#A WILD SENPAI HAS APPEARED IN MY PRESENCE

[empressofthesunwriter]

Maiden of the Moon

What if Kokushibo had a pupil, whom he taught the original Moon Breathing before he deserted the Demon Slayer Corps?

Mochizuki Yua was born only for these reasons: To become a Hashira and make her family a respected one in the Demon Slayer Corps.

But if you only live for the expectations of others, who are YOU truly?

What will it take to find yourself?

A long, hard journey awaits.

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Chapter 4: Under the Wistaria Crest

The Wistaria House belonged to an old kind lady named Hisa, who Zenitsu was scared of, no really, and Inosuke just completely doesn’t have any manners in regards to elders.

At least Tanjiro was a decent human being and tried to rile the other males in.

Hisa had shown them the room they would be staying in and then the bathrooms.

Signing tired, Yua leaned her head on the bathtub of the Wisteria House, trying to enjoy the warm bath and forget the stress of the day.

It was difficult since she heard from the other side, where the men's bathroom was, how Inosuke hollered and splashed around. Zenitsu’s whining and every gentle Tanjiro begging them not to destroy the room.

An angry mark appeared on her head and she hit the wall beside her hard.

“WILL YOU THREE BABIES STOP AND JUST TAKE A FUCKING BATH!��, she screamed loud enough to be heard. “OR DO I NEED TO GET OVER THERE TO BATHE YOU MYSELF!”

That was clearly the wrong thing to say because Zenitsu actually purred: “Aww, Yua-Senpai, I would feel honoured to be in your naked presence and get bathed by you.”

Before she could say anything, she heard how someone hit Zenitsu hard on the head so that he fell out of the bathtub.

“You don’t talk to a lady that way Zenitsu, shame on you! I’m terribly sorry Yua-Senpai.”

“Kamado, did you hit Agatsuma?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

Tanjiro answered that it was no problem at all, anybody ignoring Zenitsu’s screams of mistreatment.

After that little incident, they all finished their bath and put on the kimonos Hisa had prepared for them.

Zenitsu had formally heart eyes seeing Yua in the form-fitting kimono and her long midnight blue hair in a side braid. She just flicked his forehead and told him coldly: “Not even in your dreams!”

And then made her way to their room.

Yua heard how Zenitsu whined, while Tanjiro told him he deserved it for being so shameless and Inosuke was just confused about what that all was about.

When she opened the door Hisa was already sitting in seiza in the room with four plates with food prepared for them.

“And here is your meal.”, said the old lady gently.

The only girl in the group couldn’t even thank her as Zenitsu shouted: “She has to be a monster, Tanjiro! That old lady’s a monster! She’s so quick, it’s eerie! She’s a monster! A monster hag –“

For that, he got two smacks on the head from Tanjiro and Yua. Yua and Tanjiro looked into each other's eyes as Zenitsu bowed down holding his hurting head.

“Great minds think alike, isn’t it so Kamado-San?”

She gave him a little smirk, which in turn made Tanjiro gently blush. He only nodded.

Yeah, Yua decided she liked Tanjiro the best of the three boys.

Finally, the quartet sat down for dinner and Inosuke ate…well like a pig. Fitting for someone who owned a boar mask and acted like one.

He really was more animal than man. Yua could just stare at him in bizarre fascination.

Zenitsu told Inosuke that he should use his chopstick, but got ignored as the wild boy stole more food from Tanjiro’s plate.

He grinned at the red-haired boy in a cheeky way.

Inosuke definitely wanted to get a rise out of Tanjiro suspects Yua, sadly for him Tanjiro is too nice to even think something like that and even offers him more of his food.

That Inosuke is more than pissed off is an understatement.

When they finished dinner, Hisa showed them their room for sleep.

Again Zenitsu screams she is a monster and again Tanjiro and Yua hit him over the head.

When will the blond learn?

Meanwhile, Inosuke dives into his chosen futon.

“First come, first served! I’m taking this one!”, proclaims the wild boy, petting the futon.

“That’s fine. Sleep wherever you want.”, tells Tanjiro with a smile. Yua doesn’t need her Aura Sensing to see that it’s pissing off Inosuke.

Tanjiro turns to Zenitsu asking him where he would like to sleep. Before he can answer, Inosuke smacks his pillow against the blond’s face.

Having enough Yua grips Inosuke by the ear, which makes him actually squeal.

“Boarhead, can you for one second not make trouble?!”

“Let go of me, woman! Or face my wrath!”

“Pssh, I’m a higher Rank than you, when I’m done with you, you will not even know anymore where it is up and down!”

“Lucky Bastard.”

“Zenitsu…what is that supposed to mean?”

“Aww, Tanjiro, you are so pure like a maiden.”

Before the whole situation can escalate even more, Hisa returns with a doctor in tow. Of course, Yua gets a checkup first and alone, then it’s the boys' turn.

Now they all lay in their futons staring up at the ceiling.

Zenitsu is the first who breaks the silence: “Who would’ve guessed that all four of us had broken ribs?”

Yua got one broken as she guessed, Zenitsu two, Tanjiro three, and last Inosuke with four. It’s also the order they are sleeping side by side.

The midnight blue-haired girl still wonders how Zenitsu manages to snatch the futon beside her. She would rather sleep beside Inosuke, than the blond womanizer.

Good thing, that she always sleeps with her Katana beside her.

“This knot hurts more than my ribs.”, deadpans Inosuke, referring to the big bump Tanjiro’s headbutt had caused.

“Sorry.”, apologized to the red-haired boy.

“Hey, you’d better apologize. It really hurts, you know. Getting pounded to a pulp like that.”, tells Zenitsu Inosuke. “Say you’re sorry.”

“I’ll pass.”

“Say you’re sorry!”

“I’ll pass!”

“Just say you’re sorry!”, yell Yua and Tanjiro together.

Goddammit, the two are worse than when Kaito and Hikari have their little spats!

“If you’re gonna be like that, we’re not eating with you anymore.”, threatens the blond-haired boy.

Not that it’s really threatening to Inosuke since he doesn’t understand what’s so bad about it. Even if Zenitsu explains how meals always taste better with company and Tanjiro even agrees, the wild boy is still lost. He asks them if they hurt their head.

That’s when Hisa calls out for them, asking if they need anything, which makes Zenitsu again freak out and again Tanjiro and Yua call him out.

When Yua is back home she will give Kaito and Hikari a lot of kisses. These two aren’t as nearly as exhausting as Zenitsu and Inosuke.

Tanjiro was all right.

After all is calm again it seems like it’s time for some bonding, since Tanjiro asks Inosuke why he joined the Demon Slayer Corps. Not gonna lie, Yua was curious too.

Apparently, a Demon Slayer stumbled upon Inosuke’s Mountain and the wild boy took his sword. Then he heard about the Final Selection and how demons exist and just joined.

Wow, for Inosuke it was all a big competition to see who was the strongest. Now You understood his wild and chaotic Aura too.

“Yua-Senpai.”, Tanjiro turned to her. After failing in bonding with Inosuke about the fact that they both had lived on a mountain and Inosuke made clear since he has no family at all he was only a Demon Slayer for the thrill, the red-haired boy seemed to try to find common ground with her. “Why are you in the Demon Slayer Corps?”

“It shows how new you all are in the Corps if my surname means nothing to you.”, she simply states.

“Whaddya mean by that?”, asks Inosuke.

“My family, the Mochizuki’s, has since the Feudal Era been a part of the Demon Slayer Corps.”

“That long, wow!”, gasp Zenitsu. “How did your family survive this long?”

A little smirk comes over Yua’s lips. She would be lying if she wasn’t proud of her family line to survive till now.

“Our breathing style is the strongest in the Corps. Moon Breathing. I’m the current Master in it.”

“Moon Breathing?”, repeats Tanjiro in wonder.

“It’s just as old as our family. It is one of the hardest and most challenging Breathing Styles to learn. Only one or two manage to learn it in a generation. I’m a Demon Slayer because it’s my birthright and my duty to my family. I will become a Hashira and show anyone why the Mochizuki are the strongest Slayers that exist!”

After her declaration, it’s quiet for a few seconds, until Tanjiro asks what a Hashira is, Zenitsu and even Inosuke nodding along.

Yua makes a facepalm, newbies, but explains to them what the Hashira are.

That the boys are blown away is an understatement. Inosuke is already planning to fight one of them! Yua bets if he could Inosuke would even fist fight the Kami’s.

“So anyone in your family is a slayer?”, wants Tanjiro to know more. “But you are the only one who can currently use Moon Breathing right?”

“Yeah, that’s right. People who marry in our family are often normal civilians, so they aren’t Slayers, like my late mother. Then there is my uncle Hansuke, the husband of my aunt Chiyoko, who is a Demon Slayer. They both meet actually while hunting the same demon. It’s quite a story.”, Yua explains. “Besides that, my father, my uncle Keitaro, my aunt Chiyoko, my uncle Noritaka, my grandfather, and my late older cousin Taiga, my younger cousin Daku are all or were Demon Slayers, only my cousin Sayoko being a Kakushi. That’s like the medical and cleaning-up team after a heavy fight with a demon.”

“You have a big family, that’s nice.”, tells Tanjiro with such bittersweetness in his voice, that Yua looks at the boy.

He seems to be fighting tears…oh she knows that look. He lost beloved people.

The young woman wants to ask him whom he lost, yet it feels wrong to ask him this when he is so vulnerable.

In the pause, Zenitsu took the chance sitting up from the futon to ask something which has been on his mind all day: “Tanjiro, no one else is asking, so I’m gonna ask myself. Why are you travelling with a demon?”

Well, no time like the present. It really was time to get answers from Tanjiro, so Yua sat also up.

“I also know you have a demon with you. I could feel his Aura…yet it’s at the same time so different than all demon Aura’s I ever felt and saw.”

“Yua-Senpai and Zenitsu… you both knew about that and Zenitsu you still protected the box, huh? And you Yua-Senpai didn’t try to kill her.”, say’s Tanjiro softly, also sitting up. “You are great people, you know that? Thanks!”

That’s is too much for Zenitstu and he rolls around the futon, holding his pillow tight. “You really shouldn’t heap so much praise on me! Fufufufu! Yua-Senpai is more amazing!”

“Sweet talking will get you nowhere with me, Agatsuma.”, deadpans Yua simply, ignoring how the blond insists that it’s nothing like that, and making a little bow in Tanjiro's direction. “Your words honour me, Kamado-San.”

Tanjiro smiles so sweetly at them, that Yua feels how her heart stops for a moment. He is such a gentle and loving soul…it’s really an honour to hear these words and get this smile from him.

“I’ve got a keen sense of smell. I knew it from the start. How kind you are, Zenitsu… and how strong…How gentle and powerful you are Yua-Senpai…how admirable.”

“You are a gentle and kind soul Tanjiro, your Aura tells me as much. Don’t lose this, it’s rare to find such good in humanity.”, Yua advised him with a small smile.

Meanwhile, Zenitsu isn’t nearly as touched by Tanjiro’s words as Yua, since formally a dark cloud was around him.

“No, I’m not strong. Don’t give me that. I haven’t forgiven you for stopping me from bringing Shouichi along.”

Tanjiro is lost for words and Yua can just facepalm.

That’s when they hear how the demon in the box is pounding against its door.

Naturally, the blond boy freaks out, being sure his end is near. Not listing to Tanjiro, who tries to reassure him, nor to Yua who makes it clear that from the demon’s Aura, it’s not dangerous.

Zenitsu doesn’t care and was even ready to hide behind Inosuke. Just his luck the wild boy kicks him angrily away, directly in front of the box.

In fear, he scrambles away, till the demon comes out.

Yua has to blink a few times.

The demon is a pretty little girl with a bamboo muzzle. She has big beautiful pink eyes and an adorable face.

“Nezuko…”, calls her Tanjiro gently.

From the Aura colours the young woman sees now, it shows clearly deep family love.

So they are related.

An explanation why he couldn’t kill the little girl demon if she was family.

She is now standing up and formally grows before their eyes. Now she looks like fourteen years old if Yua had to guess.

The demon girl was a real beauty!

From Zenitsu comes a strange strangled scream, while Inosuke doesn’t give a fuck and just falls asleep.

As Tanjiro turns to Yua and Zenitsu to introduce Nezuko to them bolts of electricity come from Zenitsu's corner.

Yua herself takes her Katana standing up since Zenitsu Aura was going crazy. The boy was more than pissed off at Tanjiro.

“You… Just who do you think you are?!”, yells Zenitsu at the red-haired boy who is totally lost.”So you’ve been travelling with a girl this cute? With a girl this cute in tow, day after day, you’ve been travelling, and you’ve been on cloud nine the whole time, huh?”

“Zenitsu, it’s not like –”

“Agatsuma, calm down for a second-”

Both get ignored as Zenitsu screams: “Give me back all the blood I shed!! I… Listen, I… I didn’t give it my all just so you could spend time in la-la land, making out with a girl! That’s not why I got pummeled and kicked by that weird boar, right?!”

“Zenitsu, calm down! What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”

“He is thinking with his dick, Kamado-San, that’s the problem!”

“Demon Slayer Corps is not something you’d join for fun! Guys like you gotta be purged! Immediately! Come to think of it, there’s also the crime of thwarting my marriage and sending Shouichi home.”

With a stone-cold face, the blond unsheathes his Katana.

“Purged immediately! Don’t ever underestimate the Corps!!”

Zenitsu charges at Tanjiro. Good thing Yua saw that from a mile coming and get’s between them.

Her Katana and Zenitsu Katana smash together.

Before anyone can say or do something, with swiftness, Yua's upper hand Zenitsu takes his Katana from him.

“Agatsuma!”, she growls and looks quite scary with two Katana in her hands and a dark Aura around her. “The Demon Girl is Tanjiro's relative! I see their bond clearly through their Aura so stop thinking with your dick or I cut it off!”

Suddenly all the bravery he had vanished from Zenitsu and he shrieked scarred holding his precious dick. He heard loud and clearly from Yua that she was serious about cutting it off!

Tanjiro also smelled how close Yua was to emasculating Zenitsu and tried his best to calm everybody down.

Meanwhile, Nezuku just cutely title her head. She doesn’t know who this people are with her brother, but the young woman has pretty braided hair.

She likes it.

Next

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empressofthesunwriter

[gisachi]

Hi ^^ I know that your requests are now closed but I was thinking that, given you have written jealous Shinichi, I would very much enjoy some jealous Ran! Maybe you can mix it with one of the prompts? Just throwing the idea out there, no pressure. Delete this if you don't feel like it, it's okay really. Thank you for writing these amazing fics, the shinran fandom is in your debt. ❤️

So this is the last (!!!) and longest (!!!) of the kiss prompts, and I dedicate it to multiple-requests Anon and to this Anon. I hope both of you still see this. It took me a while. ^^;;

P.S. Special thanks to @artycreaty for keeping this in check. You are awesome. 🥰

41. Kisses shared under an umbrella. 46. A lingering kiss before a long trip apart. (6,489 words)

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.

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Ran keeps telling herself she has no right to be jealous.

She has hundreds of reasons not to. They’re merely childhood best friends. Life would be much easier if she didn’t involve herself in his business twenty-four seven. Shinichi absolutely doesn’t look at her that way. And so forth.

She wonders why they’re even friends in the first place. If their parents hadn’t enrolled them in the same kindergarten, she was certain they wouldn’t even be on speaking terms. He lives in a world of grisly books and crimes, she in a world of martial and visual arts. Their hobbies don’t overlap. They excel in different fields. They enter the same university with completely unrelated majors. The only bond they have in common is their shared history. Literally bonded since they were four, until now at nineteen.

So when she sees him all jolly around his newfound circle who hold the same interest in Holmes or detective work, it shouldn’t surprise her as much. It’s part of university life, it’s normal, they expand their horizons, and Ran understands that it hits much differently when they bond with people who like the same stuff they do. Something she’s aware they cannot share a hundred percent.

She’s proud of him, and she absolutely has no right to feel jealous, especially when she sees him around taller, prettier, more interesting women from his course block. There is no reason for her to look away with a heavy weight in her chest everytime the women get giggly and touchy while he’s absorbed in narrating his stories.

Everytime she does, she reminds herself of how he didn’t seem to mind when she was casted as the protagonist of their high school play and the leading man was the handsome Araide-sensei. Or how he simply shrugged when she fawned over the brother of a classmate because he looked so much like the karate senpai she was crushing on. Or when she secretly caught Sonoko dragging the detective behind gym after P.E. to confront him about his opinion regarding an upperclassman courting Ran and his only response was, ‘She can like whoever she likes, Sonoko. I’m not her boyfriend.’

He never showed her any sign of jealousy, therefore he must not be into her. Simple as that. So it’s unfair for her to be treating him differently. Getting snarky just because he received sixteen new fan mails again, more now that they’re in uni, and two even coming from the popular criminology seniors he is often teased to? Or ignoring him unprecedentedly just because his eyes followed the back of a woman with long chestnut hair and voluptuous curves? There are plenty of fish in the sea, and he’s bound to be attracted to someone else. This is a pill she ought to learn to swallow eventually.

Eventually.

“Shinichi-kun, you never told us about your scariest case yet, tell us about it?”

Kaori closes her notes and so do the other two girls across her, and Shinichi’s eyes twinkle. He truly seems to enjoy study sessions with the little group they made consisting of some of his and Ran’s coursemates because they love listening to his stories.

“At the top of my head is this murderer disguised as a bandaged man, and he targeted us one by one…” and so the detective drones. Ran pauses typing and reminisces quietly. Ah, that one from summer three years ago. I was almost injured by that crazy man during my sleep but Shinichi woke me up in time.

“Ran-san,” Shun, her friend and coursemate, mutters beside her, also stopping his typing to listen to the detective’s story. “It’s ridiculous how popular Kudou-kun is with the girls. He’s full of wild adventures.”

“Yes, he is,” Ran says, smiling. “He’s been a girl magnet ever since high school.”

She watches as Kaori inches closer to Shinichi, listening attentively, chin on her palm and flirtatious smile on her lips as the detective rants on and on.

For the third time that afternoon, Ran looks away.

.

.

Ran keeps telling herself she has no right to be jealous.

She does, everyday, but it’s hard when he smiles at her, cares for her, holds her in a way she’s never seen him do for anyone else. It gives her hope every time the girls cling to him but he never touches them back, whereas he automatically slings his arm over her shoulder because she’s afraid or cold or he simply feels like it.

Then again, maybe she’s giving herself too much credit. Perhaps it’s a free pass for being around him for too long. She even gets to spend time with him during weekends and holidays. It isn’t special because it’s normal.

And that’s all she’ll ever be, a normal girl in his eyes.

“Ran? She’s pretty special.”

Ran reacts to the mention of her name and catches Shinichi looking at her. “She appears quiet but she can kick anyone’s ass without breaking a sweat. It’s bad if you cross her,” Shinichi gloats with a grin.

“Oh my god, really? We can bring her with us then!” Kaori claps her hands in excitement.

“Ah... But she won’t like that,” he follows up, wary. Ran has missed the topic they were talking about and now she’s curious.

“But ghosts aren’t real and Mouri-san can give them a good beating!”

“Gh-Ghosts?” The color in her cheeks drains, eyes freezing at Shinichi who has probably already expected that reaction, for he sports that same look of concern as those times he had expressed whenever she joined him in his way-past-bedtime elementary school adventures.

“We’ll investigate an abandoned house I always pass by walking home,” Kaori explains. “Last night I saw a faint cigarette light at the second floor window. It might be a fugitive or a homeless person or a ghost, who knows?”

“You don’t need to come if you don’t want to, Ran,” Shinichi assures.

Gulping, Ran contemplates whether going with them will do her any good. It’s a nice change, it’s been a while since she last tagged with Shinichi in his cases. But she isn’t exactly proud of shrieking like a little kid in front of serious criminology majors who may feel like she’ll drag their covert investigation down if she joins.

“...I’ll pass,” she answers meekly, and his coursemates sulk except Shinichi, who offers her a smile of understanding.

“Man, I thought we’ll be able to see Mouri-san in action!”

“That’s ok, maybe next time. We still have Shinichi-kun!”

“Shinichi-kun will protect us, ne?”

“Hah. Right. Invite Hakuba too, use him.”

“Oh c’mooon, Shinichi-kun!”

Ran closes her eyes, struggling to zone their voices out.

In her silence, Ran ponders if she has made a wrong choice.

.

.

Ran has no right to be jealous. So it’s unfair for her to be treating him this way.

The following weekend, Shinichi narrates what happened in their late-night investigation. Hakuba wasn’t there so Shinichi was the only available guy as usual. Ran refuses to hear any more details, both of the haunted house and secretly of the girls chancing onto him during the investigation. Shinichi is puzzled.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“Nah, just swamped with work.”

“On a Sunday?”

“Yes.”

“Want me to assist?”

“No.”

Her replies are curt from the couch of his house, not looking at Shinichi on the other end as she mindlessly cleans up her digital sketches. She hates how snappy she sounds but her brain is too absorbed with conjuring spiteful imaginations to even think of masking her annoyance.

“Ran, hey. Look at me.”

His low voice freezes her from drawing, and she slowly looks up to meet Shinichi’s serious eyes.

When this happens, she knows he’s reading her. She inwardly chants a prayer because now isn’t a good time. Whatever time isn’t a good time. She doesn’t know what to say when she’s aware everything she’s been feeling is irrational and unfair. She’s being selfish.

“You’re… stressed.”

“No, I’m… Eh?”

He scoots closer, an arm’s length away. “Your dark circles are more prominent now, you need a break.” His eyes turn a soft blue. “Let’s have dinner out? My treat.”

Ran is surprised, to say the least. The last time he invited her out was two weeks ago. She’s become so used to seeing him around others that any initiative from him sounds too good to be true.

“But I need to finish this project by tonight.”

“Let’s have food delivery then!” Shinichi announces, not rattled by Ran’s indirect refusal. “I know exactly what you want. Ramen and shaved ice.”

Her eyes thin at the absurdly goofy expression she knows he makes when he’s being mischievous. “Clearly you’re ordering that ramen for yourself. I only like shaved ice.”

“Damn! Miss Detective gets it.” A mile-wide grin stretches across his face, earning an eye roll from the half-smiling woman. “Let’s eat together on your short break, please?”

He leans within a respectful distance and she sees his smile better, pair of kind eyes locking with her overworked ones. “It’s been a while.”

Her heart throbs for him. So much.

She caves - of course she does - and breathes her acquiescence.

After two long weeks, they have dinner together, just them and Shinichi’s ramen and Ran’s donburi and shaved ice, Shinichi taking a spoonful of dessert from the cup when she isn’t looking and Ran snatching a slurp from his take-out bowl and laughing when he catches her.

With how heartfelt his laughter is in her presence devoid of any mysteries, Ran knows she’s probably giving herself too much credit, but for once she wants to believe she is the cause of why Shinichi’s happy.

Just for that night, she gives it to herself.

She’ll change the dark colors of her digital artwork to brighter ones after they eat.

.

.

Despite everything, Ran finds it difficult to contain her recurring jealousy.

The more she shares precious time with him, the more it gets harder to suppress the selfish emotions. What is so unsatisfying about being the best friend is that she is only the best friend. No more no less. At the end of the day, she isn’t the one he gets to cuddle with, to tease then kiss, to tell ‘I love you’ to, romantically.

“I love you.”

Ran feels her heart about to leap out of her chest.

“But please. Stop. Tearing. The. Cushions!”

The little furball he has scooped underneath a throw pillow wiggle from his grasp. The kitten and detective engage in a brief staring showdown before it jumps away to hide under a farther couch.

Snapping out of reverie, Ran watches her childhood friend slink dejectedly onto the partly scratched furniture. He’s fortunate enough that his mother isn’t around to give him a long lecture on Why Pets Aren’t Allowed in the House 101. She can always take Yukiko-san’s role and reprimand him for it, but as for this and the cat, she finds herself not wanting to intervene.

“Kaori-san sure is taking her time with her parent’s permission. By the time she does, Momo would’ve shredded all the pillows in this house.”

“You named the cat?” Ran asks, amused.

“She did.” He thinks for a moment, then sniggers. “Actually I did. I suggested a random name. She took it.”

Ran merely hums. What can she say? They’re getting close. Close enough to team up as parents to an adopted kitten.

“I’m surprised you also agreed to keep Momo when you never took in animals before.”

“Kaori said she’ll treat me to the latest Detective Samonji movie this weekend if I do. Can’t resist that.”

“Just you two?”

“Yeah.”

A beat. Then he turns to her.

“Wanna join? I can ask her to count you in since you’re kinda helpi—”

“N-no need,” Ran quips, “It’s—It’s fine.”

“No really,” Shinichi insists, “Kaori-san has a lot of money, she—”

“I’m going to Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum with Shun-san this weekend... so... I can’t.”

“Ah.”

Silence.

“It’s, um, for a project,” she bolsters.

“I know.” The faintest smile graces his lips. “It’s your thing. Both of you.”

“Mm.”

He doesn’t say anything else after that.

“Shinichi, you’re a detective, right?” she blurts out of the blue.

“Yeah...and?”

Then deduce what I feel. Here and now.

“Then you’re going to enjoy that movie!” Ran forces a beam, giving Shinichi a thumb of approval. “And you can discuss it with Kaori-san over dinner. I’m sure you two have a lot to say about it.”

Shinichi’s eyes linger on her, reading her like a book, and Ran has her mind reeling again, afraid to be read.

“Yeah, we do,” he finally says, ending the conversation.

Only a few words are uttered the rest of the afternoon.

Momo resurfaces and curls beside Shinichi.

Momo’s purring is loud, but Ran’s shattering heart is louder.

.

.

Ran must not feel jealous. She is not a girlfriend.

Because she isn’t a girlfriend, he’s free to fall for and date anyone else. Who is she to gatekeep him? There are plenty of fish in the sea, and he’s one big catch. Ran believes she’s a big catch, too. With the way she loves dearly, her future boyfriend is going to be very lucky.

Her future boyfriend is not going to be him.

“...mber the required fieldwork in one of my majors I told you? We actually go by batches. The first batch did theirs last month. The second batch was last week… and I— Ran, are you listening?”

“Ah! Yes,” Ran notices they have already reached her station and are now walking two blocks to her apartment. “Your fieldwork, right?”

“...Yeah,” he carries on. “I’m in the last batch... This whole winter break.”

“I see, I understand.” She smiles, getting what he means. No Christmas or New Year’s Eve together. The first time since they’re four. It’s fine, honestly. If it’s a required activity, then there’s really no way to go about it. She isn’t going to lash out just because she can’t be with him in her most favorite time of the year.

“And Hattori-kun and Hakuba-kun will be with you?”

“Hattori did his last month. Hakuba is in the previous batch. I’ll be stuck with the girls.”

Ran’s heart momentarily squeezes. “Where will your fieldwork be?”

“In Akita.”

Her pupils constrict. “That far?”

“Yes... so to cut on expenses, Kaori-san offered her house for me and the others to stay while we’re there—”

Kaori. Again with the tall, beautiful, intelligent Kaori. She bets it’s amazing to spend the holidays doing what he loves and with Kaori beside her, snuggling with him by the fireplace in a romantic snowy night and she might even confess, and it’ll be a great catch for Shinichi, and he’ll return with a girlfriend, and—

“Kaori-san is lucky.” The words flow out of her mouth, unbridled.

Shinichi looks at her. “Lucky?”

Ran remains quiet and keeps walking. It’s dangerous to say anything. She only has one thing in her mind and she doesn’t want to say it out loud. She has no right.

“Ran, hey.”

She doesn’t stop walking.

“Ran.”

She ignores his call.

“Ran… you’re jealous.”

She stops walking.

“Excuse me?”

“...You’re jealous…” Shinichi repeats quietly.

A contrast to his calm tone, his irises beset hers in the cold twilight and Ran attempts to shield herself but her bag and umbrella are in the way. She thinks of turning away but her feet are frigid like icicles, and Shinichi steps closer.

For the third time, he declares, “You’re jealous.”

Hearing her thoughts echo through his words renders her speechless.

It seems to take a moment before Shinichi’s brow arches, lips curl up as his eyes refuse to stray, and she hears a faint exhale even, like he’s exasperated, and suddenly he’s smiling - or is he smirking? sneering? - and...and...

It stings, is her immediate reaction.

For the longest time, she’d wanted him to take a hint. But if she had known this was how he’d react, she’d rather live a life having him oblivious of her emotional struggle. Dealing with that is more tolerable than witnessing him gaze her down in blatant mockery. He sneers as though he’s about to crack a joke and move on and forget such a laughable matter. That’s the last form of acknowledgment she wants for her honest feelings.

Heartbreak and shame and pain build up in her chest like a volcano closing eruption. Water begins to cloud her vision. She clenches her fist tight on her umbrella and Shinichi notices, and he takes another step forward.

“Ran…?”

“I am not, and you’re a fool.”

In a span of a breath, she’s sprinting in the opposite direction, tracing the path where they have walked, ignoring the distant yells of her name behind her. She runs and runs, and as she runs farther, with her thoughts muddy and breath short and dry, she wonders if she may have overreacted.

If he’s done that on purpose, screw him. If not, screw her.

After all, they are merely friends and she has no logical reason to act this way.

“Stop... running... will you!”

She hears heavy footsteps close in. It takes all the energy Ran has to prevent herself from turning her body around but his strong grip overpowers her.

“Let me go!”

“Why are you running?!”

“I can’t...deal with you!”

“Why? Was I right?”

“Right or wrong, it doesn’t matter!”

“Why doesn’t it matter?”

“Because I am your best friend!”

On another occasion, she would’ve successfully jilted away and run farther, but Ran is floored when he yanks her into a one-armed hug, so floored she drops her umbrella to the snowy ground.

“Stop saying that!” he hisses in her ear, frustration apparent.

“What are you— Let me go!”

He hugs her tighter.

“If you don’t let go in three seconds, I will screa—”

“I am happy!”

Ran stops struggling, eyes widening in shock.

Icy huffs tickle her neck as he half shouts, “I’m happy you feel that way!”

“You’re...You’re happy because I’m suffering?”

“What? No! I—”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better? How?” The hurt in her tone is impeccable, prattling muffled against his chest as she spares him no moment to butt in. “You think I wanted to feel this? That I enjoy griping in helpless jealousy? And you’re rejoicing that I am? How full of yourself can you be?!”

“That’s not...You don’t underst—”

“I do understand! I understand that I am so incredibly stupid for catching this disgusting heap of emotions for an obnoxious, stuck-up deduction maniac that is my best friend and maybe it’s better after all that he never, ever sees me the way I see him!”

“Stop saying that, Ran!”

She thinks he has broken away, but he drags her back with an insistent tug, crashing his lips onto hers as she stumbles into his arms.

All willpower rippling through her disintegrates quickly like snow in high heat.

An impatient pop resonates as he separates, eyes slowly opening, breath thick and ragged.

“I know that is not how we explain things, but does that explain anything?”

She hears it. The madness. But more than madness, yearning bleeds through his voice so much that her frustration turns into physical pain. Blinded by an all-consuming ache, she tips her chin and presses her lips back against his, demanding for cure in the wrong place. Shinichi freezes, then relaxes. He moves his hand to her nape, four fingers in her hair, thumb treading her jaw.

They look like a scene in a movie.

Under his umbrella and hidden from view, they communicate through brushing lips and tilting heads. His mouth closing over hers with gentle force, her hands splaying across his chest, heavy with something that makes his heart pound under them.

She is so lost in the chase and his tender embrace that for a second she forgets she is kissing her best friend.

Best friend.

This doesn’t explain anything. It worsens it.

She pulls back, ending what she has so recklessly started. “N-no, I’m— No.”

She pushes him away, gathers the stuff she drops, and runs without looking back.

“Ran!”

He shouts her name. Twice.

On the third call, his footfalls die down. On the fourth, he stops running.

She doesn’t.

.

.

Thirty minutes before midnight, Ran stands outside his gate, boots buried half foot under the snow as she rings his intercom for the second time, thinking to herself how foolish she must be to cut communications with him for a week and then show up his doorstep looking miserable like a stood-up date.

It’s the start of winter break.

He’ll leave for Akita in ten hours.

She needs to give his Christmas present before his departure.

She’s crazy, pathetic, still frustrated, and hurtfully in love.

“Oi. You better have a good explanation for why you’re buzzing at goddamn midnig—”

“Shinichi.”

His surprised gasp is apparent even through the intercom. A rustle follows and with a croaky voice, he responds. “...Ran.”

Surely he isn’t expecting this. Not after the tantrum she threw days ago. He probably thinks she hates him more than ever. But what she truly feels is more overwhelming than all negative emotions combined, and may god grant her all the strength to address it all, tonight.

“May I come in?”

“The house is—The house is a mess I, um. I’m packing my stuff for...”

“I’ll help you.”

“...”

She’ll understand if he decides to turn her down. But the answer that follows the deafening pause is a low and quiet ‘Okay’.

Despite psyching herself hours before she came, courage wanes when he opens the front door and gate in his pullovers. She is welcomed in, and the trip up his room is wordless. Shinichi only talks when he points out that he’s already packed clothes for two days and will need help for two weeks’ worth. He lamely laughs when he instructs her to pick the tops and layers, and he’ll take care of the pants and underwear.

On a normal instance, she would’ve humored him and they would’ve been talking right after. Now she simply pulls an empty smile and then they fall back into silence.

She supposes he’s trying to act unbothered, to treat what happened a week ago as a one-and-done glitch in their friendship, never to be discussed again. She cannot fault him when she’s trying to do the same. But it’s not easy when in the stillness of the night the echo of their altercation howls, raging persistently in their ears.

What has he been thinking of for the past week?

Has he been kept up all night by the words she said and the words he left unspoken?

Are they still friends? Will they still be friends after this?

The kiss... What about the kiss?

So many questions. So little words. So little time.

Ran is seated on the floor, folding shirts and stuffing them neatly in his duffel bag. Her back faces Shinichi who is sorting out bottoms in his cabinet. She senses him sit on the floor, back against her but not touching. Neither dares to speak first.

A ringing phone cuts the silence.

“Mm, still awake. Good for two weeks right? Gotcha. No, I’ll meet you girls at the station, no need to fetch me. Pfft. I can walk. Ok, see you tomorrow.”

If Ran wasn’t so hyperaware of where she is and what she’s done, her mood would’ve shifted to the one she’d been trying to avoid. Now isn’t the time to think about that. Midnight sneaking out to go to his house is something she wouldn’t do even on good days. She scans her bag on the far couch, deliberately bringing a bigger one to hide his gift. Maybe she can just sneak it in his bag and leave once she’s done and he’ll discover it only when he’s prefectures away. Brown has always suited him, and he’ll definitely find the overcoat useful as spare protective gear.

That’s right. She always cares for him like this. She is his best friend first, and... and nothing second.

“Don’t just leave after putting your present in my bag. At this hour, I can’t let you walk home alone,” he says swiftly.

Ran’s eyes fly wide.

“How did you…”

He doesn’t say anything and continues with his business.

Again with the throat-drying silence.

Something in Ran’s gut compels her to speak, but she is surprised when he does first.

“I... I don’t like Kaori-san. If that’s what you’re thinking.”

Ran stiffens, pausing mid-motion from folding. “I’m not…”

He leans his back completely against her and she shudders, voice reverberating through her skin. “Ran, if you could just hear me out.”

Unable to talk and move, she does.

“Kaori-san and the rest... They know I love mysteries. They know I want to build my own private detective agency. They know my favorite Holmes’ story is The Sign of Four. They know how many crimes I solved in Tokyo. All the information about me which anyone can read from the internet and newspaper and from what I told them when they ask, they know. Ran, you know all that. All that and more.”

He angles his head to the ceiling as if he’s talking to someone there. Ran supports his weight, curling to her knees as she silently listens.

“You know of my first ever deduction because Christ, my first deduction was about you. You know of the two cases which haunt me until this day because I watched the culprit die in front of my very eyes. You were with me the nights I locked myself in here thinking about them. You know of the interesting, the boring, the absurd cases, everything, because I told you or you were there. You know of the odd way I play the violin while I ponder over a case. You know I forget to eat when swamped with new books to read. I have three copies of The Sign of Four but the one I keep beside my bed and read almost weekly is the one you gave me on my tenth birthday and that is all I need. You know me for me, Ran. Everything about me that is off the record, the good and the bad, you know all of those. Only you. The same way I do... about you.”

She feels him crane slightly to the side, addressing her.

“Ran.”

“Mm.”

“I love you.”

Ran’s heart almost completely stops beating.

“I love you,” he whispers, “more than I am even supposed to.”

All words seem to have fizzled out of her vocabulary as she sits still, stunned at what she’s hearing.

“I’m happy growing up with you, studying with you, bickering with you, acting stupid with you, investigating with you, eating with you, napping with you, hugging you, holding you, taking care of you, simply... being with you. Before I know it, it’s not the cases or Holmes or mysteries that complete my days, it’s you.

“For you to keep repeating that ‘best friend’ phrase, I…” He lowers his head.

“For who knows how long, I’ve loved you as that and more.”

Someone pinch her because in no way can this be real.

“I was happy thinking you’re jealous because it meant a sliver of chance you feel the same way. We could’ve remedied the misunderstanding easily, Ran. We could’ve talked it over like we always do. But I was stupid and emotions were high and in the end I… kissed you…” he takes another deep breath, “But—but you kissed me back, and my heart couldn’t stay still...”

Pulse drumming loud, Ran tilts her head on the side where he leans, wanting to see the slightest expression he makes as he continues.

“If my deductions are wrong and you’re mad for a different reason, and—and you returned that for a different reason...” she hears the pang of remorse in his tone, “then please forget I ever said anything and I’ll leave myself to die in humiliation once I’m out of your sight.”

He lays one palm flat on the floor and she notices.

“But if my deductions are right and you were indeed jealous, I...” She feels his head swivel enough to feel his warm breath fan across her cheek, before shifting back front and releasing a slow, guttural exhale he’s kept contained within.

“I’ll wait... until you accept it. Accept me.”

Ran may have choked on her throat for how long she’s held her breath.

In spite of herself, she knows she doesn’t need to think of what to say. She had it all in her head before coming here. Yet expressing it out loud is a different matter.

She isn’t ready, but when will she ever be ready? Shinichi undoubtedly isn’t too. Yet here he is, laying the groundwork for her, no holds barred and a stuttering mess at that. How she plans to build from it is the question she asks herself next.

Inhaling as though bracing herself, she places a hand beside him, pinky slightly grazing his.

“I didn’t... You never showed any signs.”

Careful and calm, he extends his little finger over hers. She doesn’t flinch, and both hands crawl closer until two fingers overlap.

“Either I’m a great pretender or you’re incredibly dense.”

“I’m...I’m not dense.”

“I’m a bad actor, then.” He slides his hand further.

“I was trying so hard to be a supportive best friend for you.”

“I sensed that but ignored it because I didn’t want to assume anything.”

“You did though. Now we’re here.”

“Would you rather we aren’t?”

“I would rather we spend the last weeks of this year talking like normal than being stupid idiots before you leave.”

“It’s just two weeks, Ran.”

“Two special weeks I would’ve wanted to spend with my best frien-... with you.”

Without knowing it, his hand has completely nestled atop hers, four fingers curled between her thumb and index finger.

“Ran... You must really hate the idea of falling in love with me.”

“Eh?”

“You’re so wrapped with the thought that we’re simply best friends that you hold your love in chains as though it isn’t permitted to grow.”

“I… I didn’t want to ruin the only connection we have-”

“Two friends falling in love are still friends… They are also more. You cannot ruin an indefeasible connection. Friendship and love may be the only bond we have, but they’re the most important bond of all.”

Ran falls quiet.

“Geez…”

He releases a thick sigh, brushes his thumb across her splayed fingers.

“I have shit art appreciation skills, but I can take you to museums too... as a friend and as a date.” A beat, and a mumble. “Even to better museums than Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum.”

She darts her head sideways, realizing something.

“Were you also…?”

“No.”

Ran doesn’t suppress the heartfelt giggle that bubbles out.

“Shun-san has a boyfriend, Shinichi.”

“I—” he pauses. “I wasn’t asking.” Ran giggles more.

“Shinichi.”

“Yes.”

“I love you too.”

The hand above squishes hers all too suddenly like he’s been blown away and is needing something to hold onto.

“I came here to give your present and to apologize for being so shallow and for acting without thinking and for a lot of things actually... but now I feel there’s no need, because then I wouldn’t have...” She looks down at their intertwined hands.

Before she can return his squeeze, he recoils.

“Oh, y-you do apologize. Running away like that.” He coughs, and she can practically hear the tripping in his tone.

“Aren’t you already used to it? I’ve done it many times,” she chides.

“No. Apologize,” he insists. “And look at me while you do.”

Ran’s stomach twists, heart kicking up a step.

It’s easy to talk without eye contact, but to be requested so after confessions are exchanged—

“Face me, Ran.”

The familiar voice of yearning strums her heartstrings, tone sounding a lot like a plea than an order and Ran finds her head instinctively craning at an angle, hand coiling on the floor trying to calm her nervous beating heart. She feels him shift behind as well.

She takes all her time to face him, partly unsure what to do, partly knowing exactly what she wants to do. Despite the deliberate slowness of their movements, it is when they lock eyes that time truly seems to stop.

Shinichi appears so different, so soulful. His blue irises glimmering, fixated on nothing but her as she reveres him with matching intensity. The same guy she treats as her best friend looks at her with tender love in his eyes, darting down her lips and up like no best friend ever would.

“I love you,” he says, breathless. “Make me your boyfriend.”

A wave of emotion sweeps over her, heartbeat fluttering in overdrive as they huddle on the floor, bags and clothes and time forgotten.

“From best friend to... such a shift-”

“Nothing will be different.” He rests his forehead on hers, gaze of soft blue patient though more intimate now, knowing what they share is mutual. “We’ll still do what we do... With exclusive romantic commitment and sweet nothings that translate to ‘I love you’ in more ways than one.”

She attempts a jab on his chest but he catches her fist, soft but jesting beam all too apparent and she does but play along.

“What about when we fight?” she asks.

“Same. But...” he slides a thumb over her quiet lips, parting them slightly, “I can do this once we make up.”

“...Like right now?”

“Like right now.”

A genuine smile is the last thing she sees before delicate pair of lips lands on hers, capping their one-week fight and their last night of the year together in the best and most unexpected way imaginable.

.

.

Ran keeps telling herself she shouldn’t be jealous.

Not because they are simply best friends, because they aren’t. Not because life would be easier if she didn’t involve herself in his business twenty-four seven, because it wouldn’t.

Not because Shinichi doesn’t look at her that way, because he does.

She shouldn’t be jealous because she absolutely has no reason to, is all.

“I haven’t forgotten about your present. I was planning to buy yours in Akita.”

“Stop lying, you totally forgot it.”

“I didn’t. Stop that.” Half-mast eyes rake her side profile, and Ran covers a mirthful grin with her mitted hand holding the umbrella, then yawns. Hours of packing and talking and laughing left them with roughly four hours of sleep. It isn’t like she slept the whole period because while sleeping in his room isn’t new, cuddling while they sleep is. Ran couldn’t simply shut her eyes and heart to that.

“I believe though,” he wraps a hand around her free one, pocketing both of them in his brand new overcoat, “I gave half of my present already.”

“Hnn. That doesn’t count as a gift.” Her hand shifted, coddling his own to a warm fit.

“Really?” A smug smirk pulls up his face. “I believe I am a nice present, Ran. That’s why they—”

“Screw this. You are unbelievable. A humbug. Why do people like you.”

“I know. Why do you like me?” Shinichi laughs as he avoids the swing of her umbrella.

From afar, they see Kaori and the girls at the meet-up point outside Tokyo Station, though they seem unaware of their presence yet. Suddenly feeling conscious, Ran feels the urge to disentangle her hand, but Shinichi holds on, firm.

“Why?” He asks in a low voice.

“I dunno… maybe this isn’t the best time…”

“Isn’t now the best time?” His smile is proud and natural, not one ounce of reluctance visible.

Although she gets what he means, that doesn’t free her of shyness and guilt. Somehow she feels like apologizing to Kaori for… she doesn’t know. She just wants to. Letting her see them like this makes her think that she’s giving her an indirect slap on the face. Shinichi certainly won’t agree because ‘What’s with women and their logic?’, but still, whether or not it’s all in her head, Ran needs more time to prepare for this.

But to her surprise, Shinichi lets go of her hand. They are still a few feet from view when he steps in front of her and turns around. “Maah, fine, I get it,” he huffs, then smiles. “Then, just give me your umbrella.”

The moment she does, Shinichi closes their distance and dips his face onto hers. Ran is given no leeway to gasp as loving lips seal her quiet. It isn’t as long as what they shared a week ago, but the emotions are loaded and full, speaking fond thanks and temporary farewell.

She doesn’t realize she has closed her eyes until he separates, and she’s met with the most tender, most angelic expression he wears only on the rarest occasions. He’s saying without telling that her feelings are valid, she doesn’t have to worry,  and he doesn’t have eyes for anyone but her. Somehow, the snow is the sea and fish are swarming around but neither cares because they have already caught each other.

“You don’t have to, silly.” Three layers of pink blanket Ran’s puffy cheeks.

“But I want to.” Grinning, Shinichi hands her back the umbrella. “You don’t like hand-holding. You don’t like being seen. Don’t you think that’s a great compromise?”

“Idiot, many people saw...”

“No, they didn’t!” Upping the duffel bag slung on his shoulder, he steps back and gives her one last goofy beam. “I’ll see you next year, Ran. I’ll call as often as I can.”

Wordlessly, Ran watches Shinichi’s back as he jogs to his waiting companions, who by then have already had their eyes pinned on the approaching figure.

“That is Shinichi-kun! ...And Mouri-san!”

“Ehhh!!?! You’re a thing!”

So much for being subtle, Ran flushes inwardly as she returns the wave the other girls are giving her. At that moment she really does feel immature for her past conduct. All of them are sweet. Even Kaori.

“I knew it Shinichi-kun! Mouri-san is sooo lucky, I’m so jealous!” Ran hears their banter and sees her jab his bicep before acknowledging her. “We’ll take care of him, Mouri-san!”

The Ran from one week ago would’ve had her heart crushed by such declaration, but now she’s nothing but pleased and the smile that forms across her lips is nothing but honest. “Make sure he doesn’t drag your group into a random dead body, Kaori-san!”

“Hey!” surfaces Shinichi’s shout amidst the mincing laughter of the group and the onlooking passers-by, and Ran bids her last wave before they enter the station.

Smiling to herself, Ran returns home, the lingering promise of his kiss committed to memory, knowing that she doesn’t have to get jealous because she has no reason to. Their indefeasible bond is all the assurance she needs.

.

.

.

[sakuramidnight15]

-DCA OC Information-

(Important Note: DCA and DCA chracters belong to @phnxart /@phoenix-manga)

[Gacha Club Ver. Below]

Character Bio

Name: Sylvie Vespertine

(Japanese: シルビーベスペルティン)

Romaji: Shirubī Besuperutin

Quote: "Enchanted roses are truly beautiful, do beware of roses with wild magic though."

V/A: Yumi Uchiyama (Japanese)

Gender: Female

Age: 18

Birthday: February 7

Star Sign: Aquarius

Eye Color: Ebony Black (Her Normal Eye Color)

Carmine Red (Second Eye Color and Half-Myth power activation)

Hair Color: Cadmium Green

Height: 169 cm

Race: Half Human, Half Myth/Hybrid

Species: Rose Fairy

Homeland: Springfield Village (The first country in the island of enchantment)

Family: Wilder Ramirez (Father)

Alette Vespertine (Mother)

Len Ramirez (Younger Brother)

Elfie Ramirez (Aunt)

_______________________________

School Status and Fun Facts

Dorm: Rosadormienti

School Year: Third

Class: 3-A

Student no. 5

Occupation: Student

Heiress to the Vespertine Family (Currently in training)

Enchanted Perfume Maker

Official Head Scientist of SIDC (Meaning: Supernaturals Investigation Department Center)

Club: Gardening Research Club

Best Subject: General Magic | Magical Beast Study

Least Favorite Subject: Marathon Run

Dominant Hand: Ambidextrous

Favorite Color: Green, Red and Black

Favorite Food: Fried Rice, Gooseberry Pie and Lemon Iced-Tea

Least Favorite Food: Pasta with Garlic

Likes: Gardening, Studying Magical Plants, Flowers,

Dislikes: Loud Noises, Getting interrupted, Trouble-making, Messy Places,

Hobbies: Making Enchanted Perfumes, Planting Normal or Magical Flowers, Reading Novels,

Talents: Transforming into her half-myth form, Earth Magic, Rose and Thorn Manipulation, Third-Eye, Physic Abilities, Scientist Abilities,

Nicknames:

Sylvie (From her family and friends)

Sylvie-senpai or Vespertine-senpai (From the first-year students)

Miss Vespertine (From the SIDC workers and trainers)

Onee-chan or Nee-chan (From her little brother Len)

My lady (From her pet flower elf Zai)

Scarlet Fish-chan (From Floyd)

Roselet enchanté ("Meaning: Enchanted Roselet" From Rook)

Other Nicknames:

Rumored Perfume Maker (By the rumors)

Mistress Sylvie (From the servants)

_______________________________

Appearance and Personality

Appearance: Sylvie has a petite but tall female body build. She has long curvy cadmium green hair and ties it up into a high pony-tail. She has ebony black eyes which they can turn into carmine red when using her half-myth abilities. Sylvie has a calm and well-mannered figure but she has a sweet personality.

Personality: Sylvie is a middle class noble which she lives in the same house district where Kiara's estate is located. Like Kiara, Cynthia and Nerine, she is a noble but is a middle class just like Cynthia.

Like Kiara and Cynthia, she too is an heiress to her family's name but is a self-taught noble, when it comes to knowledge, she takes it by guessing it correctly and has plenty of it that will impress other people, mostly her mom and aunt.

Her family runs a flower shop near the market place.

Despite through that, she just only wanted to live her life to the fullest, so she doesn't want her own noble status to get in the way.

Sylvie has a well-mannered but sweet personality, is most likely calm around the school. She has a very enchanted presence around the school which is most likely interested whenever she's around the school campus.

She holds a mysterious aura which the students couldn't help but to be curious about her. Sylvie is rather quiet but she is friendly and has a sister-like personality

If you get close to her eventually, she does have a interesting personality towards gardening and perfume making, certainly is why she loves flowers and gardening. Her smile is definitely the purest smile you'll ever see.

Like the others, Sylvie is the Head Scientist of the SIDC company and is on Lynette's team and is an active worker, she takes her job quiet seriously and won't let any distraction get to her when it comes towards cases.

Like any other Sky-myth, don't try to test her patience. When being messed with or getting pissed seriously, she doesn't mind putting you into a thorn bush or will use her thorny vines to strangle you eventually within a second. Same thing towards her loved getting hurt but even more violent or brutal than normal.

Despite being well-mannered, she hopes to help anyone to those in needed, please ignore her status and treat her like a normal companion.

_______________________________

Idol Stats

Performance: Sylvie's voice is either well suited in elegant, dark or pop type music. With a bit of alluring in her tone, it makes her performance rather enchanting and mysterious which the crowd can't look away.

Choreography: She can do complicated footwork and does beautiful hand gestures while performing. Her dance moves are rather graceful and elegant.

Styling Jewel Outfits: Gothic | Classical | Cool

Idol Brand: Enchantress Rosseta (エンチャントレスロゼッタ)

(Styling Jewels: Gothic and Cultural)

-A brand that show elegant yet mysterious idol-type of clothing. Shows both enchanting and lolita like clothes styled with different types and shades of flower petals, gems and pearls and mostly types of perfume scents it can bring. This is Sylvie's preferred idol brand.

_______________________________

Trivia

The meaning of the name 'Sylvie' is a feminine given name of Latin origin, also spelled Silvia. The French form is Sylvie. The name originates from the Latin word for forest Silva and its meaning is spirit of the wood. The mythological god of the forest was associated with the figure of Silvanus. While her last name 'Vespertine' means of the evening, it's pleasant and fitting to consider the lovely word vespertine, an adjective meaning “of the evening.” The root is Latin vesper, which means “evening star”.

She's inspired by Ariel Winston, the main character who is known as the villainess in the manwha 'The Tryant's Only Perfumer'.

She dreams of owning a perfume shop with a garden one day.

The perfume she makes are either the normal perfumes or enchanted/magical perfumes with side effects. Only temporary, not permanent.

She and Brair had met before, Sylvie had met when she was visiting her homeland and they became friends. She was glad to see her again after coming to DCA.

In the past, her mother was the only born half-myth in the Slumbering Willows, she fled one night due to being mistreated and also getting sold and entered the Island of Enchantment.

In the past, she had almost died in a fire accident that was placed in the forest.

Has a pet flower elf named Zai.

Sylvie's voice is rather sweet and relaxing but it goes low when getting angered. Which is why I chose Yumi Uchiyama to be her voice actor.

[yurimother]

LGBTQ Manga Review - Goodbye, My Rose Garden Vol. 1

Dr. Pepperco’s Goodbye, My Rose Garden is by no means the first Yuri work centered around a maid or even the first set in late 19th or early 20th century England. Indeed, recent titles such as Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid and Blackberry Honey only scratch the surface of these factors’ presence in the genre. Elements of servitude and Victorian English society go way back, even being featured in the works that inspired the early genre, like Hodgson Burnett’s A Little Princess. (On a side note, A Little Princess was itself re-imagined as a Yuri visual novel in the highly unappreciated A Little Lily Princess.) This maid culture is almost as omnipresent in Yuri as senpai and kohai relationships. An easy test to determine if something is intrinsic to the Yuri genre is to ask yourself, ‘did Strawberry Panic parody this?’ If so, then the element in question is almost certainly a Yuri trope.

Yet, despite the plethora of Yuri stories that incorporate maids or are set in the Victorian era, I found Goodbye, My Rose Garden to be a refreshing and thoughtful story, one in which the setting plays a vital role in the series’ politics and drama. The manga, set at the beginning of the 20th century, follows a young Japanese woman named Hanako, who travels to England in hopes of meeting her favorite author and becoming a novelist. Shortly after her arrival, she meets a young noblewoman, Alice Douglas, and bonds with her over their shared love of literature. Hanako becomes Alice’s personal maid, and, to her astonishment, Alice offers Hanako all that she was she has wanted on the startling condition that Hanako kill her.

Throughout the first volume, Hanako struggles to come to terms with Alice’s disturbing plea. Her situation becomes even more precarious as her relationship to Alice grows stronger and more profound, moving them beyond master and servant and even beyond friendship. These developments are believable, as Hanako is quickly set up as Alice’s sole confidant, and seemingly the only person undisturbed by the scandalous rumors surrounding Alice. The details of these rumors that Alice prefers women over men are slowly hinted at and revealed throughout the manga. Most of the story is built on such slow hints and reveals, which are incredibly well-paced. Some information answers the reader’s questions, such as the truth of the mysterious author Victor Franks, while other details set up mysteries for future volumes, like the events that led to the disappearance of Alice’s governess.

The story is not only well-paced but beautifully told. Narration clues readers into both main characters’ insights as it switches between Alice and Hanako. This detail helps cement the relationship between the two and further expresses how fond Alice is of Hanako. However, my favorite aspect of Goodbye, My Rose Garden is Dr. Pepperco’s attention to detail. The author clearly did a fair amount of research, which is confirmed in the afterword, about Victorian society and fashion, such as Hanako’s “Margaret” hairstyle, literature, which is frequently referenced in the manga although such allusions are hardly more than surface level, such as name dropping Frankenstein, and same-sex relationships. This last point is perhaps the most important. Alice’s predicament is compared to that of Oscar Wilde, who was imprisoned and exiled because of his alleged homosexuality. As a noblewoman, Alice is trapped between her feelings, an impending marriage she dreads, and her responsibility to her family. It is as thrilling and precarious as the best historical dramas but has a chilling air of historical realism.

The characters in Goodbye, My Rose Garden are incredibly likable. Readers will easily sympathize with Alice’s plight, as her dismay is effectively communicated, but also love her for her kindness and vulnerability. Alice herself admits to Hanako that her warm persona is a mask to hide her shame and grief, but readers are quickly able to determine this fact before the admission, thanks to her desire for death and the private thoughts and moments we glimpse of her. Hanako shares Alice’s kindness, although she is somewhat more flustered and bumbling, often expressing embarrassment and humility at Alice’s generous actions. However, she is also quite outspoken and very progressive, making her thoughts about love and acceptance clear to a salesman, “Love is Free. To me, being shackled by expectations is what’s truly unnatural.”

Even the supposed villain of Goodbye, My Rose Garden, Edward, is impossible to hate. He is betrothed to Alice, although he suspects the nature of her feelings for Hanako. However, he is still a reasonably kind man who makes every effort to show Alice and Hanako generosity and respect, although the bad company he keeps occasionally spurs him to take rash action. I favorably compare him to Reiichi from the early volumes of If I Could Reach You, a sympathetic character in unfortunate circumstances who stands in the way of the central Yuri relationship.

Dr. Pepperco’s art is highly detailed. Especially the fashionable attire presented; however, it never oversteps and invades the core of the story. One particular aspect I noticed was the way Hanako’s face is drawn slightly differently than the others, taking on a more moe appearance with a rounded face and large eyes. Her expressions are also the only ones that are ever exaggerated. This detail helps separate Hanako from the world around her, which fits within the manga’s narrative, as she is a Japanese woman living amongst the English upper class. It is a lovely visual reinforcement of her position.

There are also plenty of gorgeous scenes featuring the two women. While not sexually explicit, the scenes depict a different kind of service. It could be one woman crying into the other’s shoulder, or else them sharing an umbrella. Such moments occasionally come off as somewhat lazy and catering to the genre’s tropes, but they serve the purpose of showcasing Alice and Hanako’s closeness and make for great art inserts for reviews.

Goodbye, My Rose Garden is a thoughtful and slightly sad manga. While the beats of the story are somewhat predictable and unremarkable, the careful consideration of the setting and realism of the narrative helps prevent it from sliding into melodrama. This attention to detail surrounds everything from the art to the loveable characters. It is an engaging and beautiful period piece. I applaud it for the strong presentation, its sincere and moving narrative, and the inclusion of historic LGBTQ struggles. I cannot wait to read more about Hanako and Alice’s journey in the next volume and wholeheartedly recommend the series. On a final note special thanks to Amber Tamosaitis, Cae Hawksmoor, and Kaitlyn Wiley for their fantastic translation, adaptation, and lettering respectively.

Ratings: Story – 8 Characters – 7 Art – 8 LGBTQ – 6 Sexual Content – 0 Final – 8

Purchase Goodbye, My Rose Garden Vol. 1 here: https://amzn.to/3ejm6ZF

Review copy provided by Seven Seas Entertainment

[seimeinotaka]

Sword training (Vil x MC)

Set Post-Pomefiore.

Vil learns that Ann has somehow started training with a sword, of all things. He also finds himself getting somehow a knight of sorts.

Thanks to polyphenols@AO3 for beta-reading this!

-

"Hi yah!"

The yell reached Vil's ears as he was doing his daily walk.  Instinctively, he turned his head to where the sound came from, easily recognizing the person's voice.

"Haaa!"

Ann swung her blunt sword in an upward arch, possibly the new movement she had been taught. It was too amateurish, inelegant and charmless, Vil thought to himself. It was exactly like her, though unexpectedly so, as he wouldn't have imagined she was interested in sword fighting in the first place.

"Hyah!"

She swung again.

At least she was passionate about it, though her passion alone wouldn't get her very far.

Ann paused her swings, turning suddenly around, startled when she realized his presence, though this didn't stop her from waving at him and jogging to where he was standing.

"Vil-senpai!" she said in between breaths. "I felt someone watching me but I didn't think it was you."

"Your swing is inelegant."

As well as her appearance: her hair was in a messy ponytail, bangs disheveled all over her flushed face.

"Well, Shishou just taught me this yesterday."

"Shishou?"

"Yes, Shishou. Silver-senpai. He's teaching me the sword in his free time."

That was surprising to say the least, Silver was from Diasomnia and one of Malleus's guards, everyone knew how they would flock behind him. Weren't they overzealous about Malleus's protection?

"I find it hard to imagine, he is always in Diasomnia doing his duties."

"It's okay! Kanchou said so!" she replied with a smile, as he frowned.

"Kanchou? Do you enjoy not making any sense?"

She rolled her eyes, that infuriating smile not fading in the slightest, and it was so tempting to smack her. "Kanchou is Lilia-senpai. Since Lilia-senpai is Silver-senpai's senpai, that would make him the big boss, so Kanchou."

He arched an eyebrow at her incomprehensible logic. Just like her.

"You make no sense."

"I don't? Huh, that's rude. You always call us potatoes, why can't I give you nicknames? There's Shishou and Kanchou, there's also Tsunotaro though that's his own fault. Trey-senpai is Aniki, Azul-senpai is Boss..." She looked at him with a sly smirk, "Wouldn't you like to know yours, Vil-senpai?"

Yes.

"No."

But he was not going to admit it.

"Too bad, it's a secret!"

"Then why offer something you're not even going to reveal?" He huffed, mildly annoyed to be entertaining her and going on her own tempo. He was the one who should be setting it, not her.

"Maybe I wanted to see if you were interested?"

"Why would I be interested?"

"Just a wild thought," she dared to say with a smirk. "I enjoy talking to you too."

-

Sometimes their paths crossed, almost like strangers fated to meet. He didn’t like leaving things to something intangible as fate, the same as how wishes worked. Like wishes, fate undermined hard work. There was no value to becoming the fated hero…or villain, cursed to a forgone conclusion especially if fate deemed you unworthy, no matter what. However, he wasn’t so sure he liked the only other logical explanation to these meetings, how he seemed to come across her during his walks, almost yearning for her.

Just as she was now standing in front of him, having interrupted her sword practice just to talk to him. And he was somehow entertaining her.

"If you were in my situation, like you were thrown into a foreign world, wouldn't you try things you normally wouldn't be able to do in your home world? We don't fight with swords, and the only remaining sword fighting styles are sports. Actually, one would suit Pomefiore, it's kind of elegant now that I think of it... But anyway, swords in my world are only good for sports, collection bragging rights, and to make money in gacha games, so you can't exactly train to wield one. "

He folded his arms over his chest, not fully convinced. “That’s quite a leap in logic, potato. Surely the first thing you would consider trying isn’t something involving fighting. I would understand if you were trying magic, but to want to engage in this kind of combat? You certainly don’t look the type.”

“How rude!” She huffed. “You should know better than to judge someone for their looks! Maybe I just wanted to try something really extra? This school has the gothic and medieval style that it begs to try something knights do.”

“That logic is too obtuse, even for you. I knew you were an otaku like Idia, but I didn’t take you as the delusional type.”

Something was off. She was unreasonable, but even this was a big stretch for her.

“Perhaps I could protect someone...!”

For a second, he thought something flashed in her eyes, but it was too brief to make sense of it.

"Must be nice to be able to take things like a game."

"Does it look like that way to you? I wish it was.”

Her soft expression was unreadable and somehow, it was disconcerting. It was the first time he had seen it in her eyes.

She didn’t seem to mind his silence, as she pondered for a brief moment, before breaking the tension. “Hmm, I guess if it were a game, I could say this…”

Ann knelt down in front of Vil, one knee on the ground, hand on her chest above her heart. Bowing her head down, she said with a regal tone, "I vow by this sword I wield, that I will protect you with all my might, my Queen."

Vil immediately froze up, heart stammering inside his chest, when she had just said before... was she even being serious? Was she playing, and like this? But the tone of her voice was so clear, playful but oddly sincere, making blood rush to his cheeks, heart racing so much it ached.

"How can you say such things without even the slightest hint of embarrassment?" he reproached, controlling the emotion within. It was unbecoming of a queen to show this inner and violently increasing turmoil that this…prank had stirred.

Ann stood up, laughing softly with a flushed face he wanted to smack.

"It's not like I'm not embarrassed but..." The expression in her eyes changed faintly, a mix of softness and...despair. "You don't know if you can say those words tomorrow so it's best to say them when you can."

She was most likely fooling around, she could stop doing that with him, as his heart was still recovering from the shock.

"So, you're one of those people, living your fullest every day," he replied, trying to sound unamused and unaffected by her.

"...I guess." Her gaze was fixed in the horizon, not looking at the orange colored sky but somewhere else, somewhere distant and foreign. That faint odd feeling from before heightened, it was briefly in her eyes. Perhaps she was just homesick, and this was her way of dealing with it. It could be something else too.

But he wouldn't pry, and he had the feeling she wouldn't say it either. Even someone as open as her had things sealed deep inside.

No.

Because she was so open about everything, it was why she could hide something.

-

“Just so you know,” Ann began, as she casually stretched, suddenly tagging Vil on his walk because she knew no limits and he was feeling charitable that day. “Paladins are supposed to protect the King and Queen.”

“I am aware of it, thank you for the useless information,” he replied dryly. “Also, Paladins are supposed to be master equestrians. How is your progress in the Horse Riding club?”

She flinched at his words, a large grimace replacing her teasing expression seconds before. “It’s a work in progress…” she mumbled. Though he was already aware that her progress was nil, it was bold of her to speak such words.

“Do your best to improve then, potato.”

“I don’t only need the horse, alright!” she huffed quickly. “It’s important to know you’re protecting someone! After seeing Shishou and Kanchou, even the annoying Sebek, protect Tsunotaro earnestly, I realized… I guess those speeches you hear in shonen anime do make sense, you do get a stronger purpose if you’re protecting someone.”

"I don't need you to protect me."

"Who said I was going to protect you?"

He could feel the flare up his cheeks, his mind already thinking of thousands of rebuttals because how dare she. He was the Queen, it was natural to imagine her proposal.

Did he need her help?

Absolutely not, he was more than capable of defending himself. The bodies of many who tried to fight him and lost were proof of that.

Did he want her to...

He stopped that trail of thought.

And most importantly…

“Didn’t you make that silly vow before?” he snarled, feeling the heat in his cheeks.

“Ah, so you remembered!” She gave him a big, bright, cheeky and infuriating smile. “It was just a test, but I can tell you do want me to stick around.”

“You’re really…”

She still had that smile of hers as she waved him goodbye. Softer and odder this time, but a smile nonetheless and he wanted so much to wipe it from her face. When he reached his dorm, he avoided Rook’s piercing gaze as the hunter complimented his newest blush.

But once his racing heart had slowed down, there was still that odd feeling he couldn’t shake off.

-

"Don't you want to go back?"

This time, he had reached out to her, catching her off guard as she had finished her sword practice. She was startled, both at being reached out to and him asking her that question. She probably never expected him to do either, but there was something he had to figure out.

"Huh?"

"To your world. Crowley is looking for a way to send you back, isn't he?"

"Well, looking is a stretch, he conveniently forgets it every time except when he wants me to do something. Then he excuses himself by saying that it is so hard that he can't do anything."

"You're avoiding the question."

She covered her mouth, but he could see hints of a gleeful smile. "Could it be you don't want me to go back? Hehe, that's actually sweet of yo-ack! Why did you smack me!?"

"You always think so highly of yourself, potato. Wouldn't you want me to beg you to not go back? Of course you would."

'So you keep deflecting the question,' he thought to himself. And it was then when he noticed, the smile she had held had softly, almost imperceptibly transformed. It was painful to watch, a mirthless expression behind that mask.

“There was something bothering me for a while, about you specifically. I finally realized it now. Your smile doesn’t always reach your eyes. I can tell you aren’t lying to me, but your true feelings are another thing entirely.”

She froze immediately, all pretenses and forced expressions vanished, replaced with a fearful expression of being caught.

“…You must be mistaken, Vil-senpai,” she replied softly, her hand gripping her arm awkwardly, as she couldn’t hold eye contact anymore. The attempt of a smile was so stiff that he didn’t need to say anything, as she realized it was futile. “I’m….”

She couldn’t finish that sentence and their meeting didn’t last much longer. Her distraught silence was more than enough proof for him that he was right, but she didn’t say anything else. He had caught her off guard, so used to hiding something in plain sight that, she didn’t know how to react when she met someone who knew where exactly to find it out.

Even though Vil didn’t know what it was.

As her figure disappeared in the horizon, he thought of his own Overblot. The feelings he had carried for so long, as they weighed him down, no matter how hard he tried to go on. Choking him gently, until he found it hard to breathe, to think.

Ann wasn’t capable of magic, that was certain, but…

That didn’t mean she couldn’t break.

-

Ann enoys giving people nicknames as you can tell. Hers for Vil is actually S-paisen, on the logic that he looked like an DoS but then he wasn’t (as she dealt with him during their stay at Ramshackle) and THEN NVM he is a DoS during his speech about making people kneel. Paisen, because she is affectionate towards him. She also has uhhh some issues but she’s not really the kind to say them out loud. Yet,

Thank you for reading!

[walpurga-nacht-academy]

Djinn’s Bride! ~A Celebration of Love~

Part 10

[Walpurga Nacht Academy]

[Djinn’s Lamp]

Rosa: Marcia… and Himalia-senpai… they’ve both been taken out…

Cass: A-A-And we’re up ne-ne-next… Um…

Blanche: This is becoming more troublesome than expected…

Vita: Indeed~ ‘Tis very entertaining~

Rosa: …

Vita: Hm~? Wherefore are you staring at me so demandingly, little rose? Have you been bewitched? My, how charming!

Rosa: Eh?! No, it’s rather… Shouldn’t you go next, Dies-senpai?

Vita: Oh?

Rosa: I-I-I mean… you’re the one who set the djinn’s free after all! No matter how you look at it it’s your responsibility! Marcia’s already paid her due so don’t you think you should too?!

Agatha: Ehehehehehehehe… stupid… amoeba… is… stupid…

Rosa: Geh! Wh-Why’d you sneak up on me like this?! I-If you’re planning to do something, then-

Vita: Now, now, there shall be no need to accuse my cute Agatha of anything~ She is merely too doting~ Are you not, my dear?

Agatha: Heheheheheheheheheh…

Rosa: It’s giving me the creeps! I can’t trust a single word you two are saying! He-Hey! Don’t come any closer!! HEY!

Blanche: A-Agatha! Please restrain yourself! We’re not sending Dies-senpai over!

Agatha: …

Rosa: Huh?! We’re not?! How come?!

Blanche: … It would be counterproductive.

Rosa: Counterproductive?

Diana: It’s not sure that Vita will cooperate.

Vita: My~

Rosa: Th-That...Now that I think about it, Dies-senpai tends to be ruthless and self-centered. If she was sent to seduce this djinn, then I wouldn’t put it past her to sell us out for her amusement. Maybe she’ll put us all in hourglasses too!! No!! I don’t want that!! Anything but that!! Please!!

Cass: Mi-Mi-Mi-Miss Morgainne! Ple-Please calm yourself!

Diana: Rosalia.

Rosa: Eh? Di-Diana?

Diana: Don’t lose your head.

Rosa: Ugh… That is easy for you to say… I still can’t help thinking of senpai’s cruel face as she watches us be imprisoned in those glass cages… She’d definitely be laughing!! I’m sure of it!!

Vita: Fufu~

Rosa: I told you!!

Diana: That is just who Vita is. 

Rosa: You’re too accepting, Diana!!

Blanche: In any case. We should figure out how to resolve this situation… First-

Cass: U-U-Um…

Blanche: Hm? Cassandra? Is there something wrong?

Cass: I was wondering a-a-about the ne-ne-needle…

Rosa: Huh? The needle? What about i-AAAAAAAAAAAH!! THE NEEDLE!!

Blanche: !!!

Rosa: THE NEEDLE! STUPID MARCIA TOOK THE NEEDLE WITH HER!! WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO NOW?!

Blanche: Ca-Calm yourself, it’s not- huh? Where… Just a moment… But it was…

Cass: U-U-Um, Miss Dion?

Blanche: My sewing kit… It’s gone…

Rosa: HA?! YOUR SEWING KIT?! IS THAT REALLY THE THING TO BE WORRIED ABOUT RIGHT NOW?! REALLY?!

Blanche: … The rest of my needles were in there.

Rosa: Huh?

Blanche: Sewing kits usually carry more than just one needle. Mine had around twelve of them, all customs made for better use and endurance… And made of iron too…

Rosa: … Eh. Eh? EEEEEEEEH?!

Blanche: !!! Rosalia, please cease your shout-

Rosa: We have to find that kit!! Where is it?! Where is it?! 

Agatha: Hehehehehehehehhe...

Cass: Mi-Mi-Miss Morgainne!

Rosa: If we all look for it together then surely-!! Come one, don't just stand there gaping!! Our life is at stake, you know?!

Agatha: Ehehehehehhehehe…

Blanche: … Rosalia…

Rosa: It’s not here!! It’s not here!! Not here!! Aaah!! Why am I the only one searching?! Don’t you guys care about escaping anymore?! Hey!!

Agatha: Ehehehehehehhe…

Diana: …

Rosa: Agatha!! Stop laughing!! It’s not helping at all!! We gotta work together if we want to… get out… so…

Agatha: Ehehehehehehehhe…

Rosa: ……………………………. Hey, Agatha……….. What are you holding there… ? That thing in your arms….. that looks like a small box….. and has a cute pattern on top of it…. Isn’t that….

Agatha: The… sewing… kit… ehehehehhehe…

Rosa: You’re not even trying to hide it?! What’s with that?! Why didn’t you say you have it from that start?! 

Agatha: Ehehehehehhe…

Rosa: Aaaah! Whatever!! I’m too worked up to care anymore!! Now!! Hand it over so we can- HUH?!

Agatha: Ehehehehehehe…

Rosa: Wh-Wha-?! Why are you keeping it away?! Hey!! Agat- STOP KEEPING IT WAY!! AGATHA!!!

Agatha: Ehehehehehehe…

Blanche: A-Agatha! We need those needles to escape this place! The only thing that can intimidate a djinn is an iron needle!

Agatha: I… know… that’s… why… I’m… keeping… it… as… leverage…

Blanche: … Leverage? Do you mean…

Diana: Blackmail.

Agatha: Yes… ehehehehhe…

Rosa: YOU EVEN ADMITTED TO IT?! NOT TO MENTION SO EASILY?!

Cass: Mi-Mi-Miss Voisin!

Agatha: I… don’t… want… to… go…

Blanche: Huh?

Agatha: This… situation… is… annoying… and… I… don’t… want… to… be… involved… with… it… That’s… why… I’m… making… you… chowders… deal… with… it… instead… ehehehehehe…

Rosa: SO WE’RE SACRIFICES?! EH?! EEEEEEH?!

Agatha: If… the… stupid… amoeba… got… trapped… in… the… hourglass… it… would… be… funny… ehehehhehehehe…

Rosa: ME AGAIN?! You’re always looking to pick a fight with me!! What is up with that?! It’s gotten really troublesome already!! Do you even have a reason for it?!

Agatha: ……………………….. The… stupid… amoeba… is… annoying…

Rosa: HUH?!

Agatha: Always… shouting… and… prattling… and… demanding… and… still… she… has… lots… of… friends…

Rosa: E-Eh? Wh-What’s that got to do with anything?! And it’s not like I have lots of friends…

Agatha: The… stupid… amoeba… appears… on… TV… a… lot… and… she’s… friends… with… the… shiny… chowder… from… Night… Raven… and… the… cheery… chowder… from… Royal… Sword.... and… the… other… chowders… They… all… clamour… around… the… stupid.. amoeba… It’s… annoying…

Rosa: Huh?! Isn’t this too unfair?! So you’re just jealous that I get along with Vil and Neige and the others?! What kind of reason is that to hate somebody?! You’re just projecting your own insecurities on me in the end, aren’t you?!

Agatha: …………………..

Rosa: I’m right, aren’t I?! GRRRR! To think that all along your attitude towards me was for such a petty reason!!

Agatha: ………………………………….

Rosa: You’ve got nothing to say?! Huh?!

Agatha: ……………………………………. The… stupid… amoeba… is… too… loud…

Rosa: HUH?! ARE YOU REALLY STILL GOING FOR IT?! AAAAAAH, THEN-

Djinn: Hm? What��s going on here?

Rosa: !!!

Agatha: !!!

Djinn: Could it be… are you guys actually…

Rosa: Crap! He’s looking straight at Agatha! He’s gonna see the kit! If that happens we’re doomed!

Djinn: Don’t tell me…

Agatha: ……………………………..

Rosa: A-AGATHA!

Djinn: Hm?

Agatha: ……………….. ?

Rosa: Don’t you think enough is enough?!

Agatha: ……………………. ?

Rosa: Even if you beg a hundred times, I won’t back down! This guy is mine!

Blanche: ?!

Cass: ?!

Agatha: …………………….. 

Rosa: That’s right! It’s time to face the truth! You two are obviously just not a good match! So please be reasonable and concede!

Blanche: Rosalia…

Vita: My~

Diana: …

Agatha: ………………………………………..

Djinn: NO WAY! You guys are actually fighting over me?! Hahahaha! Man, this is such an ego boost! I was kinda making it all up before, but to see it actually happen… FANTASTIC!

Rosa: Phew, he bought it.

Djinn: Then! Fluffy hair!

Rosa: !!! Ye-Yes?!

Djinn: How about we make it your turn?

Rosa: Uh, uh, wa-wait.... I… I’m not ready yet! The kit is still in Agatha’s hands. If I go up there now, I’m gonna be defenseless for sure! Ugh, what should I do...

Diana: …

Rosa: Di-Diana?! What are you doing?

Diana: It’s my turn.

Rosa: E-EH? 

Agatha: .....................

Djinn: Hm? Wo-Woah! That’s some serious presence you’ve got there, tiger! Kinda like a predator on the prowl, wild and exotic. I LIKE IT!

Rosa: Di-Diana!! Why… why are you…

Diana: A pack makes sure that the litter is protected.

Rosa: Huh?!

Agatha: ……………………

Cass: Do-Do-Does that mean… that…

Blanche: To Arrow-senpai, Rosalia is more like a cub that needs to be looked after… 

Vita: The lioness does have such a pure heart, after all~

Rosa: Grrrr! I know I should be grateful that Diana stepped in to save me, but I can’t help but feel a little peeved that she thinks I need to be rescued!

Blanche: You’re looking a gift horse in the mouth. Besides, if Arrow-senpai has decided to take charge then I think we won’t have to worry about this anymore.

Rosa: Ah! You’re right! If it’s the Diana who can keep even Dies-senpai and Himalia-senpai in check then this will be a breeze for her! We’re gonna be out of here in a flash!

Cass: Mi-Mi-Mi-Miss Arrow is truly in-in-incredible!

Rosa: Hooray! I’m gonna totally forget my frustration with you, Diana, and cheer you on! Di~a~na~! Di~a~na~! Di~a~na~!

[Several Minutes Later]

Djinn: [TIME’S UP!]

[CLICK]

Rosa: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH?! NO WAY!! WHY?!

Blanche: Th-That…

Cass: O-Oh no! Even Mi-Mi-Miss Arrow!

Agatha: GYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Rosa: HEY!! DON’T LAUGH!! SHE’S IN THERE BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO SAVE OUR SKIN! SHOW SOME GRATITUDE!

Marcia: BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Rosa: YOU TOO?!

Marcia: I mean- Bwhahahahahahahah! You gotta admit, ahahahhaha, Diana’s number really was too much! Pffffffffffft-

Rosa: I… I guess… but… pffffffft…

Agatha: Stupid… amoeba… is… laughing… too… even…. though… she… told… us… not… to....

Rosa: A-Ah! Ugh, that’s true…

Djinn: Seriously! You girls stop laughing! That was completely unexpected!!

Blanche: That’s Arrow-senpai’s usual however…

Djinn: THE USUAL?! No, no, no! That won’t do! I can't have a wife who’s that wild! I thought the exotic allure was really attractive but to think that it would be to such an extent… No! I want a wife that is civilized after all! None of that weirdness I’ve just gone through… Aaaah, my ears are still ringing in terror…

Cass: U-U-Um… This is bad… We lo-lost Miss Arrow too now…

Blanche: Yes, it’s a heavy blow for us, but… I think we might pull through after all.

Rosa: Huh? What do you mean? Do you have a plan, Blanche?

Blanche: Somewhat. Taking into account just what happened, and the incidents with Marcia and Himalia-senpai, I think I’ve been able to come up with a strategy. 

Rosa: A stra-strategy? Amazing!

Blanche: It’s… not such a big deal. I just… Ahem. Let’s not get distracted. We might only have one shot at this, so we have to give it our all. Do you understand?

Rosa: Gulp! Yeah! I got you!

Cass: U-U-Um! Yes! I’m re-ready too.

Vita: Fufu~

Agatha: Eheheheheh….

Blanche: I… I suppose this will have to do… Now listen here our plan is…

back | next

[rockthistowninsideout]

Never Too Late For A Leap Of Faith

Part 2

Part 1 here

Five times Taichi only feels the presence of Digimons and one time he actually meets them (again).

Words: 1401 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Tags: 5+1 Pairings: Taichi Yagami/OC, Sorato, Jyoumi

Inspired by this youtube video talking about how the end of Kizuna fits into the narrative of the Epilogue in 02, posted by TheDigiKnow. It’s in my opinion a thorough and yet personal analysis.

   The last time Taichi had been this nervous was before his final exam in his studies. He stood before a sleek black door on one of the highest floors in a governmental skyscraper in Tokyo’s heart, Roppongi. Behind the door sat a panel of the Japanese government, wanting to hear his expertise. He wondered if Koushirou was already in there. After another deep breath, telling himself to just screw it, it wouldn’t be any better if he stood here for another minute or two, he knocked.

   “Ah, Yagami-shi.” The prime minister bowed to him, as did everyone else, when he entered.

   Taichi did his best to compose himself and not get all flustered by the honour of the prime minister knowing his name.

   “Hello Taichi-san”, someone said at the other end of the table and Taichi noticed to his relief that it was Koushirou already standing beside a holographic screen.

   Taichi bowed to everyone around, then proceeded towards Koushirou. He put his briefcase onto a desk and extracted his notes. He looked at them but then he realized he wouldn’t need them. Nodding to Koushirou, he said, after a few welcoming words “The public has known Digimons mostly as, at best, a nuisance and at worst as a life-threatening force. But we know that Digimons also have a different side. They are caring, loving, and loyal companions who want nothing but the best for humans.

   Notice how I said ‘who’? Rationally looked upon, they might be only comprised of data, just like a music or a text file. But they are much more. Imagine the agony you might feel when a CD with your favourite song breaks or a very important text file gets deleted. Now exponentiate that to the grief you feel when losing a loved one, maybe even finitely. This is how we felt when we had to let our Digimon partners go all those years ago because the nature of human-Digimon bond was a doomed one, it was only temporary. Something we lose when we grow up because Digimons make the most sense when you are a child.

   And as an adult, you lose sight of what is important in life. You think you have cracked the meaning of life, working hard and getting married – and while I don’t want to disparage marriage or family, not at all – we treat it like it’s some kind of competition. That way, though, carefreeness, our sense of fun, and the lightness of just being and living get lost. But when you have children of your own, you start seeing the world again through the eyes of a child, and slowly that lightness returns.

   To make a long story short, we as humans are better off having a good connection to Digimons instead of condemning them as monsters. They preserve our childlike side and add to our social value. This is not about being chosen for a great task, like Izumi-kun and I had been, but about living peacefully together with a species that is much like us humans: Every Digimon is an individual with a fully-rounded personality.

   We are here to propose diplomatic relations to the Digital World with the long-term plan of finding a Digimon partner for every human, if they wish to have one. Izumi-kun will now introduce you to his network of DigiDestined that he’s been running for nearly fifteen years now and that shows that not only peaceful connections between humans and Digimons are possible, but also between humans themselves.”

   If Taichi had thought the anxiousness he had while standing in front of that office door had been bad, well, he’d blatantly been wrong. He had to suppress the urge to vomit while he watched Koushirou typing furiously on a holographic keyboard. It didn’t make any sense to him, though. As long as he knew Koushirou, there had been the steady rhythm of his fingers flying over the keys, a soft hammering, the sound of knowledge and curiosity. But now it was only silence, as if someone had muted reality.

   With a final enthusiastic hit, a picture appeared on the floating screen floating that was painfully familiar. A crystal blue lake, nearly perfectly circular, glittered in the sunshine, surrounded by a dense wood. In the middle of the lake was an island with the most peculiar yet reassuring sight around: a gleaming tram wagon, empty but for a few odd creatures looking like they’d been sitting there for eternity.

   Taichi looked down when he felt someone take his hand.

   “Let’s go together”, Koushirou said smilingly.

   On the other side, he felt another person’s presence. Yamato hadn’t taken his hand but his upper arm was brushing Taichi’s. Taichi inhaled deeply, then nodded. It was time.

***

   “Taichi-san?”, a hardly-surprised, childish voice asked.

     Taichi took a deep breath but he didn’t turn yet. It was too good to be true, it was what he had dreamt of since their disappearance after the Eosmon incident but he was wiser as to put too much hope into this voice. After all, it could be a hallucination his wishful mind had made him think.

   “Taichi-san, do you not want to say hello to me?”, the voice asked again. Someone tugged at his hand.

  Finally he looked down. A tug at the hand could hardly be imaginary, could it?   Many teeth greeted him, then the mouth closed and he looked into Agumon’s blinking blue eyes. “Taichi-san, you’ve finally come back to me!”, Agumon exclaimed and held out his arms.

   Taichi laughed while he cried, crouching down before his Digimon partner. “Yeah, it took me a while, a lot of things have happened.” He embraced Agumon. “Are the others with you? Because we’ve all been waiting so long. Biyomon and Gomamon and Palmon and Gabumon and Tentomon and Patamon and Gatomon. They’re all here.” Agumon stepped away and made a sweeping gesture. The Digimons came forward, their gazes flickering between Taichi and the group of people standing a little distance behind him.

   “Yes, we’ve all come back. And we want you to meet some special persons.” Taichi wiped away the tears with the back of his hand, then got up and beckoned the rest towards him with a wave.

   “Oh, Sora-san”, Biyomon exclaimed and excitedly fluttered forward, straight into Sora’s arms.

   Yamato and Gabumon looked at each other amicably; they’ve never been much for words but understood each other perfectly nonetheless.

   “Jou-senpai, I hope you’ve been eating well and not studying too hard while I was away”, Gomamon greeted his partner after he’d waddled over towards him.

   “Kouhirou-han, still carrying your tablet with you? I’m glad you haven’t changed a bit.” Tentomon buzzed excitedly around Koushirou’s head.

   Mimi and Palmon were running towards each other, screaming with joy, but actual words were not decipherable.

   “Takeru-kun, Takeru-kun, why haven’t you come earlier? I was so bored without!” Patamon flapped towards Takeru, then settled comfortably onto his head after Takeru had taken off his sailor’s cap.

   A solemn but smiling Gatomon stood before Hikari, paw extended. “I’ve been keeping this”, he said.

   Hikari took the whistle gently, a flood of memories rushing through her mind, then she blew it mightily.

   As if they had agreed on that as a sign, the remaining people shuffled forward, most were visibly nervous.

   “Kana-chan! Oh, Kana-chan, it’s been so long!” somebody suddenly yelled from the edge of the forest. A red birdlike Digimon, with a green beak and yellow coat pattern on his belly, waddled as fast as he could towards Taichi’s wife who’d been leading Hotaro to the Digimons.

   Now she dropped to her knees, crying “Oh Muchomon” in delight and embracing her Digimon once he had reached her.

   The remaining spouses, who had not been DigiDestineds, watched a little warily. They had heard the stories, hair-raising at times and most certainly not what children should have to endure, so they were familiar with the concept of Digimons. But meeting them now in the wild, so to speak, in their natural habitat, was something they still had to get accustomed to.

   Until Gatomon turned to Hikari’s daughter and introduced himself. Then he added “We welcome you to the Digital World, hoping that you will find a home here just like it is ours.”

   Meaning the same, but phrasing it differently, Agumon exclaimed “I’m hungry, let’s have a picnic!”

   Which earned him laughter from everyone. The ice was broken.

[kitariauthor]

It was the night following the ceremony celebrating the new school year at Night Raven College. A groaning, dripping, creaking noise caught onto the prefect’s ears. He sighed, shrugging his shirt back on, just after he was attempting to take it off. He almost didn’t want to go outside and investigate. Until...

creeeeak...thump-thump, thump, thump...thump...thump...

The sophomore wanted to curse.

“Ah, again? So soon?” he glanced behind him, where the long window peered down at the outside below, showing the thing that he didn’t expect to get out so soon. Hah, and he just put that thing away...

A glowing flicker floated near him, the ghastly figure taking form, appearing as a mythical feline monster with flaming ears, its form trailing down as a heart-hooked trident shape. The monster peeped open an eye at his host’s distracted self and sighed, as well, “Hahhh...it can’t be helped. C’mon, let’s go check it out.”

~~~~~

A first year student carefully crept out of the Heartslabyul mirror and into the Hall of Mirrors, looking anxious and wary. He left something in the library and was desperate to get it back before dawn. So desperate that he snuck out of his dorm against school rules and in the middle of the night. Quickly, he walked as softly and as fast as he could to the library, hoping that all of his books were still there and hadn’t been sorted into the shelves.

Once he got there, he suddenly felt an eerie presence inside, like something very dangerous was in here. His books. He needed to-

tHUMP-

“aaaAAAH-!!” the freshman cried, falling down to the closed library doors. He quickly grabbed the door handles, wanting to make a sprint back to the dorms...

...but the doors wouldn’t open.

Terror struck the student, fearing for punishment on the first night at the school. He should’ve tried to grab his books in the very morning while everyone was asleep or something. Now he was going to be in trouble-

“Hello?”

The younger student glanced up at the figure standing in front of him, holding a lantern. It took a couple of seconds for the freshman’s eyes to adjust before taking in the new person in front of him.

He recognized him. During the entrance ceremony, when everyone was getting filed into their dorms, this young man stood on his side of the chamber, all alone, no students around him like everyone else. It had already struck the first year that he was a prefect, but for no new students to be selected into his dorm? The freshman couldn’t help but feel sad for him. He at least looked kind of sad to get no new residents, if he had any, since his smile seemed to get more strained as more and more students didn’t get put in Ramshackle.

Oh, yes, this was the prefect of the notorious Ramshackle Dorm. The unique dorm with a population of one resident, a resident with no magic whatsoever. The new student have already heard a lot of rumors about who they all seem to just call ‘Ramshackle’. Ramshackle is the headmaster’s son, so he gets an entire dorm to himself. Ramshackle was a hero to the school and did so much without magic. Ramshackle actually has magic and is really powerful. Ramshackle is actually a demon. Ramshackle lives with ghosts and if you go to his dorm, he’ll lock you inside, because he’s so desperate for new students, and never let you out. 

However, what surprised him, was that all of the other dorm prefects and some of the senpais did nothing but defend Ramshackle’s name. So it made the freshman think...there’s probably more to this prefect than what the rumors say.

“Hello...? Are you alright?” Ramshackle asked again, slowly walking forward, his worried face coming into view. 

The freshman saw rubbed black spots all over the prefect, his uniform ruined a little, “I...uh, yes, I a-am...I’m...sorry...”

“Oh, no, you’re alright,” Ramshackle smiled reassuringly, kneeling down to pull the younger up, “I was just taking care of the coals and other random things that got left on the library tables. It would appear someone left a pot of ink open on a sheet of paper and, well,” he gestures down to his clothes, “Anyways, what is a...freshman, like you doing here in the middle of the night? Don’t tell me you’re breaking the rules for no good reason already.”

“What? No, nonono, I swear, I-I’m not trying to do anything bad! It’s...its just...my books, I left them in here, and I couldn’t find them in the dorm, and-”

“Oh, those were yours? Ah, here you are,” the prefect hands the Heartslabyul resident with a small stack of books, “I was wondering who was studying so early in the term. Turns out it was you?”

“O-Oh, yes, m-me...” he stammered clutching his books close to him. Even though he could see Ramshackle in his sights, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy still. 

“Aw, you’re probably not used to the school just yet,” Ramshackle chuckled, placing a hand on his shoulder, “C’mon, if you come with me, Riddle won’t get mad at you,” he reassures, guiding him out of the library and back into the dorm. Riddle wasn’t awake and the freshman was able to get back to his room safely.

~~~~~

“What were you thinking, leaving me there...?!” Grim whisper-yelled as Ramshackle reentered the library, “I had to silence that stupid ink blot myself!”

“Hey, we did the majority of the damage. Surely there wasn’t much left...?” the sophomore questioned softly as he gazed down at the big puddle of ink in front of the fireplace. Man, he had to clean this up, now, “Besides, this is the main school building. You don’t have to stay near me while on grounds, thankfully.”

“Hhhh, that doesn’t mean I don’t feel unsettled without you,” Grim griped, “C’mon! That thing was scary! How did it get outta the dorm?”

“Maybe I wasn’t careful enough,” Ramshackle sighed. He’s keeping them at the dorm to investigate them more. These ink blot monsters were running wild without overblotting people. It reminded him of the first monster that he faced when he first came here...

“Well, whatever, I’m gonna go to sleep, so don’t think so hard, okay, /////////?” the ghost cat yawned, sinking back into Ramshackle’s body, resting within his host’s mind. He always felt some sort of weight whenever Grim did that, like a kitty falling asleep on its owner’s lap. It wasn’t unwelcomed, but warm and comforting. 

Breathing a small sigh, Ramshackle picked up his cleaning supplies and started mopping up the now-completely normal ink. They’ve been getting a lot of freshmen this time...at least there had been enough supplies to make more magical pens this year, he supposes. But he can’t say for certain, of course.

...the others don’t need to know. When did he get so distant of them? They used to be so close...it now hurt him for the other prefects and other students from last year to look at him so sadly. Including the headmaster, who had pronounced full responsibility of him. 

He finished cleaning up the last of the ink. 

This is gonna be a long school year.

~~~~~

//Yo, yes, hi, I have fallen down the Twisted Wonderland hole and can’t get out. I say his name is ‘Ramshackle’ so you can insert yourself into this, but, unfortunately for most, I am going off of the implications of the game, and made the dorm leader a dude (sorry ^^;;). My MC’s name is Scriptext, but I decided not to put his name in.

//because like...Blacktext got sucked into a school of demons against her will without anyway of getting home, Scriptext got sucked into a school of villains without anyway of getting home. I wanted it to fit ^^;.

//If you wanna see more, don’t hesitate to aaaaask~

[thor-tony]

Consider this: Thor/Tony high school pining idiots AU

The Avengers are in their senior year and part of student government which includes a senate committee. Their positions are as follows: Rhodey- Presiding Officer; Pepper - Treasurer; Bruce - Secretary; Sam - Senator of Discipline; Thor - of Athletics; Nat - of PR; Tony - of Student Life, Clint - of Service, Steve - of Academics)

The committee members are all good friends with each other but they also have their own close-knit group of friends outside of the committee that they moan to about their crushes

Thor and Steve are also in the football team (duh)

Tony likes to watch them practice after AP Physics and likes dragging Rhodey with him. He always claims that he’s just there to support Happy as well as his friends from student gov. Rhodey knows better and teases him and urges him to stop acting like some teenage girl in an anime watching senpai practices on the side hoping senpai would notice him. 

Tony doesn’t know if he should be concerned how Rhodey knows all those anime references or if he should be really doing some self-reflection. But as far as he’s concerned Thor and Val are an item, or at least have something going on. Val is a year below them, she’s highly competitive with Thor but they also have this tension between them which Tony thinks would be really hot if he wasn’t pining for Thor. And she’s going to be the Senator of Athletics next year for sure. The two are just so close and they’re always laughing and hugging and they’re so perfect and excuse Tony for a sec, he’s wallowing in his sorrow again.  

When Tony’s not feeling sorry for himself, he’s offering the football team based some strategic plays on his observations. The team of guys who are mostly 6′2″ all respect this tiny compact 5′9″ genius, and some would say adore, which is especially true for a certain linebacker with a thunderous laugh. Tony’s presence always motivates him to put in extra effort at practice. So maybe he’s a bit of a show off but he wants Tony’s attention. Tony’s smart, funny and attentive, and offered to get him greasy breakfast food and a hangover cure when Thor came to school after a wild house party one day. Thor’s never forgotten that act of kindness and care.

Then one day before practice, Steve, who’s also captain of the football team, runs up to Tony before practice begins, to express his thanks for Tony’s input and support as they'd won their game the night before, which was against their biggest rival Hydra High. Tony’s taken aback by the genuine gratitude being expressed towards him, and from Steve, of all people, who always challenges/disagrees with him during their senate meetings. He’s not used to this and he blushes from the praise.

School gossip circulates the next day on the Daily Bugle section of their school’s smartphone app. Everyone in the comments section is wondering if the Captain has captured The Tony Stark’s heart because someone has snapped a picture of that moment with the two yesterday. Tony doesn’t pay much attention to the rumours because he’s used to being the topic of people’s conversation -- it kind of comes with the price being a Stark -- and it will soon be yesterday’s news anyway. 

But now Thor is really bummed by the rumours, and it’s all making sense now why Tony watches their practice all the time. And it also explains the whole Tony and Steve glaring staring-at-each-other-until-someone-clears-their-throat thing at their meetings. And it doesn’t help overhearing what Tony’s been saying to Rhodey over lunch. (Yes he’s pathetic, as his brother has kindly reminded him, choosing a table so ‘causally and coincidentally’ next to Tony’s so he can be closer to him in hopes of getting a smile from him)

At the table a couple metres over, Tony’s been saying to Rhodey something about luscious blond locks and a golden smile that warms the whole galaxy, a spirit so vigorous yet gentle like the morning sun, and, “he’s so kindhearted and funny and those muscles !! Rhodey!! I’ll admit it’s shallow of me but it’s a work of art, I’m only human, and we all strive for beauty and art.” 

When Tony and Rhodey turn to leave, they notice Thor’s been sitting right next to them this whole time and oh shit, he’s not supposed to hear that oh no! He must think I’m shallow only lusting after him, and he’s gonna avoid me now congrats for blowing it Tony! Great!

Tony gives them a tight smile turns on his heels, and Thor is even sadder now. Not only has he lost Tony to the Captain, but now Tony’s mad at him for eavesdropping. Even Loki can’t tell who’s Tony is talking about and he wouldn’t be surprised if the rumours turn out to be true. He can only pat his brother’s slumped shoulder and offer him his ice cream as consolation.

Now in comes Steve, who may be a bit of a disaster when it comes to his own love life but he’s observant and he can tell when his friends are into each other. He knows about the rumours going on and he uses them to his advantage, teams up with Rhodey so they can work together to get their friends’ heads out of their asses and admit their crushes on each other. Thor and Tony are being dumb, okay, and the rest of their friends are really tired watching them blush and stammer at each other or moaning about each other at lunch when they can just be making out under the bleachers instead and their friends can finally eat in peace.

So Steve decides to rile Thor up a bit, play up the rumours and make them seem true. In the locker rooms before practice he’ll be singing Tony’s praises, saying, “Tony really had an incredible idea for our next charity event, don’t you think, Thor? He’s got such a great business sense. With Nat’s help I’m sure they’re going to get a lot of sponsors. He’s so great.”

Thor, through gritted teeth, says, “Yes, he’s wonderful. You know I think he’s amazing.”

Steve: “He sure is! We had lunch together today --”

“I noticed.”

“-- and he was so cute when he had trouble opening his jar of chia pudding -- apparently he’s trying to eat healthy at least once a week. Anyway, I got it open for him and he was really sweet. He went on and on about how much he’s appreciative of big muscles paired with shiny blond hair, and how he loves watching football practice because of the way our pants fit. Isn’t he the best? He’s outside now waiting for us to go out and start practice and man, I’m just so glad to provide him with a nice view when he’s sitting on those bleachers watching us.”

And if Thor had bothered parsing out those words, he’d realize that everything Steve had described was vague enough that he could totally be referring to himself and insinuating that he and Tony are an item (or close to being one) OR he could be talking about Thor and how Tony loves watching him.

But Thor’s seething, okay, he’s annoyed because Steve KNOWS how much he’d always liked Tony. He doesn’t need to rub it in like this. Thor’s frustrated af because hello???? He has all those qualities that Steve described too??? Why can’t Tony look at him instead of stupid perfect Steve???

Thor’s a dumbass.

A week later, Thor, Steve, Nat, and Rhodey are sitting at lunch together so they can discuss their group project for their environmental science class. Of course, things get off topic and Homecoming is brought up. Nat mentions she’s going to be sending out another email to the student body about nominations for Homecoming king and queen, and reminds the guys that they need to send Pepper daily updates on how many tickets they’ve sold. Steve nudges Rhodey a bit and nods at Thor, which prompts Rhodey to go, “You know, Tony’s been waiting for a certain blond football player to ask him to the dance. And if said football player doesn’t do so soon then Tony might think the worst of himself and wallow for the rest of the month. I’m probably gonna have to give up my homecoming plans to console him for that entire weekend. Bring him ice cream, watch Star Trek with him until he forgets about aforementioned football player.” He says that last part very, very pointedly.

Thor’s glaring at Steve when he hears this. He thinks, what the fuck dude? He’s your boyfriend and you haven’t even asked him to the dance yet? You don’t know how to appreciate him, ugh, I could do so much better.

At the same time, Steve turns to Thor, cheeky shit-eating smile on his face and says, “You heard him. When the hell are you going to get your act together and ask Tony out, huh? If you wait any longer someone else is going to snatch him off the market.”

And Thor’s so confused because wait, Steve isn’t dating Tony??? He wants to smack himself because what the FUCK, he’s an idiot. Tony likes him back and they could have been dating and sharing milkshakes and sitting together at lunch this whole time if Thor had just asked Tony out for a coffee in junior year when Tony offered him that hangover cure.

So Thor gets up, marches over to Tony’s table with half his lunch -- an uneaten cheeseburger (he ran out to Burger King and bought two that day -- he gets hungry, okay?) -- and the thermos of coffee he keeps in his bag and presents it to the school’s resident genius.

Tony, who’d been alternating between complaining to Pepper and Happy about not having a date to the dance and gazing longingly at Thor, is completely surprised by his crush’s sudden appearance by his side.

The blond cuts to the chase. “I know this isn’t the fanciest way to ask, but I didn’t want to waste any more time,” he tells Tony. He pushes the food over to Tony, knowing that he’s weak for junk food and caffeine, and, apparently, Thor. “Would you accept this greasy burger and unfortunately lukewarm coffee, and, perhaps, go to homecoming with me?”

Clint, who’d been watching and lazily shoving waffle fries in his mouth, goes, “fuckin’ finally, god.”

“Shut up, birdbrain,” Tony says without even looking at Clint, because he’s too busy staring at Thor with heart eyes and wow, is that a flush of red creeping up Thor’s neck? He’s adorable.

Of course, Tony says yes. And just for the record, that was the best way anyone has ever asked him out.

[konohagakurekakashi]

Rinne-Whoops: Who Died and Brought You Back Out?

Don’t  even ask--Post continued from here

@minaa-munch

@senjutsunade

“Inōichi-senpai?” Izumo murmured as all four shinobi continued to stare at the Kage in contemplation, afore Kakashi nodded (in answer to both Izumo and his yellow-haired, former Sensei) the arm, rubbing at the nape of his neck venturing further upward to tug his forehead protector back into place over his left eyelid. “Hai, he will be the most qualified to help with, Yondaime-sama’s muddled memories.” The Iryō-nin whom had her palms clasped in front of her chest agreed with him in a low hum, dark hues shifting from the slumped Fire Shadow towards the Jōnin. Kotetsu seemed less convinced however, sharing a brief glance with his partner, before his digits came to rest on the juts of his hips. “Demo…would it be wise…to let someone from the Intelligence and Interrogation unit know…won’t they…catechize him, Kakashi-senpai? I get that we can’t exactly keep this type of thing a secret, but maybe just until Tsunade-sama wakes up? I mean…He already seems to be in pain…” The Chūnin trailed off lamely, his own orbs flittering over the shambolic cavern, the edge of his sandal toeing at a scroll fragment.

“…That is exactly why we need to enlist Inōichi-san’s help.”  Kotetsu blinked, looking up to find the Hatake had yet to sever his gaze with the cerulean-eyed Shinobi. “It is as you said, we can’t keep this type of thing secret for long, but we can govern who gets to know of this /first/. Inōichi-san is a loyal shinobi, an avid believer in the Third’s Will of Fire…but he was also a good friend of the Yondaime. I don’t believe catechizing an old comrade would be something Inōichi would do right off the bat.” It was then that the Hatake shifted, a begloved palm landing heavily on the Chūnin’s shoulder. “…If he sorts through Lord Fourth’s memories and ends up putting them back into the right order, I doubt an official interrogation will be necessary. You both did good bringing me here, demo, you can leave now…” His single, visible hue curved in what he hoped to be a show of ‘encouragement’, before he let the other go, deft fingers coiling into the familiar signs of the Tiger Seal. “M-Matte, Kakashi-senpai! What do you mean? You can’t expect us to just do nothing.” Kakashi in turn cocked his head to the side as if ruminating over the other man’s words, mouth twitching underneath the fabric of his mask, though not enough to be considered as a smile.

“Iie…I never suggested that…Domo, a lot of time has passed. The two of you should return to Shizune, though stop by the Ikayaki tent on your way; maybe consider a side-order of fried rice, brown. When Shizune asks for Tsunade-sama’s files just confirm that you met me half-way and that I offered to get it in your place, as I was already on my way to the outer-rim. My chakra imprint is all over this cavern, but yours aren’t. Plus I’d be willing to wager my signed copies of Jiraiya-sama’s special anniversary addition of Icha Icha Paradise that neither Shizune nor Sakura have left Tsunade-sama’s side to eat something decent since she’s collapsed. Nothing quells ire or an array of unwelcomed questions quite like a nice, warm meal…ne?”

Kakashi’s leaden gaze flittered towards the Kunōichi. “As for Hakui-san…It’s best that you return to the medical tent before you’re missed. With skills like yours and with construction accidents on the rise, I’m certain that your chakra will be needed to do a lot more good.” Kakashi then proceeded to mould his own chakra, the mauve energies, bubbling and pitching, before divvying into half—an exact clone appearing at his side amidst a puff of smoke. “It’s a hassle…but my Raitōn Clone will look for the Godaime’s papers while I’ll make sure Minato-sensei gets to the Yamanaka Compound…luckily it’s not far from here…That’s the plan for now at least. I don’t need to stress that neither one of you were here. At all. Yes?”

The Chūnin chorused their accord, before slowly meandering their way toward the corridor, unable to find fault with the Jōnin’s nippy reasoning. Only Izumo hesitated for a beat longer, his visible hue skimming over the mess of wood-chips and paper. “Not gonna lie, Senpai, I feel bad about leaving you to deal with the dirty work, even just your clone…” Kakashi gave an evasive wave of his palm, sucking in a long, impassive breath. “..It’s fine…It’s fine…Though I could use your bandana…bandana yes…give it here, Izumo.” Izumo’s dark orb blinked, digits rising to fumble with the navy material, but found nothing but a mess of chocolaty strands as the Jōnin already nicked the accessory from off his head, shoving the man towards the corridor at the same time. “Arigato, Izumo-kun, your sacrifice was a very noble one, best not keep Shizune waiting any longer. Bye-bye.”

Turing on his heel Kakashi inclined his covered chin at his clone to get him to work, before his gaze settled on the form of the Kage once more. For the first time the two of them found themselves alone, Kakashi’s gaze assuaging at the soft echoes of ‘please’ and the sheer helplessness cleaving to the Kage’s form like a second shroud. Not wanting the man to suffer from the onslaught of his own thoughts and memories any longer, the Hatake moved to crouch in front of the rock lip. “I’m not ‘gonna put you under, Minato-sensei…but I am going get you some help….Just…” The Jōnin paused to peer at the pallid, pained features of the Yellow Flash, before he leaned forward to hide the distinguishing, yellow spikes with the Chūnin’s pilfered bandana, careful not to rub against the red, inflamed scrapes and nail indents visible along the sides of his temple. “….Trust me?” The Jōnin then lifted the Kage’s arm, wounding it about his neck, while his own limb curled about the man’s middle, heaving him upward and out of his sarcophagi.

Moving the former Leader was far from an easy task, the man practically a dead-weight, slanted into Kakashi’s side and still wrecked with uneven breaths and the occasional cough. But Kakashi expected as much as he maneuverer the both of them through the chamber towards the passageway the others disappeared through prior. The plus side was that they met no resistance along the snaking, narrow warren; nor did the Jōnin feel the flecks of any prying chakra signatures. Years of experience advised that in itself wasn’t enough of an indicator that they weren’t being watched and/or followed, so Kakashi remained alert, muscles starting to twinge with how tense he held himself—and as the dimness began to lift, the faint tinges of afternoon sunlight signalling the exit up ahead, Kakashi adjusted his hold on his former mentor, before urging forward once more, pace perpetually slow.

“The Exit is up ahead, it seems to be late afternoon still, so you might want to…shield your eyes.”

Kakashi didn’t check to see if Minato complied by fluttering his lids closed, choosing instead to alter his intent stare down the rough iron steps and into the crater where everyone was still bustling along like little, carpenter ants. Any minute now people would start to pack up their tools and wander towards their respective tents, the barracks, their homes; increasing the chances of being spotted by a weary individual or two (not to mention the receptive ANBU Platoons, as Kakashi has it on good authority that Ibiki upped the patrol roster in lieu of the Pain attack) As such Kakashi called on his chakra reserves (those violet swirls not tasked with keeping his clone within this plain of existence) to haul both of their forms from the Hokage Mountain in a concise body flicker to appear once more at the foot of the steps.

Sure, it might not be the best tactic when supporting a severely /disoriented/ resurrected, but the Hatake reasoned that cleaning chunky spew from his flak-jacket and standard-issue blues, would heavily outweigh the panic and outright bothersome questions he might have to consider answers for /if they were caught/ not to mention the datum of time, time which they did not have. The silver-haired shinobi could not put his finger on it, but there was a nagging feeling at the back of Kakashi’s skull that caused him to constantly shoot a narrowed hue over the swell of his shoulder. A feeling like he failed to take something important into account, that he /missed/ something, though re-examining his chosen actions thus far failed to provide further elucidations. It only urged the Jōnin forwards that much faster and placed a heavy hope on the shoulders of his Raitōn clone. Kakashi hoped that he would be thorough whereas Kakashi was heedless.

They made their way passed the off-turn which lead toward the Hattori Clan Ruins, the towering Hashirama and Ginkō trees passing by in blurs and blotches of green and brown, a tell-tale that they reached the boundary leading into the Nara Clan Forest. If Kakashi wasn’t certain that Shikakū was still in the presence of the old war-mongerer; he might have consider cutting through the deer forest towards its compound neighbour, but as the current Head was still indisposed, the Jōnin thought better of chancing his luck via trespassing. The two shinobi continued to travel along the borderline, Kakashi stopping only twice (once to avoid two Akimichi huddled around a cluster of brightly coloured mushrooms, the second to avoid the kids who were once Kurenai’s Genin team) afore they finally made it to the outskirts of the Yamanaka Clan Compound. The clan dwelling was the most centred of all of the Konohagakure Clans, a fact evident in the vast amounts of dirt and debris littering what used to be fields of wild Lavender and Tiger Lilies, the depository houses the Hatake knew to have contained many herbs and flowers of all shapes and usages, all but destroyed.

As Kami would have it, the main estate seemed to be mostly intact, save for a few missing roof-tiles and the windows on the west side of the house that were replaced by a see-through, green tarp. Kakashi ambled forward, praying that the elder Jōnin was home and in a particularly benevolent mood, while his digits flexed against his mentor’s side. Despite being an active shinobi since the tender age of five (many of said years spent within the sombre underbelly of the ANBU) Kakashi only ever worked with the Head of the Yamanaka clan once or twice where a mind-probe proved an ineffective interrogation method thanks to tricky conscious seals and the Sharingan was required as an alternative. As such Kakashi wasn’t as versed in the Clan Head’s habits and methods as he was in the ways of the man’s two teammates. Yet the Yondaime’s laboured breaths urged him to swallow any uncertainties (those he never dared voice to the three Chūnin) as soon as it dared to flicker into existence.

‘Maa, a shinobi should never second guess his actions, huh.’

The Hatake found himself uttering with some amount of discontentment, while calloused fingers rose to rap twice against the door. It took a moment, but soon Kakashi’s ears picked up the steady thuds of feet and the door opened to reveal a tired Ino still smudged with the sweat and grime of a hard day’s work. Periwinkle orbs widened as they fixed upon Kakashi’s hunched form, before they shifted briskly towards the other shinobi slumped against the Jōnin's side, his chin dipped toward his chest and obscuring any features from the girl’s keen inspection.

“Aa…Ino…Is your Tou-san home? I would really like to speak to him, it’s a bit of an emergency, you see…”

[ellnaturae]

Strength is Compulsory

Who: Kitty Wilde ( @wildevvitch ), Tina Cohen-Chang ( @cohentoplaywithmagic ), Blaine ( @happilyeveranders ) Anderson and Elliott Gilbert. Location: Undique Stadium. Time: 24th May 2019. Summary: Kittina vs Blelliott. Triggers/Notes: violence, stabbing, homophobia, slurs.

Blaine usually doesn't come to Undique Stadium with a furrowed brow, one manufactured from anger. Its usual place are doubt, self-pity, and disappointment from how one-sided he's been in active duels, from how pointless his presence even feels. The last fight alongside Kurt only shows how different their caliber. Blaine feels alienated from his own body, his own magic, and try as he might to say things will change for the better, and he'll progress, he has an abject reminder he's stagnating. From the result of the battles, all he has received is hundreds of notes on his fellow students and how great they are with their magic and how Blaine just... isn't. But he can't allow himself to get inside his head when he's facing off with one of the most challenging people he's ever dealt with. Kitty Wilde. Blaine paces in the training room, wondering if Elliott's on his way or if Blaine should use their pendant, and he lets go of that cool piece of metal affixed around his neck when he thinks he hears someone approaching. Elliott enters the room, his expression matches his friend's frown but he hasn't seen him yet. He usually fights Kitty only verbally, partially because he told himself fighting her solved nothing, but mostly because he has to admit to himself she is a little... scary. Holy magic, potentially knowing the kneeling spell, it would be that crazy fight he told Santana to stop him from doing, but here he was, ready to fight her with all he got, influenced by the limit of his patience and anger. However, even in times like these, when an uncomfortable knot is starting to form on his stomatch wondering if this would end up anything but well, when he sees Blaine waiting there a small smile appears on his face and he feels a little better. Last time they fought it didn't go great at all, but his trust on Blaine was unwavering, and he believed firmly on them as a team. They could do this, right? "Hey, partner" he winks at Blaine as he stand next to him. Kitty was scowling when she entered the stadium and saw the brat Anderson and his Shedim. 'What an eyesore. Doesn't matter. God will give me His favor and I will WIN.' Kitty thought and raised her cross necklace to irritate Blaine and Elliott. "You two are going to witness God's love today. Repent now or I'll show you God's hatred." She threatened them. She stuck her nose up at the offending sights. Kitty was slightly nervous about Alena but she'd come when Kitty was fighting a demon. She had to. Tina was speeding her way to the stadium not wanting to leave Blainey Days, Elliott-Senpai and Wilde all in the same room together without her to defuse the tension or Kitty being Kitty. Rushing in, she grimaces as everyone was already there. Hopefully, bitter words had not been traded but as she walks in she was too late with Wilde threatening her best friends. "Don't underestimate them, Wilde," Tina calls out,"Pretty sure that these two can show you the most love than any god could." Blaine can't hide his dislike of Kitty Wilde when she strolls in. She's literally threatening us, Blaine thinks and stands closer to Elliott for support -- his or Ell's, that's debatable -- and fires back, "You'd be surprised today." Blaine gives Elliott a look, an encouraging one, when Tina enters in and doesn't know how to add to it. His relationship with Tina feels tenuous too, and Blaine's mind softly nudges him to remember what transpired with Rachel not long ago too. Does he know what Tina's thinking about too? What's going on with Tina and Kitty to make Tina stay with a legitimately vile person? Elliott looks at Kitty showing her cross and he touches his ear where he is wearing his inverted cross earring as a response. He gives a little squeeze to Blaine's shoulder and then places himself a couple of steps before him. He then takes a look at Tina wondering why she isn't on their side of this fight "Let's just start this" he says annoyed as Ziggy appears around his arm surrounded by smoke. He has never wanted to get into a fight more than he wanted today. Kitty rolled her eyes at the garish earring. "Queers just love ruining everything." She muttered. She doesn't listen to Tina because she doesn't need to. However, Kitty was eyeing the three of them to see what would happen. 'Who knows, this could be a trap. People aren't as loyal as they say they are.' Kitty was looking straight at Tina and ignored the anger brimming inside her. 'Those stupid anonymous messages from that raccoon bitch. Who's the liar here? Trashy? Or her?' Kitty tossed her pretty ponytail behind her and threw the salt across the ground to scare Elliott. She walked past them with a mean smirk. "Whatevvs, Trashy. Get on the stage and let's get this done. I have an appointment for nails later." She ordered Tina to stand in front of her. Tina was starting to become slightly anxious for this fight as her hands felt clammy taking out her phone in preparation.  Everything on the room felt on the edge, as she takes a look at Blaine who steps closer to Elliott who seems rather annoyed and boomed. Tina thinks back to the first time she physical met Kitty along with the brutal battle with Blaine. Even though it was training she didn't want that to happen again. Looking at the two boys, Tina never wants to find herself face to face like this with them. This was her doing what she thought was best.  She takes her place in front of Kitty, not because she was taking orders, it has just always been apart of their strategy to be like this. Standing with Kitty behind her and her best friends in front of her, the unease flurries more. If Kitty does hold back at least Tina would be in front to try and defuse it all.  "Wilde," she barks back at the order, facing Bee and Ell to ask them,"Same rules that we had at the SP torment sound good?" Blaine pulled a face at the slur Kitty threw at them and also at Tina's passiveness. "Not as much as hypocritical homophobes love to blame gay people for every instance." He said evenly but it was clear he was not humoring Kitty Wilde or even Tina when she looked at him as they took their places on stage. Unlike other duels, Blaine was seething when he bowed out of politeness of dueling courtesy. Blaine couldn't believe Tina taking her place like this. What exactly was happening at Zephyrus? "Ell, let me know if you need any backup." Blaine whispered. "Who attacks first?" He asked the two women in a polite if tight tone. Elliott frowns "Fuck you, fascists like you ruin people's lives" he looks at Kitty then back at Tina when she is a few steps away from him "Sure" he looks at her confused, he really didn't want to fight Tina, but he was starting to wonder if she did want to fight them. He never had doubted Tina before, but her behavior lately... He sighs and before he gets more serious and on position he turns to Blaine "let me know as well, you can count on Ziggy too" when he faces Tina again his face turns more serious. Kitty smiled at Blaine and Elliott's comments and laughed them off. clicked her tongue at Tina's suggestion and smiled behind her at the two weaklings in front of her. "Yeah, let's show them. This time we won't have St. Pierre or Boulder holding me back." Kitty boasted and pointed at the two of them with prejudice. "With God as my witness, I'll make you two see the light." Kitty couldn't see Tina's face and wondered if the three of them were plotting something against her. 'I can't trust anyone.' Kitty thought. 'I always get betrayed. The club. My parents. That bitch Alena. I need to strike first instead of being hurt first!' Kitty decided to take the initiative.

Kitty pressed her palms together to pray. "Heavenly Father, I’m but your humble servant, lend me your power. Fill your holy vessel with your magnificence! Soul Armament!" Kitty pulled something out of thin air. It was her glaive but it still had a cracked end. When Kitty grabbed it, she didn't feel any body there behind the weapon. 'Still being such a brat!' Kitty grimaced at Alena's absence. When that fish came back, Kitty was going to give her a talking to. "Heavenly Father! I’m but your humble servant, lend me your power. Fill your holy vessel with your magnificence! Shield your Chosen One!" Instead of protecting Tina, Kitty shielded herself. Kitty: (1d7 + 1d10)*2 Shield Kitty = ((5) + (10))*2 = 30 Over her shoulder, Tina with gritted teeth,"You are not going to be like that with them. Don't you even dare." All of this was already hard enough standing on the in between, Tina swears that it was getting hotter here the more anxious she was becoming. Kitty was in no mood to hold back evident from not even to wait to hear how she wanted to battle as she attempts to summon her Soul Armament but something, something was off about it, she tries to work out what it was but she only bared witness to her Soul Arment a handful of times.  Something pauses as the Bloodline Witch protects herself first, not Tina. "What the..." Tina is thrown off muttering under her breath. This was not how they did things. What was going on in Kitty's head? Tina snaps out of it as she looks at her best friends, both sporting a more serious look. A flat line upon her face as she summons one of her queens to the right of her.🔮⚔👑 ⚔️ 🔮  taking full form, in all its data glory.

Tina: 1d7+2+1-1:  1d7 Queen HP = (1) = 1 Blaine tries as he might to understand Tina's logic, he cannot. "Why are you over there?" He asks from behind his position, trying to get Tina's attention. "Why are you fighting us? Does Kitty have something on you? I just... I don't get you, Tina!" Blaine finally lets that last bit out. It's a bitter truth and Blaine's been skirting around it but now it's out there. Blaine sees another data creature summoned next to her and Blaine bites behind his lip and sees that he needs to take down the enemies.

Blaine: 2d6kl1 Attack Queen = (2+2) = 2 Blaine fans both hands out and casts, Esteemed one of wind, please help me clear my path! Blaine doesn't have a lot of emotional control and his mind is teeming with questions. The loss of focus makes his spell waver but it's enough to slice toward Tina's digital creature.

Tina: 2d7kl1-1 Queen Counter Blaine = (4+3)-1 = 2

Elliott hears what Blaine asks Tina, maybe what he was also wanting to ask but hadn't been brave to all this time either "I'm interested to know to..." he says as Blaine attacks. He takes that moment to concentrate if Blaine goes for the Queen, he will go for Kitty. He shakes his arm a little as if telling Ziggy, this is your turn. The snake slowly moves to his hand and starts disappearing into smoke, when the smoke disperses a rusted chain appears around the place where the snake used to be. He lets one of the ends of the chains hang and he starts swinging it in the air. 

Elliott: 1d6 + 1d5  + 2= (6) + (4) + 2 = 12

Elliott he throws the chain against Kitty's shield.

Kitty whispered back to Tina with a bitchy glare. "I'm going to be whatever I want with anyone, you're not my boss. You're supposed to be my battle partner. So battle. Or I'll fight by myself. That's what you want, isn't it, for me to be alone!" Kitty wouldn't let that happen. She wouldn't lose. Everyone would hate her if she did. She shook her glaive to throw one more attack when the light inside fizzled out. "Cheese and rice, what in Big Daddy God's holy name?" Kitty swore. The glaive didn't feel powerful. It felt like there was no magic inside. "Alena? Hello? Is this you?" Kitty yelled at her weapon. She wasn't paying attention to the chain thrown at her. It clanged loud against her shield and Kitty looked up to see that heathen demon had a Soul Armament too. 'That can't be right. God would never give...' Kitty was frightened.

Tina watches as her Queen is obliterated by Blaine's wind fading away into binary ones and zeros. Remnants of his cause her hair to flicker behind as she stun by his words. Despite being behind Elliott, his words were loud and clear. "You, don't get me?" Tina repeats in disbelief. "You seriously don't get me?" She repeats out loud trying to understand what her distant best friend was asking of her. "It was meant to be just us but then, then Kitty came in and I don't want you fight just her. I don't want to have Kitty fighting alone," she looks back at her Socium Partner. "That's all this is Bee! You too Senpai. This is all that it is." Rather clearly, it wasn't there was something more than just fighting face value.  Not attacking, she sticks with her plan to just to keep on summoning, this time to her left  🔮 ⚡ 🐉️⚡️ 🔮 her magic circle glows as she digitally constructs her usual partner.

Tina: 1d7 Dragon HP = (4) = 4

Blaine 's face gets hot from the disarming tone Tina takes up with him. What is he missing here? That's what he is asking from Tina, to fill him in. "Why? You could have told her no! I said no! But she's threatening people, and are we kidding ourselves when I say no one seems to respond to that? That we all think if we ignore that she'll go away? Why are you fighting with her, then? If you're so against her beliefs?! Why don't you want to have her fighting alone? She's the only one who thinks I should go to conversion therapy, and that Elliott deserved to be a slave! That's not all this is! This is more than just a simple duel, this is our lives here! How are we supposed to feel when you're on her side, and then say 'this is all that it is' without understanding why we'd be upset?!" Blaine moves forward. "If you don't want to fight me, that's fine! But don't stop me from fighting Kitty."

Elliott chain swings in his hands for a moment he stands there listening to Blaine, he has Tina right in front of him and he looks directly at her "Is that all that it is?" he asks echoing Blaine's sentiment "I feel like you are the one not getting it..." he sighs "You always say you are on our side, that you support what we believe in, and your words are beautiful and touching... I want to believe in you, because it's you, but... what are we left to feel when we see you standing in front of her?" he pauses " your words mean nothing if they are not backed up by your actions" he says bitterly and swings the chain up in the air ready to attack again.

Elliott: 1d6 + 1d5 +2  = (2) + (2) +2 = 6

Elliott sents the chain Kitty's way again.

Kitty: 1d6 + 1d10  = (2) + (3) = 5

Kitty didn't understand why Tina wouldn't just zap the two of them like she had done with Kitty in the past. What was her partner thinking. Was this a trap for Kitty? "Come on, move your digital summons! Hit them with your tech magic! You were so strong with them!" Kitty said to Tina hotly. She wasn't even listening to Blaine and Elliott talking. 'Who cares to listen to their dumb heroic speeches.' But she caught onto a part the Shedim had said and fired back, "Why are you guys acting like I'm not even here! Freaking notice me! I'm here!" She was getting angry. "Is this the secret plan with the three of you, to pretend I'm not here? Fine. I'll make sure you guys notice me. Get the hell out of my way, Trashy." She didn't want Tina to get caught under the beam even if Tina was thinking of betraying her. Kitty smashed the end of her glaive into the ground and it sparked with a little life. The glaive cracked more. Heavenly Father! I’m but your humble servant, lend me your power. Fill your holy vessel with your magnificence, let my spirit be yours, my body nothing, let it bear all wounds, all pain, all death, for my place is with you in Heaven, shed me of this mortal sin…  Kitty's body was sparkling with light.

Here is were the strain and voices tug in Tina's heart and in her mind. All the things that she had gone on ignoring blinded by her feelings, deniable feelings towards the toxic Bloodline. This is were all the lines seem to blur between feelings and the way that they rippled out, hurting, ruining and restricting lives.  She runs her palms pushing her away from her face to try speak without a crack in her voice,"Because I didn't wanna tell her no, I didn't want her fighting you one on one, either of you. Kitty is powerful and I think we know that." Tina looks between Blaine and Elliott,"Just because I'm fighting along side her does not mean that I believe the same thing as her. Please don't think that, that is nothing I ever want you to think of me. I'm not on her side when it comes to how she thinks we should live. But then...." she struggles and stammers,"One thing, one thing that no one else see's no one else see's is the reason why we have all be partnered up in the first place. After...after what happened that night with mom and dad..." Tina looks directly at them,"Kitty makes me feel safe. She strong, she can fight, she can heal she can protect. It's a feeling I'm trying to ignore and say that I don't need, I can't help it if that is the way that she makes me feel. Call me selfish for it but it's true." So lost in her own battling thoughts and emotions she vaguely hears Kitty until her voice is fuelled with anger and a bright light leaves from Kitty. That fear that trembles comes over her knowing the spell all too well. "Kitty, no!!!" Tina screams taking a step closer to Kitty's left.

Blaine replied, "Why didn't you want to? What's wrong with telling Kitty 'no'?! Who cares if she's powerful if she's evil. I don't care if she's strong, I'll fight her regardless because she's wrong!" Blaine saw Tina's face screw up and wished he could feel sad, but he couldn't. He couldn't when the sadness and pity and sympathy he was feeling for Tina dissipated when she moved away from Kitty, revealing what was behind her. Tina revealed she didn't feel secure with Blaine or Elliott. Only Kitty. Even if Kitty was the one threatening their lives. Blaine's blood ran cold at seeing the prone girl on the floor, glowing. He remembered the spell Kitty was doing. He remembered a year from ago. Kitty was facing Elliott. She was going to hurt Elliott and not even that -- Kitty's holy magic could kill Elliott. "No!" Blaine moved in front of Elliott, right in the line of Kitty's aim.

Elliott can't even react, everything is happening so fast. Tina runs aside, Blaine gets on the way, Kitty is... shinning? He acts by instint realizing Blaine is getting on the way to protect him, but he doesn't want his friend to get hurt either so he tries to move him aside.

Elliott: 1d6 to push blaine = (4) = 4

Blaine: 1d6  = (3) = 3

Kitty: 1d50*4  = (36)*4 = 144

Kitty didn't see anyone acknowledging her in their talk. Including her socius pactum. They were speaking around her like Kitty wasn't in the room. She couldn't respond due to the spell but she wanted to scream at them. She wanted to scream at Tina. Tina liked her because she was strong. So what about when Kitty was weak? Was she worthless? When Kitty was weak, didn't they all take advantage of it? Sister Quinn finally replied when Kitty told her about Alena's disappearance. Tina told Santana Lopez, the trickster, all about Kitty's moment of weakness in the desert. But they all pretended they didn't hurt Kitty. They pretended Kitty was the only one who hurt them. 'Nobody asks me if I feel safe. Only God protects me but sometimes I don't feel secure.' Kitty felt the power rise up in her though. She had to let it explode. And let my body burn up in your light of Justice, oh Heavenly Father!! She sent the blast in front of her. Whoever it was, they would taste Kitty's pain.

Tina was in a blind furry to by Kitty's side as she did the spell in a means to stop her with no knowledge how too. In her moment of desperation, she was not even thinking of the consequences to the people that were in front of her, Blaine and Elliott. Everything happened way too fast for her process it as Kitty unleashed her holy beam onto Elliott. Rationality hit in as her idiotic heart and foolish actions were leading to something that would be unforgettable and unforgiveable.

Blaine's readying himself, he doesn't want Elliott to feel the searing pain of holy magic, however something solid grabs him by the scruff of his neck, wraps a strong around around his shoulder and drags him to the side, near pushing him a good three feet away. Blaine lands in the ground in an uncoordinated heap as he hasn't been expecting it and the worst thing imaginable flashes in front of his eyes as the bright light overtakes everything, engulfing Elliott. Blaine shouts but he can't hear himself scream out Elliott's name. When the light is gone, Blaine scrambles up on his feet and runs to his partner's side. He skids on his knees and holds Elliott. "Elliott. Oh my--aether, no, no..." Blaine tucks his head in and can't help but tear up.

Elliott sees the strong light out of Kitty's body. Spreading. There isn't anything he can imagine, how this would feel, what would happen to him. And he is terrified but he is glad he did have time to move Blaine out of the way. This couldn't be good. His eyes are almost blinded and there isn't really time to react, the holy magic hits him. If he could think that time he felt intense physical pain when he was stabbed, it wasn't even comprable to what this was. There weren't words to describe it, it was like burning through inside out, as if his body could practically break in thousand pieces. And it drains him. There isn't strength in him, and he lets out a scream that makes his whole body tremble as he falls to the floor unconcious.

Her light was dazzling and blinding but how was it deadly and destructive. Tina watches in utter horror paralysed by Elliott's deafening scream, a scream that makes her blood turn cold. The scream echoes within her as flashes of other deadly screams play back fast: Blaine's from the number times she bares witness to him hurt, her own scream as she stands and watching as the moments unfurl. Her mother's own heart wrenching scream watching as her father falls hurt from the Pagan. Each times the moment plays the same: a scream, the one she cares about hurt and Tina Cohen-Chang only every standing there. Right now, the moment plays the same, all she does it stand there doing nothing, the only thing that tears this moment apart, Tina had made a choice. But her head becomes a furry between the logical, rationality and reason against complex emotions that dwell in her heart. How could the tech witch dare say she chose her heart when the sight of her the people she cares for most in the world, the two she would call her heart, she had broken and turn against? How could she say she thought with her heart? Elliott falls. Blaine to his side. Kitty is faint. And Tina does nothing. A choice was made with consequences that will last, unforgivable: making ties she once considered to be unbreakable cut and undone. There would be no coming back from this one.   

[babywhereyougone]

[Translation] The Television 2019-01 - Wild Sexy (Part 2 - 20 Questions) (original scans: nsnsns_mmm@twitter)

1. When’s your birthday? Ryo: October 30, 2000 Mizuki: October 31, 2000 Yuto: November 15, 1999 Soya: September 20, 2002 Ryuto: September 30, 2002

2. Where’s your hometown? Ryo: Kangawa Prefecture Mizuki: Kanagawa Prefecture Yuto: Kanagawa Prefecture Soya: Tokyo Ryuto: Kanagawa Prefecture

3. What’s your blood type? Ryo: O Mizuki: AB Yuto: A Soya: A Ryuto: O 4.What’s your hobby/special skill? Ryo: My hobby is billiards. I have been playing it for about a year and have gotten pretty good. My special skill is talking with people I’ve never met before. Zero shyness. Mizuki: My hobby is shopping. My special skill is eliminating my presence. No matter the circumstance, I can disappear with ease and have people wondering where I went (laughs). Yuto: Baseball. I played it from second grade to my first year of high school. I also love watching it. Soya: To debate and talk about the world news and topics. Ryuto: Playing the ukulele is a recent hobby. I bought it when I was abroad, and I got really into it after I played it as a break from the test studying period. My special skills is turning things I hate into things I like. Such an example is acrobatics! 5. On average, how many hours of sleep do you get a night? Ryo: 6 hours. I sleep at midnight and wake up at 6 in the morning. Mizuki: About 7 hours. Today was 6 hours. Yuto: 8 hours. Today was about 8 hours, but the ideal is 24 hours. I can sleep all day! Soya: 6 hours. I got 11 hours today so I’m super content. Ryuto: 7.5 hours. It was about 6 hours today. 6. What’s your favorite thing to eat lately? Ryo: Beef tongue. I buy a block of beef tongue, cook it in sesame oil, and mix it with some spring onions. Eating it like that is the best. Mizuki: The smell of truffle. (Iwahashi) Genki went to this place and had truffle french fries that were super good and now obsessed with, but I haven’t had the chance to try yet (laughs). Yuto: Convenience store oden. I must have daikon and sometimes I’ll also buy egg and kon’nyaku, too. Soya: Cream croquette. Crispy on the outside and soft, melty center inside. Ryuto: Convenience store kalbi bento. 7. What did you eat today? Ryo: For breakfast, I had yesterday’s leftover yakiniku. For lunch, I had curry. Mizuki: Bacon cheeseburger. Yuto: Kimchi. I wasn’t feeling too well this morning, but I felt better after eating kimchi. Soya: For breakfast ad lunch, I had beef tongue rice my mother made. Ryuto: For breakfast I had cereal. I was studying for tests during lunch so I didn’t get a chance to eat… When I’m immersed in something, my appetite takes a break. 8. How many texts do you send in a day? Ryo: About 50. I have about 10 people I talk with regularly. I call in my downtime, so I don’t text much. Mizuki: Almost zero. I immediately reply when I get something, but I rarely send anything myself. Yuto: About 50. Soya: I don’t answer my phone when I’m busy so zero. I usually only text my family, the group members, senpais, and some other people, so maybe about 4 a day. Ryuto: About 3. I call more than text. 9. Who in Johnny’s did you message most recently? Ryo: Shime-chan (Shimekake Ryuya) texted me, “Why didn’t you come to the stage show,?” and I replied, “Because of work and tests.” I want to go if I could~ Mizuki: Nishimura Takuya of Kansai Johnny’s Jr. When I have time, I’d ask him how he is and he sends back a nice reply. Yuto: 7MEN Samurai’s Sasaki Taiko and I entered the company at the same time, so he’s always being cheeky with me. For instance, he saw the TV show I appeared on recently, “Everyone looked amazing …except for Yuto” (laughs). Soya: Tanaka Juri-kun. He gave me advice on the rap I did for “The Shounen Club.” Ryuto: (Sasaki) Taiko. He wants to get something simple across but can’t find the right words for it so the text comes off as angry (laughs). 10. What’s your favorite emoji? Ryo: Cute, funny faces emojis. Mizuki: LINE stamp of the white, round character with his thumbs up. Yuto: Stamps of my favorite anime character. I use the “OK” and “Thank You” ones a lot. Soya: Surreal character stamp of a slim kid. The one where he’s bowing going, “G’mornnnnn!!” is convenient so I use it a lot. Ryuto: Grinning and laughing white bear. I like the relaxed, half-baked ones. 11. What’s on your homescreen? Ryo: A picture taken at Disneyland of JUNIOR 5, including Saku-chan. Mizuki: It’s completely white. I can see the icons easier this way. Yuto: A picture of Mount Fuji I took outside of the hotel window on a family trip. Soya: It’s a photo of a single red rose I purchased. The photo quality on my phone is really good so the red is so vivid and beautiful. Ryuto: The view of the ocean at sunset. Around the summer, it was of Yuto’s expression upon taking a photo with Matsumoto Jun-kun in the dressing room. 12. What’s the most recent photo you took? Ryo: Of my own hair. Just dyed it black. Mizuki: Choreo video. Yuto: A picture of Matsumoto Jun-kun during his concert. The pose he was during while wearing pink gloves was really cool so I took a picture of it without thinking about it when I saw it in a magazine or something. Soya: A picture with friends taken in front of the emergency stairwell on the day of the school culture festival. But we took it with the light the wrong direction so it was a big fail (laughs). Ryuto: Taiko holding a ukulele. 13. What sort of pictures do you have the most in your camera roll? Ryo: Pictures with friends. When we go out, we ask people nearby to take photos for us. Mizuki: I don’t really take photos, they’re pretty much all choreography videos. Yuto: Photos of the members’ selfies when they steal my phone. I dunno what kind of faces Hashimoto-kun makes, Saku-chan’s photos are of eyes wide open, etc. (laughs). Soya: Family. My older sister loves photos so there’s a lot of everyone. I’m like cut off to the side. Ryuto: Of the members. I turn my camera towards the members in between rehearsals. I have a lot of good faces from Yuto. 14. What do you always have in your bag? Ryo: Breath mints. Mizuki: Mask and tissues. And a train character chewing gum. I loved that gum since I was kid so I always have it. Yuto: Perfume. I’m into scents, and I’ve been into jasmine lately. Soya: Hand wipes. I use it when there isn’t any hand soap when I’m out. Ryuto: A ballpoint ben. It’s the kind with both black and red ink together and it fits into my wallet. 15. What’s your most recent purchase? Ryo: Hawaiian jewelry. I bought something that has “strength” associated with it. Mizuki: A red smartphone case. (Takahashi) Kaito gave me a case that has a built-in battery that I’ve been using, but the color faded… so I went and bought the same color and style! Yuto: Hawaiian ring. Soya: Five rings from Hawaii. My fingers look pretty when I put them on. Ryuto: Mobile battery. 16. What do you want the most right now? Ryo: Motorcycle. I want to ride one during a concert! I have to get a license first, though. Mizuki: I want to try living on my own so I want a one bedroom apartment (laughs). Yuto: White sneakers or boots. I surprisingly like white, even the wristwatch I’m wearing now is white. Soya: A super amazing massage chair for when I’m tense. I never experienced it before, but I want to experience the first class cabin of an airplane. Ryuto: Macro lens for an SLR camera. 17. What type of girls do you like? Ryo: A girl who looks good with short, brown hair. Mizuki: A girl who supports and doesn’t reject my opinions. Yuto: Someone who isn’t clingy, a girl who is a bit of a tomboy. Soya: A bit of a dreamer who says funny, innocent things at times. Ryuto: Someone who talks for me. I don’t hate conversation, but I’m bad at bringing up topics… 18. If you were a girl, which member do you want to go out with? Ryo: None! I know too much about them all so it would be bad (laughs). If it’s any other group, then (Yoshizawa) Shizuya-kun. He’s so nice. Mizuki: Sakuma! Since he wouldn’t be disagreeable with me (laughs). Yuto: None (laughs). But, if Saku-chan was my boyfriend, it would be pleasantly fun. Soya: Hard pass on all (laughs). But if I had to choose someone, the person that fits the answer to the last question the most would be Sakuma. Ryuto: I guess Mizuki-kun. If I were his girlfriend, I’d probably fuss a bit over if he’s sleepy. 19. When do you feel the most happy? Ryo: When I’m talking with my friends at school about how we’re graduating soon. It’s a bit sad though—that only have a little bit of time left together with my classmates. Mizuki: When I hit the snooze button. And, when I eat yummy foods! Yuto: That feeling when I realize that so many different people love me now than ever before. Soya: Shampoo (hair wash) at the beauty salon. Ryuto: When I can relate to a book I’m reading. 20. What’s one thing you want to say to yourself about this past year? Ryo: You’ve grown up a lot! You now like black costumes more than the sparkly ones, you now have an interest in cars and motorcycles, your tone suddenly changed. Mizuki: Blossom. It’s your final year of high school, and it feels like it was spent brilliantly blossoming. Yuto: It was an incredible, spectacular year! Soya: You worked hard! Deserving of praise! Ryuto: You worked hard! You gave everything you had in all the work opportunities given this year.

[ncbodyknows]

過去編「バラバラになった」

{{ April 2012 }}

At school he knows the entrance ceremony is already well underway. With this his final year of junior high has started, and he can’t help but feel a bit better at the thought that all his classmates, no all his school mates, are stuck in that stuffy gymnasium, listening to the principal's speech which has only become more and more boring in the past two years. Youngjae doesn’t for a second doubt that this year beats all records. There might even be fatalities. For a moment he ponders: is it actually possible to die of boredom? But no matter how much he ponders, he won’t know the answer, for he is not personally there.

Using the jacket of his gakuran, he is sitting outside a FamilyMart, lips sucking lazily on the straw of his strawberry milk. He is simply taking in the sun and the sound of traffic going past a few metres ahead of him, enjoying his little urban sanctuary. It is nice to be alone every once in a while, especially for Youngjae who feels as though he is constantly surrounded by people. It won’t last long, he knows that, because it’s only a matter of time before they find him again. If anything else he should probably be going to school: his attendance hasn’t been good in the past couple of months, and if it keeps up he will probably risk expulsion. All the better, he thinks, for they’re probably just looking for a reason to get rid of him anyway. No one wants him there after all, not him, not his classmates, not the teachers and the school staff. 

‘Ah, there he is!’ He hears their voices before he sees them and closes his eyes to uphold the pretense of solitude for just a bit longer. ‘Why do you always pull shit like this, boss? We’ve been looking for you for an hour.’ Youngjae simply gives a groan in response, partly at the fact that he can’t simply pass off their presence as an illusion and partly because of what they call him. He puts down his milk carton and rises from the ground, taking his time to dust off his jacket and putting it on. Expression obviously annoyed, he finally speaks.

“Didn’t I tell you not to call me that?” he begins, not bothering to give them an answer to their complaints. “I’m not your boss and you’re not my underlings and there is no gang. How many fucking times do I have to repeat myself?” It’s getting tiresome, because despite their nods, despite their affirmative words, Youngjae knows that his complaints just go in one ear and out of the other. They willingly choose to ignore the situation that isn’t favourable to them. It isn’t like they consider him a boss or have any loyalty towards him if push comes to shove anyway, he already knows that, and he isn’t interested in starting his own faction either. Such would simply be treaty to his own family. The shitheads who can’t even see that much, don’t deserve to be introduced to the underground world. They won’t last long anyway, so in that sense Youngjae is doing them a big service. This side of the world isn’t as kind and forgiving as these wannabe yankees who are just mad at the world seem to believe.

With a sigh he starts waking, and as though they are small puppies on a leash, the rest of the boys follow along. This only serves to irk him even further. “Aren’t you guys in high school by now anyway?” he comments, looking over his shoulder to the nearest guy, the one who has unofficially announced himself to be Youngjae’s right hand. A big guy with lots of muscle compensating for his lack of brain. He has simply threatened the others into submission, and that disgusts Youngjae more than anything else about this whole thing. A guy like that wouldn’t function in any other role than a debt collector. He can’t even be used for persuading people to loosen their tongues and give information for the idiot would probably kill his victim before anything was revealed. To think that a person like that is aiming for a position of power is ridiculous. “Don’t you all have anything better to do than follow some random junior high kid around? It’s not like I’m actually ordering you to do anything, it must be boring as fuck.”

He had hoped so much that it would be over once those guys graduated, but of course they had picked a high school close to his middle school. Of course. But it will be fine, just one more year of them running around behind him like headless chickens and then he can go to a school far away, outside of Roppongi, in a place where no one knows him. One more year and then everything will be perfect again.

‘Wait! Wait please! Yamauchi-senpai!’

It is a full week into the new school year and he has finally bothered coming to school. The voice calling out to him makes Youngjae turn his body, looking for the source, and the moment he sees a small kid with his hair bleached his expression sours. It’s only far too stereotypical and he wants to ram his head repeatedly into a wall at the idiocy of the people he attracts. No, maybe he is the idiot for not looking for a school with hair colour regulations. When will these idiots learn that standing out is the last thing you want to do? If your appearance screams thug or social outcast then it will be impossible to gain what you want to. Every single scammer he personally knows looks painfully average, has a sweet smile and words just as sweet. He has already begun his own training: there are ways a kid can be used to trick others that adults would never be capable of after all, so he has quite a bit of value as he is right now.

‘You’re Yamauchi Takashi-senpai, aren’t you?’ the kid continues. Everything about him, his size, his baby face, everything, makes it obvious that this boy is fresh out of elementary school. Youngjae remembers how big he felt when he was in sixth grade and how small he suddenly was in the first year of junior high. Now he is one of the big kids again and a freshman seems so incredibly small to him. “What about it?” he comments with indifference although he already knows what the kid wants. He should have expected it the moment someone called out to him. No one does so without that being the reason.

‘It’s true that you’re part of a yakuza syndicate, right? I picked this school just to go to the same school as you senpai!’

Bingo. Just as fucking expected. How do even random kids from elementary schools know about him now? Certainly he has heard rumours flocking around when people think he isn’t listening, and he hasn’t even done half of the shit they come up with. Even fighting is very limited nowadays compared to the wild kid he had been in his elementary school days. Of course other people don’t seem to realise that and often try to pick fights with him, and it’s at times like these Youngjae appreciates everything his master has taught him. He only really takes his knowledge in martial arts seriously when tossing people left and right to immobilise them before they could beat him up. His master is often upset with him for not putting the same energy into his training, but as long as Youngjae is uninterested, he simply can’t be bothered to put in an effort.

“It’s true,” he simply confirms, no reason to hide it. Even if he tried to lie his way through it, he doubts that the kid will believe anything but the idea about him he has in his head. How bothersome. Even more bothersome is it to see the kid’s face light up as though it’s Christmas eve. What kind of aspiring gangster walks around with such a ridiculous expression on his face? Before the other can even begin to voice his request, Youngjae holds out his bag. “Carry this to my classroom.” His demand seems to come as a surprise to the brat who simply stands opening and closing his mouth repeatedly, hesitantly reaching out for the bag. His expression very clearly asks the question of why, and Youngjae gives him that smile he has practiced to lure in people, make them warm up to him and perform even his unreasonable requests. “The most important part of being a yakuza is being able to follow orders. I’ll have to test you first. If you can’t perform even simple tasks like this, there’s no way I can take you in.”

If he can keep this up for just one year, one year of ordering the kid around like a slave, then he can be free without any more people believing themselves to be his underlings.

Just one more year...

[letting-them-take-liberties]

Tenka Touitsu Koi no Ran ~Shutsujin! Saika 4-ninshu~ Ohirome no Jin Event Report

True to his name, Okawa Genki was very much genki during the entire event.

Seats were amazing.

I was lucky enough to score tickets to the advance screening of AniRan Episode 1, and as always, my friend who’s not even into KoiRan joined me.

I headed to LaLaPort Toyosu, where the screening would be, really early, as I wanted to get merchandise before they run out.

An hour and a half of queuing later, I secured the things that I wanted:

On a side note, there were some people who queued for the goods who ended up spending some JPY10,000 and above for random can badges. As always, I’m never the type to gamble, so I made do with one can badge. Unfortunately, I got Shingen, and true to my word, I threw the can badge into oblivion.

Random can badges like these are the reason why Japan doesn’t need casinos as people here love to gamble and try their luck on blind packaging that may or may not contain their favorites

We had time to kill before the screening so we ended up roaming around the mall. I ended up buying a magazine about Japanese castles, which featured Shiroishi Castle.

With that done, we headed back to the cinema so that we could get inside the movie theater.

Along the way to the theater, I saw both the president and vice president of Voltage Inc. talking to the staff, which didn’t surprise me this time, as I’ve realized that this was the second time I’ve seen them attending a Voltage event (first time I saw them in public was at the Voltage Romance App 10th Anniversary Exhibit last December 2017).

At 5:30PM, the theater was full, and the viewing began.

Episode 1 Highlights:

Quartet interaction was amusing, with each of the guys having a distinct personality; they’re all easy to tell apart.

Okawa Genki (Tsubame) was very convincing as a hot-headed, hot-blooded Saika mercenary, but the animation says otherwise [more on that later]

Chidori is my spirit animal and I love him

Saizou cannot be fucking bothered to do shit

Yukimura didn’t show how hot-blooded and wild he can get, but hearing Masuda Toshiki was enough [for me at least]

Mention of Saika Magoichi and Takeda Shingen having an alliance, which is what brings the Quartet and Yukimura and Saizou together

The announcer stated that the team didn’t make it in time to edit in the ED song, so they played it after the episode was shown.

Overall impression of the whole episode:

Animation was kind of awkward, but I’m giving it a pass as Vol Pictures is new and I am assuming that they’re all still getting a feel of how to go about animating anime series

OP and ED songs were amazing; I want to hear the full version already

The budget of the episode went to the background/scenery which was both amusing and confusing at the same time; shouldn’t the focus be on the characters instead...?

Character movement was awkward, especially in the ED; I have no idea what happened.

They used the BGMs from the game, and during one scenario that had Yukimura talking, the playful BGM played in the background and it seemed very out of place because he was talking about something serious

They used the chibi art in some scenarios, which was a-okay, but I guess they did so as a filler of sorts. Animating, after all, is just difficult.

Voice acting was superb, as always. Props to the director for guiding them.

With that, we had a talk portion of the event.

Highlights:

Okawa Genki (Tsubame) couldn’t sit still so he ended up standing up the whole time despite the presence of chairs; he said he was very nervous

Komatsu Shouhei (Tobi) was too nervous as well, as he admitted that it’s his first time to attend an event like this

Ichikawa Taichi (Chidori) was rather level-headed and was using his cuteness to charm all of us into thinking that he’s so nice and pure and innocent, but he actually has haraguro and yandere tendencies

Tsubame was disappointed as he couldn’t have his hair styled the same way during his KoiRan cafe appearance; Tobi had his spiked, while Chidori effortlessly pulled off the look

Tsubame was the senpai among the three so he was taking the lead role, Tobi was at a loss on what to do (he’s reeeeeaaaaaallly not used to it), while Chidori did the straight man act.

Tsubame had to stand away from the microphone compared to the two when they did a live voice acting of their characters, as he tends to scream out loud

Nogami Shou (Hibari) wasn’t able to make it to the event, but he recorded a video for the audience and his fellow seiyuu. While the video was playing, Tsubame kept interjecting tsukkomi, which made it more hilarious.

Tobi noted that the Quartet will “not lose” to their sempai (Yukimura and Saizou’s seiyuu)

All three had no idea that they were going to do a drama CD

When Tsubame first met Tobi, immediately, the director told them to, “Go inside the recording booth and fight.” [it’s for a scene in Episode 1]

Tsubame recalled the time during his KoiRan cafe appearance that the girls were freaking out when they announced that Yukimura and Saizou would be making an anime appearance

During the time they announced their unit’s name, Tsubame wanted their team to have the name ‘Ami’ (probably a reference to the word ‘friend’ in French), but ‘Quartet’ won out because of the poll over at Twitter.

Tsubame loves to ad-lib to the point that sometimes, his fellow seiyuu get lost.

Cute moment: All three of them posed like their chibi characters at one point

Reference photo (Source):

AniRan Episode 1 will be streaming from within the KoiRan LB app this May 28, 2018.

Bonus photo:

Freebie from the screening: postcard set

[heartlyre]

META NOTES: The Answer

      all notes compiled during various playthroughs of The Answer, for those curious and for my own personal reference in the future. bc i can’t be assed to turn it into an actual meta post lmao. 

      as always, this is an extension of Hamuko’s main verse wherein she is the male protag’s sister and he fulfills the requirements to create the Great Seal. 

      i doubt anyone following me cares, but just in case: THIS IS NOT A SPOILER FREE ANALYSIS. THIS POST VERY SOLIDLY SPOILS THE ENDGAME OF P.ERSONA 3 AS WELL AS ITS EPILOGUE. DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT COMPLETED BOTH PARTS.

it’s doubtful that Hamu would have remained at the dorm after her brother’s death — too many memories. either moved to the standard female dorm or chose to spend spring break living with Yukari or Mitsuru

Aigis DOES still keep Minato’s Evoker. Hamuko was not the one who picked it up during the final battle versus Nyx and afterwards couldn’t bear to see Aigis parted from it in the name of her own selfishness.

it’s been less than a month since the loss of her brother. she’s still horribly shell-shocked, and it shows —— she’s still pleasant and is obviously trying to keep up her former appearance of cheer, but she is incapable of not being sad and will ( silently ) bristle should anyone tell her to ‘ lighten up, ‘ no matter how well-intentioned it may be.

she is not at the dorm until after the first battle with Metis, and instead arrives with Yukari. she doesn’t seem entirely pleased to be back. 

Hamuko spent the entire night of March 5th by her brother’s side, watching him for signs of difference, though she knew from the moment they arrived at the dorm that something was wrong. by the time he was gone, she’d already been weeping for hours.

The Answer marks the beginning of Hamuko’s Arcana Change, wherein she still retains her original arcana of The Fool, but if she were inspected by Mitsuru or Fuuka, she would seem… distorted?  Her own version of Orpheus remains unchanged physically — still keeping his golden hair and heart-shaped lyre — but he seems tarnished, almost. Something akin to rust has begun to appear on his joints, and his hair looks to be thinner…

is all but silent through Metis’ initial explanation wrt the Abyss of Time, choosing to watch quietly rather than speak. all it takes is Metis saying that she’s trying to lead them through the Abyss of Time to save Aigis — to save her sister — for Hamuko to believe her and be on board with going in.

Mitsuru does not choose her to step up as the field leader, both out of respect for her recent loss, and because there is tactical strategy in having Aigis, the new holder of power of the Wild Card, as their leader rather than Hamuko. she accepts this with grace ( despite clearly being somewhat disappointed ) and instead settles back into her former role of ‘co-leader’

essentially Hamuko acts as a more quiet version of Yukari during the beginning sequences. she vocally agrees that she just wants to get through the Abyss of Time as soon as possible — leaving unexplained that this is mostly because she doesn’t want to be thrown back into battle, when every move she made was once intended to protect her now deceased brother — and expresses wary curiosity similar to Yukari’s when asking Aigis why she can now change Personas as Minato could. she is… unreadable to the others, but at heart, is both hurt and somewhat offended that she, as Minato’s sister, wasn’t chosen to step forward in his place.

she joins the party as a permanent member and is irremovable as soon as dungeon crawling begins, at least for the first few bosses. for all her unspoken wishes not to go back into battle, she says simply that she’d prefer to go into the Abyss and fight rather than stand around. in truth, she’s drawn a connection between the Abyss’ sudden appearance and Aigis’ inheriting of her brother’s Persona —— she suspects from that moment forward that it has something to do with Minato, and she actively wants to get to the bottom of it.

her Orpheus’ skillset reverts back to ‘Agi’ / ‘Matarunda’ / ‘Diarama’ and proceeds to re-learn the same skills he’d had during their Journey.  intended to act as the ‘mage’ to Aigis’ brute force.

she is mildly upset by the flashback of Ken’s memories in the police station, but says little, only coming over to stand by him and rest her hand on his shoulder in a show of solidarity.

seems to be upset by the talk of her teammates chasing the thrill of battle, but again, says nothing besides quietly agreeing with Yukari’s sentiment of ‘If we don’t keep our eyes forward, it’s all a waste of time.’

smiles a bit at watching Akihiko’s flashback, commenting on how ‘handsome’ Akihiko was when he was younger. her mirth quickly fades.

stiffens when Metis mentions feeling a ‘presence’ outside the last room on the second floor. no reaction but for a ‘!’ above her head before running out of the lobby to go see for herself. will comment on how strange this is should she be approached by Aigis before going into the next dungeon.

here, Hamuko is no longer a permanent party member. though she’ll make it known to Aigis that she’d prefer to go down into the Abyss and that her place as co-leader means she keeps a good eye on healing everyone, she’ll also say that she feels it would be best if someone stayed up on the second floor of the dorm for the time being. she smiles. it’s fake.

physically stiffens during Junpei’s flashback and looks… almost angered by the revealed breach in her and her brother’s privacy. ( “someone took a peek into [ his ] file when one of the teachers left it lying around. both of [ his ] parents are dead.” / “it’s just a rumour!” ) both siblings had wondered how the gossip about their parents and living situation had spread so early into the year (Junpei himself places his memory flashback as ‘the night that Akihiko-senpai found me,’ which is less than two weeks after the Protagonist arrives in Iwatodai. the siblings were at Gekkoukan for 12 DAYS until the rumour got out — ) and now that Hamuko has her answer, she’s visibly dismayed.

she swallows it back for the most part and doesn’t mention it past a quiet, near emotionless “… so i guess now i know how the gossip got started,” but she’s still clearly bristling at flashback!Junpei’s “that stuff only happens in soap operas!” remark.

Junpei will comment when approached by Aigis about how ‘Hamu-tan’ seems to be acting a bit colder towards him ( though he brushes it off as her merely being on edge in general because ‘the past few weeks have been hard on her, ya know?’ ) in addition to standard dialogue about how his father is, at least, still alive, and therefore he has it easier than most of the other dorm residence . Hamuko, in turn, will wonder aloud if the Arisato’s file would have been looked into had they grown up here like everyone else, and acknowledges that perhaps she’s being a bit harsh thanks to her lack of perspective on abusive parents.

not much to comment on with Mitsuru’s door, only a look of worry for Mitsuru when she says how strange it was to have seen her father again as if he were alive. talking to Hamuko in the dorm brings about a soft mention of how she thinks she’s beginning to figure out the connections between everyone’s flashbacks, but that because Aigis is the leader now, Hamuko is going to keep it to herself until she has more evidence.

Yukari’s flashback also leaves little to comment on from Hamuko besides a murmur of her friends name once the flashback is over, though she does add a quiet “me too” when Yukari mentions wanting a sign she was moving in the right direction equal to the same blessing Aigis received in the power of the Wild Card.

when Yukari reveals the connection between everyone’s doors and points out that it was the awakening to everyone’s Personas, and Mitsuru mentions that Fuuka, Aigis, and Metis’ memories all have no need to be revisited, Hamuko also adds that as her Persona was awakened in defense of him the same night he awoke his, it’s likely that her memories were also unnecessary. speaking to Hamuko in the dorm afterward shows her mulling over the idea that the Abyss of Time is connected to all of them, musing out loud about the shadowy black figure they’ve been seeing and wondering if it’s connected to the presence outside her brother’s now vacant room.

she does not come into the dungeon for the final door, stating that she feels like she really needs to be up on the second floor in the dorms and that she hopes Aigis understands

Upon finding the last door in the Abyss’ furthest level: > Junpei: ‘what did we do to deserve this?’ > Hamuko, softly, but with contained anger: ‘nothing. we’ve done nothing to deserve this.’

Hamuko comes out of Aigis’ flashback in stunned tears at the sight of her brother’s retreating form. once Fuuka says, ‘I didn’t expect to see him again, even if he had his back turned,’ Hamuko reacts with a ‘!’ over her head, stumbling where she stands to the point where Akihiko has to steady her. a party member asks if she’s okay, and she nods, attempting to stand on her own again, but she’s clearly shaken. “… it was really him, then? the rest of you saw that too?’

the cutscene continues until Aigis says that she’s done nothing but chase him in her dreams, and Hamuko murmurs, “I’ve had dreams like that too… he doesn’t turn in mine either, if it makes you feel any better.”

the Shadow version of Minato and Metis’ comment of “this is the reason why everything is happening. this was born from all of you.” draws a pained, whimpered “no” from her. she is left unable to move, and takes the Shadow’s first strike — from her own Orpheus —- to initiate combat. she spends the rest of the battle awake but incapacitated.

she’s standing for the Shadow’s rather gruesome disappearance, but immediately sinks back to her knees after Akihiko’s comment of “we did it.”  besides her soft whisper of ‘brother…’ the cutscene continues as normal

… until Metis’ comment of ‘you were unwilling to let go of something precious to you,’ Hamuko, swiping at her eyes and shouting, angrily, shakily: ‘AND WHY IS THAT A PROBLEM?? WHY IS ANY OF THIS A PROBLEM?? WE DIDN’T DESERVE THIS! NONE OF US DESERVED THIS!! WE JUST WANTED TO LIVE,  TO GO TO SCHOOL LIKE TWO NORMAL KIDS, AND INSTEAD I WAS FORCED TO WATCH AS HE —” Hamuko: … Hamuko, standing and turning to Metis, sadly, but firmly: ‘I lost someone who was just as important to me as Aigis is to you. I lost my only family left, someone who I loved more than my own life, less than a month ago. he was my everything. and you just… you expect me to just let go?’

falls silent once more as a party member quietly says her name. the cutscene proceeds as Metis explains that defeating the Shadow may mean that SEES can once again leave the Abyss of Time.

Junpei: “No one is seriously thinking about going back to the past, right?” Hamuko, glancing away guiltily: “…” … Akihiko: “Even if it hurts, we have to deal with it and accept the present.” Hamuko, as though coming to a realization: “Akihiko-senpai…

Hamuko, softly after Yukari’s outburst against Ken and Akihiko’s supposed ‘selfishness’ for not wanting to return to the past: “… I agree with them, too. Junpei-kun is right —— there’s no guarantee that even if we did go back, everything wouldn’t just happen exactly the same way it did. And I… I can’t watch him die in front of us again. I can’t… I can’t lose him. Not again. It isn’t worth the chance.”

despite Hamuko’s agreement with Ken and Akihiko, she ultimately takes a stand with Metis and Aigis, stating that her stance as the secondary leader means her allegiance goes to the leader proper. To Aigis: “I lead with my brother. I will continue to lead with the person who inherited his powers, regardless of your decisions or how I feel about them. It’s my job to have your back, after all...”

speaking to her in the dorms only ends in her saying: “I still think it’s wrong of us to go back and undo the sacrifice he made for us… but if you agree to go to the past… then I guess I’ll just get one more chance to see my brother again, won’t I?”

Metis, while standing in front of the arena preparing for battle: “This is a real battle, and there will be consequences if they lose.” Hamuko: “Consequences?? What kind of consequences???”

Akihiko, while facing the team in the ring: “Let’s get this over with.” Hamuko: “… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, to both of you...”

speaking to Hamuko in the dorms after Akihiko and Ken have been sealed leads to a single comment of “Make sure you’re ready. I won’t be losing anyone else. Not you… and not them.”

Junpei: “I dunno, do you really see us being able to go back and pull off another miracle, better than he could? I think this is something we’ve got to figure out on our own. You agree, don’t you, Hamu-tan?” Hamuko: “… Yeah. I’m not going to like facing Yukari-chan… but this is how it has to be.” and, while smiling, “Try not to hurt me too bad, okay? I won’t want to have to kick your butt again for payback later.”

the end of Junpei and Koromaru’s fight has Hamuko shaken, but she says nothing but a quiet ‘we’ll get you guys out of there soon’ once they’re sealed.

the scene between Metis and Aigis in which Metis offers Aigis her life should she die so that Metis wouldn’t be alone weighs heavily on Hamuko, and it’s clear that she understands when she says, simply “… that’s the pain of being a sister.”

Yukari: “It’s strange. I kinda want to say ‘long time no see’ to you guys.” Hamuko: “Yukari-chan… please, please don’t do this. You’re making a mistake.”

Mitsuru, in the ring: “Show me your resolve!” Hamuko: “Senpai… Yukari-chan… I’m sorry, but you’re both wrong.”

As Yukari breaks, Hamuko sinks to her knees next to her friend, opposite where Mitsuru would sit. Yukari’s cries of “I want to see him!” are only met with a hushed, “don’t you think I do too? I want him back… I want him back more than anything i can think of. but not like this. not this way… not to take what he gave us and throw it back in his face…”

speaking to her before the final battle will reveal that she’s nervous, and she outright states that there’s something almost familiar beyond that door… like she’s been there before. she warns Aigis to be careful, but states that she believes Aigis can bring them out to the other side safely.

Fuuka, upon seeing Minato’s essence forming the Great Seal: “What… what is this?” Hamuko, tearily: “…Brother… that isn’t… is it?”

Yukari, after watching Erebus attempt to attack Aigis: “I won’t let myself run this time.. He’s watching us, and I won’t let him down!” Hamuko, with barely contained fury: “You leave my family alone, you freak! If you want a fight, you come at me!”

Yukari: “I can’t believe I didn’t see it before. He did this, made the seal, because there was no other choice. If there was an easier way, he would have taken it. It’s still sad, but… If I think of him as protecting us, forever… it helps a lot. ” Hamuko: “…He was always a lot smarter than people gave him credit for. He did what he did because he had to… because he cared about you guys… because I care about you guys. And it’s as simple as that.”

Hamuko recognizes the Velvet Room from descriptions her brother had given her, and offers a smile and a quiet ‘it’s nice to finally meet you’ to Igor and Elizabeth.

as Aigis fades after coming to her answer: “No!!! Not you too, Aigis! I’m not losing you too!!!”

as the final cutscene plays, Hamuko can be seen touching a pair of silver headphones where they rest around her neck. tears roll down her face, but she smiles. 

[ask-dead-rin-len]

asklen-kagamine02 replied to your post:Len’s eye color is now green

((same eye color as my leenn!!))