#The Daichis - Earth's Defense Family

[aahcaimhcone]

Ellen Shiratori transformed into Cure Zephyr (Go! Princess Pretty Cure)

[sentai-cafe]

The Daichis from The Daichis: Earth's Defense Family

[animemascotarchive]

Today’s anime mascot of the day is…!

Weird from The Daichis: Earth's Defense Family!

[lettersfrombeachhead]

i could treat him right!!!! 🥺

[asterrrrion]

Saw that a lot of people liking my post about Haikyuu names, I'm glad you found it interesting! So I'm making another part. Choosing Karasuno names ! I'll probably make all of the team's names in other parts afterwards. (And then the other characters but uh... Seeing as there's a lot of characters in Haikyuu that'll take a while.)

So first of, Karasuno 烏野. So 烏 'Karasu' means crow or raven. I think most people who've watched the show know that, but just in case you were wondering why they were always represented as crows... Interesting to note that it looks remarkably similar to 鳥 'Tori', bird. 'No' 野 on the other hand means plains, field or rustic. So Karasuno literally means the Crow Field. Also, the school is kinda supposed to be in the middle of nowhere, so it makes sense.

澤村 大地, Sawamura Daichi. I had to search pretty far on internet because 'Sawa' 澤 wasn't anywhere in my dictionary and DeepL didn't give me much either, which is probably because it's a college level kanji. So it's a commonly used kanji in names but not anywhere else anymore, I'm pretty sure. It means "watery zone with plants and not very deep water", so basically a swamp. 村 'Mura' is a village or a small town. So 澤村 might be referring to a town based on swamps ? Again, Karasuno, concrete, etc.

大 'Dai' means big, great, the large part of [], etc. It's also used in The Great King for Oikawa. Also, don't mix it with Kitagawa Daiichi ! There's a double I and the kanjis have nothing to do with each other. 地 'Chi' means earth, ground or territory. Together, 大地 is a pretty common word used to say ground or the earth as in the solid, tangible earth. So this name was chosen for Daichi because of his role on the team : both emotionally and while playing (which we can see because he's good at defense and usually covers a big part of the field in it and is otherwise well-rounded) he's their support, the ground they stand on to play. It might seem obvious for a captain, but actually if you think about it all of the Haikyuu captains have very different styles of leadership. In that same idea, we can denote how every team member calls him by his first name, which is I think one of the only ever first name uses in Haikyuu outside of family.

This isn't the post to talk about it, but Karasuno, through Daichi, Ennoshita and Yamaguchi has a tradition of having not the strongest players as captains, for them to act as supports instead of leaders. This isn't the case in... Pretty much every other team except Inarizaki. Really interesting also to think about the differences between Oikawa's leadership and Ushijima's, considering both of their teams entirely resolve around them and they're the team leaders.

菅原 孝支, Sugawara Kōshi. 菅 'Suga' is a botanic family called in English sedge or cypercae. It has a lot of species but one of them was what was used in Egypt to make papyrus. Sedges are heavily associated with wet and tropical lands (also... swamps haha) and poor soils. They look basically like grass. It's a common Kanji in Japanese names. 原 'Hara' here pronounced wara for ease of pronunciation (the Japanese do that a lot) means field, plain, prairie, tundra, wilderness... You get it. The same kanji, pronounced 'Gen' means original or primary. Together, the two kanjis mean cedge field, but it's interesting to think about Suga, as a setter who was fired from the starter players for Kageyama, to have a Kanji that also means original in his name.

孝 'Kō' means filial piety, so it's pretty common in children names of course. It might also refer to his devotion and encouragement of the Karasuno team. 支 'Shi' means branch or support. This is of course referring to his role as a support to other players. Also !! 地支 'Chishi' so Chi and Shi together from Daichi and Kōshi, form the word for the Earthly Branches, an ancient chinese astronomy concept of division of the sky in twelve branches that formed many things in Chinese and Japanese society, including their zodiac and calendar system. No interpretation here, I just think it's fun.

I won't explain Asahi's name here, because it needs to be besides Nishinoya (their names are complementary), so that's the end of this post ! I thought about making other characters names here, like Narita and Kinoshita, but nobody remembers those guys actually exist and we know so little about them that it'd be useless.

[ljaesch]

Tubi TV Is Streaming The Daichis – Earth’s Defense Family Anime

Tubi TV Is Streaming The Daichis – Earth’s Defense Family Anime

The Fandom Post is reporting that Tubi TV is now streaming The Daichis – Earth’s Defense Family anime in its subtitled form. However, the site’s report points out that the first episode of the 13-episode anime is missing from the service.

Originally known as Chikyuu Bouei Kazoku, the anime was an original series from Bandai Visual and Group TAC that aired in the Winter 2001 season. Created by…

[thefullmetalfairy]

I'm just gonna make a list of all the anime I've watched so far and I'll update it whenever a new one pops up. I want everyone to add whatever anime they've watched so we can have a giant watch list.

1. Black Butler

2. HunterxHunter

3. One Piece

4. Claymore

5. Fairy Tail

6. Devil May Cry

7. Godannar

8. The Gokusen

9. Cowboy Bebop

10. Big O

11. Mezzo

12. Excel Saga

13. Xxx-Holic

14. The Ancient Magus Bride

15. A Centuar's Life

16. FullMetal Alchemist (including brotherhood)

17. How To Keep A Mummy

18. Princess Tutu

19. Powerpuff Girls Z

20. Yu-Gi-Oh (including 5ds and Zexal)

21. Pokemon

22. Slayers (Next, Try, Revolution, Evolution R)

23. L&R (Licensed By Royalty)

24. Haibane Renmei

25. Pretear

26. Ah! My Goddess

27. Air Master

28. Aquarion

29. Armitage

30. Attack On Titan

31. Azumanga Daioh

32. Big Windup

33. Blood Plus

34. Strike Witches

35. Card Captor Sakura

36. Keko Kamen

37. The Wallflower

38. Chobbits

39. Witch Blade

40. Dokkoida

41. Those Who Hunt Elves

42. Fruits Basket

43. Galaxy Express 999

44. Wolf's Rain

45. Guilty Crown

46. Hakugei: Legend Of Moby Dick

47. Space Pirate Captain Harlock

48. Hetalia

49. Kaleido Star

50. Higrashi

51. Lucky Star

52. Cutey Honey

53. Mushi Shi

54. Magi

55. Shugo Chara

56. Ikki Tousen

57. Inuyasha

58. Jubei-Chan The Ninja Girl: Secret Of The Lovely EyePatch

59. Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid

60. Monster Musume

61. Moon Phase

62. Ouran HighSchool Host Club

63. School Rumble

64. Rurouni Kenshin

65. Revolutionary Girl Utena

66. The Daichis (Earth Defense Family)

67. Cells At Work

68. Gakuen Babysitters

69. Macross Delta

70. Demon Slayer

71. My Hero Academia

72. Tai Chi Chasers (can someone help me find season 2????)

73. That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime

74. Blood-C

75. Mo Dao Zu Shi

76. Dies Irae

77. Assassination Classroom

78. Princess Jellyfish

79. Saga Of Tanya The Evil

80. Afro Samurai

81. Seraph Of The End

82. The Promised Neverland

83. The Seven Deadly Sins

84. Violet Evergarden

85. Welcome To Demon School! Iruma-Kun

86. Angels Of Death

87. Carole & Tuesday

88. Tokyo Godfathers (a movie)

89. Cross Ange

90. Dororo

91. Elfen Lied

92. Familiar Of Zero

93. Ghost Stories

94. Ghost In The Shell

95. Midori Days

96. Hellsing

97. Hyperdimension Neptunia

98. Panty & Stockings With Garterbelt

99. Nanbaka

100. The Boy And The Beast (movie)

101. The Island Of Giant Insects/ Kyochu Retto (movie)

[yumeyooa]

01—the whimsical tune | sugawara koushi

—as per royal tradition, prince sugawara koushi, second in line to the throne of the kingdom of corvus, is to spend one whole spring in the kingdom of angora, strengthening relations between the two neighbouring kingdoms. but while exploring the forests of the otherwise mysterious land, he comes across a rather curious stranger, gracing the woodlands with her whimsical tunes and enigmatic melodies. The more they meet, the more enchanted he becomes and sugawara soon finds himself diving deep into her everything; not knowing of the dangerous wonders that would befall him the more he falls

➢  pairing: sugawara koushi x female! reader

➢ genre: fluff | angst | royal au | supernatural au | strangers to lovers | prince! sugawara | rated 15

➢ word count: 11.9k+ 

➢  warning: i may or may not have overused the word brother at the first half... 

➢ love letter: okay so i may have gotten carried away, and my hand may have slipped but i hope you enjoy this chapter!! let me know what you think! i’d appreciate the feedback hehe

want to be tagged? send in an ask!

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It was pretty unusual to see the Imperial Training Grounds so lively this early in the morning. 

Granted, it wasn't that early. The sun was just about to reach its peak, gracing the earth with its blistering heat, and the royal knights, the most established military organization in the kingdom, were about to have their long-awaited lunch break, but even so, they couldn't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

It wasn't every day that two of the kingdom's princes had a sparring match, after all. 

The second prince, Sugawara Koushi, grunts as he takes a defensive stance against his half-brother and heir to the throne, Sawamura Daichi. He's never been fond of sword fighting. It confused him how one (many actually) could enjoy the art of battling to the death. Sword fighting was gruesome, bloody, and downright nasty. It was something he did out of necessity. Even if he excelled over the regular knights in the palace, he would still never do so willingly. It was more to keep his pride as royalty if you will. 

But Daichi? Daichi excelled in sword fighting. Abnormally so. It was a miracle to Sugawara that he could even hold his ground against him. The crown prince was a master swordsman, skillfully wielding his blade against his own like it were mere child's play; that stupid, obnoxious smirk plastered on his face, a sight that got Sugawara's blood boiling. 

"Are you ready to give in, brother?" Daichi taunts, striking once more as Sugawara rushes to defend himself, causing an uproar of admiration from the crowd. With his subjects watching, it would be shameful for him to just give in, no matter how much Sugawara wanted to admit defeat and just sit down on a nearby bench and rest. 

But alas, his pride was on the line. 

"As if, brother," Sugawara taunts back, quickly unveiling a counter-attack that managed to catch Daich off guard. "Perhaps the one who should give in is you."

The satisfying feeling that came with seeing the look of shock on Daichi's face was perhaps one of the only things that Sugawara enjoyed about sword fighting. The rush of adrenaline and euphoria vibrated within his veins, and for a second, Sugawara felt alive. It felt good to have the upper hand, even if it was just for a moment. It somehow reminded him of the times when he and Daichi would sneak out while their tutor wasn't watching and play around the palace gardens. A time when they could just be brothers and not princes with the weight of the kingdom on their shoulders. 

Nowadays, those moments were few and far between. But that didn't mean they were completely gone. 

The look of shock on Daichi's face fades into one of playfulness that Sugawara's sure mirrors his own. The only reason Sugawara would ever agree to a sparring match in the first place was because it was one of the only ways he and Daichi could truly bond as brothers, a time where they could let down their guard for just a few moments, even if it meant being edged on by the royal knights. 

Sugawara smiles, offering his brother a helping hand, to which Daichi takes with a laugh, hoisting himself up, before wrapping an arm around Sugawara and ruffling his hair playfully, causing laughter amongst the troops. 

"Since when did you have the upper hand, little brother?" Daichi teases, a bright smile plastered on his face. "You've gotten quite strong since the last time we sparred!"

"Says the one who took it easy on me," Sugawara scoffs, rolling his eyes playfully. "Never took you as one with a soft heart, brother."

"Me?" Daichi gasps exaggeratedly. "Why, whatever are you talking about?" 

There's a small silence that befalls the two princes before they burst into laughter once more, separating from their 'embrace' and giving each other a handshake. 

"I'll get you for real next time," Sugawara playfully promises as the brothers make their way towards a bench, waving the commander to dismiss the knights for their break in the process, to which he does, the crowd dispersing into smaller groups.

"You always say that, brother," Daichi remarks, rolling his eyes as his own knight offers him a glass of cold water and a towel, to which he accepts gratefully. "Yet it always ends up the same way."

"Ugh," Sugawara groans, taking his own towel and water from his knight. "You don't have to remind me."

The two brothers laugh once more, wiping off the sweat from their faces and gulping down the water they were provided. The silence is only momentarily, however, as Sugawara's attendant approaches the duo staunchly. 

"This servant greets His Royal Highnesses." Sugawara smiles, noticing the nervous look on his attendant's face. However, it was a given, considering he wasn't that familiar with his older brother, as he was pretty new (well, if you consider three years new, that is). 

"It's alright, Yamaguchi," Sugawara reassures, handing the empty cup to his knight, who takes it from his hand. "No need to feel so nervous around the crown prince. What is it?"

At his words, Yamaguchi calms down, and Sugawara smiles at the sight of his shoulders relaxing and his stance becoming a bit more confident. Sugawara treated Yamaguchi like a younger brother, mainly because he personally chose him as his attendant after the scandal that came with the previous one. 

"Your highness," Yamaguchi says, turning his attention towards Sugawara. "His majesty, the king, requests for your presence."

"Me?" Sugawara exclaims before he can think about that. "Are you sure?" Yamaguchi nods, eyes darting from Daichi to Sugawara warily. "Yes, your highness."

"Well, that's odd," Sugawara mumbles to himself before turning to his brother, who was busy looking over the knights who were all over the training grounds, a small smile on his face. "Do you have any idea what business father has with me, brother?"

"No," Daichi says after a few moments, turning to him. "I'm afraid not."

A frown adorns Sugawara's face as he takes his brother's words in. It was rare for their father to call him alone. After all, Sugawara was the second prince. He was never given as much attention as his brother Daichi, especially because Sugawara's mother was a concubine. 

It was known throughout the kingdom that the king greatly loved the queen and had only taken in concubines out of pressure from his advisors and administrators. The love the king and queen had for each other was pure and true, a love that was praised and admired by all citizens of the Kingdom of Corvus, no matter what class they were. 

And Daichi was the perfect fruit of their love. Tall, handsome, charismatic. Sawamura Daichi was the epitome of what the crown prince should be, a great leader and an outstanding heir to the throne who excelled in all aspects, from etiquette to swordsmanship and ironically enough, even a social life— despite what others might think. 

But Sugawara? Sugawara was a product of convenience. A child born to strengthen the kingdom's power. His mother, the first concubine, was a hostage from an abandoned kingdom, forced to spend the rest of her life in solitude, with scornful eyes watching her every move.

She was a mere trophy in the eyes of the kingdom, but to Sugawara, she was so much more than that.

Despite all the turmoil his father had brought to her, Sugawara's mother had cared for him with all the love she had left within the confines of her shattered heart. To his mother, Sugawara was her pride and joy.

Which was why he lived with the hope of making her life just a tad bit better, yet it was hard to do so with his brother—whom he loved and adored as well, mind you—blocking his path.

So now that the opportunity presented itself in front of Sugawara, he was nervous. His father had great expectations for his children, as seen in how he praised Daichi for every triumph he brought to the kingdom. Although the love his father had for him was not as great as his brother's, Sugawara can only hope that he'd do well enough to be acknowledged and not mess up to the point where he'd be thrown away. 

This nervousness that bubbles from within him makes the palace walls seem more intimidating than they already are. He stands in front of the throne room's doors, which loomed over him with its own majesty. The guards that stood in front of those very doors bowed in respect to him, moving to the side to open the way for him to get through, announcing his arrival.

The king sat on the throne in all of his glory, adorned in the most expensive fabrics and jewels, his crown sitting elegantly on top of his head. Eyes stern with power and regality, just as a king should have as his guards and advisers surrounded him. The throne beside him, belonging to the queen, was empty, which Sugawara expected. 

It was a known secret to the royal family that the queen wasn't particularly fond of the throne room, as she preferred to show her prestige as queen in more mundane ways, a trait Sugawara admired. 

"I greet the kingdom's brightest sun," Sugawara says, bowing down in front of his father as a courtesy. Sometimes, he hated the royal greetings. Whose idea was it to greet royalty in such an outlandish manner when they could simply say 'Your majesty?' Honestly, as much as Sugawara was well-versed in noble etiquette, he still couldn't quite understand its absurdity. 

"My son, have you been well?" For a moment, Sugawara doesn't know what to do. His father rarely outwardly showed his care and affection to him, much more so in front of an audience. Usually, when Sugawara was called in by his father, things were settled straight to the point, with no chatter in between. 

But those matters were usually simple (well, as simple as they could be) matters such as dealing with incompetent aristocrats or handling minuscule scandals. This small chatter between father and son meant that his father had called him for something more important than anything he's ever called him for before, and Sugawara can only hope that he would be able to fulfill the expectations that came with it. 

"Yes, father," Sugawara responds, snapping out of his trance. "The Ancient Ones have blessed me with their grace and have granted me good health." 

The Ancient Ones were the guardian deities of the Kingdom of Corvus. Ancient beings with divine energy that made a pact with their human ancestors thousands of years ago. The kingdom thrived on a peaceful relationship with the deities, creating a harmonious balance that sustained the nation in every aspect. They were revered beings, even more potent than the strongest men. And anyone who dared disrespect them, regardless of their status, was to be dealt with immediately.

"Good," the king nods, not even a drop of emotion showing on his face. It unnerved yet relieved Sugawara at the same time as he waited for his father to continue, curiosity and nervousness flowing throughout him. 

"My son, are you familiar with the Kingdom of Angora?" There's a subtle hint hidden within the King's words, a warning if you will. It was almost as if his words were a test, a challenge to see if the king had made the right choice in choosing Sugawara to carry out the task he was about to give. 

"To an extent, father," Sugawara replies, gathering his thoughts slowly. The Kingdom of Angora was a kingdom south of Corvus, known for its incredible power and advanced civilization. It was a kingdom that was significantly more powerful than their own in terms of status and influence. "Angora is a kingdom that has a long-established relationship with our kingdom, most especially in terms of trade and commerce." 

The king remains silent, urging his son to continue. "For years, our kingdom has provided bountiful crops in exchange for their one-of-a-kind inventions. Allying with the kingdom of Angora has helped accelerate the rate of development within the kingdom to a tremendous degree."

"That is right," the king says, nodding in approval. "And to strengthen our relationship with Angora, every twenty years, our kingdom sends over a delegation to theirs and vice versa. Are you aware of this?"

If Sugawara were honest, not so much. After all, he had just turned twenty a year ago, so this event was not brought up as much as it should have been during his childhood years. Moreover, whenever the subject was brought up, his tutor often brushed it off, reassuring Sugawara that he would not be part of the delegation if ever the event were to occur. 

Yet, it seemed as if his tutor was mistaken. 

"Yes, father," Sugawara says, knowing that saying anything other than that would disappoint the king. It is only at this answer does the king show even the slightest of emotion, a cunning yet satisfied smile on his face. 

"Excellent," he gleefully remarks, leaning back on his throne. "Sugawara, my child. After careful consideration and consultation with my advisers, it is with great pleasure that I have decided that you will be our representative to be sent to the Kingdom of Angora. Isn't that just marvelous?" 

The King's laughter almost feels as if it were mocking him, Sugawara thinks to himself. As far as he knows, the delegation lasts for one whole spring. And as much as Sugawara appreciates the change of pace, the announcement still seems like a low blow. 

Because as much as the delegation was an honor and an opportunity on the surface, any noble who was familiar with the king knew how much he despised the kingdom of Angora, despite their excellent relationship. Perhaps it was an inferiority complex, but Sugawara's father just couldn't stand the sight of an empire with more power than he has. It was only thanks to the queen that he hadn't acted on this selfish desire in the first place. 

So despite what others might think, the people chosen for the delegation were those that the king was not particularly fond with. This means that Sugawara would be stuck with nobles who have ongoing conflicts with the king throughout the journey or with the royal family in general. Which was not going to be pretty in the slightest. 

But, what the king says, goes. And despite how much Sugawara wanted to avoid being stuck with judgemental nobles, waiting for their chance to bring the royal family down, he couldn't. So with a sigh, he brings himself back together and looks up at his father, who was looking back at him with an expectant gaze. 

"Indeed, father. It is an honor to serve the kingdom in this manner. I shall do my best to meet your expectations and bring glory to the nation." While Sugawara bows, his father lets out heft laughs, his advisors clapping and nodding along with him. 

"Wonderful! As expected of my second child." There's malice in his father's words, one that never fails to send shivers down his spine. "I'll be expecting admirable results from you, my son." The king says, a warning glance hidden in his eyes that doesn't go unnoticed by Sugawara. "You are dismissed."

With a curt bow, Sugawara stands and makes his way out of the throne room, a stoic expression on his face that remains until he passes the giant doors and comes across his attendant, Yamaguchi, who was waiting for him on the other side with nervous yet restrained eyes. 

"How was it, your highness?" Yamaguchi asks, trailing after him. "Did it go well?" The two stopped just as they round the corner, far from the prying eyes of the king's guards. It was never a good idea to show even the slightest bit of his true colors in front of the king's personal servants. It was too risky, something that the king could eventually use against him if ever the situation were to call for it. 

"As well as it'll ever be," Sugawara says, sighing. "Have you any idea where my brother is? I have something to say to him."

"His highness, the crown prince is currently in the third prince's palace," Yamaguchi says, a tense tone in his voice. Speaking about any other member of the royal family aside from his master Sugawara was still hard for him to do, no matter how much his master told him that his brothers were anything but intimidating. 

"Brother Asahi's palace?" Sugawara asks curiously, turning to his attendant. "Whatever for?" 

"It seems as though Prince Asahi has invited the crown prince for some afternoon tea, your highness." Much to Yamaguchi's surprise, Sugawara turns to him in faux offense, a playful look on his face. 

"And he dares not invite me? Outrageous!" He exclaimed, huffing as he turned to walk down the hall. "Make no haste, Yamaguchi. Let us head toward Brother Asahi's palace this instant!"

Azumane Asahi, the third prince of the Kingdom of Corvus, was much more gentle than his two older half-brothers. As the child of the second concubine, who was wed to bridge the gap between the nobles and the commoners, he was often looked down on by the aristocracy for his 'mixed' blood. Yet, that never bothered him as he had no interest in politics or noble affairs. 

All he wanted was to use his status and privilege to help the commoners of the kingdom in whatever way he can. So it wasn't rare to see Prince Asahi engaging in donations and collaborating with the church. But aside from being a literal saint, the third prince was surprisingly infamous for his ability to bake. 

Typically, nobles would be ridiculed for doing something a 'servant' would do, as they'd put it. But Prince Asahi was able to turn that noble weakness into an advantage, owning the most extensive bakery business in the country that rivaled no one. Of course, some thought he was doing it as a form of exerting his presence in the political world, but a closer look and they'd see that everything the third prince did was out of the goodness of his heart. 

Which was why Sugawara found it so comforting to visit him. 

Hanging out with his second brother was a different experience than hanging out with his first brother. There was no doubt that hanging out with Prince Daichi was fun. Sugawara immensely enjoyed sparring sessions and the occasional chatter with his elder half-brother. But hanging out with Asahi was a different breath of fresh air. It was much calmer, much more relaxing, much more soothing, and good for his well-being. 

After all, who wouldn't enjoy spending time drinking tea and eating sweets? 

Sugawara enters his brother's grounds, greeted by the servants who stare at him frantically, surprised at his sudden appearance. Nevertheless, Sugawara simply smiles at them, greeting the servants with a refined grace befitting of a prince. 

With Yamaguchi trailing behind him, he heads towards his brothers' gardens, knowing perfectly well that his two brothers were having tea in the pavilion that graced the garden's center. 

"Brother Asahi!" He calls as he approaches said pavilion, catching sight of his two brothers chatting amongst themselves with their knights and attendants on their side. His two brothers look up at him, both with differing expressions—Asahi with a surprised one and Daichi with a more amused one. 

"Oh, Brother!" Asahi exclaims, smiling brightly. "What brings you here at this hour?" 

Sugawara huffs, sending his brother a playful glare as he takes a seat in the last available chair in the pavilion. "To snack, of course! I can't believe you have the audacity to not invite me for some tea, dear brother. I am very offended." 

A sheepish smile forms on Asahi's face as he takes in Sugawara's playful antics. "I apologize, brother. I was supposed to invite you as well, but Brother Daichi informed me that you had prior engagements…."

At his brother's words, Sugawara turns to his elder brother, giving him a playful glare to which he simply smiles, sipping his tea as if he's done nothing wrong. Sugawara knew what that look on his face meant. His brother was playing with him,

"I never took you as a trickster, dear brother," Sugawara says, sighing. "What would the public do if they were to find out?"

"Why I'm not sure what you mean, brother," Daichi says, as composed as ever. "Since when have I been a trickster? I was merely informing brother Asahi here about your schedule, was I not?" He lets out a chuckle, setting down his cup of tea. "Was that a joke? If so, then I'm afraid you may need a few extra lessons in the art of comedy, dear brother, your skills are very much lacking…."

There's a small silence that settles between the three brothers, with Sugawara and Daich sending each other playful glares at their little exchange. Asahi sighs as if he were used to the situation at the sight of their exchange, setting his own cup of tea down before addressing his elder brothers. 

"Brothers, as much as I enjoy your playful banter, I would very much like to indulge in today's afternoon tea in peace if you don't mind." There's a sharpness in Asahi's voice, one that doesn't go unnoticed by Sugawara and Daichi, who immediately drop the act, giving each other a sheepish smile. As much as Prince Asahi was a gentle prince, he also had times where he was stern and downright terrifying. He was a member of the royal family, after all. 

"My apologies, brother Asahi," Sugawara says, sighing as a servant pours him his own cup of tea. "I'm afraid I was too caught up in the moment. You do know how much I enjoy your afternoon tea."

"Of course, brother," Asahi says, the sternness fading and his gentle smile slowly coming back. "I heard father summoned you. Whatever was it about?"

Sugawara sighs, suddenly brought back to the memory of what had occurred mere moments ago. It was a wonder how playfully arguing with his brothers had lifted the worries and burdens off of his shoulders. But now that he was reminded of the grave reality he was to face, he couldn't help but feel all of those responsibilities crash down on him once more, his eyebrows furrowing in response. 

"Father wishes to appoint me as the representative for the delegation that is to head towards the Kingdom of Angora," Sugawara says, groaning. "I'm sure you both are aware of what that implies."

"Heavens!" Asahi exclaims, eyes wide. "I heard the first son of Count Terushima will be a part of the delegation."

"You mean that vile Marquess Yuji?" Daichi scoffs, gaze hardening. "That atrocious man who tried to seduce Sister Kiyoko?"  

"I'm afraid so," Asahi says, a troubled expression on his face. "Will you be alright, brother? I'm certain that father will choose other nobles who are against the royal family…."

"If you wish, I can speak to father on your behalf," Daichi continues, looking at his younger brother with concern. "It's absurd that a member of the royal family has to lead a bunch of despicable aristocrats who dare defy royalty for the sake of protecting their power, on foreign grounds at that."

"I shall be fine, brother," Sugawara says, waving Daichi off. "Instead of sabotage, I'd rather look at this as an opportunity to prove myself to father. Although, I'm not sure if my sanity will last throughout the entirety of spring." 

"The entirety of spring?" Asahi asks, surprised. "You'll be gone for that long?"

"It's part of the agreement, brother," Daichi answers in Sugawara's stead, looking at his younger brother with pitiful eyes. "Each delegation will spend an entire spring in the other kingdom, strengthening ties and finding new ways to advance their respective countries."

"I'm aware of that, brother," Asahi says, looking distraught. "But still, one whole spring is too much…."

"Why?" Sugawara asks, perking up. "Will you miss me when I leave, brother?" Sugawara's question flusters Asahi, who immediately tries to brush it off, much to his and Daichi's amusement. Prince Asahi was always the more emotionally vulnerable out of the three brothers. Compared to the two, he didn't have as many expectations set upon him, so he was free to show as much emotions as he wanted to. A blessing and a curse at the same time. 

"Don't be sad, brother Asahi," Daichi says, trying to comfort him in the best way he can. "Look on the bright side; maybe our dear brother will finally find himself a wife during his stay in the Kingdom of Angora."

"Indeed, brother, maybe I wi— wait… I most certainly won't!"

It's quite a sight to behold, honestly. If this were in front of anyone else, Sugawara would not have shown the slightest reaction. However, in front of his brothers, Sugawara could be free to let his guard down. Just like he was at that moment, eyes wide in surprise, looking at his elder brother in shock, while Asahi lit up, glad at the sudden revelation. 

"Oh yes!" Asahi exclaims, grabbing Sugawara's hands into his and looking into his eyes intently. "Do use this chance to find yourself a lover, dear brother. You're getting older with each passing year, and yet you're still a bachelor!"

Speechless, Sugawara could do nothing but gape at his brother, who was looking at him expectantly, as if he had placed stars within his eyes. "Brother Asahi is right," Daichi says, smiling mischievously. "You are the only one of us without a lover, brother. Even Sister Kiyoko is to be married to Sir Ryuunosuke this summer, so what's stopping you from finding love?" 

"Royal Responsibility?" Sugawara says as if that were the most obvious thing in the entire world. "I am a prince, brother. I can't simply frolic around seducing ladies for my own benefit!" 

"Really, brother?" Daichi says, giving him a deadpan stare. "Royal responsibility? Are you not aware that you aren't the only prince in the vicinity?" 

"Of course I am!" Sugawara exclaims, slightly flustered. "But still, it is different! You learned to love your spouse after your marriage was arranged, brother. And Brother Asahi, you have all the freedom in the world to choose whom to love! I, on the other hand…."

Asahi and Daichi look at each other, exchanging concerned glances at their brother, who seemed quite perplexed by the situation. Daichi sighs, gathering his thoughts before looking at Sugawara head-on. 

"Brother, you are a prince, are you not?" 

"Yeah, but—"

"—Then take advantage of it. No matter what others may say, you are still a prince of this kingdom. Therefore, you of all people should have the authority to love whom you choose."

A sudden silence falls between the brothers, this one much heavier than the last, yet at the same time, it's liberating. Daichi's advice provides a clear path for Sugawara, even if it was just for a mere moment. 

"I hope you take this advice to heart, brother," Daichi continues after much silence. "It will truly do you good to find love in your life." 

Sugawara sighs, still unsure about the situation, yet he looks at his brothers with a slight smile on his face as an act of reassurance. 

"Thank you, brother," He says. "I will try to look for love, but I hold no promises that it will be found in the Kingdom of Angora." 

The three burst into laughter, the heaviness of the previous situation lifting from their minds. "Who knows, brother?" Asahi says, taking another sip of his tea. "After all, only the Ancient Ones know where our love can be found."

"Indeed," Sugawara agrees, looking up at the sky, eyes squinting from the brightness of the sun. "Who knows what will unfold?" 

“Your highness, we have arrived at the Kingdom of Angora.” 

Sugawara looks up from where he sat in his abnormally luxurious carriage, documents in hand as he takes a peek outside. It had been a few weeks since his afternoon tea session with his brothers, and since then, he had been relatively busy, juggling preparations for the delegation as well as taking care of his own duties as the second prince in the process. 

Not to mention having to deal with all the power-hungry nobles who visited him with regards to the delegation, trying to bribe their way into his favor. It was laughable, really. How could they be so obvious with their intentions? Had they no shame or pride as a noble? Whenever such greedy nobles called for his attention, Sugawara wanted nothing more than to throw them off a cliff and watch them drown. But alas, he couldn’t, lest he risk the reputation of the royal family. So he takes their silly requests with a fake smile, giving them a sense of false hope before cruelly dismissing them afterward. 

It was at times like these where he could understand why he was a prince in the first place. 

Preparing for the delegation was a painful process indeed, but surprisingly enough, the long journey to the kingdom had been relatively peaceful. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that Sugawara rode on a separate carriage compared to the other nobles who were joining him on the delegation. Who knows what he would have done should he had been in the same carriage as Marquess Yuji? That obnoxious little playboy would rat his ear off about how he was a better-suited match for his little sister, and Sugawara swears he would go crazy if he spent more than an hour listening to his pathetic whines. 

Sugawara sighs, setting down the documents he held into the portable table in front of him as he takes in the view. Compared to his kingdom, the Kingdom of Angora was filled to the brim with one-of-a-kind industrial buildings. According to Yamaguchi, the outskirts of the capital were home to factories— large warehouses used to develop technological goods. A true sight to behold indeed. 

The delegation had just surpassed the border to the Kingdom of Angora mere moments ago and was now making their way towards the capital. The second prince had only been to the kingdom once before when he was a child, and back then, he was amazed at how stunning the country was with its high-class buildings that far surpassed his own kingdom’s

And this time was no different. 

The Kingdom of Angora was spectacular, more than words could say. It was different from what Sugawara remembered it to be. Although, he could chalk that up to the fact that he hadn’t stepped one foot in the kingdom since he was a child. But even then, Sugawara could tell that the Kingdom’s beauty was far beyond those in his memories. 

And perhaps that had to do with the fact that the Kingdom of Angora was a Kingdom that thrived in magic. 

It was one of the many reasons why they prospered more than any other kingdom on the continent. The Kingdom of Angora was surrounded by bountiful resources rich in mana, which was why their ability to infuse magic into every aspect of their life was unmatched. Even commoners were able to use magic, it seemed. Sugawara could sense mana flowing freely in the air, and as he breathed it in, he could feel the magic thrive throughout every crevice in his body, almost as if it were a dream. 

Back in the Kingdom of Corvus, magic was a luxury. Something that commoners could only ever dream of. Heck, even within the royal family, the practice of magic was few and far between. It took great talent and effort to be able to perform well in the area of magic, much more to master it. Sugawara himself knew how to wield a bit of wind magic, but it was nothing compared to what the mages of Angora could do. He was stuck with simple spells such as cooling the delegation when the rays of the sun threatened to burn them into ash or in simple tricks when his nieces and nephews would ask him for a show. 

But it never compared to the grandeur of using magic to fly and transport objects from one place to another. It never compared to making crops grow faster or healing severe injuries. The magic that the Kingdom of Angora possessed was indescribable, truly, a wonder to behold.

This is why it astonished him when he saw the spectacles of magic within the capital city. While he expected a great welcome for their delegation, as this was a rare occurrence, and their own kingdom had been preparing meticulously for the arrival of Angora’s delegation (courtesy of his sister Kiyoko), he wasn’t expecting it to be this grand of a scale. 

A crowd of commoners surrounded the streets, greeting them with cheers as they passed by. Enchanted flowers graced the pavements providing the atmosphere with a calm, radiant, and glorious presence. The welcoming crowd was indeed a sight to behold, more so when Sugawara took in the sight of the way magic weaved through their surroundings, lifting the carriage up in the air. 

He had been briefed of this experience nights before, and honestly, at first, he couldn’t quite wrap his head around how they were to do this. Levitation magic was considered pretty difficult back in their kingdom, something only the best of the best could do. In fact, only one person in the kingdom could do it, and that was Sir Tenma, who, even by the Kingdom of Angora’s standards, was considered a genius among geniuses. 

But to think that the Kingdom of Angora could do it so easily to the point that they could levitate an entire delegation was oddly terrifying yet amusing to him. Sugawara wasn’t going to lie; however, flying in the air, even by carriage, was exhilarating. Sugawara almost feels like a child with how fascinated he was at the sight. Perhaps this delegation wasn’t going as terrible as he thought. 

But alas, it was just that, a thought. 

“Welcome to the Kingdom of Angora!” A voice calls, booming as Sugawara makes his way out of the carriage, the rest of the nobles and servants following suit. A pathway was made for their entrance, with selected servants lined up on each side in preparation to welcome them, much like how the commoners were in the capital, but this time much more uptight and sophisticated. 

A man walks down the path, dressed in a regal red suit. His spiky black hair and obnoxious smile oddly reminded Sugawara of his elder brother back home. It was funny how he was already homesick when it hasn’t even been a full day since he stepped foot in the Kingdom of Angora. 

“I’m so glad you all arrived safely,” the man continues. “How was your trip? I hope nothing inconvenienced you on the journey here?” 

“Nothing of the sort,” Sugawara replies almost immediately, putting on what he dubs his ‘princely smile’ and shaking the strangers’ hand. “My name is Sugawara Koushi, the second prince of the Kingdom of Corvus. It is a pleasure to meet you….”

“...Kuroo Tetsuro, first prince of the Kingdom of Angora.” At this introduction, Sugawara’s eyes widened, not expecting to be greeted by such a prominent figure. “It is an honor to have an esteemed member of the Corvus Royal Family in our land.” 

“As it is an honor for the future king to welcome us,” Sugawara says, smiling. He turns to the two nobles behind him, sighing as he looks into their expectant eyes. “Here with me are Marquess Yuji and Duke Tooru, and as stated in the agreement between our kingdoms, we shall be staying for an entire spring to strengthen our relationship.”

“Indeed,” Prince Tetsuro says, greeting the nobles in the process. “Please do enter. You must be tired from the journey. The head butler will escort you to your rooms. We have prepared a welcoming banquet for you, but that will be much later.” 

Agreeing, Sugawara, along with the rest of the delegation, follows Kuroo into the castle walls. And just like how he felt mere moments ago gaping in awe at the spectacularity of the capital, he found himself mesmerized at the regal charm the castle exuded. Each crevice shined as if they were made of actual gold, artifacts, and furniture of intricate designs that he had never seen in his life littered the hallways, showcasing the majesty and splendor of the castle. Truly, it was worth the title it contained.

As the delegation separated with the head butler leading Sugawara to the third floor where his suite would be located, Sugawara found himself gaping in awe once more. However, he didn’t outwardly show it. That would be rather unbecoming of a prince, especially on his first day at a foreign kingdom.

Although nothing could beat the simplicity of his own room back in his own palace, the room the Kingdom of Angora had prepared for him was good enough for a king to reside in. It was spacious, with enough room to house a family of five, maybe even eight if Sugawara thought about it long enough. With exquisite furniture that felt soft to the touch and an atmosphere that made Sugawara feel content and relaxed. He could tell that the servants had put their all into preparing the room for him. 

“I do hope the room is to your liking, Your Highness,” the head butler explains as he takes in the way Sugawara observes his surroundings with a keen eye. “Although it does not compare to the luxury you have back in the Kingdom of Corvus, we prepared it bearing your comfort in mind, so please do tell us if anything is not to your liking. We will fix it right away.” 

“No need to worry,” Sugawara assures, giving the head butler a small smile. “The room is perfect. Excellent Work.” For a moment, the head butler is flabbergasted, eyes wide in a look of shock that has Sugawara raising his eyebrow in confusion. 

“Is something the matter?” He asks as the head butler tries to compose himself. 

“N-nothing of the sort, sire. It is an honor to receive praise from someone as esteemed and graceful as yourself.” The way the head butler’s eyes begin to dart around as if he was unsure of himself doesn’t go unnoticed by Sugawara, who can’t help but watch on, confused and amused at the same time. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must prepare for the welcoming banquet tonight. In the meantime, you are free to explore the castle grounds. But please refrain from going beyond this floor.”

“May I ask, why?” The head butler freezes as if he were hoping that Sugawara would let the subject go and not ask any more questions. But Sugawara had always been a curious fellow. Never one to stray away from something that had caught his eye. 

“It is the order of his majesty, the king,” is all the butler says as he turns away. “I hope you understand sire,” There was something about the way the head butler carried himself that seemed off to Sugawara, but he couldn’t figure out what exactly it was. So, with a defeated sigh, he dismisses the head butler leaving him alone with his attendant, Yamaguchi, who had stayed silent and observed the exchange from behind the second prince. 

“Will you go beyond this floor, your highness?” Yamaguchi asks once the two were safe, free from the ears of the head butler. Sugawara grins, turning to his attendant with a mischievous grin on his face. “Now, what makes you think that, Yamaguchi?”

“Sire,” Yamaguchi sighs, his confidence growing now that he was alone with his master. “I may have only worked with you as your attendant for a short while, but nevertheless, I’m still your attendant. I’m positive you’re itching to explore the forbidden areas in the palace.”

“How intriguing,” Sugawara muses, smiling to himself as he heads to the balcony of his room, gesturing to Yamaguchi to make him some tea. “You’re absolutely right!”

One of the many reasons why Sugawara had no drive to take over the throne of his own kingdom was that he was an inquisitive child by nature. Sugawara had always been ‘out of the box’ as his tutors once called him, never failing to give them a headache with the amount of ‘nonsensical’ questions he had. 

But more than that, his own curiosity had made him somewhat of an existential crisis to the servants of the royal palace. Sugawara was known as the prince who disappeared within the blink of an eye, always off on an unknown adventure.

 The first few times it happened, the palace was in a frenzy, afraid that he had been kidnapped, when in reality, Sugawara had been exploring an abandoned ballroom he had unexpectedly found buried deep within the castle. It was his mother who had found him that day, clutching him desperately and scolding him to never do that again. 

But Sugawara was not one to be held back, even by his own mother. Honestly, the only person he knew who could hold him back was his father. But he was out of reach for the whole spring, which meant Sugawara had complete and total freedom. 

All he had to do was play pretend. 

“Your highness,” Yamaguchi says, interrupting his train of thought as he strolls into the balcony with his favorite tea and some local snacks in hand. “I believe it isn’t a good idea to explore just yet, or whatever you plan on doing. You’ve just arrived in the Kingdom of Angora. His majesty will throw a fit if he hears that you’ve caused trouble when representing our kingdom.”

Sugawara chuckles, gratefully accepting the cup of tea Yamaguchi prepared and taking a sip. “Oh, Yamaguchi, what do you take me for? A fool?” His words cause Yamaguchi to stiffen as he stares at his master with uncertain eyes, not knowing what to say. At the sight of his uncertainty, Sugawara lets out another chuckle, smiling slightly. “Of course, I’m aware that I need to keep an image of— what did father call it again? Ah yes, perfection— around the Kingdom, and I do plan on maintaining it for the time being, but… there’s no harm in having a little bit of fun while I’m here, is there not?”

Yamaguchi sighs, retreating back to his original position as he looks at Sugawara with a deadpanned expression as if he were used to it. “I understand, your highness. My apologies for questioning your greatness.” Honestly, Yamaguchi still can’t understand Sugawara sometimes. He was indeed an odd character, acting differently depending on who he was talking to. But in a way, it was part of the prince’s charm, he figured. After all, it was that spontaneity that encouraged the second prince to take him in as an attendant in the first place, and he would forever be grateful for it. 

“If I may, your highness,” Yamaguchi speaks up, suddenly remembering an incident that had occurred a few weeks ago. Sugawara nods, encouraging Yamaguchi to continue. “Pardon me for asking, but do you not have plans to heed your brothers’ words?” 

At his question, Sugawara perks up, looking at Yamaguchi with a confused gaze. “My brother’s words?” He asks, setting his cup of tea down. “Whatever do you mean?” 

Yamaguchi fidgets in his place, unsure whether or not he should continue, but Sugawara encourages him with a gentle smile. “If my memory serves me correct, your highness, the first and third prince have advised you to find a lover, have they not?” 

It isn’t apparent, but Sugawara automatically stiffens at his adviser’s reminder, finding himself inwardly groaning. He had already forgotten about his brothers’ constant nagging for him to find a spouse and would have done well without it. But he knows that his brothers would be asking him about the matter the moment he got back from Angora. If there was one thing the three princes shared in common, it was the fact that they were persistent in things that mattered to them. A feat that currently annoyed Sugawara. 

“I’ll be honest with you, Yamaguchi. I have absolutely no plans of finding a lover throughout the whole duration of this trip.” From the corner of his eye, Sugawara sees the way Yamaguchi’s shoulders drop in disappointment, finding the sight quite amusing to see. “But if it would help appease my brothers’ insatiable need to insist on my marriage, then I suppose I—”

All of a sudden, much to Sugawara’s surprise, a gentle melody fills the air. It’s a simple melody, nothing too grand and noble; it was a melody that was soft and supple, pleasing to the ears and charming his every being. It was as if Sugawara were laying in a field of roses and dandelions and everything in between, taking in the warm rays of the sun and basking in the presence of the calm wind. 

It was like spring. 

“—Do you hear that?” Sugawara asks, eyes wide as he looks to his sides, trying to find the source of the extraordinary music he had just heard. It was like anything he had ever come across before in his life. Even the best musicians’ work couldn’t compare to the emotions that overcame him the moment the mysterious melody graced his ears. 

“Hear what, your highness?” Yamaguchi asks, confused at his master’s behavior. “That sound,” Sugawara says hastily as he stands from his seat and approaches the edge of the balcony, looking out into the palace gardens. “That music. Was it a piano? A violin? No. It was most certainly a piano, yet why did it sound so different?” 

“Your highness?” Yamaguchi calls out, approaching him cautiously. “Is everything alright?”

“Are you sure you didn’t hear it, Yamaguchi?” Sugawara asks, turning to his attendant with astonished eyes. “Are you sure you didn’t hear that majestic melody that was just playing mere moments ago?”

“I’m afraid not, your highness,” Yamaguchi answers, uncertain. He was sure that nothing had been playing the whole time. All he had been doing was waiting for his master to finish his sentence. It was strange that he had suddenly grown silent, almost as if he were bewitched by something. But oddly enough, Yamaguchi found nothing odd in the vicinity. 

“That’s odd,” Sugawara mutters to himself as he turns around, facing the palace gardens once more, wishing to hear that beloved tune one more time, “I’m pretty sure I heard something. What a shame, it was such a beautiful sound….”

Sugawara sighs before composing himself and turning to his attendant, who was still looking at him with uncertain eyes. “I apologize for that, Yamaguchi. That was unsightly of me. What was I saying?” 

Yamaguchi gulps, not sure what to make of his master’s sudden behavior. “We were discussing about a possible spouse, your highness?” 

“Ah yes,” Sugawara says, internally groaning. “Do arrange for me one meeting with any noble lady of your choosing. I trust your judgment.”

“Are you sure, your highness?” Yamaguchi asks, perplexed. “Wouldn’t it be better to handpick a date of your own choosing?” 

“Perhaps,” Sugawara says, settling into his seat. “But I don’t plan on engaging in romantic endeavors beyond this one date. For entrepreneurial endeavors, maybe. However, this is mainly to get my brothers off my back. You will assist me, won’t you?” 

“As you wish, your highness,” Yamaguchi says as if he had given up on trying to convince his master otherwise. “I shall begin the preparations right away.”

When Yamaguchi leaves, Sugawara finally feels as if he can take a breather. It wasn’t as if being around his attendant was suffocating. In fact, it was pretty enjoyable for Sugawara to be around Yamaguchi. He was fun to tease and play with, especially around the presence of his family. 

Rather what made Sugawara feel as if he were finally breaking free from the imaginary chains that bind him was the fact that he could finally process precisely what happened just mere moments ago. 

That tune. That delightful melody. That sweet sound. 

Just what was it? It lit a flame inside of Sugawara, a flame that he was entirely unfamiliar with. It was as if the sound was calling him, beckoning him to reach out and find it. It was magical and for all the right reasons. If Sugawara could, he would immediately set out to find the maker of this incredible tune, but alas, he had no leads. 

He had to test the waters, find the perfect spot for him to dive in, and search for invaluable treasure. He was in unknown territory, after all. Yet, even with the dangers it posed, Sugawara couldn’t help but get all giddy with excitement.

This was the adventure he had been searching for. Forget the fact that he was dreading the delegation due to being stuck with some irrational nobles vetting for the throne. Forget his brothers’ nagging about finding a spouse before he returned home. This was what Sugawara would do throughout his stay in the Kingdom of Angora. 

He would search every inch and crevice just to find that heavenly tune. 

The search for the mysterious tune was no easy feat, mind you. Sugawara had to endure long strides of putting on a fake facade of being the perfect prince to the Kingdom of Angora. Considering how he always had to have his guard up as compared to back at home, this trip was much more taxing, especially when it came to dealing with the Angorian Royal Family. 

Don’t get him wrong. Sugawara thinks that the royal family of Angora was charming in their own way. The king and queen were very generous in their welcoming, laughing wholeheartedly during the welcoming banquet. The many princes and princesses of the kingdom were the same, although some more reserved than others, and some with barely any reaction at all. Well, it was expected, of course. Not everyone had the same personality. 

Take the first and second princess, for example. The first princess was the queen’s daughter, with a very much aloof yet dignified personality that was pleasing to engage with. Princess Alisa was in every way a stunning princess (although not as attractive as his little sister Kiyoko, but perhaps Sugawara was biased) and held herself gracefully with an alluring charm floating around her.

On the other hand, the second princess, Princess Akane, daughter of the third queen, was anything but delicate. She was loud, rowdy, and was in no way the textbook definition of a princess. But she held herself with a certain confidence that made her stand firm. Perhaps it was due to her profound relationship with Prince Taketora, the third prince, that resulted to it. They were quite an exciting pair of siblings. 

Yet, despite how amusing Sugawara found the Angorian royal family’s dynamic to be, there was something off. There was something about them that made Sugawara keep his guard up. Maybe it was the uninteresting jokes they made or the way they unintentionally left them out of the conversation. Or perhaps it was the way they boasted about themselves as if they were the best kingdom in the whole continent. 

Really? In front of your allies? How despicable, Sugawara thought to himself. 

When he tried to bring up his curiosity over the music he had heard earlier that afternoon by inquiring about their musicians, they had answered, but not in the way Sugawara liked. The moment he brought it up, the king had gone on what felt like an endless rant about how their musicians were blessings from their god and how they had provided them the talent to be the most exquisite musicians in the whole continent. 

And maybe, Sugawara could admit that part of their boast could be true if the one behind that heavenly sound was one of the kingdom’s esteemed musicians. Then they would indeed have a basis for their claims. But at that moment, Sugawara could only despise their boasting. 

He wanted to know more than the fact that they were blessed because, of course, that was already a given. The fact that one could play an instrument was already a feat in and out of himself. What Sugawara longed to know was who was the one behind that marvelous tune and how exactly did they come up with it? What was the story behind their music? Because never in Sugawara’s life had music shaken up the way that melody had. It was truly remarkable. 

But sadly, Sugawara wasn’t able to get his answer that night. 

Or for the next few days, for that matter. 

Sugawara had expected this prior to the journey to Angora, but all these tedious tasks were hellishly dull. Ever since he was a child, Sugawara hated anything that had to do with nobility and aristocracy. It was all so pointless to him. Why did they have to be so secretive and fake all the time? Why couldn’t they be straightforward with their actions?

Nobles were nothing but sly, proud, and despicable, even with a few exceptions. And that truth remained no matter where Sugawara went. The past few days, he had been guided throughout the capital city, visiting all the noble shops and establishments and taking a closer look at how they did their businesses. 

And it was evident to Sugawara that most nobles were just in it for the money. Sure, they made good businessmen. They understood trends and what was needed within the market, but Sugawara couldn’t feel any passion in their work. Those who were passionate about what they were doing were always the most pleasing ones to converse with. It was always a joy to be around them as it made the stress of his work go away seeing the determined expressions they wore. 

But there was none of that he could see in the nobility. 

The only thing good about their greedy nature was that it provided Sugawara an opportunity to observe and integrate concepts that he found beneficial to his own country. He expected there to be tons of magic involved, but oddly enough, there was none. It was quite strange for a kingdom that prided itself on magic to not have as much of it in the business front. 

Although it made sense when he asked about it. Prince Morisuke, the second prince and the one in charge of the delegation, had informed him that magic was sacred and a bond between the citizens to their faith in the Kingdom of Angora. If they were to use it for unsightly purposes, then that magic would dwindle, and the kingdom would find themselves ruined. 

At the explanation, Sugawara decided not to push it further. Magic was something he was entirely unfamiliar with, even if he did know how to wield it. So it made sense to him that a kingdom with much more expertise in the subject would treat it as invaluable. Shame it wasn’t used as much as he thought it was. It would have done wonders. 

Aside from his curiosities about magic, Sugawara found the first two weeks of the entire delegation absolutely boring. Every day was a blur of waking up, having breakfast, visiting some sort of place with noble connection, coming back to the palace, writing reports, then sleeping. The only thing that differed was the occasional banter with Marques Yuji and Duke Tooru, who were hell-bent on having fun during the minimal free time they had. The audacity the two had, really. While he was here writing mundane reports for his father (more like his advisers) to mull over. 

That is until today. 

Today was probably the most exciting day of the delegation so far. Prince Morisuke had announced the night prior that they would be paying a visit to the royal orchestra to learn about the wonders of noble Angorian music. And to be honest, Sugawara was ecstatic. 

Because finally, he was taking the first step in achieving his goal. 

No matter how much he tried to, Sugawara couldn’t shake the thought of that melody out of his mind. It stuck to him like a parasite, reminding him day and night of how tantalizing it was. Almost as if the song itself were a seductress, lulling Sugawara into its’ arms. And he was willing to follow it. 

How desperately did Sugawara want to just drop his duties, leave, and search for the source of the sound? The more time passed, the more the thought of abandoning his father’s wishes seemed appealing, a feat that should usually have frightened the second prince by now. But that was beside the point. 

If he played his cards right, Sugawara could finally have the answer he was looking for. 

True to its reputation and prestige, the Angorian Royal Orchestra was a sight to behold. According to Prince Morisuke, they practiced in the central performing hall; A majestic concert hall that would make anyone’s jaw drop from its’ beauty and splendor. Decked in red and gold, with a dome that resembled the night sky, Sugawara could almost feel his eyes watering from the majesty of the hall’s design. 

If he ever had a chance to meet the architect, he would most definitely shower him in a million jewels and more if he so wished. 

But beyond that, the orchestra itself, composed of various musicians with talent that Sugawara could say, was out of this world. Even tuning their instruments sounded heavenly to the ears. But after hearing that delightful tune back on his first day, Sugawara couldn’t help but feel as if the music they were letting out could not compare, even though deep down he knew that they were the best of the best.

And that thought continued all throughout their remarkable performance. Don’t get him wrong, Sugawara enjoyed their performance. Their rendition of well-renowned pieces was incredible and showcased their technical skill and incomparable talent. Yet, something felt off. As if there was a missing piece in the puzzle, even though judging by the looks of the rest of his companions, their performance felt complete. 

Sugawara was sure that if he could just hear that melody one more time, he would know exactly what was missing with the performance. 

“How did you find the performance, gentlemen?” Prince Morisuke, with his light brown hair and courteous smile, asked. Before Sugawara could answer, choruses of praise from the other two nobles resonated around him, remarking how splendid the performance was. 

“And how about you, Prince Sugawara?” Prince Morisuke asks, turning to him. “How did you find the performance?”

“Splendid,” Sugawara says, a fake smile plastered on his face. “So splendid, in fact, that I would love to hear more.” Sometimes, Sugawara had to praise himself for how much of a quick thinker he was. It was obvious that his question caught Prince Morisuke off guard as he darted his eyes to meet the head conductor, who looked back with equally nervous ones. 

“I apologize, Prince Sugawara,” Prince Morisuke says, sighing in disappointment. “I’m afraid this is all our  orchestra has prepared for you today….”

“Oh,” Sugawara mutters, keeping up his facade. “That’s a shame. I was hoping such a great orchestra like yours could provide us with one more performance. Don’t you agree, Marquess Yuji, Duke Tooru?” The two nobles that accompanied him nodded enthusiastically, sharing their desire to hear the wonderful music the orchestra could offer. 

But Sugawara had other plans. 

“Even if it’s just the piano playing, we would be absolutely delighted, Prince Morisuke,” Sugawara says, a seemingly innocent expression flashing up to the exasperated prince. “However, if that too is impossible, then I suppose there’s no helping it….”

“Oh, don’t be silly, Prince Sugawara,” Prince Morisuke replies in a frenzy. “Of course, it is not a problem. I’m sure our pianists are capable of conjuring something satisfactory, am I right?” 

From the corner of his eye, Sugawara watches as the pianists panic, not knowing what to do. But a harsh glare from both the conductor and Prince Morisuke leads them to hesitantly agree, the head pianist offering to play a piece he had mastered since his childhood.

At his proposition, Sugawara could feel the excitement build up inside him, although he did well to keep it concealed. Could this pianist be the one responsible for the melody that had haunted his thoughts with each waking moment? He just had to know. Unknowingly he leaned just a bit closer, ears perked and ready to take in the music. 

But when it came, he was disappointed. 

No doubt, the music was beautiful. Sugawara could tell that the pianist put great care into each and every note they touched upon, a perfect tune flowing from his fingerprints. But it didn’t compare.

It didn’t compare to that mysterious sound he had heard. That sound that made his souls waver and his heart clench; that sound that made him yearn to hear more, to dwell in its’ masterpiece.

If not even the best pianist in the kingdom could create that sound, then Perhaps, like Yamaguchi said, it was a figment of his imagination. But could his imagination really produce such beauty? Sugawara didn’t know.

What he did know was that the moment he arrived back at his room, he slumped into the many lush seats, defeated. With the limited freedom, he had to explore, Sugawara was afraid that he would never find what he was looking for. Yamaguchi looks at him with a soft yet knowing smile, already pouring the tea he had prepared prior to his master’s arrival.

“Your highness?” Yamaguchi asked, breaking Sugawara away from his train of misery. The said prince says nothing but waves his hand, signaling his attendant to continue. “Perhaps a change of pace might relieve you of your worries? You do have the afternoon to yourself, so maybe you could use this time to explore the palace gardens?” 

At his words, Sugawara sits up, looking at Yamaguchi with a shocked face. “Just now…” he says as if a miracle were gracing his ears. “What did you just say?”

“I asked if you wanted to take a walk in the gardens, your highness,” Yamaguchi replies, confused at the sudden switch in the prince’s behavior. “You have the rest of the day off, after all….”

“Truly?!” Sugawara asks, standing up from his seat and clasping Yamaguchi by the shoulders, shaking him as if he couldn’t contain his excitement. If it weren’t for the fact that he had already set the kettle down on the table, Yamaguchi was sure that he would have let it go from his grasp, and who knows what horrors he might face once the head butler found out of his incompetence, especially as the attendant of a foreign prince.

“I have the day off today?” Sugawara continues, not caring about the near dilemma he had put his attendant through. “Do not dare lie to me, Yamaguchi, or I swear by The Ancient Ones I will—“

“—Heavens no, your highness!” Yamaguchi exclaims, begging Sugawara to stop. The prince, realizing his actions momentarily halts, staying silent to allow some space for his attendant to continue.

“According to His Highness, Prince Morisuke, the next event for the delegation will be a visit to the magic academy, which will take some time to prepare. Thus, they have allowed some liberty to the schedule….” 

It’s silent for a moment; Sugawara and Yamaguchi caught in a stare-off with Sugawara showcasing a blank look while Yamaguchi showcases an unsure one, unable to read the e thoughts swirling in his master’s mind.

“Well then,” Sugawara says, releasing his hold on the poor attendant’s shoulders. “Bless the Ancient Ones because Heaven knows how long I’ve been waiting for this day!” He exclaims, smiling brightly. “Make haste, Yamaguchi! We are to explore the palace this instant!”

Sugawara’s outburst should, by theory, surprise Yamaguchi. But throughout their stay in the Kingdom of Angora, the poor attendant has realized that this truly is how his master is. Very boisterous and spontaneous on his own terms. The second prince was indeed a curious man to get to know, and Yamaguchi can only be grateful that he got to serve him. 

The palace gardens were absolutely astounding.

Sure, Sugawara had seen the gardens from the balcony of his suite, but to see it in person, where each plant and flower was clearly displayed for his eyes to admire, was an entirely different experience.

The flora of the garden was gorgeous with its intricate details, delicate scents, and show-stopping beauty. Sugawara could only imagine how much time, effort, and care it took to maintain a garden as spectacular as this. Truly, the palace gardeners were competent and excelled at their job.

Sugawara admired the way the local flowers, trees, and herbs made him feel calm. Even though he wasn’t supposed to, Sugawara figured that in the presence of such luscious nature, he shouldn’t hold himself back from relaxing just a tad bit. His shoulders slacken, and he takes in a breath of fresh air, sighing happily at the feeling.

“I assume the garden is to your liking, your highness?” Yamaguchi asks from behind him, observing the way his master frolicked around like a little kid, even though from an outsider’s perspective, he looked as dignified and sophisticated as a prince should be.

“Yes,” Sugawara says, smiling happily. “Indeed it is. With perfect weather like this, it truly is a blessing that the royal family has given us the liberty to roam around and explore. May the Ancient Ones bless them.” 

If possible, Sugawara wanted to shower the Angorian Royal Family in many favors as a symbol of thanks for granting him the luxury of time. If he had to spend one more day galloping around nobles like a fool and writing boring reports to his father, then he was a hundred percent sure that he would have gone crazy. 

But luckily, the fresh scent of nature and the relaxing atmosphere took those burdens away from his mind, albeit temporarily. Sugawara feels like he’s at the comfort of his home, or better yet, the royal library back at his own kingdom, where he would relax by unwinding to his favorite book, while his attendant Yamaguchi searched desperately for him around the palace halls.

Ah yes, perhaps Sugawara was homesick.

Maybe that was why he had heard such a wonderful melody that day because he was missing home. Home is where the heart is, as they say. And the longing for home was especially strong on the first day. 

If that were so, then Sugawara wishes he could hear that melody again. Even if it was through a dream. That sweet, sweet melody that made Sugawara feel as if he were on top of the softest clouds, drifting through the air while the warm sun shines down on him; the scent of roses and daisies graving his senses. 

The sensation was so surreal that it was giving Sugawara chills just thinking about it. That gentle melody, precise yet hinged, confident yet soft, as if it were ringing in his ears and gracing his presence. That melody changed his perception of music after only one listen.

Oh, if only Sugawara had the chance to hear it once mo—

Wait.

Sugawara opens his eyes in shock as he finally takes in his surroundings and true to his instincts. He didn’t imagine the sound at all. Of course not, he chided himself; it sounded too realistic to be a memory born from imagination. No, instead, those clear notes that soothed his heart and would were caressing his ears at the very moment, lulling him in like it had done days before.

And this time, Sugawara was determined to find the source of it.

“Your highness?!” Yamaguchi asked, surprised to see the second prince suddenly sprint, running away from him. “Where are you going?” 

Sugawara doesn’t answer, too focused on figuring out where the sound was coming from, he turns right, heading deeper into the gardens while his attendant calls after him, trying to chase him down and ask him what the problem was, but it was no use. Sugawara was much faster than Yamaguchi. He was a prince, after all. 

Soon enough, after what felt like an eternity of running, Sugawara finds himself face to face with a cobblestone wall, a heavy door staring right back at him. That’s strange, he thinks to himself. I didn’t see this door from up on my balcony. Has it always been there?

Probably, Sugawara figures, shrugging as he takes the first step and opens the door, pleasantly surprised to see a forest on the other side.  But honestly, he shouldn’t have been. This wasn’t his castle, after all, and he had so much more to explore.

For the first time in a long time, Sugawara felt like a child again. He remembers the days when he would run around the hidden rooms of the castle and look for secret exits or lost doors. He was somewhat of a troublemaker, no matter how refined royalty made him. It was one of the only ways to truly make the most of his childhood, after all. 

Following the sound that only seemed to grow stronger the moment he took the first step out into the forest, Sugawara travels through the unknown, going through bushes and trees, desperate to hear more of that alluring tune, until he finally reached a clearing and is floored by what he sees.

There, in the middle of the forest, next to a great big tree, was a girl, a commoner by the looks of it, with ragged clothes and messy yet somehow styled hair, playing away on a beaten-up piano.

Even from afar, Sugawara could see that the piano should have been out of commission. Plants were already growing out of it as if it were eating the piano whole, and if he looked hard enough, he could see a few missing keys. But that was the least of Sugawara’s worries.

Because right now, he was entranced by how enchanting the entire scene was. The melody he had been thinking about for what felt like time eternal was brought to life before his eyes. It wasn’t as sophisticated as the Angorian royal orchestra’s performance. No, everything about the performance in front of him was rustic, simple, and carefree but somehow all the more powerful, and he couldn’t turn away.

It was as if the girl had lost herself in the music, letting her hands flow freely as they played that wonderful melody that haunted his mind and soothed his heart. This was probably a sight the most outstanding artists would kill to see. A view so beautiful, paired with a sound so mesmerizing that Sugawara can almost feel the tears slipping from his eyes.

He wants to hear more; he wants to experience more. He wants to get to know the girl and how she was able to come up with such incredible music.

But before he knows it, the music comes to a halt. The silence of the forest rushes in like a thundering wave, overcoming Sugawara with the realization that the girl he had been admiring was staring at him, terrified.

“W-who?” She stutters, eyes wide in shock. “Who are you?”

© yumeyooa 2021. All rights reserved. Copying, reposting, translating, and modifying in any platform aside from a03 and tumblr or by any means is NOT permitted and will be dealt with accordingly.

➢ taglist: @mirakeul​ 

[thisfandomgotmeagain]

Karasuno as characters in “Avatar the last airbender” because I finish my exams (PART 1):

 This is going to be a very long series–

This will take like two weeks to make--

Don’t ask how this happened, I don’t really know--

- DAICHI “The SHIELD ROCK”-

He’s an earthbender, with the most traditional techniques in all the crazy group.

          Style of fighting of Daichi, a very “keep in one place” style. 

Even in his very traditional style of earthbender we can find references to fire moves or water, even air. After all, the town where he was born has one of the most population of firebenders in the earth kingdom. 

Even his family had firebenders, in concrete his grandpa who used his fire abilities to become a blacksmith. Job that he’s learning with his father, an earthbender as well, so he has experience with fire.

      Bending hot glass to create a lamp.

He used to don’t move a lot or jump during battles, but with two crazy firebenders (Tanaka and Nishinoya) and one pain in the ass waterbender (Suga), Daichi had to learn to move more while fighting, and he hates it.

Has a very good eye to predict attacks during battles, being capable to dodge them.

A very patient guy, with quality defense, defending more than attacking. He’s so good at protecting that he got the surname “shield rock”, a rock over 750 years old under the surface of the earth that maintains his stably in front of earthquakes. Being the earthquakes his friends.  

             The “shield rock” is going to lose his shit--

He’s capable to work with any rock material from sand to minerals, or gemstones, usually creating jewelry or tools which sell or gift to his friends, always that they help to find the gemstones or materials. For example, he made a necklace to Suga after he got him twelve rare rocks.

      Trying to find gems in a river with Suga.

The first time he met Asahi almost kill him by accident with a rock.

Bright rocks are his specialty. 

    Using bright rocks to create light and see if there’s a ghost in the house. 

He has a pretty good education knowing to read and write.  

He eats rocks sometimes to bother his friends because they hate it.

Jade and salt rocks are his favorite materials to work with. 

Can’t keep his tongue inside his mouth while concentrating even in a death situation.

Probably the one who got more burns as an earthbender.  

With Suga they decided to go some day to the South Water tribe after Narita told them about the tiger’s seals.

He really likes shiny things, like  A LOT.

           He really likes the eyes of Suga for their color.

[renaxwrites]

Eleven

.07 - Night Changes 

synopsis: the number Eleven had always appeared in milestones of your life. it was a constant, and you didn’t know why. but you would soon find out when you study abroad in japan and meet Him.

pairing: tsukishima x fem!reader

warnings: none!

masterlist: here :)

a/n: hello again! it’s been a minute, and I haven’t been posting as much due to spending most of my spare time keeping informed on everything going onion world. it really has been stressful and overwhelming at times, I’ll be honest. however, if ANY of you need anyone to talk to or rant, don’t hesitate to message me! the best thing we can do is support one another as human beings. sorry if this chapter is long btw, lol. hope you enjoy <3 (English will be in bold) (here’s a link to the song in this chapter)

previous || next

Moon is lighting up her skin. She's falling, doesn't even know it yet. 

Tsukishima was the most difficult person you’ve ever tried to read. Silent but deadly. It was the things he wouldn’t say that would leave you both curious and afraid all at once. 

Yet you were falling deeper into his schemes. 

You weren’t sure what to make of your short, yet intimate, moment with the boy. And it wasn’t helping that the number Eleven kept conveniently popping up more often, as if trying to send you signs about the situation. Tsukishima, being the wild card that he is, wasn't helping either. However, as time went on, you began to learn to read between the lines of his behavior. 

At home, there would be light brushing on shoulders. Stray hairs being tucked into the back of your ear. The way he can’t seem to look you in the eye when he acknowledges the quality of your photos every so often.

At school, it was just like nothing happened between you two. However, even though he kept up his salty demeanor, the others could tell there was a smidge of a soft spot reserved for you. 

As the trip to Tokyo was getting closer, the team started to kick their practices into high gear. You had decided change your photography time of the boys a bit shorter than normal from then on, so you can help out Yachi and Kiyoko. 

The boys were on their break, and many of them went outside to indulge in some energy drinks being passed out. You sit on the sideline and begin to zone out, not noticing Suga saunter over and plop down next to you. 

“Sounds like something’s troubling you. You alright?”

You turn to see a him offering a curious smile, with a light touch of concern. 

“Sound? Did I say something out loud? Aw man, that’s great,” you sigh, suddenly embarrassed.

Suga shook his head. “No, you didn’t. Thinking can just appear very loud at times. Wanna talk about it?”

You ponder for a quick moment, deciding it was safe to confide in the vice-captain. “Just...boy trouble. Basically the summary.”

“Ah, I see. Well, I can relate to you there,” he tips his head back and sighs. 

You flinch in disbelief. “What? You’re joking, right? And why would you be having trouble? I can’t believe it.”

He laughs. “Me either, sometimes. But yeah...”

There’s a beat of silence before he suggests, “I’ll share if you do. That is, if you’re comfortable. If not, totally understandable.”

“Actually, it would be nice to confide in someone with a different perspective. I mean, I love Yachi, but I don’t want to keep bombarding her with my guy troubles. So, sure,” you admit. 

“Yeah, it’s been a while for me too. So, go ahead.”

You explain the whole spiel with the number Eleven. You were careful when mentioning your family’s background. Although the conversation was light-hearted, you trusted Suga with your past, and were rewarded with comfort as he held your hand in support. He didn’t give you the familiar pity you usually got. Instead, he intently hung onto your every word. From the very beginning with your parents, to the linked pinkies with Tsukishima, Suga nodded along, waiting until you finished to offer his insight. 

Once you were done, you heave a big sigh. “Whew, that was a lot. Sorry for just dumping the whole shebang on you.”

“No need to be sorry, y/n-chan. I’m glad you trusted me. Now, regarding Tsukishima, I definitely can see something’s happening. Not just me, either, the whole team kinda figures he is feeling something about you that he doesn’t with others. But, now that you explained it, it makes perfect sense.” 

He places his hand on his chin in contemplation. “I totally feel how you do with not being able to ‘figure him out’. There are signs that I feel are really special with this guy, but then I overthink it, which then leads me to wonder if it’s simply signs of being nothing more than a friend, ya know?” 

You nod, “Exactly. Do you mind if I ask who it may be that’s leading you in circles?”

He chuckles. “Want to take a guess?”

You tap your lips, trying to recall any details he might have given. “Well, the only people I see you consistently hang out with outside of the club is the other thirds years. Definitely not Asahi. And you’re not pining for Kiyoko-chan like Nishinoya and Tanaka, so I’m assuming it have to be...Daichi?”

Suga playfully shoves his shoves his shoulder against yours. “Well look at you, big ol’ detective, you. Your first try. And yeah, it is.” He sighs. “At least that explains a lot that I’ve mentioned, huh?”

“Yeah. Seems like we’re both in a rut.”

You both laugh, then sit in a comfortable silence for a moment. 

He lights up. “What if...there was a way...to tell them how we felt...but without actually telling them?”

Confused, you look at him with furrowed brows and curious eyes. “What do you mean?”

“Well, next week the whole team and a few players from other schools are all going to get together at this little place downtown, just to have a ‘last hurrah’ before the tournament. Arcade games, karaoke, food bar, all kinds of fun stuff!” he starts to ramble about the place.

Gently cutting him off, you question, “But what exactly does this have to do with ‘confessing our feelings without actually confessing?’” You gesture little air quotes.

He goops your nose. “Did I not mention there was karaoke? Every year there’s a little tradition between everyone of having a karaoke session. Everyone has to sing at least once. Managers don’t have to, but there’s always exceptions!”

“So? Oh wait, don’t tell me...Suga noooo...”

“Suga yes.” he counters, knowing that you both know where this was going. “You and I will be up there together! Confessing without confessing! Is that a great plan or what?”

“Sure, Suga, but I don’t sing,” you try to worm your way out of his plan.

“Oh hush! Not everyone knows how to sing, but everyone knows how to karaoke. And besides, I’ve heard you sing before. You’re awesome! Those vocal chords could give an angel a run for their money.” he gives his blinding smile. 

You flush a deep red. “You’ve...heard me sing before? Where?! When?! HOW?”

He puts his hand up in defense. “It was outside the gym. A few days ago. You and Yachi were singing your favorite Ariana Grande song because you were both loudly trying to decide which album was better.”

You hide your head in your hands. “Oh my gosh, this is so embarrassing. Let me just launch myself into the face of the earth real quick.”

“Y/n-chan, you sing beautifully, there’s no need to be embarrassed. Suga takes your hands and makes you look up. “How about this. Today we were going to Ukai’s store to get some meat buns anyway. Let me walk with you and I’ll sing for you. I heard you sing, so you can hear me. We’ll be even that way. Okay?”

You consider it before agreeing. Once you said yes, Suga engulfs you in a hug, which you wholeheartedly reciprocate. 

“Alright, seems like the break is over. See you in a bit, y/n-chan!”

You break the hug just as the team walked back in the gym. A few people saw, but didn’t think much of it. 

The ones who did think of it were the two boys you and Suga just talked about. 

           ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The whole team was in spirits for the most part. Who wouldn’t be when Coach Ukai was treating them all to meat buns?

Most of the boys were following close to the coach, eager for their treat. Especially the freak-quick duo, who obviously felt like they needed to have a race to the store.

Most players were walking in their respective groups and pairs, but the you and Suga managed to fade to the back of the pack, almost unnoticed. You both decided to slow your pace, to widen the gap a little between you and the others.

“Well, I promised you a song. Which one should I do?” Suga asked. You remember that he heard you sing but don’t remember what song it was that day.

“Sing the one I did when you heard me that day?” you suggest.

He laughs and puts a hand on the back of his neck. “You were singing it in English, so I only understood a couple words...would you translate maybe?”

Suddenly you remember. “Oh! It was ‘Moonlight’ by Ariana. Some of it I could only do in English for some reason.”

Suga let’s out a noise of realization, forming a small ‘o’ with his lips. “I know that one! My classmate showed me that song, it’s really good! But I don’t remember much to be honest.”

Feeling a tad bit braver, you suggest you sing it together, you with what you know in English and him Japanese.

“Good idea! Then we can kinda see what we sound like together. Okay let me hey look up the song on my phone...”

By this point, the team was way ahead, so it was assumed they wouldn’t hear you two. You both designate your respected parts to be organized in the vocals. Once you thought it was safe, the audio starts.

Suga begins the first verse.

“The sun is setting, and your right here by my side...And the movie is playing, but we won’t be watching tonight...”

To say he sang beautifully was an understatement. His voice was velvet, light feather tips tickling your eardrums. The soothing tones of his voice washed all your fear away, giving you the courage to continue with your verse.

“Every look, every touch, make me want to give you my heart. I be crushin’ on you baby, stay right where you are...”

Once you started, he eyes sparkled with wonder. Seeing his reaction be full of awe encouraged you to keep going.

“Cause I never knew, I never knew... You could hold moonlight on your hands, till the night I held you...”

Suga joins in to harmonize as you hold out: “You are my moonlight...Moonlight...”

The song eventually ends. Just in time for you two to arrive at Ukai’s store, where the rest of the team was already chowin down on there snacks.

You and Suga flatter each other with praise, with you even throwing in a pun of how his voice was like ‘suga’.

Your loud compliment-competition caught the eyes of the teammates.

“Well, that’s new,” Daichi states before biting into his meatbun.

The second-years, first-years, and Asahi glance over to the two of you intensely conversate.

“Do you think something’s up?” Asahi suggests.

“I’m not sure. It’s not bad, I’ve just never seen them talk one-on-one, so it’s surprising to see them together like that, that’s all.”

“You don’t think y/n-chan and Suga-senpai...like...like each other. Do you?” innocent and naive Hinata says.

Nishinoya and Tanaka immediately go on defense mode. “Not our precious manager!! She must not be tainted with the sins of men!! We must protect her at all costs!!”

A big sigh is heard, and the boys turn to the culprit, only to find Kiyoko and Yachi look exasperated.

“They’re not into each other. Just because they’re having a conversation about something they’re both passionate about doesn’t immediately assume that they’re into each other,” Kitoko shakes her head, causing them to second-guess their assumptions.

Yachi also shares her piece. “Boys. So gullible.”

“Agreed.”

The two girls turn and head home, leaving the boys to reconsider their assumptions.

“Probably not that big of a deal.” “Yeah she’s right, what’s the harm.” “Eh.”

Tsukishima, although he didn’t offer any comments, only showed his thoughts when you two walked home. Short answers. Slightly colder silence than usual. Bidding you a short “‘Night” before going to bed, instead of his usual “Goodnight y/n”.

You were unsure at his sudden change in behavior, but once you tucked yourself in, you see that Suga sent you a text: “So, are you in on the plan?”

The time on your phone changed to Eleven o’clock.

“Let’s do it.”

Does it ever drive you crazy...Just how fast the night changes?

taglist: @jiminslonglostjams @fantasymirror @shewastheriot @lukes-princess @iamthepenguinwhosearseisonfire @its-bnha-babe @desi-studys @shootooooo @noya-senpai-imagines @animefan7420 @anpancari @tsukkx @cadabby @thoebe-fly @it-was-just-a-ship @imconfusedanditsok @alexa360b34st @delicious-peaches-blog @shinguchi @creammy0 @fandoms-on-main @smellybananaz @keikink @tsukiak4ri @skyguy-peach

[charlythelee]

Okay so I have been put into absolute design hell - I just can't stop designing stuff u.u''

Sooooooooo here are MORE designs for my Haikyuu Royalty AU 

Currently there is a large bus strike in my area and I am frozen out of university about every other day so I have a LOT of spare time and yeah - expect more stuff, I think my brain is broken - I just can’t stop. Help -

-> Page 2: IwaOi design & Info on Seijoh -> Page 3: KageHina designs

More Info on the Designs and some overall head canons below the cut:

Bit of background & Info: - Karasuno's religion is centered around the figure of death or more specifically the Angel of Death: Azrael - Their dead are burned to allow their spirits to be free and return to the flow of energy within the earth - Traitors or criminals are typically executed and/or drowned, then thrown into a river in opposition to being burned, so that they will be trapped in this realm and never find elevation - this way it is believed the flow within the earth will be cleansed by keeping the bad elements from returning - Thus they do not have graves, all tough little memorials can be build for the deceased - typically by using their weapon as a marker (if they were a warrior or died in battle) - Kings are always remembered through "Blade and Crown" - both are taken to the temple, the most sacred place in the country  - the temple is a deeply spiritual place and only crowned members of the royal family are allowed into the central sanctum, where the crowns and blades of former kings rest - it is also considered the place where the Angel of Death resides  - this also means that there is no universal crown, every prince or princess receives a unique one upon coronation/confirmation - Princes/Princesses must be confirmed (usually around the age of 10/12, latest at their grand debut) and are crowned in a special ceremony, most times followed by public celebrations - before they are crowned, they are considered royalty but are not subject to royal privileges and do not hold royal authority

Crow Steel: - one of the rarest metals on the Miyagi continent - traces and low amounts have been found in both Dateko and Wakunan but most reserves lie within Karasuno borders - hence the name  - forging it is a rare skill, almost exclusive to the finest smiths of Karasuno - while otherwise an open country, the crows are very protective over this particular knowledge - Crow Steel needs to be sharpened less often than normal steel and is rumored to be unbreakable (in fact it can be damaged but only under immense force, that humans are usually not capable off) - when forged correctly and cooled, it usually takes a dark blue, blackish color and is famous for its copper reflections - since it is extremely rare in comparison to ordinary steel, it is reserved mostly for the royal family and important figures - while there are trinkets and accessories made from this material, it is mostly used to forge blades - once in a century and only on very special occasions, crow steel products are given to foreigners as a sign of trust - rumors have it, that it combines the arcane qualities of pure iron and silver, hence being able to inflict mortal injuries on beings without corporal form and every other creature that would normally not be harmed by an ordinary blade

Details on Suga's stuff: - his blade, like most royal blades, is forged from crow steel - the sheath is made out of hardened leather and adorned by a metal crow - the sword is engraved with the kanji for crow - with 105 cm (roughly 41.3 inches) it is of medium length - the handle however is longer than average, allowing it to be flexibly handled - this makes him a fast and flexible fighter, but also vulnerable since he can't carry a shield effectively - it also suitable for being thrown like a knife - the form of the blade is rather unusual for Miyagi and leans more into the style that is common in Tokyo and on the island nation of Johzenji - his crown is made from silver and complimented with amber trinkets, hanging from the right side - the second ring is made to resemble a halo, in reference to his nickname "The Indomitable" and "Angel of Death" (he earned this name through his deep connection with the sanctum and for being its official warden)

Details on Daichi's stuff: - his blade too, is made from crow steel and decorated with a crow - he wields a spear with a cross blade, allowing both attack and a solid defense - with its three blades the spear can be used to both cut and stab, so it can be used both as primary weapon and in combination with a shield - in total it measures 185cm (apron. 73.8 inches) and is rather large, especially considering the blade to shaft ratio - it requires strength to wield, due to its unusual focal point, but is still perfectly balanced and considering the size - very light - the wooden shaft has a steel core so it doesn't break - the top is usually protected by a simple, plain leather cover - the crown is made from bronze and simple in its design - it was chosen to visualize his solidity, stability and still respect his common heritage 

[spring-emerald]

oh, shoot

For KuroDai Weekend Day 1: Celebrity AU / Hanahaki AU

“Kuroo,” Yaku puts his hands on Kuroo’s shoulder, looking him in the eyes with seriousness. “Your photographer for today is a well-known photographer, alright? We’re lucky to work with him. You are lucky to work with him. It’s an honor, a chance of a lifetime. So please, I beg of you, don’t mess this up,” he articulates carefully, punctuating his words with a dig of his fingers on Kuroo’s shoulders.

“Yaku,” Kuroo also puts his hands on Yaku’s shoulder, a little heavily, enough to make anyone else wince but not him, apparently. “You gotta chill, alright? I promise, I won’t.” He grins and pats Yaku’s shoulders, but it doesn’t ease the frown on his manager’s face. Really, he deserves more faith than this.

Modeling is something that Kuroo didn’t see himself doing as a full-time job. He didn’t believe himself to be that kind of handsome after all. (His grandmother thinks otherwise, but that’s his grandmother, so it doesn’t really count.) But he finds himself in the industry after dipping in it for a desperate part-time during a rough time in college. And while it’s not as glamorous and glitzy as one perceives it to be, he found himself liking it enough to accept more jobs and change the course of his future by signing up with an agency.

Two years into the industry and he’s worked with a lot of different beautiful people and a lot of different photographers. But it’s his first time to work with someone that has what could be considered a celebrity status in the modeling and fashion circuit.

He’s done his research about Sawamura Daichi, as per Yaku’s instruction. He’s glad he followed it because he learned that Sawamura is the same age as Kuroo, younger than him by a month even, and entered around the same time he did. He’s got a Cinderella-eque early life story, about how he supported himself and his family through doing side-jobs and assistants during college, started his own studio from basically nothing with the help of trusted friends and underclassmen, until he’s reached the place where he is right now. He’s far more accomplished than his contemporaries, especially in terms of portfolio.

(It’s also been said that he’s Oikawa Tooru and Sugawara Koushi’s-two of the top and most-sought actors in the business today-named him as their favorite photographer. That’s from a celebrity tabloid but he thinks it’s worth its dime.)

The point is, that’s how good he’s touted to be.

And really, Yaku was right when he said it’s an honor to work with him. Not just with him, but working in this campaign as a whole. Out of the many, more beautiful models from their agency, like the Haiba siblings, he was the one handpicked by Nekomata-san to be included in the anniversary line of one of the famous clothing brands in the country, and it will be advertised in electronic billboards and fashion magazines. It’s a miracle to be handed such a project like this and Kuroo would be a fool to mess this up.

So yeah. He promises to be in his best behavior and he will not mess this up.

-----

Kuroo is messing this up.

He’s half-naked, only clad in high quality jeans, hair pushed back and tamed and he’s sweating. The studio is cold enough and he’d been in front of the bright lights numerous times already, but none of those had affected him for him to sweat like buckets like this. He knows he’s not looking very attractive right now and far-fetched from the model he claims to professionally be.

In his defense, none of those photo shoots had Sawamura Daichi as the photographer.

God, he’d seen what he looks like when he was researching about him and he had believed the articles when they said that he’s plain but kind looking. Because he is. Kind looking, that is, a strange softness to his define jaws. And god, he’s plain, alright.

Plainly gorgeous.

Downright stunning with a great one dimpled smile and a firm handshake. It doesn’t help that he’s down to earth and friendly to the staff.

Basically, Kuroo’s a goner.

He is not shallow to fall just for looks especially when his work allows him to be surrounded by a lot of good-looking people, where beautiful is a word that can generally describe them all and not be wrong. Gorgeous is the one word he reserves for really special individuals that it would be an insult to call them just beautiful.

But by gods if he doesn’t have a problem describing Sawamura like that.

Kuroo can only dazedly follow the instructions, lost in the play of Sawamura’s arm muscles every time it involuntarily flexes when he poises to shoot. Kind of jealous of the camera strap that get to rest on his well-defined chest under the tight Henley that he forgets to project the feeling that the shoot is asking for, which definitely isn’t the dumb smitten model look.

Did Kuroo mention he’s messing this up? No? Well, he’s messing this up. Big time.

Yaku’s going to chew his head off after this and Kuroo will actually let him, just so he doesn’t have to live with the embarrassment.

Sawamura’s looking down on the screen of his camera, a small frown on his face. Kuroo knows it for the look of dissatisfaction. Goodness, of all times to flop his shoot, it has to be this one. Sawamura looks at up him, head tilted a little to the side. He drops his camera down gently and walks toward Kuroo.

Kuroo glances at Yaku, sees how he’s biting down on his thumbnail and swallows the nervous lump that grew in his throat.

“Kuroo-san,” Kuroo straightens his shoulders at being addressed. Thank god he’s taller than Sawamura and he’s the one slightly looking down on him. His pride won’t be able to take the hit if it had been the other way instead. “This isn’t how your hair is usually styled, is it?”

Kuroo blinks, hand coming up to touch his styled hair. “Uhm, yeah. It isn’t.” The unexpected question unbalanced him enough to answer truthfully.

Sawamura nods and hums thoughtfully. “What do you say about changing it back to your more, natural style?”

“What?”

“Well, there’s nothing wrong with it, pushed back. And you really look good and register on the camera fine,” Sawamura quickly explains, and if Kuroo isn’t nervous and confused, he would’ve found the gesticulating adorable. “But… there’s something missing?”

Kuroo shakes his head then. “No, I mean, you’re the boss right now, so whatever you say goes, but I just feel like I have to be completely honest you know? My hair, well, naturally, it’s,” Kuroo pauses, looking for a word that won’t completely embarrass him and settles with “…untamable.” He looks at Sawamura pointedly, conveying that he would probably look and do worse if he changes back to his hairstyle.

Sawamura gives him a small smile and Kuroo remembers why he’s doing so badly in the first place. “It can’t be that bad,” he assures.

Kuroo doesn’t have the heart to say that oh yeah, it can. It is. His friends tease him Rooster Head for a good reason. He can’t say that his performance and bad frames have nothing to do with his hair, but just with him being useless in the face of someone handsome. Kuroo’s not that above blaming Sawamura.

“Anything you want,” Kuroo says instead. He meant it casually and professionally, really, but given that his mind is in the gutter at the moment, he thinks it comes out way more than he intended.

Sawamura looks taken aback by the words and coughs lightly, clearing his throat. “Uhhh, yeah.” He gestures to the direction of the hairstylists awkwardly, stepping back and away from Kuroo.

Kuroo purses his lips and nods stiffly then leaves before he can say or do something even more stupid.

When he comes back, hair styled in its usual get up, only a little tamer, Sawamura studies him, nods with approval and asks him if he’s ready to do some test shots. Sawamura points and clicks, letting Kuroo pose as he please and looks at the few frames he’d taken, a satisfied smile on his face.

“Hmm, it’s better,” he says smiling, catching Kuroo off-guard yet again. He doesn’t think he can take the fact that Sawamura had just basically complimented him, saying he looks better with his natural style on. Or maybe, he’s reading too much into this and the guy is just being kind, so stop thinking so hard Tetsurou and just do your job.

And do his job he did. He followed Sawamura’s direction and obeyed every instruction, listened well to suggestions and was glad that he can freely suggest some of his own and met with approval, growing more confident and relaxed as the shoot progress. It helps that Sawamura talks to him like a friend, casual and light, unlike some photographers who’re extremely stiff and all business. It’s a great bonus whenever he smiles, something that Kuroo had grown accustomed to, thank god.

He’s putting on the last pair of jeans he’s had to model for the shoot-a tight, skinny one-when Yaku approaches him and gives him a pat on the shoulder.

“You’re doing great, Kuroo,” he starts, but the pause offsets the word. Kuroo waits for him to drop the ‘but’. “But maybe you can try to be a little, you know, playful? Flirtier?”

Kuroo scoffs at Yaku, looking at him funny as he zips the jeans up. “Flirtier?”

“Yeah! You’re good with that, right? I mean, it’s really nice to see you this serious, but also a bit disconcerting? Especially since you actually look like you. Let your personality shine through. I think that’s what Sawamura likes to happen too.” Yaku shrugs.

Kuroo snorts. “Alright, one, despite my appearance, I’m not flirty. And I’m pretty sure that’s not what Sawamura likes to happen.” He’s just really generous with his compliments, like a good professional should be. There’s no way Kuroo is going to read more into that. Anyway, “two, this hair is actually charming and not the disaster you all think it is. And three, you can just say that you like me for me, Yaku-paisen.” He grins, which earns him an eye roll and a hard slap on the arm.

“Whatever. Forget it. You’re insufferable.” Kuroo’s laugh follows after him.

Kuroo returns to the set, a small smile still on his face because of his conversation with Yaku and he startles when the lights go off along with a sound of the shutter. He looks up and finds the camera trained on him.

Sawamura lowers it, looking guilty at getting caught. “Sorry. It’s just…your smile was nice and I just,” Sawamura shakes his head. “Never mind, sorry. Anyway, uh, are you ready?” He rubs the back of his head self-consciously and tries to give Kuroo a confident smile.

Kuroo thinks that if he steps closer, he’ll see the blush on Sawamura’s cheeks.

Adorable. He wants to see Sawamura make that face again. He remembers Yaku’s words and a smirk blooms on his face.

“I’m always ready for you, Sawamura,” he says with a wink, ignoring the inner Kuroo cringing at him at the line he used.

Sawamura stills, eyes wide because Kuroo isn’t even being subtle, then clears his throat and shakes his head again, harder this time. “…Right. Okay.”

Kuroo counts it as a win since he got flustered again. Yaku doesn’t think so.

“Kuroo!” Yaku seethes, eyes bulging out and looking between him and Sawamura, expression alternating between scandalized and apologetic. “What the hell are you doing?!”

“What? You said to be flirty.”

“Yeah! But I meant the camera, not the photographer!”

“But-” Oh. Oh. Damn… that’s not what Yaku meant earlier. Damn. Damn, damn, damn. “Sawamura, I am-”

His apology gets interrupted when Sawamura snorts softly, covering his big smile and flushed face with his hand. He’s unable to hold it, and to Kuroo’s utter mortification, he laughs. A full bellied, mirthful, music to Kuroo’s ears actually if it isn’t done in his expense. The make-up artists and hairstylists join in and wow, can some of the light stands just fall on him now, or maybe all of them, he’s not picky.

“Oh, god,” Sawamura breathes, chuckling still. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” He waves a dismissing hand, while the other wipes a tear on his eyes.

“It’s alright, really. It’s fine. You’re good. I mean,” his smile turns into a bashful one. “I don’t mind.” He glances up at Kuroo shyly. “But,” he continues. “Maybe we can…talk… after the shoot?”

Kuroo blinks and snaps out of his daze of asking how this guy could be real, and seeing Sawamura’s hopeful face boosts his confidence and eagerness to finish the shoot. “Yeah. Yeah, I’d like that.”

----------

A few months later, Kuroo sees his photo displayed in one of the electronic billboards. People stop and stare, some girls even squeal, not noticing the real thing is just among them.

“You really look good in that,” Daichi says, stepping up beside him, looking at the big screen with a small smile.

Kuroo hooks an arm around his shoulders. “Nah, my photographer’s just the best.”

[jounetsulovers]

Top 11 Inazuma Characters

Tagged by @blueberry-pastel! Thank you so much. <3

11. Senguuji Yamato.

For all my talk about the villains of Inazuma, it feels fitting to have some kind of rep on that list, even though he’s more of the final rival than anything else. The first season of Go holds a special place in my heart, and I think Yamato is an especially fun and thematically appropriate final boss. His Avatar his cool, his relationship with his dad warms my heart, his design is nice, and the way he’s animated, especially when using King Fire, always looks really nice! He’s my go-to goalie in the Go games, and on that basis alone it didn’t feel right to have a list without him.

10. Raimon Natsumi.

Natsumi was my favorite manager for a long, long time, and there’s a lot of things to absolutely love about her. Her arc, tracing from the beginning of the original series to the very end, where she slowly lets her defenses down and engages earnestly with soccer and the team. Her extremely sweet friendships with all of the managers. Her relationship with her dad, which is an often-underlooked but no less important part of the entire story. The little background details, and how we learn throughout the Chrono Stone games that she’s become the chairman of Raimon after Fifth Sector collapses. Her recent appearance in Orion had me grinning the entire time. For sheer character growth, it’s hard to compete with her.

9. Kidou Yuuto.

Somehow, Kidou Yuuto exists, and the show is better for it. If someone were to ask me who had the best and most complete character arc, I’d point to Kidou without question. He’s the complete package: great and memorable character design, strong personality, growth, excellent moves, great character dynamics, downright iconic scenes. His backstory and everything involving his and Haruna’s family makes me cry every time, no matter what format it’s in. From enemy to rival to best, best friend, Kidou Yuuto is stellar character work on the part of Level-5.

8. Teres Tolue.

The anime does not do Teres Tolue justice. For all the brief but excellent scenes he does have, they are nothing compared to the wonderful scenes he gets in the third Inazuma game. This is a shoutout to the defender who isn’t afraid to speak his mind, even at the cost of sounding callous. Who cracks jokes at the worst of times, but also has a heart of gold. Whose confidence is genuinely matched by excellent work on the defense line. Liocott Island is full of captains with big personalities and sad backstories, and it’s a shame Teres seems to often be left out of the conversation, because he was my favorite back in 2012 and now, finally getting to play the games in full, he’s even better than I remembered.

7. Yamana Akane.

If the anime did not do justice to Teres, they did an absolute disservice to Yamana Akane. Much like Teres, she has wonderful moments in the anime. But they are limited, and do not capture the true delight that is her personality. Everything she is, she’s even more in the games, and I genuinely think she has the best one-liners in perhaps the entire series. Even if she isn’t the deepest manager, she’s the one that makes me smile the most. She’s funny, she’s creative, she’s bold and not afraid to speak about the things she likes. Yamana Akane, best manager.

6. Saginuma Osamu.

Saginuma Osamu is a character that exists in a constant duality. He’s a terrifying, imposing presence as Desarm, but also an admirable rival. He’s absolutely unmatched on the soccer field, with the technical know-how and talent to easily slide into three positions on the field, but also one of the hardest-working characters in the entire series. He’s also a huge, huge dork while at the same time being inspiring to his team when he’s in the captain role. He was my favorite Aliea captain, and continues to be my favorite kid to come out of Sun Garden. I’d personally choose him as the greatest rival in all of Inazuma, as he perfectly captures the thin, thin line between serious and ridiculous the series so eloquently toes.

5. Kira Hitomiko.

Best coach, hands down. Not the most skilled, or the nicest, or the one with the best teams or most effective coach. But the best one. She’s complicated, and maybe her apology at the end of Season 2 doesn’t begin to make up for the bad calls she made. But the fact she’s allowed to make those bad calls... the fact that she’s part of a larger, extremely sad and complicated backstory that almost feels like it should come from a drama, and not a sports anime... the fact that she spends a lifetime of penance for it, actually doing the hard work of trying to do right by her own mistakes and continue to watch over Sun Garden... Man, I love Hitomiko. Ares didn’t even begin to do her justice.

4. Amagi Daichi.

Amagi Daichi, best defender. Enough said.

...Okay, no, there’s more than that. I love everything about Amagi, from his character design, to his moves, to his personality and how much he brings a strong, brotherly presence to the team. I love his dynamic with Hikaru, and with the other third years, and how much he cares for his friends in general. But I think I love his story most of all, because it’s extremely relatable. It’s simple, but effective, and the presentation of his flashback--the sound design, the visuals, hell, even the editing--is some of the best Inazuma’s ever done. Episode 33 of Go is my favorite episode of Inazuma Eleven. Amagi Daichi, best defender.

3. Giris and Meia.

Is this cheating? I don’t think so. Giris and Meia are two characters that demand to be taken and analyzed as a pair, and, well, you don’t really see them apart, ever. They are my pick for the most terrifying and interesting rivals in all of Inazuma, for their unique combination of memorable visual aesthetic combined with the encroaching fridge horror that is the true nature of the SSC. Two kids, whose entire aesthetic revolves around young love and death in all aspects: their avatars, their signature move, even the soccer team uniform, which could easily be reworked into something for a period piece. And yet, they’re also overdramatic. They get distracted by each other to the point where they forget to finish trash-talking the opposing team. They dance on the soccer field to summon their avatars. They’re ridiculous and tragic in equal amounts, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about them, or the Second Stage Children, since I watched Chrono Stone.

2. Megane Kakeru.

Not only is Megane one of the funniest characters in the series. Not only is he one of the most important and yet underappreciated side characters in the franchise. Megane Kakeru is the perfect example of the profound impact Endou has on everyone he comes in contact with, and here’s why: Megane Kakeru is a coward. That’s a fact established in episode one. He talks a big game, but as soon as Teikoku gets serious, he runs off in tears. And even if the anime will never let him live that fact down (seriously), he never runs from another match again. Without him, Raimon’s victory streak would have ended with Shuuyo Meito. With him, we see a self-centered nerd come out of his shell, and genuinely grow to love the game of soccer, even as he knows he isn’t cut out to play and cannot match the skill level of his peers. Even while he’s terrified, he still steps out onto the field against Zeus when his teammates are injured. He stands against Aliea, even as other teammates find the situation hopeless. In season 3, his easy out, what does he do? He joins the team as a manager. He supports the Resistance numerous times in Go, both in the anime and in the games. Even as the chips are down, Megane Kakeru does not run, because he loves the game just as much as everyone else. He’s got a protagonist’s heart. I just love this kid.

And now, some honorable mentions, because there’s far too many to list:

I initially intended to have a member of the Earth Eleven on this list, but I genuinely could not decided between Morimura Konoha, Kusaka Ryuuji, and Nozaki Sakura, so I decided in fairness to not pick any, as an omission would be doing a disservice to them. The same could be said for several Protocol Omega members. Senguuji Daigo and Saryuu Evan are excellent villains and I love them, even if one is significantly more developed than the other. Matsukaze Tenma is one of my favorite protagonists of all time, and I love him a lot. Edgar Valtinas would have taken Teres’ spot if I didn’t choose him, and it was a very close choice. Kudou Fuyuka and Seto Midori were also this close to taking one of the manager slots. Fei Rune and Nanobana Kinako bring me unending joy and tears in equal measure. Domon Asuka, Sangoku Taichi, and Mahoro Tadashi are wonderful side characters whom deserve more love than they get, and I don’t think anyone is surprised to know how much I love Kousaka Yukie. I am deeply enjoying Ares and Orion’s characters, but considering their story has yet to finish, it did not seem fair to include them on the list, so for now they’re relegated to this one. But I adore Haizaki Ryouhei, Kozoumaru Sasuke, and Goujin Tetsunosuke. Zanark Avalonic should just be on every list ever because he is the best.

1. Nishiki Ryouma.

No character in Inazuma can make me smile like Nishiki Ryouma does. No character brings me quite as much joy as Nishiki Ryouma does. He is not the deepest, nor the strongest, nor the user of my favorite hissatsu or owner of my favorite Avatar. But he’s the complete package: relatable, funny, courageous, and even inspiring in his own goofy way. I love his passion, and how he tries not to sweat the little things, and that he isn’t afraid to do things in the name of trying, no matter how ridiculous he may seem. He has a large heart that is open to the world around him, and even for his enemies. He has stellar moves, a genuinely awesome aesthetic, and a smile that’s infectious. I knew pretty early on in my watch of Go he’d be a favorite, and every time since my love for him has grown more and more. I can’t even explain in adequate enough terms why I love him so much--I just do!

Not directly tagging anyone, but if you haven’t done it, DO IT. You know who you are.

[animemascotarchive]

Today’s anime mascot of the day is…!

Pokemaru from The Daichis: Earth's Defense Family!

[avidbeader]

Voltron fic: “Scattered” Ch. 21

Okay, Tumblr peeps - you get first look.

Rated T. Genfic/no ships. S2 AU. You can begin at the beginning here or read it on FF-Net and AO3 when I get it posted there sometime this evening. FEEDBACK IS WELCOME.

So, obviously I’m not going to have this done before S3 drops. But I know what I want to do the rest of the way (maybe 3-6 chapters?) and hope to have this thing done by the end of August so I can give more attention to my HP WIP and “The Quintessential Bond”.

<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>

Shiro sat at the window and watched as his father and Keith walked together in the garden, enjoying the morning sun. They had developed the habit back when Keith was first fostered with them, to spend a little time each day walking and talking about anything that crossed their minds. As he watched, Daichi reached over and put an arm across Keith’s shoulders. Instead of stiffening the way Shiro was used to seeing Keith do when other people invaded his personal space, Keith leaned into it. It brought a smile to Shiro’s face.

He heard footsteps behind him and Sayuri ran her fingers in his hair. “How can you still maintain this outlandish cut of yours up there in space?” She had never really liked his undercut.

“They have clippers. Plenty of aliens with hair like ours.”

She laughed a little at that, then took his hand as she sat beside him.

“Takashi, please. Tell me some of it. What is going on up there? How can they expect you to lead a war at your age? With… with children? How can they ask you to kill?”

Shiro pressed his lips together before answering, considering exactly how much to share. “It’s on a different scale than what we think of as war. A lot of what we do is take out giant weaponized robots. Or drones that are commanded by a single central computer that might or might not have a living person running it. I think you could count the number of actual beings we’ve killed on two hands.” That didn’t include the arena, of course, but that was a different conversation for another time.

Sayuri looked a little reassured, but persisted with a mother’s instincts. “And what about the first time?”

“First time?”

“When you and the Holts were taken from Kerberos. What happened to you?”

Apparently they were going to have the other conversation now as well.

She was looking down, focused on his cybernetic hand. Shiro realized that she was imagining experiments and torture, straight out of SF horror films.

Shiro reached over with his human hand and clasped hers. “It wasn’t…it wasn’t vivisection, kaa-chan. Nothing like that. The Galra are a conquering race, not scientists. They send most of their prisoners of war to work camps…or to gladiator arenas.”

Her eyes flew up to his face, zeroing in on the scar that crossed it. “Takashi?”

He swallowed hard. “I had to fight for my life, kaa-chan. Over and over. There wasn’t any way out other than to keep winning.” He ran his tongue around his teeth, trying to work some saliva into a suddenly dry mouth. “I had blocked out a lot of my memories from my imprisonment, but bits and pieces have been coming back. I remember that I tried, every time, to get the others to yield before I hurt them too much. The Galra hated that, but they never stopped me.”

“Did they…did they release them? Or kill them after for surrendering?”

Shiro looked up at her and the concern in her face deepened. He could feel how haunted his eyes must be.

“I don’t know, kaa-chan.”

She put her free hand to his face, drawing him close to press her cheek to his. Shiro managed to bite back the sobs that wanted to break free, but couldn’t stop the tears from spilling over. Sayuri stood and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close.

He closed his arms around her and let himself cry it out. For the first time since Kerberos, he felt no shame over the tears. No guilt for showing weakness. Just the release of knowing he had survived, his family was still here, and he was loved.

 <> <> <> <> <>

 Lance hit on an excellent strategy of avoiding his father in the throng by hovering near his grandmother and great-aunts, all of whom insisted he was too thin and plied him with ropa vieja, tostones, and buñuelos. The younger cousins were also a good line of defense, swarming him with questions about space, aliens, and the alive-again Kerberos crew.

Late in the evening, Sara dragged him upstairs to her room and gave him her tablet so he could catch up a little on his social media sites. As he skimmed posts from friends, she leaned over and asked, “You okay?”

He glanced up at that. “Yeah, why?”

“I overheard papá telling mamá that you were going back. Did he try to talk you out of it?”

Lance nodded, the pain of the conversation returning. Blue purred in his mind.

Sara leaned in, resting her head on his shoulder. “I’m sorry. They just want you to be safe.”

“Well, no one on the planet will be safe if I don’t go back.”

She put her arm around him. “You’re serious, aren’t you? It’s just you and four other kids up there fighting an evil empire?”

“And a princess and her adviser. And some space mice. And we’ve got some aliens on our side so far. The Arusians are short people with horns and the Balmerans are rock people, but they support us. And the Metreans.” Lance shivered a little, remembering long, spidery arms. “We’ll find more.”

The tablet pinged with a message: Incoming.

“What the quiznak?” Lance frowned at the message.

“What the what?” Sara laughed and he realized what he had said.

“Sorry, it’s a rude word in Altean.”

“Uh-huh. What’s the message mean?”

A voice sounded from midair. “It means I gave you a bit of warning before freaking you out.”

Sara shrieked and Lance grabbed her to keep her from falling off the bed.

“Pidge!”

She shimmered into view and grinned that gremlin grin that never failed to irritate him. “Yes?”

“What are you doing here?”

She held out a pocket-sized device. Lance recognized it as one of the latest smartphones and took it.

“Giving your family their communicator. It’ll definitely reach the Castle across the solar system and I’m pretty sure that they’ll match the castle’s range. There’s a message option in case we do find a maximum distance on them.” She woke the device and pointed to the lion icon. “They hit this and then blue for you or orange for the Castle. I added the rest of us just in case.” She handed the phone to Sara, who was staring open-mouthed. “Hi, I’m Pidge. Which sister are you?”

Lance jumped in. “This is Sara. Mina’s still downstairs. How did you get in here?”

“Cloaking device, duh.”

“But how’d you know where to come?”

“Tracking option on your cloaking device, duh.”

Lance’s expression turned offended. “You put tracking on these things?”

“So you want to get knocked unconscious while invisible and not be found? I can arrange that.”

Lance felt his face burn red and Sara had recovered enough to laugh. “I like you. How did you get to Cuba?”

“My Lion. I got all the comm devices done and figured I’d deliver them myself. How’s it going here?”

Sara squeezed his arm in support.

“Well, I’ve had the chance to talk to almost everyone who could get here, if I eat any more I’m gonna hurl, my dad tried to tell me I wasn’t going back, and my favorite band broke up.”

“That sounds—wait, what?”

Sara nodded. “They’re scared for him.”

“I get that. I mean, look what happened to my dad and brother and Shiro. Space isn’t the safest place. But if we don’t try and stop the Galra, Earth will get invaded.”

“Maybe you should tell our dad that,” Sara observed. “If he hears it from enough people, maybe he’ll realize that you all really do have to go.”

Pidge shrugged. “Is he really going to listen to a girl half his size?”

Sara snorted. “Appear out of thin air in front of him like you did us. That might impress him.”

“No,” Lance interrupted. “It’s a fifty-fifty chance whether that impresses him or pisses him off.”

Pidge leaned down, looking Lance in the face. “You need us, you call us. Okay? Otherwise we’ll see you back at the Castle. Allura said to be back by 1800 hours tomorrow your time.”

“Wait, that late? That’s over twenty-four hours here. Shiro said we had eighteen hours.”

“Let’s just say Allura didn’t remember that vargas are longer than hours.”

This time her gremlin grin didn’t bother Lance at all.

 <> <> <> <> <>

 Iolana watched as Hunk deftly arranged a plate and handed it to Mr. Araullo, the neighbor who had contributed his boat trailer to the barricade keeping the media crews at a distance. The older man pulled a paper packet out of his pocket and handed it to Hunk, who beamed at him.

More seeds. The neighborhood had jumped on the idea of seeds and starter plants with enthusiasm, taking up a collection and sending a few volunteers to town to purchase some things while others checked their homes and gardens for possibilities. Hunk added the packet to the table that was already filling up with contributions and moved back to prepare another meal for the next person.

Noni stepped up to take over—the three of them had been rotating serving duty during the afternoon’s impromptu party—and pushed Hunk with a plate of cookies toward the group of children who were waiting patiently for him to be free again.

Hunk sat down and started sharing out the cookies. Most of the kids began scarfing them down immediately, which meant only a few were fighting to get their question in first.

“Come on, you know the rule. Take turns by height, shortest one first.”

“I like that rule!”

Hunk’s head snapped up at the familiar voice. “Pidge?”

A small teenage girl appeared out of midair and looked a little abashed at the sea of open mouths around her. “Sorry, I would have tried to be more discreet about it but I thought you should have this.” She handed a camera to Hunk, who took it in bafflement.

“I tripped a guy who was trying to sneak close enough for pictures. He had a press badge on. I don’t know if he already took any. He…might have hit his head a little on a tree, but he’ll probably be fine.”

Hunk frowned and pulled up the digital display to start flipping through the photos. He growled at the first ones showing zoom views into their windows and started deleting them. Iolana and Noni traded looks and Noni slipped out to alert the neighbors currently on guard duty at the barricade and collect some help in checking on the man.

Iolana came forward and Hunk made introductions before offering, “You hungry? We’ve got plenty.”

“Sure, but just a little. I stopped by to give your mom her communicator.” She handed the converted phone to him. “Lion icon to open the program, yellow to contact you, orange to contact the castle. Other colors for the rest of us just in case.”

“Sweet!” Hunk looked up at her and Iolana nodded to indicate she had heard it all.

“That’s very kind of you.” If nothing else, these children were looking out for one another and that was some comfort to a mother’s heart.

As they passed the table that held Hunk’s future garden, he brightened. “Hey, did you fly Green down here?”

“Yeah, came in stealthed to the beach down the cliff.”

“Can we get you to take this stuff back? That way I’ll have more room in the pod for the rest.”

“Sure, what is it?” Pidge asked, looking it all over.

“Everyone’s sharing seeds and stuff so we can grow our own Earth food in the castle!”

The girl’s eyes lit up. “Hunk, you are quiznaking brilliant! Have you got a list of what you’ve collected? We can do the same with the rest of the team!”

Iolana stepped up. “I’ll have Mrs. Lim do it. She loves organizing things.”

“Thanks, Tinā.” Hunk rubbed his hands together. “I can’t wait to make Coran try everything!”

Pidge laughed at that. “We should start with things like oatmeal, mashed potatoes. Stuff that’s like their food goo. And then blow their minds.”

Iolana was amused and just a little bit frightened at the maniacal glow in her eyes.

 <> <> <> <> <>

 Keith was doing his best not to simply inhale the food before him.

He had forgotten just how good Sayuri’s cooking was. In the States she had experimented with a variety of ethnic cuisines, teaching Keith to be more adventurous in his tastes.

But the simple early lunch of miso, rice, grilled fish, cucumbers and konnyaku was perfect. He savored the flavors and textures, already regretting the return to the ship and its unending supply of food goo when Hunk didn’t have the ingredients to experiment.

The idea of a grocery run before returning to the Castle occurred to him and he filed it away for after the meal.

Shiro caught his eye and gave him a rueful expression as he took another mouthful of rice, knowing exactly what Keith was thinking.

“I would like to hear more about this princess,” Sayuri commented, helping them to pace themselves with conversation.

Keith shrugged. “What do you want to know? She’s a princess. I think she’s my age or older but not as old as Shiro. She’s a pretty good diplomat but better at leading, if that makes sense.”

Shiro added, “And she can handle herself on an infiltration mission.”

Sayuri nodded and suddenly focused on Keith. She reached out with a napkin to dab at his face. “You’ve got something—”

Keith shot back from her, knocking his chair over as he jumped to his feet.

Shiro rose as well. “Keith?”

Keith balled his fists as he struggled to shove away the flashback. You’re safe, you’re safe, it’s not him, you can breathe… He tried to force more air into his lungs to prove it.

He could hear their voices, as if from a distance, and a wave of dizziness washed over him.

Shiro’s voice broke through the haze. “Keith, you’re hyperventilating! Slow down!” Hands on his shoulders steadied him, guiding him back to a chair.

He felt arms around him. Sayuri was trying to speak to him. “Keith, what is it?”

He still didn’t feel like he had enough air to breathe, much less speak. Red rumbled in his mind, It is all right, my cub. It is safe, you are safe.

Her presence steadied him and he managed slower, shuddering breaths. “Sorry,” he gasped, leaning forward and putting his head in his hands. “I’m sorry.”

As Shiro’s parents made concerned noises and Shiro knelt in front of him, Keith heard a tapping nearby. He looked up and saw Pidge in the doorway.

Shiro followed his gaze and rose. “Pidge? Is anything wrong?”

“No! At least…I was just bringing your parents their communicator.” She stepped forward, bowed uncertainly, and held out the modified smartphone to Shiro’s father. “Open the lion icon. Black is Shiro, red is Keith, orange is the castle, the other colors are the rest of us. It allows messages if we don’t answer.”

Daichi took the communicator and returned the bow. “Thank you.”

Pidge turned to Keith. “Are you okay?”

Keith hesitated, but nodded. “I will be.”

Sayuri ran her hand through his hair. “What did I do that frightened you?”

Shiro noticed Pidge’s expression shift to an “a-ha” realization. “Pidge?”

“I thought the lions told you all.”

“Told us what?”

“Darzi,” Keith interrupted. The last thing he wanted was Pidge giving the details to Shiro and his parents like he was helpless. “Darzi came close to suffocating me. I’m still a bit…jumpy…about hands near my face.”

Shiro knelt once more and moved very slowly and deliberately to lay his hands on either side of Keith’s face. Keith inhaled sharply but didn’t jerk away. Shiro spoke in a low voice. “The lions did tell us. I didn’t realize you were having flashbacks about it.”

Keith shrugged, starting to feel crowded by everyone hovering over him. “I’ll get over it.”

Shiro looked ready to argue. Daichi gently tugged him back but circled to face Keith. “Should we find someone for you to talk to, ask the princess to let you stay here a few weeks?”

“No! We have to go back now! Every day we delay in fighting Zarkon, the stronger he gets!” Keith drew in breath to continue his argument, but paused at a sudden squeal from a bouncing Pidge.

Shiro looked at her in bewilderment. “Pidge? What’s going on?”

“That’s it! That’s how we convince my mom to come with us!”

“Okaaaay… How?”

“Her other major in college was psychology! She can be our ship’s counselor!”

 <> <> <> <> <>

 Pidge walked into the family room to find her parents sitting together with a tablet as her mom caught her dad up on the news. Matt was sprawled across the loveseat, working his way through a bowl of popcorn and watching the sequel to a favorite movie that had been released while he was on his way to Kerberos.

She crossed over to Matt and shoved his legs out of the way so she could sit. He stuck his tongue at her and she buried her hand in his bowl to scoop out some popcorn.

“Hey!”

Colleen looked up. “If you’re hungry, Katie, there’s—”

“I’m not. Just wanted the salt. I’ve had food in Cuba, Samoa, and Japan and I’m full.”

“All the comm units delivered?” Sam asked.

“Yeah, everyone’s set.”

Colleen asked, “Where’s ours?”

The other three traded looks and Pidge licked her lips. Now or never…

“Well, what if I told you I had a great idea, Mom?”

Colleen’s eyes narrowed, but she put the tablet down. “I’m listening.”

“I know Dad and Matt want a few weeks here to sort of catch up on things. But I know we can use Matt as another comms specialist to support Coran and Dad would have all kinds of opportunity to study xenobiology.”

Colleen’s expression hardened just a little, hearing it said out loud that her family was ready to leave the planet again.

Pidge drew a deep breath. “You could dust off your second degree and be our Deanna Troi.”

Matt let out one startled yelp of laughter at the reference before clapping a hand over his mouth. His eyes danced in glee at the idea.

Sam’s expression brightened at the thought. “That’s got potential. I know you kids are incredibly capable—I saw it myself when you all rescued Keith from the Garrison—but you’re all still kids fighting the front lines of a war.” He turned to Colleen. “You wouldn’t be just tagging along and feeling useless. You’d be filling a role that is genuinely needed.”

Colleen looked stunned. “But…I’m not qualified. I’ve been working in chemistry all this time. I’m not licensed.”

Matt broke in with enthusiasm. “You’re trained, Mom! You just need to brush up on the latest advances! And I don’t think they’re going to require a license on the Castle-ship.”

“And we’d all be together, Mom,” Pidge added softly. “Please say you’ll think about it?”

Her mother looked at all of them, expressions full of hope that she would say yes. “I… yes, I’ll think about it.”

 <> <> <> <> <>

 As the time grew near for the paladins to return, Allura went down to the hangar for the pods and waited. Hunk was the first one to arrive, bursting with excitement and throwing dozens of questions at her about greenhouses and gardens within the castle. She finally managed to break in and suggest he consult with Coran later, just as Lance arrived.

A few minutes later, a screen appeared, showing Pidge on the command deck. “Where is everyone?”

“We’re at the pods. Shiro and Keith haven’t returned yet and we’re waiting on them. When they get here, could you meet us in the chamber that housed my father’s A.I.?”

“Sure thing, Princess. Coran said you might need my help?”

“Possibly. Did your father and brother return as well?”

“Not yet. I need to talk to you about that when we have a chance.”

Allura was about to reply but spotted the last pod entering the hangar. “They’re here!”

As Shiro and Keith exited the pod, Allura spied a pile of bags in the space behind their seats that looked to hold foodstuffs. Lance had a similar stash, and of course Hunk was already off and running with the notion of growing Earth foods here. Allura bit her lip, trying to stamp down a sudden stab of jealousy that the paladins still had access to their home planet, their families. She would never hug her father again, smell a juniberry flower, or taste a cup of hot kavisia.

Then she noticed that Shiro was hovering a little over Keith, who looked like he hadn’t slept well. And her mission took first place in her thoughts again.

“Paladins, would you follow me?”

She led the group to the A.I. chamber and through its door. Pidge was already there and looking around curiously. When Allura turned to face them, they were all wearing expressions of confusion. Shiro looked concerned. “What’s going on, Princess? I thought your father’s holoprogram was corrupted beyond repair.”

Allura straightened her posture and stamped down her grief. “Yes, it was, but the hardware itself was undamaged. It’s still functional. Coran?”

“Ready, princess!” The adviser’s voice echoed from somewhere.

And suddenly they were all in the cryo-room of the Castle, looking out from inside a pod as its shell dissolved. Allura heard Lance let out a startled squeak and suddenly remembered his experience with the rogue healing pod. Perhaps she should have shown this to just Keith after all…

As they watched, they realized they were seeing through Coran’s eyes. He spotted them and shouted, “Enemy combatants!” He charged toward Lance, the one closest to him, only to lose his balance. “Quiznak! You're lucky I have a case of the old ‘sleep chamber knees’.”

As they watched, the scene got more and more ridiculous and even Lance was both giggling and covering his rapidly-reddening face. “Oh my god, why did I do that?”

The scene ended abruptly at Allura’s horrified cry of “It can’t be!” They could see the walls of the chamber once more. Coran stepped out from a recessed area with a control panel of some sort.

Pidge tilted her head. “So, you didn’t need me after all?”

Coran shook his head. “No, it’s all working perfectly, just as we needed.”

Lance was leaning on Hunk, hiding his blushes and laughing into his friend’s shoulder. Shiro patted Lance’s back and stepped forward. “Amusing as that was, may I ask why?”

Allura drew in a breath. “I want to ask Keith to record his memory of that man’s assault and enter it as evidence for his trial.”

She had been focusing on Shiro, but her eyes snapped to Keith as he staggered back slightly. Allura’s heart jumped—she had never seen any of the paladins’ faces turn that pale! She darted toward him, even as Shiro turned and steadied him.

“Keith! I’m sorry! I thought—I was trying to help!”

He raised a hand, visibly collecting himself. Pidge moved to his side and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“No, I’m sorry. I should have a handle on this. I just…don’t want to remember it.”

“I think that’s kind of her point, buddy,” Hunk offered. “Which would be better, going through it once here, where you know it’s safe and we’ve all got your back, or having to testify at a court-martial?”

Allura couldn’t believe it, but Keith’s face now rivaled her hair for whiteness. His indigo eyes were huge. But he showed his mettle as a paladin immediately. “Will…will they accept it? Can they accept it as evidence? They don’t have the technology to access Altean files.”

“Oh, I can help with that,” Pidge volunteered.

“Actually, my intention was to insist that the proceedings be held here, as the wronged sovereign nation.”

Shiro frowned, his doubt showing in his tone. “That might work. Usually we look for a neutral venue when it’s needed.”

“Well, if your planet wishes to be seen as equal to others in the greater universe, they’ll need to accept the Interstellar Charter of Cooperation. I’m citing one of its rules when it comes to disputes concerning attacks on a royal personage or their representatives.”

She didn’t dare look at Coran. The Paladins didn’t need to know that the charter had been drafted, but never fully ratified before Zarkon began attacking on an interplanetary scale. Neither did Earth.

Making this Darzi pay for what he did to Keith was all that mattered.

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Thanks for reading! More to come!

[kenshirotakahashi]

This is a pet alien called Weird, who is from an obscure early 00′s anime called the Daichis: Earth Defense Family. Here’s some background for this character. Weird was conceived when Dai, the youngest of the Daichis, accidentally swallowed an marble sized orb found from the remains of an alien he and his family fought against. Dai gave birth to Weird from his mouth. Weird is some sort of alien animal that looks like a cross between a rabbit and a chameleon.