#SORA LIVES FOR THIS PAIRING

[fakeuwus]

MANEATER | SIM JAEYUN (M)

PAIRING: virgin!jake x yn (femreader)

SYNOPSIS: in which jake is tired of being a virgin and you're asked to help him out.

WARNINGS: smut so MDNI! vrignity loss, oral (m and f receiving), unprotected sex (be safe out there), creampie, riding, multiple orgasms, etc. cursing, words like slut/whore, BARELY PROOFREAD

WC: 5k, lowercase intended

MESSAGE FROM NIC: here it finally is!! (sorry for the delay) my first piece of smut,,, hope it's what everyone imagined 😁 (also tysm for 2k notes on the teaser ahh!!) big thank u to my stella, @karinasbaby for encouraging this fic, one of my biggest supporters ilysm. pls be kind as this is something new for me BUT feedback is super appreciated, tell me what u liked and didn't like! (respectfully) also reblogs would be nice as well so feel free to drop one. love u guys sm 🫶🏼

jake sim was a virgin. a pitiful, pitiful virgin. and it’s not like he was ugly. not even close to that. jake was an attractive guy, easy on the eyes. and his flirting? a real smooth talker he was.

it was as if 2000s chad michael murray possessed his very soul every single time he would chat up a girl at a party or in class. 

so why couldn't he ever close the deal? how did he find himself in a steamy makeout session one second and then the next the girl is storming out of the room in disgust. every. single. time.

oh yea, because he was a fucking virgin. a pitiful, pitiful virgin. 

it seemed like girls these days wanted a man in charge. someone who could help them live out their fifty shades of grey fantasies. jake would like to think he could do that for them but how could he ever learn if no one wanted to give him the time of day? what happened to the girls that would spread their legs for anything and anyone?

all jake needed was one chance. one chance to stick his dick in a hole and he can move on with his life. 

his friends didn't make it any better either. he was getting tired of hearing all about their wild sexcapades every week and having nothing to contribute to the conversation.

but they don’t intentionally leave him out or make him feel bad about his lack of experience. they even try getting him with their past hookups because you know, sharing is caring right? 

“dude no way you fumbled sora. she’s a real slut i was so sure she would let you hit,” sunghoon says as he’s unwrapping his sandwich then taking a bite. “bro i didn't fumble anything. it's the same shit every time, once i tell them im a virgin they dip,” jake responds while he steals sunghoon’s sandwich and takes a bite for himself.

sunghoon doesn't even argue, his best friend is clearly in distress and is need of some food. “she started ranting about how she doesnt “do” virgins because they get attached and she thinks im gonna become obsessed with her or something.”

“why do you even tell them you’re a virgin in the first place? if that's the issue why even say anything at all?” heeseung questions with a mouth full of the same sandwich that somehow now ended up in his hands.

“because if he cums in .2 seconds then the girls are gonna think he’s a bad fuck. there's no winning here.” jake nods in agreement with jay's statement as he watches jay snatch the sandwich from heeseung and finish it off.

this is what is so beautiful about their friendship. they share everything with each other, the main things being girls and food. unfortunately for jake, bites of food is all he gets.

—-----------------

“oh fuck!” jakes pants while bucking his hips forward. vision blurry, drool pooling around the corner of his mouth. he genuinely feels like his soul is leaving his body and he wasn’t sure this was even real life anymore. to ground himself and bring him back to reality, he tries looking around the room to find something to distract him.

he doesn’t want to cum embarrassingly fast and he does NOT want to be seen as a bad fuck. out of the corner of his eye he spots a baby yoda squishmallow in the corner of the room, its sparkly eyes watching jake get his dick sucked for the first time.

it’s kind of weird but he finds comfort in the plushie and focuses on it to keep him from fucking exploding. 

now you might be wondering how he got here. in a hot girl’s room getting what he swears is the best head in his life (not that he has anything to compare it to.) the answer is jay, his best friend in the entire world who he now owes his first born to. 

“her name’s yn. just text her and ask when she wants to meet. i told her you were a virgin already so don’t worry about that,” jay explains as he’s scrolling through your profile showing jake what you look like.

silky, flowy hair, curves to die for. to say you’re gorgeous would be an understatement. the whole ordeal seemed too good to be true.

“she wants to fuck me? even after hearing i’m a virgin?” jake asks after grabbing his milk tea from the counter and walking towards a table.

jay simply nods and throws a look towards sunghoon, signaling him to explain the rest as they all take a seat. “yea that’s kind of her thing. she loves virgins. like, her body count consists of only virgins.”

jake was perplexed by the situation. surely he’d hear about a beautiful woman who only drops her panties for inexperienced guys roaming their campus.

heeseung then speaks up, as if reading jake’s mind, “she goes to the college in the next town over. around a 20 minute drive.” before continuing his sentence he shifts his eyes towards jay and sunghoon. eyeballs darting back and forth.

some unspoken dialogue is happening between the three as they sip their sweet drinks and jake just has to sit there and watch. minutes go by and jay clears his throat and sighs, finally breaking the silence.

“she uh, actually took all of our virginities back in high school. that’s how we know her.” 

pause. the fuck? he knew his friends all have gotten their dicks wet for the same girl before but at the same time? jake couldn’t believe what he was hearing. i mean, he did only just meet them three years ago, whatever they were up to before then he can’t judge.

he supposes desperate times call for desperate measures, and jake is sure he would’ve ended up in the same situation soon if they weren’t handing you on a silver platter to him.

“so… you guys had a foursome for your first times??”

heeseung instantly chokes on his boba as jake’s arm receives a punch from jay. a faint giggle is heard from sunghoon, “this bitch is choking on some balls.”

ignoring heeseung’s dramatics jay clarifies, “no you idiot, she took all of our virginities separately. we weren’t as desperate as you were.”

“and like, that pussy is so heavenly. i’d be pissed having to share her with another guy at the same time.” 

“roger that, brother.”

jake looks towards the two, sunghoon rubbing heeseung’s back trying to calm him down from his almost near death over some balls. 

“care to elaborate?” 

“man why do you think we’re all sex crazed freaks? her pussy’s got some voodoo magic in it or something. our manhood didn’t begin when we watched porn for the first time together, it started with her,” jay pauses and shifts in his seat, slight discomfort in his lower region.

he looks up and pinches his nose, “fuck i’m getting hard just thinking about it.” sneaking a peek at jay’s lower half, jake can see his friend chubbing it up in his pants. nothing he’s never seen before honestly. 

but what he hadn't seen before was how his friends were reminiscing so hard on a hook up the way they were right now. and the fact that their origin story of discovering their high libidos is all because of you? he was scared shitless of what he was about to get himself into.

-------------------

fast forward to some exchanged texts between you guys, jake found himself in your room with his pants around his ankles getting the life sucked out of him.

he quickly discovered you were very straightforward and to the point, immediately sending him your apartment address and what time to show up.

jake couldn’t argue though, all this talk about how you were gonna “change his life” and shit got him real worked up. he appreciated the fact that you skipped the small talk and went straight for his dick.

upon arriving and stepping into your living space, your lips smashed onto his and he was pushed down onto the bed. no hi, no hello. just your lucious, full lips swapping spit with his.

his hands instinctively flew to your waist, his digits gripping your plush skin as you straddle him. jake felt so in his element in the moment. making out? this is where he excels. he could do this all day if he could.

but he was here on a mission and he’ll be damned if he leaves without fucking you. or you fucking him. he was honestly down for whatever. you could ask to peg him and he would say yes.

you can sense his impatience, his face twisting in pleasure trying to savor every moment while the cogs are turning in his head, awaiting your next move. every squeeze he gave signaled that he wanted to get things moving.

you make your way down his body, peppering kisses any and everywhere leaving his skin burning. jake couldn’t believe what was about to happen.

in less than a minute he was about to get his first blowjob ever. what does he do? where do his hands go? what if he chokes you? what if he passes out from the stimulation?

before he can think of anymore what to do’s and what if’s, your mouth is on his dick and jake is seeing stars, figuratively and literally. he takes note of the little ones taped to your ceiling and thinks it’s cute.

the pink walls and plushies surrounding the two of you is such a stark contrast to your personality, or what little jake knows of you. but hey, he likes a woman with some duality to her.

“you can put your hands in my hair.”

jake finally takes a look down at you. pupils blown out, lips a bit swollen from all the sucking. you looked so, so pretty like this. he can only imagine what you look like with his cock in you.

trembling hands grab at your hair, slightly pushing you further down and a gagging noise emerges from the back of your throat. oh shit. your nose is practically meeting his pelvic bone and you aren’t letting up.

fuck it, jake thinks to himself. he was done with being patient. he starts fucking up into your mouth relentlessly, chasing the orgasm he was delaying. and you just let him.

you’re merely a hole for him in this moment and you could care less. his dick may be average in size but the girthiness of it was so delicious, you couldn’t get enough.

to make sure he reaches his high, you reach for his balls and start playing with them. his erratic thrusts combined with you squeezing his genitals he twitches in your mouth and his cum is shooting out, pooling out the sides of your lips.

and you don’t stop there. you keep going and going and jake actually feels like he’s going to pass out. “okay, okay please please!” you swallow everything he gave you and finally let him go with a pop to come up for air.

you get up and see him lying there on your bed, unmoving. eyes closed and mouth agape barely taking breaths. one might think he’s dead but this was typical.

once a guy gets to cum in a girl’s mouth for the first time they don’t know what to do with themselves. nudging him with your knee he breaks out of his trance with a lopsided smile adorning his face. god he’s adorable.

before you can suggest a break he immediately grabs you by the hips and flips you onto your back. your shorts go flying onto the floor behind him and he spreads your legs wide to prop them onto his shoulders.

his tongue immediately attaches to your clit and he starts licking you all over. slurping and sucking, as if this was his last meal on earth. he was desperate to get you to cum the way you made him and it was showing.

jake’s eating you out a little too expertly to your liking, as if he’s done this a million times. you won’t judge if he has, you’re literally the last person to judge someone’s sexual history but how is he still a virgin if he eats pussy this good?

he must’ve been met with horrible women who just used him for his mouth and left him dry. you wouldn’t do that to him though, poor guy doesn’t deserve that.

he inserts two fingers into your hole while his mouth was still working your clit. jesus christ. you didn’t notice before but his fingers were so slender and long, reaching places your own didn’t. “am i doing okay? kind of my first time.”

oh? so this was his first time eating pussy. you simply give him a nod of approval, not being able to utter a word as he dives right back in.

in all of your sexual encounters, never has there been a guy so willing to return the favor. and the fact that you didn’t even have to ask? where the fuck did jay find a guy like this? was he aware his friend was a fucking certified munch?

determined to make sure you cum, jake inserts another finger and moves his fingers in an upward motion, trying to find your spot. at least that’s what wikihow told him how to do it.

the sound of your moans and the taste of your pussy on his tongue simply feel amazing and he feels like he could come alone like this. at this point you’re panting and riding his fingers and god it’s so hot. you’re so hot.

jake finds himself humping into the mattress, trying to aid his painful hard on he’s grown since going down on you.

his wrist begins to ache with how fast he’s pumping into you but he doesn’t give a fuck, he’ll do anything to see what you look like when you reach your high.

“oh god, i’m, i’m- ahhh!” you come undone onto his mouth and hand, lips forming an o shape with the most pornographic moan he’s ever heard and he silently releases his load along with you onto the bed.

jake makes sure every single drop of your delicious juices are all licked up, driving your oversensitivity.

“so? how was i?”

you take a look at his annoyingly cute face and he’s licking all over his fingers like a lollipop. cute. gaining some of your composure, your eyes spot a wet spot on your sheets.

“wait, did you…”

“oh. sorry about that. i couldn’t help it.” jake explains with a sheepish smile and a scratch behind his head. not only is this guy a munch but he came untouched while tongue fucking you. you weren’t even sure guys like him existed, like at all.

without speaking another word, you grab the back of his neck and smash your lips onto his. tasting yourself on him has you wet all over again and you both begin to undress each other.

you detach yourself to take your shirt off and he pauses to fully look at you, drinking in every inch of your body. hands grab at your boobs and he pinches a nipple, a small moan escaping your mouth.

your body was literally to die for, the pictures on your profile barely doing you justice. and to finally be able to feel all around your curves and give your boods and ass tight squeezes was a dream come true for jake.

(he may or may not have been jerking off to the few posts you have up, counting down the days of you guys finally meeting but you didn’t have to know that)

you also took a moment to admire his body. to say jake was sculpted like a fucking greek god was an understatement, sporting a six pack and biceps to die for. veins running all over his arms and hands.

deciding it’s finally time to do the deed, you switch positions and motion for him to lay on his back. “are you ready?”

“wait! what about a condom?”

“i’m clean and i know you are so…”

“right.”

you throw your legs over his waist, now straddling him with your vagina inches from his cock. “okay, take deep breaths. i’m gonna slowly go down alright?”

jake throws a thumbs up and eagerly nods. in a moment like this he doesn’t fail to be endearing. you could literally just eat him up with how cute he was. your pussy was about to anyway.

you lace your fingers with his and slowly lower yourself onto him. there’s some intimacy with your actions and jake finds comfort in your eyes, looking at him adoringly.

it was finally fucking happening and jake couldn’t believe it. he was about to become a man. and the fact that it was you taking his virginity, a gorgeous woman who doesn’t care that he’s inexperienced and lets him hit it raw. it's really all he can ask for.

once your walls are wrapped around his tip, jake’s a goner. the little sweet moment you two shared is thrown out the window and he starts bucking his hips up into you, hard and fast.

his hands find purchase on your hips and he’s gripping them so hard you're sure there will be bruises tomorrow. you wanted to start out slow as it is his first time but it seems his thrusting says otherwise.

you press your hands against his chest and begin to move rhythmically in sync with him. jake’s eyes immediately roll back and his breathing quickens.

his hands fall to his side and he lays lifeless beneath you, letting you take full control.

all he could do was stare at the spot where his dick entered you and it was making him even more hornier. he couldn’t tell where he ended and you began.

your wetness didn’t help anything either. the squelching sounds indicated that you were very much enjoying this as much as he was.

“fuck you feel so good baby,” jake moans. the pet name that slips past his lips and it doesn’t go unnoticed but you also don’t question it.

for some reason the simple word made your heart jump. guys always called things like babe or even whore when they really let loose.

those never got to your head, you know they couldn’t really control themselves in the moment and you let them have their fun.

but jake has been nothing but kind to you this whole time, like he knew you were doing him a service and not the other way around.

this only fueled your desire to ensure that his sure first time exceeded his expectations so upped your menstrations. you quickly changed your pace to grind forward, backwards, and in circles making sure his dick felt every inch of you.

jake’s mind was reeling, his breath caught in his throat. he feels as if his dick was about to fall off with the way you were moving.

your body leans forward and you begin to kiss at his neck, leaving hickeys everywhere. your hot breath near his ear sends him into overdrive, must be a sensitive spot of his he never knew he had, but also how could he have known?

his hands that were once gripping the sheets meet your ass and he starts to guide you up and down his cock. you both were about to reach your climaxes, your pussy clenching with every move.

“i’m- where? fuck! where do i cum?”

“inside. cum inside me please.”

inside?? his first time cumming from sex and you were gonna let him do it inside of you? jake swears you couldn’t be any more perfect than you are right now.

you knew you threw him for a loop and honestly yourself as well. pushing these thoughts towards the back of your head you start riding him aggressively, even faster than before. “fuck, jake i��m cumming!”

“me too baby oh my god!”

and there was that damn pet name again. it makes your heart leap out of your chest and sends you over the edge.

the knot in your stomach snaps and jake follows shortly after, his load shooting into you. it pools out of you and you don’t hesitate to swipe some up with a delicate finger and bring it to your mouth, mirroring his actions from earlier.

your eyes meet his fucked out ones and you smile down at him, admiring the masterpiece of lovebites you left all over him. his vision was a bit blurry but he catches the way your lips curled upward, flashing your pearly whites.

jake finds himself instantly becoming hard again, call him easy but when a pretty girl is smiling at him like that after fucking him, can you really blame him?

you move yourself off of him and jake was fully expecting you to kick him out now but instead you position yourself on all fours, your ass in the air inviting him in.

“fuck. you’re into anal?”

you turn your head sharply to look at him over your shoulder, raising an eyebrow to question what he just said. the look you give him says it all and jake takes the hint and positions himself behind you.

“can we try anal next time though?”

an exasperated sigh leaves your lips and you reach over to grab his dick, inserting him into you. “umph! okay sorry.”

upon entering your pussy, jake relishes in the feeling of it. being inside your heat again leaves him breathless for the nth time today.

in and out. in and out. he tries to match his breathing with his gradual strokes. his member is extra sensitive right now and he’s trying not to lose himself. the impatience he had earlier has now moved onto you so you decide to take matters into your own hands and start fucking back into him.

your ass is now meeting his hips and the sound of skin slapping echoes in your room along with your moans. jake’s body is flailing from the sudden impact but he grounds his hands around your waist and grips the shit out of you.

he notices bruises forming on your skin but he can’t for the life of him let go. oops. he’ll do his best to remember to apologize for them tomorrow.

when there’s a good pace between the two of you, you fling yourself upward, back meeting his chest and the new angle has him reaching spots he didn’t before.

you take one of his strong arms and place it around your neck, having him choke you as you ride him like there’s no tomorrow. jake’s brain begins to turn to mush and he feels like he’s even more turned on at the revelation of one of your kinks.

and at this point you’re fucking onto him so hard, so good, he didn’t want it to end. “shit. shit. i love your pussy so much baby.” jake whines into your ear, meaning every word he said.

is it crazy to say you love someone upon meeting them for the first time? well, their pussy. yea. maybe. but who gives a fuck.

he was a man possessed by you, by your pussy. in this moment he truly believed there was some voodoo magic going on down there and he was blessed to be experiencing it.

you clench at his words, and your heart flips once more, prompting you to draw him closer to you (if that was even remotely possible)

the closeness of your bodies creates another intimate moment shared, kisses stolen from one another, hands tangled in his hair.

“i’m close,” he whispers in your ear, his breath leaving tingles down your spine. the hushed whispers you exchange contrast the sporadic thrusting that’s happening.

determined to reach your second high of the day, you push jake onto his back and settle yourself onto your knees, continuing to bounce up and down on his cock.

“yea just like that baby, shit shit shit i’m cumming, i’m cumming!”

jake opens his eyes to watch the scene unfold before him and god was it something. your back arches as you take his cum in you once more and your screams fill his ears, signaling you orgasmed right after him.

this moment alone is better than porn itself, and jake savors every bit of it. there’s absolutely no way he can even bring himself to type “nsfw” in his twitter search bar ever again after this.

you hover yourself over him leaving just the tip inside before sliding right back down, pushing his seed back in while it gushes around his cock leaving jake wanting, no needing, a third round with you.

but to his dismay you roll yourself off of his body, landing on the mattress next to him.

“so… how do you feel?”

he releases a long exhale he didn’t know he was holding, “fantastic. 10/10 experience. would do it again.” you simply giggle at his response with a shake of your head, getting up to gather your clothes.

“wait! um, could we do this again?”

you playfully roll your eyes at him, leaving his question unanswered as you begin to dress yourself.

—-----------------

sat in his computer chair, jake is finding it difficult to finish this stupid ethics assignment. how is he supposed to argue about the death penalty when you straight up almost murdered him with your pussy less than 2 hours ago?

he’s sure his professor wouldn’t appreciate if he wrote that he doesn’t give a fuck about someone serving their punishment if the culprit was you, but honestly speaking he’d let you get away with just about anything. you were an angel sent from above to him who could do no wrong. 

the way your soft lips wrapped around his cock while your innocent (not) eyes bored into his soul. the way you licked and kissed every single inch of his body, leaving nothing left untouched. and god, the way you worked his dick? how was he supposed to move on from you??

you were an insatiable, sex-crazed goddess. a once in a lifetime experience he was so grateful to have. 

his thoughts are interrupted by a loud knocking at his door. two seconds later, jay trails into jake’s room followed by dumb and dumber, all of them having a snug look on their faces.

they make themselves comfortable before they get right into the interrogation. jay leans against the desk, sunghoon sits in the bean bag situated in the corner, and heeseung sprawls himself across the bed.

“so virgin, how was it?”

 “wasn’t i right about her pussy?” 

“where did she make you cum?” 

eyes rolling in the back of his head, jake takes a deep sigh before answering their questions. “one, i’m not a virgin anymore so stop calling me that. two, it was absolutely fucking amazing. literally would give up heaven for it. and three, she had me cum in her. twice.”

heeseung shoots up from his position, jaw dropped and eyes wide. “you came in her twice?!” the boys all share a bewildered expression on their faces, dramatic as always.

jake just shrugs at them, what? didn’t you usually let guys cum in you like the freak you were?

jay slaps his hands down on jake’s shoulders, aggressively turning the computer chair towards him. “jake. buddy. yn has two rules.” 

sunghoon suddenly appears on jay’s left, “one. you can’t cum in her. you can cum anywhere BUT inside of her.” 

heeseung follows and is now on jay’s right side, “and two. she doesn’t repeat fuck.”

immediately following this revelation there’s silence.  complete and utter silence.  the gazes they hold are intense and uninviting. as if they truly couldn’t believe you let their best friend who’s never felt the touch of a woman break one of your rules.

their eyes say it all, they love jake to death and are happy for him, like seriously happy and relieved he’s finally entered manhood. but really? none of them got to do what he did? what was so special about him?

you don’t even know the answer to those questions yourself. maybe it was the puppy eyes or his whiny moans that made you feel like you had him in the palm of your hands.

his eagerness to pleasure you but to also receive reminded you of the sole purpose of why you only go for virgins. they made you feel wanted while also letting you be in charge. call it selfishness but why can’t a girl have the best of both worlds? 

and you’d never admit it, but jake was one of the best fucks you’ve had in a while. he never tried to be someone he wasn’t, just authentically himself. a pitiful, pitiful virgin. and he was proud of it.

it was refreshing to fuck someone who didn’t have some sort of ego right after you were done with them. immediately bragging to everyone what you two did and acting like they could pull any girl as if you weren’t doing charity work for most of them. 

with all of this in mind, of course you let him cum in you. he was doing so well for you, how could you not reward him? had to let him do it twice to drive it home.

and seriously, what kind of guy gives you a tender, sweet goodbye kiss and thanks you for defiling him? you didn’t regret your decisions with him but they were definitely scaring you. 

never have you ever been this intimate with a guy, but jake was different. you felt it. and what you did next didn’t scare you as much as your recent choices with him.

*ping!*

the staredown between jake and his friends comes to a halt and he digs his phone out of his pocket to check it. sliding up, he sees the message appear on his screen:

you: are you free tomorrow?

he glances at his friends’ expectant eyes and throws them a smirk. looks like he gets to break that second rule of yours. 

© fakeuwus 2024 do not repost, translate, or plagiarize

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[froggiewrites]

Midnight Guest

Pairing: Vampire!Law x Reader

NSFW

Summary: Your roommate is strange, you’ve always known that. Most of his habits seem like harmless eccentricities. His insistence that you lock your door when you sleep, due to his “sleepwalking,” confuses you more than anything. But when you forget one night and awaken to him standing over your bed, teeth bared, you start to think maybe there’s more to Law than meets the eye. Warnings: AFAB!Reader (no pronouns or gendered language used), Smut, Vampirism, Biting, Blood Drinking, Possessive/Obsessive Behavior, Vaginal Sex Word Count: 3.2k Halloween Special 2024

Your roommate was a strange man.

You had always known that, of course, from the moment you stepped foot into the house. It was old, built to be so beautiful and grand you could have confused it for a temple, a place of worship. And the rent he offered was far too good to be true. You couldn’t afford a studio for what he asked you to pay, let alone half of a gothic mansion to be shared with a mysterious and handsome man. There had to be something wrong with him, some reason he would give this offer to you of all people. He insisted it was just too big of a house to live in on his own, too lonely for one person. 

“I just…hate being alone,” he had admitted.

You didn’t believe that, not from someone as quiet as him.

You were extra sure he was strange when you had your first real conversation. He remained flat and reserved until you mentioned you had seen his comic collection, which made him light up like a Christmas tree. He told you about Sora, Warrior of the Sea for two hours after that, with a boyish enthusiasm you had never expected from a perpetually exhausted man covered in tattoos. It was cute, though he didn’t appreciate it when you pointed that out, cheeks growing pink and lips growing into what he would insist was not a pout. Yes, you had always known Law was strange, but in a fun way, the kind that brings more fond smiles than exasperation.

But some of his habits were starting to make you think he wasn’t quite as harmless as you had convinced yourself.

The first time you awoke with him standing over you, eyes flashing in the dark, you screamed. He had the nerve to jump back as well, as though you had scared him. Sleep walking, he had called it. You don’t know many people who sleepwalk with their eyes open and their teeth baring down on you. But he was so apologetic, you couldn’t help but let it slide.

“I’ve just been so tired from work lately,” he had admitted quietly, cheeks pink and voice tight with embarrassment. “That hasn’t happened since I was a kid. I’m sorry. I…don’t really know how to stop it, but I’ll try. Maybe I need to get more sleep.”

“I think you should,” you had agreed, dripping with good natured concern. “I don’t mean to be rude, but you look like you haven’t slept in years. I’ve been worried about you, honestly.”

He chuckled. “I appreciate it. Maybe I do need a bit more rest. But…maybe you should sleep with your door locked. Just in case I sleepwalk again. I wouldn’t want to give you such a rude awakening twice.” He had said something else, but frankly you were a little too focused on his hands flexing nervously, showing off his long, tattooed fingers, to catch whatever it was.

And since you had taken his advice, you hadn’t woken up to any more men lurking over your bed. You had, however, woken up to the jiggling of your door handle more than once. One time, you had even heard a knock echoing through the room, though he didn’t answer when you called out to ask him what he wanted.

You also couldn’t help but notice how empty the fridge and pantry were, or how little you saw him eat. He had a small snack here or there, but he seemed to subsist mostly on coffee and whatever he keeps in those tumblers he always has nearby. You had asked once, but he brushed it off, changing the subject not-so-subtly. You assumed they were protein shakes, or some other supplement he used to avoid having to sit down and enjoy a real meal. A lot of Law’s life seemed like he was actively trying to avoid living it. He had his hobbies and friends, of course, but any of the mundane pleasures of life, like eating, sleeping, or even human interaction outside of his chosen few people he avoided like the plague. He focused on his work, and anything else was either carefully penciled in or discarded entirely.

Every conversation you had about it was unproductive. He insisted he was fine, that this was just how he was, but there was always a tension around him, one you can’t help but think would disappear if he would only allow himself to live for once. But you can’t say that to him. How can you ask a man if he even enjoys being alive?

But tonight was the night you would learn your concerns were all for nothing, due only to a lack of information, and nothing more.

You try another conversation about your concerns when he wanders into the kitchen while you’re cleaning up. You know it won’t lead anywhere, but you have to try. “Do you think you’ve been sleeping better, Law?”

He hums noncommittally.

“...Have you actually been trying?”

“I’ve…had a lot to deal with.”

You frown, turning around to face him. “Has work not let up at all? You’ve been running yourself ragged for months.”

He avoids your eyes. “It’ll pass soon.”

“That’s what you said two months ago.” You reach across the counter for his hand, fingers brushing lightly against his, and he frantically pulls his hand back as though he’s been burned. You try not to show your hurt on your face, but from the guilt on his, you know you’ve failed. “I’m…I’m just worried about you. I feel like things have only gotten worse for you since I moved in. Maybe I should just–”

He jumps at that, quick to correct, to move you away from that train of thought as fast as he can. “No, no, that’s not true. And you shouldn’t do anything different. Having you around has been…this is the most alive the house has felt in years. I’m just tired, really.”

“You’re still sleepwalking.”

He tenses. “Am I?” Something about his tone is strange. He doesn’t seem like he’s surprised, or at least not surprised that he is. More surprised that you know.

“Yeah. You really didn’t start doing that until I moved in?”

“Well, no one would be able to tell me if I had.” He still isn’t looking at you.

You sigh. Even knowing how unproductive these talks are, it’s always a disappointment to learn he won’t open up to you. You honestly can’t figure out why he keeps you around. Your presence clearly stresses him out, even if he won’t admit it. “Just…try to get some rest, please. And eat a real meal for once. You’re a doctor, you should know how to take care of yourself.”

He finally looks at you again, self deprecation radiating from his tight smile. “Right. I’ll try.”

He won’t.

But you can. After you finish wiping down the counters, you get ready for a long night of sleep. No point in staying up worrying over things you can’t control. A long, warm shower and comfy pajamas are sure to fix your problems.

And they do, really, for the few hours you remain asleep.

But then you hear the door open.

No jiggling handle, no knocking, nothing. Just the quiet creak of the hinges, and footsteps approaching. You’ve barely opened your eyes before you can feel the bed start to shift, and you look up to see the same sight you did months ago: Law, eyes feral and needy, his mouth open, teeth looking particularly long and sharp in the moonlight. Before you can open your mouth, you can feel his body against yours, every inch of him stiff, his hands clutching your shoulders, his teeth growing closer and closer to your neck.

“Law?”

His eyes are still hazy, his mouth still approaching.

“Law!” You try to push his arms away, but you find you’re not strong enough to make him budge for even a moment. But the fear in your voice when you realize you’re about to feel his teeth against you makes him stop midair, his eyes focusing a little.

“Huh?” He looks down at you in his arms, staring up at him with wide, frightened eyes, and he throws himself back with a speed and strength you didn’t know he had. You can hear him slam against the wall behind him, knocking all of your wall decorations askew and making the wall make a concerning creak. He stares at you, arms out, as though something is pinning him down, and he looks absolutely beautiful bathed in the moonlight that sneaks through your curtains. His eyes are hungry, and you can see his canines peeking out from his lips, almost looking like fangs. He’s naked except for a pair of gray sweatpants, hair mussed and tattoos on full display.

“Law?” He stares at you, still torn between hunger and fear. As you shift to sit up, you can see his eyes flicker between your neck and your breasts, your pajamas giving him a clear view of your cleavage. Normally you would be embarrassed, but the tension in the air makes you forget your vulnerability for a moment. “Are you alright?”

“You forgot to lock your door,” he murmurs, voice thick and deep. He hasn’t looked away from you for even a moment, and he hasn’t moved an inch.

“You were going to bite me.”

He licks his lips, something he often does around you. You had always thought it was a nervous habit, but combined with the look in his eyes, you’re starting to suspect perhaps there’s another reason. “I told you to keep your door locked.” It sounds like speaking takes effort, and you notice his hands trembling slightly.

“Why were you going to bite me?”

“I need to leave,” he says, not moving, staring intently at your exposed skin. He’s breathing heavily. His canines seem to have grown even longer. “Or maybe you should leave.”

“You’re…you haven’t been sleepwalking at all. You’ve been trying to get in every night. To bite me. With your teeth.”

“I…have.”

“Are you…” You can’t bring yourself to say the word, even with all of the evidence in front of you. It feels unreal, so ridiculous you feel as though you’re watching someone else live through it all.

“Yes.”

“And you’re hungry?”

His chest is heaving with the effort of holding himself back. “Very.”

“And you asked me to live with you anyway?”

He forces his eyes closed, pushing his head back against the wall. “It wasn’t very smart of me. I…I knew I couldn’t let you leave the moment you walked through that door. I needed you to stay. You don’t know what it’s like. …I thought I would have more self control than this, really.” He sounds like he’s trying to convince himself more than you.

“Why couldn’t you let me leave?” You hate that your voice has a tinge of hope in it, like you aren’t in terrible danger, like your silly little crush on your roommate is more important than the very real threat he poses.

“You’re…you. And god, I need you.” He huffs out another breath. “You need to leave, really. Before I lose control.”

That should not have sent a shiver of excitement up your spine. “What if I didn’t?”

“Then I’d bite you.”

“And what if I wanted that?”

His eyes shoot open, and before you know it you’re pinned to the bed, a starving animal holding you down, every muscle in his body taut. “You…you shouldn’t…” He struggles to even get the words out, to keep up his good guy act when you can see the hunger in his eyes.

You lean up, exposing your neck fully, and just smile.

You’re pierced in a second.

The sensation is colder than you expected, and for a moment it really and truly feels like you’re going to die. Like you’ve made some horrible mistake for a pretty face and you’re going to pay the price for it. But before long, the ice in your veins fades away, leaving behind a pleasant warmth. It almost feels like you’re drunk, as your eyelids droop and an easy smile comes to your face.

You can feel every inch of Law pressed into you, from his warm tongue against your neck to his solid chest against yours and, most importantly, his hard and aching cock rutting against your thigh as he drinks. He hardly takes any time away from your neck, but whenever he does he’s panting, practically moaning against you. One of his hands goes to your chest, palming clumsily at your breasts, which easily spill out of your flimsy top. He looks down to see them, and groans from deep within his chest. “God, look at you.”

You try to respond, but in an instant he’s against your neck again, suckling, while his hand finds your nipple and pinches it between his fingers. You moan, far louder than you would ever admit, and your hips rut up into his. You can feel a wetness soaking easily through your pajama shorts, which he finds as well as he rubs against you, forcing the fabric between your folds and rubbing it against your clit. Your nails find his hair, gripping for dear life, and you hear him moan again. You can’t see them, but you can practically feel his eyes rolling into the back of his head. You try to speak again, to tell him to please fuck you, to complete the pleasure of the moment, but the only thing that leaves your lips is a pathetic cry of, “Law!”

He pulls himself back from your neck, lips dripping with your blood, staring at you ravenously. You fear he might swallow you whole. You fear you might enjoy that. His hand comes up, fingers gathering the blood dripping from his lips and chin. He maintains eye contact as he slowly and deliberately licks his fingers clean, refusing to waste even a drop of you. You clench your thighs together, which once again rubs the fabric against your clit just right, making you moan softly. His pupils blow out even further at the sound, his eyes nothing but inky blackness and desire.

You aren’t sure if it’s the warmth in your veins or your desire for Law that leaves you so pliable, so vulnerable underneath him. Either way, you find your thighs falling apart and your arms wrapping around him, begging him to take you. You whisper to him, “Please, Law, please. Finish what you’ve started. Have me.”

He leans down to clean the rest of the blood off of your neck with his tongue. “I want you,” he groans. “I have since the moment I saw you. God, you’re so delicious.” You feel his teeth graze against you again, desperate for a second taste. “You taste even better than I imagined, better than I dreamed.”

“You dreamed about me?”

“Every goddamn night. You’ve been haunting me.” He nips at your neck gently. “I couldn’t let you leave, no matter how much better it would be for you. I’m sick.”

You thrust your hips against his again, making his eyelids flutter and a soft choked noise escape his throat. “I’ve wanted you just as long.”

“I’ve never lost control over myself like this. You’ve done something to me.” He says it almost like an accusation.

You wrap your thighs around his waist in response, forcing your hips together again. “You’ve done something to me, too. I’d like you to finish it, if you don’t mind.”

He growls against your skin, something feral finally unleashing from him, and in one smooth motion he’s ripped off your pajama pants and underwear, leaving you bare and dripping for him. He thrusts into you in one smooth motion, making you nearly scream as your eyes roll back from the sensation. His pace is frantic, like if he stops for even a moment you’ll change your mind, or he’ll come to his senses, and it will all be over.

“Need you,” he mutters. “Need you to stay. Say you’ll stay.” There’s some deeper thread of desperation here, his voice pleading, nearly afraid. Like after all of this you’ll see him for what he is and leave him all alone in this house again, to be forgotten by time and left to rot.

“I’ll stay,” you moan. “I won’t leave you, Law.”

His hand finds your clit, a reward for giving him what he needed. His hands are as skilled as you had always hoped they would be, callused and moving exactly how you want them to. He makes you clench around him, ready to come undone so quickly under his attention. “You’re so alive,” he whispers. “So beautiful. And mine.”

“Yours, yes, yours!”

“Forever,” he insists.

“Forever!”

With your promise, his thrusts quicken, growing sloppy as he loses what little control he had left. His fingers and hips work frantically, bringing you to the edge easily, causing you to tighten around him as your vision goes white. At the same time, his teeth come down on your neck again, and he spills inside of you, filling you to the brim as he freely takes what he wants.

You’re panting, your heart pounding out of your chest, your blood flowing freely into Law’s waiting lips. Once he’s had his fill, he licks you clean again, before raising his head to look you in the eyes. “Forever?” He asks again.

“Forever,” you confirm.

He smiles. You watch as he bites his bottom lip, his fangs easily piercing the soft flesh, and he kisses you deeply and desperately. The taste of iron fills your mouth, at first repulsive but quickly growing into something sweet and irresistible. You lean further into him, sucking on his lip, taking whatever you can get, only stopping when he pulls back, pinning you down so you can’t chase his lips.

“Forever,” he whispers, tone filled with wonder. He kisses you again, tenderly, almost worshiping. “And you won’t have to spend a moment of it alone.”

You’re starting to grow unbearably hot, but even as you squirm, Law doesn’t allow you to move. He holds you there, under him, cock still inside of you. “Law, it’s hot. I need–”

“I know. It’ll pass.” He grins, teeth flashing dangerously in the light.

“What?” The haziness from blood loss and whatever endorphins came from a vampire’s bite start to wear off, and you start to tense. “What’ll pass?”

He doesn’t give you a straight answer. “It won’t hurt much, I promise.”

“Law, what did you do?”

He smiles, nuzzling you affectionately. “I’ll teach you everything you need to know. You won’t have to try to figure it all out alone. It’ll be the two of us, figuring it all out together. And we’ll have forever to do it.” He kisses you again as the heat overtakes you, turning swiftly from discomfort to pain.

But you’ll be alright, of course. Law is right there to walk you through it.

And he will be forever.

Tag List: @pandora-writes-one-piece @shy-writer-999 @saturogojosgirl

[taylorswiftstyle]

Attending the US Open | New York City, NY | September 8, 2024

Reformation 'Sora Linen Dress' - $248.00 Crap Eyewear 'The Marquee Rox' - $99.00 Louis Vuitton 'Louise PM Earrings' - $575.00 EF Collection ‘Diamond Mini Huggie & Prong Set Chain Stud Earring’ - $850.00 Foundrae 'Heart Sealed Gemstone Crest Rose Gold’ - $2,050.00 Wove Made x Michelle Wie West 'Custom Diamond Tennis Bracelet’ - $5,680.00 (starting) Lizzie Mandler ‘3 Row Cleo Bracelet’ - $18,300.00 Jacquie Aiche ‘Large Marquise Diamond Pave Signet Ring’ - $6,250.00 Retrouvai 'Rubellite and Diamond Ring' - no price listed Retrouvai 'Magna Ring' - $3,210.00 Gucci ‘Jackie Notte Mini Bag’ - $3,980.00 Tiffany & Co ‘Diamond Wire Ring’ - $2,675.00 Gucci 'Horsebit Detailed Platform Leather Sandals' - $1,100.00

While some wondered if Taylor would appear at any NYFW shows this week, a sporty outing to watch a fellow American Taylor (Fritz) in the US Open final is just as fun. And such great symmetry! The gingham print of this dress is sweet and breezy. It calls to mind picnics on the grass, apple pies, and Americana. In other words, a wholesome and summery piece to wear when supporting an American athlete. Love!

The brand is also a longtime Taylor staple. She’s been wearing Reformation pieces since 2012!

Taylor has been on a bit of a Louis V kick as of late, adding these monogrammed earrings to her latest run of pieces that have included two bags and a pair of boots.

Among Taylor’s style pillars include the art of the high/low (mixing high end designer pieces with more approachably priced items) and indie designers. To my eye, it looks like Taylor has added a new eyewear brand to her collection - the humourously named Crap Eyewear which are founded and designed in Los Angeles, CA.

Taylor’s jewelry was, once again, a lot of repeats. Pieces that she’s worn and loved and had in her jewelry box for awhile. Both bracelets seemingly haven’t left her wrists since she wore them to the Chiefs vs Ravens game last week. The #Tiffany ring was an addition she wore on the Eras Tour stage during the first round of dates in London. The #Foundrae crest necklace was worn back in January of this year. Set into a crest, this collection for Foundrae is a celebration of love in all its forms including romantic, platonic, and self. Taylor’s discography, of course, famously “a love letter to love itself” which makes this a perfect piece for her. 

The Retrouvai pieces are also familiar. The ‘Magna’ ring Taylor wore to the Super Bowl earlier this year. The heart ring you might recognize as from the “I Bet You Think About Me” music video which Taylor’s friend Blake Lively directed. This ring also just so happens to be Blake’s. It was a bespoke commission as part of the brand’s Heirloom collection and comprises an 8-carat heart shaped rubellite set off with a halo of 2.5-carat diamonds. Designer Kirsty Stone described Blake as a “true jewelry lover” and the “incredible” opportunity it was to design something for “her personal collection.” 

For a coordinating pop of red against her gingham check dress. This was a cute pairing! You might also recognize this bag from the London candids in June.

Photo by MediaPunch/Bauer-Griffin via Getty Images

[last-flight-of-fancy]

Started thinking about Riku-Kairi parallels and symbolism wrt the ending of kh2 so please hold while i get needlessly verbose about it-

specifically it started with this gif

and ofc adhd is as adhd does and started going down the rabbit hole of connecting the dots.

The act of reaching out a hand/hand holding is a recurring thing in kh, the vast majority of which is chock full of meaning and symbolism, and this is no exception. This is the culmination of The Hero's Journey part of Sora's tale, the return home, and the heartfelt reunion between long-seperated friends. fun fact the heroine's journey follows the hero's journey for the first third or so before continuing on. kinda like how kh continued on long after things seemed to be 'resolved'. weekly plug to look up Howler's Heroine's Journey essays if you haven't yet

The angle from which I am viewing this scene right now is in regards to ofc Riku, and his own iconic pose that we see the first time in the intro to kh1 (and many, many times since)

And this is where my riku-kairi-are-inverted-parallels-to-each-other brain starts barking like a dog because oughghghghggh same pose opposite side completely different body language- AHG.

And this matches their character arcs (as well as their respective combined arcs with sora) to a T as well. Riku's pose is the first we see, way back in kh1, and his hand is as much a taunt as it is an offer. Very befitting his relationship to sora in that game, which was coloured by a forged rivalry and intense jealousy (to quote the ultimania; Complicated Feelings) of/for sora.

(it is also notable that to date this gesture has yet to be resolved. the closest they've gotten is when sora grasped Riku's hand in kh2 on finding him- albeit in Ansem's visage.

Symbolically this is Sora attempting to accept the gesture, but this time it is Riku who fails to meet him halfway, too deep in guilt and regret to feel worthy of it. his hand is turned downwards, limp and unresisting.

And again in DDD when Riku grabs sora's hand/wrist in an attempt to wake him from his nightmares, but this time sora isn't capable of reciprocating. like two ships passing in the night, always reaching but never quite meeting)

(this one isn't quite as strong in the visual symbolism specific to the Riku Pose, but i did think it bore mentioning)

to return to the first gif however, for Kairi her posture is much less stiff, leaning forward with palpable releif at Sora's return. Honestly the fact that she holds out her left hand (which as far as i know is not her dominant hand) marks this as a very deliberate choice to parallel her as opposite to riku. and much like the rest of kh2's ending, it FEELS like a culmination, a completion of their arcs.... and most certainly isnt.

Which i mean to say, it's a mid-point. And the reason I say this is because of one little thing.

The seashell charm.

There's a sort of irony here in that the charm that was meant to reunite them in this moment is also symbolically like a wedge between them. A heartfelt and meaningful gesture, don't get me wrong! i love this scene and the genuine emotions within, but i do love chewing on the way this gains a slightly different meaning in the greater context of later story beats; specifically that of kh3.

With how pointed and direct the parallel is between kairi and riku in these scenes, it did make me pause for a moment thinking about kh3. i know we've all seen a thousand and one analysis' of the paopu scene at this point, but forgive me as i must do so again under this specific lens.

'how does the paopu scene relate to the hand extended gesture at all?' i hear you ask, and on the visual surface not much. it has more to do with sora and kairi's relationship arc through the games and, of course, the lingering loose thread that was the cave drawing.

The paopu scene is a touching recreation of that cave drawing, one enacted by a pair of kids who didn't know if they would live to see another sunset. It's also probably the most symbollically dense thing in all of kh and that is saying something so I'm going to try and keep my observations limited to just what is relevant to this post- and that would be the way that the paopu scene is a direct continuation of Kairi's 'you're home' gesture in kh2.

shooting stars are also a common recurring symbol in kh, and that's the symbol that ties these two scene's together. if kh1 is two disparate stars each trying to reach the other (the cave drawing, the seashell charm, the way their hands are seperated at the end of kh1), and the end of kh2 is that of the stars finally meeting (the single seashell star charm pressed between their palms), then the paopu scene is that of the stars passing each other by and beginning their own journey's anew (two stars held by crossed arms, each now holding a small piece of the other (bitten fruit) to show that their meeting may have been brief but it was meaningful)

it is in this way that kh3 quietly and tenderly closes out sora and kairi's combined arc, as two unlikely friends who then drift apart again, shining brightly for the shared experiance, Remind mostly serves to support that finality, tying up the last couple loose ends between them, and leaving the two far more comfortable with each other than they ever were while that arc was still ongoing (which i read as them no longer being uncertain as to what their relationship is; that of friends, and not whatever so many others around them had pushed and assumed)

(seriously look at how much more comfortable they are with each other the second the pressure to be something they're not is off. the awkwardness is completely gone i love it)

All of this is ofc still in parallel to Riku, who boasts no such star imagery (instead he has the iconic Heart of KH itself), and in fact while he symbollically continues to reach out to sora, physically he has completely refrained from doing so at all- in fact most examples of the Gesture in kh are deliberately invoked by other characters in order to bring riku to mind in some way (and often more for the players benifit than sora's)

axel in CoM,

(i have given up on tumblr gif search)

YMX in DDD,

which then immidiately cuts to riku in kh1 just to make it as blatant as possible that yes the reference is intentional (i guess CoM was too subtle somehow so they had to make sure this time)

and even Riku himself to Namine at the end of kh3, representing Repliku's final wishes in a funny sort of symbolism oroboros.)

and it's not a coincidence that the completion of that connection provides definitive closure to the arcs in question; that of namine to repliku, but also a little bit to riku himself. namine still has a role to play, but that role (i think) is more or less exclusive to her relationship with sora. namine and riku's relationship arc, background as it is, is complete, and now both are connected primarily through their incomplete arcs with sora.

(which makes the way that sora and kairi's example in kh2 is a complete outlier really interesting tbh. smth smth thinking your relationship is one thing and if it was that thing then yes that would have been the end, but it wasn't that thing and thus it wasn't the end smth smth comphet metaphor smth)

which brings us back to how riku himself hasn't really reached out to sora directly since kh1, the act that set off both of their journey's. The reasons for that are many- guilt, fear, a certainty that sora will not reach back and that he doesn't deserve it anyway- but despite that the Gesture is still subtly affirmed as being Riku's over and over again, never quite letting the audience forget it... because eventually this bit of symbolism so consistently portrayed throughout the series will reach its own conclusion, starting how it began with one deuteragonist reaching out to the other, and this time the other reaching back to complete the gesture.

[hestzhyen]

Sunken Ships and SoRiku

Hi internet void. I went feral and maybe you'll read the result.

KH has made a lot of choices around SoRiku from a narrative perspective that, in isolation, wouldn't amount to much. A heart-to-heart here, a questionable line there, and so on. The usual things that one would do to court a queer shipping audience in an otherwise het or unromantic work. And SoRiku circles have painstakingly documented every instance to show something that looks more like a consistent and intentional effort rather than a few dollops here and there to keep shippers engaged. There's... a lot. But one stupid, insignificant thing really shook me up and made me a believer in SoRiku Endgame, Actually.

Silly as it is, it's Nomura's reaction to people shipping RikuNami that gets me the most.

Generally speaking a writer doesn't want to interact with fandom shipping unless it's to urgently course correct. As in it would be catastrophic to the narrative if the fandom had the wrong idea. Otherwise it's best to just take note of how people are interpreting things and adjust the next installment accordingly, or live and let live. Keep distant and don't risk accusations of retconning/bad writing/queerbaiting in bad faith. So the normal reaction from Nomura seeing people get excited over RikuNami would have been to just do nothing. But instead, the scene was patched to downplay the smile, and Nomura went on the record to clarify that it's not a setup for a romantic relationship between Riku and Namine.

That's insane.

Why is it so important that Riku remain romantically uninterested in a girl he'd have a natural connection to, huh? What about accidentally implying RikuNami was so detrimental to the story that it was changed and explicitly addressed like that? Even if it wasn't meant to be, surely letting it play out like AkuRoku did would be enough. Just gently clarify and move on with the story (which pretty much sunk the ship on it's own anyway). You don't wade into fandom shipping and launch nuclear warheads like Nomura did against RikuNami unless you want to leave no room for doubt.

Torpedoing RikuNami also doesn't help them keep up appearances in terms of straightness at this point. Leaving it intact would only help the case of Riku and Sora being bffs with the strongest bond 5ever- a huge boon for the writing team if they wanted to avoid things looking too gay. Nomura et. al. are absolutely aware of the impressions and jokes about how gay KH is. And KH definitely would not be the first series to play in to queer ship teasing for the lols until it's time to pair everyone up at the end.

But they did the one thing you're not supposed to do if you're just aiming to queerbait: undermining the plausible straight ship. You don't eliminate the only straight option for your character like that for the sake of "he so gay" jokes! Having a straight option available is vital to make the bait; they don't have to be compelling or important to the story, they just have to exist. Yet at this point, Riku's only option is Sora. They went out of their way to ensure we wouldn't think anything else makes sense for him.

Holy. Shit.

[keikikait]

ʀᴇᴅ ʟɪɴᴇ (ʙɪᴋᴇʀ!ᴍᴇɢᴜᴍɪ x ꜰ!ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ)

this is part three. for part two, click here!

pairing: biker!megumi x f!reader (au, both are early to mid 20's)

word count: 2.6k

summary: you and megumi almost had a moment, but is that all it will ever be?

warnings: SMUT! MDNI 18+, full on p in v, protection is implied but not stated, use of the word cock, kinda dom!megumi, slight sub!reader, restraining (with hands), light choking (just for like 2 scenes), SLIGHT edging, use of the nickname slut, reader is kinda dumb (good way), suggestive flirting, jealous megs, slight feelings of self doubt / self deprecation at the beginning (so ig slight angst?), not proofread

a note: might be a small delay before pt. 4 x

please reblog and like, it means a lot! let me know what you think!

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ✧

He should’ve knocked on the fucking door.

Megumi enters his apartment, slamming his fist onto his kitchen counter. He felt like such a coward, he had you in the palm of his hand and he just let you run off. He was certain that you felt the same way, certain that if he kissed you you would grip onto the collar of his t-shirt and enthusiastically kiss him back. Was he wrong? Was he foolish? Was he reading this entire situation so wrong? He felt not good enough, he felt insignificant, something he hadn’t felt since graduating high school and cutting off contact with his father. He used to think he was smart, but you made him feel so naïve. Megumi knew he hadn’t always been nice to you, yelling at you over a fucking motorcycle, but normally he didn’t care what others thought. He would simply ignore them if they didn’t like him, but with you it was different. He wanted you to like him. He wanted you to pay attention to him, he would even take te constant bickering over whatever the hell it was you were currently doing.

Megumi was walking a thin, red line, a line that lead to his future, and he was hoping you would want to walk it with him. His bike gave him a feeling of independence, something he never had before moving out and living on his own. He was in and out of everyone’s life, a flash that was gone in the blink of an eye, but he didn’t feel that way with you. He wanted you to stick around, even in the platonic way, although he had to admit that he wanted to make you his. He wanted to wrap his hand around your throat and kiss you right in front of your friend, make you melt into his arms as you gripped his t-shirt and clinged to him. He wanted to fuck you dumb and leave you a drooling, cum covered mess every night. 

You were avoiding him, again, always getting into that car with that guy and his stupid fucking pink hair. He couldn’t take it anymore. You had said he was your friend, just your friend, but Megumi didn’t believe you. Even if your actions were friendly, Megumi couldn’t guarantee that your friend’s were too. Megumi wanted you, and he wanted you to want him too. He wanted to be your boyfriend, or perhaps even more. He wanted to eventually move out of this apartment complex and find a new, bigger place, but he wanted to it with you.

You, in truth, had been staying over at Yuji’s house a lot the last few days, even just hanging out at his place to pet sit for him while he was at work. It wasn't just a matter of convenience; staying over at his place gave you a sense of comfort and familiarity that you couldn't quite explain. Every once in a while, you would find yourself mindlessly petting Yuji’s boy cat, Sora, as if he would chase away the lingering thoughts of Megumi. In a way, he did, choosing to sleep on your chest on Yuji’s couch, keeping you from touching yourself while you were away.

It wasn't that you were deliberately trying to avoid him. It was more like a natural instinct to create some distance between the two of you. The memory of that night outside your apartment still haunted your mind, and you were struggling to make sense of his confusing actions. You didn’t know his true intentions, and as much as you wanted to believe that he liked you, you couldn’t ignore the nagging voice in the back of your mind that was telling you the opposite. Being with him had been plaguing your mind for the past few weeks, thoughts of him always returning to you at night while you dimmed your lights and slipped your hand between your thighs, but a doubtful part of you was insisting that was all it would ever be; thoughts of Megumi, not Megumi himself.

As you spent more time at Yuji's house, you found yourself drawn to his easygoing nature and genuine kindness. His presence provided a welcome distraction from the emotional turmoil you were experiencing, and he seemed to understand your need for space from Megumi and was always there to offer a listening ear without judgment, although he was kind of getting tired about how pretty Megumi is. 

A couple of days later, there was a knock at your door. Your heart skipped a beat. You knew who it was. He stood there, looking nervous and apologetic. He wanted to explain himself, to apologize if he had crossed any lines. He also wanted to know if you were dating that guy, but he thought that part could wait. At least for a little bit.

You open the door, seemingly fresh out of the shower, your hair wet as you carefully dry it. You smelled so good, like berries, and he felt his throat instantly dry up. He was admiring you for a bit too long, you were wearing a t-shirt and short little pyjama shorts that he just wanted to rip off of you - “Hey, can I talk to you for a sec?”

You blink, throwing your towel over your shoulder. “Sure.”

“So, um…”  His eyes linger on your shorts and thighs, his gaze passing over your body before he drags his eyes back up to meet yours. He just couldn’t help himself. “Could I come in?” You nod, stepping aside to let him in. He steps inside, making the space feel a lot smaller with his presence. 

You notice he has a faint smile on his lips, and that he keeps staring at you, but for once, it's not with irritation.  “Um, so…” he takes a deep breath. “So you know how we had a bit of a…moment a couple days ago?” Five days, to be exact, not that he was counting or anything.

“Yeah, I remember.” You say.

“Yeah…” his expression changes as he starts to feel more and more nervous. “Well... I just wanted to apologize for making you uncomfortable. I shouldn't have been so forward. It's just-”

“No, Megumi, it’s okay.” You say, interrupting him. “I wasn’t uncomfortable. Not at all.”

“What?” He asks, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. “But you ran off…I assumed I had overstepped a boundary. You know, asking the…masturbation question.” He says the last part quietly. 

You suddenly realised how close you two actually were. Your apartment felt incredibly small with just you, and with Megumi there it felt even smaller. Your chests were practically pushed together as you looked up at him. You set the towel down on your desk chair, awkwardly shifting on your feet. “I wasn’t uncomfortable. I just wasn’t expecting the question.”

He nods, shoving his hands in the pockets of his zip-up hoodie. “Good. I know we haven’t always gotten along but I’ve never wanted to make you uncomfortable. I can be an asshole a lot of the time, but I’m not…like that, you know?”

You nod. “No, I understand, Megumi. Thank you for apologising.”

He smiles. “Yeah. No problem.” He sighs a little, leaning against the wall. “So can we…start over? Go back to the beginning?”

You chuckle. “You wanna start fighting again?”

He smirks. “Maybe. If it would mean you would pay attention to me again. Don’t think I’ve noticed that you’ve been avoiding me. Again.”

You blush, stuttering as you search for a response. “N-no, it’s not like that-”

Megumi chuckles. “I mean, I get it. I would always yell at you and then asked you what you thought about while you masturbated. I would avoid me too.”

Your blush deepens. “It’s not like that, Megumi.”

He smiles. “I’m glad.” You both sit there in a comfortable silence before he speaks again. “So, can I ask you something?”

You nod. “Sure. Unless it’s what I think about when I’m touching myself.”

He couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking his head. “No, it’s not that,” He clears his throat. “That guy that picks you up and drops you off sometimes. Are you two…dating?”

“Yuji? Pink hair?” He nods and you shake your head in return. “No. I’m just his friend.”

“You promise?” Megumi asks, taking a step towards you. You nod, looking up at him. You looked so cute like that, your eyes all big, practically begging him to get closer. 

He does, taking another step towards you. He reaches out, planting his hands on the sides of your arms, watching your face and body language as he drags his hands down towards your own. Your skin was so soft and smooth, and his hands felt so good on you, rough and calloused from the years of bike maintenance.

You blush, but don’t move away. You gulp, finally finding your voice. “Do you want to know the answer? To the question you asked me a few days ago?”

He feels his cock start to harden, images of you touching yourself filling his mind. “God, yes.”

You bite your lip and he feels his cock throb. “You, Megumi. I’ve been thinking about you.”

He lets out a shaky, deep moan as he grabs your hands, pulling you against his chest. He moves your hands behind your back, his grip tight but loose enough where you could move away if you wanted to. “Yeah? You think about me while you touch yourself? Do you finger yourself or rub that cute little clit of yours?”

You gasp softly, letting him restraining you. “Both.”

He lets out another deep moan of approval, gripping your wrists tighter. He feels his cock harden even more. “God, you’re driving me crazy. I think about you too, baby. I think about you and fucking your cute little mouth everytime I jack off.” Your head spins and you lean against him, unable to think straight. You just simply moan in response, nodding your head.

Megumi grips your wrists tighter, leading you up into your loft, throwing you onto your bed. He climbs on top of you, holding you down. “Is this okay?”

You nod.

“Words, baby.” He says, leaning down to kiss and bite your earlobe. “Use your words.”

Your mouth feels like cotton and you struggle to respond. “Yes, Megumi. It’s okay. Please keep going.”

He chuckles, pressing his hard cock against your thigh as he starts to grind on you. “Good girl. You even know how to say please.” You gasp, your entire body shuddering as your legs drop open. Megumi shifts his hips, slotting his cock right over your clothed pussy, grinding up against it. “You drive me crazy, baby. Every night I hear your pretty little moans through the wall and I just…think about what it would be like to fuck you dumb. To fill you up with my cum over and over, to cum on your little clit and rub it and hear you squeal.” Your mouth drops open and he takes this opportunity to sloppily kiss you, shoving his tongue in your mouth. Your thoughts are filled with him, just Megumi, the way it should be. He pulls away, a line of spit connecting your mouths and you shake, panting and squirming. He moves one hand to wrap around your throat, and is about to ask if it’s okay when you let out a strangled moan, your eyes threatening to roll back. He chuckles. “Such a good girl.”

Your brain is too foggy, too filled with thoughts of Megumi and the way he feels grinding against your pussy that you can’t speak, reaching your freehand down to pull off your shorts. 

He smirks, squeezing your neck a little bit. “So impatient. You don’t want me to eat you out, baby? You don’t wanna feel my tongue on you?”

You whine, finally pulling your shorts down. “I do, Megs, I do…but if you don’t fuck me I actually might explode.” He laughs at you and it makes your pussy clench. He leans back on his knees to pull your shorts and panties down. He grabs your legs and bends them back, pressing your thighs against your torso. He can’t help himself, leaning down and licking your clit, swirling his tongue in little circles, chuckling to himself as you squirm and grind your pussy on his face. “Megumi!”

He pulls away and laughs again, replacing his tongue with his thumb. “I know, I know. I couldn’t help myself. You look so delicious.” Your impatient whine is cut off when he starts to pull his sweatpants down, taking his boxers with it. Your eyes nearly bulge out of your head when you see his cock. Long, but not too thick, with balls that are practically begging to be drained. He grins at your reaction, rubbing his tip with his thumb. “Is it big?”

You nod, your mouth going dry again. “Really big, Megs. Might not fit inside me.”

He tuts at you, grabbing his cock at the base and rubbing the tip against your clit. “Nah. You can take it. And if you can’t, I’ll just have to stretch you out with my fingers and make you cum a few times.”

He suddenly slides in all the way to the hilt, leaning over you and gripping your hair at the root, groaning into your ear about how good you feel. He gives you a few seconds to adjust, kissing the side of your head affectionately. You can practically feel him in your throat, your eyes threatening to roll back into your skull.

Megumi starts thrusting, one hand remaining in your hair and the other going down so his thumb can rub your clit in gentle circles. He’s saying something but you can’t hear him, too full of him to pay attention, but he doesn’t mind at all. He likes how quickly he can turn your mind to mush, how quickly you submit to him. He never wants to let you go after this.

You wrap your legs around his waist as his thrusts pick up, digging your heels into the small of his back. You wrap your arms around his neck, your eyes glazed over as you moan his name over and over. Your pussy clenches and he nearly cums, burying his face in your neck, biting at the skin to keep himself from busting too soon. 

It’s your turn to grip his hair at the root, your pussy clenching around him again as he rubs your clit at a delicious angle. Your whole body shudders and you arch your back into him. “Megumi!”

“Not yet,” He whispers into your ear, his voice deep. “Not yet, you little slut. You need my permission. You can hold on a bit longer, can’t you?” You nod, biting your lip as you will yourself to focus on not cumming. You could do it easily, but Megumi was having a hard time holding out himself. The way you felt around him, all tight and wet, and the way you bit your lip was driving him crazy, not to mention the way you were following all of his orders so perfectly. You really wanted to please him, didn’t you? Megumi can only hold out for a little bit longer before rubbing your clit harder, biting your neck to keep himself from utterly loosing control. “Come on, baby. Cum for me. You can do it. You’re such a good girl…”

And you are, cumming exactly when he tells you to, your hips bucking into his as he talks you through your orgasm. You look so cute coming undone around him, your eyes watering, lips pouty as you moan his name like a prayer. You bury your face in his chest, breathing heavily.

“Thank you.” You say, and Megumi decides right then and there that he’s keeping you.

Megumi grins, stroking your hair. “You’re welcome, baby.” He kisses your forehead, looking down at you adoringly as you curl up against his chest.

You’re all his now.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ✧

let me know what you think my lovelies!

epilogue is here

★taglist: @whereflowerswenttodie, @rosieandthethorns, @sillygoose3082, @byebibyemia, @ichorstainedskin, @myeeym, @peach-filth, @aockskcw, @phoenixmoxxileigh, @gojussybussylover (reply to this post if you want to be included in the taglist! italics mean i couldn't tag you!)

[minkyungseokie]

Anime

No Game No Life

Sora and Shiro are two hikikomori stepsiblings who are known in the online gaming world as Blank, an undefeated group of gamers. One day, they are challenged to a game of chess by Tet, a god from another reality. The two are victorious and are offered to live in a world that centers around games.

Blue Exorcist

After discovering that he's the son of Satan, a young man must join the True Cross Academy in order to master his abilities and defeat Satan himself

Naruto

It tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja who seeks recognition from his peers and dreams of becoming the Hokage, the leader of his village.

One Piece

In a seafaring world, a young pirate captain sets out with his crew to attain the title of Pirate King, and to discover the mythical treasure known as 'One Piece.'

Twin Star Exorcist

The story revolves around Rokuro Enmado and Benio Adashino, a pair of young and talented exorcists, who (according to a prophecy) are destined to marry and have a child that will be the ultimate exorcist.

Jujustu Kaisen

Yuji Itadori, a kind-hearted teenager, joins his school's Occult Club for fun, but discovers that its members are actual sorcerers who can manipulate the energy between beings for their own use. He hears about a cursed talisman - the finger of Sukuna, a demon - and its being targeted by other cursed beings.

Fairy Tail

The series follows the adventures of Natsu Dragneel, a member of the Fairy Tail wizards' guild who is searching for the dragon Igneel, and partners with Lucy Heartfilia, a celestial wizard. 

Play it cool, Guys

A look into the daily lives of four guys who walk the line between unapproachably cool and undeniably clumsy on a regular basis.

Black Butler

Ciel has formed a contract with demon Sebastian Michaelis, who disguises himself as his butler, to seek revenge on those who tortured him and murdered his parents. In exchange for his services, Sebastian will be allowed to consume Ciel's soul.

Uramichi Oniisan

Being an adult is hard. For 31-year-old Uramichi Omota, that depressing truth weighs on him. While on TV, he's an upbeat exercise instructor for a children's show, but sometimes he can't keep his sardonic comments to himself.

Overtake

Freelance photographer Kôya Madoka finds himself in a slump due to a certain reason. He goes to Fuji International Speedway to work on a story, and he meets the highschool F4 racer Haruka Asahina. He suddenly finds his heart racing after not feeling much for a long time.

March Comes in Like a Lion

 It features the life of Rei Kiriyama, an introvert and professional shogi player, who gradually develops both his play and his relationship with others.

The Devil is a Part-Timer

 Hilarity and fun ensues when Satan ends up in modern day Japan without any magic to return, and starts working part time in a fast food joint.

Yowamushi Pedal

Onoda is a cheerful otaku looking to join his new school's anime club, eager to finally make some friends. Unfortunately, the club has been disbanded and somehow he stumbled into the bicycle club.

Tokyo Revengers

Hanagaki Takemichi lives an unsatisfying life right up until his death. Waking up 12 years in the past, he reckons with the eventual fate of his friends and tries to prevent an unfortunate future.

Ouran High School Host Club

One day, Haruhi, a scholarship student at exclusive Ouran High School, breaks an $80,000 vase that belongs to the "Host Club," a mysterious campus group consisting of six super-rich (and gorgeous) guys. To pay back the damages, she is forced to work for the club, and it's there that she discovers just how wealthy the boys are and how different they are from everybody else.

Mashle: Magic and Muscles

The story follows Mash Burnedead, a magic-less kid who enrolls at Easton and aims to fool everyone into thinking he's top of the class

IDOLiSH7

An idol group is named "Idolish7," and consists of seven male singers, each with their own unique personality and background. Tsumugi must train and turn all of them into the famous idols, all the while struggling against the hardships of the entertainment industry

Tokyo Ghoul

Set in a world where humans live in constant fear of ghouls - superpowered humanoid beings who feed on human flesh to survive, a shy college student named Kaneki Ken, who is nearly killed in an attack by one of these monsters, becomes a half-ghoul himself after receiving an organ transplant from the ghoul.

Obey Me

The main character is transported to Devildom by a summoning ritual to attend Devildom Academy as a exchange student for one year. The main character will be greeted by seven gorgeous men that are avatars of the deadly sins.

Buddy Daddies

Kazuki Kurusu and Rei Suwa, assassins who live under one roof; and Miri, the daughter of Kazuki and Rei's assassination target who ended up being picked up by Kazuki, who she thinks is her biological father.

SpyxFamily

The story follows a spy who has to "build a family" to execute a mission, not realizing that his adopted daughter is a telepath, and the woman he agrees to marry is a skilled assassin

Haikyuu

Junior high school student, Shoyo Hinata, becomes obsessed with volleyball after catching a glimpse of Karasuno High School playing in the Nationals on TV.

Food Wars

Teenager Soma Yukihira aspires to become a full-time chef in his father Joichiro's family restaurant, "Restaurant Yukihira", and to surpass his father's culinary skills.

My Hero Academia

Born without special powers in a world where 80% of the population has them, Izuku Midoriya still dreams of becoming a hero.

Black Clover

The story follows Asta, a young boy born without any magic power who is given a rare grimoire that grants him anti-magic abilities. With his fellow mages from the Black Bulls, Asta plans to become the next Wizard King.

The Daily Life of the Immortal King

A boy with extraordinary magical powers tries to pass for average at his new high school, where the students learn to cultivate their spiritual force.

Demon Slayer

 A family is attacked by demons and only two members survive - Tanjiro and his sister Nezuko, who is turning into a demon slowly. 

[icaberries]

What if the Vinsmokes were in the Wano Arc?

Go read Part 1 here but TL;DR the Vinsmokes regain their ability to feel emotions and escape Germa with Sanji and the Strawhats.

Mostly headcanons with a side of canon plot.

They’re still modded physically, but now their pain receptors are active so they’re dealing with the ramifications of years of neglecting their body. Ichiji is partially blind from using Valkyrie, Niji has burn marks all over his body, and Yonji has chronic pain in his wrists. It's a struggle, but they feel like they deserve it after all the torment they inflicted.

Ichiji comes across traditional tattoo shops in Wano and decides to get new tattoos on a whim. The ‘1’ tattoo he had before had been his first rebellion against his father and now that he’s free he wants to add more to it. He gets tattoos for all his siblings along his other arm—a pink butterfly for Reiju, a blue lightning bolt for Niji, a green clover for Yonji and a yellow sun for Sanji. It helps to ground him when the Feelings™ get overwhelming and reminds him that he’s not alone in this world. 

The drama in Shokugeki no Sanji with Sanji’s soba stall still happens, only this time he’s backed up by the rest of his siblings who glares at the soba competitors in submission. 

Reiju is first in line when the soba stall officially opens. She’d had to fight her brothers and the Strawhats for it. Robin is a close second but only because Reiju was distracted by her. If you know what I mean ;) 

The handcuffs left marks on Sanji’s wrists. Surprisingly, it’s Niji who asks why Sanji’s hands are so precious to him and Sanji tells them about Baratie and Zeff. There’s something about the sparkle in Sanji’s eyes as he talks that draws them in, the way he speaks so highly and softly about his found family on the East Blue. They wonder, if somewhere down the line, Sanji would speak about them with that same fond tone. 

Niji gifts Sanji a pair of dark brown leather gloves, long enough to cover the marks on his wrist. Sanji wears it to the raid and Niji is quite proud of it and claims he must be Sanji's favorite brother now. Until Ichiji chimes in and says that Sanji’s hairstyle as Stealth Black/Soba Mask is more similar to his and confidently declares himself as Sanji’s favorite brother. Ichiji and Niji argue for hours.  

(It’s actually Yonji who's the favorite. Sanji only has one little brother and he’s got a soft spot for him.) 

Just imagine Law, Basil Hawkins and X Drake watching Soba Mask. Now imagine them seeing a group of brightly-colored siblings cheering on Soba Mask, while they themselves look like Sparking Red, Electric Blue, Wench Green and Poison Pink. It’s a good day to be a North Blue fanboy in Wano. 

AND NOW FOR SOME ANGST!

They witness Sanji awakening his modifications and for a brief moment they’re happy that Sanji caught up to them like he always wanted, until they see the horrified look on Sanji’s face. He looks so afraid to turn out like them, to the point that he’d ask his own crewmate (Zoro) to take him down if he ever ended up like them. They’re not even mad. They’re just sad and guilty that Sanji felt that way. 

There’s a brief lull in the battle and Reiju pulls her brothers aside to tell them about their mother and her sacrifice. She told Sanji that story so he’d remember that his life was worth living and being kind. Now she’s telling the same story to Ichiji, Niji and Yonji so they can remember the same thing. Sora wanted them to live and be good. 

After his fight with Queen, the brothers hug it out. Reiju may or may not have taken a picture.

Right after that, the brothers now hug Reiju! Because she deserves it alright! Years of pretending for Judge, of keeping her brother's in check and dealing with their mother's death, Reiju did her best to be there for all of them. Now she gets to see her little brothers grow up into the good people their mother wanted them to be and she can finally stop pretending. She can be herself again <3

(I love Reiju sm yall but that's just the eldest daughter syndrome talking)

The road to redemption is paved with triumphs and stumbles. It’s just fortunate for them that Sanji has a good sense of direction. 

AND NOW BACK TO FLUFF!

Yonji continues to cement himself as the favorite when he calls Chuji the cutest thing in the world and proceeds to share his snacks with the little guy. Niji and Ichiji never stood a chance. Little brother is strong and is hitting all of Sanji's buttons.

The worst part of regaining emotions though? It’s not the gooey mushy feelings of love, or the cold guilt and shame over their past mistakes, it’s the annoyance they now feel whenever they witness Roronoa Zoro flirt with their oblivious brother. They can’t stand him. Unfortunately, he makes Sanji happy so they’re forced to seethe on the sidelines while Zoro picks another fight/flirting session with Sanji. 

Reiju doesn’t tell them that it’s not just Zoro they have to worry about. Trafalgar Law keeps finding an excuse to check Sanji over for his “health”, a jaguar mink keeps asking him out to smoke together, don’t even get her started on Basil Hawkins and X Drake asking her for her blessing. That’s not even counting Sanji’s other suitors who aren’t in Wano right now. Their baby brother is quite the popular guy.

[hwangism143]

limbo (part 4)

synopsis: a reunion and an awkward first interaction. but what if the past repeats itself?

pairing: non-idol!minho x non-idol!fem reader

genre: angst, exes to lovers, heart break

warning: swearing, air-frying as a joke (minho. duh.), flipping off, abandonment

word count: 1.4k words

a/n: I physically cannot write long chapters. send. help.

part 3 | masterlist | part 5

One friendship you were desperate to hold on too was that of your friendship with Sora. The bond you shared with your roommate was forged through the unbreakable mix of late night ice cream and broken nail polish bottles.

When you told her about your plans to move, she cried out, "Unnie! How's going to give you much needed advice on you fashion and love lives now?"

And, for a while, you maintained steady contact with her. Sora was like the younger sister you did have but was closer in age to you. You both would regularly gossip, her about university and you about your new job.

That was, however, until she fell off the face of the earth three years ago.

She had completely, out of the blue cut off contact with you two years into you leaving. After confirming with others mutual friends, people who knew her and her family, you found out that she had deleted all traces of her existence. Her parents later got a message from her stating that she was fine and just wanted to be left alone.

You couldn't help but wonder: was it you? Had you done something? Could you have prevented it?

These same questions along with a longing for Sora made way to your mind as you got ready for the get together later at Chan and Eun-bi's place. If Sora was still here, you would have called her, patiently taking all the well meant hits she aimed at your outfit.

If Sora was here, she would ease your anxiety about meeting Minho again.

Instead, you just sighed in contempt and walked out the door, deciding to be somewhat satisfied with whatever you wore.

━━━━━━━✦✗✦━━━━━━━━

You entered the penthouse with an animated gasp.

It was a penthouse. Of course it would be grand. Still, the absolute magnitude of how brilliant it was blew you away. It made sense of course, Chan along with Changbin and Jisung, completed the production trio 3Racha. Their music was literally everywhere.

Eun-bi, on the other hand, had made a name for herself as a soloist in the Korean music industry. Together, the two of them had built up Bahng Entertainment from the ground up and were now, very obviously, reaping it's benefits.

"I'm so cool," you whispered to yourself, "I managed to make famous friends."

Giving yourself a complimentary pat on the back, you rang to doorbell. The door opened and you fell right into Eun-bi's already open arms.

"I have missed you so much," she squealed, squeezing the air out of your lungs.

When she finally let you go, you went around the room making rounds. Unease bubbled in your stomach as one name clouded your thoughts. Minho, Minho, Minho. It was a fervent prayer, once always at the tip of your tongue.

Felix and Hyunjin, despite just seeing you a few days before, loudly proclaimed there problems with your absence. Changbin gave you a small pat on the back with a defeated mutter of 'still tall'. Jeongin practically flew at you, his hug competing with Eun-bi's for 'most oxygen depriving'.

Seungmin sent you a devious smirk while Jisung screamed as loud as he could "Jeogiyo noona, hokshi namchajingu isseoyo?" The entire group, bar a certain Lee Minho, broke out into laughter.

At last, Chan came up to you, palms open and facing up. "Hand it over," he said playfully. You let out a dramatized sigh and handed him thirty bucks, making a mental note to never bet on cricket again.

Then, you finally saw him.

He looked good. Uncomfortable at you being there, yes, but good nonetheless. He wore a white t-shirt with three cartoon cats and the words 'SoDoNg' on top. His black jeans were snug and a gray hoodie hung off his shoulder. He regarded you with alert eyes and a small smile.

"Hello," Minho finally said after a long pause, "You look good."

"Thank you," you responded awkwardly, "So do you."

━━━━━━━✦✗✦━━━━━━━━

six and a half years ago.

Minho walked in front of Jeongin, chastising him at his lack of energy.

"Come on, stop being lazy! I want to get there before Hyunjin and Felix leave to go anywhere else," Minho told him off.

"Ugh," Jeongin groaned, "We all know you just want to see Y/N. Why'd you have to drag me along as well?"

Minho glared at him to avoid the fact that he was right. Minho did want to see you. He had never offered to pick up Hyunjin and Felix up from their Physics class, considering how it was on the other side of campus and often clashed with his schedule.

When offered to accompany Jeongin today though, his eyes instantly lit up with suspicion. He began teasing Minho on the walk to the Science department until Minho threatened to air fry him. When that failed, Jeongin resorted to whining about the walk.

"So! Tired!" he huffed.

Minho ignored him and continued walking, oddly excited at the prospect of seeing you. You had an effect on him that nobody else seemed to have. Sure, he had a few flings here and there and a few girls head over heels for him, but for once, he thought that he could possible be head over heels for someone himself.

Someone like you.

You were funny, pretty and your nose scrunched up whenever you were judging someone. You were expressive, understanding and sent a smile to everyone that even so much as looked at you.

It astounded him how much he liked about you after only one meeting.

Jeongin chatted off Minho's ear about some breakup or the other, but Minho wasn't listening. He leaned against the wall in attempt to come off as casual and nonchalant, but assumed that he was sweating profusely.

When you, Hyunjin and Felix finally came out of the building, Minho let out a sigh of relief. He didn't know how much longer he could keep up the act. Hyunjin raised an eyebrow upon seeing him while Felix's mouth was slightly hung open in shock.

Hyunjin gave Minho an exaggerated wave right in front of his face and went off to terrorize and already shrieking Jeongin. ("I spent five hours fixing my hair, you will not mess it up again," he yelped in agitation). Felix, seemingly catching wind of what was happening, shot Minho a wink. Minho promptly responded by subtly flipping him off so that the motion would escape your notice.

"Hi," Minho greeted you kindly.

You blinked in rapid succession, slightly shocked at the fact that the man you were daydreaming about when you were supposed to be noting down orbital diagrams, was standing right in front of you.

"Oh, hey Minho! I have never seen you here," you told him with a surprising amount of enthusiasm for someone who had just sat through an hour long lecture on the 'principles of celestial bodies and irregular orbits'.

"Oh, uh," he chuckled nervously, a hand making way to his neck, "I usually have my culinary class right after, but the professor delayed it and I figured I would pick Felix up."

"Oh yeah, yeah," you snapped your fingers in remembrance, "You're studying cooking, right."

"You should cook for me sometime," you added in what you hoped was a smooth tone that would soften the nervous shakes in your voice and aggressive thumping in your chest.

You didn't know the effect that sentence had on Minho. Minho didn't know the effect his presence had on you.

"Well, we should grab a bite to eat sometime," Minho chuckled nervously, "I know this really nice cat café and you mentioned that you always wanted to go."

For someone really smart, you sure were extremely dumb. "'Kay, I'll ask the boys," you blurted out, with even giving what he said a second thought.

Your nose scrunched in mortification. "Well, I was hoping more just me and you..." Minho's voice trailed off.

You regained your footing in the conversation and replied in what you supposed was a flirtatious tone. "Lee Minho. Are you asking me out on a date right now?" you prodded his arm with your finger.

"I don't even have you phone number," he exclaimed defensively, throwing his hands up, "That would be unethical."

You promptly recited a set of number in response as Minho looked at you in surprise.

"So, um, I assume that was your phone number?"

"Yep! But I wonder what happened to mysteriously and charismatic Lee Minho I talked to that night. Since when did he become such an anxious mess?" you teased him playfully.

"Maybe you'll see that side of me on our date," Minho winked at you with a smirk. You bit back a playful retort, wanting to see and embrace every side of him that you possibly could.

"So it's a date then?" you asked, a blush pattering over your nose and cheeks.

"It's a date."

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[onepiece-polls]

One Piece Crack Ship Poll - Round 2 Side H

Propaganda under the cut.

Zeff x Kureha: Two experts in their fields, they could bond over their idiot sons. Kureha would probably like Zeff's attitude towards women (to a point), they have similar levels of maturity and tend to show affection through aggression. And both have to be good with their hands~

Zeff x Sora:

Sanji should get to have two loving parents.

Let the good Sanji parents raise him (and maybe the rest of Vinsmokes) together.

They're both Sanji's parental figures. Sora, Zeff, and Sanji would've made such a cute family together, and Zeff would've treated Sora the way she deserved to be treated. Just imagine an AU where Sora survived and escaped with Sanji into the East Blue! And then meeting Zeff! It would be adorable.

I just think it would be nice if Sanji had two parents that loved him and that they love each other.

I think sora deserves a husband who's not the worst person on the face of the planet and who loves her and her son unconditionally is all.

Dailyrebranded's au is everything to me. Imagine Sora escaping and raising her children with Best Dad Zeff. They are adorable, the food and meals metaphors are through the roof, and Sora lives!

Nami x Kaya: Nami is so kind and gentle with Kaya, and Kaya so generous with Nami. The perfect sugar baby girlfriend scenario. I know Kaya had to stay in Syrup Village for very clear plot reasons, but the girls could still send each other letters! The live action only made my love for this pair stronger.

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Adventure 01x26 - Radiant Wings! Garudamon / Sora's Crest of Love

Previously on Digimon Adventure: Mimi buried herself in an escapist fantasy to get away from it all, at the expense of the people living there. But then she watched WandaVision, declared "She just like me fr", and undid it all. To apologize, she hosted karaoke night for everyone.

Both groups have found their Digivice radar blip, so it's time to meet back up with everyone.

Something about this return trip across the lake, hard to say what, seems a bit more difficult for Taichi and Jou. The swan boat's moving slow enough that Mimi and Palmon can comfortably sit up on top of it, where Agumon had to drape himself across the roof before.

Not sure why. I guess the boys are just getting tired. Plus it was visibly damaged in the TonosamaGekomon fight so that might also be a factor. Yeah, that's definitely it.

(In seriousness, she's up there because it's a two-seater. Jou's the responsible senpai, Mimi's the youngest, and Taichi's an experienced athlete. This is the correct way to divvy up the available positions on the swan.)

But with time and pedaling, the kids make it to the far shore.

Taichi: Hey, we're here! Jou: (sits back and sighs) So tired....

Taichi disembarks the boat and holds up his arms to help Her Majesty down from the roof.

Taichi: Come on, Princess. Mimi: Ugh, don't call me Princess! Taichi: Just joking around!

Though there are practical reasons for them to have divvied up the positions like this, the irony of the situation is not lost on Taichi.

Would it surprise you to know that the dub rewrote this exchange so they'd have an opportunity to be mean to Mimi about it? Because it didn't surprise me.

Tai: Come on, Mimi, get off your throne! Mimi: (scoff) I wouldn't exactly call this a throne! Tai: Yeah, well, I wouldn't call you a princess!

It starts off about the same, then Mimi's given a shallow response to provoke a comical retaliation. The punchline is Tai directly insulting her for being entitled, out of an exchange that was originally Taichi gently ribbing Mimi for the past episode's behavior and Mimi getting embarrassed and flustered about it.

Yamato's group arrives to meet the swan boat team and the two teams reunite.

Palmon: You've gotten smaller since last I saw you. Tsunomon, Motimon, & Koromon: Cut it out!

Palmon, you were there when this happened to Koromon. XD She's just being a dick.

In the dub:

Palmon: It's been so long since I've seen you! My, you've... shrunk. Tsunomon, Motimon, & Koromon: Don't rub it in!

It's a long walk to that punchline but I get where they were going with this. Palmon's quoting what was basically a stock phrase among distant relatives that kids in the target demographic have heard a thousand times. If you were twelve years old in the U.S in the 90's, this was hilarious.

I am no longer twelve years old so I don't know what they're saying now.

While Palmon savagely teases the other Partners for the consequences of Perfect-stage evolution, conversation turns to the one member of the nakama still missing: Sora, who's been floating around offering small bits of aid in each episode.

Except Koushiro's for continuity's sake, because Sora was across the lake helping Mimi while Koushiro's episode was taking place. Koushiro and Tentomon are the only pair that managed to unstick themselves from their situation without anyone's help.

Taichi: Where's Sora? Yamato: We didn't see her. Taichi: I see.... Where could she have gone? Mimi: I... I might have seen Sora-san. Group: Huh? Taichi: Where? Mimi: The Gekomon castle. But that might have been a dream....

Mimi flashes back on Sora's visit to Mimi's bedside, prompting discussion of Sora's eerie hit-and-run assistance.

Jou: So that's what happened. Koromon: Come to think of it, the voice that told me not to eat the mushrooms... I feel like it sounded a lot like Sora's. Taichi: Are you sure? Takeru: But if that's true, then why hasn't Sora-san come back to us? Yamato: It's no use thinking about it. We aren't Sora.

Yamato, Taichi, and Koushiro check their Digivices to see a new signal beeping in the distance.

Yamato: We'll have to catch her first. Taichi: This is like playing hide and seek. Koushiro: It's coming from this direction.

Taking point, the three lead the way, following their Digivices towards Sora.

In the dub, Joe is bafflingly clueless about the context of this conversation.

Joe: I think you're right. It must have been a dream. Koromon: Actually, I forgot that when I was just about to eat one of those Mushrooms of Forgetfulness when I was Agumon, I heard a voice that sounded a lot like Sora's! Tai: That's real weird! T.K.: But then, if Sora's actually close to where we are, why doesn't she come out and tell us? Matt: Maybe Sora just doesn't want to. Even worse, maybe she just can't. (Digivice signals beep) Matt: All I know is, we've gotta find her quick! Tai: It's almost like we're playing tag with her! Izzy: Come on, the signal points this way!

Original Koromon can be excused for this oversight because he's just realizing right now that the voice he heard was Sora's. Dub Agumon pegged her as Sora back at the moment it was happening, so it's kinda weird he waited this long to mention her.

Meanwhile, at Vamdemon's castle, PicoDevimon is getting the worst punishment yet. We don't even see it; We only hear four straight seconds of bloodcurdling scream before coming in on PicoDevimon falling down a flight of stairs, visibly bruised and beaten.

At last, Vamdemon emerges from silhouette.

(Oh my god, I always forget that he's blond. Why is he blond? XD I love the guy but Blond Dracula looks goofy as shit.)

Vamdemon's emergence prompts him to finally receive a rundown too. Vamdemon is a Perfect-stage Virus-type Undead Digimon. He debuted in Nightmare Soldiers, the same V-Pet that gave us Devimon, as the Perfect-stage evolution of Devimon and Bakemon.

In fact, many of the Digimon we're going to see associated with him are also Nightmare Soldiers. This arc is basically "The Chosen Children throw hands with that one specific V-Pet release."

I don't remember if I mentioned this before but his name, Vamdemon, is a portmanteau of "Vampire" and "Demon". Meanwhile, his English name Myotismon comes from the myotis genus of bats.

Vamdemon: I've grown tired of your incompetence. Narrator: Vamdemon. An exceptionally brutal and cunning Undead Digimon. His special attacks are Night Raid and Bloody Stream.

This is one of the less helpful rundowns. Thank you for just reading the attack names that were printed onscreen for me. This told me nothing.

The dub retains PicoDevimon's tortured scream, but they cut it down to about three seconds and also dial the volume way the hell down so it's easy to miss under the background music.

DemiDevimon handles Myotismon's intro.

Myotismon: Because of your stupidity, all of my evil plans have failed! DemiDevimon: Oh boy, Myotismon! How'd I ever get stuck working for this guy? And he's got all those bats! I hate bats!

The dub makes a judgment call that Vamdemon was the one coming up with all the schemes, which isn't quite the impression I've gotten. It's felt to me like Vamdemon gave PicoDevimon a task - Steal the Crests and prevent them from activating - and then set him loose to go figure out how to make that happen for himself.

The forgetfulness mushrooms demonstrated quite a bit of personal initiative. Bribing Digitamamon to drag Yamato into Jou's plight also seems unlikely to have been premeditated too far in advance, since it was a reaction to Yamato showing up like ten minutes ago. And with Vademon, he didn't so much bungle a plan as the plan was just bad from the outset.

PicoDevimon's schemes have featured a lot of improvisation and rapid adjustment to changing circumstances. So I think Myotismon owes credit where credit is due: Because of DemiDevimon's stupidity, all of his own plans have failed!

PicoDevimon: Please forgive me, Vamdemon-sama! Vamdemon: Courage. Hope. Friendship. The children's Crests have regained their light once after another. PicoDevimon: I-I'm ashamed! B-but, Vamdemon-sama, not all of the Crests have activated yet!

PicoDevimon scries up footage of Sora and Piyomon, sitting along on grass.

PicoDevimon: Like this kid. Her Crest of Love will never glow. Truth is, that's because I gave her some advice. The other six should be coming to her shortly. If we strike there-- Vamdemon: When the time comes, contact me. I will send those children straight to Hell. PicoDevimon: YES, SIR!!!

This time it's Vamdemon's turn to be unfair. My guy, the Crest of Courage was shining before PicoDevimon was even involved in this. Absolutely unfair to pin that one on him. Go take it up with Etemon.

This is, of course, case in point: PicoDevimon's having to explain the situation with Sora to Vamdemon because Vamdemon has no idea what PicoDevimon did to her. He's not involved in the "how"; He cares only that the task gets done.

In the dub:

DemiDevimon: Forgive my mistakes, Master Myotismon! I beg you! Myotismon: Courage. Hope. Friendship. The children's Crests are beginning to glow one by one! DemiDevimon: Everyone makes mistakes! Remember disco? Besides, sir, not all the children's Crests have begun to glow yet! (DemiDevimon conjures the scrying portal) DemiDevimon: That girl has the Crest of Love and it's still not glowing thanks to me! Anyway, according to my schedule, she'll be meeting up with the other children very soon! And when she does, Master Myotismon, when they are all together, that's when I'll get 'em! Myotismon: You think you can!? If you fail me again, my bats will have a new chew toy: YOU!!! DemiDevimon: Ehehehehe... I hate bats.

Goddammit, I forgot what a punching bag disco was back in the 90's. XD That got me. I know he's speaking in a broad sense about people as a whole but the way he uses it sort of implies to me that Myotismon had a disco phase. And I refuse to let that mental image go.

He was a young Devimon with parachute pants and roller skates once like, "I'm going to invent a NEW evolution all on my own, and it will be DISCODEVIMON!!!" Years later, Myotismon is just like, "We do not speak of DiscoDevimon."

Obviously, "I will send the children to Hell" wasn't making it past the censors. Though it's a bit of an odd choice to remove Vamdemon's instructions entirely, and instead assert that DemiDevimon's going to go take them all out by himself.

Also, "according to my schedule". XD He is trying so hard to sound like he still has control of things.

Meanwhile, the kids continue their search for Sora.

Wandering through the jungle as the sun begins to set.

Taichi: HEY!!! SORA!!! Koushiro: SORA-SAN!!! Jou: Hey, let's stop here for today and find a place to rest. It's too dangerous to wander around in the dark. Mimi: (collapses to her knees) I'm tired.... Yamato: But she should be somewhere around here.

Yamato checks his Digivice to confirm, and Sora's blip is practically right next to his own.

Would it surprise you to learn that the dub rewrote Jou's line so that he's just being a weenie instead of a responsible senpai? Yeah, they picked on Mimi earlier so now it's time to pick on Joe.

Tai: Soraaaaa! Izzy: SORA!!! WHERE ARE YOU!?!? Joe: Why don't we find a spot to rest for the night? Or better yet, for the next couple of weeks. My feet are killing me! Not to mention every other part of my body! Mimi: (collapses to her knees) I can't go another inch.... Matt: Hold it! I'm getting a reading on my Digivice. T.K.: Really? Well, what is it?

Matt doesn't even dignify Joe's whining with a response, instead announcing the radar blip as it it just appeared for the first time.

Also, T.K., you know what the blip is. It's been explained to you. Multiple times. What the fuck, T.K.?

Suddenly, Patamon's ears perk up.

Patamon: Huh!? Takeru: What's wrong? Patamon: I can hear something! Takeru: Eh? Maybe it's Sora-san! (low buzzing starts getting louder)

Only Patamon's giant ears can pick up the sound at first, but then it comes into focus, getting louder and louder as it approaches.

The dub doesn't really change the dialogue but they do change the timing of the buzzing, and the results are hilarious.

Patamon: Oh! What's that buzzing? (low audible buzzing starts getting louder) T.K.: I wonder if it's Sora!

Okay, T.K. ate the poison berries shortly before this scene started. XD

You know how Sora would sometimes open her mouth and the sound of a million angry hornets would emerge to signal that the end times are upon us? Or that she's just hangry? Yeah, that's probably what we're hearing.

Nope, actually, we're under attack.

Sora's really let herself go.

This hornet digimon erupts from the woods and attacks. Koromon identifies him as Flymon. The kids run for cover as Flymon makes a strafing run, raining projectile stingers down on them as he passes by.

Koushiro pops open his laptop and opens up the Digimon Analyzer, giving us the first diegetic rundown of the original.

Koushiro: I can bring up his status using the Digimon Analyzer that Gennai sent me! (Koushiro pulls up the DIgimon Analyzer screen on his laptop) Koushiro: Here it is. Flymon. An Insect Digimon. Adult-stage. He's a Virus-type. His special attack, Deadly Sting, sprays poisonous stingers. POISONOUS STINGERS!?!?

Flymon is something of a distant cousin to the Gazimon from the Etemon arc. He evolves from Gizamon, Pagumon's other branch.

Though the original just makes insect buzzing noises, Dub Flymon talks. They also cut "Deadly Sting" for obvious reasons.

Flymon: (firing) Brown Stingers! EEEEYOW!!! Izzy: Maybe this Digimon Analyzer that Gennai gave me could help us out. (Izzy pulls up the Digimon Analyzer screen on his laptop) Izzy: Here he is! Flymon. Classified as an Insect Digimon. A Virus-type. And I think we already know what his attack is - and it's not very pleasant! AND HERE HE COMES NOW!!!

No mention of his stingers being poisoned in the original. To be fair, given that they're the size of Taichi's torso and he's shooting them, we're probably in more danger of being impaled than poisoned.

Koromon and Tsunomon evolve back to their Child-stages, and the kids unload on Flymon. He's too fast for them, however, weaving around the Child-stage Digimon's attacks before coming in for another strafing run.

Out of nowhere, Birdramon appears, firing down at Flymon with Meteor Wing.

Flymon can dodge some of Birdramon's fireballs but not all of them at once. A direct hit sends his smoldering body plummeting into the forest.

Recognizing that Birdramon's presence means Sora's nearby, Taichi and Yamato bolt into the woods to give chase - With Takeru following along behind them.

Splitting up from Yamato, Taichi impressively manages to get ahead of Sora offscreen so he can emerge from the underbrush and cut her off.

This whole chase goes by for a good 20-30 seconds without any silence-destroying dialogue or jokes added by the dub.

Caught between Taichi in front and Yamato behind Sora has nowhere to run.

Taichi: Sora! Yamato: Why are you running away? Taichi: Explain yourself, Sora! Sora: ... Yamato: Sora...?

Finally, Takeru shows up with Agumon and Gabumon. None of them could keep up with even Yamato's sprint, let alone Taichi's. Takeru's gasping for breath, but he has an important question to ask.

Takeru: Sora-san, do you... hate us? Sora: Nnngh... That's not it! Piyomon: (arriving from the sky) Sora, why don't you tell them?

Fittingly, Takeru is the one who finally gets her to open up and speak, just a little. Taichi and Yamato were just being met with stone-faced silence, but she couldn't let Takeru believe something so cruel.

In the dub, Tai sounds inexplicably surprised to see her.

Tai: Sora! It's you! Matt: So why were you running away!? Tai: Enough running! Tell us what's going on! Sora: (groaning) ...mrrrr.... Matt: Sora...? T.K.: (arrives) Sora? Does this mean that... you don't like us anymore? Sora: No... Of course not. T.K.: Then what's wrong? Biyomon: (arriving from the sky) Sora, why don't you tell them?

It's a very small change but she seems a bit more conflicted in the dub. Her stone-faced silence is replaced with a vocalized groan, as if biting her tongue and wracked with indecision.

At Piyomon's urging, Sora finally comes clean about what's going on with her - And, in the process, finally explains this "Crest of Courage, Crest of Friendship" thing that PicoDevimon and Vamdemon have been talking about to the kids themselves.

She starts off choking out her words as if even trying to have this conversation is painful for her.

Sora: When Piyomon and I... left that night to look for Taichi... I... saw them... I saw PicoDevimon talking to someone. Takeru: What were they talking about? Sora: They were talking about our Crests. Taichi: The Crests? Sora: Yes. Each of our Crests has a different meaning. For instance, Taichi has the Crest of Courage. Taichi: Crest of Courage?

Taichi flashes back on Etemon's pyramid, when he found his nerve again and braved the firewall.

Taichi: Oh. That's why my Crest glowed back then! Sora: Yamato-kun has the Crest of Friendship. Yamato: Friendship? Takeru: What about mine? Sora: Takeru-kun has the Crest of Hope. Takeru: (happy) Eh!? The Crest of Hope! Sora: Koushiro-kun has the Crest of Knowledge. Jou-senpai has the Crest of Sincerity. Mimi-chan has the Crest of Purity. (sadly) And mine... is the Crest of Love. Taichi: Heh, Love fits you perfectly, Sora!

While Sora goes over these last three Crests, we see Koushiro, Jou, and Mimi crossing a creek that we had to chase Sora across earlier, trying to catch up to everyone. It's devoid of dialogue, but Koushiro hops across the stepping stones Sora used, Jou tries but slips and falls in, and Palmon pulls Mimi across on her vines to skip the creek entirely.

We've talked about most of these Crests as they came up. This is the first we're hearing of Jou's, however, since he shared his episode with Yamato.

Jou's Crest is 誠実の紋章 Seijitsu no Monshou, translated as the Crest of Sincerity. We talked last episode about Mimi's Purity, what that means from a Japanese perspective, and how it maps onto "Sincerity" in English. Now, here we are again encountering Sincerity from the opposite side.

This is not the last time that the English and Japanese scripts will use the same word for different things. So Mimi's sincere and Jou's sincere. Is this a redundancy?

I think it's easiest to grasp this distinction by thinking of it like honesty. Mimi and Jou's virtues are both forms of honesty, but they are not the same. Mimi is honest in the sense that she is true to herself, forthcoming with her feelings and thoughts and intentions. She doesn't lie or misrepresent herself; She says what she thinks and she thinks what she feels. With her, what you see is what you get.

Jou is honest in the sense of being forthright and dependable. He has a strong moral center, adheres to societal obligations, and earnestly strives to do what is expected of him. He abides by social contracts and behaves ethically within those boundaries.

Mimi is honest in her words and expression of her self, while Jou is honest in his actions and expression of social standards.

I would probably go with something like Crest of Responsibility or something than Reliability, though. The latter sounds like he's. Like. Generally successful at doing the things you need from him, when the results of his attempts to uphold his obligations aren't really the point. He doesn't always succeed in being the voice of reason or shepherding these kids in his care to safety, but he always tries.

Over in the dub, Sora for some reason feels the need to vividly describe DemiDevimon as if we all haven't met him already.

Sora: Okay. It happened the night that Biyomon and I left camp to try and find Tai. I saw a strange Digimon. He looked like a bowling ball with wings and he was talking to something in a giant bubble! T.K.: So, could you hear what he was saying? Sora: Yeah, I heard him talking about our Crests. Tai: What about them? Sora: He was saying that each of our Crests has its own special meaning. For example, Tai, yours is the Crest of Courage. Tai: The Crest of Courage? Oh! (flashback) That's right! And then the Crest started to glow! Sora: And the Crest you have, Matt, is the Crest of Friendship. Matt: Friendship.... T.K.: And mine? Sora: Yours is special, T.K. It's the Crest of Hope. T.K.: Alright! I hope we can get back home! Sora: Izzy's Crest is the Crest of Knowledge. Joe's is the Crest of Reliability.

The dub gives Gomamon a line after Joe splashes helplessly into the water during their creek crossing.

Gomamon: Thanks for being there, Joe! Sora: And Mimi's is the Crest of Sincerity. And finally, mine? Mine is the Crest of Love. Tai: Wow, the Crest of Love? That's just perfect for you, Sora.

I have no idea what Gomamon is thanking Joe for. I guess he's just trying to cheer him up.

The exposition here is mostly the same. She does call out T.K.'s Crest as special, but doesn't elaborate on what that means.

In any case, Sora fucking explodes over that last remark from Taichi, full-throated screaming at him at the top of her lungs. However, her voice sounds wounded and scared more than angry.

Sora: NO, IT DOESN'T!!! IT DOESN'T FIT ME AT ALL!!! Taichi: B-but you're always thinking about everyone-- Sora: I DON'T CARE ABOUT THEM!!! YOU DON'T... YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M LIKE SO STOP PRETENDING THAT YOU DO!!! Taichi: (stunned) .... Sora: (gasp) I'm sorry.... Taichi: Wh... What's wrong? Sora: My Crest. It won't glow. Because I don't have any love.

Just because she's been out there helping everyone, that doesn't mean she isn't going through some shit too.

From an English perspective, Sora's last line and her emotional crisis there might sound a bit unclear. We're often taught to think of love in the specific terms of the relationship between two people.

Sora! Calm down! You're 11! It's okay that you haven't found love yet! Your mind has been poisoned by children's cartoons about finding your soulmate at age 6!

But that's not what she's on about. No, we're going much deeper than that today. Her Crest is 愛情の紋章 Aijou no Monshou. Aijou is the expression of care for others. It represents tangible, demonstrable, quantifiable displays of affection, for people or animals or things.

When you snuggle your favorite stuffy on the bed, you are expressing aijou. When you pet your cat in your lap, you're expressing aijou. When you give a friend a hug because you haven't seen them in weeks, that's aijou.

Sora is saying that she is incapable of expressing affection for others. And that's just fucking tragic. It calls all the way back to her very first focus episode on File Island, when she had internal strife over how readily Mimi gave Palmon her hat. Mimi's expression of aijou freaked Sora out.

Sora has love in her heart. But she isn't comfortable showing it. This episode is going to talk about that.

The dub plays this scene verbatim.

In the original, we go to commercial here and come back to follow up on what those ominous words from Sora meant, after a brief misogyny break. The dub skips that commercial break because they have a different spot in mind. Remember that they could have put it here.

Takeru: What did you mean about not having any love? Taichi: I don't get this at all! Women are such a hassle! Yamato: (sternly) Don't make fun of her, Taichi. Taichi: I'm joking.

[Sora will Remember This]

Taichi's last line is delivered with all the dismissive emotion of "Yeah, yeah, whatever."

Seriously, Taichi. She is clearly torn up about having to talk about something that is affecting her on an intense and personal level. Now was not the time for "Ugh women amirite high five!" Complete with It Was Just A Joke disclaimer when pushed back on.

I hope Mimi gets here soon.

The dub makes no significant changes but elaborates a bit on Taichi's unhelpful misogyny.

T.K.: You love us, don't you, Sora? Tai: I don't get it. Why is it that girls always have to get so emotional when it comes to love!? Matt: (sternly) Leave her alone, Tai. Tai: I was just joking around!

"Women amirite high five!" is now "Women and their feelings amirite high five!"

Once Taichi's finished forming another memory for Sora that will haunt him if he ever asks why she went for Yamato instead, Sora recounts her confrontation with PicoDevimon.

Sora: PicoDevimon told me. (flashback) Sora: Who are you!? PicoDevimon: Well, well. You saw something that you weren't meant to see. Did you hear about the Crests? Sora: I did! PicoDevimon: You're Sora-san, aren't you? Ehehehe... The Crest of Love, eh? Sora: What's so funny about that!? PicoDevimon: I feel bad for you. You were raised without knowing any real love, so your Crest of Love will never glow.

In the dub, Sora and DemiDevimon's confrontation almost sounds like they're gossiping.

Sora: (bitterly) The Digimon thought I was funny too. (flashback) Sora: Is your name, by any chance, DemiDevimon? DemiDevimon: It sure is! And you're one of those kids, the DigiDestined. Tell me something, did you hear about the Crests? Sora: Yes. In fact, I did. DemiDevimon: Oh yeah! You're that kid Sora! Heehee heehee... (sneering) The Crest of Love! Sora: And why are you laughing about that? DemiDevimon: You just think you're so hot! But guess what! You'll never be able to make the Crest glow! NEVER!!!

Sora was walking through the woods one day, eavesdropping on vampires as you do, when suddenly DemiDevimon showed up and did some mild bullying. And that's what she's been so freaked out about this whole time.

Sora's bitter retort to Taichi goes so hard and I love it but then the actual flashback is just... Wow.

Back in the present, Sora explains what PicoDevimon meant and why it affected her so badly with another flashback.

Taichi: Don't be stupid! PicoDevimon just told you a lie. Sora: No. It wasn't a lie. It happened back when I was in Girls' Soccer Club... I was their ace striker....

Sora flashes back on a confrontation with her mom.

Sora: Please understand, mom! I have to be there! Toshiko: Please lower your voice or the flowers will wilt. Sora: Today is a really important match! Toshiko: And how do you intend to play on that leg of yours? Sora: This is....

The camera pans down to show that Sora's left leg is bandaged up.

Sora: It's nothing! Toshiko: Sit down.

Sora's soccer injury makes it difficult for her; She flinches as she folds her legs under her to bend into the traditional seiza position, kneeling down with her heels under her.

Toshiko: You can't even sit correctly because of soccer. You should quit. Sora: NO!!! I like soccer more than flowers! Toshiko: Sora! How are you even my daughter?

Sora flinches as if she's been struck. She sits there, eyes filling with tears, soaking in the hurt for a moment, before standing up, screaming, and running off.

Sora: WHY CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND!?!?

Sora sprints on her bad leg to the soccer field while the kids in the present discuss her story. Onscreen, we see that her team lost 6-3.

Taichi: Sora, your family is famous for kado, right? Sora: Yes. We're iemoto. Takeru: What does iemoto mean? Yamato: It means her mother is a master who teaches flower arranging.

Let's all thank Yamato for explaining both of those important Japanese words so that I don't have to.

Meanwhile, in the flashback, Sora arrives too late.

Sora: In the end, we lost that game. I couldn't stay in that club anymore. My mom doesn't see me as anything more than the daughter of a kado school. She thinks our reputation as iemoto is more important than I am! That's who she is!

This flashback is fucking powerful. Holy shit, there is so much going on here.

Note the careful shot composition in Sora's memory of Toshiko. Toshiko is shot in such a way as to obscure her face and instead draw attention to the flowers she's arranging. As if Sora was raised by the concept of floral arrangement, and not by a three-dimensional person.

That Sora's mother is iemoto lends a lot of important context to their argument. Sora is an only child, and it's traditional in an iemoto family for the iemoto to pass their skills and knowledge down to a child as their successor. Sora was obligated from the moment of her birth to become the next grandmaster to the Takenouchi school of floral arrangement, or whatever their school is called.

But she wants to play soccer instead. It's what she enjoys, as a three-dimensional person and not just Toshiko's Successor.

Presumably, she joined the soccer club that Taichi and Koushiro were in after losing the big game forced her to leave the girls' soccer club in disgrace.

So here we have another plot point that is thoroughly baked in Japanese culture. Good luck with this one, dub team.

Tai: That's it!? I thought it was something serious, like they were gonna stop making those stuffed bean bag animals. Besides, DemiDevimon is a liar. Sora: (silently flaps her lips for three seconds) It's true. It started back when I was on a girls' soccer team. My family owned a flower shop. It was my mom's whole life. (flashback) Sora: Please, mom! I gotta go to the soccer match! The girls are counting on me! Toshiko: Don't talk so loud, dear. The flowers are very sensitive. Sora: But this match is to win the title! Toshiko: Sora, you can't go with your knee injured like that. Sora: But mooooom! My leg's fine.... Toshiko: I'm sorry but you can't go. Sit down, we need to talk. (Sora drops into seiza, flinching in pain as she does) Toshiko: I want you to stop playing soccer and come to work at the flower shop after school. Sora: Do WHAT!? I won't stop playing to work with smelly old flowers! Toshiko: I can't believe a daughter of mine would act this way! My decision is final! Sora: (recoils, tears forming) ... WHY CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND ME!?!? (stands up and runs off) Sora V.O.: I walked around for hours. I found myself at the soccer field. The game had just finished. Taichi V.O.: What happened? Sora V.O.: We lost the game 6-3. My teammates were so depressed that they didn't even notice me when they walked by me. I felt like I let them all down. Like it was all my fault. (back to present) Sora: My mom said I had to be part of the family business. No questions. That's how she is. It's like it's the only thing that's important to her. She doesn't understand.

Okay. Yeah. I have. Uh. I have notes.

First off, this hits way different when Toshiko is a small business owner wanting to bilk her daughter for free child labor, instead of the grandmaster of a long and storied art form trying to pass down her talents and knowledge to her next of kin.

They tried, but we just don't have the same culture of ancient disciplines and centuries-long generational inheritance. Kado and ikebana can trace their roots farther back than the concept of colonizing the Americas.

They had absolutely nothing to put in place of the iemoto discussion so Sora vamps over the footage and we end up with "I wandered aimlessly for hours and then arrived at the soccer field by happenstance." Why would she do that? Why wouldn't she go to the game straightaway?

Oh, and Tai continues to be even more of a condescending misogynistic prick in this version than the original.

Still, while the nuance of Toshiko's position is inevitably and unsurprisingly lost, the heart of this scene - How Sora's falling out with Toshiko made her feel - comes through intact. We still grasp the central idea: That Sora believes she's incapable of affection because she, herself, has been unloved throughout her childhood.

Sora, in a fit of total emotional breakdown, pulls back her arm to hurl her useless Crest into the woods. Taichi, at this moment, finally steps up to help.

Or. Uh. Tries to, at least.

Sora: So... I was raised without love, AND THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT!!! (Taichi grabs Sora's arm to stop her from throwing the Crest) Taichi: STOP IT, SORA!!! Sora: LET ME GO!!! Taichi: Whether it's true or not, you shouldn't believe anything PicoDevimon said.

Sora lowers her arm and doesn't throw the Crest. Instead, she breaks down completely, opening the floodgates and bawling out her emotions right there on the spot.

(Sora is so emotionally closed off that this cry is probably something she's needed for a long time.)

Taichi is, of course, completely useless in the face of Sora's raw, exposed pain.

Taichi: Hey, don't cry! Sora: (continues loudly crying) Taichi: H-Hey, Yamato, what should I do here? Yamato: If she needs to cry, then let her. Agumon: Yamato is so mature! Gabumon: Much more than Taichi, at least.

I shouldn't laugh while Sora's exposing her rawest nerves, but Agumon and Gabumon fucking taking turns dancing on the grave of Taichi's dignity got me. XD Eat shit, Goggle Boy.

In the dub, Sora quotes DemiDevimon for things he never said in this version.

Sora: That's why I know he wasn't lying when he said I grew up not knowing what love is. RAAAARGH!!! (Sora attempts to throw the Crest but Tai stops her) Tai: SORA, STOP IT!!! Sora: LET GO!!! Tai: Even if what you said is true, you shouldn't believe a word from that loser DemiDevimon! He's just a creep that's trying to hurt you! (Sora's arms fall limp and she starts bawling) Tai: Wait! Wait, don't cry, Sora!

HEY KIDS ENOUGH ABOUT THAT DO YOU WANT TO GO EAT AT MCDONALDS!?!?

Yeah, remember that commercial break we put a pin in? The dub slides it in right here. Let's talk about how cool Hot Wheels are instead of Sora's mom not loving her. They go all the way around the big wheel in the track somehow!

Have you ever had a nice, hot Toaster Strudel fresh out of the oven? Oh boy, I sure do love Toaster Strudel.

Oh, and be sure not to miss the new episode of Beast Machines. Yeah, we're gonna be airing some new Beast Machines. We all love Beast Machines, right?

Okay, back to Sora's traumatized heart shattering into a million pieces on the ground of this alien jungle we're stranded in.

Tai: Don't cry, Sora! Matt, help me out; I don't know what to do with her when she starts blubbering. Matt: Just let her go, Tai. She'll be okay. Agumon: Boy, Matt's like a real grown-up. Gabumon: Now if only he would cut his hair.

Sora, he didn't say you grew up not knowing what love is. That was the original Japanese script. In this version, he just said "Your Crest won't glow NEENER NEENER!" Sometimes I swear Sora binge-watched the subs in preparation for appearing in the dub.

Full disclosure: The second Tai opened his mouth again after the commercial, I wanted to go back to Toaster Strudel.

Agumon still gets to puff up Matt but Gabumon sinking the shot on Taichi's face is replaced by a quip about Matt's unruly hair. As if Tai's any better on that front.

Once Sora's crying has begun to slow and she's gotten out what she needed to - and once Taichi's brain has fully melted down into an ineffectual blue screen - Takeru approaches her.

Takeru: Sora-san? Thank you.

The gradual slowing of Sora's crying now halts, as she opens her eyes and looks down at Takeru.

Takeru: You're the one who told us not to eat the mushrooms, aren't you? Piyomon: We knew PicoDevimon was plotting something, so we followed him in secret. Also, when Yamato and Jou were working in Digitamamon's restaurant.... (Flashback to Sora replacing the stolen brick) Yamato: I didn't know. Taichi: You didn't have to hide from us. Piyomon: Sora wanted to be alone. But she couldn't abandon the rest of you either. Please understand. Takeru: I love you, Sora. (Platonic daisuki) Sora: Eh...? Takeru: So don't leave us again, okay? i don't like when my family-- (Takeru stops himself abruptly and is silent for a second, trying to find his words again) Takeru: ...I mean, when everyone separates. Sora: Takeru-kun... Okay. I'm sorry.

Hahaha Sora triggered Takeru's divorce trauma ISN'T THIS EPISODE SO HAPPY AND FUN? T_T We're doing character drama through the roof today.

The dub plays this scene almost entirely straight, but cuts the reference to T.K.'s parents being divorced. Though they replace his divorce trauma with stranded child trauma.

T.K.: Sora? I like you. Sora: Huh? T.K.: So please don't go away again. I don't like being away from you. (T.K. pauses for a second for no particular reason) T.K.: Haha, when you're around, I don't miss my mom as much! Sora: T.K... (voice breaking up) I'm so, so sorry!

Oh wow, that's heartbreaking in a completely different way. ISN'T THIS EPISODE SO HAPPY AND FUN? T_T I know we've all been having a great time talking about how unloved Sora is but did you know that that Takeru is 8 with divorced parents and he's been lost in hostile wilderness for months?

Maybe shows need a maximum age rating too because I have been at full-throttle WON'T SOMEBODY HELP THESE CHILDREN since the moment Sora started sharing.

Finally, the slowpokes arrive. At long last, the kids are finally all together again.

Jou: HEY!!! Taichi: (cheerful again, back in his element) Hey! What took you so long? Mimi: Jou-senpai took his time after falling in the river. Jou: Mimi-kun, you kept sitting down and complaining about how tired and hungry you were!

Unbeknownst to them, however, a stalker has been observing them from the bushes while this whole trauma unpack has been going on.

PicoDevimon: They're all here. I must inform Vamdemon right away!

No change in the dub.

Once night falls, Vamdemon's carriage emerges from his castle, carted across the sky by a wicked beast. Devidramon specifically, but we aren't introduced to them yet. At the same time, PicoDevimon decides he wants to begin the slaughter early.

PicoDevimon: Hehehe, they're all fast asleep.

He pulls out one of his Pico Darts, brandishing it at the sleeping children.

(They've been apart for so long, they forgot to set a night watch rotation. Complacency is the bane of survival.)

PicoDevimon: I'll pick off a few of them before Vamdemon arrives.

Piyomon wakes up just in time to see PicoDevimon preparing to throw his Pico Dart. She dives on top of Sora, shrieking for Sora to wake up. The syringe jabs into Piyomon's back right as Sora wakes, and she falls limp in Sora's arms.

The last time we saw DemiDevimon fight was in T.K.'s amusement park episode. There, the dub cut all footage of the Pico Darts, presumably due to obviously being syringes. So you might be wondering how they can play this scene without showing the Darts.

And the answer is they can't. DemiDevimon debuts his version of Pico Darts here, calling them Demi Darts, and most of the footage of them makes it in.

They do cut one part, and it's the moment the Dart strikes Biyomon. Instead of seeing the needle sink into her flesh, they cut away to DemiDevimon's grinning face while we hear it strike her offscreen. However, there's also a closeup shot of Sora pulling the needle out of Biyomon's back that makes it into the dub unedited.

Sora's shrieking about Piyomon wakes the rest of the kids. PicoDevimon cowers away, afraid to have to fight them all at once. But then he arrives with fucking dramatic flair.

His coffin air-dropped from his carriage, just so he can burst out of it mid-descent.

He didn't have to do it that way. He did that for the aesthetic. It's a show of intimidation. He doesn't just want the kids thinking a vampire has shown up; He wants them to know that Maximum Dracula is here for their blood.

As he touches down on the grass, he speaks in his booming yet quiet and reserved voice.

Vamdemon: Chosen Children. Sora: THAT GUY!!! That's the guy PicoDevimon was talking to! PicoDevimon: Not "that guy"! This is Vamdemon-sama! Taichi: Vamdemon? PicoDevimon: No, Vamdemon-sama! Vamdemon: Hahahahahaha... Your journey ends here. Night Raid!

Even Vamdemon's laugh is a quiet and reserved chortle. I went back and forth on how to spell it because it's closer to Hnhnhnhnhnhn but that doesn't look right as an onomatopoeia.

Taichi, at least show some proper respect to his honorific before you die. :P Notably, Taichi has an issue with that in general. It's something I've noticed but haven't talked about: Taichi doesn't use a lot of honorifics when talking to the others. Fitting his personality, he is inappropriately casual with his language choices.

A fact that is now pissing off PicoDevimon.

Vamdemon himself is a man of few words. He just shows up like, "Hey kids, killing you now," and opens fire. This is what Etemon wanted to do for his entire arc.

Meanwhile, in the dub, Myotismon is chewing scenery with his more boisterous persona.

Myotismon: MUWAHAHAHAHA!!! DIGIDESTINED!!! Your journey ends here. Sora: That's it! That's the thing DemiDevimon was talking to! DemiDevimon: He's not a thing! He's Lord Myotismon! Tai: Myotismon? DemiDevimon: That's Lord Myotismon! Myotismon: WUHUHUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! These DigiDestined are making me feel a little... batty! Grisly Wing!

Sora calling Myotismon "THAT THING" gives me life. XD

Taking bickering over the -sama honorific and turning it into bickering over a Lordship title is pretty standard for anime dubs.

Vamdemon fires off his Night Raid, finally showing us the thing that he's been torturing PicoDevimon with.

It's a wave of pure darkness and bats.

Mochimon evolves to join the other Child-stage Digimon, and they put up an initial front line. Firing on the bats to hold back the assault. But it's not enough, and the bats breach the line, reaching the kids behind.

Seeing Mimi harassed by bats, Palmon evolves to answer quantity with quantity. Dub Palmon drops a one-liner:

Palmon: Let me try to get my point across! Needle Spray!

A million needles answer a million bats, buying the kids a moment to breathe and return fire. Specifically, a moment for Artillery Cannon Ikkakumon to return fire, sending out six Harpoon Vulcans to converge on Vamdemon.

The missiles explode on impact, obscuring Vamdemon in smoke like this is Dragon Ball. Then he emerges, seemingly unscathed, launching himself into the air.

Throwing himself into the fight for real, Vamdemon unveils his other technique: Bloody Stream.

A pair of whips, presumably made of blood, which he lashes out at the Partner Digimon. The dub calls it Crimson Lightning for obvious reasons.

(I wonder if this is a Castlevania reference? Associating Dracula with whips makes me immediately think Castlevania.)

While savaging the Digimon, Vamdemon gives off the most monotone and robotic evil laugh I've ever heard, and it's the scariest fucking thing.

Vamdemon: Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.

While Myotismon is having the time of his life.

Myotismon: Ahh HAHA Ahahahahaha!!!

As he hits the ground, Agumon declares:

Agumon: Taichi... He's strong....

But. Uh. Yeah, you're Child-stage and he's Perfect, that is not a fair assessment. The only Digimon we have that can Super-Evolve just recovered enough for Child-stage today, so we're up shit creek right now.

Once Vamdemon's finished taking apart the Partners, he advances on the children. In the back of the group, the last Digimon struggles to break free from Sora and fight.

Piyomon: I have to go... I'm the only one left.... Sora: You can't! How do you intend to fight him with your injuries!? Piyomon: Please understand, Sora. I have to go! (Piyomon starts trying to wriggle out of Sora's grasp) Sora: YOU CAN'T!!! Piyomon: LET GO!!! Sora: YOU CAN'T GO!!! Piyomon: WHY CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND!?!?

Just like that, the shoe is on the other foot. Sora's stunned by Piyomon echoing the same words she'd said to Toshiko in her flashback.

Sora: Mom... It was really about me... She was worried about me!

Whatever ambiguous injury fucked up Sora's leg, that's what the argument had really been about. Toshiko didn't want Sora playing on an injured leg, and she didn't want Sora playing at all if it was going to push her so hard that she thought playing on an injured leg was okay.

It wasn't about the fucking kado school. Sora made an ass out of u and mption. Poor mption didn't deserve that.

Over in the dub:

Biyomon: I've gotta do something to help them... Sora: Huh? Biyomon: I'm the only one left to fight Myotismon.... Sora: It's no use! You can't do anything in your condition. Biyomon: Please understand... I have to go! (Biyomon starts trying to wriggle out of Sora's grasp) Sora: No, Biyomon, you can't! You'll get hurt! I WON'T LET YOU!!! MY DECISION IS FINAL!!! Biyomon: SORA, WHY CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND!?!?!? (flashback) Sora: I always thought my mom was thinking about her flower shop, but she was really worried about me getting hurt....

Hey look, they added "My decision is final" to the flashback earlier so they could echo it here. For a dash of extra "Sora has become her mom" symbolism. I like that she absorbed that language from her mom without even realizing she was adding it to her lexicon.

Because people do that. You are the influences you surround yourself with, especially during childhood.

It's worth noting that Dub Toshiko was pushier about the flowers, though. In the original, it was Sora who brought "I don't want to flowers" into the argument. Go back and check!

What Toshiko said was "How do you intend to play on that leg of yours?" and "You can't even sit correctly because of soccer. You should quit." She never made it about kado. That was an assumption Sora leapt to. With the new context Sora provides here, it's clear that she really was just freaked out by Sora's leg injury.

(Though Sora's kneejerk assumption does imply that the pressure to become the next iemoto has been a point of contention between her and Toshiko in the past, it does not mean that Toshiko doesn't love her daughter.)

In the dub, she gave Sora the "We need to talk" and then followed up with "I want you to stop playing soccer and come to work at the flower shop after school." So it's not exactly Sora's fault that she assumed this was about the flower shop. Toshiko said as much.

This schism isn't so bad that it undercuts Sora's realization here, I think. But the difference in Toshiko's tone does affect how she comes across as a parent nonetheless, which is kind of important to the whole "Was Sora unloved?" thing.

Original Toshiko was trying to have a conversation with her daughter, only for Sora to get the wrong idea and unexpectedly explode on her. To which Toshiko reacted badly and said some shit she shouldn't have said.

Dub Toshiko was laying down commands from on high for her child to obey. Her intentions weren't so bad, turns out, but she still kinda sucks. Like. In general. Making sweeping life decisions for your child without so much as consulting them and then doubling down when they get upset about it is not good parenting. Dub Sora still isn't unloved, but her mom seems pretty domineering.

While Sora's having revelations about her mother, Piyomon breaks free and evolves into Birdramon. And then Sora gets to see her fears realized.

Birdramon's Meteor Wing glances harmlessly off of Vamdemon's cape. He retaliates, sinking his Bloody Stream into Birdramon's gut and knocking her from the air with a single shot.

Sora runs for her, screaming in sheer terror.

Sora: BIRDRAMON!!! BIRDRAMOOOOOOOOOON!!!

The dub makes this a little more on the nose.

Sora: Birdramon! Birdramon, no! I love you!

Now that she's over her internalized emotional blockage, Sora's feelings erupt and her Crest activates. Birdramon CHOU-SHINKAAAAAA!!!

Birdramon Super-Evolves into her Perfect-stage Garudamon. And then immediately ignores Vamdemon while he shits himself over his exposure to the sacred power of the holy device and Crest, now glowing inside Garudamon.

Vamdemon: W-What is that light!?

Garudamon ignores him to pick up Sora and talk to her instead. That's fair.

Garudamon: Sora, your love... I felt so much of it.Sora: (crying tears of relief) Piyomon... So cool....

While they have this moment, the narrator cuts in for the rundown. Garudamon is a Perfect-stage Vaccine-type Bird Person Digimon. Her name is a reference to the god Garuda, the king of birds in Hindu mythology.

That she's been promoted from a bird dragon to a male humanoid god who governs the domain of birds is why she looks like that.

Narrator: Garudamon. A Bird Person Digimon that evolves from Birdramon. Through justice and order, she is the guardian deity of the natural environment. Her special attack is Shadow Wing.

In the dub, Myotismon seems even more confused than Vamdemon.

Myotismon: What!? Where is that glow coming from!? (Garudamon picks up Sora) Garudamon: (growly beast voice) SOOOOORA! I CAN FEEL YOUR LOOOOOOOVE! It's making me strong! Sora: (crying tears of relief) My Crest... It glows.... Tentomon: (here now) Garudamon is the Ultimate form of Birdramon. She commands the sky and protects the earth. Her attack is a flaming bird called Wing Blade.

Sora's more interested in her Crest than Garudamon. Which is fair because Dub Garudamon became fucking terrifying holy shit. That was a choice and a half. I'd be trying to focus on literally anything else too.

Now that she's properly introduced, Garudamon turns her attention on Vamdemon.

Vamdemon: Rrgh, the Crest of Love just had to activate at the most crucial moment! Garudamon: I will protect Sora! Shadow Wing!

Her Shadow Wing takes the form of a flaming bird. Vamdemon matches with his Night Raid, resulting in a momentary tug-of-war between their dueling attacks.

But Night Raid roots Vamdemon in place while he fires it, while Shadow Wing is self-sustaining. While Vamdemon is rooted in that spot, Garudamon snatches up the kids and Partners and takes flight, leaving him behind.

In the dub, "Hey Digimon" fires up as Garudamon lets off her Wing Blade, and its upbeat positivity is absolutely tone-destroying. Like we are actively fleeing for our lives from Dracula to the tune of Don't Worry Be Happy.

When their attacks collide, the dub gives Myotismon the line:

Myotismon: I did not anticipate such strength!

Did... Did you not? You've been pretty upset each time a new Crest glowed.

Garudamon carries the kids to safety, and they unpack Sora's realization by a nice river the next morning.

Taichi: See? There was nothing to worry about. Your Crest glowed just fine. Sora: Before I knew what I was doing, I started acting like my mom. Pyokomon: Sora.... Sora: That's when I understood. My mom loved me all along. Pyokomon: I felt it too! I felt your love! Sora: I'm sorry about before. Pyokomon: I'm just glad you're back to normal! Taichi: Aww, I want Sora's love too! Jou: Taichi, you moron! Do you realize what you're saying!? Takeru: Huh? Jou-san, your face is beet red! Mimi: Jou-senpai, would you like some of my love? Jou: Huh!?

Mimi deposits various seeds into Jou's hands. I honestly can't explain this one. It's clearly meant to be a visual pun but fuck if I know what it is. The other kids clearly get it, though, and they all have a good laugh at Jou's expense.

Jou: (tired) Mimi-kun... okay.... Group: (laughs hysterically) Narrator: The children accepted Sora back into their group and their unity was stronger than ever before. However....

In the dub:

Tai: All you had to do is stop worrying about it, Sora, and you got your Crest to work! Sora: When Biyomon was in danger of getting hurt, I realized that I was acting just like my mom. Know what I realized? My mom loved me all along. Yokomon: And it was your love that helped me Digivolve, Sora. Sora: I'm glad. Yokomon: You see? You are capable of love after all. Tai: I felt something. I guess it was your love shining through! Joe: I felt something too. It made me feel uncomfortable. T.K.: Love shouldn't make you feel like that! Mimi: That's right, T.K.! I know why you felt uncomfortable, Joe. Joe: Hmm? Why? Mimi: (deposits the seeds in his hands) These were in your pocket! Joe: Oh, I guess it wasn't love. Group: (laughs hysterically) Matt V.O.: Sora joined up with us again and we were closer than ever. We finally thought things were going our way. And then....

Okay when and why was Mimi rifling through Joe's pockets? I do not understand the Japanese joke but I somehow manage to understand the English one even less.

Tai's bit here is also notably different. In the original, he's whining because he wants to feel Sora's love too - with Jou-senpai immediately calling him out on how flirtatious that sounded. Either he's intentionally hitting on Sora or he's innocently saying something that sounds like hitting on Sora. Either way, senpai doesn't like it.

In the dub, he's celebrating the fact that he did feel Sora's love shining through a similar metaphysical connection to the one she has with Piyomon. Implying exactly the sort of relationship between them that Taichi may or may not want to have with her, depending on if he's started thinking about that yet.

Suddenly, the sky darkens. Black clouds fill the air and Vamdemon's eerie "Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha." laugh emerges from them. We close this episode out on the dire words of our new villain.

Sora: That voice! Vamdemon: Chosen Children. With only seven of you, you won't be able to defeat our evil power.

Uh. Cool. Thanks for dropping by to tell us that. He's hinting at the existence of the Eighth Child, which is going to become important to this arc going forward. Not sure why he's showing up to do that, though. This cliffhanger could have been an email.

The dub overlooks the importance of the number and instead plays it as a general gloat.

Sora: I know that laugh! Myotismon: You foolish DigiDestined! The seven of you are no match for my powers! Prepare for your ultimate destruction! MUWUHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

So, no foreshadowing here. Just a more aggressive cliffhanger to really get you biting your nails about his impending attack.

Which. Uh. There is no impending attack. We'll start next episode with the kids hanging out at this river, perfectly safe. He can't attack in broad daylight like this. He really was just coming by to say "LOL No Eighth Child? Scrubs."

You salty, bro?

Assessment: Well that was an emotional fucking roller coaster. I did not remember this episode very well and for that I am ashamed, because this was fucking good. Toshiko and Sora's drama tore my heartstrings right in fucking half.

The dub certainly made some questionable choices but on the whole I'd say that this is one of their better ones. Sora's character arc is preserved as intact as they could get it despite the untranslatable cultural elements to it, and that's the heart of the episode more than anything else.

Now I'm going to go get some McDonalds and process paralyzing adult fears for a while.

[avionvadion]

Trashahime Rewrite: Forest Deep version

When Towa is four and Airi is six, time portals leading to the modern era began to appear randomly and it swept them away.

(Potentially caused by Kirinmaru in the modern era by messing with the sacred tree) but he has an extreme makeover so he doesn’t look like the dollar store version of Takemaru of Setsuna.)

Seeing the sacred tree in the distance, the pair of sisters make their way to it, recognizing it, but are unable to find their way home and are instead taken in by Sota Higurashi- only to encounter their mother, Irene, like two years later when she is only nineteen years old and about to make her journey back to the Feudal Era after being gone for two and a half months. Despite her younger appearance, her scent is the same, and so is her gentleness and warmth, and Towa clings to that memory of young short-haired Irene for the next decade. Maria stays behind to help Sota and his wife look after them, as they are obviously her little sister's future children.

Maria soon encounters an older Koga, who had survived to the modern era by blending in, and is reunited with her precious wolf, Saun, who has grown old with age and has weary bones.

Back in the Feudal Era, six years after Towa and Airi disappear, a moth demoness, Mayonaka, awakens from her restorative slumber within her cocoon, having suffered terrible injuries over fifty years prior from a war that took place in her territory.

(Her name means "Midnight", and she is a relative of Gatenmaru and Garamaru, but unlike either of them she is a daiyokai)

She's been obsessed with Sesshomaru for over a century, and has always been frustrated that he never once looked her way, but upon awakening learns that not only has Sesshomaru has become a daiyokai... but he has also taken Irene, a mortal, for a wife.

Mayonaka is enraged, and sends her minions after Irene in hopes of getting rid of her, but this does little to deter the human, experienced in the ways of battle with her Shikigami, and having InuKag as neighbors and MirSan as friends. And, not to mention, anytime Sesshomaru discovered demons heading for the village with ill intent, he slaughtered them, as he visits fairly frequently to check on his wife and help look after their children- because he is a father who helps with raising his kids.

After two years of zero results, Mayonaka decides she has to take matters into her own hands and curses Irene.

It was a simple curse really, Mayonaka having some of her little moths spread some dust onto her kimonos while they were hanging out to dry, and it started off with just nightmares. It would make it difficult for Irene to sleep, each nightmare growing more and more horrific and taking a toll on her health, but as days to weeks to months go by she is getting noticeably worse, as the nightmares slowly begin leaking poison into her soul. Eventually, she becomes so ill from the curse that she begins spitting/coughing blood until she collapses, falling comatose.

Time continues to pass, but her body grows weaker and weaker. When the Shikigami spirits sense she’s on the brink of death, they combine their powers to cast a spell, placing her in stasis at thirty-five years of age so she would not take her final breath.

Her body is placed in a shrine within Mount Ryosozan, where Tatsunori, her dragon spirit, once lived as a highly respected Kami. The air there is very clean and pure, and will hide her scent. Sora, the eldest child, stands guard, protecting her mother’s resting body at only fifteen years old while Sesshomaru continues to search for who cursed his beloved.

For the next four years, Irene would remain asleep, and Mayonaka will be taking delight in sending Sesshomaru on a wild goosechase trying and failing to find her. All the while, demons have been going missing- swept away by the time portals into the modern era, and Maria, a much older Koga, Hakkaku, and Ginta, and the descendants of the Kururugi Shrine, work together to take care of these threats. They also train Towa in swordsmanship and martial arts, and Airi in the art of Shikigami and archery- as Airi's human blood and connection to spirits is much stronger than Towa's, who has a stronger connection to their demon side.

Shortly after Towa turns fourteen and Airi sixteen, shenanigans happen that get them sent into the Feudal Era. Potentially separated, with Towa being found by Rin and Kohaku (both of whom had viewed Irene as a mother figure, and have met Irene when she was short-haired and see Towa's resemblance to her) while Airi is found by Kin'u and Gyokuto, who note she has round eyes- much like a foreigner- and decide to take her to the village.

Later, after being reunited, it turns dark and Towa becomes human, as it is the fifth night of the month.

Towa resembles Irene the most in appearance, despite Airi having their mother’s eyes, and Kaede comments on this- especially when seeing Towa in human form. Towa asks why her biological parents aren't around if they're still alive, and Kaede informs her that her mother was cursed, and that her father is on a hell-mission trying to find the one who cursed her so he can kill them.

Towa: "She's cursed? So... does that mean she's nearby somewhere? Can we meet her?"

"That... is a question you need to take up with your sister."

"Shion?"

"Sorano." *Kaede smiles* "One of your older sisters. She is protecting her. Ah, but I do not know where you can find her. Perhaps you should speak to one of your OTHER siblings to find out. Shion, being so young, was not given the knowledge of your mother's location- as she was even younger when sweet Irene was put to sleep. Your great demon father could not risk her being found by his enemies, you see... or by the one who cursed her."

Kaede is aware that Irene was cursed and put into stasis to save her life. She also knows that the eldest child, Sora, is protecting her. But she knows not where they are, only what is being done, and if they wish to meet their mother they must first find Sora- and to do that, they must find Hikaru or Akane, for they surely know of her whereabouts.

InuKag and MirSan know where Akane at least can be found, but state that she never leaves the village and is almost never seen by anyone except her parents, siblings, and spouse. As relatives, they might have a good chance of getting into the Kururugi Shrine to see her… but the villagers are very protective of Akane as they view her as a benevolent saintess/kami, due to when Sesshomaru and Inuyasha helped Irene defeat Anastasia.

Gyokuto, a demon slayer like her mother, brother, and uncle, finds out the girls want to find Akane, so she goes with them because she wants to see Hikaru and because she’s annoyed Hisui is getting all the fun of traveling without her. They discover him lounging about in the valley and he takes them to see Akane, though only Towa, Airi, Shion, and Hikaru himself are allowed inside the shrine where she stays.

Akane reluctantly tells them about Mount Ryosozan, but that it is dangerous to visit. Still, Towa and Airi want to see Irene. They have only one recent memory of her- of when they were children and had only been in the modern era for a short time before Irene, at 19 years old, appeared to try and go back to the Feudal Era. Towa wants to see her again.

Towa and Airi want to help the mother who they remember had looked after them so kindly and gently, even when she didn't know who they were. They hold on to that one day so strongly, and to the photo they were given of her, and to the storybook of the Celestial Prince and his Stolen Love that their Uncle Sota read to them so often when they were small, as it told the (albeit greatly twisted over the years) story of how their father once saved their mother from a human lord and his soon-to-be bride, and how Auntie Maria corrected all the flaws in the story and told them the truth of the tale.

They want to meet Irene, and they want to save her. They want to feel her warmth again.

So they go to the mountain.

It’s Towa’s human night when they get there, and Sora has to do a double take and look behind her into the shrine to see the sleeping Irene. Towa, as a human, has shoulder-length hair, and solely because of the connection to spirits her human blood gives her. (Irene's hair grew because of the Shikigami spirits, even when her body was frozen due to Anastasia's spell, the first time she traveled to the past) Hair is viewed as something that holds a connection to spirits, and when human Towa's connection to the spirits is much stronger, and the growing hair as a human represents that connection.

And Sora has known their mother with longer hair all her life.

Looking back at Towa, she gives her the MOST dumbfounded look. “Here I thought HIKARU took after our mother..."

And Hikaru rebuts with a, “I don’t want to hear that from the one who most looks like our father.”

"I think I resemble Mother quite a bit."

"Absolutely not! In what way!? You can be just as cold as Dad sometimes, you know!"

"Well, I wouldn't have to be if you'd just listen to your big sister..."

"I listen plenty! It's hard being the only son, you know!"

When morning rises, Towa is half-demon again.

She mentions she met their mother when she was little, but their mother was younger and hadn’t even had Sora yet. Towa confesses she based her haircut and style off of what she remembered her looking like back then, as a way to avoid forgetting her, and Airi takes out the photo Sota snapped before 19 year-old Irene left for the Feudal Era to show them.

…

Mayonaka wanted Sesshomaru to look at her, to have her on his mind at all times… and had sent minions to kill Irene at first to get her out of the way, but when that failed, she cursed her in hopes that he would finally glance her way. And it worked, kind of.

By cursing Irene to the point where she is on the brink of death, he is now obsessively searching for Mayonaka- to kill- and has been for four years.

But when Sesshomaru finally finds her, he doesn’t even humor Mayonaka in conversation. He just attacks. This infuriates her, and she realizes that he isn’t even looking at her, more as he is just seeing the “demon who cursed his wife”. He doesn’t even know her name. There’s not enough room in his heart to hate her when all he cares about is Irene.

So she decides to take some drastic measures. Mayonaka believes she has to fully get rid of Irene in order for there to be room in his heart for her, because if she can’t have him she WILL have his heart by scarring it so badly that the memory of her will be etched in his very soul- as the woman who killed his love. So she starts searching for Irene.

(Think a very twisted and obsessed Yandere. That's Mayonaka)

When she finally finds her, Sora is there and in the way- trying to stop her. Sora puts up a good fight, but Mayonaka has more experience and ends up killing her by targeting Irene, tricking Sora into sacrificing herself and taking the blow by shielding her mother’s body. As Sora is bleeding out, she collapses atop the sleeping Irene just as Sesshomaru appears, having tracked Mayonaka down.

Sora had bought just enough time for her father to find them, and passes away holding onto her mother.

Sesshomaru is pissed. He goes full dog mode. Mayonaka laughs with delight and goes full moth mode. Giant daiyokai battle ensues. The Inugang and Kiddos all show up at the mountain to see Sesshomaru and Mayonaka battling it out, and everyone is horrified upon seeing Sora collapsed and dead, her blood pooling at her feet.

The Inugang go to help Sesshomaru, but Mayonaka’s minions appear. Lesser demons who despise the fact that Sesshomaru took on a human wife. They end up battling it out while Hikaru, Airi, Towa, and Shion try to protect what’s left of the shrine with Irene and Sora’s bodies inside. Itsuki and Moroha are working with Hisui, Kin’Gyo, and Kohaku and Rin (she's a priestess) to fend off anymore new arrivals. Miasma is slowly killing the foliage that kept the shrine pure.

Sesshomaru ends up leaving Mayonaka a bloody mangled mess, and tosses her down from the sky and into the river below. With a splash, she’s back in her humanoid form, and she is cackling and laughing with delight, grinning as wide as could be. She’s so happy. Sesshomaru is finally looking at her, and she’ll be etched in his heart forever if he kills her.

But he doesn’t.

A familiar scent has reached the entrance, and with it the appearance of hot blue flames that swallow the area, enveloping the lesser demons and disintegrating them all. As it clears, everyone sees a figure walking calmly towards them, and as the figure draws close they realize… it’s Akane.

Akane in her mortal form. The final sibling, Hikaru’s twin sister, the one that could not blend in with society in her normal form, has finally arrived… and her gaze turns to meet the gaze of her father.

Sesshomaru will not kill Mayonaka. He will not give her the pleasure she so wishes to have of dying at his hands. Her body is already mangled, limbs barely hanging on as is. No, she’ll die at the hands of the daughter that most resembles his wife in terms of power and selflessness.

So he turns away. He starts walking towards the resting bodies of Sora and Irene.

Mayonaka is horrified. She starts screeching, screaming at him, that it HAS to be him to kill her. That she did all this FOR him, but… he pays her no heed. So she pulls herself together with what little remains of her strength and pulls out her moth wings, flying towards Sora and Irene. She is determined to kill the human woman.

But Sesshomaru doesn’t give her more than a glance over the shoulder before a massive spirit (Akane’s familiar) appears and swallows Mayonaka whole, sealing her away. She burns the talisman the demoness was sealed in with a vanquishing flame, and Mayonaka is effectively dead… and the curse on Irene broken.

As she starts to wake up, Sesshomaru uses tenseiga on Sora, and his daughter is very confused until she realizes what happened and watches as color returns to Irene’s face and the woman coughs, groaning and rolling onto her side as the spirits release their spell that had kept her in stasis.

Irene is shooketh, and mildly horrified she’s been asleep for so long that Sora is now 19, Hikaru and Akane 18, and that Airi and Towa have returned and are both 16 and 14 alongside Shion!????? Three of her children are young adults now, and two of her babies have returned and are so much older now, and wait, why is Sora covered in blood?

Irene cries, and Sora is laughing and hugging her, telling her it’s alright, and Irene is like NO, IT ISN’T, WHO CURSED ME, TELL ME THEIR NAME SO I CAN BURN THEM TO CRISPS, and they have to tell her that the demoness is already dead. Irene is pissed and upset and going through all the emotions, and ends up smothering all of her kiddos with affection because it's been four years and she missed so much and two of her babies are back but her other babies are four years older now and oh gods how could she have slept so long???

...

Unfortunately... there's still the case of the randomly appearing time portals and all the demons that are disappearing.

The modern era is an extreme danger now, as with all the demons from the Feudal Era being sent to modern times all the demons of the modern era that were in hiding and blending in have decided they were tired of hiding and reveal themselves, lashing out at the humans that had them hide away for so long.

Kirinmaru is the one leading it all.

Kagome, Inuyasha, Moroha and Itsuki, and Irene, Airi, Towa, Shion, and Kin'u and Kohaku all get zapped by one of the portals. They're reunited with Sota, Maria, and Koga, and they watch as the skies grow dark as hundreds to thousands of demons appear, while others are wrecking havoc in the towns.

In a panic, Kagome remembers something from years ago and reveals that inside Kururugi Shrine is a scroll. Hinami and Ren are there, and they know exactly which one she's talking about, and they send Irene to the shrine to unseal the demon and his allies that are with him- and have been for many centuries.

It is a scroll depicting the demon lord Sesshomaru... who had been sealed by his daughter, Akane, in an effort to save his life, many many years ago, and who lost her life sealing her siblings along with him.

To quote Hinami from my Forest Deep fanfic, "Demons existed once. They were in abundance, living in the wild and in their own forms of civilization. Yet when humanity's weaponry began to grow more advanced, their numbers began to decline. Demons started to lose their place in this world. Those who sought preservation hid themselves, while others were proud and died fighting. The few who could pass themselves off as humans did so, and their demonic bloodlines dwindled until nothing but traces of their powers within their descendants remained."

During the era of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the Sakoku Edict, demons began to be killed off. They either learned to blend in or died fighting. Sesshomaru, being as proud as he is, refused to blend in, and fought for years until he was gravely wounded. His half-demon, half-white children were being hunted.

Akane knew he wouldn't survive if he kept going. She knew her siblings would all be killed.

So, in a moment of extreme sacrifice, wanting to protect them all, Akane gives up her life sealing Sesshomaru and all of her siblings away. Her descendants, who lived in hiding within the Kururugi Village, acting as priestesses and priests, worshipping the "Great Kami" of their shrine, prayed to and protected the scroll for the next few hundred years, passing down the stories and legends to each generation.

Sesshomaru, trapped with three of his half-demon children and... potentially a grandchild, ponders over the next few centuries why Akane, the child who could not blend in with society, who lived in hiding, who was the one child he was harshest/most strict with to ensure she could survive, did what she did, and how she died doing so, knowing full well he could not revive her with tenseiga after being sealed away.

And as the years pass...

He gets to see her children, and her grandchildren, and her grandchildren's children and grandchildren. Some look just like her human self or just like Irene or just like him, and then it's Hinami and Ren who are IDENTICAL to Akane and Irene, and he's still TRAPPED with his other children while the ONE IS DEAD but her descendants are THERE, and then...

Kagome's finally come to collect the shard of the "shattered bird".

And Kagome sees the scroll and finally realizes why Hinami and Ren look so familiar, and why something always felt so off about them, because in the shrine she sees a little crescent glowing upon the brunette's forehead. With the jewel shard in her hand, Kagome approaches the scroll, the scroll that has what is so very obviously Sesshomaru painted on it, despite the older appearance and change of armor, and when she reaches out to touch the painting... the image changes so his likeness is looking RIGHT at her.

Kagome is, understandably, freaked out.

She books it out of there after listening to Hinami's story, and Sesshomaru is left waiting again. And again. And…

Miasma.

The doors to the shrine slams open.

Irene?

She's younger, much younger than she was when she had died, and she's dressed in the purple kimono with the blue butterflies he gave her shortly before she originally left the Feudal Era, as an apology for having hurt her. She's... not as young as back then, but not as old as when she died. She's somewhere in between. He hasn't seen her in centuries.

And she's... as beautiful as the day he had lost her.

He watches from within the scroll as she rushes over, muttering to herself. He feels the warmth from her palm as she rests her hand against the scroll, gentle flames peeling away the seal.

And then he was freed, along with those who had been sealed with him.

Five hundred years, and he gets to hold her again.

He had missed her so much.

But it's only temporary, for after the battle she'll have to return to his younger self.

[parachutingkitten]

Dragons Rising Lloyd/Akita Reunion, cuz the show hasn't given it to me yet.

Lloyd and the kids are on their way to the First Realm, but run into an old familiar face along the way. Definitely a little flirty, but can still be read as platonic.

No one could quite pin down what was wrong with the trees around them. They were too straight. Too baren. Too… something. It was as if they had somehow noticed a change about this place which they had no familiarity with. Perhaps it was just the overcast day and the subtle winds which made the wood seem so ominous, or perhaps there was something more sinister going on. Either way, the feeling between the group was palpable- they were lost.

“You sure you know where we’re going?” Sora asked. “This doesn’t really seem like a trail anymore.”

“That’s because it’s a shortcut,” Lloyd assured her, holding up the map. “Or at least… I think it is.”

“I might have preferred the main path if it had less of a creepy forest vibe than this one,” Arin added, looking skeptically up at the trees.

Lloyd closed the map, confident in his direction. “Look, this will save us two whole hours, the only reason it’s typically avoided is because this forest is supposedly cursed.”

“You know, you had the option of not telling us that,” Arin groaned. 

“Trust me, the last thing you want is your teacher keeping things from you,” Lloyd mused. 

“Did you guys hear that?” Sora broke in. 

“Hear what?” Arin asked. 

Lloyd held his hand up, stopping the group. “No, I heard it too.”

The three stood in silence for a moment, listening for the sound to come again. It was hard to discern through the light winds humming through the branches, but it was there: the sound of living movement.

“You two stay close,” Lloyd instructed his students, continuing to scan the treeline. He squinted through the homogeneous rows of bark surrounding them, but still couldn’t see where the noise sourced from. Erring on the side of caution, his hand began to reach back for his sword. However, before he could even make contact with the metal, a flash of white burst towards him, knocking him to his back. The movement was accompanied by a deep growl, and a sharp scream from either side of him. 

Lloyd felt strangely overpowered by the weight which fell on his chest. It came in two pointed placements and pressed in a way which seemed to go through him, taking with it most of his breath. The noise he heard was unequivocally animal, and the vigor which restrained him matched that assessment. As he squinted upwards at his attacker he was able to make out the beast's face. A wolf- but not just any wolf.

"Akita?" He used the last of his air to address the creature.

The growling stopped as the animal retreated, allowing Lloyd to sit up, and more importantly, breath.

The wolf now circled around him, bumping into his arms with a friendly familiarity. 

"Hey, it's good to see you too," Lloyd chuckled. 

"You know this dog?" Sora asked.

"I do!" Lloyd smiled. He looked into the animal's eyes fondly. "She was, um…"

There was a bright flash of light as the form before him began to shift. As the shock from the shine subsided, he made out the image of a woman reaching down to help him up. It was a familiar face, but a changed one. Her wild raven hair was much longer now, tied back into a tight ponytail which exploded behind her, and topped with her familiar animal adornment. Her figure was clothed largely in black, and fit to her body much more closely. On her were obviously several weapons, along with a number of other useful objects attached to her person directly. But her face seemed much the same, her smile just as shyly offered, and the marks which framed it right where he remembered them. "I'm an old friend," she finished. 

Lloyd took her hand as a pair of awed marvelings came from the kids. Her strength easily tugged him upward, their eyes remaining locked as he made his ascent. 

“I didn’t think you were- I mean-” Lloyd paused for a moment to avoid stumbling over himself any further. “I never thought I’d see you again.”

“I can’t say I thought the same.” Akita tightened her grip on his hand before finally letting it go.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Lloyd chuckled.

“It means Lloyd Garmadon seems like the type of person to turn up in unexpected places.” Akita smiled. “As you have!” She gestured to the forest around them.

“This is the girl from the Never-Realm!” Arin burst out, finally drawing their attention away from each other.

Lloyd glanced back and forth between him and Akita. “Yes, she is. How did you-?”

“Does this mean she’s the one that-”

“We don’t have to elaborate on that description,” Lloyd stopped him, feeling the blood rush to his cheeks. “Seems like you got it figured out.”

“I’m still lost,” Sora chimed in.

Lloyd let out a heavy sigh. “Sora, Arin, this is Akita, I met her on a mission a while back, she’s originally from the Never-Realm. Akita, this is Arin and Sora, they’re my… students.”

Akita was grinning wildly by this point. “Students, huh?” she turned her attention to the children in question. “What’s this idiot been teaching you?”

“He’s been training us to be ninja!” Arin jumped excitedly.

“He’s been training me to use my elemental power,” Sora added.

“I already taught myself the basics of spinjitzu,” Arin continued. “but it’s awesome having a teacher!”

“Self taught is the best way to learn,” Akita offered Arin a high five, which he eagerly reciprocated. “I like your ears,” Akita turned to Sora, pointing above her head. “You make them yourself?”

Sora reached up toward the accessory, pleasantly surprised. “Thank you, I… yeah.”

“What are you doing out here?” Lloyd asked, his attention still strongly attached to his rediscovered ally. 

“I live here,” She shrugged. “I’m out collecting tree bark.” She tapped a small pouch that hung at her side. “What are you doing here?”

“What do you do with the tree bark?” Arin cut in.

Akita smiled, pulling out her dagger. “You peel it off, very carefully,” She placed her blade along the nearest tree, carefully shaving off a long strip of bark. “You take it home, clean it, dry it.” She tossed the piece to Arin, who caught it easily. “And it makes an excellent tea.”

Arin’s eyes had grown wide, Sora looking at it over his shoulder, her hands reaching for her pocket knife.

Having distracted the kids, Akita again turned to her new-found companion, quieting her voice.

“What are you doing here? No one ever comes through here.”

“We’re headed to the First Realm.” Lloyd answered, matching her tone. “We’ve got a whole dragon problem going on, and we think the realm of Oni and Dragon might have some answers.”

Akita’s face ruffled in confusion. “The First Realm?”

“Yeah,” Lloyd answered, a strain of uncertainty entering his tone.

Akita stared at him a moment in thought. “You’re almost certainly headed the wrong direction.”

“Really?” Lloyd sighed, reaching for his map. 

“I told you we were lost!” Sora called over to them, now struggling with her knife against a nearby tree.

“We can’t be going the wrong direction. We’re right here,” Lloyd pointed on the map. “in the Unsleeping Woods-”

“No, right now we’re in the Forest of the Tamed.” Akita placed a finger a few inches away from Lloyd’s as his gaze froze on the spot. 

“How could we have…”

“You probably mixed up the Forbidden Path with the Forsaken Path.” Akita took the map from his hands, tracing along the two trails. “The Forsaken Path takes you much farther North.”

“That… would do it.” Lloyd sighed.

“I’m sorry, we were on something called the Forsaken Path?” Arin butt in. 

“Technically, I thought I was taking you on the Forbidden Path.” Lloyd corrected him. 

“You do know that’s not better, right?” Arin groaned. 

“Well, it’s far too late an hour for you to start that direction now.” Akita rolled up the map, handing it back to her companion. “But my camp is nearby, and I have plenty of extra space.”

Lloyd’s vision turned to his students, thinking for a moment.

“You are gonna let us hang out with the cool wolf-lady, right?” Sora asserted, bark strip in hand. 

“Wait, does that mean this forest isn’t cursed?” Arin spoke up.

“Well, it's a different forest, but it could still be cursed.” Sora prodded him. 

Lloyd turned back to Akita, his eyes narrow. “You sure we won’t be a bother to anyone?”

Akita smirked. “No one to be a bother to, except me. I’m a scout. I’m camped by myself in an abandoned fishing village. It’ll be nice to have the company,” she assured him.

Lloyd smiled, his mind still a mush at seeing the face in front of him. “You’re sure?”

Akita rolled her eyes, walking past him. “Come one everyone! Camp is just a few minutes west of here!”

…

Akita gingerly closed the door on the common building, a targeted grin on her lips. “So… Kids?”

“It’s a new development.” Lloyd shrugged, shrinking back a bit.

“No, I like it!” she quickly clarified. “The responsibility seems good for you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Lloyd chuckled, swinging off his backpack.

“It just means…” Akita thought for a moment. “Adulthood is a good look on you, that’s all.”

“Well, your new job looks good on you too,” Lloyd glanced up at her as he sat the pack on a bench near the door. “You seem like you make a great scout.”

“Well, I certainly did a good job of finding you,” she teased. 

“It seems like a pretty important role. I bet Kataru is really proud!” Lloyd continued.

Akita was quiet for a moment, her demeanor falling. “Yes…”

Lloyd paused, studying her face. “Or not?” He offered. 

Akita’s face hung before facing her companion. “Kataru didn’t make it through the merge.” The air in the room was suddenly filled with a thick stillness. “Most of my people didn’t.”

There was a beat of silence before Lloyd took her arm, guiding them both down to the bench. “Are you alright? I mean, I can’t imagine. Have you been by yourself all this time?”

“I’ve been fine,” Akita waved it off.

Lloyd’s face was stuck puzzled as he processed the new information. “I thought the Never-Realm had a lot of land carry over. The produce is all over the place.”

“Much of the realm did make it through.” Akita agreed. “But the majority of it is uninhabited wilderness… so that’s largely what survived.”

“Akita, I’m so sorry,” Lloyd placed a hand on her knee. “I had no idea.”

“My role as scout is the only reason I made it. If I had been home with my family, I would be gone with them.”

Lloyd felt the pain in her words, and could empathize all too easily. “You know, I lost my whole team in the merge. I thought I would never see them again. And I’ve found some of them since then, but I still remember how hard it was, thinking you’re absolutely alone like that. It can be so difficult just to find a reason to keep going.”

Akita looked back at her friend with pity. “Well, it’s nothing worth complaining about.” She pat his back as she stood, making her way further into the room.

“...what?” Lloyd turned over his shoulder to look back at her, thoroughly confused.

“Everyone lost things in the merge.” She shrugged. “We are not special. All that’s left to do is focus on what we do have.” Akita pulled out her dagger, moving to the water basin towards the back of the room to clean it. “I was lucky enough to make it through the merge, and with me came an abundance of territory I was familiar with and knew how to survive off of.” She glanced up from her work. “And now I’ve even found you. So that’s three things I have to my advantage.”

Lloyd sat on the bench, body twisted around, stunned for a moment. “I guess that’s one way of looking at things.”

“What’s the alternative?” Akita questioned. 

“I don’t know. Feel your feelings a bit?” Lloyd offered. “Didn’t losing so much ever make you feel a little… I don’t know. Lost? Scared? Hopeless?”

There was a breath of silence as Akita pinpoint her words. “Loss is unavoidably painful, and I am not immune to pain.” Akita dried her dagger, it shining in the dim lantern light. “But giving up hope is the coward’s way out. It means you’ve decided you will no longer fight.” She stood up, starting back towards Lloyd. “And I am no coward.”

Lloyd sat with the statement, his eyes still caught on the shine of the dagger as she again approached the bench. 

“You on the other hand,” she pointed the weapon at him with a smirk. “I’m not so sure.”

“Hey!” Lloyd laughed, standing to meet her height. “I’m plenty courageous!”

“Perhapps, but not that I’ve seen.” Akita shrugged, slipping the knife back into its scabbard. 

“Not true.” Lloyd shook his head.

“What was the brave part? When I had to save you from wolves, or from the giant ice bird, or when you spilled out your feelings to an animal you thought couldn’t understand you,”

“Okay, okay,” Lloyd waved her off, still chuckling.

“-when your supposed friend very easily captured you, or when you ran away after a girl kissed you?”

“To be fair, she was a very intimidating girl,” Lloyd beamed.

Akita grinned, a bit of blush sneaking onto her cheeks. “Well, I don’t think she was trying to be… at the time anyway.”

Lloyd’s face tensed for a moment, his words hesitating. “I feel like I might need to apologize-”

“No, no!” Akita quickly cut him off. “You don’t need to-”

“Well, everything just ended so abruptly,” Lloyd shrugged. “I feel like maybe we didn’t get any proper closure because I had to leave-”

Akita scrambled for words. “I knew what I was doing, and that it would leave things…” a sigh of defeat left her lips. “It was just one of those silly teenage impulses,” she chuckled. Her frame had softened a drastic amount over the past few exchanges. 

Lloyd sat with the statement for a moment, still unsure of how he felt about it. “Yeah… right,” he landed on matching her nervous chuckle, the room now palpably less fluid.

Akita leaned forward, attempting to ease the newfound tension. “Don’t worry, I’m sure it’s caused you much more distress than it ever has me.” A smile snuck onto her lips again. “Given your romantic history and all.”

Lloyd’s eyes playfully narrowed. “Low blow.”

“How has it been since then? Anyone else to add to the story?” Akita asked, starting towards one of the food storages. 

Lloyd laughed to himself, loosely following her movements over to the large table at the center of the room. “Yeah actually, it’s… Harumi.”

Akita looked up from her search for a snack. “Again?”

“Yep,” Lloyd nodded, leaning back on the table.

“I thought she died.” Akita returned to her search, thoroughly confused. 

“Well, she did. Or at least I think she did. But she got resurrected through like… dark magic I guess?” 

Akita pulled out an orange from the pack. “So she came back. Was she different?” she asked, beginning to peel her snack. “Like she didn’t want to kill you anymore after the building collapse or..?”

Lloyd’s mouth hung agape, trying to avoid stating the inevitable. “No she… she still wanted to kill me.”

“And you still liked her?” 

“Well, when you put it like that it sounds really bad!” Lloyd began to laugh.

“That is really bad!” Akita stressed, her too beginning to chuckle.

“Come on, I mean first crushes are always the hardest to shake, you know?”

“I do…” Akita’s smile landed quietly on her expression, her eyes darting back down to her orange as she finished peeling. “So, what happened with her?” She crossed the expanse between them to the table and leaned next to him.

“Well, she went to prison. She did a bunch of crazy stuff, so there was no way she was getting out of that.”

Akita offered him an orange wedge, which he promptly took. “Well, that will put a spike in things.”

He hummed in agreement as he finished chewing. “It’s probably for the better though. I do not think that relationship would have worked out.”

“No kidding,” Akita mused, popping another wedge into her own mouth. 

“I mean she had a lot of trauma related to me, and I had a lot of trauma related to her. And now I don’t even know where she is after the merge.”

“Did the prison make it through?”

Lloyd nodded. “It did, but there was also a massive jailbreak during the chaos, so she could be anywhere. It’s possible she didn’t even make it through.”

Akita stared down at the orange cradled in her hands. “Do you… think about her much?”

Lloyd breathed a heavy sigh. “It’s been less as time goes on. But it’s hard not to wonder about her.” His voice had quieted dramatically. “I don’t even know if she ever had feelings for me. But I think there’s part of me that will always care about her, despite everything.” He rolled his eyes. 

Akita held a glance over at him, her mind running with a thousand thoughts. “Maybe you just have a thing for women who try to kill you.”

His expression cracked again into laughter. “No, I don’t think so.”

“I don’t know, I don’t see any other reasonable explanation for your attachment to her.”

Lloyd smirked. “You know, you’re right. I can’t help it. I’m attracted to the danger.”

“No,” Akita shook her head. “I find it much more likely you enjoy feeling intimidated.”

“Is that why you attacked me out in the forest?” he teased. “So maybe your little crush would go somewhere?”

Akita smiled, her gaze returning forward. “You know, I did have a crush on you when you left.” 

“Yeah?” Lloyd prompted her.

“I did.” Akita set the orange down next to her. “And I’ve spent most days after that wondering how on earth,” Lloyd began giggling. “that could ever have happened. I mean someone so annoying, immature, weak,”

“Okay-” Lloyd interjected.

“dorky, cocky, just generally unlikable as you,” Akita continued. “I wrote it off as a complete fluke fairly quickly.”

“Well, that’s great to know.” They both smiled at each other. Akita’s eyes broke first, a weakness entering her voice.

“But, I have to say, being here with you again,” She spoke, her voice almost a whisper. “...I get it.” 

Her eyes remained firmly forward, refusing to perceive whatever reaction might come from her words. 

Lloyd was pensive, a number of emotions beginning to manifest inside him. “You know, I meet a lot of people in a lot of different places doing my job,” he began. “And I always thought it was so unfair that the one person I wanted to see again the most, was the one person I couldn’t get to.”

Akita turned to glance at him again, his eyes ready to meet hers with an admiration that instantly encircled her gaze. A strain built between the two; she could almost swear it was physicalizing in the air around them.

Akita groaned, burying her head in her hands as her nerves caught up with her. “I did it last time- I’m not going to be the one to do it again.”

Lloyd giggled dizzily at her reaction. “You know, girls have only ever kissed me first. I don’t really have experience initiating things.”

Akita tilted her face back to him. “So, you’re saying you would want to kiss me right now?” she challenged. 

Lloyd felt the blood rush further into his cheeks as he struggled for an answer. “I’m not saying that I… I mean you-” 

Akita chuckled, straightening up to face him again, waiting for a response.

Lloyd sighed, his eyes refusing to leave hers as much as he wished he might be able to. “It’s just… silly teenage impulses.”

[bbiemochi]

Hiii can i request natsume, leo, and ibara [separate] with a s/o who goes to a different school? They decided to pick then up one day as a surprise but the reader didn't tell anyone about their relationship since they didn't want to ruin the idol's reputation? Thank you!

𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚕 𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 | various enstars characters

[an]: yes, yes, hello there~ tysm for requesting, lovely ! sorry if this took a while, a lot of things have been keeping me busy these past few months ToT hope u didn’t wait long!

summary: it was time to head home, rest your little heads, enjoy your time for yourselves, for your boyfriend, this case was easy, but for you…it was the opposite, as the two of you live separate schools.

pairing: natsume, leo, and ibara x g/n!reader [ separate ! ]

genre: fluff <33 slight!angst

NATSUME SAKASAKI

IT HAD BEEN LONG TIME since natsume had been able to head home early first after idol practices. surprising to others, but not for the two switch members—as they knew exactly why his priorities to head home first after school. they know he was supposed to stay behind at his secret spot in the school’s library, but for some reason, he plans to always walk out first after school activities. sora and tsumugi both noticed how natsume was always in a hurry to scurry out of the academy like he was chasing after a sale’s in a grocery store

somewhere in reimei academy, a school somewhat a rival school to yumenosaki’s reputation—there stands a lovely individual named y/n. they were calm, collected, also very kind. everyone knew their name, even reaching to yumenosaki itself—it perks interest to others, and that includes natsume. it didn’t take long enough, as natsume one day announced to his unit that he was officially in a romantic relationship…with someone not from yumenosaki, but from reimei. the reactions of the two were opposite, with sora gleefully cheering ‘hooray! congratulations, master!’ out loud with his glimpse of positive expression, and tsumugi calmly congratulating their leader along with wishing the best for both of him and his significant other.

sora notices everything from the beginning. after all, the youngest member could see the small sparks of color. he would note of how his master would often screw up during practices (it wasn’t like him, and it was the first time sora ever saw the leader mess up a little badly), and sometimes space out at break time with ruby colored cheeks. natsume would even like to bring up ‘that’ name from time to time if he could when starting specific conversations. y/n, he remembers it as clear as day. after a week or so, sora asked the leader that one question he’s been longing to ask; “master, are you in love?”

the small glimpses of red mixed with a light pink glitter dusk of color floated around natsume like a wave—the vision was obvious to sora like the back of his hand. tsumugi had to scold sora whenever he would disturb the leader’s work, yet he knows what the jumpy blond was saying was true (and clear).

natsume had figured what they would react at first, however when announcing that his s/o was from reimei, it was tsumugi who let out a question first while sora just smiled. “they’re from reimei academy? you mean our rival school? and where eden studies? oh well…good luck to the both of you. y-you should be careful, though…fans are wild these days, i suggest you don’t get caught by them or else we’ll be facing a lot of trouble…” tsumugi says, looking over to natsume who had just finished reading a book. the red head shot tsumugi a perplexed look, shutting his book back into his bag. “and why is that? is it because the person i’m datiNG is just a normal student from reimei acadeMY?”

“well…” a single finger scratches across the male’s cheek, hinting an expression of nervousness, “i suppose that is the reason as well but not frankly? i’m sure natsume-kun already knows what can happen if you’re caught—

“and do you have any conclusION to why would i caRE if it did happen, tsumugi?” tsumugi’s sheepish smile disappears upon hearing his friend’s unexpected words, astonishment lingering in his feelings. sora’s mouth shaped into a curious ‘o’ as he listened into the conversation. a facepalm hit onto his face before natsume finished tidying his bag and slinging it over his shoulders, ready to head out of the library.

“it really doesn’t mattER to me…as long as they’re beside me, that’s aLL that matters..” was the last thing he muttered to his unit members before heading out of the library, leaving the two on their own. “i’ll be leaving the responsibilITY to you, tsumugi. close the library if you’re going to head home. see you two tomorROW.”

the afternoon sun shone among the grounds—whispering wind blew across the ears of others like rumors. natsume was quick to head over to reimei academy before y/n heads home. most afternoon hours after classes have ended in both academies, the two prefer to meet up somewhere quiet where less students visit in order to keep their dates private. tsumugi was not incorrect when he stated that idol fans these days are a little wilder than before—the things they do with the power of media is already strong enough to ruin one’s reputation. however in natsume’s case, he gives zero shits about what’ll happen. his personal life is his, and is supposed to not concern his fans as it is none of their business.

he had already been through troublesome times, including the renaissance of the war from last year in yumenosaki—where times in the idol course were much rougher than today. natsume wouldn’t really call his reputation ‘ruined’ today after he was claimed as an eccentric thanks to ex-fine’s works, but that was all a fabric of the past, he no longer wants to acknowledge of what is now history. even as a so-called ‘magician,’ natsume is wise of what will likely happen in the future—and that includes with his relationships. y/n, is somebody he adores and admires. his first love. they were gentle towards him, and that just made him more weak than ever.

sora was right about how the colors surrounding his atmosphere was lovely, like two birds meeting on a wire. a personification of somebody in love, the child was intelligent. till today, natsume wasn’t sure if he could still focus clearly on his daily life after deciding to work as an idol in a prestigious school. who would’ve thought an eccentric could easily find love from another academy?

at the gates of yumenosaki, a ring from natsume’s phone buzzed from the inside of his pocket. and what do you know, it was a notification from his lovely y/n. just in time, so he could ask them where they would meet up this time after classes. hurriedly opening the message, natsume was quick to read on what was written: “hey, natsu! im at the back gate of your school…! =(^.^)= sorry, i just don’t want other students to find me..”

‘they’re where now??’ natsume turns his head to where the back gate was supposed to be, and sure enough he wasted no time and ran straight there, avoiding other students who greeted him on his way. one thing about being an idol is that fame will eventually start growing one by one, from being known by a specific appearance or being known by a specific song. natsume grew to be familiar with these stereotypes as he is now an idol aching to reach for the top along with his unit. of course, he wouldn’t be so aching if it wasn’t for his lover’s help and courage…

near at the back gate where he stands, turning his head from left to right in order to see a familiar face he’d kiss. natsume did his best to avoid the gazes of the other idol students walking by him, he didn’t want to be stop by them just because his unit made it to the big stage the day before. not when his lover’s right over here somewhere, probably hiding as well. from plain sight did he spot y/n, face looking concerned as they glanced down at their phone. natsume waved at them, smiling as he did. he was happy they were here…although, there was something odd about y/n. they didn’t wave back like they always do upon seeing the switch leader, instead when they had spot their boyfriend waving towards them, y/n bashfully looks away—pretending to look lost.

it was natsume’s turn to grow puzzled. were they avoiding him? he doesn’t get it, they called him here. the clock strikes once again, now even more students were exiting outside of the building—from third years to the second years, everyone exited outside, chatting as loudly as before. natsume payed no mind to them, and nonchalant did he walk towards his lover who was ignoring his presence. they look sweaty, probably feeling nervous of how natsume began walking towards them with speed. yet, who cares? this was natsume’s business to occur after all.

the crowd paid no attention towards the two when natsume grab hold of his lover’s hand—surprising them. the familiar face of their boyfriend’s face came upon view, and y/n winces in shock. “heLLO, love…you must enjoy texting me to find yOU and ignoring me like tHAT.” natsume’s hand pulls them next to his side, ignoring how other students began to watch the two lovebirds walk away. a sheepish surprise came upon y/n’s expression when they saw natsume drag them out from the school complex like nothing had happened—they were definitely going to be a center of attention after this.

hand he holds tight, y/n hesitated to pull away, however the male did not take the signal. they knew natsume was bold in doing stuff like this out of in public, there were these times where he was a little shy…though right here at this very moment, it was as if all his confidence boosted right there, holding y/n’s hand tight in his.

“n-natsume wait…! slow down…! someone might see—

“that doesn’t matTER, now does it?”

the way y/n’s eyes shifted towards his view would forever become a core memory in his head, playing all and all over again like a broken record. the expression he wishes to see for the second time, natsume did his best to hold in an unbothered expression for his lover to see; ‘there’s nothing to worry about.’

“you’re beside me. i’m not beside the others, i’m beside you. they’re not dating me, i’m dating you. what my personal life is, is not theirs. it’s now become yours.” his hands tightened around their touch, warm and soft. his cheeks flared up, but he continues.

“it doesn’t matter whether i lose my repuTATION or not. as long as i’m with you, it’s enough for me.”

IBARA SAEGUSA

AS EXPECTED greatly of one of the biggest idol units in reimei academy, once again eden had made it to the big stage, satisfying their fans in every step they take towards the top of everything. with hiyori and jun going their own paths as always as eve, nagisa and ibara both had their own plans to dominate as adam. despite eve having more fans, adam has much more brighter ideas when it comes to taking over the whole stage platforms.

nagisa chuckles, “this wouldn’t have been easy without the help of the one and only…”

ibara saegusa

always at his excellency’s service when needed. no matter how far he is, ibara will always stay by his leader’s side. when it comes to ibara, there will always be one thing of how the other idols think of him, eden exception:

“oh saegusa-san? he’s kinda scary..he frightens me..”

“a scumbag, that’s what he is.”

“h-he can be pretty nice…! you just don’t want to…get under his skin…”

“if i hear that name one more time i will not hesitate to throw a plate and slice it clean with a kitchen knife one by one.”

the way others view him never really mattered much to ibara. of course, he has his owns ambitions and profit to care about other than nagisa’s well-being. he was even cocky to even accept if someone called him a scumbag. he knows he’s one.

however

other than nagisa, there was also one person he cares about knowing how they view him.

there’s been a rumor going on around the reimei academy campus, of an unfamiliar individual with a light shade blue of a uniform much different than theirs waiting nearby the gate. two students spotted them once, yet it seemed like the person wasn’t up into striking a conversation with them at all—in fact just sheepishly walking away, pretending like they weren’t standing near the gate from the beginning. this happened almost for a week straight—the odd encounter didn’t take long before words from others mouth began to circulate around the whole academy, even landing on the unit eden themself.

while others reaction were just collected, just highly suggesting they were merely just walking pass by their school, ibara had a much more different reaction. just the opposite of boredom, he felt refreshed and excited of whom that person may be. nagisa was complexed, however he no longer acknowledges of what his partner was doing behind the back of his head in secret.

this day, ibara heads home earlier than his other unit members, which is strange. jun would often note that ibara most of the time would spend his remaining break along with nagisa in talking about their work or plans for their unit, how they’ll be answering in interviews, idol scheduling, song recording, etc. yet this time after practice, all he did was wave his excellency a farewell and left without saying anything else. hiyori also found this strange. when the male turned to ask nagisa of why ibara was heading home early, the leader of eden just laughed, and pressed a finger on his lips, a sign of a secret.

the afternoon view was warm to gaze at, from the orange cotton candy clouds thicker than before from the grasp of a person’s fingertips to the cold touch to the skin, and the way it’s wind blew across their hair with such a level of perfection given. ibara happily hums as he heads down the street…onward yumenosaki academy.

others might think; ‘what is the ibara saegusa of eden doing walking towards his rival school? does eden have another business discussion with the school’s student council?’ yet the reasoning was way too far than that. a smile that reads chaos is what they’d describe whenever ibara would place a hand on their shoulders and ask if it was already class dismissal in the yumenosaki building, all for their choices was to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in order for them to stay away quickly from the male. what they didn’t know, was that ibara was just excited to see a certain someone exit out of the building.

with some small gifts in hand and a cheerful grin plastered on his face, ibara hums a small tune from his lips as he waited near the main gate—ignoring how the other students looked at him confused. it probably was rare for a reimei academy student to just come up at this school and wait by a nearby post next to a lot of students passing by, trying their best not to act like a rival right in front of him. for ibara, he just really didn’t give a fuck. what was more important right now was one of his favorite people will be heading out soon, and the male just couldn’t wait to tackle them into a large hug.

within the crowded area did ibara began to dive through his search of his lover’s familiar face—just nonchalantly ignoring the stares of other students who seemed to know him and his reputation as a member of eden or adam. his forefinger kept his glasses up on the hem of his nose, trying to avoid bumping into people who was in his way as he searches for y/n.

it didn’t take long when ibara’s lips curled up into a smile, as he finally saw their face along with the number 1 producer in the producer course; anzu, chatting lively as the two were laughing at the whereabouts of their conversation. not wasting his time, he quickly walked towards the two and pulled y/n into a hug, laughing proudly while anzu was struck with surprise. “i’ve finally found you, my love! i thought you weren’t coming out of the building yet! so, how was school? i see you’re with miss producer here, were the two of you about to do work??” ibara was excitedly bursting out a lot of random questions out of the blue, in fact he was also very loud as he spoke—even anzu wasn’t able to keep up with his questions without her stuttering.

y/n was more sheepish than ever, blushing madly as the eyes of others began to stare right at their situation with the eden member. the situation was of course, wasn’t going to stop soon unless y/n decides to shut their boyfriend’s mouth from saying anything further. taking his hand (which caused ibara to stop talking), y/n swiftly runs away with ibara to somewhere private and less seen from the other yumenosaki students surrounding them, not without sending anzu an apologetic expression before doing so. ibara too became dumbfounded soon enough after the two lovers hid at the back of the school building where no students can be seen walking around.

small coughs heard, ibara began, “y/n, what was the big deal? i was talking to miss producer, why’d you drag me out like that all of a sudden??” his obvious question swarms towards y/n. looking away, y/n sighs, before looking back at the male, “you were being a little too loud. there were still students out there watching us, y’know? i don’t want them knowing we’re dating..it would be a pain…” the tone that mixes in their voices escalates as fast in ibara’s body to react. he tilts his head, complexed of what his lover had just said, “huh? what do you mean that would be a pain?”

y/n looks away once again, bashfully this time. “it sucks…i don’t want your reputation to fall into dust just because your fans find out you’re going out with somebody like me. being a part of a big idol unit is tough already, you don’t have to go through anything like this anymo—

y/n’s sentence was cutoff short when a familiar pair of lips was landed on theirs—immediately shutting them up in an instant. the kiss wasn’t too passionate nor rough just like how ibara wanted it to be all the time when he and his lover would exchange kisses, it was just loving and reassuring. though he did push himself deeper into the kiss, letting them both lean onto the wall. when he let himself go, y/n took their time to catch their breath while ibara just smiled, still letting them hold on onto his shoulders.

“such idiotic thoughts like that could let you feel insecure around others…listen…” steadily and lovingly did ibara caress his lover’s cheek, making them look at him into the eyes. “if those creatures are my so-called ‘fans,’ then they should be supporting me no matter what, whether i do this or what if they did found out about my romantic relationship with you. his excellency and i worked hard, yes…hiyori and jun as well did, too. those those ‘fans’ would have no idea that it’s me who should feel lucky to have you. not anyone other than my partner knows about my relationship with you…because i knew you wouldn’t like it if i announced it so suddenly…” your boyfriend shifted his curled lips into a small frown.

“not only that but eden’s current idol agency is also against such announcements. it’s annoying me quite a litte, why idols can’t enjoy somethings they want to have since they’re famous. it doesn’t matter if they’re a scumbag like me or not, they need something personal for themselves as well. always being treated like a fan service object on stage for satisfaction is disgusting…” as ibara looked down on the ground, holding you hand that was on his shoulder tight, he once again smiled. “but that no longer matters now…i will conquer whatever goes in my way…just how i conquered you, my love. i don’t care if our relationship gets leaked or whatever bullshit those fans call it. if it’s between you and the unit then…”

before he could even let out an answer, y/n hugged him close, causing ibara to widen his eyes open a little. how long has it been since someone pulled him into a hug? he wasn’t sure…however he knew it had been so long.

“darling?” the new pet name caused y/n to squirm in surprise. “ahahaha…! you hugged me suddenly out of nowhere, my love! ok, c’mere you just pulled the trigger…!”ibara swiftly wrapped both his arms around y/n’s hips, before carrying them up and twirling them around from the hug, laughing so proudly out loud with a grin over his face. it was just the two of them in that area, no wonder why ibara was being so affectionate at the moment. when he was done and put y/n back down, this time a proper hug was exchanged, and ibara happily sighs.

“how rare…i’ve never had this feeling before…other than the feeling when performing with his excellency and eden. heh, you really conquered me instead, my love. i’m lucky to have someone like you.”

LEO TSUKINAGA

STEP 1 in how to not disturb leo when he’s in deep thought of composing a new song is mention his secret lover’s name in the rehearsal room if upon walking in one of his song writing scenarios. the genius just can’t help but perk his ears up like a puppy when he hears that name specifically. even if he knew y/n was studying in another school, leo just can’t help but complain.

“arghh that’s not fair! why do they have to study there instead at yumenosaki?? they could’ve joined the producer course as well so they could be knight’s one and only producer!”

“the leader is whining about y/n again..”

“oh my god not this again.”

“zzz…”

“h-hey! ritsu, don’t just sleep on the floor during practice…!”

not only are the members of knights get a little tired of hearing their leader complain of his lover not being able to study at yumenosaki but at another school, but during practice is sometimes out of the line and it frustrates them, including izumi. he knows their leader would sometimes act like a child, but it’s just the next level of annoying that gets under his skin. despite the orange head being the perfect composer in any song he dedicates and writes to, mention the name of his lover and will he stop and have an hour talk to talk conversation about them.

love is effective to not everyone, but it did affect leo when he met y/n. arashi was the main reason why the two started dating at the first place, when she told the leader that: “you like y/n-chan, don’t you~?” of course those questions would not tame leo to not bold up and say ‘yes i do.’ he was confident enough to show them his feelings, and thank to whoever god existed that y/n liked him back. soon enough, the two were officially going out, and ritsu described arashi as the main ‘cupid’ for the two. nonetheless, he was still happy for their leader’s announcement. thing was…the members of knights had to be careful in hiding the two’s relationship in order to avoid such scandals just like what was happening to kaoru—knights had already been in such scenarios before, they did not want it to happen again.

going back to it, today was more calm than usual—other than practice, there was nothing much to do for the day instead of rehearsing, dance practice, song composing and nothing else. knights was also having the same situation, once in a lifetime not being bombarded with idol work and such, ritsu thought if this was a dream come true. leo however still wouldn’t stop composing for a new song, running away from practice and hiding underneath or behind the school trees planted ahead. tsukasa had to be the responsible to look for him, even if he had no idea that his other unit members were just giving the issue of finding their leader by himself. even if it was a difficult task, tsukasa luckily found leo underneath a tree as usual, pen and papers in hand as he wrote something down.

tsukasa lets out a heavy sigh, both hands on his hip. “LEADER, please get up. we still have practice for today, y’know?” the male says, scooting close to the leader’s side as leo only ignored his presence. still no answer. tsukasa groans, “oi, stop ignoring me and let’s go…practices are about to begin soon.”

“…”

“are you listen—

suddenly, a loud ring could be heard from leo’s pocket, making tsukasa jump in surprise and fall back a little from how blaring the sound was. a smile spreads across leo’s face upon hearing the sound, jump up he did and began to gather his stuff and push all of his papers inside of his bag before running out. tsukasa looks at him, reaching an arm to stop the leader of knights, “h-hey! where are you going?! we have practice!”

“i’m heading home early! leave practice for tomorrow! i have to fetch y/n from their school as a surprise, you take care of knights for awhile! cya!” leo yells back to him, running away towards the school gate, leaving tsukasa standing near the tree.

the feeling of fresh wind blowing through the orange head’s hair felt so invigorating to his face. maybe because his current expression was a rush of excitement as he ran towards his lover’s academy, just in time did the alarm rang from his phone the second he heard the tune. the adrenaline pumps through his veins the moment he saw students rushing outside the school gate, and leo was more than happy to see the familiar face of y/n walking out along as well.

leo merely ignored the way how the other students gasped and let out squeals when leo walked by their presence, while he just continued walking straight to y/n who was busy typing something over their phone. if he wanted to surprise y/n for sure, then he’ll need to hide from behind; is what he’s thinking. crowds at this hour are taking over so it won’t be too much difficult to sneak from behind and scare his significant other, yet there’s also this one part of him who just wanted to call their name loudly in joy.

and what did he choose? well, yelling of course.

“Y/N~! OVER HERE!” the echoes of his loud call caused y/n to immediately turn their head to where it had come from and turned pale upon seeing who it was. their eyes was wide, and the phone they were holding fell down on their palm due to astonishment. realization came in second when the now sheepish y/n tried to ignore leo who was obviously calling them, yet to no avail when the male was quick to run over by their side and tackle them into a tight hug, laughing aloud. y/n stammers, anxiously looking around if there was an audience watching around, and for once they were right when they spotted a group of possibly friends looking over at the both of them.

“ahaha..! y/n, i finally found you…!”

“l-leo?? w-wait, this is not a good place to do these sorts of things…!” y/n begins to push leo away from their side, making leo contort his face into an obvious complexion. the male frowns, pouting, “hey, what’re you pulling away for?”

“just…hold on follow me there…” y/n finally managed to grasp away out of leo’s tight hug and walked away to the back, leo following happily from behind. there were still stares and murmurs everywhere as they walked, leo who was familiar with these scenarios, paid them no mind. however, y/n was being squashed by them like butter. at an area where the location was more private (and away from other students), y/n sat down on one of the benches and pats the seat next to them, signaling leo to take a seat as well. leo obliges, and hurriedly made his way there.

upon sitting down, leo was straightforward to ask, “is there anything the matter? are you alright?” but, y/n decided to stay quiet and take a sip from their juice box. leo frowns more, “hey, what’s the matter? you look gloomy unlike earlier before i called you..”

“why didn’t you tell you were coming over to fetch me?”

“i wanted to surprise you! that’s all! sorry if i did surprise you, ehe!”’

“aren’t you scared of all of this?”

leo stops talking. “huh? what is it you mean?”

“i mean…you’re a famous idol now…a leader of a famous unit and…a well-known composer for idols. if people or even worse, fans, found out we’re going out then, i…we’ll be going through something not as one, but as the both of us…” y/n quietly fiddles with their fingers, eyes darting away to avoid contact with their boyfriend who was curiously glancing at them. “i don’t wanna be a burden anymore to your problems just because i’m between your life. even if you do like me, you shouldn’t really focus on me too much…all i do is study, go to my part-time job and that’s all. you’re going to waste your time with a boring person.”

“y/n.” leo leans closer to them, and their face burned into a fury red. “i’ll get angry if you keep insulting yourself like that.” y/n winces. if there was only a few times where their boyfriend would get angry, it would be on rare occasions for good reasons, however for a simple conversation like this—y/n never expected leo to get this serious. “what do you mean a ‘boring person?’ have you ever looked behind your back and see it that way?” a glimpse of curiosity catches y/n in a moment there. “looked behind my back…?”

leo smiles, pressing a forefinger on their forehead before giving it a light flick, “everything i love about you is written all over your back. you can’t see your worth all the time, but i do. y/n, do you really think i’d care about my reputation more than i care about you?” just a simple sentence, yet why did it sound like an emotional proposal to y/n? their heart started to beat fast in their chest, eyes pricking out tiny droplet of not so visible tears. leo lovingly caresses their face, smiling with a chuckle now, “aw, c’mon, don’t look at me like that. i might kiss you, y’know? would you like me to kiss you?” his ask was straightforward, however with a nod of approval from his lover, he didn’t hesitate at all to crash their lips together in a swift moment. the kiss was filled with pride, excitement, rush and a slight taste of red bean paste from a dessert.

maybe this was ok. idol or not, as long as they’re by his side, that was all that matters to him now. nothing else, nothing more.

***

a/n: wow i fucking died at the exams but at least i got a high score

requests: closed :(

[jeonminhao]

Home • Minghao

Pairing : Xu Minghao x Fem! Reader

Genre : angst, fluff

Word Count : 1.1K

TW : mention of depression(?)

A.N. I'm trying to go back to writing again, this time with Seventeen :) since I am back into the Kpop world lmao. Pls lmk what you think! <3

"I cry, even without tears now. I cry again, just like breathing. Though I try to take a step away from the sorrow that has become my home, I cry on the doorsill. I cry, even without knowing it myself."

Tablo - 집 (Home) (Feat. Lee Sora)

Minghao stood in front of the glass door, his eyes fixed on the CLOSED sign. The flower bouquet he had been holding was wet from the rain, the petals falling pitifully on the gray pavement from how tight he was clutching the bouquet. He was late. Again. And he wasn’t sure if he’ll be forgiven. He quickly took out his phone once he found a canopy that could shield him from the rain, reading the string of texts you had sent him hours prior.

I am here! It’s pretty crowded. I found a place at the very back of the restaurant so we can talk. Saw Jeonghan and Wonwoo at the restaurant and he said you’re still at the studio? Hao, Where are you?  Is everything ok? It’s been 2 hours so i guess this means you’re not coming or forgot we’re supposed to meet up :) I’m gonna head back home. I think it’s going to rain soon. Don’t forget your umbrella. Text me soon.

He sighed. He didn’t mean to ignore your texts. His phone was set on his usual silent mode whenever he was working on his paintings. He swore he had remembered that you were supposed to meet at 8 PM in this new place Mingyu recommended the other day. He didn’t know when you two started to make this a thing, trying new places once a week and just hangout and talk about your lives. No. He did know. It was your idea and your twinkling eyes that always looked at him as if he was loved and deserving of one. And who could say no to that? To your gentle smile and warm hand that always finds its way wrapped in his. And he did enjoy it. How couldn’t he? He fell in love with you the first time Jeonghan introduced you to the group three years ago and had been ever since. But life seemed to have a way to fuck up everything he desired. 

He knew a bad day was inevitable and the darkness that wrapped around him like a blanket was not an unfamiliar feeling. Every day seemed like a chore. It was just exhausting. Even breathing exhausts him. But he thought it would be different this time. He thought having you by his side would lessen the pain. And maybe it did, to an extent. But he was drowning and he was just exhausted to even want to try. 

As if it wasn’t enough, his art project wasn’t progressing as well as he’d like and he kept scraping layers of paints and changing his canvases when they finally gave up on him. He had destroyed a half finished painting due to frustration and would’ve destroyed the rest of his paintings if you didn’t knock on his studio door.

And in the midst of his worries and struggle, he started to push everyone away. It was better to be alone. The coldness in his heart was more familiar than the warmth of your embrace and he was terrified. It was too foreign for him, the happiness, the warmth, and the feeling of belonging, of being home. 

“Hao?” Minghao startled, eyes quickly focused on the familiar figure standing under a black umbrella. 

“Y/N? What are you doing here?” was all he could say, mouth forming an ‘o’ shape. You were supposed to be mad at him for forgetting your ‘adventures’ for the nth times. You were supposed to throw tantrums and threaten to block him and end this friendship. But there you were, standing in front of him with the black satin dress he bought for you last month and the leather jacket that he realized was also a gift from him. You took tentative steps towards him, a smile blooming in your face once you finally stepped under the canopy.

“You texted me?”

Minghao looked down at his cold hand, the phone on his hand was still on with your chat window opened.

‘Sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m late again. Iloveyou. I’m s osoorry.’

He didn’t even remember when he typed those texts nor did he remember pressing the send button despite the typos.

He reread his text again and froze. “Y/N–,” 

“Did you mean that?” You asked, taking another step closer and Minghao could smell the familiar perfume on you and the scent of your favorite shampoo. “Did you mean it when you said you love me?” You asked again, this time in a whisper. 

It had been 3 years, 970 days to be exact (not that Minghao is counting) since he first fell in love with you. And not once, even in his drunken state, did he let himself text you and confess. Especially not in such a dumb way. He prided himself as someone who was always in control of his emotions, keeping everything hidden to make sure you wouldn’t be uncomfortable. But there he was, sober and doing the stupidest thing a Minghao could do. Not even drunk Soonyoung would do this, he fleetingly thought before he turned his attention back to you. 

“I brought you flowers. They’re ruined. Sorry. I know i shouldn’t be late and forgot but everything has been shit and–”

“I love you, Minghao.” Your words stopped his trainwreck of a thought. His eyes widened as he looked at you. “I thought you hated going with me and doing this… But Jeonghan said you kept telling him about our time and he said you really love it. And I noticed you’ve been kinda withdrawn ever since I saw you at the studio. You do know you are not alone right, Minghao?” You took his hand in you. It was cold but it was okay. Minghao was Minghao and he was anything but cold to you. “ It’s okay to have a difficult time, but don’t forget you have a lot of people who would do anything for you.”

“This seems more like an intervention than a confession.” He blurted out before both of you burst into giggles, the cold rain suddenly didn’t feel so cold anymore now that he had wrapped his arms around you, the bouquet long forgotten on the wet pavement. 

“It’s both.” Was all you said before pressing your lips against him. A gentle and wary kiss, as if you were terrified he’d hate it. He let go of one hand and cupped your cheek, pulling you into a deeper kiss, sighing in relief, his body relaxing under your touch and heated kiss. Murmurs of apologies and I love you’s keep spilling out of his lips as your hand clutch the front of his sweater as if he was your lifeline. 

Maybe the unfamiliar was okay. Maybe he could get used to this.

[aeoki]

Candy House - Prologue

Characters: Sora, Natsume & Tsumugi Season: Winter Writer: Akira

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ< The first year ES was established. Middle of February – “Chocolat Fest”. >

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ< Somewhere in the “Candy House” cyberworld. >

Sora: HaHa~♪ Happy Valentine’s Day!

Hello! Sora is also healthy and doing super today! Is everyone well too?

???: Yes. Hello, Sora-kun.

Sora: Senpai!

HiHi~♪ “This” senpai is fluffy and lovely just like usual~!

???: Is that so? I think I was designed with ill intentions, though.

Mophead: Why am I so fluffy? My name also appears to be locked and I can’t change it for some reason. I’m stuck as “Mophead”.

Frankly, I look just like a monster – the scary and gross kind you’d find in your nightmares. Don’t you think so?

Sora: That’s not true at all! You’re adorable, Senpai! Have some confidence in yourself!

Mophead: Adorable? Well, I suppose that’s fine~ My appearance doesn’t particularly bother me.

Sora: Actually, Master~ is always saying you should pay more attention to your appearance because you’re always unfashionable.

Mophead: Haha. I don’t really care about fashion, but I see. So Natsume-kun forced this appearance on me to make me open my eyes.

In other words, Natsume-kun is trying to show his affection for me in another way!

Sora: That’s right! Master~ loves Senpai!

Mophead: When you put it like that, I think I’m starting to get attached to this monster-like appearance!

That made me happy, so I’ll send Natsume-kun a message! I’ll thank him for opening my eyes and I’ll also tell him that I love him!

And sent!

Natsume: I just got gross spam maIL. Maybe I should report it to the poliCE?

Mophead: Spam mail? That’s not good, Natsume-kun! It might be a good idea to report it to the police, but please discuss it with us first, okay?

We’ll always support you, Natsume-kun!

Natsume: You don’t get sarcaSM…? What’s with this monster, anywAY? Could you stay away from mE?

Mophead: Weren’t you the one who forced this appearance onto me!?

Sora: HuHu~♪ Speak of the devil~! Master~ Happy Valentine’s Day ☆

Natsume: ThanKS. Happy Valentine’s Day, SoRA ♪

…You’re in an oddly good moOD. It’s strange for you to be acting this way, considering what you’re about to dO.

Don’t tell me you’re treating everything like it’s a video game because we’re in a cyberworLD? I’m worriED.

Mophead: It’s not very commendable to get too absorbed in video games or the internet, Sora-kun.

It’s not healthy, either. Let’s live in reality, alright?

Natsume: You’re saying that when you’re the personification of unhealtHY…? Being able to focus for long periods of time when it’s related to digital matters is also one of Sora’s strengtHS. We should look on the bright side of thinGS.

Besides, I don’t think the “anomaly” would’ve been fixed if it wasn’t for Sora’s peculiarity and susceptibility to iT.

Sora: HeHe~♪ Was Sora helpful because Sora is a “weird kid”?

Natsume: YeAH. There’s no need to feel guilty or ashamed for being different, SoRA.

You have a pair of eyes that sees things differently than us ordinary people, and at times, those eyes allow you to see things that shouldn’t exist in this worLD.

But dreams are also a “reality” the brain has acknowledgED. Everything that you see shouldn’t also be treated as “unrealiTY”.

The incident that happened this time was very strange and mysterioUS. People with common sense in this world might say it was “something someone who was half asleep sAW”.

But we believe yOU. We do, so we’ll lend you our strengTH.

To love doesn’t mean to affirm everything, but we love you, after aLL.

As I thought, with my eyes that see, I’d like to see you with a smile on your faCE.

Sora: Okay. Sora wants to always smile too. That’s exactly why…

Mophead: I’ve always had this thought, but Sora-kun has never had any issues understanding your oddly conceptual expressions right away.

Natsume: You’re looking at it the wrong wAY. I’m wording them in a way that’s easiest for Sora to understaND.

You act like an older brother with a wealth of life experiences, but you’re still terrible at using “magIC”.

You should learn a thing or two from Sora and work hard to hone your skilLS.

Sora: Right. Sora will also do his best.

Sora will work hard. At the very least, Sora will…

–Bring this world to an end with a smile.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤNext Chapter →