#both times taiga is the one missing

[magicalyaku]

We went back to the King of Prism cafe, so I could get the full set of character cards that came with the menu (and the silly crown). I love them. I didn't want to leave. u_u

Before that, I also took my friend to see the latest movie which is just all the Prism1 perfomances edited together actually, no story at all (but fake advertisements featuring Over the Rainbow!) but at least that way she still had fun even with only understanding a few of the words. Kakeru's was her favorite! 8D The ending, though! The ending was wild. Like wtf! Whatever they do next (movie I guess?) will be even wilder and sillier than what they usually do? I'm so in for it.

[enanansbbg]

Anhane’s relationship, and it’s complexity:

this was originally uploaded onto twt, but I wanted to reupload it here because I was very proud of this analysis, so please enjoy and feel free to add anything I may have missed or skipped over!

With that being said, here we go! ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶

Let’s start with the basics. The pure power of their aibouness, and its connections to vivid street.

To begin, you must understand what a partner is in VBS terms. In this case, it’s ‘a person who brings out parts of you never knew existed’.

In relations to Anhane, this is based off pure raw emotions. This is shown through An’s abandonment issues and Kohane’s want to make her heart pound.

Kohane wants to recreate that feeling she felt when she first heard An singing inside of An, to ‘make her heart pound’, while An’s abandonment issues cause her to fear Kohane’s rapid growth may lead to Kohane abandoning her.

This also plays into a certain factor about Kohane and the idea of her and angst, I believe.

Many people want Kohane to have some kind of angst event, especially related to her backstory, but that would go against all her motives.

See, Kohane’s pure movies for pursuing music—for working to surpass Rad Weekend all tie back to An. It was hearing An singing at WG that made her heart pound and An asking her to be her singing partner that caused her to even consider music as an option.

From here, their relationship develops into a lot more, and it’s when the idea of partners ‘bringing out an ugly side of you’ comes to play.

You can see even in the maim story An not seeing Kohane as an equal. It only gets called out and resolved in Singing in Sync.

Singing In Sync, ep. 1 and 3

🎧: “In the unlikely event that something does go wrong, I’ll cover for you and get you back on track, okay?”

…

🎧: “I failed as her partner…I couldn’t protect her…

…

🎧: “I mean, she’s my partner…And I wanted to guide her so that she could sing without worrying…”

…

��: “You don’t think of Kohane as one of the team.”

An telling Kohane “I’ll protect you if you mess up” subconsciously puts the idea into Kohane’s head “I’m not good enough, so I’ll probably mess up” This is what caused the entire issue in SIS to begin with.

But it’s once An tells her “you can protect me too” that Kohane is able to subconsciously think “I have the power to make her heart pound too”

Singing in Sync, ep. 8

🎧: “If I miss a cue at the next event…”

🎧: “Could you cover for me?”

🐹: “An… Sure, I can do that!”

After this we get Awakening Beat. Kohane is able to come out of her shell and fully adapts the idea “I can make her heart pound too” and has a large boost in confidence because of it. An both brought her confidence down and back up in the spam of one rotation.

Awakening Beat, ep. 8

🎧: (“It’s like she’s not even the Kohane I know. Could this be because she’s completely resolved herself?”

🎧: (“But even with just that, she can really change this much…?”)

However….In the same event, An’s insecurities begin to bloom and in Bout for Beside You, An has to face them for the first time.

Awakening Beat, ep. 8, BFBY, ep. 4

🎧: (“I was just gonna tell her she did amazing… That I never knew she could sing that amazingly, but…”

🎧: (“What’s going on? I just can’t get the words out—”)

…

🎧: “Kohane is…going to leave me behind?”

Here, An realizes her and Kohane ‘perfect’ relationship is more complicated now. While Kohane’s adapted the idea of “I want to make her heart pound”, An opens to idea of “I wont he able to make her heart pound anymore” (they doki doki more than ddlc i swear)

At the end of the event, An ask Kohane the golden question. “If I were to leave somewhere far away, would we still sing together?”

BFBY, ep. 8

🎧: “But what would you do if I said that I’d be going somewhere far far away someday?”

🎧: “And I wanted to reach greater heights just like what Uncle Taiga did exploring the world. If I were to go to someplace even greater and far far away from here—”

Of course, Kohane affirms this. Naturally, Kohane takes a lot of pride in being An’s partner, being the only partner for her. (as said in ORS) She wants to keep singing with An forever.

BFBY, ep. 8

🐹: “Even so, I would want to keep singing with An-chan!”

🐹: “No matter where you go or what you become, I’d still want to be with you!”

🐹: “I want to properly stand beside you and sing with you!”

We’re gonna skip ahead a bit and jump up to KIUAN, where we get our lovely “She looks like Nagi-san” line, the line that killed every Anhane shipper in the tristate area.

But what makes this line so special? Well, for that let’s discuss what made Nagi’s death (and the lie surrounding it) so impactful.

Nagi was someone An looked up to highly. So, when she was suddenly told that Nagi moved, not even saying goodbye, to pursue her music career, it left a mark on An. Added to the fact that Nagi wasn’t returning An’s messages or calls, just completely disappeared.

Now, looking to Bout for Beside you and KIUAN, you can see the importance of these lines. An fears that Kohane will improve so much that she leaves without a word, never talks go her again and just moves on. It’s why she looks so distressed.

VOT ep. 8, BFBY, ep. 8, KIUAN ep. 7

🎧: “…Aww. I wonder what Nagi-san is doing over in America? I wish she’d give us a call at least.”

🎧: “Ah! Maybe I’ll send her a text then! I wonder if she’ll be surprised~?”

…

🎧: “But what would you do if I said that I’d be going somewhere far far away someday?”

…

🎧: “…She looks just like Nagi-san…”

And, it’s why she can’t even believe Kohane when she says just how important An is to her, how much she loves her and wants to sing with her because Nagi said the same thing and now Nagi is gone.

This manages to reach a resolve in WTWG, where An ‘fights’ Kohane, takes all those raw emotions out in a healthy way, through her song.

An’s card in WTWG is more than just ‘An takes her anger out on Kohane’, because in truth that’s not entirely what she’s doing. Instead, it’s An’s raw emotions taking form.

An wants Kohane to grow, she wants Kohane to thrive fully, but that fear of abandonment—Fear that Kohane will leave and never speak to her again makes her want to hold her close and never let her go anywhere.

So what about Kohane?

Well, starting with thr WTWG card/story, Kohane wants to be An’s best partner. As she states, ‘to make An’s heart pound’.

So, to be vulnerable here is to accept all of An’s raw emotions. Let her lean on her and feel everything because to Kohane, that makes her a worthy partner.

She says over and over throughout the fight that An is amazing, that she wants to be like her, how much it makes her heart pound. Really, it reminds me of Kohane’s colorfes story.

WTWG, ep. 7

🐹: (“An-chan…really is amazing.”)

🐹: (“…Whenever I hear An-chan sing, it really makes my heart pound like nothing else. It makes me wish I could sing like her.”)

In it, Kohane goes to Vivid Street, but everyone thinks she’s An. This happens after she thinks about what it would be like to be An, but only going through this dream does she realize that she doesn’t want to be An, she wants to be her. She wants to be An’s partner.

Colorfes Kohane ep. 1 and 2

Record Store Onee-san: “You caught me off guard, using polite like that, An-chan!”

🐹: (“Did she just say An-chan…?”)

…

🐹: (“—An-chan’s so cool and strong…and there’s times I wish I could be like her…”)

🐹: (“I have to be me! Because—”)

🎧: “—Y’know, I was thinking, your singing is always so amazing, Kohane.”

🎧: “Whenever I hear your singing, it makes my heart race. The tension rises, and it makes me feel like I have to start singing right now!”

🐹: (“Because I’m An-chan’s partner—!”)

And to be An’s partner, is to drag all those raw, vertical emotions out of An, just like she does in WTWG.

In conclusion, Anhane explosion their relationship is so complex and strong and I love it

[reverie-starlight]

gn!reader, no physical descriptions. one tiny mention of skipping breakfast, but that's it. FLUFF!! I’ve missed writing for knb!! I love kagami so much, take this as my warm up to get used to writing him again.

based on prompt 3 from this list :)

“you’re so warm and soft,” you mumble, leaning against kagami as you both wait in line at the grocery store. “it’s so unfair.” he’s decked out in a black hoodie, some jeans, and a tuque you had insisted he wear before leaving the house.

your boyfriend, who is apparently a walking space heater, somehow doesn’t seem to be affected by the winter chill that you’re dreading having to face when you're done paying.

kagami chuckles, rubbing your back up and down. “thanks, you’re shivering.”

you glare up at him and he holds you steady as you both shuffle forward a bit more. "don't you, like, hate the cold? how haven't you been complaining at all today?"

he snorts. "because we're inside, babe. besides, it's a short walk from here to the car, I can handle that no problem."

you roll your eyes and press your forehead against his chest. "unfair," you repeat.

"well maybe you'd be warmer right now if you had eaten a full breakfast." he chides, reminding you of how hungry you are and souring your mood a bit.

your face scrunches up. "I told you I'd eat after getting back! and in my defense, we didn’t have anything to make for breakfast to begin with since someone used up the last of my oatmeal."

instead of responding, your boyfriend turns you around so you can get ready to shuffle forward again and greet the cashier now that it's your turn to check out.

the girl, probably no older than seventeen, glances up briefly with a polite smile at you and kagami before doing a double take. you grin slightly as she watches him load your haul onto the belt, clearly recognizing him from somewhere.

now that he's made a name for himself in the NBA, more people have been noticing him, and you find it endearing. he gets so uncharacteristically shy interacting those who recognize him, and today is no different, apparently, because you see his cheeks turn pink as he keeps his head down, probably feeling her gaze on him.

you think she's about to ask him a question before shaking her head and snapping her mouth shut. she finishes scanning the items and asks you "um, how would you like to pay?"

you realize your mistake too late and scramble to answer her while fishing out the cash from your wallet, but kagami beats you to it. "card."

you glare up at him, forgetting any adoration you'd been feeling for him moments ago. "no way, it's my turn."

he shrugs and tries to insert his card into the machine but you block him. "taiga!"

this happens every time you go out together.

you’ve turned it into a competition of sorts, to see who’s faster and can pay first. it’s not like there’s a prize, or anything at all to be gained, really…

except the satisfaction of winning.

you were in the lead, well on your way to securing a two point gap, but now you’re back to being tied.

it’s clear that any embarrassment he was harbouring is gone as he looks at you, cocky grin playing on his lips and determination clear in his eyes. "just let me, I already had my card out anyway. it's fine, baby, you can take the loss."

you look behind him, still blocking the machine and realize the line is continuously growing. deciding it's not worth making a scene and holding all those people up, you very reluctantly lower your arm and start putting the bags back into the cart.

"you're gonna pay for this," you say menacingly as he nods at the cashier in thanks and takes the receipt.

he snorts. "I just did. what, have you got short term memory or something?"

"you-" groaning, you pull your hood on and bundle it tightly around your face. it's not as cold now that the sun is a bit higher in the sky, but the wind still feels sharp against your skin. "just don't get too comfortable, alright? who knows when I could strike."

he shakes his head in amusement and helps you load everything into the trunk of your car. "alright, alright. let's get you home so you can actually eat something."

_______________________________________________

BONUS:

after you get home and settle on the couch with the hearty breakfast kagami made for you, you scroll on your phone and see a post that catches your attention. you snort and tilt your screen towards the man beside you.

user020125: kagami taiga and his partner were getting groceries where I work today and they were bickering over who was going to pay like an old married couple. romance isn’t dead yet, folks.

“ah jeez,” he groans. “at least no one took a picture this time.”

you giggle and rest your head on his shoulder, staring up at him. “it’s kinda sweet, though, don’t you think?”

“what is?” he asks.

“that we give off old married couple vibes,” you soften your voice a bit and watch him ponder on it.

he nudges your arm nods at your plate, as if to say ‘eat, baby’ which only backs up the comment on your mind.

“I…” he pauses briefly to find the right words.

after a moment he meets your eyes. his normally fiery gaze is now softened, resembling a flickering candle rather than the scorching flames of a forest fire. his entire expression radiates warmth and love.

“I can’t wait to spend all that time with you actually becoming an old married couple,” he murmurs, reaching over to cup your cheek, which is still full with the bite you took. “I couldn’t imagine doing it with anyone else, baby.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

this is like. extremely short and I apologize for that, but I wanted to write something for him again 🥹

@dira333 this is why I asked you for a random number a while back hehe

@emmyrosee tagging you too, you can’t escape him, sorry :/

[jeun-bug]

Had a hilarious idea so here’s brainrotting anon back again:

Tweet: “Overheard a student go up to MC and say ‘I need you to be a girl for a second’. MC looked down, grabbed her own tits, and said ‘do these not count for that? Does this mean I can go topless when I’m sweating my ass off in Jabberwock?!’ And *insert ghoul here* just slaps them upside the head”

(I personally think it’d be funny if it was Jin, who in one of the rare times he leaves his room overheard the honor student say that and is just like “wtf why do I want this dumbass again??”. Though Tohma, Sho, Ren, or Jiro are good candidates too. I just think a lot of the others who try to lecture them out of it, would try to egg it on as teasing flirting, would try to genuinely-ish encourage it for the chaos, or just wouldn’t care.)

HAHAHAH you’re totally right. I think alan would put his hand on top of the inspector’s head and just like…. roughly ruffle their hair, yk?

my MC is gender neutral, but i can absolutely see this going down with a female-bodied MC

this got surprisingly long lolol more hc’s under the cut <3

kaito would flip out 😭😭 he’s rapidly moving between “HOW DARE YOU IMPLY THAT THE HONOR STUDENT ISNT A GIRL ALL THE TIME” and “INSPECTOR YOU CANT JUST SHOW THOSE OFF TO ANYONE IM THE KNLY ONE ALLOWED TI SEE THEM ITS NAUGHTY TO SHOW THEM OFF IN PUBLIC”

romeo would also backhand them, sho would scoff and shove them away. leo would encourage it until he realizes it’s probably Not Great if his fake partner gets caught topless in public.

jiro wouldn’t care, he’s like “i see them topless all the time? it’s just boobs?”. yuri would blush so hard thinking about seeing the inspector’s chest in a non-medical scenario that he nearly passes out.

i feel like rui and haku would get lowkey defensive but try to play it off as flirting like “um hey hello??? you can’t just show those off those are my eyes only???” LMAO

ren and zenji would shout at them for considering it 😭 imagine zenji “MY DEAR!!! YOUR BODY IS A TEMPLE, YOU CANNOT ALLOW THOSE WHO ARE UNWORTHY (everyone besides me) TO LAY THEIR EYES UPON YOUR BEAUTIFUL FORM!!!!!”

lyca and ed wouldn’t care i think. ed would get flirty about it lolol

poor subaru would be bright red and desperately trying to navigate discouraging it AND being polite and not overstepping lmao “well…. um, i mean- i don’t mean to overstep or anything…. it’s just…. that sort of thing is…. of course, it’s ultimately your choice…. but….” 😭😭

taiga would lose it and actively encourage them to take their top off NOW like “ cmon inspector you said it. it would be so funny cmon “

haru gasps, affronted, and covers peekaboo’s ears, “inSPECtor!!! if it’s that hot, i’ll buy you a portable fan!!!! there is no need for that!!!!!!!”

ritsu would lecture the GA student about harassment laws and then turn around and lecture the inspector about public nudity laws.

if it’s said around towa, jabberwock park doesn’t know a single day of peaceful weather for a week, after which the GA student mysteriously goes missing lolol

you’re totally right about jin 😭 he’s like “if this is what you’re getting up to when i leave you alone, i’ll just have to start following you around everywhere to keep you out of trouble.” and everyone besides the MC immediately realizes he’s just trying to find excuses to spend time with them.

tohma and luca would both lecture the inspector about it, but tohma would be lowkey laughing to whole time LMAO he’s like “that’s incredibly improper, inspector. if you’re going to work so closely with frostheim, i must ask that you do your best to maintain a respectable image” but he’s just a shit eating grin on his face bc he’s truly a vagastrom boy at heart LMAOO

[sleepylaing]

Énouement [2]

“Suo-kun is coming with you.”

“Оh?”

Indeed: as you approach the door, you see a smiling Hayato leaning against the wall. When Suo hears footsteps, he rushes over to you and examines you with an inexplicable tenderness.

It doesn't last long, though: his gaze suddenly darkens as he stops where Enomoto's hand had carelessly held you by the collar.

← previous chapter.

ch 2. A fox.

“What's your secret?” asks Tsugeura in surprise when you once again hit the paper in the trash without a mistake. Eight out of ten to his four. You were definitely in the lead.

“Hm... maybe I don't eat a bucket of protein for breakfast or keep weights under my pillow.”

Kiryu giggles and sits down next to you. Taiga swallowed indignantly.

“Hey!”

“He's right, Tsugeura-chan. Didn't you tell us that you always have your dumbbells handy?”, Kiryu jokes while you lose interest and start looking at the holes in your pants. Looks like you'll have to pay for new ones after all. Your little lie that it was just the design becomes less and less believable with each new scuff.

“But that doesn't mean I'm sleeping with them, right?”, Taiga picks up another piece of paper and throws it in the trash... and misses again.

“You're straining your arm too much when you throw,” you say suddenly, still looking at the ground, and both boys turn to you in surprise, “and calculate your strength. You're not bad at aiming, but that's not all that matters.”

“I didn't know that you are also a good teacher, Akashi-kun,” you recognize the voice as Suo approaches you. “I see the cleanup is in full swing,” he adds, looking around your makeshift competition arena.

“Tsugeura-chan, you said the loser buys the dessert. I want the one with strawberries.”

“But I haven't lost yet!”

You frown and think for a moment. Then you shake your head.

“Nah, I'd rather have the one with lemon syrup. It's cheaper.”

"Are you listening to me?" groans Tsugeura and jabs at you when he doesn't find any remorse on your calm face, “Suo-kun, take him away! Only you can stand the merciless indifference of this blond demon.”

“Why is that? I mean, I even chose the cheaper one,” you raise your eyebrows in surprise.

In the next second, Suo leads you away, smiling apologetically at Taiga.

“I came to tell you that the senpais will be here in ten minutes. Clean up until then.”

“It's okay. Tsugeura-chan didn't hit much, it won't take long to clean up after him.”

“Akashi!”

You chuckle softly.

It's cloudy today. Suo's warm hand gently wraps around yours. You squeeze his fingers and try to absorb as much warmth as possible.

Your chest feels light.

***

@HayatoSuo, 3:21 a.m.

apple or orange

@Akashii, 3:23 a.m

why are you up

and what kind of poll is this

iq test?

@HayatoSuo, 3:23 a.m

rice or ramen?

@Akashii, 3:23 a.m.

do not

even

think

about

it

go to bed

im just finishing up

@HayatoSuo, 3:24 a.m.

You don't leave until 6 on Saturdays.

I know you skipped lunch today.

@Akashii, 3:24 a.m.

wow, cool, ig

what else do you know

@HayatoSuo, 3:25 a.m.

So what can I get you? The shop closes in twenty minutes.

@Akashii, 3:25 a.m.

tiger shrimp and black caviar, please

@HayatoSuo, 3:25 a.m.

I'm serious, Akashi. You have to eat.

@Akashii, 3:25 a.m.

me too

@Akashii, 3:32 a.m.

pudding

@Akashii, 3:33 a.m.

with vanilla, if you can

@Akashii, 3:37 a.m.

thank you, Suo.

***

When you arrived in Makochi, the first thing you did was look for a job. After searching for a while, you finally found what you were looking for. Since then, you've been working in a bar. There was nothing wrong with that. It was a fairly quiet and decent place, mostly frequented by tired men after their work shifts. Your boss was understanding. He agreed to hire you part-time. You had a flexible schedule, a stable salary, and a rather friendly staff. Not that you interacted much with your co-workers, but the lack of hostility and the willingness to cover for you in emergencies was gratifying.

If one of your co-workers was asked what specific position you held, hardly anyone could answer. It was easier to say what you didn't do. You were a waiter, a cleaner, a deliveryman, sometimes even a bartender when he took a break and the customers wanted something right away. Of course, it paid more. That's all you needed, so you didn't complain.

Never complained.

Even on the hard days. Even when you felt like you were going to pass out from exhaustion and it was hours before closing time.

Today was one of those days. The bar was particularly busy, and there was a shortage of workers, so you were torn between the room and the kitchen, and then there was the grocery delivery, which you had to unload almost alone because everyone was busy. On top of that, you didn't sleep well again, and your favorite pastry shop didn't have any lemon tarts today.

Your eyes glaze over as you walk out the back door of the building on wobbly legs. You stop on the steps, cover your eyes, and blissfully face the gust of cool wind. It tangles your hair, teases the edge of your loose sweatshirt, and burrows under your t-shirt, sending a swarm of goose bumps.

You don't shiver. You loved the cold that took away your ability to think.

You recognize Suo's arrival, strangely enough, by the smell. He had brought more than you asked for, and yet he refused to share it with you, claiming it was all yours. As you finish the last piece of onigiri, you feel overwhelmingly weak.

Crickets are singing somewhere in the grass. The dark street is lit only by a single lantern in the distance. A sly breeze gently touches your hair. Someone's hot hand touches your face, tucking away the disheveled strands. The scent of jasmine lingers in your lungs.

Your head lands heavily on Suo's shoulder. Your eyes close. You don't understand why you feel so safe. Why you're not afraid.

You have to stay alert. You must never relax.

But your tired, well-fed body decides everything for you.

***

You don't know how long it's been before you wake up, struggling to open your eyelids. For the first ten seconds, you just try to remember your name and where you are.

You're lying on something soft, your nose resting on a black cloth. A jacket with green inserts is thrown over you. It's warm. Someone's hand is stroking your hair.

Recent memories slip into your mind.

Suo. Food. Steps. Work.

Right. Work. How long did you sleep? Your boss was here today. Surely everyone has noticed your long absence. Your colleagues won't be able to cover for you. You don't want to lose your job or pay a fine.

You abruptly rise from what appears to be someone else's lap. Furin's jacket falls from your shoulders.

“I have to go. My boss...”

“Came here fifteen minutes ago and let you go early today,” Hayato's palms rest on your shoulders, preventing you from getting up.

You raise your eyebrows in surprise. “Really? The old man never spares me. What did you say to him?”

Suo's eyes sparkle strangely. At night, you have the feeling you could mistake them for fire. He reminds you of someone.

A fox. A contented, tame fox.

“I wanted to take you home, but I remembered you never gave me your address.”

Oh, of course he won't tell you.

You hope that your boss won't chase you too much after talking to Hayato.

“Are you asking for a visit?”

“Maybe.”

***

“No, seriously, what kind of conditioner do you use?”

“Just water... and shampoo... sometimes.”

“Oh, what brand do you prefer?”

“Three-in-one.”

Nirei, who had perked up his ears next to you, started scribbling something in his notebook.

You leaned back in your chair, basking in the sunlight and the deft movements of another man's hands in your hair. Mitsuki liked to play with your hair, and this morning he'd wanted to do yours. It was just a half-done ponytail on top of your head anyway, so you didn't mind.

The classroom was half empty because it was a long break and everyone had gone about their business.

Suddenly, the door opens with a bang. You seriously wonder if you're all going to have to pay for a new one. A panting Enomoto flies into the classroom.

“Again?” someone at the back of the desks grumbles exhaustedly, “But we cleaned on Friday! It's only Monday!”

Waving them away, Takeshi looks around the classroom with an attentive gaze and asks casually:

“Is Akashi-kun here?”

Your eyebrow twitches irritably. “Cover me,” you whisper to the boys while you slowly try to crawl under your desk.

The unimpressed vice captain hovered over your desk. Nirei chuckled awkwardly and bowed to the senpai as a sign of respect, Kiryu just smiled as he looked at you.

“Try harder next time,” Enomoto says and pulls you out by your neck. You squint in pain. Your arms hang from your body.

“Next time I'll jump out the window.”

“Dream on. We'll get you out of the down.”

You sigh: you can't escape.

“Risa-chan is lost again. You go look for her,” Takeshi says calmly, still holding you by the collar like a guilty puppy, and starts walking towards the exit. Mentally mocking him, you reluctantly follow. What a pain.

The thing was, as it turned out, you had a superpower: you were an animal magnet. One day, Risa-chan jumped on your back, clawed at your jacket and refused to get off. You had to walk all the way back to her elderly owner's house, earning puzzled looks from passersby. From then on, every time she ran away, you were the one they turned to. You weren't very happy about it.

Undoubtedly, you loved animals. Sometimes even more than people. It was just so torturous, disturbing, and afterwards that sweet old lady always dragged you to her for tea, and talking to her made you tired.

So you'd like to avoid that fate.

Your perfect plan to run under the desk didn't work out. What a tragedy.

“You're not even going to ask me?”

“That's Kaji-san's order. Are you going to challenge your esteemed senpai's decision, kid?”

“Not even a thought,” you smile, “but was there no one else?”

“Suo-kun is coming with you.”

“Оh?”

Indeed: as you approach the door, you see a smiling Hayato leaning against the wall. When Suo hears footsteps, he rushes over to you and examines you with an inexplicable tenderness. It doesn't last long, though: his gaze suddenly darkens as he stops where Enomoto's hand had carelessly held you by the collar.

Maybe it's just your imagination, but his angelic smile takes on a sharp edge. Before you can blink, the large, calloused fingers at the back of your neck unclench and are replaced by another, careful and gentle.

“Hello again, Enomoto-senpai, Akashi-kun,” Suo greets you, and you look at him in surprise. Is he angry? Why? “Can you tell me where Risa-chan was last seen? It would really help us in our search.”

“Oh, sure,” Enomoto muttered and began to explain. You didn't listen, as Suo's warm fingers touched the spot where you had been pulled. You closed one eye and blinked at Hayato: he didn't look at you. He finished adjusting the cloth and ran his fingers gently over the back of your neck. After running his fingers over your skin for a moment longer, he finally placed his hot hand on your shoulder blades.

It burns. Your neck burns. Your ears, for some reason, too. You lower your gaze to the floor: what's wrong with you?

In your mind, you curse Kiryu, the reason your neck is exposed today.

Soon Enomoto finishes, and you go off in search. You're not ashamed that you weren't listening. It's hardly helpful: the cat could have run away a long time ago.

Suo's hand is still on your back as you walk down the street. Still leaves a chemical burn.

“Are you mad?”

Hayato's eye narrows in surprise. He doesn't turn to you.

“No. Why would I be?”

“You seemed annoyed,” you say calmly, kicking a pebble in the road.

“How'd you figure that out?” his ingratiating gaze is on you now. You don't sense any malice. Curiosity, perhaps. And something else you can't quite figure out.

Oh, so you were right. He did look angry.

“Donnow... It's just that your smile was different, and your voice-”

“Do you understand the intonation of my smile?”, Suo rarely expresses his surprise openly, but this moment probably does.

“U-uhm yeah?... maybe...”

“You're amazing, Hoshi-kun,” Suo laughs affectionately. You can't understand why. Did you say something funny?

“Am I?” you raise your eyebrows and meet his gaze. Your serene face is illuminated by the light of his smile.

You feel like you've been bathed in sunshine. Still, you can't understand why.

“Definitely.”

next chapter →

[mapoeggplant]

skip to loafer chapter 68 + shima analysis // spoilers

acceptance of the monster: how facing the past is necessary when the goal is a brighter future

i think that those who have been following me for a while have seen all my analyses and random insights about shima. i have immense affection for him and he will always be one of my favorite characters ever. and chapters like this remind me of how important he is in my life. 

chapter 68 is very straight to the point, but it also hides some small and big changes that started to bubble up from previous chapters. for the first time, we no longer have small, not very explicit scenes from shima's memories or him being so afraid of finally facing the past: now we have the naked truth, laid out in front of us, so that we can understand a little more about how the childhood that shaped shima's entire life until now was.

unlike what i imagined, i didn't get angry with taiga now that he was introduced. of course, i don't think his actions were right or that he didn't influence shima in a negative way, but his appearance at that moment served as both a salvation and a tragedy for shima's life.

there are many layers to be analyzed. we know very, very little about taiga, but we can understand that he didn't have a very good relationship with his family either — the moment he talks about his parents' disappointment in him for giving up acting shows us that he was probably also forced to do something he didn't want to do. he is also the result of a desire imposed on him, causing him to rebel as the years went by.

in a way, meeting shima is like meeting your past self. i don't see much evil in his actions or see it as something malicious. i think he recognized in shima's face the same nervousness that he himself felt every time before his rehearsal, thus proposing that he also have an act of rebellion to feel a little freer.

however, the evil of all this is that taiga, without knowing anything, ends up entering shima's life at a time when he is most fragile and hurt by everything he has been facing (whether it be his abusive relationship with his mother or his growing fear of acting). shima sees taiga as an equal, someone who understands all the pain he has faced but managed to escape from it, while he’s still a prisoner. he sees the older boy as an inspiration, as a friend he longed for, who would show him what a life away from cameras and rehearsals would be like.

shima is still too young to understand everything that is happening around him, and too young to see any kind of problem in following his new friend. having a destructive act at a time of such fragility gives him a certain strength, because he understands this as the only way he has to face his mother and go against everything that is imposed on him. going out with taiga, even if secretly, is a message to his mother: you no longer have control over me.

unfortunately, we have known the result of these escapades for a long time. ririka, also worried about shima, decides to follow him and ends up being targeted by several online attacks. even though shima was the one who “took” her there, ririka, a beautiful and successful girl, is the perfect target.she is the one who suffers the direct consequences, and of course this is closely linked to the sexism that is rooted in society and how much people wait for a girl to make a small mistake so that they can destroy her in some way (i talk more about this in my exclusive ririka analysis).

now shima no longer has to face just two monsters: they have now multiplied into a thousand, becoming even stronger. the consequences of his rebellion come in an aggressive form, with his mother’s abuse and the new tarnished image he obtained in his artistic circle. his mother’s anxiety comes from the fact that shima would no longer get big roles, either because of this transgression or because he missed so many rehearsals, which did not lead to any improvement in terms of acting. blinded by all the anger she feels inside, shima's mother's direct response is no other than to attack her son.

child abuse is extremely common in the arts, whether by parents, the press, the public or co-workers. shima is just one of many young actors who have had to suffer the wrath of a parent who is disappointed by a dream that they themselves forced their children to have. and of course, this would result in years of being afraid to be who they are, to speak out and to live a normal life without carrying immense guilt. the prison that he has placed himself in for all these years is the evolution of the bonds imposed by his mother.

the turning point does not happen in this chapter itself, but in a sequence of long events that led him to where he is. it is impossible for shima to change overnight: it takes a lot of work and a lot, but a lot of analysis (even if it is self-analysis) to finally understand and be able to heal all this pain that he has been held hostage by for so many years. and the second part of the chapter shows exactly that.

shima is no longer afraid to face the monster of the past because he is no longer alone. he finally understands that there are people around him who care about him and fight to stay by his side. having people's support and love gives him the strength to move forward and continue this arduous battle of growing up. shima now understands what it is to be loved to the point of being happy about a past fight, as it resulted in an even closer relationship with mitsumi. he understands that being loved is being able to look back on the past and no longer feel pain or guilt, but to recognize the one who suffered so much, with no one by his side.

he now takes on the role of the monster, but no longer to affirm his guilt, but to be able to show his past self and all the other monsters around him how it is possible for him to be happy. how it is possible to decide things for yourself and follow your heart. how it is possible to love so many people and be loved in return. how it is possible to look at a person and feel an immense warmth, an inexplicable desire to keep fighting, all so that he can be by their side. 

shima is finally reaching out to his past self, so that they can form a new future together.

before i finish, i would also like to touch on an important point that i see the possibility of being discussed in the future: shima's current relationship with his mother. chapter 67 brought something very important, which was shima's recognition when he admitted that he felt a certain pity for his mother, due to all the comments he heard about her. deep down, he feels a certain empathy for his mother and no longer sees her as an unbeatable villain. he has been slowly trying to change his relationship with her, and the first step is to invite her to watch the play he chose to be in. this in my opinion shows shima's desire to forgive his mother in order to move on, but also seek some kind of forgiveness from her (which can be a result of many years of manipulation, since he still thinks he is guilty for a lot of his mother’s pain). i feel that we will still see a type of closeness between them and a deeper conversation, so that shima can finally feel like he belongs to a family again. this can be a triggering moment to a lot of readers, so if it does happen, please be mindful of it. 

the layers that not only this chapter but this whole new arc has are much deeper than we imagine. building a character requires love, patience and conversation. you need to listen and understand what your character wants. respect is needed so that the story can grow. takamatsu misaki has a huge affection for her characters, for her story and for everything she has been building since 2018.

we're so lucky to be able to follow such amazingly beautiful story.

thank you so much for reading 💛💛!! don't forget to support sensei if you can! always here to discuss more about the chapter!

[lyinyao]

what i think are the wbk boys' charm points !

first years edition pt1 | sakura, nirei, sugishita

tags ~ fem!reader, mostly fluff, mentions of body shaming (sugishita), random af

notes ~ don't mind me just daydreaming about wbk as usual, i tried including one for physical appearances and one for their characteristics..

first years edition pt2 | suo, kiryu, taiga

sakura's eyes / honesty

the first thing you notice about sakura is the sharp contrast of his hair, then when you approach the boy, his eyes are what catches your attention

on one side there's a bleak gray that reminds you of the barren field of the moon ; on the other is an eye as golden as the sunset - which you believe is absolutely captivating

sakura's shy with his advances, often needing a little push from either one of his friends, but one thing for certain is that the things he says are genuine and rarely sugarcoated

he's outright but still chooses his words carefully, and it gives you so much more comfort than the words of reassurance anyone could give

because you know he means it and that he wouldn't fake any reaction

sakura averts his eyes, gaze not staying on your figure for more than three seconds because he's never seen anyone as pretty as you

you were thanking him for saving you the other day from some creeps, to which he recalls happened quite recently but he hadn't gotten a good look at you until now

and god he doesn't know what to do with himself

everytime he looks back towards you (because it's impolite to not look at somebody talking to you), your eyes were already fixed on him and he prays that his appearance wasn't weirding you out

if it wasn't already obvious by the warmth that envelopes your cheeks when you realise how much you've been staring deep into his eyes

"those guys were.. bothering you right? you shouldn't let them walk all over you like that."

he mutters with a pout, he knows his face is unbelievably red right now, and he thinks it's so uncool to act like this in front of such a cute girl and he knows you know it too

but he still decides to send you off with some words of advice (he doesn't want you to get hurt the next time)

you smile with eyes filled with gratitude for him, you swear you can see steam coming out of his ears from how hot he feels, and give him a playful reply

"right, I'll send them one of those flying kicks you did!"

he then says you shouldn't do that without practice with a rather concerned face, which earns him another minute of your laughter

nirei's smile / support

when the corners of nirei's lips curl upwards, practically every facial feature of his light up, and naturally your lips end up mirroring his in any situation

he's a beam of sunshine that's for sure, the guiding light that you just need sometimes

nirei is the first to celebrate your achievements and the last person you'd shoo away during your moments of self deprecation

he's so eager to help too, pulling out his trusty notebook to offer you support in any topic, you wouldn't be surprised if he had your grocery list for the following week prepared for you

you have been struggling with a school project for a while now, you were constantly doing research, which resulted in you sleeping awfully late some days

luckily you have nirei around to remind you to 'take breaks!' and 'make sure you eat your fill!'

at one point, you both started facetiming each other while you continue your assignment (nirei's suggestion)

sure having nirei's company during these tough nights was certainly helping your productivity, but you didn't want him to suffer along with you and continuously assured him that he didn't have to do this, especially with how hard he's working to protect the town as well

he assured you back that he didn't mind at all and he was doing this on his own accord anyways

he's too shy to admit that he's missed hearing you and seeing your face after you've been busy holed up in your house completing your project for the past week

whenever you were having a tough time and nirei noticed, he'd give you a wide grin followed with some encouraging words to help you get through it

"nirei. nirei?", you call out with a soft voice, the camera showing the top of his head hasn't moved in the past half hour

you say his name once more and you see his body flinch slightly, head jerking up to face you, prying his bleary eyes open as best as he can

he mumbled a quick apology as he yawns.. and he apologizes for that as well

"it's okay, you should go rest aki. i'm finished."

you find it adorable how he immediately perks up, congratulating and praising you for your hard work, the proudest smile hung on his face

you would return the energy if it wasn't near depleted by then, so you settle for a soft chuckle, thanking him for all the support he's given

you pout when he denies your credit and sigh

"well if you're not gonna accept that, i'll just have to use my actions to repay you huh?"

"i'll make up for all the dates we've missed out on tenfold!", you hum, teasing his flustered face before wishing him a good night's sleep

sugishita's height / loyalty

not everybody is a whopping 6ft tall, but your boyfriend is, turning heads everywhere he goes

either curious of the way he towers over everyone or concerned about the prominent grouch he embodies

everybody knows the only person in sugishita's eyes is everyone's beloved top dog - umemiya, but one could argue you were a close second

you've seen how he reacted when anybody refers to umemiya without honorifics, he wouldn't hesitate to defend your name either

it was a lovely day, the weather was perfect and you had cleared your schedule for the day

you even spent the entire morning putting together a flattering outfit to go out in, of course you had to drag your grumbling boyfriend up from his nap for a date! (he quickly shut up after laying his eyes on you)

you both do a little window shopping, mainly just you leading in the front, squealing at whatever catches your eye

and sugishita follows closely behind, like a guard dog, ready to jump at any threat during your lovely outing

you tell him to lay off the scary expression, which he merely huffs in response (he tries to keep his face as neutral as possible after that and ends up looking even scarier through an onlooker's eyes from how hard he's focusing)

you've scurried off to a food stall to get you both a snack on the go when sugishita overhears some rather unpleasant remarks targeted towards you

his eyebrow twitches in annoyance, and mentally panics when he notices you stiffen up, the conversation you were having with the stall owner dying down

they weren't standing too far off, in fact you stood even closer than sugishita was, you feel like curling up and disappearing, like the nights where you'd curl into yourself, arms wrapping around your own waist in a pathetic way to comfort yourself

you quickly pay for the food and urge sugishita to leave the scene, your pace quickening from how desperate you wanted to escape this situation

but before you could react, sugishita was already heading towards the group of people, his back straightened to assert intimidation

"got a problem?"

he cocks his head to the side, with the meanest glare aimed at those people, you scramble to his side trying to pull him away but his stubborn head just wouldn't budge

the people were visibly flustered, their presence shrunk down to that of a mouse, while they hurried away with their tails between their legs

you sigh, "it's alright sugi.. let's just get going yeah?"

he obliges, but now with a hand around your waist, you look up at him in shock and his brows were still furrowed, eyes trained at the road ahead

you realise he's straining his arm to cover your waist, in case you felt insecure about people seeing

he knows you've figured out his intentions, but he doesn't let it show, you just smile and walk a bit more closer to him, happily indulging in the snack you had purchased

you reach the treat up to sugishita's face so that he could have a taste as well, giggling when he comments that it's too sweet

.. definitely not as sweet as your boyfriend though

before posting ~ happy girlfriends day girlfrienddss ‼️ tomorrow is actually my bday and I've finally decided to post this :3 this sucks and im embarrassed but when have i cared about that so it's getting posted 💪

[fr33time]

can you do dorm leaders with Female MC/S/O who cosplay.But the thing is They have TikTok and do cosplay videos by characters similar to the dorm leaders.

Example;

Alan:Mitsuri or Gyomei From Demon Slayer.

A/N: Sorry for taking so long!! This is the last request im doing before I open back up asks! I wasn’t sure how to do this one until a few days ago lol. I’ve never done this before and it was a new experience. I only did characters that I have a decent amount of knowledge for, so if there’s a better fit then I apologize if I missed them. Enjoy these cute headcanons and have a lovely day! Smooches!

✎ (❁ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈) ༉‧ ♡*.✧

◛⑅·House Captains with Fem! S/O that cosplays characters similar to them ˚ ༘ ♡

Divider credits: @abyslita

Genre: Fluff, Headcanons

Requesting rules here! (Read before requesting)

╔══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╗

Jin - Wriothesley (GI)

Jin didn’t really pay attention to what you did in your free time, if you need funds for your hobby then he’ll give it you if you lay in bed with him for a while. When Jin saw that you were preparing a new cosplay he went to your TikTok page to check how it turned out.

He didn’t think much of the cosplay at first and only paid attention to how detailed it was and how nice of a job you did (he thought his money was put to good use), he doesn’t really know what Genshin Impact is besides from content he sees online. He asked you why you chose him to do a cosplay of and when you explained that Wriothesley reminded you of him, he was intrigued.

You explained that he was a respectable man that keeps cool under pressure… and is also good looking. So when you show him what Wriothesley looks like, he asked which one looks better and he plasters a sly smirk on his face. He definitely tries to fluster you, and a part of you knows that it’s working.

———

Alan - Roronoa Zoro (OP)

He thinks it’s cute that you cosplay, whenever you show him your new cosplay he asks you small questions about the character and how you made the cosplay. He’s not sure what you’re talking about, but he loves hearing you talk about something that makes you happy.

When you presented your Zoro cosplay to him he complimented your swords and asked how you did them while inspecting them. Once he moved on, you told him that Zoro reminded you of him and he didn’t show much expression, but he asked further on why you thought that.

You explained that Alan and Zoro have a lot of traits in common such as being bad at directions, he’s tough, cool, and looked like a hunk. You felt a bit flustered explaining the end part, but all Alan did was smile, patted your head, and proceeded to walk away. He finds you beyond adorable, and checks your TikTok later to boost your post (when he remembers where the app is and how to boost it in the first place).

———

Haru - Nejire Hado (BNHA)

Haru is very involved in your cosplay process, he loves seeing you work on something that brings a smile on your face so he makes sure to get whatever materials you need. He doesn’t like to spend money in his personal account but he’ll do it for you if you don’t have enough. When you point this out he just winks: (^_−)−☆

He also likes learning about the characters your cosplaying as, asking you to explain their story. When he asks about why you’re cosplaying Nejire, you explain that she’s similar to him in being bright and bubbly, and that they both work hard.

He blushes a bit, nudges you with his arm, and pulls out an “aw shucks.” He searches up Nejire later to get further in depth about her, and if you think that’s he’s like her then he takes it as a compliment. He’s happy that you acknowledge his hard work as well. He doesn’t have time to watch the show, but she’s now one of his favourite characters by default.

———

Taiga - Kyōko sakura (PMMM)

Taiga doesn’t really care about what you do, as long as you’re available to him. He doesn’t pay much attention but once in a while he’ll scroll on TikTok he comes across one of your cosplays and puts a comment under the video of how good you look. All he sees is you dressing in good looking outfits.

He sees you cosplaying Kyoko one day and asks “what the fuck is this one?” He doesn’t actually care about the answer but he pays attention when you quietly say that she reminds you of him… now he’s listening.

How exactly do you tell him that they have a short temper, a nonchalant attitude, and a threatening presence in common? You keep it short and tell him that they both love to tease, and know more than they let on. He just laughs and calls you a “cute kitty” before biting your hand (his version of a small kiss) and walking away. You were thankful that he didn’t ask you anymore questions, when he’s intimidating it’s easy for him to obtain answers.

———

Subaru - Armin Arlet (SNK)

He thinks that every single cosplay you do is beautiful because it’s you, he knows a bit about making costumes so he helps you sew and plan wherever you need it! He wants to support you every step of the way and asks Haku how he can boost your TikToks.

He doesn’t ask about the characters that much besides what they look like and their name, so you tell him first that you connect Armin with Subaru. His eyes widen at this confession and cautiously asks why, you explain how they both have certain anxieties and not feeling like enough (even though they are), but they both feel incredible amounts of sympathy and being observant.

When he hears your reasons he has to ask if you like this character, you immediately jump to assure him and speak praises. He’s a blushing mess and all he can think about is how highly you think of him. He’s not one to be forward, but he compliments you on how nice you look in your cosplays and how he likes how you put the effort to act like the character in your TikToks

———

Edward - Padparadscha (HNK)

Edward religiously likes your TikToks and comments under them with his cryptic messages riddled with emojis. He likes seeing you dress up, and he often suggests characters that he’d like to see you cosplay. He just likes seeing you in pretty clothes.

The Padparadscha cosplay interested him because he’s never seen this character before, and he likes how you did the gem hair. You explained that they are pretty similar in how they are both a bit laid back, secretive, and basically undead.

Because of your description, he watches Houseki no Kuni (or land of the lustrous) out of pure interest about Padparadscha. He has enough time, afterwards he tries to tease you and asks if you think he’s prettier. He just wants to see you blush. He tells you about what he thought of the show afterwards when you’re cuddling him, Edward may be lazy but the least he can do is indulge you in your interests.

———

Yuri - Light Yagami (DN)

Yuri’s a bit too busy with his work and research to be involved in your hobby, but I can assure you that he likes your cosplays. He will never ever say it to you, but it surprises him each time that he finds another person attractive and that holds true for when you cosplay.

You’d have to ramble about your upcoming cosplay schedule to him in order for him to sort of listen. He hears the words “he reminds me of you” and his attention is caught. “No one can ever compare to me!” He says… and then immediately goes back to work. No matter how much you try to catch his attention again, he insists that he needs to get work done and not to bother him.

He gets curious and searches up Light, realizing that Light is a cunning man that makes sure he’s 10 steps ahead of everyone. He feels pretty good about himself, but misses that Light is also a bit crazy to say the least. Next time he sees you he actually compliments your cosplay, not without stuttering and blushing of course.

╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝

[timeslipcamp]

alright so this feels like a reach, but it also feels like an "obviously nostradamus" kind of observation lol but i'm putting it out there anyways. theory on the prophecy given at the entrance ceremony

spoilers through episode 13 i think? vague tho

okay so this is the prophecy we were given at the entrance ceremony. hyde brought out the kamadan and here's what it said:

oh my god it's a kudan sorry kamadan is dnd

the KUDAN said:

"The whisper of the new moon shall lead the champion to the academy on the solitary aisle. So long as the champion resides there, the world shall be sheltered from profound tragedy."

the chancellor gave his opinion on how he interprets it soon after:

"The whisper of the new moon refers to the tidings that alert us to the birth of a new ghoul. The academy on the solitary aisle is, of course, Darkwick Academy. The ghouls who have been gathered here by the new moon's whisper...shall save the world from profound tragedy!! They are our champions!"

like most of what the chancellor says, i think this is bullshit lol

i'll give him the solitary aisle part at least. like nothing else in the story (that we've been told of) would make sense for this part lol the solitary aisle academy is darkwick

after this is where i start to disagree. let's go line by line because i'm insane

"The whisper of the new moon,"

okay, granted, i have no idea how the academy finds out about new ghouls. there could be some weird little ceremony that they've never told us about that has to do with the moon and whispers blah blah blah. HOWEVER! however. the new moon part has been tripping me up the last few weeks

new moons are dark moons. it's the period in the moon's cycle where its darkest before it starts to fill out and begin to glow again. this is caused by the positioning that causes the side of the moon facing us to be in shadow. that's not super important. the important part is that the new moon starts in darkness. the ENTIRE intro of the game before you pick a ghoul talks about humanity being afraid of the dark and coming out of it into the light.

additionally, mc's name in the save files is luna. luna is a name that literally translates from latin as moon. luna was the roman goddess of the moon personified, and we know this game loves its greek and roman god names and symbolism.

this is the part that's the stretch. if luna (mc) is the moon, is the new moon the luna that's coming fresh into the time loop? or is the new moon the darker luna, the kyklos, and it's because of the kyklos that mc gets led to the solitary aisle? the kyklos/mina was texting us and talking about destiny, i feel like that counts as a whisper

"...shall lead the champion to the academy on the solitary aisle."

this is the "duh" part, but i'm pretty sure mc is the champion. it's a game where we're the main character, classic mc is the chosen one, right? it makes more sense than the ghouls anyways. and then we're obviously led to darkwick.

"So long as the champion resides there, the world shall be sheltered from profound tragedy."

they went through a LOT of trouble in those early chapters to keep mc there--taxis ignoring her, train stops not working, the wanted posters...it was kind of insane. that being said, the kyklos is apparently a crazy contagious anomaly, and the way yuri and jiro spoke about it in the newest mortkranken chapter makes it sound like it could have easily spread like wildfire.

so to summarize, i think mc is both the champion and the moon leading herself back to the island in order to keep herself contained. however! there's definitely holes in this theory, seeing as the kyklos escapes off the train and taiga just tells us its missing lmao. he says he lost it, but honestly i don't know if i believe him. part of me thinks he either ate it or he knows exactly where it went and he's lying

and just to tack on to this theory, i think darkwick (and the chancellor) knows the ghouls aren't the champions. if anything, i think they're using it as an excuse to gather all the ghouls (and anomalies) on the island and to keep them there for whatever purpose. they want the ghouls contained and controlled, and what better way than a prophecy that says they have to be contained in order to prevent tragedy?

anyways most of this was pulled out of my ass while i was on hold with insurance at work lmao but that's my two cents for now. i'm sure i'll have a different opinion in like, two chapters

sidenote: they made this kudan way cuter lol kudans are a type of japanese folklore creature that their name means "human faced bovine," and this is what they look like

apparently, their birth (from a cow) is an omen that something significant is to happen, and they typically die either right after delivering their prophecy or as soon as it comes true.

ours is way cuter

[sweetestlotusflower]

TKDB ghouls as songs from my playlist !･:*+

songs from my playlist that remind me of each TKDB ghoul in some way( ◠‿◠ ) ˚✧₊⁎

! Disclaimer ! Since I only picked from songs in my playlist, some of the characters might get something inaccurate or silly, this is all for fun!

Frostheim

Jin Kamurai • The Family Jewels - MARINA

༄ “ooh, don’t you find it strange? Only thing we share is one last name, did I beat you at your own game? Typical of me to put us all to shame”

Thoma Ishibashi • GLOOMTOWN BRATS - I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME

༄ “you’ve been so polite, thank god for charm school, but if I read this right…then all this attention’s intentionally cruel”

Lukas Errant • Two Birds - Regina Spektor

༄ “I’ll believe it all, there’s nothing I won’t understand, I’ll believe it all, I won’t let go of your hand”

Kaito Fuji • Affluenza - Conan Gray

༄ “80 grand in both your hands but no love, all these kids have got affluenza, goin’ recking their daddy’s Benz, ah”

Vagastrom

Alan Mido • Mercy - Sir Chloe

༄ “Mercy, can you forgive me? I want your mercy, are you still with me? I’ll give you anything, take it all away”

Leo Kurosagi • fan behavior - Isaac Dunbar

༄ “I just wanna say ‘hey’ to let you know your blow, and all you did was feed my ego”

“it’s fan behavior, you’re a fan, as a result of my cold demeanor”

Shohei Haizono • Devil’s Advocate - The Neighborhood

༄ “trade the whip out for a bike, designer for some Nikes, switch the stripper for a wife, black tie for a white tee”

Jabberwock

Haru Sagara • What, Me Worry? - Portugal. The Man

༄ “happy as a clown, what? Me, worry? House is burning down, don’t disturb me, I ain’t even trippin’ I ain’t trippin’ I’m just dancing through the door”

Towa Otonashi • dumb dumb - mazie

༄ “There must be something in the cornflakes making it hard for us to think straight, I just wanna go from here, close my eyes and disappear”

Ren Shiranami • I Hate Everyone but You - Elita

༄ “I’m tired of being tired but you don’t seem to be bothered when I stay in bed all day, I guess I’m kinda sorry cause I won’t go to your party but you tell me it’s ok”

Sinostra

Taiga Hoshibami • Butcher Vanity - Vane Lily

༄ “They say my hunger’s a problem, they tell me to curb my appetite, they say I can’t keep myself from trying a bite of every plate in sight”

Romeo Lucci • DEBT COLLECTOR - Jhariah

༄ “here comes the debt collector, seems you owe him again, dollars and coins can’t cut your cheque this time around”

Ritsu Shinjo • Oh No! - MARINA

༄ “I know exactly what I want and who I want to be, I know exactly why I walk and talk like a machine, I’m now becoming my own self fulfilled prophecy”

Hotarubi

Subaru Kagami • Furetara Saigo - NAKISO

༄ “no matter what’s done to me, no matter what form, I’m a slave that’ll accept anything, I’m like a slave, but well whatever it’s fine in its own way”

Haku Kusanagi • Walk You Home - Sir Chloe

༄ “I found you in the bathroom like that, help you up and say hello, I’ve been around the block and I’ve seen you cry a lot, can I walk you home?”

Zenji Kotodama • Francis Forever - Mitski

༄ “I look up at the gaps of sunlight, I miss you more than anything, I don’t need the world to see that I’ve been the best I can be but I don’t think I could stand to be where you don’t see me”

Obscuary

Edward Hart • Supermassive Black Hole - Muse

༄ “ooh baby can you hear me moan? You caught me under false pretenses, how long before you let me go? You set my soul alight, glaciers melting in the dead of night and the superstars sucked into the supermassive”

Rui Mizuki • despair - leo.

༄ “I want you to be here, but please don’t come near, cause even though I’m pretty sure my head’s exploding, I’m not ready for hand holding, it’s not love, I swear, it might be closer to despair”

Lyca Colt • Hansel - Sodikken

༄ “remember yesterday? I bought you flowers, you threw them away”

“there’s a part of me that’s appealingly sweet, I’m sure you’d agree if you got to know me and admittedly, I’m not that interesting, but I’ll let you have what’s mine if you just give me your time”

Mortkranken

Yuri Isami • The Main Character - Will Wood

༄ “So god forbid I’m seen just as an average human being, I mean, imagine if protagonists just died in the first scene? I’m the gap between a tragedy and comedy, don’t come at me, I’m the main character and you have to like me!”

Jiro Kirsaki • DEATHBODY - Ghost and Pals

༄ “my body should be cold, the eyes of maggots gazing through to my soul, I left so long ago, behind be are the tears I couldn’t control”

[indigosuvi]

Let The Games Begin

age in bio when interacting. minors do not interact.

Word Count: 951 | Read it on AO3 | Tag List

Featuring: Shintaro Midorima, Daiki Aomine, Atsushi Murasakibara, Taiga Kagami, and Teppei Kiyoshi.

Shintaro Midorima was saddened that he would have to miss your game. He didn’t want to miss his and you didn’t want to miss yours. So you were both stuck in the situation of whether one of you misses the other or both of you just go on your own way. He promised to update you on the status of the game and come visit you as soon as he possibly could. You promised to do the same. He wasn’t expecting the call during the break in the game. He had been listening to the coach talk. His phone rang, and he raised an eyebrow at the call. It wasn’t like you to interrupt. He thought for a brief moment, “just ignore it.” It wasn’t like him to ignore a phone call, and there was something off about the entire situation. He didn’t know what to do. He apologized as he quickly answered the phone. He heard the sounds of the sirens in the background. That was an unusual noise for someone in a game. Your voice was a tone he had never heard before, and he didn’t want to hear it again. You were clearly in pain as you told him about what had happened. He wanted to cry, but he was still in the middle of something right now. All eyes were on him. He couldn’t let his emotions show right now. He breathed in and out before putting on a serious face as he ended the call and let his teammates know that he had plans and something to do right now. He walked out calmly, trying to hold his composure before breaking out into a run to come find you. He wasn’t going to let you be alone.

Daiki Aomine is very passionate about basketball, and you knew that, but when you left a voicemail telling him that you had been injured during your sporting event and that you were on your way to the hospital he couldn’t help but cry as he had been too busy with basketball, he hadn’t heard your phone ring. He thought that he had turned the sound on. He hadn’t heard your phone ring or seen any of your texts until the game was over. He raced out, not bothering to change his clothes. He was already in his car and on the way to see you before his teammates had finally noticed that Daiki wasn’t in the locker room with the rest of them. They were going to talk about the game, and they still might. It just wasn’t the same without him. He had been with them for the entire game. They could only hope that he was alright. He was, he just had to go visit you, and make sure that you were alright.

Everyone was surprised that Atsushi Murasakibara had a significant other. He didn’t seem to care about much, in their opinion. It was halftime for the both of you. You called him up, and he answered. He was fully expecting you to tell him about how the game was going so far. Instead, you told him you were injured and on the way to the hospital. The bag of chips fell from Atsushi’s hand as he looked surprised. He didn’t know what to do. He could finish his chips and the game, or he could come see you. You knew that if you didn’t make the choice for him, he would sit there not knowing what to do or have someone else make the choice for him. You told him what you wanted, and he picked the bag up off the ground before following what you had said.

Taiga Kagami had been listening to the coach when all of a sudden his phone rang. He answered it without hesitation. You were in the middle of your game, or at least you should have been, depending on what time it started. You knew that he was in the middle of his game. It wasn’t like you to interrupt something so important to him. When he heard that you had been severely hurt, he simply swore and walked out of the building, telling you he was on his way to help you. You tried to convince him to worry about his game and that you would be fine. Your voice told a different story. He knew you were hurting, and he didn’t want you to be alone. Plus, who would pick you up from the hospital? He had a car and he could take care of you. The game had been boring to him anyway.

Teppei Kiyoshi loves basketball, his friends, his teammates, and you. He is always very kind and honest. He also isn’t much of a texter. Rather, he prefers phone calls. Unfortunately, you both had games at the same time and at different places. You both promised to update the other on how things were going. It was in the middle of the breaktime that he received a text from you. You weren’t one to text him normally. He read your text slowly out loud, and his teammates overheard what he was saying. They told him that he should worry about you and head over to visit. They could handle the game without him. He read the text out loud once again. Confirming what he had just previously read. Then it hit him. You were hurt and on your way to the hospital. You couldn’t call because you were in too much pain. He understood, and he double-checked with his teammates before leaving to come visit you. He didn’t want to leave them stranded, but he didn’t want to leave you stranded either.

© SUVIDRACHE — do not copy, translate, modify, or plagiarize my work. reblogs are appreciated!

Tag List: @eli-chris, @dragonlordrizz

[lunawings]

King of Prism Dramatic PRISM.1 !!

So it's not the old days anymore, and I have significantly less to talk about not having been watching this movie on repeat in theaters for months. But I have been pulling it apart little by little since getting the DVD and I do have stuff to talk about.

So I hope someone, anyone, still enjoys my spoilers, screenshots, and scattered thoughts on the latest King of Prism compilation movie.

First of all, I'll explain the concept of this movie to people who might not know. It's the PRISM.1 competition from SSS, but framed as if you are viewing it from your TV at home, commercials and all!

We find out that Over the Rainbow was the opening act before the show, and of course they have a new prism jump...

Continuing to grow older with Over the Rainbow, you've now moved in together. Hiro gives you a beautiful night sky...

Kazuki gives you delicious meals (not Kouji? I'm surprised Kouji didn't get the food scene for once)

Kouji gives you a lot of space even though he just wants to be close to you. (Haha I think that's what he said.)

Over the Rainbow Hills Grand Opening! Five minutes from the station, parking garage. Nijinosaki Real Estate!

The TV broadcast continues by showing the earlier Prism Shows (Yukinojo, Taiga...) as "highlights." (This is an excuse not to show the Shuffle boys solo performances ppffft but really they couldn't even put in still images of what their solos looked like? I've always been so curious...)

Then another commercial break.

Stay weird, Kouji.

Then the live portion begins and here he is. The legend.

He is more hat than man.

Really they did not plan on making him CG when they designed this outfit and it's hilarious pppfffhghghg.

I have a lot of emotions about this performance, actually. First of all, I gained even more respect for Joji watching it from an audience perspective. How he just kept going without missing a beat even though he didn't know what was going on. (Or maybe he didn't even notice haha... still. He's a true performer.)

Second, I DIDN'T KNOW. I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS.

I PROTECTED MYSELF FROM THE BIGGEST SPOILER AND IT WAS SO WORTH IT.

I had my hand over my mouth the whole time. I was like shaking. I HAD NO IDEA JOJI GOT A CG LIVE THIS ENTIRE TIME. HOLLLYYYYYYYYY FFFFFFFFFFFF

AND IT WAS SO GOOD

Ahaha the heart. I loved this jump. I loved this performance.

Despite adding in announcer commentary for other parts of the show where there wasn't before, nothing was said about Ace's sudden appearance. HMHMMHMHMH.

pFFFT I did not fully digest this until now, but like... The natural gas was not discovered while Kakeru was still on his original trip in Africa? It was discovered randomly while he happened to be performing during the PRISM.1!? Wait was it? I don't feel like popping in my SSS DVD right now, someone tell me it makes sense. Actually, maybe this was just a very delayed news bulletin.

Judging by this commercial, Over the Rainbow is going into the real estate business for real!? (Sumo sounds like "let's live here" in Japanese.)

The amount of times viewers at home had to see this "Please wait" (technical difficulties) screen during the PRISM.1 gets slowly more and more hilarious as the movie goes on.

Surely I discussed this in the SSS era, but the idea that Shin just immediately collapses after his show and no one is there to catch him still breaks my heart... (At least Louis had Jin...)

So that's it. For viewers at home, both Shin and Louis just collapsed at the end of their shows and that was that. Cut to the technical difficulties screen.

And for some viewers that was LITERALLY the end. The text at the top says, "The program time has ended, but this broadcast will continue into overtime for some regions."

However, even though they were allowed to broadcast into overtime, the technical difficulties leading up to this point meant that as soon as the Shuffle finally took the stage, they needed to cut to commercial. And what a commercial it was.

So like, I knew there was a new song called "From the cradle to the grave" in this movie, but I had just been assuming it was a new Kakeru solo or something. The morning I unboxed my DVD and looked at the CD it came with I was like... JIN!? THERE'S A NEW JIN SONG ON HERE!!!?!

The Juuouin group owns a star called MaRs Fan. They own Hiro's rose satellite.

They own the Pretty Rhythm universe version of Starbucks. (Irony is the famous Shinjuku location shown in this is closed now I think...)

THE GRASSHOPPER IS A PESTICIDE SPRAYING DRONE OWNED BY JUUOUIN GROUP

Anyway, we return from commercial break to catch the Shuffle just finishing up their show. No wonder nobody noticed Ace and Joji sound the same. Ace was barely on TV at all haha... ha...

Like in universe, you would think that Schwarz Rose is a big deal. Like you would think that right!? But according to this they are constantly getting cut or pre-empted and it's kind of hilarious.

The viewer at home turns on the second audio channel, allowing for the arena audio to be heard and thus all of Shin's speech. (It makes me wonder what the announcer was saying during that time.) It also feels even more awkward and sad knowing that all of that was broadcast LIVE. And we don't see the part where Shin notices the girls who are still sad, so from the audience perspective he just bursts into tears randomly... uuguu...

This part right here is probably the only part inconsistent with this being a TV broadcast. The "Live" in the corner cuts out here at the same time the prism sparkle was lost. So was it on TV? Was it not? Do the cameras run on prism sparkle too? I checked the commentary track for answers and found none.

The viewer at home finally switches back to the regular audio channel here.

Just in time for the announcer to cut Joji off and end the show pppffffghgg. Even though they went into overtime already, SEPTeNRION's antics went just too far and they could not give Joji literally even one more second AHAHAHA srsly this part kills me I love it.

The top reads something like, "Due to overtime, 'Joji Takadanobaba and The Shuffle's Local Bus Line Connection Dreamy Eating Lots of Food Time' will not be seen today."

So The Shuffle's solos didn't make the highlight reel, The Shuffle's performance was during a commercial break, Joji's speech was cut off at the end, and their silly reality show that was supposed to air afterwards was pre-empted. Pffffhfhf.

The winning team, everyone.

"How many times in a row did you win?" asks Shin about the rock-paper-scissors game that occurs during the credits. It also still kills me they brought back this ancient Pride the Hero era art for the ending of their brand new movie. (But then again, Shin in his lil' inner tube is peak.)

And then there's this. I honestly don't hate that they are wearing their school uniforms here. Yeah, they deserve new outfits, but it reminds me of Start Dash from Love Live. And after all, this was their start. We finally get to go back in time and see the infamous (sort of) Christmas Party Dramatic Love performance that was referenced at various times throughout King of Prism's history and included in the Prism Rush story.

So I was going to keep going with the uhhh the... other stuff, but I think I'll end here for now. Not like I'll have a better idea what's going on if I delay it but eh who knows maybe.

[redsamuraiii]

I started watching J-dramas in 2020 during Covid Lockdowns. At a time when I hit rock bottom, lost my job, lost the girl I wanted to marry, lost the chance to travel (flights were cancelled), lost my purpose, lost my mind, I had no idea what was going on.

I tried watching Western shows like I always did for many years since I was a teenager but somehow I could not find solace in them. I tried watching other shows like K-dramas to see what the hype was all about and C-dramas out of curiosity but I still felt empty.

Then I remembered the first J-drama I watched as a kid with my mum, Oshin (1983). She loved that asadora drama that she never failed to miss even one episode out of like 300! It always played on TV in the late weekday afternoons after school so there I watched.

I didn't remember or understand the story then but I remembered the places shown, and I was mesmerized. I was thinking, is there such a beautiful place? Then I started watching Tokusatsu on weekends which was played on TV which showed many similar places.

And for some reason, it was the most relaxing feeling I ever felt. Wanting to feel that again, I started re-watching them and nostalgia started running through my memory. I'm not exaggerating but I really felt at peace watching them, no longer feeling empty.

That's when I started watching more J-dramas of various genres, asadora, taiga (period), comedy, slice of life, crime. I got addicted to every one of them that I felt like I was traveling to Japan in the midst of lockdowns. And watching them made me feel happy.

The stories brought grief and joy but it helps me reconnect with my own emotions or process trauma. It's healing and inspiring. There are times it makes me forget reality and there are times it reminds me of it, but in a good and inspiring way, making me feel there is hope.

Watching the characters going through their lives makes me rethink my own and re-look at them from a different perspective. It makes me think of things I never thought of before, that it helps me to solve my life problems with a different approach. 

The characters and stories may be fictional, but the struggles and problems are relatable and universal. How they react to life changing events, the people they interact with in daily lives, their life circumstances closely reflects the real ones.

Stories told from Asian perspectives, in terms of work life, relationships, anxieties, depression, mental health, struck a chord with me, an Asian, feels closer to home. As the way Asian culture deals with these things is different from the West. 

I never felt such a level of happiness or sadness watching any shows but J-dramas. They showed me that nothing is permanent in life, both the good times and the bad times. They showed me how to treasure the good times and move on from the bad times.

I’ve watched 400 J-dramas in 4 years! They made me start learning Japanese and made me stop watching Western shows ever since (not all but most). I guess you could say it is one form of therapy which makes me able to express and experience emotion again.

Because if you’ve suffered from anxiety and depression, you know that you don’t feel alive. You don’t feel happy but you don’t feel sad either. You just feel empty. Watching J-Dramas make me feel like, hey, I’m not alone, they are going through this type of thing too!

[harveybwabbit92]

New Ultra oc: Ultraman Aux *It's short for Auxilius*

{My inspirations for him came from X, Mebius and Taiga.}

Age: 8,700

height: 51 m

Occupation: Deep space courier.

Host: Dustine 'Dusty' Campbell.

Relatives: Unamed mother

ultraman Domi (deceased)- Father

Belial (Deceased) He got better.- possible paternal half-uncle

Geed- possible paternal half-cousin.

Species: Ultra

Home world: M78/Earth

Color Timer: He has a Teardrop shaped one, he was given a Color Timer due his courier job requiring him to travel off planet and into deep space from time to time.

Ultra transformation object: Aux band and scanner.

(He also has an Ultra space similar to Z's so he and Dusty can interact with each other off the field)

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

How he ended up on Earth: A very important package of monster capsules got stolen and he pursued the thieves only for Aux to stumble onto something completely bigger then just mere mail theft.

Someone or something had caused the capsules to become dark and corrupted and any monsters sealed inside of them have become feral and violent. He also found out the hard way that ultras can't survive on Earth for long.

And just when things were starting to look bleak for Aux he met her...there was car wreck Aux realized was possibly caused by his arrival. He saw an injured woman helping the knocked out occupant out the other wrecked vehicle despite her own injuries and Aux decided to bond with her.

He learned her name was Dustine Campbell and she worked as a custodian for this Earth's Kaiju suppression squad. (I'll try to come up with a name later.) She's the perfect host since no one notices her going missing during kaiju attacks and if anyone does then they always assume she's either hiding or evacuated.

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

Combat experience: He has very little combat experience; given his occupation Aux's never really faced any major problems, except being chased down by the occasional pet. though he is trained for combat and even has his own signature beam attack. He's never fully had use them... until now that is. Though, over time he gets better with experience.

[Side Note: Ultraman Astra was sent to arrest Aux for vigilantism 'cos he's not space ranger. He's just a regular civilian but once Astra saw how bad situation really was he decided to stick around Earth for a while and give Aux (And Dusty) some proper training. Needless to say, both ultras got in trouble for this, but were eventually pardoned after reviewing their reports.]

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

Made using this Piccrew. This is Aux's host Dustine 'Dusty' Campbell she's 29-30 yrs old and works as a cleaning lady for her Earth's Kaiju research and suppression team.

She met Aux after the ultra's arrival caused a car accident, and even though Dusty was wounded in the crash she managed to free herself from her car and rescues the other car's driver from harm before passing out.

A week later she woke up in the hospital where the baffled doctors told her she was very lucky lady, it was a miracle she was walking away from that accident with minor injuries...Which confused Dusty 'cos even she knew her injuries were anything but minor! But then the thankfulness of being alive overwrote the confusion and life moved on...

Until a month later when Dusty woke up in the middle of the night to see a silver alien humanoid with little red horns and glowing yellow eyes sitting by her bed watching her sleep! Needless to say, Dusty damn near woke up the entire block with how loud she screamed...

[weekendpassrevoked]

Easy's Songbird - Chapter 25

authors note: MY ASS IS SO GETTING JUMPED FOR THIS LMAOOOOO ENJOY THE ANGST

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Orlando, Florida, August 11th, 1943

Joe woke up the next day not only feeling the hammering headache from last night's drinks, but a sobering dread in his chest. They would be leaving today, and it made him feel heavier than any hangover ever could. The weight of reality settled over him as he sat up, rubbing his temples. The laughter, the music, the warmth of the bar and the cheers of the crowd—it all felt like a dream now, something fleeting and untouchable in the face of what came next.

He glanced around the room, taking in the quiet stillness of the early morning. Gene was already up, sitting near the window with a cup of coffee in hand, staring out at the dim light of dawn creeping over the horizon. Their bedroom door was cracked open, soft murmur of voices seeping in from the outside. 

Joe sighed, forcing himself to his feet despite the throbbing in his skull. He needed water, maybe something to eat, but mostly, he needed a moment to shake the feeling that they were walking into something they might not come back from.

The house smelled like warm arepas and coffee, a stark contrast to the sinking feeling in his stomach. As he stepped into the kitchen, Claudia was already moving about, placing plates of food on the table—one last home-cooked meal before they left.

“Buenos días, Joseph,” she greeted, her voice kind but knowing as she pushed a glass of water toward him. “You look like you had quite the night.”

Claudia had what he could only assume was traditional Colombian clothing on. The blouse was white with frilly sleeves and a collar that sat on her shoulders with a long black skirt with frills as well, both garments embroidered with ribbons.

Joe grunted, taking the glass gratefully and downing half of it in one go. “Yeah, well. Figured I’d enjoy it while I could.”

Claudia nodded, setting down a plate in front of him. “Eat. It will help.”

He didn’t argue, just sat down and picked at the food in front of him, his appetite dulled by nerves. Gene had followed him downstairs, sitting across from him at the dining table. The three of them shared a strained silence, the reality of the day settling in. 

Suddenly, Maya’s door slammed open, tiny feet slapping against the wood floor. Childish squeals of laughter broke through the solemn air, brightening the room. Joe felt her before he saw her; Anzu hugged his side tightly, braided black hair softly sifting around as she lifted her head up to look at him. She wore a tiny kimono; pretty pink and light blue, covered in sakura flowers. Gene was in a similar situation, dealing with a tiny Taiga in his own traditional clothing, bright yellow with cute tiny tiger print on his shirt and shorts, trying to clumsily climb up into his lap.

“Uncle Joe, is it true you and Uncle Gene are leaving today?” Anzu asks, sulking.

Joe felt his throat tighten as he looked down at the little girl clinging to his side. Her big, dark eyes were filled with worry, her usual playful energy dampened by the weight of the question. He let out a breath, forcing a small smile as he ruffled her hair.

“Yeah, klein,” he admitted, his voice softer than usual. “We gotta go for a while.”

Gene, balancing Taiga on his knee, gave a reassuring nod. “But we’ll be back,” he promised. “You’ll barely have time to miss us.”

Anzu frowned, unconvinced. “That’s what Papa said last time,” she huffed. “And he’s been gone forever!”

Joe winced. 

‘Smart kid.’

He exchanged a glance with Gene, who looked equally at a loss for words. What could they say? That this wasn’t like Michel Alejandro’s usual travels, that this was something bigger, something they weren’t even sure they’d walk away from? No. That wasn’t something kids needed to hear.

Maya, their ever perceptive mother, placed a gentle hand on Anzu’s head. “They are doing something very important, Anzi,” she said warmly. “And they will come back to us, just like Papa will.”

Anzu pouted, burying her face against Joe’s side again. “You better,” she mumbled.

Joe chuckled, though it felt a little forced. He lifted her up, letting her sit on his lap, and bumped his forehead against hers. “We will,” he said. “And while we’re gone, you gotta take care of everyone here, alright?”

Anzu nodded, sniffling a little. “Okay,” she murmured.

Gene glanced down at Taiga, who was looking up at him with wide, trusting eyes. The little boy never said much, too young yet to understand how. He held onto Gene’s sleeve like he was afraid to let go.

“Hey, Taiga,” Gene said gently. “You’re the man of the house while we’re gone, you know that?”

Taiga’s eyes widened; maybe too young to speak but not too young not to understand. With that, Gene knew he had gotten the message and his heart filled with a heavy joy.

Joe took a good look at Maya as she adjusted herself in her respective seat. Like her children, she wore a kimono; red with colorful swirling flowers as the pattern and a dark pink sash across her waist. Her hair was in a braided bun, pink flowers carefully placed throughout. He felt a twinge of confusion. It wasn’t the first time seeing someone in a kimono, he was from California after all. There were hundreds of Japanese people there, but he didn’t understand what the occasion was. Why was the entire family dressed up?

The Vega trio came down the stairs, dressed in their respective uniforms. Isabella’s hair had been carefully curled and pinned overnight, dark curls framing her face prettily. Her face was unreadable, along with Lucas’ and Cameron’s. The boys uniforms were just as crisp as hers and faces just as serious. 

They head to the table, hearts and eyes heavy, unswayed by the family’s elegance.

Maya reached for Isabella’s hand as she passed, squeezing it gently. “Did you sleep well, Isa?” she asked, though they both knew the answer.

Isabella nodded anyway. “Yeah…”

Lucas and Cameron settled into their seats, their movements mechanical, practiced. Joe and Gene exchanged glances, both feeling the same tension settle in their chests.

Claudia moved around the kitchen, quietly setting plates in front of them. “Eat,” she instructed, her voice soft but firm. “You need your strength.”

No one had much of an appetite, but they obeyed, if only out of respect. The only sounds for a moment were the clinking of silverware against plates and the occasional sigh.

Isabella’s eyes flit around, eyes furrowed in confusion. “Where’s my dad?” she asks.

Claudia comes out of the kitchen, settling in her seat with her own plate. “He wants to take pictures before you leave so he’s getting everything ready.”

It answers Joe’s confusion, Michel Senior wanted everyone to look nice for what could be their final moments together.

Isabella nods slowly, but Joe doesn’t miss the way her fingers tighten around her fork. Lucas and Cameron exchange a glance, both understanding the weight of the moment. Michel Vega wasn’t always the most expressive father, but when it came to goodbyes, he made sure they counted.

“Pictures, huh?” Joe mutters, running a hand through his hair. “Guess that means we better not look like shit.”

Cameron snorts. “Little late for that, Liebgott.”

Joe glares at him as Isabella chokes on her food, but there’s no heat behind it. Claudia smacks at her daughter’s back, hoping to dislodge whatever went down the wrong pipe. Once Isabella can breathe again, she takes a quick inhale of air before she starts cackling. Joe feels his neck warm from embarrassment, but he’s happy to see his favorite medic feeling better despite it being at his expense. 

Lucas chuckles, shaking his head. “Man, we can’t take you anywhere, Isabella.”

Isabella wipes at her eyes, still laughing as she takes a sip of water. “Not my fault Cameron’s funny,” she wheezes.

Cameron smirks, clearly pleased with himself. “Glad someone appreciates my talent.”

Joe rolls his eyes but can’t help the small grin tugging at his lips. The moment feels almost normal—almost like they aren’t about to leave behind everything familiar and walk straight into the unknown.

He can see Eugene smirking as well, clearly enjoying the teasing at Joe’s expense. Claudia sighs, though there’s a hint of amusement in her expression. “Eat,” she instructs again. “And try not to choke this time, Isa.”

Isabella salutes her mother with her fork before shoving another bite into her mouth. As she munches on her arepas, the master bedroom door opens revealing Michel Senior dressed in a military uniform he had never seen before. It highly resembles a German uniform, and Liebgott remembers how Isabella had explained how much German influence Colombia truly had. As he approaches the table, Joe is reminded that Michel Senior was not only a fellow soldier, but one who had been subjected to the horrors of war for years whilst being only a child. How many years had he fought when he should’ve been enjoying the fruits of his youth? What did he see at night before bed?

The table falls quiet as Michel Senior approaches, the soft creak of his boots against the wooden floor the only sound. There’s something in his presence—something heavy, like the weight of old battles clinging to his shoulders. His face is composed, unreadable, but Joe can see the ghosts of the past lingering in his eyes.

Isabella, usually quick to fill silences, watches her father carefully. Her fingers tighten slightly around her fork before she forces them to relax. “Papa,” she says, voice softer than before. “That’s… not your usual clothes.”

Michel Senior nods, running a hand over the fabric. “That’s right,” English slow as he tried to find the right words. “But I want to take a picture of all of us together, for the ones who come after us.” 

Lucas nods, his usual playfulness subdued. “Like a family record,” he murmurs, understanding the significance.

Michel Senior gives a small, approving nod. “Sí. A memory.” His gaze moves over each of them, as if committing their faces to memory before they even leave. “So they know who we were. Where we stood. How the world changed throughout the years.”

Isabella swallows, setting her fork down. “Then we better make sure we look good, huh?” She tries for a smile, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

Michel Senior’s expression softens just slightly. “Sí, Isa.”

Joe clears his throat, shifting in his chair. “Well, guess we should get to it then. Can’t let future generations think we were all a bunch of scrubs.”

Isabella snorts. “Yeah, especially you Joe.”

Joe scoffs, feigning offense. “I’ll have you know, I am the pinnacle of style and grace.”

Lucas laughs, shaking his head. “Sure, buddy. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

Cameron smirks, nudging Isabella. “I think we should let the history books decide that one.”

Joe groans, rubbing his temples. “You know what? I take it back. Maybe I don’t wanna be in this picture with you assholes.”

Isabella grins, finally a spark of her usual self peeking through. “Too late, Lieb. You’re stuck with us.”

She continues. “At least Eugene understands the true meaning of southern charm, unlike you Mister California.”

Joe scoffs, crossing his arms. “Southern charm, my ass. You’re just biased ‘cause Roe’s a polite little country boy.”

Eugene, who had been quietly adjusting his uniform, looks up with a bemused smile. “I don’t know, Liebgott. Maybe if you said ‘ma’am’ and ‘sir’ once in a while, you’d win ‘em over too.”

Lucas chuckles. “Nah, Joe’s beyond saving at this point.”

Isabella smirks. “It’s okay, Lieb. We still love you. Even if you have the manners of a feral alley cat.”

Joe throws his hands up. “Unbelievable! Y’know what? I hope the photo catches me flipping y’all off.”

Michel Senior, who had been listening with quiet amusement, claps a hand on Joe’s shoulder. “No Joe, you will stand properly for this photo. Or I will make you.” His voice is firm, but there’s a glint of humor in his eyes.

Joe sighs dramatically but straightens up. “Fine, fine. But if this thing gets framed in the house, I better look damn good in it.”

Isabella giggles. “Don’t worry Joe, you’ll still be my Lieb.”

Joe’s ears burn at her words. Damn kid really knew how to charm him to hell and back. 

Joe gives her a playful glare, but the warmth in his chest melts the irritation away. “Alright, alright. You win, Birdie. But only ‘cause I can’t argue with you when you smile like that.”

Isabella grins, and he knows she’s got that gleam in her eyes that makes everything seem a little lighter.

They all quickly finished their food, time against them. As everybody goes to set everything up, Isabella stays back with him and Roe. 

She turns towards him, hands eager to flatten the wrinkles on his shirt and fix the brown curls on his head.

“Alright, you look presentable now,” she says with a final nod, giving his chest a gentle tap as if it were a job well done. Her expression softens, though there’s a trace of something unspoken in her gaze.

Joe chuckles, trying to lighten the mood. “Glad I passed inspection, Doc. I was worried you might send me back to change.”

“Don’t push it,” she teases, her lips curling into a smile. “If you hadn’t looked like you were about to attend your own funeral, I might’ve let you slide.”

Joe grins, but there’s a flicker of unease in his eyes. "You're a tough one, Isa."

Isabella’s eyes soften, a mix of affection and something heavier. She gives his collar one last flick before turning to Eugene, who’s been quietly watching the exchange. She inspects him with the same meticulous care, adjusting the collar of his shirt and brushing off the small specks of dust that have settled on his uniform.

Her hands freeze on Eugene’s shoulders, air around her dampening. “You guys don’t have to be in the picture if you don’t want to.” she says, head bowed down.

Eugene notices her trembling hands. “Why wouldn’t we want to be?” he asks.

Her head turns up, eyes big. “I don’t know.” she mumbles, shrugging.

Eugene’s brow furrows as he watches her, sensing the underlying unease in her words. He gently places his hands over hers, steadying them on his shoulders, his touch a silent reassurance.

“Isabella,” he says softly, his voice low but firm, “You dragged us all the way down to your home because it’s important to you. You had us meet your family because it’s important to you. These pictures are important to you whether you say it or not, so we’re sure as hell gonna be in them.”

Joe, standing slightly to the side, watches the exchange, his lips pressed together in thought. He knows this moment isn't about just a picture, not really. It’s about facing the uncertainty ahead, and the weight that hangs over them all.

Isabella sighs, the tension in her shoulders easing a little, though there's still something heavy in her gaze. She meets Eugene’s eyes, then Joe's. There’s a flicker of something—vulnerability, maybe fear—but also a quiet strength. She straightens her posture, her fingers adjusting the collar of Eugene’s shirt one last time.

“I guess I was just thinking about how... I don’t know. How this could be the last time,” she admits softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “The last time we’re all together like this, before we leave... for who knows how long.”

Joe steps forward, the air between them thick with understanding. His voice is softer than usual. “That’s why we’re doing it, Birdie. We don’t know what’s gonna happen, but we do know that right now, we’re still here. And that matters.”

Isabella’s eyes search his face, and for a moment, the sharp edges of her usual teasing demeanor soften, replaced by something more raw, more real. Her lips part, but no words come out, just a faint tremor that she quickly swallows.

“Don’t worry,” Eugene says, breaking the silence with a slight grin, “If it’s the last picture, it’s gonna be a good one. I’m making sure of it.”

She lets out a breath, half-laugh, half-sob, before nodding. “Yeah… okay.”

Joe grins, but it’s not the usual cocky smirk. There’s a certain kind of sincerity in it now, a reassurance in the weight of everything they had shared.

“Good,” he says simply, “Now, let’s make sure we look damn good for that picture.”

Isabella laughs quietly, the sound light despite the heaviness in the air. “Yeah, can’t have us looking like a bunch of scrubs, right?”

Eugene chuckles, glancing down at the final adjustments Isabella made to his uniform. “If Joe’s gonna look good, then I gotta look good too. I’m sticking with the ‘handsome squad.’”

Isabella rolls her eyes, but her smile stays. “Don’t worry Gene, I’ll make sure my future descendants will think you’re a real heartthrob.” she teases.

Eugene grins at her, clearly pleased with the playful jab. “Hey, I’m just trying to set a good example for the next generation,” he quips, flashing a wink.

Isabella laughs, shaking her head. “Oh, I’m sure your future descendants will never hear the end of it. ‘Look at great-grandpa Roe, the heart-breaker.’” She mimics an exaggerated, dramatic tone, causing Joe to chuckle quietly beside them.

Joe smirks, leaning in. “Maybe if we’re lucky, they’ll think I was the real heartthrob, huh? You know, if anybody gets a legacy, it’s gonna be me.”

Isabella raises an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Oh, of course, Joe. You’ve got all the looks and charm... as long as you don’t smile too much. You know, so they don’t run off screaming.”

Eugene snorts, looking at Joe with a grin. “Yeah, that would be the real legacy. ‘Grandpa Joe, the man who scared his own descendants into hiding with one smile.’”

Joe dramatically rolls his eyes, but there's a fondness behind it. “You all are really making this easy, aren’t you?” He steps back, putting his hands on his hips with a mock-serious expression. “Alright, alright, I’m ready to be immortalized in the annals of history. A true American treasure.”

Isabella playfully salutes him. “Well, you better smile big then, Mister Treasure. We want to make sure future generations get the full impact of your, uh, charisma.”

The three of them head outside, teasing lightening the air. As they join the group, Michel Senior explains the order.

“We’ll start with one of Isa, Lucas, and Cameron. Then one of Isa with Joe and Eugene, they’ll then do one altogether. One with Isa, Claudia, and I; the trio with the kids, and then finally one of us all together.” he states.

He turns to him and Eugene, eyes serious. “That last one includes you two as well, no excuses.”

Joe’s smile fades just a little, the weight of Michel Senior’s words sinking in. He gives a sharp nod, meeting the older man’s gaze with a mixture of respect and unspoken understanding. The weight of being included in that final picture, alongside the rest of the family, holds more significance than he’s willing to admit.

Isabella stands beside Michel Senior, her eyes darting between him and Joe, and she speaks up, her voice quieter than usual. “We’re making memories, right?” She catches Joe’s eye, as if seeking reassurance, but it’s not the kind of reassurance that words can offer. It’s something deeper.

Joe gives her a small smile, though it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah. Memories.”

Isabella grins, eyes light. 

With that, the photo session begins, each person lining up as directed. Joe finds himself positioned next to Isabella’s side, Eugene on the other, both of whom are more relaxed than he is. The weight of the camera lens on him feels heavier than anything he’s experienced before, but he squares his shoulders and stands taller, trying to push aside the unease gnawing at him.

Isabella smiles brightly for the camera, her usual spark returned, though there’s a soft edge to her expression that hints at the underlying tension everyone’s feeling. Lucas and Cameron take their place for the next shot, the stoic faces they wear matching the gravity of the situation.

As the photos continue, Joe notices the small, intimate moments. Michel Senior’s hand on Isabella’s shoulder, the shared glance between the family members, the way Claudia gently adjusts her hair with a smile that’s not quite as joyful as it should be. These are the things that make the pictures real. That make the memories feel like something more than just a snapshot in time.

Finally, they gather together for the last photo. Joe stands at the back in the middle, tallest. Eugene and Michel Senior stand at his sides; Isabella, Maya, and Claudia in the middle row, kids in the very front. As the camera prepares to go off, Joe hears Anzu speak up, voice sad.

“I wish Papa was here…”

Joe’s heart aches, realizing that the only thing missing was the youngest Michel. It shouldn’t be him and Eugene. It should be the pillar of strength that this family had always had; the firstborn son, the symbol of the legacy that had been passed down through generations. The thought of Michel Alejandro not being there, not being part of this moment, weighs heavily on Joe’s chest. He can feel the absence like a cold spot in the air, and he knows it cuts deeper for the others, especially Isabella.

Eugene, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, places a comforting hand on Joe’s shoulder, a silent support as they all stand there in the quiet moment before the camera flashes. Joe gives him a small, tight nod, trying to push the heavy thoughts aside. This wasn’t the time for that. They had to make the most of the moment they had, even if it felt incomplete.

Isabella’s voice breaks through the silence, softer now but filled with a sadness that’s impossible to hide. "He should be here," she says, her gaze distant as she looks past the camera, as if searching for something—or someone—who isn’t there. 

Michel Senior, standing stoic as ever, looks at his family, his expression unreadable. He clears his throat softly before speaking. “He will.”  His words are firm but gentle, as if he’s reminding himself as much as everyone else.

Joe catches his eye, something unspoken passing between them. He knows how hard it is to accept that absence, that empty space where Michel Alejandro should have stood, strong and proud as ever. The camera clicks, the flash lighting up their faces in that fleeting, perfect moment. Joe can feel the heaviness of it, the bittersweetness that clings to them all as they stand together. It’s not the same, but it’s enough.

Joe squeezes his eyes shut for a moment, exhaling slowly, trying to ground himself in the present. He wishes this family could have been complete, all of them. But for now, this would have to do. 

Anzu, still with her solemn expression, looks up at him. "Will Papa come back?" she asks softly, her small hands gripping at his shirt.

Joe looks down at her, his throat tight. He wants to say something reassuring, something that will ease her worries, but the truth is, he doesn’t know. All he can offer is a gentle, if uncertain, smile. "We’re all doing our best, klein. Just like I’m sure your papa always does. He’ll be back."

Isabella, hearing the exchange, steps closer to Anzu, gently ruffling her hair. "Papa will come home when it's time. Until then, we’ll take care of each other, just like we always do."

Anzu, trusting the adults in her life, nods her head. She runs off to the camera, where Michel Senior was carefully putting everything away. Her giggles fly throughout the air as her grandfather says something to lighten up her mood. Joe feels Isabella grab his shoulder reassuringly, words unspoken but loud. 

She walks away, leaving him and Roe alone.

For a moment, he and Eugene stand in the quiet, the sounds of the family fading into the background. The weight of the day’s events is still there, but it feels like a little less of a burden when they stand side by side.

Eugene doesn’t need to say anything; he doesn’t have to. There’s an understanding in the way he stands, a presence that’s just enough to fill the silence between them. He’s not pushing, not rushing Joe to talk. He’s simply there.

Joe clears his throat, looking down at the ground for a moment before meeting Eugene’s eyes. “I’ve never been much of a photo guy,” he admits, his voice softer than he’d like. “But... today, it felt like something else. You know?”

Eugene nods slowly, his gaze thoughtful. "Yeah, I get it. It’s not just about pictures. It’s about what they represent." His voice is calm, steady. "Sometimes, a snapshot is the only way to hold onto a moment before it slips away."

Joe grins a little, a bit of that old warmth creeping back. "You’re a deep guy, Roe. Maybe you should be the one giving the speeches."

Roe scoffs, eyes teasing. “Don’t let Sobel hear you say that.”

Joe raises an eyebrow as Claudia and Maya approach, both women holding something behind their backs. He exchanges a quick glance with Eugene, a silent question passing between them. He knows they’re about to get some kind of surprise, but he can’t quite guess what it is.

Claudia's eyes glimmer with something like mischief, but there’s a tenderness there too—an unspoken affection in the way she watches them. Maya, equally composed but with a soft smile, seems to be enjoying the moment.

“What’s going on?” Joe asks, his tone light but curious.

Claudia’s lips curl up into a knowing smile. “We wanted to give each of you something, a gift for being such great friends with Isabella.” she says, voice warm.

With that, Maya and Claudia reveal what they’ve been hiding in their hands. 

In Maya’s there’s a gold chain, a Star of David hanging from it.

Joe’s eyes flicker down to the gold chain in Maya’s hand, his breath catching for a moment. The Star of David, hanging delicately from the chain, catches the light, its edges gleaming softly. It’s beautiful, elegant, and full of meaning, but it’s also unexpected. He looks from the necklace up to Maya’s face, where her gaze is steady, her expression full of quiet emotion.

“This…” Joe starts, his voice soft, unsure of how to respond. His fingers twitch slightly, as if reaching out but unsure. “Maya, this is—this is a lot.”

She smiles. “Anzu took quite a liking to you, I think you remind her a lot of her father. This is my way of thanking you, for being her first true friend.”

Joe’s throat tightens at her words. 

‘Her first true friend.’

He wasn’t sure if he deserved that title, but the weight of it sinks into his chest, a mix of pride and responsibility.

His gaze flicks to Anzu, who’s still running around, her laughter light and carefree, oblivious to the gravity of the moment. Joe smiles softly, the thought of her being so young and yet capable of understanding something so deep, like loyalty and trust, fills him with a strange sense of warmth.

“Don’t mention it,” Joe says, his voice a little rougher than usual. “I didn’t do anything special. She’s a great kid. Smart as hell, too.”

Claudia takes this time to show what she has, revealing a delicate rosary made of silver links and shiny black beading. 

Claudia holds the rosary out toward Eugene with a quiet reverence, the silver glinting in the soft light of the early afternoon. The black beads are polished to a deep shine, and the whole piece seems to hum with a quiet energy, something more than just a gift.

Eugene’s gaze softens as Claudia holds the rosary out to him, his fingers hesitant at first. The silver catches the light, and for a moment, it feels like the world has slowed down, like everything around them is waiting. His hand reaches out slowly, almost instinctively, as though drawn by something deeper than mere gratitude.

Claudia’s eyes never leave his face, her expression steady and warm. “This is for you, Eugene,” she says softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “For being Isabella’s teacher. Her mentor and tutor, whether you realize it or not. This is a little something to remind you that we are here, even when you’re not. We’ll carry you with us, just as we hope you’ll carry us with you.”

Eugene feels the weight of her words, and it settles deep within him. It’s one thing to be given a gift, but another entirely to receive one that feels so deeply personal, so full of meaning. His fingers brush over the smooth, dark beads, the silver chain cool to the touch, and for the first time in a long while, he’s at a loss for words.

“I…” he starts, his voice a little rough. “Ma’am…thank you.”

Claudia shakes her head, a soft smile gracing her lips. “Just remember what you promised me last night, Eugene.”

Eugene takes a deep breath, looking down at the rosary in his hands. It feels like more than just a token. It feels like a promise, one that stretches across time and distance. His fingers curl around the chain, holding it close to his chest, almost as if grounding himself to this moment, to the people standing around him, to the family that had somehow accepted him into their fold.

“I’ll keep it with me,” Eugene finally says, his voice steadier now, though the emotion lingers. “Every step of the way. I promise.”

The moment is cut short by Isabella yelling them over, telling them the time has finally come for them to leave.

Eugene tucks the rosary gently into his pocket, feeling the weight of it press against his side as a reminder of the promise he’d just made. He takes one last, lingering look at Claudia, her quiet but unwavering gaze holding his. For a brief moment, everything feels right — like they are all exactly where they need to be.

Joe and Eugene head back into the house with everyone, hearts heavy. They quickly head upstairs to grab their things, trailed by Isabella. Lucas would be staying in Orlando, lucky enough to have some extra time before leaving back to England, while Cameron would be leaving late in the evening. 

The walk upstairs is quiet, the weight of the day settling into their bones. Joe can hear the sounds of the family below, laughter and voices mingling with the soft hum of distant conversations. It feels almost surreal, like a dream he might wake from at any moment. But the heaviness in his chest, the words Maya had told him, and the warmth of the Star in his pocket all feel undeniably real.

They grab their things solemnly, the weight of reality settling in. Joe and Eugene stand in the doorway of the room, sadly looking at the space that had welcomed them during their stay. 

“I’ll miss this,” Joe says softly, though the words feel a little inadequate. The house, the people—everything about it had been a refuge, a place that had offered more than they’d expected. Now, it’s time to leave it all behind.

Eugene nods without saying anything at first. He reaches down to grab his bag, but his gaze doesn’t leave the room. “Yeah… me too.” There’s a quiet sincerity in his voice, an acknowledgment of the unspoken comfort they found here.

Isabella stands just behind them next to her door, giving them space but close enough to feel the weight of their unspoken thoughts. She watches them quietly, her eyes soft but understanding, a slight furrow to her brow as she processes the change. She’s used to farewells, but even this feels like something more. This time, it’s different.

“We should go,” she finally says, her voice a little firmer. “Everyone’s downstairs. They’re waiting.”

Joe nods slowly, the finality of her words settling in his chest like a weight. 

With one last glance at the room, Joe steps out first, Eugene following close behind. The sound of their footsteps echoes softly through the hallway, and then the stairs creak under their weight as they descend back into the heart of the house, back to the waiting family.

Downstairs, the atmosphere is bittersweet, the air filled with quiet chatter.

“I guess this is it, huh?” Cameron says, his voice light, but there’s a tension there, an understanding of what’s coming. He looks at Joe and Eugene, as if trying to find something reassuring in their expressions.

Joe claps him on the shoulder, a small smile tugging at his lips despite the lump in his throat. “Yeah… this is it. Just keep your head up, alright? Stay safe.”

Eugene gives a nod, his hands stuffed into his pockets. “We’ll see each other again, don’t worry.”

Isabella joins them, a quiet sadness in her eyes, but her voice is steady. “If either of you two morons die, I’ll bring you back to life just to kick your ass and kill you again.”

Joe chuckles, the sound a little rough, but it’s enough to break the heaviness in the air for a moment. He turns to Isabella, raising an eyebrow. “Nice to know you’re looking out for them.”

Eugene snorts, his grin returning, even if it's a little tight. “Well, at least we know we’ll be in good hands if anything happens.”

Isabella’s lips curve into a faint, bittersweet smile. “Don’t joke about it,” she says softly, her voice carrying a weight that cuts through the teasing. “I don’t want to lose anyone.”

They all head out of the house, heading for the train station that had so recently brought them to this house of happiness. But first, Isabella insists on saying goodbye to Lanza and Miyuki, the two cats that had spent every waking moment by her side while she was home. Her smile bittersweet, cats noticing her mood and rubbing on her more than normal while Isabella bites back her tears.

In the Florida heat, they take their time. Joe notices that the Vega family is tense, and he realizes it’s because of all the looks they get as they walk down the main road. People whisper, pointing at Maya and the kids' clothing. 

Joe picks up on the discomfort in the air as they walk down the road. People are staring, whispering, eyes flicking toward Maya and the children, judging the unfamiliarity of their appearance, the foreignness of their clothing. It's not just curiosity—it’s suspicion. It’s fear. Joe feels the weight of it, heavy and thick, and he notices Maya shrinking in on herself, pulling the children closer as the murmurs intensify.

Eugene, walking next to Joe, senses the same shift and falls into step beside him. His voice is quiet, careful. “What’s going on?”

Joe exhales, his gaze narrowing as he watches the people around them. “They’re Japanese, Roe.”

Eugene’s expression hardens, realization settling in. “Right,” he mutters. He glances back at Maya and the kids, his eyes following their movement. “Guess it’s not just the clothes.”

It’s not as if Joe hadn’t felt the same once. In fact, before Isabella’s explanation, before meeting Maya and the kids, he still felt a burning anger towards the people who had attacked the United States so ruthlessly. It was especially apparent in California, where only three months after the bombing the federal government had required that Japanese people leave the state. ‘Military area’ they said. ‘No Japanese people in military areas.’

They had turned the whole damn state into a military area.

The way the government had treated people like Maya, like the kids, like so many others who’d done nothing wrong but be born into the wrong ethnicity at the wrong time. It wasn’t fair at all. 

They all feel it, even if they try not to show it. People whisper as they pass, throwing glances, and every little detail seems to make them a target. Maya’s posture is a little more rigid, Anzu stays close to her mother as Taiga clings tightly to the front of her kimono.

Joe can’t stop his frustration from creeping in. “This is what they’ve been dealing with since the attack,” he says, low and tight. “Doesn’t matter if they’re citizens, doesn’t matter if they’ve been here for years. All that matters is what people think when they see them.”

Eugene’s hands are clenched into fists in his pockets, his face hard. “This isn’t right, Joe. No one should be treated like this.”

“No, they shouldn’t,” Joe agrees, the anger burning in his chest. He feels the heat of the sun on his back, but it’s nothing compared to the fire of the injustice simmering beneath the surface. He looks at Maya, who is trying to remain composed, and then back at the people watching her. “But it doesn’t matter what’s right or wrong to them. It’s about fear. Fear and ignorance.”

A few of the people glance over at them, some of the whispers more pointed now. The looks aren’t just curious—they’re accusing. They don’t know Maya, they don’t know the children, but it doesn’t matter. They see their faces, and they think of Pearl Harbor. They think of everything the government and the media have been feeding them.

Joe’s stomach churns as he watches Maya pull the children in just a little closer, like she’s bracing them for something she doesn’t want to happen.

“I’ll never understand how people can just… decide that someone’s an enemy just because of what they look like,” Eugene says softly. His gaze softens a little as he watches Anzu, who’s clinging to Maya’s side.

Joe looks down at the little girl, her wide, innocent eyes glancing up at him, and something in his chest tightens. ‘It’s not fair’, he thinks. ‘She’s just a kid.’

They survive the judgment and arrive at the train station in one piece. Realizing the time had finally come, Joe’s anger dies, sorrow taking over yet again. He hadn’t expected the short visit to have turned into this. He hadn’t expected this house to be filled with so much love, so many new experiences, and yet, here they were, on the edge of saying goodbye. Joe feels that familiar lump in his throat again, heavier than before. He hadn’t expected to get so attached, to grow so fond of the people who had opened their doors to him, to them all. This wasn’t just a pit stop in his journey—it had become a home, however temporary. And now, the moment he’d been dreading had finally arrived.

The train station feels colder than it should. The bustling noise of the platform is louder than it has any right to be, and it’s as if every click of the train’s wheels, every whistle of the conductor, is a reminder that this moment is slipping through his fingers. Maya, still holding her children close, stands at the edge of the platform, her posture tense but composed. Anzu clings to her side, her eyes scanning the crowd, sensing the weight in the air without fully understanding it.

As their time comes to an end, they begin saying their goodbyes. Isabella clings to her parents, tears running down her face. Joe watches from a distance, the knot in his chest tightening as he sees Isabella's tears fall. It feels like something fragile is breaking in the air, something that’s too precious to hold onto but too important to let go of. He looks over at Maya, who’s holding Anzu close, her eyes soft but heavy with unspoken words. Maya’s not crying, but there’s an ache in her posture that says everything. She knows the weight of this moment too well.

Isabella’s voice breaks through the quiet hum of the station, her words choked with emotion. "I... I wish I didn’t have to go."

Claudia hugs her tight, careful with the curls she had spent so much time helping set. “Mi amor…” she starts. “Esto es lo que te toca hacer.”

Isabella clings to her mother even tighter, her sobs muffled against Claudia’s chest. She doesn't want to leave, not like this, not when everything feels so uncertain. But her mother's words, though heavy, are the truth. This is what she has to do. This is the path set before her, whether she’s ready for it or not.

Claudia strokes her hair gently, her voice calm despite the storm brewing inside her. “I’m proud of you, Isa. You’ve always been strong. You’ll make it through this.”

Isabella pulls back slightly, her face a mix of fear and determination. “I don’t want to leave you, Mama. I don’t want to leave... everyone.”

Maya steps forward then, her own heart aching as she watches her sister-in-law struggle with the weight of the moment. She places a hand on Claudia's shoulder, her expression softening. “It’s not forever, Isa. Just remember that. We’ll all be here, waiting for you.”

Michel Senior sweetly rubs Isabella’s back, unhappy seeing his only daughter's tears. As the pillars of the family say their goodbye’s, Lucas and Cameron come over to say their own goodbye’s to Joe and Eugene. 

Joe watches as Lucas and Cameron approach, both of them with expressions that are equal parts understanding and heavy. The air feels thick with everything unsaid—words of farewell, words of reassurance, words that might not make this moment any easier, but would try all the same.

Lucas is the first to speak, his voice rough but steady. “Take care of her, you two,” he says, his eyes lingering on Isabella as she clings to her family. “She’s tough, but she’s got a lot of weight on her right now. Keep her safe, alright?”

Joe nods, swallowing the lump in his throat. “We will. We’ll look after her, just like we promised.”

Cameron, standing beside Lucas, offers a brief but firm handshake to Eugene, who takes it with a nod. Then Cameron turns to Joe, his gaze lingering a moment before he says, “I’ve got a bad feeling about all of this, Joe. I can’t put it into words, but I don’t think we’ll all be together like this again anytime soon.”

Joe doesn’t respond immediately, just gives him a quiet nod. There’s too much in Cameron’s words for him to offer anything more than that.

Isabella, having pulled back from her family, steps over to join them, wiping her eyes once more, her face a mixture of determination and sadness. “I’ll be back,” she says, her voice shaky but firm. “I’ll come back to all of you, I promise. No matter what happens.”

Joe notices Anzu standing off to the side, her small figure an island of silence in the storm of emotions around her. The weight of the moment has settled deeply into her, just like it has for the rest of them, but for her, it’s different. It’s not the same as the adults. For her, each goodbye feels like the first time, a fresh wound carved with every departure.

He makes his way over to her, his footsteps soft on the ground, trying not to disturb the delicate sadness that surrounds her. She doesn’t turn to look at him, her eyes fixed on the train, her small hands clutching the edges of her dress.

"Hey, Anzu," Joe says gently, crouching down beside her. His voice is low, soothing. “You okay?”

Anzu doesn’t answer immediately, her tiny fingers fidgeting with the fabric of her kimono. After a moment, she looks up at him with those wide, solemn eyes. “Papa always goes, but then he comes back. It’ll be the same right?”” Her voice is quiet, uncertain, but there’s a raw honesty to it that stings.

Joe’s heart tightens, a pang of sorrow for the little girl who’s had to face so much already. “I know, Anzu,” he says softly. “Sometimes it feels like we’re always saying goodbye, but I promise, Isa’s coming back too. We’ll all make sure of it.”

Anzu doesn’t seem convinced, but her gaze softens as she looks at Joe, almost as though she’s trying to find something to hold onto in his words. She nods slowly, but her shoulders remain tense, the burden of not fully understanding the weight of the situation still too heavy for her to carry.

As Anzu heads off to say goodbye to Isabella; Maya, Claudia, and Michel Senior head towards him and Eugene ready to say their own goodbye’s to the two men Isabella had come to rely on. 

Maya, her arms still around Taiga, steps forward first, handing him a letter. Her eyes are soft but steady, her voice low, steady with a strength that Joe can’t help but admire. "Take care of her, you two. Keep her safe. Promise me you will."

Joe meets her gaze, his own emotions tightening in his chest. He feels the weight of her request, the quiet plea that goes beyond just Isabella’s safety. It’s a promise to keep a piece of their family intact, even if everything else around them is falling apart. “We promise, Maya,” he says, his voice thick. “We’ll watch out for her, always.”

Joe takes the letter, slipping it carefully into his jacket pocket as he gives Maya one last lingering look. There’s something heavy about the act, as if the letter holds more than just words, more than just a message—it’s a piece of this family, something to hold onto when the distance between them feels too vast to bridge.

Maya doesn’t say anything more, her eyes soft but firm as she watches him slip away. She knows they’ll be okay, but the silent promise they’ve shared between them feels like the only thing they can hold onto in that moment.

As he turns to face Eugene, Joe catches sight of Claudia and Michel Senior approaching him. The air around them seems to slow down, the heavy reality of their parting weighing on the quiet exchange between them. Claudia extends a letter to Eugene, her hands steady even as her eyes reflect the same sorrow she’s felt since the beginning.

“This is for you,” she says, her voice soft but carrying that same unshakeable strength. “Make sure you read it when you get a chance, Eugene. You’ve come to mean a lot to our family.”

Michel Senior stands just behind her, his hands clasped together, a soft but purposeful expression on his face. His eyes meet Eugene’s for a long moment, filled with a kind of quiet understanding—something unspoken but deeply felt.

Eugene hesitates for a moment, his hand brushing over the letter, the weight of their words settling into him. He looks up, his voice gruff with the emotion that’s been building all along. "Thank you, both of you. I’ll make sure she’s safe, and I’ll keep these with me. I promise."

Michel Senior’s hand rests lightly on Eugene’s shoulder, his grip firm, steady. “We trust you. You take care of her, and you take care of yourself.”

Eugene nods, his heart heavy with the weight of their words, but there’s a flicker of something in him—resolve, maybe, or a sense of belonging that he hasn’t truly felt until now. “I won’t let you down. Thank you.”

With one final, shared moment between the two groups, they begin to move toward the train platform, their steps slow but purposeful. The Easy Trio board the train solemnly, the weight of reality sitting on their hearts heavily. They find their seats, Eugene and Joe putting their bags up top, Isabella having to step on the chair to reach. As they sit down they look out the window, finding that the Vega family was still waiting for them, eyes solemn. 

The train starts to move shortly after and reality sets in. Isabella presses her hand against the window, eyes filled with tears as her family begins to disappear. She adjusts her body towards Joe’s when she finally sees her family gone, pressing into his side as she sobs quietly.

Joe and Eugene stay quiet as she cries, deciding it best to let her feel what she must before they return to reality. Before they must return to the torture of Sobel’s horrible leadership, to drills, and jumping out of moving planes.

Eventually Isabella wears herself out, falling asleep on Joe’s shoulder. Joe stays still, barely breathing as Isabella's weight settles against him. He can feel the slight tremors in her body, the exhaustion that finally overtook her after everything. He doesn't move, doesn't dare disturb her. Instead, he just stares out the window, watching the blurred trees and endless tracks stretch on, his mind a thousand miles away.

Eugene, sitting across from them, watches for a moment before leaning back, arms crossed over his chest. "She needed that," he murmurs, voice low. "Probably the first time she’s let herself really feel it."

Joe nods slightly, careful not to wake her. "Yeah." His voice is quiet, distant. "I hate that we had to leave them behind."

Eugene exhales through his nose, rubbing a tired hand over his face. "We didn’t have a choice, Joe."

Joe knows that. He knows. But it doesn’t make it any easier. It doesn’t change the tightness in his chest or the way his hand twitches, itching for something to hold onto, to ground himself. His fingers graze the chain in his pocket, the small Star of David hanging from it, and he grips it tightly.

The train rocks gently, the rhythmic motion almost soothing despite everything. The exhaustion weighs heavy on all of them, and before long, Eugene’s head dips slightly, his body relaxing as he dozes off too

Joe carefully pulls out the letter from his coat pocket, taking advantage of the time he had by himself. He traces the neat writing of his name on the envelope gently, his heart aching for the family that had accepted him so wholly. He exhales slowly, then carefully breaks the seal, unfolding the letter with deliberate hands. The unfamiliar curves of Maya’s handwriting greet him, each stroke of ink feeling almost intimate, like a quiet voice speaking directly to him.

‘Joe,

I don’t know if you’ll read this right away or if it will take you some time, but I hope it becomes a comfort to you either way.

In Japan we have a saying called "Ichi-go ichi-e"—it means ‘one time, one meeting.’ It’s a reminder that every moment we share with someone is unique, something to be cherished because it will never happen exactly the same way again. I hope that this ichi-go ichi-e will allow you the strength to survive whatever obstacles you face ahead. That your memories with us will let you feel happiness and hope when there isn’t any. 

The Star of David that I gifted you was not my idea, but Michel Alejandro’s. In fact, I’d like you to think of it as his blessing and acceptance of you. I spoke with him over the phone and he insisted on me giving it to you when he heard all about you from both Isabella’s letters and Anzu’s ramblings of you. 

You and him are so alike that it hurts me. You both have the same sarcasm and dry humor, the same mischievous smile, you’re even the same age he was when I met him. I think it’s why Anzu likes you so much, and why Isabella cares so much for you.

Michel and I ask, from the bottom of our hearts, that you keep an eye on her. That you make sure she is safe and protected from whatever you deem fit. That the horrors of war do not reach her like it has her father or her brother. Please help guide and protect her, be her closest confidant and her dearest friend. 

I hope that you will return to see us when this is all over and that we can have another ichi-go ichi-e to reminisce on. 

Fight valiantly and stay safe.

頑張って！

Maya, Michel Alejandro, Anzu, and Taiga.’

Joe’s breath catches as he flips the paper over, his eyes landing on the small, uneven lines of a child’s drawing. It’s simple but unmistakable—him, dressed in his green army uniform, standing tall, so different from her first drawing of him, holding the tiny hand of a little girl. Anzu.

Her crayon strokes are bold, full of life, the colors pressed deep into the paper as if she wanted to make sure it would never fade. He notices the tiny details—a small star on his chest, her pink and blue kimono, the exaggerated smile on both of their faces. Above them, in wobbly handwriting, are the words ありがとう, ジョー!—Thank you, Joe!

Something in his chest tightens, a lump forming in his throat. He runs his fingers over the crayon lines, as if he could somehow hold onto the warmth of it, the innocence, the unwavering trust of a little girl who saw him as someone worth remembering.

Joe swallows hard, blinking away the sting in his eyes.

Joe grips the letter a little tighter, the edges crinkling slightly under his fingers. The train rocks gently along the tracks, the distant sound of metal on metal blending with the soft breathing of the people around him. He should be trying to rest, should be preparing himself for what’s waiting for them when they return—but he can’t.

The weight of it all settles deep in his chest, heavy and aching. He thinks about Michel Alejandro—the man he’s never met, yet whose presence lingers in the space between them. A father, a husband, a brother, a son, a soldier. A man who had left a hole in his family's hearts, and somehow, Joe had been allowed to step into its shadow. Not as a replacement, but as something else entirely. A connection. A reminder. A tether.

He wipes at his eyes roughly, huffing out a breath as if that will stop the emotion from threatening to overwhelm him. He hadn’t expected this trip to change him, hadn’t thought he would walk away with more than just another goodbye weighing on his shoulders. But now, tucked into his pocket is a Star of David, wrapped around his heart is a promise, and in his hand is a crayon drawing from a little girl who saw him as something worth holding onto.Joe closes his eyes, gripping the letter just a little tighter. ‘I’ll come back,’ he thinks to himself. ‘No matter what happens, I’ll come back.’

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translations: Buenos días, Joseph - Good morning Joseph, klein -little one, Sí - Yes, Lieb - Love/Darling, Mi amor - My Love, Esto es lo que te toca hacer - This is what you must do, 頑張って - Do your best, ありがとう, ジョ - Thank you, Joe

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taglist: @darling-heffron, @malarkgirlypop

[danieyells]

In Tokyo debunkers I have been thinking about the first years and what they have in common.I think all of them are short-sighted or have tunnel vision this isn't a bad trait

I may be wrong on this or miss remembering so if I'm wrong please correct it.Please excuse the formatting I'm on mobile and the length.

Leo-

He is the easiest one for this,the speech that Alan gave him at the end of vagastorm kinda sums up lot of leo problems.There was a post about Leo possibly self-sabotage or disregard for his own self, there's merit look at the scene of Leo,Alan and Thoma.

He may have figured out that Alan wasn't going to hurt him but Thoma was a complete wild card in that situation,he was grabbing his axe.Along with setting up the PC,he used her to his liking and was planning to fuck her over after the fact.Image if his planned success what would have happened most likely no more access to the PC if she believes her boasting does not work.That means no more spying on Thoma and Alan.

Please tell me if this has any weight.I have to go to work.Thank you

Sorry this took so long, anon! I wanted to reply earlier but I thought that maybe mobile wasn't showing parts of the message(it sounded kind of like you were going to list the ways the other first-years were short-sighted/prone to tunnel vision) so I wanted to check it on desktop and my Taiga brain ADHD made me keep forgetting 8'D Excuse me for rambling so much, I get a little long-winded! TL;DR, I do think you're right, although Leo isn't as careless as you think, and I think Sho isn't really prone to tunnel vision or short-sightedness beyond that he seems to bounce between interests somewhat easily.

Yeah, I agree that the first years are a little prone to tunnel vision--like, they all must have come here with something in mind and that something will expand in their time here. Ritsu intended to acquire clients--particularly the famous and wealthy Frostheimers who are prone to controversy and scandal. Ren has implied some issues with his family so he possibly did this to escape the responsibilities of home--and now he has to try and escape the responsibilities of work too. Sho. . .I think Sho is the least short-sighted of them in a sense? Sho seems very much like he takes things day by day and he does whatever catches his interest and whatever makes things easiest for Leo, even if it means he gets in trouble when Leo should've. He's really intelligent and has a plethora of hobbies and interests, although he puts a lot of his passion in cooking and tends to drop most other things that aren't sports. And Leo, like he said, came here expecting it to be a lot more fun to be around other people who made pacts with demons, and he acts like he only cares about thrills, profits, and having a good time. Most of them don't care about others or only care about others in superficial ways that benefit them(again, with the exception of Sho who at least seems to be more good-natured and considerate so far, unless Leo is telling the truth when he says Sho acts that way to get and keep customers, which wouldn't make sense since Sho only recently started the food truck.)

About the meeting in the car, both of them were reaching for their weapons, not just Tohma. Because they didn't know what was happening when they were summoned to the car by the other but they were both confused, so they suspected foul play and prepared for a fight either way. They may have been about to fight each other, suspecting the other wasn't actually themself, frankly. I think they had their hands on their weapons before that panel was shown. See how they both already have their hands off to their sides by the time Leo pops in, after they both get confused? Reaching for their weapons was happening before Leo made himself known.

But Leo is smart enough to know Alan wouldn't let him get hurt even if Tohma started swinging--although I imagine he was being sarcastic when he said he didn't think Tohma knew who he was and he knew Tohma wouldn't just start attacking him mindlessly. Tohma was at the entrance ceremony(he already saw Tohma's information with Darkwick so he would have recognized him anyway, and he could probably ascertain from how diligent Tohma is that he would also recognize Leo already) and he also knew Tohma knew of him from when he listened in on them previously. Even if Tohma did pull out his weapon, Alan would have recognized Leo and his voice when he started speaking and protected him. Leo knows who his muscle is. He wouldn't have had put himself in a situation he didn't think he couldn't safely get out of. He does this kind of thing far too much to not know his exits--not to mention, you don't immediately hurt or kill someone who pulled something like he did. You get information first. It's just the smart thing to do, especially when they're already worried about a spy. (Plus you can't just willy nilly try and kill motherfuckers on campus. The likelihood that Tohma was actually going to try and kill, or even injure, him was slim to none.)

As for convincing the PC their power didn't work, they already knew it worked from when they used it in Frostheim. They just wouldn't think it always worked. He would still be able to ask them to come and use it on the basis of 'let's see if we can get it to work.' He'd be claiming it'd help them, because if they don't know what does and doesn't cause it to work, they and Darkwick would want to figure it out--and since he would be able to say 'it seems like it works when we use it together' they'd end up relying on him to help them understand when it does and doesn't work. The PC just probably wouldn't be sent on missions with them due to being a liability. Also, he could still spy on Tohma and Alan--just not while they're in the soundproofed car. He mentions in the campus chat that they likely have more than one place they meet up(unless he wasn't spying on Tohma and Alan at that point, but somebody else), and he also plants bugs in the car according to his home screen dialogues(although they get destroyed.) He'd be able to spy on them less, but it's not like they only ever meet in there, and I'm sure he'd figure that out quickly enough.

You have to remember what the guy does for a living outside of being an influencer--he corners rich people and basically makes them give up money in exchange for him not releasing information they'd wanna keep private. His proper introduction is at the "mercy" of a guy with a knife who's clearly threatened to stab him multiple times based on the multiple stabbed pillows around them, summoning Sho to help him. He puts himself in danger all the time, but he always has at least one way to be backed up. He was second in scholastic ability among all the first years. He's extremely intelligent and clever. Yes, he is short-sighted, but that's in terms of making things work. He'll treat the symptoms without resolving the problem if he can, like Alan said--if it gets the desired result who cares if it's right or wrong in the long run? But he's not so careless that he'd put himself into that much danger with no backup plan--although he is careless enough to put himself in the danger in the first place, but. Everything involves risks.

The problem is that backup plans can fall through and understandings of situations can too. Like Alan said, he does need to take better care of himself because he absolutely is careless--not extraordinarily so imo, but definitely careless. Leo is willing to put himself in danger for an end goal, but it's not like he runs into things with no plan and no backup. Leo is smart enough to get things to work with his wits and his words 99% of the time, but that one percent is gonna get him in real trouble eventually--and we've already seen his plans partially fall through two or three times(although two were after they served their purposes.) Alan realized when Sho wouldn't eat the spicy donuts that he and Leo lied about who was at fault for their acting outside of the scope of their mission. Even at the end of the encounter with the anomaly, Sho ended up telling the [half?] truth and backing up that the PC was able to buff his stigma instead of going on with their deal, which Leo hadn't expected. And the PC and Alan, in Alan's character story, end up investigating the actual circumstances behind Jun and Takeru's deaths. He's used to things working out for him and going his way, so he doesn't consider enough what could happen if they don't. Short-sighted, yeah, careless, yes but not as much so as you might think. Calculated risks, normally really good at math. But sometimes you get the math wrong.

I do think you're not wrong as far as most of them being a little short-sighted though. The only one I kinda disagree with is Sho, but even Sho's like. . .he only cares about his interests, but he goes through with what other people want from him anyway sometimes? Like he tends to train with Alan in The Pit despite complaining about it a lot, enough so that Alan doesn't have to use the punching bag in his room as much when he trains since he can spar with Sho instead. He's also constantly doing whatever Leo wants despite seeming to dislike it, and letting himself take the fall for Leo's bad behavior. But maybe that follower mentality is a sort of short-sightedness and tunnel vision as well. . .then again, like he said to Hyde, "If I can use you to get ahead, I'm doing it." That's not really very short-sighted at all, he clearly has other things in mind. . .but it's hard to tell with Sho. We rarely see his motivations. Like I can't really pin down what Sho is. . .after in life. But also, Sho cycles through interests(with the exception of cooking and maybe basketball) frequently, so I get the feeling that's the point. Sho doesn't know what he wants either, and he follows who and whatever seems most interesting. When the PC says he could make money off of cooking, he takes a shine to that idea and immediately opens up a food truck. Fortunately he seems to like cooking and serving food for others a lot, because he's sticking to it at the moment.