#joy yoshino

[paintedwingz]

ANYONE WHOSE WATCHED WE HAVE A GHOST PLEASE TELL ME I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THINKING THAT JOY WAS SO MUCH LIKE BLISS

PLEASE

also the fact they got two queer coded characters and made them KISS and BE TOGETHER is an actual crime this was made in 2023 just let me have my wlw mlm solidarity gosh!!!! /hf

[gio-cosmo]

Discovering the Strega content from Tartarus Theater Wild is one of the best things to ever happen to me I’m not even joking.

[ultfreakme]

Stanning these three characters is just resigning myself to being permanently in the trenches

this is also how i realize all three of their moms got killed in violent ways by powers that are far out of their control, leaving them broken and questioning all of their life.

LIKE HIS MOM DIED! IT'S A MIRACLE NONE OF THEM EXPLODED THE WORLD.

[servenna]

What I dabble in

Living out my newfound passion for writing — which I discovered rather late — I thought it was time to start a masterlist to keep track of things. 

When snooping around, keep in mind that english is not my first language, so there might be one or two odd words or phrases found in there, occasionally.

AO3

Twitter

Please be aware that most of my works are meant for readers 18+. Minors DNI.

All characters are adults.

One-Shots:

Sanctuary (Shikaku/Yoshino)

The Story of Us (Shika/Tema)

Multichaps:

Stormy Feelings (Shika/Tema) (2/2) completed

RainClouds (Shika/Tema) (4/?) in progress

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice (Shika/Tema) (3/3)completed (prelude to a series in progress “Holiday Banter”) Artwork by SillySnowden11 and twnj

December Delights (coming soon)

Shikatema-Collabs:

Revanche (with SillySnowden11) one-shot

Precious Sleep, Indeed (with ShrimpArmy) one-shot

Checkmate (with ShrimpArmy and SillySnowden11) one-shot

A.N.B.U. — Love & Redemption (with SillySnowden11) (14/14) completed (Artwork by Dayeongi and twnj) 

I hope some of these will bring you joy. Have fun while reading, I for my part, had a blast writing them.

A big THANK YOU to all the gorgeous people who have inspired and encouraged me. Especially to @sillysnowden11, my all time favorite writing partner and true soulmate. You own big chuncks of those stories.

But also @twnj @shrimparmy @dayeongi @image13lyub and a bunch of other beautiful and crazy people.

[mysticalspiders]

There's a book called Moby Dick by Herman Melville that contains a story about a doomed hunt for a white whale and also contains essays about whale and whale hunting. Some people like one part of the story, and some like the other. For me, the joy is that the book contains both parts, pulling at each other, each informing the other side, and that if you removed either part you would have a less interesting book.

Neil Gaiman on Moby Dick, from the forward to How Do You Live? by Genzaburo Yoshino

[ircn-mvn]

ShikaNaru 2

TW: Mention of Mpreg by Jutsu, No Omegaverse, Accidental Pregnancy

Shikamaru closed the door behind himself and sighed. He wasn’t looking forward to what he had to do next. He had gotten back from Takigakure a few hours ago and had spent some more at the Hokage’s Tower. He was exhausted, mentally and physically. But he couldn’t risk his father running into Kakashi-Sama before he got a chance to talk to his parents.

He took off his shoes and left the genkan. He walked to the living room where he found his parents sharing some tea over a game of go. 

“Welcome back,” his father said.

He was smiling. They both were. Shikamaru couldn’t help but wonder how long it’ll last. He had truly no idea how they were going to react to what he had to say. He had barely managed to wrap his head around it.

Shikamaru shook himself a moment later, vaguely aware his mother had been calling his name.

“Are you alright?” Yoshino asked.

She was frowning. Not a good start.

“Uh, troublesome,” Shikamaru mumbled. He shook his head again before he looked back up at his parents, squaring his shoulders despite his better judgment. “I need to tell you something.”

Yoshino opened her mouth but was promptly interrupted by the doorbell. They exchanged a look and Shikaku got up to answer the door.

“Sensei?” Shikaku started.

“Where is he?!”

Oh, Sage. Shikamaru knew that voice and he had hoped he would get more time before he had to deal with its owner — or that he would manage to avoid him until he finally calmed down.

“Nara Shikamaru!” 

Shikamaru stood frozen on his spot as Iruka-Sensei walked into the Naras’ living room. He looked just as furious as he sounded and Shikamaru was no fool: sure the man was only a chunin but there was a reason Hokages kept him close — well, in Kakashi’s case, more than one, but it wasn’t the topic at hand.

“You! I can’t believe you let this happen!” Iruka exclaimed. 

His old sensei marched forward until his accusing finger touched Shikamaru’s chest. He didn’t move. He couldn’t. He just stood there looking — ironically — like a deer caught in a fire jutsu. 

“What were you thinking?!” Iruka continued. “I expected something like this from him but you were with him! You were supposed to make sure nothing of the sort happened! He could have had a bad reaction! He still could! He — He could die! He could die! For Sage's sake, Shikamaru, aren’t you supposed to be a genius?!” 

Iruka was out of breath by the time he finished his tirade while Shikamaru had forgotten to breathe altogether. He knew all this. He knew Iruka was right. He knew Kakashi had chosen him to make sure nothing would happen to Naruto. To make sure he wouldn’t do anything stupid…

Shikamaru had been terrified when he first realized what had happened. Oh, they had figured out the High Priestess’s secret alright. Mission accomplished.

Naruto had freaked out for all but two seconds before moving on and finding some bright side to the situation like only Naruto could. Not that his joy hadn’t been contagious in the end but Shikamaru wasn’t as stupid as the whole thing made him look. He had thought of all the ways this could go wrong. He had barely slept since it happened, monitoring Naruto and —

Iruka sighed and seemed to deflate in front of him.

“Please tell me he is at least not alone in this?” he asked.

“Of course not,” Shikamaru said.

He frowned, standing straighter. Determination and whatever else Iruka could read on his face had him taking a step back.

“Good, good.” 

They both sighed again. Then…

“Can we know what this is about?” Shikaku asked.

He was standing a few feet away by the kitchen island with Yoshino. 

“Uh, they don’t know?” Iruka said.

Shikamaru shook his head.

“I sent Naruto home and wrote our report myself, I just got here,” he answered.

“Oh.”

Yes, oh. 

“Troublesome,” Shikamaru repeated. He took a deep breath and turned to his parents. “Naruto’s pregnant.”

His parents looked at him as if he had grown a second head. He couldn’t blame them. Sure they had seen a lot during the last few years but no male pregnancy — as far as he knew at least. He wasn’t exactly an expert on the topic. Not yet.

“Some kind of jutsu, it’s a long story, and not really the point,” he added when Yoshino opened her mouth. “It’s mine. The baby, I mean. And we are keeping it.”

There was another silence as his parents digested the news. Yoshino wasn’t yelling which Shikamaru counted as a win. Finally, Shikaku sighed.

“Well that’s going to be a pain,” he said.

“What do you mean?” Shikamaru and Iruka replied at once.

They had both tensed.

“I mean that basically, every clan with a daughter old enough to marry had been trying to secure a marriage with Naruto,” Shikaku explained.

“Well, they can stop plotting,” Shikamaru said.

“Can they now?” Yoshino asked.

His mother looked like she was ready to start planning his wedding. Troublesome but still.

“I said what I said.”

[animeomegas]

amy i will kill for any and all shikamaru with his obsession hcs that you want to give us 😭 i miss my little guy (don't tell shikamaru that i called him that) also, how was your christmas? i hope you enjoyed it and had some fun with your loved ones! take care of yourself and have a good rest of your week <3

Okay, I decided to write a little piece of fanfiction for the Royal AU that @omeganronpa wrote for me here because I can't get it out of my head XD I hope you enjoy @raincosm

(And my holiday was great! Thank you for asking <333)

Warnings: panic attacks, mention of n-sfw but no description, vomit mentioned but not described.

...

You had attended about five family dinners with Shikamaru and his family now, and the atmosphere was always better than with your own family, even with a possible war looming on the horizon once your parents realised you didn’t plan on returning.

You imagined that they would assume you’d been kidnapped at first, but once they were aware of the new mating mark on your neck, you had no idea how they’d react.

Speaking of your new mark though, Shikamaru was staring at you from his seat beside you, a full spook on soup just lingering in the air between his bowl and his mouth. You tried to stifle a laugh. This Choosing thing had been even more intense than you’d expected, but between the crazy emotions and Shikamaru’s fainting the first time you’d tried to mate, you were actually starting to learn about him and heal from the long thirteen-year separation.

And it was pretty funny to watch Shikamaru fall over himself around you, if you were honest with yourself. Every report you’d heard about him throughout the years had spoken of his wicked intelligence and stoic attitude, but you had seen nothing but a loveable fool in him.

Being around Shikamaru’s parents had also been an unexpected joy. Admittedly, you had been overly focused on Shikamaru when imagining how your future would be, but Shikaku and Yoshino were amazing, even if they seemed to enjoy teasing you and Shikamaru a little too much.

“How are you enjoying the new suite?” Yoshino asked, directly her question to you. Shikamaru startled at the sudden conversation and finally put the soup in his mouth, his cheeks burning pink.

“It’s great!” you said honestly. You and Shikamaru had been moved together into a big suite once you had mated. “The view from the balcony is breath-taking.”

“I’m glad you like it,” Shikaku said, delicately biting into a bread roll. “Hopefully you won’t miss it too much during the Desensitisation training because you’ll both have to be in different rooms for a while.”

Shikamaru’s spoon clattered into his bowl, silencing the whole table.

“What?!” he asked, choking a little on his soup. “What-what are you talking about?”

Shikaku furrowed his brows like he wasn’t sure why Shikamaru would be asking such a question.

“Desensitisation training is mandatory for all biological Nara, Shikamaru, you know this.”

“But—” Shikamaru’s eyes were wide and panicked. “I’ve already done it! For thirteen years! Why would I—”

“That wasn’t Desensitisation training, darling,” Yoshino said softly, realising that Shikamaru was genuinely getting upset. “If anything, your bond is more intense after that, and you need the training more than anyone else.”

Shikamaru looked to you desperately, but you weren’t sure what else to do but grab his hand to try and comfort him. You were still out of your depth here and although it was hurting your chest to see Shikamaru distressed, surely his parents wouldn’t force him through something that he didn’t need to do.

“I refuse,” Shikamaru said bluntly. “I don’t want to.”

“You don’t get to refuse, Shikamaru,” Shikaku said, rolling his eyes. “No one likes to do it, but it’s a must for when you have duties that will separate you. You would never be able to become king without it.”

“Then I don’t want to be king!” Shikamaru said, voice raising. His hands were shaking. “I don’t want- I can’t—”

He looked at you again, and you could see his chest heaving irregularly; he was panicking. The situation was getting out of hand.

“Maybe we shouldn’t discuss this right now,” you said, reaching over to cup Shikamaru’s face to try and soothe him. Shikamaru’s hand clasped over your wrists tightly and refused to let go. “It’s alright, darling, deep breaths.”

It was clear that you weren’t succeeding in calming him down.

“Don’t leave,” he choked. His scent was so distressed it was making you feel unwell. He was spiralling completely. “Don’t leave, don’t leave me please! Please!”

“Shh, it’s okay,” you said, pushing your chair back from the table and standing up. Shikamaru followed, unwilling to let his grip on you go, stumbling in a desperate effort to keep you with him. You took him into your arms to try and he immediately buried his face into your neck, breathing harshly. “I think you’re having a panic attack, Shikamaru, you need to calm down.”

Both Shikaku and Yoshino stood as well, both looking incredibly concerned. You figured this wasn’t the normal reaction nor the reaction that they were expecting from Shikamaru.

“Son, it’s alright,” Shikaku said approaching warily. “We aren’t going to just separate you suddenly, I promise. We’re going to have a proper plan for doing this.”

That was clearly the wrong thing to say because Shikamaru pulled his face from your neck and let out a ferocious growl, staring down his parents. When it became obvious that his increasingly panicked growling wasn’t enough to keep his parents from creeping closer, Shikamaru abruptly let go of you, darted towards the table and grabbed a steak knife.

Everyone gasped as he went back over to you and stood in front of you, knife raised towards Shikaku and Yoshino. Shikamaru’s hands were shaking, and he looked completely unhinged.

“G-get away from us, you can’t take them!”

Both of his parents froze, raising their hands to try and placate him.

“Alright, darling,” Yoshino said gently. “We won’t take them, I promise.”

Shikamaru let out a haggard breath, but he didn’t bring the knife down. Yoshino made significant eye contact with you, breaking you from your horrified stupor. You were probably the only person he wouldn’t attack right now, so it was up to you to disarm him.

“Shika,” you cooed, pressing up against him from behind. “We’re okay, we’re safe, I won’t let anyone force us apart.”

You could feel the rapid beat of his heart against your chest.

“I’m going to take the knife, my love, please let me,” you whispered. Then, keeping your scent as comforting as you could you snaked a hand down his arm and wiggled the knife from his hand. He let you take it, and you threw it somewhere under the dining table so that he didn’t try to grab it again. The tension in the room dropped a little now that he was no longer armed.

Shikamaru seemed lost without the weapon. His eyes filled with tears, but before you could pull him back to you, he dropped to his knees and vomited on the floor. You stepped back automatically, but Shikamaru’s arm shot out and grabbed a handful of your shirt.

“Don’t, please, not again,” he begged between the gagging. “Please.”

Shikaku and Yoshino looked horrified. Those thirteen years had made more of an impact than previously assumed.

“I’m not going anywhere,” you said firmly, crouching down behind him and looping your arms around his waist. Your own emotions and instincts were all over the place, but you tried to push them down as much as you could.

Eventually, Shikamaru stopped being sick and leant back against you, whining, completely exhausted.

You purred so that he could feel the vibrations through your chest and then started gently rocking him back and forth.

“I—I—” he stuttered, starting to sob.

“It’s okay,” you whispered. “You’re okay. We’re okay.”

You pulled him onto your lap so that his legs were wrapped around your waist and his head was resting on your shoulder. He was crying and it broke your heart. 

Shikaku and Yoshino tentatively walked over, watching for any negative reaction. When none came, they both crouched next to you, Yoshino rubbing Shikamaru’s back.

“We’re sorry, darling,” she whispered. “We won’t take them, we promise. We didn’t know it was going to upset you like that.”

Shikamaru sniffed but didn’t reply.

“No Nara that I know of has gone through a situation like yours,” Shikaku explained, resting a hand on Shikamaru’s head. “We didn’t know that things might need to be different for you because of that. We’re sorry, Shikamaru.”

You pressed a kiss onto his head.

“Why don’t you take Shikamaru back to your room?” Shikaku suggested, standing up. “We will come and make sure he is okay tomorrow morning.”

“That’s a good idea,” you agreed. “Come on, my sweetheart, let’s get us both tucked into bed.”

[takumaswife]

My Prayer ~ Hokuto Yoshino

Word Count: 1497 words

Genre: Angst

A/N: this is my first time writing since 2014.. ive never had so much anxiety writing this..

Here is a link to the song if you wanna get the feel as you read:

This overflowing feeling

My unstoppable heart beating

You’re in front of me right now

Because I’m sure this coincidence is fate

There he was, staring at you as you stood across from him. It felt like the world had stopped, and time had froze. The way you looked so beautiful. Eyes sparkling, the brightest smile he had ever seen. He knew from that moment he was in love with you.

The warmth of our hands linked together

I don’t want to let go

I don’t want to leave you

The way your hand held his, how excited you were to tell him the great news. "What has gotten you so excited today?" Hokuto asked, his smile wide as seeing yours only brought him joy. "I finally got a date! Me and Itsuki are going on a date!" You shouted, jumping slightly as you couldn't contain your excitement. His smile slowly faded. This time, the world had stopped but not in a good way. He felt his world crashing down. The skies were turning gray and cloudy. You were so excited that you didn't even notice he wasn't smiling anymore.

When the flow of time passes by

It will pass me and you heartlessly

I just want to be by your side

That is my only wish

My prayer

It had been a year of friendship with Hokuto. A year of him being in love with you, but you were too blind to see. Everyone knew, everyone could see except for you and Itsuki. Every night, he would pray that he would get the chance to take your heart and protect it. To keep it safe and never let it get hurt again. He would do anything to have you as his.

Although seeing your gaze when you look at someone else

Hurts me

Kazuma and Makoto had talked all the members into going to a small club for the night in hopes of helping Hokuto get his mind off of you and Itsuki. However, when Hokuto had seen you two on the dance floor, bodies pressed together as a slow song played, he felt his heart break. The way you looked at his best friend with the biggest smile, eyes once again sparkling like the day you told him about the date. Oh, how he wished that was him. He wished you were looking at him like that. Your arms wrapped around his neck, his on your hips as your bodies swayed to the music in the background.

But our love for each other is more when we can’t meet

So that the bond between us

Don’t break apart

During the time you and Itsuki were dating, Hokuto would try to stay away from you to lose those feelings. But he couldn't. He couldn't lose feelings for you. You were his everything. Every time he tried to stay away, the others, along with you, would beg him to join any outings or movie nights. He couldn't say no to you, especially with those big eyes you would give him.

When the flow of time passes by

It will pass me and you heartlessly

I just want to be by your side

That is my only wish

My prayer

Two years. Two years Hokuto had watched you and his best friend spend every moment together. He would just watch when you were all together sitting around and chatting; the way you would smother the male with kisses, feed him whenever they were out eating. Everyone would cringe at the puppy love between you and Itsuki, but he didn't. He wished it was him. He wanted that.

But today was different. The letter that came in the mail. "Save The Date." The words that haunted him. The words he never wanted to see unless it was with you and him. Sitting on the edge of his bed, hands gripping his hair as he could feel a tear slipping down his cheek. The one person he was truly in love with would never be with him.

I’d give anything

And I would do everything

I’d climb the highest mountain just for one wish

Here he was, standing beside Itsuki at the altar. The best man at a wedding he wished was his. How could this happen? How could he not be man enough to tell you the truth before it was too late.

As the music started playing and the doors opened, he saw you. His heart burst at how beautiful you looked. As you made your way down the aisle, he found himself tearing up. Itsuki glanced back at Hokuto, patting his shoulder as he thought Hokuto was crying because of how close you two were. Behind Hokuto was Ryu, who frowned when he saw the tears in his eyes. Ryu was someone Hokuto found himself going to when he needed to rant or cry over you. He knew how bad Hokuto was hurting during that moment. He would do anything to be in Itsuki's place.

I’d give anything

And I would do everything

I’d swim the deepest ocean just for one wish

I wish for only one thing, To you…

Sitting there in the crowd as you and Itsuki had your first dance. It reminded him of that night in the club. The way you still had that same smile, the same sparkle in your eyes. The same looks he wished you were giving him.

When the flow of time passes by

It will pass me and you heartlessly

I just want to tell you

That I love you and you only

After taking the time to greet everyone at your wedding, you finally found yourself in front of Hokuto. Your arms wrapping around your best friend immediately. He reciprocated by hugging you tighter than he ever had before. "Are you okay?" You asked as you stepped back, noticing the hug felt different from any other time. "Y/N.. I need to tell you something.." Hokuto spoke quietly, avoiding eye contact as he grabbed your hand in his. He rubbed your knuckles as he tried to find his words.

"I-" He started but immediately stopped when he looked into your eyes. Was expressing his feelings worth destroying your friendship? Was it worth ruining your big night? Was he being too selfish? He swallowed the lump in his throat and put on a fake smile. "I'm so happy for you.." He spoke, trying his best to sound sincere. However, the crack in his voice told you differently, but you decided not to push the matter.

To you…

Before it gets too late

I just want to tell you

That I love you and you only

My prayer

The cheers roared as you and Itsuki made your way down the aisle of people towards the car that was decorated with 'Just Married' on the back. Rice being thrown in the air as the crowd celebrated the newlyweds. As they got to the car, Hokuto, along with the other members of the group, were there to give the last hugs before the couple drove off on their honeymoon.

You turned to Hokuto and gave a large smile as your arms wrapped around his neck for the last time that night. Hokuto hugged you just as tight as he did earlier, another tear slipping down his cheek and onto your shoulder. You could feel something was wrong but didn't know if you should ask at this time in front of everyone.

"Ready to go?" Itsuki turned to ask you. "Yes, darling. One second." You replied as you kept hugging your best friend. "I love you, Kuto.." you whispered softly to make your friend feel better. Hokuto's body stiffened when he heard those words. He gulped, taking a deep breath before speaking. "And I will always love you.." Hokuto replied. But you knew this wasn't an 'I love you' that you normally heard from him. This one was different. From his tone, from the hug, from the tear you felt against your skin. You knew what he meant when he said those three words.

"Let's go, baby. We have to get to the airport in an hour or we will miss our flight." Itsuki spoke softly as he rubbed your lower back. You pulled away from the hug, giving Hokuto a small smile. Leaning up, you kissed his cheek before following your love to the car. The two of you leaned out the window, waving to the cheering guest as you drove off. As the car drove further from the venue, you watched Hokuto in the sideview mirror. The sad expression he had been holding in all night. You sat back against the seat, staring out the window as Itsuki's hand rested on your thigh. All you could think about was Hokuto's words and what they meant. You knew the meaning because deep down, you always had reciprocated those exact feelings for the blonde hair boy.

[issela-santina]

so We Have A Ghost was the expansion pack I expected, spoilers abound

I liked that while the short story it was based from had focused on the perils of being social media famous, the movie focused on humanizing the ghost more in spite of the thriller and mystery tropes for kids being commonplace already

David Harbour taking on a largely non-speaking role means a lot, much more when there’s not much indication that his Randy McGovern character was a normal talker which opens up my headcanon that even in life Randy could have been situationally mute

Ernest's ghost visuals, though, make him look more angelic than ghostly: he's literally shimmering gold and often basking and bathing in the sunlight like he's divine, and judging by this I easily understand why some people would outright find him kinda hot

Black characters in much of the media I have consumed are not allowed to be total softies so I have to say I haven't consumed enough Black media but Anthony Mackie being a dad held this movie up like a spine

the fluid dynamic among the Presley family set the tone to contrast the rigid though similarly unstable dynamic among the Scheller and Yoshino folks, bonus point that Joy outright criticizes her status as the model minority that white people have weaponized Asians to be to keep Black people under their thumb 

I can pick this movie apart more, but this is what I got for now and it's only my first viewing 

[zyxelia]

Curse

Pairing: Junpei Yoshino X Female! Reader

WC: ~700

Summary: Watching someone you love pass away is a necessary part of being immortal. Nevertheless, a mystery man enters your life and reminds you to appreciate life just when you are about to close your heart to it. What a suprise! Possibly, your life will become less dull, right?

Immortality, once thought a gift, proves a curse as time passes. The word "immortal" falsely allures, hinting at a life free of death's specter. But reality differs—an immortal existence means traveling alone, helplessly watching loved ones depart, with no one to share your grief.

Fearful humanity labels the unfamiliar "monster," a daily insult as I walk among them. I retreated to a tower deep in the forest, a haven far from civilizations din.

Loneliness, my constant companion, led me to ancient books of spells and experiments recorded in journals. A fleeting distraction from the outside world, but the respite was brief. After endless trials and hypotheses, boredom returned.

What if I just slept?

Centuries or millennia drift by as I slumber in the abyss, losing track of time's passage. The tower's stone walls chill; silence reigns but for my breath and heartbeat. Once orderly books now lie beneath dusts shroud. Moonlight filters through the window, casting an ethereal glow on the overgrown plants.

Stirring from my long stillness, a distant sound emerges from the tower's heart—a man's voice, its purpose unclear. Mustering my strength, I climb the winding stairs to the base where a disheveled figure dances wildly.

"What are you doing?" I ask the trespasser.

"Why have you come?" Startled, he stumbles back as I approach. His eyes avoid mine, keeping distance between us.

"You've broken the tower wall," I note, eyeing the large breach. Chaos sprawls in its wake."I—I'm sorry," he stutters. "Forgive me, uh..."

"[Your name]."

"Sorry, [Your name]."

I study him in silence. Sensing my gaze, he extends his hand awkwardly. I return the gesture. "I'm Junpei, Junpei Yoshino"

"Junpei Yoshino? A lovely name—your parents no doubt chose it with care." He blushes at my words. "Why have you come?" I ask.

"I heard tales of a witch in the forest. Curiosity brought me to see for myself," he explains. "By damaging your home, I sincerely apologize."

"Well now, It's done, isn't?" I reply. "Now, what do you want?"

"I...wonder if I could visit you here daily?"

"... Yes, come when you like."

From then on, Junpei Yoshino came often, telling me of his life and asking about my past exploits. He happily joined my magical feats and experiments, replacing my solitude with shared laughter. Time flourished with his presence, dull days becoming vivid canvases. Silence and isolation shifted into echoes of joy and companionship.

"[Your name]," Junpei Yoshino says, gazing at the flower-strewn field. Blushing, he asks, "Will you...be my lover?" His words catch me off guard. He looks at the dandelion-covered ground, clearly nervous. Seeing him anew, he seems older than our first meeting—stronger, deeper-voiced, more mature.

Yet his kindness remains constant.

"Without doubt, Junpei Yoshino," I smile, filled with wordless happiness. A breeze stirs, tossing my hair.

"Why do you call me that? Are we still in the full name phase?"

"No, your name is just beautiful" upon hearing that, he blushes.

White dandelions sway as if dancing. Some take flight, following nature's rhythm. Junpei Yoshino grins, eyes glistening with tears. From that moment, we are bound.

But these cherished dreams reach their end. Kneeling at his tombstone in the rain, I grapple with the inevitable—he left me bereft. An ordinary human, gone, leaving me alone.

Once more, solitude prevails. Eons pass. All once living now dwell only in memory.

At dusk, the tranquil city bustles with activity. A modest bakery tempts me with its aroma, beckoning me inside. "Enjoy!" says the clerk, handing me my purchase. As I turn to leave, a familiar figure catches my eye—Junpei Yoshino sits alone by the window. Does he still bear that name? Or has he taken another?

Feeling uneasy, I approach, trying to speak his name when another voice interrupts. "Sorry for the wait, darling!" The bakery door opens with a jingle. Junpei Yoshino looks up, welcoming a woman who rushes to embrace him, saying she missed him.

"I missed you too," he chuckles, stroking her hair. "Let's sit and talk about your day." He kisses her forehead and she blushes, sitting down.

Silently I watch. His smiles, laughter, gaze—everything echoes the past.

Except now it's not for me.

I leave the bakery, walking the bustling streets alone. A serene, uninhabited hill on the city's edge draws me. At the summit, I sit beneath a tree and contemplate the sunset's orange hues. Beside me lies the bread I purchased. Closing my eyes, I inhale deeply.

"Even now, destiny weaves its whims."

[aishangotome]

Minamoto No Yoritomo: Chapter 21 His POV

Chapter 21

♡———♡

Yoritomo, leading his squad, charged down the mountain and defeated a unit of Yoshitsune's army.

Yoritomo: The path is clear! Let's head for Morinaga's squad.

Soldiers: Yes, sir!

The soldiers raised their voices in joy.

Yoshino, sitting in front of Yoritomo on his horse, also raised her voice in excitement.

Yoshino: Yoritomo-sama! We made it through...!

(She endured it well, too.)

Remembering how she didn't utter a single complaint, I wanted to praise her more.

(It's a shame I can't do that in this situation.)

Yoritomo: Yes. It went well. That is, if nothing else happens.

Yoshino: Is there a possibility of something happening?

Yoritomo: Who knows. But it's part of my job to consider the worst-case scenario.

(Otherwise, I and my retainers would end up dying in the wilderness.)

I suddenly noticed Yoshino staring at me as if she wanted to say something.

(Did she sense that I was thinking about something unnecessary?)

Reflexively, I wanted to tease her, so I grinned.

Yoritomo: What is it? You look like a dog trying to read its master's mood.

Yoshino: ...!

Yoshino's face immediately turned sullen.

Yoritomo: If you were a dog, I guess it would make sense why you're so comfortable to hug.

I looked down at Yoshino's body nestled in my arms...

Yoshino: Dogs are fluffier than me!

(What a strange way to retort.)

Amused, I ruffled Yoshino's hair.

Yoritomo: You're fluffy too when I do this.

Yoshino: ...You don't have to pat my head every time.

(To think that even her face when she barks and bites back is cute,)

(I must be quite smitten.)

As if giving up on arguing, Yoshino readjusts her hood, which had been blown by the wind.

(I have to protect her.)

I vow to myself once again, but...

(That being said, a lot of unexpected things keep happening.)

The "worst-case scenario" I didn't reveal to Yoshino, of course, included my own death.

(I have the pride of being an essential figure in the shogunate. That's why I have no intention of dying needlessly.)

But I haven't lived a life so easy that I can say with certainty that I will survive.

(Before that happens, there's something I need to tell her.)

Yoritomo: Yoshino.

I thought about how to start and then quietly called her name.

Yoshino: Yes?

Yoritomo: I'm sorry.

Yoshino's eyes widened as she turned around.

Yoshino: Um... Did you eat something bad by any chance?

Yoritomo: Of course not. What kind of response is that?

(Is it that unusual for me to apologize?)

Yoshino: It's true that it's not right to treat people like dogs, but Yoritomo-sama's harsh words are a regular occurrence, aren't they?

Yoritomo: You fool. That's not what I'm talking about.

Yoshino: Then, what is it...?

(You have no idea, do you? That's so like you.)

I couldn't help but give a wry smile at Yoshino's blinking eyes.

Yoritomo: I'm going to end up putting you through more than I expected.

Yoritomo: It was my selfishness that dragged you, who was living a peaceful and happy life, into this turmoil.

Yoritomo: I intended to take responsibility and protect your safety from the beginning, though.

(It was my fault that Yoshino had to experience pain and sorrow that she could have been spared from.)

Yoshino: ...What's wrong? It's not like you to say such things.

Yoritomo: Maybe so.

(It's precisely because of times like this that I wanted to tell you.)

(The dead can't speak, can they?)

I gently lifted the corners of my lips and touched Yoshino's cheek.

Yoritomo: Yoshino, I will make sure you return alive. ––No matter what.

It was both an apology for bringing an innocent woman to the battlefield and a testament to my affection for her.

Yoshino coughed softly, as if she couldn't bear it anymore.

Yoshino: I... I want you to live too.

Yoritomo: How cheeky.

(I'm sorry. I can't affirm those words right now.)

(I'll do my best to make sure that doesn't happen, though.)

Reluctantly, I let go of Yoshino's cheek.

(If this is our last touch, it will be a very disappointing one.)

––If I were to die, this woman would cry.

The thought of not being able to wipe away her tears sent a chill down my spine.

.

.

.

.

.

Chapter 22

If you’d like to support my translations, feel free to buy me a coffee here! :)

[ga-yuu]

-----Part 1-----

Yoshitsune: "If there is someone in this world who could pry open his heart then it would be all joy for me."

Yoshitsune: "That's why, Yoshino."

Yoshitsune: "I don't want you to take part in the Great War."

Yoshino: "Eh...!?"

Shigehira: "Yoshitsune-sama! Are you..!?"

Yoshitsune: "I'm simply giving Yoshino options."

Yoshitsune: "I know that it's not the Shogunate's style to force a weak woman into a war, right?"

Shigehira: "...."

(...If this was Yoshitsune-sama's way of making sure I don't use my demon powers against him then my response would be 'no' without any hesitation)

However, I can feel that Yoshitsune-sama's words were truly meant for Sueharu-san.

Yoshino: "I...."

Yoshitsune: "You don't have to answer right now. I want you to think carefully and....tell me your answer before you go home tomorrow."

I swallowed my words while looking at the seriousness in his eyes.

Shigehira-kun also looked at me with a questioning look but remained silent.

Yoshino: ".......Okay."

Sueharu: *sighs* ".....what is happening right now?"

Sueharu-san sighed.

Sueharu: "Whatever. Let's all have party tonight with both Yoshino and Shigehira."

Sueharu: "I bought some good sake with me too."

Yoshitsune: ".....I'm looking forward to it."

Yoshitsune-sama smiled faintly and flipped his long sleeves of his kimono to walk away.

Yoshitsune: "Benkei. Will you come with me? I have something to tell you."

Benkei: "Of course."

I watched as both of them leave.

(They're gone)

Sueharu: "He says what he wants to say and simply disappears right after. That's Yoshitsune-sama for you."

Shigehira: "Wait a minute. When you said 'lets all have a party tonight'....does that mean 'everyone' will be there?"

Shigehira-kun started fidgeting restlessly.

Shigehira: "Then that means-----"

Yoichi: "Of course, your boyfriend Yoichi-san will be there as well."

(Ah!)

Shigehira: "! I knew it..!"

Yoichi-san approached us without making a sound and smiled at Shigehira-kun.

Yoichi: "Welcome to the Rebels' mansion, young master."

And behind him was...

Kurama: "I'll be there as well. Who's going to pour me a drink?"

Sueharu: "The party hasn't started yet."

(Kurama is here as well...)

Shigehira: ".............."

The atmosphere around Shigehira-kun started changing.

I could feel my body tense up.

Yoichi: "Oh no. Can't you at least try hiding your bloodlust when we're in front of others?"

------Part 2------

Yoichi: "Oh no. Can't you at least try hiding your bloodlust when we're in front of others?"

Shigehira: "Shut up!"

(Oh yeah...Shigehira-kun and Yoichi-san has a history together. I felt it when I first met them)

Yoichi-san then looked at me casually.

Yoichi: "Hello Yoshino. I've been looking forward for your arrival here."

Yoshino: "H-Hello. Thank you for taking care of me even if its for a short period."

Kurama: "Those without power should leave right away."

(Kurama isn't welcoming at all....!)

My shoulders jumped when I felt the air around Kurama change.

Yoichi: "Come on Kurama. Sueharu brought her all the way here, so let's get along."

Kurama: "That's why I'm allowing her to come into my sight and stand close to Yoshitsune. It's because of Sueharu."

Kurama: "But there is no rule to accept her unconditionally just because she is Sueharu's companion, right?"

(Wow....how impressive. Even if he's the same species as Tamamo, this one is completely different)

Kurama: "However, Shigehira doesn't seem bad."

Shigehira: "Mm? Huh?"

Shigehira-kun reacted to Kurama in a confused manner showing no signs of fear.

Kurama: "It's rare to find someone who isn't scared of me. That murderous intent I saw right now was quite strong."

(How cool....Shigehira-kun is not afraid of Kurama at all)

Kurama: "Come Yoichi. Shigehira. You two fight the battle of death and the one, who wins by killing the other, will fight me."

Yoshino: "Wait!! You can't fight...!!"

When I hurriedly raised my voice, Kurama flashed me a glare.

Kurama: "Who are you to stop me, little puss."

(Kyaaa!!)

Yoichi: "Hell no...first of all, breaking an agreement would bring dishonor to Yoshitsune-sama."

Kurama: "...Hmph."

Sueharu: "What about fighting with wooden swords?"

Kurama: "Now you're talking."

Kurama points his finger at Sueharu-san feeling all giddy.

Kurama: "That's right. No one's gonna complain if you 'accidently die while practicing with wooden swords'."

Shigehira: "It's still a big deal."

Yoichi: *sighs* "I don't care. Just bring someone to fight in my place, will you? I just wanna go to sleep."

Shigehira: "No! Why are you escaping from this?"

Yoichi: "Who says I'm escaping? I'll simply ask Benkei to take my place."

Shigehira: "Ngh....No wait..if it's Benkei-san, maybe he will help me train..."

(Shigehira-kun is even more excited!)

Yoshino: "Shigehira-kun is too susceptible to the temptation of muscles, huh....?"

Shigehira: "What are you talking about? Of course not...!"

Yoichi: "But your eyes are sparkling."

Kurama: "Don't make me wait. Let's go."

Sueharu: "Hide your wings first."

----Part 3----

Kurama: "Don't make me wait. Let's go."

Sueharu: "Hide your wings first."

Shigehira: "Hey! Can you please stop pulling me!?"

Yoichi: *SIGHS*

Both Shigehira-kun and Yoichi-san were dragged away by Kurama.

(Ehhh....)

Sueharu: "No matter what time I come to this mansion, it's always chaos."

Yoshino: "Ah, I can see that now..."

In the blink of an eye, I was alone with Sueharu-san.

(I don't think I can calm down...)

Sueharu: "Yoshino, I'll show you your room. I'll make you some tea while we're at it too."

Yoshino: "...!? W-What?"

Sueharu: "Yep. It's decided then. Let's go."

Yoshino: "W-Wait..."

His fingers intertwined with mine and pulled me...

...........

Out of nowhere, I ended up relaxing in 'my room' with Sueharu-san again.

Sueharu: "There you go miss, your tea."

Yoshino: "Thank you..."

(I was confused at first, but they all seemed to be very hospitable)

I take a sip and exhaled.

Yoshino: "It tastes unusual."

Sueharu: "It's a tea from the Song Dynasty. If you wanna get it in Hinamoto, you have to go through me."

(This is something so precious!?)

Yoshino: "My hands are shaking..."

Sueharu: "You're exaggerating. Don't think too much about it. Come on."

As I sipped the mellow, fragrant tea, I began to relax a little more.

Yoshino: "Fufu, I never thought a day would come when I'll be drinking tea brewed by Sueharu-san."

Yoshino: "Sueharu-san's room is also in this mansion, right?"

Sueharu: "Even though I call it a room...it's not like I actually live here."

Sueharu-san rested his chin, looking somewhat awkward.

(But still)

Yoshino: "Compared to your other 'bases', this one feels different, right?"

Yoshino: "Everyone here seems to have accepted Sueharu-san as a friend."

Sueharu: *sighs*"......I don't feel very comfortable when people look at me like that."

-----Part 4-----

Sueharu: *sighs*"......I don't feel very comfortable when people look at me like that."

Yoshino: "That's unusual. Usually you're always sarcastic."

Sueharu: "Are you trying to get back at me?"

Yoshino: "....Maybe?"

Sueharu: "Hey now."

We looked at each other and smiled.

Sueharu: "Come to think of it, you're the first girl I've brought to this mansion."

(....A-Again, I feel like I'm going to be conscious when you say something like that)

Sueharu: "................"

Sueharu: "Now that I brought you here, can I push you down?"

Yoshino: "No...! Why are you like this all of a sudden!?"

I stared at Sueharu-san feeling weak.

Sueharu: "You had a strange atmosphere a while ago, and I wanted to ease it."

-----Options------

Wasn't there anything else?

I don't understand

Instead of easing...

------

Yoshino: "Again with a straight face, I don't understand."

Sueharu: "Can't you see the manly spirit in my serious face?"

Yoshino: "Is that how you impress girls around you...?"

(But)

After I replied, I suddenly asked him.

Yoshino: "Maybe the reason you're having tea with me like this is to relieve your tension?"

Sueharu: "That's one thing. But...maybe I just didn't want to be alone."

Yoshino: "Eh?"

Sueharu-san frowns as if thinking of something.

Then he slowly opened his mouth.

Sueharu: "....Actually."

Sueharu: "I don't dislike this place."

Yoshino: "....? Hm?"

(What do you mean?)

Sueharu: "Whenever I come here, I'll be always welcomed like a family. There is no one here who has filthy hostility towards me."

Sueharu: "And yet, when I immerse myself in the chaos of this mansion...there are times when I feel an irresistible stirring in my heart."

Yoshino: "Eh..."

Sueharu: "I hear voices in my mind saying 'you don't belong here'."

Yoshino: "That's.."

Sueharu: "Yeah."

Sueharu: "I know it's unnecessary of me to think something like that."

-----Part 5-----

Sueharu: "I know it's unnecessary of me to think something like that."

Sueharu-san's answer was sad, as if he was suppressing it all away.

Yoshino: "Um, Sueharu-san."

Sueharu: "....'Next time you feel uncomfortable, please talk to me properly' right?"

(Ah....)

I thought it was a trivial agreement we exchanged before coming to Hiraizumi, but Sueharu-san unexpectedly brings it back.

-----FLASHBACK-----

Sueharu: "It's true that your warmth calms me down."

Yoshino: "....That's fine. But next time, if you feel uncomfortable, please try talking."

Yoshino: "It doesn't have to be with me....if you keep your feelings inside, it will affect you both mentally and physically."

Sueharu: "It's will affect both mentally and physically huh? I see."

Sueharu: "I'll keep that in mind."

-----FLASHBACK ENDS----

Yoshino: "...I see you remembered that."

(I said that thinking that he wouldn't take it seriously)

Sueharu: "Are you underestimating a merchant's memory?"

I stare back at Sueharu-san who chuckles faintly.

Yoshino: "So are you ready to talk to me?"

Sueharu: "....yep."

Sueharu: "Yoshitsune-sama makes strange accusations against me..."

Sueharu: "But I'm actually starting to get curious as to how far I'm willing to share things to you."

Yoshino: "That's a somewhat Sueharu-san-like reasoning..."

(But whatever the circumstances, I'm glad that Sueharu-san is opening up...)

Yoshino: "If you don't mind, please tell me what's inside Sueharu-san's heart."

Sueharu: "Yeah."

Sueharu: "..Where should I start now?"

After a short silence, Sueharu-san opened his mouth.

Sueharu: "You know when I was a child, Morinaga and I fought and broke up."

Yoshino: "...Yeah."

(Morinaga-san didn't like it when Sueharu-san was stealing food and money)

(So he tried asking his parents to make Sueharu-san a servant in his house....)

(Sueharu-san rejected it vehemently)

Sueharu-san began speaking in a low voice....

Sueharu: "After I broke up with Morinaga and left town, I just couldn't help but feel miserable."

Sueharu: "Without money, you can't even be equal with a friend. I had to learn that the hard way."

Sueharu: "So I took the chance getting into a get-rich-quick scheme that just happened to come along."

Chapter 19

[scarskelly]

Open The Introduction To Dragongate by Scar The Skelly [UNAFFILIATED PART 2]

Almost there! I was going to make the Unaffiliated sections just 2 parts, but I've had to do 3, so I don't overload you.

Presentation Notes:

Genki Horiguchi

If you don’t know, Blood Generation (CIMA, Doi, Yoshino) vs Do FIXER (Kid, Genki, Saito) is possibly the most well-known match of Dragongate’s for foreign fans, getting 5 stars from Meltzer.

This freaky look included long extensions to his remaining hair and coloured contacts that made his pupils into black crosses with the rest of his eye being white. Here’s an image for reference. Extentions and contacts are elements that have continued in his look to this day, but now it’s much less eerie.

Now you may be wondering why Genki didn’t become a Jimmy like everyone else, but he actually did. Please, if you will, look closely at specifically the Gee.Mee part of his name…Gee.Mee…Jimi?

Takashi Yoshida

By varying levels of sanity, I mean it seems like sometimes he was more animalistic, and sometimes he was less animalistic. When he was a heel, it seemed he was less in touch with his human side, with his promos being complete gibberish.

Ho Ho Lun

Ho Ho would tag with Jason on numerous occasions during the Jason Lee Saga and had to deal with the antics from Z-Brats, High End and Natural Vibes just as much as Jason did. Ho Ho was pretty concerned for Jason himself, and seemed to want to help Jason out of the situation he was in, but he simply could not compete with 3 other units.

This all came to a head when Ho Ho and Jason had a singles match on the day of the Unit Decision match, which would give the group that won the chance to appeal to Jason, and he could choose to join them if he so wished. Jason had seemingly been worn down by Shun and showed the early signs of a heel turn during the match, with Jason getting the win over Ho Ho via low blow.

Ho Ho would appear on comms later in the show, audibly frustrated and saddened by the turn of events. It turned out Jason pretended to be turning to the dark side and joining Shun to trick him. To apologise for fucking with Ho Ho, Jason joined the first iteration of Kung Fu Masters.

Ho Ho is a joy on English commentary, and Jae and Ho Ho make up my favourite English commentary table in puro right now.

Punch Tominaga

Apparently, it took him so long to debut because he wasn’t a very good trainee and got in a lot of trouble with his seniors. Which is why in matches nowadays, you will witness guys like Don Fujii go after him.

Even now, when Shingo returns to Dragongate, Punch is there to be his second. They seem to be quite close even outside the ring.

Mondai Ryu

Kzy’s Mondai impression is potentially his best work.

His Luchas de Apuestas record consists of 2 matches. The first is CIMA vs Mondai in a passport vs mask match. The second is Punch Tominaga (then known as Chihiro Tominaga) vs Mondai in a hair vs entrance theme match. Both Mondai lost, but apparently, he just…didn’t unmask after the match with CIMA.

I should mention the powder here, as it is quite important. It's chalk powder that is thrown in the eyes to blind people, and has been used by almost if not all the heel units that have existed in Dragongate.

Underrated current theme song, I really like it (it’s called Naughty Guy and it’s a bop).

Is referred to by some fans by the nickname he gave himself during his time as a heel in Mad Blankey, International Problem Dragon.

Yosuke Santa Maria

I would say the most well-known exotico is Cassandro, although you may also know of Dulce Gardenia of CMLL who used to come over for New Japan’s Fantasicamania tours.

Eita and Maria were in Millennials together, but the two drifted a part due to Eita turning heel. However, when Eita was kicked out of R.E.D he was left with nobody to defend him from attacks from his former group…except for Maria that is. She came to Eita’s aid and the two began to have a relationship which…can only be described as some sort of BDSM Dysfunctional romance? There was D/S elements, hair-pulling, a little bit of humiliation and using a whip as a makeshift collar/leash?

Maria seems to be a very loyal friend. She returned this year to save Kzy because they were in Tribe Vanguard and Dragongate Generation together. She’s a sweetheart.

Maria ended up suffering two broken bones in her back due to a traffic accident which is what caused her lengthy absence.

Important to mention that Maria was the one responsible for Yasushi Santa Kandy (who has already made an appearance on Kanda’s slide) BxB Harumi and Hyosuke Santa Maria.

For a behind the scenes clip for Prime Zone she even did half of U-T’s face in her makeup (and half of her face so they mirrored each other!)

[saltwaterandstars]

Thanks for tagging me @beartrice-inn-unnir :-)

Last song: Indigo by Katherine Priddy. I love her voice and her songs. Because most people won't know her, I'm linking to the song:

Last thing I finished reading: The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim. A warm, gentle account of a group of rather unhappy, unfulfilled 1920s English women finding peace and joy on holiday in Italy

Last movie I watched: Perfect Days, the Wim Wenders film - it's so beautiful

Last TV show: We watched the first episode of A Gentleman in Moscow last night. We enjoyed it so will definitely keep going with it

Last thing I googled: the definition and description of a glimmer (the opposite of a trigger) and some examples

Last thing I ate: Porridge with banana and peanut butter

Sweet, salty, savory, or spicy: Very difficult to choose - sweet? But I like all categories of food!

Sleep: This week has been rough - averaging 5 hours a night. Usually I manage somewhere between 7 and 9 hours - 9 hours sleep a night is my happy place

Currently reading: As a physical book, I'm reading How Do You Live? by Genzaburo Yoshino. As an audiobook, Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell

Tagging (no pressure if it's not your kind of thing!) @the-forest-library @thequeerlibrarian @greenapricot as well as anyone else who’d like to 💚

[juiceboxscans]

just wanted to say thank you for your translation ♡ rwtgi is my favourite manga of all time, and i'm so glad you took on the difficult task of translating it for us since there's no simulpub. i was really resigned to having to wait for the translated volumes to release in the us and i'm just so happy yoshino and kirishima and shouma are back in my life.

i'm having surgery next week and though i'm a little nervous about it, i'm mostly just looking forward to the new chapter on monday! so thanks again for making my life a little better ♡

Hey friend-o! It is our absolute pleasure and we're so happy to hear our efforts are bringing you joy. ❤ (ɔˆз(ˆ⌣ˆc)

You made our lives better by leaving us a sweet comment! We hope your surgery goes well and your recovery is quick and painless. (´꒳`)♡

Speaking of surgery, remember this Pixiv sketch? We're still cracking up about it years later. (￣▽￣)

[lgbtqmanga]

New Releases Mar. 14, 2023

Be My Love, My Lord by Adumi Nagano

This is a world where humans keep beasts and beasts obey humans. Born as the second son of a well-known family, the lonely Reiji has always had his beastman servant, Tsubaki, as irreplaceable presence since he was a child.

But one day his feelings turn to love, and Reiji playfully kisses Tsubaki, which invites his bestial lust. His sharp bite overflows with his own repressed feelings, but comes with a dark realization; they are different races, different castes. Can they overcome these hurdles and embrace their love?

The Dragon's Betrothed vol. 1 by Meguru Hinohara

Troubled writer Chiharu Izunome reluctantly returns to his rural hometown, hoping some R & R will refresh his creative juices. Instead of finding respite, he’s quickly entangled by an old promise to wed a local god!

Rin, the water dragon god to whom Chiharu has been betrothed, can be disarmingly friendly and charming, but inside lurks an animalistic ferocity. Can Chiharu escape Rin’s protective embrace, or is his fate already written?

Golden Sparkle by Minta Suzumaru

Himaru Uehara’s first year of high school is off to a good start, minus one problem - he keeps having "especially intense" dreams. With only his mom and sister at home - and having skipped health class in middle school - he thinks it means there’s something wrong with him. Thankfully, a new friend has just the remedy and teaches Himaru exactly how to deal with those pesky dreams! But his solution only leads to more confusion, and the two find themselves navigating feelings they’ve never felt before.

I Didn't Mean to Fall in Love by Minta Suzumaru

Inexperienced Yoshino is about to turn thirty. He’s nearly given up on ever falling in love, let alone having decent sex—until one day he steels himself and goes to a gay bar. There he meets Rou, a charming, silver-haired college student who is everything that Yoshino isn’t: mysterious, assertive, and experienced with both men and women. Yoshino finds himself hopelessly attracted to Rou, as their awkward courtship simmers into something more. But is it love?

JOY vol. 2 by Etsuko (digital only)

JOY is back with a heart-tugging, yet happy and powerful squeal from Etsuko-sensei! Straight shojo manga artist Goh Okazaki and 4-panel illustrator Yusuke Akune finally made it official and became a couple. Their lovey-dovey days show no signs of stopping, but Goh has a rather unusual problem in the bedroom... “I should be happy, so why?” Meanwhile, Yusuke’s ex and old flame, Hibiki finds a special someone. Their romance takes an unexpected turn when Goh and Yusuke get involved. Will they manage to find true happiness?!

Thousand Autumns: Qian Qiu vol. 1 (novel) by Meng Xi Shi 

Yan Wushi, leader of the demonic Huanyue sect, is a master cultivator, a brilliant strategist, and an incurable cynic. In his philosophy, every human heart is ruled by cruelty and selfishness. Anyone who believes otherwise is either a liar or a fool.

Enter the humble Shen Qiao, leader of the Daoist sect at Xuandu Mountain. He is both gracious and charitable, and exactly the type of do-gooder that Wushi despises.

When Shen Qiao suffers a shocking loss in a duel and is left for dead, Yan Wushi happens upon him and concocts a plan to teach him about the wretchedness of humanity. He’ll take Shen Qiao under his wing, test the limits of his faith, and lure him into demonic cultivation. After all, it is easy to remain righteous atop a mountain peak that touches the heavens. But a thousand autumns toiling on the blood-soaked earth will break any man.

The Seven Seas English-language editions of these novels will feature the uncensored text in deluxe paperbacks with exclusive new covers and interior illustrations. The ebooks will also be available on digital platforms.