#aqours is no longer a group of 9

[athyrabunlord]

LLSHP 14 - Farewell

Arc1: [Chapter 1] [Chapter 2] [Chapter 3] [Chapter 4] [Chapter 5] [Chapter 6] [Chapter 7]

Arc2: [Chapter 8] [Chapter 9] [Chapter 10] [Chapter 11] [Chapter 12] [Chapter 13] [Chapter 14]

Arc3: [Chapter 15] [Chapter 16] [Chapter 17] [Chapter 18 - sanguinem pudicitia (TBD)]

Interludes: [Carbonado (1)] [Carbonado (2)] [Of Feathers and Wind] [Delphinus (teaser blip)]

[Brief note about School Term] [other LLSHP AU stuff] [YohaMaRuby concept arts] [ChikaYouRiko concept arts] [KanaDiaMari concept arts] [Hogwarts Staff]

[FFN link] (up until ch14!) [Pixiv Link] [Translated to Chinese by plin2290]

A/N: Sorry this took over a month! The last chapter was a horrible cliffhanger XD;; Well, issues IRL make it hard to write. Yoshiko’s state of mind is hard to portray as well sigh. Anyway, this is the last chapter of Arc2. Before moving onto Arc3 (which is also the last arc of this story), I will be writing another Interlude, to fill in some blanks and to transition into Arc3. As always, thanks for reading and the support! Hope you’ll enjoy this chapter! Words: 5,717

Yoshiko could only stare in horror as the wand pieces slowly fall from Hanamaru’s loose hands, landing with a soft thud that echoes rather loudly in her ears. The brunette just stands there, her gaze lost and her face pale.

Even though Immobulus has lifted due to the broken wand, Yoshiko still couldn’t move. Numb, she glances between the girl and the two halves of the now useless wooden stick.

“You foolish human.”

Hanamaru’s eyes widen a fraction when a dark-colored spell strikes her in the back. Like a marionette with its strings cut off, she slumps sideways in a heap.

Snapped out of her daze, Yoshiko hurries forward and gathers the petite girl in her arms, though she keeps her wand warily pointed at the smirking Yohane.

“Hanamaru-! Hanamaru!! Can you hear me? Hanamaru!”

After a few frantic shakes, Hanamaru languidly opens her eyes and moans in pain. Her gaze is unfocused and her breathing is rather shallow and strained. “C-Cold… cold… nngh…”

“Hanamaru!”

Yoshiko grasps for her hand, blanching at how cold her skin is. When she gently caresses Hanamaru’s cheek, she notices how alarmingly hot it feels in contrast.

“What did you do to her!”

“Hmm, something similar to what I did to that blonde girl, except this time it’s a bull’s eye.” Yohane appears quite pleased. “Good to know it does work.”

Yoshiko recalls the Moonstruck incident, of how Mari was unable to utilize magic and had taken a while to recover her strength. Wandless and now hit by this unknown Curse, what does this mean for Hanamaru?

Though filled with rage, Yoshiko could not utter any incantation to attack Yohane. The winged girl tilts her head and smiles prettily, her gaze condescending as if daring her to attack and scorning her for her weakness.

“You’re useless, both of you.”

Yoshiko trembles in anger, her magic sparkling at the tip of her wand yet her parched throat still refuses to cooperate.

“It’s okay though. I was once just as powerless as you are, so disgustingly useless.” There’s pity, perhaps even sympathy in Yohane’s soft voice, and it sickens Yoshiko to her core. “But then I learned and grew up. You see, the two of you are hindered by mortal emotions. The same goes for Lily and the Kurosawa heiress. They brought their own downfall.”

“How dare you-!” Yoshiko snarls, this time successfully firing a Diffindo at her adversary. However, just as expected, Yohane blocks the Severing Charm with her wing. None of the feathers are ruffled, remaining as impeccable and glossy as ever. She continues speaking as if a potentially fatal spell hasn’t been sent to her.

“I must say I’m disappointed in Hanamaru. She has such potential! I thought she was worthy to be by my side. Alas, it appears that she has chosen you,” Yohane narrows her eyes, her tone dropping to a venomous octave. “How dare a little demon betray her master!?”

Maybe it is instincts, or her intangible connection to Yohane, for Yoshiko senses her intent the moment Riko’s wand is pointed at Hanamaru. Frantic, Yoshiko pushes the defenseless girl behind her and spreads her arms wide just as Yohane fires the terrible Curse.

“Crucio!”

She screams.

It’s pure agony.

Nothing can compare.

Her nerves are on fire.

Her mind is blank and she couldn’t think.

Not even to pray for the pain to stop.

It only lasts a few seconds, but the aftermaths still cause excruciating stings to travel up and down her limbs. She is vaguely aware of being half-curled up on the ground, her wide eyes staring at the spinning ceiling. As she struggles to breathe, she barely hears Yohane’s contemplative voice.

“...it’s freakish hearing my own voice screaming. Perhaps I’m not as detached as I thought, still hindered by mortal emotions. I’ve spoken too much to you already because I took pity on your ignorance...”

Quivering, Yoshiko manages to roll onto her back and peers weakly at Hanamaru’s prone form. Is this it? This is what Chika, You and Riko had felt, struck by this torture Curse? Riko was right in Obliviating them back then. It’s better off not remembering anything if only to escape such agony. But how about Riko? How will she recover… if ever?

Tears slide down her cheeks in streams, though she isn’t quite sure why she is crying. From the pain? From self-pity? From… guilt?

Even though Yohane is the one ultimately making her friends suffer, Yoshiko feels just as much blame. And, in a way, her existence causes Yohane to become the way she is too.

What should she do?

What can she do?

Before Hanamaru broke her own wand, Yoshiko’s goal had been to save her but how could she do that now-?

“I don’t want your blood on my hands, so I’ve made my choice,” Yohane says suddenly and stretches her wings wide.

Under the dim light of the Chamber of Secrets, surrounded by darkness and faint silhouettes of wall carvings and ornaments, Yohane truly looks every inch of the charismatic fallen angel that Yoshiko once aspired to become. Shadows begin to descend upon them, hovering closer and closer as they follow Yohane’s command.

Shivering, Yoshiko notices that her breaths are coming out in white puffs, for the temperature around them has dropped drastically. Before, her body was seized in fatigue but as the cloaked figures glide towards her, she understands that it is sheer terror that paralyzes her.

Dementors.

“Consider this my last concession towards you two.” Yoshiko could not see the winged girl’s expression but she could hear the complacency in her tone. “They should be familiar, no? Don’t worry, it’ll be painless, and it’ll be over within moments. Your souls shall forever become part of them, and thus part of my legion. Is that not wonderful?”

Yoshiko twitches feebly, her hand desperately reaching for Hanamaru’s. The brunette’s hoarse whimpering feels like continuous stabs to her heart, especially because she couldn’t do a goddamn thing to protect her.

Her vision flickers in and out of focus until only tunnel vision remains. Instead of the ceiling, she’s watching her memories flash by one by one in reverse.

And only the bad ones.

Riko lying motionlessly in the basement of the Hut; the werewolf’s trapped body; the tendrils oozing out of her hand and slashing at Kanan’s Animagus form-

“What’s she doing again?”

“Some black magic ritual… seriously, what’s wrong with her?”

“Junior high students shouldn’t be doing stupid stuff like this.”

“She calls herself a fallen angel, hahaha! Probably watches too much anime!”

Yoshiko holds up her head high, ignoring their whispered conversations, snickers and any odd looks. Her classmates are the foolish ones. They have no idea what she’s capable of! Ku ku ku, she’ll show them! Compared to the series of misfortunes she’s experienced, bullying means nothing!

...yeah, it doesn’t affect her at all.

“Now now, there is no such thing as magic, angels and all that. Tsushima-san, you must have been hallucinating. Cups don’t move on their own.”

The psychiatrist’s patronizing smile only irritates Yoshiko. Alas, the ten-year-old could only glare at the adult, who shakes his head at her lack of response.

“You’re a bright kid, from what I can see from your assessments. I can only hope this is a phase and you’ll grow out of it.”

Yoshiko huffs. Oh she’s tried to be ‘normal’ like every other kid, but the feeling of ‘wrong’ is just so pervasive that she has to trust her instincts. She’s not hurting anyone, so why can’t she just be herself?

“What did you do?”

The matron’s panicked voice makes Yoshiko want to flee too, but the six-year-old could only sit there and stare at the empty space where the stool’s leg once stands. She then tilts her head and claps her hands proudly.

“Look, I have special powers! Hehe, I really am an angel!”

Her smile drops at the matron’s somber expression. Did she do something she’s not supposed to do? But she’s been a good girl, following rules and always on her best behavior…

“W-Why are you crying?!”

“Uuuaaa! Yoshiko-chan is going to disappear! Uuuaaa!”

“What!? No I’m not! What makes you think that?”

“Y-You said y-you’re going to -hic-  return to the -hic- sky! I-I’m not an angel, so I can’t -hic- go with you!”

“What? That’s silly. You’re silly, Zuramaru.”

“What -hic- do you mean?”

“When I return to the sky, I’ll bring you with me, duh! So stop crying already.”

The pudgy-cheeked brunette rubs her eyes and beams up at Yoshiko. “Promise?”

“Promise!” The two small five-year-olds lock their pinkie fingers, giggling as they resume playing at the monkey bars and slide.

Right, Hanamaru’s always believed in her… but, is this her memory, or Yohane’s? Yoshiko doesn’t know anymore. She reviews the memory in a detached manner, both fascinated and saddened by the scene before her.

The petite brunette was always by herself at the playground, engrossed in the thick books she brought every time her grandparents dropped her off by the bench. The other kids would only give her curious glances but not once invited the quiet girl to their games. Yoshiko decided to approach her one random day, having failed in recruiting any of the other kids. None of them believed that she was an angel, so maybe this girl would?

“Whatcha reading?”

The ochre-eyed girl jolts and peers at her shyly, probably not expecting anyone to talk to her. After Yoshiko takes a seat beside her, she relaxes slightly and gives her a friendly smile. “An encyclopedia zura!”

“En-sy-klo-wut?” Yoshiko leans close, frowning at the big paragraphs and terms she couldn’t even pronounce, let alone understand. At least, those colored pictures look cool!

“It’s like a collection of information about various subjects zura,” the small girl looks happy at her interest. “Would you like to read with me? I’m on the chapter about the Earth’s core zura!”

Shrugging, Yoshiko then found herself spending the rest of the day with this girl, who had the weirdest dialect. It was fun though, looking at the pictures and learning about stuff like volcanoes and earthquakes and tsunamis. Through the girl’s helpful explanations, Yoshiko now understood why these natural disasters happened, and how land only made up a small portion of the world.

“Wow, so we live… on a planet… that’s mostly water?”

“Yup! The oceans are huuuuuge zura!” The girl spread her arms wide, her eyes sparkling. “And deep too! There are many places people haven’t explored yet! Look at this zura!”

Yoshiko stared at the odd-looking fish on the page. It was bony and, frankly, ugly. At least, next to the toothy monster called ‘Anglerfish’ or something, this deep-sea fish looked more dignified. After reading a bit more, she became more attached to this odd ‘living fossil’. Apparently, its kind has lived in this world for millions of years! How incredible!

“I’ve decided, this SHIIRA-KANSU is gonna be my little demon!”

“Littoru...deh...mon?”

Yoshiko flustered. She wasn’t prepared to introduce the concept to the girl yet. She thought of herself as an angel but she’s also considered the possibility of being an angel trapped in the mortal world. That was why she needed to recruit followers and minions, her little demons, to help her return to where she should be.

The question was, how could she explain all that to this girl without getting shunned like everyone else did?

To her surprise, the brunette gave her a big smile. “That’s pretty cool! Tell me more zura! I like good stories!”

At least, she seemed to think it was a story. Only a fine line existed between fiction and nonfiction, so there was hope to recruit her! Grinning, Yoshiko spent the rest of the afternoon running around the playground with the giggling girl. They made up more and more aquatic characters to join the coelacanth, drawing them in the sand with sticks. “Shiira~” “Kansu!” “Shiira~” “Kansu!”

They danced and chanted. It was the most fun the two little girls ever had.

Hanamaru was her first friend.

Whether this memory was hers or not, this feeling of pure joy was real.

Yoshiko could feel strength and a bit of warmth returning to her body. By concentrating her mind on this positive feeling, her senses are no longer muddled and she could think again. She doesn’t remember the specifics, and she certainly doesn’t remember where and why the Dementor attacked them when they were so little.

But she is certain of this feeling. Her first friend, and now…

She painstakingly sits up and grasps for her wand. “I may have fallen, but I’m not as far gone as you are.”

Yohane quirks an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Oh?”

Yoshiko smiles serenely.  “I will protect the girl I love, and rid you from her world.”

The fallen angel scoffs and flicks Riko’s wand. A Dementor raises its bony, rotten hand towards Yoshiko, and she could feel those depressing memories resume clawing at the edges of her vision. She takes a deep breath and focuses her thoughts on Hanamaru and Hanamaru only.

Her hand is surprisingly steady as she points her wand at the atrocious creature. “Expecto patronum!!”

There’s a burst of light, causing the Dementors to reel back with raspy shrieks that sound more like sandpaper dragging against another. A silver fish, just as bony yet noble as the one from the illustration, elegantly swims across the air. Wisps of light flutter behind it like waves and the tidal wave of its magic forces the Dementors to retreat. The coelacanth gives chase, its relatively small size belying its tremendous power as it shoots across the air like a torpedo.

The silver waves around it give off an illusion of a hungry shark chasing after its preys. The Dementors, seemingly anxious to avoid getting in contact with the light, have no choice but to flee entirely.

The coelacanth then swims towards the small ball of fur, gently enshrouding the unconscious bat in a veil of silver light. Wordlessly, Yoshiko uses a Charm to summon Lucifer towards her and gingerly places her little demon beside Hanamaru. The brunette’s breathing has evened out and she is no longer trembling.

As if in a trance, Yoshiko holds out her hand towards the approaching coelacanth, the tip of her finger touching its translucent head. It is surreal, that she’s finally able to cast a corporeal Patronus and actually fight off the Dementors.

“Thank you, Shiirakansu.”

The Patronus is conjured from the memory of her feelings for Hanamaru after all.

“H-How? How are you able to cast the Patronus-?” For the first time since their encounter, Yohane’s composure has cracked. Fear flickers in those narrowed red eyes as she raises the sakura wand defensively. “How could you, when I can’t-?”

“I don’t know,” Yoshiko murmurs, still wrapped in the sensation of floating even though her feet are rooted on the ground. “But… maybe, it’s because I love her.”

Yohane’s expression contorts to something that could only be described as Devil-like, so full of hatred and murderous intent. She flaps her wings, sending powerful gusts towards them as she springs into the air.

Before she could make the next move, the coelacanth suddenly charges towards her. The Patronus tears through Yohane’s left wing despite being impenetrable under all those spells earlier. At the same moment, it feels as if a sledgehammer strikes Yoshiko in the left chest.

She collapses on her knees, clutching her heart, while Yohane plummets to the ground and groans in pain. She could feel her strength waning, similar to how she almost lost consciousness from when the Dementors appeared, yet it also feels different in a frightening way.

Something drips onto her hand and it takes her a moment to register what the dark liquid is.

Blood.

Yohane looks just as shocked as Yoshiko, glancing between her damaged wing and the blood trickling out of the latter’s nose. Tendrils of black magic attempt to fix the gaping hole in her left wing but to no avail.

“... if either of us gets injured, the other cannot escape unscathed either huh…” Yohane’s voice is rather shaky, her face pale as if unable to accept such revelation.

On the other hand, Yoshiko feels strangely calm as she stares at the blood in her palm in morbid fascination. She’s supposed to be a matured Horcrux, an entity that was once just a quill pen, yet she was given a chance to experience a human’s life.

Since she’s not a human in the first place, why be fearful of death? Now, she has the power to protect Hanamaru, so she has nothing to be scared of anymore. If wiping out her existence can defeat Yohane, to cause the Fallen’s downfall, then that’s a rather cheap price to pay. This way, her friends would no longer suffer, and there will be no more danger to Hanamaru and the others.

This way, she could atone for Father and Mother’s deaths.

Grim determination fuels her exhausted body as she raises her wand once more. She pours all of her magic into her Patronus, causing it to shimmer even brighter than ever.

“Farewell, datenshi Yohane.”

“No...no! Don’t come near me!” Yohane snarls desperately, dissolving her feathered wings into a black mist of raw magic before directing it to intercept the coelacanth’s dive.

The collision causes a terrible explosion that sends the two girls flying. Yoshiko barely registers crashing against the wall, no longer feeling pain or any other senses for that matter. Her consciousness is starting to drift away again.

Before that blissful oblivion could claim her, Yohane’s distorted voice reverberates in her mind and squashes her hope for ending this once and for all.

“We’ll meet again. Yoshiko. Next time, I won’t be so careless. Next time, I won’t be so soft… I will reclaim you, one way or another.”

Yoshiko passes out with a wry smile on her face.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

She wakes up to the sensation of terrible fatigue weighing down her limbs.

Opening her eyes alone seems to drain her, and she musters all her willpower to keep her mind from floating away. The acrid smell of blood no longer fills her nostrils; instead, she is soothed by the fresh scent of clean linen and sweet fragrance of potions. Though her vision is limited, she deduces that she is in the Hospital Wing.

Ah, she is still alive, somehow.

“Y-Yoshiko-chan!”

She feels oddly detached even as Ruby appears in her vision, followed by Chika and You with Mari and Kanan close behind. She should feel relieved and happy to see her friends, yet there’s a void in her emotions. Perhaps she’s simply tired from everything.

She should be disconcerted by her lack of emotion, but she isn’t. She doesn’t care about herself anymore, really, but she doesn’t want her friends to worry either. She closes her eyes wearily for a few moments before opening them again, vowing to at least try to act normal.

“Can you hear us?” Ruby gingerly reaches for Yoshiko’s hand, smiling when the latter weakly squeezes back. “Y-You recognize us, right?”

Yoshiko nods slowly, unable to speak due to how dry her throat feels. Noticing her discomfort, Ruby hastily helps her sit up and summons a glass of water.

“You’ve been unconscious for a whole day,” Mari says grimly, and the bags under their eyes imply they probably have not slept since.

Though touched by their concern, Yoshiko’s mind couldn’t seem to grasp at that gratitude and soon she feels like a hollow husk again. She drinks the water mechanically, if only for the sake of being able to speak.

“...where… Hana...maru…”

Kanan gestures at the neighboring bed and, with Ruby’s help, Yoshiko is able to see Hanamaru’s sleeping form, tucked snuggly under the blanket. She looks unharmed, and the small cut on her cheek must have been long healed by the school’s matron.

Under Yoshiko’s questioning gaze, You elaborates with a shaky sigh. “Chika-chan and I found you two in the abandoned lavatory. When we left St. Mungo’s and returned here, we looked all over the school for you, but neither of you was in your House’s Dorms. The Room of Requirement aside, we could only think of that lavatory and…”

“You were both covered in rubble and have many bruises and cuts all over,” Chika leans forward, her eyes damp. “T-There was blood on you, but Madam assured us that you’re both physically fine. S-She healed your wounds.”

“And where… she-?”

“She was here until moments ago, summoned away by a staff meeting. We promised her to look after you two. We also found your bat. Madam healed it as well…” You trails off, pointing at creature hanging upside down on the chandelier. Lucifer keeps its distance, though it does let out a scratchy bark as if in greeting.

Yoshiko smiles and is puzzled when the feeling of relief stays. Then again, Lucifer is connected to her like nothing else.

They’re both Horcruxes after all, Lucifer being a failed experiment and her being an unwanted but successful one. Yoshiko cringes and bites down on her lip to repress the urge to throw up. The others exchange worried looks at that.

“Just what h-happened, Yoshiko-chan?” Ruby then holds out the broken halves of Hanamaru’s wand, her voice wavering. “Madam almost wanted to send you to St. Mungo’s because her Diagnosis Charm d-detected traces of a powerful Curse that was cast on you.”

Yoshiko lowers her head, almost wanting to hide somewhere so that she could be alone and not deal with all this. She still doesn’t fully understand most of what happened down in the Chamber of Secrets. Or, rather, she cannot accept anything even though deep down, she knows that it’s the truth, as painful as it is. For someone who just regained consciousness, she is surprised by the clarity of her memories.

I can’t forget even if I wanted to huh?

One glance at her friends’ anxious expressions convinces her otherwise. She owes them that much.

“...it was the Cruciatus Curse...”

Under their horrified faces, Yoshiko begins to retell the events in the Chamber except she omits some facts. She cannot bring herself to reveal Yohane’s identity and the whole matter of Horcrux; instead, she just vaguely mentions that the enemy is a Slytherin descendant whose face was hidden from view by a mask. She wants to talk to Hanamaru first before sharing the whole story with the others. Hanamaru probably doesn’t want anyone to know that she’s been under the Imperius Curse, if she even remembers that part.

Besides, if that Curse really did work like Muggle hypnotism as Yohane said, then what were the instances that Hanamaru was under its influence and wasn’t?

Yoshiko doesn’t dare to think how this would affect their relationship.

Being a matured Horcrux or whatever, she has these human feelings. She does love Hanamaru, she has no doubt about that, and honestly, this is the only emotion that’s keeping her from breaking down in self-pity and self-loathing.

Hmn, what would her friends do if they know what she really is?

In the end, even here in the world of magic, she is still an abomination. How ironic.

“... and somehow my Patronus Charm worked on the witch’s feathered wings and, I lose consciousness afterward so I don’t know how and who got Hanamaru and me up from the Chamber.”

Silence greets her after her condensed story, and Yoshiko notices that her friends appear to be absorbing her tale. Mari looks understandably concerned about Hanamaru’s health, having been hit by that unknown spell before, while You and Chika have a murmured conversation about how the lavatory looked undisturbed, meaning someone must have closed the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets before their arrival.

Only Yohane could have possibly done that as a Parseltongue. But why did she not take her or Hanamaru when she fled?

Yoshiko rubs her temple. There’s no point in figuring out her motive. It’s more important to decide on what their next step should be, considering everything that has happened over the span of merely two days.

It was all too much.

“So… where is Dia-san? Is she still at the hospital with Lily?”

At this, Kanan actually growls and might have changed to her Animagus form if Mari hadn’t kept a vice grip on her shoulder. The blonde’s scowl, however, is just as dark as the ponytailed witch’s.

“Riko-chan is under magically-induced coma to help heal her mind,” You says dully, her hand whimsically patting Chika’s back when the latter leans against her with a sad frown. “It’s the most the Healers could do, considering how m-many times she was h-hit with that Curse…”

Yoshiko swallows hard, feeling nauseous again. There’s nothing they could do except believe in the Healers.

“And Onee-chan is…” Ruby’s subconsciously tightens her grip on Yoshiko’s hand. “She’s considered the prime suspect behind what happened to Riko-san.”

“What?!” Though fatigued, Yoshiko gladly embraces this burst of anger since it is better than that quagmire of depression.

“The Professors all spoke on Onee-chan’s behalf, the House of Slytherin and other students too. But, from the official s-side of things, we all do seem very suspicious. We just happened to be near the Shack and at Hogsmeade during the Moonstruck incident, and then how Onee-chan discovered Riko-san in the middle of nowhere, and now y-you and Hanamaru-chan, in the abandoned lavatory...”

Kanan’s fists are clenched. “And the fact we all seem unwilling to divulge details. Of course we can’t, we don’t know what we say may or may not affect Riko-chan. Each of us has already been questioned by the investigators, but just as expected, they suspect that we’re not telling the whole truth.”

“But Dia protected us. She took any blame and redirected any suspicion towards herself. She is not a Minor anymore and is treated as the heiress and a full Pureblood adult who will eventually be granted a seat in the Wizengamot, so they could not exactly arrest her without trial. We think it’s only due to the Kurosawa name that the Ministry officials are prevented from using the Veritaserum. È solo che è così ridicolo!” Mari then continues to mutter in Italian, which is most likely swear words.

“At least, our family name is able to protect her to an extent,” Ruby lets out a quiet chuckle. It’s a rather disconcerting, cold sound. “But it’s not for Onee-chan’s own good, but for the sake of our family prestige.”

“Those fucking geezers. They didn’t take Dia’s relationship with Rikocchi well.”

“Even though the carbonado necklace is damning evidence,” Kanan pauses thoughtfully. “Come to think of it, I don’t think Riko-chan’s parents said anything about it…”

“Either way, our family is trying to suppress as much news as possible, while keeping Onee-chan under house arrest. In fact, she’s already been withdrawn from Hogwarts for an undetermined time.”

Yoshiko stares at Ruby blankly. The younger Kurosawa gives her a slight nod, though the gesture seems to be more for herself than for her friend. Yoshiko then glances at Mari, You, Chika and Kanan, who all share the same helpless and weary looks.

The world out there is not nice. Hogwarts has been like a shelter for the teenagers, for the students, but the society is cruel and unforgiving to those who step into adulthood. Magic is a wonderful thing, and they’re supposed to be having and enjoying their first year at Hogwarts, yet…

The Christmas Banquet almost feels like a long time ago, even though it actually only took place two months ago.

“So… it’s come to do this, huh?”

Mari exhales shakily. “For the next while, we will be monitored closely - we would still have freedom as any other students, but meeting up in the Room of Requirement or anywhere else would be impossible now. This is already more than we could’ve asked for. It’s only Dia’s… sacrifice and the Professors’ words that prevent us from being under constant escort and daily detention-”

“But we didn’t do anything wrong! Why!? Why should we be punished?!”

You and Chika nod in agreement, but Kanan shakes her head grimly. “We still broke the rules. We left school grounds outside of curfew, for starters. It’s… the school’s way of trying to protect us, to keep us out of trouble from now on. As horrible as it was, the fact that you and Maru were discovered unconscious and injured is the leverage that the staff used to convince the Ministry otherwise. We are the victims.”

“And we really are!” The angrier Yoshiko feels, the more tired she becomes and all she wants to do is pass out and hope that everything would be back to normal by the time she wakes up. Alas, she knows that would never happen, and thus she struggles to stay awake. “I still can’t believe they’d do that to Dia-san…”

“Me neither. But, this will only be temporary. I’ll definitely figure out a way to help Onee-chan.” In spite of her meek countenance, Ruby’s voice is hard like steel.

Chika gives her a supportive pat on the shoulder. “Of course, Ruby-chan. We won’t let things stay like this.”

“That’s the spirit,” Kanan also pats Ruby’s head while You gives her a salute. “For the time being, we need to focus on recovering and get things back in order. From what you’ve told us, Yoshiko, it sounds like the enemies will be keeping a low profile for a while too.”

“We will be ready next time,” Mari’s grin is predatory. “They’ll regret in underestimating us.”

Normally, Yoshiko would have joined them in their resolute vow and rely on this positive energy to recuperate spiritually. However, she could only think about what would happen when this so-called ‘next time’ comes.

Yoshiko forces a small smile on her face. No, she’s already made up her mind. Her fate is inconsequential as long as she can bring down Yohane and the Fallen. As long as her friends are safe.

As long as Hanamaru is okay...

“...mnnn…”

“Maru?” Being the first to notice the slight movement, Kanan hurries to the other bed to check up on the brunette.

“Hanamaru-chan! You’re a-awake!” Ruby smiles tearfully but glances between her two friends, uncertain whether to leave Yoshiko’s side or go check up on the other girl.

“Ruby, I want to see her.”

“But Yoshiko-chan, you’re still-”

“Please.”

After sharing an understanding look, You and Chika help her get up and keep her supported as they all gather around the brunette. Mari quickly sends off her Patronus to alert the matron and proceeds to cast a simple Diagnostic Charm on Hanamaru in the meantime.

“Just low on energy but overall she seems okay,” Mari sighs in relief. “Of course, we should wait for the matron for a proper check-up.”

Ruby glances at Yoshiko, as if waiting for her to speak first but the latter shakes her head and gives her a weak nudge. Though puzzled, Ruby nods and turns towards Hanamaru.

“How are you f-feeling, Hanamaru-chan? Can you hear me? Do you r-recognize us?”

Yoshiko stares at the petite girl closely for any sign of discomfort. Hanamaru appears groggy still, her body limp as Kanan gently helps her sit up and lean against the pillow. Smiling feebly at them, she is about to say something when she begins to cough.

“Could I… water-?”

Similar to earlier with Yoshiko, Ruby hastily summons a glass of water and holds it towards her friend.

However, she almost drops it at Hanamaru’s reaction.

“M-Mirai zura!”

“Eh?”

“The glass just flew! How did you do that zura?”

Yoshiko could feel her heart dropping.

Ruby’s face is pale and Chika’s eyes are wide in shock, while Kanan and Mari exchange nervous glances. You lets out a strained chuckle. “Aw, come on, Hanamaru-chan, that’s just the Summoning Charm…”

The brunette tilts her head, her ochre eyes glimmering with fascination. “Charm? You mean magic? Ooh, so this is how you cast a spell zura!”

Yoshiko could feel her throat clog up.

“H-Hanamaru-chan, do you not r-remember us?” Ruby holds her friend’s hand desperately, her voice shaking.

Hanamaru blinks and winces a bit, looking even smaller on the big bed and under the thick blanket. “I-I… no… t-this is the first t-time I’ve met you all zura…”

Yoshiko could feel her heart clench in pain, comparable to that of a Cruciatus Curse.

“Maru, what do you remember then-? D-Do you,” Kanan swallows hard, gazing at the smaller girl hopefully. “At least remember how you got here?”

Mari wraps a comforting arm around Ruby’s shoulder, pulling the frozen girl against her. “This is Hogwarts, the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You seem to know the concept of magic at least…”

“Erm, yes, I-I got a letter and…” Hanamaru shrinks even more, the previous sparkle in her eyes now replaced by confusion and anxiousness. “I packed many luggages-? M-My grandparents d-didn’t want me to leave b-but they said they a-also understood z-zura. Oh, I live in a temple, so we weren’t too surprised that a school of magic exist zura! Well, it was still shocking but a-according to the witch w-who took me t-to buy supplies and my wand, w-we took the news pretty well zura, compared to other Muggleborns, um…”

She looks at them helplessly, her small hands gripping the blanket.

“W-What happened to me zura?”

Yoshiko could fee her eyes sting as she leans on the bed, nearly hyperventilating. She could feel You and Chika attempting to support her but she can’t find the strength to even try anymore.

Then, a familiar hand is caressing her back as if to ease her ragged breathing.

“Are you okay zura? M-Maybe you should be resting?”

Yoshiko peers up at Hanamaru’s soft smile in disbelief, her heart cracking from the girl’s unconditional concern.

You should be the one in distress! Why are you comforting me-? Why… why did this happen? Why you? Why?!

She allows herself to be pulled into Hanamaru’s arms as tears slide down her cheeks and sobs shake her body. She burrows her face against the crook of the brunette’s neck, indulging in her scent and warmth for one last time.

After all, in a way, this is farewell.

[schoolingcorrin]

1. Name: Jason

2. Strange fact about yourself: I lost 4 of my permanent teeth by the age of 23.

3. Top 3 physical things you find attractive on a person: A good face is a must, nice looking legs, and good looking hair.

4. A food you could eat forever and not get bored of: There isn’t one? Like, I have a default meal at restaurants and fast food places (Chicken tenders/chicken fingers and fries.) but that’s not the same thing, I don’t think.

5. A food you hate: I’m a picky eater in general. Coleslaw is one of them though.

6. Guilty pleasure: My “guilty pleasures” are all related to porn so...

7. What do you sleep in: Whatever I wore that day. Usually jeans and a t-shirt.

8. Serious relationships or flings: Neither? I’ve only ever been in one serious relationship and have had no flings. Ideally I’d like to try a bit of both.

9. If you could go back in the past and change one thing about your life, what would it be: I’d want to avoid dumping my ex but at the same time I like my life as is and don’t want to risk changing it so I wouldn’t.

10. Are you an affectionate person: It depends on how you’re defining affectionate but in general, not really.

11. A movie you could watch over and over again: There aren’t any. I’m not a movie person in general and I don’t tend to rewatch things in general.

12. Favorite book: I don’t have one. I’m not the type to reread books so I’m always looking for something new to read.

13. You have the opportunity to keep any animal as a pet, what would you choose: As a teenager I wanted a wolf and while my immediate thought was to stick to that, I can’t say I really want a pet at all.

14. Top 5 fictional ships: I’m not much of a shipper but Harry/Hermione will forever be my preferred Harry Potter ship, I don’t care what canon says.

15. Pie or cake: Key Lime Pie is my favorite and Key Lime cake is good too. Otherwise? It depends on the flavor.

16. Favorite scent: I don’t have one? I have a hard time telling scents apart to be honest.

17. Celebrity Crush: I’m more likely to fall for fictional characters over celebrities. But I’m also a fan of tokusatsu and there are some beautiful women who act in that genre like Arisa Komiya. Same with seiyuu for anime like...Aqours as a whole. And then there’s K-Pop idols like Choi Yena. If we’re going more traditional, maybe Zendaya?

18. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go: Japan.

19. Introvert or Extrovert: Somewhere in the middle.

20. Do you scare easily: If it’s meant to be scary? Yes. Otherwise, it depends.

21. iPhone or Android: iPhone. I would never buy an Android.

22. What would you do with a million dollars: Pay off student loans and then spend the rest on luxuries. Maybe invest some but not much.

23. Do you play any video games: This is a Fire Emblem group so the answer to that is obvious.

24. Dream job: Ideally I’d never work at all but if I had to a writer or just any job that lets me live comfortably, that doesn’t cut into my personal time too much, and that isn’t too difficulty or boring.

25. Fictional characters you hate: Most villains and unlikable protagonist. 

26. Fandom that you were once a part of but aren’t any longer: This group and a few other roleplays are the most involved I’ve ever been with fandom. I don’t involve myself with fandoms, just small groups of fans.

[dorple]

Interview with Inami Anju and Nitta Emi from December 2017 issue of Dengeki G’s Magazine

This translation is based on the digital copy, which has corrected several typographical errors and misprints in the hard copy. A listing of the problems is available on the Dengeki G’s website here.

– First of all, since we have realized the first dialogue between Nitta-san and Inami-san, please tell us how you feel right now. Inami Anju (“Inami”): Today is my first dialogue with Nitta-san, so my heart is pounding with nervousness and anticipation. It’s a first for the cast members of μ’s and Aqours to be exchanging words, too, right? Nitta Emi (“Nitta”): Indeed. I have met An-chan on various occasions before this, but to participate in a Love Live! event together is still a first. I wonder if it was refreshing for fans supporting Aqours, and for the fans who like μ’s. Inami: I was really happy the 2 of us could run the show at the Tokyo Game Show stage event! In Aqours, when I am emceeing, it’s either with all 9 of us or in a group of 3. At the beginning, I was worried, like, what do I do, because it might as well be my first time moving things along by myself. Nitta-san really, really backed me up a lot, though… Nitta: No such thing!! The truth is, I was the one who was discreetly consulting An-chan while going, “What’s this over here?” reading the script (laugh). Inami: It was really reassuring to have Nitta-san at my side. My nerves all went away, and we had a good time together. Thank you so much! Nitta: No, no, it should be me saying that ♪ I had lots of fun back there. Inami: (nodding hard) Yes!!

– We heard that as it were, Inami-san already liked Love Live!, and was a fan of μ’s. Inami: That’s right. So with Nitta-san right in front of me, I feel like it would take nothing for me to burst into tears… Nitta: Eeh, is that so? Inami: Yes. At the Tokyo Game Show stage event, too, when I was watching from the side as Nitta-san spoke of the Love Live! project, there was warmth welling up in my chest. Many of Nitta-san’s and Honoka-chan’s words, through μ’s’ activities, went straight to my heart… With this passed on to Aqours, and us having received the opportunity to take a further step ahead, I get the sense that “we had better do well!” all the more. Nitta: Hearing An-chan’s words, I am very much experiencing the sentiment that when I initially joined this project, I could never have imagined I would have kouhais like Aqours. I feel that at the time the curtain was raised on the Love Live! project in 2010, rather than having a faraway goal and charging towards it, first, the members, step by step together with the staff, made out a path of their own… As such, to now have kouhais, once again, I am glad “our steps have taken us all the way here,” and I realize how quickly time passed in the dream of us as μ’s. At the Tokyo Game Show in September, it was quite a long while, whether since I put on this (Otonokizaka’s) jersey, or that I stood before an audience as the portrayer of Kousaka Honoka from μ’s. So I was a little uneasy thinking, “Will they have forgotten?” But the fans at the venue who were supporting Aqours also welcomed me warmly, which made me really happy.

– Nitta-san joined Love Live! at the dawn of the project. What motivated you to keep going during activities? Nitta: I think the TV anime was a turning point after all. Before the TV anime started, even we, as the portrayers, were without direction, “We don’t know what course to take,” “What sort of presence is suitable for us to have?” Still, we pressed onward, even if it were just one step, we simply did our best. At the same time as the beginning of the TV anime, my target came to me in a flash: to let their (Honoka and the others) feelings “manifest”! Through experiences such as concerts that would remind one of the TV anime storyline, the distance between Honoka and the rest, and us, decreased, I felt we came to understand each other. When I look at how much work Aqours are putting in; and the fresh faces of the new school idols from SIF, the Nijigasaki Gakuen School Idol Interest Group; I get the strong sense that our feelings from back then are linked to the present.

– Next is a question for Inami-san. As a fan of μ’s, you have attended their live performances, but what attracted you and led you to become a fan? Inami: I came to know of μ’s from SIF, then I liked them even more after I watched the TV anime. I was taken with the honest emotions, the way they cherished their companions, the story of the passion of youth. The first time I went to a μ’s concert was the 5th Live at Saitama Super Arena after the TV anime finished airing. In those 2 days where I was at the live viewing and at the venue itself, although I took part in it, I felt throughout the whole period like I was dreaming. As the expressions of Honoka-chan and her friends I saw from in the TV anime came to mind, I was watching the cast members performing for real, it was as if we bypassed reality and were connected to the anime, it was a mysterious sensation like I no longer knew where I was. The performance was wonderful, I had never enjoyed myself so much at a concert before… By the time I realized it, I was waving my penlight with all my might, cheering, and calling their names. Even as I look back on it now, that period was a dazzling dream.

– We feel that for Inami-san, who was watching in the audience, and Nitta-san, who was onstage, to meet like this now is also a fantastic fortuitous encounter because of Love Live! Nitta: True. Just now, listening to An-chan, I once again tangibly felt, “We’ve properly conveyed it…” Us doing our hair in the same hairstyles as the [characters] was also something which happened because we, the performers, wanted to better express the emotions of the [characters], so I simply am glad for those feelings of dedication to have reached our audience.

– The common point between the two of you is playing the role of the leader, but to be entrusted with the leader’s position is a tough job. Is there anything which you keep in mind? Nitta: Accurately speaking, Honoka is not the leader, but the founder of μ’s and a “presence like a leader”. I am mindful of exactly that: I “don’t have to be the leader”. I merely wanted to be somebody who brought out Honoka’s energy, like the driving force behind everyone. The μ’s TV anime storyline, too, had the depiction of we all sing, we all are the leader!, though she strived hard as the person who started μ’s, for everyone’s glamorous side and their charm to reach many people… Is how I’d like to describe it. Since it’s just like Honoka to do that, I hope to portray it well.

– While Honoka has encountered her setbacks, she is beloved for her straightforward feelings and dynamism, isn’t she? Nitta: Right. It’s thanks to her childhood friends Kotori-chan and Umi-chan, and the support of everyone in μ’s, that she has grown. Her “love for μ’s” really is the most important. As for the cast, all of μ’s, in a good way, go at their own pace, they’ve got loads of personality. I’ve never once thought, “I need to get things in order!” We’re partners who have spent so much time together, be it where we agree even without talking aloud, or the sense of heading toward the same goals, I can feel their love for μ’s even if they don’t put it into words. Many a time, I speak on behalf of everyone, but I think our feelings are the same no matter who is speaking. How about you, An-chan? Inami: I play Chika-chan, who is also the founder of Aqours, and the type who charges right ahead. As she ran onwards recklessly, in the first season of the Love Live! Sunshine!! TV anime, she hit a wall: what was the difference between herself and Honoka-san of μ’s? There was a plot point where she was troubled by thinking of how a good leader should be. But she found a good answer to that, and I felt like that answer came to me too. For me, I initially didn’t think I was a right fit for the leader’s position, my personality was more suited to join the group by slipping in from the side… Somewhere in my heart, that was how I felt. Furthermore, I had pressure from being the center, I was often nervous. But it was Chika’s own mouth that told me, “It’s important that we run on our own path.” Those lines put me at ease with a whoosh. About 1 year after our group was formed, we had the opportunity to put our singing and dancing on display for the first time at Mielparque Hall. Back then, I was terrified at having to be in the center position. However, I could strongly feel that the support from the 8 people around me was what allowed me to stand in the middle; when the answer from the anime storyline and my experience from that time came together, I realized, “there is no need to be particularly conscious of it, it’d be fine as long as we are hand in hand, taking step by step forward, with each other.” From then on, the pressure of being leader was gone. When I am interviewed as a representative of Aqours, there are occasions in which, conversely, I derive my words from the others’ ideas. Like, “If it were her, she’d say that, so I’ll try using that choice of words.” Instead of thinking by myself, it’s like discussing with everyone. While I’m not an amalgamation, I think it’ll be great if I can draw everyone’s feelings together comprehensively and bring them across. I keep that in mind. But it’s still a work in progress.

– You mentioned in an interview at the time of your debut that you fretted over comparing yourself to Honoka and Nitta-san? Inami: Yes, I did. Because to me, Nitta-san is somebody like the embodiment of a center’s qualities… Nitta: Not at all!! Out of the 9 μ’s cast members, I am the one who flubs (my words) most at important moments! (laugh) [both burst into laughter] Inami: There is quite a lot of words I end up unable to say when I talk as Chika-chan, too (laugh). But Nitta-san’s performances really have power to them, they are so bright and wonderful. When I sing and dance playing Chika, what immediately comes to mind is the image of Nitta-san as a center… I still watch performances of the 9 μ’s cast members on DVD even now. Nitta: Eeh, seriously!? I don’t watch those much because it’s embarrassing (laugh). Inami: Yes! It raises my spirits, and when I feel lost, they inspire me to stay positive. Being a fan, they have instilled lots of emotions and power in me, Love Live! has given me something precious to accept, so that I may take my strides and stand firm on Aqours’ path. Of course the DVDs are splendid, but the view from actually watching μ’s live at a concert hall is so vivid… Live performances take up a significant position in Love Live! activities too, I think the fun to be had at μ’s concerts made them so popular. I love Nitta-san’s singing and performances, they truly are very captivating. Nitta: I’m glad you think so, beneath the smiles, I was battling against my own limits! In the role of Honoka, I was often assigned important positions during live performances, but at those times, what supported me more than the sense that “I must work hard!”, was that everyone in the cast were by my side. Nothing could be more reassuring. Even for solo parts, I felt like we were singing together… An-chan’s words just now made me feel that we also are emulating the answer μ’s gave to us, and although those activities have come to an end, the wish of Honoka and her friends in the TV anime for “school idols to be recognized, and more and more widespread” has been realized.

– Nitta-san, having taken part in the project, you must have made various dreams come true, could you take us through the activities up till now? Nitta: For μ’s, at the start, instead of having a dream, I should say it was more of our “feelings of love” which became the dream. Because of that, I want to regard those feelings of love with importance. Even now, the feelings of everyone in μ’s frequently give me strength; there are many lyrics from songs sung by Honoka and the others which encourage me to “dream”, “live to the fullest”, and “work hard”; they still help push me forward. I myself was just one person fumbling along in the activities not knowing what lies ahead, so I don’t have anything too awe-inspiring to tell you, but I think, if you watch the work that is Love Live!, μ’s and Aqours can evoke all sorts of emotions, won’t they? 18 members with their respective feelings, their respective ways of doing their best, and the wide range of ways dreams come true. Isn’t that great? Our activities let μ’s’ feelings take form. And now they of Aqours are bringing it onward to the future.

– Then, when you have revisited it again now, please tell us, what is the appeal in Love Live! and school idols? Inami: To me, it is Love Live!’s theme, “the story everyone makes come true”. I loved it, from the time I was a viewer as a fan, and in the present as part of Aqours! I could say this project comes from everybody having a hand in its development, which is my favorite aspect. And also the “brilliance” that I experienced since back when I was a μ’s fan. Here on, we hope to convey the shine that μ’s had imparted to us through their singing, lyrics, and live performances. Nitta: The 1st Live at the now-defunct Yokohama BLITZ left a deep impression on me… I think μ’s are where we are “now�� because of “that day” when we sang before an audience of 1200 fans, to the point that I can even recall our conversations right before we first went on stage. Inami: Do you remember it clearly? Nitta: Yes. We were all going, “What are we to do if nobody turns up?” (laugh) Then, before the opening act, the producer Kisara (Youhei)-san told us, “There may be concerts again down the road, but you’ll only ever have your 1st Live once, just go and enjoy yourselves.” I was filled with courage thanks to that. Inami: Those are words to treasure! At our first premiere performance, we also were anxiously wondering, “What would we do if there is nobody…” Honestly, we were nervous over stuff like, would enough people gather, won’t the fans get mad if our performance is unsatisfying. I remember that we were the ones who got the courage to sing from the audience at the venue, and I thought, it’d be great if we can repay them someday. Nitta: Brings back memories! I went to purchase our first single at Comiket myself. I was really happy ♪ Inami: I know of that! I read it in one of Nitta-san’s past interviews! Nitta: We didn’t even have the name of “μ’s” at the time. Although we’ve released many CDs since, each encounter with a new song is a joy. I’m sure it’s the same for An-chan and [the rest of Aqours]. Inami: Yes! That is so. Nitta:　We also would be glad if we could bring courage to those who have supported us, that is what we hope to achieve… More than that, the charm in this project is how we, the portrayers, have gotten courage from the [characters]. Inami: I totally agree. Chika’s presence, and the words she’s said, are overwhelming. Not to the point of synchronization, but I feel as though I’ve unconsciously gradually drawn closer to her. I suppose it’s because I love Aqours, and could experience their story in detail, after all. Besides, Love Live! Sunshine!! is set in Numazu City of Shizuoka, so I sense a power merely by walking in the actual place, it fills me with a special sensation. Nitta: I too have passed through countless times the streets of Akiba used as the setting. Even now, I pray at Kanda Shrine occasionally. In the first season of the TV anime, Aqours came to Otonokizaka too, and in real life, it warms my heart to see fans offer prayers with Love Live! ema even now.

– Chika of Aqours also aimed to be a school idol from her encounter with μ’s at Akiba, so isn’t the influence of μ’s strong? Nitta: I think Aqours are troubled by, and have difficulties with, different things from us; I hope that just like [the characters] discovering “their own shine” in the story of the TV anime, they progress onward in their own fashion. To my mind, the feeling that you love [something] really is the most important of all. When that feeling connects the members, yourself, your companions, and the fans together, it will become your greatest power. Of course you have to endeavor and work hard, but much above that, I hope you will continue to love.

– The school idol groups from Love Live! are expected to expand their reach now and in the future. Do Inami-san and Nitta-san personally have anything you would like to see happening? Inami: I would like to see Honoka and her friends in μ’s!! So I am very much looking forward to SchSta (SIF ALL STARS) which is estimated for release next year. I wonder what will come of it!! Nitta: I’m really glad An-chan said that ♪ μ’s and Aqours appearing together is an unknown yet, but I’m excited too. I’ve always thought it would be good if the “Love Live!” competition in the TV anime also took place in reality. Will real school idols be born, what kind of people will take the stage, I just can’t visualize it (laugh). Inami: I’d watch that for sure ♪ Nitta: Right. I will give support from the audience!! Inami: Huh! Not as a judge? Nitta: I will take part as a judge if I receive a formal offer (laugh). While Honoka said, “If you’ve made up your mind, you can do anything!”, to have a concert at Tokyo Dome, for the movie to be nominated for Best Animated Film at the Japan Academy Awards, it’s exactly because Love Live! has made so many unbelievable things come true that I think to dream a little recklessly is alright. I hope more and more people in the world can like Love Live! from now on. It feels like “the story everyone makes come true” now has a bigger meaning compared to at the start of the project… Really, it has grown beyond what the cast, the staff, and the fans could have imagined. I want to keep watching to see how far it can reach, in what forms dreams will become reality.

– With that, in closing, please let us have a message for the fans looking forward to your subsequent activities. Inami: I’m very happy that with the fans’ support, the Love Live! project we built together has expanded more. I’m also excited about what developments might await school idols down the road, and I hope to further convey my anticipation to everyone. And then, I want to send out further, new, excitement. I will continue to work hard as part of Aqours; and I’m sure the cast of the Nijigasaki Gakuen School Idol Interest Group, which has been announced to join in for SchSta, are going to be more and more active; I hope to participate in more activities so that love for school idols can deepen. Please continue to support us here on out!! Nitta: From the bottom of my heart, I feel that it was because of everyone’s love and support that Love Live! has grown from its start in 2010 to how it is now. The Love Live! family has also gradually become a big household, just by counting the members alone, they have their respective dreams, they all are shining bright. I think we shall see “the story everyone makes come true” develop in various ways from now on. I’m also looking forward to the future, and I hope the project will continue to convey dreams, courage, and brilliance as it had before. Love Live! shall be in your kind regard from now on, too.

Some notes which should not particularly affect the reading experience:

“Love” here can be either 大好き, “like very much,” or 愛, which is more literally similar to “love”, due to a lack of a suitable English equivalent.

“Shine”, brightness", “brilliance” are all variants on 輝くand its assorted forms and permutations, but are essentially the same term that is Aqours’ goal.

Emitsun’s “dream a little recklessly” is presumably a reference to MOMENT RING’s “it started with a reckless dream”.

[shiny-roses]

Rules for Requests and Commissions!

It’s a little lengthy, so it’s under the cut. If you want to request something or help me out through college with commissions, please read through these~

So, who exactly will you write about?

As this series has many, many characters, here’s the ones that I will write for:

Muse

Aqours

Nijigasaki School Idol Club (I am still learning about Shioriko, so please be patient)

Please note that there are certain exceptions to these rules, but these will be explained further down (see What are the no-no’s for requests/commissions?).

What can I request?

I can write short headcanons and one-shots.

For headcanons, please keep in mind that there are rules to how many characters can be included per request. For Love Live, it’s up to 5 per request (exceptions include requesting all of Muse, all of Aqours, or all of Nijigasaki).

For one-shots, requests will be shorter than commissioned works, having a maximum of 1000 words.

How many requests will you take?

I will take 15 requests before closing the box. Once I close it, I’ll delete any request received before reopening. Once the box has 5 requests or less, I’ll reopen the box for requests. If you really want me to write something...there’s always commissions!

What can I commission?

I take commissions on longer one-shots! (See also How long can my commission be?)

What do you charge for commissions?

The price is very simple for my works.

$0.50 USD for every 100 words

The baseline is as simple as that! I do have minimums and maximums for word counts you can request, but if you want to know how much you need to pay for a certain amount of words, just use this for reference.

How do I request a commission? How do I pay?

You can send in a commission request one of two ways. If you have a Tumblr account, all you have to do is DM me! If you don’t have one or can’t DM, that’s okay! Just send your request to my email, underworldidol2020@gmail.com, and we can work through it there. I strictly work through PayPal for payment. Further details will be given during the commissioning process.

How long can my commission be?

I have a minimum of 1000 words for any commission, with a maximum of 6000, in theory. 

For simplicity, I have created three “tiers” you can ask for when sending in your request and the respective price ranges for each:

Sprout

Length: 1,000-2,999 words

Price Range: $5.00-$14.99 USD

Bud

Length: 3,000-4,999 words

Price Range: $15.00-$24.99 USD

Bloom

Length: 5,000-6,000 words

Price Range: $25.00-$30.00 USD

If you want to request a commission that’s more than a Bloom, we can discuss it over email or DMs.

What are the no-no’s for requests/commissions?

While I am open and willing to many types of requests and commissions, there are a few subjects that I refuse to write. It is nothing against the requester. The list of “no-no’s” are simply subjects that I do not feel comfortable with writing about. I ask that you do not send commission requests with any of the following:

I will not write anything NSFW with these girls, so please keep this in mind.

Dia and Ruby are great to write as sisters, but I refuse to write them as a romantic pairing.

If you have a request involving a reader/OC insert, please specify pronouns and/or gender. I will default to gender-neutral and use they/them pronouns, so if you would like a m!reader or f!reader and/or he/him or she/her used, please specify this in your request (see also Can I request “x Reader” or OCs?).

I will not, under any circumstances, take requests or commissions involving the four letter word starting with R.

Other topics that I will rarely write include harming one’s self and deep religious themes. If you really want one of these topics in a commission, I may consider it. However, there will need to be additional discussion before beginning, so keep this in mind.

I hold the right to decline any request or commission offer if I feel I cannot adequately write about the subject requested.

Can I request ��x Reader” or OCs?

Absolutely! I just have two requests that you follow, depending on which one you want:

If you are wanting an OC, I would like a description of the character included in the request. Include as much as you can about them; I want to be able to write them in the most accurate way!

For both x Readers and OCs, I ask that you specify the pronouns/applicable gender you want to be used.

What about “OT3s” or polyamorous pairings?

Go ahead! All I ask is that any of the pairings or characters I specified above in the “no-nos” are not included in the group.

Do you have any samples of your work?

As a matter of fact, I do! To show you what your commission may be like, I’ve gathered a few of my works here that fit :

Small Sprout: A work I completed for an Uta no Prince Sama Secret Santa, “Christmas Chicks” (contains 1,688 words) 

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17140046

Large Sprout: A piece I completed for an Uta no Prince Sama flashbang, “My Charm Point” (contains 2,507 words) 

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17718437

Medium Bud: A work I completed from the Binan Koukou Chikyuu Boueibu series, “Numbers on the Scale” (contains 3,979 words) 

https://archiveofourown.org/works/15058601

Can I get a WIP of my commission?

When I have fully written through the commission, I will send it to you as a “first draft phase”. You can ask for any additions or omissions in this phase, and after I will add or delete anything you ask, along with polishing it up and making it just right!

Can I ask for things to be added or removed once you start?

If you ask for any additions or omissions to the work before or during the “first draft phase”, I will gladly make the revisions you ask, free of charge. However, if I am editing the final draft and you ask for any changes, I will add a flat $1 USD fee to the final total.

Will you ever have any sales for commissions?

Funny you should ask…I’m having a system set in place to discount certain characters at certain times of the year, which I call “Birthday Flash Sales”. Which leads to...

What on earth are “birthday flash sales”?

It’s really simple! In order to celebrate the birthdays of the characters I write for, I’ll be having a sale on commissions that include that character! For the day of the character’s birthday and two days before it, the baseline prices of commissions having them will be slashed!

Here’s how it works:

$0.50 USD per 100 words –> $0.25 USD per 100 words

So essentially, all works are half price!

Sprout

Length: 1,000-2,999 words

Price Range: $2.50-$7.49 USD

Bud

Length: 3,000-4,999 words

Price Range: $7.50-$12.49 USD

Bloom

Length: 5,000-6,000 words

Price Range: $12.50-$15.00 USD

Each sale will start at 12:00 AM EST two days before a character’s birthday and end at 11:59 PM EST on the actual birthday.

I will post when the flash sales for a certain character begin, but if you are looking for characters that have a birthday coming up, here are the dates listed below:

Love Live!

Dia: January 1

Hanayo: January 17

Kasumi: January 23

Emma: February 5

Kanan: February 10

Ayumu: March 1

Hanamaru: March 4

Umi: March 15

Shizuku: April 3

You: April 17

Maki: April 19

Ai: May 30

Nozomi: June 9

Mari: June 13

Karin: June 29

YoshikoYohane: July 13

Nico: July 22

Chika: August 1

Honoka: August 3

Setsuna: August 8

Kotori: September 12

Riko: September 19

Ruby: September 21

Shioriko: October 5

Eli: October 21

Rin:  November 1

Rina: November 13

Kanata: December 16

If you made it this far, thank you so much! I hope to see your wonderful ideas and prompts in my box or DMs soon!

~Rosy

[kierawaffles]

my wishes for sifas

-combined group sets (either all 27 girls, just muse and aqours, of sets of 9 that contain three girls from each group)

-animated home screen girl(s), either with 3d models or live2d or something else

-outfits that were never made into cards/only available as promos that can no longer be gotten (the muse/aqours subunit outfits, the no brand girl outfits, etc), as well as the sifac outfits

-we know aqours and muse have stories together, but will the pdp girls just be restricted to their own story or will they also interract with aqours and muse? perhaps after having a few chapters just with the 9 of them to get to know them better and how they all work off of each other they could start to have some stories with the aqours and muse members?

-my first point kind of assumes that there will be sets exclusive to this game (if it's gonna be the best rhythm game ever it needs scouting, yeah?) but in addition to that: give us better rates klab, even deresute increased their's to 3% for an SSR (the highest rarity in that game) a few months ago, which is still low but a lot better than 1%

[kuuxkat]

Status Update - 14/08/17

Kinda ironic after barely one week after my anniversary.

But I was in a bit of TL binge the last 2 weeks due to me being super depressed over no 2L LV for SG for the first 2 concerts.

Well, I have Saitama to look forward to I guess.

I would like to raise attention to the disparity between Uraraji and NozoEli.

Besides the very obvious 25 min NozoEli and the 35 minute Uraraji in terms of length, NozoEli is much cleaner, structured and yet at the same time friendly to sub.

I know that @sagirius is really a saint in being able to sub Uraraji, but it’s still a matter of which is undoubtedly easier and more fun to do.

The difference between our releases in NozoEli and Uraraji and Niconamas, is that we’re a constant presence.

Okay, OOT time. Sorry.

--

I was at Discord and I briefly mentioned about how Niconama’s are still the most popular videos on virtue of them being well, videos, you get to see Seiyuus, spaghetti over them, and see them act or play in front of the camera.

It’s also arguably less scripted, but if they are so popular, why aren’t niconamas subbed as often?

One factor is the complexity of it. Having 9 individuals talking, even in turn can makes it extremely difficult to sub.

God knows how Nyamazing and the other groups do it so quickly, I remember my first foray to it, it was horrible.

Besides translating, timing the video also becomes a pain if it’s not done by the translator, or at least someone who knows what they are doing.

Niconama’s are also much longer than normal radio shows, and that’s hardly surprising considering the effort and time needed to coordinate such events. Gonna make your money worth right?

Another factor is the quality of the source video will affect your experience, rip videos from u’s - Aqours has much better quality videos, but that doesn’t mean it’s easier on any subber.

Lastly, the contents are also largely similar. Sure, the answers are always surprising and fun, but the format are largely similar, and dare I say it, sometimes even overdone?

RIP Rikyako’s Elephant, you’ll be missed.

--

But back to topic, Uraraji and NozoEli had been with you guys for the better part of 8 months, and well, all things gotta end.

There’s some technical issues with Uraraji, well @larysayshi is working on it, he’s doing his best, but we have 4 months to sort it out.

If it doesn’t get sorted out, well.... I might have to drop Uraraji and finish up the 20+ videos of NozoEli, and we’ll see how the future goes for me.

Well, Uraraji can give me a break by stopping the show so I can actually get to finishing the first 20 episodes, right??

Right????

[iheartgod175]

My General Opinions on Love Live! (Which May Not Be Popular with Everyone Else)

Since I’m starting to finish up season 2 of School Idol Project and will return to Sunshine!! in the near future, I wanted to share my opinions on the entire series that I have thus far. If you don’t agree, you don’t have to. But just remember that these are my opinions :)

1. Muse is great, but they’re not the best idol group in history.

Like any Love Live fan, I got into the show by watching Muse. And I enjoyed them and their characters. Group-wise, I think they’re pretty solid and recently I’ve taken to listening to their music more than Aqours. But I don’t think they’re the greatest idol group of all idol anime as some people claim. There are some groups  from other anime that I prefer over them (MARs from Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream, the Cinderella Girls Project), and even in the anime, I found A-RISE more interesting and was sorely disappointed by their lack of songs compared to Muse’s. I‘ll always enjoy the camaraderie of Muse as well as their music, but if I had to rank my favorite idol groups, I’d probably put them at number 3 right after Aqours (reasons why below).

2. Aqours is more interesting than Muse

As much as I enjoy Muse and respect the fans who are diehard fans of them, I never found them super interesting. I loved their interactions with each other and their music, but something about them just didn’t connect with me. By contrast, when I started looking up stuff on Sunshine!!, I ended up falling in love with these girls because of two things: their underdog status in the Love Live fandom (despite having some diehard fans), and their story, characters and dynamic as a group. What I thought were cut-and-paste versions of the original group turned out to be unique in their own ways, to the point where I ended up liking some Aqours members more than Muse members (Chika>Honoka, Hanamaru>Rin, Yoshiko>Nico, just to name a few). Plus, unlike Muse, who all became the best of friends after they all gathered, Aqours still had several issues to work out, namely with the third years’ drama and their spontaneous decision to work as idols. More importantly, I connected with the members Aqours over Muse. I was dreamless like Chika. I was left behind for another friend like You. I was pressured to perform well like Riko. I was cripplingly shy at times like Ruby. I spent a lot of time alone and reading books like Hanamaru. I wanted to be liked like Yoshiko. And I could be strict sometimes like Dia. These girls’ struggles and eventual formation as a true group is what made me love Sunshine!! more than School Idol Project (although its second season is better than the first) and why I rank Aqours higher than Muse. 

3. The third years of Aqours are big sister figures.

I know most people would disagree with me on this, but this is what I see. While there was a motherly figure in Muse, I see all three of the third years being big sister figures in Aqours. For one thing, Mari (who is supposed to embody Nozomi) doesn’t interact much with the other members of Aqours sans You, who she gave advice to in the episode. And any time she’s interacting with the group as a whole, she’s her chipper, playful self (except the one episode where she wasn’t). Kanan embodies the “cool sometimes aloof“ big sister, and Dia’s the “strict but also caring” older sister. For me, Mari just screams “playful but caring” older sister rather than “playful but warm and loving mom” that Nozomi was. It may be because Mari’s not my top Sunshine girl, or that I prefer Nozomi better, but that’s how I see them.

4. Chika is a stronger protagonist than Honoka.

When I started watching School Idol Project, Honoka was my Best Girl and by extension Best Leader. I wasn’t going to change that, and I was originally skeptical about Chika since she looked and acted similar to Honoka. But as I sat and watched Sunshine!!, I saw that in all actuality, she’s not at all like Honoka, and the way the writers exposed this over the series was brilliant. There are many reasons why I love her (which will be explained in another post), but I became hooked on Chika’s character and enjoyed watching her grow as a person and a leader.

5. Muse’s third years are the ones who hold the group together.

Unlike Aqours, it was the third years of Muse (Eli, Nico and Nozomi) who held the group together through its initial forming, the Love Live competition and its eventual disbanding. While Honoka came up with the idea to form the group, it was Nozomi who was their first and staunchest supporter, providing them with the name of the group as well as general advice, helping Eli come to terms with her desire to join Muse and formed relationships with most of the cast. If Nico hadn’t agreed to join and let them have a club where they could practice, Muse probably wouldn’t have been taken seriously. And if Eli hadn’t served as the team’s dance coach, they definitely would’ve been thought of as rookies trying to be too much like A-RISE. Later in the series, they also help and advise the second and first years. Also, their graduation is also what caused Muse to disband in the first place. Sure, Honoka led the group in different directions, but it was ultimately these three that were the glue of Muse.

6. There needs to be more idol groups aside from the main groups.

This isn’t just related to School Idol Project. This is related to the series itself. Although it isn’t an idol anime, one of the reasons I like the concept of BanG Dream! is because there are more bands than just the main one, Poppin’ Party, which gives people a chance to enjoy different genres of music and different characters. I understand that Sunrise wants the fans to root for Muse and Aqours over A-RISE and Saint Snow, and for the most part we do. And with 9 members on each, you have to make sure they all get good development, and that’s no easy feat in a 13-episode anime. But we also want to see more from these other groups, who are interesting in their own right and sometimes their one song can be better than the new song of Muse or Aqours. The game fixed things by adding game exclusive characters, but I really would like to see other groups and see their side of the story.

Whew! That was longer than I thought! But I needed to get that out of my system while I was thinking about it.

My next Love Live posts will probably be my best Sunshine girls, my revised list of best Muse girls and probably a list of my top 10 Love Live girls. 

But I’m thinking that the next post right after this one will be that Chika one I was talking about. My little Cheeks deserves some love :)

[dyreatic]

Shizuoka Walker Magazine May 2017 - Aqours Special Feature

[Raw] [Typeset]

Under Team ONIBE.

TL: Dyrea QC: Mega TS: Protoapex

School Idols born in Uchiura, Numazu

Aqours The “School Idol” group that is comprised of 9 high school girls. The project’s cast are voice actresses, who also perform lives.

Aida Rikako (Voice of Sakurauchi Riko) I was able to share the feelings of Riko, who felt the warmth of the people of Numazu.

Inami Anju (Voice of Takami Chika) Every time I visit Numazu, I really feel like it really was where Chika and the others grew up.

Suwa Nanaka (Voice of Matsuura Kanan) I began to feel like I wanted to stay on Awashima Island, where Kanan lived.

Today’s topic is regarding last year’s anime set in Numazu, Love Live! Sunshine!!. 3 members of the 9 member cast are here to  discuss their new single released in April, as well as Shizuoka and Numazu’s attractions!

Love Live! Sunshine!! depicts the growth of 9 high school girls living in Uchiura, Numazu, who aspire to become the very best school idols, like the ones they looked up to. The anime ,which  was broadcasted last year, achieved popularity, and season 2 is planned to air this fall. The cast members’ idol group , Aqours, will release a new single HAPPY PARTY TRAIN on April 5th.

Suwa: The animation PV starts off with a scene of my character, Kanan, riding the Izu-Hakone line. Rather than focusing on her happiness, her loneliness makes you wonder about what she’s thinking  behind her facial expression, and where she is going… Spring is a season of graduation and separation, but it is also one of new meetings and beginnings. It is a song that conveys those feelings. Aida: I think the lyrics give off an air of there being something painful somewhere. I hope that the new feelings of Aqours managed to reach everyone, and I also sang with the thought of, “How would Riko sing this?” Anju: There was a scene in the PV where Chika, my character, got close to Kanan, and I think it presented well the feelings of the two, being born and raised together in Numazu, Shizuoka.

As the girls who are performing as idols who grew up in Numazu, Shizouka, what do you think are the charms of Numazu?

Anju: The sky and sea are beautiful, and you can see Mt. Fuji clearly. At night, the stars shine, and it’s like, “Aren’t they all pretty!” (laughs). It’s a place that’s really blessed with nature, so it feels very open. I think it is because Chika and the others grew up here that they are able to put their feelings into words. Suwa: The atmosphere is peaceful, surrounded by the beautiful nature of Mt. Fuji. The sea is nearby, and it’s an environment that seems to hold many emotions. Kanan lives on Awashima Island, and no matter how many times I happen to visit the island, I always get the feeling that I’m returning home (laughs). I feel relieved , and I end up thinking, “I want to live here”. Aida: Everyone living there was just really genial, so the atmosphere felt like the TV anime… I think that everyone’s personality is another plus point of Numazu. Even though Riko is a transfer student from Tokyo, when I personally visited for the first time, I really wondered if she was able to feel that sort of warmth as well, and that image was really prominent within me.

In all the times that you’ve visited Aqours’ hometown, Numazu, did you have any personal experiences or food that you enjoyed?

Aida: The mikan was so sweet and delicious that I was surprised! Shizuoka’s mikan is completely different. Also, my grandfather really likes green tea, so every time I happen to be in Numazu, I buy and bring back green tea for him as a souvenir, and he always says, “Shizuoka’s green tea is really extraordinary”. I want to buy and bring it back again. Suwa: The seafood is really delicious! Before, when I had a treat of boat-wrap sushi, it was so heavy that when I was carrying it, I could see my arm muscles in the pictures. There was a lot of seafood, and I was so moved to be  able to eat such delicious seafood. I have a feeling that the combination of fresh seafood from the sea and Numazu’s atmosphere created a more delicious taste for me. Anju: When I went to see Numazu’s Deep Sea Aquarium, the lantern-eye fishes had shining eyes that were really attracting, and I’ll never be able to forget them. It's so enchanting that I want to look at it for a little bit longer. “There’s such a living thing like this,” I thought about its tiny size as well, and felt like it was a really wonderful attraction. We also went around Numazu on foot, and we understood well the meaning behind Chika and the others’ desire to popularize the town. I said this in the live too, but I really do want everyone to get to know more about this wonderful town.

Hi everyone, I’m back! For a bit, anyway. It’s been pretty hectic these past few weeks so I haven’t had much activity, but I’m still here! Hopefully I’ll be able to go back to my regular pace in a few weeks.

[imreallytiredrnbutimnot-blog]

Anime Expo 2017 Day 1

Day 1 didn’t even feel like day 1 after yesterday. It felt closer to day 2 or 3 (which led to remembering that today actually was day 1). In proper AX tradition (for me), I saw Aqours on Saturday (last year for the welcome event, this year for their panel). While Karly ended up waking up about two hours after her alarm, I woke up much earlier than I would normally- 7 AM. I sort of just waited until she and her family woke up, using School Idol Festival and Starlight Stage as a surprisingly long distraction. The other majority of the time went towards stressing out over a scare involving the Aqours panel- according to somebody from the line (yes, at 7 AM), there were 90 total seats in the panel, leading to a massive collective panic attack from attendees. However, 90 soon turned into 2,000, which then turned into 1,000, and finally settled at 500. When we actually did leave (10:40), I at least had the assurance of a friend waiting in line. I had originally intended on going straight to the convention center, buying my day’s worth of merchandise, and then going to the Marriott for the Aqours panel. Little did I expect the entrance line to stretch for over three blocks. I ended up leaving the line to go back to the Marriott, as that was a better use of time. I found my friend on the third floor waiting outside of the diamond ballroom. I found this to be a good place to play School Idol Festival (as it was for a Love Live event and I wouldn’t be the odd one out in playing it) and attempted to survive for the long wait. 1:00 came, and I had met Edwin’s friend from Tennessee by then. We were all discussing Love Live in general for a good amount of time. The line began to snake into the ballroom at about 1:20, just 10 minutes before the projected start time. Our original thought was that we had underwhelming seats (in the first group of rows to the left), but after looking at the surroundings, it was legitimately a near-perfect area. It just so happened that Aqours was to sit in that exact location of the room, which left us within 20 feet of the girls. After noticing that, it was also noticed that the looping video showing on the center screen was the exact video from the previous year’s Aqours event, although some new clips were added for the ambassador program. After engaging in some somewhat questionable activity (something something idol concert-type cheering stuff), Aqours walked in. It was at this time that I realized just how surreal this situation was. 9 girls, who I had been watching through a screen for a year, were within 20 feet of me. 9 girls from Japan, who voiced some of my favorite fictional characters, were talking in front of me nearly exactly how they had done so live. The actual event was almost completely filled by the three episodes aired. The voice actresses talked to the audience for a bit beforehand before retreating back to the room they had been waiting in. Other than that, the event was pretty much what was expected. After this, my friend and I decided to go shopping (but not before getting food). It was at this point that I realized just how insane the situation was back at the convention center. The exhibition hall was PACKED. My original plan was to buy merchandise from the Atlus booth, but that was quickly shot down by the cut-off line. It also took a surprisingly long amount of time to find the Bushiroad booth, which already had problems in merchandise arriving successfully. In order to obtain stickers, partially in the hopes of getting a signed sticker, one (or many) must spend at least 20 dollars, with one being given per 20$. Our purchase totaled at 140$. While he made the majority of the purchases (Aqours Club CD, Kowareyasuki, and a shirt), I bought a messenger bag (mostly to help me carry everything), which left the total sitting at 130$ until I bought a Yoshiko keychain for the ambassador program. In the end, our lack of certain stickers and signatures was disappointing, but expected. I ended up taking the Riko and Chika stickers (because RikoChika tbh) while he took Mari, Dia, Kanan, You, and Ruby. After that, we split up for a bit (him for a break, me for the Hatsune Miku booth). While it did take much longer than expected to find the nearly hidden booth, I left with a Hatsune Miku shirt, watch, and sticker, all for 30$. This was actually my last purchase of the day, mostly due to the long lines at every booth. After this, I mostly just walked around, seeing if I would end up spending any more throughout the day. Once the exhibition hall closed, I moved over to the entertainment hall. In it, I saw many anime-themed vehicles (iDOLM@STER motorcycle, Hatsune Miku car, etc). At some point, I found a booth centered around gambling machines. I ended up playing an Evangelion-themed slot machine and got two sets of matching icons (I thought it was rigged until another person and I tested it). At this point, I was sort of tired and ready to go back. That was pretty much the end of the day.

Total Spent: 75$

1 messenger bag: 35$

Yoshiko keychain: 10$

10th Anniversary Hatsune Miku Shirt (also + free watch/sticker): 30$

[animeindoblog-blog]

LOVELIVE! SUNSHINE!! Aqours World Love Live! Concert Review

New Post has been published on https://animeindo.org/blog/2018/07/28/lovelive-sunshine-aqours-world-love-live-concert-review/

LOVELIVE! SUNSHINE!! Aqours World Love Live! Concert Review

“Connected by a rainbow”

As part of a fantastic 3-day event, Anisong World Matsuri’s first show of the weekend was the Aquors live! The cast of “LOVELIVE! SUNSHINE!!” started off Anime Expo as part of the pre-show fun, and the lines were huge! Despite the incredible heat, there were a large number of attendees in cosplay and those dressed head to toe in memorabilia of their favorite “LOVELIVE!” members. Despite not being the original LOVELIVE! girls, Aqours has garnered fans all over the world. The nine voice actresses not only sing and dance like their characters, but talk to the audience and each other in character as well for part of their performance.

People of all ages and nationalities lined up in front of the Microsoft Theater, lines wrapping around the outside. Despite doors opening at 4:30 pm, people walking up still had to wait about 10 minutes before entering the huge venue and being greeted by a welcoming blast of cool air. For such a huge theater with 7,100 seats and upper and lower levels, their ability to keep the place so cold in such blistering heat is astounding. The lobby is huge which made it easy for people to grab a drink or find their way to their seats even with the flood of people. Some attendees continued to brave the heat in order to get merchandise which was located outside the venue to right up until the show started. Towels and penlights in hand, everyone made their way to their assigned seats as 6 pm drew near, heralding the start of the show.

I can’t wait to see my fallen angel on stage! Yohane!!

They do have their own names, Bee-kun! It’s fun though that the voice actresses have their hair resembling the girls they voice!

When the girls started their first two songs with no intro, just jumping right into it; they showed such incredible energy and likeness to their respective characters it was like Aqours had come to life. Everyone’s smiles were so engaging that the audience found themselves mesmerized. It was an incredibly powerful start, and while their second song involved less smiling and a more serious demeanor, the level of intensity never wavered. It was incredible to think that these people were voice actors and not professional idols.

After their first two songs, they took a moment to stand in a line and introduce themselves to the excited fans. The audience was incredibly in sync, erupting in applause and cheering and instantly quieting down to hear the next thing being said. The Aqours girls seemed surprised but delighted that even overseas, so many people knew the calls and the characters’ catchphrases. Each voice actress introduced herself by character and name, though they spent longer interacting with the audience in ways that were unique to their characters.

When the girls went back to singing, the audience cheered and thrust their penlights in time with the beat. The two video screens on the right and left showed closeups of the performance which was nice for those sitting farther away, but made it difficult to see the diverse formations of the full group. The middle screen either had some decorative animation such as music notes or suns or random shapes over the video or would show clips from “LOVELIVE! SUNSHINE!!” The voice actresses’ ability to split off into groups with their own choreography devoid of the members singing to immediately getting in sync with each other for shared lyrics and dancing was incredible.

Aqours had a special surprise in the form of a short animated segment where chibi versions of Aqours’ heads talked to the audience about sneaking into the dressing room and catching some of the members unaware! Yohane and Ruby were reporters meaning to get some behind the scenes action but ended up in a savannah! With the other members appearing as wild animals, it was quite the unexpected twist.

Unexpectedly, the three sub units in Aqours made their appearances as well with new costumes! First to return to the stage was CYaRon consisting of Anju Inami who plays Chika, Ai Furihata who plays Ruby, and Shuka Saito who voices You. Their cute and energetic songs got everyone right back into concert-mode after the funny short they had seen. They taught the audience calls to one of their songs and had everyone shout “I love CYaRon!” before their last song. Up next was the regal Azalea with members Nanaka Suwa who plays Kanan, Arisa Komiya who plays Dia, and Kanako Takatsuki who plays Hanamaru. Their beautiful movements and costumes were entrancing. They took a moment to get the audience to say ‘guru guru guru!’ (turn turn turn) they could give a pretty twirl to show off the outfits they were so proud of. Following after them was the final unit Guilty Kiss of Aina Suzuki as Mari, Aiko Kobayashi as Yohane, and Rikako Aida as Riko. The edgiest of the trios, Guilty Kiss also had extravagant outfits with a gothic style and provided a bit of a departure from the rather cutesy songs from before.

After Guilty Kiss retreated back stage, another short animation like the one before it started playing. This time when the fitting room door was opened, a bare, cold room with a poor family (consisting of Aqours members) came into view. While they lamented about the harsh cold of Osaka, repo men (still other members) came in to take everything away. One cannot anticipate the horrors that lie in the Aqours dressing room…

As the second short ended, the gang was back together for their final two songs. The last song of the night, Sunshine PikaPika Ondo, might have been a calmer song compared to their earlier set, but Anju (Chika) playing a taiko drum while the other girls sang around her waving their fans in their special haoris, everyone found themselves swept up in festival spirit. Once the song was over, the members took a moment to thank everyone for being so fired up and cheering along so much. They went down the line to give their heartfelt thanks and tell the audience what it meant to them to perform this night.

I LOVE CYARON!! Doing the calls with everyone is so fun!

LOCK ON!! I know what you mean, you feel like you’re a part of the show!

The voice actresses for Aqours clearly take their jobs seriously, putting in huge amounts of energy in their songs and emulating their characters. They know what their fans are looking for and are more than happy to provide. One of the things that made this show so special was just how much they interacted with the audience. Even though English was harder for some than others, everyone tried to speak a little so that everyone could understand them. Anju accidently said ‘2020’ instead of ‘2018’ and she seemed embarrassed but with everyone cheering her on and supporting her, she continued despite probably feeling a little nervous. Each member took their time with their introductions, demanding much of the audience in terms of cheers and responses but being incredibly excited each time the audience would fulfil their role.

Another cute moment was when Guilty Kiss showed off the ‘kawaii points’ of their outfits. Each girl pointed out her favorite part which ended up being a bow either on their shoes, their back, or their chest. The proud looks on their faces as they showed off their kawaii points was adorable.

One of the most special moments for both the audience and for Aqours was during their second to last song, “Yuuki wa Doko ni, Kimi no Mune ni”. Sporting their t-shirts and dancing away, they continued to wow everyone with their performance. By the end of the song, everyone with penlights and raised them up and created a beautiful rainbow from front to back. Some of the girls teared up or even cried a little, and the astounded look on Anju’s face moved everyone in the theater. It was a magical moment that showed everyone’s determination and camaraderie.

They did it!! They pulled off the rainbow!!

I had so much fun! Everyone gave it their all!

1. Mirai no Bokura wa Shitteru yo

2. Kimi no Hitomi o Meguru Bouken

3. Kimino Kokorowa Kagayaiterukai?

4. Mirai Ticket

5. Genki Zenkai Day! Day! Day! (CYaRon!)

6. Kaigandori de Matteru Yo (CYaRon!)

7. Torikoriko Please!! (AZALEA)

8. LONELY TUNING (AZALEA)

9. Strawberry Trapper (Guilty Kiss)

10. Guilty Night, Guilty Kiss! (Guilty Kiss)

11. Taiyou o Oikakero!

12. Yuki Wa Doko Ni? Kimi No Mune Ni!

13. Sunshine Pikkapika Ondo

Author: May

Hey friends! I reside in Georgia and use my degree in Japanese primarily to (barely) read doujinshi that hasn’t been translated. Beyond deciding who is best girl in whatever I happen to be watching, I really enjoy ballroom dancing, reading, crying over dating sims, karaoke, and being surrounded by beautiful things~ (You know, scenery, décor, boys, stuff like that). I also love talking about passions with others!

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[athyrabunlord]

Tuning

Prize for Manny, who found me in a SIF score match! Sorry this ended up more like Maru-centric + 3rd Years instead of Azalea as per your request (๑≧౪≦)てへぺろ oh and some subunit shenanigans A/N: This blip took place some time after Aqours finally had 9 members, and they just started their subunit activities. Characters: Hanamaru+ 3rd years (Azalea + Mari), and cameos of the rest Words: 1,826

Hanamaru couldn’t help but wear a huge smile as she hurried down the hallway. She used to go straight to the library after school, content to just immerse herself in the fantastical world of adventure, romance and even sci-fi.

But now, she had something even more amazing to look forward to! Every day, there was a new story waiting for her to unfold. How could she not be excited?

Certainly, it was hard at first to get into shape, but all those exercise and training were worth it. The fatigue and sense of accomplishment felt really good, especially since she never partook in such strenuous physical activities before, being the bookworm she was. The more stamina she built up, the longer she could enjoy singing and dancing with her wonderful friends at Aqours!

She felt proud to be able to support Ruby, reconnect with her old friend Yoshiko, and bond with the kind senpais.

Her steps faltered a little as she realized what the club activity was for today. In their previous group meeting, it was decided that they would start the subunit practice. No wonder Ruby was whisked away so suddenly after the bell chimed. Hanamaru only remembered hearing You and Chika’s excited voices, and Ruby’s confused squeak.

“Come on, Ruby-chan! Let’s go already~”

“Now now Chika-chan, you didn’t have to drag Ruby-chan. But yes, let’s full-speed ahead!”

“Um, it’s okay, I’m happy to-”

“Genki Zenkai~?”

“Day!” “Day!” “ Daaaaaaay!!!!”

“Pikiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!”

Right, CYaRon! even had their song title already.

Yoshiko had also excused herself when they met up with Riko at the stairway, stating that she shall go on a manhunt for their elusive shiny Director. Except the self-proclaimed fallen angel used the phrase ‘traverse through the hellfire of Phlegethon, where the shiny demon queen lurks within the depth of Tartarus’. Guilty Kiss was quite distinctive indeed!

Hanamaru giggled quietly. She was certain that her two best friends were having a great time with their respective subunits. Trepidation washed away her light mood as she reminded herself that she had yet to really connect with her Azalea team. She got along with the second years just fine, but she was rather nervous about being alone with Dia and Kanan. Without the moral support from her peers or even the enigmatic blonde who had similar wavelength as Yoshiko, Hanamaru felt intimidated.

She was distinctly aware of her shortcomings whenever she thought about Dia and Kanan. They were tall, beautiful and confident. Of course, she’s only heard good things about the two senpais, whether from Ruby or You and Chika. Their successful performance of Mijuku Dreamer and the subsequent lives certainly made her admire how dependable they were. The student council president organized Aqours’ activities, while the friendly diver designed their training regime.

Dia was the push they needed to get through a session, stern yet also gentle as she was, while Kanan was the vigilant brake that determined their rest intervals, even though she appeared laidback most of the time. They complemented each other well, and they certainly looked out for their kouhais. Although, they did slip into childish bickers sometimes with Mari, who knew just when to light up the atmosphere and help her two friends relax.

Hanamaru pursed her lips in resolution. Ruby would surely encourage her to do her Rubesty, and so she shall try her hardest to reach Dia and Kanan’s level.

When she arrived at the clubroom, where Azalea’s meeting was to be held, she was surprised to find another visitor. Mari was sitting beside the closed door with a small smile on her face, her back leaned against the wall and her eyes closed in relaxation.

Was she napping? Just as Hanamaru stepped closer, she heard a symphony of voices inside the clubroom. Her eyes widened at how harmonious the tune was, of how Dia’s husky and steady voice blended with Kanan’s rich and blithe tone. It was a song she had never heard before, and it must be an incomplete one too for the two girls slightly changed the pitch and lyrics intermittently.

Still, the brunette found herself entranced. “Zura…”

“Ara, Hanamaru-chan?” Mari was gazing at her amiably, and patting the spot beside her in invitation. Curious, the younger girl sat down and peered at her.

“Nice surprise, isn’t it? Kanan and Dia used to this back then, to hone our songs,” Mari’s features were soft in nostalgia. “I would give them the first draft of the melody, and they would brainstorm the lyrics. While I’m off refining the music, they would sing in trial segments like this. Sometimes they even come up with the choreography as they go. Once we’re somewhat happy with our respective parts, we would convene and finalize the song together.”

“That’s incredible zura. I had no idea that was how the… um, first generation Aqours was like.”

Nowadays, the tasks were more evenly distributed amongst the members, so Hanamaru couldn’t imagine just how the third-years managed when it was just the three of them. Whenever she worked on the lyrics with Chika, the sunny leader often expressed her relief at how much better it was now compared to how they had to complete Daisuki Dattara Daijoubu.

“Hmm? We never mentioned it? Well, don’t tell Rikocchi I used to be the composer~ I want to surprise her and Yoshiko-chan later~”

Hanamaru chuckled at Mari’s feline-like grin. “And the costumes?”

“Oh, we all work on the outfits together! Usually, Dia would come up with the designs, I would have input with the fabrics and accessories, and Kanan would put them all together. Ehehe, shiny, aren’t they?”

There was such fondness and pride in Mari’s voice, though the sparkle in her eyes already spoke volumes. Hanamaru was pleased to learn about her seniors, and the fact that they worked meticulously to finalize a song made them so much more relatable.

They fell silent for a moment, both enjoying the sonorous voices behind the closed door. “I love listening to them - they inspire me to improve the music, especially knowing how hard they try to refine the song.”

Hanamaru recalled what Chika once said to Dia and repeated the same words with a soft smile. “Mari-san really loves Dia-san and Kanan-san ne?”

“Of course! And I’m sure you understand what I mean~”

“Ah, there she is!”

Yoshiko was huffing as she approached them, irritation evident in her fearsome but cute scowl. Riko, looking exhausted, was close behind with the three confused members of CYaRon in tow. Mari sprang up the moment Yoshiko made a pose and lunged in a wild dash.

“Ha! Your chokehold technique isn’t going to work on me, Yoshiko-chan! Not to mention, you’ll have to catch me first, ciao~”

Like a shooting star, the shiny Director soon disappeared from eyesight, much to Riko’s frustration.

“Mou! Stop it you two! Can’t we just start the meeting already?” Unfortunately, her plea went unheard.

Chika suddenly grinned, her expression full of mischief. “Ah, Shiitake came to join us!”

“Yeeeek!!”

Riko jolted in reflex, knocking into Yoshiko who stumbled forward just as the door opened.

“What is the ruckus-” Dia poked her head out just in time for the younger girl to collide into her. As they sprawled on the ground in a painful heap, Ruby worriedly crouched beside them and tried to help. Kanan soon came to their rescue and easily untangled them. You was exasperatedly reprimanding the not-so-apologetic looking Chika, but also coaxing Riko not to strangle their leader.

As Hanamaru watched the chaotic scene before her, a revelation slowly dawned upon her. Mari was correct - she did understand what the older girl meant.

She loved everything about Aqours.

She cherished every moment with her friends, and wished to contribute to the group as much as she could to show just how dearly she adored them.

“Hnff! The great Yohane shall accept your challenge, O Golden Star. I will capture you! Come, my little demons! Lily and No.4, keep an eye out for possible ambushes!”

Dia deadpanned at seeing how accepting her little sister was with the ridiculous nickname. Yoshiko, Ruby, Chika and (a very irked) Riko soon left the area. You sent them a sheepish look before shouting “Yousorou~” and chasing after them.

“Goodness, this is why I was against how the subunits are divided. Someone needs to keep an eye on Mari-san,” Dia’s voice was severe, yet an imperceptible smile belied her true thoughts on the matter.

Kanan chuckled in agreement before turning to look at Hanamaru. ““I hope Mari didn’t trouble you too much.”

Hanamaru resisted the urge to shrink under the tall senpais’ gaze and replied a little defensively.. “S-She didn’t. We were just chatting zura.” She blinked in realization. “You knew we were here the whole time?”

“Well, Kanan-san and I did not know that you were here as well, Hanamaru-san,” Dia’s tone softened as if sensing her unease. “But yes, we knew Mari-san was here. That is why we want to work even harder so we do not disappoint her.”

At those words, Hanamaru found herself relaxing and smiling up at her fellow Azalea members. “Hehe, you didn’t disappoint her at all. She.. no, we both loved it zura~”

“That’s good to hear!” Kanan patted her on the head, a gesture that pleasantly surprised her. “Alright, we have a lot to do today, Maru.”

“Indeed, we would like you to revise the lyrics with us,” Dia also gently smiled at her then.

Hanamaru felt rather silly about her apprehension earlier. She would surely find her place with these two kind senpais, so she had better not let them down.

This was a whole new chapter in her story and she couldn’t wait for more!

=========================

“Ganbatta tte owaranai (I’ve never stopped trying my best)~ Son’na… hmm...”

Hanamaru paused and jotted down a few things in her notebook while humming the next segment. She tried again with a new set of lyrics but shook her head with a pout.

A hand teasingly prodded at her cheek. “Now now, Maru, don’t wear a frownie.”

“But Kanan-chan, you’ve already finished the first verse… I need to finish mine so we can fine-tune the chorus part.”

“There is no need to hurry. Patience is the key,” Dia also wrote down a few phrases, her expression thoughtful. “Perhaps we could…”

The three of them shared a knowing glance and began to sing. They adjusted their pitch accordingly as they went, and after Kanan finished her part, Hanamaru followed with ease and instinctively picked the lyrics from the page full of ideas.

“Son’na koto mo aru Mission~ (In this Mission) Tasukete agetai, kono uta de~ (I want to help you with this song~”

Hanamaru beamed at her friends, who returned the gesture just as excitedly. Their third subunit song was coming along quite nicely, just as their first two songs had.

They were Azalea, and efficient teamwork was one of their best points.

Yes, this is where I belong zura~

[dyreatic]

Aqours 1st Live - Pre-Live Reflections

Thank you, Aqours.

I have to admit, it was sort of a rocky start. I wasn’t even into Love Live when the original key visual of Chika was released. I didn’t know you existed until weeks after I watched the Love Live Movie, when I was looking around for more information about this series that had just captivated me. I sort-of stumbled upon you? ...or something like that. I think I just happened to run across a page in the wikia with a link to “Aqours”, so I clicked it out of curiosity, and discovered a whole new group with none of the girls I was used to seeing. Who were these 9 new girls? Inferior copies of μ’s? ...was what I thought. And so I just threw you to the back of my head with no second thought. But somehow I returned to you sometime in December, after Final Live was announced. I figured, you were going to replace μ’s in the future, so maybe I should at least try listening to what you had so far. I listened to the whole of your first single… but I felt absolutely nothing. And back to the back of my head you went.

And then I tried once again, by tuning into your 1/11 Niconama. I was still in love with μ’s lives after watching them, so I was hoping to be able to watch you live. I didn’t, but I have to admit, it was a completely new experience. And I was mesmerized. But unfortunately, your predecessors still occupied my mind, and nothing much proceeded from then. Third time unlucky.

But then, Final Live happened. I saw a world far greater than the Love Live I had enjoyed from within the comforts of my room, and I wanted more of it. I joined the /r/LoveLive Discord, and saw my gateway to that world. No longer did I have to wait for leaks of songs, or discover news maybe days after it was announced because I was cooped up in my own shell; I would be part of the discovery as it happened. I became part of the frontline for Aqours discoveries, and I was really amazed at how fun it was.

And then, AX and CharaExpo happened. You went overseas, and I saw and experienced firsthand the excitement of a group of people at those events. Everyone was so cheery, eagerly making plans to meet up, and the environment was just really welcoming in the server. I can’t forget those days of waking up at 4:45am, going out to CharaExpo and finally getting to see three of you live on stage. And most of all, meeting Shukashuu. I actually chose to meet her over a pretty petty reason (because AX didn’t get her), but I don’t regret it at all. And it was thanks to seeing all three of them on stage then I went and dove fully into your fandom, and I’ve been getting deeper ever since.

The anime was airing around that time, but I think the best part about it was that I was enjoying it not by myself, but watching it live along with the rest of discord. By itself, the anime was nice, but with everyone, it became great. But of course, the best part of the anime was that it brought along with it the 1st Live announcement. We heard the songs, saw them animated, but the culmination of all that was to see them performed live on stage by all the seiyuu. And so, we started waiting. For us in Japan or SEA, it was just a matter of time before we could watch them live. But for everyone else in NA or elsewhere, it was a battle to convince companies to give them a chance to watch them.

Watching from the sidelines, I saw as the Americans and Canadians all pleaded earnestly to various companies about an NA Live Viewing. I saw their hopes rise and fall with every response, or lack of response. With every little hint that someone at NA noticed their efforts, they jumped and cheered, and with every “seen” or “we have no plans”, their spirits fell. And from the sidelines, I nudged them on, rallying others who might not have known about their efforts to get their desires heard as well. But time passed, and it slowly looked like the dream was dead. First was the major countries, then Australia. Then came the news that China had been downgraded. And Indonesia’s failure. And then Philippines succeeding with only a week to go. There was no more hope.

...and then everything changed on Saturday morning JST. The bomb was silently dropped; but the aftereffects were felt. And all the Americans were finally saved from the pit of despair, all thanks to the US Live Viewings. All their hopes and smiles returned, and I felt relief, knowing that I would join them in just another year. I guess that’s my future now, huh.

Aqours, you’ve turned me dreading from going back to the prospect of having to wait out a few years before I could watch you live again to comfort in the fact that you’ve reached out to all of those in America and welcomed them into your arms. Thank you.

Thank you, Ruby and Aiai. You look like a crybaby on the outside, but you showed me that even someone who looks weak could still be someone who others could rely on. I didn’t have much feeling towards you at first, but as I watched your antics and realized that maybe, you were the onee-chan after all, I grew fond of you. And if there’s anything that all of us can relate to, it’s your love for idols. Ganbaruby!

Thank you, Mari and Ainya. I was never really fond of characters who used English phrases as a running gag, but somehow, I grew to really like you. And that was even before the anime, where you showed your caring side, hidden deep beneath that playful exterior of yours. And most of all, it was all thanks to you that I dipped my feet into translations and am here right now, spreading all of Aqours’ appeal together with ONIBE. Shiny~

Thank you, Hanamaru and King. School Idols were truly a “Mirai-zura!” moment for me; I had no idea there would be something that would be able to drag me this deep down and give me so much fun with all the people I’ve been able to meet. I was just someone who stuck by myself, reading books, playing games, all alone, thinking that I would never be able to enjoy anything to the level that I saw all the hardcore fans for any series did, but here I am today, having turned into one of those people. Ohana… Maru!

Thank you, Yoshi- I mean Yohane and Aikyan. There’s a part within all of us that desires for fantasy to be real, but we’re also grounded by the fact that there’s a real world. And I think you were able to capture that side of us and the struggles with wanting to escape from our struggles and the judgement that others have placed upon us perfectly. It’s not as easy for us to find an answer as it was for you, but even so, I can still look to you as an example of someone who overcame that challenge and truly realizes the difference between reality and fantasy well. Ohayohane~

Thank you, You and Shukashuu. Meeting you in real life left me with a sense of awe, and even though I didn’t give you a chance to say much I could still feel all your energy and passion. There’s a running joke that You can do anything (except Chika), and with that smile and energy, maybe that’s true after all. Keep that energy up! Yousoro!

Thank you, Dia and Arisha. I didn’t like the way you carried yourself at the beginning, or how you sounded like you were looking down on everyone else, and I guess I still don’t really like that part of you, but discovering that you were a hidden idol fan, and maybe even the most hardcore out of all of Aqours, gave me a new appreciation for who you are. There are many of us who are loud but are only barely into the fandom, and some of us who keep our hobbies quiet but in reality are really hardcore, and I think I can really see the challenges that the latter group faces when dealing with the former in your interactions with the rest of Aqours. Diahoo!

Thank you, Kanan and Suwawa. I once loved to joke that your fanbase was like an empty theater, but within me I was also supporting you. Your lines were sparse, and so you were the mysterious girl that everyone just made fun of because no one knew you well enough, but after I learned more about you, I realized that you were pretty cool! It was like you could carry yourself in a collected fashion, yet you still fell prey to Mari whenever she decided to tease you. Ja, hagu shiyou!

Thank you, Riko and Rikyako. You grew out of my initial impression of “slightly inferior Umi/Mimorin but still best”, and I realized that you had a completely different charm compared to them. Others might call you boring, but I think that it’s just a part of you that fits you very well, and I won’t let what anyone else thinks of you affect that. Keep on making those funny faces and memes, and don’t be afraid to defend yourself if you ever get teased!

And finally, thank you, Chika and Anchan. All throughout our lives, many of us want to be more than just “normal”, and we see all the leaders and pioneers as extraordinary people who we aspire to become. But you are normal, just like us. A normal girl, able to be found anywhere, with dreams and aspirations towards an extraordinary group. And in spite of that, you became our beloved leader. You have carried our hopes and dreams for these two years, and even though you started from zero, you pushed through with the mere hope to become one. From the rural areas of Izu, you have reached the grand stage of Yokohama Arena in Tokyo. And just like us, the smiles of school idols are what have got you to this point. Leader, just as how you have led Aqours all the way up until now, please do your best tomorrow! We will continue to support you and spread your joy to many more people in the world! Kan kan… Mikan!

Now all that’s left is tomorrow.