#TPN 153

[fullscoreshenanigans]

Assorted bits/trivia/propaganda: • Favorite volume cover poll can be found here, and favorite inner volume cover poll can be found here. • Chapter 47's art is Kaiu Shirai's favorite color chapter cover art per the "Tracks to the Neverland" exhibition book interview (from December 2020): "Amazingly drawn upper arms (and legs!) Everyone is drawn differently for their different ages! I adore the happy smiles of a mother and her daughters. It's a color page published on One Piece's 20th anniversary, so let me applaud the use of the straw hats and One Piece theme. I love it. Only Emma's hat is fringed and that's the best!" • Chapter 75's art is Demizu's fifth favorite color chapter cover art per the exhibition interview: "The theme was graduation, and I had a lot of trouble deciding the color of the clothes, which left a lasting impression on me. The color scheme is a bit mismatched thanks to the combination of bright colors like foreign uniforms and cherry blossoms, but I think I turned out beautifully." • Chapter 119 was the inspiration for the "The Guiding Star" short story originally published in Shounen Jump GIGA 2019 Summer Volumes 1–3 and eventually reprinted in the fourth light novel, "Films of Memories." (First part can be found here, translated by @presumenothing.) • I included the original spread of chapter 153 in WSJ because the "he is always alone" line kills me. This is also Shirai's fifth favorite color chapter cover art per the exhibition interview: "God. Representing Norman’s mental landscape like this..? I want to take a peek inside Demizu-sensei’s brain! The expression on Norman’s face, a burnt land's grief, frailty; Emma and Ray appearing there. It hit me so hard that I used the metaphor for the main story as well. I love it!" • Chapter 181 propaganda by @tutubola and some tag ramblings:

"i really like this actually. ray carrying one of the younger kids? norman w rolled up pants? the vulnerability???? all of them w rolled up pants/skirts actually. gilda looks so cute. and look at sherry she's so obsessed w norman it's so cute. i would make this more elaborate but i cant think rn be back in 46-79 business days (#it's the more-than-earned casualness of it all combined with it being one of those pictures you can hear the sound of #the soft ebb and flow of the waves and cry of the seagulls #with the warmth emanating from this scene of this family that against all odds was able to overturn destiny #and come out together just as close as not more so than where we started with them in the very first chapter #enhanced by the gentle hues of the setting sun to parallel the end of their long and hard-fought journey #and the warm air that's carried by an equally gentle sea breeze~ #shoutout specifically to seeing Anna‚ Don‚ Norman‚ and Ray naturally falling into their elder sibling roles #showcasing one of the fundamental cores of this series #healingly wholesome)

[fullscoreshenanigans]

Thoma and Lani teasing Ray after this is so incredibly real

(Mystic Code Book Chapter 2 Bonus Comic for Chapter 48)

Norman might potentially get flustered (see: his reaction to Emma in the infirmary when he's sick), but Ray just makes it ridiculously easy and fun to tease him over it with how riled up he can get. They adore their big brother so so much but they would never let him live it down (for a bit) <3

honestly i dont ever really imagine any of them being overly shocked because like- with the exception of the Youngest ones all of these kids watched the three of them grow up together for at Least a few years, and they all saw how close they were. so it just kinda makes sense that yk. theyd be together in this as well.

And big agree after moments like this:

(Chapter 31 | Chapter 119 | Chapter 161)

It just feels so natural for the three of them to find their way back to each other.

theres also potential with normans gang but i think that would be less funny and more they would be losing their minds like. saying they treat it like a drama seems mean but JSBDKEBB. theyd just be like hoooolyyyy fuck oh my god. what the hell. i am going to explode

Also real

(Chapter 123 | Chapter 124)

When they meet they're openly obsessing over who are these impressive people the boss holds in such high regard and is so close to (Vincent is much more lowkey, but the interest is there), so while it's not entirely a shock to them either, especially after what they witness between them at the imperial capital:

(Chapter 153)

It's still something I could see them playing up as a Big Thing as their way of showing their enthusiasm and support for the three of them.

Who has the funniest reaction to REN officially announcing they're together?

ohhh man some of the younger kids for sure. my first reaction is definitely to say thoma and lani, i always see them becoming fucking hilarious as they get older. they would tease ray sooo hard i bet. like oh man you got it bad dont you? living your life for them. growing as a person for them. CRINGE. all with love of course but yk how brothers be<3

honestly i dont ever really imagine any of them being overly shocked because like- with the exception of the Youngest ones all of these kids watched the three of them grow up together for at Least a few years, and they all saw how close they were. so it just kinda makes sense that yk. theyd be together in this as well. i think there could be funny potential in gilda and anna or whoever else arguing about if emma is in love with norman or ray and emmas just like. surprise :D frankly i think most of the humor is gonna come fromt teasing ray. that boy is so teasable. loser boy in love<3

theres also potential with normans gang but i think that would be less funny and more they would be losing their minds like. saying they treat it like a drama seems mean but JSBDKEBB. theyd just be like hoooolyyyy fuck oh my god. what the hell. i am going to explode

[chidoroki]

182 Days of TPN - Day 153

Chapter 153: "Coward"

I dunno why but I'm kinda bummed Norman's kill happened off-panel. Yeah it wouldn't feel right to see one one of the sweetest boys to take a life but that's exactly why it would work so well under his WM persona. And I just wanted to see Yverk perish, honestly. I don't like him. At least we got to see Norman attack Vylk in the second season, which is better than nothing, I suppose.

Norman would know that eradication is certainly not the only way to achieve peace if he would stop sounding like a broken record and listen to Emma's idea about the new promise and using the evil blood to save the demons. Also, I love how surprised the Lambda boys are upon hearing Emma rejecting Norman's orders/suggestion so easily. Her short & quick response is a nice callback to when she refused Ray's idea to leave all the GF kids behind back during ch4.

The WM facade that Norman is so confident with means nothing when our girl knows him so darn well, even to the point where he's lying to himself about his true feelings.

Gotta say that I prefer the anime's take on this panel much better as well. Definitely makes me feel sorry for this sad, terrified child more than a chessmaster with a god complex.

The manga does toss a whole bunch of flashbacks our way though so that does help pull some heartstrings here. I can also never remember that Norman & Vincent had the chance to meet casually while at Lambda. For a while I thought they only communicated via the rubix cube their entire time there. The Lambda staff should've never let these boys socialize.

They're both pretty stubborn when it comes to their own ideas but Norman has gotta know to yield once Emma has her heart set on something. You can't go against our leading lady. And how convenient that there's now a clear path between all the dead demons so she can march her way right up to him.

I love her so much for calling him out like this.

This trio is so darn precious with how much they care for each other and see each other as equals aaahh! Ray's words kinda remind me of ch178 when Norman said they would refuse to cross over to the human world if it means that Emma would have to sacrifice herself. And ch27 with Emma's famous speech about how they'll all live together and won't accept a future unless everyone is part of it. Look at that, all three of 'em having their own moments.

I don't even care if the anime switched up Ray's lines, it feels more personal to him when he draws on his own experiences and their relationship to remind Norman who he really is. I also love that someone is shown to be frustrated with Norman's actions. Emma is too, deep down somewhere I'm sure, but her voice is a lot more calming and hopeful during this scene, as usual.

Can't praise the anime for too long though since it doesn't include Ray offering his hand out to Norman like the manga does. (though perhaps it took inspiration from the following chapter since we don't see his hand there either when this moment is shown again.)

Anime also leaves Ray out of the hug for whatever reason. Maybe to match this chapter's extra page of Emma comforting a small, crying Norman, but c'mon, trio hugs are the best kind of hugs! (even though I personally prefer the hug shown next chapter a little bit more.) I can appreciate how the anime had Norman's hood fall down once Emma caught him as he fell to his knees, kinda like how his entire cape flew off here.

Favorite panel/moment:

Yeesss sweetie! Put that boy in his place!! I imagine she would've been just as angry if she had learned any sooner that Ray was sacrificing their siblings back at GF, so he's lucky all he got was a death glare in ch15.

Their faces are SO ADORABLE HERE!! HELP! I LOVE THEM!

[youuuimeanmee]

"Goodbye everyone" - Norman, 2045

"I'm home" - Norman, 2047

[fullscoreshenanigans]

These are still the realest tweets

Almost done reading TPN and I’m sick of all of the hot Norman this and that. In my mind he’s still just a little guy. He’s smol. A weakling (affectionate) and very soft.

He needs a hug and I want to hug him.

[81194elf]

"This time, I want to live. Together with Emma and Ray"

"Let's live on together, Norman".

[spaceoceania]

Okay so chapter 153 was a rollercoaster of emotions but you literally can't tell me Emma and Ray just proposed to Norman..

LIKE IT LITERALLY SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE FLAT OUT PROPOSING TO NORMAN

I MEAN LOOK AT THIS

AND NORMAN SAID YES😭😭😭💖

I'm so happy my best boy Norman is back and that the full score trio didn't break up :')

[bluelric]

Zazie and his paper bag - Chapter 153/154

[fullscoreshenanigans]

All of these are so great but of the ones that haven't already been shared

TPN fans! Before the year ends, please share a Norman drawn by Posuka that you adore!

[fullscoreshenanigans]

I imagine Norman singing Bohemian rhapsody but only from the line "Mamaaa! Just killed the man!.."

[alvacchi]

TPN 153 Highlights

TPN 153 captured the angst so beautifully.

The trio hug. That's so endearing every time.

Norman finally breaking down in front of his best friends, pleading for help.

Showing vulnerability

That itself takes strength, not weakness.

A well done chapter. I feel bad for Norman.

[cyphershuyoo]

SPOILER ALERT FOR CHAPTER 153 OF TPN!!!

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SPOILER ALERT 🚨

Do not read on if you have not read the new chapter of TPN... you have been warned!

Did anybody else feel so happy but also sad when Norman was breaking down towards the end of the chapter? AND THAT HUG GOT ME IN TEARS!!! Like I have been waiting for this talk between Emma, Ray, and Norman forever but I’m so afraid that Norman is going to die! I just want to best for my babies! ALSO WHAT IS THE FUCKIN PROMISE!!! I’ve been waiting for any answer for like 20 chapters now!!!

[chidoroki]

182 Days of TPN - Day 56

Chapter 56: “A Deal, Part 1”

His threats might scare the kids had they not already dealt with an adult such as Isabella. He might’ve fired a shot in Emma’s general direction, but their mom has literally broken bones and shipped out several children. Ya can’t get much scarier than that.

I know I said it already, but I still wanna know how the other three farm’s IDs are coded as well as where those from Goodwill Ridge are located on their bodies. We only have Barbara & Cislo as reference for that farm and their IDs aren’t anywhere plainly visible, even in their various flashbacks/extras (ch124/129/153/154).

Unfortunately for y’all, your IDs aren’t as easily concealed like the rest of them. With Grace Field often renowned as the top premium farm, we see how troublesome their ID placement truly is in ch117. (Emma sorta uses this and GF’s reputation to her advantage in Goldy Pond though.)

They only arrived at the shelter the previous day.. how much did you two possible read in one night??

I still dunno how the monitors can get so many vantage points or where their camera or whatever are really, but they’re able to gather information from other farms, somehow. I guess that random radio season two had the kids find isn’t totally random, or at least the idea of it.

Keyword: FOUND. In one of the many books from the shelter’s huge library. Not conveniently pinned to the wall in the monitor room in plain sight. Stupid anime.

Naturally, the anime leaves out the second half of this letter too.. or maybe Gilda just never reads the full thing. We never actually see what’s written on the letter as we do in manga, but it’s safe to say it was shortened regardless.

Ray sticking to his forest vow never fails to put a smile on my face. Talk that determined protagonist talk, boy!

Can’t blame them for being doubtful though. He’s serious this time kids, trust him!

Do ya see how unbothered they look? Not surprised at all that he broke free from the restrains nor do they show any sign fear. Even if they were the tiniest bit scared, RE surely wouldn’t show it.

Favorite panel/moment:

While I do enjoy the two troublemakers being skeptical about Ray staying alive, I also fancy this Chris in the background. For a little dude who doesn’t have that big of a role, I sure do love him a bunch.

[migila]

Yes, finally! Now they just need to keep him from dying...

[notelectrictigerart]

Chapter 153: Coward

What do you want to do, Norman?

[youuuimeanmee]

Ahhh

My life is complete now.