#-side eyes hiwatari-

[anodetoswag]

Pairing: Kai Hiwatari/Reader Note(s): Light swearing, mentions of fake dating, celebrity culture.

Part 1

Boyfriend!Kai who didn't expect for things to take an unexpected turn. You grow closer, enough to almost consider you a friend. A title he has bestowed upon about as many people as he can count on one hand and none of them outwardly.

Boyfriend!Kai who realizes to his utter chagrin that you're on his mind more often than you should be. It's bothersome so he deals with it in the only way he knows how to deal with emotions and problems outside of the things he has prioritized in life; by ignoring it. It just makes him so irate. The nerve of you to put him through this.

For a good while you find yourself on the receiving end of his cold shoulder. It's confusing too; he'd been alright just a day or two ago. The switch up isn't extreme but you can feel it and though it hurts a little, you can't find it in yourself to confront it. Besides, the chances of him actually giving you a straight answer are next to none. The answer will probably be something blunt, if not downright insensitive. You decide it's not worth it and move on.

Boyfriend!Kai who just finds your reaction to somehow be even worse. He's been waiting for you to ask, just so he can give you the 'mind your own business' attitude but you aren't even asking??? The fucking audacity???

Boyfriend!Kai who has never been the sort to be the sitting duck so he takes it upon himself to let you know exactly how grueling this whole thing is. Thankfully as someone who has a much better emotional intelligence, you put two and two together. Only problem was bringing it up.

Boyfriend!Kai who doesn't believe in half-assing things so he sees the schtick all the way through. The farewell itself feels lacking. You want to say things, feel like you should say them but the fear of his judgement holds you back. Besides, Kai had made it clear he doesn't care for idle chit chat so you it would be wasting your breath.

Ex-Boyfriend!Kai who expects your departure from his life to lead to the returning of his tranquility. But all it leaves is a restlessness he thought himself to be above. He waits and waits some more but when it becomes clear that this isn't going to do, he throws himself into anything keeping him busy.

Ex-Boyfriend!Kai who sees you next in the hospital after the fight with Brooklyn. It's a surprise you visited, whether a pleasant one or not, Kai isn't too sure himself.

It's a little stiff at first. Once the formality of greeting (read: atrocious side eye) is out of the way, the atmosphere grows thick. Overcome by the sheer need to say something. You blurt out your concern of his health. Which is promptly followed by an awkward, almost forced laugh as you mumble something about 'how he's probably heard that bazillion times from friends and family.'

Ex-Boyfriend!Kai whose first instincts tell him to brush it off with a dismissive grunt. But instead he finds his mind going back to how often his thoughts drifted to you even in your absence.

Ex-Boyfriend!Kai who decides he might as well take the gamble. For once in a long time, to make the decisions to fit the plot he wants his life to be.

Ex-Boyfriend!Kai who thinks he'd like to be just Kai again. At least with you.

[ahamasmiyodhah]

Reunion- Fruitful or Disaster?

The dark clouds reflected in the deep magenta eyes of a certain dual haired boy with face painted, as he looked outside the window while sitting on window's broad edge with no emotions on his Face. The World Championships has ended, his Grandfather was hauled away by Cops whom Mr. Dickinson had called, and he learned that his Parents had landed. He scoffed. Parents. His Father who seemingly didn't cared enough, his Mother, who just silently accepted everything. Maybe, maybe this covering the emotions thing was something that went through family. 

Its fine, I'm here, ain't I? 

He broke out of his reverie as he heard the female voice whisper in his ear, the Flame Empress and the very personification of coming back from dead, his Dranzer, his Phoenix, His Suzaku, whisper in his ear. Smiling mildly for miniscule of second, he held the blue Beyblade to his chest. Once again Tyson was Hero, once again, he lost his Chance to defeat the world Champion. Maybe, next time?

"Kai?" And the same boy had called him. Whipping his head towards the blue haired boy with a scowl on his face, he cocked an eyebrow. "Mr. Dickinson calls you." Ray said from Tyson's side. Kai sighed heavily, he had known the stout man ever since he was Kid, as Mr. Dickinson used to visit his Father, until he was 6, his Father left, and his Grandfather threw him into Abbey. He couldn't deny that man, no matter how hard he tried. He couldn't.

Hopping off the Window edge, Kai joined Tyson and Ray as the three walked out. "Hey Kai, you okay buddy?" Tyson asked, clearly concerned about the older boy. Kai riled Tyson up to the wall, but after the blue haired Boy had saved him from Lake Baikal and readily accepted him back in team, Kai might have softened up a bit to him. "Hn." Kai let out his usual, ignorant grunt, which made Tyson smile.

Dragoon says he is really worried. Well he shouldn't be, though Kai, as he walked beside the two. Soon their soft padding came to an halt when they entered in the floor's lounge area. Kai's eyes keenly took in everyone. Mr. Dickinson sat on a sofa with Tyson's Grandfather, Ryunnosuke or Ryu 'Gramps' Granger sat beside him. Tyson dark haired Father, Tatsuya Granger was on another couch, looking keenly through some files. Hitoshi, or better called Hiro by everyone, Tyson's Archaeologist Brother stood near the window, in a serious conversation over his phone with someone. Then, just then, his eyes fell on someone who made his breath stop.

"I lost again dad!" A little Kai had whined and pouted as his Father laughed fondly and ruffled his hairs.

"Well your Father is working hard, we have to reward him." His Mother's crimson eyes had twinkled with mirth as she looked at his Father.

"Either you chose Hiwatari Enterprises and stay here or chose those Bey spinning tops and get out of my House!" His Grandfather had screamed hoarse, as his crimson eyes trembled with fear, his throat screaming when his Father glanced at him worriedly, and chose Beyblades.

He reached out,

He cried,

He screamed,

He choked on his tears,

But nothing mattered.

His Father didn't turn.

He hadn't realised that while he was staring at his Father in disbelief and many emotions passed through his eyes, Max had noticed him. The blonde's whole frame actually turned relieved, as he chirped. "Kai!!" And broke him out of his reverie. Kai barely had time to recollect himself as Max came hopping to him and hugged him, making Ray and Tyson widen their eyes in alarm. Kai's first instinct was to push him away so hard that he was thrown off into the wall, but he restrained himself. He somehow couldn't bring himself to do that. Especially after what Max had done. No matter how much Kai was being a little shit, no matter how many times he had brushed them off harshly, rebuked them, called them names, and treated them as shit, even betraying them for power... Max, or anyone in that matter, never called him out on it. They let him go, and they accepted him back, as if he was never gone.

Susumu and Misaki, moreover Susumu, tensed when he realised that his son was standing in front of him. After a shocked gasp left Misaki's mouth, followed by a small sob she tried hard to contain. He slowly looked up. Dressed in dark turquoise baggy pants and a fitting tank top, with a scarf tied around his neck that he knew was of Misaki, stood his son. He wasn't the six year old small boy who ran into his arms with his Dranzer, he was now fourteen year old headstrong and stern Captain of World Champion Team Bladebreakers. 

Kai looked at his Mother, and his eyes started burning. No. Nah, Nope. Nada. No tears. You can't break down. Somehow managing to tear away his eyes, Kai looked at Mr. Dickinson. "Mr. Dickinson, Ray said you called me?" He asked. Stanley Dickinson had known all the four Boys ever since they were Kids. His keen and experienced eyes penetrated through the mask of 'Everything is fine and I don't need anyone' and looked right into the vulnerability of the boy, who didn't even cared of hiding his emotions. He was glad his Dranzer was back, he was glad that he had friends he knew could rely on (despite his ass not wanting to admit), He was not sure of how to react after seeing his Parents, especially Father, after so long, but most of it, he was exhausted. Tired. 

"Well Kai you see, we will need your Help with the Boys from Abbey. My Russian is quiet rough, you see." Blatant Lie. Kai knew the man had perfect Russian.

"If you say so." He said and turned to go. "Kai!" His feet halted when he heard his Father. "You have grown stronger.." He said softly, looking at his son with so much adoration. "Son?" Kai scoffed, his eyes shielded by his hairs. Ray, Tyson, Max, and probably everyone knew that either this will go good, or down the drain hole. "I don't have a Father." He said coldly, and walked out swiftly, closing his eyes when he heard his Mother's sobs. He knew his Friends would come behind, but he didn't cared. He kept walking. He kept walking until he reached a dark hallway and growled, hitting his fist on the wall over and over again, until it bled. "Kai?"

"Ray, please go." He said quietly. But Ray didn't go.

He stayed there, and gently held Kai's shoulder, pressing it as if saying, 'Everything will be fine.'

..............................................................................................................................

Since your girl was angsty af and sick. Hiro Granger is Manga-wise in this Fanfiction because Manga Hiro is so good-

Tagging y'll here please tell me how it is and no, as much as I love Ray and Kai, I ship Mariah and Ray (might turn it RayxKai if my mood goes that way.)

@bladengineer (A BIG SHOUTOUT SHE KINDA INSPIRED ME TO RITE THIS) @juliafernandez @wyborg @mybeypage @deathycat @kaireiluv @beybladecrc @purple-cup-cake @where-them-kinomiya-at @kaihiwatari777 @sherukira @itsbeen20years @beybladenerd @beyblader-observations @jollyrolls @firephoenixkai @beybladeimagines (I love your imagines sm) @aquariasmoon @maxmiz @teabiscs @bladerbunny @ch4isutta @poison-needles @ayamyn

[fyeahiwatarikei]

Shipping Hiwatari Kei - A non-exhaustive menu

Feat. Fugitivehues' beautiful art ♥ ♦ ♠ ♣

Obsession

“This is why I have always hated you.”

Love art deeply and I'll love you more, because you're the most talented being in this world and do I love beautiful things. Of course, you create for a reason, so having someone inconditionally support you through the agonising ordeal of manifesting ideas can be a relief. You can doubt, you can give up, you can cry your eyes out because this is it, you cannot go on anymore, but I will hold you until it stops and give you the means to overcome all obstacles. Your art is worth it. You are worth it.

Bitterly, you can feel the other side of that coin: that support can be... is suffocating. You do need a break from time to time. You do need someone getting mad at you for acting so whimsical. But I won't, which is almost terrifying.

No one will stop you if you ever go too far.

Worse, I'll shield you, destroy myself if I must. Then what? What can you do?

What else could you do? It was entirely your fault, you thought.

But I won't ever hate you.

Exception

“She felt no love, equally, for any work of art. [...] Therefore, I had been able to love her.”

Not only is that Hikari unlike any other, but part of her particularity is that she is unable to destroy him, so he doesn't have to watch himself around her. Thus, he is able to love her at all and indulge in the wonderful pain of never being appreciated back! Flawless. Dreamy. That angst is delicious, and it's canon! Anyone'd wish to see their fave tortured like this.

Besides, not only is she perfectly safe to have around, but she comes up with the best art collab ideas! No other Hikari has suggested this before and it's messed up: his motivation hasn't been higher in decades. (I refuse to believe he only participated out of sheer love and not because it was crazy and new!) Somewhere in the process, it was even decided that he'd have to pass as human, going as far as getting a job and giving up on the role he's been playing for centuries, for Satoshi's sake. How peculiar! A new challenge for him! Well… another one. These never stop coming, with her.

Of course, we're talking about a tragic non-love story so she dies early and he dooms himself when telling the truth to their son. His survival has always been an afterthought, after all.

Bon appétit.

Devotion

“I cannot afford to lose you.”

Pick two characters and give them similar tastes: nerdy art lovers, rather absent and discreet men who, most importantly, would both die for their respective son. Now, make one eager to help everyone and the other manipulative. You have so many ways to make them meet and interact that there's barely any challenge.

Kosuke is canonically sweet, ready to reach a hand towards Satoshi, refusing to sit back and see the children suffer, how can we imagine he'd skip an opportunity to verify if maybe perhaps eventually Hiwatari Satoshi's father knows something and is eager to… lend a hand? Join the cause?

And is that powerful cop eager. And dangerous. An alliance would come with a beautiful dance of knowing the other knows that he knows yet refusing the drop the D word in conversations (not that one, silly, the one that jumps on rooves at night.) Testing waters, loyalty or skills, may it be during a museum visit, a friendly chat, an apparently innocent discussion about their families. And being pleasantly surprised every time? Until a betrayal or divergence occurs and… they're in too deep to do what they should have long ago: give up on this ridiculous, exhausting relationship.

A capable (?) policeman. An unbiased (?) Niwa. Both patient, mature men with mutual interests and a burning desire to find a solution. What else?

Normalcy

“I simply wanted to act like a ‘father’ would…”

What if your immortal character who's always been surrounded by extraordinary artists, witchcraft and cursed items decided to get an office job, with technology, gossips at the coffee machine, completely clueless people, the complete package in short? More: what if said clueless people were regularly exposed to part of the magic without any idea of how it works nor how to face it? And dealing with it more or less accidentally became their job? (What if the immortal character decided to not help them at all, too, because it's funny?)

Despite the comfort of being surrounded by familiar exceptions, the pressure can become overwhelming: Kei has always had to control himself, plan events in advance, keep an eye on the last Hikari who slowly decides to stop fighting… Can a relationship with a banal man (who potentially wants Satoshi safe, very sexy of him) be a relief? Fresh air in a life so far devoted to ungrateful, self-centered artists?

Saehara knows nothing. Saehara looks up to him (Debatable.) Saehara would jump if Kei told him to (Hugely debatable.) With him, the latter can pretend he is what he was supposed to be before canon changed its mind: a powerful man who just wants Dark captured.

A goal Saehara definitely shares. Alliance, then? With a mutual enemy, surely a dog and a fox can get along.

[blossommoonwrites]

NOCTURNAL CANDLES: Mayblade 2024, day 3 - Candles

Series: Sweet Dreams Fandom: Bakuten Shoot Beyblade Genre: General/Romance Setting: Delhi, India, and Kai's dream. Characters: Kai Hiwatari, Julia Fernandez Pairings: Kai/Julia Rating: T Summary: The candle's flame may go off, but the radiance and glow remain.

FFN | AO3

The Bladebreakers were on a trip to India. All except Kai were in their rooms, sleeping peacefully. The dual-haired wandered in the streets of the subcontinent's capital. It was Winter in Delhi. The chill air flirted with his scarf, which fluttered wildly against the breeze. He bought some coffee and sipped on it slowly. His glances showered the vast sky that was infinite and beautiful. The mist blinded some parts of the city, but Kai was able to manage and walk past them. The culture was rich, yet some states had a poor economy. He stood in front of the Indian gate and saw the surroundings. Long walks were a hassle for Takao, but not for Kai. He felt relaxed and content after a couple of months.

"Hmm." Kai closed his eyes and enjoyed the peace coming from inside. He braced his scarf further to protect himself from the cold.

He turned and saw someone familiar. He knew her but never talked to her for once. She is none other than Julia, the captain of F-sangre. She was wearing a trenchcoat with her messy hair fluttering in the wind. Kai was never into girls, yet he found her pretty. Of course, he doesn't have anything romantic for her. Julie gave a side-eye and her jaw dropped. Kai quickly turned back, pretending not to see her.

"I know it was you, Kai. I never expected to see you here," she remarked and walked to him.

"I clarified if it was you, nothing more," Kai walked away from her. Julia was stunned by his attitude. She seethed and said, "You have no manners for sure."

Kai stopped along his trance and turned back. He gave a 'hnn' before he started again. "You do know about me, after all. But, there is so much you still aren't aware of," he smirked and walked off. She can never understand guys like Kai, or even guys in general.

Julia walked back to the hotel she was staying in. Coincidentally, it was the same place where the Bladebreakers were staying. She saw Kai reporting to the reception before he walked to the room. His room was somewhere on the second floor. Hers was on the fourth floor.

Kai knocked on the door several times, but Takao was fast asleep. Kai facepalmed. He informed Takao that he would be out. It was his fault too, he should've thought twice before roaming out. He gave up. He decided to sleep on the corridors until Takao would show up.

"Your roomie is not opening the door, pathetic," Julia mocked. She smirked and leaned against the wall.

"I can sleep here, I don't need your help."

Julia sighed and walked to him, "I knew you wanted to sleep on a cozy blanket this winter. Don't lie. I can give you room. Come with me."

Kai blushed at the thought of sleeping next to a girl. He couldn't help but accept her offer. She chuckled. Kai felt dreamy. She was beautiful. He smirked and followed her to the room.

It was the same as his's, except the aspect was different. They removed their coats and scarves and hung them. Julia grabbed her nightgown and went inside the restroom. She returned a few minutes later.

"Make yourself comfortable," Julia assured him. He sat on the sofa.

"Come to the bed!" she exclaimed. Kai blushed.

Julia's cheeks turned beet. She gasped, 'Wait, did he assume that I…'

"No, I didn't think like that. I-uhh… just… um… don't sleep beside girls… you know. I hate sleeping with Takao too, he is a loud, snorty kid. I hate his snoring, ugh."

Julia burst out laughing at Kai's remarks.

"Alright, I'm going to turn the lights off. Have a good night's sleep."

Julia shared the blanket with him.

"Am I troubling you, girl?" he asked.

"I've been feeling lonely since my brother is not here. He's on a date with his new girlfriend. It's nice to have you as my companion. Just get some sleep."

"Well, promise me one thing. Don't tell Takao or anyone that I stayed with you this night. He'll never get enough of me once he learns about that. I will have a tough time dealing with that doofus," Kai mumbled.

"Sure, I'll take care of it, but by the time I wake up, you will not be there," Julia mocked. Kai sighed and was frustrated with her remarks.

She turned the lights off and lit a candle. Kai felt the illuminating presence and turned to see her. She kept that on the thick yet flat headboard of the bed.

"Do you love candles?" Kai asked her.

"I do, they are beautiful. I'm going to purchase some of them tomorrow in the market. The Indian candles seem to be lovely. I'd love to have some."

"Nice," he gently smiled.

In a few minutes, Julia was fast asleep. Kai struggled since he was with a girl, all alone. He brought the candle towards her to see the breathtaking face. He laid the strands of her hair on her ear. "You are beautiful, of course. I hope you get more candles like these. They'll make your face glow."

Kai placed the candle aside and drifted off. He dreamed of Julia in a beautiful Indian outfit and makeover, with the room decorated with beautiful curtains, rose petals, and cushions. Red shawls were hung along the corners covering the bed. She held a big candle, waiting for Kai to lie by her side. The dark room was illuminated with beautiful candles around the confines of the room. Her smile was radiant the moment Kai came to her.

"Come close, Kai. I need you by my side this night."

Kai climbed on the bed and faced the beautiful girl. His fingers crawled on her cheek and drew her closer.

"I will never leave this radiant beauty," his amethyst eyes were interlocked with her emerald ones. His hands slowly crawled down to grab her by the waist.

"I will make this night memorable for you," he whispered into her ears.

...

The next morning, Julia woke up to see Kai still fast asleep. She didn't expect to see him by her side. He was cute. The candle was gone, but the glow and radiance were still on his face.

[niwatari-rei]

Food for Thought

No. 4: "I see the danger, it's written there in your eyes." Cattle prod | Shock | "You in there?"

"You in there?" Kosuke knocked on the door. Sighing when he received no answer from the occupant of the room, the man spoke once more. "I'm really sorry if I offended you earlier, Hiwatari-san." No one answered. "I brought something for you to eat if you're feeling hungry..." He held out the bag with a small smile, leaving it by the door. "I'll see you tomorrow at the same time." With one last look, the man left the hall. When no one was around, the door opened a crack. The door soon closed, the bag having disappeared into the other side.

[dnangelic]

PUBLIC / PRIVATE INFO.

PUBLIC. info available to everyone.

dark is an infamous criminal phantom thief, although his 'true identity' remains a mystery. azumano, as his main operative center, loves and loathes him the most, and his influence completely dominates the entire province like it's his own little miniature country: a single word of his appearance or the announcement of a calling card warning can send huge, hundreds-of-persons stampedes in any direction.

likewise, there's always someone reporting on him, and his heists are typically broadcast on live television or radio. he's just as well known for giving out lots of fan-service too, and doesn't mind indulging photograph or autograph requests, though he always refuses interviews. it's no secret that he loves to show his face and play with all the flattery and frustration that comes with it from fans to law-enforcement alike, but he never gives away anything too personal - the vast, vast majority only know his appearance as a roughly 16/17 year old, his overwhelming fame, and his name.

the wings (or any other part of dark's appearance, like his freaky slit eyes/retractable talons/lack of fingerprint/regular body temp) aren't a secret, but they are also considered a deep mystery. nobody knows how they work, but canonically, 'nobody in azumano denies that people can fly' either. off-heist spottings do happen: there are many times when dark's flying over that ordinary people will witness the heavy shadow of enormous wings, and dark often swiftly becomes part of its seven mysteries at any school daisuke attends. dark's feathers are also often left behind in various locations and can be treated as a collector's item.

dark mainly targets hikari artworks, but he can and has targeted others, ranging from priceless rarities to no-name, entirely unguarded others. he seemingly has little particular standard or qualification for his artistic targets and personally says that it doesn't matter what he takes, so long as everything that he wants becomes his - this is, in fact, half true.

dark also sometimes just ... doesn't show up. or he shows up late compared to his arrival time. (this is due to daisuke having his own life and not devoting it utterly to being a phantom thief. seriously. he ditched once to go on a date with a girl instead of steal.) dark will also abandon a heist if poor weather happens to hit - he doesn't like to steal in conditions such as rain or snow.

on daisuke's side of things, he's generally considered an ordinary, if not somewhat boring person (at best) or a clumsy, spacey loser (at worst) within his school. other students know him as someone who's almost drowned in swim class, who's fallen off a cliff during a class hike, who gets lost, zones out and wanders off and ends up separated from groups easily, who has semi-poor grades... etc. the general consensus is that while he's nice, he's also a bit of a weirdo who gets caught up in trouble every once in a while.

his current 'friends' include saehara and sekimoto. saehara is an agressive wannabe-reporter whose only ambition is to reveal dark's true identity, and his father is an azumano inspector also tasked with capturing dark. satoshi hiwatari, who's currently head of the azumano police department (as well as the current last of the hikari) abides by a daylight truce around daisuke, and daisuke does consider him a friend. apart from hiwatari who is entirely aware of dark's identity and the niwa and hikari family's history, nobody suspects daisuke of being dark--- not even in the slightest, given how 'different' they are, and thus likewise how impossible it seems.

daisuke's involved with his school's art club. there are times he can't make it and has to leave early if he's scheduled for a heist, but he does enjoy his time at club and often spends what he can working on personal projects until late in the afternoon. many of the other members note that he always works hard and tries to demonstrate kindness by offering to clean things up or staying behind a little whenever he can, but his own connection and appreciation of the arts is fairly well-known and undeniable.

SEMIPUBLIC. info available to some general groups.

the niwa family firmly established themselves as an ancestral family of master thieves (in other words, as a 'proper' family business devoutly training its children in thievery) around 500 years ago. dark's existence goes beyond that, starting from 2000 years ago. within the 'present,' dark has only just recently returned after a 40 year period absence.

dark has never been caught and jailed by ordinary human means in any sort of way that he hadn't initially planned for. if he's ever in a prison, it's because he wants to be there, and he is most definitely leaving with something in his hands that didn't initially belong to him.

there are hikari disciple-descendants within the world who are aware of the hikari artwork's magic. one of these includes funabashi, a student who goes to daisuke's school. the niwa family occasionally collaborates with these individuals for one reason or another, or also sometimes loosely employs bodyguards to watch over dark/daisuke. <- this is also available to ordinary, other criminal families who are willing to take a job babysitting daisuke, more or less.

likewise, the niwa family does handle a variety of cursed objects. they'll buy, retrieve (steal) and store enchanted items whether benign, beneficial or dangerous within the mansion's endless basement. this includes anything from small rings to swords to magnificent statues. curses that can be lifted will be, while ones that are too dangerous are simply sealed or put to sleep - this is where daisuke's status as a 'tamer' (or, literally translated, wing-lord,) of the arts comes from.

the family doesn't usually sell artworks on the blackmarket, but if they do, there's a very strict window qualifications. the niwa family won't let anything magical or overly powerful fall into anybody's hands; artworks sold are generally nothing more than ordinary, albeit still beautiful artworks fenced.

the family is still mind-blowingly wealthy!! daisuke lives in massive, multi-story mansion, though he always just refers to it as his 'home.' it's hard to miss the house itself, though it does have a reputation as being 'impenetrable-' visitors have to ring a bell and announce themselves to even get past the outside gate, (and this is because it's insanely, fatally layered with traps from top to bottom by daisuke's mother who has to disable them.) the family has a butler, it has a maid - who are also artworks, but still.

wiz, dark's familiar and daisuke's pet, transforms with him. the two are indispensable for each other during heists as MANY of dark's tricks rely on wiz and duplicity - thanks to wiz being able to transform not only into dark's wings but also people, including dark himself, he commonly appears in two places at once, making him all that much more difficult to catch. wiz is also considered a mystery - nobody has connected that the small white rabbit often riding on daisuke's shoulder is also the enormous black-winged dog-like thing that sometimes shows up during dark's heists.

PRIVATE. info that should only be known by very, very few.

daisuke's transformations into dark are, of course, amongst his most deepest secrets. despite its uncontrollable tendency just about only his family knows about dark and the way the family curse/genes work - that he transforms whenever his heart starts to pound.

dark himself not even being human is something he guards and treats somewhat as a secret - he was created and manifested within the niwa bloodline as this gene mutation due to a magical accident between an ancient niwa and an ancient hikari. the cultural revolution, a catastrophic event in which mass artworks were burnt and destroyed, was the result of his birth, and the beginning of dark's 'betrayal' against the hikari, his technically-creators, and his choice to steal.

this forges a metaphorical chain that binds dark to the artworks and his self-imposed duty/existence as a phantom thief. in tandem with his selfishness is an immense guilt that motivates him to steal away whatever artworks he can before the hikari, or merely time and neglect, destroy everything - he's usually seeking to preserve what's left.

dark does not have any sort of power or talent to fix (or create!) the artworks, (merely, at best, sustain them for just a little longer,) and he laments this. when a magical artwork breaks, without the power of a hikari, it's as good as dead.

generally speaking, and apart from wiz, dark and daisuke are usually expected to carry out their heists alone, but anyone in the family, most typically his mother, decides upon targets and sets out the warning cards. everyone in the family assists in whatever ways they can during a preparation phase- this means gathering building blueprints, radio information, general background knowledge or hearsay, etc.

daisuke's father is a researcher who specializes in magical artifacts and cursed objects, daisuke's grandfather was also dark, and daisuke's mother is all-around the most enthusiastic person in the family who's trained daisuke since birth, and also preps and readies dark's costumes for him. generally speaking, daisuke still gets the most difficult part(s) of actually committing the heist, and is thus usually left to plan things on his own with dark.

daisuke's genes have mutated. he's unique compared to the rest of the niwa because of this, being the closest to completely merge and 'become one' with dark. getting shot during the process halted their total unification, but they've still become intertwined in a way that 'dark is visible within daisuke' and 'daisuke is visible within dark.' empath muses or people with sixth spiritual senses/magical truth-seeing eyes do your thing here.

daisuke is extremely physically capable. it isn't just dark who can do incredible acrobatic movements or has bewildering reflexes or a catlike quiet when he walks. daisuke typically hides or dulls his movements down when in public, but apart from appearances, there's genuinely no difference in capability between himself and dark. this also applies to things like skill in hacking, lock-picking, wilderness survival, etc.

dark himself is capable of all sorts of magic. memory manipulation, elemental control, invisible force, etc, just about anything you can think of --- dark cannot, however, typically abuse these abilities as the magic takes a very powerful toll on daisuke's body. small tricks like putting someone to sleep or a small flame, enough to light a candle is no problem, but a full-scale wizard battle will leave him / daisuke unconscious for days if he doesn't have some kind of magical regulatory handicap equipment.

dark and daisuke being able to cross worlds through works of art is also generally kept a secret. as long as daisuke's capable of perfectly recreating a particular scenery from azumano, like his home or his room, he can always return home, or vice versa for other locations - but he does have to be careful as he can only move through these 'passageways' with dark's power, and likewise in dark's form.

daisuke will not let dark kill. dark himself alone can get very close to inhumanly murderous points, but as long as he's merged with daisuke, taking a life of any sort is generally off the table. more than a few serious attempts have been made on dark and daisuke's life, however - and they've got the scars to show for it, though these are generally covered up.

dark generally thinks eating is a pain and a chore and not his to deal with - it's daisuke's body, after all. if he has to consume something for calories for daisuke's sake, it's probably going to be a drink, or something like a smoothie or a milkshake, if he's not hand-fed by somebody. he and daisuke both have a sweet-tooth lean and are bad with overly spicy foods - 'why is this a secret?' because daisuke doesn't want people to know you can easily lure and tempt him around with fruit and candy.

[musedriven]

oh, now what a fun reaction. he knew when he took the case that it was going to be interesting but this was just fun now. trying to defend his desire for the spotlight; how unlike any thief he had met. he might actually enjoy the attention and even better that meant he held extra pride in his heists. " a thief who's real goal is to steal attention... I wonder what would happen then if you didn't get it? " he mused aloud, amused more than anything else. so far this 'Dark' character was proving to be his new favorite puzzle.

he made a side note to tell Hiwatari to ensure that there was no media presence the next time he left a warning letter. in fact ; the best move would be to not even announce they got a letter at all. " I have found asking the questions outright tends to bring the most results; even if the answers are not given in direct ways. you'll be even further interested when I bring up how you have a habit of taking Hikari artworks above anything else... is there something about that family that is special to you perhaps? or more likely, with your fence, Mr. president. i'm guessing the first lady perhaps? or the vice president? " his own black eyes are focused solely on Dark's face. he's playing with him.

' is having all the eyes in the country on me what you call 'little ?' ' not that he'd expect a shut-in weirdo like this to understand , but still . ' oi , you have a lot of guts to ask that question . what the hell are you expecting ? ' if apprehension wasn't in their interest , then it might have just been unraveling the mystery of a phantom thief , but wasn't that the fun ( and infinite misery ) of it all ? the deeper anyone dug , the more there was utterly nothing to his name beyond what was as flagrant as it was insolent . he eyes the other up and down just once . then , in complete and utter straightforward sincerity : ' i'm the president of the united states . ' totally . actually . really ! just trust him .

[zadien]

Coming in at a glorious 29,000 something words, we have the newest chapter of SLTS. Mute me because this is going to be the only thing I talk about this weekend because this has been a monster to write and edit, but I love it.

Also ff.net does not send out alerts. So no one will see this which is just fantastic. Thanks ff.net. You’re a real gem.

This is the start of the Ireland/camp trip which I call the Grey arc. There’s a lot happening.

Preview

Three boys in red stepped into his path and he bit back his annoyance. 

“Well, if it isn’t Kai Hiwatari. Heard you might be here, but I didn’t think it was true. After all, didn’t you leave the top team in your district to join a team that’s never lifted a trophy?” 

Dean Masters. He should have known he would be here. The son of an illustrious NHL’er, Dean was the golden boy of junior hockey. With his blonde curls and blue eyes, he had a face that was probably handsome, if you ignored the slight razor burn up his jawline from attempting to shave the five hairs that dared to grow there. Much like Kai, Dean had found himself on skates at a young age and he excelled in all aspects, until his father died in a freak accident. 

Despite his popularity for his outstanding talent, his personality dug under Kai’s skin—a niggling thread of disdain. Then there was his little tagalong with the wild, orange hair and pale, pale skin. Carson Gregg. Tala had once described him as a weasel and since that moment, Kai couldn’t unsee it. He constantly fidgeted, narrow eyes avidly watching for a weak spot to pounce on. Plus, he was so skinny Kai was certain he would break from the lightest check against the boards. 

Sadly, that hadn’t happened yet.

“Oh, they lifted trophies, but like, decades ago. Now they cling to those glory days and call themselves the second rated team like that’s something to be proud of,” Carson sneered. 

“So he moved from a good team to a shit team? Why?” The third guy asked, ignoring Kai’s presence. A little younger, this one seemed vaguely familiar but Kai didn’t have a name to go with the face, and he wasn’t about to find it out. 

“Who knows,” Dean said, side-eyeing Kai, “maybe he just realised he’s not that talented after all. You get that sometimes, players who’re really good in a small pond, and then they move to a bigger tank and realise they ain’t shit.” 

The corner of Dean’s mouth lifted as he skimmed over Kai’s outfit. “Must be why you’re in Arrow grey.” 

[phandomreversebang]

Phandom Reverse Bang 2021 Masterlist!

Hi guys! We want to thank everyone who took the time to join the event and make it super fun as always. This is the masterlist of all the amazing fics and art pieces created for the event. Don't forget to share share share!

Sparks Fly by @counting2fifteen: Dan and Phil’s vacation after Vidcon is going well, until a mistake from Phil sets the whole thing up in flames. Beta: @catboydan. ART by @schnaphan

Raise the Woof by @paradisobound: Dan started his own dog bakery after a trip through Pinterest gave him the idea of baking a cake for his family dog Colin. The bakery is a success and Dan loves the fact that he gets regular customers coming in all the time to order cupcakes. One customer, in particular, comes in every day and goes by the name of Phil. But Phil never brings a dog with him…Why? Phil is a werewolf and likes eating the cupcakes himself. Beta: @through-this-night. ART by @effingmeteors

Opposites Attract by @succubusphan: Phil comes home and finds a letter. Beta: @effingmeteors. ART by @schnaphan

Youth -Season 2- by @r3ad3r1: Dan and Phil are both young actors at the beginning of their careers: after being minor characters in the TV series “Youth” they are going to be the focus of season 2. They come from different backgrounds: Dan has a family involved in the business, Phil does not. They have different attitudes: Dan stays with producers and directors, Phil hangs out with the other actors. Let’s see if being boyfriends on-screen will affect them in real life. Beta: @catboydan. ART by @anironsidh

I'm happy at home (happy at home) You're my best friend by @anironsidh. Phil decides to go back to university for his PhD in English while Dan works on writing his book, but they must find a way to stay close while it feels like their lives are going in separate directions. Beta: @indistinct-echo. ART by @isthisadrawingiseebeforeme

blind date gone wrong?! (not clickbait!) by @overmayhead: When Phil gets stood up at a blind date his colleague Bryony arranged for him, he certainly doesn’t expect the evening to end with a kiss in the pouring rain in front of a load of supermarket bins after almost sneezing his brains out. Beta: @microoowave. ART by @hiwatari-art

Forever Home by @possumdnp: Phil’s wanted a dog for as long as he can remember, and now that he and Dan are moving into their new house, it’s the perfect opportunity. But there’s just one problem. Phil’s allergic to dogs. Beta: @microoowave. ART by @unicornosaur

something so magic about you by @silentdescant: Under the full moon isn’t the only time Dan and Phil do business in the forest, but it is certainly the time of month they do the most business. Phil thinks it’s because that’s when all of the supernaturally-inclined creatures come out to play, but Dan’s cynicism bleeds through whenever he argues that it’s just because the full moon “seems witchy” and that it’s akin to a tourist trap. Phil rolls his eyes, every time.

or: Dan believes that magic exists; he sees evidence of it every day with Phil. He just doesn’t believe he has any magic of his own. Beta: @stefycubi94. ART by @sevensforasecret

With enchantment on your side by @jestbee: Dan finds photos, and then he finds the person in them. Beta: Lackless. ART by @jorzuela.

Somebody find me, find me love by @anironsidh: Phil Lester likes working at the little cafe he's been at for awhile. It's nice, calm, and he feels accepted for being gay there unlike what he knew before. When the cafe's owners bring in a new piano player to entertain on Friday nights, Phil finds his world thrown upside down by the stranger who's captured his attention (and who the owners think he has a crush on, which he does not thank you very much). Beta: @paradisobound. ART by @marranje.

won’t let you pass me by by @glowingatmosphere: When Phil walks into work that Thursday evening, there’s someone new sitting in Cornelia’s place at the piano. Beta: @irrationalqueer. ART by @marranje

Ride Into The Setting Sun Tonight by @succubusphan and @icequeenjules26: The start of a new season gives Dan the opportunity to finally win the world championship but his animosity with Lester and his reckless behaviour could ruin it all. Art by @toffeelemon.

Reasons why (Dan and Phil’s vacation) are a fail by @kneebleed: A series of a few unfortunate events that occurred to (kind of) rich people during their vacation. Beta: @indistinct-echo. ART by @paradisobound

off the record by @fictropes: His entire life is just going round and round in really fast circles, at least that’s what he tells interviewers when they try and pry a little too much. Beta: @sierraadeux. ART by @toffeelemon

Wouldn't it Be Nice by @succubusphan: Dab’s life is in shambles, his most precious friendship is in danger, but maybe a change of scenery could help. Beta: @through-this-night. ART by @polar-bears-making-pancakes

As Fate (or a really weird guy named David) Would Have It by @husbants: Phil has been stood up. Just as he’s leaving, a frantic (and absolutely handsome) guy rushes in the restaurant, looking for his own first date. Maybe tonight won’t be as bad as it once seemed it would. Beta: @paradisobound. ART: @hiwatari-art

[just-lexy]

Flatmates. Part 3.

To look for parts 1 & 2 click on the tag Bey Flatmates and you should find it. If I link things Tumblr doesn't index them for some reason.

What did you miss: Julia and Kai are both going to Versace's party. Characters: Julia Fernandez, Kai Hiwatari Ships: Nope. Mention of past ships. Rating: I don’t understand rating. Characters are over 25yo so they speak and act accordingly. Notes: Bey Universe, post championships life.

Drunk Kai Hiwatari is a sassy queen.

At that time, the next day, Julia would have been on her way back to Madrid, so mulling over it was useless. The damage was done, Kai had turned distant once more, but at least he didn’t kick her out. 

She just had to avoid contact, don’t bother him for the evening, and reduce to the minimum the chance to say something wrong again. 

Julia fixed her makeup, wrapped herself in a brandless vintage black coat, wore her heels, and hustled to get to the location of the Versace show with the metro, her reality check before jumping back into the glitz. It felt like diving in between different dimensions. From Kai’s polished, expensive, minimalistic interior design, to the primary-colored, smelly, and chaotic underground of Milan. Ending up in the Montenapoleone metro station in a different type of rich: ostentatious and classic.

Julia didn’t have to check her phone to find her destination since there was a big crowd coming and going from a side street: models, socialites, photographers, and curious tourists. 

Aquí está, respira. 

Julia stopped on her track and straightened her shoulders. It was her moment, what she had been waiting for all week. Without letting the cold air bother her, she unbuttoned the coat enough for her pride dress to be visible and confidently started walking towards the entrance of the Versace residence.

Her heels were clicking on the asphalt, and one of the handbags she helped create was dangling from her fingers. Her chin was held high and she made eye contact with a bunch of street photographers batting her eyelashes.

The world was in her hands, she had made it. It reminded her of the feeling when she decided she was going to be the first woman to win a Beyblade Tournament. Like nothing could stop her. 

When she almost reached the first security check a tinted windows car approached and all the paparazzi flocked forward, flashes lighting up the street as if it was midday, to get a picture of an Italian singer - at least that’s what a lady next to her commented to her friend. 

“Hello, can I get a picture of you?”

The voice arrived from behind and Julia didn’t get right away that the photographer was talking to her, but as soon as she did she poker-faced her surprised and pleased reaction, taking a few steps away from the crowd and posing for her first street-style picture ever. 

It was all real, she could not be bothered with all the rest. Not the attitude of her boss when they met inside the villa, not the bewilderment seeing the inside of the historical palace, not the number of celebrities she followed daily walking around her and taking their seat along the course of the catwalk. 

The lights, the music, the models, the garments, the accessories. Everything was perfect. Julia felt like she belonged, like this was what she wanted her future to be filled with. 

Inspired. Excited. Invigorated. Enlivened. 

All the words in her vocabulary weren’t enough to describe it. And she needed to live it fully, so she did what she knew how to do best: talk. She started talking to everybody. Complimenting, commenting, and exchanging contacts. 

She didn���t expect anything from any of it, she just wanted to live in the moment. 

Her failed conversation with Kai was a distant memory. He had appeared briefly when the party had moved to the garden - no, seriously, how could exist a garden that size in the epicenter of Milan? - and had nodded in salutation from afar.     

Julia would have kept ignoring him all night, but then she took a glimpse of his jacket - the damned jacket of disgrace - of him laughing at what his interlocutor was saying - el traicionero was giggly with everybody except her apparently - and right after of the face of his interlocutor. And there she froze. 

Why on Earth was Kim Jones - the Kim Jones, creative director of Fendi, Dior, and Louis Vuitton - entertaining a conversation with Kai Hiwatari?

Her fingertip closed on the fabric of the handbag and she had to stop her feet from automatically charging on the couple. She needed a plan. They would have finished talking soon enough and she could then intercept him. But the conversation was proceeding for another minute, and then another, and then another. 

Julia wasn’t known for her patience, patience was assigned to Raul at birth. She was left with impulsivity. And after all, she had angered Kai Hiwatari enough already, there was nothing to lose.  

A waiter passed in front of her carrying a tray with champagne glasses and there it was her hook. Julia grabbed two glasses and sprinted forward, in her head an old mantra - la fortuna sonríe al atrevido - and she nonchalantly interrupted the conversation. 

“Here you are,” Julia stated handing the glass to Kai. “Sorry, I couldn’t find the ladies' room.”

Por favor, don’t betray me! 

Kai accepted the glass. He didn’t show any kind of surprise or annoyance, his expression as unreadable as ever until he smirked and made his glass clink with Julia’s and Kim Jones’ almost empty one. “This is Julia Fernandez,” he then added with the ease and confidence networking courses try to teach to their students. “It’s her first Fashion Week as a designer. Can you remind me of the name of the brand?”

Julia suppressed the urge to jump and bear hug Kai - because it wasn’t the time nor the person with whom she could let go like this. 

It was a masterpiece of introduction, the help she needed to start a conversation, fangirl a little but also present herself as a professional. 

Corporate Kai Hiwatari was awesome. 

“How did I go?” 

By the tension on her shoulders, it seemed like their conversation had lasted an hour. By the lightness in her head, barely five minutes. For sure, she was feeling all over the moon.

“Depends on what was your goal,” Kai answered leaving the now empty glass on another passing tray. 

“Speaking to Kim Jones.” 

Kai scoffed amused, starting to move back inside. “Then, it was a success.”

Julia took a second to ponder on his words, the butterfly in her stomach still flying around undisturbed. 

“Wait, what do you mean by that? Did I do something wrong?”

Julia started pestering Kai, her resolution to leave him alone was lost and forgotten. Not to mention her renovated interest in his connections. Joder, Kai was speaking to Kim Jones as an old friend, who knows how many others could they encounter if she stayed close enough.    

And so she did. 

The way Kai interacted with people was bizarre. Julia wouldn’t have ever thought of Kai as a social person, she had just seen him at ease with his two Bey teams. To some extent, he still looked like the loner type, but people seemed to be carried his way, they would come to say hello and exchange a few words. One guy even tried to hit on him not too blatantly. 

What surprised her was Kai playing along. Greeting them, giving a piece of his mind on random topics of conversation, thanking them for a compliment on his look without sounding vane. 

What could she say, el chaval looked great, had an excellent posture, and spoke even better. From their sushi dinner, he had changed into a very Versace shirt, all colors and patterns - if he had worn that before she wouldn’t have doubted even a second where he was headed - a few accessories complemented the look, his hair looked soft and shiny, and he wore eyeliner. He could have been walking the runway and she wouldn’t have questioned it. 

“I can’t believe he pulled it again.”

Somebody just approached Kai on the other side. Somebody a bit shorter than him, because she could only see appearing a hand holding a phone, showing some Instagram story to Kai.

“I wonder what Gigi might think of it.”

The voice was familiar, though she couldn’t place it right away. He kept commenting on famous people on a first-name basis - Gigi, Emily, Chiara, Donatella - his hands drawing shapes in the air, and his accent was all very Italian. And there she connected, the voice she was used to hearing from her daily strolling on social media. 

Julia leaned forward to peek behind Kai and could finally confirm the guy - who was carelessly placing a hand on Kai’s forearm to emphasize his disbelief at some anecdote he was telling - was “Blonde Frittomisto”, a fashion influencer who became famous for his ironic style and managed to launch his jewelry brand. 

When he finally noticed her, he dramatically stopped his tale and looked at Kai, “Who’s that?”

“Julia,” Kai simply stated. The influencer gave her a scan from head to toe while Kai proceeded with the introductions. “Seba. Seba, Julia.”

“Sebastiano, only believes in Madonna, Gaga, and Britney,” Julia automatically recited the catchphrase of one of his most viral content. 

Seba bit his lower lip and hissed, “Oh, I like her!” before starting to smile and include her in his neverending chattery.  

“Are you coming to the club as well?”

After collecting the important information - they had a list in one fancy club in Garibaldi and Kai was going along with a few other friends - Julia looked at Kai as if asking for silent permission to join that was granted when he shrugged lightly. 

Socialite Kai Hiwatari was awesome.

It started to rain again when they were in the taxi. It must have been close to sunrise but there was no way of telling given the shitty weather. 

Julia had managed to stay tipsy, smartly declining a few drinks offering - and a sniff offering from one of the models who joined them - and overall enjoyed the night out. 

They had been in the privè of the club most of the time, a famous deejay was performing, and the company was pleasurable. 

Arriving in front of Kai’s building felt like a bit of a Deja Vu, even though the circumstances had changed completely from a few days before. 

She paid for the ride and shook slightly Kai’s shoulder to urge him to get out and guide him through the door, saying hello to the night concierge, and proceeding toward the elevator. 

“I can walk, you know?” Kai told her when they got out of the elevator on the last floor and Julia tried to take his arm. He made a few steps and could indeed walk, not in a straight line though. 

Kai Hiwatari was drunk, but at least he resulted to be a fun drunk. His look was still socialite-worth, his eyeliner had just smudged a bit, and his hair was a bit messier, but he could have still looked good on a runway. Especially since he was overly swaying his hips.

Julia couldn’t suppress a laugh, her inhibitions - if she ever had some - were still at the lowest level. 

“What are you laughing at?” Kai turned and almost lost his balance, making Julia laugh even more. “Girl, give me a break?”

But Julia couldn’t stop. Kai had been acting funny for too long and had taken some quirk from the people around them, Seba especially, with his habit to call ���girl” every he/she/them in the room or as intercalation in every other sentence. 

When Kai managed to open his front door and get into the apartment, Julia was still giggly and Kai had surrendered and joined her.

Heading to the kitchen, she decided to take the situation into her hands, for both hers and his sake: she retrieved her box of wet wipes to remove their make-up, filled two glasses of water, and looked for some solid food. 

They incoherently continued to chat about the night and Kai’s friends, Julia scoffed a few other impulsive comments but this time Kai seemed to not notice or care about it.

“You can’t fool me anymore. I found out how you get invited to Versace’s party,” Julia tasted the suspense she was building, even if it was just for herself. “You are banging the influencer.”

At the club, she had a glimpse of Kai and Seba on the dance floor shamelessly making out, before they disappeared for a while. There was little to deny there.

Kai looked at her seriously and leaned closer as to whisper a secret - or a threat. 

“You mean,” he raised his finger and wiggled it in front of her eyes, making Julia try to suppress another laugh. “He gets invited to Versace’s party because he is banging me.”

There were three seconds of silence when they looked straight into each other’s eyes and then they burst into laughter.    

“I need to sleep,” Kai said suddenly, his hands going up to massage his forehead. 

This time, he didn’t protest when Julia followed him to help. She was scared of the combination of his swaying and the stairs climbing. In fact, the first couple of steps seemed overwhelming. 

Kai stopped and looked up to the darkness of the first floor. 

“Remind me, why did I put my room upstairs?” He then turned to Julia expecting an answer she couldn’t give. “Fuck it.”

Julia was forced to retreat with him, looking at him sprawling out on the sectional in the living room. With a sigh, she followed him and got comfortable on the cushions. 

Silence filled the room, Kai had closed his eyes, his breathing evening out, and Julia enjoyed the calm and quiet, her fingers mindlessly reaching for a strand of Kai’s hair to put it back in place. 

“You are not that bad, you know?” Kai softly spoke after a while.

“Oh, thank you,” Julia responded with a smile, she was getting sleepy. “I thought you hated me.”

“I did.”

Julia frowned, not expecting this turn of the conversation. Kai was dragging his words on the verge of sleep and she was too tired to think too much about it.

“How come?”

“‘Cause, you took Yuriy away from me.”

Julia looked down at Kai’s peaceful expression. 

Mierda.   

[mach-speed-spin]

Character Design Analysis: Ryuga

Last time I covered Kai Hiwatari (https://mach-speed-spin.tumblr.com/post/659341701330157568/character-design-analysis-kai-hiwatari) so now I’ll do a metal saga character. It’s the Dragon Emperor himself

His hair is mainly white with a red section on his left side. The fact that Ryuto has his red hair on his right side shows that it’s meant to symbolize the spin direction of the bey

He wears a crown with a dragon design on it. It looks ike a tiara but the wiki calls it a crown so I’m going with that. Historically, rulers seeked to legitimize their rule through status symbols, such as their clothing. Ryuga is really commited to his Dragon Emperor thing (in the manga he’s actually an emperor. In the anime it comes off as just his ego)

He has a jacket that he wears like a cape. The fact that he doesn’t get a new design in Fury is interesting, since most major characters from Fusion did (except benkei, Tsubasa, and Yu, but Fury didn’t care for them). The cape ties in to the crown in theme. Ryuga is the *self proclaimed* Dragon Emperor. The cape is a reminder of that. It’s not an actual cape, but it might as well be one. With Ryuga, particularly in Masters and Fury, his ego is completely unchallenged (except for that part of Fury). Ryuga sees himself as invincible and he won’t let anyone forget that

He wears a black and gold top. It doesn’t mean much other than showing off his arms, but it fits better with the red/orange aura he has in Masters and Fury than his purple aura in Fusion, so I wonder if this was on purpose

He keeps L-Drago in a gauntlet on his left arm. It’s golden and has a dragon design, much like his crown. The following is just headcanon but it looks pretty heavy. I imagine a normal person would struggle to carry it around all day

He has a launcher on his belt. Nothing notable about it other than it being on his left, while Gingka’s is on his right.

His pants and boots are fairly unremarkable but they’re practical, which makes sense when you consider his “training” in Fury

Ryuga’s purple aura in Fusion worls well with the white of his hair and cape, but looking at it now, the red hair and gold on his top and crown look out of place

The red and gold go much better with the fiery aura he gets later on, and the white that went well with purple also looks good here. It almost seems like this was planned from the start

When he gets possesed by L-Drago, he turns into this. It’s meant to look like a dragon-human hybrid but comes off more as a goblin. His hair and nails become longer and he rips his top. His eyes glow red and his teeth get sharper. All of this was meant to make him look more monstrous, but I want to point out the purple marks on his face

Those don’t make him more monstrous. They just look like an easter egg to original series fans who liked Kai. But like Kai’s facepaint in G-Revolution (I cover than in my kai analysis), they look like claws. It’s like L-Drago has his claws on Ryuga and is holding him

He also loses his cape. His crown and gauntlet stay though. Now, the crown and gauntlet look to be made specifically for the Dragon Emperor, but the cape was definitely Ryuga’s own doing. The golden jewelry was the sign that he was the Dragon Emperor. The cape was the sign that he saw himself as the Dragon Emperor. This was the only time in the series he lost his cape, except for the battle with Nemesis, which was the only other time he lost a battle. Ryuga’s cape is a sign of his ego, not his power like the crown is. A humble Dragon Emperor would have the crown. But only one who wants to show off has the cape

If there’s one word to summarize Ryuga, it’s ego. Massive, unchallenged ego, that is somehow justified. When he says he’s the stongest, he is. The main parts of his design signify one of three things. L-Drago’s left rotation (hair, belt, gauntlet), his status as the legitimate Dragon Emperor (crown, gauntlet), and his status as the self proclaimed Dragon Emperor (cape). So Ryuga is a combination of ego and power. He always has power, but on 2 occasions, he let go of his ego

[aduah]

Hey yo I wrote a thing with Takao and Yury and it's kinda TyKa!

--

"Yury, sit down please." Takao told the boy as he saw him passing by one of the corridors. "I need to tell you something."

The boy gulped, anxiety already skyrocketing as his heart started pounding fast. His father had a serious face on, which meant *he might've done something wrong*.

Was it he forgot to wash the dishes? He found out he skipped bey training last week?? What was it, and why was he being so enigmatic about it, damn it!

"What's going on?" he finally asked, after sitting on the floor of the family's dojo, where his father was. He could only see his back as he was doing something on one side of the building. The one where the sword was. And now... where the *altar* for his grandfather was. He was lighting some incense to pay his respects.

Since Ruynosuke died two months before, he says his father, the great Takao Kinomiya, ex Beyblade world champion and current BBA president slump into a deep, dark depression he was afraid he would never escape.

His grandfather was... basically his only parent. The only relative he was really close to. The one who made him the man he was, as he always said.

Maybe it was about that... and he was not ready for that kind of talk. Not in the mood. He couldn't handle it.

His thoughs were interrupted as he heard the man sigh, before e finally turned around, looking...

*Fine*.

Worried, but... there was a new light in his eyes, something he hadn't seen in a long while. It made him relax a bit too.

Still, he had something to say, and it was serious.

"So... is this silence going to go on for some more?" The boy asked, to break the ice.

"No, sorry, I'm just... trying to find the right words for this."

Oh no, anxiety was back in full force. It was about the missed training, was it?

"I..." Takao tried, biting his lips as he tried to let out what was going on in his mind. And his life, actually.

"What... would you think if I... if I were to... *see* someone?" He finally let out.

"See someone... as if in "dating"?" he quoted the last word with his fingers since he wasn't sure that was the word he wanted. Japanese still had difficult terms for him.

"Well... yes. Let's put it like that." the dark blue-haired man sighed, scratching the back of his neck. "How... would that make you feel?"

"I... dunno..." Yury looked down at the floor, thinking about it. "If... this person makes you happy and treats you well, I mean... it's your life."

"But it would impact your life too." He added. Of course, he was worried as a father about Yury's reaction to that situation. "I want... you to be fine with this too. If not, I'm ready to call it off."

Yury would've hated it if his father wouldn't allow himself happyness because of him.

"... who's this person?" The boy finally looked up at his father, a bit worried about the answer. Was it someone he knew? Someone new? He wasn't too good with relations, new people made him uncomfortable.

But what his father said next changed everything.

"It's... Kai... Kai Hiwatari, Daniel's father..."

Yury let out the loudest, longest sigh of relief of his life, literally falling back and lying on the wood floor of the dojo.

"Fuck, you got me worried for nothing!"

"Where did you learn that language?"

"It was about time you and Kai started dating."

"We're not... exactly dating." Takao's cheek turned red, and he tried to hide it. "It's... we're hanging out but... there is something..." but then, another question got into his mind as he looked at his son. "... you're not surprised about it?"

"Why should I?"

"Well... it's Kai we're talking about and... he's a man..."

"Dad." Now it was Yury's time to look serious as he sat back up, looking into his father's eyes. And it was *rare* Yury would look anyone in their eyes.

"It's the norm in this day and age. I'm bisexual too, you know it. Doesn't matter if it's a man, a woman, or whatever. As long as... you're happy and they make you happy, nothing else matters to me."

Those words hit all the right points in Takao's heart, and he was struggling to not cry right there in front of Yury.

"Besides, you and Kai were hanging out a lot more lately." he added.

"Well, he was worried because I was..."

"Letting yourself go?"

"I'm... sorry about that..."

"I can understand." Yury looked behind Takao, where a photo of Ryunosuke stood under the family's sword. "I miss him too, but I can't even imagine how you feel. If Kai is helping you feel better, then it's fine."

He couldn't resist anymore and he dashed forward, hugging Yury tight, softly crying into his shoulder.

He still had him. And he felt so lucky about it, about how open and supportive of him his son was.

"Thank you..." he whispered as Yury closed his arms around him, sighing and patting him.

"I want you to be yourself again..." The boy let out, to which Takao nodded.

"I will. I promise."

Now he had all the support he needed to get back up.

[fyeahiwatarikei]

🫱 to take an object from my muse’s hand + Inspector pls?

Love Language - Physical Touch Starters

Take an object from the other’s hand

“Wha…!”

The lighter had already switched hands, more or less against its owner’s will and definitely without consent. What mattered in these situations was being swift; Kei had regretted his own hesitations so many times before. Not this night.

Saehara’s silhouette had stood out against the wall of the building, wrapped in its usual beige coat up to the chin; the familiar gesture of a hand foraging in a pocket had revealed enough for Kei to immediately abandon the path home to join it. Cigarette already perched on his lip, the man had peeked at what was approaching in long strides, but didn’t anticipate the long fingers grabbing his lighter directly from his hand.

In a second, they faced each other, Commissioner Hiwatari raising his eyes to look at him with a smile, Inspector Saehara too baffled to make a constructive comment up. Kei loved these brief, way too rare moments when he managed to catch someone off-guard. Social constraints forced him into peacefully blending in the background, thus these indulgent moments tasted like treats: for a few seconds, not only was the chosen object of his attention looking back at him, and at him only, but they were wondering about his intentions, his thoughts, about him.

After two attempts, the tiny flame sprang, separating them, barely spreading more luminosity than the distant street light.

Kei’s mouth gently twisted in an inviting pout, Saehara’s eyelids lowered. The cigarette came closer. Soon, the tip reddened, retreated back; the flame disappeared.

“I thought you hated smoke.”

“I still do, Inspector.”

“Then why?”

Out of respect for his boss, who still stood dangerously close to his face with no intention to leave this privileged point of view, he refused to draw smoke in, but the tobacco still got consumed uselessly. Kei had gotten what he wanted, at last, and couldn’t conceal satisfaction, traits frozen in almost cruel delight. What a pleasant, unexpected moment.

“Let me guess,” Saehara added. “You like watching old men enjoying their private vices?”

“Does self-destruction count as a vice?”

This time, smoke entered the other’s lungs, lengthily, attentively. Yet, under close scrutinization, it got released on the other side, where it would bother slightly less. How courteous. Despite the unpleasant smell, Kei felt a push of excitement in his chest. What would be the best way to conduct this discussion straight into his apartment…?

“I guess it does. Want a taste…?”

Saehara's indulgence had left, replaced by irony. He perfectly knew what his boss’ answer would always be. There was no reason for Kei to be the only one enjoying the moment, after all.

“Only from your lips.”

[fugitivehues]

DNseasons - Spring art by @fugitivehues & writing by @keikotwins

Emiko’s grasp remained firm despite the grace of her arm wrapped around his own, and she somehow managed to keep the conversation going while caressing him with the tips of her fingers. They hadn’t had time to go on a date in… how long had it been? Their excursion to Azumano Joyland didn’t count, given the stress it had generated. Over ten years, most probably.

On this fine day of spring, their father, Daisuke and the family’s pet had joined for a hanami picnic in town. With, who was currently using Daiki’s shoulder as transportation, had risen from his stone slumber a few weeks ago, to the general surprise and a few tears, an event that brought him special treats from everyone. Kosuke was no exception: he had caught himself looking at the lovely ball of fur with fondness, too aware of how much his presence had been missed by the household.

Pulling on his arm, Emiko changed direction to lead them onto a bridge. Before them, the Antonio church overlooked both the pedestrian street and, on its side, the public garden they had planned to visit; nothing too fancy, but ideal for a picnic. Like the frequent visitors they were not, the Niwas picked the perfect spot in the park to spread their picnic blanket, in-between two trees, where they would both enjoy the pale shade of the petals and receive a couple on their sandwiches. Simple joys Kosuke hadn’t experienced in… He had to stop thinking like this. Made him feel ancient.

As the men were sitting, Emiko, with Daisuke’s assistance, spread her dishes, one by one, at the centre of the blanket. Under With’s attentive gaze, karaage, omelettes, onigiri, various salads, biscuits, dumplings, small sandwiches and other bite-sized delicacies appeared from the large bentō boxes the lady of the house had brought in a basket. Kosuke raised his head to have another look at the flowers and noticed a stranger who looked at them from one of the garden’s walls.

Politely bowing his head, he returned to the lunch and sought Emiko’s attention. Their eyes met: she had noticed as well. The man’s appearance, from the pale skin to the way he heavily rested on the stone, indicated early convalescence and exhaustion. She raised her eyebrows just enough as she was serving miso soup, indicating no reluctance on her side.

It however took Kosuke a couple more minutes of reflexion to make a decision. When he finally convinced himself that inviting a stranger for lunch wasn’t rude enough to feel shame for weeks, he put his chopsticks down and rose.

The man did hesitate. The tiredness on his face made emotions hard to guess; no surprise, but no joy either, until a smile stretched his lips. Why not, after all? It had been a while since his last picnic, he said. They already had common traits.

When Kosuke returned to the blanket with their new guest, a replete With already rested, content and belly exposed, against Daisuke’s leg. Daiki immediately took over with the man, who got invited to pick whichever food had caught his eye and introduced to every member of the family with all the courtesy the old man could display. His and Emiko’s ease in discussions never ceased to amaze Kosuke, who preferred disappearing during visits. Saying the right thing at the right moment was an art he hadn’t mastered. Their guest gracefully evolved in the conversation, but he had noticed the light effort of his wrist when Emiko had handed him a bowl of soup, and would have picked silence to let him eat in peace.

“And how should we call you, sir?” Daiki asked after one of the man’s compliments on the quality of the food. The answer came late enough to suggest hesitation:

“Please call me Hiwatari. I don’t have a card on me right now, my apologies.”

Mouth full, Daisuke glanced in his direction, as if to recognise him, but no comment was made; imperturbable, Emiko offered rice cake with her best smile. It surely was a coincidence, if not an uncomplete truth. Hiwatari-kun had never mentioned a sick relative to Daisuke, had he? Had he ever mentioned a relative at all…? The topic had moved on to hanami desserts, how healthy Emiko’s son seemed and that he needed to eat a lot to grow strong – much to said boy’s dismay… Too late to ask either way.

Red bean tasted sweet on the tongue and fresh air soft against their skins. Good company and tasty food were everything a man truly needed, especially after the hardships and heartbreaks the family had faced, Daisuke in particular. With luck, this merry picnic would help them all grow strong and healthy again, may it be in their bodies or in their hearts.

[araingirl]

Scars of time: Queen of Alexandria

She could easily be recognized with her lush, back-length, chocolate hair, slightly wavy at the bottom. Ruby eyes which were deeper than dried blood of any stabbed corpse, were always on fire. On her tender velvet couch, she made herself comfortable, keeping one of her slender thighs over another. It was visible due to her black, single-sleeved, body-hugging column gown with a cut at the right side from her upper knee. Her pitcher-neck was bearing the gorgeous tattoo of the vermilion bird of the south. Eyes were wearing smoky make-up; heart-shaped lips were coated nude. Though the workers of Wings were braver, she wasn’t letting them fly in her presence at all. Even her own attendants were standing behind her, bowing their heads down.

“Margarita, Elsa…” She uttered.

Two of her workers went in, not protesting at all. Garland whispered in Brooklyn’s ears, “Will she give money? What do you think?”

“From her own pocket.” Brooklyn looked confident, smirking.

“Ichika, Dew…” The brunette didn’t hear the words of the workers of Wings, “You all are as well.”

“But…oni-chan…” The purplette tried to protest once. Yet, when she saw the raised hand of her elder sister before her eyes, she sighed. Like her, she was tensed too regarding the welfare of the navy-haired guy who had been kidnapped with Kai from the same place. No matter what she used to feel for him, she didn’t have the audacity to disobey the brunette too. Bending her head down, she left the place, not before giving a deadly glare at the present members of Wings. Though Tyson worked for them, she couldn’t trust them much.

“Looks like no one from Miss Tachibana’s family trust us,” The same thing was reflected in Brooklyn’s voice, “Alright!”

“No, one man does,” Hilary objected, not letting her emotions capture her throat, “But today, he’s in danger.”

Clenching her teeth, she fought against her tears, “But is there any rescue plan for him? I don’t think so…”

“He has asked for 50 million dollars.” Spencer didn’t let her finish, “Wings doesn’t have the amount in their fund currently.”

“And what about the police?” The brunette glanced at Ozuma with the corner of her eyes once, “Aren’t the police doing anything?”

“Absurd!” Bryan frowned, “I cannot understand what role the cops have here!”

“That’s for later,” Ozuma conversed, “At first, we must arrange the money.”

“That’s why I don’t like to come here.” Brooklyn remarked, whispering.

“We are going through a recession; the customers have also become few,” Another added, “First save yourself, then, save others. Yet, I’ve given some money from my pocket. Now, it is up to the family members.”

“I see…” Hilary sneered, “So, now you think I’m his family! What about calling me loudly ‘Hiwatari’s whore’ before a week in the central market before everyone?”

“We shouldn’t discuss that now,” The orange-haired guy glared at her, “The important thing is…”

“You know his situation far well, Miss…” From somewhere, a bit softer and considerate voice of a certain scarlet-haired Russian made the brunette ponder, “Madame Daffodil is schizophrenic. If she gets to know about it once, a disaster will take place right then and there. You also know that Kai is a spendthrift. He hasn’t saved anything in his house, not even a penny! Even Kane isn’t also present here either. That’s why, we had to…”

“Mr. Valkov…” Her voice also became gentler as tears started brimming in her eyes, “Whatever I have in my house at this moment completely belong to Kai. My body, my mind, my soul, this bar, my money-in short, everything. You all wait a minute; I’ll get the money.”

Everyone’s faces bloomed with smile, hearing her. However, they all became a little confused as they heard her next words, “But on a condition. Mr. Valkov, you’ll have to be a part of the team which will be sent for his rescue.”

“Why?” Bryan scowled, “Do we look like Kai’s enemies to you?”

“Stop it, Bryan, it’s not the time to debate,” Tala turned to Hilary, “Even if you hadn’t told me, still I would have gone to rescue him. Kai Hiwatari has been kidnapped and Tala Valkov is sitting idly without doing anything-may the day never come in this lifetime.”

______________________________________________________________

Here it remains! How’s Hilary looking in the birthday gift of my phoenix-lord? 

“Scars of time”, coming soon!!! :D 

[kurodachimagic]

Chocolate and Cherries - Chapter 1

Summary: When Adachi falls into the arms of a kind stranger his life changes for the better.

Rating: Pg 13

Tags/warnings: Fluff, getting together, au, Writer Adachi, Chef Kurosawa.

Word count: 6.2k

A/n: This story was written for the cherry magic mini bang! Thank you @hiwatari-art for inviting me to join! Had a lovely time working with you as always. Thank you to my other artist over on twitter guacagabs. The entire story is being posted right now. Thank you to @schnaf for being a great friend and beta!

Read on ao3

Adachi dragged his feet on the pavement as he made his way home from work. He was already too exhausted to start his writing day with the best mindset but it would have to do. He’d already skipped four days this week and if he didn’t actually sit down to work on his book, it would never be published. He let out a deep sigh and shook his head slightly.

The situation was not ideal by any means, he was not great at cooking and it was already too late to start dinner, but he definitely needed to eat something or his mind would absolutely quit on him, he knew that much.

Adachi knew he should probably get something healthier but he refused to waste even more time walking to the store, so he decided to stop by the food cart near his flat for his usual emergency menu: two tuna onigiris with mayo - along with a can of soda in the hopes that the caffeine would boost his creativity. He was not too happy about it, but he didn’t have much time to contemplate his choice because as soon as he had paid, the first few droplets of water hit his shoulders. Looking up, he felt the next few drops hit his nose and his forehead. He cursed inwardly and simply took off awkwardly running the last few blocks home, trying his best not to slip and fall, his dress shoes nothing but a hazard in this particular situation.

The building door was so close, he could see it through the pouring rain; just a few meters and he would be home. Adachi rushed, his hand extended already to grab at the door handle when his body collided with something - someone - and fell backwards. It was as if time had slowed down; he could see the face of the person he ran into frozen in shock, his eyes widening as he saw Adachi falling, while Adachi could only think about the pain this would cause him, physical, yes, but mostly emotional. He always managed to get himself in embarrassing situations and now -

His neighbour extended his hand just in time to catch Adachi’s and pulled him upright effortlessly, his expression switching from shock to a relieved smile. “Are you ok? I’m so sorry, I hadn’t seen you.”

“Thank you! I’m so sorry,” Adachi said, feeling the heat rise to his face, partly because of his clumsiness and partly because his neighbour had not let go of him yet. In fact, Adachi could have sworn that the guy was rubbing his thumb on the back of his hand. He didn’t know what to do, so he tried again. “Uh, sorry. I should’ve been more careful.”

“It’s ok, I’m glad that you didn’t get hurt.” The man seemed to suddenly remember they were standing in the pouring rain and pulled Adachi to the door. “Come, you’ll catch a cold in this weather.”

No matter how hard he thought, Adachi couldn't remember ever catching his name but he had seen this man before in the elevator and in some of the common areas. He seemed to be a bit of a recluse, much like himself.

The man opened the door and finally let go of his hand before ushering him in. “After you, Adachi.”

Adachi’s eyes widened; he didn't know how the man knew his name, but he didn’t mention it. He walked inside and called the elevator, followed closely by his saviour. Once the doors opened, he stepped in and turned around, pressing the button for the fifth floor and finally facing the man. "Thank you, again…" he trailed off.

"Kurosawa. My name is Kurosawa." He pressed the fourth-floor button.

Adachi smiled and bowed to him. "It was nice seeing you, Kurosawa. Have a good night."

The elevator dinged and Kurosawa bowed with a smile before exiting. “Good night, Adachi,” he waved.

Adachi hesitantly waved back as the elevator doors closed. Before he knew it he was one floor up, opening the door to his flat, throwing his work bag on the sofa and taking his wet clothes off with a groan before going to the bathroom.

What a day. Not only had he stayed late to finish on that project Urabe had handed to him but he also made himself look like a fool in front of his very cool neighbour, and to add insult to injury now he needed a hot shower to hopefully avoid catching a cold. He shook his head and hopped under the stream, washing himself thoroughly and letting the hot stream relax his muscles.

Feeling in a bit of a better mood, Adachi got out of the shower, wrapped himself in a towel and went about getting into a comfy set of pyjamas. He finally sat at his desk and opened the white doc of doom, checking the time and cursing as he realized it was 9 pm already. He slouched in his chair, throwing his head back with a groan. This book was going to take a million years at this rate, he really needed to prioritize his schedule, put on some good hours into it each day, especially during the weekend, he needed to -

Adachi’s stomach growled loudly, reminding him that his emergency dinner laid abandoned in its bag. He got up and stomped over to the sofa, unwrapping the onigiris and eating them without so much as a thought before returning to his spot. He promptly sat down to continue with the daily task of staring at the document while he begged his brain to type something - anything - out. But his mind had other plans though, Kurosawa’s face and gentle smile kept popping in his mind. Maybe it was because of the way he moved, how he had kept him from falling with his sharp reflexes, or maybe it was how elegant he looked even when he was soaking wet, how well his suit fitted him. Kurosawa was like some sort of superhero, or… no, he was more like a Prince Charming from an epic battle world. That was a start - it was not the murder mystery he had thought about, but it was definitely a start.

The sound of Adachi’s footsteps worked like a metronome, helping his mind settle into a rhythm. He was starting to see things in more detail: The brave prince paced in his castle, his sword close by his side, the problems his kingdom was facing were almost too much to bear and with his father on the brink of death, it was all on him. A shadow appeared above the citadel - the… the… ‘kingdom x’ was being attacked by a three-headed dragon. How would he fix this and save his people? Had someone sent the dragon or did it act with free will? Did the soon-to-be king have secret magic powers? Maybe they were a secret even to himself!

With renewed energy and excitement, Adachi sat down to work. This new world just wanted to be written, to become a reality, and he was not going to stop it. Aided by the occasional sip of soda and a few “stretching breaks” that were more like actual pacing, he managed to draft four thousand words by 5 am, effectively breaking his 3 thousand word record from just a few months ago. If he could keep up the pace he could finish the book within the next month and send it to Tsuge for editing and review. He sent a quick text to his friend to tell him the good news and got into bed; he would probably regret staying up so late tomorrow, but now he didn’t have it in him to care. Writing was definitely his call - even if he was very close to missing his goal of being a published author by 30.

---

The commute to work was nothing short of hell. The morning started with Adachi missing his usual train and having to take the next one during rush hour - not that he ever managed to avoid rush hour, but he usually took the first train during it so it wasn’t as crazy as later in the morning. This resulted in him having a very unpleasant ride, squeezed half to death between the sea of people, feeling like a canned sardine with a bad case of insomnia. That was the other issue, the previous writing night ended up being a success but even though he’d been exhausted by the time he was done, it had been impossible to fall asleep. Now he was on his way to a long workday with a pounding headache and a sour mood. If given the opportunity, Adachi would’ve chosen to take the day off to sleep and feel refreshed enough by sundown to continue writing.

His job was definitely a necessary evil, but sometimes he couldn’t help but resent it. On the verge of thirty, Adachi spent most of his day at the office, writing his reports, Urabe’s reports, and occasionally picking up the slack of some of his colleagues. There was barely any time for hobbies or relaxing and least of all to be an aspiring writer. To be completely honest, Adachi had started viewing his day job as his second career in the past year. His heart and soul were focused on his new goal, what he really wanted. In the end, if writing didn’t become his main income, it wouldn’t matter, he was passionate enough about it to continue no matter what. After all, living in the fantasy worlds he created was more than enough for him.

Adachi made it to his desk just on time, but running those last few blocks only served to make his mood even sourer. He pulled at the collar of his shirt with a small huff, still thinking about his writing and leaned back in his chair until it touched Urabe’s shoulder, startling him.

He turned around swiftly, blush already rising to his cheeks. “I’m so sorry, Senpai.”

Urabe nodded and waved him off. Then, he cocked his head and looked at Adachi in more detail. “What is going on with you, Adachi? You look tired.”

“I just had trouble sleeping last night, that’s all,” Adachi said with a heavy sigh. He could picture so many things he would rather do than give explanations about his personal life, but he would feel too guilty if he was rude to Urabe when he was only worried about him.

“Hmm, are you sure that’s all?”

“Yes. I’m ok.” He attempted his best smile. “Thank you for asking.”

“Adachi,” Urabe pouted, his brows burrowed into a childish frown, just like every time he would ask Adachi to take on more work, any semblance of concern already gone out the window. “Can you finish this report for tomorrow? The boss is really piling stuff on my shoulders and I already had other plans for today.”

Sometimes Adachi wished he was a bad person, or a bad colleague even, but he couldn’t help taking on the extra work when it was needed, after all, he didn’t have much of a life. He rolled his eyes but nodded. “Yes, of course.”

“Oh, wait. Is your birthday today or tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow.”

“And you’re turning 30, right?”

Adachi nodded once again, hoping to end the conversation as soon as possible; he didn’t want to be reminded of the passage of time or how much he hadn’t achieved by now.

Urabe rolled his chair closer and elbowed him. “Aaah, you sly weasel. Do you have a date?”

“Of course not. I’m just looking forward to getting home and sleeping.” That was literally his birthday plan.

Urabe frowned and gave him a quizzical look. “But you have... ‘dated’ before, right?” He winked.

Adachi shook his head slightly and saw the same look many people gave him, a mix of pity and judgement.

“You should ask one of the girls out. I’ve heard Yui is single and she’s very pretty!”

Adachi slowly turned his chair towards the copy machine and saw Yui across the room. She was, in fact, very pretty, but… she didn’t spark anything in him. She looked like a work of art, pleasant to look at, but not for him. “No, I don’t think that would work.”

“Adachi, if you don’t date someone by the time you turn 30, you will turn into a wizard!” He whispered.

“What? That’s ridiculous!”

“It’s true, you’ll see!”

Adachi rolled his eyes and turned back to his desk, finally starting on the reports needed. The sooner he was done with that, the sooner he could return to his writing.

--

The elevator opened its doors for Adachi and the ding that followed made his muscles relax instantly. Only a few more minutes and he would be up in his flat, taking his shoes off and cooking something quick before sitting down to write. He felt inspired by the beginning of this new story and he wasn’t about to let a bad day at work ruin that for him.

Just as the doors started to close, someone put a bag between them to keep them open. The first thing Adachi saw was a girl with a cute and gentle look, a black wispy fringe framing her face and a sweet smile. She nodded at Adachi and he smiled and nodded back. He wondered if he would ever date a girl like her, if sharing his life with a partner and doing things together would be so different than what he did now. The answer was probably not, since he assumed nobody would be supportive of him working all day and writing all night; if he was honest with himself, he didn’t really have time for a relationship, even if he sometimes yearned for a bit of company - theoretically. Adachi blinked repeatedly, suddenly crashing back into reality when he saw the looming presence of Kurosawa behind her, giving him a weird look he couldn’t quite place as he ushered the girl into the elevator.

Out of sheer awkwardness, Adachi nodded and mumbled a quiet hello at him, looking away as a blush crept onto his cheeks. Was that Kurosawa’s girlfriend? He groaned and let his head fall back against the elevator wall. He’d been caught staring at his neighbour’s girlfriend like a creep. He ventured a sideways glance and realized Kurosawa was still looking at him with a weird expression.

Thankfully, the ride was short and only a minute later, Adachi was home, barely paying any attention to his basic needs as per usual. He made some instant ramen and added a bit of egg to it before eating it mindlessly, daydreaming of his new story and the magic system involved.

Perhaps it was quickly becoming a much more ambitious project than he had anticipated but as long as the writing flowed, everything would be ok. What was supposed to be a long writing session soon turned into an early night after Adachi’s brain decided to shut down mid-sentence, putting him to sleep sitting at his desk, his head hanging down and his spine hunched over.