to walk," the man said as he went to sit beside Abe on the bed.

"Where am I? Who are you? How is this? What?" Abe fired off quickly as he poked the floor of light with his toe.

"Hmmm, I guess people would call me a god?" the man said with an air of questioning.

"Okay… A god of what?" Abe asked skeptically.

"The what isn't important," he waved away, "but rather why you're here." He looked a little lost in thought. Almost as if it were painful.

"Well, you're the one that proposed to me," Abe said.

"Ahhhh, I guess you're right," the man said, leaning his elbow on Abe's shoulder. He stuck his hand out and continued, "Mukai Koji at your service."

"A god with a full name?" Abe asked amusedly while he shook Koji's hand.

Koji pouted for a moment before he said, "We're allowed. Anyway, I have a quest for you."

Abe looked at him, an eyebrow raised.

"Look, I'm not the one that decided to eat the magic candy," Koji said defensively with his hands in the air.

"You gave me a magic ring pop?" Abe asked.

"Mmhmm," Koji replied.

Abe shook his head. "It's a good thing you're cute."

"Ahhhh!" Koji exclaimed excitedly, "you think I'm cute?"

Abe's face burned red for a moment while he composed himself. Sure, he found the man? God? cute but that was a slip of the tongue. Luckily for him, Koji changed the subject.

"Anyway, I called you here because I have a favour to ask," he said.

"A favour?" Abe replied, cocking his head to the side.

"So," Koji began, he seemed ashamed, "I maybe got cursed by a Fate because I said his boyfriend was cute. He didn't like that."

"You said his boyfriend was cute, and?" Abe prompted.

"So, he stole my camera and stashed the key to this dimension with it and pawned it off at a human pawn shop."

"A Fate did that? Which one? They're a triple goddess, right?" Abe asked.

"A triple god, kind of, they're a quadruple now. And four get together and all that," Koji said.

"And why should I help you?" Abe asked.

Koji smiled sadly. "You don't have to if you don't want to. You seemed nice when I saw you in the bar."

"Wait," Abe had a realization, "how were you at the bar if you were trapped in here?"

"Oh!" Koji exclaimed. "Two of my followers summoned me temporarily with the help of a Fate. A different Fate."

Abe nodded along.

"Which, you should be fine. Though, you'll need to find the pawn store slip first. One of the other Fates hid it for me and my champion," Koji said with a hint of a smile. In reality, Koji had fallen for Abe immediately at the bar, almost as if Fate had planned this all out for him.

"I'll do it," Abe said with confidence.

Koji looked relieved and melted onto Abe, who yelped out of surprise. "Okay, well, the other Fate gave a clue on the location. He said, 'Nine knights of the round table, a juicy meal is to be had' or something like that."

"Okay," Abe said. He was almost certain that he knew the answer, though confirming it wouldn't hurt.

Koji pouted at the response Abe gave him. "Abe-chan, you okay?" he asked, still melted into Abe.

"I think I got it?" Abe said.

"Oh good!" Koji exclaimed before he gave Abe a kiss on the cheek. A kiss that instantly made Abe feel drowsy.

"I think you just sent me back, Abe said.

"Oops," Koji said as he stood up. "Lay down and you'll head back but promise me you'll be back."

Abe lay on the bed and held his hand up, pinkie out. "I swear," he said.

Koji took his hand out to join pinkies. Just as he did, Abe faded away.

♡♡♡♡♡♡

When Abe woke up he could only make out shapes and noises. A flash of pink that wasn't in his room before he'd been transported away caught his attention, though it was merely a blur. The pillow beneath his head was appreciated, though. The noises slowly transitioned into voices, one of which hadn't been in the room prior, and yet familiar. He knew it wouldn't be long before someone realized he was awake. It helped that it was announced to the room.

"Uhh, guys?" Juri said, "I think Abe is awake?"

"Huh?" Fukka said, the concern radiated out of the simple word.

The third voice didn't say anything until it was right above Abe and clutching his hand.

"Abe-chan, are you okay?" the blur asked.

Ah, Abe thought, It's Sakuma.

"I'm fine," Abe croaked. The blurry visions were fading, but a pulse at the back of his head grew stronger.

"You know, Fukka was so worried, he tried to cure you," Sakuma said as Fukka and Juri came up behind. Fukka looked away.

"Did he now?" Abe said with a small chuckle. "Thank you, Fukka."

Fukka nodded in acknowledgement, which Abe knew was all he'd get from the man. The last time Fukka had saved Abe it was the same after all.

"So, cursed ring pop?" Juri asked.

"Eh, kind of. It was more 'blessed' I suppose. I met a god," Abe said.

"Are you sure you didn't hit your head too hard?" Juri asked.

"I hit my head?"

Fukka merely huffed and put his hand on Abe's head. A purple glow filled the room for a moment and Abe's vision became even clearer as the pain faded.

"Thank you, Fukka," Abe said.

"So, you met a god, What was he like?" Sakuma prompted.

Abe thought back to the warmth he didn't realize he had felt while he was there, physically. It was love, or perhaps just the fact the room was bright and white with moving swirls of coloured lights.

"He was sweet," Abe said as he absentmindedly scratched at his cheek.

"And?" Sakuma asked. He was relentless at times, such as when he dragged Abe on to the scariest rides at the theme parks, the roller coasters. That had happened one too many times, though also giving. He always went on the merry-go-round as well.

"And he gave me a quest. I'm supposed to find a slip to get his camera back. A Fate locked him away for hitting on his boyfriend," Abe explained.

Fukka snickered at this detail, earning a smack from Juri. Sakuma looked puzzled for a moment before he looked at Fukka.

"Do you know something?" Abe asked.

"It's Nabe's boyfriend's friend," Fukka said with a laugh.

"You think so?" Sakuma asked.

"Oh, he knows so," Juri said with a sigh. "Shota told us about this over dinner."

"It's a bit funny he didn't recognize the guy when he proposed, though," Fukka said, still entertained.

Juri just shrugged. "It's Shota?" he said with a hint of question. Sakuma merely burst out laughing.

"Oh, good point," Fukka said with a nod and a smile. Juri returned the smile.

Abe merely shook his head. “Either way, I have to find a restaurant?” Abe said.

“Oh?” Fukka and Sakuma said at the same time, quickly high fiving each other.

Abe stood up to start to think. It was easier to think for him if he was pacing a bit, and think he did. He was almost certain that it was an English-style restaurant that they went to a few months ago. There were nine of them there and they admired the old medieval theming of the restaurant. He wasn’t sure the food was particularly ‘juicy’ though, being English food and all, although the fish and chips was pretty good.

“Yeah, he gave me a clue, which, shame it isn’t a riddle. I think it’s the English-style place, but what do you think?” Abe asked.

“Well, what was the clue?” Juri said.

“He said ‘Nine knights of the round table, a juicy meal is to be had' and knights made it seem like it’s probably the English place,” Abe said.

“Abe-chan, I’m not sure,” Fukka said.

“Oh?” Juri said, looking at his boyfriend with happy eyes.

“It’s probably the Chinese place we went to with the others. There were only seven of us because Raul tagged along,” Fukka began.

Juri sputtered in the background. Raul was invited and he wasn’t, maybe he was a little hurt.

“Not now, dear,” Fukka said. “I mean, the tables were round and there were nine chairs.”

“But only seven of us,” Abe said with a frown.

Sakuma, who was merely listening, counted on his fingers for a second before saying, “But isn’t he speaking in future tense?”

“Mmm, he is,” Fukka said, arms crossed with a thinking face on.

“You don’t suppose,” Abe began before Fukka cut in.

“We’re probably supposed to take him and Meme there?”

“Meme?” Juri asked.

“Oh, it’s Shoppi’s friend,” Sakuma informed him and explained the situation more thoroughly to Juri. Fukka and Abe ignored them.

“I guess we could try there?” Abe said.

“Yeah, but you might be right about the English restaurant,” Fukka said, tugging a bit at his hair.

“Both?” Abe said with an uneasy smile.

“Both,” Fukka said with a nod.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Abe went to sleep shortly after Fukka and Juri left, while Sakuma ended up staying with him for the night. Which wasn’t too bad, if a smaller man starfishing all night is considered okay. Abe, thankfully, did get some rest, which was nice. He supposed.

He’d been wrong, though. He woke up on the wrong side of the bed, a knee pressed into his back. It’s fine, Sakuma had travelled quite a way to come and help him after all. Sakuma had also agreed to drive Fukka and Abe to the restaurants. This meant Abe was more than okay with the knee as he recalled the time Sakuma missed four consecutive opening doors into traffic and spun the car so that they wouldn’t be crashed into by someone running a red. He was more than capable.

Also, Fukka didn't have a licence. Thankfully, Juri let them borrow his car.

The three of them had decided to check out the English restaurant first. No real reason aside from the fact it was closer to work for Abe and Fukka. Didn't wish to waste any gas as it is.

Unfortunately for Abe, it was a waste of time. And yet, the Fates had foretold his arrival it seemed, and from the looks of things the Fate in question knew one too many of his friends given who was waiting for them at the door when they rolled up.

Yugo sighed when Abe left the vehicle. By his standards, they were late. Not overly late, but just by a half hour. Maybe there was an accident he had reasoned, but alas, there was not. Then again, the Fate was often full of shit. Even still, he said it.

"You're late."

Abe grimaced. He knew right away that this was the wrong place. "I take it you were sent here?"

Yugo nodded. "Yeah, and you should have been here 30 minutes ago."

"Well, do you want a ride back?" Abe asked. The car could fit five so it was hardly full.

"Please, I don't feel like walking."

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

The car took off to the Chinese restaurant and for what happened next, Abe would call it a 'pulling a Fukka' if anyone asked. He drifted off for a small car nap in the 30 minutes he had to wait.

When he awoke he was confronted with Koji. So, only kind of awake.

"Yo!" Koji said with enthusiasm.

"Hi again," Abe said with a smile.

"So, did you get it yet?" Koji asked as he glided over to sit beside Abe.

Abe shook his head. "No, we are on our way to get the slip now. We went to one place and the Fate had just sent someone to wait for us to tell us no."

Koji laughed.

"So, now we are heading to the right place."

Koji smiled and took Abe's hand. "Hey, when you set me free, do you think we can go on a date?"

Abe's heart went wild. The last time someone tried to ask him out he yelped and ran away. He received a lecture from Sakuma that evening about letting people know his true feelings and that he was smarter than this. Plus, he'd been on plenty of dates before, though he'd been the one to ask them out.

"So?" Koji asked.

"I…" Abe began, his heart not calming down.

Koji seemed to deflate at that pause, and Abe, tragically, woke up.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

At the Chinese restaurant, no one waited outside for Abe. After Yugo, it seemed a bit odd to him, but he went in. The hostess had been waiting for him.

She brought him to a private room, the same room Abe and his friends had occupied during the one dinner and this time again it was occupied. Occupied by a man Abe knew through Juri and Yugo.

Occupied by Hokuto.

"Yo," Abe said. Hokuto nodded and poured Abe some tea, which he readily accepted.

"Abe-chan," Hokuto said, "I take it you're here for the pawn slip."

"I am," Abe said before taking a sip of tea.

"Good, good. Fair warning, the Fates like to toy with people."

"I noticed."

Hokuto hummed in response.

"The locked away god, he's sweet though," Abe said.

"If a bit stupid," Hokuto said.

"Eh, he seems like he has a lot of love to give."

Hokuto nodded to this too as he took a sip.

They sat in silence for a moment with their tea before Hokuto reached into his pocket, bringing out a slip of paper.

"You should hurry," Hokuto said.

Abe nodded. No matter the sudden second proposal, he would see this through. Maybe even accept the date.

First, though. They'd need to drop off Yugo. And Hokuto. He needed a ride, too. The Fate was bad at taking care of that.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

When Abe arrived at the pawn shop, he grimaced. They'd taken far too long given they gave Yugo and Hokuto rides back to the university, and his heart was racing. Stepping out of the car, he walked into the shop alone and steeled himself before he walked up to the counter to a man clearly younger than himself.

The man had black hair and Abe could swear he was about Sakuma's height. He greeted Abe with a smile he was sure could cure cancer.

"Hello, welcome to 'Wai-Why?', can I help you?" the man asked.

"Ah, yes," Abe said as he reached into his pocket to produce the slip. "I'm here to pick up something dropped off here, a camera."

The man took the slip from Abe. Unfortunately a bird appeared from nowhere and grabbed it from the man's hand.

Startled, the man looked at Abe with wide eyes. "Sorry about that," he said before turning his attention to the bird, a kite. "Give that back," he yelled.

The bird circled for a bit before it landed before a camera and dropped the slip.

"Oh," the man said with surprise as he looked at the slip to the camera. They matched, and he quickly brought it over to Abe.

"Here is your camera," he said.

Abe picked it up carefully. "How does it work?" he asked.

The man smiled. "Just point, think about your answer in your heart, and shoot."

"The answer in my heart? To what question?" Abe asked.

"You know the question," the man teased as he leaned on the counter.

Abe looked back down to the camera in his hands and aimed it. He took a deep breath as he thought back. He did want to go on a date with Koji, he seemed awfully nice after all, and Abe did find him cute. He took a deep breath and brought the camera to his face. He clicked when he released the breath.

His students would never believe what happened next.

Koji popped into existence before his eyes and took a gasping breath. Koji touched his arms, legs, belly and head, clearly unable to believe his eyes. His eyes, oh those eyes when they locked with Abe's, they had a hint of love.

Koji spang forward, feeling Abe's shoulders and face before bringing him in to kiss Abe's forehead.

"Thank you," he said. His voice was full of warmth.

"It was no problem," Abe said. Sure, that was a minor lie, but it was nice to see the man in his reality.

"Oh, and about your question," Abe said, "The answer is yes."

Koji paused. It took a moment and Abe could see the gears working behind his eyes. When Koji understood, his smile grew 10 sizes. They would date.

And if they found themselves at the Chinese restaurant a few weeks later with everyone, it only felt full circle.

Comments

[halocinated]

ahhh this is such a lovely read!

i appreciate that you choose the magick theme, and it's lovely to imagine abefukka as teachers bcs i can see it!! i enjoyed how it's all so ordinary yet so unusual at the same time, like who would have thought that the stranger who proposed to you at the bar is a god giving you a quest to do his bidding?? i didn't! and that's interesting~ i also enjoyed the fact that abe's relationship with people around him is pretty highlighted in this. i especially love abefukka's bond, as it is cute to see abebe relying on fukka and fukka being the more grounded one to abe-chan's scatterbrained tendencies (eventhough he's also pretty chaotic on his own, per juri's and abe's commentaries suggest)

and i love the juri/fukka here. they're so lovely together. (i agree with you, abe-chan!!) also that subtle nod to memedate and abe being his usual yurigumi shipper self... cute.

koji's courting is so interesting (and also chaotic) bcs who would propose to a stranger at the bar just bcs u think they're cute at the first sight... just to make them run errand for u... luckily abe is just as smitten. and chaotic, lol. their scenes together iare cute and i love how they communicate things easily! abe being patient with koji's explanation is lovely, also koji being touchy feely eventhough it's their first meeting is also adorable.

so glad that the misunderstanding is nipped in the bud so early. the fate(s) truly working their asses off just to connect this one God and the quiz club supervisor. it's worth it, tho. hahah. if they come to the foretold chinese restaurants as boyfriends, it will truly become a full circle (and a destiny fulfilled!)

thank you, my dear author, for writing this lovable and adorable piece for me <3 i enjoyed this so much! (and sorry for the ramble... oops.)

[azurevanillasky]

I meant to reply to this last year to just say I'm glad you enjoyed reading it! It was fun to write and I appreciated your ramble so much. When the postings were over last year I was swamped with work and forgot to reply once the reveals were up. ♥ So thank you for reading and enjoying it!