#about how that perception came about in time since i wasn't perusing any of the relevant content bewfore summer 2022

[burinazar]

As possibly the single individual to have talked about the Belaf Gender Thing most in the English-speaking fandom, in an attempt to clue people into how very interesting the JP fanon’s treatment of Belaf’s gender is since I love what it adds to the character but pretty much none of that meta made it past localization and into fandom in the west, i absolutely know what you mean and appreciate the concept being brought up—…. But I’m…………not sure this is true? That the translations use they/them for Belaf, I mean. Is there a particular scene or line you’re referring to? I grabbed a few timestamped examples from the dubbed version of a few lines where characters use he/him for Belaf:

(Episode 6, ~4:50) Vueko: If you show it to him, I think...that would probably make him break.

(Episode 7, ~15:39): Wazukyan: He’s finally fallen ill as well.

(Episode 8, ~4:30) Vueko: Just look at him! / Wazukyan: He’ll be alright.

The simulcast subs were very similar. I don’t have the manga on hand though if that’s what you’re looking at.

Why do I almost never hear anyone talking about how Belaf might be non-binary? They use they/them pronouns in the english translation just like Nanachi, it’s literally the same situation

[arminsumi]

˗ˏˋ꒰ 📖 ꒱ BOOKSTORE BOY

Armin x fem!reader

Chapter index / Chapter Ⅰ

Overview; Since moving into town, you've been visiting the bookstore that Armin works at. He's got a sorely obvious crush on you, but he's too nervous to even say hello.

Content; fluff

"Aaand you're drifting off again. Did you even hear what I said?" Connie mused, but Armin wasn't really listening; he was looking at you.

You were perusing the cramped aisles, your eyes curiously scanning the bookspines. You had a habit of tilting your head while reading the titles, which Armin found utterly adorable.

It had been a month since you began visiting the book store every day. Armin was frustrated with his lack of courage; he really wanted to talk to you. He planned so many conversation starters in this time, but used none of them when you came to the checkout to pay.

A pattern formed; you would scan the book titles down a few aisles, Armin would crane his neck to catch a glimpse of you from behind the register, then after you had found a book, you would meet him at the checkout counter and flash him a sweet smile before paying and leaving. You know, he always looked after your wake when you left the store, too, and he internally kicked himself for not commenting on your book at all. He really liked your diverse taste.

"Oh my God, man, really..." Connie rolled his eyes, "Just go on and ask her out. You just know she's single if she's hanging out in bookstores every day."

Armin hissed for Connie to be quieter, a slight blush crowning his ears.

"It's harder than you make it sound." Armin sighed, leaning against the cash register, "I can't just, like, approach her and say — 'oh hey, I know you're looking for books, but do you wanna go on a date with me instead?'"

"Uh, yeah, you absolutely can do that." Connie said stubbornly.

Armin shook his head at him. He didn't understand how impossible it felt to him. Even his goodbyes to you at the checkout were shaky, so how could he ever talk to you?

The golden hour was approaching; such a tranquil light flooded the bookstore, and it created this serene-like atmosphere. The bookshelves were illuminated by this eye-catching golden light, yet Armin was not admiring that; no, in fact, he was admiring how the light illuminated you — you seemed downright dreamy to him. This perception of you was only emphasized by how you floated down the aisles, like a goddess, Armin thought.

The bookstore cat stalked around, drawing closer to you with its blue little paws. Connie didn't even need to ask what had brightened Armin's mood, because he saw by his eyes that a plan was brewing in his mind.

Armin waited until Umi got close enough to you to warrant his intervention;

"Sorry!" He said with a feigned guilty smile, then pried Umi off the shelf that you were observing just as she began to bother you.

"Oh, it's alright." You said, "I love cats."

Armin's eyes glittered at you, his voice was slightly hyper in tone, "Me too — her name's — uh — Umi." He said.

"Oh... Umi? What does that mean?" You asked curiously.

"It's — well — it just — it means — it translates to 'ocean'." Armin said, then gave smile that was more so an attempt to quell his anxiety.

"Oh! That's so sweet..." You squinted adoringly at Umi, then observed her greyish blue fur, "A British Shorthair, right?" You said.

"No... actually, a Russian Blue." Armin corrected confidently.

You could feel a tide of his emotions rushing towards you. He was so blatant in his demeanor that you could sense his feelings rushing towards you like an incoming tide.

Armin was paranoid about coming off as too excited to talk to you, so he toned it down a bit.

"Oh, by the way..." You began, "... do you have any Virginia Woolf books here?"

"Virginia Woolf? — Uh — wait, I'll check for you." He said, then swiftly disappeared from the aisle.

Armin's heart was thumping erratically. All he could think was oh my God I actually talked to her. She talked to me. I actually did that.

Connie nearly burst out laughing at how speedily Armin dashed behind the checkout counter. He checked the store's stock on the computer, his hands shaking a bit as he typed. Connie began to playfully tease him, so Armin hissed under his breath for him to shut up and continued searching the store's stock for Virginia Woolf books.

Armin thought that you had such an interesting eye for books. Sometimes you bought books that even he didn't know about (And, mind you, he was a big bookworm). He admired your diversity, too, because one day you'd buy Poe, the next you'd buy Kerouac.

His grandfather peered over the railing of the second-floor's coffee shop loft. He just had to smile to himself, because it was nice to see his grandson's melancholy dispersing because of you.

Both Armin's family and friend group worried that he was growing more and more melancholic by the day, and truly he was; he pressed his chin gloomily atop the cash register every day and waited for something interesting to happen. His spirits kept sinking, but then one day you started visiting the bookstore.

His family loved to tease him and say that he was falling in love with 'the bookstore girl'. There was even a running joke that you were 'the bookworm that wormed into his heart'.

When the database showed negative for Virginia Woolf books, Armin returned to you. In the small seconds it took him to walk down the aisle, he gave himself a pep talk so that he could calm down his overwhelming excitement.

You had been trying to play with Umi in that time, but she was the type of cat who scrunched up in repulsion when you tried to touch her, so you gave up.

"I don't think we have any Virginia Woolf... sorry." Armin said.

"Oh, that's alright — but thanks for your help." You said.

Armin seemed more composed now; his hands were neatly tucked behind his back, which was straightened like a soldier on command. His grandfather took note of this tell-tale posture; it's what Armin did when he was trying to impress someone.

Armin's eyes glittered with excitement at you. He realized he'd begun staring, so he abruptly reanimated himself.

He awkwardly stammered something like "...I'll get back to work... let me know if you need help again..." and retreated behind the checkout counter, where Connie giggled quietly.

You wandered from aisle to aisle for some time. If Armin knew that he had gotten your heart fluttering excitedly from that simple encounter, he'd be flying across the stars.

Finally, you plucked a book and headed to the checkout. Armin was blushing under Connie's relentless teasing; you noticed his red ears, but you had no idea what was going on. But you had to smile at the two friend's banter. They seemed to be as close as brothers.

"I'm taking this..." You said timidly, placing the book softly on the counter.

Even the way you gently placed the book down was something that Armin squealed about inside. You just had this... je ne sais quoi thing about you.

Meanwhile, you were thinking about his je ne sais quoi quality; he was so awkwardly charming, so sweetly nervous.

Armin rung the book up for you while you pulled out your wallet. You fumbled with your money in such a way that, to someone looking, it looked like you had robbed a bank.

He noticed this nervous quirk of yours. It made him smile and feel relieved to see that even you were nervous with such simple tasks in public.

Connie was holding back giggles while he observed this all.

"Thanks!" You beamed at Armin, "See you..." You said, taking your book and the receipt and leaving for the upstairs cafe.

"Bye!" Armin squeaked.

You ascended the stairs to the coffee shop's loft just as Armin's grandfather descended. Both he and Connie rung out with giggling laughter when you were out of earshot. His grandfather had this endearingly cheeky cackle.

"Bye!" Connie mimicked you.

"Shut up, both of you... you're menaces..." Armin groaned and rubbed his face.

They continued to giggle amongst themselves about Armin's squeaky goodbye while Armin observed you longingly. You looked so comfy when nestled into your usual seat with a new book. Even the way you pursed your lips to sip coffee made Armin feel fluttery. (He probably wanted to be that coffee cup).

Umi stalked up to Armin, and he looked at her with a warmer affection than before.

"I owe you some treats." Armin smiled, petting under her chin with his finger.

A subtle blush spread across his cheeks while he replayed each moment of the encounter between the two of you.

Connie came over just to wiggle his brows at his blushing friend.

"Ah, fucking hell... will you shut up..." Armin groaned.

"Well, damn... the next thing is marriage, right?" Connie laughed.

Armin sighed hopelessly, "I'll be lucky if I ever get to talk to her about something other than cats and books..."

He continued to observe you as you sipped coffee and focused intensely on the yellowed pages. Another Kerouac novel... the one which was his favorite, but he didn't even get to say that while ringing it up for you.

He felt this overwhelming urge to be in your company again, but instead of acting on it, he sulked behind the register and complained to Connie about his lack of courage.