#I’ve already been in a ‘wah wah I’m a terrible person’ mood for a while

[lesbianusahana]

Joey’s Woes of the Day without context

[strawberry--bride]

DIABOLIK LOVERS Haunted Dark Bridal ー Sharon’s Route [PROLOGUE]

Monologue

The most painful thing in this world,

is losing your home. Your place-to-be.

No matter how dire the situation,

if you are surrounded by people who love and care for you.

No obstacle is invincible. 

Then ーー Where do I belong?

Having long lost the place I once considered home.

I spent many years in a place which would provide for me. 

I had food, a roof above my head, a warm bed to sleep in at night.

But could I truly call this my home? 

Those doubts would lurk in the back of my mind, keeping me up at night.

Until one day, I was made a special offer. 

If I complied, I would be given the thing my heart longs for the most.

ーー A new home.

Location: Sakamaki Manor ;; Outside

Sharon: This is the place, right...?

( Woah...Amazing. I’ve never seen a house quite this big. They even have a garden! )

*Knock knock*

Sharon: Excuse meー! My name’s Sharon. I’m supposed to move in here today! 

...

...

( No response...? How strange. They should have been informed through the Church. )

*Knock knock*

Sharon: Hello...? Anybody home...!?

Sharon: ( What to do...? There doesn’t seem to be anyone home right now. It’s already getting dark. I can’t just stand here all night either. )

*Creaaaaak*

Sharon: ...Huh? Did the...door just open by itself?

( Does that mean I can go inside? I feel a little hesitant just entering someone else’s home butーー I was told I could live here so it should be fine, right? )

She enters the manor.

 Location: Sakamaki Manor ;; Entrance Hall

Sharon: Just as I thought, the inside is equally spacious. I can’t imagine just one person living in such a large house all by themselves. Cleaning must take quite some time as well.

She puts down her suitcase.

*Thud*

Sharon: Phew...

( ...It’s so quiet. Almost as if the house is deserted. I wonder if the owner is out at the moment? In that case, I should probably wait in the living room. )

Sharon looks around.

Sharon: I guess it’s...that way?

*Rustle*

Sharon: ...!!

( I...Did I just...step on something? It felt...strangely soft and... )

???: ーー Oi.

Sharon: ...Kyah!

Sharon: ( A person...!? Oh my gosh. I just arrived here and the first thing I do is step on someone! )

???: ...

Sharon: I’m terribly sorry! I didn’t think there would be someone lying on the floor and...!

( ...Speaking of which, what were they doing down there anyway!? ...Sleeping? No way, right? When you have a house this large, you definitely don’t need to use the floor as a bed... )

???: Haah...

Sharon: Oh no! Are you feeling ill, perhaps? In that case, I shall call a doctor right away!

???: ...You’re loud. How am I supposed to enjoy my Rachmaninov when you’re screaming the place down? 

Sharon: Rach...mani...? ...E-Either way, if you’re not feeling sick, then what were you doing on the floor?

???: Wasting his time away listening to music rather than making himself useful, per usual, I would assume. Well, I suppose it is best not to have any expectations of this man in the first place, as he will only let you down in the end.

Sharon: ...!? 

( A voice...? Out of nowhere...!? )

Sharon: ...Wah!!

( Where did he come from...? )

???: Now, who might you be?

Sharon: Ah...I’m sorry! My name’s Sharon. I’m an orphan at the Catholic orphanage downtown. I was told by our related Church that the resident of this manor has been so kind to take me in. Are you...perhaps the owner?

???: ...I see. It seems you are the next...sacrifice.

Sharon: Excuse me?

???: Nothing. I was simply talking to myself. ...Ahem. My name is Sakamaki Reiji. The second eldest son of this family and one of the residents here. ...The man you had the ‘honor’ of meeting earlier is Shuu. While you may not suspect so given his deplorable behavior, he is - quite unfortunately - my elder brother.

Sharon: Reiji-san...and Shuu-san, was it? It’s a pleasure meeting you both!

Shuu: ...

Reiji: I assume that is your luggage over there? A room has been prepared for you. We will have one of our servants bring everything upstairs.

Sharon: Thank you very much!

( Thank god...So there wasn’t any mistake after all. )

Sharon: Oh! Right! I actually brought a little gift with me! They’re homemade muffins I made this morーー

*CRASH*

Sharon: ーー ning...!?

Startled by the loud noise, she drops the box with muffins.

*Thud*

???: YOU FUCKIN’ BASTARD!! I swear once I get my hands on youーー! 

???: Ahaha! I can’t believe you actually fell for that one! Lame-o!

Reiji: ...

Shuu: Haah...

Sharon: ( H-Hold on, hold on, hold on! Eh? Eeeeh!? I’m not dreaming, right!? That person just punched a hole through the wall!? )

Reiji: Ahem. ...Allow me to introduce. The one who destroyed the wall is the youngest son, Sakamaki Subaru. Next to him is Sakamaki Ayato, the eldest of the triplets. 

ーー You two, explain this situation at once!

Ayato: ...Che. Reiji. I didn’t do anythin’! Not my fault that Subaru ate those prank chocolates I left out on the kitchen counter.

Subaru: Fuck off! You definitely did that on purpose! ...I can still feel my mouth burnin’...!!

Sharon: ( ...Prank chocolates? I guess he means those filled with mustard and other spicy condiments, right? I didn’t know people actually bought those. )

Ayato: Of course! I was hopin’ to catch Kanato. Can you imagine what kinda face he would make when poppin’ one of those bad boys in his mouth?

???: ...Say, did you hear that, Teddy? ...I hope Ayato sleeps with one eye open tonight. He might just run into...unfortunate accident.

Sharon: ...Eh!?

( Another person just appeared out of thin air!? )

Ayato: Keh. The lunatic’s here.

Reiji: Sakamaki Kanato, the middle triplet. 

...Kanato, If you wish to commit a homicide, please do so outside of the walls of this manor. It takes forever to remove blood stains from the carpet.

Kanato: I don’t recall having to take orders from you.

ーー However, you’re lucky as I happen to be in a good mood right now. I believe I heard someone mention muffins? 

Sharon: ...Ah, yes! I made these myse...Huh? ...Oh.

Shuu: It’s not blood, but I think the carpet will need some cleaning regardless.

Reiji: Good grief...

Sharon: Oh no...! The box must have slipped from my fingertips when I heard the sudden crash and...

Ayato: Ah-ahー Look what you did, Subaru. It’s always the youngest child causin’ trouble.

Subaru: HAAH!? All of this started ‘cause you left those stupid chocolates out!

Sharon: ...They turned out really good too. What a shame.

Subaru: ...!! ...O-Oi...You...Um...My bad.

Kanato: ...Unforgivable. 

Sharon: Eh?

Kanato: ...HOW WILL YOU MAKE THIS UP TO ME!?

Sharon: ( W-Why is he getting upset at me all of a sudden!? It was obviously just an accident!? )

Um...I’m not sure...I could make some new ones later?

???: There, there, Kanato-kun~ Relax! Even if the muffins were wasted, there’s a delicious snack just waiting to be devoured...

*Rustle*

Sharon: ...!

( Someone wrapped their arms around me from behind!? )

???: ...Right here~ ...Nfu~

Sharon: ...Eh!?

( I-Is he talking about me!? )

Reiji: ...And finally, the youngest triplet, Sakamaki Laito. 

Ayato: Oi, Laito! No way you’re gettin’ the first taste again! I still haven’t forgotten last time!

Laito: Eeeh~? It’s not my fault you’re so slow, Ayato-kun~ However, if you’re so insistent on taking a bite out of her, I wouldn’t mind sharing, you know? I’m sure it’d make for a refreshing and thrilling experience~

Ayato: Geh! In your dreams, you perv!

Sharon: ( Taste? Bite...? Why are they talking as if I’m their food!? )

Excusーー

Shuu: ...Strawberries.

Sharon: Eh?

Kanato: What are you talking about? I don’t see any strawberries around.

Reiji: Shuu. Explain yourself.

Shuu: Your panties. They had strawberries on them.

Sharon: ...!!

( When did he...!? Ah! When I stepped on him...! )

Ayato: Pfftー!! Strawberries! How old are you, five? That’s hella lame!

Laito: Hm...~ Strawberries are not bad but with such a lovely body, I’m sure you could pull off something a little more erotic~

Subaru: ...

Laito: Oh, my bad~ I forgot baby bro was in the room. I suppose talking about a woman’s underwear is still a little too much for him to handle.

Subaru: S-Shut up...!!

Reiji: ...Enough! No more on this topic! ...Haah. Is it really that much to ask for you lot to behave? Just for one day?

Ayato: ーー Anyway, Reiji. Who’s this chick anyway? Tonight’s dinner?

Sharon: D-Dinner...!? I’m sorry but...Why are you all talking as if I’m food or something!?

Ayato: Shut it! Nobody asked for your opinion, Ichigo Pantsu.

Sharon: I-Ichigo paーー!? I have a name...! ...It’s Sharon.

Ayato: Yeah, yeah. I-chi-go Pa-n-tsu.

Laito: Hm~ This Bitch-chan does smell sweet just like strawberries. Perhaps I should call you ‘Ichigo-chan’ instead~?

Kanato: She really does. I’m sure her blood would taste just as sweet...Oh? What’s that, Teddy? You’d like to have a taste? Fufu...Good idea. I was just feeling a little peckish myself.

Reiji: Haah...I shall be in my study room. ...Ayato, Kanato, Laito. Please treat our new resident with some respect. It would be a shame to lose another one so soon.

Sharon: ...Wait, please! I’m afraid I don’t quite grasp the situation yet!

Reiji: Haah...Good grief. You must not be very smart, are you? Did you truly believe you would be allowed to stay here for free?

Sharon: ...Eh?

Laito: Nfu~ He’s right, Ichigo-chan. Everything in this world comes at a price. In your case...That would be the delicious blood pumping through your veins...

Sharon: M-My blood...? 

Ayato: Heh. You seriously haven’t realized?

Kanato: Teddy...Humans are truly so foolish, aren’t they?

Subaru: Che...Stop beatin’ ‘round the bush already and just tell her.

Shuu: We are Vampires. So the only thing a human such as yourself would have to offer, is your blood.

Reiji: In return, you will be allowed to stay here in this manor. Food, clothes and all other daily necessities willl be provided as well.

Sharon: Vam...pires? That must be some sort of joke, right? It was the Church who arranged this place for me! They would neverーー! 

Besides...Vampires only exist in fairytales!

Reiji: Good grief. This is why I simply cannot deal with humans. Not only are they incredibly foolish, they are horribly naive and trusting as well.

Subaru: In other words, you were set up. Just deal with it.

Sharon: ...

( No way, right...? This has to be some sort of mistake? Or a bad dream...? )

Shuu: Pwaah...Anyway, you guys do as you please. I’m going to my room to nap.

Subaru: I’m leaving too.

Reiji: Well then, if you’d excuse me now.

The three of them leave.

Sharon: ...

Laito: Oh dear~? Is that despair I see in your eyes? You poor little thing! Don’t worry, Laito-kun wil make sure to comfort you. After all, there is no better cure for betrayal than pleasure.

Ayato: Don’t be so down, Ichigo Pantsu! It’s not that bad of a deal! You get to offer your blood to Yours Truly after all!

Kanato: Fufu...I’m sure we’ll get along just fine. If you’re lucky, you might even make it into my precious collection one day~

Sharon: ...!!

She suddenly pushes them away.

*THUD*

Ayato: ...Woah!?

Laito: ...Aah~ Not bad, Ichigo-chan! I like myself a feisty girl at times!

Kanato: Ugh! ...What are you doing!? I nearly dropped Teddy just now.

Sharon: ...

She runs upstairs.

Location: Sakamaki Manor ;; Hallway

Sharon: Haah, haah, haah...

( Say, God...? )

( Is this my penalty...? )

( Are you punishing me for my crimes of the past...? )

Monologue

I just kept on running and running.

As said question repeated itself inside my head.

That must be it.

Those guys were exactly right. 

Humans are foolish. I was foolish. 

Foolish to believe I would be given a new home.

After all, people like me.

ーー They don’t deserve a happy ending.

ーー PROLOGUE: END ーー

[ Dark Prologue ] ->

[courage-a-word-of-justice]

Mahou Shoujo Ore 5 | Yotsuiro Biyori 4 | Lupin III Pt 5 5 | Hinamatsuri 5 | BnHA 43 | Boueibu HK 5

Mahou Shoujo Ore 5

Hey hey hey, this is the second show I’ve seen ape Osomatsu-san this year. Seriously, no show is safe in a parody as a target for humour’s sake…Note Osomatsu-san is also by Pierrot, though, so they’re attacking themselves to some extent.

Now that they’ve pointed the Osomatsu-san reference though, I can’t believe I didn’t see the scarf colours last time! But…this is episode 5…

Oh, I kind of noticed it, but I’m probably too used to it since I watched the first season of Osomatsu-san – the blue lines are part of that show’s signature style.

Muscovado is apparently a substitute for sugar. It literally translates to “black sugar” though…

Sagami is…a former place in Japan…?

Tama River. I’m terrible at Japanese geography, so I don’t think you should be asking me about this…

Dang, apparently Pierrot is based in Mitaka, Tokyo so whatever joke I was chasing there fell flat.

Wow, they got really self-referential this episode…yikes.

So this is the rumoured Chiba-san? Uhh…

Oh my…I do not see the word “Japanimation” get much mileage at all these days, but I cringe every time I see it.

It’s Pokémon Go! Wow, that’s another level of meta for sure. My hopes for resolving all the stray plot threads while maintaining that wacky sense of humour (or however I phrased it) definitely went out the window…Notice the footage is dated April 24th 20X8, which is about a week before the episode went to air if the X actually hides “2018”.

Suginami. Apparently, Bones, Sunrise and other studios are stationed there…but Pierrot isn’t.

If there’s one thing I didn’t expect in MSO, it’s the fact this show became Shirobako in a sense. I still need to get around to Shirobako, by the way…

Ey, wait a second! Astral, you got your wish! We get to see…Fujimoto’s face!

Whoa! They went all out on the CGI fire effects! What is this show, Golden Kamuy?! (LOL)

Comichiya’s probably Comiket. The katakana (chi -> tsu, to -> ya) look kinda similar if mangled.

Dangit! I missed my mark on the guesswork again! Tokyo Big Sight isn’t in Suginami.

Basically, this is just a long road to admitting they couldn’t do a recap episode, but they don’t have enough content to pad this ep either. Ah, sweet revelations (sarcastic).

Is it just me, or does the bottom of Fujimoto (1)’s face look kind of like…Mohiro??? Wagh??? Update: No, the hair colour’s off.

The “on the train” technically says “on the NEXT train” (emphasis mine).

Wow, they namedropped Ishikawa (probably Kaito)! Ishikawa voices male!Saki, so it makes sense.

Oh my gosh, Mahoutsukai Watashi! What a bold move this show’s taken – it’s telling its own meta-narrative. Which means when I cover it for the collab post…it’ll be meta of meta…that’ll put my head in a spin for sure.

You can see Fujimoto and Sakuyo character designs if you pause for one scene (the one with “staff working from home”).

You can see the name Masayuki Ito (伊藤雅之) on that list with the downward arrows, but I don’t know what significance that name has unless they’re an animator or something...

Mensore is explained here.Basically it’s youkoso in Okinawan.

Jimami Tofu…isn’t tofu, as weird as that sounds. It’s an Okinawan-sponsored drama.

Well, at least this time I got a big epic battle (no matter how short it is). Nothing better than that!

They got Akira Ishida, Tomokazu Seki, Koichi Yamadera and some other guys to voice the Fujimotos this time. Notice there’s no crossover between the Osomatsu-san voices and the Fujimotos, which was probably intentional.

I thought there’d be a real Shinzo Chiba, but there doesn’t seem to be one…

There was a shot of Fujimoto (before the manager)! Wah! Was that there in previous episodes???

Every time people promise wardrobe malfunctions, they tend to…uh, deliver on that…

The Monokubo illustration this time is creepy…I like it!

Yotsuiro Biyori 4

Is this a zombie movie (LOL)?

Wow, Sui really loves cats, doesn’t…he…? (LOL)

Oh, so that weird zombie movie in medias res opening was actually one of those fakeouts…DN Angel’s anime did that, I remember…

Wow, they make Tokitaka so epic in this scene! A determined man is more handsome than one in an ordinary state, don’tcha think?

You can even see rice flying! Amazing! Tokitaka’s got such skill.

I am so spoilt for smol boys this season, between this and Boueibu HK…

Ooh! My eyes have been blessed with the hotness of Tokitaka!

There’s more chicken than usual this ep, eh?

Shiratama anmitsu.

I never thought we’d need a backstory for the resident cat, but okay. It was hilarious and fun while it lasted and now it’s almost over…huh.

Denzou? Eh? (I kinda get why the name’s badass with the kanji involved, but it’s hard to explain to a non-Japanese speaker…)

Agedama.

The next ep title translates to roughly “A Loving Hand for the Lost Lamb”…as in, to extend a hand to it.

Lupin 3 Pt 5 5

Okay, part 5 episode 5 is confusing when it’s just “5 5”, isn’t it?

I think the guy in the green jacket will be important later…? He’s in a key visual for this show, at least.

“This pasta called soba’s pretty good!” – LOL, soba ain’t pasta, y’know…

I’ve learnt about the stack before. Here you go.

IP camera. Hey, I’ve done something on IP cameras before, but normally Detective Conan (and most other mystery shows of the modern day) seem to be reliant on CCTV…

Chicken game…? Sounds tasty!...Not.

Ami doesn’t seem too pleased about all the shooting, LOL.

Even Ami knows bowing is a sign of Japanese respect. Just like how dragons understand the meaning of “Hatori Chise” involves birds…(i.e. I’m kind of skeptical that a real French girl would learn to bow to her Japanese friends when her life is always on the line, a la Ami.)

Episode…1? Y’mean, there’s more adventures, but no Ami? Aw, I was enjoying having her in the fray.

Hinamatsuri 5

A TV? $30??? Wow, I would fight a psychic girl for that! That’s friggin’ cheap!

“Toshibu” (sic), LOL.

Bikkuri means “surprise”, LOL.

“A teacher and a student walk into a bar…” – it sounds like a joke. Not that that could be conveyed accurately in Japanese, though. The fact it even works as an English joke must be a coincidence…

Hitomi’s such a terrible liar! Wahaha!

Nitta’s just like “I’ve given up on this girl”. Either that, or he has a hangover…(LOL)

Sayo looks kind of like Hina. If it weren’t for the hair colours I would’ve mistaken the two.

BnHA 43

Carrying a gun to a fistfight…yep, bad. Plain bad, Mustard, ol’ boy.

Sorry, there was a lot of fighting this ep and nothing much to say!

Boueibu HK 5

LOL, the bald bodyguard…he looks kinda grumpy.

Notice Kyotaro goes “ore kyoumi nai” (I have no interest in it), but the subs missed the subject of the sentence! CR, you weirdoes!

Echire butter…exists!

“You know about genetic testing?” - Irina! I think this is your department!

Ryoma’s the end of the evolutionary line!

Hmm…if there was no Ice Age in Honyara Land…might there have been something else that caused the Furanui/Karurusu conflict? There’s only animosity from one side, after all.

Bunbuku Chagama. Magozaemon was fat, so he would make a perfect teapot/tanuki…

Wait, if Maasa = Ichiro in the age department (roughly 16), that would add up. He went abroad for 4 years and held off on carbs the entire time…yikes.

“The people of this world envy those who represent the opposite of what they fear for themselves, so they criticise and attack them.” – Ooh, Ata makes a lot of sense here…! It’s a quote for the collection.

Asobukoto = It’s not really “fun” per se, but “playing” or “hanging out”. That is, if you translate rather literally.

They’re all underage (roughly 16 – 18), of course they wouldn’t drink! Of course, this is coming from a person who doesn’t drink…the only samples of alcohol I’ve had are few and far in between…

Hey, I studied this stuff in the past, you don’t have to regurgitate this info (about needing food to better absorb alcohol). Lemmee tell you, alcohol ads are weird…

They didn’t make the “glasses fogging up” a weird plot hole. Phew.

Wow, to think I’d be getting a science lesson of things I already know in my Boueibu…I never thought I’d see the day where that happened.

According to this page, one of the things the ramen shop serves is gomoku soba. Wait…that’s right! Ramen’s appeared in this show before! In the Chri-pa episode! Sorry Astral, I gotta spoil s2 for you!

Wow, this chicken carcass is even less of a threat than anything else so far! Wow-hee.

Taishi only seems vaguely fazed about the fact he’s being made to fight monsters. Interesting. I never think about the perspective of the non-red boys regarding fighting monsters until they’re pointed out, really.

So wait, the magic knight of space…makes bubbles? Uh, Astral, you might wanna learn from this…?

Hey hey, I found a page on tonkotsu ramens (sic from the Hakata anime) and paitan ramen.

Kyotaro on stairs = basically my mood when I want to imitate the “draw me like one of yor French girls” meme. (Very badly.)

So…when I said I missed individualised attacks, I never saw this coming. Sorry about that, people. (Even if that was only Ichiro’s bubble attack.)

Kyotaro makes a lot of sense here. But seriously, I think I need Astral’s easy button right now. That was easy.

Notice Karurusu is acting as a pelt…weren’t otters hunted for their pelts?

Oh, Sujikawa’s a first year, huh?

*Sujikawa picks up the boulder* - *round of applause from me* Wow!

Both Maasa and Dougo have such supportive friends, it almost makes me jealous.

The English! It’s…correct! (thinks back to a magazine article with “Difence” (sic) written on it in pink letters)

I, for one, am happy they’re tackling relationships aside from “brothers” this time. Finally, here’s something that stacks up against its competition in regards to deeper themes, even if it is a comedy!

Dougo and Maasa (Magozaemon) were in class 2, if you pause at the right time. Notably, the members of class 2 were all boys, LOL. Even with the boy to the left of Magozaemon, I think that name might be pronounced “Ai” (due to this page), but it’s in manly kanji.

[dandaragohan]

Dandara Gohan Ch. 1 Translations

(translation notes)

(what does ‘dandara gohan mean’??)

To read it on pixiv, go here. This manga is free to read online, so please do not repost the manga anywhere. Seriously, you don’t even need a pixiv account to read it. Don’t be a jerk. Also, please do not reproduce my translations anywhere else; they are not always 100% accurate, so I don’t want them going around to parts unknown.

Chapter 1: Fluffy Egg Soufflé

Notes: Pages are numbered according to the online reader on pixiv; there are technically two manga pages per each pixiv page except for the two page spreads. For this chapter, there are 23 “pages”.

Yamaguchi Hajime is better known as Saitō Hajime. Yamaguchi was his birth name. And Okita Sōjirō later becomes Okita Sōji. I went with last names so just keep in mind that Yamaguchi is actually Saitō.

[] = text in boxes

() = text in thought bubbles

“-” = text in speech bubbles

italic = free floating text, usually thoughts or narrative

1/23

Alone on a battlefield ridden with despair, what he remembered were the memories from that time…

Yamaguchi: “I’m...alive?”

2/23

Whether it’s eating or risking our lives, our comrades are always right beside us.

3/23

[Bunkyū 2, 11th month, Edo.]

???: “Hey, Hajime-san, you went ahead and started eating without me!”

Yamaguchi: (Just had to go and say it...)

The voice interrupting this blissful time is…?

4/23

Okita: “So mean…Even though we said we’d eat together…”

Okita: “Ah, oh well! Mister, I’ll have shrimp and eel~!”

Yamaguchi: “How many times do I have to tell you to stop following me around…Okita-kun.”

Okita: “You’re so cold~! Weren’t we practicing the sword together earlier? We’re the same age, so it’s not about that…huh? Are you listening to me, Hajime-saan?”

5/23

Okita: “Wow, looks delicious~!”

Yamaguchi: (The old man here does good work. Everything is fried just right, and there’s a wide variety, too. This food stand is the best in the area……)

Yamaguchi: “Uh…why aren’t you eating?”

Okita: “Oh, well, I can’t stand hot foods. It’s little embarrassing…Oh! If I remove the coating, won’t it cool off quicker?”

Yamaguchi: “Huh!? With your hands!?”

Okita: “It’s hot!”

Yamaguchi: (Well, obviously! What made you think that would go over well?)

Shopkeeper: “A-are you alright…? I thought it was fried properly…”

Yamaguchi: “D…don’t worry about it, please. He’s always like this…He’s a sort of unusual guy…”

6/23

Okita: “Alright then, let’s eat~…”

Okita: “If you peel the coating off, this is just a regular shrimp! It’s not shrimp tempura anymore! Hahahaha! Thanks for the food – eh!?”

Okita: “Are you going already? Heey, Hajime-saan!”

Yamaguchi: [I’m not good at dealing with this person (Okita-kun)…We just can’t see eye-to-eye when it comes to our tastes in food.]

Okita

If it’s sweet, it’s good.

If it’s cold, it’s good.

Yamaguchi

Fond of alcohol

A child of Edo.

(Eats things while they’re still hot.)

Okita: “That was delicious, wasn’t it~”

Yamaguchi: “Be quiet. You’re such a weirdo, cut it out.”

Okita: “You’re so mean!”

7/23

Yamaguchi: “What’s really terrible is that over there, isn’t it.”

Okita: “Hajime-san…Hajime-san! It’s a daifuku vendor! Let’s eat!”

Yamaguchi: “O–ki–ta–kun!”

Okita: “I’m sorry, I’ll treat you…! Huh? I don’t have any money.”

Yamaguchi: “Hey.”

Yamaguchi: [We don’t see eye-to-eye on a lot of things. It was summer when our paths crossed.]

8/23

Yamaguchi: (Why is a strong guy like him killing time by visiting Imo Dojo!?)

9/23

Random Students: “Thank you very much.”

Okita: “Yamaguchi…Hajime-san, was it? I’m Okita Sōjirō. You were really strong. I honestly thought I might lose.”

Yamaguchi: “It’s those who are viciously defeated who should be saying that.”

Okita: “No, I really mean it! Up until now, I’ve never really met anyone with abilities equal to mine…It seems like you could become a lot stronger…How about it? If you want, why not come to our dōjō…”

Yamaguchi: “I refuse.”

Yamaguchi: (So I said, completely without concern.)

10/23

Yamaguchi: [That guy appeared wherever I went.]

Okita: “Ah! It’s Hajime-san! Let’s have a match, just for a bit! Just one point is fine!”

Yamaguchi: “No!”

Yamaguchi: [Unfortunately, we ended up taking our meals together under the name of friendship.]

Okita: “Thank you for treating me…Hajime-san, you’re so nice! Ahaha!”

Yamaguchi: “You can stop saying that already.”

Okita: “These really are the best for winter, huh. Yum.”

Yamaguchi: “Though I’d be in an even better mood if it wasn’t you who was next to me…”

Okita: “The person who came up with keeping warm in winter with brazier really was great. The person who thought to keep them warm even in the winter by using a brazier was impressive.”

[4 mon for 1 piece = 80 yen

Okita-kun didn’t even have that much.]

Okita: “I’m thankful to whoever thought of it…I hope that person got enough credit for such a thing…”

Yamaguchi: “What’re you talking about?”

Okita: “……”

11/23

Okita: “Hey, you know…Kondō-sensei, right? He’s the young master of the Shieikan Dojo…”

Kondō: “Yamaguchi-kuun!”

Yamaguchi: (That energetic looking person, huh.)

Okita: “Recently…sensei has become a shut-in…He’s depressed and hasn’t been eating much…”

Yamaguchi: “W…Why!? A hikikomori…?”

Okita: “He was betrayed by the people from Kōbusho.”

In this era, the commoners who could follow the way of the sword as samurai was limited. Instructors of the Kobusho taught military arts to the sons of noble families...XXX

Okay, I’m sorry, I have no clue what the entire sentence is saying. This sentence is too long...Here is the original line: その中で最も多くの人が憧れそして狭き門なのが名門の子に武道を教える'講武所の教授職’

Okita: (With Kondo-sensei’s strength, he was unofficially offered a teaching job, but…)

(Past) Kondō: “Yes~! An unofficial offer!”

(Past) Okita: “Young master, congratulations!”

Okita: “He was cast aside because of his social status…”

12/23

Yamaguchi: “It’s not unusual that the efforts we put in, and everything we do, is decided at birth, is it?

Okita: “Well, then I wonder what we even live for…”

Yamaguchi: “Hey, Okita-kun…”

13/23

Yamaguchi: “You can’t be thinking…to increase your skills by fighting me…and assassinate the man who betrayed Kondō-san, are you? Why aren’t you answering? Why are you ignoring me!”

Okita: “But I haven’t even said anything, have I? No way~”

Yamaguchi: “If you intend to kill a person for such a reason, as your friend, I’ll stop you!”

Okita: “Hahaha. You’re so serious, Hajime-san…It was a joke. I wanted to surprise you a little. I won’t do anything that would make sensei even sadder.”

Yamaguchi: (That didn’t sound like a joke at all…)

14/23

Okita: “I just want sensei to be happy, that’s all…”

Yamaguchi: (What’s that all about…)

Yamaguchi: [I’m really not good at dealing with this person.

Yamaguchi: [I have never once wished for another’s happiness.]

Random Family Members: You’re the second son. You won’t succeed the family. You serve no use.

Yamaguchi: [This person next to me…]

Yamaguchi: “Let’s go to the grocer’s to buy eggs.”

Okita: “Huh? Eggs?”

Yamaguchi: “We’re going to pay Kondō-san a visit. Eggs are a must-have, right?”

Okita: “He’ll be overjoyed! Hajime-san really is nice after all~”

Yamaguchi: “No I’m not!”

15/23

Yamaguchi: (I’m not kind. I just happened to sympathize with Kondō-san, who had been prevented from doing what he wanted to do because of who he is. I’m just a no-good person who wants to be saved by sympathizing with such a person, who always seeks change, struggles, and is betrayed.)

Okita: “Ah. I’m not very good at this~…The shell got in…”

Yamaguchi: “Okita-kun, why is the egg in a teacup…?”

Okita: “Eh? We’re giving it to sensei, right?”

Yamaguchi: “Yeah, but when people are in a weakened state, isn’t that way too pungent!? As expected, if you don’t cook you’re useless at it.”

Okita: “Huh, a cookbook? Where did you pull that out from?”

Yamaguchi: “It’s popular on the streets.”

16/23

Yamaguchi: “You copy down the pages that interest you in a notebook like this one...It’s a hobby…”

Okita: “Ooh…how diligent of you, Hajime-san…so you like this sort of thing? Then, Hajime-san, please take the lead! I’ll be your assistant.”

Yamaguchi: “That’s fine, but…”

Okita: “Which should we make? Egg dishes are popular, so there are a lot of options…What’s this one?”

Fluffy Eggs

Banquet Food

Soy sauce

Eggs

Sugar

Yamaguchi: “Fluffy eggs, huh. You’re the kind of guy who’d write the name down if it interests you.”

Okita: “It says banquet food, so it’s the kind of cooking an important person would eat, right?”

[Fluffy Egg Souffle]

It’s a dish that was eaten by the third Tokugawa Shogun Iemitsu. It is also described in Tokaido Hizakurige.

Yamaguchi: “It’s not that difficult, is it? I’m an amateur at this stuff…I always eat out, after all.”

Okita: “But we can do it if it’s written in the cookbook! By the way, aren’t you the one who wrote it?”

Yamaguchi: “It sounds easy when you say it, but…It says mix until foam rises from the egg…?”

17/23

Okita: “Um, so I ‘take the dashi’…dashi? H…Hajime-san…! Um…it says dashi…what should I do…!?”

Yamaguchi: “You’re so troublesome. If it says dashi, it means katsuo. Damn it! How long am I supposed to stir this!”

Yamaguchi: “It’s over there. Use that.”

Okita: “Eh…This!? This is…?…I don’t understand. The katsuo I know is supposed to be fish…I’ve never eaten food with this tree like thing in it…”

Yamaguchi: “…What’re you doing, standing in a daze. You have to shave that!”

Okita: “If you know, then you do it, please~!”

Yamaguchi: “Alright already, give it!”

Okita: “Wah~”

Yamaguchi: “…After, put the boiled dashi in…Okita-kun, gently pour the eggs in please.”

Okita: “Okay!”

18/23

Yamaguchi: “I said gently…!”

Okita: “Sorry. I’m too rough…!”

Yamaguchi: “A guy like you really is…”

Okita: “I hope it’s delicious~~!”

Yamaguchi: “…We can’t really tell if it’s going to come out…”

Okita: “Eh? A failure…!? Even though we used three eggs already!?”

Yamaguchi: “Yeah, looks like it…my money, that is…”

[In this era, raw eggs cost 20 mon for 1 = 400 yen.]

Yamaguchi: “Lower the flame here…and put…the cover on…”

19/23

Yamaguchi: “A success? Failure…? It…it looks like we did it…?”

Okita: “It’s so fluffy~Let’s taste a bit.”

Yamaguchi: “Okay.”

The じー sound effect means “staaare”.

Yamaguchi: “Hurry up and eat!”

Okita: “Ow!”

Okita: “……Ah, HOT!”

Insert the sound you make when you try to blow/jostle hot food around in your mouth so it doesn’t burn you (though it usually does anyway). I have no clue how to render that sound in English.

Yamaguchi: “Haha, what an idiot.”

Both: “Delicious…!”

20/23

Okita: “This is the first time we’ve agreed with each other, isn’t it.”

Yamaguchi: “Well…so you mean that anyone who eats this would say it’s tasty…”

Okita: “If you keep talking, the fluff will dissolve…”

Yamaguchi: “He’s already gulping it down…It has an even simpler, lighter, and more soothing dashi flavor than than a rolled omelette.”

(?): “Even if you have no appetite this should…”

I think it’s Yamaguchi saying this, but I can’t be sure since the person talking trails off (Okita has a clear polite speech pattern, Yamaguchi is more casual).

Yamaguchi: Then, Kondō-sensei will surely…

Kondō: “Aah…it’s delicious. I’ll eat it…”

Okita: “I…I’m glad…”

21/23

Okita: “You’ve been losing weight more and more recently. You had me really worried!”

Kondō: “I’m sorry, Sōjirō…I’ll go to the dojo tomorrow.”Okita: “Really!?”

Yamaguchi: (Even though I’m the one who worked hard making it…)

Yamaguchi: [Even though I’m angry at Okita-kun for showing off, somehow I can’t hate him.]

Okita: “Hajime-san.”

22/23

Yamaguchi: “You again?”

Okita: “Hello. Ah, ever since then Kondo-sensei’s appetite has been returning little by little!”

Yamaguchi: “…Ah, is that so. That’s good.”

Okita: “Yup! He even started coming to the dojo again.”

Yamaguchi: “So you don’t need me anymore. Practice can be left up to sensei…”

Okita: “That’s not what I came here to talk about today.”

I have no clue what the next line says:

「脱・厄���者への足がかりになれそうなお話があるんです」

Yamaguchi: “Huh?”

23/23

Okita: “It’s called the ‘Rōshigumi’…um…I forgot the details! Anyway, come here for a sec!”

Yamaguchi: “H…hey!?”

Okita: “I had fun with you around, Hajime-san! So please come with me.”

Yamaguchi: “Wha…”

Yamaguchi: (What a selfish guy…!)Yamaguchi:

Get involved with merciless people, I jumped straight into the maelstrom of this era. Thinking back on it later, what happened up until now was only the beginning. At that time I still did not know the significance of it.

[gffa]

A bunch of replies and collating things because people are super sweet.  A lot of navel gazing about social interaction, my lizard brain, and talking to people/writing of fic recs. (Basically, the short version:  I have weird lizard brain thoughts!  But if I’ve recommended a fic of yours--or even if I haven’t!--you can be 100% sure I really, really will enjoy you popping up to say hi or thanks for the comment or whatever.)

updiddlyupup said: idk if it helps any, but you recced my fic recently and it actually gave me the motivation to get writing again after being stalled for a while. So, thanks :)

lalijinx said: I usually keep to myself online because I have anxiety, but I have to say I adore all your Star Wars posts! (You may have noticed me liking them all the time) I don’t have anyone irl to share all my Star Wars PT feelings so it’s nice to see someone else who also has the same emotions I do :)

prideandprejudiceandkittens said: always here to chat, if it’s cool with you I will continue to reach out to you with squeeing and such :)

theartisintheediting said: I also have anxiety and OCD and get upset over Anakin I feel u

w3-4r3-th3-f1r3 said: Yo hit me up for a chat anytime. I seriously get it with that whole “if I interact with anyone they’ll hate me” but I’ve been trying really hard to get over that so like…you’re welcome to talk to me anytime, basically, and I’m already cursed anyway. I can take your curses if you’re going to curse me, I don’t mind. :)

sunshinedaysforever answered: honestly your recs are the highlight of my wednesdays - I have a hard time sorting through all the fic out there, but I always find something in your recs (and I’m flattered to be sometimes included)! I’ve found a few faves that way, definitely :)

laurelseas answered: Only if you feel like it - I’ve read pretty much every SW fanfic by now, but sometimes I do see a new one of your recs, so that’s lovely

bellagothic answered: i used to go through them and read a thing or two at some point

aliaskallistei answered: Glad you’re feeling better! I’m a terrible interactor but just wanted to say that more recs would be wonderful.

sophiegaladheon answered: I definately find your posts useful when I’m looking for some new fic to read. You give great recs. So if it’s something you want to do know it will continue to be appreciated.

miseria-fortes-viros answered: I LOVE them, but whatever you decide is totally fine! :) I’ve actually been introduced to quite a few fics through your recs. They’ve been super helpful, thanks!

laureas76 reblogged this from darthluminescent and added:  Whenever I’m in the mood for a marathon of fanfiction instead of writing, I’ve looked to your blog. Thank you so much for the recommends you’ve done! I’d say if the fic recs are getting too be to much then please consider publishing every other week. Thanks again. You’ve been a life saver to my GB and my eyes!

kitsunesongs answered: They re VERY INTERESTING and useful and something I love, so please keep doing the recs! Maybe make a masterpost of your rec lists?

writegowrite answered: I’m so busy writing it’s hard for me to go out and find good ones on my own, so I appreciate them! But I know it’s got to be a lot of work for you and would understand if you didn’t pick them back up.

the-queenmaker answered: I enjoy them a great deal (:

I’m putting these all together because a) I want to and b) to say thank you for all the really sweet, lovely replies. I spent a fair amount of time thinking about this whole thing, about fannish interaction and level of involvement in fandom and my own emotional investment, where the lines for each of these things should be drawn and what I wanted vs what was good for me.  It was a whole lot of navel gazing stuff, but when you have fucked up brain chemistry, sometimes these things chew on your thoughts more than you’d like. I’ve been doing fic recs for a long time, probably at least 12 years now, if not closer to 15.  I enjoy reading more than I do writing (it takes me so long to get comfortable with the character voices that I haven’t been able to broach writing SW fic yet) and I have only so much energy for things and it’s a lot more satisfying to read a 20k fic than it is to write my own 5k fic. But because I’ve been doing them so long, they’ve come to have more weight in my mind than maybe they once did, they’ve started to become part of The Thing Moonlight Does In Fandom and I use them as a way to encourage more of what I want to see, a way to spill out my feelings when I’ve read something I really liked, as a way to share what I thought was really neat.  I have a ton of social anxiety, so it’s really hard for me to approach someone first, hence creating this space (ie, the recs) where I can gush and if you come over to me, then I know, yes, you do want to talk to me. It’s probably unfair, I know a lot other people are nervous about interacting with someone for quite possibly the same exact reasons I am!  But the lizard brain does what it does and I try to get around it by being as approachable as I can be.  But I keep thinking, well, okay, if I say enough thoughtful things, authors will come say hi and thanks for the rec and then I can go HI I LOVE YOU LET’S BE FRIENDS HERE’S THREE MORE PARAGRAPHS ON THAT THING YOU WROTE THAT I LOVED.  Look, I’m doing my best to get around my social anxiety and my OCD (if I comment on your fic before establishing a rapport, I’m cursing you! IT HAS HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES, my lizard brain tells me), so don’t judge me, okay.   *g* Anyway, I think I was rolling my way towards a point here somewhere.  I don’t know if I was fishing for compliments, per se, (idk I didn’t think so but if I was I’m going to work really hard at not feeling embarrassed or guilty about it) but I think it was honestly more about needing to feel connected a bit, to know that I wasn’t just screaming into the void.  And I had to really look at myself and accept that maybe that was true, that I had to be okay with it (or okay with walking away) if it was true. This is just... a thing... that happens with me every couple of years, but I’m getting better at reaching out, at going OKAY WHAT DO YOU WANT to myself, trying to figure out what I want from myself, possibly from other people, what the solution is that would make me happy/content again, instead of how I just used to wallow in those feelings and wait for someone else to fix my feelings for me. (Look, there’s a reason I relate to Anakin so much, okay.) And everyone’s very kind messages really helped me feel super flattered and you were all so kind and I think... I mean, even more than the compliments (WHICH ARE SUPER NICE I’M KEEPING THEM FOREVER THEY’RE MINE NOW) I so very much appreciated the reaching out and that sense of connection.  I read every message and was warmed by them, every single one of them, genuinely each one of them.  I don’t need it constantly, but once in awhile I do need a little WAH TALK TO ME moment, I guess.  *wry* As for the future... well, okay, look.  I’ve been doing this so long I’m not sure I even know how to stop doing recs, it’d be pretty hard for me.  I imagine, even when I genuinely felt like NO I’M GOING HOME there probably wasn’t really that much chance that I would stop, if only to switch to a different place/fandom/whatever.  But I calmed the hell down, let my feelings simmer and then vent, and tried going back to read some fic I was pretty sure I was going to like and just kind of... told myself, well, even if I only have a handful left to read and then no more Star Wars fic ever again, then so be it.  This calms my brain down, but, honestly, I’m pretty sure I’ll still be finding things to read from this point forward anyway. So, no recs this week (well, obv. since it’s Thursday now) but probably next week I’ll pick them back up again.  (And again thank you for all the kind messages, sometimes a person just needs a week to be a mess and have people say nice things, YOU ARE ALL THE KINDEST.  ♥)

[the-warmest-hands]

Week

Monday: unfortunately woke up too late to do laps; biked to botanical garden and drew stuff. Returned home

Tuesday: laps, botanical garden, returned home, baked snickerdoodles with orange zest. Don’t like them.

Wednesday: despite claiming to not like the orange-zest snickerdoodles, all but two have been consumed. It hasn’t even been 24 hours since they were created. That aside, today was: laps, solidworks, gym, eating dinner at 4pm like an old person, and now I’m chillaxing with this Great British Baking Show and more solidworks.

(ikea rissna table)

Also, my trackball mouse arrived yesterday and it has been amazing so far. FANTASTIC. I can never go back.

Update:

This took forever to make because I was watching Great British Baking

Also just noticed that I fucked up with that center rectangle. bah.

Thursday: Turdsday. Skipped laps because my body is brutalized from gym yesterday; also, I’m out of bike clothing. Thus, did laundry, and ate nothing (grocery store did not have oatmeal in stock, and I’m also out of oatmeal), dicked around on solidworks for a bit, then biked out to sfbg to draw rhododendrons. Stupidly checked my phone because my mother texted me, which killed the mood. Was grumpy for the whole session as a result. Everything I did looks terrible. Gave up after three sketches and picked up some carrots, cilantro, and junk food at New May Wah, then biked back home.

Friday: wait whoa is thursday over already. also my body still feels like hell so i’m being a baby about it and skipping laps

saw this bowl while perusing design blogs so i made it in solidworks

baked up some hamantaschen as well. filled them with just raspberry jam so that was good, but too thin. it boiled over and leaked hahahaha

Saturday: polo field is closed on weekends? or it was closed when i got there

so i just biked up and down the slight incline from the fakelake to crossover drive thrice. now i’m off to sfbg

Edit: back from volunteering at the nursery. Mostly dealt with repotting/potting succulents propagated from cuttings. IT WAS SUPER FUN and I got plants from the free pile.

yay. but also all of these plants require *full sun* and i have none of that. perhaps I will put them on the roof.

made more hamantaschen, filled with raspberry jam and orange zest. orange zest was a little bitter, but made the filling a bit thicker, so less leakage.

Edit: dinner with t and x, then them suffering/watching me play factorio for like 2 hours and accomplishing 0 things A+

Also I tried to put rice flour in the hamantaschen filling but it was poorly received. Raspberry jam + orange zest was the winner.

Sunday: don’t remember what I did but I’m sure it was sad. oh i played guitar for many hours and did not improve

Monday: sad. dicked around on Unity

Tuesday: sad. baked bread. got stuck on something with my unity project so i mocked up an alternative solution in 2d with dat p5js. good old p5js yo. ate half the loaf of bread. also made pasta sauce using some celery i have in the fridge + a can of corn (because why not man. why not. i’m out of mushrooms)

Bread was a tad gummy? Does this mean underbaked? The crust was browned nicely, though. I’m not sure.

Wednesday: dragged my ass out of bed at the not-ungodly hour of 7:45, did laps, then returned to change out of bike clothing and scarf down some leftovers, then biked out to volunteer at nursery, where I had a dope time repotting succulents and cacti, and then squashing snails. Fellow volunteers took me in under their wing (because ??why??) and reawakened my fear of becoming friends with old people (old people have a higher probability of untimely(timely?) death. Also everyone volunteering at 10am on a weekday is old, which forces me to reveal to everyone that I have no job. Kool. I’ll be back for more of this on Friday.

After volunteering, I biked to the gym, and did gym, so *boom* I can check that off. Then returned home to eat food. Started biga for italian bread, and made some cookies with mint extract. I’ve added mint extract to stuff before but it’s never very fragrant. It was also not fragrant this time. It just makes me feel like I’m slightly high or I’ve put on mint lip balm or I’m making out with someone who just brushed their teeth/who has put on mint lip balm. Ugh. I need to nail down that mint flavor.

Anyway I still ate most of the cookies. Will store the rest for tomorrow.

Thursday: finished the cookies. Also had dinner with Greg and Xo which was nice. Then Greg pestered me while I was trying to go to sleep.

Friday: Greg pestered me while I was trying to not wake up. Ushered Greg out of my house to the google bus. Then skipped laps (yeah whatevz) and went to volunteering where I repotted some non-succulents and also learned to do cuttings. Then drew horribly for a few hours and finally conceded and went home.

Saturday/Sunday: depression. baked almond butter cookies (because i was never gonna eat the rest of this almond butter)

Monday: laps

Tuesday: laps, baked pepparkakor (forgot to halve my baking soda sooooo there is bitterness. gotta mix it in with a batch of sodaless dough............ugh.)

Wednesday: volunteering (replanted seedlings), gym, walked home because I was lazy, while on phone with Emily (highlight of day)

Thursday: dreamed that i was fixing my pepparkakor dough, got up, browsed grocery store for spices (dreaming of some kachori), returned, fixed pepparkakor dough (we’ll see in a minute how it goes), now i’m gonna bike out and search for more spices: - garam masala - carom seed - fennel seed - amchur powder

might have to go out to fillmore to get some of these, maybe. why isn’t there a jackson heights equivalent in sf

god. sometimes i miss ny because i lived so close to everything. i guess i live equally close to everything in sf because sf is so tiny

fine

i’m listening to sky ferreira on repeat

Edit: so actually I biked to Schubert’s because I wanted to try their prinsesstårta but then realized I left my wallet at home. So I just headed to sfbg to watercolor rhododendrons. Yo I suck at watercolor again. argh. lack of practice will do that.

returned home after sitting still for a few hours (very uncomfortable), then baked buttermilk biscuits and scones.

Friday: it’s raining. baaaaaah. skipped laps and volunteering because i melt in the rain idfk. watching a very very detailed but boring youtube series on C programming because for literally five years now i’ve been “meaning to learn C” ok. yeah. i literally don’t care about anything this man is saying. i was watching dan shiffman on coding train while eating my scone, which was cool and fun. because high level programming idk i have no appreciation for *real stuff* like fkin memory which is what is happening right now in this video. i would never concern myself with memory because SON someone else wrote something to deal w it for me ugahgghasdlasdjfadg

this is why i am not a programmer

this was so boring that i paused and am not sure i can ever return to this