#TOMOYO MY BELOVED

[shy-sapphic-ace]

I JUST FINISHED CARDCAPTOR SAKURA WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH NY LIFE NOW 😭💕

[gatual]

ccs clear card ♡ jewerly

[completeoveranalysis]

Of Yūko's customers, which ones you find most memorable?

Most memorable customers, you say?

I hope you don't mind me using this as an excuse to make an arbitrary list by way of answer. (Arbitrary lists, my beloved...)

Yuuko's Customers In Order Of How Well I Remember Them

(Though I will exclude all the bigger characters for fairness. So, Syaoran, Watanuki, Lava Lamp, Fai, Kurogane, Doumeki, Himawari, Seishirou, Ashura, Tomoyo, etc, etc. Regular xxxHolic customers only!)

10. Birdcage Customer

What was this about? Was he even a customer? We just don't know!

But the thing most memorable about this whole situation is the most pressing question: WHY DO YOU HAVE EVIL WOLVERINE'S SYMBOL ALL OVER YOUR HOME? It's even on his front sign!

WHO ARE YOU?????

9. The Liar

Mostly at the bottom because I can't resist the irony. She's the first big customer we see - but what do we really know about her? Absolutely nothing, because she lied every step of the way!

What can we really remember about someone who never actually told us anything about herself?

Though I guess you could say her ending causes quite an impact.

8. Monkey's Paw Customer

Did I forget this had happened? Perhaps!

She's one of those cases where the cause and effect are so clear that the rest of the cast might as well not even be there - and I think most of her story IS told through scenes entirely from her perspective.

I think the most memorable thing about her is the Sheer Audacity of hunting down a monkey's paw and being convinced that, actually, she already knows what it does so it can't possibly go wrong. Love that for her. Would kill for this confidence.

(Not literally - but she kind of did that also)

7. Ame Warashi

Her impeccable style. Her winning charm. She's an icon.

I had just completely forgotten that she was also a customer at one point.

She makes up for it for being absolutely great in every scene she was in, but what are you going to do in a list based purely on how well I remember the customer part? Woops! My bad!

6. Karasu Tengu

They get huge points for this being a Central Event in the narrative, but also I completely forgot they were in this as customers. The entire plot scenario? Incredible! Character defining! Et cetera!

The actual Karasu Tengu themselves? Woops! I forgot they were there. My fault though!

5. The Computer Addict

I love this one. She's so ahead of the curve that she was addicted to the internet back when you had to be on the pc to use it. Honestly, relatable. I also went through a phase like this as a young teen, so the struggle was real.

Little did we all know that in the present day the accessibility of the internet would be so rampant that she literally wouldn't even need that pc to indulge her habits anymore. Oops!

But that aside Yuuko is peak during this arc and I love everything about it. Especially the fact that Yuuko just hangs out on message boards in her free time? Wonderful information. I can do so much with this.

4. Oops! All Ghosts

Another incredible storyline. The twists are preserved by some sneaky panels from Watanuki's perspective and Yuuko's morally grey approach to the whole situation is wonderful. What if you wanted to get rid of the ghost in your home, only to find out that YOU were the ghost all along? It has the DISTRESS. It has the CONFLICT. It has the TRAGEDY. 10/10

3. Haunted Photo

Another customer with Peak Audacity. Trying to wish away the consequences of your own actions? Committing something awful but being unable to actually look at the proof yourself? The ultimate wish being an anxiety inducing curse that is sure to fail? Love it.

It's also one of those juicy situations where the morality of the situation basically drives itself. The customer causes her own problems and can't actually be saved - and doesn't deserve it either.

And honestly I think CLAMP should get a lot of credit for having the haunting effects of a photograph slowly turning around in a purely static medium. They really pulled that off.

I still love the evil smile in the photograph the last time we see it. PURE memorable.

2. The Twin

WE LOVE HER? WE LOVE HER.

Being consistently cut off and run down and overwritten and slowly clawing your way out of the situation through the sheer desire to be your own person?

And then the answer is a haircut?

It's another glimpse into the side of Yuuko that really does try cut people a good bargain. The wish could have been taken in any number of ways, but Yuuko went for the easiest and most affordable way that would genuinely help the customer actually fix her life on her own. She didn't specifically need supernatural help for this, but it was the route that presented itself, and it was the one that got her the help she needed when she needed it. Very hitsuzen, very relatable, very identifiable storyline that sticks with you.

Just like the final entry!

1. Kohane

Listen do I even need to explain this one.

Kohane is like THE storyline. It's THE example of what it's all about. It's not entirely supernatural in nature but completely heart wrenching. It has Watanuki playing a central role in fixing the problem, setting up for his future (or at least, what I assume it will be). It ties xxxHolic to Tsubasa and hints at a secret tool that will help with someone later.

And it has Kohane! You can't go wrong.

[thewickedlorchqueen]

Given Lily's pattern of hating works made by women creators (SU, FMA, TOH, Dungeon Meshi kinda) I wouldn't be surprised if she hates on Witch Hat Atelier, which was written by a woman, once the anime comes out. The creator is friends with Dana Terrace and the manga advocates against voyeurism and sexual abuse, which is probably reason enough for her to hate it.

Also, I wonder what she thinks of Rumiko Takahashi? I bet she hates Ranma with a burning passion for its admittedly outdated portrayal of gender. She'd probably group it with Rocky Horror and RuPaul. I think I remember she said she liked Cardcaptor Sakura once, which was made by four women, but called Tomoyo a creepy lesbian for her constant filming of Sakura. Then again I bet she secretly gets off to it because they're cousins and underage. It's performative, just like her hatred of Elsanna and Andy and Leyley.

Not gonna lie, I have no idea when it comes to Lily. I truly think it depends on how popular the show gets, but yeah I can see her finding something nitpicky to complain about. I will have to check it out it looks good!

As for Rumiko Takahashi, yeah she probably hates her, I mean a popular Japanese manga artist that has not only written four popular manga (Ranma, Inuyasha, Urusei yatsura, maison Ikkoku) all aimed at women with her attempts at gender being outdated (but to be fair she wrote Ranma in the nineties? when even her fav sitcom friends had the same level of questionable takes. I love friends but Chandlers parents), and is well beloved in the anime community? Wouldn't be surprised if she tries to pull another Rebecca Sugar.

Yeah I say that as well and like Lily, the same person that will have one sister wrap her arm around another, cuddling her in the moonlight while listening to the radio and gives her sister a kiss on the cheek, for a valentines day special,

OG post https://www.tumblr.com/lilyvalerieorchard/758382305961181184/rise-my-minions-we-have-another-post-to-report?source=share

is going to say a elementary school girl filming her best friend fight bad guys is predatory? K

[stardustizuku]

PART 3: The Theme or "How Does Magic Work?"

My old dramaturgy teacher would always tell us that every story has a “premise”. The point you’re trying to get across. What this entire three act structure monster we call stories are trying to say.

It’s always a single sentence, and may even be cliché. “Friends are forever”, “keep moving forward” or “love hurts you”.

In Magical Girl stories these premises are interconnected with their powers.

The premise of the show is reflected in either their powers, the monster of the week or the final villain.  A villain is presented, and a hero is presented. The powers of the hero are the solution to a problem caused by the enemy.

In a good show, this is all unified. It’s all the same, or has a very general aesthetic. This is what I mean by “theme”. It’s the premise, the aesthetics, all working together to create a cohesive thing that will shape your story.

Take Star Vs. It had a rough time finding its footing, but it’s basically privilege and the accountability we have for the mistakes of our past generations. Star is a princess, placed there by centuries of corruption. How do we solve it? By returning it to its rightful owner (Eclipsa) or, as seen in the finale, destroying the magic entirely.

And this is only the theme tied to the characters, when we get into the theme tied to both villains and powers – it becomes even clearer that the best shows are those who understand this balance.

Sakura Card Captor’s theme is connections or rather, the relationships we have with one another and how they make us human. This is why her Cards are important. They give you insight on people. The Illusion Card showed us how much Sakura longs for her mother. The Song Card tells us about Tomoyo’s love for music, her voice, and Sakura. And through bits and pieces, we learn about the people around her and how much they matter.

When the Final Judgement rolls around, what’s put into jeopardy is precisely that. Not her life, or her future, but her relationships and connections to others. If she loses, she’ll forget the feelings of Her Most Beloved Person. They show us a word without feelings, without connections, those same that the Cards helped formed and us to see - and it’s terrifying.

There’s no real enemy other than forgetting.

The Cards and the Theme are connected. Sakura even forms a bond with them. So in a way, Sakura keeping and using the Card is a way of her clinging to her feelings and treasuring the connections she has to others.

The Premise, the message, is “Our connections keep us human”.

Tokyo Mew Mew has something similar. It has a mostly environmental message. The girls become a hybrid of endangered animals, trying to save the Earth. It’s no coincidence that Chimeras are animals deformed. Polluted animals, corrupted ecosystems, only being able to be purified by people who care.

Some, like Rei, hold deep love for animals (Butterflies) and are used to hurt others.

So their goal is not only to save the Earth (from aliens) but also to save Earth (nature, the planet, the environment) from humans. And their powers represent as much, for they’re endangered animals.

Even the Aliens chastise humans for destroying their home. They bear hatred for humans who seem to take for granted a home that they desperately want.

At the end, the Aliens are given a chance to rebuild their home with the scattered pieces of Mew Aqua. Aoyama (the one who always cares for the environment) is the one to help Ichigo destroy Deep Blue, who wanted to destroy Earth.

The enemies are both the distorted creations of pollution and those who want to take Earth for their own gain. Their powers come from endangered animals, taked to protect the Earth, the nature, that they have.

Their premise then becomes, “we have to care for Earth”.

Princess Tutu’s theme is destiny. This is the one who’s most on the nose about it. Princess Tutu is a puppet for a cruel story made by Drosselmayer, and everyone else is following his command. All eternally cursed to repeat such a tale.

Tutu very much represents it. Her powers to restore Mytho’s heart are destiny-based. It’s her job (although unknown to her) to set the pieces back together so that the “Prince and the Raven” can continue. She’s the set piece that “turns back time”

At the end of the story, his heart is fragmented again. So that the story can start again, she must bring him whole again. Only then can “The Prince and the Raven” start. Once she sacrifices everything and gives up her humanity can the tragedy truly begin, The Prince sacrificing his heart to seal the Raven.

But the story is about breaking this cycle. She fights back against destiny. Making sure the story doesn’t repeat itself and achieve a happy ending - even if it’s not for herself

The enemy itself is destiny, represented by Drosselmeyer.

Her powers originally given to her so that a destiny could be fulfilled, eventually got used to fight against it and give Mytho his happiness back.

The premise, obviously, “you can fight against destiny”. Or the more well-known quote: “May those who follow their fate be granted happiness; may those who defy it be granted glory”

Mermaid Melody is about hidden feelings, longing.

Many characters are unable to let go of the past, and wish/long for something. Luchia longs to confess her feelings, Hanon longs for her teacher, Kaito still waits upon the Mermaid who saved him, Sara is still in love with Taro, Gaito loves Sara, even the minions have wishes of the own.

And how do they express them? Through the songs. Through the same powers they have. Because the nature of them being turned into bubbles if they confess, the only true way for them to say their deepest feelings are true the songs they sing to defeat the villains. Perfect Blue is sung by Hanon when she realizes her love for Taro. Sara’s longing for Taro creates “Return to the Sea”. Luchia’s unrequited love creates “Legend of the Mermaid”. Seira’s wish to be born makes her sing “Birth of Love”.

The wishes that can’t be voiced, the longing they have, are transmitted through songs; the powers they have. They’re connected once more.

The enemies in this case, either shut their own ears to avoid listening to said longing or outright sing over them. By the end, Gaito reveals his own longing for Sara, and this is what brings us closure. When the villain allows himself to voice his feelings, is when our characters win.

The Premise is “always say what’s in  your heart”.

Shugo Chara’s theme is self-discovery. The shugo charas are representations of who they want to be - who they want to become. As they solidify their dreams, their abilities and their wishes - they’re able to transform in that self that is their ideal self.

Monsters come in the form of those who have lost their purpose or whose “shugo chara” got corrupted or lost.

So while their powers are born from the ideal self - their identity - the monster come from those who corrupt them or demotivate them to follow said dreams.

I find it really poetic how they have to say "my heart, unlock". It says a lot about how they have to "open up" to reveal their true self.

The message, “be who you want to be”.

Sailor moon has a different theme each season but in Sailer Moon SuperS it’s dreams. Everyone has a dream and Chibiusa’s pure dream is the one that attracts the power of Pegasus. The enemies are those searching for other people’s dreams, so we learn about the victim’s dreams.

It’s chibiusa’s dream-powered magic that allows them to protect other people’s.

Hell, even Madoka has it. Hope.

Every magical girl is born out of hope, a wish. And it’s That wish keeps them going, fighting the manifestation of despair: witches

When they realize that despair is the inevitable end of that hopeful wish they made, it’s when Madoka steps in. And through her selflessness, she uses hope filled Magic to destroy the despair (all witches) that burden the magical girls.

Again, through her hopeful magic, she defeats despair.

Her message is the same “hope beats despair”.

So,

How do Chat and Ladybug power’s, relate to both their internal conflict, and the villains they have to fight?

Again, not much. The show is more focused on the expanding lore than, actually tying it all up in a concise reason as to why and what they’re fighting. But it’s never connected.

All I can think of as a Theme is “The ideal vs the real” on how Adrien is perceived as ideal but Chat is the real, and Marinette the real vs Ladybug the ideal.

However, these things never get fully explored.

The monsters, the akumas, are negative emotions. Anger, sadness, helplessness, and seeking retribution of them. Doesn’t really match on a surface level.

AND THEIR POWERS. Both “luck” and “destruction”.

Characters: Ideal vs Real.

Monster: Negative Emotions.

Powers: Luck and Destruction.

Can you see why this is a mess of a series? Presented like this, bare bones and surface level, NOTHING connects.

And it gets even more annoying when you get to the rest of the team – and don’t worry we’ll get to the fucking team – because there we don’t even HAVE the a connecting thing for the animals they are.

What the hell does a turtle, a mouse, a fox and ladybug have in common?

Nothing.

You can’t do that!

You can’t just put a bunch of animals together for no reason! Tokyo Mew Mew has them, sure, but they’re all endangered animals. No better example than Pre-cure that while they have random powers each season, they all stay on a theme. Animal doctors, music, elements. The like.

But.

Ignoring the issues with the team for now.

How does, *gestures at the table* it connect?

Well, personally, I can tie. Not through anything the show has stated, mind you, but more as a head canon and personal interpretation.

What if the butterflies represent the transformation?

Luck, and bad luck. Creation and destruction. How do they tie to bad emotions?

Maybe if those bad feelings represented destruction, and only ladybug “creation” could be able to solve them. Then the theme of “Transformation” could tie it all together.

You can’t create without first destroying. And you can destroy if you haven’t created yet. Ou can’t be angry, if you weren’t happy once, and you can’t be happy without being sad sometimes.

Like Chat can’t work without Ladybug, then Ladybug can’t work without Chat.

Transformation would have been an amazing theme, quite ironic tho, because the show literally never “transforms”. The status quo stays pretty much the same and it never bothers to transform either it’s character or plot points.

It would be amazing if we had gotten to see Marinette truly change. Marinette becoming more like ladybug, and Adrien becoming more like Chat. That the “ideal and the real” aren’t as diametrically opposed as they thought. And that they as civilians, can transform into that ideal they long for, without the need for a superhero mask. It would perfectly fit with the powers and the monsters.

Even more, what if they influenced and transformed each other too? How fun would it have been to see them constantly changing one another? Seeing Ladybug become a bit more like chat? Or Chat more like ladybug?

And I know the show is trying, but it’s not succeeding - but imagine having Ladybug realizing she can’t do it without Chat. Not only because he cares for him, but because they complement each other. What if her powers won’t work if Chat isn’t near? What if Chat tries to move on from Ladybug but feels useless?

Chat feeling awful because he can only destroy stuff. Ladybug reassuring him that it’s just part of transformation, and through breaking smth they can create smth new?

Ladybug accidentally creating something that she shouldn’t have. Something dangerous and out of control and its Chat who saves her. Who reassured her that even if she messes up, he’ll be there to clean up at the end?

What if the “Miraculous Ladybug” shout at the end turns everything to normal isn’t just Ladybug’s power? It’s something only completed if Ladybug AND Chat’s combine their powers?

Chat destroys what wasn’t supposed to be there, Ladybug creates what was destroyed.

This is what a good theme can do. A clear vision of what you’re trying to say, about what your characters do and should be fighting.

If you were to ask me, I wouldn’t be able to tell you the Theme That MLB has RIGHT NOW.

And because it doesn’t have a theme it feels like a bunch of loosely strung together pieces that make no sense when you try pierce them.

Nothing is…put together. Nothing is cohesive. One minute the show is telling you to forgive people who may do stuff because they’re pressure by their environment (Zoe by Cloe) and the other the opposite (Cloe by her mother - a villain).

The theme that should be tying it all together doesn’t exist. What’s the message? What do they wanna say? To all those young girls what are they trying to tell them?

That through connections to other people you can be happy?

That fighting and caring for the environment is something important and we should care?

That if you try hard enough even your awful destiny can be overturned?

That through singing you can share your deepest feelings even if you aren’t allowed to say them?

That it’s okay to falter or not know who you are, as long as you keep trying you’ll eventually become someone you’ll be proud to be?

That dreams are important and you should fight to protect and keep them? No matter how silly?

That it’s okay to despair, because hope will always win? That you can make wishes, that things will be okay?

NO

Ladybug doesn’t say shit. And I’m not saying it has to say anything deep. I’m just saying it has to say something! Anything! A theme! A message!

And if you don’t have a theme, if you don’t a message, if you don’t have a premise

Then why are you telling a story?

Easy, you’re not. You’re not telling a story. Because a story has a reason to exist. This is so basic they teach it in introduction to creative writing at a community college, and these idiots can’t even figure out what the point of their story IS.

Scarlett Lady does a great job at it.

The theme is simple.

Anyone can be a hero.

Scarlet Lady is a hero despite everything (in the public eye). And brings certain mobility for Chat and Marigold. And Marinette became a hero without a miraculous. And then with one.

Everyone can get akumatized, sure. But people can be heroes too. All that it takes is not giving in to your negative emotions, and choosing to take action.

Even Lila eventually becomes part of the group. Even she eventually helps. When Sabrina breaks out of Chloe’s shadow she becomes a hero in her own right, standing up to someone who hurt her. And standing up when Chloe tries to hurt others.

Is a simple message, one probably not even intended by the creator. But it shows that if you do it right if you have a clear sense of your characters of your story, their motivations and their powers - a theme isn’t hard to get

It speaks volumes to its incompetence

Not only does Ladybug not have a purpose to reflect Marinette’s alter ago, it can’t even bother to have a theme.

At this point...

Why are we even here?

There's no point in this story. There's no point in us being here. There is no point in us caring, because CLEARLY, the writers don't even care.

It's trash. It's nothing. And I'm not trying to be hyperbolic - if there is no premise, there's no reason for the story. It becomes nothing more than wallpaper with a budget, or background noise. Something closer to children's media, the level of paw patrol, teen titans go or Mickey's house club.

Something only worth a damn for the palette and moving characters.

What’s even worse is the third and final nail on the coffin this show put on itself. They didn’t have a theme when the powers were just luck and bad luck. How can it possibly work with-

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[meimi-haneoka]

Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card Chapter 70: Comments + JP-ENG translation differences

CCS FANS!

It's here, finally!! My post for this chapter took so long and I'm sorry for it but man....the mess they made with the releases AND the content of the chapter certain didn't help with the writing and posting of this commentary!! 😅 I haven't been able to focus for most of today and yesterday, took some time to elaborate....man, I KNEW chapter 70 was going to be special because it's a round number and because it's going to be (at this point almost certainly) the last chapter of volume 14, but was I prepared for this storm of feels? No, I really wasn’t. I think no matter how much I would’ve tried to prepare myself, I would still be in the mess I am right now. 😂 After all, I love Kaito very much. And I think I can say with confidence I wasn’t the only one, I pretty much saw everyone around me being completely shocked by what happened, as it was mostly unexpected (some people knew and actually believed in this outcome till the very end, and my love and greatest appreciation goes to them – you know who you are) Therefore, you’ll forgive me if this post will be particularly long, but I feel like I need to analyze a lot of things and I would like to include them in my analysis of the script and translation. This chapter has been focused on Kaito for a good half of it, but due to the magnitude of the revelations, it felt like it's mostly about him. It's ok, these things needed to be addressed at some point. This month we had few translation mistakes, but quite annoying, especially about a translation that ended up suggesting an incorrect interpretation of what happened in the chapter, so I definitely suggest to check it out! Let’s start with the usual tradition that I hope to include till the very end, the gif of the month!

And now, follow me under the cut to find out why chapter 70 shocked everyone!

The Color page

What a pretty Sakura in kimono!! Yes, she’s sad, probably the saddest and melancholic she’s ever been in the color pages of Cardcaptor Sakura, but she looks...so mature, so grown up, I can’t help but think about how beautiful she looks. I know this color page made many people worry when it appeared online before the actual chapter was released, but in the end we found out that the sadness of this chapter isn’t directed at her at all. The JP text here says “Exchange, the Card that was born out of Sakura's wish. With the [magic] that is here, one story ends and begins”

The Two Alice

Sakura opens her eyes. We’re back to the play, the real play. It’s the moment of the meeting between the Red Queen and Alice, and……..Akiho and Sakura switched roles. Sakura is now playing the role of the Red Queen, wearing a cute dress that honestly it’s really reminding of a more classic Red Queen, while Akiho is Alice, wearing a very Alice-like outfit too. Can you recognize these two outfits? Yes, they are the costumes Tomoyo originally worked on, before changing her mind and re-doing them completely:

When Tomoyo made Sakura and Akiho try them on, they were still pretty much in tacking stage, while we can see that now they have “colored” parts and details/accessories added, but they’re the very same outfits. The lines they say are those we know well by now, Sakura says she’s the Queen of this land and Akiho asks her name, to which Sakura replies “They call me the Red Queen”.

The font, something we became used to check in the last 5/6 chapters, is indeed that used when Akiho and Sakura speak in their roles of the play. Akiho makes a curtsy and introduces herself as “Alice in Clockland”. And here we get the second surprise of the chapter: Syaoran, behind the curtains, is voicing the Cat, exactly like he intended to do initially. The Cat welcomes Alice to this land, and she realizes the one who’s talking is her beloved cat from her home – and here we get our first little translation difference:

ENG: Didn’t you promise me you’d come with me to the world I wanted to show you? JP: I did promise to escort you to the world I wanted to show you.

In all the instances where we’ve seen the kids reharsing or talking about the play, we always got only to the point when Alice meets the Red Queen. Even in the play itself (the first time around), the story was pretty much interrupted by Kaito sending them all into the *real* Clockland. Now we finally find out how the story continues. The Cat asks Alice if she met the Red Queen and what she thought about her. Akiho replies “She looks like me”. Choir comes back on stage, singing again the iconic song that was composed by Yamazaki:

JP: This is the story that Alice chooses (for herself). A story for Alice. The [Cat] guides her, and her wish is waiting for her at the end of the road. The wish Alice had forgotten is waiting for her. Remember, Alice.

I wanted to put the JP as the ENG changed/omitted some words, but nothing serious.

Alice asks the Red Queen if she’s always been in this land. The Queen replies that maybe yes, maybe not, she can’t really remember anything aside from her name being the Red Queen and the name of this land. She can’t even remember why she became Queen in the first place. Alice reiterates that they’re very similar. So she tells the Queen something. An anecdote from her own family. They’re 3 people in her family, but at their table there’s always a fourth chair. She always wondered who that chair was for, and why they never put it away. So she wondered if that chair was meant for someone very dear to them. The Cat, projected on the curtain and with Syaoran’s voice, tells Akiho to touch the person she’s thinking she wants to touch right now...because when she does, she’ll remember something she forgot. And so Alice touches the Queen’s hands.

The scene here is really beautiful, loaded with emotion, and a huge callback to this other scene here that happened precisely during the reharsals of the play:

Alice finally remembers. She wasn’t born as an only child, but had a twin. That twin sister disappeared to another world, and with her all the memories she and her parents had of her. Here there’s a small difference between the ENG and the JP: the ENG says not all of their memories disappeared, while the JP uses a different word that got a slightly different meaning - 想い, which means “thought” and even more often “feelings”. So the memories of the lost sister disappeared, but the FEELINGS survived the loss. Remember this. Remember it well, I’m telling you now, as I suspect this play will also work as a parallel with another situation.

That’s the reason why they never removed the 4th chair. For the other “Alice” that had disappeared. The Red Queen finally understands, shocked. Alice says:

JP: Guided by the Cat, I’ve come to take you back home. You, the other “Alice”.

On the top of the school building, Kaito observes from afar the play coming to its final moments. Momo is with him, in her full form. She asks him how he’s feeling right now. Kaito answers “I suppose I’m relieved...because the Exchange Card was created”. But pay attention to his face and the background of that panel. There’s the usual “smoke effect” they use when the character is distressed or *not* having happy thoughts. Kaito seems indeed relieved here at first glance, but if you look at him better, there’s a streak of sadness to his expression. And what’s that “I suppose I’m relieved”? He’s not even sure himself of what he’s feeling right now.

Momo frowns at him after hearing his reply. She *knows* there’s something he’s not saying. She continues saying that the Card has indeed changed things. First of all, by Sakura’s wish, the Card changed her role with that of Akiho, making her the Red Queen.

I gave you all of me

And then, finally, Kaito’s wish. In a shocking revelation, we find out that Kaito’s wish and intended use of the Exchange Card was NOT what everyone thought. Kaito says it himself: he wished to exchange his own magic artifact -the pocket watch that we learned to identify him with- for the artifact inside Akiho’s body -the infamous book that is currently hosting magic from a multitude of books that her Clan forced her to record on herself. And thanks to Exchange, that swap succeeded. Kaito is once again using “ore” as a pronoun here, while still talking in keigo. He will keep using it freely till the end of the chapter. A sign that at this point he doesn’t have to pretend to be the perfect and polite butler anymore, but he still holds lots of respect for Momo, hence the use of keigo. The panel where he explains his intended exchange takes an entire page, and the fact they used a portrayal of Akiho when she started travelling with Kaito (the outfit is the same of the flashback featured in chapter 39) makes things even more bittersweet. This has always been his goal all along. Taking onto himself what he mistakenly caused to be engraved into her when they both were just small children. But more on this later, at the end of the post.

Momo points out that Kaito’s watch is all broken, and Akiho doesn’t have magic (remember this well, she STILL doesn’t have magic! Cause giving her magic was never Kaito’s goal to begin with) so she won’t be able to use it. Kaito comments “There’s no reason for her to use it, right? Because with the Transparent Cards that Sakura-san had created, along with all I could give of me, I was able to activate the forbidden magic of the Book of Time, which you watch over”. Momo keeps frowning at him, while he says so.

The infamous play is finally over, everyone in the audience is clapping their hands enthusiastically. Sakura and Akiho go backstage where Naoko, Chiharu and Tomoyo await to congratulate them! Chiharu even says she teared up a little when the two Alice made it back home! We see that Yamazaki is still his usual self, praising/teasing Syaoran over his meowing skills (to which he yells that it's not true), and Naoko joins the kids in congratulating the girls, saying how happy she is that she casted Sakura and Akiho as Alice and the Red Queen. Then, nonchalantly, she delivers the second surprise of this chapter:

JP: You’re twins, and it shows!

BOOM. Kaito explains that inside Momo’s book it is possible to record the events of someone’s life, and with the use of the Forbidden Magic, it is also possible to rewrite them. Therefore, he wished to record the memories of Akiho and Sakura into that book, and then change them to make them twins born on the same day, who spent their life together. In the beginning, I thought Kaito changed to a very deep level the events that happened in Akiho’s and Sakura’s life, but thanks to a follower on Twitter I’ve actually re-read better the JP text and it seems Kaito changed only the memories of the people. Sure, that also brought substantial, concrete changes to their reality (I suppose Akiho lives with Sakura and so there surely will be a bed for her, all her stuff etc) to accomodate Akiho into the “new” version of their lives. The ENG translation in this sense is quite deceiving because Kaito talks about rewriting the lives, but in the JP it’s clearly written 記憶, “memories”. I’m not sure to what level we should consider this change to take place (like, did Nadeshiko actually gave birth to both of them or it’s just a collective hallucination the forbidden spell put all of them under?), but I’m sure we’ll understand better with next chapters. We can clearly see how everything else in Sakura’s life seems to be exactly as it was before, Kero and Suppy are still there, Nakuru too, even her relationship with Syaoran seems to be still the same (for a small detail at the very end of the chapter, that I will point out later, but you can stop freaking out about that). The only difference is that Akiho has been included in Sakura’s family. Kaito observes that’s something else that successfully changed.

Momo points out that every successful “rewriting” leads to some kind of discrepancy. However, Kaito answers that thanks to this change, Akiho won’t be harassed by the Clan and the Association anymore, and she would be protected by the Kinomoto family and all their kin.

(I know, I’ll leave my comments for last, as I said).

Momo asks the question. She always asks the questions.

JP: What about you?

For how formidable he can be, Momo hints that it’s impossible for him to deal with the huge amount of magics that were written onto Akiho (just imagine how magically battered her body was), especially in the state he’s in now.

And that’s when it happens. We all more or less imagined that we might end up seeing a tragedy happening in front of our eyes, but being this CCS, we probably didn’t believe it 100%.

The Seal of D.

Kaito doesn’t reply to Momo’s question, but keeps his usual enigmatic smile, that at this point is more a weak smile of acceptance of his destiny. A book appears under him, the huge book that used to spread at Akiho’s feet whenever the artifact was going to overcome her.

The effect Mokona sensei used on these pages, like blots of ink, looks actually like it’s blood. It’s terrifying to see that in CCS.

A flashback. The Association headquarters. There are both representatives of the Association and of the Squids Clan.

Kaito looks like a child, a teenager at best. He really looks like he’s the same age as Syaoran, or one year older. And yet, the ENG translation stubbornly keeps making the same mistake over and over again.

Because Kaito IS A MAN in their heads, even when he’s clearly a kid. Below the JP version which stays more true to the original meaning: JP: Letting this magician travel along with the artifact… is too dangerous. If he uses time magic, he might exploit the magic artifact. Let’s cast the “Seal of D” on him. There’s a sealing spell that can be casted only on magicians of rank D. If you engrave this spell onto your body, we’ll let you travel (with her).

Alright, on top of being already emotionally compromised by the sheer cruelty of this scene, there are also two mistakes in the ENG translation that make me see red. The first, as I said, is the use of the word “man” instead of “magician”, which is the word used in the JP version. It doesn’t make sense to use “man”, since Kaito here is a kid, because this is a flashback of when he offered himself to go travelling with Akiho. The ENG translation criminally contributes to the misconception that Kaito was already an adult when he decided to accompany Akiho, when in fact it’s not true. Do you find it hard to believe that a teenager could escort a little child around the world? Then how do you believe that a ten years old could live all alone in a foreign country? Come on folks, these people have magic. Moreover, I’ve seen some fans genuinely confused due to this mistake, and they had to re-read twice to understand exactly who the members of the Association were talking about in that moment.

Not only that, but they also translated the fact that Kaito could’ve exploited the artifact with “suppose he uses the artifact for evil?”, paradoxically making them look like they’re wary of Kaito using the artifact for evil!! THEM! THE SOURCE OF ALL EVIL OF THIS STORY! Like, this is completely ridiculous. Of course they wouldn’t give a damn about that, they don’t have morals, they were only worried about Kaito misusing the artifact however he wanted, and not in their interest.

My grievances with the translation aside, I would like to bring attention to the use of the word 封鎖 fuusa, which can be meaning “block, seal-off, lockdown, sequestration”. I wanted to point it out because it might be useful to guess what will happen to Kaito after a couple of pages.

Kaito agrees without hesitation to that demand.

To my bafflement, the members of the Association and the Clan ask Kaito if he knows what he’s agreeing to. Because not even someone with the level of magic he’s got can remove that spell. And if he dares doing anything to the artifact, that spell will be put into execution at once. And when it activates, he won’t be able to come back.

Here it is!

“Omae wa mou modorenai”. The phrase Sakura kept hearing from an ominous voice in her dreams. I’m positive this is the final source of that phrase, because in fandom we’ve been wondering for years who could’ve used “omae” while talking to Sakura, since there aren’t many characters that use that kind of pronoun for “you”. And it totally makes sense that the Association uses that with a younger member. Turns out, the “warning” wasn’t directed at Sakura at all, but actually at young Kaito. Sakura, thanks to her magic power, has been hearing the warning that hinted at Kaito’s destiny this whole time.

And now, the scene that tore apart the heart of so many fans.

JP: “I...am glad I was able to successfully complete a magic I’ve sincerely wanted to use for the first time”

Kaito uses a particular verb here, 編み終えられて, which caught my attention and literally translates to “finishing knitting, weaving”. The verb 編む amu, “knitting”, gets associated a lot with creating magic spells. I’m not really sure if it’s a use of that verb that only CLAMP makes in this sense, or if it’s common to refer to the creation of magic spells as if you were knitting a sweater, but I think it’s kinda...warm? Cute? In this specific case I get really emotional about it, because I can’t help but feel that the magic Kaito created was like a warm blanket he knitted for Akiho with all of his love, to protect her, cherish her and give her the happy life she deserved when he'd be gone. I know, I’m probably projecting on a simple verb but I don’t think I’m far from the truth.

Anyway, with these last words, the Seal of D. activates on Yuna D. Kaito, engulfing him.

Momo, the only one who is able to witness his departure, can’t contain her emotions anymore. A tear mixed with anger, frustration and sorrow appears at the corner of her eyes, and she yells with all that she’s got “This...blockhead!!!”.

It’s like Momo’s shriek reaches Sakura’s ears. She turns around towards the top of the school building, with a strange feeling. Syaoran immediately noticed her unrest, and rushes to her side to ask what’s happening (I told you, this is the most evident proof they still have the same relationship. He does that all the time with his girl). Sakura answers…

JP: I...thought I felt something...but now it’s gone.

In front of Sakura, the top of the school building is empty.

And just like that, the chapter (and probably volume 14) ends.

Alright, now that the technical part with the analysis of the text/translation is over, let me express my feelings on this chapter.

Oh, I have so much to say. So much. Starting from the fact that yes, I’m not ashamed to admit it, this chapter made me cry. Like, real tears, not figuratively. Yes, I love Kaito just that much. My general feeling he was a good person all along has been confirmed at last, but also the heartbreaking smile he embraced his “end” with, that really did it for me. I always knew Kaito was a kind soul. I was sure of that. I was just scared that his self-loathing, his desperate situation while being driven to a corner would have lead him to a dark place, where he might have crossed what’s morally considered acceptable. When Exchange appeared, I fell into CLAMP’s trap. And I really have to commend them, because they were able to lead the fans to think something for 70 chapters (alright, a bit less) while in the end it turned out to be something completely different, and everything STILL makes perfect sense.

But let’s start from the beginning. The play finally got to its conclusion, one way or another. We finally witnessed the whole story for how it was intended by Naoko, and it was a simple, but cute story with a happy ending. And we found out that this is basically a reality where everything seems to be exactly like before, but the memories of the characters have been rewritten to accomodate for Akiho becoming Sakura’s twin sister. Certainly the memories weren’t the only thing that was changed, as I was saying above, but it probably doesn’t entail a complete rewriting of history like the ENG translation suggested? Therefore, it’s a less drastic change that will be easier to rewind? We’ll see with next chapters, especially I’m curious to know if Sakura still got her problem with the rampant powers.

Akiho becomes Sakura’s twin sister, then. I’m pretty sure nothing changed about her, we’ll still see her with her passion for books, her singing skills, her friends are all still there, her best friend actually became her sister, now she’s got a lovely family who can protect her (how is Touya going to interact with her? I...suspect he won’t tease her), but most importantly, she doesn’t have that ticking bomb of an artifact that was about to annihilate her soul. And, she stays magicless. Kaito never wanted to give magic to Akiho. He never showed any sign of it, not with words, nor with his actions.

On one side, I’m glad to see this development just as a “what if”, provided that...it goes back to normal, in the end. Because I always envisioned Akiho’s family to be Kaito and Momo, and I always wanted to see them living together as a funny household, with Momo finally dropping her secrecy and walking around in all her glory while spoiling Akiho with love and scolding Kaito till kingdom come 😂I think Akiho would be very happy. They are her most beloved people, after all. Sure, the idea of the Kinomoto family adopting her is sweet and all, but who has always been by her side? It was Momo and Kaito. Momo, in particular, I feel like she deserves her quality time with Akiho, after watching over her ever since she was born, in complete secrecy. Unable to reply to all the lovely chats Akiho had with her, thinking she was just a plushie.

Oh, don’t get me started on Momo in this chapter. How I sympathized with her. I always have, but in this chapter we finally see her losing all composure and crying her tears for how UNFAIR everything is. Once again she's the spokeperson of a good chunk of the fandom. Kaito’s goal was noble and all, but it was at the cost of his life (?) and he ended up sacrificing himself without even acknowledging why he did all of this. Her angry “insult”, わからずや literally means “someone who doesn’t understand and listens to reason, no matter how much you try to persuade them”. And for Momo that is a huge failure, in itself. She witnessed another tragedy happening. Still, I remind you she left some help behind, precisely at Kinomoto’s home (probably something that would stay even after the activation of the forbidden magic) so she’ll probably be waiting for the girls to realize it.

And then, Kaito. My beloved Kaito.

I know many people might be shocked at this turn of events, as they didn’t see it coming. CLAMP have carefully laid down a pretty game with us, where they tricked us on purpose into believing that Kaito had ill intentions till the very end. But at the same time, carefully leaving all the hints that he actually was a kind soul and he wouldn’t have hurted Sakura to give Akiho the happiness she deserved. It all clicks perfectly. One of the simplest hints is that he always spoke very politely of Sakura, using keigo and praising her skills multiple times (not only hers, but Syaoran’s too), while for the Association he always had a spiteful speech pattern. He hated them, for what they’ve done to Akiho. Kaito ensured that the forbidden spell would’ve influenced Sakura’s life at the minimum, so she would still have all of her friends, her most beloved person, her family, her happy memories. The only different thing is that now she’s got a sister (I still have to wrap my head around this, even though I’m pretty sure it’ll be momentary. It’s too big a change to keep it permanent).

As I said previously, I’ve wavered multiple times on the way he would’ve brought to completion his plan, while I never had a doubt about what his goal was. Never. I never even thought he wanted to give magic to Akiho, as he unfortunately knows very well how magic can lead to unhappiness. It certainly did, in their case. I knew Kaito had a kind soul, because kind people seem to be the ones who suffer the most. And Kaito suffered too. A lot. Not only physically, due to the time rewinds. He’s grown up completely alone, never experiencing love from anyone. Feeding on energy bars, till Lilie tried to make him change habits. Lilie planted a seed in him that bloomed only now. It’s just that, it didn’t bloom in the correct way. We will certainly learn what’s behind his persistence in not understanding that he did all of this for Akiho because he cared for her, cherished her. And so he should’ve asked her what kind of happiness she wanted. Is it fear? Did he purposely keep himself distanced from her, forcefully stopped his hand that everytime was going towards her, because he knew that he soon would be gone? I’ve theorized about that many times, here. What’s the point of creating a connection with someone if you know you’re gonna leave them? Moreover, would he deserve creating that connection with the very person he contributed to condemn to a tragic destiny? Kaito’s self-loathing goes to those lengths and way beyond. But in that last page, before he disappears engulfed by the book, he looks so….satisfied with the result he achieved. He *really* gave all of himself to ensure that Akiho would have a happy ending. He villainized himself in the eyes of her friends, dispelled all the attacks from the Association along the years, suffered the consequences of the time rewindings on himself, all while knowing that he was carrying upon himself a horrible curse. Touch the “artifact” and we seal you off forever. When I found out, I was livid. I kept saying “I should’ve known, they are stupid but *not* that stupid”. They imposed a curse like that on such a young boy. For Kaito to accept it without a second thought, it either means he was so disillusioned with life that he didn’t care about dying, or that he wanted to make things right at all costs. Judging by the word used in the JP version, Kaito might not be exactly dead in this moment, but just sealed off somewhere. Since the book appeared at his feet, he might have been sealed inside the artifact itself. I’m just picturing what would’ve happened if Kaito tried to remove the artifact while it was still inside Akiho….and I shiver, because she would’ve absorbed him, sealing him and all his power inside herself. Such huge power would’ve annihilated her soul at once, destroying all that Akiho was. Exactly what I’ve imagined as a “bad ending” in one of my angsty moments.

But the problem is, how do you reach him there? And how do you bring him back, while he’s harboring in himself all those damn magic spells? Because he deserves another chance. Another chance at life where he can experience happiness too.

The fact he thought of taking into himself the artifact that was engraved in Akiho because of what he said is honestly so heart-wrenching. He took full responsability for a thing that wasn’t even really his fault. And also goes to show the lenghts he would go for her.

Ironically, the fact he was sealed off might be precisely the thing that’s saving him, for the moment, because those spells will certainly kill him for the state he’s in right now. But while being sealed, maybe they won’t have effect on him. This is going to be a tough task, for Akiho. Yes, because I know she will remember at some point and will go out there to save him. And that’s why we have our wonderful heroine Sakura with her, whom for the first time might get to use her immense power not to play with a deck of cards but actually to save someone’s life. The bar has been raised quite a bit, right?

Kaito’s idea to exchange the book with his pocket watch was very clever. But also...it left with Akiho an object that will certainly lead her back to him. The watch will be “the chair” of the “Two Alice” play. An object left behind by someone dear. Whose watch it is? Why does she have it with her? Why is it all broken? Akiho used to associate that watch so much to Kaito, she recognized that it must have been something very important to him, so I’m CERTAIN that it will trigger a memory in her. Ohkawa in one of her Spaces at the end of December said clearly that Akiho will work very hard in the finale of Clear Card, and honestly I can’t wait to see it. She’s been accused by the fandom of literally doing “nothing” for the whole series, so the time has come for her to show what she’s capable of. Without magic. Heh, when Kaito said “she won’t need to use it (that watch), right?” my heart squeezed because he was so resigned to the fact that she would forget about him and go on with her life….little does he know, that watch is going to lead her back to him.

The final scene with Sakura feeling a glimpse of something before it disappeared was another smack to my face. It’s really worthy of the most tragic scenes, when someone can feel that someone else is gone.

I think next chapter we might get a glimpse of the life of Sakura and Akiho as sisters, and I’m very curious about that...curious to see if Akiho knows that her sister got magical powers, how Akiho interacts in the new family….for me it’s like witnessing a temporary AU. But as I said, I want things to go back to normal because somehow I feel that’s the right thing for both girls. Hopefully the discrepancies Momo mentioned will start showing up right away, so we can move to the final big task quicker. And then it’s hopefully icha-icha time for everyone, as Mokona sensei wished.

Well well, this post has been infinite and I DEFINITELY didn't say everything I wanted to say over the big revelation of this chapter, but I can create another post for that. So, a quick reminder of the dates for the next chapter, chapter 71: March 1st, on CLAMP's Youtube channel (digital, JP and other languages) March 3rd, on Nakayoshi (paper and digital, JP)

As you can see, I can only give you these two dates as the situation with the digital releases of the ENG and JP version is still very chaotic. We'll see if anything changes till March.

As usual I await your asks in my inbox!!

[mahou-furbies]

Closing thoughts on Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card

To my surprise this had already ended, and over a year ago too. Apparently CCS isn't big enough in my circle for it to have been bigger news.

First things first, the worst sin this manga commits is that there aren't nearly enough magical girl outfits! CCS is known for Tomoyo crafting a new one for every event, but this time most of the Card Catching happens so spontaneously that there's no time for a costume change. Which I suppose technically makes sense in-story, but I still reject this and would instead prefer any kind of excuse to get Sakura into a cute new fantasy outfit every chapter, no matter how nonsensical it might be.

Then for the actual content. In general I can see why CCS is such a beloved classic, but personally I've never been too big on it. Which makes it a little difficult to judge the sequel, like is it actually meh, or am I just being a hater again? I just can't get into these characters, I can like a good wholesome story like Yotsuba& where everyone is super nice, but in CCS the cast is just so saccharine that they barely feel human, so it's hard to get invested. It's like Sakura is rather meant to be someone's ideal daughter instead of her own person, like she's eternally pure, ever so helpful and well behaved, never has a nasty thougth in her mind, and so on.

Another issue I remember from the original manga that still persists here is how almost every character hides important information from Sakura. You can "well actually" most of it, like a lot of the time there is a decent reason, but there's just so much of it that to me it feels kind of patronising, or frustrating when the main character is always several steps behind. Some of the secrecy doesn't even lead to anything interesting story-wise, like eventually the information gets out and Sakura is a little upset for one panel, and then everything is forgiven. I don't know how much of a fair criticism this is, but the "keep secrets from the main character to protect them" trope is one of my pet peeves (unless you lean into the broken trust aspect, then it's good) and I feel it strongly here. Also in general it's a good thing that the side cast has their own thing going on so that the main character is not the only one who gets anything done, but here Sakura sometimes gets lost in everyone else's planning.

The new girl Akiho is at least cute, I got no complaints on her. I'm also always a sucker for any kind of twin/clone/otherwise similar and paired characters, so my favourite thing about the manga was how she kept being compared to Sakura. As for the story otherwise… Eh. Feels a lot like a retread of the original manga, Sakura's Cards disappear and she must get new ones one by one. The character relationships are pretty static and I don't think I really learned anything new about Sakura. There are a lot of Alice in Wonderland references, which for the most part felt superfluous. Towards the end Sakura's class puts up a play that's a pastiche of Alice in Wonderland, and then Sakura gets sucked into the world of the play, and the story gets pretty confusing when the characters are both acting their roles and doing the actual plot.

Also if you're into Tomoyo/Sakura or Toya/Yukito you don't need to bother with this because you'll be scrambling for crumbs, there is little else in terms of shipping besides Sakura/Syaoran. Which is like the most vanilla ship ever, sure it's wholesome but man I just can't get anything out of them.

[ikeromantic]

Jealousy Becomes Him

A Keiji Maeda story featuring OC Tomoyo, written as a (belated) Valentine's gift for @scruffymctee - in this spicy story Keiji has a bout of severe jelly-boy syndrome which resolves in the best (and spiciest) way possible. Approx. 2700 words.

Keiji wasn’tgoing to be caught by surprise this year. No sir. Last year Tomoyo had popped up with a box of handmade candies and a little painted card with a poem on it. And he’d been empty handed. Caught flat-footed by this ‘Valentine’ holiday. Not this time! This time, he had it all planned out. 

Flowers, dinner, a special box of sweets and a new kind of tea . . . it would be perfect. As he left the tea shop, he caught sight of his princess a few stalls down. Tomoyo looked beautiful today. Her dark hair was caught up in a bun held with a jade comb that complimented her eyes and the brightly colored kimono she wore. 

She hadn’t noticed him yet. She was leaning over a display, her focus intense. Keiji had it in mind to sneak up on her but just as he began to approach, someone stepped beside her and took her arm. Not just any someone. Tokugawa. 

Tomoyo smiled up at Ieyasu and gestured for him to look as well. The two of them stood at the display for a few breaths and then Ieyasu said something that Kaiji could not hear. Tomoyo laughed and patted his arm. Then they walked on together.

Keiji felt a sick burning in his gut. A thick, bitter bile of jealousy. He could not imagine why his princess was out with that fluffy-headed sourpuss. Leaning on his arm. Laughing with him. Part of Keiji yearned to march over there and grab Ieyasu. Challenge him. But he knew his beloved Tomoyo would not appreciate that kind of machismo.

She was a woman with her own mind and she did not appreciate anyone making choices for her. 

The smart thing to do would be to leave. And then talk with Tomoyo later. But Keiji wasn’t feeling smart right now. So he grabbed a straw hat and a plain haori from a clothing stall and slouched along behind them, following close enough to catch some of their conversation but far enough to be hard to notice.

“What about these?” Tomoyo gestured at something spread on the vendor’s table in front of her. Some sort of cloth? Keiji strained to make it out, but he was at a bad angle.

“It would look good on you.” Ieyasu reached forward, touching whatever it was. 

“You think so?” She laughed. “I don’t think it’s my color.”

Ieyasu’s cheeks flushed. “Every color is your color.”

Tomoyo smiled widely. “That’s nice of you to say.” She glanced again at whatever it was and then tugged Ieyasu on.

Keiji stopped at the vendor table as they moved on. He squinted at the vendor. “What was that lady pointing at?”

“This, my lord.” He gestured at an inrō on his table. The wallet was worked silver and wood, shaped like some fantastic bird. The ojimi that fastened it was coral and carved to look like a flower. The bright salmon color of the flower-carved bead drew the eye and the workmanship on it was perfect. 

“How much?” 

After a brief few moments of haggling, Keiji purchased the wallet she liked and then scanned the market to locate them again. He noticed they were at a shop with a bunch of little accessories. Odds and ends, really. Clasps and ties, decorative beads, combs and pins for hair. 

Ieyasu was bent down over the blanket, pointing out a few items. Tomoyo’s brow was creased in thought as she looked them over. 

Keiji thought they were looking at some clothing pins with red agate beading and a carved and inlaid tsuba for a small sword. Was Ieyasu trying to buy her gifts today? He scowled. Of course Tomoyo deserved every good thing but . . . he wanted to be the one to give it to her. The one to see her smile of surprise and pleasure. 

After a little discussion, the two of them moved away from the accessories stall and headed toward a nearby tea house. Keiji quickly sped over and purchased the red agate pins. They were very nice, he thought. The sort of thing he might wear with his brightly colored haori. 

It was a little harder to stalk them at the teahouse. If he sat close enough to hear their conversation, Tomoyo might notice him. He settled for a spot where he could see them clearly, but he was too far away to make out their conversation. This made his afternoon so much worse. 

Tomoyo and Ieyasu sat there drinking tea and ordering sweets for hours. Talking, laughing . . . Ieyasu even smiled once. And Keiji could not hear a word that was said. For all he knew, his lady love was pledging her heart to that - that dandelion headed, sour faced infant. It was only his years of acting and work as a spy that allowed him to stay seated and simply watch. 

Under his annoyance and jealousy lurked fear and hurt. He loved Tomoyo more than life. She was smart and pretty, stubborn and idealistic. A woman he thought of as a partner and friend, one that held his heart. And he’d thought he held hers. Dark thoughts trickled through his mind as he sat there, stewing. 

Ieyasu had money and titles. Keiji had nothing. Could he really blame Tomoyo for choosing more wisely? His emotions ran a wild track through his heart. He was so caught up in them that he almost didn’t notice when Tomoyo took a box from the tea shop owner and left with Ieyasu in tow.

Keiji pulled himself together enough to ask after what she bought. A box of bean paste dumplings, apparently. The dango she asked for were not one of her favorite foods, Keiji knew. He wondered darkly if they were Ieyasu’s favorites. He left the teashop in a funk, still trailing after his lady love.

It seemed her day out with Ieyasu was drawing to a close. They went to Ieyasu’s manor. Still chatting and talking as they went in and the door closed behind them. Across from the manor, in a narrow alley, Keiji stared at the closed door. His heart was pounding with jealous passion but he wasn’t sure what he ought to do.

He couldn’t just charge in. Such disrespect to an Oda alliance member, one with higher standing than him, would be disastrous. Keiji took a deep breath, steadying himself. It wouldn’t be that hard to sneak into the manor. He could figure out what room they were in and then listen from a window or even slip into the ceiling to spy from above. 

The job turned out even easier than he expected. Ieyasu’s office was on the first floor, with a wide garden window. And that was where the two of them were. He was somewhat relieved to note it was not where Ieyasu slept. And there was no futon or cushioned couch for them to - to - he cut that thought off before it finished. From where he crouched, he couldn’t see them very well, but he could hear everything.

Tomoyo was giggling, while Ieyasu’s low voice scolded her. 

“You really don’t take care of yourself,” the blonde griped.

“I do too!”

“Then why ask me about this? Didn’t you promise me -”

“I know, I know.” Tomoyo wasn’t giggling now. She sighed. “Look, I meant to but I got busy.”

“Busy like we were today?” Ieyasu’s voice was sharp and bitter. 

Keiji wasn’t sure what they were talking about. What was this and why was Ieyasu so sour right now?

“Maybe? Don’t be so grouchy about it. There’s nothing wrong with spending the day shopping. Surely you had just a little fun?”

 “Fine. Yes. Now don’t look at me like that. Just . . . undo your obi. Let’s get this over with.” Ieyasu sighed heavily.

There was a rustling of cloth and Tomoyo’s voice, breathless. “Thank you!”

“Don’t thank me yet. Just hold still. I’ll be quick so pay attention.”

Tomoyo gasped and Keiji’s heart sank even lower. “That’s so cold! Why is it always cold?”

“I could hold it in my hands to warm it up first,” Ieyasu grumbled. 

Keiji strained to peek over the window sill. He had to see what was happening, but if he could see them, they would be able to see him. He just couldn’t manage. All he could do was listen.

“That would be nice of you.”

“Here. You warm it up then.”

More sounds of cloth rustling, wood creaking. Then another breathy gasp. “Ah! Much better when it’s warmer.”

“Whatever. Just stop wriggling.” 

Tomoyo tsked. “I wasn’t wriggling! Anyway, thank you for this. It helps a lot.”

“Good.” Ieyasu paused. “You know . . . I really did enjoy today. With you.”

“I had fun too.” 

Another sigh, this one just as heavy as the last. “We could have more days. Like this. The two of us.”

Tomoyo laughed softly. “Of course we can. We’re friends, right? We can hang out whenever you like.” 

“Friends.” The way Ieyasu said it made it a barb. 

“Yes. Friends. I care about you, Ieyasu. Very much. You are dear to me and I like spending time with you.” Tomoyo’s words next were faint, barely audible from where Keiji was eavesdropping. “You’re very sweet and for the right girl . . . Oh Ieyasu . . . you are going to make her so happy.” 

Ieyasu took a short, pained breath. “I - I need to check on something.”

Keiji wanted to climb through the window and lift Tomoyo up and kiss her breathless. But he thought she might be a tad angry that he’d been spying on her. He slipped away, almost humming with happiness. 

He felt giddy, almost as if he was drunk from hearing her confession. Silly for ever having doubted her. Foolish for being jealous of poor Ieyasu. And lucky. Damn lucky. A man like him did not deserve a woman like her, but she’d picked him anyway.

Tomoyo came home a little while later, looking pleased if tired. The moment she came through the castle gate, Keiji was on her. His big hands wrapped around her waist and he spun her in the air, before pulling her close for a hug. 

She gave a squeal of surprise and then her arms were around his neck and her fingers tangled in his hair. She loved to tug it loose from his bun. 

He kissed her, unrestrained and passionate. Her lips were soft as satin, playfully yielding to his hunger. Her teasing tongue pushed into his mouth. Keiji growled low in his throat, suddenly feeling more than just glad to see her. His hands slid slower, caressing her firm rear and the backs of her thighs. 

Tomoyo broke the kiss with a gasp. “Keiji! What if someone sees us?”

“Then someone sees.” He kissed her again, delighted with the way her body responded to his touch. Eager, despite her protest. Her legs wrapped around his hips, her hands clutched at his shoulders. “Let’s take this to our room,” he said hoarsely, not entirely sure he could make it but certain he would die from wanting her if he didn’t.

She laughed, high and sweet and breathless. “What did I do to deserve such a welcome home?”

“You don’t need to do anything. I just love you.” 

Tomoyo’s cheeks heated and she looked away, as if she could pretend to be demure when her thighs were gripping his hips as they were now. 

“No need to be bashful, princess.” He nuzzled the sensitive spot on her neck, just below her left ear. 

Keiji shut the door behind them with his foot, his hands were entirely too full of Tomoyo and there was no way he was letting her down. Not yet. He used his mouth to start untying her kimono, which made her laugh again. 

“Are you so eager? You know this would be faster if you put me down?”

“Who says I want it to be faster?” He grinned. Then with sensual slowness, he tugged the tie loose and began placing kisses along her now-exposed collarbone. There was a smell there, something new. It was sharper than her usual perfume, and something about it reminded him of summer. He pressed his face closer, and used his tongue to taste her skin. 

Tomoyo giggled. “What - what are you doing?”

“Mmmm trying out this new . . . flavor . . .” It was an oil, he decided. Something herbal. He traced the light application of it across her collarbone and flipped her around to kiss down the expanse of her back. 

“K-Keiji! Th-that’s my lotion!” She wriggled deliciously in his arms. 

He pressed close against her and nipped the lobe of her ear. “Tastes pretty good.”

She made a little pleased gasp of pleasure as he began to massage her shoulders and back with his large, calloused hands. Her kimono fell to her waist. “O-oh, that’s . . . mmmm . . . yes . . .” 

He could see now where Ieyasu had applied this new ointment. “What is it for, princess?”

“Hm? What?” She blinked at him over her shoulder, lost in the feel of his hands on her. 

“The lotion.”

Tomoyo smiled. “Supposed to help. With. The stiffness. From . . . spear . . . training.” 

“You know, I could probably help you apply it. If you need some help to put it on your back.” He used his thumbs to gently work out the tension along her spine.

“Y-yeah. Ok.” She took a shivering breath as his hands moved to her lower back. Her hips were pushed back against his and all Keiji could think about was how much better this would be if both of them lost the rest of their clothes. She must have been thinking the same, because she undid her obi and the ties on her hakama, letting everything puddle to the floor at her feet. 

It wasn’t the first time Keiji saw her naked. Nor the fifth or even the fifteenth. But every time he found himself in awe. She was gorgeous. The round swell of her hip, the little dimple on her right ass cheek, the turn of her thigh and calf . . . he wanted to kiss every bit. Caress and hold her. He ran a finger lightly down her side. “You’re beautiful.”

He could not keep his voice from cracking on the compliment. The raw passion he felt for her was more than a simple word could encompass. Keiji wanted to love her and to make love to her, to drown himself in everything that was her until Tomoyo was all he could taste and touch and see. 

“When you look at me like that, I feel like I must be,” she said softly. 

“I’ll have to do a better job of letting you know.” He placed a kiss on her low back and let his lips trail down lower. “If you only feel like that now . . . I must not show you enough.” Keiji gently turned her back over. His lips brushed the line of her pelvic bone. 

She arched into his touch, her breathing thready and rapid. “Sh-show? Me?”

He wasn’t sure if it was a question or a request. To be fair though, he didn’t care. He wanted her so badly now that he almost shook with the need. Like an addict in sight of his fix, the answer in his grasp. At the tip of his tongue, both literally and figuratively. 

Keiji forced himself to go slow. To savor the feel of her heat against his mouth, the satin of her thighs trapping his head between them. Holding him in place, her heels pushing him in and urging him on as if her throaty cries were not enough encouragement. His world shrunk to the music of her pleasure, his own heartbeat, the slick sweet taste of her. 

Like music or poetry, there was a rhythm to this. An art. To read the instrument and audience of one, to know when and how to quicken the pace or slow it down. And when he’d teased enough. 

Her legs tensed and her heels dug hard into his back. Tomoyo’s hips rocked forward, until he could not breathe for being bound in her. Not that he minded - this was how a man could die happy - besides which, the tension lasted only a moment before she found release. His name on her lips, her body quaking with pleasure. 

Keiji could not suppress smug satisfaction at her undoing. “I hope that wasn’t too much, princess. Because I have a whole night planned.” 

“Not . . . even . . . close,” she breathed. “It’s my turn next.”

[houkagokappa]

The new season of anime is starting and I'm not doing too hot on the previous one. I ended up picking up Undead Girl Murder Farce, because I liked the vibes, the style, it has Tomoyo Kurosawa in it and it's by Lapin Track my beloved. I've only seen one episode though, I haven't had time for more and I wanted to catch up with Zom 100: Zombie ni Naru made ni Shitai 100 no Koto first. It had a great, energetic, stylish and fun first episode. I thought it was funny and somewhat fresh how a zombie apocalypse was the best thing that happened to Akira, our overworked protagonist, as it allows him to live freely. (Also, the colored blood does things to me). Then, halfway through I started to get tired of some of the jokes and clichés, and now it's stuck in production hell so it's not on me to finish it on time. Lastly, I picked up Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon due to the promise of pretty kimono and a touching story. The kimono are indeed pretty, and I was impressed by the variation and amount of detail on them. I like the protagonist Miyo, although she could've easily been an overly tragic character, there's some realism to her. Surprisingly I also like her relationship with Kiyoka, he is so gentle and supportive of her. The magic stuff however, has been disappointing and I'm in no rush to finish the series (I'm currently on episode 8). Lately I haven't been in the mood for anime that much, and I've been quite busy/away from home and it's been too much effort to keep up with it any more than this.

[haro-hawayu]

CCS: Clear Card Ch. 75

Waaa I’m so behind!! Was away for vacation for a few days and finally had time to catch up with everything!! The latest chapter can be found on CLAMP-net’s YouTube Channel. As always, do check out @meimi-haneoka's post on the latest chapter for any EN-JPN translation differences!!

Links for previous chapter reactions can be found here.

Reactions:

MATCHING SAKURA AND SYAORAN. I love them!!

It’s the Dream Staff ~ I guess even with all the rewriting that’s been done, not EVERYTHING will get covered up.

Tomoyo-chan coming in with all the tech! Love it!

I love the love and effort that Tomoyo puts in to her outfits for them TuT it’s like all her wishes of Sakura (and Syaoran) to return safely go into every stitch, fabric, and machinery that makes up their battle gear.

Syaoran with wings growing out of his back was always a thing of dreams/fanfic, and my heart just squees and melts everytime seeing it being canon.

Wow, EN ver including “Momo-san” with the honorific! Nice!

Yayy Flight~ welcome back!!

I love that everyone’s all gathered here (including Eriol and Kaho via video call).

Akiho~~ everything will be alright!!

SYAOSAKU MOMENT!

Syaoran’s so cutee ahhhh!!!

I love that they’re having this moment to themselves!!

Sakura growing so wise with her words---I love it!!

Touya-niichan TuT SO SWEET GAHHH. Excuse me bc I’m actually feeling VERY emotional & teary-eyed over this moment because this is Akiho receiving affection/comfort from a “family” member. Can Kinomotos really adopt her anyway after all this over?? PLEASE??

LOLLL OMGSH they are hearing this!! I LOVE THEIR REACTIONS OMGSH XD I bet Tomoyo is like in full happy land for Sakura and will 100% have this video recording saved somewhere!!

ASDFJLK: Syaoran using the rashinban is so freaking cool!! I love seeing Syaoran use magic!! IT LOOKS 100x more epic with this outfit! The wings! The sword! Gah! ><

Wow, the moon was fake!

Sakura with Sword is very cool too! Guess it can’t just be Syaoran looking cool using a sword XD

Powerful magician Sakura is amazing. Powerful magician Sakura with confidence, purpose and strengthened will is even more amazing!!

IT’S THE DRAGON!

Omgsh, Kaito is that you, or is that dragon like... the last boss? Some other guardian guarding you???

Oh man. This chapter was just... so much. So many great things though. I absolutely love seeing Sakura being confident and having a focus/purpose. Of course, for most of the series, Sakura was just lost/confused about what’s going on (with the cards, the dreams, etc) and many times she was wavering in what to do, even now, there’s still a lot of unknowns ahead of her, but she’s so very different now, and I love seeing this. Seeing Syaoran by her side just makes my heart so full of happiness!!

I think the part that surprised me the most was when Touya comforted Akiho. Like, it’s a very him thing to do, but I think Akiho just really needs to experience something like this?!! Since the beginning?!! And seeing this very moment was just... so nice TuT She never had all these friends and family around her to give her that kind of comfort. Sure, Kaito was there, but it’s not like he would have really done anything (cuz he’d always hold himself back) and it’s not like Momo could’ve done anything either without giving herself away. I’m just so happy for Akiho to experience this! I just can’t wait for the Kinomotos to adopt her (please!!!) and for Kaito to return, and Akiho can continue to receive all the love, support and affection from her beloved people who are by her side!

Also, is the Dragon really Kaito after all?? In a sleeping form? Or idk?? A manifestation of his magic? The Associations?? I hope next chapter will finally answer this question!

[psychewritesbs]

Chapter 211: Ripen—Megumi, on the power of suffering + a bunch of other stuff

Happy JJK Sunday! Gege is a sadistic cat and is going to “punish” Megumi. In case it wasn’t obvious... my favorite mangaka are always sadistic to their creations--I’m looking at you CLAMP’s Okawa Nanase.

So this chapter made me feel like Tomoyo and her adorkable obsession with Sakura...

There’s just something so cathartic about seeing a blorbo be put to the wringer for the sake of character development. And now, my favorite cursed cat is going to pull some machiuvelical, Greek Tragedy, Mexican telenovela style, twist on us. yesssssssssssssss!

I have a nasty migraine so... don’t expect much intelligence underneath the cut. 

Also, did I ever publicly mention that this particular scenario is one of my favorite self-indulgent head canons? You know... Tsumiki turning out to be at the crux of Megumi’s conflict because she’s up to no “good”?

Like just imagine the shock to Megumi’s schema of the world, the pattern interrupt to his logic, but more importantly, his inability to exert his will upon another being’s free will.

THE DRAMA... 

Sea-Urchin-Head

I wasn’t going to write anything for this chapter... 

So my plan was to just be a troll and write about the evolution of Megumi’s hair and how it went from this...

to full on epic sea-urchin-headness proportions.

But like... how to bring up the evolution of Megumi’s hair without also addressing the evolution of the art style and how much Gege has improved over the last 5 years?

And it’s not just the art that has improved from an aesthetic perspective, but the way he draws brings the characters to life on a new level. The characters aren’t static 2-dimensional figures on a 2-dimensional surface any longer...

Rather, the characters reflect their character development and multi-dimensionality in that Gege has also improved at showing emotion...

And how characters express their unique and diverse emotional landscape.

Just look at the sheer terror on his face... have we ever seen Megumi drop the poker face and betray his emotional state THIS MUCH?

This is like the worst chapter reaction liveblog I have ever written...

Megumi, on the power of suffering

If you’ve been reading my rambles for a while, then you know Megumi shares the #1 spot for my favorite animanga character with Sumeragi Subaru (who, interestingly enough, shares a lot of interesting similarities with Megumi). 

I LOVE Megumi and I ADORE the way Megumi is written.

Megumi is, true to his name, a bright light in the midst of darkness. His voice, the voice of conscience trying to find its way in the dark. 

If Gege is a genius at writing poetic justice, then Megumi is poetry in action. 

I’ve written before about how he got off “easy” after Shibuya and how that could mean his moment to shine and have his ego brutally destroyed is coming.

IT’s HERE! FINALLY! 

It’s not that I’m excited to see him suffer... it’s that I know that the suffering will be like turning lead into gold. ok yes I want to see him suffer because fck yeah catharsis my beloved!

Whatever the case, however Gege executes, Megumi is about to have another “come to Jesus moment” like or much more impactful than the one he had during The Origin of Obedience arc.

Anyways. Shipping dynamics aside, whether Tsumiki has been corrupted or is a vessel to a sorcerer from the past, the fact that she is turning “against” (for lack of a better word, don’t hate me, no nuance to be found in my brain today I have a damn migraine) Megumi isn’t just Reggie’s curse activating... it’s a reversal on Remi’s situation with Reggie. 

It’s a reversal on Megumi looking down on Remi for her unwillingness to see Reggie for what he was.

What an asshole! I love him your honor!!!

Perhaps even a reversal on Megumi looking down on Remi for becoming Reggie’s puppet?

You know... just following down daddy’s steps...

Regardless of what happens...

OH, THE DRAMA!!!! 

Like... The implications for how events can unfold are so juicy!!!!!! 

Let’s see where Gege takes it from here.

Hana

Me before Gege finally introduced Kurusu Hana: she’s poison! Don’t trust her! She’s not to be trusted! She’s probably a horrible person!!!!!

Meanwhile Hana:

Also me: Dammit I love her... my symbol analysis was trash looool (or is it?!!!!! we still don’t know what’s Angel’s deal).

Ripen

Just a reminder that the kanji that Gege uses for the word “fate” includes the kanji for “fruit”. 

The timeline has been super confusing so let’s see how Gege executes and brings it all together.

Allright. Thank you migraine. I’m done. I'm over it. Not even proofreading before publishing.

Thanks for reading to all 10 people who usually read lol. Don’t hesitate to say hi or share your own reactions! 

Happy JJK Sunday.

[sternenwaisin]

I’m rewatching card captor Sakura and it makes me so sad for so many characters.

Like tomoyo who is obviously in love with Sakura??? And tomoyos mum who was in love with sakuras mum AND THEN THE MUM DIED???? BUT BOTH ENDED UP WITH SOME DUDE. (Okk let’s look away that they are cousins and Second cousins)

I’m so heartbroken watching it back. Especially for Tomoyos family.

This anime was my first interaction with gay people and that you can love and be soulmates with everyone without caring about gender (NOT AGE!!! LETS NOT TALK ABOUT THOSE WEIRD CANON RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TEACHERS AND STUDENTS)

Yukito and touya my beloved, I still hate that they made yukito this weird magical angel thing. Why couldn’t he be just human.

[completeoveranalysis]

[4]

And Tomoyo just whips it out immediately, because she knew he was going to bring it up in this conversation. Not even as a seer, because she can't do that anymore - just because she knows him so well.

AND OH THAT FINAL PANEL, WITH KUROGANE REFLECTED IN TOMOYO’S EYES. AMAZING. BEAUTIFUL. 

Also the SECOND funniest way to tie the theme of doubles into Kurogane’s plot - there are just… two of him when reflected in someone’s eyes. 

I WILL TAKE IT. THANK YOU CLAMP.

The fact that Kurogane is surprised to see it is SUCH a nice touch. Even though he had a copy of it for such a long time, this is the ACTUAL link to his family. This is the ACTUAL symbol of his past and everything his family legacy means. It's not just a memory anymore - it's sitting right here in front of him, carefully wrapped up and cared for all this time.

It's the final stage in Kurogane's backstory coming back around. It's the continuation of the exact conversation they had in this exact room about this exact sword all those years ago. It's Kurogane finally returning home, not to be with Tomoyo as he once thought, but to continue the promise he made to his family all those years ago, and to take down the man who slaughtered everyone he loved.

It's, once again, everything coming full circle.

Proof that Tomoyo is the best: SHE EVEN PROVIDED THE FLASHBACKS TO THE EXACT SCENE I WENT LOOKING FOR.

THANK YOU TOMOYO, MY BELOVED. If I did not just hunt this down moments ago this would have been the EXACT context I needed.

That aside, Tomoyo pulling a “So I kept it” is infinitely funny to me and this is such a good turn of events. 

It turns out that Kurogane’s mother foresaw certain future events and ALSO prepared for them ahead of time. 

Or at least that would fit the pattern of every other seer we have in the series. It’s possible she didn’t foresee anything at all and she just talked to Tomoyo as a general precaution, but either way! Here we are!

[noa-ciharu]

Hokuto?

HER 💕

Sexuality headcanon:

I think it's canon she's bi? In TB she definitely mentioned going out on dates with girls. But I think she mentioned boys too at some point. So yep, bi. TB has 0 straight main characters 🌈 (tbf most clamp mangas have straight characters as minority)

Gender headcanon:

If it were any other author I would have headcanoned her as trans but clamp has very clear way of showing nb/agender/trans characters (like Ashura, Nataku, Hana, half of Wish cast etc.) and Hokuto doesn't fit in that criterium. So cis female

OTP:

I don't think I have any? 🤔 ofc she has a semi-canon 'love interest' but I'm not 100% certain she saw Kakyou in romantic manner. Or that if she did, he was her 'special person'. I think issue is that TB ended in 1993 while Kakyou showed up around vol 8 of X which was years later. If clamp found way to include Kakyou somehow in TB, even if just a cameo, I bet their relationship would have been much more effective. As far as fanon (fanarts, fics and headcanons) goes, I'm all for their ship.

There are probably crack ships like Hokuto/Tomoyo or Hokuto/Kotori etc. which I wouldn't mind reading. But i generally prefer canon-based stuff

BROTP:

TB trio my beloved ❤ honestly she maintained the balance between Seishirou and Subaru. She had just right amount of empathy to understand Subaru and offer him comfort in way he needed the most; but also just right amount of selfishness to pull through and try to make her own wishes reality (including her final wish 😭). I adore how physical touch was handled between twins, Subaru would be really touch starved without Hokuto. Also how she tried to bring his spirit up and make him stand out (hence fashionable clothes) and encouraged Subaru to want things for himself for once. Just unfortunately that one backfired spectacularly

And ofc Hokuto's bond with Seishirou. Tbf whole analysis could be written there bc she kept things light most of the time and Seishirou's pretense reached it's peak when interacting with her. However Hokuto is far from gullible (nor is she blinded by kindness and love like her brother), she intuitively knew something wasn't right about Seishirou. That one scene where she put knife under his neck and said she'd kill him if he ever made Subaru cry 🙏😭 queen kept her promise

Also I've just realized Hokuto was baby girling Sei-chan before fandom even got the chance

NOTP:

Who is she shipped with even beside Kakyou and random crack ships with teen girls forn other series? 🤔

Random headcanon:

Look. Wee need this. Hokuto dressing up as Subaru and making ruckus around town. Or twins switching clothing and playing game of who is who. I think it was mentioned they've done that as kids.

And now I've just realized she did dress up as Subaru one finally time... when she went to find Seishirou 😭

General opinion:

CLAMP WHY 😭😭😭

I'll never not want post TB AU where she's alive. Tbh, first time I read TB I thought her death was rushed and badly written. Mostly because it so easily could have been avoided. And then it hit me - that's exactly the core of tragedy; ending was actually amazingly written. That's probably part of why Subaru could never move on (beside his low self esteem and countless other reasons): he blames hinself because he believes she died for him and if he wasn't so weak her death could have been avoided easily

Still, despite the angst i wouldn't have changed a thing bc precisely her easily avoided death adds to the tragedy and makes manga hit so hard

[yugiohz]

TOMOYO MY BELOVED LESBIAN

she’s so cute

[aloe-note]

Land of the Lustrous (anime) – Episode 1

3d is really the only way this anime could have been produced. the shine and texture of the gems is so important to the story's identity, and 3d enables studio orange to deliver that consistently.

look at the green light refracting onto phos's shoulder here. you wouldn't do that with 2d. you could, but you wouldn't. it'd take too much time.

the main appeal of an anime adaptation is seeing a work in motion and color. but lotl has a problem: ichikawa haruko's artwork already has amazing motion and color despite being still black and white images. the anime adaptation needs to find other ways to stand out from its source.

it achieves this well in adding sound. the foley work is excellent. from the first moment phos moves, the clinking sounds signal the material of their body. the voice acting is also great (kurosawa tomoyo my beloved). the score so far is good but i haven't had moments where it really hooked me. there is that one song reminiscent of a part of the spirited away ost, though my drawing that comparison is mainly cause of the sheer number of times i've seen that movie. anyhow.