#i think my problem is i am no better than masumi

[petrichoraline]

update: it's way worse than i imagined

i just forgot to give him the guilty verdict in the first place shit

@voicesofreasons i think im beginning to understand

[daisyachain]

hi!! i've been reading through your ao no flag liveblogs lately and they're really interesting! i enjoy seeing someone so passionate about this manga and it makes me want to reread it .... i'm really interested in hearing what you have to say about masumi's ending though!! part of me thinks it makes sense but i'm mostly conflicted on it and would love to see it from your perspective ^^

haha well thank you! ah yes, the arc that created as much controversy as you can get in an active readership of like 10 people...

Blue Flag is an imperfect story, but it also gets a lot of flack for things that a) didn't...actually...happen, b) didn't happen in the way people think they did.

Part 1: Is it actually straightwashing?

The most common criticism I see of Masumi's ending is that she was written as a lesbian character and straightwashed at the end. Marrying off a female character as a way to 'fix' her issues is a common and harmful trope, and saying that lesbian women just need to get a man is a widespread homophobic trope and talking point. So, it's not a good look. To have a character angst over interest in a woman and end up happily married to a guy reads like a '50s pulp novel that just uses f/f attraction for marketing.

But, if the intention of the ending was to show that Masumi should give up on women and force herself to date men, then it doesn't. Mitsuyuki's description of her is 'look at my bisexual wife who has dated both women and men and could also have married a woman', which is an odd choice if the intention was straightwashing. It feels more like a clumsy way to make sure that, in a series full of ambiguity, there could be no argument that Masumi was queer. That isn't to say that cisstraight people don't view bisexuality as less/better than/straighter than her being lesbian and that making a previously gay character bisexual isn't still straightwashing (increasing the appearance of straightness).

Part 2: Was it actually a retcon?

So: Masumi's ending reaffirms that she's a WLW. One question is, was she always meant to be bisexual, or was she originally written as lesbian?

Blue Flag doesn't have a lot of straight (no pun intended) answers. Taichi never expresses any explicit attraction to guys, but there is enough subtext to suggest he's attracted to Touma well before the finale. Futaba believes she is attracted to Touma at first and is shown to be attracted to him using the visual shorthand of manga (blushing, etc.), but she later says that it was just misinterpreted admiration. Mami doesn't want to date Touma or any man, but she implies that she is attracted to Touma when she says around him she was 'glad to be a woman.' Within the main romance, Futaba says that it was specifically because Taichi was a friend to her that she grew to like-like him. The lines between friendship and romance are blurred in Blue Flag, and sometimes romance can only grow out of friendship.

Masumi has a tense conversation with Taichi in the first half after she breaks up with her boyfriend that most people (me included) read as her saying that she tried guys and she just isn't and can't be attracted to them. However, it's Blue Flag, so the conversation is unfocused and doesn't paint a complete picture.

"Even if I get a boyfriend, I can never make it work"/"I don't know why [I don't like him anymore]" seem to imply that Masumi realized that she was feeling compulsory heterosexuality and that she will never like men. "[I don't know] why he like someone like me"/"You can be friends with potential sexual partners? With both guys and girls?"/"I just wanted to hear how you men feel about [a girl liking other girls]" seem to imply that Masumi is bisexual and is afraid to date because someone might find out. Maybe she's written as questioning--she knows she likes Futaba, but she's feeling out other possibilities. It's Blue Flag, so it's unclear.

Part 3: How does it work with Masumi's arc?

Diving further into Masumi's story, she acts as a foil to Touma (and Futaba, see later). Touma feels free to show his affection for Taichi as a friend as well as a love interest and almost confesses to him of his own free will, well before he's forced to. Touma tells her that he intends to try and set Taichi up with Futaba (because they would be good for each other), and also that he intends to pursue Taichi in some way. He tells her he's "not like [her]."

For Masumi's part, she tells Touma that she wants to express more affection for Futaba--not necessarily in a romantic way, just to participate more fully in that relationship--but she's afraid to, she doesn't feel confident enough to try, and that she's "the worst" because of it. We see this theme repeated, that Masumi is pessimistic, is afraid to trust people and hates herself for being afraid. Her conversations with Aki and Mami explore this; Aki tells her that it's not bad to be insecure or unready and that it's fine to keep a secret/stay closeted until she's ready, Mami tells her that she does have people she can trust, who care about her and who will do their best to understand her and help out. Why am I typing all this out? Because Masumi is a bitter, insecure wlw and that is an Established Trope, but her twist on it is that her negativity or bitterness isn't over her attraction to women/to Futaba or even over the reaction she might get from others (as Touma's is), it's over her own insecurity. Like Futaba, she's hesitant to act on her feelings, and like Futaba, she gets frustrated and hates herself for her own inaction.

All that is to say--Masumi is never shown to have a problem with her attraction to women. Her angst isn't gayngst, she's not ashamed of her feelings for Futaba bur rather her inability to express them. Her problems are with social attitudes and more with her own personal feelings--she and Touma face similar problems, but Touma is simply aware of the consequences (being roughed up and ostracised by a certain group of people) while Masumi feels a more generalized and ambiguous fear.

If Masumi were shown to have mixed feelings about her queerness/were shown to be in denial/were shown to be trying to move on from Futaba, then her ending would read more as straightwashing. As it is, there's nothing in her character and arc to say that she'd ever want to erase that part of herself or get rid of it, rather, she wishes she could embrace it but she just doesn't feel confident in doing it. Her ending shows her as an openly bisexual woman who is out to her friends and husband at the very least, which is a completion of her arc in the manga (of learning to trust other people and express her feelings honestly).

Part 4: What context clues does the rest of the series give us?

This is branching off a little from the strict text of Parts 1-3. As I've said, as we know, Blue Flag is 50% subtext and interpretation. Characters speak, but they don't say what they mean, characters think, but they're not always honest with themselves or in tune with reality. Mami is an ominous and antagonistic figure in the first half, but then it just turns out that Taichi was jumping to conclusions. Taichi is the main character and narrator, but we get radio silence from him for like 7 chapters after the climax. Taichi is bisexual, but the reader has to guess that from the way the art style shifts between PoVs, the similar panelling between Futaba and Touma's confessions, the things he does and does not think about Touma and how he feels about them. It's safe to say that there is room for speculation.

First, there is no explicit evidence that Taichi could be bisexual before ch 54. It's easy to tell that he is, but again, there's nothing specific. Some people reading Blue Flag have said that him marrying Touma was out of character, unforeshadowed, bizarre, inexplicable, etc. because their experienced is coloured by their own heterosexuality. Masumi is shown to have dated a guy and in saying she didn't like him "anymore," implied that she did like him. Her conflicted feelings over her bf could well have been foreshadowing her liking men as well, and my reading that as comphet could have just been my own experience colouring the text. Who knows! Taichi's bisexuality was intentional from the start but could be read as a last-minute twist, so why not Masumi's?

Second, Mitsuyuki is Futaba 2.0. Same colouring, same personality. This could feel like a way of saying "Masumi just needs to like guys instead," but to me it reads deeper with some of the trans subtext around Futaba. One of my issues with Blue Flag is that it doesn't go further into Futaba's admiration/envy for masculinity and her uncomfortable relationship with femininity. As a cis woman who wants to be buff and mildly masculine, I can understand why she's a cis girl throughout and I don't necessarily think that she was supposed to be a trans guy. However, her relationship with masculinity draws a parallel to Mitsuyuki. Reading Mitsuyuki as a cis man, he is the combination of Futaba's personality and looks with her 'ideal form.' So, Masumi marrying Mitsuyuki can read as Masumi marring Ascended FutabaTM.

Third, Futaba having a faceless prop husband is interesting in the context of Mitsuyuki getting a name and personality. Mitsuyuki = Futaba and Mr. Kuze is a blank space, so the reader is prompted to reduce the scenario and slot Masumi into that blank space. Given Masumi and Touma's history as foils, I'm inclined to think that Mitsuyuki exists to show the road not taken. Back at the fireworks, Touma tells Masumi that he hasn't given up on Taichi, and Masumi says she doesn't intend to pursue Futaba even though the pining is making her miserable. Given that Futaba reacts a lot better to the idea of Masumi liking her than Taichi reacts to the idea of Touma liking him, given that we see Masumi has successfully wooed male!Futaba, I think that Masumi's ending shows that she could have ended up with Futaba if she chose to pursue her. She didn't and she still got a happy ending where she is confident in her sexuality and unafraid to trust, but she could have also had a happy ending where she married Futaba. Mitsuyuki is a man because desire-for-masculinity is a key aspect of Futaba's character, and Mitsuyuki is a named character with a personality because KAITO wanted the reader to know that Masumi could have ended up with Futaba (as Touma ended up with Taichi).

Fourth, KAITO's notes on volume give us a few hints. He comments that there was remarkably little interference with his story and that he was able to tell it as he wanted, and that the ending was meant to be a "question" to the reader. The way I see it, Masumi's ending wasn't meant to say "maybe you'll be fixed if you get a man" but rather was meant to complement Taichi's ending and say "things happen in ways you might not expect, but that doesn't mean they're bad."

Fifth, Touma/Taichi ending up together shows us that the series is willing and able to show queerness as a good thing and a happy ending, so it's unlikely that Masumi was meant to come off as "actually she just needed a man" and more as "life can be unpredictable but you can always find happiness"

Summary

It's unclear whether Masumi was written as a bisexual woman or a lesbian woman or a questioning wlw

I personally read her as a lesbian and I wish that part of her character had gotten more exploration

Masumi's ending wraps up her arc (struggling to trust other people with her feelings in general and her queerness in particular) in a satisfying and logical way

Masumi being bisexual does not in any way negate or lessen her identity and experienes as a wlw, bisexual people still face external and internalized homophobia and all the associated issues

Masumi's bisexuality may well have been foreshadowed, but the execution makes it easier to read her as a lesbian, which makes her ending seem like a homophobic cop-out in the style of the Hays Code

Masumi's ending doesn't straightwash her and goes to unusual lengths to affirm her attraction to women

Masumi's ending seems to be written to contrast Touma's ending, showing that getting or not getting the love interest depends entirely on whether you choose to pursue them

It's unlikely that authorial intent was to straightwash Masumi

[the-himawari]

A3! Sakuma Sakuya - Translation [SSR] MANKAI Encore (1/3)

*Please read disclaimer on blog; default name set as Izumi

---

Masumi: “Romeo, why must you be Romeo Montague?”

Sakuya: “Cast away your name and home, Julius. We have an even bigger dream, don’t we?”

Izumi: Ok, that’s enough. Take a 10 minute break.

Sakuya: Phew.

Izumi: Sakuya-kun, you’re really full of energy, huh?

Sakuya: Yes! It’s our first rerun of RomiJuli in a while, so I put in a lot of effort without realizing it.

Izumi: The dialogue between you and Masumi-kun is also more in synch than the first time, and it’s shaping up really well.

Masumi: Director praised the way I am now…

Izumi: That was to the both of you.

Tsuzuru: He’s also unrelenting today.

Sakuya: But it’s true that it’s thanks to Masumi-kun. Let’s do our best for the local performances this time!

Izumi: Then after the break, let’s start from Romeo and Julius’ swordfight.

Masumi: Swordfight… …

Izumi: (…Masumi-kun?)

-pause-

Masumi: “Die, Romeo—!”

*swords clash*

Sakuya: “Julius!?”

Izumi: (There’s no problem with the swordfight either. If they perform it like this, then it seems like the local performances will go smoothly this time around as well.) Good work. Everyone’s looking great for the most part.

Itaru: The lines came back to me. Nice, nice.

Chikage: I guess all I can do after this is practice as well.

Citron: I said my lines perfectly too!

Sakuya: …I messed up a little.

Izumi: It’s alright. If it's just this much, it should become even better as you regain your senses by doing it over and over again.

Sakuya: Thanks, I’ll try my best!

Masumi: …Hey.

Izumi: What’s up, Masumi-kun?

Masumi: I wanna change the swordfight.

Sakuya: EH!?

Masumi: The swordfight right now is too easy. I think it’s about time to attempt something more difficult.

Tsuzuru: It’s rare for Masumi to say something like that.

Masumi: I want to show Director my improvement.

Itaru: It’s here: Masumi’s usual quality.

Tsuzuru: I'm both impressed and at a loss…

Citron: That’s so like you, Masumi!

Chikage: I mean, Sakuya and Masumi have acted it out many times, so wouldn’t it be possible to alter it if it’s alright with the two of them?

Izumi: (Well, that’s true… setting his motive aside, Masumi-kun made a suggestion since he wants to improve the stage, right?) (It might be a good idea to consider. But what’s crucial is—) What do you think, Sakuya-kun?

Sakuya: … …No.

Izumi: Eh?

Sakuya: I said no. I don’t want to change it.

Citron: Ohh, Sakuya’s making an angry face!

Masumi: It’s not like we’ll change everything from square one. So that you can keep up with me, I’ll—.

Sakuya: That’s not it. That’s not it, so… Anyways, I don’t want to change it.

Masumi: What the heck, I don’t get you.

Izumi: (It’s unusual for Sakuya-kun to be so vehemently against it. I wonder why…)

-pause-

Izumi: (Even though their local performances are starting tomorrow, the mood around those two hasn't been great… I’m a little worried.)

Citron: I knew it, this place is moisture table*!

Tsuzuru: Most suitable…? The difficulty level on that one’s high.

Itaru: But I think this place is perfect, just like Citron said.

Chikage: Then let’s choose this place. To get there—.

Izumi: Why are the four of you over here? You won’t be able to wake up tomorrow morning, you know?

Citron: Oh, Director! You came at just the perfect time!

Chikage: Actually, we wanted to go here before our show.

Izumi: …A theme park with recreated European streets?

Tsuzuru: The atmosphere is kind of like Verona, and it seems like it’ll be helpful for our current rerun of RomiJuli.

Izumi: But… isn’t it a bit far from the theatre?

Itaru: It’s not close, but we’ll manage if we have a car. Right, senpai?

Chikage: I’ll take responsibility as our driver. Also, performing the play with this kind of mood might be kind of difficult, right?

Izumi: I mean, that’s true…

Itaru: Since that incident, the atmosphere’s been iffy, so we wanna make a recovery soon.

Citron: If we all have fun together and make a magic gate**, I’m sure they’ll be able to make up even faster!

Tsuzuru: Are we sorcerers? You mean “take a mental break”.

Izumi: I see. I got it, I'll adjust the schedule in that case.

---

*Citron originally says "オッペケペ" (oppekepe), which Tsuzuru corrects as "うってつけ" (uttetsuke: perfect/most suitable). **Citron originally says "鬼門点検" (kimon tenken: "kimon" literally means "demon gate", but refers to "~an unlucky direction/person or thing to be avoided" in superstition. "Tenken" means "inspection/examination"). This is why Tsuzuru asks if they're "陰陽師" (onmyoji: a type of ancient Japanese diviner/exorcsist/sorcerer, etc.). Tsuzuru corrects Citron with the term "気分転換" (kibun tenkan: ~change of pace/mental break).

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[mozukumi]

NOOO HELP BANRI GETS DEFEATED BY CHILDREN TWO TIMES i also love his thought process in act 5 "this is kinda cringe"

also omi being the traitor _×:$,$;,×;%,×:÷; THAT SCENE WITH OMI AND TAICHI... and i can also imagine taichi talking him through the entire "fall from grace" thingy because he was also involved in tenma's scandal. i also imagine that the everyone (mostly) in this au would probably realize that he was Gang Leader, sooner or later

TENMA ;A; thinking of his arc in this au makes me so emo... i wonder what his arc is

AND SAKYOHOMA BEING THE SAME AGE 👁👁 rich private school kid homare hanging out with local delinquent (no one knows how they even get along, but they do, somehow)

AUGUST THE THEATER PARENT... i like to imagine a small scenario where they aren't secret agents and august is your very supportive but also very annoying parent who always shows up with flowers after every show! another scenario in my head is izumi/azuma forgetting something so chikage/hisoka dress up in their spare uniforms and break into school to give their stuff to them ("hey tachibana, someone's asking for you" "???... hiso—" "izumi, you forgot your lunch! director wanted to give it to you ;)" "...thanks.")

i can also imagine izumi/azuma following after itaru/tsumugi/tasuku in their universities and just hanging out in college ahvfbenbfnenc

AND AND WHAT IF THEY KINDA LET GUY ATTEND SCHOOL FOR A BIT... kind of like to let him experience a normal life, and because banri cannot have more than 2 kids running around free during school days since people are suspicious already

MASUMI ACTIVELY TRYING TO BREAK AWAY FROM WHAT HE GREW UP IN... i assume he's still technically rich as fuck, so he spoils the kids with affection and whatever material thing they need, all while learning how to be a better person GWVDBSBXVXJXB

i also find it mildly funny that omi, tsuzuru, misumi, and kazunari are roughly around the same age. also, consider a slightly brattier citron because he actually gets to be a kid in this, right before he completely squashes down the childish part in him...

- 🌸

as always, anon, your thoughts are so smart and correct that i require a readmore to fully elaborate on them!

for context, this is in regard to the mAnkAi swAp au, which you can find more info about here!

i love banri settsu, i do. but i also think he needs to be humbled. he may be playing on super ultra easy mode, but 16 year olds have a fun cheat code called Rage so they can beat it <3

YEAH EXACTLY.... EXACTLY... ITS THE BROTHERISMS... Taichi sees himself in Omi, and knows deep down that he can't condemn him because that'd make him a hypocrite, and just tries to comfort him and tell him that he's not irredeemable.

TENMAS ARC IN THIS AU IS ALSO SMTH THAT STIRS WITHIN ME. it's not quite finalized yet but i am sure it will be very much to think about.

the summer troupe in general - while swaps in the spring and autumn troupe mainly focus on the changes in interpersonal dynamics, both the summer troupe and the winter troupe have the whole troupe dynamic changed. so its really fun!

SAKYO AND HOMARE BEING FRIENDS SO TRUE... i agree i think that like. banri might worry that they actually kind of hate each other and he does the whole sit in a chair backwards lets talk deal and theyre like ? no we're besties idk what your problem is.

BOTH OF THESE AUS ARE SO IMPORTANT. also wait to scaffold off of your first idea, to make it work in a still-spy au and to mirror canon - instead of hisoka getting ominous flowers from chikage, he gets secret flowers from august after every show. and everybody is like omg hisoka do you have a secret admirer : O and hisoka knows its just his damn dad.

AND THE IDEA OF THEM SNEAKING INTO SCHOOL TO BRING STUFF IS BOTH FUNNY AND IMPORTANT IT MAKES ME JNKHGNHG. it's sweet but also hilarious which is exactly the content i want from this au so thank you so much for blessing me.

YES i want them all to have fun at university together : ) trying to figure out where they canonically went to university (fuyou for tasutsumu and we dont know for the others) made me learn that masumi goes to the same university as them!! so maybe masumi helped them all study for the exams... sneefle...

YEAH SO TRUE VIS A VIS GUY. i actually am thinking that after he gets settled in he ought to enroll in st flora, because i think that the vibe of that school would be good for him, plus he'd be classmates with homare, plus he'd be in his little catholic boy uniform and i think that'd be cute.

and YEAH. masumis arc is so... he is still rich, altho probably not as much in canon since he's cut off his father. but he's a well-known music producer, so he's not doing too bad for himself.

I ALSO FIND THE PPL WHO STAY AROUND THE SAME AGE TO BE A LIL FUNNY, but i suppose that's their own fault for being mid-age huh. major changes to them are:

- kazunaris mullet is longer im sorry

- tsuzuru has frosted tips now im sorry

- misumi was an actor in the original summer troupe ! not like, in the original original cast, but when one member had to retire he joined in at around 17.

- omi erm. perhaps godza traitor era

and its exactly like you said with citron!! and speaking of him he NO longer has a mullet which is a big win

as always, tysm anon!!

[lilyhoshikawa]

🎥🎶💕🏳‍🌈💎 for hunters perhaps? >:3c

Oh golly! Ok fndkfnfn let me do this then. This may be difficult-

🎥: Do you have any favorite scenes from your hyperfixation?

This is hard bc I have a lot of scenes I like and good scenes keep happening dhdjfn.

There are a lot of stand-outs so far. Among them is definitely like, the confrontation in the car between Blake and Sakio, and the recent social link scene with Blake and Lena on the boat.

Scenes that DON’T involve my own character that I adore include. The scene with Sakio and Camellia at the graveyard. The scene with with Lena and Twitch outside the store. The Sammy’s scene where they read Tango’s letter. Also the scene with Sammy and Masumi bc it was just extremely funny.

🎶: If your hyperfixation has songs / an OST, what is your favorite song from it?

Hm. Well time once again to advertise my Blake playlist, which I’m constantly putting a lot of work and thought into tbh dhjddb, I’ve deleted a fair number of songs from it when I feel they don’t fit, and I’m constantly messing with the order of the songs in relation to Blake’s prospective characters arc, and adding more as I find them fndkfnf I’m always on the lookout.

Also, vane is constantly updating the official playlist with some real bangers, and I appreciate that. Amil’s and Twitch’s themes are real good.

💕: Tell us about one of your favorite characters and why you like them!

Everybody has really really good characters, heck. One thing that strikes me is that even with taking the backseat and having to be on autopilot for several sessions, Camellia still has such a strong and distinct personality, to the point where everyone is on the same page abt them, and I think that’s just really amazing dhdjfjf, that’s how strong an impression they make every time they’re around.

Lena is also so good, she’s like… I think abt her frequently. Sometimes I just start giggling when I think abt Lena, bc she is a national treasure, and I hope she knows I care abt her. She’s great in this way that she’s both very funny/cute and also has a lot of depth and nuance to her arc, and I’m so excited for more.

In the same vein, Sammy. No one character has made me go from giggling to sobbing as fast as this green goat. One moment Sammy is making their cat do a little greeting and I’m rolling on the floor from the cuteness, and then the next second they’re crying and saying they don’t want to be left behind, and then I am also crying. How do they do it. The absolute range.

I also really appreciate Ilse like, particularly in contrast to Blake sometimes, in that Ilse is very smart in a way that’s quiet, self-conscious and careful, while Blake is at times recklessly arrogant, and those two bounce off each other well. Ilse feels mature at times but every time they quietly like, try to be the bigger person, or to not make a problem of themselves, I wanna give them a hug and be like “u deserve to be recognized and acknowledged and u deserve better” dhdjdndjdn. When u have big personalities like Sakio and Lena and Blake in the party there’s something compelling abt Ilse being with them and not asserting themselves as they try to do their best, if that makes sense, and I want them to know I see and appreciate them.

Sakio is also so good and I’ve talked abt this to vane plenty before but holy shit. There’s so much obvious care and love and effort and skill that went into writing a character who is both wrong in many ways, and who many player characters antagonize for good reason, and yet still so incredibly sympathetic, so likable and so compelling. The fact that both Blake and Lena have this relationship with Sakio where they don’t like or trust her, necessarily, but also can’t deal with her not being there, is so fucking good, it creates such powerful conflict in the smallest of ways. Sakio is great bc I love her and I understand her and I appreciate her, but I also wanna yell at her and think she is absolutely horribly wrong about incredibly crucial things and u can FEEL that turmoil in her as well, with her knowing on some level that her actions are going to cause harm, and she’s just waiting and hoping to take the fall, thinking, maybe foolishly, that she can, and that doing so will save everyone else.

I also fucking love so many minor characters we haven’t seen much of so far. I absolutely love Bee and I’ve told vane abt this but she’s just a total icon. Theo is also great, he is the only valid he/him in the entire campaign djdkfj. I love Twitch as well and I’m very excited for some of the interesting stuff in Twitch’s arc that has been hinted at coming to fruition later on, that’s very exciting. I’m also very excited to learn more abt Amil’s whole deal, I appreciate them a lot and I feel bad every time I have to make Blake come pester them fndkfnf. Oh also Prim, how did I forget Prim… what’s going on with her, I have no idea, but she’s a mean lady and my love for mean ladies is well-documented. Also her look is iconic. Also also Puck, the fact that he’s a child and I didn’t know it for several months shocked me to my core but it has made his brand of Shakespearean mischief that much more endearing, and now I seek only to give him snacks and let him sit in his funny garbage throne. I forgot abt Puck earlier so I’ll say he is the second valid he/him in the campaign but frankly I think Puck should take some neopronouns for a spin, he deserves it.

🏳️‍🌈: Do you have any headcanons (LGBT, race, neuro, etc.) that are important to you?

(*throws neurological disorders at Blake*) jdkdnfkf no but jokes aside. I love that this party is like, 5 player characters, 4 of whom use they/them. Just. The raw power of a persona series written by LGBT+ ppl…

I can’t speak on other ppl’s characters too much but as for Blake, they’re a closeted transfem and also too much of a disaster for a coherent sexuality but probably bi. Autistic, and an abuse survivor who experiences paranoid delusions and self-destructive tendencies. Probably more, but specifics are messy, they’re a fucking mess, what’s going on with them, they don’t even know.

Masumi is a binary trans lesbian, also an abuse survivor and manages quite a bit of paranoia of her own, dealing with mood swings and occasional delusions of grandeur, most of it she keeps internally managed which isn’t great for her mental health.

💎: Are there any fun facts or trivia that you would like to share?

Blake’s original characterization was thought up prior to the campaign and was very different from their finished characterization. They lived on a farm with their parents and were pretty quiet and passive before being arrested for a murder they didn’t commit (this part is the same) and their personality was way more quiet, reserved and passive, with the whole celebrity aspect completely absent. They were still going to be the sort of clever leader type character but leaned far more into the background. Their design was also different, with their hair in a low ponytail rather than high and scars on their face from scrapes and accidents working on the farm.

I realized that, even though this character was more of an original idea than Masumi (who I was playing in another campaign at the time and who was characterized somewhat differently as well) I didn’t find myself excited to write them, couldn’t get invested in them in the same way, and as I kept workshopping them I decided to be more self-indulgent and lean more into shamelessly making them an Akechi expy in more ways.

And what resulted from that, ironically, is what I feel is a better character in the end. Blake feels more dynamic, lively and interesting now than the old iteration I first thought up, back when I was intent on making them My Own Creation with their own arc. At this point I’m comfortable saying that Blake, for all their similarities to Akechi, has evolved over the course of the campaign into a more interesting character, into someone I recognize as distinctly different and who stands out. They feel unique to me, and feel like my own character. And I think that only could’ve happened through playing them in a TTRPG like this, in developing them along with others, and having to adapt, and I think that’s the beautiful thing about developing characters with other people. The Blake I’ve ended up with is one I’m really happy with, who I feel is more interesting and dynamic to me than if I had just tried to force something unique just to not feel cringe about making an expy. And maybe I need to learn that lesson before I go through the same thing with Zee fjdkfnf.

[cinnamoncountess]

Secret Santa

Hey Beru, das hier ist von deinem Secret Santa - Merry Christmas :)  “What a fucking day!” Jodie ranted as she threw a torn shopping bag on the kitchen counter. Shuichi looked up from where he was sitting on the couch, taking in her exhaustion. “Don’t tell me you let the bag ruin your day, darling,” he sent her a teasing grin. “Ha ha… The bag’s not the problem. That was just the tip of the iceberg.” She closed her eyes, sat down and let her head fall on the kitchen table. With his left hand, Shuichi righted his glasses, frowning. Usually, Jodie didn’t let some minor mishaps get her down. He waited to see if she would start ranting again. It would help her get it out of the system. They were similar in that regard but normally it was him that needed coaxing. He gently laid a hand on top of her golden hair. As expected, she followed his silent prompt. She lifted her head, then rose and engulfed him in a tight hug. “Want to talk about that horrible day of yours?” he prompted again. “Not really.” He looked straight into her eyes and raised an eyebrow. “Alright, alright. I know you’re right - I just don’t want to think about it.” She sighed. “It’s nothing really bad, I promise. It’s just an annoying series of unfortunate events really…” She trailed off. “I didn’t hear my alarm clock, which made me late for work, and on the way there the heel of my ankle boot broke, making me even later thank you very much. Then they demanded I hand in all the paperwork today despite it being due the day after tomorrow originally. Then your mother called me to tell you she’ll be spending Christmas with those of her children who didn’t make her think they were dead - she did apologise to me though, mind you, so I don’t think she dislikes the idea of us? Anyway, right after that Conan turned up and you know how that usually goes. Then James told me we needed to be able to show some results soon or the FBI will be shelving this case - apparently the government doesn’t want to spend money on its forces and don’t even get me started on the news! Believe me, you don’t want to see what they did this time! So now we’re short on money regarding the case or worse they’ll call us back to the States. Then that damn bag broke and now I don’t have enough eggs to prepare dinner and then here you are wearing that damn masquerade.” She took a deep breath, obviously trying not to break into tears. “I know it’s too risky for you to take it off. But sometimes I just wish we could…” He pressed her close to his chest. “I know.” “I love it when you hold me like this.” He grinned. “I know.” “Don’t give me cheek.” “I believe you love that too.” Jodie snorted, her lips curving into a fond smile. “Maybe.” “And I have good news,” he said. “You see, Masumi thought mother would do something like this. And my annoying little sister is fonder of me than I probably deserve and so she sent us an invitation anyway. She said since they’re celebrating at Shuukichi’s place, mum can’t do anything about it. But we are expected to bring Christmas biscuits.” “Cookies,” Jodie corrected automatically. “Biscuits,” he grinned, “look at the recipe -it’s biscuits!” He showed her a picture of it on his phone. “Your sister doesn’t trust your new-found skills in the kitchen, it seems. That recipe is foolproof.” “That’s why I bought everything for a proper Christmas baking session. We’ll show her.” Jodie laughed. “Admit it. You just want to get back into everyone’s good graces by doing something special.” “I don’t need to. I do have an invitation for Christmas.” It was Jodie’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “If by ‘everyone’ you mean my mother, you might have a point.” She got on her tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thanks for making me feel better, Shu.” Before she could move away, he reeled her in for a proper kiss. “I love you.”

***

Awwwwwwh, Sternchen! I swooned and grinned so much whilst reading this story. I’ve re-read it a couple of times already. I love it so much! <3 I dare to say that this might be the best christmas gift I’ve received this year. The banter between these two, Shuubaru softly comforting Jodie, who is justifiably pissed and probably should have stayed in bed for the whole day, snuggled up to Shuu, of course. I especially love how you incorporated Shuu’s family, a very IC Mary, who I can totally see unwilling to spend christmas with her eldest son due to the fact that he “ignores” her current state of living, but silently wishing for him and Jodie to spend christmas with them. Obviously. And Masumi, the cinnamon roll she is, trying to pour oil on troubled water and bring their family together nonetheless. Just beautiful, the way you developed the setting and incorporated the values of christmas. Thank you so much for this beautiful gift, I love it so much! <3 And of course, thank you for including my wish and letting Shuu run around in his Subaru-masquerade. Even if Jodie is not please. I am very much.  ;P

[goldenkamuyhunting]

Weird question maybe, but do you think Noda is trying to set up Sugimoto and Asirpa as a couple? I’m RLLY hoping he isn’t, but with Asirpa having a hinted crush, and this last chapter talking about “joined hearts” or something, I’m worried Sugimoto and Asirpa might become a couple :(

Well...

I genuinely don’t know and since I’m STRONGLY AGAINST THIS I fear I’m not really the best person at whom to ask hoping in an objective answer.

As who read my ramblings probably already knows, I’m in the camp of those who hope Sugimoto will go back to Umeko (and I hope for him she’ll take him back, although she’s not obliged to do so) and that believes his bond with Asirpa, due to the respective problems had turned into a toxic relation so it wouldn’t be okay for them to become a couple, not even if Asirpa were of the same age as Sugimoto... and the idea of them getting together is even worse considering Asirpa is actually so young... so that it kind of makes me furious when instead the anime seems to ‘romanticize’ it, or underline it, often at the expenses of Asirpa’s other relations (with her father, Shiraishi, Ogata...) or even her lack of belief in prophecies and dreams.

Still, I can try my best to give my two cents about it in the most objective and respectful of other cultures I can manage. Forgive me if I might fail but this is something I’m really passionate against so it’s not really easy for me to keep distance.

Also warning for adult topics which might make people uncomfortable.

Read at your own risk.

Something I’m confident enough and that I feel is based on an objective enough belief is that, if Noda were to consider planning to make them a couple, it wouldn’t happen right now but the story would just have a timeskip and then we would be told that years has gone by, Asirpa has grown up and they’re a couple now.

Why am I confident it can’t happen right now?

I know there are debates in the net about which is Asirpa’s age (just so you know she’s hinted to be 12/13 but my personal bet is she’s 12 at the start of the story) and if the culture of the time would allow her to get a man and how important is to be historically accurate or how historical accuracy should be tossed away when it involves something we find morally repulsive, or, and this is more important but few mention it, physically and psychologically harmful for the child involved.

Said this, my personal belief is that Noda wanted to be as historically accurate as possible and yet tell us, without any shade of doubt, that Asirpa was currently off limits and Sugimoto (or anyone else) wouldn’t look at her like that through the gold hunt.

How?

Asirpa is drawn as a prepubescent girl, which means when Noda draws her he avoid drawing her with developed secondary sex characteristics (in the specific case breasts and hips).

The majority of heterosexual men from all around the world and from all around the times are drawn to females who have developed secondary sex characteristics.

Currently the number of men who are instead drawn to prepubescent real life females is estimated to be lower than 5% among adult men and those men are the ones who, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, are considered suffering of the pedophilic disorder.

In the far past, even when it was allowed marrying prepubescent girls because selling off a daughter, no matter her age, was an easy way to make allegiance, in many cultures the marriage wouldn’t be expected to be consumed until the girl was pubescent.

That’s because not only the husbands weren’t turned on by their child brides, but also because, even if in the past they couldn’t work out how psychologically harmful it would be for a child to be forced in a sexual situation, they had, at least, managed to work out it would be physically harmful... so not only you would considered abnormal if you were to do it, but there were cultures in which it was actually forbidden to touch a girl who hadn’t hit puberty even if you were legally married to her.

So really, there’s no way whatsoever Noda drew Asirpa that way, only to have the main character, who’s supposed to be a good guy who cares about her, be attracted to her.

Even a drunk Ushiyama, who normally tries to hit on every female in sight Inkarmat included and can be rather forceful tells Asirpa she has to grow up before picking a man.

Long story short, there’s no point in searching if in Japan, in that time period, a girl of Asirpa’s age was allowed to get married or not, as long as Asirpa looks prepubescent we know Sugimoto, who’s AGAIN supposed to be what we would call a good guy, is SURELY not meant to do so much as consider to touch her.

That’s why Huci can tell Sugimoto to marry Asirpa without meaning any harm to her, because she expects him not to touch her until she’s physically ready because, as said before, in the past girls got sadly married at way too young ages, often withou people bothering to ask for their consent (or the one of the husband as he too often was ‘married off’ by his family) but husbands weren’t expected nor interested in having their ways with them immediately.

And that’s also why, since Sugimoto just can’t see Asirpa as that kind of partner and they’re not in a situation in which they need to marry for some reasons (marriage was also used as a tool back then, we saw how Svetlana was told to marry so that this would allow her to get out of prison and how Wilk married Riratte and, due to this, got Japanese citizenship, while others would use it to get economical protection or other things), I’m confident there will be no marriage between the two of them in 1908, the year in which we currently are in GK or becoming a couple or whatever.

They’re just partners in the gold hunt, he’s just not meant to be interested in her physically nor in need to tie her to himself legally through marriage so for now I like to think nothing will happen between them.

So, long story short, many of us who’re against Asirpa and Sugimoto becoming a couple, can have a collective breath of relief at least as far as the story remains in this year, as I’m pretty confident Sugimoto isn’t meant to like her like that right now.

Said all this... nothing stops Noda, as I said before, to have a flash forward to when Asirpa will reach puberty and, likely, also adult age and AT THIS POINT have Sugimoto fall for her at that point.

We see how Umeko’s mom is all happy at the prospect of a man of more than 40 marrying her likely around 24 daughter (I assume she’s around Sugimoto’s age) so no one in the story will question if a 24 Asirpa were to marry a 36 Sugimoto and there are various stories in which the story starts with the man in the couple just viewing the female as a mere child to then develop genuine feelings of love for her when she grows up (one of the most famous manga in the genre is “Glass no Kamen” in which Maya is 13 when the story starts and Masumi is 11 years older than her... and an even bigger age gap there was probably between her teacher Tsukikage Chigusa and her lover and mentor Ozaki Ichiren).

So to sum it up... I’m confident that Asirpa and Sugimoto won’t become a couple right now... but I can’t say if Noda is setting them up to become a couple in the far future.

For that we can only wait and see.

Sorry if I’m not really trying to make a prediction on what could happen in a flash forward but I fear I wouldn’t be capable to be objective since I’m currently so against it.

Also sorry if I had to touch pretty uncomfortable topics when answering, or I explained them poorly but I thought they were relevant and I didn’t really know how to put them better.

Thanks for your ask and sorry if my reply came late.

[chiaki-translation]

SR Taichi [The Fantasy that I Adore]: Backstage Translation

I have come to the acceptance that Taichi will be the gacha for this play, but he’s a good boy and he came home fast so I’m happy. But that’s exactly the problem, because he’s too much of a good boy, I feel the need to return his sword to him. Conclusion is, I spend a bit too much on the gacha, but no regret.

Anyway, a bit update, I do want to translate Autumn 7th play but my assignment says “NOOOOO”. So yeah, if I can finish my assignment in time and no one else is doing it, I will be picking it up I guess. Scratch that, just received an email from my prof saying that I’ll have a test next week...

Summary:

Taichi’s getting Sakuya to help him with his swordplay, in return, Taichi has to help with a performance in Sakuya’s part time daycare.

Disclaimer:

A3! is owned by Liber’s Entertainment

Translator’s Note: I’m actually not very sure of the name of Kasumi’s three daughters. If anyone knows the correct reading, please tell me, thank you~

Mr. Swordsman and Play House

Taichi:

Ha! Hyaah!

Woah!? The sword flew away from my hand!

Sakuya:

Ah.

Taichi-kun, good work.

Here, your sword.

Taichi:

Sakkun! Thanks for bringing it back to me!

Sakuya:

Are you practicing for the upcoming performance?

Taichi:

Yep! I haven’t done a lot of scenes that include swordfight before, so I need to practice a lot.

Sakuya:

I see, Autumn Troupe has a lot of action scenes that don’t use sword.

Taichi:

Speaking of which, Sakkun also have swordplay experience because of your RomeJuli performance right…

Sakuya:

Yep, it’s true but… What about it?

Taichi:

Sakkun!

I have a request for you.

Sakuya:

A request?

Taichi:

As a Senpai in swordplay, I want you to teach me how to handle a sword!

Sakuya:

Eh!?

But, I’m not that good at it either you know?

Taichi:

That’s not the case at all!

I would be very happy if I can get a guidance from Sakkun who played Romeo, please…!

Sakuya:

If you say so… I’m not sure if I can teach well, but if you’re fine with me, I’ll keep you company with practice!

Taichi:

Alright! Thank you, Sakkun!

Pleased to work with you!

Sakuya:

Then, I’ll take the sword prop that I used previously.

Taichi:

Yep.

Alright, I’ll do some swinging until Sakkun comes back!

Ha! Hyaah!

<Short Time Skip>

Sakuya:

Sorry for the wait!

Taichi:

Uwaa, Sakkun~!

Sakuya:

Wha, what happened?

Taichi:

The sword went flying out of my hand sometimes~!

It’s like it just slipped out of my hand~.

Sakuya:

Hmm, maybe you should balance your power more.

When you’re swinging the sword, you might release the power on your grip unconsciously.

Why don’t we try to focus on the way you hold the sword?

It should look like this!

Taichi:

Oh! Let me try it too!

Sakuya:

Anyway, let’s try swinging it together!

<Short Time Skip>

Sakuya:

Good work. You might get injured if you do it for too long, so let’s stop here for the day!

Taichi:

Alright!

Thanks for accompanying me today, Sakkun.

Thanks to Sakkun, the sword’s not flying away from my hand anymore, really really thanks to you!

Sakuya:

Yeah, it’s not because of me though, it’s because of Taichi-kun’s effort.

I think your way of holding the sword has definitely become much better.

Taichi:

Hehe, I’m happy if Sakkun said so.

Ah, right! As thanks for helping me with practice, maybe I can help you with anything?

Sakuya:

Eh!? You don’t need to do anything!

Taichi:

It won’t feel right otherwise!

I was really helped by Sakkun’s teaching you know.

That’s why, I want you to tell me if you need help with anything!

Sakuya:

…Understood. Then, I’ll think of something!

<Shifts to Lounge>

Director:

Taichi-kun, is your practice going well?

Taichi:

Yes! I practice with the sword every day, I also got Sakkun to observe if he has free time.

Sakuya:

I’m home!

Taichi:

Ah, speak of the devil.

Welcome back, Sakkun!

Director:

Welcome back.

Sakuya:

Just nice.

Taichi-kun, there’s something that I need to request from you…

Taichi:

What what? I’ll listen to anything if it’s a request from Sakkun.

There’s also the thanks for the sword play!

Sakuya:

Actually, I was asked to do a short original play by the daycare director.

Won’t you do it together with me?

Director:

By daycare, you mean the place you’re part timing at?

Sakuya:

Yes. I had a part time job today, and the conversation just flow into how I was practicing sword play somehow.

And then, he said about how the children will be happy if I can do it in front of them…

Director:

I see. Even if it’s just in front of children, it might be a good idea to have the grip of performing sword play in front of people before the actual performance.

It might be good to showcase the result of Taichi-kun’s training too.

What do you think, Taichi-kun?

Taichi:

Of course, I’m okay with it!

Sakuya:

That’s great, thank you!

Taichi:

No problem!

Alright, let’s showcase the result of our training and make the children happy!

<End of Part 1>

Daycare Director:

Pleased to work with you.

Director:

Me too, pleased to work with you.

(I came to greet the daycare director, but…

I wonder how Taichi-kun and Sakuya-kun doing now.

This time, we got Tsuzuru to think of a short script for the performance too.

It’s a short story, the movement’s pretty simple too, I hope the children will be happy with it)

Taichi:

Everyone, sorry for the wait!

Sakuya:

This time, Sensei and Taichi onii-chan will be doing a performance, so everyone, please enjoy.

(TLN: Sakuya’s referring to himself as sensei.)

Child A:

Wah~ I’m looking forward to it!

Child B:

What kind of story is it!

Sakuya:

Then without further ado, let’s start~

<Short Time Skip>

Sakuya:

“Taichi! The monster’s going that way!”

Taichi:

“Like I’ll lose like this! Let’s go!

Hyaaah!”

Child A:

Good luck!

Child B:

Go go!

<Short Time Skip>

Sakuya:

Thank you so much!

Taichi:

Thanks!

Child A:

Mr. Swordsman’s so cool!

Child B:

Yep!

Swing swing and bang, it was so cool!

Taichi:

Hehe, I’m glad you’re enjoying it!

Director:

(The two of them did a very lively performance.

The children seem to be enjoying it too)

[

[

Choice 1: So how is it, doing swordplay in front of people?

Director:

Taichi-kun, so how is it, doing swordplay in front of other people?

Taichi:

At first, as I thought, I was a bit nervous.

But Sakkun was by my side, he kept giving me signals with his eyes and it’s so reassuring, I ended up getting too absorbed in it!

Thank you, Sakkun!

Sakuya:

Ehehe, I’m glad it was useful! Me too, I got Masumi-kun to accompany me for practice during the RomeJuli swordplay—

Even during the actual performance, he made it easy for me to follow and it’s really reassuring to have him on stage with me.

Taichi:

I see!

Director:

(Like this, the members are able to encourage each other’s development by supporting one another… What a  wonderful thing)

]

]

[

[ 

Choice 2: The result of your practice is showing!

Director:

The result of your practice is showing great!

Taichi:

Really!?

Director:

Yep, your stance is good and the impact’s there too.

Even I was pulled into it.

Taichi:

I did it! Hehe, I’m really happy!

I’m still going to do my best in practice, and I’m going to show you even a better performance than today!

Director-sensei, look forward to my cool swordplay!

]

]

Sakura:

Sakuya-sensei! Sakuya-sensei’s doing a performance today, so papa said that he wanted to come too!

Sakuya:

Eh, Kasumi-san?

Taichi:

(Kasumi-san…?)

Kaede:

But, he wasn’t able to get a break from his work so he was crying because he couldn’t go.

Tsubaki:

Yes~!

Sakuya:

Eh!? So Kasumi-san was going to take leave to see my performance.

Taichi:

Anyway, Sakkun.

By Kasumi-san, you mean the first-generation Spring Troupe’s…?

Sakuya:

Yeah, you’re right!

These children are Kasumi-san’s daughters!

Taichi:

Eh!? What a great coincidence!

Sakura:

Hey hey, Sakuya-sensei, Taichi onii-chan, let’s play house together!

Tsubaki:

Let’s do it, let’s do it!

Daycare Director:

I’m sorry, even though you just ended the performance…

Nanao-kun too, is it alright to get you to play with them too?

Director:

It’s alright.

Right, Taichi-kun.

Taichi:

Of course!

Sakuya:

Then, let’s play house with Sensei.

Girl A:

I want to join too!

Sakuya-sensei will be the Mr. swordsman that protects me, and Taichi-kun will be my husband!

Girl B:

Then, Taichi-kun will be the swordsman that protects me!

Girl C:

Then then, Sakuya-sensei will be my fiancé!

Taichi & Sakuya:

Eh!

Boy A:

I’ll be Taichi’s older brother!

Boy B:

I want to play as Sakuya-sensei’s little brother…

Boy C:

Then, I’m going to be Taichi onii-chan’s disciple!

Sakuya:

Ahaha, somehow this becomes a very grand play house.

Taichi:

Eh umm, the wife, the princess, older brother, and disciple…

Uh, the setting’s too complicated~!

But I guess you can’t let the children’s down right!

In the name of MANKAI company, I’m going to drill the setting to my head and play house with everyone!

Sakuya:

Yeah, let’s do our best!

Boy C:

Teach! What are we doing today?

Taichi:

Alright, first of all, let’s do some sword training today.

Girl A:

Kyaa! Mr. swordsman, help me!

Sakuya:

Princess, I’ll protect you!

Hyaah!

Girl B:

Taichi, I want to go to the neighboring town, come with me.

Taichi:

Of course. I will escort you properly.

Boy D:

I am the leader of the knights! There will be a tournament for all swordsman, of course, Sakuya and Taichi are joining too!

Sakuya:

I’ll do my best!

Girl A:

Dear, buy some potatoes on your way back today!

Don’t forget, okay!

Taichi:

Alright!

Eh umm, I need to practice sword, escort the princess to the neighboring town, prepare for the swordsman tournament, get some potatoes on the way…!?

Director:

(The two of you, good luck…!)

Daycare Director:

Nanao-kun seems to be good with children.

Director:

Taichi-kun has little brother and sister who are quite far apart in age.

Daycare Director:

Ah, no wonder, he seems to be very used to it.

<Short Time Skip>

Daycare Director:

Thank you so much for today.

The children are very happy too.

Director:

Same here, thank you so much.

Taichi:

I have so much fun here too!

Daycare Director:

If you got the chance, do come and play house with the children again.

Taichi:

Yes!

Eh, what!?

Not the performance, but that!?

<End of Part 2>

[otomeramblings]

My thoughts on Act 2, Episode 5

Yes, I’m incredibly late to the party. It took me longer than I thought to finally be able to finish reading Ep 5 BUT here it is! I’m gonna try to summarize my initial reactions and how I feel about the main plot points here both for myself and for anyone that wants to read them.

Long post under the cut!

One small thing I want to mention before delving into the big stuff: seeing all the boys starting new stages in their lives was honestly super heartwarming; they’ve grown so much both as individuals and together as a company (and as friends), and it was a delight to see it. As a fan of small details, I loved to see that the conversation Banri and Yuki had in “Into the Night!” (about him taking acting seriously and maybe going to college to bring back the knowledge to the company) was reflected in his choice of going to Veludo Arts University.

But anyway! There’s 3 main things I want to talk about in regards to this episode:

First up is Masumi’s arc:

Hooooo boy, I hadn’t been this angry about a fictional parent since we learned about Misumi’s family. I think the main thing that irked me a lot about his dad was how little regard he seemed to have for his son as an actual human being. Especially because of how hypocritical it sounded when his secretary said stuff like "Mr Usui is concerned about you living without a parental figure for so long" because we all know that Masumi has been living basically on his own for a long time and the excuse of "Masumi has only been living in Japan this long due to his parent's desire to keep his environment as stable as possible while they were married" felt super empty because yeah, right, coming back to an empty home every day is the healthiest way to raise a child, it surely can’t affect his well-being and his sense of worth in any way.

Masumi saying "I thought it might make them happy if i got good grades or did well in sports, so I tried my best, but...nothing ever changed"  and the story about him begging his parents to come to the show and tell and his dad's response was just "Listen to your parents, that's all we want from you" was so heartbreaking. It made me incredibly angry but it also helped me understand Masumi as a character a lot more; no wonder he has attachment issues (which are mainly centred around Izumi/the MC) and his constant need for validation, he just wants people to be there for him and be proud of his accomplishments. He just wants a family but his parents were just too busy to even give a crap. 

Also, in relation to Izumi: I think he still needs to learn that the obsession he has with her is not healthy (and hopefully one day he can grow out of it) but it's clear that he doesn't do it to purposely make her uncomfortable; he's misguided and he doesn't know how to deal and express the affection he feels towards one of the people that genuinely cares about him. Also I'm not saying that he doesn't have a crush on her, I think he does but he behaves this way because he never learned how to express his feelings in a healthy way and he's probably scared someone "could take her away" at any moment because boy hasn't he had to deal with people going again a lot already.

About Masumi’s grandma: love her, she’s a darling and she clearly cares for her grandson’s well being. One thing she mentions is that her son changed when his company found success, and like, I get that he needs to put time and effort to keep his company afloat but like. not even considering what your son wants and feels? Maybe talking to him every once in a while? Being busy it's not an excuse; your son shouldn't have to wonder if his parents love him. But this also ties to the end of Masumi’s arc when his father finally lets him stay in Japan: I'm glad that Masumi's father apologised and realised the error of his ways, it doesn't undo the years of loneliness Masumi had to endure because of it, but it's a start.

Final thoughts on Masumi’s arc: 10/10 would read it again for the feels. I really loved the depth they gave him and how they made him realise that Mankai (not just Izumi) are important to him because they’re his precious family and he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. One little moment after that warmed my heart was when Izumi tells Masumi that she's glad that he's been taking care of Tsuzuru while he's busy writing and he answers with "I mean, he is...family",,,,,,,,,,,I’m not crying, you’re crying. I hope we can get more moments with him in the future that are centred around his personality, his likes and dislikes, and his relationships with the other boys.

In second place, Chikage’s introduction and arc.

Let's see. I knew coming in that Chikage was a controversial character within the fandom and I knew the main reason why because of spoilers, but I didn’t know all the details. Also, something you should know about me is that I found morally grey characters interesting, so that made it so I went into this with an open mind.

Overall, I liked the episode and I ended up linking Chikage as a character well enough. But I’m not gonna lie and say that everything was perfect. The biggest issue I had with his arc was the way they handled his relationship with Izumi/the MC, especially in regards to the kidnapping. I’m usually pretty good at putting a dividing line between fiction and real life, which is what allows me to enjoy villains and morally grey characters; but as a woman who grew up with my mom saying “never leave your drink/food unattended”, seeing it done here and then having it go unpunished really left a bad taste in my mouth; because every girl grows up hearing this (and i know this is a problem that affects all genders) and it’s horrible because it has happened to so many people. So my biggest gripe about this part of his arc is the consequences, or more so the lack of them.

The only things that made it a bit more acceptable *for me* were three things:

This line from Izumi: "What Chikage's done is unforgivable. But I can't just ignore August's dying wish and Hisoka's thoughts on the matter." I have some mixed feelings about it but It just aligns with Izumi’s personality; she’s always been portrayed as incredibly selfless and giving, someone who’s ridiculously kind (to a fault) and who always tries to see the best in people and puts others before herself (and also because ~plot~ demands it, but that’s a thing with a lot of media these days) Do I wish she had been angry and wary towards Chikage after having been drugged and kidnapped? Yes, I do, it would have been nice to have a portion of the story dedicated to Chikage having to earn her trust back because what he did really was not okay.

Sakuya’s conversation with Chikage when he tries to leave after opening night and in particular these two lines from Sakuya: "This isn't about the play....for some reason, I get the feeling we shouldn't leave you alone right now" [...] "You're different now. I can tell you're broken and hurting. I feel like you've lost your way." Regardless of personal feelings, I think Chikage showed that he really was shaken by the weight of his own actions after he found out the truth. He knows that what he did was wrong and that’s why his emotions and all his guilt were crushing him all at once. He was driven by revenge and anger for so long that once he learned and accepted the truth, he completely lost himself. And seeing him have to deal with all of that made me really glad, because even if he’s not gonna have to deal with external consequences (aka having to deal with the rest of the company’s distrust, even though I wish he did), he still had to find a way to not only forgive himself but also to atone in his own way for what he did (aka putting down his walls, fulfilling his promises and making it his mission to protect everyone at mankai from the organisation) 

Now, as I’ve been saying, I really wish Chikage had been able to tell the others the whole story about what he did and why he did it but…..we didn’t get that. What I am glad about, though, is that at least he told them that he took her away on purpose (even if he didn’t tell them how or why); also both he and Hisoka pointed out that anyone who knows the full truth about their lives could be in serious danger and that having Izumi know was already risky enough. And yes, that is indeed very plot convenient but it’s the bare minimum and I’m willing to give it a pass this time.

tl;dr I think Chikage is an interesting character that has a lot of potential and I have hopes that he will get some more development in future events. BUT, I really think they could have handled his arc in this episode a lot better.

Now, all that said, if you still couldn’t bring yourself to forgive or look past what he did and you still don’t like him: no one can force you to like him after the things he did since it can be very triggering for a lot of people, so remember that your feelings are totally valid.

In third place and in relation to Chikage’s arc, I also have to mention Hisoka and the development he got as a result.

The only thing that bugged me in relation to Hisoka was that even though I knew he couldn't because of ~plot~ (and probably because part of him is still unsure about what he didn't remember and how it could affect the others even if he did say that the person he was before didn't matter anymore) but I really wished he had told anyone "hey so like......Chikage said some weird stuff to me just now and I might need help" because their first 1 to 1 confrontation was a threat if I've ever seen one.

But yeah, other than that I really love that we not only finally got to learn about his past, but also we got a good foundation for his development in the future regarding his interpersonal relationships with the winter troupe. The fact that he couldn’t remember who he was has been a point of conflict in the past and this brings that issue to a close in the sense that he is willing to tell them (part of) the truth once he sorts things out. And I loved loved how the trust Hisoka has in them is the direct result of all the ups and downs that the winter troupe has gone through so far in learning to open up to each other. I know they said during nocturnality that they’re not a family in the same sense the spring troupe is, but I honestly disagree; they way in which they’ve come to rely on each other shows how strong their bond is.

[jounetsunosymphonia]

The Clockwork Heartbeat (Mankai Stage Spring 2019 translation)

translation for the stage version of spring’s third play! the song can be listened to in full here. and please, please listen to it while reading.

hello folks. i cried multiple times while translating this. and while watching it. and listening to it. clockwork hurts. i might be a winter but it’s my favourite a3 play ever i have every fucking emotion thinking about it. please enjoy.

cast list

Minagi Tsuzuru (Maekawa Yuuki) as Luke Citron (Furuya Yamato) as S Sakuma Sakuya (Yokota Ryugi) as Colt Chigasaki Itaru (Tateishi Toshiki) as Boyd and Narrator Usui Masumi (Makishima Hikaru) as Alf

-

Narrator In a certain town in a certain country A time where people’s lives depend upon steam The alchemist Luke— creates a homunculus, an artificial human, forbidden by law.

Luke There, it’s finished. Your name is S!

S: Good morning, master. Please give me an order.

Luke I won’t order you around You and I are friends

S: That will be a problem. If I am not given orders, I cannot move.

Luke: …alright then, let’s give you one. Be my friend.

S: Friend…?

Luke: Yes.

S: Understood.

Luke: How dry...oh! Let’s shake hands! It’s how humans greet each other.

Luke: S, are you left-handed? Ah…this is hard to explain. S, a handshake is when you clasp hands together.

S: Hands together…understood.

Luke No, no. We have to take each other’s hands. This is a handshake.

S: Handshake…

Luke: It’s a sign of our friendship.

S: Master and I, are friends. Handshake.

[spring telepathy time part 1!]

Citron: (Oh! Like I thought, doing manzai with Tsuzuru is the best!)

Tsuzuru: (No, we’re acting right now. Jeez…making me do comebacks even in my head…)

Citron: (I’ve had it!)

Tsuzuru: (But thank you. You helped out a lot this time.)

Citron: (I didn’t do anything. I just always want to be able to play around with you.)

-

Colt: Good morning, sir! Eh? Did you get a new apprentice?

Luke: Hey, Colt. He’s S, he’s my friend.

Colt: I’m Luke’s apprentice, Colt! Nice to meet you, S!

S: I’m Master’s friend, S. It’s nice to meet you, too.

Colt: Ow ow ow! My hand’s going to break!

S: This is a handshake.

Luke: You’re doing it too strongly, S.

Colt: Sir, is S—?

Luke: He is, but he’s my friend.

S: Yes. I am Master’s friend.

Colt: Ah, is that so. I’d expect no less from you, sir!

Narrator Luke teaches S many things S slowly absorbs it all. Luke has a lot of fun, and perhaps…S does as well

Boyd: But there’s no way it’ll be fine like this, fool apprentice.

Luke: Master—!

S: Master…?

Luke: S, this is my alchemy teacher, Boyd.

S: I am Master’s friend, S. It is nice to meet you.

Boyd Homunculi are outlawed throughout the land Get rid of that doll at once

Luke: S is my friend. Please don’t talk about him like that.

Boyd: Their kind can’t understand human emotions.

Luke Yes, they can! I’ll teach him. I’ll give S a heart!

Boyd: My, my. Perhaps rather than teach you alchemy, I should have shown you how to make friends.

[spring telepathy time part 2!]

Itaru: (Having me be both the narrator and the teacher is a bit much.)

Tsuzuru: (It’s a role only you can do, Itaru-san.)

Itaru: (Tsuzuru, you say that every time.)

Tsuzuru: (Has acting become more fun than games?)

Itaru: (Who knows. But…your scripts are interesting.)

-

S: Master, do I not have a “heart”?

Luke: That’s not true—

S: But Master’s teacher said so.

Luke: Your master is me.

S: What is a heart?

Luke: Why do you keep asking about this—

S: Master, please order me to have a heart.

Luke: It’s not something I can just order you to have.

S: But if I do not have a heart, I will be destroyed.

Luke: I won’t let that happen! …anyway, S. Maybe you should step outside for a bit.

S: Is this an order?

Luke: An order? …yes, yes it is.

S: Understood.

-

Narrator Luke hides S from prying eyes, but it is already too late. The news on his existence reaches commanding officer Alf.

Alf: Robots with artificial intelligence are illegal in this country.

Luke: S isn’t a robot. He’s completely human.

Alf If machines and humans mingle, it will only bring misfortune The law exists to prevent that. As soon as a homunculus is discovered, it will immediately be— —destroyed.

Alf: What’s this door?

Luke: Please, don’t!

Colt: Sir, let’s make a run for it!

Alf: Just a smoke bomb, eh. These alchemists…Go after them! Find them no matter what!

Luke: S, the guards are after us. We have to escape.

S: Escape? But if we run from the law, then Master will become a criminal.

Luke: If I don’t, then you’ll be destroyed!

S: Is it because I do not have a heart? Because I am a doll?

Alf: Give up. Treating mechanical dolls as equal to humans is merely hubris.

Luke: …hubris…?

Colt: You’re mistaken! My teacher’s become so much brighter. All because S is his friend!

Alf: They’re only playing at being friends. Your imitation of friendship ends here.

-

S: Master.

Luke: S! S, fight. We’ll get out of here!

S: I do not wish to cause you trouble.

Luke: That’s an order. You’re my friend. Our friendship isn’t just make-believe!

S: Understood.

(back at it again with “watch it if you can” but citron fighting is just. chef kiss. i love my boy so much. i would give up my life for furuya yamato.)

Luke: S!

[spring telepathy time part 3!]

Tsuzuru: (Citron-san, this is…!)

Sakuya: (He had some special training with Banri-kun and Sakyo-san!)

Masumi: (You’ve gotten a little better than before.)

Citron: (I was learning self defense from friends, so that came in handy, right!)

Sakuya: (We’ll all definitely come together to live up to your script!)

Tsuzuru: (Don’t make me cry in the middle of the play, now.)

Masumi: (Don’t cry.)

Tsuzuru: (I won’t!)

-

Alf: After them!

Narrator: But in the battle, S takes a great deal of damage, and the clockwork in his chest is bared.

Luke: S, that wound—!

S: It is not a problem. There are only screws and gears within me.

Luke: Let’s get back to the laboratory. We have to get you patched up right away.

Colt: But the laboratory’s going to be crawling with guards—

Luke: We can defeat them again. At this rate, S is going to stop functioning.

Colt: Sir, your crimes are just going to pile up!

Luke: If he stops working now, he’ll lose all his memories from when he first woke up!

S: Master, please remove my key.

Luke: What are you saying. If I do that, you’ll break—

S: If I cease functioning, you will no longer be chased.

Luke: No, I can’t. We’ll run together. That’s an order.

S: I will not obey. I wish to save you.

Luke: Why won’t you listen to your master’s orders?!

S: Because…I am…your friend, Luke. You gave me a life. You gave me friends. You gave me…a heart. And my heart is saying—even if I can no longer move, I’ll always be your friend.

Luke: No…I don’t want you to break.

S: I want you to do it. Not anyone else.

Luke: Being created and destroyed on the whims of a human…isn’t this too cruel?

S: We’ll meet again someday. Saying goodbye makes me sad too, but when I think that we’ll meet again, I’m okay.

(luke clutches s’ hands tightly, resulting in the most painful callback i have ever seen)

S: Luke, that hurts. You’re doing it too strongly.

Luke: I’m glad I met you, S.

S: Tha…nk…you……Lu…ke…

Colt: Please, won’t you let us go? My teacher, he—!

Alf: Thank you for your compliance with the law. Pardon the impoliteness.

Colt: You’re not taking S away?

Alf: We don’t have the free time to be confiscating broken inventions. Now, if you’ll excuse me.

-

Boyd: Huh. That straight-laced commanding officer did that?

Colt: Yes, he was really cool!

Boyd: So, how are that guy’s wounds healing up?

Colt: He seems fine now. He even went on a stroll this morning!

Boyd: That shut-in did? You’re not mistaken, are you?

Colt: Since then, teacher’s changed quite a bit. It’s like a bolt from the blue!

Luke: Hey, Colt. Don’t exaggerate.

Colt: Oh, teacher!

Boyd: You seem perfectly well now, don’t you.

Luke: Thankfully.

Boyd: A wind-up key? Quite a tasteless necklace you have there, my idiot apprentice.

Luke: This is an important key, I don’t want to lose it. So that I don’t forget a precious friend’s heart.

All Living on in my heart Important things don’t have to be seen

S So that one day we’ll meet again

Luke So that I don’t forget

All The ticking noise resounds

(then it goes into omoide no nejimaki here, from here again boop)

All Thoughts are superimposed on each other, acting like a spring To the proof of the connection that we created

Luke The last greeting is a source of calm wind

S Let’s go to sleep like this

Luke It was left in the hand

Luke, S A key to memories

[kaweeella]

To Be The Best Me

Name still a work in progress.

Chapter 2- The Legality Is Questionable, So Don’t Ask Questions

Place your bets for Tsuzuru’s pokemon now, folks.

~~~

At the end of the day Izumi closes the book she was teaching from.

“I think today was pretty productive.”

“Yeah!” Sakuya puts his notes into his bag, his eevee yipping in agreement.

Izumi realizes something.

“What is it?” Sakuya notices the look on her face.

“Well, I wasn’t planning on staying here very long…” She admits. “I don’t have a place to stay.” And plane tickets are hell to cancel.

“Don’t worry! The school has a dorm!”

“Really?”

“Yeah, it’s kinda small,” To be expected, there’s only one classroom and only so many people can be legally taught in one room. It’s a fire hazard. “Mr. Matsukawa said that there’s a room specifically for the head teacher, which I guess would be you.” Considering she’s the only teacher? Yeah, probably.

“Alright, lead the way.”

They arrive at the dorms. In the common area Isuke is doing paperwork. He gives them a smile and wave.

“Ms. Tachibana,” Sakuya starts. “If you were only planning to stay a little while, why’d you bring so much stuff?”

“I don’t know, I thought maybe I could go sight seeing for a while before heading home. Plus I’m a cautious packer.” She then also realizes there are things she’s going to need to grab from her house. She wouldn’t be canceling the flight yet, and one ways are cheaper. Before any of that, though, she needs to find a substitute. Maybe it’s the fact that the school was on the brink of demolition when under his care, but Isuke doesn’t seem like the best choice.

“Alright, tomorrow we’ll be looking for more students and teachers.” Pokemon training isn’t required education, and the building looks a little worse for wear, so it’s understandable that people wouldn’t be jumping at the opportunity to sign their kids up.

“Why?”

“Sakuya, this can’t be a school with only one student and teacher. That’s just a tutoring session.” And she promised a full functioning school.

“Okay, it was getting a little lonely here.”

“What am I? Chopped liver?”

“Matsukawa, he needs to socialize with other kids his age.”

Their talk is interrupted with the sound of a gurgling stomach.

“Sorry…” Sakuya mumbles.

“I suppose that’s my cue to start dinner.” Isuke gets up and heads to the kitchen.

Izumi can see the light in Sakuya’s eyes die a little.

When Isuke is done, Izumi stares in horror at the plate in front of her. It hardly looks edible. But looks aren’t everything, right? Maybe it tastes better than it looks.

No, it’s just as bad as she feared.

“Alright, I’m cooking.” She grabs up the food and takes it to the kitchen. She can work with this. She’s worked with worse.

She quickly whips up some curry using the food and some stuff she can find in the kitchen.

“Here it is!” She says, putting the pot on the table.

“This is really good!” Sakuya says.

“How did you prepare this so fast? Did you use roux?”

Izumi laughs, but stops when she sees she’s the only one. “Oh my god you’re serious. You can’t make good curry with that store bought stuff. I didn’t see any in the kitchen, but if you have bought them, I’m throwing them away.”

“Right, of course.”

When they’re done eating Sakuya shows her her room. He and Isuke also help bring up her suitcase.

She lets out spinda and pachirisu to get used to their new home while she unpacks.

“So how do you guys think we’ll attract students?”

Pachirisu shuffles and a pink heart appears.

“No, Patch, not like that…”

“Spi spin!” Spinda calls, stumbling around.

She thinks. “Maybe I could use the advertisement as a lesson, as well.”

The next day she takes Sakuya out to a public battle area.

“Alright Sakuya. Today will be your first battle!”

“Really?”

“Yep. I’ll only be using spinda, so don’t worry about that.”

They get into proper position, Izumi lets pachirisu watch nearby.

“Alright Sakuya, give it your all!”

“Right!”

“Spinda use tackle!”

Spinda lunges towards eevee, almost missing, knocking him back.

“Eevee! Use covet!”

Eevee runs towards spinda and swipes at her.

“Good job, Sakuya!”

“Thanks!”

“Now, spinda use copycat!”

Spinda stumbles forward and slashes at eevee in a similar manner.

“What’s that?”

“Copycat allows the pokemon to use the move the opponent used just before it.”

“Cool! Eevee, use sand attack!”

He kicks up sand as the wind picks up, sending it at spinda.

“You know what to do!”

Spinda lunges forwards to tackle, but misses.

“Tackle!”

Eevee hits the spinda and she stumbles. The spinda pushes back, hitting eevee.

“Woah, you didn’t even tell her to do that!”

Izumi looks away and rubs the back of her neck. “Yeah, it’s not all that impressive.” She only knows two moves.

“Sand attack!”

Eevee kicks up dirt and spinda tackles him. After some back and forth, Sakuya comes out victorious.

“Congrats on winning your first battle!”

“Thank you!”

She hands him some money.

“What’s this for?”

“It’s customary for the loser to give money to the victor.”

“Oh, you don’t have to.”

“No, you earned it.”

“Ah, thank you.” He sheepishly takes it.

They turn to grab their stuff when Izumi notices they drew someone’s attention.

“Hey! Are you interested in joining our trainer school?”

“Do you work there?”

“Yep! I’m the main teacher.”

“Okay.”

“Good to meet you, I’m Izumi Tachibana.”

“Masumi Usui. I love you.”

Izumi lets out an awkward laugh. “What?”

“Oh hey Masumi!” Sakuya runs over.

“You know him?”

“Yeah, we went to the same school before. He’s a year behind me.”

“So Masumi, do you have your own pokemon?”

“No…”

“That’s alright, I’ll help you catch one!” Masumi perks up. Well this’ll be an experience. “You saw spinda, and this is pachirisu.” The little squirrel climbs up to get a good look at him. He grabs him and holds him out.

“Ah, be careful-” Before she can let out a proper warning, pachirisu discharges, causing Masumi to throw him.

The three of them run after him.

“Hashiru!” They hear someone yell. Suddenly patchiru is grabbed out of the air by a machamp.

“Thank you so much.” Izumi takes back pachirisu, who skitters onto her shoulder.

“No problem.” The man smiles.

“Sorry…” Masumi says.

“No, I should be the one apologizing. It’s not your fault.”

“Machamps are pokemon that evolve through trade, right?” Sakuya asks.

“Yeah, I got him from my brother to help around the house.”

“You have a machamp… just to do house chores?” Izumi looks at him.

“Well it’s good to have an extra pair of hands or two, but we also play soccer.”

A machamp… to play soccer…

“We met him when he was a machop and when he saw us playing he wanted to play too. He’s really gentle. I also have a leavanny but I leave her at home.”

“You see, leavanny makes sense to take care of kids.” She thinks for a moment. “So you’ve had these guys for a long time, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“Would you like to teach at my school?”

“W… what?”

“Do you wanna teach at my school? We have some rooms if you wanna use one. Free meals.”

“I don’t have any experience.”

“That’s fine! You seem to know a lot, and I’m gonna be heading out in a little while and I’ll need someone to watch the class. You don’t need teaching experience to be a sub.”

“I guess… sure. Can I meet the class?”

She steps to the side. Sakuya is smiling and Masumi is glaring at him. “Here they are.”

The man thinks for a moment. “I’m not sure what I was expecting from someone willing to hire a stranger off the street.”

“Izumi Tachibana! I hope you enjoy working with us!”

“Tsuzuru Minagi.”

“Alright. I was just planning on heading back, and I need to show Masumi around, wanna come with?”

“Yeah, alright.”

“Oh, I should mention,” She turns to Masumi. “If you wanna stay in the dorm you’re gonna need permission from your parents.”

“You do?” Sakuya asks.

“Yes…” She looks at him. “Sakuya, please tell me you got permission to stay in the dorm.”

…

“Oh my god this has been a kidnapping.”

“It’s not kidnapping if I-”

“How old are you?”

“17.”

“It’s a kidnapping, Sakuya. We’re getting permission for you.”

“How do you not know this?” Tsuzuru asks.

“I only started working there yesterday!”

“And you’re allowed to hire people?”

“You should’ve seen how I got hired. Not important right now. Come on, we’re going back to the dorms and calling your parents.”

“I’ll give you my guardians number.”

“You probably won’t get an answer.”

When they get back to the dorm, Izumi nearly knocks the door off its hinges.

“You didn’t contact his guardians?!”

“Ah!” He jumps.

“Matsukawa that’s a crime! Why didn’t you?”

“He told me not to worry about it!”

“Oh yeah, that’d hold up in court!” She grabs the phone and starts to dial. “Hello, am I speaking to the guardians of Sakuya Sakuma?”

The person on the other end sighs. “Yes. What about him?”

“I’m a part of the Mankai pokemon school, I was wondering if it’s okay if he stays in our care, we have a dorm-”

“Yes. Keep him.”

“Okay, have a good day.” She hangs up. “Alright Sakuya, you’re good to stay.”

He gives a small smile and a thumbs up.

She dials the number Masumi gave her. They don’t pick up.

“Hello, I am Izumi Tachibana, the head teacher at Mankai pokemon school. Your son, Masumi, wants to join our school and stay at our dorms. I need your permission for it, so call back when you can!” She leaves a message.

“I told you he wouldn’t pick up…”

“Regardless, I still needed to ask him. At least now he knows and can call back.”

“So who’re they?”

“This is Masumi, our newest student, and Tsuzuru, our newest teacher.”

“Good to meet you.” Tsuzuru says.

Masumi just looks at him.

“So now let’s start the tour!” She starts to show them around before pausing. “Matsukawa, start the tour!”

“What? Why me?”

“Because I just got here yesterday. You know the place better than I do.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

[emilycollins00]

omg it's now open!! can i ask for the tenma and izumi's sister street act pretty please? hehe uwu thank you very much!

Wish I could hug you so bad love, I’m so sorry this one took so long!

I’ll be honest, I had for a long time an idea but I just wasn’t feeling it, didn’t like it. So I waited to get some other ideas and honestly I’m much happier with this version! Hope you like it too.

Note this is another short of the Izumi’s sister!reader Series. I know for sure it will be a mess if I start to link each previous post, so I will put the link to my Masterlist HERE and if anyone wants, you can look for the previous parts there.

Once again, thank you so much for your patience 💕 Please enjoy! 

Izumi’s little sister! Reader. Pt. 4. Street act and thoughts

-

“Wait, you mean THAT'S why everyone keeps Masumi from talking to me?”

Izumi laughed awkwardly inside her coat, small clouds coming out of her mouth due to the cold. “It's fine, Y/N. He’s a good kid and most of the time it only gets a bit weird.”

“Most of the time?”

“Anyway!" Izumi clapped her hands and looked at you with a big grin. "I'm so excited you are staying tonight. We should have done this sooner!"

You raised your eyebrows. It was as clear as day she was trying to get out of the conversation. Sighing, you decided to humor her and let it aside for now. “Are you sure it’s fine though? You said the winter troupe was rehearsing for the upcoming perf-”

“Of course it’s fine! Everyone was delighted when I told them you were coming,” she insisted as you both crossed the Veludo district. “Besides, thanks to you we’ll even get to have curry sooner than I counted for!" as she lifted some bags, you couldn’t help but laugh at her expression.

“You look more excited about the spices and ingredients I brought than me staying over, you know”

“Hey! Not true" Izumi pushed you lightly with her hips, making stumble and giggle. You had been sceptic, but it felt nice having some sibling quality-time with your sister again.

A few minutes later, you two finally arrived at the dorm’s entrance. Izumi took out the key to enter when someone slammed the door so loud you even let out a shrill screech.

“Yes! Yes, I am deeply sorry!” you blinked with a mixture of worry and wonder at the manager of Mankai talking on the phone feeling a deja vu. How could someone bow so fast while moving around? “Of course! Yes, I'm already on my way!"

“Matsukawa-san?!” Izumi called out worriedly, but he was already out of her reach. The man did seem to hear her though, turning slightly but not stopping.

“Everything’s fine, director! Please don’t worry, I’ll make sure…!”

Neither of you got to hear the end of the sentence, the silhouette of the man getting smaller and smaller. You saw your sister looking at the distance with a tired expression “You don’t look surprised”

Izumi shook her head at your comment, pulling the door knock and allowing you to enter “If I had to question everything that happens around here I... Anyway, let's-“

“Here comes the tour guide! Here comes so don’t move another step!”

She pressed the bridge of her nose.

                                      -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

“Ah, welcome back you two,” you heard Omi’s voice coming from the kitchen as Izumi opened the lounge door with you behind. “You arrived just in time. I’m finishing some scones.”

“Omi-kun, did Matsukawa-san say…”

“Y/N-pi!” Kazunari’s voice vibrated from the living room’s couches. “Come here, we missed you! I’m sure you’re looking as bomb as always though!”

“Took you long enough, Wild Currian Performer.”

Tenma turned to you as well to talk but stopped halfway. “What the hell.”

Looking up, you were thinking the same. Kamekichi had yet to move from your head “Uh, thank you for… bringing me inside.”

The bird flapped its wings vigorously. “Of course, took you long enough! I am the tour guide!” after that, he took fly and left.

You stared at the hallway visibly confused. What was up with this dorm.

“Wait, was he waiting at the entrance all this time?” a blond man with a phone frowned from the couch. “No wonder I couldn’t find him to bring me- shit, advertisements,” he groaned, glancing at you and then turning his attention back to the screen. “Anyway, nice to meet you in person, Y/N-san. Although Citron and Sakuya talk so much about you I feel like I was there the first time.”

“Uh… thanks?”

As if summoned, the spring leader popped his head into the room “I heard the door, did- Y/N-san! Welcome back, I’m so happy you could come to visit us again!”

You smiled at the boy.

“Okay everyone, help yourselves, there’s more if you want.” Omi walked towards the table and left the plate of scones in the middle, allowing everyone to grab a piece.

You took one, humming delightedly at the sweet flavor. The autumn member chuckled “Would you like anything special for tonight’s dinner, Y/N?”

“Ah, we already covered that, Omi-kun! Y/N brought spices from home, this curry will feel so nostalgic!”

All the actors in the room flinched.

“I see…”

“F in the chat. Why am I not surprised” Itaru mused to himself.

“I-I am sure it’s really good…!”

“You two really are family uh…no, wait!” Tenma shook his head. “Forget about curry!”

“Hey! What’s with everyone dissing curry?” you frowned as you cleaned the rest of the crumbs from the scone, raising your eyes to everyone in the room.

“That’s not what I mean” he rubbed his forehead. You and director were too alike. At your confused stare, he pointed at you indignant “You owe me a street act, remember?”

“Ah, that!” taking another scone and biting it, you nodded. You hadn’t really done street acts before, but you would lie if you said you weren’t interested. “Sure, if you still want?”

“You bet I do.”

He had heard Taichi and Juza commenting on your acting during that autumn rehearsal too- there was no way he would pass the opportunity to test it himself.

“U-um!” Sakuya stood up, his eyes shining “If you are going out to do a street act, I’d like to join too!”

You tilted your head at the boy, curious why he seemed so eager. Didn’t they usually do acts outside?

“All right then, let’s do this.”

Tenma smirked walking towards the door, looking somewhat excited too. Well, they wouldn’t be living in a theatre dorm if they didn’t enjoy acting after all, you concluded shrugging it off.

“GG guys.”

“Tenten, do your best!”

“Yeah, try not to embarrass yourself, hack.”

“What does that mean?!”

                                        -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

By the time you all three walked out of the dorm, jackets and everything on, the sun had started to set up. You shivered. Maybe you should have brought more clothes.

“Was the winter troupe in rehearsals?” you turned to the troupe leaders walking alongside you “Izumi told me they are doing a mystery play of some kind.”

“Yeah, Hisoka-san is the lead and whenever he’s not sleeping he’s pretty good… so they’ve been going all out.”

Sakuya agreed at Tenma’s statement “I’m excited to see them perform!”

As you all continued sharing some light talk, you arrived at Veludo. Looking around, one could see winter was almost there. There weren’t many kids around, just adults and teens returning home walking faster than usual given the time and cold weather.

A bit later, you finally decided to stop on a roundabout next to a fountain to perform.

“What do you guys usually do?”

“We normally just pick a theme and go along with it!” the spring member answered smiling while Tenma stretched. “Do you have anything you’d like to do, Y/N-san?”

You looked around humming. You weren’t usually given the freedom to choose so nothing really came to mind except… “How about doing something similar to the winter troupe? There are not many people around, but maybe we can engage them.”

Sakuya might as well have started jumping.

“A winter-like street act sounds perfect! I don’t think I’ve ever done something similar to what they do. What do you think, Tenma-kun?”

“Not bad. Let’s go with mystery for our theme.”

“Wait, I know I just said that but if the point of a mystery is to solve it, shouldn’t we plan how to-”

Ignoring you, Tenma walked to the middle of the road and turned to you and Sakuya knowingly. His eyes shone with expectations.

You frowned confused still. None of you hadn’t decided anything, was he really-

“You can’t be serious!” Tenma’s tone of voice changed, cutting through the somewhat calm street like a knife. You also noticed his whole demeanour turning hostile, making people look his way. "I have better things to do than wait here to be murdered!”

Even faster than you had anticipated, Sakuya ran to him. "P-please wait, uncle Miles! I won’t move from here until I know who killed my brother. I’m sure the detective must have a reason for having us stay here!"

“Oh?”

“What’s this, a play?”

“Hey, these guys are from Mankai!”

As expected, people stopped noticing the performance.

You felt a thrill in your stomach, engines already turning inside your head. So you had indirectly gotten the part of the detective and therefore in charge of being the one to solve it uh.

Walking slowly, building anticipation, you placed yourself in front of them, blocking out the noise.

Tenma and Sakuya were awaiting, as well as the crowd surrounding you now and it was a strange feeling, if you were honest. Who knew what their next sentences would be after you spoke? You had no idea what could happen, and somehow, that made you smile. This really was a street act.

And so, you chuckled dryly but with elegance “I can assure you, gentlemen, this won't be a problem.”

She’s good. "HA!” Tenma crossed his arms, looking grim “Bet this is just another plot, typical of Marshall and his-”

“Uncle, please!”

And so, it began.

You didn’t notice how long you had this push and pull of allegories, fake names or places. At this point you were just a detective in charge of solving the death of Marshall Jones, a fraud who had been the successor of the Jones Industries.

...And that the biggest suspects were the two people in front of you; his younger brother, William Jones and their uncle, Mr Miles.

“This is stupid, I have men working for me on the government! They will turn a blind eye if I command it I-!”

“Just tell us who did it! I need to know who killed Marshall!” Sakuya trembled anxiously.

You just nodded calmly at both of them “You are right. This has taken too long and I apologize for it.”

Tenma and Sakuya both held their breaths. Acting with you was being a mental workout to keep up, but none of them could dismiss the thrill that came with it.

“However, I feel like I shouldn’t be the only one apologizing. Isn’t that right, Marshall?”

‘What?’

Confused, Tenma followed your pointing finger towards the crowd, and Sakuya almost let a gasp when a shadow made his way towards them. The crowd whispered furiously at the sudden change of flow of the act.

‘M-Misumi-san?!’

‘Since when was he there?!’

While they stared at the summer member, Misumi didn’t look that surprised, to which you inwardly breathed in relief.

Everyone’s eyes laid on him, his attitude perfect for the act, gloomy and mysterious.

Nothing like the happy young man who had wanted to show you triangles the first time you met "I was wondering if you would call out for me at some point, detective."

"Thought I would let you enjoy yourself for a while" you shrugged, and Misumi laughed huskily at your comment.

“Thank you for taking the job.”

“Yeah, yeah. Next time just try to not hide in such a melodramatic way.”

“B-brother? Is that really you…?" Sakuya walked slowly to Misumi, almost making it look like he was about to break into a cry.

Tenma took advantage of the situation to step in. He wasn’t about lose there "Y-you were supposed to be dead! I made sure of-!" he stopped half-way, covering his mouth. "Shit."

“Turns out you should have stayed in the room to check the works of the poison, Mr. Miles.” you made it look like you pulled two sets of handcuffs “As tender as this familiar reunion after death might be, I'm afraid you will have to accompany me. You are both been placed on a charge of murder… and inflicted fraud.”

And scene.

A few seconds passed and you swallowed. Had this been too much?

As soon as the first stupor faded, the now quite big surrounding crowd erupted in applause.

“T-that was amazing!”

“Wait, what?!”

“Didn't think another actor would be hiding!”

“That was Mankai, right? Wanna check their next performance?”

After thanking the audience, you hurried to the boy with a triangular earring, embarrassment running through you, noticing now what you had done. “I-I’m sorry for pulling you in! My body moved on its own and when I saw you…”

Tenma just scoffed, but you could tell he was proud. “Yeah, well- if there’s someone who shouldn’t have any problem with what you just did, it’s him.”

“It really was great!” Sakuya approached you both. “I almost broke character for a second there. Where you watching the whole time, Misumi-san?”

“Not really! I was looking for triangles and then I heard Tenma’s voice… and when I got closer I saw you guys acting!”

“Still, sorry for...”

“Mhm! It’s okay, it’s okay!” suddenly, Misumi started patting your head. “Good job, detective Y/N.”

You felt a blush rush to your cheeks at the touch and so you stepped back, laughing embarrassed. “I-I was also surprised how good everyone is! I mean of course you are, you guys are real actors but-”

"Let’s do another one."

“Uh?” you squeezed your eyes at Tenma. Maybe you hadn’t heard correctly. “But we just-“

“We have time. Misumi, you stay too."

“Okayyyy!”

Turning back to Sakuya the boy laughed nervously, but didn’t look surprised.

Ah, you were so screwed.

                                     -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The streetlights started lighting up when you made a decision to finally head back to the dorm.

“That was great!” Sakuya was moving as if he had received a burst of energy “It’s so much fun acting with people outside Mankai, isn’t it!”

“Everyone’s applauses were really suuuper loud too!”

“…and you say you only go sometimes to your theatre club?" Tenma saw you nod and shoved his hands into the pockets of his winter coat, groaning. "Just what's up with people like you and Misumi?"

"Hmh? Y/N and I are similar? Yaaaayy!"

"Misumi? it didn't sound like a compliment to me."

Sakuya laughed at the exchange. It truly had been an amazing experience. "Did you do theatre with director when you two were younger?"

You hummed, thinking about it. To be honest, theatre had always been around but you hadn’t really... When was it that you started acting again?

A scream stopped your train of thought.

"M-Misumi-san?!"

“You scared the daylights out of me, Misumi!"

Turning to the young man, you noticed him making a triangle with his hands and, while using it as a telescope, suddenly speeding up the pace. "It's a triangular cloud!"

"Misumi-san, please don't follow the cloud, we’ll be late for dinner!"

"Tri-triangle, tri-tri-triangle…!"

"Oi Misumi, quit singing and stop! I know you can hear us!"

Watching the interaction, you couldn't help but laugh, running after them.

They were a weird bunch… but in an endearing kind of way.

                                              -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

“Oh? If it isn’t our cute Y/N” Azuma smiled softly as you all walked in.

“Did you guys go do street acts?” Tasuku lifted his head from the script in his hands. Sakuya nodded eagerly at the older actor, explaining the performances and the audience reaction.

Tsumugi laughed after the spring leader finished. “Seems like you all enjoyed yourselves out there.”

“Ah, youth! If only time would let us stop our bodies to enjoy the real pass of time of our souls!”

“Arisu… you’re annoying...”

“Okay everyone, let’s call the rest and start plating everything, okay?

You spent the rest of the night with the majority of the dorm. 

You had a banter with Masumi about not giving your blessing, being cut by Citron’s weird proverbs and him being at the same time stopped by Tsuzuru. You laughed at Banri’s and Juza’s not so passive aggressive comments, heard some more stories about everyone and of course, you talked about acting and performances.

You shook your head amused. They really were acting addicts.

By the end of dinner, you excused yourself to go to the bathroom.

Closing your eyes, you splashed water in your face, deep in thought. “Living in this dorm must be amazing though…”

They all seemed to work so hard on any act they did… that it confused you. Izumi had always been insistent about you doing theatre and, while you appreciated it, you never took it seriously.

You enjoyed it, sure, but was it maybe because it came naturally to you? …What if you chose to act for real and then didn’t feel the same way after seeing the bad aspects of it?

Your mother was another matter too. She had made it clear she wouldn’t say anything, but you could tell it didn’t… exactly enthusiasm her. She barely mentioned Izumi’s work at home.

However, acting with everyone in Mankai had been fun. Every time.

Even you were surprised. Just how many street acts had you done after the first one today? You hadn’t practiced that much improv in a long time, not even in your theatre club.

It wasn't as of you didn't enjoy your own theatre activities, but surely there had to be a reason why you found yourself so awestruck by everyone here.

Or maybe not. Your mind was a mess. Closing the bathroom door, you sighed before noticing a figure walking towards you.

“Hey, I got the money ”

Without skipping a beat, you ‘tch’ed at Tenma. “First you’ll have to show me the body.”

“I have to see the money,” he pointed at you with his chin.

“First the body… or yours.” A few seconds passed and you both finally sneered. Tenma sighed, shaking his head.

“Thought I could get past you, dammit. You really should consider acting.”

Bullseye.

“Actually- Tenma, I was thinking” you faltered. “Um, did you… always want to be an actor?”

“Well- I was pretty much always in the industry since I was young, so yeah, I’d say so?”

“You never thought it could have been your parent… you know, telling you how you had talent what might have made you start acting?”

The summer leader thought about it, looking at the ceiling. However, he soon shrugged “If so, what?” noticing your confusion, he kept talking. “I mean, I guess they did have some influence… but in the end it was me who decided to stay. For me, not for them.”

You nodded. That made sense.

“Why the question?”

“Ah, nothing it’s just- I think Izumi tends to overreact saying I am like dad, you know, with acting and all. I didn’t think much about it until these acts made me feel…”

“Fulfilled?” The summer leader finished for you. Seeing he was right by looking at your face, he shrugged again in response. “I don’t know Yukio-san to say you are a copy of him, but yeah, you are good. Still though, you should do what you want above everything else.”

You nodded again.

You both headed back to the living room as a heated karaoke discussion between Citron and Banri while a few others tried to act as mediators.

Izumi turned to you and smiled “Everything okay?”

You faced her. The thoughts about acting and theatre could wait. As Tenma said, you didn’t have to rush and for now. You decided to let it aside and enjoy the warm feeling of being reunited with your sister and her weird, but lovable group of actors.

You took her hand and squeezed it. “Yup!”

_________________________________________________________

Hope you guys liked it. Have a wonderful day!  💕

[thatsaweirdwaytospellundead]

EGGciting ♪ Zahra Travelogue 9/11

Summary: It is time for Mankai’s customary training camp and it just so happens that the whole company has been invited to Zahra. However, it appears there may be a deeper reason as to why everyone was invited to this sunny island in the middle-east....

This story takes place after Act 8 in the main story and Harugaoka Quartet event.

THIS IS A 10 PART STORY WITH AN EPILOGUE.

[part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [part 4] [part 5] [part 6] [part 7] [part 8] [part 9] [part 10]

Epilogue “A Journey”

Kumon

Ohh wow! What an amazing party!

Hisoka

..... It’s lively.

Guy

It is because the King is also here.

Guy’s Past Subordinate

[We have been told we have been invited to this banquet, may we come in?]

Mika

[Citronia and Guy were the ones who had requested your attandance. Yes, please enjoy yourselves.]

Homare

A Zahran banquet, ohh how elegant and it has such a middle-eastern charm! I can feel the poetic inspiration welling up in my soul!

Tsuzuru

This is certainly a once in a lifetime opportunity. I think I will also jot down some notes later.

Tangerine

Masumi! I recommend this dish over here. Please try it!

Masumi

..... It’s good.

Tangerine

I’m glad you like it! I wanna talk more about Japan!

Masumi

Yea, if you want. .... But how about you also tell me about some places in Zahra with nice scenery.

Tangerine

No problem! We have lots of things to talk about, let’s have a chat~!

Tsumugi

Fufu, Prince Tangerine has really warming up to Masumi.

Azuma

They were also quite close when the Prince had visited Japan.

Chikage

[Mika, Thank you for sending some spices in the package the other day. I have already used them up, but they were very good.]

Mika

[I am pleased to hear that you liked them. If there is any other type of spice you would like, feel free to ask.]

[Also I would like to express my gratitude for buying me those souvenirs.... I am very thankfull. I cherish them deeply.]

Chikage

[You’re welcome. When we get the chance, I also would like to speak more about Zahran cuisine again.]

Mika

[Yes, of course!]

Juza

This drink is pretty sweet... Nice.

Misumi

And the colour is pretty~!

Muku

Being able to attend a royal banquet.... Wow, this is like something out of a dream.

Tangerine

[Excuse me, sorry for the interruption.]

[Mankai Company is here with a lovely present for all of you tonight.]

[So please direct your attention over that way, thank you.]

Narration (Citron)

‘Once upon a time, in a certain world, in a certain country in that world, there lived a lonesome man who had never known what it felt like to have a heart.’

Ness (Guy)

‘I wonder what ‘heart’ is. I wonder if it is only I who does not have one.’

‘I wonder if a person like me could ever find the place where he belongs.’

‘On this journey, I wonder if I will be able to find a heart and the place where I belong.’

‘Hmm? Who is that over there...?’

Rino (Sakuya)

‘.....’

Ness (Guy)

‘What is wrong, young boy? You seem to have a strange aura about you. Just what is your purpose for being here?’

Rino (Sakuya)

‘My name is Rino.... I am the spirit of the flowers.’

‘However it appears that all of the colours of my flowers have disappeared after the great wave of saddness....’

‘And who are you? Where are you going?’

Ness (Guy)

‘I am Ness. I am on a journey to find a heart and the place where I belong.’

Rino (Sakuya)

‘Oh, I see.’

‘Hey, do you think I could come with you? I would like to find my colours again.’

Ness (Guy)

‘If that is what you wish. We will walk together. We will journey to find my heart and the place I belong as well as your lost colours.’

Cyrus (Sakyo)

‘Hmm...’

Ness (Guy)

’Who is...’

Rino (Sakuya)

‘What’s wrong? Is there something bothering you?’

Cyrus (Sakyo)

‘Yes, I need to carry all of these fruits into town, but there are so many of them and they are very heavy.’

‘If I was to do it by myself, I would not finish before sun down. I am unsure what to do.’

Rino (Sakuya)

‘How about I help you carry some of them?’

Ness (Guy)

‘Yes, I can help you as well. If we all work together we will reach the town quickly.’

Cyrus (Sakyo)

‘Really? Thank you, that is a big help.’

‘That’s it. Thanks to your help we were able to make it into town. Thank you so much. As a sign of my gratitude, please accept some fruit. We can eat together.’

Ness (Guy)

‘Are you sure?’

Cyrus (Sakyo)

‘Of course. You helped me out a lot. Plus, the fruit tastes better when eaten with company,’

Rino (Sakuya)

‘Yes, it is very delicious! It’s so sweet and makes my heart feel warm.’

Ness (Guy)

‘Yes, it really does. For some reason this fruit tastes better than I expected... Strange.’

Ali (Yuki)

‘MINE IS THE BEST!’

Harry (Kumon)

‘NO, MINE IS!’

Ness (Guy)

‘What is wrong? Why are you fighting?’

Ali (Yuki)

’We both made our own toys out of wood.’

‘But now we can’t decide whose is better.’

Ali (Yuki)

‘Of course mine is better!’

Harry (Kumon)

‘No way, mine is!’

Rino (Sakuya)

‘Well if you ask me, I think you both made great toys.’

Ness (Guy)

‘Yes. Both are well made and very cute. It appears as though one could easily  have fun playing with either of them.’

Ali (Yuki)

‘......’

Harry (Kumon)

‘.......’

Ali (Yuki)

‘.... Actually.... I think the toy Harry made is pretty cool.’

Harry (Kumon)

‘..... Yea, and I think Ali’s toy is really cute.’

‘Sorry for being so stubborn. I think your toy is lovely.’

Ali (Yuki)

‘Me too. I wanna play with the toy you made.’

Ali (Yuki)

‘Great! You guys made up.’

Harry (Kumon) and Ali (Yuki)

‘Thank you so much you two!’

Rino (Sakuya)

‘You’re welcome! I’m smiling now because I see you two smiling.’

Ness (Guy)

‘Oh. For some reason my chest feels warm and tingly. .... I wonder what this feeling is....’

Rino (Sakuya)

‘Oh no! It’s starting to rain.’

Ness (Guy)

‘Let’s get under that large tree for cover.’

Radim (Citron)

‘Hey, do you guys need some shelter from the rain?’

Rino (Sakuya)

‘Yes! Could we come inside?’

Radim (Citron)

‘Of course. We can have a chat together until the rain stops.’

‘Are you two travelers? I would love to hear stories of your journey.’

Ness (Guy)

‘Yes. Let us tell you about the town we visited the other day.’

Rino (Sakuya)

‘And after that something like that appeared in the forest! And then in the grasslands--‘

Radim (Citron)

‘Hahaha, that sounds fun. Seems like you two have had quite the exciting journey.’

‘You two are so friendly and kind. I am sure you will continue to have amazing travels in the future.’

‘Oh, the rain has stopped. Take a look, there’s a rainbow.’

Rino (Sakuya)

‘Wow, you’re right!’

Radim (Citron)

‘Well then it is time I should be going. It was fun talking to you two.’

Rino (Sakuya)

‘Thank you, you too!’

Ness (Guy)

‘Same to you.’

Radim (Citron)

‘So then, I bid thee farewell, good luck on your journey!’

Rino (Sakuya)

‘Thank you!’

Ness (Guy)

‘Thank you.’

Rino (Sakuya)

‘Wow, the rainbow is sparkling....’

Ness (Guy)

‘It is very beautiful.’

Rino (Sakuya)

‘Hey, Ness. I kinda feel like I finally found my colours.’

‘I can feel.... Happiness, sadness, surprise, joy.... All of those emotions are in me.’

‘And right now I have found my colours, my colours are all of me.’

Ness (Guy)

‘I can feel it too. Throughout our travels together, I made a lot of memories and I can feel all of those emotions resonating inside myself.’

‘I think this is what a heart is..... By traveling with you, I have discovered what it means to have a heart overflowing with emotions.’

Rino (Sakuya)

‘I was able to find my own colours. However, I still would like to continue traveling with you.’

Ness (Guy)

‘Me too. I would like to continue traveling with you.’

‘Oh, that’s right. I was also looking for the place where I belong.... Or well, a place where I would like to stay.’

‘.... Which is by your side. That is the place where I belong.’

Rino (Sakuya)

‘Yes!’

Ness (Guy)

‘Let us go, Rino. We have a long journey ahead of us.’

Audience Member A

[Wow, that was amazing....!]

Audience Member B

[It was great to see this story of friendship performed as a play.]

Audience Member C

[It was very interesting!]

Tangerine

[I am not surprised my brother’s troupe got such a great response from the audience.]

[Mika, I hope everyone will admire us just like they admired my brother and his acting troupe. Let’s do our best.]

Mika

[Yes, your highness!]

Guy

[Thank you so much for watching our performance.]

[Now if I could please ask for your attention, I have something to say.]

To be continued.... Read part 10 here!

[the-himawari]

A3! Usui Masumi - Translation [SSR] Magician of Lovesickness (1/3)

*Please read disclaimer on blog

---

Citron: Next is Tsuzuru’s turn.

Tsuzuru: Alright, from the pocket on the right… I am leaving the stone in this pocket… then, this stone reaches the goal.

Sakuya: Right now there’s the same number of stones in the goal, huh!

Citron: Next is me.

Sakuya: Huh? Somehow, to the goal, the stones are one after another…

Citron: Once the last stone enters the goal, it’s my turn once again.

Tsuzuru: Eh, wai, hold o—

Sakuya: Ehh—! All the stones disappeared!?

Citron: It’s my win.

Tsuzuru: That many stones that were there, in the blink of an eye… Citron-san is too strong…

Sakuya: Zahran boardgames sure are difficult.

Tsuzuru: Even though the rules were simple. It’s deep.

Citron: That just now is an example. Next time, Tsuzuru and Sakuya try doing it!

Masumi: Hey.

Sakuya: !?

Tsuzuru: That surprised me. Don’t come in so suddenly.

Citron: So then, Masumi also wants to be included?

Masumi: …

Tsuzuru: What’s that? A folding desk?

Sakuya: Hey, Masumi-kun, what’s the matter?

Masumi: Knight-errantry.*

Citron: That splendid top hat, and also cards… I got it! So then, he intends to line dance!

Tsuzuru: That’s definitely not it. Neither cards, nor desks aren’t used.

Masumi: Watch.

Sakuya: Ah, could it be, magic?

Citron: Amazing card handling!

Tsuzuru: It’s like a pro.

Masumi: First, the wand from the top hat.

Tsuzuru: Huh, it’s being spoiled completely…!

Citron: The way he speaks is like a comic skit!

Sakuya: Isn’t it better not to say stuff like that…!

Masumi: Voila.

Tsuzuru: Um, that was cool but! The greatness was cut in half!

Citron: It’s ruined!

-pause-

Masumi: The end.

Sakuya: A-amazing, huh!

Tsuzuru: Well, I guess it was amazing…

Citron: If we get spoiled in the beginning, it’s not a surprise!

Tsuzuru: Really, I mean, that sums it up…

Sakuya: But, why are you suddenly doing knight-errantry for magic?

Masumi: Since the magic I was taught by Chikage has accumulated a lot, I’m thinking I want to show them to Director all together.

Tsuzuru: Ahh, so you’re practising, right?

Citron: Masumi’s magic trick is the same level as a pro’s, so no need to worry.

Masumi: I was told by Chikage there’s a problem with my art of conversation.

Sakuya: I-I see…

Citron: That’s true, Masumi’s art of conversation is the same level as a monkey.**

Tsuzuru: That way of talking like a comic skit just now, No matter how you think of it, it’s no good…

Masumi: In the real show, I’m thinking of doing it while whispering my love to Director. Since the audience is you guys, I didn’t do that.

Tsuzuru: That also won’t be focused on magic, so it’s no good!

Citron: It’s distracting.

Sakuya: Hmmm, what would be good to do for a magic-like art of conversation.

Tsuzuru: For the time being, spoiling the trick from the beginning isn’t good.

Citron: On the other hand, keeping silent the whole time is boring too.

Tsuzuru: That’s true…

Sakuya: Ah! How about Tsuzuru-kun writes a script for him?

Citron: In that case, Masumi can talk sultrily like he’s on stage.

Tsuzuru: No, it’s smoothly.

Masumi: That’s true, it seems like I can do it like acting out a role.

Tsuzuru: A magic script, huh—.

Masumi: Write it at once.

Tsuzuru: Oi, wait wait wait! Don’t grab my shirt collar!

Sakuya: M-Masumi-kun…!

Citron: Tsuzuru’s being taken away.

Masumi: After, if I can do my knight-errantry in all the rooms according to the script…

Citron: Wait a second!

Masumi: ?

Citron: If you only do it inside MANKAI’s dorm, You can’t say it’s night airy tree.

Tsuzuru: It’s knight-errantry.

Citron: If it’s knight iron tea***, more than the kind guys here at the theatre, Why don’t you do it in front of a more honest and unsparing audience!

Masumi: An honest and unsparing audience…?

Citron: I have connections!

---

*"武者修行" (mushashugyou: “traveling about to gain skill in combat”--I believe this is a more historical term used by samurai); "knight-erranty" is the closest English equivalent phrase which means: "a knight travelling widely in search of adventures, to exhibit military skill, to engage in chivalric deeds, etc." **I'm pretty sure that's what he said?? but like THAT'S SO HARSH?? LMAO unless he’s just misspeaking again but I’m not sure... ***Yes, he really does mess it up two different times in two different ways.

| next

[jumukus]

A3! Event: The Last Runway Chapter 10 Translation

Heads up on the characters’ name! (Kikukawa: Yuki, Minami: Taichi, Hayama: Masumi, Koga: Tenma)

Student A: “I guess Kikukawa will take over the final part in the fashion show this year.”

Student B: “That makes sense. It’s like a hopeless fight.”

Student A: “I want to pair up with Kikukawa~.”

Student B: “That’s impossible. There are a lot of students from the model department who say the same thing. Besides, isn’t it obvious that Koga will pair up with him?”

Student A: “Ah~. Speaking of Koga, it looks like he’ll take part in a collection runway show too. We won’t have any chance at all if he pairs up with a pro.”

“But well, if I can’t be his model, I don’t mind becoming his girlfriend. I can marry into the family who owns that high-end brand KIKUKAWA.”

Student B: “I’ve told you it’s impossible.”

Student A: “If I can’t pair up with Kikukawa, Hayama will do.”

Student B: “Hayama, huh. The competition is fierce if you want to make a pair with him. I heard he’s going to finally start up his brand, after all.”

Student A: “Sighs. Now that I look at the reality, I think it’s better to find a partner quickly.”

Student B: “Right. You’re going to fail otherwise.”

Student A: “I don’t want that!”

Student B: “Well, the model department has more students than the design department, after all. I don’t think we can fail if the gap isn’t too big.”

Student A: “IF the gap isn’t too big, right.”

Minami: “...”

Koga: “Kikukawa, have you found your model?”

Kikukawa: “I haven’t.”

Koga: “Why don’t you pair up with me, then? I can meet your high demands, Kikukawa.”

Kikukawa: “...I’ll think about it.”

Hayama: “Hmm, so you haven’t even decided on your pair. You sure are calm.”

Kikukawa: “It’s not like I have time to be calm.”

Hayama: “Well, you can always use KIKUKAWA’s models when push comes to shove.”

Kikukawa: “We’re not allowed to do that for the final project.”

Hayama: “But if it’s someone from KIKUKAWA, they will allow it, right?”

Kikukawa: “.....”

Hayama: “Let me tell you something: the final part this year will be mine.”

Kikukawa: “Yeah, okay.”

Izumi: (Similar to the first design, Yuki-kun and Masumi-kun’s costumes are casual uniforms, but…)

(Each costumes have distinctive features that suit their own characters.)

(The three of them have high pride even in the play, so it’s great that they can show how the sparks are flying right from the start.)

Kikukawa’s Mother: “Final project is just some student’s games, right. Even if they manage to catch the industry people’s attention, it’s just because their work is new and original.”

Kikukawa: “......”

Kikukawa’s Mother: “You’re already a professional. You should prioritize your job. Don’t put too much focus on your homework.”

Kikukawa: “--.”

Kikukawa’s Mother: “What? Do you have something to say?”

Kikukawa: “...No.”

Teacher: “Is everyone here?”

“For the time being, I will give supplementary lesson to those who fall behind in their final project…”

“This will be like a meeting between those who haven’t found their pair for the show. Those who have found their partners can go home.”

Student A: “Hey, hey. Do you want to pair up with me?”

Student B: “Sure. I’ll be in your care~.”

Student C: “Let’s discuss our concept on our way home.”

Student D: “Okaay.”

Minami: “.....”

Kikukawa: “I’m late.”

Student A: “...Eh, Kikukawa?”

Student B: “I wonder if he hasn’t found his model.”

Student C: “No way. Why hasn’t Kikukawa found his?”

Teacher: “Come in and sit. I’ve already explained this, but you can’t make progress in your final project if you haven’t found your partner. You better hurry and choose yours.”

Teacher: “Have you all chose your partners? Then, all that left is--.”

Minami: “......”

Kikukawa: “Hey, Minami. You don’t have a partner yet?”

Minami: “Eh…? Y-Yeah.”

Kikukawa: “Then, do you want to pair up with me?”

Minami: “Eh!?”

Student A: “You must be lying. He chose Minami.”

Student B: “There’s no way Minami can wear Kikukawa’s clothes.”

Minami: “--.”

Kikukawa: “Do you hear me?”

Minami: “But I--.”

Kikukawa: “Are you going to pair up with me or not? State your answer clearly.”

Minami: “--I-If you’re fine with me.”

Kikukawa: “I get it that you’re short, but it turns out your walking is also bad, huh.”

Minami: “So-sorry…”

Kikukawa: “Do something about it until the D-day.”

Minami: “Say, why did you choose me, Kikukawa? There are other models that you can choose, and yet…”

Kikukawa: “--I don’t really have any particular reason. I’m fine with anyone, so I just chose among the remaining people. Anyone will look decent in my outfits, after all.”

Minami: “--I, I see. You have a point.”

Kikukawa: “......”

Minami: “But for someone like me, I might still be hopeless even if I wear Kikukawa’s clothes…”

Kikukawa: “What are you saying? Are you making fun of my design?”

Minami: “I’m, I’m not! It’s just, I don’t have any talent as a model, I don’t have any sense and I’m short…”

Kikukawa: “We can’t do anything about your short height. But the others are your problems, you know.”

Minami: “But--.”

Kikukawa: “--Aaargh, so annoying! Fine. I’m going to completely revamp you!”

Minami: “--.”

Kikukawa: “You’re not staying in the lines. Do it again.”

Minami: “--Y-Yes!”

Kikukawa: “Your posture is bad.”

Minami: “Yes.”

Kikukawa: “Look at the front.”

Minami: “Ah, yes!”

Kikukawa: “That one is really not good.”

Minami: “Ugh…”

Kikukawa: “You should make the side part more neat and tidy and add more volume to the top. Yeah, that looks good.”

“You’re short, so you’ve got to be careful with your silhouette. It’s basic common sense to understand your figure and choose things that suits your size.”

“Besides, you’ve chosen the brand that you admire--or something like that, right. You’re being rude to the clothes for not wearing the outfits that suit your size.”

Minami: “Uh… you’re right. Poor clothes being worn by someone like me.”

Kikukawa: “Hey, put on this one.”

Minami: “Huh?”

Kikukawa: “This one perfectly fits in your body. It really suits your aura, too.”

Minami: “You’re right… I can’t believe there are clothes that look good on me.”

Kikukawa: “What are you saying? Of course there are.”

Minami: “--Thanks, Kikukawa. I’ll do my best so that I can wear your clothes.”

Kikukawa: “--.”

Minami: “Kikukawa? What’s wrong?”

Kikukawa: “Nothing.”

Izumi: (Yuki-kun and Taichi-kun are perfectly in sync. Since the script is written after deciding on the roles, they play their roles naturally and perfectly.)

(Next is Minami’s performance in the latter half…)

Teacher: “You will showcase your development process at this show. Regardless of your turn and evaluation, the result will merely be temporary.”

“You are also allowed to show the current state of your work. Think of this as something that will help you control the flow of your performance.”

Minami: “We are the third from the last… I’m nervous.”

Kikukawa: “......”

Minami: “Kikukawa?”

Kikukawa: “--.”

Minami: “Are you all right?”

Kikukawa: “Is this really the time for you to worry about other people?”

Minami: “N-No. Well, you’re right.”

Kikukawa: “I don’t plan to show such a halfway-done work at this time.”

Minami: “Kikukawa’s design is flawless! If it’s not, then I’m to blame for that…”

Kikukawa: “......”

Student A: “Hm? Is that Kikukawa’s design?”

Student B: “Hmm, looks like it.”

Student A: “Hmm.”

Student E: “Maybe it’s because the model is Minami, but don’t you think it doesn’t look that great?”

Student F: “I mean, if I were to be honest, Kikukawa’s design isn’t that great in the first place.”

Student E: “Ah, I also thought that a little. It feels like he only has the popularity of his parents’ brand, you see?”

“Even his own brand is basically KIKUKAWA’s secondary lines, right.”

Teacher A: “Hayama is currently in the lead.”

Teacher B: “I wonder what happened to Kikukawa. Unlike usual, his work is lackluster.”

Teacher A: “He might get his hands full on his business.”

Kikukawa: “......”

Koga: “That was such a poor performance. Wasn’t it because you chose the wrong model?”

Hayama: “The problem is beyond that. I don’t get a sense of style from your design. It looks shallow.”

Kikukawa: “--.”

Minami: “It’s not Kikukawa’s fault. It’s because I’m the model--.”

Koga: “That’s obvious. An ignorant amateur like you will only ruin any clothes you wear.”

Minami: “--.”

Hayama: “I’ve told you before. It doesn’t have anything to do with the model. The level of your design is low. I’m disappointed. You’re just riding on your parents’ coattails.”

Minami: “Sorry, Kikukawa. I’m going to work harder.”

Kikukawa: “Why are you saying that when you already work that hard--.”

Minami: “Huh?”

Kikukawa: “......”

Minami: “Are you all right, Kikukawa…?”

Kikukawa: “You asked me why did I choose you before, right.”

Minami: “Yeah.”

Kikukawa: “I thought that if I paired up with a talentless model, they would purely evaluate my design.”

“I want them to purely look at my design, and not because I am the son of KIKUKAWA who has it all--.”

Minami: “...I see, so that’s the reason. If that’s so, why do you give me special training?”

Kikukawa: “I got irritated seeing you being all hesitant.”

Minami: “I, I see.”

Kikukawa: “But you’ve worked hard and began to change. It makes me worried whether I’m good enough.”

“But my eyes are open now. The model isn’t the problem here. I need to think of a way so that I won’t lose sight of my design. That’s the most important thing.”

“I’m stupid for minding what people say about me, that whole ‘he’s riding on his parents’ coattails.’”

Minami: “...I was able to change because of you, Kikukawa.”

“I managed to get into the model department that I had been longing, but I’m short. I don’t even have sense and aura. I was hit by reality.”

“But then you talked to me, who has given up my dream and grew timid, Kikukawa.”

“No matter what your reason was, I would not be able to change for eternity if that didn’t happen.”

“I might be no match for Koga as a model, but I want to wear your outfit, Kikukawa.”

“I want to show the charm of Kikukawa’s design more than anyone else.”

“I’ll do anything in order to achieve that goal. That is why I want you to use me as your model.”

Kikukawa: “I have no intention to change model even if you don’t say that. I could get over my doubts because of you, Minami.”

“I’ll create an outfit that will make you shine the brightest. The ones who are going to land that last spot at the show are us.”

Minami: “Last spot.. Me…”

Kikukawa: “It’s an obvious result. You’re going to wear Lily. K’s clothes, after all.”

Minami: “Y-Yeah. You’re right.”

Kikukawa: “I’ll be in your care, as an equal this time around.”

Minami: “Me too!”

Kikukawa: “You already memorize the programme, right?”

Minami: “Yes.”

Koga: “Heh, so you’re still participating even after being told such things.”

Minami: “Kikukawa’s model is me, after all.”

Koga: “--.”

Hayama: “I hope you don’t embarrass yourself again during the show.”

Kikukawa: “I think you should worry about yourself rather than other people.”

Hayama: “Looks like you’re back to your usual self.”

Student A: “I expect no less from Hayama’s design~.”

Student B: “That looks good. I want it.”

Student A: “Others’ designs look like something that are made by students, but Hayama’s is certainly different. He receives a lot of applause.”

Student B: “Isn’t he pretty much confirmed to take the last spot, then? Who’s next?”

Student A: “The highly touted Kikukawa.”

Kikukawa: “--It’s our turn.”

Minami: “I’m going.”

Kikukawa: “Be confident. That’s the clothes I made for you, Minami.”

Minami: “Yeah. I’m not anxious anymore, since I’m a part of your design, Kikukawa.”

Kikukawa: “Okay--Go.”

Minami: “--.”

Student A: “Whoah…”

Student B: “As expected of Kikukawa.”

Student A: “But don’t you think the model is small? He’s as tall as female models.”

Student B: “I think he’s the perfect choice, though, since the design is unisex.”

Student C: “It looks cute~. I want to wear that!”

Student D: “Isn’t that men’s clothing?”

Student C: “But women can wear that too.”

Student D: “It’s a little bit different than what KIKUKAWA usually makes, but it looks good!”

Student A: “Just as I expected, the one who takes the last spot is one who receives the most applause.”

Izumi: (The result of Taichi-kun’s practice is showing. His walking looks magnificent.)

(Minami looks so confident that it couldn’t be compared to how he looks in the beginning of the play--.)

(There’s no need to worry.)

(The costume that Yuki-kun and Taichi-kun created for this scene made Taichi-kun shine even more.)

Minami: “How, How was it?”

Kikukawa: “Didn’t you say you weren’t anxious before?”

Minami: “Well, yeah, but…”

Kikukawa: “It was perfect.”

Minami: “R-Really!?”

Kikukawa: “It’s the finale. Let’s go on stage together.”

Minami: “Yes!”

Izumi: (Kikukawa and Minami’s strong bond is showing.)

(Yuki-kun and Taichi-kun have always been making costumes together, after all, so that’s to be expected.)

Hayama: “...”

Kikukawa: “I’ve told you not to worry about other people.”

Hayama: “Hmm. As expected of Lily. K.”

Kikuyama: “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Koga: “I don’t think I’m losing here. I’m still better than you as a model.”

Minami: “I know that.”

Koga: “Hmph.”

Minami: “--But I don’t think I’m losing as Kikukawa’s model.”

Koga: “You--.”

Hayama: “Cut it out, stop snapping at them at every chance you have, Koga. I know you’re a big fan of KIKUKAWA.”

Koga: “Wha--.”

Kikukawa: “Ooh. I’ll ask my mom to give you a sample next time.”

Koga: “Eh, seriously!? No, I mean, it’s not like I--.”

Minami: “Haha.”

Koga: “Let me tell you this. I might give away the position for Kikukawa’s model to you, but not KIKUKAWA’s model.”

Minami: “Huh--.”

Kikukawa: “--.”

Koga: “What is it, what’s with that apathetic expression?”

Kikukawa: “Pfft. No, it’s just… You’re right. My design and KIKUKAWA’s are different.”

Minami: “Ahaha. I’m unfit to be KIKUKAWA’s model, you know. I’ll forever be Kikukawa’s model, after all.”

Koga: “What’s so funny about it?”

Kikukawa: “I just didn’t think you would say something so obvious like that.”

Koga: “Haaah!?”

Minami: “Good for you, Kikukawa.”

Kikukawa: “...Yeah.”

Koga: “???”

“What are they saying? Do you get it, Hayama?”

Hayama: “Beats me. It must be Kikukawa’s complex or something.”

Kikukawa: “You’re a real nasty dude.”

Hayama: “Hmph. Next time we will battle it out on stage for professional. You better appear as Lily. K.”

Kikukawa: “You don’t need to tell me that.”

Sakuya: Good job there, guys!

Itaru: GJ, GJ.

Banri: Good work.

Muku: You did great!

Kazunari: GJ!

Sakuya: I’ve never seen a fashion show before, but that was cool!

Muku: Both Taichi-kun and Tenma-kun’s costumes are stunning too.

Kazunari: You guys sure live up to our expectations as the models actor!

Banri: Was the designer course you took effective?

Yuki: Well, it was inspiring in many ways.

Itaru: You suit the designer role, Masumi--you seem very sensitive and prideful.

Masumi: Shut up.

Sakuya: You really gave off the vibe of such designer!

Muku: I expect no less from Tenma-kun, you were great!

Kazunari: You did feel like “The” model.

Muku: Yes, yes!

Tenma: That’s obvious.

Yuki: You didn’t even have to act to bring out Koga’s ore-sama personality.

Tenma: What did you say!?

Banri: Even Taichi really looked like a model at the last part.

Sakuya: Yes. You didn’t look like the usual Taichi-kun!

Taichi: Ehehe!

Yuki: Ah, hold on.

Taichi: Yu-Yuki-chan?

Yuki: I think if we spread the hem a little bit more, your silhouette will look nicer when you walk. I should work on it today.

I’ll be counting on you as my assistant, stupid dog.

Taichi: W-Woof!

Banri: You’re well disciplined as ever.

Izumi: They’re a pair during the play, though…

< Chapter 9 | Masterlist | Epilogue >

[filliteapot]

so, what shoujo manga are your cup of tea? can you mention what you wanted to say about dessert margaret, you got me interested

First of all: I do love shoujo manga. I enjoy romance stories and see no shame in this. Also I hate when people trash on shoujo only bc it’s shojo and go with that ‘omgnoanotherstupidromanceforteengirls’ as these people won’t ever admit that such a story may show something from a different perspective and is no worse than any generic shounen they praise. But at the same time I kinda get where they are coming from - as I also appreciate when the romance isn’t an end in itself, and characters aren’t walking tropes and I can feel like they have other problems than that. Joseis are more satisfying in this regard, so now I kinda switched to them (though sometimes the diffrence is thin). Soo— when I hear ‘Margaret’ I immediately think ‘oh and now we gotta talk about ROMANCE and NOTHING ELSE’ and in my current state of mind it’s kinda too little to get me interested. I love when you can see characters grow, change their vision of the world, solving problems with friends, parents, lovers, choose their own way to live and be themselves. I love when love interests are also important friends and people who support them. I love stories that make me feel like this world is a better place than we may think when we have hard times (even if these stories have some psychologically heavy stuff - but have some hope within).

So, choosing from shoujo, I guess I’m leaning towards older stuff from Hana to yume or Lala which may be named shoujo but is mature and serious (while having flowers and romance but let’s be honest there are flowers and romance in the real world too and no one calls it unnatural). So, I’m sharing my recs or things that caught my attention but I had no time or mood to get into them yet.

(It got longer in process than I expected, even if I included only things that came into my mind right away, so I put it under the cut.)

I started wriring this post thinking about nowadays series and in process learned about oldschool series that were serialized in these magazines and wrote a bit about them too.

Hana to yume

everything by Takaya Natsuki

Please save my earth by Hiwatari Saki

Tokyo crazy Paradise (need to finish) and Skip beat (need to READ) by Nakamura Yoshiki

NG life by Kusanagi Mizuho 

LaLa:

everything by Midorikawa Yuki

Mekakushi no kuni by Tsukuba Sakura (fffave)

Ouran High School Host Club by Hatori Bisco 

Kare Kano by Masumi Tsuda (need to read it, as i liked the beginning but put it on hold)

Betsuma (Bessatsu Margaret):

Ando Yuki’s works

Kimi ni Todoke by Shiina Karuho (i got an ask about this one recently, you may check it in my knt tag)

Cat Street by Kamio Yoko (it’s been years since I read this but I remember that characters growth and dealing with traumas were major themes and the story was quite hopeful)

Mashikaku Rock and other things  by Watanabe Kana (this author mostly writes short series or oneshotes but I adore her style and… idk, how real and kind they feel)

Margaret:

Sugars by Yamamori Mika

Futsuu no Koiko-san by Nagamu Nanaji

Short Cake Cake by Morishita Suu

Some works by oldschool authors like Ikeda Ryoko (Versailles no bara) and Honda Keiko were there too. Wow.

Dessert:

Ohayou Ibarahime by Morino Megumi (i still need to finish it but it surely is not a superficial story)

Koi Wazurai no Ellie by (idk it makes me laugh)

Mairimashita Senpai by Mase Azusa (not sure where its going but enjoyable so far)

Betsucomi - I seriously had no idea Basara and Kaze Hikaru were serialized here but they were. In short, some stuff from this magazine which isnt oldschool still seem more like josei to me.

Kirakira to Yoru ni Furu by Fujio Nami (my underrated and probably not scanlated all time fave)

Joou no Hana by Kaneyoshi Izumi (still need to contnue this one and also her new series as I liked the beginning)

stories by Motomi Kyosuke (i appreciate her humour and am kinda meh about her ‘serious and heavy’ parts of the plot but i couldn’t wrtite this post and ignore her)

Haruyuki Bus by Usami Maki (oneshotes collection, has average stories as well as good ones, I enjoyedit overall)

Tsuki to Mizuumi by Ashihara Hinako (i also tried her Piece but liked this oneshot collection better, esp the first story)

Gosh betsucomi even has stuff by Hagio Moto, an oldschool author I want to check