#I TRIED AND THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT OnO

[krysmcscience]

BILLDUMP TIME (with transparency, because I can). Don't mind me, I'm just yeeting my goofy art at some way more talented individuals out of nowhere and then hauling ass back to the security of being a weird silent lurker ahaha

@tesscourtes and @beccadrawsstuff, respectively! These two Bills make a little prism of sorts together because of their recent crossovers on Patreon~ :3c Speaking of which, I highly recommend supporting both these artists! They do fantastic work! (TessCourtes and Beccup)

@qoolk on the left, and @monobmp on the right! I am such a sucker for these outfits~ OuO Go and check these two out, their art is phenomenal!!! >u<

@1spooky2me The most difficult Bill of the lot for me to draw, ahaha... Their art is so incredibly consistent and dynamic, I am, a little envious <:,) A little envious, but mostly impressed, so go look at their amazing art, what are you waiting for

And finally, @ckret2, whose writing is sublimely in-character and just a delight to read - they're a great artist, as well! I simply Could Not resist drawing their Bill in this ridiculous incredible and very fashionable pink feather dress, even though he only briefly wears it in their fic, so I also did a little bonus doodle of him in his standard hoodie to make up for it. XD (Also, as far as I'm concerned, Bill and Mabel were both correct in that lime green accessories make the dress Much Better.)

This is just a small selection of the human Bill designs I enjoy. I may draw and post more later on, who knows! Feel free to reblog with some neat Bill designs, either your own or by other folks - if any of the designs particularly call to me, I'll add them to the little list I've got going~ :D (Alternatively, if you really like my stuff and want me to draw something specific, you could...mmm...perhaps, commission me...? OuO)

Also I'm tagging Billford because uhhhh yeah, sorry not sorry, every single one of these Bills is getting shipped with Ford by the artists in some way or another, lmao

[psink]

Rainy season anime artwork translation:

A complicated chuunibyou guy

Kaidou Shun

(Voice Actor/ Shimazaki Nobunga)

Kusuo’s classmate that everyone knows is a chuunibyou. However because he’s shy, serious and pure-hearted by nature, he can’t maintain his chuunibyou persona.

⏴In the work, his chuunibyou sometimes causes problems for Kusuo, but in reality, he’s a good and timid child. He thinks of Kusuo, Nendou and Kuboyasu as important friends. Hopefully he’ll never lose this innocence.

Guy with a complicated love for his younger brother

Saiki Kuusuke

(Voice Actor/ Nojima Kenji)

Saiki Kusuo’s older brother, a genius mad scientist with an IQ of 218. Has a fetish for challenging his younger brother and getting defeated. He messes with Kusuo at any opportunity. 

⏶Contrary to his handsome looks, his real nature is quite disappointing. He’s an extreme masochist (however, this is limited to only Kusuo).

Complicated clingy guy

Akechi Touma

(Voice Actor/ Kaji Yuuki)

A logical and talkative transfer student who came to Kusuo’s class. He talks rapidly like a machine gun without reading the atmosphere of his surroundings. He suspects that Kusuo is a psychic. Although he was once deceived, he persistently continues to investigate Kusuo.

Guy who attracts complicated people

Saiki Kusuo

(Voice Actor/ Kamiya Hiroshi)

A high-school student who can control various psychic powers. In order to keep his abilities secret, he lives maintaining a moderate distance from those around him. His favorite food is sweets, he especially loves coffee jelly. 

⏶Although Kusuo almost never voluntarily expresses his emotions, he shows a blissful smile whilst tasting sweets. Is this cute contrast also a point that attracts people around him!?

⏶⏵In addition to Kaidou, other members of his troublesome group include the strongest idiot Nendou Riki (Voice Actor: Ono Daisuke and the delinquent Kuboyasu Aren (Voice Actor: Hosoya Yoshimasa), whose trouble-causing abilities are immeasurable. Despite that, they're also lovable guys that you can't hate.

(Kusuo’s left shoulder text)

The cheerful, sunny spring has passed and the rainy season has already arrived. Our handsome psychic, Saiki Kusuo, is on his way home whilst avoiding the scattered rain with his telekinesis, but there are people approaching him. His brother, Kuusuke, his classmate, Kusuo and the transfer student Akechi - these three people. Amongst them, Akechi, because of his natural quick thinking and good insight, seems to suspect Kusuo is a psychic!? With the intensity of either a devoted wife or a stalker, he clings to Kusuo and tries to reveal his secret by showering him with machine gun-like talk……Will Kusuo manage to avoid them like the rain and return the clear skies to his heart?

(Kusuo’s right shoulder text)

Just as his older brother, Kuusuke, is coming to pick him up with coffee jelly in one hand, Kaidou, struck by the rain, is showing off his chuunibyou. The transfer student Akechi invites Kusuo under his umbrella, too. Their attention-seeking offensive is even more persistent than the rainy season, how will Kusuo endure it!?

(Big text on white background)

A rain of love from the complicated people pours down intensively on

Kusuo☆

Heart-pounding regretful rain☆

QUESTION

If you were to share an umbrella with someone, who would it be?

Kamiya: Teruhashi-san. Her charm, which causes even the God to be her ally, makes me want to try saying 「offu」 as well.

Shimazaki: Of course, it’d have to be Teruhashi-san!!! Offu!!!

Saiki Kusuo’s Voice Actor

Kamiya Hiroshi-san 

Interview 

The 2nd season of 「Fierce Argument」. 

—If you were to express the growth and changes of Saiki Kusuo in the second season using four-character idioms or similar expressions, what would they be?

Kamiya: 「Fierce Argument (Editor’s note: The sound of swords clashing violently. Also, the state of engaging in heated debate)」 I feel that the degree of this is gradually increasing compared to the 1st season.

–Kamiya-san, please tell us a particular「Kusuo’s charm point」 that you’d like to recommend right now.

Kamiya: I don’t know much about Kusuo, but anyway, Teruhashi-san’s cuteness is a big charm of this work. 

–Please tell us the episode or moment that made you laugh whilst portraying Kusuo.

Kamiya: Kusuo is usually cool and it’s hard to read his emotions, but sometimes during particularly intense situations, he strongly interjects with 「You idiot!」, which is fun for me too.

–Kusuo is always extremely popular regardless of gender, Kamiya-san, if you were in his position, what would you do?

Kamiya: If each of them stays with me with the awareness that we're friends, then I will gratefully accept that.

Kaidou Shun’s Voice Actor

Shimazaki Nobunaga-san

Interview

Right now, I’m at my peak chuunibyou stage in life.

–If you were to express the growth and changes of Saiki Kusuo in the second season from a  chuunibyou perspective, what would that be?

Shimazaki: 「Jet Black Twilight - Ragnarok of Chaos」 Reason: it just sounds cool!

–Shimazaki-san, please tell us a particular 「Kaidou’s charm point」that you’d like to recommend right now.

Shimazaki: I find the contrast between Shun in his full-blown chuunibyou Jet-Black Wings mode and his natural self, who is a bit of a coward but is honest and caring about his friends, to be appealing.

–Shimazaki-sama, if you discovered a completely soaked Kaidou on a rainy day, what would you do?

Shimazaki: I’d protect him!!!

–Please tell us the episode or moment that made you laugh whilst portraying Kaidou.

Shimazaki: In the 2nd season, episode 4 of episode 8x, the loop episode 「Another Time Leap Challenge! I remember saying the same line over and over again like a broken record, it left a very strong impression on me. It was fun!

–Kaidou is still in full-blown chuunibyou mode, but Shimazaki-san, when were you the most chuunibyou-like in your life? 

Shimazaki: Right now. I seriously imagine using magic and saving the world every day.

[rhapsodynew]

#love story

One soul for two.

58 years ago, on November 9, 1966, John Lennon first met Yoko Ono at an art show in London, where she presented her exhibition "Unfinished Paintings and Objects". To this day, many believe that this was the beginning of the end of the holiday era called the Beatles.

Without realizing it, he had long been looking for a woman who looked like his frivolous mother Julia and domineering aunt Mimi, who raised him. Everything was smooth in his marriage with his wife Susan — she did not burden him with herself, did not bother him with conversations, cooked well and was great in bed. Another man would have carried such a woman in his arms, but not Lennon. He lacked madness, passion, hooliganism. Critics will later write about this period of John's life:

"When you get everything in your youth, life becomes insanely boring and insipid. You will involuntarily start looking for adventures."

They first met in November 1966. Lennon, on the recommendation of a friend, went to the Indica gallery for an exhibition of "anti-art". The spacious hall was crowded, everyone was talking about something, discussing the latest news. John has always resisted this society of snobs and mawkish intellectuals. Out of boredom, he decided to take a walk and suddenly came across an inscription: "Beat it up." Lennon wanted to carry out his plan, but a voice called out to him: "Only for five shillings." That's what Yoko said.

This was the first time he saw the woman of his whole life, but he did not attach much importance to the fateful acquaintance. And the very next morning I received my first message from her — a book where She talked about the world order, the meaning of life and all that, which the famous musician, who had had enough of the love of the audience, did not care about. From that day on, the persistent Japanese woman continued to attack John with notes, calls and sudden meetings.

It was not the first time that the Japanese woman bewitched men with her unflattering beauty. She has already had two marriages under her belt — the first with the talented but poor composer Toshi Ichiyanagi, the second with producer Anthony Cox, who pulled Yoko out of depression several times, but, alas, did not deserve her love. The couple divorced as soon as Lennon's muse managed to win over his genius.

Susan immediately suspected something was wrong and demanded an explanation from John. He waved it off, saying that she was a crazy artist. But Yoko did not even think about giving up, she bent her line until Lennon's marriage finally fell apart. Leaving his wife, he shouted in his heart that their son Julian was the result of an extra bottle of whiskey. Then it seemed to Lennon that he had finally found true freedom. He would later say that Yoko had replaced all those who had left his life and forced him to look at himself and the world around him differently.

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr still remember the day when Ono first entered the recording studio with Lennon. John didn't even want to listen to his friends who tried to explain to him that a woman didn't belong here. "She didn't know a damn thing about music, but she was telling Paul how to sing and me how to play the drums. We were furious, but there was nothing we could do about it. John didn't seem to hear us," Ringo said in an interview. In 1970, the legendary Liverpool Four broke up.

The band's business had not been good for a long time, the Beatles stopped writing new songs and were engaged in creativity separately, but millions of fans around the world refused to believe that the former team was no more. The angry audience immediately blamed Yoko for everything. The newspapermen happily picked up on this idea, and at the same moment headlines appeared in the press: "The Black Witch destroyed the Beatles", "The devil possessed the Liverpool four," but Lennon didn't care about it either: they completely dissolved into each other, even looked the same: shapeless clothes, round glasses and long Her hair was parted in the middle.

Shortly before the breakup of The Beatles, Lennon and Yoko set up their own studio where they could create whatever they wanted. It is here that John will record his famous album Imagine. Later, critics would recognize him as the best musician's record, and the real "Beatlemans" would grab their heads and curse his Japanese muse with renewed vigor.

In 1969, the mad lovers will get married in Gibraltar, the ceremony will last a record 72 minutes. And again, all traditions will be broken, it's not Yoko who will take John's last name, but he will take hers. Back in Amsterdam, the happy newlyweds will rent a presidential suite in one of the city's hotels, change into pajamas and... call together journalists. This "recumbent conference" lasted for several days, as the couple fought for world peace.

They were inseparable for four years, but the family idyll ended when Lennon noticed another woman at a party in honor of the election of the next American president. Tipsy, John took the guest into the next room and made love to her. Like a true Japanese woman, Yoko did not make scandals for her husband in public, but only asked him to hand over the flower and say that she still loves him.

John spent the next year and a half in Los Angeles, where It allowed him everything he loved so much: alcohol, fun, women. She even picked up her secretary, the pretty Mei Pang, as a lover. Lennon was happy at first: "You are the most understanding woman in the world," he told his wife on the phone.

Loneliness quickly got tired, John wanted to return, but Yoko was adamant. To her husband's pleas, she replied sharply: "You are not ready yet." As Mei Pang later told me, it all ended abruptly. Ono called her and said that she had found a person who would help John quit smoking. So Lennon came home. Reconciliation with his wife ended with the conception of a child, whom both had long despaired of waiting for after several miscarriages. The birth of Sean's son finally put everyone in their place.

Now John was tinkering with the baby, and Yoko was arranging exhibitions and buying up expensive real estate with the money left over from the Beatles ships. Friends often teased Lennon. "You sing about freedom, a world without property, and you live in a six-room apartment with separate rooms for furs and shoes." John himself had long been sick of such a life, but how could he contradict a woman he loved to distraction.

In 1980, the former Beatle would record the last Double Fantasy album in collaboration with Yoko Ono, and a week later he would be shot by a mad fan Mark Champion. In an interview, Lennon's killer will say that he thought John was a god, but at some point he came down to earth and became an ordinary person. "Then it seemed to me that I was going to shoot the picture on the album cover, a two—dimensional celebrity without real feelings," Champ confesses to reporters while already in prison. Former detractors will suddenly begin to sympathize with Yoko and feel sorry for the woman who lost the best man. But It will not even think of grieving.

A week after her husband's death, she will put up for auction his letters and albums, and six months later the media will tell that the eccentric Japanese woman has remarried. However, this marriage will be short-lived.

[v3nusxsky]

Hellooo I wanted to ask for a leonora lesso x reader fic that's hurt/comfort, when r has a nightmare of a previous SA she wakes up and accidentally destroys stuff w her telekinesis abilities and leo tries to comfort her but r pushes her away because she doesn't want to hurt her, Leo assures her that she won't get hurt and comforts r through it? It's oddly specific but inspired by that song beuatiful boy by John Lennon and yoko ono specifically that remix that goes [the monsters gone hes on the run and your gfs here] this is something I experience when I dream of it sometimes and you write comfort so well <3

He's gone Darling

*Authors note~ I had to check this song out I've seen it all over my TikTok but never placed the song till now.  Y'all really are giving me some amazing songs to add to my playlist &lt;;3*

Trigger warnings~ past sexual assault

Prompt~ see ask^^^^

You hated that they could still hurt you now. It didn't seem fair. You'd suffered at their hands for years, abuse of every kind and you never told a soul due to the fear it would get worse and no one would believe you. Yet you'd managed to escape now and you were safe. You'd found a nice job in the school for good and evil. And hell you'd even healed enough and found a beautiful woman who made you feel like you were the most beautiful person in the world. Your life had started looking up until these stupid nightmares began.

At first you tried to mask them, not really wanting to admit that he still had power over you.  But your girlfriend was extremely observant and noticed you were avoiding her. She confronted you about it and you explained everything. Immediately she began thinking of anything that could help get a good nights rest. Together you decided you'd sleep in her chambers tonight and she'd watch over you to ensure your safety. Truthfully you were scared but the idea of curling up in her embrace sounded so much more appealing than the fear you felt.

That night you were all snuggled into her side, head resting in her chest as she held you rubbing soothing circles and humming to you as you fell asleep. Safe. That's all you had to remind yourself. You were safe with her. Her hand never left your back or your hair and for a while you were okay. Your little sleepy breaths were truly adorable and she couldn't understand just how they could've hurt you.

Your breathing sped up, and your limbs began to flail, tossing and turning as you tried to escape the memories and images your mind conjured up. A traumatic onslaught of the worst times of your life. Your own telekinetic abilities responding to the blur of emotions you were experiencing. Your body trying to protect itself from the threat that was no longer real. Lamps, clothing and even a few picture frames were being thrown across the room. Leonora ducking every single one and attempting to rouse you from the torment of your own mind. Your dream state was too strong and as the dream progressed so did the items being thrown as you hit and kicked out desperate to make it stop. Your crys were crushing her heart as she sat helplessly calling for you to wake up reminding you that you are safe with her and they weren't here no more. It's just your Nora.

You awoke with a frightened scream and you immediately pulled your knees to your chest rocking yourself as you cried. You hardly registered your girlfriends presence or her words of reassurance as you continued to babble incoherently about what you'd seen, what they did. Leonora knew it was wrong, that you had no control over the information you were now telling her but the rage that bubbled beneath the surface was a different monster to battle. They weren't important right now, what was important was you.

"Love? Can I touch you? I need you to calm your breathing darling girl" she murmured and you flinched away from her. "No! No touch! Please no" you sobbed absolutely broken. "Okay darling okay no touch can you take some deep breaths?" You nodded and greedily sucked air into your burning lungs. "Good girl pretty, you're doing so good. That's it keep going" she encouraged until you finally felt ready enough to throw yourself into her awaiting arms.

You sat there in silence snuffling quietly into the column of her neck. You'd nuzzle closer every now and then and she would make sure to hold you tighter. "Love? You're getting sleepy shall we try again?" She murmured kissing your head. How on earth did she know you were falling asleep cradled into her body. "Scared" you mumbled, "wrecked room" you whispered guiltily. "Hush love I don't mind about the room. How would you like to try sleeping?"

"Mmm like this?"  You mumbled not really wanting to move. Thankfully you didn't have to, Leonora shifted to lay more comfortably for you both and hummed you to sleep once more. They may have hurt you but you had her now and no one would ever do such a thing to you ever again. The last thing you heard was the reassuring words, "The monsters gone  he's  on the run and your Leo's here my beautiful beautiful beautiful girl"

Word count~ 913

[true-blue-sonic]

I find it kinda sad how some of the fandom will characterize Silver as all "Whiney" and "annoying" because he was implied to cry once and she'd the slightest amount of tears in the comics (old comics) and it's just sad bc silver has so much more character then that. I think that's why I like your writing so much, because you give him more then just dorky kid and whiney child guy y'know? (Sorry if that got a bit rambling and stuff lol)

I figure that ties in into the massive mischaracterisation Silver suffers from basically all sides of his character, but where his 'babyfication' runs most rampant, in my personal opinion. Furthermore, for me him seemingly crying at the end of his storymode in '06 nicely ties into that overall plot point of the game, and makes for something meaningful and interesting to analyse. The whole idea is that the person containing Iblis may never cry, lest their tears call forth his flames. Silver never cries in the game no matter how frustrated he gets with his never-ending battle against Iblis or when he loses Amy as a friend or when Elise dies.... but then he loses Blaze, the one person he thought would always be with him and who he would never want to take on the burden he was going to inflict on himself, and that is what makes him cry. I cannot put exactly into words why I find it so meaningful, but I feel that they wouldn't have put in the sight of him wiping at his eyes for no reason considering how much crying played a central role in the game. And as for the The Silver Saga issue where he cries too, his friends were basically dying because at that moment he wasn't strong enough to defeat the Second Devourer. I can forgive him crying then, since he gets a second wind moments after.

So yeah, people seem to cherry-pick only certain moments that display Silver's personality, and then use that to determine that the whole of his character is like that. Silver is far more multifaceted than either an innocent naive uwu baby or a brooding murder machine; he's got touches of both, but that both is very important. Not one or the other, just... Silver, basically. Polite and friendly to the people close to him, a heart of gold, self-sacrificial, and with the best intentions for the world, but brusque and rude while on a mission, smug and overconfident, absolutely ruthless when he feels it is necessary even in situations where cooperation and just talking would get him to his goal much faster, displaying the occasional black-and-white thinking and tunnel vision, and not allowing himself much time for sad emotions. And yet in the Rivals games, he can absolutely be polite, tries to indicate to the other characters what might be going on, and multiple times calls to talk to "Eggman" first before getting roped into a fight anyway. So generally he's not baby who bursts into tears if you look at him funny and would never ever hurt a fly (seriously, I really wonder how the heck people get that perception of him?? The things I see sometimes are mind-blowing in how bafflingly ooc they are), nor is he excessively violent, unreasonable, and brooding (traits I would say are much more ascribable to a character like Shadow or Metal Sonic). What traits he displays most seem highly dependent on the state of the world and whether or not he is on a mission and has support from his friends.

Though, what I furthermore thinks also leads to people finding Silver more whiny is the fact that he got quite a young, inexperienced voice from Pete Capella. Quinton Flynn does it a bit better imo (he's my favourite Silver voice actor), but Bryce Papenbrook goes right back and makes him sound younger and a lot more cocky (to the point where in TSR I occasionally felt like I was listening to an even cockier Sonic than to Silver). But if you asked someone to listen to all three of those and then to Daisuke Ono, I think no-one will be able to tell the Japanese voice is for the same character, haha! In Japanese Silver's got very deep, serious voice whereas in English he sounded/sounds far more childish and rude, and that might also contribute to the perception of him being annoying and childish and ✨uwu cinnamon roll✨. So yeah, overall Silver suffers from massive ooc-ness and mischaracterisation, and it, well, sucks. It doesn't help that he was basically HATED during his first five years of existence until Generations salvaged his boss battle. I do not think it is a bad time to be a Silver fan, people seem to like him a lot more these days, but I do wish they'd take a less flanderised view of him sometimes, haha!

[mydaroga]

Fest for Beatles Fans 2024 Write-Up

In case anyone wants to know what goes on at these things, I can at least give you a run-down of what I did at this one, though as always there was far more going down than any one person could see. I tend to favor panels and discussions over bands, so I am sure I missed a lot of great music. Because the bands were great.

It was held this year at the TWA Hotel, which is part of JFK International Airport and has retained a lot of the features of when it used to be a terminal. I posted photos of it last year when I was there on a layover, and I still love it to death. They did NOT let me ride on the baggage thingy though. In addition, I was unable to secure a room at the hotel, though if they hold it here again I will be snagging one because, like I said, the place is bonkers.

Friday

I entered my cross-stitch in the art contest, because why not? While there ran into several people whom I had met last August at the Fest in Chicago.

Beatles Biography panel with Vivek Tiwary (The Fifth Beatle graphic novel) and Madeline Bocaro (In Your Mind - The Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono). Vivek comes off very passionate and sweet, very respectful of Brian Epstein and cognizant of the importance of telling his story right. Bocaro is also very passionate, but I'm afraid some of us present her personal Ono pendulum has swung too far to admit any human fault in her subject. I later bought the Brian book, but not the Ono.

First Generation Fan Panel was mostly Leslie Healy recounting her adventures, which are legion: she was at the Ed Sullivan dress rehearsal, and at Shea Stadium, and she's *also* the one who got that audio at Paul's house when she visited all four Beatles in 1967. Also, she had a Bearded Collie, which I also had growing up, so that gave me a thrill.

I entered the 60s dress up contest -- second time as Twiggy was the charm, and I won! And then there was a lot of dancing. Gogo boots, ironically, not so much made for such activities.

Saturday

Chatted with some folks because it was more interesting that listening to the speakers, oops. The guy from the Ranking the Beatles podcast is lovely and we've already been in touch since. Also Terry Crain who wrote a great coffee table book about NEMS Beatles merch, which I bought last year.

Went to the dealer's room and bought silly buttons, like TO HELL WITH THE 'BEATLES' and I ❤️ PAUL. There were butcher covers and all that jazz, and horrid dolls, and all the lovely awful things, none of which I could ever afford. But I can buy buttons!

Lovely friends entered the talent contest and proceeded to the finals, and they kicked so much ass and I am so proud of them.

Academic panel with Ken Womack, Christine Feldmman-Barrett, and Andy Nichols was pretty good, a lot of talk about how subsequent generations get hooked and sort of the state of Beatles fandom/academia today. Which feels fairly positive, in the sense that all present felt there is more respect now than there was--though still room to improve on that score.

As a side note, all of my interactions with Womack convince me he's a great guy, very passionate in his love for the Beatles and very devoted not only to doing this right but in elevating lesser-heard voices. He's a very likable man.

Speaking of, next he interviewed Laurie Kaye, who did the radio interview with John on his last day. Her story was very moving.

Tried to dance again this evening after the talent show but unlike the previous night, everyone thought we were weird and stared forbiddingly at us from their seated positions.

But my PAUL IS DEAD / IF YOU WANT IT / HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM JOHN & YOKO shirt was a hit. Finally.

Sunday

Saw Jude Southerland-Kessler talk about the "birth of the beatles" but sadly it was NOT about the tv film of the same name. So I went to chat with Adrian Sinclair and Allen Kozinn instead, which they later tweeted about.

Beatlemania in the 21st Century panel was about, well, what it says. Next was Women's History of the Beatles which was also interesting and involved various writers, teachers, fans, podcasters, etc. I got to meet Erika from BC the Beatles which was very cool.

Then came the Laurence Juber and Steve Holley panel which I have mentioned elsewhere.

Jenny Boyd talked about fashion and the Apple Boutique, hosted by a lady who wrote a book about Beatles and fashion I would like to read.

Fantastic band with great additional harmonies, which I knew who they were.

I did not win the art contest. I did get a participation ribbon. I'm not even a millennial.

We then found a quiet place to chat, of which which the hotel had many, and then I needed to go to bed so I could be bad in like five hours for my flight.

I've probably forgotten lots of things but that is the general run down. There was also a video room, two stages for bands, more art, authors and guests at tables all weekend, and Mickey Dolenz, whom I did not meet but it's cool he was there.

[ecargmura]

Dog Signal Episode 18 Review - The Mangaka's Deaf Dog

After three weeks of emotional punches to the gut, this episode delivers another emotional one, but in a more light-hearted tone. This episode was so great. I was surprised that the client of the day managed to solve his issue on his own without consulting the trainers earlier. Despite that, it was a very compelling story of discovery.

Haruyuki is a struggling manga artist who moved to Tokyo to achieve his dreams. His first serialized story got cancelled after a while and he has been struggling to put out something new for a while now. His editor always tells him his stories lack emotions, which is shown from how withdrawn he is. His only companion is Chataro, his Shiba Inu who is the cutest thing ever with his dopey smile that can brighten anyone’s day. Haruyuki’s story is about how pets can change people and bring out the best in them; this is definitely shown when Haruyuki realizes that Chataro has become deaf and they both discover new things about each other and themselves as they both try to deal with this sudden change in lifestyle.

I love that Haruyuki imagines speech bubbles as if he’s thinking about what Chataro could be saying to him. It’s definitely showing the creative side in him—the hidden talent that is waiting to be discovered by himself. His main issue is that he’s socially awkward, so he’s not good with understanding emotions. Chataro is full of emotions and energy, which is why Haruyuki is so dedicated to his dog; I love the fact that he found his dog as a stray and he just followed him home one day. Chataro definitely just saw him and claimed him as his human. Later in the episode, the speech bubbles disappear because he is troubled over Chataro’s loss of hearing; not only that, he also notices the change in Chataro’s mood as he stopped smiling since his hearing loss.

Haruyuki is one of those rare dog owners in this show where he’s very kind and patient. He doesn’t try to force Chataro to do things he’s uncomfortable with and tries his absolute best to communicate with him in other ways, eventually resorting to hand gestures and lip movement. Even when his dog bit him due to being startled, he doesn’t give up on him. I know for a fact that some dog owners would be super dramatic over the change in their dogs, but Haruyuki blames himself for troubling him and tries to imagine what his dog is feeling over his sudden silent world. The change manages to help bring him out of his shell as he learns the importances of emotions and manages to get serialized!

I think the most impressive thing about Haruyuki is that he doesn’t go to Proud Dog at first, but only went towards the end. He first met Miyu when he and Yuko were out on a walk with Tiara. When he saw Chataro, who doesn’t like being around other humans and dogs, Miyu gave his business card to Haruyuki, who then finds it in his pocket towards the end of the episode. I do like that even though he technically fixed his issue, he still went because he wants to know more about what he can do for Chataro. Seeing Niwa be impressed was a first! Though, I’m sure Haruyuki still need some consulting over Chataro’s minor issues like his habit of waiting for food and barking at other dogs, but that will most likely be done off-screen.

I’m always amazed by the choice of guest voice actors for this show. This episode has Miyu Irino and Junichi Suwabe as Haruyuki and Chataro’s speaking voice. If you’re a long time anime fan, you know these two are big names. I was legit shocked to hear that they casted these two. Miyu Irino did an excellent job with the reserved, gloomy side of Haruyuki and the loud, confident side in the second half. Since Miyu is voiced by Kensho Ono, seeing their characters interact felt like a Seraph of the End (where they played the leads) and A Silent Voice (where Irino played the MC and Ono played the best friend with green curly hair) reunion! Heck, the scene at Proud Dog with Niwa, Miyu and Haruyuki is basically just a Seraph of the End reunion as Niwa’s voice actor Suzumura voiced Crowley. Most of all, I did NOT expect Suwabe to be voicing the DOG. The way he used a cuter voice to voice him got my heart all fluttery. I wouldn’t mind watching an entire anime with Suwabe voicing all the dogs. I love it when voice actors play a totally unexpected character.

What do you mean there are only two episodes left? What do you mean Dog Signal is going to end in two weeks? It’s going to be hard to part ways with this anime. It’s easily a hidden gem and a potential all-time favorite. The list of my absolute favorite animes doesn’t usually have much changes, but Dog Signal, a very underrated and obscure anime, could easily make a change in that list. What are your thoughts on this episode of Dog Signal?

[chaoticfandomthot]

Ep 14 mouse thoughts

- called the bong yi not saying anything and also the mu chi misdirection

- i fear if he stays close to his friends he'll end up killing one of them but if he tries to separate himself he'll fall deeper into yo han's brain

- Choi PD that was kind of stupid af of you ngl

- ah unless it was a trap/test FOR ba reum.. still stupid but smart stupid yknow

- im having the 'i could fix him' urges towards ba reum ill be honest

- okay this is cute af but so so so so sad i hope the dad was able to come to the wedding (HE WAS!! YIPPEEEE!!)

- i.. enforcing that him killing people is a good thing is stressing me out i'm scared of how it'll affect him long term (if he gets to have a long term)

- the aunt.. she knows.. she going to the us cause she knows..

- ba reum giving the cat away feels like a good thing for the poor kitten but i'm scared it might be a further loss of control but im glad the kitten can be safe but i have so many conflicting thoughts

- ..'she can fix me...' ...ba reum.. no...

- this would be better if she wasnt a highschooler when they met and there wasn't the 'i'll marry her when she comes of age' i can't root for them together

- NO DANIEL YOU'RE REALLY REALLY NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING BUT IT'S A BIT LATE ISNT IT YOU STUPID BITCH

- aaah fuck the kid will die or have very important evidence fr fr

- AMAZING SATURDAY??? I hear kibum💕

- were the other guys just training?? 필요없어?? Daniel is bad news bad news bad news

- i feel like that target was really important tho..

- yo talk to that grandma she knows things for sureeeee

- i mean it feels like it's the meat truck guy but it seems a bit too straightforward?

- i mean okay then

- Chi kook! The shot was really weird and a bit ominous.. worried...

- okay so he's using the grandma as cover, he probably killed her cat which is the one she carried around and the keys are either for trophies or-

- okay so for evidence of bigger crimes

- OH ISNT THAT THE GIRLFRIEND?? THAT'S SUPPOSEDLY ABROAD??

- the concept of identifying killers by dna never fails to piss me off because it assumes people can be born killers and never have the choice to not be one and no one kills vulnerable people unless they were 'born this way' but this show is too good for me to stop watching

- BA REUM HIDE YOUR FACE OMFG YOU NEVER KNOW DON'T TAKE STUPID RISKS

- oh he had time? I'm glaf but also please stop before you can't anymore ba reum

- damn ba reum is quick af??? (Kinda hot)

- ba reum.. don't act dumb when you were previously sooooo fast to understand it's suspicious

- i feel like he'll believe he's getting better only to fall deeper

- mu chi my poor mid 40s baby boy

- not the sibling adoption😭😭😭 break my heart more will you

- wtf. Why is that necklaxe there??? The scar?? The brain can't replicate that but it can't be him?? It was before the surgery??

- WHAT???!???? HOW?!??!?

-no. No he didnt. He wouldnt. It cant be him. It was before. It was before. It cant be him. Please its not him. Please he wouldnt. No no no no no no non on ono no no no no no no no no come on no please.

- .

[jpt1311animeblogoscarsheareriii]

Module 9 Genshiken (Part 2)

So Genshiken (Part 2) is just the second season of Genshiken which was what we viewed for the last post. This time a year has passed since the start of the show and we are introduced to a new member of the club Ogiue, she joins because she does not get along with otakus and the manga club asks if she could join Genshiken. As we watch the episodes listed, we find out that she enjoys yaoi and likes to draw doujinshi with this as the base. She hates otakus because she herself has trouble accepting what she likes and tries to hide it from others, what she likes yaoi and boys love manga and doujinshi. Throughout the anime she begins to accept herself and open up a bit to the other members of the club, mostly the girls Kasukabe and Ono. In the later episodes we also learn that she has a bit of trauma in her past that is most likely the reason for her actions and personality in the beginning of the show.

I think season 2 of Genshiken goes a little deeper in to what the first season did and the message it seemed to carry being accepting oneself and finding people you can be yourself with. This can be shown with Oguie because she is in to a very distinct genre that not many on the outside would admit to liking themselves. The members of the club seem to accept her right away because they know that everyone has their own interests and tastes. Something else in this season is job hunting for Kugayama, Maderame, and Sasahara in that order it seems. Some of what we discussed in the previous module comes up here with hunting for a job in the last year of college and all that it entails. We also see different approaches to this with Kugayama getting it done during the summer early and Maderame putting it off until the middle of the school year. We see Sasahara stressing about this in the last couple of episodes which showcase how important this is and how stressful it is to go through this. Overall, I did enjoy my time with Genshiken (Part 2) as well as the first season. I might watch some more episodes if I have time, but if not I definitely can say it was an enjoyable watch.

Also, I thought that episode 5 for this season was fantastic and hilarious because of the fantasies that Ogiue had between the other club members. I actually laughed when it kept going with the art style change as well as all of the tropes it used.

[michaelnguyendotme]

In today's fast-paced world, it is essential to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies to succeed in any industry. The same goes for the marketing industry, where staying ahead of the curve can make all the difference. Dan Salganik  is a Managing Partner at VisualFizz with extensive experience in developing the company, managing client relationships, project management, strategy, and business development. He specializes in strategic campaigns for community/city revamping projects, including a project associated with former President Obama, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, Yoko Ono, and the emperor.   Listen [powerpress] Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Amazon | Radio Public | Google Podcast Setting Realistic Expectations One of the key takeaways from the interview is the importance of setting realistic expectations when it comes to marketing. Dan mentions that he tries to avoid clients who have very high expectations and are quick to see unrealistic results. He advises staying overly honest and communicating clearly with clients to avoid any misunderstandings. Actionable Recommendation: When setting expectations with clients, be clear about what is achievable and what is not. Set realistic goals and timelines and communicate any potential roadblocks or challenges that may arise. Error to Avoid: Avoid making promises that you cannot keep. Be honest about what you can deliver and avoid overpromising to clients. Embracing New Technologies The marketing industry is constantly evolving, and new technologies are emerging every day. According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the global marketing automation market is expected to grow from $3.3 billion in 2019 to $6.4 billion by 2024. This highlights the importance of embracing new technologies to stay ahead of the curve. Actionable Recommendation: Stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in marketing. Embrace new tools and technologies that can help you streamline your processes and improve your results. Error to Avoid: Avoid getting too comfortable with your current processes and tools. Be open to exploring new avenues and technologies that can help you stay ahead of the curve. Consistent Communication Another key takeaway from Dan is the importance of consistent communication with clients. He emphasizes the importance of two-way communication with clients and provides them with a support system to help with growth. Actionable Recommendation: Prioritize consistent communication with clients. Set up regular check-ins and provide them with a support system to help them achieve their goals. Error to Avoid: Avoid communication with clients or only communicate when there is an issue. Consistent communication can help build trust and strengthen the relationship with clients. In conclusion, staying ahead of the curve in the marketing industry requires setting realistic expectations, embracing new technologies, and consistent communication with clients. By following these key takeaways and actionable recommendations, marketers can improve their results and build stronger relationships with clients. It is essential to avoid errors such as overpromising, getting too comfortable with current processes, and avoiding communication with clients. By staying updated with the latest trends and technologies and prioritizing communication and honesty, marketers can succeed in today's fast-paced world. Resources Favorite podcasts: "The Tim Ferriss Show" and "How I Built This" by Guy Raz Favorite CEO To follow: Andreessen Horowitz, a venture capital firm Favorite Tools/Products: Playing around with AI Advice to his 20-year-old self: Dan's advice to his 20-year-old self is to stick to the things he is passionate about and explore every avenue until he is ready to call it quits. https://michaelnguyen.me/how-this-marketing-agency-achieves-double-digit-revenue-growth/?feed_id=278&_unique_id=64dbca15eeea5

[sigmadolos]

@bitterseadrop​ said:  the searing pain she was anticipating did not come. in fact, there was nothing at all. her eyes went wide with bewilderment as she noticed what had happened — sigma was the one to save her from tragedy.

things were certainly not going according to plan and she had to admit, if it were anyone else she probably would have taken the chance to get herself to safety first. but him? she‘d be lying if he wasn‘t a person she was treading on eggshells around and she was sure the feeling was mutual. it didn‘t change the fact that she was in his debt though. if it weren‘t for him, she probably would have bled out in a back alley on that fateful day where a port mafia lackey had gotten the spring on her.

" oh you fucking idiot, " she cursed underneath her breath, all the while trying to stop his bleeding. her plan wasn‘t the only one that didn‘t go down as expected, as the perpetrator made a run for it when he noticed that he hadn‘t shot his intended target. underestimating him would be a mistake though, as the most inexperienced lackeys were usually the more dangerous ones.

there was no time to ponder on that now. she could hunt his ass down later and make him regret his actions, but for now she ( quite literally ) had more pressing matters on hand, " don‘t you dare die on me now, bastard. "

MY MUSE TAKES A HIT TO PROTECT YOURS FROM A FATAL ATTACK, SEND YOUR MUSES REACTION

  It’d been a swift step into Death’s path, but not a blind one. Nor a careless one, not truly. What better way to prove something of genuine good intention than taking the hit? There hadn’t been TIME for any other option if he wanted to spare her life. So the manager had taken a step into the role of guardian angel to see that the string of her life was not so abrupt cut short.

   Pain explodes through his chest, ripping through him as Sigma wavers in his spot for a moment before he tumbles to the ground  with long stands of hair and coat trailing behind him like feathers from a down bird as he collapses ono the ground. His lips part, drawing in ragged gasps of air - yet he does not cry. He does not scream or wail or thrash, but lays quietly with only his shuddering breaths despite the immense amount of pain that he had to be enduring. Perhaps there is something horrifying in that fact if someone were to reflect on it, that he can endure so much pain and stay mute, still force a wobbly smile as if it doesn’t matter. Not many professionals could, let alone a supposedly average person.

  He’s endured so much pain over the years that he is no stranger to it. Even to this intensity, it is not his first time. Had he wanted to cry out, Sigma was not sure he COULD  have. Too often even a mere whimper brought excruciating additional pain or the threat of starvation by those who’d once help him captive. Now he endured his pain in silence.

   “  A thank you would suffice.  “  He chokes out with a weak laugh, only to wince in pain when it forces another wave of fresh blood out of the open wound. His chest feels alarmingly warm and sticky while his fingers and toes feel cold, as though winter were reaching out to touch them.  “  It’s- It’s okay. If you need to go. Don’t waste it on me.  “  He swallows the pain clenched behind his teeth, tries to offer something like a reassuring smile but he’s certain it falls flat. If only because the white of his suit makes the blood all the more pronounced and visible to the eye.

   His lips tremble slightly. It hurts. The wound hurts, her hands hurt, but the pressure is necessary to stop the blood. He needs to stay conscious, that is important. And so the wounded angel still fights, with crimson stained breast and shaky breaths, he refuses to fall into the embrace of the unconsciousness.

   “  I don’t- don’t plan to.  “  Sigma struggles to form the words, they feel heavy and odd in his mouth, but still he manages to speak.  Each breath brings a fresh wave of agony but breathe he does. Because that is life, breathing and fighting through the struggles and pain.   “  S-  Sorry. He got away because of me, didn’t he?  “  The usual light of his silver eyes turns grey with misery, a light snuffed out to their spark even as he still endures.  

[topazthecat]

Great 2009 NME Yoko Ono Interview What Rock n Roll Has Taught Me She Found John Crying Reading The 1972 Feminist Book The First Sex This is a great online NME article,What Rock n Roll Has Taught Me with quotes from Yoko Ono, and Yoko says that in the 1970's she and John tried hard to get the 1972 feminist book,The First Sex by Elizabeth Gould Davis about how men unjustly erased women's contributions and inventions etc and Yoko found John crying in their bed one day reading this book, and she asked him why he was crying and he said I'm sorry I didn't know men did this to women. Yoko said this in a youtube documentary movie called, The Day John Lennon died too.   https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/yoko-ono-what-rocknroll-has-taught-me-1188416  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk35hLnNZOU   John himself said in his very last radio or any interview,that he came from the macho school of pretense and he said he knows it's more like this in England, but it's like this in America too, that as a boy you were mainly trained to be in the army, and you were taught not to cry,not show emotions,don't touch,don't feel,don't react and John said he thinks that's what messed us all up and that it's time for a change. In this great article in The Nation,Lennon's Last Interview:The Sixties Showed Us The Possibility by Jon Wiener, he said in John's last radio interview by Dave Sholin of RKO Radio (and this was hours before John was tragically killed by the one time crazy horrible big Beatles fan since he was 11,and John had been his favorite Beatle) Dave asked John about feminism and John said, ''I'm more feminist now than I was when I sang Woman Is The N****r Of The World.'' In his last radio interview John also said that he was intellectually a feminist before,but now he was putting his body where his mouth was.   In this article John is then quoted saying,' 'Isn't it time we destroyed the macho ethic? Where has it gotten us all of these thousands of years? Are we still going to have be clubbing each other to death? Do I have to arm-wrestle you to have a relationship with you as another male? Can we not have a relationship on another level?'' The Day John Lennon Died documentary There was something in the way he moved us. Dec. 8 marks the 34th anniversary of the night the legendary John Lennon was gunned down by Mark David Chapman outside his home in New York City. Lennon was born on Oct. 9, 1940, in Liverpool, England. He would go on to change rock 'n' roll with The Beatles.  https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/lennons-last-interview-sixties-showed-us-possibility/  Also there is a great online Huffington Post 2010 article by long time anti-sexist,anti-men's violence,anti-pornography educator former all star high school football player and author of the great,important 2006 book,The Macho Paradox:How Some Men Hurt Women and How All Men Can Help, Jackson Katz.John Lennon on Fatherhood,Feminism,and Phony Tough Guy Posturing https://www.huffpost.com/entry/john-lennon-on-fatherhood_b_800333 John Lennon on Fatherhood, Feminism, and Phony Tough Guy Posturing  HuffPost Entertainment  Musician and artist and long time good John Lennon friend Klaus Voorman says that Yoko Ono made John Lennon a kinder better more gentle person.   http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-37223991 This is a great online NME article,What Rock n Roll Has Taught Me with quotes from Yoko Ono, and Yoko says that in the 1970's she and John tried hard to get the 1972 feminist book,The First Sex by Elizabeth Gould Davis about how men unjustly erased women's contributions and inventions etc and Yoko found John crying in their bed one day reading this book, and she asked him why he was crying and he said I'm sorry I didn't know men did this to women. Yoko said this in a youtube documentary movie called, The Day John Lennon died too.

https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/yoko-ono-what-rocknroll-has-taught-me-1188416

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk35hLnNZOU

https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/lennons-last-interview-sixties-showed-us-possibility/

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/john-lennon-on-fatherhood_b_800333

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-37223991

[e-devotion]

stay on the wall

A friend asked for prayer.  As he shared his request, the other friend began to pray. When he concluded the prayer concluded, he humbly stated, “Please stay on the wall.”

He understood the effectiveness of the Christian who tirelessly commits himself to sharing the Gospel of Christ. In that same token, he knew all too well the intense desire of the enemy to deter the Christian from staying on the wall through various means (e.g. discouragement, weariness, etc.). He knew that for people to be reached, including himself, Christians must stay on the wall, instead of climbing down and walking away from a God-called mission.

Nehemiah was the man, and the people of Jerusalem needed the wall and city rebuilt.  God called Nehemiah to do just that.

Years prior, an urgent need touched the heart of Nehemiah. God used the hardship to move Nehemiah not only to pray, but to action as well.

Nehemiah 1:1-4  NLT 

“The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capitol, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, and some men from Judah came; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped and had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem. 3 They said to me, ‘The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire.’ 4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven”

Not only were the people discouraged, but they were in danger. Why? Because the walls that once surrounded and protected them were now broken down. The walls needed to be rebuilt, and God called Nehemiah to the task of rebuilding.

As Nehemiah kept on with the mission God had called him to, enemies often tried to discourage him.  Their words and fearful tactics sought to stop the work.

Nehemiah 6:1-3  NLT

“Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall, and that no breach remained in it, although at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates, 2 then Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, ‘Come, let us meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono.’ But they were planning to harm me. 3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, ‘I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?’” 

Nehemiah’s response to the ongoing threats of the enemy were important.    Nehemiah focused on the mission: “I am doing a great work.”  Nehemiah knew what he had been called to do and why.  Next, he recognized who it was that had called him to the work, and this caused him to spotlight the labor as one of greatness!

Nehemiah recognized the importance of the wall, and its benefit to others: “I cannot come down.”  Within Nehemiah’s few and reflected the heart of a man who knew that his mission was not about himself but about the needs of others. Nehemiah comprehended the importance and the benefit of the wall being rebuilt. Furthermore, Nehemiah was called to act courageously with great perseverance to see the wall to completion.

Nehemiah remembered his calling, didn’t listen to the enemies, remained steadfast refusing to leave his post even in the midst of opposition. “Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”

Have you ever witnessed individual leadership climbing down from the walls instead of manning their post, due to the enemies’ taunts?

Every day we are given opportunity to impact others.  We can either stay on the wall doing the work God has called us to, or we can allow discouragement and criticism from the enemy to lure us down from the wall.

Refuse to lose our focus. Remember we have been called by God. Focus on Jesus instead of on the problems. Recognize the importance of what God has called us to do. Now remain steadfast refusing to come down from the wall leaving our important work!

This e-devotion was taken from… https://entrustedhopeministries.org/2020/12/30/please-stay-on-the-wall-someone-needs-you/

[secondhand-trash]

14 AND HUIHUI

A/N: it’s 30 degrees today and I was sweating from head to toe😌none of us are damn near even feeling chilly but let’s go winter fic (inspired by that vid you sent me about the ono couple lmao)

Pairing: Fushiguro Megumi x reader

Word count: 851

14. When you get inside after being out during winter for too long

Winter was the best time of the year. No more embarrassing sweat prints over your shirt, no more feeling like you were put into the universe’s steamer the moment you walked out onto the street. Layers were back in and the battle between dressing for style or dressing for the weather was finally over. The wind might be daunting as it slapped across your face but the sudden chill could always make for a good excuse to hide deeper into the arms of that special someone, feeling the temperature raising not from the sun but from the warmth of each other.

That would have been what you were doing if it wasn’t for the fact that both you and your boyfriend were the types of people who’s body wouldn’t warm under the cold no matter how hard they tried.

Fushiguro had very cold hands and while you loved using them as a cooler on your face and neck during the heated seasons of the year, the feeling of his ice-cold fingers linked tightly against your already numb ones did not make for a very cozy situation for any of you. When he leaned down to give you a quick peck while you were out, mostly under your request, the tips of his hair brushing against your cheek as he bent down and immediately stood back up the moment his lips touched the tip of your nose always made you shiver. His hair was like icicles after a long day out, in shape and in temperature. Fushiguro was a blusher but not even the supposed rush of heat was able to counteract the lingering feeling of how frozen your nose felt even under the brief contact.

Wrapped up in as many layers as you could possibly put onto yourself, there was an undeniable buffer between you and him as you walked side by side. The tip of your fingers linked clumsily with his as you tried your best to extend your arms that were all stiffen up from your coat, walking somewhat like a penguin in order to keep your agility. He did not look much better than you, with his scarf pulled up until it was just below his eyes and his hand that wasn’t reaching out for yours stuffed all the way down his coat pocket.

You had tried to insist on being a lovey-dovey couple against the odds of your interlocked hands shaking under the wind and the lack of body temperature either of you could steal from each other as you huddled together as you walked. But soon after a few weeks into your first winter together and it just didn’t seem worth it, you gave up.

It was alright, you could always hold hands when you were inside, making sure your hands were not frozen off before that could happen was more important.

The howling wind pushed you forcefully into your doors and you finally let out a relieved sigh when Fushiguro slammed the door shut. The warmth of your home wrapped you up and you could finally take a good breath as you started shedding off the layers that had been restricting you from doing so.

Shimmying to slid your coat off, you wiggled your fingers around to try and call your senses back to you. The icy tip of your fingers felt almost painful as they registered to the sudden change in temperature, your skin buzzing as blood slowly returned from the bottom to each tip.

You felt another kind of shiver when your hands were taken into a slightly warmer but still equally chilly pair.

Fushiguro’s brows furrowed, “You’re so cold.”

You could feel where each of his fingers was carefully placed around your hands. “You’re one to say,” you chuckled.

He huffed, before he brought your hands near his mouth. His hands were wrapped around yours now, easily covering yours as he closed them together. Your scalp tingled when he blew a warm puff of air against your hands, the contrast in temperature between his focused breaths and your hand stark as he continued. 

His eyes were fixed in front of him, his brows knitted together in concentration with the soft inhales and exhales being the only thing that filled the room as he tried and warm you up. He looked absolutely serious with the task at hand, his lashes resting just above his defined cheeks as he stared intently at your hands that looked so small compared to his.

He took a deep breath when he gently pulled away without letting go of your hands. “You should wear mittens next time,” he said, and you tried to bite back a giggle when you saw him unconsciously rubbing his own hands against yours for warmth.

You shook your head with a laugh. “Sure,” he rolled his head to the side in satisfaction when you put his hands onto the side of your neck, the tender heat seeping into his skin until it felt like your bodies had moulded together at that perfect melting point, “as long as you get matching ones with me.”

[pretchatta]

@obitine-week: stolen moments

this has been in my drafts for nearly a year, so i thought it was time to release it into the wild

rating: general || 1.5k words

---

The news of Onaconda Farr’s death hit Satine harder than she would have expected. He hadn’t always been a perfect leader, but in recent years he had very much been trying, and she’d admired how far he’d come. He had also introduced her to Padmé Amidala, now a good friend, and she knew how instrumental he had been in raising the former Queen of Naboo.

On board the Coronet on the way to Coruscant, she felt empty. It didn’t seem right to attend to state matters on this journey, but nor did she want to spend the whole trip wallowing in memories and sad thoughts. She ended up recording a holo-message for Obi-Wan; he was probably somewhere far away, fighting battles with his legion of clones and former apprentice Anakin Skywalker, bringing a mixture of salvation and destruction to whichever planet they were on. But sending it made her feel a little better, admitting how she felt out loud and sharing her burden with someone who understood her.

The funeral itself was short. She wasn’t sure Chancellor Palpatine did Ono justice with his words, but the fact that someone as important as the Chancellor of the Republic presided over the funeral at all held some meaning. She had made sure to give Padmé her condolences before the service so that she could leave immediately after, the port schedules not giving her much flexibility. It felt a little rushed, but Coruscant was a busy place and she couldn’t afford to leave her people on Mandalore for long, even for funerals.

Satine was feeling relieved that no-one had taken the opportunity to approach her during her visit. She had been half-expecting at least one Senator or political leader to sidle up to her before, during or after the ceremony, but as she left the crowd of mourners behind it seemed she had escaped that, at least. Her relief was short-lived; as she reached the entrance to the diplomatic spaceport, a Senate messenger waylaid her.

“Duchess Satine? Your presence is requested in one of the Senate reception rooms.”

So much for my departure slot, she thought drily. At least she had an excuse that she could try to use against any fines they might try to throw at her.

“Very well,” she sighed. “Lead on.”

Her guards trailed a step behind her as she followed the messenger into the building. They didn’t go far; it was one of the smaller rooms near the entrance.

“Your guards may wait outside, my lady,” the messenger said, giving a small bow as he opened the door for her. Her guards looked to her expectantly.

“It’s fine,” she reassured them, “this is the Senate after all. Thank you,” she added to the messenger, dismissing him before entering the room.

She had been expecting one of the many politicians who had an interest in Mandalore, or in joining the Council of Neutral Systems, so it was a shock to see Obi-Wan. He was standing in the corner of the dimly-lit room in his usual Jedi robes, his stance calm and relaxed. As she entered he looked up at her and his face broke into a smile, though a line of concern creased his brow.

“Satine,” he greeted her, walking towards her. “I got your message.” He took both of her hands in his, raising one to his lips.

“I didn’t realise you were on Coruscant,” she said, her expression breaking into an answering smile of her own.

“A rare day of leave.” His smile faded. “I thought you would appreciate the company.”

She nodded, and tried to say that he was right, but the words wouldn’t come. He wasn’t just right; he understood her, he knew her so completely that he’d figured out what she needed before she’d even realised it herself, and not only that, but he’d come. His only day off, and he’d come to her, because she needed him.

The weight of his actions unlocked something in her; the walls she had so carefully built in order to remain calm and level-headed vanished, and a tidal wave of emotions swept through her, released by him. Grief at the untimely passing of her friend; the stress of ruling a neutral system during a war, without trade or strong allies; powerlessness at being able to stop the injustices that were hurting all people in the galaxy. The pure, searing love she felt for the man in front of her.

Tears formed in her eyes. She wanted to bury her face in the folds of his robes, but the damned headdress she wore wouldn’t allow it. She felt his arms snake around her back, pulling her close, which only made the urge to cry harder. She ended up pressing her forehead to his while he held her, stroking her back as tears rolled down her face and her chest shook with sobs.

Eventually she decided that decorum could be damned, and reached up to drag the ceremonial ornament from her hair. Discarding it on the floor, she pressed her face into his shoulder and wrapped her arms around him. He only held her all the more tightly as she wept, clinging to him as if for dear life. She cried, letting every built-up emotion that she’d been holding inside herself out. She could release her feelings to him, and he would release his to the Force. Quite the pair they made.

She didn’t know how long they stood like that for. She was leaning on him, but he stood firm, strong and steadfast under his robes, holding her up while she broke down. When she felt that all the emotions had been drained out of her, washed away by her tears, she took strength from how he felt under her touch, firm and solid. She raised her face from his shoulder and saw the wet patch her tears had left on his robes.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice hoarse, a small smile forming on her lips.

“You have nothing to apologise for, my dear,” he replied, moving his hands to cup her face and wiping the last tears from under her eyes with his thumbs. There was a tenderness in his eyes that made her heart swell with love; she felt completely safe in his arms, the one place in the whole universe where she could let her guard down.

She tilted her head up and pushed onto her toes to press a gentle kiss to his lips, which he returned.

“I should head back to my ship,” she said softly. “I’m already late for my departure.”

“Forgive me, Duchess, but you can’t go out looking like that.” He had a twinkle in his eye as he said it, and reached into one of the many hidden pockets in his robes to pull out a soft handkerchief. She knew he didn’t usually carry one; she was so lucky to have what little of him she did.

She let him dab gently at her face, wiping her cheeks and softly pressing at her eyes so as not to smudge her makeup. Her handmaidens had known she was going to a funeral today and so had used waterproof products, but even they could be prone to smudging. When he was done, she took the cloth from him before he could tuck it away again and caught the teardrop that was suspended in his beard from when she had kissed him. He chuckled lightly, and the sound warmed her.

“Thank you, Obi-Wan,” she murmured. “I think I needed that.”

She expected him to have a witty retort, but instead he was serious. “Anything for you, Satine.”

She retrieved the headdress from the floor and set it carefully back on her head. It wouldn’t be perfect, but it would do for the walk back to the port. She gave his hand a squeeze and tried to find the right words to say goodbye, but nothing seemed quite right.

She settled on how she felt, instead.

“I love you, Obi-Wan Kenobi.”

His eyes burned with a mixture of affection and sadness. She knew how hard these words were for him.

“Kar’taylir darasuum.”

She pressed her lips together and blinked a few times. She would not start crying again. Instead, she gave him a farewell kiss – she saw him so rarely, she had to make the most of it – and turned to leave.

Her guards didn’t comment on the redness of her eyes or the disarray of her hair; it wasn’t their place. They simply fell into step around her, taking up their positions to escort her back to the ship.

She didn’t comment on the defensive formation they chose, one in front and one behind. It was usually used in more dangerous situations, where an attack could come from anywhere, and rarely somewhere she could run into a friend. The cover they gave her made it difficult for passers-by to see her properly, not practical in a place of politics like the Senate, but it warmed her heart to see them protecting more than just her physical safety.

She still had people she could trust. All was not lost; she would get through this. She was Mandalorian, after all.

[cryingcow]

Character Story - Ono Michio [RGGO]

Tonight we have the most famous and favorite chimera in the RGG series, an amalgamation of Onomichi culture, the pride of Onomichi beloved and feared by many, Ono Michio! Thank you @acearo-edgelord​ for voting last time!

Story: In which Kiryu tries to find a successor to his Ono Michio legacy, gives out unsolicited life lessons, and learns that maybe, just maybe, he should stop giving out unsolicited life lessons.

Kiryu, muffled by a charming hassaku face: “O h  n o! Not the consequences of my actions!”

Notes:

1. I used the official localization from Y6 for Ono Michi’s catchphrase, but the translation roughly says, “A charming hassaku face! Fashionable Onomichi ramen hat! Cute fish pouch! The fisherman’s spirit, cool boots! A cool trendy ‘ONO’ sweatshirt!”

2. I am very unsure what the motorcycle gang’s name actually is cuz there seems to be a play on words involved, but I can’t figure out what じゃけん, which is Hiroshima dialect, is supposed to mean in this context. Just pretend that there’s a motorcycle gang out there with “Evil Fist” in its name I guess lmao

.

CHAPTER 1

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|2016. Kiryu Kazuma is looking for Haruto’s father in Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture.|

Kiryu: (. . . Well, I’ve finished some errands in this town. I have to go back to Kamurocho . . .)

Kiryu: “Hm? Isn’t that . . .”

Kiryu: (Ono Michio . . . ! It’s strange seeing him from the outside.)

Child: “Michio-kun! Hey, do your usual thing.”

Ono Michio: “Aah? The usual?”

Child: “The ’Charming hassaku face! Steamy Onomichi ramen hat!’ thing!”

Ono Michio: “Ah . . . I can’t today. Michio-kun is tired from working overtime.”

Child: “Eh~?! Do it! What’s overtime~?”

Kiryu: (Producer Hironaka was looking for my successor, this must be him. It’s nice to have a successor, but he’s not very motivated . . .)

Child: “Be motivated, yeah!”

{The child starts kicking Ono Michio in the legs.}

Ono Michio: “Ow! What the hell, kid!”

Kiryu: (That’s supposed to be ‘O h  n o!’)

Child: “Ahahahahahaha! Run away!”

Kiryu: (. . . I shouldn’t get distracted by Michio. I have to go back to Kamurocho.)

----

|After 10 minutes . . .|

Kiryu: (Well. It’s about time to leave . . .)

{Kiryu’s phone rings.}

Kiryu: (Hm? This number . . . Ono Michio’s producer Hironaka? What’s this about?)

Kiryu: “. . . This is Kiryu.”

Hironaka: “Ah, Kiryu-san! Where are you now? I have a big problem!!”

Kiryu: “I’m still in Onomichi, but . . . what’s wrong?”

Hironaka: “The part-timer who was hired to replace Kiryu-san as Ono Michio left the job and went away somewhere.”

Kiryu: “What did you say?”

Kiryu: (Is that the guy earlier? Well. he certainly didn’t seem motivated . . .)

Hironaka: “I have a complaint from a customer today . . . He wasn’t careful and acted irresponsibly. I wish I could find and persuade him back, but I’m away from Hiroshima on a business trip right now . . . So Kiryu-san, I’d like to ask . . .”

Kiryu: (. . . I have a bad feeling about this.)

Hironaka: “Ono Michio has a show coming up today, with important TV coverage included. I can’t afford to have it ruined! Kiryu-san, please play the role of Ono Michio!!”

Kiryu: “. . . Isn’t there anyone other than me?”

Hironaka: “What are you saying! There is no one better than Kiryu-san! Besides, the current popularity of Michio is due to what Kiryu-san built up. Wouldn’t it be regretful for Kiryu-san if his popularity abruptly ends here now?”

Kiryu: “Hmm, but . . . I was about to go back to Tokyo right now.”

Hironaka: “I know it’s too much to ask, but! It’s an important job for Ono Michio to appear on TV today! So please . . .”

Kiryu: “. . . . . . All right. But . . . this is the last time.”

Hironaka: “Thank you very much!! Then please go to the site immediately!”

Kiryu: “Good grief. It can’t be helped . . .”

----

Kiryu: “With my charming hassaku face! Steamy Onomichi ramen hat! Cute fish pouch! Cool boots, vital for any fisherman! And my bold and trendy ‘ONO’ shirt! That's right, I'm the pride of Onomichi . . .”

Kiryu: “Ono . . . Michio!”

Child: “Wow! Michio-kun!”

Youth: “So cool!”

Announcer: “Please take a look. This is Ono Michio, the mascot of Onomichi! The divide between the cool voice and protective appearance is excellent~!”

Kiryu: (That’s . . . the TV coverage Hironaka was talking about. The future of Ono Michio depends on this. I have to be sure I don’t make a blunder . . .)

Female Voice: “Please, stop for a moment!”

Kiryu: “Hm? That’s . . .”

Gangster 1: “Hehehe. It’s fine. Just go out with us.”

Gangster 2: “Have a good time with us at karaoke!”

Young Woman: “Stop it!”

Kiryu: “Oi, you guys!”

Gangsters: “Ah?”

Kiryu: “Don’t you see that kid doesn’t like you?”

Gangster 1: “Who are you?! And what’s with the ridiculous getup?!”

Gangster 2: “I’m going to kill you!”

Kiryu: “You do as you please and beat on those who try to stop you? Your spirit is rotten. I’ll reform it back into shape.”

Gangster 1: “What did you say? This mascot . . . !!”

Announcer: “. . . Eh? Eh? That’s . . . not in the script? Right? Ah! A special show! Camera! Camera! Focus on Michio-kun!”

{Kiryu beats up the two gangsters on camera.}

Gangster 1: “. . . S-Strong. He wasn’t soft at all . . . !”

Kiryu: “I can’t forgive anyone who disturbs the peace of Onomichi. Get lost!”

Gangster 1: “I-I’m sorry!”

Child: “Wow! Michio-kun!”

Young Woman: “Thank you very much!”

Kiryu: “Your safety is what’s important.”

Announcer: “Everyone, did you see that?! Even I was surprised! Ono Michio is really strong~!”

Kiryu: (Oops. I forgot the interview was happening . . . I hope it doesn’t turn into an uproar . . .)

----

Kiryu: “. . . Hello, Hironaka? I’m reporting about the job . . .”

Hironaka: “Kiryu-san! I watched the live broadcast! It has a great reception on the internet!”

Kiryu: “What?”

Hironaka: “Praise is flying around about the brave figure of Ono Michio! Michio’s stocks are exploding, Kiryu-san! The courage to help strangers without regard for danger! And that terrible strength! That astringency! It’s a hot topic on SNS, and he’s very popular!”

Kiryu: “Really. Something like that . . .”

Hironaka: “But if not for Kiryu-san, Michio won’t work.”

Kiryu: “. . . Hironaka. I should have mentioned. This is my last job.”

Hironaka: “But . . . !”

Kiryu: “I have to go back to Tokyo. I can’t be Ono Michio anymore.”

Hironaka: “. . . I understand. However, Kiryu-san, I have one last request.”

Kiryu: “What is it?”

Hironaka: “‘Take over’ the work . . . you know. Before you quit, I want a part-time successor to inherit it. To have Ono Michio’s ‘soul’!”

Kiryu: “Soul?”

Hironaka: “. . . Yes. Actually, I got in touch with the part-timer who ran away earlier, and he seems to reflect on it . . . On the other hand, he still doesn’t seem to understand the charm of Ono Michio.”

Kiryu: “Charm . . .”

Hironaka: “Yes. That is exactly what I and Kiryu-san have built up . . . the substance and soul of Ono Michio. Before Kiryu-san leaves Onomichi, I want you to impart that soul to him. As long as your soul can be inherited, it’s okay if the person inside Ono Michio changes!”

Kiryu: “Well, I get what you mean . . .”

Hironaka: “Kiryu-san, please! Michio’s popularity will be a PR for Onomichi! For the revitalization of this city and for the smiles of our fans! Please! Please . . .”

Kiryu: “. . . All right. This city took care of me. I think a succession would be a good repayment.”

Hironaka: “Thank you very much! I’ll contact the part-timer . . . can you meet him at the office?”

Kiryu: “Yeah. All right. I know you asked me to teach, but what and how do I teach? I’m not good at teaching, and I can’t even talk about Ono Michio in the first place.”

Hironaka: “. . . Oh . . . I see. In that case . . . I think it’ll be faster if you give a sample.”

Kiryu: “Sample?”

Hironaka: “Yeah. As long as he sees Kiryu-san as Ono Michio, he will surely understand Michio-kun’s charm.”

Kiryu: “Just like that?”

Hironaka: “Yeah. Just like that. Michio-kun has a planned campaign activity today, so please show him a sample through it.”

Kiryu: “. . . Ah, got it. In short, I just have to play Michio as usual.”

Hironaka: “Yes. Well then, thank you.”

Kiryu: (Taking over the soul of Ono Michio . . . huh. Can that even be imparted?)

.

-END-

.

CHAPTER 2

.

Kiryu: “Is this the office Hironaka taught me . . . But to teach my successor the soul of Ono Michio . . . huh. In the first place, the role of Ono Michio was just something I did . . .”

Punk: “. . .”

Kiryu: “! Who are you? Don’t just enter without permission.”

Punk: “. . . Hironaka-san told me to.”

Kiryu: “Hironaka? Then, you are the part-timer . . . ?”

Nishimura: “Yeah. Part-timer Nishimura. Nice to meet you.”

Kiryu: “Kiryu.”

Kiryu: (This is the successor to Ono Michio . . . he’s really just a punk . . .)

Nishimura: “Are you the predecessor? . . . Somehow . . . you don’t look like a civilian.”

Kiryu: “. . . It’s just your imagination.”

Nishimura: “Is that so? Then, are you the one teaching me? About Ono Michio.”

Kiryu: “Yeah. I’ll show you a sample. Wait a moment.”

Kiryu: “. . .”

Nishimura: “O-Oh . . . it might just be my imagination, but it exudes power . . .”

Kiryu: “Follow me. Learn what Ono Michio is.”

Nishimura: “Ye-Yes.”

----

Kiryu: “Collect 10 stamps in the stamp rally at Central Street and get a Michio sticker! Nice to michi!”

Child: “Michio-kun!”

Young Woman: “Cute!”

Kiryu: “Thank you, michi!”

Nishimura: “He-He’s not embarrassed at acting.  . . . Still, there’s the elegance and masculinity.  . . . This is Ono Michio . . . but . . .”

Kiryu: “Phew. Time for michi to take a break.”

Nishimura: “. . . Kiryu-san.”

Kiryu: “Nishimura, did you get all that?”

Nishimura: “. . . That’s right . . . I think I did . . .”

Kiryu: “But?”

?: “Aah! You bastard . . .”

Gangster 1: “Found you, after what you dared to do earlier!!”

Kiryu: “Did you come here for revenge without learning your lesson?”

Gangster 1: “Hm? You . . . Nishimura?”

Nishimura: “!”

Gangster 1: “Why are you with this guy?”

Nishimura: “Th-That’s . . .”

Gangster 1: “Just as well, join us in beating the hell out of him.”

Nishimura: “N-No, I . . .”

Kiryu: “How are you guys acquainted with Nishimura?”

Gangster 1: “. . . Onomichi Evil Fist Alliance. He’s a member of our gang!”

Kiryu: “Gang? A motorcycle gang?”

Nishimura: “. . .”

Gangster 1: “Ora! Die!! I’ll rip you up and drag out your stuffing!”

{Kiryu beats up the gang members. They all collapse.}

Nishimura: “Kiryu-san . . .”

Kiryu: “. . . Nishimura. Are you a member of a motorcycle gang?”

Nishimura: “. . . Well, for the time being.  . . . I was thinking of getting out.”

Kiryu: “Getting out? Really?”

Nishimura: “Yes. But I don’t know what’ll happen once I leave, so I haven’t mentioned it . . .”

Kiryu: “Well. I often hear that people who leave get lynched.”

Nishimura: “Yes. But I have no intention of continuing with the gang. Actually, I have a dream . . .”

Kiryu: “Dream? What kind of dream?”

Nishimura: “. . . I want to be an action movie star. I’ve always liked the special effects of shows like Sentai Mono, and I wanted to be a cool hero too.”

Kiryu: “Sentai Mono . . . action movie star?”

Nishimura: “Yes. So in the meantime, I went to the office and got a job . . . the job they introduced was Ono Michio.”

Kiryu: “He’s not a hero . . .”

Nishimura: “Yeah. It’s not even an acting job in the first place, it’s an odd mascot character . . . I feel half-hearted . . .”

Kiryu: “. . . Then what do you want to do? Are you aiming to leave the gang and earnestly pursue acting?”

Nishimura: “Hmm. It’s unlikely I can escape the gang. Besides, this part-time job has a surprisingly good hourly wage . . . I’m reluctant to be Ono Michio, but I have to do it if I want to eat.”

Kiryu: “. . . . . . You can’t do everything halfway.”

Nishimura: “Eh?”

Kiryu: “Are you doing Ono Michio for money? Are you working with such a half-hearted feeling?”

Nishimura: “Th-That’s . . .”

Kiryu: “. . . . . . Ono Michio cannot be entrusted to those who aren’t ready.”

Nishimura: “!”

Kiryu: “The part-time job of Ono Michio may be done reluctantly by you. However, the producer Hironaka is serious. He really wants to make Ono Michio popular. I was entrusted with Hironaka’s dream. That’s why I can’t leave it to someone who is half-hearted.”

Nishimura: “. . .”

Kiryu: “. . . If you have a dream, follow it. That’s all I can say.”

{Kiryu walks away.}

Nishimura: “. . . . . . Kiryu-san.”

----

Kiryu: “. . .”

Kiryu: (. . . Huh. Oops . . . I just preached, and now there’s no successor to Ono Michio . . . Hironaka asked me to have his successor ‘take over’ . . . Damn, at this rate I’ll continue being Ono Michio . . .)

.

-END-

.

CHAPTER 3

.

Kiryu: “Get your Michio stickers from the stamp rally, michi!”

Child: “Ah, Ono Michio! Hey! Hey!”

{The child kicks Kiryu in the legs repeatedly.}

Kiryu: “O h  n o!”

Child: “Kyahahahahahaha! Hey! Hey!”

{The child kicks Kiryu in the legs repeatedly again.}

Kiryu: “O h  n o! H-Hey! Don’t kick!”

Child: “Ahahahahahaha! Run away!”

Kiryu: (Damn it. Nishimura gave up and didn’t come to work because I preached him a sermon . . . In the end, the one saddled with Ono Michio is . . .)

Kiryu: “Hm? A call from Hironaka? Yes, this is Ono . . . no, this is Kiryu.”

Hironaka: “Kiryu-san, this is a big problem! Nishimura-kun . . .”

Kiryu: “Nishimura? What happened to the part-timer?”

Hironaka: “J-Just now, I got a call asking for help . . . it seems he was taken away by gangsters!! He was associated with being Ono Michio’s companion . . .”

Kiryu: “What did you say?!”

Hironaka: “Nishimura-kun seems to have been taken to the wharf. Kiryu-san, I’m sorry. About Nishimura-kun . . .”

Kiryu: “Understood! I’ll be there soon!”

Kiryu: (Nishimura, please be safe.)

----

Gangster 1: “Ora! Nishimura! Idiot!”

Nishimura: “Ugh . . .”

Motorcycle Gang Head: “You want to leave our gang after allowing our members to get beat up? Are you making light of us?!”

Nishimura: “Wr-Wrong! I’d never . . .”

Motorcycle Gang Head: “Shut up! I don’t want to hear excuses!!”

{The head punches Nishimura.}

Nishimura: “Guh . . .”

Kiryu: “That’s enough, you guys . . .”

Kiryu: “. . .”

Motorcycle Gang Head: “A-Aah?! Wh-Wh-What the hell is that?! Who are you?!”

Kiryu: “Who am I? Don’t you see it?”

Motorcycle Gang Head: “See what?!”

Kiryu: “. . . A charming hassaku face . . . steamy Onomichi ramen hat . . . Cute fish pouch! Cool boots, vital for any fisherman! And my bold and trendy ‘ONO’ shirt! That's right, I'm the pride of Onomichi . . .”

Kiryu: “Ono . . . Michio!”

Motorcycle Gang Head: “O-O-O-Ono Michio?!”

Kiryu: “I can’t say I’m impressed that you ganged up to lynch one person. Release him now!”

Motorcycle Gang Head: “What?! You’re crazy! Do you know what position you’re in?!”

Motorcycle Gang Head: “50 people in the Evil Fist Alliance . . . what can one local mascot do?!”

Kiryu: “. . .”

Nishimura: “Ki-Kiryu-san . . . please run away . . . it’s impossible with this many opponents . . .”

Motorcycle Gang Head: “Nishimura seems to know better. We’ll leave you all lumpy!”

Kiryu: “Impertinent talk . . . What I see is the shame of Onomichi. This Ono Michio will have to reform that crooked nature. The only one who’ll die is you, bring it on!!”

{Kiryu wipes out all 50 men. They all collapse.}

Kiryu: “. . . Nishimura, I’m sorry. Because of me . . .”

Nishimura: “. . .”

Kiryu: “Oi, what’s wrong with you? Are you okay? Can you stand?”

Nishimura: “. . . C-Cool.”

Kiryu: “What?”

Nishimura: “For someone like me who you just met, you appeared quickly and defeated 50 opponents with your invincible strength . . . This is it. This is what . . . This is what it’s like.”

Kiryu: “O-Oi . . .”

Nishimura: “Kiryu-san. I finally understand. What Ono Michio is. It is knitted in the visage. Ono Michio is a mascot and hero of Onomichi.”

Kiryu: “Eh?”

Nishimura: “It’s not just because he is cute and soft. That elegance and strength is what made Ono Michio so charming!”

Kiryu: “. . . I-Is that so?”

Nishimura: “Yes. That’s exactly it! I finally understand. Ono Michio is exactly the cool hero I was aiming for.”

Kiryu: “. . .”

Nishimura: “Kiryu-san. Will you give me one more chance? I want to inherit Ono Michio!”

Kiryu: “. . . . . . Yeah. Of course. I’ll leave Ono Michio to you.”

Nishimura: “Thank you very much!”

Kiryu: (. . . Phew. I’m not sure how, but I’m glad he got motivated. Now I can retire this . . .)

----

Kiryu: “. . . That’s what happened. The succession was successfully finished.”

Hironaka: “No, you did good. You motivated Nishimura . . . He was a really unmotivated child, and no matter how many times I taught him, he didn’t do things seriously . . . Kiryu-san is the best!”

Kiryu: “No, that . . . it just kind of happened . . .”

Hironaka: “Haha! Don’t hesitate to do it again! You really helped me out this time!”

Kiryu: “Ah, that’s good. Well then . . .”

{The call ends.}

Kiryu: “Hironaka was pleased too, Nishimura.  . . . I’ll get going.”

Nishimura: “Yes! Let’s do our best, michi!”

Kiryu: (Heh. Is this the soul of Ono Michio? If such a thing exists, please inherit it fully.)

.

-END-

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