#Seiji's Star

[jokertrap-ran]

[スタオケ] La Corda d'Oro Starlight Orchestra Osakabe Seiji Cast Story Chapter 3 Translation

*Starlight Orchestra Masterlist | Osakabe Seiji’s Personal Masterlist *Spoiler free: Translations will remain under cut *Osakabe’s Route Tag will be #Seiji’s Star

Sakuya: Wrong. This should be solved using a geometric progression formula, not an arithmetic progression formula.

Sakuya: *Sigh* …This is impossible. It may just be a small test, but there's no way you can cram for it the night before.

Sakuya: You’ll have supplementary classes lined up in your foreseeable future if you fail to get at least 60 marks. Are you even aware of that?

Sakuya: You look appalled… Is this your first time hearing about this? Looks like you weren't listening to what the teacher said at all.

Sakuya: Though, it looks like this is the price you'll have to pay for only focusing on practice and sleeping through all your classes. Good luck.

Sakuya: There's nothing I can do to help you here. See you.

I just got abandoned…

Seiji: Why, if it isn't the Concertmistress?

Seiji: What a face you're making. Look at those dead eyes of yours.

Seiji: Are you studying for a test? I could hear your conversation with Kujo out in the hallway.

Seiji: Isn't a quiz just to check how much you've learned in class? You should be fine if you understood whatever they were teaching in class. 

Seiji: I think it's much harder to rush and try to cram everything in one day on the day before the test.

Seiji: Well, do your best. Studying is something best done in solitude.

Seiji: …What's wrong? Why are you grabbing the hem of my shirt?

Seiji: You must be in a rather dire situation if you're clinging to me like that so desperately.

Seiji: Hmph… I'm no demon either.

Seiji: If you ask nicely enough, perhaps I'd feel more inclined to be your personal tutor tonight.

Seiji: —Now, what will you do?

☆ ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♬◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ☆

My brain was overwhelmed by the large amount of formulas that had been rapidly crammed in…

Seiji: …Hey.

Seiji: Have you fallen asleep with your eyes open? Your hand stopped moving.

Seiji: My, my, it wouldn't do for you to be stuck and wasting time on such a simple question.

▷Choice: Sorry, Sir. My brain can't take it anymore…

Seiji: Oh dear, are you giving up here? It appears that I may have been a little too strict. Seiji: And here I thought that perhaps you'd be able to take it.

▷Choice: I can only cry…

Seiji: What I want is a solution, not tears. Seiji: Well, since it doesn't look like your brain’s functioning anymore, it'll be useless to attempt cramming anymore.

Seiji: How unfortunate.

Seiji: I was planning on treating you to a fruit parfait next Saturday for all the hard work you've done.

Seiji: One from a high-end fruit parlor, priced at over 2,000 yen.

Seiji: Not to mention, lavishly decorated with various shiny and jewel-light fruits… I dare say it must be very fresh and delicious.

Seiji: I suppose that would have to be put on hold if you're just going to give up here.

▷Choice: I'll do my best!!!

Seiji: Brilliant. Seiji: Although, hard work alone is not enough. Even a monkey can do it, you see. Seiji: You'll have to pass the test first if you want to get your hands on the parfait, no? Seiji: Kujo told you, didn't he? About how you're going to have to take supplementary classes if you fail.

Seiji: I'm sure it wouldn't be a good look for us if word gets out that the Concertmistress of the Starlight Orchestra is undergoing remedial.

Seiji: So do your best to pass. Understood?

☆ ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♬Seiji’s Star♬◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ☆

Previous Part: (Chapter 2) Next Part: (Chapter 4)

[to-illustrate-the-stars]

☎️ i love natori's depressing ass apartment...

[applesandbannas747]

i wanna hear your thoughts on the fence challengers: long shot preview pages if you want to share!

oh mAN I have so many and they are all over the place!!

The first one is a little thing, but I bet Seiji had a crush on Marcus Washington when he was a kid--Nick's horror, Harvard's teasing, and Seiji's indignant blush imply as much.

And a fun fact, Jo posted a mini preview of baby Seiji to Patreon on February 14th...maybe I'm reading into it too much, but that's nothing new XD

Next couple of things are about the scene with the trophy case. It was really interesting and fun to see side-by-side redraws of Robert! It really illustrates the way the style has evolved, and also I gOTTA say it feels like Jo is more invested in Robert based on the level of detail she put in--like it's not just a style comparison, it's also just obvious a lot of attention was put into these shots when a) she could have just reused old shots (which she's done before, so I know it was an option), or kept it more simplified like she did when drawing the original shots.

I also think it's sweet that the redraws have Robert looking much more like Jesse than the originals.

And I am sure I will get flack for this, but I have incredible second-hand embarrassment from Nick leaving his newspaper clipping + note in the trophy case jfhdasl like bestieee noooo anyone can see that shit now oh my god please stooop

Onto some Nichoji thoughts! I love that Seiji's been confirmed as a before-bed reader! Him having a Kindle makes sense for the sheer efficiency of it too lmfao. Of course it's also adorable to see him in reading glasses <3 And then my favorite detail is Nick's stupid nightlight...notice where it is?

Rather than illuminating Nick's side of the room, it's peeking around the curtain and lighting up Seiji's reading, which is beyond adorable and sweet. I wonder whether Seiji stole it or Nick put it there knowing Seiji likes to read before bed, and I love both scenarios.

Also, it's fucking adorable that as soon as Nick mentions their date appointment, Seiji takes off his glasses and lowers his Kindle because it's got his full attention and investment.

And a quick pitstop to the locker rooms!

I like the visual metaphor here with Aiden and Bobby both very casual about changing and both literally having their shirts open; meanwhile, Seiji's straightening the cuffs on his button-down, which is already neatly tucked in and complete with his tie. It just highlights how Seiji's a lot more closed off than the others, and I think this was a neat trick to remind us of that.

In regards to plot, I'm still...really disappointed in the pacing. I know most people feel like it's a slowburn/it's taken a long time to develop, but if you waited to read Fence at all until it was complete and then read it all in one sitting, I think you'd see how unbalanced it is. Williams says that their first match will be in three weeks back right after tryouts:

which means everything between issue 12 and CHALLENGERS has happened in 3 weeks. Seiji and Nick's relationship is so sweet and cute, but it went from resentful rivalry to puppy love overnight with very little 'screen time' dedicated to the actual transition from resentment to friends (which I could write a whole essay on but this is not the post for that lmfao). Furthermore, the fact that it's the first match of State Championships rather than first match of the season is crazy to me. I'll admit, I didn't fence in high school--it wasn't even an option because we didn't have a team. And despite hours of research, the structure of high school team fencing is not entirely clear to me. However, I do know that typical high school sports go through the season, facing every other team in their division or whatever. Based on performance in those matches, they can qualify for state, and then their win ratio determines their seeding order for the state championships that happen in like 1-2 days. Seeding order is who you go up against in a bracket, so it's what this diagram is, basically:

(side note, but it appears there are 24 schools competing at state). Again, fencing could be different, but it kinda seems to me like we skipped over the season and went right to State Championships, which just cuts out so much development and build-up. It's like we're speed-running the entire story to get to the end faster. We cut out showing the development in the romance, and now we're cutting out the development of the plot. There's still plenty that we can do at state, of course, but imagine how much more it would mean to see Nick fencing in front of Robert if we'd built that up more. I just don't understand how we spent 12 issues on try outs, 4 on a practice match, 8 on camp, and none on the fencing season. It feels so abrupt and unbalanced. Tryouts and camp were my favorites arcs because they felt pretty well-paced as self-contained pieces of the story. I just feel like we needed waaaaay more relationship development between those two arcs to be satisfying, and I feel like there should be waaaaay more build up during the fencing season between camp and State Championships.

and now, the moment you've all been waiting for: my devastation over Eugene's role (???) in the story. I honestly question why he's in the story at all--at this point, it would have made more sense to have him flat-out not make the team. Except that keeping him this long lowkey backs up the theory I've had on his role since Striking Distance/RIVALS: Eugene is here to make everyone else look better/cooler/more impressive. The very first thing that struck me when reading the first look was this:

The dialogue here suggests that only one reserve actually gets to be on the team in the end, and the reserve is Nick. And, worse, everyone expected it to be Nick. Sure, it's sweet that Seiji thinks Nick's the better fencer, but all I can think about is how hard Eugene's worked for ten years trying to make the team as opposed to Nick's three months of fencing. Now, I love an underdog story. But it's interesting because Pacat stated in an interview (I'd have to go find where for the specific quote) that he always feels bad for the person who's been working to be #1 their whole lives only to be knocked out of the running by an upstart underdog--which I've always assumed would influence the path taken in Fence...and it seems like we may well let Seiji and Jesse remain above Nick in skill (or at least it seems like we won't be dethroning Seiji, even if we go for Jesse), but Nick's overcoming smaller obstacles. And those smaller obstacles hurt worse to see crushed because Eugene almost made the team in a way that mattered, only to have that taken away. It would have been less cruel to him and his fans to let Nick take the reserve slot back in issue 12, but instead we brought Eugene along to serve as a means to make Nick out 'secret weapon' and elevate his story.

I will say though, this page is one of my favorite Eugene moments because I see the character I selfishly want Eugene to be in it. From the context of the panels above, this page is likely Williams telling them that only one will be fencing in State Championships, and this is their reaction. Eugene's immediate concern for Nick and the comforting hand on his shoulder followed by a bright smile and a thumbs up--he just cares so much about other people and it so used to smiling through his own pain/disappointment and comforts Nick through being positive (and as seen back in issue 12, up playing his competitiveness) and acting like it's no big deal.

Eugene deserved better, but if this is where he goes out, I think I can live with it. Better to see him go now than continue to be a means to uplift the rest of team by being less than. but, man, I was really hoping we were turning it around after his moment in REDEMPTION being the only KR boy not to lose his bout

anyway, thank you sm for listening to my rambles!!! <33

[souenkun]

Matoba-san blowing up the internet with his anime comeback 🫡

[just-someone-online]

I think it'd be fun if a non-Cure from one season got a transformation item from another season.

Like, if the HapCharge and GoPri Cures were fighting some new guy near Noble Academy and Yui ends up getting her own PreChange Mirror. Or if Regina (I like Cure Joker but just ignore her for a minute) got a Sky Mirage from Ellee. Or if the Max Heart Cures are helping protect the Healin' Garden and Shiho and Rina get their own Healin' Animal partners. Maybe Syrup could get a PreHeart and be a mailman themed Cure.

And design wise, they could all pull a Cure Echo and mix each season's designs. Yui could have the distinctive vest of the Happiness Charge Cures and everything else would be in line with the Go! Princess designs. Regina could maybe share some design cues from Cure Ace? I'm not completely sure what Hirogaru aspects she would get. But functionally, they would have the powers of whatever season their transformation device comes from.

[precureshowdown]

[sweet-pinkitty]

VIP Event from Koi100+

Title: My very own Santa Claus ~Present is boyfriend's kiss~

[iconuk01]

Oh my sweet summer child

it bothers me that you often don't really hear about people having a "favorite album" the way they might have a favorite movie or favorite video game

[rosecoloredmuses]

"Is Hello Kitty really that important?"

"Yes!"

"It's her 50th anniversary! I'll stand in this line for however long it takes!"

"I've been saving up for this day for months!"

"Yes."

"You might want to get comfortable, Sagara-kun. I brought water so nobody gets dehydrated!"

[lontra23]

List/ Collage with A-Spec Characters: canon confirmed, and popular headcanons

Colours:

Canon confirmed: blue

popular headcanon/ speculation: orange

Alastor, Hazbin Hotel: ace, aro

Senku Ishigami, Dr. Stone: ace, aro

Vi Moradi, Star Wars: ace, aro

Victor Vale, Vicious: ace, biromantic

Spongebob: ace

Kirby: ace, aro, non-binary

the Knight, Hollow Knight: agender, ace, aro

Todd Chavez, BoJack Horseman: ace

Georgia Warr, Loveless: ace, aro, aego?

Jughead Jones, Archie: ace

Doomguy/ Dooomslayer: ace

Seiji Maki, Bloom into you: ace, aro, aegoromantic?

Monkey D. Luffy, One Piece: ace, aro

Connor Hawke, DC Comics: ace, alloromantic

Perry the platypus: ace, aro

Kusuo Saiki, Disastrous life of Saiki K.: ace, aro

Yelena Belova, Marvel: ace, aro

Izaya Orihara, Durara: ace, aro

Daryl Dixon, the Walking Dead: ace

Keyleth, Critical Role: demisexual

Neil Josten, Foxhole Court: demisexual, demiromantic

Isaac Henderson, Heartstopper: ace, aro

Vernestra Rwoh, Star Wars: ace, aro

Light Yagami, Death Note: ace, aro

Caduceus Clay, Critical Role: ace, aro

Murderbot, Murderbot Diaries: ace, aro, genderless

Jonathan "Jon" Simms, Magnus Archives: ace, biromantic

Shouto Todoroki, Boku no Hero Academia: ace, aro

Lilith Clawthorne, Owl House: ace, aro

Bill Cypher, Gravity Falls: ace, aro, agender

Ezperanza "Spooner" Cruz, Legends of Tomorrow: ace

Nadia Van Dyne/ the Wasp, Marvel: ace, aro, quoiromantic

Peridot, Stephen Universe: ace, aro

Gwenpool, Marvel: ace, aro

Frieren: a-spec, ace, aro

Joffrey Baratheon, Game of Thrones: ace, aro

Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle: ace, aro

Lord Varys, Game of Thrones: ace, aro

Reyna Avila Ramirez-Arellano, Percy Jackson: ace, aro

Son Goku, Dragonball: ace

10th Doctor, Doctor Who (David Tennant): ace, panromantic

11th Doctor, Doctor Who (Matt Smith): ace

Sakuko Kodama, Koisenu Futari: ace, aro

Satoru Takahashi, Koisenu Futari: ace, aro

Felicity Montague, Lady's guide to petticoats and piracy: ace, aro

Jasnah Kholin, Stormlight Archive: ace, heteroromantic

Loth, Priory of the Orange Tree: grey-ace

Tané, Priory of the Orange Tree: ace, aro

Adèle, Baker Thief: demisexual, bi

Claire/ Claude, Baker Thief: aro (aroallo!), genderfluid

Sandry, Circle of Magic: ace

Ling Chan, the Diviners: ace, lesbian

Nancy Whitman, Every Heart a Doorway: ace, alloromantic

Kel, Protector of the Small: ace, aro

Natalie, Natural History of Dragons: ace, aro

Raphael Santiago, Shadowhunters: Cassandra Clare: ace, aro (In the show only ace)

Please note that I took most of my information from online, and I didn't personally read/ watch everything, so there may be some mistakes. Also, some of the not-canon characters are very likely aspec, but just not confirmed. And especially if they say/ do really obviously aro/ ace stuff, I wasn't sure if it's enough to put them in the "confirmed" category. (e.g. Saiki literally said he isn't attracted to anyone regardless of gender, and never wants to be in a relationship. But there are still people who doubt his aroace-ness. (And at this point I don't see how it could be anything but aphobia, to deny the mere possibility of him being aroace so vehemently lol.) ) Also: Sadly, I couldn't find good aro-allo characters except Claire/ Claude from "baker thief". There is tons of good a-spec representation in that book (also more side characters that I didn't mention here), but I couldn't really find any fan-art. So then I just slapped the entire book cover on the collage.

[jokertrap-ran]

[スタオケ] La Corda d'Oro Starlight Orchestra Osakabe Seiji Cast Story Chapter 11 Translation

*Starlight Orchestra Masterlist | Osakabe Seiji’s Personal Masterlist *Spoiler free: Translations will remain under cut *Osakabe’s Route Tag will be #Seiji’s Star *T/N: This is the last chapter I have of Osakabe... (´；ω；`)ｳｯ… If anyone has his chapter 12-15 please share!

Seiji: (L/n)-san, do you truly intend to meet with him?

Seiji: As I've said many times before, my grandfather is the Chairman of the Kiryu Clan.

Seiji: He may have just recovered from his illness, but he's active for his age. Even you'll be surprised at that.

It's been a long time since I last came to the main house, but this time, I was here at the insistence of his grandfather who claimed to have really wanted to meet me.

I wonder just what sort of person Osakabe’s grandfather is.

Underling 1: Young Master, Miss, we've been waiting for you!

Seiji: Dear me… Looks like the root of the problem lies with them after all. They must have spoken word of you to my grandfather.

Underling 2: Huh? What are ya talkin’ about?

Seiji: Nothing. I suppose I'm partially at fault for not forbidding you guys from speaking of the incident. I've made my bed, so I'll have to lie in it.

Seiji: Come on, Concertmistress.

Underling 1: Ah, Young Master! You should head to the study first. The Boss seems to have something important to say.

Seiji: …The study?

Underling 1: Y-Yes. You can head to the room out back first, Miss! I'll take you there!

☆ ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♬◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ☆

Underling 1: Excuse me. Boss, I've brought the Young Miss here.

Osakabe’s Grandfather: Glad to see you here, young miss. Come, have a seat.

The person sitting before me now is Osakabe’s grandfather, right…? But, just now…

☆ ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♬◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ☆

Underling 1: Ah, Young Master! You should head to the study first. The Boss seems to have something important to say.

Seiji: …The study?

Underling 1: Y-Yes. You can head to the room out back first, Miss! I'll take you there!

☆ ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♬◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ☆

Osakabe’s Grandfather: Forget about Seiji. I wanted to talk to you in person, alone.

Osakabe’s Grandfather: It must have been tiring, having traveled all the way here from Kanagawa. This place might be a little shabby and run-down, but please, do have a cup of tea and relax.

▷Choice: Thank you, I really appreciate the concern

Osakabe's Grandfather: What a shy one. And here I heard that you were in fact, a rather bold young lady.

▷Choice: It's a pleasure to meet you

Osakabe's Grandfather: Oh? How dignified even before one like me. Looks like Seiji has quite an eye for women.

▷Choice: (I can't show him any weakness…)

Osakabe's Grandfather: Haha, don't be so tense. I won't eat you.

Osakabe’s Grandfather: I've heard from the young ones here. You seem to be taking good care of my boy.

Osakabe’s Grandfather: They say that you've even attended the Iris-viewing together with him while I was bedridden.

Osakabe’s Grandfather: You're a very courageous young lady, I'll give you that. People from the other organizations were also singing your praises.

Osakabe’s Grandfather: They've hounded me asking if the betrothal ceremony has yet to be held, and even about when my great-grandchild will be born.

▷Choice: I can't believe it sparked such a big debate…

▷Choice: Sorry for doing that without your permission…

▷Choice: Great-grandchild…?

Osakabe’s Grandfather: Why, us old folk were just having a chat over tea. It's nothing to be taken seriously.

Osakabe’s Grandfather: Although, we'll be sure to gather everyone here for a big celebration if you really do get together. Hahaha!

He's Osakabe's grandfather, alright. One has to maintain constant vigilance around him…

Osakabe’s Grandfather: Speaking of, I heard that you're running an Orchestra?

Osakabe’s Grandfather: How's Seiji’s trumpeting skills? Is he doing his part well?

▷Choice: He's a very reliable friend

▷Choice: There wouldn't be a Starlight Orchestra without Seiji

Osakabe’s Grandfather: Oh? That's good to hear.

Osakabe’s Grandfather: I hear that he's going to be participating in another competition.

Osakabe’s Grandfather: I'm sure it's because you kicked his ass and made him participate, right?

▷Choice: He made that choice himself

Osakabe’s Grandfather: I see… That means he's changed… Osakabe’s Grandfather: I suppose it's all thanks to you, young miss.

▷Choice: He'll definitely win 

Osakabe’s Grandfather: If you're saying that, then I suppose he has no choice but to give it his all.

Osakabe’s Grandfather: He seemed to have been holding himself back in the past, oddly enough, but it looks like he has finally made up his mind.

Osakabe’s Grandfather: I haven't the foggiest about anything related to music, but I won't stop him if it's something he wishes to pursue.

Osakabe’s Grandfather: Seiji has his own life to live, so he should make the most of it and do whatever he wants to.

Osakabe’s Grandfather: But… he seems to consider how his actions might affect the Kiryu Clan.

Osakabe’s Grandfather: He's a tough nut to crack, alright. All this, when he could have just cut ties and distanced himself from us…

Osakabe’s Grandfather: But, well, I'm sure he'll be able to carry on down his own path with you by his side.

Osakabe’s Grandfather: I wonder who he takes after… He's an eccentric and stubborn man, but please continue watching out for him for the foreseeable future.

Seiji: Eccentric and stubborn? I wonder who you're talking about.

Osakabe’s Grandfather: Oh, Seiji. Are you done balancing the ledgers?

Seiji: Yeah. It was just a miscalculation. I have qualms about retaining the use of ledger books in this day and age, but…

Seiji: Don't you think that was too flimsy of a reason to detain me?

Osakabe’s Grandfather: Dear me, I'd wanted to talk with her alone for a little while more.

Seiji: Sorry, it must have been tiring having to put up with him.

▷Choice: We had a good chat

Seiji: Oh? I wonder what he has told you. Although, it would be best to take whatever he says with a grain of salt. Osakabe’s Grandfather: Ha! Now, now, whatever are you talking about?

▷Choice: I really enjoyed it

Seiji: Flattery or not, you really shouldn't be saying something like that so carelessly. A healthy dose of wariness would do you some good. Osakabe’s Grandfather: Trust me, that's no flattery. Right, Young Miss?

▷Choice: It was a little nerve-wracking…

Seiji: It's only natural. I'd be troubled if you had your guard down in the presence of someone like him. Osakabe’s Grandfather: It wasn't my intention to scare you, but I suppose this is better than listening to another one of Seiji’s lectures.

Seiji: Are you satisfied now that you've met her?

Seiji: Concertmistress, we should get you home before you get dragged any further into this.

Underling 2: Boss, preparations for the celebration have been completed!

Seiji: …What celebration?

Underling 1: Since you and Miss are here today, we're holding a big celebration for Boss’ recovery! Come on, let's go to the hall!

Osakabe’s Grandfather: Why don't you go have some fun since you've already come all the way here to Mito, Young Miss? Seiji can go back by himself if he's so insistent on it.

Seiji: …Good grief. It's not like I can just dump her here and just leave.

☆ ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♬◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ☆

Seiji: Sorry for dragging you into all that. It's getting late, so let me see you home.

Osakabe’s Grandfather: It was really enjoyable. See you, Young Miss. Feel free to come by anytime.

Underling 2: We'll prepare a more splendid array of food and snacks next time!

Seiji: *Sigh* …All of you need to stop inviting her to these things so casually. Come on then, Concertmistress. We're leaving this time, for real.

☆ ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♬◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ☆

Seiji: Now then, I could just walk you to the station, but…

Seiji: There's still some time before the next train arrives. Come here, let's take a little walk.

☆ ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♬◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ☆

Osakabe led me to a beautiful garden.

Seiji: Like what you see? I used to walk down this path with my Grandfather often in the past.

▷Choice: You're close to him, aren't you?

Seiji: Who knows? He's a difficult associate. Seiji: But I do think that his attitude towards family and the members of the Kiryu Clan is something worth learning from.

▷Choice: Not anymore?

Seiji: Where's the fun in two guys walking down a path just to admire the illumination? Seiji: But I do love listening to the stories he'd tell, even to this day.

Seiji: Truth to be told, I was quite reluctant to introduce you to him at first.

Seiji: Firstly out of worry for you, but secondly… I was also worried about what you'd think of me and my family at that point, as sudden as it may seem.

Seiji: However…

Seiji: You've surpassed my expectations. In a good way, of course. I never thought there would be someone out there capable of holding a pleasant conversation with my grandfather on their first meeting.

Seiji: You're truly an unpredictable enigma. I mean, look.

Seiji: You're so excited over the illumination that you failed to notice the leaves that have fallen onto your head.

▷Choice: How embarrassing…

Seiji: How cute. You're just like a small animal when you brace yourself for something to happen next. Seiji: It makes people tempted to reach out and do something to you. Especially men like me.

▷Choice: Thanks for picking the leaves out of my hair

Seiji: You're welcome. Your honesty may be a virtue, but it also makes you easier to take advantage of. Seiji: Especially by someone like me.

▷Choice: Stop mocking me…

Seiji: The ever-changing expressions on your face are charming to look at. Seiji: And that's why you get taken advantage of by guys like me.

Seiji: Or perhaps it's the other way around. Maybe I'm the one who has been ensnared by you.

Seiji: You've changed me.

▷Choice: What do you mean?

Seiji: Exactly what I just said. You've somehow wormed your influence into me.

Seiji: You might not have done it intentionally, but you've managed to change a lot of things, besides me.

Seiji: It's a strange feeling, because I never thought I'd change, and I never thought that I could change.

▷Choice: Do you hate change?

Seiji: …I do. I bet things would've been different by now if I truly did, no?

▷Choice: Are you afraid of change?

Seiji: Hmph, like you're one to talk.

Seiji: But the changes I've experienced aren't all too bad. It feels good, and I think I can live with it.

Seiji: Perhaps this is the fate of those who've been captivated by you.

☆ ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♬Seiji’s Star♬◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ☆

Previous Part: (Chapter 10) Next Part: (Chapter 12)

[coquelicoq]

[Image description: Panel from the Natsume's Book of Friends manga of Natori looking at a mask he's holding and saying, "Exorcists often use masks for protection. But not the Natori family. They thought they had no need to hide their eyes or faces, no matter how formidable their adversaries. Their philosophy was that masks were purely decorative." /end ID]

sooo what youre saying is that teen natori as he was learning more about his family's history and relationship to the others while also deciding how he wanted to present himself to the world, a journey that would somehow someway lead to him the autistic guy who hates everyone becoming a famous charming actor, had a baked-in relationship he could adopt to the concept of masks huh

[bubblegumbarbie33]

Another The Lost Boys Incorrect Quotes Post

David: They hate me for being a slut tbh and maybe the killings too but that's unlikely.

@pathologising

-

Star: Woman? No, you misheard, I'm an omen. I don't identify as male or female, I identify as a warning.

@generalgrievousdatingsim

-

David: The sexual tension between me and disappearing with an explanation.

@bvbbydoll

-

Michael, sitting in the lap of his hot vampire boyfriend: I've wanted to be a trophy wife since I was a little boy.

@a-seiji

-

Paul: When you high and the world feels 3D.

Star: It is.

Paul: On God?

@sonypraystation

-

David: Attempted murder is a form of intimacy by the way. Don't listen to anyone who tells you different.

@godsfavspike

-

Sam: I'm going to defeat you with the power of friendship and this gun I found.

@the-quasar-hero

-

David: Stop calling me a bad person just because I'm orchestrating your downfall.

-

Edgar Frog: Sure! Blame the guy who's a huge idiot and causes a lot of problems, again.

@reallyreallyreallytrying

-

Michael: How is 'pretty boy' supposed to be an insult I'm the prettiest goddamn boy in town.

@elfiot

-

Marko: Teehee lol. *lunges at your throat*

-

David: I'm such a man who leans in doorways. Relaxes against the counter. Drapes across the couch. Sprawls over an armchair. My spine isn't straight and neither am I.

@bagginshield

-

Star, glaring at Marko: You are a fool. When you walk, clown music plays.

@garfieldtaxidermy

-

Sam, wandering around the vamp hotel: Just because I broke into your house doesn't mean imma take something, maybe i just wanna look around damn.

@halodite

-

Star, referring to herself: Any guy can be a babygirl but it takes a man to be a single mother.

-

Allan Frog: Bite the vampire first to establish dominance.

@tainbocuailnge

-

Paul, picking on Star: You used to be shy, now you're a whore.

Star: Character development.

@xcurrerbellx

-

David: Sorry I called you a fucking idiot I was trying to flirt.

@dont-give-a-fuck-club

-

David and Star, sharing the same braincell: I couldn't fix him, but I could fuck him.

@slasherdean

-

Dwayne: "I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy." I would. Pussy

Paul: "I'm not gonna sink to their level." I will. Coward

Marko: "I'm the bigger person." I'm 5'7". Give me the gun bitch

@the-stray-liger

-

Star, staring at David: There is something deeply, fundamentally wrong with you.

Michael, also staring at David: Can we kiss.

@authcenter

[whosname]

[Id. 1. Digital drawing of Lunchbag Natori and Exorcist Natori smiling back to back. They have stars around their hands. 2. Matoba Seiji smiling, the wind blowing his hair. End Id.]

Let's not waste Professor Natori and Brothe Matoba.

[7-sided-dice]

✨ Fence headcannons✨/silly scenarios i can see them in ig (cus looking at the fence tag was the whole reason i made this acc despite posting fence content like never)

-Nicholas can play Table tennis really well (i can see him learning through playing with his friends in his neighbours rickety ping pong setup and worn out racket) (it matches well with his strengths too like speed + reaction time + good eye for opponents weak spots)

-Aiden is really good at remembering names and faces if its related to drama (or if they are Harvards ex💀)

-Aiden is either abysmal or a god at golf and i cant seem to decide which vibes make the most sense

-Most of Eugenes family are/used to be athletes or plays a sport recreationally ( its just vibes man like 🤷‍♀️)

-Jesse has probably tried horseback riding more than once and always doesn’t get along with the horse

-Kyle probably got it worse than Jesse when horseback riding and just never attempted to ride a horse again💀

-In any school related events where modelling is involved- you know Aiden and Bobby are the Model x Makeup artist/Costume design duo like they always eat

-I know its prolly not canon but wouldnt it be funny if Seiji had the whole pajama get up but without the socks- and he doesnt cover his feet with a blanket idk would it be a bit silly

-Jasper(?) (the red head beanie friend of Nicholas) was probably closest in figuring out Nicks family lore without Nick telling him

-Scratch that the closest was when a graduated Bon posted a youtube video about the conspiracy of Nicholas and Jesse being brothers when they both competed at the olympics.

-In my head the redhead beanie friend of Nicholas does street dance (this is what happens when you give me a reoccurring side character with two lines in the whole series)

-Star wars fan Tanner Star trek fan Kally need I say more

-I dont know if Kings Row has a sports festival where they shuffle athletes around sports but- (this is me spreading my Nick can play table tennis agenda)

-Harvard picks up baking specifically for Aiden (/delusional)

-Aidens favorite dessert are cupcakes because they are the first valentines he has ever gotten from Harvard (and anyone) (even if they said it was a “Friend” valentine) (/delusional but let me dream)

-Halverton Fence team plays dnd every month with Scott as the dm who is setting up an arc with the false hydra to practice his gaslighting skills💀

-Wouldn’t it be interesting if Nicks mom used to fence and thats how she and Robert met

-Aiden and Harvard have watched all Barbie movies and have ranked every single one of them

some of these feel very ooc i think but n we get fence content annually so technically each character is ooc per volume🤷‍♀️

feel free to share your thoughts i love yapping abt fence

[enhashoutout]

Seiji, Arata, and Noboru

Sooo I'm rewatching High&Low the Worst as one does, and my brain started running again; so here is a comparison post of Seiji, Arata, and Noboru.

Seiji and Arata are to Fujio what Noboru is to Cobra and Yamato.

(Also I'm really sorry the Arata photo isn't centered. I tried fixing it but due to the picture dimensions I couldn't get his picture to center)

The One Who Can't Mess Up

When we meet Noboru for the first time, he is introduced as the friend who has a bright future. Even from their childhood, it is highlighted that Noboru is different from Cobra and Yamato. Noboru has dreams of becoming a lawyer, he does better in school, he doesn't get into fights.

Cobra and Yamato even say it themselves multiple times that Noboru isn't like them; that even though he came from a run-down area he had dreams and a better future than anyone else from there. In the Story of S.W.O.R.D series, Cobra even states that Noboru went to college, which was a completely different world that Cobra and Yamato could not understand. We also get a scene where Yamato tells Noboru that he is their star, encouraging him to keep going toward his dream of being a lawyer.

This early version of Noboru we see is exactly who Seiji is.

When we are first introduced to Fujio's childhood friends in the H&L The Worst movie (I haven't watched the Worst spin-off shows so I'm speaking solely based on the movie) Madoka informs the group that Seiji is the top of his class, making him the smartest person their age. To this, the friends celebrate and call him "The hope of the Hopeless Housing Estates".

Later when the group meets up again after the Oya High and Housen fight, Madoka points out that Seiji has a bruise on his lip which is unusual for him. Right away, Fujio tells Seiji that he can't be getting into fights. I'm sure Fujio knows what the costs are for Seiji, that's why he never encourages fighting with him like he does when he talks to Shinya and Masaya. We also see this when they meet up in the morning before school. Seiji asks Fujio if he is going to Hope Hill, and Fujio tells him that he'll be the one to bring Arata back and that Seiji doesn't need to worry about a thing and to stick to his books.

When Seiji gets into an altercation with his classmate who is speaking badly about the Oya students, he is confronted by one of the authoritative figures at school. This man points out to Seiji that all the teachers at school have high expectations of him. The teacher also tells him that with his grades he could get into any college of his choice in the country and that it would be best not to act in ways that would jeopardize his future.

We see that both Noboru and Seiji are constantly held up to higher expectations by the people around them simply because they were different than their peers growing up.

How Seiji and Noboru must've felt

I have not finished Story of S.W.O.R.D yet so Noboru's feelings are purely my own theory/speculation.

We get Seiji's feelings/perspective on the matter in the movie. When the man who I assume is one of the teachers or even is the principal is confronting Seiji about his actions, he also says that he heard that Seiji hangs out with boys who attend Oya High. He goes on to tell Seiji how he shouldn't be seen around them to which Seiji confronts him with the question about cucumbers.

Seiji points out that cucumbers do not naturally grow straight, we as humans put them into a mold that makes them grow straight and only allow those ones to be sold at markets. He relates this back to himself vs his brothers.

"My friends, my brothers, they aren't hoodlums or twisted. Among my friends, there's not a single loser, scumbag, or lowlife! They just grew up naturally bent! Sometimes, I envy them. I wish I were... I'm fine sir. I will become straighter than anyone else. I will be placed in the best position in the best market. For their sake."

Seiji knows that his capabilities are higher than the other boys and takes advantage of that and seizes every opportunity he can academically. He understands that he is being molded into an image of someone who is "successful" or "acceptable" in the eyes of society. However, sometimes he is envious of the fact his brothers do not have to do the same. But Seiji understands that for the sake of everyone, he has to be the one who strives to do better and take a different path in life than one where physical fighting is prominent. The lying undertone of this being that Seiji is working towards a better life so he can take care of everyone makes my twisted, bitter, little heart happy.

So how exactly does this relate back to Noboru? It's because I think that Noboru must've felt the same way.

From my understanding of the movies, we don't see much of how growing up with different behavior affected Noboru other than the fact he focused on his academics and had big future plans. He falls off course after his time in prison though. When Noboru and Cobra are talking outside of the gas station, Noboru tells Cobra how he had lost his way in life and could no longer see the future plans he had for himself. This plays a large part in how Noboru is similar to Arata, but let's back up a bit.

I assume that there were multiple times when Noboru had felt the same way Seiji did. In the show, we see that Cobra got his name because he had been Cobra twisting everyone since they were kids. This alludes to the fact that even at a young age, Cobra and Yamato fought with the other kids while Noboru didn't. We see that Noboru went to high school and took his college entrance exam which Yamato dropped him off for. We also see the scene where Noboru tells the two that his college acceptance is just the beginning, he has to also pass the bar exam. All while this is happening, Noboru is still friends with Cobra and Yamato. He hangs out with them, Naomi, and the other Mugen members at Itokan when he isn't studying. This leads me to believe that Noboru had to have felt the same way as Seiji multiple times throughout his life. He must have been struggling by himself with his academics and was envious of his brothers who didn't have to do the same, but understood that for the sake of everyone he had to be the one that "does better".

Little Parallel I noticed: Being friends with the people they are, these characters know how to fight even if they don't actively use these skills.

During the Mugen era, Sannoh's Pre-debut era if you will, Noboru doesn't get into fights with anyone. However, we do see him beat the shit out of the guys who harmed Miho. He doesn't actively fight until Sannoh era but I assume that being friends with Cobra, Yamato, Kohaku, and Tatsuya they taught him some stuff.

This also rings true for Seiji. Let's bring it back to the morning of the Kidra fight. After Seiji and Fujio meet up and Fujio tells Seiji not to worry, he walks in while his classmates are talking smack about Oya and Housen. When he's had enough of their yapping he swings at one of his classmates. Based off of everyone else's body language, it doesn't seem that the guy he punched would be able to fight back or that any of their other classmates would be able to step in and stop the fight. None of them seem like they know how to fight or even knew Seiji could throw a punch like that. I assume being friends with guys as strong as Fujio, Masaya, and Shinya teaches you a thing or two though.

The One Who Tried to Purge His Past

When H&L the Worst opens, we are introduced to Arata when Madoka tells Fujio that Arata has been hanging around some bad people and there are bad rumors revolving around him. We meet his character when he is caught on the construction site selling RedRum to some guys who work with Masaya and Shinya. Throughout the film we see that Arata is simply working with Kidra for money, he's not friends with any of these people or shares the same morals as them. This is the first point of comparison for Arata and Noboru.

Arata is working with Kidra because he needs money to take care of the house bills and his mother's hospital bills. Noboru only took up Nikaido's offer to join Iemura because he felt that it was the best way to continue from there when he felt like he had lost everything. Both took a path they thought would be best for them even if it was morally wrong or they were engaging with the wrong people because they needed something from these people.

When Arata is confronted by Fujio, he tells Fujio that he has his own way of doing things and that he wishes everyone would just leave him alone; to which Fujio tells him that he knows what he's doing is wrong, and that's why he showed up to Grandma Sada's resting place in the night by himself. Fujio tells Arata to throw the dirty money away. The night before when Madoka tells the group that Arata's mom has cancer and is worried for Arata because he has been working so hard to pay for everything, Fujio comes to understand why Arata is working for Kidra but also points out that what he is doing is wrong. Fujio tells the group that he doesn't know how to explain it, but he knows the way that Arata is going about the problem is wrong. Fujio tells Arata that his problems are also Fujio's problems because they grew up together and got in trouble together, so why shouldn't Arata's problems also be his? This is the equivalent of Cobra and Noboru's scene when Noboru is aiming the gun at Sannoh. Cobra tells Noboru he understands why he did what he did. Noboru's actions are to keep Sannoh safe from Kuryu, but that he went about it the wrong way just like how Arata is making money for his family but he went about it the wrong way.

Both are much smarter than the people around them, not in an academic sense

Noboru and Arata are both smart, much smarter than the people surrounding them even if it's not in an academic sense.

Noboru is seen as the brain in Sannoh. This is prevalent when we see the Amamiya brothers come back to him for help in breaking through the USB firewalls to reveal the Casino Project. This is also seen when Noboru was still working with Iemura. The other Iemura members are hot-headed and act recklessly whereas Noboru always treaded with caution and logic. It definitely wasn't one of his best moments but I have to give it to him because using Chiharu and Shion to push RedRum and cause chaos within S.W.O.R.D was pretty smart of him. I'll give credit where it is due lol.

After the Oya and Housen fight, we are brought back to Hope Hill where all the Kidra members and RedRum pushers are partying because they think that Housen and Oya can no longer get in their way. Not only are they talking about Oya and House, they are talking down on the S.W.O.R.D gangs as well. To which Arata speaks up, saying that the S.W.O.R.D gangs are not dumb, and that if Kidra wants to continue their business they need to move faster. Growing up in this area, Arata knows vaguely how the S.W.O.R.D gangs run and how everything works in the S.W.O.R.D area, whereas the Kidra guys do not considering they got beat by Murayama twice and think they can do whatever they want with no consequences. The other pushers clearly don't use their brains as much as Arata either. All the scenes we see of these characters together, it seems like those guys are just there to be there while Arata does the actual work of selling RedRum.

Grace Periods and Protecting Your Friends

Every time we see Arata, he's avoiding his friends. He avoids talking to Masaya and Shinya on the construction site, he avoids Seiji's messages and calls, he avoids Seiji when they both show up to Grandma Sada's resting place, and he tries to avoid Fujio in Hope Hill. Arata avoiding his friends and not talking to them is the equivalent of Noboru giving Sannoh so many grace periods to disband for their own safety.

After his run-in with the Oochi brothers on the construction site, Arata keeps quiet and doesn't tell the other pushers who Masaya and Shinya are. He avoids Seiji and Fujio until he can't. I feel that in a way this was to protect everyone. He knows what he is doing and the people he is involved with are dangerous. Ignoring them was partially so they wouldn't stop him but, part of it must have been to keep everyone else out of it because as he states while he fights with Fujio, this is his problem.

Both characters are trying to protect their friends while engaging with people who could harm the people they care about.

Purging one's past

Arata in order to work for Kidra is doing what Noboru tried to do and tries to purge his past (he is unsuccessful obviously).

Noboru multiple times throughout the series and Road to High&Low movie is telling his friends that he is different now. He tells them that people change and that he is no longer the same person he used to be. Nikaido gives him a gun, essentially telling him to either kill himself or kill his past (Sannoh). When he pulls the trigger, we find out that the gun is actually not loaded and the guy is just shooting blanks. The symbolism to this is that he can not purge his past even if he wanted to because your past is a part of you. Without your past, there is no present or future. You can't make the present or future better if you don't have your past to look back on.

Arata is doing the same when he tells Seiji he isn't the same as he used to be and when he tells Fujio that he's changed now. Fujio tells him that he can continue to punch Fujio, but his fists don't hurt one bit, not as much as his disappearance hurts their hearts. Arata and Fujio are both crying by the time Fujio is about to send another punch Arata's way, only for Masaya and Shinya to stop them. When they bring Arata back, Seiji and Madoka are there to greet him and welcome him home. Arata looks at the market and you can see the look in his eyes change. He never changed, he missed this place just as much as he missed his friends. He wasn't able to purge his past. His past is actually what helps him in the present and future, considering the group works together to give him money to help with his mother's treatments.

A Home to Come Back to

In High&Low the Movie, we see Kohaku's monologue about being a home to return to. Cobra and Yamato decide they want to go after the guys that got Noboru in jail and they tell Kohaku that it should've been them that got arrested because Noboru had a bright future and they didn't. To this, Kohaku asks them how either of those actions would help Noboru; Cobra and Yamato don't have an answer. Kohaku tells them that they can't change what happened, but that they can wait for Noboru because if Noboru has no home to return to, he'll never come back. At the end of Road to High&Low, this is exactly what we see. Sannoh was built so that Noboru would have a home to return to. Yamato even says that they can disband Sannoh Hoodlum Squad if Noboru doesn't need it anymore, that is fine, but he just wants his friend back. Once Noboru realizes that he doesn't want to purge his past, he asks Cobra and Yamato if he can come back, to which they gladly accept and welcome him back with open arms.

Fujio, Seiji, Madoka, Masaya, Shinya, and the market are Arata's home and place to come back to just like Sannoh was for Noboru. Had the group left Arata alone or chosen to exclude him because of the rumors that started to surround him, Arata probably would've never come back. But it's the fact that everyone was constantly trying to reach out throughout the course of the movie and Fujio, Masaya, and Shinya literally jumped into Hope Hill to fight and physically drag him back out that Arata comes home. He had a family to return to who would accept him even after his mistakes.

How Arata and Noboru must've felt

Again, this is pure theory and speculation because it isn't directly stated in any of the films I have watched.

Noboru must've felt alone not being able to tell anyone what he was really going through, it might even tie back to how he's the friend who couldn't mess up. Having such high expectations for himself, Noboru probably felt like a failure landing himself in jail even when he felt he wasn't in the wrong because those guys hurt Miho. On top of that, he never really tells Cobra and Yamato how he's feeling whenever they visit him in jail. When he worked for Iemura, he also had no one to confide in either. The only person who was really within his vicinity while he worked for Iemura was Nikaido, but Nikaido was the hardest on him and was violent with him because, to Nikaido, Noboru was like looking in a mirror. Nikaido aka Cain used to come from Nameless City and he truly wants to purge his past and forget ever being a part of Rude Boys and wants Noboru to do the same with Sannoh. Being so alone was probably affecting him in a lot of ways.

Arata was the same. None of the group knows that Arata is actually working with Kidra for his mother's hospital bills until Madoka tells them after she visits Arata's mom. He didn't confide in his friends for this matter, and never really talked about his feelings in general. Fujio reminds him that Grandma Sada was always worried about Arata because he never spoke up about his feelings, always bottling them up. Arata must've felt that he should take care of his own problems instead of troubling others which led him to be lonely.

Something random I noticed: The scene at Grandma Sada's grave when Seiji confronts Arata and Arata punches him, can be seen as symbolism of how Noboru felt inside during the show and Road to High&Low. Visualize Seiji and Arata as two parts of Noboru who are battling and struggling to co-exist. Seiji is his past, telling him that it's alright to come back to his home and his family while Arata, his present, is trying to tell his past that he isn't the same anymore.

It's definitely not that deep, it's just how I interpreted it.

You made it to the end! These are probably nothing new and very obvious points that everyone saw in the movies I just wanted to write about it so here we are lol. This post is not proof-read and is a little messy and all over the place but thank you for reading it anyways.

Likes, comments, and reblogs are appreciated. Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments and reblogs. Please don't take my work and repost it anywhere or take credit for it, if you would like to build off of my work please tag me for credit and tag me because I would love to see your thoughts :)