#Student Wellbeing Initiatives

[townpostin]

Gulmohur High School Launches Mental Resilience Initiative

‘Let Us Raise Mentally Strong Children’ Program Kicks Off With Parent-Student Session Principal Priti Sinha emphasizes holistic approach to education beyond academics. JAMSHEDPUR – Gulmohur High School has initiated a groundbreaking program aimed at fostering mental strength in students and parents. "Academic success is important, but not the sole determinant of a fulfilling life," stated…

[kiame-sama]

Humans Are Extinct (Yandere!TWST x Fem!Reader) Monster AU pt 51

(Jasper is a student of Royal Sword Academy and has taken an intense interest in the Human that lives in Night Raven College. Where most RSA students have joined up to the 'Save the Human' fan club that has gathered in strength an numbers, Jasper feels it is a ridiculous club that is no better than the many poachers that have tried to move to Sage island. He believes that the Human should only be 'saved' if they want to be and that trying to save them against their will makes the students no better than the Poachers that have arrived in abundance. Jasper has also become rather well known for picking fights with poachers when he sees them among the general populous of Sage Island.)

Warnings; yandere, yandere behavior, multiple yanderes, platonic and romantic yanderes, conflict between yanderes, arguing, hurt feelings, semi-peaceful moments between stressful ones, Kalim refers to his father as 'Baba', party, confrontation, yanderes don't like being called out for being yandere, wishes, Shinigami, Dragon, Vampire Bat, Naga, Genie, Merfolk, Cecaelia, Selkie, Hellcat

~~~~

"You wished to speak, Lord Hades?"

The elder Shinigami turned to regard the Dragon that stood next to his typical Bat attendant, the both of them finally darkening the doorway to the dorm lounge. Where it was technically not Hades' domain, the Ramshackle dorm was where he had been staying for this complicated situation. Humans were a cherished and precious thing, it was only natural those around this last Human felt compelled to protect such a treasure.

"Yes. Come in, young Malleus. Take a seat."

The Dragon and Bat entered the lounge confidently, sitting across from the large Shinigami and his descendants. Idia and Ortho were not present, but their parents were as they sat expectantly watching the pair of Fae.

Shinigami and Fae typically got along well, especially those of the Night Fae variety. As they were both species that tended to live a long time compared to others, they were typically viewed as kindred spirits among one another. Even more so the Dragon Fae that lived until killed. This pair of Fae had no reason to believe that the Shinigami wished to discuss anything other than the wellbeing of the Human for this fact alone.

"I am certain you have been made aware of the Little One's recent transformation to that of a Selkie despite her lack of magic."

"Yes... I am surprised it happened so quickly and that she took to it as well as she did."

"Interesting you should mention your surprise, I would have assumed that you were acutely aware of the events taking place given you have poured so much magic into her already."

This comment made a cold expression take over Malleus' face, a kind of dark shadow settling in the crease of his frown. All his reaction did was prove that he was far more aware of the situation than even Hades had initially assumed. Where the Shinigami elder knew the temperamental and youthful Dragon would likely have some claim lain over the cherished Human, he was surprised to realize there was a level of intent laced over that claim.

Most Dragons claimed others unconsciously. Showing intense protective behavior and eventually integrating that individual into their Hoard without much fuss or theatrics. Putting their magic into others was common during this integration process, but Malleus just showed this was no instinctual call or misstep. It was intentional.

"..."

~•§•~

Kalim watched you with a pleasant smile on his lips, laying across the counter of the Scarabia kitchens. Despite how difficult it had been for the Genie to convince his fellow dorm leader to allow you to spend the evening among Scarabia students, he was happy you were around all the same. It had taken no less than a fair chunk of gold, Thaumarks, and a promise for a future debt to be repaid, but it was worth it to Kalim.

Even though the three Mercreatures had also accompanied you to the sandy dorm, it gave Kalim time with you. Jamil remained nearby just to keep Kalim from granting any wishes as you and the Naga cooked together.

Azul- despite his desire to not share an ounce of your attention- was rather pleased with how he came out on top in this interaction. It was worth it for the price the Genie paid and for the way that you smiled. You were so thrilled with the assortment of spices available to the sand-warmed dorm that it was hard for Azul to feel anything other than joy.

Naturally, Jade and Floyd were keen to bother and pester poor Jamil even while the Naga cooked. Jamil was trying quite hard to not show his irritation and present anything less than a cheerful disposition while you were around. The Twins took this effort of Jamil's and decided to take advantage of it, compelling the Naga to indulge their curiosity.

Even little Grim was thrilled to be around the kitchen as the official taste tester, his little wings fluttering whenever he got a spoonful of the food. Jamil was also keen to ensure the Kit stayed safe among the many heated surfaces and sharp objects, using his long tail to guide the Kit to safe spots.

As you moved around the kitchen, Kalim followed you with his eyes, eager to stay within view of you and keep you within his own view. Anything you needed was quickly retrieved by the Genie who was trying so desperately to be helpful to you. Even Jamil was surprised by how useful Kalim could actually be when he was the one aiding and not the one being aided.

"Once you're done, we can have a whole feast in Scarabia! I know the others in the dorm are so excited to have you with us like this, (Y/n)!"

You smiled, checking on the large pot of rice simmering on a lower heat. Where Kalim had initially insisted that you didn't need to cook, you had happily jumped in to help Jamil and ensure that the dish was not so spicy you couldn't consume it. Jamil didn't taste spice the way others did and Kalim was used to extremely spicy dishes, so you decided to step in for the sake of your own stomach.

"I'm glad to hear that, Kalim!"

The Genie wriggled with excitement at the sound of your praise, soaking up the affectionate behavior from you. What he wouldn't give to have you stay in Scarabia all the time. Even as the two of you chattered away about anything and everything, Kalim found himself leaning in more to hear what you had to say and hanging off of your every word.

"Hey, (Y/n), when everything is cooking and underway, do you want to go on a quick carpet ride with me?"

"Kalim," Jamil quickly interrupted, frowning at the ditzy Genie, "that is not safe for (Y/n) and you know it."

"Aww, come on, Jamil! It is just a bit of fun."

"No, Kalim. (Y/n), don't encourage him."

Somewhere in the distance, as Kalim whined and tried to convince Jamil to let you go with him, you could hear the faint sound of thunder. You rest a hand over the Magestone around your neck, a kind of crackling like static seemed to come from the magically charged item. It felt like something was happening just beyond the confines of Scarabia.

~•§•~

Malleus was slowly feeling rage build in his stomach, not knowing what game the elder Shinigami was playing at. The accusation directed at him certainly made it difficult to keep his emotions in check, especially without his Treasure nearby.

"Whatever do you mean? I simply protect her the way I would protect everyone in my Hoard."

"Do not play coy with me, young Dragon. I am aware that Dragons posses a unique kind of magic that is used to prolong the lives of their mates. This same magic is obviously growing in the Little One's presence. That Magestone she wears is more than telling."

Thunder rumbled in the distance.

"It is so I can protect her better. Those who parade around as her guards have done poorly in keeping her safe. I won't allow anyone to bring harm to her."

"Where it is true the others have allowed for injury to befall her, it is not your place to force your magic upon her without her knowledge."

"She is well aware of what that Magestone allows. I told her as much when I gifted it to her."

"Have you told her you are binding her life to your own so that age cannot claim her?"

"..."

The thunder was louder this time, shadows swallowing up the sky as the Dragon glared. He was doing everything in his power to keep his most precious Hoard member safe, how could he possibly be in the wrong?

"Have you told her that the further you entangle your souls, the harder it will be for her to adjust? I heard she could understand the language of the Fae when she confronted those captured during a kidnapping attempt. Now, why would she be able to do that unless your magic were already seeping into her being?"

"..."

"Furthermore, have you informed her that the longer she wears that Magestone, the more power you have over her?"

Green lightning struck the ground not too far from the dorm, thunder shaking the very foundation of the building as Malleus glares. A kind of glowing intensity took over his eyes as he left visible trails of light when he moved, the smoldering flame of rage igniting within the Dragon.

He was not in the wrong. He refused to let others tell him he was wrong. Malleus had lived enough of his life alone- placed on a pedestal others could not reach and always kept at arms length by almost everyone- he would not allow this Shinigami to tell him he was wrong.

Centuries spent in suffocating loneliness where only the few Hoard members he could claim would even approach him, let alone speak to him. His magic had left him sitting above all others he cared to interact with, leaving him isolated aloft a throne that he didn't want. Was it truly so wrong for him to want just one friend that he could claim as his one and only? Was it wrong that he wanted someone who wasn't an equally detached family member or a grandfathered in Hoard member to sit by his side?

Was he truly so wrong to want someone all his own to care for and protect?

"I won't use that power over her so long as she stays safe. She is constantly hunted and chased down by poachers who would sooner see her body used for their benefit than those who wish to keep her safe from such manipulation."

"By keeping her safe, you are justifying keeping her in the dark about what your magic is actually doing to her. You are using your magic on her and claiming that it is for her own good when you are seeking means to your own ends."

An even louder crack of lightning split the sky, shaking the ground with the force of the impact. Malleus didn't care how angry he was getting. He didn't care that others could be outside trying to flee to safety from his storm. He didn't care that his anger was getting out of hand.

He only cared about the infuriating words of the elder on his extremely fragile heart and psyche.

"And you aren't seeking to use her for your own means? I know you seek to use her body to create your own Humans. When you have gotten what you want from her and have more Humans to call your own, will you throw her away just as you did with your previous home in Tartarus?"

This actually managed to make the elder scowl, not typically one who was quick to anger or feel any kind of frustration despite who he spoke to. Naturally, his growing displeasure was obvious to everyone present as those witnessing this argument became acutely aware of the danger. Both Malleus and Hades were powerful beyond those who sat around them and their anger combined could easily flatten the island they were currently on.

Lilia glanced to his phone in concern, wondering if he shouldn't request your presence to soothe the growing tension between the two. It would be better for everyone if this conversation stopped here and now.

~•§•~

"You know, (Y/n), I have been wondering why I can grant wishes for you and not others, but I think I figured it out."

"Oh?"

You were seated next to Kalim at the head of the banquet. Around you, both members of Octavinelle and Scarabia enjoyed the combined efforts of your and Jamil's cooking. The atmosphere was light and the conversation was buzzing with energy while the other students conversed and happily discussed things amongst themselves.

The genuine feeling of relaxation that filled the air was valuable to you, having found it so difficult to find anywhere that didn't seem to be on high alert whenever you were nearby. Perhaps you would have to visit Scarabia more often if this was as common as it seemed. Even the students seemed happier to have time to talk together and spend time enjoying the feast they had been presented with. Some Scarabia students were even comforting a few Octavinelle students who had burst into joyful tears upon tasting the meal you had created.

"Yeah! I've been thinking about it a lot and I only recently realized it is because of your aura!"

You froze at this, feeling your heart race and your mind begin to sprint with stress. How could Kalim possibly know about your aura? When else did he know?

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, every species has an aura- Genies communicate and survive using our magic, after all- but your aura is so unique even from Genies or any other species. Genies are made of magic and survive off of magic, so we can see auras where others don't. Some, like Unicorns, can sense aura too, but not as well as Genies can."

Kalim gestured around himself at the constant golden glow that seemed to hum from his very being. Odds are, that golden glow was his own aura shining through in a visible way around the Genie.

"My aura is golden, just like my Baba's aura. Most have a set aura that often shows their intentions and helps create a comradery between species, but your aura is different. Auras all have colors and wavelengths that show what they are like. Usually there is only one color per aura and most auras tend to stay within certain wavelengths. When a wavelength or color match between two creatures, they tend to get along a lot better. Your aura is like a rainbow over an Oasis."

Kalim picked up your hands, holding them close to him with an excited smile. He noticed the way your pretty aura shifted to more golden tones, rising in wavelength frequency to match Kalim's own- rather erratic- aura. That synchronicity soothing Kalim and his volatile magic to something more tamed and controlled.

"Whoever you talk to or touch, your aura matches their color and synchs up on the same wavelength as theirs. Even mine- which is always fluctuating and changing- is so soothed and calmed by your aura. It has to be that your aura communicates with mine in a way others don't! Genies often match their aura with whoever is making a wish so that wish is fulfilled in the desired way. My aura doesn't like matching up with anyone, so that is probably why I can't grant wishes the way my Baba does. But with you... Your aura synchs up to me, not the other way around."

As you felt an immense interest overcome you, your phone suddenly buzzed with an urgency. You had assigned most of these monsters to their own ringtone and recognized the playful tone of Lilia calling you. The Bat had encouraged you to spend time in Scarabia and promised to keep Malleus mostly calm while you were away, so it seemed odd that he was calling you now.

"Hold on, Kalim, I have to answer this."

When you answered the call, your phone switched to speaker automatically, the loud sound of howling winds and thunder overpowering the electronic as you heard a voice within the storm.

"How dare you accuse me of such an abhorrent act?!"

You somewhat recognized the voice though the tone was far too aggressive for what was usually the calm and measured timbre of of the voice that had once crooned to you so sweetly. Lilia was calling you because he couldn't stop the fight that seemed to be taking place. As the sound of wind from the phone picked up, you noticed the rest of the party had gone silent as they all stared in your direction.

"(Y/n)! Come quickly to your dorm! If they keep this up, they're both going to Overbl-"

The phone went silent as the call dropped, leaving an deep and yawning stress in your body while you stared at the screen in front of you. Your silence was louder than any words you could say as Kalim suddenly turned serious.

"Kalim, I need to get to Ramshackle right now, or who knows what will happen. It is my wish."

"... Wish granted."

[xileonaaaa]

Thinking of Suguru who has a crush on you..

Upperclassmen Drabble

*Geto who isn’t a bully or a narcissist.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁☆

__________________

┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊

┊ ┊⋆ ┊ .

┊ ┊ ⋆˚         

✧. ┊         

⋆ ★

!SuguruGeto who first saw you in a cafe Satoru had dragged him and Shoko to.

!SuguruGeto who realized he was staring quite rudely when you happened to look over at him and wave out of politeness.

!SuguruGeto who had to immediately look away out of pure embarrassment, choking on his overly sweet drink in the process

!SuguruGeto who heard you giggle from across the cafe, and immediately felt his ears flush red.

!SuguruGeto who kept his gaze aimed down at the floor until he heard the unmistakable sound of the cafe’s door jingle open, and then close.

!SuguruGeto who silently shunned himself for being such a wuss, knowing that he’d probably never see you again. He didn’t even get the chance to ask for your number.

!SuguruGeto who’s usually a laid back, and chill guy, caught himself almost flipping out of the chair he was reclining in when Yaga introduced you as the new student in his class.

!SuguruGeto who strained his ears to hear your voice over Satoru’s loud blabbering, and hung onto your every word like his life depended on it.

!SuguruGeto who couldn’t help but notice how you sat alone most of the time, and never really hung out with the other people in your class during, or even after school.

!SuguruGeto who was initially curious as to if you remembered him from the cafe, became a bit concerned about your wellbeing when he noticed that people were actively avoiding you.

!SuguruGeto who relaxed a little when he realized that you were content with being in your own little world.

!SuguruGeto who would sneak subtle glances your way at every chance he got. More often than not he’d slowly turn around in his seat to get a good look at what you were up to under the guise of him trying to stretch his back.

!SuguruGeto who loved to sit and just observe your mannerisms. Like how one time he saw you flick your pen a little too hard by accident and watched it fly across the room in embarrassment. He made sure he was the one who got up and got it for you.

!SuguruGeto who eventually worked up the courage to say small hi’s or hello’s to you whenever he happened to see you.

!SuguruGeto who ended up coming back to class much later in the evening one day to retrieve Satoru’s books that he’d left, and happened to see you diligently trying to clean up the classroom all by yourself.

!SuguruGeto who was very careful in announcing in presence, so as to not scare you in any way.

!SuguruGeto who insisted on helping you clean, even when you told him you had everything under control.

!SuguruGeto who is beyond smitten at this point, feels his stomach fill uncomfortably with butterflies when he hears you start to hum a song (he hasn’t the slightest clue of what it was) to fill the silence between you two.

!SuguruGeto who gladly helps you dust off the very tops of the chalkboard that you can’t reach on your own. (He saw you going to get a chair to stand on, so he offered to do it instead.)

!SuguruGeto who finally understands why people most likely avoid you.

!SuguruGeto who notices that he can barely feel any cursed radiating off of you, if there was any to begin with.

!SuguruGeto who comes to the conclusion that you aren’t exactly very strong, but doesn’t feel repulsed in the slightest. Instead, he feels rather confident knowing that he now has a duty to protect you and shield you from anyone or anything that may cause you harm.

!SuguruGeto who takes up most of his missions in the early mornings, so that he can spend his class time secretly admiring you.

!SuguruGeto who is always readily available to help you whenever he sees you struggling with classwork or your technique.

!SuguruGeto who eventually starts sitting next to you in class (he always asks first) under the guise that another one of Satoru’s fan girls took his seat (he actually offered it to her .)

!SuguruGeto who genuinely respects you, and even though you are in no way stronger than him, he appreciates your work ethic and constant strive to be better at anything/ everything you do

!SuguruGeto who chooses to spend his breaks with you. Usually opting to silently read to himself while you studied or practiced beside him. If he noticed you were struggling, he’d kindly place his book down, and lean over your shoulder to observe what it was you were doing.

!SuguruGeto who was acutely aware of the rumors surrounding his and your very strange friendship dynamic. “One of the strongest + the one of the weakest in the entire school?”

!SuguruGeto who always has your back, and is quick to shut anyone who dares speak ill of you up.

!SuguruGeto who stared to notice how said rumors were beginning to affect you.

!SuguruGeto who became aware of your more recent absences, and would find that he was in a pissy mood the days you weren’t at school.

!SuguruGeto who feels hurt, betrayed, and most of all, angry when you try to push him away. Spouting some nonsense about how “..you’ll only drag his reputation down.” He thought it was ridiculous that you’d even think about saying such a thing, and he made sure you knew just how much it bothered him.

!SuguruGeto who was there for you when things just didn’t go your way.

!SuguruGeto who proudly served as your rock, and was always a phone call away.

!SuguruGeto who had the deepest feelings for you, but could only express them in the feather light touches that he gave you from time to time, or the little snacks that he’d buy for you when he knew you’d probably left your lunch at home.

!SuguruGeto who was beyond in love with you, but chooses not to say anything, lest he ruin what chemistry you two already have. He knows about your dreams, and ambitions, and he’d be damned if he were the one to get in the way of your success.

!SuguruGeto who, for now, was content on staying by your side, and being your biggest cheerleader.

[midnight-in-town]

My thoughts on WHA's latest chapter (big spoilers !)

otherwise titled "THE TRAGEDY T_T"

Thank you Dagda for saying out loud what everybody is thinking, which is to say trust people and stop erasing memories whenever it's convenient for the system (and not for the victims).

What a guy, not only does Dagda have a better solution than magic to offer (because magic can't solve everything when it's used for the wellfare of the oppressive system in place and not for the people), but most importantly, only a true father would have been able to find that answer.

His relationship with Coustas is beautiful and I wonder if Sensei is making a criticism of the often terrible master/students dynamics we've seen throughout the series, through Dagda and Coustas.

I mean, amongst magic users, it's not family that seems to bind the most (see Agathe and her mom, or Riché and how close she is to her brother but no real mention of their parents, or Tartar and his folks iirc whereas his grandfather means well), but beyond that we've had many distasteful masters who only care about their name & reputation, instead of the education & wellbeing of their students.

It seems like Dagda & Coustas (and to some extent, Eoleo the Prince and his parents) are really criticism of that, considering that the education of children (to help them understand and decide what's allowed & forbidden, what's good or bad) is really a main theme of WHA.

It's very sad that Dagda has to die for Coustas to live, but at least we have high ranked witches like Lulucy who will probably be able to use Dagda's example to change things. Hopefully.

Last but DEFINITELY not least,

it was already so painful for Coco to witness Dagda giving his life to save his son, her friend, but the fact that it wasn't enough (because of Ininia ?) caused her immense grief. Gosh, how I hate to see the despair and anger in her eyes ! :(

And just as I hoped we wouldn't be able to reach an even lower and more painful moment for her...

She will now have to face Ininia and Tartar, while still having to save Coustas.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think Tartar joined Ininia or the Brim Hats off screen, none of that. Tartar is as much Coustas' friend as Coco is so it makes sense that he's there, to help Coustas' condition. However, Tartar's fate is as threatened by the Brim Hats, as Coco's is.

We've been warned from the start that Coco is Iguin's hope, precisely because she's torn between upholding the Witches' (unfair) system and fully understanding what the non-magic folk feel like. Tartar is similar : with his questioning of why the separation of magic and medicine is necessary, he borders dangerously on the same edge as Coco, which is why they get along so well and why they perfectly understood Coustas' anger and resentment.

This above (from ch51) is what the cliffhanger calls back to : Coco keeps facing that the Witches don't always have the best answers to offer with their rules and Tartar wonders about how responsible he is, for upholding rules without questioning how relevant or fair they are.

Meanwhile, Ininia represents the Brim Hats'. She's there as a temptation for Tartar and Coco, since Coustas is not yet saved. Again, she's not to blame, Lord Restis who's using her is (which is why it's quite heartwarming to see Galga and Atuarto trying to get her back from Coustas' Silverwood tree).

Speaking of tentation, in my opinion, I think it's too soon for Coco : the Brim Hats keep trying and, with every arc that ends, she's walking closer to that edge, but I am not sure this arc will be the final step for her fall into the abyss, because she still trusts Qifrey.

Tartar however ? He was questioning everything more than Coco initially did, because of his own medical condition and not having found a master who would try their hardest to teach him, despite his illness. Also he was saved by medicine just a few moments ago in the current arc, so... to quote ch42 :

Narratively, he and Coustas are very similar, which is why I once thought it'd be very symbolic for them to be taken in by the same master. I once thought Atuarto would be that guy and I still hope it's going to be the case, because otherwise I fear the Brim Hats' way is going to be too tempting for these boys.

Hopefully I'm dead wrong about this, because I can't take more of these devastatingly good chapters.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

"We at Night Raven College deeply care for our students’ safety and wellbeing!" (looks at the entire plot of Twisted Wonderland)

[Referencing this interaction!]

To be fair, while Crowley may hand off conflict resolution to others, he is not entirely passive in efforts to look after his students. He arranges therapy for the OB boys, calls for STYX when he has legitimate concerns about the safety of his students, drags students back to class if he catches them skipping (his Raven Jacket vignettes), and is shown to erect barriers to protect others (in the manga). I have no doubt that part of this concern comes down to him not wanting to deal with angry parents, but if Crowley truly did not care at all then he wouldn't even bother or he would just try to cover up the aftermath rather than exploring long term solutions such as therapy.

Remember that he also took two people in, gave them free housing, free food at times (prologue and book 4), and let them be students at a HIGHLY exclusive school. Maybe the living conditions aren’t the best and maybe there’s not a huge budget allotted for their food or amenities, but it sure beats being stuck in a foreign land with basically nothing to your name, no?? That’s still very generous of Crowley to do.

The other staff at NRC are also shown to care about their students! They just tend to have a very "tough love" approach to it. For example, Vargas, Trein, and especially Crewel are notorious for being strict, all because they share the goal of wishing to see their kids succeed as disciplined mages. Trein in particular laments in Glorious Masquerade when he thinks he has failed to instill good moral values into his students.

I actually think part of the reason why Crowley acts so "useless" is for plot convenience's sake. The story would not be interesting to follow if a great mage comes along and resolves everything in the blink of an eye. He "needs" to be uninvolved initially to give the students a chance to act and take charge in the story. (And, of course, some theorize that Crowley is purposefully acting this way because he has a motive we have yet to learn.)

[perfectsunlight]

𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 [𝟏𝟑]

𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘅 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿

𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: NONEEEEE WE CHEERED.

𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁: 2.3k

𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗶𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲

sm entertainment officially announced ningning’s hiatus one month after her arrival at the rehab center.

they said she was taking time for herself in order to focus on her health and wellbeing. most people had no idea where she had gone. 

dispatch had no sightings of her for weeks. they did not even know when she was at the hospital either, to which everyone was thankful for. the company was shocked to know that the chinese idol was willing to get sent to rehab. 

however, despite the initial shock, they offered to pay for all the expenses and also said she could take all the time she needed in order to get better. 

the truth is bulletproof, there's no fooling you

i don't dress the same

yizhuo needed to be away from the city. she needed to be somewhere where she could find who she truly was. geoje was where the company decided to send her. it was a 4 hour drive from seoul, making it just far enough for her to get away, but also close enough for people to come visit. the city was right off the coast of busan, situated on an island connected to the mainland via bridges.

she would hate to admit it, but part of her never wanted to leave geoje. it was beautiful, and she felt like she could be herself within the sanctuary of the rehab center. it was a bit difficult at first, opening up to complete strangers about her issues, but she was willing to try her best.

that was all anyone expected of her here — to just try her best.

she had never had that environment. it felt nice to have such a change. it felt right. 

me and who you say i was yesterday

have gone our separate ways

most of the people who arrived at the center were older than she was, meaning they had no idea who she was. there was an older woman who worked as an instructor for an art class that the facility offered, and whenever ning would go in and draw, she would sing.

she had told yizhuo that she should become a singer when she gets out because her voice was outstanding. all the chinese girl could do was smile and laugh a little.

it was ironic for her. she used to love being known by everyone as “ningning from aespa”, but here she loved being unknown. when she arrived, she said she was an international student studying korean language at yonsei. 

it was a believable cover story, and no one questioned it. the anonymity was a relief. she could walk around without the weight of her idol identity. 

there were no fans to impress, no expectations to meet, no cameras capturing her every move. 

she could just be yizhuo, a young woman finding her way back to herself. 

left my living fast somewhere in the past

'cause that's for chasing cars

days at the center had a gentle rhythm. mornings began with a communal breakfast, where she’d chat with the other residents, exchanging stories of their pasts and dreams for the future. after breakfast, there were various therapy sessions. she found solace in group therapy, where she realized she wasn’t alone in her struggles. the stories she heard, though different from her own, were a reminder that everyone had their battles. in the afternoons, she often joined the art class. 

the instructor, mrs. lee was her name, was a kind-hearted woman in her sixties, with a voice that was both soothing and encouraging. she felt more of a mother to yizhuo than her own had. her words of praise and encouragement made ning feel seen, not as an idol, but as a person with potential beyond her public persona. 

it was different to have someone so maternal, but she thoroughly felt better. whenever it felt difficult to open up, she would talk to mrs. lee. she had a way of listening that made yizhuo feel understood, without judgment or pity. the idol realized all she ever needed was someone who wouldn’t pity her.

turns out open bars lead to broken hearts

and going way too far

the two became closer when the older woman found her crying after her first few sessions of therapy with the facility’s psychiatrist. mrs. lee never asked any questions, and simply just embraced the younger girl in a tight hug until yizhuo’s tears stopped. from that day forward, ning went to mrs. lee for everything.

“you're stronger than you think,” mrs. lee would often say, her aged eyes filled with kindness. “you’ve done well. only you can be the best version of yourself, for yourself.” these words resonated deeply with the young idol. she began to see her journey not as a series of failures, but as a testament to her resilience.

she was ning yizhuo, a girl who did the best she could. and that was all she could ever want to be.

take one, pour it out

it's not worth crying 'bout the things you can't erase

on days when she felt particularly overwhelmed, yizhuo would take long walks along the coast. the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks was therapeutic. ning had never been a fan of beaches (mostly because of the sand), but upon arriving in geoje, she fell in love with them.

at first, she would just walk to the steps that led down to the sand but not descend. she’d only lean against the railing and watch the water from above, not wanting to touch the sand. the rhythmic ebb and flow of the tides calmed her, the vastness of the ocean making her own problems seem smaller, more manageable. 

like tattoos and regrets

words i never meant and ones that got away

but as days turned into weeks, she found herself longing to be closer to the water. one morning, she took a deep breath and made her way down the steps. she hesitated at the bottom, toes just inches away from the sand. 

with a determined sigh, she stepped onto the beach, feeling the grainy texture beneath her feet. the initial discomfort faded as she walked along the shore, the cool water lapping at her ankles. it became a ritual for her—each day, she’d venture a little further, letting the sand and sea become her sanctuary. 

she began to see the beach not just as a place, but as a metaphor for her own journey—constantly changing, yet always moving forward.

left my living fast somewhere in the past

and took another road

the young woman found herself collecting different things from each trip to the shore. on some days it was a small rock, and others it was other things.

she often collected seashells to save them for you. they were like little pieces of happiness for her, just like you were.

sometimes, she’d even sit on a large rock by the water’s edge, watching the waves crash and retreat. one of the gifts you had given her before she left was a digital camera. without missing an evening, ning took photos of every sunset. 

it reminded her of you, after all. it was only fair of her to show you.

the beach was quiet. ningning hated the quiet before. now, she loved it.

quiet meant she could breathe. she had control of her thoughts and emotions. she no longer let her mind bully her.

turns out crowded rooms empty out as soon

there's somewhere else to go, oh

visitors were allowed to come once a week, meaning most of the time, her members all came to visit her together. of course, she didn’t have a visitor every week, but sm made sure to keep these visits out of the public’s prying eyes when you or her members did come and visit. 

karina usually brought her new stationary, minjeong brought snacks, and aeri would bring her new sd cards for her camera or clothes for the seasonal changes. although ning was away from everyone she knew, she never truly felt lonely.

she had made peace with her isolation. however, the only person she constantly missed was you. 

she’d never thought of ever writing a letter, but she was over the moon when she saw you had written her one a few weeks after she was sent to the facility. mrs. lee teased yizhuo by saying she’d never seen her really smile until she saw her reading the letter. ningning missed you more than she could understand. 

it wasn’t a bad feeling of longing either, but rather a feeling of curiosity for what you were doing at the moment. before she had left seoul, you had mentioned to yizhuo that you had broken up with aeri the night she was hospitalized. 

ningning didn’t need to ask any questions about it, she knew why it happened. you cared about ning. more than anyone else, or anything else. 

and she cared about you, too. more than anyone else, or anything.

i know i used to be crazy

messed up, but, god, was it fun

after being in rehab for 6 months, ningning was finally comfortable enough to return to seoul. 

on her last day there, mrs. lee had brought her a gift. it was a beautifully wrapped box with a note attached to it. the note read, “for the journey ahead. with love, mrs. lee.” ning carefully unwrapped the box, revealing a set of watercolor paints in a case with her initials on it.

mrs. lee smiled warmly. “i thought you might want to continue expressing yourself through art. remember, these are tools for your journey, just as much as your voice is.” tears welled up in yizhuo’s eyes as she hugged the older woman tightly. 

mrs. lee must have known who she really was. the idol decided not to question it.

“thank you for everything,” she whispered. “i’ll never forget what you’ve done for me.” mrs. lee simply patted her back gently. “go out there and show the world who you have always been. and never forget, you’re always welcome back here if you need to escape.”

i know i used to be wild

that's 'cause i used to be young

the facility threw the young idol a send off ceremony the day before she was leaving. there were games and delicious food, and even karaoke. naturally, yizhuo stole the show with her voice. mrs. lee had been taking photos and videos for the chinese girl on the camera you got her. even though rehab was tough, ning didn’t ever want to forget her time here. 

“i’ve learned a lot here. thank you all for helping me remember who i truly am.” yizhuo said with a warm smile as she bowed, concluding her parting speech.

the applause that followed was heartfelt, and ningning felt a sense of closure and gratitude. the friends she had made and the experiences she had shared in geoje were now a part of her story, a chapter she would cherish forever. 

as the evening wound down, yizhuo mingled with the staff and residents, sharing hugs and promises to keep in touch. later that night, she found herself back at the beach for one last walk. the moonlight danced on the waves, creating a serene scene. she took out the camera and captured a few final shots, wanting to hold on to this moment forever.

with a deep breath, she whispered a goodbye to the ocean, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. she was ready to move forward, but she would always carry a piece of this place with her. 

those wasted nights are not wasted

i remember every one

sm entertainment had expressed their excitement in regards to yizhuo feeling well enough to return to seoul. she was a bit nervous for facing the public and their questions to where she had been, but one thing the idol had learned was boundaries.

she didn’t have to tell the world where she had been. only the people who needed to know, knew.

ningning didn’t bring her phone with her to the facility. it was something the facility had requested before her initial arrival. it was quite the laugh when the chinese girl showed up with a mp3 player. however, the idol was thankful she downloaded as many songs as she could have because the upcoming 4 hour drive would be a bit more boring without it.

a car pulled up to the curb, and for a moment ning was confused. she couldn’t see who was inside because of the tinted windows, but when the passenger side window was lowered, she couldn’t help but smile.

i know i used to be crazy

that's 'cause i used to be young

you smiled and ning swore she was about to throw up from excitement. she practically bolted inside with her backpack and duffle, almost hitting her head on the roof when she got inside.

“hey, stranger,” you greeted her warmly, your eyes twinkling with joy. “ready to go home?” the chinese girl nodded, feeling a rush of emotions. she had missed you, she had missed seoul, she had missed her members.

 “more than ready.”

you tell me time has done changed me

that's fine, i've had a good run

“you didn’t forget anything, right?” you teased as you set the car into drive. the idol laughed at your remark before pretending to feign thought. “hm,” she hummed as she tapped her finger against her chin. “just this.”

ningning leaned over the center console and gave you a quick kiss on the cheek.

your cheeks flushed with a warm pink, and you couldn’t help but smile and roll your eyes playfully. “definitely not something to forget,” you replied, feeling a happy flutter in your chest. with one hand on the steering wheel, you took the other and intertwined your hand in the idol’s.

“let’s go home.”

i know i used to be crazy

that's 'cause i used to be young

𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑬𝑵𝑫.

a/n: WE CHEERED ! thank you for all of the support for this series, i love u all <3

𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧: @jiihu @silantryoo @rosiehrs @craftymasterlistcomicsprune @skisk1 @jisooftme @babycubchae @yunjinhart @pandamiswifey @jenoteamo @lcv3lies  @pagedpick7 @bexisbomb @lcv3lies @lauxymy4 @justalittledissociation @captivq @jeindall777

CLOSED.

[world-of-wales]

THAT'S MY KING!

The Prince of Wales is visiting St. Michael’s Church of England High School in Sandwell to learn about the award-winning student-led initiatives available to pupils to support their mental health and wellbeing. The pupils had invited him to visit them last year on world mental health day, however due to a prior commitment, he couldn't visit that day. He had responded to the letter and is visiting them today as promised || 25 APRIL 2024

[theroyalsandi]

British Royal Family - The Prince of Wales talks to Freddie Hadley who tweeted a message to the Prince in October, during a visit to St. Michael's Church of England High School to learn about the award-winning student-led initiatives available to pupils to support their mental health and wellbeing in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert) | April 25, 2024

[sillyyuserr]

JSHK CHAPTER 113 SPOILERS ❗️❗️

BRO WHAT literally kill me why are they getting married

ion have much to say bout this other than wtf changed that made them ENGAGED?? Like thats so random i dont even think i can be mad about that

BRO

also its kinda nice how this almost confirms my suspicion of teru not liking aoi. I mean for one his initial reaction is to tease akane, and he blushed more when being held back by akane rather than when he found out he was ENGAGED to her

Which kinda confuses me, if this confirms he doesn’t like aoi, does that also confirm my other ‘suspicions’?

was this like actually a look of longing, rather than a look of fear, of ‘loosing akane-san to aoi’

Was this really a look of ‘he knows i like her, and he’ll do anything to stop us from being together’ rather than a look of ‘no idiot i don’t like her, i like YOU why can’t you see that’ a look of him knowing he can never really have him?? Aidairo shoving platonic teruaoi in your face can mean alotta things

Suggests teruaoi probably wont be canonized

Genuinley raises the question of why did he pretend

What does this mean for teru, akane & aoi

Also i feel like aoinene is getting more and more real but only on aoi’s end. old aoi wouldnt do the gay shit new aoi’s doing

Aoi has a light blush on her face when greeting nene, yet as soon as her attention is turned to that of two guys and or the only other ppl in the room (away from nene) the blush instantly disappears??

↓ Greeting nene Greeting teru/akane ↓

Her composure almost completely changes too, going from lovely and worried for nene’s wellbeing, to literally yelling at an upperclassman. Also the inclusion of flowers with the fancy frame on the left panel is gay asf like that shit only happens in shoujo romance mangas

also not to mention she had COMPLETELY forgotten why she even came to the student council when she saw nene, like she swept her from her feet

Anyway gay people REAL

[obsolescent]

This Side of Paradise - Part One

Part Two

Pairing: Kyle 'Gaz' Garrick x GN!Reader

Summary: Kyle and you are roommates–flatmates–while you study abroad in the UK. He’s usually gone due to his work and it doesn’t bother you, at first. You like being alone and like little company, but you start to feel an odd pang after a traumatic event happens that causes him to come back from base early. 

Category/Prompt: Two-part series | "I'll take care of you."

Author's Notes: Ahhh I'm so excited to be participating in @glitterypirateduck's GazFest! I've been meaning to finish this and this has given me that push. This is also the first event I've participated in on Tumblr. I hope you enjoy!

Content Warnings: Swearing, mentions of a fire but not very descriptive, reader is from the southern US, reader is more introverted, Kyle is worried for your wellbeing.

Word Count: 1,267

Another night studying, another night alone. You don’t mind, being more on the reclusive side. You really don’t mind having to interact with others, you just prefer not to. Speaking of which, you quite enjoy having a roommate–flatmate, as he would say–that’s hardly home. He doesn’t correct you in a rude way, more like he’s trying to teach you to use more of the dialect here. He’s gone for months at a time every once in a while, typically it’s just a few weeks, then he’s back for a month and the cycle repeats. It has to do with the military, but that’s all he would say about his line of work. You have a part time job at a gas–petrol, he would correct you again–station. The cultural difference between home and here is a lot more than you were expecting, having been in America your whole life to suddenly being “across the pond.”

Though the interactions you have with people here are very amusing, the double takes when people hear you at work has you “hooting and hollering”, so to speak. Most ask for you to keep talking, interested in your accent. It’s led to a few good conversations, if you’re being honest. There’s a handful of some, though, who’ve heard you speak and think you’re dumber than a bag of rocks and let you know so. Those aren’t as amusing. Regardless, it’s been a pleasant experience overall while staying in the UK, especially with the one you’re rooming with.

Meeting Kyle was by chance. He had listed his…flat, on a website that helps students around the world find accommodation close to colleges and universities. You had seen in the listing that he wasn’t home often, and being more of an introvert, that seemed like the best option for you. You had reached out and agreed on a time to chat. He was more than what you were expecting in every which way. Charismatic, kind, funny, and definitely including looks. He’s a sight for sore eyes, that’s for sure. You’re glad he’s away for the most part, having someone around looking like that would surely be a distraction for you.

After that first initial conversation with Kyle, you were sure he would be the one you would be living with while studying abroad. After getting everything sorted out, between speaking with your advisor and obtaining a passport, you were set to fly out. Kyle practically demanded he pick you up and take you to your shared quarters, since the airport was quite a drive away from the apartment. He also mentioned wanting to show you around some. Ever the gentleman. Thankful for his offer at being a free tour guide, you take him up on the offer. You were glad to have met someone willing to help out and be so generous towards you, it was in his nature and you knew just by his interactions with you that he did this for everyone that came into his life.

Back to the present, it’s a Tuesday night, and there’s not much going on for you. After leaving work, you came home and made a quick dinner for yourself and settled down on the couch for a study session. You slide your earbuds in, unable to focus if it’s an actual song, and listen to sounds of nature, rain and the like. Hours have passed since you’ve immersed in your college work, sounds blaring through the speakers in your ears. You don’t realize the fire alarm has started blaring.

What finally gets you to notice is the sudden phone call that cuts the sounds out, a call from Kyle. He must’ve received an alert. “Hey–woah–I just noticed that–” “Bloody Hell! Are you still in the flat? Get outside! Christ!” You don’t even think, your brain going into panic mode, you snatch your shoes from beside the door and run for the stairs. You’re on the fifth floor, happy that you can see so much of the city, but not so happy in the event of a fire, like now. You’re not sure where the fire is located, you’re just hoping it won’t prevent you from reaching the exit. ‘What the hell would I even do if it is? Don’t think like that, just keep running, just keep going don’t think about it–’

“Are you there, love? You alright? Please say something–” Kyle’s frantic voice finally breaks through your internal monologue, earbuds still secured in your ears. “S-sorry, Kyle, I was just…I’m on my way down, I’m on the third floor now.” Your feet carrying you faster than you’ve ever ran before, you’re not seeing anyone else on the stairs…God, how long has the alarm been going off? What about the sprinkler system, why hasn’t it turned on already?’ “Thank God, it’ll be alright, just take some deep breaths and keep pushing, yeah? You’ll be outside before you know it. I’m right here with you.” His reassurance is welcomed, taking his advice, you begin some breathing exercises the best you can while scurrying down the flights of stairs.

Second floor, almost there. You feel like you’re flying down the steps, everything numb. You round the corner, about to hit the top step of the next flight when you see it. Fuck, that’s smoke. “K-Kyle, the fire, it’s on the second floor.” You begin to cough, covering your nose and mouth with your sleeve. “Fucking hell. Go back up to the previous floor. The hallway windows should have an external fire escape. Try those, yeah?” You nod your head even though he cannot see, trying to breathe like he told you to. You push the door open into the third floor’s hallway, the window to your right just a few feet away. You rush to it, having to yank on the window a few times before it pries open.

It’s one of those ladders that retracts, the end of it about 20 feet from the ground without the extension. You try releasing the mechanism that will release the other part to extend fully, but it won’t budge. You toss your shoes to the ground below, beginning to brace yourself to drop the rest of the way. “Did you get it?” You hear him ask, shuffling coming from his side of the call. “Y-yeah I got it, the ladder won’t extend all the way, fall’s maybe 20 feet.” “You can do it, love, just tuck your chin and lower your head when you drop. May be bruised and cut up some, but you’ll be alright, you can do it.” You get to the last rung, letting yourself dangle for a moment before taking the leap, literally. You take a deep breath and let go.

You hit the ground with an explosion of pain in your left arm. Letting out a cry of pain you hold onto your arm, moving other limbs in different directions to check their conditions. Kyle yells your name, “Hey! I need you to answer me, are you alright? What’s wrong?” Kyle cuts through the fuzziness in your brain. “F-Fuck. My arm, I think I broke it.” You begin to stand on shaky legs, testing the rest of your endurance. You falter and collapse to the ground, absolutely exhausted. The adrenaline must have worn off now that you’re no longer in immediate danger.

You lay your head back against the concrete, staring up at the night sky. The moon is bright and beautiful, hanging low. It’s the last thing you see before you slip into unconsciousness, Kyle calling your name over and over again lost to oblivion.

Tags: @sofasoap, since you tag me in your Gaz fics!

[musicfeedsmysoul12]

Friendly Hero AU: the first, and ONLY, time Ochako calls Izuku 'Deku' she's very lucky that the boy has fast reflexes, otherwise she would have been bitten by Usagi.

As for Hatsume well, Izuku is a lot less willing to entertain her shenanigans. Especially since she doesn't seem to get that, just because the PersoComs are everything (but Decay) proof (a precaution since the Incident), that it doesn't mean she gets to disregard their wellbeing.

Usagi is very protective and will fight anyone. Luckily, Ochako feels awful for saying it, and Usagi is forgiving.

As for Hatsume, Izuku initially thinks she can be a friend until she wants to take apart one of the PersoComs. She does listen when he says no and why, but she is very pushy. Wants to know everything, gets up in his buisness. Which is fine at first.

Then the more self-absorbed side comes into play. Hatsume is a driven girl who wants her inventions to be seen and heard. However, this one task-minded person is only focused on what SHE wants. She wants her inventions to be known and read. Hatsume begins to push her inventions on Izuku, begging him to use them, oh hey this works better for Usagi, this works best for Medusa, come on-

It's exhausting working with Hatsume, who also cares little for lab safety in the rush of invention. Worse in a way, she uses the PersoComs as test subjects. She doesn't care.

Izuku stops spending time with her before the Sports Festival, and her casual lie to Iida and her attempt to advertise her inventions make her fall in the eyes of her teachers. To them, the Sports Festival is not for supporting students. They get to shine at the Cultural Festival, where investors come.

You know, what, I'm going to say, like, it makes way more sense that the investors in the anime Hatsume see are actually ones directly there for hero students. They are not there to support students, they're there to evaluate who would be good choices for their agencies.

Because at the end of the day, hero agencies are businesses and I can easily see board members and investors taking marked interest in the hero students. They would influence the choices for interns and others.

Cause like... again, agencies are businesses, and the main hero isn't in charge of everything.

Okay this is like way off topic but a small one shot exploring this would be so much freaking fun. Like Hatsume being sat down and explained what those investors are, and actually they probably wouldn't want to invest in her stuff if she does this stuff.

So anyway, Hatsume is not Izuku's friend here, but she has a chance to grow.

[thewales-family]

The Prince of Wales visits St. Michael's Church of England High School in Rowley Regis, to learn about the award-winning student-led initiatives available to pupils to support their mental health and wellbeing, in Birmingham, England -April 25th 2024.

[defectivegembrain]

Okay so the first day of the transition event was interesting. Like two of the student wellbeing staff remembered me from undergrad, another one from the neurodivergent group I used to go to near home, and also my former therapist was there accompanying her son! I am Known to people in the local mental health scene lol.

They took some of us in a group to finish registration and get our smartcards, which made it easier to cope with. I had a bit of a hard time afterwards because I was worrying if I'd scanned mine properly and then someone chatting to me asked about living in halls and the worry and homesickness combined to overwhelm me. But I sat in a quieter space for a while and then I felt better.

I ended up staying for some of the social activity part, which was a choice between pottery painting and a scavenger hunt around the city. Obviously I picked the painting, and I painted a pen pot with a picture of a black cat, like Podge because I miss her. I was worried about the social aspect of it before, but I ended up at the quiet table lol, like literally none of us spoke except when staff came round to chat. And focusing on the painting calmed me down a bit.

And even though I didn't really socialise, I feel a little less out of place now from spending time with the others. A lot of other people were visibly quite awkward and didn't initiate conversations, some people stimming, some people were also physically disabled and someone had a service dog. And I met someone who was coming back after having to leave, so I told them I had time off in undergrad too and that people are very welcoming when you come back. I hope it came across the right way.

[polysyndetonaddictsupportgroup]

What is your opinion on Toji? Both as a character and as a (deadbeat) dad?

As a character he's masterfully written, and him being a deadbeat dad is an absolutely vital part of that.

Toji and Gojo exist fundamentally as mirrors of one another. Equal and opposite images. Infinite cursed energy and absolute zero. Both were born as the most powerful members of their clan alive, but Gojo was lauded for his gifts, whereas Toji was rejected.

Even the way the universe itself treats them (and the way they treat it in turn) are inverses of one another. According to Gege, Gojo is naturally good at everything he tries, and so he doesn't try most things. In converse, Toji is a natural failure who can't stop trying. He's a gambler who loses all of his money but is still parked at the tracks, placing bets that never win. As foils they work so so well.

Taken alone, Toji himself is fascinating because of how much he's aching with failure and lost potential. It reeks of a true tragedy--and, like most tragedies, a good deal of it was of his own making even if circumstance can't be denied. He's Hamlet: introduced to his own downfall by events outside of himself but fuck if he didn't help it on plenty on his own.

Toji is a character who was cast as cursed from birth. He was born extraordinarily powerful in a clan that refused to see it and actively vilified him for his abilities. And as the audience, we can see the sheer affront of that, because we can see him for how he truly is. He's very, very plainly one of the most powerful characters in the franchise. Gojo himself initially loses to him, and if Toji had listened to his instincts that day and left the second he saw Gojo returned? He'd probably have remained undefeated against him. He'd have survived to cause problems in canon even farther down the line.

And it's especially interesting in the fact that Toji is a character who can do something that no other character in the series can do: he can destroy fate.

Toji himself is a functional loophole in canon. From a meta perspective, Gojo functions as this archetype of the Unbeatable, but Toji is the exception. When it comes to the Star Plasma Vessel, fate should have ensured that the merger happened anyway, but Toji, again, catalyzed the exception. Gojo and Toji colliding is the unstoppable force meeting the unmovable object, and the sheer waste that the Zenin out of hand rejected someone that could rival Gojo Satoru stings at the audience with a particular sort of irony. They really did throw away with both hands the person that could have made them rival Gojo, and they did it because of their own prejudices and egos. Toji's story really is one of a tragedy, but the execution of him really does function uniquely in the genre.

And to speak briefly on tragedy--if we're talking about the classical conception of tragedy, it's defined by a reversal of fortune. It's good fortune to bad. Peripeteia. That's legitimately what makes a narrative a tragedy--the audience watches as the character's fortune reverses over the span of the narrative.

In the term of the broader narrative, Toji himself acts as peripeteia personified. He is what reverses Gojo's fortune. Gojo was his downfall, but at the same time, he was still Gojo's.

Gojo starts his interaction with Toji in a state of good fortune. He is already One of The Strongest. And, more importantly, he isn't the strongest alone--which is something he spends the rest of the narrative trying to reclaim. Every single time he teaches, he's trying to encourage the students to become his equal, with Yuuji, Megumi, and Yuuta being the most notable exceptions of this. Yes, he's doing it for their own wellbeing, but that doesn't change the fact that he's still trying to cultivate a status quo that he had and lost with Geto Suguru for other people. And he says this explicitly: he does not want them to be alone. It's the loss of Geto that truly defines Gojo's tragic arc, and it was Toji himself that caused Geto's loss.

He made Gojo The Strongest when he pushed him to the point of unlocking reversed curse energy. But, more importantly, he sent Geto on his descent into madness. Even calling himself a monkey was what fed into Geto's ideals--if it weren't for Toji, it wouldn't have happened.

The other thing that defines a tragedy is that tragic heroes are meant to be sent on their downfall because of some kind of fatal flaw. Hamartia. Outside circumstances set the ball in motion, but it's the character's own flaw that truly dooms them. A very famous example of this is Hamlet, who was set on his path to destruction by his father's ghost and his uncle's deceit, but what's widely considered to be the source of his change in fortune is his decision to not kill his uncle as he prays. Hamlet is a famously clever character, and this works against him as he decides to play god and try to not only revenge his father, but ensure his uncle's eternal damnation. It's only then that he begins to make the mistakes that ultimately doom him. If he had killed him in the moment and left his uncle's soul to God's own deliberations, then he would have likely survived the play just fine. He damns himself just as much as circumstances did.

If we accept the premise that Gojo's story is one of tragedy, then we have to ask what his fatal flaw is. And I'd argue that it's his own isolation.

Gojo is strongest on his own, but every thing he's ever lost can be linked back to the isolation that comes with that. Most notably, again, being Geto Suguru, and the fact that Kenjaku was able to use Geto's body as the way of sealing him. Gojo's own untouchability is what leads him on the path to his own destruction, and it's something that Toji specifically takes advantage of in the course of their fight, and it's something that he exacerbates when he inadvertently leads to Gojo's permanent loss of Geto. Toji really is the one to best expose Gojo's fatal flaw and take advantage of it.

But the interesting thing about Toji is that he really begs the question as to whether his own journey is that of a tragedy or a comedy.

Okay, so not to open this huge can of worms with classical infighting, but all of the definitions that we get regarding what makes a tragedy comes from Aristotle's Poetics, and the second book of it where he defines comedy is lost to history. We've been fighting about what exactly he meant to say ever since. The book's gone. People say we have ideas about what's in it but the book's fucking gone. It's gone.

Anyway Aristotle's fucking dead and it's my turn to wear the philosopher hat, and I'm saying that it's also a reversal of fortunes from bad to good. If there's any classics scholars reading this please keep walking i can't go back to this war.

There's a really good argument that Toji is a tragedy. Fuck, he has a fatal flaw flying so blatantly that he says it out loud in his death scene--his own pride. His inability to admit to his own failure or potential for it. He wants to win, even when he knows he can't. It's what leads him to fight Gojo a second time. It's what leads him to place bet after bet when he never, ever wins.

But there's one glaring issue: if tragedy is a reversal of fortunes from good to bad, did toji ever have good fortune to begin with?

If it just starts as bad and stays as bad, it's not a tragedy by definition. It feels tragic to the audience, but it's not a tragedy in narrative form. So what is Toji's good fortune in this narrative?

I'd argue it's actually Megumi. And we are left to decide whether or not he lost or gained his good fortune in his last moments of his life.

I've talked about Megumi's function in the narrative with the concept of fortune in other posts, but fuck if I know where they are. Megumi himself, as a character, is not fortunate. He's actually sort of fucked. He's doomed by the narrative from the start, but he does seem to be a sort of fortune for other people.

It's literally in his name. Blessing, but not blessed. A blessing is something that's bestowed on other people; blessed speaks to your own state of fortune. All of Megumi's seeming fortune only exists for the sake of other people, with the most notable example being his Ten Shadows Technique.

Megumi as Gojo's foil is another conversation entirely that I won't go into, but it's interesting how Gojo's relationship with his technique is indisputably one of being blessed, and Megumi is stuck as a blessing. Again, it’s almost explicitly said—Gojo states “I alone am the honored one” when describing his own relationship with his technique. But the Ten Shadows Technique is what consistently dooms Megumi in his own narrative, and it’s usually because of other people.

He was trapped into life as a jujutsu sorcerer because of it, and his relationship with it is interesting because he does not understand its true value but everyone else does. The higher ups. The Zenin. Sukuna. Megumi has no space within the narrative to breathe and grow naturally because other people have taken his existence as a boon to them and use that to his direct detriment. He’s a blessing. He isn’t blessed. He is good fortune for others and it robs him of his own.

And he was Toji’s Blessing first.

In order to really, properly analyze whether Toji’s narrative is a tragedy or comedy or neither, we have to analyze his relationship with his own fatherhood. It’s time for a massive departure into that.

The thing is that toji sort of fucking sucked at being a dad. He was a deadbeat. I’ve seen a lot in fandom that tries to construe his actions as a father in a more favorable light, but I think doing so robs him of his narrative depth.

Specifically, I’m talking about his decision to sell Megumi to the Zenin.

And like. I’ve personally seen a lot of posts that sort of justify it as Toji doing what was best for Megumi, that his family would take care of him better than they did Toji because he had cursed energy, but that's sort of patently untrue? Like, parents who are worried about their kid's wellbeing and are trying to get them guardians with better means don't put off the actual transfer of guardianship because they're still negotiating the purchase price. They don't sell them to a family they know is abusive to begin with. He already knew Megumi had cursed energy. They were just waiting on his technique to appear, specially so that they could settle on the final price, and in that time, Megumi was left with Tsumiki to fend for themselves. If he really thought that the Zenin were going to take care of him, he should have tried to get them to take custody sooner.

Moreover, there's just a lot of steps you can take before selling your kid to your abusive family when it comes to their wellbeing. Namely, actually stepping up to the plate and raising them yourself.

"They'll treat him better because he has curse energy" was Toji's justification for selling Megumi, and it's one he plainly didn't believe himself in the long run, because in the end he risked it all on this sixteen year old gayboy who just killed him rather than actually trust his family to take care of his son. Up to the point of his death, Toji just wasn't a good dad.

He was never around. He left a four year old in charge of a three year old and left them both unattended. He gambled away their money at the tracks instead of, you know, feeding them. The money that he did leave them for food was canonically a part of the down payment for selling Megumi. He was so absentee that he straight up forgot what Megumi's name was.

But, undeniably, it's Megumi who he thought of as he died. It's Megumi he tried to take care of.

Remember that tragedy is classically defined as good fortune to bad, but Toji didn't have any good fortune to start with. Like, he wasn't even living a particularly good life. He was an eternally broke absentee dad with a gambling addiction and an insecurity complex so big he needed to kill those teenage homosexuals over it. I'm pretty sure he only owned one pair of pants.

But if we accept Megumi, the son he once loved so much that he named him blessing, as his one good fortune, then he didn't have him either at the start of action. He had abandoned his only good fortune and left him, ultimately, at the mercy of his family.

And that's what changes on his death bed. Toji finally becomes the type of dad that takes care of his son.

If Toji hadn't died, there wouldn't have been the catalysis for change. He probably would have gone through with the sale. I'd like to think that he'd live to regret it, that he'd go back and save Megumi, but it's really up in the air as to whether or not he ever would. But undeniably, when he tells Gojo about Megumi as a last ditch effort to save him from his family, that's the first moment we really see in canon where Toji doesn't have any ulterior motive when it comes to Megumi. He doesn't get any benefit out of it anymore. His kid is going to be sold off to the Zenin in a few years time. Do with that what Gojo will.

This is even more interesting when it comes to the only moment in canon where Megumi and Toji interact: in Shibuya, where Toji is resurrected and fights Megumi.

To my understanding, Toji was compelled to fight whatever was most powerful in his immediate proximity, which made him go after Megumi. The second he realizes that it's his son he's fighting, he stops the fight, asks for his name, and kills himself to stop the resurrection spell, with his last words being that he's glad Megumi's Fushiguro instead of Zenin. He didn't even hesitate. He didn't take care of his son in life, but he died for him without even needing to think about it.

Saving Megumi from his family (albeit, partially because he was the one who endangered him to begin with) was the only really good thing Toji did with his life that we know of, and he dies glad. He dies knowing that Megumi was raised as Fushiguro instead of Zenin.

So. Was Toji's journey one of bad fortune to good? Or good fortune to bad? Or just... bad fortune to still bad fortune? It can be argued for any of them, but it's really undeniable that Toji's failures and successes as a father are integral to his character's complexity.

He was a shit dad. But he died for his son. And I think you lose a huge amount of his character if you deny either of those.

[charlotte-of-wales]

The Prince of Wales visits St. Michael's Church of England School in Birmingham, England. The Prince was initially invited to visit the school in a letter posted on Twitter by twelve-year-old Freddie Hadley to learn about the award-winning student-led initiatives available to pupils to support their mental health and wellbeing | April 25, 2024

[world-of-wales]

THE PRINCE DIARIES ♔

25 APRIL 2024 || WEST MIDLANDS (1/3) : ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH OF ENGLAND HIGH SCHOOL

The Prince of Wales visited in Sandwell to learn about the award-winning student-led initiatives available to pupils to support their mental health and well being. He was initially invited to visit the school in a letter by twelve-year-old Freddie Hadley in 2023. However, he was unable to visit at the time, but had commending Freddie and St. Michael's School for their work to tackle mental health challenges faced by pupils. St. Michael's Church of England High School employs a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing and in May 2022achieved a gold standard award by the Carnegie Centre of Excellent for Mental Health in Schools. During the visit he met representatives of Student Voice and learnt about the various initiatives set up at the school to promote positive mental health and wellbeing. William also joined a session with the Matrix Project which was set up to shine a spotlighton male mental health and sees boys aged 11-14 meet weekly to develop ideas and projects to tackle mental health challenges. The group launched the #AmIManlyEnough campaign last year to tackle the stigma aroundmale mental health and encourage men and boys to communicate more about their feelings. Finally, took part in a workshop with a larger group of students who discussed a range of issues related to mental health and wellbeing, including designing their own calm kits and their dream wellbeing hub.