#drefes

[freisende]

Ensemble Stars! - Memories Selection: Checkmate Episode 4 - 錆びゆく心 (Rusting Heart) English Translation

Ensemble Stars Memories Selection: Checkmate 『チェックメイト』

Provided by Happy Elements, あんスタチャンネル on Youtube

Adapted from Ensemble Stars! Story: Checkmate - Written by: 日日日 (Akira)

English Translation: Freiya *All copyrights of the stories, scene pictures and writings, all belong to Happy Elements. I only translated the scenes into English to help overseas fans understand the dialogues. I do not own any copyrights other than the English Translation*

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Izumi: Do it right! We need to accumulate new songs even if it’s only one more! The student council has moved and taken action on a new system- and that’s why we need to win this so-called Drefes!

———————————

Leo: Drefes, huh? …Hmm, I like doing lives; but, well…*Leo holds up Little John* The ones we had recently were different from what I thought, you know…?

Izumi: …Haa?

Leo: Those live fights, win or lose to decide their grades.. Why do we need to fight with our fellow members of Chess?

Izumi: It can’t be helped, can it? Following the Drefes' system, the student council has announced and made rules to limit the number of members of each unit.

Leo: Hmm…*Leo tilts his head*

Izumi: With chess’ current state, there are too many members and not all can participate in Drefes… And that’s why everyone begins to divide into three members here, four members there, according to the rule number of members for each unit… It’s the flow change of an era.

Leo: Yes, it’s just as you said, Sena. I can comprehend your logic. But you know, are idol activities like such? It is supposed to be more like… “Ahaha!”, laughing with everyone! *Leo plays with Little John* Can we make 100 friends~? Haha, wooh~! *Little John keeps meowing*

Izumi: Hey! Don’t play at your own pace and blurt things out at the same time! Poor her [1], if you hugged her with such force! (Izumi gets up from his seat, stretches out his arm to Leo to hold Little John) Here. 

Leo: Oh? Does Sena want to carry Little John too? *Little John tries to push Leo away*

Izumi: Not really. You treated her roughly, and that’s why I want to evacuate her here. *Leo gives Little John to Izumi* She’s a stray cat right? She’s dirty, too. And it looks like dirt will stick on you, soo~ annoying!

Leo: *Leo laughs* Ahaha, surprisingly you like animals, don’t you, Sena?

Izumi: Hmph. *Izumi smiles faintly*

Leo: Waahh! *Leo smiles cheerfully* It’s here, it’s flowing here, Inspiration! *Leo takes up his notebook and pen, thus begins writing* It’s been a while, this feeling! Recently, my head feels heavy, you see, I’ve been in a slump, and that’s why I’m happy!!

Izumi: Haa? Slump? Give me a break! At our side at these times, we can’t stop working, you know? As a result of Chess’ divided accumulating mountain of members, we are back to only our duo member unit. 

Even with you and me only, we can take care of those small fries without any difficulties normally, but for them, their amounts are too many!

If it’s not for those songs called weapons of yours, we don’t even stand a chance to counter them.

Leo: Weapons?

Izumi: What? You have a problem with my wording?

Leo: No! *Leo shakes his head* More like, it’s strange! *Leo smiles* As always, Sena’s word way of describing is amazing! I understand. If that’s the case, then I can’t complain in the near future, can I? *Leo closes his music notebook* Sena is smarter than me. So I’m counting on you!

Izumi: Hm. *Izumi smiles, then nods his head lightly. Little John runs away from their seat*

Now thinking about it, by the way, following Drefes’ rule, to participate in Drefes lives, we need to come up with a unit name.

Leo: Eh? If it’s a unit name, then it’s Chess, isn’t it?

Izumi: No, that can’t be used. It’s already been taken by those divided members. So that’s why we need to think of a different name.

Leo: EEHH!? I don’t want that!

Izumi: It’s too late, geez. Don’t be selfish.

Leo: Hmmmph. *Leo sulks, then propped his hand on his cheek*

Izumi: By the way, *Izumi takes out his phone* It looks like it’s becoming a trend for the divided members of Chess to use the name of the chess’ pieces for their unit, and they have been using those recently. 

Leo: …Chess’ pieces? Like, King, or Queen?

Izumi: Yup. But those two have been used already too. The rest are… pawn, or bishop, or rook, or knight… Uh, sorry, those have been registered already too. Looks like not using the chess’ pieces name directly, if we modify the name a bit, it can be used with no problem, though.

Leo: Hmm…*Leo gives time to think* Then, let’s make it plural, and come up with Knights?

Izumi: Knights… *Izumi checks with his handphone* Oh, looks like we can register with this name. Then let’s just go with this name, is that alright?

Leo: *Leo nods cheerfully* Yup. Okay!

Izumi: Starting from today, we are “Knights”. Let’s fight through it… Through this changing era!

***

Izumi: (We, Knights, start getting through the wave of Drefes battles.)

Announcer: Then, let’s announce the final winners of the live. The winners are…

Knights!!

*The audience cheers loudly*

*Leo and Izumi smiles at each other*

Leo: Yosh!

*They wave at the audience*

Leo: Ahaha! Thank you!

*The other party looks dejected*

Leo: Um…*Leo halts them* Let’s not worry about wins or loses, we are friends after all-

Divided chess members: Let’s go already. We lost, huh. Now we can’t increase our grades.

Izumi: (Chess. The fight we’ve been through with our former members. But, I had fun!

It’s different from the times with Chess and Backgammon, these times are full of passion and freshness! Fighting, going wild, crushing directly those people I don’t like. Exciting, isn’t it!

Leo-kun, begins to be called “Ou-sama” by the fans at sometime. And that, also motivates me to do more and more. We, Knights, will get the top throne of the emperor[2]. This is that sole big chance. We will fight to the highest of heights to our best extent!) 

***

Eichi: Today’s Drefes’ checkmate, has been brought by Knights, the unit Tsukinaga-kun participated in, which has directly and respectively made the Chess’ divided units to be more and more shambled inside. 

Tsumugi: It’s becoming just as you thought, Eichi-kun. The announcement of the rule limiting the number of unit members, is made purposely to separate and divide the numerous members of Chess, right?

Eichi: Yes. To continue making actions more clearly in this academy, they are practically becoming hinders. They are like unknown accumulating members becoming a giant guild. Even though I can’t make a move on them. Idiots, aren’t they? They just make it more to be easily eaten by gathering together.

*Eichi and Tsumugi comes out from Eichi’s car*

Eichi: Then, I arranged for the divided members of Chess to fight with Tsukinaga-kun’s Knights. I thought that if he fought then lost in the middle of it, then that would be all, but as expected, Tsukinaga-kun is very much a genius. Up to now, he has never lost a fight, he even kept a perfect striking respective win. But… as expected, even for him, today’s checkmate is like hard mud for him. Tsukinaga-kun even told me and you to help his activities by acting as extra helping members.

Tsumugi: It surprised me, as it’s a sudden announcement. As for now, I will try my best to practise and absorb Knight’s choreography moves to my body.

Eichi: Yes. If there’s a problem, we can talk to Tsukinaga-kun about it in the rehearsal. *A notification comes up from Eichi’s phone, and he looks through it*

…Hm. It seems like Sena-kun has also registered some extra members in his own way. *Eichi sees the Knights’ members name, including Ritsu’s name* Oh? This name…

***

-Meanwhile, Madara is taking a walk, then sees Little John on the bench- 

Madara: Hmm? You… Well, it’s a rare encounter to see you here, isn’t it? *Madara picks up Little John, then hears Leo’s voice echoes from a distance away* 

Leo: I understand how you think of me. It’s not a bad deal, isn’t it? 

Madara: …Hm? Leo-san?

***

-Knights’ members are practising the choreography in auditorium-

*After dancing for a while*

Izumi: Ergh. Stop the song! *Izumi walks, takes a towel and wipes away his sweat*

Sighs. Will it be alright with these members? Soo~ worrisome.

Arashi: Hey, what’s with that attitude? You don’t need to worry, as we, the helping members, are practising our best to the song. Right, Ritsu-chan?

Ritsu: Don’t call my name casually. I just came here to make up for the care the other day or something… Just because of returning the favour, alright? *Ritsu yawns*

***

*Eichi and Tsumugi enters the auditorium*

Eichi: Hmm. As expected of brothers, your faces are similar. You… perhaps are you Sakuma-senpai’s little brother?

I’m surprised when I saw your name on the list.

Ritsu: …Who are you? …Anyway, we don’t look alike, me and that being. 

….We don’t have any connections, he’s just an outsider.

Arashi: *Arashi is surprised* Wait… Sakuma-senpai, is it that Sakuma-senpai? Ritsu-chan, are you siblings with him?

Izumi: …. *Izumi just looks quietly at him*

Eichi: *Eichi chuckles* Sakuma Ritsu-kun, is it? *Eichi and Tsumugi walks closer to them* It looks like you don’t like talking about your brother… but if it’s not talking about Sakuma Rei, what else is left in you?

*Ritsu seems a bit surprised*

Tsumugi: Sena-kun, where is Tsukinaga-kun?

Izumi: Aah~, well, about him… he still lost his phone, and I can’t get through to him. I wonder where and what he's doing right now?

*Leo barges in through the door with Madara*

Leo: Ahahaha~! Sorry to keep you waiting! *Leo waves his hand at everyone*

*Everyone in the auditorium looks surprised*

Izumi: Huh…? …Mikejima? Why’s he here together with Leo-kun…?

——————————————

Translator’s notes:

[1] Little John is a female, check the Ensemble Stars! Story: “Robin Hood”.

[2] Izumi literally says “We will take the top seat!” but I think it will make sense to use the throne of the emperor as it seems more relevant to the story.

Note: There might be slightly different translations for some parts, hence I’m also open to suggestions/corrections.

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!Warning! Please refrain from reposting the translation to other platforms; abide to link back to this post for reference. Thank you.

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Navigation:

Memories Selection: Checkmate Directory Chapters Episode 1 - The Broken Branch Tip Episode 4 - Rusting Heart (You are here now) Episode 5 - The Lonely Throne Episode 6 - The Shine of the Crown

End notes:

✤ Read my other posts here! (●'◡'●) ✤ For other translations, here. ✤ More information (commission, messages, requests): Carrd ✤ Thank you for reading, the likes and reblogs. If you want please voluntarily consider giving me a tip through Ko-fi! 😊

[mephinomaly]

[TL] PYSCHOBREAK/Chapter 10

[ This post uses Ois~su ♪ ]

Time: One week later. The day before the “vampires'” subjugation battle, tentatively named Flashback. The day UNDEAD first met

Location: In Hasumi Keito’s family temple's graveyard

Rei: Bein’ a ghost must be fun ♪ Bein’ a ghost must be great ♪

Don’t have to work , don’t have to study, you can just have a concert from noon 'til midnight~♪

Adonis: What’s wrong, Sakuma-senpai? Have you been drinking?

Rei: I’m not old enough to drink. But if I was, it would probably be a lot of fun~♪

Adonis: I don’t understand why, but you are in strangely high spirits…. Recently you have had a gloomy aura about you, so I am glad to see you feeling better.

Rei: Fuwah. That’s amazin’, you really noticed I was depressed?

No matter how much you say you like ‘n respect them, humans will never bother to understand or even look at other people.

Adonis: I only noticed due to the fact that I have known you the longest, Sakuma-senpai, therefore I noticed your change in behaviour early on.

Rei: So much for humility. Even my little brother, who I’ve been with since the very day he was born, has no idea what I’m goin’ through.

I want him to know so like an attention seeker I say “hey hey, let’s play a game! What is your oniichan thinking about?”

Adonis: Is that why he thinks you're annoying and hates you?

Rei: H-he doesn’t hate me! The Bible says that a younger brother loves his older brother as much as his older brother loves his younger brother!

Adonis: I see. As my view was incorrect, I apologise.

Rei: Adonis-kun, anyone ever told you you’re a joke killer?

Adonis: Killer…? I’ve been trying to keep a low profile so I do not earn a shameful nickname such as that.

I am a foreigner. Even if you don’t want to, you stand out in this country. It’s sad, but that is often how things go. Especially mothers with children tend to be strangely wary of me.

That’s why I believe it is better for me to be a good child, who is quieter than needed, serious, and harmless.

Rei: Hm. Since you have a different point of view, you see things most people wouldn’t see.

How could I think you of all people, was the person behind those “vampires”?

It’s been worse than usual, but it feels like my thoughts are bein’ influenced by someone. Feels pretty bad.

It’s like I’m bein’ forced to be a character in some story told by someone I know nothin’ about.

Is it just a puberty thing? Whaddya think, Adonis-kun?

Adonis: I don’t know. But I do think that accusing me of being the culprit and denouncing me was out of character for you.

Fortunately, everything seems to have been cleared up but to be honest, it hurt me a little.

Even you misunderstood me.

Rei: Ah, yeah, I’m sorry. I really love you though, you know?

Adonis: It’s not a matter of liking or disliking me. It’s about recognition and understanding.

Koga: …What are you two talkin’ ‘bout?

You said we was practicin’ for the battle against the “vampires” today… Yet Hakaze ain’t even here.

Thought you’d bring him with you Sakuma-senpai, and uh, who’s this?

Adonis: I am Otogari Adonis. I have told you my name numerous times.

Koga: Adonisu… What’s this got to do with him?

Is this really okay? Can we even beat these “vampires”? Of course, if Sakuma-senpai is here we won’t have a problem but—

Rei: Realllyyy now. Maybe I’ll betray you again like I did at the Deadmanz live, hm?

I don’t really like it when people depend on me. Doesn’t really do it for me ya know.

C’mon, Wan-chan, tell me somethin’ inspirational ♪

Koga: I dunno how to do that…

I wrote a song for the Drefes, incase we hadta perform somethin’. I was jus’ tryin’ my hand at writin’ a song myself.

Rei: Really now? Impressive, you’re lookin’ like a real band member ♪ Go on then, show me ♪

Koga: I-its not very good so don’t have too high of expectations please![1]

I only picked this up as a hobby in the past few years, and since I’m self-taught, I’m still not perfect so—

Rei: What’s with the sudden keigo? Stop it, it’s not you.

Durin’ the Deadmanz live you was bitin’ ‘n snappin’ at me, weren’t ya?

Koga: I was excited then… But now we’re in a band together, and we’re closer, you somehow seem more impressive to me.

I-I’m nervous… I apologise if I made you uncomfortable, I don’t want to upset you again so quickly.

Rei: Upset me? Interestin’ wordin’... Hah, hahaha?

Ah, yeah. Wanna try playin’ that song of yours?

♪~♪~♪

[ ☆ ]

koga starts using polite speech, which as you may know, is not something he does often lol

Chapter 9

Chapter 11

[lucaasunn]

☆ do you want somebody (like i want somebody) ☆

koga oogami x gn!reader

word count: 1.9k words

info: fluff, probably inaccurate lore, reader isnt in the idol course but also not a regular student or producer, maybe counts as a song fic ☾ditto - newjeans☽, npc friends that i couldn't think up good names for whoops, minor language near the end.

a/n: i wrote this while at a cousin’s house HELP. this is purely self indulgent because i’ve been thinking about newjeans recently LMAO.

You can remember every moment you’ve shared with Koga ever since you first met back in your first year at Yumenosaki. His ups, his downs, and everything in between, you were there for it all. You remember comforting him whenever Rei used to go overseas, and eventually DEADMANZ’s disbandment. He always tried to be so indifferent, but you could always tell. Of course you could. He would never let anyone see him like this but you. You supported his impulsive B1 DreFes performances, even if you did get in trouble with the council. You can remember the scolding you two would receive from Keito. Your other friends would always see you sulking when you got to your building afterwards. Everything he did, you were always by his side.

Of course, Koga was always there for you too. Whenever he could, he would make it to your practices. When he did, you never really got any progress done. You would always goof off before he “scolds” you for not being on task. and then he proceeds to distract you further. You’ve had to ban him from the practice rooms a few times. In the middle of your own performances, you could always see him somewhere in the crowd. Every time you walked onto the stage, you would scan the crowd to find him. He found out and would purposefully blend in and make you scan even harder. If you never saw him, he would come up to you after your performance and boast about his “win”.

As the years passed with him, you started to view him differently. Your heart would start to beat faster around him. You could feel your face bloom into warmth when you would accidentally brush hands. You’ve spent nights thinking about his touch, how it would feel to hold his slightly callused hands. And since when did you start staring at his lips when you walked together? You would rant to the friends who shared the same course as you.

“That is seriously sappy. You are so head over heels for him,” Shuntaro teased. You glared at him before you heard another voice speak up.

“Literally! It sounds like it came straight out of a romance novel!”, Hikari exclaimed. You groaned, feeling the heat creep back up your cheeks. You really didn’t want to admit it, but it was very obvious to everyone.

You’re in love with Koga Oogami, your best friend.

“HnhnhnnnggAAAAHH!! God I hate this… I don’t know what to do…”, you complain, your hands gripping the sides of your head before dropping them. You prop one of your arms on the table where the three of you sat, resting your head in your hand.

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe just go up to him and tell him you like him?”, Shuntaro suggested, a teasing grin lying on his face. You and Hikari turn to face him, you staring at him with a deadpan expression, and Hikari looking at him as if he murdered someone.

“Dude, they can’t just do that! This is their best best friend. They can’t just casually walk up to him and say ‘Hey, I like you and have liked you since the start of our second year!’”, she argues for you, but you shake your head.

“No no, he’s right. But I’m not doing that. No way,” you look at Hikari, a small almost apologetic smile on your face. She nods. Silence washes over the three of you, not that you minded too much. It takes a bit, but finally someone spoke.

“So, how do you plan on confessing to him?”, Hikari asked you. You didn’t really give the confession much thought. You told yourself that you’d find a way to do it later constantly, even before this conversation, but you never did. you thought about it harder. You want something direct, but still romantic. not abrupt, but not beating around the bush.

What can bridge the two together, you wonder.

“Heeeeyyy, you still there??” Hikari waves a hand in front of your eyes while you blink, focus back on your friends.

“My bad.. I thought about it for a little bit, but I think I have an idea.” You motion for them to lean in and whisper in their ears.

——————

God this was so stupid. That was the most cliché thing you ever thought of. But it’s too late to go back. Your friends are rooting for you now, and you are not chickening out.

Walking next to Koga, you could feel your heart beat out of your chest. You’re not sure what exactly it is. Is it just your feelings for him or is it the anxiety of confessing? The nervousness of messing up your dream scenario? The uncertainty of your best friend becoming your boyfriend or said best friend rejecting you and slowly drifting away afterward? You wish someone could tell you.

Despite all the nerves in your body telling you not to, you managed to ask Koga to wait for you by the front of the school.

“Huh? why d’ya need me to do that? miss me walkin’ you home?”, he teases, leaning forward slightly. You can’t deny that. He has been busy the past few months that you haven’t had time to do so. Still, you jokingly push him away.

“That doesn’t matter right now. I just need you-“ “Hah! You didn’t deny it!” You were cut off short by Koga. You can feel the familiar heat return to your cheeks. This man can be so annoying, but you won’t lie, it was kinda cute.

“If you could let me FINISH, I just need you to meet me there. It’s something important.”

“What’s so important that you need me there? Can’tcha just text or call me?”

All of a sudden your nerves are telling you to back out. To tell him never mind. To keep your relationship the way it is. Don’t ruin it.

“I.. I just need you there, kay?”, you mustered out. He looked at you, admittedly confused, but he left it alone. Whatever it was, he’ll find out later anyway. The two of you make it to the gate and part ways to your respective buildings.

Once you’re sure he’s out of sight, you open your bag, peeking inside before reaching in. You grab a pristine envelope, a paw print sticker sealing the flap shut. You check for any folds or wrinkles, relieved to find none.

‘Even in the worst case scenario, I can at least hope he at least appreciates the effort.’, you thought to yourself sarcastically.

After school came a lot faster than you thought it would. The confession was plaguing you all day, and it was obvious. At least to your friends. You kept thinking of the possible outcomes. Thousands. Thousands of outcomes came to you, some more unrealistic than others.

To say you were anxious was an understatement. But still, you trudged on anyway. You made your way to the front of the main building. It wasn’t difficult to spot Koga, but it was difficult to reach him. The wave of students walking up to friends or leaving made it harder than you thought to get to him him. Still, you made it.

“There ‘ya are. Took ‘ya forever to get here.”

“Not my fault my building is further away from the main building. Besides, don’t you see the sea of other students? I had to weave my way around just to get here!”, you complained. You should’ve thought about this more. There’s way too many people around.

“Well ‘ya should’ve-“ “Yeah, I know, I know. Tell you to meet me somewhere else. Well now we’re going to that somewhere else, okay?” Before he could answer, you grab his hand and run back into the building. You were too focused on getting somewhere private that you didn’t realize that the two of you had intertwined fingers, a pink flush prominent on Koga’s face.

You finally made it to an empty hallway. You let go of his hand. You both take a second to catch your breath.

“What was that for?!”, he yelled.

“I know I said this was important, but I forgot to mention this is also private.”

“Well what is it? I’ve got no clue as ‘ta what this could be.” The question you dreaded, but had also been anticipating for so long. You reach into your bag and hand him the letter.

“To the idiot receiving this letter,

I hope you know I put my whole heart and soul into this.

As you know, we’ve been friends ever since the start of our time at Yumenosaki. Everyday I’ve spent with you has made my life so much better, even if I don’t say it out loud. You’ve been there for me through every important event in not only my performing career, but in my life.

As the days have passed, however, I couldn’t help but feel different around you. I didn’t know what it was at first. I just thought that maybe stage fright was getting to me, since I had a show that week. but it never went away. It only grew. When I sat down to think about it, it all clicked.

My heart would skip beats every time you were near me. I started actively looking to impress you, even in more mundane situations. I looked your way much more than I ever did before. When I lay in bed at night, my thoughts were always filled with you.

My feelings for you, like the memories we share, have grown so big.

I’m in love with you, Koga Oogami.

From,

[name]”

He looked over the letter for what felt like an eternity. The entire time he read it, you couldn’t even look at him. You looked anywhere but him. The silence between you was deafening. He finally spoke up, but he didn’t say anything you expected.

“Say it.”

“..Huh?”

“Say it.”

Out of all the outcomes and scenarios you had envisioned, you never thought he would say this.

“I don’t know what you’re trying to make me say?” You tilt your head in confusion.

“And you call me an idiot. I’m sayin’ to tell me what you wrote to me. Directly. I want ‘ya to.”

And all of sudden, you’re stunned. Your face flushes at his words. Never in a million years did you think this would happen.

“I… I’m in love with you, Koga Oogami.” You feel his callused hands grab hold of yours.

“I’m in love with you too, [name, last name]. ‘Have been for so long.”

You really feel like you’re in heaven. Hesitantly, you go to cup his face, searching for any signs of refusal. Instead, he looks at you with an unfamiliar, yet all too familiar look of tenderness in his eyes. His golden eyes. You always thought they were beautiful.

Subconsciously, you and Koga leaned your faces in closer. Before you knew it, you closed your eyes shut and felt a pair of lips against yours. You've dreamed of this moment for so long, and now it's a reality. His lips fit perfectly against yours, just as you had hoped. You could feel his arms wrap around you, as if ensuring you wouldn’t pull away too early.

Finally, he pulls his lips away from yours. You take a minute to just gaze at him lovingly before cracking and snickering. It isn’t long before he joins too.

“What? We both just confessed to each other and now you’re laughing? Damn.”, he says in between laughs.

“God this was so fucking cheesy.”, You chuckle out.

You wouldn’t have had it any other way.

[tokusaatsus]

THEIR LOVE LANGUAGES

ft. fushimi yuzuru, hibiki wataru, himemiya tori, tenshouin eichi

© tokusaatsus 2022

warnings: none

Giving: Acts of Service + Quality Time

For Yuzuru, being soft with people is something he’s still unused to, so he’ll most likely default to what he knows best. That is to say, being of service.

Helping you out is his way of showing his affection. It doesn’t matter how small the problem may be, he’ll still give all his effort to fix it for you.

If you’re working late, expect to see him enter your room multiple times with snacks and drinks and gentle but firm reminders about taking breaks. If you’re busy with preparations for an event, perhaps DreFes and the like, he will offer his services unprompted and without hesitation.

Being around you has the strange side-effect of making him increasingly giddy, but also more determined.

Know that he’s not doing it out of obligation–Yuzuru helps you out because he wants to. It’s his way of showing that, yes, he cares about you, and it has the added bonus of allowing him to be near you more. Two birds, one stone.

Don’t feel like you’re obligated to accept his help, though! His first and foremost priority when it comes to taking care of you is your comfort, and if you don’t want him to intervene he won’t.

Receiving: Physical Touch

Yuzuru isn’t used to giving softness, yes, but he also isn’t entirely used to receiving it either.

He’s probably touch-starved, but he wouldn’t exactly realise it until you hug him and he goes, oh. Because that felt…nice, actually, and he wouldn’t mind if you did it again?

He probably stares at you quite a bit after that, but don’t be fooled, he’s not judging you or anything like that. He’s just trying to figure out if it would be terribly weird of him to ask you to touch him again. He’s not entirely sure what the etiquette here is, as the only person he might have considered skinship with is Ibara, but he’s certain that the relationship he shares with the other boy is not comparable in the least to what he has with you.

If you’re expecting him to make the first move: don’t. He will quite literally bottle it up until he dies. You’re probably going to have to reach out first. Don’t be surprised when he clings onto you tightly, his face buried in the crook of your neck.

After, make sure to give him lots of affection, be it in the form of hugs or headpats or just linking your fingers together. He may startle at first, but slowly, slowly, he’ll settle into it with a gentle smile reserved only for you.

Giving: Physical Touch + Words of Affirmation

Wataru is very open with his affection.

Compliments dropped casually in the middle of conversations–you look beautiful today’s spoken while you walk to class and you have such a lovely smile, my dear, you should show it to me more often’s mentioned during a stroll in the gardens when his doves alight on his head and shoulders in a spray of feathers–you should be used to it but they never fail to catch you off-guard.

He’s quite touchy-feely as well, so do expect intertwined fingers and kisses pressed to your forehead, cheeks, nose, lips. Even in public. Especially in public, depending on the audience.

(What can he say? It’s the performer in him.)

Even when alone with you, Wataru never minces his words. Why use just one when seven will do just as well? His declarations of love are long-winded, brimming with flowery prose. He might compare you to a warm summer’s day, or perhaps a gentle breeze that caresses his face? His monologues can take a while, though. He’s so filled with love for you that once he starts, it’s hard to get him to stop.

He needs you to know how much you mean to him, and what better way to show it then to affirm his love for you every day?

Receiving: Words of Affirmation 

Wataru may seem like an untouchable force of nature, yes, easily on par with hurricanes and solar flares, but do remember that he is still a human being with insecurities.

As a performer, he is used to primarily one-sided relationships, like that of an actor and his audience, so do be sure to acknowledge and reciprocate his affections out loud. Tell him you enjoyed his performance, compliment his appearance, maybe even drop a flirty line–I can’t take my eyes off you, and I don’t think I’d ever want to–just to watch his eyes sparkle.

If you aren’t comfortable with large displays, that’s fine as well! Little things, like You’re amazing’s and I love you’s are enough to keep him sated.

Just hearing your voice saying sweet things to him is enough to make him melt. Wataru loves you, has loved you for a long time, but it’s always been from afar. People like him, raised up on a pedestal, are untouchable. You weren’t supposed to bring him down to your level, to remind him of what it feels like to be wholly, fully mortal.

But you did.

If you’re apart, do text him about how much you miss him and wish he was with you. Don’t be scared about seeming clingy. They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, so rest assured that no matter how much you miss his bright presence, he’s missing you just as much.

Giving: Physical Touch

Tori is more reserved with his affection, a side effect of being raised in the Himemiya household, but he has no such qualms when it comes to you.

He’s always clinging to you. Whether it be hugging you tight and wailing about how much he missed you and how could you leave him alone for so long?! or just holding your hand when you walk together, skinship with you is something he adores.

Despite seeming shameless, he’s the kind of person to take any excuse he can to initiate touch without seeming too obvious. For him, it’s easier to express how he feels with his actions instead of his words, so his clinginess is a measure of how much he cares about the people around him.

It might take you a while to read between the lines, but once you find out his constant need for close contact is actually his way of showing his love, please do cuddle him close.

Tori always feels safe in your hold–when you wrap your arms around him, he never protests, just snuggles closer with a sigh. It’s so easy to relax when he’s around you.

Receiving: Gift Giving + Words of Affirmation

Tori can be a little insecure at times, which is why he always appreciates it when you give him little gifts.

As the son of the Himemiya Family, he has rarely ever wanted for anything. He’s used to people giving him things, in an attempt to gain his favour, but it feels different, somehow, when you’re the one doing it.

Even if it’s something small, like a cute pink plushie you saw that reminded you of him, he’ll still love it because it came from you.

It means that you’ve been thinking of him.

He finds it flattering that you seem to think about him so much, because somehow you always have a gift for him every time you meet. And, as a bonus, the gifts are always cutesy things that are appealing to the eye, which means you associate him with cuteness and beauty!

However, that might not always be enough, so make sure you remind him of how much you care about him.

You could leave little sticky notes telling him to have a good day, Tori-chan :) or you could just tell him to his face. Either way, he’ll definitely appreciate it.

Giving: Gift Giving

Eichi adores showering you with gifts–if you were to ask for something, anything at all, he would do his very best to make sure it is yours. No matter how small your request is, he manages to find a way to give you something spectacular.

Oh, I saw this and thought of you, he might say as he hands you an expensive jewelled bracelet. Or, perhaps, I remembered you said something about wanting to try this? as he offers you a beautifully layered cake, made with only the finest ingredients there are.

Do be careful when asking, or else he might mistake your complaint about your cramped room as permission for him to buy you your own private island!

He would give you the whole world if he could, make sure you’d never have to want for anything in your life ever again, but he knows you wouldn’t accept.

Still, Eichi can’t help but want to lavish you, just a little. Indulge him, won’t you?

When he sees you using a gift that he’d gotten you–perhaps wearing a piece of jewellery he’d bought that reminded him of you, or drinking some tea he’d brewed with his own hands–his heart beats just a little bit faster.

Receiving: Acts of Service + Quality Time

As the head of not only Starmaker Productions, but also ES, and the heir to the Tenshouin Conglomerate, Eichi is a naturally busy person. He rarely has enough downtime for his own interests, so chances are he will have even less for yours.

Please do understand that while he would prefer to be spending time with you instead of looking over all these piles and piles of paperwork, Eichi isn’t in high school anymore. He’s in charge of so many things and it’s a lot of responsibility, he can’t slack off and leave it all to Keito.

Assure him that you know the importance of his work, but also be sure to remind him his health is important too, and not to neglect it all in favour of overworking himself. Make sure he takes adequate breaks, bring him drinks and snacks throughout the day, and overall just help him out as much as you can. He appreciates everything you do for him, so it warms his heart to know that you’re thinking of his well-being.

Additionally, he wouldn’t mind your silent presence in his office. You could curl up on the couch and just relax, maybe scroll through the ES official Twitter feed or read a book? Just you being near him is enough to invigorate him, and he always feels better when you’re around.

notes!

WC: 1.6k

reze txt damn.

[chiisana-lion]

Hello hear me out

an Aikatsu x enstars crossover so basically how I would do it is that there A big idol company separate from the ones in enstars (they are in charge of all the Aikatsu schools possibly different branches specializing in different aspects such as the classes in stars and the duos in friends) and one day the Aikatsu company decided to do A collab with one or all of the enstars companies and BOOM cross over

While I would keep the Aikatsu characters as normal there are possibilities to make all of them also high schoolers and or making them male but meh not needed

Also the Aikatsu company prefer to do performances that rely more on technology that the enstars company that prefer traditional stages and all thank you for listening to my ramblings

fascinating. i think there Was a sorta similar to aikatsu series called dream festival but i cant ever find anythibg abt it for some reason???? (and funnily enough drefes is a term in enst too so LMAO) the contrast between tech and traditional working stages would be interestinggg id love to see some of those guys go through the akts systems' dressing rooms LOL

[enstarsurbanfantasy]

ALKALOID Introduction - POV Aira

[Setting: Seisoukan, during Troublemakers, after helping Ra*bits and before meeting Crazy:B]

Hiiro, as it turns out, knows a lot about the supernatural community and simultaneously nothing at all.

"The village chief is in charge of appeasing the kamuy and sending them back to their realm, so I learned from nii-san. Our family has historically been able to see them, but nii-san does a lot more clearly than I do."

"We call that clear-sight," Aira says. They're both on Hiiro's bed, Aira sprawled over the edge of the mattress while Hiiro sits with perfect posture. Kazehaya-senpai has his bad knee elevated on his own bottom bunk while Ayase-senpai hunches over with a pillow on the floor, leaning on the side of his and Kazehaya-senpai's bunk in a pose that looks incredibly uncomfortable. "There are different degrees of it depending on people's sensitivity to magic and dimension boundaries, but most people can only see the human world. With clear-sight, humans are able to see through illusions and interact with the spiritual planes."

"You seem to know a lot about magic, Aira-san," Tatsumi-senpai's voice is warm, and Aira blushes.

"My father's family runs a shrine, so I grew up learning about it. But I take after my mother, soooo..." he trails off, wondering whether to share that piece of information.

"You're a snake spirit, right?"

Aira yelps, twisting his back and neck to face Hiiro in a move that would be impossible for a human. "How the hell--"

Hiiro tilts his head, that wide-eyed look on his face saying I have no idea what social norms in the city are. He gestures to Aira's body. "You just... feel like a snake. And I can see an afterimage of snake scales on you when you move."

And that would be the clear-sight, Aira sighs, resigned to Hiiro being able to see though all of his secrets. If Hiiro can see the true nature of someone on their skin, how much can Rinne Amagi?

"I'm a Melusine. My mother's entire family is, and the magic from my father's line-- they're descended from Takeminakata-- made it so that there was enough for me to manifest as a full-blood. "

"A Melusine," Tatsumi-senpai says, voice curling around the word like he's tasting it. "I don't know that one."

Everyone's eyes are on him now, and Aira wants to turn into his snake form and crawl into a pillowcase to avoid them. "They're from Europe... we're spirits of fresh water. Our top half is human and our bottom half is a snake, but we can use a fully human or snake form at will."

Oh, he really might succumb to temptation and hide in a blanket or something. Aira desperately reaches for something to divert the train of conversation.

"M-Mayo-san, you're magical too, right?"

Ayase-senpai squeaks. "Yeah... but I don't really want to talk about it..." he trails off into mumbles, and while Aira relates, it really doesn't help him avoid the incredibly embarrassing conversation. He's curious now though. What kind of creature is Ayase-senpai?

There's a lull, everyone deciding not to press, and Aira is just about to ask about Tatsumi-senpai's history when Hiiro's cell phone pings, and he announces: "It's from Tenshouin-senpai, about the DreFes," and everyone is distracted. This is their last chance to be idols!

[neolxzr]

shmk made out after tanabata drefes btw

[hoshibatake]

Sunflower Live - Chapter 2

Previous chapter

Eichi: Why are you suddenly groveling like that, Mao?

Eichi: At this point I can’t say whether I’ll grant whatever request you’re about to make, but you can just tell me what it is. We’ll see what happens after.

Mao: R-Right. Uhm, this is super humiliating to admit, but… Trickstar doesn’t have enough funds to participate in a concert.

Eichi: Oh, I see. It didn’t seem like you were very concerned about profit during the Summer Live, after all.

Eichi: If I’m correct, none of the concerts you’ve participated in recently would have earned you any significant amount of profit.

Eichi: Which is why you want the student council to subsidize the funds that you’re currently lacking, correct?

Mao: Urk- That’s correct…

Eichi: Tell me, Mao. Why are you willing to go to these lengths to participate in the Sunflower Live?

Eichi: I’m sure the promoter would indeed be happy for Trickstar to participate…

Eichi: But to put it bluntly, another unit could take your place just as well.

Eichi: Even if no units were to apply until right before the deadline, we were planning to simply appoint a unit that we thought would be appropriate to the event.

Eichi: If you lack funds, you could just apply for part-time jobs around the school and earn enough money for a DreFes that way.

Eichi: Why do you want to participate in the Sunflower Live so badly that you’re willing to go into debt for it?

Mao: Ahaha. Though you expressed it rather harshly, you’re not wrong at all…… How do I put this? Like I said before; we thought that this might be a chance.

Mao: …We were crushed by Eve during the Summer Live. During our evaluation meeting we concluded that what we lack is experience on stage.

Mao: I mean, that wasn’t the sole reason we lost, of course. But we figured that’s the most important thing to work on right now.

Eichi: Don’t worry. If it’s experience you’re after, you’ll soon get more of it than you ever thought you wanted♪

Mao: P-Please go easy on us.

Mao: I’m sorry. Though I just told you the main reason was gaining experience, in reality we also just want to be able to get over our trauma from the Summer Live quickly and enjoy the rest of our summer.

Mao: We want to make some good memories this summer, instead of just being left with the painful ones from the Summer Live.

Mao: I want to participate in the Sunflower Live and make some fun memories with the others that way.

Mao: We plan to set up a booth at the Sunflower Live and earn enough money to pay back the student council right after.

Mao: We’re even prepared to pay the loan back with interest. So, please lend us the funds so we can participate in the Sunflower Live…!

Ritsu: Hey now, none of that〜

Mao: Hey! Ritsu!? Why are you stopping me from getting on my knees!?

Ritsu: Because the only one who should get to smirk at you, while watching you kneel with your forehead on the floor, is me〜

Mao: Huh!? What the heck are you on about…?

Eichi: Fufu, you two sure are close. In any case, about your request for money, we do have a system in place for this, so it is possible to take out loans.

Eichi: But it doesn’t exactly look good when a unit as prominent as Trickstar has to take out loans.

Eichi: Units who take out loans with the student council are usually much less popular ones.

Eichi: If you add Trickstar to that list of names, it’s almost like admitting that you’re unpopular.

Eichi: Bad rumors tend to spread very quickly. I wish you would have more awareness of your status as idols.

Mao: Th-That could be an issue, but…

Ritsu: Ecchan, stop bullying my Maa-kun.

Eichi: Oops. Sorry, sorry. It seems I got carried away with my teasing, because Mao’s reactions are just so amusing.

Ritsu: Hmm〜 Something just occurred to me. If they can’t borrow money from school, why don’t you lend them your own money, Ecchan?

Ritsu: I mean, you’re rich, after all. Even a large sum would be like spare change for you.

Eichi: If we’re talking about whether it’s possible or not to lend them the money, it is possible.

Ritsu: Then why…

Eichi: But I can’t give them a loan just because they want to forget about a painful experience and have a fun rest of their summer.

Eichi: Mao. If I were to lend Trickstar money, what exactly would I gain from it?

Mao: ……

Mao: (We would use the money to earn profit from merchandise sales… We’d pay him back with interest… But that’s probably not the kind of answer the president is looking for.)

Mao: (I’m not sure whether this is what the president wants to hear, but I’m just gonna have to take a chance!)

Mao: We’ll make sure that Trickstar comes out on top during the Sunflower Live. We’ll be the most successful booth as well.

Mao: And if we fail to do so, you can do whatever you want with me for the rest of the summer.

Ritsu: Wait a minute, Maa-kun. What are you thinking? Are you so desperate that you’re willing to sell yourself?

Eichi: You sure are self-sacrificing, Mao. Very well, then. Your words have convinced me of your determination and sincerity.

Mao: D-Does that mean…!?

Eichi: Yes. I’ll lend Trickstar some of my own pocket money♪

Wataru: I come forth, as I am summoned. Ta-da-da-da〜h♪

Eichi: Whoa. You startled me. Fufu, your appearances are always so sudden, Wataru.

Eichi: But I didn’t actually summon you.

Wataru: Fufufu. I overheard an interesting conversation. I was listening in from the ceiling〜♪

Wataru: So Trickstar is setting up a booth during the Sunflower Live. Eichi, can I set one up too?

Eichi: Why are you asking my permission?

Eichi: Hmm… Oh, I have an idea. Mao, you’ll be going up against Wataru in terms of sales. Wataru, if you manage to win, you can do whatever you want with Mao for the remainder of the summer.

Wataru: Splendid! I was just thinking I need to practice some new magic tricks on a test subject… or, an assistant, if you will. So that’ll work out perfectly!

Mao: W-Wait a minute, president!

Eichi: Oh? Weren’t you the one who proposed I could do whatever I want with you?

Mao: I did, but… Agh, alright, fine! I did promise we would place first in booth sales, so I’ll take on Hibiki-senpai’s challenge.

Eichi: Good. You’ll need to pull out all the stops to think of a way to beat Wataru.

Wataru: What’s this? Are you not on my side, Eichi?

Eichi: Oops, sorry. I am rooting for you, so don’t worry.

Eichi: Wataru is an all-round genius. I’m not sure even all of Trickstar united could hope to defeat him.

Eichi: But you lot did pull off a miracle once before. I’m sure that means you’ll be able to face this trial just as well.

Eichi: Go ahead and perform another miracle, Trickstar♪ That’s my greatest wish.

Next chapter

[toujokaname]

Footprints of Happiness / Episode 2

Author: Yuumasu

Characters: Tori, Mitsuru, Shinobu, Aira

"I became an idol because I admired Eichi-sama. Even if it's just a single person, I hope I can become someone's inspiration too...♪"

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Season: Autumn Location: Connecting Corridor

Tori: Hey, Anzu, how are everyone else's candids like?

Can you show me the pictures you've taken so far? Thanks.

...Huh, everyone has their own unique look. It's impressive how their individuality comes through so strongly.

I was only thinking about the performance, but I guess I need to consider the type of pictures I want to present too. Ugh~

...Huh? You're saying I don't need to overthink it?

I see. When I'm worried, it shows on my face, and it won't look like a candid. Yeah, I'll try to be natural.

Mitsuru: ...He~ey!

Tori: Ah, Mitsuru came running.

What's up? You need something from us?

Mitsuru: Nah! I don't have any business here, but since I spotted you two, I came over this way!

I'm so lucky to meet Anzu-neechan! What're you doing with Hime-chan?

...A photoshoot for a pamphlet? That's why you're wearing an expensive camera around your neck? Makes sense!

I want my picture taken too! Hime-chan, let's pose side by side! Peace, peace! ☆

Tori: Peace, peace...♪

I mean, hey! It's not that kind of picture.

It's for my solo live—a "Feature Live".

Mitsuru: Solo? Then it'd be bad for me to interrupt you, bye-bye!

Tori: Ah, yeah... Bye-bye...?

...He's gone. In the past, he would've said something like "Let's dash together, daze! ☆" and dragged me away.

He's a second-year now. I guess he's matured in his own way.

Well, I'm still the more mature one, though~♪

Location: Yumenosaki Academy Grower Barn

Tori: ...Oh, look. There's Shinobu.

Shinobu: Hey there! Tori-kun and Anzu-dono, what a coincidence to meet you here of all places, de gozaru!

Tori: Same to you. Why are you in the rabbit hutch? Is it like some kind of hidden village?

Shinobu: Waah, I didn't expect that kind of idea! A hidden village... Fufun, my ninja blood is stirring, de gozaru ♪

At any rate, as you can see, this is the animal enclosure. While interacting with the animals, I'm doing a bit of cleaning too.

Tori: Hmm... Ah, I just thought of a good idea.

Isn't the sight of the cute me taking care of cute animals the cutest thing ever?

You were thinking the same thing, Anzu? We're on the same wavelength~

Shinobu, let me clean up too.

Shinobu: Understood. I've already taken care of the parrots, so I shall ask you to take care of the chickens.

Tori: Okay~ ...Anzu, what's up? "There's a manual there, we should skim through it"?

No need! Just change the food and water and sweep with a broom, right? Piece of cake ♪

...Umyah?!

A chicken's on my back! And this one's pecking at my leg!

Help me~! Shinobu~! Anzu~!

Shinobu: Ohh, what a passionate reception, de gozaru...

Well then, I shall take that side, and you take care of the rabbits.

Tori: Y-Yeah... The rabbit hutch is almost cleaned out. What do I have to do?

...Brushing? Do I just brush their fur with this?

Okay, I'll try. Hehe, you're squinting your eyes all comfortable...

You should be honored to have me brush your hair...♪

Ten minutes later.

Shinobu: Thanks to Tori-kun, the animal shelter has become sparkling clean, de gozaru! I'm terribly thankful, I shall shower you with my gratitude ♪

Tori: But didn't you do most of the work, Shinobu? All I did was deal with the rabbits.

But, if I was of even just a little help, I'm glad. Anzu's happy with the good photos too.

Hm? I hear cheering... Something's going on nearby. Let's go, Anzu.

Location: Yumenosaki Academy Outdoor Stage

Tori: This crowd... Ah, it's for an "S3". Now that I think about it, I vaguely recall the proposal.

I've been reading them all. They come in so frequently, it's hard to remember each one.

What is it, Anzu? "I see a familiar face"... Ah, it's true.

Hey, Shiratori.

Aira: Oh, hello~ Did you come to see the DreFes too, Himemiya-senpai?

Tori: No, Anzu and I are...

(Huh? Anzu left.)

(Oh well. She wouldn't leave me behind, surely she'll come back eventually.)

Aira: What about Anzu-san?

Tori: It's nothing. I don't know anything about this DreFes, is there a specific idol you're interested in?

Aira: Yes! There's actually a unit I've been secretly keeping an eye on.

They're not well-known yet, but they consist of only third-years.

Tori: Huh... Now that you mention it, it's full of first-year students here.

(Everyone's eyes are shining, waiting eagerly for the live to start.)

(...It's just like how I used to be, looking up to Eichi-sama's singing and dancing on stage.)

......

Ah, Anzu, where were you? You're already hard to track, so don't just disappear suddenly, okay?

...A cyalume? You want me to evaluate them?

Sure, but I won't just wave it around so easily. I'm not lenient, y'know.

After a while, at the end of the DreFes.

Tori: Are the results announced yet... W-Well, it's not like I'm looking forward to it or anything, alright?

I'm just curious to see if the unit I waved my cyalume for won... Just a little...

Hey, can I tell you something? I was thinking about my solo live while watching the DreFes.

I haven't figured out all the details yet, but I want to make it a performance that becomes a goal for anyone who sees it.

Kids like the ones I met at Yumenosaki Academy and ES... I want the idols that I used to ignore to like me.

But I don't know what exactly to do... Will you think about it with me?

...Ehehe. Thanks. I knew you'd say that, Anzu.

I became an idol because I admired Eichi-sama. Even if it's just a single person, I hope I can become someone's inspiration too...♪

← Previous ✧ Directory

[wildwoof]

I was thinking about the first episode of the anime & the liberties they certainly took with Koga's first entrance during the B1 DreFes against Kuro when Kuro came lunging at him since "throwing punches" were acceptable during the competition.

Koga was holding his prized guitar at that point -- the one Rei gifted him. Like -- anime shot.

The actual in-game card that first came out

Koga during Crossroad, which is the first time he used the guitar that was once Rei's guitar, he got gifted with.

Like it's the very guitar.

But Koga absolutely treasures this guitar. It's HIS guitar now & he takes exceptional care of it. It's the guitar he uses even to the recent time.

But when you think of that first episode of the anime, he basically ended up "weilding" it against Kuro, who was trying to physically take Koga on. A lot of it was Koga defending himself from Kuro, but like -- with the way the anime was showing it, the guitar would've DEFINITELY sustained some damage in a realistic situation. Anime is anime, so they can do whatever without any consequence, but in truth with the way Kuro kicks right into the guitar into the anime, that poor guitar should've gotten bent.

In truth Koga would not have put the guitar through that. He's the last person who'd do anything to damage a musical instrument, ESPECIALLY the one he takes exceptional care of. From what I could gather from the in-game story, there's no mention of him using the guitar as a weapon. Just that he dodged around Koga while also holding onto his guitar. Even when in-game, Kuro sends him flying off the stage with the same saying as the anime "Better hold onto that guitar tightly." Sure in the story he hadn't used it as like a shield.

Again, Kuro's no push-over & wouldn't hold back on Koga to an extreme extent. But there's no actual way that what he did in the anime, he would've actually done in the story itself. He cares about that guitar too damn much to put it through any damage.

[resurrection-of-soul]

Flashback | PSYCHOBREAK 8

Writer: Akira (日日日)

Characters: Rei, Koga

Rei: Nnnn~ …… Man, I'm seriously weak to bein' relied on like that. Haha. I'm ne~ver gonna make a complete recovery, huh? Maybe it's incurable.

[ For the best viewing experience, please read directly on my blog! ♪ ]

Rei: Alright, enough about that. So, what do ya wanna do? Since nothing you've done so far is makin' any difference, are ya just gonna leave those "vampires" be?

Koga: No. Hasumi-senpai made it so that you gotta submit an application to the student council in order to get a unit officially recognized, n' students who ain't in an official unit ain't allowed in this live house. I don't really get the details, but basically, anyone caught breakin' the rules'll incur some kinda penalty. 'Course, those "vampire" guys're just ignorin' it and doin' whate~ever they want. So we're gonna take 'em all down in a DreFes. Or at least, that's what Hasumi-senpai said. That's why I was out here practicin' like this.

Rei: A DreFes, huh… That's that battle of the bands type thing, yeah? When ya actually look into the mechanism behind it all, there ain't nothin' dream-like 'bout it, despite the name.

Koga: I don't get the point, honestly. Even if we get this thing set up n' win it, so what? I mean, the guys who go to our school're all rotten. Are guys like that seriously gonna reflect on their loss n' be all, "From now on, we'll work hard to become proper idols!"?

Rei: Yeeeeah, no chance a' that. A rottin' corpse can't e~ever go back to bein' a livin', breathin' person. But that DreFes thing has been incorporated into the school rules. I looked over it real quick, n' as far as I can tell, if ya keep losin' over n' over, the school's gonna start treatin' ya as a failure. Your grades'll keep droppin' with every loss, until eventually you'll be faced with suspension, and finally expulsion, as you'll be deemed unsuitable t' be a student at Yumenosaki. That's the excuse Hasumi-bou plans on usin' to banish the delinquents — those "vampires" — from our school.

Koga: Nn~, that sounds like a pain in the ass…. If the goal's just to drive 'em out, ain't the fact they're delinquents who're causin' all sortsa trouble already reason enough to kick 'em out? Why go outta the way to set up a live showdown?

Rei: A high percentage a' the students attendin' Yumenosaki, especially those in the idol course, come from well-off families. Includin' lil' ol' me, a' course. That's why the school keeps turnin' a blind eye to student misconduct. In return, these students provide the rapidly deterioratin' Yumenosaki the essential nutrient it needs to keep itself alive in this declinin' industry — money.

Rei: No matter how troublesome or unruly these students may be, they can't just toss 'em aside. Therein lies Yumenosaki's structural flaw. Even if she's clearly fallen sick from all the rot, ya can't just excise the heart. In fact, it's just the opposite — the school's been protectin' the students by desperately coverin' up their misdeeds. That's why those "vampires" are able to continue enjoyin' their seemingly carefree youth. How's that for an explanation, huh? Pretty revoltin', ain't it?

Koga: The hell's with that… Does having money automatically make you great? Adults are always like this. Is money more important than justice? There are people cryin' cause those delinquents won't leave 'em alone, y'know. There're people sufferin', even though they've done nothing wrong. Why do the troublemakers get to laugh, while the ones doing good end up in tears? Don't'cha think that's messed up?

Rei: Yeah. I'm not enough of a senile old man to just accept that's how the world works. If possible, I'd like to lend bouzu a hand with his delinquent subjugation plan.

Koga: So then! You should come perform at the live too! With you on our side, it'll be like having the strength of a hundred people! Let's thoroughly! Trounce those delinquents! With our music!

Rei: Nnnn~ …… Man, I'm seriously weak to bein' relied on like that.

Rei: Haha. I'm ne~ver gonna make a complete recovery, huh? Maybe it's incurable.

Koga: Y-you've got some kinda illness, Sakuma-senpai? Then, shouldn't'cha avoid pushin' yerself too hard…?

Rei: It's okay, no worries! It's mostly a psychological problem, so. Let's do it. Show me to the monk. Lil' ol' me'll lend a hand~ I'll get on stage.

Koga: Ohhh! Awesome~! With Sakuma-senpai on our side, there's no way we'll lose ♪

Rei: However, I have one condition. I'm the kinda guy who never breaks my promises, so I can't be on the same side as Hasumi-bou, who lost miserably to me in the "Dead Man's Live." Those were the terms of our competition, y'see. So I can't stand on stage as his ally. If I'm to make an appearance, it'll have to be as a member of a different unit from the one he's in. Long story short: You've gotta choose, Oogami Koga-kun. Are ya gonna stand on stage with him, or with me?

Koga: W-wait, that's… Now's not the time t' be actin' stubborn. We should work together to get rid of the delinquents—

Rei: No, that's no good. This ain't some kinda fairytale with a convenient conclusion. I absolutely will not break a promise. Not anymore.¹ We made a deal — one I promised to honor — and he lost. We've parted ways, and our paths will never cross again. Never again will we stand together on stage, shoulder to shoulder, in pursuit of the same goal.

Koga: ………

Rei: (We did, though! We've stood together on the same stage countless times! My apologies for being so presumptuous back then…!)

Koga: (That's true n' all, but… Back then, I ended up choosin' to get on stage with you.)

Rei: (It rather felt as though Hasumi-kun bequeathed the victory unto me. Given his serious nature, he would not break a promise…) (He began saying things like, "Since I already formed another unit, "Akatsuki," I cannot simultaneously belong to another unit.") (And thus, he ultimately assumed a role behind the scenes, covertly supporting us as we fought the delinquents on the frontlines.)

[ ☆ ]

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The broken promise in question is Rei's promise never to leave Ritsu, which he actually breaks twice — once pre-canon, and then again during the war. Details are scattered throughout several of Rei and Ritsu's ! era stories rather than there being one particular place to look for reference, but it's featured fairly prominently in Devils.

[akatsukiky]

Hello I’m tasting a lack of Endless Coda-verse fics.

I’m unironically so invested in this April Fools universe, I almost (ALMOST) want an anime of it over Element. I want to consume any media of it and watch Eichi’s direct body count skyrocket in a world where he’s allowed to kill people at his own leisure. I want real, physical consequences to everyone’s words and actions and for the station to look like Danganronpa.

That said, I’m back on my shit, I come bearing a fic idea that I’ll never write. As ever, feel free to take it and use it as you please.

Warnings: Endless Coda story spoilers, leans into immoral villain Eichi, death death death death, manipulation and the like, the dove isn’t dead but it might need a bandaid.

I’m thinking more War Era w the Eccentrics since Shu mentioned 5 Eccentrics, leaning into the first anime’s version of Eichi’s obsession.

Setting likely another older space station, the Yumenosaki if you would. Doubles as an idol academy and a mecha pilot academy.

It follows the War closely at first what w the abysmal condition of the school and student body. Rei is in charge-ish and the clubs still exist, the DreFes fighting hasn’t become popular yet.

Officially the only mecha are one per established group for their leaders (Ryuuseitai’s Madara and Valkyrie’s Shu), the council leader (Rei), and personal ones for individual’s with the money to spend on it (Hokuto, Subaru, Ritsu, Kanata, Eichi, etc).

Once the Eccentrics are established by Eichi, Wataru and Natsume both receive their own mecha. Then, once units are being formed (ex-fine, Knights, AKATSUKI) they supply/are supplied mecha per member.

Eichi’s body count just skyrockets from the get-go. The mecha fight DreFes let him get away with outright murder + the s//c/d/ rates caused by the stress he puts on the students. Look at him, the little go-getter- murdering his way to martyrdom /ref.

And obv there’s the cloning thing. And the implanted memories into the clones. Technically that overrules Eichi being ill but he would have had to be dying at least a little bit when it was discovered.

The plot gets funny once the Eccentrics are formed, pov probably always one of them w smaller chapters for people affected by the war (Nagisa, Hiyori, Tsumugi Aoba, Hokuto, Mika, etc).

The bullying and social isolation all still happen but it’s decidedly worse in Coda-verse since killing and maiming is okay apparently. What happens is that, just like with THAT Valkyrie performance, some if fine’s fans go the extra mile to try and decommission the Eccentrics entirely through attacking them. Eichi never lets it get far and always arranges for something to interrupt so that the targeted Eccentric is always just hurt enough that they can push through it and appear as amazing as ever.

The Valkyrie loss goes more or less the same. It wasn’t a DreFes so there wasn’t any fighting, the audio gets cut, and Shu has his mental breakdown.

Rei’s incidents also are the same, he gets sent to other space station academies to fix issues that people ask him to help with.

Eventually one of these attempts get a little too far w Kanata, happening a little while after Shu’s public humiliation. Someone tries drowning him (the endless puka puka) and nothing stops them this time, thankfully someone else finds Kanata in time to resuscitate him. It can be Mama, Kaoru, or Souma, they’re all valid options for this.

The next time the older Eccentrics meet after that incident, they decide that now is the time to squirrel Natsume away for his own sake. Unfortunately, that means that the number of targets lowered from five to three (occasionally two) and the bullying just gets that much worse.

Eventually comes time for Wataru and Hokuto versus fine (and this is where things get really canon divergent-y). Because that one is a DreFes, they will be fighting in mecha for a 2 v 4. Obviously the odds are against them.

Beforehand, Wataru does say goodbye to the Eccentrics because, just like normal, he knows he can’t win- both because he literally cannot as it’s a losing fight and because that’s what the script calls for, a dramatic climax for the ages. First is Kanata, then Rei and Natsume (the scene in which Natsume tries to give Wataru a different script to save himself). He doesn’t, however, get to say goodbye to Shu who was locked inside of his room.

What’s happening with Shu is one of Eichi’s schemes. I haven’t thought of the reasoning, maybe Shu had recovered himself just enough to still slander Eichi and he decided that just won’t do. So, capitalizing off the fact that Shu has been taking to hiding in his room and locking the door, Eichi has someone (a fan, maybe Tsumugi Aoba, or Eichi himself) lock it from the outside w admin codes so he can’t get out. After all, what could be more crushing than watching your friend get executed right in front of you with no escape?

This is going by a HC I have for DreFes in general both in and out of Coda-verse in which (at Yumenosaki) you can’t change a screen connected to the school’s internet off from the current on-going DreFes. More specific to Coda-verse but I imagine there are cameras in the cockpits of the mecha, just like the obligatory shots of the pilots screaming when something pokes the mecha (I’ve never understood this, the robot’s leg got cut off not yours).

So, with Shu locked in his room and incapable of finding any comfort and with Natsume + Rei watching the fight firsthand (god knows where Kanata is), the DreFes begins. It’s a losing fight for Wataru from the get-go, even moreso because he’s going out of his way to protect Hokuto as needed. Eventually, Eichi or Tsumugi Aoba manage to damage Wataru’s mecha enough that it can’t move, making them the victors of the DreFes. Most of the feeds take an intermission break at this point except for Shu’s.

See, while Eichi’s plot to break Shu more was working to plan, his idea to make to make sure that the feed showed him every moment of the execution did backfire somewhat. Whether or not Shu knows it, he’s the only one to witness Wataru being removed from his mecha unconscious (or dead) after losing before it can be returned to the docking bay for him to be taken to medical if needed.

If he did die inside the mecha, I assume that the usual camera feed automatically cuts off if there’s damage to the cockpit that would harm the pilot since it would ruin the image of Yumenosaki.

So, since Wataru isn’t in the cockpit anymore when the people in docking bay try to get him to come out, they assume as first he’s a sore loser (because blah blah blah slander the Eccentrics), then (while fine’s live is going on) they finally think to check on him in the case he’s unconscious, and obviously when they open the cockpit he’s not there anymore. They assume he ran away.

From there, fine has their final performance and disbands. The Eccentrics are going through it.

Eichi only announces that Wataru passed away the following day due to a gas leak in his Mecca’s cockpit caused by a fuel line rupturing during the DreFes. Natsume is inconsolable and that’s important because of his eventual reconciliation with Tsumugi Aoba.

When Tsumugi attempts to apologize to Natsume and all that (the burning stuff behind the school scene I think), he mentions he can’t forgive someone who helped kill Wataru. Tsumugi drops the bomb that Wataru isn’t dead and is generally confused as to why Natsume thought that he would be. According to Tsumugi, he’s seen Wataru in the council room a few times since the DreFes.

Natsume gets the other Eccentrics (including Shu), much to their dismay that he has left hiding when the tensions have yet to settle. They’re a lot more understanding once he tells them about what Tsumugi has said. They decide to go straight to the council room to confront Eichi and ‘rescue’ Wataru.

They’re both there when the Eccentrics reach them. Wataru is happy to see them but not happy in the sense one would be to see a rescuer and more in the way of seeing a friend. He’s acting like nothing had happened out of the DreFes and a lot more familiar with Eichi than he was before (more like main !-era interactions). The Eccentrics get the sense that something is wrong but Eichi assures them that this is exactly what Wataru had wanted (which he affirms). When asked about telling everyone that Wataru had died, he explains that Wataru was hurt badly and had requested he be disappeared from the stage for a little while to recuperate. (He doesn’t look injured though)

I can’t be bothered to write more but eventually after the Eccentrics leave that little meeting, they splinter more. At some point one of them decides that they can’t just hide by Wataru acting so unusually even for him, they end up finding proof that Wataru was taken out of his mecha, they eventually find more clues to connect the dots, find out that Wataru had died during the DreFes but was replaced by a successful clone of him who lacks the precise memories of the DreFes itself and the animosity it should feel for Eichi, and all the Eccentrics die when they go to confront Eichi. Epilogue is one of them waking up from ‘hibernation,’ implying that they’ve been cloned themselves.

[mephinomaly]

[TL] PYSCHOBREAK/Chapter 17

[ This post uses Ois~su ♪ ]

Rei: In actuality, during the battle to exterminate the delinquents, not a single one of them showed face. Therefore, UNDEAD won the DreFes by default.

That is how it was supposed to go. In the dream, I was able to identify one of the delinquents that was not originally there.

That boy was our culprit. In our dream, it was only possible to exist if we were close to our bodies.

Therefore, in order for him to rewrite history, he would need to be at least nearby.

He must have sensed we were trying to go back in time to do something, so he grew anxious and came to check on us. At that point I discovered who exactly it was and belayed him.

And that is why I did not immediately go on stage, as I was in the audience searching for the culprit. It wasn’t that I was unmotivated, really really.

Koga: Even in the real timeline you didn’t get on stage.

Kaoru: Right~, it was a once-in-a-lifetime debut live, how could you miss it? That’s what you told me since I used to skip class and stuff a lot.

Adonis: I agree. I felt like that too. I was uneasy and scared, I almost hated Sakuma-senpai for not showing up.

Rei: Eh? What are you all blaming me for everything lately!?

A-anyhow, once I had identified the culprit's face, the rest was quite simple. Once I had returned to the real timeline, all I had to do was find him.

Once we had done as such, he lost control of HELLSING and the bots stopped functioning, leading us to where we are now.

Adonis: So the culprit has been disposed of, and the situation has been fixed…?

Koga: That’s great ‘n all, but what about now? What about this current situation?

We’re in the middle of a live!? The culprit’s bound t’be pissed off, since we stopped his plan— it’ll be bad if HELLSING is stopped now!

Fans from all over the country have travelled here to see us perform!

We can’t stop jus’ ‘cos somethin’ came up!

Rei: Kukuku. You are surprisingly sharp, however on the other hand, you can be surprisingly dim-witted and silly too.

Koga: Haa!?

Rei: Look at them.

Koga: You mean HELLSING?

Rei: Umu. Let us become HELLSING’s representatives. I’m not exactly sure what representing our representatives entails but—

The public is unaware of the existence of these fakes, so to them, HELLSING is simple an offshoot of UNDEAD.

Let’s look at it from the public’s point of view. The real Kaoru-kun, Koga, Adonis-kun and I– us four, make up HELLSING.

Koga: …Yeah but, that’s not possible? Ya know, ‘cos you two wimpy senpais insist on doin’ those variety shows?

Kaoru: Ohh, don’t be silly. Variety shows are a lot of work, you know? Whilst it doesn’t tie directly into what we do on stage, it definitely helps.

There’s already a difference in ability between us, the two main attractions of UNDEAD, and you guys. So I guess it just widens the gap between us?

Don’t hold us back, ‘kay? ♪

Koga: HaA!? Bring it on playboy! Unlike you who slacks off all the time, I practise so hard everyday it could kill me!

Watch out! I’ll have you beggin’ for mercy, screamin’ out like “noooo～I’ll never be able to beat Koga-sama and Adonis-sama!”

Rock’n’roll…!

♪～♪～♪

Rei: Kukuku. You’re rather good at lighting a fire beneath Koga, Kaoru-kun.

Kaoru: I was only copying you～？

Adonis: Fufu. I’m happy. We’re starting to look like ourselves again.

If we have each other, we’ll be okay no matter what happens.

I believe that. Believe me, you can entrust everything to me.

Let us put our body and soul into our song and dance. That is what I can do, and that is my joy and happiness.

I won’t let those vampires, I won’t let anyone take the place where I belong from me!

♪～♪～♪

Kaoru: Woah, it’s rare to see Adonis-kun get this hyped up ♪

Rei: He’s always been a quiet but passionate boy.

Well then. We can’t let our kohai out shine us, can we? Let’s do our best too.

Kaoru: Yupyup. Don’t hurt your back though, old man ♪

I’m also pretty pissed at the culprit, so it’ll be a good stress reliever to sing and dance the best I can.

I have to let him know it’s impossible to replace any of us.

So today, I’ll show him how serious I can be.

♪～♪～♪

Rei: (Kukuku. Bravo, bravo. I was worried how things would go but— in the end, everything ended rather amicably, as usual.)

(That world is nothing more. A happy, propitious ending.)

(Ah, it’s so bright…The stage always has been. The stage is filled with a radiance that could burn me alive.)

(I cannot laugh at the culprit. I too, once averted my gaze from this brightness and turned my back on the stage.)

(However, I have no intention to do that now.)

(I will bask in its brilliancy. Even if it turns me to ash, this is my long-cherished ambition.)

(So what now? Are you watching, you foolish, pathetic criminal?)

(Back then, there was a pitiful​ adolescent Sakuma Rei who had lost all hope for the world.)

(―Aren’t you jealous of me ♪)

♪～♪～♪

Tonight, we feast! Breath in HELLSING, and let us into your soul—Us, UNDEAD, will grow ever stronger!

We are UNDEAD!

No matter if an army a million men strong attacks us, even if we are consumed by hellfire, UNDEAD will be reborn from those flames again and again! We will be resurrected!

Until my last breath, nay, beyond that! We will burn brightly for eternity, even in the depths of hell! Join us, and allow this enjoyable feast to begin!

If that is what you desire, this radical, immoral, sweet night will never end!

♪～♪～♪

[ ☆ ]

Chapter 16

Epilogue 1

[bisexualbumblebee-writes]

To Love a Ranger Chapter 12- Aragorn x OC

Aragorn x Issa

Description: The people of Edoras must empty the kingdom and head for Helm's Deep. In between the chaos Issa experiences a feeling she'd never felt as Aragorn's betrothed: jealousy.

Word Count: 2.3k

“By order of the King: the city must empty,” one of the guards, Hama, announced to the townsfolk. “We must take refuge of Helm’s Deep. Do not burden yourself with treasure, Take only what provisions you need.”

“Helm’s Deep,” Gandalf all but scoffed as he, Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas and Issa moved through the crowd of Edoras townsfolk.. 

“They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight,” Gimli agreed. “Who will defend them if not their King?” 

“He’s only doing what he thinks is best for his people. Helm’s Deep has saved them in the past,” Issa reasoned as they walked into the stables. 

“There is no way out of that ravine,” the Wizard retorted. “Theoden is walking into a trap. He thinks he’s leading them to safety, what they will get is a massacre. Theoden has a strong will, but I fear for him. I fear for the survival of Rohan. He will need you before the end, Aragorn. The people of Rohan will need you. The defenses have to hold.” Aragorn nodded and took a deep breath before responding. 

“They will hold.” Gandalf walked up to Shadowfax, stroking his mane thoughtfully. 

“The Gray Pilgrim. That’s what they used to call me. Three hundred lives of Men I’ve walked this earth, and now I have no time. With luck,  my search will not be in vain,” he paused to mount the white horse before facing them. “Look to my coming at the first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the east.” The group nodded before Aragorn spoke. 

“Go,” was all he said. And it was all Gandalf needed to ride out of the stables in a full gallop. Legolas and Gimli left back to the Golden Hall, but Aragorn and Issa stayed in the stables. They watched his figure grow smaller and smaller, then their attention was broken when they heard a horse neighing loudly and hooves stomping behind them. The Man signaled his fiance to wait there before going to investigate. Issa, ever the rule breaker, at the very least looked around the corner and watched as he walked up to a clearly distressed horse that had been rearing in its stall. 

“That horse is half mad, my lord,” a stableman warned him. “There is nothing you can do. Leave him.” Aragorn disregarded his words and instead moved closer to it. 

“Fæste, stille nú, fæste, stille nú. Lac is drefed, gefrægon (Fast, be quiet now, fast, be quiet now. A battle is stirred up, they heard),” he muttered, causing the horse to calm down a bit as Aragorn took away a rope that was on it. “Hwæt nemnað ðe? Hm? Hwæt nemnað ðe (What is your name? Hm? What is your name)?” 

“His name is Brego,” Eowyn, who stood a few feet away from Aragorn beside a stall that held a gray horse, informed him. “He was my cousin’s horse.” The Man spared her a glance, then looked back at the horse. 

“Brego? Ðin nama is cynglic (Brego? Your name is kingly).” Issa watched as Eowyn walked towards Aragorn as he continued to calm Brego down. 

“Man le trasta, Brego? Man cenich (What troubles you, Brego? What did you see)?” He asked rhetorically in a soft voice. 

“I have heard of the magic of Elves,” Eowyn muttered, catching his attention. “But I did not look for it in a Ranger from the North. You speak as one of their own.” 

“I was raised in Rivendell…for a time,” he explained as he faced her. “Turn this fellow free. He’s seen enough of war.” With that he walked away, leaving Brego and Eowyn, the latter of which wore a rather intrigued expression. Once he reached Issa he led her back to the Golden Hall, where Legolas and Gimli were preparing for the trip ahead of them. 

“Issa, why don’t you go grab our things from Gamling,” Aragorn suggested, earning a nod from the girl before she walked away to find the guard in question. After retrieving their swords and other supplies from Gamling she made her way back to the Golden Hall, only to pause in the doorway when she saw Aragorn and Eowyn standing only a few feet from each other, her sword against his knife. 

“You have some skill with a blade,” the Man muttered. Eowyn swiftly swung her sword around, releasing it from Aragorn’s knife, and sheathing it once again before responding. 

“Women of this country learned long ago,” she started. “That those without swords can still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain.” 

“What do you fear, My Lady?” 

“A cage,” the Princess ultimately responded after some thought. “To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them. And all valor has gone beyond recall or desire.” A miniscule smile formed on Aragorn’s face, and he shook his head. 

“You are a daughter of Kings, a shieldmaiden of Rohan. I do not think that will be your fate,” he said before turning and walking away from her for the second time. She had that same intrigued look on her face, but this time there was something mixed in. Something that Issa couldn’t decipher, but it still made her uneasy. An unsettling feeling began to slowly fester in the pit of her stomach, though she couldn’t figure out what that was either. It was still unpleasant either way. 

“Issa, are you okay?” She heard Aragorn ask from beside her. She hadn’t even realized he’d approached her in the time she’d been surveying the Princess’ expression, but she offered him the most convincing smile she could manage as she faced him. 

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” She asked rhetorically before handing his things over to him. She didn’t allow him to say anything else before she moved to stand beside Legolas and Gimli, ignoring the curious looks they shot at her. 

The Rohan people were walking through the land led by Theoden, Eowyn and their guards. Issa, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli were all on their own horses at the front as well. As he sat on a horse led by Eowyn, Gimli decided to tell the Princess about Dwarf women to pass the time. 

“It's true, you don't see many Dwarf women,” he informed her. “And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance that they're often mistaken for Dwarf men.” Eowyn smiled, then looked back at Aragorn. 

“It’s the beards,” he explained, gesturing to an imaginary beard on his chin. That made the girl’s smile widen as she looked at Gimli once again. 

“This, in turn, has given rise to the belief that there are no Dwarf women...and that Dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground!” He exclaimed, making both himself and the Princess laugh. “Which is, of course, ridiculous!” The Dwarf threw his hands up as he guffawed, but that caused the horse to suddenly gallop off, throwing Gimli to the ground. Eowyn laughed harder as she ran to help him. 

“It’s alright,” Gimli said quickly, trying to salvage his pride. “Nobody panic, that was deliberate. It was deliberate!” That, mixed with Eowyn’s (admittedly infectious) laugh, made Issa and Aragorn laugh. Upon hearing his laugh the Princess looked back at Aragorn, her smile widening as his laughter faded into a smile. 

“I haven't seen my niece smile for a long time,” Theoden said, which caught Aragorn and Issa’s attention. “She was a girl when they brought her father back dead. Cut down by Orcs. She watched her mother succumb to grief.” Empathy coursed through Issa at his words. She’d been in a similar situation, so she understood how Eowyn felt. They weren’t actually that different from each other. Her smile turned sympathetic as she turned back to Eowyn while Theoden continued. 

“Then she was left alone, to tend her king in growing fear. Doomed to wait upon an old man who should have loved her as a father.” There was a sense of guilt in his tone, which made Issa shake her head. 

“With the amount of power that Saruman had over you, there was no way you would have been able to stop it,” she muttered, smiling reassuringly when he faced her. “There is no reason for you to feel remorse, for you couldn’t even understand what was happening. I doubt your niece holds a grudge against you for it. What you should focus on now is the future.” The King returned her smile after a moment, then nodded and looked around as he slowed his horse to a stop. 

“I believe we’ve walked long enough that we can stop for the night,” he said, looking at Gamling and Hama. “Inform everyone to set up camp for the night, but warn them that we will be leaving in the morning.” The guards nodded then turned to ride back, informing the townsfolk of what was happening. While he did that Theoden, along with Legolas, Issa and Aragorn, dismounted their swords and stretched after the long journey thus far. 

Later that day Issa sat on the ground beside Aragorn, who sat on a suitably sized rock, as they cleaned their swords together. Issa heard Eowyn before she saw her. The Princess was offering something to Gimli, who declined it politely. Both she and Aragorn looked up as Eowyn approached with a pot and bowl in her hands. 

“I made some stew,” she offered softly, pouring some into the bowl and passing it to Aragorn. “It isn’t much, but it’s hot.” 

“Thank you,” the Man muttered, lifting the bowl to his lips. After tasting it Issa noticed him attempting to his a grimace. She forced herself to look down at her sword so that she didn’t burst into laughter at the sight, though it didn’t seem to work very well on Eowyn. The Princess looked concerned at his expression, but Aragorn offered her a (slightly pained) smile. 

“It’s good.” 

“Really?” She asked hopefully, earning a nod from Aragorn. A satisfied smile appeared on her face as she turned to walk away. The Man quickly went to pour the soup on the ground, but changed course and just handed the bowl to Issa’s unwanted hands when Eowyn suddenly turned back to them. 

“My uncle told me a strange thing,” she started curiously, stepping closer to him. “He said that you ride to war with Thengel, my grandfather. But he must be mistaken.” 

“King Theoden has a good memory,” Aragorn answered simply, which made Issa look at him in surprise. “He was only a small child at the time.” Eowyn also seemed to be surprised by his answer, though for a different reason.

“Then you must be at least sixty,” she muttered, her shock growing when the Man looked embarrassed. “Seventy? But you cannot be eighty!” Aragorn looked to the ground with burning red cheeks. 

“Eighty-seven,” he muttered. This time Issa couldn’t hide her smirk at Aragorn’s embarrassment. She tried to hide it by tasting the stew, but she came to realize her mistake quickly. It simultaneously lacked all taste and was somehow burnt. It took all she had not to spit it out then and there so Eowyn didn’t feel bad. She instead forced herself to swallow, then turned away and pretended to clear her throat while she attempted to control her own grimace. 

“You are one of the Dunedain,” Eowyn realized after a moment. “A descendant of Numenor, blessed with long life. It was said that your race had passed into legend.” Aragorn was silent for a minute. 

“There are few of us left,” he said quietly. “The Northern Kingdom was destroyed long ago.” Issa grew somber at his words, resting a hand on his arm in comfort. He rested his hand over hers then gave it a soft squeeze in response. 

“Oh, I’m sorry,” the Princess said sympathetically before gesturing to the bowl in Issa’s hands. “Please, eat.” Issa handed the bowl back to Aragorn, all too eager to get it away from herself. The Man reluctantly continued to eat the meal while Eowyn watched, though Issa’s gaze had strayed as she thought about the war with Thengel. 

For some reason, it bothered her that Eowyn knew of something about Aragorn that she didn’t. Issa hadn’t known that he went to war for Rohan. It had apparently been before they began courting when he left Rivendell for a long while. He had asked Issa not to follow him as he’d been going through a bit of a ‘finding myself’ phase and wished not to see anyone he knew for a while. Well, ‘a while’ was a bit of an understatement. It was nearly twenty-three years of almost no contact. He sent her letters sometimes and even visited on her parent’s anniversary, but that was it. 

She had never made the connection between a battle between Rohan and Isengard and Aragorn’s disappearances. Though, thinking about it now, it should have been obvious. But she was still trying to figure out who she was as well, so she never gave it much thought. When he returned and she asked about his adventures, he merely gave rather vague answers or just mentioned the things he’d seen while traveling Middle Earth. 

And yet Eowyn knew about it. That same unsettling feeling back in the Golden Hall returned, though this time she understood what it was. Issa was jealous of Eowyn. It felt petty to feel jealousy for a Princess while her people were in a crisis. Now realistically, she was aware that it was illogical, but she just couldn’t help it. The way that Eowyn looked at him (though she had the decency to hide it around Issa) and the way that Aragorn acted towards her made her sick.

[kouchan-lonely-wolf]

End of Century Scout Episode 5

I wanted to take a moment to appreciate the friendship that Mao and Koga have built up.

To start with: Koga waited for Mao to be finished with his actually student council work, before he came in with unofficial proposal. It’s polite and considerate, especially when most people assume that Koga is rude.

[photo 1 ID: Koga to Mao “Yeah, Forehead. I need the student council’s approval on this document. That’s why I’ve been waiting outside the door for so long.”] [photo 2 ID: Koga to Mao “Hump! Don’t be so mean, Forehead. It’s not like you’re gonna lose a seal or two, so be a forgiving soul and do it quickly for us.”]

Second: Koga tried the soft approach first, asking for Mao’s approval. It shows how Koga trusts Mao to take his side. Koga explained his side and when Mao still resisted because it was against the rules, that’s when Koga switched to blackmailing Mao.

[Photo 3 ID: Koga to Mao “That’s the picture of Haru on top of you!”]

[Photo 4 ID: Yuuta to Mao “ ‘Scoop! The current president of the student council shares an intimate date with a schoolgirl in his office. Astonished at their unconventional activities!’ We’re gonna write this and send it to everyone on Hold-hands.”]

The blackmail is very interesting on many levels. For one, it’s rather nefarious because idols have such a taboo towards relationships. If Mao got caught in a scandal like the one Koga proposed to fabricate, it could do serious harm to Mao’s career potentially tanking it. At the same time, it’s very strategic. Koga trusts Mao to take his side but he’s also aware that Mao has a specific job as student council president to approve and disapprove Drefes proposals, so Koga came prepared to force Mao’s hand right from the get-go. Koga was hopeful that Mao would approve during the soft part of his approach but he was conscious of why Mao wouldn’t and preemptively countered it. It’s pragmatic. At the same time it’s not necessarily a complex plan either. If you asked anyone how you would blackmail an idol, they would probably first think of this same plan, but it’s an impersonal approach. While it is a plan that would work on idols in general, the closer you are to someone the more likely you are to come up with a plan that targets their specific weaknesses: for example, since Koga was creating this plan against Mao he could have easily chosen something like tormenting his allergies. But he didn’t. A plan that focused more on exploiting Mao’s personal weaknesses wouldn’t have been as high risk as one that targeted a weakness of all idols. This can say much about Koga: He’s a quick thinker and doesn’t personally target his friends.

At first glance, this kind of plan is high risk, although Koga probably thought it was necessary for the high reward of getting approval from Mao who takes his job seriously. This is where the trust between them as friends is vital.

[Photo 5 ID: Mao to Koga “I might then ‘accidently’ leave the student council seal on my desk. I’ve been careless lately.”] [Photo 6 ID: Koga to Mao “We didn’t take any pictures. We were just bluffing.”] [Photo 7 ID: Mao to Koga “Well, I thought so anyway.”]

As Koga comes clean: there were never any pictures taken. Koga recognized the high risk of such a fabrication and only bluffed that those pictures existed. It was only an illusion; one that Mao saw through because he knows Koga. Instead of intentionally damaging Mao’s reputation or even risking damaging it, this illusion creates a convenient excuse to allow Mao to approve the Drefes without repercussions essentially. In response Mao creates a better excuse for Koga with his lie about leaving the seal in plain sight. Consider if this scheme was caught: Koga would get into much more trouble than Mao because he was blackmailing Mao and jeopardizing his career. Mao would be safe. But with Mao’s version they would both be in more equal trouble. Mao for leaving such an important item easily accessible and Koga for forging the student council president’s approval.

Mao knows Koga would never actually hurt him like this, and he knows that Koga is doing this for good reasons, so even though Koga is implicitly saying he’ll take the fall for it if it gets out, Mao doesn’t let him. Koga basically admits it point blank too because he doesn’t want Mao to think he would ever put Mao in such genuine risk. This is their trust, their friendship.

To end this, I want to say that Koga did all of this for Tetora even though they don’t interact with each other much. He did this primarily because of how concerned Yuuta and Sora were. Sure he wanted to help Tetora because they have some connection that means Koga cares about his well-being, but his will to help Yuuta and Sora are also a factor there. It’s a clear sign of his supportiveness for his juniors.

🐺 I hope this was coherent. I know I didn’t really mention Yuuta or Sora’s involvement as helpers and initiators in this story, they are vital to the events that happen especially as key parts of Koga’s plan. But this was about Koga and Mao so it had to stick close to them. I hope to hear your thoughts, agree or dissent I welcome all of it! (if replies disappear I promise it is the pornbots)

[faulix]

thinking about how in the anime they had jin and akiomi do the announcements for the drefes and jin just still shows up in the raggedy old doctors coat and slippers. never change jin