#ic; Masato

[todayisafridaynight]

[observantphantomt]

Here is the teaser for Unwritten Essays

A group of four young adults go on a road trip to finish an essay during the summer but on the way, they get a bit distracted on their discovery of the paranormal. Music and sound effects by:idk,genshin impact and other video game sound effects.

Masato is voiced by https://www.castingcall.club/JamieParry

Vitus is voiced by https://www.castingcall.club/firework...

[shizukais]

[picmurasaki]

Happy Birthday Waka and Ichi!💜

[deciessomnia]

tag dump

Uta no Prince-sama :: Request Only Muses

REQUEST ONLY

🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. tokiya ichinose ⊱ hoshikuzu ☆ shall we dance 🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. masato hijirikawa ⊱ snow ballade 🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. natsuki shinomiya ⊱ moon rain 🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. syo kurusu ⊱ let's start our first love again 🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. eiji otori ⊱ just you 🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. nagi mikado ⊱ cosmically cute idol 🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. shion amakusa ⊱ lyrical poetry 🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. eiichi otori ⊱ LIFE～with thanks～ 🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. camus ⊱ melting of snow

🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. satsuki shinomiya ⊱ genuis composer

DOUBLES AS NPCs

🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. mai hijirikawa ⊱ hijirikawa's little princess 🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. kotomi aijima ⊱ queen of agnapolis 🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. renge jinguji ⊱ mother dearest 🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. seiichiro jinguji ⊱ president of jinguji group 🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. ryuu jinguji ⊱ middle jinguji son 🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. ihy aijma ⊱ king of agnapolis 🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. ryuya hyuuga ⊱ idol / teacher 🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. touma hyuuga ⊱ 3rd hyuuga son 🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. makoto hyuuga ⊱ 4th hyuuga son 🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. ume kurosaki ⊱ ranmaru's younger sister 🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. hana kotobuki ⊱ reiji's older sister 🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. daiku yajima ⊱ composer 🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. haruki mori ⊱ composer 🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. raging 'moretsu' otori ⊱ raging entertainment president 🕊 𓆪 ㅤ ic. shining 'mitsuo' saotome ⊱ shining entertainment president

[sunnnfish]

Hey guys. Hey friends. You know what time it is. Monthly reminder to read Toilet Bound Hanako Kun. If the previously posted wall of text wasn’t enough to convince you how fucking deranged i am about it, then. Well. I dont know what else to do.

[themattress]

The Shitennou in the 90s anime are fantastic because each one of them is a specialist of some sort and it makes their evil operations distinct from one another, keeping things fresh.

Jadeite - The Illusionist

When it comes to Jadeite, deception is the name of the game. For his energy harvesting schemes he creates fake businesses, has his youma pose as humans, and he himself dons all sorts of disguises: radio DJ, fitness instructor, stage manager, academic professor, shrine assistant, amusement park security guard, and captain of a cruise ship. He will also utilize illusions to intimidate like when he showed a vision of Tokyo in flames, or to trick his enemies like when he had illusionary cops force the Sailor Senshi to transform so that he could learn their true identities. Unfortunately, Jadeite's pride in his capabilities means that he was stubbornly unwilling to adapt and take a more direct approach, leading to his downfall.

Nephrite - The Manipulator

Nephrite is a manipulator in all senses of the word. He manipulates people, objects, events and even the stars themselves in order to achieve his villainous goals. Using the single disguise of Masato Sanjouin, he gets close to victims, then will usually give them an item he curses to amplify their innate negative energy until it matches the energy of the star they were born under, creating a special youma in the process. He eventually singles out a key victim in Naru Osaka, who has a crush on his Sanjouin persona, and manipulates her in plans to destroy the Sailor Senshi or find the Imperium Silver Crystal, and uses a special tool of his own creation known as the Dark Star Crystal. However, his cold heart ends up warmed by Naru's innocence and devotion to love, leading him to his tragic demise defending her.

Zoisite - The Cheat

While Zoisite had aid from Kunzite in strategizing, let's not sell him short when it comes to the moment of truth - Zoisite frequently prevails because he is willing to do absolutely anything to win. No method is too dirty, cheap or cowardly for him to embrace. He'll threaten someone's loved one to coerce them into doing what he wants, he'll sucker-punch his enemies out of nowhere after having previously retreated from them, he'll physically bully whoever is smaller and weaker than him then blind them to make an escape if they prove more formidable than expected, he'll pretend to surrender and then strike, he'll sic a monster on his enemy while taking his prize and running, and when all else fails a good old-fashioned stabbing in the back will suffice. Zoisite got far on dishonesty, but success went to his head and he overreached.

Kunzite - The Trap Master

At first Kunzite was a skilled tactician, but then after Zoisite died the writers made him stupider at crafting strategies without even seeming to realize it. What he remained very consistent on, however, was his brilliant and deadly traps. He engineered a fake hostage situation leading to the Sailor Senshi getting caught in a dark, ever-compressing forcefield, he cut the power in Tokyo to obstruct the Sailor Senshi's efforts and cause Mamoru and Usagi to get stuck in an elevator, he had a great idea for a DNA scanning device to catch Sailor Moon with that his youma sadly screwed up, he held a princess seminar where the target was the overall failures save for in a frisbee-tossing challenge since it reflects Sailor Moon's tiara throwing ability, he had a giant snowy chasm created for his enemies to fall right into and be unable to climb out of, he rigged an ice skating rink temperature control device to blast an obscene amount of icy coldness down on everyone and nearly freeze them to death, he played on Sailor Venus' friendship with another person to almost obtain vital information from her, he turned the Sailor Senshi's own attempt at a trap back on them because he saw right through it, and were it not for the Silver Crystal's interference would have trapped them all in time-space limbo. Of all the Shitennou, he came closest to victory on the most occasions. Additionally, he was a powerful warrior, with his power and pride sadly being his undoing.

[jellyfishmermage]

ive been drawing some of my favourite moments for two of my favourite Precure couples (im planning on drawing Satoru and Iroha too, but i want to keep WanPre stuff separate in case of spoilers)

i like how the ice turnt out, i spent a little too much time on it haha, the Henri and Masato one took me about a week to make but the Akira and Yukari drawing i finished in one day, still not sure how i did that

[blueesnow]

(3/6) Hijirikawa Masato's Private Story [Utapri Live Emotion]

Ch 1: (unlocked if you reached intimacy lvl 6 with Masato)

-Shining Agency Dorm's Living Room- Masato: Oh, Nanami. What a coincidence. Are you on your day off today? Haruka: Yeah, I came here to return the materials that I borrowed before. Are you also on your day off too, Hijirikawa-san? Masato: Yeah. Since the wheather looks nice I thought I'd go outside today. I'm thinking of going to those events at the park. Masato: If you're okay with it, do you want to go with me? I've heard there were also markets and music events too. Haruka: Wow…that looks so fun! I want to go. Masato: Thank you. I've had a feeling you would say that. Well then, let's head out. -Park- Masato: Paintings and lacquerware, clothing and accessories…there were also food and beverage stall too. It seems like there's a lot of stalls being set up here. Haruka: There also seems to be a lot of handmade stalls too. Oh, look at that! There are a lot of cute accesories lined up. Masato: Oh, I think it might be a good idea as a gift for my little sister. If you don't mind can you tell me which one are you interested in? (choices) <How about cookies?> Haruka: Hmm… how about icing cookies? Not only does it look pretty, but it also looks delicious too. Masato: Indeed, these cookies were made with so much attention on the details. Look, there's even a pattern on the edge of it. Masato: Look at how delicate it is. As if it was painted with a paintbrush. How beautiful… <Accessory might be a good idea> Haruka: Beaded accessories are beautiful in my opinion! Look, something like this. It's cute isn't it. Masato: Accessory, huh. Certainly these color seems to be her favorite. Masato: I'm not that knowledgeable about fashion, so your opinion might helped. (back to story) Masato: However all of them are so fascinating, I'm troubled which one to choose… Haruka: Why don't we take a look around a bit more while we're here. Oh, how about that stall over there? Masato: Hm, that's…!

Ch 2: (unlocked if you reached intimacy lvl 11 with Masato)

-Park- Haruka: It's an amigurumi*, aren't they all cute? Masato: They look very well made. There's the rabbit one, a bear… Oh, they also have an owl too. Masato: Alright I've decided, let's go for an amigurumi for her next present. I think it might be a good idea if I could also make a hat or other accessories that goes along well with it. Haruka: Wow, that's so lovely! I'm sure your little sister will be very happy. Masato: It's all thanks to you for finding it for me. I'm very grateful. Haruka: Oh no, I didn't do much… Eh, a cheering sound? You can also hear the sound of instruments too! Masato: Looks like they're holding a concert on that special stage next door. Let's go and check it out. - Masato: Oh they're actually a band consisting of students from a nearby school. It seems they're also selling CDs of their original songs too. Masato: Although their singing and performance is a bit rough around the edges, but you can definitely feel no hesitation on the messages they're trying to convey. There's something in it that resonates within your heart. Haruka: Yes, the way they play feels like they can't help but just enjoy themselves in music. Somehow it reminds me of us back then. Masato: Perhaps the teachers and seniors felt the same way too when they saw us back at the academy. Masato: Although we were still technically and mentally inexperienced, we all had strong aspirations born out of our love for music. Haruka: That's right… It's because I met Hijirikawa-san and everyone that I'm here right now. Masato: I felt the same way too. Maybe their performance here could actually change someone's future too. Masato: …As a matter of fact, I've also had a fateful encounter too that changed my whole life a long time ago.

*: Amigurumi (編みぐるみ) is a Japanese art form that involves crocheting or knitting small, stuffed, yarn creatures or objects.

Ch 3: (unlocked if you reached intimacy lvl 21 with Masato)

-Park- Haruka: Hijirikawa-san's fateful encounter…? Masato: Yeah. It happened back from before I entered the academy, and you could say that it was an encounter that can be considered a turning point in my life. Masato: If it weren't for that miraculous day, there's probably no chance of me choosing an entertainment industry as my path. Masato: It was all thanks to that person that I am now able to move forward without any hesitation. Masato: And then, if I could become an idol who shines bright someday, I might be able to return the favor to them. Haruka: Hijirikawa-san… Masato: Though I wonder if the current me now is even worthy of being such a bright example as of that… Haruka: Hijirikawa-san is already shining bright. So much that just staring at you would blind my eyes away. Masato: …Thanks, Nanami. Hearing your words gives me a lot of confidence. Haruka: Likewise, thank you for letting me listen to that wonderful story. Haruka: Once again I was reminded that I, too, want to bring the music that I love to as many people as possible. Masato: You're right. I also want to deliver more of my feelings through music too. Masato: I will have to work even more harder so that I can perform a sound that will change even fate. Haruka: Fufu, I will use the inspiration I received here today in my songwriting as soon as I return home. Masato: I'm glad that this is worth your time. Let's go out together again just like this sometime.

Ch 4: (unlocked if you reached intimacy lvl 31 with Masato)

Ch 5: (unlocked if you reached intimacy lvl 41 with Masato)

Ch 6: (unlocked if you reached intimacy lvl 51 with Masato)

[maythevoidnotscreamback]

My outrage given voice: The Shittenou were done so dirty!

It's very damn annoying to me and I hate it! Why the hell were the Shittenou not given a chance for a 'normal' life like Usagi wished for in the 90's anime; especially with the implication of the time of the first season repeating for the second and thus meant that they hadn't been nabbed for Beryl's/Metallia's purposes? Or even in the manga/reboot rather than kept as the stones they became after their deaths?

Like, what thoughts went into that? Why were the various relationships of the Shittenou changed so drastically, and not just between each other but their Prince and their Love Interests too? Especially when Mamo got a, technically, third chance to be with Usa after the first season's finale. The girls themselves have other love interests, I know, but you'd think that they'd at least be given the option to see if they were still compatible and part (hopefully) amicably if they weren't, rather than just have the view that they'll never have love or even a family. And, no, I don't count the "Parallel" world of the manga because it seems that they're right proper clones of their mothers rather than their own persons with thoughts, feelings and dreams like Chibi is. Yes, she's annoying and a frickin' Obnoxious Brat, but at least with that we know she's not Usa's clone just with pink hair and red eyes.

I remember watching the show growing up and never, not once, thinking they used to be love interests of the Senshi during the SilMil. Just that they were at the front of the invading army once that episode aired. Not to mention how my perceptions were fucked with beforehand because two of the four were in a relationship with each other (after one of them had been 'gender-bent'. Just...why?!) and a third was romancing a side character that had disappeared after the one episode she was in during the third season. Hell, the only reason I found out Sen/Shi was a Thing was due to the internet a while after watching the 'last' (for the North America viewing audience) episode of the fourth season. That pissed me right the fuck off.

I believe that shouldn't have happened. They could've done so much foreshadowing, maybe even a bit of character development, about the tragedy that would've been the Shittenou being killed off as the season went on once the SilMil's Last Day came about.

Like, think about it.

With Jad's constant disguises and schemes, it could've been that Rei, being a trained Miko, always seemed to find and flirt with him, because he was cute no matter his disguises, and then get mad about it because why?! is it always him?! she does that with?! The fuck?! And Jad's just like, 'How the hell does she keep doing this?!' before putting together that she must be an informer to the Senshi with the way they always show up when she does so he tries to keep her distracted in one form or another so his youma can do its job because she's too passionate and fiery to want to hurt or drain despite getting in his way so much. Beryl actually kills him off after his showdown with the Senshi, not listening when he says how he knows who they are, instead of being iced for his constant failures. (I never did get why he was singled out like that.)

With Neph's civilian identity of Sanjoin Masato, instead of Naru being the 'victim' of his 'manipulations', Makoto could've been brought in earlier and get to experience being treated like the young woman she is despite how other guys were put off by her strength and stature and just discovered she could transform just as or after he died. He still dies to Zoi's schemes but it's because, due to being around his Lady so much more than Jad was with Rei, he's starting to question what once he hadn't, especially if some dormant memories he hadn't known about break loose from their shadowy bonds, and so Beryl made out that he was defecting or losing sight of their goals so she didn't have to get her hands dirty.

With Zoi, 'cause I found it real annoying that only he could extract the Nijizuishou when the Moon Wand could also track them down but not get them out, Ami could've used her palmtop to scan whatever residue might've been left on the Wand, to also help look for the Carriers as Zoi did the same with his own tracking crystal. It could go that, because she does take her duties as a Senshi seriously and she's not all about school/studying despite her grades and work ethic and she's gonna prove it, she might get in trouble for 'stalking' while Zoi's just wondering what this cute but annoying brat is doing following him where she could get hurt - the Great Demon he awoke might very well kill her! - when in all reality she's trying to get close to the Carrier but this jerk-wad with the beautiful blond waves, because those are not curls as far as I'm concerned, in a ponytail keeps getting in her way! Shenanigans are had where they try to outsmart, trick or distract each other to get to the Nijizuishou first without outing themselves or her comrades. Zoi's killed by Beryl because when Ren's revealed and Zoi takes that hit with the Ginzuishou it purified him and, like Mamo is later in the season, left weakened and considered 'delirious' by Beryl who doesn't care she'll lose another of 'her' Generals because it means she'll have enough energy to get Dymi onside and keep Kunz loyal to her and scared of the Moon Witch's power.

With Kunz, well... we all kinda-sorta saw how many times Minako seemed to fall into his traps meant to nab Usa, not to mention their own history while she was in London. And he's killed as in canon because he would not be tricked by the images and lies the Witches from the Sky tried to force into his head, an unintended side-effect of how the SilMil's Last Day was shown, especially regarding her (Venus), into betraying his Liege; completely unknowing that he, technically, already has!

[todayisafridaynight]

brother was talking to me about how if you almost die from an extreme-temperature-related incident then your body is just forever fucked towards that temperature and that's why i think kiryu and saejima are weak to ice. i dont know why aoki isn't like that too but ignore that statistic everything else tracks.

[virtualcarrot]

[KKIR] Pen on paper - Part 2

[Ao3] [Part 1 on tumblr]

-

The hostel is bland and nondescript and Iruka’s teacher is a dickbag.

“Umino, hm?” Masato says during the round of introductions on their first day. All of the students are gathered in one place and the hostel’s lobby is cramped from it. “Kiri used to have such a clan. I suppose you’re one of them.”

Iruka’s parents died without leaving a detailed ancestry, but he has vague recollections of the foundational myth of a mercenary grandfather from Kirigakure. The man’s said to have settled in Konoha somewhere under the Nidaime Hokage. Not that Iruka has any proof.

“I’d be honored,” he says for lack of a better reply.

Masato gives a snort at the sentiment. “Not really. Very fickle people, those. One might even call them traitors.”

Iruka grits his teeth through a polite smile. To his left, Nobuko, who showed up on the evening of Iruka’s arrival, sticks an unlit cigarette between her teeth like a dog gnawing on a bone.

Masato barely gives her a dismissive blink before turning his scorn on a new target. Only the well-established scholars of the group are spared, with whom he instead displays a great deal of talent in the art of obsequiousness.

He's everything Iruka strives to discourage in his own teachers at Konoha Academy. Teaching should never be about prestige. It’s about growth. 

By the time they leave the hostel and follow Masato past the streets and many hills of Kirigakure, a clear hierarchy has been instated within the group.

Iruka’s glad he keeps fairly in shape, because the ups and downs of Kiri’s hillside streets would otherwise prove as challenging to him as to some of the other students. It doesn’t help that the moisture in the air sticks to their skin and clothes like an added layer weighing them down. The mist is unrelenting in the morning, here.

Luckily, after only a few more blocks, they take a fork in the road to a nondescript door set at the foot of a small-sized tower karst. Like pretty much every other building in Kiri, it’s covered in moss. The back of Iruka’s head tingles with residual chakra as they approach.

They surface in the dimly lit ground level of a rotunda carved straight into the hollowed rock, six visible floors of hallways and study rooms rising up around a central tower. Far above, the pinprick eye of a metal-framed oculus delivers sunlight in a smooth, unthreatening gradient. Even inside the hill, a thin layer of mist still covers their steps, although unlike the streets, here it rises no higher than their ankles. The protective jutsu that keep the upper layers of the air dry hum a steady song of chakra that resonates along Iruka’s pathways.

“This place is amazing,” he blurts out in a barely hushed whisper.

So engrossed with the vaulted ceiling of limestone, he nearly bumps into Ryo and makes a quick apology. Ne doesn’t pay it any mind. If anything, ne seems as awe-struck nemself as Iruka, if not more.

Toru takes notice of their excitement.

“Ah, to be young again,” he says brightly, before hastily pinching his lips at the scathing look Masato sends them all the way from his leading position at the front of the line.

Nobuko mutters profanities deep, deep under her breath that nearly sends them into peels of nervous laughter. Commiserating over Masato is proving to be an excellent ice breaker within the student ranks.

It’s a nice little group, this one they’ve formed. Terribly mismatched in as much age as careers as homeland, but well-met. Other than Toru, who wrote a book about twenty years ago before sinking into academic oblivion, they’re in their own little corner of obscurity and all the better for it at the back of the line.

Iruka wonders if Kakashi would be leading the march, had he been a participant, walking without concern among the illustrious. Would the long shadow he cast even reach Iruka, far behind?

He shakes his head to dispel the thought and winces at the sting brought by the motion. A mild headache is already tightening his temples. He’s not strong enough of a sensor to make it into a specialty but he's still too sensitive to the active pulse of constant chakra.

He knows from experience that he’ll need a few days to acclimate to the Archives.

The lecture room they’re shown to is as artificially cool tempered as the rest of the facility. Iruka and his group claim a side of the row of desks for themselves and settle in for the wait while everybody finds a seat.

Masato takes to the dais. Unpacks his bag. Pours himself a glass of water from the small sink in a corner of the room. Walks back. Clears his throat. And, finally, begins the lecture.

It quickly becomes clear that there’s more than just hot air filling the swell of his ego.

A shared sentiment ripples across the room.

Relief.

*

When Toru arrived,  a day after Iruka and dusty from the long trip from Kumo to Kirigakure, a package had already been waiting for him. Iruka watched him open it with a shameful pull of envy, even more so when Toru tilted it to show the contents to the curious onlookers. Half of his wife’s cookies had been pulverized by the journey but Toru was very good-humored about the result. This is how they met.

On the second morning of the course, the hostel receptionist says, “You’ve got mail,” pushes something in Iruka's hands on his way to breakfast and leaves him staring dumbfounded at a wide envelope.

He didn't think he'd be getting any correspondence.

“Need help opening that?” Nobuko asks, sprinkling crumbs of the wrecked cookies Toru's wife sent on her fruit salad.

The hostel’s breakfast buffet is nothing short of underwhelming. Everything tastes slightly stale, even the fresh produce. The cookie crumbles aren't miraculous but they’ll take any help.

With a roll of his eyes, Iruka picks a clean knife and opens the envelope. Naruto’s chicken scratch greets him, along with what appears to be a drawing. He briefly pushes the letter aside to look at what he assumes to be a toddler’s work, before getting back to it.

“Dear Iruka-sensei,” the letter reads, “Boruto drew the Rasengan, can you believe it?! He’s sooo smart. Like his father. I know you’ll be back soon but I wanted you to have this, so you don’t miss us too much. Also so your heart doesn’t give out in shock when you come back and see how talented Boruto is turning out to be! You’re old, you gotta take care of yourself. Hinata agrees! See you soon! Your best and favorite student, Naruto.”

Slightly further, in a much neater handwriting: “I only said that I wish you well, Iruka-sensei. We miss you very much. Best regards, Hinata.”

Iruka puts it down with a shaky breath. His gaze lands on the drawing. Swirls of multicolored crayon lines run over it, clearly put to paper by a pudgy fist, the colors layered so tight and densely that all traces of creamy paper disappear at the center. It’s a common and banal shape for a toddler, especially one as young as Boruto. Only a father’s pride would see a rare jutsu in the result.

Iruka’s so happy to have it.

His eyes burn. Ryo gingerly pats his shoulder in a clumsy display of sympathy.

Nobuko casts a look at the letter and smirks. “The disrespect. You’re not that old. You’re what, forty?”

Iruka sniffs haughtily, glad for the excuse. “I’m thirty one.”

He carefully tucks both letter and drawing back into the envelope before they become a casualty to the many jelly packets opened over the table. Ryo has a sweet tooth.

“Your hairline could’ve fooled me,” Nobuko says drolly before turning towards Ryo. “He’s still much too old for you.”

Flushing bright, Ryo pulls nir hand away from Iruka like ne was burnt.

Toru shakes his head good-naturedly over his tea. It's Iruka's understanding that he and Nobuko have known each other for years, probably from being veterans of the relatively small community of scrolls enthusiasts.

“Don’t let her bully you,” Toru advises. “She likes to test boundaries.”

Ryo furrows nir brows, clearly at a loss.

“Well, fuck you, then,” ne tentatively tells Nobuko, who lets out a smoker-gravel bark of laughter at the audacity. Ne watches with an expression of pure bemusement before throwing nir head back with a more heartfelt whine. “Do we really have to do this? Cuz’ Masato-sensei’s mean enough already.”

They all groan at the reminder and get ready for the day's lesson.

*

By the third day, Iruka still hasn’t gotten used to the chakra feedback from the Archives’ protective seals. He spends his days feeling the skin of his forehead drawing tighter and tighter with every hour, and counts himself grateful that it manifests as more pressure than actual pain.

Which is a shame, really, because that means he doesn't have an excuse to give even himself when Masato peers over his shoulder and clicks his tongue in disapproval.

“I’d have expected better from an Umino. The result of betraying one’s roots, I suppose.” He picks one of Iruka's spare brushes and draws a thumb over the uneven bristles. “Amateur material probably doesn't help either.”

Iruka bites his anger into compliance. He’s a foreigner to this place, in fact pretty much a representative of Konoha. He’s here to learn and nothing more.

“I apologize for my poor performance. Please instruct me, Masato-sensei,” he says, surrendering his inked up brush and a clean sheet of chakra paper.

Masato proceeds to lay precise, succinct strokes, holding his right sleeve with the opposite hand to keep it out of the way. On the paper, the character of Tora emerges, brimming with chakra. The result is of a deceptive symmetry: upon closer look, a slant to the strokes can be seen, channeling the flow of energy. Never before has Iruka seen such a simple seal hold so much charge.

It’s simply masterful.

Masato lays down the brush with a surprising lack of smugness. “Most other villages settle for uninspired seals. We at Kiri’s Archives nurture the Art. Konohagakure is known for its lengthy formulations. It’s all you have left of Uzushiogakure, but you do it sloppily. Layers and layers of convolutions to trick the chakra to do your bidding. A true master knows what's essential and trims off the fat.”

He picks the seal, holds it up and triggers it. The flame goes all the way up to the ceiling before the Archives’ protective spells catch and muffle it into nothingness. Hushed gasps of admiration come up across the room. Iruka winces at the spike in ambient chakra.

He picks another blank sheet from the desk. “Masato-sensei, could you provide me with another sample?”

Masato looks down dismissively. “What for? I expect you know how to write. It's not like you could mimic my work, you must channel the chakra on your own. If you were expecting it to be easy, you shouldn't be here.”

It’s a terrible feeling, disliking someone you admire.

“Of course, Masato-sensei,” Iruka says simply, bowing his head until Masato leaves.

Once their teacher’s busy at another table, Ryo leans over.

“I don’t like him,” ne says.

Ne can talk. Even across the desk, Iruka can hear the discreet, gentle pulse of nir own Tora. He suspects nir seal might, in fact, light into an actual flame if triggered.

*

In the late afternoon, when they leave the Archives, Iruka excuses himself. He’s not in the mood to keep up a brave face and he doesn’t want to inflict his casual misery on his new acquaintances.

Kakashi, he knows, would have down-to-earth advice for him. He’s given it in the past, once, and then never really stopped providing it. Even now, he keeps offering Iruka a calm place of support to air his grievances and self-doubts.

In truth, it’s unfair to him. Iruka’s grown to rely on it too much and really needs to learn to go without.

He feels very alone.

There’s an apothecary two streets over from the Archives. He enters to the timeless sound of a chime, goes through the motions of a greeting and asks for some painkiller for his headaches.

“What kind of pain?” asks the curt old man behind the counter.

“Just a common tension headache.”

“But what from?” the shopkeeper insists, all impatience.

It’s not like he has anyone else to look after. The shop is otherwise empty.

“Chakra resonance, I think?” Iruka replies hesitantly, entirely taken aback.

The many lines on the shopkeeper’s face condense into a frown.

“You’re not from here,” he says, which makes Iruka steel himself for a bigoted follow up. “You one of those fancy people they brought to the Archives?”

Iruka’s never been called fancy in his life.

“I--Yeah? I suppose.”

“You suppose.”

“Yes, I’m one of the researchers.”

The shopkeeper’s wrinkles ease somewhat. “Sensor type, uh? Understandable. Place is a bloody mess, you’re not the first one, we keep saying--”

The end of his sentence is muffled by his departure to the backroom. Iruka gets the feeling he wasn’t particularly expected to keep up anyway.

“Here. Balm of Sea Foam,” the shopkeeper announces when he emerges, sliding a small tin box over the counter.

It’s decorated with an upturned wave and a clear blue sky framed by corals. A couple of v-shaped birds fly in the horizon. Iruka picks it up to look for instructions. There are none.

“How do I…?”

“Rub some on your temples,” the shopkeeper says, miming the motion. He looks terribly aggrieved for someone being helpful. “Push some chakra in it. It’ll create a regulating barrier. Use sensibly.”

“Oh. Thank you.”

The shopkeeper snorts and punches a squeak out of his old till. “Don’t thank me, you’re paying.”

But he looks mollified. He even helps Iruka count the foreign coins.

Iruka starts class the day after by applying it at his desk, and feels no noticeable difference. He worries that the shopkeeper might have sold him snake oil, albeit a surprisingly reasonably priced kind, and leaves it at that.

Only by lunchtime does he take note of the effect. It's hard to observe an absence, after all. Yet, sure enough, he feels lighter. The worst of the pressure’s gone.

He's not quite sealed off. He can still feel the thrumming of the Archives’ protections, hear the gentle distant echoes of their orbits around the halls. It's not unlike a veil curtain letting in sunlight from a window. If he focuses, he can see outside; he can even push it aside to get more of the heat.

Meanwhile, inside, his own energy gets to flow unencumbered, pressing back against the edges of himself in counter pressure, recalibrating. Without the interference of foreign chakra, his own system is forced to regulate. It’s a relief to his sinuses.

On the chakra paper, his seal doesn't spark any more than on the previous session, but the relief that the balm works is enough to lessen the sting of his renewed failure. For now.

*

At the end of their first week, Nobuko drags the three of them to an obscure hole-in-the-wall. The food, she assures, will be greasy and cheap and most of all miles ahead from the hostel’s usual fare.

Iruka blinks at the dim surroundings, taking in the rough wood paneling and the grimy countertop of their table. He reminds himself his cheap teenage self used to eat at much worse places and survived. “I’ll take your word for it.”

There's one laminated menu per table, that they pass around. It's sticky to the touch.

Later, it’s with outbursts of joy that they greet their dishes. The bored waiter barely acknowledges any of it, distributing it all seemingly on autopilot.

Once he's gone, they pass the plates around until they're each in possession of their original order.

“Okay, I'll admit, this is a good fry,” Iruka says, popping up a whole crispy shishamo, head and all. He offers his plate to Ryo, who takes one to nibble tentatively on. “How did you even know of this place?”

“I used to come here a lifetime ago,” Nobuko replies, “back when Masato was younger and better looking.”

“He’s alright,” Ryo says, wiping nir hands on nir trousers with an absent-minded grimace. “Doesn't make up for everything else but at least he's not bad to look at.” Ne looks up with wide eyes at the pointed silence that greets nir words. “I'm being factual, I'm not attracted!”

“There’s a thin line between love and hate,” Toru says sagely.

Nobuko retorts with a long-suffering groan. “What a load of nonsense, no, there isn't! And what are you even talking about, what do you know of hate, you and Numa are sickening together.”

“Thank you. But my life isn't a gauge of absolute truth.”

“Then don't make absolute declarations.”

“Just sharing the experience of my age,” Toru says beatifically, which does not fail to incense Nobuko.

“You can't just lord that--”

Iruka considers his glass while they bicker. It's smudged and slightly foggy. He’s taken worse risks before. Inside the tin pitcher, the water looks clear and refreshing. It tastes slightly metallic after pouring but is otherwise fine.

This place truly is a lesson in judging appearances.

Nobuko and Toru are still arguing when he's done topping up all of their glasses. They've moved onto Toru’s research, to the mounting heat of academic discourse. Iruka would usually consider it high entertainment but there’s a time and place for arguing, preferably not after a full day of Masato’s snide little comments.

Ryo seems to agree, because ne starts fidgeting.

“What about you, Iruka-sensei, do you have someone? Back in Konoha?” ne asks hurriedly, trying to change the topic.

Iruka wishes ne had picked anything but that one.

He rubs the back of his neck. “Ah, I'm afraid not.”

He must not be casual enough about it because, the blood-scenting hound, Toru narrows in on him with the unpleasant accuracy of knowingness. “Oh, is this yearning I hear?”

Iruka amends his thoughts. Toru’s not a hound but a shark.

“Ah…” Iruka sounds out slowly. “Well, I do feel a bit homesick, yeah.”

Nobuko snorts but doesn't segue.

Toru does.

“It’s always lovely when home is a person,” he says mercilessly.

“It’s really not like that,” Iruka says. His cheeks are tingling with the telltale heat of a blush, which only makes him flush even more when he realizes. It’s a self-fulfilling circle of embarrassment. “I’m really not used to being away. With my job, I’m pretty village-bound. I’ve barely left the Land of Fire in years! And one of my former students, his wife’s pregnant again. I know I'm only away for three more months but it feels strange that I’m not there for them.”

“A student? Oh, is it the one who sent that drawing?” Ryo asks. “That’s kind of cute.”

Toru’s eyes don’t waver. “But you did think of someone when I asked, didn’t you?”

To Iruka’s relief, Nobuko doesn’t let him press further. She licks her fingers clean and reaches for her glass of ale with a roll of her eyes.

“Oh, will you drop it?! It won’t kill you to not know.”

“True. Please forgive this old man for his curiosity,” Toru says. He lowers his eyes in misleading meekness. “I’m sure whomever it is isn’t worth mentioning. Some people don’t deserve our interest.”

“That’s bait. He’s baiting you,” Ryo warns Iruka, who breaks into a smile and picks a fat shrimp to peel.

“I have your manual at home,” he tells Toru, hands are slippery from the cooking oil and marinade. “It was my first book on seals as a teen. I’ve cracked the spine, I’ve read it so much.” He pauses for a thoughtful bite. “Didn’t expect you’d be such a bastard but hey, they do say never to meet your heroes.”

Toru grants the point with a good-humored tilt of his head. Nobuko barks in laughter then raises her glass.

“To surviving our first week.”

They all toast.

[Part 3]

[samuraiondo-mace-1177]

This is so stupid, but I love it sjdjsksk

HC: Ichiban has bought Masato Smile Burger once. What would Waka's order be?

Based on these lists:

I feel like Ichi would only buy him a meal because he heard Waka's stomach grumble and wouldn't take his protests of "I'm fine!" and "I'm not hungry" as an acceptable answer. (Cause of course, "don't talk like you know me", mf he's yer best friend, let him take care of you /lhj)

Editor's note: Ichi when Waka says he isn't hungry (his stomach growled)

He's getting the salad, no questions asked, Ichi is getting him the salad. He wants Masato to be healthy, and therefore, he has to have the salad.

I don't know why but Ichiban strikes me as the sort of person who connected "young master" and "king" together, and tried to buy him the King Smile Burger. Altho, c'mon, we're here to talk about what Masato would want.

He's likely not used to fast food, or at least, cheap, greasy, fast food. Money may be not object to Waka but Ichi refuses to let him pay and calls it "his treat" (my favourite people pleaser fr, he's so me), so he's not buying anything too expensive here

Waka would go for something that isn't too basic and simple (don't get me wrong, he'd get something 'regular' to blend in more, but he does not strike me as a basic hamburger guy), but isn't extravagant or overwhelming

Saying this, he's probably a Teriyaki Smile Burger kinda guy. A burger with protein and a rich and tangy sauce that's refined to his palate and it's something typical to order (he'd probably get it w/o tarter/mayo - explanation? neurodivergency and sensory issues (I feel like he struggles with eating cold and warm stuff together, like ice cream and warm brownies)) - but only if Ichi orders it that way for him.

Along with it, he'd probably get fries but not a shake (I don't know, he just kinda seems like that kinda a guy)

So, in conclusion, his order would be

Teriyaki Smile Burger w/o the Mayo/tarter sauce = ¥600

Smile Fries = ¥280

(+ Ichi gettin a Smile Salad = ¥320

Waka Order = ¥880 (£4.45/€5.37

Waka + Ichi Order = ¥1200 (£6.07/€7.33)

[nintendocompositions]

finally finished remixing my first fighting game mix, EVERYONE EVERYTHING IS REMIXED!! I had a blast making this and I can't wait for MVC FIGHTING COLLECTION AAAAAAAAAAA thanks for listening!!

Street Fighter Alpha 3 EX (Hideki Okugawa) - Theme of Q Tekken 3 (Nobuyoshi Sano, Keiichi Okabe) - Eddy Gordo Darkstalkers 3 (Takayuki Iwai) - Deserted Chateau (Arranged Ver.) Super Street Fighter IV (Hideyuki Fukasawa) - Theme of Dan Super Street Fighter IV (Hideyuki Fukasawa) - Theme of Dudley Marvel Vs. Capcom (Masato Kouda) - Theme of Morrigan Ultra Street Fighter IV (Hideyuki Fukasawa) - Theme of Poison Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (Namco Sound Team*) - Eternal Paradise (Fiji) Super Street Fighter IV (Hideyuki Fukasawa) - Solar Eclipse (Africa) Street Fighter V (Keiki Kobayashi) - Kanzuki Beach (Malaysia) Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection (Akitaka Tohyama) - Estrada da Estrela (Meteor Shower) Street Fighter 6 (Shigeyuki Kameda) - zilra zilra (Blanka’s Theme) Street Fighter X Tekken (Hideyuki Fukasawa) - Jurassic Era Research Area Tekken 8 (mifumei) - Streak of Blue (Seaside Resort) Tekken Tag Tournament 2 - IT’S NOT A TUNA! (Bountiful Sea) Tekken 8 (mifumei) - Ortiz Farm (Golden Meadow) Street Fighter X Tekken - Cosmic Elevator Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (Namco Sound Team*) - Abyss of Time (Wayang Kulit) Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (Namco Sound Team*) - Siga (Tropical Rainforest) Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (Namco Sound Team*) - What You Will See (Heavenly Garden) (Benton Remix)

SAMPLES: *Akitaka Tohyama, Nobuyoshi Sano, Keiichi Okabe, Rio Hamamoto, Taku Inoue, and Go Shiina 1 9 0 5, Former City Records - Recorddeals 3BallMTY - Inténtalo Amor Satyr & Siu Mata - Nah Anitta - Lose Ya Breath Anitta - Funk Rave Azealia Banks - Anna Wintour BADSISTA ft. JUJULIETE - BAGUNÇA MINHA B***** Bianca Oblivion ft. Thai Chi Rosé & Dyer MC - Bad Gyal Capcom Vs. SNK 2 (Satoshi Ice) - True Love We’re Makin’ (London) Charli xcx - Everything is Romantic Da Brat ft Notorious BIG & JD - Da B Side Kali Uchis - Dame Beso//Muévete KiNK, Kei - Nagore (Original Mix) Lone - Approaching Rainbow Lone - Blue Moon Tree Major Lazer ft Nina Sky & Ricky Blaze - Keep It Goin’ Louder MC Juninho do Complexo - Olhou Sorriu Otira - Take Me Street Fighter III 3rd Strike (Capcom Sound Team) - Beats in My Head (Elena Stage) Tekken 2 (Yoshie Arakawa, Yoshie Takayanagi) - Almost Frozen (Antarctica) Tekken 4 (Yu Miyake) - Kitsch (Beach) Tkay Maids - 24k Zsela - Earlier Days (Sunship Remix)

Also on SoundCloud! Thanks for listening!

[aquarterasian]

Every time I think about hugtto I get so upset because it had so much potential but they went and ruined it by making so many bad writing choices and I just wanna scream like. George going back in time and doing everything he did to try to prevent his wife’s untimely death. Ok, I can get behind that it’s an interesting motivation and makes him a little bit sympathetic. The wife being Hana??????????? Literally why. why was that necessary, and the fact that it was implied that they ended up together at the end of the series despite the fact that they showed that the George from Hana’s tl was already an adult while Hana was in middle school like, ick. Also homares crush on harry, like I genuinely think that could have been interesting had they done it right but they didn’t. At All. They focused on that more than her ice skating and harry never even flat out said no to her. Also I have no idea how old hagumi was originally but she definitely didn’t look like an adult so why was harry in love with her 🙃 and don’t get me wrong I love saaya but she was a forgettable character. Like Emiru and Lulu’s friendship was so sweet and I genuinely love that part of the show, but tbh the part I enjoyed the most was henri and masatos relationship like imo they were the best part of the show and when the side characters have a more interesting and cohesive story than the main characters, you’re doing something wrong

[aranarumei]

the anomalous agate (part four)

hello, all. we've made it to the home stretch! this is the last main chapter of the anomalous agate—there's an epilogue after this, as well as bonus extra set more in the world of hanzawa to tashiro. I've also been playing around with the idea of doing a sort of… director's commentary? something like that. where I get to indulge and talk about some of my thoughts.

for anyone who has no idea what this is about, go here for part one

for those who do, here's the ao3 link, and if you prefer tumblr, it's just under the cut

case 2-x: the anomalous agate (part 4)

Sunlight set the streets before me aglow. It was, by all accounts, the warmest day in autumn we’d had this year, and I was beginning to sweat. There was a restless kind of itch inside my skin that I couldn’t seem to quell. Part of it was the bruise—the mark had faded, but now the area of pale purple felt consistently irritated. 

The other part was the fact that it was Saturday afternoon. Richard had closed the shop to make a special house call, and it was only now that I realized I’d spent the majority of every weekend working in Ginza. Rather than feel like I was chomping at the bit, though, the sudden free time left my skin itching to head into Jewelry Étranger like always. 

After poring over my various options, I’d decided to spend my day off on various chores and errands. I was currently on my way to the supermarket, but in the absence of any attractive deals awaiting me, I was dragging my feet in the afternoon heat. While looking around for a reasonable distraction, my attention was waylaid by the sight of the café I’d entered just over a week ago, and after considering its merit as a temperature-controlled room as well as my flagging enthusiasm for shopping, I decided to enter. 

The moment I stepped inside, a cooling breeze swept over my skin, and I was immediately refreshed. Then I scanned for a free seat and caught sight of a familiar head of black hair. A chill skittered up my spine; the person in question turned around and froze the moment our eyes met. 

Hanzawa Masato’s mouth parted in an involuntary ‘O’ shape, and I knew, again, that I was bearing witness to a scene I shouldn’t have seen. I thought about tucking myself into a different corner of the café, but the person he was sitting with had already spotted me, and obliviously waved me over. 

Hanzawa’s companion was a boy with half-dyed hair, the natural dark brown color abruptly transitioning into a sharp blond-gold. In the time it had taken me to approach them, he’d moved to sit next to Hanzawa, leaving a free seat for me on the other side. I took the offered seat awkwardly, wondering if there was any normal way to introduce myself. 

Thankfully, Hanzawa took the lead in greeting me. “…It’s nice to see you, Seigi.” 

“…It’s nice to see you too, Hanzawa.” As shocked as he’d been when we’d first made eye contact, he didn’t look irritated or out of sorts. I addressed the person next to him. “And you are…?” 

“Tashiro Gonzaburou! Is it fine if I call you Seigi, too?” 

“Sure,” I said, a little stunned by his easygoing smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Tashiro.” 

Before we could get too deep into a conversation, I ordered an iced americano. Hanzawa took a careful sip of his milk tea—it wasn’t the kind that Richard liked, but I wondered if that was why Hanzawa had asked for the royal milk tea in our first meeting. 

Once I’d gotten my drink in hand, Tashiro asked, “So how’d you meet Hanzawa-senpai, anyways?” 

Before I could muster up a vague enough answer that would satisfy a guy who seemed wholly blunt and direct, Hanzawa cut in with a response. “Seigi works at a jewelry store in Ginza,” he said. He addressed me: “I was under the impression you worked weekends?” 

There wasn’t a hint of turmoil on his face. I thought I’d gotten better at reading him, but I had no idea what he was thinking at the current moment. The circumstances through which I’d met Kaede were kind of awkward, so maybe it wasn’t right to explain… but it wasn’t like these were non-awkward circumstances, either. 

“Oh—well, yeah, that’s normally the case,” I said. “But Richard’s making a house call today, so the shop’s closed… we’ll be open tomorrow, though.” That was at least double the words necessary for an explanation. It wasn’t like Hanzawa was going to show up and buy something—he didn’t need me to prattle on about the exact specifics of Jewelry Étranger’s schedule. 

“A jeweler’s store?” Tashiro mused out loud before clapping his hands in epiphany. “Hanzawa-senpai, were you buying earrings?” 

“…Perhaps?” I’d seen Hanzawa be reticent with information before, but the tone of his voice here was an obvious tease. 

With a put-upon sigh, Tashiro asked, “I guess you’re just allergic to straight answers, huh?” At Hanzawa’s answering smile, he added, “Are you finally going to tell me how many piercings you actually have?” 

Hanzawa seemed to consider it for a long time, before simply declaring, “That’s no fun—I’ll let you keep guessing.” 

For all that I’d worried about an awkward situation, Hanzawa and Tashiro were more than able to carry conversation. Rather than cultivate a sense of unease, Hanzawa’s air of mystery had turned into something almost playful, something which Tashiro’s presence seemed to actively encourage. The two people sitting across from me both carried an inherent kind of charm—from Tashiro, so natural he likely didn’t notice it himself, and a deep, practiced consideration from Hanzawa’s end. I would have been fine just watching them talk to each other, but Hanzawa took note of my sense of distance and conscientiously pulled me into a discussion about various customers that had passed through Jewelry Étranger. We began to trade stories about the interesting people we’d encountered—Hanzawa had stories about almost anything, and Tashiro helped out at a bathhouse near his home that was full of interesting characters. 

Still, I couldn’t help but feel the sense that I was a third wheel in this situation. 

During a lull in the conversation, Tashiro tilted Hanzawa’s drink towards him and took an exploratory sip. “You got a new flavor,” he observed. “Don’t you usually stick with the same one?” 

Hanzawa’s gaze lowered towards Tashiro, slumped forward on the table in the perfect picture of relaxation, Hanzawa’s drink in hand. He tilted his drink back towards him and took a sip. “It is college,” he said. “I think you’re meant to loosen up a little.”

“And have all-night karaoke sessions?” Tashiro replied with a laugh. He straightened back up in his seat, not once breaking eye contact with Hanzawa, and added, “You’ve never really been uptight, anyways.” 

Hanzawa raised an eyebrow. “I was president of the disciplinary committee, you know.” 

“Hirano-senpai was vice-president,” Tashiro replied scathingly. 

I had no idea what that name meant, but seeing as Hanzawa’s lips twitched in amusement, it was an excellent point. 

“Anyways, you weren’t uptight, you were up in everything!” Tashiro exclaimed. With his brows scrunched in concentration, he began to count a list of Hanzawa’s activities on his fingers. “President of the disciplinary committee, captain of the ping pong club, head of the dorm, all the random stuff you did for the cultural festival that you’re still doing…” He punctuated his list with a dramatic huff. “I was right—you are a masochist. I bet that hasn’t changed in college.” 

On second thought, maybe the ability to carry a conversation didn’t exactly mean one was a good conversationalist. I didn’t know how to look at the two of them without feeling embarrassment, but strangely enough, Hanzawa didn’t seem to mind the impropriety.

His lips curled into a threatening smile. “Tashiro-kun, are you sure you want to repeat that?” 

At the deep fondness hidden in his voice, I had a sudden epiphany. Blankly staring at Tashiro, I knew—this has to be what that guy meant. 

Unaffected by Hanzawa’s words, and unaware of the whirling thoughts in my head, Tashiro simply muttered, “This is exactly what I mean.” 

“How is the ping pong club, anyways?” Hanzawa asked, confirming my suspicions as he pivoted topics.

Tashiro flashed him a peace sign. “Doing great! The guys in our year keep telling stories about you—that’s how they terrify the first years!” 

“And I’m sure you’ve let them know that these are terribly unfair rumors?” Hanzawa said, leaning towards him. He fluttered his eyelashes, the action dancing on the edge of mockery and sincerity. “Disparaging a poor alumnus who can’t even defend himself, really…” 

Before he could get too far in his speech, they both seemed to realize there was a third person at the table and jerked back into regular sitting positions. Hanzawa ineffectually cleared his throat, and said, “Ah, Seigi—you used to be in a karate club, right? Don’t you still keep in touch with the members?” 

“…Well, not any of the newer ones, really,” I said, doing my best to convey that I hadn’t seen anything incriminating. “But I help out in events every once in a while, and I’m on an email chain with a bunch of people I knew at the time. It would be hard to pick it back up all of sudden, but I’ve been considering it.”

Hanzawa’s eyes flickered over to my fading bruise. He opened his mouth as if to ask me a question, and then seemed to think better of it.

“I did karate for a year, actually!” Tashiro piped up. 

Genuine disbelief and interest bled into Hanzawa’s voice. “Really?” 

“Closer to half a year, probably,” Tashiro amended sheepishly. “But yeah, I cycled through a lot of different sports back then, so I know the basics. Maybe I would’ve picked it back up in high school, but then I got conned—” 

“You bore the consequence of terms you accepted, you mean,” Hanzawa cut in. 

“Conned,” Tashiro repeated with extra emphasis, “into joining the ping pong club. But karate requires a lot of discipline, so I probably wouldn’t have ever stuck with it for long.” He sighed. “Now that I’m the president of the ping pong club, I can’t even skip practices!” 

“Well, obviously,” Hanzawa drawled. With a lightly accusing finger pointed at Tashiro’s hair, he added, “Unfortunately, I only hear good things about you from your clubmates. They don’t even think your hair makes you look like a ruffian!” 

“I haven’t dyed my hair in two years because of that stupid rule!” Tashiro replied. “Seriously, what was that president thinking…” 

“Probably that you’d grow your hair out and then cut off all the dyed parts,” Hanzawa replied dryly.

“No way,” Tashiro said. “Besides, this is kind of my brand now, anyways.”

“Delinquency?”

Tashiro glared at him. “If only he knew your hair was dyed,” he griped, “then I bet he’d—” He paused in the middle of his complaint and peered at Hanzawa’s unchanging expression. “He knew?”

“Well, my hair doesn’t stand out like yours does.” 

“So what?” Tashiro asked. “Just because you look normal doesn’t mean you are.” 

Hanzawa ruffled his hair in retaliation. “Show some respect for your senpai,” he huffed. Ignoring Tashiro’s squawks of protest, he added, “Besides, we didn’t force you to dye your hair back to brown, right?” With his hand still near Tashiro’s hair, he curled a stray stand around his finger. “Has your hair been growing much longer recently?”

“Yeah,” Tashiro said, smoothing his hair back into submission. “I think I damaged my hair pretty badly when bleaching it, so it grew kind of slowly, but recently that hasn’t been the case. I don’t know why, but it’s useful for now, isn’t it? I might not even need a wig.” 

“…A wig?” I ventured. 

Pink dusted Hanzawa’s cheeks. “I—I forgot… that you wouldn’t know,” he finished smoothly, though I had a hunch what he meant to say was I forgot you were there. I’d feel offended if it wasn’t for the fact that this meant that Hanzawa had drastically lowered his guard around me.

“It’s alright,” I said. “Is the wig for your cultural festival?” 

“You know about that?” Tashiro asked. 

“I heard a little about your… cross-dressing competition?” 

“It’s officially termed a beauty contest,” Hanzawa said, “but unofficially… no one calls it that.” 

“That’s cool,” I said lamely, but maybe Tashiro had picked up on the sincerity in my voice because he blinked at me for a few moments before beginning to motormouth. 

“Hanzawa-senpai’s helping me out!” he exclaimed. For the first time since we’d met, he ducked his head out of shyness. “It’s—for this year, I’m participating… some guys wanted me to do it in my first year, but I refused to, and well, I’m way taller than I was back then so it’s kind of weird, but still—I think it could be kind of fun? And it turns out that a lot of making things look good is in costuming and makeup, which I don’t know anything about, but of course Hanzawa does because he creepily knows everything, right?” He paused, and added, “For that bruise on your face, he could probably help you out there, if you wanted?”

“Oh—he already did, actually,” I said. “I learned how to cover it up when it was way too obvious to go to work, but I didn’t want to bother, otherwise.”

“Of course, he’s amazing,” Tashiro said, like it was a natural law of the universe, and Hanzawa stared, spellbound. “I don’t know how anyone’s going to pull off anything good next year because he’s got things so well-handled. It should really be impossible for a human to actually do that much”—he turned to Hanzawa and glared without much heat—“so maybe actually rest some time, would you?”

Slipping back into his regular grace, Hanzawa gestured at the café. “Isn’t this resting?” 

“It’s—I don’t mind that you’re helping,” Tashiro said, a frustrated edge to his voice. “I’m happy about it; I just need you to be, too.”

Hanzawa’s gaze drifted to an aimless point in the air. “Don’t worry about that,” he said, voice a little strangled. “I’m… going to stop by the restroom before we head out.”

With that said, he glided towards a distant corner of the café. Tashiro’s eyes tracked his back as he moved, and once Hanzawa left his line of sight, he studied me with careful eyes. 

There wasn’t any pressure behind it, but I couldn’t look away. 

Tapping his empty drink against the table, Tashiro said, “Like he said, we’ll probably head out soon.” His voice had dropped in both pitch and volume. “You seem like a good guy, Seigi—it was nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

“Since that’s the case… he jokes about it, but if you run into Hanzawa-senpai again, could you make sure he’s not actually running himself into the ground?” 

Caught by the sincerity and intensity of his request, I agreed without a second thought. “Sure.” Then I realized it wasn’t the kind of promise I could meaningfully keep, but I didn’t know how to clarify my inadequacy.

“I seriously mean it,” Tashiro whispered, “a guy like that has to be a masochist for how much work he takes on. I mean, he’s helping me even though he graduated already…” 

It wasn’t the kind of thing I could say to his face, but I had a feeling that Hanzawa didn’t consider helping Tashiro as work. Hanzawa was only a year younger than me—maybe not even that, since I didn’t actually know his birthday—and so Tashiro was two years younger than me at best, but I couldn’t help but feel a rush of odd assuredness at the fact. Looking at him, I could understand, a little, what Richard had meant by saying that non-interference was sometimes the respectable choice.

When Hanzawa returned, he raised an eyebrow at the slightly somber mood of the table—Tashiro staring at his empty drink, and I, lost in my thoughts. “I’m going to assume you started gossiping behind my back,” he said. 

Rather than lie, Tashiro dismissively waved off his statement and said, “I told him to look out for you, since you’re up to something or the other. The moment you’re out of my sight, you’re doing all of these interesting things I don’t even know about…”

Stunned by his frankness, Hanzawa’s reply was stilted. “It’s… only expected, I suppose. That I can’t be around as much anymore.” 

“It’s not a bad thing,” Tashiro clarified. “It’s just a thing. Drag me around sometime when you go on your strange adventures, would you?”

“…I’ll consider it, okay?” Hanzawa said, gentler than I’d ever heard him, and I knew, surer than anything, that those weren’t empty words.

With Tashiro appeased, Hanzawa and I locked eyes.

There were a lot of things that I wanted to say. That more than ever, I felt that lapis lazuli was a perfect stone for him. That he was absolutely capable of grandness and importance. That Hanzawa carried different aspects of himself like he was a living example of metamorphism. But seeing him like this was the exact reason I couldn’t say anything to him. Today, we hadn’t spoken a single word about his visits to Jewelry Étranger, but I’d never felt the pressure to. Each time I’d met with Hanzawa, he’d been on his back foot—navigating his interactions with Richard and I at Jewelry Étranger, worrying over Kaede, or helping me cover my bruise.

But here, without any jewel in his possession, there was someone that recognized Hanzawa as he was. Maybe, then, he didn’t need anything at all.

Tashiro had asked me to look out for Hanzawa, but really, it was the other way around—I just never had to ask. Though there was a lot I didn’t know, I had the feeling that Hanzawa and I were similar types of people. If someone saw us as special, it would be impossible to let go.

I swallowed down all those presumptuous words, and said, “Have a nice day.”

“…You too, Seigi.”

— — —

Three weeks later, I was making a cursory sweep of the Jewelry Étranger floor, watching the clock tick over to closing time, when the door swung open with a blast of frost. 

In swept Hanzawa Masato. He was wearing the same shade of pale blue he’d worn during his first visit, but he’d opted for a warm turtleneck instead of a light sweater. He’d layered it with a soft brown coat, but his face was still tinged pink from the cold.

The door clicked shut behind him. I felt as if the broom in my hands should have clattered to the floor, but it stayed in my grip.

Even though it was our duty to greet a client, it was Hanzawa that broke the silence first. “I wasn’t sure if I’d be interrupting something,” he said. Something about his demeanor was noticeably different—he didn’t look uncomfortable, but he wasn’t speaking with his usual practiced composure, either.

I glanced toward Richard—he kept a cool face, but there was a slight deer-in-the-headlights look in his eyes that he hadn’t yet shaken off. 

“You’re not interrupting,” I said, leaning my broom against the nearest wall. “Feel free to take a seat.”

“Hanzawa-san…” Richard began, before he fully collected himself. “It’s nice to hear from you again. Would you like me to bring out what you’d looked at previously?”

“I’ll make tea—” I offered, but Hanzawa stopped me in my tracks.

“There’s no need,” he said. “It shouldn’t take too long.” He took a deep breath, drawing closer without taking a seat. “To answer your question, Richard-san—you mentioned you carried different kinds of agate, yes?” At Richard’s ensuing nod, he said, “Do you carry any earrings with blue lace agate, then?” 

Professionalism snapped Richard back into action. “We do have a few,” he said, rising from his seat. “I’ll be back out in a moment, then.”

Once Richard had disappeared into a back room, Hanzawa offered me an appeasing smile. “I’m sure all these repeated visits are bad for business, but I do actually plan on making a purchase.”

“Richard treats all of his clients sincerely, whether they purchase something or not,” I said in instinctive defense. Maybe my next words weren’t appropriate for an employee to a client, but I’d run into Hanzawa outside of work twice. “Honestly, I wasn’t sure you’d be back. Even though we ran into each other again…” 

“I wasn’t planning on it, then,” Hanzawa admitted. “So I do appreciate that you didn’t pressure me.”

“What changed?” I asked. 

“I won’t ruin all my mystery,” Hanzawa replied, a little flippant, and I was reminded of the lightness with which he and Tashiro had conversed. “But the simplest explanation is that I figured out what I wanted.” At my blank stare, he laughed, and explained, “I liked the lapis lazuli. But something so ostentatious won’t ever be my style. I said I wanted a statement piece, right? This is one—but it’s a statement to me, not someone else.” He gestured towards his sweater. “And it’s this shade of blue. I do like blue.”

What I’d noticed earlier was the difference between composure and confidence—the latter of which was unmistakable in Hanzawa’s voice.

“If you’re happy with your choice, that’s great,” I said.

In lieu of a proper reply, Hanzawa said, “…If you ever feel like hanging out sometime, Seigi, you do have my number.”

I didn’t give a proper reply, either; Richard returned with his collection of blue lace agate.

There were only three pairs of earrings, so he offered to have a stone worked into jewelry if Hanzawa preferred. Despite his initial hurry, Hanzawa took the time to inspect each set of earring as carefully as he’d studied eyeshadows. Finally, he decided that Richard’s offer wasn’t necessary, and picked out a pair of teardrop-shaped earrings.

“Can I wear these out of the shop?” Hanzawa asked as Richard advised him on the best way to store jewelry. After brushing past his annoyance at the interruption, Richard gave the okay, and so Hanzawa carefully tried them on, closing the back with a soft click.

After making his goodbyes, he paused by the opened door. In the next moment, he whipped back around to face me, displaying a brilliant, evanescent smile. Against all odds, he’d found a way to glow beneath the gray winter sky.

Just outside the door, I caught a glimpse of a green hoodie, and heard a familiar voice. “Your ears!” 

Startled, Hanzawa turned and closed the door behind him, but I caught his response just before the door swung shut. “My earrings, Tashiro-kun. Really, it’s rude to point…” 

As if on cue, the clock ticked over to closing time. I wasn’t sure when I’d see Hanzawa Masato again, but I knew—whatever conversation he was about to have, it wasn’t one he’d run from.