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the-new-anime-girl · 2 years ago

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Buddy Daddies OP analysis

We begin with a city skyline shot as the sun goes down and the city lights turn on. The next shot puts us in the middle of the city;

Rei and Kazuki walk into screen, Rei cold and unflinching while Kazuki looks around quizzically. This could be symbolic of entering the world of hitmen; Rei was born and raised here, while Kazuki was an outsider. This is also why Rei is the one leading the charge, and he is also wearing his mission-suit; a recurring theme in the OP.

Next we see Miri running in the opposite direction of where her papas are walking, she is on collision course with them. Just like in ep 1 she is the one who pusher her way into their lives. Behind her we see a Ferris wheel, the same one I think appears at the end of the OP.

This is also matched to the lyrics “Is it insincere to want to be loved -what should I do”, so the answer to the question is the creation of the family!

The we get her running away from them, just like in the multiple plays of tag she has. I love the title integration here!

Running after (presumably Kazuki) we have Dorothy and Carol (the women from the casino), and following them two people shooting. Is this foreshadowing that the two women will play bigger roles? I don’t think so, but it could be symbolic of what Kazuki and Rei are running from in chasing a family-life with Miri. Rei from the world of hitmen which won’t let him go, and Kazuki from his own demons and bad coping-strategies (gambling).

After that we see some domestic scenes; Kazuki cooking, Rei dazedly waking up in the bath (in his normal hoodie) and Miri on a swing, just like when the family visited the playground. Here I just want to point out the amazing credit integration, I appreciate the extra effort!

Then we have some more credit-integration and cool literal framing with Kazuki and Rei literally carrying a frame along the river as the characters from daycare run behind and through it. If I read into it I’ll say Kazuki and Rei together create the framing in Miri’s life she lacked before, creating opportunities for her to have a normal life with friends and participation in normal society.

Some more domestic scenes of them eating together follows, then some scattered pictures of Rei gaming and Kazuki working on his PC wile earing -how typical of them! Then a picture of Miri sleeping on the couch matched with the lyrics “And then you appeared suddenly..:”

Then the domestical scenes are overtaken by the hitmen-cases thrown over Miri’s picture intruding on their life.

Right after we see who I think is Rei riding his motorcycle. Then my favorite cuts in the OP as a car window rolls down and we see Ogino

With the way Rei is ‘trapped’ and reflected in the window as it rolls down to reveal Ogino it shows who Rei could have become, what his boss wants him to become, someone who likes killing and does it without an afterthought. Someone Rei almost became when he was “like a robot” only moving forward, except Rei never liked killing, he just tried not to think while following orders. There is also a contrast as Rei is inside a bright cityscape, while Ogino is sitting in a dark car.

Ogino turns to look at the viewer, and we get a cut of Miri’s mum, Misaki, singing.

Then we see Kyutaro in the ‘restaurant’ working, before looking up to face Rei’s shitty father. This cut is matched with the lyrics “You shattered my heart” (this is not just the subtitles, the Japanese singing also matched the lyrics to this shot), and since Misaki is shown right before that, she might be part of the meaning too.

So who is breaking who’s heart? Is it about Rei’s father breaking his, Misaki breaking Miri’s and Kyutaro (eventually) breaking Kazuki (since Kazuki seems to be close to him with the nicknames and all that), or is it referring to how the boss will try to split up the family and break all their hearts, or to how shattered they will be if Kyutaro betrays their trust?

The boss is framed with a bloody red sky as it rains, his goons and their cars surrounding him. He strikes an intimidating pose: we can’t see their faces clearly, which adds to the unease and shows his insidious intentions, but it also fits the organization; just like Shigeki (the boss) said, they work in the deepest shadows.

I think these cuts are about the pressure put on Kyutaro to collect information for the boss, and since Kyutaro at first seems reluctant to look up, I suspect its specifically about collecting information about Kazuki and Miri. The boss doesn’t want any ‘bad influence’ on his son, and Kyutaro as of ep. 9 hasn’t been very quick to deliver (it’s been almost 2 months since Rei’s birthday and the initial request by that point).

The shot is replaced with a city-central shot which Kazuki overtakes with his reckless driving as his car screeches into the scene. We’ve seen him driving like this multiple times throughout the anime, always to ‘rescue’ or otherwise reach Miri. This shot is very stylish, but also works to show the desperation Kazuki would feel to keep Miri from harm both in the situations we’ve seen so far and possibly in the future.

The car brings with it the next rolling shot of Rei stoically shooting. He is back in his suit, and I read this as also representing Shigeki’s goal; an emotionless killing machine.

Throughout the whole next part Miri is acting like any hyper 4 year old, running through the different squares while Kazuki searches for her.

Meanwhile Rei is resolutely walking forwards in the bottom row staying on his path, while Kazuki switches to the top row.

It’s been some time in the OP since the domestic scenes; the further away Rei is from a normal life, the more he is a tool who only follows commands and doesn’t stray from his path. While Kazuki and Miri are free to dress colorfully however they like, Rei is wearing the same suit he wears on missions. (Side note: When Miri enrolled in kindergarten Kazuki picked out a new suit for Rei despite the old one working just fine, because the old one symbolizes conformity to his father’s expectations).

In the other squares wee see named characters like Miri’s friends running, but also this man:

Who tf is that? Will he be important, or is this just filler? If anyone knows who this is, please share!

Continuing the search Kazuki is still running on the streets, and he looks distressed. This is probably an homage to when Miri got lost and they both went looking for her -Kazuki much more frantically.

But when the family is together again its turned into a fun game of tag where Kazuki is genuinely smiling (while Rei looks his normal self).

They catch up to her and walk along the same river they carried the frame in. this is the first time Miri is in physical contact with either of her papas in the OP; Kazuki pics her up and she wraps herself around him -precious!!! Rei hunches over and walks a little behind then, but he seems to be the one to start a conversation and suggesting or asking something (“Dinner for three?”)

Then we see a stuffed teddy bear and a cake being destroyed by a bullet (among other stuff the family owns like the bicycle with the child-seat); the epitome of the threat the organization poses. Destroying their domestic bliss with violence.

Its fitting then that the next shot is a somber and devastated Kazuki in the rain; he can’t even meet the camera’s eyes. This being placed right after the family’s stuff being destroyed could show Kazuki’s fear of losing his family again.

As we enter into his core through his back, we see what’s behind the happy façade; the deep sadness of losing his fiancé and child. Kazuki stands in the same rainy weather he both met and lost Yuzuko in. In the image Yuzuko is facing away from him, holding the umbrella she had when first meeting him, and when dying, framed by the flowers from the garden she loved where they first met. The shot is beautiful, with the flowers almost blooming around her. The image expands, like how a raindrop’s moisture expands on paper. The rain, the tears and sadness is inside Kazuki’s heart as well.

The reason Kazuki is so emotional about the family and invested in taking care of Miri is because that’s what he would have had with Yuzuko, but never got. Miri is like his unborn child, and that’s why he so quickly became so attached to her, as she can kind of ‘fill the hole in his heart’. And Miri is exactly what fills the next three shorts as she looks around. The last one with her looking up, and the following shot of Kazuki and Rei looking down and meeting her gaze.

Wrapped around her finger indeed.

Then multiple scenes fly across the screen; the dichotomy of their hitman jobs with goons shooting and the domestic life they’re leading with chores and Miri playing. It ends with a goon falling down and losing his machine gun.

In quick succession we see Rei zipping up his hitman bodysuit, Kazuki looking distressed, a zoom up of Misaki’s crying eye and then this shot of Miri grabbing onto Rei’s fingers.

Multiple people have pointed out that this is the same as in ep. 9 when Miri grabs Rei to join in the daycare-contest. Amid the sudden despair it’s a very tender moment as Rei, but this also symbolically applies to Kazuki, is pulled back to their apartment home.

The shot of the apartment goes from dark night to daytime, mirroring the beginning of the OP when the city went from day to night.

Then the dark night is over, and the sun shines on the family as Rei and Kazuki look at a Ferris wheel while Miri faces the viewer. Her stance is confident, and almost triumphant. We can’t see Rei or Kazuki’s reactions, but Miri who is looking away, as always obvious to the danger around her, is smiling. It makes sense she would be optimistic about the outcome (and gosh, do I want to believe like her).

Considering this is the second time the Ferris wheel appears in the OP, we might see the story’s climax here (I’m calling it!)

The last shot is of a common breakfast in their household; French toast. And Kazuki just couldn’t stop himself from adding some fruit to make it more balanced.

If the end of the OP is to be believed, everything will work out alright for the family (Or maybe that’s just my wishful thinking).

(Thank you for reading, I ended up with around 1800 words, apparently I had more to say about this than I thought. We’ll see of some of my predictions come true. I bet there are some grammatical mistakes here (and squished pictures courtesy of Tumblr) but I’m too tired rn to check…)

#buddy daddies #bd #kurusu kazuki #Suwa rei #Unasaka miri #rei suwa #kazuki kurusu #miri unasaka #buddy daddies spoilers #buddy daddies rei #buddy daddies kazuki #buddy daddies miri #kyutaro kugi #suwa shigeki #Is it too obvious Rei is my fave?#Long post #I'll add a cut if I remember to but I'm rrl tired rn

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quirkless-accident · 2 years ago

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Toddler's Day Out

This one was DM'd to me a while ago and now that I've got a bit more time on my hands, I'm actually able to finally write it. Enjoy!

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Shouta Aizawa is nothing if not patient. He has to be to have the jobs that he does. However, his patience is running thin due to a certain loud blonde that's very audibly freaking out next to him. And don't get him wrong, Shouta's freaking out too. He's just better at controlling it.

"Mic, we'll find him," Shouta says, peeking down an alleyway. The chances of their runaway is slim to none, but it doesn't hurt to be thorough. Except that it does, every time he looks down one and they don't find him.

Their day had started out normal. They were going grocery shopping for the teacher's dorm, and since Danny needed to pick up a few things from the electronics store right next door, they let him tag along.

Mistake number one was not sending one of them to go in with him.

Shouta and Hizashi had been in the middle of checking out when Danny had come through the automatic doors with a brand new box in hand and a grin on his face when someone had bumped into him.

Several things happened all at once.

Danny was turned into a toddler, and the person who had bumped into his student picked him up and carted him off as another accomplice used his quirk to make several smoke screens, causing Mic's voice to shut down due to the smoke inhalation, and blocking Shouta's vision at the same time.

They ran outside as fast as they could to try and catch a glimpse of the kid, but the kidnappers were long gone.

So, here they were, looking for a toddler in the alleyways while practically every hero in this particular zone searched for the kid. Including the majority of the U.A. who seemed more than a little overprotective of their resident Casper.

Shouta just hoped and prayed that the kid was alright. He couldn't even imagine the kind of twisted shit the villains could be doing to him right now.

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"He won't eat it," Misaki, the smoke bomber, said as he waved a piece of toast in front of the toddler's face. The little guy just glared up at him though, nose turned away from the food. "Don't kids like toast? I know my niece went batshit for it."

"He's a kid," Hina, the one who had turned the boy into a toddler, replied without looking up from her cell phone. After a moment, she growled with frustration before slamming her phone down into the old couch cushions. "Our buyer said he's running late and won't make it today. We'll have to keep an eye on him for a little while."

"Which means feeding him," Misaki said, turning around to face his partner in crime. "Kid needs a healthy snack."

"And you think toast is the answer?" Hina asks, exasperated beyond belief. Misaki just shrugs and takes a bite of it before turning back around to offer it to the kid they just stole.

Only to find that he wasn't there.

Misaki looked around for a moment, but found no trace of the kid. He stood back up and looked under tables and chairs, behind the couch, and in the bottom cupboards. He wasn't anywhere to be found.

"Uh, I think we got a problem, Hina."

-------

Danny was having the time of his life. Or, at least as much as one could when they were three years old and had the power of a god at their fingertips.

Danny hadn't wanted any toast, simple as that. He wanted to go outside and play, so he just...Did. Going through the wall had been easy, and he had laughed uncontrollably as he saw the people moving around on the ground, looking like tiny colorful bugs. Not falling immediately was also pretty fun. In fact, he could go even higher!

Danny grinned and flew to the bright orange beam held up by several wires. It was just like the one on the playground that he dances on with Jazz. Or maybe it's like the see-saw, he thinks, as the end of it dips under his weight a little.

He's really high up, but he's not afraid of falling. He knows how to catch himself. And he knows that if he gets a scratch, his mom will come and kiss it all better.

So he shakily get to his feet, swaying with the wind, and sticks his arms straight out like Jazz taught him. The beam was wide enough to where he didn't really need to put one foot in front of the other, but it was more fun that way.

The wind is strong today, and that makes it a little harder to stay upright as the beam moves with it, but he manages like the bog boy he is. It's way more fun this way anyway. The normal balance beams at the playground were too easy.

"Wh-hey!"

Danny looks up, confused as a hero running along the rooftops spots him. He says something Danny doesn't care about, a hand on his ear, before he's jumping up on small trampolines made of light to get to him. But Danny just keeps walking.

A couple of things happen next.

Danny moves forward, intent on making it to the end. The hero, not expecting this, ends up hitting the part of the beam where Danny had been standing. The force makes Danny lose his balance completely, and he tips over the side.

The hero lets go immediately, saving himself with one of his light trampolines, but the kid has disappeared. There's no body falling down, no splat on the pavement, no anything.

"Hey!"

The hero whips his head around, only to come face to face with a very pissed off three year old. His arms are crossed and his face is puffing out as he glares at the hero.

"Kid! Oh, you can-hey, come here, kiddo! We can get you back home, safe and sound, yeah?"

"No! I don't wanna go with you! You ruined my game!"

"Awe, I'm really sorry about that, Buddy. But when we get you home we can play a new game. How does that sound?"

"No! I don't wanna play with you!"

And before the hero can do anything, the kid disappears.

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The phone rings, stopping Hina and Masaki in their tracks. Hina looks down at her phone, her face going pale as she looks back up at Masaki. He makes a motion for her to answer it.

"Hello? Oh, Plasmius! So glad that you could make the rendezvous after all! Oh, no, everything is fine, no need to worry about us! Yep! We'll have the kid to you at eight! See you then."

Hina looks down at her phone, looking even more dejected than she had a moment ago.

"Eight? Seriously? That only gives us like, three hours to find the kid!"

"Well, we better get to looking then, if we wanna get paid!"

"You may also want to be a little more quiet next time you're talking about your kidnapping victims."

Hina and Masaki whip around, only to come face to face with Present Mic and Eraserhead. Neither of them have any time to react as Eraserhead moves, faster than anything they've ever seen before. Once the villains are unconscious, Eraserhead turns to Present Mic, an eyebrow raised.

"Plasmius? Does that name sound familiar to you?"

"Yeah, but I can't place where. Maybe the Little Listener will have some answers once we get him turned back to normal."

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Danny yawns as he tips backwards, catching himself mid-air so he's floating, looking up at the sky. He's only like that for a moment before there's a large shadow looming over him. His face is covered in flames, and he looks like the actual devil.

Danny bursts into tears and flies away, Endeavour chasing after him.

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Shouta swings from lamp post to lamp post, gritting his teeth at the incompetency of other heroes. He's one kid. Sure, he's got superpowers, but how hard could it fucking be?

Case in point, as he swings around the corner of one building, something small and cold crashes into him, sending him sprawling on the sidewalk. In his arms is Danny, crying his little heart out.

Shouta cradles him, and rocks him back and forth as relief floods his veins. he ignores the civilians giving him confused and/or dirty looks as he sits in the middle of the sidewalk trying to calm the kids down.

After a couple of minutes, Danny sniffs and leans back, rubbing the tears from his eyes. Shouta pulls out a handkerchief and wipes the snot from Danny's nose, making the kid scrunch his face up in a totally not adorable way. No, Shouta doesn't know what you're talking about, shut up.

"All better?" He asks, his voice low and calm. Danny just nods, and lets out one massive yawn, leaning back far enough that Shouta has to catch him. "Is it nap time?"

Before Danny can give any kind of answer, the number one hero comes barreling down the sidewalk.

"Come back, you little brat! Time to go home!"

Danny stiffens in his arms and buries himself in Shouta's chest before disappearing, though he doesn't leave the safety of Shouta's hold.

"Endeavour," Shouta says, picking himself up off of the ground without the use of his arms. "I think you've done enough damage today. Besides, I got the kid."

"Hopefully the brat listens to you," Endeavor huffs.

"Don't misunderstand me, Endeavor. This conversation isn't over. You've just done enough damage for one day."

He doesn't bother waiting for a response as he shifts Danny to one arm and fishes for his cell with the other. Once he has it, he contacts everybody who's on the lookout that they don't need to search anymore.

Shouta's got his kid back, and that's all that matters to him.

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Danny groans as he wakes up, blinking stars out of his eyes. Above him is Mr. Aizawa and Present Mic, who's cradling his head as he slowly sits up.

"Geez, what happened?" Danny asks, rubbing the back of his head. "And where are we? I thought we were at the grocery store."

Mr. Aizawa and Present Mic share a long look, communicating with no words, before his teacher sighs and helps him to his feet.

"Well, Kid, you've had a very eventful day."

#danny phantom #danny fenton #shouta aizawa #eraserhead #hizashi yamada #present mic #bnha #mha #boku no hero acadeamia #my hero academia #endeavor #enji todoroki #babys day out

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ridiasfangirlings · 3 years ago

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I didn't realize until you pointed it out. Fushimi making Yata hate him and stuff does kinda resemble the whole "He's teasing you, maybe he just likes you?" thing. And Fushimi totally does but he's in denial about it. Somehow I now find it sorta cute? Imagine him still doing that post-RoK and Yata is confused why Fushimi is still acting like that and someone tells him "Maybe Fushimi just likes you?" lol

Just imagine it slowly dawning on Yata that pretty much every moment he's spent with Fushimi ever since they met has been Fushimi terribly flirting with him in the only way he knows how (by acting like a six year old on the playground pulling his crush's pigtails). Like imagine even post-ROK, while Fushimi's taunts are much less malicious he is still totally enjoying teasing Yata constantly, like while he is trying to be more honest and all that Fushimi can't admit to himself how much he likes Yata so he's still acting out for attention in his own way. Oh and maybe now that they've made up he is like unconsciously being more forward about it too, lots more taunting about Yata being a virgin and not having a girlfriend yet and all that. If anyone were to note that Fushimi is perhaps being a little too focused on Yata's love life Fushimi would completely deny it but he is totally very much focused on Misaki's love life and Misaki not ever even dating anyone and probably not even knowing how to kiss (and if he asked Fushimi definitely wouldn't volunteer to show him, nope).

One day Yata's complaining about it at the bar, like yeah he's happy that he and Saruhiko aren't enemies anymore but sometimes he wishes Fushimi would let up on all the taunting and mockery. Everyone's just kinda looking at him like 'you know what this is about, right?' and Yata doesn't get it at all. Finally Chitose clears his throat and is like did you ever pull a girl's hair on the playground, Yata's like what the fuck do girls have to do with this and anyway why would I pull a girl's hair only jerks do that. Chitose gives this sigh of long suffering and is like that's what guys do to girls they like. Yata's all wait that makes no sense and Bandou's like kids don't know how to admit when they have crushes so they just do whatever to get the girl to notice them. It's slowly dawning on Yata and he's like come on guys that's stupid, Saruhiko would have to have the maturity of an elementary schooler and then he just trails off because yup.

So now Yata's like could this be true, like on the one hand Saruhiko's kinda prickly to everyone but on the other he's always been extra focused on Yata and he did kinda admit in a roundabout way that the whole 'hate me Misaki' thing was a way of keeping Yata's attention focused on him. Knowing that it doesn't seem like a huge step that this is still Fushimi acting out because he has a crush that he doesn't know how to deal with and Yata's like ready to bang his head against the wall because he's kinda okay with Fushimi having a crush on him but what if he's misreading this whole thing. Finally imagine Yata decides that well we promised to be honest right and so the next time Fushimi starts teasing him and calling him a virgin Yata walks right up to him and is like 'Saruhiko. Do you like me?'. (And this ends up catching Fushimi extremely off guard and he's probably like what no stupid Misaki I don't like you but Yata keeps pushing it, telling Fushimi to be honest about his feelings and if he's just being an idiot who doesn't understand say it plainly and Fushimi just gets backed into a corner and probably ends up kissing Yata out of sheer desperation.)

#sarumi #Talking K #ngl I love terrible flirting Fushimi #where his version of flirting is mockery and teasing #bc he doesn't know how to honestly say what he feels #he just wants Misaki to look at him and pay attention to him all the time #and never have a girlfriend or kiss anyone else #Yata meanwhile is oblivious and everyone else is like why are they so stupid

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rosecaffelatte · 4 years ago

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sharing is caring | yamagata hayato

plot: just when you think you can let the day end on a happy note with a “quick” stop at a bookstore, you remember your bad habit that has always ruined the fun moments in your life: procrastination. but looks like you’re not the only one who fell victim to that lifestyle...

genre: bookstore au, college au, strangers to flirtationship | fluff | yamagata x gn!reader

cast: yamagata hayato, you, misaki hana, oohira reon

word count: 2.2k

warnings: none

hikki’s notes: i wrote a one shot with 2,215 words in just one day. props to me, honestly. also, this is for day one of the #shiratorizawafanweek2021!

“Hana.”

“I know, I know! Just give me one more minute, okay? Please!” Hana pleads and gives you her best puppy eyes Mother Nature gifted her. She actually thinks that it’ll work every time she wants it her way. Well, she’s right.

“Fine. But this is the last one minute, for real this time!”

She whispers a “thank you” and buries her nose back in the book she’s holding in her hands. In her shopping basket – who the hell needs one in a bookstore?! – she put three other ones already. Whether she still has to “skim” through them or plans on buying them, will be answered in probably three last one minutes.

You’re strolling through the bookshelves for the fifth time – and hopefully last time – and inspect the colorful covers of various books in different genre sections. Some of them do pique your interest, but whenever you pick up a book you’re not forced to read like in school, you instantly get unmotivated. All the letters and words and the repeated alphabet but in a different order, that’s tiring.

“Can we go to the book store for a sec? The latest book of my favorite author just got published and I want to check if it’s already for sale here.”

13 minutes later and you’re still there. It’s kinda your fault for actually falling for Hana’s trap again.

“Maybe you’ll find here something for yourself!”

The most interesting thing here, in your opinion, is the smell of new books and the stationery section with glittery pens and overpriced notebooks you’d only write your name in and leave on your desk at home as unintended decoration.

The store clerk probably thinks that I’m checking out the store to rob it later...

Considering how often you walked past him, picked up a book, and pretended to be interested, yes. Yes, he does. So, don’t mind that intense stare of his on you.

You look at the clock on your phone. It’s already half past 7 in the evening. Under the time – 16 minutes and counting now – you notice the date.

Weird... did I forget something? Something important that is due in a few days?

Slowly, it dawns upon you.

My research paper! 60% of my final grade! Shit!

Whoomps, there it is. That dark playground you’re in when you’re procrastinating once again.

You run over to Hana – “need some book recommendations for my paper I have to hand in in 8 days, help me look when you’re done” – and power walk to the novel section. Yes, a college student like you are has to write a paper about a book that treats profound subjects like the human psyche and morals and, uh– okay, you haven’t really decided on a specific topic to write about yet. It’s for a class you have to take for those 30 extracurricular credit points that have nothing to do with your major.

“It’s to broaden our horizon,” you quietly parrot as you browse through the stacks of books, finding nothing where you can write 20 pages about. Impressive how well you blocked out the assignment the whole time. The book itself is more of a starter and should lead the rest of the assignment to a discussion about... yes.

That I actually have to spend money for this shit...

The guilty conscience gets worse and worse the more you realize that you have 7 days, 4 hours, and 29 minutes left to hand in something that must be worth at least 79% to pass the class. That feeling that can’t let you enjoy the fun things you’re doing instead of writing the assignment like... scrolling on your phone for hours, waiting until the paper writes itself.

You are so invested in mentally cursing out the seminar and the equally pretentious professor that you don’t notice the ruckus from outside coming into the before nearly empty bookstore.

“How could you forget something major like that?!”

“I don’t know! I just procrastinate like every other human being until one week before the deadline, okay?! I’m a normal college student, unlike you!”

“And look what you got yourself into again.” Ōhira shakes his head like a disappointed parent. “Oh yeah, I can’t really help you this time. I have to research for my paper too.”

Yamagata stops in his tracks. “Reon... You can’t do this to me, man. You’re majoring in this shit! I need you. You’re my dude.”

Ōhira stops as well and has to witness his friend despairing over his seemingly decided failure. “I got my own stuff to do, okay? Listen, I can’t promise that I’ll have the time to help you. But I can give you my notes if that helps?”

The only answer he can elicit out of Yamagata was a soulless “hm”. He looks up to his friend when he feels the hand of Ōhira on his shoulder. “Look, we’ll quickly buy one book, go to your place, write your outline, and look for books for your research part in the library. I have to go there too, so let’s just check off as many things as we can today, okay?”

Like a changed person, Yamagata’s face lights up. He puts his arm around Ōhira’s shoulder. “I told you, you’re my dude. Let’s do this!” he proclaims and marched straight to the novel section while Ōhira makes his way to the specialist book section, taking photos of the list of contents for “inspiration”.

I wish I only have to write a book report to pass, Ōhira thinks and lets out a small sigh after he picks up the third book to copy its index.

Meanwhile, Yamagata is going through each book of the novel section at the other side of the store. He slowly works his way towards the middle of the shop, moving along the shelves.

Something short and sweet, something that doesn’t take long too long to read in... the next few hours.

Something where I don’t have to fear I’ll doze off and get the urge to throw it out of the window...

I can’t miss too many hours of training...

Where the heck is Hana?! She probably knows some books that won’t bore me to death.

Wait... this looks nice– Yo... this might be–

As you reach out to a book with a very intriguing cover and the perfect size – super thin and priced with some award – you see from the corner of your eyes another hand reaching out to it as well, but it’s too late to stop now. The warm touch of a stranger’s hand makes you startle, quickly turning your head to the right.

Out of reflex, the corners of your mouth quirk up as you catch sight of the owner of that coarse hand.

Holy shit, he’s hot. Damn.

“Sorry–” “Sorry–” you say in unison.

A nervous giggle escapes your lips while Yamagata unintentionally shoots you this flirty grin of his.

“You want that?” he gently asks.

“Uh, yeah...”

Yamagata gestures with his hand that “It’s all yours” with a big grin on his face that makes your legs feel like pudding.

Where have I seen him before?

“Thanks,” you answer softly as you grab after the book but you notice that “oh, it’s the last copy.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll just ask the store clerk if there’s more in the back. Be right back!” He turns around before you can say anything back, leaving you standing there speechless. Finally, Yamagata can let out his grin he’s trying to hide from– wait.

Oh shit, I’ve been smiling the whole time? Whatever, they liked it. His smile grows wider. Guess procrastination does have its perks. But they look kinda familiar...

Meanwhile, you’re overthinking what he just said. H-He probably just said it out of habit, nothing more. Stop imagining things.

You start flipping through the pages. You should slowly realize that you can always rely on your gut feeling. The book is perfect! Not too boring, not too long, actually addressing very interesting aspects for your next seminar paper topic. The titles of your future chapters are flashing through your head, concepts you can introduce and develop are forming right in front of you. Nice!

You are so invested in the book that you don’t notice Hana walking towards you with her eyes fixed on her phone. “Okay, so I made a quick Google search and found literature I reserved from our library and– oh, you already found something?”

“Huh? Oh yeah, it’s act–”

“Uh, sorry to interrupt your talk, but that’s the last copy they have.” You and Hana turn to Yamagata who’s sheepishly scratching the back of his head. Hana turns back to you, asking you with her eyes and her smile what that very handsome stranger is talking about. Ōhira notices his friend talking with to him unfamiliar faces and walks over to you, see what’s going on.

“Huh...” Welp, that’s going to be fun.

Yamagata doesn’t want to ask, but his final grade is at stake, even if it means that he’ll ruin his chance with such a cutie like you. “Okay, listen to me, please. I really need that book for an assignment. I-I can buy it for you! And I can give it to you later in a week.”

Aww, how gentleman-like! Or is this just an act of desperation? Whatever, he’s cute regardless, but...

“Uhm, funny story, but uh” – that’s so uncomfortable – “I also need it for my paper for my final grade...”

Silence. Awkwardness. Yikes.

Well, I guess you can say that this is your punishment for procrastinating your responsibilities once again. Fate, Buddha, the universe, or whatever tries to ruin your once-in-a-lifetime “reaching out for the same book and falling in love or flirting at first sight”-moment. God damnit.

Hana begins to speak, “I’m sorry, but what exactly is your paper about?”

Yamagata looks back at you two after avoiding your glance. “It’s basically a book report, kinda,” he chuckles. It does sound ridiculous, coming from a college student.

“Great! Because my friend has to write one too, kinda,” Hana proclaims to your confusion.

That’s it!

“Oh! You’re were my class last year!” “Oh! You’re were my class last year!” you both say and laugh.

“Wait, there are two professors who just want a book report for a pass?” Yamagata wonders.

“A 20-page long one, yeah,” you chuckle.

“Well, that’s great! That means that you can share it, right?” Hana tentatively suggests.

“Why not?” Ōhira asks. “You both have to read and analyze the book, so why not do it together?”

Please say yes. Then I can work on my assignment and leave you without a guilty conscience.

“You’re saving a lot of time by doing it like that! And you do need time,” Hana adds, quickly glancing at you.

You do.

The slightly aggressive undertone in Hana’s last sentence doesn’t escape your notice. She did have to give you a hand whenever you put your responsibilities into cold storage. You know that you can always rely on her help but at some point, you really gotta learn your lesson. But studying with some hot guy you just met in a bookstore doesn’t necessarily teach you a lesson.

“Uh, sure, why not?” You shrug with your shoulders and look over to your possibly new study partner.

“No problem with that,” Yamagata says and gives you another big smile. “Can I get your number? For the paper, of course.”

“Huh? Y-Yeah, of course, sure!” You are so not ready for his sudden move, and so are Hana and his friend. Hana never has been comfortable with showing affection and flirtation in public, even if it’s not with her. Ōhira looks like he wants to facepalm himself because his friend is picking up random people when he’s in an actual stressful situation.

After you pay for the book – you split the costs – and leave the shop minutes before it closes, you let your two friends go home since you have the same destination after book shopping.

Both Hana and Ōhira go through a mix of emotions on their way home: relief that they can leave their friend alone with their assignment, shame because they feel like they’re bad friends for thinking like that, general confusion because they let their best friend go with basically a stranger to work on a paper together, and awkwardness because Hana and Ōhira are both going into the same direction but Ōhira is, of course, so considerate and doesn’t let her go to her bus station alone in the dark.

“So, you’re... Yamagata,” you say as you read out the name under which he saved himself in your phone.

“That’s my name, Y/N,” he chuckles. “So, should we go to the library then? They’re open until 1 AM,” Yamagata proposes.

“Sure. I just imagined our first date a little bit different...” You catch a glimpse of Yamagata who’s taken aback a little from your comment but also catches himself quickly you can see at his reassuring smile and slightly flirty look.

“A study date, of course,” you add, giving him a knowing look.

This is going to be a long night. A long study session,

“Of course.”

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addictedtomanga · 4 years ago

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Shoujo manga recommendations - love triangle

1. Ao Haru Ride

While most girls desire popularity among boys, Futaba Yoshioka wants the exact opposite. After attracting many admirers back in middle school which resulted in her being shunned by her female classmates, she decided that high school will be her chance to revamp her image. Therefore, she starts acting unfeminine and indifferent to boys, allowing her to make some “friends” along the way.

Little does Futaba know, her life will take another drastic turn when her first love, Kou Mabuchi, returns after his sudden disappearance years ago in middle school. Despite his extended absence, the fond memories they shared together still linger in her mind, and she wishes to return to those days. But she realizes that the sweet, gentle boy of the past has completely vanished, and in his place stands someone cold and pessimistic. While he admits that her feelings for him back then were mutual, he warns that they can never go back to the past, as everything, including him, has changed.

2. Beauty Pop

Although a truly gifted hairstylist, Kiri Koshiba has no interest in using her talent to pursue fame and fortune, unlike the three popular boys in the "Scissors Project" at school. Determined to become the best makeover team in Japan, they give showy makeovers to handpicked girls. As much as Kiri tries to shy away from the Scissors Project spotlight, she finds herself responding to beauty's call...

3. Blue Sky Playground

On a cold day, Mirita finds discovers a hidden room with a kotatsu (a table that keeps one warm) inside. The kotatsu belongs to two of the most popular and handsome twin brothers in school. Both immediately kick Mirita out. However, Mirita becomes even more determined to get back into that room. What love triangle will commence?

4. Boku kara Kimi ga Kienai

Hotaru managed to get in the same high school where Haruna-sensei teaches to see him again! However, on her first day there, she meets a very unpleasant guy who looks just like her beloved sensei...?

5. Dear!

Rei, Kazuma and Banri are close childhood friends. Rei, who's better than any guy, the cool and smart Kazuma and Banri who's mischievous and bright have the perfect balance. It's normal for the three of them to be together all the time and without thinking of themselves as men and woman they're just together. But something happens after which Rei starts to think of Banri as a "man", so the relation of the three changes...?!

6. Faster than a Kiss

After losing their parents, Fumino and her brother hop from one relative to another. Getting tired of all those moves, she finally decides to quit school and work to support her brother on her own. As they sat on a park bench, her teacher appears in front of her and agrees to her demands of marrying and supporting both her and her brother!! Is he serious or just playing around...?!

7. Haru Matsu Bokura

The timid and reserved Mitsuki Haruno seeks her dream sociable life at high school. But despite her best efforts, her ineptitude to speak her mind impedes her from befriending anyone. Nonetheless, while working at a cafe one day, she has a fateful encounter with her school's four idolized basketball players—Towa Asakura, Rui Miyamotoi, Ryuuji Tada, and Kyousuke Wakamiya. At first glance, these four heartthrobs come off as arrogant individuals, responsible for invading her cafe's safe haven. Soon after though, as they uphold their promise of keeping her workplace a secret, Mitsuki starts to see them in a new light.

Hence begins an improbable friendship between Mitsuki and the boys, as her days of solitude finally comes to an end. However, things aren't always so simple—with her heart waning toward Asakura and the female students green with envy, is there a chance this friendship could blossom into something more?

8. Hirunaka no Ryuusei

Suzume Yosano has spent the entire 15 years of her life in the countryside, so when her parents decide to move overseas for work and leave her with her uncle in Tokyo, she finds herself in a whole new environment. On the way to her uncle's house, however, she gets lost and faints.

Waking up safely at her uncle's house, she learns that a strange man had carried her there and that he happens to be an acquaintance of her uncle. Moreover, when Suzume goes to her new school for the first time, she discovers that the weird man in question, named Satsuki Shishio, is actually her homeroom teacher! Now, Suzume must adapt to her new school and make friends, since her blossoming high school life in the city has just begun!

9. Hoshi to Kuzu - Don't Worry, Be Happy

Anzu is poor but very ambitious and aims for a bright future. Her first step is to be student council president but that chance is destroyed by the equally ambitious and egocentric Yamabuki. She just has to settle for being the vice-president.

10. Iya da Nante Iwasenai

Anzu currently works part-time at a beach house however when it comes to serving male customers, she can't help but be cold and shy. When she accidentally spills a drink on one of them, a male co-worker saves her who ends up being her childhood friend Rei. Anzu is happy to reconnect with Rei, however, Rei might be after a bit more...?

11. Kaichou wa Maid-sama

Seika High School was an all-boys school, but it has since turned co-ed. Misaki Ayuzawa is the first female student council president of the school, eventually earning the nickname of the "Demon President" due to her mastery of Aikido and imposed iron rule.

However, Misaki harbors an embarrassing secret—she has to work at a maid café to support her family. If anybody from her school was to find out, her reputation would be utterly destroyed. And after Takumi Usui—the most popular boy at school—discovers her secret, that might just happen.

12. Kaoru-kun to Hana no Mori

Kaoru is as kind as a prince towards girls. She would love to met men stronger than her! And then, two men appeared in front of her...

13. Katakoi no Tsuki

Kurumi likes Souta-kun, but what happens when Kurumi witnesses Souta-Kun hugging one of her friends? Could Souta-kun already have someone he likes or is Kurumi misunderstanding? What can she do if that girl is her friend, too!?

14. Katakoi Triangle

Sekiya-san of the cultural library has an unrequited love for Yuuki-kun. The one who cares about Sekiya-san is the popular Kasai-kun, who is also Yuuki-kun's friend! And, what's this? Yuuki-kun is rooting for Kasai-kun?! It seems that everyone's feelings are one-sided...or are they?

15. Kimi to Koi no Tochuu

Just when I thought it'd start with you, you disappeared; I would've never thought this... Yuna has lost trust in love after her first boyfriend Takumi broke up with her. Shiina-kun from her class has already confessed to her twice and now finally she approached onto love another time. But Takumi appears in front of her!! What will the swaying Yuna do!?

16. Kyoudai Gokko

Growing up, Takara Rio has always wanted siblings. So when her parents decide to move overseas without her and tells her she will be living with two people around her age, she's cautiously optimistic. But they turn out to be brothers who fight like cats and dogs. Is this what having siblings is like?

17. Last Game

Nothing is beyond Naoto Yanagi, heir to the Yanagi business conglomerate. Idolized for his athletic and intellectual competence, looks and wealth, Naoto lived like a king during his elementary school days—then entered Mikoto Kujou, a plain, gloomy-looking transfer student.

Due to her low financial status, Naoto was initially apathetic towards Mikoto. But despite having just arrived at his school, she completely eclipsed him in everything by consistently scoring top marks in exams and placing first in athletic events. After a brief confrontation with her that left him shocked, Naoto vowed to outdo her no matter the cost.

Ten years later, they are now students attending the same college. Having failed to defeat Mikoto throughout middle and high school, Naoto decides they will have one last game: if he can make Mikoto fall in love with him and then break her heart, it will be his victory. However, he finds himself falling in love with her instead...

18. Last Notes

Haru and Aki are the masters of the branch store - an old-looking and very unusual shop. It sells only one thing: a special kind of incense that, when burned, allows the user to see and speak with the spirit of the dead person that appears in the smoke. Every customer has a different reason for calling up the dead, and how they use this unusual opportunity is up to them...

19. Love Berrish

15 year-old Yuya Fukushima has always wanted to live on her own, in an inn next to her school. This new dorm of hers, the Strawberry Tree Dorm, turns out to be a place with weird people -- a girl that touches her chest out of the blue, a guy with one of the shortest tempers ever. BUT the good thing is, there's a really handsome and nice guy that she fell in love with instantly! Also, not to mention a crazy cat who adores him (looks can be deceiving...). Yuya's life has just became much more interesting...

20. Mata Ashita

Towa's always been shy around guys, despite being a total tomboy. This has crushed her chances of ever having a boyfriend, but a perhaps fateful encounter on the first day of high school might lead to love? But will it be with the surprisingly kind "angelic" delinquent, or the popular yet secretly "devilish" prince?!

21. Momo Raba

Chieri (Cherry) was living an ordinary life, until her sister Ichigo (Strawberry) suddenly left her child Momo (Peach) on Chieri's doorstep. Momo is an infant; how is Chieri supposed to take care of a baby while still in high school!? To make matters even more frustrating, two guys are fighting for Chieri's love...!

22. Monokuro Shounen Shoujo

Kureha Mimachi, a 15-year-old girl, has just transferred into Shiritsu Kenhono High School. However, there is something weird about this school, it is actually a school where the Princes and Princesses of the beast-kind go to! Even though Kureha is human, she is there as a way to help the students lead their lives peacefully with humans and has the role as the "rabbit". Will she be able survive without being eaten by the students? Only time and her hidden bodyguards will be able to answer that...

23. Ouran High School Host Club

At Ouran High School, an academy where only the children of the rich and powerful attend, there exists a club consisting of the most elite of the student body: the legendary Host Club. Within the club's room, six beautiful, bored boys spend their time entertaining equally beautiful and bored girls.

Haruhi Fujioka, a poor scholarship student, has no interest in the Host Club—until she breaks a valuable vase in their clubroom. After being mistaken for a boy, Haruhi is forced by Kyouya Ootori to work for the Host Club to repay her debt. Tamaki Suou, the princely leader of the club, eagerly takes her under his wing to teach her the ways of the host. Things, however, are never quite so simple with the Host Club around. Even the most mundane events can turn into huge spectacles with the likes of prankster twins Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin, stoic Takashi Morinozuka, and sweet Mitsukuni "Hunny" Haninozuka. The crazy adventures of the Host Club are just beginning, and Haruhi must learn how to survive in the glitzy world of the hosts.

24. Parfait Tic

Fuuko is a happy and cheerful girl. One day, two cousins, Daiya and Ichi, move into the apartment upstairs. Cold Ichi and mischievous Daiya gave a very bad first impression. All three are going to the same school as well. How will Fuuko's high school life turn out?

25. Renren Zakari

The day of her graduation, while she was lost and end up on the infirmary, a girl met by coincidence a good looking boy. But she was so panicked that the young man started to make fun of her...?

26. Rockin Heaven

Sawa applies to Heaven's Wing Academy, thinking she would look cute in the uniform. But she never expected the academy to be a previously all-boys' school! And the head honcho of the school, the class president himself doesn't seem to like her one bit and takes no pains to hide it. At first, adjusting to life at the academy is tough. Sawa is bullied and teased, and the boys in the class even throw her new shoes in the water. While attempting to retrieve her shoes, she falls into the water and is unexpectedly saved by Ran, who up until this point has made her life hell. The newfound gentleness in Ran intrigues her, and she finds herself falling for him. What will her days be like for the rest of her school life?

27. Saiouji Kyoudai ni Komarasareru no mo Warukunai

Satou Fuuka is an orphan. Her aunt, who was her guardian, absconded in the night, leaving her with no money. Her parents wanted her to go to school, so she was looking for a job to cover her school expenses and rent (plus living expenses, though she didn't mention it). She goes to be interviewed for a part-time house helper job but is rejected before she can say anything, because the guy offering the job is the eldest for 4 brothers and it's an all-male household. She pours out her story, so he takes pity on her (even though he'd pointed out that she can't really take a part-time job if she doesn't have a guardian) and offers the job as a live-in position. However, he has one condition: she's supposed to disguise herself so his brothers don't take an interest in her. Her disguise: lots of towels around her body, so she looks fat; makeup so she looks old (39); plus her hair is all loose and she's wearing glasses.

28. Sekirara ni Kiss

Chitose has always done well wearing her face like a mask: always smiling, always cute. She feels complete whenever she put it on because it's built to hide her unrefined self: no one hates her, and no one makes fun of her. But after meeting a cute boy who is instinctively more annoyed by her mask than her real self, can Chitose change and make people accept her for who she really is?

29. Shiawase Kissa Sanchoume

Uru is a very short girl and is constantly mistaken for an elementary school kid, but despite that, she is ridiculously strong and decides to live by herself after her mother gets remarried. She ends up working at a small cafe with two rather unique co-workers, Shindou, who acts gruff and intimidating, but who is really a nice guy who loves to make cakes and pies and the like, and Ichirou, who is really good-looking but who instantly falls asleep when he gets hungry and doesn't wake up again until he's force-fed something? What will the future bring to them?

30. Stardust Wink

I’m Anna. I’m 14 years old and I’ve just entered the ninth grade. Sou and Hinata, who live in the same apartment complex as me, are my childhood friends and we’re all the same age. I thought that from now on we’d become even closer friends, but then Sou suddenly did that to me…!!

31. Strobe Edge

Having no experience in romance, the vibrant Ninako curiously explores the meaning of what "love" really is, and is surprised to feel a colorful range of emotions as she grows closer to the school heartthrob, the quiet yet gentle Ren, who also happens to be involved in a longtime relationship. With every intention of keeping her head held high, Ninako prepares to face the mental pain of this one-sided love that she had allowed to take root, facing a series of trials that would either contribute to her growth as a headstrong woman, or break her as it did with other girls.

32. Suki desu Suzuki-kun

Suzuki Hikaru, Hoshino Sayaka, Itou Chihiro and Suzuki Shinobu are all new students who have just entered the same middle school. Sayaka is a shy girl who secretly loves acting. Hikaru is an energetic boy who loves basketball. Incidentally, he shares the same last name with Shinobu, a popular rich boy who would be perfect if not for his rotten personality. Chihiro is Hikaru's childhood friend and has long had a crush on him. On the day of the opening ceremony, Hikaru happens to witness Sayaka acting out the lines of a drama on the rooftop and is instantly captivated. Upon seeing Hikaru getting along with Sayaka, Chihiro's chest begins to ache. When Shinobu sees this, he is overcome by a strange emotion and his heart starts beating faster... Unbeknownst to the four, this is the beginning of their magnificent love story; one that would last years to come.

33. Taiyou no Ie

After her mother abandoned her and her father remarried, high schooler Mao Motomiya is left feeling like she doesn't have a place where she belongs. One night, her childhood friend Hiro Nakamura finds her in a shrine eating cheap convenience store food and offers to take her to a restaurant. Their subsequent heart to heart leads to Hiro suggesting that Mao move in with him. To Hiro who has lived apart from his younger siblings all these years after their parents passed away, bringing his family back together in the once-lively Nakamura home begins with the first step of giving Mao a loving place to belong. When Mao reluctantly accepts his invitation, she is surprised at how easy it is to settle in with her longtime friend. Now she must deal not only with mending her relationship with her father and helping the oldest Nakamura brother attain his goal, but also her growing feelings for Hiro.

34. The Maid at My House

Runako is studying hard to someday succeed as owner of her family's maid dispatching service company. One day, a request comes in from an entertainment production company and shockingly, it's for their super-popular star, Seirei Moroboshi! But could it be that the image he projects on the TV is far different than his true secret face...?!

35. Tonari no Koigataki

Hiro-kun and Icchan are both very important childhood friends to Akane. She thought they would always and forever be good friends, but...

36. Tsubasa to Hotaru

Tsubasa to Hotaru follows 15-year-old Tsubasa Sonokawa, a young student—and a renowned stalker? After one very romantic gesture by a popular upperclassman, she falls head over heels for who she believes to be her one true love. Unfortunately, love can be deceiving, as her feelings are soon proven to be one-sided; the upperclassman directly tells her that she's annoying and that she needs to stop bothering him. How's that for some tough love? Shortly after this horrific heartbreak, her good friend Yuri suffers from a sprained wrist, making it impossible for her to continue her position as the basketball team's manager. After some coaxing on Yuri's part, Tsubasa decides to take on the role in her place. This may be the perfect opportunity for Tsubasa to move on and forget about her unrequited love. On Tsubasa's first day as a manager, the team's shooting guard Aki Hidaka saves her from being hit by a ball. Is this another fateful encounter? Or just a random, meaningless event? One thing is for certain: Tsubasa's days will never be the same again.

37. Uwasa no Midori-kun

Midori Yamate is a 15 year-old girl and is very much a tomboy. When she was young, Midori meets a boy called Tsukasa Hino, who came to the island she lives on for a holiday. He teaches her to play soccer and she falls in love with the sport. Midori is inspired by Tsukasa and continues to play soccer in hopes that they would meet again someday. When they do meet again Tsukasa does something unforgivable. Determined to defeat Tsukasa on the soccer field Midori enrolls in an all boy high school.

38. Yagami-kun wa, Kyou mo Ijiwaru

Just by talking to the famous Yagami-kun, Shizuku's high school life has become hard even from the start—!?

39. Yumemiru Taiyou

While loitering in the park, Shimana Kameko, who intended to run away from home and skip school, meets a suspicious man in a kimono. This man, who had been locked out of his house, offers Shimana a place to stay. However, he requests she fulfill three conditions in exchange for her tenancy!?

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elasticella · 3 years ago

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FIRST LINE OF YOUR LAST 20 STORIES

Rules: List the first lines of your last 20 stories (if you have less than 20, just list them all!). See if there are any patterns. Choose your favourite opening line.

the brilliant @sproutwings tagged me, last time i played was over 20 fics ago, so let’s go \o/ tagging to join in: @sunbelieving, @banshee-cheekbones, @freshbrainss, @bohemicns, @lackadaisicalnereid, @laufire & anyone that wants to jump in ^.^

1. Inej sits on the cabin's bed, and Alina barely refrains from pacing the small room. (s&b, alina/inej: y’know when you want to write a concept for too long and no matter what the fic outcome is, it isn’t gonna come close to what you imagined? yeahhhh)

2. Beth has needed Addy ever since she noticed her on the playground. (dare me, addy/beth: young angry lesbians is my fave genre lbr)

3. The woman who would be empress doesn't draw her blade. (dark matter, misaki/nyx: me watching any characters fight, k but what if they kissed too?)

4. “You want to learn more about your empire?” (dark matter, four/alt!two: i cannot overstate how much i love any two versions of these characters)

5. It's unbelievable. (supernatural, amara/mary: me any time i think about how spn didn’t use the young!mary actress for resurrected mary, aND ANOTHER THING---)

6. Two, and she hadn’t fully decided on that number before, of what it’d feel like not having a typical name forever. (dark matter, android/two: two identity feels)

7. There isn’t much to do besides listen. (tiny pretty things, cassie/delia: moar angry young lesbians!)

8. Bludhaven burns ugly. (dc, dick/slade: dc remains my fave for terrible puns and wordplay)

9. You always knew she would die first. (hannibal, abigail/marissa: second person plus horror remains my jam peeps)

10. "This is a mistake," Vlad murmurs, tucked between her neck and shoulder, small claws keeping him steady. (s&b, alina/darkling: every ship should have at least a thousand daemon aus sns)

11. Mal can't sleep. (s&b, mal/zoya: apparently they have book canon status but didn’t get to bang in the show? rude)

12. "You're thinking again," Cam playfully accuses, tweaking one of her nipples. (h&cf, cameron/donna: i never finished this show but i’m still fond of the ship)

13. "No way," Cameron breathes, feels Donna shiver under her. (h&cf, cameron/donna: light smut ficlet)

14. Zoya wants to scream. (s&b, alina/zoya: a similar genre, young angry bis)

15. “Quit moving, you’re gonna mess it up.” (dare me, beth/riri: bloodplay ficlet)

16. Someone is in his safe house. (dc, dick/slade: iirc this was my first attempt at writing dickstroke, they’re such fun even if i always feel a few beats short of where i wanna be with them)

17. Beth hasn't drunk enough to dull the pain. (dare me, addy/beth: super niche, but i’m still pleased with the outcome)

18. Asleep, one could confuse Blair with a nice college girl. (gossip girl, blair/vanessa: frenemies that fuck remains my fave thing for these two)

19. Blair goes missing when Jenny is at school in London, getting her degree from CSM. (gossip girl, blair/jenny: the og young angry lesbians)

20. "You got the assignment cupcake?" (mcu/succession, valentina/willa: me every time i think of willa, oh hey i should catch up on succession)

Patterns: mostly short sentences, also sentences about the ship or dialogue i think cover everything this time

Favorite: #9! it’s still grippy to me, i dig it \o/

#chatterings #my writing

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kingsmedley · 3 years ago

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welcome to the playground || arcane verse

A verse taking place in the world of Arcane: League of Legends, based entirely on the show.

Yoshiya “Joshua” Kiryu: A topside kid with an aptitude for magic and sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong, Joshua was always an inquisitive child, but after the invention of Hextech, his parents threw themselves into investment and advancement, leaving him to his own devices–which often involved sneaking down to the undercity.

And he’s built quite a life for himself down there–a chembaron with aspirations for more, always more. He’s grown a hatred for Hextech, bitter with how it stole his parents and his previously perfect life away from him, and yet, he doesn’t hesitate to use it, his magic potential giving him the ability to do so.

Raimu “Rhyme” Bito (@hexhacker): A girl from the Lanes who’s made a business of designing and selling her own knock-off Hextech devices. Joshua often provides her with blueprints and other inside knowledge of Hextech he gets from his parents in exchange for devices or discounts. She got a brain injury trying to stop Beat when he was on Shimmer, which caused her to lose her memory, and she’s spent the years since creating new memories and dreams. And though she truly loves and forgives her brother, she can’t get over that bit of instinctive fear that remains.

Daisukenojo “Beat” Bito: Rhyme’s brother. He was forced to use Shimmer right when it was first becoming widely-used, and hurt Rhyme as she tried to prevent him from hurting others. Since then, he’s joined the Firelights and done everything in his power to redeem himself. He absolutely detests Shimmer.

Neku Sakuraba: A Firelight and Beat’s best friend. He’s very invested in his cause and wants to shut down the production of Shimmer entirely.

Shiki Misaki: Born in Zaun, her family managed to move up to Piltover, but she’s still struggling to shake her roots, no matter how desperately she wants to.

#welcome to the playground || arcane verse

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girlwithshipsshitshow · 4 years ago

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Part 23

(After breakfast, everyone went there separate ways, the girls went to the park, Manami took Mahiro took Mahiro to the beach, and Misaki and Usagi went home, it would be the first time they’d have the place to themselves since last night, although it felt like ages. When the two entered the house Misaki sighed, flopping on the couch closing his eyes, he’d felt so tired. Usagi Smiled walking over to his boyfriend, placing his head his on his lap, softly stroking his hair.)

Usagi: Are you okay?

Misaki: I’m just tired, I don’t know why.

Usagi: I think you’re mentally exhausted, you finally finished school, and now this thing with your brother; you just want everything to work out.

Misaki: I hope it does. (he’s voice was quite, like he was about to fall asleep. Usagi smiled at him, pulling the blanket that cover the back off the couch off of it, wrapping it around the small boy).

Usagi: Try to get some sleep.

Misaki: What about you? (He mumbled).

Usagi: I still have some Greys anatomy to watch

Misaki: (Scoffs) Of course you do. You love that show. (He leaned up slightly, giving Usagi a kiss on his chin) I- I couldn’t reach your lips, (He fell back on Usagi’s lap, (and I’m to tired to sit up all the way).

Usagi: That’s okay, (Picks up Misaki’s hand, kissing it softly), This will do, I love you.

Misaki: I love you too.

Usagi: (He smiled at the younger boy, the turned the tv on, keeping the volume down. Watching a show he liked, and his favorite person sleeping on his lap, he couldn’t ask for anything better after a good meal with friends).

Takahiro: I’m going to apologize today! Just come home!

Manami: Not until I hear from them that everything is fine! (She leaned back in the sand watching Mahiro build a castle, he glanced up waving at her, she smiled waving back. Takahiro had called a few moments ago telling her his big plan on how he was going to apologize to Misaki, but he wanted them to come home first).

Takahiro: I just don’t understand why you can’t come home first.

Manami: That’s part of the problem. (Sighs), We aren’t coming home yet.

Takahiro: I’m on my way to apologize, I promise.

Manami: I Believe that you want to, but I need to know that you did.

Takahiro: I feel really bad for how I acted, I never knew that he was so happy, I’m not homophobic.

Manami: I’m not the person you should be saying this to, stop telling me, go tell them, goodbye Takahiro. (She sighed hanging up, smiling at Mahiro, he was working on an expressive sad castle. She stood walking over to him). Wow, bud, that’s a cool sand castle.

Mahiro: Yeah, you could live in it. (He bit his lip) I mean if we were tiny people. I think I’m done, can you take a picture?

Manami: Sure!

Mahiro: It could be better but-

Manami: It’s amazing, dude you’re four and you built this!?

Mahiro: I guess.

Manami: It’s a big deal. Okay, fine what should we do with your talent?

Mahiro: I don’t want to make a big deal about it. I want to be a kid.

Manami: Okay, but if you change your mind, let me know.

Mahiro: Moooooooommmm, I know. Can I go swimming.

Manami: Okay, but be careful.

Mahiro: You and daddy made me take lessons when I was a baby, I know how to swim.

Manami: Still. I’m going to stay here and guard your castle.

Mahiro: Okay.

Manami: ( Takahiro: I'm here, what do I do?, She rolled her eyes quickly texting back, Go, in and talk to them, and stop staling. She sighed Sending him good vibes). I really hope everything goes well.

(Takahiro nervously stood at the door that lead to their house, he wasn’t sure if he should knock or not, sighing he finally decied to just knock. Misaki stirred on the couch at the sound, Usagi on the other hand was upset, he wanted his Love to rest).

Usagi: Maybe if we don’t answer they’ll leave.

Misaki: I think they’ll know we’re here.

Usagi: Fine, I’ll get it. (He stood walking to the door, gasping when he opened it.). What are you doing here?

Takahiro: We need to talk, (He looked behind Usagi, at the younger boy who was staring at the door frowning), all of us?, Please Usami?

Usagi: I don’t know Takahiro.

Misaki: (Walking up beside him, stroking his arm), It’s okay Hon, let him in.

Usagi: Are you sure?

Misaki: Yeah, I am.

Usagi: Okay. Come on in Takahiro.

Usagi: So, why are you here?

Takahiro: I’m here to apologize.

(The three of them were sitting on the couches, Takahiro sitting across from the two boys, it was awkward. Usagi and Misaki wanted to hold hands to comfort each other, but thought it wasn’t a good idea, not now).

Usagi: Apologize?

Takahiro: Yeah.

Usagi: I’m surprised, I didn’t think you’d come around so quickly.

Takahiro: Well um, (He rubbed the back of his neck laughing nervously), I was looking through these pictures and noticed something. (He slid the pictures he was looking through earlier on the table) Do you notice something in these photos?

Usagi: (Picks up the first photo of Misaki as a kid, he’s around three), Yeah, Look how happy Misaki is, and so cute.

Misaki: (Blushes), I don’t think that’s the point he’s trying to make babe. Look at the next picture.

Usagi: (Flips to the next picture of Misaki, Takahiro and their parents), How long ago was this?

Misaki: Um, fourteen years ago. That was a week before my parents died. That’s the last happy memory I have of them.

Takahiro: What do you notice about his smiles?

Usagi: (Gives look of confusion), I don’t understand? He smiles Like this everyday.

Takahiro: (Points to another photo, Misaki is in the park, at the playground where he used to go as a kid, it’s a few months after his parents died). Look here, he’s smiling right.

Usagi: (Scoffs), Yeah but it’s clearly fake, (Looks through all the pictures), All of these are. He still uses this smile sometimes. (Usagi gently hits his knee with Misaki’s, especially when he’s hiding something).

Misaki: Blushes, picks up the picture of the three of them an Manami at Takahiro’s birthday a few months after he met Usagi), This smile is better.

Usagi: It’s not the same as the one you have now, not like when you were a kid. (Looks at the finally photo, Misaki was in Osaka in that one, He was happy here, but his eyes were sad). See this is a real smile, but you still look sad.

Misaki: I missed you, (He was quiet).

Usagi: Here’s a picture of him really happy. (He passed his phone to Takahiro, the picture was taken a few months ago, on Christmas eve, they had just eaten dinner and had their picture taken under the twinkling lights of the Tokyo sky tree. Usagi’s arms where tightly wrapped around Misaki’s waist, his hands gently rested on Usagi’s, they shared wide matching grins and flushed faces due to the cold air from that amazing night, both boys had it set has their lock screen).

Takahiro: Misaki, (He sighed passing the phone back to Usagi), I’m so sorry, I had no idea. I always wanted you to get married and have children like me, I always wanted you to be like me.

Misaki: I know, part of me always knew. That’s why I went to the university and got the degree you always wanted. Because you never could, but marrying a girl, that’s not me. I mean, I never intend to fall in love with Usagi, but I do think we would’ve no matter what.

Usagi: It was fate.

Misaki: (Nods), Yeah, I’m so sorry it had to be your best friend, and-

Usagi: I know you wanted me to always look out for him but- (Picks up Misaki’s hand), This way I always will, I will always protect him. I love him so much.

Misaki: Yeah, and I love him, I really do.

Takahiro: I just want you to be happy, I’m not here to stop you, and to make you feel bad, you don’t have to accept my apology, but I am sorry.

Misaki: Okay, thanks.

Usagi: Yeah. You can bring your family home now, we love them and all but-

Takahiro: Akihiko, you like your space I know. (Stands), Which is crazy that you let Misaki in.

Usagi: He’s the one, he had to come in. (Stands up, Shakes Takahiro’s hand), Thanks for coming.

Takahiro: Yeah, you can keep the pictures.

Usagi: Thanks.

Misaki: (Stands up hugging his brother), This is the third time you’ve done something like this, next time we won’t be so forgiving.

Takahiro: There won’t be a next time, I promise.

Misaki: Okay, goodnight.

Takahiro: It’s only noon.

Misaki: Well, goodday.

Takahiro: But-

Misaki: Go get your families stuff, and go home.

Usagi: (Nods), Please go home, we’ll see you.

Takahiro: Okay. (Runs upstairs to pack for his wife and kid).

(Misaki and Usagi sit back on the couch cuddling).

Usagi: How do you feel?

Misaki: Okay I guess. You?

Usagi: I just want you to be happy.

Misaki: Do you think he means it?

Usagi: I hope so baby, I really do.

#junjou romantica #junjouromaticafanfic #usagi #Akihiko Usami #usami akihiko #Misaki #misaki takahashi #takahashi misaki #Misaki x Usagi #Usagi x Misaki #Takahiro Takahashi #Mahiro #rose #eri #manami

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itsuki-minamy · 4 years ago

Text

“SIX IDOLS”

CHAPTER 2: “YATA MISAKI’S BUILDING EXPLORATION! HAUNTED HOUSE EDITION” (Complete)

* K - Six Idols (List of Chapters) * Projects & Chapters

Translation: Naru-kun Raws: Ridia

That day, it had been raining since morning.

He lifts his scarf to his mouth, takes a sip of hana, and Misaki Yata walks down the well-known shopping street. Born and raised in Shizume, this shopping street has been a playground, pathway, and everyday scene since childhood.

The fish shop shutter opened and a middle-aged woman appeared. The fish-filled foamed shelf is neat in the showcase. When he saw her, Yata bowed politely.

"Good morning, Oba-chan. You are well today."

"Oh, Misaki-chan. Yes, good morning. Are you going home now?"

Yata smiles bitterly. It is true that there is no morning and no night in the entertainment world, but he has not set an unreasonable schedule for having to go home at this time. Izumo Kusanagi, who is the actual owner, is paying attention to that area.

"No, it's recorded from now on. It's a home visiting plan for 'Shirogin Deluxe'. Have you seen it?"

"Oh, that show! I love it too. Misaki-chan, you're supposed to be out. I'm glad."

Yata was a little glad to see her shaking her face. For him, who has never left his hometown, it is a great motivation to please people who have known him for a long time.

Yata raises his thumb and shows it to the lady.

"Thanks! Well then I'll go!"

The lady also made an approving gesture to imitate Yata.

"Yeah, come on. Good luck, I'm supporting you."

Waving as he walks, Yata realizes that his heart is filled with warm feelings. The cold of winter and the mist that clings to his skin seemed to immediately disappear at that sensation.

Yata, who passed through the business district and onto the main street, was not surprised at all to see the location car.

"Huh? Are you turning the camera already?"

"Oh, Yata-san! Hello!"

Kamamoto, who was standing near the location car, waved loudly while holding the camera. Loud greetings are good in this industry if it's on a television station.

Yata rushed over to Kamamoto and touched his head.

"Ah!"

"Don't yell! It's going to upset the neighbors!"

All of them are also captured on camera. But that doesn't really matter to him. The interaction between the two, as a team, is not yet known to viewers, but when Yata and Kamamoto appear in pairs, such interaction is often expected.

"No, I'm sorry! I'm happy because it's been a while since I've been in a place with you, Yata-san!"

"How do you say, we didn't do something a week ago?"

As they exchanged words, Yata boarded the location car. Kamamoto also sits next to him, pointing his camera at Yata. Yata is reminded of when he sees several staff members in the car pointing lights and microphones at him.

"So why are you already filming? Doesn't filming start after arriving at Kokujoji-san's house?"

Today's plan is to visit the villa of the renowned artist, Daikaku Kokujoji, as he told the lady from the fishmonger. Kokujoji, who was the driving force behind this "idol age" and has 98% national recognition, is a representative not only of the entertainment world but also of Japanese society. Despite the fact that it is a village, Yata was not less than enthusiastic about visiting his home.

"Well, anyway, we are going to visit Kokujoji-san's house, so it's up to the headmaster to take pictures before and after that!"

Kamamoto says that and Yata wonders, "Is that so?" Since a big name like Daikaku Kokujoji is involved, the production side may also be concerned about various things.

"The location car will go outside. Please put your seatbelt on."

Both Yata and Kamamoto wear belts at the director's call. With Yata's unsettling feelings, the vehicle slid slowly onto the national highway.

If he thinks about it later, he should have noticed it then.

++++++++++

Yata finally wondered when he got to the capital highway from the national highway and left Tokyo.

"Isn't that the destination in Tokyo?"

Kamamoto's camera keeps spinning. Behind the camera, Kamamoto's expression covered by sunglasses seemed to be different from his usual appearance. Kamamoto has a smile on his face like a sticker.

"That's right. Everything seems to be near the secret hot spring in Nagano prefecture."

"I haven't heard that."

"Oh, is that so? Well, I heard it for the first time today."

Yata takes a closer look at Kamamoto. Kamamoto is turning the camera with a smile on his face.

"Well, ok."

Muttering, Yata turned to the outside of the car.

It is in the morning on weekdays. Location cars fly down the highway at a comfortable speed. The flowing landscape becomes an overflowing nature.

The location car went off the road through the interchange.

It was the field. Far from being a figure, even houses are rare. Beyond the fields as far as the eye can see, there are three trees with bushes. It must be a rural landscape everywhere in Japan, but he didn't think it was the place where Kokujoji Daikaku's village was located.

"I see. Did you make a mistake on the road?"

"You are not mistaken! Director?"

Kamamoto speaks to him from the passenger seat in an unnecessarily loud tone. The director gave him an ambiguous answer, like "Oh.", "Yes.", which made Yata feel even more uncomfortable. The localization vehicle goes into the mountains.

The landscape that should be described as abundant extends to the left and right. Green leaves and black trees are twisted and intertwined. Behind the threadbare and rusty railing, there was a sign with words like "Take care of your life." and "Think of your family.", and Yata looked away from the vehicle window.

The rain gets stronger.

The rain and fog were turning into a storm before he knew it. Perhaps the weather in the mountains is volatile, with dense black clouds hanging overhead, and it is as dark as it is at night, even though it is close to noon. Also, it seems that he was going astray, and the interior of the car began to shake with the rattle.

Yata yells as he grabs the armrest.

"Hey! Is there really a Kokujoji-san's village in such a place?"

"Well, I heard that."

Hearing the headmaster's response, Yata made his mouth twitch. He wants to complain, but the words can't come out. Either way, he don't know the location and have no choice but to leave everything to them.

After that, when they passed a winding mountain road for several tens of minutes, the vehicle stopped.

"We arrived?"

Yata asked with relief. Kamamoto says in a cheerful voice.

"That's right. Look, it's Kokujoji-san's village!"

Beyond the windshield, when he saw the house illuminated by the lights, Yata's face was full of energy.

It was a decaying western-style building.

It used to be a magnificent building, but due to deterioration over time, the exterior has peeled off in places, exposing construction materials and pipes. It was as if the skin had been ripped off by torture and the muscles and blood vessels underneath were exposed.

Yata slammed his fist into Kamamoto's head, regardless of whether the camera was spinning.

"Ah? What are you doing, Yata-san?"

"Where is this village? No matter how you look at it, it is an abandoned castle!"

"Oh, even if I say that... What about the director?"

The director in the seat looked back as he expanded the map.

"We are not wrong, it is here."

"Isn't that the case?! In such a place, Kokujoji-san's is a great village."

Yata's protest, however, disappeared when he saw what the director was pointing at.

A figure was at the entrance of the building.

The silhouette that extends the Japanese umbrella and protects itself from the rain is familiar. Costumes similar to hunting clothes and masks that imitate rabbits. All people who belong to the largest agency, the "Tokijikuin Agency" represented by Daikaku Kokujoji, regardless of age or gender, idols or non-idols, wear this outfit. They are widely recognized as "rabbits", sometimes appearing as back dancers in the figure and sometimes as messengers from the "Tokijikuin Agency".

Kamamoto says while capturing the surroundings with the camera.

"Looks like it's here, right?"

"Ah, stupid..."

The director gets out of the location vehicle and begins talking to the rabbit. Yata also opened his umbrella and got out of the vehicle, feeling uncomfortable.

"Good morning. Welcome, you have come a long way."

The rabbit bowed politely, waving in a soft voice. Yata is confused and says hello too.

"Oh, good morning. Is this it?"

"The front is closed now. Please relax in the hall first."

The rabbit turned his back to shake off Yata's question and walked into the hall. The film crew, including the director, did the same.

"Really…"

Yata, who was left alone, began to walk quickly. Instead of keeping up with them, he no longer wanted to be alone.

When…

At the edge of his sight, he saw something white moving. Reflectively, Yata turned his gaze to him.

A white figure was standing in one of the windows lined up on the second floor of the building.

The figure, whose skin and clothing were pure white, immediately disappeared into the darkness as if he had noticed Yata's line of sight.

"……"

Yata's face was pale and alternately compared the windows of the second floor with the entrance of the building.

++++++++++

The storm doesn't seem to stop, and it gets stronger and stronger. Yata eagerly watched the sound of the rain pounding from above.

"Hey. Kokujoji-san, isn't he coming yet?"

It has been almost an hour since he passed the dimly lit room. The Rabbit guide said, "Please wait a bit." and he retired and didn't show up at all. Yata and his colleagues were completely abandoned.

He's getting angry. No matter what the "Tokijikuin Agency" is, it is impossible to treat idols from other agencies so carelessly. Yata had a personality that such irrationality could not forgive.

However, now he doesn't feel angry and just wants to go home.

Every time the light from an old lamp shining on the table casts a complex shadow on the wall, the figure in Yata's mind, perhaps the white figure above, blinks.

Yata gulps and talks to Kamamoto next him.

"Maybe he doesn't feel right? So I think it's rude to bother him, we'll re-record at a later date."

"Even if you say that..."

Kamamoto was confused and spoke to the director.

"What do you think, Director? That Rabbit, I don't think he's coming back."

The director puts his hand to his jaw and thinks. Yata looked at his figure expectantly.

"It is true that this will hinder the schedule."

"Really?!"

"Then, let's go find the rabbit."

"Eh?"

The director and other members of the film crew rose to their feet one after another. From those who handle the light to the makeup, they try to go with the director. Yata instinctively tried to stop them.

"Wait a minute! Why is everyone going?"

"As we will be looking for him, it is better to have more manpower."

"That's right, oh, yeah, then I'll go with you."

"No, if we let the actor do these kinds of tasks, the name of the show will be frowned upon. Yata-san and Kamamoto-san, you should wait here."

Just with that, the other members except Yata and Kamamoto walked out of the reception room.

"……"

Yata stretched out his empty hand and sat back on the couch.

The reception room, where the current had already been introduced, felt even colder when the equipment left. Yata flailed his legs fiercely, staring into the dim lamplight. He cannot say anything and is calm.

He feels bad because he is worried about the normal path. As an important figure in the world of idols, Yata pays tribute to Kokujoji. He is concerned about the status of the great man, not because he is afraid of this eerie western-style building.

While repeating his trembling thoughts, Yata was confident that the team or the rabbit would return as soon as possible.

And 30 minutes passed, 1 hour passed.

It seems that the rain has stopped a bit. Instead, thunder was heard more frequently. The haunting and rumbling sky sometimes casts a light similar to a flare on the window. This time, Yata realized that his body was jumping.

"It's not too late?"

Unable to suppress the trembling voice, he talks to Kamamoto. Kamamoto keeps his camera on the table in front of him, arms crossed and silent.

Yata was driven by anxiety and shook his shoulder.

"Eh? Kamamoto?"

Kamamoto lowered his head in a low voice.

"Yes."

"Don't fall asleep, fat man!"

"Hmm!" When he touched his head, Kamamoto's sunglasses slid off.

Kamamoto makes a shocked voice, dressed like an idiot with sunglasses hooked to the edge of his ear.

"What is it? What is it?"

"Idiot! The others haven't come back yet!"

However, Yata's anger did not seem to be transmitted to Kamamoto at all. He stretched out humorously, grabbed the camera from the table, and stood up.

"I'm in trouble. Then I'll search a bit!"

"Oh, why?"

The voice was about to scream, but Yata no longer has the psychological margin to worry about such things. Kamamoto scratched his head like he was in trouble.

"No, it doesn't matter what you say. If they don't come back, it's only natural for me to go looking for them, right?"

"That said, the directors have not returned. If you go, the same thing will happen, right?"

Kamamoto bowed his head and pointed the camera at Yata. Yata's face is reflected in the black lens. Kamamoto had a ridiculous tone as he clearly reflected his scared face.

"Maybe Yata-san… Are you afraid of being alone?"

"Moron!"

Yata's low kick went through Kamamoto's right knee and the giant rolled on the ground.

"Hey, Yata-san, please stop hitting me!"

"Ah! Maybe it's because I don't like your comments?"

"Just kidding! Yata isn't scared at this level! I get it!"

"I go to search..."

Yata responds with a negative voice like a different person than until now. Kamamoto stood up while rubbing his knees and headed straight for the exit.

"Then, I'll go for a bit."

Kamamoto left the room. Yata was left alone in the reception room.

"……"

He cannot hear anything but the sound of rain, thunder, and the beat of his heart. He feels restless and walk around the table for no reason. Check the clock almost every minute. Every time, he repeats the idea of going round and round, why he hasn't come back yet.

At that moment, the roar of the guitar solo echoed through the hall.

"What?!"

Involuntarily, he raises a strange voice and jumps. The guitar solo echoed in Yata's bag that he had left on the couch. The fiery melody is a representative song of "Red King Idol" Suoh Mikoto, which Yata respects.

Yata took out his PDA while suppressing his heartbeat.

The incoming call was from Kamamoto. As soon as he answers the call, Yata yells at him.

"Hey, don't call suddenly!"

As he screamed, Yata felt relieved somewhere in his heart.

Kamamoto on the other end of the phone echoed the usual subtle voice without knowing such complicated psychology.

"No, I'm sorry, Yata-san. I thought it would be bad for Yata-san to be worried, so I'm sorry."

"Are you eating something?"

"Eh? No, no way..."

"You're eating! Where are you now?"

"Oh, no... it's like a kitchen."

"You're stupid! How do you eat in someone's kitchen when you visit their house? You can't do that, even if you're a visitor!"

Yata yells. At the same time, when he looks out the window, he notices that his expression has softened. Kamamoto's usual eating habits seemed to be irreplaceable and encouraging at this point.

Kamamoto says, while making a locking sound.

"Well, you often say that if I'm hungry, I can't do it, right? And I came here guessing."

"Eh?"

"I could see a figure here, so I thought it was a rabbit. It was wearing white clothes, so I'm sure it's correct."

A small shadow was born on Yata's slightly warmed chest.

A figure in white clothes.

"Hey, Kamamoto."

"Hmm? That? That, maybe..."

When he hears Kamamoto's voice as if noticing something, the shadow gets bigger as it swells.

"Wait a minute. Come back!"

"No, what are you talking about, there was a rabbit. Sorry! When can I start recording?"

There, Kamamoto's voice cut off.

The shadow fills Yata's heart. Yata clenches the sweat from his hands that slowly spreads onto his PDA.

"Hey! Kamamoto! Come back!"

"That? It's weird. Why?"

"Kamamoto!"

"Why was his neck looking away?"

Almost at the same time as those words, a wet sound echoed off his PDA.

It's like hitting a wet leather bag on the ground.

It's like squashing a rotten tomato.

A sound with an ominous premonition clung to Yata's ears.

"Kama-…!"

The calling voice was interrupted by a loud sound that pierced the tympanic membrane. Maybe that's why he dropped his PDA. He lets it go involuntarily, and Yata looks at his PDA. Notice the words "Rikio Kamamoto" floating just below the "Call" screen.

After a while of silence, the speaker began to pick up the sound of "something."

Tap. Tap. Yata notes that the sound that resonates regularly is footsteps. Facing Yata, who is stuck as if frozen, the speaker mercilessly continues to reproduce the sound of "something".

"Heh heh heh."

In the end, a sound like that of a laughing voice, and the call was cut off.

Seeing the words "End of call", Yata noticed the sweat on his back.

There is certainly "something" here.

Yata thinks about it while being driven into a panic. Can't imagine what it is. Is it related to that white figure? What happened to that rabbit and the members that went looking for him?

And Kamamoto...

"Ah!"

Clenching his fist and teeth, Yata stared at the living room door.

If Yata were alone, he would have screamed and stormed out of the reception room, rushing into mountains of thunderstorms. Not good in this situation, let's be clear. It is incredibly scary. Even now, his knees are shaking and he can't even stand.

However, Kamamoto is here. There are also directors and film crews that came with him.

If he abandons them and runs away alone, he will deny the human Misaki Yata.

"Damn!"

Yata slammed his hardened fist against his thigh. That doesn't stop the shaking of the knees, but it is something.

Thus, pain inspired Yata. He strides across the room and kicks the door open before crossing.

"Wait, Kamamoto! I'm going to help you now!"

Screaming to inspire himself, Yata stepped into the darkness in front of him.

++++++++++

Kamamoto said at the end that he was in the kitchen.

Of course, Yata does not know the layout of the building. Still, since it's a kitchen, he guesses it's somewhere on the first floor, and he walks down the hall in big surprise. The lamp, which should be from the lighting equipment, was not on, and Yata had to use the light from his PDA as a flashlight and advance terrifyingly.

Lightning and thunder roar. The entire view of the hallway was projected for a moment as if the camera's flash fired.

It's a long corridor with blood-colored ridges and bone-like walls. The portraits are evenly spaced on the wall.

As he slowly advances, Yata tries to keep the portrait out of his eyes. Because the line of sight can match. Because if he looks at them, they might laugh at him.

If he looks at a portrait, his heart may explode as if he is doing his best live. Yata still couldn't die. He couldn't die until he saved Kamamoto and the team members.

"……"

The blankness on his face means that fear outweighs courage. There is no colleague from the "Homura Performing Arts Office" who can laugh at him, they are not here at the moment. Yata has to fight both loneliness and fear.

Fold the corner twice.

Apparently it is a corridor. Maybe the kitchen is not on the first floor. If that happens, he will have to climb the stairs. That fact began to haunt Yata's thoughts.

Before entering the hall, a white figure reflected in the window for a moment flickered in Yata's mind.

Climbing the stairs means going to that figure. Yata wasn't sure he could get into such a situation even though he no longer had the courage to oppress it anymore.

When, suddenly, the door on his left moved with a piercing noise.

"Eh?"

Yata jumped to the ground in a squeaky voice.

The door opened slowly as if it had a will of its own.

The warm breeze that flowed from there caressed his taut cheeks.

He's sure it was moved by air flow or something, until he found out, it wouldn't move.

Thousands of words that are less than thoughts fill his mind. The instinct of "I want to get away from here" and the belief that "I can't abandon my friends" conflict with each other, and Yata's body tends to be rigid.

As it is, a minute has passed.

Nothing happens.

Realizing that, Yata began to move. The doorplate illuminated by the light of the PDA came into view.

The word "Dining Room" was written there.

"This is here?"

Muttering to be sure, swallowing hard, Yata opened the door.

The spacious dining room was filled with humid air. There is a long table as seen in the movie and several chairs around it. A three-pointed candelabrum on a pure white tablecloth receives the light and glows golden.

Yata scans the room while glancing at the scene. If there is a door that leads to the kitchen, that will be the goal.

The feelings of wanting to find them and not wanting to find them are in conflict in Yata. It was the manifestation of the two feelings that filled Yata's heart, the instinct of not wanting to face loyalty and the belief that he should help his companions.

Suddenly, Yata felt something crash against his toes.

It bounces and terrifyingly points the light to the ground.

It was a ham. A thick, boneless ham that appears to be around Yata's foot. There is evidence that the packaging has been broken and removed.

Kamamoto no doubt picked it up and ate it.

He had been here.

"Kamamoto?"

His voice echoed mysteriously. When he turned on the lights, the door that would lead to the kitchen was open. Yata went in there.

The kitchen floor was damp. When Yata's shoes hit the wet floor, he made a sticky noise and pulled a rope between his shoes and the floor.

The light from the PDA trembled as if Yata's discomfort was transmitted.

The previous light reflects the ground. Yata arrived when there was a trail of something crawling across the red-black wet ground.

At the same time, there is a watery sound in the kitchen.

Kucha, Juru, Picha, Nichi, Giri.

He doesn’t notice it from the sound of the rain. he could hear the sound all the time.

Jutsu, guchitsu, baki, zuru, gucha...

Maybe he didn't want to realize it. Because it was a realization of Yata's fear.

Baki, Bagi, Goritsu, Boritsu, Jururu.

However, Yata had to face realization. He thought that he had to record it in his own eyes no matter what result he was hoping for.

A trembling light crawls across the ground and follows the bloodline.

"It" was closer than he expected.

He was wearing white clothing, similar to a dress. The word "it" comes from the fact that it was so worn that it was hard to see. The hem ripped like a saw blade and dirt that has mixed in here and there has soaked it. It was probably the dirt that caused the thread to stick to the soles of Yata's shoes.

"It" seemed to turn away from him and crouch like a monkey, shaking his head vigorously. He shook his pure white hair, moving his face further and further, and moving his hands to break something.

Each time, the watery sound from before, resonates.

A familiar giant lay in front of "It"

Kamamoto's eyes, illuminated by the lights, were wide open and were no longer looking at anything.

Yata took a step back, it would be terrible to blame him for being shy. Yata's survival instinct demanded a distance from "it", just as a hunted animal would reflexively frighten. Holding his mouth with his hand, while pouring a fixed stare at "it", Yata tries to leave the room.

There was a dry sound under his feet.

"… ?!"

Yata hastily points the light at his feet.

There were Kamamoto's sunglasses. Stepped on by Yata, the lens of the sunglasses snapped in two.

He looked up from the sunglasses and saw "it", terrifyingly.

The movement stopped, as if it had frozen.

Even arms thin like dead trees and hair white like ceramic remain frozen.

The neck began to turn silently.

Slowly and precisely, like the gears of a machine. Turning sideways, diagonally back, and turning 180 degrees, it "saw" Yata.

Kamamoto's words revive in Yata's mind.

("Why is your neck there?")

Looking at Yata with only his face, with his body facing forward.

"It" moves just a little.

Random blood-soaked teeth were stained with a speckled pattern of yellow and red.

"Gaaaaaaaaaaah!"

When he noticed, Yata was sprinting down the hall of the building.

Screams of flight and senseless came from his mouth, the eyes had shed tears incessantly. He is not sure where he is going. However, he wanted to get away from that kitchen as soon as possible.

Yata slipped and fell, trying to turn the corner of the hall at full speed. He crashes into the wall and stops, reflectively looking at the darkness from which he ran.

He couldn't find the figure for "it."

However, only sound was heard.

Regularly echoing sounds and footsteps approached Yata from the other side of the darkness with a speed that shook fear.

Yata got to his feet and started running. His brain made a full rotation. Remembering the layout of the building, He try to find a way out.

As he ran down the hall, he saw a familiar sight.

This is the entrance hall he saw when he first entered the building. A ridiculously huge chandelier and a portrait of Daikaku Kokujoji on the wall of a huge staircase. Yata immediately took the door that led to the outside of the left door.

No matter how much he pushes or pull, it won't open. Even if he turned the key like crazy, kicked the door, or slammed it, the heavy door would not stubbornly move. Full of irritation and anger, Yata says, "Come on! What's this? Open up! Open up!"

However, the screaming, almost crying, stopped immediately. The footsteps were getting closer.

Hita, Hita, Hita, Hita.

Yata let go of all his emotions and ran like a ball. He refused to be there putting all his physical abilities that he refined as an idol.

Yata, who was running like the wind, soon found a bath.

When he enters, it was divided into several private rooms. He pushes open while checking with the PDA light and it slides inside.

When the lights went out, the bathroom filled with a darkness that seemed to crush him.

Yata supports his head as he shakes on the toilet seat.

("What is that, what is that, what is that?")

Did "it" eat Kamamoto?

Anger at his partner's murder swelled through his body, but much more than that, fear of the mysterious monster in front of him. The monster crawls out looking for him at this very moment. Just imagining it makes his skin rust.

After doing it for a while, Yata suddenly came up with something.

"I have to ask for help..."

Of course, the reason the idea that was taken for granted didn't come up until now is because his brain was engulfed in fear. Yata tapped his PDA with his shaking finger and first tried to contact his most trusted boss, Izumo Kusanagi.

At that moment, he heard a voice from the depths of the darkness of the hall.

"Yata-san, where are you? Please answer."

Yata stops his finger and raises his face as if flipped over. The cold, sweaty expression shone with wonder and joy.

"Kamamoto...?"

"Yata-san, please help me. I got hurt."

Without a doubt, it was Rikio Kamamoto's voice.

It has been delayed, but it cannot be wrong. Yata stood up in the bathroom of a private room and sharpened his ears.

Kamamoto's voice seems to come and go right outside the bathroom. Or maybe Kamamoto, who was lying at the time, was still alive. Perhaps he escaped from the monster and came to ask for help.

("Here! Kamamoto, I'm here! We will run away together!")

Yata hastily shut his mouth when he was about to scream.

Not out of self-protection, it was out of doubt.

Is that really Kamamoto's voice?

There is no reason. The questions equal to intuition, however, get louder and louder as he hears Kamamoto's voice.

"Yata-san, Yata-san, where are you? I'm hungry, I'm hungry, I don't care, I want to eat soon."

He had goose bumps.

No matter how much it is Kamamoto, in such a situation, he couldn't think of making such a loud voice and worrying about food.

Yata sat back on the toilet seat. He keeps his mouth closed with watery eyes to prevent any sound from escaping.

Still, Kamamoto's voice continues to call him by name. "Yata-san, where are you?"

Suddenly, Kamamoto's voice cut off.

"……"

Yata blinked. A tear drop was shed. He wondered if he was gone.

There is no way to confirm it. There is not an iota of courage to get out of there. Yata took out the PDA again and started the message app. He absolutely did not want to talk. First he would call Kusanagi, then Kusanagi would call the police.

Yata's PDA sounded with a roaring guitar solo.

"Eh?"

Suoh Mikoto's guitar solo, which he is more intoxicated with than anyone, now sounds like a devastating call from the devil. Yata hurries to look at the PDA. While cursing the idiot who made a call in such a situation, he looks at the screen regretting not having put the silent mode.

His spine froze.

The name "Rikio Kamamoto" was etched on the screen.

He hung up the call and turned off the PDA. As he did so, he thought.

He couldn't think optimistically that Kamamoto was alive. The voice from before was definitely not Kamamoto himself.

So the current call was... that "thing".

That "thing" took Kamamoto's PDA and called it, to find out where it turned on.

About the same time, he was convinced of that, there was a sound of footsteps.

Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap. He has regular intervals and gradually but surely approaches Yata.

Can't bear it. Yata decided to reject the reality in front of him.

He closed his eyes tightly. He covered his ears with both hands. Even if death falls from above one day, try not to look directly at it.

Yet in the dark, Yata thinks.

A feeling of strangeness.

A person can stop his movement of his own free will, but he cannot stop his will. The feeling of strangeness that was born in the dark grew in Yata's brain, because there was nothing else.

Why does he hear footsteps?

The floor of the building is completely strange. The kitchen was really different, but the hallways and bathrooms were filled with crimson delicacy.

The heavy boots would make steps. But that step is barefoot. No matter how fast he run barefoot, the sound should be absorbed by the relief and disappear.

So it's "it".

At that moment, there was something that shone like a revelation.

Can't stop thinking. The discovery cannot be ignored. In that sense, Yata must have been more human than anyone. Even if that means ruin, to confirm his own conscience, he opened his eyes and turned his face away.

On the bathroom ceiling, "it" was stuck.

His palm with dirty claws, every time it sticks to the ceiling, makes a "thump" sound. That was the true identity of the "steps". When he turned his head upside down, the ragged white hair was tousled. Stuck to the ceiling on all fours, "it" had bright red eyes that glowed negatively, exposing turbulent yellow and red teeth.

In the form of a predator who found Yata with no escape.

"No, aaaaaaaaaaah!"

Yata screamed with all his soul. At that moment, Yata's sight turned white.

++++++++++

"Hey! It was amazing!"

With such a voice, the door to the private room was opened.

Behind the door, the film crew, illuminated by electric lights, waited. Kamamoto Rikio holds up the camera, and a man in sunglasses and a red helmet holds a sign that says, "Don't miss it!" The man in the sunglasses looked a lot like Yata's trusted boss, Izumo Kusanagi.

"……"

Yata was watching the scene with all faces dead.

Kamamoto, who should have died, looks at a man who looks like Kusanagi while holding the camera.

"Kusanagi-san, this is…"

"I don't think there will be a reaction. So again."

He hit the sign in front of him.

"Yata-chan? Are you really okay?"

"……"

Yata cannot react.

When the man who looked like Kusanagi sighed, he left the sign to Kamamoto and entered the private room.

"Sure! The idol has a fluid face during the tea ceremony!"

Gently tap Yata's head.

"Ah! Eh, that? Kusanagi-san? Why?"

Kusanagi shakes his head at Yata, who drips confusion as is.

"That's why I told you about it for a while. It's a shocking show! The target is Yata-chan, and the tricks are us, 'Homura Performing Arts Office'."

At that moment, a figure fell from the ceiling. That monster with a shabby dress and white hair.

From "it", the horror was completely lost. She pulled her false teeth out of her mouth, tucked her white hair back, and turned her red eyes to Yata. "It" he breathed through her nose, giving a feeling of fullness to her young face.

"How was it? Was my performance terrifying?"

"Oh, you did it perfectly, Anna!"

"He was scared of you!"

Look at the friends who are raising their thumbs.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah?!"

Yata screamed as loud as he did before.

Ten minutes later.

Yata was angry at the entrance of the building, which was fully lit.

"What's that? It's terrible, Kusanagi-san! Please tell me in advance if you do this kind of thing!"

"Ahaha, Yata-chan, don't talk nonsense. If I told you, you wouldn't be surprised, right?"

"Kamamoto, you were an accessory too! I really thought you were dead!"

"Well, it doesn't matter how much food you eat there, doesn't it?"

Yata struck Kamamoto's head with all his might for the first time in a long time, gathering in his fist all the reaction of fear and anger that he had suffered.

With Kamamoto crouched on his back, Yata turns his resentful eyes on Anna.

"And Anna... even you..."

Anna suddenly looked away, perhaps uncomfortable.

"Because it was work.", Anna muttered.

So everything, it was something that had been organized from the beginning.

The place where the program will be broadcast is "Shirogin Deluxe" remains unchanged. However, it was not actually a visit to Kokujoji's house, but rather a project presented by the "Homura Performing Arts Office".

After seeing it, "Idol King" Isana Yashiro said, "This looks interesting!", And this project received the full backing of the "Tokijikuin Agency". Small dark vision cameras were installed around the building, rabbit costumes rented, and a recreational facility that was no longer in use. The words, actions and reactions Yata has done so far are said to be fully reflected.

Everything to give the Yata lens the greatest fear and obtain the best recordings.

Kusanagi happily explains.

"You know, Yata-chan has become popular lately? He's been featured in entertainment magazines and online, and some people call him 'The Red Prince'."

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"So, I wonder if that's a little different from Yata-chan's politics. I brought this project to highlight Yata-chan's original charm here."

"Eh..."

Honestly, he's not sure about politics or appeal. Yata entered this path longing for Suoh. He really hadn't been aware of how others saw him.

Such a production was the work of Kusanagi at the "Homura Performing Arts Office".

"Thanks to that, I got a good photo! Anna did a good job, and two birds with one stone."

Therefore, it would be nice if Kusanagi were satisfied with his work, although he is not yet convinced.

However, Yata looks at Anna with concern.

"Well Anna, how did you do that?"

Anna shook her head.

"Eh?"

"I see, that... was it glued to the ceiling?"

Anna turns to the side. Look at the hallway wall, put both hands on it, and climb the wall while making noise.

Yata opened his mouth.

Anna asks, glued to the ceiling and looking at Yata upside down.

"What about this?"

"No... that... how...?"

"Expert."

Anna said it with a calm face. Yata watches her like he's looking at something incredible. No, the idea occurred to him that it would be impossible to practice or that she was ignoring the laws of physics, but he felt that even doing it was unsophisticated.

"Well then, what about that? That way of turning the neck."

"This?"

When Anna's neck began to twist, Yata hastily stopped her.

"Wait! Stop! Stop! You don't have to show it!"

Anna returned her head to its original position. Looking at Yata upside down, with a smile.

"Special training."

"No, it's amazing, right?! Kusanagi-san, okay? What are you doing as an idol?"

"Yeah, well it's a subtle thing to say if it's an ant or a pear, but... Anna did her best, so ant!"

"Sweet! Are you really sweet to Anna?"

"Haha, okay, this is also an art style. Wasn't Anna's threatening role in the hallway quite realistic?"

"Yeah, well, I thought my heart would stop..."

Yata muttered that.

Of course, the rage at being cheated continues to smoke.

However, it was even stronger than that, and relief filled Yata's heart. He really thought that Kamamoto was dead, and he really thought they were going to kill him. Rather, he even remembered to praise the production team that created such high quality.

"Well I'm excited about this too. Yata-chan had a good reaction too!"

"Ah…"

When Kusanagi hit him on the back, Yata gave a dry laugh.

"The event has been completed! Please go ahead!"

A staff member who was in charge of the location car outside the building called him out. Kusanagi and other members of the "Homura Performing Arts Office" follow suit and get into the car one after another.

The rain had completely stopped and the light was shining through the clouds. Looking at him, Yata suddenly called to Anna in the seat next to him.

"Hey, Anna, you were on the second floor when we entered the building, right?"

"Eh?"

"No, you know. I saw you by the second floor window."

Anna looks at Yata saying, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Kusanagi, who had either heard or accosted him before, said with a bitter smile.

"Yata-chan, don't say weird things. No one went up the stairs."

"Ah…"

"I had no plans to use the second floor in the first place. No one should have gone."

The relief in his heart changes fast and cold.

So what did you see at the time?

Yata's neck was twisted back, as if it were a physical law. While he thought it was something he shouldn't see, he wanted to make his own discoveries, simple human curiosity.

The exterior of the desolate building. The windows on the second floor open in black at regular intervals. At one of the windows where sunlight enters after the rain, a girl dressed in white was smiling and showing her yellowish teeth.

#k #k project #K stories #k six idols #idol k #k fan clan #yata misaki

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satoshi-mochida · 5 years ago

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Sega has released new information and screenshots for Yakuza: Like a Dragon introducing company management and equipment forging.

Get the details below.

■ Three Times the Size of Kamurocho! The New Setting of Isezaki Ijincho, Yokohama

Isezaki Ijincho is about three times the size of Kamurocho. Each area has its own personality and charm, including the “Public Employment Security Office District,” “Snack District,” “Brothel District,” “Isezaki Road,” “Kounai Station,” “Chinese Restaurants Alley,” “Korea Town,” “Chinatown,” and “Hamakita Park.”

Public Employment Security Office District

Hello Work Misaki is located in this area, which is where protagonist Ichiban Kasuga and company can go to change jobs. Additionally, the homeless’ living quarters and a street lined with small, suspicious-looking restaurants can also be found here. It is the area with the heaviest atmosphere in Isezaki Ijincho.

—The “district of poverty” is where the homeless congregate. This is where Kasuga wakes up after he was beaten by Masumi Arakawa. It is from here he starts his life in Isezaki Ijincho.

—A desolate lineup of small restaurants. None of the shops actually operate as a small restaurant—they are actually secret brothels.

Korea Town

An area with the atmosphere of a foreign land, where most of signs are written in Hangul. This is also where the base of a mysterious organization called the Geomijul is located. It is a dangerous area.

—A dangerous place in Isezaki Ijincho, lined with Korean restaurants and the like.

Chinese Restaurants Alley

An area where the high-end Chinese restaurant Qing-Jin Restaurant is located, which is the stronghold of the Chinese mafia known as the “Yokohama Refugees.” Like Korea Town, this is one of the dangerous areas of Isezaki Ijincho. It has a very different layout from the Chinatown area, which is similarly lined with Chinese restaurants.

—A desolate lineup of small Chinese restaurants bring about an atmosphere that make this area difficult to tread.

Isezaki Road

Isezaki Road is a shopping district where Isezaki Ijincho is at its flashiest. Many shops line the streets of this area, where you can enjoy eating out and having fun.

—This is an area you will often visit to shop and eat out.

—PIA is one of the tie-in pachislot shops in the game, where you can go to play popular pachislot machines. You can exchange the medals you obtain here for powerful items.

Brothel District

An area where brothels such as the long-standing “Otohime Land” line the streets. There are also shops that deal in adult items and nightlife. Classless hosts and the like also wander this neighborhood.

—The adult playground area of Isezaki Ijincho.

—The Otohime Land brothel. There is currently only one manager, who is always swamped with work. Kasuga and company come upon this shop via a job offer from Hello Work and go in for an interview…

Snack District

An area crowded with snack shops. Other than snack shops, there is also a boutique, a karaoke bar called Survivor that later becomes Kasuga and company’s gathering spot, and more.

—There are a number of tenement houses in the Snack District. It is a place for the adults living in Isezaki Ijincho to relax.

—Adachi’s favorite karaoke bar, Survivor. While business is usually slow, after becoming friends with regular customer Adachi, it becomes Kasuga and company’s gathering spot.

Chinatown

Chinatown is one of the traditional areas of Yokohama. Crowded with a large number of Chinese restaurants, it is always bustling with people.

—A large gate stands as the symbol of Chinatown. At night the town is flashy and lively.

Kounai Station

An area centered on Kounai Station, a major station in the heart of Isezaki Ijincho. It is a place with a number of western-style buildings and a modern atmosphere. There are also many Play Spots here such as the Batting Center and Darts Bar Bee, where you can play darts.

—Kounai Station is located in the heart of the city, and the area around it is thriving.

—Darts Bar Bee is a place where you can get food and play darts in the Kounai Station area. Darts arrows are also sold here, so if you want to play darts, go ahead and buy some.

Hamakita Park

Yokohama’s biggest park. Inside the park you will find numerous wagon shops, Dragon Kart, and more.

—Hamakita Park is a popular spot for dates among Yokohama residents.

—The Dragon Kart reception garage. Fujisawa, a staff member standing outside the garage, is accepting applications to participate in a Dragon Kart tournament.

■ The People Living in the City

Kasuga will encounter various unique characters in Isezaki Ijincho, Yokohama. Here is an introduction to some of the people that become key characters in this exciting drama.

Hamako (voiced by Jun Karasawa)

The manager of a small restaurant located in a corner of Isezaki Ijincho. She is helping women who have no choice but to sell their bodies to live.

Nonomiya (voiced by Youhei Tadano)

The manager of the Isezaki Ijincho brothel Otohime Land. Since he comes down very strongly on the women that work there, throwing out one harsh comment after the other, his reputation among the girls is not a good one.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is due out for PlayStation 4 on January 16, 2020 in Japan, and in 2020 in the Americas and Europe. A demo is available now. Read more about the game here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

View the screenshots at the gallery.

#Yakuza: Like a Dragon #Yakuza 7 #Yakuza Series #Ryu Ga Gotoku #Sega #Gematsu #long post

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keepyourpantsongohan · 5 years ago

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Ayesha Liveblogs Free! S3

I will never get tired of Makoto offering Haru a hand out of the water

OMG I guess some things do change Makoto’s been dunked and I kinda love it

“I’m never gonna be a normal person” wow who is this this Goth Diet Haru

I love the phrase “hot minute” actually thank u for ur teen slang Asahi

Offering people his lecture notes and texting back right away will anyone ever be as good as Makoto? Trick question no

“I’m still young and innocent” “That’s a weird thing to say” I love that Haru’s meeting a bunch of people who aren’t used to his antics

This flashback seems to indicate that Haru felt Some Kinda Way about Ikuya which is weird because they look almost the same

“Don’t worry too much about the family” LMAO Sosuke has received a blessing from his cousin to follow Rin to Australia

“Just inferior copies of Ikuya” that’d be more meaningful if Ikuya had done anything other than stare broodingly

It’s telling that the Iwatobi team is dressed like the Wiggles in this outro

All this outro really told me is that they aren’t really that good at differentiating main character design

“We have to try not to spoil them too much” I approve of Ikuya’s brother and his co-parenting buddy

“I’m not going to move ever again,” said Asahi, with the full confidence of a twelve-year-old boy who knows absolutely nothing about anything

Okay but for real Ikuya and Haru straight up look like siblings this weird rivalry energy on top of that fact is a little bit Much

[Rose and Rosie voice] It’ll never work out their hair is the same colour

“Is Haru the guy who was all dressed up and riding a camel in the recruiting video we saw?” UNBELIEVABLE their Arabian Nights outro from S1 was actually their recruitment video Iwatobi do u take constructive criticism

“I’ll even be good enough to compete against you” how many rivals does one young man really need my god

Hey Trenchcoat Man maybe introduce yourself before telling these teens how to live their lives

Dude you’re so controlling trying to prevent Ikuya from seeing his friends

Ahhhhh I love Haru being in touch with his emotions and apologizing to Ikuya tbh I give Makoto and Rin a lot of the credit for his ability to communicate lmao

“I’d prefer you didn’t keep him too long” listen I get where you might be coming from since Haru hurt Ikuya’s feelings but also stop that

“Thought I’d give you a wake-up call” I really don’t like the vibe of Hiyori

“Japanese guy! Friend of yours, maybe?” An accurate representation of what it’s like to hang out with white people lmao

There’s a different vibe from a teenager who giggles about swimmers’ muscles to an adult swim coach who is coaching swimming at a university giggling about swimmers’ muscles put that away Mikhail

Hiyori gives me the straight up heebie jeebies every time he opens his mouth

I can’t read Japanese but I have to assume Rin was gonna call Haru and reminisce about their bed sharing night lmao

Natsuya is some kinda Swimming Capitalist Nomad I’m not mad about it

“How many of these dreams do you have?” that’s valid lmao Rin has #calledout for being a rival slut

“His face told me that what matters most to him is not here” I can’t tell if this is a reference to Ikuya or to Natsuya’s white-haired rival-friend-boyfriend-probably

You know what, in the context of this show: Boyfriend

“Hey, calm down. Listen, Archerfish--” HARU PLS

I don’t know Misae but the fact she calls her boyfriend Archerfish has already won me over

Hiyori would you fucking stop interfering this isn’t fair to Ikuya

“Ikuya’s too busy to waste his time reminiscing on childish things” well that should be Ikuya’s decision shouldn’t it like not 2 get 2 real but this is all the markers of an abusive relationship if someone does this to you please tell someone

God this stubbly weird man and his ominous advice STILL without any introduction

“I’m getting sick of hearing you speak for Ikuya like you’re his damn boss” ME TOO ASAHI

YOU CANNOT DECIDE WHO IKUYA’S FRIENDS ARE HIYORI YOU ABSOLUTE SHITPRETZEL

HA Ikuya knows you’ve been giving the boys the runaround fuckweasel

“If I swim with Tono, maybe it’ll help me understand him” Makoto coming after jerks with his best weapon: empathy <3

“People you swim with all seem to end up suffering, don’t they” LISTEN YOU ASSBANANA IT’S NOT HARU’S FAULT THAT PEOPLE GET OBSESSED WITH HIM HE’S JUST A GOOD SWIMMER

Omg I enjoy the drama of Sosuke interacting with the one (1) person in Japan who has seen Rin lately

“I have to admit, I’m a little disappointed there isn’t a single pudgy person here” like I know this is probably gonna be a running gag for their opposite body preferences but it’s also a self-burn for the creators of this show only drawing different scales of one body type

I really do love that Rei is swim team captain now my boy has come so far

Oh Romio is there anyone in this swim universe that doesn’t have some kind of Traumatizing Swim Experience

“Think about what your reason for jumping in is” Sosuke’s advice sounds like beautiful nonsense I don’t know how that’s supposed to help him concentrate on start times

Lmao I love this Overbearing Friend Gesture of Shizuru and Nagisa putting seaweed on Romio and Rei’s plates without asking kjhfkghfghfk

“Actually, if you don’t mind, we have a proposition” $500 says that Nagisa and Rei are about to propose a relay race

Update from 8 minutes later: Someone owes me $500

“Can you tell how proud I am?” Natsuya is such a good big brother <3

Hahahaha “a guy he wants to swim with again some day” Natsuya is also a good wingman for Rin lmao

Based on his inner monologue Sosuke should also be a swimming coach except in the vein of Cryptic Trench Coat Stubble Man who just offers random unsolicited advice to any teenage swimmer he passes by in the street

“I’m so proud of you” jgjhgjhg Shizuru I love you and your tears for Romio

What kind of child welfare laws are there in Japan that Hiyori’s parents were allowed to just leave him alone in the park

“When I saw [Haru] again, the weakness I thought I left behind came flooding back to me” the moral of this story is that competitive swimming makes you gay

Ikuya used to be fun and sweet lmao what made you so broody my dude

Lmao @ Hiyori being mad that Ikuya thinks of Haru as his Prince Eric instead of him

Wow I love Nao being a guiding force for this group of nerds

“I’m not hearting anything for you” Asahi understands Stranger Danger

It took Ryuji a solid six eps to even get a name u’d expect him to have a more important character connection than Rin’s Swim Coach’s Rival

“Then you should start swimming other stuff” I Love Misaki, Adopted Child of Haru and Makoto

Well this wistful playground vibe has taken a strange turn

“It’s none of your damn business okay!!” TONO JUST GOT DUMPED HA

KJGHKJGH THE RAGE IN HARU’S VOICE ABOUT THE MACKEREL

Ryuji: He can just buy me dinner or something. I’m not picky. As long as it’s not mackerel

Haru [through gritted teeth]: I’m ready when you are

AH I LOVE KISUMI AND ASAHI BABYSITTING TSUKUSHI

“After all we’ve been through, why does it have to be like this?” U MADE IT LIKE THIS HIYORI

HAHAHAHAH Makoto and Ryuji had a standoff of wills and Ryuji lost

“Maybe it’s time for you to approach things more seriously” Nao has declared it’s time to stop sowing your wild oats and settle down Natsuya

Kazuma only shows up to remind Sosuke he is free to run away to swim whenever

“Hope you’re well” “Hey relax I’m not your dad” [Natsuya immediately begins acting like their dad]

YEAHHHHHHHHHHHH GO HARU LEADING HIS CATEGORY

“I don’t think he’s all that bad of a guy” that’s Stockholm Syndrome Ikuya

I’m glad Ikuya is finally fucking having a meaningful conversation with his friends

“In the water I’m alone. No one’s gonna save me” Get therapy Ikuya!!!

Wow Haru joining a race purely to have an Emotional Confrontation with Ikuya is some kinda growth I’m just not sure what exactly

“That guy’s the only one anyone ever talks about” to be fair if your sample size is Iwatobi swimmers they are all a little in love with him

“That’s our BOYYYYYYYYYY” Aw Asahi <3

Ghjkghk I love Makoto teasing Haru for being Ikuya’s hero

“Oh, you’re wise now?” AWWWW Ikuya is fun again good for him

I know that Ikuya reaching out in friendship to Hiyori is supposed to be a sign of emotional security but I haven’t forgiven him for the way he’s manipulated Ikuya!!! Ur a seawitch not a Prince Eric!!! >:((((

I’m super thrown about them going straight from the qualifiers to the next race what will the last four episodes of this season be about

“I’ve been giving myself pep talks in the mirror. ‘I am a genius. I am a genius.’” HAHAHAHA I LIKE FUN IKUYA

“Looks like you beat me” “Just in free” Haru has released Ikuya into the universe for Hiyori and I don’t like it (for Ikuya’s sake) but that’s how it be I guess

How many siblings are there in the Mikoshiba family lmao there’s a new one every season

“But gender doesn’t mean anything in a competition” I like u Lady Mikoshiba

“You mean you were Russian this whole time??” this is a lot to digest

I LOVE RIN’S PUDGY CAT STEVE LOL IS IT THE SAME IN JAPANESE

“The water likes you. I can tell” ALBERT PLS, Haru is already FULL-UP on homoerotic swim relationships

It’s killing me that they keep cutting to Makoto like Haru’s cheating on him though

Not to undermine the subplot of these last three episodes but hasn’t Haru... lost races before hgkjhgk

“I thought something soft and cute would help balance out that scary face of yours” omg STOP this cuteness

Gghkhgk these flashbacks and Rin crying over Sosuke’s surgery are SO cute I never thought I would feel so proud of Rin way back in S1 he’s grown so much!!

Makoto being surrounded by ladybugs and butterflies like a wholeass Disney Prince

WHY are ALL of these swimming weirdos SOMEONE’S UNCLE

“You’re still as weird as ever, Haru’s the exact same way” I should start tracking how long in a conversation it takes characters to bring up Haru

Gnjghkjhg Makoto gets through to Haru in 0.5 seconds after two weeks of him ignoring his own coach. The power of fish metaphors and Love™

Kinda seems like they are setting it up like Makoto will also get to travel the world for swimming and let me say... I’m not mad about it

Update from like 2 minutes later: I WAS RIGHT

“That’s the evil king who wanted the magic lamp” the Arabian Nights references kill me every time

Djkhdkjhd Ryuji labelling Mikhail in his phone as “Muscle Freak” that’s tru friendship

“You should say, ‘I’m totes hip with the kids, yo’” Ryuji pls

“You’re so cute, you must be Iwatobi’s famous Kou” KHGKHGKJHKJ 3/3 MIKOSHIBA KNOCKOUT KOU

Awwwww Rei is so nervous for nationals my sweet baby boy

I ADORE that Rin and Haru are literally running across the city right before their most important meet bc they want to see their friends swim

Rrgjhgr the one and only backstory in this show is former childhood friends and it applies to every single character

OMG Rei get his own flashback but with his boy Nagisa I love it

“I think he’d make a good rival for you actually” Makoto Tachibana: Rival Matchmaker

GOOD JOB BOYS U DID GOOD (ALSO TEAM PHOTO I WEEP)

“Try not to cry when I beat you” SOSUKEEEEEEEEEE

Wow this final episode is already clutching at my heart right out of the gate baby Haru 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Makoto letting four more boys pile into his one bedroom for the night bc he’s the Best Boy Alive

HJGHJKGH THIS EXCHANGE

Mikhail: That’s what I call ‘totes hip with the kids’

Nearby youths: [Giggling]

Mikhail: [Soft indignant gasp] Ryuji!!

Natsuya and Ikuya have the cutest sibling relationship gjkghk THEY

The theme of this season is people hugging each other and crying over the lanes and I LOVE THAT 4 THEM

Rin and Haru and Makoto........... are good boys

“What is this, some kind of teen drama” that is exactly it, Rin

“He won’t stop talking about stupid crap like friendship and bonds” I love three (3) boys

Bonus: Out of Order Liveblog of Free! Take Your Marks + S3E0

Haru dropping his pants in Makoto’s apartment without the immediate context of them being near water was the most high stakes moment in this entire anime I had no idea where that was going

Haru leaving his apartment hunting until the day before he moves: Mood

Sidenote: Makoto and Haru going apartment hunting is domestic as HELL I love it

“The two of you are inseparable, huh?” “We’re friends, deal with it.” Let people be gay Kisumi

Lmao @ Nagisa and Rei’s yoga pose video Iwatobi is the cutest swim team in the world

“Then one day even those tears will dry out in the Tokyo desert” who hurt you, Ms. Amakata

“Allow me to welcome you to Tokyo, the city where love and lust intertwine” Free! Love and Lust could really be a subtitle of this anime lmao

“I’m talking about the whole bunkbed situation, you know, top and bottom” lmao shout-out to Sloane for that one art

I love the wordless communication between Makoto and Haru (and for that matter, Sosuke and Rin) I’m so glad they worked things out

I’m also happy Rin and Kou are cool now they used to have quite a gap

“Rin wasn’t that honest with himself” rjghg Rin and Haru miss each other

“This is the one,” said Haru, next to Makoto, His Completely Platonic Best Friend Who Dreams About Them Sharing An Apartment and Dropping Trou

I LOVE STEVE THE FAT CAT. AN ICON. A BEAUTY. CHUNKY BABY

“The treasure is inside the red shark’s mouth” there is DEFINITELY a Rin joke to be made here and the writers knew it

I don’t know what I love about this more that Aii and Momo are TERRIBLE at scheming or that that they are throwing Rin and Sosuke together on White Day lmao

This team vacation... Sosuke giggling bc he was tickled... !!!!!!! THANKS

I’m loving all these teams getting presents for each other jkhgkjg

Oh am I finally going to understand this Momo and Capybara backstory

Lol @ Natsuya pouring his heart abt Nao to Sosuke wholly unsolicited

“What were you about to ask” “Oh, not anything important (I’ll wait for you Sosuke)”

OHHHHHHHHHH THE CHARM BACKSTORY SOSUKEEEEEEEEEE

Oh Christ alive am I about to watch the Arabian Nights recruitment film

Hhhgjgjhg I gather the only reason Haru got his license was to compete with Rin

“I’m the evil king who is after the lamp for his own selfish reasons” I hate this... but also... I love this???

“I am a mysterious peddler. I travel carrying mysterious bundles. While riding atop of my mysterious partner Chappy the Camel” HARU STOP

OH MAKOTO HONEY U POOR SOUL JHGKHFKJGH

“Makoto. When I’m nervous I think about mackerel” I am going to expire

“I think the three of you should implement your own version of it” Fhjkhgk Haru is telling them to exploit their bodies for school recruitment but also that’s not really anything new so fair enough

Nagisa: Rei is Perfect Killer Muscles Handsome in my heart!!!!!!

“Maybe I’m never going to understand him” Omg @ The Jilted Middle School Exes of Haru Club

“How David had to give up his love.... And then Veronica, knowing they couldn’t see each other anymore” call me crazy but I think Rin is projecting his own issues onto A Rat’s Life LMAO

Tjehjkhkje Sosuke needing to call Rin bc he got lost on his way to the bathroom... Useless Husband Energy

HAHAH Rin is so upset thinking Momo and Kou are dating

At least Rin recognizes that he doesn’t get to decide who Kou dates he can only express his approval or disapproval

“Momotaru Mikoshiba is a man who lives by passion” gjhgjhg stop this

“Rin would never lose to a persimmon, ever!” MAKOTO R U OK

“You are not less than a persimmon!” THESE BOYS. U R SO DUMB BUT ALSO GET U A FRIEND LIKE THE IWATOBI SWIM CLUB

“It’s cool if you need to cry” “If you stay in the pool no one will ever notice your tears” I LOVE SOSUKE AND HARU TEAMING UP TO TEASE RIN

I also deeply appreciate that even though I’ve never heard their Japanese voices I know exactly who is saying what line in this outro just by dialogue and tone of voice

“I have a crippling fear of mascot costumes” “Then why did you take this job” kjhgkjhgkjh if that isn’t a work mood

Wait... if Makoto is going to be the substitute wrestler... WILL HARU BE THE SUBSTITUTE MASCOT AHHHHHHHH

WAIT NO I HAVE GRAVELY AND HILARIOUSLY MISUNDERSTOOD MAKOTO IS GOING TO BE BOTH MASCOT AND WRESTLER

“Iwa means ‘boulder’ and ‘tobi’ means ‘black kite’ so it’s a boulder-headed bird!!” Well that’s more of an explanation for the appearance of the Iwatobi mascot than I ever expected, Nagisa

“You don’t have a crippling fear of mascot costumes, do you?” No but I have feeling Makoto is about to develop one

Oh it’s THIS FUCKPUDDLE who asked u to be here Hiyori

“I don’t exactly hate it” high praise Ikuya lmao

Thkjhtkjh I love Natsuya’s long distance relationship it’s sweet

HAHAHA is the beak thing supposed to be a ploy so people see Makoto’s face

“I cannot let Haru see me like this” “Hi Makoto” HAHAHAHAH I LOVE THIS WHOLE INTERACTION AND ALSO HOW HARU JUST GOES ALONG WITH ALL OF IT

Also I don’t know how Makoto was planning to hide his identity after he was addressed as “Mr. Tachibana”

LMAO @ MAKOTO BEING RECOGNIZED BY HIS LEG MUSCLES I’M SCREAMING

“Hey Makoto, use a backstroke!!” HARU PLEASE

“Well done, you’ll be a great mascot someday” “Thanks? I think?” This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen and I loved it

Oh my goooood Haru bringing Makoto presents for his siblings.... they have ascended to the college relationship levels of Natsuya and Nao

Man Ikuya could not radiate stronger “leave me alone” vibes

“Wow you boys make a dashing pair” you said it Suit Lady not me

#ayesha talks anime #liveblogging #ayesha liveblogs free #long post

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kuroo-tetsurou-is-perfect · 6 years ago

Text

The Playground's Novice Manager

Comin at you with ANOTHER HAIKYUU LN TRANSLATION

This one is about the new first year manager for Johzenji. Her name is Runa-chan and she is a sweet little bean who must be protected.

Story under the cut, enjoy~~~

Johzenji High School was in the middle of a bitter fight. It was the Spring High Volleyball Miyagi prefectural deciding tournament, and their first opponent was a team that had only recently made a name for themselves, Karasuno High School.

Johzenji had some strong and unconventional opening moves in their attack, but their opponent had bared their teeth in return. Then came the moment that they tried to imitate the synchronized attack that Karasuno demonstrated, and completely failed, losing the first set. And now they had their backs to the wall in the second set. Johzenji's typical clever schemes and surprise attacks were beginning to show signs of impatience, and soon their plays became out of synch.

Recieves, scoring, serves, and spikes all continued to land out.

Six people on the court, and each one was spinning his wheels and getting nowhere. Like a shirt that started off on the wrong button, they were completely unable to connect right. If they kept on like this without being able to shake off this block, the point gap would only widen more and more--.

Clenching her small fist in the Johzenji cheering section on the second floor of the gymnasium stood a girl, the team's young manager, watching the match. She was a first year named Kuribayashi Runa. She had just barely joined the volleyball team, and she didn't understand what was going wrong, why they weren't scoring points. That being said, she knew the players' impatience and irritation could be painfully bad.

Then, she saw her senpais' faces change.

She could see the director calling for a time out. The setter, Futamata, smacked the ball hard across the net. Then the ball crossed the end line, and the whistle blew. Kuribayashi worriedly watched them gather around the bench, exchanging mutual encouragement, then suddenly narrowed her eyes in confusion.

"......What?"

The bench looked odd. The director wasn't there, and her senpai manager, Misaki, was standing before the players and starting to say something. After the court changed sides, the bench was distant from the Johzenji cheering section, so she couldn't hear Misaki's voice, but--

"Senpai is, scolding them....?"

******

Which day of which month it was, she had forgotten, but she remembered that it was the day that they started wearing summer clothes to school. She had just advanced in her homeroom course, though it felt like only yesterday she was taking her entrance exams......but that was hardly a surprise anymore. She had stopped comparing the school regulations and subjects one by one to her middle school experience as well. From the high school buildings, to the lessons, to the new teachers, she had gotten used to all of them, and high school had lost its fresh taste. But Kuribayashi Runa found herself enjoying the everyday routine of Johzenji High School in its own way.

That day, that moment in early summer after school, Kuribayashi was getting ready to leave for home when she peeked into her locker and noticed something, her head tilting to its side.

"What's this?"

A classmate, who she had promised to walk home with, called out, "Runaaa, what's the matter?"

"My jersey isn't here."

"What happened, did a bully take it or something?"

"Nah, I probably forgot it in the changing room after P.E.....I think. I'll go grab it. You'd better go home without me."

"Aww, you sure you don't want me to wait?"

"It's fine! If it's not in the changing room, I'll have to spend time looking for it, and I don't want to keep you waiting that long," Kuribayashi said, waving goodbye to her classmate. The collar on her brand new summer clothes rustled as the sound of her running feet echoed in the hallway.

The uniforms and bags of the go-home club, the jerseys and practice clothes of the exercise club--the school entrance was packed with students as Kuribayashi weaved through them past the school store, which was preparing to close, to the gymnasium. She faced a closed iron door, the sounds of bouncing balls and calling voices emanating from within.

"Ready and.....hngh!"

After putting all her body weight into opening the heavy front door, a ball came rolling right through the opening.

"Huh?"

The colorful blue and yellow ball collided with her feet. She paused a moment, but no one came to retrieve it. Was it okay to take the ball to whoever had lost it? Or no, maybe it would be better to just leave it as is. Uncertain whether she was allowed inside, Kuribayashi stood in front of the entry door, nervously peering into the gymnasium.

There was a green net suspended from the ceiling separating the gym into two parts. The opposite side of the room was for basketball, and her side, with a net sandwiched by people tirelessly pursuing a ball was for volleyball...probably? That's what it looked like they were playing, though it seemed different from the way the boys had played when they were messing around in her gym class. There was a more serious feeling to it, so it was probably the school team. Everyone's voices were really loud, and it was a little intimidating.

The ball probably belonged to those people.

Kuribayashi picked up the ball at her feet that no one had come to retrieve.

Then again, the atmosphere didn't exactly lend itself to her calling out to anyone, so she ended up holding the ball in her arms and watching the club activities.

The rubber soles of shoes made squeaking sounds as they collided with the floor, a sound different from ordinary shoes. Maybe that's why the way they moved was different too. Everyone was moving with their whole bodies in big motions. What was the word for it? Dynamic, that's how they were moving, dynamically.

"Not too long ago, they ranked in the best four at the Interhigh, you know."

She quickly turned toward the voice that addressed her, to find a female student wearing a jersey right beside her.

She seemed like an adult, probably a first or second year senpai.

"Ah, umm, that's really amazing," Kuribayashi responded straight away, though truthfully she wasn't exactly sure what "Interhigh" meant.

But she had said something about them being the best, so that must be an impressive achievement. Or so she thought. But at her response, her senpai in the jersey adopted a strange, delicate look on her face. "......Yeah, they've gotten strong."

That face wasn't the face of someone who was happy about the strength of their own team. Kuribayashi worried that maybe she had said something wrong, and, flustered, tried to come up with a word or two to backtrack and cover up her mistake.

At that moment, a ball came flying through the space between them. It was fast. At the same time a boy of large build also came flying after the ball.

"My bad!!"

He didn't exactly jump gracefully--it looked like his face was about to collide with the floor, like an unflying paper airplane taking a nosedive to the ground.

".........!"

Without saying anything, Kuribayashi stiffened as right in front of her, the ball went up in the air with a thwap. Then in a big arc, it flew toward the net. The boy she thought was going to fall on his face somehow managed to make a soft landing and quickly rushed back to the net. Before he landed, did he hit and send it back? It must have happened right before her eyes, but she still didn't understand how it happened.

Her eyes followed the back of the running player who continued with the rally as if nothing had happened, and she muttered, "That was amazing......"

"Are you curious?"

"Eh?"

"Right now we're recruiting for a new manager. If you're curious, want to join on a trial basis? I'm the manager right now, but since I'm a third year I'll be retiring soon."

Kuribayashi quickly looked to her senpai making an out-of-season canvassing attempt, then back to the court. The strong-looking, and a little scary-looking boys were jumping around chasing after the ball. Flecks of sweat could be seen flying and scattering from their hair. School had only just gotten out, and they were already soaked with sweat.

Kurobayashi felt a little out of place as the only one in the gym still in her school uniform, and she handed the ball she was holding over and said apologetically, "But I don't even really know what sport this is......"

"Huh? What they're playing right now is volleyball, you know what that is."

Kuribayashi, flustered, looked back toward the court one more time.

This was volleyball?

"But the volleyball we play in gym class has more people... umm, five I think?"

"Six," her senpai corrected without a pause, and Kuribayashi flushed in embarrassment. If she didn't even know how many people were supposed to be on the court, how could she possibly become the manager?

Her senpai manager continued. "Usually, volleball does use six players."

"So this is... not usual volleyball, then?

At Kuribayashi's words, her senpai smiled. "This is practice. They're doing their two-on-two training."

Volleyball was typically six-on-six. What they were doing now was practicing with two-on-two, in order to widen their range and change the extent that they relied on each other for support. It also made them chase the ball more assertively, and taught them to look for more opportunities to make spontaneous attacks, she explained. However, watching the team members jump and tumble about while chasing the ball, one couldn't help but get the feeling that they were just romping and playing around.

"They remind me of the kids in my neighborhood with the way they're playing," Kuribayashi said.

At her frank words, her senpai giggled, but then her face changed to that same delicate expression she had before. "Exactly. For these children, this is their playground."

"Playground......?"

It wasn't as though Kuribayashi was unathletic, or that she had poor control over her body; but then, she wasn't part of any sports club either. Every time she was asked to join a club, rather than declining up front, she would just decline to answer. But somehow, talking to her manager senpai now, she had a feeling that she wanted to hear more.

With everyone on the team working hard to their utmost extent, she wasn't really sure if just a hunch was really enough of a reason to join, but she turned to her senpai and, with no further consideration, said "I'll try it," and completed her club entry registration to become the new manager on a trial basis.

Thinking over it, she had already more or less gotten used to school, and maybe it would be good to try a new thing, or maybe it was just that she was feeling a little fickle with the change into the new summer clothes. Whatever the reason, she knew she wouldn't regret the decision.

******

If she thought that joining the club on a "trial basis" was going to be easy-going, she was wrong.

The job of a manager involved management of the club budget and maintenance of the equipment, coordinating the rotation the gymnasium, keeping track of the score, keeping track of the practice times, picking up balls and taking out balls, et cetera. From routine tasks to supporting the team, she hardly had time to take a breath.

And of course she couldn't neglect to properly learn the rules of the game. Even though there were lots of things she didn't know, she had lots of help from third year manager who recruited her, Misaki, and each day she was able to manage somehow or another.

While she was tackling the jobs of being a proper manager well enough, there was the small matter of figuring out how to deal with the club members. The boy's volleyball club members, not to mention the female manager, all tended to communicate by bantering like grade-schoolers, and it left Kuribayashi completely baffled.

Still not used to it, Kuribayashi was quickly getting ready to leave for the day, when as though aimed at her, several balls rolled her way. One by one she picked them up and tossed them back to the captain, Terushima, and the other club members with him. "Thanks, Runa-chaaan!" they called back to her, laughing. They really were a little scary.

Afterward she understood; they must have been throwing the balls to the helpless Kuribayashi on purpose, just to watch her feeble form and laugh at her.

Other than just the volleyball club members, the members of other clubs were scary too.

When she was carrying heavy things, like the water jugs and such, she would hear, "Runa-chaaan, let me help youuu. I'll take it, I'll take it~" and Terushima would come and grab whatever she was holding. Occasionally when that would happen, a passing girl from the basketball team would glare at him for some reason.

"Terushima, aren't you the captain or something? You don't seriously have to carry the water jug yourself, right?"

"Shut up! I want to do it, so back off! Runa-chan is different from you lot, she's weak!"

"What's that supposed to mean?! Terushima you seriously piss me off!"

While listening to her senpai's exchange, Kuribayashi could do nothing but curl up and apologize, "Sorry, sorry," over and over again.

Some days were especially different from the usual, and she would wish that they wouldn't think of her as an obstacle, but on the days when they were really intolerable, Misaki would break in and stop them. But it seemed like Terushima didn't listen seriously.

******

Some months later, on a day after the summer uniforms were retired because of the cold, it was after practice. Kuribayashi was in the corner of the gym shining a ball, when Terushima came over with a wide grin and called out to her. "Runa-chaaan, let me escort you home, we can walk together~"

"Eh....."

Trying to think of a way to refuse him without being rude, she stood there with rag and spray can filling both hands at a loss for words, when Misaki came to her rescue.

"You guys are always doing things like that, cut it out before you scare her. She's our precious recruit, too.... Just ignore them, Runa-chan. Come on, let's go."

"R- Right......"

"It's not like we're trying to scare her. I just said I'd escort her, that's all!"

Ignoring the sulking Terushima, Misaki started helping Kuribayashi tidy up balls. But Terushima, completely undeterred, cut in front of the managers again and peered into both their faces.

"Ummm, so lately, I've been thinking. I'd really like to eat onigiri made by Hana-san and Runa-chan!"

".....If you're hungry, why can't you just go to the school store and buy something?"

"I don't want the school store onigiri though! The vendor changed this year or something, even the bread isn't as good now!"

Terushima seemed very proud of his complaints about the taste of the school store food, but he must have realized to some extent that his secret intentions were completely obvious, because it didn't take long for him to run away to his teammates. While lightly glaring at his receding form, Misaki muttered, "....When Okudake-kun was here, this sort of thing never happened."

"Right, he was one of the third years."

All of the third years retired after the Interhigh, all except for the manager Misaki alone. Misaki stayed on with the players, since she didn't have a kouhai to replace her, and without a successor she could hardly abandon the team. Perhaps she decided to stay on until the Spring High because she was a little worried about Terushima and the others that remained on the team.

Misaki took a ball in her hands, and as though remembering something that had happened long ago, said, "Yeah.... We weren't quite as strong as we are now, but everyone played seriously, like they meant it. Ah, but the second years now, during practice they really do play to their best."

Adding a few more words of explanation, Misaki's face reminded Kuribayashi of the day she first saw the volleyball club. "They've become strong," she said with that same delicate expression on her face.

Kuribayashi asked without thinking. "...The way things were before, was that better?"

"Huh?" Misaki was a bit taken aback, then she turned her eyes toward her boisterous team members.

Last year's Spring High, the time that Terushima and the others joined the club was the same time that the coach changed. The old Johzenji that operated with fortitude and sincerity couldn't boast any spectacular achievements, but that suddenly changed explosively. Maybe the style of the new coach just meshed well with the character of the new club members. Either way, they won and advanced through the tournament with great force.

Then they lost the steadily accumulating foundation of the third years with their retirement, and Misaki had the feeling that the style of just going with the flow might be dangerous going forward.

"Oi! Everone, over here!"

On the court, Terushima tossed a ball into the air and called the rest of the team members together.

"All right, let's play some dodgeball!"

"Yeah!"

They were supposed to be tidying up. Or so she thought before they all moved to keep playing, utterly stunning Misaki, who groaned, "Ugh, what now...." Before the club members, spearheaded by Terushima, could go any further, she called out to them. "Hey! Hurry and clean up this mess. We have to get the gym closed up...."

"Heyyy, we're not just playing around. Whatever you end up doing, if you have the mindset of practice, it can become practice you know!"

"Don't give me any of your childish arguments."

Noticing Misaki's less-than-pleased face, the other club members, grumbling complaints all the while, finally started tidying up. The basketball team was already going home, calling "Later~" and waving to their acquaintances on the volleyball team.

"The volleyball club is always the last to leave," Misaki scolded, then turned to look at Kuribayashi slightly smiling on the side.

"It's true, they sometimes act like grade schoolers, or even kindergarteners.... But when you see these kids play, it's so fun it's ridiculous. I actually really like them then."

Kuribayashi was taken aback. Even though Misaski had never actually said, "the way before was better," she complained and grumbled about the current club members so often. The words "fun" and "like" come out of her mouth now was something Kuribayashi never thought she would hear.

"Fun, huh...?" Kuribayashi asked without thinking. Misaki asked her a question in response.

"Runa-chan, don't you think club activities are fun?"

"....Well, a little, but there are a lot of scary moments," she responded honestly, without thinking. To explain further, she continued, "Um, when I was in grade school.... The boy in the seat behind me would always tear his eraser to pieces and throw them at me, and I would always worry--if he threw something other than bits of eraser at me, what would I do? It made me nervous all during class, and lately I've been feeling the same way I felt back then.... Ah, not that erasers are going to come flying at me, but...."

"Sigh.... they really do always give off that feeling, don't they?" Misaki said with a wry smile, glancing over to the club members to make sure they weren't messing around. After a little while, she asked Kuribayashi. "Runa-chan, you haven't seen an official match yet, have you?"

"Eh, um, that's right."

Kuribayashi joined the club after the Interhigh. The one time she actually saw a match, it was a practice match with a neighboring high school, and she hadn't really gotten a grasp of the rules yet. The next time Johzenji was set to appear in a public match was this October, during the Spring High representative deciding tournament.

"If you saw them play, I don't think they'd scare you."

"....Is that so?" Kuribayashi asked doubtfully.

Misaki looked back at her and nodded. "Yeah. I think so."

After they had finished tidying up and left the building, it was completely dark, and the evening wind was uncomfortably cold. At the time she had joined the club, it was still pretty light out at this time. Kuribayashi fastened her jersey all the way up to the top.

"Bye everyone."

"All right, don't catch a cold."

Kuribayashi dipped her head at Misaki, who was waving goodbye, and then with quick feet hurried down the walk home. She was going to get home early, eat a meal, take a bath, then she'd have to work on her literature homework. But she couldn't go to bed late, she had to make sure she was in time for morning practice. She was wondering what other people used their time for as she walked, when she heard loud voices coming from behind her.

"---are you serious? Nah bitch that was you!"

"The hell it was! You're the one who's so full of yourself."

Evidently Terushima and the other boys on the team had come outside. Outside of club activities, they were always shouting like that. It wasn't that they were actually quarreling, she knew they weren't serious, but the rough way they talked still scared her a little every time. So much mental strain...

Hearing their boisterous voices draw closer, Kuribayashi subconsciously held her breath, as though perhaps by stopping her breath her body would disappear too, but sure enough they quickly found her.

"Oh hey, Runa-chaaan! Are you okay on your own? We can escort you home if you want!"

"Um-m, no, I'm fine on my own."

"You sure?"

"Y- yes, I'm good. Thank you though."

"Tchhh, boringgg. But if I bug you any more, Hana-san will yell at me again. Whatever, see you tomorrow!"

"Ah, yeah. See you tomorrow."

Bouncing and waving goodbye, the matched set of jerseys receded into the distance. Calls of "What the hell was that?" and "Shut up!" could be heard from the group, as well as the sound of someone getting hit with a bag. As she watched their shadows disappear into the darkness, Kuribayashi thought.

It felt like she just collided with a small typhoon...

It wasn't like she always felt completely unwilling to deal with them, but at the same time she wondered about this group of constantly running around and yelling boys; how could they possibly be different during a match?

If she saw them play, would she really think they're not scary anymore? And why?

In an official match, what would be different than the usual?

While walking down the road filled with the sound of autumn insects, thoughts of the matches she hadn't seen floated through Kuribayashi's head.

******

The 30 seconds of time out went by in the blink of an eye, and the whistle calling the players back to the court sounded. When she saw the condition of the players returning from the bench, it soon became clear that that mere 30 seconds had been an invaluable 30 seconds.

No longer did the players' faces show signs of impatience and irritation, but rather a new sense of resolve.

The game had resumed.

They were at a disadvantage, but you couldn't tell from the way the frivolous club members' plays once more started to get into gear. Johzenji's staple reckless and free attacks, no matter where they came from or who hit them, were starting to stick, and they were once again playing wild and free.

The point difference of 11 to 17 from before the time out started to shrink bit by bit.

She wondered what Misaki said to them. Her teammates were all playing without hesitation, and able to do as they pleased on the court. The reckless and thoughtless attacks from before were no more. They were thinking, and making sure, and then moving and outwitting their opponents all over the place, making sport of Karasuno's attacks.

Then it was 20 to 24.

At a four point spread, it was Karasuno's match point.

For Johzenji there really was no turning back; if they chose a safe, steady attack here, they were done for.

Four people on the court started moving at once.

It might become their very last play, and they chose...once again, the synchronized attack from before. It was the same play that they tried to imitate during the first set, using a copy of their opponent's killer technique to take them down! Or so they must have been thinking, again trying to copy that same technique.

The setter Futamata's toss went to the left, and the one who came in to hit it was the ace, Terushima.

With only one blocker on him, Terushima spiked it.

The ball flew, hitting the ground extremely close to the end line. Karasuno's team members all turned to look over their shoulders at the point of impact. The line judge raised the red flag--it was out.

Come on, come on, come on, Kuribayashi had been thinking with her eyes fixated on the match, forgetting to even breathe. It was only when the whistle blew indicating the end of the match that she finally exhaled.

"You've gotta be kidding...."

It was reckless, but they were a team that never backed down from doing as they pleased. During the entire match, Kuribayashi hadn't once felt scared of them. They were like completely different people, all serious and cool.

When they came to do their greeting to the cheering section, she clapped as hard as she could, but when she saw their faces contorted with seething rage, her breath caught in her throat, and she realized she was wrong.

".....Nope. This is the scariest they've ever been."

The other first year club members in the cheering section all got up together and started descending to the ground floor. There was nothing for the defeated party to do but leave. Kuribayashi also hurried to stand up. Then she took one more look at the court, at the figures of her teammates leaving it, searing the image into her memory, before turning on her heel and following the rest of her club members.

Coming out into the first floor hallway, she saw the players, then the coach, and finally Misaki walking towards her. Kuribayashi, unable to say anything, silently stood behind the first year members.

"Ah, Runa-chan."

She may have been hiding, but Misaki found her and rushed over to her side. She handed the scoreboard over to Kuribayashi and quietly said, "From the next match onwards, you have the reins, Runa-chan."

"Right...."

"Are you still scared?" Misaki asked. Over her shoulder, Kuribayashi could see the her teammates drenched in sweat. Their bodies were still stiff with fighting spirit, and they walked in silence with a sense of seething excitement still radiating off of them. Compared to the usual boisterousness, these were like completely different people.

Good work today--or no, it was a good match--but no, any words like that would just be flatly refused, would just be wrong right now.

Right now, to even think about losing was--

Kuribayashi, without averting her eyes from the backs of her teammates, said in a small voice, "No. .....Next time, we'll definitely win."

That thin voice, concealing a strong spirit, startled Misaki for a moment, then she tightly pursed her lips and nodded.

"Yeah."

She clapped the new manager on the back.

"Let's go."

"Right."

The two managers followed their teammates, and together they left the gymnasium.

#haikyuu #haikyuu!!#hq #hq!!#light novel #haikyuu light novel #lightnovel #johzenji #kuribayashi runa #misaki hana #terushima yuuji #futamata #translation #fan translation

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dikeoucollection · 3 years ago

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Dikeou Superstars Monthly Roundup

A quick snapshot of what Dikeou Collection artists have been up to over the past month, and what to look forward to next month.

Paul Ramírez Jonas, Alternative Facts, 2017. Spare change supplied by the public, notary public seal and stamp, signature, ledger, leather desk pad, gold electroplating kit, scale, pyrite, paper, a gold melting and casting kit, paper, and a folding table. Photo: Scott Rudd.

Paul Ramirez Jonas was recently interviewed by Art & Education about his experience and philosophy as a teacher

Lucky DeBellevue, Gives (2009), courtesy of Paula Cooper Gallery

Work by Lucky DeBellevue is currently on view in “Stitched” at Paula Cooper Gallery through February 19

Marcel Dzama. Courtesy of David Zwirner.

Artnet interviewed Marcel Dzama about indispensable items in his studio, his must-have snacks, and his social media favs

Misaki Kawai, Moja Moja

Misaki Kawai created a furry, colorful indoor playground for kids (and parents) called Moja Moja Life for Kids Summer Festival in Melbourne, Australia

Chris Johanson was featured in an article about meditative art in the Financial Times. He also recently published a book with Mitchell-Innes & Nash

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ridiasfangirlings · 4 years ago

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Fushimi has always had a terrible life and his happy place is in his dreams where he would play with this kid named Misaki and where life is okay. He thinks Misaki is just an imaginary friend from his dreams so he does stuff he normally wouldn't do with him and even tell Misaki his problems. He find out in middle school that Misaki does exists but think it's a coincidence and keeps avoiding the other cause he's sorta embarrassed but truth is that they'd been sharing dreams this entire time.

That's called 'destiny,' Saru XD So imagine poor miserable little kid Fushimi, with no friends and terrible parents and he basically has no one he can confide in at all. He's pretty much resigned to always being miserable and then maybe one day shortly after Niki destroys his anthill Fushimi has this dream, that he's sitting in an empty playground on the swings all alone. He just sits there, swinging a little bit, when all of a sudden this small red haired kid comes flying over and just slams onto the swing next to him, laughing and smiling. Fushimi looks at him coldly, like what's wrong with you, but the kid just smiles back at him and introduces himself as 'Yata Misaki.' Fushimi calls him 'Misaki' and Yata gets mad, and somehow it's funny and makes Fushimi want to call him that more. Yata doesn't know how they got here but he's glad Fushimi is here too. Fushimi says this is his dream and Yata says he must have cool dreams then, like look how high we can go on the swings. They end up playing a game of who can swing higher and when Fushimi wakes up he actually feels this moment of happiness, like for a minute he was enjoying a game with a friend, before he remembers that it was just a dream and he's still all alone.

After that he dreams about Yata a lot, especially when something bad or painful has happened and he's feeling particularly lonely, he'll go to bed wishing Misaki was there to hold his hand and find himself in the park again and Misaki always comes running to see him. Since it's just a dream Fushimi's able to be more open and honest too, like he doesn't need to hide beyond the whole facade of being a cold jerk who doesn't want anyone near him because after all a dream can't reject him, it's his dream. Even though he's a dream sometimes Yata will act in ways Fushimi doesn't expect, zero or a hundred points, and that's another one of the things he likes about Yata, that almost makes Yata feel real. Fushimi tells Yata a lot about his terrible home life and Yata always says one day he'll find Fushimi and save him from all that and Fushimi knows it won't happen because this is just his mind wishing it could, but still sometimes when he's sick or alone he finds himself looking out his window and wishing Misaki was real and could come save him.

Then Fushimi starts middle school and he's sitting in his seat when a very familiar looking redhead walks in. Fushimi tells himself that it's just a coincidence but then when everyone's introducing themselves to the class he hears the name 'Yata Misaki' and Fushimi's just shocked, like Misaki really is real. Fushimi had been hoping for that all this time but now that it's true it's like the worst thing because if Misaki is real Misaki can reject him too and hasn't Fushimi been showing him the most embarrassing sides of himself all this time, all those secrets that Fushimi never wanted anyone to know that he confided in Yata. Fushimi thinks Yata probably pities him or thinks he's pathetic, a crybaby leaning on a person in a dream, and even though he's aware of Yata constantly staring at him through class Fushimi refuses to look at him.

Fushimi manages to successfully avoid Yata for a few days before Yata finally catches up to him after school. Fushimi acts all cold to him, like how do you know my name anyway and Yata's all nervous as he's like 'so, this probably sounds stupid okay, but I've been having these dreams for years...'. Fushimi clicks his tongue and tries to act like he has no idea what Yata's talking about but Yata won't give in that easily, like even if Fushimi doesn't remember any of those dreams Yata remembers them all, his best friend who he's never seen when he was awake...until now. And then Yata says that he meant every word he said in those dreams too and he knows it took a while but he's here now, and he's going to save Fushimi from every terrible thing that ever tries to hurt him, he's going to make sure Fushimi's never alone again, because now that he knows it's real he finally has a chance to help the most important person in the world to him.

#sarumi #Talking K #trying to imagine this as like a low key soulmate type thing too #like no one knows how you meet your soulmate it's a secret #sharing dreams is just one way and Fushimi assumes he's making this up bc he would never have a real soulmate #but then Yata's real and wants to save him and hug him and take care of him ;^;

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thereal-tsuki-llama-blog · 8 years ago

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Fui and Lan

No Sacrifices chapter this week - I’m trying out a new writing process, so my brain has been stuck in ‘organize’ mode rather than ‘write’ mode.

For that story, at least.

In the meantime, a wild plot bunny has set up camp in what should have been Sacrifices’ creative space, and has sort of...taken over. The full story will probably be 3-4 chapters long, so in apology for no real chapter this week, here is a 2000-word teaser for the hijacking bunny, Fui and Lan:

Misaki sipped her coffee without really tasting it; then she set the paper cup down on the park bench beside her and picked up her book. Opening to a page at random, she pretended to read. It was some sort of murder mystery, but fiction had never really interested her. This was simply the book that she'd been told to bring.

She tried to look relaxed - one leg crossed over the other, leaning back against the bench - but her nerves were stretched tight and she was sure that it was obvious to anyone who might be watching. The coffee probably wasn’t helping.

Her gaze flicked over the top of the book to scan the park; so far she hadn't seen anyone who looked out of place. A couple of joggers were on the footpath, but no one was meandering suspiciously. There was a playground behind her, faced by a bench that was back-to-back with hers. There hadn't been any children playing on the equipment when she'd arrived - fifteen minutes early, hoping and failing to get a glimpse of her mysterious contact without him or her realizing it - and there didn't sound like there were any there now. Well, it was right before lunch; children were probably all in school.

In any case, it was a hot day; most people were probably sheltering indoors, or else headed to the cooler mountains for the weekend. Misaki would have been inside herself, working on her massive backlog of cases, except that her orders were to be here.

The Director had called her into his office that morning to tell her that he had an unconventional assignment for her.

“How are things coming on the Fujiwara case?” he’d said by way of a preface.

Misaki suppressed a frown. “Still stalled, sir,” she said. “The man we arrested has no idea how the shipments are scheduled and tracked, just that it’s a very complex network.”

“I see. Last night I received some intelligence concerning that case.”

This time she did frown. “You did, sir?” She knew that Hourai had his own sources, cultivated over the decade of his service with police; but it always bothered her when information didn’t flow through the official channels.

“It seems that an external organization, who shall remain anonymous, is also having trouble with the Fujiwara family; they came to me with a proposal that will be both in their interest as well as the police’s. I agreed.”

“What sort of proposal?”

Hourai regarded her steadily. “A cooperative effort, between their group and Section Four. Because of the delicate nature of this collaboration, it will remain strictly unofficial. I am assigning you, and only you. The operation will be designated top secret, and you are not to involve anyone else on your team. Do you understand, Chief Kirihara?”

Misaki hesitated before answering. She hated the idea of keeping anything from her team, but at the same time she would leap at the chance - any chance - to take down Fujiwara and his black market doll trade. But why run an unofficial operation? And… “By external organization, do you mean that this is a criminal group, sir?” she asked. “There has to be a way of using their information without cooperating -”

“You’ll understand when you hear the details,” Hourai interrupted. He gave her the address of the park, the location of a specific bench on which she was to sit at a predetermined time, and a copy of a thin paperback book that was to be the signal by which a member of this group would recognize her. “Fujiwara’s trade is a serious threat to public security,” Hourai finished. “I know I can trust you to take care of this.”

“Yes, sir,” Misaki said, wondering just what in the hell she was agreeing to.

So now here she was, two hours later, sweating through her suit jacket and waiting for some criminal with whom she was supposed to work. Unofficially. Without backup from her own team, people who she could trust.

This was a bad idea.

Misaki was just about to look down at her book again to fake-read a little longer when movement off to the left caught her eye: a man was walking in her general direction - tall, dark-haired, white shirt and jeans. Hands in pockets - she tensed at that, and turning her head as subtly as possible, she glanced over to get a better look. With a start, she recognized Li.

Damn it, she always ran into him at the weirdest times and places. Hoping that he hadn't seen her, Misaki raised her book a little higher to hide her face. But to her dismay, not only did he continue in his path towards her, but he paused directly in front of her bench.

“Chief Kirihara?”

Misaki lowered the book and offered a smile. “Li, hi.” Please go away. Normally she wouldn’t have minded chatting with Li for a bit - would have enjoyed it, even - but right now was the worst possible time.

He smiled back, though it seemed to be slightly strained, as if he wasn’t exactly happy to run into her either. Yet he’d been the one to approach her in the first place, so that didn’t make much sense to Misaki. “I don’t think I’ve seen you in this park before,” he said.

“I’m on my lunch break; it’s hard to find a quiet place in the office to read.” She gestured with the book.

Li didn’t take the hint, however. “It’s kind of a warm day to be outside.”

“Yes, it is. Kind of warm to be out for a stroll, as well.”

He shrugged and seated himself on the bench beside her, his hands still in his pockets. “Yeah.”

Damn it. Misaki sighed. “I’m sorry, Li, I don’t mean to be rude - but this really isn’t a good time. I’m supposed to be meeting someone here. Police business.”

“Ah,” Li said, his tone curiously flat. “Me too.”

“Li, I have to insist. You can meet your friend somewhere else; I’m expecting a confidential contact who -”

“Good, you’re both here.”

Misaki started at the new voice, which came from the bench directly behind her. She began to turn and see who the newcomer was, but he - it was definitely a man - said, “Keep facing straight ahead. You’re talking to each other, not to me. And I’m just some crazy old man, talking to himself.”

She straightened, heart pounding, and glanced at Li. His pleasant expression had vanished and he was staring at the patch of grass between his feet. Shit, how was she supposed to explain to the contact that Li wasn’t involved in whatever this was - that he was just here by mistake? She had no idea who she was dealing with - how forceful could she be without pissing the man off and getting them both into trouble?

“Excuse me, but -” she began, but the contact cut her off gruffly.

“You’re here to listen, sweetheart, and listenin’ don’t involve talkin’.”

Misaki bridled at his tone, and opened her mouth to reply, but he didn’t give her the chance.

“We’re here ‘cause we got a common pain in the ass - Fujiwara. This guy’s got ears in the police, and he’s got ears with my outfit; so from here on out, whenever you’re discussing this operation, you use code names. I’m Huang. Miss Police, you’re Lan. Li, you’ll be Fui. Fujiwara is Lu.”

Misaki’s jaw tightened. So Li wasn’t here by accident? How in the world had he gotten himself mixed up with this? She glanced over at him again; his eyes were narrowed slightly, as if he disapproved of the code names. She didn’t blame him for that; she hated using codes herself. It was too easy to get confused, especially if you were already accustomed to calling someone by their real name.

“The job’s simple,” the man continued. “Lu’s got a whole network of black market distributors and dealers that he keeps in a secure database at the family’s headquarters in Yokohama. You break in, copy the files that we need, and get out - without them getting wind of it.”

“Break in?” Misaki couldn’t help but interrupt. “I’m not here to -”

“You’re here to get us into that database,” Huang said. “From what we’re told, the system is the same one that your department uses. Too complicated and unwieldy for anyone who isn’t already familiar with it to be able to access the information within our time frame.”

“Which is what,” Li said in a low voice; the first time that he’d spoken since the arrival of the stranger.

“No idea. Could be a couple hours, could be ten minutes. That’s up to you to figure out.”

Li nodded slightly, as if to himself. “Support?”

“Negative; they’ll be watching for it. You’re on your own.”

“Wait,” Misaki said, feeling like she was caught up in a current. She could see the shore, but couldn’t escape the flow of events. “Assuming we can even get to whatever computer this database is on - I’m not a hacker. I’d have to have a password to access it.”

Something went plunk onto the wooden bench beside her; she caught a glimpse of what looked like a small black thumb drive wrapped in a piece of paper before it slipped between the slats and fell onto the grass below, next to her foot. Misaki didn’t dare try and touch it.

“Password’s on that paper,” Huang told them. “Along with the location of the computer and the address for a hotel nearby. You’ll spend the weekend in Yokohama, posing as a couple. That’ll get you close enough to stake out the place and plan your move. Details are all there.”

Misaki felt the blush rising in her cheeks at just the thought. Posing as a couple? She was terrible at acting; and she didn’t have high hopes for Li’s ability either. Judging from the thin line of his mouth, he wasn’t any more enthusiastic than her.

Huang continued, “You’ll use that drive to copy the files. Meet me back here, Sunday at noon, to deliver the goods. Got it?”

“What about the police’s information?” Misaki asked. “According to my superior, we’re supposed to get the details of Fuji - I mean, Lu’s doll operation.” She was hating everything about this assignment more and more, but she was going to make damn sure that that Section Four at least got something significant out of it.

“You’ll get it after we’ve pulled what we need.”

“That’s -”

“That’s the deal your boss made - we get first cut, then you get your dolls.”

The idea of this unknown organization (criminal for sure, and probably Chinese, what with those code names) getting access to all of Fujiwara’s operations and then deciding what to share with the police grated on her conscience. But if that was indeed the agreement that Hourai had made, then there wasn’t much she could do about it. Then again, there might be a way around it; she’d have to think.

“Alright,” she said grudgingly.

Li spoke up suddenly. “Huang, I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“First of all, you’re not paid to think, so shut up. Two, I don’t think it’s a good idea, but I’m not paid to think either. You going to have a problem, Fui?”

Li glanced over at Misaki, his expression unreadable. “No,” he said at last.

“Good. So shut up and do your damn job. I’ll leave you two to work out the logistics; you have forty-eight hours.” The bench slats creaked as the man stood. Misaki had to resist a strong temptation to turn and watch him leave, just to get a glimpse for future reference, but she couldn’t be sure that no one else was observing her and Li.

She turned to Li. He was still sitting with his hands stuffed into his pockets, staring fixedly at the ground in front of him with a stony expression.

“Think we can look yet?” she said in a half-hearted attempt to lighten the mood.

He glanced up at her, as if he’d forgotten that she was even there. “What?”

“Never mind.” Leaning down, she scooped up the thumb drive and removed the piece of paper that had been rubber-banded around it. Just as Huang had said, there was a string of characters that looked like it could be a computer password and two addresses. The first address had some additional text. “Second floor southwest corner office,” Misaki read. “That must be the location of the computer.”

She sighed, and passed the paper to Li. He studied it for a long moment. “Did you memorize it?” he asked her after a full minute’s silence.

Misaki blinked. “Memorize? I -”

He passed the paper back. “Memorize everything on here, then tear it up.”

That seemed a little excessive to Misaki - who would even know what anything on the paper meant if they happened to find it? - but Li seemed to think it was important. It was the type of thing you saw in spy movies; maybe referencing something familiar like that was helping with his nerves. She’d never seen him looking so distant and disengaged before - it must be frightening, being thrown into such a situation. Again, she wondered how on earth he’d ended up here, and what these people expected him to be able to do.

Whatever happened in the next forty-eight hours, Misaki resolved, she would do her best to make sure that Li stayed safe.

“Alright. I’ll work on it,” she said, stuffing it into her pocket along with the thumb drive. “Well, I guess we have some planning to do. But first, how does lunch sound?”

#darker than black #fan fiction #fui and lan

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