#but ryuu had something to say apparently

[thewickedjazzy]

Blood, Sweat & Tears [Sex Pollen] for Kinktober.

♡「knight! akutagawa x afab! reader.」

Synopsis: you drag your loyal knight to a secluded antique shop, unaware that a cursed relic would force him to quench his insatiable desire for you, leaving him one choice only...fuck or watch you both die.

Warnings and w/c: 3.1k. ņsfw, smųt with plot, dead dove ー read at your own risk, dub-con, blood, cum, manipulation, age gap (aku is in his 30s YUM), sex pollen (obv.) slight implied knife play (rashomon)...etc.

“ryuu-kun, c'mon! why are you so stiff? just relax!” you giggle softly, tugging on the poor man's black shoulder cape as you practically drag him toward the entrance of the haunted antique shop.

truth be told, akutagawa wasn’t hesitant —at least, not for the reasons you assumed. the idea of going against the king’s orders wasn’t something he took lightly. defying authority was not a habit for a devoted knight like him, and he had never imagined himself in a situation like this. but for you?

oh — for you, he would go against any order. he would take any risk just to see your eyes light up, to hear that carefree laugh of yours that always seemed to make the heavy burdens on his heart feel lighter. lord! how he loves to just see your cheeks flush, the delicate pink hue resembling the sakura in full bloom ー his new favorite colour.

akutagawa had been by your side for years, from your childhood through your teenage years, and now, as you stepped into adulthood, he couldn't help but notice how things had changed. he had seen your growth with his own eyes, and it disturbed him more than he'd ever admit. you were becoming someone who could get into trouble with ease, and while he was too loyal to question you, the protective instinct in him was stronger than ever.

“i’m relaxed, with all due respect, don't you think you're being a bit reckless?” despite his apparent annoyance, his eyes soften as they find yours. there was something captivating about the way your eyes glimmer under the poor light of the shop, like stars in a forgotten sky.

you step further into the abandoned shop, soft giggles echo as akutagawa’s reluctant footsteps follow close behind. the place feels like it hasn’t seen sunlight in ages, dust dances in the beams filtering through the cracked windows, illuminating shelves filled with eerie artifacts and relics of a forgotten age. for you? this was simply an adventure — a moment of thrill in an otherwise carefully controlled life.

“look, ryuu-kun! isn’t it fascinating?” you point toward an ornate mirror standing tall at the back of the shop. its frame is twisted, covered in intricate carvings that seem almost to shift as you stare at them. “wooah! i’ve never seen anything like it.”

the knight watches you approach the mirror, every instinct tells him this place isn’t safe, that there’s a dark enchantment here that could harm you. but your enthusiasm and willingness to explore, pulls him in against his better judgment.

“your highness...” he says softly despite the danger evident in his voice, “don’t touch it. we don’t know what kind of curse or magic might lie within that thing.”

but of course you’re already inches away, mesmerized by your own reflection in the mirror’s surface as if it almost seems to beckon you, whispering captivating, incoherent lullabies that you can’t quite decipher. your fingers reach out, grazing the glass searching for the source of the sound. but the moment you make contact, an odd chill courses through you, and the reflection changes, warping, revealing shadows of something darker within.

and suddenly, you’re not looking at yourself anymore. instead, you see visions flickering across the mirror — scenes of solitude, a vast, empty world where you stand utterly alone. the cheerful warmth in your chest vanishes, replaced by a cold sense of despair. you try your best to step back, but your gaze remains locked onto the mirror as if bound by an invisible force.

akutagawa’s eyes widen as he watches you freeze, your expression shifting from delight to horror. without a second thought, he lunges forward, pulling you away, but not before his eyes accidentally catch his own reflection. and again, the mirror’s black magic grips him, and for a fleeting moment, he sees something horrifying — the blood stained memories of his past in the port mafia, of every life he’s taken, every failure, every ounce of suffering he encountered.

“r-ryuu-kun…” you try to speak but you're disoriented...pale, leaning against him as you struggle to steady your breathing.

he shakes himself free, grip tightening slightly on your arm. “we need to leave. NOW.”

you nod, feeling a strange, lingering heaviness creeping inside your chest. arguing feels pointless, afterall he’s the reason you’re still alive and kicking up till now. you murmur a soft “i’m sorry,” but he doesn’t respond. without a glance, he strides toward the door pulling you along with him.

and just as he reaches the threshold, a sweet, floral yet infused with a dangerously intoxicating heady scent looms around you both, almost as if the scent itself seeps into your senses, leaving your body heating up and your thoughts hazy.

“ryuu?… i don’t feel well-… what do we—what's happening to me?” your voice is barely audible, the heat sensation spreading through you rapidly, making your cheeks flush more and your breaths come quicker, each inhale carrying more of that cloying scent, filling your senses until all you can think about is the knight by your side.

“it's the curse,” he mutters, “i-it won't break unless we give... blood, and... uh- more.”

you look up at him and it’s clear he’s struggling just as much, flushed and panting heavily. you instinctively cling to him, seeking closure against your own will, and he finds himself leaning closer, almost reflexively. despite the losing battle within him to resist, he begins to tell himself that perhaps fulfilling this desire is the only way to break free of the mirror’s spell? perhaps it's the only way to truly protect you? there’s no time to consider if it’s twisted or not, he's silently beating himself up for letting you get hurt in the first place.

he tries his best to keep his thoughts under control, but it's nearly impossible with the enchanted pollen's effect taking over his mind and turning him into a puppet of it's own making and the line between his sense of duty to protect you and his desire to make the aching pain in his pants go away becomes harder to see.

“your majesty..” he murmurs almost apologetically as he lowers his face close to yours, a deep blush spreads across your cheeks as you finally understand — this isn't just about you and him anymore. this is about survival, about breaking the curse that binds you. blood and cum must mix in order for the magic to release its grip. is it grotesque? yes, but in this moment, it’s the only way out.

your eyes are heavily half-lidded, lips parted perfectly, a few beads of sweat trace your cupid’s bow as you clench onto him with wobbly legs, your thoughts absolutely shameless, cunt instinctively clenching around nothing, are you actually craving him? the knight who has been by your side for so many years — the one who’s spent countless hours guarding and protecting you — is now stirring feelings you’d only ever brushed aside. you would be lying if you said that you never thought of him this way, there was something about the familiar warmth he carried that made you want to stay wrapped in his arms forever.

“ryuu-kun.. i-it hurts so bad— please make it stop.” you cry, though you're not sure whether you're asking for release from the curse or for something else entirely. the look you're giving him is so pathetic that he can't help but dart out his tongue to wet his lips, before smashing his lips on yours feverishly, you both grunt in relief, you're not sure what's happening but it's seems to work. he slips his agile tongue between your parted lips, spit mingles with lewd mewls as he pins you against the wall, hands fumbling with his garments, taking his pants off, unbuttoning his black tonic, almost everything as to free himself from the suffocating layers of fabric, before fully pressing his bare upper body against yours.

“your highness... i'm sorry,” the words are soft, but the look in his eyes is anything but. there’s a lurking emotion there that he rarely reveals— less guilt, and more... eagerness? surely he knows the stakes of this spell too well. he understands the strength and danger of it, how it could kill you both in less than an hour if you don’t break it. yet, akutagawa’s no saint. he's a deviant, laced with sin and shameless thirst, an absolute reprobate. even as he’s forced into this for your survival. there’s an obscene side to him he can’t hide, a filthy hunger in how his gaze trails over your body, wondering how it’ll feel when you’re wrapped tight around him, how you’ll respond to him thrusting into you. will you bite back a scream? will you moan his name, too breathless, too fucked out to form a word?

either ways, there's no point for him to guess as he'll be witnessing it shortly. strong and boney hands tremble as they run wild against your body till they reach your pants pulling them down, he's too engrossed in your details as a muffled groan escapes his pretty lips before he slides down your nectar-soaked panties, taking both your legs wrapping them around his narrow waist, holding you close as if he can’t bear the thought of you slipping away from him. with a shaky sigh as he pops the buttons of your shirt, catching the beautiful euphoric sight of your breasts spilling over your bra.

“there's no time, please trust me on this,” just a few words to trick himself that what he's doing is only for your survival. his disheveled black and white locks brush your cheek as he presses quick, breathless kisses to your temple.

you manage to nod, feeling his hard cock press against your puffy folds from beneath, and your hips subconsciously buck yearning for any friction to ease the swell of pain building rapidly in your core.

however, it's short-lived, as in mere seconds, he's plunging into you with a deep, throaty groan, his entire body trembling as if he's been transported to another dimension. a wave of tingling ecstasy floods through him, muscles tightening as his fingers dig into your bare shoulders, holding you close.

“f-fuhckmmh- your highness-” he whimpers against your ear, the heat radiating from his body is absolutely insane, “forgiv-e me—,”another thrust, “i am bound to protect you— not to desecrate you like this.”

“i-it's fine,” you murmur, soft fingers gripping his face to force him to look at you. “i trust you ryuu-kun.”

what other options do you have? none.

he just stares at you for a few seconds before thrusting again. his hips start moving leisurely at first, stretching you deliciously as you bury your face in the crook of his neck, inhaling his mesmerising scent, feeling every agonising movement of his flawless cock picking up its pace by each passing second and the instant he bottoms out, he practically 'pounds' into you deeper, harder, each stroke finding a new angle that leaves you gasping for air.

his own pleasure is muffling his ears. he still cannot believe it. he's been waiting for this moment his entire life, to finally fuck his monarch that's been taking over his thoughts each passing night, getting him atrociously horny.

“oh god, you feel ngh~ heavenly—,” it's a whisper more to himself, knobby hands gripping the swell of your ass as he rams into you manically, “blood...we- fuck! have to mix blood.”

before you can make sense of it, he conjures a faint trace of rashomon from his tonic, its shadowy tendrils coiling around his sleeve, sharp enough to slice yet gentle in his intent. he presses the edge to your palm, watching a bead of crimson pool against your skin.

the sharp sting pulls a gasp from your lips, your dazed mind barely registering the act before akutagawa does the same to himself. dark silver eyes smoulder with lust as he guides both your bleeding palms to his cock, smearing the mingled blood over it, the warm slickness adding to the sinful mess already coating him.

“ryuu-” you breathe, with a trembling voice, whether from pain or arousal, you’re not sure.

his eyes meet yours before you feel the soft clouds of his lips crash onto yours, it's all desperate and messy, teeth nipping at your lower lip hard enough to draw blood. the metallic tang spreads across your tongue, blending with the taste of him as he drinks in your broken moans, tongue delves deeper into your mouth, spit melding together as he aligns himself with your slit once more. his blood-slickened cock slides back into you, each thrust feels heavier, deeper, as if the leverage of the curse itself presses against you both, urging you to fulfill its dark demands.

“just a litt-le more,” he rasps, teeth scraping along the sensitive skin of your neck, leaving a delicate trail of violet bruises and ruptured vessels.

a borderline salacious symphony of sounds echoes, wet and obscene, sopping and slick, each thrust accompanied by a squeaky rhythm as his balls slap against your pillowy ass cheeks. your eyes roll back in a bliss, glossy lips parting lusciously in a wanton moan, every vein and ridge of him dragging you closer to euphoric oblivion.

“ryuu... i can’t...” you sob, nails digging into his back as the pressure in your core mounts, legs trembling around his waist. “i... i can’t take it anymore...”

“stay with me, your majesty haah,” he murmurs breathlessly, lips brushing against your ear as he drives into you deeper. “we need... to break it. just a little longer... please...”

his hands clutch at your hips, pulling you into each thrust until all that’s left is the white-hot pressure of the spell, of the lust, threatening to swallow you both. his cock throbs inside you, and it’s clear— he can’t hold back any longer.

“please, ryuu... i’m—” you bite your lip, unable to finish as the knot in your belly tightens, ready to burst.

akutagawa's focus narrows, all he can think about is you, how your breasts bounce with each thrust, body arching beneath his, exposing the delicate curve of your neck— everything about you is perfect in this moment, and he can't tear his eyes away. the sight of your face contorted in pleasure, the pout tugging on your lips, the way your legs tremble, how your hips move to meet his, how your nails drag across his back starved for his naked skin. is this his body on yours? is he finally feeling you? kissing you? fucking you?

'god, look at you,' he can barely think, his thoughts fragmented, lost in the instinctual need to bury himself deeper, to take more, to feel more. the way you tighten around him, the slick, wet warmth of your cunt — he’s fucking drowning in it.

'fucking beautiful.'

a few thrusts of akutagawa’s hips and his name tears from your lips in a breathless, desperate cry, the sound of your orgasm crashing over you like a truck, slamming into him with brutal force. your walls flutter and clench around his cock, milking him, dragging him deeper into the molten heat of your release.

his vision blurs, heart thundering in his chest as his hearing dulls to nothing but the wet, obscene noises of your bodies joined together. for the first time in his life, he is obliterated by the sheer, soul-stealing intensity of his orgasm, his cock still twitching violently as he spills deep inside you, his seed mingles with the blood smeared between you, the combined essence finally breaking the curse’s seal.

“i-is it over?”

akutagawa doesn’t answer immediately, his forehead pressing against your shoulder as he struggles to gather himself. his meaty length that's still buried inside you twitches, body refusing to move, refusing to let go of the impossible warmth and tightness of your walls. the thought of pulling out feels unbearable, like he’d be severing himself from something sacred.

“yes,” he finally rasps, “the curse is broken.”

still, he doesn’t move, his grip on your hips tightening imperceptibly. every inch of him aches to stay like this, to savor the raw, feral perfection of you wrapped around him. but he won’t say it — not to you, not to your highness. it’s not his place to speak such desires aloud. instead, he forces himself to swallow the words, forcing his breathing to even out as he pulls out of you despite the burning need still coiling in his gut.

without a word, he moves to gather your clothes, fingers brushing over your skin tenderly in a way that feels foreign coming from him, as if he’s afraid that, if he rushes, it’ll break something.

“rest, your highness. please, don’t move,” he ties the fabric hovering near your ear as his soft upper lip brushes your sensitive skin with a low murmur. “you’re safe now.”

“safe...” you repeat the word, almost testing it on your tongue.

“at least for now, but the curse... it doesn’t work like that. it’s not just broken once. it could flare up again in a few days... and when it does,” he pauses, allowing his words to settle in for a few seconds. “we’ll have to repeat the ritual.”

he’s a liar. a filthy, self-loathing liar.

the curse is broken. it has been broken since that moment. nothing will flare up again. it’s absolutely impossible. the ritual is complete. there is no reason for him to say this, no reason at all. but still, he can’t help himself. he lies, not to protect you—but to keep you. to keep you near him, just a little longer.

“we’ll have our next time soon,” he mutters to himself, he hates himself for it. every fiber of his being recoils at the thought of deceiving you like this, manipulating you with his twisted words, but the words are already sealed in his mind. mostly like a promise — one he will keep. and this time, he won’t stop.

TAGS: @a-smol-bean @violetbutterflix @amanoava @falloutjuli @embersweapons @warriordemigosworld @cathias @v15aexe @vasarii @pe4rl-diver @sukidenks @dazaifavbandage @chuuminn @fyodorsprettynun @ace-0fspades69 @irasamu @trippyserval @alyszuha @bittysuguru @writingandmusing @corruptedwrathkitsune @thedamselzelda @fyodorssimp1 @vikkinakahara @laylabuurr @perlaslibrary @remlionheart @osamucide @ranpazz @naviiq

[deuterium51614]

Boueibu Rewatch Part 1

I've been working on transcribing Crunchyroll's subtitles to use on my bluray rips (to be able to watch the Definitive Version™️of Boueibu lol) but I only just started working on the second episode last night.

("Definitive" because of the pink and blue bars with extra text, filters for bright lights and some ghost frames being removed, changes like the summer uniforms, the ED at the end of the first episode, etc.)

So, for my rewatch today I opted back in to the lowest premium tier so I could watch the episodes on the big screen without having to rely on my laptop.

Something to note is that Crunchyroll has changed some subtitles from when it first came out, and I'll bring up the ones I remember. No idea when they were changed, since I tend to watch it offline. (Last time I watched on my TV was 2021, and it was definitely on Crunchyroll because we kept joking about the repetitive car dealership ads, back before they removed the ability to watch Boueibu without a premium membership.)

If they're recent changes, could it be part of the Funimation merger? Or could they be updating subtitles to be closer to an English dub?? How often does Crunchyroll go back in to old shows and make changes, anyway?

Episode One

In En's chikuwabu speech, I could've sworn that they changed the subtitles from "it rejects others and denies its wheat-based origins" (because wasn't the point of the line that it "stays as wheat flour mixed with water," as he says in the previous line?) but apparently it's still there. Maybe I'm thinking of the Funimation subs? (Which used to be available for free on Tubi, but aren't anymore. RIP the Enny/Kinny/Atsu nicknames)

Anyway, something I never noticed before: when Wombat is tackled by Yumoto in the first episode, he's got rice around his mouth.

For the first episode, like I said above the bluray has the OP before the title card and the ED at the end.

During the line "I miss you," it's En on the screen, pointing.

So that, combined with:

the fact En is in the seat behind Kinshirou

you don't know necessarily who Kinshirou is looking at when he turns

it hasn't been established yet that the Defense Club wears their Battle Lover colors for casual clothes (because of the flashback in the ED)

...it could be said that up until the previews for episode four, the viewer could assume Kinshirou was childhood friends with En, and he's mad at Atsushi for taking him away. And now I'm thinking of a different version/cut of Boueibu where the episode four flashback didn't happen (or Atsushi's face isn't shown), and it's a big twist that the viewer thinks En was the childhood friend for the entire show until the final battle.

Episode Two

This is where I noticed the most changes in subtitles (because I was just transcribing it last night). Entire lines are different! Some have big effects on the tone or meaning, while others are easily swapped. (There's so many I'm literally just watching them side by side now, and also skipping some of them.)

Io's line "Anyway, can we ask Wombat about the aftermath now?" has become "Anyway, can we talk about why Wombat appears to be dead now?"

En's line "We can't take these things off, can we?" became "These things won't come off."

Tawarayama's "Now you shall not worry" became "Now you need not worry."

Ryuu's "'Shall' in this day and age..." is "'Need not' in this day and age..."

Atsushi's "I can't believe you're touching him, Yumoto." -> "I don't know how you can touch him, Yumoto."

Wombat's "It's a 'joint life'!" -> "We are 'living jointly'!"

Atsushi's "I've never heard that one before..." -> "I don't know where you pulled that one from..."

Wombat's "I had no choice but to run at full speed!" -> I had no choice but to run with all my might!"

"You made it done."/"Truly done." -> "You did it, all right."/"Really did it." (I like this one because it matches the previous lines "You did it, huh?"/"You sure did it.")

"Am I to shoulder all the responsibility by myself?" -> "Is the responsibility truly mine alone to bear?"

En's "You're a creepy guy." -> "You're so creepy."

Ryuu's "That's fishy!" became "Talk about corrupt!"

"It's okay to have various definitions of love." -> "It's fine that everyone has his own definition of love."

Ibushi's "rustling the leaves" became "rustling young leaves," though I think that's something that was in later episodes' subs and they just went back and made it consistent.

The chopstick monster's "Multiply!" became "Multiply further!"

"That's a more [insignificant -> unintelligible] reason than I was expecting."

"It's true that it's nice to have a matching set." -> "It's true that it feels more complete that way."

"I knew they'd react like that." -> "They're right to react like that." (They made it funnier lol)

"Your images and voices have been altered to protect your [privacy -> personal information]."

Wario's "Green..." -> "Eco-friendly." (Funimation subs iirc had him say "Eco.")

Episode Three

Don't think there were any changes to the subtitles, though it's been a while since I've watched the version I have offline.

My dad came into the room for parts of this episode. "Talking teddy bears?" he asked when Wombat was sitting on the desks, raising his hand. Said Ryuu looked more like a princess than a prince. And when everyone was falling in love with the monster: "Bestiality??" Also commented that he felt like he was losing brain cells watching it, and kept giving me concerned glances lol

I've always thought it was funny how the guys' plan was to get more votes for Ryuu so he could beat Akoya, but...two of their plans don't involve getting votes for him. Maybe the wrestler and urinal guy were going to vote for Akoya before they were convinced otherwise? That's the only way it makes sense for me.

[squidpro-quo]

Team Games pt. 2

A/N: A continuation of this au fueled by @abbus-r-us's tags because I was on the floor and dead from them thank you for killing me kindly

“We should be thanking you, Ryuu!” Mitsuki dug into a yakisoba pan with clear relish and nudged Ryuu’s arm with a knee as if to speed his own sandwich on its way. “It was already a lot of batches, and the fanciest stuff you can imagine, but then the extra for getting it done so fast is the biggest we’ve ever scored with an order!”

“You said you couldn’t feel your fingers the next day,” Ryuu said with a wince, the mention of the incident summoning a mass of guilt that hadn’t abated despite a week’s long passing. The edges of it had begun to be consumed by yearning, but the shame of it all had been an effective deterrent. For now. He lowered the yakisoba, tucking it into his pocket unopened now that his stomach had soured with the topic.

“They were just a little burnt, happens all the time. Are you saying you haven’t enjoyed the extra snacks I got with my overtime pay?” 

“You shouldn’t be touching them when they’re still hot,” Iori chided, sipping at his drink slowly. “Did you use the cream I—” 

“Look, Iori,  they’re completely healed! I promise next time we get an order that big I’ll stick to the icing, okay?”

“I could’ve told you it was a posh school though.” Crushing the plastic wrap between his hands, Touma cut in as the brothers devolved into a continuation of their own family squabble. “Got accepted on scholarship, but they pulled the funding at the last minute. Something about ‘my public conduct’ or something. You’re lucky you got out before they caught you.”

“Yeah…” Surprising as it was to hear that Touma would’ve been the one wearing as elegant an outfit as the prince he’d met, the thought of those last words took over. What would the punishment be for someone who’d destroyed an entire party’s catering? If the prince got expelled for helping him, Ryuu needed to set the record straight. 

After the others had gone home, Ryuu stayed to contemplate the ragged shrubbery that had been such a hindrance the first time. He’d gone through once, the second time couldn’t be worse. This illusion only lasted until he took the first step; the fall with all its force and adrenaline had done more for his journey that first time than he’d expected. His jacket, newly repaired with painstaking care, was gaining yet more tears as he fought his way past the sharp edges of broken branches and stubborn thorns. 

The last obstacle was at least new. A flash of yellow was all the warning he had before he found himself clotheslined on a length of silk. Tied across the messy section of the hedge, the silk did nothing except apparently pretty up the eyesore in the school’s garden. Ryuu shrugged out of it with a confused look back, before a far more welcome sight greeted him. 

“You!” The prince waved, grinning as if Ryuu were a long-lost friend and not the one responsible for his no-doubt cruel dethronement. Even his clothes told just such a story. Gone the satin and gold filigree, he was dressed in faded overalls and rubber boots. However, there were still signs of his once-royal origin, his shirt still decorated with ruffles and the ragged sunhat sporting the same pink ribbon as before, perhaps even gardeners needed to be fancy in a place such as this. 

“They’re having you work off your debt?” Ryuu asked, “I need to tell them I did it, please who can I see to explain?” 

“My debt?” The prince cocked his head, lowering the shears in his hands. “Oh, you mean this? I always volunteer for gardening duty in the summer. And I already did the shifts in the kitchen, so don’t worry, you’re in the clear!” 

“You didn’t get thrown out?” 

“I’m sure my father would love to, but if the headmaster’s son gets expelled then it looks bad to prospective parents.” 

“The head…” His rush through the hedge felt pretty foolhardy in the light of those words. His presence wasn’t needed, and now he’d destroyed the hedge even more instead of letting it return to the perfectly manicured state it was meant to be in.

“Did you come through just because you were worried?” the prince asked, an odd expression on his face. Ryuu felt a blush creep across his own at the question, and nodded mutely. 

“My knight on his shining skateboard,”—cutting a rose from the bush he was trimming, the prince offered it to Ryuu—“your chivalry might not be necessary, but you deserve some token of appreciation for coming back.” 

Not a single petal had turned limp or papery yet, it was a rose in the blush of health and still he was being gifted it when it should be in a bouquet at a ball. He held it to his nose to find his next words and found its scent was familiar, a piece of the prince held in his hands. There was too much swirling in his heart now, growing thorny and wild with just a light sprinkle of words. He didn’t deserve to take something so beautiful, he had nothing to offer in return. 

His jacket crinkled as he patted it down, and he held out the yakisoba pan before he could consider how it compared to the fine dining that he’d ruined last time. A few seconds passed and he started pull his hand back when the prince quickly took it, a startled smile on his face.

“Is this in exchange?” 

“I can bring something better next time—”

“So you’ll come again?” The prospect brightened the prince as if he’d gained a spotlight, the sun hitting his face as he pushed the brim of his hat back to wipe his forehead. “When?” 

“W-when will you be here?” Ryuu could figure out how to escape the others’ inevitable ribbing when the time came, it would worth it if whatever was starting to bloom would be watered just once more. 

The prince dimmed as he paused in thought, mouth pulling into a frown after a few seconds. “Only next week, my father’s decided I’m to have extra lessons to…well, keep me occupied. But I’ll find a way to let you know when I’m free.” 

“I’ll be waiting,” Ryuu promised, ducking as he heard a door slam and saw a head of gray start across the garden. 

“Fuck.” The prince chuckled as Ryuu stared at him in surprise. “You should run, that’ll be my father.” 

When he’d reached the safety of the hedge again, Ryuu turned for one last look and was disappointed to find the prince was staring at his shears, the yakisoba hidden away. As if sensing the eyes on him, he met Ryuu’s gaze, an odd determined set to his face. Ryuu curled over the delicate rose and barreled into the hedge with face and heart burning.

Part 3

[ccraccz]

Chrysanthemums

┏━°⌜防風鈴 ⌟°━┓

Chapter 6

┗━°⌜防風鈴 ⌟°━┛

“Alright, you guys!” Bofurin stood in front of the alley that separated them from Shishitoren the next day, a refreshing wind blowing their gakuran around, “Now, Let's head on out!”

┌──❀*̥˚───❀*̥˚─┐

18 hours ago…

└───❀*̥˚───❀*̥˚┘

“AaaAaaaAAH……”Nirei whined in fear, getting side eyed by Sakura. Ryuu sat beside Suo, watching as he interacted with Sasaki, as basically mesmerized by his earring. He was infatuated with the long yellow tassels that swayed in the wind so easily and beautifully, flowing with every movement the teen made. “Shit, shit, shit…” Nirei rambled, tears collecting in his eyes “we’re screwed… we’re definitely screwed…” Ryuu turns to the boy that’s freaking out, placing his hand in the boy’s hair, it was very, very, fluffy. “There’s no need to worry Nirei-” Ryuu says before he’s cut off, jumping back. “Shut your yappin’,” Sakura glares

“AND WHOSE FAULT DO YOU THINK THIS IS?!”

“There’s no point in kicking up a fuss about it now, Nirei,” Kotoha, the only employee and possibly the owner of the cafe, interrupts as she places a nice looking omurice and a small cup of earl gray tea. Ryuu bows his head, staying silent because he knew if he said something, he would get cut off. “Get something in your stomach. It should calm you down.”

“Kotoha-san… you really don’t get it…” Nirei clenches his fists and stares down at the food that was set in front of him, “Bofurin might just disappear tomorrow…” Ryuu’s eyebrow twitches at that, he was getting annoyed with all of the negativity Blondy was exuding at the table.

“Still…” Kotoha places another Omurice in front of Sasaki after placing another tea in front of Suo. “Freaking out about it now isn’t going to help.”

“It’ll be fine. Bofurin isn’t that weak. You already know that don’t you?”

Ryuu smiles slightly, looking back to Nirei and Sakura, who was gobbling down the omurice that was just handed to him. Ryuu huffed before taking a sip of his earl gray tea. The light brown color became a much more beautiful color due to the milk and sugar that he had, shyly and nervously, asked Kotoha to add.

He takes a sniff of it, the light smell of the rind of bergamot oranges invading his senses. He takes a sip of the warm drink as he ignored the conversations happening beside him, until- “SAKURA-SAN! WE NEED TO STRATEGIZE! GET EVERYONE TOGETHER AND FIGURE THIS OUT!!” Ryuu looks up at Nirei, who is grabbing at Sakura’s shoulder. “There’s no strategy to a damn one-on-one punch-off,” Sakura states, mouth full of Omurice, “Anyway, I’m done eating… Can I go?”

“But.. Umemiya-san and Hiragi-san aren’t here yet…” “They’re taking forever. They told us to wait for ‘em but they’re a damn no-show.” “Well… I bet it’s not so quick to calm all those other guys who were out for blood,” Suo smiles, the memory of the school being more than ready to fight back against the Lions coming back to all of them.

“But, still,” Sakura leans back into his seat, angry as Ryuu huffs a laugh and takes another sip of his tea. “Umemiya said we’d go out for a meal, right? So… why’re we at a cafe?”

“This cafe is famous, you see. It used to be the usual hangout for Bofurin. Apparently, they’d all gather here before a fight,” Sou says before taking a sip of his own tea. “And more importantly…”

“KO! TO! HAAAAAA!!” Umemiya cheers as he bursts into the cafe, re-blinding Ryuu with how happy the male is to be in the presence of the female, kicking his feet behind him as he speaks to her, behind him entering Hiragi. The rep quickly brings out his phone and scrolls through it. “Oh, right! That little sapling I talked about the other day… Has gotten SOOOO BIG!!“

“Please, why is he so bright-” Ryuu turns around, preserving his eyesight from the male, making Suo and Sasaki chuckle at him.

“I’ll send it over here when summer hits!” Kotoha turns away from him, “I’m looking forward to it.” “What… Is going on…?” Sakura asks, exasperated at what he was witnessing at the front of the cafe. “As you can see…” Suo starts “Umemiya-san’s taken a Liking to this place.” Sakura instantly flushes red with a comical BWOOSH at that, making Ryuu snort. “Wh-Wh-WHAAAAT?!” Sakura’s glass of water shakes in his hold as he calls out “I-Is She his… Girlfriend?!” “Oh you took it that way.”

Ryuu snorts as Kotoha yells out to Sakura in anger, and Umemiya spits in laughter. “God… Don’t be stupid,” Kotoha says after the shock. “YEAH! DON’T BE STUPID,” Umemiya parrots, “SHE’S NOT JUST SOME MINOR GIRLFRIEND!!”

SHE’S MY LITTLE SISTER!!” He presents her.

“I’m not you SISTER!” She grits out in annoyance. “So… What are you two then?” Sakura asks, making Kotoha sigh. “We were raised in the same orphanage, and Ume just calls me his sister.”

Ryuu smiles, “You both at least had each other at that time,” He was ignored with how low he said that, but it seemed Umemiya heard him, not that he noticed since he was too focused on finishing his tea that was already a bit too cold for his liking. “Oh…” Sakura starts “That’s all? I thought you were about to say something more grim…” He scratches his black hair, looking off to the side. This took Kotoha off guard, making her look at Sakura with wide eyes before she smiled, glad that he didn’t make a scene or ask any more questions about it. “Hm? But wait… You’re the little sister? Aren’t you older?”

“Nope” “How old are you?” “The same as you, 16.”

Ryuu turns in shock, his one visible eye open wide. He had thought that she was at least 18, and the little sister thing being because she was born a few months after Umemiya.

“YOU LIAR! YOU LOOK WAY TOO OLD FOR 16!” “NO MATTER HOW YOU CUT IT, YOU LOOK OVER 20… huh?”

A chair was thrown at Sakura hitting the wall with a loud KLAAANG, the attacker being good ol’ Sugishita, from behind him, a creepy aura’d Hajime spoke. “That’s right… Kotoha is..” He turns his head to the two freshmen that were able to see him, a sinister smile on his face directed at them “very mature, you see…”

“I don’t like the way he worded that…” Ryuu whispers to Suo, who shakes his head, smiling, and takes another sip of his own tea. Suddenly, Umemiya turns back into his sunny, happy self as he takes the seat that was thrown at them.

“Goodness Sugishita! Don’t go tossing things around the cafe now!” “Umemiya really dotes on Kotoha-chan,” Hiragi says “If he finds out that KOtoha-chan got into any danger… You know what’ll happen, right?” Hiragi glares at Sakura, unintentionally also at Nirei.

A few seconds after that interaction, Umemiya was humming in pleasure as he ate Kotoha’s cooking. “Kotohas’s omelette rice is number one in all of Japan!” Umemiya sang, Sugishita nodding along as the freshmen group looked on at their seniors. Kotoha looked angry as she cleaned off the dishes.

“Huh? Hiragi, You’re not eating?” Umemiya asks, confused since Hiragi wasn’t eating his Omurice. “Uhh…Not I,” He picks up the spoon before continuing “I was just thinkin’ about what Shishitoren was like in the past.” The memory of Umemiya saying that they were being pretty lame recently was brought up, making Sakura interested back into the conversation of the older students beside them. “Those guys… Were different before?” He asks. Ryuu struggles to keep his eyes open, head falling only to be sharply brought back up on instinct as the conversation keeps going. Hiragi becomes serious, starting to explain the past of the ‘enemy’ for the new kids that didn’t know and re-explaining it to those who did. “They’re the Devotees of Power… Shishitoren was a team that simply wanted to seek strength. There’re a lot of hotheads there, but… they were never a team that would chase some junior high kids around.” “There was one time when we had an all-out clash between their team and outs. Although it was one fierce brawl, I remember that fight felt real good.” “But…ever since Tomiyama became their top, grisly rumors began to spread. WHat happened today wasn’t anythin’ new, I’ve heard a ton of stories about how they’d force their way into a fight with people.” “Both Tomiyama and Togame… Cared more about their team than anyone else. They were real symbols of their strength.” “So how did things change so much…”

“Well,” Umemiya starts “It all probably changed because of Tomiyama…” “Because of him? What do you…” “I dunno the details,” Umemiya says, picking up his glass “but you’ll get it when we talk to them tomorrow.” He brings the cup to his lips.

“Talk to them? We’re gonna go duke it out, aren’t we?” “No, I mean… fighting is still a type of communication… Sakura-kun,” the white haired student grins. “Sometimes, fists are a language… That allows you to understand your opponent even better than words. But, well… it’s a language that only we know how to speak.”

“...He’s lonely,” Ryuu says suddenly, leaning his head back and bringing the attention to him. “Who?” Sakura inquired, both the seniors and the freshmen, even Kotoha and Sasaki were looking at him. “Tomiyama, it’s all in his eyes and how he acts,” Ryuu says, all too familiar with the situation at hand. Ryuu shakes his head and stands up, stretching his back with a few cracks. 

Fighting is communication… Fists are a language…

I never even thought of it that way before…

“See ya! Don’t be late tomorrow!!” “KoToHAAA! I’ll come by again!” Umemiya waves at his ‘sister’ with a comical smile as she places the closed sign in front of Pothos cafe. “U-Ummm!” Sasaki grabs the highschooler’s attention, making them turn towards him. “I never got a chance to thank all of you…” he bows “Thank you so much for saving me!”

“Best of luck… on your fight tomorrow!”

“Yeah!” Umemiya smiles brightly at Sasaki. “Don’t ya worry. We’ll be fine,” Hitagi smiles at the kid, reassuring him while Sugishita nods. “We’ll give it our all,” Suo gently smiles at the boy. Ryuu looks at them quite confused before smiling and patting the kid on the head, “Be sure to change that bandage and place some ointment on it, and thank you for being so brave Sasaki.”

Sakura flushes and stutters “I-IT’S NOT LIKE… WE’RE FIGHTING FOR YOUR SAKE OR NOTHIN’...!” “You’re a real dolt…” Kotoha interrupts Sakura. “All you gotta say is, ‘you can leave it to us.’”

“L…Leave it to us,” Sakura mumbled, cheeks red from what he was technically made to say to be respectful. “That’s it!” Kotoha smiles. “Sakura-san, your face is beet-red!” “SH-SHADDUP”

“Quiet you both!”

┌──❀*̥˚───❀*̥˚─┐ A few hours later └───❀*̥˚───❀*̥˚┘

‘I’ve…’ Sakura thinks as they step through the alley that separates Bofurin and Shishitoren ‘never went into a fight like this… where I’m battling for someone else.’ ‘But… although, I can’t really put it into words… I feel like, I’m even more confident on winning than before.’

“UME-CHAAAAAN! Welcome! TO OUR TURF!!”

‧̍̊·̊‧̥°̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥‧̥·̊‧̍̊ ♡°̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥ ·͙̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥̩̩͙‧͙ °̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥ ♡‧̍̊·̊‧̥°̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥‧̥·̊‧̍̊ ‧̍̊·̊‧̥°̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥‧̥·̊‧̍̊ ♡°̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥ ·͙̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥̩̩͙‧͙ °̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥ ♡‧̍̊·̊‧̥°̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥‧̥·̊‧̍̊

A/n: SO SO SORRY IF CHAPTER HAVE RECENTLY SEEMED SHORTER, TO ME THEY DO AND I JUST HOPE I GET MY SPARK BACK SOON BECAUSE AUGHBIMD XIJDKCKC SOBBING RN THIS CHAPTER IS SO SHIRT IMO PLEASE DO INFORM ME IF ANYTHING IS WRING IR WHAT YIU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOON?? ANYTHING PLEASSEE. You guys don't have to, but if you'd like, it'd be greatly appreciated, I'm just being dramatic and crazy LMAO. HAVE A GOOD DAY/NIGHT/EVENING LOVES.

[himejoblr]

i haven't posted oc's in a while LOL,,,, sorry for that hahwjdawndfd

anyweyzzzzzzzzzzzzz,, meet ryuuzaki mato (竜崎 マト) and uruwashi hazuki (雲類鷲 晴月) !! (he/she for mato, any prns for hazuki)

“these two never go a day without plotting something together, but no one in seishou's soccer club can deny that their presence somehow keeps the entire team sane.”

rambling under the cut!! if ure in the inablr disc server then uve probably seen some of this

first of all, i'd like to say that i used picrews as references for them, but i only made slight changes for mato (the og skin color was too dull.... </3)

okay so. mato. he's genderfluid, bisexual, and uses he/she pronouns (already stated that on the top of the post)! she prefers being called by her given name rather than her surname (take into account the name order in japan)

and yes, they're both managers! i figured i wanted to make male manager ocs, and these two were the result,, i KNOW mato looks like a girl but let him (and ME) be plz :3c

((also also they R dating. but they do not know that yet))

she isn't usually seen wearing the prescribed blazer for seishou, but i like to think that they (seishou) aren't too strict with the school dress code. although that was the case, mato still promised she'd (mostly) wear vests or cardigans that had similar colors to the blazer. at first, she was a bit nervous about going to school with a yellow cardigan, but seishou allowed it, so she's safe!!! wow!!!!!!!! also whether he wears a skirt or pants to school depends on his mood

my guy is obsessed with vests and cardigans so everyone just kinda immediately associates those clothes to him whenever they come across them. some examples of how his casual outfits usually look like: these pins. might have slight modifications depending on how diligent i am

now, about his past, why he wears an eyepatch, and how his sister died........

a random fact about her is that she owns a toy piano from her unfortunately deceased older sister, and has a youtube channel dedicated to making covers with it, occasionally accompanying them with a xylophone and/or her voice. figure one: final duet.

ah wait. before i talk abt his past, i wanna talk abt etymologies!!!!!

first of all, the ryuu in her surname 竜崎 (first kanji/character) is from 竜座 (ryuuza), which means draco constellation! this is supposed to be in line w how they name seishou characters (aka they name them after constellations). as for mato, i just took that from the first two syllables of matoro juka's surname and wrote it in katakana LMAO

his sister, ryuuzaki yostuha (name not final), died at 15 years old, which is basically fresh outta junior high (bc she was turning 16 that year). apparently, she had a stalker who had been planning to kill her since 2 years ago, and they murdered her on her birthday. mato was 9 at the time.

mato's initial reaction was shock and denial, since yknow. yotsuha's his sister. and she's one of his closest... friends? relatives? ever.

it's been 3 years since yotsuha's death, and mato's now in junior high. he noticed how his parents' attention suddenly turned to him, and how they started giving him so much affection the same way they did to yotsuha, and it kinda irked him a bit. she knew? she should be grateful since her parents actually "care" about her now, but on second thought, it's probably because they're coping with losing their eldest daughter.

okay NOW on why she's wearing an eyepatch. in her last few days of being a first year in seishou, same stalker who killed yotsuha suddenly showed up on her way home and attempted murdering her too, but only ended up stabbing her right eye. stalker ended up retreating but got arrested later lolz

and Finally. the general gist of his past as of now is that he grew up being neglected by his parents until his sister died and all the attention and affection they gave to her suddenly turned to him. then on one fine day, stalker who murdered older sister pulled a funny and stabbed his eye. okay that's it

next up, uruwashi hazuki! they're also genderfluid, unlabeled sexuality (still not sure about this) and they use any prns (stated already at the top of the post but yk)!

she basically wears the girls' seishou uniform Except:

she wears those tight shorts or whatever theyre called (whatever terumi wears in her og zeus uniform)

her blazer is unbuttoned and the polo? shirt is untucked on one side (usually the left)

as for his casual outfit.... well, the picrew i used just clearly depicts his usual casual outfit lol

a random fact about him is that he tends to collect a lot of space-related stuff, especially if it's something connected to constellations, stars, and the moon. i mean. moon is literally in his name (月(tsuki/zuki) = moon)

for etymologies, the washi in her surname 雲類鷲 (third kanji/character) comes from 鷲座/わし座 (washiza), which means aquila/eagle constellation!!! same thing as a while ago, and also i wanted to give her a moon typa motif so i put 月 in her name HAKALSJAH (also fyi i took her surname from uruwashi karuta ayakashi akashi 😭😭😭😭😭)

as for their past, i'm still thinking about it. for now, it's just something along the lines of being raised by a seemingly ordinary family in a broken village.

i plan to expand that idea maybe by around the end of the week since moratorium is this week which means i'll get really busy... 💔

anyways, i'm glad i still had the time to write this! i'd like to remind you again that half (if not more or less) of the info i jotted down in this post aren't completely finalized yet, and are therefore subject to change in the not-so distant future!

if you reached this part of the post, then thanks for reading, and i hope you enjoyed me rambling about my sillies!! cya!!!

[italiantnea]

#3-5_otogiri_tobi/ someday, the end of the world

prev: 3-4 // next: e-book bonus

-----

“Otogiri…”

The teacher with black-rimmed glasses in front of the school gate called out. Tobi stopped.

“Good morning, Yagarashima-sensei.”

“...O-oh hey. What, Otogiri?”

“I have to use this backpack—”

Tobi gestured to Baku on his back.

“It has to be this one. I’m sorry about making sensei unhappy all the time.”

“I’m not particularly unhappy about it…”

“Is that so. Well, thanks for the hard work every morning.”

“Y-yeah. I mean, it’s my job so…”

Tobi bowed his head slightly to the staff before entering the school gates.

“Hmm…”Baku hummed.

“Is this what they call a change of heart?”

“...I just felt like it.”

Around the shoe box, Shiratama was waiting. Tobi changed his shoes and walked to the classroom with Shiratama. Shiratama seemed like she wanted to say something, but couldn't find the words. It was the same for Tobi. He caught sight of Asamiya’s figure in the classroom, and felt relieved. Shiratama probably felt the same.

In the morning homeroom period, their homeroom teacher Harimoto talked about Kon. Kon was absent today as well, and it would take a little while longer before she recovered. That was all. He didn't talk about Takatomo.

Murahama and Shimomaeda, who’d been close to Kon, joined a group of other girls and boys. Masamune, a.k.a. Masaki Shuuji, was messing around energetically, making the students in that group laugh. Asamiya had an unpleasant look on his face.

He demolished his lunch in seconds, leaving just the Koppe-pan. Tobi shouldered Baku and left the classroom with the bread in hand.

Entry into the courtyard was still off limits. As he tried to go outside through the front entrance, it started raining. It couldn't be helped. Tobi squatted in front of the shoe box and ate his bread.

“The world turns, huh?” Baku grumbled.

Tobi finished his Koppe-pan in a flash.

“What was that?”

“Just a feeling, you know. Don't you get it? At least get this much.”

What Baku was trying to say was probably this:

Such things had happened to Takatomo and Kon, yet other people were already quickly getting back to their ordinary lives. If Tobi were to disappear today, it would have no effect on the revolution of the Earth. It would keep on turning without fail. The world turned. One by one, everyone continued living their lives as usual.

Beyond the transparent glass door of the entrance, thin drops of rain fell. He couldn't hear the sound of the rain.

As meal time ended and lunch break began, someone approached the shoe box. That someone squatted beside Tobi.

The two of them gazed at the rain.

“Did you look it up?”

Tobi asked the girl beside him without looking at her.

“On your phone… like on the internet?”

“About the zingai?”

The girl asked in return. When Tobi nodded, she replied, “A little.”

“Did you find out anything?”

“Ghosts or spirits, yokai, fairies— apparently their true form is actually zingai. And also, the strange phenomena spoken of in urban legends—those have to do with zingai as well.”

“So a bit of everything.”

Tobi laughed dryly. The girl laughed too. Tobi looked beside him. Shiratama looked at Tobi as well.

“So me and Chinu are on the same level as monsters?”

Baku let out a “Tch” as if he were clicking his tongue. Shiratama stroked him, as if to say, “Now, now.”

“There are some people who want to connect everything and anything to zingai. At the end of the day, only the people that can see zingai can see them, after all.”

“Like Tobi and O-Ryuu? At least that part seems correct.”

“Those who can't see are the majority, so there’s a lot of people who aren't taking it seriously too. Like the occult—”

“Baku is part of the occult?”

As Tobi muttered, Baku went wild. Even though he had no legs, it was like he was trying to kick him. That, or he was trying to hit him. Once again, Shiratama stroked Baku, pacifying him.

“I haven't tried SNS before. Maybe I’ll try signing up next time.”

“Well, I don't have a smartphone.”

“It’s convenient to have one.”

“Is that the sort of thing it is?”

“Well, you can stay in contact no matter where you go.”

Even in the facility, it was not rare for residents to have smartphones. Those who messaged or called friends all night long would get a warning issued from the staff.

“If anything happens—”

Shiratama looked outside.

“We can talk. Anytime…”

“Mm…”

Tobi nodded halfheartedly.

“Keh!”

Baku seemed like he wanted to say something. If he had something to say he could just say it.

“Ah, that’s right.”

Shiratama pulled her phone out of her skirt pocket. She tapped the screen and launched an app. Tobi looked at the screen.

“You can look at maps like these, too. You can zoom in and out. And you can change the direction in any way you like.”

“Ahh, that’s amazing.”

“You’d never get lost again.”

“Um, Shiratama, are you trying to sell it to me…?”

“I wouldn't dream of it!”

The strangely old fashioned words suddenly came out of Shiratama, and Tobi felt like bursting out laughing. Shiratama looked stupefied.

“So the map,” Tobi murmured.

“And you can contact people.”

Shiratama fiddled with her phone and repeated her words from earlier.

“...Do you find me persistent?”

Tobi shook his head.

“Not at all.”

The rain was growing stronger. It looked like it was about to thunder.

“There was something on my mind—”

Shiratama spoke, then hesitated. When Tobi prompted, “What?”, Shiratama turned off her phone screen and took a breath.

“It’s about the voice.”

There was one part that came to mind. Tobi felt a little caught on it as well.

“You mean, the one that said “Aren't you weird?”, that voice?”

Takatomo and Kon had heard something akin to auditory hallucinations. As their mental health crumbled, it was possible for such things to arise. But it hadn't just been Takatomo. It wasn't just Kon either. Both of them had heard a similar voice. Shiratama looked down and bit her bottom lip lightly.

“I just don't think it was a trick of the ears or a hallucination…”

Baku let out a “Haah…” as if sighing.

Takatomo hadn't regained consciousness. And what about Kon? Her future was unclear. But it was settled, for now. Wasn't that it?

The world continued turning.

If it hadn't been a hallucination, then whose voice had it been?

In the afternoon classroom, you could hear the sound of rain even without straining your ears. From time to time, lightning flashed in the distant sky. A second later, thunder rumbled, and Masamune would say something, making people laugh. Then, the teacher would warn them to be quiet.

Tobi checked in on the nearby Asamiya frequently. Asamiya had textbooks and notes open on his desk. But mostly, he just looked downwards. It was like he carried an invisible boulder on his back, and was trying his best to bear its weight. That was what it looked like.

Whenever Masamune spoke, Asamiya would lift his face slightly. He would turn and glance at Masamune. After that, Asamiya would shake his head, or heave a deep breath. Tobi couldn't hear what, but sometimes he would mutter something under his breath.

Right after fifth period ended, there was a particularly loud clap of thunder, and Masamune fell from his chair with an “Uhyaa!” year 2 class 3 roared with laughter, and even the departing teacher laughed.

“It’s not me!”

It was sudden. Asamiya stood up and glared at Masamune.

The laughter stopped all at once. Masamune sat on his ass, his mouth dropping open.

“You’re the one who’s weird!”

Who was the ‘you’ Asamiya was talking to? Of course, it was Masamune, wasn't it?

With the say no evil monkey that resembled a tarsier with tree bark-like skin on his head, Masamune was indeed weird. But that was because Tobi could see that zingai. Disregarding the zingai, Masamune was just a simple class clown.

“I’m not weird!”

Asamiya’s shout sounded like a howl.

“I’m not weird! I’m not weird! I’m not weird! Stop it…! I’m not weird, I’m not weird at all! It’s not me, you’re the ones that are weird! It’s not me! I’m not weird! I’m not weird! I’m not! I’m not weird, I’m not weird, I’m not weird! I am not weird…!”

“....Uh, objectively speaking, I think you really are being weird right now though?”

Masamune smiled tightly, and taking that as a joke, some of their classmates laughed reservedly. Asamiya started hitting both sides of his head with his hands.

“Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up! Who are you! I’m not weird! You’re the ones that’re weird, you’re weird, not me!”

“A-asamiya-kun…!”

Shiratama ran up to Asamiya.

“Tobi—”

At almost the exact same moment, Baku called out to him. Tobi noticed it. When had it happened? He wasn't sure, but he noticed in that moment. It was the say no evil monkey.

Right now, that unsettling zingai sat plopped on Masamune’s head. But it was no longer the say no evil monkey.

Its pose with the covered mouth resembled the ‘say no evil’ from Nikko Tosho-gu’s three wise monkeys, so that’s what Tobi had called it. But that was no longer the case. It wasn't covering its mouth. To be exact, normally there would have been a mouth there. But it was missing that part. There was nothing there. It had eyes like a tarsier’s. Ears and a nose too. But no mouth. Was it missing one from the very beginning? Or had it disappeared? Whichever it was, that zingai had kept its nonexistent mouth covered. Why had it stopped making that pose?

Asamiya pushed Shiratama aside.

“—...”

Shiratama crashed into a nearby desk and staggered. Asamiya’s upper body lurched forward with great momentum, then immediately bent backwards. He repeated the movement.

“UUUUUuuuAAAAAAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaaAAaaa…!”

The students were distressed. Some ran away, frightened. It was a panic. Of course, Tobi was shocked as well. Asamiya. What had happened to him? He was screaming that he hadn't gone weird. As if he were being told “You are weird”, and was arguing against it.

Who had told Asamiya such a thing?

At the very least, Tobi could not hear it. Could Asamiya hear it? Only Asamiya.

Tobi saw him. It was Masamune. Masaki Shuuji covered his mouth with both hands.

In place of his zingai, Masamune assumed the pose of the ‘say no evil’ monkey.

“....That bastard!” Baku spat.

Masamune’s eyes were narrowed, his shoulders shaking. What was so delightful about this? He was laughing. Masamune seemed ready to burst out laughing, desperately trying to keep it together.

Tobi grabbed Baku from where he hung on his desk. If Tobi left him behind, Baku would surely never forgive him. Tobi darted in between the desks, chairs, and other classmates. Masamune noticed him and widened his eyes. Tobi leapt at Masamune. He heard the voice.

(Isn't it weird?) (It’s your fault) (You’re to blame) (It’s you) (You are)

“—Nngah…”

Tobi clutched his head and crouched down. It wasn't just Tobi. Shiratama screamed, “Gyah…!” A voice. It was the voice. Voice? Was this a voice?

(It’s you) (Isn't it weird?) (You are) (You’re the one to blame)

Countless voices, like a jumbled up mixture of solids and liquids—like metal that was heated until it melted into sludge—gushed directly into his head.

(Isn't it weird?) (You are) (You’re weird) (You are) (You are)

“...Tobi! Tobi?!”

Baku shouted for him. 

On Masamune’s head, the mouthless tarsier with the bark-like skin—that zingai—even though it had no mouth, the spot where its mouth should have been squirmed and wriggled.

(Weird) (Isn't it weird?) (It’s weird) (You’ve gone weird)

Was it weird? Weird. Wasn't it weird? He felt like he was going weird.

Was it that guy?

That’s right. Masamune’s zingai. That was it. The voice was that zingai.

“Tobi, use me to…!”

Me to? What? Use Baku to- I see. Tobi hurled Baku, aiming at Masamune.

“—Uahh…?!”

Masamune dodged it by a hair's breadth. He avoided it. Masamune cast a contemptuous look at Baku, who’d crashed into the lockers at the back of the classroom, and ran. Was he planning on getting out of the classroom? Tobi picked up Baku and chased after him. As he opened the door Masamune had slammed with all his might and stepped into the hallway, Shiratama’s call stopped him.

“Tobi-kun, wait! I’m coming too…!”

“Shiratama, go report this to Haizaki!”

Tobi said without turning around, and ran down the hallway. What would come of reporting it to Haizaki? He didn't know. He’d just said it in the spur of the moment. It was better if Shiratama didn't come along. It was dangerous.

Baku yelled, enraged.

“Where did he run off to, that bastard!”

“As if I would know!”

Masamune was not that tall, but he was pretty quick on his feet. Even as he closed some of the distance between them on the stairs, it didn't seem like it would be that easy to catch up to him. Masamune was heading towards the shoe rack. Wasn't he going to change his shoes? He charged towards the glass door of the front entrance. He did so with a force like he was planning on ramming his body through it. Masamune pushed open the glass door and ran outside. Tobi, too, chased after him in his indoor shoes.

The rain was strong. Tobi was soaked in an instant. As Masamune ran, he ranted and raved about something. The sound got lost in the rain, so he couldn't hear it well, but it sounded something like, “You’re wrong”, “It wasn't me”, “It wasn't my fault”. That seemed to be what he was saying.

“—For real, this guy is awful! He’s the worst…!”

Baku hurled abuse. It poured as if someone had flipped a bucket over.

Masamune crossed the crosswalk at a red light, and cars honked their horns at him. Masamune started and stopped for a moment, then immediately continued across the road. Tobi had no choice but to slow his pace a bit. Several cars were coming and going on the road. Picking out the gaps between cars coming from both left and right, Tobi got to the other side of the crosswalk as well. He’d gotten away from him again.

He should just leave him be. It was pouring after all. And he was out of breath. To be honest, this was tough. Did he really have to go to these lengths to chase after Masamune?

Zingai. It was because zingai were involved. Tobi had Baku. He could see zingai.

Baku had eaten Kon’s zingai. Because of that, Kon had fallen into heart desolation, or whatever it was called. That was the mess Baku had made, so Tobi was responsible as well. But at the bottom of it all, weren't they just getting what they deserved?

Kon had a complicated, problematic relationship with her mother. Even if that were the cause, if Kon’s zingai hadn't done bad things, this wouldn't have become such a big deal. Takatomo wouldn't have jumped off the roof either.

And then, there was that voice. That was the work of zingai as well. Masaki Shuuji. Masamune’s zingai had gone after Kon and Takatomo and tormented them with that voice. If it hadn't done that, the series of tragedies probably wouldn't have occurred.

If he let them be, Masamune’s zingai would do it again. In fact, it already was. It had made Asamiya hear that voice.

It’s better to just eat it.

Eat that zingai.

Masamune headed towards Asakawa. Was he going to cross the bridge? No. the river bank. Masamune ran down the bank of Asakawa river. What was colloquially known as Asakawa den. On the flood plain of Asakawa river was a tent village. Around where the tent village came to an end, Masamune went down to the river bank. The weeds were overgrown here; just ahead, various trees, taller than a person, grew densely.

Without stopping, Masamune turned his head.

Right now, Masamune didn't have Masaki Shuuji’s face. Two oversized eyes. Round ears that looked like they had sharp hearing. His nose was protruded, and he had no mouth. It was a tarsier. Was Masamune wearing a mask of a tarsier with tree bark-like skin? There was no way that was it. And crucially, the zingai sat atop his head was gone.

“Did he fuse with the zingai…?!”

It was probably as Baku said. Only Masamune’s head had become identical to the zingai’s. From the neck down, he was still Masamune.

“Masaki…!”

Even though it was useless, Tobi tried shouting Masamune’s name. Masamune was trying to push his way into the thicket. He was probably going to keep going like that. Something unexpected happened. Masamune turned back around.

(What’s with you?) (What is it with you?) (What are you?) (What?) (What are you?)

“—Aah…”

Without thinking, Tobi covered his ears. That action meant nothing. Masamune did not have a mouth. The spot where his mouth should have been squirmed and wriggled. It was like there were hundreds, thousands of maggots gushing forth. But it was decidedly not a mouth. This voice was not a sound.

(What are you?) (Who are you?) (You’re) (Who are you?) (What?)

His brain. Tobi’s brain was shaking. The voice vibrated minutely, shaking his brain.

(You don't even know) (You don't even know anything) (I’m not at fault) (It wasn't my fault)

(Isn't it weird?) (It’s weird) (You are) (Yours) (It’s you)

(Not me) (You) (Weird) (It’s weird) (You’re the one who’s weird)

“—...Tobi! Tobi! Oi, Tobi?! Tobiii…!”

Baku kept yelling Tobi’s name. He cowered in the thick, wet grass.

Masamune turned and vanished into the undergrowth. Tobi’s brain was still shaking. Was that even possible? At any rate, it felt very unpleasant. But he had to eat him.

Tobi stood up. He pushed his way through the drenched leaves and branches of the jungle-like thicket, searching for Masamune. He seemed to be facing the riverbank. That, he understood, somehow. Where was he? He couldn't see him, but he was there. Just ahead.

Brushing past the whip-like branches, there was a river beach up ahead. Though he called it a beach, it wasn't made of sand or pebbles. It was mud. Looking downstream, he saw a railroad bridge. Right beside that was a pedestrian bridge. Asakawa river was murky, and flowing as quickly as usual.

Masamune was submerged up to his knees in the Asakawa river. His back was facing towards Tobi.

Tobi stepped into the muddy ground. It was terribly slushy. He was going to eat him.

Eat?

Eat. him. Why?

“...I’m hungry,” Baku moaned.

“I’m just…so hungry, I can't bear it. It’s the same for you, isn't it, Tobi…?”

His cells, all the cells in his body were completely hollow. They were empty. He had to fill them somehow. If he didn't, he couldn't keep on living. If he didn't eat, he would die. It was for the sake of survival. To keep on living, he would eat. That thing, that zingai, he had to eat it.

Baku was starving. The one who was starving was Baku, but Tobi could feel that hunger so starkly he could almost hold it in his hands. Tobi was not starving. He had absolutely no desire to eat that thing. Could he really say that with certainty? No one could go on living without eating, could they?

What was so bad about eating to survive?

So he had eaten Kon Chiami’s zingai. Was he going to eat again?

If he ate that zingai, what would happen?

If he ate that zingai, which hat fused itself to a human’s head?

What would become of Masaki Shuuji?

“What are you doing over there, Masaki?”

Tobi stopped at the edge of the water.

He couldn't let him eat.

He could not allow Baku to eat that zingai.

“You should come back. It’s raining, so it’s dangerous.”

(—abandoned)

The voice. It reverberated not in his eardrums, but in his brain. That voice,

(You abandoned him. That day… your brother…)

(He wasn't like you, was he? Slender, and smart, and athletic. Good at games, and drawing, and everything else. Nii-chan was a kind person, huh? And you?)

(You..always doing things that got you scolded by your parents, and nii-chan always covering your back. A hopeless, lousy little brother. Well, you were still his brother after all.)

(Always sticking to him and crying, nii-chan, nii-chan, nii-chan; he must have found you annoying, huh? Sometimes nii-chan would be cold to you, and you’d whine and cry and make a fuss, and your parents would get mad and say, that’s enough—)

What?

What was this—whose story was this?

(You went camping a lot with your family. That day was the last time you went camping, huh? A river. There was a river. A river, near the campsite. It was nii-chan who suggested it, huh? Shuu, let’s go swimming. Shuu! Shuu, for Shuuji. You’re the second son, so Shuuji¹, huh? But you were scared, so nii-chan went off swimming on his own. You sat on the riverbank, stacking rocks—)

¹ the ‘ji’ (二) character in ‘Shuuji’ means ‘two’

Nii-chan? Brother?

(Having swam away from the shore, nii-chan suddenly yelled, ‘Shuu, help me!’—)

Whose brother? Masaki Shuuji’s?

(And you… you didn't go to help him, did you?)

(I mean, it’s scary! You couldn't swim that well anyway! There was no way you could’ve saved him!)

(That’s right! That’s right, that’s why you… you looked on silently, did you?)

(Nii-chan…he was drowning… bobbing in and out of the water… it was a river after all; it had a current, and it swept him along… as the river water went down his throat, he screamed again and again, “Shuu, help me!” and—)

(—you just watched, didn't you? You just listened, while your brother’s voice begged you to save him.)

(If I don't help him now, nii-chan will die!)

(You thought that, didn't you? Even though you understood that… you didn't do anything, did you?)

(Nii-chan was thoroughly swept away, you couldn't see him anymore—)

(And what did you do after that? That’s right! Right after that, you went to your parents)

(Crying, telling your parents, “he disappeared”, “Nii-chan, he disappeared…”)

(Am I wrong? Huh? That can't be it, right? That wasn't it, was it? That couldn't have been it, could it?)

(Nii-chan screamed again and again, “Shuu, help me!”... He begged for your help—)

(Despite that, you ignored him, didn't you? And on top of that, you lied)

(Nii-chan… you abandoned him)

(That’s right. You, you abandoned your brother) (You watched him die before your eyes) (You let him die)

“...‘You’—”

Tobi wiped his face with his hand. The rain was still coming down strong. Somewhere off, thunder rumbled.

(It was me)

The voice spoke.

(I) (Me) (I did) (I) (I did) (It was me) (I) (I) (I) (I—)

(I abandoned my brother, and watched him die. To be able to do such a thing, I—)

(Aren't I weird?)

(No) (...Wrong) (It wasn't m-) (No) (It wasn't me) (I’m not at fault) (I’m)

(It wasn't my fault!) (Who is it?) (Saying it’s my fault, that I was at fault, who’s blaming me?)

(Someone is blaming me) (I can hear it) (That voice, blaming me) (—it’s just my imagination)

(But my parents think so) (I know) (Why wasn't it you?)

(If only you died instead of your brother) (—that must be what they’re thinking)

(I’m not smart like nii-chan. And I’m bad at drawing, and can't seem to grow taller…)

(I don't do as I'm told) (I'm a liar) (I abandoned my brother) (I let him die) (I killed him)

(Even though nii-chan said, “Shuu, help me”) (—I didn't do anything in the end)

(If I just get our parents right away) (They wouldn't have made it in time anyway!) (Isn't this guy terrible?)

(Nii-chan was drowning) (It looked painful…) (I pretended not to see) (This guy is just unbelievable)

“That’s enough…!”

He didn't want to hear any more. He didn't want to know this.

“It wasn't on purpose, was it! Masaki, it wasn't your f—”

(Not me) (It wasn't my fault) (I’m not to blame) (I’m not crazy) (I’m)

(I remember it well) (At nii-chan’s memorial service, I cried, and cried, and cried—)

(Everyone laughed, saying my face looked terrible!) (Even my parents laughed!)

(Nii-chan said that a lot too!) (“Shuu is so funny”) (I made him laugh all the time)

(Am I funny?) (Hey, nii-chan?) (Am I funny?) (You’re funny) (I’m funny)

(Laugh) (Please laugh) (I’m funny, aren't I?) (Laugh) (Because I’m funny)

(Aren't I funny?) (Let me make you laugh) (I’ll make you laugh) (So, laugh!)

Masamune. Masamune was changing. No, he’d already changed. Masamune’s head was already that of a mouthless tarsier with tree bark-like skin. In other words, it had been zingai-fied. But until just now, it had just been his neck and above. Now it wasn't just his head.

(This is me) (Someone wrote that on SNS) (“Look for your true self!”) (“Search for yourself!”) (“Try to find your own self!”) (I’ve found myself!)

(The me who is funny) (The one that makes everyone laugh) (The me who abandoned my brother) (Isn't it weird?) (I’m) (I did) (I) (I’m) (I) (I) (I) (I) (I) (I—)

The tree bark-like skin spread, down Masamune’s shoulders, even his chest. The entirety of that skin pulsed and squirmed.

(Takatomo) (I thought you understood me) (She—) (That girl)

(I talked to her about it) (About my brother) (She comforted me) (She liked me, didn't she?) (Even so—!) (“I’m not going to go out with you, Masamune”) (She turned me down with a laugh!)

(Takatomo) (Even so, I was worried about her, wasn't I?) (Because she became strange) (But—)

(She) (“Hah? What?”) (What is with her!) (—Isn't it weird?)

(It’s weird) (It’s her fault isn't it?) (If she’d gone out with me)

(She’s the one to blame) (Takatomo) (Eat shit) (Man, that feels good) (She got what she deserved!)

Masamune was undergoing transfiguration quickly. If this continued, the transformation would cover Masamune’s whole body. Masamune would become a zingai.

(But I couldn't have imagined she’d jump, could I?) (That Kon) (That’s right) (It’s her fault, isn't it?)

(Asamiya) (What’re you so pissed about) (Laugh) (Laugh!) (I’ll make you laugh)

(Even though I’d gone to all the trouble of reading the room and making everyone laugh) (Laugh) (—Laugh already!)

It was no longer just a voice that shook his brain. That voice reverberated in Tobi’s brain all the same, but at the same time, another voice rang out.

(I’m) “I’m” (I’m trying to make you laugh!) “Laugh!” (You happy-go-lucky idiots!)

At this point, Masamune’s body had zingai-fied, from his head to his feet and hands. That strangely plump belly was pimply and bubbly, quivering and squirming, finally ripping apart. From there, it spread.

“Laugh!” (Laugh!) “Idiots” (Laugh!) “Laugh!” (“Laugh for the rest of your lives!”)

Was that a mouth? It was lined with tiny teeth. It was unmistakably a mouth.

“(“Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!”)”

The mouth, the mouth that opened on Masamune’s stomach like a gaping wound, laughed. It laughed hard.

“...Stop it!”

Tobi wanted to sit down. Baku was saying something. Keep it together, Tobi. or something like that. Keep it together? How was he supposed to do that? He didn't know. Masamune—the zingai—advanced towards him, splashing through the river water. Tobi couldn't understand anything anymore.

“Tobiiiiii…!”

Baku flopped around on Tobi’s back like a big fish that had just been reeled in. forced by Baku to jump to the side, Tobi ended up rolling in the mud. He was covered in mud, but thanks to that, they managed to dodge the charging zingai by a hair’s breadth.

“Eat, Tobi! We’re eating him!”

Baku forced him to his feet violently, forcefully.

“(“Uahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!”)”

Masamune—the zingai— opened that large, horrifying mouth on his stomach, and with a laugh that shook Tobi’s brain, the air, even the rain, prepared to charge again. Tobi’s head trembled.

“But if you eat that…!”

“If we don’t eat it, we’re gonna get eaten…!”

Was Baku insistent on eating that zingai no matter what? That meant eating Masaki Shuuji, who’d gone into this state due to losing his brother, along with it. Tobi gripped Baku’s strap tightly with both hands.

“No, you can’t…!”

Tobi tried to run. It was hard to find a good foothold on the muddy ground, but that didn't matter. Even if he couldn't run like he wanted to, he just had to run. More important than escaping, he had to get away from here, away from Masamune. Baku wanted to eat. Tobi could understand that feeling as well. He felt it so deeply it hurt. But if he let Baku eat, Tobi would definitely regret it. Masamune chased after him.

(Don’t) “Don’t” (Don't) “Ignore me!” (Otogiri!) “Otogiri Tobiiiiiii…!”

His foot caught in the mud. Tobi plunged　into the muddy ground head first. He couldn't see because of the mud, but Masamune seemed to have leapt at him. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Baku tried to sink his teeth into Masamune. Masamune jumped away briefly. Just as he thought that was what he was doing, he grabbed onto Tobi’s right ankle.

“Fuoh—”

Tobi was thrown. He flew in the air, through the rain. It was the river. He was falling into the river.

Right after landing in the water, something became entangled with Tobi. Was it Masamune? They were in the water, in the middle of the river. What was going on? Tobi flailed furiously. Baku, too, was fighting back. Somehow, they shook off Masamune, but even though he was heading towards the river bank, he wasn't moving forward at all. The water level was around Tobi’s chest. He could touch the ground with his feet, but decided to swim. It was no use. They were getting swept downstream. Ultimately, Masamune’s hand closed around his ankle once more.

“Ugua—...”

At one point Tobi was pulled to the bottom of the river. He gulped down lots of water; frankly he had no idea how he didn't end up drowning.

When he came to, he was in a spot where the water was less than knee deep. Had he gotten here on his own? Or had he been swept here? It was under the railroad bridge. Right at this moment, a train was passing through. He could see the pedestrian bridge. Someone was on the pedestrian bridge. They leaned against the railing, looking this way. It wasn't just one person. There were two.

“—Tobii!”

Baku called to him, and Tobi turned around.

It was no longer a voice. A roar that drowned out even the noise of the train passing overhead pierced his ears, and instantly Tobi’s brain felt like it was boiling. More than half of Masamune’s body had become his mouth. That was how widely the mouth on his abdomen opened. Masamune leapt on him. He was trying to eat Tobi and Baku. Did he want to eat that badly? He wanted to eat. He wanted to eat so badly, he just couldn't help it.

Because if you didn't eat, life couldn't continue existing.

You sustained this life, through eating.

Eat. If you didn't eat, you would just be eaten.

Unfortunately, Tobi was choking from swallowing so much water. His head felt fuzzy; he was in no condition to be eating. In this state, he would get eaten before he could eat.

“Sorry I’m late…!”

From beside him, something, someone, rushed over. If they hadn't knocked Masamune away, they would surely have been eaten.

Haizaki. It was the janitor Haizaki. Haizaki, clad in work clothes, landed in front of Tobi.

One of the people on the bridge just now had been Haizaki. So that meant he’d gotten here all the way from there in a mere few seconds. Was that possible? It didn't seem humanly possible.

And something was strange with his right foot.

Haizaki’s right foot was dark. His left foot was in work clothes and, well, normal. But his right foot was covered tightly in some kind of leather or pelt.

“Tobi-kun…!”

He heard Shiratama’s voice. Haizaki hadn't been the only one on the pedestrian bridge. The other person had been Shiratama. The bank. Shiratama ran down the riverbank between the pedestrian bridge and the railroad bridge. She looked like she was going to tumble over. He couldn't stand looking at her. No, this was no time to be watching over Shiratama doing something dangerous. The voice, no—that sound that could no longer be called a voice—a soul-grinding shriek, descended on them.

“—Ughh…”

Tobi almost lost consciousness. Was Haizaki just fine? It didn't seem like it. He hunched forward and somehow endured it.

Masamune was no longer Masamune. The mouthless tarsier with the bubbling skin, no, the zingai with a huge mouth on its abdomen, screamed. It screamed, again, and again. As it screamed, the zingai hurled blame. At people close to him. At the surrounding people. And above all, at himself. It could no longer form words. It was pure, naked animosity. It was hatred, and fear, and resentment. And under it all, a whirlpool of guilt. Haizaki yelled as if he were being squeezed.

“Where is that zingai’s master…?!”

“He’s inside it!” Baku answered.

“Wha—” Haizaki broke off.

“Did the zingai take over its master and go on a rampage? Or did it devour the master…?”

The zingai that had been Masamune continued to emanate a sorrowful fear, cloaked in hostility. Stop it. Please, stop it. I'm begging you, please. Shiratama was crouched halfway down the riverbank. Don't try to get up. Don't come. Shiratama, just stay there. You shouldn't come over here. Tobi grabbed Haizaki’s shoulder.

“What should we do?!”

“W-well—”

Haizaki shook his head slightly. His eyes were narrowed into slits, like thin pieces of thread, and his jaw was shaking. That expression told him everything. It was too late. There was no saving Masamune. Abruptly, Haizaki opened his eyes wide and brushed away Tobi’s hand.

“You get back. I’ll do this.”

I. Not ‘watashi’. Haizaki had used ‘ore’ for himself. At that moment, Tobi understood. Haizaki was going to take care of the zingai, along with Masaki Shuuji. Could he do it? Using what method? There was no way for Tobi to know. If Haizaki said he was going to do it, he had no choice but to leave it to him. Was he okay with that? Really?

Baku started going wild on Tobi’s back. It was a strange way of going wild.

Immediately, Tobi grabbed Baku’s strap and tried to hold him down. But it was no use at all. He let go of the strap. He had no choice but to do so. What would've happened if he hadn't let go? He wondered what would've happened. He couldn't even begin to make a guess.

Baku broke away from Tobi’s back and pushed Haizaki aside. He didn't even wonder if that was Baku. No matter what form he took, Tobi understood. Baku was Baku. That wasn't to say he wasn't surprised. If he said that, that would be a huge lie.

Baku turned his back to Tobi and Haizaki, and stood on two legs. He had two arms as well. His hands were quite large. They had four fingers. He wore a long mantle-like thing, made of material similar to that of Baku—of the backpack. Were those real clothes? Or did they just look like clothes? His head was like a cylinder. As he turned, he could see that on that cylindrical head was nothing but a mouth.

“I’ll be the one to do it…!”

“Go, Baku”

Those words came out of Tobi’s mouth, and he nodded. Baku didn't nod back.

The zingai that used to be Masamune charged. Rather than intercepting the attack, Baku struck first. With incredible force, he jumped up and grabbed the zingai’s head all of a sudden. At that moment, Tobi noticed. Baku’s cylindrical head had nothing but a mouth, but on the backs of his huge hands, he had eyeballs.

“I’ll peel it off…!”

Baku put both feet on the shoulders of the zingai that used to be Masamune. Could it be he was trying to forcefully pull it off like it was a costume? It was like pulling a dynamometer. Was it even something that could be pulled off?

“NnununununununununununuuuuuuuaaaaaAAAAAAaa…!”

The zingai didn't just stay quiet. It twisted its body violently, waving both hands around, trying to shake free from Baku. There was a huge splash. Along with Baku, the zingai collapsed into the river.

(Not at fault!) (I am!) (You are!) (It’s not my fault!) (It’s yours!)

That voice shook Tobi’s brain. Haizaki glanced at Tobi, then looked back at the zingai straight away.

“Otogiri-kun, that’s…?!”

Tobi didn't respond. Baku was Baku. That was all he could say.

“Baku…!”

Shiratama had finally reached the shore. She was soaked, and maybe because she’d fallen, she was muddy all over. Chinu clung to her right shoulder.

“Do your best, Baku…!”

Shiratama understood that that was Baku. This was incredibly reassuring to him. Tobi spoke to Baku in his heart. For you too right, Baku?

Ever since his brother had disappeared, Tobi had been with Baku. They’d had nothing but each other. 

There were people who’d reached out a hand to Tobi. But Baku’s voice hadn't reached their ears. Even though Baku was Tobi’s precious partner. Baku was not a mere backpack. Even if he tried to explain that, it would've been no use. There was no way they would understand.

Shiratama was different. She understood that Tobi and Baku were inseparably bonded together. Because, just like how Tobi had Baku, Shiratama had Chinu.

Baku and the zingai grappled in the middle of the muddy stream. Unlike Shiratama, Tobi did not shout his support for Baku.  There was no need for that. Because Tobi was fighting as well. This was no figure of speech. Both Tobi and Baku were battling with their lives on the line. In the event that Baku was defeated, what would happen? Whether it was heart desolation or whatever, Tobi and Baku would perish right here.

Haizaki yelled.

“Aaah!”

Baku gripped the zingai’s head tightly with those eyeballed hands, not letting go. His right foot was on the zingai’s left shoulder, his left foot pressing against its chest. Right under that was the zingai’s mouth. The zingai’s abdominal mouth was snapping at Baku. Tear that zingai off Masamune before you get eaten. Just a bit. Just a tiny bit more. The zingai was considerably stretched. Thanks to that, it didn't look like a tarsier anymore. Its round eyes had become tall ovals. This was the limit. It couldn't stretch any more.

“URUuAAAAaAAAAAAaAAAaAAaAAAAAAAaaaa…!”

Baku raised a battle cry.

All at once, he tore it off.

After all that effort, tearing it off only took one moment.

The zingai had been reduced to a state resembling a lifeless, overstretched costume.

“Hahha! How’s that, Tobii…! Uhii—”

Holding the stretched zingai in his hands, Baku energetically dove into the Asakawa river. Was Masamune alright in the middle of the zingai? Something other than Baku and the zingai was flowing out. Was it a human? It was Masamune, wasn't it?

“We have to help him…!”

Trying to get to the river, Shiratama was stopped by Haizaki with a “Leave it to me!” Haizaki leapt into the air. With no run up; what incredible jump power. Was it because of that right foot? Haizaki reached Masamune’s side in a single jump and caught him in his arms.

Perhaps relieved, Shiratama let out a “Hya…”, and sank to the floor right there.

Holding the costume-like zingai, Baku splashed his way through the river.

“Wasn't that great, Tobi?!”

Tobi had Baku. Shiratama Ryuuko had Chinu. And Masaki Shuuji had that zingai.

“Yeah.”

As Tobi responded, Baku raised the costume-like zingai like he was going to throw it. His cylindrical head seemed to split open sideways; his mouth opened, wider and wider.

Baku did not eat the costume-like zingai whole, he chewed many times. But he almost ate it whole. Baku had eaten Masamune’s zingai.

Tobi saw it through, from start to finish. He didn't look away, or even blink. As Baku ate the zingai, Tobi felt his stomach swell as well. They’d eaten it. They’d gone and eaten it.

“Baku.”

When Tobi signaled with his left hand Baku went back to being a backpack. Tobi gripped the strap and hung it on his left shoulder, carrying Baku on his back.

Haizaki carried Masamune in his arms bridal style and climbed up from the river. Both his right leg and left leg were clad in work clothes. Twined around Haizaki’s neck was a weasel-like creature. Was that him? Haizaki’s zingai. It had probably been merged with Haizaki’s right foot until just now. Haizaki too, was the same as Tobi and Shiratama.

“Ryuuko.”

Tobi no longer felt any hesitation calling Shiratama like this.

Shiratama turned her face towards Tobi.

She looked like she was crying.

Or was it because of this unending rain?

“You’ll catch a cold.”

As Tobi said that, she nodded slightly. Then, her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, and the sides of her lips pulled upwards somewhat.

“No, Tobi-kun… Tobi’s the one who will.”

—A long time ago he’d once asked his brother.

“Hey, Onii-chan. Why does the rain stop?”

Tobi clung to the window and looked out at the scenery outside. It had been raining since the morning, but the window was slightly open. His brother stood by the window, smoking.

“Because there’s nothing that never ends.”

That was how his brother responded.

“Will everything end?”

“Anything with a form will eventually perish. There’s nothing on this earth that doesn't have a form. Everything and anything will end someday.”

“Me, and Onii-chan too?”

His brother looked down and stroked his head.

Tobi remembered the scent of his brother’s cigarette smoke.

By the next morning, that rain which had come down so intensely had stopped completely. When he went to school carrying Baku as usual, Shiratama was waiting for him at the shoe box. Asamiya was in the classroom. He didn't seem to be feeling well, but when Tobi and Shiratama greeted him, he returned the greeting brusquely. According to the homeroom teacher Harimoto, Masamune, a.k.a. Masaki Shuuji, wasn't feeling well and would be absent for a while. He probably wouldn't be able to come to school for a while, would he? He might never be able to come again. 

Takatomo Miyuki. Kon Chiami. Masaki Shuuji. Year 2 class 3 had gained three empty seats in a short period of time. Despite that, their classmates remained composed. The teachers, too, continued class like usual. In the middle of class, Baku hummed an off-key tune, and Shiratama looked down, her shoulders shaking. Tobi lightly pushed Baku, who was hanging on his desk.

During lunch break, he paid the janitor’s room a visit along with Ryuuko. Haizaki looked haggard; his work clothed appearance was somewhat disheveled.

“Hey, you two. I’m glad you look well. About Masaki-kun, you can just leave that to me, okay?”

“You sure don’t look okay, though.”

As Tobi spoke his thoughts straightforwardly, Haizaki let out a dry laugh and shook his head.

“For some reason or another, I ended up pulling an all-nighter, you see. Before I could stay up two, three days with no sleep, but the age gets to you, you know? Basically, I’m just sleep deprived, I’m really fine.”

“Sleep is important,” Shiratama said simply. Haizaki scrunched up his tired face exaggeratedly.

“Even though I’m the one who should be in the position to worry about you two. This is all the wrong way around.”

Then, Haizaki called, “Olver.”

From under the big work table, a small weasel-like animal emerged, climbing up his body swiftly.

“I don't think this is your first time seeing him, but this is my zingai, Olver.”

Olver stood on Haizaki’s left shoulder and twitched his nose. Baku stretched up from Tobi’s back and said, “Heehh….”, as if appraising him. Ryuuko bowed her head politely.

“Hello, Olver.”

Haizaki dipped his chin slightly, and Olver scampered under the work table once more.

“As for me—I’d like, as much as possible, for you to spend your school life not worrying about anything unnecessary. For the sake of that, I will do anything within my power. I won't ask you to trust me. But that’s what I intend to do. If you feel like it, please rely on me.”

After school, as he shouldered Baku and tried to leave the classroom, Ryuuko’s call stopped him.

“Shall we walk home together?”

It was a strange, creepy-crawly tickly feeling. He had no reason to refuse, so Tobi nodded.

The two of them walked down the bank of Asakawa river. As they approached the bridge that spanned Asakawa river, Tobi began to want to climb onto the railing.

“Aren't you climbing up?”  Ryuuko said, touching the railing.

Tobi climbed up the railing lightly.

“Good grief, I say…” Baku grumbled.

Ryuuko laughed and brought Chinu out from the pochette, letting her ride on her right shoulder.

Further downstream, he could see the railroad bridge. For a moment, he thought back on what had happened yesterday.

They continued onward leisurely, Tobi on top of the railing, and Ryuuko on the footpath.

“Anything and everything—”

Why he said such a thing, Tobi himself didn't know.

“will end someday, huh?”

Ryuuko stopped and looked up at Tobi. Tobi stopped as well.

“I think about it too, from time to time.”

Ryuuko pressed her hands to the middle of her chest.

“For instance, about the moment this life ends. Somehow it becomes quite painful, and I can't stand it. If only it would never end, for ever and ever.”

Tobi turned his body to face the road and sat down on the railing. Ryuuko put both hands on the railing.

He’d thought about it suddenly before.

Hadn't his brother known? He’d foreseen his separation from Tobi. There was nothing without a form, and anything with a form perished. The brothers’ time living together would be lost as well. His brother had readied himself for that, hadn't he?

If he ever gained anything precious, it would disappear, just like his brother.

He only had Baku.

As long as Tobi didn't let go, he could be with Baku. That was how it should've been.

He’d been wrong.

Someday, Baku too, could get eaten. Like how Baku had eaten Kon and Masamune’s zingai, someone else’s zingai could eat Baku.

That was fine. Well, it wasn't really that fine. That time would come whenever it did. If Baku got eaten, Tobi wouldn't be unharmed anyway.

Something important must have broken inside Takatomo. She’d been driven to the edge and flung herself from that roof. And then, Takatomo’s parents would lose their daughter. He wished that wouldn't happen. Tobi could do nothing except pray that Takatomo would get better.

Kon Chiami and Masaki Shuuji both had their zingai eaten by Baku. It seemed like neither of them had been aware of their zingai. Even so, their zingai had always been nestled close to them. They had been an irreplaceable part of the two. A part of them had hurt and injured other people.

So it couldn't be helped.

He had no choice but to do what he’d done.

“Tobi.”

“Mm.”

“If Tobi…”

“If I?”

“If, just a little bit, you regret what you’ve done”

Regret.

Tobi repeated those words within his chest.

I regret.

I regret it.

“Please share that regret with me.”

Her eyes were fixed on someplace far off.

A strong wind blew.

Her black hair fluttered in the wind, exposing her bare face.

“If you get sad or lonely thinking about the end of things, I want you to tell me.”

“That kind of thing—”

Tobi hung his head.

“Tell you, and then what?”

“I don't know.”

She bit her lip tightly. Tobi stole a sideways look at that expression.

“I just want you to tell me.”

He didn't regret it at all.

That wasn't it. He felt just a little bit guilty about not regretting it.

He wasn't sad. He wasn't lonely either.

Just what was he supposed to talk to her about, he wondered.

Did he have something he wanted to talk about, or didn't he?

Right now, he didn't even know that yet.

“I've thought about it before but—”

Tobi looked up at the sky.

“Ryuuko, you’re a strange person, huh?”

“You’re saying that?” Baku sneered nastily. He heard the sound of her laugh. Tobi sighed at the pale-colored sky. Then, he laughed softly.

To be continued.

-----

prev: 3-4 // next: e-book bonus

misc: end of book one yayyyy (well actually there's a bonus but shhh) thank you for reading, it's been a fun ride. sorry i couldnt be arsed to translate the author's note, you can find it somewhere im sure

[kusunokihime-a]

[ @despairinghxpe ] [ x ]

     Her knowledge of the mind, admittedly, is nowhere near that of the body. The body has rather strict rules, and patterns. The mind, in comparison, is a labyrinth full of dead ends and circles. And the way genjutsu molds it, plays with it, is yet another facet that escapes her understanding.

     Ryū meets his eyes, and she sees his meaning. It’s not a matter of distrust in him...but rather herself. Itachi hides his demons away. In a manner of speaking, she does too. Though she largely doesn’t mind an intrusion on his part...she’s not sure she wants to revisit what haunts her. Partly due to the pain...and partly due to the fact that her training should have rendered them harmless.

     Which means this is only a sign of her failure.

     One hand wraps over the other at her front, and her grip tightens, and her lips twitch. “Am I to bare my ugly side when yours is still so well-hidden...?” she asks teasingly...partly. She can’t begrudge Itachi his secrets. It’s as close as she’ll get to lashing out, if only to hide her apprehension.

     She trusts him - really, she does. She just doesn’t trust herself.

[minaramen]

Gaku Yaotome - 16 Idol Album - Part 1: 16 Idol Album

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Kaoru:...and so, since the “Welcome to the kids room” project had great popularity, they want to hear your story again

Kaoru: They’re planning to go deeper on your childhood stories. I want to hear your opinion before deciding whether to accept the offer or not

Tenn:...you mean the renewal program for the 6th anniversary of Rabbity kun, right?

Gaku: Yeah, the one where we had to bring pictures from our childhood. There were pretty unexpected ones, it was an interesting project

Ryunosuke: Yes, I feel like we had as much fun as the fans in joining that project!

Kaoru: Well, I haven't gotten the details yet, but apparently now they want to discover the roots of your current selves by looking at an episode from your childhood

Kaoru: The roots of your current selves. When I come to think about it, I feel like the world can’t live without your participation

Tenn: We didn’t live as idols from the very beginning

Tenn: It must be something that makes people understand what we do to live as TRIGGER, and meet our fans

Tenn: If we have the chance to add this to last time’s content, count me in

Ryunosuke: If it’s okay with Tenn, I’d like to join!

Ryunosuke: They want to see our natural selves, not the three of us wrapped in cellophane

Gaku: So we’re being asked to add a memory to the picture we showed before, right?

Gaku: It’s fine with me. I think this is also the reason why my father took that picture of me

Kaoru: Okay, I can see a large consensus from you. Apparently Idolish7, Re:Vale and Zool will join the project as well. I’m expecting your stories to win over the others’!

Gaku: Of course, we won’t lose. We can count on the gap of a little slender Ryuu and a picnic version of Tenn, after all

Tenn: Me? How about the little version of such a grown man like you, falling down and getting injured? I think this is quite a nice gap as well

Ryunosuke: W-we’re still complimenting each other, right?

Kaoru: All your pictures were very child-like, indeed. I mean, you definitely weren’t riding a white horse…

Trigger: A white horse??

Ryunosuke: A-anyway…we need to properly think about what story to tell

Gaku: Yes. Especially you need to pay extra attention again, Tenn, since there’s Nanase as well

Tenn:.....I know. I’ll talk to Riku again

Tenn: How about you? Do you still remember why you fell down in detail?

Gaku: Shut up! Children can fall down in the middle of an empty space as well! It’s not that important!

Ryunosuke: Hey, don’t fight…!

Ryunosuke: I wonder if I will disappoint our fans, talking too much about such a common person…

Gaku: What are you talking about, Ryuu? I want to know more about the child you were and how he became the nice guy we know

Tenn: And I’m sure it’s the same for our fans. Everything will be alright, Ryuu. They love you just the way you are

Ryunosuke:....yes. There is a kind of invisible bond between us

Ryunosuke: I feel even more excited about this project!

Kaoru: Yes. We’ve always been helped by fans.

Kaoru: So, let’s get into this project!

Trigger: Yes!

*Cut to a dressing room*

???:  Hey, what are you doing? Wandering around like that!

???: Wah..!  D- don’t be so noisy…

Gaku *thinking*: What’s going on? They’re making quite the ruckus outside…

Gaku *thinking*: There’s still time before the recordings, I wonder if a staff member is coming to tell me something

???: Just get in, hurry!

???: Ah, wait! I should at least knock..

Gaku: These voices…

*Knock knock*

Gaku:..mpf. Yes, come in

*Door opens*

Tamaki: Yo, Gakkun! We came to say hi!

Sogo: I’m so glad to work with you, today. I’m looking forward to Yaotome san talking about his favorite food shops during the program

Gaku: Ah, I figured it was the two of you. I’m glad to have you here today as well

Tamaki: You figured?

Gaku: Yeah. I heard your voices pretty well 

Sogo: I deeply apologize…! We were so inconsiderate, even though we were in front of the dressing room

Gaku: Ahah, don’t worry about that. It’s weird, though, I had the impression there was another person with you…

Haruka:....He-hello…

Tamaki: Wah! Isumin! What are you doing behind my back?!

Gaku: Ah, it was you. I’m glad to see you here today

Haruka: S-same…

Sogo: Haruka kun, you were walking back and forth in front of the dressing room. Did you also come here to say hi?

Haruka: I-I wasn't walking back and forth! I was just…waiting for the right moment!

Sogo: Oh, you were nervous. I understand how you feel, it was the same for me at first….

Gaku: I don’t understand why you’re making such a big deal out of it! You too, Osaka. I’d tell you if I were busy, so don’t hesitate next time you have to knock on my door

Sogo&Haruka: T-thank you so much…!

Tamaki: Ahah, Isumin is turning into Sou chan

Tamaki: ….ah, Gakkun! What are you going to talk about, today?

Gaku: I want to introduce a Thai restaurant I got into recently. Apparently if we answer the quiz question right we get a free tasting, so let’s give it our best 

Tamaki: What kind of Thai food?

Gaku: Khao Man Gai. I always eat Japanese food, but I got curious about that place and I decided to give it a try. And, well, it was definitely a good idea  

Tamaki: Khao Man gai…sounds like a strong one!

Haruka: Ahahah, it sounds like a dinosaur’s name

Sogo: Khao Man Gai is a dish made with chicken and boiled rice

Tamaki: Ah, chicken! Is it good?

Gaku: It’s delicious! I could make it at home, but I’m too passionate about that shop’s amazing sauce now 

Tamaki: Aah…you made me feel so hungry! I want to eeeeat! 

Haruka: No matter how many times you repeat “I want to eeeeeat”; we still have to give the correct answers to get the food!

Tamaki: Ah, right. Give it your best, Isumin

Haruka: T-that’s something you should say to yourself, right?! The other day Izumi literally told you to properly study for the test!

Sogo: Aah..as expected, an all-night cram session probably wasn’t enough…

Gaku: Ahah, you seem to like each other. You’re schoolmates, right?

Tamaki: We’re classmates! But we like physical education more than studying. The other day we really went all out playing dodgeball!

Haruka: Ah, the class match? That was a very good one!

Sogo: You talked about it at the dormitory as well. You showed good team work with Iori kun and you led your team to victory

Tamaki: Humpf. The MVP was me

Haruka: Not true, it was me! It was me who hit the last two with the ball!

Tamaki:....but, if Iorin hadn’t caught the ball as it came towards him, we wouldn’t have been able to attack back

Haruka:....yeah, I guess you’re right

Gaku: Well, everybody was the ace. That’s cool

Sogo: You were pretty good at it too, in the project we did some time ago

Sogo: You caught every single ball, and you were very fast at throwing it back

Tamaki: You were very good at it too, Sou chan. I was freaking out at that faint you pulled

Sogo: Ah, yes, it’s something I did…since it was my first time playing that game, I wasn’t confident I could do a good job

Gaku: The first time? Didn’t you play it at school?

Sogo: I didn’t have lessons like that …We didn’t even play in the schoolyard during recess

Sogo: Did you play it often, Yaotome san?

Gaku: Yeah…I was a very mischievous boy.  I used to take any match or competition I happened to face head on

Tamaki: You look like somebody who would remain on the battlefield until the very end! I bet you were the guy who never avoided a ball coming towards him, and caught them all!

Haruka: Yeah, the scary guy you’d always want in your team and never on the opposite one…

Gaku: Well, in the class next to mine there was a pretty good dodgeball player as well

Gaku: He had a technique where he'd throw the ball very far, spinning faster and faster, and when it hit you it hurt as hell. So, everybody avoided that guy

Haruka: Izumi often throws spinning balls. You can’t really understand where the ball will end up, so it's hard to catch it

Tamaki: Iorin has plenty of throwing techniques. He said he uses one or another depending on the opponent he has to take down

Tamaki: Did you also get hit, Gakkun?

Gaku: Well, running away is pretty humiliating, so I tried catching it every time

Gaku: Basically, it always ended in a fight to the death between me and that guy. How nostalgic…!

Sogo: Ah,I was sure of it…! You never give up, Yaotome san, you’re so cool! Just like the main character from Tamaki kun’s sport manga

Gaku: It’s nothing special. But yeah, I had the impression that even the athletic festival was nothing but a competition between us. No matter if it was boutaoshi* or a mock cavalry battle, it was always the same thing

Gaku: And I definitely didn’t want to lose, especially when it came to relay races. So, I always arranged meetings with the rest of the team to practice and lecture those who were bad at running

Haruka: Wow…you really took it seriously. Being lectured by Yaotome after school…

Gaku: I was busy, sure, but since I had so much fun I didn’t really mind. The most important thing to me was to not cut corners in a competition…

Gaku: Also, my father used to get angry and ask me “So, are you satisfied with second place??”

Tamaki: So your dad has always been so spartan, Gakkun?

Gaku:...I can’t say he was kind. Since I was a kid, whenever I fell down, he always told me “Get up by yourself” and never lent a hand

Haruka: Eeh, he'd treat a kid like that…?!

Gaku: Ahah, I bet you’re pretty shocked. Like, what kind of father is that?

Gaku: Even when I conquered first place he never told me “good boy”, he never stroked my head like the other parents did with their children…well, whatever, I don’t care

Tamaki: I see…it's not something one should take for granted, right? Having a father doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be kind to you

Sogo&Haruka:..........

Gaku: Ah,sorry for bringing up such an awkward topic!

Gaku: I wasn’t a boy who yearned for compliments myself, so that’s okay. If I grew up as a spoiled kid I wouldn’t be the man I am today. I think I would have batted away any hand trying to stroke my head

Gaku: Back then, I used to sulk because damn, he could have used better words! Now, I think I kinda understand the reason why he said what he said. He was probably trying to raise me in his own way 

Sogo: Coming to terms with your feelings must have been difficult, at that time…was it? I felt like there was nothing I could do, so I just gave up…

Gaku: What the heck are you talking about? You faced it together with your partner! You were very cool that day, at the radio!

Gaku: I managed to gain some confidence from your strength 

Sogo:....Yaotome san….

Haruka:..that strength you’re talking about, I mean…how was it born? 

Gaku: Nobody is born strong. It’s something I can talk only talk about after going through lot of things and overcoming them

Gaku:...in that sense, I could even say that my father trained me somehow

End of part 1 

TL Notes:

Boutaoshi: a capture-the-flag-like game, which students play on sport days at school

[narrators-journal]

Crushes are disgusting

Holy shit! At long last, I write something again lol. I am happy to report that I am out of my fandom burnout too! Now I’m just rusty and short on coherent ideas lol. But hey! That’s what asks are for lololol. For now, enjoy my silly little Akutagawa thought.

Akutagawa Ryuunosuke was never one to grow attached to anyone on any sort of level. Outside of his sister, the goth had no real friends, in his opinion, and even found most of his co-workers varying degrees of annoying. So, when he met you at the grocery store one day, he wasn't the most polite of customers. Despite that though, you were rather friendly, but didn't push him into a conversation like a lot of other cashiers tended to do. It was nice. In fact, it was such a refreshing breath of minding-your-own-business, that Akutagawa admittedly chose your particular register over the others whenever he could on his visits to the store. And in each visit, you wouldn't say more than a happy little hello, and maybe asking how his day was going. No over-sharing, no forcing conversation, just a general polite greeting while you rung up his items before giving him his total and a wave of farewell when he left. Aku would rarely give a proper response to you, mostly just wanting to get his food and go home. However, he appreciated how you seemed to be able to gauge how talkative he was, and how you adjusted appropriately. On top of that, the simple, pleasant interaction he had with you was something of a bright spot on his darker days. You once even complimented the decorative cloth thing he wore at the collar of his shirt, which, weirdly enough, sent a little shot of warmth through him. So, after months of his visits and preference for your particular register, and your repeated kindness, Akutagawa decided to try maybe being more polite.           "So," he said while you slid a loaf of bread over the price scanner and bagging it for him, "uh, how has your day been?" you snorted a bit, but grinned,            "Eh, pretty average. I haven't had any customer's scream at me at least, so that's a highlight." the goth nodded at that, having heard from some of the mafia goons how hard retail work could be,           "Do customers often yell at you?" He asked, fishing his wallet out of his coat pocket when you scanned the last of his shopping, Why the hell am I fumbling so badly with this? He asked himself with a mental huff of annoyance, I can hold a damned conversation, quit being so painfully pathetic.           "I mean, not every day, but it's not exactly rare, y'know?" You said with a small laugh before reading off the money he owed and letting him leave without another word from him. The entire walk home after that, Akutagawa regretted having spoken. Apparently, his mood was evident enough for Gin to notice almost as soon as he'd walked into the apartment they shared.          "Hey there Ryuu, are you okay?" She asked, coming into the kitchen to watch him put away the things he'd gotten,          "I'm fine."         "Really? You seem more frustrated than usual." She pointed out, getting a cold glare from the dark-haired man,         "I made a fool of myself at the store." He admitted after a moment, ducking down to put some food in the fridge and avoid his sister's reaction,          "How'd you do that?" She asked simply, pulling herself up onto the counter as she spoke,          "I...tried to talk a bit with the cashier, and for some reason, I sounded super unnatural." He huffed and stood up, hitting the fridge door in frustration, "I know I don't speak to a lot of people, but I'm not some pathetic pre-teen. I shouldn't sound like one when I hold a polite conversation." Gin let him vent, waiting until Akutagawa slammed the fridge shut and put the bread and other non-refrigerated goods away before speaking again,              "Well, do you like the person you tried to talk to?" That got her another glare,              "It was just some cashier. They've been polite to me the past few times I've went, so I was just trying to be polite back."             "Okay, but...do you like this cashier at all?" She asked again, and when he gave her a more confused look, rolled her dark eyes, "I mean, do you get upset when they're not around? Did talking to them make you feel weird and nervous for no reason?" Aku blinked at that, thinking back to the interaction again. Now that he wasn't living the moment, he could remember that his nerves did seem a bit more frazzled than usual. God that's so stupid. They're probably just a normal person, not a threat. He chided himself while Gin took his silence as an answer,            "I'm going to assume that's a yes. So, maybe you came off so weirdly because you were flustered." She suggested, snapping Aku out of his thoughts to glare at her once more,            "Why would I be flustered to talk to some cashier?!" Gin simply shrugged at that, hopping down and strolling out of the kitchen with a simple,            "Maybe you've got a crush, Ryuu, I dunno." The goth's only response was to stab at her with a strand of his coat, missing by an intentional distance while his face began to burn, that heat increasing when she only giggled at his reaction.           "I do not have a crush!" He yelled after her, but his sister didn't bother responding. At least, I don't think I do...

[noirewaves]

Fem Chuuaku AU

So I've been thinking about this AU which has been on my mind for some time now, which is Model! Chuuya and Hairdresser! Ryuu !! This did get a bit long, though.

Imagine Ryuu as a hairdresser who just opened her own hair salon. And not only is her little shop in a great spot in Yokohama, she managed to establish many loyal customers who would come for haircuts on a monthly basis. They love her for how skilled she is, even though her personality might not be as friendly as she would like it to be (probably because her day is packed and she has to fit in some walk-in customers between appointments, still, she does love her job, though). Recently she's been looking for a hair model, so that her pupil Higuchi wouldn't have to keep styling her own hair, along with boring wigs, while practising.

"Imagine if they were an actual model, that would bring people in for sure!" Higuchi would always say. Usually, Ryuu would brush it off because there couldn't be even the slightest possibility that the famous kinds would ever show up in her shop.

At least, that's what Ryuu thought. she would have never expected to see, right before her eyes, an actual model. Just as Higuchi said. At the door to her salon stood a young woman who looked about the same age as she was. She certainly fit the model criteria, with hair as 'fiery as the colour of her temper' like countless magazines highlighted, light brown eyes you could get lost into. Ryuu didn't know /much/ about this person, but she did know that she went by the name of Chuuya.

All Ryuu knew before Chuuya came in was that her potential 'hair model' had soft, silky hair, and they were considered to be an expert in the ways of style. (and fame... apparently). Ryuu introduces herself, with the stylist proposing herself as Ryuu Akutagawa, owner and hairdresser at her shop. That was all she could say, until Chuuya Nakahara, the model, made an absent-minded comment on one of the wigs on display, calling it 'cute'.

Chuuya did dabble in gothic modelling, one of Ryuu's prime interests. She supposed that she should be happy with having something in her barber shop which Chuuya would deem cute enough. As Ryuu started her very unceremonious welcome-to-my-hair salon speech, and how her manager probably sent her here, the model interrupts her.

"I've heard about this place from my friends, actually. My manager was just the last push." She says.

Oh.

Now Ryuu is both worried and intrigued. Usually, when someone recommends certain hairdressers to their friends, they either love it or don't.

Chuuya talks about how her friends say it's very welcoming and how they do great colours. Still, it was quite comforting for Ryuu to know that. Though she would have to disagree on the 'very welcoming' bit. Do they even know who she is?

Though, she did agree that hair colouring and highlighting was one of her stronger points. But now, the problem was that she started feeling more nervous about styling the model's hair, especially about the fact that this could change the course of her entire career.

[beevean]

Barok van Zieks compared to every other prosecutor

While Barok is undoubtedly his own character, I noticed that he has something in common with, or is a direct parallel of, almost every one of his predecessors.

Spoilers for every game of the series, of course.

Miles Edgeworth: Barok was clearly modeled to resemble Miles superficially.

Their designs are similar to one another: Barok has a messier version of Miles’ iconic haircut and they both have a cravat. Their similarities are more apparent if you compare Barok’s fancy outfit with Miles’ rookie outfit.

They’re both serious, reserved, professional (more or less) and not great with people. Miles is however more smug in court, while Barok is almost completely stone-faced.

They both have a scary nickname, the Demon Prosecutor and the Reaper of the Bailey - Barok is, of course, set up to be a subversion of the cliché started with Miles, the perfect untouchable prosecutor.

They both care a lot about finding the truth, even using questionable means to do so (coercing a testimony out of a mentally ill witness vs. trampling over Scotland Yard’s authority). However, Miles had to reach that point after grueling character development, while Barok already starts out this way - Miles helping Phoenix in 1-3 is considered a huge deal both in- and out-of-universe, while Barok helps Ryuu pretty much every time.

Both of them have a tragic past that involves the death of an older, dear relative and a miscarriage of justice that left them disillusioned. Interestingly, Miles eventually adopted the idea that “you never know who is guilty and who is not, so I always try to get a Guilty verdict in case”, while Barok specifically goes for people who are guilty and only escape justice through illegal means (until he meets Ryuu, at least).

Obviously, both of them were falsely arrested in a trial that forced that tragic past to come to light, although Miles learned something comforting (he didn’t kill his own father), while Barok learned something world-shattering (his dear brother was the Professor and Barok sent the wrong person to jail). They also got closer to their rival because of said trials.

From what I gleaned from the Japanese version of DGS, they both speak in a similar way, using watashi and not bothering with polite speech - with Barok it’s even more obvious with his iconic oyurushiitadakitai, “pray forgive the discourtesy”, which is non-polite keigo.

Franziska von Karma: not much, actually. Both of them come from a noble Germanic family, are cold and socially inept, look up to their older brother (but they express this in very different ways) and became prosecutors to follow in their family’s steps. Otherwise, Barok never expresses any feelings of inferiority over Klint, and his courtroom strategy is the total opposite of Franziska’s.

Godot: this is going to be fun :)

Both of them have a personal but unjustified grudge against their rival attorney.

Both of them drink a lot in court, and they like to use metaphors related to their drink of choice (at least in translation, in Japanese Barok is not as obsessed with wine).

Both of them disappeared for 5 years after something traumatic.

Both of them are still grieving the loss of a loved one, which is the reason they’re so unpleasant in the present.

Both of them do (and say) questionable things because of their unhealed grief.

Both of them eventually bond with a young perky girl with no parents.

Both of them are associated with death, but in a different way.

Both of them are a twist of the “perfect prosecutor” cliché - Godot never lost a case because he never prosecuted before meeting Phoenix, while Barok is not feared because he has a perfect record, but because of the legend of the Reaper.

And, as we know by know, Barok’s famous Legjection comes from a scrapped idea for Godot. Basically Barok is Godot’s counterpart!

As a contrast, Barok never killed anyone despite being suspected of doing so, while the final stretch of T&T is proving that Godot did kill someone.

Klavier Gavin: both Barok and Klavier looked up to their older brothers who turned out to be killers, although Klint is more sympathetic than Kristoph, and both of them were manipulated into falsely convicting someone with forged evidence. Otherwise, I don’t think I can say anything more than this post by @draceempressa​ hasn’t said already.

Simon Blackquill: they're both intelligent, dark and intimidating, and people suspect they might have killed people, but in reality they're full of sorrow and they've accepted the idea that they might die. They also both particularly outrageous in court, with Simon straight up walking away and Barok Legjecting :P there is a reason Capcom associated Simon and Barok in their Capcom Café art.

Nahyuta Sahdmadhi: they’re both racist against the protagonist. More seriously: they’re both associated with the concept of “predestined failure” and giving up to their fate: Nahyuta is fond of saying “let it go and move on”, sure of the fact that he can predict the outcome of the trial, and he also resigned himself to being Ga’ran’s puppet for the sake of protecting his sister and mother, even though he stood aside watching hundreds of people die (he protected his close circle and caused harm to the greater community); it’s commonly accepted that “van Zieks” comes from banjikyūsu, “all is over”, emphasizing the legend that no one can escape death once they’re prosecuted by him, and Barok himself, while knowing that he’s not the Reaper, resigned himself to accept his role to keep crime rates low, even though it meant being an assassination target for years (he protected the greater community and caused harm to his close circle). Oh, speaking of which, they were both used as instruments of deaths, but Nahyuta was aware of it, while Barok wasn’t, and Nahyuta wanted to protect a young girl related to him, while Barok was kept away from a young girl related to him to protect her. Their appareances are one the opposite of the other, similarly to how Nahyuta contrasts Simon: the Last Rite Prosecutor is associated with white and he’s holy looking, while the Reaper of the Bailey is dark, associated with black and dark blue, and he looks like a creature of the night.

[akihabaradivision]

Nikki's Thoughts on Toshima Division

Kaori Narizuka

"...Not saying I support what they've done, but I suppose it makes some sort of sense that the government would want to take this woman for themselves and use her gift for their own means. ...You mean you haven't realized? It's obvious that this woman has some sort of talent for brainwashing. ...Well, not brainwashing, per se. But she's able to manipulate people's emotions and twist them as she sees fit. I suppose its some consolation that all of her songs are so depressing and saddening that she only makes people feel depressed. I'd hate to imagine what would happen if she wanted to do more than that..."

Mei Yu

"This is the woman who betrayed her former employer, correct? Ryuu Mafuyu, the former CEO of Mafuyu Enterprises. A shame he didn't have an heir to his business. If he had, maybe it wouldn't have went under and been bought out by Chuohku. But I guess this woman had a hand in that when she assassinated him. ...Still though, doesn't Chuohku realize that she's likely to betray them too if given the chance? This woman doesn't seem to know the meaning of 'loyalty'. ...But then again, does anyone these days?"

Lillian Rees

"...Out of all of the members of this team, she's been the hardest to locate any information on. All I have found on her is that she apparently used to serve in the British army, but suddenly joined up with Chuohku half a year or so ago. Judging from the way she looks and speaks, it's obvious Chuohku did something to her. The most likely option is they brainwashed her. She wouldn't be the first person they've done that too. ...Still though, what exactly was she doing here? Spying on Chuohku, by chance? If so, her government or army or whoever should have made a contingency plan or put a fail-safe in place in case she was captured like this. Oh well..."

Inner Circle

"I don't really see how this team or division is going to go far in this tournament. For one thing, it looks like the Prime Minister just threw them altogether at the last second. Secondly, it's quite obvious none of them have any real loyalty to Chuohku. If given the chance, they all will betray them at the first opportunity. Knowing that, the Prime Minister willingly let them enter the D.R.B. Either she's expecting them to betray her and has planned for that, or she has more faith in them than I realized. Still though, it'll be interesting to see who they face first and what the outcome will be. I'm not holding my breathe that they get very far, but I have been wrong before..."

[animecreator3000]

About the Boueibu iceberg

@delphoxqueen asked me to explain about my list for the iceberg so here it is. I might update this from time to time with links and stuff if I stumble across the original posts. This is all from what I know so feel free to add new info. Also, spoiler warning for RobiHachi and the Boueibu manga and novels. (This is like a masterpost it’s very long)

1. There’s a theory in tumblr about which decade the series is set in, using data like the friday the 13th calendar in s2 ep11. In HK we got a second number for when the next monthly Pretty Boy Contest was happening and using the one from Love it was theorized that around a decade had passed since then, which ended up being true.

2. The stage play had a few original songs and characters exclusive to it so unless you watched the full performance, you probably weren’t able to witness all of them. One of the characters is called “Robato Deniro”, as romanized in the stage play booklet I own.

3. The nurse and the cafeteria staff from the s1 mobile game appear in the background in around the first half of s2 ep3.

4. S2 had an unfinished manga that was only available online and was never released on physical format; it was centered around the defense club and sometimes the conquest club and Beppu brothers. All that’s left from what I know are the scans linked on magicalgirlsandcerulean’s blog.

5. This isn’t that obscure because it’s talked about in the anime, but I’m mentioning it because I think many people dropped it before the ova, where right at the beginning it is revealed that the alien that resucitated Mr. Tawarayama twice was, as described by Io, a “mulberry-colored naked mole rat-looking thing”, and was nicknamed “Moley-san” by Yumoto. At least in the anime, we had never heard before of who this was and it never appeared on screen nor was mentioned again.

6. In HK ep8, Karurusu promises the knights to grant a wish if they show him how earthlings spend summer. Kyoutarou reveals at the end of the episode that he wished that summer lasted one more day so he could spend it doing nothing, which prompts Ichiro to theorize that it’s the 32nd of august, and the next day is the second 1st of september.

7. The stage play was was held from march 10th to 13rd, of which the latter is Ryuu’s birthday. There’s an additional recording of a small celebration with cake focused on Ryuu and Io.

8. Atsushi mentions his older sister in the flashback at the beginning of s1 ep4, but she never appears or is mentioned again.

9. There’s a few posts on tumblr theorizing about what happened to the Hakone parents since Yumoto only says in s2 ep3 that according to Gora, “they are busy with their hot springs tour”. En mentions that it’s a bit suspicious, but it’s all the information we have from the anime. Posts talk about the parents perhaps passing away from an accident or an illness, thus the reason why Gora was so worried about Yumoto’s cold in s1 ep10, but from another post I think it’s implied in the second novel that they actually left their home when Yumoto was still a toddler.

10. It’s no secret that the surnames of the characters are all real onsens in Japan that even the seiyuus have visited, but apparently the Arima onsen has two different kinds of water, “kinsen (gold hot spring)” and “ginsen (silver hot spring)”, with different properties each, and the Kusatsu onsen water also has certain properties, both that were used to build the characters. Additionally, Ryuu’s favorite food are Sato Nishiki cherries, which are grown in the same prefecture, Yamagata, as his onsen, Zaou.

11. The press club lose relevance after s1, with only Kinosaki and Tazawa reappearing briefly in s2 ep2 to interview the Beppu twins after they arrive at the school. Tazawa doesn’t even have lines. Hireashi is mentioned by Zundar in ep11.

12. What the heck

13. Exclusively in the manga we see that Arima met Kinshiro and Atsushi when they were little and they were good friends, but when they met again as adults, Kinshiro seemingly didn’t remember Arima. Atsushi, however, stated that Kinshiro’s talent is remembering people’s faces and names, so Arima wonders if he’s just trying to distance himself from him. He also explains to Akoya that he follows Kinshiro and obeys him because as a child, he was fascinated by his radiant smile. This is never talked about in the anime.

14. Like the previous point, the anime never shows Akoya being bullied, at most just a slight dislike of his full name, but the manga shows that he was made fun of for it and how he actually hates his surname, to the point of introducing himself formally to the president and vicepresident of the student council as “Holy Angel Akoya”.

15, 16, 17, 19. Batonama lives were the livestreams done through the franchise by the defense club seiyuus on youtube and niconico. They’re all on youtube, without any kind of translation.

Love-ko is a girl with a shell bikini drawn on a piece of cardboard that was used as a girlfriend in the Batonama Love! lives, acted by the seiyuus themselves.

RobiHachi has one episode full of official Boueibu artwork and a parody of the series too, a Love-ko doll appears, and Wombat appears as well, named “The Don”. It received an english dub, so for a bit, people were excited that Wombat was going to speak in english too. Also, various mechas appear in both Boueibu and RobiHachi.

18. The director of Fairy Ranmaru (Masakazu Hishida if I’m not wrong) revealed in an interview that he was inspired by Boueibu and aimed to make a show like that.

20, 21. The website super-groupies.com has results for defense and conquest club lingerie sets, dc and VEPPer tote bags, the Beppus’ scarf rings, dc bath sets and the pumps magicalgirlsandcerulean mentioned. I’ve found the s1 Loveracelets and Caerula Adamas’ ring on different sites, the True Loveracelets on TheChara’s twitter and the Happybraces (apparently called “Hapibure”) on broccoli.co.jp but I’m not sure where exactly they were all announced and sold, so I’ll just drop that.

22, 33. Boueibu was originally pretty much a copy of Sailor Moon, I think they were all going to be called “Lackluster Moon” and that stuff and be literally Sailor Moon genderbent. They were all different from color palettes to physical features (except Yumoto’s), and Ryuu was a shota, even smaller than Yumoto. Their names were also very reminiscent of the five Sailor Senshis’. Even if they made it more original, the show is still clearly inspired by Sailor Moon (just look at Caerula Adamas lol) and Pretty Cure. It has also referenced, very blatantly, animes like Doraemon, Detective Conan, Aikatsu and even Vocaloid, when Kyoutarou tries to guess what Karurusu is saying with ““Just Google It, Asshole”?” in ep1.

23. Wombat’s real name and the name of his planet sound like gibberish to the earthlings and ends up being named after the Earth animal, but Zundar, Dadacha, Karurusu and Furanui all have original names. And I think Hireashi means “goldfish”?

24. If you google “zundar technology”, it’s actually a company in Shanghai, China. Aren’t Wombat and Zundar always talking about “advanced alien technology”?

25. Zundar and Dadacha are siblings, so are Karurusu and Furanui, and so are their father King Kamopapa and their uncle minister Wao, but neither are the same species and, except the first two, not even the same color. But they are supposedly related because they share birthmarks or something like that...

26. Everyone who’s in this fandom knows about the pixel blur and voice pitch censor from s1, but I’ve added it anyway because it’s so rare for mahou shoujo and shounen animes to explain why the heroes aren’t recognized when transformed.

27. A good while of s2 ep11 is spent discussing Zundar’s ex-wife and his problems to give child support. Naturally, he gets mad at this.

28. “Money doesn’t betray” (s1 ep6) and “The despair hidden behind your smile that comes from not being understood” (s3 ep11) are sentences that came out of nowhere and implied that the people they were said by (Io) or about (Taiju) respectively had some kind of angst going on but were never explained at all. They’re famous for just that.

29. The Beppu twins’ house in Andromeda shown in flashbacks had strange green circles that apparently are from another anime I don’t know but honestly I didn’t get it very well... It was revealed on a tweet from Takamatsu.

30. Alien language mostly appeared in s2 due to the many flashbacks of Aki and Haru in Andromeda, but in Boueibu s1, it appears on the Zundar Needle before it is shot on the human. It appears a lot through RobiHachi as well, due to being a story about travelling through space. There might be an alphabetical chart somewhere, but I can’t assure it exists, I might even have dreamed it.

31. Hikaru Midorikawa as the melon monster, Kousuke Toriumi as the bishounen monster, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as the kotatsu and panda monsters and Takuya Eguchi as the remote controller monster in s1 and 2, before going on to voice the main cast in HK. Keisuke Koumoto voiced Hatchi Kita in RobiHachi as well as Akihiko in Boueibu, and the characters look similar.

A new addition is that so far Boueibu is the only anime I’ve seen where children weren’t voiced by female seiyuus, but by actual children. Personally, it’s charming and makes it so much more realistic, specifically since no women appear in the franchise at all either (not counting Protag-chan in the game).

32. Speaking of seiyuus, Can I Destroy The Earth? had a dub shown in ep11/12 (?) that made Gora the villain that wanted Earth to stay the same and not progress, against the monsters that supposedly wanted to bring good things to earthlings. Aki and Haru quickly dismissed this dub as fake. (I made a mistake in the title in the previous post btw)

34. As seen in the glossary in the Boueibu Mook (I think, but might not be the mook), Caerula Adamas’ speeches are based on an old japanese detergent commercial that went “Gold, silver, pearl, gift”.

35. In the manga there’s a short parody of the first chapter of Sailor Moon with “Pretty Boy Guardian Gakuran Akoya”. The conquest club manga was released before the anime, so I remember reading somewhere that a fake website appeared for the Gakuran Akoya manga, before turning into the conquest club manga website in the day of its release.

36. Cgi was used a few times in the anime: s2 ep10 for a short sequence of the defense club on a rollercoaster and the carousel monster, ep11 for a cenital shot of the Battle Lovers singing, and HK ep12 for the Honyalaland soldiers and the Wao mecha.

37. The toothbrush incident in s1 ep7. (It’s definitely well-known but it’s so weird lol)

38. “We hope we can see each other again someday!” Something along those lines was the last text to appear in the last episode of HK, implying a s2. We all know how that went.

[holmes-cringe-compilation]

hello! hope you're doing well!! could i request some h/cs for sherlock (my beloved) his s/o tells him "i love you" for the first time, but almost unconsciously? like he's doing one of his silly deductions or smth and s/o is just so smitten, they get this dreamy look and it just slips out? thank you very much <3

a/n: hi anon ! this prompt was soooo cute and i loved writing it so thank you for requesting ! also i'm just gonna assume that ryuu is sick with a cold or smth so that's why sherlock's deducting on his own but anyways, i hope you enjoy !

sherlock's s/o telling him they love him for the first time

the first time you're about to see sherlock's theatre of logic and reason you get excited because you've heard so much about it ! you've built up a lot of anticipation and expectations for his deductions and so far with every small scale deduction he makes is enough to make you swoon.

so when he insinuates that now is the time for his more big scale deduction and problem solving, you get goosebumps all over and eagerly wait for the theatrics to begin with wide eyes.

sherlock notices how excited you look and smirks, adding a small wink to the start of his theatre of logic and reason, making you smile all goofily even before he starts digging at this person's lies and inconsistencies.

upon starting, sherlock seems a lot more confident in his words and literally everything (like even his movements are more flamboyant, dancing around like a kid on a sugar high) all because you, his s/o is watching him deduce the truth out of this situation.

maybe he even gets everything right in this deduction because of your wide and pretty eyes instead of just getting half of the nonsense things he says ! he sometimes has no filter on and works on autopilot in my opinion but with you watching he has to think more critically than he already does (#letsherlockbefullyrightforonce).

every deduction he makes he adds more of a flare to, building up the conclusion to a certain theory he has and as soon as he finishes a deduction it makes you gasp a little in realisation like holy shit he's right ! i didn't notice that yet he.. he's so smart ! just like in the books !

"your gaze brings us straight to the answer. it's very easy to tell when someone is lying by just looking at their eyes." sherlock puffs out his chest in confidence as he looks at you for approval, and you, starry eyed give him a grin and thumbs up. it only boosts his majorly inflated ego more as he adds more oomph to his words.

you've read about the man's deductions in the newspapers. he always ended up in them after a case was solved since he always has these extravagant theatrics like the one you were watching including the exchange student and lawyer ryuunosuke naruhodou. although ever since ryuu got a cold he had to deduce things on his own. it was a bit boring and he hoped his little partner in justice recovered quickly.

however ! this feeling was soon replaced with the thought of "i have to impress y/n with my skills as a detective !" and "i have to be the smartest bitch in this crime scene." one of which may not be directly from sherlock but i think would be funny to come from him teehee.

after finishing the funny and entertaining theatrics, sherlock is more tired than ever, but he can't tell you that, not yet at least ! he walks his merry way to your giddy from excitement self, puffed out chest and adrenaline pumping through his body like wildfire.

"well ? what'd you think of that one ?" sherlock chuckles, smirking as he flicked up the rim of his deerstalker, a hand on his hip.

".... i love you." you're in a dreamy state despite looking physically excited and ready to shoot off into space. your head was in cloud nine and as soon as sherlock heard you mutter those words the sluggishness wracking up his body temporarily leaves him as he continues to smirk, knowing that you really loved his deductions.

"now that's something i wasn't expecting." was it getting hot in here or was that his face ? if you weren't surrounded by officers then sherlock would give you kisses all over your face.

then you realised, did you just say that ? you thought you were thinking in your head but apparently your thoughts were too loud for your head that you spilled the beans. "oh ! i didn't mean to.. say that out loud.. i just thought your deductions were top notch and seeing you in action made me think about how much i.. l-love you." you stuttered out, blushing a tad.

sherlock stifled a laugh in case people would continue to stare at his eccentric self and instead let out a chuckle. "i love you too, y/n." and after letting out a wink to you, you felt your face burn up in flushed feelings.

[samwrights]

Team Karasuno as dads [hc]

For a married woman that doesn’t want kids, I sure do fantasize about my boys being dads a lot.

Asahi;

He definitely cried when he found out you were pregnant.

When your daughter was born, he couldn’t even be in the room because he was so overwhelmed with you being in pain and the fact he was about to bE A DAD

He doesn’t even remember how you started dating because he was so blown away by your beauty or so he claims but the fact that y’all were married?? And having a kid?? When did he get so bold??

Eventually he got over it cause he felt bad that he wasn’t in the room holding your hand while you literally pushed a whole ass human out ya cooch.

He fainted

The first time he held his daughter was the first time he had felt complete, more complete than when he rejoined the volleyball team in his third year. It felt amazingly right. He tries to deny the fact and say your wedding was just as wholesome but you can tell. Fatherhood is something entirely different for him

“She takes after momma’s beauty.” A simp through and through.

Asahi is a parental HOG. Which is kinda nice cause he loves doting on your child but also HI I AM MOM AND WOULD LIKE TO HOLD MY BABY???

He tells YOU how to hold her and feed her and little ticks about her personality like you aren’t on maternity leave and are with the baby ALL DAY (although he is REALLY pushing for you to just be a stay-at-home mom)

Because he is soooo doting, it’s very rare that you wake in the middle of the night to feed or change her—Asahi is ALL over it. But he is human and there are days he’s too tired to wake up from dead sleep. It’s ok, he’s your human. Daddy deserves rest too.

Asahi would totally be a co-sleeper, or at least nap with the baby as much as he possibly could.

Definitely bought her multiple onesies that say “daddy’s little princess”.

She gonna be a spoiled brat when she’s older 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

Daichi Dadchi;

I mean he’s a literal running joke in the fandom

After being elected as the unofficial dad of the VBC in his high school days, it was no wonder that he was such a natural with your three munchkins.

Having three slightly older boys of varying ages, you relied heavily on Daichi to get through to them when you couldn’t.

He’s definitely the strict parent; your sons all try to take advantage of you 💀 demons

Your boys saw you as a pushover most of the time because you were just so tired.

“Just keep trying for a girl, they said. There’s a 50/50 chance, they said.” Was something Daichi would find you chanting to yourself often while you cooked dinner and the boys were playing soccer in the house and breaking something.

Even though Daichi is strict, he really tries to emphasize to the boys to treat you with kindness to make it a bit easier on you.

“Guys, please don’t make your mother rip her hair out.”

“We’re just playin’!” They would sing in flawed harmony

“One day, you guys are going to be all grown up with your own special person with your own kids, and you’re gonna love them so much that you’ll understand why I’m telling you to calm down and listen to your mom.” Asjdfkhlek.

“Ewwww, daddy loves mommy.”

“I sure do.”

Sugawara;

On god, Suga would be the most patient parent. He treats your toddlers like mini adults and not your insane nine year old girl or six year old boy.

He listens thoroughly when they are upset about something, cautiously listening to the deeper truths about why they’re upset and takes great care in making sure his children feel validated.

Super dad 🥰

But it’s not a random event; after being married to you for the last decade, he had so much practice with conflict resolution and genuinely listening to you that it was a natural tendency at this point.

For the most part, your children are incredibly well behaved. Sure, there’s an occasional incident because, well they’re kids. Your daughter, being the older of the two and nearly finished with primary school, was entering her phase of discovering boys and constantly writing in her diary.

Suga may be super dad, but he is not perfect, and for some reason I totally see him reading her diary.

“Koushi, put it back. Now.” He was just going to pretend that you using your mom voice on him didn’t turn him on and prepare him to fill you with another baby.

While he may be an expert on conflict resolution, you enforced respecting their privacy; quite a dynamic between the two of you in terms of validating your children as individuals.

“But honey, our daughter is starting to like boys.”

“At least one of the females in this house does.” 💀💀💀 with angels for children, someone had to be the clown of the Sugawara family and it was certainly you.

Tanaka;

You and Tanaka had your first baby in your guys’ third year of high school, which you would be lying if you said it wasn’t hell.

Tanaka fought tooth and nail to try to do everything from makin dinner, working, making sure you were getting rest, and of course still playing volleyball. Everything except actually trying to graduate.

“I don’t have time to study babe, I have practice and then we gotta put this squirt to bed.”

There was a constant argument about Tanaka continuing with volleyball that nearly forced you two to split. While you knew how important it was to him, there was no way he was going to graduate from Karasuno while he was trying to care for you, a child, work, and play volleyball.

“Ryuu, please. I know you don’t wanna quit but if you can’t pass your classes, you won’t be able to participate anyway.” He did not take well to that.

It took him time to come to his senses and in that time, you had kept you and your son away from him to allow him his space.

Apparently that was also a wrong move on your part.

He was so angry and frustrated being away from his mini me that he had easily conceded to retiring from volleyball if it meant being able to watch his little nugget learn how to sit up and crawl.

Yes, he goes HAM on the nicknames. Squirt, nugget, mini me, beanie baby, tyke, and all of the above. He pretty much calls your son everything but his actual name.

“I’m sorry for being stubborn.” He says one night while you help him study for his finals, your sleeping son swaddled in your arms.

“I’m sorry for making you give up something you love.”

“Nah, I got you and the munchkin. That’s all I need.”

Noya;

I love Noya 🥺 but at first, he is a chaotic parent. Granted y’all had your first child when you were still in college and he hadn’t the faintest clue on how to be a dad.

To be perfectly honest, you weren’t quite sure how to parent either.

Neither of you knew how to change diapers

Noya definitely got peed on more times than he wishes to admit

When your son was still a newborn, just around finals time, neither of you could figure out for the life of you why your baby was crying in the middle of the night. Which inherently made you cry because you had an 8am final and you had finished studying 5 hours prior 🙃

“Try to get some sleep, babe. I’ll take care of him.” Nishinoya’s voice was thick with exhaustion, but he knew how little you’d been sleeping since giving birth.

When you went to leave for your final, Noya was asleep in your living room rocking chair, baby safely in his arms with the both of them just snoozing away.

It was a struggle but the two of you faced the challenge together, one step at a time with your energetic four-year-old son as you graduated university. By the time you had all settled into a larger apartment together as a family, Noya had yet to pop the question. He was too busy having fun with his little man.

Sometimes it scared you how in sync he was with his child probably because he was still a child himself but it was sweet and endearing.

“Hey babe?” He asks softly after the two of you tucked away your boy for the evening. You raised in eyebrow at him, silently goading for him to continue. “Do you want to have another?” Needless to say, he sure as shit impregnated you that night asjckglpwm

Hinata;

With Hinata being an older brother, I actually see him being a wonderful dad. However, homie’s got a one-track mind and with him playing professionally, you’re usually left to do the parenting.

Your kids definitely like you more than Shoyo, not that anyone blamed anyone; they just never see daddy :(

BUT when he is in dad mode and home, you suddenly remember why you were eager as shit to have more kids with him 🥴 which explains ya you’ve got your third on the way

When he does come home, he automatically greets his older, 8 year old son with noogies and a brief wrestling session. For some reason, Hinata felt the need to compete with his own child 💀

Headass.

But when he sees his daughter, his world stops because he has favorites and EVERYONE in the Hinata house knows it

Always asking your 6 year old girl how her day was, asking how she was doing ruling over her imaginary kingdom and if she found her Prince Charming yet.

“Pffft I don’t need Prince Charming, daddy, he’s icky!!! Mommy says I don’t need a man!”

Where is the lie

“Your mom is absolutely right and you should totally listen to her, she’s the best queen in the whole world.”

Because of his one-track mind, he is engaged fully with your kids when he is actually home. Your son had naturally gotten into volleyball which, even after a long day’s practice, Shoyo spends hours training him.

“Do you think this one’s finally gonna like me more than you?” He asks one night while he’s doing the dishes after dinner, while you’re right beside him drying them off.

“Sho, our kids love you. But mom is home with them allllll day and has been since birth.”

“Can we keep trying until one of them finally likes me more?” 💀💀💀 “or until we have enough to make our own volleyball team?”

Kageyama;

How this socially inept clown got ANYONE pregnant was unthinkable. Of course, to anyone but you. After being with him all throughout high school, it was more of a wonder how you didn’t get pregnant sooner

This dude dirty. His one track mind, if not on volleyball, was entirely on you. Nearly every night was date night which ALWAYS ended with bow chicka wow wow 😏 you horny mfers yalll moved in together as soon as you graduated from Karasuno.

Clothing at home was nonexistent.

With the two of you in your second year of college, living in your apartment, and being 8 months pregnant, the air had dramatically shifted.

Kageyama’s once still high sex drive had been channeled into school work, working, and of course, volleyball. You were planning on at least completing your semester before taking time off to care for the baby. It seemed one of you would have to really step up, and from what it seems, it wasn’t going to be Tobio.

When he was home, which was very few and far between with how much he had going on, he had tried to dote on you as much as he could physically muster. Kisses here and there, bathing together, and lots of snuggles.

Kageyama is in charge of the nursery and there’s no room for argument on this. With him not being as present at home, he sets up the nursery as a way to communicate with his child that he’s never going to see because of volleyball

I love Kags, but he is nowhere near ready to even think about parenting 💀 which you tried to be patient with, but with the due date approaching very rapidly, you kinda needed him to step it up.

“I’ve helped.” He tries using the nursery as an argument and he had gone to every doctors appointment but homeboy still doesn’t know how to make a bottle or change a diaper

Was he prepared to have to clean up baby shit and vomit? Absolutely not. Was he going to anyway? Lmao, absolutely not. This boy only wants to be daddy, not dad.

Tsukishima;

It shook everyone and their mother when people found out that Kei not only had a girlfriend that he met in college, but that his girlfriend was a milf according to Kuroo and Bokuto

When you and Kei had first started dating, your daughter was already five. And while you obviously didn’t bring her to classes with you, she was always with the two of you for date nights. Oddly enough, he really didn’t mind.

His patience for kids, now that’s he’s older and kids are actually kids and NOT his peers, rivals that of Sugawara’s.

“Hey Tsukki,” your spawn asks at dinner one day. “When are you and mommy gonna get married? People keep making fun of me cause I call my parents mommy and Tsukki.”

“Making fun of people isn’t cool, it’s so lame. They’re just jealous cause they don’t get to call their parents mommy and Tsukki.”

👁—

That same night, Kei offers to read your daughter to sleep as if to reinforce the notion that mommy and Tsukki was cooler than mommy and daddy. Of course, he was pushing for this to hide that he was upset that children were making fun of her.

After that Tsukishima really gets into his dad role—walking your daughter to school with you or without you everyday, picking her up and giving her grandiose hugs. He made sure to lock eyes with every spectator, his height towering over many at the kindergarten. Silently telling them all “do not fuck with her, or you answer to me.”

He’s sosososo protective, I can’t. He ain’t scared to fight a toddler.

Even well after you and Tsukishima introduce a child of your own, your daughter still insists on calling him Tsukki and adamantly tries to teach her sister to say Tsukki instead of dada.

“You’re okay with the kids not calling you ‘Daddy’, Kei?”

“The only one I want calling me daddy is you.”

Yamaguchi;

This poor bean 💀 not only was he not prepared for fatherhood in the slightest, but twins?!

You both swore up and down they were evil. If one was hungry, the other one would refuse to eat until the other finished their meal. This applied to using their diapers as well.

Imagine the energy of Hinata and Nishinoya as baby twin boys, and lo and behold, yours and Tadashi’s kids.

While you had slightly more patience with them, knowing they were going to grow up eventually and become their own independent humans. Tadashi was not handling this well at all.

Low key, he felt like he was doing a horrible job as a parent and, after the boys had finally gone to sleep for the night, you’d spent a lot of time consoling Tadashi.

“Why can’t I be like—“

“Baby, you’ve got to stop comparing yourself to all of your friends. None of them have twin boys that are less than a year old.”

“Yeah but Hinata has three of them, so does Daichi—“

“Honey, you aren’t them. You’re you, so please, just be you.”

He’s ambitious when it comes to parenting—he wants to be the best dad ever, and he only gets better with practice.

That doesn’t make him wanna tear out his hair any less, but as the boys get older, it does get easier. We pretend their toddler years didn’t exist, it was a nightmare that Tadashi does NOT want to relive

[maira-writes-shit]

I have this habit you know

Haikyuu Tanaka Ryuunosuke x Ennoshita Chikara

Fluff, flower language, getting together, major charecter death

Words: 2758

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1KNwaK5v9gEGeM0WssuFAP?si=caf0308e539f4c14

She had thought him that there was flowers for everything and that you should always give them to the people you love.

She had thought him that there was flowers for everything and that you should always give them to the people you love.

She had thought him that there was flowers for everything and that you should always give them to the people you love.

Wich is why he was here now.

"I got you guys flowers..."

"Huh?"

"REALLY?!"

"...why?"

"They're Peonies. They mean luck."

Nishinoya's eyes seemed to glow as he smiled: "THAT'S SO COOL! THANK YOU RYUU!"

The spicker smiled and look at the rest of the first years.

Narita gave him a small smile, Kinoshita smelled the flower and Ennoshita stared at the flower with a mixture of wonder and admiration.

A year later

"'sup fucker."

"Hey asshole."

He was sitting at the counter of his grandmothers flower shop he sometimes helped out in.A bag landed in front of him and his cousin sat down next to it."you still have my eyeliner." Kyoutani said between taking bites from his sandwich.

"Oh yeah I know. It should still be at home."

Tanaka got up and walked over to the statice.Yeah this one is pretty good. Success.

“You still do that?“ „Yeah, what about it?!“Tanaka‘s cousin looked up at him and raised an eyebrow."Nothing I just don't really get it. I mean what have these people ever done for you? What is it that makes them deserving of these flowers?"

"...what is it?"They're my friends. They take me the way I am without a question."

Kyoutani looked at him with a raised eyebrow in a silent question of "And how do you know that?"

"Noya is my best friend. He gets me without me having to say anything! Kinoshita and Narita might not talk too much but whenever I need someone they got my back!"

"And what about that sleepy guy?"

Ennoshita...he was diffrent."Enno he...honestly I don't know why someone like him is even friends with me. He's amaizing! He's smart, cool, a great player, he is funny and really fucking caring! I feel so lucky to even be allowed to be friends with him..."

"Dude that sounnds like you have a crush on him."Tanaka flushed. Did he like Ennoshita in that way? Honestly he didn't know...

He blamed Tanaka.

He had this habit, you know.

Ever since first year Tanaka would give everyone from their year on the team a flower before games.

When they got into second year these flowers even started to get more personal.

And Ennoshita started to get really intrested in them. Well actually he got really intrested in Tanaka...

He was gay and he knew it. He didn't bother telling everyone, if they found out they found out, if they didn't they didn't.Simple as that.

Tanaka though...he made him want to scream it off a rooftop for everyone to hear.

Ennoshita had it bad.

So what did he do?

Call the two saltiest setters he knew.

The door to his room flew open."What's up?", said the shorter of the two, Shirabu.

Yahaba Shigeru and Shirabu Kenjirou. Pretty, petty and his best friends for ages.

The two were childhood friends while they meet Ennoshita in middle school.

"Ah nothing much..." "This is about the baldy, isn't it?", damm Yahaba and his senior Oikawa for teaching him to be so perspective!

"Yeah yeah, sit down assholes."

The two had been in his room enough to make it feel like he was in one of their rooms and not his own.

Shirabu planted himself on the bed and Yahaba flopped down on the bunch of pillows stacked in the coner.

Ennoshita's eyes went a little big as he remembered what he had put on the bed where Shirabu was streched out on now. Luckly the copper haired setter had noticed it and pulled a small book out from under him.

Or not so luckly.

Ennoshita sadly had fogotten what teasig little bastards his best friends were.

"Ohoho what's this?" Ennoshita did not like the wierd glint in Shirabu's eyes.

Yahaba jumped up only to make grabby hands at the book. Shirabu pulled it away and the other pouted.

Ennoshita looked away and felt his cheeks heat up as his friends opened the book.

"Are you fucking kidding me, Chika? Did you really keep every single flower he ever gave you?" "...Yes. Now shut up Haba."

His friends only laughed.

Ennoshita was utterly fucked.

Yellow rose, frienship. For Noya.

Gladiolus, strength. For Kinoshita.

Iris, hope. For Narita.

Camellia, admiration...For Ennoshita.

He did like him like that.

Tanaka had thought about it a lot. The thought kept him up at night, it distracted him in practice, it was always there when he was in class and he couldn't even hold a real conversation because of it.Tanaka liked Ennoshita. He liked him a lot.

He had never thought about liking men but really it seemed so natural with Ennoshita.

Every snort at Tanaka's stupid jokes, every glare send to the other teams captain while shaking hands before games, every time Ennoshita fell asleep on his shoulder, every look filled with mischief, everything about his fellow 3rd year just made him love him a little bit more.

Love?Is this love? I like it...

Tanaka looked at the flower in his hand and smiled.

If this is love then I never want to not feel it.

Camellia, huh?

Flowers fascinated him.

Ennoshita had been studying them for some time now. Flower language fascinated him the most.

It was so interesting knowing you could express everything just through flowers!Generally, camellia flowers symbolize love, affection, and admiration. ... White camellias symbolize adoration and is given to someone who is well-liked. Pink camellias symbolize a longing for someone and is given to someone who is missed. Red camellias symbolize love, passion, and deep desire.

Tanaka gave him a pink camellia...

Longing? Does Tanaka maybe feel the same way after all? No that couldn’t be...am I just interpreting too much into this again? Maybe he isn’t even aware of their meanings.

“You’ve been staring at that flower for over a minute, dumbass.“

Ennoshita jumped.

“Could you stop breaking into my house, Yahaba? Shirabu?“ „Never.“ Said Shirabu and bit off of something that may be a muffin or a very squishy pice of shit.

“Shut up.“

“Why are you staring at the flower anyway? I mean doesn’t he give everyone one? Before like every match?“ that comment earned a hit over the head for Shirabu from Yahaba.

“It’s just because of the meaning of the flower...“

Yahaba raised an eyebrow but then light up:“Kyou sometimes tells me about flower language! His grandma has a flower shop!“

“Yeah yeah we get you’re in a relationship. Now shut up and let Chika tell us what goes on in that pretty little head of his.“

Karasuno‘s captain sighed and looked back at the flower.

“It‘s a camellia. A pink one at that! They mean adoration and longing...“

“Well that’s great! I guess your lover boy likes you back!“ sing songed Yahaba as he let his head fall off the bed.

“But what if I’m just interpreting too much into it?! What if he doesn’t actually know what they mean?! What if I’m just getting my hopes up for them to crash down?!“

“Hey calm the fuck down, Chika! Just ask him if he knows flower language and if yes then you can be pretty certain he gave the flower to you on purpose. It’s simple as that.“

“Yeah you might be right, Kenjirou...“

“And when you know he meant it you can just ask him out.“

“Omg Shigeru! How are you the one of us that is in a relationship?!“

“...Honestly I don’t know either. Kyou is just stupid.“, chuckled Yahaba but there was a fond expression on his face that made his best friends cringe.

“Hey Tanaka, I was wondering...do you know flower language?“

Tanaka almost spit out his drink.

Does he know? Why is he asking? Oh my god what am I supposed to do? No wait I have to say something! Uhhhhh

“Um yeah. My grandma owns a flowershop. Why?“

Smooth

“Oh that explains a lot! I was just interested because of the flowers you always get us.“

“Do you know it, Enno?“ „Huh?“ „Do you know flower language?“ „Oh.“

Ennoshita turned away and if his eyes weren’t playing a cruel prank on him he saw him blush a little.

“N-No not really...we should get to practice!“ and with that the new captain stood up from their place on the floor and went over to a couple of first years trying to receive Hinata and Kageyama‘s quick.

Some red camellias (love, passion), some light red carnations (admiration), lady’s mantle (comforting love), Stocks (beauty, a happy life and the bonds of affection), lavender roses (enchantment and love at first sight) and Hydrangae (gratitude for being understood).

It was a lot but it still wasn’t enough to express just how Ennoshita felt.

He had thought you could show exactly how you felt but he had been wrong apparently because holy shit...all these emotions could never be expressed in just one Bouquet.

This is stupid...why did I let Shigeru let me talk into this?

Several bad decisions let me to this...ok here goes nothing!

He knocked at the door to the Tanaka residence.

He put some flowers into the vase.

Daffodils

“Here, now it’s officially our new home!“, Tanaka exclaimed.

His boyfriend only chuckled and put down the last of the boxes.

“Come here, dumbass.“

Tanaka slung an arm around Ennoshita.

The flowers stood in front of a window while the sun was going down. It was beautiful.

The man with the shaved head turned to his boyfriend who was smiling slightly and looking out the window. The orange light of the sunset complement him very well.

Yeah...it was beautiful.

This was their home now. He loved it.

„Hey Chika, look at me.“ the groom looked up at one of his best friends as he fiddled with the Asters on Chikara‘s suit.

“You are going to be ok. You are marrying the love of your life. Calm the fuck down.“

“You have no right to say that Shige. You literally had a nervous breakdown before you and Kentarou got married!“ „Not important, Kenjirou!“

Chikara Ennoshita, soon to be Tanaka, chuckled at his groomsmen.

He is right. I’m marrying the love of my life...I’ll be ok.

Chikara was beautiful.

This was like a fever dream.

He was marrying the love of his life.

With a smile and a small tear Ryuunosuke Tanaka joined his husband.

He was happy.

„Your vows now please.“

Ryuu‘s eyes were filled with tears as Chikara looked down at his vows and back up to him.

Here goes nothing.

“It feels different. It’s good. You make me happy. Every word, every laugh, even every stupid little comment. It makes me happy. It’s not the same but I like it. Stupid isn’t it? The smallest little thing...it makes me happy. Every color seems a little brighter with you. I’d like to thank you. For nothing, for just being there, for everything, for loving me and all my flaws no matter what. So here it is...thank you for wanting to spend the rest of your Life with me.“

Ryuu was now just full out bawling while Chikara also started to shed a few tears.

„My turn!“ the taller now said and everyone laughed a bit.

“Love, passion, admiration, comforting love, beauty, a happy life and the bonds of affection, enchantment and love at first sight, gratitude for being understood. Those were the meanings of the flowers from the bouquet you confessed with. And honestly...yeah. All these fit, because damm Chika! I love you. I love you so fucking much. You thanked me for wanting to spent the rest of my life with you when in reality I should be the one thanking you.“

Chikara only shook his head while wiping away a few more tears.

“Even before you confessed- hell even before I knew I liked you, I always thought you were amazing. I always thought that you had to be crazy to let me stay and now...well I guess you are a mad man!“ another laugh from the audience.

“I guess I am...“ said Chikara with a fond smile on his lips and oh how Tanaka wanted to kiss those lips already.

To be honest Ryuu didn’t even know what was said after only staring at the man he was marrying.

“You may now kiss your husband!“

And kiss they did.

He has this habit, you know.

Every Friday Ryuu would try and get his husband at least one flower.

When he saw a pretty flower on the side walk he’d take it home.

When he walked past a flower shop he’d buy one.

When he came by his late grandma’s flower shop, now passed down to his cousin and his husband he’d buy one.

And Chikara would love it.

Every single time.

Because that’s just who Chikara Tanaka was.

And that was just why Ryuunosuke Tanaka loved him.

He has this habit, you know.

Ryuu would get him flowers every Friday and Chikara would keep them.

Every single one of them.

He had done it since first year of high school to be honest.

He would press every single flower he ever got from his husband and glue them into this book he owned.

By now it was almost completely full of flowers and it was already his second one!

Ryuu would love it.

Because that’s just who Ryuunosuke Tanaka was.

And that was just why Chikara Tanaka loved him.

He was in bed.

He was asleep.

He was peaceful.

...

He was dead.

No pulse.

No heart beat.

No breathing.

Dead.

There were tears. Tears everywhere.

No. No. Not yet. Please...

Hey hey! Look at his face...

Ryuu looked up at his dead husband for the first time since he woke up.

Chikara‘s face was peaceful, there was even a little smile on his lips and he was curled up the same way he always was hugging the place where Ryuu usually laid.

He was happy...so please let us be happy for him too...

Ryuunosuke couldn’t bring himself to really do anything at the funeral.

It was just too much.

But a little thing he did say:

“Love, passion, admiration, comforting love, beauty, a happy life and the bonds of affection, enchantment and love at first sight, gratitude for being understood. Those were the meanings of the flowers from the bouquet you confessed with. And honestly...yeah. All these fit, because really Chika...I love you. I love you so fucking much. You once thanked me for wanting to spent the rest of my life with you when in reality I should have been the one thanking you-“

Ryuunosuke broke out in tears.

“Hey Chika! How have you been? I’m pretty good even if it still isn’t the same without you...look what I got you.“

He has this habit, you know?

Every Friday Ryuunosuke Tanaka would go to the cemetery and lay down some flowers at a certain grave. He’d take the old ones back home as well.

Ryuunosuke kept on talking as he laid down a red tulip.

11 years ago he kissed this man and Never thought that in 11 years he couldn’t do that anymore.

But he knew Chikara wouldn’t want him to always grief.

So he tried to be happy. For Chikara.

“What’s this?“ Kentarou said looking at a small book.

“Give me that please!“

„Uh...ok. But what is it?“

Ryuunosuke looked down at the little book with a bittersweet smile.

“Chika put every flower I ever gave him into one of these...I still do it actually! I take home the old flowers from his grave and put them into here...“

Kentarou looked at him with a slightly sad smile and grabbed his husband by the hand.

Shigeru went through a lot as well regarding Chikara‘s death so he at least understood a bit.

Ryuu was happy to have the two.

He was sitting in his chair in their once shared bedroom, the sunset was shimmering through the blinds, there was a chrysanthemum in his hand and a little book spilling flowers on his chest.

A chest that wasn’t moving anymore...

With a smile and a small tear Ryuunosuke Tanaka joined his husband.

He was happy.

(The daffodil symbolizes rebirth and new beginnings.

Aster meanings include love and wisdom.

Tulips are the flower associated with the 11th wedding anniversary, as well.

In many countries in Europe, the chrysanthemum is placed on graves and viewed as a symbol of death.)