#Nadeshiko-san :)

[mihotose]

Not kozue using camellia oil in her hair im being haunted

[hinamikyoukachan]

🟤❤️❤️

[ladyloveandjustice]

Spring 2024 Anime Overview: Train to the End of the World and Tonari no Yokai-san

Who knows if poor Whisper Me a Love Song (a cute yuri anime about a girl band... with dire animation conditions so it's currently stuck on episode 10 with the last two episodes delayed indefinitely) is ever going to finish, but here’s some my first post reviewing the rest of what I watched.

Delicious in Dungeon continued to kill it with the second half of the season, kicking into high gear and introducing cranky catgirls, but you can see my general thoughts on the show here.

Train to the End of the World

I love bizarre anime, especially bizarre anime starring loveable weird girls, and Train absolutely delivers.

 A teenage girl named Yoka is bullied by a slimy businessman into pushing a button that activates the 7G cellular network across Japan, but said network warps and changes Japan completely, having bizarre effects on the citizens. For example, all the adults in Yoka's hometown have been transformed into animals and are starting to act like animals.

Shizuru is Yoka's best friend, and she said some seriously nasty things to Yoka before her friend left town. Yoka's been missing ever since the 7G incident and Shizuru is desperate to find her and apologize. So when she sees a picture showing Yoka in Ikebukuro, she decides to drive a train to find her, and her friends Reimi, Akira, Nadeshiko, and also her dog come along. As they travel across the warped Japan, they face many weird encounters and obstacles.

Train to the End of the World is greatly entertaining, as we see the girls encounter nihiists with mushrooms growing out of their heads, screaming goatmen that ram into the train and even zombies on their journey. The dialogue is snappy, and the girls all have a fun personalities. As a lover of girls doing silly violence, I also adored how everyone besides Akira (who is the smart one) has ridiculous combat skills, with Shizuru having her own form of martial art, Reimi being physically unstoppable when she's mad, and Nadeshiko might come off as the ladylike bow and error wielder...but actually she also can beat the shit out of people with said bow as a blunt object. It's fun to watch them go wild.

An example of how ridiculous the show can get is the encounter with the zombies--the absolutely bizarre logic is that since zombies are supposed to be dead to all sensation, arousal will make them blow up. Instead of the girls acting sexy to arouse them like most anime would do, they just say dirty words, and Akira recites a whole paragraph from Lady Chatterley's Lover that she apparently memorized, and they sing a hilariously bawdy folk song. This episode DOES contain the show's biggest moment of sexualizing the teenage girls though- a hyper detailed panty shot that was super jarring considering the show avoided fanservice before then.

And the next episode had Nadeshiko forced to don a somewhat skimpy outfit. Those are the only two instances of fanservice, but that episode also had a joke where this character in this children's cartoon come to life's entire gimmick was that she was suicidal. It was probably meant to be "lol look how inappropriate this would be for children" but it still felt fairly mean spirited at times.

Despite those hiccups to watch out for, the anime works because it never forgets it's core theme or friendship--the relationships between the girls are developed at a good pace, and Shizuru's guilt over what she did to Yoka is explored well too. It's not just a ridiculous anime, it has a heart too. So if an anime where a girl punches a bear in the face and arms herself with vegetables appeals to you…check it out!

Tonari No Yokai-san

Tonari no Yokai-san takes place in a world where yokai have integrated into human society. The central characters are Buchio, a cat who became a nekomata after living to twenty, and Jiro, a crow tengu who is close friends with a little girl he calls Mu-chan.

This is a very sweet, gentle series that has some heartwrenching and dark undertones occasionally.  Mu’s father has been lost to an eerie void, and a lot of the stories focus on grief. The immediate comparison tone and content-wise is Natsume’s Book of Friends, but it distinguishes itself by presenting a world where yokai are very much part of society, to the point where they have to do paperwork  and pay taxes. (There was also a confirmation that one character is bisexual when his backstory involves dating a guy yokai, so that was nice, especially since he's currently in a relationship with a car yokai that's probably meant to be romantic? Yes I said car yokai it is his car.)

There’s also some sci-fi elements mixed in with alternate timelines and what not. I think these elements could be integrated more smoothly, but they are pretty novel. It’s a really solid series.

I do love stories about yokai and I thought it was enjoyable and touching, but it didn’t rock my world the way I wanted it to…it might be that it followed too many characters at once so I couldn’t dig into any of them the way I really wanted to. Still, it’s a sweet, tender and pleasant watch, I definitely rec it.

[asordinaryppl]

A3! Backstage Story Translation - Tasuku Takato SSR: Lively Lunch Time - Part 1

Tasuku: … Whew.

Izumi: Ah, welcome back, Tasuku-san. I hope your morning run was good.

Tasuku: I’m back. Are you preparing breakfast?

Izumi: Yes. I woke up a little earlier than usual, so I thought I’d make breakfast for everyone.

Izumi: Would you like to eat, Tasuku-san?

Tasuku: Yeah.

Izumi: I’ll fetch you a plate, then!

-

Izumi: Thank you for the meal.

Tasuku: Thanks for the meal. A tuna and egg hot sandwich, huh. Seems like a good source of protein.

Izumi: I’m glad you think so. Oh, by the way, Nadeshiko Publishing has an offer directly for you…

Tasuku: Nadeshiko Publishing… Is it a special feature on “Spotlight” again?

Izumi: Not this time.  This time the offer is to be on the cover, and feature on a certain men’s magazine.

Tasuku: A men’s magazine?

Izumi: Yes. The theme seems to be “physical beauty”.

Izumi: So, the editor of the magazine, who knows of MANKAI Company through Kasumi-san, wanted to ask you.

Tasuku: So the theme has nothing to do with acting.

Izumi: Right. The magazine seems to focus on things like body building, health, sports and outdoor activities.

Izumi: Ah, I guess it’ll be easier to understand when you see it for yourself. This is the magazine I’m talking about…

Tasuku: … Huh?

Izumi: Is something wrong?

Tasuku: I buy this magazine myself, from time to time.

Izumi: Eh!?

Tasuku: This magazine is published by Nadeshiko Publishing? I didn’t know that.

Izumi: It’s not really the kind of thing you notice, unless you’re actively looking for it.

Tasuku: …

Izumi: (Tasuku-san’s looking at the magazine with a serious face. I guess he’s not that interested since it’s not related to acting…?)

Izumi: It’s a prerequisite that you accept, but two others have also been asked to feature.

Tasuku: Two others?

Izumi: Masumi-kun and Sakyo-san.

Tasuku: The three of us have entirely different body types.

Izumi: Yes. Since the theme is “physical beauty”, they want to show off the beauty of muscular bodies, and the beauty of more slender bodies…

Izumi: It seems… They were chosen to showcase the physical beauty hidden in more slender figures.

Tasuku: … Guess I’ll have to change my training menu starting today, then.

Izumi: Huh!?

Tasuku: Today’s full of surprises.

Choice 1: Are you going to accept?

Izumi: Are you going to accept, Tasuku-san?

Tasuku: Did you really think I wasn’t going to?

Izumi: Some part of me did think that. It might be a request for MANKAI Company, but there’s no acting involved, so…

Tasuku: If it’s something I’m satisfied with, I’ll accept even if there’s no acting involved. And I know about this magazine already.

Tasuku: And it’ll be good to test my abilities, in a sense.

Choice 2: Did this get you excited?

Izumi: You were pretty much glaring at the magazine before, but did this get you excited?

Tasuku: You’d feel some pressure too if you were handpicked from the editor of a magazine you buy.

Izumi: That’s… true, I think.

Tasuku: I can’t half-ass this, knowing what type of people the readers are.

Tasuku: With that decided, I have to put some thought into the training menu leading up to the shooting. First, I need to consult with the other two…

Izumi: (Tasuku-san is serious about this.)

Izumi: (Although the special feature isn’t about acting, I think the editor made the correct choice by picking him…!) 

part 1 | part 2 | part 3

[purplesoulcollection]

Strange Revipsiting...

Sipnosis : Saiki feels something anomaly from the transfer students. Not the first time anomaly and not to be the least, he knows that.

PREVIOUS PART 2 NEXT

Please don't judge the grammar mistake so ferociously. English not my first language.

"WHAT, YOU FEELING WHAT!!! "

"SHUt UP Toritsuka, you're loud as HELL!!! My ears gone out because of you. "

"SHut Up Aiura. NoW is not the time to complain about your ears. Saiki-san, is what you said earlier is true. " Toritsuka said with his ugly face and looked so nastily to Aiura.

Aiura also only use bombastic side eyes to Toritsuka. And the two of them look at Saiki who for once being forgotten even though the topic is about him.

Saiki feels annoyed to being Interogated by their look. He's not doing the wrong doing.

'Yare-yare, so like i said. The transfer student from your class, Toritsuka. Is the anomaly one.'

'Hm... Name. The Yamato Nadeshiko beauty type... but i don't see the difference with her... I never checked her, I'll check her guardian spirit for you, Saiki later. " Said Toritsuka while he eating his ice cream.

"To think that Saiki, make Toritsuka and i, Aiura. The psichickers to gather here. It's only mean you suspicious that she's the esper too, right?"

"But what's make her difference Saiki-san. It's unusual for you to notice someone else different. Saiki-san is so petty to notice new person. " Ask Toritsuka, which make sense since it's true.

Because Saiki already have his plate enough with his friends, he's also avoid new people and new problem unnecessary. But it's futile, look at him. Having more friends than the normal people generally.

So yeah, it's his first time to be curious...

"True, true. Kusuo... i can use a fortune teller for u. Free service. For the possibilities, she's having destiny with u. " Said Aiura while she's take out her crystall ball.

Her crystall ball still the same. Covered with so many girly accessories.

'Why you so focused with the possibilities. Do you planning something troubling for me again Aiura.?! " Ask saiki which makes Aiura instantly denied.

"No, it's different. You remember the first time we met?" Ask Aiura so vaguely.

"Yeah, you were searching for your soulmate and expose me as the esper."

"Yeah that's right. I was searching someone whose having the strongest aura from this school from my fortune telling... But now i think you're not my suppossedly my soulmate. And it's my happiness to make you find yours too. "

"WHAT, Aiura! You believe in soulmate huh. Not the expected side of yours. It's the good blackmail one. " So it's make her attack Toritsuka and their having their quarrel.

And making their curiosity forgotten...

"That's her. Ready? "

"Ready"

And their using their power to analyse her

"So? "

"Hm... Her guardian spirit is the adult women. But it's still the normal one, not extraordinarily one. "

"Her aura is normal too. Not to excessively impressive. Saiki, you sure that she is esper? "

"Maybe... Maybe I the one who is wrong. "

And the psichickers is facing a dead end. And Saiki will forget about her

***

But in the future...

"Hello, you're saiki right"

Destiny brought him back to her.

To be Continued

[akehoshimystar]

Kiho SSR

Marigold Smile

Part 1

Ito: …….Alright, I think this is all the stuff. I should move on to the costumes.

The dress-up event ended with great success. As the cleanup progressed, I gathered the costumes that the members had changed into for cleaning.

Ito: (Still, these costumes are very lovely.)

(Each flower was selected to match their image.)

Kiho: I heard that Roka chose them based on inspiration.

Ito: Ah, Kiho-san. Good work.

Kiho: Yeah, same to you.

Ito: The flowers Roka-san chose really looked great on everyone.

The fact that his inspiration fits everyone so well is really impressive.

Kiho: That’s what I thought.

In fact, their flower meaning fits each person perfectly.

Ito: Flower meaning?

Kiho: Well, this is Roka we’re talking about, so I don’t think he had thought that far.

Ito: And yet, it matched everyone.

Kiho: I wonder if that's even possible.

Ito: .….I guess so. But in Roka-san’s case, it does seem possible.

Kiho: Haha. For example, the flower he picked for Riku was Nadeshiko.

Which means “pure love” in flower language.

Ito: Pure love... I see.

Kiho: Do you know what flower was on Ai’s costume?

Ito: Rhododendron, I assume?

Kiho: Which means “majestic”and “magnificence”.

Ito: Oh wow….

Kiho: On point, right?

Ito: On point, indeed.

Then, Kise-san's bellflower is….

Kiho: “Gratitude”

Well…... There's still more to this.

Ito: Incredible. Each meaning was literally made for them.

Kiho: Yup. Roka’s strange ability is to get to the core of things, albeit unknowingly. 

Ito: (The core, huh?)

(Ah. Then, what about Kiho-san's flower...?)

Part 2

Ito: Kiho-san’s flower is a marigold, right?

Kiho: Correct.

Ito: Do you know its meaning?

Kiho: Curious much?

Ito: Well, yes. We’ve already come this far, so my curiosity is at its peak right now.

That is if Kiho-san doesn't mind.

Kiho: No problem here.

Well, I suppose I'd be a little reluctant to say it myself in this situation.

Since I've already mentioned something about the core.

Ito: I see...?

(That means it's fine as long as he doesn’t say it himself.)

Ito: Then, can I look it up myself?

Kiho: Feel free. I have no right to stop you anyway.

I replied in understanding. And immediately looked up the meaning of marigold flowers on my smartphone.

Ito: …… Wow.

That is totally made for you, Kiho-san.

Kiho: Which one did you see?

Ito: “Prophecy” and “trust” came up, I immediately thought of you.

Kiho: Oh, that one, huh?

Ito: (…………Did he just say “that one”?)

But before I could ask again, Kiho-san smiled at me.

Kiho: If our heroine thinks it perfectly fits, then she’s probably right.

Ito: The more I think about it, the more I find Roka-san amazing.

Kiho: Roka chose the flowers for us this time, but if we were to choose the flowers ourselves, it would be pretty obvious what we would pick. 

Ito: Yeah. It's like choosing the flowers based on their meanings.

Kiho: In our case, there’s nothing inspirational about it.

Ito: That made my impression towards Roka-san even better...

Kiho: Haha. But seriously….

Although he may seem like he doesn’t know anything, I sometimes think he can see right through me. 

Part 3

Ito: (Even so...)

As I scrolled through the marigold pages, I realized that there are so many different meanings in the language of flowers.

Ito: (Prophecy, trust, also….)

(“Jealousy”.…..I see, there is this kind of meaning too.)

Kiho: By the way, does our heroine know about her flower?

Ito: Eh, my flower...?

Kiho: I could pretty much guess from your reaction. Perhaps, you don’t know the flower language of lavender.

Yes, the flower that Roka-san picked for me was lavender.

Ito: That's true. I don't think I've heard about it before.

Do you know the meaning of lavender, Kiho-san?

Kiho: I do. Well, not that I mind telling you here….…

Ito: (.…That way of speaking is the same as when I asked about the meaning of marigold.)

After judging from the situation, I…..

Ito: It’s okay, I'll look for it myself.

Kiho: Go ahead.

Plus, I can avoid hogging all the credit for myself.

Ito: (Credit?)

Not knowing what he meant, I looked up the meaning of lavender.

Ito: …..Ah.

Kiho: What does it say?

Ito: “Expectation”. “I'm waiting for you”……..

Kiho: In other words….

“Aporia has been waiting for you.” It could be interpreted that way.

Ito: Perhaps, this time as well, Roka-san’s strange ability has reached all the way here.

(Well, that should be the case. At least, let's believe that.)

While keeping that in mind, I gently touched the dried lavender flowers that were used for my costume.

Kiho: Thank you for your hard work, Ito.

Ito: Yes, same to you.

I really was helped by everyone, but I'm glad I was able to be of help as well.

After a slight bow, my eyes landed on my smartphone.

Ito: (Oh, there’s still more.)

(Could it be there’s another meaning…?)

Mao: Sorry, Ito. Can I ask you to help me with this?

Ito: Oh, sure!

I closed the page and put my smartphone in the pocket.

Ito: Sorry, Kiho-san. That’s my cue to go. Please leave your clothes there after you're done changing.

Kiho: Consider it done.

Ito: I will excuse myself, then.

Kiho: …….

Kiho: ……. “Expectation”. “I'm waiting for you”……..

Also…..

…………….

Oh well. Time to get changed.

Translator’s note - Marigolds also represent energy, good luck, warmth, creativity, prosperity, passion and more. Conversely, marigolds may also symbolizes grief, despair and jealousy and be associated with death, remembrance and resurrection.

[the-judicial-assistants-notebook]

*KICKS THE DOOR DOWN* WWWAIT FREYA I HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ON FANDOMS VIEW OF THIS SHIP I NEED TO KNOW UR OPINION. HOMUMIKU???

WKSHJSHJDBJHAHAHAH HIIIII, GRACE!!!! ❤️💕💞💝💗💖💘💓💕💞💖💞💘

Homumiko (HUGE spoilers for DGS after the bingo sheet):

I have been waiting to get into this ship properly, because I have THOUGHTS and I need to be forced to get them out coherently.

Let's get into the basic ship itself. Honestly? No comment. I think hmmk cheats a bit by relying on the literal decades people have spent shipping Holmes and Watson together, and I doubt that they would be half as popular without this history; but, as someone who has never had strong feelings about HolmesWatson either way, I don't have that bias! Even if we're just going off of DGS and looking at how they complement and trust each other, and are obviously more comfortable around one another than most other people, I don't really have a strong opinion on them. I do think they're close, but whether that bond is platonic, romantic, sexual or some mix of the two is just not something I particularly care about. You know who I do care about, though?

Susato-san.

OKAY, SIT DOWN, EVERYONE BECAUSE THE SHIP BINGO PART OF THIS IS OVER, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE PARTS OF HMMK I DO CARE ABOUT AND WHY THAT ACTUALLY HAS VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH THEM AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH HER.

Let's get this out of the way first. Based on my very modern sensibilities, I take a rather harsh stance on Mikotoba's parenting.

Do I think he loves his daughter? Sure. But which parts of his daughter? Because it's very easy to love a child who is always obedient, elegant and the literal embodiment of idealised Japanese womanhood without knowing or truly even looking at her. I think Susato made it easy for him to love her, because she believed she had to earn it. Her father left when she was born, consumed by grief over her mother's death -- her mother, whom she killed. I know the game tries to justify this by saying it was Jigoku who dragged him away (and I do think him leaving was good for him, because I doubt he would have been a good father even if he'd stayed due to his grief), but the point is that he still left. For six years. And when he returned, he didn't even return because of her (whether she knew that from the moment she met him or not is debatable, but I think, at least on a subconscious level, she knew. And, of course, it's also debatable whether he could have returned sooner because of his commitment as a transfer student, but the Mikotobas are a powerful family, and, if Soseki could return before his period of learning was fully up, I think he would have been able to pull strings to return home if he wanted to).

This falls under speculation, so I understand not agreeing with it, but I don't think Mikotoba ever properly spoke to Susato when she was a child, especially not about what he did in England. I believe that a part of the reason why Susato started reading the Sherlock Holmes stories to begin with was because they featured a doctor in London, like her father had been, and she wanted to feel closer to him through those stories. And it probably worked! Her father probably did start engaging with her more after after she picked them up, because it was an easy way to connect with her. That's why I believe she was so insistent on the existence of John H. Watson, as a doctor, when she met Iris and learnt the truth.

There's this distance between Susato and her father which glimpse in moments in the game, like how he remarks on her lack of composure in court (suggesting that he isn't used to seeing her yamato nadeshiko mask slip), how he less requests her trust and more orders or expects it forthright, and how he seems reluctant to face the parts of her that inconvenience him (like how he asks her to play the koto when he isn't home and how, when faced by her real anger, he looks to Holmes to explain the situation rather than actually attempt to himself).

HOWEVER, in the setting of the game (Meiji-era Japan), I will concede that Mikotoba is a fantastic father. He may not have been very present in her life growing up, but men largely weren't expected to be. Their jobs were to provide for their children, not nurture them. And Mikotoba went well beyond his duty in that regard. Add to that the fact that he had her properly educated, ensured she knew how to defend herself, and allowed her to pursue her studies overseas at a level that was on par with any man, and you can see that he's really quite a great father; which is why I don't think he sees his absence as a flaw or even notices he was absent. Susato, though, does.

Now, Susato is obviously a product of her time, too, so I believe she'd be insulted if anyone was to suggest that her father or childhood was lacking in some way. That being said, I do believe she is aware of the distance between them in a way he is not. I think her affection for him is founded on a sense of duty and filial piety rather than pure love (although, obviously, she does love him), and, as she grew older, she stopped vying for his affection; hence why she's obsessed with the Great Detective more so than anyone else when we meet her. I also think that this distance contributed to her becoming so attached to Kazuma, in spite of the fact that he kept her at arm's length, too; he may not have allowed her very close, but he was always there, and he saw her for who she truly was. When she leaves at the end of the first game, Susato is not so much anxious that her father is ill as she is shaken -- she seems more upset that she's leaving her Baker Street family rather than that her actual father might be dying, and I think that's because she knows how to live without him. This distance between them, I believe, becomes all the more apparent to her when she goes to London and sees the deep bond held between Iris and Holmes.

And, speaking of, you know who else I think is aware of the distance between them and the part he played in creating that distance? The Great Detective himself, Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

See, I think Holmes has always known about Susato. I'm quite sure that, from the moment they met, he knew that Mikotoba was running away from something and that he had left an infant daughter back home. He just didn't care.

We don't know what Holmes was like when he was younger, but I believe he was a lot closer to how he appears in a lot of modern adaptations and how Watson describes him in some of the Sherlock Holmes stories: the 'cold, calculating computer' character. I don't think it's a stretch to think that Holmes viewed marriage and children as mere distractions and interferences to the mind; and Mikotoba was, presumably, his first real friend. He wasn't going to let something pesky like a baby back home detract from his friend's obviously sterling character and brain! After all, it's a lot easier to ignore this nebulous, abstract entity when you simply consider its existence, and thus its abandonment, unimportant. It's a lot easier when you don't know what it's like to be a father yourself. It's a lot easier when you don't know her.

Here's the thing: I believe Holmes's image of and relation to Mikotoba began changing from the time he started raising Iris. Suddenly, that inconsequential baby seemed to bear quite a bit of consequence, actually. But it was still all right to keep dismissing her, because maybe Mikotoba's baby wasn't special the way Iris was. Maybe she was a brat or an idiot, and really not worth much time at all! Maybe she could've lived without him and been perfectly fine, regardless...? As time went on, I believe the excuses he made for Mikotoba's decision all those years ago became increasingly flimsy, but he was still able to hold onto them because The Daughter was still an indistinct figure in his mind. She wasn't quite real.

That is, until he met her.

In the game, Holmes tends to keep a certain width between himself and Susato. He very rarely initiates conversation with her the way he does Ryuunosuke, and from a Doylist (ha) perspective, this is obviously because Ryuunosuke is... the main character. Looking at it from a narrative perspective, though, I think he was afraid of hurting more than he already has and must.

Holmes is a very resolute man. He sticks by his decisions regardless of what anyone else thinks, so I don't think he ever regretted what he did. However, I do think he felt guilty. Certainly, he didn't quite take her father away from her, but he did play a role in keeping him from her for so long. I think there was a part of him that consciously guided Mikotoba away from thinking about Japan while they lived together, because, well... he didn't want him to leave.

There's an interesting layer to the separation that Holmes creates with Susato, because, beyond the distance he maintains between her and himself, he also keeps her identity separate from her father's. Contrary to how he refers to Ryuunosuke by his last name, Holmes only ever calls Susato "Miss Susato" or "my dear (madame)", and never "Miss Mikotoba". I view this is his way of, perhaps subconsciously, dividing from that little girl he once decided did not matter. And it's interesting because, to an extent, he tries to do with her and Kazuma, too.

In the SS Burya case, despite meeting Susato first and seeing how affected she is by Kazuma's "death", Holmes largely ignores her in favour of focusing on Ryuunosuke and his bond with Kazuma. He calls Kazuma Ryuunosuke's "dear companion" and pretty much only interacts with Susato when he has little other choice... until he sees her cry.

See, I believe that when Holmes found out Susato was going to England and was about to be wrapped up in the whole messy affair, he was fully committed to Not Giving a Damn about Her. Sure, he would let her and Kazuma live with him, but by no means was he going to allow himself to grow attached to her because, again, he values his relationship and history with Mikotoba too much for it to get complicated in this way. Susato's relative composure throughout the case helps him hold on to this resolution; however, when he catches that final conversation between her and Ryuunosuke in the cabin, he is finally forced to see and acknowledge the amount of pain she is truly in. It forces him to at last face the fact that he can't avoid or fake aloofness around her any longer, because she is not some nebulous, distant entity he can continue to ignore. She is an actual girl with a fiercely strong spirit, a brilliant mind and real, human emotions. A girl whom he's hurt twice-over now and must continue hurting until all his lies finally come to light.

When he makes that decision to enter the cabin and console her the only way he knows how, he throws away any hope he had of feeling anything but apathy towards her. In truth, he probably didn't have much hope of that to begin with, because at his core, Sherlock Holmes is a good man, and he cares.

He cares for her, too, even though he may have no right to. How could he not, when she loves him so openly, trusts him so readily, saves his life? How could he not, when she comes to him in the middle of the night with a secret she can't tell anyone else because his judgement is the only one she wholly trusts and believes in? How could he not, when she refuses to accept he lied despite the living, breathing evidence he did until he admits it himself? How could he not, when after everything he has done, she still looks at him the way she always has and says that she's proud that her father is the assistant of "the Great Detective"?

How could anyone not? How could Mikotoba not... love her the second he laid eyes on her?

And of course this doesn't shatter his love for Mikotoba -- he has no right to these feelings in the first place: no matter how indignant or guilty he may feel, it doesn't change the fact that he has been lying to and manipulating her the entire time they've known one another. He can't even bring himself to tell her that he's been lying; he has to go through Ryuunosuke instead, because, even after all this time, he still can't face the woman whom he's done nothing but cause pain for from the moment she was born. When he can't even give her that ounce of respect, who is he to judge Mikotoba?

So he doesn't. Till the end of the game, he keeps Susato at a distance and pretends that everything between him and Mikotoba is as it was from the start. But, inside, I think he knows it isn't. Because I think Holmes can see that Mikotoba doesn't feel half as guilty about what they've done as he does, and that he doesn't view the fact that he left Susato 16 years ago as a real problem. And while he doesn't judge Mikotoba for that, I don't think he can look past it anymore. That final investigation and dance of deduction, to me, is less an assurance that they are still the same partners they were before, and more a final farewell to their old, uncomplicated bond -- the one that did exist before they grew to love other people and understand what love truly meant to both of them.

Going back to the ship itself, I think shipping them pre-DGS works perfectly well. They both had a huge impact on each other's life and changed one another for the better; Holmes by drawing Mikotoba out from his grief, and Mikotoba by pulling Holmes from his life of solitude and loneliness. They needed each other, but it is also because of these reasons that I think there was an issue of codependency between them, hence the semi-horrible for each other box I gave them. With Mikotoba, it's clear cut. Holmes helped him run away from his very real issues at home and allowed him to live like he was a bachelor with zero familial obligations again. With Holmes, it gets a bit more foggy, but I believe that Mikotoba basically allowed him to live believing he was the only person Holmes would ever truly connect with and properly befriend. Holmes is obviously his own person and whatnot, but I do think there was a bit of unhealthy attachment there on his end if not both.

During DGS and post-DGS is where their ship gets more complicated for me, because, while Susato is still very much there at the beginning of their relationship, her role in their lives and what they did to her becomes impossible to ignore once she and Holmes actually meet. I don't believe that they can just pick up from where they left off because there is now (imo) a fundamental disagreement in how they view their actions and how it affected her. So, even if they do go back to being lovers or whatever afterwards, I feel that there should be this chasm or weight between them that they simply don't talk about or acknowledge in any way. Because I don't think they'd discuss it. Holmes because it isn't his place, Mikotoba because he sees it as a non-issue (maybe he doesnt even notice this distance), and both because sweeping unpleasantness under the rug is so ingrained into their cultures.

My main issue with the way this ship is often portrayed post-DGS (why they got a 50-50 on the I would erase them from existence box) is that it ignores what happened with Susato. The few times I've seen the concern that she might have an issue with their relationship even brought up in hmmk works is always because they're gay. Which, like!! Fair!!! It's the 1800s, I get it, but!!!! You're ignoring the actual, very big issue for why she might be hurt and that's because DGS ends with her finding out that three of the men she's closest to have been lying and using her for their own means her entire life!!!!!!!! And she just has to take it!!!!!!!

Which brings me to the second most popular interpretation of this ship which doesn't just put Iris and Susato in a box somewhere unseen, and that's the one where all four of them are a peaceful happy family with 0 issues! And this one bothers me because it seems like it's taking what Susato said at the end of the reveal as what she 100% sincerely meant down to her core, rather than something she had to say because (1) it is her duty to honour her father no matter what, and (2) because Iris was there. When she learns the entire truth, I don't think Susato knows what she truly thinks or feels about any of it; but she sees Iris, and she sees this little girl who was abandoned through her circumstances as a baby, named after her mother, and forced to grow up much sooner than she should have been, and she sees a girl who is more her sister than anyone else. So she does what she always has and tucks away her own emotions so she might tend to someone else's. She has been the perfect daughter her whole life; she can be the perfect sister.

Even if you don't subscribe to the, admittedly, harsh view of Mikotoba's parenting that I do, I don't see how you can get away from the fact that they still lied to her for a significant portion of time. Especially from Holmes, whom she trusted and believed in more than anyone else! In the face of his shoddy deductions, she still held onto her unwavering belief that he was a genius and a good man, and then it comes out that he's just been lying to her from the first day he met her. I just can't extract the ship from their treatment of Susato, so when I say that I would erase the ship from existence, it's mainly about these two bits. As with Asoryuu, the primary reason why I don't ship them personally is because I can't do that to her.

And, obviously, it's just shipping and fun and games, and everyone should feel free to ship whoever in whatever way they want bUT IN A SPECIAL WORLD MADE PERFECTLY FOR ME. iris would be perfectly oblivious, and susato would have tossed both holmes and mikotoba into the thames and left them to figure it out. In a world that must still vaguely make sense with the canon of the game, though, then Holmes would have given Mikotoba the boot and taken the kids; because he may be a coward, but at least I can see that he knows he fucked up, and he allows Susato to set the terms of their relationship, just like he does Iris.

Anyway, I'm so sorry for how long, convoluted and only tangentially-related to the ask this is, but thank you so much for it, Grace!!!! I don't think I quite got down what I meant precisely, but it's the closest to coherency I've ever gotten so. Thank you 💖💕💗💓💕💘💕

[stickers-on-a-laptop]

Ive got like two crossover prompts

Brothers - Gentaro, Stinger, and Kotaro (Fourze & Kyuranger)

Investigation - Shinnosuke + Keiichirou + Shori + Kairi

Brothers Be Like

Gentarou was out on the moon, watching Earth and trying to think of a new activity to do that would be interesting for 15-18 year olds that were getting sick of rain keeping them inside for P.E, when two mechas came zooming towards him. Gentarou flung himself to the side, popping up when the dust settled. 

Two people, Sentai if Gentarou wasn’t mistaken, were out of the vehicles, which appeared to be an orange…scorpion thing, and a blue bear. The orange guy was of average height, while the light blue guy was tiny. 

“Hey! You two okay?” Gentarou called, waving his hands. 

“There’s someone here?” asked the orange guy. 

“Yep! I’m Kamen Rider Fourze, the guy who’s gonna befriend all the heroes in the whole universe!” He pointed out at them. 

“A Kamen Rider, huh? Can you help us, then?” 

“Sure! Come on into the Rabbit Hatch, and tell me what’s up!” 

The two followed him inside, dehenshining when he did. Gentarou found that one guy was probably around his age and the other was high school aged. 

“Name’s Kisaragi Gentarou, how bout you two?” Gentarou asked, flashing a smile. 

“Stinger.” 

“Sakuma Kotaro. Isn’t this Earth? Why is there a base on the moon?” 

Gentarou shrugged with a smile. “Kengo rebuilt it for us!” 

Kotaro tugged on Stinger’s sleeve. “I think it’s like when we fought with Ex-Aid.” 

“I think you’re right,” Stinger sighed. 

“Ex-Aid! He’s my pal,” Gentarou said, grinning. “I’m Kamen Rider Fourze, by the way, for hero!”

“Kyuurangers,” Kotaro said, waving between him and Stinger. 

“Oh, you guys were the video game one! But not Pac-Man. Emu-san didn’t get to be in your robo, right? Cause he grew big? I got to pilot a Go-Buster robo, once, that’s why I mention it.” 

Kotaro and Stinger stared at Gentarou. 

“So, you need to get to Earth or anything?” Gentarou asked. “Or I can call Nadeshiko if you need something here on the moon, the SULU one, not Tomoko’s--”

“Earth sounds good, if we can get back here easily,” Stinger interrupted. 

“Oh yeah, super easy!” Gentarou reassured him. “This way!” 

Kotaro and Stinger followed him through a door, finding themselves coming out of a locker, Gentarou collecting a little thingamabob after they were all through. 

“Are you liking school, Kotaro?” Gentarou asked as they walked through a high school. 

“Oh, I’m not in school, I have too many missions,” Kotaro said, making Gentarou stop in his tracks. 

“He’s getting an education, don’t worry,” Stinger said with a roll of his eyes. 

“And I have lots of friends,” Kotaro said, remembering how Gentarou’s greeting had included the friendship thing. 

“Well, that’s good!” Gentarou’s smile was genuine, making the Kyuurangers breathe a sigh of relief. Somehow it felt like disappointing this guy would make you feel terrible about yourself. 

“Do you need any supplies or anything?” Gentarou continued. “Cause I can call up anyone, just say the word!” 

“No, we contacted Raptor-tachi right before we crashed,” Kotaro reassured him. “As long as we’re back on the moon when they can get to us, we’ll be fine.” 

Gentarou nodded, getting out a cellphone. “Let me call Kengo, then, and we’ll grab some pizza or something!” 

Kotaro perked up at pizza, making Stinger chuckle and ruffle his hair. 

“Yeah, should we eat there or bring it over? Cause I know you have that work, we can crash at the high school or the Rabbit Hatch if needed!” 

A silence, then some nodding. “Sure, I can do that, I’ll see you later, then!” 

Gentarou slipped his cellphone back into his back pocket. “Don’t let me forget to get some pizza delivered to Kengo!” 

“Okyu,” Stinger and Kotaro said automatically, making Gentarou pause. 

“Okyu? I like that!” 

---

Gentarou didn’t notice that Stinger and Kotaro had stopped on their walk to get pizza until he was nearly ten steps away, finding them frowning at a poster advertising laser tag. 

“Why are humans playing with lasers, Gentarou?” Kotaro asked. 

“Oh! Laser tag isn’t real lasers, it’s just lights. Wanna play? It’s really fun.” 

Stinger looked like he disapproved, but Kotaro was tugging on his sleeve. “Come on, Aniki, when are we gonna get the chance again?” 

Stinger sighed and ruffled Kotaro’s hair. “Fine.” 

“Sweet! We can get pizza after, then?” Gentarou said, sending Kengo a text about their new plans and getting a thumbs up in response. 

“Yeah!” 

Gentarou smiled, glad to see that Kotaro was happy being a normal teenager. 

---

“Don’t run, except you will, but like…try not to, okay? Rules are rules,” said the laser tag employee. “Everyone ready?” 

Kotaro pointed his gun at Stinger, who was on the orange team, as was Gentarou. He himself was on the blue team, with other girls around his age. There were four other teams, red, yellow, green, and purple, but Kotaro only wanted to beat orange. They had been able to choose their own teams, and since Gentarou had treated them to a unlimited pass, Kotaro knew he’d want to team up with Stinger at a later game. But for now: victory to the blue team. 

They were released into the actual game area, and Kotaro made his way up the stairs, where he could watch for Stinger more easily. It wasn’t easy to find him, with all the people, but once he did, Kotaro took careful aim and got a hit on Stinger’s vest, granting the blue team 50 points, although Stinger quickly saw him and gained his team 100 points for getting a smaller hit area on Kotaro. 

The game was going on but Kotaro and Stinger were just focused on each other, both of them grinning when they managed to get hits. It was a much more unwieldy tool that Kotaro was used to, but it was definitely a lot of fun. 

When the timer buzzed, the three of them made their way to the leaderboard, finding that the red team had won, with blue and orange tied for second. 

They played several more games, in different combos. Gentarou made instant friends with anyone on his team, while people wanted to be on Stinger’s team if possible. When the three of them were on the same team though, they won so hard that they were awarded with a free gift from the attached arcade, a set of planet keychains.

“Pizza time?” Gentarou asked, hair sticking to his forehead and a grin on his face. 

Kotaro nodded, attaching his Saturn keychain to his Seiza blaster with a little difficulty. 

“Aniki, are you going to put yours on too?” he asked Stinger once he accomplished it. 

Stinger held out his arm and keychain of Jupiter in response. Kotaro grinned and put it on for him. 

“You guys sure are brothers,” Gentarou remarked. “I’m an only child, so I always thought it was cool when people had siblings. Ready made buds!” 

Kotaro and Stinger shared a glance, then shrugged. Gentarou didn’t need the whole tragic story, and plus, it was almost pizza time. 

---

“Liking it?” Gentarou asked the two aliens, getting a nod from Stinger and a thumbs up from Kotaro. 

He was about to ask about their adventures of being heroes (Sentais were always fun!) when Stinger got a call on his wrist blaster. 

“Our friends are going to be here in an hour or so,” he informed the other two. “We’ll need to be on the moon for that. Also don’t forget you promised to get pizza delivered.” 

“Shoot, you’re right!” Gentarou made his way to the register, grateful that Stinger had remembered. 

---

“Is that your spaceship? That’s so cool!” Gentarou said, back in his suit. Even though his suit was expressionless, even Stinger could tell that Gentarou was genuinely excited. He was a lot like Lucky, if Stinger was being honest.  

“Yes, the Orion,” Stinger said, waving with one arm while Kotaro waved with two. 

“I’ll have to tell Yuuki,” Gentarou said. “Ah, before you go!” 

He reached out for Stinger’s hand, and Stinger watched bemusedly as Gentarou turned their handshake into a fist bump thing, doing the same with Kotaro. 

“We’re buds now! Don’t forget!” he said, pointing at the two of them. 

“We won’t!” Kotaro said, getting into his Voyager as Stinger did the same. 

“Byyyyyyyyeeeeeeeee!” Gentarou said, waving furiously with his whole body. 

Stinger chuckled, giving him one last wave before motioning Kotaro to follow him, flying to the Orion and back to the Kyuurangers. 

[cextra-loz]

Oh anime is your comfort series? Oh you are anime girl obsessed?

name eveyr anime girl >:3

2B (Nier: Automata)

Mikasa Ackerman

Yūko Aioi

Taiga Aisaka

Ritsuko Akagi

Moka Akashiya

Homura Akemi

Alita (Battle Angel Alita)

Misa Amane

Android 18

Anita Hailey

Ann Takamaki

Aqua (KonoSuba)

Ami Asai

Athena Asamiya

Mina Ashido

Tsuyu Asui

Asuna (Sword Art Online)

Cagalli Yula Athha

Atoli

Rei Ayanami

Ilia

Baby Bonnie Hood

Belldandy

Benten (Urusei Yatsura)

Queen Beryl

Blossom (The Powerpuff Girls)

Boa Hancock

Alisa Bosconovitch

Euphemia li Britannia

Sarah Bryant (Virtua Fighter)

Bulma

C.C. (Code Geass)

Cammy

Carrot (One Piece)

Caulifla and Kale

Michelle Chang (Tekken)

Chi (Chobits)

Chi-Chi (Dragon Ball)

Chun-Li

Lacus Clyne

Jolyne Cujoh

Tomoyo Daidouji

Golden Darkness

Dejiko

Lala Satalin Deviluke

Momo Belia Deviluke

Nana Astar Deviluke

Chrome Dokuro

Ed (Cowboy Bebop)

Elena (Street Fighter)

Emma (The Promised Neverland)

Ami Enan

Junko Enoshima

Etna (Disgaea)

Felicia (Darkstalkers)

Maya Fey

Mia Fey

Pearl Fey

Anya Forger

Yor Forger

Haruhi Fujioka

Chika Fujiwara

Toko Fukawa

Yuno Gasai

Rias Gremory

Toru Hagakure

Sakura Haruno

Hatsune Miku

Misa Hayase

Lucy Heartfilia

Leona Heidern

Hestia (character)

Kagome Higurashi

Himawari Kunogi

Hinako (anime character)

Tohru Honda

Hsien-Ko

Hinata Hyuga

Yuko Ichihara

Midari Ikishima

Orihime Inoue

Lum (Urusei Yatsura)

Konata Izumi

Sagiri Izumi

Yumeko Jabami

Oscar François de Jarjayes

Kyoka Jiro

Abigail Jones

Juri (Street Fighter)

Jynx

Kagura (Azumanga Daioh)

Kaho Mizuki

Nezuko Kamado

Kamiya Kaoru

Madoka Kaname Midna

Mitsuri Kanroji

Urumi Kanzaki

Karin Kanzuki

Yuu Kashima

Ayumu Kasuga

Sakura Kasugano

Misato Katsuragi

Tomie Kawakami

Ami Kawashima

Nadeshiko Kinomoto

Sakura Kinomoto

Kyoko Kirigiri

Saya Kisaragi

Miyuki Kobayakawa

Kohane Tsuyuri

Yuri Koigakubo

Yotsuba Koiwai

Kirino Kosaka

Yui Kotegawa

Koyomi Mizuhara

Rukia Kuchiki

Nobara Kugisaki

Minamo Kurosawa

Motoko Kusanagi

Minori Kushieda

Anna Kyoyama

Lady (Devil May Cry)

Nunnally Lamperouge

Leafa

Connie Lee (Dr. Stone)

Lenalee Lee

Lillie (Pokémon)

Lina Inverse

Luna (Sailor Moon)

Makimachi Misao

Mari Illustrious Makinami

Hitomi Manaka

Mako Mankanshoku

Wendy Marvell

Ayeka Masaki Jurai

Ryūko Matoi

Sakura Matou

Megumin

Meiling Li

Chiyo Mihama

Sayaka Miki

Mai Minakami

Fujiko Mine

Lynn Minmay

Mikoto Misaka

Misty (Pokémon)

Kirari Momobami

Ririka Momobami

Morrigan Aensland

Multi (To Heart)

Naga the Serpent

Mio Naganohara

Yuki Nagato

Nino Nakano

Nakoruru

Nakuru Akizuki

Nami (One Piece)

Chiaki Nanami

Naru Narusegawa

Atsuko Natsume

Nausicaä (Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind)

Queen Nehelenia

Nico Robin

Darya Nikitina

Chisato Nishikigi

Himari Noihara

Arale Norimaki

Nyaruko

Yuzuriha Ogawa

Mamako Oosuki

Paninya

Suo Pavlichenko

Yomiko Readman

Rem (Re:Zero)

Revy (Black Lagoon)

Ritsu (Assassination Classroom)

Ritsuko Akagi (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

Winry Rockbell

Roll (Mega Man)

Rose (Street Fighter)

Rebecca Rossellini

Ruri (Dr. Stone)

Saber (Fate/stay night)

Haruna Sairenji

Sakaki (Azumanga Daioh)

Yuri Sakazaki

Sakura (Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle)

Chiyo Sakura

Kyoko Sakura

Haruko Sakurai

Izumi Sakurai

Shirō Sakurai

Mary Saotome

Ranma Saotome

Chie Satonaka

Erza Scarlet

Senko-san

Yuzuki Seo

Serena (Pokémon)

Yoruichi Shihōin

Mika Shimotsuki

Kaguya Shinomiya

Hakase Shinonome

Kuroko Shirai

Mai Shiranui

Noelle Silva

Elexis Sinclaire

Sinon (Sword Art Online)

Skuld (Oh My Goddess!)

Sonomi Daidouji

Asuka Langley Soryu

Kallen Stadtfeld

Celty Sturluson

Suika (Dr. Stone)

Super Sonico Sonichu

Haruhi Suzumiya (character)

Secre Swallowtail

Swindler (Akudama Drive)

Kiyomi Takada

Saya Takagi (character)

Sora Takenouchi

Taki (Soulcalibur)

Tomo Takino

Yukari Tanizaki

Utena Tenjou

Teresa Beria

Origami Tobiichi

Rin Tohsaka

Mami Tomoe

Trish (Devil May Cry)

Ayu Tsukimiya

Akane Tsunemori

Sarada Uchiha

Ulala (Space Channel 5)

Ochaco Uraraka

Urd (Oh My Goddess!)

Hana Uzaki

Kiri Uzaki

Tsuki Uzaki

Yanagi Uzaki

Shion Uzuki

Faye Valentine

Mereoleona Vermillion

Mimosa Vermillion

Videl

Anna Williams (Tekken)

Elf Yamada

Momo Yaoyorozu

Akari Yukimura

Mikan Yuuki

Maki Zen'in Zelda

Zero Two

[wranri-hallon]

Naruto Sexuality + Gender Headcanons

Jomae, Nadeshiko, Taki, Tsuchigumo and Yu Ninja and Ninja with unknown origins Part 2/2

Kazan is an aroace cisman who goes by he/him pronouns

Kusune is a straight cisman who goes by he/him pronouns

Ni is a lesbian ciswoman who goes by she/her pronouns

Rokkaku Ryudoin is a straight cisman who goes by he/him pronouns

Sabu is a pansexual cisman who goes by he/they pronouns but wouldn't mind others

San is a pansexual cisman who goes by he/they pronouns

Suika is a bisexual cisman who goes by he/him pronouns

Tokiwa is a lesbian ciswoman who goes by she/her pronouns

[imasallstars]

SSR/SSR+ 【We Are The Cosmo Girls! ver. ES】Emily Stewart

“Ending it off with our signature line? Well, we’re still live, and I’m not too sure.... However, as one who shall become a Yamato Nadeshiko, I shall overcome this challenge...! Shizuka-san, let’s... and a one and a-!“

FOCUS STAT 　　　8564/9592 VOCAL

TOTAL APPEAL 　　　18401/20609

Skill:「In The Name of The Sun and Moon!」 　　　(Fusion Combo) For every 11 seconds, there is a 40~50% chance that you will gain an extra 26% COMBO BONUS for 6 seconds. When your unit includes ≥2 cards with Combo Bonus effects, increases skill probability by 5%. If your unit includes a Fusion Score card, turn Great/Good to Perfect.

Center Skill:「Princess Harmony」 　　　 All PRINCESS-type cards gain a 90% boost in their VOCAL stat

※ this card is available through scouting from the “Resolution☆We Are The Magic Heroines“ gacha available until the 25th of February 2023 14:59 JST. This card may return, in the case of a rerun of the gacha box.

[electrasev5nwrites]

Ninja Daily: AIC 28

Her day started ludicrously early, but suffering was just her lot in life so it made sense. Aiko was incredibly morose about it but she made it to the office at 4:30, right about the time that a wan-looking Nishikawa unlocked the doors. They exchanged a commiserating look. Aiko's protection detail merely stared at them, miserable and baggy-eyed a few feet back. The woman leaned against the wall while Nishikawa shuffled off to turn on the lights and turn off the security system.

She took a moment to wonder if her supposed bodyguard was going to keel over and die. It didn't seem like a bad option, honestly. The sun wasn't even up. Aiko was an absolute monster for causing her staff to be at work this early.

Silently, Aiko put a hand in her pocket and offered the bodyguard a candy from her stash.

The chuunin took it on a nimble reflex. Then she looked at her palm. Her mouth came open slightly and lines formed on her forehead. She looked genuinely confused about how this state of affairs had come to be. She was not ready to live in a world where there was a cherry candy on her palm. She had not prepared for it.

'I think the night shifts need to be shorter,' Aiko decided. '11 pm to 7 am is unreasonable. This lady is going to die.'

That seemed like a good time to go and start the coffeemaker. Aiko filled the one intended for her office staff and just stood there, waiting for it to percolate. Nishikawa came in as the machine was finishing up.

He gave her a mildly concussed stare, as if he wasn't completely certain who he was looking at. "Ah, thank you, Mizukage-sama."

She meant to tell him it was no trouble, but she wound up yawning at him instead. He pretended not to smile and instead turned to pull out milk from the fridge.

She had already sorted through the dishdrainer to find the cup with his name on the bottom and set it next to hers on the counter, so she poured coffee the instant the dripping stopped. He took his mug gratefully and drained it as-is while she tore open sugar packets. He was half-finished by the time she leaned against the counter and started stirring with her usual yellow spoon. Security wasn't allowed to eat or drink from the same sources as the kage, so the chuunin went off to secure the premises.

They were both on their second cup before Aiko dredged up the will to focus on work. "Today." She rubbed at her eyes. "I have a meeting with Sakurai at noon. Right?"

Nishikawa took a moment to respond, eyes flicking upward. "Yes," he said slowly. "I'll make reservations and tell him where to meet you. Do you have a dining preference?"

"The private room in Koyama." She yawned. She covered her mouth with her wrist. "Also invite Yuusaku and Karin to this lunch. I'll bring Gaara with me when I go. So make the reservation for 5, I suppose."

He just nodded. "Would you like to order at the time, or for me to select from the menu?"

"We'll order," Aiko decided. "Karin is picky, I think." She knocked back the rest of the cup, and oh there was a deposit of sugar that she hadn't fully dissolved. Yes. So good. She deserved this. "Other than Sakurai, assign that group as working on the reserved space with me. Add Keisuke and Ryuusei too, tell them to report by 1:50. Kanagawa-sensei confirmed his group, right?"

"Un." Nishikawa rinsed out his cup and filled it with water. "So you'll be out there from about 2 until 6?"

"Sounds right." She gave a stretch. "I'll be back in the office around 7 to handle any correspondence and signover paperwork. Ask Saito-san her opinion on the two accountant candidates, but you'll make the final decision. I want someone starting on Monday." She refilled her coffee and started tearing open sugar packets. "Priority is the letter to Nadeshiko, have Sakurai bring it with him to lunch so I can approve it. If it's good, send it with a three-man team."

"Of course, Mizukage-sama," he murmured. He watched her stir her coffee. "Is there anything else?"

She pursed her lips, but couldn't think of anything. "I think we're good." Aiko lifted her coffee in salute on the way out. "Once more, into the breach."

"It's Thursday," Nishikawa called after her.

"I know. Twice more into the breach just doesn't sound that good," Aiko yelled back. She heard him laugh as she opened her office door. Her protection detail had already unlocked it and circled the room to end up behind the genjutsu curtain. Aiko took pity and asked the chuunin to watch for threats from the vantage point of the couch. It did not take much convincing.

She spent way too much time doing paperwork. Other office workers began trickling in after a couple of hours, as well as her change in bodyguard. Aiko sent one of them away with a stack of documents to be filed when Mira came in. Saito came in with a particularly hard jaw to take the mission assignments. Aiko took the correspondences out to Nishikawa's desk personally.

And they were off. Gaara brought in a report about his investigation into the poison, and then sat in on her interview of the team that had escorted the relevant shipment.

"All the way from Nadeshiko to the processing," Oda Kai promised. He managed to meet her eyes when he said it.

His twin sister nodded agreement. "We noted no irregularities. The merchants' identities and papers were verified in Nadeshiko, one of us was present and alert with the group at all times during transit, and no signs of tampering by the merchants or any outside party were discernible."

"Right." Aiko glanced down on the profile of the four-person merchant team. She had already checked over the information for the farmer and the processing plant where the tsukemono had been made. It looked legitimate so far as she could tell from Kirigakure. "This was the second such mission you have taken from Nadeshiko, correct? Have you done similar missions in past?"

The twins exchanged a glance. Kai tilted his head at Aoi. She sucked in the side of her pockmarked cheek and took the initiative. "Many. A truly numbing amount, but there was a break of several years between these escort missions for Nadeshiko and the missions we did prior."

Gaara gave Aiko a sideways glance at that, but kept his mouth shut.

The movement had drawn both chuunins' attention to Gaara. Aiko considered their obvious curiosity and thought about publicly sharing Gaara's apprenticeship status. She should do that. Eventually. After she got things sorted out with Temari.

"The merchant company that came left Kirigakure after less than 24 hours within our walls. Does this align with their implied plans before your arrival?"

Kai nodded. "It does. And while that is an unusual profile for many merchant visitors, it aligns with a merchant delivering a pre-arranged contract. They would have a financial interest in returning as soon as possible to their home state."

The interview didn't yield anything outright useful. Gaara rounded on her when the door shut behind the chuunin.

She leaned back and took a deep breath.

"The long period of time between their previous escort missions and the Nadeshiko escort is a discrepancy. Why?"

Aiko wound some hair around her fingers and pursed her lips at her student. She tried not to look too disappointed, because the answer there was easy. "You need me to tell you why that's true?"

Gaara looked a little affronted. He stood perfectly still and narrowed his eyes at her.

She tilted her head.

"Changes in leadership and economic troubles," Gaara said.

"Pin-pon." Aiko gave him a thumbs-up. "Good thought. They would have done that kind of mission routinely as experienced genin and novice chuunin. They would not be taking those missions now if we had caught up on the backlog of low-level missions."

"So it is not relevant to the poisoning." Gaara looked away.

"It isn't," Aiko confirmed. "But it was good to notice that detail." She felt mean to shut down his line of inquiry, but not all ideas were correct. Noticing the oddity in the first place and wondering about it was a sign that Gaara was applying analytical thinking. He was doing well.

She shook the thought off with a sigh. She'd bring it up at his next performance review. Giving feedback all the time wasn't a good use of their hours together.

"Do you want to personally come with me to Nadeshiko to speak with Shizuka?" Aiko put away his report and started digging for what she would need next. "I'm going to wait until a day or so after she should have received our official complaint about the issue. She will undoubtedly look into the incident on her end immediately to ensure that none of her people put her in breach of contract. So it's best to give her some time and cut down on waiting." Aiko found what she was looking for and unrolled the long scroll onto her desk top. "Look at this, please."

Gaara took two steps closer. "Accompanying you is acceptable. Is this the park project for the day?" His tone was neutral.

"It sure is," Aiko said cheerfully. It was nice to be done with the absolute desperation measures. The bare bones of infrastructure for safety and housing were in place, so some community works could be done before pivoting to updating things like aging water lines. "You're going to help me dig out this lake here, and move the soil and sand over to form this bank and planting area. At that point, my genin- chuunin, sorry, my chuunin and the two genin teams will work on filling the lake with fuinjutsu while we go and retrieve the saplings." She flexed her fingers. Then she went to dig out the hospital funding report, because she needed to talk to some old people about hallway width and secure storage for medicine.

"And then I will direct the Academy students in planting small trees," Gaara said.

Aiko gave him a quick look through her eyelashes, because it was hard to read his mood from his voice there. His face didn't bring more enlightenment, so- "Yep. And poor Yuusaku gets to direct his teammates and Karin in using all the lumber to assemble the planting beds and park benches. Or maybe split them up from the genin teams..."

Gaara actually looked at her for that. He took a long, slow breath in. "Karin-san will not be pleased."

"Karin is a genin," Aiko said absently. "She can be as grumpy as she wants, she is a village asset just like everyone else. And we are making a pretty park together like a family."

He gave her a long, steady look that implied he was weighing her chances of surviving that conversation. "This path here. What purpose does it serve?"

Aiko took a look. "Running path, for civilians and Academy students. It's a safe, central location away from the training grounds. It will also be very pretty when the plums and cherries are blooming." Eat that, Konoha. They had pretty shit too.

"And the herbs will scent the air," Gaara said. He seemed to be just a bit amused by the whole thing.

"That's practical," Aiko defended. She sat back in her chair. "Planting herbs and fruit trees and vegetables for public consumption is part of combating poverty and hunger. In combination with the rice subsidy-"

"I did not mean to criticize." Gaara unfolded his arms. "My apologies, Aiko-sama."

She watched him suspiciously for a moment, but allowed her student to back away from his sass. "Go survey the area," she ordered. Her attention was already turning to her next meeting. "Take the plans with you. After that, the morning is yours until you will meet me here at 11:45 to head to lunch."

"Mizukage-sama." Gaara rolled up the scroll and tucked it under his arm. He paused at the door. "There was one more thing."

"Oh?" She tore herself away from the report. "Not about the poisoning- our guest?" Hell, they still had Raidou. Maybe they should, uh. Let him go or something. Or move him into diplomatic housing once it had electricity. What was he working on now? She should check up on that...

"The unconscious guest." Gaara, bless him, said with with no humor at all. "He has awoken. About four minutes ago." He seemed perfectly fine with the party line about the Konoha delegation and how they were enjoying splitting their time between Mizukage-inflicted hospital arrest and hard labor.

'Not like Utakata. The sighing every time he has to talk about the situation is getting old.'

Aiko considered telling him not to leave his sand on strangers to spy on them, but it seemed counterproductive. It was useful. "Alright, thank you. I'll go check on that soon. For now, he should be in good hands."

'Am I being a bad mom by not correcting his manners, though? He should respect peoples' privacy. Sometimes. Why did he even want to spy on Sai? And why didn't he get bored with that? Sai has been unconscious for weeks. That was commitment. I want to be impressed but I also want to make him apologize.'

She touched a pen to her lips as she leaned back to watch her most confusing child leave.

Sanbi heaved a sigh and rolled over. He didn't even pretend to be interested in the dilemma.

God. She leaned on her elbows a bit, reflecting about how sorry she felt for herself. She would never have imagined her life turning out this way. She was a single parent and manager of a large flock of murderous lunatics. No one else was going to help, so she had to raise all her illicitly relocated children by herself.

...Actually, fair enough.

'But no, Karin is above-board. Her village head knows she's here to spy on me. So I didn't do anything illegal there anyway.'

Sanbi slapped against her mind. "Please let me rest. Your justifications are giving me a headache."

The moral highground was a lonely place. Shame that all the turtles were down in the lowland of sinners.

The hospital board came and went, although they had the newly appointed head doctor with them this time. Utakata stopped by to make sure she drank some water and hovered until she finished eating the apple he cut for her. Someone came to apprise her of the change in Sai's condition and confirmed that her genjutsu hadn't fried his brain, which was pretty good to know. She approved some serious painkillers for him and fought her way through the rest of the morning and tugged her hair unpinned as she and Gaara left for lunch. It fell over her shoulders with interesting pin crinkles and some humidity frizz. Aiko made a mental note to get a haircut, because she had uneven ends from some fight or something. She couldn't keep track anymore.

Sakurai kept remarkable composure when his working lunch ballooned into a social gathering. Yuusaku arrived next, looking neat in his new chuunin jacket. That netted him a look of approval and a few minutes of chatting until Karin strolled in and pulled out her chair with a screech.

"Good afternoon," Karin said cheerfully. She was already flipping the menu open. "It's a good day for oden, don't you think?"

Gaara sat back and watched her as though he suspected she might choose to bite someone. He didn't seem afraid for himself or anything, just as though he was certain a sudden smiting was an easy possibility.

'I wonder if that healthy wariness has to do with Karin herself or if it's an impression that Temari left about older sisters.'

"No, not when we're going to be using a lot of chakra. Oden is relaxing at home on a cold day food. I want steak," Aiko said. She signaled over the waitstaff. "Hello, thank you. Could I get this? The sweet potato side, and tea. Water as well."

Karin gave her a sharp look, but amended her order to katsudon. She didn't say anything else until the man left to take their orders to the kitchen. "What's this about a lot of work?" She turned her face a little to the side and tilted it so that her chin was at a positively dangerous angle. "I have a full day of training planned."

Gaara went so still that it was obvious he was working not to lean back.

'I guess Karin laid down the law. Maybe about the way he drips everywhere out of the shower? That would drive her mad. I should be home in the evening more to keep an eye on them.'

"Karin, this is Sakurai-san." Aiko gestured and repeated the introduction the other way. "Karin is my relative, a current genin. You might have heard of her. And Sakurai-san is a member of my administration who oversees the city development and planning."

Karin's eyes glazed over. "Wow. That must be a fun job."

"I like it," Sakurai said mildly. "It's very nice to meet you. Will you be working with us today on the park project?"

"She will," Aiko said cheerfully. The look she got from her prickly daughter was pure poison. Karin was going to be vicious one day and it was absolutely precious to look at the seeds. "She's going to learn how to interpret the diagrams for the wooden parts from Tazuna before he leaves today, and then she will be in charge of supervising the two genin teams working with us today."

It was kind of beautiful, Aiko reflected. Karin puffed up to argue until the part where it became she was being involved as management. Then her curiosity won over her pride and she leaned in to ask-

"What is this project about?" She adjusted her glasses, because Yuusaku was frowning at the way they reflected light into his eyes.

Aiko nodded to Gaara.

His voice started off a bit gravelly. "It is a community welfare project that will increase the attractive qualities of the city, as well as serve as intensive training in water and earth ninjutsu for the lower-ranked shinobi involved."

Karin frowned, but she didn't seem sure of what to think. "I see." She pursed her lips. "I can see why you'd want to clean the place up a bit. It is pretty bleak."

'Fuck is she talking about? Is Otogakure lined with fucking daisies? Orochimaru got a lot of fountains?'

She could feel a scowl coming on.

Sakurai swooped into the conversation, even and reasonable and ever so deserving of a raise. "We have many projects planned that will increase the visual appeal of Kirigakure as well as raising the quality of life here. We believe that it is an important factor for morale and mental health."

blood splattered on the cobblestone steady steps behind but she was racing ahead of Tsunade. Touch one, two, three. They fall, they fall, they fall-

Aiko shook off a memory and crossed her legs. Kirikgakure didn't always make a great first impression, it was true. "This is going to be a large park, the west side dominated by a lake with a running path surrounded by various scented and edible trees and plants," she said. "The east part is planned to be recreational fields as well as some gardens for relaxation and consumption."

"Huh." Karin wrapped a fist around some of her hair and leaned forward. "That seems alright, then." She sniffed.

"Yuusaku will be supervising the jutsu usage of his team and supporting an Academy class in clearing the riverbed." Her student seemed pleased to know his role, smiling slightly. "Gaara and I will help around, and then work on filling flowerbeds with the plants we have so far."

Sakurai was hard to read, but at the least he didn't protest about the staff she had chosen for the project. The odd group got through lunch alright. Afterward Aiko snagged a finger through Karin's collar and tugged her along to meet Tazuna. He and his men were already packed up and ready to go. The village head was clearly waiting. He impatiently walked to meet her, face verging on thunder and precious architectural plans held in the hand that wasn't a fist. Aiko smiled at him and waved to some of the men milling behind. One of them ducked his head away, but a couple of them nodded. Three of them appeared to be sleeping on their luggage.

'It is definitely time for them to go home for a break. It is probably a week or two past the time they should have gone home. I need to make sure they're adequately compensated. I can't afford them to have a negative preconception when we are remaking our image.'

The brusque old man opened the plans and started talking as soon as Karin was within earshot. "I'm not repeating any of this. The namby-pamby arches are going to be death from above if you forget about the support here, so don't. It needs to go in at this angle. Benches are less dangerous, worst you'll get is a sore ass if someone screws up." His grouchiness levels went down slightly at that point.

Karin gave Aiko an incredulous look. She smiled placidly back.

Tazuna drew his posture up aggressively, earning Karin's attention back. "But don't screw up anyway. Look at this here- don't skip it, I know it looks ornamental and it's a pain in the ass but it'll keep the damn thing around til the wood rots." He cleared his throat and put his free hand on his hip. "You got all that?"

"I do," Karin replied primly. She took the plans in a quick movement that Tazuna clearly didn't register until she was holding them behind her back. "I'll follow the instructions precisely. Is that all?"

Tazuna blinked at his empty hand. Then then veteran construction worker seemed to really look at Karin for the first time, with her sharp eyes, confident posture, and neatly tailored jacket. He sighed. "I liked those Konoha ninja I had around for a while, but I gotta say they make 'em a bit smarter in Kirigakure, don't they?" Aiko covered a snort as Tazuna shook his head. "You're a young lady like Hikari-chan, aren't you?"

'Ah, right. She has no idea that he thinks that's my name.'

Karin followed his nod to Aiko with a carefully neutral expression and no comment.

"She is," Aiko said. She looked at her clever little cousin and felt proud. She swayed just that little bit closer to give Karin a companionable bump with her hip. "She's spying on us for a foreign country, but I like her just the same. I was sneaky when I was a teenager, too. It's a good phase."

"What." Karin's lips didn't entirely close. She took just one step back, turning so that her body was facing Aiko. She looked remarkably like she had been hit in the face with a squid. One hand slowly crept up toward her chest and stopped, unsure of what she should be doing. Panic? Become defensive? Deny it? Run away?

Sanbi started laughing. "Your youngling-" he cut himself off with a chuckle. "Her face. Ah, I think she understands my suffering."

'It's good for a girl to be knocked off her high horse every once in a while,' Aiko thought unrepentantly. 'Tsunade did that kind of thing to me, and look at how I turned out.'

"Moral and considerate?"

'Nah. Sturdy.'

"Could do worse," Tazuna agreed mildly. "She does remind me of you at that age."

Aww. He was so dadly. Aiko tried not to let her expression soften as much as it wanted to. He had actually met her when she was not much younger than Karin. Not this specific Tazuna but hey, details. Aiko warmed at the implied compliment anyway.

"Yes, I hope she also ends up deposing someone to rule her own country when she grows up." Aiko put a hand to her cheek and smiled warmly at her cousin.

She gave a quick check over, trying to read the younger girl's thoughts from her face and body. Karin's heels were thoroughly on the ground, her body language tense, her chest facing Aiko dead-on. A little defensive, but… Karin had correctly read the air and skipped right over the fear reaction for confusion, which meant anger was coming any time now. "We Uzumaki are born to be queens."

Tazuna snorted. "Are we ready to go, your highness?" He made some fluttery motion that was probably not respectful enough for her station and dignity.

"Hold up." Karin made a sharp hand motion and scowled. "Wait, what? You know that I'm a spy." Karin crossed her arms and widened her legs. She was smart enough not to try denying it. She was brazen enough that the statement came out as an accusation. "What are you thinking?"

Tazuna sighed and turned around to rejoin his workers.

"Of course I know," Aiko said mildly. She tilted her head down at her cousin, because come on. It had been very silly for Karin to think otherwise. "But I'm not worried. You don't know anything that could damage me, you haven't yet been contacted, and I'm going to have to kill Orochimaru-san anyway."

Fury sparked in those red eyes. "Like you could," Karin spat. She leaned into Aiko's personal space. "Orochimaru-sama is incredibly powerful."

"He is," Aiko agreed. "He's certainly one of the best shinobi in the world, and a genius. I would not feel eager to face him alone." It wasn't difficult to keep her tone and body language neutral, because Karin just did not intimidate her at all. "But I'm strong as well, and I am working with two other nations to get back something that he stole. This is the way the shinobi world works- your personal strength is not always enough. A shinobi who lives without powerful allies is always at risk." She put her hair back up with the ponytail on her wrist. It was time to get back to work.

"Hm." Karin just watched Aiko adjust her hair, angry but silent. The vertical lines pressed between her eyebrows were proof enough that she was thinking over every possible angle. "You're very certain."

Aiko nodded at the point, because of course she couldn't absolutely know. "We will probably kill him," she amended. "If Orochimaru-san kills me, of course you would be wise to return to Oto. But if Orochimaru-san dies, I hope that you will consider staying with me. Family is important." She smiled.

Karin was silent and impassive.

'Look at that. Two minutes after having her cover blown by a foreign kage, and she isn't panicking or putting herself at risk.' Aiko tried not to be too visibly proud. 'I told you that she was a clever girl. She has all the self-preservation instincts that skipped over the rest of our family. She'll outlive us all.'

"I did not contest her wit," Sanbi said. He was clearly having a good time. She got the sense that he was leaning forward to catch every word that was said. "Now say something disinterested and walk away. That will be satisfying."

'You're my best friend. Of course I'll be dramatic.'

Her voice came out serene. Aiko was hyper-aware of how having her hair up made her neck look long and dignified, her chin tilted at just the right angle to look at Karin through her lashes. "In any case, your outside loyalties are why you cannot be promoted or given much responsibility at this time. When and if you reconsider, you may be elevated. You may follow Yuusaku now."

She nodded to the figure waiting not too far off, because keeping an eye on Karin was part of his job. Then she made eye contact with Tazuna and held up a hand to indicate she was ready to go.

Her sweet baby cousin stiffened at the dismissal. Karin looked like an offended Pomeranian, with her round eyes and wrinkled nose. If she'd had fur, it would be standing straight up. "Ugh." Karin gave her a look somewhere between confusion and disgust.

Aiko gave a little wave and sauntered away.

"Ah, satisfying. That was an interesting approach," Sanbi said. "Why do you not employ secrecy?" He sounded curious, not judgmental.

'Karin is direct, and it's important for her to respect the people she works for. She would never respect me if she thought that she was more clever than I am,' Aiko responded absently. She gave a little stretch before holding an arm out to Tazuna. 'If I let her view me as a mark, she won't want to stay here. I'm letting her know that she has actual options. If I just killed Orochimaru, she might stay here, but she would have the baggage of trying to conceal her original reasons for coming and fear of repercussions. I'm removing that consideration.'

"Seems like a sweet kid," Tazuna said absently. He hefted his knapsack and kept his left hand on the straps. His right reached out to shake her hand, which had not been the plan but whatever.

"That's true," Aiko agreed instantly. She grabbed the closest construction worker by the shoulder and took them to Tazuna's house. "I love her." She let go of those two, flickered back to Kirigakure, and motioned over two more men.

But it was understandable that other people might not realize how sweet Karin was off-hand…. Aiko took a moment to ruminate on how ridiculous the first group of young shinobi Tazuna met had been. She dropped two construction workers at Tazuna's house. She went back to Kirigakure and motioned over two more people. Team 7 had set a false standard for young shinobi eccentricity. She thought it over while she efficiently transported the entire crew back home.

It was better not to correct those misconceptions, she decided.

She stood around and smiled and said the right things when Tazuna gave a little post-trip speech to his workers and their gathered families. He was supposed to wait to announce it, but he launched right from talking about how much money they had made to how Hikari and her little friends were going to revitalize their village by building things. For a group of about 30 people, they made an impressive ruckus when Tazuna started talking about how a girl from their village was the Mizukage. Wives, children, and random assorted relatives gave Tazuna delightfully baffled expressions at that. Tazuna and his men looked at her cheerfully.

There was a visible ripple of confusion from the villagers who had not spent two months in Kirigakure. They looked Aiko. She looked at them. She clasped her hands in front of her hips and gave a pleasant little nod in response to all the scrutiny.

Aiko smiled, but she felt tension run through her body. She didn't want to use genjutsu on any noncombatants if she could help it. She was not good at that. Sai still had a heaache. She looked over the crowd faces, cataloging their thoughts and reactions. Would anyone refute it?

"Wow," someone said. And then the crowd erupted into excited conversation. A middle-aged woman gave Aiko an interested look and leaned to ask her husband something. He shrugged in response, showing his palms and a cheerful flash of teeth. Similar interactions were happening all around.

She tried not to laugh. 'It almost looks like none of them remember me,' she told Sanbi. 'How odd.'

"They take him at his word," Sanbi noted. "This is unreasonable."

'It makes some sense,' Aiko disagreed. 'Most people don't like to publicly tell their leader that he's wrong. And it's in their best interest to believe it- it's flattering for them. They'll probably spend the next couple of days deciding that they remember me just a little bit, especially as the people I put under genjutsu months ago chime in with unremarkable stories about my mother coming into town occasionally.'

The day dragged on. She returned to Kirigakure and hollowed out a lake. She and Gaara moved the leftover soil to the planting beds that Yuusaku had managed to direct into being so far. He gave her a tortured look over the heads of shrieking, muddy Academy children who were nominally helping. Keisuke was bent over picking a splinter out of someone's thumb while an Academy teacher directed the more obedient children in laying boards.

Aiko nodded at Yuusaku and gave a stretch. She swiveled her head over to check that Karin hadn't killed any genin yet. Everyone looked quite alive. Good, good.

She brushed her hands off and took Gaara to pick up the plants she had prepaid for. The salesman gave her a look of polite confusion that became stronger every time she carried potted plants behind the building, set them in Kirigakure, and hiraishin'd back for another peach tree. He gave his watch increasingly concerned looks and left at one point to splash water on his face.

"Will he ask?" Gaara said in an undertone.

Aiko shrugged. She bent down to deposit a particularly large plum tree with the small forest they were settling a few hundred feet from where Karin barked orders. "If you thought some two strangers were buying your whole stock and putting it in your alley, would you want to say something?"

"Yes."

"Huh." She cast him a curious look. "We are different people. I would just let that go. Sounds like none of my business." They twined arms, crossed continent, and then dropped their contact to briskly walk into the greenhouse again.

The elderly man behind the till gave them a distressed look and pretended to be reading a newspaper. Aiko put a plum tree on one hip and a rosebush on the other, held the door open with her foot, and walked out the door and just around the corner. Gaara was carrying four plants with no sign of strain or wobbling, which was unbelievable until she looked close enough to see that they were actually hovering in place. A pot of lavender bumped cheerfully against his heel where it couldn't be seen from behind the counter. She suppressed a smile as she led them into the alley. As soon as they were out of easy sight Gaara obligingly touched his elbow to hers and then they were in Kiri. They set down plants. They returned. The old man took a step back from the window and started talking under his breath.

"Aiko-sama." Gaara sounded thoughtful. She glanced down at him. "I will arrange the transport for the second shipment of seedlings."

She shrugged. "Whatever you like. One less errand for me."

"You will transport me," Gaara disagreed. "And attempt to have a pleasant conversation with the floral staff while Yuusaku-san and I put plants into a wagon. Then the wagon will be pushed out of town. At that time, I will ask you to use your transportation technique."

Aiko sighed and wiped some dirt off her shirt. "Your way sounds fine too."

"Mizukage-sama." Mei casually surveyed the work happening around, eyes lingering on the line of genin doing their best to fill the new lake. It was going slowly, but, uh, they were genin.

"Mei," Aiko greeted. She kicked a pot over a few centimeters. "It's lovely to see you. Did you have a report from Ao-san?"

"Yes." Mei's nose wrinkled. "We will have a visitor from Konohagakure in two days."

She eyed her subordinate. "Is it Jiraiya?"

Mei's jaw was tight. "It is."

Aiko sighed, and it was like all her energy left in that breath. Great. Jiraiya. He was such a great houseguest. "I'll greet him personally. Anything else?"

"Sunagakure has sent word ahead that we may expect them at the outer border tomorrow." Mei cast a lazy stare on Gaara. "We will host a three-man team."

"Ugh." Aiko scrubbed at her face. "We'll have to work to keep Jiraiya ignorant, he's such a goddamn snoop. I'll babysit him. In that case, I need to run an errand out tonight. I don't want to leave Kirigakure while he's here unless I can help it." She yawned, feeling a wave of exhaustion pressing down while the sunlight faded. "Thank you for the information. Oh- Raidou. Have him in my office at 9pm. I'll have a talk with him."

"As you wish." Mei nodded and turned away. "Mizukage-sama."

Aiko watched her go and admired the way all that red hair moved in the wind. "Gaara."

Her apprentice stopped and gave her an expectant look. The line of potted plants hovering en-route up the hill stopped and bobbed in place.

She reached out and ruffled his hair. "I'm never going to be as impressive-looking as Mei is, am I? She looks so cool. All the time."

Gaara sighed.

[sifasdt]

SIFAS Daily Theatre Classic: 2020-03-26

(Transcription after the break.)

[Image transcription:]

SIFAS Daily Theatre for 2020-03-26

Yamato Nadeshiko

Emma: This goes here, and here.... Like this? Dia-chan, did I wear it right? Dia: Yes, you're really skilled at it Emma: Ehehe, that's because my teacher is a good one Dia: My, then in return, you're also a splendid student, Emma-san Emma: Fufufufu Dia: Fufufufu Emma: I thought putting on a Kimono was hard, but if I can put on a Yukata then I'm happy Dia: When you're used to the Yukata, putting on a Kimono wouldn't be as hard Emma: I'm gonna practice putting it on properly, so when summer comes, let's go to the festival Dia: That's a good idea. Let's invite everyone then. We need to show them Emma-san's figure in a Yukata! Emma: Yaay.! I'm going to do my best practicing it~!

[End transcription.]

[ultraericthered]

Anime Update

Have seen the first two episodes of Laid-Back Camp. I think this was Yoshiaki Kyōgoku's only major series directing gig, but the Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club series could've used someone like him in the director's seat if he could compliment and enhance Jin Tanaka's writing there the way he did here. Much like K-On!, this Cute Girls Do Cute Things anime feels a lot like a Jukki Hanada show without actually being one, and I really like what I've gotten of it so far. Nadeshiko and Rin are my favorites so far, and Morgan Garret is honestly pretty unrecognizable voicing the former in the dub.

I have yet to see the KonoSuba movie, which was a bit of an issue when Season 3 starts with an episode that directly references it.

Gotta also address the next three episodes of Black Cat I watched 'cause oh wow, did I forget how badly this anime handled Train's complete 180 shift in character in Episode 8. We never see him changing into the outfit he's gonna wear for the rest of the series and is most well known for wearing - he just suddenly has it on when Episode 8 opens and its not given much attention. And his lazy, goofy dudebro manchild personality and the comedic reactions and expressions he pulls hits like such a jarring whiplash for a character that, while he had some funny moments here and there, was mostly a straight-faced, sullen edgelord assassin in all prior episodes. The idea is supposed to be that this is his natural personality and his bond with Saya reached him and changed him enough to make him more comfortable with letting it show, but that wasn't properly convyed to us by the anime, so it just feels like the flip of a switch! Mind you, I like Train like this and am glad to have him, but the anime writers needed to be much better at depicting his development.

But on the flipside, the Apostles of the Star are finally on the scene now, with Charden and Kyoko being as delightful a presence in this anime as I remember them being, almost all the other members sans the Doctor and Preta Ghoul making intimidating introductions, and Creed...good fucking lord, he re-enters the story still carrying that menacing momentum he gained when he killed Saya and he just fucking runs a whole mile with it, being very fearsome, theatrical and compelling to watch. While episode 8 mostly just set up this new angle, settled us into the team dynamic and brought Rinslet back into the picture with the Igor Planeter plot, the next two episodes also gave appreciated insight into Sven's past and we learn how he gained the future premonition eye and why he prefers to conceal it. The plot's really picked up and I expect more good things from here.

[hongtonie]

nadeshiko, rose bonbon, lace 🌸

hi anne !!

nadeshiko - where do you wish to travel?

ooo this is a fun one. id really like to go to france (which i actually have plans to do next year super exciting) but if it can be somewhere i’ve been before i’d really like to go to san francisco again to visit the palace of fine arts its one of my favorite places

rose bonbon - what are your hobbies? or dream hobbies?

other than giffing i edit occasionally & post on instagram but besides stuff i put online for the most part i draw pretty often and i crochet and every couple months i’ll dust off my guitar for one or two songs i like at the moment. i really like photography and graphic design too. as for dream hobbies i’d love to learn bass guitar or drums or maybe even pick the violin back up (i played for like a year in middle school)

lace - what is your personal style? dream or otherwise

my personal style changes a lot depending on how i wanna dress that day really but for the most part i wear wide jeans with a crop top, oversized tshirt, or a muscle tee. at home i usually just wear sweatpants and a tshirt tho lmao. id love to be stacked in jewelry though i’m talking ring on every finger tons of necklaces and more piercings but i layer with what i have right now. and ofc i don’t go anywhere without my trusty ateez crossbody. so i guess kind of 90s grungy ?

send me a shades of pink ask !

[akehoshimystar]

Riku SR

Nadeshiko Break

Part 1

Ito: (I'll match this bouquet with this frame...)

I moved to the center of the floor and looked at the frames I had just put up on the wall at the back of the venue.

Ito: (It doesn't seem to be tilted. The balance from all angles is... Yeah, perfect.)

(As for the rest….)

Comparing the interior blueprint with the current decoration, I checked again and again to see if everything is going as planned and if there's anything missing.

???: Working hard, huh?

Ito: Eh? Ah... Hello!

I turned to that voice and saw Riku-san newly dressed in the outfit for this event.

Ito: I see that you’ve changed.

Riku: Yup. Not too shabby, aren’t I? ……Well, let's put that aside for now.

Here you go. This is from the customer over there.

And with that, he handed me a small tray with some hot tea and individually wrapped cookies on it. Following Riku-san’s gaze, there was Mao-san who’s also wearing the outfit for the event.

Mao: It was, in fact, Riku-san himself who prepared it.

Riku: Wasn’t it Mao who suggested bringing something to Ito at the convenience store?

Mao: “If we don't make her take a break, she'll forget to catch a break and keep on exhausting herself”. I recall it was you who said that line.

Ito: (I see... What's on this tray is their kindness.)

Just noticing that warmed my heart.

Ito: Thank you.

Even so…... I must have looked so desperate that it worried you...

Riku: What are you talking about? It's great to be passionate about something.

Mao: Did the pressure of your first event get to you?

Ito: Well... I don’t think I can deny that.

(There is no doubt that I have been nervous ever since the project was launched.)

Riku: Everything is a trial and error process at the beginning. It's inevitable to get nervous.

But if you don't take a break from time to time, you might run out of energy before the real thing.

Ito: If that happens, it'll be all for nothing.

Let me express my gratitude for your kindness.

Riku: It’s nice that you’re honest.

Part 2

Ito: (Yup, my energy is all charged now.)

As I stretched, the energy I replenished spread to every corner of my body. After enjoying the break that Riku-san and Mao-san had given me, I continued to check the venue.

Ito: (I think I've already finished most of what I can do today)

I was momentarily relieved that things were going well, but I stopped when I noticed a small anomaly in the flower decoration in one corner.

Ito: (This one... It’s missing a petal)

Mao: Oh, I knew you would notice that.

Ito: Eh?

Mao-san, who somehow ended up next to me, did a small shrug and smiled.

Mao: I'm impressed that you spotted it.

Ito: It may be hard to tell, but I still want to do something about it...

Mao: Yeah. I thought you'd say that.

Ito: Maybe there's a spare, I'll go check.

Mao: Oh, wait a sec.

Ito: Yes?

Mao: From that customer over there.

With his neatly aligned fingers, Mao-san respectfully pointed in the direction where Riku-san came carrying a single flower.

Ito: Could that be...?

Riku: I found the missing flower when I was walking around the venue earlier. I already prepared a replacement.

As Riku-san explained, he quickly replaced the missing flower with a new one.

Ito: Wow... Simply perfect.

Mao: I expect nothing less from Riku-san. 

Riku: Wasn’t it Mao who told me where to prepare that?

Hmm? What is it, Ito? I'll get the wrong idea if you keep staring at me like that. 

Ito: Well, how should I put it...

The way you two behaved was so smart and cool that I couldn't take my eyes off you.

This is a perfect example of how to work.

Riku: Is it just me or does it feel like you’re emphasizing the fact that it's work-related?

Mao: Don't worry, Riku-san. it’s not just your imagination.

Ito: Ahaha. I need to work harder to be able to ease up and work smartly like both of you.

Oh, it may be a bit late to say this, but Riku-san, Mao-san….

You two look so good in that getup.

Mao: Thank you.

Riku: If Ito butters me up like that, maybe I’ll wear it outside of the event as well.

Mao: Sure, sure.

Riku: Now then, let's push ourselves a little more to make Ito's first event a success.

Ito: Yes! Thank you very much.

Surrounded by the smiles and encouragement of Riku-san’s and Mao-san’s…. I felt that the stiffness from my shoulders had been lifted.