#National High Performance Center

[paulpingminho]

[a-pute11as]

Softie - Alexia Putellas

warnings - none?

words - 1.3k

Game day was your favourite, the build up of emotions, the performance anxiety mixed with the joy you felt every time you stepped onto the pitch. Nothing could ever beat the highs you felt when playing the sport you loved so much. Today was one of those days, well it was meant to be, yet the difference was that a very discoloured and swollen ankle caused by a dodgy tackle during international break meant you’d be missing out. The Barca medical team had decided it would be best to miss out on the upcoming away game, advising you to stay home and focus on rehab for the couple of days that your teammates would be away. 

Alexia had always been overprotective, both as your captain and girlfriend, she always had your best interest at heart and wanting her squad at full fitness meant she was quick to agree with the medical advice, even if that meant a couple days of prolonged separation. At first she did try her best to figure out a way you could successfully rehab whilst traveling with your team, but given the amount of walking an away trip often endured and the crutches you were temporarily restricted to, she decided against it. 

“Lo siento mi amor, we both know it’s for the best” Alexia hummed, her hand pressed against her cheek as you were saying your goodbyes at the front door of the shared apartment. Your body half limped against the wall as your crutches had been abandoned next to the sofa in your bid to say a proper goodbye to Alexia.

“Can you change your mind? It’s not too late for me to pack some things” You muttered, leaning into her soft hand as her thumb rubbed back and forth along your cheek. 

“Cari, you know what my answer is” She whispered, planting a small kiss on your forehead, leaving you to mumble in defeat.

You said your goodbyes and Alexia was soon gone, leaving you alone with the lack of comfort from your favourite person.

The next few days were full of rehab at the training center, consistent check ins from your girlfriend and a couple of facetime calls when she didn’t believe that you were doing your at-home recovery, something that Alexia often had to bribe you into doing.

You were now more stable on your ankle, meaning you could get around without the reliance on your crutches, allowing you the extra freedom of moving as you pleased. Ale was due home in a couple of hours and you knew she’d be tired so you set about the task of tidying your apartment. It didn’t take too long but the slightly limp in your step did somewhat slow you down and drain extra energy. 

After finishing you were quick to take a shower and put on a change of clothes, consisting of a pair of Alexia’s Spanish national team shorts and her hoodie. Stumbling back towards the sofa, you planted yourself on it comfortably, waiting for the door to open to embrace the person you’d had been missing. 

It didn’t take long for you to adjust yourself into a comfier position whilst the time seemed to drag. You searched for a questionable English reality show, one that Ale would ridicule you for whenever you asked to watch it together, she never got the appeal of British humour yet it made you feel at home. Your phone pinged as you made another adjustment to your leg to seek some kind of peace from the discomfort of baring weight on it had caused. 

Amor -

Get some sleep, the plane has been delayed slightly so i will be late home and i know you’re tired already

You furrowed your eyebrows at her suggestion of sleep, determined to greet her with wide eyes and a smile as soon as she entered the room. 

You -

Ale i’m wide awake, i’ll be here when you’re up so you can tell me all about it

In reality you already knew all about it, you had watched the match with Ellie, who was also kept back from traveling due to recovery, you had been receiving updates from both Patri and Pina about the ‘cute’ things Ale had said in passing conversations about you. As well as a message from Kiera asking if your girlfriend would ever not make up excuses for the time when you both snuck away from a team celebration to cuddle. Her usual excuse was to blame it on you, but in reality she was tired after a big win and didn’t want to look too soft to the rest of the team. 

*Incoming FaceTime call from Amor*

“Hola cari” Alexia smiled, as the phone lit up your face.

“Hi babe, everything okay?” You smiled back, stifling a yawn that tried to expose your tiredness to your girlfriend. 

“Just thought I’d check in before the flight, make sure you’re as wide awake as you say you are” Her smile shifted into a smirk knowing exactly the type of person you were. 

“No confias en mi, amor?” You questioned, tilting your head to the side, teasing her intentions. 

“No cariño, confío en ti, pero siempre estás cansada y siempre te quejas." She responded, mocking your head tilt with similar teasing intentions. 

“Ale who’s that?” Patri said, peering her head into the screen, a smile appearing on her face as she realised who it was, “It’s lover girl!” She added, using the nickname she had given you when you first let her know about your relationship. She was quick to take the phone from Alexia’s han for herself. 

“Patri, give her the phone back” You laughed, knowing she had every intention of causing some kind of trouble.

“No, venga, say hello to everyone” She held the phone up, announcing your presence causing you to wave at your teammates that had now focused their attention on the phone.

“Are you staying up to give your girlfriend a goodnight kiss?” Pina laughed, as she began to blow kisses towards the phone.

“Oye, dámelo” Alexia said, standing as she grabbed the phone from Patri’s hand swiftly, “The flight is boarding now amor, go to sleep”. You mumbled in response before saying your goodbyes and hanging up.

Even though you were determined to stay awake, it didn’t take long for your eyes to grow heavy as the comfort from Alexia’s borrowed clothes took over your senses.

“Mi amor, wake up” Alexia cooed, her hand running through your hair to stir you through your sleep.

Your only response was a few very tired grumbles as your eyes opened to the sight you’d been waiting for. It took a couple of seconds for you to realise what was going on before a sleepy smile overtook your face.

“Ale, you’re home” You smiled, pushing yourself up off the sofa and wrapping your arms around her quickly.

“Si, I thought you weren’t tired huh?” She laughed, placing a kiss on the top of your head. 

“It was an accidenttttt” You whined, “I got comfy in your clothes and they smelt like you so it made me tired”. 

“Oh nena, vamos a la cama” She suggested, taking hold of my hand and leading me towards our bedroom. 

“I’m not even tired amor” You announced, as if there was any use convincing her that you were telling the truth. 

Within 5 minutes both you and Alexia were settled in bed, your head resting on her chest as her fingers made their way through your hair slowly. Your hands ran up and down her chest as you both sleepily talked through how you spent your days and the parts you missed each other the most.

“Patri and Pina didn’t stop teasing me about you staying awake for me to get home” Alexia laughed slightly, “They don’t think I’m tough anymore”.

You sleepily laughed in response, “You’re a massive softie, I think they already knew that”. 

a/n - not sure how i feel about this one, so v sorry if its a lil shit x

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

1987 Buick GNX

1987 Buick GNX: A Rare Muscle car That Showed How Awesome GM Could Still Be

Let's talk about one of the most iconic cars from the 1980s – the Buick GNX. This car wasn't just a vehicle; it was a statement, a powerhouse, and a collector's dream even when it was new.

Here's What Made It Special

Ultimate Performance: In 1987, the GNX stood at the pinnacle of Buick’s turbocharged lineup. Its 3.8L V6 engine, enhanced with a Garrett T3 turbocharger and a larger intercooler, produced a formidable 276 horsepower and 360 lb-ft of torque. Those were BIG numbers for the time.

Limited Edition: Buick produced only 547 GNX units, each transformed by ASC McLaren Performance Technologies.

It Wasn't Just a Hopped-Up Engine: The GNX included numerous performance upgrades like a reprogrammed engine management system, a performance suspension with a torque bar, and a unique GNX rear differential cover.

It Was Lightning Fast: This car could rocket from 0 to 60 MPH in under five seconds and complete a quarter-mile in just over 13 seconds, making it one of the fastest cars of its time, and capable of running with the Big Block Muscle cars of the late 60's.

It Looked Cool: The GNX had a menacing exterior with vented fenders, a lack of hood and fender emblems, and 16-inch aluminum mesh wheels with blacked-out faces and GNX center caps.

The Car Pictured Here is an Unrestored Gem: GNX number 155 of the 547 built remains unrestored with an incredibly low 12 miles on its odometer, showcasing its pristine condition. Still, too bad nobody has ever really got to enjoy driving it.

Luxurious Interior: This GNX featured a six-way power adjustable driver's seat, GNX-badged front carpet savers, and a special instrumentation package, making the interior as impressive as its performance.

Rare Documentation: It includes the ASC McLaren GNX window sticker, listing all the unique features that made it a Grand National Experimental.

It's a Sought-After Collector Car: With its unmatched performance, limited production, and unique features, the GNX has become a highly sought-after collectible in the classic car world.

The Buick GNX wasn't just another car; it was a high-performance marvel that left a lasting legacy in automotive history.

When it comes to the grand national the GNX is the holy grail

[dilfl0v3rss]

baseball player!connie

baseball player!connie who is one of the top pitchers in the country. ever since he was young his family and friends knew he would be one of the best and they were right.

baseball player!connie who had been working the hardest on the team from his freshman year of college all the way to his junior year right now.

baseball player!connie who decided in high school that he wanted to get a degree before taking baseball to the next level and has stuck with it.

baseball player!connie who despite his 6’3, strong figure and prodigious talent in almost every sport, only took an offer for baseball, seeing that sport as his true calling since he was little.

baseball player!connie who would’ve never thought he’d be going to college with you, his high school sweetheart. you’ve been together since his freshman year of high school, always at his varsity games with pretty bows in your hair as you cheered on his team. you’d sit front and center, school colors painted in two lines on your cheeks as you sat in his opposite jersey with a bright smile on your face.

baseball player!connie who never leaves for a game without getting a pep talk from his favorite girl, your serious face always turning him on as he thinks about how you value these games just as much as he does.

connie’s wide hands were outstretched on your ass, rubbing and squeezing as he stood in his team warmup. he had an important away game today and you could tell he wasn’t feeling good about it, him and his team’s poor performance during the last few practices filling his brain with doubt. “ion wanna lose mami” he groaned, his neck tattoos peaking from his collar as he averted his gaze to the living room. you brought your hands to his cheeks, slowly moving his head back towards you as you spoke. “you been workin hard?” he nodded, hands giving your ass a squeeze as he thought back to some of his better pitches he threw during practice. “you still think you the best?” he nodded again, making you smile as you moved to your tippy toes to leave a soft kiss on his lips. “then stop worryin, the team feeds off you. if you go out there actin unsure of yourself then they gon be unsure of themselves too. you the captain ain’t you?”

“yes ma’am”

you smiled at the name, moving from his hold to pick up his bag from the floor. you slid the strap onto his shoulder before giving them a light squeeze.

“then lead em”

baseball player!connie who does phenomenal every game, but really excels when you’re there watching him. your pretty face and voice always bringing a small smirk to his face as he listens to you cheer after striking his opponent out.

baseball player!connie who is still in college, but is pretty famous since his games are broadcasted on espn and his highlights are shown all over sports pages. he even got sponsored by nike and did some commercials for them with other stars his age.

baseball player!connie who despite his age and profession, has friends everywhere. he’s had rappers, singers, pros, and even the nations best in other sports attend his games. showing their support for their friend. his closest friends are the nations finest volleyball and basketball players aran and ony. they were all around the same age and absolutely dominated in their respective leagues. the three men would always make time for each other regardless of their differences and busy schedules. the media liked to call them the three stooges for their funny personalities and when they’re around each other.

baseball player!connie who has different women in his face everyday, trying their very best to get the athletes attention, but they never got far. always getting brushed off with an “i’m married” before he’d walk off and look for you in the room.

baseball player!connie who doesn’t care that the two of you aren’t actually married or even engaged, during every interview he labels you as his wife since he’s vowed to love, honor, and protect you since the two of you started dating, no ring or wedding required.

“jesus christ c.p i gotta give it to ya. you’ve got to be one of the most talented players i’ve seen in a long time. you bat wonderfully, you run faster than a running back, and when your opponents think they have time to breathe they are plagued with your bullet like pitches. what do you have to say about your wonderful performance tonight?” the reporter said, a smile already forming on connie’s face as he looked down towards the ring tied in his laces.

“well first i wanna say hey t’my wife. she wanted t’be here but she’s a lil sick.” he said, a small frown on his face as he looked towards the camera as if he were staring at you. “i love you tho and i’m always gon thank you cause i wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for all those nights you’d encourage me and get on the field wit me t’work on my pitches. uhh what else? oh yea my performance!”

you giggled from your seat on the couch, nothing but put joy and pride filling your heart as you watched your man go on about how much he loved and adored you and the sport he was blessed to play.

baseball player!connie who to isn’t allowed to wear the promise ring you bought him during games so he ties it in the lace of his left cleat, always leaning over to rub it during games to let you know he’s thinking of you.

baseball player!connie who already pitched great when you’re there, but does even better when he’s angry. the sight of some random guy hitting on you in the stands made anger rush through his veins. his arm moving as if the ball were on fire in his palm.

“strike one!” the umpire said, the batter standing straight up in surprise as if he didn’t even see when the ball was released. connie wasn’t paying attention though because he was counting his own strikes for you, the first one being you letting this man touch your hair. ‘strike one’ he thought.

as his anger built up so did the speed of the ball as connie threw this second one as if it weighed nothing. “strike two!” the umpire said, the commentators going crazy as they watched your man throw another record breaking pitch. the crowd was going nuts but connie’s eyes stayed on you. your pretty teeth bare to the man next to you as you let him take your phone for something, probably to put his socials in it. ‘strike two’

your last strike nearly costed the catcher his hand, the force of the ball so strong that he felt it through the glove.

‘strike three’

“strike three! out!”

both connie and the umpire were in sync as the pitcher moved from his place. connie wasn’t paying the game any mind anymore, his anger at its highest peak as he watched the bastard bring his lips to your ear, whispering things to you with a smirk on his face as your eyes widened.

‘you’re out’

baseball player!connie who didn’t even let you explain that the man in the stands was a friend you invited from class before taking you home and having you face down in the sheets of your shared bed.

“got me fucked up furreal” he grumbled, his big hand colliding with your ass three times as connie deepened his thrusts. your cries and begs were muffled into the sheets, his other hand squeezing the back of your neck as he pushed your face down into the silk fabric. “got me staring into the stands every ten seconds cause you think it’s okay t’be all buddy buddy wit men ion know. tch….cuero grande mami” (such a slut)

you tried to move your hand towards his abdomen to soothe him, but connie roughly rejected you. slapping your small hand away before spanking you again. “don’t touch me. youn get t’touch me when you be letting randoms do it so easily” you cried loudly, your tears soaking the sheets under you as you tried your best to pull your wet face from the cushion so you can speak. “papiiiiii! s’not l-like that, p-promiseeee!” your beg fell on deaf ears as connie flattened his free hand on your back, pushing your stomach to the mattress as he fed you every last inch of his dick at a breathtaking speed. “uhh huhhhh. s’not like you was letting some lambón (ass kisser) be all in your face, right? not like you was letting him touch your phone and whisper shit in your ear, right mami?”

now that he put it that way you did look a little guilty, but you and the guy were strictly friends and you were determined to let your boyfriend know that. “i love youuu! o-only you daddy i swear” connie knew you’d never cheat on him, the love the two of you carried too strong for either of you to even think of being with someone else, but he couldn’t stop himself from becoming this jealous, possessive lover as his fame began to grow. when more people recognized him the more they began to recognize you as well. your pretty face and kind personality driving many men crazy to the point where connie had to keep a a close eye on your choice of “friends”. your easily gained trust making you prone to getting tricked into being friends with a man that only wants one thing from you.

connie knew for sure that was the case when it came to the man he saw today, his wandering eyes and lingering touches giving him away completely to your boyfriend, but you were naive, too innocent to understand that this man wanted only one thing from you. just thinking about it brought connie’s anger back up to a ten, his hips slamming into you as he lifted your back to his chest with one hand. “how yall meet, huh? he came up t’you after class didn’t he?” you nodded your head, earning you a hard slap on your clit from connie’s rough fingers. “que mama? respóndeme la pregunta” (what mama? answer the question) his hand snaked around your throat, giving it a tight squeeze to let you know he wasn’t playing, but you could already tell he wasn’t given the situation you were in right now.

“y-yes, he came up t’me after class” connie nodded as you spoke, already knowing he was correct. “and being the kind little lady you are, you invited him t’come sit wit you at my game, correct?” you replied wit a small “yes” coaxing him to continue. “and f’course he came, probably asked for your instagram on your phone so he could follow himself, said y’all should take a lil selfie to save the moment and begged you t’post it and tag him, right?” your eyes widened at how spot on your boyfriend was, his thrusts doubling in power as he listened to you agree to everything he said. “but you a my good girl so i know you ain’t post it, but he ain’t let it go did he? nahhh…he leaned down and whispered in your ear some stupid pickup line that made your eyes widen, and since you rejected him i know for a fact he ain’t follow you back, and he doesn’t plan on talking t’you ever again”

you couldn’t stop the little whine from escaping your throat as you listened to the wise words of your boyfriend. “m’sorry p-papi i didn’t knowwww” connie quickly shushed you, leaving light kisses on your wet cheeks as he pushed you back down towards the bed. he laid both of his hands flat on your back before pushing your arch so deep you almost screamed.

“you too nice mami i been tellin you this, but it’s coo tho. papi gon make sure you understand by the end of the night.”

baseball player!connie who spent an entire night fucking his lesson into your poor little pussy, making sure his sweet girlfriend didn’t fall victim to the bad, clout chasing, drama filled people you’d encounter everyday at college.

[pinkmatchalatte777]

regardless of everything, nothing is too big for me to manifest, no matter what the logic that surrounds it is, i can still manifest it within 3 days or less. i am an impressive athlete with extraordinary skills, i am the perfect athlete. i am the greatest at my desired sport, teams literally fight for me and for who will get me on their team because of my crazy raw talent. i am the greatest athlete to have ever existed in my desired sport, i know i am going to the Olympics next, i instantly see results from the work i put in, i instantly get better at anything i do. i have high speed, high endurance and i am extremely flexible, i have my desired body and height and my desired muscle definition. i just know everyone will see me next on tv and in the newspaper as the next big olympic gold medalist, because i am and my talent is simply surreal, every little kid looks up to me and everybody knows my name. my grace, my elegance, my agile movements, and fluidity is unreal and simply indescribable, and beyond perfect, people literally study my movements because they are beyond the laws of physics and every single field of science. i get perfect scores at all of my competitions, championships and nationals, i win everything every single time, every university, college and team are in a constant fight over signing me. i have mastered every single skill in my sport and i ace every single skill, i study and i know everything i need to know about my sport. my body is extremely healthy and i am immune to injuries, i have the strength i need in all parts of my body for the skills i need to perform. i am so extremely flexible you'd think i am a contortionist or something!! i am balanced and i improve constantly and everytime i think and affirm about my sport. i am such an important part of my sport's history that i have moves and skills named after me, i invented moves and skills, i have no need to stress about events because i know everything will always go well, i'll win like usually, i am a record breaking athlete, i have been breaking records and i continue to do so since a young age. i win awards for my talenti love training because i have so much fun, i love my team and traveling with my friends. mistakes are impossible for me, i move effortlessly and perfect, i am a specialist. i have unreal stamina, my sport makes me happy, i learn so fast and easily, i am literally an elite athelte!! i am healthy, i can eat whatever i want and not gain weight, my body and height never get in the way of my sport and skills. i never have mental blocks, i use and push my full potential, i reach for perfection and for that my coaches love me, i get along with all of them, we have a family-like relationship, my coaches are kind. i have the cutest uniforms ever, i literally look like a model in them. i have so much free time outside of training, i have a big social life, i can pursue other passions if i want to because i have all the time in the world, i love my sport center and the people who work there, i have every tool i need at home to practice for my sport, i am able to fund all event fees and i can pay anything with zero issues because i am rich and have infinite money. regardless of everything, i am the greatest athlete at my desired sport, within 3 days or less.

[evidence-based-activism]

I keep seeing this claim that schools/the education system today are designed for girls and disadvantage boys and that’s why girls and women are out performing boys and men at basically every level of education. Does this claim actually have any merit or truth to it? Because tbh I have a hard time believing it and I find it interesting that this seems to be the popular explanation for why girls are doing better in school when I somehow doubt a similar explanation would be widely used if girls were doing worse.

Thanks in advance and I hope you have a lovely rest of your day (or afternoon/evening/night)!

I hope you have a lovely day as well! I know this response took a while, so I hope you still see it!

Evidence For and Against a Gender Gap in Education

There's been a lot of reporting about how boys are "falling behind" in education but there is ... much less evidence to support this. (At least for young children, who are generally the focus in this sort of conversation.)

To start with, we can look at the data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which is "a congressionally mandated program that is overseen and administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences" [1]. Using their data explorer to examine trends in performance, we see very similar performance between boys and girls in general. However, looking at the most recent year for any particular subject and grade level (grade 4 ~ age 9; grade 8 ~ age 13; grade 12 ~ age 17), we can see some small differences.

Boys have higher scores than girls in:

Mathematics (500 point scale for grade 4 and 8; 300 point scale for grade 12) in grade 4 (-6 points), 8 (-2), and 12 (-3)

Science (300 point scale) in grade 12 (-4); girls and boys show no significant difference in grade 4 or 8

US history (500 point scale) for 8 (-4) and 12 (-4); girls and boys show no significant difference in grade 4

Geography (500 point scale) for grade 4 (-4), 8 (-3), and 12 (-5)

Girls have higher score than boys in:

Reading (500 point scale) for grade 4 (+6), 8 (+8), and 12 (+13)

Writing (300 point scale) for grade 4 (+17), 8 (+19), and 12 (+14)

Civics (300 point scale) for grade 4 (+7) and 8 (+2); girls and boys show no difference in grade 12

So, according to a standardized test measurement in the USA, there is little difference in boys and girls performance. Where there are differences they: tend to be small (mostly single digit differences on 300- and 500-point scales) and varied in direction (i.e., boys score higher in some things and girls in others).

Notably, there are substantially higher racial gaps (20-30+ points) in these subjects, suggesting that there isn't a "boy crisis" there's a "marginalized races crisis". (For both sexes, but, interestingly, more so for boys.)

In addition to that, this examination of longitudinal data [2] reaches essentially the same conclusion (different direction of gap by subject, small effect size, bigger racial difference, etc.) but also concludes that most boys "gain ground" as they age. This Dutch article [3] examines several large-scale national and international datasets and also comes to the same conclusion. (Importantly, however, as this will come up later, they did find substantial gender differences in "non-cognitive domains".)

All in all, this suggests the empirical evidence for a "boy crisis" in grade school education is weak.

That being said, there are a couple measures that do provide support for the idea specifically in older students. First, Brookings analyzed data from the Department of Education [4], and found that there is a sex gap in high school graduation rates such that a lower proportion of boys than girls graduated. Notably, however, this gap is much smaller for Asian Americans and White Americans than for Black Americans and Hispanic Americans, which suggests this is – again – more of racial issue than a gender issue.

In addition that, women are outpacing men in college entrance and graduation in the USA, according to the Pew Research Center [5]. Specifically, 39% of women over age 25 have a Bachelor's degree compared to 37% of men. However, when considering only the most recent cohort (adults aged 25 to 34), 46% of women have a Bachelor's degree compared to 36% of men.

Importantly, however, this difference is not driven by structural inequality. For individuals who did not earn a Bachelor's degree, 44% of women report financial constraints and 38% report family obligations, compared to 39% and 35% of men respectively. In contrast, 34% of men reported they "just didn't want to" and 26% report they didn't need it for their desired job, compared to 25% and 20% of women respectively. This does not support the narrative of an external "boy's crisis".

And, in addition to all of that, men are still the majority in highest paying jobs, the majority in governmental and commercial leadership positions, more likely to be the primary or sole earner in a family, and earn more - on average - that women [6].

I'd propose that any differences in educational achievement – if they existed – would be irrelevant without a similar "real world" impact. That is, what does it matter if girls outperform boys on reading tests (or boys outperform on math tests) if they are not also gaining ground in their adult professional careers?

---

Boy's Behavior

Having established that there isn't very strong evidence for a sex gap in educational achievement, I want to note that there is evidence for another type of sex gap: behavior.

This study [7] actually provides evidence that nearly all of the sex differences in grades (i.e., girls receiving higher grades from teachers in primary school) is dependent on the student's behaviors. In other words, once adjusted for "noncognitive skills", differences in grades disappears.

And remember that Dutch study [3] from earlier? They also found that teacher rated young girls "substantially more favourably than boys" for "social behaviour and work attitude". For older students, boys rated themselves less "peaceable" than girls.

The common belief that female teachers (as compared to male teachers) hurt boys performance also appears unfounded, as indicated by this review article [8]. These studies [9, 10] also draw the same conclusion, and additionally suggest that boys behavior/attitudes in school is worse than girls for both female and male teachers.

(Some people may read this and think that this is the result of girls "maturing faster" than boys. So, I'd like to point out that is almost certainly a result of socialization. Someone else has written a blog post about this topic [11], but also see this post about brain sex that also considers the reach and effects of early socialization.)

---

Conclusion

All in all, there isn't strong evidence of a "boy's education crisis". While there are gender differences in education performance they vary by subject and grade level, tend to be very small (much smaller than other demographic differences), and don't appear to have a "real world" impact.

There is evidence that boys are less disciplined and less positive in educational environments, a difference that is most likely driven by how boys are socialized in comparison to girls. (For example, boys are encouraged to be more out-going, girls are more likely to be praised for "good behavior", girls are included in chores more often and at younger ages, etc.)

I hope this helps!

References below the cut:

NAEP: National Assessment of Educational Progress. (2024, March 21). About NAEP: A Common Measure of Student Achievement; National Center for Education Statistics. https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/

Husain, M., & Millimet, D. L. (2009). The mythical ‘boy crisis’? Economics of Education Review, 28(1), 38–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econedurev.2007.11.002

Driessen, G., & Van Langen, A. (2013). Gender differences in primary and secondary education: Are girls really outperforming boys? International Review of Education, 59(1), 67–86. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-013-9352-6

Reeves, R. V., Buckner, E., & Smith, E. (2021). The unreported gender gap in high school graduation rates. Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-unreported-gender-gap-in-high-school-graduation-rates/

Parker, K. (2021, November 8). What’s behind the growing gap between men and women in college completion? Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/11/08/whats-behind-the-growing-gap-between-men-and-women-in-college-completion/

Schaeffer, K. (2024, February 27). For Women’s History Month, a look at gender gains – and gaps – in the U.S. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/02/27/for-womens-history-month-a-look-at-gender-gains-and-gaps-in-the-us/

Cornwell, C., Mustard, D. B., & Van Parys, J. (2013). Noncognitive skills and the gender disparities in test scores and teacher assessments: Evidence from primary school. Journal of Human resources, 48(1), 236-264.

Coenen, J., Cornelisz, I., Groot, W., Maassen van den Brink, H., & Van Klaveren, C. (2018). Teacher characteristics and their effects on student test scores: A systematic review. Journal of economic surveys, 32(3), 848-877.

de Zeeuw, E. L., van Beijsterveldt, C. E., Glasner, T. J., Bartels, M., de Geus, E. J., & Boomsma, D. I. (2014). Do children perform and behave better at school when taught by same-gender teachers?. Learning and Individual Differences, 36, 152-156.

Carrington, B., Tymms, P., & Merrell, C. (2008). Role models, school improvement and the ‘gender gap’—do men bring out the best in boys and women the best in girls?. British Educational Research Journal, 34(3), 315-327.

Graham, R. (2023, September 22). Do girls really mature faster than boys, or do we just force them to? The Noösphere. https://archive.is/2023.09.22-090402/https://medium.com/the-no%C3%B6sphere/do-girls-really-mature-faster-than-boys-or-do-we-just-force-them-to-68e31307abf3

[mbslost]

Another yapping session with MB yipeee!

nah in all seriousness i would like to talk about some things, now that my temper is gone.

we still remember the post on twt made by @/renhanasgf about Gato not being more inclusive, oorrrr that her poc character are ignored. (i wont talk about the real stuff from discord in this post since proofs are still gathered.)

well here i am! (sadly)

1.How many poc characters?

7 well known (or maybe more). who are those? well we'll start with Raven(tinr) or known as Selin as well, Chet Ichpujani(tinr/tpof), Strade(btd/tpof), Thomas(tpof), Jaqueline(tpof), Machete(tpof) and fucking Derek(tpof)

some of them dont have a full name (besides an alias) either because story wise it didnt mattered or because of their lore (Strade and Machete are criminals, doubt they would want a victim that escaped to expose their identity, no?) Also another detail, even some white characters do not have a last name,such as Sid(tinr), Dragon/Jace(tpof), Komodo/Mike(tpof), Chamomile(tpof), Richard(tpof) and probably some from 'Facility'.

their ethnicities are indeed unknown, either because it wouldnt really affect their story or it was avoided in case it could cause a conflict. dunno. about this i cant really talk a lot since her blogs are gone, thus i cannot dig into this matter anymore. although i believe having a hc on them is fine. ''- It is 100% okay to have ANY headcanons about my character!''-her website)

Raven was one of the well know character from Gato that is poc. her nationality is unknown due to the story (which i would recommend you to read tinr, pretty cool tbh). since her story goes deeper i would suggest you to also read her wiki (fanmade). sadly lots of stuff are now gone about her. still a lover character.

Strade. Strade is Strade. (kind of forgot what she said in the answer about his name but the wiki says ''Strade is not his actual birth name. It's similar to a placeholder name like John Doe. His birth name is unknown." still you can check out more here)

Chet Ichpujani is another character involved in tinr, a manager (i believe) at a semi-restaurant thing? in the end he offers to help Farz with his problem. pretty cool guy since he and Anthony Shore re-appeared in tpof. (picture below)

Machete, ''Machete is the newest member of the desert group. He had to prove himself worthy by performing various criminal tasks to be allowed in. Despite his recent acceptance, the rest of the group remain wary of him. His quiet demeanor and decisive actions tend to unsettle the other members. He regrets everything he's done to be admitted into the group, but he chose to stop at nothing to get revenge for his sister. He feels as though he's completely lost his identity and humanity to his "purpose"." -wiki (also a small detail, he did everything to revenge his sister)

Tom/Thomas, ''Tom is a college student, taking a media development course centered around sound design. He took a few years off high school, kind of meandering through life without an aim for a while. However, he eventually found a passion for making music. Despite tons of research and hard work, he was never really able to get his brand off the ground, so he decided to head to college to get some formal education on the subject. Late one night, as he was about to head home, he was abducted by Komodo and Dragon.'' -wiki

Jaqueline, "Jaqueline is a young trades worker learning to paint houses. She takes pride in her work and also frequently goes to the gym. Her mother pesters her to get a higher education, but she loves her current career path. Due to the friction with her family over her job, she tends to choose to spend time with friends instead. She was violently abducted by Jack in broad daylight, unlucky to have no witnesses." -wiki

therefore, there's plenty of information, plus that lost from her blogs.

2.Model minority

must agree, her work from 2016 looked alike yet, in the last years she actually showed more bodies (like types)

here are some examples:

also Strade's new model as well:

quite diverse, is it not? i am aware i didnt show others as well but if you wish to (and i actually encourage to) you can view the rest here! Lawrence, Ren, Celia (or on pinterest!)

3. Conclusion

i still believe everyone can create whatever they wish, whatever character. the details are on their part. now i could understand Gato for being upset when someone doesnt draw their character as they are (such as changing the body type, skin colour, etc) but also cant blame those who feel like being ignored (trust me, had to survive the genshin fandom).

so the characters exist, thus i dont see the problem of not being inclusive (also, as she often said, you can hc her characters, thus i believe their ethnicities are free to chose for yourself)

that's it. as for the real deal (the discord stuff) i believe it's the best more proofs come. rn i dont see her as a racist artist, but that comment in spanish does sound in fact xenophobic... well, until more context is posted, we'll see

stay safe!

[tsuchishima]

❀ — A GUIDE TO BOKUTO'S MOODS ๋࣭ ⭑ ❁

WARNINGS | none

GUIDEBOOK | types of bokuto's moods, problems and solutions, bokuto in conclusion (will be continued after making a new acc)

WC | 0.5k words ~ GENRE | fluff / slight crack

A/N | this is slightly rushed. why? i'm making a new acc! i got tired with my current theme and decided to switch to a new one. ENJOY READING READER !

NOTEBOOK COVER + PAPER (visual reference)

๋࣭ ⭑ ⚝ — PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS !

𓏲 ๋࣭  ࣪ ˖ PROBLEM & SOLUTION 1 // VOLLEYBALL MATCH problem context : a perfect set was tossed to him, and he ran up to spike the ball. his hand perfectly aimed at the center as he jumped and spiked it, only to be blocked by one of middle blockers of the opposing team. he groaned and as the next few more rounds started his performance started to go bad. and you guessed it. he's in his emo mode, and he yells out his very expected line "don't toss to me anymore!" he says, pointing to akaashi. possible solution/s : start thinking of solutions that could help uplift his mood. and make sure to imagine all of the possible outcome when you try to do something, whether it's bad or good. also, if he does say his infamous line then just don't toss to him anymore. it's would seem wrong but it would work. his desire to spike will only grow more as he watches getting ignored by his setter. after a few rounds of tossing to other players you can now set to him again, making him get a point—his mood now being back to a cheery one. make sure to praise him afterwards too.

𓏲 ๋࣭  ࣪ ˖ PROBLEM & SOLUTION 2 // VOLLEYBALL MATCH problem context : he's playing in the nationals, and he starts to get frustated as he realizes in the court he's playing in is small compared to the main court hinata is playing in. his mood is starting to go downhill. he's in the edge of going emo mode. some of his team members starts to notice this as his hand accidentally slipped on his hands—causing for them to lose a point. he then feels defeated. his shoulders sloping as he looks at the not so high ceiling of the court. he feels terrible. possible solution/s : it's very simple to resolve this problem. just explain that because the court is much smaller more attention is on to him, and that in the main court only 1/4 of the people will be watching him. he will definitely start contemplating at the explanation and would start to look at the loud cheery crowd. he would then start to agree with you even though what you said was half-true, that's bokuto for ya'

𓏲 ๋࣭  ࣪ ˖ PROBLEM & SOLUTION 3 // A BAD MOOD problem context : he's feeling downcast. by what? who knows. but all you need to do now is to comfort him. he's probably hiding in a enclosed and dark place. tables, chairs, random things he squeeze in-between he hides in those objects just to feel secure. but it doesn't help him with feeling unhappy. possible solution/s : praise him. just literally praise him, or help him with what he's having trouble with. just a praise from someone that means to him can take his mood to a whole turn. you can also try to ask to practice volleyball with you to try and 'improve' your skills but in reality you're just trying to cheer him up. this may work since he just loveeesss spiking. he quite literally has an endless amount of stamina when it comes to practicing.

_ → m.list

tsuchisama © — please do not copy, steal or translate.

[mariacallous]

I read the NPR article about Richard Reeves and the 2024 election and masculinity etc and I'm once again where I always am with him - there are a few things I sort of agree with but overall I want him to shut up.

“The irony is that this was supposed to be an election about women and about women's rights. And of course, it still is.” Reeves says, “But it's striking to me how much of the debate and so much of the performance, almost of the election so far, has actually been about competing views about masculinity and manhood.”

This summer, philanthropist Melinda French Gates distributed $1 billion to causes supporting women and girls. Reeves was surprised when his institute received some of that money.

“What she's come to realize is that a world of floundering men is not likely to be a world of flourishing women, and that we do have to rise together. And that actually, if men really start struggling to do their bit on the home front or in the labor market, it's not like that women end up unscathed from that,” he told Morning Edition.

According to the American Psychological Association, boys tend to perform worse in school than girls, statistically, and are now less likely than girls to attend college. Reeves, in his analysis, says that boys go on to live unhealthier lives as well.

Is the issue that schools and jobs and modern relationships are causing men to struggle? Or is it that misogyny and sexism are contributing to why school performance is down for boys, why college enrollment is down for men, why women are, in some fields and areas, doing better/advancing more?

Reeves says Republican demonstrations of masculinity have become more performative, with increased bravado and machismo. This shift is evident in who has introduced Trump at past Republican National Conventions. Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, introduced him at the last two conventions, but this year he was introduced by Dana White, the head of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

On the Democratic side, Reeves says the fact that Harris is a woman gives her more “permission” to speak on the issues of boys and men.

He also highlights the significance of Harris choosing Governor Tim Walz as her running mate to contrast Trump’s style of masculinity. “It'll be interesting to see if they follow this up with any policies. But a high school coach, a high school teacher—there’s a way in which Tim Walz is embodying a more service-oriented form of masculinity.”

Reeves points to memes about Walz that praise his masculine traits.

“There's all these memes now he'll fix your car. He'll make sure you get home safely. Like he'll put his arm around you. Be a coach.”

I don;t necessarily disagree with this analysis, but it's very surface-level and anodyne, and doesn't touch on how much negative masculinity is embraced and portrayed by the Trump campaign.

When asked what actions and beliefs define masculinity, Reeves was initially reluctant before sharing his perspective.

“There are very many different ways of being masculine. But I would say that the longest and best established definition of masculinity that I found as I've done this work is really of being of service to others, of being of for more than yourself.”

Reeves explains that historically, what has distinguished a man from a boy is the ability to “generate more of something than you need for your own survival.” It conjures up the idea of the “breadwinner” of a family, though Reeves says it doesn’t necessarily mean that.

“I think the idea of a man who exists only for himself, that's actually the opposite of masculinity. And so there's a certain selflessness to all of the definitions of masculinity that I think is positive, that I think should define what modern manhood is.”

"the longest and best established definition of masculinity that I found as I've done this work is really of being of service to others, of being of for more than yourself.”

Okay...

Recent polling from the Pew Research Center shows that more men tend to vote Republican. But even among the younger demographic of Gen Z, women are heavily Democratic, while men are more likely to lean Republican.

“It really is more driven by the movement of young women to the left than of young men to the right, although it is now both,” Reeves says, “But what's interesting about this is that if you look at the attitudes of young men, of Gen Z men towards gender equality, for example, there is no evidence that they are in any way less supportive of gender equality than previous generations. If anything, they're more supportive.”

He goes on to say, “I think it's a real mistake on the part of people on the left to see the move of young men towards the right and see that as a turning towards the right when it could just as easily be a turning away from the left, because they don't see themselves in the rhetoric and aesthetic and politics of the left.”

Reeves says that many young men feel “quite homeless politically,” and that sense of not belonging makes them open to the right if they feel that they are being heard.

“The problem is that on the right there are absolutely no policy solutions to help young men.”

“But what's interesting about this is that if you look at the attitudes of young men, of Gen Z men towards gender equality, for example, there is no evidence that they are in any way less supportive of gender equality than previous generations. If anything, they're more supportive.”

I think that's actually very incorrect? In fact, haven't we seen the opposite?

"I think it's a real mistake on the part of people on the left to see the move of young men towards the right and see that as a turning towards the right when it could just as easily be a turning away from the left"

A distinction without much of a difference if it ends up in the same result, and even he is qualifying that that's what's happening.

Reeves says that many young men feel “quite homeless politically,” and that sense of not belonging makes them open to the right if they feel that they are being heard.

“The problem is that on the right there are absolutely no policy solutions to help young men.”

So it's almost like policies aren't the problem?

I am so tired of him and his shtick, and the fact that his argument is based on very cherrypicked and personally biased thinking (would we have written "Of Girls and Women" if he'd been the father of three daughters and saw how things were shaping up against them? Doubtful).

@thecardiganqueen @larkandkatydid et al

[mtaartsdesign]

We mourn the loss and celebrate the life of Faith Ringgold (1930-2024). A painter, mixed media sculptor, performance artist, activist, writer, teacher and lecturer, Ringgold’s impact on American art cannot be understated, and her legacy is especially felt in New York City. Born in Harlem, Ringgold attended City College for both her B.S. and M.A. degrees in visual art before travelling the world, which would inform the rich narratives in her work and the development of her iconic story quilts. She revolutionized notions of craft in fine art with her unique style of narrative quilt paintings while centering African American and feminist voices. The distinguished artist received more than 80 awards and 23 Honorary Doctorates throughout her prolific career. Ringgold’s work has been exhibited internationally and belongs in the collections of numerous institutions including the Brooklyn Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the High Museum of Art, the Studio Museum in Harlem, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Ringgold’s mosaic artwork “Flying Home: Harlem Heroes and Heroines (Downtown and Uptown)” (1996) at 125 St (2,3) station honors Harlem notables and makes them fly. Ringgold has said of the work: "I love every one of these people. I wanted to share those memories, to give the community - and others just passing through - a glimpse of all the wonderful people who were part of Harlem. I wanted them to realize what Harlem has produced and inspired." Faith Ringgold herself is certainly a Harlem heroine who has inspired and will inspire many for years to come.

📸1: MTA A&D/Cheryl Hageman, 2: Trent Reeves

[sapphireclawe]

So this is a fully random question, with a fair amount of context.

You see, I wanted to try making a video game, and I have some uh.... high ambitions. Each game is set in the capital of a nation called Ashfell, Sparkway City. All are set as different stories within the city, some centering around the Starlight Square (a small town built within the city that's all centering around a single franchised entity: for any world building fans, I'm adding this here, it interacts with the rest of the city quite well since they funnel that money back into the local economy via local sourcing. Plus it's an experiment to build more jobs by zoning a large city into microtowns with free housing and ease of getting jobs in the location), some centering around the concept of life and death, and more. I have 4 games I want to make, each one having different mechanics and styles.

Most of the games will have queer elements as well. Also populated by humans and furries.

Game 1: Nexus (title in progress)

This game is a 3D open world game, set around depression as a whole. It would have survival and psychological horror elements in it, especially after dying in the game a few times. Most early deaths would be self inflicted.

Things to note: there may be more than one game mode involved. Inspired by some free roam horror games (can't think of any)

Game 2: Dream Guardian

This game is a Metroidvania, inspired by Hollow Knight in some design choices. Weapons, spells, and traversing abilities unlockable of course. Follow the main character as she goes on quests to defeat evil throughout Sparkway City!

Things to note: an optional mechanic may be added that may cause psychological damage to the player. The mechanic will be OFF by default, and the player will have to go through 3 layers of "are you sure" before turning it on.

Game 3: Rhythm game (title in progress)

Starring the audition attempts of Trixie and the Tricks (a fully queer band trio) across Sparkway City as they try to get a permanent gig to perform with, this game is based on Guitar Hero and Rhythm Heaven Fever, lol.

Things to note: either I'll have to compose the music myself or someone may have to help here...

Game 4: Carved (title in progress)

A survival horror game that starts off nice enough, but quickly goes south as you have to escape the area you spent your whole life in. Inspired in design by Into the Pit. Yes I watched a playthrough, hush. The style fits what I'd be going with.

I'm working on the game design document for the four as it is, don't worry about it

[paulpingminho]

[sitp-recs]

Anime Recs Pt 2

Any BL fan knows that sports anime is all about the homoerotic tension between the MC, his team players and his rivals 🤌🏼 trust this genre to serve in both aesthetics and feels - which means it deserves its own list! I tried to include a little bit of everything from hidden gems like Ryman’s Club to big hits like Haikyu. Most of these have 🌈 vibes if you squint (sometimes not that hard) with YoI being more intentional about it. And for those who love found family like me, you can’t go wrong with 1, 2 or 6. I hope everyone can get something for their tastes and find catharsis as they cheer for these pretty boys. This is the second part of my anime rec series, you can find the first list here. Enjoy!

1. Backflip!! 🤸🏻‍♂️

Summary: Shotaro Futaba loved sports, but was never good enough. But watching a group of gymnasts in the park and seeing them in a gymnastics tournament, he decides to join their school and become part of the gymnastic team. With new members, Shotaro and Ryoya Misato, the team aims for the upcoming Inter-High tournament.

2. Big Windup! ⚾️

Summary: The story follows the story of Ren Mihashi, a pitcher who was blamed by his middle school team for their string of losses, and as a result suffers from low self-esteem and transfers to a different high school. There, the school's first baseball team is being formed and Mihashi reluctantly joins as their Ace Pitcher.

3. Free! 🏊‍♂️

Summary: Free is set in the town of Iwatobi, Japan, which is based on Iwami, Tottori. The story is centered on high school student Haruka Nanase, a gifted swimmer. After encountering his childhood rival, Rin Matsuoka from Samezuka Academy, he and his friends revitalize Iwatobi High School's swim team.

4. Haikyu!! 🏐

Summary: Junior high school student, Shoyo Hinata, becomes obsessed with volleyball after catching a glimpse of Karasuno High School playing in the Nationals on TV. Of short stature himself, Hinata is inspired by a player the commentators nickname 'The Little Giant', Karasuno's short but talented wing spiker.

5. Kuroko no Basket 🏀

Summary: The story follows Kuroko's journey to success with his team, with most of the episodes being based around one or part of one challenging game, in which Kuroko and his teammates, most notably Taiga Kagami, perform plays and have short conversations with opposing players in the heat of the match.

6. Run with the Wind 🏃‍♂️

Summary: After abandoning competitive running back in high school, Kakeru Kurahara has no desire to return to the sport during his college years. But when an impromptu shoplifting-related sprint brings his talent to the attention of Haiji Kiyose, he soon finds himself wrapped up in an adventure he never imagined.

7. Salaryman’s Club 🏸

Summary: The story follows Mikoto Shiratori, a recently unemployed badminton prodigy who has the ability of foresight. After getting fired from Mitsuhoshi Banking for losing a match for their company sports badminton team, he gets recruited by Sunlight Beverage to play for their team and become a sales rep.

8. SK8 the Infinity 🛹

Summary: In Okinawa, a group of hardcore skaters participate in a secret, no-holds-barred competition after midnight known as "S", racing each other on skateboards down a winding road carved out of an abandoned mine. Reki, a high school sophomore and hardcore skater, takes new transfer student Langa to S one night, and ends up pulling him into the world of skateboarding.

9. Tsurune 🏹

Summary: Minato joins the Kazemai High School Archery Club and along with his old friends and new teammates, Nanao Kisaragi and Kaito Onogi, they aim for winning the prefectural tournament while trying to overcome their doubts and shortcomings.

10. Yuri!!! On ICE ⛸️

Summary: Japanese figure skater Yuri Katsuki faces a crushing defeat during the Grand Prix finals and heads home, unsure of whether or not he wishes to continue his skating career. After a video of Yuri mimicking Russian figure skater Victor Nikiforov's routine goes viral, Victor decided to become Yuri's coach, much to the dismay of his coach, his fans, and his fellow Russian skater Yuri Plisetsky.

[pomefioredove]

As the president of VilYuu nation what are your speculations for manga!Yuu for Pomefiore installment, considering the manga version of each Yuu serves as the foil for the overblot boys ✨️

(Or they should be, but tbh I only Yuuta who served this purpose the most clearly as he looks like how Azul was in the past yet he is happy and content, unlike Azul. I wished we could have seen Yuuken's and Yuuka's backstories explored more to mirror Riddle's and Leona's.)

For Vil's Yuu, I'm thinking of child actor whose fame is rapidly vanishing but is still dedicated to their work until they're tossed into twst 🤔 But again manga Yuu has all been average high school students so idk, maybe they're in some clubs which involve performing arts? Or the average fan who is fond of innocent type of idols like Neige hot idols like Vil? Anything's possible and I'm not sure if I can contain my excitement until the Pomefiore manga is finally out 💕 (which will happen in 2 years if we're lucky, considering how long it took Heartslabyul manga 😭)

admittedly I don't keep up with the mangas so I am reading this all as you explain it to me, but if they were a foil, they would contrast him more so than not, yes?

so it actually would make more sense for yuu to just be an average high school student. even more than that. make them a nobody, a complete introvert, someone who hates being looked at

I think the most effective character foils are ones who contrast the main character's superficial qualities (which, in this case, would be vil's elegance, style, fame, talents, etc), but mirror their repressed thoughts and feelings. make this yuu someone who struggles with feeling inferior, make them insecure about their morality, make them someone who is a loner, not by their own hand, but by being villainized and isolated by their peers

I guess I would go for a backstory that's more like, yuu as a young child who wasn't socialized properly (I think this would parallel the film industry in vil's background well). but they're a terrible actor, and thus can never lie about anything. they're blunt, they don't fake smile, they express disgust and contempt often and easily... others call them mean and scary and they were othered, and so they grew to fit the role of the villain. almost unashamedly so.

they avoid people, they hate being the center of attention, and they hate feeling judged, which creates a lot of conflict between them and vil for a long time. "don't talk to me, don't look at me, I hate you" type of edgy. lots of self-hatred, and a deep bitterness towards others they think of as perfect. what they feel for vil is almost what vil feels for neige

but yeah idk lol. I was imagining a fem yuu for all of this because I feel like this sort of personality is way more interesting for a female character to have, but as far as I know all the manga yuus are male. just some speculation!

anyway tldr since this is mostly just me babbling

yuu is a terrible actor who can't so much as fake a smile

their bluntness and lack of expression makes them come off as mean and judgmental

they grew up being isolated and villainized by their peers because of it

they began isolating themselves as a counter measure, avoiding people, becoming introverted and lonely and hating attention/being looked at

they develop a deep hatred of "perfection" and people they consider perfect, which includes vil

[mirai-e-jump]

Duet November 2023 Issue ft. Ikeda Masashi Mini Interview (translation below)

Publication: October 6, 2023

Ikeda: It was fun to kick a ball around for the first time in a long time! I played soccer from the first year of elementary school to my third year of high school, and still do sometimes, but I haven't run around like this in awhile. I love to move my body, it's an exhilarating feeling. For me, Soccer = "Youth."

Kicking the ball like this reminds me of the days when we worked hard to win the National High School Soccer Championships. My position was Forward and Midfielder, and I loved the sense of accomplishment I got when I scored a goal. I participated in club activities after school every day. I went on an expedition the day before a test, so my student life was really centered around soccer.

Although I didn't have many opportunities to participate in school events, being able to play in the National Tournament with #10 on my back, which was my dream, made me really happy! In between club activities, I also formed a band, and we were chosen to perform on stage at the cultural festival. However, due to the expedition…I barley fit it into my schedule, and somehow managed to make it in time. I still remember the excitement. The loud atmosphere was fun and also had a "youthful" feel to it.

When I was a student, I studied hard, aiming to excel in both my studies and sports. I'm the type of person who, once I decide to do something, will do it to the best of my ability, so I worked hard and competed with the students that had the highest grades in my class.

Of course, I didn't want to neglect soccer either, so in order not to lose practice time, I listened to my lessons without dozing off in class, attended cram school, did supplementary lessons, and reviewed things while on the bus, so I got used to it. I was able to do my best in this way because of my friends. In my studies, I became friends with the top student in my class and worked hard, and my soccer teammates, who were both my rivals and friends, also gave me emotional support. There were times where I struggled, but every day was a fulfilling and happy one!

(Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger)

The scene where Jeramie, who I play, pretends to be a bad guy for everyone else's sake was tough. It was my first time playing a villain, so it was difficult to find the right balance of making it look like I was playing the bad guy for the sake of my friends…It was difficult, but taking on a new challenge was alot of fun! It turned out to be a great scene, so please be sure to watch it. The story has entered a new chapter, and the developments each week will make you think, "I can't wait to see what happens next!" Please enjoy these rapid and exciting developments!

[viiixs]

!! Far east Wind Scenario/Drabbles :3

FEW! Xie Bi’an + FEW! Fan Wujiu x reader insert

Reader is Gender neutral. + note at the end of post.

5. stages of love with them 🍃

« SCENARIO »

Living life in the Imperial Palace as a Servant, was it a blessing or a curse? it seems like a dream to work in such a gorgeous yet safe environment, and in return you only offer your services to clean. unbeknownst to them, life isn’t as “dream-like” as expected. It was a matter of survival living in the Palace, whether it’d be one small mistake, you could potentially risk putting yourself at harm. its even worse for the Imperial Concubines and Consorts, as they fight for the favour of the Emperor.

yet what choice did you have? you’ve been selected to be a Servant for the Noble Consort, to attend to Her needs, and take care of Her. It was hectic at first, yet as Time passed by, you’ve gotten used to your busy life in the Palace. growing friendships and trying to avoid punishment- it was the norm.

and despite having a good friendship with alot of Servants, there was one in particular that was rude to you. it was one of the several Eunuch’s working for the Emperor. and due to His Status, He takes advantage of it by bullying the others into doing what He wants. and Today was unfortunately your unlucky day as He chose you as His victim.

yet fortunately, before He can get even more Turbulent, Two men helped you and sent the Eunuch away, You were thankful and wanted to return the Favour, yet they declined and soon left, Their appearance and attire was different from the Usual attire of servants and guards. curiously, you asked about them to some of your co-workers, you soon found out those Two men are no more than the Emperor’s most trusted body-guards.

you were curious about them, yet knew your place as a palace servant. but you didn’t expect this twist to your palace life.

they were said to be smart and strategic Generals who bore no weaknesses, yet who knew that weakness would be you?

HCS/DRABBLES

no. 1 ~ first meeting 🍃

you were assigned with assisting the Noble Consort in the Palace, She wasn’t the brightest in terms of Personality, yet she wasn’t as self-centered as the others were. so it made the job more bearable, She was indeed a beauty, no wonder the Emperor graced Her with the fortunate role of Consort, and as the favourite, He must also grace Her a trustworthy servant, and that Servant was you.

One spring afternoon, The Consort wasn’t in high spirits. To try and Compose Herself, She tasked you with the job of getting Her some silk for embroidery to cool off her mind. as you were in the middle of doing what you were tasked with, you noticed a man surrounded by palace maids, Judging by his Facial Expression,It seemed like He was irked by the crowd, while the other was trying to stay composed. upon taking a few steps for closer inspection, it was no other than Fan Wujiu and Xie Bi'an who was the limelight.

~~~~~~~~~~

no. 2 ~ getting to know🍃

» Fan Wujiu along with his Partner, Xie Bi’an. were the most Trusted Imperial Body-guard of the Emperor, who showed utmost Loyalty to His Grace. They were also Generals who won countless battles against the Enemy Nations.

» They are also Known for their contrasting personalities despite the Noble Upbringing, it was rumored that Xie Bi’an was said to be much more ‘merciful’ while performing his duties as a general, yet still strict. while Fan Wujiu was known to be more strict and Imperious with the Soldiers. This made them more attractive in the eyes of the servants in the palace, and everytime they returned from a trip, They’d always be surrounded with a crowd.

» You knew a trick that can get the palace maids to scatter, Those Guards once did you a favour before with an Incompetent Eunuch, so why not return the Favour back to them?

» “The Emperor has returned!” you yelled, trying your best to Mimic the voice of the announcer. after hearing this, you’ve never seen a person’s face go pale so quickly, let alone a crowd, it was amusing. yet your trick worked, as the aforementioned crowd quickly scattered back to their stations, afraid to anger the said ‘Emperor’ from whatever shenanigans they were doing to disrupt one of His most trusted men from performing Their duties. and after They scattered, you were now left alone in the halls with them.

» “ You there.”

» “I have to say, that was quite smart. though aren’t you afraid you might get in trouble for falsely announcing the Emperor’s Presence?” Fan Wujiu exclaims, He doubts that you’ll even get caught anyways, and even if you did, Him and Bi’an can reason with the Emperor for your sake.

» “Not really, if anything you should be thanking me for helping you out.” you reply, “and besides, i need to return back the favor you both did for me, if it weren’t for you both, that Eunuch would’ve pestered me to no end.”

» “ It was nothing.” Xie Bi’an smiles “He wasn’t doing His Job properly, and it was the Bare minimum we could do. besides, you looked so annoyed with Him you might strike at Him soon.”

» “This is the only time we ever interacted decently, must you joke?”

» Your Conversation with Bi’an and Wujiu lasted longer than anticipated, from a small joke to multiple ones, moving from the Halls to the Garden. your mind completely engulfed in their Company as you forgot about the task-in-hand. one of the Eunuch’s that work for the Consort told you about Her now irritated state and immediately asked for you to deliver back the silks.

» undeniably, you did get punished by Her, it wasn’t severe yet it was enough to drop your good mood for the entire day. though that was a few days ago, its not as serious. yet after returning back to your headquarters, you notice a bag of treats along with a Letter from both Bi’an and Wujiu on your table. after reading the note with curiousity, it turns out that the news of the Noble Consort punishing you reached them, and out of guilt They bought you a bag of snacks that they’d think you’d enjoy as an apology for distracting you from doing your duties.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

no. 3 ~ growing relationship 🍃

» After the punishing Incident from the Noble Consort, you and both Guards have made a friendship, or a bargain somewhat. that said bargain is you luring away the crowd of palace maids that surrounds them, and their offer to take care of those who are mean to you.

» It was going well for both sides, yet later on your relationship with them gradually improved. you got to know them far more better and understood them more, and the reasons for them being so popular. as well as Hidden sides you would’ve never known if you weren’t acquainted with Them.

» Xie Bi’an is into drawing, and usually draws landscapes or sometimes portraits of those He finds kind or intriguing. while Fan Wujiu has a hidden soft side for those He truly cares about, a contrast to His Domineering and Strict figure He was known for in the Palace. These were the only ones you knew. yet you felt like there were more hidden secrets you have yet to see for them, yet surely enough today nor tomorrow isn’t the right time. maybe soon, as time passes, you’ll get to know them more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

no. 4 ~ recognizing feelings 🍃

» as seasons pass by, who knew things would drastically change in the Palace? let alone feelings for a servant?

» Xie Bi’an feels as if He’s enchanted, as all His sketches of Landscapes became sketches and portraits of you.

» Fan Wujiu feels as if Hes confused, rather than the feeling of delight when He sees you, its replaced by the feeling of butterflies in His stomach.

» They both truly didn’t expect to catch feelings for you, yet after several more interactions and time spent with you, They confirmed their feelings weren’t in the impression of a friendship with you, rather in the aspect of a romantic interest.

» and in the scenario of their profound feelings for you, it also took a toll on the way they treat their Soldiers. rather than the usual commanding and strict persona They use when training, They became suspiciously more lenient with the Soldiers. even they were suprised themselves with the Sudden change.

» It’ll take a considerable amount of time until the Guards can fully accept the growing love and adoration they feel for you. and after they confirmed their Interest, They’ll start treating you a little differently, by showing small subtle signs of their Love for you, until they’re ready enough to finally Confess to you.

» and those subtle signs of affection are in the form of Letters and Gifts. since They can’t always be there in the palace, They’re Generals for a reason. yet what they give you are sometimes too precious to wear in palace walls. such as a Jade ring or Jade Pendant. you once told them that its okay and you didnt need these expensive gifts- yet did you think they listened? yes and no. as the gifts and Letters they give represent something, and They hope you can atleast recognize the value of their feelings that they’re trying to convey.

» yet sometimes, the feelings can be too unbearable to bottle up, and it leads to an unexpected opening of feelings in a Tavern.

» as they were commemorating their victory against the enemy nations, they were given a vacation and a feast from the Emperor to Celebrate, yet after a little while, They invited you to join them at a Tavern for drinks. you asked why go to a Tavern when theres a literal banquet for them on-going, they only said they wanted to spend some time with you.

» and you accepted the Invitation, it was going well, you had fun laughs with them. it gave you nostalgia to when this Friendship blossomed, yet as time went by, Fan Wujiu had too much to drink. and unexpectedly confessed to you in behalf of Him and Bi’an.

» “so… what do you say?”

» “ Wujiu!”

» You were shocked, to say the least. it was Quiet on your side as the lively chatter from the background ensues. Xie Bi’an was pulling on Wujiu’s ear at this point now– they were planning on confessing, yes. but not this soon!

» Your quietness didn’t help the anxiousness from them, nor even answered the lingering question whether if you reciprocated. Bi’an quickly spoke up just in case you felt uncomfortable about the sudden exchange.

» “Ah– don’t mind Wujiu… He isn’t like Himself when Hes drunk.”

» “but… i wanna know, was that true?” you ask, him going quiet for a second, and then opening his mouth to speak with an evident blush

» “…well, I don’t think it’s worth it to lie to you about it.”

» that answer didn’t even help to hide the fact your face was practically burning at this point, whether it’d be the embarrassment or them admitting that they bore feelings for you. maybe both?

» yet soon enough, the silence fades from you, and soon enough is replaced by acceptance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

no. 5 ~ Imperial Lovers

» You have no idea how happy you made them that night, Xie Bi’an was ecstatic while Fan Wujiu was still embarrassed about his Wasted state during that time– yet the feeling of happiness was enough to counter that.

» You can also tease Fan Wujiu about it, yet beware this man will not speak to you for the entire day out of embarrassment

» Your palace life changed alot too after the exchange, and at this point in time you were getting spoilt rotten from them.

» whether it would be sneaking out the palace at night, to small yet meaningful suprises.

» You also noted some new factors about them, such as Wujiu immediately melting when you comb His hair while He lays his head on your Lap. its one of the things that relaxes him alot.

» and speaking of combing, Bi’an loves combing your hair and putting it up in styles you want, whether it would be braided or just a regular style, He’d happily do it.

» Their ways of showing affection, from subtly gifting you valuable yet meaningful gifts, from spending your time with them alone away from the Palace noise.

» Yet all good things come to a short end, as They have to go back to the frontier to train and protect the country oncemore. yet they always make sure you’re okay and know that they’re still thinking of you despite being so far away.

the Frontier is also an unpredictable location. who knows what would happen to them? the rumors that spread out don’t help aswell. after they found out, they send you letters from time to time, to reassure you that they’re alright and for you to not worry too much.

» everytime they come back from the frontier, They always make it up for the time you and them lost. and apologize for making you worry.

» without their knowledge, their soldiers actually know about the relationship you three share due to the letters they receive from you, and they see you as the Palace Servant whom the Two Generals Love.

note: damn i didnt know wtf i was going for when writing this?? but im suuuper sorry if i misuse some things here, l was rlly writing this with the knowledge i remember from watching some old stories ab ancient palace life in china on yt and wanted to incorporate it in this post. anyway it feels great to write for this man once again and i beg for netease to bring back far east wind no matter how useless my begging is i WILL beg just for this man. 💔💔 also its been a hot minute since i last wrote, probably last year? so im sorry if this sucks or smth

also btw yk i had some plans to transform this into an angst, bc reader is a servant, and Wu is a general… i thought of them keeping their relationship a secret from the Emperor cause the Emperor feels as if you’re too lowly to be with them. (smth like that) or maybe forced marriage? wooo idk anymore ‼️