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[gojoluvs]

J'adore

⤿ Satoru Gojo × reader

summary, “her world turned upside down when her boss announced that he was the father of her unborn child. As she navigates her new life as a wife and mother, she finds herself falling for her husband's best friend, Suguru Geto. But is it love she feels? or just a desperate attempt to be noticed by someone other than her husband..”

Warning/ tags; angst, profanity, smoking, cursing, smut, violence.

Genre; angst, infidelity, jik, Gojou × reader, modern au!, business au!

Notes: the tag-list is open if you'd like to be mentioned everytime i update just send me a message.

7k words

previous chapter ⤏ next chapter

"Welcome Mrs. Gojou, will you take a seat please?" The brown-haired woman gestured towards the chair in front of her desk.

You followed her instructions and sat down, taking in the sterile, white room around you.

The woman, who you assumed was the ultrasound technician, grabbed her gloves and a bottle of hand sanitizer, making sure to clean her hands before beginning the procedure.

As she prepared the ultrasound machine, you couldn't help but feel a mix of nerves and excitement. This was your first ultrasound, and you couldn't wait to see your baby for the first time.

The technician, sensing your anxiousness, smiled and said, "Don't worry, everything will be just fine."

You nodded and took a deep breath as you slowly laid down on the ultrasound table. The technician applied some gel to your stomach and began moving the wand around, searching for a clear image of your baby. As she did so, she asked, "How have you been feeling, Y/N?"

You smiled and replied, "A little tired and nauseous, but overall, I'm doing well.”

As you settled into Satoru's lavish house, the only person you could really call a friend was his maid. She was kind and always made sure you were well taken care of. However, Satoru had a different idea of taking care of you.

He insisted that you stop working because, for him, he made over 7 figures as the CEO of one of the most well-known stock markets. He wanted you to focus on being a housewife and living a life of luxury.

You had never been one to rely on a man for financial stability, but Satoru's charm and wealth was hard to resist. Plus, he seemed genuinely caring and attentive towards you. However, as you spent more time in his house, you couldn't help but feel a sense of emptiness and lack of purpose.

As she squeezed the cold gel onto your stomach, you couldn't help but think about your old job and the satisfaction it gave you.

You missed the feeling of being independent and working towards your own goals. But for now, you were stuck in this luxurious prison, under the control of a man who inherited his wealth and business from his father.

You couldn't help but wonder if this was the life you truly wanted, or if you were just settling for the convenience and comfort that Satoru provided. As the cold gel seeped into your skin, you couldn't shake off the feeling that something was missing.

Although you were excited about your upcoming marriage, there was also a sense of unease and disappointment. You couldn't help but wish that your fiancee, Satoru, could be with you during this time.

But the reality was that he was always busy with work, his success as the youngest CEO in Japan consuming his every waking moment.

You often found yourself alone in bed at night, the emptiness and coldness a constant reminder of his absence. Despite the lavish and extravagant lifestyle that came with being engaged to such a successful man, you couldn't help but feel like you were missing out on something more important - quality time and genuine love.

After all, your relationship with Satoru was an arranged marriage, forced upon you after you became pregnant with his child. And as much as you tried to please his family and win their acceptance, there were always those who looked down upon you and your situation.

But deep down, you couldn't help but resent Satoru for his lack of affection and attention towards you, and you couldn't help but wonder if you were truly happy in this arrangement.

“If you can see here,” She grabbed her monitor turning it to face you. You knew her as one of Satoru’s friends. “Your baby is barely a tiny embryo, about the size of a pea.”

You smiled, seeing the small fetus on the monitor. You wished that Satoru could be here with you. Holding your hand and caressing your head but instead here you were. By yourself watching as the screen showed the small heartbeat of your baby.

After what felt like both the longest and shortest 20 minutes of your life, the technician turned off the machine and smiled at you. "Everything looks great, Y/N. Your baby is healthy and growing right on track."

As you stared at the screen, you couldn't help but feel a sense of doubt and insecurity. Would your fiancee ever truly see you as his partner, or would you always just be a means to an end? The ultrasound picture in your hand seemed to mock you, a reminder of the life growing inside you that would bind you to this man forever.

But deep down, you knew the truth. Satoru was still in love with Asami, his beautiful and practical secretary. You had never been properly introduced to her, always feeling like an outsider in your own relationship. You couldn't even go back to work, as Utahime would constantly update you on everything happening in the office - including Asami's constant presence and the expensive gifts she received from Satoru.

The constant flowers and expensive gifts Satoru's lover received from your fiancée only added insult to injury. While you never expected extravagant gifts, you never even received a simple gesture of affection from Satoru. He never touched you, never kissed you goodbye, and never gave you a hug. Whenever you would try to connect with him by asking about his work or if he was hungry, he would give you the cold shoulder.

Despite not being a great cook, you made an effort to prepare breakfast for Satoru like a professional. You whipped up pancakes and served them on a platter, hoping he would enjoy them. But time and time again, he would make an excuse about being "late" for work and leave without even taking a bite.

It seemed like all your efforts to connect with Satoru were overlooked and unappreciated. The only person who seemed to enjoy your company was his maid, who was kind and always treated you with respect. It was clear that your fiancée was not only mean and an asshole, but also had no interest in building a loving and fulfilling relationship with you.

“Would you like me to print the picture for you?” She asked her soft brown eyes boring into you. She was absolutely gorgeous aswell, her noticable eyebags bringing her features out.

“Yes please,” Wiping off the gel she got up, throwinf away the piece of paper before leaving the room.

You sat there, the ac blowing. Placing a hand on your stomach you couldn’t believe you were actually having a baby with your boss.

You never really had a serious relationship with anyone, always having flings. Yet you found yourself making out with your boss after his promotion party.

There was something about the way his eyes stared hungrily at you, maybe it was the liquor that made you two sleep together but now here you were. Sitting down awaiting for a picture of your baby.

Fidgeting with the button of your jeans you waited nervously. Hoping that maybe this would mean a new opportunity to be with Satoru.

"Alright, everything seems to be good, here you go," said the doctor entering the room with a small picture of your ultrasound. She handed it to you with a warm smile, and you eagerly grabbed it, feeling a sense of joy and excitement wash over you.

"Thank you so much," you said, beaming with happiness. You grabbed your purse and quickly made your way out of the room, eager to share the news with your fiancee. As you hurried down the stairs and out of the building, you could feel your heart racing with anticipation.

Your fiancee was waiting for you in his black range rover, looking as handsome as ever. You opened the car door and climbed inside, a bit out of breath from the stairs. "What took you so long?" he asked, side eying you with a hint of annoyance.

"I'm sorry, I just had to grab something," you replied, handing him the picture of your ultrasound. But instead of sharing in your excitement, he just scoffed and spat out, "I'm not looking at that." He carelessly threw the picture back at you, his words stinging like a slap in the face.

You felt your heart sink as you looked down at the picture, tears welling up in your eyes. You couldn't believe the callousness and lack of empathy in his words. But you knew deep down that this was just a glimpse of the kind of person he truly was.

"Listen, I'm going to take you back home," your fiancé said, his voice cold and condescending. "Mina has a dress ready for you. There's going to be a business party and I want you to be on your best behavior." He licked his lips suggestively and pressed the button to roll down the car window.

You felt a knot form in your stomach as you nervously played with the picture of your ultrasound. You knew your husband's business parties were nothing more than excuses for him to flirt with his colleagues and show off his trophy wife.

"A business party? Will everyone from the office be there?" you asked, forcing yourself to look at him. His eyes were fixed on the road, not bothering to spare a glance at you.

"Of course they will," he replied, his tone condescending. "And I expect you to make a good impression. We don't want anyone knowing our personal business, do we?"

You bit your lip, resisting the urge to argue. You knew it would be pointless. Your fiancé always got what he wanted, and you were just a pawn in his game. But as he continued to talk about the party, you couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that had settled in your chest.

“There will be an after party as well, but you won't be attending since,” he paused for a moment, his eyes flickering down to your stomach before returning to the road. “You're pregnant.”

"Just because I'm carrying your child doesn't mean anything, Satoru." You spat back, angrily putting your picture inside your purse.

"I'm taking Asami with me instead. You can stay home and rest." You glared at him, feeling hurt and furious at his insensitivity. How dare he take his assistant and ex-lover to the after party instead of you? Your blood boiled with anger and resentment towards your fiancee.

"Are you fucking kidding me? Why would you need your assistant there and not me? I'm your fucking fiancee, Satoru," you snapped, unable to contain your frustration.

"She's not just an assistant, Y/N," Satoru replied sharply. "And what did I say about talking back to me?" He gave you a warning look, his gaze boring into you. You wanted to scream and punch him for the nerve of not taking you, but you knew it would only make things worse.

"You know what? I don't even want to go to the stupid after party," you retorted, crossing your arms over your chest. "I'll stay here and enjoy some peace and quiet while you go gallivanting with your little plaything." You could feel the tears welling up in your eyes, hurt and anger mixing together to form a bitter concoction.

The more you thought about it, the more resentful you became. It was bad enough that Asami was his assistant, but the fact that they used to be lovers only added salt to the wound. You couldn't believe he would choose her over you. It felt like a slap in the face.

Satoru's face hardened and he clenched his jaw. "Don't you dare talk about Asami like that. She's just my assistant."

"Oh, I'm sure she is," you scoffed, rolling your eyes. "Just like how she was just your lover, right?"

Satoru's expression turned dark as he glared at you. "Watch your tone, she is a professional and a valuable member of our team."

"Valuable in more ways than one, I'm sure," you retorted, your jealousy and anger fueling your words.

"Stop with your baseless accusations and insecurities," Satoru shot back, his voice dripping with irritation. "Asami and I have a strictly professional relationship, unlike you and your constant mood swings."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" you exclaimed, struggling to contain your anger. "You have no respect for me, even though I am pregnant with your child."

Satoru rolled his eyes and slammed the car door shut as he pulled into the driveway. You followed suit, opening the car door and slamming it with a loud thud. This man had no regard for your feelings or well-being, constantly belittling and disrespecting you.

As you entered the house, you could feel the tension in the air. You placed your things on the counter and grabbed the ultrasound picture, placing it on the fridge with a small magnet. You couldn't help but smile at the small embryo growing inside you, a glimmer of hope in the midst of your tumultuous relationship.

"Ms. Y/N," your maid appeared behind you, her gentle hands taking your coat and bag from you before leading you to your bedroom. You followed her, grateful for the brief respite from Satoru's intense gaze.

Satoru entered after you, his confident steps echoing in the hallway. He placed a hand on his tie before undoing it, his eyes never leaving yours. You closed the bedroom door, letting out a shaky breath as you leaned against it. Unbuttoning your jeans, you let them fall to the floor before walking to your bathroom. The cold marble floor felt refreshing against your bare feet.

"Um, Mina, can you please have my things out? We'll be leaving soon," you said, forcing a smile as you silently closed the door behind you.

Being away from Satoru's presence for a few minutes felt like a weight lifted off your shoulders. You began undressing the rest of yourself, catching a glimpse of your reflection in the mirror. Your eyes were drawn to the tiny bump on your stomach, only six weeks along but already noticeable.

You open the glass door, feeling a cool breeze hit your skin as you step into the shower. You test the water temperature with your hand and adjust it to your liking before stepping fully under the stream. Grabbing the shampoo bottle, you slowly pour some onto your hand and massage it into your hair, relishing the feeling of cleanliness and freshness.

But as the water runs down your body, you can't help but feel a sense of unease. This whole thing feels wrong. You place both of your hands on your face, the water washing away any traces of tears. You hate this. You hate being away from home, from your family. Even though the only family you have left is your father.

The shower is quick, scrubbing your body with a loofah and doing all your essentials before stepping out. You wrap your body in a fluffy towel and slip on your slippers, walking out of the restroom and into your bedroom. The familiar scent of your own room comforts you, but it also serves as a reminder of how far away you are from home. You long for the familiarity and warmth of your family, but for now, this temporary living situation will have to do.

Your eyes were drawn to the beautiful dark red gown laid out on your bed. Walking towards it, you couldn't resist the urge to touch the fabric and feel the soft silk through the fingertips of your fingers. "Mina!" You yelled, quickly grabbing your underwear and putting it on before your maid came in.

Mina's face was slightly flushed as she entered your room and bowed, closing the door behind her. You could tell she was a bit flustered from seeing your body half-naked, but she remained professional as she awaited your command. "Do you think you can help me get into the dress?" You asked kindly, picking up the gown and passing it to her.

With a nod, Mina approached you and carefully helped you into the dress. She adjusted the straps and made sure it fit you perfectly, like it was made for you. You couldn't help but feel like a princess as you admired yourself in the mirror. "Thank you, Mina," you said with a smile.

Mina then handed you a pair of white gloves and you slid them onto your arms. Mina bowed once again, ready to leave and let you finish getting ready.

But before she could, you stopped her and said, “Please Mina, Help me with my hair will you?” You asked kindly, watching as she made you sit on your vanity, excusing herself for a moment to get the tools and supplies she needed you stared at yourself in the mirror.

As you sat in front of your vanity, Mina carefully brushed out your hair and began styling it into an elegant updo. You couldn't believe how kind she was being, helping you with something as simple as your hair. You were used to doing everything on your own, but Mina's presence made you feel cared for and pampered.

She applied makeup and added finishing touches to your hair, you couldn't help but stare at your reflection. You looked like a completely different person, someone who belonged in a fairytale or a fancy ball. This was all so new to you, as you were used to wearing work clothes or comfortable sweats.

But you had to admit, you looked stunning. And for a moment, you allowed yourself to feel like a princess, basking in the luxury of it all. But deep down, you knew this wasn't really you. You were just a simple person, and all of this was foreign to you.

Mina's hands moved quickly, expertly adorning you with various pieces of jewelry. "We have this pearl necklace, it brings out your collarbones more, and this one," she said, holding up a red jeweled necklace, "it brings out your facial features, especially your eye color."

As she placed the necklace around your neck, you couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was. Her short bobbed hair and dark green eyes were mesmerizing. You couldn't resist smiling at her as she finished her task.

"Which one do you think is better, Mina?" you asked, admiring yourself in the mirror.

Mina seemed taken aback by your question, stuttering slightly before recomposing herself. She carefully chose the red necklace and placed it back on you, clipping the clasp in place. "The red jewel really makes you look like a princess, Miss Gojo," she said with a smile as you turned to face her.

You couldn't help but feel grateful for Mina's help. Her attention to detail and eye for beauty made you feel like royalty. "Thank you, Mina," you said, genuinely touched by her kindness.

Mina smiled back and gave you a small nod before stepping back to admire her work. "You look stunning," she said, her voice filled with sincerity.

As you looked at yourself in the mirror, you couldn't help but feel confident and beautiful, thanks to Mina's expert styling. You were lucky to have her as your friend and maid.

The whole time you spent gossiping and getting to learn about Mina's life, you couldn't help but admire her. She was truly a sweet soul, always kind and hardworking despite being in a low-paying job as your maid. Her resilience and positive attitude were something you looked up to. As you walked through your luxurious home, you couldn't help but feel guilty.

Mina deserved a better life, one with more opportunities and less back-breaking labor. Your heels clicked on the marble floor, a reminder of the stark contrast between your lives. As you grabbed your designer purse and said your goodbyes to Mina, you couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility towards her.

"Please, take this time off and get some rest," you insisted, knowing how hard she worked every day. You watched as she reluctantly agreed, and as you walked out of your home, you couldn't shake off the feeling that you wished you could do more for her.

Closing the door behind you as you walked out of your house, you felt a sense of tension in the air. Satoru was standing on the driveway, his arms pushed into the pockets of his black suit, his back leaning against his sleek Mercedes Benz. As you approached him, his gaze was fixed on you, his eyes scanning every inch of your body. You could feel his intense stare, making you self-conscious about how you looked.

You were wearing a stunning dress that hugged your body perfectly, accentuating your curves in all the right places. Your face was glowing, and your collarbones were prominently displayed, making you feel both beautiful and vulnerable under his gaze.

But Satoru's reaction is what surprises you. His mouth slightly agape, he looks like he's seeing you for the first time. You pass by him, unable to resist a small smile as you hear him let out a soft sigh.

"Don't look at me like that," you say, trying to hide the blush creeping up your cheeks.

You reach for the passenger door and open it, climbing into the car and trying to ignore the intensity of Satoru's gaze. "Like what?" he asks, his voice low and husky.

"Like you've never seen me before," you reply, trying to keep your voice steady.

Satoru doesn't respond, but you can feel the tension between you. It's been building up since you walked out of the house, and now it's almost palpable in the air. You can't help but wonder what he's thinking, what he wants to say.

Finally, he opens the car door and gets in, his eyes never leaving yours. The drive to your destination is filled with a charged silence, the tension between you growing with each passing minute. But for now, you just sit in the car, the only sound the quiet hum of the engine and the beating of your heart.

Ignoring his presence, your gaze shifted to the window, taking in the familiar scenery outside. The trees rustled in the gentle breeze, and the sun was just starting to set, casting a warm glow over the quiet neighborhood. You watched as he backed the car out of the driveway and onto the road, his expression unreadable.

The car ride was filled with an uncomfortable silence, broken only by the occasional glance exchanged between the two of you. His hair was slicked back, accentuating his sharp jawline, and you couldn't help but notice the engagement ring on his finger as he turned the wheel to take a sharp turn. Your own ring felt heavy on your finger, and you couldn't stop fidgeting with it nervously.

Sitting in the luxurious car, dressed in a designer gown and adorned with expensive jewelry, you couldn't believe that this was your life now. Just a few weeks ago, you were a struggling employee, barely making ends meet and working for a difficult boss. You didn't know that he would be the man you would be engaged to, or that you would end up pregnant with his child. And now, you were about to marry him in an arranged marriage, all because of that one night of passion.

Looking out the window, you couldn't help but think about the life you could have had if you didn't get pregnant. Maybe you would have met someone else, someone who you could have married and had a family with. But instead, you were now a part of one of the most powerful and influential families in the country. The Gojo family was treated like royalty, and you were now going to become a part of it.

This was the man you would spend the rest of your life with, and it all started with one unexpected pregnancy.

Stepping out of the car, the bustling sounds of the city surrounded you. Gojo, your fiancé, opened the door for you and grabbed your hand, placing it gently on his forearm. The luxurious car door closed with a satisfying thud and Gojo handed the keys to the parking attendant who quickly took his car to the reserved section of the party.

Outside of the building, a sea of paparazzi awaited your arrival, their cameras flashing and voices yelling. You held onto your elegant dress, carefully making your way up the stairs as Gojo led the way. As soon as the paparazzi spotted your fiancé, they erupted into a frenzy, shouting his name and begging for him to look at their cameras. You held onto Gojo's arm tightly, feeling slightly overwhelmed by all the attention.

"Gojo! Over here!" they yelled, their voices competing for his attention. He pulled you closer, shielding you from the flashes and noise before finally stopping to pose for a photo, much to the delight of the paparazzi.

Satisfied with your appearance, you confidently walked over to the entrance of the grand building. As you stepped inside, you were met with the grandeur of the foyer - a large chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a warm and inviting glow over the space.

The sound of lively conversations and laughter filled the air as you made your way through the crowded hallway, passing clusters of elegantly dressed men and women. You couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation as you walked further into the party, the energy and sophistication of the room enveloping you. Everywhere you looked, there were people engaged in lively conversations, sipping on glasses of champagne or wine, and admiring each other's luxurious gowns and suits.

Satoru cleared his throat once he spotted Asami, wearing a tight long black dress. She scurried towards you, glancing at you before smiling for a split second. Her smile seemed fake, as if she was trying too hard to appear friendly. You could feel your blood boiling as she placed her hand on his bicep and turned to look at you.

You could see the tension in her eyes as she tried to maintain her composed facade. "Do you mind if I take him for a moment?" she asked, her voice dripping with fake sweetness.

Your eyes narrowed at her before turning to look at your fiancé's expression. He seemed uncomfortable, almost avoiding eye contact with you. "I don't give a fuck what you do," you spat back, your anger and frustration rising.

You couldn't believe this woman had the audacity to try and take your fiancé away from you, even just for a moment. You walked away from the ex lovers, the sound of your heels clicking against the floor echoing in the hallway.

You walked away, Feeling Asami's eyes on you, almost like she was waiting for you to lash out at her. But you didn't want to give her the satisfaction. You didn't want to stoop to her level and engage in her petty games. You rolled your eyes at them, walking away and distancing yourself from the drama. You didn't want to deal with her bullshit, especially not while you were pregnant and already dealing with enough emotions. Maybe it was the pregnancy hormones, or maybe it was just the fact that you couldn't stand her, but you were glad to have walked away from that toxic situation.

You were standing next to a table in the corner of the room, watching the crowd of people mingling and laughing. You let out a sigh, feeling a bit left out. You really did wish you could drink right now, but you knew you couldn't. Not with the baby growing inside of you. Suddenly, a girl approached your table, placing a cup of champagne on it before turning to look at you. She was wearing a beautiful white dress, her long brown hair cascading down her back.

"Are you the new fiancée of Satoru?" she asked, watching as you turned to face her. You were a bit taken aback by her sudden question. How did she know who you were? And why was she approaching you?

"Yes, who may you be?" you asked politely, trying to hide your confusion. The girl smiled at you, her eyes showing slight signs of exhaustion.

"Sorry, we met earlier," she explained. She extended her hand out, waiting for you to grab it and shake it. You smiled back and shook her hand, trying to place where you might have met her before.

"I was the ultrasound technician who did your appointment earlier today," she said, taking a sip of the champagne. It all clicked in your mind now. This was the kind woman who had performed your ultrasound and showed you the image of your little bundle of joy.

"It's nice to meet you, Ms. Ieiri," you said, grateful for her introduction. You couldn't help but notice the slight bags under her eyes, a sign of her long and tiring day.

"Please, call me Shoko," she said with a warm smile, retreating her hand and taking another sip of champagne. You couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and familiarity with her, and you were grateful for her presence in this unfamiliar gathering.

Thats when it happened, completely star struck. You instantly recognized him, Suguru Geto. The man who partnered up with your fiancee for one of the most known stock exchange in Japans history.

He walked into the room with confidence, his tall frame and sharp features immediately drawing the attention of everyone in the room. He wore a sleek black suit, his hair styled in a neat bun with a few strands of hair falling out to frame his face. His dark eyes scanned the room, his presence commanding attention and respect.

As he approached your table, he had a warm and gentle smile on his face. He placed his glass of champagne down and turned to look at you. His eyes scanned over your body, taking in every detail. You could feel his gaze on you, causing your heartbeat to quicken. His eyes stopped at your face, lingering on your lips before looking back up to meet your gaze.

"Absolutely gorgeous," he said, his deep voice sending shivers down your spine. He reached for your hand and brought it up to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to the back of your hand. Your heart fluttered at his touch, and you couldn't help but feel a sense of electricity between the two of you. He placed your hand back down with a smile, his eyes never leaving yours.

You couldn't believe it. This had to be a dream, a cruel trick your brain was playing on you. But as the music filled your ears and Suguru's hand gently rested on the small of your back, you couldn't help but feel like you were in a fairytale.

"I- Uhm," you stuttered, feeling your heart race as you tried to recompose yourself. "Thank you."

Suguru's gaze never wavered, his eyes locked on yours as he introduced himself. "I'm Suguru Geto," he said, his voice low and smooth.

"I'm Y/N. Y/N L/N," you replied, feeling a blush spread across your cheeks as he looked at you with a smile. You couldn't believe you were standing next to him, the man you've admired from afar for so long.

"Would you like to dance Y/N?" Suguru asked, his voice low and filled with admiration as he looked at you. His dark hair fell over his intense gaze, making you feel like the only person in the room.

"Me?" You stuttered, taken aback by his request. The Suguru Geto, known for his aloofness and cold demeanor, was asking you to dance with him at this fancy party. And to make it even more surprising, no one else was dancing.

With a nod, Suguru stepped closer to you. "Of course you, who else?" His hand reached out to gently rest on your back as he led you towards the dance floor.

As the music continued to play, Suguru's hand moved from your back to intertwine with yours. You couldn't help but feel a flutter in your stomach as he led you to the dance floor, his touch sending shivers down your spine. The steamy tension between the two of you was palpable as you swayed to the music, your bodies moving in perfect harmony.

He turned you to face him, you could feel the heat radiating from his body, making your heart race even faster. His hand clasped yours tightly, his fingers entwined with yours as he put his other hand on your back, pulling you close to him. You couldn't help but inhale sharply as you felt his cold palms touch your skin, the contrast between his cool touch and the warmth of his body sending your senses into overdrive.

As you looked away, you noticed people beginning to stare at the two of you, their eyes filled with curiosity and perhaps a hint of envy. But you were too lost in the moment, too entranced by Suguru's touch and the way his eyes seemed to burn into yours, to care about anyone else. You could feel the heat rising to your cheeks as you became acutely aware of the intense gaze he had fixed on you.

And then, as if he could sense your discomfort, he spinned you around, his hand on your back guiding your movements as he pulled you even closer. Your dress flowed slightly as he moved, his eyes never leaving yours. And then, with a mischievous smile on his face, he leaned in close and whispered in your ear, his warm breath sending shivers down your spine. "Ignore them," he murmured, his voice low and seductive.

You nodded as you continued to dance in a slow pace, others beginning to join you aswell. Before you knew it most of the people at the party where dancing along with their partners. Smiles and giggles filled the room.

You were smiling at Suguru, your heart beating with excitement as he spun you around on the dance floor. Suddenly, you felt yourself being snatched away from his grasp, and your eyes landed on your fiancée’s face that was full of anger.

His jaw was clenched and his eyes were narrowed as he looked at Suguru, who was standing there staring at you and Satoru. Raising his eyebrows, Satoru cocked his head towards his best friend and said, “So we’re letting other men touch you now?”

You scoffed at his possessiveness as he placed his hand on your back, his nails scratching your skin as he pulled you close. You could feel his muscles tense as you danced with him, maintaining eye contact in defiance. “So now you want to start paying attention to me after I’m seen dancing with another guy?” you said, shaking your head in disbelief. As you spun around, your hands extended outwards, and he did a half turn, pulling you back against his chest as you swayed to the rhythm of the music.

Even though you were dancing with his best friend, you couldn't help but feel drawn to your fiancée's touch. His strong arms wrapped around you, his breath on your neck, and the way he effortlessly moved with you made it hard to resist.

"Your my fiancée," he said, his voice low and filled with desire. As he leaned in closer, you could feel his hot breath on the back of your head, causing goosebumps to rise on your skin. His chest was rising and falling with each breath, and you couldn't help but feel drawn to him. "And he's my best friend," he added, his gaze intense as he looked into your eyes.

"And? You were off with Asami doing god knows what," you huffed, crossing your arms over your chest as you turned away from him. But he quickly grabbed your arm and spun you back around to face him. His hands trailed over your body, causing shivers to run down your spine as you fought to keep your composure. But the music and the buzz of the party seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of you in the middle of the dance floor.

"Are you jealous?" he asked, a smirk playing on his lips as his eyes scanned over your dress and back to your eyes.

"No, disgusted," you spat back, narrowing your eyes at him. But he didn't seem fazed, his smirk only growing wider.

"After all, you are just a man," you added, pushing yourself away from him and walking towards the restroom. You could feel his eyes on you as you walked away, and you couldn't help but glance over your shoulder to see him standing there, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

But your eyes quickly landed on Suguru, who was standing off to the side, watching you with a mixture of longing. You gave him a small smile before turning back to the hallway.

Sighing, you walked towards the ladies room and to the sink, feeling the exhaustion of the day weighing heavily on your shoulders. You turned on the faucet, the sound of the rushing water a soothing background noise. As you washed your hands, you couldn't help but glance up at your reflection in the mirror.

But as you turned around to leave, you bumped into someone, causing their purse to fall to the ground. Immediately, you bent down to pick it up, dusting it off gently before handing it back to the person.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't-" you began to apologize, but quickly stopped as you saw the familiar smile on Asami's face. Your annoyance with her grew as you realized she was probably enjoying this encounter. She scanned her eyes all over you, making you feel exposed and uncomfortable.

"It's okay," she said, her voice almost sing-song as she watched you with a pout. You couldn't help but narrow your eyes at her, your annoyance evident in the way your eyebrows twitched. But before you could say anything, she smiled again and turned to you, tilting her head slightly.

"Y/n?" She called out, her voice almost teasing. You turned to her, your expression still showing your irritation. But she didn't seem to care as she continued to smile at you, her head tilted to the side in a playful manner. It was clear that she was trying to get a reaction out of you, and you couldn't help but feel annoyed at her childish behavior.

"I'm so happy you don't mind that Satoru promoted me to take over your spot in the office," Her lips curled into a smile almost sadistic. Your expression went from annoyed to disbelief as you realized that she was reveling in your misery.

"Y'know, I really did like being his Assistant but now that he promoted me, I can be with him more often..." she paused, stepping closer and tilting her head, her eyes gleaming with malicious intent. "And maybe be even promoted as an associate!" she chirped, her voice dripping with fake innocence.

Clasping her hands together, she waited for you to speak up. But instead, you chuckled, licking your lips as you stared at her, the anger and disgust rising in your throat. "So this is what gets you off?" you said, lowering your eyes and looking at her with disgust.

"Huh?" she replied, stunned at what you were saying.

"Do you enjoy seeing me annoyed? Do you get pleasure from making me mad?" You scoffed, raising your eyebrows and crossing your arms. The music of the party was muffled and the sounds of people talking outside could be heard, but all you could focus on was Asami's twisted enjoyment at your expense.

"Asami, you're nothing but a burden to me," You sneered your eyes cold and calculating. Asami's smile faltered for a split second before she began to laugh at you. The sound was shrill and mocking, causing a chill to run down your spine.

But then, Asami's laughter stopped abruptly and she stepped closer to you. "Is that what you really think?" she asked, her lips twitching into a sly smile. "That I'm a burden to you?" Her hands balled into fists at her sides, and you could see the anger burning in her eyes. "Well, Y/N, let me tell you something. I am not a burden. In fact, I am your worst fucking nightmare."

"You're just another weak and pathetic girl who thinks she can take my place in Satoru's life." She took another step closer, until your faces were only inches apart. "But let me make one thing clear, Y/N. Satoru will never love you like he loved me. And I will make sure that you suffer for trying to take him away from me."

Asami's breath was hot and putrid, and you couldn't help but gag at the smell. But she seemed to revel in your discomfort, her eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. "And now, with you carrying his child, you are even more of a burden to him. He will never be able to fully commit to you because of that," she sneered, her words like daggers in your heart.

"Really, Asami?" You said, your voice dripping with sarcasm. "I thought you were just a pathetic ex who couldn't move on." Asami's eyes narrowed at the insult. "But I see now that you're not just pathetic, you're also delusional." Your words were like daggers, and you could see them hitting their mark as Asami's expression twisted in anger.

"You know what, Y/N?" Asami said through gritted teeth. "You may think you have some sort of power over me because you're pregnant with Satoru's baby, but you're wrong." Your heart skipped a beat at the mention of her pregnancy, but she refused to show any reaction.

You couldn't hold back your laughter any longer. "Honey, you couldn't even handle a day in my shoes," you said confidently. "But hey, if you want to try and make my life a living hell, go ahead. I could use a good laugh." Asami's face turned red with rage, but she couldn't come up with a response.

Before she could say anything someone else walked in, breaking the small argument between you and Asami, smiling you walked passed her and out of the restroom just to be met with the face of Suguru. You looked stunned, he followed you all the way here?

Pushing past him he grabbed your arm, stopping you from walking away, “Y/N, wait,”

“I want you to work by my side,” he said taking the card out and handing it to you.

“Just call me,” He said before smiling at you and excusing himself.

You fidgeted with the card, feeling the rough material before turning and watching Suguru go back into the party.

taglist: @ryumurin @h0neysiba @satoruontopofme @nerdiellers @iaminyourfloors @aleigant @stariiesz

[mynameismad]

EXCITING NEWS, FRIENDS!

Sakana now has a mirror on WEBTOONS! After nearly 15 years of zooming in to read small horizontal squares, you will now have the option to see them BIGGER and STACKED VERTICALLY. I'm starting back at the very beginning and making some much-needed edits to the early strips, so I hope readers old and new will have fun seeing it REMASTERED in this new format!

If you're new here: SAKANA is a slice-of-life, romantic comedy (a sli-li-rom-com, if you will) that takes place in the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, Japan. If follows the lives of a few 20-somethings working at the market, their friends and family, and all the wacky situations they constantly find themselves in despite their best efforts. Basically they all want to date each other, but they're terrible at it, and also there's lots of seafood involved.

The sakana-comic.com website will still be SAKANA's home base, where you can read 650+ pages of story and catch new updates every Tuesday and Thursday!

[majorhortonisonleaveinlondon]

If you’re wanting to watch Band of Brothers/The Pacific/Masters of the Air in chronological order with BoB 1st Currahee episode split up in the dates on screen I made a list

(Updated: April 12, 2024 7:58pm pst)

July, 10 1942 Easy Company Trains in Camp Tocca (Band of Brothers Ep. 1 Currahee 2001) August 7, 1942, Allied forces land on Guadalcanal (The Pacific Ep. 1 Guadalcanal/Leckie 2010) September 18, 1942, 7th Marines Land on Guadalcanal (The Pacific Ep. 2 Basilone 2010) December 1942 The 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal is relieved (The Pacific Ep. 3 Melbourne 2010) *June 23, 1943, Easy Company Trains in Camp Mackall N.C. (Band of Brothers Ep. 1 Currahee) * June 25, 1943, 100th Bomb Group flew its first 8th Air Force combat mission (Master of the Air Ep. 1 2024)

July 16, 1943 the 100th Bomb Group bombed U-Boats in Tronbhdim (Masters of the Air Ep.2 2024) August 17, 1943 the 4th Bomb Wing of the 100th Bomb Group bombed Regenberg (Masters of the Air Ep. 3 2024) *September 6, 1943, Easy Company Boards transport ship in Brooklyn Naval Yard (Band of Brothers Ep. 1 Currahee)* September 16, 1943, William Quinn and Charles Bailey leave Belgium (Masters of the Air Ep.4 2024) September 18, 1943 -*East Company trains in Aldbourne, England (Band of Brothers Ep. 1 Currahee)* -John 'Bucky' Egan returns from leave to join the mission to bomb Munster (Master of the Air Ep.5 2024) October 14, 1943, John ‘Bucky’ Egan interrogated at Dulag Lut, Frankfurt Germany (Masters of the Air Ep. 6 2024) December 26, 1943, 1st Marine Division lands on Cape Gloucester (The Pacific Ep. 4 Gloucester/Pavuvu/Banika 2010) March 7, 1944, Stalag Luft III Sagan, Germany, Germans find the concealed radio Bucky was using to learn news of the War (Master of the Air Ep.7 2024) *June 4, 1944, D-Day Invasion postponed (Band of Brothers Ep. 1 Currahee)* *June 5, 1944 Easy Company Boards air transport planes bound for Normandy (Band of Brothers Ep. 1 Currahee)* June 6, 1944, 00:48 & 01:40 First airborne troops begin to land on Normandy (Band of Brothers Ep. 2 Day of Days 2001)

June, 7 1944 Easy Company Takes Carentan (Band of Brothers 3x10 Carentan)

August 12, 1944, The 332nd Fighter Group attack Radar stations in Southern France (Masters of the Air Ep.8 2024)

September 15, 1944 U.S. Marines landed on Peleliu at 08:32, on September 15, 1944 (the Pacific Part Five: Peleliu Landing)

September 16, 1944 Marines take Peleliu airfield (the Pacific Part Six: Airfield)

September, 17 1944 Operation Market Garden -(Band of Brothers 4x10 Replacements)

October 22/23, 1944, 2100 – 0200 Operation Pegasus (Band of Brothers 5x10 Crossroads)

October, 1944 Battle of Peleliu continues (the Pacific Part Seven: Peleliu Hills)

December 16, 1944 Battle of the Bulge (Band of Brothers 6x10 Bastogne)


January, 1945 Battle of Foy (Band of Brothers 7x10 The Breaking Point)


February 14, 1945 David Webb rejoins the 506th in Haguenau (Band of Brothers 8x10 The Last Patrol)

April 5, 1945 506th Finds abandoned Concentration Camp
(Band of Brothers 9x10 Why We Fight 2001)

April 1-June 22, 1945 Battle of Okinawa (The Pacific Part Nine: Okinawa)


May 7, 1945, Germany Surrenders V-E Day - (Master of the Air Ep. 9 2024) - (Band of Brothers 10x10 Points 2001)

August 15 The Empire of Japan surrenders end of the War (The Pacific Part Ten: Home)

[sakana-comic]

🐟✨SAKANA UPDATE✨🐟

Live updates to the communal "How To Deal With Yuudai" chart happening in today's page.

Read SAKANA page 657 here!

And the updates page 004 on Webtoon!

[hiveworks]

Interview with Mad Rupert, author of Sakana

September 2023

Sakana, the story of life and love in a fish market, is coming back from its hiatus soon! The strip comic style webcomic began in 2010 and follows Jiro, Taisei, Yuudai, and Chie as they navigate their relationships and learn to face their feelings. We asked creator Mad Rupert, author of Robber Robert and artist of Bunt!, for an interview to celebrate the series return.

Read Sakana | Shop books & merch | Read more Hiveworks comics

Sakana has been your baby for 13 years. What has the webcomic journey been like for you over the past decade?

It really has been over a decade, hasn’t it! There have certainly been ups and downs, periods where I was updating as much as I could, and also long hiatuses. I feel like webcomics have always been an amazing space to practice my craft and stretch my writing and drawing skills alike. You can kind of do anything you like with webcomics, and oftentimes people come up with wackier, and imho more interesting concepts than if they were beholden to a large publisher. Not that I haven’t made my fair share of traditionally-published comics and graphic novels… but there’s just something so gratifying about coming up with your own wild story and working towards its end on your own time. Webcomics are incredibly tough and time consuming, but also the ultimate form of self expression. 

What is the origin of Sakana? What made you want to tell this story?

Sakana actually started as a class project when I was a junior at the Savannah College of Art and Design. I had been accepted into the Sequential Art department’s yearly Japan trip to study comics and cartooning in Tokyo for a few weeks, and our final project was to create 11 comic strips based off of something that made a strong impact on us during the trip. We had visited the old inner market (now demolished) of the Tsukiji Fish Market at 4am one morning, and it was the most incredible place I’d ever been, so I decided to craft a short story that took place in the market. Beyond the first 11 strips, I decided to continue the story for as long as I could as a way to practice the comic techniques I was learning in class. That was over a decade and 600 strips ago! It really has become the most ambitious project I’ve ever undertaken.

Do you have the ending already written? Do you see a conclusion in sight?

Yes! I’ve always had something at least resembling an end in mind throughout most of the comic’s lifespan. For a long-format comic like SAKANA, I think it’s very important to have a rough ending planned out as early as possible, otherwise it becomes difficult to keep the narrative moving in a satisfying direction, drop little tidbits of plot that will pay off later, or even maintain your enthusiasm for the project. To be clear, the details of Sakana's “end” have changed many times, which is only natural with a very long project like this. But I’ve always kept crucial details the same: basically certain characters in a certain place at a certain time doing certain things (to keep from getting too spoilery haha.) HOW they get there, WHY they’re there, and WHAT exactly they’re doing will ebb and flow as the years go by and I myself get older and older. But having a general sense of the end in mind has kept things moving all this time. The story’s got one more volume to go, and then I’ll be done!

Your hiatus is a result of working on a traditionally published graphic novel, coming in 2024. Is there anything you can tell us about your book?

My new graphic novel is called Bunt! and it’s a collaborative effort between myself and my dear pal, Ngozi Ukazu (author of popular webcomic Check, Please!) Ngozi wrote the book and I drew it, and we’re both really proud of what we’ve made! It’s already available for preorder all over the place and it will officially be out in stores in February 2024. We’re really looking forward to getting out there this fall and winter and spreading the word about it!

You recently successfully completed a Kickstarter for an 18+ comic, Robber Robert, as well. What is it like balancing these different narratives, genres, and mediums of publishing comics?

It’s definitely been a struggle at times to balance everything, and I definitely don’t recommend working on 3 giant projects at the same time! I finally had to admit that I couldn’t do it all at once, which led to me putting Sakana and RR on hiatus to finish Bunt!, and then keeping Sakana on hiatus while I finished up RR. I really burned myself out on comics for a while, and it’s been a huge struggle to get myself back to a good place with my work. Finishing Bunt! and RR Chapter 1 has really helped reenergize me, but I can always feel myself trying to overload my work schedule again and again. It’s my greatest weakness as a professional artist.

What keeps you inspired?

Making something for myself, practicing my craft, and putting my own stories out there are all huge driving forces in my life. Learning to stop overwhelming myself with work has also helped a lot. Looking back on all the art I’ve made and all the different things I’ve tried makes me feel like I can do anything I put my mind to, so long as I give myself the time and space to enjoy the process.

Do you have any webcomic or graphic novel recommendations?

I’m a big fan of anything fantasy or sci-fi, especially if the narrative approaches the fantastical elements in a weird, unique, and kind of gay way haha. My favorite manga is currently Delicious in Dungeon, but I’m also a fan of historical series like Golden Kamuy and Bride’s Story. For webcomics, I love anything by Evan Dahm, like his long-format series Rice Boy and Vattu. As for Hiveworks comics, there’s too many to list individually but my current favorites are Fairmeadow by KP, and Tiger, Tiger by Petra Nordlund. 

Any advice for new readers of Sakana?

I would say…despite its high page count, it’s not that long of a read! The strip format keeps it moving at a pretty quick clip when read all at once (but it certainly didn’t feel like that over the last 13 years updating one page at a time!) I know that the format and the black and white rendering might feel a little dated in the current era of Webtoons and full-color stories, but I’m too stubborn to change now, and I really appreciate anybody giving it a shot! Also, no matter who you are, or how much you dislike him in the beginning, Yuudai will probably be your favorite character.

You can read Sakana for free at sakana-comic.com and print books are available at hivemill.com

[demilypyro]

At what point in time did you see a giant hammer and go “yeah, that’s my main.”

Monster Hunter: World is a 2018 action role-playing game developed and published by Capcom. The fifth mainline installment in the Monster Hunter series, it was released worldwide for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in January 2018, with a Windows version following in August 2018. In the game, the player takes the role of a Hunter, tasked to hunt down and either kill or trap monsters that roam in one of several environmental spaces. If successful, the player is rewarded through loot consisting of parts from the monster and other elements that are used to craft weapons and armor, amongst other equipment. The game's core loop has the player crafting appropriate gear to be able to hunt down more difficult monsters, which in turn provide parts that lead to more powerful gear. Players may hunt alone or in a group of up to four players via the game's online multiplayer.

Announced at E3 2017, Monster Hunter: World adopts the series' standard formulas from its older home console roots and recent handheld games to take advantage of the higher processing power provided by modern consoles and computers. Changes made in Monster Hunter: World include creating environmental spaces that are fully connected and removing the "zones" that were necessary for the PlayStation 2 and handheld games, more advanced monster artificial intelligence and physics, a more persistent cooperative multiplayer experience, and a refinement of the game's tutorials and user interface to help with bringing new players into the series. These changes led Capcom to plan for the game's simultaneous release worldwide, since Monster Hunter as a series has generally languished outside of Japan partially due to disparate release schedules. Capcom also opted to support online play between these different geographic regions for similar reasons. The delay for the Windows release was attributed to Capcom seeking to make sure its first foray into the Windows market was optimized for players on computers. By April 2020, updates to the game were synchronized among all platforms.

Monster Hunter: World received critical acclaim upon release, with critics praising how Capcom was able to make the game more accessible to new players and to Western markets, without detracting from the series' core gameplay elements and enjoyable difficulty, and fully taking advantage of the computational capacity of modern consoles to create living ecosystems, with some even calling it the best in the franchise. Monster Hunter: World is the single highest-selling game in Capcom's history, with over 21 million copies shipped by July 2022. A DLC expansion pack, subtitled Iceborne, was released for home consoles in September 2019 and for Windows in January 2020, and reached 10 million sales by December 2022. The next mainline installment, Monster Hunter Rise, was co-developed alongside World and announced for a worldwide release on Nintendo Switch in March 2021, with a Windows version released the following year.

[pastorfutureletthembe]

Was just working on some meta when I noticed something and decided to investigate.

And I thought that it would be fun to share what's going on in my mind when I notice things with my tetris brain lmao Just so you guys understand how obsessed I am.

Here: this ">24A" mention.

Disclamer: I'm not into photography so I'm leaving the technical specificities to the pro (you're welcome to comment and share your science).

Apparently, 24A is the frame on the roll of film. It might refer to the 24th photo or frame on a 35mm film roll. The letter "A" could signify a specific format or marker related to a continuous sequence.

Now, looking deeper, I found out something interesting about film length:

The 24 on the box is a estimate of how many photos you will be able to take, depending on your camera and how you load the film. It's not unusual for the strip to provide you witha few more exposures than expected. At one time some film brands began marketing their "24 exposure" rolls as "24+3" or "27" rolls. In Japan some still label them as "27 exposures". The only difference between a 24 shot roll of 135 film and a 27 shot roll of 135 is the labeling. They're actually the same length. Between the 24 exposures promised on the box and the 27 exposures you were able to take is the difference between how much of the roll was pulled out of the film cannister and exposed to light during loading.

I feel like, even though Cheng Xiaoshi is the one in DIVE BACK IN TIME wrapped in films, it is more relevant to Lu Guang's power, who uses frames to see the past.

OVERTHINK also states "REPLAY REPLAY Gift me three chances to start over." I always thought 3 was a random number but it might actually be about the chance to get three more shots. It's a tight and narrow window of possibility though.

The whole thing sent me on a tangent and I just kept going with these:

16.49.439 16.49.159 16.49.799

These could belong to a standardized classification system in a specific domain.

My guess was MUSIC (Time is like Music, right?) because of the last digits. Like, R439 could be linked to Flute Concerto No. 2 in G minor, RV 439 La Notte, which-

Many LC lyrics refer to the moonlight so I thought it was fitting haha

For your information, the second movement is Fantasmi (ghosts), and the fourth is Il Sonno (sleep). Vivaldi published "La Notte" with five other pieces as the second of his six Op. 10 concertos for transverse flute and string orchestra.

This was a fun coincidence but not relevant to the other numbers tough, sadly.

Obviously, this sort of classification is meant to put our three favorite characters in the same category. If tied to photography, 16.49 might designate a thematic collection. Lu Guang is the one with the bigger last number, which could either mean he went through the most alterations or he's the latest to be updated, for example.

Note: I just like the ominous color on the last one to be honest. It indicates surexposition. Also, Lu Guang's smile in the background is chilling. Just like in the recent Yingdu Chapter teaser, the filter keeps us from seeing Lu Guang's eyecolor. Could be blue, red, gray, yellow, it's impossible to be sure.

Anyhow, that's how most of my meta start haha. Thank you for reading my nonsense!

[gentlebeardsbarngrill]

Free Rhys Darby ASMR Sources

So @hang-on-lil-tomato got me thinking with their post about Stede Story Time, I did all this research into all the Rhys Darby works and I realised I should probably compile it in case other folks are looking for the same things.

So yeah, I mean, Rhys doesn't do audio books as of yet, but man would that be amazing if he did. So for those of you who want to hear some good 'ol Rhys Darby voice, here's some sources. Please feel free to message me if you have more. ! I'd love to add them, and I'll tag ya :D

---

Rhys Darby as Stede Bonnet Youtube Compilations

Stede say'd Ed for a full Minute by justagaycatboy

Stede Bonnet being a bitch for 4 + mins by Rae Hamilton-Vargo

Stede Bonnet being the crew's dad for almost 4 minutes by grim weaper

Stede Bonnet screaming for 2 minutes 15 seconds by "Our Flag Means Death"

Stede Bonnet cursing for almost a whole minute by Murder Turtle

----

TV or Mini Series

Rhys Darby in Japan (Freevee on Amazon)

So as someone who lived in Japan for a bit, this series is really really fun. It's awkward, and funny and it's almost all Rhys Darby as he's narrating and living the whole damn thing. There are quotes from this show that I use in my every day life, I love it so much.

Short Poppies (Freevee on Amazon)

Considering most of the characters in this show are in fact Rhys Darby, it's a great way to hear his very colourful range. I haven't seen all the episodes, but I find it quite endearing.

Intrepid Journeys (Rwanda) (Youtube/nzonscreen.com)

Ty @hang-on-lil-tomato and @meanmisscharles for this recommendation! I haven't watched it yet but here's the description:

"This Intrepid Journey sees comedian Rhys Darby taking an OE to the landlocked African country of Rwanda. Darby makes a bunch of friends in the markets of capital city Kigali, then heads on a jungle adventure. Far from the New York office of his Flight of the Conchords character Murray, he searches for critically endangered mountain gorillas. Darby is guided by François — a personable and entertaining park ranger, fluent in primate dialect — whose aping gives Darby a run for his money in gorilla impersonation. Darby is quietened by a sombre genocide memorial, and a 200 kilogram silverback."

Stand up

These are pretty self explanatory, wanna hear Rhys Darby talk for an hour or so? Stand ups the way to do it, all the voices you could want and no one interrupting him.

Rhys Darby I'm A Fighter Jet Rhys Darby: This Way Spaceship It's Rhys Darby Night Mystic Timebird

Youtube Shorts/Channels

Rhys' Youtube Channel featuring stand up shorts, sketches, Rhys' playing games and other fun stuff like "The Alone Rangers". All stuff I have to dive into, thanks again @hang-on-lil-tomato!

Movies

Love Birds (Included with Prime Video)

So if you follow @celluloidbroomcloset you have probably heard of Love Birds, and as someone who is totally normal for Rhys Darby, and loves birds and used to do rescue work, I have to day this movie is adorable. It's a really cute love story, and good god Rhys is hot AF. He and Sally Hawkins have amazing chemistry, and you get lots of good Rhys voice...in a romantic setting. I apologize ahead of time to any of you who lose your soul to this movie.

Coming & Going(Freevee)

So I haven't seen this one personally, so I can't speak to it (it's on my list for this week actually!) so I'll update this once I do.. but in the mean time, here's the description:

"When Lee (Rhys Darby), a young, skilled OBGYN who lacks confidence with women, suffers a minor injury that temporarily lands him in a wheelchair, he meets Alex (Sasha Alexander), the girl of his dreams. Convinced she has only paid attention to him because he's in that chair, he stays in it to win her affections well after his injury has healed."

Podcasts

The Cryptid Factor

You're gonna hear more than just Rhys, you'll hear from Dan Schreiber and Buttons (not ofmd buttons) and some other folks occasionally but you get to hear Rhys in his element, which is awesome because he is the goofy nerdy man we all know and love. The Cryptid Factor on Apple Podcasts

You can also go to their patreon and subscribe for free there-- the paid versions have video footage from a lot of shows and some other cool perks including stickers and book clubs and such.

Aliens Like Us

Thank you @hang-on-lil-tomato for this one! I hadn't found it before

General Reference to Works

Here's some overall guides to his various voice works (thank you again to @hang-on-lil-tomato )

--- Anyway -- hope that helps with your Rhys Darby very normalness :D

[redcraneacnh]

Inspiration hit and I decided to update Red Crane's indoor market. Some of the covered shopping arcades in Japan have arched skylights running their length, so I tried to bring a little of that shape and light into this market. I also built out the shops to give them more depth.

[acquired-stardust]

Game Spotlight #17: Telenet Music Box (1989)

Acquired Stardust is back with another spotlight! Need something to read to get your mind of recent world events? Been hunting for some new music to listen to? Do you just like learning about cool obscure stuff? Join Ash for a look at one of the most obscure things as of yet featured on the blog in 1989's Telenet Music Box for the PC88!

When thinking about the history of video games, many people of a certain age conjure to mind a beginning marked by the boom that Nintendo's NES (known in Japan as the Famicom) brought to the world. Fewer people will be overly familiar with Atari's platforms or their competitors, and fewer still will likely have heard about the infamous crash of the American video game industry in 1983 beyond being able to regurgitate myths of Howard Scott Warshaw's adaptation of E.T. the Extraterrestrial (1983) bearing supposed direct responsibility.

This pop history approach becoming so normalized to people is frustrating but understandable because it's all around us. Being inundated with countless YouTubers and streamers professing a love for retro games has inadvertently created a narrative that video game history is a straight line through mainstream smash hit consoles and this couldn't be further from the truth - there is a whole world before and around the NES that has gone largely unexplored, particularly in the west, and odds are if you've spent much time on Tumblr you're probably passingly familiar with the subject of this spotlight.

Japan has finally begun to more widely adopt PC gaming (in part due to the phenomenon that is vtubing), with an absolute explosion in market share in the past decade. What you might not know is that Japan actually has a pretty rich history of PC gaming that really blossomed in the 80s and 90s with several hardware manufacturers such as NEC and ASCII offering options that would give the world some early looks at teams and individuals that would come to define the medium going forward.

One such game changer (no pun intended) is Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear debuting in 1987 with its definitive version on MSX PCs and getting an incredible sequel that puts the NES-exclusive Snake's Revenge to shame, and another Kojima title would go on to define the NEC PC98 in popular consciousness with classic sexy adventure Policenauts easily being the most memorable title which would subsequently be ported and updated several times for home consoles such as the Sega Saturn and Sony Playstation.

You may be familiar with the PC98 as screenshots from its many games are popular around Tumblr, most often featuring gloriously mid-late 90s anime girls rendered in stunning pixel art that feels like it exists somewhere out of time as things isolated from their origin as video game screenshots. Having been on Tumblr for over a decade (and the internet at large for even longer), it's my observation that the rediscovery of and appreciation for this retro anime aesthetic (and its later PC98 permutation) was really born here on Tumblr before spreading to other platforms to the point that you've probably seen at least one shot cross your dashboard before. But for this spotlight we're going even further back to the predecessor of the PC98, the PC88.

NEC's PC88 was released in the early 80s and most models featured a whopping 62 KB of RAM (in comparison to the NES's 2 KB) and many later models featured Yamaha sound chips which resulted in games often being visually and aurally significantly more impressive than you would see in home consoles at the time, in some cases lightyears ahead of the NES particularly in regards to music which is a pretty great thing for the sake of this spotlight. The games themselves were also quite varied in content from everything to the kawaii and comedic to erotic and even plenty of horror, with many standout games more accurately reflecting wider Japanese pop culture of the era than what you'd see on the comparatively sterile NES.

This wild west, edgy punk rock software library that goes part and parcel with Japan's nascent PC gaming scene is one of the coolest elements of going back to explore it. You never really know what you're in for, and you might be surprised (or even disgusted) with some of the unique experiences the platform has to offer. Many of these games (and those on the successor PC98) are completely untranslated and Japanese comprehension helps their enjoyment greatly and while often simple enough to enjoy without it that aspect has certainly contributed to their enigma in the west.

There are a lot of factors that have made PC88 and PC98 fandom and emulation not as glamorous as that of home consoles and some of that is due to limitations of the hardware in how it handles scrolling screens, with a noticeable chug as games scroll. Another factor is the compounding nature of its flaws and obscurity meaning emulators themselves are in Japanese and a bit tricky to figure out how to handle, old PCs infamously lacking a lot of user friendly features we take for granted today.

One such surprise is Telenet Music Box, a collection of then-prominent publisher Telenet Japan's biggest games' music. It's barely even a game and more a piece of software fit for a museum, with minimal activity limited to browsing game albums (a total of 13), choosing songs to listen to and creating custom playlists. Each of the 13 game albums is showcased with beautiful splash art and accompanied by a tracker for the keyboard as well as titles for each song and a timer for the length of songs.

Included in the mix is an impressive slate of Telenet Japan's games that showcase the depth and variety of the PC88's library such as Mugen Senshi Valis and even an early alternate manifestation of Shin Megami Tensei as a top-down dungeon crawler reminiscent of Gauntlet. Each of Telenet Music Box's 13 albums have their standout tracks, with some from Luxor and Final Zone being among our favorites.

Telenet Music Box is not a wholly unique concept and several other similar games were released for the platform (as well as the PC98), but it is an exceptionally clever one who's usefulness is perhaps all the more apparent now almost 40 years removed from its release, serving as a fantastic introductory course to a little understood part of video game history. It's a fantastic time capsule and with plenty to offer listeners of its roughly 3 hour runtime well beyond its value as virtual archaeology worth excavating.

Perhaps its most valuable asset is its ability to highlight the true nature of history. History is not a static thing with a start and an end but rather a living breathing thing that touches our everyday lives. Rare is it that anything begins or ends from nothing, with things instead in a constant state of evolution even when rising from the ashes of something else. One particular example of this is in Wolf Team's Final Zone (which features hilarious commentary in its opening scene that I'm not sure how made it past management - do look it up if you can) and Mugen Senshi Valis, the latter of which having been extremely popular in its time, spawning tons of ports and several sequels, with the team behind it eventually morphing into Namco's Tales Studio, responsible for some of the most beloved JRPGs of all time such as Tales of Symphonia and Tales of Vesperia.

While PC88 emulation can be frustrating to work out or find files for, an unforeseen strength of Telenet Music Box's concept of 'game as an album' is how much easier its discoverability is in recent years compared to the more traditional video games it shares a platform with, being far more easy to interface with and experience than the games it itself chronicles, and it can be found on YouTube in its entirety for your listening pleasure alongside plenty of other PC88 soundtracks. I invite you to dip your toes into this little-known scene and hope you come out of it with appreciation for the wide world of games outside what may be familiar to you, and maybe even some new favorite tracks.

A gem hidden among the stones, Telenet Music Box is undoubtedly stardust.

- Ash

[delvalentine]

Big fat typical AO3-style life update:

I am no longer engaged... I am married ! We had an intimate elopement in the mountains in late March 2024. My husband and I live busy days in our house/condo and the flex of being a homeowner at 23 in the Canadian housing market is the only thing keeping me going when rotten lettuce is $4.99 at the store. Fret not as even though I am a wife to a living man I'm still going to write my smut and love stories about pixelated anime boys LOL

We travelled Japan, Thailand, & Taiwan together and will be re-visiting Japan & Thailand as well as S. Korea (for the first time) later this year - recommendations highly welcomed~

I'm finally taking the risk and dropping my pointage as a full time OR RN to part time so I can travel, get back into fitness/taking care of myself instead of others, have hobbies and freedoms... yenno the things that make life worth living instead of living to work ? I'm afraid of the income drop but luckily my husband can take care of us which will allow me to finally take care of me for the first time in my life :,) props to everybody in medicine/healthcare that can handle being full time but it wasn't me & that's ok.

I've been reconnecting with old friends (both online and irls) and it's been so, so nice. I mentioned it in old updates but going from lots of socialization and feeling popular as a teen to barely having anybody in my circle and struggling to meet new people now - I think this sense of confused loneliness is just a hallmark of your twenties; the uncomfortable yet necessary pain that drives you to growth. I used to know exactly which niches I was meant to fill as a teen. I have no idea who I am now that I've achieved everything the teenage version of me wanted to achieve... I'm not even sure who I want to become anymore...

... & that's ok! Life is meant to be discovered and lived, not scripted.

As always I wish everybody happiness & health, and that my inbox is open for anything from anybody ! It's lonely out here when your colleagues aren't chronically online so brainrotting on Tumblr w/ the weeb community is so much more satisfying TT

[incorrect-jojolands-quotes]

Chapter 17 Yap Session: YOU ARE NOT THE MAIN VILLAIN

Also, an interesting find on Hokkaido and puns.

Other Yaps (To Be Updated as I Go): 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

It's not a coincidence that Acca mentions Hokkaido

Hokkaido is known for being the agricultural breadbasket of Japan and a popular place for tourists to visit due to its natural scenery and cold temperatures. It is also where 90% of Japan's kombu is created due to the cold waters of Hokkaido being ideal for growing them as well as having high-quality seafood for the same reason. In addition to that, Hokkaido is where the Ainu people once resided. I say ONCE resided because the island was annexed and colonized in 1869 by Japan, forcing the Ainu to assimilate soon after. To this day, the Ainu continue to face economic and social hardships because of discrimination and many individuals grow up not knowing they are Ainu or are forced to hide their background to minimize oppression. The Ainu continue to be greatly restricted in terms of maintaining practices and customs, and there have been cases where attempts to revive or provide better laws for the Ainu are met with heavy pushback. Even prior to the annexation, the Ainu faced mistreatment from the Japanese government, which contributed to their population decline leading up to the event.

This is very similar to Hawaii's history. Hawaii serves as a main exporter of tropical fruits and remains a popular tourist attraction due to its environment while also having a history of annexation and treatment of indigenous communities- the difference being that Hokkaido is more known for its colder temperatures while Hawaii is known for its subtropic temperatures instead.

Usagi's a master of puns

The pun Usagi makes with MRI translates to "M - 無 R - 理 I - 言って スミマセン, or MuRi Itte sumimasen. (Sorry for asking you to do something unreasonable). "IDD" and "KKD" are common text phrases used in Japanese, similar to "BFF" being used in English. According to the English translator Kewl, various suggestions were made to localize Usagi's words in a way that is still natural yet comedic. Eventually, "Man's a Real Idiot",  "I’m Deeply Devoted", and "Kind Kindred Dude" were chosen.

How corporations work may hint at Acca not being the main villain

In a typical western public company, there are two groups that lead a corporation: the officers and the board of directors.

The officers, such as the CEO and CTO, are the ones who make the decisions and handle day-to-day operations of the company. However, they are not 100% in complete power. They have to work with the board of directors, who theoretically work as the advisors to the CEO and are led by a leader called the chairperson. The CEO himself could be the chairperson too, but there's always someone who represents the leader of the board and may be called the "lead director" to differentiate themselves from the CEO. The board of directors serve as advisors but they also have the ability to override and even FIRE the CEO under the pretense of protecting the company's investors. Should a CEO commit a crime, performed badly as a leader, or done anything controversial that the shareholders consider to be bad for the company they invest in, the board can boot the CEO out and find another CEO to take their place. Usually, it is another member of the board that is elected by the board to succeed but anyone could be chosen by the board to become the new CEO. This is all done legally but you can imagine some politics and manipulation at play; Acca could try to fight back or plant a successor to maintain power, or there is someone on the board who wanted to take his position and this was all part of the plan, or... there's some sort of bigger conspiracy at play.

There are already some good reasons for people try and oust Acca out. He himself is introduced as not well liked and having a terrible character, and Howler Co.'s market value significantly because of the land forfeiture situation implied to be because of his doing. Not only that, there's always that general sense of people simply wanting to gain power at all cost- even if it means taking someone down to get their position. Once word gets out and the shareholders catch wind of this, they're going to be hounding the board to do something to protect their investments; we've already seen one shareholder, Dolphin Bank, pulling out of their investments. The board will then fire Acca from his position as a way to scapegoat him, claiming he was responsible for the lost in value, and the board's "solution" will be to put someone else as CEO to ease the shareholders' minds. This someone else could be the actual main villain, or the chairperson/lead director is the main villain this whole time. It could be possible that either characters planned Acca's downfall this whole time and it will be them that will face Jodio in the end.

[gojoscinnamonroll]

who is gojoscinnamonroll?? a 20 yo filipina girl by the name of yazmine, (or yaz) who's

favorite things are: kbbq, pho, matcha, tiramisu, cheesecakes, mochi, orchids + hibiscus flowers + cherry blossoms, miffy, sonny angels, popmart blind boxes, junji ito, horror movies, nightmare before christmas, coraline, corpse bride, studio ghibli, sanrio & san-x, pastries, strawberries, white chocolate truffles, both halloween & christmas, pink, shopping, cats, the beach, farmer's markets, baking, vivienne westwood pieces, hair accessories, blush, glitter in my makeup, knee high stockings/tights, my wine nude lip combo, eyelash extensions, cesar salads, the sun, bagels

ani's + mangas she loves: nana, paradise kiss, gokinjo monogatari, kamisama kiss, horimiya, soul eater, death note, jujutsu kaisen, fruits basket, tokyo ghoul, chainsaw man, maid sama, apothecary diaries

artists she listens to: lana del rey, keshi, tommy february6, sza, beabadoobee, deftones, the weeknd, wave to earth, jorja smith, mazzy star, radiohead, megan thee stallion, mac miller, lucki

fun facts abt miss yaz: currently working as a very stressed out lab tech yum!! but planning to go back to school for dermatology! >_<, i am also learning how to speak japanese bc i’m starting to visit japan every so often now so yay (we love a trilingual queen) and if i have more interesting facts ab me i'll come back to update hehe

[rain-dom]

Touhou: The Origins of Reimu Hakurei. [MtF]

Splash! A wave of water fell over Ethan, as a car went by.

“Ugh! Shit!” he groaned. “Of course, the universe just has to remind me how much my life sucks today, of all days.”

He wiped the water from his eyes and continued to drag himself home. Ethan, a young Japanese-American man aged twenty-one, found work at an automotive company, but due to a global recession, he was let go. Born in the States, he wanted to reside in Japan for a time to get in touch with his culture, and to jump start his career in marketing and sales. He had dreams of being on top of the world - living in lavish luxury, on top of the world in tall, gleaming skyscrapers, and being among the richest suits-and-ties.

But now, like his dreams, his black suit, black vest and gray tie were all soaking wet, and had nowhere to go. He couldn’t stay here - he didn’t have much of a family to connect to, after his parents had cut ties with them a few decades earlier - and he couldn’t go back to the U.S., even if he wanted to, due to being flat broke. And he would feel ashamed if he had to move in with his folks again, so he was pretty much all alone.

As he walked home, however, he remembered there was a place in a nearby forest he liked to visit. There was an old, abandoned shrine, which sat in the center of some beautiful cherry blossom trees. He decided he should go there and let his stresses melt away, at least for a little while.

He turned left and crossed the street, making sure there were no more annoying cars greeting home with puddles of water. He took a nice, long stroll through the forest, until he finally reached the shrine. It was old and worn down, the cracks in the wood showing its age. Though luckily, it still stood well enough. Ethan dropped his suitcase and sat down on its steps and let out a heavy sigh, as he looked up to the sky. It was covered by dark, gray clouds, reminders or the rainstorm that had just passed by earlier that day. The clouds were darker now, signaling that the end of the day was at hand. Ethan then dozed off to sleep, allowing himself let go of the stresses of his dull, gray life.

The next morning, Ethan awoke to something warm that danced on his face, as if a ray of light that beamed down on him. He blinked himself awake and got up, and yawned. He looked up once again, noticing the sky had changed significantly this time. Unlike yesterday, in which a storm had rolled in, bringing with it dark, stormy clouds and heavy rain, today the clouds had receded into light puffs of smoke painted across the light blue sky. As a matter of fact, as he looked around, the was something different about the entire area - the shrine itself seemed to have had been fully restored to its former glory, its wooden exterior and roof was fully intact, with no dings of damage. The stone path leading to it no longer was covered in bushes and twigs - it now was fully restored as well, with there now being a clear stone path. Ethan’s eyes widened as he observed his new surroundings.

“Holy shit…did someone just renovate this place overnight? This must be a dream, right?” He toured the updated shrine; the rooms - once desolate and barren - now looked as if they were occupied just this morning - a bed was made, with a white cup of warm tea next two it, complete with steam brewing off it. He took a sip. “Mmm…this is great! God, I needed this…” He sat the tea down and went back outside and stepped onto the porch, and took a breath of the fresh air. He smiled. He like that this old, forgotten place somehow returned to its glory.

Then he remembered - he had to go home.

“Goddammit! It’s a shame I’ll have to leave here and go back to my house, and deal with…god, everything. What I would give to just relax and drink tea at this beautiful shrine. Sigh I wish I could stay at this place forever…”

Then, almost as soon as he said those words, he started to feel hot as he felt his body shake and tremble beyond his control. He could hear his bones begin to crack under the pressure, though he didn’t feel any pain, just discomfort and heat. His shoulders began to push in, as his height decreased with them. He saw as the world around him seemed to be growing around him, but in reality, *he* was the one who was shrinking.

“Nngh…ugh…wh-what the fuck is- gah!” Ethan exclaimed, as he felt his hips push out, and his waist starting to curve inwards. His hands shrunk and became daintier, his arms and legs shrunk in length and muscle (not that he had much of that, anyway). It felt like his entire body - inside and out - were being massaged, itched, broken, and remolded into something almost foreign to him.

But, as suddenly as it began, it stopped. Huffing and puffing, he ripped off his suit, vest, and tie, and stripped himself down to his boxers. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Coated in sweat, his body had gone through some significant changes - he was smaller for one, his shoulders and waist had narrowed, and his arms and legs were shorter and more petite, too.

“Huff, hah What…what is this? What’s hah hah h-happening to me?!” He barely noticed that by now that his skin was softer to the touch, his body hair had all but evaporated, his voice had jumped at few octaves higher, his short brown hair had grown slightly longer, and that his face had become more androgynous. In between deep breaths, it was starting to become obvious to him now - he could no her deny it. He was becoming-

“…a girl? Hah hah I’m…I’m turning into a girl?!How is this even possible—AH!”

His conclusion, which was coated with fear and confusion on one hand, and curiosity and excitement on the other, was interrupted by an alien sensation residing in his chest.

Then, it started again.

Power, heat and energy ripped through his increasingly feminine body, begging it to change even further. Two lumps of fat began to push out of his chest, creating sensations Ethan has never felt before. He fell to his knees, moaning, letting his new girls blossom forth, as they replaced his flat chest, expanding into small A cups.

“Oh, god this feels…ah …sooo, good!” Ethan exclaimed as he let his hands massage his new assets in circular motions, feeling how sensitive they were becoming, helping them grow to modest B cups.

“Agh! Ewgh! Gah!”Ethan groaned as brought his hands to his face, clenching his teeth together as his face crunched and contorted, as his body worked to give him a less defined jaw line, a smaller nose, and bigger eyes, erasing the last major marks of his masculine face. This also had consequences for his neck; becoming thinner, while his voice finally completely gave way, becoming high pitched and undeniably feminine, as his Adam’s apple disappeared without a trace.

“Hah, hah…ngh…what’s that feeling i-in my — AHH!!” Falling now on all fours, he moaned as his ass started to grow, his thighs becoming softer and thicker, and becoming slightly more plump.

”Mmn…yess…” Ethan said as his messy brown hair grew longer darker, and softer over his face, his shoulders, and finally his back, becoming a dark brown. He rolled over on his back, pushing his new, soft silky hair out of his eyes.

The final changes were being finalized — his thighs and ass grew to their final size, his waist narrowed in one last time, adding slight but noticeable abs to his belly.

Ethan looked down at his body, still overflowing with this essence, this power. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing or feeling, but he couldn’t deny that it felt so good, so rejuvenating.

Now, there was one last thing that need to change. And although he knew what change was coming, he didn’t know what feelings would come with it, nor how intense those feelings would be.

Ethan quickly pushed off his boxers - which barely even hugged his feminine frame at this point - already panting and moaning as he spread his legs wide open, already anticipating the arrival of his womanhood. His dick and balls - which were noticeably smaller than before the changes started - started to shrink. Ethan almost absentmindedly wrapped his now-feminine hand around his cock, and stroke his shrinking member, closing his eyes and tilting his head back, as the new, strong, unapologetic feelings burst from his crotch. His penis - erect and hard from the changes her that had taken place before - twitched and morphed, as if trying to salvage itself form the inevitable, but to no avail. As a new slit formed underneath his ballsack, his balls shrunk one last time, then went inside, becoming his new ovaries. His penis pathetically came one last time, then gurgled as it, too, was pushed inside by his body, becoming a tiny but sensitive clit instead. Ethan opened his eyes and looked at where his dick and balls once were, although now there was only a slit, with a clit at the top of it, just barely sticking out. His fingers on his right hand were coated in both his old cum - sticky and white- and his new cum - slimy and clear.

He was wet.

And he wanted more.

Something was stirring between his legs, the remaining heat and tension from the transformation rushed to his new equipment. It felt as if his vagina was emanating, pulsing with life, begging him to give in to his new body.

And he couldn’t resist the blossoming flower between his legs.

With trembling hands, Ethan touched his slit - he felt his entire body shudder and shiver. He immediately succumbed to the waves of pleasure that glowed in his crotch. At thing point, he started to slowly finger himself, pushing his fingers in and out of his vagina. This action slowly accelerated, his desire, his heat, rose all throughout his body the faster he went, wanting, no, needing to get that last bit of heat out of his system.

Ahh…ahhh!! Yess!!” He moaned, as he fingered himself faster and faster, enjoying the waves of pleasure coming over him.

Then, his eyes widened, and he let out a gasp.

He was almost there.

Faster and faster he went, his mind being completely overtaken by the overwhelming pleasure he was feeling. Sweat reigned supreme over his skin, as warm, panting breaths of a girl in heat escaped Ethan’s lips. This heat, this power, it kept rising, higher and higher, faster and faster, until-

AAAaaahnn!!!” Ethan finally let out on last series of loud, unapologetic moans as his new body arched upwards, squirting cum all over the wooden porch, and his inner thighs. He took his hand and tasted his new cum in his mouth, savoring the taste of his new equipment.

Afterwards, he settled down and closed his eyes. Satisfied, he wore a smile on his face, letting himself rest once again after his hard work was done. He ran his hands all over his new body; him feminine face, and his soft boobs and skin. He sighed and chuckled at his new form, overflowing with relief.

Until he fully realized what had just transpired.

“Wait - h-holy shit! I’m a girl?? H-how…why- what the fuck? He said as he jumped to his feet. He looked around at not only his body, but also at the mess he had made on the porch. “Did…did I actually enjoy this? Oh…oh god…”

“Oh, my…seems like you had a lot of fun, hm?” An unfamiliar voice said behind him.

“A-ah!” Ethan yelped. He covered his mouth, still not used to the voice he was carrying. Then, he covered up his chest and crotch with his clothes, and looked up to the woman that appeared before him.

“Oh, shit! I-I wasn’t doing anything! I’m not here to cause any trouble-“

“Oh, you’re certainly not here to cause trouble, shrine maiden. Quite the opposite, in fact.” The lady smiled smugly and giggled. She wore a long flowing pink and purple dress, and had long blonde hair that flowed under her pink mob cap.

“Shrine maiden? What…what are you talking about? I’m not-“

“Ah, but you are! Ever since you stumbled into this shrine and wished to reside here forever, you were destined to become the shrine maiden - the girl that keeps the peace between all beings, human, youkai, or otherwise, in the land of gensokyo.”

“But I’m not a girl *or* the shrine maiden!”

“Says the one who was just pleasuring herself without a care in the world just a few moments ago.”

Ethan blushed, twirling a lock of his hair with his finger. “L-look, can you just get me out of here? Send me back to the outside world with my old body?”

“Oh, but that’s not how this works, I’m afraid. Although I could teleport you back to your world…no, that would be too boring. And I can’t turn you back into your former self - you wished for this to happen, deep down, after all.”

Speaking of which, your old stuffy clothes don’t fit you anymore, so I ll be taking those.”

She took Ethan’s suit and tie out of her hands and took them with her into her portal, as if they never even existed.

“H-hey! Those are my clothes!” Ethan stammered as he covered up his chest and crotch with his hands.

“I have some clothes that suit you far better. Try them on, I’m sure you’ll like them.” She said smugly.

The strange woman disappeared as she opened a new portal, and Ethan’s apparent new clothes appeared.

“This lady, I swear-“, he muttered under his breath.

Having nothing else on hand to wear, he begrudgingly put them on, which included: a sarashi that covered up his breasts, a red skirt, a red bow, and a sleeveless red top that showed off his midriff and armpits.

After putting everything on, he looked down at the clothes that hugged his body.

His heart skipped a beat, his face turning red.

“O-oh wow…you know, I…I don’t look so bad, I guess.” He said as he tugged at the edges of his skirt, and got a closer look as to how his new clothes fit with his new assets. “As a matter of fact, I do look kinda…cute.”

“See?” The strange lady said as she reappeared behind her again. “Isn’t this so much better than before?”

Ethan nodded, still in awe of the fact that he even took a liking to this new form.

“Now…do you still want to go back to your old, miserable life, in desperate search of fulfillment? Or, would you like to stay here and complete your true task - the task of the shrine maiden, as Reimu Hakurei?”

“I…I…”

“You will make so many friends and so many wonderful memories here, resolving incidents of all kinds - and living in color rather than living in eternal gray. And, of course, you will be paid with donations at the shrine - you will no longer have to worry about running out of those silly human currencies ever again. And when you’re not solving incidents, you would be able to drink tea and relax as much as you please. Now - how does that sound?”

Ethan thought for a moment - he don’t have have in the way of friends, his career wasn’t going anywhere, and he would rather be homeless than return to his parent’s place again. He wanted to start all over again, and in this weird place, he could do just that, as Reimu Hakerei. Not only that, he was really starting to come around to living his life as a girl, especially since the transformation let him - now her - see a side of herself she never gave much thought about before.

“Wait, then…if I’m going to stay here, what am I going to say when I introduce myself - I don’t want people to know who I am - er, used to be.

“We’ll just say that you’re were an orphan, for now, unless you so choose to talk about your past.”

“Hm…I guess we can work out those details later, huh?” Ethan said.

The lady chuckled. “I suppose”, she said as she opened her portal. “There seems to be an incident currently taking place at a certain Scarlet Devil Mansion. To find it, follow the red mist.” Before she left, she stopped and added, “Oh, and before I forget, my name is Yukari Yakumo.” She then disappeared without a trace.

A bewildered Reimu was about to pester this “Yukari” lady some more, until she looked up at the sky. Dark red mist was slowly enveloping the blue sky that she adored, coming form some place she couldn’t see.

“An incident already?? Well, I better get on it, than.” Ethan, now the soon-to-be legendary shrine maiden Reimu Hakurei, accepted her new role in this strange new world. She took out her purification rod, and, after a few attempts of trial and error, she started to fly towards the red mist, looking forward to solving her first incident.