#hiyori refs

[zepplinswraith]

[bluemoonzeph]

hiyori gave me big yandere vibes, for obvious reasons.

[starmagnets]

Halcandrans

[shu-shut-up]

I've mentioned on twitter I've been thinking about a Fifth Element!AU so...

[coal-cipher]

[ OMORI x Warrior Cats ]

More refs and some doodles (Willowrain is based off of Hiyori, who belongs to @ecstaticmari) (Flowermeadow, based off of @moog-enthusiast's Flower) (Spruceclaw, belongs to @melonbasil)

[inthedeepeclipse]

their superpower is green! (/ref)

Ok srsly green is the color that signifies health, renewal and luck. Its the contrasting color for both ibara and nagisa, and analogous for jun. its hiyori’s main color, though the one on the wiki leans more lime.

Why Eden is wearing green is the effect after the climax. Making a new world.

This time in Nagisa’s image instead of the Godfather’s?

I’m so excited for what this album holds!!! 4 solos means more exploration of their characters!

[datastate]

asu-agents body refs :P

ft. kai’s unfinished & faded tattoo! still on the fence whether or not i’ll keep it, but i think it’s a fascinating idea...

i know for certain that mr. chidouin & the hiyoris have tattoos (though midori’s is now permanently unfinished after alice ‘killed’ him); gashu may have one, but he isn’t asunaro-born in my interpretations ? though, this could simply be a case of having one to further that proof of allegiance.

i have specific ideas in mind for what each of them got tattoos of - but i’m going to wait on going in-depth abt that until i can finish drawing out the base templates of what their tattoos look like :P it’s really fun to figure out though!!

[best-underrated-anime]

Best Underrated Anime Group C Round 4: After the Rain vs Katana Maidens: Toji no Miko

#C1: After the Rain (Koi wa Ameagari no You ni)

Friendship over nostalgia for the past, and moving forward

#C4: Katana Maidens: Toji no Miko

Lesbians with swords

Details and poll under the cut!

#C1: After the Rain (Koi wa Ameagari no You ni)

Summary:

Akira Tachibana, a reserved high school student and former track runner, has not been able to race the same as she used to since she experienced a severe foot injury. And although she is regarded as attractive by her classmates, she is not interested in the boys around school.

While working part-time at the Garden Cafe, Akira begins to develop feelings for the manager—a 45-year-old man named Masami Kondou—despite the large age gap. Kondou shows genuine concern and kindness toward the customers of his restaurant, which, while viewed by others as soft or weak, draws Akira to him. Spending time together at the restaurant, they grow closer, which only strengthens her feelings. Weighed down by these uncertain emotions, Akira finally resolves to confess, but what will be the result?

Alternatively: The main girl works at a diner and misses being able to run. Main guy is the boss at the diner and misses writing.

Propaganda:

It feels like a lot of folks didn’t give this a fair chance because they thought it would be an age gap romance, when it really is more about friendship between the MCs. Don’t be turned off by the opening. It’s cute, but all from MG’s POV. The art is pretty, and Aimer’s “Ref: rain” is one of my favourite songs now, besides it being a beautiful ending theme. Depending on how old you are, you might relate more with one MC over the other.

Trigger Warnings: One-sided age gap. Depending on your views, MC’s friendship with her boss could be uncomfortable

#C4: Katana Maidens: Toji no Miko

Summary:

Throughout history, an elite group of shrine maidens known as "Toji" have saved the world from "Aratama," strange and malevolent beings bent on destroying humanity. In modern times, these warriors have been assigned to a special police squad to exterminate Aratama. The government has also set up five elite schools across the country to provide young girls the necessary sword fighting skills to eradicate these monsters and eventually join their fellow Toji in protecting the world.

A student of one of those five schools, Kanami Etou is chosen to represent Minoseki Academy in a sword fighting tournament, where she meets the mysterious Hiyori Juujou. Although Kanami and Hiyori rise to the top of the tournament, their battle takes an unexpected turn, throwing the world of the Toji into chaos. Likely that the Toji are facing betrayal from within, the two are forced to flee the tournament, clashing with former comrades on the way.

Propaganda:

The depth of this show was seriously mindblowing to me. For much of the series it was just a fun romp, with some pretty interesting twists and turns along the way. But as these characters develop, as the plot gets moving, it all comes together in the end. I have not seen a more concentrated concoction of doomed tragic yuri in my life.

Trigger Warnings: Child Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Self-Harm

When reblogging and adding your own propaganda, please tag me @best-underrated-anime so that I’ll be sure to see it.

If you want to criticize one of the shows above to give the one you’re rooting for an advantage, then do so constructively. I do not tolerate groundless hate or slander on this blog. If I catch you doing such a thing in the notes, be it in the tags or reblogs, I will block you.

Know one of the shows above and not satisfied with how it’s presented in this tournament? Just fill up this form with your revisions, and I’ll consider adapting those changes.

New: Starting round 5, screenshots will be included in the poll post. You can submit screenshots through the form linked above, or through here, via ask or dm.

Guidelines in submitting screenshots:

No NSFW or spoilery images.

Pick some good images please. Don’t send any blurry or pixelated ones.

You may send up to 9 screenshots, but not all may be used.

[akatsukiky]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[raisethe-velvet]

my list of things i’ve said i would draw but havent: 

actual refs for my oc enstars unit 

actual ref for my sona/self insert 

mermaid kanata 

magical girl hiyori 

gurokawa stuff 

some actual vent art to get my internalized rage out of my system 

[fuckyeahkagepro]

CONCLUSIONS re: Kagepro Ages issue + Hibi+Hiyo’s Ages

- in 2012 (May) Konoha’s State of the World TV screens  Hibiya Amamiya was “11″: (ALONG WITH) Hiyori, who canonically has ALWAYS had the “March” birthday, as soon as she was introduced with a birthday alongside Hibiya. which would place her on the YOUNGER END of their shared school year going by the Japanese school system* * THE JAPANESE SCHOOL SYSTEM * BEGINS IN APRIL (APRIL 1ST-2ND) * AND ENDS IN LATE MARCH. * HIYORI’S BIRTHDAY IS MARCH 3RD, * EARLY MARCH. * I.E. BEFORE THE SCHOOL YEAR FINISHES. order of Japanese school year w/this all in mind: April - Japanese school year begins -> August 14th-15th - main series canon happens -> November 4th - Hibiya’s birthday / he ages to 12 -> New Years - happens, YEAR CHANGES TO THE NEXT YEAR -> February 14th - Momo’s birthday / she ages chronologically to 16 from 15 -> March 3rd - Hiyori’s birthday / she ages (FINALLY) to 12 -> end of March - school year ends. ->

^ THAT IS VERY CLEARLY AN “11″ THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS IS SEEN AROUND 5 TIMES IN THE PV ON MULTIPLE SCREENS. * BOTH HIBIYA AND HIYORI GET THIS “11″. * IT IS CONFLICTING FOR HIYORI BECAUSE OF HER MARCH BIRTHDAY. * IT IS CHRONOLOGICALLY CORRECT FOR HIBIYA. - Hibiya says he is studying for Junior high school exams in “Talkers”, which would imply he’s entering Junior high the next year. - the grade before he’d enter Junior high implied is ‘6′th (ages 11~12*) - * real-world based setting. - this is the grade they’re in DURING MAIN CANON (6th). - 7th is the grade they enter POST-MAIN CANON, THE NEXT YEAR. - a Japanese 6th grader is equivalent to a US 1st-year middle schooler. - by the time they’re in 7th they’re 2nd-year middle schoolers. Talkers chapter 3 w/Hibiya and Ene: Hibiya: I-It’s not a misunderstanding! I really am thinking of taking the admission exam of a [Junior high] school from Tokyo and I’m getting ready for it! (later on): Hibiya: Well, about that… I gotta begin studying for the [Junior high] school admission exam (later on): Hibiya: Hn, looks like it… They (Hibiya’s parents) said, “if you want to take the [Junior high] school exam, try solving this mystery”. (later on): Ene: With this, they will allow you to take the exam! Hibiya: Yeah! Talkers chapter 9 later has:

Hibiya: Yeah… The new semester started and I met up with Hiyori at school.

”the entrance exam season is when students take intense and difficult examinations to CONTINUE ON to the higher school of their choice ” ”schools throughout the country will hold their examinations over a short period from late January through late February”* * this would be post-August 15th loops. * by then Hibiya would have ALREADY AGED REGARDLESS (from “11″ to “12″ on the first November 4th that occurs post-August 15th.) - in 2013 (January) Kagerou Daze Visual fanbook he was “(about   ? ) 10″. This was WAYYYYYY back in JANUARY 2013, and Hiyori was displayed with THE SAME, ALSO but HIBIYA CANNOT BE 10 IF HIYORI IS. because then that screws up BOTH of their ages, and especially HIYORI’S, ALONG WITH HER GRADE: 2013:

^ BTW KONOHA WAS STILL “?” HERE IN AGE TOO + DISPLAYED AS “HARUKA KOKONOSE”

^ THOSE SURE ARE QUESTION MARKS

^ 2016 “Perfect Guide” REUSES the 2013 profiles. MY SCAN. ”age” is the first line under Hiyori’s picture with the “10″ “?”. So unfortunately, they are NOT up to date, BUT it means their AGES AREN’T IN THESE PROFILES either. NOTE THE QUESTION MARK. @ayara-resara​ confirmed to me it means/implies “ about ? ” BASICALLY. it would make HIYORI CHRONOLOGICALLY YOUNGER,

IF THEY WERE THE SAME “10″ AGE AT START, NOT HIBIYA. AND WE KNOW FOR A FACT HIYORI IS NOT “ 9 ″. BECAUSE OF THE KONOHA’S STATE OF THE WORLD TV SCREENS IN WHICH BOTH WERE ”11″ - in the Summer 2012 Children Record booklet they had NO AGES SEEN: ONLY STILL THE BIRTHDAYS (CIRCLED, IN RED):

^ DO NOT USE THIS BOOKLET FOR YOUR AGES REFERENCES. THERE WERE NO AGES IN THIS BOOKLET, ONLY BIRTHDAYS. - in - in a daze - novel Hibiya says he’s been living in his “small town” for: - “OVER 10 YEARS” + - “ten-PLUS” years “of life” ^ PUBLISHED MAY 2012 IN JAPAN. ” I’ve been stuck in this tiny village for over 10 years ”. ” And my short, 10+ (TEN-PLUS) years of life will be a lackluster thing that I won’t be able to remember, too. ” - in 2014 (July, MCA fandom era) PASH! article he was back at “11″. (Hiyori was listed in his same profile box in relation to him.)

^ THAT IS VERY MUCH AN “11″ THANK YOU.

- These were also the ages RE-USED in the official MCA script according to Japanese translator Zushilove , who is also Japanese / living in Japan and speaks it fluently. THOUGH SHE DID NOT SPECIFY HIBIYAS, SHE DID CONFIRM PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE ELSE’S WERE THE SAME CONFLICTING ONES DISPLAYED IN PASH 2014. - July PASH! also reconfirmed Kano’s “17″ age. - official merch from ONLY 3 years ago ALSO RECONFIRMED Kano’s “17″. - Fuyuyuu’s post’s timestamp here is May 17, 2015. (2015 !!!) - this would imply Zushilove was, as always (AND AGAIN), CORRECT. - we still have NO IDEA, HOWEVER, what age HIBIYA was displayed with at the 2014 MCA Japan-only event that Zushilove described

“ Same as Kano and Seto, Kido is one grade below Ayano/Shintaro. So for the current time setting,* * August 14-15th she’s [Kido’s] at an age to turn 16~17 between April 1 to next year’s March 31. Kido’s birthday is in January 2. Her [Kido’s] official age is “17″ (this age was written in the script of MCA as well) but her actual age is supposed to be 16. It’s even canon that Kido is younger than Kano (May 10th), who is in the same grade as her and also has the official age written as 17… ” “ Yeah….so from these facts, personally what I believe [*Zushilove’s opinion]

is that all of the character’s ‘official age’ is written as the age that they’re going to turn into until next year’s March 31, in order to differentiate each character’s school grade to show their age gaps.

For an example, if the staffs wrote the ‘actual age’ for Kano as 17 and Kido/Seto as 16, they may have thought that the fans will misinterpret that “Kido/Seto is one grade below Kano”……

...because there is this one thing I heard from one of the MCA staffs considering this complicated age setting but yeah I can’t really share that here….  “ 

“ Basically, there is this contradicting ‘offcial age’ thing going on for the characters who have their birthday between August 16 and March 31 “

- Zushilove’s commentary, a year or so ago. * HIBIYA’S BIRTHDAY (NOVEMBER) IS BEWTEEN AUGUST 16 AND MARCH 31ST. August 16 -> November 4th -> etc. (as described above) * HIYORI’S BIRTHDAY (MARCH 3RD) IS BEFORE MARCH 31ST AS WELL. - IT’S VERY POSSIBLE THIS IS WHERE HE /AND/ HIYORI COULD HAVE BEEN LISTED WITH “12″ AT START OF SERIES - AND WHY THAT AGE SPREAD AROUND ONLINE FOR SO LONG. - but even if it WASN’T - HIBIYA AGES TO 12 CHRONOLOGICALLY BY NOVEMBER 4TH ANYWAY - sooooo we COULD just recognize he’s 11~12 - this would place HIYORI at 10~11 chronologically OR, - YOU COULD LET HIYORI BE 11~12 TOO , - BECAUSE SHE IS IN THE SAME GRADE AS HIBIYA, - AND ALSO ENTERING JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL THE NEXT YEAR, - SINCE SHE, TOO, IS ALSO DISPLAYED WITH “11″ - ON “ KONOHA’S STATE OF THE WORLD ” TV SCREENS. - THESE TV SCREENS OF WHICH ARE ALSO STILL CLEARLY SEEN IN THE 2016 GUIDEBOOK IN THE PVs IMAGES SECTION.

- AND YES, THE SERIES TAKES PLACE IN JAPAN (FOR THE FINAL TIME)

ALSO THIS IS MOMO AS OF SIDU’S 2015 ARTBOOK TOO SO:

COMPARE TO KANO WHO HAS HIS “17″ IN 2015 HERE:

^ NOTE THE “17″ ABOVE HIS HEAD

(HOW MANY MORE “17″S DO YOU NEED HONESTLY)

BONUS:

^ NON-CANON WANNYANPUU PV.

STILL-CANON    LYRICS. “DECADE     S     ”. MAKE OF IT WHAT YOU WILL

DO NOT MAKE ME BUY ANOTHER BOOK TO COMPARE OH MY GOD

ALSO IF YOU COULD PLEASE

LET HIYORI LIKE GIRLS AGAIN AND LET HIBIYA LIKE BOYS AGAIN AND LET BOTH LIKE GIRLS AND/OR BOYS AGAIN I’D BE VERY HAPPY AFTER ALL OF THIS BUT WELL Y’KNOW

I FORGOT TO ADD BUT JIN CONFIRMED IN “FUTURE EDITION” SHINTARO WOULD BE AROUND JIN’S AGE WHICH IS 28 WHICH WOULD IMPLY AROUND 10 YEARS LATER WHICH WOULD PUT HIBI+HIYO AT AROUND 20 OK THANK YOU ADULT KIDO WAS CONFIRMED FOR AROUND 25 TOO SO YEAH

[space-is-the-place2]

honestly after playing ace attorney I can't see any talksprites without thinking about how they could move more- so here, some YTTD talksprites!

(pls rb, I love reading tags💛)

[wayfinder-family-lover]

Hiyori about Ikuya’s smile in episode 8 of dttf:

Nao about Natsuya’s smile in Nao birthday story:

Me: well the Kirishima sure have some damn smiles huh

[cosmicguts]

Hiyori and Ameko, two girls that met on a fateful rainy day- or was it more than fate?

I wanted to draw these two some proper refs for their main verse cause man it's been a long time coming.

[trixibebe]

I found the ayakashi Hiyori design so cool when I first read the chapters and I wanted to draw her like that for a long time now ^^

(Please no reposts just reblogs, I don’t need all that fuss about art thievery)

[datastate]

i haven't kept up with your blog in a while (sorry) but i low-key used to be your fan 😭

i went on the tag but i couldn't really find much (more or less 4 posts)... you asked for asks so... maybe a small summary of the main plot points + characters? if you want to? or a link to where to find it if you've done it already lol

thanksies a million :3

oh??? oh no; here, i'll try linking it again? this is the archive, but just in case even that doesn't work, let me post the summary again & give you a run down! thank you for coming back w interest, no worries abt 'having to keep up' with all that's gone on :D i hope you've been well!

Upon discovering Mr. Chidouin's deceit and his true ties to Asunaro, Kai Satou takes responsibility of his life. However, the mantle of Godfather requires no specific person; Asunaro callously marches forward with its plans of the Death Game. In the wake, Kai is left to manage the organization's suspicions and the Chidouin family's health. Forever reminded of the blood on his hands, no matter the noble cause. Within the organization, Michiru remains unsure of who to trust, of how to progress. The Ultimatum would bring forth such valuable information on human limitations, but proceeding would break her only promise. Asunaro's oppressive darkness is only lightened by one another—yet, to hold by their resolve means to make an enemy of the other. Everything feels uncertain, but they must act. After all, five years is all they have.

⊹ Mr. Chidouin is murdered in December, just as the dawn of the new year approaches. Kai is twenty-three; Sara is thirteen and her mother, Atsuko, is forty-five. Sara's life otherwise proceeds as normal: remaining close friends with Ryoko, attending Sonobeno (and meeting Jou), so on… although neither Atsuko nor Kai are as expectant of her, her father's influence remains. Because of her father's death, she struggled to accept Kai as yet another sudden, unwanted change in her life, but they've become close (…despite bouts of conflict, when it comes to what Kai knows concerning the passing.)

⊹ Although Asunaro is tentatively willing to accept Mr. Chidouin's death to be of natural cause, the circumstances can never be deliberated enough. Kai, due to his history of reluctance to kill and evident emotional connection to the Chidouins, takes on less suspicion than agents who had interacted with Mr. Chidouin the day of his death (as he made an emergency visitation for Atsuko's health.)

— However, Kai is not entirely cleared and is instead under Sou Hiyori's observation for an undetermined amount of years, while he serves as an additional guard of the Chidouin family as this failure of an agent is clearly unfit for such work. Gashu keeps his distance, only communicating through Hiyori where he must, but otherwise letting Hiyori act of his own volition—which often entails comparing Shin to Sara, a topic of conversation which Kai despises.

⊹ This is, essentially, a "No Death Game AU" and there are a few participants who meet nonetheless. Those Kai seeks out, is assigned to gathering information on, or who search for him. Of course, Asunaro cannot be brought down so easily, and it's something which often occupies Kai's/Michiru's minds (particularly in later chapters, when there isn't as much surveillance on either of them), but its overall intent is to focus on Kai and Sara as they process the grief and learn to heal and live again.

I have now finished the outline for this fic, and am currently working on it! However, I don't think I'll begin publishing it until I at least have the first ten chapters done (which has... taken a while. between everything I've been busy with + that I'm a bit picky with my writing :'P)

I am also mostly done with the character references for the major Asunaro antagonists, but I did indulge a bit of their characters through a friend's ask here! & That post also links to their face refs in the starting summary, but I'll link it again here too <3

One of the asks in waiting is also from a friend who wants to see just which participants are going to be most involved, and I'm nearly done with that as well! I was having a difficult time making myself coherent on that ask, considering the amount of characters I wanted to balance info. on, but I'll be posting that shortly after I'm finished with my tests!