#at one point in his youkai life a cat summoned him

[syneilesis]

A fic concept:

Three thousand years of longing AU where you're a history professor specializing in Sengoku era particularly Oda Nobunaga's life and you're attending a conference in Kyoto. In your desire to buy a souvenir, you chance upon an old replica of Fudou Yukimitsu, a tanto once owned by Nobunaga, sold at an antique shop. You bought it, happy with your purchase (despite its being a little pricey). In your hotel room, you cleaned the short sword, but then lo! Smoke filled the whole room and after it dissipated Oda Nobunaga stood before you, wearing his most imperious expression.

"Oh? Someone dared summon me?" he began, looking down at you with an eyebrow raised, clearly skeptical. "Your ambition must be lofty, then. Very well, I shall grant you one wish. Let us hear it."

You blinked at this Nobunaga-lookalike and then glanced at the closed window. This cosplayer must've sneaked in as the smoke rendered you temporarily blind. You wondered about the state of security of the hotel.

When you returned to him, the man was radiating impatience and a hint of a frown emerged on his lips.

"I'm sorry," you finally said. "If you're trying to troll me because of my presentation this morning, I'm gonna have to report you to the authorities."

Nobunaga-lookalike didn't react for a moment. But then a smirk replaced his impatient frown.

"A scholar who studies my life?" he deduced. "And yet, who doesn't recognize the man standing here right now."

It turned out, he was the real deal. Oda Nobunaga. For some supernatural reason he became a youkai after the fires of Honnou-ji and was cursed to grant wishes to whoever summoned him from the (authentic!) Fudou Yukimitsu sword.

You, being an Oda Nobunaga scholar, found this to be wild but fortuitous. Here he was! In the supernatural flesh! He could answer all your burning questions! Take that, academic rivals!

Except, he refused to answer them because he didn't feel like narrating the story of his life. Too long, too juicy. So what you did was outline his life and just asked him if your knowledge was accurate and correct, after which you proceeded with interviewing him about his life as a youkai. He was still mum about it, and would rather hear your wish.

"But you're here," you said, "talking to me. It shouldn't be possible but here you are. This is like my greatest wish come true."

I don't know what happens after that. I guess Nobunaga stays and it's going to be a slice of life where he marvels at the progress of Japanese society as you try to gently nudge him into revealing his life as a wish-granting youkai. You both fall in love and there's going to be snu snu. At the end of the story you'll wish Nobunaga to be free of his curse and that will make him disappear. But being OP, Nobunaga uses his remaining youkai powers to make himself mortal again so he can live out his days with you. Happy ever after, the end.

[fandom-artworks]

My 2020 Winter Anime

2020 Winter anime I have watch and my ratings.

My Personal Top 10

1. Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! - Rating: 10/10 (Must watch)

An anime on how to make an anime, I didn’t expect this to be so good. but it is one of the best animes I have watched this season. I takes a different path from other similar anime and shows the various way anime is done and it unleash the creativity and imagination of the artists. It also shows how money is needed and used to fund the anime which most anime would never dare talk about.

2. Somali and the Forest Spirit - Rating: 10/10 (Must watch)

This is a fantastic fantasy anime. Most anime where an adult has to take care of a girl ends up being a little creepy later on in the series. But in this anime Golem only has a year and few months to live, so he will do whatever it takes to bring Somali to humans and also tries to make her happy as much as he can. 

3. Mairimashita! Iruma-kun - Rating: 9/10 (Strongly recommended)

Just when Iruma though his luck could not get worst, his parents sold him to the devil and he gets taken to the demon world. However things didn’t not turn out to be the Hell he was expected. This goodest boy get all the good things he deserve. Good friends, a family, a fun school and crushes from various girls. But also he might become the next demon king. 

4. Id:Invaded - Rating: 9/10 (Strongly recommended)

A computer system is development that allows humans to enter the mind of a criminal. Akihito Narihisago (Sakaido) enter this place that is made by the criminal ID well. While Koharu Hondoumachi is task to find the criminal in the real world. This is interesting detective psychological mystery. 

5. My Hero Academia Season 4 - Rating: 9/10 (Strongly recommended)

MHA continues with a school festival. A new villain attempt to hijack the event for his own purpose. Not really a big fan of the school festival trope. But the first half where they save Eri-chan from Overhaul was great and the ending where Endeavor has to prove to everyone he is worth being the number one hero is awesome as well.

6. Koisuru Asteroid - Rating 8/10 (Recommended) 

Moe anime meets science. Nice slice of life story about two girls trying to find an asteroid and name it. They are joined by various friends with other science related interest. 

7. Toilet-bound Hanako-kun - Rating 8/10 (Recommended) 

Nene Yashiro attemps to summon Hanako-kun only to find out he is a boy and also end up becoming his assistance and bound to him. This anime has lot of ship teasing and supernatural elements. She takes on the ‘Seven wonder’s of her school all which are supernatural entity with bad intention due to bad rumours. So she tries to take away those rumours and create good ones to help the various sprits. But someone doesn’t want them to have a happy ending.

8. Seton Academy: Join the Pack! - Rating 8/10 (Recommended) 

This comedy features anthropomorphic animals in a human settings, only there are not much humans left. The only human guy hates animals and hates the school. but finds a human girl. However an wolf comes along to take over his life by forcing him to join her pack. Lots of comedy and funny scenes. but do know there are quite a few ecchi scenes.

9. BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense - Rating 7/10 (Somewhat recommended)

An isekai anime but they can log out. A girl who focus her skill points on defends end up becoming a unbeatable opponent in a virtual online game. Some funny scenes and I like her turtle.

10. Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story - Rating 7/10 (Somewhat recommended)

An side story of PMMM which is also based on the mobile game. PMMM is one of my top anime of all time. However Magia Record doesn’t have the same thing going on. The story introduce uwasa or rumors which are based on legends or stories. They also introduce a magical girl’s doppel where the girl use her materialization of despair (which usually turn them to a witch) to fight enemies. But the fact remain that Kyubey caused this remains. 

Other anime I have watch this season.

Heya Camp - Rating 7/10 (Somewhat recommended)

Yuru Camp continues with a short series where the girls go on a stamp rally to various parks. 

Nekopara - Rating 7/10 (Somewhat recommended)

Based on a visual novel, a world where cat girls exist. A man take care of his two cat girls as they assist with his cake and pastry shop. The girls found and take home a young homeless cat girl. Now they have to teach her to be a proper cat girl. Be warn of some ecchi scenes.

Science Fell in Love, So I Tried to Prove It - Rating 7/10 (Somewhat recommended)

Two scientist fall in love but first they have to prove love exist because they are stupid. No really, they make actual scientist look bad. But there’s lots of funny moments.

Natsunagu! - Rating 7/10 (Somewhat recommended)

This is a short anime where a girl tries to find a fiend she met online after she hears the place her friend lived in was hit by an earthquake. Kinda nice story even though it was short.

In/Spectre  - Rating 6/10 (Slightly recommended)

Kotoko Iwanaga sacrifice one of her eye and leg to become goddess of wisdom and take care of issues that sprits or youkai has. But they spend a really long time trying to fight of a ghost know as the steel beam lady that was artificial created due to rumours and the internet. Personally, if anyone thinks it’s easy to create a rumour on the internet about a ghost, please be my guest. They also defeat the sprit by using lies not caring about how it would affect actual people who exist. This story fails on various details but I guess it’s still okay to watch.

Darwin's Game - Rating 5/10 (Average)

An battle royal like anime where people who join an app are given various power to help the fight each another. Not a big fan of this as the plot is pretty generic for a battle royal type anime.

Infinite Dendrogram - Rating 3/10 (Quite bad)

An isekai anime but they can log out. But like super generic and basic. Boring battles and useless plot. Hey the NPC seem so real and something is wrong, like there is a big conspiracy. I can’t recommend this unless you have to watch every isekai anime.

Ishuzoku Reviewers - Rating 2/10 (Bad)

If this anime is for ‘Man of Culture’ boy I am glad to be an uncultured swine. Just make it an hentai! why bother? They go around and have sex with different species. That’s is like a guy in our world going to different countries and having sex with different races and making a feedback on those experience. Just call yourself a racist and go home. Honestly some of the scenes are disgusting and gross. I understand people have fetishes but this anime takes that to a level never seen before. 

[plumoh]

[NatsuYuu] left behind

Word count: 1678

Summary: Natsume Reiko has to deal with the consequences of her grandfather's doing, namely letting youkais barge into her life.

Note: AO3 link. Day 3 - role reversal for @natsumeweek!

One-shot: left behind

“Natsume-sama! Please help us Natsume-sama!”

Two youkais coming from the mountains beyond Yatsuhara are running, making more noise than necessary to attract the attention of the person they've traveled to see. They abruptly stop and bow down, not wasting any time to voice their request.

“Our territory is being attacked by outsiders, please drive them away!”

There is a long silence, sizzling with confusion, then replaced by mild exhaustion. The sigh is heavier in this quiet space.

“Yeah, I'll see what I can do, but no promises. I have other things to do.”

A round calico cat snorts from his perch on a branch, drawn by the commotion that spiked his curiosity, as usual. The youkais lift their heads, an open expression of surprise on their faces that betray their disappointment.

“You...?”

Long pale hair flutters as a hand pushes it back behind an ear, and a slow grin forms on a curled mouth.

“I'm afraid I'm not as gentle as my grandfather.”

***

Natsume Reiko leafs through the Book of Friends with inexplicable fascination. Sometimes she'd trace the writings with her fingertips, summoning the image of the youkai who held the pencil or the brush to carefully inscribe their name in something that was beyond their expertise. She tries to imagine each one of them waiting to meet again the human they've given up their freedom to—a lot of them, she learned, don't repay kindness with kindness, and will seek more opportunities to abuse it.

“Surely he knew that youkais aren't friendly,” she complains one day after returning a name and nursing a headache from the incessant chatting of the nearby youkais who won't leave her alone.

“Believe me, I told him over and over he was wasting his time,” Madara huffs, licking cookie crumbs off his paws. “Takashi was a fool.”

Reiko isn't one for sentimentality, and has no experience in detecting the inflection of someone's voice depending on their emotions (she herself can't express them). She still somehow manages to hear unspoken words behind Madara's gruff remark, lodged in his throat and unable to come out because there is no point in releasing them.

Against her will, she laughs.

“I guess he was.”

***

“You mean you wanted to become his servant?”

Misuzu's eyes remain unchanged as does his mouth, like he's frozen in a perpetual grin that goes with his high status. His frogs are jumping around Reiko, croaking and being a general nuisance.

“I do not think that 'becoming his servant' was what Takashi aimed at when he asked,” he clarifies with a lilt of mirth. “I simply believed that it was easier to watch over him should he peruse the power he was granted.”

To be honest, Reiko is certain that her grandfather didn't care about the advantages that the Book provided him, and by the look of things, so did Misuzu. There is no way that youkais submit themselves to humans willingly—she can't imagine any of them hand out their name like it's a mere entrance ticket to friendship.

However, that seems to be the case for most of those youkais who smile and joke and reminisce about someone whose life might as well have been nonexistent in their almost eternity.

“He was alright for a man, I suppose,” Hinoe cackles, draping her arm around Reiko's shoulders and bringing her closer, much to the human's disgruntlement. “Fortunately he brought me a cute granddaughter!”

“You are all so weird,” Reiko groans, pushing Hinoe away. “This isn't what I thought I'd get myself involved into when I received the stupid book.”

“Then make your life shorter so I can get it.” Madara swipes at her ankle, and she follows with a harsh nudge with her foot that sends him rolling down.

“I still have some dignity, losing to a cat isn't an option.”

Madara goes on a rant about being magnificent and deserving much more than what he's currently given, so Reiko tunes him out as she sips her juice and eats the berries a youkai gave her as thanks for something that Natsume Takashi most likely did. Surrounded by these creatures she grew to view as a thorn in her side, sharing stories and discussing of what qualifies as foolish like they were her own circle of acquaintances, she can't envision what tomorrow will be made of.

***

She's always slept with a weapon of sort next to her pillow to protect herself. It started with a ridiculous toy sword she borrowed from the son of the family she was living with, then a bundle of sticks she collected on the way home, then a soccer ball hard enough to break a wall, and now she grew fond of the baseball bat she found lying next to a sleeping youkai. She never actively went after youkais since they came to her, but the one she followed of her own volition was forced to teach her what they knew about spells and incantations. It was the least they could do after their kind kept harassing her for stupid favors or claiming she would make a delicious meal.

She thought it would stop after meeting Madara, but it only became worse.

Natsume Takashi, her grandfather, were he still alive, would be hearing a piece of her mind for attempting to befriend every single living creature in this world.

Shunned by everyone around him and mocked for his inability to fit into society on top of seeing a world that was invisible to others—Reiko understands he might have left behind the humans altogether to seek comfort in people who wouldn't judge him. She can't wrap her head around his desire to forgive, though.

“Nobody treated him right,” she says to Madara, who feigns disinterest. “A lot of youkais didn't, too.”

Madara is probably just as bad as her at perusing the spectrum of emotions, if not worse; the face of a cat does limit his possibilities, but Reiko is certain that there is much he doesn't tell.

“You understand why he was so stubborn about meeting youkais, don't you?” he retorts with that knowing look she tends to avoid glancing at. “Well, I'm assuming you're smarter than he was.”

You're awfully gentle even if you're insulting him, Reiko wants to say, but just like how she can't admit she still fears she'll wake up from this reality and go back to a life of misery, she can't point out the obvious aching in her friend's heart.

Youkais who come to her thinking she will solve all their problems like her grandfather did often end up bruised and nursing a wounded pride, after they lose to her little games. She much prefers seeing what they are made of before deciding if they are worth her time, and if they deserve having their names back.

(Whether Takashi knew the nature of the contracts remains a mystery, but either way she can't shake off the feeling of loneliness whenever she so much as lays eyes on the Book of Friends.)

“I really don't understand his way of thinking,” she mutters.

Madara lets out an ugly laugh. “Nobody did.”

***

She chases after a youkai to retrieve a trinket they stole from a weaker spirit, and when she does catch up to them she swings her bat and whacks them on the head. The effect is immediate and the thief collapses, whining and complaining about the great power of the holder of the Book of Friends, and Reiko simply chuckles.

“Yeah, we're pretty strong in my family.”

She doesn't ask permission to get back what she came looking for as she plucks it right from the youkai's hands, then turns around to leave. Madara seems to appear from thin air for the only purpose of mocking her.

“You sure put a lot of effort in this one, for someone who doesn't like being used.”

She waves a hand, having learned by now that rising to Madara's baits aren't really productive for either of them.

“I needed the exercise anyway.”

Reiko looks at the cloudy sky, feeling the first drops of rain fall on her nose. She catches movement on her left, and sees the youkai who asked for her help timidly extending a hand. Her lips automatically curl into a soft smile, as she gives the item back.

“Thank you, Natsume-sama,” the youkai bows. “I have one more favor to ask.”

“Your name is in the Book, right?”

There is something particularly strange in taking the name of such a fragile-looking youkai, who probably doesn't even interact much with other people. Takashi has collected names without discrimination, like he expected them all to accept their predicament or the friendship they were offered.

Reiko is different.

“I'll hurry up. I don't want to go home too late.”

Being drenched is a feeling she despises above all (bringing an umbrella wasn't always a possibility), but feeling the trained eyes of Touko-san looking for any signs of sickness never gets easier. Reiko didn't know that someone could be filled with so much love to give, especially for someone like her, who terrorized invisible monsters and drove away those who everyone pretended not to see.

She walks under the safety of a tree's leaves and pulls out the Book of Friends, closing her eyes. The pages flicker and turn, a single one standing out for her to cradle and bestow. She sees warmth, she sees mischievousness, she sees life; she sees everything through the eyes of someone who could have helped. She grasps what loneliness being washed away feels like.

“I'm giving your name back. Accept it.”

She might never understand what her grandfather wanted to do, by leaving his memory everywhere he went. Madara might never forget the gaping hole he can't fill with food, however hard he tries. The youkais might never figure out the amiable behavior a human showed them.

Reiko opens her eyes to the universe of kindness Natsume Takashi has left her, for her to find her way and discover the hidden side of a world she's always hated.