The MagiArtist Collection

Set Your Head (Botan x Reader)

Cover art by DannyKoo.

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Shishiro Botan entered your room, though you never noticed until she placed patted your head.

"Hey, what's the matter?" You pulled you head out of your pillow and looked at her. "Polka saw you were in a hurry for something. Mind telling me what you were in a rush for?" Botan asked.

"..." You didn't say anything as Botan noticed two things that were different. A stapled receipt and your headset, of which the pleather was worn out so much, the foam was starting to peek out. Some of the pleather was hastily put together with superglue. Botan took a moment to read the receipt. It was a refund for a $250 headset, one of the more top of the line models. She eyed the two dates. Same day, but the time difference was around three hours and some change.

"You tried out a new pair and didn't like them?" Botan asked.

"It was so weird... Everything about it was weird..." You could only speak in sobs.

"Tell me everything." Botan sat on your bed, positioning your head so that you were on her firm lap.

"The microphone was weird... I had to plug it into the headphones and it didn't pick up any audio at first... But when it did... it wasn't as clear as the headset I had... It sounded almost like a radio. Then I had to install these programs that bloated my computer. And it didn't sound good for me... I just... didn't like it."

"So, you decided to return it?" Botan asked.

"Yeah... And... every sound I heard; it had this weird rumbling..." Your cries softened.

"I think I get it... You wanted to buy a headset to replace your old one... But you ended up buying something expensive and something that wasn't for you, right?" Botan asked.

"Y-yeah... I spent so much time in the store looking for a replacement... But... there were headsets everywhere and... I didn't know which ones to buy... And I didn't know where to look..." You began to cry harder, "and I felt awful buying the headset in the first place..."

That was when Botan held you, cradled your upper body in her arms.

"I'm so proud of you..." Botan said.

"But... I didn't buy what I wanted... I returned the product and now it's not going to be sold with the others..." Botan stroked your back.

"But you learned something out of this. Expensive doesn't always mean better. Headsets are a tricky sort." She looked over to your headset. "It's just the cushions that are broken, right?" She asked. You nodded. "Well, did you know you could replace those instead of the headset?" Botan took out her phone and showed you a wide selection of cushions on Amazon. "There's still some time... You'll be able to get them tomorrow."

"... I'm sorry. I didn't know and... I screwed everything up..." You muttered.

"You didn't screw anything up. Everyone makes mistakes." As Botan said that, you noticed a pair of cushions for only $20. You pointed to them. "Ooooh! Those are a nice choice!" She pressed it, and paused, waiting for you to answer.

"Yeah... I want those." Botan purchased them as a small message popped up saying how they'll arrive tomorrow.

"You can send be the money whenever." Botan smiled. Just as she was about to get up, you held her. A moment passed before she chuckled. "It can't be helped." Botan laid in bed next to you as you held her. You continued to cry until you just... wiped.

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When you woke up, Botan wasn't there. At first, you felt lonely before you heard the door open.

Botan came in with a package from Amazon. The replacement earpads. She went to your headset and carefully removed them. You got off of your bed as you observed her taking the new pair and screwing them onto the headset.

"There. Good as new. Give them a try." She said. You went over and tried on the headset. At first, the compact pads felt uncomfortable on your head, but as you allowed yourself to adjust to them, they felt just like your old ones when you first bought them, with the lingering feeling that you'll grow into them. And yet... You felt odd... "Huh? Something up?" Botan asked.

"... I know I'm gonna have to order a headset one day... And... I don't know which one will be right for me..." You resisted the urge to cry before Botan patted your back.

"You don't have to worry about making that decision now. I think you're good for another three years. And you'll have me to help too." Botan said.

"But... What if... What if you're not there?" That question was loaded with a sad implication, one Botan was all to aware of. The two of you shared a long, tender hug as Botan whispered.

"Then I'll make sure you're capable of handling things on your own... Yesterday was a learning experience, young cub... And I hope we can have many more along the way." Botan kissed you on the forehead. "I'll teach you one day to look for what you want out of a headset. Okay?" Botan asked.

"Okay..." You smiled. The two of you spent the rest of the day gaming, getting over the troubling experience you had yesterday. From that day forward, you set your head to learning how to be a more tech savvy shopper like Botan.