#i don't know how to explain Tenma's side of it properly

[7-oh-ta1]

I hate taiten they made me think about my stupid au again and especially the post-botw pre-totk world where Tenma doesn't hunt down his memories and is still inexplicably drawn to him not even on purpose but he's traveling and boom it happens to be where the Stable Trotters are performing (wanwan combi are in the troupe in this ver of au) or he visits Yuki and Taichi just happens to be visiting at the same time and their lil souls are in love and always looking for each other but Tenma doesn't have any of those memories that Taichi does, just instinct and well i just.

[xx-projectsekai-au-concepts-xx]

okay!! that anon who asked about major additions additions to common aus here

i don't know if you'll allow this but

wd au but instead of being born and raised in the dark kingdom like is the common view, rui was actually one of the white knights in the past, but the dark kingdom manipulated him into believing that the other knights didn't actually care about him, and brought over to their side

i've had this idea since before nene5, and since before i learned about the thing in the last image:

but those strengthened the idea. so yea that's my take on things :3c

sorry if this isn't the kind of thing you accept

Ohhh, that is such a cool idea. I honestly never even realized that the white knights or the new Nene set had that symbol, so this connection is news to me, lol. That is really interesting to think about.

So, how about this?

(full response under the cut because this is long as shit, lmao)

The four all met each other for the first time in their teen years. Rui Kamishiro and Nene Kusanagi had been close friends since childhood, but neither of them had met Tsukasa Tenma or Emu Otori before that fateful day.

The four had just been accepted into a training program, overlooked by the king of the Kingdom of Light, so that they could one day become a part of the Knights Of White, the trusted protectors of the land. It was the first day of training, and they were all so glad to be able to meet other people who wanted to keep their kingdom safe.

Rui, Nene, Emu, and Tsukasa quickly became close friends, and they promised that they would have each other's backs, no matter what happened.

And they did. For the next couple of years, the four of them trained tirelessly together. If any of them were sent on a mission, at least one other member of the friend group went as well. Whenever any of them were injured, the others made sure to patch them up and/or keep them company in the infirmary (with a healthy does of scolding for their reckless behavior).

The group were a package deal- even outside of their knight training (and eventual knight work), if you saw one of them, more often than not, the other three were close behind.

It wasn't until years after they first met that the tragedy struck.

Rui, Nene, Emu, and Tsukasa were on a mission together, the four of them and a couple of fellow knights investigating some activity within a nearby forest. It was supposed to be a simple mission; get in, look around, and get out.

However, the whole group was ambushed, and Rui ended up separated from the other knights. Scared, badly wounded, and hopelessly lost, he began wandering through the rapidly darkening woods, praying to whoever was up above that he could find a way out.

Unfortunately, he just got more lost, and when he settled against a tree to take a quick breather, he was discovered.

He didn't recognize the person, and he didn't trust her at first, but the woman was kind, patching him up the best she could and brought him to the base of whom she referred to as the Imperial Soldiers. Rui fought with her about it, as he'd been told that the leader they worked for was the ruler of another kingdom; the Kingdom of Dark. One that did not think highly of the Kingdom of Light, and who would tear him apart if they found him alone on their kingdom's soil.

But despite his hesitation, the woman insisted that it would be alright, and he reluctantly gave in.

The Imperial Soldiers ended up being much more welcoming and kind than he had expected. They clearly all trusted him as much as he did them (so not a lot), but they tended to his wounds more properly, and offered him a place to rest until he could return.

When he told his story to their head knight, explaining his mission and the ambush and the separation, the man told him something that has left his heart shattered into pieces to this very day.

That he had likely been left behind on purpose.

He protested at first, telling the soldier that his friends would never do something like that, that they wouldn't think of abandoning him, that they cared for him.

He will never forget that moment, after the man had left him to his own devices, so he could rest up and process what he had been told.

The woman who'd found him before grabbed his hand, clasping it in both of her own as she looked up at him. And said to him, with a pained look in her bright pink eyes, that she understood how he felt, and that he would be okay someday, too.

He waited for them to come for him. He waited for a rescue team to arrive, to take him back home to the Kingdom of Light. To see Emu and Nene and Tsukasa again, to hear their voices as they scolded him for not being more careful, and to feel their touches as they held his hands and replaced his bandages. To hold them close, to see that they cared, like he had before.

But they didn't. And by the time his injuries had healed and he could leave, he didn't see the point. He clearly wasn't wanted, so why would he go back to them?

Rui never forgot his old friends- the memories hurt, but the idea of forgetting them hurt even more, and so he continued to wear the Knights of White emblem on his belt. But he knew that he had to put that past behind him, and force on his future as an Imperial Soldier.

Meanwhile, the group of White Knights returned to the castle, informing the king of the ambush, as well as of Rui's disappearance. The king had ordered a larger group of much more experienced knights to look for him, and Emu, Nene, and Tsukasa all waited with bated breath for Rui to be found.

But he never was. For days, the knights searched every inch of those woods, looking in every nook and cranny, and Tsukasa and Emu had taken it upon themselves to look for him on their own, against both the king's and Nene's wishes.

But nothing was ever found, not a trance of Rui was ever uncovered, aside from a few patches of blood that lead only to a tree, and his sword which has been stuck into it's roots.

The forest was discovered to border the edge of the Dark Kingdom, a well known enemy of the Light Kingdom, and the king concluded that Rui had been taken by the Imperial Soldiers, and that nothing more could be done for him at that moment. That his army may not even be strong enough to defeat them, and that it was too high a risk for one measly soldier.

Emu, Nene, and Tsukasa argued with the king, begging and pleading for something more to be done for their friend, but their pleas fell on deaf ears.

They were all distraught, as were Rui's family, and all of the other knights could clearly see the effects his disappearance had on them.

Nene had even considered leaving the Knights of White, as it just didn't feel the same without her childhood friend there, though she decided that she should keep on going, to protect everyone she could in Rui's name. Emu pushes herself even harder, determined not to let Rui's possible death be in vain, and to not let something like this happen on her watch ever again.

And Tsukasa? Tsukasa had never been more angry in his damn life.

Of course, nobody in the Kingdom of Light was too fond of the Kingdom of Dark. Everyone and their grandma has heard story after story of them, of the things they've done, if they haven't experienced it themselves, and Tsukasa is no exception. He knows how dangerous they are, and that challenging them is essentially a death wish, especially all on your own.

But this is the third time that these Imperial Soldiers had taken someone from him. His brother, his sister, and now one of his closest friends? Tsukasa will not let them get away with this any longer. This is personal.

And that's where I'm gonna stop, lol. What happens next? Will Emu and Nene join Tsukasa in his quest for vengeance? What will happen when Rui finally reunites with his old knight friends? Will the four of them ever reconcile? That's for you to decide!

[verdantcrimson]

Gourmand Fragrance / Wagashi Revolution - 1

(Unproofread)

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Nazuna: Ah, it's Keito-chin and Kuro-chin! What are you up to, standing around here and chatting?

Keito: Hello Nito. Kiryu and I were just talking about the upcoming Chocolat Fes.

Kuro: Apparently they're gonna be holdin' it at ES this year too. Wouldn't hurt to be prepared.

Nazuna: I get it. These days it's been pretty hectic at ES because of the Chocolat Fes.

Nazuna: Since you guys are discussing it, that must mean AKATSUKI has plans to participate, right?

Keito: Yes, something like that. We won't be doing anything large-scale though. We have big plans lined up for after Chocolat Fes.

Keito: Additionally, I heard that Kanzaki is going to participate in the Yumenosaki Chocolat Fes.

Keito: If he were to participate in the ES event on top of all that, it would be exhaustive.

Keito: On that note, what is Ra*bits planning to do? Most of your members are enrolled in the academy after all.

Nazuna: Ah, Tomo-chin and the others are going to be participating in the Yumenosaki Chocolat Fes too.

Kuro: Haha, I'm glad that those guys are gettin' along well like usual.

Nazuna: Yup~ ♪ But well, I don't want to push an unreasonable load onto Tomo-chin and the others.

Nazuna: So basically, just like AKATSUKI, Ra*bits won't be doing anything too huge on the ES side.

Kuro: I see. So I guess that us graduated lot are gonna be able to spend this years Chocolat Fes peacefully.

Keito: It feels odd, being able to relax at this time of year.

Nazuna: Ahaha, right~? All I remember is being super busy making chocolate.

Keito: …Making chocolate, huh? I can't say I have any memory of doing that myself.

Nazuna: Huh? Really?

Keito: During my time at the academy, being a member of the Student Council meant that I was more involved in the operational aspect of Chocolat Fes.

Keito: So in my case, all I remember is being perpetually busy dealing with all the trouble that would crop up at the academy.

Nazuna: Hmm? But didn't AKATSUKI perform? There were rumors about it…

Keito: I erased that part from my memories…

Kuro: Haha, cause danna must've been pretty embarrassed. Back then, AKATSUKI gave a sexy performance that was pretty far out from our usual.

Kuro: Danna did the 'Bakyuun~' thing completely seriously and was writhin' in agony after the live show.

Nazuna: What do you mean!? I'd want to see that!

Keito: Don't say anything unnecessary, Kiryu! Seriously, you're just incorrigible…

Kuro: My bad. Well, danna was right when he said he was mostly busy with his lessons and planning.

Kuro: He was so busy that we ended up outsourcin' our chocolate to a vendor.

Keito: Yes. Though, I've always wanted to make my own chocolate at least once.

Kuro: In that case, why don't ya try it this year? Ya said it just now, that you'd be able to take things easy this year after all.

Nazuna: What Kuro-chin said. If you don't know how to make them, I can help too. ♪

Keito: ... Right. This could be a good opportunity to learn. Firstly, I'll have to buy a recipe book—

Souma: HASUMI-DONO! Is Hasumi-dono here!?

Nazuna: Owah!? You surprised me! What's wrong, Souma-chin? Mitsuru-chin, you too?

Mitsuru: Nii-chan! It's a good thing you're here too! I needed to ask you something really badly!

Kuro: What's gotten into ya, Kanzaki, Tenma?

Souma & Mitsuru: Why is it that wagashi are not included in 'Barentainsu'!? / Why aren't wagashi a part of Valentines!?

Kuro & Nazuna: … What?

Keito: Sigh… It turns out that it wasn't anything as pressing as I had anticipated.

Keito: First of all, both of you need to calm down. If you make such a ruckus, it'll disturb everyone else in the office.

Souma: Oh, that is true. That was rather inconsiderate. Do forgive me.

Mitsuru: I'm sorry. But I felt super bad for the wagashi and I wanna help them as fast as I can!

Keito: I really have no idea what you're on about. What happened and why? You need to explain things properly.

Souma: Yes. Actually, a few days prior, the owner of the wagashi shop that the Kanzaki clan favors confided to us.

Souma: Since the main character of 'Barentainsu' is undoubtedly 'chocoraito', it is inevitable that the sales of wagashi declines during this period.

Nazuna: Now that you mention it, when you think of Valentines, the image of traditional sweets like those hardly comes to mind.

Souma: The decline in sales is in itself not an issue, as the shop owner is able to make a recovery in profit during other periods of time.

Souma: However, they expressed a sadness that wagashi could not be the main attraction of 'Barentainsu'

Nazuna: I get it now. So Mitsuru-chin heard about it from Souma-chin?

Mitsuru: Mhm. I felt real sad when I heard about it from Souchan-Senpai.

Mitsuru: I mean, wagashi are yummy, but they aren't the main focus of Valentines day, right? I feel so sorry for them…

Kuro: I see. So you're thinkin' somethin' like, "those poor sweets", huh?

Mitsuru: But I dunno know how I would even make wagashi into the main attraction…

Mitsuru: That's why I told Souchan-Senpai to ask Nii-chan and Hasumi-Senpai for help.

Souma: Indeed. I immediately determined that Hasumi-dono, who has led us of AKATSUKI through many a tribulation, would surely be able to bestow an appropriate plan to us.

Keito: I'm honored that you think so highly of me, but I'm not reliable when it comes to culinary matters.

Keito: Since Kiryu usually cooks, he would probably have some good ideas…

Kuro: I'm kinda in the same boat here. I have some experience makin' sweets, but I only know how to bake simple confectionaries.

Kuro: Actually, wouldn't you know more about this than us, Kanzaki? You're probably better at makin' sweets than me.

Souma: Hmm. However, I haven't a clue as to what sort of Wagashi would be suitable to be the main 'Barentainsu' attraction.

Souma: Therefore, I determined that the most dependable person would be Hasumi-dono, who has both insight and a deep understanding of such things…

Keito: I would like to do something about this too, but…

Mitsuru: What do you think, Nii-chan? If you know a good way to do it, please tell us!

Nazuna: M-me? It's not like I'm a good cook either, though.

Nazuna: I'm sorry Mitsuru-chin. I can't help you out…

Mitsuru: No, it's okay. I know I asked you to do something hard.

Souma: Umu. My apologies to you as well, Hasumi-dono, Kiryu-dono. I so abruptly asked for advice on an unreasonable matter and inconvenienced you.

Souma: We shall excuse ourselves now. Hmm? What seems to be the matter?

Mitsuru: Uu, I still wanna make wagashi the main character of Valentines day somehow…

Keito & Nazuna: ……

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Translation Notes

Wagashi are Traditional Japanese sweets. I'll be honest, I just didn't want to type out the whole phrase over and over again.