#Hana dies from college

[lady-ashfade]

Can I place an order of Blueberry Pie with Villain Class 1-A. Please and Thank You.

Broken Shoes

´*: ･ﾟ⋆˒ Villain!Au!Class 1A x College!Waiter!Reader. (Reader doesn’t have pronouns in this)

WORDS: 2.1k

WARNINGS: Yandere!Behaviors, Everyone is in their 20s, Posted Late, Dark!Romance, Reader Is Just From America But Any Race, Villan Au, Non-Quirk Au, Is the reader is claimed any pronouns tell me so I can fix it.

Bakery event.

A/N: I got a idea from the requester of what they wanted since it has taken me so long, thankful so much for them!!

˚₊ ˚ ‧₊ .:･˚₊ ˚ ‧₊ .:･˚₊ *˚ 🫐 🥧 ˚₊ ˚ ‧₊ .:･˚₊ ˚ ‧₊ .:･˚₊ *˚

The first incident was when your shoe feel apart on your way home, the bottom coming undo and looked and sounded like a flip flop. It was rough because they had been your shoes for years, they had to give up sometime. But you didn’t have enough money to pay for a new pair. The only thrift store was a long ways away from where you live and you’d never have the extra money for train ride. So you did what you could…And tried to make it work again. With glue and your sewing kit and then had something to last you a few more weeks.

You set up a new jar in your kitchen by the window, next to the bigger blue jar with the labeled “computer”, while this one was pink and for shoes. You worked at a shitty diner in Japan, a American experience which was perfect since you moved here in your late teen years from the US. The day belonged to collage classes for you’re own business degree to work in more places and maybe start a chain of your own. And after you worked as long as you could to make it through life.

“Mornin’,” you greet your manager. The older woman smiled as she took the rag and whipped off the white counter, the lights from the screens hitting her back to make her pink outfit pop. Hana was the nicest woman you ever met, she was shorter then you with a plump body, her age showing in her skin but her face remained chubby and almost wrinkle free. After any day you had, you knew her warm smile could make you feel better.

While helping around you both chatted about your day and how it went, her more leaning towards your story while making short answers for her day. So, you told her all about school and even some things you learned and studied before customers began the walk through the doors, one after the other and so forth. The conversation died and you did your job.

“Enjoy your evening!” You shout as the last pair of people leave and you lock the doors behind them before exhaling as your body grows tired. The night had come to a end as the moon stood in the darken sky to shine just a bit of light on the streets. Not like they need it with the street lights and building lights.

“Hana, I’ll be in the bathroom.” You shout. Making your way to the bathroom your feet drag as the night hits you like a ton of bricks. The rush hour today was busier then it had been in a few weeks.

Hana was in the back to punch in all the things that happened while taking the money out of the cash register to count it. Her eyes trailed up to the metal door where the trashcans stayed after someone had knocked. It wasn’t un normal to her since she gave a few homeless people food when there was some left over, so she figured it would be them. Her feet took her to the door and her fingers unlocked the handle, before pushing it open with a bright smile.

“Kenji, how can I help you?” She spoke to nothing but air.

Hana blinked her eyes a few times before realizing no one was there, not a person in sight just a empty alleyway. Now this was strange. The knocking was loud and had to be made intentionally. The one thing that made sense of it was when she looked down there was a box with a bow.

Hana brought it to the main room and set it on the counter, just in time for you to exit the bathroom with a sour look on your face. “You got a present.” She exclaimed.

As you examined the box you saw a card attached,

“To: Y/n.

Hope you can find this helpful, thank you for the amazing service.”

The first thought you had was, who could have sent it, before even opening the box. There was a older couple who commented on your shoes but they didn’t seem like the type, and a man in a suit also had his opinions on your attire though he seemed too stingy for that. But you stopped thinking to see what was inside and hoped it wasn’t to grand.

When your eyes hit the shoes they widened a bit, they were perfect. They didn’t look too expensive but brand new with no stains on them or nothing. They looked good to work in, to jog, and to do anything you wanted.

“I bet it was that yellow haired man,” Hana commented out of the blue. You turn your head and tilted it to the side, who was she talking about? You’ve seen so many customers with yellow hair…

“Don’t give me that look dear. The cute one who always stares at you, and never complains and has you talking for hours.” you blink a few times before placing a face to the scenario.

Denki? Yeah, you think that’s his name. He always comes in every other Thursday with the same order, same questions and never wants you to leave his table. He was a sweet man, but flirtatious and sometimes you think you’ve seen him before but never have a clue. Today he came in just as before, made a few flirty jokes that you played along to, and had to rush off since it was a full diner.

“Hmm, maybe. I’ll just have to wait and see if they reveal themselves.” You hummed before going back to cleaning.

That wasn’t the only time random gifts showed up.

Each couple of weeks a new one popped up out of the blue. You’d be in the library and looking of books to help your course studies but find non, or even looking them up on the computer and find out they are too expensive to buy on your own. Then, they show up where you sit each day in classes. No one would look your way, no one was suspicious. It wasn’t just school things, but it was the things you see in windows. You’d see something pretty, look at it and imagining wearing it, then walk away knowing your wallet couldn’t handle it. Your house started to be filled with things you didn’t even buy.

Weeks of things being left you started to grow more and more worried, things you didn’t speak about. And things arriving at your door step. The last thing that made you freak out completely was a computer, the best money could buy and the note made you break. “Ditch the jar, we’ve got it covered.” Who the hell knew about the jars you had? No one did, not even Hana knew because you knew she’d give you money. Someone knew where you lived- someone sent a gifted, someone looked into your apartment or went in to see the jars.

“We’ve got it covered.” Those words stuck into your head every day after.

The blinds to your apartment now remind closed, you took the money you were saving for a computer and got extra locks for your windows. And you never took the gifts that arrived anymore. If it was at class, you’d leave them, if they came to your door you’d say they got the wrong person, if it came to your work the dumpster ate it.

Soon the gifts came to a stop. Nothing show up anymore and you felt relief, like you could breath without worrying about being watched. You stoped looking around the place for suspicious activity, your life went back to normal — Shitty, but normal.

Just as you suspected — Things went wrong for the last time.

Nosies woke you up from sleep, you had been too tired to notice anything or actually think about your actions. So you went out of your bedroom towards the noise, no plan, no worries about your life, but tired and wanting it to end. So as you turn the corner of the hall you hear hushed voices.

“Dumbass— Shut up, you’re making too much noise.” Someone, with a deeper and more grit to their voice spoke. They sounded angry…Like a man you once met on a bus.

Someone whined in response. “Don’t be mean to him Kacchan, and you’re being equally as loud. Now, everyone quiet and lets get our darling and head out.” That voice was strange to you, it was high pitched and loving but there was something else to it.

A little bit of awakening hit you and you started to look around the hall for anything of use. Wait, everyone? — That means there are more people then the two who spoke. The only thing you had that you could hit somebody with was a umbrella but you had to make do.

So, you grab ahold of the handle and hold it like a bat, then go sprinting to the doorway and popping out to surprise who ever was there.

You probably should have thought of more threatening words….

“I don’t have much!! If you’re here to rob me you’ve chosen poorly, but if anyone touches my computer you’re dying.” and like that, you point at the people in front of your umbrella-bat.

Your mind acted so quickly that it just took in everyone standing in front of you. People you have met before. The man from the train with a darken snarl that’s the same.. Denki, the guy who flirts with you at work. Another man who is always nice and friendly when he enters your work, Izuku?

“Hey honey!” A squealing voice takes your widen eyes off the green haired man. The woman who spoke was someone who you’ve talk to at school, one of the pretty girls that sit below you, Mina Ashido.

“Wha… What are you all doing in my apartment?” Your arms held up the umbrella and body still stiffened and alert.

“Don’t worry, we aren’t here to hurt you,” Izuku smiles and walks aloug your kitchen table, “and definitely not here to rob you, most of your things, expensive things, came from us.” he slides the computer along the table towards you. It started to make a bit of sense of how you’ve been getting everything.

Denki and Izuku know where you worked and gave you the shoes, they had both been in the diner that day. Mina had given you the books you looked at in the library and saw were too expensive. And the mean blonde had saw were you get off of the bus. They must have all been following you.

“What do you want then?” You backed away from them. Your eyebrows frown and arms began to tremble in heightened fear and adrenaline of your life being threatened.

“We want you, sweet thing,” the rough one spoke and the nickname sounded strange from his mouth. “The question is,” he stepped closer as your inched backwards, starting a game of chase.

“Are you gonna’ make this easy or not?”

You hummed in fear of what’s to come and wanted to run. Your body was almost about to move before a warm hand covered your mouth and made you scream and wiggle against the chest that was pressed against your back.

“I told you not to bring weapons,” the person behind you snapped at the others, making them all roll their eyes.

“I wasn’t going to hurt them!” Mina shouted.

“The gun was for looks, had to look badass for my babe.” Denki smirked.

“I wouldn’t hurt them badly, my knife would only stab their horrible neighbors.” Izuku laughed.

“And why would I listen to you, old man?”

A sharp pain in your neck shot throughout your body as your limbs began to numb up almost immediately. Your vocal cords wouldn’t make any sound when you wanted to scream, your legs couldn’t run, there was no fighting back. All you could do was keep your eyes open for as long as you could while being picked up.

A older man had you placed in his arms. Dark long hair with gray at the roots, the same for his beard. He looked tired but deadly with the glare he gave them. You knew this man. He was a teacher in the lecture room beside yours, the same man you greeted each morning — The man you served coffee to on Saturday mornings.

“You know damn well what I’ll do if you hurt them, if anyone of you spoiled brats hurt them.” His voice started to get drowned out by ringing in your ears. You wanted to listen and to stay away but your eyes just felt too heavy to go on….

There wasn’t just five of them waiting for you to wake up again, but 20 villains going insane for you.

[gentiliana]

can u (pls pls pls pls) do shin (sakadays) as a bf headcannons ........ thank u, sending u lots of love <3

HI DEAR!! tysm for your request 💗

i’m soooo happy someone requested something for shin i love him sm he’s the loml and this was so fun to write./shin fans get ready for january 2025 cuz sakadays episode 1 means shin is going to appear !!

i’m sorry for any grammar mistakes but english is not my first language, i’m trying my best to improve!

🪷 ; gn! reader, it is mentioned once that reader puts on makeup, Shin being the adoptive son of Taro and Aoi.

SHIN ASAKURA BF HEADCANONA

Did I just hear "best boyfriend ever"? Because Shin IS the best boyfriend ever.

With Shin being a clairvoyant, it was way easier for him to know if his love for you was unrequited or not.

But Shin is really unexperienced, he never had a serious partner or experienced any kind of strong love before he met you.

He even asked Sakamoto for advice! Isn’t he the cutest??

During the first weeks of the relationship compliments were not his best card… he tried okay? but he ended up embarrassed and all red… he really wants to be able to do that but he’s lacking confidence.

when that happens PLEASEE reassure him that is okay to not know how to express his feelings.

he loves receiving hugs and cheek kisses from you.

He likes looking at you while you’re getting ready, especially if you’re putting on makeup. He loves watching your focused face and asks you what you’re doing, it’s his way to show you that he’s interested in everything you do!

He’s not a big fan of PDA but doesn’t mind it; he just does whatever you want to.

He smiles like an idiot whenever you hold his hand! He prefers hand-holding since it makes him think that you rely on him and feel safe around him. (Please hold his hand and go on long walks with him.)

Since he knows whatever you’re thinking about, he always provides you with everything you want or need. Want to watch this movie? He’s buying the ticket. Craving a specific dessert? He’s cooking it for you or suggesting a cooking date.

ACTS! OF!! SERVICE!!!! He does whatever you want, whenever and wherever, just to see you smile! He is, in fact, in love with your smiling face.

He’d do anything you suggest. He even agreed once to let you dye his hair. If you have colored hair, he’d ask you to dye a strand of his hair the same as yours so you can match. . . 🥹

If you’re in college and have trouble studying, he’s going to help you in the best way possible. He might not even know what he’s doing, but please bear with him; he’s trying his best! Expect study dates where he tries to help you but ends up stressing over your exams.

About dates…

Dates with Shin are AMAZING!! In everything he does, you can just feel his love for you and how deeply he cares about you.

One time, you two were walking together in a park and he spotted some pretty white flowers. He decided to put one behind your ear, but he did it so gently that you worried you were going to melt under his touch. And the way he was staring at you?? You died instantly.

You’re never going to be alone because the whole Sakamoto family (mainly Lu and Heisuke) follow you around and take the cutest pictures of you two.

Shin is very embarrassed by it but you love his family and you understand that they just want to protect him.

Taro and Aoi love you and approve of your relationship with their “son.” They even invite you to go on family trips with the whole family, and you have to admit, those are the BEST family trips ever! Not only you spend time with your beloved clairvoyant boyfriend, but you also meet and have the chance to bond with his family.

You and Lu prank him a lot, and every time he scolds her and not you, because honestly, he can’t be mad at you.

(Hana asked you to marry Shin and he became so red you thought he was going to explode)

Introduced you to Natsuki and Akira and honestly they couldn’t believe that he got a partner as pretty as you! He was both flattered and offended by that comment…

“oh uhm thank y- WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?” (Akira apologized for both her and Natsuki’s way of wording it)

Honestly I think a part of your relationship includes you taking care of him. Since you know what happened during his childhood, whenever possible, you take the opportunity to hug him and whisper sweet nothings in his ear. He loves and deeply cherishes those moments.

Overall 10/10 experience WOULD RECOMMEND!! nice guy with a nice family?? i’m in!

[villainsandvictimsalliance]

Heal Your Burning Heart (911 au) villain trio !

Sekoto Peak didn't happen because Touya decided to become a firefighter. He wanted to prove to Enji that he doesn't need a strong quirk or a hero license to be the best at saving lives. He doesn't believe in the pro-hero culture anymore. Touya is also very popular because he is constantly breaking the law and he causes a lot of trouble for his family, but they are slowly mending the wounds of their past. Together.

AFO already had a perfect vessel, so he found out about Kotaro at the same time as All Might. Kotaro was still abusive, but not as bad as in the canon. Tenko was 10 years old when the confrontation between AFO and All Might took place at the Shimura's house. All Might lost his stomach, Nao died, Kotaro went to prison (to keep him safe) and the children spent the first 5 years living with Nighteye until they finished school, then went to America with David Shield so they could go to college. Hana became a lawyer (to put people like his dad in prison) and Tenko a paramedic (to save lives whenever the heroes were too late).

Tenko went back to Japan, but the work he can do is limited since the law there is different and he doesn't have a hero license. Now he's trying to reform the system from the inside as he saves as many people as he can.

Toga was abandoned as a little kid. She spent many years running from foster home to foster home, until Giran found her. Giran in this world is still morally gray, so he used his quirk and any method available to adopt her and sent her to school. The incident that turned her into a villain never happened, because she could talk with Giran and he'd help her understand her feelings or at least find her a way to drink blood without much ruckus. Now she's studying to become a chef. She believes that the way to the heart is through the stomach and the way to save the world is one meal at a time.

[nychthemeron-rants]

Daddy Angel AU

Niffty's mom:

Niffty's mother in this AU is a Japanese American woman named Hana Tanaka living in Brooklyn, New York. She worked as a seamstress in Angel's gang's territory.

Hana was a close friend of Molly's in life, and this is how Angel met her. Due to Angel being much more respectful to women than any of the other gangsters, being very charming, and protecting her and the rest of Molly's other friends from some creeps once she developed a huge crush on him. Eventually, everyone except for Angel figures out her crush because she isn't subtle, but Angel is too preoccupied and gay to think anything of it.

Then, one night, Molly and her friends were drinking at a bar that Angel's gang owned at the same time as Angel and some of the other gang members. Angel's buddies start giving him shit for never having a girlfriend and never pursuing women, and soon the teasing starts heading to "prove you aren't gay" territory. Since at this point its common knowledge Hana has a thing for Angel, they point him to her as someone who'd be easy to seduce. And she is.

After, Angel feels horrible and guilty. He admits he only had sex with her to get his buddies off his ass, and that he doesn't want anything more with her, that he views her as a great woman, but just not his type. Hana is crushed but asks if they can stay friends. When Angel agrees, she has him swear not to go around telling people what happened, given the repercussions of a woman losing her virginity before marriage in the 1930s. Angel swears.

A while later, Hana finds out she's pregnant. Still single, she panics and goes to Angel to see one last time if there is any chance he'd be open to a relationship. He says no, and when she presses, he says says that she's a great woman who deserves a man who will actually be able to love and provide for her, two things he can't do. She relents and leaves without ever mentioning she's pregnant.

Next that Angel hears of her its Molly telling him that she's moving to New Jersey. Angel is disappointed because he did consider her a friend but doesn't think much of it.

Meanwhile, Hana had told Molly everything, and Molly swears to be a good auntie, even if Hana doesn't want Angel to know that he's the dad. Over the years, Molly and Hana keep in touch, send letters, call, and occasionally meet up. Angel mostly hears and communicates with her through Molly. He even has seen pictures of her and her daughter, though he thinks its odd that her husband is never in any of the photos...

Niffty is born when Angel and Hana are both about 20, Angel dies at 35, when Niffty is 15, still under the assumption that Hana married and had Niffty with a husband that doesn't exist. Hana is upset by this news but had long since moved on and only mourns him as a friend and mourns that Niffty will now never get to meet her father.

Hana never marries. She raises her daughter, Niffty, as a single mother by claiming her husband died and she's too grief-stricken to remarry. Its extremely hard, but despite all odds they pull through. This is especially miraculous as Niffty has always been very clearly mentally ill and people had pressured Hana to institutionalize her. In fact, this threat is a large part of why she never remarried, a husband could send Niffty away without Hana's consent. Hana instead did everything she could to help and protect Niffty and got her all the way into adulthood.

She encourages Niffty to go to college, both to find a husband and to get an education so she has options if she can't find a husband. Unfortunately for them both, Niffty does find a husband early on and drops out to marry him.

Hana can tell that this asshole is bad news, but she can't get through to Niffty. So the marriage goes through. She makes her daughter's wedding dress.

Suddenly she barely hears from her daughter and after only a few years she gets a call that Niffty had killed her husband and had been arrested. And then in what felt like a blink of an eye her baby had not only been institutionalized after years of trying to prevent exactly that, but she had died from a botched lobotomy.

Wracked with grief, Hana moves back to New York to be with friends and family. There, she spends the rest of her life as a beloved pillar of the community and maintaining her friendship with Molly, serving as an aunt to her kids. She passed peacefully in her 80s and now resides in heaven, still friends with Molly after all this time. However, she is horrified by the knowledge that Niffty is in hell.

[vyssims-gameplay]

Epilogue

prev. [x] first [x]

After Snow White's passing, her lineage lived on.

Mariana and Catalina grew from children to teenagers, with Mariana having a head for academics and Catalina a talent for art. Catalina began Fairy lessons with her mother while Mariana seemed to gravitate more towards building a relationship with her father. When Mariana managed to catch on fire, it was Peter who saved her with his handy fire extinguisher, again.

Hana and Peter tied the knot during the girls' teenage years, with their wedding outfits as an homage to their parents, the Beast and Sleeping Beauty. Hana achieved the ultimate Fairy form of Ethereal Guardian, commanding the respect and adoration of all creatures in nature. Peter rose through the ranks in his career to become what he always dreamed of, an Executive Chef! Only, it seemed his dream would be diminished as he drowned the next day. Luckily, Mariana was able to plead for Peter's life and successfully brought him back!

Once Mariana became a young adult, she enrolled at Riverside College as a Communications major. She discovered a love of writing during this time, and graduated top of her class. Mariana became a Newspaper Reporter shortly afterwards.

When Catalina became a young adult, she too enrolled at Riverside College as a Fine Arts major. She honed in on her painting skills and created two masterpieces during school. She graduated and quickly took up shop as a Tattoo Artist.

Sadly, only a few days into her new career, Mariana tragically died in a fire. Her sister Catalina begged the Grim Reaper to spare her, but he would not. The entire family mourns the young girl's death, with Catalina taking it especially hard.

Caleb Vatore has been visiting the house nightly, knocking on their door and standing menacingly outside; and Catalina won't stand for it! Somehow, despite their awkward first encounter, the two became fast friends and quickly became lovers. Only a few days into dating, Catalina proposed to Caleb on her front porch and he said yes! The two had a beautiful, yet bloody, ceremony in Sulani, as Catalina has really taken to the whole vampire aesthetic. While Catalina has yet to ask for the bite, who knows what she may decide in the future.

Peter and Hana both became elders not long before the wedding, and were glad to be able to attend. And only a few days after the wedding did Peter drown in the pool, again. Hana begged the Grim Reaper to save him, and her wish was granted. This allowed her to spend a few more days with her husband until they both died of old age.

Catalina is the last heir to the Disney Dorm Life gameplay. While it is uncertain whether or not she will continue the lineage, die tragically or become a vampire herself, it is certain that she has had a fulfilling and happy life.

Thank you for going on this journey with us, we hope to see you back for Disney Dorm Life pt. 2 with a whole new cast of characters!

[lgbtqmanga]

New Releases Oct. 17, 2023

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[hanafubukki]

Hihi Hana 〜⁠(⁠꒪⁠꒳⁠꒪⁠)⁠〜

Yes, I wanna know. I need to see this confirmed, like I think he really is the emperor's brother and that is implied in some moments. But they could also be bluffing, so idk

It's cool to have so people different everywhere, and I too hope the programs help them more!

Me too, I remember growing up watching Sailor moon and Sakura Cardcaptor and, they remain as my favorite animes to this day aaa

I know a little about sign language bcs I had to take this as a subject in college but it's a little complicated, as it is learning any language and the signs can be ambiguous sometimes so a slight different movement means something entirely different

Hello Lorkai 🫂💚💞

Okay, so, do you remember the episode with the pure consort? She had purple hair and she had to leave because she couldn’t give birth to children anymore? She gave birth at the same time the empress was and they gave the empress priority so that’s why she eventually lost her ability to have kids? Her hair color is the same as Jinshi.

She’s also the one that lost her child because of the honey incident.

So! Jinshi is implied to be the brother of the emperor. But it’s hidden and that’s why the brother doesn’t show up to events and such and jinshi works from the inside managing the palace. Thats why that whole sacred ritual took place and the guards wouldn’t let momo in.

(UTC for Jinshi actual identity spoilers)

But! It turns out the babies were switched at birth! Because the pure consort realized that her child would never be given priority and would face constant threats. So, her child was switched with the empress’

The empress’ child was the one that died from the honey incident and jinshi is the current emperor’s and the pure consort child. So technically, he should be the crown prince.

But no one knows this, only the pure consort, not even the emperor knew.

But later in the manga, it turns out someone knew )probably the one who switched them?) and they kind of revealed it to the emperor and co in a secret puzzle game.

I don’t remember the reactions but they were all surprised 🤔 don’t remember how this affects the palace tho.

But yeah! Surprise! ☺️

Sailor moon!! Card captor!! Yessss love them!!! Big influences of why I love celestial and flower motifs 💞💞

Oh yes! I heard about that! And it’s not universal either! So it changes based on country too 😮

[cornus27florida]

Floriography of the Flower Bouquet that Frederick gives to Gwen during her dinner party (Gwen's dinner party arc)

Hello everyone!

I decided to make this CPC-related post to be quite 'short' and the focused one - This post is blossoming due the simple question in the discord CPC server which as following :

i was wondering if anyone knew what flowers those were!! really curious if they have a meaning in flower language or something that could apply here (look at the top image)

Before going further let me explain first what's "Floriography" means. Floriography is the language of flowers. All flowers hold different meanings (also all flower arrangements is beautiful in their own way! - Saffron), often based on the type of flower, the colour of the flower, or both. And floriography is the art of communicating through different flower types. Once you learn and understand the meaning of flowers, giving flowers as gifts becomes so much more thoughtful as you can convey just how you feel with a bouquet! [taken from this following link : https://www.bloomandwild.com/floriography-language-of-flowers-meaning]

About Flower Arrangement, there's actually a craft study about it which differentiated to western style (the ones that more familiar to mass as it sold in flower shops at orders) and eastern style (which called as Ikebana). The link if want to know more about Ikebana as following:

Ikebana (“living flowers”) is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. It is also known as Kadō (“way of flowers”). The tradition dates back to the 7th century when floral offerings were made at altars. Later, they were placed in the tokonoma (alcove) of a home. In contrast to the western habits of casually placing flowers in a vase, ikebana aims to bring out the inner qualities of flowers and other live materials within certain rules of construction and ultimately – express emotion.

Its materials are living branches, leaves, grasses, and blossoms. Its heart is the beauty resulting from colour combinations, natural shapes, graceful lines, and the meaning latent in the total form of the arrangement. It is a disciplined art form in which the arrangement is a living thing where nature and humanity are brought together. It is steeped in the philosophy of developing closeness with nature. Ikebana is a way of arranging flowers according to ancient principles. Branches and flowers are placed at specific angles to represent ten (heaven), chi (earth), and jin (man). The way they’re placed represents the strength, delicacy, and ephemerality of living flowers. Funnily enough, the word ikebana comes from ‘ikuru’ – to live and ‘hana’ – flowers: literally means ‘living flowers’.

IMHO before analyzing the Flowers, I've theorized (or more in sense, as Headcannon) that Frederick has low sense of flower selection (due to being bullied in the military school with the nickname 'Sunflower', he kinda used to think that Flowers are generally negative/mundane things - hence he never bordered to looks deeper in term of Floriography) so it might that he bought (earlier before the trip, as if it happened mid-trip it will pushed his brothers to do the same=which seem that neither Blaine or Lance do it) or brought (Frederick taking some 'random' Flowers in Plaid Palace royal garden, then preparing them himself to make some nice flower bouquet for Gwen ). Frederick's flower bouquet is accentuated simplicity but also some senses of mysteries in there (identifying+recognizing, determining than searching the floriography of the flowers of his bouquet is challenging but not by means something to disliked.. I LOVE IT!! I am not confident with the answers, but deep down I always love flowers and in my College life - I joined study club where one of the task is to determining plant names)

For myself personally I feel the latter (making the flower bouquet himself) is more in-character to him. He's dumb but has big heart + he know some things about making bouquet from all his experiences preparing party. I think it's not hard to imagine that he also the one that preparing the get-off gifts to the guests by preparing bouquets. So, Frederick probably have no thought about the meaning of the Flowers when making the bouquet but he just make sure the flower bouquet for Gwen will be presented nice. Although to answer the question, I have my own intake which as following!

So.. if I could make the conclusion (is more theory, as I am not 100% sure) - The flowers that Frederick tried to give to Gwen during the dinner party and their meanings :

Angel breath or Baby breath: symbolyzes Innocence

Heather flower: Admiration, Good Luck, Protection powers

(1) The White clusters : probably Heather and Angel breath; Innocence, Admiration, Good luck, Protection powers

(2) The Green clusters - as imho those are not leaves, it looks like some cluster of flower petals : Bells of Ireland ; Great way to ease worries (or own wedding day espc), symbolize luck

(3) The Orange clusters - the hardest one as have many option and need to search the meaning - but if I limited to choose only one then I'll pick Pansy; The word “pansy” is derived from the mid-15th century French word “penser,” which means to think or ponder. The pansy flower meaning can differ according to the color variety. The Orange pansy flower isn’t as common as some other colors, but usually, they are going to symbolize joy, happiness, and optimism. Orange pansies are often used in salads as edible decorations. *hence silly comedy that comes to my mind: Frederick also giving those orange pansy as addition (or garnish) to the salad menu for Gwen's dinner party

So those are all there!

As always if wanna see the full conversation rather than the compiled version, just heads up to the discord https://discord.com/channels/825884625087758347/825884835481911337/1087831356811255938

[valleyfthdolls]

when the spirals are spiraling idk i never read it (this is an invitation to talk abt whatever you want abt spiral 👍👍)

HI CALICO

Ok so I’ve talked to you a bit about Spiral before but a significant amount has changed, so instead of actually explaining anything I’m just gonna throw Amaya at you.

Amaya Izumi (she/they) is a 19 year old college student with PTSD, BPD, autism, and chronic fatigue syndrome. She’s the only child of Seiko and Kenji Izumi, the latter of whom is in the army- just like his father- and the cause of Amaya’s PTSD. (Not due to abuse or anything, it’s a complicated story.) She carries a lot of fear for her family’s safety due to things that her family has suffered through and how that’s all culminated with her, is very emotional with a strong sense of justice and morality, and has an absolutely debilitating fear of death and letting others down. She has like two friends and one of them is her cousin on her mom’s side. Her dad on the other hand is an only child because his sister Hana was murdered when she was eight. Horrible segue I know.

Amaya’s aunt Hana was murdered via a bomb when she was eight years old. Due to the nature of her murder and the fact that the killer had taken the lives of like four other people, most of whom were also children and died from the same bomb, a lot of suspects were considered, including one named Adem Tristan. He was eventually cleared of any suspicion, but Amaya’s grandfather Hiroto, not believing that Adem was innocent, stabbed and killed him. Because of this, Hiroto was arrested and discharged from the military. He maintains that he did the right thing.

Amaya holds onto a lot of trauma from all of this, including from Hana’s death, to the point that she feels as though Hana is physically haunting her. (She is not.) Amaya’s paternal grandparents don’t even see her as a person, but rather an extension of Hana, which definitely doesn’t help her anxiety about her safety because they see Hana as having been a sacrifice to keep their family protected. Because they’re normal and can handle the fact that their daughter was senselessly and violently murdered. All of this has made Amaya’s anxiety unbearable, to the point that she is known to have an irrational fear of thunderstorms because the thunder and lightning triggers her fear of explosions and bombs.

Unknowingly, Amaya carries the weapon that Adem was murdered with on her person regularly. When she was thirteen, her father gave her a hunting knife of his that Hiroto had given him, telling her she could carry it to keep herself safe so he could protect her even when he was gone. Due to Amaya’s fear of death and anxiety about her safety as well as that of her family, she keeps the knife on her person.

Her character arc focuses mostly on her fears and anxieties. When it becomes apparent that they have a potential serial killer on their hands, Amaya wants nothing more than to keep everyone else safe, even at her own expense. Most of this just leads to her self punishing for not being able to do anything by continuing to expose herself to this dangerous and really terrifying situation as she tries to help others, believing that she is responsible for them. Her best friend and love interest Sayren Fu (made by @helluvathing!!) wants nothing more than for Amaya to be safe. It becomes a point of contention and tension in their relationship, and eventually Sayren wins this fight- a massive blow to Amaya’s self worth that they don’t recognize at first because it’s overshadowed by fear for her safety- but shortly after that, Sayren gets roped into it, and they get separated, leading to Amaya having to face her fears alone. With nowhere else to turn, she has to confront all of it, and she ends up being instrumental in stopping the murders. She also has this super cool scene I have planned out where she confronts Akki, protagonist and villain, and she has the most hard fucking line in that scene- “you are not your mother, and I am not my aunt. Like it or not, Akki, we had a choice, and you made yours.”

[taanoir]

Christmas arrived in the Varda household. This year would be fairly low key, Hana was flying out and Julian was going to spend the holidays with them.

Evie put up decorations throughout the house, she wanted everything to look perfect.

Bernie wandered towards the kitchen to be hit with a wall of merriment. He didn't understand why she was going through all the trouble, their were no children just the four of them. Evie insisted on keeping the traditions, "it wasn't just for the kids". Bernie gave her a hand with the star and headed to the coffee pot.

Hana arrived in from Brindelton. Julian met her at the door and invited her in.

Evie and Hana talked about the trip and Evie's career. Hana was curious, Evie would be an adult soon, what were her plans? Evie explained that her mother had wanted her to go to college but really she was still content with her music career.

Hana pressed, did she have a boyfriend or girlfriend? Evie smiled and confided that she had her eye on someone but no relationship. She had lots of offers but no one that really caught her interest. Hana understood, she had her eye on someone as well but the attraction seemed to be one sided.

Conversation moved to Edna and Dimitri. Edna was doing better with their son Clyde. She hadn't been enthusiastic about becoming a mother but now that she was, she was making sure the boy was well cared for. Dimitri however spends his days training dancers and his evenings at the Jazz club in downtown Brindelton. Edna's not happy but she's not about to admit to that.

They also talked about Matilda, Kaleb's oldest daughter. She used her inheritance to buy the house Luis and Maren bought with Elvira. "She modernized some things and added a sun porch, it looks great. Her father is spitting nails over it though. Lucas and Kaleb bickered over the property when their father Luis died. Kaleb wanted to stay in the house but couldn't buy Lucas out. They ended up selling the house well under value, not to say they didn't make money but not what the house was really worth. The buyers have already managed to go into bankruptcy, so Matilda scooped up the house for pennies on the dollar. Her father is steamed over the purchase but I suppose he's happy she's putting that accounting degree to good use. She's the only one of the kids that hasn't blown through her inheritance. The other's are waiting for their dad to pass so they can shake his corpse looking for loose change."

[italiantnea]

#3-3_otogiri_tobi/ eat! ¹

¹ this uses the command form, so read that as forcefully urging someone to eat

prev: 3-2 // next: 3-4

-----

They weren't allowed to see the patient, so they couldn't stay long. When they left the hospital they bid farewell to Asamiya. Tobi and Shiratama walked down the twilight road back.

“O-Ryuu.”

Baku was the one to break the silence.

“That was… Long story short, what was that?”

“How should I explain it—”

Shiratama frowned and bit her bottom lip. She was thinking. They just so happened to be passing by the children’s park. There was no one there. There were benches.

“Wanna sit down?” Tobi asked.

Shiratama nodded.

The two of them sat down on the bench of the children’s park.

“It happened quite a long time ago.”

Shiratama brought Chinu out from the pochette and held her gently with both hands.

“At the time, I was in fourth grade, so it was four years ago. My grandfather got severely ill, and was hospitalized. So my grandmother brought me along to pay him a visit—”

Shiratama’s grandfather had a fondness for kendo and jiu jitsu, so he was quite a strict person. Before he was hospitalized, Shiratama hadn't known a thing about his illness. Shiratama had never seen her grandfather lying down. Seeing him sleeping in the bed of the hospital room was somehow so scary she couldn't bear it. Shiratama couldn't step foot into her grandfather’s hospital room. In the end, only her grandmother had entered the room, and Shiratama had waited outside.

At that time, Shiratama already had the pochette that hid Chinu. Of course, she understood that other people couldn't see Chinu. Shiratama had taken Chinu out of the pochette and let her ride on her shoulder. She couldn't feel at ease staying put, so she walked slowly down the hallway.

There were rooms on either side of the hallway. There were also rooms that had their doors wide open so you could see inside. The patients on that floor were mostly ones with serious illnesses. There were people barely hanging on to life with the help of medical equipment too.

What if her grandfather became one of them? But the surgery had gone well. Her grandmother had said that he would only get better. Her grandfather wouldn't become like these people, would he? The thought reassured her a bit. On the other hand, Shiratama felt a pang of self-reproach. To use these poor, seriously ill people for her reassurance; it was a terrible thing to do. Maybe she was a bad person.

Shiratama stopped in front of one room. It was a four person room. A woman and a small girl had come to visit. The woman was only around thirty years old.

The woman addressed the patient as “Papa”. It seemed like the patient was her husband. If only Papa would wake up soon. We want to play with him more, don't we? Hey, Papa. But no matter how much the woman and little girl called, there was no answer. Her husband seemed to be unconscious.

Unable to bear it, Shiratama had prayed for that stranger to recover and wake up.

“—thinking back on it now, it might have been something like compensation for comforting myself with people suffering under illness… Some kind of atonement. I may have just wanted to put myself at ease. But—”

At that moment, Chinu had let out a voice. Hana. Kayoko. That voice repeated those two names. It was clearly not Chinu’s voice. It was a human, a man’s voice.

The man’s voice spoke of the time his daughter was born. He’d given Hana a bath. In the beginning he’d been shaking all over. He’d taken Hana to the zoo. Rather than elephants and giraffes, Hana had spent all the time looking at the sheep. Ahh, he couldn't forget the college-aged Kayoko’s smile when they’d met for the first time. He’d liked people before, but Kayoko was the first time he felt like he loved someone. It’s unbelievable isn't it? To think I’d get this sick. I might die, you know? Of course, everyone dies someday, but I’d thought it was a distant future. After Hana became an adult, I’d grow old with Kayoko. It was over in a blink of an eye, huh? I’d imagined a future where we laughed like that. Before that happens, am I going to die?

Kayoko. Hana. I can't bear not seeing you. I want to see Hana grow up. I want to celebrate Hana’s birthday every year with Kayoko. I don't need anything else. As long as I can live on by their side. It’s too early, isn't it? Can’t I do that? Am I going to die? I don't want to. I can’t die. I can't do that. I don't want to die……

 “—I heard his voice. It agonized, thinking about his wife and daughter, about how he didn't want to die. Even though I shouldn't have been able to hear it. After all, that person was unconscious. He was asleep. In a coma. The voice that definitely shouldn't have been audible, somehow came through Chinu…”

“Hmmm…” Baku hummed, then thought for a moment and spoke.

“So that Chinu has some kind of special ability? Even though she’s so small. They say you can't judge people by their appearance but she isn't a person, huh? Hey wait? Does that mean that I have one too? An incredible special ability or something…?”

“Baku’s uselessly good at running his mouth, isn't he,” Tobi said half-exasperatedly.

“Oh that!” Baku laughed, satisfied.

“Ahahaha— wait, no! That’s not the kinda special ability I'm talking about. There’s gotta be more. Like firing off rockets or being as strong as a demon, something cool.”

“Not really, isn't a talking backpack cool enough?”

“As if that were enough. I’m telling you, I must’ve just not gotten serious yet. When I peel off this skin², I’ll show you something amazing!”

“That’s kinda gross, I don't want you to peel off your skin…”

“It's just a metaphor! At least understand that much!”

² ‘Peel off a layer of skin’- overcome harsh training or hardship and become stronger.

Tobi looked beside him at Shiratama, who was looking down. After finishing the story of her grandfather’s hospitalization, she stayed silent.

If Chinu didn't have such an ability, Shiratama wouldn't have heard that unfamiliar patient’s voice. He’d been about to pass on, leaving his wife and daughter behind. He’d been barely hanging on, but realized himself there was little hope. He’d despaired and cried out in grief.

Tobi wouldn't want to hear that. Hear it and then what? He was a total stranger with no relation at all. There was nothing he could do for him anyway. It couldn't be helped.

“...Did Shiratama-san suggest we pay a visit so we could hear Takatomo-san’s voice?”

To Shiratama, Takatomo Miyuki was not a total stranger with no relation. She was a classmate. Seemed like she’d been in the same class in first year too. She’d talk with her even when she didn't need anything from her, and Shiratama was a feast to her eyes. Takatomo’s voice had said so. It was a closeness incomparable to that with an unknown patient.

“I thought, if we could hear it,” Shiratama replied hesitantly.

“If we were able to hear it, then we had to listen. Because that might be something only Chinu… only I can do—”

The next day, Asamiya was late. For some reason Tobi had been apprehensive that he wasn't coming to school, so he was a little relieved.

It wasn't just Asamiya, there were other things on Tobi’s mind.

It seemed like Kon Chiami really was friends with Murahama Nagisa and Shimomaeda Yoriko. Outside of class time, the three of them often did things together. Before, it hadn't been three of them, but four, including Takatomo.

On top of the loss, or perhaps theft, of her possessions, Takatomo had repeatedly heard strange voices.

Losing things that didn't seem likely to be stolen, hearing voices that shouldn't have been heard. Weren't those delusions or hallucinations, or something of the sort? Maybe Takatomo hadn't been in a normal state of mind.

However, Chinu had a special ability. The mysterious power to transmit the voices that shouldn't have been audible, to speak in place of those who couldn't.

And Kon Chiami, whom Takatomo suspected of being the culprit, had a bat-like, flying squirrel-like weird thing with her.

For once, Tobi took his time eating lunch. His seat was by the window, third from the front. In the first seat of the neighboring row sat Kon Chiami. Even now, the aforementioned weird thing that was neither a bat nor a flying squirrel, clung to her back tightly, unmoving.

“I know, Tobi. What you’re thinking right now,” Baku said without lowering his voice.

“Does that thing stay like that, never leaving Kon-chan’s side? Or does it have the ability to go off and do things on its own? If, for instance, that thing was an ill-mannered thief, then—”

Though talking wasn't forbidden during lunch time, it was so quiet you could hear school announcements clearly. Tobi and Shiratama were probably the only ones who lended an ear to Baku’s solo recital.

“Stealing the key to the roof from the staff room, that kinda thing shouldn't be possible. It wouldn't’ve been hard for that thing to sneak it into Takatomo’s desk drawer, though.”

“Sensei.”

Suddenly, Asamiya raised his hand.

Their homeroom teacher Harimoto, who was eating lunch at the teacher’s desk, stopped and said “Hm?”, half-rising from his chair.

“What’s wrong, Asamiya? Hey, you haven't eaten at all. Are you feeling unwell? You okay?”

“I’m not okay.”

Asamiya put both hands on his desk and stood up. His long bangs hid his expression, but he seemed to be terribly angry.

“There’s no way I could be okay. Why’re you just eating like usual? Are you fine with not investigating? After Miyu’s—Takatomo’s been hospitalized after what happened.”

“Well, investigate, you say…”

Harimoto hummed and hawed, touching his face with his hand excessively.

“Hey, hey!”

Masamune stumbled towards Asamiya and tried to sling an arm around his shoulders.

“Chill out, okay? Asamiya—”

“Don't touch me!”

Asamiya brushed away Masamune’s hand roughly. With an “Uwah?!”, Masamune flew back exaggeratedly and spun in circles. Many people laughed upon seeing this act. Seeming irritated, Asamiya pressed in towards Masamune.

“Wahh!”

Masamune stepped back.

“Stop it already!”

The one who cried out was Kon Chiami. Kon’s face scrunched up in an instant.

“Miyuki wouldn't be happy if you were fighting! Miyuki hates seeing people arguing. Don't do something that would make her sad at such a time, please…”

Was she crying? Tobi suddenly had doubts. Kon’s behavior was exaggerated and deliberate. Weren't those crocodile tears? Asamiya seemed to sense something was off too.

“Acting like you were friends. Kon, you weren't getting along that well with Takatomo that well lately, were you? Takatomo was avoiding you, wasn't she?”

“How terrible!” “How could you say such a thing!”

Defending Kon, Murahama Nagisa and Shimomeda Yoriko began reproaching Asamiya. All at once, the classroom descended into chaos. Even as the homeroom teacher Harimoto scolded, “Hey stop, stop it!”, there was no end to it.

As if breaking down in tears, Kon sank into her chair. Murahama and Shimomaeda, and a few other girls aside from that, rushed over to her side. There were also students that criticized Asamiya roughly. Asamiya stayed quiet without rebuttal, but his eyes glared through the gaps between his bangs.

“Don't get so heated, guys! Asamiya has a point to make. Right?”

Ever persistent, Masamune pressed closer to Asamiya. At that moment, Asamiya’s patience ran out. He pushed Masamune aside and ran out the classroom.

“Asamiya!”

Harimoto chased frantically after Asamiya. With an “Oi oiii!”, Masamune followed after him. Masamune soon returned with a troubled, or rather, funny expression, and shrugged his shoulders dramatically. Though not all of them, several students laughed.

Maybe it was because of the say no evil monkey on his head, but it looked strange to Tobi. When he looked at her, Shiratama had an appalled look on her face. He was a little relieved, because she wasn't laughing.

Harimoto and Asamiya still didn't return, and lunch time ended just like that. Tobi shouldered Baku and was just about to leave the classroom.

“Otogiri-kun.”

Shiratama’s call stopped him. As Tobi met her eyes, her gaze shifted towards something else. Tobi followed her gaze.

Kon sat in her seat, draped over her desk. Around her were Murahama and Shimomaeda, saying something to her. Was Kon still crying? Perhaps she was stricken. Or maybe she was acting like it.

It was gone.

That weird thing was not clinging to her back.

“Tobi!”

Baku went wild. As if pulled along by him, Tobi looked around the vicinity of his own seat. On that desk, a meal sat untouched. It was Asamiya’s seat. Something darted in the shadows of the desk. There was no mistake. He’d clearly seen it.

Tobi approached Asamiya’s seat. There was nothing abnormal about the desk or the chair.

“It must be inside.”

He didn't need Baku to tell him. Without looking in the drawer, he suddenly stuck his hand in. His fingers brushed against fur. Without hesitation, he closed his fist around it, and the thing went wild in his hands. Its torso was warm, hot even. Between its forelimbs and hindlimbs, there was a thin, rubbery membrane. It writhed and wriggled its limbs, struggling furiously.

He pulled it out of the desk drawer. It was Kon Chiami’s bat-like, flying squirrel-like weird thing. It had a face like a human baby, and a long tongue darted in and out of its tiny mouth.

Several classmates looked at Tobi suspiciously. Then again, no one paid attention to his right hand. Nobody noticed the weird thing that Tobi had caught. They couldn't see it.

Kon was still being comforted by Murahama and Shimomaeda. Tobi met Shiratama’s gaze. Her eyes were very wide. She seemed rather surprised. Tobi himself was shocked as well. He’d gone and caught that weird thing. What now?

“...Tobi! For now, get to a place without people—”

Urged by Baku, Tobi went out to the hallway. Shiratama followed as well, holding the pochette that hid Chinu. With no destination in mind, Tobi descended down the stairs in big steps. Around the shoe box, there was no one around. At the outdoor shoe area, Tobi faced Shiratama.

“O-otogiri-kun, that thing…”

“I don't know. It’s just a guess but… it was in Asamiya’s desk, so it seems like it was trying to steal something. What is with this guy…”

Tobi gripped the weird thing tightly in his hands. He felt like if he didn't, it would escape. To be honest, he really didn't want to keep holding it. It was gross.

“Oi, don’t let it go, Tobi!”

Baku raised his voice.

“If you let go, that thing’s definitely gonna do something bad again. Looks like Kon Chiami wasn't aware of it herself either. That thing could be the root of all evil.”

“...So you mean—”

Shiratama hugged the pochette containing Chinu close to her chest.

“Disregarding Kon-san’s own intentions, it went off and stole things, and as a result, Takatomo-san became paranoid…is that it?”

“Well, could be that she’s just unaware of it, but she really wished for it in her heart. Whichever it is, this guy’s different from me and Chinu. Tobi and O-Ryuu have a proper awareness of our existence. Whether we can talk is something else, but we’re able to come to a mutual understanding. That’s not true for Kon Chiami. Us and them, we’re only alike on the surface.”

“...If I ask Chinu to stay, she’ll do so. Baku also listens to Otogiri-kun’s wishes, doesn't he?”

“I dunno about that…”

As Tobi murmured noncommittally, Baku let out an aggrieved “Aah?!”

“I don't do as I’m told all of the time, but I listen most of the time, don't I!”

“Maybe this guy—”

Shiratama glanced at the weird thing that would not calm down at all.

“and Kon-san don't have that kind of a relationship…”

“Whether it’s Takatomo or Murahama or Shimomaeda, if this guy was the one who nabbed their stuff, then that means it’s causing harm to others. As a result of that, Takatomo even jumped.”

Shiratama repeated what Baku had just said.

“The root of all evil.”

“If that’s the case, then the same thing might happen again…”

The weird thing Tobi held had been rummaging through Asamiya’s desk drawer.

Asamiya had criticized Kon to her face. It was possible that weird thing had been trying to retaliate. Just like Baku said, when Kon felt hostility to someone, the weird thing would attack them and steal things of its own volition. Was that how it worked?

Maybe they were incompatible, or there was some misunderstanding, but Kon didn't like Takatomo.

If Kon didn't have her weird thing, that would be the end of the story. Because the weird thing had done something strange, Takatomo had been driven to the edge. Distressed, she’d jumped off the roof of the school building. Without that weird thing, Kon and Takatomo might have eventually fought and parted ways, and that would've been the end of it.

This weird thing, struggling endlessly in Tobi’s hand, had brought about a grave and serious situation.

It was beyond a doubt, the root of all evil.

“...Otogiri-kun?”

Shiratama tilted her body diagonally and peered up at Tobi’s face.

Tobi didn't respond. There was something else he had to do right now. But what exactly was he supposed to do? Even if there was a solution, could Tobi really pull it off?

“Leave it to me, Tobi.”

I see.

Even if he couldn't do it himself, Tobi had Baku.

“I will eat this guy.”

Tobi was carrying Baku with the strap on his left shoulder. He shot his head out from above his shoulder. Baku had been a backpack ever since he met him, so that was just a metaphor. Backpacks didn't have heads to stick out. But he had a mouth.

Baku’s zipper opened. Not all the way. About a third, maybe around halfway at most. That was enough. Baku opened his mouth. It was like the zips were teeth. No, they really were teeth. From Baku’s mouth, a tongue shot out. It was robust, and much larger than Tobi’s own tongue.

Tobi understood exactly what Baku was trying to do. If Baku wanted to do so, he should. No, he ought to. Tobi understood exactly how Baku felt.

This weird thing trying to escape from his hands was the root of all evil.

If it weren't for this thing, such terrible things wouldn't have happened. It was better if it didn't exist. That said, he couldn't make it so that something had never existed in the first place. Then at the very least, he had to make it disappear.

On top of that, he was somehow terribly, terribly hungry.

Tobi heard a sound. Was it footsteps? Shiratama was saying something. Something or other about Haizaki-san. But he didn't care. Tobi was starving. It wasn't like his stomach was empty. This was probably Baku’s hunger. So this was how hungry he was. He was so hungry, it was like all the cells in his body had been emptied. He couldn't bear it a second longer.

“—Wait…!”

Someone was trying to stop him. Seemed like it was the janitor Haizaki. As if he cared.

It was too late.

Tobi loosened his hands. In that instant, Baku’s tongue wrapped around the weird thing. Right before that, the weird thing let out a “Giii!” The cry, like nails on glass, cut off abruptly.

Closing the teeth of his zipper—his mouth—Baku chewed vigorously.

He swallowed with a gulp.

“Aah!”

Before he knew it, the work clothes-clad Haizaki had appeared before him. Haizaki put both hands to his own forehead.

“What have you done! Otogiri-kun, what—what did you feed that zingai?!!”

Shiratama’s eyes were wide. Baku burped. The one who’d gobbled down the weird thing was Baku, yet Tobi’s stomach felt a little bloated as well.

“‘What’, you say. Eh? Jin…gai?”

“Ahh, I see…”

Haizaki grimaced and shook his head.

“‘Zingai’ are what we call those beings, like the one you carry on your back. There’s other names for them, but in this country we mostly call them zingai. The vast majority of people don't know about them. It’s not like they really need to know. They can't see them anyway—”

“Haizaki-san can see them, right?”

Shiratama opened her pochette. Chinu poked her head out from within, and Haizaki looked daunted.

“...You got me. You really got me. I’m just a janitor employed by this school, nothing more, nothing less. That being said, I can't just pretend I didn't see anything. I can see them, but that's not important right now. Otogiri-kun, what did your zingai just eat?!”

“Man, what a noisy bastard you are.”

Baku let out a sigh. Uurp. Another burp.

“I’m free to eat whatever I like, aren't I? Even if it’s a zingai or whatever you called it.”

“Just like I thought…”

Haizaki turned pale and trembled. Contrasting that, he grabbed Tobi’s shoulders fiercely and shook him.

“Whose? Whose zingai was it! That incident—I didn't wish for that to happen, but were zingai involved?! Whose did you eat—was it a student from year 2 class 3?!”

He was terribly forceful. Haizaki seemed pretty agitated. Tobi felt overwhelmed.

“...It was.”

“This is bad! We have to hurry!”

Haizaki took off running. What was bad? He wanted an explanation. But Haizaki was gone.

“We should go too!” Shiratama called to him.

Somehow, Tobi felt reluctant.

Baku had eaten Kon’s zingai, or whatever it was called. To tell the truth, he’d intended to do good. He couldn't leave that zingai be. That’s why he’d eaten it. It was fine to eat it.

Baku had eaten a zingai. According to Haizaki, Baku was a zingai as well. A zingai had eaten another zingai.

Tobi remembered that intense hunger.

Baku had—no, it wasn't just Baku. Tobi had wanted to eat it as well. He’d wanted to eat, so he had.

Tobi didn't want to return to the classroom. But Shiratama was pulling him along. He couldn't bring himself to shake off her hand.

The two of them hurried to year 2 class 3’s classroom. There was some kind of ruckus going on. A crowd had gathered in front of the classroom. Tobi and Shiratama pushed and shoved past students from other classes, and entered the classroom.

Kon Chiami had collapsed on the floor. Haizaki squatted beside her, feeling around the vicinity of her neck. It seemed like he was checking her pulse.

“No way…”

Looking like she was about to collapse, Shiratama held onto a nearby desk. Tobi was no more dismayed than Shiratama. Or rather, he wasn't really sure whether he felt shaken or not.

What had Tobi done? The one who’d eaten Kon’s zingai was Baku. Baku had done it. It had nothing to do with him. He didn't really think so.

Baku had eaten Kon’s zingai. That had to be why she’d collapsed.

Why was Baku silent? Say something. Was he not going to say anything? Tobi wasn't, either.

Haizaki was contacting someone with his cellphone. Maybe he was calling an ambulance.

Tobi just watched. There was nothing he could do but watch.

The next day, Asamiya came to school. In the morning homeroom period, their homeroom teacher Harimoto talked about what happened to Kon.

She was fine, he said. Her life was not in danger, and there wasn't anything seriously wrong with her body. But, just to recuperate, she was taking time off school for a while.

During lunch break, Haizaki came to the classroom and called Tobi and Shiratama over. He brought them to the janitor’s room.

The janitor’s room had a small kitchen and a large work table. Haizaki brought out folding chairs, and Tobi and Shiratama sat down in them. Haizaki leaned against the work table.

“—The bond between zingai and their master isn't something that you could sever, even if you wanted to. It’s something that runs very deep. If for some reason, they lost their zingai, the master would…in many cases, they would fall into a state known as heart desolation³. Medically speaking, its cause is unclear, so it’s not an official disease name though.”

“Can it be cured…?” Shiratama asked in a small voice.

Haizaki had a grave look on his face, and hummed in a low voice.

“You can get better, is what I’d like to say, but it varies case-by-case, I guess. From severe to comparatively light, there’s a personal difference between each case, you see. ‘A drop in mental activity’ is how it’s described, but the ability to think, to feel, to move with intention— those abilities decline. It doesn't seem to worsen after the initial onset.”

“That’s good news,” Baku said sardonically. He’d been pretty quiet since yesterday. Maybe he’d become disheartened, in his own way.

“And Kon?”

Tobi asked shortly, and Haizaki cast his eyes down and sighed.

“I escorted her all the way to the hospital but… yeah. It doesn't seem to be a severe case. It doesn't look like she’ll be bedridden, and she was able to give vague answers as well. Seems like she’s in her home right now. I don't think it’s that severe of a case.”

‘So, you can be at ease.’  That, he didn't say. Even if it didn't worsen, there was no guarantee her condition would improve. It was possible Kon would remain like that for the rest of her life.

Shiratama was expressionless. Where was she looking, he wondered. Her gaze wasn't fixed on any spot in particular. It was like a doll version of Shiratama was sat on the folding chair. Without thinking, Tobi sought out signs that she was breathing. Her chest was rising and falling slightly. Obviously it was. She was still breathing.

“It isn't Otogiri-kun’s fault.”

Haizaki said that, and nodded. It was like he was trying to convince himself.

“It was just a stroke of bad luck. No…no matter if it was bad luck or not, Otogiri-kun may have prevented the next tragedy from happening. Once a zingai become aggressive to humans, it’s hard for them to go back.”

“...You mean, don't worry about it?”

“I guess so. You shouldn't beat yourself up over it. It might not be easy, but I’d like you to carry on with your life as usual. If anything happens, you can talk to me. I’m but a mere janitor, but I can give you some advice.”

“A mere janitor?”

“Yeah.”

Haizaki met Tobi’s gaze. He didn't avert his eyes. He didn't even blink.

“It seems like you guys didn't know about zingai. People like that are the majority, I think. But truthfully, if you look it up on the internet, you can get all sorts of information. Whether each piece of information is true or false, I can't say. I’m just a janitor who knows a little about zingai, after all. I don't want to give you any unreliable information.”

“...You’re being all roundabout and wishy-washy, though.”

“Honestly, I don't really understand it myself.”

Haizaki’s gaze suddenly became clouded.

“As you can see, I’ve grown old, and I’m wiser than you middle school students. I wish I could say I can conduct myself like a proper upstanding adult, but…I think I’d like to do whatever I can, within my power.”

“That way of talking sure feels adult-like.”

“I understand that’s not a compliment.”

Haizaki tried to laugh. Midway, his adult-like face distorted in an ugly way, and crumbled.

“I’m truly sorry…”

Was he hurting somewhere? That was what his expression made him suspect.

Baku was staying silent, and Shiratama still seemed out of it. What was Tobi supposed to do? It was no use just sitting here. That much was clear.

After school, Tobi got out of the classroom before anyone else. But without leaving school, he watched Shiratama change her shoes at the shoe box.

Tobi began tailing Shiratama. Baku didn't say anything. It was like he was just a normal backpack.

From the school, Shiratama walked about twelve or thirteen minutes, before stopping in front of an apartment. It was ten or eleven stories tall, and not particularly new or old. Shiratama hesitated on whether to enter or not.

Tobi approached Shiratama. It seemed like she hadn't noticed him at all.

“Shiratama-san.”

He didn't want to scare her. That was why he’d called out her name, but Shiratama cried out a small “..Yah!” and turned around quickly.

“To-to-tobi-kun?! Ah. I meant, Otogiri-kun…”

“I don't really mind either way though…”

“You don't?”

“Eh? Is that bad?”

“...I thought calling someone by their given name all of a sudden would be a little overly familiar. The name Otogiri has its charm as well, but I think Tobi is a wonderful name, so I’ve kind of been secretly calling you that in my head.”

“Ahh.. is that so. Hm…”

Even though it wasn't itchy, Tobi scratched the tip of his nose.

“...If you’re that…how’d you say it. If that’s the case…how about you just call me what you want?”

“‘Tobi’? Ah—”

Shiratama waved both hands in front of her face as if trying to erase something.

“I-I definitely don't mean to be as bold as to call you without honorifics…”

“It’s fine if you do though. Baku’s just been calling me Tobi the entire time anyway.”

“I’ve known you for a long time, after all.”

Finally, Baku cut into the conversation.

“But if O-Ryuu wants to go that far, then that can't be helped, I guess.”

“...Shiratama-san isn't going that far, is she?”

“If O-Ryuu insists on saying it no matter what, then I might even grant special permission.”

“Why is Baku the one…”

“Thank you so much!”

Shiratama’s eyes lit up and she bowed her head. What was she so happy about, he wondered. It was well outside Tobi’s area of understanding. But it seemed like Shiratama was feeling happier, so he supposed it was fine.

“For now, I’m fine with either Otogiri or Tobi, so…”

“Tobi?”

“...Like I said, that’s fine.”

“Then please, call me by Ryuuko as well!”

“...No, that’s a bit…”

“Is that so…”

Shiratama’s expression changed completely, turning dejected.

“As expected, it hasn't been that long since we started talking with each other, so we aren't at that sort of relationship yet, are we…”

“Oi!”

Baku immediately twisted around. Tobi felt bad for the disappointed Shiratama, but he just had an opposition to calling her Ryuuko.

“...Um, can I practice and do it after getting used to it?”

“Practice?”

Shiratama cocked her head. Had Tobi said something strange?

Maybe he had. Practice. What kind of practice? Secretly pulling up the image of Shiratama’s face in his mind when he was alone, and trying to call her Ryuuko, or something? Just thinking about it made him embarrassed.

“Well…after I’ve prepared myself mentally, something…like that?”

“Then at least stop calling me with ‘-san’, and please just call me Shiratama.”

Shiratama’s gaze was strangely serious. Was this so important to her?

“...That’s fine. If Shiratama-san doesn't mind.”

“I do not mind. That’s it. When one day you’re prepared to call me by Ryuuko, then I shall call you by Tobi-kun.”

“What kind of deal is that…”

“I suppose it’s a promise, rather than a deal?”

He didn't care about the promise or whatever it was, but would the day ever come where his heart was prepared for that? He couldn't imagine it, at least, not at this point in time.

“...I mean, what is Shiratama doing here in the first place?”

“Huh? And why is Tobi-kun here?”

“Tobi, that guy. He was following you, O-Ryuu.”

Baku laughed with a kekeke.

“Isn't it gross? He’s not even a stalker.”

“That’s not true—well, it is but…”

This was awkward. Tobi looked the other way.

“When school let out, I thought…Shiratama might try to go to Kon’s house alone… I just felt so.”

“Why?”

Shiratama’s eyelids opened as wide as they would go, then blinked twice,

“...You were spot on. I just couldn't help being concerned about Kon. Kon had told me once before, where she lived, and I’d remembered it, so… Of course, I don't know if I’ll be able to see her or not…”

“Her voice—”

As those words came out of Tobi’s mouth, Shiratama bit her lip hard.

It seemed like Tobi’s prediction was right on the mark.

“Kon’s voice, which we shouldn't be able to hear. Did you want to hear it?”

Shiratama nodded silently.

The two of them paid a visit to Kon Chiami’s home.

They didn't even know the apartment’s room number, but they were able to find out by checking the mailbox. Kon’s mother was delighted by a visit from classmates. It seemed like she wanted them to come see her daughter, and she welcomed them in.

Kon’s home was on the sixth floor. When the elevator came down, a woman who looked to be Kon’s mother was waiting for them. Tobi was taken by surprise. It was because Kon’s mother donned quite elaborate makeup, and wore what looked like formal clothes. The scent of perfume was impressively strong. On top of that, she was so cheerful, it felt out of place.

Tobi and Shiratama were led to the living room. Kon’s mother sat them down on a leather sofa, and went to prepare sweets and milk tea. Shiratama didn't hold back; he thought he heard her say “Please, don’t go to the trouble”, but those words didn't seem to reach Kon’s mother’s ears.

Various fragrances mixed together intricately, filling the air. It was a strangely luxurious living room, which made him feel ill at ease. He shied away from Kon’s mother’s rapid-fire shower of questions about school and friendships, too. Tobi couldn't answer most of them anyway, and Shiratama was struggling as well.

“That’s right.”

At that, Kon’s mother got a photo frame that was hanging on the wall and showed it to them.

It was a photo of a couple and a young girl smiling at a beach somewhere. It was a family photo they’d taken in Hawai’i, Kon’s mother informed them. Apparently they’d traveled to Guam and Cebu island, to Barcelona, London, and Paris as well.

“...She sure seems fond of bragging,” Baku grumbled.

Was that it? Tobi wondered. Rather than bragging, it seemed like Kon’s mother was being urged on by something, even to the point of pain.

“Excuse me, how is Chiami-san?”

Unable to bear it any longer, Shiratama cut into her story, and they were finally led to Kon Chiami’s room. She opened the door without knocking, and let Shiratama and Tobi into her daughter’s room.

White and pink made up the vast majority of the room.

Clad in frilly nightclothes, Kon rose from the bed.

“Chia-chan.”

Even when her mother called out to her, there was no response.

“Chia-chan. Chia-chan? Can’t you hear me?”

Her mother approached the bed and pressed her hands on Kon’s face, clutching it between both hands.

“Chia-chan! It’s Mama! Your Mama! Chia-chan! Chia-chan!”

“...Mama.”

Kon sounded out, staring vacantly at her mother before her.

“Mama. The one here right now. Mama.”

“That’s right. Mama has always been here, hasn't she? Your friends have come to see you, Chia-chan. Shiratama-san and Otogiri-kun. I’ve heard Shiratama-san’s name from you before, Chia-chan. Right? You told me before, remember? Isn't it great, Chia-chan?”

“Mm.”

Kon just let out a noise. Her head didn't move in the slightest. Her mother smiled at her.

“That’s right. Do you want something to drink? Are you thirsty? Or hungry? I’ll bring you something, okay? Mama knows all the things Chia-chan loves to eat, alright? Wait here. Alright, Chia-chan?”

Kon didn't respond. Her mother left the room eagerly.

This room had large windows. Though the lace curtains were closed, the rays of sun coming from the window dyed the white and pink of the furniture and walls orange.

Kon’s hair was braided and tied up. She hadn't worn that sort of hairstyle to school. Her mother had probably changed her into those nightclothes, as well as combed and tied her hair.

Shiratama brought Chinu out from the pochette. Without a moment’s pause, Chinu began to speak.

“Chiami is Chiami.”

But it wasn't Chinu’s voice.

Kon faced forward. Most likely, she wasn't looking anywhere in particular. Her face was just facing forward. Her mouth didn't move at all.

“Chiami is Chiami. Mama—”

That was a voice they shouldn't have been able to hear.

Without a doubt, the girl was right here.

Nevertheless, it was her voice, which shouldn't have rung out.

“Chiami is Chiami.”

-----

prev: 3-2 // next: 3-4

³ ‘heart desolation’ is the term q-talations uses in the kara no kioku manga. Literally, the words 虚心症  translate to ‘hollow heart disorder’. unrelated, but 虚心 is also an adjective that means ‘open-minded’, someone who doesn't harbor any preconceived notions in their heart.

Misc- you might remember, but 'Tobi just watched. There was nothing he could do but watch.' is a line that appeared in chapter 1.4 when Tobi watched Takatomo jump. What does it mean? Boy sure sees a lot of traumatic shit, ig

also if you're as annoyed as i am about seeing 'the weird thing' in italics all the time, i'll have you know the book puts emphasis marks on the phrase every single time it's mentioned. yes i find it obnoxious as well.

there's no exclamation mark in the original chapter title. 'eat' by itself sounds neutral so i added it in an attempt to convey the urging tone of the verb ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

sorry for the wait. this chapter is long as hell. And i'm an engineering student, so you can imagine the state im in🫠 btw, i just noticed that tumblr post editor has been eating all of my paragraph breaks, so i've gone back and edited those in. sorry about that! enjoy your newly sectioned, slightly easier to read story.

[albertausprey]

WOLF CHILDREN

A film from 2012. I don’t know why I haven’t seen it until now. Spoilers ahead, so read with caution. The story is narrated from the daughter’s point of view. This is about a woman, named Hana who meets a mysterious person one day while she was at college. Though his name is never known, they end up getting to know each other and fall in love. He finally reveals that he is an extinct wolf species and that he can transform into one at will. They later have two kids. The eldest is their daughter, Yuki and conceiving another child a year later, their son, Ame. One day her lover doesn’t return home, so she goes out looking for him, finding him being dragged into a garbage dump in the form of a wolf. His death was also unknown, only that he had died, probably trying to find dinner, with the clues of bird feathers still on his fur. She then moves out to the country side to make a life away from neighbors, in fear that they may find out about her children and their ability to turn into wolves. So once Hana starts making a living on the country side, she fails at growing crops. She soon attracts attention of local farmers, as she is a single mother trying to grow crops and living off of her father’s savings. They build a bond and she shares her harvest with the others all while getting the help from an elderly, grumpy man named Nirasaki. Yuki finds out about school and wants to go, but afraid of what might happen, Hana declines, until eventually getting the trust that Yuki will not turn into a wolf while away at school. Ame soon joins after and a few years go by. Yuki is now in middle school and meets a transfer student named Sohei. He says she smelled like a dog, which brings fear that he might find out, because she’s been trying to live as a human-being so not to make her mother fearful. Yuki is followed one day by Sohei as he’s trying to find out why she has been avoiding him and they get into a tussle, in which Yuki unleashes a part of her wolf form scratching a part of Sohei’s ear. Yuki doesn’t go to school after this. At this point, though Ame had been fearful to be a wolf, while reading books about wolves being hunted by humans, he starts to get mentored by an old fox that lives up in the mountains. He starts to take on more of his animal form and learn about the lifestyle in the wilderness. Ame and Yuki one night argue, because Yuki wants to continue to live on her life as a human, mean while Ame wants to become a part of the wild as he had been training with his sensei, the old fox. Ame and Yuki soon fight one another and end the scrimmage when the home is in shambles. They do forgive each other after. Soon, as Yuki has started going back to school again, while building a relationship with Sohei within that timeframe, a huge storm is on the horizon while Yuki is still at the school. Ame feels the call of the wild to save the mountain from the brewing storm. Parents are called to pick up their children, but Hana is distracted when she has to go find Ame in the mountains and ends up slipping down a hill and getting knocked unconscious. So, Hana never gets to pick up Yuki, as Sohei and her daughter are the only last two students in the building. That night, Yuki reviews her true self and he says he knew all along already and accepted her for who she is. Ame finds his mother and brings her out of the woods and as Hana wakes, he had already jumped back into the forest, leaving Hana to accept his fate as he has grown up to want to be a wolf. Years go by and Yuki is dorming at the junior high school now and Hana still lives by the countryside. I loved the story, telling about Hana’s single parent life, raising kids she has no clue how to raise because they’re half beasts. As well as the identity crisis of the children. One choosing to be human, the other, wolf. So a class of culture and single-parenting made it a heart-felt film. (10/10 ✨)

[hunterofthehunters]

15) Adios

Lots of thoughts from this one. Content warning, I’m gonna talk about a pet that passed away, along with other thoughts.

A few years back, when I was still in college, I had a dog. First dog that was ever really my responsibility. My friend, my family, my buddy. 

Beautiful black lab named Hana. Smart dog, listened really well, had a bark as loud as a dog three times her size. And she was already pretty big. She had a habit of following me around everywhere, always wanted to be with me. Whenever I’d do my pacing when thinking about something while writing, or anything really, she’d always be right up my butt. Bumped into me a few times, almost made me trip. I got mad at her sometimes for that. But she’d always give me that sweet look, and it’d be right back to how things were. Loved that dog.

She got cancer less than a year after we got her. Young dog. Raised her from being just this little pup. Felt like we’d had her for years. Gone, just like that. 

I remember sitting by her in our living room that summer, while she was sick. Lost a retail job that I was balancing in-between work because I just couldn’t handle coming and going every day after sleeping next to her, seeing her suffer, wondering if things would ever get better. They did. We had hope for a bit that she’d fully recover, even. 

Then it came back. And she died within the week. 

I remember not wanting to do anything that month. I just couldn’t. I was lucky it happened during summer break. I might’ve flunked college completely if I didn’t have the time to grieve. 

I remember when they made the decision to put her to sleep. I didn’t want to. But she was hurting. And she couldn’t take any more. 

I never went with them when they left. I kept hoping some miracle would happen, but it didn’t. She went there without me that day. My parents were the ones who said goodbye that day. 

Whenever I go back to that moment, I wish like fucking hell I’d sucked it up and been there to say goodbye. So she knew that I loved her, down to that last moment. 

Her ashes are on my shelf to this day, resting right over my desktop as I type these thoughts out right now. I wonder if she’d be sitting near my chair right now, sighing happily as she drifts off to sleep. I can only hope she doesn’t resent me for what I didn’t do that day.

Why am I bringing this up? Adios brought me back there, for a bit. 

Adios is a role-playing game. You’re not playing as ‘yourself in a situation’, though maybe you’ll see yourself sometimes. You’re playing as a man who lived a life full of regrets. A man who wishes he could’ve done right by the ones he loved. This is his story. You just get to bear witness to it.

Maybe you’ll see something in that. A mirror, maybe. Or maybe you won’t. Fact is, this is a game about mourning. Mourning ones we’ve lost. Mourning decisions we’ve made. Mourning the decisions we didn’t make, or should have made. 

Knowing your death is coming is a rare privilege in some ways. A curse in others.

I don’t know where I’m going with this, honestly. I just wanted to talk. Maybe there’s some parts of me that never fully grieved, that this helped me sort out. Or maybe I just need to reflect. Either way, it was a good experience. I think some part of me really needed this. Appreciated sharing in these thoughts with someone else. 

We had--well, have--another dog. Quite a few other dogs, but this little boy’s special. Little fiery chihuahua named Bruno. He was with us with when we lost Hana. Had him before her for about a year, and he was with her when she was growing up. Was supposed to be mom’s little buddy, but when Hana got sick, he was with me in the living room every night. We slept next to her, were with her every step of the way. Guess somehow we bonded, because ever since then he’s taken a similar role that she had. A buddy who follows me around, keeps me company. Makes sure neither of us are alone. 

I think, when the years pass and it’s time for him to go, I’ll make up for what I didn’t do last time.

Adios means goodbye. Make sure you say it when you need to.

‘Til then, I’m gonna enjoy our years together.

Love you, little dude.

[myanxietydisorderhasanxiety]

Wolf Children

Wolf Children revolves around Hana, a college student who falls in love with a werewolf and then has to raise her two half-wolf half-human children as a single mother after he dies. It’s difficult because she can’t let on to anyone that they’re half-wolf, and they’re constantly switching from wolf to human form. Not to mention the difficulties with being a single mom. She moves to the countryside and eventually creates a sort of support system, but no one knows the family secret. Yuki wants to go to school with other kids her age, and her mom agrees as long as she keeps her parentage secret. Her younger brother Ame hates school and starts skipping, choosing to be mentored by a fox instead.

This story to me has several different real-life focuses. The first is being a single parent, in particular a single mother. It’s difficult, and there will always be people who think you’re doing it wrong. You have to build a support system to help, as the saying goes, it takes a village. My mom is a single mom, and she has to deal with EVERYTHING. Bills, schooling, food, rides, being there for your kids emotionally. That’s not being divided between two partners like in the standard nuclear family. Plus you have to take care of your own needs, but sometimes that gets pushed to the side.

The second is the difficulties of having parents of mixed backgrounds. When your parents have two different backgrounds it complicates things. The real world corollary to this is biracial children. Are you Black? Are you white? How do you balance two parts of your identity, while still staying true to yourself and dealing with competing conceptions of what you should be? Yuki takes the more “human” path in the end, with Ame taking the “wolf” path, and Hana has to make peace with both.

[gatormyst]

Wolf Children

This was my first time watching Wolf Children. The movie was ok, definitely something that I wouldn’t watch on a regular basis but it was still an interesting movie. I’m going to look at this movie through the lens of discrimination. 

At the beginning of the movie we see Hana fall in love with this somewhat mysterious man who turns out to be a part wolf and can transform between human and wolf at will. Hana and this mystery man have two children. Yuki and Ame. Since their dad was a wolf or part wolf they’re able to turn into wolves at will as well. We learn that the husband was in some kind of accident and died, leaving Hana alone with her two children. Hana struggles raising the two kids by herself not just because she’s a single mother but also because of her kids' two identities. She wants them to hide their wolf side so they can be a part of the normal world and go to school and make friends. She wants them to hide their wolf side because if it ever came out that they were wolves their lives would change irreversibly as they would get discriminated against heavily. Eventually, she realizes that this is not right for her kids and she wants them to be able to discover who they are. So, she moves away to the countryside where they can be free to explore their identities away from the prying eyes of neighbors and social security workers. 

Yuki and Ame begin to explore both sides of their identities without having to worry about hiding it or keeping it a secret while at home. Although they still do have to keep it a secret. Yuki explores her human side more than Ame and goes to school. While at school she’s discriminated against because she’s slightly different. An example of this is when all the students brought a box of stuff from home and when everyone saw all the bones inside they ran away screaming. This happens in real life to many children from different cultures because they’re different from the majority. Ame however decides to explore his wolf side more, going into the forest to learn from his teacher who’s an old fox. With Yuki and Ame wanting to be different parts of their identities it causes them to grow apart and get into a physical altercation. 

Throughout the film we see Yuki and Ame growing up discovering which identity suits them best, but we also see Hana growing as a character and as a mother learning from her experiences. While the movie’s sole focus isn’t on discrimination it definitely has many instances of it within and is apparent. It shows the extra steps those who are different have to climb to live a “normal” life if they want.

As in my last blog post I have been a victim of discrimination, so I can relate to Yuki and Ame and what they’re going through. As I’ve had similar experiences coming from a different culture. Much like Yuki and Ame I have had to hide certain aspects of my culture to fit in because as a young teen or child you want to fit in with everybody else. You don’t want to be different, to be an outcast from everyone else. Now that I’m in college and grown up I’ve learned to accept the fact that I’m not going to fit in everywhere and that being different from everybody else is ok. 

Overall, I would recommend this movie if you just want something interesting to watch. The animation style was quite unusual from other anime movies I’ve seen, but the details and color schemes were exquisite.

[jpt1311animeblogoscarsheareriii]

Module 8 Wolf Children/ I went a little bit long with this one

I have never seen this movie before, I have only ever heard of it and seen some still photos of the movie. I did have an interest in it and thought that I should watch it someday, I just did not think that it would be due to a class I was taking. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this film and thought it was great. A message I got was that everyone has their own struggles and are trying their best to just live their lives. Sometimes people will not understand you and will discriminate against you because of whatever reason they are willing to come up with. Hana deals with this in a way everyone else can not even imagine, but always does everything in her power to help Yuki and Ame no matter what. There was a lot to this film and there is no way I can cover everything so I will talk about what I remember the most about my time watching Wolf Children.

Anyway, the story starts out with our main character Hana attending her college class and notices a guy in her class that seemed different than the rest of her classmates. It turns out that he was not a student and that is how they first meet. As time passes they fall in love and eventually he has to tell her the truth that he is part wolf as well as human. This does not matter to Hana and they continue their relationship for a few years in which they have two children Yuki and Ame, but unfortunately he dies a little after their second child was born and this leaves Hana alone in raising two children that are half-human and half-wolf. The rest of this movie is about Hana trying her best to raise two children while dealing with the fact that she has to keep their secret from anyone because the consequences would be unknown to her. Discrimination is one of the key points in this movie both in the foreground and the background. The main discrimination would be the fact that they are part wolf and that is something they must keep hidden and deal with the effects of it. First, who knows what would happen if they were found out just randomly. Would the children be taken away or what would happen is a mystery that Hana does not want to know the answer to, so this is a constant worry when they are still young on top of the fact she is learning and dealing with the fact that she is a single parent. An example of this when one of the kids gets sick and she is trying to determine whether she should take them to a pediatrics or a vet. This shows one of the problems she has to deal with because she must keep the secret that they share. They also have to deal with neighbors who are complaining about noise at night, a landlady who reminds her that pets are not allowed, and an agency that is pressuring her about the welfare of the kids because they are not in the system. All of these are due to the fact that they are part wolf, well maybe not the noise complaint because babies and young children to tend to cry whenever they feel like it.

Further on in the movie they move to the countryside mainly because they did not want to have some many people's eyes on them. The older sister Yuki eventually goes to elementary school and makes friends with other children. Another part of the difficulties they are living with are shown when the kids in class all bring in something to show each other. Her friends bring in their mother's jewelry or other trinkets while she brings in bones of animals she has hunted. After this she decides that she will be more girly in order to fit it. This is not something that is only due to her situation, many people hide or change parts of themselves to fit in because they want to be included. This discrimination is something everyone can relate to and everyone has experienced during their lives, this is why this moment feels so real because we have all been in Yuki's shoes in hiding something we enjoy just to fit in with the group. Throughout the movie Hana was happy and never giving up so Yuki and Ame could choose what they want in the future, whether that is to live as a human or live as a wolf. At the end of the movie, Yuki has decided to live as a human in society while Ame has chosen the opposite path and live as a wolf in the mountains around their home. Hana has to accept his decision, and only accepts after she falls unconscious in the forest going after Ame because of the storm that is overhead, during this time she talks with their father and tells her that he is a grownup. Yuki on the other hand decided to trust her classmate Souhei with her secret and after she shows him he tells her that she will keep her secret. This shows that some people are willing to accept you even if you are different, whether that is because of this situation where you are half wolf or because of any number of differences.

Anyway, those were my thoughts about the film and like I said I have thought about watching this and I am glad I could finally watch it because I think that this was a great movie.