#BUT YOU STILL HAD TO MAKE YOUR OWN OTO FOR THEM

[tessenpai]

Kono Oto Tomare Chapter 142 Scans and Rough TL

Disclaimer: Please DO NOT use this translation to make your own TL of the chapter!! The KOT TL group works very hard to give you the most accurate translation, that does as much justice to the original script as possible. This is a ROUGH translation. That means is faulty and there must be mistakes in certain places. This is just for impatient people like myself to get a grasp on what is going on in the chapter! You can REFERENCE my TL if you want to discuss the chapter but never USE it as it was your own.

Scans: Kono Oto Tomare! Chapter 142 – Rawkuma

Page 1 Event assistant: We'll collect the evaluation sheets here once for score tabulation.

Side text: As the lingering emotions remain…

Judge: I believe we just...

Judge: heard something truly incredible...

Judge Kurokawa: Certainly...

Judge Agata: ....

Judge Tatsumi: ---I

Page 2

Judge Tatsumi: This is the first time I’ve ever not wanted to rank them.

Judges: We feel the same.

Page 3

Kota: Haaah, all the performances are over now.

Sane: It feels like it all went by in a flash.

Mittsu: Damn... I feel kinda sad now...

Sane: Don't say it...

Hiro: There’s about an hour and a half until they announce the results, if I remember correctly.

Sane: Seriously!?

Chika: So, what do we do 'till then?

Sane: Wanna hit up some tourist spots nearby?

Takezou: No, there's a social event next...

Chika: Social event?

Satowa: You guys really don’t know anything, do you…

Mashiro-senpai: Takezou!!

Page 4

Takezou: Senpai!?

Mashiro: Congrats on the performance!!

Senpai 2: It was the absolute best--!!

Takezou: Eh- Why...?

Takezou: Wai- Wha-? You all came to hear!?

Mashiro-senpai: Of course we did!!

Page 5

Kota: Mashiron-senpai---!

Sane: Long time no see!

Hiro: Then… does that mean the others are also—?

Takezou: Ah, yes! They are my senpais!

Takezou: Guys, these are the Tokise Koto Club OGs!

Sane: Uoooh for real?

Chika: Hello!

Senpai 3: Waah, you're making me blush. Hello there--!

Senpai 1: You guys were amazing!

Senpai 2: Yeah, I was bawling my eyes out!

Senpai 3: I was so moved---

Page 6

Senpai 2: And you, Takezou--- you’re so strong and mature now~~

Senpai 3: You've grown way too much since the last time we saw you---!

Takezou: Ah- Wai-

Senpai 2: I honestly could've never imagined it… That the Tokise Koto Club would give such an amazing performance on the national stage.

Senpai 2 & 3: We didn’t even have the slightest clue that Suzuka-chan had a talent for composing.

Kota: Ooooh, Suzu-chan looks like he is feeling awkward.

Mittsu: What a rare sight...

Suzuka: I'll smack you.

Page 7

Mashiro: Takezou

Mashiro: And everyone else, too

Mashiro: I truly thank you,

Mashiro: For taking the Tokise Koto Club with you to such an amazing place.

Page 8

Mashiro [memory]: Takezou!

Sign: Aiming for Nationals!!

Takezou: It's because of you Senpais...

Takezou: Because this is what you senpais passed on to us.

Page 9

Senpai 3: Come ooon, stop making me cry

Senpai 2: You've grown, kouhai--!

Page 10

Tweet: Tomo "I'm a member of a koto club. I don't want people like this to play. I don't want to be near them. They're a nuisance."

Audience stalker guy: Maaan, Tokise was amazing--!

Audience stalker guy 2: Who would've though I could be this moved by a koto performance!

Audience stalker guy: Dude, you were crying.

Audience stalker guy 2: You're one to talk, your nose was all runny and all.

Page 11

Audience stalker guy 2: Still, what was that whole scandal even about in the end?

Audience stalker guy: Who knows? I mean, people forget stuff like that pretty fast, right?

Audience stalker guy 2: True.

Tomoe [thoughts]: They forget pretty fast

Tweets/Comments:

"People like them are trash to society. The world’s better off without them."

"Idiots like that should just disappear already."

"Ban them from participation"

Satowa [memory]: You haven't done anything that warrants an apology, have you?

Page 12

QRT of previous Tweet:

"I heard Tokise’s performance at the High School National Cultural Festival today.

It was

Page 13

QRT of Tweet (cont):

"It was a very sincere and earnest performance.

It was the

It was the sound of countless hours of practice

I don't know if that video was real or fake

I don't know that, but

Surely

Surely

There is no lie in that sound."

Page 14

QRT of Tweet (cont):

"I acted like I understood everything just from a single video…

I'm ashamed that I joined in on the hate and slander

I'm taking back the comment I made quoting it.

I'm sorry."

Page 15

Tomoe's friend: Tomoe!

Tomoe's friend: What are ya doin' here? Everyone's lookin' for y--

Tomoe: Eh? Ah... Sorry.

Page 16

Tomoe's friend: What a nice day...

Tomoe's friend: The world our eyes have seen is still very small

Page 17

Tomoe: Yeah...

Isaki: Huuuh---? Where are Chika and the rest--?

Tetsuki: They stand out so much, you'd think we would find them right away...

Tetsuki: Ah, there they are.

Isaki: !

Isaki: Brother, could you hold my things for a bit?

Chika's father: Eh?

Isaki: So you can't run away with them.

Chika's father: ....

Page 18

Takezou: We should head back to our seats soon.

Chika: Okay---...

Isaki: Chiiika!!!

Isaki: Great job on the performance!!!

Chika: Isaki!!

Kota: Isaki-san---

Isaki: You guys, too. Good job, good job---!

Isaki: Man-- It was so good I cried myself dry.

Sane: Thanks!

Isaki: Over there.

Page 19

Isaki: Also, Chika...

Page 20

*No text*

Page 21

Chika: -----

Page 22

Chika's father: Holding a purse and CHIKA Cheering fan

Chika: Pwah-

Page 23

Chika: Ha... Um... Wha....

Chika's dad: ???

Chika: What's with that fan...

Chika's dad: Ah-

Chika's dad: Th- that's not it, this is---

Chika: Ha--- So weird---

Page 24

Chika: It doesn't suit you

Chika [memory]: Dad!

Chika's dad[memory]: Aaah... That's right.

Page 25

Chika's dad: ---...So you can laugh like that...

Gen: So you could laugh like that...

Page 26

Chika: Gramps said exactly the same thing.

Page 27

Chika's dad: ...I'm glad I came to hear your performance...

Page 28

Isaki [memory]: You see, after you guys finnished your performance, my brother was the very last one to stop applauding you.

Page 29

Isaki: Uzuki, your fan was incredibly useful in the end!

Uzuki: Eh?

Isaki: It brought out Chika's smile, didn't it?

Isaki: That's all thanks to your support.

Isami [memory]: It brought out Chika's smile

Page 30

*No text*

Page 31

Isaki: You're gonna burst into tears now---!!? Hahaha good for you!!

Isaki: This is good, all good

Chika: This is amazing

Page 32

Sane: ...Looks like he's fine

Takezou: Yeah.

Page 33

Sign: Judges room

Page 34

Contest official: The total scores from all the judges have been calculated!!

Contest official: Here they are.

Judge Tatsumi: !!

Page 35

Contest Official: …… Please discuss the final ranking based on the total score you see there

Page 36

Judge Tatsumi: Haha... Sigh... This has...

Judge Tatsumi: Turned out to be quite a bit of a situation.

Side text: A storm brews behind the announcement...

---Kono Oto Tomare will continue in the next issue!---

[drawingeveryutau]

Sobbing, head in my hands...... Why do Macne Papa and the Cocos not have fucking oto files... tHEY WERE SOLD FOR MONEY, AND THEY DIDN'T COME WITH FUCKING OTO FILES.

[r-aindr0p]

Thoughts on book 6 while it's still fresh in my mind because that was a lot :')

The whole story in general is great to me tbh It's one of the rare visual novel format games where I actually take the time to read the main story but book 6 felt very special for many reasons

I think it's since everyone in the teams (minus the fools that came to get grim and bring Vil his cosmetics) Has overblotted already and they know how it is, they were already more or less in the process of working on themselves and somehow kept on thinking things through during the long descent into tartarus. In every book there's a sense of urgency during the overblot phase, and there too but it takes them so much time to actually reach down and realize what's has been happening for the last 4 to 5 hours that they had time to experience conflict and bonding. I did every single battle in every hangar to read all these little interactions, the bickering, kicks and compliments.

It was exhausting in the best possible way.

Making a bullet list of what struck me from this point because I have trouble explaining things clearly especially when there is a lot of things :')

Battles : so many, poorly rewarded in gems but great reward in interactions actually

Ost : 10/10 will remember, I love synthetizer sounds and Ignihyde/book 6 did not disappoint

Jamil mumbling the whole time trying to have a strategy against the phantoms while Leona casually keeps ripping into him (and firing spells at him because he's in the way, cats are assholes so this checks out/pos)

Riddle and Azul both wanting to be right in their explanations everyone yaps and no one listens

Pomefiore was vibing though and I loved that for them

Jamil you had 3 hours you could've slept it doesnt take that long to gather supplies for two please sleep

Azul so exhausted he slept on Riddle's shoulder, aww :)

So uh...? Did the phantoms lure Ortho to merge with them or was there and Actual part of late Ortho down there....? Either way, eerie, I like that

Robots getting a heart/soul is one of my favorite themes ever I am so happy for the little guy

Also Ortho has the same seiyuu as Mikaze Ai from utapri who is a singing robot i am going insane about that (and he sings the op song for kono oto tomare but that's unrelated) Love that seiyuu

Sobbing for Idia because he must've felt really done with everything and desperate to be able to actually Overblot (Au bord du gouffre, et au fond du trou as I'd say in french idk how to explain this)

Please Idia share things, it's scary to think about it but it's actually not that bad and sharing your interests feels great, you already do that in a way at the board games club, continue this way

Vil was the MVP throughout the whole book honestly beautiful in every way hearing him genuinely cry and then laugh in such a short span of time threw me off positively

More Rook lore hello wdym "oh I have several family villas and a bunch of siblings" WHAT DO YOU MEAN SIR

Unfortunately I remembered Grim has the same seiyuu as h*talia england so hearing him cry felt weird for a second, happy he's back though

Hey wdym "we renovated the whole ass dorm and every single room but lmao not yours though"

Mickey apparitions feel so off everytime it pulls me out of the immersion in the story because it's so goofy (it's like hearing donald duck take damage in Kingdom hearts battles I can't take it seriously it's too funny)

Fuck legend of the underworld.

That's about it ! And I'm probably forgetting a bunch of other details right now but I loved book 6 despite my complaining posts :") I have trouble knowing how I feel in general/processing my own feelings and put words onto them but I like stories like this because it helps with that ?? I really feel happy and sad and other things, and realize it the moment I feel it ?? Once again I don't really know how to explain it but it's a positive experience.

Thanks for sticking along with my yapping and during my speedrun of the book :')

Minor book 7 stuff under the cut

Wdym I need to level up good cards for book 7 ???

Is it that hard and hellish ?? I barely crawled out of the 6000 tartarus fights 😭

Well I hope you can choose whoever unlike the teams in book 6 because I'm about to create the dream team called "Oops ! All Rook Hunt !"/hj

Anyway here's my ssrs, what's painful is farming for the spell materials honestly but My Rollo is maxed out and well taken care of ✨️ Malleus and Lilia do decent damage as well and have their spells either maxed or at 8 each. Though I tend to level up cards based on their looks and favorites rather than how useful they are :)) I have no idea if there's a single healer in there I'll check it out later.

But for now I will harrass Sam until I get at least one ssr perfume in his lootboxes so I can uncap savanaclaw Rook once more and have him forever locked up in the guest room with Rollo, the closest thing to croissant de lune I'll have in game hhhjgfje

[hermesserpent-stuff]

wrote a little ahead for road trip

there is child abuse refenced and chains

spoilers and mispellings galore

Gambit twist and bites at the person trying to remove the ring rom his grasp. The anger is foreign. Not his. And he knows he can soothe it. He just needs a moment oto sort through the foreign emotions and his own. He curls into a ball around his bleeding arms and breathes deeply. He ignores everything accept the screaming anger that is underlaced with so much pain. Pain that echoes what he had felt once, while stuck in Moscow. In that room. With chains. It feels like something is pulling on those memories and he lets them flow, letting calm swirl through his mind. He is no longer there. So he can see it through eyes not bursting with pain. The rage slowly fades to whimpering sadness. 

Remy stands in a empty black space, full to the brim with darkness. A little girl kneels before him, neck chained to the floor and hands holding the ring. Her clothes speak of ancient times and the chains creak with rust of over a thousand years. 

Remy sits down and uses his powers to knock away the chains. He touches her arms and orange eyes meet his own red. 

“They made me make this. Or kill my little brother. It has all my… rage. All I ever wanted was to be… free.”

She whispers, her voice echoing out. It is not english, but his mind understands it all the same. Her neck is rubbed red from bindings and her clothing is filthy.

“Desole petite. Desole.”

He opens his arms, ignoring the ring. He would much rather bring comfort to a hurt child than gain a prize. The girl is hesitant and then wraps around him.

“Iv been stuck here. A piece of me stuck to this world. Can you please help me be free?”

“I will do my best petite. Close your eyes. Let me comfort you.”

He whispers back and holds her close. He lets his mind drift to the love of his brother and papa. It was harder to see how papa loved him now that Remy had aged. But he is certain that papa still does. The memories make it easy to fill himself with positive emotions and press them into the little girl. She sighs slightly and pulls on them. Taking. And Remy willingly gives. 

The darkness around them starts to bleach to grey and she leans back. She presses the ring to his hands and curls his fingers around it. 

“Dont let anyone wear this. It is a horrid thing I had to make. It is safe to you, bur no other. I dont want to kill anymore. But I dont know how to stop.”

She whispers.

“I will keep you with me petite, until all the pain I can soothe is gone.”

She smiles at him, a sad little thing that seems to have gone unused for too long. He presses a kiss to her forehead and then is awake. He is in Wolverine’s lap in the back of the van as it bounces down the road. Wolverine is pulling glass out of his arm and licking at the wounds caused by the explosion and the resultling glass. Remy’s hand is still in a white knuckle fist around the ring, but it feels friendlier now. He takes adeep shuddering breath and he can hear Sabretooth shift in the drivers seat.

“You good cub?! You went kind of catatonic. Runt went full feral panic.”

“Im… okay. Need to… String…”

Wearing a stolen ring brazenly on his finger is not the best of ideas. His words come out slurred as he finds himself mentally exausted from extering his empathy. Hetries to shift away from wolverine and gets growled at and held tighter in response.

“Whats- whats wrong with him?

“Hes full feral right now. Human words arent really going to be a thing for a bit. Runt’s running on instinct. And as soon as we get some were safe enough to nest, he is going to pin you. And Ill help him. You need to heal.”

Sabretooth sounds… pissed? Worried? Remy’s head lulls to the side and rests on Wolverine’s collar bone. The feral sniffs his hair, chuffs, and then licks it. Remy makes a face but is too tired and feels to much like jelly to fight the feral. 

“Mmmphh. Ring’s… dont touch it. Dont put it on.  Its safe for me now. Maiiss not you. Oui? Comprendre? I no let you touch, if’n you do you die.”

He tries to make sure none of those words slur. 

Sabretooth meets his eyes through the mirror. There is a pregnant pause.

“Fine. but youre explaining this later.”

“Oui.”

Remy slurs. He slowly opens his left hand which is now a little burnt and slips the ring on his right pointer just for now. He feels something tapping from within his shields but leaves it be for now. It is very weak. He shifts a little to be more comfortable in wolverines hold and then drops to sleep.

[gx-gameon]

More about Jaden growing up with Yugi and the DM crew

He doesn’t have favorites in his family but he has different relationships with each of them.

Yugi

is his Dad and his hero.

The king of game!

The one who saved him from the orphanage.

He’s also super kind and teaches Jaden how to take care of himself and his friends.

Seto

is his Oto-san.

He’s more strict, way more strict than Dad. But he obviously cares for Jaden.

He’s so protective and isn’t great at showing his emotions.

But he loves hard and deep. He’d rip the moon from the sky if Jaden, Yugi, or Mokuba asked.

Jaden likes superhero’s? And he really loves the Elemental hero cards? But theirs only four of them, and they’re super weak? That won’t do. He reaches out to Pegasus about making more hero cards.

At first he tries to make them a private collection just for Jaden but Yugi finds out and scolds him. He can’t give Jaden his own archetype! (Especially when Jaden already made his own) so the cards are realeased to the public. But you best believe Seto got three copies of every Hero card for his son.

The Destiny hero’s infuriate him. “How come that kid (Aster Phoenix) gets his own private set of hero’s but our son can’t, Yugi?”

In actually he feels a lot of guilt over sending Jaden’s cards to space. Jaden doesn’t remember, but they found the records of it. Seto sent Jaden’s soul monster and defender (neo spacians and Yubel) to space and has been trying to get them back ever since. Until he can get his son’s cards back to him the least he can do is make sure Jaden has cards he can trust. (His idea, not Jaden’s or Yugi’s)

He couldn’t imagine someone sending his blue eyes away from him forever. He has the records of Jaden’s powers lashing out after they took Yubel from him. (He needs to get those cards back for his son)

Atem

Atem adores Jaden. And Jaden adores his uncle Atem.

Atem has always dotted on Jaden. He’s truly grateful for this second chance at life and the opportunity to be part of Yugi’s family.

He’s also very protective of Yugi and his son. Yugi and their friends fought so hard for the world. They deserve to have a peaceful life now. And Atem will defend them the same way they defended and helped him.

Once they find out about Jaden’s powers and blocked memories, Atem becomes even more protective then he was before.

He feels a lot of camaraderie with Jaden. Not just the missing memories, but also the shadow powers. Though Jaden’s comes from the Gentle Darkness and Arems from his time wilding the millennium items.

Atem always shows Jaden little magic tricks and uses his powers to play with Jaden. Even being duel spirits to life. Jaden can’t see spirits until his entrance exam but he grew up with someone who could. So he doesn’t feel like he’s going crazy when he starts seeing and hearing spirits.

Atem wanted to try and unblock Jaden’s powers but Yugi had been worried. His boy was so young and what happens if his powers lash out again. He doesn’t want Jaden to blame himself if anyone gets hurt because he’s a little kid who had a tantrum. Atem agrees but still works with Jaden. His powers will unlock one day. It’s best he’s prepared and knows that he doesn’t have to fear himself. Yugi agrees, Atem would never go against Yugi’s will.

Joey

Don’t tell the others but… Joey is Jaden’s favorite uncle. (Mainly don’t tell Seto, Atem, or Mokuba)

Joey is so fun for Jaden. He’s silly and energetic and matches Jaden’s energy.

He duels Jaden and it’s so fun. Seto can’t bring himself to go easy on any one. Yugi and Atem go easy on him, but they won’t give him the game, he learns a lot from all three, but Joey? Joey’s crazy.

Joey will pick up booster packs and they will make random decks and duel. Just for fun. Just to learn. Just for fun. Yes your deck is your heart, but theirs a lot to learn from quickly cobbling together a deck.

When Jaden’s older, Joey is the first one to break out his real deck on him (well besides Seto, who knows no chill) when Jaden beats Joey’s real deck for the first time he’s so pumped, and so is Joey. His littlest buddy is an amazing duelist!

Joey is so laid back. He loves dueling and he’s serious about it. But he remembers it’s a game. It’s fun. Something Seto’s never been good at. Atem struggles with (trauma) Yugi knows but his deck is almost unbeatable. All three of them love the game for the strategy, Joey’s here for fun and chaos. Yes he’s strategic but he also chaotic and a risk taker.

Jaden takes after him in a lot of ways. Jaden love’s strategy to, he’s learned form the best. But at duel academy? If he was like either of his father’s his identical would be blown so fast. So it’s a good thing he takes after Joey. No one thinks the prince of games to be a laid back slacker. But he learned from the best, Joey. (If Seto ever heard that statement he’d set the city on fire.

[sc3n3-b1tch]

So here is the entire lore on the oto-verse. This is the universe with my Naruto OC/pursona so yeah lmao. It will start off with orokabu then draft off into Lillian’s(my ocs) backstory so it can make sense on what I have been talking about.

TW. Dying from childbirth(idk if that affects people, but I’m still putting it there as a trigger warning)

This involves gay marriage so if you don’t like that please don’t hate!!!

Chapter 1 

It was an early, early morning in the otogakure. Many people who lived there were either on their deathbed or very poor and cold. The kage of the otogakure was using them as well. For anything and everything. The kage’s top right hand man was always next to him, helping destroy villages and towns to make them his own. But the young man felt a yearning for love but was too embarrassed to ask anyone around the hideout for it. A few days later he noticed his lord staring at him as he worked. But not in a creepy way, more like he had a soft spot for the young man. He looked back at him, but as soon as the older man noticed he quickly turned his head back down, making it noticeable that he was staring at him. The older lord was as red as the blood on the younger man’s medicine tools. The younger man just giggled at him. “ aren’t you a flustered one” the younger man said. “N-no I’m not! It’s nothing boy! Mind your own business!” The older man replied. A few days later, the younger man started catching feelings for his lord. Such as day dreaming or being more sweet to him with such tiny acts. As the day passed on the two men were standing on what it looked to be a cliff overlooking the ghost town of the otogakure. “M-my lord? Lord orochimaru?” The young man stuttered. “Hm? Yes Kabuto? Is there something you want to tell me?” He answered? The white haired man looked his lord right in the eyes with what it looked to be love and courage to say something. He grabbed both of his hands and asked. “My lord. Right now I need you the most in my life. Ever since you saved me after I killed mother I felt lonely and empty inside. Like I was missing a piece to the puzzle but couldn’t find it” he then giggled a bit but smiled and got the courage to ask the man who he needed the most “I want to spend my life with you. Every day, every night! W-what I’m trying to say is I would love to possibly be your? W-well? Boyfriend?” The white haired man got nervous at the end of his sentence but couldn’t help to tear up a bit. The snake like man was shocked but was blushing at the same time. He couldn’t help but giggle a bit as well. “Y-you want to be my boyfriend? Is that right Kabuto?” The older man then grabbed the young man into a hug and said in way that words can’t describe. “I would love to spend my entire life with you. It would be nice to wake up next to you of all people in the morning” the young man blushed and giggled like a young girl who had a crush. The two then gazed into each other’s eyes and then it happened. They had their very first kissed on a quiet afternoon.

Chapter 2 

A few days after Kabuto and orochimaru got married a clan popped up. The clan didn’t have a name but they used jutsu for everything. The leader was this unkind, cruel woman, who gose by hokomaru. This woman made everyone do her dirty work and never gave anyone a break. But she had a special scroll hidden in her hair. The scroll could be used for anything and everything, but only once. It was something every ninja wanted but couldn’t get. Hokomaru and her clan were going everywhere to find jutsu, so their next trip was the otogakure. The otogakure was now a working village ever since there marriage happened. As she spoke about her and clan’s next mission, she made it clear who was the kage of the village. “Listen up because I’m not saying it again! We’re going to the village hidden in sound. Also known as the otogakure for jutsu. Now the kage is a man who we should look out for. His name is orochimaru yakushi, married man but a cruel one! So stay on your damn toes every one!” As they made their way nobody knew who he looked like. Not even hokomaru. But as they approached the otogakure’s forest they entered orochimaru. Nobody knew who he was, but hokomaru knew what he had done but not his face. “So. I heard you all liked the sweet taste of jutsu and power? How about you come with me and I will show you power!” They had no other choice but to do what he said. But hokomaru then snuck away for a moment to put the jutsu’s info inside of her skin and put a blank scroll in her hair. As they got to the hideout hoko and a few others were put in a cell, sooner or later some of the people in the cell were taking for experiments. But hokomaru was left with a man who she fell in live with before all this. They were both alone and time to themselves, so they decided to make love with each other. As they did that in the other part of the hideout Orochimaru quickly ran to kabuto to tell him something. “Kabuto! I want to talk about something with you darling!” The young man quickly turned to him. “What is it my love?” He said with a smile “Kabuto. This has been on mine since we’ve been married and I don’t know how to say it without sounding weak” he grabbed the young man’s hands as he got emotional “I-i want to be a father. I-I want a baby a want to be a dad. It’s been in my mind forever b-but I didn’t know if you would be ok with it” the white haired man was happy to hear this from his husband but had to tell him the truth. “Oh that’s great but we’re in the bingo book, we’re criminals. We can’t have a child in this state. I’m just trying to make it right to where we don’t have to be in the look out all the time. But also we’re men silly, we can’t have a baby. But maybe in the future we could adopt and settle down.” He kissed the black haired man but had to get back to work.

Chapter 3 

Hokomaru found out that she was expecting soon so none of the doctors or scientists could experiment on her. She knew she had to use the jutsu to keep her and her baby away from orochimaru. She used it as a timer so when she gave birth it can kill her and the baby. It now was the day. Jan 9th was her death day. Orochimaru and kabuto got news that hokomaru had died from childbirth but her child was still alive. Orochimaru thought he could use this baby for experimenting but as soon as him and his husband entered the room, Orochimaru quickly saw this crying pink haired baby in a bassinet crying for its mother. “I-it’s a girl but I have no idea what to do with her my lords.” The doctor said in fear. Orochimaru quickly walked over to the crying child and picked her up out of her bassinet. “Shhh shhh it’s okay sweetheart. I got you. It’s going to be okay” he rocked her back and forth. She stopped crying finally. Kabuto was in shock but felt so happy inside that he wanted to cry. To see the man that was frightened by nations and scene as a monster and not human is right in front of him claiming down a baby. “You deserve a name don’t you little one?” The older man said to the child. “Lillian yakushi. That will be your name. Does it sound good Kabuto?” As he turned to his husband who was almost in tears. The two decided to settle down with their newborn adopted daughter. 

Chapter 4

Lillian now the age of 3 is quite the cutest thing you would say. But at this age, a lot was happening that year. Kimimaro had to watch her when orochimaru was fighting the 3rd hokage at the time. She was confused on way her dad and papa were gone with the sound ninjas but in the hideout it was only her and kimi. When the battle was over Kabuto had to tell Lillian how her father’s arms didn’t work any more. But that didn’t stop orochimaru from loving her. He would make people put her in his lap and watch her play with toys as he was in critical condition, that a 3 year old girl would not know. The sound 5 also keep an eye on her even though nobody told them to. A few days later the 5 had to go get sasuke for orochimaru. As they were gone Lillian ask “is my daddy going to be ok?” Sakon replied “your daddy is going to be fine little one. Just know that we’re going to help him. All right” he said with smile patting her head. It had been hours since they left but came back alive after fighting the leaf ninjas. Lillian ran over to see them all. The little girl was happy then a pig in mud to see the people she called big brother and big sister alive. Orochimaru finally got a hold of sasukes body and used it. After that he finally got to hold Lillian in his arms after all the pain he went through. He couldn’t help but to cry. And tell her how much he loved her.

Chapter 5

Lillian now the age of 12-13, is now the leader of the sound 5 and is known as the otogakure’s princess or the snake daughter of the hidden sound. She knows about her mother and that she was adopted but she doesn’t care about her biological mother. She has a new family that loves her. She can depend on them and trust them all. One afternoon as her and her father orochimaru were out looking the otogakure he asked “Lillian? I-I’m i ok? I mean what I did in the past was insane, but I’m mostly talking about your biological mother. I’m sorry I took you away from her.” Lillian just replied “I’m glad you did. If I were born into that clan I wouldn’t be myself with how much a bitch my biological mother was. And in all honesty dad. I wouldn’t want any one else to call dad. I mean I got papa but that’s definitely. You gave me that name that I cherish and use! I love my name, I love the place that I grew up in. And I love you dad. You and papa both. You made me who I am.” Her father pulled her into a hug. She never seen him this emotional. He replied “oh sweetheart. Don’t start making me cry.” She hug him back and the two held each other in their arms as the sun set. The otogakure is not a bad place. It shows how evil can become good. And all it needs is love to come out of its shell and be who they are. And it’s ok to be different. Not just the way you dress but anything, as long as you’re good to others and yourself. The end.

OMFG I GOT IT DONEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!! IM SO HAPPY OMFGGGGGGGGGG HOPE THIS HELPED PEOPLE UNDERSTAND LILLIAN MORE!

New tag is #naruto: oto-verse

THANK YOU TO @radioactivebeetlee and @v1rtualv4mp for giving me the motivation to do this! I love you! Sorry if some of the words don’t make sense I kind of typed a little bit too fast

[professionallydeadinside]

Day 7: Post train

Day 7 of @bullettrainpromptweek!! Last day :( But this was super fun to do!

“And he still isn’t home! He hasn’t even answered my texts. What if something happened to him?” Yuichi was pacing a dent in his carpet, his legs burned but he needed to keep moving or he was sure he’d collapse.

Lemon, who Yuichi had invited over the second Wataru had gone past curfew, was letting Yuichi rant.

“His friends have phones, don’t they? Wataru would call if something happened, wouldn’t he? Maybe he got kidnapped. I’m going to call the school.”

Lemon stood up and stopped his boyfriend from getting his phone, gently holding him by his arms.

“Yuichi, he’s probably just at something that ran late. I don’t think he’s hurt or anything.”

“But what if he is? What if something happens and I’m too late? What if-“

“Woah! That’s a lot of what if’s, love.” Yuichi slumped and found himself breathing heavily. Lemon tucked a stray lock of hair behind his ear.

“You’re all caught up in the maybes that you’re not thinking about this situation more accurately. Like what Thomas said, he said that “fear is the killer of the mind”.”

Yuichi chuckled.

“I don’t think Thomas said that.”

“Still.” Lemon smiled. “Wataru has been training with Tangerine and I think just being around Ladybug gives him some type of dumb luck. He’s a smart kid. He knows how to defend himself.”

Lemon could tell his boyfriend was still uncertain. He sat down on the couch. His hold on Yuichi’s arms moved to grasp his hands. Lemon gave them a tight squeeze.

“Yuichi, trust me.”

Yuichi nodded and let himself get pulled down to the couch, half sitting on Lemon. Lemon repositioned the both of them so they laid on as if they were going to sleep. Yuichi felt his breathing still, their shared warmth pulling his heart out of the pit it’d fallen into.

“See? Not too bad waiting, is it?” Lemon asked quietly.

Yuichi made a little noise, finding himself unwilling to leave the comfortable intimacy they’d created. He moved his head so his ear was pressed against Lemon’s chest. The low thrum of his heart reverberated through him, Yuichi’s own heart beating in sync.

Yuichi felt his eyelids grow heavy.

—————

“Oto-san! I’m sorry I’m late! I just lost track of time and my phone died and- oh?” Wataru noticed Lemon’s shoes at the front door. Cautiously, Wataru peeked into the living room.

“Mr. Lemon?”

Wataru saw Lemon casually sprawled on the couch. He was using the T.V. turned all the way down and waved Wataru in when the boy hesitated in the doorframe. Yuichi was still sound asleep on top of Lemon.

“Hey kid!” Lemon stage whispered. “Be quiet when you set your stuff down.”

Wataru heeded his advice and gingerly set his bag on the dinner table, taking off the coat he was wearing and draping it over the back of his chair. He snickered at first seeing his father so carelessly asleep. That feeling was quickly replaced with guilt as he realized probably why his father was so tired.

“I’m sor-“

“I calmed him down for you.” Lemon cut him off. “But you better do any homework you have before telling him you’re home.”

“Okay! Thank you and….sorry.”

“I don’t care, kid.” Lemon waved away Wataru’s apology. “Just buy a phone charger or you’re gonna make your old man go grey sooner than he already is.”

Wataru smiled and nodded enthusiastically. He rummaged through his backpack to lay out his completed homework and went to go upstairs, pausing before he left.

“Thanks Lemon!”

Lemon chuckled, trying to keep his laughter shallow so as to not rock Yuichi awake.

“Don’t mention it, kid.”

[thatsneakymedic]

October Writing Challenge Day 2 Stitches

"So let me get this straight. You ignored my warnings and you have not been keeping the stitches from getting wet and now it has gotten infected to the point that you have now developed gangrene. I DID warn you to keep that area from getting wet with water for long periods of time..."

Kabuto shakes his head as he pinches the bridge of his nose, "And to make matters worst, you went to a goddamn hot spring because you were so stressed out from staying in bed all day and you wanted to relax? And you're shocked that scarring has gotten infected from that?"

The pale trembling, shirtless Oto nin who was wincing in pain on his surgical site on his lower stomach laid on the surgical bed.

Around the stitched up opening, rather painful looking lymph nodes were close to the stitch site, inflammation, pus, and a rotting smell leaked from it. And while Kabuto is already used to such smells, it still made his stomach turn at the sight of the rather unsightly area.

"Fucking hell, just how long were you submerged into that water to begin with?!" Kabuto exclaimed while reaching over to get one of his medical masks to cover his nose with.

"... I may have passed out. But I did cover it with a plastic bad and some duct tape! I swear! Though it still came off when I woke up. Just please! I don't want to suffer anymore from this!" The Oto nin whined as he cringed and winced in pain.

"Fine... I'll see what I can do for you. But if it's too infected, I might have to suggest bed rest for months till the infection is under control. Of course, that would come out of your pocket money since I'm not doing this for free, and because of your reckless actions. I spent enough time taking care of you when I should've been by Lord Orochimaru's side. How would you make this up to me then?" Kabuto glared at them with his glasses shining ominously.

"Please." The man pleaded weakly, and Kabuto sighed irritably. Despite his role as a doctor, even his own patience can reach it's limits. Especially when the Oto nin before him was well known to get himself into so much trouble that could be avoided if they had listened. He then puts on the medical gloves as the man lays down as he shuts his eyes tight. Thankful that someone as patient as Kabuto would help him whenever he's in a fix like this and will always be there to treat him since that's what doctors are supposed to do after all. Doctors are obligated to treat and cure people after all no matter how obnoxious and stupid their patients are!

Almost as if he could read his mind, Kabuto's lips then curve into a mysterious smile.

Guess they won't be missing their ability to hear after this procedure...

@lunyraartistry

[im-captain-basch]

Lanky, your second rival for the Pokemon Trainer AU

Gamers of all demographics, I now present to you............ them

Lanky is a kind-hearted if goofy soul who has been wandering Unova alone for a couple of years now. Only slightly older than Diddy and Dixie, he befriends them a few months before the beginning of the story when he ventured into Aspertia City on a whim and encountered them in the park. He aspires to make people happy, but sometimes his antics cause a bit more chaos than good.

Lanky is a Unova native who, as a small child, was placed under the care of Unova’s own Team Void by his much older brother for reasons that aren’t quite clear. It’s thought this was why he tries to find ways to make others happy.

His team consists of:

Creampuff (Igglybuff, male, Quirky nature)

Clapper (Popplio, male, Jolly nature)

Chester (Patrat, female, Impish nature)

Valeria (Vullaby, female, Relaxed nature)

Oto (Palpitoad, male, Bold nature)

Enzi (Scraggy, male, Rash nature)

Some additional fun facts:

-Lanky in the AU is one of few characters who have absolutely no trainer basis, even generic or protag ones. This is because I’m kind of free-handing his character for the AU. You’ll see why when both his brother and Team Void get introduced further.

-He is also one of three characters who I had to draw designs for twice, but the only one whose redesign was because I just didn’t like it as opposed to my computer imploding itself.

-He tried to physically attend one of the two trainers schools in the region, but his young age at the time compared to everyone else as well as his brother’s hands being tied up with his own duties led to him mostly learning about becoming a trainer through online means and by watching others.

-Creampuff was a gift from his brother after he started roaming Unova.

-Some people are wary of Lanky, but still polite to him, because of his status as a ward of Team Void. He’s genuinely harmless, but understands people’s concerns.

[tessenpai]

Kono Oto Tomare! Chapter 135 Scans and Rough TL

Disclaimer: Please DO NOT use this translation to make your own TL of the chapter!! The KOT TL group works very hard to give you the most accurate translation, that does as much justice to the original script as possible. This is a ROUGH translation. That means is faulty and there must be mistakes in certain places. This is just for impatient people like myself to get a grasp on what is going on in the chapter! You can REFERENCE my TL if you want to discuss the chapter but never USE it as it was your own.

Scans: https://nicomanga.com/read-kono-oto-tomare-raw-chapter-135.html

Page 1

Chapter Title: #135 Celeste Blue

Side text: An overwhelming performance...!!

Page 2

*Thunderous clapping*

Page 3

*Thunderous clapping*

Judge Tatsumi [thoughts]: ...Unbeliavable... From here on...

Judge Kurokawa [thoughts]: ...The first place has already been decided.

Page 4

*No text*

Page 5

Chika: ..Ahhh... haha...

Page 6

Chika: I wanna play, already...

Takezou: Yeah.

Page 7

Kifune-sensei: Good job, everyone! Explendid! That was your best performance yet!

Miran: Really...

Imari: The heck!?

Imari: Wait, hold on. Why are you crying?

Miran: --un.

Imari: Eh?

Page 8

Miran: I had so much fun...

Page 9

Miran: Ugh----... I didn't...

Miran: I didn't know

Miran: That music could be this much fun...

Page 10

Imari: Wai- What? Stop that, now...

Page 11

Imari: Whaaaat!?

Imari: Hey, what's with you two!!? Don't cry!

Luka: It's just, I'm so happy.

Luka: I also had so much fun...!!

Luka: It was the happiest moment ever!!!

Page 12

Luka: Thank you, guys.

Imari: ...Why are you doing this----...

Imari: I also had fu-

Organizer: Ichiei High, please do not stand behind and head to the exit, please.

Kifune-sensei: Oh, my apologies. We are leaving now.

Imari: Flush

Kio: Pfff

Page 13

Kio: Ahahaha

Imari: Kio!

Kio: I'm sorry, the timing is just so...

Imari: Shut up, shut up! If you want to laugh at me, just do it!

Kio: ...Not at all. We are all feeling the same way, surely.

Tougo: Yeah, I also had fun. The most ever.

Page 14

*No text*

Page 15

*No text*

Page 16

Komaki: --san

Komaki: Tsukaji-san!

Tsukaji: Ah-

Tsukaji: ---Wha!? What!?

Komaki: Geez, why are you spacing out like that...

Tsukaji: Right, sorry... The performance was just so incredible...

Komaki: Yes, it truly felt like a whole different level, didn't it? Even I was moved.

Tsukaji[thoughts]: Up until now, Ichiei's performances have given a strong impression of 'a collection of talent' overpowering others ‘through sheer force’, but…

Page 17

Tsukaji[thoughts]: Today's performance combined the talents of every member into an overwhelming work of art..!!

Tsukaji [thoughts]: So Ichiei brought this kind of performance...

Komaki: I feel sorry for the next school---

Komaki: Isn't it super hard to go after a performance like that? It feels like everyone has already decided who will be the winner!

Komaki: There are so many people leaving the venue, too--

Page 18

Komaki: If it was me, I absolutely wouldn't want to play now...

Tsukaji: ...

Tsukaji: ...Well--- I kind of thought the same thing. But that's not right, we gotta be careful.

Komaki: Eh?

Tsukaji: We don't know anything about this kids, yet with such little information, we make all sorts of assumptions and judgements.

Tsukaji: We pity them or critize them. That kind of thing...

Tsukaji: I thought I'd reflected after the Tokise incident.

Tsukaji: But I still did it unconciously.

Page 19

Tsukaji: There are many toughts, feelings and journeys unknown to everyone else.

Tsukaji: Every school, and every person has them.

Tsukaji: Huh---!? Why are you suddenly saying something so obvious?

Tsukaji: My words just bounce off your head, don't they?

Page 20

Announcer: We will now take a 10 minute break—

Suzuka: Alright, let’s start moving

Takezou: Yes!

Mittsu: Uoooohhh it’s finally here!!

Sane: Aaaaah, let’s gooo!!

Kouta: Wowowowooow

Atsumu: *Exhale*

Natsu: …You okay?

Atsumu: Yeah!

Page 21

Sen-chan: Break a leg

Chika: !

Mittsu: Ah

Page 22

Mittsu: Tetsuki!

Tetsuki: You’re going already?

Mittsu: Yeah… My heart’s gonna burst off my chest

Tetsuki: Do your best.

Mittsu: Thanks—…

Mittsu: Woah

Same [thoughts]: Eh? Wha- Uzuki? Why’s Uzuki with them? Huh? Is it ok for me make fun of this?

Chika: Wait, what kind of weird ass combination is this?

Tetsuki: Haha

Takezou [thoughts]: He made fun

Hiro[thoughts]: He made fun

Page 23

Isaki: Come on, don’t worry about the small details. Just make sure to deliver your sound to Uzuki with all you got!

Chika: Is this your doing?

Chika: Well, but you did come after all, huh?

Chika: Make sure to open your ears wide and listen well to—…

Page 24

*No text*

Page 25

*No text just Collective gasp*

Page 26

*No text*

Page 27

*No text just my internal screaming*

Page 28

Natsu: Uhh, Senpai, there’s people behind you…

Chika: Aah, my bad…

Tetsuki: He totally froze up, didn’t he?

Isaki: It’s fine, it’s fine.

Page 29

Satowa: …—————

Satowa: …

Page 30

Satowa: …That person just now…

Chika: Aaaah—

Chika: …My father

Sane: What!!? Chika’s dad came?

Mittsu: Seriously?

Chika: It caught me off guard too.

Chika: We haven’t met in a long time.

Chika: More like, we cut off all ties with each other.

Page 31

Satowa: But he came to listen…

Satowa: All the way to Hokkaido.

Page 32

Chika: …You see, I…

Chika: Don’t have a single good memory of him.

Chika: And not for one second did I wish for him to come listen to our performance…

Chika: …And yet.

Satowa: ?

Page 33

*No Text*

Page 34

*No text*

Page 35

*No text*

Page 36

Suzuka: You guys, we’re going to be late for the load-in!

Kota: Oops, gotta hurry!

Side text: The father’s feelings were shown not through words, but through actions. Now it’s time for Chika to respond through sound—!

—-Kono Oto Tomare! will continue in the next issue!—-

[kathbunny]

This is getting a tag btw, I'll add it to the masterlist eventually probably

Dani visits VR-LA because they're being forced to practice makeup, Maxim comes home during this and is confused by the willingness these two have to be entirely too close

Dani dropped the bag of partially borrowed (partially her own) makeup onto VR-LA's coffee table next to the mirror he had taken from his desk. "Well, we better start practicing so we don't have to think about this anymore." Dani grumbled, sitting on the couch with VR-LA. She dug through the bag, starting to pull out anything blue she could find. "I do makeup fine, I don't why Oto insisted we practice."

VR-LA knew why. He wasn't going to say why. "...yeah." He replied. "Do you want me to do your makeup first?"

Dani huffed and nodded. "I don't get why we have to practice putting makeup on others either. It only matters if we can on ourselves!"

"Helping can be faster sometimes, I'm sure." VR-LA mumbled, digging through the brushes. "And it can help you test looks more easily before putting them on yourself, maybe?"

Dani shrugged, sinking back into the cushion visibly.

-

Maxim got home earlier than normal, hearing chattering in the living room. He took off his shoes before heading in to see who was visiting, seeing VR-LA's apparent best friend, Dani, basically sitting on VR-LA's chest as she put makeup on him, VR-LA laying on the floor. Maybe Maxim could slip away without getting involved in whatever this was.

"Hi, Maxim." VR-LA said awkwardly from the floor, having spotted him.

Dani, rather than turning around, just bent back until her head was upside down, staring at Maxim. "Hey." was all she said before turning forward again and returning to her work. Maxim was pretty sure she was holding VR-LA's chin to keep him still.

"...hello. I'm not going to ask questions."

Dani snorted at that.

"I'm going to just go make myself lunch. You two enjoy yourselves at... Whatever this is." Maxim doesn't even want to know.

So today in the discord I ended up talking about a crack maid cafe au

Basic summary is just: Oto runs a maid cafe for whatever reason, the crew plays the Heap folks all work there.

Maxim and VR-LA are roommates, but VR-LA is keeping his job a secret! And this is just Maxim finding the maid outfit and having the wrong assumption immediately.

CW: sexual content

Maxim stepped into VR-LA's room, carrying the basket of clean laundry under one arm. He had finished picking his clothes out of the recently dried clothes, so he figured he could just put the basket on VR-LA's bed for until he got home. As he put it on the blue quilt, he noticed the edge of something sticking out from the closet door. It had probably gotten caught before VR-LA left.

It'd probably get messed up like that, so Maxim just went up to the door and slid it open. A dress? Maxim let his curiosity get the better of him for a moment, moving the hangers slightly to get a better look at it. His face heated up near immediately as he realized what it was. A maid dress? VR-LA owned a maid dress? And he used enough to hang it up rather than just storing it in one of the boxes in the closet?

Maxim glanced at the apron, which was tied to the hanger, seeing that there was something in the pocket. He couldn't tell what from the shape, but he also wasn't sure if he wanted to know. He stared for a moment longer, seeing something else was awkwardly hanging off the hanger. A garter.

Maxim shut the closet. If VR-LA was active in such ways, it was none of Maxim's business. Maxim repeated that in his own head as he marched his way out of VR-LA's room and back into the living room. He started looking for something else to busy his hands and mind, but his mind wandered anyway.

VR-LA did go out often, he had plenty of fairly eccentric friends, it wasn't too out of the question that he might be participating in some form of kink with somebody, or even multiple people. Possibly that MR-SN man that VR-LA followed around like a lost puppy. Maxim found that there were no chores left, so he just started folding the dish towels that they normally just piled into a little basket on the counter. And VR-LA did seem fairly out there himself when it came to his interests, half his shelf was science books and the other fantasy. Maids appeared in quite a few fantasy stories, right? And some of the shows VR-LA liked?

Maxim paused, realizing folding towels were giving him no distraction. Maybe he could prep for dinner then. That could occupy his mind. Not the images of VR-LA in that outfit. VR-LA hadn't ever shown it to Maxim, so it wasn't for Maxim to see. Why would he even show it to Maxim though?

[amjustagirl]

Chapter 4: catching fire 

chapters: 4 / 15  pairing: miya osamu x f! reader  genre: romance, angst, fluff, inarizaki shenanigans  wc: 5.1k summary: miya osamu does not dare set fire to his heart. it burns anyway. 

(prev / next) 

You spent your whole life learning to be lonely but Miya Osamu turns everything inside out, upside down. He’d apologised to you that morning, knocking knees as you sat on the sidewalk, devouring the onigiris he brought you. 

“For assumin’ things”, he says - “though to be clear - I really wasn’t lookin’ down on your job. I don’t see anythin’ wrong with working at a combini. It’s a good, honest job. I ain’t gonna judge you if you’re okay with it.”

“But you still think it’s a waste.” 

He rolls his shoulders, stretching them languidly. “Can ya blame me?” he’d asked. “I’ve never seen anyone just step in and run a service like that before. It looked like you could make onigiris in your sleep!” 

You tuck your hair behind your ear, tilting your chin down in an attempt to curl in on yourself. “I mean - as I said, I was kinda trained for it.”

“Mm.” 

And though this is usually a topic that’ll make you clam up, scuttling back into your shell, because Osamu just hums in response, leaning back on his hands as if to leave you enough space to change the subject if you so choose, you decide to peek out of your cave, take one step into the sun. 

“My dad used to own a sushi restaurant”, you explain. “What you’re renting from me - that used to be my family’s restaurant. I trained there ever since I could hold a knife - I’m not even sure I was older than five but they wanted me to have a head start.” 

“Why can’t I play with the other kids?” you ask your mother in earshot of your father. “Why do I have to help out at the store all day? I don’t wanna make sushi like Oto-san. I wanna go out and play?” 

You’re thrown out by your ear, ordered to squat by the trashcans under the scorching sun until you learn how to behave like you’re meant to. 

To be seen, not heard. 

To exercise your nimble fingers, not your loud mouth. 

To be a good, dutiful daughter, a sad consolation prize to the glaring lack of a son.  

You scoff softly. “‘I was supposed to take over when my dad passed but then I realised I couldn’t. ‘Twas too much.”

“Hmm”, is all Osamu has to say. But when you glance up at him, his face is devoid of any judgement. 

“Hmm?” 

He tips his head back, squinting against the sun’s glare. 

“Everyone expected me to go pro, play volleyball full time”, he says as your eyebrows jump up in surprise. “M’ not boastin’ or anythin’ - but I was pretty damn good at it. Went to nationals, got picked for a couple of training camps here and there. ‘Tsumu - he’s my twin, you haven’t met him yet, but he’s a pain in the ass, so it’s a good thing you haven’t - anyway. Yeah - so ‘Tsumu was convinced that we’d take on the world together, smash our way onto the national team, go to the Olympics, bring home a gold or two.” 

"What happened?" 

A snort. 

"Though that was all I was trained to do - " like you, the subtext implied - "I didn't wanna do it. Pissed 'Tsumu off so much we got into a fistfight - nearly got suspended but our captain intervened. In the end, Tsumu and I decided that we'll see who's had the happier life when we die." 

“So who’s ahead as of now?”

Another soft snort. "It's definitely gonna be me. Don’t listen to what Tsumu says." 

You’re sure his brother would vociferously dispute that, but fortunately, he's not around to press his case. "So you're saying you're like me?" you ask. 

"I wouldn't dare. Not when you're far more talented a chef than I am", Osamu jokes. But when you roll your eyes skywards, his expression turns serious. 

"All I'm sayin' is nothing matters as long as you're happy with your life."

He doesn't ask the unspoken question - whether you are happy. It's a good thing he doesn't, because you're not sure whether you can even respond. But you figure you've probably reached your quota of opening your gut to allow your heart a moment in the sun, you don't give him a chance. So you elbow him, teasingly asking if he's seriously out of onigiri already when he promised you a big breakfast.

"Greedy guts", he chuckles, climbing to his feet. "C'mon. I'll feed you all the onigiri you can eat." Then, tapping his chin mock-thoughtfully, he adds - "on one condition." 

You raise a brow. "What?" 

"If you have time, would you teach me how to cook?" 

"Miya-san, you're literally a chef" you point out patiently. 

"I never went to any of those fancy culinary schools and now I've got a real life sushi chef who's dropped into my lap. Can ya blame me for wantin' to take advantage of that?" 

"Free flow onigiris all day?" 

"I'll throw in all the barley tea and pork bone soup you can drink."

For the first time in forever, you throw your head back to laugh openly, without restraint. "Deal", you answer, doubling over when he shows his appreciation by curtseying to you. 

If you consider your life frozen in place after your parents died, meeting Miya Osamu sparks a chemical reaction, lighting a fire that starts to tear through your life. The first kiss of warmth against bare skin and you start to awaken from your long hibernation, brushing off the white fleece of snow to turn your face towards the embrace of the sun.

Since it’s no longer a secret that you’re well-versed in the food business and with Osamu’s blessing (though he tries to argue that if you’re going to be helping out, he should actually be paying you a wage - you just stare and refuse to hear any further from him) you feel more at ease slipping into Onigiri Miya’s kitchen to help out as and when you please.

You’d missed working rice with your hands, the satisfaction that comes with creating good, unpretentious food that feeds and nurtures. At first you’re just glad not to be shunned by his crew, trying your best to be a help and not a hindrance, an extra pair of hands willing to do whatever’s thrown at you, but they exceed your expectations by accepting you easily as one of them.

Suzuki-san, the matriarch of Onigiri Miya’s staff, dotes on you to no end. She nags at you incessantly, always greeting you with various iterations about whether you’ve eaten, and whether what you’ve eaten is enough. ‘Suzuki-san’, you always answer patiently, ‘I probably eat far too much’. Not that you’ve ever managed to convince her, because she always insists you sit down and eat. Sometimes you get away with diverting her attention to Miyamura-kun because he deserves more mothering, being so far away from his family, you point out to Osamu when he pokes fun at you for using the shy younger boy as a shield.

He’s not so amused when Morita and Ishida start dancing attention on you. “We’re just teasing”, the duo cries when they try to ask you out for coffee - jokingly, you’re sure because firstly - they’re much younger than you, fresh in their twenties, and secondly - why would anyone ask you out anyways, so Osamu really doesn’t have to worry about you feeling pestered, you don’t mind their boyish antics much.

“They’re being twats”, he states flatly. “If they bother you too much, I’ll deal with them.”

Morita and Ishida do call you pretty lady in jest, you’re sure, but they’re fun to be around, jokes ricocheting off the walls of the kitchen, and they actually look out for you, snapping at customers are a little less polite to you. So you like them, and Osamu eases off when you reassure him.  

“It’s kinda nice being around them”, you muse. “It’s like having a set of twin brothers growing up - though I’m not sure I’d have survived that.”

Osamu snorts. “Twins are terrors. My whole family can attest to that.”

Miya Osamu, you soon realise, doesn’t just have a tight knit family at work. You meet his twin brother Atsumu when he sticks his head into the store to holler for his brother, stopping short when you inform him politely that Osamu’s out for a delivery.

“You’re new” he peers at you. “Definitely haven’t seen you around before.”

You stumble through your explanation that you’re really just his landlady but you’re just interested in honing your rusty kitchen skills so here you are. You much prefer Osamu’s smile to that of his twin’s, because Atsumu smirks at you as you fumble through your explanation, a cheshire grin that you suspect is at your expense.

“Everyone’ll tell you I’m definitely the better lookin’ one of us two, but ‘Samu really isn’t too bad himself, don’t tell him I said that though or he won’t make me food anymore - he can be real touchy sometimes - he’s an all-round scrub, but he can be cool despite all of that - ”

“You do realise you’re identical twins, right?”

“Miya-san”, you bow, greeting the woman you mistook for Osamu’s wife the first time you met him. 

“Darlin’, light o’ my life, mother of my children-”

“-To my eternal regret”

Kaiyo grins at you even as she grapples with her husband who’s clinging on to her and complaining about her jab imitating a strangely vocal, oversized limpet. Once freed of Atsumu, who sulks in a corner, she playfully scolds you to call her by her name instead of Miya-san, 'especially since there’re enough Miyas to start a volleyball team. You’re momentarily confused when she starts berating Atsumu for sellin’ Osamu wrongly, is that really the best you could’ve come up with - but she corrals you into a seat, offering you mochi that she brought for Osamu - yet another weakness of yours.

“I’m trying to convince you that I’m actually friendly and NOT scary as these idiots might claim.”

You murmur that you’re sure she’s definitely not intimidating at all (though if you’re being honest, her intensity takes a little getting used to) and she smiles triumphantly at her husband, though he just reaches over to pinch her nose. 

“Shoo - you’re a nuisance -” 

It’s a little funny to watch Atsumu traipse off to find Osamu in the back, tail between his legs. 

Kaiyo continues, unruffled. “I hear you’ve been helping out around Onigiri Miya - that’s so nice of you! ‘Specially since I know ‘Samu’s always drowning in work, and he’s mentioned you’ve helped so much!”

You tuck your hair behind the shell of your ear. “He has?” you mumble, cheeks burning hot.

“He has!” Kaiyo chirps, her smile stretching out into a self-satisfied grin. ‘Anyway, enough of these men - tell me more about yourself! I hear you used to run a sushi restaurant! That’s amazing!”

The wave of self consciousness crashes against the rocks when you explain that you’re really just a worker at 7/11, flooding across you when you find out Kaiyo is a high-powered forensic accountant, working in one of those tall, glass buildings downtown. Sometimes you wonder if things had been different - if you weren’t told that your sole purpose in life was to take over your family’s business, maybe you would’ve had the chance to explore something other than wielding a kitchen knife - perhaps, perhaps, like Kaiyo, perhaps you might’ve gone to university, fallen in love, had a family. Though you figure it’s probably pointless to mull over what could’ve been, what might’ve been, because you’re you.

Life deals you the cards, you stick to that.

But that wave recedes almost immediately when she doesn’t show any sign of confusion or judgement, acknowledging you as a ‘working girl, earning your keep, just like her!’ It recedes even further, the precursor to the full-blown tsunami that’s about to sweep through your life (Miya Kaiyo, after all, is a force of nature to be reckoned with), when she perks up as you mention the name of your family’s restaurant, clapping her hands together when it turns out that your family used to purchase their kitchen knives from hers - you yourself grew up with the heft of the Nakayama family’s knives, so it’s no wonder it’s so easy for you to acclimatise to Osamu’s kitchen, since he too uses their knives.

“See! Fate decreed that we’re meant to be friends!” Kaiyo exclaims.

Right at that moment, Osamu walks in, eyes narrowing as he notices the proximity between you and his irrepressible sister in law, ears pricking up as he overhears her comment.

“Be less desperate for female friendship”, he deadpans, scuttling when she swipes at him playfully, ducking into the kitchen to escape her imminent wrath.

“‘Samu’s annoying”, Kaiyo grouses, but still she doesn’t relinquish her hold on your hand. “But ignore him! I know I probably sound desperate - but I do want to be friends, if you’d like! It’s hard to make friends when you’re an adult. I only moved to Osaka for university and then spent most of my twenties building a career and taking care of my family, and then my best friend married one of ‘Tsumu’s friends and moved all the way to rural Hyogo -”

Atsumu guffaws. “Yer not allowed to complain about it, you literally dumped Ichika into Shinsuke’s lap -”

“So if you’d like to exchange numbers, we can hang out together, when we’re free if you like”, Kaiyo continues, undeterred despite her husband’s interjection. “We are going to be firm friends, I’m sure of it!”

Friends…?

You never knew what to talk to your classmates about when you were in school. Shared topics of conversation eluded you when you spent all your time at your father’s restaurant, learning to slice fish and wash rice instead of participating in after school club activities or watching anime. You were not pretty as a child, awkward in the way teenagers are wont to be, and there’s nothing particularly outstanding about you that’d make your peers give you a chance.

“You want to be friends?” your voice trails off. Confusion keeps striking you, despite the proverbial saying that lightning never strikes twice, but the Miya clan seems intent on defying all odds. “With me?”

Kaiyo grins, fishing your phone from your hand. “Of course”, she replies, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, though it’s far from obvious to you.

“Why?” you ask, still stunned.

She peers at you. Noticing your unease, she takes a step back to grant you a little more space, the curve of her mouth soft.

“Why wouldn’t I want to know you?” she answers.

You don’t have an answer to that. So even though you’re still reeling from the unexpectedness of the universe dropping two separate individuals seeking out your friendship in the span of a few months, you start reciting your number.  

“Fair warning, I’m a really boring person”, you say as she types it down, a wide smile on her face. “I’m not sure I’ll be fun to hang out with.”

“Anyone who ‘Samu decides to befriend will definitely be interesting enough for me”, she replies. “Unless you’re offering him an endless supply of free food, because that man will be friends for food -”

“I hear my name bein’ mentioned, and not in a good way.”

“Kaiyo’s bullyin’ you for once”, Atsumu crows, flapping his arms in delight. “Serve ya right.”

Osamu leaps at his brother, trapping him in a headlock and Kaiyo just laughs at the chaos, a merry, silvery sound that glistens in the light, making Atsumu completely surrender to his brother just so he can gaze at her, utterly besotted, a sailor lost to his siren’s call.

“You and Atsumu are very cute together”, you tell Kaiyo when she does drag you out for coffee on a weekend, Shoma cuddled on her lap like a content raccoon, stealing bites of her cake. “He seems like a good husband.”

“He does, doesn’t he”, she hums, sipping at her cup. “‘Samu and my brothers are pretty hard on him, but I think he’s pretty decent. We’re okay now, at least.”

Kaiyo calling their marriage decent seems a little like an understatement. Atsumu dances attention on her constantly, doling out sappy nicknames without shame - the light of his eyes, his lodestar, all of which both she and Osamu dissolve into laughter over. On Kaiyo’s part, she doles out affection and light teasing to Atsumu in equal parts, offering kisses whilst simultaneously poking fun at his antics. It’s clear they work as a team, taking turns pop by Onigiri Miya to pick up their children from Osamu’s care.

To love and be loved is such a beautiful, rare thing.

You’ve hardly seen it in your parents’ own marriage. Sharing a bed, speaking to each other only about the restaurant, pouring every waking hour into the business instead of each other - you’re pretty sure that does not qualify as a healthy, loving marriage. Perhaps, perhaps you might’ve been more interested in going out to find happiness with a partner of your own if you had Kaiyo and Atsumu as a role model instead.  

It’s funny though, because Osamu doesn’t seem to think so, scoffing. “You wouldn’t think so if you’d seen them together about a decade ago”, he says. “‘Tsumu’s a twat, and Kaiyo has a bad habit of listening to her marshmallow of a heart too much. It’s a miracle their kids have turned out somewhat sane.”

You’ve been around both Miya children from time to time, and they definitely do not strike you as completely normal. Shino’s loud like her father, who just seems to egg her on, taking pride in everything she does, whether volleyball related or not (look, did you hear Shin-chan actually PASSED English this semester? She’s got her brains from her ma, that’s f’sure) and it’s uncanny to be around Shoma, because a five year old shouldn’t be so quiet and serious, his watchful eyes following you around the restaurant as you teach Osamu the finer tricks to slicing and dicing fish, confusing you to no end.

“Could you show me that again?” Osamu says, tongue sticking out in concentration as you show him the techniques your father taught you to score fish.

You reach over to shift his grip on his knife. “You need to cut through the flesh more quickly”, you instruct, but obligingly give another demonstration again.

There’s a soft tug to the leg of your jeans.

You look down to find Shoma bouncing on his heels, not much taller than your knees. Osamu just chuckles and lifts him up to a stool. “You need to talk so people actually know what you want”, he admonishes his nephew gently, the little boy gesturing at the knife.

“Wanna try”, Shoma says, cheeks pink, insistent on being included.

“You can also try sayin’ please and thank you”, Osamu adds.

“Please and thank you”, the little boy parrots, gazing intently at the knife.

There’s a frisson of uneasiness when Osamu reassures you that it’s fine to let the little boy try, handing the full chef’s knife over to him with just a reminder not to chop your finger off, Sho-chan, your ma’ll kick my ass. He’s your age when you started helping around the store, resentful at being torn from the playground, from being separate from your friends.

But Miya Shoma clearly is eager to learn his uncle’s trade of his own volition, and handles the knife with all the concentration you’d expect of a child thrice his age, so you remind yourself he isn’t you. He has a choice. He isn’t forced to be in the kitchen or be ordered to go to bed without dinner. He’s clearly happy to be in his uncle’s kitchen where he’s loved and pampered with all the snacks and cuddles his little heart might desire.

He is not you.

(the ghosts that haunt you start to fade, melting away from the firelight)

“You’re good with kids”, you hum when Shoma produces neat, even slices of salmon, astonishing you but not his proud uncle, who fistbumps him and takes pictures for his adoring parents.

“Shin-chan practically grew up in the store cos ‘Tsumu was off chasing sporting glory, and Sho-chan likes hangin’ around here more than at daycare cos there’s more food and people going around. And they’re good kids anyway, so it’s no trouble to have them around”, Osamu says off-hand, throwing together a quick snack of salmon and rice for Shoma, evidently hungry from the way he’s tugging at his uncle’s sleeve.

A tight knit family then, you conclude, with nary a crack to be found between them. You watch as Atsumu takes turns with Kaiyo to visit the store everyday to pick up Shoma, Shino in tow after volleyball practice, the little family gathering together some weekday nights to share a late dinner with Osamu who tries to pretend he resents his twin’s presence by telling him his onigiris were definitely not made with love while surreptitiously presenting Kaiyo with extras for tomorrow, cos ‘Tsumu has a game and he always performs better with some fatty tuna inside of him. The brothers heckle each other, tease Kaiyo and let the children run riot all over the shop.

Osamu keeps trying to corner Kaiyo before she drags you out for meals, though you somehow suspect he comes off the worse in each encounter, slinking back to the kitchen as she carries you off triumphantly, a hint of her husband’s trademark smirk firmly on her face.

“Don’t let Kaiyo talk you into nonsense, yeah?” - is all Osamu says when you ask him what exactly is going on. Atsumu only shrugs, but looks as if butter won’t melt in his mouth when he motions to you that he doesn’t know anything, though he also tells you to blink twice if you’re bein’ forced into anythin’, yeah?

Which really does NOT give you any confidence or comfort, but you do like Kaiyo, and you can’t discern any wisp of meanness or malice about her.

“‘Samu’s just concerned that I’m bullying you - but I’m not, am I?” Kaiyo protests when you ask her about it. 

Far from it, you assure her - because it’s true, she’s warm and funny and generous and tells you funny little anecdotes about her family (Shoma swallowed a fish bone when we were visiting ‘Tsumu in Tokyo, so we had to rush him to office, but the worst part of it all was that ‘Tsumu somehow got it into his head that it’d be a good idea to dump Shino on Ushiwaka his CAPTAIN who was about to go on a blind date) and colleagues (they were having an impromptu shuffleboard party after audit season with staples and a broom! Which is fun and all but what if a client walked past?! Those idiots - though I won the tournament anyway HA).

If this is what a friendship is like, you decide you really quite like it.

Speaking of friends - you seem to have another candidate waiting in line.

“Are you hungry, Kombu-chan?”

The cat meows at you in response. It’s a silly question, you admit, since she’s polished off the usual tuna can and dried food you’ve taken to feeding her after each shift with feline aplomb, though you can’t figure out why she’s still following you from work. The ugly green of your uniform is distinctive in the sea of dull blue and brown and grey and black in a city of suits, so perhaps she’s just blindly following familiarity, but it turns out that she’s just intent on following you home.

Your mother would have screamed the house down if a cat or any animal for that matter even dared to darken the doorway of her immaculately kept apartment, but she’s not here to protest, even if her bones are probably rattling in its urn right now. But it’s your home now, three bedrooms too large for a single occupant, so what’s another to you?  

Just chalk it up to another instance of the universe sending a soul your way.

“You’re probably lonely then”, you say to her as she roosts on your sofa, imperiously surveying her new kingdom. Like me, you’d wanted to add, the words on the very tip of your tongue, but you don’t say them because it’s not true, at least not any more.  

“I don’t know how to take care of a cat”, you pronounce over the phone to Osamu. “But I have a cat now.”

“Congrats”, he says dryly over the commotion of people calling out for more onigiris, the crackle and sizzle of the grill. “Go google what to do.”

But he does turn up at your place that night with cat litter and a tray and a feeding bowl before crouching before Kombu-chan to solemnly greet her, offering her highness his lowly fingers to sniff at before she decides him worthy enough to be her temporary throne.

“She likes you! You’re her friend now!” you clap your hands, laughing when he complains about not being able to get up and pee.  

You know Kombu–chan’s latched on to Osamu because he feeds her on the sly, bringing her bits of fish from the restaurant when he pops by to bring you food, when he tells you that walking you home from the combini is just part of a much needed  break from the restaurant. And now it’s his turn to fall head over heels for the cat, popping over with treats as an excuse to see her, snorting when she bats at his hands to signal her displeasure that he’s not brought more treats.

“We’re friends now, I guess”, he answers, but you can tell he’s only feigning reluctance from the way he coos and boops his nose against Kombu-chan’s pink, pert one.  

The universe knows what it’s doing, you decide. Kombu-chan with all her funny little habits of following you about your morning ablutions, sunbathing on the window ledge with one eye open to watch the parrot in your neighbour’s home - it all brings you such quiet joy. Her fur is soft, you discover, when she deigns to allow you to pat her, and she purrs, the noise rumbling through your body as she treats your belly as her personal heating pad.

She’s the last class you take in unlearning your lessons in loneliness.

Your heart is frozen beneath layers and layers of deep snow, tucked away behind snowbanks, but without you realising it, it starts to melt from the warmth that actual human (or feline) connection brings you, sweeping aside the blankets of white you’ve chosen to swaddle yourself in. Icy rivers thaw out into a rushing stream, icicles fall from the trees.

wake up dear heart, it’s almost spring.

Now there’s someone to greet tadaima to when you kick off your shoes in the genkan, chat with as you whip up a meal for yourself (there was the meanest customer today who kept trying to trick me into giving him more change), someone to cuddle with on cool nights. And though you’ve never dared to ask life for too much, you’ve learnt to be greedy, you want to ask for a little more. You want someone to respond with okaerie instead of a meow, someone to trade stories about with his bad day (ridiculous customers complaining about onigiris having too much rice, perhaps), something a little larger and broader to cuddle with on cool nights.

One step at a time.

You’ve only just tasted sunshine for the first time in years, you need to build up your strength and stamina for the long journey forward. But over a third beer and the umpteenth plate of fried chicken Kaiyo ordered, after hearing about the family trip back to the Miya ancestral home in Hyogo that she has planned for Obon, you admit in between a drunken ramble about how thankful you are for her friendship, that you don’t have any family yourself, and that sometimes, despite being used to being alone, you wish for the universe to take pity on you and send someone your way.

In your drunken fog, you recall being thankful that she doesn’t patronise you with her pity, letting yourself be pulled into a tight hug, murmuring platitudes that you don’t quite remember before she calls it a night and flags a cab to send you home. The next time you see her, however, she ambushes you with apologies that - she’d invite you to join them on their trip, “but we’re visiting Atsumu’s witch of a grandmother, and I wouldn’t wish her upon anyone”, Kaiyo explains apologetically.

“I was just being silly”, you frantically say, trying to explain that you weren’t trying to garner any sympathy or an invite to their family outings. You’re a lightweight when it comes to alcohol, and you curse your loose tongue. “I would never - I mean, please! It’s your family holiday, I have Kombu-chan now! Please don’t worry about me - please enjoy your trip! I’m sure it’ll be nice, despite um - the grandmother in law.”

Inspiration seems to strike Kaiyo, and she stares at you with an irrepressible spark in her eyes.

“Actually”, she says, tapping briskly on her phone, “if you do have a week off in fall, sometime in late September, you should join all of us on our trip to Hyogo! My best friend - and Atsumu’s high school captain - they’re married, I set them up, y’see - anyway, they always invite all their close friends up to stay on their farm, they have a guesthouse that’ll house the lot of us, and you should join us! Keep ‘Samu company, we always joke that he should bring a friend.”

“I couldn’t possibly”, you try to dissuade her, but she refuses to hear a no for an answer, proving to be as obstinate as her son - yet another thing he inherits from her ma, Atsumu laughs when you tell him about Shoma’s progress as your little kitchen helper, and his wife’s bullheaded insistence to drag you along for the trip.

“Just go along with it”, he says. “Enjoy the free trip! Who knows what it might bring.”

So you pack your bags for a brief weekend trip and arrange for a cat sitter for Kombu-chan (thankfully, your next door neighbour has a fondness for cats) as the heat of August finally wanes and cools into September, the slow burn of the trees from green into simmering shades of yellow and gold, the world catching fire.  

a/n: just some slice of life fluff, hope y’all enjoy it! 

[xlysaaa]

Ahhhhhh

Ok, so this might become a bit of a long post. After reading the latest Kono oto Tomare! chapter, i just have to get these feelings off my chest. It'll be random & full ramblings.

i put some panels of chapter 105 but also from 99.5 in this post.

-> lot of spoilers, so read at your own risk <-

this wont be a review or something. I just want to ramble and scream.

First of all, Chikas father . . .

I have literally no fucking words for this sorry excuse of a father! seeing this flashback made me wanna puke my fucking guts out on the floor.

how much do you have to sink as a human being to make YOUR VERY OWN CHILD think this?

What kind of human scum do you have become to tell to YOUR VERY OWN SON " It's hell. Ever since you were born, Its always been hell." ?! What kind of heartless huge shit being do you have to be to treat your very own son like he's the worst, like he isnt worth of human affection or care?!

While Chika was scared & uncomfortable, because he punched someone for the first time to defend himself, instead of talking about it the father looked at him like he was dirt.

When Chika went to the Takaokas that day in Chapter 99.5, he brought back come of the selfmade cake from Tetsukis mum, because he wanted to share it with his father, he thought he could make him happy.

look at this adorable sweet baby bean? how dare you make him cry. ༼;´༎ຶ ۝ ༎ຶ༽

Imagine a little smiling chika hoping his father would come back early from work to share this delicious cake with him. . . and THEN! imagine the father telling chika in his drunk state all those horrible things, while chika still cares for his father and put a blanket on him to keep him warm. Only for the faher to say ".. I cant bringt myself to love you."

We read in the latest chapter that his mother left with another man, chika cant even remember her face, because he was 2 years old. If its because of the dad, why wouldnt she take chika with her? i dont care whatever her business is, she is as much to blame as this human trash called father. There were so many moments were i had to pause for a bit cause these scenes were too heartbreaking.

Of course Chika would never treasure himself when never once did his father! How should he know how to hold himself dear, when his father never did?

I cant find even the words to describe, what i'm feeling. I feel so sick to my stomach.

I'm so glad that he had his grandpa who cherished him and gave Chika affection. He always encouraged Chika. "Hey, Chika. Dont give up on yourself" & showed him the Koto. He & Tetsuki literally pulled Chika out of the deep darkness & showed him light.

Look Chika, they're all waiting for you! T____T

- - - - - - -- - - - - - -

When Tetsuki transfered into Chikas class, a boy told him that he shouldnt get involved with chika because he's a loner & he's trouble. He said "Instead you can be friend with us" to which Tetsuki replied "Thanks. But no thanks." IN YO FACE YOU SHITTY BULLY CHILD.

Anyways, after school the boy & his friends planed to isolate Tetsuki & bully him . . welp, these boys forget chika "LAME. You guys are super lame." and off they go :'D thank to these shitty children ⬇️

a wonderful unbreakable friendship started! They became best friends who were inseparable. /chikas adorable blush q.q sweet baby bean!!!

When Chika had an argument with his father & left the house, he was bullied by middles schoolers & fought. . . it was then when they started to slowly fall apart.. Chika started to avoid Tetsuki & isolated himself again. Even when Tetsuki tried to ask what happened or tried to help him, Chika would only say "Its got nothing to do with you, do dont butt in." Tetsuki blamed himself "If only I had been there the first time Chika had fought. Maybe we could've run. Maybe we could've feigned defeat. Anything so he didnt have to deal with their attention. Any maybe he would still be . . ." He missed his best friend & was worried what would happen to Chika if he keeps going on like this..

Tetsuki was told by the teacher that his mother had an accident & needs surgery. He's waiting anxious in the hospital, hoping for the best, trying to keep the worst case thoughts away . . thats when Chika comes running into the hospital he was worried!

NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS THEIR FRIENDSHIP IS SIMPLY PERFECTION, I CANT!!! ૮₍ ꒦꒳꒦ ₎ა❤

When Tetsukis dad said to Chika that he heard a lot about him from his wife & thanked him for supporting Tetsuki, he asked about his wounds & if they hurt. . thats when Tetsuki learns the reason, why chika kept his distance from him. He didnt want to involve him or put him in danger. "E-Everything's fine! I'm not hanging out with Tetsuki anymore, nobody's seen us together, nobody knows we're friends or anything. I would never drag him into my problems. Never."

Takaoka-papa is as wonderful as Takaoka-mama, jesus the Takaoka family is a bunch of lovely human beings, help me!!!

BONUS:

WHY ARE THEY SO DAMN WONDERFUL??/Tetsuki is so happy for chika *ugly sobbing deluxe*

I'm so glad that that he had Tetsuki right beside him, i dont wanna imagine what would have happened to Chika without his support & affection.

For me, they have one of the most wonderful & most strongest bond ever. I love their friendship so much, seriously i could probably write an essay about them & would never be able go stop. 🥺❤❤❤

Chika went through so much already, he fought his way through life, suffered, so NOW! Let him finally become happy!

Ufff, i didnt mean to make it THIS long.. but there's so much to say about this manga & the relationships chika made or the persons met.ヾ( இ⌓இ)ﾉﾞ

[gx-gameon]

Oooh questions! Jesse and Spiritshipping in general! I want to hear about how that goes in your AU! (Also, as an additional, possible separate topic: Yubel? Whatever happens with them?) And now I show myself out before I ask about even more things

Ah spiritshipping my beloved.

Okay so, Jesse still doesn’t show up until season 3 (I wish he came earlier but alas we shall keep some of the time line)

When he and Jaden meet they instantly click. Jaden is the first person Jesse’s met who can see spirits as well. He’s instantly enamored. Jaden is kind and has a warm and welcoming personality. But he can also see Jesse’s family. Not only that but he talks to them, in front of other people! Jesse’s never met someone like that before.

Jaden wins him over even more in their duel. Talking to Jesse and his monsters in front of the whole student body. The respect that Jaden shows both his own cards and Jesse’s, as well as his joy in dueling. Jesse’s already in love he just doesn’t know it yet.

Jaden on the other hand, is thrilled to met another person who can see spirits. The only person who can at school is Chazz, but he hates it and refuses to acknowledge his spirits when they appear in public. Jaden’s grown up around Atem and his shadow magic. While he couldn’t see the spirits on his own until wing kuriboh popped out on his exam day, he always knew of the Spirit world. Atem could make them visible/physical and Yugi also has the gift though he’s not as trained as Atem is. So Jaden’s always been around people like this, but it’s awesome to have someone at school.

Dueling Jesse was amazing for him, he hasn’t had that much fun in a duel in a long time. Him and Jesse play well off of each other. So he invites Jesse back up to the roof to discuss their match, and that turns into inviting him back to his room for a sleep over and pretty soon the two are inseparable.

Now here’s the thing Jesse falls first Jaden falls harder.

Jaden’s doesn’t have a great grasp on romantic relationships. His dad and Oto-san should not be his example and yet they are. I’m a firm believer that Yugi and Seto skipped the fiancé stage. (This is why Jaden doesn’t recognize the word in season one) they dated for a while and then one day Kaiba looked at Yugi and said “I want to marry you.” And Yugi was like “I want to marry you to.” Thinking they were talking about getting engaged when Seto hits him with “right now. I want to marry you right now.” And they do get married that day. They are those sort of people

While they are very loving as a couple, Jaden has no idea how to start a relationship or how a normal relationship should be paced. Not a clue.

I don’t think Jaden realizes he’s in love with Jesse until with are in the duel spirit world.

But before that what he does recognize is that Jesse is the friend he’s always wanted. The kind of friend Auntie Téa is always talking about. The friendship he’s seen between his Dad and Uncle Joey. Someone who is always there for him, standing at his side.

Most of his friends stand behind him, he’s the protector and problem solver (Syrus, Hassleberry, Alexis, Blair, even Atticus) he’s never wanted this but it’s their expectation of him now after two years. There’s also a lot of hero worship that creates a divide between him and them. Or they stand in front of / above him (Zane, Aster, Chazz) not that they are protecting him but that they look down on him. He’s never had an equal.

Until Jesse. Jesse who is so supportive and is not only willing to stand with Jaden and help him with whatever mess he’s in, but he’s also willing to stand on his own and fix his own problems. (This applies to Jim and Axel to but it’s defiantly strongest with Jesse)

And it’s after his first duel with Axel. Where Axel ties Syrus up and hang him from a tree to make Jaden duel him. After Jesse takes initiative and rescue Syrus while Jaden Duels, that way Syrus is safe and Jaden doesn’t have to worry about him. That Jaden does something he hasn’t done in years. Something he wasn’t planing on doing until Graduation.

The next day is Jaden’s weekly call with his Dad. Normally his leaves his friends behind and takes the call privately, in the wood, on the roof, any where peaceful where he will be left alone. But this time he asks Jesse if he’d like to come with him. Mentions something about his Dad and Uncle being able to see Spirits to.

Jesse is thrilled. More people who can see spirits! And Jaden wants to introduce him to his family, which Jesse is oddly nervous and excited about. He really wants to make a good impression because he really likes Jaden and….oh oh He LIKES Jaden. This is the moment everything clicks for Jesse and suddenly this phone call is so important.

He’s not deaf. He can hear Syrus is grumbling as they walk away. Something about how Jaden never lets HIM sit in on his calls to his Dad. This is special, Jesse realizes. Not all of Jaden’s friends gets this privilege. (He doesn’t realize yet he’s the only one who’s gotten this privilege)

Once they have settled somewhere comfortable, probably the roof as it’s Jaden’s favorite spot, Jaden gets oddly nervous. And he looks at Jesse and tells him his Dad is kind of a Big deal and he hopes that this won’t change anything between them. (This is huge for Jaden. If Jesse decides to tell the whole school Jaden will never know peace again) and for a second he starts to doubt his decision. He doubts Jesse will tell but what if this changes things between them?

But Jesse just lays his hand on Jaden’s shoulder and says that whoever his dad is won’t change anything between them, because Jesse likes hanging out with Jaden. He’s friends with Jaden not his dad.

And it’s what Jaden needs to video call his Dad.

Jesse almost passes out when an over excited Yugi Muto, the king of games, answers the call asking Jaden if everything was okay since he was a little late to their call. (The past two years have made him anxious for his son’s safety at school, who can blame him)

Yugi’s shock when he sees that his son is not alone.

It’s very important to me that Jesse is the first friend that gets introduced to the DM cast

We will talk more about their relationship in the duel world and the dark world arc in another post

I’m sorry I didn’t get to Yubel. They’re coming I promise.

[fruitanddarkness]

The fury contained within the Princesses body caused her cheeks to become flushed and raise her body temperature... perhaps because of that, she was able to notice that this room was suddenly becoming colder. Her obi now even giving off a hiss like a defensive serpent. • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • · Yet. Time seemed to slow as the younger Oni picked up a change in his tone. A shift in his focus; which only meant one thing... Was Doma actually upset with her?

That.. was shocking to say the least. The last time Daki could remember actually seeing him in such a state, was when that woman fled from the temple with her child years ago. Some of her own fury was quelled; replaced out of the sheer shock of knowing her words seemed to finally do something to him..! The painted demoness exhaled.. calming her sashes visibly as they slowed their irritated movements. For as shocked as she was... it was a dangerous transgression to actually get under the frigid skin of the creature who heralded this temple. While the Princess did not prostrate herself, her aggressive stance settled into a more calm and casual posture as the conflicting taste of pride in herself for bringing him to such a state mingled with a sense of imminent danger should she misstep. Ume realized at that moment, she might have overstepped a boundary. One that could very well make this entire exchange... unpleasant. Moreso than the typical gaslighting and word twisting she had built up a resistance to.

"No. I never said that." Slayers at that level, she knew they were insects. But even insects have a way of scurrying away. Spreading their little words and coming back with more. Even if numbers didn't make a difference, they needed to be taken care of before they could return to their wretched home. That was a lesson she learned from her dear father figure; do not let even one escape. For that one will surely spoil any plans for the future... Even so, a little gratitude with no strings attached would be nice; she couldn't deny that in her heart.

• —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

"Oto-san. If I wasn't grateful to you, I wouldn't continue to patrol this place of my own free will or bring you back women from Yoshiwara who I know you'd like to have here as followers. I wouldn't continue to come to family meals as I do..."

That request to have those meals made so many years ago.. it came from the Princess's lips herself. Upon hearing that their Lord would be relocating her and her brother to The Entertainment District to act as his eyes and ears to such a lively hub of information... as elated as she was, it meant she would have to leave this place that served as her home for decades. Even though she would be with Gyutaro, there was... something here. Something that she wanted to keep.. the word, family, seemed to fit. 'Oto-san. When I go.. can I still come back? Can we still share meals together?'

• —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • · Where...where did those innocent requests go? When did these memories suddenly start to Ume hurt so deeply?

"...I'm sick of you twisting my words. Turning what accomplishments I do have to my name, into something you shame me for or refuse to acknowledge me for them! And then tell me to stay off of the battlefield when all I want to do is become stronger..! How can I possibly do that if I don't fight or devour humans? Tell me. If everything you say you do is out of love for me; for your precious daughter.. then why does it make me feel so-

The Upper Six froze for a few moments as her words that dripped with honesty were cut off. Slowly...Daki covered her mouth as she noticed at that moment her beautiful emerald and crimson hues found themselves threatening to overflow with emotion. Unable to bring herself to say the word that threatened her own sanity... and she knew she had already said too much.

• —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Useless.

Ever expanding, the prisms within their eyes stilled upon the slithering obi, rattling like a snake's tail as it could barely contain its charge. Rage? It was thinly veiled on her features, as well. Slumped on a pillow, toying idly with a human eyeball between his fingers, the frozen lotus had been staring at the ceiling without much of an expression.

❝ Of course you killed them. ❞ Wannabes. Her own words, but Dōma's pointed tone would bring her attention to the contradiction there. She could deal with any lesser rank of the Corps with ease. Was that something to boast over? Or did she think their Master would keep rewarding her, when her achievements would remain so miniscule? Truly she couldn't be that stupid, to where she hadn't realized how mercurial that man's whims were. And yet she was drunk on his praise, flaunting it as if it were an achievement. One failure would suffice for Lord Muzan to cripple her with those same hands that had held her face so affectionately. Dōma, at least, for all his vices, had never been arbitrary. Of all the demons she would come to meet, he would have been the only one to ever tell her the truth; that she was still just a spy. The Lord's eye in the human world. But, alas, this one had always been desperate to prove herself. And yet—

What I do is not for you. Not anymore.

A pregnant pause. Upper Two's fiddling with the remains ceased, pupil pinched between his claws and held up in the light. This human had possessed brown irises, a dark shade like wet soil. But, for once, the demon's focus wasn't on that. As much as he wanted to ignore it, there was something else; something... bothersome.

In his time as their father, Dōma had tolerated several things. Daki's ugly temper, the loudness of her tantrums. Gyutaro's insatiable appetite. Their joined messy eating. Their lack of manners. The way every little screw up they ever had growing up would always be blamed on them and them alone, as it was their call to bring these two within the collective. Perhaps, Upper Two had been spared the disgrace of, say, his direct subordinate. The ones Akaza turned never seemed to last as long despite their prowess. In Dōma's humble opinion, that was mostly because he chose them based on skill and not character. In the Lord Founder's view, it was only expected that those who had lived horrible lives riddled with suffering and hatred should live on as demons. And because these siblings held such potential, he had agreed to tolerate all those aforementioned things.

But patience has its limits.

❝ Let me ask you something. Since you feel so wronged by my words. ❞ He made to sit up, slowly, the eye in his grip flicked away to the floor, where it could roll until it met her toe. There was that tranquility to his tone; not the kind she would be familiar with. It was soft, and quiet, and almost childlike; yet his cadence carried the frost that had begun to creep across the room.❝ Do you think... your actions tonight are worthy of praise from me? Do you think I should be thankful towards you? ❞

[doppopoppo]

Colorful Sounds

|| Iketeru Daily Drabble ||

|| Warnings: Implied death, angst ||

|| Iketeru • GN!Reader ||

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*💚

“When she died, she took my favorite sound with her. My sound disappeared too. The sound I fell in love with is no longer here anymore.”

~Iketeru Daga

I used to feel full with what I had in my life already. Working with the others at Together with Maman. But now I feel empty, starving to find something to satisfy my craving. Our sounds used to create beautiful melodies. It blended so well, harmonizing with one another. Sounding greater than any symphonic I’ve ever heard.

The once lively and lit Tokyo has become a nuisance. The noisy lives of others seem to drown out the beautiful, earthy sounds.

Your laugh captivated my heart. Your smile warms my soul. The twinkle in your eyes mirrored the ones in mine. The way you spoke is always trapped in the conversation, diminishing any chance for me to zone out. I gave you my utmost attention.

I’ve lost all this now. Even sitting in Kumatanis living room feels boring. It felt cold and painful. My best friend's company didn’t bring the much needed comfort I wanted right now. When the warmth left your body, mine went with it. That is, until a warm hand gave me several pats on my head.

“You’ve found your calling on your own when you joined Together with Maman. Then you found a duet with Y/N. With her colors grayed, aren’t you still here to keep them alive and pigmented? Shouldn’t you go out and find another sound to fill the void in you.” Kumatani stared into my eyes.

Though the last thing he said was a question, it sounded more like a statement. My eyes widened, maybe he was right. I was still living, even if you aren’t here anymore. I’m walking proof you once walked the soil and hair flowing with the wind. I’ll keep your memories alive and filled with color. I won’t let your sound come to an end, Y/N.

“Thank you, Kuma.” I smiled to myself, “I needed to hear that.” For once, the sound of something felt melodious to my ears.

Author’s Note:

Ive recently started watching Mashiro no Oto, finally lol. And I was inspired by the first few words exchanged by Setsu and his older brother. Reminded me of Iketeru so I quickly wrote this up. I’m not the best at angst nor description, trying to write poeticly isn’t my thing. I tried! I have to start somewhere so here it is 💚 it probably might not even make sense-

Enjoy!