#grown raz

[browngonzo888]

Who else would have done all his ink?

[psychonauts2000]

Pencil Timelapse

[angstandhappiness]

INTERESTING

new comic is done!! this one was a DOOZY and i changed my workflow like six times, but in the end i think it came together really nice! it's, uh, probably the last longer one i'm gonna do for a while, though :P

i'll probably add a little step-by-step in a reblog tomorrow. for now, catch the transcript under the cut!

Vanishing Act, over the intercom: So sorry I can't stay and watch you be devoured by pyro-sharks, but I've got my curtain call to make... and the audience are simply dying to see me. Ciao, agents! Or should I say... CHOW! AHAHAHAHAHA!

(Caught in one of Vanishing Act's villainous death traps, agents Zanotto and Aquato find themselves hanging by a thread in... "LOVE BITES!")

(sfx: Clink, clink)

Lili: Welp. At least now you've got an excuse to miss Franke and Kitty's wedding.

Raz: Oh, my GOD. I can't believe you're still going on about that.

Lili: I don't get why you're being so stubborn about it!

Raz: Because Kitty's a jerk and I hate her.

Lili: That's not true.

Raz: Yes it is! That cruise ship mission we went on, she left me to barf my guts out for like two hours!

Lili: Well maybe you shouldn't have eaten all that shrimp!

Raz: Well MAYBE I didn't know it was POISONED!

(sfx: clink, clink)

Lili: ...c'mon, Raz. That's not the only reason, is it?

Raz: I guess I just... I feel weird about it, y'know? It makes me think about us.

Lili: Wow. Way to make things all about you.

Raz: Oh, c'mon, you know that's not what I meant.

Lili: Well what do you mean?

Raz: It just... sometimes, I...

Raz: Relationships are - complicated, right? I'm happy for them, but it makes me think about our own relationship. And how there are... milestones, and - and certain expectations, and... and marriage is... well, it's...

(He sighs)

Raz: Ow.

(sfx: BONK)

Raz: There's give on my right wrist.

Lili: Can you pass it under?

Raz: One second...

Lili: Alright. Just gotta get my legs free...

Lili: Hey. D'you... want to get married?

Raz: ...no. No, and I feel - terrible about it.

Raz: Because I - because we don't have a traditional relationship. And I don't want to have that with you. I like how we are now. But then I see other people our age getting married, and it makes me worry that... that I'm letting you down, or not doing enough as your boyfriend, and that - that maybe you deserve someone who...

Lili: Raz?

Raz: Yeah?

Lili: I love you.

Raz: I love you too.

Lili: You're being stupid.

Raz: I know.

(sfx: paf)

Lili: ...listen. We should talk about this. But, uh, maybe not in the pyro shark death trap.

Raz: ...huh. Y'know, these are great whites. You can't keep them in a tank. They need the space of open water.

Raz: Which means I'll bet anything that this... leads to the ocean.

Lili: Then let's get a move on. We've got a party to crash.

[barrenclan]

I think people forget that, even though it's upsetting and sad, Asphodel needed to die to drive the story forward. Of course, you could have turned the story a bit differently, but it's like that with every story written... Asphodel just happened to be the character you picked (it worked out quite beautifully story-wise though). It's sad, it sucks, it makes you wish things could be different. That's the tragedy. Not only did someone die JUST as they were growing into themselves, but we also witnessed the "first(second?) death" of someone who has been established as 'good' and 'right.' Rain's character development isn't as dissimilar to Asphodel's as you might think. I do believe that if Dust had died earlier in the story Rain's and Asphodel's growth could have mirrored each other (Rain being bi and Asphodel being aroace).

Both of their TRUE stories (about self-growth, even if it contradicted everything they were taught) were killed by the circumstances of their lives.

If the great disaster never happened, If Wheatstar had tried to warn the other clans, If Barrenclan's ideals were beaten into every generation; If Rain had stayed with his clan, If, if, if, if, if, if... they could have grown together as people.

Guys, I am SO normal about these kitty cats and the effects of multigenerational trauma hahahaha I'm totally not writing an in-depth analysis about Rain and Asphodel hahahahahahhahah

(debating if killing mom was the first death or rain realizing he couldn't change his mother' and becoming passive at his sister's abuse. ofc you can say, what can a kid do? and the small community ideals didn't help either. But I could talk about Rain for hours so again: debatable 'first' death)

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I, and even Raz prob, wish things turned out differently. But don't be sad Asphodel died, be happy she lived. However short it was. Trust me, you'll go crazy if you keep thinking about how you wished things turned out differently (Which is OKAY to do!!! Just don't spiral ;v;). I'm sorry to everyone who knows the pain of loss in any form. It's hard to accept and it's not easy or simple. But that's life. I give you all a big hug. (I'm calling myself here too btw, as I am still struggling with different losses in my life)

Awh, what a lovely analysis! Many of the things I was thinking about while writing the story.

[psitaniumpsichosis]

The Mentallis Family Mistakes [P1]

Lili was so dizzy.

Her gaze was blurry and her hearing was muffled as she started to come to. There was someone leaning over her, but she could hardly understand them for a solid few seconds.

"..Hello? Helloooo? Are you okay?" The voice was becoming clearer the more conscious Lili became. Her eyes finally wrenched open, and there was indeed someone over her.

"Oh!" The man exclaimed. "You're awake! How do--" But, her fight or flight kicked in and he was punched square in the nose, cutting off with a splutter of pain as he was knocked backwards with all of his weight.

Lili sat bolt upright as her adrenaline kicked back in. She could remember the fight, breaking into Esther's house, finding the Deluginist activity-- how did she get here?

"WHERE AM I?!" She shouted, voice sharp and nervous. In her panic, she didn't recognize her surroundings-- surroundings she had grown up in. In front of her stood a woman that she took a moment to recognize...

"... Oh."

"Yeah."

It was herself, but older. That means the Deluginists.... They actually did it. They figured out time travel. Lili's heart sank as her older self reached down and offered her a hand. Hesitantly, she accepted it.

"You feel okay?" The older Lili asked as she hoisted the teen to her feet. "Other than my hand hurting, yeah." Lili answered simply.

She adjusted her clothes as she got back to her feet, pendant falling into place as she huffed and began dusting herself off.

"So. The future, huh?"

"Seems like it... Well, kinda."

"Kinda?"

Lili looked over, visibly confused and pausing to give her older self a weird look. The woman sighed, and pointed behind them with her thumb.

"Look for yourself."

Lili's gaze travelled in the direction of the woman's pointing, and it clicked. The man she had punched was Raz, sitting up holding his nose with a dejected mutter of pain.. next to him was her own Raz, dazed and on his hands and knees, holding his aching head as he looked toward them dizzily.

They looked so different. Key features from her Raz were missing from this man, and it was.. odd.

"... Lili?"

~~~

If you made it through that, great! Welcome to the Psychonauts MFM storyline! This is a semi-collaborative crossover with @doodle17, who owns the Future AU! I own the TTT au, which are the teenagers seen here :)!

Raz and Lili were investigating the Deluginist resurgence when they suddenly wound up fighting some strange masked psychics. Now, they're here-- not sure how to get home, and still recovering from their fight.

Watch as shenanigans ensue as two different timelines clash!

[mrprestto]

A small Raz HC:

Although Raz possesses a general dislike for most animals, there's a special grudge he has for seagulls in particular.

This is because he got mugged by some over a burger and fries.

He has grown to respect every animal except Seagulls in particular now.

[hans-hargan]

Voidgazer's childrens are all grown up!

I wasn't planning on showing it since it's still in the sketch stage and I wanted to wait to finish it, but as you know I can't keep my hands still.

Anyway, it's still a sketch, an initial idea that I'll add some small changes to later.

🌼🦁 Liam preferred to retain his humanity, his abnormally long arms are part of his mutation. Dandelion is his alias

🌘☁️ Cotton is now huge because he accepted his wild side, he is just like his father Sabretooth. He is known as Terrifier

AND

🏮♦️ Razvan.... Razvan is red haha. He can teleport like his father Nightcrawler, but it is through the Void, not only so quickly that it becomes imperceptible, Raz can also stay there and return whenever he wants. Raz looks more like his grandfather Azazel lol. He does not currently have an alias. Don't ask him what his middle name is.

[splendsay]

ACOTAR FF // Azriel x F!Reader // Shade Cerulean

ayoooo we got an introspective chapter. hope it makes you go huh...am I real?

..................................................................

..................................................................

Shade Cerulean // Chapter 4: What Dies in the Dark

!!MDNI!!

Chapters: 4/? Word Count: 10,630 Content Warnings: Explicit language, suicidal ideation Pairing: Azriel (ACOTAR) x Reader (You) Chapter Preview:

Your fight fades as days pass in this stupid fucking dungeon. 

This world has a sun as well as it has a moon, and the two exchange places in the sky on an interval not far off from the one you're used to. When the sun is high, more of the cell comes into clarity -- and it makes you feel ill. Eternally damp, caked in filth, and...lonely. You haven't been very good about counting the revolutions. But you know there have been several. 

It's too much. The time alone is beginning to haunt you. Your thoughts are disorganized. Jumbled. Hopeless. Too loud inside your head. 

Old memories resurface. Memories you'd spent years burying. Memories that crack through your marble heart and fill your veins with icy self-loathing and a deep, unrelenting sorrow. Your current failure holds a horrible, vivid mirror to all your imperfect past selves who taunt you in unison. 

Your mantra changes from stay alive to...nothing. Your mantra dies. Your thoughts linger on that word: die. 

Occasionally you'll get a flare of blind determination and think: you have to get home. You have to get home. 

But then your brain will start asking questions it already knows the answer to. Why did you jump? Because you're a fucking idiot. Why did you land here? Because you can't do anything right. Why are they keeping you locked away down here? Because you're not worth knowing. Not worth saving. 

Why, why, why, why?

You're always cold. Always. Your garments from home do little to offset the bleak dankness of this place. Your skin carries a coat of goosebumps at any given hour. Your teeth chatter relentlessly. Shivers wrack your body on a near constant basis. 

Your wrists and ankles ache from pulling against your bindings. The skin there is new and red and raw. 

Your chest feels unbearably tight. Like your lungs are actively clinging to your ribs, the bars of their cage, pleading to be set free. 

You're exhausted. Bone weary. 

But here you sit. Devoid of choice and at the mercy of your own consciousness. 

Two lovely, shadowy creatures do come down every now and again to feed and bathe you. And help you relieve yourself, to your perpetual dismay and humiliation. But they're gentle -- soft-spoken. You learn to look forward to their visits. Sometimes, if they can spare the time, they brush and braid your hair into two long plaits down your back to keep it out of your face, which is nice. You don't understand the kindness, but you appreciate it all the same. They've never spoken their names, but you get a sense that they're two halves of the same whole. They're wraith-like -- mysterious. They don't winnow in or use the iron door like the others -- they simply emerge from and fade back into the darkness. 

One of the sisters comes to see you a few times. The sharp-eyed one. Nesta, you learn. At first, you'd been wary -- what with her rigid posture and withering gaze and endless stream of clipped questions, but she's grown on you. She's curious about you, understandably, but you sense there's more to it than she's told you. Her visits are long. She doesn't offer you much information about herself, but you glean what you can from her mannerisms. You gather she's somewhat of a black sheep. Abrupt -- straight-forward -- and inquisitive. All qualities you admire. She's a lifeline to your sanity -- keeping you tethered to a world outside your own head.

..................................................................... Links to:

Spotify Playlist Full Fic

[doodle17]

ALRIGHT teenage raz headcannon feel free to smash that like button or disprove it in the comments:

In Psychonauts 2 if you use clairvoyance on Sasha it shows that he sees raz as a young him. So like what if now that raz is older Sasha no longer sees him as a young him but a YOUNG raz (who’s wearing like his jacket cause Sasha is well aware of the hero worship this boy had). Like if you used clairvoyance on him now he’d see a 10 year old raz wearing his jacket where there should be a 17 year old raz. The reason? It’s hard to accept that this (his) little boy is almost all grown up. I mean you try and watch a little boy with amazing powers and a love of learning grow up and NOT get attached.

Although considering what Sasha let raz get away with as a ten year old I don’t think it would really hinder him all that much.

Hollis: “why did you give razputin a solo mission to take down a mind control ring?!?”

Sasha: “I know he’s a little young but considering all he’s accomplished I know he can do it”

Hollis: “I know that! I meant why did you give him one when he has a school dance coming up? Mila and his mother wanted to pick out suits with him for his date.

Sasha: “He’s a little young to be dating isn’t he?”

Hollis:

Also it takes a village supremacy!!! Augustus and Donatello can be good parents and raz can still be unofficially adopted by like every agent he charms, let that boy collect parental figures like psy cards!

As he should. He deserves all the parents in the world

Anyways YES. This actually reminded me about I wanted draw everyone's clairvoyance of Raz in the future! One of them being Sashas, which is a little 10 year old boy looking up and smiling at him. Even when Raz is 20+ years old, he still can't help but see that excited little boy every once in awhile. AUGH the feels yall...

And yeah, this guy can totally take out an entire team of super villains. Just give him a coffee and some psi-pops and he'll be good 👍

[aquato-family-circus]

Otto Brain DLC. The tower of honey has grown ridiculously high on the third day. When the explosion from Otto's lab rocks through the valley, the tower starts swaying. In seconds, the first glasses fall. The threat of a honey flood and lots of shards in every place is imminent.

Cassie's bees stabilize the wall as best as they can along her telekinesis.

Present Aquato family members catch falling glasses and juggle them, putting them into neat, much smaller towers one after another.

Bob grows super-soft, springy moss on the floor while vines help stabilize the wall and pluck down teethering pots. Lucrecia subtly gives his plants places to grow with puddles.

Helmut catches stragglers with levitation from his hamster ball.

OH OTTO'S BRAIN DLC ITS BEEN A HOT MINUTE!!

I like everyone working together to save the honey!! Lucy & Bob working together to give his plants like, a better/more suitable enviroment TO grow in in the first place is especially inspired, it feels like such a no brainer for how their dynamic would work but I don't think it's ever really come up before?

This honey tower rescue is also good omnious time for them to all realize "oh that was an Explosion what happened?"

I feel like while Raz & Lili are actually doin the dang mind exploration there's probably a slowly growing crowd of folks going out to the landing pad to watch the lab smoke from a safe distance, including all the oldies who are eventually gonna round up w/ford to go help win Tha Big Boss Fight in Otto's head

[browngonzo888]

･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* All hail the pumpkin king! *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

[2hoothoots]

In all honesty, the funniest thing about this trio (lili/dogen/raz) is the context— like Lili is the daughter of the HEAD of the psychonauts, a prestigious line dating back to the founders, known for their capabilities with fern and then you have dogen who’s the son of another line of prestigious psychics concerning both ACTUAL MURDER and animal telepathy

And then you have like

Some fucking circus dude

Like Raz is a fucking prodigy in itself but from the outside view he is really just “some dude— oh wait, oh shit.” These bitches go to parties and take smug satisfaction in introducing local circus man who also saved the world

yeah, pretty much

(BUT ALSO joking aside this is kind of one of the reasons i think they thematically work so well as a trio! mini-essay under cut)

because that’s exactly it, right – Lili and Dogen both grew up immersed in this world. they’re part of it, part of the community, their families are intimately linked with the founding of the Psychonauts. Lili’s dad is the Grand Head, the boss of this organisation that Raz, meanwhile, is so desperate to join. because Raz is the outsider to all of this – he so badly wants to be a part of the action, the heroism, the community. (and also, sure, we find out in PN2 he technically has that family connection too – but he also has, uh, really good reasons not to make that public knowledge lol)

so many of Lili and Raz’s interactions in PN1 turn on the fact that Lili finds camp so routine as to be entirely boring, whereas Raz is so unashamedly passionate about everything. he’s so completely starry-eyed to get a glimpse into this world, and meet the heroes from his comic books – and his enthusiasm ends up being infectious! it’s what Lili needs to break out of her own apathy, and they start conspiring and arranging midnight rendezvous and going on this whole adventure together… and the rest is history.

i just really like how that setup – Lili and Dogen having grown up with the Psychonauts, Raz being an outsider – manifests in a unique dynamic for each of the pairs, y’know? i write Lili and Dogen as childhood friends. they’ve known each other the longest of the three, they have so many shared experiences, and i think on some level they understand each other the best because of how they’ve come from such similar places. Lili and Raz have this incredible shared passion, they hype each other up and feed each others’ senses of wonder and enthusiasm. and for Dogen and Raz – Raz is one of the only people who treats Dogen as just a person, first and foremost. he’s not cowed by his family’s reputation at all, he doesn’t have any of the baggage that so many people do when they hear the name “Boole”... it’s so unexpected and refreshing for Dogen that he can’t help getting attached!

(and not to get too deep, but it’s especially compelling to me when you consider how the game’s narrative around psychic powers is one that parallels neurodivergence, mental illness, trauma, and broad themes of “otherness”... it’s a thread i like to tease at sometimes around how communities can form, and things can bring people together and individuals can find each other and be seen in their shared experiences. it’s funny but it’s also sweet! it’s really sweet to me.)

[barrenclan]

HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!! IT IS TIME GAMERSSSS

omg daffy with the save!!! i guess she’s not really wrong, traveling herbs are basically superpowers, but THAT’S MY FAVE!!!

ooh no. him staying “still can’t half hear” makes me wonder if any hearing will return at all, but i guess that’s for the epilogues! but in any case getting more on blacknose after it all is always a win… happy she’s still ‘here’ in a sense.

OH SO NIGHTBERRY ISN’T STAYING BECAUSE OBLIGATION SHE’S JUST STAYING SO COOTSTORM ISN’T ALONE AND BECAUSE OF TRAVEL AND CYPRESSFOOT??? :(((( MAN!!!!! though technically nightberry.. probably doesn’t have long left, so cootstorm will still be on her lonesome. tbh even though i hate cootstorm i eagerly wait to see if we get an epilogue for her, just to dig into her mind during isolation…

MAGIC EYEBALL POWERS AOFJRKENEKEN NOOOOO

AYO!!! THE CHARACTER ARC!! LET’S GO PLUMSTRIPE!! i love how they start on ‘we’ but then goes back onto ‘i’, major props to plumstripe for taking that first step and moving beeface on to apologize too!!

agehehhh beeface’s apology :(( god god i am NOT GOING TO CRY OVER CAT COMIC TODAY NOOOOOO!!!

OH WOW DAFFY DOESN’T ACCEPT HER APOLOGY???? to be honest.. LETS GO DAFFY GO STAND YOUR GROUND AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE APOLOGY BUT DON’T FEEL PRESSURED TO ACCEPT IT!!!! i think a daffy near the start of this probably would have just said “i accept your apology” to just.. get it over with, but my girl has GROWN!!!!!!!! SHE IS COMFORTABLE IN HER OWN SKIN AND WILLING TO DEFEND HERSELF!!! LETS FUCKING GOOOOO!!! i don’t want to say 100% because i could be illiterate but daffy’s mentor relationship with beeface can probably be described as abusive?? so i am very proud of her for voicing what she needs and saying she wants to go no contact!!! and yes it is stupid to say i’m proud of a fictional kitty but I DON’T CARE !!! DAFFY I’VE SEEN YOU GROWWWWW

god i’m so curious as to what bee would’ve done if plum wasn’t there, but also i’m overjoyed plum stopped.. whatever was gonna happen. cain and abel more like slugpelt and rainhaze amrite??

YES TALK ABOUT YOUR EMOTIONS CHILDREN!!!! yess daffy!!!!! very happy with her realizations that she doesn’t need a mate and/or kits to be fulfilled, but even if she tries and it doesn’t work out she has people… that’s my girl!!!! there is so much love in her heart and it’s growing every day.. she’s been through so much and still she just loves her family and her friends and wants to share even more of it.. AGGGGG DAFFY YOU’RE SO GROWNNNNNN AGGEGGVV!!!!

i forgot this was the pinewing comic for a second my bad. blinded by my favorite. anyways yes this is so stupid but i love the reminder that he and corm are ‘official’ now. they’re in love hehehe!!!!

yesyes please visit guys

SPOOKY BRAIN MAGIC LMAOOO i hope even when pinewing visits she never stops calling the magic funny names. it’s so good

oh they’re gonna visit asphodelshine i guess i am crying.. i forget what blue borders mean are those imagination? she does also look so much older.. are those daffy’s imagined kits or are those the stillborns that came before them..?

OH THIS IS STILL GOING OKAY I’M BUCKLING BACK IN

WAIT WHEN DID SLUG BREAK A LEG????? was this because of south park raccoon’s chomping or???

NO SLUG NO WE GOTTA GET OUT OF HERE!!! DON’T LEAVE YOU BEHIND!! NO ROTTING!!

oh gawd pinewing just wants his mom what if i cried again.. don’t rot for the dead live for the.. living idk i’m trying to sound cool but i’m too emotional over kitty cat comic.

CORM HELLO

awggeghh his home isn’t this place it’s the people…

“this time you’ll have me” GAY!! GAY PEOPLE!!! OH WOW THEY’RE SO GAY. they’re so adorable raz i did not go here expecting one of the cutest couples in fiction hello??

HI STRANGER ALNELEBELEIEKEJE I THINK I MIGHT LOVE YOU OH KY GODBSKDNEKDJD LET’S GO FIND SOMEWHERE NEW!! THIS PANEL IS SO PRETTY!! RAHHHHHHHHHHH

i love this comic so much.. i cannot believe it is ending but at least we have funny gay people…

I am gonna miss getting your issue reactions so badly! What a journey it's been!! :,)

Pinewing is now permanently hard of hearing in his scarred ear, because Hacksaw was able to damage some of his inner ear as well as the outer skin.

Yeah, even if she wasn't super old and weary, Nightberry wouldn't want to leave her daughter behind in isolation like this. To her, she's already fulfilled her last duty - telling Pinewing about oracles - so she can rest a little easier now. Cootstorm does have an epilogue, and I am super excited to get to it. >:]

Plumstripe's been having her own little character arc in the background of the last ten-ish issues, and this is where it really comes to the forefront! She's a lot guiliter and more unsure than Beeface is, but she's okay with guiding the two of them. And yeah, it was important to me that Daff accepted the apology but didn't forgive! It's okay to not forgive your abusers, and still want to them to become better people at the same time.

So real for being blinded by Daffodilcloud, she is wonderful and should be appreciated at all times.

Someday, in the future, Daffodilcloud: hey Pinewing can you find lunch for us with your brain lasers?

Pinewing: alright,

Blue borders are hypotheticals/imagination, yes! Daff is imagining what it could have been like for Asphodelshine to be an aunt to her own kittens in the future that never was.

Slugpelt broke her leg when Deepdark kicked her!

At heart I'm just a big sap who wants things to work out okay. And I like telling stories about people who get to have love and keep surviving despite the hard things they go through. Thanks for reading. <3

[smug-wolf]

Grown Raz

[ask-from-razputin-aus]

Has mermaid raz ever grown to his huge size to protect the others from nightmare in the cave?

he's not hostile usually

[shiningwonderland]

Syo Kurusu (Repeat)

Translator: Raz (Twitter: agnadance)

Editor: Snail (Twitter: herbert_snail)

True Love Ending — Harmony of Tears

Syo-kun sang a cute pop song with all his might.

To be honest, I think he wanted to sing a cooler sounding song.

He suggested that I should make a song that takes advantage of his appearance and voice.

The things you want to do and what you are actually good at are different.

He said that if he was going to compete, he should try to meet everyone's expectations.

That's why the song he's singing is very much like him.

It's cute, but at the same time, stylish.

Female Student A: What's this? It's such a cute song, but I'm starting to cry.

Female Student B: Yeah, me too… This is such an amazing song… I feel happy just listening to it. 

Male Student A: That guy's a shorty, but he's amazing… I'm nowhere near as good as him.

Syo-kun is using this performance to proclaim with all his might that this is who he is.

That he's this charming.

He doesn't let on that he has a heart condition. He grabs people's hearts with his energetic singing and doesn't let them go.

Then…

Kaoru Kurusu: Syo-chan… This is the first time I've ever seen him like this… He’s… become strong…

It seems that Syo-kun's feelings have reached Kaoru-kun.

Syo Kurusu: Haa, haa, haa… Thank you for watching!

Syo-kun screams out after he finishes singing, out of breath.

At that moment…

Yeeeah! Shouts of joy and applause ring out and continue for some time.

Syo-kun walks over to where the other contestants are in the corner of the stage.

Without hesitation, I run to the stage and stand by his side to hold him up.

He should be in so much pain that he could fall over at any moment… but Syo-kun's smile never fades. He keeps standing where he is.

For the graduation audition, nine judges, including the principal, and the audience vote on who wins.

The nine judges give a score up to ten points each.

The audience votes on which student they think was the best, and the student that gets the most votes from the audience gets another ten points. Second place gets nine points, and it goes down to tenth place.

The person who gets the most points overall gets first place, becomes a new idol in the Shining Agency, then aims to become the top idol.

For the students who don't win first place, anyone that gets more than 85 points can still join the Shining Agency.

Furthermore, there are people from other agencies that come to watch our audition…

Even if we don't get into the Shining Agency, there's a chance that another agency would ask us to join them.

But I'm sure that Syo-kun wouldn't be satisfied unless he's number 1…

Syo-kun shined so brightly just now, so I'm sure it'll be fine. We can win…

Ryuya Hyuga: We’re ready to announce the results… The winner of this year's graduation audition is Syo Kurusu!

When his name is called, Syo makes a wide grin and lets go of my hand.

He takes in a deep breath and slowly walks to the center of the stage.

Ryuya Hyuga: You did great. You really put in your 100% into that song. 

Syo Kurusu: I am honored! Thank you very much!

Syo takes the trophy into his hands with utmost confidence that it's what he’s deserved all along.

Ryuya Hyuga: You've really grown, kid. You're not the kid that needs to be protected by somebody. You're a grown man who can protect someone with that strong back of yours.

When Hyuga-sensei makes a satisfied grin, tears well up in Syo-kun's eyes.

He must be feeling emotional from being praised by his hero he looks up to.

Shining Saotome: Once your body becomes healthy, you'll be perfect! Get properly cured, you hear?

Syo Kurusu: Roger!

After that, we immediately go to the classroom that has been designated as a break room.

Syo Kurusu: … Haa, haa, haa… Damn it, this needs to calm down… Ha, haa, haa, haa…

Syo-kun's heart is at its limit. He didn't stop smiling on stage, but he must've been in extreme pain.

Haruka Nanami: Let's take a break, okay?

I hug Syo-kun tightly.

Syo Kurusu: … Ha, ha… I'm being so uncool… We won so… I wanted to hug you to celebrate…

Haruka Nanami: Syo-kun…

Kaoru Kurusu: Syo-chan! So you are having an attack… Here, take this. Also, take this and this.

Kaoru-kun takes out medicine and a bottle of water from his bag and makes Syo-kun drink it.

Kaoru Kurusu: My word, you always push yourself too far, Syo-chan… I felt like I was watching your life shorten. Nonetheless… your song was great.

Haruka Nanami: Kaoru…kun?

Kaoru Kurusu: You've become stronger, Syo-chan. You aren't just putting a front anymore. You really have become strong.

Your song proved that to me.

But… if you go overboard and collapse again, that'll all be for nothing.

You've been an idiot ever since we were kids… Your personality hasn't changed even if you've become stronger.

Syo Kurusu: … Haa… Idiot… It takes one… to know one…

Kaoru Kurusu: You're in that much pain and that's all you got to say? You really are stupid…

I can't keep up with you. Go to the States or wherever.

Haruka Nanami: Kaoru-kun…

Kaoru Kurusu: Then… once your stupidity and heart both get cured, sing me a song again.

I believe with the way you are now, you will definitely be cured.

Syo Kurusu: Yeah… You can count on me… It's a promise.

He grins and passes out in my arms with a sigh of relief.

Haruka Nanami: Are you… absolutely sure?

Kaoru Kurusu: Yes. Even if he were to never undergo surgery, it doesn't seem that he'll give up trying to become an idol.

Even if I were to try to stop him, he'll do whatever it takes to get his way. If he's just going to collapse from pain every time, I would rather want him to get cured right away.

I didn't believe him at first, but now I have no more doubt in my mind that Syo-chan will survive…

Haruka Nanami: Yes, I think so too.

Kaoru Kurusu: I wanted to cure him myself… but as long as Syo-chan becomes healthy, I'm fine with anything. 

As for you, are you fine with being left alone? You care about Syo-chan just about as much as me… no, even more than me…

Haruka Nanami: I'll be fine. I can wait because I believe in him.

Kaoru Kurusu: I see… You're strong. You must be the reason why Syo-chan became strong, too. I'm a little jealous.

I'm going now. Tell Syo-chan congratulations for me after he wakes up.

Haruka Nanami: Yes, I will.

Kaoru-kun has given Syo-kun permission to go to the States.

Thank you.

Today, Syo-kun flies to the States.

Syo Kurusu: … It's time… I have to go. Don't cry when I'm not around to keep you company, okay?

He pats my head twice.

Haruka Nanami: Yes… I'll do my best.

I feel like I'll burst into tears at any moment…

But I know that would just cause trouble for Syo-kun… I hold back my tears by clenching my hand into a fist.

Syo-kun grins and lets go of my hand.

No. I don't want him to go.

That thought almost leaves my lips but I keep it inside.

Haruka Nanami: U-Um… Here's a charm for you…

My hands trembling, I give Syo a small bag containing a crystal.

Syo Kurusu: A charm? That’s so like you. Here, have this.

Syo-kun takes off his hat and places it on my head. 

Haruka Nanami:  Huh…?

Syo Kurusu: Think of this as me. It's like a charm, I guess.

Haruka Nanami: Thank you…

I shouldn't cry, but… I feel like my tears are going to overflow at any moment. I need to hold them in.

I need to see him off with a smile. Tears, please listen to me, don't fall…

Syo Kurusu: Don't get the wrong idea. I'm only lending this to you, got it? Give it back to me once I return.

Haruka Nanami: Okay.

So this is really goodbye…

Syo Kurusu: Don't give me that miserable look. Smile! I'm about to go on a new journey!

Haruka Nanami: … Okay.

I hold in my tears and force a smile.

Syo-kun smiles and embraces me tightly.

Syo Kurusu: Good! You're a great partner! … Or rather, should I call you my girlfriend? I get a little embarrassed at the thought, though…

He grabs my shoulders and looks at me in the eyes.

Syo Kurusu: Now that I think about it, I haven’t acted much like a real boyfriend to you yet…

Syo-kun pauses to think and then kisses me on the forehead.

Haruka Nanami: Syo…kun?

Syo Kurusu: Once I get back, I'll give you a proper kiss on the lips! Pray that my surgery will go well!

Haruka Nanami: Of course!

I nod, then Syo-kun flashes a satisfied smile and runs towards the gate.

Natsuki Shinomiya: He left.

Kaoru Kurusu: … Yeah. Syo-chan never drops his guard, does he? Oh well, that's just him being him.

Haruka Nanami: Shinomiya-san, Kaoru-kun… If you came, why didn't you say anything?

Kaoru Kurusu: We thought it would be bad to interrupt.

Nanami-san, you did your very best. You can cry now.

Haruka Nanami: But Syo-kun told me not to cry…

Natsuki Shinomiya: Yes, that's why today, you should part with your tears.

When Shinomiya-san rubs my head, my tears overflow.

I begin to bawl.

Several months pass with no message from Syo-kun.

I have texted him several times, but he has never replied, and he wouldn't pick up his calls.

I have no idea if he's doing well, or when the surgery is, or if he has been cured…

I know nothing at all. I want to see him and hear his voice. I'm just so, so lonely.

I promised him that I wouldn't cry, but there have been many times when my tears would almost overflow.

It'll be okay, I'm sure of it. Syo-kun will come back better than ever.

It'll be okay…

I've told myself that repeatedly and endured my anxiety. The only thing I can do is believe and wait for him…

Haruka Nanami: A text? … Syo-kun?

This is the first text I got from Syo-kun ever since he went to the States…

"The surgery was a success! I'll be back soon!"

The text is brief, which is very much like him.

Haruka Nanami: He's… coming back…

I'm so happy that tears almost fall from my eyes.

Soon after…

… A phone call?

Haruka Nanami: Yes? Hello? Who is this?

Syo Kurusu: Hey, it's me. Did you see my text? Sorry, I didn't have much battery left, so I couldn't type more than that.

That's why I'm calling you now through a public phone. Um… ahh, I can't word! A-Anyway, I'll be back!

Haruka Nanami: Syo-kun!

I haven't heard his voice in such a long time.

Syo Kurusu: … Sorry that I've taken so long to reply. I knew if I heard your voice, I’d want to go home as soon as possible… so I decided to wait until I was fully recovered before contacting you, but it took so long.

I just realized that I could've just sent you a text, too… Sorry. I'm actually at the airport right now. I'm about to get on the plane.

Haruka Nanami: Huh…? You mean you're at the Los Angeles airport?

Syo Kurusu: Yeah, I'll arrive at Narita in twelve hours. … Do you want to see me as soon as possible?

Select The Phrase!

1) 会いたい。I want to see you.

Syo Kurusu: I see! I'll be back as soon as possible! There's a flight that arrives a little before five o' clock, so wait at Narita for me!

Haruka Nanami: Okay! I'll be there, so come back soon!

I'll get to see Syo-kun in half a day's time. He's finally coming back!

2) 無理しなくていいよ。Don't push yourself.

Syo Kurusu: Huh? Don't you want to see me as soon as possible?

Haruka Nanami: Of course I do, but if something happens if you rush, I…

Syo Kurusu: What do you mean by that? Anyway, I'll reserve a flight, so go to Narita! I'll arrive just a little before five o' clock. Wait at the airport for me!

Haruka Nanami: Okay! I'll start preparing right now! I'll go as soon as possible!

I can finally see him… He'll be recovered and well!

I come to the airport two hours before Syo-kun's flight is about to arrive.

I couldn't wait any longer.

I'm so happy that I'll get to see Syo-kun today… I feel like I'm going to cry.

If I end up sobbing when he arrives, he'll surely berate me for crying…

Syo-kun… I want to see you soon.

As I watch the arrival gate, the people around me make an uproar. 

Haruka Nanami: What happened?

I become inexplicably anxious.

My gut instinct turns out to be right.

There is news that the plane that Syo-kun took crashed into the Pacific Ocean.

Haruka Nanami: No… Why? That can't be.

Why? The surgery went well…

We were going to spend so much time together…

And yet… there was a crash? This must be a mistake.

There's no way. Syo-kun, you must be okay, right?

I ask Syo-kun, wherever he is, as I tightly hug the hat he lent me.

…

No matter how many times I look at the news, the plane that crashed is still the same plane that Syo-kun boarded.

Even the follow-up news did not update that information.

There is no report whether or not there are survivors.

Even so, I kept praying. Please, save Syo-kun.

Please let me see him at least one more time.

He has tried so hard to get a chance at happiness. Don't let his life end here.

Haruka Nanami: It's because I told him that I want to see him as soon as possible…

If I just told him that he could take his time, or that he could board the next day, this wouldn't have happened…

Haruka Nanami: I'm so sorry…

The tears I have been holding back fall one by one, until they all start overflowing.

I promised him that I wouldn't cry.

And yet…

My tears soak his hat that I'm holding in my arms.

Haruka Nanami: Syo-kun…

Syo Kurusu: Did you call me?

Haruka Nanami: Huh…?

I raise my head and see Syo-kun before me.

Haruka Nanami: How…? Syo-kun, is that really you…?

I doubt what I'm seeing and for a moment, and think it's a dream.

Syo Kurusu: Of course it's me. I'm standing right here! Also, why are you crying? I forbade you from doing that.

Haruka Nanami: But your plane… It crashed… Why are you here?

Syo Kurusu: You told me to come as soon as possible! Someone canceled their seat on an earlier flight, so I switched over to that.

Haruka Nanami: … So you really are Syo-kun? You're not a ghost, right?

I reach out and touch his cheek.

He's warm. He really is alive.

He's alive and right in front of me.

Syo Kurusu: Don't kill me off! Also, stop crying! I won't go die and leave you behind!

He embraces me tightly.

Haruka Nanami: Okay.

Syo Kurusu: I told you that I'll protect you. You're such a crybaby. Have you started crying more easily when I haven't been around?

Haruka Nanami: Yes, that might be true… I've been very lonely. I wanted to see you as soon as possible.

Syo Kurusu: I wanted to see you too. I wanted to hug you this whole time. I felt like I was going to go crazy when I wasn't with you.

I've come to realize that I want and need you so badly. I'll keep holding onto you. I won't let anyone else touch you.

You're mine for the rest of your life! I'll be with you forever, and I want you to keep smiling beside me.

Haruka Nanami: Yes!

I smile and Syo-kun smiles back.

Syo Kurusu: Thank you, Haruka! I love you!

Haruka Nanami: Ah…

Syo's lips brush mine for a brief moment.

Syo Kurusu: Ah, hold on– I wasn't thinking! Redo! Give me one more chance! Haruka, I'm in love with you! I will make you happy, so be with me forever…

Haruka Nanami: Yes. I love you too, Syo-kun.

Syo-kun grins and leans in.

Syo Kurusu: Mm…

Haruka Nanami: Mm…

Unlike the kiss from a moment ago, this one is passionate.

Syo Kurusu: I love you. I'll be with you always!

We hug tightly once more.

After that, I work hard to support Syo-kun to achieve good results.

The principal gives us a pass and allows us to date each other as long as we keep our relationship a secret.

Now with a more physically resilient body, Syo-kun begins to incorporate more dancing while singing.

We still can't tell everyone that we're dating, but…

I'm happy just holding onto his warm, steadfast hand…

I want to be by his side as his partner for the rest of my life, forever and ever… for all of eternity…

I LOVE YOU!

Thank you for playing.

Fin.