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manjuhitorie · 4 years ago

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Shinoda’s Instagram Q&A December 2020 - Translated (Some)

Question “It's been a while since you last did one of these!”

Shinoda “Long time no doing, let's do this”

Q “I loved your new song” SND “THX”

Q ”Do you have any preferred eye medicine? My eyes have been aching as of late” SND “Nope When mine hurt I go to the eye doctor.”

Q ”I want to finish my thesis and plop like a log already.” SND “You can plop like a log once you finish, probably

Q “Nice work with the live stream!! Are your muscle pains feeling any better?” SND “Fortunately They're all better now.”

Q “The live stream was super amazing. You were ignored so much during the MCs, I felt bad. SND “Normally the others do in fact talk to me quite a bit, normally at least. Strange.”

Q “SHINODADIDYOUGAINWEIGHT?” SND “Some people tell me I look like I lost weight, some people tell me I look like I gained weight. I don't have a scale in my house so I don't actually know but, I think I'm way better than I was earlier this year. “

Q “Why did you scream that "KOOOOOOON" thing during the live stream earlier?” SND “That was a homage to GG Allin”

Q “Are you in contact with Yamada Ryuuichi? (The vocalist and guitarist of Buzz Mothers)” SND “In spring of this year he had hit me up with a "You doing okay?" and I replied with "I'm so-so."

Q “My significant other if telling me they'll commit suicide if we break up. I'm scared, I can't take this anymore. Am I going to become a murderer..😢” SND “A break up merely means to choose not to walk the same path as another anymore. If that's what you desire then there's no need to agonize over their threats so much. Also you won't be a murderer.”

Q “Your new song was so good! The singing looks so hard though, are you a masochist?” SND “I had written the song with the intent to lessen my workload but it still somehow ended up being crazy fucking difficult. Why does this happen?”

Q “What's in the background of this Instagram story?” SND “This is the jersey I had worn during last year's tour.”

Q “I just learned of you today, I just came to be fan today.” SND “'nice to meet you'”

Q “It's been a while! My senpai with a big dick can't seem to find a job*! That's all I have to say!” SND ”Even though his dick is so big, huhh I guess things can't always go well*”

Q “What are you doing to pass the time these days?” SND “I've been watching Arupi Channel or Kamomental's skits or New York (The comedy duo)’s skits.”

Q “The reading of 伽藍如何前零番地 seems to differ depending on site or person, may I ask the correct reading?” SND “'Garandou Mae Zero Banchi' ....I'm sure?”

Q “It's been a while, I'm happy to see you~! Who are you rooting for in these year's M-1 tournie?” SND “Tokyo Hoteisonn, New York, ???, Oswald, West Land..... I just can't wait to see everyone.”

Q “It's been 1 year since I graduated, I can't find work anymore and I'm in the gutter everyday. Can I bother you for some words of encouragement? 👼” SND “Back when I first joined Hitorie, my guitar playing was still shit. Often I would go home absolutely pooped. It took me a long time to learn how to play with confidence. Turns out it's kinda important to constantly be figuring out where you're lacking, and never slack off in this front.”

Q “There's huge ass swelling on my wisdom tooth and I'm getting mouth inflammation all at the same time, I really feel the rush of the end of the year. It hurts” SND “About your wisdom tooth, just go to the dentist. About your inflammation, there's this type of gelatin you can coat your mouth with, that stuff's great.”

Q “Did you purposefully ask what time it was during the concert to reference song lyrics?” SND “I was merely interested in the time.”

Q “Would you prefer being with someone whom you love but is tough to be around, or with someone whom you don't love but is fun to be around?” SND “There's more fish in the sea, I don't think it's impossible to find someone you love whom is also fun to be around.”

Q “I also recognized the place you streamed the concert from too! I was getting excited at my desk.” SND “That threw me for a loop, it hit me as soon as I saw it.”

Q “I started reading Ninja to Gokudou. SND “It's fantastic ain't it.”

Q “Do you know Doraemon? If you do then please I would like to know which of his secret weapons you would most like to have.” SND “Memory Bread.”

Q “During SLEEPWALK I was worried that you might trip on your cables, but how is it on your side?” SND “I try to be careful, to a degree at least...”

Q “Do you recommend any Yakuza movies?” SND “The Ninja Dragon“

Q “I got shivers watching your Namid[A]me performance the other day.” SND “I still had stamina at that point in the show.”

Q “You always seem to sweat even when you wear short sleeves, and you were wearing long sleeves during the concert the other day. Were you not hot? SND “Naw, not especially”

Q 'Nana nama mugi, nana nama kome, nana nama tamago' in JP romaji, (lit. Seven raw wheats, seven raw rices, seven raw eggs), is hard to say” SND “Well it's purposefully made to be”

Q “My first love was the author of Inumayuge de Iko, Inazuka Yuuko-sensei. Do you feel me?” SND “You have good taste.”

Q “I got a boyfriend AND broke up with him in the span it took for you to return Shinoda-san!” SND ”Cheers.”

Q “Any artists you're into recently?” SND “BIBI”

Q “You seem to be sticking with the bob haircut?” SND “You're right...”

Q “Do you have the problem with Vans shoes wherein you slip if they get wet?” SND ”I personally haven't slipped much... Not much anyway”

Q “This Sunday I have my first non-virtual concert in 11 months, gimme some supporttt.” SND “Even you, huh. Even you’re gonna stand up in front of a live audience before I do.”

Q “What’s up with the curved edge album cover?” SND “Apparently it’s a bonsai tree”

Q “I can't stand injections, any tips on how to get over my fears?“ SND “Think about how it’s down with the least painful of all the painful things in life, it doesn’t hurt like a crap all that much, and you do it for your health. All in all it’s a plus, it doesn’t fill your heart with pain or anything.”

Q “Do you know any ways for me to get over my ex-boyfriend...” SND “There’s people who push to get a new partner as soon as possible then make a fool of themselves, just to try and get over their ex. Just take care not to do that.”

Q “You’re way too good at guitar?! How are you so good?! I really respect you SND “Icchi of Kaisoku Tokyo is better.”

Q “I can’t get enough of your new song so I set it as my alarm! It plays 7 times every morning!“ SND “Don’t people end up hating the songs they set as their alarm? Is this okay?”

Q “I loved your new song and stream. No doubt your voice sounded like wowaka’s.” SND “Now’s a good chance for me to say this. I don’t know if I sound like him or anything like that but..... Y’know how people can simulate a singer’s style? I didn’t intend to do anything like that either. So then why do people say this to me? I wondered and realized..

When recording backup vocals, it’s standard to follow the main vocalist’s style. So I needed to analyze Leader’s singing to a degree. I had to do that for numbers of songs for numbers of years, so subconsciously Leader’s style must’ve etched itself into my singing style as well. So it’s not that I’m simulating him, it’s that as a result I’ve just managed to simulate him.”

Q “I’m not sure if I should propose to my boyfriend or not. What would make him say yes..” SND “On your left arm write the words “Go register now” “100% registering for a marriage certificate” “Marriage marriage let’s get married”, then casually roll up your sleeves in front of your boyfriend. This is the key to victory.”

Q “Complicated girls all seem to have black bob hair, are there any normal girls with black bob hair out there?” SND “If there was a normal girl with black bob hair, that in itself would be complicated!!!!”

Q “I was so worried about you after you bonked your head with the mic last concert, did you get in trouble with the higher ups for that?” SND “The band ‘SuiseiNoboAz’ smashed their head into their guitars like 100 times, the band ‘my way my love’ smashed into their drums like 100 million times... So that much was child’s play. I didn’t get in trouble.”

#Hitorie

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iwaswritingmywayout · 4 years ago

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BTMH: Chapter 15: Hot Springs on Ice (Part 2)

Y/N clapped. ‘That was amazing. He’ll definitely rank among the top co-ed senior division skaters,’ Y//N thought and then she put her head into her hands. ‘Right…If I lose, Seonghwa will go back to Russia. I don’t want that.’ Y/N looked down at her skates. ‘I have to win. I want to win. I want to win!’

“Y/N,” Seonghwa said.

She was so busy in her own thoughts that she didn’t realize that Seonghwa had walked over to her, stopping in front of her. Y/N looked up at Seonghwa, but she didn’t say anything.

“It’s your turn,” Seonghwa said calmly.

Y/N gasped and covered her mouth. “U-Um, I’m… I’m going to become a super tasty pork cutlet bowl, so please watch me!” Y/N said. She stood up and hugged Seonghwa. “Promise!”

Seonghwa smiled. “Of course. I love pork cutlet bowls,” Seonghwa said.

Y/N nodded and let go before walking out of the locker room to the ice rink.

“We’re pleased to introduce a skater who represents Japan, one that won Team Japan a gold medal during the 2010 Winter Olympics, a late bloomer who’s becoming a rising star, Katsuki Y/N!” Morooka said.

‘Hey! I’m not a late bloomer! I had an injury I had to heal from!’ Y/N thought.

She stepped on the ice and skated out to the center of the rink. The audience cheered and she smiled.

“Good luck, Y/N!” The crowd cheered.

“She will skate to, “On Love: Eros”,” Morooka said.

“Y/N! Good luck, Katsuki!” The crowd cheered.

“She’s been having difficulty expressing “Eros”, but she said she’ll think of how she’d love to eat her favorite dish, the pork cutlet bowl.

‘I pulled an all-nighter to help her practice, and she’s no ordinary pork cutlet bowl,’ Minako thought.

Y/N stood in the center of the ice with her hip cocked to on side. Her arms moved down before circling over her head. They then shot back down.

‘Who am I dancing for? I know who,’ Y/N thought. She shot a charming glance at Seonghwa, the smallest trace of a smirk on her face. Seonghwa whistled in response. Y/N started her routine.

“What a seductive step sequence! It’s hard to believe she’s imagining a pork cutlet bowl!” Morooka said.

‘It’s because I’m thinking of more than just a pork cutlet bowl, I’m thinking of Seonghwa, too,’ Y/N thought. She then did her camel spin.

‘Good! You’re known for your step sequences and spins,’ Minako thought.

~Flashback~

Y/N had been staying late with Minako, working hard to improve.

“I want you to teach me how to move in even more feminine ways than I already do,” Y/N said.

“Huh?” Minako said.

“Before today, I’ve tried too hard to be the playgirl, so hard that it doesn’t seem natural. I want to be the playgirl that gets the man without even trying!” Y/N said.

Y/N and Minako would stay up late working on the movement part of the routine in her ballet studio.

~Flashback Ends~

‘I’m not going to drastically change any moves, but I just think this is a lot closer to how I feel,’ Y/N thought.

‘At first, I wasn’t sure what she was being all serious about, but her performance has integrated her emotions, it’s changed,’ Minako thought.

‘Before, I was the girl trying to seduce the man, who I was picturing as Seonghwa, but now that I know how he feels, I’m not working as hard to seduce, and I’m more so focusing on captivating him. Seduction through captivation,’ Y/N thought.

“Now, we have a spread eagle into a triple axel,” Morooka said.

‘Man, this program is tough,’ Y/N thought. ‘Skating hasn’t caused me pain in a while, so why is it starting now? Have I been pushing myself too hard?’

For a split second, Y/N’s face clearly showed that she was in pain, but more people didn’t notice it. However, Seonghwa isn’t most people. He noticed it as soon as it showed up. He held his chin as he thought. ‘Is her knee hurting her?’

‘Scheduling all the jumps in the second half just because she has stamina is pretty spartan,’ Takeshi thought.

“Her knee is hurting her,” Yuuri said. He was standing next to Yuuko and Takeshi. “Did you see the look on her face? She’s pushing herself too hard. At this rate she’s going to hurt herself again.”

“She’s been skating more these past few weeks than she had in month, it’s understandable for her to hurt. Her body hasn’t gotten used to her skating a lot yet. Those months when she didn’t skate affected her body,” Yuuko said.

Yuuri nodded. “I know, I’m just worried that she’s going all in too soon,” Yuuri explained.

“She probably is, but there isn’t anything we can do, she’ll have to learn that the hard way,” Takeshi said.

“Oops! She stepped out of his quadruple Salchow! She managed to stay on her feet by putting her hand down,” Morooka said.

‘About what you would expect,’ Jongho thought.

‘Don’t panic! A mistake like this isn’t enough to make me lose my charms. I’m better than any other woman out there. You know why? I already have Seonghwa captivated without even doing anything’ Y/N thought.

“A quadruple toe loop followed by a triple toe loop! She nailed it! What a good combination!” Morooka said.

‘A quad-triple combination at the very end? Is she insane? She nailed it, too,’ Takeshi thought.

Jongho watched Y/N wrap up her program. He turned around and started to walk away while Y/N made a sweeping motion with both arms. The crowd cheered loudly.

“Welcome back, Y/N! Welcome back!” The crowd cheered.

“Guys, it’s not “welcome back”. That was a Y/N you’ve never seen before. No one could look away,” Takeshi said.

“That’s the best she has ever done, even better than her senior debut. I guess Seonghwa was a good motivation for her,” Yuuri said.

Y/N waved to the audience as she smiled.

“I’m looking forward to this season now,” Takeshi said.

“Me too. My sister’s finally back,” Yuuri said with a wide smile on his face.

Seonghwa stood at the entrance to the rink. He was smiling and held his arms out. “Y/N!” He said.

Y/N turned around and smiled before skating towards him. She got to him and hugged him tightly. She was able to ignore the pain in her knee because of how happy he looked.

“That was the tastiest pork cutlet bowl I’ve ever seen! Wonderful!” Seonghwa said.

“Th-Thank you,” Y/N said.

“But can I say something?” Seonghwa said, a serious look on his face.

“S-Sure,” Y/N said.

“What was with your triple axel out of the spread eagle? That was the worst attempt so far. I know you had Jongho teach you the quad Salchow in secret, but what was that?” Seonghwa said, lecturing very quickly.

Y/N’s eyes went blank and she keeled over onto the ice. She was done. Y/N.exe had stopped working for a second time. The ice also made her knee feel better since it was cold.

“Huh? Y/N?” Seonghwa asked.

Jongho left Ice Castle Hasetsu, pulling his suitcase behind him. Yuuko ran out after him, wondering why he was leaving before the results had even been announced.

“Jongho, hang on,” Yuuko said. Jongho stopped walking. “You’re going back without even hearing the results?”

Jongho looked down. “I already know the results. That performance,” Jongho started his face looking as if he was about to cry. “I’m going to keep going under Yakov. Later.” Jongho held up a hand and waved. “Dasvidaniya.”

“I see,” Yuuko said.

“Don’t get me wrong! I’m the one who’ll win at the Grand Prix Final! Tell her that!” Jongho said harshly before walking away.

Back inside Ice Castle Hasetsu, Y/N and Seonghwa stood at a small podium.

“Katsuki Y/N has won the Hot Springs on Ice event,” Morooka said. He then handed Y/N a microphone. “A word, please.”

“O-Oh, um…” Y/N started.

Seonghwa put his hand on Y/N’s arm in what felt like a reassuring way. Y/N blinked and looked up.

“I’m going to try and win the next Grand Prix Final with Seonghwa! Thank you for your continued support!” Y/N said.

Minako’s eyes were watering, and she put an arm over her face while the audience cheered for Y/N.

‘The battle for my very last figure skating season has begun,’ Y/N thought.

#born to make history #seonghwa x reader #ateezxreader #park seonghwa #yuri!!! on ice #ateez #xreader

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medea10 · 5 years ago

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Medea’s Top 20 Animes of the Decade

Hey all! Disappointed in some “best of” lists of this past decade? Well…prepared to be possibly disappointed some more because I’m doing one now! Here’s a top 20 list of my favorite animes that came out in the 2010’s. I seriously couldn’t do 10 this time due to how many awesome animes came out this decade. Unlike my anime superlative list, I’m going to be stricter here. Anything that aired in Japan before January 2010 is stricken from the list (which sucks because that means Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood & InuYasha: The Final Act are disqualified). And these are going to be MY favorites from this decade. Be aware that there will be popular animes I leave off the list due to my own personal opinions and the fact that some of them I have not watched yet. So I’m just going to tell you right now, don’t expect My Hero Academia, Hunter x Hunter, or Demon Slayer on this list because I have not watched any of that shit! Let’s get cracking!

20. Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card (2018)

After nearly 20 years since the end of the first series, Cardcaptor Sakura returns with a sequel no one asked for and no one expected to come back. But it definitely brought back the nostalgia for those who grew up watching CCS. This story gives a continuation where Sakura is in middle school and ends up collecting a whole new set of mysterious cards. And the series is what you would expect with the cutesy feel whenever Sakura is with Li or it gets really intense when Sakura’s up against a really powerful card. While the ending leaves us on a bit of a cliffhanger with no continuation in sight, this series was one of the best reboots I’ve watched in recent years.

Available to watch on: Crunchyroll, FUNimation, & Hulu Coming soon to home video

19. The Rising of the Shield Hero (2019)

This is my first (modern) Isekai and I gotta say I really enjoyed the story. Unlike other anime characters that travel to another world, the main character Naofumi is not praised as a savior nor put on a golden pedestal. Quite the opposite, this guy has to fight for even a shred of respect from anybody. Because after watching past protagonists like Miaka Yuuki, Kagome, and Kirito, that trope gets boring. Despite many of these episodes making me physically ill as I watched Naofumi being shit on by the other heroes and everybody else, it was great to watch this struggle with Naofumi to become a great shield hero.

P.S. Myne is still a raging cunt!

Available to watch on: Crunchyroll & FUNimation

18. My Love Story!! (2015)

One of the BEST rom-com animes out there! The story of a gentle giant boy named Takeo falling in love with a sweet, petite girl named Yamato and their story as a couple. Yeah, the big difference between this anime and a bunch of other anime rom-coms is that Takeo and Yamato reveal their love for each other in episode 4 in a 24 episode series! By anime standards, that’s unheard of because most love stories want to wait until the finale for something like that. This anime is just a cute story of watching Takeo and Yamato bloom with their budding relationship. Yeah, I admit some of the stories can be a little boring. Sometimes the beginnings of romances have a slow-start before we get to the good stuff. But even when they’re doing little things, they’re just so cute to watch.

Available to watch on: Crunchyroll, HI-DIVE & Hulu Available for home video

17. Durarara!! (2010, 2015-2016)

This story is a complete cluster-fuck, but I don’t care. The stories that come from this anime and the characters make this one of my favorites. Durarara follows the strange stories that happen around the town of Ikebukuro with a headless motorcycle rider, super-human strengthed men, an internet troll who loves to mess with humans, otakus, a mad scientist, a parasitic carrier, and gangs of different sorts. But if you would ask me what’s my favorite thing about Durarara (because there’s a lot of random things for anyone to choose), it would of course be any time Shizuo Heiwajima is on the screen. This guy is just pure rage in a bartender’s outfit. He’s able to casually pick up and throw a vending machine at a person, he can punch the clothes off a guy’s body, and even kick a mid-sized car down the street.

Available to watch on: Crunchyroll, Hulu & Netflix Available for home video

16. Daily Lives of High School Boys (2012)

If you’re looking for something random and hilarious to watch, look no further with this one. Each episode has random segments, mostly featuring three boys, Tadakuni, Hidenori, and Yoshitake in some of the most absurd moments ever showcased in an anime. Just to name a few fun moments; being caught experimenting with women’s underwear, finding a clever way to kill a hornet (indirect kiss), intellectual talk with a cute girl, using your jacket as a soccer ball replacement, and how to unzip your fly without using your hands! That last one still confounds me. But the show also expands to other characters around school and town. I know this series is severely random to have a coherent plot, but sometimes I prefer randomness. And that’ll continue with the next entry!

Available to watch on: Crunchyroll Available for home video

15. Nichijou (2011)

Yet another random segment anime (only this time with girls)! I know the official title is “My Ordinary Life”, but there is nothing ordinary about an anime where you have a six year old professor, a talking robot girl that was created by the six-year old professor, a talking black cat, high school girls capable of body-flipping police officers, a young boy who rides a goat to school, a high school girl capable of firing a bazooka, and a principal who fights a deer. That last one is just epic! If for no other reason to watch Nichijou, just watch the scene where the principal fights a deer! Much like Daily Lives of High School Boys, this series relies more on the random shenanigans of many of these characters (but mostly the main three girls, Mio, Yuuko, and Mai). It’s silly and fun! Check it out and give this anime a little love. Because there’s no way it’s getting a second season (Japan showed no love for this one)!

Available to watch on: FUNimation Available for home video

14. ERASED (2016)

I don’t care what manga readers say, this was a fine anime, you anal-rententive fuck-wipes (soooo not sorry for that statement)! This murder-mystery captured my attention when it first aired. The story is about a man named Satoru who has this ability to go backwards in time (usually a few seconds or minutes) to prevent a tragedy from occurring. But after an incident involving his mother, he ends up going all the way back to his ten-year old body in 1988 in order to prevent a tragedy from his childhood. This included saving his classmate, Kayo from her premature demise. It was a catchy time-leaping mystery that would enthrall me week after week…up to a certain point. Yeah, you can already guess who the culprit was early on. But all the suspense leading up to this was still a great tale.

Available to watch on: Crunchyroll & Hulu Available for home video

13. Panty & Stocking w/ Garterbelt (2010)

GAINAX, you wishy-washy, crazy-ass, can’t give a full conclusion to a story to save your life, leaving us on a decade-long cliffhanger bastards, YOU’VE DONE IT AGAIN!

So this bizarre-ass anime is about two bitch-angels kicked out of Heaven, named Panty and Stocking. One likes to fuck men and the other gorges herself on sweets! In order to get back into Heaven, they must exterminate ghosts with the help of a black priest named Garterbelt, a fanboy named Briefs, and an Invader Zim knock-off named Chuck. And did I mention Panty and Stocking use their own lingere as weapons to take down ghosts? This story is balls-to-the-wall insane! And it gets crazier when you pop in the English dub! Dick jokes, fart jokes, and a whole lot of fucks! As any superhero show will do, this anime does stay to the villain of the episode trope with a few leeways here and there. This included a segment dedicated to the late Satoshi Kon and a music video. All of this leading to an ending NO ONE expected to happen leaving us on a cliffhanger that is now going on 10 years. Regardless, this absurdity in a thong is a treasure to behold. I would also advise not doing a drinking game whenever one of them says “Fuck”. You’d be dead by the end of the first episode!

Available to watch on: FUNimation Available for home video

12. Attack on Titan (2013, 2017-2019)

*singing incoherent Japanese*

YEAGER!!!

Get ready to get hooked on two of the catchiest opening themes of all time! I thought it was just about a young boy taking revenge on a race of titans for the death of his mother. No one expected there to be a twisted, messed-up origin to the titan race where the main character is connected to everything! That’s all my messy thoughts coming out after witnessing the climax portion. As for the rest of you, Eren Yeager’s world is turned upside-down when the town he lived in is demolished by titans. As a result, the entire town is demolished and left for dead and Eren watched as his mother is eaten by a titan. Eren ends up joining the Survey Corps along with his friends Armin and Mikasa to take down titans and prevent another town to suffer the same fate as Eren’s home.

Going into this anime, I SERIOUSLY thought this was going to be a comedy. You would too if you were going off of all the memes that emerged in 2013. But this anime takes a sharp left turn when Eren discovers a horrifying secret involving his own body. After that, this lead to more unbelievable discoveries involving people we all initially thought was the supporting cast. And this is as cryptic as I can be without delving into severe spoilers. The only way to get my meaning is if you watch this series. It’s just…WOW!

Available to watch on: Crunchyroll, FUNimation, Hulu, & Toonami Some seasons are available for home video

11. Kill la Kill (2013-2014)

A girl with a giant pair of scissors picking a fight with the main bitch at school, all the while wearing a sailor suit that talks to you! That is the balls-to-the-wall insanity Studio Trigger gives you in a show like this. Ryuko Matoi enrolls in Honnouji Academy in search of the person who murdered her father. There, she comes face-to-face with the potential murderer, Satsuki Kiryuin. Satsuki rules over Honnouji as she has a special uniform capable of giving her super-human strength. But what Satsuki doesn’t know is that Ryuko is about to get a special uniform to give her that as well. A talking sailor uniform named Senketsu helps Ryuko in her journey of finding her father’s murderer. Yeah, this series goes all-out with the special powers brought on by certain clothing. Then again, it’s Japan and fanservice is a must in at least 75% of animes! I mean, there are moments where Senketsu gets skimpier on Ryuko, not leaving much to the imagination. As absurdly off the wall this anime was, I enjoyed every frame of it and it’s easily one of Studio Trigger’s best works.

Available to watch on: Crunchyroll & Netflix

10. Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma (2015-2019)

You’d think with my picky-ass, I would have never watched an anime about cooking (and if my family is reading this, close this page now and play a wholesome game of shutting your gobs). But Food Wars never fails to increase my appetite. Yukihira Soma ends up in Japan’s most elite cooking school (with a 10% graduation rate) where he finds himself up against Japan’s and even the world’s greatest up and coming chefs. And every now and then, he ends up having to go up against one of these chefs in a cook-off known as a Shokugeki. If it wasn’t for the food orgasms, I would easily tell my cooking-show obsessed family members to watch this. I know no normal person would ever strip off all their clothes and have a raging orgasm when eating delicious food. But hey, it’s Japan! Gotta stick in fanservice somewhere! With inventive ways to spice up a regular dish, I may one day broaden my taste-buds into more exotic food-stuffs. Just, keep the peanut-butter squid away from me.

Available to watch on: Crunchyroll, HI-DIVE, Hulu, & Toonami Some seasons are available for home video

09. Your Lie in April (2014-2015)

Grab your tissues, children. We follow Kousei Arima as he regains his ability and passion for playing the piano with the thanks of new-found friend Kaori. What can I say about an anime that’s so beautifully animated with likeable characters and music to die for? OHHH…I shouldn’t have said that last thing! Yeah, the main character Kousei goes through quite a bit in his life dealing with the aftermath of his mother’s death and having to relive seeing someone he cares about die the same way. There’s just so much you wish would happen with these characters and watch as it’s dashed away during a Chopin piece. OHHH…I did it again! Well folks, if you’re into tear-bait and classical music, definitely watch Your Lie in April!

Available to watch on: Crunchyroll, Hulu, & Netflix

08. The Promised Neverland (2019)

One of the newest entries with one of the most shocking first episodes in recent history! I know in the past decade we got a lot of first episode hookers like Attack on Titan, but if you came in this blind-folded, get ready for a trip. We follow orphan children Emma, Ray, and Norman as they plan to escape their home before they become food for hungry demons. In a weird way, this anime is almost like the 2000 film Chicken Run. I know I’m not the first person to think that up, but yeah, gotta say it here. This was one of my favorite animes of this year and I was hooked week by week with what was going to happen next. It got so intense that immediately after the series ended, I picked up the manga to find out what happens next. And let me tell you, it gets more insane after the events of episode 12. But one thing that always astounded me was watching all of these kids plot an escape so elaborate when all of them range from ages 6-12.

Available to watch on: Crunchyroll, FUNimation, & Hulu

07. Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid (2017)

What would you do if you opened the door one morning and found a dragon standing outside? Not just that but what would you do if you were living with more than one dragon and you now find yourself hanging around other dragons?! Kobayashi’s world changes for the better as she meets a dragon (named Tohru) that loves her so much that she would happily become her maid. And given the stigma for eons between humans and dragons, this series we see cute interactions with humans and dragons. Up to a point that it feels like all these characters are becoming family! There’s a dragon named Fafnir who finds humans horrible people, but ends up changing for the better when he finds himself hanging with a human that plays video games and creates manga. But I’m always so drawn to the relationship of Tohru and Kobayashi. Kobayashi was never really close to her family and when she moved away she mostly spends her nights drinking alone. But once Tohru and Kanna move in, it’s always a fun day with their cute shenanigans. It’s definitely brought Kobayashi out of her shell and gave her a family of dragons to live with.

And there’s this cute little dragon named Kanna! She’s so cute and adorable! Look at her nom at just everything she eats. She’s so adorable! Who’s a cute wittle dragon? Yes you are! Yes you are!

As a final note in this particular entry, I want to mention one particular member of the staff. Yasuhiro Takemoto! This man was the director for Miss Kobayashi, as well as many other animes from Kyoto Animation and I feel the need to thank this man for all the hard work he had done. I’m thankful for all of your work in the anime community and we miss you.

Available to watch on: Crunchyroll & Funimation Available for home video

06. Pokemon XY (2013-2016)

It might be cheating a bit to put a Pokemon series on this list since they’ve been around since 1997. But it’s not a continuous shot like Detective Conan and One Piece, so I’m counting the XY arc for this list. Even though this series didn’t show me my favorite character and it gave me a shipping that’s worse than Herpes (with a cult for that ship that’s on par with MAGA), this was one of the best arcs to the Pokemon series. And I was excited for this series when it first came out because with the introduction of Mega Evolution, I was hoping for Ash to delve into that. While Ash wasn’t the one using Mega Evolutions, we did see him grow more through a synchronization method with Greninja that brought about so much in terms of battling. Just to name a few awesome moments with these two, he took down an iceburg pokemon, went toe-to-toe with a champion, and even made it all the way to the finals of the Pokemon League. Now did he win that league? That’s not important! What is important is that these were some of the best moments this series had to offer.

But it wasn’t just Ash we followed, but an anime-only character introduced named Alain as we followed his journey to becoming stronger through Mega Evolution. It felt risky following a different person for 5 or more episodes (without mentioning Ash), but it was all worth it when we came to the climax of the series when Team Flare came from the shadows. Listen guys, I know Pokemon has given some disappointing seasons before (especially the arc prior to XY), but if there’s any season you should watch, it’s definitely this one.

Also, Rica Matsumoto sings this one song called XYZ. I don’t know if you all have heard this song, but I think you should. It’s so bad ass and always pops up in some of Ash’s best battles in this series…in the Japanese version! I love it so much that I always feel the need to bring up XYZ whenever I talk about this arc.

Available to watch on: Disney XD, Hulu, & Pokemon TV Available for home video

05. Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011)

I will always be a sucker for magical girl animes. Especially since Sailor Moon was the very first anime I watched fully! But Madoka Magica was…different and edgier. The premise is that a cute, white animal asks you to form a contract with it so you can become a magical girl. Magical girls defeat witches that cause havoc! Better read the fine-print on the contract ladies, because what the little rat doesn’t tell you is that you eventually become a witch yourself and will end up dying a horrible death, thus repeating the cycle. This anime would always leave me in a state of awe when watching it, whether it was the shocking deaths or the clever animation used when a witch emerges. But when you’ve got Shaft Studios animating this, expect some trippy moments. I think it’s because episode 3 was a big turning point that many of us were caught off guard by what happened and were scared of what happens next. Although thanks to Madoka, many other magical girl animes are following down the same path and trying to make it edgier. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, but I gotta say Madoka has definitely set the bar on edgy magical girl shows.

Available to watch on: Crunchyroll, FUNimation, & Hulu Available for home video

04. Violet Evergarden (2018)

Prior to this anime’s release, Kyoto Animation had a reputation for putting out anime that was geared to the “moe” genre. But with recent releases of A Silent Voice, Miss Kobayashi, and Violet Evergarden, their style has evolved into something I can’t describe in just one sentence. This anime is just beautiful to look at. The animation is just stunning, look at it. Now, I was a bit turned-off by the main character of this series, Violet. First of all, she literally looks like Saber from the Fate series and has arms that rival Ed Elric of FMA. Secondly, her almost robotic personality really turned me off. But it wasn’t until later in the series where we watch her interact with the people she was helping in each episode that made me truly appreciate what she’s doing.

Violet was once used as a tool for war and would always obey her commanding officer. But once the war was over, she found herself as an “Auto Memories Doll” where she’s writing letters people want to send to someone. Many of these episodes, we watch her see the world outside of the war and hell she was put through in her past. Her words were able to bring people together, heal two fighting nations, bring a family closer together, give closure to a grieving family member, and so much more. Add to that, this series gave out one of the most heart-breaking episodes I’ve ever watched in anime. It made me ugly-cry and that rarely happens! Not just me, but litereally everyone who ever watched this episode, but also Violet herself. This episode (that’s episode 10) was like the first time where she felt actual human emotions for anyone other than the person she once loved. This episode felt like a turning point in how I felt about Violet as well as the show in general.

I feel I have to say a little more on this entry. This anime is without a doubt, the most beautifully animated anime of this entire decade (despite what OTHERS have to say). And it couldn’t have gotten that way without the talented folks at Kyoto Animation. I can’t express enough how much I’m blown away by this series. Only now when I think about it, I get horribly depresssed due to the recent tragedy that struck KyoAni. Only now, do I appreciate all the hard work to put this masterpiece into action. And I wish it didn’t take me until a tragedy to watch this anime. But I’m glad I was able to watch Violet Evergarden. And I wish for you all to take the time to do the same!

Available to watch on: Netflix

03. Assassination Classroom (2015-2016)

Stand. Bow. Kill your sensei! Middle school students being trained by professional assassins to take down a yellow-tentacled monster (who is also their teacher)! These students must assassinate their teacher within one year, otherwise the world will blow up. Now I had my reservations watching a cast this big! I mean, we’re watching an entire 28-person class try to shoot their teacher. Thankfully, I didn’t grow to be annoyed by the concept like with Negima. I loved nearly all of the students and remembered many of them. One of the biggest drawing points with me is that, all of these students were seen as the ones to give up on. They were in the lowest-level class where school, family, and society have just given up on these children. Being in a much similar situation in middle school, I can relate. That’s why when I saw someone like Koro-sensei teach these kids so much more in the world of academics, it made me happy to see these kids have someone to look up to. Many of these episodes were fun to watch. Koro-sensei is a laugh-riot sometimes when the class has to do an activity together. Add to that, one of the hardest to watch goodbyes in recent history. For a good laugh and a good cry, Assassination Classroom is the way to go.

Available to watch on: FUNimation & Hulu Available for home video

02. Yuri on Ice!!! (2016)

AAAAAAHHHHHHH! *random screeching noises*

Why yes I love this series! It is so beautiful. I wish to see more of this in the future. I would like for Viktor to have Yuri’s babies. Don’t at me! I didn’t expect this series to give the female viewers an actual loving relationship between two of the main male characters. But halfway into the series, we get the kiss that cemented the deal. So besides the gay relationship, we’ve also got a beautiful soundtrack, animation that’s stunningly gorgeous, a story about an underdog working his way to receive a gold medal with the help of his hot, Russian coach…God, I just love this anime!

I’m a sucker for a root for the underdog story. And Yuri Katsuki definitely fits that description! Before Viktor came along, he was coming off of a humiliating defeat at a previous competition where he came in dead-last. But throughout the series, we watch Viktor mold Yuri into something audience members have overlooked in this boy. Viktor taught Yuri what love really is in more ways than one. But Yuri isn’t a total zero-to-hero in a span of 12 episodes, but at times he does come damn-near close. Every week, I’m amazed at how much Studio MAPPA put so much effort into this. While the quality did take a slight dip in some of the final episodes, so much has happened before that I’m willing to let that go. Watch Yuri attempt at making history with Yuri on Ice.

Available to watch on: Crunchyroll & FUNimation Available for home video

Before I get to my anime of the decade, how about I quickly do my TOP 10 ANIME MOVIES OF THE DECADE? No commentary, just announcing them quickly.

10. The Last: Naruto the Movie (2014)

09. When Marnie Was There (2014)

08. Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms (2018)

07. Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods (2013)

06. Kizumonogatari (2016-2017)

05. The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (2010)

04. Pokemon: I Choose You (2017)

03. Your Name (2016)

02. A Silent Voice (2016)

01. Wolf Children (2012)

CLOSE CALLS FOR THE LISTS: Black Lagoon – Roberta’s Blood Trail, Sailor Moon Crystal, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, Fate/Zero & Fate/stay night: UBW, Angel Beats, The Wind Rises, Parasyte, One Punch Man, Aggretsuko, Steins;Gate, Inu x Boku SS, and Dragon Ball Super.

And now, #1…oh, you should already know what it is by now. One of my favorite animes came back with the vengeance in 2019 that no other anime can touch it. Rightfully so! You know it, I know it, let’s get it over with! So say it with me now, three, two, one…

01. Fruits Basket: 1st Season (2019)

Thank you! Just…thank you! In a time where I hate reboots, this one was handled with the utmost care. What can I say about this anime that everyone else hasn’t said already? This anime is like warm soup on a cold day. The nice pick-me-up when you had a shitty day on the job! That beautiful rainbow you see after a rain shower!

Coming upon a family with a terrible secret, there’s much hesitation on who (if any) can be let in without being hurt. Tohru Honda accidentally learned of the Sohma family secret, where if one of them is hugged by someone of the opposite sex, they’re turned into an animal from the Chimese Zodiac. These people have had to live with this stigma their entire lives. Because of this, relationships are put in turmoil, obtaining friends was damn-near impossible, and everyone has to be on a constant state of worry in case their secret comes out. But Tohru loves and accepts everyone, no matter what. In many of these episodes, we see Tohru reach out to the members of the Sohma family to tell them that she sees the good in them and that they are loved. To reach out to the hurt, silent tiger, Kisa! To reach out to the mentally-scarred rat, Yuki! To reach out to the heart-broken dragon, Hatori! And to give a hug to Momiji…when his momma won’t!

All of these individual stories always gets to me! Even re-told, these stories have improved 100%! And in some cases like Ritsu’s story, done better than the original! I watched the original story God-knows how many times! But with the remake, I found myself re-watching random episodes in my off-time when I should be watching something else. I always have to go back to watching everything from this series. From the good and the sad! From the ultra-laughable moments, to the jaw-dropping moments! In a time where many of us yearn to be accepted for who we are, an anime like this feels absolutely necessary. I know it might be biased of me to pick something from this year and cheating a bit considering at the beginning of the decade I was heavily into the original series. Regardless, this is still my pick for Best Anime of the 2010’s.

Available to watch on: Crunchyroll, FUNimation, & Hulu

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vilchen · 5 years ago

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happy birthday you beautiful pork cutlet fatale

12th birthday

Yuuri's parents had kept their lips tightly shut about why they were heading to Fukuoka, only watching with amusement as he vibrated in his seat. It was his birthday after all, and Yuuri had overheard them talking about a mystery 'friend' and 'how it’s time' and a secret 'gift' last night before he went to bed.

The scenery passes by in a green blur, the only changes being the occasional train stops and small towns between Hasetsu and Fukuoka. His Okaa-san eventually taps his shoulder and motions for him to pack up his backpack, and Yuuri is first in line when they stop to a screeching halt and the train doors finally open.

A woman with long, dark hair tied up in a massive bun is waiting for them with her car; she smiles widely and waves when she spots them, embracing his Okaa-san in a big hug once they've escaped the crowd.

"Hiroko-chan! I was so happy when you contacted me, it's been so long—but you look just the same, oh, and you must be Yuuri-kun, and Katsuki Toushyia-san, yes?"

Yuuri and his father creep into the backseat together while Hiroko and the lady—who'd introduced herself as Nayamoto Angela—chatter away in the front seats about their junior high days and what they’ve been up to for the last twenty years.

"Where are we going?" Yuuri whispers to his father, hoping he might crack now that they’re closer to the surprise and his Okaa-san is distracted.

«It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you, now would it?» He says and ruffles Yuuri's hair.

Yuuri groans quietly and turns to look out the window instead. His phone vibrates in his pocket with a message and—grateful for the distraction—Yuuri pulls it out.

Yuuko:

Happy birthday! Mari said you and your parents were headed for Fukuoka, so I hope you have a great day!

He smiles into the sleeve of his sweater and types out a quick response.

Yuuri:

Thanks, Yuu-chan! I think we might be here to pick up a present, but they won’t tell me anything :( We're still on for NHK Trophy at Ice Castle, right?

Yuuko:

Of course! It’s Victor’s last assignment; it would be so amazing if he made it into the GPF during his senior debut!

Yuuri worries his lip and snaps the lid of his phone shut, pushing it back into his pocket before he goes back to gazing out the window. He'd had a tiny hope that his parents would get him tickets for the NHK Trophy in Sendai for his birthday, but that’s unlikely now that they’ve travelled all the way out here. Mari already got him the newest poster of Victor and a magazine she had to order online with an exclusive interview, and he and Yuuko will watch the GPF together again—hopefully with Victor as one of the competitors.

The car stops outside of a quaint, yellow house. Bright flowers in hand-painted flower pots are balanced on the window stills along with half full bird feeders, and a closed gate leads into what looks like a generously sized garden.

"Come, come," Nayamoto-san says and ushers them out of the car, holding the gate open for them. "They’re out back and I think they'll be very glad to meet our visitors."

Yuuri hears them long before he sees them; tiny, light pitched yips and whines; small, clawed paws on wood and one deeper, more commanding 'woof'. From around the corner, three exited, tail-wagging puppies stumble over each other in their haste to get to them.

Yuuri, slack jawed and sparkly-eyed, falls down on his knees to greet them all, wishing desperately for more hands to pet them all at the same time. An older, dignified mama poodle trots into sight and lays down in the sun some distance away to keep an eye on her litter, tail wagging weakly in greeting when Nayamoto-san ruffles her ears.

"Two girls, one boy, 12 weeks old and the first set of vaccinations have been taken care of. They’re all healthy by the looks of it, and my Aki here is the proud mama."

Yuuri looks up at his parents, disbelief growing as they grin back at him.

"Well, you've wanted a dog for a long time now, and we thought now would be a good time to give you some extra responsibility. They’ll be your care and we expect you to to act accordingly," his Okaa-san says sternly before her face splits into a wide grin. "Now? What are you waiting for?"

A teary laugh bubbles out of him and he nods enthusiastically, tries to bite his lip to keep from smiling but it’s a lost battle.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you—" he says, "I promise I'll take good care of them forever and ever and this is the best birthday of my life!"

All three of the puppies are vying for his attention—one with curly, dark brown fur nibbles at his shoelaces while his sister licks his hands and jumps up at him, excited yips escaping her cream colored muzzle. The last one is all over the place, practically running in circles around him while her floppy ears bounce around her.

Yuuri's hand finds its way into the last one's soft, curly fur, and she finally stands still long enough for him to get a proper look at her. Big, brown puppy eyes, a lolling tongue, tail wagging excitedly behind her and her fur a warm, mocha color.

She reminds Yuuri of the new poster from Mari, the one he’d just hung up today. Victor outdoors, wrapped in a scarf and a fashionable coat with his long hair spilling like a waterfall down his shoulders, kneeling on the ground and beaming with an arm slung around a fluffy standard poodle. Makkachin was her name. There’d been an interview in that magazine, and if Yuuri hadn’t already been a grade A dog-lover, Victor would’ve made him one through the enthusiasm shining through in his answers alone.

Yuuri holds up mini-Makkachin to his face. She yips and licks his nose approvingly, and Yuuri melts.

"This one," he says.

An hour or so later, with the paperwork out of the way and their train set to leave in forty-five minutes, Yuuri has his puppy—his Vicchan—in a carrier. A bag of goodies is hidden in his pocket for the ride home, and Yuuri is of course not planning on giving her everything at once. Not at all.

Nayamoto-san's son has agreed to drive them back to the train station and is already waiting in the car. Yuuri closes the gate behind him, careful not to jostle Vicchan's carrier.

"Oh, and Yuuri-kun," Nayamoto-san calls after him. He looks over his shoulder at her where she’s kneeling on the ground, one hand resting on Aki's furry head and with a wide, toothy smile on her face.

"Happy birthday."

#yoi #yuuri katsuki #yuuri katsuki's birthday #my writing #editing? never heard of #got a slightly longer version in the works for ao3 #not what I should be focusing on rn tho #shhhh don't tell my secret skater/santa

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completeoveranalysis · 7 years ago

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[1]

My favourite part is when Watanuki runs to Yuuko and summaries all the spooky mysteries that start to happen.

Or at least it would be if Yuuko ever told us what was going on.

WHICH SHE DOESN’T, SO. NEVERMIND.

#YUUKO TELL ME YOUR SECRETS #Yuuko you have too many secrets #that is #no that's too many #TAKE BACK YOUR SECRETS #Not liveblogging the Reservoir Chronicle #xxxholic #xxxholic 53 #Yuuko Ichihara #JUST TELL ME ONE SECRET YUUKO #ONE WOULD BE FINE

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louciferish · 6 years ago

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the darkest hour (4/5)

[Part One] [Two] [Three]

With the shroud over his face, Yuuri finds it impossible to mark the passage of time. He sleeps. He’s brought food and water, and shadowy figures help him to use the facilities. Most of these times, the bag remains over his eyes, but the hands which guide him have many textures— soft as silk or cracked and weathered. Long nails leave little half moon imprints on his skin, or small, gentle hands guide him, warm against his palms as he stumbles through the dark.

Victor is the only one he sees. Only Victor pulls the darkness from Yuuri’s eyes—brief flashes of light that sear his vision and leave him blinking away dancing orbs. Each time, Victor comes with a new question, but this is no ordinary interrogation.

Not that Yuuri would be much good if it were. Asked about troop movements or battle plans, Yuuri would have no real answers. He’s never been involved in the war. Instead, the questions are innocuous.

What was your favorite childhood toy?

What was the name of your dog?

Do you remember the ball held for your eighteenth birthday?

With no reason to hide such details, Yuuri answers honestly, but still the veil descends back over his eyes. What is the right answer, if not the truth?

On one venture, Yuuri tries his hand at diplomacy. “What about you?” he prompts, and Victor’s eyebrows rise as Yuuri turns the question back on him. “What’s your favorite food?”

The man’s blue eyes sparkle, and he flashes a hint of teeth as he laughs. “Oh dear,” he says. “Minako did teach you well, didn’t she?”

Yuuri tries to restrain himself at the sound of his childhood tutor’s name, but the shock of it must show through. Victor shakes his head, bending in close, until their foreheads are nearly touching. “Don’t worry,” he murmurs, laughter still bubbling in his tone. “She hasn’t joined the rebellion just yet, but you see—I was taught by her master.”

Before Yuuri can pry any further into that secret, Victor tilts his head and his smile tightens once more. “But you still haven’t answered my question,” he says. Even as Yuuri cries out, the bag falls back over his eyes.

He sleeps again after that. It’s a restless, broken sleep, but he’s used to those. Yuuri hasn’t slept a full night since the day of his crowning.

A familiar voice wakes him. “I don’t know what to tell you,” it says, and Yuuri strains to shake off the last of his nap, to focus on the conversation. Yuuko sounds troubled, and Yuuri’s first reaction is concern, quickly followed by anger as his conscious mind reminds him of her betrayal. “It’s like I told Mila. There was nothing unusual that night, not that I know.”

“How much was his dose?” Victor prods. “Are you sure you mixed the potion correctly?”

“I don’t-”

“Traitor,” Yuuri snaps through his blindfold, unable to restrain himself any longer with his former friend in the room. Hurt is a trusted companion to him, but he’s never felt such anger before. “Kidnapper! Yuuko-” His voice breaks. “How could you?”

The conversation he interrupted stops entirely. Through the sack, he can only hear muffled gasps and the quick tap of shoes retreating up the cellar steps.

Nearby, Victor sighs. “Oh, Yuuri,” he says. It’s the first time he’s used Yuuri’s name instead of his title. “What am I going to do with you?”

It’s another question Yuuri would like to turn back on the wielder—What are you going to do with me?—but the only response he gets is the sound of Victor’s footsteps, walking away.

#yuri on ice #yoi fic #victuuri #victuuri fic #royalty au #angst #the darkest hour #my fanfiction #final part next thursday

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damaless · 5 years ago

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To All The Skaters I’ve Loved Before

This is my very first foray into writing fanfiction. I don’t know if I’ll be able to complete the whole thing I have in mind for it, but I thought I’d at least try to write the first chapter and see how it goes.

Chapter One

Waiting for luggage is the worst. If everyone would stay a few feet back from the conveyor belt, it would be easy for anyone to spot their luggage coming and step forward to get it. Instead, everyone crowds close, jostling each other out of desperation to retrieve their belongings as quickly as possible, making the process more inefficient and unpleasant all around. Normally, Yuuri Katsuki makes sure to travel light enough to fit everything in a carry-on, to avoid this exact situation. But now, returning to his hometown after failing miserably at the Grand Prix Final, he’s stuck here, hovering at the edge of the crowd, waiting for all of his earthly possessions to be carelessly tossed down a chute. Finally, the mob has dispersed, and he sees his bags making their way forlornly around the curve. Taking them in hand, he turns and continues on to the next leg of his trip.

It’s mid-afternoon when he arrives in Hasetsu, but he finds himself blinking blearily and fighting sleep. That’s what he gets for blowing up his career and having to travel halfway around the world to lick his wounds, he supposes. Someone shouts his name and he jerks around to find the source. Minako is there, apparently waiting for him, leg extended behind her in a beautiful arabesque. He smiles in spite of himself. A dancer will always be a dancer… will a skater always be a skater?

“You didn’t have to come get me, Minako,” Yuuri says, mouth twisting. He is going to be enough of a burden on his family and friends in the coming months, he doesn’t need them acting as his chauffeurs on top of everything. “I could have taken a cab.”

Minako rolls her eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous. You haven’t been home for years. We wanted you to have a proper welcome. Your parents and Mari would be here too, if they weren’t busy at the onsen.”

He looks at the sign she’s holding, now. Large, somewhat messy letters spell out, ‘Welcome Home, Uncle Yuuri!’, and glitter is scattered haphazardly all around them. It looks like it was made by a child. Or children. Yuuko’s triplets, maybe? That’s cute. He’s looking forward to meeting them; he’s heard they are quite the mischief-makers, though.

Yuuri follows Minako back to her car, trying to avoid looking at all the skating posters of himself around town. How embarrassing, now that he’s failed so thoroughly. The car ride goes quickly enough, with them chatting a bit about his life in America and how things have been back here in Hasetsu while he’s been gone. When they arrive at the onsen, he does his best to struggle through properly greeting his parents and sister, but he can barely keep his eyes open and they shuffle him off to his room after just a few minutes.

Closing the door to his room behind him, he huffs a sigh and looks around. He cringes internally at all the posters of Victor Nikiforov that are still lining the walls of his room. Victor is an amazing skater, but remembering the crush he held onto for most of his teenage years is uncomfortable. All of the years of training and living abroad to claw his way into the ranks that were worthy to skate on the same ice as Victor, all thrown away over the course of a few disastrous days. He feels a pang in his heart, thinking of how different things are to how he had expected to return home. Vicchan, running up to him with her tail wagging, jumping up and down for attention. People cheering for their hometown’s skating success story. Yuuri returning feeling accomplished and fulfilled, instead of directionless and insignificant.

Shaking himself, he sets to the task of unpacking, as much as he can do before passing out, anyway. Unzipping his largest suitcase, he carefully removes the old shoebox containing his deepest secrets. He lifts the lid and sifts through the envelopes inside. Sometimes he finds it hard to believe that he’s held onto these letters for all these years, but every time he’s thought of getting rid of them, it feels like he would be getting rid of a part of himself. Each of these letters feels like a representation of a different time in his life, even if none of them are particularly applicable at the moment. The names jump out at him as he places them back in the box one by one.

Yuuko, his childhood friend.

Mei Nakamura, from skate camp, over a decade ago.

Victor Nikiforov, of course.

Jeremy Meyers, an American skater from his first international junior competition.

And Phichit Chulanont.

Everyone he’s ever been in love with. Yuuri is very good at articulating his feelings. On paper. In a letter to be sealed in a box and never sent. In person? Not a chance. And a good thing, too, because his feelings of romance have always faded over time. When Yuuri had first met Phichit, he had fallen hard and fast. Phichit was just so alive and energetic, he had a magnetism to him that made it impossible to look away. Yuuri had needed to get his feelings down on paper before they came spilling out his mouth and making a fool of him. Of course, Phichit had turned out to be an amazing roommate and training partner, and while Yuuri considered Phichit to be a treasured friend and was sad to be apart from him now, the idea of a relationship was laughable.

As for the rest, he had been “in love” with Yuuko at seven years old, had known Mei Nakamura for all of two weeks, and had had one conversation with Jeremy Meyers that happened to coincide with an especially inconvenient rush of teenage hormones. And Victor Nikoforov… well, his bi awakening had to happen sometime, and everyone is entitled to a celebrity crush or two, right? Yes, it’s a good thing he restricts his thoughts of romance to the form of secret letters that will never see the light of day. He doesn’t need the potential complications and heartbreak of an actual relationship.

He replaces the lid of the box and sets it aside. He shoves a few handfuls of clothes into drawers until the suitcase is mostly empty. Blinking blearily, he falls back on his bed and decides the rest can wait until his body has recovered from the abuse of the last twenty-four hours of travel.

***

Axel has admired Uncle Yuuri for all her life, even though she’s never met him. She and Lutz and Loop faithfully watch every competition, collect every poster, and grab Mama’s phone whenever they can, to check Uncle Yuuri’s roommate’s instagram for new pictures of him. Ever since Mama told her that Uncle Yuuri is coming home she has been asking when she will be able to see him. She doesn’t understand why Mama gets so frustrated when she asks again, now; it’s been at least five minutes since the last time she asked.

The walk over to the onsen is taking forever. And it’s boring. It would be so much better if people could skate wherever they needed to go. Uncle Yuuri would probably want to skate instead of walk, too. Here they are, now. Auntie Mari says that Uncle Yuuri is sleeping and they have to wait until next time to meet him. But Axel really wants to meet him now; she’s been waiting forever, so that’s more important. A quick huddle with Lutz and Loop and the special triplet sneak technique is in action, allowing Axel to get away without the grownups noticing, while the other two make it seem like all three of them are still there.

Down the hall and to the left is Uncle Yuuri’s old room. One time, she and Lutz and Loop were supposed to stay overnight at Grandma’s house, but she missed her own room so much, she couldn’t fall asleep and had to go back home. Uncle Yuuri has probably been missing his room all this time, and that’s where he would want to sleep now. She carefully nudges the door open and peers inside. She barely contains her excited gasp as she realizes she was right; Uncle Yuuri is here, sprawled out on his bed, and a bit of drool is dribbling out of the corner of his mouth.

“Uncle Yuuri, wake up!” she whispers, as loudly as she dares, because if a grownup back in the main room hears her they will come and get her before she can talk to Uncle Yuuri. “Uncle Yuuri, we walked all the way to the onsen to meet you and we’ve been waiting forever. Please wake up so I can tell you how I can skate almost as amazing as you, and then you can go right back to sleep, I promise.”

Axel reaches out to poke him in the side, but he just grumbles in his sleep and rolls over. He’s not waking up. Maybe he’s too sleepy. Her lower lip starts to tremble and she fights back tears. This is just so disappointing. She’s waited so long. Uncle Yuuri shifts again and something falls to the floor with a soft thump. A box is upside-down on the floor and the lid has come off. She bends down to look and finds a few letters. Axel loves getting letters in the mail, and she’s been asking Mama if she can send a letter to a friend sometime. Uncle Yuuri is probably going to be really busy with all the friends and family who want to see him again now that he’s back home... and Papa says if she’s going to be sneaky she should try doing nice sneaky things instead of ‘mischief’.

Her mind is made up. She collects all the letters that fell out of the box. She’s going to do a nice sneaky thing and put Uncle Yuuri’s letters in the mail for him.

#yoi #yuuri katsuki #victor nikiforov #victuuri #to all the boys i've loved before #to all the skaters i've loved before #yoi au #tatbilb #tatbilb AU #first fanfic #yuri on ice #long post

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precuredaily · 5 years ago

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Precure Day 144

Episode: Futari wa Precure Splash Star 45 - “Cake, Kazuya, and Christmas!” Date watched: 25 July 2019 Original air date: 24 December 2006 Screenshots: https://imgur.com/a/KRnxZRC Project info and master list of posts: http://tinyurl.com/PCDabout

everybody looks better in Santa outfits

It’s Christmas time and love is in the air! Maybe. Kinda. Wait, no, that’s a heartbreak. It’s hard, being young and wrestling with these emotions at such a festive time of year, but that’s what Saki has to contend with this time. Let’s dive in!

The Plot

Saki bakes a Christmas cake for Kazuya in secret, before inviting Mai, Michiru, and Kaoru over to the shop to help sell cakes. They all dress in Santa outfits and it’s a great team effort. Saki is going to have a party with Kenta, Hitomi, and Yuuko later as well, but she really wants Kazuya to be able to come. Mai, oblivious to the intent behind the question, just says he’s at his own school’s Christmas party. He actually shows up at the store later, with a girl by his side and they pick up a cake. Saki assumes this is a date and sulks away to her room to wallow in heartbreak. Kintolesky and Miss Shitataare show up, having been challenged by Gohyaan to prove which of them is the strongest, and they’re getting in on the festivities by dressing up in their own Santa outfits.

Santolesky and Santataare

They challenge the girls but Saki is having none of it, and lashes out at them for presenting as a couple at such a sensitive time of year, hurting her feelings even more than they already are. The villains have no idea what she’s talking about and Miss S. angrily transports Saki, Mai, Michiru, Kaoru, and their fairies to a land of snow. Michiru and Kaoru start to perform their energy beam to break Gohyaan’s seals but Miss S seals their arms in rings of ice while they focus on the Cures. Saki and Mai have transformed into Bloom and Egret this time, but they’re quickly overpowered and thrown about. Saki, beaten up emotionally and now physically, collapses, but Mai vows to protect her in return for all the times Saki has done the same. Michiru and Kaoru also try to show their gratitude by breaking their restraints, and ultimately the support of all her friends rejuvenates Bloom.

Michiru and Kaoru perform their beam attack, destroying the seals, and then Bloom and Egret perform Spiral Star Splash. Miss S tries to flee, but Kintolesky tells her that standing your ground to the end is the more honorable approach, and he’s truly enjoyed fighting with her. She realizes this is his way of confessing his love, and they take the hit and fade away together.

Back at Panpaka Pan, Kazuya stops by unannounced and gives Saki a shawl for Christmas. She gives him the cake she made and he says he’d like to have one again the next year. When Mai asks why he’s there, he just says it’s a secret.

Up on the roof, Michiru and Kaoru lament their own mortality, comparing their lives to the disappearing snow, but they declare that there’s something they have to do before they can go. Before we learn anything more, they’re summoned down to the party, which we never actually see. Meanwhile, Gohyaan also ominously states that the time has come....

The Analysis

Obviously I touched on this episode in the Christmas Special last year. I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to get back to it, but at least we made it.

Christmas is a big time for romance, and both previous seasons devoted their Christmas episodes to that so it makes sense that Splash Star would follow suit. The big difference is that, while Honoka was in Nagisa’s corner to support her crush on Fujimura, Saki’s crush on Mai’s brother is secret, and thus Saki is left to deal with it mostly on her own. Thus, when he shows up with a girl by his side, she assumes the worst and suffers silently. However, the support of her friends, even when they don’t understand what’s getting her down, pulls her through and I find that beautiful. There’s nothing more powerful than standing by your friends even when you don’t know their circumstances (note: this does not apply universally). Ultimately, things work out well for Saki when Kazuya stops by on his own, which suggests that he is aware of her feelings to some extent, and possibly shares them. I don’t think we get much more resolution to their relationship than this. I do wish Saki would admit to Mai how she feels though.

Kintolesky and Miss S. make a fun combo but, once again, Kintolesky feels under-utilized. He hasn’t had his usual charm since his revival, and his sense of honor is downplayed, except in his final moments as he encourages Miss Shitataare to let the Splash attack take them, as retreat would be dishonorable. Their romantic leanings are not explored at all and it’s kind of a weak reveal at the moment of their death. If there were more hints that Kin had some sort of feelings for her prior to this I would have liked it. Sadly, getting mistaken for a husband and wife couple and being accused by Saki of acting lovey-dovey is as much as we get.

The battle in the snow field is pretty good, I like that Miss Shitataare restrained Michiru and Kaoru almost immediately, knowing that their combined beam attack is the key to breaking Gohyaan’s seal on them. The villains pair up well in contrast, and quickly subdue Bloom and Egret. Since the audience knows what Saki’s emotional state is, this creates a lot of dramatic tension. Mai, Michiru, Kaoru, Moop, and Foop all vowing to show her the strength she’s shown them is a fitting resolution to the tension, and it’s this combined strength, not just the strength of the Cures alone, that makes Spiral Heart Splash strong enough to waylay two of Dark Fall’s most formidable foes. Also, they finally spelled out what it is that they’re trying to accomplish by attacking the Precures, aside from just defeating Dark Fall’s enemies: they ask the location of Princess Filia. They don’t get it, but at least we have a concrete answer of what they’re after, since I had previously complained that things seemed a bit stagnant.

Michiru and Kaoru spend this episode showing how much they’ve grown since their first time helping in the shop back in episode 18. They readily smile, help guests, and understand what a good time is. Before, Saki and Mai were coaching them but now Saki in particular needs their support. It’s not a reversal of that episode but it does flip certain components to show how they’ve matured. However, the end reveals they’re still worried about their fate. They seem to have accepted their disappearance, but first they have a mission to accomplish, which according to the previews seems to be going to Dark Fall to retrieve the Fairy Carafe, even at the cost of their own lives. We’ll explore that...... next time! Look forward to it!

Pink Precure Catchphrase Count: 0 Zekkouchou Nari!

#Precure #Pretty Cure #Futari wa Precure Splash Star #FWPCSS45 #PCD144

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rdmfavcpls · 6 years ago

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The Marked Ones - Chapter 1 The Birth of the Mark

Title: Marked Ones

Category: Digimon/Death Mark/Shiin

Rating: M

Pairing: Ami/Arata

Summary: Ami finds out the secret that Arata has kept from them on the same day that she gathers her courage to let him know how strong her feelings for him are. Arata tries to clean up the mess, but when Ami vanishes without a trace, he sets off to find her. The big question is when did he get this mark to appear on his arm?

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Digimon or to Shiin/Death Mark.

Author’s Note: Death Mark is such a good visual novel horror game. I am obsessed with it so why not take one of my very top OTP and combine it with this game.

~~Story Begins~~

Chapter 1 - The Birth of the Mark

She was too late.

Ami was too late. He already had someone in his heart and future. Someone who he wanted to spend the rest of his days with. She was too late and it wasn’t because she waited too long. It wasn’t because of her trying to find the right moment.

On the exact same day Ami got released from the hospital after being restored back to her body, she flirted with him. She used so much subtext, but he noticed none of it. So, she took desperate measures and went to Nokia for advice.

Nokia was the last person to ever ask advice for on any problem. He was too dense to notice any of her flirtings. Ami had studied all of her mother’s romantic movies and he still didn’t notice all the cliche lines she had used with him. Nokia’s advice was to tell him bluntly about her feelings. If he hadn’t caught on now over Ami’s feelings than he will never catch on unless she tells him in Kyoko’s straightforward nature.

Ami never knew Arata was this cruel.

~~DigiMark~~

Arata was furious, not at Ami, but at himself and the female that was hanging off of his arm. He just knows Ami was finally going to tell him something important and he hopes that whatever it was, it would explain her current odd behavior that she shows only around him.

He had hoped that they’ll be friends for the rest of their lives (and he wouldn’t complain if they would be more than just friends in the future) and that they’ll keep making memories together. He doesn’t understand as to why she kept asking if he wanted to make a different set of memories with her when he already has. A select few of the people in Tokyo knew about Digimon.

“Aratakins,” the female said. “What’s wrong? Is something the matter?”

“What do you think?” Arata said as he glared at the female.

He’ll explain everything to Ami later, but he needs to deal with this female now.

“Listen to me and you had better listen closely because this is the last time I will explain this to you before I get the police involved,” Arata said. The words came out through gritted teeth as he freed his arm from her grasp.

“Why are you using that serious tone with me, Aratakins?” she said.

“Stop calling me Aratakins, you have never been allowed to call me Arata. We are no longer engaged. Once my mother passed away, my father called off on our arranged marriage.”

“But, but, we’ve been engaged since we were born,” she said. “We love each other.”

“The engagement is off and you want to know why? My father never liked the idea of an arranged marriage. Also, I provided enough proof to my father and mother before she passed away that you and your family were trying to get our money. I showed them with pictures of your boyfriend and you along with the phone conversations the two of you shared. You broke the agreement,” Arata said.

He took a couple of steps in the direction that Ami went in. “Come near me again and I’ll have you arrested for stalking and harassment,” he said.

~~DigiMark~~

“You’re engaged and you are just now telling us this?” Yuuko said. “Was we even going to get the wedding invitations?”

“WAS engaged,” Arata said. “My father broke it off once he had enough proof that she violated the terms of engagement.”

“You are incredibly lucky that you called because I really want to punch you over this holographic screen,” Nokia said.

The anger that is rolling off her personality isn’t being blocked by the holographic screen and Arata has his back pressed against the door just to make sure Nokia can’t come crashing in and giving him a beating.

“This informations happens to be announced after your ex-betrothed tells Ami that you are engaged to her. Moments before Ami had planned to tell you that she loves you?” Yuugo said.

“Are you thinking that Ami’s plan was sabotaged?” Yuuko said.

“Good chance or Ami’s good luck has finally run out,” Yuuko said.

“Wait! Ami has feelings for me?” Arata said.

It was evident to the three in the phone call that his voice and his face showed that he was truly surprised.

Nokia was the first one to break the stunned silence with a simple sigh. “You know, you really are a geek if you couldn’t tell Ami did have feelings for you,” Nokia said.

“I accept the fact that I have pretty much zero people skills,” Yuuko said with a nod of her head. “However, I knew Ami was flirting with you. It was quite obvious that she did her homework.”

“I hate to say this, but Ami has been flirting with you for months,” Yuugo said. “I mean, she did use a bunch of cheesy lines and cliche moments that are repeated throughout a bunch of romantic movies. Now she possibly thinks it is only one-sided when you do return her feelings.

“We are off topic,” Arata said and ignored the need to question his best friend over how he knew for a fact that he did have a crush on her. He knows for a fact he never told anyone about it. “The whole entire point of this call is to ask if any of you know where Ami is?”

“Try her apartment,” Nokia said. “Personally, if I were to be in her shows right now-”

“Shoes,” Yuugo said.

“Shoes, whatever,” Nokia said with a roll of her eyes. “I would be in my bedroom brawling my eyes out and cussing you out like nobody’s biz.”

“That’s the problem,” Arata said.

“Whatever names she is calling you right now isn’t good enough for you handled her heart,” Yuuko said. “You know how incredibly soft-hearted she is.”

“It’s not that,” Arata said.

“Homemade food usually calms Yuuko down,” Yuugo said. “I would be happy to give you some lessons since Ami has given me some.”

Arata shook his head. “Listen. I’m inside her apartment already and -” he said.

“I know I wouldn’t let you inside my apartment after that announcement,” Yuuko said with crossed arms.

“Listen! Her apartment door was unlocked and her digivice is on her couch. There is no sign of forced entry and no sign of her. It seems like she just vanished without a trace,” Arata said.

The atmosphere for the call suddenly turned from anger to panic.

~~DigiMark~~

Ami’s eyes were glazed over as she stared into a dark abyss that she had no idea how deep it went. All that her mind was telling her was that the pit is welcoming her and wants it to be her new home.

The dark abyss will keep her protected so she’ll never hurt or feel betrayed again.

Ami’s foot stepped closer to the edge where half of her show was over the edge. There was a familiar female voice so filled with emotion inside of her mind. The voice was so warm, gentle, comforting, and inviting.

“Good girl…,” the voice said as Ami grabbed the bar of the well’s pulley system. “Don’t worry...I’m here...No need...to worry...Protect you…”

Ami blinked and her blue eyes came into focus.

She saw the dark abyss that looked inviting moments ago, but now it was terrifying. She gasped and removed her hands from the bar as she stepped away from the well. She misjudged the distance and took a step back that caused her to slip off of the well’s edge.

She yelped as she fell and landed hard on her bum, the blades of cool grass with early morning dew was absorbed by her grey skirt. She crawled away from the well backward, her eyes never left the well as it felt like it was moving towards her. Her back hit the bark of a tree, the old bark brushing onto her yellow shirt that represented AWA Studios with its logo.

Her breathes were heavy as she tried to focus and calm down so she could take in her surroundings with a calm mind. The night sky made the overbearing trees look creepier than they would in the day. Branches were pointing at the well and some looked like hands that were ready to grab her if she gets too close.

The trees circled around the old well. The bar that she had held was rotten and ready to break the moment it had any type of weight hanging onto it. The rope that should’ve been around it was gone. The bucket next to the well had a small amount of the rope attached to the handle, the threads seemed to be chewed off and are the reason why it was no longer attached to the well. The bucket didn’t have its bottom and it seemed like it had rotten out a long time ago. The stones of the well were faded and old, some of the stones had fallen out of their place.

“Where am I?” Ami asked herself as she finally calmed down. She reached towards her red hair that rests on her shoulders in surprise. Her digivice kept her hair in a small pony...so if her hair was on her shoulder than that mean. “Where’s my digivice?”

She grabbed her chest where her heart was at symbolically. It was fine a minute ago, but now it felt like someone had taken a bite out of her skin and that her flesh was being lit on fire.

#Shiin #death mark #digimon story #digimon story cyber sleuth #cyber sleuth #ami/arata #fugitiveshipping #Ami Aiba #Arata Sanada #CrossOver

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sambart93 · 6 years ago

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2018.10.26 and 29 Teito Tantei Kitan Zigomar [Review]

Official Website here Official Twitter here Press Coverage 1, 2, 3, 4

CAST and CHARACTERS

Hiroya as Z (Zigomar / Jigoma) Hattori Takeo as Mikasa Yumenosuke (Private Detective) Ebihara Yuka as Mutou Yuuko (Kidnapped by Zigoma) Hanaoka Meika as Hanasaki Mayuko (Mikasa's Assistant) Kadono Sho as Kitamiko Saburo (Chief Policeman) Tanaka Hiroki as Sumi Arata (Newbie Policeman) Oda Toshiki as Hira Tarou (Journalist)

Adachi Yuna as Tokage (meaning 'lizard' - Phantom Theif) Sawada Maria as Ando Ayako (Opera Singer)

Umehara Saeri as Aikawa Tamako (Tetsujiro's Girlfriend/Wife) Kuroki Kiko as Doi Shiori (Adopted Sister?) Tatsuya Yuu as Kobayashi Tetsujiro (Saved by Mikasa. Admires Mikasa.)

Working For Zigomar:

Hinagata Ui as Tsukishiro Tei Ogura Eriko as Sunaga Tokiko

Working for Fukiya:

Maruyama Raiden* as Gondawara Kouzou Odagiri Masayo as Harukara Meiko Souji Masato as Hitomi Hirosuke Kamidochi Kanki as Naoki Osamu

Terumi as Fukiya Kiyoshi

W Cast:

Kai Chiaru / Oota Saki as Saito Kanoko (Yuuko's Maid) Ashikaga Itaru / Oda Shunpei as Mifune Saburo (Powerful Politician, Yuuko's Husband) Ihara Yu / Umeda Shohei as Tsujioka Fumisuke (Works for Zigomar)

*DAMN that's a REALLY good name!

NON-SPOILER REVIEW Overall: My expectations for ASSH are always high and they ALWAYS met! They always make such amazing stages that are pleasing in so many ways! This stage was just as high quality as their previous ones; great in-depth amazing story with characters that you just want to know personally and in-depth - seriously, every single one of them I got very attached and/or interested in ! -, the darkness and the themes of the story was great, they always have a message that leaves you thinking, the costumes were well made and the theme was super interesting; and as per usual I was left wanting more, wanting another installment! I loved the messaged for this play which was very much 'how do we decide whether a character is good or bad?' because every character in this stage is flawed, every character in this has their reasons as to why their actions are justified, each character has a charming point that makes you believe their motives are the right ones. I just love that ASSH always poses such questions in their stages and has these types of characters. In true ASSH style, it is not a happy ending. They keep it partially raw and real and dark! The characters that stood out to me the most were obviously Zigomar and Mikasa, but I also got super invested in Hanasaki, Hirosuke, Naoki, Gonda and Kitamiko! I wanted to know so much more about them and their character scenes and arcs are great. Espeically for Gonda and Hirosuke; their arcs were GOLD. I was so invested and so affected by their storylines. I really hope we get a next installment, especially with the random mind-blowing reveal we get at the end of the play, and I am sure they'll find a way to kind of 'undo' what happens at the end so they can make a second stage out of this. It seriously deserves one and I seriously want one! Thank you ASSH for consistently producing and giving me great, solid stages! Rating: 9/10

SPOILER REVIEW

I have no idea where to start with this, as per bloody usual, but I shall try!

Aesthetics

First I loved the visuals of this stage; I love how the stage looked, I loved the costumes (and how all of them except Zigoma had words on parts of their costumes which were lines from the script); I loved the ending where letters dropped from the ceiling and onto the floor; it was very visually appealing. Although ONE actress did have boots on and at the beginning they were not equal length and OCD me found it very annoying xD but she soon fixed them by the next time she came back on stage.

Story

The Main Plot is: A guy who calls himself Zigoma is running around killing politicians and the police force want to know why and want to stop him before he kills anymore. Also during his first political kill, the kidnaps the wife of the politician and a private detective has been hired to find and save this now-widow. But what is unveiled is so much more...

This show actually had two versions; the Detectives Side and the Bad Guys Side which means there should be a scene change or two between the two shows.

I really enjoyed the story; I loved the discussion and themes of ‘who is right?’ and ‘Is everyone’s individual motive justifiable?’. And we had the mystery of ‘who is Zigoma?’ and ‘why is he doing it?’ and ‘why does he do it?’ which gave some really great punches and revelations. Also the plot twists and the shocker ending were just perfect! I did not see some of them coming and that ending really was a great cherry on the top of the cake! But I won’t spoil it too much right now.

One question/theme that runs throughout the play is whether Zigoma’s motives are justifiable or not. And we get to one part of the play where Mikasa comments ‘I think he’s just doing it for fun. Just because he can.’ but later one Zigoma expresses his desire to change the political climate, to change those in power, almost like a Guy Fawkes (info here) type of character. But then right at the end, when all hope for Zigoma escaping is gone, he cracks. He starts to laugh insanely and then yells at Mikasa ‘you were right! You saw right through me! All along I was doing it just because it’s fun!’. This somewhat internally breaks Mikasa because he didn’t want to be right; he wanted a more logical reason as to why Zigoma did what he did. It’s such a good moment and it really makes the audience think: was Zigoma lying in this moment of insanity? Was he killing off politicians because they were simply shitty, corrupt politicians? Or was he really just doing it because he could? Also, it makes you think, if he was doing it because those in power were corrupt, doesn’t that then make him a hero and not a villain? This theme really messed with my brain and really made me think and I LOVED IT!

There is another scene in the play, that also makes you question Zigoma’s motives. Right at the beginning there is the very first murder of a politician (Mifune Saburo) which everyone thinks Zigoma did because the body discovered was covered in a towel that had the mark ‘Z’ on it. But then at about the mid-point of the story, we learn that in fact the maid of the house had killed the politician because he was not only abusing his wife but was also raping the maid, and she has finally had enough and killed him. However, that night Zigoma had actually come with the intention of killing him anyway so he tells the maid to tell everyone ‘this was my kill!’ and so left the flag on the body. We also find out later that the reason why Zigoma kidnapped Mifune’s wife (Mutou Yuuko) after the murder, is because they actually were original betrothed to each other before she got forced into her marriage with Mifune, which is just like ‘he saved her?! he protected her?! He still loves her?!’ so again, it creates all these questions and such in your brain that you just have to think through and make a decision on. Also once Yuuko realises who Zigoma is, she takes his side completely and helps him out, so she too still has feelings for him! Just waaaahhh?! But then in another twist of fate, right at the end he kills her anyway!! To which I was like ‘waaaahhh?!’ even more!

I adore the ending so much; not the fact that everyone dies at the end, but how it’s visually shown. They die due to a bomb going off, destroying the building they’re in (again, very Guy Fawkes like!), and just as they all drop dead, letters from the ceiling fall down onto their bodies, and the flags at the back of the stage drop down too. I absolutely loved this visual touch! It was amazing and beautiful.

Another plot twist that had me like ‘HOLY HELL! WHAT?!’ was at the very last scene. But first, some back story: the very first scene of the stage is the actor for Hira Tarou, explaining the backstory and setting of the story. Then IN the story, we meet Tarou who is a very good journalist who just happens to know that Mikasa and co. are trying to stop Zigoma. Because Tarou has some inside sources, they let him join their adventure and story. So we don’t really suspect him for the most part, but we do have one moment in the play where Mikasa asks ‘how do you know all this (secret) stuff?’ and Tarou simply replies ‘well I have informants in the police’ and they just brush it off. But right at the very end, when everyone else is dead, on the floor, on the stage, Tarou comes to the center to finish the narration of the story; he reveals (right at the end!!) that he is in fact Edogawa Ranpo, shuts the book in his hand, black out, stage finishes. I was like ‘wait... he’s.... EDOGAWA RANPO!?!?’ again, MIND BLOWN! I did not see that coming at all! And it was such a good, juicy and powerful reveal! It was so good!

Characters

I really liked how everyone got involved in the main story, and I loved all the different ‘factions’ within the story too! We had about six different groups within the story. We had the Detective and his sidekick alongside the police; Zigoma and his posse of followers; bystanders who get super nosey in the Detective’s business; A trio friendship between Meiko, Hirosuke and Naoki; An ambitious opera singer and a Phantom Thief who somehow get caught up in it all without meaning to; Kiyoshi and his clan of servants. I think those are the six main groups. So you can see the big dynamic difference between some and the similarities between others.

The richness and depth of these characters you get from them even though we barely spend two hours with them on stage is just amazing. I fell for some characters so quickly and so hard! I was completely invested in every single one of them! I seriously don’t understand how ASSH consistently makes big casts, but still manages to make every character so rich and different! I don’t understand how we haven’t had a mass crossover of character traits yet in any of their stages! It is just amazing! Characters that I automatically loved just because I love the actors were: Zigoma and Arata. Characters who completely won my heart over throughout the play were: Tokage, Hirosuke, Mikasa, Kitamiko and Hanasaki! I loved all the characters to be honest but the MVP, the one who I ended up completely loving and rooting for and took a lot of my attention was Hirosuke! I don’t know why; maybe because he was visually pleasing, but also his character development was so great! I also loved his relationship with some of the characters! Just... I need to go into spoilers to flail about this boy! So are you ready?

So the main story with Hirosuke is that he and his two close/best friends (Meiko and Naoki) decided to work for Fukiya so that they could have a better and less poor life. But it turns out Fukiya is the worst, and Fukiya orders Meiko and Hirosuke to murder Naoki because he discovers that Naoki is trying to trick and betray him. So while Meiko begs him not to kill Naoki, Hirosuke does it anyway. This obviously breaks his heart and tears him apart. Later on we see Meiko asking Hirosuke to stop following Fukiya, to leave with her and it get away from all this but Hirosuke follows orders, ‘this is for the better’ and shoots her dead. This obviously destroys him too and after killing her. I loved seeing the internal struggle that he had within himself; does he follow his boss? does he follow his heart? does he follow his friends? does he put power over friendship first. I love how we see it eat him from the inside! And that is why he is my favourite! I also love the little scene he has with Tokage at the beginning; she’s the phantom thief who’s being stealing things for Fukiya, but she has never shown her face - she always has him at gun point or knife point, forcing him to look the other way and never see her face. And the beginning of this play, he says ‘just once, could I see your face?’, but it’s not until right at the very end when all the characters have gathered together, that he finally gets to see her, and you can see how happy he is! I love the friendship/slight-romance we have between these two.

Relating to those three, there is a butler, Gondawara, who works alongside Hirosuke and Meiko, and also tries to protect them (and others) many times. I absolutely adored him. He had such a short role but I love how he protected Saito Kanoko and then persuades her to eventually tell the truth about Mifune’s death. He was also the one who stood in the way of Hirosuke and Tei, trying to get Hirosuke to come to his senses and giving him a chance to run away but this ultimately leads to Gonda’s death. He was such a sweet character and I’m so sad he died, and so quickly too!

Gonda’s death is thanks to Tei who has a short but very interesting story line! The girl is addicted to Opium. And once on the opium, she becomes absolutely obsessed with killing. So much so that she attacked and killed Gonda. The cops also try to stop her by shooting her in the leg but because of the drugs, she doesn’t feel it and instead just starts dragging herself across the floor. She finally drags herself back to Zigoma and her crew, but Zigoma deems her insane and that she has lost the real reason why they are killing people, so Zigoma kills her.

Of course, I can’t talk about the characters without talking about our young, new detective Arata, who also goes by the nickname of ‘Suspender-kun’ because he always wears suspenders! He was adorable! He was a fresh, raring to go new detective and I absolutely loved his relationship with his boss, Saburo! They were such a hilarious comedy duo! And Hiroki/Arata on his own did a damn good job being funny and hilarious too! Also Saburo himself was hilarious as a solo artist!

Let me tell you about their ridiculousness: In the very first scene where they introduce themselves, Saburo is completely over the top and takes off his jacket and just drops it on the floor, then later on Arata throws it back to him but he lets it drop. The timing was absolutely perfect and was absolutely hilarious! Another scene is when Arata decides he’s going to seriously help and Saburo finally calls him ‘Arata’ instead of ‘suspender-kun’, so he gets really happy and really dramatic and holds himself against a wall, and Saburo comes over and comments ‘you idiot’ before slapping him on the butt xD

Another character I enjoyed was the Tantei’s assistant: Hanasaki Mayuko. She was an adorable dork!! I absolutely adored her! And she really shone during her adlibbed comedy scenes! Not only did she get the crowd laughing, but even Mikasa’s actor Hattori was having a hard time keeping a straight face at times xD She was so cute and funny and sweet and adorable! I really liked her! One scene that stood out to me for her: Hanasaki and the Youkan (a thick, jellied Japanese dessert made of red bean paste, agar, and sugar)! Kanoko brings Youkan to the detective as a thanks for saving her and for all their hard work on trying to find Yuuko. But turns out Hanasaki LOVES youkan so she tries to eat all of it through various ways, either offering to Mikasa (who she knows will say no), and quickly trying to eat another piece straight after. But because of this, natural comedy came out where she was trying to say her lines while her mouth was full of food xD also trying to be like ‘oh Mikasa doesn’t like youkan. DO YOU? No you don’t! Didn’t think so! More for me!!’ which was so cute.

Speaking of Mikasa, about part-way through the play, there’s a flashback-slash-fever dream where Mikasa is talking to Zigoma, and Zigoma is like ‘what’s the real reason you became a private detective instead of a policemen? You know deep down the real reason why!’ so that makes me think maybe his father had died on the job and that’s why he became a mysterious private detective instead? Or was his father corrupt as well as the police force at the time? So many questions!

One plot twist that I really enjoyed was the reveal that Tokage and Ando Ayako were actually sisters!! When Ayako starts yelling ‘Onee-san // Big Sister’ at one point, I was like “OMG THEY ARE SISTERS?!?!?!’. I totally didn’t see it coming! Especially because, for most of the play Ayako is horrible towards Tokage and is very cold, almost as if they had never met and just got off on the wrong foot straight away! But later on we learn that they do care for each other and they had to pretend not to know each other, in case Tokage ever got caught because she didn’t want to endanger her little sister. I was MIND BLOWN.

There is another twist where Aikawa actually betrays everyone and was working for Zigoma the whole time. Unfortunately I had already cottoned on a few scenes before hand that she was secretly in on it. I don’t know how I knew but I just felt like ‘there must be some other reason why this family of three are in the story’ and there are scenes where she’s left to protect Shioro at time, and Shiori is DUMB AS FUCK, so I wouldn’t put it past Shiori to not notice what Aikawa was up to and too dumb to realise when Aikawa had gone off to plot or make something. So I naturally figured either Shiori was pretending to be this dumb, stupid sister, or Aikawa was a secret mastermind or Tesujiro was pretending to admire Mikasa so he could set him up. I knew something was going on with those three.

Other Notable Moments/Scenes

In true ASSH style we had the whole cast dancing during the opening song. Luckily, Hiroki on the far left when the dance opening song starts.

There is a slow motion fighting scene which I thought was so cool!!! I really enjoyed the slow-mo moment. Also we got live singing! Ando Ayako’s actress Sawada Maria actually sang the opera songs live to us and she also sings the ending song live which is amazing! Her voice is very, very good!!

I really loved how Saburo and Mikasa decide to team up at the end even though they had some differences throughout the play, but for the greater good (!) they team up in the finale!

Some things that specifically happened during my First Show (Detective Version):

I was first row and on the very last seat to the left. The gap between my feet and the stage was practically 0.1cm! So I was super duper close to all the actors! Which was for the most part absolutely terrifying (especially during the fight scenes). However, it did have it’s good moment which I will list right here: towards the end of the show, Hiroki gets into a fight which causes him to get thrown and pinned against a wall. That wall was RIGHT in front of me and my head was at the perfect level for Hiroki’s waist, which means that his butt was right in front of me!!!! Also he smelt really nice xD another moment was the final showdown between Tantei Mikasa and Zigoma, they were fighting and again, they slammed against the wall right next to me!! I was parts freaking out and parts overwhelmed and overjoyed xD

We had a double curtain call, and the ending aisatsu was by Hanasaki who was totally cute and she got very shy and couldn’t remember what she wanted to say. But everyone was giggling at her adorableness xD She was stood next to Hiroki and they were both so cute alongside each other!

Of course it was filming day!! When do I never go on filming day?! xD I am ALWAYS at filming day!!! xD

Second Show (Bad Guy Version):

I went to the senshuuraku (the finale) of this show! They really went all out on the comedy in this final show! Hiroki got hit so hard by Saburo that he started laughing to the side of the stage. Then later Saburo went to pull and release his suspenders and pretended to it the first time, but on the second time he actually let go and it was really hard. Hiroki was rubbing his chest in pain.

Maybe I just didn’t notice in the first show but I feel like in this show, the three people working for Zigoma got their moment of explaining what they wanted and why they joined Zigoma. Maybe this was the scene especially created for this version of the show, or maybe I just missed it the first time round. But I loved getting to know where they came from, their backgrounds and why they joined him.

Another Higawari (daily change) was Gonda saying an Acrostic Poem for Ji-Go-Ma. In the second show, he got a huge round of applause after his Ji-Go-Ma poem because it was just too funny and very good. Unfortunately, I do no remember it *cries*

I also noticed in this second show that there is a moment where Arata and Hanasaki fall in love for a moment after she accidentally touches his arm and that motivates him to help Mikasa on his case some more xD

While in the first show we had Saburo just complete miss catching his jacket through his own lack of calculations, this time it was through Hiroki’s fault; Saburo couldn’t reach far enough to grab his jacket from Hiroki’s throw, it was hilarious.

Another higawari is when Saburo is trying to talk to Arata but Arata get’s super angry straight away: Saburo: Let’s go brat. Arata: *super angry* What did you say?!?! Saburo: Let’s go you brat! Arata: *calms down* Ohh I didn’t hear you! Saburo: *shock* IS THAT WHY YOU GOT MAD?! The scene ends with Hiroki asking Saburo to slap his arm, and they did this wave with their arms before walking off stage xD

In both shows, when Zigoma first appears in front of Yuuko in her house before kidnapping her, he walks in with brandy in a brandy glass and drinks it. In every other show the glass has been half full so it was easy for him to drink. BUT, in this final show Zigoma walked on stage with a GLASS FULL of brandy, and it took him a while to finish it. It was obvious who’d seen the show before because we were the ones cracking up as soon as he walked on stage! So as you can tell, they really went all out on the comedy in this final show! It wasn’t being filmed, they might as well do ridiculous shit and have fun xD

Just before the youkan scene, Hanasaki is in the kitchen making a mess, but then walks on stage and she uses a crashing noise to her advantage. She kept replaying the crash music as Mikasa tried to talk. She tried so hard to get Mikasa’s actor to burst out in laughter but didn’t work; we (the audience) were all dying though.

It was a triple curtain call where we got an announcement for the next stage (the next installment of KimiSaga - review here)!! In March!!! I was (and am!) so excited!!

GOODS

And that’s everything! Sorry it took so damn long to get these reviews out (and I’m still a shit ton behind!) but bare with me xD

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nemirutami · 6 years ago

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I'm a huge fan of your work, and seeing that piece for hackers memory reminded me I still need to play that game. I had a lot of fun with cyber sleuth but I was worried there wouldn't be enough new content to keep me interested. How would you rate hackers memory compared to cyber sleuth?

Thank you for the kind words!

Alright, full disclosure, I have a lot of opinions, so I apologize in advance.

I did not enjoy cybersleuth past chapter 10 when Nokia [insert spoiler here] and ever since then, I always felt like we (as protagonist) were secondary to the plot. Which would have been fine, had Nokia gotten fucking development within cybersleuth to take over as protagonist instead of us. On top of getting no development to [insert spoiler], she’s extremely irritating, which didn’t make me like the fact she was considered more important to the plot at all. She even talks to you as if you’re her sidekick and let me tell you, this shit can be cute because DRV3 managed to do it in a way where the character (Kaito) is earnestly trying to help the protagonist (Shuichi) develop past his anxiety and fears. But that’s not what they did here. It didn’t work. It just felt like Nokia was putting us down, regardless of how “uppity” and “positive” she was trying to phrase it. Sidenote: I also absolutely detested how she treated Agumon and Gabumon so lmao when chapter 10 dropped I had no fucking idea WHY because imo they should’ve hated her.

We never SAW how she got into the position she got in (Ch10). It felt absolutely hamfisted and undeserved. Kind of like a “oh yeah, it’d be cool if this happened now” shit. Then, to top it all off, the protag magically breaks the rules Suedou sets before them, basically slamming a middle finger at the screen saying “you thought this would make sense? no, we need to hamfist a happy ending sort of kind of maybe, it’s all very unclear WE DONT KNOW”. Honest, I completed all quests and side quests, got max hacker rank, entire field guide, I did everything to cover every last bit of the game, and I’m still sour on the turnout and the payoff because the game so clearly didn’t give a fuck about its own rules since it constantly broke them and failed to foreshadow Kuremi entirely. I enjoyed a bunch of the sidequests more than the main plot of the game, and to be fair, I believe I also remember the sidequests better than the main plot and this should absolutely not be the case.

That being said.

Hackers Memory does not fuck around, and I say that in the best way possible.

It presents you as secondary in the big scheme of things at the very start, (in regards to the original cybersleuth ending, because the story takes place at the very same time events are happening in cybersleuth) but it makes you a protagonist of your own story, and this is truly where the game shines.

It really makes it all about you- as Keisuke- as an individual, from the very start to the very end. It feels more like a journey of a specific protagonist with a fixed personality, and if the original had done this instead of give us a more flat character, I think I would have enjoyed the game more. I couldn’t stop playing this game the moment I got it, and easily beat it in about 4 or 3 days because I was so invested. Hell, in Cybersleuth, I never gave a fuck to collect all medals, and I decided to actually do it for this game just because I adored every last aspect of it? I did gacha in this videogame for 8 hours that gave me absolutely nothing in return, this is how you know I’m serious about the quality of a game- I waste time in it doing POINTLESS SHIT and I still have fun.

I went in expecting to be secondary, but the plot absolutely knew how to shine the spotlight on this protagonist (Keisuke) flawlessly and draw out his best characteristics. Cybersleuth protag is a clean slate at best, but Keisuke has a variety of very unique responses even without giving you the option to respond. He reacts very fixed to certain events, giving you a general feel of what he’s actually like, which is different from the signature way Cybersleuth Protag simply cocks their head a little or does the “:o” face when someone says something surprising. Keisuke has a lot more expressions, and you can easily tell what the characters are feeling (once you get to know them) just by their expressions alone. There’s a scene at the very start of Hacker’s memory where Yu (Protag’s best friend) and Keisuke share 4 silent “...” dialogue boxes with only a small variety in expression.

At my first playthrough, I had NO CLUE what this meant. I assumed it was all an awkward silence (since it’s quite literally at the start of the game) but after knowing exactly every little aspect of their personalities- that entire scene bears a different meaning. I could TELL what both of them wanted to say, and what they wanted to convey without actually having to use words. That might be because what facinated me most about Hacker’s memory was exactly Yu and Keisuke’s friendship. What’s great here though isn’t just the fact that this happens with Keisuke and Yu. It happens with every character. I replayed, noticing the quirks early on, and knowing the backstory- was aware of why they were acting the way they were. I knew of the secrets, I knew of the motivations, and honestly, I think Hacker’s memory only gets better a clean run right after you beat it. Yes I... I’m being serious. I replayed it the very second I completed it. This might also tell you something of how invested I am, and how big of a change this was to experience in contrast to the original cybersleuth which left me glaring at the ceiling angrily begging for the plot to make some lick of sense. And unlike cybersleuth, the plot here, is quite honestly, really good. Despite the stakes not being as high, and ultimately won’t matter in the end (because cybersleuth end)- you... FEEL like it matters more. Just because of how intimately you’ve come to know the characters that’ve been with you for so long.

All the relationships are developed, focusing mainly on the team at Hudie (your new hacker team). When I say the relationships are developed, I mean, quite literally, every important character has some role to play in the other’s life. Ryuji: the leader, a mentor to Keisuke, who later becomes a follower of Keisuke’s- outlining a good start and end for their dynamic as leader becomes follower and the student becomes the master. Chitose: Aloof and carefree, never quite speaks up against Ryuji despite the shit he knows Ryuji is causing, but becomes more mature and manages to put Ryuji in his place after he loses control. Erika: A shut-in with a one-track mind (Ryuji’s little sister), doesn’t open up to anyone, not even her brother, especially LIES to her brother to protect him (and Ryuji does the same to Erika, outlining the fact they’re both trying to protect each other but simultaneously hurting each other in the process without knowing) but she learns to rely on Keisuke (Chitose and Ryuji are childhood friends, so naturally, she can’t tell CHITOSE her worries because he’ll get worried and relay the message to Ryuji, so Erika in a sense sees her oppertunity to open up and ACT once Keisuke joins Hudie) and opens up to HIM later more than anyone else. Chitose acts like a second big brother to Erika when Ryuji isn’t around, and he also acts like comic relief character that’s there to give Keisuke some time to relax between cases. Unlike the first game, you actually FEEL like a hacker this time around, giving you a wider variety of hacking options, including minigames (which sadly arent that fun but- hey, it’s something. The part that IS fun is the BONDS you get to rank up- THEY’RE LITERALLY CALLED “DATE TIME!” and they’re the ONLY reason I played so so many of those minigames).

The game isn’t dominated by women anymore (If you play as female in CS, you’ll quite LITERALLY only see Arata every couple of chapters in a sea of tits, and while this is usually an aesthetic I can get behind, I hated absolutely every goddamn female character with the only exception being Kuremi. I detested Date so much. Every time she opened her mouth I wanted to mute the TV. I absolutely LOATHED Nokia for everything and anything she did. I couldn’t stand Fei because of how aggressive she was (even if Fei and Yuuko was something I definitely would have shipped had Fei just been toned down, and LUCKILY- I absolutely love Fei now, but that’s ALL thanks to Hacker’s Memory- I actually like NOKIA now too- which is all thanks to Hacker’s Memory as well). I liked Yuuko bc she hit all my right notes, until she proved to be a tsundere in disguise (she also manipulated us and admitted to it so I quickly said FUCK NO to that and she dropped on my list) but even she managed to get better treatment in Hacker’s memory. I hated Jimiken too, to be honest. I disliked a LOT of characters in cybersleuth, but once they appeared in Hacker’s memory I? I saw a new side of them that I didn’t before. There’s 1 particular “Hacker Memory Fragment” you pick up about Yuuko that details her visits to the hospital to check up on her brother and honestly? This shit. This one hacker’s fragment managed to give me so much better insight into her character than ALL of cybersleuth. Now that shit is admirable imo. I admire Hacker’s memory for making me LOVE every character I disliked. Date was one character I disliked thru Hacker’s Memory too, but towards the end, even she grew on me. I still don’t like majority of her dialogue, but she doesn’t seem so one-dimensional anymore. My main problem with Cybersleuth was that everyone seemed to have “THE ONE MOOD” and that was it. I loved Arata because he varied a lot, and he and the protagonist had some really, really good chemistry, but that’s about it? Compared to how I love everyone from Hacker’s Memory, I wouldn’t even consider the two games on the same level, simply because of how well the second one was executed in comparison?

I took my time with this reply, because to me, cybersleuth was average as a digimon game for me. Cybersleuth had a villain i absolutely ADORED!! But they did piss all and nothing with him. He had such an interesting goal, but when everyone gathered to stop his plans it was like. He lost all motivation for his goal? What the fuck. You don’t even get to fight him he’s just. There. He was awesome, they shoulda done more with him, and my only qualm about hackers memory is that they STILL DONT DO ENOUGH WITH HIM. He gets a bit of a backstory without WORDS really it’s all implied and shit but it explains why he acts the way he does in cybersleuth. You understand the reason behind his actions now, what got him there, and his motivations more clearly. God I wish we got more of him though. Cybersleuth for me was a 4/10 as a game and a 6 or a 5/10 as a Digimon game. I’d honestly play DW3 over Cybersleuth if I had to be perfectly honest...

Now, Hackers Memory however managed to score 10/10 for me of all the digimon games I’ve played- putting it at the... top, actually. For good reason. The characterization is consistent, every characters motivations are clear, every character has reasons to take the actions they take, and none of it seems forced or random or even undeserved. Sometimes, you’ll dislike a character the game wants you to dislike. It will lead you in to turn your expectations around and force you to think of a character in a completely new light. You’ll end up loving each and every character regardless of how shitty they act because you can understand the way they think. You can empathise and you can relate much better than you could in Cybersleuth IMO because so many characters in Cybersleuth made me think “well, Angela, if you weren’t such a BITCH maybe i’d feel sorry for you” which was a perpetual mood tbh. I felt absolutely no sympathy for a lot of the characters in Cybersleuth bc I felt like they deserved the shitstorm they got. Whereas, in Hacker’s Memory, the only character that DESERVED to be punished, actually GETS PUNISHED, and the character that does something wrong goes out of his way to REDEEM HIMSELF. Now this is some tasty characterization I tell ya.

To top it all off, because the game has to follow cybersleuth logic, I absolutely thought they were going to fuck the end.

No.

No, it was.

It was absolutely perfect.

It was emotional, it didn’t feel forced, and best of all?

It made sense.

As fucked up as the ending from cybersleuth was, in this universe, they can’t control their end because of the first game--- so this ending has to happen regardless of what they FEEL is fair. Which means, yes, the ending is unfair. But it leaves you with this... bittersweet feeling of longing- wishing they COULD have made a change. It’s a really nice metaphor for how things sometimes are out of our control, and we’re forced to deal with a fate someone else drops on us regardless of what we may feel or want to act on. We just have to make the best of it?

10/10 as a Digimon game, and 9/10 as an actual game because I do believe I am nitpicky as fuck and I rarely give 10/10′s but if I wasn’t a nitpicky fuck, this game would DEFINITELY easily be a 10/10.

If this ramble wasn’t indication enough, I really love Hacker’s Memory. You should definitely play Hacker’s Memory.

#tnt answers asks #genuinefauxthought

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