#MS-101 study material

[umbrvx]

i like ur art. its great and interesting!! i really like your artstyle and i really like the way u draw hsy, yjh, and kdj. you captured them so well in terms of vibes/character. also i was wondering do u have any advice to improve on drawing anatomy/poses/faces?

wahh thank you so much...!! i feel like im still trying to figure them out in a lot of ways but i do really like ironing out my visual interpretations of them so im really happy to hear if people like what im coming up with

also anon you super activated the part of my brain that cant help but yap about art theory... i spent some time writing as many tips as i could think of. unfortunately i dont think i have the time currently to do a fully illustrated guide, but ill still try to include some visual examples:

[incoming wall of text lol]

ANATOMY:

to preface i think that like 100% of the time you should reference a real life photo for anatomy rather than other artwork or drawn references. the best way to learn the body is by… well, actually looking at the body! but also artwork is informed by a person's own artistic ability/stylization choices/sense of idealism, so while looking at art can help give you an idea on how to break down forms, i think you would be best served observing real life references. i labor on this point because i do think that having over relied on drawn reference material and avoiding photographic references on the basis of not being interested on realism hindered me as a largely self-taught artist as a kid, so i want to encourage live or photographic reference since anatomy is one of the foundations from which everything else is built on. that being the case, all of my doodles i'm doing for this are going to be for the sake of example rather than to strictly say how you should or should not be drawing something

-> when you are doing a study of a photo, just try copying it as best as you can. pay close attention to the natural lines and shapes of the body -- the S-curve shape of the leg, the triangular shape of the forearm, the trapezoid shape of hips/thighs when they sit, and so on. note where the body folds or squishes or pulls; how mass will shift to accommodate a certain position. if a form is hard to visualize, focus on the negative space and carve that out, rather than strictly drawing the positive space.

don't expect to get it perfect the first time. in fact, iterate on it multiple times to build understanding. try doing it to a timer of 15, then 10, then 5 minutes. doing this will force you to have to prioritize the most important shapes. you can help reinforce this by using a thicker brush or a brush with no pen pressure (no joke ms paint works great for this) to force you to be loose and not become preoccupied with details.

-> pinterest is a great resource for finding and compiling photo reference material

-> organic shapes are curved, so embracing/emphasizing that (particularly for the extremities) can help make your drawings look more natural or fluid

POSES: -> it all begins & ends with contrapposto… you've probably heard of the line of action, which is related. if you're offsetting the shoulders & hips, it: makes poses more natural, more dynamic, and helps the pose sort of "draw itself" -- the legs will follow the direction of the hips, and you can use the arms to reinforce the angles

-> context is key. don't ask: what pose should i draw? instead ask: what do i want this character to convey? what does happiness, anger, sadness, and so forth look on this particular character? how do they express that? consider these drawings: these are both ostensibly the same pose, but look at how changing just the shape of the spine recontextualizes it.

for more on pose design i recommend watching Tracer & Pose Design 101 - The Animation of Overwatch by New Frame Plus (i promise this is a genuinely super informative video).

to expand on this, in general, all of the components of a piece (background, composition, pose, etc.) are best considered in conjunction rather than separately. it is difficult to choose a pose and then choose a background because they are missing the context that would make a piece cohesive. when you are planning a drawing, try to begin with your general concept/idea/prompt and then do several thumbnails -- small and quick doodles that should take no longer than 5 minutes each -- developing it: you may find that the pose and bg will naturally fall into place.

-> silhouette: the degree to which you need to push this varies by style but generally speaking the pose needs to be readable; i.e. instantly recognizable. try to keep important elements of the gesture outside of the silhouette. for example, if the character is pointing, keep that arm out of the interior of the body. the same pose can be more or less readable or dynamic depending on where the character is pointed in relation to the viewer

-> exaggeration!! goes along with the previous point. push the pose as much as you can (and what makes sense for your style) to communicate your pose as clearly and as intensely as possible.

FACES: -> i highly recommend the app Handy Art Reference Tool by Belief Engine for all things related to drawing hands/heads/feet. its on both android and ios. it isn't free -- it costs around $3 -- but that is seriously such a small price to pay for the amount of utility you get out of it: the hands models are fully poseable (there's also pose presets), you can rotate the head models however you want, and there is 3-point customizable lighting. it is really helpful for getting those super tricky and hyperspecific head angles that you just can't find a real life reference for. that being said given that there's only a few different head model variants, bear in mind how differences in features can affect what exactly a face will look like in those angles.

-> i still recommend doing studies of real people. as with anything else, learning generalized proportions is important, even if you are going to later on bend or break this depending on style

-> as for my own approach... it kind of depends on the style i'm doing at that particular time. for my paintings (what id consider my main style) i approach a character with a few real-world features in mind and then apply them to the best of my ability. it usually will take a few iterations to land on an interpretation i really like as i try out different things. a lot of the face also gets developed during rendering rather than through my initial sketch too, as i adjust for lighting and correct proportions on the fly

(look how much this image changes between sketch and render lol)

if i were to recommend anything, i think it would be to nail down your most distinct features first -- the ones that will make your character's face recognizable, and could apply regardless of art style. in my case with kim dokja, i knew when i first started drawing him that i wanted to give him a longer face and down-turned eyes. when i decided to do the disco elysium inspired set, in which i was breaking out of my comfort zone by letting go of any idealizations focusing on conveying characterization/making them feel "real", i landed on some more specific traits (defined lower lids/perpetually tired eyes/eyebags(?) the crease there idk how to describe it) which i continue to try to evoke even if im drawing something much more cartoony

(pictured are my first kdj -> disco elysium style -> my post de-style kdj)

as a side note, this very same process changed yjh much more dramatically

(^ that first guy is mad someone else)

those handful of key features will be the thing that you can then take into a simpler style and simplify or exaggerate to whatever degree suits you. you can also play with shape theory (square = sturdy/solid, circle = natural/smooth/welcoming, triangle = energetic/dangerous). shape theory doesn't necessarily need to be so rigid -- you can combine shapes as you please to convey whatever vibe you're going for -- so please think of it as a tool that may help rather than a rigid law you must abide by.

-> expressions: exaggerate them. thats kind of it!! make it big!!! you wanna be able to really feel those emotions. the principles of squash & stretch help here: think of how the muscles move when you, say, open the eyes or mouth really big. as one side of the face stretches open, the other side squashes to accommodate it

even without changing the position of the jaw here, moving the nose and scrunching the eyes will sell the expression

you can also play with squash/stretch to break proportions to sell a feeling more

since expressions are just, well, poses for the face, everything else for poses applies here (and facial expressions & pose should also be considered in tandem). while the term contrapposto itself just refers to the offset of the shoulders & hips, the similar principle of asymmetry also carries here as that will help make the expression a bit more dynamic.

and i think... that's it!! all i can think of at least. i hope it helps anon!!!

[kapehafuzo-blog]

Valid MS-101 exam questions study material test and tips to pass Microsoft MS-101 exam in first try.

Getting Ready for Microsoft 365 Mobility and Security Microsoft 365.

 Have you applied for MS-101 Microsoft 365 Mobility and Security Microsoft 365 If so, let us now guide you through a passage to pass the said exam in flying colors? Did you know that recently IT has grown so powerful that having a certification such as Microsoft 365 Certification name on your resume will definitely increase your resume’s worth. If you intend to take the exam you must know that there are some consequences. Generally, candidates fall back in the mid of their MS-101 training due to the hard term used in it. If you want a way out, Testmayor is offering fabulous MS-101 dumps.

These Microsoft Dumps PDF is one of a kind as they have been prepared using the best professionals help. Our experts have poured in their full attention toward making our Exam Dumps a success. So, you can pass the Microsoft 365 Certification Exam with no difficulties at all. Get ready for a full-fledged training with the effective test material. You’ll be successfully certified in just a matter of time.

Authentic MS-101 Practice Questions for Getting Highest Possible Marks in Microsoft 365 Mobility and Security Microsoft 365.

 There are so many reasons you should choose Testmayor for your Microsoft test practice one of them being that, we are been working in this field for a long time and we know all the ups and downs of preparing a tough certification exam such as this Microsoft 365 MS-101 practice test. There are many websites selling fake and copied Sample Questions and you wouldn’t want to become a part of their fraud schemes. That is why choosing a certified website such as Testmayor is to your advantage.

We are selling High-Quality and Authentic Free MS-101 questions answers practice test after having the approval of Famous Professionals who have work in the industry for years and know their work to its extreme mastery. Besides this, our staff is very hardworking and dedicated to keep the Microsoft PDF maintained at the most updated state. We follow the latest patterns and include newest features to our MS-101 practice test questions answers on regular basis.

Plus, there is the real-like atmosphere we provide through our braindumps. Microsoft 365 Mobility and Security Dumps are 100% Real and contain actual content close to the genuine exam questions to provide skills and knowledge according to your Microsoft 365 Certification Exam.

How Can You Pass Microsoft 365 MS-101 in the First Attempt Inexpensively?

 When we get down to buying MS-101 practice exam questions it is a tough matter in itself. Why? First, like mentioned before many a Microsoft 365 Certificating Exam test material will be forged and if not and they are actually good then the prices are going to be so high you’ll think you are going bankrupt.

That is another quality of spending your money on our Microsoft Braindumps. We are not demanding any high price just reasonable price for what our Microsoft 365 Mobility and Security Real Exam Dumps are worth and we are assuring you that your money is not going to get wasted at any cost. To us, our customer’s satisfaction is No.1 Priority and there is no risking it.

Other than this we have also considered the fact that you certainly cannot sit all day long glued to your PCs or laptops for Microsoft 365 Mobility and Security Certification Exam training. So, we made our MS-101 study material downloadable as well as printable. Now you study all the key questions for Microsoft 365 Certification Exam without being troubled about having an online connection at your home.

The only thing needed to be done is buying these amazing MS-101 exam questions study material you will good enough to pass Microsoft Certification Exam in a short time.

  Get A Free Demo with Your MS-101 Practice Questions.

 What can be more convincing than having to have a chance to test the Microsoft 365 Mobility and Security test material? Yes! You can do that now, with the Free Demo Featured with all the real structure of MS-101 practice exam PDF available at Testmayor. You can test if the Microsoft PDF Dumps are suited enough for your training by availing free demo. What’s more, you will also get a 3-month period full of free updates starting from your Microsoft 365 MS-101 Dumps purchase.

There are tons of our customers all over the world that testify that they have been very much blessed to have been able to pass Microsoft 365 Mobility and Security Certification Exam. And it was all because of our Microsoft MS-101 braindumps. Get your set now and start reaching forward to a bright future! For any other questions and detailed information, you can contact our 24 hours active customer service.

https://www.testmayor.com/MS-101-test.html

[joinwicks-blog]

Dumpsprofessor is the most famous platform for IT students. It is popular due to its superior MS-101 Dumps. This content is a sign of victory because of the generality of the study material. The study material is contained in all enough information. After prepared from this study guide, no one could fail in the final Exam. It means the staff will surely give you success with cashback guarantee. No one site provides the surety with cashback, just those who have confidence in the IT experts' team. Our clients are given surety because we are confident about our MS-101 Study Material. We offer our clients free sample questions for pre-checking. If you are satisfied with this, then purchase Microsoft 365 Exam content; otherwise, the decision will be up to you. Not only the free sample offer but many more, for view all these visits Dumpsprofessor and get all info about the Exam.

[dumpsproffesor]

A great revolution has been brought by MS-101 Dumps in the world. Almost in every career, IT has its own place now. Since the development in IT field is growing, the demand for IT experts is also growing. Our website is helping IT students to become professional by providing the best MS-101 Practice Test for IT exams. Our IT Field professionals have organized this best study guide, especially for IT students. This study material is managed and arrange in such a way that all types of learners can effortlessly learn and make the best use of it. Just to clear your doubts, the version of Free Demo Questions are also accessible free of cost. We make sure to keep you informed with all the latest knowledge about your all upcoming exams through our website. We also have a money-back assurance plan which will support you to get your cash back in case of failure. IT Microsoft 365 Exam can help you secure maximum success and we are providing you the best way to do this. If you want a revolution in your life just like the revolution brought about by IT in the world, you need to prepare from our Dumpsprofessor.

[harryhanks]

We have taken assistance from our certified specialists to frame Questions Answers to help competitors in their planning. The MS-101 Exam Practice Test has ended up being a worthwhile undertaking, and we have gotten extremely grateful inputs. Free check to demo questions is accessible for everybody on Dumpsprofessor so that you can ensure a valid Q&A. This Microsoft 365 Exam study material offers unconditional promise, which ensures your installment's arrival if you discover our examination stuff pointless. We assurance your passing declaration that you will get your ideal assessments. Study staff will assist you with blowing your confirmation by the primary endeavor. You can get a too intensive comprehension of the field by getting appose data from MS-101 Dumps. We don't bargain with the quality organization that we give to our customers. So your fulfillment is our most extreme priority.

[mariagarcia00073-blog]

Microsoft MS-101 Exam should no more just a dream for you because now MS-101 dumps material is available for quick and complete preparation. This highly recommended and useful study guide can be downloaded right now from DumpsProfessor. It is being offered at affordable rates for all candidates. When you will be preparing from this short material, you will get a few other services including tutorship by experienced experts. MS-101 PDF questions and answers have examined every aspect of the field with scholarly approach. Any IT student of average mind set can easily build concepts through this series. There should remain no doubts about the usefulness of MS-101 dumps after your assessment of free demo questions. Go through this material now, practice with Online Practice Test and get your dreamt certification.

[dumpsprofessor43]

Frameworks Microsoft 365  Exam questions and answers have attempted direct in the orchestrating of understudies and have cut assessment control. This substantial appraisal teaching guide and understudies can get accomplishment by following the titles of the specialists who sufficiently help. You will get a wise vision into the field by analytical the solicitations and answers carefully. In case you need to excuse your requests concerning Microsoft  Online Test Engine delivers then you should download free demo questions. We will give you the most new updates of authorization liberated from cost which will contribution you with orchestrating your assessments under the administration of our guaranteed experts. You are endorsed to rapidly download MS-101 Dumps PDF report with the target that you can spare time. You can discover uphold by downloading from the Dumpsprofessor.com of pretest practice.

[williamjames786]

So you want operative MS-101 Dumps Question Answers to get through the finals of your certifications? Well, you might be having a lucky day since Realexamdumps.com has been offering a lot of helpful study material related to IT certifications on discounts. Yes, the site was formed by a passionate team of IT professionals and teachers that resulted in a full-stack operational platform for students. Whether you want to get trained for your Microsoft 365 Mobility and Security (beta) Exam or any other test, the site contains a diverse amount of study material to get prepared with. They have updated notes, audio files, and methods and strategies to help you succeed with your exams. Furthermore, their efficient approach will also help you get Microsoft 365 at an unprecedented pace and a handsome discount rate. Interested in finding more about the site? Why not click the link in the description for a quick tour?

[henryhunter661]

We need each understudy to fulfill their life-related needs to their MS-101 Dumps PDF. We acknowledge this pandemic is the best adversary throughout this revolutionary period. Our understudies are encountering the great loss of their preparation. We make unfit to let this pandemic break the study material chain and prepare in the long run. We can fight for it as this is the hour of 2020, and all relies upon developments and the web. Why not get a benefit from it now? Is it accurate to state that you are finding the correct stage for it? IT accreditation MS-101 Mock Exam data moreover for the main undertaking. We have giant amounts of up-and-comers who are as much as possible from their position and posts holding the degree if IT readily and achieves regard. We furthermore need you to benefit from our administrations, which are not over the top than your visions and our battle and truthfulness. Similarly, as it goes with a completely 100% Money-back Guarantee, questions, and answers are given as Microsoft 365 material. Visit please for additional information at Dumps4Download.

[joinwicks-blog]

Dumpsprofessor is the most famous platform for IT students. It is popular due to its superior MS-101 Dumps. This content is a sign of victory because of the generality of the study material. The study material is contained in all enough information. After prepared from this study guide, no one could fail in the final Exam. It means the staff will surely give you success with cashback guarantee. No one site provides the surety with cashback, just those who have confidence in the IT experts' team. Our clients are given surety because we are confident about our MS-101 Study Material. We offer our clients free sample questions for pre-checking. If you are satisfied with this, then purchase Microsoft 365 Exam content; otherwise, the decision will be up to you. Not only the free sample offer but many more, for view all these visits Dumpsprofessor and get all info about the Exam.

[dumpsproffesor]

A great revolution has been brought by MS-101 Dumps in the world. Almost in every career, IT has its own place now. Since the development in IT field is growing, the demand for IT experts is also growing. Our website is helping IT students to become professional by providing the best MS-101 Practice Test for IT exams. Our IT Field professionals have organized this best study guide, especially for IT students. This study material is managed and arrange in such a way that all types of learners can effortlessly learn and make the best use of it. Just to clear your doubts, the version of Free Demo Questions are also accessible free of cost. We make sure to keep you informed with all the latest knowledge about your all upcoming exams through our website. We also have a money-back assurance plan which will support you to get your cash back in case of failure. IT Microsoft 365 Exam can help you secure maximum success and we are providing you the best way to do this. If you want a revolution in your life just like the revolution brought about by IT in the world, you need to prepare from our Dumpsprofessor.

[yes-robert-pattinson-blr]

It has become the basic need of IT candidates to consult experts and seek help from a valid and authentic study guide for the preparation of Exams. Dumps4Download has sought help from experts to compile MS-101 Dumps PDF to help students in their Exam preparation. The specialists have done their work with success in gaining their goal and have helped many IT candidates with unbelievable services. If you are also going to appear in Azure Data Engineer Associate Exam then must seek help from our authentic study material. Our performance of information is unique that attracts readers and fills them with knowledge. MS-101 Question Answers brief every Exam topic to deliver a complete sense in comprehensive way. You get Lab questions here for confirmation of quality. Use exam Testing Engine for the best performance and take advantage from Money Back Guarantee.

[vicky-ricky]

Success for your MS-101 exam is waiting for you’re at Realexamdumps

Now it has become easier to pass MS-101 exam by using MS-101 dumps pdf as your study guide. Microsoft 365 is a well reputed IT certification which is required in all the technology related organizations. With the increasing demand of this certification the competition has also heightened. But Realexamdumps has created MS-101 dumps which can help you prepare your IT exam easily. This exam material covers all the syllabus topics by filling very apposite information in the form of questions and answers. All the questions and answers included in this study material are fully verified by the experts. By memorizing all the questions, you will be able to answer all the questions in the final exam and will get your desired grades. This handy study material will save your time by giving exactly relevant information and give you’re a competent understanding of the field. This can be considered a passing guarantee chit from the experts to students.

Unique Reading Experience

You will have advanced reading experience with MS-101 question answers. All the information will be provided in PDF file. You can simply access it from anywhere and anytime. You don’t need to keep a hard copy with you all the time because you can keep it in your smart device.

Valid Information in Q&A

This guidebook is designed in the form of questions and answers to make everything easy for students. Questions have been answered skillfully with exact and relevant information. All the questions and answers are fully valid and verified by qualified field experts.

Free Demo Questions

You will get MS-101 dumps at very cheap price but you can get free demo questions which will help you say about the quality of the full content. As all the information is valid and verified so there will not remain any confusion between the concepts. You will get a thorough and clear understanding of the field.

Compact and Handy Dumps Material

You will not be entangled in irrelevant information but only relevant and concerned knowledge will be encompassed. The information has been filled appositely to form a compact and handy guidebook. It will not only save your time but give you a deep understanding in simple and easy way.

Easy to Download

MS-101 dumps PDF can easily be downloaded from Realexamdumps. You don’t have to go through complicated process instead you will get access to the file with a single click. You will be charged very reasonable price for such a reliable and useful study material.

Online Test Engine  

If you finish your study material before the commencement of your exam, you can practice at online search engine. This search engine will enhance your confidence and boost your performance. By Practicing through this online practice test you will be able to solve all the questions in the final exam. You will also be given all the updates regarding your exam free of cost. If you want to get further information, you can contact us at info@realexamdumps.com.

[elizabethchapmanlove]

It's hard to breeze through Pass4sure MS-101 Online Test Engine without the correct requests and answers and understudies are continually confused with the choice of strong assessment material. Credit goes to Dumpspass4sure which has handled this issue with the introduction of study material. Directly you'll have the choice to easily download limited PDF records from this site page just by a tick. You don't have to wander to collect the related information since now you get everything in one group resembling MS-101 Dumps PDF. For your satisfaction, you're certain to complete your test by the fundamental undertaking yet just in case of disillusionment your money will be returned. To settle on the most ideal decision of study material, you ought to download Microsoft 365 Exam material. This material covers all the pieces of the zone with an exhaustive view. After the fulfillment of the test material you may be skilled have a response for any request inside the last test. Demo questions are valuable to test the standard of the general work. Educational plan will be downloaded in PDF structure. Preparing from this genuine material you'll have the alternative to successfully ace your attestation.

[harryhanks]

Many students give tests as a result of not having a legitimate report material for arrangement. Dumpsprofessor has learned the preparation by introducing a study at a low cost. You can get the extreme achievement of Microsoft exams at this utilitarian investigation PDF Guide, and you will likewise be given conditional promise. If you stay ineffective in some of your efforts to our staff, your cash will be refunded. There is no option of disappointment, and you will know these real Microsoft 365 Exam questions by downloading our demo questions without any cost. By traversing these expertly structured inquiries and answers, you won't locate any troublesome inquiries in the last test. You will get free most recent test redesigns. It would help if you conveyed your attention to Microsoft MS-101 Dumps and follow our past top specialists' rules. These dumps will give you to the point information on the documented, which can be tried through online practice tests before the test.

[kythed]

circus mirrors & stereo hearts

sugawara koushi x reader

this one goes out to my new friend, @twat-101 :) it’s a bit long, but I hope you still like it ! sending lotsa love your way <3

synopsis: (y/n) is struggling with her mental health so her best friend suga-san invites her over to study. general chaos and dumbassery ensues.

warnings: some swearing, mentions of mental health struggles, suga’s tone deaf singing.

word count: 4,226

--

Koushi always kept his windows open. Always.

In the winter, this transformed his room into a tiny Antarctica, replete with stray snowflakes, but in the summer, it meant cool tradewinds cutting through the typically stifling heat, creating a little pocket of the ideal climate. You often found yourself there in these warmer months, perched on the corner of his bed, contently listening to him blithely gossip about his teammates or playing a giggly game of Connect Four rife with not so subtle cheating.

Today, a sunny August Saturday, was no different. Koushi sat cross legged on the carpet. Sprawled out across his pale blue comforter, which smelled of fresh linen and that familiar Old Spice he’d been wearing since the eighth grade, you listened to him recite a chapter from your history book, something about post World War II foreign policy. Struggling to remain attentive, however, you found yourself spiraling into those cheerless resignations of hopelessness that had been far too frequent for you lately.

“--which resulted in Europe’s economic recovery chiefly in terms of raw materials, food, and fuel. The Soviet Union soon attempted to replicate a similar plan but ultimately-- hey, (Y/N)?”

You blinked hard and sunk back into reality, turning onto your cheek to look Koushi in his big brown eyes full of rather matronly concern. “Hmm?”

“Do you know what we’re learning about right now?” he asked, sounding both amused and disapproving. A strand of grey fell in front of his face and he quickly blew it away, smiling slightly. “Because it seems like you’ve been zoning out for the last ten or so minutes. I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt, but Mr. Shishido specifically said this chapter was going to be on the test.”

“Uh… something about muzzer Roosia?” you joked with an exaggerated accent.

Koushi rolled his eyes and flicked your forehead. You yelped and glared at him reproachfully. “We were talking about the Marshall Plan. The United States’ recovery aid program for Western Europe after wartime devastation.”

“Right, right, I knew that,” you protested as Koushi tugged on your forearms and you toppled off the bed, nearly landing right on top of him. With a soft laugh, he extracted his limbs from yours and plopped his head into your lap like he used to when you were kids, resting beneath the boughs of that little oak tree in his backyard, listening to a choir of cicadas croon under a late afternoon sun. The ghost of a grin flitted over your face as you looked back on those halcyon days of your childhood. Usually Koushi’s mom would come out onto the porch with a couple of already-melting lemon popsicles in hand, and the two of you would scramble out of each other’s embrace and tear towards her, breathlessly racing for a priceless reward of sweet smiles and sticky hands.

What you wouldn’t give to go back to that time of gleeful oblivion, before your world became characterized by that all too persistent self-consciousness and excruciating anxiety. What you wouldn’t give to once again feel worthy of Koushi’s innocent adoration…

“--(Y/N)!”

For the second time today, you shook yourself awake. Koushi gazed up at you, brows furrowed. “Sorry, what were you saying?”

“I was asking if you needed to take a little study break. Obviously, you do. I swear, your attention span gets shorter every day.” He pointed somewhere behind you. “Mind grabbing my phone? It’s on the bed.”

You leaned over as far as you could without disturbing Koushi’s position, head still nestled in your lap, and swept your hand over the covers before it bumped into his phone, which you promptly snatched and dropped onto his stomach. He gave a soft “oomph” at the impact before pulling up his Spotify and selecting a playlist, the cover of which was a selfie of the two of you at last year’s spring carnival. A blurred sakura tree provided the perfect backdrop for your smiling faces pressed cheek-to-cheek to fit in the frame. Sugar dusted the corners of Koushi’s mouth, the last trace of the powdered donut you’d shared right before.

“What’s that? I don’t think I’ve listened to that one before.” You reached for the phone, but Koushi held it out just out of reach as music began to play, batting your hand away. “I look awful in that picture; you could’ve chosen something a little more flattering.”

“Oh, shush. You looked pretty that day, wearing that blue sundress with the little flowers on the hem… blue really suits you, you know.” Koushi smiled fondly at his screen, and you blushed despite yourself. “It’s a compilation of all our songs. I listened to this a lot last summer when you were in France with your family for a month. Whenever I missed you. You were off climbing the Eiffel Tower or making croissants and I was lounging around here, bored out of my mind and wishing you were home so we could be bored together.”

“You sappy bastard,” you said, though you really felt quite touched. “I didn’t even realize we had a song.”

“Not just a song,” he corrected. “Songs. Plural. Most of the songs we’ve ever listened to together, I reckon. Anything that reminds me of you, I put on here.”

“Why in the world would you do that?” you asked, aghast at his effort.

Koushi laughed at your surprise. “You’re my best friend, (Y/N). And believe or not, you mean a lot to me. I just like remembering the stuff we’ve done together.”

You nodded slowly, letting your fingers rest on his forehead and gently play with his grey locks. His eyes closed as you settled into a brief, comfortable almost-silence, tainted only by the soft, muffled melody trickling from tiny phone speakers. You cocked your head. “What song is this?”

“You don’t remember?” Koushi asked, sounding almost offended. He turned the volume up a few notches and held the phone closer to your ear.

Let's Marvin Gaye and get it on

You got the healing that I want

Just like they say it in the song

Until the dawn, let's Marvin Gaye and get it on

“I don’t know if--” you cut off as it dawned on you. “Wait… no way. This isn’t…?”

“It is.” Koushi laughed as your face flushed a vivid crimson. “Uchimura’s party.”

Though embarrassed, you grinned, remembering that night. “The song that played at her twelfth birthday while we were in the closet during seven minutes in heaven.”

“We were way too young for that dumb game,” Koushi said with a smile, shaking his head. “God, I was so nervous. That was my first kiss, you know.”

“It was mine too,” you admitted. You remembered sitting on the carpeted floor of Uchimura’s rather cramped closet, knees touching, just barely able to see the outline of Koushi’s face illuminated by the smallest sliver of light shining through a crack in the door. He’d leaned forward, taking your hand in his own small clammy one. “It was really just a peck, though. It might not have counted.”

“It counted,” said Koushi firmly. “Whenever I get asked about my first kiss, I say it was ours. I say it was the best one I’ve ever had, too.”

You shook your head with a soft laugh. “Now, I know that’s a lie. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing.”

“Neither did I,” agreed Koushi. He caught your eye, crinkling his nose cutely. “That’s what made it so sweet. It was innocent. I tasted your bubblegum chapstick on my lips afterwards.”

“Bubblegum chapstick, huh?” You rolled your eyes and poked him softly in the ribs. “I couldn’t look you straight in the eyes for like three weeks after that.”

“I remember. You kept running away whenever I tried to talk to you.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m not sure we would’ve even stayed friends if Ms. Miyato hadn’t partnered us up for the volcano project at the end of that month.” You recalled those afternoons spent in Koushi’s kitchen, newspapers covering every visible surface and a huge, paper-mache volcano resting on the dining table, splattered with orange and yellow paint and smelling strongly of Elmer’s glue and vinegar. Oftentimes, work sessions would dissolve into paint fights, staining your school uniforms with small, colorful hand prints.

“Nah,” said Koushi confidently. “I wouldn’t have let you go that easily.”

“Maybe you should’ve,” you said under your breath.

Koushi stared at you for a second, sighing. Then he reached up to grasp your hand, interlocking his fingers with yours and softly stroking his thumb across your palm. “You know, it was Uchimura’s eighteenth last weekend. You didn’t come.”

“Yeah. I had to study.” That was a lie. You just hadn’t thought anyone really wanted you there. Uchimura had been a friend of yours for years, but she had plenty of other friends to celebrate with. Probably didn’t even notice you weren’t there…

“She asked me where you were,” Koushi continued. “I said I didn’t know because you didn’t answer my texts that night.”

“Sorry,” you said quietly, avoiding eye contact. “Studying.”

“On a Friday night?” You didn’t answer, and Koushi squeezed your hand. “I had to choose Daichi for my charades partner… do you have any idea how shit he is at charades? He flopped on the ground and started convulsing, so I guessed ‘epilepsy.’ Guess what the word really was.”

“What?”

“Orgasm. The word was orgasm. You’d think he could just execute a simple pelvic thrust and make a face, but no, he had to go ahead and act like my great uncle Kaito when he had that heart attack at his ninety-fifth birthday last year.”

You cracked a small smile, imagining Daichi violently wiggling on the floor like a fish out of water. “Sounds like I missed out, then.”

“You really did,” said Koushi, eyes twinkling. He suddenly got solemn. “I missed you. Would’ve been a million times more fun with you there.”

“I doubt it.” You fiddled with the edge of your shirt, smile fading. “I can be a real killjoy sometimes.”

“Not to me,” said Koushi. “Whenever you walk into the room, suddenly that’s the only room I wanna be in.”

Your breath caught in your throat and you swallowed thickly. “Koushi… why are you telling me this?”

“You’ve been avoiding me,” he said simply. He took your hand again, the one that had been playing with his hair, and held it to his chest. You felt his heart beat erratically beneath your palm. “You’ve been avoiding all our friends in general.”

“That’s not true,” you protested, though your heart sank. He had noticed. You wished you didn’t have to drag him into all your problems. “I’ve just been busy.”

“Busy with what, (Y/N)? Homework? Our physics teacher came and talked to me at my locker after school, asking if you’ve been struggling with any personal issues, because apparently you haven’t been turning in your assignments.” Koushi glanced up at you. “It seems like you’ve just been locked away in your room whenever you’re not in class. Not doing work, not going out. Remember a couple weeks ago, when I asked if you wanted to go see that movie with me at the drive-in? You said you had a family dinner in town, but later I passed by on my bike and your bedroom light was on. And today, it took four separate phone calls before you finally picked up and I managed to invite you over… I’ve been worried.”

“Maybe I’m just changing,” you protested weakly. “That’s a thing that happens. People change.”

“I agree, you have been changing. Just not for the better.” Koushi squeezed your hand again, his skin warm on your own. “I haven’t seen you smile, really smile, for ages. You’re always faking these days. What’s going on?”

“I…” you trailed off, trying to think of some excuse. The last thing you wanted was for Koushi to see what was really going on inside your head.

“The truth, (Y/N).”

You relented, shoulders sagging. “Just been tired, I guess.”

“Tired of what?”

“Tired of…” Your eyes grew moist despite your best efforts and you fought to keep from choking on the sob rising up your throat.

“Tired of…?” he pressed on, eyebrow raised.

Your next words tumbled out in a rush. “Just tired of being me, okay? It’s like… it’s just like, whenever I look in the mirror… I don’t like what I see. I don’t like myself, so I don’t want to be me anymore. I’m so tired of it. And I feel like everyone else is, too. Everyone is tired of my shit, so I thought I’d just do you all a favor and disappear.”

Your words stunned Koushi into silence. He remained resting in your lap for a few long seconds before he felt something hot and wet roll down his cheek. A tear. But not his own.

He looked up just in time for another one of your tears to land on his face, right underneath his eye. Quickly, he sat up and tenderly cupped your face in his hands, gently brushing the tears away with his thumbs. “Oh, (Y/N)... c’mere. That’s such bullshit.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” you hiccupped as he pulled you into his lap by your waist-- facing him-- and gingerly tucked your head into the crook of his neck. “I’m sorry you have to see me like this. It’s gross, I know.”

“It’s not gross,” said Koushi, fiercely hugging you to his chest. “It’s much better than watching you try to pretend like you’re fine. I don’t care if your snot gets on my shirt-- that’s a small price to pay. So long as I can be there for you right now.”

You cried harder, immense guilt racking your body at his inexplicable kindness. “I’ve been treating you terribly these past few months, but you’re still so good to me. Goddamnit, Koushi. I don’t deserve you.”

Koushi pulled you back by the shoulders, narrowed eyes searching your face, though tears continued to stream down your cheeks. “(Y/N). You don’t have to earn my love.”

“I-- love?” you asked, eyes wide. You snatched a tissue from Koushi’s bedside table and blew your nose loudly.

“Yeah,” he said firmly, without missing a beat. “I said it. I love you. And don’t ask if I mean in a friend way or a girlfriend way, because the answer is neither. I love you like you’re the person I wanna spend the rest of my life with. I don’t care if that means as, like, your husband or just as your best friend. Whatever I can get, I’m happy with, because I love you like you’re a part of me. Unconditionally. I thought you knew that.”

“Please, don’t say that,” you sobbed, covering your face with your hands. “I’m not good enough for you. I’m really not.”

Koushi pulled your hands away so he could look you in the eye. “What don't you understand about the term ‘unconditional love’? It’s unconditional. There is literally nothing you nor anyone else can say or do to change that. Unconditional love is not a feeling, it’s a choice, and I’ve made that choice. I’ve had nearly two decades to think about it, so now I’m telling you I will love you no matter what. I always have, alright? This isn’t exactly how I wanted to say it, but it’s true.”

You stared at him, disbelieving. You hadn’t known he’d felt this way. Of course, you two had been partners-in-crime your entire lives, and you couldn’t count the number of times he’d materialized at your side as soon as you were in the slightest bit of trouble. Whenever you were a dollar short at the canteen, he’d stuff a five in your hand and push you towards the front of the line. That time you went camping with his family and you forgot your sleeping bag, he’d given you his and spent the night shivering. He always carried an extra pen for you because yours often inexplicably ran out of ink in the middle of a test. He’d been there for every crush, boyfriend, and breakup, cheering you on and drying your tears when the time came. He’d been there when your pet dog died and you planned a funeral in your backyard, complete with a little cardboard headstone, holding an umbrella above your head when it began to rain but you weren’t done mourning. He’d just always been there when you needed him.

You’d tried to be there for him, too, because, as you had begun to realize, his pain was your pain and vice versa. That time when you were six and he’d lost his favorite stuffed animal (a giraffe) it had felt like you’d lost yours too. That day in junior high when he fell out of the oak tree trying to retrieve a stray frisbee and broke his arm, you swore you felt the same pain in yours. Last year when he got dumped outside the gym on Valentine’s Day and you found him sitting in a corner, trying to hide the fact he’d obviously been crying-- you’d stayed late to crack stupid jokes and eat the chocolate he meant to give to his girlfriend, because he deserved a girl who would eat the damn chocolate. Not stomp on his heart and leave it to bleed. I love you like you’re a part of me. You understood.

“It’s okay to not be okay sometimes, but it’s not okay to bundle it all up and bury it deep inside when you have someone right next to you wanting to help you bear that burden.” Koushi’s voice shook just slightly. “It just… it hurts to see you like this, okay? (Y/N), if you love me back, then let me help you. Let me be there for you. Please.”

You were silent for a moment, staring into his pleading eyes. Those beautiful brown eyes.

Then you took a deep breath and started laughing through the tears. You were sure you looked insane, puffy eyes, red nose, and mascara running down your cheeks, but it didn’t matter. “I do. I love you, too. I love you. I didn’t know I loved you before, but now I do, because if you were torn away from me that heartbreak would probably kill me. No, it would definitely kill me. And it would hurt like a motherfucker while it did.”

Koushi let out the breath he’d been holding then, after a brief pause, began to laugh with you as you laced your arms around the back of your neck. “Oh, yeah? Well, losing you would probably hurt like a father-fucker to me.”

“Is that worse than a motherfucker?” you asked, giggling at the ridiculousness of it all. Here you were, bawling on the floor of your best friend’s room while you confessed your love to one another and cussed each other out at the same time.

“For sure. It’s a million times worse than a motherfucker. It’s like, if something hurting like a motherfucker is the equivalent of getting shot by a Nerf gun, something hurting like a fatherfucker probably feels like getting run over by a tank.” Koushi intertwined his fingers with yours yet again and smiled.

“You’re a dumbass,” you said, but you laughed anyways as Koushi looked proud of himself.

“I know,” he said softly, affectionately. “But I’m your dumbass.”

You sighed and shook your head. “I’d love you to be. But you could still do so much better than me--”

“Will you stop saying that, already?” Koushi took your face in his hand, stroking his thumb right beneath your eye. “You’re the most radiant person I’ve ever met. Notice how I didn’t say ‘beautiful’ because the word beautiful doesn’t even begin to cover it. Although you are that, too.”

“Oh, goodness. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again-- you’re so sappy.”

Koushi rolled his eyes with a smile. “Yeah, I am. You like it though.”

“You caught me,” you said as he leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to your forehead. You leaned into it, savoring the warmth of his lips on your skin. “I do.”

“But really, (Y/N),” he said seriously. “It astounds me that you don’t realize that.”

“Don’t realize what?”

“That you’re cool! You’re so cool and fun and awesome. And a zillion other adjectives I could sit here and list out for hours. You’re the only person who can make me laugh when I cry, and you make the best hot chocolate I’ve ever tasted, and you’re a literal god at Mario Kart, and you’ve got the prettiest eyes I’ve ever had the privilege to look into.” You flushed as Koushi thought for a moment, chewing on his lip before his eyes widened. “It’s kinda like a circus mirror, I think.”

“What?” You furrowed your brow.

“The way you see yourself is like someone looking into one of those circus mirrors. It makes you look too tall, or really squished, or just bent out of shape in general. And if that was the only mirror you’d ever looked into, you’d probably think that ugly, distorted reflection is how you actually look in real life. You can’t see yourself for how amazing you really are-- but everyone else can.”

“Well, aren’t you just full of relevant analogies today?” you teased. A circus mirror. Now that was something new. You had to give Koushi credit for the comparison-- it actually did kind of make sense.

“What can I say?” he said, puffing out his chest. “I’m a poet.”

“So I guess that would make you my real mirror then?” you offered shyly. Koushi looked confused for a second. “If the way I see myself is supposedly ‘distorted,’ then you can reflect to me how I supposedly really am.”

“Oh, yes!” he said happily. “I’m the mirror. I like that. Quit talking like you don’t believe me, though. You’re incredible. A little thick-skulled sometimes, yes, but incredible nonetheless.”

“It’s going to be hard for me,” you said quietly, gently running a hand through his hair. “Really hard. I haven’t liked myself for a long time.”

“I know. I know. But someday, you’ll be able to understand what a beautiful human being you are. I’m sure of it. I need you to promise you won’t give up until that happens.”

He held out his pinky for a pinky swear, something you two did frequently as children. You smiled and laced your pinky with his. “Alright. I promise.”

“Good.” Koushi stood up, brushed the wrinkles from his pants, and offered you his hand. You took it and he pulled you up. “Listen. Do you remember this song?”

His little playlist had been playing this entire time. You hadn’t noticed. You strained to catch the lyrics. “Turn it up a little, I can’t quite hear.”

...a stereo

It beats for you, so listen close

Hear my thoughts in every note

“Koushi.” A slow smile spread across your face. “Tell me this isn’t Stereo Hearts.”

“Oh, this is Stereo Hearts alright!” he responded gleefully. He took your hand and spun you around like a ballroom dancer, catching you before you tripped over his bedside table. “You remember when we--”

“When we performed it at the junior high talent show and got booed off the stage?” You giggled, remembering that awful night that was somehow hilarious in retrospect. “I still have nightmares about that.”

Koushi continued to swing you around in some sort of clumsy dance, pulling you this way and that while you laughed wildly. “It’s ‘cause you were such a shit singer.”

You gasped in mock offense. “No way! You’re a much worse singer than I am. At least I can carry a tune.”

Koushi just rolled his eyes and grabbed a hairbrush from his shelf, using it like a microphone. He sat you down on the edge of the bed and began to serenade you in his terrible, tone-deaf manner.

Make me your radio

Turn me up when you feel low

This melody was meant for you

Just sing along to my stereo

“God, you really do suck at this,” you said, but he just smiled and kept singing. You had to admit, it was sweet. As silly as the memory associated with the song was, it remained a nostalgic favorite even now. You had to join in a few times, just for memory’s sake.

I only pray you never leave me behind

Because good music can be so hard to find

Koushi sat down next to you and wound one arm around your waist, leaning close.

I take your hand and pull it closer to mine

Thought love was dead, but now you're changing my mind

You turned and leaned in too, nearly touching noses.

“Hey,” he said in an almost whisper. “(Y/N) (L/N), I love you.”

“Hey,” you whispered back, gaze flitting down to his lips and back up again. “I love you, too, you sappy bastard.”

...so sing along to my stereo

“I know.” He closed the remaining inch of distance. Your hand tangled itself in his hair while his tugged your body a little closer.

The kiss was almost as good as the one in Uchimura’s closet all those years ago. Almost.