#kyudou

[yoshikoooo]

Tsurune: Fujiwara shuu x Reader.

shuu x reader.

The tranquil sound of the night and released arrows filled the entire dojo. The soft and melodic sound you always hear and longed or maybe... loath for everyday ranged through your ears. In the middle of the blissful night there you were shooting your nine thousand and ninety-eight shot.

‘Fwip’

Applying every knowledge you learned from your grandfather and past experiences, really showed its result as you landed your arrow at the middle of the target. A profound sense of accomplishment washes over you as you stand there, silently contemplating the significance of this achievement.

'Kyudo... Kyudo... Kyudo..?'

With a heavy heart, you confront the forbidden recollections that threaten to engulf you. Each memory is a double-edged sword, carrying the weight of past triumphs and defeats alike. As you gaze upon the target, the turmoil within you becomes palpable, manifesting in the trembling of your hands and the turmoil in your eyes.

To an onlooker, it might seem as though you're battling an invisible force—a caged banshee struggling against the constraints of its own existence. Every fiber of your being is stretched taut, bound by threads of emotion that seem to have no end.

In that moment, you realize that kyudo is not merely a physical discipline—it is a journey of self-discovery, a quest to confront the demons that lurk within. And as you stand there, grappling with your inner turmoil, you understand that true mastery lies not in hitting the target, but in finding peace amidst the chaos of the mind.

'One more... just one more.. and It'll all end'

  You made up your mind as you snapped from your thoughts to get your bow to continue. 10,000 shots for a Wish.

An oath. A promise. A will.

before you could even continue, A figure outside the dojo was seen. A silhoutte of a tall man with loose hair.

As you watch, anticipation coiling within you, the figure steps closer to the source of light, revealing loose strands of brown hair framing a face illuminated by the gentle glow.

Your breath catches in your throat as the figure's large purple eyes meet yours, sending a shiver down your spine. In that moment of profound connection, a name escapes your lips, whispered softly into the stillness of the night.

“Fujiwara...Shuu..san” 

He was the one everyone idolized at school, the one whose mere presence seemed to command attention and admiration. But for you, he remained an enigma—a distant figure glimpsed from afar, yet never truly known.  So what was your relationship with him? A classmate, A teammate? A Friend..? but nonetheless he felt like a stranger to you. 

“Y/n san, Good evening” 

His deep, melodic voice seems to cut through the chaos that had enveloped you moments before, offering a brief respite from the tumult of your thoughts.

Summoning a smile, you decide to take the initiative, breaking the silence that hangs between you like a heavy curtain. It's clear that he's not one to dominate the conversation, leaving you to steer its course with your own words.

“Hmm, What is the prince doing at saionji sensei’s dojo at this godly hour?” 

you inquire, injecting a playful lilt into your voice. The weight that had hung over you moments ago dissipates, as if it were nothing more than a fleeting illusion.

Shuu's chuckle dances through the air like a gentle breeze, drawing your attention to the enigmatic figure before you. His gaze meets yours, and you can't help but tilt your head in curiosity, captivated by the subtle shifts in his expression.

"Saionji Sensei had me run an errand that ended up taking longer than expected," he explains, his voice carrying a hint of apology. "But I found myself drawn here, captivated by the sound of your tsurune."

His words are accompanied by a familiar smile, one that he seems to offer effortlessly to those around him. Despite his sincerity, you can't help but inwardly cringe at his straightforwardness, though you respond with a soft giggle.

"You flatter me," you reply, your smile unwavering as you deflect the compliment. "If that's the case, perhaps you should hurry back to Saionji Sensei before she falls asleep. It's quite late already."

You offer the suggestion with a gentle brush-off, hoping he'll take the hint.

“That I should.. Then Please excuse me..” 

he responds with a slight bow, his departure signaling the end of your brief encounter. You watch in silence as he makes his way out of the dojo, his figure gradually fading into the darkness beyond.

With his departure, the smile on your face begins to falter, replaced by a weariness that settles deep within your bones. The moon hangs overhead, casting its ethereal glow upon the world below, a silent witness to the turmoil that churns within your soul.

"Tired... I'm so tired,"

With a resigned sigh, you straighten your posture and adjust your grip on the bow, steeling yourself for one final effort.

“One more shot...” 

“Just one more..”

As you attempt to fix your form, you're suddenly overcome by a sensation of unease. Your body begins to tremble uncontrollably, sending a shiver down your spine. With a startled gasp, you drop the bow once again, collapsing to your knees in the dimly lit dojo.

"I'm shaking pretty badly," you mutter to yourself, your voice barely above a whisper as you struggle to regain control of your trembling limbs. Panic threatens to overtake you as you frantically search for an explanation for your sudden physical reaction.

Could it be hunger, you wonder, your mind grasping for any rational explanation. But deep down, you know that this tremor isn't the result of a skipped meal. It's something else entirely, something primal and instinctual that defies logic.

Taking in a shaky breath, you attempt to calm the racing of your heart, forcing yourself to focus on the rise and fall of your chest. Slowly, gradually, the trembling begins to subside, leaving you drained but determined to press on.

The cold embrace of the night air wraps around your frail body like a whispered plea, urging you to seek shelter and warmth. But you refuse to heed its call, not when you're so close to achieving your goal.

You clenched your jaw as you turn your gaze back to the target, willing yourself to push past the tremors that course through your body. Each shake sends ripples of doubt and fear coursing through your veins, but you refuse to let them hold you back.  

‘no... not now...I just need 1 more... just 1 more!’

‘thud‘ 

you lash out, your fist connecting with the unforgiving wooden floor. Pain shoots through your hand, a sharp reminder of your own vulnerability. But you refuse to yield, gritting your teeth as you try to reign in the storm of emotions threatening to engulf you.

"Calm down... calm down... calm down..." you chant, the words tumbling from your lips like a desperate plea. Each repetition is a lifeline, a tether anchoring you to reality as you struggle to regain control.

But the bow remains just out of reach, mocking you with its proximity. Your hands tremble violently, betraying your inner turmoil, as you fight to grasp it once more.

“It’s not beautiful enough... Repeat!” 

“You have no time mopping the floor, get up!” 

The words echo through your ears, a reminder of the expectations placed upon you, both by others and by yourself. You can feel the weight of his disappointment bearing down on you, driving you to push past the pain and the fear.

But as the tears blur your vision and the sting of emotion threatens to overwhelm you, you can't help but wonder if you're losing your grip on reality. Madness seems to loom on the horizon, a specter taunting you with its proximity.

“Y/n...san?” 

you're pulled back to reality by a soft and familiar voice echoing in the darkness. Relief floods through you as you draw a shaky breath, your chest rising and falling with the rhythm of newfound calm.

Slowly, you turn towards the source of the voice, your gaze meeting his familiar purple pupils. His presence is like a beacon of light in the midst of the darkness, offering solace and reassurance in a moment of profound vulnerability.

You watch as his soft features contort into a frown of concern, his brows furrowing as he approaches you with cautious steps. There's a tenderness in his demeanor, a gentle sincerity that washes over you like a wave, banishing the lingering shadows of fear and doubt.

“Y/n san... Do you feel unwell...?”

His voice, though soft as usual, carries a hint of uncertainty, and his eyes betray a flicker of sorrow.

You try to respond, to articulate the turmoil raging within you, but the words catch in your throat like a fish struggling against the current. Frustration wells up inside you, manifesting in the tight balling of your fists until your knuckles turn white. You can't bear to face him, feeling utterly pathetic in your vulnerability.

‘confiding into someone like the prince is so pathetic.. He surely won’t understand..”

Conflicting thoughts swirl in your mind like a tempest, each one more damning than the last. You can't help but feel that confiding in someone like him, someone who seems to effortlessly embody talent and grace, is an act of weakness. After all, unlike you, he was born with innate abilities that set him apart from the rest.

‘Damn it.. I’m.. so disgusting’ the word heavy with self-loathing. How could you dare to think so poorly of yourself? How could you let such toxic thoughts poison your mind?

But even as you chastise yourself, you can't shake the feeling of inadequacy that gnaws at your insides. It's a vicious cycle, a spiral of doubt and despair that threatens to consume you whole.

You feel the chill of his hand against your fevered forehead, a stark contrast to the heat that radiates from your flushed skin. With a sense of resignation, you lift your gaze to meet his, finding his face mere centimeters from yours.

"You seem to have a fever, Y/n san," he says, his voice carrying a note of concern. "I think you should rest for today."

As he withdraws his hand, you find yourself caught in the intensity of his gaze. There's a seriousness in his expression, tempered by genuine concern, that touches something deep within you. Despite your instinct to retreat, you can't help but feel a glimmer of gratitude for his kindness.

Feeling defeated and vulnerable, you look away once more, your gaze falling to the ground as you struggle to compose yourself. With a shaky breath, you attempt to gather your thoughts, to find the words that have eluded you thus far.

"No..." you begin, your voice wavering slightly as you reject the suggestion of going home. You can't ignore the way his brow twitches in concern, a silent acknowledgment of the gravity of your situation.

But even as you speak the word, you can't help but feel a pang of guilt gnawing at your insides. The weight of his unspoken worry hangs heavy in the air, a reminder of the burden you're placing on those around you.

You watch as his expression shifts, his concern mingling with frustration at your stubbornness. It's clear that even the spoiled prince recognizes the stupidity of overworking oneself to the point of destruction.

For a moment, silence hangs between you, thick with unspoken words and unresolved tension. You can feel the weight of his gaze upon you, a silent plea for you to reconsider.

"Saionji Sensei told me that you've been here since dawn," he begins, his voice tinged with a mixture of concern and frustration. "Breaking your own body just for the sake of archery is not something I would recommend, as an archer myself."

His words hang heavy in the air, a stark reminder of the toll your relentless pursuit of perfection has taken on your physical and mental well-being. You can feel the weight of his gaze boring into you, a silent accusation of your stubbornness and recklessness.

Yet, despite the gravity of his words, you remain rooted in place, your eyes fixed on the target before you. The arrows embedded within it serve as a testament to your determination, each one a marker of the sacrifices you've made in your quest for mastery.

"I... I know," you admit, your voice barely above a whisper. His expression softens, a silent understanding passing between you.

As the cool breeze continues to drift through the dojo, you finally gather the strength to speak, the words tumbling from your lips in a hesitant whisper. Your energy slowly returns, the fog in your mind lifting ever so slightly as your vision clears and the lightheadedness begins to fade.

"Hey... what if you found kyudo to be the main source of your pain, yet you can't find a good reason to stop since it's something deeply attached to your heart?" you begin, your voice betraying a vulnerability that you've kept hidden for far too long.

You pause, gathering your thoughts as you meet his gaze, locking eyes with him as the wind gently tousles his loose brown hair. His purple eyes hold a depth of understanding that both comforts and unsettles you, a silent witness to the inner turmoil that plagues your soul.

"What would you do?" you continue, your voice barely above a whisper. The weight of the question hangs heavy in the air, a reflection of the existential crisis that has consumed your every waking moment.

His reaction is subtle yet profound, his demeanor shifting slightly as he processes the gravity of your inquiry. You can see the gears turning in his mind, a silent acknowledgment of the seriousness of the situation.

For a moment, the dojo is enveloped in silence, the only sound the gentle rustle of the wind outside. And then, finally, he speaks, his voice steady and measured.

"I would listen to my heart," he says, his gaze unwavering as he meets your tired, empty eyes. "If kyudou may be a source of pain, but it's also a part of who you are. Only you can decide if the pain is worth the passion it brings."

His words resonate within you, stirring something deep within your soul. For the first time in what feels like an eternity, you feel a glimmer of hope flickering to life within you.

‘Listening to your heart...’  It sounds simple enough, but in reality, it's a daunting task. Your heart is a labyrinth of desires and fears, a maze of conflicting emotions that often lead you astray.

But as you stand there, locked in his gaze, you find yourself drawn to the truth in his words. Kyudo may be a source of pain, but it's also a source of passion and purpose—a part of you that refuses to be ignored.

With a newfound sense of clarity, you take a deep breath, letting the weight of your burdens fall away, if only for a moment. The wind whispers through the dojo, carrying with it a sense of possibility and renewal.

"Thank you," you say softly, your voice barely a whisper amidst the stillness of the night. "I needed to hear that."

He nods, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. There's a warmth in his eyes, a silent reassurance that you're not alone in this journey.

As your gaze shifts to the arrows embedded in the target, a newfound clarity washes over you, illuminating your path forward. The weight of the world seems to lift from your shoulders as you come to a decision.

"I guess I can continue it tomorrow," you mumble softly to yourself, your smile genuine and free from the facade you've worn for so long. In that moment, the world seems to shift, offering you a glimpse of a future filled with possibility and promise.

Shu's smile mirrors your own as he extends his hand towards you, a silent offer of support and companionship. Without hesitation, you reach out and take it, a sense of gratitude swelling within you as you lock eyes with him once more.

"I can drop you off," he says, his voice warm and reassuring. Before you can decline, he continues in a joking tone, "I would get scolded if I let a sick person like you get home on your own, right?"

His playful remark catches you off guard, eliciting a chuckle from deep within your chest. It's a side of him you hadn't seen before, a glimpse of the warmth and humor that lies beneath his cool exterior.

"You're really interesting, Fujiwara-san,"

[redsamuraiii]

My Happy Marriage (Ep 9)

They worry about each other too much that they hurt themselves in the process. 😫

Damn you, Tsuruki! 😡

[cherrraty]

SCREAMS

okay prepare for a terminally lengthy infobarf about historical japan and my ocs guys.

Momoyama Period OC info post below the cut

Setting:

okay its probably kind of easy to guess based on their label but these OCs were specifically placed in the Azuchi-Momoyama period (~1570-1600 C.E. Japan). the rationale behind this is that i wanted to write something placed in historical japan but didnt want to use the Edo period because i felt like it was overdone. this led to a long arduous process of realizing that by aiming to write about an era that was NOT overdone, i was dooming myself to painful and ridiculously specific google searching. (i seriously had to go on google scholar.)

geographically i have made no real choices, other than them probably being somewhere in honshuu rather than hokkaido or something.

Characters (Family names first, im not a hooligan):

川野樹月（弧奇）　Kawano "Koki" Kizuki: Age 16ish, Kizuki was left at Hidaka's dojo when he was very small, his mom died or whatever. he's pretty sure he grew up on a farm. the other boys at the dojo are not a huge fan of Kizuki, dubbing him "Koki," comprised of characters that basically mean "lonely and unusual". Kizuki is selectively mute. He is also fiercely motivated and outperforms most of his peers, gaining him a reputation as a teacher's pet. He frequently works himself to the bone and is the only student to spar one-on-one with the dojo master, because he's crazy. Also, he's left handed! The scar on his forehead is from Rikitarou accidentally hurling a rock right at his face when they first met.

山田力太郎　Yamada Rikitarou: 17 year old normal guy. One of the only people who was nice to Kizuki, and one of the only people Kizuki can speak to. Rikitarou is the son of a (second rate) samurai, and is very unbiased about samurai therefore (think about the reaction rich people have when you call them rich. its like that). good natured guy, absolutely sweeps at archery. youd think hed do some more melee type martial art because hes built like a brick shithouse but hey man. those bows are huge. he has also known Yumi for a long time, since they were kids. if he existed in the modern era he would be the designated drink holder for his six lesbian best friends at the bar.

日高ゆみ　Hidaka Yumi: 15 year old daughter of a daimyo (feudal lord) with the chip in her shoulder to prove it. number one member of the "Girl with Rabies" club. shes stuck up, has hair thats just slightly outdated, and isnt used to hearing no. Yumi wants desperately to train at the dojo and learn martial arts, but her father said no. she's convinced that if she had the chance, she's run the place. she's snuck in on several occasions and conducts solo training sessions frequently. she is absolutely terrifying, and the only thing stopping her from sweeping the whole dojo is her lack of weapons access, and not liking her clothes dirty. Rikitarou and Kizuki take her fully seriously, Genta is getting there, the hard way.

飯田源太（喜平・崔内）Iida Genta (Yoshihira / Saichi): Grown ass man. formerly a spy for Hidaka Saburou, he stopped working for him, started working for another guy, was a mercenary for a while, and then started teaching at Hidaka Saburou's dojo when the previous master came across some misfortune (died. lmao). Formerly, the dojo only taught Iaido, and Saburou taught Kyudou (archery). Genta is a freak martial arts prodigy, so now the dojo has like a billion different sects and he's teaching all of them. Genta is missing his right arm, forcing him to wield a sword in his left, which hasnt hampered him too badly. His haircut makes Yumi compare him to a sea urchin often. Genta is half Ainu on his mother's side. theres rumors going around the dojo that hes some kind of trained assassin.

日高三郎　Hidaka Saburou: Technically not the worst megalandlord that you can imagine. An old friend and then boss and then enemy and now begrudging employer of Genta, Hidaka Saburou owns the dojo and technically most to all of the students in it. loves his daughter but you know landlords can love their daughters and still be terrible people, so who cares.

On names:

around this period, names worked a little differently. there were clan names (reserved mostly for court nobles and samurai), surnames (usually toponymic), and (for men) like three given names ((childhood names, adult names, and usage names) (god hates me)).

even though theyre probably old enough to be considered of age for adult names, i'm choosing to let kizuki and rikitarou be not considered of age right now, though if you look at the doodle above you can see what their adult and used names would be.

actual given names were not generally used in adulthood, instead the used/usage (? i forgor) name was used, which is why Genta's actual given name, Yoshihira, is in parenth alongside his childhood name, Saichi.

As far as im aware, girls didnt really get adult names and usually had bisyllabic names, so i didnt have to change yumi when i was adapting these ocs from their original more fantasy setting (although i opted to ditch her kanji in favor of writing her name only in kana, for historical reasons. it was originally 裕美, as you can see in the above art).

also, tangentially related, but you might (if youre familiar with the language) notice im making very little effort to make these characters speak in archaic japanese. this is on purpose. i thought it was a little funny for them to speak in contemporary/modern japanese. i might use older expressions for effect but im probably not diving all the way into that. for my sanity. and also because it makes me giggle.

source is this reddit comment and also literally just wikipedia i cant accurately source a lot of my knowledge because it was done in a fugue state at two am but i do have this reddit thread.

Story (Kind of):

This is where things get dicey! i have story beats but since i really wanted to incorporate some fantastical elements in this and not literally make historical fiction, im a little stuck on what to do. ive gotten some fun suggestions but theyve all been a little too shounen-y to be my style. im aware i spent a hell of a lot of time researching history just to not want to write cut and dry historical fiction but what can i say i like a bit of sparkle whish woosh.

UMMM INSANE DOODLE DUMP

hey just occurred to me that ive been drawing a shitload the last few days and havent posted anything my bad.

it would take me entirely too much time (my hands are too cold to type) to explain the background of these ocs so i wont. unless literally anyone asks. anyways throws these at you.

[jocatsidy]

Kyudou Rabbit 3/24/2020

[kaelula-sungwis]

kyudou Tournament by Nishi Drew

[cantillat-moved]

TEN Q’S:

1. when are you usually online? I’m mostly active at nights throughout the week. I have two jobs, one of them from home so once I finish a batch I can do a quick tumblr check up during the evening, but I also got another one at a physical location (I actually came back a few moments ago). I’m also free mostly at weekends, that is when I usually try to catch up with drafts, rps on discord and other stuff (including some gaming). Still, I’m easy to reach on discord at any time. If I’m awake or not at the job that requires my physical presence I can check and get to you as soon as I’m able to.

2. what verses are you involved in outside of this page? I have a bunch of AUs for Shirou, mostly focused on “routes”. He is a visual novel protagonist and his story varies with which partner he gets involved with, right? I got a few of these. I’m also working with @moonlightmagus a fairy Yuuki and knight Shirou which is the most “out there” one. Some of my partners are interested on my older muses so I’m considering “reviving” a few for something simpler. There was also a quick custom grail war with some friends from outside tumblr, it was great fun. Maybe we’ll do it again some other day, or maybe I could organize one and have an open invitation. I also have a few RPs going on with some old friends from before my tumblr days (we have a “campaign” with OCs in a Final Fantasy X setting that has been going on for 15 years on and off). I’m always open for AUs either here on tumblr or discord. There is something cozy about doing a 1x1 with people. 

3. what is your biggest RP pet peeve? I’m usually very chill about rp partners. It is very hard to get under my skin, but I think the worst offender is not communicating. It is ok to don’t know what to reply reply, feel free to contact me any time so we can brainstorm and maybe have an idea or two and either go from there or maybe move it somewhere else! There are always so many possibilities. Or jump to the next scene. If you are having trouble to understand my reply or if I wrote something that didn’t sit well with you, I won’t get upset if you tell me. I’ll actually be grateful to know your boundaries better and keep it in mind for the next time! Same goes for headcanons or anything really. Writing is a collaborative thing and I’m not here to make anyone uncomfortable or to throw curveballs (unless you want a challenge in writing, of course) And if it seems that I have dropped, maybe either tumblr ate it or my brain short-circuited or something. Feel free to message me. 

4. are you drawn to specific types of muses? I think I have a very eclectic assemble of muses for the most part. I got good beans, cynical assholes, cute mascots, ordinary teenage girl, Dracula… I just write what I vibe with and sometimes I have the mood to write something or another. But I do admit that I’m usually attracted to either brood or sass (or both). I admit the latter there is a fine line between sass and asshole and I try my best to don’t cross that line.

5. are there recurring themes in your writing that people might not notice? Hmmm… It depends on the source material. For example, Narukami’s story is about bounds and connecting with people, discovering oneself and moving throughout the fog – that, in this particular case, are falsehoods and illusions in our lives among the mish-mash of information overload, rumors and other circumstances. Shirou and FSN in general is about loneliness, the desire to connect with others, to pretend to be “normal” while dealing with being alone and struggling with the mental traumas. Also the concept of what is inherently “good” or “evil”. Oh, but I also try to incorporate a lot of philosophy from kyudou and Buddhism in general to his way of life in subtle ways. And, of course, how the way he grew up also makes him misread people – and that also leads people to think he isn’t too bright (he is mostly oblivious tho). I’ve always been big on meta analysis and he gives me plenty of opportunity of doing it in a coveted way to enrich my writing. The tl;dr is that it really depends on the muse and it makes me very happy when people mention in private things they notice. 

6. what are your favorite RP trends? I love the incorrect quote meme, and the “x has appeared” is always a recipe for some fun things going on. Having a pinned post with easy access to rules and info in general is always nice too, the pinned post was one of the best things that tumblr ever implemented just saying. And … Uh… I like the backquotes thingie. I think it is neat. (and it also seems to make the tumblr wonky mobile formatting less frequent).

7. what is your process for starting a new story with someone?  The easiest way to start a new story with someone are memes, as they offer easy ice breakers and sometimes interesting scenarios that I wouldn’t be sure that my partner is interested in. As in it would never cross my mind to even ask because it wouldn’t be something in our radar, you know? Another way, of course, is DMing and gushing over our muses. Some of my usual partners can attest to that. I also love unpromted asks, even if sometimes I’m slow as molasses to get to them.

8. how do you feel about duplicates? I usually don’t mind duplicates for my muse. I actually had fun twin verses with other muses! Like how Air ( @venusbeautyshock ) and I had a Hajime and Izuru twins AU for Danganronpa, and how Kay ( @mistermxrgan ) and I had two Bigby Wolf from The Wolf Among Us/Fables just meme-ing around and being two gruff wolves tired with everybody’s shit. It is always so interesting to read the different takes and , of course, meeting with someone with good taste is also a positive! However! I did have a very bad experience not too long ago with someone interacting with me, then ghosting me after making a duplicate and stealing my headcanons. If I have become less prone to share resources for the muses I’m currently RPing as, that’s why.

9. how long have you been involved in roleplaying? On tumblr I started in 2013, but in general since 1997-ish with Vampire the Masquerade, GURPs and the 2nd and 3rd editions of dnd. And then online around 2000-2001.

10. is there a muse or verse you wish you could write in, but haven’t? Right now I’m pretty satisfied. I have a few wishlists for my muses but not anything extremely specific or that I hasn’t been planning or about to start with someone.  Maybe something Star Wars? I think it is the only big thing I hasn’t dipped my toes yet. 

ᴛᴀɢɢᴇᴅ ʙʏ: @more-than-a-princess ᴛᴀɢɢɪɴɢ: @ryogai , @lyriccl , @xdcwntherabbithole , @pcrdiseseekers , @moonlightmagus , @sparklymuses , @maledicti-oculi , @chainedbystories , @failinaut , @lunaetis​ , @capravulpes​ , @tricksheart​ , @luckynatured​ , @gamenu​ , @lachrymosestorm​ , @of-omnitrixes-and-servants​ and you

[fu--dan--shi]

in the Unlimited Blade Works route, Day 4, scene: Archery Range Shooting (the scene you get if you choose to stay at the archery range after giving Taiga her food), Shirou and Ayako Mitsuzuri have a really interesting discussion about archery that in a subtle way (but still kinda obvious, especially in hindsight) really delves into Shirou's character and his inner workings. Anime-only-fans often jokingly mentions Shirou's association with the archery club as the reason for his class as a servant, or think its seriously the reason but discard it as being "not reason enough", but the way Mitsuzuri and Shirou both point to the inner, philosophical/psychological aspects of Kyudou, and how similar Shirou's approach to magic is to his approach to archery, take that proposition of "that's why he fits Archer class" and make it much deeper and more interesting and satisfying.

Also (i might be stating the obvious here but) it seems to me that Nasu borrows concepts from Buddhism into both magic and archery in Fate. However there's a very good chance that those Buddhist concepts already are ingrained in Kyudou and I'm just not knowledgeable enough about either Kyudou or Buddhism to see the connection between them as obvious.

[alectoperdita]

What inspired your archery/basketball fic? What’s college au Kaiba’s favorite class? Least favorite class? Jounouchi’s?

I've always been a fan of archery/kyudou. Really like characters like Kagome and Kikyou from Inuyasha or Doumeki from xxxHOLIC. A while before that fictober I had also watched Tsurune, which is an archery sports anime. And because I have to make everything about my OTP, I thought it would be really neat to have Kaiba as an archer too. While I could have also put Jounouchi on the archery team, I thought basketball was a better fit for his character. Plus, that also allows Kaiba to ogle Jounouchi's biceps and calves. 👀 I didn't want to put them into a high school AU, so a college AU it was!

In this AU, Kaiba's favorite class is computational chemistry, and his least favorite is analytical chemistry. He generally doesn't mind lab work, but analytics is where is crosses the boundary into being boring for him.

As for Jounouchi, his favorite so far (given that he's a first-year in the fic) is sociology. Least favorite is and probably will continue to be political science.

[ultraviolet-ink]

Ooh, a new shipping questions meme, eh? Could I get, uhhhhhhhhh

18, 23, 41 and 51 for Baroryuu? 6, 24, 37, and 69 for RyuuSu?

Ohhh!! good questions!! :D BaroRyuu 18-Which of the two is the most gullible? Not gonna lie, my first instinct was going to say Ryuu because of how much Sholmes messes around with him, but I think it would be hilarious if it was actually Barok XD He's just socially stunted, and maaayyybe Ryuu says it's a tradition to give him a kiss on his forehead (ﾉ´ з `)ノ 23-Which of the two would you rather team up with for a game of laser tag? Ryuu, my boy has Kyudou skills, so he has to have a pretty good aim XD 41-Who’s the most self-aware? I feel like it would be Ryuu mostly because we hear his internal monologue, maybe to the point of being HYPER-aware. Barok would just get all the lovey dovey feelings and think he has a heart attack or something XD 51-Who overthinks the most? ALSO Ryuu, he thinks so much that he mumbles out loud lol! RyuuSu 69-Who’s the most likely to hurt the other’s feelings unintentionally? Susato seems really blunt, so I think she might say the first thing that popped up and not realize the implications. She literally told Ryuu to yeet her for all the times she wrongly accused him of murder lol, so I think she would immediately try to apologize when she realizes she did something wrong Prompts here

[handicappedwriter]

魔王を黙れ! (Shut Up Demon King! / Maō o damare!)

A reverse harem concept but it's like a harem.

Summary: In a world where everyone's position in the world is based around the year you were born in. There are three types of years: King, Queen, and Knight. Aki (MC) was a king born in a yakuza family. She just moved to a new school due to some 'family incident', there she immediately gained the nickname 'Demon King' due to her sharp tongue and tendency to refuse Queens' advances. But with her family (her mother more specifically) constantly urging her to "Find a wife and get married already!" she needs to learn to hold herself back if she wants to make friends/find a Queen.

Okay, terrible summary done. Now meet the cast:

Aki

VA: WIP

King

Born to a yakuza family.

Knows how to fight. 

Is mean to her harem, she says things like: You are not that pretty. Are you that low in self esteem that you need confirmation from a pervert? Fuck off slut.

Even though she is mean she is actually quite chivalrous, she has saved her harem from many situations. She is only mean because queens won't stop bothering her.

Only has two friends, a childhood friend who lives next door and another king she befriended at the new school.

Now for the Harem Boys 

Haru

VA: Takahiro Sakurai

Queen

Fruit/Flower Associated: Plum, Plum Blossom.

MC saves him from bullying when they were kids and they've been friends ever since.

Acts like Aki's wife. Cleans her room and makes her bento everyday.

Cherry (chan)

VA: Sato Takuya

Queen

Fruit/Flower Associated: Cherry, Cherry Blossom.

The tallest in the group. By 1 cm from Aki.

The school's idol. 

Attention seeker.

One time Aki said he wasn't that pretty, he despise her ever since.

After his arc he became slightly more fond of her and became Aki's first follower (but he still doesn't forget their first meeting).

Kendo Club.

Angsty background??? 

Ichigo (chan)

VA: Nobuhiko Okamoto

Queen

Fruit/Flower Associated: Strawberry, Rhododendron.

Cherry's best friend.

Cute and mysterious.

Follows Cherry in becoming Aki's follower.

Kazuya

VA: Tomoaki Maeno

Queen

Fruit/Flower Associated: Melon, Amaryllis.

The popular Queen in school.

Likes to date a lot of Kings and break their hearts.

Aki rejects him and he went berserk because HE HAS NEVER BEEN REJECTED BEFORE F YOU AKI!

After his arc he became Aki's follower too. (But he's still mad at her though).

Kyudou Club, best aim out of all members.

Yurihiko

VA: Hiroshi Kamiya

Queen

Fruit/Flower Associated: Pomegranate, White Lily.

Smartest student in class.

Has an annoying brocon big sister.

His arc is about him being Aki's tutor.

Diligent student by day, prostitute at night. (Sister doesn't know about this).

Other cast members:

Mai

VA: WIP

King

Was the only one willing to get close to MC. 

"We are friends now, I decide it, no getting out of it!"

Energetic and a pervert. 

The harem boys (and many queens) finds her gross.

Akira

VA: WIP

King

Yurihiko's annoying brocon big sister.

School's infamous delinquet.

Hates Aki because she thinks she's tainting her little brother's innocence.

Her and Yurihiko are orphans.

Oh yes, and everybody in the cast can fight to some extent.

[redsamuraiii]

My Happy Marriage (Ep 9)

You know the anime is so good when you hate a character so much that you want reach into the screen and grab him by the collar. 😡

[100wordanime]

Emotions Run High This Week And Are Handled Beautifully

Emotions Run High This Week And Are Handled Beautifully - Tsurune Episode 10 Review

Tsurune Episode 10 Review

Reminder: the poll is now open for you to vote on the best and worst anime of the 2018 Autumn Anime Season. Be sure to jump in and have your say. Voting closes on the 29th of December.

It isn’t just Seiya who is having to deal with his emotions this week. We see the ripple of Seiya’s absence as well as his words to Masaki go through all the members of the team and…

[jellygoods]

Nuevo trailer de el anime Tsurune: Kazemai Kukou Kyudou-bu #anime El anime de Tsurune: Kazemai Kukou Kyudou-bu ha publicado un nuevo tráiler que nos recuerda que la serie se estrenará el 14 de octubre en la televisión japonesa.

[letsplaystarrysky]

Starry★Sky in Autumn -Hoshizuki- 10/23

Today we join Tsukiko on her way to the first health rep meeting in awhile.

She’s kind of missed meeting with Hoshizuki-sensei, but while she was still kinda-sorta avoiding him, she was also busy with both her kyudou and student council activities. Before she realized it, she hadn’t seen him since they met in the hall on the fifth floor.

She carefully reminds herself to act normal before knocking on the door. He calls for her to come in, and she breaks off mid-greeting at the state of the office. It’s even messier than usual. Is it? He asks mildly. Tsukiko scolds him and declares they can’t have their meeting until she’s cleaned up a bit. Okay, he says, go right ahead. Tsukiko need not have reminded herself to act normal, because she retorts right back that he could help.

When he doesn’t have an immediate answer, though, she pauses and gets a good look at him. He looks tired and seems distracted. Is he feeling under the weather?

No, he answers, he’s fine.

He doesn’t sound fine…

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Let me take your temperature.”

“You look a little pale.”

Personally I like the option where she insists on taking his temperature, but for the purposes of his playthrough we’re just going to double check if he’s sure he’s okay.

He accuses her of worrying too much, but with much less energy than we’d expect from him.

Tsukiko frets a little inwardly. Has he really been that busy while she wasn’t around. Since he usually doesn’t let much show, if she’s noticing this much, it must be serious. He insists that she’s worrying too much and she relents without really wanting to. Instead she focuses on what she can do and begins to clean up. She wasn’t even gone that long, how did it get so messy?

Hoshizuki: :D Are you impressed?

Tsukiko: Not in a good way.

As she cleans up, Tsukiko watches him out of the corner of her eye. He really does seem run down. But if she presses him on it any more, she knows he’ll start to sulk like a child.

But she just can’t help herself, and after she’s cleaned and they’ve had their meeting, she asks one more time if he’s sure he’s okay.

“*Yawn*... I’m just tired.”

He tells her she can head back to the dorm. He’s going to take a short nap and do some more work. Tsukiko protests that it’s late, if he’s really so tired shouldn’t he come back with her and get some proper rest? He can’t, he has work to do that needs to be finished before tomorrow. Oh… Tsukiko hesitates, is there anything she can do to help? Hoshizuki tells her he appreciates the offer but no, he can handle it himself.

Okay… Tsukiko hates to do it, but she excuses herself. She returns to her room, changes out of her uniform, and then heads down to the cafeteria, distracted all the way. She’s certain that he wasn’t feeling well, he just wouldn’t admit it. She resolves to go and check up on him after she’s had dinner.

Back at the nurse’s office, she knocks but there’s no answer. Is he still sleeping? She lets herself in and is shocked to find him collapsed on the floor. Tsukiko runs to his side and shakes him awake. He’s warm to the touch and barely responsive. She checks and he has a fever. Worried, she tells him she’s going to find either Haruki or Mizushima and to wait there.

Given the time, she accurately guesses that Haruki and Mizushima will be in the teachers’ office and rushes there. She tells them about Hoshizuki and asks them to come back to the nurse’s office with her. They rush back and the two teachers help Hoshizuki into one of the beds while Tsukiko prepares a cold compress.

Tsukiko: He kept telling me he was fine…

Mizushima: That’s just how Kota-nii is…

Haruki tells them he’s pretty sure it’s just a slight fever, and that Hoshizuki should be fine after he’s gotten a good sleep. In any case, Tsukiko can go back to the dorm now. She hesitates though, she wants to stay by Hoshizuki’s side just a little longer. At least until he wakes up. Haruki thinks it’s a bit late, but Mizushima smiles and reminds him that Tsukiko’s the health rep, so it’s safe to leave Hoshizuki in her hands, right?

Mizushima: Besides, I’m sure he’ll be much happier to wake up to Tsukiko’s face than either of ours! :D

This seems suspect, but if Tsukiko insists, then Haruki can’t think of any reason to say no. They leave her to take care of Hoshizuki and say to call them if she needs them. Tsukiko thanks them, and as they leave, Mizushima smiles at her knowingly. He tells her he’s a little jealous, but he leaves Kota-nii in her hands.

The nurse’s office seems inordinately quiet after they’ve left. Tsukiko turns back to the bed just as Hoshizuki shifts position in his sleep and one hand flops off the bed. She reaches down to lift it back onto the mattress and his fingers close around hers.

Tsukiko freezes. Did she wake him?

She peers at his face, but he’s still sleeping. His face is twisted slightly as if in pain. Tsukiko realizes she’s missed her opportunity to let go of his hand before holding it for too long and wonders what to do. It’s basically a role reversal of the last time she came down with a fever. When she was sick as a child, having someone hold her hand made her feel warm and comfortable… could she do the same for him, now?

She squeezes his hand a little and he seems to relax. Tsukiko watches him sleep and wishes to herself that they could stay like this, his hand in hers, just a little bit longer before he wakes. If she’d known it would come to this, she wouldn’t have let him convince her to go back to the dorm before him. Why did she let him convince her she was fine?

Why can’t he… be more honest with her? Why can’t he tell her when he’s not feeling well? Or when he’s tired? Or why he smiles so sadly sometimes or why he can’t fall in love… She can’t forget the look on his face as he told her he didn’t have the right to fall in love with someone.

The longer she sits there and dwells on these questions the more it becomes clear… it’s not a little crush. She’s honestly falling for him, even though she knows she shouldn’t.

After all, he’d never love her back, right?

Hoshizuki stirs and wakes up just as this thought crosses her mind. He squints up to her and asks what’s going on. His head feels heavy… Tsukiko gently tells him it’s the fever and admonishes him for not telling her. She’s so relieved she could cry but holds back her tears.

Hoshizuki groans. That’s pretty lame for the school nurse to collapse with a fever.

Wait, didn’t he realize he had a fever?

Hoshizuki: Looks like you know me better than I know myself…

Tsukiko wonders aloud if he’s just slow on the uptake. He admits that might be true, and thanks her. She wasn’t expecting him to admit it. He smiles up at her and comments that this is the reverse of another time together, isn’t it? Does she mind staying with him while he rests a bit longer? Of course she doesn’t mind, she tells him, he can take all the time he needs.

Tsukiko then notices that they’re still holding hands. She gets embarrassed and moves to let go, but he holds tight. He averts his eyes and repeats, just a little bit longer?

“Sure…” Tsukiko agrees quietly.

She watches as he closes his eyes and in an instant has dozed off again. As always, he can fall asleep at the drop of a hat. She can’t take her eyes off him… She wishes she could get to know him better… But how? She wryly thinks to herself how she chose a difficult person to fall in love with.

Tsukiko lets her mind wander, and before she realizes, she’s dozed off herself, leaning against the bed.

When she wakes up, Hoshizuki is up and changed out of his labcoat into his sweater and is getting ready to leave. Is he feeling better? He is, thanks to her. One of the tears of relief Tsukiko had held back earlier escape her and rolls down her cheek. She apologizes and hurries to get out her handkerchief, but then Hoshizuki steps closer and reaches out to wipe it away for her.

Hoshizuki: Crybaby.

Tsukiko: Who’s fault is that?

He laughs and says he really is sorry for making her worry like that. He’ll be sure not to do it again. In any case it’s late, he’ll walk her back to the dorm. When they part ways, she reminds him to get more rest, since he doesn’t seem 100% better yet. He promises and pats her on the head… and his hand lingers. Um…?

“You really did help me out today, Yahisa. Thank you.”

Tsukiko stammers out a you’re welcome, but can’t quite look up at him. He’s so close she suddenly doesn’t know how to act. They say good-night and she watches him head for the teacher’s dorm. (this is actually a plothole, Tsukiko’s room is supposed to be in the same building but whatever, adorable scene is adorable)

Once back in her room, Tsukiko gets ready for bed but finds she can’t sleep. The feeling of Hoshizuki’s warm, broad hand around hers won’t leave her mind…

At the same time, we get our first switch to Hoshizuki’s perspective. After parting ways with Tsukiko, the wind suddenly felt much colder. Unbeknownst to him, but just like Tsukiko, he can’t get the feeling from when they were holding hands out of his head. It wasn’t like him to ask to hold hands for longer like he did… He feels silly, even though he tells himself it was because of the fever.

Even so…

Having her hand in his did make him feel better, there’s no denying that.

It had stirred a memory he’d thought he had left far, far in the past. He’d never considered ever taking another person’s hand in his again in the future. It scared him too much.

Hoshizuki recalls Tsukiko’s tears and he knows in his heart what brought them on. He got too close to her. He let his guard down, thinking she was just a child...

[tsuru-ne]

Kyudou Tournament by Nishi Drew

[watchingflowersgrow]

Page 8 of 365 - Japanese Archery & Patience

Mood: Slightly down, but determined. Breakfast: Cinnamon Toast (2), Fig oatmeal Weather: Light snow On the iPod: Snap Judgement #532 - Look Back 2014

About five years ago I was fortunate enough to study abroad in Nagoya Japan for one year. I went with a couple of good friends and my girlfriend at the time. At Nagoya University Foreign Studies there were many clubs. On the day where the school's clubs showcased their talents and tried to recruit new members I saw Japanese archery (Kyudou) for the first time. I knew about kyudou prior to coming to Japan, but this was my first time seeing it in action. I told my classmates at the time, "This is the club for me".

There wasn't any prerequisites for joining Kyudou. Show up and we'll teach you. So, that's what I did for awhile. The learning curve for Kyudou is very high. In Kyudou, it isn't so much about hitting the target as it is performing the steps correctly. It took me along time to get to the point where I could shoot a live arrow at an actual target. I hit it once, but shortly after I got disillusioned with my time in Japan and I stopped going to Kyudou. I even gave away my $200+ glove for free. I figured I'd never return to Japan let alone do Kyudou.

It's 2015 and I just left Kyudou practice in Yokote Japan. Looks like I would return to Japan and find a Kyudojo (a place of practice). When I discovered that there was a Kyudou club at my base school as a JET ALT I became elated. Here is where I could rectify my past wrong doings and actually be committed to something. Unfortunately I overestimated my due diligence yet again. Shortly after joining Kyudou club in Yokote, I fell into the same trappings that tore me away the first time, but far worse:

I had completely forgotten most of what I learned 5 years ago.

I had to purchase all new equipment which cost over $300 and a month of my time.

The language barrier was more intense this time around. In college we had several adept English speakers. Here...not so much. Understanding really counts when you're trying to learn a difficult sport.

No friends this time around. So no commiseration or fellowship. Of course there are my students, but my broken Japanese doesn't give me quite the social-catharsis I need.

And the list goes on... I ended the year with a back injury that kept me away for a good month, but to be honest, I was ducking practices months prior. Only showing up when I felt guilty. 

This year however I'm trying to change that. This is something that I want to do, so I must do it. Yes, it's painful being a beginner, yes, 3 hour practices aren't very fun when you're progressing slowly, but what else would I be doing? When you think about any thing that you've quit that you yourself have said, "I want to do this". What are you quitting for? Is it for something better? Most likely it isn't. I quit kyudou to go home early and veg out on the computer. That's hardly worth it.

So, today I finally progressed to the point where I shot my first arrow. I stepped up to the line, did my steps, pulled back, and let it go. And you know what? I completely missed. So bad in fact that I lost my arrow in the snow and after practice the club helped me dig around for 30 minutes trying to find it. We never did find it, but afterward I told them I was really grateful and the captain and I slid down a giant snow hill on a sleigh. In that moment I felt a part of the team.

I'll be going to practice tomorrow and any other time I'm free. I want to continue my archery practice and surprisingly enough , there is a Kyudojo in Atlanta (I think it's in Decatur). Things slowly unfold on themselves, we just have to decide if we're going to stick around long enough to see it. 

Have patience.