#how can yuuki think now

[papillionsoul]

PLAYFULLY, she pouts in deep contemplation as if Yuuki is still deliberating about what she might even want! As if she needed anything else when she was already literally sitting on the man that plagues her dreams.

Then the charade was over the moment she felt his tongue touch her ear. An ignition was started, and now Yuuki felt as if her brain had already melted. "W-WHA? umm..." She can't meet his gaze, her vain attempt to do so only resulted to sinking deeper to his lap. "um...I can't decide yet...I can't focus..."

that earned her a slightly louder chuckle, his fangs briefly being bared, " all you ever have to do is ask, yuuki, " hands slid onto either thigh, moving upward to her hips, kaname pulling her more flush against him, pressing his own kiss to her nose, carefully leaving a trail across her cheek, her jaw and to her neck, " you're very tempting like this, precious, " arms wrapped around her waist, keeping her body close to his own as he kissed up and down her neck, tongue licking her earlobe, his voice much lower as he whispered into her ear, " my precious yuuki, tell me what you want. "

[mimikyuno]

okay but are we even ready for ena5!!! my girl ena is gonna go berserk you know that right!!! like in mizu1 mizuki looked sad on the train back home and ena wakes up and opens her eyes for 0.5 seconds and decides to go on a mission to find out what is bothering mizuki and becomes obsessed??? mizuki declines hanging out with niigo and knmf are like “ok no biggie” and ena is like OH GOD NO!!! and invites her out constantly to make sure she doesnt shut herself off? and all this based on… one facial expression one time??? she even gets shizuairi involved like PLEASE lesbians help me my friend is keeping smth that is bothering her to herself like! and she pushes and pushes and then decides to give the most romantic declaration like “okay fine i trust you. i’ll wait for you to be able to find the strength to tell me by your side, forever if necessary.” LIKE OKAY ms lesbotron 6000 calm yo ass down!! and even in mizu5 in the escape room she was like “haha i can solve the room bc I know how mizuki thinks :)” and gets it right!! (tho touya had changed the riddle). like she’s obsessed with mizuki lmao. AND NOW MIZUKI’S MISSING? RIGHT AFTER BEING OUTED TO ENA? and ena couldnt stop her from running away???? guys she went insane off one look she’s gonna move mountains to get her girl back im telling you she’s gonna harass the whole world maybe even travel to france to get yuuki like im telling u i cant wait to see her completely lose her mind tbh <3 ena ily

[entertext]

HGSN 32-2

Chapter (Japanese)

(Please hit the green thumbs up at the end of the Japanese chapter to show support)

Rough translation by me

P1

(sfx: step step step)

(sfx: thump)

(sfx: clatter)

Tanaka: Whew

P2

(sfx: clatter)

Asako: ...There's a "hole" inside there?

Tanaka: That's right. At least on this side, there is.

Asako: (This guy is really...way too suspicious...)

Asako: (And consider what he said just a while ago...)

--

Asako: Huh!? Who are you!?

Asako: A- a criminal!?

Tanaka: ....

P3

Asako: Aww, it's so cute!!

Asako: Wait, uh, um, Is there something in this house? Do you know something, mister?

Tanaka: There's a "hole". It's where a ton of impurities are coming out from.

Asako: A hole...

(Grandma: So from time to time, a little distortion causes people and things from the other side to cross over...)

Asako: That's... What are you going to do about it? It's definitely bad to leave it alone...

P4

Asako: If...If you're going to do something about it

Asako: I'll help

Tanaka: Well, sure

Tanaka: Then please die

Asako: Huh?....

Tanaka: The real form of the hole isn't here. It can only be reached from the world of the impurities.

Tanaka: So someone has to go to the other side. Will you go?

P5

Asako: That's....

Asako: (For all that I keep sticking my nose into things, I'm never prepared to see things through...)

Asako: (I wonder...Does Yoshiki have that resolve?...)

Asako: (After Hikaru died, he was all alone...facing it without telling anyone)

Asako: (Now that I think about it, what's with him? ...Oh, it still makes me a bit mad...!)

Tanaka: Haha...I'm joking

Tanaka: Kids should go home and watch YTube or something...

Asako: I'll go!

P6

Asako: That's the kind of thing I came here prepared to do! ...Not doing anything despite being able to "hear" them is worse...!

Tanaka: ...

Tanaka: How much can you "hear"?

--

Asako: (...but what are we going to do?)

Asako: (This guy sucks at explaining things)

Asako: What's this stuff you plugged in my ears?

Asako: It's...

Tanaka: Ah, please don't take that out

P7

Tanaka: Y'know, for all that you might be able to hear them, you really don't know a damn thing about the impurities. At this rate, someday you're going to slip up and die.

Tanaka: It's all very well for you to help with closing the hole, but like that, you're a bit unreliable

Asako: ...I guess that's true...

Tanaka: So...well...

(sfx: scratches head)

Tanaka: They say, "first, start by knowing who you're dealing with"

P8

(sfx: running)

Rie: Maki-kun isn't answering the phone...

(sfx: door opens)

Rie: It's unlocked

Rie: Augh, I'm just going to go in!

(sfx: thump thump thump)

Rie: Maki-kun!

(sfx: door opens)

P9

Maki: (snores)

Rie: He's sleeping...

P10

Rie: So closing the hole is easy, so easy that it can be done with needle and thread

Rie: But, "the hole can only be closed from the other side"

Rie: For a human, going to the other side would mean death...

Rie: But if it was you, 'Hikaru'-kun, you could go to the other side...do I have all that right?

Hikaru: Yep. I don't have a soul after all, I think I'd be fine even on the other side

Yoshiki: ...But the problem is, how are you going to come back?

Hikaru: With...guts?

Yoshiki: ......

Maki: (groans)

==

Next chapter: 2024/12/17

Twitter Extra (link):

Asako buys clothes at Mion.

She has more interest in fashion than Yuuki does.

Asako: This will look good on you!

Yuuki: As long as it's easy to move in, anything's fine

[cerastes]

So ig my question is why don’t the Chinese or Japanese markets care much ab this?

I’m going to answer this from perhaps a different angle than expected, prefacing this with “completely generalizing is easy and stupid” so we’re not going to be doing that.

Now, without you knowing, you’ve probably seen a hundred Things You Should Have Cared About, like caricatures or vilification of Korean people in Japanese media, without realizing you were looking at that. Sayonara Zetsubou-Sensei, I hear, has plenty of that “hidden” in some of its jokes (I share this anecdotally as I have not read that, only heard of this). Some years ago, think about how a lot of tension existed because of Attack on Titan’s imperialist/nationalist undertones that the average Westerner couldn’t immediately grasp. Yuuki Yuuna Is A Hero was a fun watch for me right up until its nationalist undertones, well, overtones registered to me as entirely intentional and sincere.

But if it doesn’t register as an issue to you, why would you see it as an issue? It can very well BE an issue, you just don’t even consider it could be one because you lack cultural background or, well, “cultural fucks” to give, let’s call it. It’s invisible ink, right in front of you, but you don’t see it.

So, flip it around. There’s racist Chinese/Japanese people, there’s progressive CN/JP people, there’s people that don’t really care either way or see it as an issue the same way Uncle Cleetus from the U.S. may or may not be aware of Chinese violence against natives, even if he is aware and cares about U.S. violence against natives.

It can always just be an issue of “that is so very distant to me that I can’t really put Caring Power on it given all the things closest to me that I have to put Caring Power into”.

It’s not about whether these things matter or not — I think they do matter — but inevitably the majority of people think more locally in terms of cultural fucks to give, so, they just don’t really care either way if they have more darker skinned characters or not, I’d say for the majority of people over there.

And, in the context of gacha, they are selling desirable designs, and what’s considered desirable by that demographic, going by their market studies and other such data, is probably light skinned anime girls, thus, that’s what most gacha characters are going to be, with anything straying from that being tangibly a risk. Because these games are made by corporations, not entities that ever claimed to be trying to be progressive.

If Chinese players wanted more variety of Chinese Character in, say, Call of Duty, with dialects and other local cues, John Call Of Duty probably would not give a shit, nor would the majority of Call of Duty players in the West, even those that can be perfectly progressive. It’s like that.

[starswallowingsea]

ESVerse dashboard simulator

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🪶jeannedarcswings follow

the new wataru outfit is sooooooo amazing guys he looks so mature and handsome in it!!

#i understand eichi sooooo much i'd commit war crimes for him too

( 7 notes )

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🌟hokkehidaka follow

i got banned from twitter again and Yuuki said i would "do numbers on tumblr" so here i am. how does one do numbers on here

🌈gaystar follow

What do you mean again.

( 9.3k notes )

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💖alkaloid-fanpage follow

Okay we're settling this once and for all!!!

🐝buzzybeeat follow

mad cuz your faves can't beat knights aren't you

( 4.3k notes )

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🐇nazuniis-silly-rabbit follow

I'm sick and tired of everyone praising V*lkyrie's music honestly. They're soooo problematic for what they did to Nazuna like how can you forgive them for that. ESPECIALLY ITS*KI SHU

#censoring because i have to hold myself back

( 3 notes )

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👑narucchans-crown follow

You would not believe how much I'm holding back right now. "Knights music is so mid" and? You listen to 2wink I don't want to hear it.

👑narucchans-crown follow

Okay I'm turning off reblogs on this I didn't think the 2wink stans would find this one. I stand by what I said.

( 134 notes )

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🍎deep3clipse follow

ngl? tsumugi is so much better in the new fine-o song than he is in switch 💅

( 69 notes )

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🤠madarasflatass follow

i'd hate to live in the mirror dimension. could you imagine mama with a juicy ass? the flat ass is part of the charm

🤠madarasfatjuicyass follow

i disagree

🤠madarasflatass follow

EVIL ME????

( 1.4k notes )

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💀undeads-little-vampy follow

sorry anon i deleted your ask but it's because i don't believe fine stans are people!

( 2 notes )

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🐍ibaras-snake-wife follow

EDEN Getting run over by a car and they comfort you in the hospital headcanons!!

Read more

( 15k notes )

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🦀kanatasfishtank follow

It's so hard to find other Ryuseitai fans on this website :(

🐴akatsukiskatanas follow

Yeah because they're all too young 👶👶👶👶

[ros-sauce]

Oughg my god Speaking of Mizuki Regularly Getting The Trans Flag Glued To Her Forehead. Today I am thinking about Solitus Utopia. Big yap session ahead

In terms of cards, it's probably The bluntest example of aforementioned trans flag forehead gluing; pink, blue, and white take center stage. And ouughhh. OUGHHGH. The placement of those colors is making me absolutely crazy

Her outfit has a similar deal to her first casual outfit. Lot of blue and white happening with the clothes, and then her hair and eyes are the pink needed to complete the set. To me, what that says is "This character is a walking trans flag, and she herself is the pink. The Girl Color. The girl!"

I've always felt that pink being the only one of those three colors to be Attached To Her was significant, but it's only now that I'm realizing that the clothing has significance too... I'm feeling two meanings from it:

It signifies the importance of cute clothing in Mizuki's transition. Being as cutesy as possible and altering her silhouette are some of her main tools in the way of passing as cis. (The former being a source of joy and the latter being a dysphoria alleviator also deserve mentioning!!). Her clothes complete the trans flag that her Girl Color Hair started; her clothes build up the road she took on the journey that her Girl Color Very Being started. ... And on a less positive note, I think there is also some significance to the fact that the trans flag color palette is only all there when something is Applied To Her. Without her outfit, she's just Girl Color. When the outfit is put on her, the Girl Color is made to be a part of something else, The Trans Colors. Your first thought is no longer "That's a girl and she happens to be Girl Color. Neat!", but "That's a trans girl and she happens to be Trans Colors. Neat!". I feel like there are parallels between that and how much she hates being labelled Different. This is crude, but it's how the words want to come out of my mouth. Sorry: Because Society Says So, you don't need to wear clothes at home, but you do in public. Because Society Says So, Mizuki can exist as Just A Girl when she's at home. She can be Just Pink. "Her home" means two things here. Firstly, Literally Her House, with Yuuki "Ally 9000" Akiyama & her supportive-enough-I-guess parents being the only people who she interacts with. To them, she's just a girl, and they're not weird about it. They know she's trans, but they don't act any particular way because of that. Her other home is Nightcord, at least before Niigo started meeting up in person. As Amia, she was assumed to be a cis girl, and there was no risk (in their pre-mainstory days) of Niigo ever finding out otherwise. While being presumed cis isn't quite as close to "Girl With No Modifiers" as living with an unfathomably based family, it still didn't carry the Othering that she's used to accompanying her status as a trans girl. If she wants to exit her home, she has to put on the clothes, has to put on the label that is made when the color palette is completed, and go from "Girl" to "Girl And By The Way Did You Know She's Trans?". And that makes everyone and their mother feel like it's fine to treat her weird. The pitying and resentment that she fears so much at best, and "HEY DID YOU KNOW SHE'S NOT NORMAL? ISN'T THAT WEIRD? AGREE WITH ME NOW OR YOU'RE WEIRD TOO" to anyone who'll listen at worst. With a million billion other forms of othering in between. (Hm. Suddenly I'm thinking about blue's absence from her 3rd anni casual outfit. She's no longer a walking trans flag, and is way pinker than before. Because it's a marketable game with marketable characters, we always had good reason to expect Niigo to be normal about her when the secret came out. But still, I feel like having Even More Girl Color glued to her forehead in Trans Palette's place could be considered some kind of foreshadowing for Niigo being normal... BUT ANYWAY this is not a post about the most incredible pants this world has ever seen, this is a post about Solitus Utopia, so I'll get back to that now.)

With the clothing out of the way, I'd like to move on to the rest of the card. This card is from late 2022, when Mizuki's transness was not quite as obvious ("a few inches away" levels of in-your-face as opposed to the more "you are a school principal at a fundraiser and her transness is a cream pie" level we are at now). This makes me extra ready to take this card as an unspoken "To be clear yes she is a trans girl".

The background walls and furniture are largely blue, and the decor is largely pink and white (and purple. Hi, Niigo!). The former is something that's hard to alter or move or acquire more of, whereas it's pretty easy with the latter. If you have walls or furniture that you hate, you can make it look more palatable by decorating it with things you like, with relative ease. Mizuki did that! The background is covered in all manner of fashion-related pink things, and the pink sewing machine and other supplies carry the implication that she made them herself. They do a great job carrying out their purpose, popping so much in comparison to the blue walls that said walls appear more grey than anything else. And also, you don't really feel like looking at the walls, because all that decor makes them Not Really A Point Of Interest.

To me, that sounds a whole lot like transitioning. There's an unfortunate status that's pretty hard to get rid of, both legally and socially, because Government and People just love to obsess over what you were assigned at birth. But changing the way you appear helps make things more bearable for you, both because you're happier looking a certain way, and because the public is slightly less awful to you when you look a certain way.

Cycling back to the "you focus on the pink things more than anything" point, I feel like the most significant pink thing is Mizuki herself. And I think that is also very nice!! Her pinkness is at the very center of the card. It is the heart of the card! Pink!! Girl color!! Heart!! Mizuki's heart is girl color!! Woah!!

(Obligatory "I do not speak Japanese and I do not live there, so I could be wrong", but I think "I was born with an [insert gender] body, but my heart is [insert other gender]" is a fairly popular way of describing being transgender in Japan? I feel like that phrasing has been losing popularity in English, but I still hear it fairly often in Japanese LGBT+ circles on social media and stuff. If I'm right, then that adds a few more significance points to the Pink Center Of Card thing)

Neat card. I love this pink girl a lot

[chatterbox-73]

Simptember 2024.

Day 5 - love bites.

Zero Kiryu x fem!reader

This story is a smut story for simptember, I’ll be writing more characters x reader one shots for simptember and if you want to see a character please let me know...

You must be 18 years or older to read this...

🔞⚠️NO MINORS ALLOWED⚠️🔞

Summary: you offer yourself to zero in hopes it keeps him away from your sister, so that both yuuki and he can be safe. Though you didn’t expect what you received from this arrangement.

Word count: 1.5k

CW: NSFW and adult content, nipple play, unprotected sex, pull out, missionary, bitting, drinking blood, slight manipulation.

You laid on the couch adjacent from the fire place in the headmaster’s living room, you had finished patrols much later than you were expected to and so now you found yourself locked out of the girls dormitory, “you can’t sleep on the couch tonight… go up to your room” you heard a voice from the door and found it to be your adopted father, “yeah I will…” you sighed and stood walking over to him, “…let me do one more sweep of the school, then I’ll go to bed” you watch the man sigh and slightly roll his eyes, “where did you learn to be so stubborn and ignorant? Yuki’s such a good girl, so what happened to you?” The man huffed, you chuckled and rested a hand on his shoulder, “yuki is too much of a good girl, she basically become a walking blood bag for Zero and it’s only a matter of time until Kuran takes her” you look at the headmaster from the corner of your eye, the man nod and focused on the fire burning away in the room, “stop Yuki from offering herself to zero…” he turned to you and swallowed thickly, before grabbing you and offering a sad expression, “even if you need to offer yourself in her place… please” he looked away from you in shame, “I hate myself for doing this, you know that?” He sigh and further leaned into the doorframe, “yeah, I know… but you don’t want to let down that woman…” you began to walk away before stopping for a moment, you looked over your shoulder at the man and met his gaze, “…are you sure she’s worth it? Or maybe you’ve allowed yourself to fall prey to a truly evil demon” you knew it was cruel but sometimes the headmaster would forget himself, actually you were sure he had begun to forget himself and no longer wished to remember.

You walked through the darkened courtyard until you reached the boy’s dormitory and to your surprise the doors were unlocked, you let yourself in and made your way to zero’s room, you didn’t bother knocking as you walked right in, the silver haired man jumped slightly and pointed his gun at you, “what do you want?” He hissed and slammed his gun on his side table, you shut the door behind you and locked it before walking over to him and sitting just in front of him on his bed, “I got locked out of my dormitory and the headmaster house is all locked up too…” you pout and move so that you were facing away from him, “but if you don’t want me here, I’m sure Kaname Kuran would be more than willing to open his bed for me…” you sigh and look back at zero with fake concern, “the only problem is, it’d break poor sweet Yuki’s heart… but you’d have your chance to comfort her and have her completely” you hummed and Zero glared at you, “what exactly are you asking me here…? Do you want a place to crash or are you trying to find a man to spend the night with?” He grumbled and raised a brow, “I’m looked for whatever I can get away with” you chuckled and began to straddle Zero, while you began to unbutton your shirt, you eyed the man for any reaction, “getting naked in front of me? This is harassment” he hummed watching your cute lacy bralette, “you’re right, I’m sorry… will you take me completely?” You asked and Zero’s hands moved to your waist as he nodded, “your skin and hair is damp, how?” He asked and grazed a thumb over the waistband of your skirt, “I’d like to think you’ve figured out why I’m here and perhaps realised I might have been lying, so that I might get what I need” you whispered and pressed your body to him, Zero clicked his tongue and rubbed his hands over your thighs, allowing them to disappear under your skirt, “so you lied so you could get off… you have a hand and fingers for that” he tilted his head and began to unzip your skirt.

“Of course I could use my hand however I’m not here for me zero” you spoke in a serious tone while you helped Zero remove your skirt, you laid back and looked up at him as he gave you a confused look, “what are you doing here, then?” He asked with a frown, “the headmaster wants me to keep you from feeding on yuki, I’m here to seduce you and so that you desire me and all I can offer” you answered honestly and Zero leans over you, he grabbed your shoulders and held you down, “what the fuck?!” He growled and got in your face, “I’m sorry but by allowing her to feed you, you’re endangering her and yourself… how could you be so foolish?” You shout and zero blinks, he leans back and lets go of your shoulders, “you’re right, it’d be better if I left…” he sighs and you sat up, wrapping your arms around his neck, “no we still need you… we still need you to protect her, to protect the school… stay and I’ll allow you to gorge yourself on me…” you whisper, Zero’s hands brushed through your hair, “if you’ll except me” you looked off to one of the four blank walls in Zero’s room.

Zero’s thumb ran across your lips before he guided you to lean your head back, his lips light pressed to your pulse, “who implied I wouldn’t want you? Because I didn’t” he said before he trailed his tongue down to your collarbone, only to give the skin a little nip and licking up the fresh droplet of blood forming on your skin, before sucking on the spot until the blood stopped flowing.

Zero’s fingers fiddled with your bra clasp for a moment before the martial fell from your frame his hands began to roughly fondle your breasts, occasionally pinching your nipples, “fuck… they’re so damn soft” he groaned and gripped one of your breasts before leaning in and bringing his tongue to rest on your nipple, zero’s teeth gently grazed your breast as he licked over the sensitive nub, a shiver ran down your spine as you felt him press himself against you as he began to suckle on your nipple, you moaned loudly not caring where you were just how good you felt.

You laid back and hummed as Zero climbed over you, your hands traced up his bare arms “your chest and arms look bigger” you hummed as you squeezed his biceps, before coming to trail you hands up until your fingers interlocked behind his neck, you pulled Zero down and pressed your lips to his, it felt hot and suffocating, but oh so satisfying. You began to feel Zero’s hands grip your panties before pulling them off and discarding them across the room, he then pulled away from the kiss, “I’m going to get started now” his lips still hovering over yours as he spoke, you nodded and felt Zero shifted as he undid his pants and pulled his member from his pants, you gasped as he rubbed his tip between your folds, making his tip catch on your entrance, “damnit… you sure about this?” He groaned and pressed his tip against your open but not quite letting it slide in yet, “yeah, I’m sure… I want this” you huff out between deep breaths and zero looks into your eyes for any hesitation but finds none, to this he pressed forward and sheaths himself.

You slowly and sensual, it’s nothing like you expect, but exactly what you needed, your legs wrapped tightly around Zero and your nails dug into his back, his hips moved in strong and slowly thrusts that were angled upward, his hand grabbing tightly onto the bedsheets as his arms rested either side of your head, zero had captured your lips and tongue in a erotic dance that was yet to end, all your moans and gasps were swallowed by him before they even had a chance to escape. You body start to feel light and your opening began to squeeze, zero pulled away from the kiss and groaned “you’re close… just wait a little longer” he pulled back and grabbed your hips before he picked up his pace slightly, you gasped struggling to hold on any longer, “release for me, finish all on me” zero hummed and you did just that, you pressed your head back against the bed and you whined as your body seized up, zero quickly snapped his hips into your a few times rather franticly before he pulled out and pumped hot squirts of release all over your chest, “god damnit… shit” he groaned loudly and watched and as his shaft rested comfortably between your breasts, he brushed a hand over your face and stood to get you a damp cloth so he could clean you off.

You laid naked curled up into zero’s side, you spent the night until the early hours of dawn talking with him, “let’s skip class” Zero hummed as he closed his eyes and kissed your cheek, “this is way they kept you down a year, but I’m too tired to care” you chuckle before you closed your eyes and began to drift off to sleep, listening to the sound of Zero’s heart beating steadily in his chest, “very funny… now go to sleep… beautiful” he grumbled and lightly kissed your lips.

Simptember Masterlist

Day 4 - Tamaki Amajiki: Comparison

Day 6 - Shigure Sohma: Taste

[kunikame]

in your system, even pluto is a planet. - i. mao

warnings : mostly mao centric, gender neutral, astral ref (my trademark trust), my formal apology to all maoPs for redamancy

w/c : 889

isara mao has always been second best.

it is how he spent most of his life, it is what he’s ultimately used to. he knows he would never be first– he knows he's not good enough to be first.

those are the facts, the truths he’s had to abide by since he was a child. no matter how hard he tried, there was always someone who was, simply put, better.

yet to accept a truth is easier than to stop hoping he could one day break the cycle.

he’s reminded of this once more as he watches his unit-mates work on their next choreography. as a friend first and unit-mate second, he will always be proud of them, will always support them and help make them shine if he can.

that doesn’t mean it hurts any less. 

watching them so easily become what he’s always wished he could be. isara mao is well aware he could never sparkle like they do.

as it turns out, he’s the only ‘trick’, whereas the other 3 are the ‘star’.

to accept it is slightly different than it is to continue fighting it.

and that’s where you come in.

while anzu may be their primary manager, she’s been kept busy by other units recently, so to keep trickstar functioning properly in her absence, you’ve been assigned to help them out instead.

mao wouldn’t exactly call it love at first sight (though makoto yuuki would beg to differ)– he simply has good intuition when it comes to people. he just knew you’re a good person, so he stuck close to you. that’s all.

all was well at first.

you helped them out wherever you could, gave them useful advice and even basically collaborated on the choreography. what caught mao off guard however, was that you tried your best to focus on all of them equally. you gave all of them the time of day when they needed it, without any reservations or excuses. if makoto had a question, you would answer it, and if mao needed help the moment after, you would immediately be by his side.

it was weird, to be treated like a voluntary choice.

then suddenly you no longer had time for mao. 

makoto, subaru, hokuto. subaru, makoto, hokuto. hokuto, makoto, subaru.

never mao.

and he doesn’t understand why. 

he doesn’t remember doing anything to upset you, so why?

have you simply realized he’s not good enough to be a choice?

sitting on a random staircase in yumenosaki, the redhead swirled his can of coke as he let out yet another helpless sigh.

he couldn’t even ask ritsu for help, he’d just fall asleep halfway through the story. perhaps it’s for the best if he doesn’t say anything at all. just suck it up and stick it out till the end, as always. deal with it.

for so long he’s associated himself with venus– with it being the second planet from the sun and all– he forgot to think that, maybe, he was just pluto all along.

with the final sigh of his short pity party, he threw the can in the nearest bin and made his way back to the studio. just a bit more practice and perhaps he’ll finally get closer to the others. 

the door opens before him and you’re standing there, eyes wide and mouth gaping, as if you’re seeing him for the first time (he probably doesn’t look much different though, he thinks).

“mao! i was just about to go look for you! the others have left already so i finally have time for you, i’m so sorry i’ve been pushing it off for so long, there was always just.. something. the lights broke and the–” you paused to let out a quick breath, shoulders relaxing for the first time this week, “you know what, whatever, doesn’t matter. i can finally take care of your concerns, so out with them!”

you step away from the doorway to let him in, but he just stands there dumbfounded.

“..mao?”

“... so you– you weren’t ignoring me? like, without reason?”

“what? no! i would never do that!” you looked genuinely distraught and now he feels bad for ever thinking so because yeah, you would never do that (or would you?), he’s just too used to people doing it (way too used, a voice in his head chuckles).

“oh,” he breathes, then steps into the studio.

“if it were up to me i would’ve dropped everything to cater to your needs, but the spotlight that was supposed to be on your position broke, so i made that my priority,” oh, “i’m sorry if i made you feel unimportant, i should’ve discussed it with you first..”

“n-no! no, no it’s fine. you’re fine. .. thank you. for-for doing that for me. and i’m sorry, too, i shouldn’t have assumed..”

you smile at him and he thinks not even the sun is worthy of you. 

it may be the center of the solar system, where pluto is not even a planet and where venus is second– but in the system isara mao sees you as the center of, perhaps he was mercury all along. if he is to crash and burn and suffer incineration in the long run, it may just be a worthy sacrifice.

at least he will no longer be second best.

ੈ✩₊˚TAGLIST : @ibaraluvr @venusflwers @thesapphirecake @yakshalea @mahouwoageru @kazemiya @menhwa-pdf @chalksdreams @gabirii @myunghology @solxima //ask/comment or fill form to be added/removed! (if you're in bold i can't tag you)

[soloroomies]

lifemate (Chapter 5/ Sakusa x f!reader)

summary: the day you're tying the knot with your very dear friend, Kiyoomi word count. 2.1k cw. marriage pact au a/n. another update! I'm happy that I can update this story quickly. Writing this is really fun for me hehe <3

Masterlist

Not long after you and Sakusa discussed your plans, you both decided to share the exciting news of your upcoming marriage with your families and closest friends. The reactions were nothing short of dramatic. You think it’s a mix of shock at how quickly you both decided to tie the knot and genuine happiness for you. Some of them called you immediately, the most popular question being, “How did this happen so fast?!” So, you shared the love story you and Sakusa have crafted together. Some responded with a knowing “I knew it!” claiming they had a gut feeling you’d end up together. You just laughed at their responses, finding it amusing because there was no way they could have predicted this—both of you were truly just friends before. Your psychology textbook was right about hindsight bias.

Since the wedding is simple and you both hired a wedding organizer to handle most of the planning, there isn’t much left for you to do except look for your wedding dress. You also chose your bridesmaids. At first, you want four people as your bridesmaid, including Tami. Unfortunately, Tami is incredibly busy this month with business trips. Even Tami, who knows all your plans, was surprised. She didn’t expect your wedding to be held in the second month of the year. You explained it’s because you both want to do this before the volleyball season starts. Luckily, she doesn’t have any plans on your wedding day and assured you she would attend. Therefore, the people you chose as your bridesmaids are two of your cousins, Yuuki and Nana, and one of your childhood friends from home, Aya. They’re all thrilled to be part of your special day.

Today is the day you choose your wedding dress, just two weeks away from your wedding day. You actually have a lot of fun looking up wedding dress inspiration. Weddings used to make you kind of emotional when you were a teenager and a hopeless romantic. But then, as an adult with a hectic life, you weren’t really expecting a wedding for yourself. Yet here you are now, somehow able to have one. So, you’ll enjoy this process as a gift to your teenage self.

It’s Saturday, and you’re glad that everyone is available. All of you have a group chat discussing the stores you’ll visit. So, you go through those stores, seeing the dresses they display online, trying some of them on, and deciding which one is the best. After a few stores and trying on more than ten dresses, one dress stands out. It’s a classic and elegant gown with a fitted bodice and a full ball gown skirt. It features a sweetheart neckline and off-the-shoulder sleeves. The skirt is made of layers of tulle and organza, giving it volume and a fairytale-like look. The back of the dress is adorned with covered buttons and a long flowing train, adding dramatic flair.

Your three companions seem to have the same thought as you. Nana even starts to shed tears, making the other two emotional as well. You turn to look at them and can’t help but feel a bit emotional yourself. “Guys, please don’t cry! You’ll make me cry,” you say. You stare at your reflection in the mirror and feel a sense of enchantment and awe. This is the dress, you think.

In the days leading up to your wedding, you frequently communicate with Kiyoomi, juggling to find time between your work and his practice. You handle some legal matters and move many of your belongings from your apartment to his, leaving only the essentials for the remaining days. This often brings you to his apartment, where you arrange your things with him, assisted by people from the furniture moving and rearrangement services you hired. Some furniture is no longer needed, so you sell those pieces.

Two days before the wedding, you arrive home after work and are suddenly overwhelmed by an indescribable feeling. You've already finished some of your project-based side jobs, giving you more spare time than usual. Your apartment, now mostly empty, feels strange, as most of your belongings have already been moved to Kiyoomi’s place.

Your phone vibrates, and you see new texts from Kiyoomi. He sends a picture of a painting you made on a medium-sized canvas that used to hang in your living room. Initially, you wanted to leave it behind, thinking you had already brought too much. But when Kiyoomi visited your apartment, he asked about the painting and suggested it would look great in "our" living room, meaning his apartment where you will soon move in. The picture he sent shows the painting now hanging in the living room. His next text asks, ‘Is this too far to the right?’ You examine the photo and find the painting perfectly centered, so you respond, ‘no! it’s perfect.’

You then realize that you feel a swirl of excitement and nervousness, as the reality of starting a new chapter in your life and leaving behind the familiar truly sinks in.

For this wedding, there were no pre-wedding events like engagement parties or bridal showers. As agreed upon, the entire event was to be simple. There was no honeymoon planned either. When some of your cousins inquired, you explained that you both wanted to wait for a better season and were eager to enjoy your newlywed life in your own home.

The sound of your alarm wakes you up, and you look around the unfamiliar bed, momentarily confused. Then it hits you—you’re not in your apartment but in the hotel of your wedding venue. The bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents, and some family members are also staying here. And, of course, Kiyoomi, too. Shaking off the sleepiness, you decide to take a shower and call room service for breakfast. 

Checking your phone, you see a few messages from family and friends who have arrived in town, expressing their excitement to see you later. You smile, responding to each message with heartfelt gratitude. 

Suddenly, there’s a knock on your hotel room door. Expecting it to be your bridesmaids or parents, you open it and are surprised to see Kiyoomi’s mother standing there. She looks at you and smiles warmly. Bowing slightly, you welcome her into your room, mentioning that you’ve just finished breakfast and inviting her to sit beside you. 

Unexpectedly, she wraps you in a warm and comforting hug. Taken aback for a moment, you quickly return the hug. Then she looks at you, caresses your hair, and holds your hand. Her gaze is soft and carries warmth.

“I want to tell you how grateful I am to have you joining our family,” she says, her voice filled with genuine emotion. You look at her, your mind blank, unable to find the words to respond. She continues, “You remember you used to come to our house, right?” 

You nod, the memories flooding back. You recall the nostalgia of your high school days, when you often visited Kiyoomi’s house with Komori. Kiyoomi’s mom was always more outgoing than Kiyoomi and his father, often inviting you over for dinner. You usually brought your homework along, finishing it with Kiyoomi at their kitchen table.

“I’ve admired you since then,” she says. “I know we haven’t seen each other much since you both graduated high school, but I’ve always known you will leave a lasting impact on Omi's life. I often asked him about you, you know?” She laughs, a light, joyful sound.

You smile at her words, touched by her sincerity. “I’m happy that you’ve always stayed in touch with each other. And I was overjoyed when I heard the news. I’m just... I’m glad it’s you. You complement each other so beautifully, and I couldn't be happier to see my son marry such an incredible person.”

She pauses, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Know that you have my unwavering support, love, and respect. I look forward to many happy moments together as a family.”

Tears well up in your eyes at her genuine words. “Thank you so much for your kind words. They mean a lot to me,” you manage to say, your voice thick with emotion.

You hug her, feeling the warmth and acceptance in her embrace. She holds you tightly, then pulls back slightly to look at you. “Please call me Mom, okay?”

You nod, a tearful smile on your face.

After she leaves your room, you're left with your thoughts. You feel a wave of gratitude for Kiyoomi’s supportive mother, but a tinge of guilt also lingers. You and Kiyoomi had to fabricate your love story, making it seems like you are deeply in love. It feels wrong that she believes you and Kiyoomi are head over heels for each other. However, you genuinely care, adore and respect him as a friend. You promise yourself that you’ll hold onto these feelings throughout your marriage.

As the afternoon sun casts a warm glow over the bustling city, you stand by the window, taking in the view of the skyline. Nana, Yuuki, and Aya bustle around your hotel room, helping with the final touches on your wedding gown. You opted to do your makeup yourself, choosing a natural and fresh look, and now, as you gaze into the mirror, you feel satisfied with the result. Aya hands you your bouquet of white roses and eucalyptus. Your wedding photographer snaps a few photos of you and your bridesmaids before it's time to head downstairs.

You hear the sound of laughter and chatter from the poolside area of the hotel, where everyone’s waiting. Stepping outside, you take in the beautiful wedding venue. At one end of the pool, a stunning gazebo draped in sheer white fabric and entwined with ivy and blooming flowers serves as the altar. The aisle leading to the gazebo is lined with lanterns and rose petals.

You stand at the edge of the aisle and take a deep breath. The late afternoon sun casts a golden glow over the pool, and you see the familiar faces of your family and friends turned toward you. Your father takes your arm, gives it a reassuring squeeze, and smiles at you.

As you approach the altar, your eyes lock with Kiyoomi’s. He looks unbelievably handsome in his tuxedo, the black fabric fitting perfectly on his broad shoulders and slender frame. You've never felt quite like this seeing him before. His black wavy hair is neatly styled, but a few rebellious curls frame his face, adding to his effortlessly charming look.

His eyes scan you and he gives a genuine smile he rarely shows to anyone. When you finally reach him, he gently takes your hand. Then, the officiant begins the ceremony.

After a few words, the officiant says “Please face each other and join hands,”. “Do you, Sakusa Kiyoomi, take ___ to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in joy and sorrow, for as long as you both shall live?”

You look up at Kiyoomi, feeling a flutter of nerves under his intense gaze. “I do,” he says firmly, his eyes never leaving yours.

“Do you, ___ , take Sakusa Kiyoomi to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in joy and sorrow, for as long as you both shall live?”

You take a deep breath, remembering your meeting with Kiyoomi’s mother and the thoughts that followed. “I do,” you reply, smiling at Kiyoomi.

As the officiant pronounces you both husband and wife, your hands tremble slightly. You think Kiyoomi notices because he squeezes your hand, his touch warm and reassuring, melting away your nerves. “You may kiss the bride,” the officiant announces. Kiyoomi cups your face, his touch sending a shiver of electricity through you. As you look up, you see his gaze soften and his lips curve into a tender smile.

When he leans in, you realize this will be your very first kiss with him, and it will happen as husband and wife! You try to calm yourself and place your hands on his chest. Closing your eyes, you focus on the sensation of his lips meeting yours. The kiss is soft and tender.

As you part, his forehead rests gently against yours, and your breaths mingle. You open your eyes to find him looking at you with adoration you’ve never seen before, taking your breath away all over again and stirring emotions you can't quite describe. You notice his hand still lingering on your face before the crowd around you erupts into applause and cheers. He smiles at you, making you smile at him too.

[reallyromealone]

Vampire knight x male reader

So context

Reader has no like relationship with the other vampires

Yuuki is just human

And I removed all the incest shit from it

I'm rewriting my teenage fic series and making it make sense and not cringe lol

🩷☁️🩷☁️🩷☁️🩷☁️🩷☁️🩷☁️🩷☁️🩷☁️🩷☁️🩷

(name)s memories were always hazy, like it was just beyond a curtain.

(Name) looked confused as he stood in a courtyard, he was just with Ichigo walking to class... How did he get here?

Crouching (name) pulled out (candy) from his pocket and began snacking on it, He was told if he got separated to just wait till he was collected by the others. (Name) never really ventured around the school, often he stuck close to the others as they herded him away from anything they deemed unworthy. (Name) was curious as he glanced around his surroundings and took in the landscape before wandering to a fountain and remembered a human thing Senri taught him and pulled a coin from his pocket and chucked it in said fountain.

Now what?

(Name) stared at the fountain confused as he waited for something to happen but nothing did.

Dang he wished something did happen, humans were weird.

"There you are!" (Name) perked up and saw Aido said happily as Kain followed behind "you know Lord Kaname doesn't want you wandering" Aido said fondly, the sleepy omega clinging to Kain for warmth and Aido playfully pouted as they returned back to the others who looked relived at (name)s return "you worried us" Kaname chastised softly to the other who just stared off "we warned you it's not good to wander off, what if something happened?" (Name) just fidgeted slightly and Kaname sighed "if it happens again you will be punished" not like how he would Aido, the blond alpha usually doing things he very much shouldn't be doing and causing problems for others.

No, (name) was actually the least of Kaname worries in that aspect and usually his punishments were taking away things like his snacks and such, nothing crazy serious but (name) usually sulked about it.

(Name) pouted but let Kaname lead him away, the brunette Alpha keeping a hand on (name)s back as they went to class.

Omegas were extremely far in-between, male omegas were a rarity like no other and even more so amongst vampires, a male Omega vampire had a special ability; their pups would always be pure bloods no matter what.

Though there wasn't enough male omegas in the vampire community to test the theory, (name) was the first in many generations and he wasn't exactly Dam materials Ruka noted to herself as (name) passed out infront of his work.

She couldn't blame him though, they didn't need to be here but Lord Kaname wanted a better relationship with humans so they had to be. Lord Kaname was always protective of (name), keeping him close.

The night class tended to (name) as they would lord Kaname though the Omega didn't seem to notice, more interested in sleep and occasionally sneaking into their rooms because the Omega wanted contact.

(Name) sat beside Aido and Kain during the rest of class as the two blonds kept the sleepy vampire awake in hopes he would retain some information.

"You can nap when we return to the dorms" Kain said to (name) who pouted but tried to pay attention to the class but was not succeeding in the slightest.

Kaname smiled softly at (name) who offered him various sweets, an adorable sense of determination to find a suitable snack as Kaname gently declined his treats as class ended, The sound of screaming girls so late-- or early depending on who you asked was shrill and unpleasant to (name); Kaname keeping him close and away from the hands of the day class students.

Yuuki never knew what to do with (name).

Her dad told her about (name), the Omega was found alone with no memories and taken in by Rukas family but he never went into detail on why (name) was so important, smiling at his daughter with a hint of sadness "he gets to choose what he wants in life... I don't think he's gotten that before this"

(Name) perked up as he saw Yuuki, he enjoyed her company as she was often quite kind to the sleepy vampire and even taught him how to knit, the Omega making blankets after that for his nest.

"Hello (name)--Stay back-- how are you?" Yuuki struggled to keep the fans away as the night class kept a v e r y close eye on the Omega who wandered towards her "Shiki is taking me to get treats..." (Name) whispered slowly before looking at the fans "(name) come now, he have to get to the dorms" Ichigo called out and (name) bid Yuuki goodbye before wandering back to the others.

Though he didn't get far.

A day student reached out and grabbed (name), pulling hard enough to rip his uniform and then hell nearly broke loose.

(Name) was pushed behind Kain and checked on by the other night students as a gun fired, Zero finally making his appearance and glaring down the startled day students "you all have somewhere to be, so fucking get to it or I swear to god I'm going to make your lives miserable" zero seethed out and the day students went quiet for a moment before complaining to the white haired teen.

(Name)s vision was blurry, he vaguely remembers getting lifted before things faded out.

(Name) woke in his bed, soft blankets and familiar scents as he slowly sat up and stretched as Kaname entered the room, holding a glass filled with red liquid "you haven't been eating, you know you need the strength so close to your heat"

(Name)s room was shrouded in darkness as he had blankets over his shoulders "drink" Kaname instructs the Omega who took the glass "... I lost my pills... Yuuki was going to help me look" (name) whispered as he took a sip, though the liquid tasted closer to cranberry and battery acid his hunger was satisfied even slightly "why didn't you say anything?" Kaname interrogates lightly and (name) shrugged "forgot... I'm sorry..."

Kaname gently traced (name)s cheek and sighed, he couldn't be to mad at (name).

"The sweets you consume won't satiate you, if you lose them again tell me" Kaname said to the Omega be was set on making his mate, (name) nodding and leaned into his touch as he always did.

(Name) craved contact from the others, a sleepy distant expression painting his face.

The 18 year old was so tired, he never knew why though.

"You have tomorrow off, I'll have new pills for you then" Kaname said and gently pushed (name) into bed "sleep" his voice gentle but firm as he left the room, (name) watching him leave before falling asleep.

[digi-lov]

Digimon Liberator Novel

[read on the official website] DEBUG.1-1 [Yuuki] - DEBUG.1-2 [HEAVY METAL PLAY] - DEBUG.2-1 [Winr] - DEBUG.2-2 [GOOD GAME]

First spoiler free, then more detailed including spoilers under cut

So the first 2 chapters of the Digimon liberator novel dropped last week! We don't exactly know how frequent it'll update, but most likely not as regular as the comic. First impressions on the main characters, I really like them. I think they are fun and interesting enough to drive the story. They don't feel like exact copies of previous characters, and make me exited for a fresh adventure!

As far as I could tell, the translation seems fairly good, but there was a mistranslation of a card effect. However the translation of TCG card effects can be a bit tricky, and the translators might not have known the official english wording. They also show the respective card right there, so it's easy to see what the effect should be, but it might be confusing to people who weren't already familiar with the cards.

Nevertheless I'm optimistic and looking forward to read more!

So now for a bit more detail

First off, I think they way they incorporate the player's tamer cards is really smart. A player get's their own blank tamer card, and can obtain various effects to add to it within the game, to customize their own tamer card to their play style. Nice! This way it doesn't feel like a weird 4th wall break for Yuuki to have a Yuuki Tamer card for example.

I really like Yuuki , immediately! She's fun, and she definitely has flaws and quirks to work on that'll make her interesting to watch grow. Her relationship with Impmon is nice too. Impmon is not exactly a serious character, but does want Yuuki to be a bit more serious, and recognize the weight of the situation. To an extend, Impmon wants Yuuki to take their partnership more serious in turn, I'd say. The way they talk to each other feels very familiar. You can tell they're close, not holding back complaining about the other. They bicker, but they also quickly drop the fight when needing to figure something out together.

Yuuki's Impmon, as most already know, get's a new evolution line: Punkmon, Loudmon, and HeavyMetaldramon. I love them! I like how it gives Yuuki and her Impmon more of an individual identity, than if they used a previously common Impmon line. The detail about Yuuki being a dancer, and vibing with the cool metal dragon is sweet too!

Also, I wonder if that Altea character is this girl from the poster? It's interesting that Impmon is not a fan of her...

Winr and FunBeemon's introduction was great too. Winr seems like a proud kid, without being feeling too stuck up. The story taking place after he's already known Yuuki for a year, really helps with his walls having started to come down already. I'm curious if his parents will be related to the in universe Digimon Franchise or Game Company in a way, or it they're just generic absent rich parents. Which, I don't think would take away from Winr's character if they are. I feel for him to want to escape from his home life into a virtual world. I love his relationship with FunBeemon. FunBeemon is very attentive to Winr's feelings, and cares a lot about him. And Winr doesn't get annoyed by it, but appreciates it, even though he doesn't quite know how to express it. The new evolutions for FunBeemon are also cool! I've like FunBeemon for a partner Digimon for a while, and I'm excited to see it finally happen!

I'm curious about Winr's real name too, assuming Winr is his username. Winr is a play on "winner", with his Japanese name サイキヨ Saikiyo being a play on 最強 (さいきょう) saikyou meaning "the best" or "the strongest". FunBeemon's nickname "Winnie" is キヨちゃん kiyo-chan in Japanese.

For anyone who's interested: Japanese first person pronouns

Yuuki uses the japanese first person pronoun あたし atashi, which is quite feminine, but as being too over the top girly is sometimes seen as disruptive, atashi also has a do-as-I-please kinda vibe sometimes. For example, it's used by Yuffie from FFVII. The even more cute-girly atai in turn is often used in media by very strong-willed, rough women, such as Plumeria fom Pokémon Sun&Moon, or the Gerudo women from the Legend of Zelda games. It can also be played straight as super cute too thoug, like with Vivian from Paper Mario TTYD.

Impmon uses オレ ore, which is a strong, proud, often masculine pronoun. In formal situations it would be considered rude, but it's normal for guys to use in a casual setting. Very rarely it is also used by super tough women in media, such as Kumatora from Mother 3, or Big Mom from One Piece. Eiichiro Oda mentioned himself knowing women who use ore, but this is quite uncommon and likely a modern developement. You go girls! Impmon also uses it in katakana, which gives it a bit more emphasis.

Winr uses 僕 boku, which is quite common for young boys, or more soft spoken men in casual settings. In media it is also occasionally used by girl characters that have a "tomboy" vibe, but also sometimes by female singers in their songs.

FunBeemon uses 私 watashi, which is technically a polite neutral pronoun, but using it in a casual setting has a feminine connotation.

PS: Sorry this took so long, I'm still very sick, and writing coherent sentences with okay spelling is diffcult.

[cestcirque]

Some Q&A with the former teammates of Kuroo Tetsuro and Kozume Kenma, as seen in the Haikyuu magazine!

*AS ALWAYS I’m still learning the language and cannot guarantee complete accuracy!

Note: I’m only translating questions that contain new info!

Are you playing volleyball these days?

Yaku Morisuke: I am. [Previous question was about current occupations, which I’m not including since they’re mostly the same, but it was revealed that Yaku now plays for Orzeł Warszawa!]

Kai Nobuyuki: I often go to live matches.

Fukunaga Shouhei: I sometimes play around.

Yamamoto Taketora: Trying my best to.

Haiba Lev: I just recently played for a variety TV show! [Lev’s current occupation now includes actor / performer.] And sometimes I go to live matches!

Inuoka Sou: I often play with the kids that I care for, with a soft volleyball.

Shibayama Yuuki: I work at it daily.

Teshiro Tamahiko: I don’t play, but I go to live matches.

Yaku Morisuke

Is there a team or player you would like to play against now?

Starting this term, I’m in the same league as Ushijima, so I want to defeat him, of course.

Compared to your high school days, in which areas have you personally grown?

Muscle.

Please tell us about your goals for the future?

League championships.

Please tell us the details of why you chose to play with the Russian League at first?

Because I received the offer at a time when I was considering playing abroad.

Yamamoto Taketora

Is there a team or player you would like to play against now?

I want to go up against my senpai Yaku-san. I wonder if my attacks could get through him.

Compared to your high school days, in which areas have you personally grown?

The biggest one is mental strength, for sure. I think I can switch mindsets more easily now.

Please tell us about your goals for the future?

As a team, go to the championships. As a player, I want to be able to contribute more to our attacks.

Haiba Lev

Please tell us the details of how you became a model?

I was scouted in Shibuya!

Please tell us about your goals for the future?

Hollywood debut!!

Shibayama Yuuki

Is there a team or player you would like to play against now?

I want to climb up to and compete in Division 1 of the V.League.

Compared to your high school days, in which areas have you personally grown?

Serve receives.

Please tell us about your goals for the future?

To get promoted to Division 1, but for myself as a player, I want to improve my tosses over the attack line.

[hey-haven]

I cannot be silenced! Yuuki Mishima you deserve better!!!!

Looking back I do think it’s kindaaaaa gross how Mishima was treated by both the writers and the fandom. I do think between this and Baby Reindeer (work with me here) people really can’t grasp the idea of a flawed victim.

When it comes to the media, people are more willing to accept a palatable victim. Someone who is either a completely helpless damsel in distress, or someone who can bravely fight back and overcome their abuser and grow stronger from it. But that’s just not how it really works a lot of the time.

I remember when Baby Reindeer came out, there were a good handful of viewers who would go as far as to say that Donny deserved the abuse he was receiving because he was essentially enabling Martha in some way. And then we peel back the curtains and learn the reason why he enables her is actually, arguably, far more horrific than we could have thought.

People didn’t like that he didn’t do the just and noble thing right away, but that’s frankly why I like the story so much. Survivors of abuse don’t just come out the other side fully grown and matured from their experience. They will have to deal with issues that have branched out from the seed that was the abuse. Sometimes we will learn to bite back as a way to cope. Sometimes we can become desperate, clingy, avoidant, angry, violent, paranoid, we can end up hurting someone else. It’s not good and people have every right to be angry when survivors do something bad, but that’s sadly how some people become after dealing with abuse.

So no, the perfect victim you see in stories are almost never real.

Abuse doesn’t make stable individuals. Quite the opposite really. I think it makes a lot of sense for Mishima’s story to go the way it did. Someone who was isolated for years because he was bullied throughout middle school only to become one of the main targets of an abusive, power hungry teacher? No yeah, I see why Yuuki became obsessed with fame and attention. I see why he is extremely clingy to the protagonist. It’s all obvious signs of a sad kid who finally found some form of connection and is desperate to hold on to that. Obviously what he did was not good, but the story makes that very clear. It’s not like they ever tried to excuse his behavior.

I think it’s gross how people whittle him down as some annoying pest, when the thing that made him so clingy and obsessive is years of isolation, bullying, and physical abuse/manipulation. I’m not saying you can’t find those aspects annoying, I very much get why it can be. Even I have moments where I go “dude I can’t keep defending you”. That being said, I do think people should be more willing to step back and look at the bigger picture.

Yuuki actually takes the steps to better himself without the Phantom Thieves changing his heart, which goes to show that he actually has a very strong will and moral compass even if it does lose its way now and again. His healing won’t be linear, but he is trying. I think that makes him a stronger person than people give him credit for

[eternalpassions]

I’ve been re-reading Vampire Knight and I have to say the story is just so much better than VKM. The characters are much more fleshed out and we understood each person’s motivations, struggles and goals as the story went on. I truly do believe that there was great love stories in Yuuki’s life and that she loved both of them equally and struggled immensely to choose one person. She wanted happiness for the both of them. I relate to her deeply during VK because her emotions are so raw and you can see it in the strong line strokes of hino — and just the fact that she used to take the time to draw those beautiful panels and facial expressions. You can see Yuuki mature with Hino’s art. Which I think has become less vibrant with VKM, still beautiful, but there’s less heart in it and you can tell.

Zero— well, I know he’s not very liked in this part of the fandom and that’ s fine. But, I love him because he’s sensible and kind. He noticed when things went wrong with Yuuki’s moods and supported her greatly. He’s not typically kind, not really. I think it’s more that he’s observant and I always understood where he was in his head just from a few panels. I also think over time he came to understand Kaname, because both of them know what they would do for Yuuki and what it is to love her and struggle with the fact that she loved them both. I think he respects Kaname for that among other things. He trusted him, despite everything. I am talking about VK only at the moment but I think this could apply to VKM as well.

Kaname. Oh. Man. This man. There’s so much to say about him. He broke my heart. I think he has not always been clear with others, not even with Yuuki. He has always been the most interesting character of the bunch. Just the fact that he has lived for so long, to find solace in one person and at the same time still not being able to fully commit to her because of external forces, always having to find ways to protect her and not being honest. How could such a man enjoy life? Seing her fall in love with someone else at the same time while he himself struggles with absolutely everything. Then seing her being torn apart by her new reality. I just…that man. And he finally decide to sacrifice himself in order to give the world a chance, to give her a chance. Those last moments of his made me love him. I mean, no, he’s not the character who’s going to be honest and he definitely manipulative in his words and he ‘s always ahead of the narrative. He’s not the perfect man. That’s fine. Because he’s complex and interesting and I cannot say he’s the sane choice. But damn. I truly to love his character. I think he’s been so so lonely for so long. Nothing could truly stop him from his suicide mission. Not even the greatest amount of understanding. Now he’s living a life as a human and yet still missing pieces of his life and soul.

Please, I do hope I can see Kaname Kuran smile from the heart. I hope Hino give us that.

Hey! In a way I enjoy hearing the thoughts of someone who is a fan of both male characters bc it’s kind of more unbiased and I can see things from a side I didn’t consider.

As someone who is heavily biased for Kaname, and I’m sure for anyone biased for zero it’s hard to hear that she loved both but I guess most of us have accepted that reality by now. She did love both greatly and suffered a lot with that conflict. I’ve never loved two guys at the same time but I can imagine that must be so hard and that’s why hi I made the choice for her at the end

Back when I read the main series again it was such a different experience than reading vkm. It’s more clear, the study flows better, there’s more passion put into it like you said

Vkm is less passion out into the art and the story and the motivations aren’t clear… I still read it bc I’ve spent so much time invested in this story and we finally got to the part where Kaname can shine a bit and we see the conclusion to his story and if he gets his true happiness at the end I hope so too!

Thanks!

[mizuki-foreshadowing]

Area Conversation, Empty SEKAI

Kanade and Mafuyu happened across Mizuki and her sister during Yuuki's visit, but Ena missed out on meeting Yuuki, the single most formative person in Mizuki's life, the person she wants most to understand. She asks Mafuyu what she's like, and Mafuyu does her best to compare Mizuki and her sister. The two being compared at all delights Mizuki.

Absolutely desperate right now to know how what Mafuyu says here sounds to a native speaker of Japanese.

At least to me, it sounds like Mafuyu is thinking of how Mizuki and her sister are alike, and adds on the last part as an afterthought, as a way the two aren't quite alike.

It would mean Mafuyu can tell Mizuki's cheerful talkative persona is a mask, which feels right for Mafuyu because she also wears one. It would also imply Mizuki wishes she were like her sister, who she admires; that Yuuki's the kind of person she wants to live as.

Not to mention the implication that Mizuki is just too happy to hear she succeeded to catch Mafuyu calling her out on being a little fake sometimes.

[randoimago]

Hi omg I’m so excited hopefully this request is ok and makes sense. I really like your work so I’m a tad nervous. But basically how would Yusuke, and Ryuji (and Mishima if possible if not that’s also completely understandable) be around their very short S/O like 5 feet 2 inches tall or less level of short. I hope that makes sense if not feel free to ignore me.

Fandom: Persona 5

Character(s): Yuuki Mishima, Ryuji Sakamoto, Yusuke Kitagawa

Note(s): Found a height chart for the group. Futaba and Haru are both short (5'2" and less) queens and I love them. Also, I'm always happy to write for Mishima, he's my goofball 🥰

Mishima

He finds the height difference to be adorable. You're his very cute S/O and he'll gladly help you with whatever you need. Even if you don't really need his help, he'll still offer it. Sure, a step stool would probably be enough for you to reach something, but he still wants to be a useful boyfriend.

Mishima is there to defend you if he hears anyone else saying some kind of short joke to you. Even if you find them amusing, he's still defending you because he knows those jokes can get old quick and doesn't want your mood to potentially sour because the jokes get old.

Yes, you might be his short S/O, but if you want to maybe play video games with him (please) then he'll gladly be your knight in shining armor in that too. He'll happily be your healer if you want to tank. Even if it is in a video game, he finds it so freaking attractive if you defend him despite your smaller stature.

Ryuji

Absolutely leans on you, placing his arm on the top of your head and little things like that to mess with you. It's all done in good fun and he'd never want to actually hurt your feelings, but he's the type of boyfriend to do that stuff.

Ryuji accidentally puts things on high shelves where you can't reach. It's legitimately an accident because he's just placing things where he's always used to having them. He didn't even think about the fact that you can't reach. He is amused when he sees you struggling but then he moves to help you.

He would be happy to pick you up and give you piggyback rides and such though. Even if it's not the best on his knees, he will still try if it makes you happy. Ryuji gets a bit flustered with the affection, but he'll still do it if you ask enough.

Yusuke

Yusuke doesn't intentionally makes short jokes, but he bluntly comments on your height now and then if you need his help to get something from a higher shelf. Again, he doesn't mean for it to sound like a joke, he just says it without thinking of it. Will apologize when he sees you're upset.

Despite the accidental insults, he doesn't really treat you any differently. You're his S/O and that's what he sees you as. That said, if he does have art on the mind then it is interesting for him to see the perspective change for you. Might ask you to take photos of things at your eye level so he can try some new painting idea or something.

Is a bit hesitant with introducing you to Futaba. She's also very small and the last thing he wants is for her to corrupt you and then he's dealing with two tiny gremlins, one being his S/O. If you're already a gremlin then he just sighs and deals with it.

Taglist: @reo-the-leo