Chapter Text
They were on a team-building camping trip in the forest, organized by their coach to strengthen their unity and bond as a team.
One evening, huddled around the campfire, they decided to exchange spooky stories. Suddenly, Hinata leaned in and asked, "Ever hear the legend of this forest?" Everyone exchanged curious glances. "What legend?" Meian asked. Hinata flashed a mischievous grin, motioning for everyone to gather close. "It's about a fox goddess rumored to hang out here," he whispered, glancing nervously at the surrounding darkness. Bokuto gasped, then checked over his shoulder before whispering back, "What's the scoop?"
Hinata chuckled before diving in, "So, the story goes, this fox goddess was drop-dead gorgeous. Any guy who locked eyes on her fell head over heels. That got the other women all riled up, calling her a 'Fox' because, get this, they whispered she had a thing for married dudes!” Everyone was hooked, hanging on Hinata's every word. "One fine afternoon, this lady catches her man swooning over the girl. As payback, that very night, she confronts her, hurling insults like 'Fox' and eventually things get physical. Legend has it, things got so heated, she buried her right here in these very woods!”
A sudden cold breeze sent a shiver through everyone. Hinata cleared his throat and continued, "Now she haunts this forest, tricking people by pretending to be lost, using her charm to lure them in. Once she traps you alone, she shows her true self. If you fall for her tricks, she'll whisk you away..."
He paused as a twig snapped nearby, causing him to stutter, "...a-and they say y-you'll become one of her j-jewelry or something, never seen or heard from again." Just then, a hand grabbed Atsumu’s shoulder, making him and everyone else shout in unison.
"First of all, that was loud and annoying since it's already nighttime," Kiyoomi, already in his sleeping clothes, said in a tired and annoyed tone. "Secondly, the coach said it's time for bed." Everyone agreed, and Hinata promptly put out the fire.
"Still getting scared by a silly legend... what a bunch of kids," Kiyoomi mumbled to himself as he watched them scatter to their cabins. "Yeah, they're just kids, ain't like us adults, right, Omi?" Atsumu said, slinging his arm around Kiyoomi's shoulder.
"You're one to talk," Kiyoomi replied bluntly, removing Atsumu's arm from his shoulder. Atsumu looked visibly surprised by the reaction.
"I'm going to bed," Kiyoomi said before walking back to his cabin and shutting the door, locking it behind him.
Atsumu huffed and started heading towards his own cabin. But then he thought, "Are ya kiddin' me?" and changed direction, heading straight for the nearby bathroom instead.
After finishing up, he washed his hands and left the bathroom. Suddenly, he heard a voice calling out, "Hey, is anyone there??? I'm lost" It was a woman's voice echoing in the darkness.
Atsumu slowly made his way toward the voice, but then abruptly stopped in his tracks. "Hold on a sec... Ain't this how that Fox Goddess traps folks?" he pondered, starting to turn back. Yet, the pleas became more urgent, tugging at his conscience.
"Damn it…" Atsumu muttered under his breath as he followed the voice. There, he found a girl, tears streaking her face, and a scraped knee.
Atsumu cautiously approached the girl sitting by the edge of the forest, her appearance innocent and vulnerable. "Hey, are ya alright?" Atsumu asked, concerned in his voice as he scanned their surroundings.
The girl looked up with wide, pleading eyes. "I... I think I'm lost," she said softly, her voice trembling just enough to seem convincing.
Atsumu frowned slightly, his instincts tingling with caution. "Were ya with anyone besides yerself?"
The girl hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah, but I got distracted and eventually lost sight of them..." Her voice cracked as she continued, "then I heard a girl's scream and decided to ask for help."
Atsumu chuckled awkwardly at her statement because the "girl" she was referring to was actually a blonde, 6'2" guy in his 20s.
"Let me just get some hel—”, Atsumu started to turn away when the girl suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist with surprising strength.
"Please," she pleaded, her grip tightening, "I don't wanna burden anyone else." He shook his head, "my friends can help ya contact 'em—" he suddenly felt her grip tighten even more, hissing in pain.
Atsumu felt a chill run down his spine at the sudden change in her demeanor. He tried to pull away gently. "I think they got a map for this way, so they're better help than me—”
"I SAID NO!" The girl's voice cut through the air, her eyes flashing with an otherworldly intensity as her appearance subtly shifted, revealing glimpses of her true form.
A creature with piercing golden eyes, a mane of fiery red-orange fur cascading down her slender body, and a tail that flickers with an otherworldly glow. Her features, while beautiful, hold an unsettling aura of ancient power and mischief.
Atsumu stumbled back, startled and now fully aware of the danger. "Who... what are ya?"
The fox goddess smiled wickedly, her illusion of innocence shattered. "I am what you humans call a fox spirit," she hissed, her voice now layered with echoes of something ancient and powerful. "And you, dear mortal, have wandered into my domain."
Atsumu's heart raced as he realized he had been lured into a trap. "What do ya want from me?"
The fox goddess's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Oh, just a little entertainment," she purred. "Perhaps a game... or maybe something more."
Atsumu's mind raced as he searched for a way out of the dangerous predicament. He knew he had to tread carefully if he wanted to survive this encounter with the deceptive fox goddess. Suddenly, a not-so-brilliant idea struck him.
"Hold on a sec, she's only into guys who like her for her looks…what if…” he pondered aloud, giving her a skeptical glance.
"So, you're her? They said she was drop-dead gorgeous, but honestly, I ain't quite seein' it.” he remarked, eyeing her up and down with a judgemental look. The fox goddess's eyes widened at his audacity. "Are you blind, mortal?! How dare you insult my divine beauty!" she snapped indignantly. Atsumu just scratched his head, thoroughly unimpressed. "Guess those old tales are a bit blown outta proportion, huh?”He smirked to himself, seeing how she was already turning red from rage.
"This is the first time I've encountered a human with such profound stupidity and blindness," she retorted, not even noticing Atsumu still quivering in fear.
"I ain't blind, I just got better taste in women," Atsumu shot back. The goddess had enough.
"SILENCE, MORTAL! NOW YOU'VE DONE IT!" Her hands started glowing yellow when Atsumu suddenly shouted, "LOOK! THERE ARE OTHER GUYS CHECKIN' OUT YOUR SO-CALLED BEAUTY!"
He pointed behind her, and she turned to look but saw no one. Her eyebrow twitched, and as she turned back to Atsumu, he had already bolted.
"That sly—" she stopped, unable to help but chuckle. "You think you're funny, huh?" She looked down and saw a familiar blonde strand of hair, picking it up. "Let's see who's laughing after you wake up with a 'sly' surprise."
She enchanted a spell, and the hair strand burst into flames, the smoke forming a fox. "I'm predicting this isn't the last time we'll see each other... Atsumu Miya," she let out an evil and unsettling laugh before disappearing.