#i do think that it's lost a bit of cohesion what with the sudden massive influx of new characters

[egophiliac]

i love your blog bc i love kamen rider AND twst- it’s like a one stop shop for me xoxo

ps. how did you like the new geats episode?

i’m so excited the next one, my friends and i started called sunday “geatsday” cuz that’s when we get together to watch it lol

k bye 🤞💚

there are so many of us who are into both Rider and Twst! excellent taste all-round. ✨

I had to double-check the episode number we were up to on Geats because I cannot believe we're only about halfway through? somehow?! I am absolutely with you that Sunday is Geatsday, I need to know where the heck they're going with this. we've gone from tournament to reality show to...counter-reality show?...what could possibly be next. please let it be a bake-off

also...Beroba...😳

[secndlife]

[5:47pm]

"Do you want me to bring you anything?” You asked Soonyoung, phone glued to your ear, while grabbing a pack of rice from the shelf. You spent the afternoon running some errands, groceries being the last one of your tasks.

He thought about it for a second, “Kimchi?” Of course.

“I already ordered it from that small shop you like,” you informed him, eyes scanning your cart to check if you had all you needed.

“Oh, okay! I’ll pick it up to—ouch!” You furrowed your eyebrows in confusion. What was he doing?

“Stop moving and it won’t hurt!” You heard someone say in the background.

No. Not someone. Krys. Your chest automatically moved as you sighed. Soonyoung and Krys unsupervised never meant anything good. You stopped walking, standing still by the grain section.

“Soonyoung?” You asked, voice gentle. He hummed in response. “What is Krys doing there?” You had no idea what could she possibly be doing there on a Saturday evening. Weekends were, as she liked to call, Seokmin days. So when you heard her voice echoing through your apartment, your senses tingled.

Someone almost bumped at you, making it pretty clear you were in the way. You gave the young man an apologetic look, trying to focus now on whatever excuse Soonyoung was about to offer. “Nothing?” He sounded unsure. Shy, even. Like a child that’s about to get busted.

You rubbed your temples, “Krys is never doing nothing. Especially with you.” They were partners in crime.

“You’ll see when you get home?” Uncertainty, again.

Another long breath escaped you. “Can you just please don’t get slime on the ceiling like that one time?”

He laughed and you felt almost calm. Almost. “It’s nothing like that.”

“Should I be concerned?” You asked, genuinely curious.

“Will you not be concerned if I tell you there’s no reason to be concerned?”

Krys snorted in the background, “Of course she won’t. She doesn’t trust us!”

Your eyes went to the back of your head, “Hey! Can she hear me? If not, tell her to shut up.”

He ignored your banter, “Will you?”

You really wanted to say yes. No one would believe you, though. “No.”

Your boyfriend giggled, “Then be concerned and when you come home you’ll see it’s not a big deal and relax.”

“Just—”

“It’s not slime, and we won’t break anything, ok? Finish doing the groceries, and we’ll see you soon.”

You bit the insides of your cheek, “Do you promise there’s no sli—”

“Love you, bye.”

And then he hung up. Just like that. Plain and simple. You sighed dramatically, staring at the various types of rice in front of you, trying to come up with a scenario where the two of them are alone and doing something that wouldn’t end up in someone getting hurt or in a mess you’d have to fix. Nothing. You guessed you’d just have to go home and see with your own eyes.

The drive from the market to your apartment seemed long. Too long. You probably shouldn’t be this worried. Whatever the two of them were doing was most likely fixable. You’d just have to put on the big girl pants and manage it, like always.

It was just that they were one and the same. Both too impulsive, too often. You loved them despite and because of it. But it was also something that could give you massive headaches whenever they were left alone together.

When you put your keys in the lock, you let out one last breath before you were actually ready to face whatever was expecting you. As you moved the bags inside, you heard footsteps approaching you.

“Hi, bestie.” Krys said, with a sneaky smile across her lips.

You raised an eyebrow at her while closing the door behind you. “What did you do to my boyfriend this time?”

The woman huffed, “Can you stop acting as if I’m some sort of mastermind behind evil plans?”

“Aren’t you?” You said, walking inside, eyes quickly moving through the place in the hopes of finding Soonyoung and whatever mess they had made.

She chased after you, a hand reaching for your arm. “Am not. He is equally involved in everything.” You got confused by her grip, but didn’t really say anything, simply allowing her to drag you further into the living room. “Sit.”

“What for? Where is Soonyoung?” You were feeling agitated.

She somewhat managed to make you follow her orders, legs hitting the comfortable fabric of your couch. “Can you wait, please?”

You shook your head, “No. I want to know what you did.”

Krys rolled her eyes, “For the record, this was his idea. And stop being dramatic, you will actually thank me this time.”

“I doubt it,” you said with a laugh.

She ignored it, confidence very clear in her tone. “Close your eyes, I’ll go get your furry boyfriend.”

“He’s not a furry!”

“Yeah, yeah.” She stood there, facing you, waiting for you to do as you had been told. “C’mon, close them. Otherwise, I won’t bring the furry.”

It was your turn to huff, “Stop calling him that!” When you realized she wouldn’t bulge, you placed your hands over your eyes. “Fine.”

Krys smiled, triumphantly, “You’ll love this.” You could hear her walking away and, for some reason, your heart started beating faster.

“Do you think she’ll like it?” You heard Soonyoung ask her not long after. You guessed that wasn’t for you to hear, but he had never done a good job when it came to concealing words, anyway.

You figured she reassured him some other way as you didn’t hear her voice until she spoke to you again. “Okay, as much as I want to see your reaction, furry guy is too excited, so I think I’ll let you two enjoy this moment alone.”

“Did you buy him a tiger suit? Because if you did I swear—”

“I’ll wait for your thank you text.” You heard something that sounded like hands clapping, guessing they had just high-fived each other. Idiots. “Go get her.”

Not long after, you heard the door closing once again, taking that as your cue. “Soo? Can I—”

“No!” He said, perhaps a bit too loud, before you could move your hands.

“What’s going on?” You whined. “I’m getting worried.”

The man chuckled, “Getting?”

“Please, let me look.” You were practically begging now. A thousand scenarios had crossed your mind already, and you were going crazy at this point because you couldn’t really think of anything besides Krys buying him a goddamn tiger suit.

Soonyoung let out a breath in an attempt to ease his nervousness. This wasn’t that big of a deal. He was sure you’d love him anyway. Still, he really, really hoped you’d like it. He whispered, “You can look now.”

Your boyfriend had barely finished speaking when you started uncovering your eyes. You were met with something you weren’t expecting. He was smiling. Big. He looked different, too. It was almost as if your heart had skipped a beat. Words were failing you, so you struggled to manage mumbling something cohesive. “Oh!”

“Is it bad?” He pouted.

“What? No!” You said, truthfully. You then stood up, standing in front of him. “I guess I just thought it’d be something else.”

He chuckled, “You think too low of Krys and I.”

“I have my reasons.” You brushed your fingers through his hair. “You look amazing. Like, really fucking good.”

He was blond.

Could that even be considered blond? It was actually more leaning towards white and, if you looked at it close enough, there were subtle hints of purple on the background tone. Apparently, Krys came not long after you left earlier, bringing the necessary equipment to support Soonyoung in his newest decision. She always had his back. He said she bleached it and styled it before you came home, being well aware of how weak you were for side parted hair, and a couple of strands falling over his eyes Soonyoung.

“Do you like it?” He sounded timid. Almost as if he was too scared to ask. He was always the confident one. Still, when it came to you, Soonyoung was often like an insecure teenager that wanted nothing more but to impress his crush.

You nodded, “I love it.” You weren’t a big fan of blond men, always being the one to go for dark haired ones. Still, much like with many other things, Soonyoung was a decisive and welcoming change of opinion. You wrapped your arms around his neck while his went instinctively to one of the places he called home - your waist.

When you didn’t say anything for a bit, he took his chance to tease. “I see it made you speechless.”

You smiled, “It just kinda reminds me of the first picture I saw of you.”

Seeing Soonyoung with the same hairstyle he had when you were first introduced to his remarkable features, even if only through an Instagram post, gave you butterflies. It took you back to when you barely even knew who he was. To when you were, unknowingly, falling for his eyes for the first time. It felt new and, at the same time, familiar.

You took some time to just admire him. To take in how good he looked. To allow him to read, in your eyes, how much you loved him. To let your heart go back to its usual rhythm. To understand that, now, this was a different Soonyoung than the one you first saw on Doki’s phone. That this Soonyoung was as in love with you as you were with him. That this Soonyoung was as yours as you were his.

“I didn’t look this hot back then.” He said, lips curving in a smug smirk.

You laughed, “You definitely didn’t. I don’t know how, but you manage to look better and better every day.” Your fingers danced against the hair on his nape. “This just makes you even hotter.”

He pulled you closer, welcoming the sudden ego boost. “Hot enough for you to let me fuck you right here, right now?”

You stared into his eyes and felt something twist inside you. He raised his eyebrows as if he was waiting for a confirmation he could push you up against a wall and make you moan his name within minutes.

You smiled his favorite smile, face already mere millimeters away from his. “Yeah.”

While you were lost in his kisses and moans and bites, your phone was buzzing by your pocket.

[5:47pm] Krys: you’re only excused from not texting me thank you if you’re fucking your newly blond boyfriend :)

a/n: yes this is another mmf!soonyoung thing. am i still obsessed with this universe? yes. am i planning/writing another long ass fic about it? yes. will i post small drabbles that fit between the timeline for mmf 1 and 2 while i work on part 2? probably. anyway! when he first showed up blond recently i almost died bc i’m such a black haired supremacist and he was looking SO GOOD with the previous hair i was kinda bitter. but. now. you know. he knocked me down. he did that. he is so sexy. blond/white soonyoung is so sexy. so yeah! no explanation, just sexy blondish soonyoung. also, for the sake of writing, let’s pretend you can actually go from black to his current haircolor in a day without going bald. as usual,my askbox is always open even tho i now apparently suck at answering asks. sorry about that. I WILL WORK ON IT !!! yeah so! i hope you’ll enjoy it mwah

[itsuki-minamy]

“K SIDE: PURPLE 08”

Translation: Naru-kun Raws: Ridia

K - Side: Purple (Chapter List)

Looking at the customer who entered, Taka-san widened his eyes.

Isshin Hase, a man who settled in "Niibangai" about half a year ago. He was a big man with muscular bones, and if he had had the aptitude, he could have been hired by this "Massive Boys", but for now, he "established himself as a goalkeeper for all of Niibangai".

Hase looked confused while he was at the store entrance. It is not surprising. "Massive Boys" is a so-called "tourist bar" that anyone can walk into, but there are chaotic fluorescent neon signs, bondage fashion Greek sculptures, and bright posters of gay porn stars all over the store. At first glance, customers are often confused and some leave the store immediately.

"Sensei, come here."

When Taka-san beckoned, Hase looked relieved and walked over to the counter. When he put his giant body on a stool, he looked like one of the figures in the store.

Taka-san laughs a bit as he hands him a hand towel.

"Welcome. It's rare for Sensei to come to us."

"Um, well, that's right. I'm not good at these kinds of places."

Taka-san is in awe of the wording. Since Hase was in a hurry, he wondered why he had come if he wasn't good at it, or what if he said it in front of them.

"Oh, no, no! It's not about you, there's just no green tea in this place to drink. Sorry."

Taka-san involuntarily bursts out laughing. It seems true that he wasn't good at socializing, although he didn't have to panic.

"Well, that's correct. Sure, you can't drink?"

"Um, I can't."

"Ah, I'm not serious. I apologize, we have many other non-alcoholic drinks."

He glanced sideways and pointed at Chief Satoshi. He saw this person, so the instructions mean that others are welcome. Satoshi looked ahead and yelled, he came out of the counter to stop an employee who is getting involved with a customer.

Taka-san turns to Hase and says with a soft smile.

"So what are you going to do, Sensei?"

"That's right. I'll order a sake that I can drink."

"Yes."

Taka-san took the shaker. There was no doubt that Hase asked for that for his sake. There are days when he still wants to drink alcohol that he cannot drink. He has been doing this kind of business for a long time, so he knows it.

He adds syrup, sugar and lemon to some cocoa liquor and shake it. Transferring it to a glass, he poured in sparkling water and was slightly driven, Taka-san presented the glass in front of Hase.

"Yes, please. Cacao Fiz. It has less alcohol, so feel free to drink."

"Oh, thanks."

He raised the glass with a nervous hand, and took a sip. Hase's eyes widened.

"Uh, it tastes good."

"Thank you."

Taka-san smiled. Hase tipped his glass again and drank several times.

He wondered what happened.

For half a year after the gangster attacked, Hase has solved many problems in "Niibangai". There are many people, including Taka-san, who have been helped and protected by him. Still, his good-natured personality who never snorts his achievements, was welcomed favorably by the "Niibangai" neighbors.

Still, Taka-san doesn't know Hase's details. Also Mi-chan and Seiya. He is forbidden to snoop unnecessarily, which was implicitly a rule of thumb in "Niibangai", which has many wounds on its inhabitants.

So Taka-san didn't force him to answer, he just shook off the little talk.

"How about these days? What about Mishakuji-chan?"

Hase laughs on one cheek. A sip of cocoa and then a sip of words.

"His sword is..."

"Yes?"

"I was right. That boy has a good sword."

For a moment, Taka-san didn't understand what Hase was saying.

Hase's ability is brute force. He has taken down several thugs in the blink of an eye. He was not sure about the sword, but he could understand through common sense that he had been studying for many years and that his technique cannot be surpassed by one half.

That is to say…

"Why are you asking that all of a sudden?"

"I heard you promised Sayuri to try to avoid injury. Until now, you've been hitting with a move that doesn't care, but it seems like you've decided to change that."

"……"

"The word genius is lukewarm. Yukari is real, so is his ability."

Speaking to himself, Hase set the empty glass on the counter.

"Give me a refill."

"Yes."

While preparing a new cocktail, Taka-san implicitly observed Hase's expression.

Hase seemed to be laughing. Eyes closed and thoughtful, his lips formed a slight smile. But Taka-san didn't know what he thought was true. What do people feel when they are outmatched by humans for just half a year after many years of research? Only the person knows.

"He's a great kid. That's it."

Taka-san is even more cheerful as he pours a new cocktail into the glass.

"Yeah, he really does cause that feeling, right? Mishakuji-chan is amazing. He's been able to do anything for a long time, he's smart, he has a good face. It's weird that he's in a place like this."

Hase smiles bitterly as he looked at the glass that Taka-san gave him.

"A place like this, is a greeting. I wonder if this is where I live."

"Yes. "Niibangai" is certainly our place. But after all, it is a place like this."

Taka-san turned his gaze towards the shop, saying that selfishly. The burly men in XL evening gowns and prima donna suits hold their glasses cross-shouldered and the singing voice is out of tune.

"Drop something, run away from something. This is a mound of snow where these people gather. The more time we spend here, people like me, Mi-chan, Seiya, Sayuri, we have no place to stay other than here."

Hase's glass was empty. Taka-san unconsciously poured half sake.

"But Mishakuji-chan is different. Since he is a big boy, it is possible that he can fly to a wide world that we cannot imagine. I think he is a boy, who unlike us who cannot escape, can open up by himself One Way."

Taka-san says that, narrowing his eyes.

Mishakuji Yukari was certainly such an existence for the people of "Niibangai". Hope and possibility. Being able to fly to places where they can never go. That's why everyone who likes Yukari feels that he is not suitable for this place.

"Escape."

Suddenly, Hase's face was dyed bright red and the giant swayed. Taka-san rushes to replace the glass.

"My God, I wonder if I drank too much. Water, water."

"Hm..."

Hase looks at the water that Taka-san offered him. Hase flutters with some drunken eye flashes.

"I'm the same. I wonder if it was fate that brought me here."

"……"

Do not poke around uselessly. That is the "Niibangai" rule. They all have the same scars that they don't want to be explored.

However, you cannot live with your own pain forever. There are times when you still want to spit out the scars you don't want to find. In such a case, listen to the story silently. That's not "Niibangai's" rule, it was Taka-san's rule.

"Why did you come here, Sensei?"

When Taka-san poured the water, Hase leaned his elbows on the counter, closed his eyes, and began to speak slowly.

"I betrayed my friend and ran away from him."

++++++++++

The Miwa Meishinryu Dojo was located near Hase's birthplace.

He doesn't remember why he got a sword. He was not good at socializing due to his natural nature, and he believed that swinging a stick was easier than playing with friends at school. There were few outsiders who bothered to learn old-fashioned swordplay, and it was even rarer when they were younger, and there was only one disciple his own age.

That was Miwa Ichigen's school.

Miwa was the grandson of the owner of the dojo, a boy who was sought out to take over the Miwa Meishin style. For that reason, it seems that he was strictly taught not only the sword, but also all martial arts and etiquette. From the boy Hase's perspective, Miwa seemed to have little time to break free.

However, he didn't make sense of Miwa's character. He always had a spring breeze atmosphere that made his feel relaxed just by being next to him. It wasn't a bother for Hase, who wasn't good at socializing, to be around Miwa. Not only was he a friend of the sword of the same age, but Hase and Miwa believed that they fit together in terms of personality.

However, even Hase often couldn't understand Miwa.

For example, while he was practicing in the presence of a sword, there was a moment when he suddenly lost his head. Even if it's practice, if the hit is bad, it will hurt. Since he knew, he should have to put stress on his whole body, but Miwa just looked somewhere far away, and sometimes his heart wasn't even there.

And Hase couldn't attack Miwa. He should be full of spaces, but there was no possibility of attacking anywhere. He was caught up in the premonition that a ridiculous counterattack would ensue the moment he hit him, and he had no choice but to turn Miwa around. Meanwhile, both of them were severely scolded by the owner of the dojo.

"Hey. What the hell was that?"

After a day of practice, Hase scold Miwa.

Half intended to complain. Both of them were ordered to clean the entire dojo as punishment for clumsy practice. He couldn't help but wonder why he wasn't fed up with Miwa, but he couldn't think of beating Miwa if he acted immature in front of him.

As he squeezed the cloth he had just lifted from the bucket, Miwa asked mysteriously.

"What's that?"

"That's it. It's like you go somewhere from time to time, whatever you're practicing. It's hard to do and I can't get over you."

"Ah..."

Miwa was a bit shy.

"That's the word that comes to mind."

"Word?"

"Yeah. Words that usually come to mind that aren't cohesive probably come together at that moment, and then my head goes that way."

He has turned his lips into a sword. He knew from his long relationship that Miwa wasn't teasing him.

"I do not know why."

"Yes. I really don't get it."

"I can't understand what you don't understand."

Having said that, Hase smiled bitterly. The one who laughed was the loser. He placed both hands on the mop placed on the floor and cleaned as he took a step. Hase lecture Miwa that he was a little late.

"If those words come together, let me know."

Miwa also laughed a bit and replied.

"Yes. I'll tell you when the time comes."

In the future, Miwa will be the owner of the Miwa Meishin-style dojo. Become a friend of Miwa, he will have the level of a teacher, sometimes they would exchange swords, teach the sword technique to the neighborhood children and hear those "words" one day. Somehow, Hase envisioned that future.

So when he heard that Miwa was leaving the house, he wasn't surprised at all.

Hase and Ichigen Miwa's sword arms were almost the same, but their heads were different.

When he heard that Miwa would be enrolled in the highest school in the country, he thought reflexively, "This guy will do long before breakfast."

But he really didn't understand. Why wasn't he the successor to the dojo? What happened to the promise to hear the "words"? Does he throw the sword? Out of anger, Hase was asking that question in quick succession.

Miwa was a bit embarrassed, as he bent his neck.

"No. I'm sure I'll be waving my sword wherever I am."

Then, with a look soft like a spring breeze, he added:

"The 'words' are not organized yet. Once they are organized, I'll show them to you first."

"Really?"

Hase had no choice but to say so. There were no other words.

The difference between him and Miwa was clearly shown.

First of all, he was a different person than him, who was not good at socializing because he was careless and had no choice but to cling to this land while he brandished his sword. Miwa, she was smart and had many brilliant talents. He was a person who could advance to a larger world for a better future. It was just that Hase was so crazy that he thought he must be around him all the time.

"Do not feel alone."

The words that came out of his mouth surprised him. He should be pleased with the prosperity of his friend, but the first thing that comes up is his feeling. Masochistically, he thought that place would be different without him.

Still, Miwa smiled and replied.

"Me too. I will be a teacher who teaches from the heart."

Then, Miwa flew all over the world.

Shortly after Miwa disappeared, Hase became the teacher of the Miwa Meishin school.

It seems that the owner of the dojo still wanted Miwa to take over the dojo. The instructor would only be Miwa, and he claimed that he was in the middle of a "long absence". That was not important to Hase. He was not interested in the position or title as long as he could live wielding his sword, he thought it was the most suitable life for him.

Meanwhile, almost 10 years have passed.

One day, Miwa came by chance.

After graduating from high school, he heard that he got a job in an overseas securities company and that he is doing a great job. It would be a lie not to say that his friend was living a completely different life from his, and that he didn't feel alone, but when he thought "that's what it is", it was a story he could swallow. He thought that he had found something that could be the basis for him, just like he was living with a sword.

The face of his friend that he saw after a long time seemed to be dead.

Hase looked at his face seriously, and Miwa smiled like a spring breeze, as in the past.

"I'm sick. I left the company."

If asked, it seems that dark circles floated under his eyes and his body was thin. Hase could only imagine what a foreign securities company would look like, but it was probably a hostile environment that could damage the trained body with a sword. Hase ran into a friend, who fell ill and eventually returned from an unknown land.

"Miwa. Stay here forever. This is your home."

With a smile on his face, he shook his head gently.

"No. This is your dojo. I decided to retreat into the distance."

Hase opened his eyes. He didn't know what Miwa was thinking.

He said that he will soon go somewhere even though he had returned. Miwa took Hase's hand and said, wondering if such doubts had appeared on his face.

"It is said that good air is better for me. I can go calmly because you are in charge of this dojo."

"……"

"I lost the Miwa Meishin style."

When he told him that, Hase couldn't do anything else.

That night. Hase saw Miwa in the Kendo room.

Miwa dressed in a sash and calmly waved a wooden sword. It was probably because of the feeling that he was sick and did such a thing. It is a dojo where he spent his childhood and youth. Miwa who returned after a long time, thought it was inevitable that he would want to breathe the air of the dojo even if he made his sick.

"I understand your feelings, but don't overdo it."

He tried to yell that when he saw it.

Miwa, waved his sword as if dancing. As if running water flowed incessantly, his feet and the sword of judgment as well, they never stayed in one place.

Silently, gracefully, without the gap of habit, Miwa manipulated the wooden sword lightly.

It was hard to believe that this sick man was away from the sword for many years.

Indescribable discomfort hit Hase's chest. When he realized it, he was entering the kendo room. Hase didn't stop even if he looked back in surprise when he noticed that.

Miwa unexpectedly pointed at his throat.

"Miwa, fix things with me."

Hase, unknowingly holding a wooden sword that he hung on the wall in one hand, raised it unconsciously.

His bloodied eyes are wide open, his shoulders are tight, and his lips are tight. When he saw Hase, he had a sad expression on his face.

"Oh, I…"

"Don't say anything. I ask you to fix things with me."

Then Hase held his sword to his eyes.

Miwa was silent for a while. He had his face down, so Hase didn't know what kind of expression he had. With a wooden sword in his hands, he said in a hazy voice.

"I will not reduce the number of hits."

"Try this. I will never forgive you."

Miwa looked directly at Hase and held his sword in the top row.

That only made the skin all over his body crawl.

He didn't want to admit it. He couldn't forgive him. However, as a grave fact, he stood in front of Hase.

Miwa was stronger than him. Much stronger.

He couldn't admit it.

Hase was surprised that such pride lurked in him. Hase saw himself as a disinterested and cheerful person just by wielding his sword.

But that meant that if he turned it over, he only had one sword. He thought that he wouldn't lose, even if it was Miwa. No matter how beautiful he was, no matter how glamorous he was in the world, only the sword. He only believed in this way of life, yet somewhere in his being, he believed that he was inferior to Miwa.

He was crushed.

The moment he saw the sword dance, he knew that he was in a situation where he couldn't even compete with Miwa. He was sick. He believed that he had been working for a company for a long time.

Miwa was much more skilled than him, who has directly thrust the sword.

He couldn't forgive him.

Miwa, no. He cannot forgive himself. The chief was not skilled enough to trick him into pretending not to see him. All feelings and consideration turned to dust at that moment. Isshin Hase had to challenge Ichigen Miwa.

Miwa with the sword in the top row had a transparent expression. The expression was familiar. It's the expression he used to have when he practiced, when his heart was going somewhere.

The facial expression when the "words" arise

At that moment, he couldn't hit him. He had a feeling that he was going to receive a terrible counterattack and could only turn around.

But now…

If he didn't hit him now, he will regret it for the rest of his life.

"Oooooooooooooh!"

Driven by thoughts of him, Hase kicked the dojo floor. A reverse kasaya that appears to be licked from the bottom left. He fired the strongest blow of his life.

And…

++++++++++

"So what happened?"

Taka-san asked in a low voice, looking at Hase, who has fallen onto the counter.

"Fu…"

With his forehead pressed against the counter, Hase shook his shoulders and laughed.

"Of course I lost. No matter how many times I tried, I couldn't even touch it with the sword."

"……"

"The next morning, Miwa left. He left a letter."

There was a brief goodbye and a "word" in which the words were finally joined. No words of apology were written. Hase was saved by that.

"The next morning I left the dojo. I should have decided once that it was my place to live. I couldn't bear to be there anymore."

If he entered the dojo and swung his sword, he would remember that night. When he realized that, his life was worth nothing.

"I ran away. I left the dojo that night. For the very fact that I couldn't get over Miwa. I left the dojo that Miwa had entrusted to me and the disciples who trusted me, I fled, kept running, and then I came here."

Hase laughed deep in his throat, lifting his flushed face and squeezing it.

"I tried to assume that Miwa was special. He was a monster given two or three times by the sky. Then Yukari appeared."

With a laugh, Hase covered his eyes with his big palm.

"When I saw his movement today, I remembered Miwa that night. I moved like I danced and didn't stop. It's funny, right? After running away from a monster, I ended up meeting another monster. Kukuku…"

Hase kept laughing deep in his throat. Maybe he wasn't laughing. Thinking like this, Taka-san gently walked away.

"In the end, I can't. I couldn't beat him or forgive myself for losing. I saw Yukari today and I remembered him. I'm a useless person."

Taka-san thinks that there are two types of people who despise themselves.

Someone who wants you to deny it, and some who really believe it.

Hase now is probably the last. There was an opponent who lived with a sword and still couldn't beat him. He doesn't think he can understand all the regrets, despair and helplessness at that time. Suffering can only be understood by the person who tasted it.

However, there was still a problem with Hase.

"Miwa, right? I have never met him, but I am grateful to that person."

When Taka-san said, Hase looked up mysteriously.

"Because without that person, I could have been dead."

Hase looks at Taka-san with drunken eyes. Taka smiled, poured water into the glass, and presented it to Hase.

"Isn't that true? If you had overcome that feeling before that person, you wouldn't be here right now. Then I could have been stabbed by that yakuza and would die."

"……"

"It's not just me. It's the same for Mishakuji-chan. He could have been seriously injured protecting me, and that boy could have died if you hadn't intervened. Right?"

Hase shook his head, saying that he couldn't turn his head properly. Taka-san sighed and looked directly at Hase.

"You may have lost. You may have escaped, thrown away, betrayed and come here. But there are people who have been saved."

"……"

"So don't say you're worthless, much less say that in front of Mishakuji-chan, because he respects you."

"Does he respect me?"

Hase repeated it, like the words he heard for the first time. As he looked down at the glass.

"But eventually he will be stronger than me."

"But now you are still that child's teacher."

Hase was listening to the words and sinking into the depths of the water in the glass.

"So, be proud and be like a teacher. Not for you, but for Mishakuji-chan. One day when that child leaves the nest, you will be able to proudly say, 'Isshin Hase taught him the sword.'"

Hase was silent for a while.

Taka-san didn't say anything else. He thought it was Hase's problem. After all, Hase himself is the only one who can come out of despair and suffering.

"So is."

Finally, Hase muttered and crept into his chest.

What he took out of it was a messy piece of paper. It was slightly dirty and covered with hand stains, and the written characters were not clear. However, Hase squinted to see the precious written treasure and murmured.

"I may have come here for that."

[radramblog]

Hard-Fi - Stars of CCTV (2005)

Here’s a solid one to start on: not well-known enough to be beloved (at which point I’d be worried about stepping on toes), nor so obscure that no-one knows who the heck I’m talking about.

For those not in the know, Hard-Fi are an English rock band formed in the early 00s, that have unfortunately been on hiatus since 2014. Unfortunately, I was a bit too young for the noughties rock revival (I would have been 6 when this album dropped) so I can’t really comment on how popular or well-received the band was compared to similar, more long-lasting acts such as Franz Ferdinand or the Arctic Monkeys. Around when I first heard this album was when I was going through a bit of a phase with those two bands (and I still love them both, and have their full discographies), and I sort of got this idea in my head of their three debut albums forming this sort of trifecta. You’ve got Franz Ferdinand’s self-titled as this posh, high-class, swaggering album, Stars of CCTV as the working class counterpart, downtrodden and desperate but more worldly and mature, and Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I Am Not between the two with all this youthful energy, as well as pretty handily representing the middle class in this little structure. Worth noting it’s been a while since I’ve listened to that one, so I’m likely to be completely wrong about it.

Regardless, desperate is where we start with Stars of CCTV and it’s opening track, Cash Machine. The very first seconds of the track do an excellent job of introducing the mood of the song, and album as a whole, with this incredibly lonely harmonica bit, the introduction of this smooth little bassline, and a sudden shift into the first verse with it’s hard-hitting drumbeats and sparse, scratchy guitar. The lyrics kick in, as we begin this story of living paycheck to paycheck and not having enough money to get home after a night out. Between that and some of the soaring strings in the back of the chorus the song sounds just like a tragedy in motion. This continues into the second verse, with the singer’s desperate attempts to find a way home, and lamenting the world and situation he’s in, finally cultivating in the final verse- his girlfriend makes a positive pregnancy test, and he can’t afford the baby, so he has to skip out on her. There’s this real sense of loss in the song, with this character who’s sure he’s done nothing particularly wrong in life but is suffering regardless- he’s tormented by his poverty, made manifest in the form of this ATM. Cash Machine is probably my second favourite track on this album, if I’m honest- despite being well-off enough that I will probably never have to relate to it (privilege checked, nice) it’s still incredibly cohesive and just…sad. Hopeless even.

The album fortunately doesn’t stay this low forever, as we follow up with…Middle Eastern Holiday? Aw shit. The song opens and sticks with this faster, more light-hearted drum line (featuring a small amount of cowbell), and it’s not exactly a positive song but it’s certainly no Cash Machine. It’s talking about a heavy topic, but almost with a mocking tone, condemning the idea of late teenagers signing up for the military without thinking it through. It’s a much more traditional song, and thereby much more forgettable, but still a very solid indie rock track.

We then get into Tied Up Too Tight, and I honestly couldn’t tell you what this one is about. Definitely a lot less dark/political than the last few. The build-up to the first chorus gets longer every time I hear the song, I swear to god. I almost feel like this build-up is kind of too long for the payoff it gets. I was a lot higher on the song when I first heard it, but I just kind of get weary of it the more I do. The verses are pretty repetitive, with this 11 or so second loop of instrumental over and over with the lyrics being the only real change until the prechorus, which takes a full minute to kick in. And it’s not like that loop isn’t interesting, there’s actually a lot going on in it, but it just starts to grind on me. And as I said, the chorus doesn’t pay the build off enough to be satisfying, nor does it deliberately fall so flat as to undercut it and release the tension that way. (a tactic which pays off in songs such as Radiohead’s Weird Fishes)

Gotta Reason is the first track on this album I almost completely forgot about if I’m honest. You mean there’s another track on here before Hard to Beat? Damnit. I don’t have any super strong opinions about it, but between it and Hard to Beat we’re firmly entering the “fun” part of this album. I also completely forgot about the fake out ending, which seems completely pointless if you ask me.

Oh hell yeah, Hard to Beat. Hard to Beat was the first Hard-Fi song I heard, thanks to Spotify recommendations, and the only one I’ve heard in public. It’s cleanly their biggest song, and for good reason, because this song is a fucking jam. Lyrically, it’s nothing special, being a fairly straightforward club love song, but it’s just got this really solid vocal performance, especially with the phenomenal prechorus and chorus, as well as this really fun, if basic, guitar line that’s all brought together by this fuzzy bass that I honestly adore. It’s all just great to sing and groove along to, and I can’t even write all of this without being completely lost in it. Seriously, go listen to this song, holy shit. One of the best rock songs that decade. It’s a song with a prophetic title, however, as the remainder of the album is left with an especially tough act to follow.

We enter a 4-song long period here of tracks that didn’t leave enough of an impact on me such that I basically didn’t know any of them until I relistened to write this post. Unnecessary Trouble is another decent rock song, following in the vein of Gotta Reason, but with added “Whoa-oh-ohs” for some spice. Move on Now is a bit of a turn, as it’s a singer + piano song rather than being a rock song. While being incredibly melancholy (as the genre tends to), it still isn’t anything special- the vocal performance is passable, and the piano line is pretty generic. I do like the little bit of bridge that comes in with a little bit of trumpet and a drum machine, and how quiet the vocals get at the very end.

Better Do Better lands as a better Tied Up Too Tight, with this low, relatively quiet build that makes sure not to overstay its welcome before bursting out into the chorus with the vocals SUDDENLY SHOUTING and then chilling out again but now the rest of the song is amped up. It does have a bit of spice for itself with the bridge, which is a little funkier than anything else on the album. The ninth track, Feltham is Singing Out, is basically fine, though the mix isn’t great as far as I can tell- the vocals in the verses are a little muddied in the guitar line. It is a touch harder a song than anything else on the album- the chorus instrumental reminds me vaguely of The Cranberries’ Zombie, but a good bit higher pitched and sped up. Actually, it’s nothing like Zombie, but it has a similar guitar tone if you know what I mean?

At this point I’m basically living for Living for The Weekend. I just love the intro, with this slowly rising synth and this sudden, stuttered percussion that sadly doesn’t continue into the rest of the track. The feel of the song well conveys that feeling of finally being able to take a load off and party after a long week of work, with a vocal performance that sounds vaguely weary, but still relieved and excited. I also love that the track ends on a fade-out with the lyrics “You and I, going out tonight” repeated, as it sort of suggests in some way that that story continues, though hopefully not directly into the last song.

Stars of CCTV’s self-titled finale is another odd one out, being entirely acoustic, and we’re well and truly back to melancholy here. Stars of CCTV referring to the celebrity of the criminal, with the fame and recognition that comes from a wanted poster or your face on the news. The sense of desperation lingers again in this song, like the infamy is what this person lives for, but they almost hate themselves for it. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but hey this is an opinion blog, right. Anyway, the music. Outside of the surprisingly varied vocals the song has not a massive amount to offer, though I really like the playful piano in the bridge, as well as the little claps bringing it all together. It is honestly one of the better songs on the album, and nicely bookends the album with Cash Machine.

Overall Stars of CCTV is a solid album, despite its fair number of forgettable tracks. The lows aren’t especially low, and the highs range from great to fantastic. If you’ve gotten this far without listening to it then I’d recommend fetching your streaming service of choice and giving it 45 minutes of your time.

Now that we’re done here, please please please hit me up if you have feedback or just want to ask something, either here or on twitter @Raderph. Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you next time.

[talyn-the-warlock]

Talyn Talks - Jokers Wild Gambit Changes!

Hello, Guardians! After playing a good bit of the Season of the Drifter's new Gambit rules (and some Gambit Prime!), I felt ready to express my opinions. As a Gambit diehard (for the right reasons- Praxic gang for life), I felt it my duty to weigh in about what I like and what might need improving! These are of more or less first impressions, of course- not sure what Bungie has in store for us in the next few months!

I think the biggest change I'm on board with is the implimentation of a sudden death tiebreaker round. It does a lot to shorten games of Gambit. Tenser, closer games could feel like they were dragging on from time to time, and having to play three entire rounds could end up tedious. A quick Primeval battle to decide victory is a great remedy for this!

The next big set of changes I wanted to talk about was the complete revamp of Blockers. To be honest, I'm on the fence on this front. One half of me likes that the new Blockers aren't as tanky (Goblin to a Knight seems much quicker to handle than Phalanx to an Ogre), but the other half sort of sees that as defeating the purpose. It's good for the blockee, but not so much benefit for the blocker. All in all, Blockers still serve their function of shutting the bank down for a time. It's not like these changes break the game, and I feel like the new, easier to kill Blockers were implimented in service of Gambit Prime's mote draining mechanic.

("What a wonderful segway, Talyn!" D'awww, thank you, Guardian!)

Now, the Drifter's latest con- Gambit Prime! It's essentially the Salty Spitoon version of normal Gambit. I'm sure you Guardians have heard all about it- one round in a massive map, with tougher enemies to fight and a shielded Primeval at the end. Let me tell you, for a 650 Light girl in her first match, it was tough! Majors and Ultras populate most of the arenas, and one has to measure themselves well to retain their motes. As aforementioned, Blockers in Gambit Prime will actually drain your banked Motes if there's any more than one. The Drifter's lines and the sound effects do a really good job telegraphing this when it's happening. I haven't yet lost a ton of Motes on account of being too busy fighting to notice we'd been blocked! It's tense and it's sweaty, but all things considered it's a good time. There's only one or two things I'd change.

("I can't believe it, she's two for two!")

Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of large, sprawling maps with more foes and more locations. They really do up the scale in the PvE aspect and give all these tougher enemies more room to breathe! My criticism comes in when invasion happens. Snipers and Linear Fusion Rifles already seemed to dominate Gambit, and with the Prime maps offering little but wide engagement distances they become almost a must. A great many of my duels with invaders devolved into sidestepping erratically, waiting for the other to hold still long enough to snipe them. With most Guardians stuck with whatever's the best drop until they hit the new cap, many of us are going to be without these ranged options for some time. Even in the PvE context, more enemies that are all stronger than average lead one to want to keep their distance. When youre stuck with a submachine gun and a shotgun, it's easy to feel at a disadvantage. I can already hear the Dredgens among you telling me to get good, and maybe so. But it just seems to me the mode leans heavily into certain weapon selections, intentionally or not.

Another thing I'm indecisive about are the Prime sets and roles. I love the concept of roles in Gambit! The ability to specialize in one aspect or another really helps team cohesion. Having a specific job to do in your team helps the whole machine run more smoothly, and it's what won matches in base Gambit. Nevermind the fact they made all the gear enticingly cool! My only worry comes from the set bonuses. I understand Gambit Prime is supposed to be hardcore, but I have this fear that later on in Jokers Wild's lifespan these set bonuses are going to become nessessary in order to remain competitive. I think it'd be frustrating to die to an invader solely because they just had more health or did more damage than you- it eliminates a lot of the tension and the skill factor in those PvP moments. Just reading about them, the perks seem balanced enough. I just can't help but shake this feeling they're going to become mandatory to consistently win!

For what it's worth, there's my two cents. In all reality, these changes and new modes do a lot to increase variety and interest in Gambit. I don't know about you, but I'm excited to see where the Drifter takes us next!

(In spite of myself. I'm watching you, Eli.)

-Talyn