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therainroguefanfiction · 3 years

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Frightful October ’21 🎃 #20 ~ Spoopy Games (Zhang Baiyang)

Genre: Fluff, Comedy, Slice of Life

Word Count: 4,909

Pairing: Reader x Baiyang

World: The Prince of Tennis ~ Match! Tennis Juniors ~

Table of Contents

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Baiyang was a man with my talents, though most of them he kept hidden away from the world. He was a reserved person that didn't like to share his life story with people and preferred to keep a few good people around him rather than a bunch of lousy ones, but even they were kept at a distance. You were one of the lucky ones that had managed to befriend him thanks to your friendship with Jiale. But it went beyond that for the two of you. Neither of you were sure when your feelings started to change for one another. One day, you were just casual friends and the next, both of you were starting to realize that your feelings may just be stronger than just friends. Neither of you confessed because there was no need to. It was obvious to both of you how your feelings had changed and words weren't needed to express that. One day, you were just friends, and the next, you were a couple without needing to exchange a single word on the subject.

Being blessed with your position at his side, he slowly started to let you through his barrier, allowing you to get to know him better and learn about all those skills he kept hidden. For example, he was surprisingly good at cleaning. The toughest of stains and the most hidden dust stood no chance against him when he got to work. He was fast at it, too, cleaning his entire house in less than an hour. He was quite in tune to your emotions, though you weren't sure if this extended to others or just you. With one look, he could always tell what you needed or what you were thinking - it was almost scary but also quite comforting. He may not say those three magic words often, but he showed you how much he loved you through his actions - making you hot cocoa on a cold night, forcing himself to study with you so you don't have to suffer alone, taking you to get bubble tea even though he'd rather be practicing. It was the little moments each day that left you feeling warm and loved.

Your favorite hidden talent of his had to do with your favorite time of year - carving pumpkins. In just a few minutes, Baiyang was able to carve a beautiful piece of art into the fruit that looked as if it had been done by a professional artist. He made it look so easy, but yours never even came close. He would often carve his brother's favorite cartoon characters into a pumpkin each year, earning a bright smile from the younger Zhang who showed it off proudly to his friends before setting it by the door. It was honestly adorable. Such a simple gesture, but so heartwarming and sweet.

"What are you grinning about?" Qiao Chen eyed you suspiciously. "You're creeping me out."

Your goofy grin didn't falter. "Nothing~"

He scoffed, shifting on the bench. "Nothing doesn't make people grin like that..."

"Hm, I'm just happy that Autumn is finally here." You looked up at the sky, covered with fluffy white clouds. The trees around the courts were alive in beautiful shades of orange and brown, reminding you of pumpkin pie, and the breeze was nice and chilly. Not quite sweater weather, but it did occasionally dip down enough to bring goosebumps to your skin and send a shiver down your spine. While you weren't lying about what you told him, it wasn't the main reason for your high spirits.

Today after practice, Baiyang was taking you and his brother to the pumpkin patch to pick out your pumpkins for the year. Then you would return home to carve them together. It had become your favorite tradition, one you hoped would continue on for years to come. This year, you were going to choose the fattest, plumpest pumpkin you could and you were going to carve the shit out of it. You had zero artistic ability and couldn't even draw a stick figure with a straight back, but you were determined this year.

"Your grin is getting wider. You're like the damn Cheshire cat." Chen's nose wrinkled and he scooted farther down the bench from you. "I feel like I'm about to be murdered."

"You'd deserve it," Baiyang commented as he stepped up to the bench, his chest rising and falling from the effort of his match. You handed him a bottle of water before placing a towel around his neck.

"If anyone deserves to be murdered, it's you!"

"You're just mad because you know you'd be the first one to die in a horror movie," you teased.

Chen looked offended, placing his hand over his heart. "Better to be murdered than be the murderer!"

"Is it, though?" You quirked a brow, smirking at him.

Before he could reply, Dayong appeared with a smile. "Qiao Chen, it's time for our match. Are you ready?"

Chen looked from you to him, back and then back again as if weighing which was more important - tennis or retorting to your comment with a smart one of his own. In the end, he decided tennis was more important so he just scowled at you before standing up and following the vice-captain over to the court.

Baiyang sat beside you, his thigh brushing against yours as he wiped the sweat from his neck. You didn't want to annoy him by asking him to hurry up, but you were so excited that you couldn't sit still, glancing at your boyfriend every few seconds. He could feel your gaze on him, feel your leg bouncing beside his own. He knew it was taking everything within you not to yell at him to go get changed and the corner of his lips twitched.

"I'm going to go take a shower," he stated as he stood up, looking down into your eyes. "Then we can go."

You nodded enthusiastically. "Okay!"

A small smile graced his lips as he rested his hand atop your head before he headed for the locker room. You watched him go before pulling your notebook from your bag, determined to get in some last-minute practice before the final carving. Though the notebook was supposed to be used for taking notes, the pages had been filled with failed attempts to draw cats. Most of them looked like large potatoes or tiny poles wearing cat ears. You had been practicing for the better part of a year but had made little progress. Your friend told you that art was a skill that anyone could learn with dedication and practice, but you weren't sure you believed her. You believed that some people were born with the talent for art just like some were gifted at tennis. They still had to work at it, of course, but their natural talent made it easier for them to grasp it and go above and beyond the normal. You were certainly not born with a talent for art even though you wanted to be a manga artist as a child. Try as you might, your art was horrendous and you hated it. But just this once, you wanted to be good at it.

"How cute."

You jumped, the book flying from your hands.

Zhuo Zhi caught it with ease, an amused smirk on his lips. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

You huffed. "You most certainly did."

"Maybe a little." His smirk widened the tiniest bit as he settled down beside you, flipping through the pages. "These are cute. What's with the sudden interest in art?"

"No reason," you replied, folding your arms over your chest as you focused your attention on the match between Chen and Dayong.

"Oh, really?" He hummed thoughtfully. "I assumed you were trying to impress Baiyang."

Your shoulders tensed, eyes snapping to him. "You're terrifying, you know that?"

He wasn't going to admit that he had overheard you and your friend talking that morning and that he wasn't psychic. "You're trying too hard."

You frowned, accepting the book when he offered it. "Maybe... he's always looking after me but I never get to look after him. I just... really want to do this for him."

"No matter how ugly or disfigured it may be, he'll love it because it's coming from your heart." Zhi gave you a genuine smile, patting your shoulder.

"Thank you, Zhi." You returned the smile, comforted by his words but still determined to do your best.

"Any time, Y/N."

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Bingwin took off toward the left side of the patch, hopping over pumpkins and dodging other people as he searched for the perfect pumpkin. You headed toward the right side where the large pumpkins sat, your eyes scanning the rows of orange and white fruit. Some were tall, others were wide, and some were nearly perfectly round. Some had bumps, others were smooth, but each one was just waiting to be chosen, to have a cool design carved into it, or to be made into delicious pumpkin-flavored treats. Baiyang remained in the center between the two of you so he could keep an eye on his little brother but still be close to you while also choosing his own pumpkin. Looking at his expression, one would think he was annoyed to be there, but he was actually quite content. Not only was he spending time with his brother, who he didn't see often due to school and practice, he was also spending time with the person he had grown to love so dearly. What more could he ask for?

Your brow furrowed as you walked down the row of pumpkins, eyes scanning each one but they just didn't feel right and as you came to the end of the row, you were starting to lose hope. And then it appeared, like an orange angel from the heavens above - the largest damn pumpkin you had ever seen. Your eyes sparkled under the setting sun as you rushed over to it. It was wider than it was tall, but it nearly reached your knees when you came to a stop in front of it.

"It's perfect," you whispered, kneeling in front of the fruit before wrapping your arms around it. You tried to lift it, but it was like a sack of concrete and barely lifted an inch off the ground. You huffed from the effort, feeling your arms burning but you refused to give up. Unfortunately, the pumpkin was just too heavy. Your hands lost their grip and you yelped as you went flying backward onto your rear end. "Ow~"

"Y/N!" Baiyang appeared at your side, his brow creased in worry. "Are you okay?"

You gave him a sheepish smile, accepting the hand he offered you. "I'm okay. My pride is more wounded than my body..."

He glanced at the pumpkin you had been attempting to lift. "Are you sure you want this one?"

"Yes!"

The corners of his lips slid upward at your enthusiasm and he nodded, turning toward the fruit. Despite his strength, even he struggled to lift it - though he did make more progress than you had. You rushed over to help him, taking half of the pumpkin despite his protests, helping him to carry the fruit to the opposite side of the field where a table had been set up. Two employees sat behind it, taking money in exchange for the pumpkins they had worked so hard to grow. The table shook when you set the pumpkin down and both of them looked at you with wide eyes.

"Well, I'll be..." the older man stood up, his hands on his hips as he looked fondly at the pumpkin. "I was worried that no one was gonna buy big old Berthai."

"You... named it?" Baiyang didn't know how to feel about this information. He was still trying to process why you wanted this monster in the first place.

"Well, o' course, I did! She's the biggest pumpkin we've ever grown!" The man patted the pumpkin fondly and his eyes held sadness as if he were seeing his child off to university.

Baiyang was left speechless, but you somehow understood the man's feelings. "Don't worry, I promise to carve the most beautiful pattern into her. She'll be the best pumpkin in the whole city!"

The woman chuckled from her seat. "Make sure you send us a picture, dear."

"I will!"

"There you are, Baiyang! I chose my pump - holy crap." Bingwin stopped short, his mouth hanging open as he stared at the pumpkin on the table. "It's huge!"

The man nodded frantically, patting it again. "Ain't she a beaut?"

"Um... sure." He didn't take his eyes off of it as he set his own, much smaller pumpkin on the table. The way he was staring at it, you wondered if he worried that it was going to come to life.

"Will this be all?" The woman asked.

Baiyang shook his head before turning to his brother. "Bingwin, go grab one for me."

The younger Zhang clicked his tongue but did as his brother asked, returning to the patch to find a pumpkin for his brother.

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You swallowed hard as you started down old Berthia. You had already cleaned the inside, the seeds sitting in a pile atop some newspaper beside you on the counter, but now it was time for the hard part and you were seriously doubting yourself. You wanted it to be perfect but you weren't sure you could pull it off. You glanced over your shoulder at your boyfriend. He was standing beside the table with his brother and they were working quietly on their own pumpkins.

Shaking your head, you made a determined expression before gripping the knife and setting to work. The brothers were done long before you, setting their creations off to the side to wait for you. Bingwin went off to work on his homework while Baiyang cleaned the kitchen, sending you glances every few seconds. He hadn't missed how tense your shoulders were or how you kept sighing in frustration every time you made a mistake. He didn't miss how you chewed on your lip or how your brow seemed to stay furrowed. Still, he knew you didn't want him to see what you were doing, you had made that obvious by pausing and hiding it every time he got close, so he kept his distance as he cleaned.

You felt tears stinging at your eyes as you finally dropped the k ice onto the counter, falling onto the stool in defeat. You had royally fucked up the design multiple times and though you had tried to correct it, you just made it worse. It looked nothing like a cat. You couldn't even give a name to what it was, but it made you think of an inkblot test which just made you feel worse. You had it all planned out in your head - you would carve a cute cat into it and Baiyang would smile while looking at you with love in his eyes. He would be so touched by this that he would kiss you and tell you how much he loved you. He would know how much you loved him with that simple gesture and yet... none of that was going to happen. It seemed so stupid, but it was devastating to you.

"Y/N, are you -" Baiyang stopped short in the kitchen doorway, his eyes widening when he saw your shoulders shaking as you tried to hold back your sobs. He was at your side in two long strides, his eyes scanning your hands for any sign of injury. He relaxed a little finding none, but he was still concerned. "What happened?"

"I'm so-sorry..." you cried, rubbing furiously at your eyes but the tears just wouldn't stop coming.

He gently pulled your hands from your face before resting his own against your cheek, his thumb wiping away your tears. "Tell me what happened."

You looked into his eyes, trying to control your emotions. You wanted to tell him, but it felt so childish like you shouldn't be getting upset over something so simple but you couldn't help how you felt. With your heart on your sleeve, you confessed everything to him. He was patient with you as you stuttered and cried before apologizing once more.

Baiyang frowned, but he'd be lying if he said his heart didn't flutter when he found out what you had planned. He knew you loved Halloween and just figured you were excited about that, he never would have guessed that you were doing it for him. It made him so happy, but he couldn't focus on that when you were so upset over the failure.

"Don't be sorry," he told you awkwardly, trying to piece together what to say in his mind. What was he supposed to do? You had never cried in front of him before so this was brand new territory and he was out to sea without a paddle. He glanced at the pumpkin, seeing the large hole in the center and the smaller shapes around it, close but not connected. If he squinted, he could see the faint outline of a very overweight cat. "I like it."

You laughed but it held no amusement. "You don't have to lie to make me feel better, Baiyang. I know it's terrible."

He scowled, looking you dead in the eye. "I've never lied to you."

The sincerity in his eyes brought a fresh round of tears, but you managed to hold them back. You glanced at the pumpkin, thinking of how horrendous it looked, and then back to your boyfriend. You knew he was being honest with you, but... how could he possibly like that? It made no sense and it didn't cheer you up.

Baiyang knew he had to do something drastic to make you feel better and he was willing to do it as long as you smiled again. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself for what he was about to do. "Let's play that game you mentioned the other day..."

Your eyes snapped to his in surprise. "W-What?"

"That game... the one about... the haunted mansion..." He wanted to shiver at just the thought of it. Horror was not his genre. He hated it with a passion and, though he pretended not to be bothered, he was terrified at the thought of ghosts or spirits sharing this world with him. So, when you begged him to play a video game about exploring a haunted mansion, he immediately rejected the idea, though he didn't tell you why. He had his pride to think about and he was afraid you would laugh at him for being a scaredy-cat. The more he thought about it, the more he started to regret his decision, but then your eyes lit up like the lights on a Christmas tree and his regret flew out the window.

You sniffled, rubbing the last of the tears from your eye. "R-Really? You'll play with me?"

"Yeah..."

You smiled softly, throwing your arms around his waist. "Thank you, Baiyang!"

He swallowed hard as he hugged you back, trying to ignore the dread he felt creeping up at the back of his mind. This was a bad idea, he knew it, but there was no backing out now.

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Baiyang sat stiffly on the floor of his bedroom, the only light coming from the TV in front of him, but even the title screen was dark. He tried not to look at it, but he found his gaze flickering to it every few seconds. A creepy house sat in the distance on the right side of the screen, the night sky covered with clouds and blocking most of the full moon. The screen was framed by two large trees, the branches completely bare and looking more like spindly fingers reaching out to grab him.

His insides shook as you suddenly sat beside him, throwing a blanket around his shoulders before bringing them around your own. You were still upset, but you also felt excited to be spending time with your boyfriend, doing one of the things you enjoyed most - playing horror games. To you, horror games were a blast to play all year 'round, but it was so much better when you had someone by your side to enjoy the experience with you. You had been trying to get him to play with you for so long, but he always just flat out refused with no explanation or excuse. And now, finally, he was willing. How could you not be excited?

You grabbed the controller off the floor and sent him a smile. "Ready?"

No, he wanted to say. He didn't trust himself not to so he just nodded, his back as straight as plywood. He was amazed that you didn't notice how tense his shoulder was against your own. Could you hear how his heart was picking up speed as the eerie music began? His hand fisted around his shorts and he tried to take slow, deep breaths.

The first cut scene was of an old woman, holding a long candle affixed into a brass holder as she slowly descended the staircase, her eyes squinting at the darkness that lingered across the first floor like fog. She called out with a shaking voice, asking if anyone was there.

'Idiot,' Baiyang folded his arms over his chest, tapping his forearm nervously. 'Why would you call out to it?!'

There was a sudden crash coming from the woman's kitchen and he jerked, glancing at you but you were completely engrossed in what was happening. The cut scene ended, allowing you to finally control the old woman. Baiyang watched as you made her head toward the kitchen.

"Maybe that's not... a good idea..." he tried to tell you, swallowing hard as the woman approached the doorway. The candlelight was flickering, casting eerie shadows on the walls around her. He almost swore when one of the shadows morphed into a creature with sawed teeth before disappearing.

"We have to find out what caused the sound," you explained as you urged the old woman forward. The door swung open with an ear-piercing squeak and she held the candle up to cast its light throughout the kitchen. You looked to the left where the stove and fridge sat, nestled between pastel green counters. Finding nothing, you turned her around. There was a sharp sound which was usually accompanied by a jumpscare.

Baiyang jumped in surprise, his hand gripping onto your leg on instinct as he leaned toward you. The chairs were sitting on top of the table, stacked in a way that wasn't humanly possible. To his dismay, you urged the woman further, prompting her to speak her dialogue in reaction to this event.

(It happened again... that's the third time this month. How does this keep happening?)

The wooden flooring upstairs creaked directly above her head and you whipped her around to go investigate, despite your boyfriend's insistence that it was a bad idea and that you were going to get her killed.

"Relax," you told him with a smile. "I'm a pro at these games, I know what I'm doing!"

His eyes scanned your face, barely lit up by the flicker of the TV and, despite his fear, he smiled. You just looked so content and happy, a stark contrast to how upset you had been just twenty minutes earlier. He knew you were right, too. You spent so much time playing these types of games, there was no doubt in his mind that you had become a pro. But his natural instinct to run at the sign of supernatural events overpowered these thoughts. She was a defenseless old woman, after all. At the very least, it was someone that had broken into her house. She should be calling the cops and trying to hide, not investigate. Or... he shuddered at the thought that it may be something cops aren't equipped to deal with.

The old woman reached the second floor hallway and stopped in front of the door, prompting more dialogue from her.

(This room has been sealed off since...) A moment of pause. (No one should be able to get inside!) She reached for the doorknob and a gasp escaped her when she found that the know turned. (What? How is it not locked?)

"Y/N..." Baiyang swallowed, shifting closer to you until his leg was squished against your own, his fingers curled around your pant leg as if it were his lifeline. "Don't g-go in that room."

You glanced at your boyfriend, finding his eyes locked on the screen, swimming with anxiety. You had never seen him like that before and, much like he had felt when he saw you crying, you had no idea how to fix the situation. If he was so terrified, why did he agree to... the realization hit you like a train and your eyes widened.

When nothing happened on screen, he glanced at you to see what was keeping you from continuing the game. His heart skipped a beat when he met your eyes, so filled with love and warmth as you stared at him.

"W-What?" His cheeks grew warm and he hoped the darkness hid it. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

"You're terrified " you stated simply as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

He sputtered, giving you a scowl. "N-No, I'm not. Why would I be scared of a stupid game?"

You smiled softly, placing your hand against his cheek, just as he had done to you earlier. "It's okay to be frightened, Baiyang. But you should have told me!"

He felt so vulnerable, so childish as he muttered under his breath, "I didn't want... you to think less of me..."

"I would never think less of you," you told him seriously, shifting onto your knees in front of him and taking both of his cheeks in your hands. "There's no shame in being afraid of something. It doesn't make me love you any less. I can't believe you forced yourself to make me happy..."

His large hand covered your own, his skin warm against yours. "You tried to make me a cat jack-o-lantern."

"Cat-o-lantern," you supplied, earning a chuckle from him.

"It made me really happy... knowing you wanted to do that for me and seeing how upset you got because it didn't work out. I... wanted to do the same for you."

You smiled warmly at him, bringing your forehead against his. "Yes, but I didn't force myself to do something I hate in order to achieve that. I can't believe you..." you shook your head before pressing a kiss to his forehead. "You're the best boyfriend in the world. Have I told you that?"

His face burned but he ignored it, leaning forward to press his lips against your own. You were surprised since he didn't often initiate affection, but you didn't hesitate to return the kiss, shifting to get more comfortable. Your foot hit the controller and the old woman stepped through the door.

Loud, terrifying music started to play followed by pained moans from the spirit in the room. It happened so quickly and was so loud that Baiyang jumped in surprise, hitting your forehead with his own in his panic. You groaned in pain, letting yourself fall back onto the floor.

His heart was hammering in his chest, his body tense as he prepared to run as fast as his legs could carry him, but then he realized it was just the game and tried to calm himself, reaching a shaking hand to the controller so he could turn the game off. Silence fell over the room.

He crawled toward you with concern, his chest rising and falling quicker than normal. "A-Are you okay, Y/N? I'm sorry..."

You grinned up at him, hand resting on your forehead. "Maybe we should skip the game."

He moved your hand away, frowning at your skin as his fingers lightly brushed over it. "Sorry," he said again, softer than the first. He leaned over you, his soft lips pressing lightly against your forehead.

"Tonight definitely didn't go as planned," you commented. "But that's life, I guess."

He nodded in agreement.

With a smile, you patted the floor beside him and he responded by settling down beside you, his shoulder against yours. You took his hand, fingers lacing together.

And that's how the two of you spent the rest of the night, just enjoying each other's presence until you finally fell asleep, heads resting against one another.

The night certainly didn't go the way you had meant it to, but that was alright. You may not have been able to carve the pumpkin how you wanted, but your feelings had certainly reached Baiyang's heart. On the other hand, Baiyang hadn't been able to stomach the game you wanted to play with him, but his efforts weren't missed on you and his own feelings reached your heart.

You didn't need to say I love you. That's just not how your relationship worked and that was fine. It was said when it was needed, but the rest of the time it was expressed instead.

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#zhang baiyang #prince of tennis #The Prince of Tennis #tennis no oujisama #Tennis no Ouji-sama #match! tennis juniors #prince of tennis match tennis juniors #wang qiu shao nian #chinapuri #chinapuri 2019 #frightful october 21 #frightful october #baiyang x reader #zhang baiyang x reader #halloween

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itsgettingcrazieroutthere · 3 years

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I don't express my love for Yan Zhiming as often as I do with other characters, but I FREAKING LOVE HIM!

"It's okay if you don't trust my data, but you can trust me" 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

#yan zhiming #the prince of tennis #zhang baiyang #yan zhiming & zhang baiyang #chinapuri 2019 #inui & kaido #inui sadaharu #kaido kaoru

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chinapuri · 3 years

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Oh the same friend I mentioned earlier has gone on a FaceApp spree and I'm equal parts terrified (uncanny valley!!), cracking up and suddenly very interested in an AU... Under a cut for length, but here's Lu Xia, who's pretty much Lu Xia with longer hair tbh

Baiyang is literally just... Baiyang wearing makeup. Which isn't something I expected to see in my lifetime.

Bonus:

#ngl girl yan zhiming is pretty hot #prince of tennis 2019 #chinapuri 2019 #fen dou ba shao nian #yu qing #ugh let's go tag a gazillion people #lu xia #mu siyang #zhuo zhi #yan zhiming #chi dayong #tang jiale #he xinglong #zhang baiyang #qiao chen #qi ying

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starberry-cupcake · 3 years

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The Chinapuri finale and its montage aka censorship who?

I decided to do all of this in one post and read more, so that the 95% of my followers who are uninterested on this particular drama/source material can easily skip it. Here are 7 relationships showcased in the montage ranked and 2 bonus (a family relationship and an extra).

Note: I’ll speak about the relationships as they were portrayed, whichever the form of relationship chosen to display in this version. Also, I’m glad that everyone was aged up in this version, kinda wild but very much appreciated that some of these actors are my age or somewhere around there lol

#7 Lu Xia (Echizen Ryoma) and Qi Ying (Ryuuzaki Sakuno)

This drama was a bit more romantically-inclined in terms of these two than the anime/manga was, but some of that may be also influenced by them giving their version of Sakuno more room (which yay!) and having them be older.

For this to stand alone as a drama, it was a needed step, I believe. I found Lu Xia to be more vulnerable than Ryoma, he doesn’t feel quite as ~cool~ and it doesn’t take away from the character that he has moments showing internal struggle (in tennis as well as at home). These two were sweet and adorable, which gave the drama probably more of an expected appeal for a wider audience, to make it stand on its own as a drama and not only an anime adaptation.

#6 Yan ZhiMing (Inui Sadaharu) & Liu Lian (Yanagi Renji)

Kinda mad they didn’t do this for Fuji (Zhuo Zhi) and Saeki (Zuo Xiaohu) but they did good with these two. I didn’t know at first why they started to build up their relationship so early, but it ended up being a good emotional plot point during their match, which is, as we all know, a determining factor in Seigaku’s (Yu Qing) win against Rikkai (Hai Guang).

I don’t remember being as invested in their match in the anime as I was here, maybe I was just too focused on the Fuji match at that time, but what they did to build that game as a decisive point in the season finale was so well developed, I was impressed.

#5 He XingLong (Kawamura Takeshi) & Ya JiuXin (Akutsu Jin)

This is a relationship that can get complicated and even problematic if handled incorrectly. Akutsu’s journey through the anime is pretty long and takes a while for him to be on a healthier place, but the added element of aging the characters could have gone really wrong here if they had done him exactly as in the anime or manga. I think they did pretty well with the time they were given, showing his turmoil and learning curve.

XingLong was allowed to have a more in-depth journey being older and about to graduate, it made more sense for him here to think about his career at this stage and added the gravity of this being THE moment to decide whether to keep pursuing the sport or take over his dad’s restaurant (they even adapted the type of food they cook to match the cultural impact of the family-owned business, which was great).

I think the two complemented each other really well and worked interestingly together, in a way I didn’t think the drama was gonna give them time to do, so I’m really pleased.

#4 Qiao Chen (Momoshiro Takeshi) & Zhang BaiYang (Kaidoh Kaoru)

My younger self is thriving with this one being included tbh. These two were so much fun in the anime, two rivals and opposites that represented the future of the team upon their elders leaving.

I was surprised to see them so focused here, because it’s not a relationship most adaptations put emphasis on (their loss), but it paid off immensely by the time their game against Bunta and Jackal (Jin WenTai & Ke Jie) came around.

Kaidoh is a tough one to adapt most times, and they did him so well in this one, I think this is my favorite live action Kaidoh in any adaptation, and I’ve watched a whole bunch of tenimyu in my day. They really captured the ambiguity of his character, how he balances a tough exterior with a sensitive core. Qiao Chen maintained his feelings for Xu Xingzi (Tachibana Ann) but that didn’t stop them from showing these two every time they could.

#3 Mu Siyang (Tezuka Kunimitsu) & Ji Jingwu (Atobe Keigo)

Oh, these two. Hyotei (Xing Yao) wasn’t featured as much as one would probably expect (I’m a Fudomine fan and with Yu Feng I got more than I even was expecting, but I admit Hyotei is a riot and I always live my best life when they show up). Still, they did the Tezuka/Atobe match justice and then some.

Mu Siyang was incredibly compelling as Tezuka, and had a vulnerability to him that made me worry for his health more than I probably did for his anime counterpart. Maybe also the fact that he was older than his anime version yet looked younger than him made it sink more that his injury was something to worry about. I wish we had time to include anime!Tezuka’s issues with yips with Siyang, because I know the drama would have pulled it off, but that was further down the line in the story. Maybe for a season 2.

Anyway, the Atobe/Tezuka game is one of the best games in tenipuri history and the drama knew it. The game felt like it earned its gravity with the development of both Siyang’s injury and Ji Jingwu’s determination to play against him. Then they sprinkled the camp on top, as the anime does, with Ji Jingwu paying for his every expense and calling him to get updates, which is 100% canon compliant imo.

I feel like Ji Jingwu didn’t have enough room to be as much of Atobe as he could be, but then again, that’s not easy for anyone to pull off. Not even Kato Kazuki can do Junichi Suwabe as well as Junichi Suwabe.

#2 Bai ShiYan (Yukimura Seiichi) & Tian ZiLong (Sanada Genichirou)

So, it’s tough to feel for Rikkai (Hai Guang) at this point of the story. You learn about Yukimura’s health and it’s difficult, but you just met them and the first impressions haven’t been great.

However, the relationship between Sanada and Yukimura has always been something pivotal for the way the team is constructed (they were named that way for a reason, two parts of a same hero and all that) and they sustain the team in a way other teams don’t have to. They are the mom and dad of the team, the coaches, the leaders and the pillars. They have a balance of severity and permissiveness, of strictness and instinct. They are like a couple who has been married for 25 years.

How on Earth, I asked myself, will they achieve that with censorship on the way? I don’t know, but they did it, the mad bastards.

It really does come through 100% the importance of their relationship and the way in which the captain’s health affects the team and, more than anything, their vice captain. It reaches a crescendo during the final match, before ShiYan’s operation, and they manage to pull it off with the time they have.

Also, their scenes are like shot for a contemporary romance drama and I appreciate that vibe.

#1 Tang JiaLe (Kikumaru Eiji) & Chi DaYong (Oishi Shuichiro)

Oh boy. Look. I still own Golden Pair merchandise from my Days, ok? These two hold a special place in my heart. I saw actors who portrayed them grow up, succeed and pass away, sadly. I still sing Depend On Me sometimes. There is a cheerful vibe with these two, a sense of overcoming obstacles and finding balance, I don’t know. Fuji is my favorite character but these two are special in their way.

This freakin’ drama just went full on Golden Pair. The level of content was off the charts. The moment they came on the screen, the second they talked about their doubles, it was already setting the tone of how deep their relationship was going to go. I am a bit amazed that they avoided to get closed down for this ngl. And I appreciate the risk because it paid off.

They have a body language communication that is captured in every shot. Even when they’re not the focus of the scene, they’re close, touching or holding each other, arms around each other, hands on each other’s shoulders, grabbing each other’s clothes. When they fight, that language changes drastically, and the distance they take feels intense and cold. You go through it with them and the team shows it as well. There’s an entire episode I had screencaps of and never posted when the team falls apart because they do.

My favorite part, though, ironically, isn’t what they did with them together but what they did with them apart. They took time to develop them as individual characters with their own issues, their fears, their worries and weaknesses. They were allowed to be flawed and wrong and have to mend their ways.

What really got me and impacted me deeply was the fact that they chose DaYong to talk about mental health. They gave room to speaking about the physical implications of anxiety disorders and about how self esteem issues can give more magnitude to ongoing issues with your mental health. Again, the age of the characters being changed helped add a depth to some issues that get developed with more intensity in a drama of this kind, and the way in which it takes TIME to get resolved, it isn’t a one episode thing, it’s an underlying issue that spans the season...*chef’s kiss*

Even though there’s a specific tenimyu incarnation of these two that I hold dear and will always remember fondly, I think that Xu Ke and Zhu ZhiLing are the most successful and best portrayed live action Golden Pair I’ve ever seen.

Bonus that was in the montage but it’s specifically about a family relationship: The Zhuo Bros

I have said Fuji has always been my favorite and his relationship with Yuta as an older brother (albeit he’s not the eldest sibling like me) is one I always felt close to.

In the anime, the two have a rocky relationship that gets developed throughout, but the drama is very good at establishing not only Zhuo Yu’s (Fuji Yuta) self esteem issues, the subsequent use of that Guan Yue (Mizuki Hajime) does and Zhuo Zhi’s (Fuji Syusuke) attempts to breach the gap between the siblings, they also use it to develop Zhuo Zhi’s character and his reticence to show weakness.

It’s tough to get Fuji towards a place of vulnerability without breaking character, but they used family and the care he provides to his brother as a point to further his story, and I appreciate that a lot. They managed to build Zhuo Zhi up with this sibling bond as one of his core elements, and that gave a lot of dimension to his games and his character.

Bonus that wasn’t in the montage but I’m including in some capacity: Mu Siyang (Tezuka Kunimitsu) & Zhuo Zhi (Fuji Syusuke)

I thought these two deserved a place in the list, even if they weren’t grouped much in the montage, because the drama did make them share moments together that I feel gave more depth to their characters.

There was a very interesting moment in which they showed Mu Siyang and Zhuo Zhi establishing their differences when approaching tennis, and how serious Mu Siyang is about taking the team to victory. I think that strengthened the character as a captain to me, in a way that shows it rather than tells it, and allowed for his guidance to still be present when he wasn’t physically there. His determination ultimately influenced Zhuo Zhi to take things more seriously, and that was a pretty interesting development to see.

All in all, I should, at some point, go and do a serious review for MyDramaList but I wanted to leave in my blog how much I appreciated this adaptation. I wasn’t expecting much and I was delivered everything.

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siyangs-glasses · 3 years

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#cdrama #chinese drama #chinese prince of tennis #prince of tennis #奋斗吧少年 #chinapuri 2019 #zhang baiyang #qiao chen #fen dou ba shao nian

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drama--universe · 3 years

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Fixed Pt. 2

I had to rewatch this because i didn’t remember anything... But damn, Siyang in a suit 😍

Pairing: Siyang x reader

Requested by @smolandhungry

Part 1

“Boys?” You questioned as you walked on the tennis field before noticing them. Some of them were on the ground, others sitting on the benches.

“Why do you all look so upset and tired..?” You questioned and they looked up before one of them pointed at a white board further down. You frowned at the board before realizing.

“He left...” You mumbled before sitting down next to Qiao Chen and you looked at the rest again.

“So, even more reason for you you guys to win.” You spoke and they nodded, agreeing with your statement.

The next few months were rather hard for you. Although, you could text him or video call, it just wasn’t the same at all. You felt lonely and the time difference also didn’t help at all. You knew that the boys had it somewhat difficult with his leave, even when they pretended that they didn’t so you took the roll of Siyang in a matter of speaking.

“Is he going to win..?” You heard someone question as you watched Lu Xia play against Tian ZiLong. You looked to the side, seeing everyone on the edge of their seat. You chuckled before turning back to the match before watching Lu Xia fall to the ground.

“Yu Qing wins. The final score is 7-5!” The referee yelled and your eyes widen.

“We won...” You heard Qiao Chen mumble before they all jumped up, cheering loudly with the crowd joining in soon after. They rushed to Lu Xia, lifting him in the air and you laughed as you watched them do so.

A few days passed and you were now eating in the tennis room. The boys were all eating their food as they talked. You heard someone clear their throat and turned your head to see Baiyang and Qiao Chen walk in.

“Good news for everyone...” “Hey!” Jiale raised his arm and Qiao Chen stopped his speech.

“Please stop, it’s the 5th time you’re supposedly announcing good new. I can’t even finish my food here.” “Hey, do you know what I am about to say?” Chen complained as he sat down and Jiale turned around.

“It’s about us getting a wild card. We’re advancing to the nationals, we will encounter Xing Yao and Hai Guang again.” Jiale spoke and you shook your head.

“Well, obviously not. We already know that. What is it?” You spoke and Qiao Chen smiled.

“Take a guess, I’ll tell you after you take a guess.” He said and you laughed, shaking your head as you leaned back in your seat. Jiale pondered for a second before being interrupted by Baiyang.

“The captain is coming back.” Everyone froze as he said this before looking at Baiyang. Your eyes widen as you pondered for a second, wondering why he hadn’t told you. While the others argued, you just sat back and continuing to eat your food.

Another week passed until he returned. The boys had planned a whole video that they’d show the day he’d returned. It was the day before that day and you were just at home since it was Sunday. Your books were spread over your desk as you made your notes until you heard your phone ring. You looked up, taking your phone from your bed before opening it to see a message from Siyang. Opening it, you smiled.

‘Look outside’

You stood up before opening the curtains and seeing Siyang leaning against a wall, phone in his hand and wearing a blue suit with a white shirt underneath it. You looked at him for a few seconds before looking at yourself. You were dressed in just a big t-shirt and chuckled. you opened your closet and dressing in some jeans and a blue crop top. You rushed downstairs, putting your shoes before taking your bag and leaving the room. You stalked towards Siyang before pulling his phone away.

“Hey.” You greeted and he gave you a smile, pulling his phone back from your grip. Without warning, you just hugged him tightly. You could hear him chuckle as he wrapped his arms around you as well.

“Next time you’re leaving, I’m dumping your ass.” You mumbled as you looked up. He rolled his eyes before kissing your forehead. You frowned before standing on your tiptoes and kissing him.

“i missed you.” You said afterwards and he smiled.

“I missed you too.” He spoke and you smiled before taking his hands.

“Great, now let’s do something so I didn’t dress up for nothing!”

#Mu Siyang #Mu Siyang x reader #Prince of tennis #prince of tennis 2019 #prince of tennis x reader #qiao chen #zhang baiyang #Yan Zhiming #Zhou Zhi #Tan Jiale #Lu Xia #he xinglong #Chi Dayong

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savagetimi · 4 years

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#ciao Chen #zhang baiyang #momokai #Chinese prince of tennis #prince of tennis #chinapuri

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hhhhhhhappycow · 4 years

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Prince of Tennis 2019 Hunger Games AU:

(Aka something I half-daydreamed after reading the Hunger Games prequel and watching the Prince of Tennis live action series):

When 15 year old Lu Xia volunteers as the tribute for District 4, even the peacekeepers are bewildered as to whether he can do that. After all, he spent the majority of his childhood in the Capitol with his mother. However he was born in District 4 and returned there the year before to live with his father in the Victor's Village, and so they allow it.

People talk, as they always do, wondering whether this was why he returned to them at all, why he kept to himself and always seemed to be training for something. It was.

The 15 year old boy he took the place of, Ah Mu, sobs with relief and gratitude and sorrow for this stranger who has certainly saved his life.

His father, the famed Victor, Lu Xiangqian, only watches in silence as his son walks toward the stage. There is no pride in his face, only terror.

Next they call the female tribute, and nobody steps forward for Qi Ying as she moves towards the stage, dwarfed by all those around her. She knows she doesn't stand a chance.

Lu Xiangqian is silent as he accompanies his son on the journey to the Capitol. Although he does not say anything, it is clear that this brings back memories of his own Reaping, 20 years previously, when he was just an unknown boy from an impoverished family, and not yet an underdog success story lauded by the Capitol. He has not been there in years, had returned to District 4 shortly after marrying and remained there even when his Capitol wife left him, taking their infant son with her, to return to her home. He is met with cheers and screams in the streets.

Also accompanying them is Qi Na, Qi Ying’s aunt and a fellow previous Victor. She won her own games two years after Lu Xiangqian, and although not quite as beloved a figure as he is, she too is welcomed in the Capitol. In spite of the quiet life she has enjoyed since her own games in the Victor’s Village of District 4, she takes it upon herself to mentor both Lu Xia and Qi Ying, determined that one of these small children will make it out alive. Still, her heart breaks every time she looks at them, realizing she will at some point likely have to make the choice between saving her niece and saving her former mentor and friend’s son.

Lu Xiangqian cannot bring himself to mentor his own son, and he knows that Lu Xia would resist all attempts for him to do so. Instead he spends time talking with the others at the training centre, giving tips when he knows Lu Xia is listening in. In particular, he finds himself bonding with a plucky young boy from District 8, Qiao Chen, who somewhat reminds him of himself.

Despite Qi Na’s advice for them to make allies, Lu Xia keeps to himself, and Qi Ying sticks close to his side. He makes no effort to befriend her, but he does not send her away either.

During training, they meet some of the other tributes.

Mu Siyang is the Career tribute from District 2, although he is not the standard Career as Lu Xia thinks of them. Siyang trained along with several other boys from his year, and managed to best them all. At 17, despite being a year younger than is usual for volunteers, the mentors from District 2 believed him to be far more capable than any of their 18 year old trainees, and so prompted him to step forward. Siyang, who had long since accepted that he would one day be reaped, merely did as he had been asked, with little complaint. He is tall and strong and by far the favorite to win, even favored by the Head Game-maker's own son, Ji Jingwu. His one weakness, which he hides from the tributes, is an old arm injury that occasionally acts up. Like Lu Xia, he largely keeps to himself, although he seems willing to train with others when they approach him.

Another unusual choice for a Career- and also a favorite for victory- is 17 year old Zhuo Zhi, from District 1. Similar to Siyang, he was supposed to volunteer in the following year, at 18. However, at the Reaping, it was his younger brother's name that they called, and the 18 year old who was supposed to volunteer- Guan Yue- remained silent, knowing that Zhuo Zhi would take his place. Lu Xia immediately marks him, aside from Siyang, as the toughest competition. Zhuo Zhi is careful not to practice his skills in front of the others, and there are rumours- supported by his high scores from the Game-makers- that he has no weaknesses. He seems to spend time with Siyang the most, seeking out his company and joking in an interview that they were both clearly fated to be in the games together this year rather than the following year.

Yan Zhiming, an 18 year old from District 3, is seemingly omnipresent in the training arena. He watches his competitors train with a sharp gaze, gathering data on all of his opponents. He takes the time to learn all of their strengths and weaknesses. It is only when Zhang Baiyang from District 7, tired of being watched, snaps at him to actually pick up some skills while he can or his data isn't going to be of any use in the arena, that he realizes he needs to learn to put his information to use.

Although not a Career, and despite only being 16, Zhang Baiyang is another favorite to win, strong and steely and determined. The only problem is he does not do so well with interviews, acting sullen and withdrawn in a way that comes across as sulky rather than arrogant. He puts maximum effort into training, although he himself does not seem confident in his ability to win. When Yan Zhiming approaches him with the offer of an alliance, he is reluctant to accept, but ultimately agrees after a seeming change of heart. Neither of them know how long it will last.

Qiao Chen, also aged 16, is from District 8 and is considered more of a dark horse in the competition. While he does not have the strength of the Careers or Baiyang, he is agile and has high endurance. His cheery attitude also endears him, both to the viewers and other contestants. Although not Baiyang, who gets fed up with Qaio Chen following him and trying to copy his strength exercises. At the prompting of Lu Xiangqian, he attempts to ally himself with both Lu Xia and Qi Ying, trying to earn their trust. Lu Xia remains suspicious that this is either just a ploy or that his father is orchestrating it solely for his benefit.

He Xinglong, 18, is from District 11 and is considered another dark horse. In interviews he is mild-mannered and friendly, but when talk turns to family, his face turns hard and he announces that he promised his father he would come home, and that he intends to keep that promise. He is up there in terms of raw strength, although in the training sessions he spends more time working with the paints and learning to camouflage and hide himself. Asides from Qiao Chen, he is the only one Lu Xia may consider as a potential ally.

While not a favorite to win by any means, it is not considered outside the realm of possibilities for Chi Dayong, an 18 year old from District 5, to emerge victorious. He is an all-rounder, strong and intelligent, although he is somewhat slow and tends to trust others perhaps too quickly. To the surprise of many, Siyang seems to befriend him, becoming the only person other than Zhuo Zhi (and occasionally Yan and Lu Xia) that Siyang speaks with. He seems to be aware of the fact that he will not win, and is simply striving to stay alive for as long as possible.

Despite the rumours and the fact that the girl from his home of District 6 is, Tang Jiale, also aged 18, is not a morphling addict. His twitchiness comes from nerves only, as like Dayong he knows he is unlikely to live. While he is nimble and quick, he is not necessarily strong and he lacks stamina. He becomes close to Dayong over the course of their training, and by the time the two head into the arena they have a strong pact: If they're going out, they're going out together, at least.

Huang Jing and Ma Xiuwen are from District 9 and District 10 respectively, and deep down they both know they will not last long. Still, both boys are just shy of 15, and are in denial about their odds, doing their best in training to gain skills and strength in spite of the fact that their mentors have already abandoned them as lost causes. Together they copy the moves that Siyang does, trying to emulate him, and even Lu Xiangqian and Qi Na offer them advice. Huang Jing reassures Xiuwen that their training will pay off, that the two of them will make it right to the end, but he knows his words are empty.

The first time that anybody pays attention to Qi Ying is during the interview stage. She departs from her script and speaks of the atrocities, both awaiting them and in their home districts. Her speech is heart-rending poignant and heavily edited by the time it reaches the Capitol.

Lu Xia does not say much in his interviews, only stating that he is here to beat his father's records, although he does, to the surprise of many, defend Qi Ying.

Jiale and Dayong drum up some popularity in the interviews, with their clear affection for each other being viewed as an inspirational friendship by many. They both secretly wonder how much of it is built on the need to survive.

Another popular duo, for a different reason, are Baiyang and Qiao Chen. Their squabbling during training comes to a head during the interviews, and members of the Capitol gossip about the potential for a passionate showdown between the two once they enter the arena.

Siyang's interview only gains him more respect: He is introspective, intelligent, and calm, speaking about the event that is about to unfold with sorrow but also a resignation that is mature beyond his years.

Zhuo Zhi plays up the mysterious angle, bantering with the host (and Jiale, in an unexpected friendship that some of the audience love) and smirking throughout. The only time he cracks slightly is when his brother, who he volunteered for, is mentioned: That is when his determination to get home is truly revealed.

Lu Xia is slowly starting to realize that winning the Hunger Games may be harder than he initially thought.

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zaskiaz · 3 years

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Ok I don’t think detention is a thing in china BUT 30 for uh, Qiao Chen and Baiyang? Lol

i love how it took me forever to come up with an idea, and then i wrote it all out in 3 hours and changed most of it XD

turned into more of a crack fic than anything else, but i had lots of fun with writing rival pair, so thanks a lot!

Fluff/general - Detention? Again? - Rival Pair (~1.9k words)

Qiao Chen spends the last 15 minutes of his last class for the day (math, because of course it'd be math), agonizing over an exercise he's supposed to be handing over to his teacher as soon as the bell rings. Try as he might, he doesn't understand how functions are supposed to work, much less how he's supposed to get a graph by the end of it and draw it. Hell, he doesn't even understand why there are "x"s and "y"s in a subject that is supposed to be about numbers.

He sighs in frustration and tugs at his hair for what must surely be the 80th time in the last couple of minutes. Mindlessly, he doodles a cartoonish looking snake at the corner of his paper, tries to mess around with the numbers some more before giving up again to glare at the clock above the whiteboard, willing its hands to move faster.

They only seem to mockingly and stubbornly move slower.

After what feels like an eternity, however, the bell rings and Qiao Chen practically leaps off his seat before remembering he's supposed to hand in his solved math exercise. Which continues very much unsolved. He scowls down at it, tries to give it one more shot and scribbles some more nonsensical calculations, using his calculator to get a result, because his brain feels as if it had been deep fried. The calculator shows him a 12, and Qiao Chen squints at the answer options on his sheet – A)33, B)-18, C)14, D)-68 – before promptly circling 14 since it's the closest result to the one he got.

(As for the graph... well, can't be all that difficult right? He vaguely remembers some funny drawings of curved lines in his books, randomly picking one up which shouldn't be too wrong and quickly sketching it down on his graph and marking the numbers on the x and y axes).

Qiao Chen puffs his chest, proud of himself, and mentally pats himself on the back for being a math mastermind and easily overcoming difficulties the world seems set on throwing his way.

Clearly the world should know better than underestimate the competence of a focused Qiao Chen.

With a skip to his step, he bounces his way to the teacher's desk and places his paper on top of the growing pile, flashing the teacher a big grin and a thumbs up in response to their unimpressed stare. Which, huh, rude.

Determined to treat himself for suffering through 50 minutes of class and being able to solve an impressive, college level math problem, Qiao Chen decides on hamburgers for lunch. Yes, hamburgers sound like an excellent idea, and suitable for the celebratory occasion.

~~ Keep reading here c:

#rival pair #chinapuri #prince of tennis 2019 #chinapuri 2019 #qiao chen #zhang baiyang #prince of tennis #fen dou ba shao nian #my writing #writing #prompt fill

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therainroguefanfiction · 2 years

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A Warm Escape (Zhang Baiyang & Qiao Chen)

Genre: Fluff, friendship, slice of life, comedy

Word Count: 2,220

Pairing: Zhang Baiyang & Qiao Chen

World: The Prince of Tennis ~ Match! Tennis Juniors ~

Request: "No dub/non con, no sad ending. Angst with happy ending is ok. Future fic, 5 + 1 fic, your take on the cliche "hot springs episode" XD fluffy fic or hurt/comfort fic about any of my requested pairings. Bonus if it's funny or there is bickering (especially for Qiao Chen & Baiyang) or if there are team shenanigans happening around the pair."

Author's Note: Okay so, this was written for the Secret Santa event over on the Chinapuri discord. Let me start by saying that I don't feel comfortable writing slash fiction and it's difficult for me to write without an OC, but I really wanted to participate in this. I hope it came out well, I tried to write it in a way where it could be right on the line of what's slash and what's not. I also feel the need to admit that I don't know what the hot springs episode is because I have yet to finish the series, but I really wanted to go with this theme so I hope it came out okay and that you enjoy it! I should also mention that this was inspired by Secrets of the Hot Spring, which is a great movie. Merry Christmas if you celebrate and, if not, have a great winter!

━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━

Winter break was right around the corner, but that meant nothing to the players of Yu Qing. School may be taking a break, but their training did not cease. If anything, they just started training harder! But that may just have something to do with Yan's new winter-themed juice that he kept threatening the members with. No one, with the exception of Zhuo Zhi, wanted that juice anywhere near them so they worked thrice as hard to avoid it. Dayong was worried that his teammates might be pushing themselves too hard, though, so he approached Siyang and their coach with a proposal, one that he hoped would both relax and motivate the team.

Yu Qing was going to spend the weekend at the hot springs in the mountains!

Qiao Chen was especially excited about this and couldn't stop talking about the trip, much to Baiyang's great annoyance. "I can't wait! It's going to be so~ relaxing!"

Baiyang huffed, wiping the sweat from his neck with a white towel. "Che. If you don't stop running your mouth instead of practicing, you won't even get to go."

Chen's eyes narrowed at him from his spot on the bench beside Lu Xia. "Nobody was even talking to you."

"If you don't want people butting into your conversation, you shouldn't be such a loudmouth."

"Hah?" Chen shot up, a scowl on his face as he glared daggers at the male. "Do you wanna fight? I'll take you on right now!"

"Yeah, I do." Baiyang got into his face, a challenging look burning in his eyes. "And I'll win, like always."

"Why you -"

"Enough, both of you." Dayong frowned, hand on his hip as he looked at the two underclassmen.

For a moment, the two just stared at one another, weighing their options to see if it was actually worth giving up the hot springs for. In the end, both boys decided it wasn't so they just huffed, turning around in unison and stomping away. Baiyang returned to his match with Yan while Chen went to look for Lu Xia, who had disappeared during their staring match.

Dayong shook his head, wondering just what he was going to do with those two. He suddenly felt arms around his body and he relaxed at the scent of Jiale's familiar cologne.

"Something wrong?" Jiale wondered, tilting his head to the side, chin resting on Dayong's shoulder.

"No, it's nothing. Are you ready for our match?"

"Yeah! Let's do it~" Jiale grinned brightly, bringing a gentle smile to Dayong's face as he followed after his partner, all thoughts of the feuding boys gone from his mind for the moment.

━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━

Qiao Chen's eyes practically lit up as the bus headed down the side road toward the hot springs. He had been so excited that he almost didn't get any sleep, but he had managed to drift off while thinking of how amazing the hot water would feel against his body, softening his muscles and destroying any stress he may be holding on to. How could he not be excited?

Baiyang sat beside him, eyes wide and deep bags beneath them. He hadn't slept a wink last night because he was *not* looking forward to this trip. How could he be after hearing that the place was supposedly haunted? How could the others be so excited about staying there for the weekend? He didn't understand it and thinking about it sent a shiver down his spine, making his shoulder bump against Chen's.

Chen smirked at him. "Something wrong?"

Baiyang scoffed. "No."

"Hm. You sure? You're looking a bit scared there, Baiyang. Worried about the ghosts?"

"I-Idiot, of course not! Why would I be s-scared of that?"

"That's good." His smirk widened, rivaling that of the Cheshire cat. "I did some digging and apparently ten people have died there in the past ten years. That's one death a year and there hasn't been one this year."

He only just barely managed to hold back his shiver, not wanting to show weakness in front of his rival. "T-That's ridiculous. If that were true, they would have shut down by now!"

"Not necessarily." Yan angled his body so he could look at the seat behind him, readjusting his glasses. "If the deaths occurred because of natural causes, it would be unlikely that the hot springs would face any backlash, except from the public who believe something more is at play. In such a relaxing environment, it's quite easy for one to slip away from this life without even realizing what was happening. Most hot springs see more than just one death a year. Are you sure you did proper research, Qiao Chen?"

Chen scowled. "Of course, I did!"

"Fascinating," he mused, turning back around to pull his notebook from his bag and beginning to write down what he had heard.

If Baiyang was scared before, he was terrified now.

Zhuo Zhi's lips twitched up as he looked at the younger male with amusement dancing in his eyes. "You've gone pale."

This got Saiyang's attention, who leaned forward to peer around Zhi. "If you're going to be sick, please let us know so we can pull over. Do you need to go back home?"

Baiyang was getting flustered by all of the attention on him, which morphed into annoyance, but he couldn't very well snap at his captain. "I-I'm fine..."

Siyang nodded. "If you get worse, let me know immediately."

"Okay..."

Chen snickered, earning a scowl from his seatmate.

"We're here!" Coach Qi Na stood up as the bus came to a stop, looking back at her boys with a smile. "Make sure you gather all of your items. The bus won't be coming back until Sunday night!"

Chen couldn't sit still as Baiyang slowly gathered his bag from the floor, taking a few deep breaths to calm his racing heart. "Will you move it already, grandma!"

"What did you call me?" His eyes narrowed in response, his grip on the bag tightening.

But Chen wasn't interested in their usual banter, too lured in by the thought of the steaming water. He shoved the boy's shoulder, trying to push him off the seat but Baiyang refused to move, more out of defiance than fear. This prompted him to push harder, his shoulder against Baiyang's as the two men engaged in a battle of wills, neither one willing to give in.

Dayong sighed at their antics, bringing his hand to his forehead. "Will you two knock it off? We're here to relax not fight."

"Yeah, Baiyang, now move!" Chen scowled, standing up quickly and hitting his head on the roof of the bus. He groaned but didn't even have time to reach for his head as he lost his footing, falling across Baiyang's lap.

Baiyang's face turned red and he quickly jumped up, dropping his teammate to the ground.

"Oi!"

But Baiyang was already speed-walking toward the front of the bus, muttering obscenities under his breath aimed toward the other male.

Chen scowled as he picked himself up. "What the hell is his problem?"

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Chen hummed happily as he stuffed his clothes into the cubby hole, a fluffy towel wrapped around his waist before he turned and stepped through the sliding wooden doors. Steam filled the air, making it hard to see the opposite end of the spring, but he welcomed it. Winter was proving to be quite cold this year and he was thankful to escape it, the steam completely overpowering the cold wind trying to penetrate the high walls surrounding the open spring. The sky was dark, stars dotted across it like white gems on velvet, the moon providing just enough light to see.

The rest of Yu Qing had already come and gone from the spring or they just weren't interested. Chen himself had been the first person inside the water, but it hadn't been enough to satisfy him so he decided to relax a bit longer before finally turning in for the night. That's what this trip was for, after all - relaxation. He placed his foot in the water, suppressing the shiver that ran down his spine as the warm water slid over his skin. An audible sigh passed his lips when he finally slid down in the water, his head thrown back so he could look at the stars and his arms resting on the rocks behind him.

"Do you have to be so damn loud?"

Chen's head snapped to the left, widening when his eyes fell on Baiyang at the other end of the spring, a scowl on his face. "What are you doing here?"

"Did you think this spring was just for you, dumbass?"

"Ha?!" Chen jumped up, prepared to defend himself when the cold wind hit his body, covering his skin in goosebumps. He shivered, wrapping his arms around himself as he dropped back down into the water, splashing the other male in the process.

"Watch what you're doing!"

"Shaddup," Chen muttered. "What are you even doing here? I thought everyone went inside already." He said it more to himself, his voice low enough that the other male couldn't make out the words.

"Hah?"

Chen's eyes locked with his. "I thought you were scared."

"I-Idiot! There's nothing to be scared of!"

The corners of his lips twitched up in amusement. "Oh? I heard that several people died right here in this spring. Actually..." Chen pretended to think, tapping his chin as he looked up at the sky. After a moment of pause, he turned his attention back to Baiyang who had tensed up considerably. "I think someone died right there where you're sitting."

Baiyang shot out of the water before the sentence was even finished, speed walking to the edge of the spring.

He held back his snicker. "Where ya going?"

"I'm done!" Baiyang snapped and Chen couldn't hold back anymore. His laughter bounced off the walls surrounding the spring and he clutched his stomach. Baiyang scowled, his eyes falling on a rolled-up towel sitting by the door. He grabbed it without a second thought and threw it at Chen, hitting him square in the back of the head.

His laughter instantly died as he whirled around, clutching the back of his head. When he saw the smirk on Baiyang's face, he grabbed the wet towel, rolled it up, and attempted to throw it back but it barely made it a foot before it splatted to the ground, too heavy to breach the distance.

Baiyang snorted. "Idiot."

"You're the idiot, idiot!"

"Great comeback."

"You know what -" Chen pulled himself from the spring, so focused on the other male that he didn't even register the cold air pricking at his wet skin. He started to close the distance.

Baiyang squared his shoulders and straightened his back, narrowed eyes locking with his as he waited for the male to finish whatever insult he was thinking of.

Chen's lips parted only for him to yelp when his foot slipped out beneath him when he stepped in a puddle. His arms shot out to either side of him in a poor attempt to regain his balance but it did nothing and he fell forward, crashing into Baiyang. Both men hit the hard floor below and Chen's weight knocked the air from Baiyang's lungs, but that was the least of his worries. When Chen fell on top of him, his lips connected with Baiyang's own.

Both men were frozen in shock, their eyes wide as several beats passed in stunned silence. All at once, they both snapped out of it, scrambling away from one another while Chen coughed violently and Baiyang rubbed his lips with the back of his hand so fast that the skin heated up.

"Y-You idiot!" Baiyang's face was burning, his eyes still wide as he held the back of his hand against his mouth. "What the hell were you thinking?!"

Chen made a disgusted face. "I didn't do it on purpose, idiot!"

For a minute, the two just glared daggers at each other.

"We never mention this *ever* again," Chen warned, earning a scoff in reply.

"As if I'd ever tell anyone that my first kiss was taken by an idiot like you."

"That... was your first kiss?"

Baiyang realized what he said, his face turning redder. "Yeah, s-so what?"

For a moment, he thought Chen might actually apologize.

"Pfft!" Chen snorted before a fit of giggles overcame him, one arm around his stomach while his free hand slapped the ground. For some reason, knowing that *he* had taken his rival's first kiss was the funniest thing he had ever heard. "O-Oh my g-god!"

"Stop laughing!" Baiyang hissed, his hands balling into fists.

But Chen's laughter just got louder. So loud, in fact, that Dayong and Zhi came to see what was going on.

"Qiao Chen," Dayong scolded softly, his hands on his hips. "We're not the only guests staying here. You shouldn't be so loud."

"I'm s-s-sor - Chen tried to apologize but he just couldn't stop giggling.

Zhi rose a brow in amusement, his arms folded over his chest as he observed the red-faced Baiyang still on the ground. "I have the feeling that we missed something quite interesting."

Dayong just sighed, wondering why his underclassmen had to be so troublesome.

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#chinapuri #the prince of tennis match tennis juniors #wang qiu shao nian #zhang baiyang #qiao chen

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