#new yukata has an interesting design

[yukiire]

love ya💞✨

[midnightshade]

🏮 𝐀 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 🏮 | Kenjaku's reaction to seeing you in lingerie

𖤐 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 2,603

𖤐 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: Female Reader, Reader has a pussy, Third-Person POV, not beta read, biting to draw blood, creampie, light choking, slight breeding kink

𖤐 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: N/A

𖤐 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

"I'll be back soon."

A lone woman walked through the streets of Tokyo, tucking her phone back into her pocket as the call ended. To anyone else on the street, she was a normal woman. In reality, she was anything but.

She was centuries old despite her youthful appearance, but then, this wasn't her original body. Coming from the Kamakura era, she had only managed to cheat death with the aid of one man.

Kenjaku.

Ever since the two of them met, she had been faithfully serving as his assistant. He liked her enough to continue bringing her back from death, using the bodies of others as suitable vessels.

It never bothered her, knowing that someone else had to die for her to come back. She refused to feel guilty about living and she was thankful to Kenjaku for the continued gift of life.

For centuries, she had been loyal to him, not out of obligation, but out of want. He made life interesting; she enjoyed his company.

She loved him.

Staying with Kenjaku, making him happy – It was enough for her.

The crowd carried her with them through the busy streets like the current of a river, and she allowed herself to be pulled along. She took the time to sightsee, looking around at all the different shops and stalls from clothing stores to arcades and food stands.

Occasionally, she would pop in and browse the selections, but none seemed to catch her eye today. . .except for one.

She stumbled over her own feet, nearly colliding with a man in front of her. Quickly regaining her balance, she pushed her way out of the crowd and towards the shop.

It was small and easy to miss, tucked away between two larger buildings. The face of the building was styled like a traditional Japanese minka house, and the sign was written in ink calligraphy, broadcasting its primary wares: lingerie.

The juxtaposition between this traditional style and the items being sold immediately piqued her interest. She stepped inside, finding the theming on the outside to be consistent with the interior. The shop was designed like a tea room, with clean tatami mats.

She took her shoes off, spotting a place to leave them before continuing inside. There were a variety of different mannequins dressed up in different styles of lingerie.

A worker spotted her, coming over to greet her and welcome her into the store with a polite bow. "Hello! May I help you today? Looking for anything in particular?"

As she examined the store, a mischievous idea began to form in her mind. She walked over to one of the mannequins, examining the high quality material it was dressed in.

"Yes, please. I would appreciate the help."

──────

An artificial night had fallen within Dagon's Domain. The ocean waves lapped at the shore, creating a tranquil atmosphere that stretched towards the Tiki Hut sitting just beyond the treeline.

The building was of modest make, containing only two bedrooms, a kitchenette, and a shower. Curses may not need to sleep or eat, but their human allies did.

One of whom stood within the master bedroom, adjusting her new outfit in front of a full-length mirror.

She admired her form, running her hands up her body and over the red rope that mapped itself across her skin. The lingerie was styled after shibari, made of soft threaded rope that allowed easy access to her bare chest and pussy.

The only thing keeping her modesty was a silken robe overtop, styled loosely after a yukata. It was black with a red floral pattern. Red lace adorned the front, along with red stitching on the seams.

This type of luxury was a rarity for her to indulge in, but it had been a while since she and Kenjaku did something like this. This was as much a surprise gift for him as it had been for her.

The thought of that made her heart skip a beat. Even after centuries spent at his side, it was still so easy to feel like a lovestruck teenager doing these types of things.

The ivory sheets felt cool to the touch as she climbed into the master bed. She closed her eyes, breathing out slowly as she moved her hands down her body, relaxing against the plush surface.

Kenjaku would be back any minute now. His face would be priceless, she was sure of it. She suppressed a giggle, imagining it, as her hands moved down to the in-between on her thighs.

Her giggles died down, turning into soft moans as she spread her folds apart with her fingers. Her cunt clenched around nothing and she bit her lip, already imagining Kenjaku on top of her.

"Fuck. . .Kenjaku," she moaned out, her now trembling fingers beginning to rub at her throbbing clit.

She dipped her fingers down, collecting some of the slick that was beginning to build as her arousal grew, but she didn't get far before she heard the sound of footsteps approaching.

Kenjaku was home.

For a moment, she found herself conflicted. Should she stop now or should she keep going and let him watch?

Reluctantly, she pulled her hand away from her core, sitting up and adjusting her robe so that she was properly covered. Shs was just in time, as the door opened with a silent 'click' just as she finished adjusting her robe.

Kenjaku walked in through the bedroom door. Unlike usual, he was not wearing his Gojo-kesa, instead opting for a pair of black pants and a black shirt.

It's not like it mattered. The vessel he was in now, Suguru Geto, was more than handsome enough to pull off just about any look. Kenjaku's confidence always helped as well.

He paused in the doorway, his eyes immediately landing on her form, sprawled out seductively on the bed.

"Welcome home," she purred. Her voice was dripping in amusement as she watched Kenjaku. She would be lying if she said she didn't feel the slightest bit proud of herself for managing to catch him off guard.

Any trace of surprise was quickly wiped from his face, replaced with his typical self-assured smile that she'd come to love so much.

He walked over to the bed, his eyes never once leaving hers. He stopped in front of her, and his hand came to rest against her cheek. She closed her eyes, immediately leaning into his touch.

"Isn't this a pleasant surprise," he soothed. "What's the occasion?"

At his question, she chuckled and kissed his palm. "Do I need an occasion to surprise you? Maybe I just wanted to show my appreciation."

His hand moved down from her cheek to wrap around her throat. His grip was firm, but not enough to harm her. She gasped, pupils dilating as her skin prickled with anticipation.

He made her look at him, and she clenched her thighs together when she saw his gaze clouded with lust.

"Who am I to deny you, then? If you're so eager to offer yourself up to me, I think I'd like to unwrap my gift."

She breathed out, already feeling heady with anticipation. All she could manage was a small nod, which seemed to be enough as Kenjaku firmly pushed her back against the bed.

The bed sank as Kenjaku climbed into bed with her, not bothering with his own clothing as he loomed over her. He leaned down to catch her lips in a kiss, squeezing a little more firmly as he did.

Kissing Kenjaku was always an event. Whether he was being rough or slow, his kisses were always hungry and filled with passion. He bit at her bottom lip, hard enough to draw blood. The sting of pain was welcome, and she opened her mouth to him, allowing his tongue to slip inside her mouth without argument.

As Kenjaku kissed her, his hands began to roam up and down her body, feeling the lace of her robe and groping at her tits through the fabric. She held his face in her palms as she kissed him back with equal passion, moaning even as she tasted her own blood. She nipped playfully at his tongue, arching her back to be closer to him.

Kenjaku began to grind himself against her, and she could feel how hard he was getting already just by kissing her. Feeling coy, she removed one of her hands from his face, rubbing at his clothed erection.

He growled against her lips, breaking the kiss. He stared down at her, lips bruised and bleeding from his bite. His own cheeks were flushed slightly.

He grabbed her wrist, pulling it away from his aching cock. When she whined, he grinned down at her.

"Needy, aren't we? You never were very patient," he teased

She pouted at the accusation. "You're not much better right now. You look like you're about to cum in your pants."

Kenjaku laughed, releasing her wrist. "Maybe we're both a little pent up. These last few weeks have been busy."

He wasn't wrong. With their plans finally so close to starting, the last several weeks had been a whirlwind of activity just ensuring everything would run smoothly. It was as exciting as it was stressful.

They hardly had a moment to themselves anymore.

Her gaze softened slightly as she sat up, reaching to kiss the stitches along his forehead. No matter what body he was in, she only loved him.

"Then use me however you'd like tonight," she whispered, pressing more gentle kisses against the stitching.

Kenjaku shivered at her touch, suppressing a breathy moan. His stitches were always a sensitive spot for him, and the offer of doing whatever he wanted was just too good. His dick throbbed painfully in anticipation.

His eyes immediately went back to her robe, admiring the outfit as he traced the red lace. "This suits you. You should dress like this more often."

She smiled at the compliment, directing his hand to the sash that kept the robe closed. "You haven't even seen the actual outfit yet. I picked it out just for you."

Kenjaku moved her back against the bed, letting her settle down before he finally pulled the knot. He opened the robe, admiring the sight laid out before him.

"Beautiful," he groaned, tracing his hand over her bare skin. He watched as her skin prickled under his touch, as if every cell in her body rose with anticipation to be touched by him.

He looked down, seeing her petals were dripping with her arousal and her cunt was clenching around nothing, desperate to be fucked.

She looked up at him in anticipation, but before Kenjaku gave her what she wanted, he grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it off, exposing his muscular chest. The X-shaped scar across his Vessel's chest always caught her eye, and she couldn't help but to reach up and trace it.

Kenjaku hummed at the touch, allowing her to smooth her hand over his skin while he pulled his cock free from the confines of his pants. He sighed in relief as his dick sprung loose, hard and throbbing.

Suguru's body certainly didn't disappoint. The man was a work of art; lithe and muscular like a wild cat with that long, silky black hair she could spend hours playing with. His cock was long and thick, curving gently up with a supple head.

"You really are needy," she teased, watching as pearls of pre-cum dripped down the side of his shaft.

"You're no better," he responded, quickly folding her legs back as he mounted her.

She felt his cockhead nudge against her entrance and she relaxed, feeling him begin to push his way inside of her. Both of them groaned as he slotted himself inside, her velvety soft walls gripping his shaft and sucking him in deeper.

His pelvis met her own when he finally sheathed himself fully inside. Time stood still as they savored this moment, adjusting to the blissful embrace of each other's bodies.

"You always feel so good for me," he said, leaning in and pressing his forehead against hers. "No matter what vessel. This pussy of yours takes me so well."

She grinned shakily, pecking at his lips. "So glad I can make myself useful."

As Kenjaku began to rock his hips, starting a steady rhythm, he hummed and closed his eyes, savoring each blissful drag of her walls against his cock.

"No one else," he muttered, his voice trailing off as he failed to finish the thought, choosing instead to focus on kissing and nipping at her jaw.

She moaned as he began to fuck into her, the room quickly filling with the sounds of skin slapping against skin. Her thoughts began to grow fuzzy, lost in the feelings of pleasure he was giving her.

Kenjaku's expression was beautiful, and it struck her that she was the only one lucky enough to see him like this regularly. Mouth parted, eyebrows furrowed, and his pale face dusted a pretty shade of pink.

She would gladly sacrifice her body to him like this any time he asked. This was all she wanted in return – to bring him pleasure and comfort.

Kenjaku's hands held her thighs back against her chest as he properly mounted her, getting more aggressive with his thrusts as his pleasure began to climb.

He smothered her cries with a hungry kiss, forcing his tongue back inside her mouth as he began to jackhammer his hips into hers. His touch was no longer just firm, it was rough.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, gasping into his mouth as his dick throbbed deep inside of her, desperate to fill her with his seed.

His fat cockhead pounded against her cervix as he violently bucked into her, his hips colliding with hers and leaving bruises, proof of his love for her.

Kenjaku's fat balls smacked rhythmically with his thrusts, each time sending sparks of pleasure careening through his body. He moaned, grinding into her with every thrust.

"I should have put a baby in you years ago," he panted against her lips. "I'll have to make up for lost time."

She clenched hard around his shaft, gasping in delight at the thought. Her nails dug into his back as she cried out. "Please! Kenjaku, please. Don't pull out."

He grinned, moving one hand away from her thigh to pull her hair, forcing her to bare her throat. He bit down harshly, leaving a mark as he growled out, "Everyone will know you're mine."

The pleasure reached a fever pitch as they both reached their climax. Her body locked and spasmed as she pulsed around him, sucking him in deeper. Kenjaku breathed in sharply, emptying his balls deep inside of her.

She could feel his dick twitching with every pulse, painting her insides white, and for several moments, they stayed like that, enjoying the comfort of each other's bodies.

When Kenjaku finally let her thighs down, she collapsed onto the bed, totally spent. Her chest heaved with effort, but her entire body felt heavy and relaxed.

Kenjaku didn't pull out, instead opting to pull her on top of him as he laid back against the cool sheets. He pressed soft kisses against her face, petting her hair as he basked in the afterglow.

He rubbed his hand down her back, taking another opportunity to admire the lingerie she had gotten just for him.

He smiled, pulling her closer as she began to drift off, his cock still snuggly slotted inside of her.

"Thank you for this gift."

©Midnightshade. All rights reserved. Do NOT repost, reupload, or modify my works. Do not translate my works, do not link to them or recommend them on other websites, and do not use them for AI training

[nvrcmplt]

In the times of technology advancements and lifestyles always renewing, Mitsushige has come to terms of the years that humans will always be fascinating in their growth. Though for a extremely long time they've worshipped him as many forms and tales of stories for his legends and his brother's origins, it's amazing to see how the medium of such things has turned into animations, novels, images of the hands of babes, cake stamps, wrapper designs and more.

Thousands of years will come and go but amongst the majority of it in current times, Mitsu's seen the humans change again. This time without wanting to just wait out the new wonders of the world, he steps down from his mountain, mingles amongst them, ventures through stall, shops and parks that are cherished, respected and filled to the brim with interesting races of all kinds of humans. Mitsu' sees the value in their intermingling, though he was of the nature, back in the day, of purist families, he sees beauty in the children of different places combining into one.

The love between them all, the growth and knowledge widened and his own learning experiences allow him to stand amongst them all himself too. Once a hermit in the rocky trails outside of human tourism, he descends to be humbled. To learn from the new generations, to welcome the world as it begins its new cycle with his spring ever-present and welcomed. Mitsu found beauty in the Autumn and Winter months, no longer seeking out his isolation to sleep the colder seasons away but he knows the pull his Spring within. He dresses warmth, he watched the snow and leaves fall, he welcomes the cold animals to his lap and watches the stars.

Mitsu's taken on a few face, a new being…

A Calligrapher Master, he teaches children on the road in his travels, a school he doesn't mind setting up at any point to show the pure adoration of ink on paper. The skill to write their first letters, their own names, gifts to loved ones and elders. He has been present in several years of Sign Post making, Clan Memorials and Family Funeral rituals. His scripture is vastly known but not too famous. His biggest fames are indeed the elderly that remain his craft, those within the literature word, history and more - the youngens that he so seemingly teaches often, aren't so easily flamboyant in their praise of his work but how he looks.

It does make him chuckle often.

Mitsushige's also been known to be a Buddhist, not a complete lie to hide his lack of presence in his younger years in the world but a truth as he may aid the local Shinto shrines in their services when asked for by the Head Priests.

He introduces himself as Mitsushige Shinkawa ( ( L ) Shinkawa ( F ) Mitsushige ), not related to the Japanese daimyo the of 1630s.

He is often found with several small animals around his person. - Birds, cats, dogs, snakes and once a tanuki. He wears glasses often - though he doesn't need them, he likes the look of them. Clothing is rather stylized but more often then not he will wear form fitting slacks, a tin yukata top and a haori with shin-high boots. His calligrapher stall is much like a street food stall - a simple pull wagon and foldable surfaces for him to show his wares and teach those interested on the street. Always has the seasonal flower blooming on the roof of his cart.

[mofffun]

Thoughts about summer clothes:

they are in order of costume -> ready-to-wear lmao

they won't co-ordinate six whole looks just for two days of events, this has to be in the show if with their usual hairstyles/wigs

(bandai has sales targets you know 😏)

even though official twitter called them "campaign-only" as least

GIVE ME THE BEACH/CAMP EP NOW

Realistically, since they went on a roller-coaster, i'm assuming it'd be a future King-Chan episode.

I'm so not used to Rita wearing white no purple my first thought was 'Is that Yuzuki's own clothes??'

[definitely overthinking] RED ALERT Rita's bracelet is missing! It's passed down from Karras and they had it on even with yukata so I really don't think they'd take it off easily unless.... (they (temporarily) pass the throne back to Karras or to Morfonia...)

Earcuff-chan :) !

I think even if Rita really does wear this in the show they'd be wearing more I can't imagine them presenting themself like this yet. The mask ain't coming off.

the shoes is kinda strange as well because it's obviously toei property but not the same pair as the yukata ones or as decorated so i'm not entirely closed to the idea it's one of yuzuki's seven pairs of black sandals but again, definitely overthinking

:((( RIP tank top rita

Blond Aoto did tricked me into looking for Yanma at first glance but Blond Yanma is not exactly a bad idea?? He just looks thoroughly yankee now...

Loooove Souchou's shirt! Looks simple at first but his "Teppen" logo is embroidered on the breast pocket. I loved Aoto's concept of incorporating the N'kosopa gang in his T-shirt design. The denim would also make it an easy piece to mix and match!

Yanma's wearing his usual tank top underneath

💜💙🤍 sporting new necklaces

Loooove Himeno's dress! I thought it was a RTW at first but it's the same cut/pattern as her standard one, and I love how the choice of gingham giving that picnic vibe! (*starts daydreaming about making it over the weekend, the weekend that's well into winter*)

Himeno's earrings! I know it's a flower but it looks like a glazed doughnut ring i want to eat it 🥺🥹

Why is Gira the only one with no change??? 🤣

Sakai Taisei go get a haircut

Masashi is, a prince?? Prince Jeramie?? Literally the Prince in White??

(but also what an antique way of dress lol)

Kaku-san is incredible but a junpei is making him even more the dad friend 😂🤣

bet they're selling that too. gotta milk that commissioned art.

even if they're not ALL switiching outfits in-show at least Kaguragi, Jeramie and Himeno right.

saw a twitter theory they're all looking different because.... time-skip! very interesting idea narratively but i can't take it... missing a chunk of my faves' lives i can't take that.

if wings have an undercover episode in this look

[rebornthestage]

[2021.08.22] Kitamura Kento (Hibari) 17LIVE livestream

(I live translated his stream, so there may be details I'm missing/misheard.)

Starting remarks:

He wants to play Hibari more

He usually has great memories of the plays he's worked on, but not quite for this one; It doesn't feel like it ended yet.

He feels like they can do the play again, do the future arc again

His little bro is a big fan of Amano's works, especially KHR, so he's very familiar with this series

His brother is babysitting in the US, so he sends him clips of the play lol

It's only been half a year since he started Twitter and he appreciates all the support (likes, RTs, replies)

His faves are Dino and Primo in the manga. He loves their visuals. He thinks they look cool.

He actually wants to play as Primo lmao

Was excited when he heard James was playing Dino; he's worked with him in at least 3 plays (?, Hakuouki SSL, Hataraki Saibou); Met the first time in a while thanks to this stage

Q&A Section:

Q: Why do you have so many Hibird photos in your makeup area?

A: They're from Yamamoto Ryosuke! Ryosuke receives a Hibird photo from the production team every performance, so he gives them all to Kento since he's Hibari after all. He has around 8 of them. Sometimes Ryosuke forgets to give it to him and he feels unnecessarily disappointed lmao

Q: Thoughts on receiving Hibari's role A: First he wondered a lot about how he'd portray Hibari's fighting style, and tried to portray his cloud-like, untouchable feeling. Kento was set on fighting with "pauses" and "urgency" for Hibari. Hibari's the fastest in thinking and acting, like that time when everyone was panicking about Byakuran's attack, while Hibari immediately left to check on Namimori since that's where the attack landed.

Hibari can also be misleading. When the Real 6 Funeral wreaths landed at Namimori, he was first to speak. However, just when you think he was going to propose a plan, he just states that one of them landed in Namimori, which makes you wonder just how much he loves the place haha.

That unexpectedness makes him interesting to the viewers. He tends to speak, pause in the middle, and then change his tone/aura when he continues his sentence.

Q: Thoughts on Hibari before and after playing him A: He talked about this in his blog post. After playing him, he thinks of other people more than you'd expect. He acts to protect Namimori, and as a result, saves people.

Q: Have you planned the curtain call interactions with Ryohei and Lambo beforehand? A: Nope. That was all thanks to Kimeru adlibbing, and Kento has no idea when Ryohei will jump in lol.

On a tangent, but he very much admires Kimeru for perfectly playing his role. He has already perfected the role even when they just started rehearsing. He has the formula for Lambo down pat. This makes it easy for someone to copy and stand in for him during rehearsals.

Q: Can you share more info on the action parts? A: Every week he gets the stunts instructor to teach him something new, then he practices it on his own for the rest of the week.

Apparently, he practiced while facing a tree at the park, haha. A lot of people commented, saying they want to be the tree. He was like, "No way lol". There were so many people wanting to become trees that he said they were going to turn into a forest lol.

He then talks in detail about how to do a roundhouse kick properly lmao. The left leg/standing leg is important apparently lmao. He repeats this sentence a couple of times and demonstrates it with his fingers.

Sometimes he got tired after doing it so many times. However, when he started doing 1 hour stretches everyday, it became a lot easier.

Does aftercare? (Is that the right term to use here? haha) after practice because it's a lot of strain on his left leg and arm.

Q: What are your similarities with Hibari? A: He likes to do things on his own. Hyperfocused on what he likes. Is stubborn.

He likes to have a lot of preparation before taking something on...

He'll leave when he feels like leaving, lol

Q: Thoughts on Tsuna and Hibari's relationship, and your relationship with Takenaka Ryohei A: Tsuna is an important person in Present and Future Hibari's life.

Takenaka Ryohei is amazing. He has a different reaction to Present Hibari and TYL Hibari and he can really see and feel it... Ryohei's act really contributes to Kento's own acting. It's because Ryohei reacted that way that Hibari seems even more fearsome.

Ryohei can portray Tsuna's fear of TYL!Hibari, but then also show a different reaction when he stops Present!Hibari during Choice.

Usually, it should be the protagonist who would do something proactively while everyone else reacts. As the protagonist, but it's hard to give large reactions. However, in KHR, it's often Tsuna who reacts. It's because Tsuna reacts in a certain way that you can figure out what type of person the other character is. Ryohei is amazing for being able to do that role.

Q: Was it you playing as Alaude's silhouette? A: Yes. Yamamoto also played as Ugetsu.

Random tidbit: At the part where Deisy gets caught with the huge handcuffs, they didn't have those huge handcuffs until they were at the venue lol. So they've been practicing without it until then.

That's why his actions during that scene slowly started to change, since he began to have ideas on what else he could do at that scene.

Q: Thoughts on the Hibari switch scene A: He asked viewers when they realized it wasn't Kento as Hibari onstage? On their first watch? During the stream?

Daiki tried really hard to copy Kento's Hibari, like his walk so people wouldn't catch on. Was really happy when it was decided Daiki was the one who'll be his body double. He actually thought it would be an ensemble doing it, until 2 weeks (?) into rehearsals

Q: Happenings onstage? A: He doesn't really want to talk about it... However, after he turned 25, he's become more open to his mistakes so he can talk about this now haha.

When wearing suits, he wants to look suave and used to wearing them. Having the box in his pants pocket ruins the silhouette of the suit, and so would placing it in his chest pocket, even though the latter seems cool. He talked with the costume designers to add some sort of leather pouch (?) at his waist.

However, after putting the box in and out of the pouch so many times, the leather pouch worse out and became looser. In one performance, the box dropped to the floor sometime without his notice. ("Roll rolled." LOL)

During his fight with Genkishi, he stuck his hand in the pouch while talking and realized it wasn't there. He was like, Oh Shit, lmao. Then clumsily tried to hide the fact that he has no box by taking out his hand and only showing the back of it to the audience, lmao.

He watched a clip of that performance afterwards and learned that the box fell while he did a roundhouse kick.

Also, during the fight with Deisy, he can't see anything. The lights were so bright. When he twirls the handcuffs, it has to face a certain side so that the cuff would close, but sometimes it ends up facing the wrong side, so he has to twirl it back. However, it's hard to figure out if it's facing the right side or not because of the light, so he accidentally dropped the handcuffs once.

(There were actually a few fan reports saying that Kento seemed to drop his props often lol)

Q: Thoughts on Hibari unbuttoning his suit before fighting A: When raising your arm while wearing suits, the middle part scrunches open and he doesn't like that. He wants Hibari to look flawless, so he tried to make it part of the act to unbutton the suit.

He doesn't do this for the part where he trains Tsuna, since he doesn't want to make it like Hibari's doing it for appearances. He tries to make it seem like it's an act Hibari does when he expects a good fight.

Q: Any special training? A: He has a lower center of gravity because he played ice hockey seriously for 9 years. He's jealous of actors who took karate and dance since they are useful skills as an actor. He believes that playing ice hockey and balancing on ice skates really contributed to doing action scenes.

Q: Do you do any weight/muscle training? A: He used to go to the gym, but stopped because of covid. He apparently started classic ballet recently. He likes gaining strength without getting too bulked up. Before he hated wearing tight clothes, but now he has embraced it lmao

Q: Any KHR weapons he would like to try? A: He likes Japanese swords, so he likes Yamamoto's sword style.

When Chrome was handed the Devil Lens, he wondered how one would fight with it? How do you make it look like you use it often? Do you twirl it like a pen?

He's seen James' whip skills live during Secret Bullet and was very impressed that James was able to use them to the fullest. It's a weapon you can more easily hurt yourself with after all.

During rehearsals, there wasn't a center door to come out from, so he had to wait at the sides while Dino and Deisy were fighting. Hibari often comes out from the center door, so he calls Hibari a "Center Door Guy", lol.

Q: Judging from how fast you changed into the yukata during curtain call, are you the type of person who changes clothes fast? A: He has to change from suit to yukata in 1 minute and 30 seconds and be careful not to make Hibari look sloppy, so he was really worried about it... That's why you'd see him touching his collar from time to time.

Final Words

He asks fans to answer the Reborn! The Stage questionnaire and request for a rerun of the Future arc stage plays. They were able to change the future in Future arc, so he believes we can change the future in real life as well. A rerun isn't impossible in his opinion.

He'd love to livestream again sometime with others, like Daiki-kun (Glo Xinia/Dino), and Daiki-kun, and Daiki-kun.😂

[imagineimaginethat]

Hi! Could you do HC’s for Ikesen (whichever warlords you choose) on a snowy day with mc?

Happily despite the fact that it is so late and out of season because of my procrastination habits!

Mitsuhide

He seems initially indifferent to the snow

He will finish his work early to spend the snow day with MC though because he would hate to miss out on the opportunity to see MC mess around in the snow

He’d be mindful of how much time MC spends out in the snow because he doesn’t want her to get sick

When MC pushes him to join in on the activities he’ll do so, but make it seem as though he’s reluctant to join

Mitsuhide would think it is funny if his snow creations came out perfect while MC’s came out a bit off the target from what MC had in mind

He would tease MC about it then remind them that things like this come easily to kitsunes

Once the temperature drops he’ll deem it time to go inside for tea which he makes as perfect as his snow angel, or snow warlord as MC would call it

He’d cuddle with MC and share a few old legends about winter and the snow.

Mitsuhide knows MC is from the future, so he’d be more apt to asking about future ideas and traditions

He’s interested in celebrating the holidays MC seems most excited for and makes a note to contact a certain ceiling ninja on the matter soon

Mitsuhide definitely wants to spend more snow days together with MC just like this

Kenshin

Snowball fight? Fight? MC was challenging Kenshin to a fight?

Kenshin would normally refrain from fighting his precious goddess of war, but he’d make an exception on this snowy day.

He eventually drags everyone else into the snowball fight and before MC realizes there are full on forts set up and it is her versus Kenshin and his vassals with Yukimura and Shingen on MC’s side

The snowball fight doesn’t end for a while because no one wants to admit defeat, but Sauske solves this problem by suggesting they go inside and change them drink to the first snow fall.

This wins over Kenshin immediately. MC gifted him a new yukata and haori recently that would be perfect for the occasion

Kenshin will seek out MC and sit down with her a bit before the impromptu drinking session, describing both the beauty and potential treachery of the snow and ice

MC didn’t want to demonstrate a snow angel in her new kimono, so she settled for drawing cute images in the snow

Kenshin would hum and watch attentively, even daring to put a few of his own designs in the snow, mostly of the rabbits.

At dinner MC would stick close to Kenshin and enjoy the crisp coldness of the room while Kenshin would periodically make sure she hasn’t gotten too cold

Overall, Kenshin enjoys the snow with MC but has taken to randomly ambushing people with snowballs (“thanks, MC” Yukimura says sarcastically at least twice a day)

MC is just happy to see Kenshin loosen up a bit, that is until he begins to bring his sword to snowball fights.

Mitsunari

Mitsunari is fascinated with MC’s excitement at the amount of snow on the ground from the previous night

When MC goes racing outside to throw herself into the snow, Mitsunari is right behind her

Hideyoshi hears the ruckus and gives a warning about catching colds and not getting carried away,

MC promises to heed his warning, but he doesn’t seem very trusting as MC was already in the process of explaining snowmen to Mitsunari

With Mitsunari’s help the perfect snowman was crafted, but was somehow missing something

What could it have been?

Ah, yes a pipe!

“Won’t Lord Hideyoshi mind?” Mitsunari asks

“I’m sure he’ll be fine.” MC lie

Once Hideyoshi realizes his pipe is missing he tracks down the culprits along with the ever amused Mitsuhide and Masamune

MC insists that the pipe is necessary because without it the snowman cannot come to life

They are all very confused and at this point, Ieyasu, who had only come to borrow a book from Mitsunari had gotten dragged into the chaos as MC told the story of Frosty the Snowman.

Mitsunari was zeroed in on this tale and at the end, the warlords challenged it and claimed there was no way such a thing had happened.

MC sang the song and insisted it was a big deal in her hometown.

Eventually this leads them to sharing the story with Lord Nobunaga who found it amusing

Mitsunari found himself a wee bit jealous of how much time MC had spent with the other warlords and claimed that he and MC had spent so much time in the snow it would we be best if they went back home to change

After changing Mitsunari asked if MC knew any other stories about winter from her hometown, and that was how Mitsunari learned the story of the Grinch, Rudolph, and Jack Skellington

Mitsunari enjoyed listening to MC tell stories and when more snow began to fall, despite his usual resistance to sleep he fell into a quiet slumber, draping himself over MC

[suzdotranslation]

[Interview TL] Aragami Oga's Up-Station Web Interview

Interview source can be found here.

Debuting as part of Holostars' 3rd wave and making rapid progress this summer with his 3D unveiling as well as his summer outfit debut: Aragami Oga.

Not only through his voice, but he's also known for his creativity which extends from illustrations to game creation! Making a unique twist among his peers in Holostars and the VTuber community itself.

With his mentality of "Taking extra care for any kinds of creation progress", today's interview is presented with its craftsmanship as the main topic, highlighting Oga-san's personality and charms!

------------ "It's okay to fall asleep" A comfy midnight chat stream to listen to. ------------

--First of all, please tell us about your streaming style.

Oga: I mainly focus on gaming and easy-to-listen chatting streams. Usually starting at near midnight, creating "A stream experience you can feel comfortable with" for the listeners.

--What kind of topic do you usually have during chat streams?

Oga: Normally about things that happened on the day or manga and movies I've seen recently. Of course with keeping the spoilers away in mind, I usually talk about the part that seems interesting. All while also looking at the listener's comments and engaging with them, I think it makes a lot of people feel like they were on a call with me in the middle of the night.

--It looks like there are some listeners that ended up sleeping through as well.

Oga: Normally, I'm aiming to create a stream where people can easily relax. There's a lot of VTubers who create quite an eventful stream, so I'd like to make my place as one where people can come to relax.

--Regarding recent activities, you just unveiled your first summer-season outfit. Donning a formal jacket and an apron you could use while having the shirt rolled up like a barista-styled theme, it creates two different styles to enjoy with, doesn't it?

Oga: I asked whether it's possible to let me take off my jacket or give me some kind of apron-like stuff, in the end, I was given both options. Up until now, I've had my regular and new year outfits but both of them still heavily incorporate my homeworld's aesthetic. That's why I'd like to have a more "human world-like" design for my summer outfit.

--Everyone has also talked about the number of layers this clothing had despite it being a summer outfit.

Oga: When talking about summer outfits for males, the usual choices would be stuff like yukata or swimsuits with gown-like things over them which can be quite daring to show. My outfits so far were pretty exposed already so I was thinking maybe it's a good time to cover up now.

--What kind of streams would you like to do with this outfit specifically?

Oga: Back when I was still recently debuted I once made a stream of me grinding coffee beans, I think if I don my cafe outfit for the occasion it will be quite fitting.

----------------- The secret of creating something is to "put your goal as close as possible" -----------------

--When talking about Oga-san, we can't dismiss the part about your creative side be it for illustration or games making. So what made you start drawing in the first place?

Oga: There aren't any cute things in the world I used to live in, you know. So when I first arrived in Japan, I was met with the various kinds of character mascots they had and thought to myself, "Japan must've been the land of cuteness". As I started meeting all these "cute" things, I began wanting to create one by myself as well.

--And I guess since then you've kept drawing and making games, in the end, it cultivates your skill even more in the process.

Oga: I think anyone ever had thoughts about creating something similar with the games they like. In my case, sometimes I tried looking up ways to create them. That's when I tried challenging myself for it, somehow the process was actually quite fun. Since then, I often tried a lot of things and ended up making it work as well.

--There's a lot of people who ended up dropping what they've studied but how did Oga-san manage to keep his studying mood?

Oga: I think that's mostly because people tend to think quite far ahead at first, like only aiming for the finish line of what they're studying. For example in terms of game creation, people tend to put their ideal image such as "creating an RPG you can play for as long as you could" or "making a complicated plot up until the world is saved", Making it the very first thing most people sought in mind.

In my case, I like creating the smaller tools at first. To put it simply, placing my goal as close as possible. I think you'll be able to understand how things work much better and end up finishing what you wanted to create that way. If you haven't completed work I think it will be much harder to continue on.

--I see, that does seem to be a good way to approach it.

Oga: You can already see the finished version of any plastic model you're going to build so there's an element of motivation there, but for different kinds of work if you put too much stuff in the start line you might not be able to see your end goal.

--What kind of tools are you using?

Oga: I mainly use RPG Maker for game making. Since creating a program from zero would be impossible for me, I tried creating what I could by using it. I tried a lot of programs for illustration but the one I find the easiest is SAI. Then for video, I use AfterEffects while also learning from various lecture videos through YouTube.

--After dabbing into illustration, finding various fanarts comes rather naturally, but are you aware of it?

Oga: Yes I do. I think since it's something each fan creates with their own hands, it truly makes me happy every time. I always look through everything posted into twitter's hashtag, though it's impossible for me to interact with everything I try to retweet some of them at the very least.

--If you have any advice in drawing fanarts please tell us!

Oga: This includes not only me but also VTubers in general but I think a lot of them have difficult designs or details in their model. That's why when drawing them, I think it's alright to omit some of these details for an easier option. That way you'll be able to draw faster and create more pieces, eventually enjoying the whole process as you go.

----------------- Currently creating horror games, with Mr. Tanigo as cameo! -----------------

--We heard that Oga-san is in the middle of developing a horror game that includes the Cover corp's CEO himself, Motoaki Tanigo.

Oga: As a fan of horror content myself I started wanting to create my own at some point. When I thought about one important part I needed to add to this game, the idea suddenly came into my head. A person's face, or specifically the moment where some old man randomly appeared out of a sudden usually gives out a good scary element. When thinking about getting some pictures, I instantly thought "Oh right! I can just ask Mr. Yagoo!".

Tanigo-san or Mr. YAGOO always garnered quite some attention towards overseas people whenever he uploaded a picture. I went to ask my manager for help, and that's how I managed to get some of his pictures.

--So that would mean the pictures were gathered for this occasion it seems.

Oga: That's right. Though telling a newly appointed manager to "Go and fetch me around 20 photos of our CEO" right off the bat is definitely quite tough (laughs). Mr. YAGOO even called back and said "You better complete the game for real".

--We look forward to the completion as well! Speaking of that, you seem to be doing several streams of you working on the game. Is there fun in doing those?

Oga: I think it's fun being able to show your progress as people watch, though I think there aren’t many people who do these kinds of streams. I wasn't sure whether it'll be entertaining at first to be honest but it managed to garner a lot of attention once I started doing it.

--Are there any differences in the comment section compared to the usual gaming or chatting streams?

Oga: I don't think there are any significant changes but the topic is mostly focusing on "things I'd like to do". When I'm working on my game, sometimes I would ask my viewers for an idea. Other times asking for their opinion about my progress and so on.

--That does seem like a fun thing to do!

Oga: All that's left is adding a few things I thought about mid-streaming and when I showed the movement progress, it really riles everyone up in a good way. As expected, it does feel good when I see people praising the things I've made.

--------------------- He can destroy buildings in under 5 minutes!? This is Aragami Oga's abnormal strength ---------------------

--Moving forward to our next topic. After your prior debut in April 2020, is there any moment that left a deep impression in your mind?

Oga: It's gotta be the 3D debut reveal stream. Besides being one of my goals, I really like moving my body around so being able to showcase it to others really made me happy. Even during the stream, the watchers were enthusiastically asking me to "show my back around"!

--With 3D form at hand, is there a challenge that you would like to attempt next?

Oga: Of course there's a lot of them. There's already talk about my next plan with it, besides that I'd also like to do a collab with fellow members who got their 3D already as well.

--On the other hand since Oga-san is a majin, you possess a strength greater than a normal human. It must've been tough trying to be careful about your movements and such.

Oga: That's right, I probably can't just joke around with my friends by punching them unprompted.

--With that in mind, how much strength would you have if you were to show your true strength?

Oga: Putting it in the human world's perspective, I would easily gnaw through a hardened red-bean ice cream. Besides that, I could easily topple down a building in 5 minutes flat.

--I, I see. Is there a recommended stream archive that Oga-san would like to show to new watchers?

Oga: Last year I actually did a stream where I played a certain instrument. Using a kit that I could build on my own, I spent nearly half a day trying to assemble it. Then I don't know when it all went wrong but somehow the instrument was letting out weird noises that almost sounded like something you heard out of a horror scene, it turned out to be a cursed instrument in the end. Streaming myself playing it as I looked at the agonized comments on the chat was quite fun in a way (laughs).

-------------------- The things he respects in his gen-mate and in his seniors. --------------------

--We received a question from Kageyama Shien-san who appeared last time, it was "Tell me a recent stuff you've been into lately!"

Oga: I'm recently into "cycling outburst". There's no one on the road during night time so I can ride my bicycle pretty fast. Somehow seeing a usually bustling place become so quiet at certain times feels really nice. Though I did say "outburst" I still practice safe driving of course.

--What made you start doing it in the first place?

Oga: Originally I always liked moving my body around but ever since I started streaming in the human world I felt like my body has gotten quite weak lately. So after my 3D stream was decided, I started cycling more often.

--So the main objective is to gain more stamina in preparation for your 3D stream.

Oga: Another reason is because seeing new scenery is quite fun itself. There are some places I haven't explored yet around my house so sometimes I would try going further after doing a full round on certain roads, then it ended up being an hour-half or even two hours long trip. Usually, I always go cycling on days when it doesn't rain.

--Thank you so much. As previously stated the one who sent the question is your own gen-mate Kageyama Shien, in Oga-san opinion what kind of person he is?

Oga: He can be quite unreliable sometimes but... in a good sense, I respect that he could put out a cool front at the right timing. In my case, I can be pretty bashful compared to him who’s able to act reliably most of the time.

My hometown in the demon realm is a place called Ma-Kansai, a pretty similar place to Japan's Osaka. That's why I can't really be 100% serious at most times like somehow there's part of me that wants to make people laugh, or just wanting to create a comedic skit when possible.

--I see, that sure is a contrasting difference.

Oga: We're just gen-mate at its core, so more than trying to be similar I think it's much better if we could have some differences.

--Please tell us another member that you also respect.

Oga: It's definitely Robe-chan (Yukoku Roberu). Besides his streaming frequency, I also respected the amount of originality he had. Robe-chan is the kind of person who always goes "I thought of something so let's just try it out now" and such, I do understand his thought process because sometimes I have the same thoughts but I mostly have a fear of slipping up during it.

You could probably recover pretty quickly during collabs, but when you're alone all the responsibility falls on you. That's why knowing Robe-chan who can make any stream interesting makes me respect him greatly.

-------------------- If possible, I'd like it if sleepless people could come and see me. --------------------

--Is there anything that you would like to do this year?

Oga: I'd like to do a kabedon-like event using my 3D self. I'm sure there's more events coming up in the future but by communicating with my listener or even new ones like this, it would be nice I think.

--Please give us a question for the next Holostars member.

Oga: "If you were allowed to have a rent with no limit, what kind of place would you like to live in?"

--Got it! By the way, what kind of house would Oga-san like to live in?

Oga: Personally speaking, the most sought ones would be the ultra-luxurious condominium. Not the high-rise apartment complex one but the one with only around 3~4 floors, they're pretty amazing you know! They're around 4LDK size with soundproofing and if there's a room where I could watch TV while having a bath I would definitely be happy to live there. Though in my current state, it would be impossible for me to live in that kind of place...

--Lastly, please tell us your message towards everyone reading this or if you have any kinds of announcements!

Oga: I always strive to create fun streams everyday. Though I mainly do chit-chat sessions at midnight, if you happen to have time to drop by, or if you're having trouble with your sleep, I hope you'd consider dropping by my place(stream).

[argumentl]

The Freedom of Expression, radio version - Ep.56, Oct 2016 - Jumping on the Halloween bandwagon, Futon maker-turned-fashion maker.

Kaoru starts by talking about the Instagram campaign, saying that practically every photo they uploaded has recieved more than 50 likes, so he's in a posistion where he has to send a sticker to each one. He encourages listeners to keep sending in photos if they want to recieve a sticker. Kaoru is looking at the Instagram page as he speaks, and he mentions that there are a lot of people wearing the yukata that he designed. He supposes they wore it on purpose for this campaign, but he stresses that there is no need to wear that yukata just because he designed it. Wear whatever you like! There are even people who sent in pics of very elaborate nail art. Although many of the fans attending the lives were wearing simple Dir band tshirst, Joe says that some of them did remake them by cutting them in different ways to make them more original.

Kaoru starts his first news topic next, stating that he chose this story because its currently Halloween season. This is the topic of completely unrelated products jumping on the Halloween bandwagon. Packs of eggs, nattō, even ramen are being included in Halloween campaigns run by supermarkets and convenience stores. The article Kaoru found shows a pack of eggs featuring a jack'o'lantern design on the packaging. He can understand sweets and snacks getting in on the Halloween theme, because they are part of the tradition, especially in America, but nattō etc  seems a bit odd. Joe sad he also saw cartons of apple juice featuring Halloween pumpkin decorations, which he finds a bit puzzling. Is it pumpkin flavoured apple juice? He adds that its probably a result of producers wanting to sell as much as possible in light of the fact that Japanese tend to be easily swayed by limited seasonal products. He asks Kaoru whether he buys these kinds of limit seasonal items and Kaoru says he used to buy them, but these days he doesn't bother. Joe says he often does fall for these products. He always travels to this studio in Tennōzu by train, and when he passes through Shinagawa station he sees tonnes of 'limited time only' offers in the stores there. As he loves sweet food, he tends to end up buying a lot of stuff. He does realise, however, that the same store will be selling the same stuff as 'limited', even weeks later. It never ends. This is what makes him think that Japanese are helpless against 'limited' sales.

Kaoru says he thinks no one keeps this kind seasonal packaging anyway. He wonders whether people would be interested in limited releases of CDs with Halloween themed cover jackets. Joe thinks there may just be some positive people out there who want to buy this stuff and savour the packaging.

Kaoru comments on how Halloween celebrations seem to get more and more energetic with each passing year. Joe agrees, and says the streets in places like Shibuya are a sight to be seen at Halloween. He asks Kaoru if he celebrates. Kaoru laughs at this suggestion, and confirms that he does not.

Joe remembers Halloween from the time he used to live in America. He recalls kids trick or treating, and seeing spectacular Halloween parades in the streets. Kaoru says that when Dir were touring the states a few years ago, they were actually there at Halloween, but he hardley noticed anything about it. There were one or two people dressed in costume walking the streets, but that was about it. It was different from what he imagined, although he does admit, it could have just been a result of the location they were staying.

They then go back to point about areas like Shibuya and Roppongi going crazy at Halloween. Joe says he actually dressed up, and walked the streets in costume in Roppongi 2 years ago. He was invited to a Halloween party there by a foreign friend of his, and won a load of Halloween goods while he was there, so he put them on, and subsequently went home in them. He fit right in while he was still in Roppongi, but after getting off the train at Yoyogi and nearing his house, he didn't feel so great being dressed up.

Kaoru comes to the conclusion that jumping on the Halloween bandwagon doesn't do any harm, although he personally would still not buy a Halloween themed pack of eggs. Joe says things like this could be a catalyst for people to find out more about the cultures and traditions of other countries.

Tasai joins them next and introduces some news about how the long-estblished futon maker 'Nishikawa' has started making fashion. They have teamed up with Uniqlo designer Takizawa Naoki for the project. Tasai thinks the clothes produced look amazing and really wants listeners to have a look online for them. He explains that before the Age of Civil War in Japan (1467-1615), there were no futons. People just slept on folded up kimonos. The business 'Nishikawa' has been operating since just after that time period, for 450 years, but realised that in this age they need to challenge themselves if they are going to continue to stay in business, hence this move into fashion. Tasai repeats his plea for listeners to check out these items and explains that the selling price is much less than the materials are actually worth. He asks Kaoru and Joe what they think after seeing photos of some of the pieces. Joe says its an important thing for Japanese traditional customs be adapted like this to widen their scope. Tasai explains that animal print, like leopard print or wild cat print, has traditionally been revered in Japan as a form of respect towards an animal's power, and people have worn it wishing to become as strong. The same principle applies to warriors traditional helmets, which were designed to be symbolic of powerful animals. Tasai himself also learned this info about animal print in Japanese culture after reading this news. Kaoru says he is interested to see how fashion evolves from now on. Joe asks Kaoru whether he would consider collaborating with this futon business. Kaoru says he's not sure about that, but if he buys any items, Joe should copy him and buy the same thing (This is a joke about the time Joe arrived at the studio accidentally wearing the same outfit as Kaoru). Joe says if Kaoru wore a wild cat print outfit, he would be cheap and wear underwear with the same print (*I think*) - lots of laughing at this.

To finish, Kaoru plugs his upcoming tours, including the date at his home town again, which is at the venue Amashin Archaic Hall in Amagasaki city. He also announces plans for a  two day date during the Mode of Kisou tour which will consist of male only on day one, and female only on day two. Joe and Tasai say they both want to attend, but care will have to be taken to ensure Hiranabe doesn't turn up at the female only live. They had best not tell him about it. Joe suggests telling him to go on a business trip or a trip to Atami etc on that day. 

Songs - Dir en grey/24ko cylinder, Björk/Pluto, Dir en grey/Kūkoku ni kyōon.

To radio top page

[claymorecut]

BABYSITTING A 26 YEAR OLD WOMAN IS NOT THE MAIN CHARACTER’S JOB!

A GINTSU FANFICTION

CHAPTER 1

The life of a main character is never an easy one. So much they have to look at, so many they need to motivate and inspire, their goals, aspirations and responsibilities- it’s like their job can never end, even if the series does.

However, the same cannot be said for our rather unmotivated MC here.

It was a pleasant morning and once again in the Sakata household, our main character seems to have been doing the same as always.

With his legs propped up on the desk and a JUMP in his left hand, Sakata Gintoki gulped down the last of his favorite strawberry milk from the carton as his eyes scanned the contents of his precious JUMP magazine. With Kagura travelling around the universe with her baldy father and Shinpachi handling the dojo, he found himself alone at home as he enjoyed his day off. It may come as a surprise but apparently, for the last two weeks, our lazy and nonchalant MC has been constantly handling all the work alone at the Yorozuya without catching a single break. And as much as he appreciated the payment from his clients, he really missed slacking off like this. There was no work today and finally in a few hours, he can visit the pachinko parlor and drink sake to his heart’s content.

Taking a day off after working so hard surely feels like an achievement. Gintoki leisurely thought as he put the magazine down on the desk and stretched his arms. Yawning, he stood up from his seat and walked towards the little TV. Switching it on, he flipped the channel to Ketsuno Ana’s news show and flopped down on the sofa as he patiently waited for his favorite weather girl to appear on screen. However, this didn’t last long as he heard the phone ring.

Gintoki groaned mentally as he stood up from his seat and walked towards the area where he was seated before. “Hello? Yorozuya speaking.” And his voice was as dead as ever.

“GIN-SANNN!” It was Seita screeching from the other side and with that heard, Gintoki slammed the phone down. Not to be presumptuous or anything but he had a pretty decent idea why Seita was calling him and that too with that whiny voice of his. No way was he going to listen to that brat’s pleas to help him with his studies while he complains about how strict Tsukuyo’s teaching methods are. It is not the very first time that the kid has called him up like this for the same reason but today, he was not falling for it. He is supposed to enjoy his day and relax a little, not teach a kid stupid history lessons. And especially with THAT lady.

Rubbing his forehead, Gintoki once again decided to forget about these shenanigans and enjoy his day to the fullest. But once again, his peace was interrupted with the phone ringing.

And Gintoki was in no mood to listen to ANY REQUESTS today.

“Listen here kid, I haven't taken a break for the last two weeks from work and the Yorozuya is closed today so, I’m not gonna tea-“

“But Gin-san, at least list-“

“No buts! I’m TIRED and I'm NOT helping you with your homework today!”

“But Gin-san it’s not homewo-“

“Oh then it must a stupid school project of yours! How about you ask that demon tutor of yours for some help and leave me alone for today!?”

“But it IS about Tsukuyo-nee-“

“Now don’t start your compl-“

“But Gin-san-“

“I’m hanging up kid, enjoy your day and let me enjoy mine.”

“TSUKUYO-NEE HAS TURNED INTO A KID!”

“……”

“H-hello?”

“……”

“H-hello, Gin-san?”

“…..I’m not falling for that crap.”

“GIN-SAN!!!”

Looks like our MC has something to do today after all.

*****

Gintoki had no idea what was going on anymore.

One moment he was at his house, relaxing and planning how he was gonna spend the rest of his day perfectly and the next moment he finds himself taking his scooter out and kick-starting it to visit Yoshiwara.

The phone call with Seita did not last long after that grand confession as he simply just heard Seita plea to him one last time again before hanging up. If he was being honest with himself, the kid did sound a little worried. Sure, regarding the situation he does not have much information or context and Tsukuyo turning into a kid sounded a little too ridiculous to him but he still thought maybe checking the situation there a little won’t harm him. Plus, he can always ask for free sake in return.

Parking his scooter in front of the teahouse, Gintoki observed the area within his vision and not to his surprise, everything looked normal. The streets were a little busy with construction workers carrying a few heavy piles of wood to their designated area but apart from that, Yoshiwara looked normal. Hinowa was standing right inside the teahouse, discussing some paper works with a Hyakka member and well, apart from looking a little more busy than usual, she looked pretty normal as well. Nothing looked out of ordinary and even though he did not see Tsukuyo around, he pretty much guessed that she was alright too and was working somewhere like the workaholic she is.

I knew that brat was lying damn it! He grunted, thinking how he fell in the kid's trap again.

Noticing the silver-haired samurai standing in front of the teahouse, Hinowa dismissed the Hyakka member as she smiled warmly to welcome him. “Gin-san, thank goodness you came.”

Gintoki walked inside the teahouse with his usual dead-fish eyes as he took a seat in one of the benches placed there. “I guess it couldn’t be helped.” He shrugged, speaking in his nonchalant voice.

Taking a seat on a bench in front of him, Hinowa apologetically smiled at the tired samurai. “I am genuinely sorry for the inconvenience, Gin-san. I’ve been busy with the renovation work and that’s why I told Seita to call you. He did tell me after calling you how busy you were lately but we really need your help right now.”

Surely, Gintoki was a little pissed about Seita lying to him but he really did feel a guilty for not accepting his request. On a closer look, Hinowa did look pretty stressed and there were dark circles under her eyes. Plus, he couldn’t find Tsukuyo anywhere. Must be out there working like always. “But I need you treat me with some really great sake later.”

“Of course!” Hinowa cheerfully replies. “I’m glad you agreed to it. I hope Seita has told you everything. I’ll explain the situation to you properly.”

Situation? “Um..okay. But don’t you guys complain later if something goes wrong.”

“Oh what are you saying, Gin-san! I have complete faith in you!”

They were talking about the same situation, right? Well, of course she wants the best for her child. Guess I’ll have to do my best as a tutor too. “Okay…so I’ll be going to Seita-kun’s room-“

Hinowa blinked confusingly at this. “Eh?”

“.....How am I supposed to help him with his project then?”

“……Project?”

Now Gintoki was sweating with extreme pressure. Did Gintoki just had a huge misunderstanding? Was what Seita saying…true? No way was he gonna believe in that lie. “W-well, of course. That’s why he called me and made up this thing about Tsukuyo so I can-“

“Yes, Tsukuyo! But Seita didn't made up-“

NO WAY has she turned into a child! “P-please don’t joke like that Hinowa-san-” he stuttered, confusion and panic clear in his voice.

“But Gin-san-“

"Love drug was okay but THIS!? No way am I gonna believe THIS!"

"But Gin-san! Let me ex-"

“Hinowa. What’s goin’ on ‘ere?”

....

......

.........

The voice came from right behind him but something was certainly very wrong with it. Even though he did not want to believe it, the voice was oddly familiar. Young, but VERY familiar.

“Everything’s fine. Don’t worry about it, Tsukuyo.” Hinowa turned to the voice’s direction, who was apparently Tsukuyo.

Gintoki didn’t want to freak out and fortunately, he succeeded in that. But this uncanny feeling he had made his stomach churn with uneasiness and soon, he too found himself turning towards the direction of the child-like voice. And to his utter shock, there stood a kid. A kid so unfamiliar yet familiar he could just look at her with disbelief. Her blond hair was tied into a little bun and she was wearing a yellow yukata with white checkered patters and to his guess, she was almost 10 years old. Maybe his eyes were just ditching him due to exhaustion and he was just looking at a kid who very much resembled Tsukuyo and even has somewhat of a similar voice like her but the moment they landed on the oh-so familiar scar on her face, he knew he was facing reality.

The black kimono was gone. The heels were gone. That confident and mature face was now replaced with innocence and the curves and the legs his eyes often followed innocently(?) were also gone.

However, the person remained the same.

It was Tsukuyo. But now turned into a child…

“Okay.” Tsukuyo replied, her eyes skeptically looking at the silver-haired samurai. “May I ask who he is?”

……And she did not remember him!?

“Oh he is the one I told you about.” Hinowa replied with a sweet smile on her face. “The Savior of Yoshiwara, Sakata Gintoki.”

“Oh.” And she did not even…….look interested.

“Now now, don’t worry about me so much. You should get inside and take some rest. I have a few urgent things to discuss with him so I’ll see you in a few minutes.” Her voice was reassuring but at the same time he could hear her voice shake a little. What is going on!?

“Hmm. Okay.” Tsukuyo nodded obediently and went inside the main house before giving Gintoki another skeptical look. As for the man himself, he felt his eyes almost exit his sockets.

Hinowa sighed in relief and turned back to look at the baffled samurai to explain the situation. “Please Gin-san. Let me explain.”

Gintoki wanted to yell so, so badly right now. Explain!? EXPLAIN WHAT EXACTLY!? THIS!? The little Gintoki was yelling inside his head but the only thing that came out of his mouth was a strained whisper. “What the hell happened, Hinowa-san!?”

Breathing heavily, Hinowa finally answered the long awaited question. “Three days ago, Tsukuyo was handling the construction work of a few abandoned store houses here and while emptying the rooms, she accidently knocked over a small bottle of drug and inhaled it which was once used by the courtesans to replenish their youth.”

The information has now left him completely baffled. “A WHAT!?”

Understanding his confusion, Hinowa continued to explain the situation properly to him. “Almost thirty years ago, this drug was smuggled here by the Amantos and even though Hosen’s influence kept most drug dealers away, this specific drug was here in high demand among the courtesans for its effects. Just a small sniff from the little perfume-like bottle and it would show its work in a few seconds. However, the side effects of the drug soon started to show as some women felt their body weaken and suffered from mild memory loss which affected the business of many here. Hosen, after learning about these incidents and how it might seriously affect the business later, took a strict step and banned this drug completely from Yoshiwara and whatever was left here was all thrown out. However, maybe some of it was still left over that storehouse and that is why…Tsukuyo…”

This information caught Gintoki’s attention as he silently now observed Hinowa’s exhausted face. Her voice was almost a whisper but Gintoki could clearly hear it quiver a little and now he had a pretty decent idea that this was not a very simple situation.

“So, you mean to say Tsukuyo’s life is in danger?” Gintoki asked after processing all the information in his head to which Hinowa shook her head.

“I’m….not sure.” Sighing, she lowered her head down. “When the Hyakka members brought her here unconscious, we immediately called the doctor and had all the check-ups done. Maybe it’s because the drug was quite old that it did not affect Tsukuyo’s health much apart from a little fatigue but when she woke up, except for me, she….remembered no one in front of her. Not even Seita. And after explaining the effects of the drug and discussing everything with the doctor, he told me that her mind has gone back to her ten year old self along with her body and now, she remember everything only from that time. The doctor did say that the drug’s effects will wear off in a few days and her body will be back to normal but….he was not so sure whether her memories will come back or not.”

And with that said, Hinowa broke down.

When he first heard this news, Gintoki literally did not believe it because it just sounded so absurd. But now that Hinowa clearly explains the entire situation and especially, Tsukuyo’s condition, he suddenly feels a strange pang in his chest. “….You mean….she may lose her memory forever..?”

Hinowa silently nodded as she wipes her tears with her kimono sleeves.

“Then why didn’t you guys call me when it happened three days ago?” Gintoki asked, his voice low but slowly losing its casual tone.

“I did want to inform you early on.” Hinowa replied immediately. “But the work load here was too much and we were in no condition to compromise Tsukuyo’s mental state in such a short period of time. When I discussed the entire matter with the doctor, he told me that Tsukuyo regressing back to her child self and losing her memories simultaneously might also be a result of her subconscious trying to delete some past traumas. And so for now, he told us that we fabricate a good enough explanation for her to convince. For the last two days, I nagged her to rest properly and it was only today that she finally looked healthy and so I let her help me with some regular chores.”

Hinowa's voice sounded more and more tensed as she contined to explain the problem to him. Gintoki understood both of them were in no condition to discuss about this sensitive subject by just anxiously talking to each other. Moreover, he understood how frustrated Hinowa must have been with all of this. Especially because he too at one point lost his memories and saw how desperately Shinpachi and Kagura were trying to bring him back. And except all this, she was now singlehandedly handling the work going on here. Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm his racing heart down. Like Hinowa, he too was scared; especially with the fact that Tsukuyo might never remember him. But it was not the time for him as to act all confused and most importantly, they called him for help.

She needed help.

And honestly, if he ever again tutors Seita, he would love to tutor him with her by his side.

“…..How did you guys explain everything about Yoshiwara?”

Hinowa wiped off her tears as she again took a deep breath to explain further. “We told her everything. About Hosen and his defeat. About you and how you became the savior of this city. And as for her memory loss, we told her that she had an accident which has temporarily affected her memories. At first, she was a little confused but fortunately, I was able to convince her and she calmed down. And like always, she did not question me…However, the doctor has warned us that we do not mistakenly trigger memories of any unpleasant incident which has happened in the recent past to her and” And she took another deep breath, her forever cheerful eyes showing a sense of fear in them. “…..that’s exactly what I’m worried about the most.”

Gintoki has never seen Hinowa this scared for Tsukuyo. Not even when she was abducted and the entire Yoshiwara was on the verge of burning down. However, now that he sensed the fear in her eyes did he come to understand why she was so anxious. Past trauma. Any recent unpleasant incident. “You don’t mean…”

"She was asking about Jiraiya.”

------x-----

A/N: And that’s all for the first chapter. I’m writing a fic after so long and this idea has been in my mind for almost a year now. I’m genuinely sorry for the lack of GinTsu in this chapter though but I promise I’ll make it up to you in the next one. Hope you guys enjoyed it and don't worry I’ll update soon enough! <3. Plus, please let me know if I should post it on ffnet and ao3?

[gear-project]

I think I took a closer look on asuka's design it seems to be like a cross between a priest and a yukata, And plus I saw that he is wearing Geta? Is there any japanese influence in his new design somewhere?😶

There technically has been elements of that influence since VastEdge, but the themes behind his designs were somewhat vague until now.

Given that he destroyed Japan and is (as far as we know) penitent for it... it wouldn't surprise me if he wanted to live the simple life of a wandering monk at this point.

He also seems to have inherited some of his Teacher's former dressing habits as well.

That's all that can currently be observed though...

His design also reflects that of the Sage's Testament (Tome of Origin), though that was more evident in VastEdge than currently. In VastEdge his weapon of choice was a massive Quill Pen, and even the outer layers of his design featured a "stamp seal" like you'd see in fancy envelopes in times past... very "stationary-oriented" in design.

It's going to become interesting if he ever eventually becomes playable!

[skinner17]

As someone who gave Gintama a try because I saw Tsukuyo related cuts on youtube. Its just natural that I ship gintsu. Well gintama reputation preceed that and its been on my watch list for years. but the trigger is always a charachter that I found interesting and worth to check the series for.

Talking about her design, when i saw this picture, I thought Tsukuyo is certainly the main heroine and MC's love interest. This before I even knew gintama's main charachter name is gintoki.( I thought his name was gintama lmao)

Its not only because they put side by side. But their charachter design mirror each other-asymetric yukata sleeve with season themed pattern and black knee boot.

Little did I know tsukuyo actually introduced late. 

Its interesting because seems like she has a very big fandom and shippers internationally. And as much as people like her-proven by her rank in popularity pool, she gets disproportionately amount of hate, especially from other gin shipper.

Well I looked into the reason of that seemingly unreasonable hate, i kinda get it. Probably if i was a fans who followed gintama from beggining, attached by the OG charachters, I'd annoyed by this hot new charachter appear suddenly, quickly get close to yorozuya, forming bond with gintoki, and carrying importance in newer arcs

But thats not the case, therefore Tsukuyo is my best girl from gintama series.

I like her character design and the way her seiyuu voicing her. It has that cool elegance that gintama not best known as.

Her design put more color into the series. If gintama is a parody of Japan's restoration period, Yoshiwara is one place that should not be left out from the backdrop. And sorachi played out yoshiwara importance on overall arcs seamlessly. 

Her traits of reading the air as shown on her very first encounter with Yorozuya is very yoshiwara as the girls of the night supposed to be the expert of reading their guests mood and adjust their action in order to make the guest feel beter about themself. 

She is strong. well This is not new since Gintama heroines are averagely stronger than its Heroes. But Its impressive how he she hold off a Yato’s sudden attack AND rescued the yorozuya from pipe fall on Yoshiwara in flame.  

For those who said she is weak because she fall for Gintoki, well, sorry sis, but love part of her charachter development. Its also a given that her fans mostly talk about her in relation to Gintoki because there are lots to talk about.  

And talking about Tsukuo-her male persona on genderbender arc. Man...He could be the new Night King of Yoshiwara, and ladies will flock the district trying to be recruited as tayuu apparentice or something 

We all knew sorachi did not give any confirmation wich ship is cannon, Its a great decision seeing how many SJ series crushed fans love by confirming wich couple is cannon. 

As gintsu shipper this is a pretty late written analysis of why gintsu the best -other gin shipper please close this article,you’ll find nothing you like.

1.They fit for each other

A Rounin and Courtesan is a classically appropriate match. From the perspective of social standing and upbringing they could effortlessly unite without one need to impose drastically different standart to the other. 

Of course this is not always the case as Samurai X showed us how a rounin could ended up with a respectable dojo heir. But Gintoki is no model war veteran. He is Himura Kenshin on crack, pot and LSD.

 A leecher through and through, In one episode he nonchalantly watching a striptease show while talking serious stuff with hasegawa. In the other episode He is shown to expect some kind of nightly service when a legendary courtesan invite him for an interview.   

The one who can handle such perversion is none other than the lady who hold the highest authority on yoshiwara. she knew how deplorable a man could be. Heck, she probably only know that side of male species that the smallest attention and gentlemanly action would make her happy.  

2.He has hots for her. 

Its not a secret that when gintoki first met Tsukuyo, he thinks she is hot that he tried to flirt with her. Well everybody would. She is Moon of Yoshiwara after all, even sicko bastard like Jiraya admire her opulence. 

But gintoki has code of conduct : Never screw your nakama. 

Once Tsukuyo become part of the “family” any kind of flirting cease to exist.

However its slipped through here and there. Gintoki often jump into couple roleplay whenever there were chance. Just like when they infiltrated the red spider HQ or When He tutored Seita. 

I think that its his own hidden desire manifesting in a less threathening and humourous fashion.

3. They  seen as equal on the light novel 

Who wouldnt ship cool teacher Gin sensei and sexy teacher Tsukki sensei? 

[hitsuackerman]

Unpredictable (Overhaul x Reader) pt.8

a/n: so nothing much happens here but in a way im just establishing how reader and her fam interact :)

warnings: this cannot be read solo, filler because author-chan needs a break xD

Links: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 9

Masterlist to my other fics: here :)

Overhaul’s waiting list: @jjk-biased​​ @infinite-universe-love​​ @dirtypride​ @blackymomo03​ @azzie​

Inside his car, you were buckled in the front seat as he took the wheel. It felt weird seeing him drive his own vehicle. Though he looked good in it, if you were to be honest.

Your thoughts ran to the precinct. The cab which the chief took was heading that way. Recalling how he held on to his anger and chose to leave with silence was the worst thing that could ever happen. More so for tomorrow. Tadrona Manor was an hour’s drive from the city.

Playing with the zippers on your bag, you began to think of a plan. One that would be so unexpected that even the chief wouldn’t dare think of it as staged. Speaking of plans, you had to check your schedule again. How did he change your meetings and interviews? You had a feeling that the remaining days would be cramped.

When he finally reached the drop-off area, you adjusted your position so you could look at him. His eyes focused on what’s ahead of him.

“Thank you for the ride.”

“Just get down and cleanse yourself.”

Bowing your head, you exited the vehicle and watched as he sped away from the building.

Now inside your unit, you decided to skip the tub and just scrub. Showering with cold waters, you felt energized and much better than before. Shorter than intended to be, you were now wearing a loose shirt and sweatpants. Taking your laptop, you set up work in the living room.

Once everything was good to go, you immediately checked your schedule. Tomorrow was only half of your working hours. The rest of the days were just as expected. With only 30 minutes for lunch, you were bombarded with an adjustment of meetings and interviews. All with barely enough interval times.

Going to your emails, you received a new one from the chief. Opening it, you cursed every single word you knew of. Attached to the email were 4 new cases. Reviewing them, you estimated it would make things with Overhaul a little more tricky. Going back to your schedule, you were thankful that he had the brain to include the necessary meetings already.

Heading to your room, you took 3 cases from your personal files and flopped back to the sofa. If the chief was playing dirty, then you had no choice but to act as well. Dialing a number, all it took was one ring and you were greeted right away.

“What can I do, (N/N)?” The voice over the phone asked.

“I need a favor, Takashi-kun.” You reached for the folders and scanned which of the three were appropriate for him. Deciding on a minor case, you opened the folder and skimmed on the papers. Making sure that he was the right one for the case. “I need you to do a case for me. It’s practically 70% solved at this point.”

“It would be a pleasure, (N/N).” Takashi replied. His voice telling you he was smirking at the request handed to him. “Is the chief overloading you with work?”

“Yeah.” Clicking your tongue, you reached for the next folder. One that revolved around aggravated assault. “I also have one for Nomura. He’s there at home right?”

“He’s listening to the conversation as we speak.”

“Good evening, (Y/N)-chan! I’ll give my damn best~” He was always a cheerful one.

“Is that all?” Takashi asked.

“There’s one more. For Kaien, I need him to gather information on one that involves perjury. It’s a bit complicated but I know he can do it.”

Takashi, Nomura, and Kaien. Those three men were your equivalent of Overhaul’s Eight Precepts of Death. Your father had entrusted them to look after you when you were still a toddler. As you grew up, you managed to build a solid bond with them. They always treated you as a princess and even till now, if it means making you happy, they would gladly assist you.

Of course you preferred not to take advantage of their skills. It was only in times like these where you would reach out to your roots for… assistance. They did, however, follow a set of rules. No killing, no fighting unless absolutely necessary, and that their safety is vital.

“Will you drop it off here at the estate or shall we pick it up?”

“I’ll drop it off tomorrow in the morning.” The butterflies in your tummy did a somersault at the thought of going home. “It has been quite some time after all~”

After saying your goodbye’s, you bagged the 3 files and began working on the new cases assigned to you.

Early the next day, you found yourself parking your car inside the Abegawa Tenchu Kai estate. It wasn’t as big as the Shie Hassaikai’s but it was home. The minute you stepped into the hallway, Takashi, Nomura, and Kaien practically glided on the floor just to greet you. They were wearing yukata, so today must be their day off.

“Where’s my lovely daughter?” You heard his voice coming down the stairs. A toothy grin formed on your face when you saw your father. Opening his arms, you hopped your way into his arms into a loving embrace. “Have you had breakfast?”

“Not yet~ What’s to eat?” You followed him to the dining area.

“Nomura cooked your favorites.” He said as he ruffled your hair. “Takashi took the liberty of buying your favorite fruit as well.”

More than excited to eat Nomura’s food, you practically dove to your seat once you saw the table filled with amazing food prepared just for you. Digging in, you savored the taste and the warmth of your home.

Half way through the meal, you handed the files to their assigned yakuza. Your father simply shook his head at your actions. He didn’t mind that you were using them to your advantage. He thought it amusing that you somehow managed to use your roots as a way of assisting you in your cases.

“How’s work, daughter?” He asked after he sipped his coffee.

“It’s pretty interesting.” You nodded. Trying to suppress the giddy sensation your tummy felt. “I’ve been assigned a case for the Fukuo Kai.”

“The chief’s still using your background as leverage?” Nomura inquired. He never fully trusted that guy the moment you first talked about him.

“Yeah…” You groaned. “I also have to work with the Shie Hassaikai for this one.”

“Shie Hassaikai, huh?” Your father repeated. “Are they treating you well?”

“He is. For the most part. Overhaul is relatively stable when I’m with him.”

“THE Overhaul?” Takashi confirmed.

“Yes. That Overhaul. I have to admit. He is intimidating. Everything you’ve heard about him might just be true.” You felt your cheeks burning at the thought of him. Not wanting them to ask questions, you took your coffee and hid your face. But that was a little too slow on your part.

“You’ve taken an interest in him.” It wasn’t a question but your father could sense things. “Has Gei seen him?”

“Once. He went to my apartment to hand over information. Gei happened to be there as well.”

“I’ve met him once.” He recalled. His index and thumb holding onto his chin. “His loyalty to the yakuza is very strong. He followed the boss as if his life depended on it. Still, he had his mask on. That was a long time ago though. He went by a different name.”

“As much as I’d like to know what his name is…” You put your mug down and began to play with the half eaten bacon. “I think it’s safer if you don’t mention it. For his sake.”

The tenderness in your voice as you spoke about him alarmed your father. There was no hiding it from him. In his eyes, he could see the subtle signs of infatuation. Observing your mannerisms as you talked about the young yakuza boss, you were still unaware that it’s slowly growing. The feelings and future complications should you pursue him.

To say that it worried him was an understatement. He knew what Overhaul was doing. He had, after all, been acquaintances with the former boss. The sudden disappearance was all too timingly when word went out that he took his place.

Still, he trusted you and your judgement. You were one of the top ranking officers and managed to keep your family ties hidden from the media. The way of the yakuza had been molded into you and how you managed to prosper with it only swelled his pride.

With breakfast done and the cases handed over, he was now standing outside your car. Leaning on your door as you strapped yourself in. The engine revved as you were preparing to leave for work. The childish smile on you was something he always strived to protect. Closing your door, he watched as you exited the estate.

Three men walked up to him. Faces filled with uncertainty.

“It’s alright, you three.” Your father assured them. “I do not fully trust him but I can only hope that the person she’s seeing is Chisaki-kun and not Overhaul. Come now. I think we all need to light up some incense.”

Inside the car, you clenched on the steering wheel. The sense of safety gone the minute your precinct was in sight. Looking at the parked cars, you were more than relieved when you saw his car wasn’t in its designated spot. Scanning the area once you stopped your engine, you deemed it safe and basically ran all the way to the entrance.

Now in the protection of your cubicle, you turned your desktop and waited for it to boot. When it did, you scanned your emails and began to count the hours.

4 more hours before you’d be sent home.

9 more hours till you would have to sit face to face with that wretched boss of yours.

Beginning your day’s work, you mentally prepared for what was to come next.

-----

so yeah nothing much really happens here~ do you guys have any questions? feel free to comment and ill gladly answer them :) take care and i hope you guys like this chapter <3

[shadowtarot]

Persona 5 Strikers Arc 2: So I Woke Up One Day And Had To Fight A Dark Lord??

The Phantom Theves make a stop in Sendai and stop a plagiarizing author!

This Jail felt a lot shorter. Sendai is the first new location in the game, but there's not much to do in the city itself. Quests get added at this point and Treasure Demons make a return. Given you can Re-visit Jails...well guess easy money is the name of the game!

Story wise it's pretty interesting. Grandson of a well loved Author wants to write, but people only care about him for his name. Uses EMMA to gain fans and BOOM. Stolen desires.

If you couldn't tell by the way I titled this summary, the Jail is an Isakai. It's super heavy on light novel tropes and even the boss fight has a lot of Jojo References. So it's a Weeb wonderland.

It's not a hard boss fight. I died once, but that was because I forgot to swap Ryuji for Sophia. Once I did it was easy.

But plot twist a-hoy! We ended up meeting EMMA's designer! And she's...Maruki with boobs. No but seriously she gives me serious Takuto Maruki vibes and she's now helping out the gang find out what's going on with EMMA once she sold the rights to the company distributing it.

Oh and everyone wore Yukata finally. Though it was short lived.

OFF TO THE NEXT STOP!

[shimzus-a2]

“when am i gonna get my shrine maiden kiyoko and guy-who-visits-shrine-4-his-granny kita slowburn 3.6k 1.8k word starter,” said @kainan​ “bet,” said i.

        SHE’S NORMALLY SLOW & DILIGENT in her daily ministrations. though simple tasks she’s bound by her word to complete— cleaning the temples by hand, leading guests to the omikuji, & watching over the monks as they meditate in the mornings— kiyoko works at her own speed. there’s no rush to duty, but no reason for her to slack, either. eventually, everything will be completed. 

        she’s lucky to have moved beyond her days as a mere temple servant, into her own right as a shrine maiden. the work is still the same ( & she can’t complain about that, when it needs to be done ), but the expectations for her have lightened. she isn’t drilled to finish her tasks early, or scolded for the ways that she accomplishes them. when she was younger, that was often the case. the monks forced her to RUN FAST & JUMP HIGH, performing at the highest expectations possible. 

        more often than not, the rush would overtake her. with wind sweeping across her bangs & through the sleeves of her yukata as she carried a new branch of wood for the temple fireplace, kiyoko ran the full circle of the temple grounds at the calling whim of her superiors. her reliable legs carried her far, bounding gracefully over the uneven stone pathways that had seen hundreds of years of wear before her. [ had she been the only one to run across them ? ] as far as kiyoko knew, nobody else was likely to run here. the monks walked silently across the stones, & the other servants in her cohort scurried … even the guests took their sweet time when they visited. but she ran.

        gracefulness still has its limits, and running so much was always bound to lead to mistakes. kiyoko fell often, no matter how much focus & attention she paid to her feet or the uneven stones beneath them. one wrong step— her geta catching on the edge of one— & she’d meet solid ground again. it was frustrating, but sturdy : a reminder that RUNNING isn’t FLYING, & for all the excitement it could build up in her chest, the ground would always be there to catch her again … to level her out.

        the monks liked to say that they were spirits tripping her. they liked to play games on people, especially young girls who hadn’t learned much yet. [ kiyoko had learned enough, though, she thought. why target her & not someone more powerful ? ] if anything, it seemed like TRIPPING her would give them nothing but a good laugh. & even then … kiyoko grew used to the feeling of the uneven stones on her back, pressing awkwardly into her spine when she rolled onto them & stared up into the sky to catch her breath. she grew used to the feeling of scars on her legs, too, & felt grateful that her yukata would hide them from view.

        but she doesn’t need to run anymore. her superiors don’t press her as hard, & she’s grown perfectly accustomed to walking instead, now. it delivers the same results, & she doesn’t trip. so at her own pace, quietly but responsibly, she completes her duties as a shrine maiden.

        only … today is a bit different. the temple has always seemed like a SECOND WORLD, & by its own rights, it is. the bridge between a mortal plane & that of the gods must inherently feel different somehow. perhaps their visitors don’t realize it ( since they only ever come to pray in times of hardship, when they need to rely on the gods for good grades or success in love ), but someone who has spent every day living & working here would recognize it. 

        there’s a quiet change in the way that the temple operates, in comparison to the world outside. as soon as kiyoko sets foot beyond the torii gate entrance, the world swells with sounds & sensations of physical GROUNDEDNESS. a horn honks, or someone shouts, or a sign for a convenience store starts blinking from loss of power. they all feel deafening in comparison to the world inside the gate. in the temples, those sounds & sensations are more muffled & subtle. the plinking sound of water being dripped into a stone basin is almost like the steady whisper from a god, leading one along their path. the carefully drawn seals placed above every doorway inside are a reminder of the monks who came before, each with their own life & their own tie to this place. the world outside may be blaringly abrasive & direct, but within the temples, life is quiet & subtle. every element here poses a hidden story & meaning. there is more beyond the surface, laying in wait to be uncovered.

        those worlds don’t mix well. kiyoko finds herself feeling out of place outside, unsure of how to act & how to hold herself. similarly, those guests she always saw visiting seemed out of place here. they may go through the process of making their offerings, praying for luck & guidance, & dismissing themselves … but do they truly know why they do so ? it seems to kiyoko like they’re visitors from another world, wedging themselves into a place where they don’t fit because they don’t understand. 

        even him. she’s spied him here before— regularly, even— but it’s clear that he’s still from another world. he may seem to be more respectful than their usual visits, & certainly more diligent about coming regularly … but not her kind.

        if she were to give into her curiosities, perhaps she’d try to create a story for him to explain his purpose here. [ a man with a gambling debt, & with each day he’d gamble a bit more away & lose, he’d feel he needed to come here to ask the gods for more … or perhaps not even someone with a vested interest in the gods, but instead a budding architect curious about the history of the buildings & their designs ? ] with any less self-restraint to her name, perhaps kiyoko would have given him plenty of stories already. with the frequency of his visits, it would be hard not to exhaust every ounce of creativity her brain might have …

        but she maintains her virtue of self-restraint & chooses not to indulge in those stories when she spies him. it’s not really her business why he comes, in any case ; instead, her interest should be vested in her own responsibilities, than in those of others. whatever reason he has for making his regular attendances, it doesn’t concern her. it’s probably a good enough reason for him, & if he’s found a way to make use of their space, then she won’t bother him. 

        though today, of course, is different. if their worlds are not quite the same, that’s fine. kiyoko can accept the nuances of her lifestyle that conflict with his beyond this place. if the world could be categorized that simply— into two worlds like this— then life would be easy. but a third is at play, & it complicates things. 

        she’s never been to the world of the gods before, nor would she know what to expect of it. simply trying to gather her thoughts to make a guess about it feels like a feeble attempt at pinning down the UNKNOWN, so she won’t even try. there are things that can’t ever know, & this is certainly one of them. the world bends for the gods, & always has : they dip their fingers into her world & his, grazing across each like stray cows in an open pasture. but she can’t turn her eyes to their world in return, or dip a finger into it. as a mortal, all she can do is show her respect & devotion, & hope that in doing so she can appease some of the angrier gods into a state of calm. 

        she can also ensure that she clears out the temple from those in the way of the gods. kiyoko has done something similar before, although not to the degree of this occasion. sometimes, the monks might instruct her to convey to the guests their intent to close early ( for ‘ cleaning ’ ). in that case, all that kiyoko needed to do was to patter around the grounds & share the message : i’m so sorry to interrupt you, but it’s important you know. the temple will be closing a bit early today so that it can undergo its scheduled cleaning. if you can, please be sure to hurry along & finish up your visit— we wouldn’t want to inconvenience you with the ruckus of the cleaning. that, albeit indirect ( & a lie ), usually worked.

        this instance was a bit different, though, & kiyoko hadn’t been given a full explanation as to why. she wasn’t a very high-ranking staff member, but that didn’t mean that she wasn’t welcome at important meetings for the whole temple staff. she would simply be asked to sit to the side & listen, rather than contribute or express her opinion. [ but that’s fine. so long as she was able to observe what was happening, she could form her own approach quietly to herself. ]

        however, at this meeting, even sitting to the side & observing wasn’t enough to understand the circumstances. kiyoko had heard bits & pieces, more so as separate words strung together haphazardly than as anything resembling a true, definitive explanation. THE GODS ARE COMING. YATAGARASU. IT’S IMPORTANT THIS TIME. THE TEMPLE MUST BE EMPTY. THEY’RE COMING. 

        it would seem as though this were just another case of a godly ‘ visitation. ’ kiyoko would have to clear out the temple grounds & prepare to host the presence of a god, though she had never actually seen one visit. they were small, anyways, & preferred not to show their physical selves when the spiritual, unbodied form worked well enough. 

        the looks on the monks’ faces conveyed clearly enough to kiyoko that this was not ‘ just another case. ’ they had stressed the importance of this occasion, & the fact that the space needed to be CLEAR. so although she might not have understood it fully, nor been given the chance to ask any clarifying questions, kiyoko was certain of her tasks.

        she would do as she always did when trying to clear out her world & separate it from that of the mortal world outside. however, this time, she would be a bit more fervent in her attempts, simply to speed things up. 

        it’s why she doesn’t feel bad or impolite about tapping him on the shoulder with her index finger, her bangs unsettled by the rising wind & her cheeks nipped by the cold.  ❛  anou … i’m sorry. i know you come here often, but the temple will be closing early today. we’re cleaning up the space. so if you could … make your peace & part …  ❜

[tanjhero-a]

The Festival (Tanjirou x OC)

A/N: another commission! thank you very much @knyheadcanons-imagines​ :)

Word Count: 2,984

It’s been awhile since Tanjirou was able to genuinely relax-

“Tanjirou! Look, they have such interesting cup designs-”

And to relax and have fun with someone he really, really likes? Seems like a dream come true compared to the stressful, nightmarish world he’s usually in. 

Hayami, as always, glows with beauty as she strolls the small town of Iwata with Tanjirou by her side. The two slayers were once again paired up for a mission, but neither of them were complaining. They both seemed to really enjoy each other's company- which is relieving to Tanjirou because the last thing he wanted to be to Hayami is a bad friend or partner. 

Though they had come together for a demon slaying mission, that didn’t mean they couldn’t have a good time. The sun still shone brightly in the sky when they met up at the entrance of Iwata, and with no way to spend the time, Tanjirou suggested that they explore and window shop. It seemed like the town was beginning to set up for a festival (they figured out from an old man sitting nearby that they were, it would take place in two days), so merchandise and various items were being set outside in stalls. Hayami thought this was a wonderful idea. 

“Oh- those are pretty! Look, this one has little frogs,” Tanjirou looks at the stall full of beautiful handmade porcelain cups and plates with Hayami, picking up a cup and showing it to her. She coos at the cute design and Tanjirou smiles as he looks at the owner setting out more cups. “You made these, right?”

The little old woman looks up, surprised, before she smiles back. “Ah, yes. I like to take suggestions from my customers for new things to make. It doesn’t make a lot of money, but it’s nice.” He believes her. Despite the stress that shows in her posture, probably from running a business during an upcoming festival- she seems content. 

“You do a great job- they all look wonderful,” Tanjirou praises. 

“Oh!” Hayami suddenly exclaims, “you said you take suggestions?” The lady nods and Hayami beams. “If that’s the case, perhaps you could make a Sakura tree design. I know it’s a bit classic, but I think if you were to perhaps make a sakura tree that’s being pushed by the wind- and have the leaves painted all across the cup-” Hayami gestures vaguely with her hands as she smiles bashfully, “I think that would be rather beautiful.” 

The older woman nods, a twinkle in her eye. “You have a creative mind, young lady. Perhaps I’ll make it when spring comes…” 

“That’s a great idea!” Tanjirou says. “Maybe we’ll come back in the spring to see it.” 

“Oh, that would be fun, wouldn’t it?” Hayami smiles. “And we can bring the others, too. I don’t know if your friend Inosuke would really be interested in this stuff, but still…” 

“He’s a bit brash but he’s a little kid if everyone leaves him behind, I’m sure he’ll come and find something to do.” 

“Is that right? Well- anyway! It was nice to meet you!” Hayami turns back to the old woman, bowing respectfully before waving. Tanjirou does the same, and the two are back to walking down the stalls, side by side. They continue to find menus of upcoming dishes for the festival and other things such as beautiful kimonos and yukatas with expressive, colorful patterns weaved into their design. 

The sun is just beginning to set when something else catches Hayami’s eye. It’s on the other side of the road they were walking on so she crosses the way to look at it, a small gasp leaving her as she inspects whatever it is that intrigued her. Tanjirou follows, definitely curious as he looks over Hayami’s shoulder. 

“Ah, that’s quite beautiful, isn’t it?” He comments and his partner nods in return, her fingers hovering over the glass that it lays inside. 

It’s a delicate, elegant kanzashi that shines beautifully inside its case. It’s fine craftsmanship is obvious- you can see the details and care that went into creating the flowers and beads. Kanzashi can be quite diverse with its designs but the one Hayami is looking at is a bit more simple, but still dazzling with it’s white and violet color scheme. 

“It is,” Hayami eventually agrees, taking her hand away from the glass. Tanjirou can see the longing look in her gaze- it surprises him how much she seems to be taken away with it, and the slight sadness he’d even be able to find if he didn’t have his impressive nose that gave away emotions like that. “I haven’t owned something like this in quite awhile- I almost miss it,” she laughs quietly, “almost.” 

Tanjirou doesn’t know what to say, so they stand at the stall in silence until Hayami takes a deep breath in, straightening her posture as she looks at her partner. “It’s probably time we start looking for the demon.” Tanjirou nods and she’s quick to turn away, walking back toward the town entrance without waiting for him to follow. 

Hmm. 

With Hayami a safe enough distance away, Tanjirou makes a decision. He doesn’t like seeing his friend so disturbed- but she looked genuinely happy when she looked at the kanzashi. He looks at the price for it- and ouch, that’s a lot- but he finds the store owner who was rummaging with supplies in the back of his shop so he can purchase it. 

The owner wraps it in a soft, velvet cloth before tucking it inside a box and hands it to Tanjirou. The boy is quick to hide it in one of the pockets of his haori as he thanks the owner and then quickly trots off, needing to find his partner before she wanders too far off on her own. 

But, apparently… she had wandered off rather quickly. Tanjirou can still follow her scent, so she definitely wasn’t lost, but she had gone further than he would have thought she would on her own. It worries him that she’d go off to the woods on her own like that when she was clearly upset- something about that just seemed wrong. Hayami doesn’t usually act like that. 

Now standing in the middle of the woods, her scent beginning to scatter, Tanjirou frowns and sighs as he looks around him. This feels a little familiar. Their last mission together was just like this- the two of them separated, lost in the middle of dark, tall trees that hid the sky above them with their thick branches and leaves. That last mission wasn’t ideal- Tanjirou ended up having to be saved by Hayami. With how this mission kept repeating itself… he worries something like that may happen again. They shouldn’t be split up- they’re a team.

Tanjirou huffs, closing his eyes and concentrating once more on Hayami’s scent. He’s just being a little more paranoid than usual- probably thanks to his feelings for her. He can’t help but worry a tad more than he usually would. 

She’s fine, the slayer assures himself. She’s not that far off, now. Just a little further.

So he continues to put one leg in front of the other, one hand on his katana just in case as he moves over tree roots and streams. Her scent is definitely stronger now, and eventually, he catches sight of her blonde hair, the strands being carried by the gentle cool breeze. The slayer smiles, finally reunited with his partner, and he calls her name. “Hayami!” 

She turns her head around, smiling gently at him. That’s exactly the moment that the overwhelming scent of decay and death flies through the air and practically strangles Tanjirou with how heavy it is. 

“Hayami!”

The demon comes out of nowhere, suddenly lunging itself from above and at Hayami with full force and speed. They tumble on the ground as Tanjirou frantically runs to catch up, his katana coming out of its sheath faster than he can think. 

He swings his sword, slashing it’s arm with a clean strike. The demon’s scream is blood curdling as it seems to completely disregard the slayer under him, launching at Tanjirou instead as the arm it’s missing begins to grow back. Tanjirou lifts his sword in front of him defensively, gripping it tight as the demon tries to yank it away with it’s hand. 

A bead of sweat drips down Tanjirou’s face at how desperate and unhinged it’s acting. It’s strong, too- it takes all his effort to keep the demon at bay with just it’s one arm. He doesn’t know if he’ll be able to handle it with two. 

Planting his feet in the ground, the slayer launches himself backward, landing a couple of feet away to create distance and then he lunges forward again, swinging his sword at its neck. The demon dodges by squatting down, almost completely on the ground. It yells again as it swipes for one of Tanjirou’s leg’s, gripping it tightly and pulling the boy to the ground. 

Quickly it scrambles on top of Tanjirou, claws trying to slash his face and stomach as Tanjirou kicks and punches to get it off. He’s just barely able to keep a grip on his sword, stabbing it in the stomach and making it scream loud enough that he feels the need to cover his ears. 

Tanjirou shoves the demon off, onto the dirt ground and forces the katana out of the demon’s body. It squirms and screams and cries until the slayer quickly stabs down again, at its neck, effectively making it quiet. 

He looks toward Hayami. She hasn’t moved from her spot on the ground, laying still. Tanjirou can tell she’s still breathing, but seeing her like that… 

He swings his katana one last time, the head of the demon rolling to the side, detached from its body.

As soon as the body begins to disintegrate from below him, Tanjirou stumbles to get himself back on his feet and runs toward Hayami. He kneels beside her, hands hovering around her, unsure of what to do. Her chest moves steadily- but once he lifts her head, he can see the dirt and blood that sticks to her hair and skull. “Hayami…” He bites his lip and his eyebrows furrow in worry. “Don’t worry. You’re going to be fine,” he speaks to himself as he gently lifts his partner off the ground, securely holding her in his arms. 

Standing up once again, Tanjirou takes a deep breath. He looks around, making sure he isn’t forgetting anything- and once he’s determined that he has everything he needs, he tightens his grip on Hayami and starts to head out of the forest and back into town. 

---

The townsfolk were very kind and accommodating once Tanjirou came. Maybe it was because he looked so young and desperate, his friend collapsed in his arms, or maybe it’s because he helped free their town from a demon, but they helped him and Hayami nonetheless. Tanjirou wasn’t really the one who needed medical care, but the doctors and nurses of the small medical center they placed Hayami in helped distract him and talk to him until his friend woke up. 

They informed him that she was definitely okay, just exhausted from the fight she had endured. They stitched up all her injuries and have painkillers at the ready for whenever she wakes, and that’s really the best news that Tanjirou could ask for. So until she wakes… he sits by her bedside, wracked with guilt for not helping her when she needed him. 

Tanjirou sighs, probably for the hundredth time since he’s been here, as he continues to wait for her to wake. He can’t help but notice that even wrapped up in bandages and bruised, Hayami still looks as beautiful as ever. And he knows that appearances don’t mean everything, but sometimes he really can’t help but wonder. How did someone like her get caught up in demon slayer business? She had explained her circumstances to Tanjirou once before, but she didn’t get into too many details. 

He wonders why she won’t go into the details. 

But- ah- now is not the time to wonder. Slowly, Hayami’s body moves from under the thin blankets that cover her and Tanjirou watches her face anxiously until eventually her violet eyes flutter open. He smiles immediately as she looks around, confusion on her face before she looks toward Tanjirou and her eyes light up. 

“You’re finally awake,” Tanjirou says, mostly to himself as he takes one of her hands in his and squeezes. “I’m so glad,” he smiles even brighter as Hayami returns his hold, happiness bursting inside his chest. 

“How long was I asleep?” She asks, looking out the window. “Are we still in town?” 

“Ah, yes. You weren’t passed out for long- it’s late afternoon now… I didn’t want to go all the way back to the Estate if you needed help earlier than that, and the people here are very kind and helped you right away. We can travel back to the Estate together once you’re feeling up to it.” Tanjirou explains to her, letting her hand go as he anxiously puts his hands in his lap instead. 

Hayami sighs gently through her nose, leaning back on the pillows of her bed as she looks back to Tanjirou. “Thank you, Tanjirou… I’m sorry I worried you. I was a bit reckless, wasn’t I? I’m sorry.” 

“It’s fine as long as you’re fine. But, Hayami- we-” he stutters a bit, eyes looking anxiously away before they settle on her again. He frowns just slightly as he leans forward, keeping her eye contact. “We’re a team, Hayami,” he says. “When we’re on a mission, we fight together. We stay together. Please remember that and please trust in me like I trust in you, okay?” 

Hayami stares up at him, surprise in her features as her eyes grow wide. She’s silent for a few beats, long enough that Tanjirou slowly backs away from her personal space and back further on the chair he sits on, worried he crossed a line. But then her hand lifts, grabbing one of his own again, and she smiles gently at him. 

“You’re right, Tanjirou. I do trust you, I do. I just got caught up in a moment and I… forgot about all that for a moment. It won’t happen again, I promise. You’re my teammate, and you’re my friend. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“W-well,” Tanjirou flusters. “The demon is dead now, and that’s what matters! And I’m just glad you’re okay.” When he pulls his hand away, his elbow his something hard in his haori, and suddenly he remembers something important as his face lights up. “I forgot! I have something for you!”

“For me?” Hayami looks surprised and the slayer nods, taking the box out of his pocket and placing it in her hands. “Really?” 

“Of course.” He tries not to show how jittery he is to see her open it. 

She opens the box gently, observing how fancy it looked before taking the purple cloth sitting inside out. She unwraps the cloth, and then once again, she gasps. 

“R-really?” She looks up at Tanjirou, and she almost looks like she doesn’t believe what she’s seeing. “You got this for me?” 

She holds the white and purple kanzashi carefully in her hands, touching and feeling the object with the tips of her pale fingers. 

“You looked so happy when we saw it earlier, so I thought you should have it.” Tanjirou says and Hayami just shakes her head, her face practically beaming. 

“I can’t believe you would get this for me, Tanjirou,” she holds the pin to her chest, “thank you so much. I mean it.” 

Tanjirou’s face bursts into shades of pink and red as he mutters, “of course…” Hayami laughs just a little bit at the sight of him. 

“...It reminds me of my life before I was a slayer,” she says, and Tanjirou’s head picks up in surprise. She isn’t looking at him anymore, but rather the kanzashi again. “My life used to be full of delicacies and beautiful ornaments like these. Even though I know that the life I have is much better for me, sometimes I miss it… It’s been so long since I’ve even been able to hold a lovely thing such as this. It’s kind of odd, isn’t it?” 

“It’s not odd,” the words slip out of Tanjirou naturally. “I think… it’s natural to miss home, regardless of how you feel about it now or where you are now. My life wasn’t very lavish or privileged, but it was still my life. My home and my family.” Tanjirou looks at the kanzashi in her hands, and then down at his checkered haori. His hands grasp the material, his thumb stroking it gently. “I miss it, too.” 

“Yeah…” Hayami hums, a gentle smile on her lips. And then, to break the sombre atmosphere, she speaks again. “The festival in this town… It’s tomorrow night, right?” 

Tanjirou perks up. “Yes, I think it is…” Looking outside the window again, he can see the townsfolk continuing to set up things in preparation. He can even see someone hauling fireworks from a distance.

“We should come back here for the festival if we can,” Hayami says. “And it’ll be during the nighttime, so maybe we can even have Nezuko out, too.”

At the idea, Tanjirou’s eyes sparkle as he thinks about how happy that would make his sister. It’s been a long time since the siblings were able to be in a festival- and he’d even be able to show her the cute cups they had found earlier. “I think that’s a great idea,” Tanjirou smiles genuinely, and Hayami smiles back, feeling a bit warmer than before.

[unblinded-by-nostalgia-blog]

I'm not going to sugarcoat this... This anime is bad. It is one of the most overrated series I have ever seen. I don't say that lightly.

Merry Christmas?

Part 1 (Episodes 1-4)

The Story

The story is about a young boy who finds out he is actually dead and has only a short ghost-life.

The story has a good idea for a shounen series. But the rest of of the series contains every cliché in the book that we have seen many times before, making the series not stand out like everyone says this series does. It feels like any other dull anime out there.

The characters spoon feeds you most of the information and says the same thing about it hundreds of times with no new information and the explanations feel very forced and poorly written into the show. The series reminds me of Soul Eater. It has an interesting idea, but very poor execution.

The Characters

The characters are not memorable at all to the point where the protagonist looks exactly like the protagonist from Omamori Himari! But while that character was interesting, this series protagonist is like Bella from Twilight. He can't defend himself and his personality changes from a wimp to a brave guy and back again!

Shana is the most unlikeable tsundere I have ever seen. Even though she has seen many of the protagonist's kind. She acts like a bitch to him for no reason and does not sympathies with him in the slightest. Even though she protects humans, she acts like a absolute jerk and has no respect for anyone.

The villain is also not interesting. The only thing we know about him is that he has a doll fetish. And it isn't implied, he talks sexually to a doll multiple times. Heck, every time I see these two, I expect it to turn into a Hentai! The only thing this achieves is demonising people with unusual fetishes, even though the Internet already belittles them already.

The side characters aren't worth mentioning. They are forgettable. In fact, they are the most forgettable side characters I have ever seen. And seeing that I have watched many bad anime before, that is saying a lot.

The Animation/Special Effects

The animation is definitely below average. The animation looks lifeless and dull and the character designs look uninspired. The series recycles a lot of the footage and uses obvious cheap tactics to save money.

The Dub

The dub is bad. The protagonist sounds dull, Shana sounds annoying (especially when she says 'shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!') and the side characters voice actors don't even try.

Final Thoughts

Overall, after seeing these episodes. How do people think that this is one of the best anime of all time? The story is dull, the characters are uninteresting, the animation is lazy and the dub doesn't even try to be good.

And we have 20 more episodes to go... Oh boy...

The Story 1/5 The Characters 1/5 The Animation/Special Effects 2/5 The Dub 1.5/5

Overall 1.5/5

Part 2 (Episodes 5-8)

The Story

The story is still as bland as ever. Even though the series explained how the world works, it is cleche and dull.

The Characters

The characters are not much better. Shana suddenly likes the protagonist for no reason whatsoever, the protagonist is dull and I'm actually siding with the bland villain with a doll fetish. And if you make an uninteresting villain more likeable than the heroes, you know that you have fucked up this series.

The Animation/Special Effects

The animation is still as uninspired as ever. But what do you expect with J.C Staff?

The Dub

The dub is still bad. I don't need to say anymore than that...

Final Thoughts

Overall, this series is still not that good. Who's idea was it that this series is one of the best of all time?

The Story 1.5/5 The Characters 1/5 The Animation/Special Effects 2/5 The Dub 1.5/5

Overall 1.5/5

Part 3 (Episodes 9-13)

The Story

The story has a lot of filler in the first two episodes of this part, then the new villain arc is rushed beyond belief.

The Characters

There is a forced love triangle in this series and you know exactly where it is going to go. The romance between the two main characters feels forced and rushed and we get all new fetish villains! This time its loli and Shota incest! And yes, that's all we know about them. And they are still more likeable than the two main characters!!!

The Animation/Special Effects

Why are the villains the only ones with decent character designs that are memorable? And why are the action scenes so boring and unexciting?

The Dub

The dub is still not very good. In fact, the new villain's voices sound really annoying!

Final Thoughts

Overall, I'm finding it harder to believe that this series is one of the most beloved out there? How the hell did this become so popular?

The Story 1/5 The Characters 1/5 The Animation/Special Effects 2/5 The Dub 1.5/5

Overall 1.5/5

Part 4 (Episodes 14-16)

The Story

The story tells us the backstory of Shana. The problem is that a lot of things happen without any explanation on why this is happening and we already knows what's going to happen because we have seen this plotline many times before and we know how it's going to end.

If it was at the beginning of the series or was just one episode, I could forgive it more, but the backstory takes up THREE episodes! And most of what happens can be summed up in one explanation scene or an OVA, not 3 episodes of the main series.

The Characters

The only interesting relationship in this part is the maid and Shana, but we already know what's going to be revealed, but it is better than what we have seen in most of this series!

The Animation/Special Effects

The animation is okay in this part, nothing special, but an improvement from previous episodes.

The Dub

Dub is still awful. Where is Funimation when you need them? Wait... Funimation made this dub... Dear god!

Final Thoughts

Overall, this part is an improvement from the previous episodes, but it isn't anything worth watching, either.

The Story 1/5 The Characters 2/5 The Animation/Special Effects 3/5 The Dub 2/5

Overall 2/5

Part 5 (Episodes 17-20)

The Story

We get a cleche romantic misunderstanding and a mad scientist taking over the world. One word... BORING!!!

The Characters

We don't have much character development here that we haven't seen 100s of times before! Even the villain is just a generic mad scientist!

The Animation/Special Effects

The animation isn't as good as the previous part. In fact, more care went into the boob juggles with one of the characters in a Yukata than the rest of the show!

The Dub

Zzz...zzzz... Huh? It's still bad... I'm going back to sleep....zzz...zzz...

Final Thoughts

This part was BORING! I was so bored, I started to play Tales of the Abyss near the second half of this part because it was so boring. And I just listened to the dialogue because the animation was so dull.

The Story 0/5 The Characters 1/5 The Animation/Special Effects 2/5 The Dub 2/5

Overall 1.5/5

Part 6 (Episodes 21-24)

The Story

The final part goes on for far too long! Most of the episodes is just fighting dumb looking robots! And the climax is rushed beyond belief. The ending is also really predictable!

The Characters

The characters are the same as ever. The villains are dull and I don't care about anything in this show!

The Animation/Special Effects

The animation is average once again. The fight scenes are below average, but I do think the music is good. If only the music was attached to a better series...

The Dub

The dub isn't that amazing... Can I go back to sleep now?

Final Thoughts

Overall, this last part was a dull ending to a dull series. Need I say more?

The Story 1/5 The Characters 1/5 The Animation/Special Effects 3/5 The Dub 2/5

Overall 2/5

Overall Thoughts

How was this series considered as one of the best series of all time? The story is dull, the characters are uninteresting, the animation is uninspired and the dub doesn't even try! When I watched this series, I could see why Miyazaki thought anime was a mistake. Because fans think this kind of crap is acceptable. Well, it isn't in my book! Don't bother watching this series! It isn't worth your time!

Part 1 1.5/5 Part 2 1.5/5 Part 3 1.5/5 Part 4 2/5 Part 5 1.5/5 Part 6 2/5

Overall 1.5/5