#I named them yaki and they are my good good friend

[lemon-grenades]

just finished Buddy Simulator 1984, what a wholesome friendship based game! /hj

ok but fr I can’t be the only one that found my buddy very endearing :’)

[momiji-bookhouse]

I'll check them out ((:

YES ANGST TO COMFORT IS MY FAVE AHHH okay here we go..

Kazu. And his lover (Fem! Reader) getting into a huge argument on board The Crux. We all know that usually he's very calm, collected, nice etc. But this time, you can choose the reason, he snaps and bursts out at reader, WHO, already feels like they're not good enough for him. I hc that when he gets genuinely angry, he spits out the worst, most ruthless words. Reader has no vision (she went on board for Kazuha and to help out with.. everything except for fight related things ig), isn't the best at words, and compares herself to Lumine, who, to her, has everything and she feels like Kazu is dating her out of pity. She loves the blonde, she really does, but her insecurities eat her up so bad. ("She has saved three nations, and what am I doing?" Things like that.) So, during the argument, he uses those against her. He uses her biggest insecurities against her. Anyway, she runs away, yada yada. /Additional part.. Beidou hears everything, she knows all about the reader since they grew up together, and so she gives the man a huge lecture. But scrape this part if you wanna since you don't want to write it since you don't write for her, but it's part of my brainrot hsjsh./ More angst you say? Sure!!! Abit of reader's backstory: her whole life, she's been looked down on, she's also very brainwashed.. to think that she's never good enough, not good at anything, she's useless, worthless and all that, so for her to join Kazuha on his journey/travels is a huge sacrifice for her (for him?? What is English-) since she's an introvert but she tries her best to come out of her shell; baby steps. ANYWAYYY, you can decide the ending but happy ending please, I can't take pure angst. 😭 Anyway yeah, I've had this brainrot for days and if you don't wanna write it, it's fine.

This is so long omg sorry, I tend to ramble and my attention to details is painfully strong. But yeah it has mentions of Lumine and it also features Beidou, so technically I'm breaking the rules here??? I shall stop here 😶 And why did I just dump myself onto reader lmaooo.

Take care and stay safe!!!

(Oh and also wanna be moots/friends? I'm v shy to ask but you're so nice and jskshs okay bye)

Essence of the Stars

pairing: Kaedehara Kazuha x fem!Reader

genre: Hurt/Comfort, Angst (the comfort part will come in part 2)

words: 2.5k

summary: It only took a few words for his voice to join the chorus in your head.

tw: arguing, insecurities, implied emotional abuse

a/n: This is for you @mako-yaki! I hope you like it! Also, to clarify, when I say I only write for the characters on my rules list, it means I only take requests for those characters. I should clear that up and update my rules. So no worries El, you're not breaking any rules here.

As the assistant to Yinxing, the Crux's surgeon, your main duty whenever the fleet returns to Liyue is to restock the supply of herbs for the concoction of medicine and potions. As such, you're no stranger to the Bubu Pharmacy and its mysterious owner, as well as his enigmatic apprentice who seems to have trouble remembering things.

As an avid botanical ethusiasts and endlessly curious about discovering the new healing properties of plants, you have the added joy of talking to said owner and learning new things from him.

On this particular errand, while collecting the bags of requested herbs from Baizhu, he told you about the appearance of a rare plant that was thought to have gone extinct years ago.

"Duskbloom," Baizhu says and your eyes lit up at the recognition of the name, having briefly seen it in one of your herbal encyclopaedias. "A flower that only blossoms in the light of the setting sun."

"And can only thrive in deep caverns with little exposure to sunlight." You finish.

"Very good, you still remember your studies." He nods in satisfaction. "The flower was thought to have gone extinct during the time of the Archon War, but recently one of my apprentices had discovered it growing in one of the caverns in Lisha."

Your eyes flitted over to the reception table, where the little girl would normally be. Changsheng, noticing this, speaks up. "You best not wait up for that girl, she's out collecting herbs somewhere. Who knows when she'll return with that head of hers."

"Unfortunately, any Duskblooms that Qiqi managed to harvest are being used for research. However, if you're willing to make the trip, exit Liyue Harbor on the south side and go past the stone Yaksha statues. Keep on the road until you see the river. Where it splits you should see a branch of it flowing down into the mouth of a cavern."

That doesn't sound too far off. Maybe you can convince Captain Beidou to let you and Kazuha have a day off, if even that long.

"Thank you, Baizhu-sensei," you say as you receive the bag of herbs from him, your heart filling with excitement. "I'll check it out."

Convincing Kazuha is the easy part. Your lover quickly agrees to your request of accompanying you, a gentle and adoring smile on his face as he listens to you talk about the flower and some of its medicinal properties with a sparkle in your eyes.

"Duskblooms! I thought I would only be able to see them in books. I never thought I would be able to study them in real life." Your face is bright and eager. "Just think about what sickness they can cure." You stop when you finally notice how he's staring at you, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "O-oh, am I boring you with this?"

"Not at all, love." He takes your hand in his, his maroon eyes still gazing at you with affection. "I love hearing you talk with such passion and vigor. And even if it is an ordinary topic, I can never be tired of your voice."

Your heart palpitated at his words as a flush creeps up your cheeks. Even after being in a relationship with him for some time, his words have yet to cease their effects on you, and frankly you doubt there will come a time they will not make your stomach flutter.

Although you have travelled with Kazuha a number of times throughout Liyue, they were mostly at places where both of you made absolutely certain there would be no enemies or danger lurking about. After all, as someone who was not blessed with a Vision, you couldn't wield the elements, and you weren't someone who took up fighting either – instead preferring to use your hands to bandage wounds and pound herbs into paste.

For a trip to a mysterious cavern like this, you both agreed it's best to call on someone with experience from the Adventurer's Guild to go with you.

After a few hours of posting the commission, someone accepted. You sigh in relief when you see that it's the Traveler, knowing that she's more than capable of handling a simple mission such as this. You haven't seen her since the situation at Inazuma ended, electing to stay behind on Watatsumi to help tend to the wounded and rejoining the Crux when the heat of the conflict passed.

You two meet up with her and Paimon at the Guild's reception desk, exchanging greetings before setting out. You catch up with Lumine along the way, and although she answers your questions with a smile, you can't help but notice how she looks as if though she's being weighed down – no doubt still affected by the events in the Land of Thunder.

It doesn't take long for your group to arrive at the location, with the way Lumine expertly guides you around one would think she has been in Liyue even longer than you have.

The sound of the rushing water fills your ear as Kazuha takes your hand and carefully leads you into the cave, your feet hitting the damp ground.

Scanning the place to the best of your abilities with limited lighting, you zero in on some flowers among the grass that's swaying with the breeze. You trot over and squat down, a smile lighting up your face when you see the dark blue and violet purple petals bleeding into a blush pink, the flower currenlty closed due to it only being midday. However, you know that when it blooms, it will reveal rows and rows of petals surrounding a yellow centre, just as described in your books.

"Is that it?" Lumine asks. "It looks really pretty."

"Indeed. Its colors remind me of the sky when the sun is barely below the horizon, but the stars are already in view. Duskbloom," he muses. "What a fitting name."

"Can you eat it?"

You chuckle at the floating fairy's question. "It's been said to also be used in cooking, yes. But I haven't been able to find any recipes with it as an ingredient."

You look around the cave, silently counting the amount of flowers in your head. There isn't a lot of them, below 10 from what you can see, so you decide to take 2 for now. But just as your fingers close in on the stem, an unexpected enemy burst forth from the ground.

You yelp in surprise and fall onto your butt as what you thought were Duskblooms turn out to be Whopperflowers.

"Dove, are you all right?" Kazuha says in a worried tone as he helps you up.

"I'm fine." Your legs shake as you stand.

"Paimon, you and (Y/N) find a place to hide." Lumine summons her sword and squares off against one of the Whopperflowers.

Kazuha kisses your cheek, muttering words of assurance to you before joining the Traveler. You and Paimon nod at each other and quickly find a wall to hide behind while Kazuha and Lumine deal with the Pyro and Cryo Whopperflowers.

The Cryo one is easier to deal with, the fire from its Pyro companion more than enough to neutralize its ice. The Pyro Whopperflower, however, constantly evades the attacks by retreating into the ground and appearing back again in another location.

Your eyes widen when you see the grass catching fire from the Whopperflower's fireballs, the blaze quickly spreading and threatens to engulf the other Duskblooms. Your heart pounds in panic at the thought of the precious flower succumbing to extinction once again, and even before you can harvest them no less.

To this day, you still don't know where you get the courage to propel your legs forward, ignoring Paimon's cry of your name as your mind focuses on nothing but the flowers. You rush forward, dodging the fire and plucks two Duskblooms just as the flames begin to lick at their stems.

You roll on the ground, panting and grasping the flowers to your chest, panicked yells of your name ringing in your ears. You sit up to see the Whopperflower right in front of you.

You scream, but there is barely any time for you to get up and run as it is already charging up to throw a fireball at you. You shut your eyes, teeth clenching as you await for the burning singe.

A burst of wind explode before you, and you open your eyes to see Lumine shielding you with her sword, the Whopperflower blasted away by her Anemo power. For good measure, she unleashes a ray of lightning to incapitate it and Kazuha finish it off with a slash of his sword.

Adrenaline still course through your veins as you watch it turn into dust, and only when you feel Lumine shaking you did you register that she has been calling you. "W-what?"

"Are you all right? Were you hurt anywhere?"

"N-no." You do a quick once over of your body, finding only dirt and grass clinging to your clothes and skin. You can't say the same to Lumine, however. "Oh! Let me patch you up."

You got out the supplies from your bag, applying a salve to her minor burns and cleaning up some of the cuts before bandaging them. You are about to do the same thing to Kazuha when he suddenly steps back from you, an unreadable expression on his face.

You flinch, not expecting for him to react like that, nor are you ready for the storm of emotions clouding his maple-red eyes. He turns away, obscuring his face from you, and simply says in an even tone.

"We should head back."

The journey back is uncharacteristically quiet, enough to make you squirm as you all follow the road back to Liyue Harbor. You keep trying to glance at Kazuha, but he doesn't say a single word to anyone, still retaining that emotionless look on his face that somehow unsettles you more than anything.

You part ways with Lumine and Paimon, and the trip back to the Alcor is not an improvement. You walk behind him, reluctant to speak up when you don't even know what's on his mind. There's something heavy hanging in the air, something you never thought would happen when you're with Kazuha, and the unknown nature of it makes your throat clench unconsciously.

You make it onto the deck and follow him down to the crew's quarters, where thankfully there is only the two of you. You set your bag down and hesitantly approaches him, but he still refuses to meet your eyes.

"Kazu-"

"What were you thinking?" You stop in your tracks at his tone of voice – still steady, but some underlying emotion hidden behind them makes your heart throb in nervousness.

He turns to face you, and you almost gasp at the way his eyes narrow and darken, stormy with anger and ire. Your legs shake, never having seen those things being directed to you by him before.

"I-"

"You were specifically told to hide." He cut through your words and make you snap your mouth shut. "Why would you run out like that? How can you be so reckless?"

You keep your mouth close and he continues. "Do you even know what danger you were in? You are Visionless." You recoil, something about the way he let out that word conjure up unpleasant memories for you. "You don't even know how to fight and you decided to barge into the middle of battle for what?"

"You don't have a Vision. You don't know how to fight. What good are you?"

He grits his teeth and let out a huff of exasperation. "What's worse, not only your safety but you put the Traveler's safety in danger. What if she wasn't there? What if she got injured due to your actions? Did you even think about that?"

"Look at what you've done!"

"Thank Archons for Lumine's capabilities. At least she has a good head on her shoulders," Kazuha mutters, and you feel as if though someone has gotten a hold of your heart and is squeezing it in their palm.

"At least one of your children is blessed."

"How can I trust that you're not going to make the same mistake twice? I can't look after you all the time, (Y/N). Especially not if we're out in the world and encounter some unexpected danger."

"I think it's best if you don't accompany us from now on, (Y/N). It will certainly relieve all of us of stress."

"W-what are you saying?" You manage to croak out, but your voice sounds disembodied. As if though you aren't completely there.

He doesn't answer your question, only staring at you with those eyes. Your heart pounds like drums in your chest as your breathing quickens, and you feel your stomach twisting into knots. You long to say more, to open your mouth and say sorry to him and please, I'll be good, I'll be better next time, just please-

"I need some air."

How much time has passed? A minute? A few seconds? It all feels like eternity to you. Kazuha brush past you, not even looking at you on the way up, the cold breeze he leaves behind making you shiver.

Your legs feel like jelly under you, and you would've fallen into a heap if not for your muscles locking up and putting you in place like a statue. It isn't even a hot day, but you feel like you're burning up from the inside.

"No good. Can't do anything right. Ruined everything. Only weighing all of us down."

"Visionless."

You shake your head vigorously and cover your ears, trying your best to deny that those words came out of your beloved's mouth. But it only makes things worse.

His voice begins to blend in with your parents' and sibling's until it morphs into a twisted choir that endlessly spats out insults at you. You want to scream, want to counter their words and say that you're better than that. But over the years you have come to accept their words, letting them drip into your ears like honey, only revealing their true nature when they poisoned your veins.

You don't know when you curl up into a ball, don't know at what moment the tears begin to escape your eyes, but you flinch all the same when you feel hands on your shoulders. You look with misty eyes to see the outline of your captain, but it did nothing to soften the voices in your head.

"Captain..." You rasp out. "I...can't breathe..."

Your heart feels like it's beating right out of your ribcage as your throat constricts, not even giving you the opportunity to let out the racked sobs that threaten to swallow you whole.

You feel her pulling you closer into an embrace, trying her best to tell you to breathe with her. You'll be fine, (Y/N), just breathe. Breathe with me. 1...2...3...That's it. Breathe. I'm here for you.

The voices don't stop.

[nomstellations]

tell us more about yaki and soba i am BEGGING on my HANDS and KNEES -pastel anon

okay you get some fun facts!!

- his full name is Yaki Takorona! hes very proud of his roots and has a lot of fun cooking, which is a good thing because he and Soba combined form a gastric black hole. these guys can and will EAT. yaki's appetite is particularly bad and he always keeps snacks on him

- he stands at 6'8" and he's 22! hes huge and is still growing a little bit, really puts the giant in giant pacific octopus. also he's transgender but you can tell just by looking at him he LOVES hawaiian shirts and summer wear

- soba typically stays close to yaki unless told otherwise or they're both home and they can wander. he'll keep them in a bag he likes to carry around

- always makes sure to feed his friends! He brings stuff from his truck to his buddies before they play games and pretty much mains anything with the tacticooler. everyone gets a drink from him :)

- loves dad jokes and bad puns :) he's a jolly guy really

[devilstruly]

meet-cute

karasuno female manager reader x kuroo

to sum it up: meeting kuroo for the first time

warnings: not being formal and introducing yourself with a first name

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

The Karasuno volleyball club was away for a two-week training camp, and right now the team was on their morning run, along with Y/N, who came along for some practice as well and not to take care of the chaotic first years cOuGh kageyama and hinata cOuGh.

They were running up the hill when Hinata drastically changed his speed and took off running, away from the others. "Oh good grief. I'll go after him..." Y/N said sighing and running off in the direction the middle blocker went in. She was looking around, trying to spot her friend without much luck, when she heard a voice behind her.

"Are you lost?"

"M-Me?"

The girl asked, turning around, startled. She was met with a tall figure of a guy, who had a red jacket in his hands. His eyes reminded her of a cat, and he had a hair-style that looked like he just rolled out of bed.

"Yeah you. You look like you're trying to figure out which way to go."

"Oh. Well I am, but that's because I'm looking for my friend. We were running together and he sped off and we lost him."

Y/N said whilst rolling her eyes, and bringing her gaze back to the man in front of her.

"Well I'm looking for my friend too, he wanders off to play his game. He's not really the work-out type. Maybe we could try to find them together?"

"Yeah sure."

The duo continued walking together and while Y/N was looking around, trying to spot a certain ginger, Kuroo couldn't help but look at her instead. Unfortunately, he was snapped out of his daze when she turned to him.

"I'm Y/N by the way."

"Y/N? Is that your first name?"

"Yeah, I always introduce myself with my first name."

"Huh. Interesting."

"Uh...Aren't you gonna tell me your name?"

"Kuroo Tetsurou, at your service~"

"Oh how kind~"

They both shared a laugh and continued their search. Along the way, Y/N asked Kuroo a question.

"What's on your jacket?"

"Oh, this? It's just my club jacket. I go to Nekoma."

"Oh yeah? Well, guess that makes us rivals then~"

"Hm? And why is that?"

"Well...because I go to Karasuno."

"Oya? You don't say? So you're a little crow then huh? You shouldn't be here alone, it's dangerous with all those cats around..."

Kuroo was looking at her with a smirk, evading her personal space just a tiny bit, and she opened her mouth to retort back, but called out to her friend instead.

"Hinata!"

"Y/N! Hi!"

She stormed up to the boy and smacked him upside the head.

"You can't run off like that! We were all looking for you all over the place!"

"Sorry..."

"Let's go."

"Bye Kozume!"

Hinata turned to Kenma, who was now standing next to Kuroo, and waved at him. Y/N turned in their direction as well and weakly smiled at Kuroo, ushering Hinata in the direction of their other friends.

"Who's that?"

"Y/N. I bumped into her when I was looking for you."

"Mhm. You like her."

"I...that's...no?! We literally just met!"

"Then why are you getting so defensive like that?"

"Am not!"

"Are too."

"Am not!"

"Are too."

~~~

It was now in the evening and Nekoma was done for the day, so now they were just relaxing on their make-shift beds, with Kuroo going over some game plans, Kenma playing his game and Yamamoto talking about Karasuno's managers.

"Do you think they have a manager? Oh what if they have a girl manager?! What if they have two?!"

"So? Does it really matter that much?"

"Of course it does! Does Karasuno have a girl manager? My Yaki Soba bun is saying 'no'. Do you think they have a girl manager Kuroo??"

"I don't know Yamamoto. And I don't care. Now shut up."

Kenma looked up from his game and gave Kuroo a questioning look, but Kuroo just smirked.

[kyotakumrau]

2020.12.18 The World You Live In at Zepp Namba, 1st event report

I arrived with friends past 1:15 (door time), but lettings fans in here was very smooth. And there were leaflets for sukekiyo's January shows/MADARA and Dirt waiting for us on our seats.

After the interview, live footage and music videos, staff brought two long tables on the stage with 4 chairs. Fujieda again started with greetings and introduced himself and Takabayashi, and finally asked the audience for the applause for the band members as they come on stage.

Kaoru and Kyo came then.

Kaoru wore all black, jacket, glasses.

Kyo had green hair (same as for the a knot calendar photo session), shocking pink jacket, washed denim, pink socks and white trainers. He wore sunglasses.

They both introduced themselves with simple '薫です' and '京です' but I love how different it sounded for both of them.

Fujieda again talked first about the live footage from March. Kaoru commented that with the document it was really busy. For Kyo it felt that the staff, especially the staff under the stage was restless, moving a lot, but he himself just came and sang.

Next, Fujieda outlined the events in 2020 like he did in Nagoya, he asked if they watched the audiostreams.

Kyo: Yes, I watched all of them.

F: and then yours came last.

Kyo: I could really feel member's personality showing there.

Ka: how was the order out setlists came out decided? Was it after we submitted our setlists?

Takabayashi said that no.

Next Fujieda continued with the 2020 timeline and asked about what they can remember from the Pia VIP meetings.

Ka: I thought that Mr.Higuchi was really nervous interviewing all five of us at the same time.

Kyo: first day the atmosphere was so gloom it felt like a funeral.

After that they moved to the topic of Ochita single, F sked them about filming.

Ka: it finished so quickly, in an instant!

F: did you also feel it went by very quickly, Kyo?

Kyo: not that, there was something else. When filming we were working with a new director. For the first time, I got praised when shooting. Like only 5 minutes passed but he was all 'that's great! yes! very cool!'. Huh? What was that supposed to be? Being told that so much wasn't it too much? And then he had some issue with equipment and asked to go again. When the director saw my costume first he also went 'huh wow!' And the place was so narrow.

After that they moved to the merch items for this events. F passed them their own items and Kyo just kept holding the choker, almost like being frozen.

Meanwhile Kaoru said that there's no special meaning behind deciding to produce the pouch. Then, Kyo, asked about the choker, reacted.

Kyo: isn't this super cool?

(and then again)

Kyo: it's seriously cool. It's super cool. ...it's super cool. ...it's super cool.

(all the time just holding and looking at it)

F: about the embossing?

Kyo: not that, it's just super cool.

Agreed😆🖤

Then F announced they will move to the part with questions from fans. He divided the question sheets and passed them to everyone. But Kyo just kept moving to the next page, next page, next page...

F (trying to avoid silence😂): there were many questions on similar topics, I grouped some of them, many people asked about a movie you saw recently, movie you enjoyed.

Ka: I saw 'Hansekai', a Japanese movie.

Kyo: (after a moment) I watched 'Videodrome'.

He told us a bit about the plot, that you start questioning there what is real when watching. He said it's an older movie, and I didn't catch it but there was some connection with Robocop? He said he's also watching 'Friends' and Netflix's 'Dracula'.

After that Kaoru read a question from a fan: 'F seems to be really loved by all members and staff, but can you tell us how do you actually feel about him?'

Ta kept it cool just saying F is his kohai (younger friend/colleague). Kaoru, too, said that F is cool. But then it was time for Kyo ('s rant)🤣

Kyo: I would like to say you're cool, but there are those things I told you you should try to work on. You say you can eat anything, that's okay, but the way you eat is just, too eager (talking about his eating manners), you're even biting your lips, you also ask me about things when you don't really care, and then you reply with 'yeah yeah'. Don't do it. Saying 'yeah' once is fine, but saying 'yeah yeah' is too much.

(possibly didn't get it all xD)

F: I'll be careful. ...any questions you'd like to read?

Kyo (just kept moving on to the next paper, next question, next, next): nothing good.

Kaoru to the rescue picked a question, but had comments.

Ka: 'I'm moving the day after tomorrow and I'm curious bout the life with many people together (in a big group). How is it when you have to stay together?' Is there a connection between this and moving?

He talked about touring abroad and spending time together in a bus, but they just go to sleep soon. But there are more chances to talk before the shows.

Ta: 'can you recommend us any good restaurants in Osaka?'

nothing from the band members besides heavy thinking😂

Ta: 'which do you like better, takoyaki or okonomiyaki?'

Ka: I like both, but I don't eat them much. Monja(yaki) is better though.

Kyo: Monja is good, but choboyaki, from Kyoto, is the best.

Ta: I like both.

F: I eat everything. But abroad it's more difficult.

Kyo: ...the kebab chicken story.

He told us about the time when they were touring, he always stays on the bus so he would ask a roadie to go get him something to eat. He was thinking about eating McDonalds, but then F suddenly said 'let's do kebab!'. After F said that it's not like he could say he wanted McDonalds.

F laughed but got scolded by Kyo.

Kyo: I told you not to laugh like that! Like just a moment ago!

😂

Kaoru brought up that they played at Osaka Jo Hall on this day in the past. They talked about some trouble they had and the venue staff being angry at them.

Kyo: I don't remember anything from that day. I deleted it from my memory.

F: but you chose I'll and Zan for your audiostream.

Kyo: I wanted to do it for my setlist. But then I saw on twitter few fans wrote they want me to do it, I got upset and almost changed it. Almost. In the end nowadays it's something we wouldn't do.

Ta: 'anything you're into now fashionwise?'

Kao (after thinking): nothing really. ...but I'm not wearing socks today.

F stood up to check.

Kyo: You're THAT interested???

F: just wanted to see what it looks like.

Kyo: that's really weird.

F: 'what's the 'fashion point' for you today (the main idea of your look)?

Kyo: well, what do you think?

F: pink?

Kyo: the whole outfit, you're dead!😂

F: ...but even your socks are pink?

Kyo: you really think pink is the main idea?  Look at my hair, green, I couldn't wear this outfit if I had black hair. It's about total balance! You're really a weird one.

all the love😂

F: 'winter is a nabe season, so what is your favorite nabe?'

Ka ...talked a lot about different types of nabe to make at home.

Kyo: nothing in particular.

F: what nabe do you want to eat now?

Kyo: what do you think?

F: k...kimchi nabe?

Kyo: I was going to say you're dead if you say something else than kimchi nabe.

F (laughing): I got it right?? But I wanted to hear I'm dead😂

Ta: I like chanko nabe.

Ta: 'what's your favorite tea?'

Ka: don't know, I drink a lot of jasmin tea, but I just buy it in a bottle.

Kyo: any tea is okay.

F: I drink Tokucha (for dieting benefits)

(there's one question here when I zoned out) *found my missing bit: there was a question about the name for their fans, toriko. It came from a poster of Die from MACABRE era, fully dressed up, it said 'I'll make you into my slave'.

F: 'what's your favorite alcohol?'

Ka: wine, Napa Valley, I think I talked about it with Mr.Higuchi (at the Pia VIP meeting).

Kyo: I don't really drink now.

He said he used to buy some stuff to make drinks, cocktails, but doesn't drink now.

F: 'what's the most fun moment or something interesting you've done recently?'

Ka: so we've never played here before, at Zepp Namba. When we arrived we talked together in the dressing room. It was nice to have a chance to chat.

Kyo: same really.

Next, F talked about the additional streamed event and the filming.

Ka told us he felt funny when filming (with motion capture) because one of the sensors to record his movement was exactly where he usually plays the guitar so he had to hold the guitar a bit higher than normal (he showed us how it looked and it was quite funny).

Kyo said that when he was filming, and he went second, Die was first, they had to wear costumes like a Mojimoji-kun (like a black skin tight onesie), he felt Die looked much better, and it really made him feel bad, that his style was too 'minimal'. He felt shocked and didn't really like the filming.

F asked everyone to join them on New Year's Eve and next asked band members for the last comments.

Kaoru: We're not able to do concerts and it's very difficult now to gather together like this, so I'm really grateful you all came. We're thinking a lot about what we can do next year.

Kyo: It must have been difficult to come here today, I'm sorry. And 'おおきに・ookini・thank you/sorry for the trouble.

F: oh sudden Kansai dialect.

Kyo: I'm from Kansai.

F: It's fine if Kansai person uses Kansai dialect.

Kyo (turned to fans again): ookini.

Kyo waved to the audience, then they stood up and stood looking at fans a bit, bowed and finally left.

(unfortunatelly I only went to the 1st slot, but might dedicate my time on the train to Sendai tomorrow to collect some bits from twitter!)

[spiritamongdarkness]

[Naruto] Profile - Akari

Date First Thought of/Created: November 27th, 2013 Date First Drawn: April 2014

Why did you create them? Akari was created as a way to cope from my severe depression after my grandfather’s death. It started out as daydreams of someone like me who struggled with their 'darkness'. After I rejoined the Naruto fandom and discovered my love for Orochimaru and Kabuto, I gave her form and made her a Sound Ninja.

What is the origin behind their pairing? I rediscovered my fondness for Sasuke the next summer and I wanted to pair her with him. It fit so perfectly since he would join Orochimaru, and she could relate to his pain. They became something of a comfort pairing to me that I would work on whenever I was upset.

Theme Song(s): (Pairing) Whispers in the Dark by Skillet

Introduction

Quote: Undecided

Full Name: Akari (Uchiha)

Name Meaning: (aka) meaning red, and (akari) meaning light

Kanji: 灯

Nickname(s), Alias(es): The Shadow of Otogakure, the Jinchuriki of the Sound Village, the Multi-Tails Jinchuriki

Affiliation: Naruto to Early Shippuden - Otogakure (the Village Hidden in the Sound) Boruto - Konohagakure (The Village Hidden in the Leaves) and Otogakure

Clan / Family: Pre-Series to The Last - Unknown Oc Clan Boruto - Uchiha Clan

Kekkei Genkai: Chakra release

Ninja Rank: Naruto to The Last - Unregistered Boruto - Special Jonin

Gender: Female

Birthdate: March 20th, 0 NTA (Nine Tails Attack)

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Age: Naruto – 12 to 13 Shippuden – 16 to 17 The Last – 18 to 19 Boruto – 30 to 31

Birth Place: Konoha

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Hair Color: Deep blood red

Hair Style: Long hair going past her shoulders and bangs that frame her face

Eye Color: Cool turquoise

Height: Naruto - 4ft 9in (146.3 cm) to (147.2 cm) Shippuden - 5ft 5in (166.1 cm) The Blank Period - 5ft 8in (174.4 cm) Boruto – Unknown

Tattoos/Birthmarks/Scars: An incomplete jinchuriki seal on her abdomen with the Five Pronged Seal (the Five Elements Seal) placed over it

Blood Type: A negative

Classification: Jinchuriki, Sensor Type, Medical-Nin

Tailed Beast: Oi the Multi-Tails

Status: Alive

Occupation: Boruto - N/A

Relationships

Relationship status: Shippuden - In a serious relationship Boruto - Married

Love Interest: Sasuke Uchiha

Past Crush / Love Interest: Sasuke

Mother: Mitsu (deceased), a civilian medicine woman

Father: Hiroshi (deceased), a Special Jonin from the Hidden Leaf

Sibling(s): a half brother on their mother’s side, Kabuto Yakushi

Children: Boruto - three sons, Issei, Moyasano, and Airashii, and a daughter Takane Uchiha

Other Relatives (Blood or Adopted): Orochimaru (like a father), Kana (Oc niece by dna), Mitsuki (nephew by dna), Itachi Uchiha (brother-in-law), Aki (Oc sister-in-law), Miyako (Oc niece), 2 Unnamed Oc nieces, 2 Unnamed Oc nephews

Pets: A white snake named Hakken

Friends: Naruto – Kimimaro Shippuden – Suigetsu Boruto – Naruto

Enemies: Danzo Shimura, Obito Uchiha

Personal

Favorite Food: Yaki gyoza (pan fried dumplings)

Least Favorite Food: Octopus or squid

Wants: To be loyal to those who have been good to her despite what she is, and to repay Lord Orochimaru and Kabuto for all they have done for her, to find some kind of happiness

Fears: living a nightmarish existence always hiding from what lies within her, not being able able to fight off her demon anymore, accidentally harming someone close to her, losing someone again, that she will eventually have to choose sides between Orochimaru and Sasuke

Hobbies: Nature watching

Likes:    • Subtle sweet gestures    • Sitting together even in silence

Dislikes:    • Disrespect being shown to her superiors    • Overthinking    • Being out in the open

Ninja Details

Superiors: Orochimaru and Kabuto

Team: Naruto – Orochimaru and Kabuto Shippuden – Team Taka Hebi Boruto - N/A

Missions Completed: 0 D-Rank, 3 C-Rank, 7 B-Rank, 1 A-Rank, 0 S-Rank

Mission Assignments / Tasks: Assassinations, surveillance, doing tasks for Kabuto when he can't get away

Chakra Nature: Earth Release, Water Release, and Yin Release

Strong Against: Other shadow or yin release, Genjutsu, average Taijutsu, Earth Release

Weak Against: Fire Release, Lightning Release, bombs

Jutsu: General medical ninjutsu, shadow manipulation, distorting or corrupting other chakra natures

Ninja Tools: Kunai only

Backstory: [To Be Continued...]

(Akari is my Oc. Profile template designed by me)

[hypmic-translation]

Naniwa Paradise Sake

CHORUS Down your glass and sing along This is Osaka drunkenness Division shit One drink, two drinks; it all tastes good No, I still haven’t had enough yet Naniwa-nyway, let’s keep on singing (1) Any division compared to ours is all full of shit Merrymaking; idle gossip The sunrise brings proof of our drinking spree Dotsuitare Honpo shit

SASARA Osaka Division’s formation celebration ROSHO Naniwa’s neon lights are looming overhead (2) SASARA The truth is, it’s difficult to know where to go REI How ‘bout a night of mistakes around Chayamachi? (3) SASARA Having a lively talk about nothing important is Nurude Sasara and his merry band of friends ROSHO Passing through Ame-mura, noisily wasting time (4) REI Crossing that border brings you into a new world SASARA Okonomi! (5) ROSHO Kushikatsu! (6) REI This is the nation’s kitchen (7) SASARA Let’s have a toast! Count to ten, if ya please REI Hey, we only just got here ROSHO That was very sudden (8) SASARA Our suddenly-formed team is sure to run into trouble It’s not really worth much, but I still wanna thank you (9) Us three are the best! SASASA/REI Cheers to that! SASARA We’ll be champions! ROSHO Yeah, champions of flour-food (10) ALL Those eastern divisions aren’t such a big deal (11)

CHORUS Down your glass and sing along This is Osaka drunkenness Division shit One drink, two drinks; it all tastes good No, I still haven’t had enough yet Naniwa-nyway, let’s keep on singing Any division compared to ours is all full of shit Merrymaking; idle gossip The sunrise brings proof of our drinking spree Dotsuitare Honpo shit

REI Alcohol is the best medicine around Kill the beat, make some noise, 108 desires in all (12) Word games are just instances of luck So it’s been decided, I’m tonight’s designated driver Irregular noise, a gold driver’s license (13) In our own private world, go straight Don’t drink if you drive, don’t drive if you drink (14) You’re only allowed to ride this track tonight

ROSHO Drank so much saké that I can’t stop laughing Stuck here in the same boat as this crook (15) Authority and wolves both will be forced to bow down (16) (24) Rivalry naturally gets me fired up (hic!) REI In simpler words, chop end-roll (17) ROSHO We’re gonna climb to the very top of this thing SASARA Aren’t you raring to go, Rosho~ Hm? ROSHO Huh? SASARA Oh, it’s your eyes? They don’t seem focused?

CHORUS Down your glass and sing along This is Osaka drunkenness Division shit One drink, two drinks; it all tastes good No, I still haven’t had enough yet Naniwa-nyway, let’s keep on singing Any division compared to ours is all full of shit Merrymaking; idle gossip The sunrise brings proof of our drinking spree Dotsuitare Honpo shit

REI Without following trends we’re burning through spirits (18) Instead of chilling at home, this is the DH way SASARA Wholeheartedly playing around? Overdrinking Chamisul, the Makgeolli’s here! (19) REI Before dawn arrives we’ll keep emptying shot glasses Quietly smoking cigars with unsteady hands Celebrating life is us nightwalkers C’mon, until the morning sun rises, let’s go SASARA Drinking a lil too much turns into a touching memory ROSHO It’s always the same with you, isn’t it (20) The good and the bad, all of it bare (21) We’ll find a clear solution to that centre party for a one-shot, one-kill (22) SASARA I don’t like rock as much as hip-hop, yanno Once the beer gets here I’m gonna gulp it all down with a “bang!�� and a “boom!” ROSHO Hold on! What are you talking about! SASARA This was all un-alcohoidable! (23) ROSHO The hell are you saying? Whatever, that’s enough! I’m done here!

CHORUS Down your glass and sing along This is Osaka drunkenness Division shit One drink, two drinks; it all tastes good No, I still haven’t had enough yet Naniwa-nyway, let’s keep on singing Any division compared to ours is all full of shit Merrymaking; idle gossip The sunrise brings proof of our drinking spree Dotsuitare Honpo shit

NOTES (Under the read-more because they got very long!)

I’m so sorry for this one, but it was the only way I could think to incorporate the joke here organically. The line reads “ナニワともあれ歌いましょ (naniwa tomoare utaimasho)”, Naniwa being Osaka’s original name, as well as the name of one of its wards. The pun here is that “naniwa tomoare” sounds a lot like “何はともあれ (naniha-tomoare)”, which means “at any rate/in any case”, so a more literal translation would be “regardless, Naniwa, let’s sing”.

A more literal translation of “looming all around” would be “forward-bent posture”.

Chayamachi is a popular downtown district among young people in Osaka’s Kita ward. The shops there sell various kinds of food, fashion and forms of amusement.

“Ame-mura” or “Amerikamura” (American Village) is another one of Osaka’s popular entertainment areas, this time in their Chuuo ward. Has many Western fashion retail shops, bars, and nightclubs.

“Okonomi”, short for okonomiyaki, which is Sasara’s favourite food. “Okonomi” on its own means “how/what you want” while “yaki” is “cooked”, so altogether it’s “cooked how you want”, referring to it’s versatile fillings. I think this is probably supposed to be a pun, but I wasn’t sure how to reflect that and Rosho carries on with the food naming anyway, so I went more literal here.

Kushikatsu is deep-fried meat and vegetables on skewers. Its origins can be found in Osaka, and both it and okonomiyaki are popular there.

Osaka was once called “the kitchen of the nation” during the Edo period, where many different kinds of food from all over Japan gathered due to the city being a warehouse and trading port.

This is a nice example of how these three use wordplay very effectively - Sasara says “ten-count”, written in katakana. Rei uses a word that can be read as “ten” (but isn’t, in this case) and Rosho does the same with “count”. Likewise in the line following, although Sasara doesn’t use the same word for “sudden” he does use onomatopoeia that essentially means the same thing, bringing the joke full circle.

“碌でもない” means “good for nothing/worthless”. “後光がさしてる” means “to be very thankful towards someone” (enough to make them look like an angel with a halo). I’m not sure I got the meaning of what Sasara’s saying exactly right, but this is how I’m interpreting it. I didn’t pick up on this myself, but someone pointed out to me how this section is in itself a count-down from ten - Rei and Rosho say 10 and 9 respectively, and then Sasara incorporates the rest of the numbers into his lines from 8 to 1. I have no idea how to make that look good in English though...

“Flour-food” refers to how most classic Osakan foods such as okonomiyaki and takoyaki are made with flour.

“Aren’t such a big deal” is more literally read as “how much is monjayaki worth” (なんぼのもんじゃい), the answer being “not much”.

“Kill the beat” (apparently a common phrase in breakdancing referring to being able to skillfully stay on rhythm) and “make some noise” are two different sentences in this line, but they both include a use of the word “hame” (はめ/ハメ) which, when put next to each other, is slang for “having sex”. “108 desires in all” is a reference to the Buddhist belief that humans have a total of 108 “worldly desires”, or polluted thoughts. “Worldly desires” is usually written as “煩悩”, however Rei uses “欲望” which also means desire but in a lustful sense.

A gold driver’s license is what you can get if you’re a “safe driver” in Japan with a standard license (you get points for driving violations, so only people with 0 points can get gold). Apparently these can occasionally get you discounts in hotels and shops.

This is apparently a popular slogan in Japan in order to discourage drunk driving, and according to one source I saw while investigating it’s been in use for over 30 years.

“Stuck in the same boat” is my loose interpretation of “呉越同舟”, which is the concept of working with someone you consider an enemy in order to achieve a common goal.

Rosho says “okami” twice in this line - or at least that’s how it sounds. The first is “okami (御上)” and means “authority”, so referring to the government/Chuuoku. The second is “ookami (狼)” which literally just means wolf, likely referencing Matenrou as the 1st Division Battle winners.

This gave me agony for ages, and to be entirely sure I’m still not sure if it’s right, but whatever. Tell me if you have a better alternative. I’m choosing to interpret “chop end-roll” as “cutting off before the end of a movie”, as “end-roll” in Japanese is how you refer to end credits, so I guess what Rei’s saying is basically “we’re finishing this now”. Also he uses “言の葉” for “words” which is also the name for the Party of Words - but he doesn’t actually say “party (党)” so I don’t think he was referring to them.

“Spirits” being liquors.

Chamisul and Makgeokki are both Korean alcoholic drinks. Also, I was informed that the line “Makgeokki’s here” (”Makkori ga kuru”) sounds a lot like “Maddotorigākurū”, which is “Mad Trigger Crew”.

So this gets interesting. The things Rosho says in both this and the next line are slurred, which gives them a double meaning - he’s saying one thing, but what they sound like are alcohol puns. In this case, “always/frequently (shotchū)” sounds like “shōchū”, which is a kind of Japanese liquor.

Here, “good and (iimo)” sounds like “potato (imo)”, which is something you can make alcohol out of. The same goes for “bare (mukidashi)”, the first half of which sounds like “wheat (mugi)”.

I’m a little vague on this one so take it with a pinch of salt. Rosho says “チュー輩” which is “chuu” and then “party”. “Chuu” isn’t exactly “Chuuo” and “輩” is the kanji for neither “political party” nor “ward”, but considering how drunk he is here I’m willing to believe he’s referencing Chuuoku. You’re free to correct me if I’m wrong though, I’m still very unsure.

Again, I’m really sorry for this. The joke here is that Sasara says “酒ては通れない (sakete wa tōrenai)”, which… doesn’t really mean anything sensical, but literally something like “alcohol can’t pass”. However, it sounds almost identical to “避けて通れない (sakete tōrenai)” which means “unavoidable”. So… un-alcohoidable. Haha.

Bonus fun fact; “okami” is also a reading of the obscure kanji “龗”, which (basically) means “water dragon”. However, as with most kanji, “龗” has multiple readings, one of which (kan-on) has it read as “rei”, just like “零” (Rei’s name). I don’t think it’s necessarily relevant to the song because of the obscurity, but it is an interesting tidbit.

[ja0-s-blank-canvas-fic]

Part 2 - Chapter 18 - Friendship

Blank Canvas Part 2

AO3 - here

Fanfiction.net - here

Happy Tuesday, dear readers! Time for more 1-A bonding time with Mei and Dark Shadow in the mix. ^____^ Let's get to it!

Warning for teasing. A minor one from ["Good idea..."] to ["See? Told ya..."] to the point I'm not sure it needs it but just in case. Second is the paragraph starting at {Red bloomed on his freckled cheeks...] but the next one is fine. Third from ["Uh oh, Izuku..."] to ["Well, you two..."] and after that is fine.

Linktree to all the things!

End notes for the chapter are under the line.

If you skipped the teasing. The first minor one was just Hitoshi teasing Ochako for being hungry and her stomach grows. The second is Mei being Mei and embarrassing her best boys that not even Hitoshi is immune to. Third, Hitoshi is teasing Mei for being 'friendly' towards Tenya. ;) While also joking that Izuku and him were being replaced but Mei was all 'hell nah, son'.

Class 1-A has officially been introduced to Mei! And she finally got to apologize to Tenya. Their even on a first name basis now along with the others in the regular lunch group! :D I had originally played around with all of 1-A being on a first name basis in this chapter but changed my mind because it felt forced. Plus, they've only just met while the seven regulars have spent more time together. Also, Tenya...good luck to him for offering to help Mei with her babies. XD

Mei is learning more about friendship and is missing her Hero-kun. But I didn't want her to be alone in 1-H. The ones who approached her were the among the ones who had Izuku's back after the award ceremony. They may not become the best of friends but they're going to be trying to include Mei more. Though that's mostly going to be in the background.

My personal MVP in this chapter is Dark Shadow because Dark Shadow is adorable and I love him so much. If anyone has any fun Dark Shadow ideas, lay them on me! Because I want Dark Shadow to have a presence in this fic because the spirit may be part of a quirk but it does have a personality of its own. Also it is canon that Dark Shadow gets pets like when Uraraka did after Midoriya learned they were in fourth place and was crying a geyser of tears. Dark Shadow was even blushing! :D Such an adorable sentient shadow.

Fun Facts About Japan:

I typically like to connect the fun fact with the chapter but I couldn't think of a particular one for this one. So we're just going to talk about school lunch in general. A typical school lunch consists of a carb, protein, vegetables, soup, milk, and sometimes an extra side. For the carbs, it's typically white rice but also was sometimes fried rice or some sort of pasta. The proteins typically was various fish but they would also have beef, pork, or chicken cooked in different ways. Sometimes super special like for the last lunch before winter break my area would serve a whole baked chicken drumstick as a special end-of-year/Christmas treat. They also would do egg omelets or tamago yaki ( 卵焼き , たまごやき ) which literally translates to fried egg and are actually slightly sweet in flavor.

Oh! Speaking of eggs, here's a random joke. How long ago did Japanese people start eating eggs? A long tamago! (You know 'ta-ma-go' like 'time ago'? :D What? I thought it was funny!)

For vegetables, they would typically be variations of salads. Most commonly with cucumbers, carrots, lettuce or cabbage, bean sprouts, etc. And often using sesame oil or goma abura ( 胡麻油 , ごまあぶら ) for dressing. They would sometimes add shirasu ( しらす ) which are the super tiny fish that are popular in Japan. They would also sometimes add, -cough- ruin with -cough-, natto but thankfully that did not happen a lot.

For soups, it was usually miso soup. Shocker, right? XD But there were others as well. The one I found most entertaining is their alphabet soup. Reason being is because they call it ABC soup. ^____^ And sometimes when I would eat with the kids on days with ABC soup, they would start taking out letters to make English words on their plates. XD As for sides, they were sometimes fruit, bread, or little tarts. Or pudding, ice cream, or jello. Not every day but every once and a while.

For a good sampling of school lunch trays, check out this blog post.

That's all for this update! :) Coming up is Ojiro's apology to Hitoshi, Izuku gets a start in the studio, and more internship talk. Until then, be well and let me know of typos or weirdness! Ta!

[discovisiondreams]

Top 15 First Watches of 2020

I’ve never been good at staying current on pop culture, and that became especially pronounced in 2020. A year where most of the anticipated theatrical releases were pushed to VOD (and the price nearly tripled) meant that a lot of flicks I was excited for got added to the end of the “Maybe Someday” watchlist. 

But in this strange year, I did manage to watch 245 movies- and 195 of those were first-time watches. Some were new, only available on the (virtual) festival circuit. Some were Criterion mainstays, films I’m horrified to admit I hadn’t seen before. But this year, when movies cemented themself as my biggest joy, I began to really track what I watched- including a “top 5 first watches of the month” roundup for every month. These top 5s weren’t ranked, and weren’t even based on technical ability, strength of dialogue, or critical acclaim. They were just the 5 I loved the best. 

So without further ado, here are my top 15 of the year- one selected from the top 5 of each month, with some bonus entries thrown in as well. As a general rule, I only included features on this list- I was fortunate enough to catch shorts that streamed at Chattanooga Film Fest, Celebration of Fantastic Fest, and more, but to add them to the running would have made writing this listicle absolutely impossible. 

HONORABLE Honorable Mention: The Holiday. Inspired by the fine folks at Super Yaki, I finally watched this Nancy Meyers classic. Why is it two and a half hours long?! Why is that two and a half hours so significantly lacking in Jack Black?! The scenes that Black is in, though, really shine. This one is going to be a Christmas mainstay in the Disco household (and not just because I spent money on the DVD).

15: The Love Witch (Honorable Mention, April). This one came highly recommended to me by friends of all sorts, and like most of my 2020 first watches, I’m deeply embarrassed that it took me this long to get to it. Upon finally watching it, on a rainy Sunday, I described the movie in general (and the color palette, specifically) as “sumptuous,” which is one of the most complimentary visual descriptors I can bestow upon a movie. The plot felt a little convoluted at times, but I still found The Love Witch incredibly enjoyable and am hoping to explore more of writer-director Anna Biller’s filmography in 2021.

14: The Guest (Honorable Mention, October). The Guest is one of the few movies I watched multiple times this year- and the only one I watched twice in one week. From the sultry industrial soundtrack selections to the numerous visual nods to Halloween III: Season of the Witch, The guest was Extremely My Shit. The casting here is truly tremendous- especially Maika Monroe, who was similarly brilliant in It Follows. Also of note: Lance Reddick, one of my current favourite character actors. 

13: The Fast and The Furious (Honorable Mention, May). 2 Fast 2 Furious (and its bespoke theme song, Act A Fool, by Ludacris) came out when I was in the 6th grade. Do you remember the music and movies that entered the world when you were in 6th grade? Do you have an inexplicable zealous love for them? 2F2F was the only film in the Fast Cinematic Universe I had seen for a long, long time. Then I saw Fate of the Furious. Then I bought the series box set, as a joke?? And then, slowly but then also all at once, I genuinely started to love this franchise. Some of them are truly ridiculous. Some of them are genuinely bad. But the first one? The Fast and The Furious (2001)? Timeless. Point Break updated and adapted for the early-aughts, The Fast and the Furious walked so The Italian Job (2003) could run. Without The Fast and The Furious, Paul Walker would just be “the guy from Tammy and The T-Rex” to millions of casual cinemagoers. The cultural impact of The Fast and The Furious simply cannot be denied!! 

12: Come to Daddy (Top 5, July). Honestly, this is the exact flavor of bonkers bullshit I’ve grown to expect from Elijah Wood, and that is not an indictment. Wood’s genuine love for genre film is evident here, in what can only be described as an uncomfortable film of family, reunion, and redemption. The tense and abrasive first half gives way to a surprisingly relieving wave of violence and exposition in this critically-acclaimed flick. 

11: The Stylist (Top 5, September). The feature-length debut of writer-director Jill Gevargizian, based off her short of the same name, is female-led horror that pays homage to genre mainstays like Maniac and Psycho while still being decidedly singular. Not only shot in Kansas City, but set in Kansas City, The Stylist made my midwestern heart happy. This is one that I really, really would have loved to see in a crowded theater auditorium, were this year a different one. 

10: In The Mouth of Madness (Top 5, March). Despite being the beginning of pandemic awareness, March was a slow month for me, movie-wise (even though it’s not like I had anything else going on??). But I finally made time for this Carpenter classic, and I’m so happy I did. I’ve long been fascinated by stories about stories, and the people who find themselves trapped within those stories, and this one is truly, in the most basic sense of the word, horrifying. Sam Neill proves that he belongs in horror here, making his role in Event Horizon seem like a natural fit. Also a highlight: noted character actor David Warner, best known (to me) as “Billy Zane’s bodyguard guy in Titanic,” who never ever fails to be unsettling. 

9: Profondo Rosso (Top 5, April). Before this year, my only Argento exposure was Suspiria (which is phenomenal), but Deep Red goes off the deep end in all the best ways. The score (by frequent Argento collaborators Goblin) is truly groovy. The number of twists and turns the plot takes is kind of mind-boggling, but also delightful. Daria Nicolodi (RIP)  is at the top of her acting game here. This quickly became one of my beloved background movies- if I opened Shudder and Profondo Rosso was playing on one of their live-streaming channels, it stayed on while I was cleaning or cooking or paying bills. Profondo Rosso is a must-watch for those hoping to get into giallo.

8: Crimson Peak (Top 5, November). This one was definitely not what I was expecting, but it was GORGEOUS. I loved the world immediately (a Del Toro trademark, to be honest). As a longtime Pacific Rim stan, it made my heart happy to see Charlie Hunnam and Burn Gorman reunited under Guillermo Del Toro’s vision. 

7: Palm Springs (Top 5, August). I am not typically a time-travel movie enthusiast- but I am a sucker for witty repartee and Andy Samberg. This one made me ugly-cry, which I should probably be a bit more ashamed to admit. August had a lot of really great first watches, but the Hulu exclusive takes the cake due to its novel premise, some truly heart-wrenching reveals, and the amazing casting (is there anything JK Simmons cant do?). 

6: Scare Package (Top 5, May). Is there any format I love more than the horror anthology? While there have been so many over the years (Creepshow, All the Creatures Were Stirring), Scare Package might be my favourite of them all. A variety of fun and inventive stories combined with a genre-lovers dream of an overarching narrative make this one a must-see- in fact, it was the whole reason I bought a pass to this year’s online version of Chattanooga Film Fest. There’s a cameo here that absolutely knocked my socks off (and continued to do so even on repeat viewings). While the scares here are honestly minimal, Scare Package is a great love letter to the genre at large.

5: Do The Right Thing (Top 5, June). Yes, it took me until 2020 to watch Do The Right Thing for the first time. The palpable tension, the interwoven stories of Bed-Stuy’s residents, all seem timeless. Giancarlo Esposito is, as always, a joy to watch. 

4: Knives Out (Top 5, February). “It’s a Rian Johnson whodunnit, duh,” states the SuperYaki! T-shirt famously worn by Jamie Lee Curtis, star of Knives Out (2019). This one has received worlds of critical acclaim, I truly do not know what I could even hope to add to the conversation. I want more old-school murder mystery cinema.

3: The VelociPastor (Top 5, January). It should be testimonial enough that The VelociPastor beat out Miss Americana, Netflix’s Taylor Swift documentary, as the top pick for January- but in case it isn’t, let me end 2020 the way I began it; by evangelizing the HECK out of this movie. Written and directed by up-and-coming triple-threat (Director/songwriter/prolific cat-photo-poster) Brendan Steere, The VelociPastor is a true love letter to genre cinema, complete with a big wink to the criminally underloved Miami Connection. Alyssa Kempinski shines as Carol, a doctor/lawyer/hooker with a heart of gold. The VelociPastor premiered in 2019 but gained tons of attention in 2020 (thanks in part to YouTube sensation Cody Ko)- attention that it truly deserves. A sequel is rumored to be in the works, but mark my words, anything to come from the imagination of Brendan Steere will be worth a watch. 

2: Dinner in America (Top 5, October). I genuinely feel sorry for the other movies I watched in October (there were a lot) (they were all SO GOOD). Dinner in America, which I caught during the Nightstream hybrid festival, was not at all what I was expecting. While the other features were all very solidly genre flicks, this was…. A comedy? A modern love story?? I’mn honestly still not exactly sure, but I do know I loved every second of it. I laughed. I cried. I threw my hands up in the air exuberantly (in front of my laptop, looking like a true fool). I did not shut up about this movie online for weeks. I told anyone and everyone that Kyle Gallner is the most underrated actor of my generation and I still believe it! Dinner in America, the story of a punk band frontman who unwittingly takes refuge from the police in the home of his biggest fan, was an unexpectedly heartwarming tale of family, young love, and arson. Watch it as soon as you can. 

1: Promising Young Woman (Top 5, December). This last-minute debut from Emerald Fennell, originally scheduled to hit theaters in April of this year, finally made its way to the big screen on Christmas Day, and became the 2020 entry on my annual “Christmas Day Trip to the Theater” list.* Carey Mulligan is an icon and deserves all of the awards for this. The soundtrack is sublime. The casting choices are truly incredible. While I have no doubt that the general themes of the movie will be polarizing, I absolutely loved this one- I sat in my car in the theater parking lot for a WHILE, considering just buying a ticket for the next showtime- that’s how badly I felt like I needed to see it again immediately. I look forward to writing its inevitable Criterion essay.

*Nobody else in rural iowa was interested in seeing this movie at noon on Christmas Day. I’m shocked.

[ryuukia]

[Translation] Tsukihana Kagura Cast Presentation: Asagi (Growth)

Happy New Year, everyone! Continuing with Ryota’s translations (many thanks again), now is Growth’s time to shine. Next up will be my set of units, SolidS and then Quell.

Please don’t repost/retranslate/reuse this translation. Likes and reblogs are appreciated!

Nation: the affiliated country’s name Flower name: the name as a dancer Dance technique: the name of each person’s characteristic dance Dance props: the name of the tool used while dancing (there are cases when none are used)

Eto Koki

“We are Asagi. We will continue to pray for the world’s peace.”

Nation: Asagi ※Chief

Flower name: Kogetsu (Lonely Moon)

Dance technique: Kibanasanga (Scattered Rimy Flowers)

Dance props: Folding Fan / Inscription: [Gurousu] (Growth)

His family is the owner of a vast plot of land which they inherited from their ancestors. From there, they started finding success in agriculture and forestry. Moreover, their businesses continued to expand as they ventured in manufactures, sales, import, and even financing. They are a very wealthy family.

His father came from the nation of 'Asahanada' after falling in love with the Eto Household’s only daughter. In an attempt to woo her, his father became an excellent Flower Dancer and has once become a 'King of Flowers'.

Being their son, he has shown outstanding qualities since he was a child and for the past 15 years has been expected to be selected as the 'King of Flowers'.

Yaegashi Kensuke

“Asagi’s dance has a fast and slow tempo so it’s a lot more trying than you’d think~!”

Nation: Asagi

Flower name: Hekikuu (Cloudless)

Dance technique: Ryuuryokukakou (The World’s True Nature)

Dance props: Folding Fan / Inscription: [Shinra] (Blessings Between Heaven and Earth)

His family runs a food manufacturing company. The products his family makes are called “Yaegashi Sealed ●●” and are beloved by the locals. He couldn’t forget the “Tsukihana Kagura” he saw once at the “Tsukihana Festival” so he’s aiming to become a Flower Dancer.

Just as he was thinking of wanting to work very hard as a dancer for someone, Koki introduced him to a man he didn’t know (Mamoru). He was surprised at first but after getting to know Mamoru, he began to accept the idea. He's a very attentive man who usually knows how to make someone move just by taking a glance from head to toe at the person.

Interview with Eto Koki (Growth)

Q. Please tell us about the highlights of this stage play and your impressions or story behind your partnered dance.

Our dance has a lot of parts wherein I move far away and then closer to my partner so, when I was trying to move to my position, I accidentally hit Mamoru with a violent swing of my arm. I’m really sorry about that time (bitter smile). I will promise to show you a wonderful performance while being careful as well.

Q. In Tsukihana, all 12 nations have their own specialties, but if you could come up with a new specialty for your own country, what would it be?

Negi-yaki.

Q. Lastly, leave a short message for the fans.

Tsukihana Kagura has a total of 12 songs. Each of them are flowing with personality so I would be really happy if you listened and found all of them. Personally, aside from Asagi’s, I quite adore listening to Asahanada’s and Geppaku’s music. I wish that you would be able to find a favorite as well!

Interview with Yaegashi Kensuke (Growth)

Q. Please tell us about the highlights of this stage play and your impressions or story behind your partnered dance.

You can tell from the costume (I think?) that I will move around a lot~! I jump and move around so much. On the other hand, Ryou dances so elegantly. The complete difference in atmosphere is interesting. We actually do something different from each other halfway and then at the end, our movements become perfectly matched! It gives me goosebumps! Check it out, okay~?!

Q. In Tsukihana, all 12 nations have their own specialties, but if you could come up with a new specialty for your own country, what would it be?

Yaegashi Sealed Spring Onion. (It’s delicious!)

Q. Lastly, leave a short message for the fans.

The Yaegashi Seal is everywhere so there's Yaegashi Sealed dango, bread, and even ramen! Look forward to the amazing Yaegashi Family Seal that sells everything (laughs). We interact a lot with members we don’t usually interact with, too~!

Sakuraba Ryota

“Beautiful things are wonderful, aren’t they?”

Nation: Asagi

Flower name: Houki (The Prime of Womanhood)

Dance technique: Ryuuryokukakou (The Beauty of Spring)

Dance props: Folding Fan / Inscription: [Kuromonji] (Black Letters)

He hails from a wealthy household that specializes in foreign trading. Ever since he was young, he has been used to having any selfish whim of his granted. He is a bit of a mischievous and antagonistic type of person.

He seems to be attracted to things that don’t go his way. One reason that he loves dancing is because his own body doesn’t move just to fulfill ideals.

He is childhood friends with Koki and Kensuke, and while he says a lot, he thinks of the both of them as precious friends.

That is exactly why, he was a bit wary of Mamoru when he suddenly appeared in their lives.

Fujimura Mamoru

“I wish that the tears I saw that day would go away… I will dance for your sake.”

Nation: Asagi

Flower name: Yakou (Light in the Darkness)

Dance technique: Shiran (Purple Light)

Dance props: Fox Mask / Inscription: [Kokuko] (Black Fox)

He is a young man who was always on a journey. Though he felt at ease once he got back to Asagi, he fell unconscious right in the middle of the street in the capital city.

Fortunately, Koki happened to be passing by and picked him up. However, Mamoru was in a slightly malnourished state because he had scarcely eaten for two weeks.

Mamoru was not someone who was suited for survival in the first place so, Koki couldn’t find it in his heart to abandon him. There, their strange life living together began.

It all started with an act of just helping another person out. However, after seeing Mamoru’s mysterious and entrancing dance, Koki proposed to have him join as a dancer.

Interview with Sakuraba Ryota (Growth)

Q. Please tell us about the highlights of this stage play and your impressions or story behind your partnered dance.

My dance with Ken has choreography that emphasizes the difference between our personalities. There are a lot of contrasting movements that perfectly show our differences. However, I am doing my best to practice to make those differences fit together. It’s because we’re dancing as partners that I think I have to show how good we are together.

Q. In Tsukihana, all 12 nations have their own specialties, but if you could come up with a new specialty for your own country, what would it be?

Asagi Soft-serve Ice Cream.

Q. Lastly, leave a short message for the fans.

Unlike 'Kiso Sekai' we are living in a very peaceful world this time. It’s because this world is very peaceful that I can be as selfish as I can. I have a lot of selfish requests that will take everyone for a spin ♪

Interview with Fujimura Mamoru (Growth)

Q. Please tell us about the highlights of this stage play and your impressions or story behind your partnered dance.

This is my first time dancing together with Kou-kun so every day, my heart was pounding and I was freaking out. Though, when we start dancing, I don’t have the liberty to think about that (laughs). Gentle movements have a different difficulty from the fast movements, I think. I can’t afford to look messy and I can’t fail. In a lot of ways, my muscles were very sore (laughs). I will do my best to not lose to everyone!

Q. In Tsukihana, all 12 nations have their own specialties, but if you could come up with a new specialty for your own country, what would it be?

Asagi Ramen (with lots of spring onions~)

Q. Lastly, leave a short message for the fans.

This time, we’re in a very peaceful world. Meaning, there’s a lot of daily life scenes. There are a lot of ad-libs and daily jokes, too. To the point where you’ll think “Wait, this unit’s doing that, too!?” (laughs). It would be very nice if everyone laughed along with us, too ♪

If you want to support Ryota and her work, you can buy her a ko-fi right [here]. I also have my own [ko-fi] page and [commission page] linked here.

[frankiefellinlove]

She’s the one?!

SUKI LAHAV (violinist)

First live performance with Bruce & The E Street Band: 1974-10-04 Avery Fisher Hall, New York City, NY

Last live performance: 1975-03-09 DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, DC

Suki Lahav, also known as Tzruya (or Tsruya) Lahav (Ayelet HaShahar, July 16, 1951), is an Israeli violinist, writer, actress and composer.

Suki did the choir vocals on "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" and "Incident on 57th Street" (uncredited).

For a short period in the mid-seventies (September 1974 - March 1975) she was part of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, then returned to Israel and successfully distinguished herself in the field of literature.

According to Mike Appel in the book "Down Thunder Road. The Making of Bruce Springsteen "written with Marc Eliot in 1992," Bruce had fallen in love with her and it was mutual. So Suki had to drop everything and leave, to try to save her marriage. " When they played together on stage, according to Appel, there was such a "sexual tension, right there in front of everyone ... that you could feel a pin fall into the audience".

Clinton Heylin also returned to the topic with his book "E Street Shuffle" (2013) in which the author relaunches what was first leaked by Appel, claiming that the verses of "She's The One" - "her long falling hair / and her eyes sparkling like a midnight sun "- they were inspired by the beautiful violinist.

Not only that, Heylin also notes that Springsteen started singing Dylan's "I Want You" when Suki was in the band, playing her with "great emotional involvement".

Confirming the friendship and the strong sentiment that united them, it should be remembered that, thanks to Suki Lahav, Bruce's songs made their first appearance in cinema in 1982: in the film Dead End Street [original title: Kvis L'Lo Motzah ] By Israeli director Yaky Yosha were included three songs of the Boss who until then had never consented to similar requests. The film narrates the story of a young prostitute and her vain attempts to leave the road, which ended dramatically with suicide, in documentary style.

Suki Lahav, returned to live in Tel Aviv, made the Israeli director listen to Point Blank, who was positively impressed and immediately wanted to contact Springsteen. So Suki recalls: “About four years ago a film producer friend of mine wanted to use three of Bruce's songs for an Israeli film but had problems getting permission from CBS. I called Bruce directly on the phone. It took me several days to find him at home but he finally answered. He was willing and happy to listen to my voice after so many years, so when I came to the point, asking him for the rights to Jungleland, Hungry Heart and Point Blank, he told me that there were no problems. He was really kind. " (See P. Jappelli. G. Scognamiglio, Like a Vision. Bruce Springsteen and the Cinema, Naples 2015).

In any case, although Suki considered Bruce "an adorable man" and "a unique artist", in a 2003 interview with Yedioth Ahronoth she firmly rejected the rumors of a relationship with him, calling them only trivial gossip.

Born and raised in the kibbutz Ayelet HaShahar in Upper Galilee (Israel), Tzruya Lahav learned music by playing during the local harvests and also dedicating herself to classical music.

After military service in the Israeli army, she arrived in the United States in 1971 with her husband, Louis Lahav, an acoustic engineer who in 1972 started working for Springsteen, who in turn was looking for a violinist. In an interview for The Jerusalem Post in 2007, Lahav recalled that she was surprised that Springsteen wanted her in the band because she didn't think she was a very good violinist. Registered with Springsteen, many of Suki Lahav's pieces were not published. In any case, Suki took part in the vocal group of 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) from the album The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle and played the violin in Jungleland from the album Born to Run. In concerts of that period, Lahav's violin was absolutely fundamental in Springsteen's "slow" songs and his "pale" and "sinuous" presence on stage contrasted with that of Springsteen.

During their stay in the US, Suki and Louis had a daughter, Tal, who later died in a car accident at the age of three and a half. They returned to Israel in the spring of 1975, after a period of study at the Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute in Los Angeles.

Divorced in 1977, Lahav later made herself known by her Hebrew name, Tzruya (sometimes transliterated Tsruya), joined Moshe Albalek and formed a new family in Jerusalem. In the following years she had two children and, until 1985, had little musical activity, participating instead as an actress in musicals and theatrical performances with works by Haim Nachman Bialik. Then she started playing as a violinist again, appearing in performances of the Israeli Kibbutz Orchestra and also doing writing activities. Tzruya Lahav also teaches creative writing in Jerusalem, where she lives in the German Cologne neighborhood.

Shared from Berry Kok

[guren-no-shishio]

Black Clover Guidebook Q&A (1-96)

Source [@Zayxil]

Q1 When is your Birthday? July 30th, 1984 

Q2 What is your blood type? It is type A 

Q3 Where are you from? Koga, Fukuoka Prefecture the same place as Daikichi Hakata 

Q4 What kind of kid where you like? He used to draw at home and hunt insects outside. And He didn't get angry. 

Q5 What were your favorite subjects? Japanese language, PE and art class 

Q6 What were your worst subjects? English and Math 

Q7 What are your favorite manga? Dragon Ball,One Piece,Slam Dunk and Yu Yu Hakusho 

Q8 What was the trigger that made you want to become a mangaka? Someone in my class brought Dragon Ball and I was moved by it. 

Q9 What kind of job would you have done if it's not a mangaka? I don't think it would happen but i would become a school teacher 

Q10 Did you get to learn from another mangaka and get experience? Yes from Tamura Ryuuhei (Beelzebub) 

More under the cut 

Q11 What other Mangaka are you friends with besides Tamura Ryuuhei? Daisuke Miyata. Naoya Matsumoto, Atsushi Nakamura, Taku Sakamoto

Q12 Right now do you want to draw another genre that's not black clover's? Can't really draw anything but Fantasy manga, But would like to do a sports something like Soccer 

Q13 What are your Hobbies? It was Basketball and Karaoke 

Q14 what is your favorite movie? Castle in the sky 

Q15 what is your favorite song and Favorite Artist? I like alot of things, Jpop? My Life ,B'z and Bump of chicken. As of right now its Yonezu Kenshi 

Q16 Do you have any BGM on when you are drawing? If so then what? If I am alone i listen to what is mentioned above 

Q17 what is your schedule for a normal day? Drawing and Admire my wife and dog 

Q18 what do you do in your day off? I don't have a day off! 

Q19 is how do you get refreshed to do your job? I get my wife to make me laugh 

Q20 I want to hear a memory about your previous editor? Before the change Katyama, My wife and the staff went to Spocha (An amusement center)and moved until i reached my limit 

Q21 What do you like to eat for each season? Winter Daikon Spring Bamboo Shoots Summer Nanban-zuke and Sōmen Fall Hoiru yaki Curry rice is my fav year round 

Q22 What is your favorite dish your wife make? Oyakodon 

Q23 Other than missions,what other duties does a magic knight have? Something like Patrols 

Q24 Is there a limit to the members of a magic knights squad? There is no limit but there are at least 50 in a Squad 

Q25 At what time does the Wizard King retire? If the Wizard King dies or the Current Wizard King chooses the next one 

Q26 In general are there a lot of  people with high magic power amount Nobility and Royalty and Is magic power something that is inherited? Yes Q27 If you don't get a grimoire in the grimoire ceremony, can you keep participating until you can? Yes, however, if you don't get it there is no other way to get a grimoire 

Q28: What happens if a grimoire is damaged or lost? A grimoire is a magic book made by mana so it can't be damaged unless you die, if your book is stolen and taken away it won't react, however snatching someone's grimoire and hidding it isn't allowed due to a fight code (?) it's an offensive behaviour 

Q29 Is it it possible to cancel ownership of your gimoire? No 

Q30 how do you decide on the cover design of a grimoire? Mostly random but fits the character 

Q31 Where do grimoire bags come from and who makes them? I think there is job for making them, some Commoners make their own 

Q32 How do you come up with Character names? Do you use a dictionary? Yes in some case i do and in other cases it's random but related to the character in some way 

Q33 You have a lot of characters with strong personalities is there a model you based them on? With some characters yes but with the majority no 

Q34 How do you decide a character's birthday Their birthday is the day that they are created 

Q35  How do you decide a character's blood type? It's random 

Q36 How do you decide on a magic's name? The Attribute is random but with the spells i use a reference

Q37 Can training your magic also change other physical characteristics like Finral's hair? It is possible that changes can appear 

Q38 Does your magic Attribute effect the type of jobs you can get and can not get? It should be person's choice to pick a job compatible to their type 

Q39 In the Black Clover universe, At what age can you get married? It is legal as soon as you get your grimoire 

Q40 Please tell us how did you come up with Black Clover? I just wanted to draw what i like the most

Q41 What process of creating the manga do you like the most? Hmmmm Inking....No wait coming up with characters and naming them 

Q42 What is your thought process when it comes to the story? I have parts of what i want to do then i come up with a way to link them together? 

Q43 What do you do when you are stuck creating the manga? I go to the Editor 

Q44 What is the easiest character to draw? To draw Henry, to emotionally connect is with  Asta 

Q45 What is the hardest character to draw? To draw Fanzel, to connect with Yuno 

Q46 What is the most intense scene from the manga? Here & here

Q47 What is your favorite color page? Here

Q48 Who is your favorite character and why is that? Charmy because she is fun to draw 

Q49 Are Asta and Yuno going to visit Hage anytime soon? they aren't for the time being 

Q50 Is Asta going to get taller than 155cm? There is a chance he'll grow 1cm  

Q51 In the hideout we see Yami reading a newspaper, what article is he reading? A normal article that a father would read in the morning 

Q52 Im curious about the shape of the Spiky Bug from the Mimo Amazon that Yami mentions? It looks like a ball just like Sekke's Sekke Magnum Cannonball 

Q53 Is Magna's hair color natural or dyed? It's natural 

Q54 Where did Magan get his sunglasses? He got them from the black market 

Q55 Where did Luck get the name Cheery Berserker? From his Magic Knight entrance exam

Q56 Finral goes to a lot of group dates, does he have another affiliation other than being a magic knight? Its different from one woman's preference to another, its suppose to be pleasant but in Finral's case, it goes very well in the beginning but in general, it ends bad

Q57 What color is Vanessa's Underwear? Wine Red

Q58 Why doesn't Charmy gain weight? Because she is that type of being 

Q59 I want to know how deep Charmy's stomach is? How do fit that much food in a small body? In this world there are better things left unknown

Q60 What did Gauche do to get sent to jail? He got into a fight in a noble house 

Q61 What is Grey's shyness level? If a normal human's level was a dog her's would be an elephant

Q62 Gordon really looks Marilyn Manson, does Gordon like western music? Does Tabata-sensei listen to western music? I unintentionally made Gordon like him, so he doesn't really like western music. I have 10 odd songs on my ipod

Q63 So Zora is a black bull, was it decided that Zora was going to be a black bull member from his first appearance? Yes it was. I had some wavering moments but in the end he is a black bull

Q64 Are there any Backdoor members besides Zora and Noelle? Most Black Bull members are backdoor members: Vanessa,Grey,Charmy and Gauche 

Q65 If the Bulls had an earnest fight (Magic allowed) Who would win that? For the time being, it's probably Yami

Q66 In what order did the Black Bull members join? Does it effect the story? I think it's going to affect the story 

Q67 What is the biggest difference between Fuego and Mereo? One fits well in Society, the other doesn't 

Q68 Who does Nozel's Braid? It's obivious, a servant

Q69 Will Charlotte's love wish be granted? I wonder 

Q70 When does Dorothy wake up? It doesn't seem to affect her life? She is asleep unless she is using magic 

Q71 How did you decide on Kirsch's personalty? It was according to my mood (I was excited)

Q72 Is the color of Rill's painting based on the element that he is using? No the color is decided on his mood 

Q73 Did William's mask design change? Yes, I made his mask look more mature

Q74 Is there any temporary member exchanges between magic knight squads and are there any current captains who entered in the same year? They can work together in the battlefield, for example, Yami, Jack, Gueldre are from the same entrance year

Q75  Are there any rules or restraints on love between magic knights? There aren't any in particular but if you act all lovey dovey on duty you will get scolded 

Q76 Who are the Top 5 best cooks? 1 Jamo (Salt bae), 2 Rebecca, 3 Domina, 4 Sister Lily, 5 Charmy's sheep

Q77 Who are the worst cooks? 1 Noelle, 2 Charlotte,3 Vanessa, 4 Sol ,5 Nebra 

Q78 Besides Asta, is there any character that resembles tabata? Mereo and her fighting spirit. Zora and his anger. 

Q79 If you were to enter a squad, which would it be? Black Bulls

Q80 What character do you want to be the most from Black Clover? Julius because of his drifting nature 

Q81 Have you ever surpassed your limits in something? My deadlines that my editor assigned me

Q82 What moment makes you think " man I'm tired" before a deadline? When I continuously nod off and start adding mysterious lines. 

Q83 What do you do when you want to stay awake? I drink coffee, Lipovitan D, and Redbull

Q84 How do you like your coffee, high or low on sugar? I like it low on sugar, but when I need to stay awake, I drink it high on sugar. 

Q85 If anti magic birds were close to you, tabata, how many will you follow you? As many as Asta would have.

Q86 What is the most relaxing place in your house? My bed I guess?

Q87 I know that you draw extraordinary breasts for your female characters and I can see you pay strong attention and love to their softness; Isn't that right? (If it's not I’m sorry) EXACTLY!!!!!!!

Q88 What's your current relationship with Amelie (his dog)? I think I’m being looked down on in a good way 

Q89 What is a commercial item you were given and thought was amazing? 2 grimoire battle cards (cards use for the Black Clover Arcade Game)

Q90 What was your reaction when you heard about the anime? Please tell us what you thought at the time? Before I was told in very melancholic mood and then when I heard I was like 'WA Finally!!

Q91 What did you feel when the VA's were chosen? Lots of the VA's were famous, I am grateful. Even tho Asta's was a newbie but i was impressed by him

Q92 What would you say to yourself from 10 years ago? You want to get serialized but don't underestimate it

Q93 What would you say to yourself 10 years from now? If you don't get faster at drawing, I'll send you flying 

Q94 What is something you want to say about the future events of Black Clover? We will save them! Our country and our friends

Q95 What is something you want to say to Yuno and Asta? Please take care of Asta, Please take care of Yuno 

Q96 Anything you want to say to us? For you guys who gave me the opportunity Thank You very much!

[elisajdb]

Life With You: XXIV

Part Twenty-Four:

 The Long Wait

  I have to escape. I have to get home.

 Freeza’s ship was too damage to fly. He had to find another ship to escape on but time was running out. Namek was seconds from exploding. Every few moments the planet would shake and lava would spew from an open fissure. Goku flew, narrowly escaping lava spewing from lakes of fire that was once land Namekians lived, farmed and played on.

 Goku frantically looked for another spaceship. He refused to accept he will die like this. He’ll die on his terms. No one else’s.

 There! On a small spot of land slowly being swallowed up by lava, Goku spotted five round pods. Whoops. Four now watching one of the pods roll into a pool of lava. Goku hopped in a pod and press all the buttons, hoping one of them activate the engines of the ship.

 The interior of the pod lit up, engines hummed and Goku found himself thrusting in the sky. He pressed his hands on the glass to view the final seconds of planet Namek from space. He looked in awe how this green and lush planet was now a lake of lava colored in ominous red and purple.

 He only had a moment to breathe a sigh of relief he escaped Namek before it blew up.

 He only had a moment to think he survived and somehow someway will get home.

 He only had a moment before everything went to hell.

 Namek exploded in a violent roar of destruction. Millions of pieces of Namek shattered across space, creating ripples of shockwaves.

 “Shit!” Goku gripped the ship’s interior. He tried to hold steady as the ship was caught in shockwaves. Everything around him rattled violently. Lights flickered as the ship spun in circles. He winced hearing the ship get pounded with debris. He hoped whatever hits the ship took wouldn’t be catastrophic for him.

 Eventually, the ship passed through the rings of shockwaves. The spinning stopped and with things finally calm, Goku’s exhausted body relaxed. Hours passed as Goku drifted in and out of sleep. Awake, he stared in the darkness of space lost in his own thoughts as this ship took him to somewhere he knew wasn’t Earth.

 Will I see them again?

 He thought of Gohan, how he raised his voice at him; threatened him. He never did that but he was so full of rage he could barely control himself. ChiChi was right. Gohan shouldn’t have been in this situation. He’ll make it up to him somehow. Goku thought of ChiChi and their last moments in the hospital. If he’d known when she left for the mall, that was the last time he’d see her….

 This time, I know Gohan is with her.

 Goku was going to drift to sleep again when he saw a planet coming into view. As he entered the atmosphere, lights on the control panel blinked, the interior lights flashed and the ship shook violently.

 Instead of slowing down for a landing, Goku felt himself speed up. Goku braced himself for impact and hoped that luck he had when escaping Namek helped him one more time when he crash on this planet.

****

 I’m alive.

 Those were Goku’s first thoughts as he viewed the blue sky above him. No, not a sky he corrected himself. A blue ceiling. He blinked a few times as his groggy mind tried to focus. His body was a mess. He didn’t feel any broken bones but his body ached all over. He felt as if a mountain was dropped on him. Slowly, he sat up and noticed he wasn’t wearing his clothes but a gown.

 Looking around, Goku noticed he wasn’t alone. A small person stood next to the bed staring at him. He? She? Goku wasn’t sure but this person had a large bulbous aqua colored head with spots, sharp ears, wide eyes and whisker like appendages on the side of its head.

 “Hello?” His tired voice greeted the person. “I’m Son Goku. Who are you?”

 The small person sprinted out the room.

 He didn’t expect that. Goku contemplated going after the person when the door opened again. The small person returned with a bigger person. By the body type, Goku assumed the tall, muscular person was a male. He looked similar to the small one. Perhaps he was the parent to this child.

 The bigger person spoke but Goku couldn’t understand the words. “I don’t understand you.”

 The tall one approached Goku with a bracelet in his hand. He raised the sleeve of his arm to show he wore one and pointed to Goku’s empty wrist. Understanding this alien wanted to put it on him, Goku extended his arm. The male placed the bracelet on Goku’s left wrist.

 “My name is Soba,” Soba spoke. He pointed to his bracelet. “This will help us talk to each other.”

 Oh! Goku understood now. It was a translator. “I’m Goku. Son Goku.” Goku noticed the small person clutching tightly to Soba.

 “This is my son, Udon. I told him to not be in this room without me but children are curious.”

 “Hi, Udon,” Goku greeted the child with a smile. The child hid behind Soba. The child’s shyness reminded Goku of Gohan. Addressing Soba he asked, “Where am I?”

 “Planet Yardrat. Why did you come here?”  

 “I’m trying to get home. Namek was blowing up and I had to escape so I jumped in the first working ship I found. It brought me here.”

 Soba appeared shaken by the news. “Planet Namek blew up?” He stepped away from Udon and paced as he remembered something. “Yesterday, this planet shook. It was mild but we never had a quake where the entire planet shook. That would explain why.” Soba looked at Goku again. This time he seemed to be studying Goku’s appearance. “You’re not a Namekian.”

 “I’m not. I’m actually….” Goku broke off his words. Thanks to Freeza, Saiyans weren’t known as friendly people. He wondered if the people of Yardrat knew about them and their reputation. “I’m a Saiyan.”

 “A Saiyan?” Soba appeared on guard. “We knew of three Saiyans that worked for Freeza.”

 The reputation of Saiyans reached here, too. He hoped Soba will believe he’s not like the Saiyans he heard about. “I’m not those Saiyans. I grew up on Earth all my life. Two of those Saiyans are dead. The third….” Oh. Now that he thought about it Vegeta was revived with Porunga’s wish. This meant he was on Earth with Gohan and ChiChi. Vegeta was remorseful but he was dying at the time. Would he have that same attitude now that he’s alive again? Maybe now that he has a chance to live his life how he like; make his own choices perhaps he will be a good person with this second chance.

 Soba waited for Goku to explain himself but he was losing patience with Goku’s sudden silence. He wanted to know why he is here and if he’s a threat to his people. “Udon, contact Ramen and Yaki. Tell them our guest has awakened.” Udon obediently left the room. Now they were alone Soba felt he could properly interrogate Goku, and if need be, deal with him if he’s a threat. “The ship you came in is one from Freeza’s army. Why were you on Namek and why did it blow up?”

 Goku explained why he came to Namek, encountering Freeza and escaping Namek. He paused a few times answering any question Soba asked.

 “So Freeza and the Ginyu Force are dead.” Soba took a moment to let that sink in. “Our people feared his gang would target our planet one day. We prepared the best we can. When we recovered your ship, we discovered it had a preflight destination for Yardrat.”

 Soba turned to the opened door. Udon entered and went to his father’s side. “Ramen and Yaki are on their way.” He looked at Goku worriedly. “Is he our friend, Papa?”

 Soba patted Udon’s head as he regarded Goku. He heard enough to judge if Goku is a friend or foe. “I think he is.”

 Goku was relieved he was not seen as an enemy. As far as he knew, he was stranded here. He had to make friends with these people if he hoped to get home.

 “You must be hungry,” Soba told Goku. “You’ve been asleep for a day. Come. I have food for us.”

 Goku got out of bed and followed Soba and Udon. Goku looked around. Walls were bare except photos. Goku noticed Soba and Udon in all of them. There was a third person in a few photos. This person had a slender, feminine build except her coloring was pink. Soba’s wife, Goku guessed and from the lack of photos, suspected she was dead.

 “How are you feeling?” Soba asked.

 “Sore.” Goku figured it would take a few days before he will fully recover. The crash knocked him out so he had no idea of the condition of his ship. “Where’s the ship I came in?”

 “Ramen and his team have it. That ship you came in was one from the Ginyu Force. The one named Recoome wrote his name in it.”

 “Recoome.” Goku remembered him. “He was the first one I fought on Namek. He hurt my son.” A flash of a beaten Gohan appeared in his mind. Internally, he was angry seeing his son so broken. He kept his cool then but now he was angry. No one should’ve beaten his son that way and live. “I defeated him but I spared him. I should’ve killed him.”

 “I understand. If it was my son, I would’ve killed him but mercy---“ Soba stopped walking. Soba felt a sudden rise of energy from Goku. He turned, eyes widening at Goku’s appearance. His black hair was blonde and he was glowing. “Goku….?”

 Goku looked at his glowing hands. He could feel the transformation but didn’t know how it happened. One moment he thought of Gohan, saw his broken body and felt a burst of anger. He changed into a Super Saiyan against his will. Soba stared while Udon clutched to his father while looking at Goku in fear.

 Goku wanted to say there was nothing to fear but something caught his peripheral. A mirror hung a few steps behind him. Goku returned to the mirror. He stared back at himself stunned at the image reflecting at him. “So, this is how I look as a Super Saiyan.”

 “Super Saiyan?” Soba murmured.

 Goku studied his face. He looked so angry. His eyes were teal and his blonde hair stood up straight. During his fight against Freeza, he never knew what he looked like. He only knew his appearance and demeanor frightened Gohan and now Udon.

 “Goku,” Soba called him again. “Could you change back? You’re scaring my son.”

 Goku looked away from the mirror to Udon. Udon hid behind his father. He didn’t mean to scare the child but he didn’t know how to stop the transformation. He did it once on Namek but it was instinctual. He didn’t feel the desire to fight Freeza anymore and his body powered down. Goku closed his eyes and mentally tried to turn off the transformation but nothing worked. How? How did he do it on Namek?

 “You were angry earlier,” Soba told him. “Think of something calm, something that makes you happy.”

 Calm. What made him calm? What made him happy? Fighting made him happy. No, he can’t think of fighting. That made him angry now. Food! Food made him happy. A memory of him, Gohan and ChiChi on a beach together eating appeared in his mind. The happy memory soothed Goku. He felt his Ki falling, his temper cooling. His hair turn black and fell into place again. Goku closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against the wall.

 “No wonder you could kill Freeza. Your Ki was enormous. You must be the most powerful person in the universe.” It should be a compliment but Soba wasn’t smiling. “You don’t have control over this power, do you?”

 “No,” Goku said shakily. “It’s new.” He pushed away from the wall. “I’m all right,” he smiled trying to assure Soba. “I’m just hungry.”

 Soba nodded but from the look in his eyes Goku knew Soba didn’t believe him. He followed after Soba and Udon. Physically, Soba appeared strong but his Ki was small. It didn’t match his build. Goku wondered if he was suppressing his strength. Since Soba asked him many questions, Goku thought it was fair he do the same. “You felt the rise of my energy. Can you read Ki?”

 “Yes. It’s a natural gift of our people. I wasn’t aware a Saiyan could read Ki.”

 “Why?”

 “Saiyans, anyone serving Freeza, wore scouters. They couldn’t do it naturally. Since you didn’t grow up as a Saiyan, you learned how to read Ki naturally. I’m sure you’ve suspected I’m suppressing my Ki.”

 He did but how much was Soba suppressing?

 ****

 Goku sat on the edge of his bed as he was examined by another Yardratian. Yaki was the doctor who treated Goku after he crashed. Unlike Soba and Udon, Yaki’s skin was pink like Ramen, the other Yardratian that came while Goku had breakfast with Soba and Udon. Ramen was a scientist and technical expert.

 Finished with her exam, Yaki placed her tools in her medical bag. “Physically, you’re fine, Goku. All your wounds should be gone in two or three days but I recommend resting until you are completely healed.”

 Soba leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. “What about that outburst Goku had earlier?”

 “That’s mental.” She shrugged at a lost herself. “I don’t know anything about Saiyans but you say this transformation isn’t normal, Goku?”

 Goku scratched his head trying to remember what Vegeta and Captain Ginyu said. “All I know is it was something Freeza feared. I became a Super Saiyan because I was triggered by rage. He killed my friend in front of me.” The horrible image of Krillin soaring in the air; his terrifying scream for Goku before his body blew up angered Goku. He clenched his fist wishing Freeza was here so he could pummel him again. “He threatened to kill my son.”

 Soba and Yaki were stun as Goku suddenly changed into a Super Saiyan. Soba jumped in front of Yaki. Goku appeared as stunned as them at this change. Goku returned to his base state thinking of his family again. Yaki tried to move to examine Goku again but Soba kept himself protectively in front of her.

 “It’s seems you’re transforming base on memories of rage, too,” Yaki observed. “That’s not good.”

 Goku agreed. He was a walking time bomb in this state. He needed to master this transformation and control of his rage before he went home. He couldn’t be this way around Gohan and ChiChi. Besides mastering this Super Saiyan transformation, Goku had an important question. “How long will it be before my ship is fixed and I can go home?”

 Ramen entered the room upon hearing the question. “At best, two months.” Once he learned Goku’s story, he made a call to his team to begin repairs and plot the ship’s course to Earth. “The ship was badly damage when it crashed. We will have to create parts to modify it for the ship. It should be a month before all repairs are made. We’ve already created a flight plan from Yardrat to Earth. You should be home in a month after you leave.”

 A month. Goku thought that was all he needed. He hopped off his bed. “I better get started mastering this Super Saiyan transformation.”

 Soba was alarmed by Goku’s words. “You think you can master this in a month?”

 “Sure. I mastered a hundred times gravity in six days.” Goku was positive he can master being a Super Saiyan the same way.  

 Soba wasn’t as confident. “Yaki, Ramen. Give us a moment.”

 Goku noticed Yaki and Ramen left without question. There was something unique about Soba. He noticed it when Yaki and Ramen arrived earlier. They both took directions from him as if he was their leader. The way Soba jumped in front of Yaki said something, too.

 “Are you the leader of this planet?” Soba raised an eyebrow. “A protector?” Goku guessed “I noticed how you got in front of Yaki when I changed.”

 “Protector,” Soba admitted. “Yardrat doesn’t have an army but there’s a group of us that protect this planet. This area is my quadrant.”

 Soba was a fighter. This intrigued Goku. “How strong are you?”

 A smile curved Soba’s face. He expected that. “Let’s just say if the Ginyu Force came here, they wouldn’t have won.” Goku’s face lit up excited. If he knew Saiyans from the little information he read about, Goku will want to fight him. “But you have a problem, Goku. This transformation is more than physical. It’s mental, too. Maybe psychological. You have to get control of it before it gets out of hand.”

 “I will,” Goku promised. With his two sudden outbursts, Goku understood Soba’s concerns, but Goku knew he will master being a Super Saiyan as he mastered every new challenge he faced. His main concern was time and how long he will be here before he achieve his goal.

 ****

 He hadn’t meant to attack her the moment she came in the room but he had this strange need in him that only ChiChi could squelch. He had ChiChi pinned to the door; his face buried in her neck. “You smell so good.” His tongue licked her neck. “Taste so good here.” Goku slipped a hand under her gown to between her legs. He brought his fingers to his lips and licked. “Taste even better there.”

 “Goku….” ChiChi pressed her hands against his chest. “Gohan’s awake in the other room. Ah!” She was turned around so her front pressed against the door. “It’s almost his bedtime. We can mmmm…..” her words were cut off at the feel of Goku entering her.

 “Gohan’s watching that movie.” He thrust into her. “He’ll be fine.” He slapped his body against her faster. “Besides, it makes it more exciting to finish before we’re caught.”

 “Huh?” ChiChi turned her head to him. “Are you crazy? It’s no—ah!”

 Goku nibbled her neck. “It is.” He gripped her breasts and massaged her tender flesh as his hips slap against hers.

 A light tapping knocked on the door. “Mommy. Daddy. The movie is over.”

 The sound of Gohan on the other side should’ve ceased their activity but Goku kept moving. ChiChi tried to break away from Goku. “Goku,” she hissed. “It’s Gohan. Sto—mmm!” She gasped as Goku slammed in her. ChiChi covered a hand over her mouth while the other pressed against the door.

 “Can’t stop now.” Goku grunted as he rocked her body against his faster. “Almost… there. Uh…. little more…..” One of his hands slid between ChiChi’s legs. His rapid strokes and pounding left ChiChi screaming in her hand.

 “Mommy?” Gohan called again. His hand slapped the door. Thumps were Gohan’s answer as Goku brought him and ChiChi to their peak. “Daddy?” Goku buried his mouth in ChiChi’s shoulder to subdue his roar as he came in her. ChiChi bit her hand to muffle her scream. Gohan kept knocking. “Are you asleep?”

 Goku released his hold on ChiChi’s hips as he pulled out. ChiChi slid to the floor. “No….” Goku panted. Smirking at ChiChi’s exhausted state, Goku hurriedly pulled up his pants.

 “What’s going on?” Gohan asked through the door.

 Goku opened the door, slightly sweating with a flushed face and bare chest to his three-year-old son. “We’re fine, Gohan. Mommy and I were exercising and we’re a little tired.”

 “Oh,” the child believed him. “My movie’s over.”

 “Then it’s time for bed. Go to your room. Mommy and I will be there to say good night.”

 “Okay.” Gohan walked off unaware of what really happened.  

 Goku closed the door. He turned to ChiChi and was met with a slap against his face. “I hope you enjoyed that because we won’t be doing that for a while.”

 “ChiChi----“

 “That was embarrassing! We could’ve been caught!”

 Smirking, Goku pushed ChiChi against the door again and pressed his lower body against hers. “That made it even more exciting.” ChiChi’s face flushed as Goku rubbed against her.

 “Didn’t you hear what I said? No more---“ she was cut off with Goku’s lips against hers. She balled her fists and hit his shoulders but the fighting was temporary as Goku’s lips and tongue heated her up again.  

 The moment ChiChi kissed back Goku deliberately broke off the kiss. Her flushed cheeks; the anger in her eyes; the way her breasts rose and fell; her wonderful scent! The woman didn’t know what she did to him! “I heard you and I don’t care.” He opened the door. “Let’s put Gohan to bed and I’ll put you to bed when we come back.”

 Goku’s eyes jolted awake. He laid in bed panting. What kind of dream was that? No. It wasn’t a dream. That actually happened. He remembered ChiChi being angry with him one morning. She told him they were intimate with Gohan standing outside their room. ChiChi accused him of seducing her for hours but he didn’t remember their intimacy. He knew ChiChi wasn’t lying. The marks on their bodies and bedsheets were proof they were intimate.  

 “Why am I remembering this now?”

 Goku rolled on his side confused. He stared at the empty space beside him. This side of the bed was ChiChi’s. Sometimes she slept on her back. Most times she slept on her side facing him. In the winter, she cuddled with him, saying his body heat kept her warm. In the summer, especially during heatwaves, ChiChi didn’t sleep next to him but she certainly tempt him when she slept in nothing or her underwear. There was that one time ChiChi tempt him in the shower.

 “Wait a second.” New images poured into Goku’s mind. “I remember now. This happened on the night of a full moon.”

 Goku dipped his hand in the water. The water in the cauldron was ready for him and ChiChi. Goku entered his home in search for his wife. She wasn’t in the kitchen so he went to their bedroom. ChiChi held him back all night. No more he thought. He was gonna have his way with her. She wasn’t in the bedroom but he felt her Ki in the bathroom. Opening the door, he found ChiChi in the shower. Her back was to him and it was evident she hadn’t noticed him.

 Perfect Goku thought as he removed his clothes and stepped in the shower. ChiChi turned to strike him as if he was an intruder. She turned her back on him to finish her shower but Goku had other plans. He took away ChiChi’s soapy sponge and used his hands to clean ChiChi.

 “Goku…” her breath hitch as one soapy hand squeezed a breast and the other slipped between her legs. “Goku….this isn’t exactly what I had in mind.”

 “It’s what I had.” He moved his lips along her neck. “Relax,” Goku whispered against her. He continued to knead her breasts and stroke between her legs. He touched her before but never like this. It was so bold and arousing. Water sluiced down their bodies as ChiChi gave in to the emotions Goku stirred in her. With his mouth sucking her neck, one hand taking turns kneading and pinching her breasts and the other stroking the sensitive area between her legs, it didn’t take long for her orgasm to hit.

 Goku didn’t stop there. He was greedy. He needed more before they soak in the cauldron. He kneeled before ChiChi who pleaded they shouldn’t be doing this in a shower. Goku didn’t listen and ChiChi squirmed under his probing tongue. With a gentle tug, ChiChi pushed Goku in deeper. With slow then quick licks and circling against her hardened nub, ChiChi was reduced to begging. Her whimpers thrilled him. A few licks and she was close but then Goku pulled away, moving that wicked tongue of his in her inner cavern. His eyes met hers. She taunted him so much tonight, it felt so good to give back what she delivered to him. She was hungry, begging for more but he moved at his pace. He took joy in tormenting her.

 Both hands gripped his hair and pushed him against her hip. A few moans and yeses rolled from her lips as she grind against his wicked face. His tongue probe deeper forcing a blessed release from her. Goku held her thighs to steady her as the aftershocks of her orgasm rolled from her body.

 As soon as Goku rose to his feet, ChiChi yanked him to her in a savage kiss. Goku surprised ChiChi by lifting and pressing her firmly against the wall. Spreading her legs, he easily slid into her wet channel. ChiChi wrapped her legs around Goku’s waist as he pushed deep inside her.

 “How does it feel?” Goku grinned at her as he pummeled deeper, causing ChiChi’s voice to get higher with each thrust. “Have you been missing this as much as me?”

 “Yes,” ChiChi whimpered. “More….” She begged. “I need more.”

 Damn right she did he thought he slammed into her hard. Perhaps he should be a little more careful. She wasn’t as strong as him but she was his wife. She can take everything he gave her.

 Goku rolled on his back. He ran a hand down his sweating face. Before now, he only remembered pieces of that night. He couldn’t recall them being in the shower or their time in the cauldron. He didn’t remember his vicious killing of the tiger and wild boar. What had come over him then? Why were the memories finally surfacing?

 Goku shifted in bed uncomfortable. He could see something poking through the sheets. It has been a while. Goku pulled off the covers and swung his legs off the bed. His mind was bombarded with images of him and ChiChi in intimate moments. Moments he never remembered but was told by ChiChi. He could see it all now. He saw images of the night he and a pregnant ChiChi were intimate; the broken bed; the hallway; the bathroom; the kitchen; outside…. everything was coming back to him.

 His body suddenly felt hot. His skin was burning. He tried to cool down by pushing the images aside but they become more intense as he tried to resist. He could hear ChiChi’s moans, feel her nibbling his skin, feel her legs wrap around his hips, her nails clawing down his back; feel himself moving in her.

 He exploded, muscles expanded, hair changing again.

 Goku stared at his glowing body. He did it again. Impulsively changed. It’s been a month and he wasn’t progressing as well as he liked. This was a serious problem.

 ****

Soba stood at the door of his home, waving goodbye to Udon as he left for school. He noticed Goku walk up the path Udon left on. Goku smiled at the child, spoke and continue to Soba’s house. The smile on his face turned into an intense frown.

 “Where did you go?” Soba asked as Goku stepped in. Goku looked haggard. “Your Ki woke me up last night. I checked on you but you were gone. You spontaneously changed again, didn’t you?”

 “Yeah.” Goku settled in a chair. “I was up all night training until I couldn’t maintain being a Super Saiyan anymore.”

 Soba prepared Goku’s breakfast plates. “Didn’t thinking of your wife or son calm you down?”

 “Thinking of ChiChi would’ve made things worse.”

 Soba wondered what that meant. “You have been making progress. You haven’t spontaneously change in a week. What happened?” Goku didn’t answer. Soba found that strange as Goku didn’t mind sharing thoughts of his training. Soba returned to the table with Goku’s plates. “Goku?” Soba pried again.

 Goku took his food, ate quietly and confessed, “When I see a full moon, I black out until the next morning. I never remember anything. I saw a full moon here two days ago. I didn’t black out and now I can remember things that happen when I saw a full moon.”

 “If I recall, Saiyans turn into what we call Oozarus when they see a full moon.”

 “I didn’t have my tail then. I didn’t turn into a giant ape but I act differently.” He didn’t feel like eating but Goku forced himself because he knew he will be starving later. He also didn’t want to appear rude. Soba opened his home to Goku. He’s been kind and helpful to him as he navigate this change in him since he arrived a month ago. “I don’t know what’s going on with me.”

 Soba leaned against the counter thinking. Goku was an open book to him when sharing what he knew about Saiyans, his martial arts life and some of his family life on Earth. It gave Soba insight into the man Goku is. “You told me you don’t remember your programming because you hit your head. All your life a part of yourself was hidden from you. This transformation opened that and now you’re remembering things that happened: good and maybe bad you didn’t know about.”

 The dreams about ChiChi Goku thought were very good but unfortunately frustrating with ChiChi not here. Goku was troubled about the possibility of bad memories being uncovered. He exploded into a Super Saiyan remembering him and ChiChi being intimate. How will he react if he recovers the suppress memories of killing his grandpa?

 ****

 “Get out!” Yamcha screamed. “We’re done for if we don’t get out of here!”

 Goku heard Yamcha’s voice but where was he? Goku spotted the shine of the night sky. The full moon. It called to him. Destroy the moon told him. Destroy everything around him. Goku obeyed prying a large pillar from Emperor Pilaf’s castle.

 He spotted Emperor Pilaf, Mai and Shu escaping in a plane. They tried to kill him and his friends earlier. He couldn’t let them get away. Goku threw the pillar at the plane. It was a direct hit. Goku raised his large ape arms in the air happy at his destruction. He needed to do more. He needed to kill everything around him.  

 “Run!” Yamcha screamed. “Before he crushes us!!”

 “Goku!!” Bulma yelled. She laid on the ground trapped under rubble from Pilaf’s castle. “Will you quit it?! It’s not funny anymore!”

 There! Goku finally spotted Yamcha and Bulma on the ground. They were so tiny. Kill. Destroy. He heard the command in his mind again. Goku raised his furry foot and slammed it down, barely missing Yamcha, Oolong and Puar.

 Yamcha disappeared from Goku’s view. He wondered where he went until he felt something grab his tail. He tried to move but something held him back. He heard Yamcha yell. “Puar! Turn into a pair of scissors!”

 Scissors? That’s what happened to his tail!

 “Goku? Goku? Goku!”

 Goku snapped out of his reverie. Soba was staring at him. That frown. He was annoyed. “Hmm. What?”

 Soba sighed. He crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re spacing out again. You had another memory, didn’t you?”

 “Yeah.” Goku rubbed the back of his neck feeling awkward. He leaned on his repaired spaceship. It was fixed a while ago but it wasn’t until now, Goku felt ready to use it. This vision of him at Pilaf’s castle was the first one he had in a month. Now Soba knew he was still having these visions, Goku prepared himself for what Soba will say.

 “Goku, I think this is a sign you’re not ready to go home.”

 Here we go. Yesterday, Goku announced he will be going home. Since then, Soba have tried to talk Goku into staying longer. Goku appreciated Soba’s advice and friendship. With both being warriors, a mutual respect and brotherhood formed among them. He knew what he shared with Soba, he didn’t share with any other Yardratian. Maybe if he wasn’t feeling so homesick Goku would take Soba’s advice and stay a few more months but he wanted to go home.

 “I’ve been here long enough. It’s been four months. I’ve finally gotten control of being a Super Saiyan. I can change at will now.”

 “You can change at will but you haven’t gotten control of that rage in you. Last week you had a nightmare about Freeza.”

 “That was a fluke and it wasn’t a real memory.”

 “It doesn’t matter. You turned into a Super Saiyan in your sleep and destroyed your bed. What if you go home and that happens when you’re in bed with your wife?” Soba tried to get Goku to understand but his friend was stubborn. “Goku, you have a kind, innocent nature but that Super Saiyan transformation did something to you psychologically. It’s brought out things you’ve suppressed for years. You won’t overcome that in a few months. You need more time. As a warrior, I understand this. I’ve been through this. Listen to me when I tell you you’re rushing this.”

 “I know my training isn’t complete but it’s complete enough that I can go home. I’ll finish it there.”

 “Even at the risk of hurting your family?” Soba asked. It was a low blow but Soba hoped it was enough for Goku to understand the danger he is right now.

 Soba’s words struck him hard. Hurting his family was the last thing he wanted. “I’m hurting them now by being away.” How dare Soba say that? ��They probably think I’m dead, Soba! It’s been four months and I haven’t been able to contact them to let them know I survive Namek’s explosion!” He stepped from his ship and nearly slammed the door. “I’ve been training myself every day for the last four months just to get control so I can go home to them and you accuse me of hurting them?!!” His eyes changed to teal, his hair stood up but remained black. Goku could feel himself on the verge on changing into a Super Saiyan against his will. Damn! This wasn’t what he wanted. He had control for a month now!

 Soba remained where he stood. He didn’t flinch. He didn’t blink. “This is why I say you’re not ready to go home.”

 Goku’s eyes returned to normal and his hair fell into place. After four months, he didn’t need to think of his family to calm down.

 “Goku…..”

 Multiple sonic booms clapped in the sky forcing Soba and Goku’s eyes upward. They saw multiple round pods streaking in the sky towards the city.

 Goku recognized the pods. “Those are…..”

 “Freeza’s pods,” Soba finished. Though they were on the outskirts of the city, the sudden loud boom in the city was heard by them. This is what Soba feared most. “I thought with Freeza being dead, we didn’t have to worry about an attack.”

 “I’ll help you,” Goku jumped in the air.

 “Wait.” Soba jumped in the air. “Flying will take too long.” He grabbed Goku’s wrist. Goku felt him and Soba disappear from where they were. They suddenly arrived in a classroom full of frightened children.

 “Papa!” Udon ran to his father.

 Goku looked around baffled. How did they suddenly arrive here? How did they travel over twenty miles in seconds? What did Soba do?          

 Soba held Udon in his arms as he stepped away from Goku and to Udon’s teacher. “Goku and I will stop the invaders. Get the children to the safe zones. Contact Ramen, Yaki and all the adults. Spread the word. Everyone must get to a safe zone.”

 The teacher nodded. “Chain link, children.” All the children crowded together and held hands. Soba hugged Udon before placing him back on the floor. Udon joined his teacher and held her hand. Goku saw everyone disappear in seconds.

 “What the….?” Goku was speechless. What was going on? “What just happened? How did everyone disappear?”

 “It’s a secret of our people, Goku.” Soba grabbed Goku’s wrist again. They disappeared and appeared in the center of the city. The invaders weren’t on Yardrat for long but they turned the heart of the city into a warzone. Vehicles were destroyed or overturned; buildings were on fire or crumbling, bodies lied in the streets. At the center of it all, ten aliens of different shapes, sizes and colors dressed in armor similar to the Ginyu Force. They fired energy blasts around them at buildings, at vehicles and people.

 Soba attacked first. He disappeared from Goku’s side and appeared in front of an invader. One fist to his stomach had an invader crumpling to the ground unmoving. His posture reminded Goku of how Recoome fell to his attack. Soba didn’t waste time admiring his work. He fought off another invader and in two moves, he was on the ground unconscious.

 Goku knew Soba was a warrior. They had friendly spars to test Goku’s control and strength. Goku held back but he didn’t suspect Soba did, too. He moved so fast now. His Ki rose when he attacked but dropped when he wasn’t fighting. It was similar to him when he fought Burter and Jeice but Soba’s disappearing technique made him sharper than Goku.

 He was so focused watching Soba Goku wasn’t aware of invaders creeping on him until it was almost too late. Goku jumped to dodge a punch to his head but he was left vulnerable to another invader who shot a ball of Ki at Goku’s back. Momentarily stunned, Goku plummeted. He caught himself before he hit the ground. As soon as his toes touched the ground he bounced himself back off his feet to strike the one who hit him. One punch had him falling faster than when he struck Recoome.  

 Seeing as how he quickly dispose of one, three attacked Goku at once. Goku grinned as his swift, smooth moves deftly avoided the arms, fists and legs of his opponents. If he hadn’t achieve his Super Saiyan ability, they would be a challenge.

 “Why are you still following Freeza’s orders?” Goku asked the three. “He’s dead. Leave these people alone and leave this planet.”

 The three fighters suddenly broke away from Goku. Goku stared at them bewildered. Were they giving up? One pointed at him. “You. You’re the one who fought Freeza.”

 Another spoke. “You’re the one who escaped Namek.”

 The third one explained. “We tracked all the ships that went to Namek. We only found one that escaped. We thought Recoome was stranded or imprisoned here. We thought he will tell us who put our master in his critical state but you escaped in his ship.”

 “That’s right.” Goku wouldn’t deny it. “So fight me and leave these people out of this.” Wait. What did he say about Freeza? “Critical state? Are you saying Freeza isn’t dead?”

 “We found him drifting in space weeks ago. He was barely alive.”

 “Even after all his surgeries, he’s still barely alive,” another invader added. “The machines are keeping him alive. If he recovers, he will never be the same.”

 “So, he’s not a threat anymore.” That was the only good news to learning Freeza was still alive. It angered Goku Freeza’s followers insisted on carrying out Freeza’s evil. It angered him they came to this innocent planet because of him. His control was slipping again. His hair flickered between black and blonde. But he was smiling. To unleash his slipping rage on them……

 It’s what they deserve.

 “Goku, stop it! This isn’t you!”

 That voice. It was Soba but Goku heard someone else say the same thing. His Grandpa! Suddenly, Soba and all the members of Freeza’s gang vanished around him. He wasn’t on Yardrat now. He was home at Mount Paouz. It was nighttime and the full moon was bright.

 “Goku, stop it! This isn’t you!”

 It was his grandpa. He look so tiny from his view but Goku recognized him. His heavy feet made the ground shake with each step. The quakes were so powerful his home collapsed under the pressure.

 Goku saw his grandpa running away but Goku wouldn’t let him escape. Trees fell at Goku’s footsteps; animals scampering to safety were crushed under Goku’s feet.

 “Stop, Goku!” Grandpa Gohan screamed. “You don’t know what you’re doing!”

 Grandpa was wrong. He knew what he was doing. It felt good to crush everything in his path. It felt good to release his rage.

 “I don’t want to hurt you but you leave me no choice, Goku. I barely survived the last time you changed.”

 Hurt him? Why would Grandpa hurt him? Grandpa Gohan jumped from the ground to a tree. His hands were pulled back. “Ka….me…..” Goku picked up the tree forcing his grandpa to jump. He flung the tree somewhere in the forest. His tail smacked Grandpa Gohan and sent his body hurling to another tree. He crumpled on the ground. With Goku’s heavy footsteps, the tree toppled and pinned Grandpa Gohan by his legs. Grandpa Gohan’s painful scream echoed in the night but it was muffled by Goku’s roar. Being on Mount Paouz, no one could hear him anyway.

 Grandpa Gohan pulled himself from under the tree. His legs were broken but his arms could move so he crawled. Goku stared at his grandpa. Still trying to get away. Grandpa Gohan’s belly crawl away was amusing. He couldn’t escape him. No one can.

  “My legs…” Grandpa Gohan groaned. “I won’t be able to escape you much longer, Goku.” He rolled on his back watching Goku approach. “I knew one day you will be the one to end my life, Goku. I know you don’t understand what you are doing but I forgive you and I will always be proud of you.” Those were Grandpa Gohan’s final words before Goku’s ape foot crushed his body.

 Goku didn’t hear the crunching bones of his grandpa’s body underneath him or the muffled screams. He only heard his roar in the sky under the bright full moon.

 Goku crumpled to his knees. His grandpa. He knew he killed him but until now he was spared the final moments of Gohan’s life. Even in death, Grandpa was calm and accepting of his fate. He didn’t look at Goku with hate. He spoke with pride and love for him.  

 Tears streamed down Goku’s face. Grandpa. How could I kill you? I’m sorry, Grandpa. I’m so sorry!

 Around him, the resistors of Freeza’s force crowded Goku confused. “What’s going on with him?” One moment Goku was ready to fight them and in the next he stood in a trance before crumpling to the ground.

 “Who cares?” One of the wicked invaders hand morphed into a sharp blade. “Let’s kill him.”

 Soba noticed Goku on his knees. He didn’t appear to notice Freeza’s force circling him for a final attack. He knew another memory struck Goku and judging from Goku’s body language, it was a painful one. “Goku!” Soba tossed aside his opponent. In a flash, he was at Goku’s side fighting off the opponents meant to kill him. “Goku, snap out of it! I need some help here!”

 One of the fighters caught Soba’s blind spot with a punch. Another sliced their blade across his chest. Blood spilled but it was only a flesh wound. Soba had enough wits to lead the three fighters to focus on him but it left Goku vulnerable to the remaining fighters.

 As Soba fought off his opponents, he noticed someone appear in front of Goku. It was his son. “Udon!” What was his son doing here? He saw him escape to the safe zone with everyone else. Distracted, Soba received a kick to his stomach and back and found himself temporary knocked on the ground. “Udon!”

 Udon shook Goku. “Mr. Goku. Mr. Goku. Please snap out of it, Mr. Goku. You have to help, Papa.”

 Goku raised his tear stained face. Udon. In his time here, Goku had come to know Udon as a quiet child. His shyness and easily frightened manner reminded him of Gohan before the ordeal with Raditz. He was so quiet around Goku in the early days of his arrival but over the weeks Udon opened up to him. He was a funny child. A kind one like his Gohan. He even showed hidden bravery like Gohan by coming here to help.

 Behind Udon, Goku could see the remaining five members of Freeza’s invaders land. One created a large ball of Ki and fired on them. Goku quickly grabbed the child and turned around to take the blast of his attack. Udon clutched Goku tightly as Goku’s scream rang in his ears. Udon teleported with his classmates to the safe zone but Udon grew worried over his father. With his teacher focused on keeping the other children calm, Udon teleported back to the battlefield where his father and Goku were. Seeing Goku suddenly fall and his father busy fighting off the other invaders, Udon knew he had to help. He snapped Goku out of whatever daydream he was in and in return, Goku saved his life. As he huddled close to Goku, Udon felt something strange coming from Goku. His Ki was different. Looking up, Udon saw Goku had changed into a Super Saiyan.  

 Goku released Udon. The child looked at him with wide eyes like Gohan did. He will protect this child as he protected his son. Eyes on Udon, Goku stretched a hand pointing away from him. A powerful blast of Ki expelled from his hand. Udon saw it swallow up two of the invaders surrounding his father. His father easily subdued the third fighter. Standing, Goku roared. More Ki expelled from him striking two of the fighters behind him while the other three barely avoided consumption.

 “Go!” Goku told the child. “Go to your father!” Udon left Goku and ran to his father. “Go, Soba! I’m barely controlling myself!”

 Soba picked up Udon, grabbed one of the fallen invaders and vanished.  

 The painful memories of his beloved grandpa’s death meshing with the rage against these invaders made a very toxic and dangerous combination. In his mind, Goku could hear a voice tell him to hold back but he couldn’t. These monsters didn’t deserve mercy. They fought for Freeza even when he couldn’t do it anymore. They will never stop. Mercy could not be shown for them. Only death. Goku fought against killing his opponent for years. It was his teachings under Mr. Popo Goku truly learned mercy. Perhaps, he learned too well for he couldn’t decipher between mercy and putting someone down for good. ChiChi and even Vegeta mentioned this. In the end, as much anger he had for Freeza, he showed mercy. When Goku delivered a final blow to Freeza after that mercy backfired, it still wasn’t enough. Now his loyalists continued his evil and Goku vowed no mercy for them.  

 Rising in the air, Goku sprayed the battlefield with bombs of his Ki. He purposely avoided the remaining fighters and destroyed all the space pods. None of them were escaping this planet alive. Goku dropped from the sky. His landing created shockwaves that knocked the invaders off their feet. Even seeing Goku’s rage and understanding how he was powerful enough to defeat Freeza, they charged on him, vowing to fight to their final breath.

 As a Saiyan, that got Goku’s blood pumping. Everything happened in a matter of seconds. The remaining fighters couldn’t see Goku’s movements but felt his strikes that crushed their bones, burn their insides and left them falling in a pile of defeat. It should be enough for Goku to walk away but he couldn’t. The rage grew in him. He couldn’t stop his Ki from rising. It caused the entire city to shake as if struck by a deadly earthquake. Buildings began to topple and the ground opened up. Goku could feel not all the Yardratians had escaped. He tried to find control again if only to spare them but he couldn’t stop the rage.

 Lost in his rage, Goku was unaware Soba returned and had been watching him for a while. The quakes Goku created stretched for miles. It even reached the safe zone where he teleported Udon and the only invader left. Goku had lost complete control. This is what he feared. This is why he tried to get Goku to understand he wasn’t ready to go home. With memories of his past surfacing, Soba knew there was a hidden memory that would unlock everything.

 Soba thought death was justified for the invaders but he felt some of his people still lingered in the area. They will be in the crossfires of Goku’s exploding rage. It was scary even to him how high Goku’s Ki rose. Any moment, he will explode and take everyone with him.

 As protector of this area, Soba couldn’t let that happen. He had an idea to stop Goku from destroying the city but knew it was possible it will cost him his life. He wasn’t coming out of this unharmed no matter how many scenarios he played out in his mind. Decision made, Soba disappeared from his spot. He appeared behind Goku and wrapped his arms around him. The energy pulsing around Goku burned Soba’s clothes and skin. Despite the pain, Soba concentrated, disappeared and took Goku with him.

 ****

 “You gave us a scare. We thought you wouldn’t wake up.”

 Blinking away the fog of sleep, Goku found himself in his room. Soba sat in his chair grinning as he drunk from his mug. Soba was covered with bandages on both his arms, hands and even across his chest. He wore pants but Goku suspected bandages covered his legs, too.

 The sheets rolled off Goku as he sat up. His chest was free of any injuries. He remembered Soba grabbing him and taking him away to a mountainous region where only they remained. His body was on fire and on the verge of exploding. Being near him, Soba was burned as well.

 “How long was I out?”

 “Almost a week. You had a breakthrough, Goku. Ever since that first dream, I knew more were coming. Whatever you saw, whatever caused that explosion of rage, needed to happen. Now you can properly heal and control this new power of yours.”

 His rage. It was scary but somehow he controlled it without blowing himself up when Soba took him away. It completely burnt him out and knocked him out for a week but the fact he did it, showed extreme progress and he was nowhere near ready to go home.

 “What happened to Freeza’s fighters?”

 “They’re dead including the one I took with me. We interrogated him before he killed himself in our prison. When Freeza was brought back to his planet, his condition caused extreme chaos and descent. Many who were forced to fight under him quit. Some escaped but some were killed by Freeza’s loyalists. With the war going on his planet, I doubt anyone will investigate the disappearance of those invaders.”

 That was good to hear and learning those invaders were all dead, some by his hand, didn’t bother Goku as much as he thought. It took many years but Goku finally understood some people had to be put down.

 “I’m sorry,” Goku suddenly apologized. “You’re injured because of me and I almost destroyed your city. Did my rage kill any Yardratians?”

 “No. Some got hurt in the quakes but the ones dead were killed by the invaders.” Soba regarded Goku with a kind smile. “You saved many including my son. Even in the rage of your transformation, you didn’t hurt Udon. I will be forever grateful for that. He’s all I have after I lost his mother.”

 Goku was glad that day did have some bright spots. For him, it made one unfortunate thing very clear.  “I can’t go home. Rushing home when I knew I needed more training would’ve been the worst thing.”

 Soba hated it took last week’s invasion for Goku to see that, but it needed to happen. “I promise to help you so you don’t have to stay here any longer than you have to. If there’s time, I’ll teach you a technique from my people.”

 “The disappearing one?” Goku hoped. Seeing Soba use it, Goku knew that was trick he definitely wanted to learn.

 “We call it teleportation.”

 “Teleportation?”

 Soba knew it was bending the rules. Yardratians were taught to not share their secrets with outsiders but since Goku saved the city and his son, Soba thought he could make an exception in that rule. “We only need to feel someone’s Ki wherever they are and teleport ourselves to them. It’s something we’re taught as children. That’s how Udon found us. As he gets older, his mental abilities will get stronger. He’ll learn to teleport himself to places without Ki like I did transporting us to the mountains. Teleportation is not an easy technique but I think you can do it. It might actually come in handy.”

 Yaki entered the room. She came by everyday to check on Goku. “Ah. My patient is awake.” She opened her medical bag ready to give Goku another exam. “How are you feeling?”

 Before Goku could answer, he suddenly perk up as an invisible force struck him. Soba and Yaki felt a strong Ki in the air. It was brief and faded like the sudden aura that surrounded Goku.  

 Yaki looked around nervous. “What was that?”

 “I think I felt the Ki of the Namek dragon,” Goku tried to understand what just happened, too. “It surrounded me for a moment. Last time I felt this Ki, I was on Namek when a wish---“ It suddenly hit him. “The Namek dragon balls are ready to make a wish. My friends must be trying to summon me.”

As much as he wanted, Goku knew he couldn’t go home now. He didn’t have as much control as he thought. If he went home, his uncontrolled anger could be triggered to hurt ChiChi or Gohan. “I can’t go home now.”

 Soba got an idea. He held his hands out to Goku and Yaki. “We’ll form a barrier. With our minds we’ll form a barrier to stop Porunga from teleporting Goku to Earth. Goku, we’ll open a link. We won’t be able to maintain it for long since most of our power will be on the barrier but once that link open, you have to tell Porunga to not wish you back.”

 Goku didn’t know how he’ll do that but he’ll try. He held Soba and Yaki’s hand while Yaki held his and Soba’s hands. The two Yardratian bow their heads and closed their eyes. Goku felt their Ki rising and intertwine with him as if they were bonding. Following their manner, Goku closed his eyes and concentrated. He was floating in space. He soared past planets, moons and stars. All look foreign until he saw a familiar planet with rings around it. He passed another large planet with a giant red spot. He saw them in one of Gohan’s books. He remembered ChiChi teaching Gohan about planets. A red planet. Goku knew that one. It was closest to….

 Earth! Goku couldn’t believe his eyes. He descended through the skies and clouds until he came upon a night sky and Porunga towering over Bulma’s home in West City. In front of the dragon among the Namekians and his friends, were Gohan and ChiChi. His family. They were there together, happy and looking up at Porunga.

 ChiChi. Gohan. What he will give to hold them now.

 Krillin suddenly materialized before everyone. Krillin! Goku mentally cheered. Porunga brought him back to life! He didn’t know the Namek dragon could bring someone back to life after they were wished back.  

 “For the last wish, bring Son Goku here!!” Bulma cheered.

 Goku saw Dende translate the wish to Porunga. Goku suddenly felt a pull. His body was being pulled in two different directions. He felt Porunga’s pull to honor the wish but he also felt Soba and Yaki’s mental pull to keep him on Yardrat.

 “Now, Goku,” Soba spoke in a strained voice. “Talk to Porunga!”

 Goku mentally reached out to the Porunga as he did with King Kai when he battled Freeza. “Porunga, I refuse your wish. I do not want to be wished back to Earth. Tell everyone, I will return on my own.” Goku still felt the pull from Porunga. He tried again. “I refuse your wish! I will return on my own!”

 Porunga dropped his pull. Free from Porunga, Soba and Yaki began pulling Goku from Earth. Goku stole one more look at his family before he was mentally pulled from them. The last words he heard came from Porunga: “He refuses. Son Goku said he will return on his own.”

 Goku felt himself freefalling pass the planets in his solar system, past other planets and galaxies until he was back in this solar system and mentally falling back to this planet. Soba and Yaki dropped their hold on him. Yaki sat on the edge of Goku’s bed exhausted. Soba leaned on his desk drained.

 “Wow,” Yaki rubbed her temples. She had a killing headache. “I never had to use my telepathy that far.”

 “None of us have.” Soba’s head was pounding. That barrier and mental link strained him to exhaustion. Soba looked over at Goku. His head was bowed and he was very quiet. He couldn’t imagine what Goku was thinking. He knew how determined Goku was to go home. To be so close to being with his family only to refuse to come back for their safety had to crush Goku.

 “Tomorrow, Goku,” Soba promised. “Tomorrow we’ll get started.” Goku didn’t say anything. He kept his face down, shielding himself from their view. Soba touched Yaki’s arm. “Come on, Yaki. We should go.”

 Yaki wanted to stay a little longer to catch her breath. She almost spoke her need when she saw Soba pointing at Goku. His face was hidden but she noticed a tear drop on his hand. Quietly, Yaki grabbed her medical bag and left the room with Soba.

 ****

 “So, what do we do now?”

 ChiChi wasn’t aware who asked and she didn’t care. She only knew Goku wasn’t coming home today. She told her father Goku was coming home today. She told Mrs. Niver Goku was coming back. The Spring Festival wasn’t until three months from now but her people were expecting to see Goku before that. Maybe she could stall Goku’s absence a little longer but if Goku doesn’t return by the Spring Festival, there will be no stopping Mrs. Niver or the rumors that will surface.

 “Mom? Mom?”

 ChiChi noticed her son tugging her hand. “Sorry, Gohan. Did you say something?”

 “Could we say hi to Yamcha?”

 “Yamcha?” Wasn’t he still dead?

 “We used the third wish to bring him back since Daddy didn’t want to come home.”

 ChiChi looked around and noticed the Namekian dragon was gone, the Namekians and everyone else were going back inside. Lost in her daze, she hadn’t noticed they used the third wish. “For a few minutes,” ChiChi told her son.

 ChiChi followed everyone to the zoology floor where Dr. Briefs kept all his pets. ChiChi heard Bulma scream and run into Yamcha’s arms. Seeing how Yamcha spun Bulma around left ChiChi feeling envious. It’s how she imagined her reunion with Goku. ChiChi didn’t like Bulma because of the secrets she kept from her but she was happy for Bulma and Yamcha.

 “How are you feeling?” Krillin asked.

 “It’s great to be back!” Yamcha happily told his friend. He held Bulma tightly against him. “I’m still confused. I thought Goku was coming back. What happened?”

 “He didn’t want to come back,” Bulma explained. “He said he will come back on his own.”

 “On his own?” Yamcha repeated confused.

 “If you ask me, Goku didn’t want to come home because he will have to deal with ChiChi. She was probably waiting to yell at Goku for being away for so long even though we all thought Goku died on Namek.”

 “Um, Bulma,” Krillin interrupted.

 “I agree,” Master Roshi jumped over Krillin. “She almost attacked me for making a joke earlier. She’s cute but she’s as cantankerous as Lunch.”

 “Really?” This was surprising to Yamcha. “Last time I saw her, she and Goku were leaving after the tournament. They seem happy. Why would she yell at him when she knew Goku died?”

 “She does that a lot,” Bulma said with a shake of her head. “Be glad you didn’t have to deal with her like we did after Goku died and in the hospital after Goku’s fight with Vegeta. She was out of control. Always ranting and screaming. I don’t know how Goku deals with it but he must be okay with it to stick with her after all this time.”

 “Bulma!” Krillin tried again.

 “She was ornery when we were waiting for the fight between Goku and Vegeta to be over.” Oolong rubbed his face remembering how ChiChi hit him when he, Master Roshi and her father tried to stop her from going to the fight. “If Goku had to deal with that for five years, I bet he was glad he died just to get away. Maybe he’s taking his time returning because he doesn’t want to live with his wife again.”

 “Wow.” This was all news to Yamcha. “I thought about checking on her after my training with Kami.” Yamcha shrugged. “Guess it’s a good thing I forgot or she would’ve yell at me, too.”

 “Check on her?” Bulma eyed Yamcha suspiciously. “Why?”

 “She’s Goku’s wife. She lost Goku and her kid for a year. I wanted to see if she’s doing all right.” Whoa. Yamcha stepped back. Bulma was pissed. “Why are you mad?”

 Bulma tapped her foot and crossed her arms. She was super pissed. “You didn’t check on me after your training with Kami.”

 “I was gonna!” Yamcha defended himself. “I planned to see you before the fight but the Saiyans came a month early. I didn’t think I would die and be gone for six months.”

 That answer did not satisfy Bulma. “You would check on ChiChi. I seem to recall you keeping yourself real close to her when Goku fought Piccolo.”

 “Oh, come on, Bulma!” Yamcha couldn’t believe this. He hadn’t return to life for an hour and Bulma was already accusing him of being unfaithful. “She was Goku’s fiancée. I was looking out for her for Goku’s sake. Can you imagine how Goku would’ve felt if ChiChi got hurt in the crossfires of his fight with Piccolo?”

 Before Goku’s decision, Bulma would agree with Yamcha, but now…. “As if Goku would’ve cared. He completely forgot about ChiChi. He probably cared as much about her now as he did then.”

 Krillin slapped his forehead.

 Yamcha sputtered nearly flabbergasted. “How can you say that, Bulma?”

 “He didn’t come back when he could’ve!” Bulma yelled. “That tells you everything!”

 “I agree with Bulma,” Master Roshi stepped in. “I never knew you could reject a wish. To do so, you have to be lucid. So wherever he is, Goku is fine physically and mentally. He made his decision with a sound mind. He’ll come back,” Master Roshi was certain. “For his son more than anyone else.”

 “GUYS!” Krillin yelled. When he finally got their attention, Yamcha, Bulma, Oolong and Master Roshi spotted ChiChi and Gohan a few feet from them. It was evident they heard everything.

 Yamcha slapped his forehead, “Oh, geez.”

 “We’re joking,” Master Roshi waved his hands frantically fearing this time ChiChi will hit him. “It was a…..” he didn’t finish as ChiChi turned and walked away with Gohan.

 ChiChi left the zoology room and didn’t stop until she was at the end of the hall. The nerve of them! First Goku refuses to come back and now his friends with their cruel words. How could her sweet husband be friends with such heartless people? She needed a moment. If she didn’t get this moment, she will lose it and she couldn’t in front of Gohan. “Gohan,” ChiChi knelt before her child. “Mom needs to use the bathroom before we leave. You can….” She stopped, catching herself as her voice shook. She needed to calm down. She couldn’t let Gohan see her break down. “You can play with your friend, Dende, but not your father’s friends. You stay away from them until I get back. That’s an order.”

 Gohan nodded his head slowly. “Daddy is coming back, right, Mom?”

 “Of course he is.” ChiChi forced herself to smile. “Daddy just needs more time before coming home. Daddy’s probably still recovering and wants to return home in perfect health. Now go,” ChiChi encouraged Gohan to leave, “Go play with Dende.”

 Gohan gave ChiChi an impulsive hug and returned to the zoology room. Alone, ChiChi wandered the large dome home, opening several doors until she found a bathroom.

 Inside, ChiChi slid down the door sobbing. How could he? How could he not come back?

 I bet he was glad he died just to get away.

 He didn’t come back when he could’ve.

 Goku is fine physically and mentally. He made his decision with a sound mind.

 He’ll come back. For his son.

 ChiChi pulled her legs to her chest and buried her face in her knees. What about me? I’m his wife. Wouldn’t he come back for me, too?

 ChiChi didn’t know how long she cried. She only knew when she had no more tears, her head was pounding. After the tears stopped, she thought of Gohan and how he was waiting on her. That was the only motivation that forced ChiChi to her feet and go to the sink. She turned on the water and examined herself in the mirror. Oh, her eyes were so red and her face was puffy. She couldn’t let Gohan see her like this.

 ChiChi grabbed a towel, wet it and pressed it against her eyes before moving to the rest of her face. After several wipes, the redness in her eyes faded and the puffiness had gone down. ChiChi wetted the towel again. Maybe another wipe or two and she’ll be presentable for Gohan.

 “What the hell, Bulma? Vegeta’s been living here for four months!”

 ChiChi turned off the water. That sounded like Yamcha. He was mad at Bulma, too? If he were, ChiChi couldn’t blame him. She heard Bulma offer Vegeta a room but ChiChi had no idea Vegeta accepted Bulma’s offer.

 “So?” Bulma responded coolly. “The Nameks have been here for four months, too. Besides, Vegeta didn’t have any money or a place to go.”

 “Who the hell cares if he didn’t?” Yamcha yelled back. “He’s responsible for me, Tien, Chaozu and Piccolo dying!”

 “From what I heard, it was the Saibamen that killed you. Not Vegeta. Those things are dead so no harm no foul.”

 “No harm no….” Yamcha broke off the words. “I was dead!! Didn’t that mean anything to you?!”

 “Of course it did!” Bulma snapped back. “I went to Namek to get those dragon balls to bring you back! Do you know what kind of hell I went through for you?! Namek was not a day at the spa!”

 ChiChi agreed Bulma had a point. From what Gohan told her, Namek wasn’t a pleasant time but Bulma was safe where she was. Other than the encounter with Vegeta when he came to get the dragon ball Krillin possessed, Bulma remained alone but safe.

 “I appreciate that, Bulma. I really do.” Yamcha sounded remorseful for yelling at her. “But Bulma, Vegeta. How could you let him live here? He’s a mass murderer. He could’ve killed you, your parents and these Nameks.”

 “If he wanted to kill us, he would’ve done so the moment we arrived on Earth. No one’s strong enough to stop him except Goku. Vegeta’s hardly around anyway. He doesn’t hang out with me or the Nameks. He just stays in his room and comes out to eat. Sometimes he leaves and be gone all day or days.”

 “Sounds like you’re keeping tabs on him.” Yamcha was getting angry again.

 “He’s a stranger on this planet. We all should be keeping tabs on him so there isn’t an incident where an entire city is blown up because he doesn’t understand our culture.”

 “You just said if Vegeta wanted to kill he would’ve done it already so there’s no need to keep tabs on him.” Yamcha sounded suspicious. Annoyed if Chichi understood correctly. “Have you wanted to spend time with him?”

 “What the hell does that mean?” Bulma screamed. “Are you accusing me of not being faithful?”

 “Well, I was dead and I know how you are.”

 “Excuse me?!”

 “You always accused me of cheating, Bulma. I never cheated. I had a female fan club after that first tournament but I had nothing to do with that. I couldn’t do anything with them but you always got mad and accused me of cheating!”

 “You could’ve told those girls to stop it!”

 “I was still shy then!” Yamcha argued back. “I never approached them but you approached guys.”

 “Wha…. Where is this coming from?!” Bulma shouted. “You’re back after being dead for half a year and you accuse me of cheating?! When have I shown to cheat?”

 “I always looked the other way about that.”

 “Whoa! Back up. What do you mean always look the other way?”

 “Krillin told me about Commander Blue and Oolong told me you were drooling over Goku when he showed up at the last tournament.”

 Goku? ChiChi nearly dropped her towel. Bulma was attracted to Goku? Her Goku since the last tournament? Did Goku know this?

 “Oolong?!” Chichi jumped from the door at Bulma’s scream. “That damn pig and his loose lips! It’s time for him to get out my house if he’s gonna speak so badly about his hostess!”

 “You’re not denying it.”

 “There’s nothing to deny!!” Bulma was almost screeching. “I only said Goku is attractive. Last time I saw him Goku was a short little kid with a tail. He grew up to be a tall, handsome guy with no tail. There’s nothing wrong in admitting someone is attractive!”

 “Maybe,” From the sound of his voice, ChiChi suspected Yamcha didn’t completely believe her. ChiChi wasn’t sure if she did either.

 “And even if I wanted him,” Bulma went on, “I can’t have him. Goku’s married.”

 “Yeah. How foolish of Goku to marry a woman who is still loyal to him after he was dead for a year. I can’t trust my own girlfriend of a decade to be loyal after I’m dead for six months.”

 ChiChi winced at the loud sound of that slap. Bulma wasn’t a martial artist but ChiChi knew there will be a bruise on Yamcha’s face in the morning. The sound of retreating footsteps in different directions signaled the conversation was over.

 How ironic ChiChi thought as she dumped the wet towel in the hamper. “Bulma has some nerve to question my relationship with Goku when she has her own problems with Yamcha.”

 ChiChi had enough of this place and all the people here. All she want right now is take Gohan, go home and not see any of these people for a very long time. She opened the door expecting no one on the other side but was shocked to find herself staring at the Saiyan Prince, Vegeta.

 “Pathetic,” he told her.

 ChiChi stood there wondering what he was talking about.

 “I’ve spent four months traveling this planet and observing the people. I see how Kakarrot has gotten so soft. You people on this planet are pathetic. I thought with you being the wife of a Saiyan YOU would be exception but I see you’re pathetic like the rest of them.”

 “Pathetic?”

 “Where’s that fire from months ago?” Vegeta asked. “Instead of taking action, you cry like a baby. No wonder your child was so weak on Namek; helping instead of using the opportunity to attack the enemy. Kakarrot was weak, too, but he became a true Saiyan when he overcame his Earth weakness and killed Freeza.” His eyes swept over her disgusted. “Maybe they are right. Maybe you are the problem. You weakened him and Kakarrot is better off without you.”

 They call her a bad wife. They blame her Gohan wasn’t strong when they met him. They blame her for weakening and changing Goku. Yajirobe blamed her for Goku’s death; they even blamed her for them not telling her what happened to Goku and Gohan that day. ChiChi always restrained herself against Goku’s friends. They were weak and she knew her strength but this person, this Saiyan, ChiChi could extract her anger at him.

 “SHUT UP!!” ChiChi balled her fist and connected with Vegeta’s cheek.

 Vegeta stumbled back a step; shocked ChiChi actually struck him; shocked it actually stung. He expected Kakarrot’s wife to cry, maybe stand there and take his verbal abuse as she had with Kakarrot’s friends. Never did he think she would strike him. ChiChi swung at him again but this time he was ready for her. He easily dodged. She missed and punched a wall creating a hole were Vegeta’s head would’ve been. Even Vegeta’s eyes widen slightly at the impact ChiChi’s fist had on the wall.

 ChiChi didn’t try striking again knowing he would escape her fist. Instead, she yelled knowing he couldn’t escape her voice. “I’m not as strong as you, my husband or even my son but I am not weak! You have no idea the hell I’ve been through having my husband die on me and my son taken from me for a year! You have no idea what I’ve had to put up with in Goku’s cowardly friends! The lies and secrets from them!” ChiChi screamed in frustration. “Goku’s friends can criticize me all they want but they’re wrong.” At this point, ChiChi didn’t know if she was talking to assure herself or venting her rage and Vegeta of all people but she had to get this off her chest. “They don’t know what Goku and I share! The things he shared with me he never shared with them and they knew Goku longer than me! None of you know anything so shut up with your lies and hate!!”

 Vegeta chuckled arrogantly as he took in ChiChi’s angry tirade. “You’re fiery. You even resemble a female Saiyan. Kakarrot’s Saiyan instincts were alive when he chose you.”

 “I don’t know anything about Goku’s Saiyan instincts but I chose him!”

 “Hmph.” He let that sink in for a moment. “I don’t know anything about Earth customs and courtships but if Kakarrot’s a real Saiyan, you know in his own way he showed how he chose you.” He stared at ChiChi, waiting for a reaction. The woman looked as if she was thinking, wondering what he meant. Suddenly, she gasped; her eyes grew wide and her hand covered her mouth. Vegeta couldn’t help throwing his head back laughing. Kakarrot. He was a sentimental fool but there’s hope he’s a real Saiyan after all. “Earth’s culture raised Kakarrot but he never forgot his Saiyan instincts. Kakarrot’s friends will never understand his attraction to you but I see it.”

 ChiChi wasn’t sure if he complimented or insulted her. A ball of Ki formed in Vegeta’s right hand. He brought it to ChiChi’s face. The heat of it was intense. It immediately caused her to break out in a sweat. If her skin touched it, she knew the damage to her skin would be severe. Instead of showing fear, she glared at Vegeta. What was he trying to do?

 “I don’t care if you are Kakarrot’s wife. If you hit me again, I will kill you.”

 ChiChi matched Vegeta’s threat with one of her own. “You kill me. You touch me and my husband will deal with you as he dealt with Freeza.”

 The Saiyan Prince and the Princess of Fire Mountain boldly glared at each other; each refused to back down. Finally, the ball of Ki in Vegeta’s hand withered to nothing. The threatening façade on Vegeta’s face faded into a smirk. He turned away and walked off.

 ****

Nothing was spoken between Gohan and ChiChi on the ride home. Gohan played with Dende and kept away from Dad’s friends like his mother wanted. After what Bulma, Oolong and Master Roshi said, he understood why and it bothered him, too. Gohan didn’t like the things that were said about his mother. His mother yelled at his Dad but Gohan also remembered the three of them being very happy together. Dad wouldn’t stay away to keep away from Mom. He wanted to say that and tell them they were being mean to his mother but they were his Dad’s friends and he was taught to be respectful to adults. However, when his mother parked the truck and Gohan saw his mother wiping her eyes, Gohan knew he should’ve said something.

 It was depressing entering the house without Goku. ChiChi thought for sure Goku would return today. She had an entire celebration planned out. Food was on the kitchen counters and table. She spent most of last night preparing meals for Goku. She and Gohan created the “Welcome Home, Goku!” banner that hung in the kitchen. With a growl, ChiChi grabbed the broom and pulled it down. Part of the banner got tangled in the light fixture. Angry, ChiChi yanked it down. There was a pop and a flash of light sparkling before the banner and light fixture collapsed on the kitchen table destroying half the food.

 Gohan’s mouth dropped at the hole in the ceiling. ChiChi examined the broken light fixture and food that was now ruined. Some of the dishes were broken, too. ChiChi picked up a casserole dish. She remembered buying this with Goku in the days before their wedding. If it was only chipped, it would be salvageable but it was broken in half with the food contained spilling out. A set of dishes were crushed, too. ChiChi’s eyes watered at the broken plates. Mrs. Olitz gave her these dishes. Before she broke down to cry again, Gohan pushed the trash can to the table. Gohan climbed in a chair and began tossing the broken dishes and ruined food in the trash.

 It was touching Gohan wanted to help but this wasn’t his responsibility. “Go to your room, Gohan. I’ll take care of this.”

 “I want to help.”

 He was so sweet, like his father. ChiChi placed her hands on her son’s shoulders. “I know you do but this is Mom’s job. I caused this mess. I should take care of it. Go.”

 Gohan obeyed and went to his room. Knowing it will make his mother happy, Gohan studied. ChiChi called her father to let him know Goku didn’t return, she broke the light fixture in her kitchen and needed him to fix it and the hole in the ceiling. Gyu-Mao was saddened Goku didn’t return. He also couldn’t come over but he offered to call Aki. ChiChi preferred her father came. Aki’s wife was due any day now. After her labor experience with Gohan, she didn’t want Aki to be away from his wife but a quick call from Aki after she talked to her father, assured her it was fine. While she waited, ChiChi cleaned up the kitchen, tossing out the broken dishes and ruined food, sometimes crying, and sometimes growling out her frustration at Goku’s decision.

 ChiChi had calmed down when the doorbell rang. Aki like Goku. Maybe he will see optimism in Goku’s decision to stay away. She could definitely use that right now. Instead of seeing Aki on the other side of the door, ChiChi saw Kaifun.

 “Kaifun? Why are you here?”

 “Aki called me. He was on his way here but his wife started having contractions.” He noticed ChiChi hadn’t stepped aside to let him in her home. “It’s not a problem I’m here, is it?”

 ChiChi stepped aside to let Kaifun in. “Not a problem but Aki didn’t call to let me know this.”

 “I told him I’ll tell you.” He smiled at her. “And I just did.” He was all business as he went to the kitchen. Kaifun whistled at the hole. “Shouldn’t take long to fix that hole. I got some paint in my truck that matches the ceiling.” He looked at the broken light fixture on the table. He examined it and the hole again. “I can fix the wiring and put it back up but I went ahead and bought you a new fixture. It’s been six years. Might as well replace it.”

 Six years wasn’t old. It had a few more years left but ChiChi wasn’t in the mood to argue. “How much?”

 Kaifun grinned at ChiChi. “I would never charge my princess for anything.” He went outside to his truck. He returned with supplies to fix the ceiling. “Besides, this isn’t your fault. It’s Goku’s.” When ChiChi didn’t say anything, he pressed, “He didn’t come back. That’s why you have that hole in the ceiling.” He pointed to her trash can. “That’s why that “Welcome Home” banner is in the trash.”

 Why say anything when his detective work discovered the truth. “I won’t say anything but you know if Goku doesn’t show up at the Spring Festival, nothing will stop my grandmother. I won’t be able to.”

 ChiChi seethed knowing Kaifun was waiting to say ‘I told you so.’ “And you would like it more than anything to see your grandmother speak so badly about Goku.”

 “I wouldn’t mind as long as it didn’t hurt you and Gohan. You two deserved so much more than what Goku is willing to give you.”

 If she didn’t need his assistance, she would throw him out! “Goku will return. He’s just delayed.”

 “For your and Gohan’s sake, I hope so.” Kaifun silenced himself when he saw Gohan entering the room. He smiled at the child. “Hello, Gohan.”

 “Hi, Mr. Kaifun.” Gohan saw him a few times in his grandfather’s village. He was a nice man to him but he wasn’t as nice as Aki. “Where’s Mr. Aki?”

 “Mr. Aki had to help his wife. She’s pregnant and their baby may be born soon. So, I came to help out because Aki has responsibilities.” He placed a hand on Gohan’s shoulder. “You know a man is a real man when he puts the well-being of others over his selfish needs.”

 “Kaifun!” ChiChi was ready to smack him. “I’d like to have my kitchen back before dark.”

 Kaifun understood the message. “Do you want to help me, Gohan? It’ll help your Mom get her kitchen back sooner.”

 Gohan was eager to do anything to make his Mom happy. She deserved it after today. “What can I do?”

 “Gohan, you don’t need to.” The last thing ChiChi will allow is Kaifun taking subtle digs at Goku in front of his son. “Go back to your room and study!”

 “I can do this,” Gohan insisted. “I want to help.”

 “He should learn how,” Kaifun affectionately patted Gohan’s head in the same manner Goku always did. If this angered her, ChiChi knew Goku would blow Kaifun away with a Kamehameha wave if he saw it. “Gohan is man of the house until Goku returns. If something else breaks, Gohan can take care of it. You won’t have to wait hours for someone else to do it when you have a man at home who can do it.”

 “He’s five years old!” ChiChi argued. “This is not something a five year old should do.”

 “I’ve done a lot of things a five-year-old shouldn’t do.” Gohan spoke up. “I can do this, Mom. It’ll help you and I want to help you. It’s what Daddy would do.”

 Kaifun laughed but quickly covered it with a cough. “Let him help, ChiChi. Let Gohan see what a man should do.”

 If she didn’t need his help, he would be dead now. “You can show Gohan as long as you stop it with this man responsibility nonsense.”

 “Fair enough,” Kaifun agreed. He got his point across and he was pleased with that.

 ChiChi kept a watchful eye over Kaifun and Gohan. As much as she hated to admit, he was good around Gohan. Gohan listened attentively and followed Kaifun’s instructions as he showed him how to fix the hole in the ceiling, paint and helped with putting in the new light fixture. Gohan only met Kaifun a few times and each time Kaifun has always been kind to her son but this was the first time they spent a long amount of time together. ChiChi could only imagine how Goku will feel about this when he return.

 ****

 A few pictures were scattered on the bed as ChiChi added photos to the family album. Not many were taken over the months but the box was growing and ChiChi decided to take care of some of the photos before the volume got out of hand.

 The first photos she sifted through were taken at the Spring Festival. ChiChi liked the picture taken of her with Gohan and Aki with his wife and baby daughter. In hindsight, she really wished she had taken Aki’s advice and not come to the festival.  

 Being the daughter of Gyu-Mao, ChiChi expected a certain level of respect when she walked among the people in her village. The people were always kind and respectful to her, Gohan and Goku. However, this was the first time ChiChi saw pity in their eyes. No one ever said anything outright but ChiChi knew they were expecting Goku to come to the Spring Festival and when they saw only her and Gohan, assumed the worst.

 They were overly kind to her and Gohan, offering free samples of food, allowing her and Gohan to move to the front of the line when attending rides or visiting booths. Gohan received a lot of friendly attention since this was the first festival Gohan attended since the Raditz ordeal.

 “Gohan, I should carry some of that.”

 Gohan carried a bag of prizes he won at booths he visited. “I can do it. It’s really light.”

 It was still an adjustment dealing with a son so independent. Independent but still a child in many ways. Aki took Gohan off ChiChi’s hands for a ride on the Ferris Wheel. It was pleasing to see Gohan excited about riding a Ferris Wheel even though he could fly.

 In the meantime, ChiChi sat with Aki’s wife, Reia and cooed over his baby girl. When she held the child, ChiChi felt stirrings in her loins. She accepted she wouldn’t have a big family but she longed for another child. If everything since Goku’s death hadn’t happened, she knew she would be holding her second child in her arms now.

 “Oh, lord,” Reia groaned seeing someone she detest approaching. “Here comes, Mrs. Grumpy. Why couldn’t she stay home for once? Go,” Reia told ChiChi. “I’ll distract her. I’ll tell her the sun was too hot and you needed to lie down.”

 ChiChi squeezed the bridge of her nose. She prayed for strength to deal with this woman. She prayed another scene wouldn’t occur like it did on New Year’s Eve. “No. I’ll stay.”

 “Hello, Mrs. Niver,” Reia pasted a phony smile on her face as the old woman approached their table. “Nice day, isn’t it?”

 The old woman smiled as if she won the lottery and her eyes were only on ChiChi. “It’s a beautiful day! It’s a beautiful day for families, husbands and wives, mothers, fathers and their children.”

 “I think so,” Reia rocked her daughter in her arms. “My baby girl is too young now but in a few years, she’ll really enjoy these festivals.”

 “Your daughter will enjoy it with her Daddy like all the children here.” She chuckled. “Except for one.”

 ChiChi clenched her fists. If Mrs. Niver wasn’t an old woman…..

 Reia tried to change the subject. “I hear congratulations are in order. Kaifun and Ovia are engaged.”

 The news of her grandson’s engagement didn’t make the old woman very happy. “She’s a bit old and have extra padding but she’ll be a good wife for Kaifun.”

 Old? ChiChi couldn’t keep herself from responding. “Ovia is thirty-one, Mrs. Niver, and she’s not fat.”

 Mrs. Niver snorted. That’s not how she saw it. “She could stand to lose twenty pounds.” Her eyes swept over ChiChi’s figure. “You had a child and kept your body in good shape. Ovia is childless. Imagine how she will let her body go once she has one.” Reia rolled her eyes and ChiChi gasped at the rudeness of the woman. As usual, Mrs. Niver didn’t see her words as cruel. “She’s the oldest unmarried woman in the village.”

 Reia sent Mrs. Niver a wicked side eye. She was looking at the oldest unmarried woman. “Not to me,” she mumbled.

 ChiChi didn’t know if Kaifun defended Ovia to Mrs. Niver but she will. This woman didn’t know when to quit. “You’re not married and you’re much older than Ovia. How can you speak this way about your grandson’s fiancée.”

 Mrs. Niver glowered at ChiChi. “I mean she’s never been married and we both know why I’m not married anymore.” She harrumph. “At least my husband didn’t choose to ditch me.” When ChiChi didn’t respond back with a fiery retort of her own, Mrs. Niver smiled wickedly. “You know I’m right.” Mrs. Niver pointed to where Kaifun and Ovia were. They were eating at a booth. Ovia wiped food from Kaifun’s face with a napkin. In turn, Kaifun grasp Ovia’s hand and kissed it. “Take a good hard look at what you missed listening to your hormones instead of your brain. Men like Goku are the type you sleep with for a good time. You don’t marry or have families with them. Because of your selfish choice, you and an innocent child are suffering.”

 “Oh, that’s it!!!” Reia snapped. “Listen, Old Woman!” Before Reia could fire off in an angry tirade, her daughter wailed in her arms. “Dammit!” Reia gently rocked her child in her arms to soothe her cries.

 “Cursing in front of a child.” Mrs. Niver shook her head disappointed. “How appropriate for you.”

 “Don’t you start with me!” Reia threatened. “I’m not as nice as ChiChi.”

 ChiChi rose from her seat. This has gone far enough. ChiChi grabbed Mrs. Niver by her arm and dragged her to Kaifun and Ovia with several citizens watching. “Take her home!”

 Kaifun looked from ChiChi to his grandmother. He knew it was a bad idea to let her come but his grandmother promised to be on her best behavior. “Oh, Grandma, what did you say now?”

 “I only spoke the truth.”

 The truth. Her blasé response enraged ChiChi. She squeezed the old woman’s arm so hard Mrs. Niver actually cried out in pain. She was done with this woman. “You are no longer welcomed at my father’s castle for ANY festivities. If you see me or my family anywhere else in the village, you do not speak to us. If you do, I’ll personally see you are banned from my father’s kingdom.”

****

 ChiChi fanned herself with a photo. It was months ago and that moment still made her hot. The gall of that woman. She put ChiChi in a sour mood for the rest of the festival. Luckily, Gohan didn’t pick up the tension when he and Aki returned. Aki noticed it immediately and stormed off to talk to Mrs. Niver but Kaifun taken her home. ChiChi didn’t see Mrs. Niver in the village after that when she and Gohan stopped by and she didn’t come to the Fall Festival which made ChiChi happy and gave her hope Mrs. Niver was out of their lives for good.

 After fanning herself, ChiChi realized the photo she held was taken on Gohan’s birthday. That was another bittersweet moment this year. It started off well but the night was definitely one of the worst of ChiChi’s life.

 Gohan was finally asleep after a long but exciting day. It was Gohan’s sixth birthday. After Gohan finished his studies, ChiChi allowed Gohan to go outside to play. ChiChi knew Gohan was using this free time to see Piccolo since he was never allowed in her home. She didn’t like him, didn’t understand Gohan’s fascination of him and knew of no way to stop her son’s growing affection for him. ChiChi distracted herself on what those two were doing by preparing the home for Gohan’s special day. She missed Gohan’s fifth birthday. She wanted to make up with his sixth.

 ChiChi decorated the living room with a banner, streamers and balloons. She prepared all Gohan’s favorite food. She wanted everything to be perfect for him. She did the best she could but knew it would only be perfect if Goku walked through that door.  

 That afternoon, the birthday guests arrived. Gyu-Mao bought several gifts: toys, clothes and books for Gohan. Aki, his wife and daughter attended as well with a gift of their own. ChiChi took several pictures of Gohan opening presents, eating and even holding Aki’s daughter.

 That evening while Gohan slept, Aki and his family parted for home, ChiChi and Gyu-Mao sat at the table talking about the person missing from the party.

 “It’s been several months now,” Gyu-Mao sipped his drink. “Still nothing from Goku?”

 ChiChi stirred her tea. “I’m sure there’s a reason but I don’t know what could be keeping him.”

 “I talked to Goku in the hospital. I apologized for keeping my secrets and taking Gohan’s letters. He forgave me. I thought things will be good between us but I don’t like this, ChiChi. Why wouldn’t Goku come back when he had a chance?”

 “There’s a reason, Dad,” ChiChi insisted. “I don’t know what, but….”

“A reason that justify my daughter was hurt by his decision.” Gyu-Mao couldn’t accept that. He was angry. He saw ChiChi’s pain, dried her tears; felt her humiliation at the New Year’s party and the Spring Festival where ChiChi was forced to admit Goku hadn’t returned. It angered and frustrated Gyu-Mao he couldn’t do anything about it. “Goku has another six months to get here.”

 His words sounded like a threat. “Or what, Dad?”

 “Or you and Gohan are coming home with me.”

 “Dad,” ChiChi gasped. She suspected her father was a little frustrated with Goku’s choice but she didn’t expect this. “Gohan and I can’t go to your home. We have a home. Here.”

 “You and Gohan should not be living out here if Goku’s not coming back. In my kingdom, you’ll be love and wanted.”

 His words were hurtful. Was he suggesting after all this time he didn’t think Goku love and wanted her and Gohan? “How can you suggest Goku’s not coming back or downplay his feelings for me and Gohan?”

 “If he leaves you alone for a year that’s perfect justification.” ChiChi opened her mouth to argue but Gyu-Mao stopped her. “No, ChiChi. This is an order. If Goku doesn’t return after a year he’s been away, you and Gohan are coming home with me.”

 From his tone, he was serious. As angry as he got, ChiChi knew she could do nothing if her father revealed that fiery temper of his. “And what if Goku isn’t back? What if it takes two years?”

 “Are you willing to wait that long for him?” Gyu-Mao wouldn’t allow his daughter to dishonor herself. “You may think I’m being unreasonable, ChiChi, but I love you and Gohan. If Goku comes back, then he’ll have to prove himself fit to take on his responsibilities.”

 “You can’t do that,” ChiChi argued. “I’m married and I will live in the home my husband and I have shared since we married.”

 “You will always be my daughter but you may not always be a wife.” It was as if he slapped her with his words. “Married or not, you will always be my responsibility and that will mean me doing things you won’t like.”

 “Dad!”

 “I’m doing this for your own good, ChiChi.” Gyu-Mao heard enough. He would not back down on this. “If after a year, Goku hasn’t come back, you and Gohan are coming home to me. If Goku returns, then he’ll have to prove himself before I let you and my grandson in his care again.”

 ChiChi stuffed the album in the drawer of her dresser. She couldn’t believe it but a year has passed.  ChiChi thought, hoped Goku would be back by now. What was he thinking? Where was he?! Even if he had to recover from injuries Goku wouldn’t have been gone this long. She didn’t want to believe his friends, Mrs. Niver, her father but after a year what else could she think? Maybe they were right.

 Furious, ChiChi yanked her chain off neck. It had her and Goku’s wedding rings together. Growling, ChiChi tossed the rings. It bounced off the walls and landed somewhere on the floor. She didn’t care where. She didn’t want to look at them anymore. She saw Goku’s picture on her dresser top. ChiChi grabbed the picture frame and slammed it down. She saw another one on her nightstand and smacked it away. Instead of landing flat on the floor, the frame landed on the bottom with Goku’s smiling face staring at her. Seeing Goku’s face in the cracked frame, ChiChi fell on her bed sobbing. She grabbed Goku’s pillow, smothered it against her face to subdue the sound of her tears so Gohan couldn’t hear her crying. Not smelling Goku’s scent made her cry even harder.

 It was over she realized. Her life with Goku was over. She hated this. She hated what she will be forced to do. Two weeks ago her father visited asking if she wanted her and Gohan’s room to have a makeover. He was already expecting her back. She hated this so much! If she didn’t do it, she knew her father will drag her back to his kingdom kicking and screaming and she didn’t want Gohan to see that. The best way to get through it is do it on her own terms. Before her father called her or suddenly show up in an airship ready to pack her and Gohan’s things, she will call him and make plans for her and Gohan’s return to her father’s kingdom.

 ****

 Soba was remorseful as he, Udon and Goku walked to Goku’s ship. After extra months of training his mind and body to master Super Saiyan, deal with his rage and learn the teleportation trick, it was time for Goku to return home. “I’ll be lying if I didn’t say you will be missed.”

 Goku appreciated Soba, his advice and teaching. It wasn’t like having a teacher but a peer he could learn from. He’ll miss him but Goku was ready to go home. “I’ve been gone long enough, Soba.” Too long. “By the time I get home, I’d been away for a year. Gohan and ChiChi may think I’m never coming back.” He hated to think what they could be feeling now. “I just wanna go home.”

 Soba understood Goku’s desire to go home. “Miss your family?”

 “A lot. I think this whole journey has told me I’m done.” He chuckled. “ChiChi should be happy. She’s wanted me to settle down from fighting since we married.”

 “You’re getting old. Happens to all of us.”

 Old? He was only twenty-five but living the life he led, Goku’s realized he’s done more, seen more than many would see in their lifetime. “I will always love fighting. It’s in my blood. I’ll keep up with my training but I’m done being the hero. It’s time for someone else to do it.”

 Soba agreed with Goku’s desire to step down. “There’s joy being the hero but it is a heavy burden and requires sacrifice.”

 That was an understatement. Goku sacrificed a lot. He didn’t mind when it was only him but now his wife and son were paying a price, too. “I’ve been everyone’s hero since I was twelve. Even after marrying and having a kid, my friends still expect me to take care of things. When I took it easy, it affected the world. I died. My friends died. My son and friends travelled to an innocent planet to revive our friends. Innocent people were killed and lost their planet. I’m tired of everyone being affected by my decisions.”

 “You put too much on yourself. The way I see it, you had to go through those trials to be the person you are now. For the first time in your life, your past is no longer a mystery. You may not have all the answers but you know enough to be at peace. Whatever you want, go after it.”

 Soba’s wisdom will be what Goku miss the most. “I don’t wanna go home and think if I settle down again, the world’s in danger. I wanna fish with my boy and spend time with my wife. I know she wants to try for another baby. I don’t know if it’s possible but I wanna try. I’ll train. If he’s still on Earth, I’ll have a friendly rematch with Vegeta. Maybe we can be sparring partners.”

 “Good luck to you in finding your replacement. That person will have big shoes to fill.”

 “Not so big,” Goku thought with a smile. “Gohan should fill that role nicely. He has a lot of power in him. In a few years, he’ll be stronger than me.”

 “Do you really want to place that burden on Gohan?”

 “No,” Goku admitted truthfully, “But maybe he won’t ever feel that burden. Before I became a hero, the world was at peace for a very long time. ChiChi may disagree but I don’t see anything wrong if Gohan kept up with his training. It’ll be a shame to see it go to waste.”

 “Will you tell your family and friends about what happened here?”

 Goku shook his head. After what happened in the hospital, he knew better. “No. My friends wouldn’t understand. They might fear me. They have this idea of me that if it’s shifted, it’s not something they like.”

 “Hmm.” That didn’t leave Soba with a fond opinion of Goku’s friends. “They don’t sound like good friends.”

 “They’re good friends,” Goku defended them. “We’re just different. I had no idea how much they depended on me to be their savior.”

 “What about your wife and son? They should know.”

“I don’t want Gohan to know about this. ChiChi will figure me out eventually but I want some time before I explain this to her.” ChiChi will be furious he returned so late but once she cool down and he explain, things will be good between them again. She’ll understand as she always did.

 After saying his goodbyes to Soba and Udon, Goku departed Yardrat. He pressed the button for sleep mode. Sleep mode lower vitals and put the travelers for a long destination in a deep sleep. It will awaken Goku two hours before he arrive on Earth.

 Goku had a big smile on his face as he fell asleep. He was looking forward to returning home and being with his family again. He’ll go back to eating ChiChi’s delicious meals, fish and camp with Gohan, hopefully have another kid. With the work he planned to put in with ChiChi, she’ll probably be pregnant within the year. After these last two years, Goku was looking forward to a peaceful life again.  

 Part Twenty-Five: Homecoming

 AN: When reading about Yardrat for this chapter, I came across Soba who is actually a character from Dragonball Z Sagas video game in the 2000s. He is a warrior that Goku battles before he leaves for Earth. I thought he would be a perfect ally for Goku as I wrote what happened to Goku in his year away.

 It wasn’t easy trying to figure out how Goku refused a wish. I didn’t know it could be done but with the Yardratians having the ability to teleport and Goku telling everyone Yardrat people are mysterious and know a lot of weird stuff, I figured Yardrat have a lot of mental power to hold off Porunga’s wish.

 I think turning into a Super Saiyan took a mental and psychological toll on him. Going from someone who is generally happy to having pure rage had to have affected Goku and delayed his return home.

 Yamcha had to have been shock and angry at the thought of Vegeta living at Bulma’s home and while he couldn’t do anything about it, I think he voiced his opinion.

 Before anyone jump to the wrong conclusion, there is nothing romantic going on between Vegeta and ChiChi. I do think it’s interesting in fanfics how it’s written that Vegeta calls ChiChi a bitch or a harpy. Vegeta never reacted that way towards her in the manga or the anime. Towards women with the exception 18, Vegeta was aloof or nonjudgmental unless provoked. Vegeta wouldn’t call ChiChi those names because look who he got with. I think Vegeta has a low key respect for ChiChi because she is with Goku.

 This is the final chapter where Goku's friends are unkind towards ChiChi. As the story progress to the Trunks, Androids and Cell arc there are changes in these characters where they start being more civil to ChiChi.

Watching his daughter cry, be upset and care for her child alone, I think will anger any Dad to see his child suffer that way and as a parent, take matters in his own hands.

[ask-the-phan-site]

Phan Cam: Show Some Pizzazz, Pizzazz

>The Gabor Mansion. Panther, Queen, and Noir came here to convince Pizzazz and the Misfits to perform at the concert at the Hollywood Bowl in order to change Eric Raymond’s cognition to go further into his Palace.

Here we are. (taking out a tablet Oracle lent her) Kanji should be joining us... Now.

>A call comes on the tablet and Panther answers.

A chance to design something for the Misfits? You girls just made my day.

I’m so glad we could make your dream come true, Kanji kun.

Just don’t forget the real goal here. We have to convince the Misfits to perform at the Hollywood Bowl. If we succeed, we can get into the VIP lounge in Eric’s Palace.

Kanji: Right. Let’s do this.

Panther, Queen, and Noir: Right!

>With that, the three girls go up to the door and ring the bell. A short while later, a butler answers the door.

Butler: May I help you?

Panther: Yes, we’d like speak to Ms. Phyllis Gabor, please. It’s about something we’re sure she and her bandmates might be interested in.

Butler: ... Very well. Please wait in the lounge.

>The three girls waited in the lounge for a long time... After a long wait...

????????: OOOH! JUST WHO DO THEY THINK THEY ARE JUST SAYING THAT HAVE SOMETHING WE’D LIKE!?

>The nearby double doors burst open and four women come out.

This had better be good. I was actually in the middle of something important.

If you call trying every nail polish you bought important.

Hold on. I know you. You’re Ann Takamaki, the fashion model and Katherine McBride’s daughter. I also know you and your friends from those Dancing in Starlight videos.

I still can’t believe you watched those bloody videos, even though it was a long time ago.

Stormer: But I liked those videos. Who knew people could dance like that? It’s almost like... it was done in another world.

(You don’t know the half of it.)

Noir: I’m happy to hear a member of such a great music group watch our videos.

Stormer: Thanks. And I thought Danse was good with graceful moves.

Roxy: I could do that.

Kanji: (a bit unsure) Maybe.

Pizzazz: Oh, it’s you. Kanji Tatsumi. Haven’t seen you since... Y’know...

Kanji: Since I revealed that Yaki Tori has been plagiarizing work from other fashion designers at Tokyo Fashion Week and now he can never work in fashion again?

Panther: Oh yeah, I heard about that from my mom. She said, “That’s what happens when you go for a name like Yaki Tori. Who would want to be called grilled chicken?”

Jetta: Shoulda made called himself Sushi.

Pizzazz: So what brings you here? ... Sort of?

Kanji: Do you remember when I told you that I would one day design something you would like? Well, I finally decided the time has come to design it.

Pizzazz: Thanks, but I don’t do cute bunnies.

Kanji: I’ve designed punk stuff before. To thank me for exposing Yaki, Tigre Punks asked me to design something for them and they would show it to the world. And they did. Look.

Roxy: Still not sure why you chose plaid.

Kanji: They wanted it to match the Bondage Pants.

That’s amazing. No wonder you’re the best.

Noir: We even witnessed that talent at the Dream Festival three years ago.

Queen: It’s not just fashion. You’ve even made a few things that are sold at your mother’s textile shop in your hometown.

Kanji: I just thought I’d make somethin’ to help Mom with business when the time came for me to go. But I still come back to help ‘round when I can.

>Pizzazz seems to be getting upset at the mention of mothers.

Queen: Anyway, Kanji really wanted to make you great outfits for your next concert.

Jetta: And what would this yank make for us.

Kanji: I’ve gotta few ideas. Look.

>Kanji then uploads sketches of the Misfits in his outfits. Some of them really bold, others really fitting.

Stormer: They look great. It’s almost like you just looked right into our hearts and brought them to life. Almost. You haven’t made them yet, have you?

Kanji: I was waitin’ to see what you think. These designs were meant to reveal what kind of personas you all have. Stormer, you may seem tough, but we know you have a lot of empathy for everyone around you, so I made your outfit with a rebel vibe, but still shows your kindness. Roxy, to match your name, I made your outfits to show how hard you can be, but you never let negative thinking get you down. Jetta, you claim that you’re friends with royalty only for it to turn out to be a lie, but it could become a reality if you really strive for it, so your outfit shows you in all your glory but still show your humble beginning. And as for you, Pizzazz, yours was prolly the toughest to figure out, you want to live up to your stage name, to sparkle even brighter than Jem, so I made your outfit like that of a queen while Jem is still just a jester, you will wow the crowds and have them love you so more than they could a girl who’s done nothing but keep secrets from everyone, even her boyfriend.

Pizzazz: (suddenly getting interested) Jem a jester?

Kanji: In a way, she would be. You would end up stealing the show from her.

Pizzazz: ...

Kanji: C’mon, we know you wanna... Show some pizzazz, Pizzazz!

>Pizzazz looks intently at Kanji’s design of her outfit... We can only imagine what she’s thinking... Here goes:

>Pizzazz begins imagining herself as a high and mighty ruler while Jem is stuck at her feet doing silly things like a clown... Hope Jem doesn’t find out about this.

Pizzazz: Yes, I can see it. Jem would be at the bottom and we’d come up on top... You had me at Jem looking like a jester.

Kanji: (getting excited) You mean it?

Pizzazz: You bet. I really like your style.

(Insert musical number: I Like Your Style by Pizzazz and the Misfits)

Kanji: (really hyped) So you’ll do it.

Pizzazz: I knew there’d be a catch. What is it?

Noir: If you wish to show everyone your new outfits, you must where them to the spring concert in May at the Hollywood Bowl.

Pizzazz: Perform with the Stingers? At the circus Eric arranged? You’re out of your minds.

Jem will be there.

Pizzazz: ... Really?

Queen: This might your chance to finally upstage her big time.

Noir: If you do that, the Misfits will go down in history.

Pizzazz: ...

Take it from someone who knows how you feel. Us Business Daughters got to stick together.

Pizzazz: ... You’ve got a point... Fine. But only because we’ll finally put Jerrica “Jem” Benton in her place once and for all.

Noir: So you’ll do it.

Pizzazz: You bet. After all, it ain’t a party without the Misfits.

Kanji: (really happy) Sweat! I’ll get started right now. Can’t wait to see how this turns out. (he hangs up)

Pizzazz: Now, if we’ve got no more business here... Get out of my father’s house.

Panther: Pleasure doing business with you.

>With that, Panther, Queen, and Noir leave the mansion.

Panther: I’ll let the others know. Two down, three to go.

>Back inside the mansion...

Stormer: I think it’ll be great to perform at the Bowl. To show everyone our new look.

Jetta: And to see Kimber no doubt.

Pizzazz: Let’s just get to practicing!

>With that, the Misfits go to their studio to practice for the concert.

>To be continued...

[recentanimenews]

You Don't Have to Be Psychic to Find HINAMATSURI's Real-World Locations

HINAMATSURI is shaping up to be the best comedy of the young spring anime season, which isn’t all too surprising considering the show’s absurd story and extremely wacky but lovable cast. The story revolves around Nitta, a mid-level yakuza executive with a soft spot for expensive vases, whose extravagant bachelor lifestyle suddenly gets turned upside down when a young girl confined in an egg-shaped metal pod randomly teleports into his apartment. You’d think that a notorious yakuza would make short work of the intruder, but as it turns out, Hina has extremely powerful telekinetic powers (and she’s not afraid to use them), leaving Nitta no other choice than to take her in. Their odd life together is obviously not destined to run smoothly, but they quickly develop a genuine father-daughter relationship.

  From the tiny bits of flashbacks that we got about Hina, she seemed to have been exploited for her powers in the past, which understandably prompted her to escape – and to be more precise, to Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district, where she settles into her new "ordinary" life incredibly fast.

  *All images were taken with GOOGLE STREET VIEW

    But her transition from unscrupulously used weapon of mass destruction to ordinary middle school girl in Tokyo isn’t going to happen without any hiccups, since she has to release her pent-up powers every now and then. Luckily, Nitta is surprisingly capable of keeping her in line, so she actually still hasn’t gone on a Godzilla-like rampage through Ikebukuro, like the image above would suggest.

    The giant apartment complex in which Nitta resides is not real, but it would’ve been located somewhere in Ikebukuro, which is a commercial and entertainment district in the north of Tokyo and the main setting of HINAMATSURI. Pictured above are the Seibu and Parco department stores on the east side of Ikebukuro Station.

    And this is the Tobu department store on the west side of the station.

    Ikebukuro has a lot to offer for anime fans, as the area recently established a name for itself as a center of otaku culture, mainly geared towards the female audience. The area also has several arcades like Sega and Adores to offer.

    Countless other anime also have Ikebukuro as their setting, with the most prominent one probably being Durarara!! The latest episode of Steins;Gate 0 also has Okabe standing at the exact same spot as Nitta here.

    So it’s not without reason that Hina calls Ikebukuro a "dangerous town full of temptation," although for her the temptation seems to be the various restaurants and food stands in area. The Bakudan Yaki shop seems to have especially caught her interest with its extra-large takoyaki and her absolute favorite, salmon roe (ikura). I also always see the shop having some kind of anime collaboration going on when I’m around myself.  

    As already mentioned, Ikebukuro gained reputation as an area catering more to female anime fans, and Otome Road (otome meaning girl) right here is at the center of it all. Here you’ll find stores like Animate, K-Books, and Mandarake, but also several butler cafés.

    And Otome Road is also where Anzu, our second otherworldly super-powered girl, arrives.

    Now, let’s move on to another part of Tokyo, which should already be fairly familiar to people who watched SHIROBAKO or sweetness & lightning. HINAMATSURI is the next anime joining the ranks of shows that feature Skip Street, located north of Musashi-Sakai Station.

    Skip Street appearing in an anime can be used as a good indicator that the studio producing the show is located somewhere nearby, in the western part of the Tokyo Metropolis, which is home to a plethora of anime studios. And indeed, Studio Feel, the studio producing HINAMATSURI, is only located one station away, near Higashi-Koganei. Skip Street is simply conveniently located for many anime studios around the area, making it easy for them to collect reference material there. Summed up, whenever you see Skip Street, Musashi-Sakei Station, or any other station on the Chuo Main Line for that matter, you can safely assume that the anime studio itself is also not too far off.

    Interestingly, the ramen restaurant where Nitta first meets Anzu does not actually exist in real life.

    But all the other stores on Skip Street have been accurately reproduced.

    With Studio Feel located along the Chuo Main Line, you’ll find that most of the other non-Ikebukuro locations are not located too far away either, like this one right here near Mitaka Station, only two stops away from the studio.

    My personal highlight so far, the cabaret club scene, takes place near Kichijoji, only three train stops away from the studio. At the end of the second episode, Hina wants Nitta to spend more quality time with her, resulting in both of them, Hina’s middle school friend, and a gang of drunkards gleefully hitting up an extravagant cabaret club in Kichijoji, perfectly executing HINAMATSURI’s absurd and hilarious humor. By the way, the cabaret club does not exist in real life (sadly).

    Have you been enjoying HINAMATSURI so far? What are your theories about Hina’s past? Sound off in the comments below!

---

Wilhelm is an anime tourist, who loves to search for and uncover the real-world spots he sees in anime. You can talk with him on Twitter @Surwill. 

By: news+feed@crunchyroll.com

[choisgirls]

What do the RFA + minor trio think about pineapple on pizza? What kind of food do they like and dislike apart from what's stated in the game? I hope you guys are doing well!

A/N: I AM A FULLADVOCATE FOR PINEAPPLES ON PIZZA AND Y'ALL CAN FIGHT ME (don’t actually fightme i respect your opinions I promise, you do you) (And I’m doing well, thank you! I hope you are as well ^^) ~Admin 404

Okay y’all I hope I did my research alright?? I hope I got the right names to the right food?? *small screaming*

*YOOSUNG:

               -Honestly I can see him enjoyingthe fruity flavour with his pizza

               -He’s just that kind of dude youknow? Like he tries to be mellow and fails

               -And what better way to prove you’remellow and cool than put some god damn fruit on your pizza??

                               American food

               -If we’re going American food, Ithink he’d really like hot pockets

               -I mean come on?? They’re fast??And hot?? And come in so many different ways? Not to mention they can be chEAP

               -His favourites are the ham andcheese ones

               -12/10 burns himself EVERYSINGLE TIME. BUT THEY’RE STILL COLD IN THE MIDDLE. He hates them but stillloves them so much

               -But he hates most otherflavours though? He can handle the pizza one but everything else is just abunch of blasphemy

                               Korean Food

               -Out of Korean foods I thinkhe’d like some Bindaetteok, or Mung Bean Pancake

               -Sometimes he eats them withoutthe vinaigrette dipping sauce

               -Just piles them into his mouth

               -Hates any sort of sour candy

               -His precious taste buds can’thandle sour

               -Actually cries?? When there’ssour??

               -His face scrunches up and helooks so childish but still sO CUTE

*ZEN:

               -Fruit should be fruit and pizzashould be pizza

               -Does not like the twointermingling together

               -Actually appalled when someoneputs pineapple on their pizza

               -O V E R D R A M A T I C

               -Throws himself to the floor,curses the world, sheds a few tears

                               American Food

               -Seriously. Anything fromChipotle

               -His favourite thing to getwould be a burrito bowl, so it’s got rice, chicken, beans, cheese, and sourcream

               -Which he’s like HELL YEAH IT’SHEALTHY I’M NOT CHEATING ON MY DIET

               -But, SURPRISE, BITCH. THEPORTION SIZES ARE NOT HEALTHY. Try again later

               -Does not like any form ofcheeseburger though from any place

               -Always too greasy. He canliterally feel his stomach churn just looking at one

               -God forbid any of that greaseruns down his arm. His pERFECT SKIN. NO!

                               Korean Food

               -Dakkochi!

               -They’re grilled chicken skewerscovered in red chili sauce

               -“It’s chicken MC, it’salways healthy” not the amount you’re inhaling them they aren’t

               -As body conscious as he is, hehates veggie crackers

               -They’re just so artificial andreally salty

               -Prefers the real vegetableinstead

*JAEHEE

               -Logically fruit has no reasonto be on a pizza

               -It’s a conflicting taste forher mouth and she doesn’t quite know where to place it

               -All she knows is wow she doesnot like it

               -Maybe it’s the crunch thatshouldn’t be there??

                               American Food

               -TIRAMISU

               -It’s freaking made up ofladyfingers, rum, and coffee. All in one custard dessert.

               -Why in the hell would she notenjoy that???

               -She hates nachos

               -Hear me out, she’s tried themonce at your request and immediately despised them

               -They’re so messy and the chipsget soggy

               -And the cheese just tastes soartificial, it’s gross to her

                               Korean Food

               -Her guilty pleasures are chapsalyakgwa (Korean sweet cakes)

               -They’re cakes made from honey,sesame oil, and wheat flour and they taste like glAZED DONUTS

               -AND WHAT DO DONUTS GO WELLWITH? COFFEE.

               -She doesn’t really like MulNaengmyeon, which is noodles in ice soup

               -It’s not that the flavour isn’tnice or anything, it’s that it’s so cold

               -Dear god if she’s already alittle cold, after eating this it’s like she’s in Antarctica

*JUMIN:

               -He’s had some expensive, topnotch pizza before

               -So it has a different flavourto it, right?

               -10/10 believe Jumin Han likespineapple on his pizza solely for the reason that he’s high class

               -I bet he’s had fresh pineapplecut up in front of him and placed on his pizza

                               American Food

               -RoOt BeEr FlOaTs

               -Some of the best french vanillabean ice cream

               -And some of the best root beersoda

               -Fancy Ass Root Beer Floats™(Not to mention literally anything you can make into a float. Pineapple juiceand dole whip, amAZING)

               -HATES HOT DOGS

               -               626: It’sprobably because they make him feel submissive, isn’t it?

                               404:you fucking asSHOLE THAT’S NOT IT

               -Hates the fact that it’s abunch of things just…. mashed together

               -And the textURE IS WEIRD.Uncooked they’re just slimy and floppy and just e w

                               Korean Food

               -He likes Dolsot Bibimbap!

               -It’s a hotpot mixed rice, with sautéedvegetables and toasted seaweed flakes, and sesame seeds!

               -Sometimes his saltiness isn’tenough to cover for his food, so he adds chili paste

               -But he doesn’t like ColdBibimbap

               -Something about it being colddidn’t make him happy

               -Possibly because it didn’t feellike a warm loving meal which he subconsciously just wANTS

               - why did i do that to myself

*SAEYOUNG:

               -Isn’t it like lowkey meme-y tohave pineapple on your pizza nowadays??

               -He’d definitely have it onthere

               -Does he like it? Yeah itdoesn’t bother him, the crunch is nice

               -Definitely not the same asputting Honey Buddah chips on there but hey it works

                               American Food

               -LITERALLY ANY KIND OF MEXICANFOOD

               -I can see him just coming homewith a large cardboard box completely stuffed with homemade tacos

               -Always trying to make some forhimself at home and setting the damn tortillas on fire

               -HATES SALTWATER TAFFY

               -As good as the flavours are,all he can think about is how hARD THEY ARE TO CHEW

               -Has flashbacks about the timehe got his teeth practically glued shut because he put too many in his mouth atonce

                               Korean Food

               -When he actually eats“real food”, he likes to snack on Hotteok!

               -They’re deep fried treats, onesavory and one sweet!

               -He prefers the savory onebecause it’s salty, it’s filled with glass noodles and garlic pork

               -The saltiness stays in tunewith his HBC so his “tongue wouldn’t get confused”

               -HE HATES HONEY BUTTER CRUNCHYRICE BAR SNACKS

               -“Saeyoung, they could bebetter for you than-” “MC DON’T YOU DARE EVEN SAY IT”

               -Doesn’t care what flavour thepackage says, they are NOT. THE. SAME. And he HATES THEM

*V:

               -I think the random crunch onhis pizza would throw him off

               -If you like it he’ll completelyrespect you and probably force himself to eat it for your sake

               -Otherwise I think he’drespectfully decline it

               -If they’re separate, he canhandle it, just not together

                               American Food

               -Oh my god he loves literallyany kind of pie

               -Searches the world during histravels to find the best little bakery shops for pies

               -His favourite is probably applepie because he loves the cinnamon flavour as well!

               -WARM APPLE PIE CAN WARM UP THE HEARTMC

               -I take it back, there is onepie he doesn’t like

               -SWEET POTATO

               -HATES IT SO MUCH. It’s just thethought that this…vegetable is now in a pie… that should be fruity…andit’s not….

               -It’s just the THOUGHT OF IT MC.He refuses to even try it, that’s how much he hates the thought

                               Korean Food

               -Yaki Mandu! Which is deep friend mandu

               -It’s filled with pork, glassnoodles, and a variety of salty seasonings

               -A nice change against his sweettooth for pies, definitely

               -But dislikes Jjinmadu, which issteamed mandu dumplings

               -They’re filled with things suchas pork, onions, and mung bean noodles

               -But something about the textureof the noodle-like wrappers feels weird in his mouth

               -Cut it open and take the thingsout then hell yeah he’s good to go

*SAERAN:

               -Probably one of those jERKS WHOFIGHT YOU OVER LIKING PINEAPPLE ON PIZZA

               -“FRUIT. DOESN’T. BELONG.THERE. MC.”

               -LIKE STOP BEING LOGICAL AND EATTHE GOD DAMN PINEAPPLE CHUNK

               - IT’S AMAZING OKAY

               -Has literally walked out of thehouse when you told him you’ve ordered pineapple on the pizza

                               American Food

               -Honestly, he really likes s'mores

               -Something about the melting marshmallowmakes him and his taste buds happy

               - that and being so close tothe fire, damn pyro

               -He mixes it up and triesdifferent chocolate flavours, like caramel or cookies and cream

               -But dear god, keep him awayfrom those “weirdos” on Thanksgiving with the Turducken

               -“WHY CAN’T THEY JUST PICKONE. JUST ONE BIRD. WHY DO YOU NEED TO SHOVE TWO OTHER BIRDS INTO ONE?WHY?”

               -It’s just so nasty to him. Andit’s waaaaay too much food

               -He can be mean but thinks thepeople shoving two more birds into one is just w r o n g

                               Korean Food

               -He really likes to snack onKancho Choco Biscuits

               -Which are these small littlebiscuits(cookies) with milk chocolate inside

               -Pours the whole box into hismouth some days because he cAN’T GET THEM IN THERE FAST ENOUGH

               -Dislikes Tornado Potatoes

               -Mainly because he thinks it’s awaste of time? People tend to like it because it “looks cool”according to him

               -It’s a fried and seasoned potatocut into a spiral and spread on a stick

               -“MC if I wanted friedpotatoes I’d go get some french fries, they’re easier to eat god dammit”

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