#fuu... this was a little difficult

[lecliss]

Finally filled up the top four proficiency rows with only my faves. I've waited years to become a Mitsuki main and it's finally happened!!

[otomehoneyybearr]

Act 12

Episode 19: My Own Journey Pt.1

Working w/ Maybelle Lace, jujumin-translates, Fea

Note: As you read, you will see that some sentences highlighted in a different color, this is what they indicate.

Pink: Flashback

Blue: Characters are acting

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Sakuya: ...Wow, this feels nostalgic.

Sakuya: ...Fuu, hah.

*Sakuya Rings the Doorbell*

Sakuya: (Don't get nervous because it's been a while. I'm sure she'll be here at this time...)

Yoshinaga: "Yes?"

Sakuya: U-Umm, this is Sakuya.

Yoshinaga: "...What can I do for you? I've already sent you all your personal belongings from this house."

Sakuya: Well— If you have a moment, there's something I'd really like to talk to you about directly...

Yoshinaga: "Wait a moment."

Yoshinaga: What is it you wanted to talk about?

Sakuya: Thank you very much for taking me in and enrolling me into Hana High.

Yoshinaga: It was nothing, just an arrangement between relatives.

Sakuya: Still, you let me go to Hana High, so I’m sure…

Sakuya: (I know that it was agreed that you were to take care of me, as per our relative's arrangement.)

Sakuya: (But to be able to go to a private school like Hanasaki Academy, where tuition isn't cheap, I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.)

Sakuya: (When I was in middle school, I was really happy when I found out that I would be able to live in Tokyo, near Veludo Way, in high school...)

Sakuya: (It was difficult though because you wanted me to enter a good school if I was to be taken in, so I suddenly had to study hard for entrance exams.)

Sakuya: (I was hoping that in my next home, I would be showered with love and that we might become like a real family.)

Sakuya: (That's why I was so happy when I got accepted to Hanasaki Academy and found out I could go to Tokyo.)

Sakuya: My name is Sakuya Sakuma! Once again, I hope we can get along! I'm glad to be in this house!

Sakuya: I will do my best to be recognized as a member of the family!

Yoshinaga Family's Child: ...I'm off.

Yoshinaga: Have a good day.

Sakuya: U-Umm...

Yoshinaga: School starts today, right? If you don't leave soon, you'll be late. You have a reputation to uphold, so don’t miss school.

Yoshinaga: We will also help you with your tuition and living expenses, but we consider you more like a roommate than a family member.

Yoshinaga: We don't have a lot of money, so if there's something you want for yourself, you can get a part-time job and buy it yourself.

Sakuya: ...I understand.

Sakuya: (There was no place for me in this house where I came home to every day.)

Sakuya: (It's true that I was lonely, but I want to say thank you for what you did for me.)

Yoshinaga: ...Sigh. It's annoying, isn't it?

Sakuya: Huh?

Yoshinaga: The money you send us each month. Did you really earn that money yourself?

Sakuya: Y-Yes!

Yoshinaga: I went to great lengths to send you to a reasonably good high school, but you still won't go on to university.

Sakuya: Sorry...

Izumi: Are you sure?

Izumi: If you want to go to college, I'll do my best to support you, and there are a large variety of scholarship programs I'm sure you can apply for.

Izumi: If you ever wanted to go to college, even just a little bit... 

Sakuya: Izumi, what kind of place was college to you?

Izumi: Hmm, well...

Izumi: The good thing about going to university for me was that I had the opportunity to  encounter many different people and studies, and that I was able to increase the number of things I wanted to learn.

Izumi: I was able to broaden my future path and talk to many people. I guess it expanded my perspective on life.

Izumi: I was inspired by the people I met in university and decided that I wanted to continue doing theater after I graduated .

Sakuya: For me, Mankai Company is the place where I was able to meet people with many different ways of thinking.

Sakuya: I feel like this is the only place for me now and going forward, and I already know what kind of future I want to live in, so I don't have to go to university.

Izumi: I see.

Sakuya: Also, I have a reason why I want to earn money so that I can continue doing theater with all I’ve got and with even more freedom than I have now.

Izumi: A reason for wanting to earn money?

Sakuya: I'm really grateful to the Yoshinaga family for paying for my tuition fees...

Sakuya: I was able to enjoy my high school life with Masumi and Banri because I went to Hanasaki Academy.

Sakuya: Best of all, I was able to come to Veludo Way and join Mankai Company.

Sakuya: As a token of my gratitude for giving me the opportunity to change my life, I want to earn my own money and pay back my tuition as soon as possible.

Sakuya: I don't think it's quite enough yet, but I will keep sending it...

Yoshinaga: I've already received enough. ...Wait a moment.

Yoshinaga: This is the amount you overpaid. I can't accept it, so I kept it with the intention of returning it someday.

Sakuya: Eh, but I thought it wasn't enough...

Yoshinaga: We didn't pay the full amount because we also had tuition support funds.

Sakuya: T-Then, has everything already been paid off...?

Yoshinaga: I'm telling you it is. It's already enough of a hassle having to return it now, so don't send anymore.

Sakuya: ——Once again, thank you so much for my three years of high school!!

Yoshinaga: We just did our minimal duties. I haven't done anything that should be that appreciated.

Yoshinaga: ...Wouldn't it have been better to just go to university with the money you earned?

Sakuya: I've already decided how I want to live.

Yoshinaga: I see. Good luck, then.

Sakuya: Ah, right...

Yoshinaga: ?

Sakuya: This is the flyer for our next show.

Sakuya: The theater company is in a bit of a difficult situation right now, and I don't know when we'll be able to perform, but... I'm the lead role.

Sakuya: May I send you a ticket?

Yoshinaga: ...I'm not interested in plays. But well, if you just want to send it, do as you please.

Sakuya: Okay!

Sakuya: ...Also, there is one last thing I would like you to tell me.

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Prev | Next

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[idsmiile]

🎫 gush pass for any f/o of your choice!

haiii ty nonnie (im literally three days late)

ive been super super super fixated on my pookie kaira for the longest time (and some side hoes)

i think hes so so so cute. like i really like his attitude and even his really cocky moment like in this keystone here (tf u smirking for? to attract other men?)

no but seriously u_u i wish i got to hear more about him!! hes been a favorite of mine since i was 16 and i adore him so so much!! (i wanna maul him just a little bit)

even though we had a slight divorce i love him a lot (i wouldnt have divorced him for a day if his damn quest wasnt so damn DIFFICULT)

(check out my team. like its the son squad ft orochi and voidera. my little family is almost complete..)

hes got like 4 minutes of lore but im making each moment count okay. anyone else falling for f/os with nugu ass information? yeah. you get it.

his face here is SO cute like yes you DIMWIT people DO like you. there are yokai who respect you and want you to succeed as king. dont be fucking SILLYYY (i hate this quest. hinozall. manifesting your downfall ♡)

i also think its a little silly how he calls rai-chan and fuu-kun lazy. like sir, no thats YOU! YOU'RE THE LAZY ONE!! but i love u so much do u wanna cuddle on the throne. it looks like it can fit two? no? you have to pretend to be doing shit so no one goes "why the king so damn lazy?" okay...

i think hes neat even tho im seeing 3 other yokai.. my bad.. i still love u forever kaira.

also.. maybe im imagining things.. but i also like hes just ever so slightly softer and closer to cole then the others. (i could be making things up.) (its not copium i swear) like it tickles a part of my brain cause i feel like they GET each other!! like outcast from the worlds who feel unloved and unnoticed. (cause theres no way cole and summer arent supposed to mirror kaira/enma... but thats an essay for another day) but no for real. i love this fail boy.

i also just really enjoy his little outfit. like everything is so oversized on him. like youre what? 5'5? maybe ill give you 5'7. its like hes trying to make up for the fact that yokai are short af T_T its okay king you can be 6 feet in my heart! (no not really. its a bit funny)

[thefinalcinderella]

Tsurune: Irodori no Issha Episode 12 - Takigawa Masaki’s Way of Life

Ren: Oh--.The lights are still on in the shrine office. Are things that busy at the shrine?

Ren: I’m back--

Masaki: Uwa!? You surprised me. Where did you come in from? Come in through the front door

Ren: I thought my adorable little brother was working hard and I couldn’t stay still, so I ended up taking the shortest distance before I knew it

Masaki: “Before I knew it?” Yeah right

Ren: What are you doing?

Masaki: I’m putting charms and amulets into bags to give to people when they come here to offer prayers

Ren: Oh? You do that too?

Masaki: We’re a small shrine, after all

Ren: Want me to lend you a hand?

Masaki: It’s fine. You’ll definitely mess something up

Ren: Wow, you have such a low opinion of your big brother

Masaki: I’m surprised you think it’s high

Ren: What a wonderful little brother I have. You’re so cold--

Masaki: What do you want from me this time?

Ren: It’s not that I need something from you, I just wanted to see my little brother’s face

Masaki: Yeah yeah. You can use the back room

Ren: You sound like you’re driving me away

Ren: I can stay here and watch you, can’t I

Masaki: I don’t think it’d be very interesting, though

Ren: No, no, it’s pretty fun

Masaki: Oh, okay

Ren: Is that an owl?

Masaki: That’s Fuu’s call

Ren: Oh, that’s the owl whose injury you fixed up, right?

Masaki: Yeah. Apparently, Yata Forest is its territory

Ren: Hmm...

Masaki: What?

Ren: Masaki, all you do is take care of other living things

Masaki: Huh?

Ren: Owls, high schoolers, and the work of a chief priest--you're always taking care of other people

Masaki: Is that criticism? I can’t hear any sarcasm or snideness

Ren: No, I just have a question

Masaki: A question?

Ren: You were originally aiming for Nationals and the dan promotion exams, right? And you just threw them all away

Masaki: I’m not aware that I threw them all away

Ren: What are you going to do from now on

Masaki: Mmm...

Ren: You’re only 24. Isn’t it too early for you to live like an elderly person?

Masaki: Me, elderly? I’m much more busy than I was during university

Ren: Is that true?

Masaki: It’s true

Masaki: There’s a lot of sundry tasks to do in a shrine, but on the other hand, you need control on a spiritual aspect for prayers. It’s divine work, but it’s also service work.

Masaki: And you have to give it your all when you’re coaching a kyudo club.

Masaki: I want to help them grow properly

Ren: Is that how it is?

Ren: You never wanted to grow too?

Masaki: By helping them grow, I’m also growing

Ren: Oh?

Masaki: Those guys are helping me grow. That’s what I think

Ren: Hmm

Ren: If that’s what you say, Masaki, then I guess it’s fine

Masaki: What, you sound unsatisfied

Ren: No, no, I’m not. Maybe it’s because of my tendency to worry or because I’m impatient, but I think about how you can go even higher, it makes me frustrated watching you

Masaki: I have no intention of stagnating or going back. I feel like if Grandpa was here, he’d say, All right.

Ren: That strict guy?

Masaki: Yeah. Now I understand the things he said to me, and now I’m telling Minato and the others those things

Ren: Is that so... If you like what you’re doing, then that’s fine

Masaki: What about you?

Ren: What?

Masaki: Are you doing what you like?

Ren: Well, I guess so. Because I can do anything. This is also a difficult aspect. 

Masaki: You keep saying that. I shouldn’t have asked

[garutonaagent]

Maika Fantasia - Chapter 3: High School Girl (Part 4 of 5)

(Disclaimer: Using “Bubble Translator” and making slight tweaks in case of broken English, here is a very loose translation! Due to photo limitations per post, only screenshots of specific moments will be present; otherwise, it’s dialogue translated via text-only)

Chapters: Prologue - My Little Star Chapter 1 - Catch Dream Chapter 2 - C'mon, C'mon Chapter 3 - (you are here) Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chosen One Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 -

Location: Courtyard

Hayu: *panting* Ha, ha, ha...

Hayu: Uu...fuu, uu...

Hayu: [ (Himari doesn't understand how much this hurts...) ]

Hayu: [ (What a surprise, Himari...) ]

Hayu: ...ha--!

Hayu: I--what...you're here?

Hualin: This here, is proof that you're a dancer.

Hayu: My hand...uh, this is...

Hualin: This here, is proof that you're a Maika dancer.

Location: ???

Hayu: ...petals...that's weird, they're disappearing...

Hayu: ...fu.

Hayu: [ (No way...this has be some sorta misunderstanding--) ]

Hayu: I just...I gotta get rid of it.

Location: ???

Hayu: [ (Ah...) ]

Hayu: ...hey, Himari...

Hayu: [ (This is...me from the past.) ]

Hayu: Will, will Himari be friends with me...?

Himari: Huh?

Hayu: I don't have many friends, unlike you, and I don't feel like studying or exercising...?

Hayu: If it were me...I wouldn't want to be friends with you.

Himari: Hmm...?

Hayu: There's nothing in common, right? The two of us, I mean...

Himari: You know, Hayu...I don't really understand difficult stuff!

Hayu: ...wha--

Himari: Huuuuug~!

Hayu: H--Himari?

Himari: I think...it's important to have fun, to be passionate, and to love! There's nothing more important than that!

Himari: I love Hayu! That's why,

Himari: Hayu is so important!

Location: Hayu's room

Hayu: ...nngh...

Hayu: Oh...I fell asleep, that was the worst...

Location: Classroom

Teacher: And so, given that...

Hayu: ......

Himari: *sleeping noises* Myaaaah..uhehehe...

Hayu: [ (...Himari is sleeping.) ]

Hayu: [ (But you're still learning so much, it's cunning.) ]

Hayu: ...

Hayu: [ (...what's up with me...praising her?) ]

Hayu: [ (The dorm is clean and spacious, the food in the cafeteria is delicious, and studying at the school is top-notch. That's why it's tough, but she does everything from training to coaching...) ]

Hayu: [ (But, all of that is too much for me.) ]

Hayu: I wanna go home...

Teacher: Natsuhadzuki-san! Did you say something?

Hayu: N--no! I didn't say anything!

Teacher: Please concentrate, okay?

Hayu: Okay...

Himari: *sleeping noises*

Hayu: [ (God, I'm so angry...) ]

<- Previous

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[astarab1aze]

➥ The White Wyrm

⸻Technical Information. // Face, Voice, etc.

01. Faceclaim. Shirasu Kinjou   [ Donten ni Warau ]  &  Rin    [ Kami-sama no Uroko ] 04. Voice Claim. TBA

⸻Profile Information. // Name, Age, etc.

01. Name. Furie Night   [ Fuu, Fury, Furious (after great-grandpax30) ] 02. Alias. Euphony of Mausza, The White Wyrm 03. Sex. Male 04. Gender. Male 05. Age. 26…?  06. Birth Date. December 7th   [ Saggitarius ] 07. Blood Type. Sub-type WWB+ 08. Race. Were-wyrm, American by nationality ; French-Japanese by ethnicity. 09. Marital Status. Single, formerly engaged to Yule Z'raza   [ Multiship ] 10. Orientation. Demisexual   [ Biromantic / no preference ] 11. Residence. Enfurious Night’s Estate in Belle Valley, Southern Crossroads

⸻Physical Information. // Body, Equipment, Family, etc.

17. Physical Description. Furie’s hair is stark white, thick, silky. More akin to that of a mop than anything else, he does occasionally pin it all out of his eyes, though this is rarer than you might think. His hair is very soft and easy to comb through. His eyes are a soft, pale lilac in color. Gentle though very guarded, revealing very little. He has a lean and narrow body type featuring some toning, standing at an odd 5'7". His skin is a pale but neutral tone, unblemished aside from a scar in his left side in the shape of blackwyrm’s jaws, many rows of teeth having bore into his skin, and some old nicks, scrapes, and cuts from less than ideal transformation cycles. There are patches of iridescent scales in various places on his body. He has a tattoo of a spacial summoning circle split between both of his hands in enchanted white ink. He wears a black and purple modified hakama and a dramatic high-collared sleeveless shirt, forgoing the theatrics of a robe or cape, as well as a shortcloak made of starlight. 

13. Equipment. He keeps a blackwyrm whistle to call his Bluebird, an infinite pocket, fragments of a fallen star, a pair of singing stones, a wand made of meteorite, keys to the estate, a traveling mirror, and a Mauszan scrying glass. 14. Occupation. Cryptic fortune-teller ; An Oracle of Mausza in the Mauszan clergy 15. Job Performance. Beloved, but how much of what he says is true? How could he possibly compare to the likes of his predecessors? 16. Parents. Fraya Sinclair & Fallow Night ; Both living, but are no longer together on account of how utterly insufferable Fallow is as a person 17. Siblings. None

⸻Personality Information. // Likes, Strengths, etc.

18. Likes. Flying, iced coffee, cottonmouth cakes, FrankenLeeches, natural settings, stargazing, night walking, spending time with Bluebird, perusing nightmarkets, meandering Bell’s Hollow, collecting art & small shiny objects, reading the stars, etc.  19. Dislikes. Self-destructive types, human arrogance, vampires, the Red Hand, the Belegerande family (especially Spira; Simone’s okay), scarbuncle cheese, his relation to Enfurious and Sortia, being patronized, being compared to other oracles or family members, granny Ageha, most of the Mauszan clergy, Sanguinarians (worshippers of Sanguinach), the DRS, criminals, etc. 

20. Positive Traits. Gentle. Steadfast. Rational. Emotionally intelligent. Diligent. Generous. Thoughtful. Wise. Forgiving. Merciful. Questions authority. Determined. Resilient. Knowledgeable.  21. Negative Traits. Closed-off. Cold. Opportunistic. Avoidant. Distant. Impersonal. Cryptic. Chronically late. Does not forget. Secretive. Bitter. Uncertain. Hoarder. Difficulty letting go. Selectively caring. Territorial. Prefers to be hands-off. Cowardly. Fickle. 22. Goals. To keep the likes of Sortia Morgana and Loux Garo from ever finding the sanguine star, to find it himself and prevent the destruction of all the world and protect it from selfish whims and further death. 23. Desires. Salvation from his grief, for the grace of Mausza to replace his anguish with comfort and peace.  24. Alignment. Neutral Good

25. Personality. Furie is bit of a difficult nut to crack, being a reserved and quiet individual with no straightforward or truly personable inclinations. He presents as unreadable as physically possible, hiding himself beneath layer upon layer of carefully interwoven threads of polite neutrality, cool professionalism, and placidity. There’s a quiet determination about him, a hidden and unwavering steadfastness that anchors him to life and heroic pursuits, but just as this, he’s equally as regretful and deems himself unworthy of the atonement he seeks. He blames himself for the accident of his fiance’s death and is ever and constantly searching for a means of redeeming himself. On top of this, he doesn’t feel he has anything of value to say beyond his divination, harboring some resentment toward Mausza, the clergy, and Mauszan worshippers. All anyone wants from him is his service, not to know what he thinks, feels, likes, or dislikes, so he gives it to them and keeps silent about all else (though this is in part due to the trauma of Yule’s death), putting as much distance as he can between himself and others. Generally speaking, he’s understanding and careful, thoughtful and wise, but he’s not above violence or sneaky tricks, lying, manipulation, or other such things to further his own ends - he will always try the non-violent route, though because of Mausza’s favoritism towards him, he’s given special permissions to use force if necessary during his search for the sanguine star.

⸻Sorcery Information. // Element, Talent, etc.

26. Element. Spacial, Blackwyrm Soporific, & Necrotic - creation root & moderate control. 27. Shapeshifting. Innate monthly transformation into a white-violet blackwyrm - may transform outside of this, however, but it makes him sick and runs the risk of a permanent transformation. 28. Utility. Wards, curses, blessings, summoning - highly skilled. 29. Specialization. Divination & Prophecy - highly skilled due in part to both practice and raw talent. 30. Graduate School. Belegerande’s School for the Arcane, House Bell - the first of 11 total sorcery-centered schools established in North america in the 1500s; Quite a prestigious institution despite its current reputation. 31. Classification. Oracle ; Respected member of the Mauszan clergy, the Euphony of Mausza, working in conjunction with the Fateweavers of the Sightless Eye

⸻Background Information. // Past to Present.

    He was born into the Night family, to a sorcerer and a were-wyrm with dominant genes. As both, he was born possessing a natural affinity for gravitic and necrotic schools of magic, inheriting the spacial abilities of a blackwyrm and the Night’s close relationship with necromancy. From birth, he had many doors open for him, but he chose a religious path early on in an effort to break away from the dark and dour nature of his family (especially his father), though this really only replaced one abusive group of people with another slightly more palatable one.

    But it was there he met his beloved, Yule, who showed him the beauties of hope and faith, pure and kind no matter the hardships she faced. He fell in love with her good-natured charm, adoring her so completely, he proposed. She accepted, of course. Tragically, however, tensions were running high as ever between the Red Hand, DRS, Sanguinarian extremists, and other factions, which coalesced into an all-out skirmish in several nightfolk cities throughout the United States. At the time, Furie and Yule were vacationing in Salem’s Crossing when a hoard of blackwyrms were unleashed into the town center. Buildings were destroyed, hundreds of people were killed or injured, and he and Yule were separated amid the chaos. He was swept away, caught in a blackwyrm’s jaws and nearly chewed in half; She was overpowered and killed, shredded to pieces. Surviving this without her left a hole inside him that could never be filled.

    Once he recovered from the attack, he dedicated himself to his work as a diviner of Mausza, going so far as to earn the Starstitcher’s Favor. Insodoing, he was given a special task - informed through communion with her that a sanguine star has fallen and must be retrieved before bad actors and violent retributors can get their hands on it, reduce the world as they knew it to ash and sow endless death. He was shown Loux and Sortia’s faces, along with the likes of Elluvius Black, Lilith Morningstar, Cedric & Claire Montgomery, Deadeye, and many others - promised the removal of his pain and grief, the serenity and grace to keep living, the courage and drive to continue. Because of his direct communion with Mausza, he was dubbed Euphony, her voice, among the clergy. This all put a whole new set of pressures and expectations on his shoulders, thrusting him into oracle status and all that comes with it. His position turned into something of a curse, testing his relationship with Mausza as well as his resolve.

    He is used as little more than a service, rather than sought out for genuine inquiries - taken for granted among his apparently graceless and faithless fellows, time and energy abused as both a man and a clerical leader. At this time, however, he has not wavered in his work despite his now shaky beliefs. He searches tirelessly for the star in an effort to please Mausza and achieve his peace, even though it’s costing him much more than he ever thought it would. 

[sunniestshark-ocs]

42%, 54%, 87% (for Jo)

13%. How has your character's personality changed from childhood to adulthood?

Not a lot, Jo was raised with a very 'people with strength are obligated to help those that don't' mindset and was given a lot of responsibility from a young age, which only intensified with age. She mostly changes by cooling down on being competitive and high-energy all the time as a kid to being mellowed out through maturing, taking on more tangible responsibilities (and chronic fatigue lol). She retains her jovial, resilient and kind personality throughout her life, which is a theme of her character- retaining her compassion through ridiculous amounts of hardship. But she does learn how to finally set boundaries and care for herself better, and even learns how to actually embrace and express anger instead of pushing it down and ignoring it. (The anger/non-anger issue she has is a whole other exploration I'd love to write about soon)

42%. If they could only eat one type of food for the rest of their life, what would they choose?

If it's 'type' then Jo would pick sandwiches and try to argue what is and isn't a sandwich so she could skirt the rules- anything can be put between two pieces of "bread" and be called a sandwich dammit (Jo: a hamburger is DEFINITELY a sandwich, a hotdog is a sandwich, which means a taco is also a sandwich! I'm right and you know it in your heart! Pie is a sandwich!!! )

54%. Describe your character's favorite possession. Where did they get it, and why are they so attached?

I don't think Jo really has a favorite, or would at least would have a difficult time choosing. She values gifts she gets above other things, so she has a sweater Roshon made her that she loves, her swords (in GT) were gifted to her by Fuu, her symbols of her marriage to Jack and Eliot, a necklace Rae gave her... Every single gift is her favorite tbh.

74%. Describe your character's love life throughout the years.

This pretty much goes for any AU, plus or minus a few people, but Jo usually has a teenage-hood hookup (in GT it's Roshon), and they mutually decide to stay friends since Jo is usually in it to win it every time she dates anyone and they didn't want to ruin the friendship. She then usually dates someone casually and isn't capable of keeping it casual (in GT it's her fellow supersoldier Sam, and they mutually break it up because the power dynamic is weird). She then dates Layla and Layla cheats on her bc it's too much for Ms. Anti-Commitment (they stay friends though). Then she gets together with one of her future wives, then the other. In GT it's Jack first, but Jo is under a different identity and the whole thing is very sad! Jo is very, very polyamorous as in she falls a little bit in love with all of her friends, and the crushes that last longer she usually pursues more seriously. But she's also like, extremely committed and wants all her relationships to work out even if they aren't amazing for her or the other person. Several of her past relationships end because she gets too serious, too fast, and can be a little overbearing- love languages are acts of service for the other person and touch AND quality time, and oftentimes Jo can be too much for people. She does temper herself a lot throughout the years, but then is uncomfortable herself because she often feels she isn't doing enough. Which is why it ends up working out with Jack and Eliot, because Eliot craves that much love directed at her and Jack simply deserves that much love blasting her in the face constantly.

80%. If your character were asked to associate an adjective with different stages of their life, what would they choose and why?

Childhood: Free. Jo would consider this the most free time of her life (as most childhoods are) but kind of rose-colored lenses the fact that she was still burdended by a lot of expectations even at a young age. Young adulthood (18-25): Committed. In any AU around 16-18 is when she really gets committed to her athletic pursuits, training, and just trying to mold herself into the best person she can be. It's when she has the least amount of full responsibilities so she loads herself up on any and all activities she can. She continues this into her 20s even with careers/schooling (except in GT where she was taken at 16 and forced into the supersoldier life)

30s+: Safe. Despite life still being volatile in many AUs, Jo has cultivated herself a nice support system, has her family and eventually is able to let go of the responsibility and burdens she's carried her whole life to let other people help her carry them. She gets the longest streak of restful sleep for the first time in years.

87%. Does your character have a natural talent for something? What is that talent?

Even though she's cultivated this throughout the years, she has always had a natural talent for making people feel safe, or at least comfortable, in her presence. There's something in the way she holds herself and speaks that is almost like sitting by a campfire, sun setting and warm, a still place where you can let go of your troubles for a while. She's an undemanding presence, even if (in some aus) she's at first intimidating or comes with a scary reputation, and it's easy for people to feel comfortable sitting in silence or opening up to her once they see she's not what her reputation says she is. She's a natural place of respite.

[narutofanonshinden]

Prompt Fill by @fireflylitsky

Modern Bounty Hunter AU featuring Kakuzu and kid!Fuu

Kakuzu’s been a bounty hunter for a good long while now. Best in the business some might say. When he’s offered a contract to locate and transport a target across the country to a very wealthy client, he initially declines. He doesn’t usually take jobs involving kids—too annoying, too messy—but they insist, and the price is too good to pass up.

_____..._____

“Are you stealing that?” comes a small, inquisitive voice from beside him.

Kakuzu takes a deep breath from his nose. He’s not supposed to kill this little girl—just deliver her to his client—but goddamnit she’s making it difficult. Live capture bounties are the worst. Right now she’s at his side, looking up at him expectantly with those giant, creepy lantern eyes.

Without acknowledging her, Kakuzu continues shoving the merchandise into his satchel. 

“That’s bad,” Fuu tells him. “You’re not supposed to do that, y’know.”

“Keep talking about it and I'll add ‘murder’ to the list of things I’m not supposed to do today.”

Her mouth slants and she stares at him like she’s trying to assess the sincerity of that threat. Apparently she doesn’t think he means it because she keeps prattling on.

“I’m just trying to be your moral compass. I think you need one.”

He lets out a derisive snort of a laugh from beneath his mask. Where’d she get that from? Kids really do say the weirdest shit.

“And I don’t even like that kind,” she says, eyes on the honey oat granola bars he’s grabbing.

He looks directly at her, puts the granola bars in his pouch, and then grabs two more boxes. It’s vaguely amusing, the scowl it puts on her face, but even better, it shuts her up.

They peruse some other aisles in silence and are almost ready to leave when he feels a tug at his sleeve. Lord give him patience. He looks down to see Fuu, a tiny little thing really, clutching a candy bar—Reese’s cups.

He raises an annoyed brow. “What.”

After some brief hesitation, she holds out the candy. “If you’re going to be stealing food, can you do this one too, please?”

With a moment to look her over, he scoffs. “Do it yourself.”

“You want me to steal this?”

“Kid, there isn’t a thing you could do besides disappear that I want. Take it if you want it so bad, but don’t expect me to coddle you.”

It puts a despairing expression on her face, and she looks between him and the candy in her tiny hands.

“C’mon kid, it’s now or never. We’re leaving.” He walks past her, leading them to the exit. He doesn’t make an obvious show of watching her, but he takes note that she trots over to the display she found the candy on and puts it back. 

When they get in the car she’s quiet. Fuu lets her temple hit the window and just stares out for a while as they drive. Blessed silence.

Eventually when Kakuzu gets hungry enough to raid his snack sack, he notices her eyeing them from his periphery. Yeah. She’s probably hungry too. 

As much as it pains him to play babysitter, a cranky kid with an empty stomach is something he wants to avoid, so he holds one out to her. “Eat.”

“Mm.” She hums, unsure and making a face of distaste. Kakuzu isn’t sure how anyone can dislike honey oat, but whatever. “No thanks. I’m not hungry.”

As if on cue, her belly gurgles in protest like it’s calling her bluff.

“Suit yourself.” Kakuzu shrugs, shoving it back in his bag. More for him.

Fuu lets out a sigh and returns to sulking. “Aren’t we stopping somewhere to eat for real soon?”

“No.” He peels back the wrapper and crunches into the granola bar loudly. “You should’ve stolen that candy.”

“It’s bad to steal.”

“You didn’t seem to mind asking me to do it.”

“Yeah, well, that’s different...”

He glances over at her, brow slightly raised.

“The way I see it, you’re probably already going to the bad place. Y’know…” she drops her voice to a whisper, “h-e-l-l.”

Kakuzu actually laughs. It’s short and abrupt and barely distinguishable from a cough, but yeah, that caught him off guard, and yeah, she’s not wrong.

“Can’t argue with that,” he admits. “If there’s a hell, I’ll be there.” He’ll be the goddamn treasurer of hell for all he cares.

“I’m just sayin’,” she sighs with a shrug, staring out at the countryside. “No sense in both of us going down there.”

It’s not the worst logic he’s heard, he’ll give her that.

Fuu lets out an overwrought blustery noise. “Are we really not stopping for food soon? I’m just a kid. You’re supposed to feed m—” Something hits her in the head and tumbles into her lap. Kakuzu may or may not have thrown it at her. “Hey!” She complains, shooting him a disgruntled look, rubbing her cheek. “Hey!” She brightens when she finally looks at what actually hit her. “Reese’s! You stole it for me after all, thanks!”

Kakuzu rolls his eyes. “Some moral compass you are.”

She happily unwraps the peanut butter cup and shoves it in her mouth. “Never said what way I point.”

Kakuzu snorts. He needs to make it through another week and a half of this brat. Irritating as she is, at least she’s mildly entertaining at times.

Prompt of The Week

It's Fic Title Friday Saturday💖

Come up with a summary or scene for this not-yet-written fic titled, 'A Moral Compass for The Wayward Ninja'

[1ndulgences]

your only knight

yandere! knights × gn! reader

warnings: stalking, obsessive behavior, some light unsanitary mentions, kidnapping, mentions of drugging, threats of light harm towards the reader

notes: my first original post... i do hope you'll all enjoy it! i was inspired by @yandere-daze and their works to begin my blog, so i dedicate this post to them as a thank you–! i hope you all enjoy...

oh, dear tsukasa... he only wants the best for his darling. you mean so much to him! how can he make sure you won't suddenly disappear? that you'll stay with him always?

tsukasa loves to bring you snacks. the way to one's heart is through the stomach, isn't it? and look how happy you get whenever he asks you to try a new sweet with him... besides, you seem to eat too fast to indulge yourself, or you get too busy to eat.

it starts as a weekly thing, where he only tries to bring you out to this café or the other, spending hours with you until sun down. if you miss a day, he asks you spend more time with him. well, he's the youngest of his unit... maybe he's scared to be left behind by his unitmates? so you agree.

but it gets worse. he asks to go out every day after classes, and gets visibly distraught when rejected. at lunch, he won't let you sit anywhere without him. you don't need to help any other units or do your work, open your mouth so he can give you some cake!

you know you have to put your foot down and tell him to back off once he starts meeting you outside your door, asking to walk with you to class. you never told him where you were staying, so how did he know...?!

oh, but telling him no, telling him to leave and give you space to breathe... he would sniffle as he fights back frustration in tears. no, it won't end. you can't spend time with anyone else or you won't be fed and cared for how he cares for you! why would you want him to leave? if you won't allow him to stay, he'll force you to. don't make it harder than it has to be, darling.

the rope is coarser than it looks, and his family has estates far out of range of that cute phone of yours.

you'll never be free of the feeling you're being watched. between classes, you know you see someone watching from the corner of your eye. while helping other units, you check over your shoulder, sound in the feeling that someone had just been staring at you. it goes so far that if you fall asleep, you awake because there's eyes on you, and you know it. but nobody is ever there when you jolt yourself awake.

you felt safe running to your room each day, finally able to relax without the exhaustion of worrying about whatever was chasing you. ritsu often texts you a lot before you fall asleep. it's comfortable for you, knowing he's on the other side of the screen, keeping you company until you drift off. you always wake up to a few messages of confusion as to why you aren't replying before getting a sweet goodnight text from him.

but suddenly, everything spirals to hell. you wake up suddenly one night to the sound of something slamming shut. you look to your window to see your screen is missing, and you shudder, just knowing that whomever has been watching you found your one safe place. you go to school early that morning, having found yourself unable to sleep.

ritsu notices right away that you're exhausted. he offers to help you skip class to nap, as he knows the best places to hide. you agree without hesitation, and as you walk together to wherever location he's decided on, you tell him about the odd feeling of being watched, and that the stalker had gotten into your room that night. ritsu says that it's likely nerves from overworking yourself.

the place he led you to was the school garden, which was almost uncomfortably empty. you notice a small table with three chairs and a teaset out, and ritsu guides you to sit down. the teaclub met there without him, but there was some left, he said. you were too tired to question, and the tea might help you sleep, after all.

you're nearly finished with your mug when you realize how dizzy you feel. ritsu stands by your side to catch you as you fall to the side, eyes fluttering as they struggle to say open. he apologizes to you, and says that he had to make sure you didn't wake up on the way 'home'. there's a bright screen before you, and when your hazy eyes focus, you realize he's shown you a picture of yourself sleeping that he has on his phone. you're just so cute, darling. he knows how much everyone pressures you to baby them, so it's his turn to baby you.

mikarin won't mind a secret third roommate as long as you promise not to make much noise.

trying to understand izumi felt impossible sometimes. the way he would degrade the ones around him, then get upset when they were hurt by his words... it was a while later you realized he never insulted you. well, not as badly as he did everyone else. a simple 'stupid' or 'annoying' here and there, but never anything as harsh as what the rest of the world heard. you decide that you'll keep your eye on izumi, as something felt off by his behavior. the fact he wasn't insulting towards you reminded you of his obsession with yuuki. nobody wanted that for themselves. sorry, yuuki, but take one for the team?

you reach into your bag at lunch, looking for your makeup pouch. arashi had noted that your foundation was thin, and your blush was fading. but in looking for the pouch, you noticed it was gone. you made a note to check for it once home since arashi decided she wanted to fix your makeup in her style, anyway.

once you got home and began looking for the pouch, you noticed that a lot of things were missing. sunglasses, pictures, a few books... you couldn't think straight enough to tally everything and shudder. someone had been stealing from you. for how long? why? how? you become defensive and don't replace anything that was taken unless it was absolutely necessary. you hold your things with you at all times, and get obviously cautious when someone asks about it.

izumi notices immediately that you begin to be more tense. it takes him a while to convince himself that it's a general sense of weariness, not targeted at him. but you stare at him more these days. have you caught onto him? he flicks your nose for it one day and tells you to stop being so on edge, because it drags everyone down. you hold your nose with shaky eyes. izumi hopes you don't notice the guilt he feels.

some weeks later, you get home late due to practice with another unit running late. you enter your room and scream when you see izumi rolling around in your bed, face pressed into your pillow. he rushes you, forcing your back to the door as he covers your face with the pillow. he easily overpowers you and pins you there with his body. it was so cruel of you to leave him to little to remind himself of you. he had to start taking from your laundry basket because anything else would've been noticed immediately! did you notice, by the way, that he had been using your makeup to feel closer to you? your lipgloss tastes like you.

darling, you really shouldn't drive him so mad... he won't always be so nice to you if you're cruel to him.

could you ask for a better friend than arashi? she felt magic sometimes, you swear. she always knew just what to say to lift your spirits. she always knew the best little gifts to surprise you with. really, it was almost scary how well she knew you and could take care of you. of course, that was just how she was, right? everyone loves her for it, so there's really no reason to worry.

your jewelry box fills up quickly with the little trinkets she'd give you from her photoshoots. your closet, too, as modeling always sparked her desire to shop. and shopping is no fun alone! it was almost as if she was always looking at things for your size and never her own... she can tailor anything she finds for herself regardless of size, so don't think too much about it! you nod nervously, but still, something nags at you and you can't tell what it is.

whenever pretty 5 could meet, arashi began to drag you along, as well. to a point where the other members began to comment on it. why was the producer here? they aren't doing idol work, so they don't need a manager right now. arashi doesn't like this at all. so instead of meeting with them, she'll just go on cute dates alone with you! you frown, but she seems to have convinced herself that this was fine before you could argue.

people begin to avoid you, as when they got close, arashi would soon appear to cling to your arm and invite herself into whatever situation was the topic of conversation. you feel suffocated by her. when you grow short with her, she panics, and offers to shower you with more gifts to make it up to you. or maybe you want her to do your makeup so you can touch each other more? oh, oh, maybe you want to do a photoshoot together so everyone around the world can see you two together!

huh, space? you want her to back off? oh, darling, that won't do at all. her face falls flat, and your body shakes. she walks closer to you as the warning bell sounds, and you whimper that you have class. who needs class, though? her palms slam against the wall near your head, and she leans in until your noses are barely touching.

you don't need anything but her, so she won't be going anywhere.

you're just in time! leo runs up to you as you enter the practice room. he had texted you that it was an emergency, so you need to meet him here immediately. of course you would rush over! all that he wanted, really, was to show you his newest composition. he sung it for you as you tried not to get mad at him. he was weird, that was all... he didn't mean any harm, but he seems to lack awareness.

it became a constant thing. begging you to come find wherever it is he's run off to, or bursting into any room you're in to show you his newest song. they're all inspired by you, so please listen to them! it scares you how he always seems to know where you are, but he never hears you out when you ask. he brushes off the concern as an extra sense for you, since you're his muse after all. as odd as it is, part of you wamts to believe it's part of his charm, so you make yourself ignore it.

you draw a line in the sand when he bursts into your class to disrupt you, and you drag him out by the wrist after apologizing to your teacher. you tell leo he has to stop chasing you all over and he has to wait to share his music with you. he whines and tries to plead, telling you how much he loves you and has to share everything with you. you're the only reason he continues to make music! without him, he'll run away and never come back! you wince. he can't keep this up-! how did it get this bad?

you're snapped from your thoughts when he wraps his arms around you and begins to drag you down the hallway. you fight back, and he bites you as a warning. he needs you, darling. and if you won't let him come visit, he'll have to steal you away. his family will love you, and his sister can keep you company if he really needs to leave for any reason.

just stay so you can be his muse forever, and he can serenade you for the rest of your lives!

[machifuwa]

(8/8) Mizutama Pattern | Youth is the Color of Summer

After a While, At The Summer Festival Site

Tetora & Hinata: ーAnd... goal!

Hinata: Haah... I was a little faster than you, wasn't I?

Tetora: I went through the torii gate at the same time to the tip of my shoe, I was watching very clearly. Fuu...

Anyways, I was supposed to come back earlier, but I came back much later.

After guiding grandma, we protected children and picked up lost items and delivered them. It was a day where... we helped people.

Hinata: That's right. It's all because of Tetsu-kun, who helped me too.

...I wonder if everyone has already left. We've been in touch a bit, but we haven't been able to explain the details of the situation, have we?

Tetora: "Go ahead and look around," or, "I'm going to be late, so you can go home first."

I sent it quite one-sidedly, and it seems to have worried everyone.

Hinata: I hope Yuta-kun isn't angry~ Your big bro here has been helping people all day long, it's the truth~

Tetora: I'll explain it with you, so don't worry. I don't think they will get angry because everyone is so kind, though, right?

...Hmm~ It smells so good! I think I got so hungry after all that moving around!

I could have taken advantage of the kindness of grandma and her family and had something to eat at the other shrine.

But I wanted to enjoy the summer festival here, where I decided to go in the first place.

Hinata: ...Some~how, Tetsu-kun doesn't seem to mind that he's late at all.

You look rather, sort of, refreshed.

Tetora: Hmm~? I think the reason I look so refreshed is because I feel a sense of accomplishment~?

If I had not decided to go to the summer festival. I wouldn't have been able to help those in need and bring smiles to their faces.

I want the summer festival to remain as a happy memory. I think I have done my job by the time I got here♪

...But, I still have to apologize.

Hinata: ?

Tetora: I'm still a little concerned about the fact that it's so late, I even dragged Hinata-kun with me.

Hinata: Eh~? You're still concerned about that?

Tetora: Because you wanted to enjoy the festival with Yuta-kun, right? After all, you haven't even spent a second together.

Hinata: I went to Tetsu-kun because I wanted to, and I told you I couldn't have fun unless I was with you.

It's not your fault that we came back late. On the contrary, it's because we were together that we're able to come back now, don't you think?

Tetora: Even when you say that, it's still about each other's feelings, isn't it~? So... at least let me repay you.

Hinata: Just do whatever you want. Well, shaved ice isn't enough to keep me alive, right, Tetsu-kun?

Tetora: Eek, Hinata-kun got a lot of guts too huh.

Hinata: I'm more used to "doing" things for others. But, I'm the one who "gets" a lot of help from Tetsu-kun.

Hmm~ What I want Tetsu-kun to do is...

Right! I'm kinda bad at it so... how about "that"?

Tetora: By "that", you mean the yo-yo fishing stall, right? You want a water balloon?

Hinata: Yeah, it is surprisingly difficult to catch it with a "koyori", so do your best until you catch it and show me how good you are!

Note: a koyori is a string made from twisted paper [watch this vid]

Tetora: Osu! No problem!

...Actually, I kind of miss yo-yo fishing. The pool with colorful water balloons floating in it, every now and then.

Hinata: Even back in the day?

Tetora: When I was a child. My parents worked together and were particularly busy all of the time...

They only took me to a summer festival once.

Walking through the crowds, holding hands, being fed yakisoba from the stalls and buying masks...

As I walked through the lights of the stalls, I saw a yo-yo fishing pool and asked for those balloons.

...But at the time, I couldn't get it off by myself. I just plunged into the pool without a care in the world, so the koyori was torn to shreds right away.

I don't really remember if the guy at the stall gave me extra or if my parents took it for me. My memory is a little fuzzy...

The memory of the way home with water balloons bouncing in the air remains in my heart. I remember how much fun I had at the summer festival with my family.

Hinata: I see, so that's why, Tetsu-kun has beenー

Tetora: Ahaha, I don't know about that. I just acted as I was supposed to.

I wanted everyone to have fun and smile...

Maybe it was born out of the memories of summer festivals that filled my heart when I was a child.

Hinata: .....

Tetora: Now, which color should I aim for? Red, blue, green, yellow... Black is also cool!

(...I'm a little clumsy. It's hard for me to get everything I want compared to someone who's good at it.)

(But even so. I'm no longer that kid who would just plunge in with all his might and fail.)

Tetora: ーThink carefully, one at a time.

This is how I can get my hands on it!

Look at this, Hinata-kun. The most beautiful water balloon floating in the water.

It's proof that I've grown up big enough to have my own memories of this summer festival...♪

Just listening to the sound of the water bubbling and swaying makes me feel cool~ Mogumogu~

Hinata: The man at the stall was very kind. He thought it was very cool to see Tetsu-kun so motivated fishing for water balloons. Mogumogu~

Tetora: After cotton candy, crepes and candy apples. Hinata-kun, how do you like the taste of chocolate banana?

Hinata: It's so good. Bananas and chocolate are a great combination...♪

Maybe I should have bought the strawberry-flavoured one too. Maybe I'll have another one later.

Tetora: It's good, isn't it? Today we'll enjoy the food stalls as much as our pocket money will allow☆

Hokuto: ーYou two, you're here?

Hinata: Hidaka-senpai? Thank you for your hard work~♪

Tetora: I haven't seen you since a while ago. I sent the grandma to her family safe and sound with Hinata-kun♪

Hokuto: With Hinata-kun... I see, so you guys did meet up outside the shrine.

By the way, did you guys meet up with Yuta-kun and the others yet?

Tetora: Yuta-kun and the others? Does that mean Midori-kun and Shinobu-kun are still at the shrine too?

Hokuto: Yeah. I found all three of them at the grounds. You were originally going to meet up with them, weren't you?

Note: "grounds" (esp. of shrines and temples)

Hinata: Oh god! Then we have to go see them now!

Tetora: That's right! Thank you for telling us, Hidaka-senpai!

Hokuto: ...Both Nagumo-kun and Hinata-kun seem to be enjoying the summer festival safely.

Hinata: Fufu, we're just starting to enjoy it, though!

Tetora: We're going to have fun until the end of time! I'm going to make lots of great memories with everyone...♪

< EPISODE 8 END >

Story: “Mizutama Pattern” [Youth is the Color of Summer]

Story by: 梅田千歳 (Happy Elements株式会社)

Characters in this Episode: Tetora, Hinata, Hokuto

Mentioned Characters: Yuta, Shinobu, Midori

Reminder: I did not create this story, but I translated it, so please refrain from reposting my translation on other social media platforms.

I apologize if there are any mistakes as well.

Just my thoughts:

I am very happy to finally finish my 3rd translation! It's a very fun journey, I learned more about each one of them! Ibara and Nagisa (adam in general) are actually very great people!! Tori and Tsukasa are not just spoiled rich brats but very fun to be with! Yuzuru is a goat as always. Hokuto and the rest of Trickstar are really nice friends! And Hinata is a very very loyal friend! I love him so much!! And Tetora, who would have thought that I'm going to be struggling because I don't know if I should pull for him or no, I thought at first that I'm definitely going to skip this scout but my god!! Tetora is such a great character! I love him so much! Truly an Idol hero. Stan everyone.

(Prev - All) Thank you for reading Mizutama Pattern with me!

[ticklygiggles]

Cute little brother | Lucifer & Satan (Platonic)

A/N: Took more than a month, but it's finally here! Sweet @otomiya-tickles and I planned this little event last Valentine's Day and this is the result on my part!

I hope you all enjoy it! Especially the anon that won the event, huhu.

Summary: Lucifer just wants to finish his work, but thanks to certain little brother of his, that seems like a difficult task to do. Said little brother should be punished!

Words: 2775 (under the cut)

Lucifer stood in front of his office. Hand on the knob. He really didn't want to get in.

He was tired. Drained. Hoping to relax a bit during dinner time, but he kept thinking, in the back of his head, about the endless amount of paperwork waiting for him inside his office.

Would Lord Daivolo be too angry if he didn't finish this up tonight? Probably not, but Lucifer knew he wouldn't be able to sleep thinking about those damn papers.

Was he a little too hard on himself? Yes, he was, but letting out a long sigh, he finally opened the door and stepped in. The paperwork was still there, of course, however...

"What the f-

He quickly closed the door behind him, fearing that Diavolo would suddenly appear behind him and would see the mess that was his office.

All those documents waiting for him all afternoon were scattered all over the office floor: wrinkled, torn and even... bitten?!

Lucifer gasped, and taking another step forward, he found footprints on some of the papers. It was a rather tiny footprint and before he could hear a soft purr coming from his chair, he was already taking out his D. D. D and taping on the face of a certain brother of his.

"What?" Satan answered, he was a little breathless.

"Satan, come to my office immediately,"

"Hah?!" Satan said and Lucifer heard rustling of clothes as Satan raised from wherever he was sneaking under, highly probably, looking for the cat. "What for? I'm in the middle of som-

"Come here, I said. Right now."

It was silent on the other side of the line for a few seconds before Satan reluctantly agreed. He hung up first and Lucifer couldn't do anything else but let out another long sigh- there it went, his chance to sleep at least a few hours tonight.

Lucifer turned his head to look at the tiny cat pleasantly curled on top of his chair, fast asleep.

Lucifer chuckled humorlessly, "at least you're having a nice sleep, hm?" If Lucifer petted it, it was a secret between him and the cat.

A few minutes later, he heard a single knock against the door and with a soft flick of his hand, the door unlocked on its own.

"Come on in."

"What the hell do you... want..." Satan widened his eyes as soon as he saw the mess Lucifer's office was, his cheeks turning a little pink when he noticed the tiny footprints on the papers on the floor.

Lucifer raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest. "Would you mind explaining this?"

Satan gasped. "W-What?! How, how am I supposed to know?!" He said defensively. "It's not my problem you don't clean up your office, Lucifer," he said with a smirk, trying to hide his nervousness. "It seems like the perfect older brother, Avatar of Pride, can't even keep his office clean, huh? You're a mess."

Lucifer fought the urge to roll his eyes as he stared at his brother. "I thought I said no more cats in the House of Lamentation, Satan."

Satan flinched a little. "W-What makes you think I-

Lucifer sighed for the umpteenth time that night as he spinned his chair around. Satan widened his eyes when he found the sleeping kitty.

"I- I didn't-

"I don't have any idea how it got here," Lucifer started, his voice severe. "And I honestly don't care, but look at all this mess, Satan. These papers, I needed to finish up this paperwork tonight, but now I have to get new copies and of course you're going to help out," Lucifer said, starting to clean up the mess off his desk, even making a face of disgust when he found a ball of fur near his cup.

"What?!" Lucifer looked up. "Of course I won't help!"

"Satan, stop acting like a child-

"A child?!" Lucifer wanted to kick himself in the face. He really had to say that at this moment, huh? "So if I don't follow your stupid rules then I'm a child?"

Lucifer growled in the back of his throat as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "If you don't help me out, then you'll be punished in some other way," he said and Satan shut his mouth. "I'm giving you the chance to choose, so take it or get punished, your choice."

Lucifer stared at Satan, his brother looked down at the mess on the floor, even wincing a little when he noticed the bitten papers and, just as Lucifer followed his sight, he found that some papers were even wet and he felt like crying on the spot- his beautiful and perfect office, why-

“Fine,” Satan said and Lucifer turned his eyes to look at him. “I choose punishment.”

“Really now?”

Lucifer wanted to groan. He really hoped Satan would choose to help him get the copies. They were just copies, for Heav- Diavolo’s sake! But he knew his brother better than anyone, Satan must’ve noticed how tired Lucifer was, and what caused him more pleasure than seeing his older brother suffering?

Probably just cats.

“Suit yourself.”

As Lucifer tried to quickly come up with a punishment, the cat woke up and it ran to Satan as soon as it saw him. Satan caught it in his arms and Lucifer arched an eyebrow when he saw him smiling softly at the animal.

He couldn't help but stare at the scene. He would never say his brothers are cute, at least not in front of them, but seeing Satan smiling and even blushing faintly as the cat climbed up his arm until it was seated on his shoulder, scratching behind its ear- Lucifer though that he looked quite adorable.

Weird. Can he look just as cute on a normal basis? Of course not.

"Hehehey." Lucifer raised both eyebrows now as he heard that soft giggle coming from Satan. "What did I tell you ahahabout it?" Satan whispered, raising his shoulder to try and stop the kitten from nuzzling against his neck.

Lucifer widened his eyes slightly at the sudden idea popping inside his head. He tried to shake it off, that was way too childish and stupid, but fuck, he wanted to finish up soon! He could convince Satan to help him… even if it was doing something like this.

"Okay fine, you might as well let go of the cat." Lucifer saw Satan gulping as he stared back at him before he let the cat on the floor, purposely placing it above one paper, making Lucifer's eyebrow twitch.

The kitten ran back to Lucifer’s chair and he narrowed his eyes, shaking his head softly. “Last chance, Satan. You can help me out or receive the punishment.”

“Do you think I’m scared of you, Lucifer?” Satan asked, crossing his arms above his chest. “What’s the worst thing you could do? Hang me upside down from the ceiling?”

Lucifer’s mouth twitched, seeing Satan’s smug grin. If he was feeling any remorse from doing this childish thing, not anymore.

“Fine,” he said and with a swift move, he was right behind Satan.

“Wha- haah!” Satan barely had time to gasp before having Lucifer’s hands latching to his sides. “H-Hey! What are- ack! S-Stop!”

“Oh?”

Lucifer had started to squeeze up and down Satan’s sides. He tried to be gentle and, thankfully, Satan was so shocked that his only reaction was to tense up and clamp his arms against his sides, not causing much trouble as Lucifer tried to find the right pressure to make his brother laugh.

“Lucifer!” Satan nearly yelled. “The f-fuu-ck are you d-doING!”

Lucifer bit the inside of his cheek, trying to hold back a smile, but it was honestly impossible: Satan let out the most high pitched shriek he had ever heard before… coming from a demon and one of his brothers, of course.

“Are you a ticklish person, Satan?” Lucifer stated the obvious and before he could speak again, Satan finally let out the brightest giggles ever, surprising Lucifer.

“N-Nohohahaha! N-Not thihihihis!” Satan giggled and Lucifer nearly gaped in amaze, his fingers stopping slightly, but then quickly speeding up with the exact pressure that made Satan let out those giggles. “Luhuhucifeheher!”

Lucifer knew Satan tried to sound angry, but his laughter was so bright and, goodness forgives, so sweet that he thought Satan was actually enjoying this- but of course he knew his brother.

“I gave you a choice, Satan,” Lucifer said, getting bored of just tickling Satan’s sides. “You chose this, now take it.”

“I dihihidn’t choose thihi- ah! Stahahap!” More high pitched giggles poured out of his mouth when Lucifer moved to tickle his stomach: fingers gently clawing at the muscles around Satan’s belly button.

Lucifer could see Satan’s ears turning bright red and he suddenly thought that, even if himself was also embarrassed about this situation, this was, in fact, the perfect punishment for his naughty brother- something definitely humiliating. His plan to convince him to get those copies might work!

The clawing to Satan’s stomach was working wonders. He bent over and finally moved one of his hands to wrap around Lucifer’s wrists. Lucifer couldn’t help but chuckle, he felt Satan’s fingers holding him, but he could barely feel the force trying to push him away.

“What is wrong, Satan? Why are you so weak?”

Satan squeaked when Lucifer moved one of his hands to repeatedly poke the curve of his waist.

“Fuhuhucking stohohohop!” Satan’s knees were giving up and before he could stop it, they both were falling.

Lucifer had to stop his punishment to hold himself up and Satan took the opportunity to try to escape, he rolled on his stomach and tried to claw away, but his older brother was faster, and quickly captured him by his sides, dragging him back until he could straddle his lower back, using his strong legs to keep him in place.

“Where do you think you’re going? We’re not finished yet,” Lucifer said with a smirk on his face and seeing an opening, he sneaked his hands under Satan’s arms, making him shriek with loud cackles.

“Did I find a good spot, Satan?”

“Stohohohohop touchihihing mehehe!” Satan laughed, kicking his legs and pressing his arms against his sides, trapping Lucifer’s hands against his tickle spot. “Enough! You peheheherv! Stahahaha!”

“Who’s a pervert? Is it so wrong wanting to hear my little brother's laughter?”

“Grohohohoss! Lucifeheheher! I’m seheherious!”

Lucifer chuckled. “Are you now?” Satan cackled louder when Lucifer vibrated his fingers right on the center of his armpits. “Very well. I will gladly stop if you promise to help me out with this mess your cat caused.”

Satan shook his head right away. “Nehehehever! I rahahather die be-befohohore hehehelping you!”

“Then I won’t stop,” Lucifer said with a nod. “Not until I get tired.”

Satan tried to growl, but Lucifer’s nimble fingers were surely destroying his armpits right on the spot. However, Lucifer knew this certainly wasn’t Satan’s worst spot, he’d seen his other brothers tickling each other hundreds of times before to know each and every of their spots.

“Last chance, Satan,” Lucifer warned, his fingers nestling against the hollows of Satan’s armpits, rubbing deep circles that nearly made Satan bang his forehead against the wooden floor. “Will you help me out?”

Satan shook his head. “N-Neahahaha! Never, dahahahammit!”

“Very well.”

Lucifer was thankful the walls of his office were soundproof, because the scream that left Satan’s mouth could be misinterpreted by a scream from someone being killed, but Lucifer had simply sunk his fingertips against Satan's ribs, clawing at the bones and in the spaces between them.

“What’s this? Is this your secret spot?”

“I’LL KIHIHILL YOU!” Satan shrieked with hysterical laughter. “N-Nohahahat fuhuhucking thehehere!”

Satan threw his head back and he arched his back up, trying to escape from Lucifer’s hold against his ribs, but Lucifer’s fingers easily followed him, playing with each bone to find the one that would make Satan go ballistic.

It didn’t take long, the closer he got to the most sensitive ribs, Satan’s laughter became more hysterical and he desperately tried to get a hold of Lucifer’s hands to push them away.

Lucifer was a bit too surprised. He had seen Satan being tickled before, he had seen him laugh wholeheartedly as his other brothers wrecked him, but it was the first time he did it. It was the first time he tickled Satan to pieces and he really couldn’t help but think, (for the second time that night), that his little brother was, in fact, really cute.

“Fuck! Fuhuhuhuck, Lucifeheheher!” Lucifer thought Satan would split his spine in two as he arched up one more time when he felt the vibrations of those gloved fingers against his middle ribs. “I c-cahahahan’t! Not thehehehere!”

Lucifer arched his eyebrow, was Satan begging? Hmm… not quiet.

“Not here? I think this spot is very good, Satan. You’re laughing so much.” He felt awkward teasing Satan, but what is a punishment if you don’t make the other party feel inferior, right?

“I hahahahate you! Leheheheave!” Satan squeaked and Lucifer had to bark out a deep laugh at that.

“You know how to stop this, Satan."

Lucifer saw with amusement how Satan kept shaking his head, refusing to help him out. But Lucifer was rather patient when he wanted to be and his quick fingers weren't even tired of tickling Satan's ribs.

"Luhuhuhucifer! I fuhuhuhucking- hah!" Lucifer seriously laughed out loud when the funniest snort made Satan's nose vibrate. "Okay! Okahahahaha-

"Oh?" Lucifer had to move a little to see if his brother had actually died, but to his surprise, he was still laughing, but no sound was coming from his mouth.

Better hit the iron when it's hot.

"Satan? Are you ready to help me out with those copies?" Satan snorted and he quickly nodded. "You cannot take your word back, do you hear? I'll do this over again." Satan shook his head and Lucifer stopped when he saw his cheeks blushing brightly. "Good."

He stopped and easily lifted himself, finally letting Satan breathe.

"Okay, you can start picking up those papers since you're over there, Satan."

He heard Satan's laugher dying down, then his gasps, trying to catch his breath and lastly, his angry mumbles as he started to pick up all of those bitten and wet papers.

"I hate you."

"You let me know daily," Lucifer answered, a smirk on his face as he gently moved his chair away, the kitten still asleep even after all that screaming coming from Satan.

Lucifer felt Satan's eyes on him… actually, on the cat. Was he worried Lucifer was going to throw it out? He looked over at his brother and he bit the inside of his cheek. He'd never seen him so… messed up.

His hair was all over the place, his green sweater wrinkled and his shirt untucked from his pants. He wouldn't be surprised if he found out he had lost one of his shoes- oh, he did.

"Satan, put your shoe on and please get these copies."

Satan mumbled something under his breath, clicking away on Lucifer's computer as Lucifer signed the documents. Lucifer could barely believe Satan was being this good. Was he traumatized after being tickled by him?

Lucifer chuckled and Satan growled.

"You're not allowed to do that ever again, Lucifer."

"I let you choose. Next time help me out and you won't be tickled again," Lucifer said with a soft shrug and Satan cringed.

"What do you mean next time? I won't be helping you ever again! I don't-

"Listen, Satan," Lucifer started and he looked up when Satan didn't say a word. He let out a long sigh. "You can keep the cat. But only that one. Just one single cat. One. And I hope it doesn't come into my office ever again nor the kitchen, do you hear?"

Satan beamed and Lucifer narrowed his eyes when he saw the tiniest of smiles pulling at the corners of Satan's lips.

"What? Really?! You're not lying, are you?!"

Lucifer chuckled, shaking his head. "If you promise it won't cause trouble, then you can have it."

Lucifer raised an eyebrow, Satan was nearly vibrating with excitement and, perhaps, feeling that Satan was happy, the kitten climbed back to his shoulder and nuzzled against his neck, drawing more of those sweet giggles out of Satan.

Yes, his brother was definitely cute when he wanted to. But that's a secret Lucifer will keep to his grave.

[depressedhatakekakashi]

Dango Memories

Words: 2534

For @alumort

The summer sun shown down on Konoha, welcoming another beautiful day. A delightful sight that Gai was certain he would never grow tired of. The way the beams filtered in behind the Hokage’s monument onto all of the little shops and hounded down below.

On most days, Gai would be spending his morning doing laps or carrying out a new challenge to push himself past his physical limits. To become an even stronger shinobi.

Today, however, he was standing outside of the Hokage’s residence waiting for his students to return from receiving the results from their last attempt at the chunin exams.

Gai knew the outcome of course. He had his hand in vouching for each of his students' performance when asked by Tsunade-Sama and was ultimately told what to expect.

Not wanting to give away the results, he had informed his students of their meeting with a straight face. Forcing himself to keep his excitement down in front of his students hadn’t sat particularly well with him, so as soon as they disappeared into the Hokage’s residence he began celebrating to himself. Not a care in the world for whoever may see him on their morning walk.

“Dango,” he declared to the world around him. “I’ll treat them to dango as soon as they’re done. We can plan out a celebration worthy of their accomplishments while we enjoy a treat together.” It was the perfect plan. There was no doubt in his mind that his students would want to celebrate their new promotions. Even Neji would enjoy a treat in celebration before insisting he had more training to do.

Neji would also have more to prepare for compared to his teammates. Lee and Tenten would be chunin, capable of taking on more difficult missions, but Neji would be a Jonin. His responsibilities were increasing tenfold in one day.

From Genin to Jonin. Gai still couldn’t quite believe it.

“During the chunin exams, Njei showed he was ready and capable of leading his team through anything they faced,” Tsunade-sama explained as she held Neji’s file in front of her. “He led your team through danger to save Gaara and Fuu from unexpected danger and helped to protect them. Promoting him to Chunin is a no-brainer, but he’s ready to lead missions on his own.”

Leading missions. Gai had known Neji was ahead of his peers, but it all seemed so soon. Still, he was proud of his student's accompaniments and determined to make sure Neji was prepared for the new challenges that would face him as a Jonin.

After their celebration, of course.

“Sensei!” returning his attention to the present, Gai smiled when he saw Lee rushing out of the Hokage’s residence while waving his new chunin vest in the air over his head. “Sensei! We did it! We succeeded.” Coming to a stop directly in front of Gai, Lee held his vest in front of himself proudly.

“Idiot,” Tenten sighed, arriving behind him with her own vest in hand and Neji at her side. “Sensei already knows we got our promotion.”

“He does?” Lee blinked, staring up at Gai expectantly. “Is that true, Sensei?”

Pride swelled in his chest. Finally, after hours of keeping his joy hidden away from his students, he could open up and celebrate with them. With a proud smile, he extended his arms out and scooped up all three of his students into a crushing hug.

“Of course, I knew!” He declared with tears running down his cheeks like mini waterfalls. “I’m so proud of you all. Making it to chunin at the same time and Neji!” Releasing his hold on them, he took a step back and focused on the Hyuuga. “You excelled in the exams and proved yourself worthy of not only one promotion but two! I believe you’re the first shinobi in all of Konoha to manage such a feat!”

“I’m sure there are others who have accomplished more impressive feats, Sensei.” Although Neji spoke the truth, Gai couldn’t help but feel like he was downplaying his accomplishment. As if it wasn’t as impressive as others because he didn’t manage it younger, or with more flare.

It was unacceptable. Regardless of how old His students were when they secured their promotion, it was an accomplishment worth celebrating with pride and if Gai had to make up for Neji’s lack of excitement he would do so gladly.

“Dango,” he declared, turning his back to his students. “We’ll start our celebration with Dango.”

“Sensei, we still haven’t done our morning trading,” Neji protested, cringing when Gai glared back at him. “You’re going to carry me to the dango shop if I don’t go willingly, aren’t you?”

The image that came to mind was rather beautiful. Neji sat atop his shoulders as he walked through the village, hands covering his face in a poor attempt to hide from everyone they passed. If Gai was a curler man he would do it regardless. Perhaps he would even give each of his students a turn in the spotlight. None of their achievements in the chunin exams was to be ignored. He would gladly ensure the village knew how proud he was of them.

“Come on, Neji,” taking the lead, Lee began running in his spot. Pumping himself up. “We can race to the Dango shop to begin our day of training. After dango we will do five hundred push-ups and then a spar!”

“I think not,” Neji huffed, stepping in behind Gai as if it would protect him from Lee’s enthusiasm. “How about you run ahead and get us some seats.”

“Yosh!” placing his left hand against his forehead, Lee gave them a quick salute before running off ahead. Usually, Gai would join him for the run, always happy to give his legs a stretch and get his blood pumping. today, however, he chose to hang back.

“Not running off without us, Sensei?” Tenten inquired, sticking her tongue out at him when he glanced her way. “You don’t have to wait for us slowpokes you know.”

“I don’t mind having a slow day,” he assured her. “Just this once.” A nice slow walk through the village could be a beautiful thing once in a while. Lee would keep their seats for them while they enjoyed a stroll.

“I think I must be sick,” Tenten placed a hand against her forehead. “Neji, check my temperature for me? I don’t feel anything.” rather than indulging his teammate, Neji began to follow the path Lee had disappeared down just seconds ago. “Hey, Neji!”

Watching as Tenten took off after the Hyuuga, Gai chuckled to himself.

Three years ago he had been graced with a team of bright eyes students all determined to find their place in the world no matter what the cost. Well, perhaps ‘bright-eyed’ was not the best way to describe Neji, but hopeful still worked.

Each of them wanted to carve their own paths. Create a name for themselves regardless of the blockades attempting to prevent them from getting far. Gai’s job was to help them do that.

Standing here now, watching his students walk away from him, he couldn’t help but smile. His job was far from done, but his students had already turned out so much better than he could have ever hoped.

He could only hope he had prepared them for every cruel thing the world had to throw their way.

With Dango acquired, Gai claimed his seat beside Tenten and distributed the treats to his students. Each of them thanked him as they took their stick, but no one made any move to sink their teeth into the first ball of Dango. Even Lee, who loved the treat almost as much as Gai, held the stick in front of him as if waiting for something.

“This is just like-” Lee whispered, his eyes focused on the table between them.

“It is.” Neji agreed with the smallest hint of a smile on his face.

“Who would have thought,” Tenten sighed, twirling her stick of dango between her fingers. “The three of us here today with our new chunin jackets.” Plucking her flak vest off of the bench beside her, Tenten gave it a quick glance before discarding it once again. “As if I’m ever going to wear it.”

“Tenten, you shouldn’t dismiss it so easily,” Lee argued. “Not everyone is awarded a chunin’s vest. It should be worn with pride!”

Glancing down at his vest, Gai chuckled fondly. Pride was one reason he had always dawned his vest. An opportunity to remind everyone who had ever doubted him just how far he had come. A small way for him to rub it into his doubter’s faces.

“Pride can be shown in many ways, Lee,” he explained to his student. “Tenten doesn’t need to wear her vest to be proud of her accomplishments. She has scrolls she has poured her heart and soul into which display how far she has come in these three short years. Just as you have your jumpsuit.”

Bowing his head in apology, Lee apologized for his words swiftly. “I did not mean to insult anyone,” he assured his Sensei. “I just…everyone wears their chunin vest when they receive it. Do they not?”

“Not everyone,” Gai corrected him. “Kurenai has never been one to add the chunin vest to her fashion, and when we were younger…” laughter bubbled in his throat at the memory. “Well, my eternal rival could hardly fit into the vest when he first received it. It was only when he was given the designation of Jonin Sensei that he began to wear it.”

“Couldn’t fit it?” Neji repeated his words with a hint of confusion. “How…Sensei, how old was Kakashi-sensei when he became a Chunin?”

“Oh,” realizing he had failed to inform his students of all of Kakashi’s accomplishments, he scolded himself silently. Such achievements deserved to be heard by everyone. “Kakashi was six when he was granted his promotion to chunin.”

Lee flailed his arms so far back that he fell off of the chair with a yelp. Tenten dropped her stick of Dango, her mouth agape in shock. Neji for his part didn’t look as surprised as his teammates, but Gai couldn’t help but notice he seemed to be processing his Sensei’s words. Almost as if he couldn’t believe them.

“Six?” Tenten repeated, the word sounding strained. “When he was six!?”

“Suddenly my accomplishment doesn’t seem all that impressive,” Neji followed up, turning his attention down to the treatment he was holding. “Six. that’s ridiculous. How?”

“Well, the times were different then,” Gai shrugged. He understood that the rate his classmates and him had excelled at was due to circumstances more than actual skill. If they had not been in the middle of a war, perhaps they would have graduated at the same time as his students. A few more years of being kids were nothing to scoff at. There were many times in his life he had wished for a more peaceful life. It simply wasn’t something afforded to them. “During the third shinobi war, Konoha was losing shinobi at exponential rates. The need to fill those now empty spots pushed the village to promote children at younger ages. I would not hear about my rival's promotion and think that your accomplishment is anything to scoff at, Neji. it’s quite the contrary. My generation did not get something that yours did and you should be proud of that.”

“Something our generation got?” Lee straightened himself up and reclaimed his seat. “What is that, Sensei?”

A fond smile stretches across his lips as he thinks about it. Such innocent in his student's eyes when they look at him, no idea of the cruel world that still awaits them. “A childhood,” he answers with surprising ease. “Graduating at the age of twelve was something that we were not afforded the luxury of. Even though my rival's promotion is impressive, it also means he was out in the field at that age. Doing missions at an age you three were still able to enjoy yourselves, even just a little,” He wouldn’t dare call any of their lives easy, but difficulty in life was the norm for any shinobi, even before they received their Hitai-ate. “Anyways, none of that is the concern at this moment. We’re supposed to be celebrating your promotions, not dwelling on the past.”

There were a lot of things that Gai wished he could change about his childhood, but they were in the past. Memories he would rather forget about in favour of a brighter future.

“I guess you’re right, Sensei,” waving her stick around in front of her face, Tenten chuckled. “Chunin, us. Who would have thought.”

“And we’re celebrating it the same way we celebrated becoming an official team.” Lee pointed out before finally sinking his teeth into his dango.

“That’s true,” examining his treat, Neji smiled fondly. “We have changed a lot since then.”

Looking at the three of them now, sitting there in front of him, Gai couldn’t help but agree. Out of all of them, Neji had changed the most. He was no longer the arrogant kid obsessed with destiny and he had become a fantastic leader to his teammates. There was no doubt in Gai’s mind that he would be able to handle any challenge that came his way.

Lee had changed the least. Still as high strung and determined as the day the team was formed. The major difference was in his appearance. Three years ago Lee had sported a braid and an outfit much different from the green jumpsuit he now wore. It might be a little selfish, but Gai can’t help but think he looks better now. More proud of himself.

Tenten hadn’t changed as much as Neji, but she had learned more about herself than either of her teammates. She had found her skill in Fujitsu and expanded her love for weapons. Pushed herself harder than she would have ever thought she would, based on her attitude the first few training sessions the team had together. Although she still liked to complain about the difficulty of Gai’s training, she had learned to survive. Pushed herself to keep going even when her body screamed at her to stop.

Gai was always proud of his students. They were strong-willed and talented. Always becoming better than they were the day before. Still, sitting here in the little dango shop watching them chatter away about all of the new missions they would get and the things they would see, Gai couldn’t hel[p but feel that pride swelling up inside of his chest all over again. Stronger than ever before.

“You three have become fine shinobi,” he whispered, smiling when the three of them looked his way. “I can’t…come here!” Before any of them had an opportunity to escape, Gai scooped them up into a bone-crushing hug and allowed the tears of joy to flow freely. “My precious students, all grown up!”

“Not if you crush us to death, sensei.” Tenten’s protests were heard, but Gai ignored them in favor of prolonging the hug just a little bit longer.

[oddnub-eye]

hopefully this isn't to late and thus weird but dashboard osmosis thing. Arknights, tell me what i have taught you.

I AM VERY SORRY FOR THIS COMICALLY LATE ANSWER SIV

Anyway, here's what I know about Arknights

-Some kinda disease that makes you grow crystals (that functions really well as symbolism/depiction of ableism, or at least Leper Colonies)

-There's a character who rides a weaponized skateboard

-Catgirl Komeda or something

-You have like 8 blorbos/poor little meow meows (one of them being a literal meow meow by virtue of being a catperson)

-Lots of fucking animal people

-There was a horsegirl everyone was desperately horny for

- Despite the focus on animal people, there is only one true furry in the game, that Tiger girl named Wai Fuu. All the others are technically more likely to be classified as kemonomimi.

-Did I mention there was a horse everyone was horny for

-There's a character called Cutter

- IMMORTAL PENGUIN

-IMMORTAL PENGUIN

-IMORTAL PENGUIN

-There's a bunnygirl daughter character (or something)

-There's this bison kid

-Mudrock

-Either 4-5, 5-4, or 5-5 was an infamously hard and difficult level/node

-There might have been a Portugease-Man-Of-War character at some point?

-There may actually have been two horsegirls everyone was horny for.

And that is the extent of my Arknights knowledge

[bpro-cardstories]

Hikaru Osari SSR ーRequestー

2018 ー Power To Smile [笑顔にする力]

"Uhm, it’s really not a big deal, you know. The other day I happened to see a charity event where they raised money, but other than watching I couldn’t do anything.”

『Event: Heart Pounding! Happening VACATION (16th - 27th August 2018)』

Part 1

ーIn the waiting room.ー

Tsubasa: ‘Thank you for the recording. I will give you the materials for the next photoshoot.’ 

Kazuna: ‘Thanks. We’ll take a good look at them.’ 

Tsubasa: ‘Please do so.’ 

Mikado: ‘It is already next week, time sure flies fast. We need to think about what to do when we arrive.’ 

Momotaro: ‘Yeah, you’re right.’ 

Tsubasa: ‘Everyone somehow looks excited. What are you talking about?’

Kazuna: ‘It’s about the Hawaii trip this time.’ 

Momotaro: ‘Hikaru got the answers right in the quiz show last time, so everyone won a trip to Hawaii.’ 

Tsubasa: ‘That was amazing, wasn’t it. He won the first prize by solving the last question correctly.’ 

Tatsuhiro: ‘Yeah. That kind of thing is a first, right?’

Kazuna: ‘Yes. Outside of work, we didn’t have the opportunity to go on vacation together privately. We need to thank Hikaru for it.’ 

Mikado: ‘Yes, I am looking forward to it. And I was talking about the trip while looking up the information on Hawaii that I gathered.’ 

Tsubasa: ‘I understand now.’

Tatsuhiro: ‘Speaking of Hikaru, he said that he wants a new swimsuit to wear for Hawaii.’ 

Hikaru: ‘…..’

Tatsuhiro: ‘Hey, what’s wrong?’

Hikaru: ‘Eh? Aah, sorry! I was in a daze just now.’ 

Momotaro: ‘Did something happen?’

Hikaru: ‘No, it’s not that something happened…..’

Tsubasa: ‘If it is fine, would you want to speak about it?’

Hikaru: ‘Uhm, it’s really not a big deal, you know. The other day I happened to see a charity event where they raised money, but other than watching I couldn’t do anything.’

Hikaru: ‘Ever since then I’ve been thinking about what more I can do for people that has a lasting effect. It’s all I've done since that day, but nothing comes to mind.’ 

Kazuna: ‘I see. That’s why you’ve been absent-minded.’

Mikado: ‘Hikarun, that matter is a very important one I think, but if you think too much about it, then you become stubborn and good ideas can not enter.’ 

Tatsuhiro: ‘He’s right. Let your head rest a bit. The Hawaii trip is perfect for this.’ 

Hikaru: ‘Yep, you’re right! If I can refresh on this trip, then maybe some good thoughts pop up!’

Kazuna: ‘Speaking of which, I looked it up yesterday. It looks like there’s a big shopping mall near the beach we’ll be going to.’ 

Tatsuhiro: ‘If so, then you probably can buy a swimsuit there, too.’ 

Hikaru: ‘That sounds great! I’m so excited, there seem to be patterns that are unique to Hawaii~!’

Hikaru: ‘Alright, I’ll buy a swimsuit, swim a lot in the ocean and relax both my body and mind!’ 

(Something you can do yourself, huh….. I hope Hikaru-kun can get something out of this trip.)

Part 2

ーIn Hawaii.ー

Hikaru: ‘Hmm….. Which one should I take…..’

Tatsuhiro: ‘Hikaru, did you still not decide?’

Hikaru: ‘Yeah, I haven't yet! Peachan, which one is better, the blue or pink swimsuit?’

Momotaro: ‘….. The coloured one is the blue swimsuit, and the patterned one is the pink one.’

Hikaru: ‘Yeah, exactly! Both are hard to discard~. I beg you, everyone! Decide for me which to go with! Majority vote, please!’

Mikado: ‘When we exclude Hikarun and Tsubasa-san, four people are left, so there is no majority vote.’

Momotaro: ‘….. I abstain from voting. I also can’t decide which one is better.’ 

Mikado: ‘Good, then me, leader and Tatsu-dono will be the majority vote! I go with the pink swimsuit.’

Kazuna: ‘For me it’s the blue one, I guess.’

Tatsuhiro: ‘It’s the pink one for me.’

Momotaro: ‘Two against one for the pink swimsuit.’ 

Hikaru: ‘Okay! Then it’s the pink one! Thanks for deciding in my stead!’ _______

Hikaru: ‘I’m so happy that I could buy a swimsuit I like~! Ah, since we’re already here, why not take a look in the mall a bit? I spotted an unusual store earlier…..’

Hikaru: ‘Ngh,  wahwah!?’

Foreign Tourist: ‘Ouuh!?’

Tsubasa: ‘Hikaru-kun!?’

Hikaru: ‘Ah, I have chocolate ice cream all over my clothes….. ‘

(How terrible, it was the moment when he bumped into the tourist who had ice cream with him….. )

Tsubasa: ‘Please wait a moment! I will give you something to wipe, uhm, the handkerchief…..’

Hikaru: ‘Tsubasa-chan, it’s alright! I can wash this amount off, everything’s fine!’

Tsubasa: ‘Eh, but….. ‘

Hikaru: ‘Ah, the person I bumped into also has ice cream on his clothes!’

Hikaru: ‘Well, in such a case, you can say “sorry”….. With the translation app, but you can’t say anything more difficult.’

Momotaro: ‘What is Hikaru doing?’

Mikado: ‘He is trying to tell the person who he bumped into something. Let me see….. ‘

Mikado: ‘ “If you put the clothes into hot water, then the chocolate ice cream won’t stain too much.”, he says. I see.’ 

Foreign Tourist: ‘Ooh! Thank you!’

Hikaru: ‘Yes, yes! No problem!’* 

Kazuna: ‘A-Amazing….. It looks like a friendship sprung from the passionate handshake between Hikaru and the tourist.’ 

Hikaru: ‘Fuu~, I’m glad I could tell him~.’

Tsubasa: ‘Even though it was an unexpected matter, your handling of it was wonderful. Hikaru-kun, how amazing!’

Hikaru: ‘That’s only natural, if you ask me! I’m joking though ♪. Since I have little brothers, it’s natural that I know about methods to remove stains and have mastered that skill.’ 

Tsubasa: ‘I understand now.’

Tatsuhiro: ‘It will be crowded inside the mall, too, so why not go to the beach? Let’s come back here when it has calmed down a bit.’ 

Hikaru: ‘True! Alright, let’s go swimming!’

Hikaru: ‘….. Hm? Eeeh!?’

Kazuna: ‘Hikaru, what’s wrong?’

Hikaru: ‘The Japanese tourists we just passed were talking about how they couldn’t go into the ocean….. ‘

Tsubasa: ‘Eh?’

Part 3

Hikaru: ‘Haa~, playing that was super fun!’

Tatsuhiro: ‘Yeah, it wasn’t the beach, but the pool was fun as well in the end.’ 

Goshi: ‘Who would have thought that we’d be banned from swimming due to a mass outbreak of jellyfish.’

Hikaru: ‘So true! Well, it’s a bit of a pity, but the pool was fun, so the result is alright!’

Yuta: ‘The water slide was so cool! I wanted to slide more~!’

Kento (sighs): ‘Because my hair won’t be damaged by the salty sea breeze, I agreed to go to the pool, but to think that the water slide turned my bangs into a mess…..

Yuta: ‘Kenken, it’s impossible to maintain the shape of your bangs in the water slide~.’ 

Goshi: ‘Geez, you really don't know when to stop even when at the pool.’

Kento: ‘Be quiet. I was thinking of simply idling at the poolside, but Yuta forced me to come to the water slide.’ 

Tsubasa: ‘I am glad, you all seemed to have enjoyed yourself, everyone.’ 

Hikaru: ‘Yep, it just happened without much thinking~!’

Tatsuhiro: ‘Now that you mentioned it, Hikaru, weren’t you playing with a foreign child in the pool earlier?’

Yuta: ‘Ah, I also saw that! You both were super excited and hit it off well! That child isn’t perhaps Hikarun’s acquaintance, right?’

Hikaru: ‘Nope, not at all. We only came to know each other at that moment.’

Kento (surprised): ‘Even though you didn’t understand the language, you got along that well.’ 

Hikaru: ‘It’s all about the feelings here! If you can convey that it’s fun, then words aren’t needed, are they? The rest you do with body language!’

Yuta: ‘Nothing less expected of Hikarun!’

Tatsuhiro: ‘Since Hikaru has a lot of younger siblings, he might just be used to it.’ 

Kento: ‘Even at the handshake event children often lined up for Hikaru, that’s probably because of that.’ 

Hikaru: ‘Hmm, I don’t really understand it myself, but that might be the reason?’ 

Yuta: ‘Ah, there’s a beach volleyball court over there! Let’s go check it out!’

Kento: ‘Definitely no. I’ll get sunburned.’

Goshi (sighs): ‘Not to mention, you’re still in the mood to play?’

Yuta: ‘We’re already here in Hawaii, so even if we can’t go into the ocean, it’s a waste to not fully enjoy the beach! Come on, Gochin, Kenken~!’

Goshi: ‘Uohh! Don’t push me, Ashu!’

Kenken: ‘Wait. You really want to go?’

Yuta: ‘Of course! Let’s go ♪.’

Yuta: ‘Tsubasa-chan, come with us!’

Tsubasa: ‘Ah, uhm, I…..’

(Since Hawaii's schedule was hard, I rather want to take a small break…..) 

Hikaru: ‘…..’

Tatsuhiro: ‘Hikaru, what about you?’

Hikaru: ‘Maybe I should take a break~. I used up too much stamina in the pool. I’ll rest over there under the parasol. Tsubasa-chan, will you come with me?’

Tsubasa: ‘Ah, yes.’

Yuta: ‘Nomecchi!’

Tatsuhiro: ‘Alright. Then I’ll go with those three and tell them about it.’

Hikaru: ‘Thanks, Tatsu!’

Hikaru: ‘Okay, shall we go, Tsubasa-chan!’

Tsubasa: ‘Yes!’

(….. Huh? Hikaru-kun seems to look fine?)

Part 4

Hikaru: ‘Fuu~, I played a bit too much.’

Tsubasa: ‘Are you fine not going to play with everyone?’

Hikaru: ‘Yep! Tsubasa-chan, you’re tired, right? I’ll also take a short rest!’

(Was Hikaru-kun maybe worried about me…..?)

Tsubasa: ‘I am sorry. I made you accompany me.’

Hikaru: ‘Wrong, wrong! I really wanted to rest! Don’t worry about that.’

Tsubasa: ‘Hikaru-kun…..’

Hikaru: ‘And you know, I became used to resting under the parasol like this~! Doesn’t it feel like we’re celebrities?’

Tsubasa: ‘Fufu, you are right. In movies as well, you see scenes where celebrities sleep in a beach chair.’

Hikaru: ‘Yeah, that! My dream came true!’

Hikaru: ‘Say, are you enjoying Hawaii, Tsubasa-chan?’

Tsubasa: ‘Of course. It is thanks to Hikaru-kun that I am also able to enjoy Hawaii in this way. Thank you very much!’

Hikaru: ‘No way, I only won the quiz show by chance. I didn’t do anything.’ 

Tsubasa: ‘No, I did mean the quiz show, but it is also because of Hikaru-kun’s cheerfulness that I am enjoying this Hawaii trip.’

Hikaru: ‘Hehe, I see!’

Tsubasa: ‘Hawaii really is a wonderful place. Both the scenery and the food are superb.’

Hikaru: ‘Yep, Hawaii sure is great!’

Hikaru: ‘I was thinking that if I give my family an overseas trip someday, Hawaii might be a good choice. They’ll probably be impressed by the different scenery and food compared to Japan.’ 

Tsubasa: ‘That sounds lovely. You always think about your family and respect them a lot.’ 

Hikaru (blushes): ‘Hehe, thanks!’

Hikaru: ‘…..’

Hikaru: ‘This is about the charity event from the other day. Until now, the source of me being able to give my best as an idol was that I had to work hard as the backbone for my family. Seeing that event, I thought that I need to have a broader perspective and want to cheer up even more people.’

Hikaru: ‘Just as I thought, isn’t it delightful to see everyone smiling!’

Tsubasa: ‘Hikaru-kun…..’

Hikaru: ‘As an idol standing in front of people I have ways to communicate with everyone more than normal people, so it would be a waste to not use this asset! ….. That’s what I think, but how I should do it, I don’t know.’ 

(A method only Hikaru-kun can manage…..)

Tsubasa: ‘Uhm, how about thinking in a more simpler way?’

Hikaru: ‘A more simpler way?’

Part 5

Hikaru: ‘Think simpler….. Hmm?’

Tsubasa: ‘On this trip, you bumped into a foreign tourist and got ice cream on your clothes, but in the end you shaked hands together with a smile. It was clear that the child Hikaru-kun played with in the pool had a lot of fun.’

Tsubasa: ‘Hikaru-kun was worried about me being tired and even brought me to this parasol to sit under. That made me very happy. When being with Hikaru-kun everyone smiles. I think Hikaru-kun possesses the power to make people smile.’   

Hikaru: ‘I make everyone smile….. I didn’t come to think about this at all.’

Tsubasa: ‘That is fine I think. You do not need to do something for someone’s sake, it is fine if you do what you want to do little by little.’ 

Hikaru: ‘Do what I want to do, huh…..’

Hikaru: I see, it looks like I was thinking too much about it. I will do my best as I always did! Thanks, Tsubasa-chan!’

Tsubasa: ‘No, I am happy I could help you.’

Hikaru: ‘Tsubasa-chan, too, if you are troubled, don’t hold back and say so!’

Hikaru: ‘If I possess the power to make people smile, then I want to make Tsubasa-chan smile the most!’ 

Tsubasa: ‘Hikaru-kun…..’

Hikaru: ‘Let’s do our best together from now on as well!’

Tsubasa: ‘Yes! I will work even harder as your A&R!’

Hikaru: ‘Yeah!’

Tsubasa: ‘When I was talking with Hikaru-kun like this, my tiredness disappeared completely.’

Hikaru: ‘Really? Then let’s join beach volleyball with the others!’

Tsubasa: ‘Sure!’

Hikaru: ‘Yay! First of all, let’s enjoy Hawaii and get in touch with the various people and things here! I want to absorb so many things on this trip and then go home!’ 

Hikaru: ‘Let’s go, Tsubasa-chan!’

Tsubasa: ‘Yes!’

(Hikaru-kun really is a caring and kind person…..)

END ____________________

* Hikaru actually says this in English. 

[ryukyuan-sunflower]

Response to the Moral Question of the MugenxFuu Romance

This is a full response to an anonymous ask I received: 

“Can I ask why you ship fuugen? Isn’t Fuu a minor and Mugen is 19.”

This is a rather...complex and loaded question. There’s multiple things to address but I’ll start simple and work up from there. I will first go into my personal feelings on why I ship the pairing, evidence, and then the more complicated concept of the character’s ages both in reality, as well as in the fictional anime. Hopefully it will alleviate some distress on the issue. If it doesn’t, and you consider the age gap morally unacceptable, then it might unfortunately serve to make Mugen out to be a morally questionable character, implied romance aside.

The Simple Question: Why do I ship it? 

I ship Mugen x Fuu because it’s implied canon by the creators.

I believe strongly, and have found and provided plenty of evidence in my numerous other posts that support my belief, that Mugen and Fuu were written to have romantic feelings for one another. These feelings were never addressed, acted upon, nor explicitly spelled out for viewers. But the subtle implications of their unsaid feelings added up, episode by episode. The interviews of Shinichiro Watanabe, Ayako Kawasumi and Ginpei Sato only solidify my interpretations and findings.

The actual anime aside, here are the links to my posts concerning the interviews, if you are interested.

-Shinichiro Watanabe about Mugen’s Character.

-Ayako Kawasumi and Ginpei Sato about Fuu’s Feelings for Mugen in the Roman Album.

I adore the entire cast of Samurai Champloo, as much as by themselves as I do as a trio. I love Jin just as much as Mugen and Fuu. However, I do not see any implication of Jin having romantic feelings with either of them. His romance is canonically with Shino and his role for Fuu feels more brotherly and fatherly to me.

Personally, I am not a “crack shipper”. I am not someone who typically likes two characters and pairs them off together for my own amusement. I have nothing against crack pairings, nor their shippers, but it is not my taste. I enjoy romances that have some type of evidence or backing behind it. So it is not as if I simply ship Mugen and Fuu because I like Mugen more than Jin.

If hypothetically, all the things that happened with Mugen and Fuu happened with Jin and Fuu—if Jin saved her constantly, if Jin and Fuu had strange, intimate moments like the wrist grab scene,  if Fuu jumped in the way to save Jin’s life, if Fuu cried for Jin seven times, if Fuu’s voice brought Jin back from death, if Jin gave up his sword for Fuu—well, I would not be a fan of the Mugen and Fuu ship. I’d be a fan of Jin and Fuu. 

But that is simply not how the anime was written. 

On that same note of liking an implied romance, I am not as interested in blatant romance stories either. Implied, subtle romance is so interesting because it leaves enough clues that one has to find themselves, and then you are able to make your own interpretations and “what if” scenarios surrounding it. This is why I enjoy the story types of, say, the Souls video game series and its related titles. (Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro). The story lines have to be figured out, and while there is evidence and clues dropped all over, nothing is ever specifically stated. But even so, we can come to solid conclusions that are difficult to disprove, but also never fully confirmed.

Samurai Champloo spells out very little for viewers. Example: Never does the anime state what island Mugen is from. We only know it’s in the Ryukyus. But based on historical evidence, and also symbolism in the show (the paantu and the trees in his flashback) we can assume it’s Tarama-shima or another island in Miyako.

Never do Mugen and Fuu state they have feelings for one another, but it’s in subtle dialogue, numerous times. Most blatant however, is when Sara tells Mugen “It’s as if you’ve never been loved by anyone.” and then Fuu proves her wrong by saving his life by throwing her own in the way, only seconds later.

Their actions fascinate me. Both Mugen and Fuu demonstrate self sacrificial behavior for each other, and show how much they care with actions rather than words. Most of all, I enjoy the romantic trope of “love leads to a character’s redemption.” Mugen’s feelings for Fuu is what redeems him from the sins of his past, and saves him from a life without meaning and only pain, anger and hatred. These aspects of his dark character are highlighted both by the dialogue of Mukuro in Episode 13 and Sara in Episode 21. Fuu being his redemption is also symbolized in her saving him on three separate occasions. The last incident, when she calls him back from death and the Paantu taking him away, is the most symbolic of his “redemption”.

Samurai Champloo is a direct response to the cynicism of Watanabe’s previous work, Cowboy Bebop. Where revenge and the past consumes Spike, ruining his future and love, Mugen is redeemed by love and is able to face his past and press on. 

Here is a fantastic article about the concept of Mugen’s love for Fuu being his redemption and also being a direct response to Cowboy Bebop. 

All of this aside, because of the second comment, I’m assuming that this isn’t necessarily what you were asking. 

“Isn’t Fuu a minor and Mugen is 19?” 

I’m guessing you’re implying that either the romantic pairing is impossible due to their age gap, or it’s morally wrong.

I was conflicted how to answer this, at first. I know this can be a triggering topic. So I decided on providing several explanations. I hope at least one answers the question properly, or at least sheds some light on the issue.

Either it will justify why there is nothing morally reprehensible about the Mugen x Fuu romance, or, it will unfortunately show that Mugen is morally questionable, depending on how the evidence is taken.

First, at 15, Fuu is not a minor in her time period. Second, Mugen is either 19 or 20 depending on the source.

Samurai Champloo is not set in one specific year of history, as the anime is not only anachronistic, it historically takes place in multiple years that could not coincide. In essence, Samurai Champloo is not one year, but “a chanpuru of one whole era.” This era is the Edo/Tokugawa era, which includes the years of 1603-1868.

In the Tokugawa Era, Fuu is considered an adult. She is a young adult, yes, but in the eyes of everyone, she is an adult. This is both historically accurate, and is also demonstrated numerous times in the anime. Fuu’s sexualization and her being seen in a romantic way is never frowned upon by any of the characters in the entire series.

Brief disclaimer: Nowhere in my love of the Fuugen pairing or fan interpretations of the characters’ futures, do I see any sort of sexual relationship between Mugen and Fuu developing when she is 15. After they part ways, is where I like to make my fan conclusions on them meeting again when she’s older.

I also want to clarify here and now, that I’m not a supporter of a 15 year old entering a romantic relationship of any kind, let alone a sexual one in real life. I think that teens should work on themselves and not get swept away by romance and sexuality, especially frivolously. It’s irresponsible and dangerous. But, it’s also unrealistic to believe all young people will never fall in love, whether it’s fake or real. If there happened to be a man who was 5 years older than a girl and the two did develop feelings for each other, I believe nothing should be pursued between them until they are both of age.

Adulthood in the Tokugawa Era

I want to first talk about the concept of Fuu being a minor. In short, she is not a minor in her time period.

To begin with reality first, the life expectancy hundreds of years ago was much lower than now. In Japan now, the average life expectancy is in the 80s. But hundreds of years ago, it was estimated to be about 50. Women in particular had the complication of fatality from childbirth. Led makeup, childbirth, and also STDs were a huge threat for courtesans of the time period as well. Many women died in their twenties.

As for the concept of ”adulthood”, the adult age of 18 only started in the Meiji Restoration (late 1800s- early 1900s) when Japan contacted the west and emulated its practices. The age of 18 being an adult nowadays is largely based on the setup of the education system. Whether 18 is too young or too old is a matter up for debate and varies country to country. 

Specifically, in the Tokugawa Era, the age of adulthood was considered when one entered puberty. This was generally 15 for a male and 12 for a female. 

Here is a link to the full article on the topic of the shifting coming of age, if you are interested.

In the case of aristocratic children, such as boys raised as samurai, the Genpuku ceremony that transitioned children to adults varied in age. During the early Tokugawa era, it was 15-17, while later into the Tokugawa era, during less civil unrest, the age dropped to as low as 13. At this age, these young men could then marry and were likely pressured to do so. Marriages in the Tokugawa Era were very different than nowadays as well. Many nobles and royalty had their daughters married off at young ages such as 8 years old.Though, the sexual nature of these relationships did not develop until the girl was likely of child bearing age, which was in the teens.

Taking the historical 12 year old age into account, Fuu being 15, is then already three years into adulthood. 

Fuu’s Depiction as a Woman in the Anime

In regards to Fuu’s maturity, she has no guardian, nor caretaker, which shows she is an independent adult making her own decisions. Yes, Mugen and Jin are her bodyguards, but they are not her legal guardians, because she does not need one. It is her who commands them and leads them. After they part ways, she is fifteen years old (perhaps a year older based on the time span of the anime) traveling the country alone.

She was forced to grow up very fast. Not only is she an orphan, but Fuu’s resourcefulness allows her to survive on her own. She tricks two complete strangers to escort her across Japan. But Fuu is fully functional as an adult, arguably more than Mugen or Jin in some ways. She works, fishes, cooks, sews, tends to wounds etc. Fuu is by no means innocent to mature situations either. She’s seen Mugen and Jin kill numerous people in front of her, which is traumatizing in itself.

In regards to Fuu’s sexualization,on separate occasions, there are bath scenes in the anime, showing Fuu partially nude. There are also scenes of her undressing. Morally correct or not, it is clear she was sexualized like many young anime females.

Aside from that, here are examples of male characters viewing Fuu as an adult woman, romantically or sexually.

Episode 3 and 4: Fuu is thrown in a brothel. While the legality of her being forced against her will just for the sake of paying off a debt is somewhat in question, the fact that she is 15 in a brothel is not. Brothels were not an undercover organization. It was completely legal in Tokugawa Japan, and Fuu being 15 as a courtesan was not illegal. When an ugly rodent man buys her, it’s served as comedy.

Episode 5: Fuu becomes a ukiyo-e model, the backwards beauty, for Moronobu Hishikawa, who was a real historical figure. This grown man, probably around Jin and Mugen’s age or maybe older, also is not considered a creep for his attraction to her. In fact, it’s not even considered wrong that he paints a nude picture of a 15 year old. Again, because she’s deemed a woman in this time period.

Episode 8: Nagamitsu, who is leagues older than Mugen and Jin, asks Fuu to become the “harem of his heart”. He is attracted to her, sees her as a younger version of his wife when he first met her, and even asks her on a date, to which she accepts. This entire interaction is played off as comedy, and not that he’s some creepy grown man attracted to a minor. More like, he’s a bumbling buffoon. His two sidekicks, the beatboxer and Ogura do not intervene, nor make a comment that it’s wrong he is interested in a 15 year old when he’s in thirties or forties. Because quite simply, in this time period, it’s not wrong.

Episode 16: Okuru tells Fuu that “a woman with a healthy appetite is a good woman” when she is devouring fish.

If you stand firm that it is still morally wrong and all these characters were creeps for being interested or saying these words to a 15 year old, that is fine. If you think it is morally wrong to ship Mugen and Fuu because of the age gap, and refuse to believe that the two are an implied romance, that is fine too. I can’t convince everyone.

However, I will make the counter argument then, that liking Mugen as a character means liking a morally questionable character. Romance and feelings aside, the reason for this is simply how he treats and talks to Fuu.

Mugen’s Questionable Dialogue to Fuu

If shipping them is wrong, then what Mugen directly says and does to Fuu is just as wrong. In my opinion, it makes it weirder if he doesn’t develop feelings for her.

Episode 2: In the original Japanese dub, Mugen tells an unconscious, intoxicated Fuu that he’s going to rape her. “Okasu kureru” is the dialogue.

The English changes this to “Let’s strip her and dump her.”

Episode 11: When Fuu asks why Jin needs to go see a woman when she’s around, Mugen then responds “Because you’re flat chested”, not to be confused with “You’re a child.” When she says her kimono makes her look slender, Mugen calls her a liar and then says “Show me.” He asks Fuu to undress for him and show him her breasts...

Episode 20: Mugen stands up naked for Fuu in the hot spring even though she’s clearly flustered. Exposing oneself to a minor is an offense in the modern era. But he doesn’t stop there. He berates her, and then peeks his head out to look at her naked too.

All of these examples are meant as fluff and comedy too, no matter how offensive they can be. It also implies his attraction, interest and his consideration that she is indeed a woman. This is then furthered in his dialogue with Jin.

Episode 12: When they read Fuu’s diary, Mugen asks the odd question to Jin. “Man to man, what do you think of her?” This “man to man”, implies Mugen wants to know how Jin feels about Fuu as a woman.

As for a debatable canon example, I have the need to bring up the Samurai Champloo: Sidetracked video game on PS2. In Japanese, it is entirely voiced by the same cast as the anime: Kazuya Nakai, Ayako Kawasumi and Ginpei Sato. In English, Mugen is not Steve Blum, but Fuu and Jin are the same voice actors as the anime: Kari Whelgren and Kirk Thornton.

In it, Mugen develops an attraction to a girl who looks nearly identical to Fuu: brown hair in a ponytail, big brown eyes, pink kimono, three hairpin beads. The kicker is her name is Yuu. The even bigger kicker is that she is younger than Fuu.

Here are the links to the scenes. Japanese audio is much better, as a warning.

Link to English, Fuu catches them alone and tells Jin “I had no idea Mugen was a cradle robber!”

Link to Japanese: Fuu calls Mugen a “lolicon”.

When the girl asks “Do you like me? You can lie if you want.” he tells her:

Link to Japanese: “Suki da. Uso jane.”

Link to English: “I like you. I ain’t lyin’.”

And the two share a kiss, before she dies. Worth mentioning, Fuu also admits to being jealous about all this and a fortune teller tells Fuu that this is her “heart talking.”

While debatable canon, the video game still highlights this concept that Mugen will even like a girl younger than Fuu (anywhere from 12-14), so long as she resembles Fuu.

If we pretend for a moment that Fuu is indeed a minor in her time period, then that makes Mugen’s actions and comments out to be even worse. Not only is he a pervert, but he’s then a pervert flirting and making sexual comments about a ”minor”.

Underaged Girls and Age Gaps in Other Japanese Romances

If you still believe that there is something morally wrong, regardless of the time period it takes place in, I have more modern examples in media.

Modern Japanese shoujo manga and anime (shoujo being a genre directed at teenage girls) is rife with romance stories of older guys with younger girls. It’s not frowned upon in Japan, and even for its readers in the west.

I will give you some major examples I can think of, off the top of my head.

Inuyasha: Inuyasha and Kagome. Inuyasha is over 150 years old (not counting the other 50 years he was comatose). Yes, he ages slower as a half demon, but that is still 150 years of experience in life. Kagome meanwhile, is 15 years old and does not come from the Sengoku era. She’s from the modern era. If one wants to argue that Inuyasha doesn't count because every decade for him is one year, meaning he’s supposed to be “15 in human years”, then there is the matter of Miroku. Miroku is 18 years old, and fondles not only Kagome who is 15, but Sango who is 16. And he and Sango later become a romance.

Shugo Chara: Ikuto and Amu have an age gap of 17 and 12. While there is a love triangle element, it is debatable that Ikuto is more her true love interest in the manga. This takes place in the modern era.

Dengeki Daisy: Kurosaki and Teru have an age gap of 24 and 16. This also takes place in the modern era.

Incidentally, all of these aforementioned romances share some parallels to Mugen and Fuu in some way. Whether the guy is argumentative with the girl, a homeless wanderer, antagonist by nature, teasing about her lack of a figure, a bodyguard/protector role etc. 

These are just a few of the more pure Shoujo examples directed at young girls.This does not include age gaps between characters, or underaged girls in anime meant for men or adults in general. They can get far more morally questionable, in my honest opinion. Mugen and Fuu barely scratches a surface. There is clearly a cultural gap between Asia and the West and the concept of age gaps, regardless of one’s personal moral stance on the subject.

Mugen and Fuu’s Actual Age Gap and Maturity

In the Tokugawa Era, their age gap of 4 to 5 years is incredibly small. Even nowadays, that age gap is very small, if Fuu was a legal adult in modern times.

Tsuru-himegimi, the real daughter of Shogun Tsunayoshi was 8 years old when she was married to her husband Tsunanori of Kii, who was 12 years her senior.

As for the anime’s depiction of them, there was never a sense of “Fuu is child. Mugen is a man”. It always felt like the two were in a similar age bracket. 

I must ask the question, if Fuu or Mugen’s ages was never revealed, would it change the context of the story at all? If Fuu was older, would it change it? Personally, I don’t think so. In this case, because she is both physically developed and also deemed a woman in the anime and historically, it changes nothing.

Their interactions, their bickering, their attitudes, and the way Mugen yells at her, and the way Fuu reprimands him, it always felt like they were similar. They both exhibited many immature, innocent qualities, as well as adult qualities. It was Jin who had a more mature demeanor, being the calm, responsible one, who would rather not intervene with their nonsense. This is another reason why I see Jin as a father figure to Fuu: a representation of the samurai who smells of sunflowers that she did not have growing up.

These images here show their similarities in behavior quite well. And there are many more examples.

Conclusion

A good, well developed character is not a perfect one. There is no denying Mugen is flawed, morally questionable and sometimes straight out an antagonist. He steals, he kills, he was an ex-pirate who likely raided and pillaged… Realistically, he would have no qualms about being attracted or developing feelings for a woman who is 4 or 5 years his junior, let alone the other crazy stuff he’s done. Especially when, in their time period, there is nothing wrong about it at all.

Regardless if his morality is in question or not, what makes the implied romance so interesting is the fact that he didn’t act upon anything sexually with Fuu. His actions towards her were selfless, and Mugen developed greatly by the end. But because of his actions and words,and jealousy, it does not come off as simply a sibling or familial relationship that the two have. This differs from how Jin and Fuu interact.

Most importantly, Fuu serves as the catalyst for Mugen’s growth and redemption of his sins. Unlike Jin, Mugen saves Fuu time and and time again, making him her hero, despite being seemingly an ex-criminal that only works in self interest. Jin did not require this change, as he was always an honorable samurai from the start.

Both men found purpose for different reasons.

Mugen needed love.

Jin needed duty.

I think that covers everything. Well, unless your question is simply why do I ship them when the characters are young and I’m older than them.

As of the time of making this post, I am a 23 years old woman. The first time I ever set eyes on the anime, I was 8 or 9 years old. As a kid, I had my first innocent, childlike suspicion of a romance between them when Mugen first went to save Fuu from the “bad place”, being the brothel in episode 4 without any reason to, while Jin didn’t. Also, he saved her in Ep 1 and 2 and Jin didn’t.

The first time I got to watch the whole anime, I was 13 and saw the full story play out. And at that point, I was more convinced. Over the years, I rewatched, looked into a lot of the history and symbolism used in the anime, analyzed the episodes, and I became more convinced. I shipped it when I was Fuu’s age of 15. I shipped it when I was Mugen’s age of 19/20. And, I will likely continue to cherish the beautiful story of Samurai Champloo and the implied subtle romance of Mugen and Fuu for years to come.

Perhaps it is a reminder of the purity and innocent nature of love for me. These two did more for each other, cared more for each other, and were more entertaining with each other than so many cliche, blatant romance stories.

[cryingcow]

Character Story - Mine [RGGO]

I feel like i just wrote an entire MineDai pre-relationship fanfic with the word count on this >_< There’s a section in Mine’s wiki page about the “The Man Called Yoshitaka Mine” event. I’m pretty sure this takes place after that one, because Mine makes references to things Daigo said when they first met.

When it comes to idioms, I decided to leave in the ones that don’t sound too different from their English counterparts as is. The others I just tried to reword (it took a lot of googling to figure them out lol). Also, please note that anything I write before the chapter starts is shit I made up, don’t take them as facts XD

Story: Mine, Chairman of the Hakuho Clan, meets up with Sixth Chairman Dojima. He then goes out for drinks with his boss, loses him in a public toilet, and ends up saving the day with his inherent skepticism that Daigo could be sleeping with a woman (either because our boy Mine’s gaydar is on point, or he believes that the words “Daigo” and “get laid” could never occur in the same sentence).

Mine: (I wish I could be his friend so he could smile at me like that . . . but it seems I am fated to only know him as the Sixth Chairman . . .)

Daigo: “Hey Mine wanna get some drinks together?”

Mine: :O

.

CHAPTER 1

.

[Tojo Headquarters]

Driver: “Well, Chairman Mine. This is where you get off.”

Mine: “Ah.”

Mine: (Today’s my meeting with Chairman Dojima. Heh. I’ve really gotten far.)

Mine: “Hm? That’s . . .”

{Daigo walks by, talking to someone on the phone.}

Mine: “Is that Chairman Dojima? He seems to be on the phone with someone.”

Daigo: “Hahaha. It’s hard work. But I’m fine.”

Telephone voice: “But Daigo-san. Ever since becoming chairman, you’ve become a distant person!”

Daigo: “What, would you like to come visit the Tojo Headquarters next time? It’s full of yakuza . . .”

Telephone voice: “No way! Just treat me to some cabarets and soaplands!”

Daigo: “Idiot, use your own money! Ha ha ha!”

Mine: (. . . Is the other party on the phone a friend of Chairman Dojima? . . . From what I heard, Chairman Dojima was playing around with his friends in the city before he assumed the position of Sixth Chairman. Must be a friend from that time period. I thought he was strict, but it seems he can make that kind of expression . . . to a friend . . .)

Daigo: “Oh, Mine. You’re here.”

Mine: “It’s nice to meet you, Chairman.”

----

[Tojo HQ – Chairman’s Office]

Daigo: “. . . That’s all for today. Good luck from now on.”

Mine: “Yes. I will live up to your expectations.”

Mine: (By exchanging a cup with him, you entrust your life . . . It seems that I may only know this person as the Sixth Chairman . . .)

Daigo: “Hm? What is it, Mine? What’s wrong?”

Mine: “. . . no. It’s nothing. Excuse me.”

Daigo: “Really?”

Mine: (Now I have to fulfill my duties faithfully. To be Chairman Dojima’s . . . the Tojo Clan’s backbone.)

Daigo: “. . . Wait. Mine. Are you free tonight?”

Mine: “Tonight? I don’t have any plans . . .”

Daigo: “Then, do you want to go out for drinks?”

Mine: “Eh?”

Daigo: “It’s late, but consider it a celebration of the direct promotion of the Hakuho Clan. In addition, I’ve never had a drink with you yet.”

Mine: “. . .”

Daigo: “How about it? I know a good place.”

Mine: “. . . Yeah. I’ll be happy to.”

----

[Champion District]

Mine: (. . . no way. To receive an invitation from Chairman Dojima . . . I’m in trouble. What do I even talk about . . .)

{Off to the side, a thug and a yakuza are yelling and fighting.}

Mine: (Jeez. It’s a noisy town. The Chairman will arrive anytime now.)

{The thug and the yakuza keep fighting. The yakuza shoves the thug, and he bumps into Mine.}

Mine: “. . . ku!”

Thug: “What are you standing around there for!”

Mine: “. . . If you two are having a dispute, can you do it elsewhere?”

Thug: “We can have disputes wherever we want!”

Mine: “. . . You’re an eyesore. Scraps.”

Yakuza: “Scraps?”

Mine: “Yeah. Garbage. Messy trash dirtying the Chairman’s path. The Chairman will feel uncomfortable with guys like you around. Get lost now.”

Yakuza: “What part of it don’t you understand! We’re not going anywhere!”

Mine: “I guess it can’t be helped then. I’ll have to announce the Chairman’s arrival before he comes. Bring it on, scraps!”

{Mine takes care of the garbage.}

Mine: “Hn. Not so mouthy now.”

Daigo’s voice: “I think they’ve had enough, Mine.”

Mine: “Chairman Dojima . . .”

Daigo: “Did I keep you waiting?”

Mine: “No . . . I just arrived myself. Even so, a place like this? There’s a lot to be said about the location, the security . . .”

Daigo: “This is my favorite bar. When it comes to drinking, this is the best place.”

Mine: “Is that so . . . hm?”

Bodyguards: “. . .”

Daigo: “They’re coming along while we drink. Those guys are at work, don’t mind them.”

Mine: “I don’t have a problem. This is for the safety of Chairman Dojima.”

Mine: (Now, since I was invited, I have to be enthusiastic . . . It’s time to forget my daily duties and just enjoy myself tonight.)

----

[Bar that might be Shellac unless it’s just reused assets]

Daigo: “Fuu. I finally got a drink. I can’t do without this.”

Mine: “. . . Chairman Dojima, you seem tired. Are the Chairman’s duties difficult?”

Daigo: “Ah, it’s very hard. For days it seems I’ve done nothing but work.”

{A couple overhears and starts whispering near them. The woman wonders what Daigo is a chairman of, but the man says he’s probably no one important.}

Daigo: “. . .”

Mine: “. . .”

Daigo: “. . . Hey, Mine. Why are you calling me Chairman Dojima today? It’s too stiff.”

Mine: “Sorry. I didn’t realize. Then . . . Daigo-san. That’s what I’ll call you.”

Daigo: “Ah, that’s fine.”

Daigo: “You know . . . the Fourth Chairman Kiryu-san’s existence is far greater than I thought. It seems even among those who don’t openly oppose, many are still dissatisfied with my appointment as Sixth Chairman.”

Mine: (Kiryu Kazuma . . . his name will always come up when you talk with Daigo-san . . .)

Mine: “That person, Kiryu, to Daigo-san . . . is he like your aniki?”

Daigo: “Aniki? . . .That’s right, something like that. I can’t express it in one word. But family, no . . . he may be more than that.”

Mine: (More than family? Something that far?)

Daigo: “That person is now running an orphanage in Okinawa. There, he seems to be living in peace with his new family.”

Mine: “An orphanage . . .”

Daigo: “Life in Okinawa is the peace he finally got. I want to protect it, whatever happens . . .”

Mine: (For Daigo-san to declare as much . . . Kiryu Kazuma . . . must be quite the man.)

----

|2 hours later . . .|

Daigo: “Hahaha! Kanda’s face at the time must have been a masterpiece.”

Mine: “Yeah! Once my anger passed, I was amazed. He had a face like a sumo wrestler’s after I hit it.”

Daigo: “Ha-Hahaha! Su-Sumo wrestler-!”

Mine: (It seems he’s having fun. This is nice . . .)

Daigo: “By the way, Mine. Are you a private person? When it comes to friends . . .”

Mine: “Eh? Private? Me? . . . Hm? A phone?”

{A phone goes off with a notification.}

Daigo: “O-oh. It looks like I got . . . an email . . .”

Mine: “. . . !”

Mine: (What? Daigo-san’s face . . . is turning pale . . .)

Daigo: “. . .”

Mine: “What’s wrong?”

Daigo: “. . . N-no. It’s not a big deal. It’s my work email. Good grief, they must be bored. I don’t usually get emails at times like this.”

Bodyguards: “. . .”

Mine: (Daigo-san looks upset. Who did the email come from?)

.

-END-

.

CHAPTER 2

.

[Bar]

Daigo: “. . .”

Mine: (Daigo-san. Since that email arrived, he’s been acting strange. He keeps looking at the time, and acting like he doesn’t want to be here anymore. Who did that email come from?)

Mine: “. . . Um. Daigo-san, are you okay? Your complexion looks bad.”

Daigo: “No, it’s fine. I just feel a little sick.”

Mine: (Are you hiding something?)

{There’s a commotion outside. Two yakuza brothers are trying to enter the bar, but Bodyguard A says monkeys like them aren’t allowed inside. They get into a fight.}

Bodyguard B: “Sounds like trouble outside. I’ll go help.”

Mine: (Not again. It really is a noisy town.)

Daigo: “. . . Now’s my chance.”

Mine: “Eh?”

Daigo: “Mine, actually there’s something I need to tell you . . . I need to get out of here alone.”

Mine: “Get . . . out?”

Daigo: “Lately, my bodyguards have been hanging around all the time, and I’m getting sick of it. They even follow me to the toilet . . . I can’t even stretch out my wings. That’s why I want to be alone for once and take a break.”

Mine: (. . . he wants to be alone? What do I say to that?)

Mine: “By any chance . . . does the content of the email you received have something to do with this?”

Daigo: “! . . . No Mine, it’s not like that. As I said . . .”

Mine: (He keeps glancing around the place. What is it?)

Mine: “. . . understood.”

Daigo: “So you’ll let me go?!”

Mine: “Yeah. It’s likely you’ll still try to leave even if I say no. However . . . please let me accompany you. As your bodyguard.”

Daigo: “Wh-what? You too?”

Mine: “It is expected that as the Sixth Chairman, you cannot be walking around alone. ‘I will accompany you as a bodyguard’ . . . that’s the last oath your subordinates swear by.”

Daigo: “. . . Alright. Then come along with me. We should be able to get out through the back door.”

Mine: (Daigo-san’s expression when he received the email is no small matter . . . When it’s just the two of us outside, maybe then he’ll tell me what’s going on.)

Middle-aged Man: “. . .”

----

[Children’s Park]

Daigo: “Fuu. Somehow I found it.”

Mine: “. . . Daigo-san, what are you doing? You said you wanted to stretch out your wings.”

Daigo: “. . . Ah, that’s right . . . I felt like wanting to move my body somewhere.”

Mine: “If so, there’s a batting center nearby. How about that?”

Daigo: “A-Ah, that’s great! It’s been a while, I feel like hitting some balls!”

Mine: “. . . By the way, Daigo-san. About the email earlier . . .”

Daigo: “!”

Mine: “Are you hiding something from me? If you’re in trouble, I might be able to help.”

Daigo: “. . . . . . No, it’s a personal problem. It’s not something I should be telling you.”

Mine: “But . . .”

Daigo: “. . . . . . Mine, I understand your concern. From my position, it seems I am always threatened by danger to my person. I don’t know what or when it will happen. There’s no guarantee of tomorrow’s safety.”

Mine: “Daigo-san?”

Daigo: ��. . . No, it’s a long story. Don’t worry about it. Well, you said the batting center, right? It’s been a while. Mine, will you join me?”

Mine: “Yeah. I’ll take you up on that.”

Mine: (Daigo-san is still hiding something. But, why won’t he tell me?)

Daigo: “. . . Don’t get cold, Mine. I’m going to the toilet.”

Mine: “Understood. I’ll be standing guard right here in front, so take your time.”

Daigo: “I’ll be right back.”

{Daigo enters the public toilets. Mine takes his position by the exit. A few minutes pass.}

Mine: “. . . . . . . . . he’s taking his time . . . unless . . .”

{Mine rushes to the toilets.}

Mine: “Not here . . .! He’s gone! Did he go out through the window?! He took his chance the moment he was alone! Fuck, what do I do . . .”

----

[Children’s Park]

Bodyguard A: “Ah! You!”

Mine: “Tch! At a time like this . . . !”

Bodyguard A: “Where is Chairman Dojima?!”

Mine: “. . . I don’t know. I’m also looking for him.”

Bodyguard A: “You’re lying! Did you bring him outside?!”

Bodyguard B: “You, no way . . . did you plan to kidnap Chairman Dojima all along?”

Mine: “Kidnap? You idiot, why would I?”

Bodyguard B: “Until recently, you were a regular man. You might be a spy sent by an enemy organization.”

Mine: “That’s a stupid idea. Right now we need to-“

Bodyguard A: “Whatever. If you don’t plan on spitting out the Chairman’s whereabouts, would you like us to make you talk?!”

Mine: “Tch. I guess it can’t be helped.”

{Mine beats the shit out of Daigo’s bodyguards.}

Bodyguard A: “Fu . . . ck . . . so strong . . .”

Bodyguard B: “Stupid. We are the elite . . .”

Mine: “Fuck! Get out of the way! Daigo-san . . .”

----

[West Shichifuku Street]

Mine: “Not here . . . Where?!”

Barker: “Nii-san, Onee-chan, why not come have fun at our place?”

Mine: “A barker? No, not right . . . now . . . wait, are you always working in this area?”

Barker: “Eh? That’s correct, why?”

Mine: “Did a man in his mid-thirties with black hair, a black suit, and a good physique pass by here?”

Barker: “Yeah, he did.”

Mine: “What?! Do you know where he went?”

Barker: “Where he went . . . I think he took a taxi somewhere.”

Mine: “Taxi?”

Barker: “Yeah. He was joined by a young and beautiful Onee-chan.”

Mine: “Eh? O-Onee-chan?”

Bodyguard A: “So . . . a woman.”

Mine: “!”

Bodyguard B: “I thought he was acting funny when he received the email at the bar. That ‘I’ve done it’ face. It seems that he missed a promised meetup with the woman.”

Mine: “Then, Daigo-san wanted to be alone . . .”

Bodyguard A: “Because he has a secret rendezvous. With who, I don’t know.”

Mine: “Somehow found . . .”

Bodyguard A: “A bad boy is attractive to a woman. Besides his money and his status, he’s also handsome.”

Mine: “. . . he said he wanted to move his body . . .”

Bodyguard B: “Heh. It’s nice to have a great time.”

Bodyguard A: “It can’t be helped. You should call it a night. You had a hard time too.”

Mine: “Stupid . . .”

.

-END-

.

CHAPTER 3

.

[West Shichifuku Street]

Mine: “Did Daigo-san go somewhere in a taxi? And with a young woman?”

Bodyguard A: “Chairman Dojima is unmarried, has money, and he’s handsome. It’s no wonder he’s popular. Right now, he’s probably with a model or an actress.”

Bodyguard B: “He should be careful not to get involved in a scandal.”

Bodyguard A: “Now, let’s head back. You should go home too.”

Mine: “. . .”

----

Daigo: “. . .”

Thug Leader: “As promised, did you come alone?”

Daigo: “Yeah. My faithful subordinate tried to follow me, but I left without telling him where I went. I made him think I was secretly meeting with a woman.”

Thug Leader: “. . . Is that right. Did you bring the money?”

Daigo: “Yeah.”

{Daigo hands over a bag. The leader unzips it to reveal cash.}

Thug Leader: “. . . Everything seems to be here.”

Daigo: “Will you keep your end of the bargain?”

Thug Leader: “Yeah. Don’t lay a hand on Kiryu Kazuma. He’ll be living in peace in Okinawa from now on.”

Daigo: “. . .”

Thug Leader: “Even so, that Kiryu person must be really important to you.  . . . Is he your weak point?”

Daigo: “. . . What are you trying to say?”

Thug Leader: “It’s amazing that the Tojo Clan’s Sixth Chairman can be lured out over one person.”

Daigo: “What?”

Thug Leader: “You still don’t get it? I’m saying this time it’s your turn to be the hostage!! Stupid! The aim was to get you all alone from the very beginning! If we kidnap you, we’ll get far more ransom money!”

Daigo: “Fuck . . .”

Man’s voice: “So . . . it was all for Kiryu-san. I figured that would be the case.”

Daigo: “Mi-Mine?”

Mine: “Daigo-san, I had a hard time looking for you.”

Daigo: “Why are you here?”

Mine: “You think you can get away with such an obvious lie? . . . That barker, you paid him off.”

Daigo: “But he didn’t know about this place . . .”

Mine: “. . . Yeah. There are countless taxi companies in Kamurocho. Too many candidates to question where you went. And those guys won’t give out customer information, saying it’s ‘personal information’. So it couldn’t be helped. I had to resort to buying the taxis off. When that didn’t work, I bought off the taxi companies. When you become a stakeholder, you gain access to customers’ information.”

Daigo: “You did that for each company?”

Mine: “It took hundreds of millions. Heh. It was a huge expense.”

Daigo: “Mine . . . Why did you go so far . . . just for me?”

Mine: “. . . Daigo-san. I’ve shared a cup with you. That’s not something I take halfheartedly. I’m ready to sacrifice everything just for you. Forever and always. There are absolute bonds in the yakuza world . . . you taught me that.”

Daigo: “. . . Mine . . .”

Thug Leader: “O-Oi! Who are you to come barging in and interrupting us! I’ll kill you if you interfere!”

Daigo: “Kill him? You don’t seem to understand the situation. With this guy here, you’re the one who’s going to have a bad time.”

Thug Leader: “Ha?”

Daigo: “Mine here looks like a regular man . . . but don’t you know he’s actually really strong? I can trust him to have my back.”

Mine: “!”

Daigo: “. . . Mine. With you here, we can take on a hundred people.”

Mine: “Yeah. Let’s show them how we do things.”

Daigo: “Let’s go, Mine!”

Mine: “Yeah!”

{Mine and Daigo take down the whole gang.}

Thug Leader: “How . . . there are so many of us . . .”

Mine: “You . . . which organization are you with?!”

Thug Leader: “Guh! Th-That’s . . .”

Mine: “Answer me!!”

Thug Leader: “Ta-Takashima Family . . .”

Mine: “Takashima Family? As in ‘The Four Kings of Omi’ Takashima Family remnants? Chairman, what are you going to do? The Omi will want to hear this . . .”

Daigo: “. . . No, I won’t tell the Omi. Even with the conflict finally over, I don’t want to make needless waves over these excommunicated members. The police can handle them.”

Mine: “Is that so . . . . . . Daigo-san, will you finally tell me what’s going on this time?”

Daigo: “. . . Yeah. The thing is . . . I was being threatened before today.”

Mine: “Before?”

Daigo: “‘If you want to protect the peace of Kiryu Kazuma, pay the money. If you tell anyone, his peace will be lost.’ I got an email telling me where to go. Along with a stolen shot of Kiryu-san.”

Mine: “His peace . . . then that means they didn’t directly take Kiryu as a hostage, right?”

Daigo: “Yeah. If they did that, they would be in trouble. Their opponent is a legendary yakuza. However, there are many ways to ‘disturb the peace’.”

Mine: “So that’s why. And you’re Daigo-san. You wanted to protect him at all costs.”

Daigo: “. . . Yeah. I’ve secretly stationed a bodyguard around Kiryu-san. Just earlier, I received a photo of the bodyguard killed.”

Mine: “That’s the email you received at the bar . . .”

Daigo: “As soon as I saw that picture, I had to move.”

Mine: “Daigo-san, why didn’t you tell me this sooner? If you had, I would have been able to help.”

Daigo: “‘Someone is watching you’, the email said, so I couldn’t speak about it. In fact, there was a guy there at the bar watching us. And this is my personal problem. I didn’t want to get you involved.”

Mine: “That’s why . . . it’s unreasonable for you to act on your own. You are the Sixth Chairman of the Tojo Clan, an organization with hundreds of thousands of members in the East. I don’t know the Fourth Chairman or the Legendary Dragon, but acting alone to protect one individual . . .”

Daigo: “. . . It was unavoidable. Kiryu-san is a special person to me.”

Mine: “Which is more important, the clan or one person?”

Daigo: “! Th-That’s . . .”

Mine: “Before, you told me that the clan members are like your family. Isn’t that right? You’re giving priority to someone who’s not even a member of the clan. Are you not aware of that as the Chairman?”

Daigo: “Mine . . . you’re right. I’m sorry. I still have a long way to go.”

----

|A few days later . . .|

[Tojo HQ – Chairman’s Office]

Mine: “Eh? Me be the Headquarters’ Junior Head Assistant?”

Daigo: “Yeah. I’ve been looking for someone to be Junior Assistant.”

Mine: “. . .”

Daigo: “What? You don’t want to?”

Mine: “No, it’s just . . . the other day we had just been promoted to be a direct subsidiary of the clan. I haven’t raised any tribute since then.”

Daigo: “Didn’t you entrust your life to me? Did you not say you were prepared to sacrifice everything for me?”

Mine: “!”

Daigo: “. . . Mine. I realized something the other day. You . . . you’re the one I can trust with my back.”

Mine: “Daigo-san . . .”

Daigo: “In addition, there’s no one in the Tojo Clan now who can preach to me face-to-face besides Kashiwagi-san, Mine.”

Mine: “I might have gone a bit overboard . . .”

Daigo: “So what do you say? Will you accept it?”

Mine: “. . . Of course. I will be happy to accept it . . . Daigo-san.”

Daigo: “That’s great! I’m counting on you, Mine!”

----

[Tojo Headquarters]

Mine: (Junior Head Assistant. That was an unexpected harvest . . .)

Mine: (A man named Kiryu Kazuma. He’s a danger . . . I won’t let Daigo-san take such a reckless action again. I can’t leave that matter alone, as Daigo-san’s new Junior Assistant . . .)

.

-END-

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