#only found out it was fufu like two years after it happened it

[honeybeewhereartthee]

MDD MINI CORNER CROSSOVER PT 3 LA MORT

Previous | Part 8 | Next

- Present : La Mort -

it's been so many winter eve, that young haftling already a young adult yet Mayoi still haven't find a way. Others seems to notice how Mayoi acting more derange and unhinged each years passes by as no result is found. He wish to melt the ice to see you smile and hear your voice but he promise that the time he will unfreeze your time, it be the time where you and him would able to held hands for eternity.

"Ayase... " His thoughts are cut off short as Rei snap him out of it. His dull blue eyes stared at Rei. "Yes?" He smiled yet his voice sound so empty of flattery. "You really should remember you have a role..." Ritsu commented with a yawn. "Beside searching for eternity. You still to need to remind some souls from that village of your beloved that their time is due." Nagisa point out.

"... Ok, I understand. " He nodded his head. He really want to leave to visit you quickly. He quickly went to the village and walk passes by Kohaku who is a young adult now, who went up to the church again.

Looking for that person who look after him that time in the pass to give his thanks but every time his father left him near the place to have his fun outside their house, with freedom he wish for. He can't find you, people on the village all think you were kidnapped by someone who might abuse something the village clearly only have right too.

And that they needed it more than others. His eyes twitch at the greediness of those people after he learn a thing or two of what kind of magic you have. He think your very reckless and stupid. His purple eyes determine to find you and make sure your ok! He will eliminate the person who did you harm as thanks for that good time with you!

He continue his journey as Mayoi appear on one of the person who's death is coming in the next cycle with a smile on his face he look at one of the man who habe cheated his life for many times with your ability.

"I am here to remind you, you have over live your time, your life have long due... Fufu... If you want to escape your fate... I will do the honor to drag you to hell with only your soul as I destroy your living form that have consume such 'elixer' of life..." He said so with a wicked smile as he chained the man up with invisible chain, it will ripe his body apart with ice spike.

"Don't try to escape when the conductor arrives~ it would be such a bloody mess~ have a nice winter eve... Cause it be your last.' with that, he went to the next house, doing the same routine as he noted all the people who consume all of the ' elixir ' you made out of your blood a long time ago. They only able to live till this season because they run out of stocks.

His so glad he can finally remind those fools and maybe get a revenge for abusing your ability and being plastic and flattering you with fake words a long time ago, yet you treat it with happy smile.

"... I'm done." Mayoi quickly left the village after he send many villager to a state of fear in their system, and they can't say anything about it as they will remain frozen before the world come out. They will be a good mortal who will wait for the life train to pick them up after all, like they should done since long ago.

...

He was about to enter the church when he saw the butterfly again, he reach out to it and he felt his surrounding change.

-MDD-

Soon he heard your voice, his eyes widen in shock as he gaze at your sweet smile and you calling out to him so Lovingly. Yet... It's not time yet...! What if! What if, they'll discovered your also in your due! He cannot let it happened! He will not let your name be written in the list after he thorn those pages with your name in it each time!

He glare at the people who try to stop him as you look at him in surprised as he slowly freeze you and escaped from those fellow reapers of his who don't seems to remember to mind their business! Through it lead him to question why his fellow reapers seems to be off.

He don't give more time as he went to a secure place to freeze your time again.

Yet as you don't seems to be sleeping and looking at him oddly as black liquid melt the ice.

"Ahm, your in an alternative universe and I'm not your MC..." You sigh as Ritsu abilities that he able to lend you made you unfreeze and not bothered by the cold. Beside you been in a situation like this before because of a certain Elsa wanna be.

"... alternative universe you say?" He pause as he remembers the dream he once have. "...if you says that my beloved MC is still asleep in some place. Then fine..' he stop trying to freeze you alive, making you sigh in relief.

"But first tell me, which world is this...~?' he is very intrigued at the part your able to do such thing with his ice. Maybe it's something that could help him!

"...oh gott.." you suddenly realize that mayoi having a mental and emotional break down with the link you two have it's suffocating you as well.

"w-wait a minute ok?" He looks confuse but let's you be. You went to the corner and start to chant with all your heart.

"I'm ok, I'm ok, I'm ok, please don't cry, please don't cry! Mayoi!" You hope it could reach Mayoi in the alternative world, somehow after a while, his emotion calm down. He seems to sigh in relief.

" Mk, I'm done." You turn to look at him, to only find him very close to your face. "... Your eyes have butterfly stigma on them how unique." You commented awkwardly.

"...anyway, this world is where unfortunate souls who aren't able to become human become dolls who's able to become human if love and accepted by another human... Ah! It's because of that Elsa wanna be who grant that wish! I think he can help you... If you have a problem! Ahm he do take some awful consequences through... Like some grandchild of yours suffering the same fate or something... Ahaha..." You remember that stupid shit and can't help but laugh dully.

"...why would you help me?"

"Because your mayoi! I love Mayoi! I don't want you go be sad because your still him in another world! Beside you seems so sad!"

You honestly just want to fix the mess before Ritsu and others called the other darling dolls and it be dangerous. You don't want a

mayoi be hurt if things become messy!

...

Tag List: @valeriele3 @emikoisdead @allimili

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Lovers Lunatic Parade Special Pamphlet Short Story: The 12 Vampires and the Magic Lamp [ENG Translation]

Original title: １２人のヴァンパイアと魔人のランプ

Source: Diabolik Lovers Lunatic Parade Limited Edition Special Pamphlet

Summary: After the Parade has come to an end, Yui receives a special ‘Magic Lamp’ from Count Walter’s butler which can be used to grant a single wish. As she tries to refuse the gift, the Sakamaki, Mukami and Tsukinami brothers promptly stop her and begin to fight over who has the right to use this valuable treasure. She escapes, but the boys chase her around the city, each of them determined to have their own wish granted. ーー And so, their game of tag begins.

“Chichinashi! Where are you hidin’!?”

“Oooi~ Bitch-chan~! Be a good girl and show yourself?”

With the Parade having come to an end, Ayato-kun and Laito-kun’s voices echo through a now quiet and nearly deserted Glimmer Street. While hiding in the shadow of the buildings, a sof sigh fell from my lips. 

“...What to do? I have to hurry and go to Bernstein Castle...”

Right now, I am on the run not only from Ayato-kun and Laito-kun, but from a total of 12 different Vampires. 

All of this happened because I obtained the golden, shimmering ‘magic lamp’ I’m currently holding in my hands.

ーー It happened after I managed to regain my heart with everyone’s help.

As I was about to leave this city to return to the Human World, I was approached by a butler working for Count Walter. He handed me this ‘Magic Lamp’ as an apology for the trouble his Master had caused me. According to what I was told, it is an extremely valuable treasure which will grant any one wish.

Furthermore...The Sakamaki, Mukami and Tsukinami brothers were there to witness the whole ordeal.

“I just can’t accept something so valuable. ...I’ll give this back to you, okay?”

As I said that in hope of returning to Bernstein castle afterwards, they stopped me in disbelief. 

And then claimed that if I did not want it, they would use it instead. ...This resulted into a fight and before they knew it, I had made a run for it, taking the lamp with me.

ーー And that is how our game of tag started.

I am not quite sure what everyone would wish for, but I believe we don’t need this thing if it can fulfill one person’s wish only.

“Heeh...So that’s your reasoning. Well, I’m pretty sure it’s useless though...”

“ーー S-Shuu-san...!?”

“Not just Shuu. I’m here too. Geez, you really made us go through the trouble of lookin’ for you.”

When I raised my head, Subaru-kun was standing next to me as well. ...No, it wasn’t just the two of them. All of the Sakamaki brothers had gathered, from Ayato-kun and Laito-kun whom I believed had walked past me earlier, to Kanato-kun and even Reiji-san. 

“Hehe...You’re pretty desperate, Subaru.”

“I mean, Subaru-kun’s going to wish for Bitch-chan to fall head over heels in love with him, right~? No wonder he’s so desperate, nfu~”

“D-Don’t be makin’ up lies! My wish is a new coffin!”

“All I want...is to live surrounded by an endless amount of sweets!”

“In that case, I’m gonna wish for a huge load of takoyaーー No, actually, might not be bad to have Chichinashi turned into a Chichiari*.”

--> チチアリ or ‘Chichiari’ would be the opposite of ‘Chichinashi’, literally meaning ‘to have boobs’.

“Eh!? M-Me...!?”

“You can’t, Ayato-kun. I’ll be one turning Bitch-chan into a voluptuous, young woman after all~*”

--> He literally describes it as a ナイスバディのオネーサン or ‘Nice body no Onee-san’. Onee-san is used to refer to women who are older than you are but since Laito-kun is only 17 in human years, it would apply to a girl in her early 20s as well.

“G-Geez! Cut it out, you two...!”

“...You guys really came up with some bullshit. If it can grant any wish, I’d make it so the Old Man never bothers me again...Pwaah...”

And so, they began to slowly close in on me. The very moment they reached for the lamp, Reiji-san - who had been the only one remaining quiet so far - suddenly raised his voice.

“Would you care explain this to me? ...Because you kept touching the lamp with those sweaty palms, there are now fingerprints all over it! Come on, it is not too late yet! Put these on at once!”

While frantically shouting at me, he threw a pair of white gloves my way. Surprised by his menacing look, I put them on as asked, and Reiji-san finally nodded his head in agreement. 

“I am disappointed...Do none of you grasp the true value of this lamp?”

“Haah? Are we really not allowed to touch it with our bare hands...?”

“It looks pretty normal from the outside though~ I’m pretty sure I’ve seen a similar example in Kanato-kun’s room...?”

“Yes. ...Well, that one isn’t capable of granting wishes though.”

Reiji-san sighed deeply at Ayato-kun, Latio-kun and Kanato-kun’s consecutive comments.

“...Only two of these ‘magic lamps’ exist in this world, making them very valuable from a historic point of view. Furthermore, the lamp may disappear once it has granted one’s wish, therefore it revolts me you lot are even considering putting it to use...”

While the other guys seemed little interested in Reiji-san’s emotion-laden speech, he once again spoke up.

“Well, I doubt you will ever understand.  ーー Especially you, whom I did not expect to even join us in the first place...”

“...Shut up. Who cares?”

Shuu-san calmly brushed off Reiji-san’s taunt as if it was nothing. 

“Hehe...Seems like he doesn’t give a shit ‘bout what you say.”

“Fufu, take a look at that frustrated expression on Reiji’s face. ...This might be the most interesting thing I’ve seen in quite some time.”

“Geez, cut it out you two~ Don’t you feel bad for Reiji~?”

“Feel bad? ...Hehe. Pretty sure your words hurt even more.”

The other four brothers who had been listening in on their conversation continued to chuckle...Which eventually caused Shuu-san to burst out laughing as well.

Seems like this sight dealt a pretty hefty blow to Reiji-san’s pride, as he stood there shaking violently from sheer anger.

I better make a run for it before things take a turn for the worse...

I used the fact they had suddenly completely forgotten about me to my advantage, and left the place at once.

“...Phew. Thank god. Seems like they didn’t notice.”

I eventually found myself on Aizen Alley, one of the streets located in the very back of Glimmer street. To be honest, I wasn’t too thrilled about having to pass through there, but if I wanted to head to the castle while avoiding Ayato-kun and the others, I had no other choice. 

“Hehe...Too bad. You can’t escape us First Bloods.”

“Hand over that lamp you are holding at once.”

I gasp at the voices resounding from the darkness. Those who appeared were Shin-kun and Carla-san.

“I-I can’t do that...! I believe it is wrong to use the lamp for one’s own selfish pursuits...”

“If we give it back, it’ll just get thrown into some old, dusty storage room, right? In that case, I’m pretty sure the lamp would be happier to have someone use it as well?”

“B-But...”

“Come on, don’t hesitate. You’re keeping Nii-san waiting as well. Can’t you hurry up?”

“...T-Then, what would you wish for, Shin-kun?”

While snorting at my desperate question, he answered with a smile.

“That should be obvious. I’d make sure those filthy Vampires disappear off the face of the Demon World at onーー”

“ーー No. We want cured ham.”

“N-Nii-san...?”

“We shall change all food in this world to cured ham. That is my...No, the dearest wish of all First Bloods.”

“R-Right...”

Carla-san would blurt that out with a straight face. It is the very definition of a selfish wish but I wonder if Shin-kun is truly okay with it? ...I look over at Shin-kun while wondering that, seeing him look at Carla-san in utter defeat.

“...Well then, woman. Hand it over right now.”

“You’re actually hoping to fulfill that wish...!?”

“Yes, of course.”

All food in this world will turn into cured ham...That is just simply pushing it one step too far. It pains me to have to deceive him...But I decided to tell a certain lie.

“H-Have you already had the chance to try the cured ham galette which is said to be this city’s speciality...?”

“...Pardon?”

“It’s a limited edition galette which is available at stores only after the Parade has ended. While passing by the shops earlier, I noticed that only very few were left, so I figured I would inform you just in case...”

While there was no guaranteeing he would believe me, I wanted to make Carla-san forget about the lamp, even if just for a few minutes. With that sole purpose in mind, I continued my act.

“...Let us go, Shin. Just leave this woman be.”

“W-Wait, Nii-san! You’re just going to believe her on her word!?”

“We will know whether she was speaking the truth or not once we get to the shop. Even if she had been lying, capturing a human woman is child’s play to me. However, if she has been speaking the truth...”

“If we don’t hurry, they’ll run out of cured ham galettes, right? ...Right, I understand.”

Realizing there was no point in trying to reason with him, Shin-kun reluctantly trailed behind Carla-san as they left. 

I truly am sorry...While internally apologizing to both of them, I headed towards my desitation. 

“Haah...I can finally see it in the distance...”

Some time after I bid farewell with the Tsukinami brothers, I finally got close to Bernstein castle.

“Oh no...I can’t approach the castle like this...”

After all, four familiar figures were standing lined up by the castle’s gate. Those are the Mukami brothers...Of course, with Ruki-kun standing in the middle. As to be expected of a strategist like him. If I wanted to return the lamp to its owner, I would have to make it back here eventually. They were one step ahead of me.

“Eve...Found you...”

“...!! A-Azusa-kun!?”

When I timidly turned around at the voice suddenly calling for me from behind, Azusa-kun - who was talking to Ruki-kun and the others up until seconds ago - suddenly stood right in front of me. 

“Ahー M-neko-chan! So this is where you’ve been~!”

“Che...Ya sure took yer sweet time. You’re damn late, Sow!”

“...Calm down, you guys. If we make too much of a ruckus, we’ll attract the attention of the others.”

When I raised my voice, it caught everyone’s attention and without a chance to slip away, I was soon surrounded by the four Mukami brothers.

“I’m sorry, guys. But I won’t hand over this lamp to anyone...!”

After jumping the gun like that, Ruki-kun let out a disappointed sigh.

“...Seems like you have got the wrong idea. I simply want to look after the lamp for you.”

“Eh...? You don’t want to use it to grant your own wish?”

“Of course not. If a Vampire such as myself holds on to the lamp, it will decrease the chances of one of the other guys stealing it.”

“You say that buuuut~ ...Ruki-kun, aren’t you actually hoping to use that lamp to renovate our manor~?”

“Your own exclusive study room off-limits for anyone else, and a play room filled with nothing but chess boards...Hehe, as to be expected of Mr. Eldest son.”

“Kuh...! Don’t assume such things. All I want to do is to make the home we have received from that man the most comfortable for you all to live in...!”

While Ruki-kun chuckles sarcastically after his true intentions are exposed by his siblings, Azusa-kun reached out for me.

“Listen, Eve...The four of us talked it out and...We’ve decided to use the lamp together with Ruki as our representative...”

“Ruki-kun’s so mean, you know~! I was actually going to wish for a hundred year’s worth of Vongole Bianco.” 

“I was gonna ask for the power to manipulate the weather...But my idea got shot down at once. ...Haah...And here I thought I could make field work a lil’ easier on myself...”

“I just want to be with Eve so...I didn’t really have any particular wishes...”

“Is that so...? It’s really admirable of you all to hold back on your own desires.”

Even though the younger brothers were voicing their complaints, it didn’t seem like they were going to force their own wishes through. I’m sure it is because Ruki-kun intends to make a wish which benefits the whole family, as the deep bond of trust between the four brothers somehow made me feel warm inside.

However...That still does not mean I will give them the lamp. 

“Uhm, you see...It just doesn’t sit right with me to only have one person’s wish granteーー!?”

The second I felt as if something was closing on me, a large sound resounded from the nearby buildings before they collapsed.

“...!? This magic...”

“The Tsukinami’s...perhaps? Look, over there...!”

“Ugeh! They look hella pissed off! Did ya do somethin’!?”

“Uu...W-Well...”

I could feel my heart drop at Yuma-kun’s words. Carla-san and Shin-kun must be upset about the lie I ended up telling them back then...

“Say, what should we do!? At this rate, we’ll all be turned to dust...!”

Kou-kun’s exclamation made me panic as I rushed towards the two brothers. Either way, I just had to apologize as quickly as possible...However, I was stopped by the Sakamaki brothers before I could reach them.

“You’ve got nowhere to run now...Oi, hand me the lamp already!”

“What are you saying, Subaru? I will be using the lamp. You’re in the way!”

“Hell no! I’m gonna have my wish granted!”

“Ehー Let me have the honor for once~ We can only use it once and my wish is obviously the best.”

Shuu-san joins in a little late as well and before I know it, the Sakamaki, Mukami and Tsukinami brothers are all gathered just like when we started off.

Glares were being exchanged here and there as a hostile atmosphere fills the air. I can no longer stop them all by myself. In that case, I will have to rely on an outer source to back me up. I didn’t want to use the lamp to have a wish granted but...This is the only way to stop their fight.

While rubbing the side of the lamp, I spoke up with a loud voice.

“Release lanterns into the sky once more!”

White smoke emitted from the lamp and soon after ー Poof! The lamp disappeared with a popping sound. 

When I look up at the sky, I once again witness the same magical sight of countless lanterns floating through the sky, just like they did a few hours ago. ...At some point, their quarreling voices had gone quiet as well. 

“You...Haah. You really are a foolish woman.”

“Ya really think we’re happy with this crap? Geez. Ya really used the lamp for some useless shit...”

“...Eh...?”

Shuu-san and Yuma-kun’s remarks catch me off guard as I froze on the spot.

“...Livestock, seems like you did not grasp the true value of that lamp.”

“Exactly...To think a great hidden treasure of the Demon World has been lost over such a ridiculous wish...!”

Ruki-kun and Reiji-san voiced their complaints as well.

“B-But...! All of you were moved by the lanterns, no...?”

I frantically reached out for the others, hoping that at least one of them would agree with me. ...That was all I wished for, yet...

“I mean, sure? But to be honest, I didn’t need to see it a second time...”

“...I’d hate to have to agree with a mere Vampire...But I’ll admit that Kou is right this one time. You feel the same, don’t you, Nii-san?”

“...My cured ham...”

“Too bad, Shin-san...Seems like Carla-san can’t hear you right now...”

“Ah-aah...I was looking forward to seeing a sexy Bitch-chan as well~”

“Me too. I was already making plans for which sweet I would try first...!”

“Fuck! There goes my plan of gettin’ a coffin in which nobody can bother me...!”

All I got in return were negative responses and sighs.

“...Guess I’ve got no other choice then! Oi, Chichinashi! Let me suck your blood to make up for it!”

“W-Wait! That’s way too sudden...!”

“Shut up! That’s the only thing which can calm this anger inside of me!”

While Ayato-kun closed in, I looked around me in search of someone to save me, but all I could see were a bunch of eyes glaring at me from the darkness. At this rate, they will all take my blood. ...There is no way I would come out of that alive. Realizing I had to make a run for it...I dashed away at full-speed.

“Ah! Wait, M-neko-chan!!”

“Geez, Bitch-chan! I’m not scary though~!”

The many lanterns floating through the night sky was a sight to behold, but unfortunately, I did not have the leaway to enjoy that right now. After all, I had to flee from their approaching footsteps and voices calling out for me as soon as possible.

I didn’t want them to fight and while I never expected them to become friends, I wished they would at least try and be on neutral terms with each other. 

That wish was most definitely granted. Right now, they had put the strained relationship between the different families aside to join forces.

However, knowing their shared goal is my blood...doesn’t make me happy at all.

ーー The Demon World’s Parade safely came to an end, but my night had only just begun.

ーー END ーー

[rohobi]

Serendipity 12 | (m)

Story Description: After you reveal your inexperienced sexual status to your bestfriend, Jungkook grapples with the news, startled by the idea that the girl he always thought could get anyone, is a virgin. After finding his porn at 3AM, you decide that maybe it’s about time to stain the white sheets of your world with the colors of a forbidden fruit Jungkook seems to have in the palm of his hands.

PAIRING— jeon jungkook x reader, friendwithbenefitsAU

GENRE/WARNINGS— smut, fluff, humour

← CHAPTERS → CHAPTER 13

Mabel: I just want someone who's extroverted and dominating ...I think part of me wants a sugar daddy. Wendy: If you want a sugar daddy, just go and get one. Claudia: I had a sugar daddy last year, how do you think I could get my Gucci slides hehe

Looking at your phone, you open your chat. Your phone had been blowing up for the past twenty minutes and because Jungkook was beside you decidedly keeping you company for the hour-long lecture, it definitely wasn't him.

Mabel: No offence Claudia but aren't your family like super-rich? Claudia: I wouldn't say super-rich, they're comfortable Mabel: Sounds like something a super-rich person would say Wendy: Did you guys just quote Crazy Rich Asians? Claudia: This is not the point, my parents work hard for their money, I have no right to it. Seulgi: Did you know that Y/N is super-rich?

You snort at Seulgi's message.

You: I am privileged through my parents but I'm not personally wealthy. Also, Jungkook and I are now officially dating. Apologies in advance Mable: No offence Y/N but this isn't about you and your stupid happiness with that sexy bastard, I hate you both Claudia: OMG about time!! Double date sometime? Wendy: Sorry to interrupt but lol you're seeing someone Claudia? Claudia: We're just getting to know each other at the moment but his name is Joon and he's so fucking hot, I'm having a wet dream right now talking to him.

Leaning into Jungkook, you whisper, eyes constantly following the lecturer in fear of getting caught. "Do you know a Joon that Claudia might be seeing?"

He nods, "Yeah, he's in the Medical department. Nice guy. He was at this frat party I was at like last weekend. They official?"

Shrugging your shoulders, you go back to your phone.

Mable: WHY CAN'T I FIND SOMEONE AND CLAUDIA CAN? I just want to be cherished and treated like someone's world but on the flip side. I want someone to throw me up against a wall and choke me. Ya feel? You: Found anyone on bumble? Mable: Only buttholes on bumble. These days I only go out on bumble dates because I know they're paying for my dinner and ya girl has a financial goal. It's not shady if it's a maybe. Wendy: Doesn't Hoseok having a choking fetish? You could ask him to choke you out? Mable: Don't talk about him, I hate him. Claudia: Woah, Mable hates someone? What happened?

Seulgi: Only back because MabLE HATES SOMEONE, WHAT? Mable: Long story short, yes he wants to bone, but he also wants to bone all of Europe and America and my fufu can't be jeopardised by all the potential diseases that erection stick might have. Wendy: What's a fufu? Seulgi: I can show you what a fufu is, come over ;) Mable: Are you going to bring Joon on our camping trip? Can he bring a friend? hehe asking for a friend (me, I'm the friend, not you sluts) Claudia: Yes, he's coming. It's going to be super cute, of course, he's coming. He knows Jungkook too so that will be good. You: How did you guys meet anyway? I heard he's studying medicine?

Claudia: I've been getting therapy, just for some anxiety I've been experiencing at uni and I met Joon in the waiting room after like my third session. It was so magical. Two anxious individuals getting mental health support flirting in the waiting room. Mable: That could be a film bitch, that's so wholesome. Seulgi: Wait, he's studying medicine. You sure he wasn't on clinical placement? Claudia: Yes I'm sure, he's actually on placement in the general surgical and vascular unit at Seoul Hospital. He's been crazy stressed. I did ask though because like, it would be so unethical if he was to be on placement and hook up with a patient. Mable: Like every good xvideo ever xx

You show Jungkook the messages. He rolls his eyes, turning back to the lecture you should be listening to.

Wendy: Awh proud of you for getting help, can you private DM me the details of that therapy place? Anxiety city babes, it's the season for sad. Claudia: Sure Wendy, I'll do that now. Anyway, we went back to his and fucked all afternoon, it was so nice to get it out of my system. I've never met someone who just gets me, you know? and he was so adventurous during bed, I've never met a guy so interested in sex that wasn't penetration focused. Mable: That fucking depresses me, he big? Claudia: He's okay, I'd say just above average and slightly curved to the left. Mable: a BENDER, you fucking bitch, I hate you and celebrate you and your precious fufu.

Your cheeks are red as you read this conversation, especially as it's been a week since you and Jungkook have started dating. He hasn't made any moves to have sex with you but then again, you've been crazy busy with council duties and lectures. Jungkook's doing this historical architecture competition which requires an extreme amount of focus so you haven't seen him at home.

But it doesn't help that you think about it all the time -wanting to have sex and Jungkook hasn't picked up on it yet. How dare he not make the first move.

"Can I see again?" Jungkook whispers, leaning close to you, snapping you out of your thoughts. Moving the phone closer to him, he reads with you. "A bender? What is that ...what are you guys talking about?"

"Keep your voice down Jungkook," the realisation of how loud he is getting dawns as people gape back at you both. "Seriously."

"Is that what you girls talk about?" Jungkook ignores you, enraged by the content. "Did you talk about my dick like this too because I-

"-EXCUSE ME," your lecturer yells pointedly at Jungkook, "You've been talking this entire lecture. Is there something you want to say to the hall? Are you bored?"

It doesn't hit Jungkook that he's talking to him until you smack his chest with the back of your hand. "I'm talking to you Nike boy?"

The lecturer starts making his way up the stairs and your heart falls into your anus. This is so fucking embarrassing. Jungkook fiddles next to you. "Sorry sir," he raises out of his seat. Jungkook winks at you and you're not sure if its to be sexy or because he's about to do something cheeky. "I'll call you after class Y/N."

The lecturer stands in total dismay as Jungkook shuffles past you and down the aisle. "You're leaving? But I haven't asked you to?"

Jungkook waves him off. "I don't study law- too easy. The world outside of law is harder."

"Then why are you here?" the lecturer challenges him but Jungkook doesn't care. "I'm so confused."

Jungkook walks down the steps and towards the exit. "Don't be confused sir, the law can be hard but it's not confusing. I'm here because I want to be here, isn't that flattering?"

"Don't be a smart ass, get out of my class." The lecturer snaps.

You sink into your chair.

Jungkook waves at you and announces loudly. "Bye my love, see you after class. Call me though because I'll be in my office."

You die right then and there.

Your phone buzzes in your hand.

Jungkook: Do I have a bender?

Bastard.

[dennou-translations]

Violet Evergarden Booklet 1

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Index || Next →

That day was a special one for me, but to the rest of the world, this was not the case.

   Ann Magnolia and Her Nineteenth Birthday

   There was a number of things I had to do on the special day called today.

I would wake up in the morning and check the weather. As if a tale were beginning, I would turn the curtains over and look outside the window.

The radiant daylight shone on my eyes. Today was sunny. Knowing that made me happy. That I had woken up enveloped in sunshine. That I didn’t have to worry about my letter getting drenched in rain. It was almost as if the truth of these facts was blessing the day.

——I’m happy.

Very happy.

I didn’t usually say this, but I felt like saying it today, so I whispered as I laid back down, “Good morning.”

Husky with wake, my voice echoed through the quiet bedroom. I wandered around in search for someone to have a conversation with from the words “good morning”. However, I couldn’t find anyone to hear them, so they pointlessly vanished somewhere.

If you were just by yourself, words would die as soon as they were born. I knew that as the truth of this world. Like flowers that withered without changing colors, like small birds that couldn’t endure the coldness of midwinter, my words would promptly die. After all, words were tools for people to communicate their intentions. So if there was no other party, they would all but die. That was evident.

There was no one who would reply to me with a “good morning”. There was no one in this house that would do a morning greeting, so if anyone were to say that this much was obvious, it sure was. But in my memories, someone whose voice I had already forgotten would return my words. In a warm and soft voice that was probably how my mother sounded, they would be returned to me.

“Good morning, Ann.”

——Good morning.

“Today is a special day, huh.”

——I know; I’d been counting them with my fingers.

“Your long-awaited birthday.”

With a nod, I stood up.

Today, I was turning nineteen. Twelve years had passed since I had been left all by myself when I was seven years old. I reflected thoroughly upon that reality alone and proudly.

I left my bedroom still wearing a negligee, heading to the spiral staircase. There were portraits hanging in rows from the staircase’s wall.

“My, you’re going outside dressed like this just because you’re at home?”

Decorated with pictures of family members, the wall used to be terrifying for me when I was a child, but it became less so after my mother was added to them. I would go up and down those stairs countless times every day, but the only spot that I would end up directing my gaze to for a few seconds was the portrait of my mother and my childhood self.

If, by any chance, there was strength to the thing called “love”, I thought, if there was a force residing within love, wouldn’t this image start moving one day, since it was the only one I looked at as if I were yearning for something?

I would end up embracing such fantasies.

“I won’t change, no matter how much you stare at me. By the way, doesn’t my complexion look a little bad in this portrait? I should have had more paint put over it.”

Of course, it was just a fabrication.

Having come down the stairs, I went to the front entrance, its door a little worn-out. I should call a repairer. The house was a living being just like me, and since it was already quite old, it was always broken somewhere.

“I also want you to tend to the garden. When was the last time you held a broom?”

As I came outside, I could see this place’s whole scenery. There was nothing but lush grassland and tree-lined roads. The idyllic sight was awfully boring, but above that, it was beautiful, so if you made a frame with your fingers, you would immediately have a scenic picture. In this entire area, there were no other houses in sight. Of course. This territory was under the control of the Magnolias, hence this view belonged to me, the family head.

As long as I didn’t sell or give it away, this landscape would never change. And, same as the previous family heads, I didn’t wish for it to change. Neither did I wish to leave this place. Even if I was all by myself.

“Ann, let’s take a look inside the mailbox.”

I took a look inside the mailbox. Perhaps because it was still early in the morning, there was nothing in it yet.

“It’ll surely be coming soon.”

Today was the day when I, Ann Magnolia, was born. Every year on my birthday, I would get letters from my late mother. Letters from my mother, who by now had become a portrait, would be delivered to me.

“There is no such thing as a letter that needn’t be delivered, Milady.”

To be precise, letters with my mother’s feelings blown into them and ghostwritten by an Auto-Memories Doll would be delivered to me. It was a strange story, but a true one.

“Auto-Memories Doll”. Long had passed ever since this name caused a stir.

The creator was an authority in the field of mechanical dolls, Professor Orlando. His wife, Molly, was a novelist, and all had begun with the posterior loss of her eyesight. He then invented a machine to perform ghostwriting for his beloved wife and named it Auto-Memories Doll. Nowadays, people who worked as ghostwriters were also called Auto-Memories Dolls.

When I was seven, my mother, who was plagued with a serious illness, summoned a beautiful blue-eyed Auto-Memories Doll to our manor. She made her write several letters and hired a postal company to deliver them to me even after her death. She had been secretly planning out a few decades worth of birthday messages for her beloved daughter.

The person who had made this request was an oddball, but the ones who had accepted the job were quite odd themselves. Had they not imagined that someone would abandon it at some point? Had they sealed the contract for such a heavy, troublesome work without any refusal because they were horribly bad at their business, or was it because they were too nice? Having grown into a creditable lady and come to understand the world to a certain extent, I would ponder about such things. Surely, it was because they were nice. Thanks to them, even though I didn’t have a single relative now, at least on my birthday I could recall what being loved by someone felt like.

Just like that, I stood fidgety in front of the mailbox. Closing my eyes, I cleared off the dust on the box of my memories.

——I remember. That she had come around. That she would be over there, quietly writing letters. I remember the figure of that person and of my smiling mother. Surely, until I died...

That few-days’ time had been seared into my mind. Back then, my... Back then, Ann Magnolia’s frizzy hair was still short, and she was selfish and pretended to be taller. She was a helpless child. A very young one. How old she was? Seven years old. An age where one would still long for their mother. Her mother was the center of the world. If her mother died, she wouldn’t even be able to breathe. She was that kind of child. She was aware that her emotions were unstable and that she tended to act a little rashly.

Most people would treat someone like me nicely, and that was it. People who had their eyes on my fortune attempted to get close to me, but once they noticed that I had no intention to let them do so, they never showed their faces to me again.

That person—that person... Violet Evergarden. That Auto-Memories Doll was a bit different from other people, I thought...

Whenever I wondered what was so different about her, I would find myself thinking.

Back then, Ann Magnolia had fallen in love with a mysterious girl who had come around all of a sudden. It was a little girl’s romantic love out of adoration. She both hated and liked the Auto-Memories Doll who had come around out of the blue and stolen her time with her mother.

——What was it that I liked about her?

She was a taciturn and unsociable. A silent porcelain doll. She seemed extremely adult-like. But looking back, she often reacted like a child who knew nothing. Even when I gave her dolls, she didn’t know how to play. Neither did she have any knowledge of how to solve riddles. Even when I made her touch bugs, she never ran away like my mother or our maid. Whenever I invited her to join hands and spin around, we would do it to no end.

“Fufu...”

She was a weird person. Yes, a weird one.

Children would look at adults and measure them by whether they were scary or foolish, would be their allies or enemies, would give them candy or not, and other such things. They would stare very, very fixatedly and judge the grown-ups.

She... that beautiful Auto-Memories Doll... Violet Evergarden was not an adult.

——Yes, she was... how should I put it? She was Violet Evergarden.

Which was why I had snuggled up to her, the same type of person as myself, just like two cats nestling close to each other, I thought.

She was a beautiful child. A beautiful beast. I found her eccentric self to be cool, so I liked her.

Where was she now and what was she doing, I wondered.

I was turning nineteen, but back in the day, she must have been younger than I am now. For her to have prosthetic arms, it wasn’t hard to imagine what had happened to her at the time, when the war had just ended. But surely, there was no doubt that her life had been full of many more ups and downs than the story I had in mind.

Did she not express her emotions enough because she was carrying some sort of wound in her heart? She was such a beautiful person, so she must have won over the heart of some wonderful person by now...

I shook my head left and right. I mustn’t have unjust suspicions of her. I shouldn’t prod into how I was back then – into the Ann Magnolia of back then – and taint it. Even if it was just me with myself, I mustn’t do that. Because all of the joys and sorrows from that time belonged to the old me, who had endured those days. Having become an adult, I shouldn’t have any say over the mental landscape of my old self, as a third party.

Having grown up, I observed my own land, which spread out endlessly. The scent of gently swaying grass and flowers, the chattering of birds, the clouds that moved slowly in the blue sky. It felt like they would be here just like that for a hundred more years.

“It’s not coming, huh. Let’s go eat breakfast.”

Since the postman wasn’t showing up, I had no choice but go back into the manor.

I had been working at home lately. I used to go outside and enjoy the world when I was a student, but I realized that, in the end, I liked being in my house. Maybe this was a Magnolia bloodline thing.

As for my from-home job, I worked with legal counseling. When I was little, I had experienced disputes amongst my own relatives over me and my assets. That was the reason why, if I had to give any.

My mother had left me with a talented legal advisor. A person of outstanding character, who still concerned himself with me even now. As a young child, I excelled at catching insects that I had never seen before, but I didn’t have the means to oppose to the people who wanted to steal this land from me one way or another.

I had started off working at the city’s legal information center, introduced to me by the legal advisor, who had taken me in, and only recently had I become independent. Living in the city had made me realize many things. That there were many people in this world who weren’t protected like me. And that this wasn’t something those people themselves wanted, but things had turned out in such a way due to the environment they were in.

The ascension of the ghostwriting business had a similar background. Children would be made to work like adults, unable to go to school, so when they grew up and had to sign any documents, they couldn’t even write their own names.

People like that, who had been raised in environments where no one helped them, weren’t a rarity. I had heard that the literacy rate was currently rising, but it would still take a long time for this to become something unusual.

Just like with ghostwriting, one could become somebody’s ally through the law. It was especially necessary for children who had been thrown out like me and younglings who were about to enter the world of adults, I believed. Because they could earn completely different futures as a result if they acquired knowledge.

“The law is a weapon,” my legal advisor would say. I agreed with that. My property had been protected by this weapon many times. Some people would say that education was the weapon, but the situations for putting it to use were too limited. Weapons exerted their true value exactly when you had to protect yourself from falling victim to unjust acts or insults.

If possible, I wanted to be someone who could protect others. I wanted to tell people who didn’t know what to do and had become incapable of even walking on their own, “It’s all right; I’ll be your ally”. Because I wanted someone to do that for me back when I was alone.

My reason for choosing law was rooted in this kind of self-righteous way of thinking.

Since I worked from home, I didn’t earn much. To be honest, people would think that being a professional was a pastime for a landowning wealthy lady. I was fine with that.

The people who came to visit me in this remote place were generally in critical situations and had nothing. Those who had something would go to the city. They would go to the city, bow their heads to some famous person, be served a fine brand of tea... and have a graceful conversation while drinking it.

If I could, I wanted to get close to people, just like her. Just like the Auto-Memories Doll who had told me on that day that it was okay to cry. Even if for self-satisfaction.

Speaking of which, I thought as I checked the calendar. Today was my birthday, so I intended to wait for the postman the whole day and hadn’t scheduled any appointments, but a client was coming tomorrow. I should clean up the reception room at least a little.

“Hey, Ann. It is your birthday, so how about going outside with your friends and having a meal with them?”

I had to sweep the floor, take the garbage off the carpet and dust the dirt on the furniture.

“Even just eating something tasty is enough, Ann.”

Right, I should bake some sweets to serve to the costumer tomorrow. It could also be used as celebration for my birthday.

“Ann, aren’t you lonely all by yourself?”

If I was certain, that person had eaten the sweets I baked when we first met with relish. He had a sweet tooth.

As I recalled the figure of that young entrepreneur eating, looking embarrassed and delighted, a smile surfaced naturally. Out of the people that I was currently engaging with, he might be the one whose visit I looked forward to the most. I did think that men were frowny and sullen creatures, but he was adorable.

I rolled up my sleeves with an “all right” and headed to the kitchen.

   “Delivery.”

As the front door’s bell rang and the voice of a visitor ensued, I frantically flung away my bowl and whisk and ran. This is what happens when you distractedly make sweets for about an hour. I was covered in flour and looking unbecoming, but there was no helping it.

“Yes, I’m coming.”

I opened the door in high spirits, and standing there was a postman wearing the uniform of the city’s post office, which I was familiar with. I was disappointed enough that even I myself would think it was a bit childish of me. The other didn’t see my facial expression as he requested my signature for the express delivery without looking at me, but I wound up having an impolite attitude.

——It wasn’t the CH Postal Company.

My mother’s birthday messages were being kept by the CH Postal Company, a mail company that had its main office located in Leiden – the capital of Leidenschaftlich, a southernmost military nation. Therefore, if a different company had come, then the mail wasn’t from my mother.

“Thank you very much.”

I had received three packages. One was a table clock from my legal advisor. The others were accessories and a shawl that were trending in the city from my friends.

There were people getting married and having children upon turning nineteen. All of my closest friends had been quick to marry. Both my opinion that secluding themselves in their homes was a waste in this era of professional women and my envy at the fact that they had found themselves a partner in an early stage of their lives coexisted in the depths of my mind.

“You don’t have to hurry; if you don’t want to do it, you don’t have to.”

Having lost my mother, with this vast land and this manor of excessively elegant exterior in my possession... I couldn’t think that having a family wouldn’t be a good thing.

——Family... family... family, huh?

Did I want a family? Did I really? Those genuine questions surfaced in my mind first-thing.

Welcoming a family would mean welcoming that person’s life. It was an extremely heavy choice. “In health and sickness,” people would lightheartedly say. I believed there were actually few people who properly understood it.

My friends who had married. The people who walked around the city. Lovers and family members from all over the world – everyone. Did they all truly understand? They only looked on the happy side, so could they endure it when a sad scenario arrived upon them? Wouldn’t they end up thinking that not loving the other person would have been better?

“Human beings are creatures that love others in pursuit of happiness, Ann.”

In my experience, since I had seen off the person who was most important to me, the truth was that I didn’t want to go through it ever again. Being told to do it one more time was too hard. Even twenty years later, painful things would be painful.

I brought my consciousness back to reality.

Colorful ribbons, extravagant wrappings and wonderful gifts. As my social disposition was coming to a slight halt, those people were irreplaceable to me. I had to write thank-you notes right away. For these kinds of things, the faster, the better. Because it conveyed sincerity.

I should go back to my bedroom and look for the stationery and envelopes. They were surely somewhere there.

“Ann.”

——Aah, but was it a pretty stationery?

Maybe I should choose a different one, fitting of these wonderful presents.

“Ann, listen.”

They were surely items that took a while to be picked, so I should respond to the other party’s feelings the same way. There were many things to be watchful of here. I had to do it quick. I had to do it soon.

“Please listen.”

Nobody else was going to do it; I was the one who had to. No matter what, I had to do it. I had to taste joy and sadness all by myself and end it fast. Because I was alone. Hurry. I had to hurry and do it.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t move.

“Ann.”

I was in the middle of making sweets, and writing thank-you notes required some preparation. Above all, I couldn’t calm down until my mother’s letter arrived.

Giving several reasons, I made up several excuses not to move.

“Ann... it’s okay.”

I suddenly felt exhausted. Everything became a bother. Even though hands were covered in flour and I was still wearing an apron, I lay on the couch, rolled into fetal position and scrunched down.

Although I had received such marvelous gifts, the feeling of happiness didn’t last. Even though it was something to be grateful for to the point I could be in a good mood the whole day, the feeling of happiness didn’t last. It didn’t last.

“Ann, it’s okay.”

Today was that kind of day.

“Ann, don’t force yourself; I’m sorry.”

——I’m sorry.

“Sorry...”

——I’m sorry.

“Ann, I’m sorry...”

To me, my birthday was...

“...for leaving you behind when you were so small.”

...not my day. It was my mother’s.

——Mom. Why? Just why? Why, Mom? Why did you die sooner than the mothers of the other kids? What is it that went wrong? Did the fact that I was born itself become a burden to you? If so, then I shouldn’t have been born.

I loved you, Mom. Did you know that? I liked you a whole, whole lot. Tired of hearing this? But you didn’t know it, right? Even if you knew, you probably didn’t understand how much I liked you. I’m sure you had no idea how much.

When I realized it, I had more time seeing you in a grave than otherwise. But you’re everywhere in our house. On the sofa that you often sat on. In the music that you enjoyed. On the bed that still smells like you. In myself, who resembles you more and more with each day.

Mom, Mom, Mom – you keep reminding me of how much I loved you. When I was little, you were the world itself.

Mom. You loved me. I know that. But I loved you too. I was the one who... I was... I was... I was the one who...

Aah, Mom. Mom, there are so many things I want to tell you. But if I can say it, there’s just one thing.

Mom, you died without knowing how much I loved you, right?

I loved you much more than you could’ve imagined. I really, really suffered when you died. Enough that I couldn’t breathe.

People often say that time heals all wounds. But I really hate that saying. Rather than things being solved, we forget about them, don’t we? People’s voices, facial expressions, gestures – we forget these kinds of things. Yet I remember them in unexpected times. Like, “Oh, yeah, Mom used to like this”. “Oh, yeah, Mom used to hate that”. And then I blame myself vehemently for forgetting them. Like, “How could you have forgotten? She was your whole world”. Like, “How could you have forgotten? She was your only family”. The loop of agony has no end.

I adored you, Mom. I loved you. I loved you, so for just as much love as I had for you, it feels like my heart will break. It feels like my heart will break every time my birthday comes around. Feels like it will break. It’s painful and there’s no helping it.

Tears slip down my cheeks as I laid on my side. I was looking forward to today so much that I didn’t know what to do with myself, and yet I wound up crying again this year. I would’ve been great if I could welcome it with a smile.

A birthday was a special day.

It was nothing to the rest of the world, just an ordinary day, but it was a special one for me. Because... Because it was a day when I could feel Mom coming back to me. I looked forward to it so much that I couldn’t help myself, but at the same time, I was also helplessly sad. Because I felt my mother’s absence more than anything. Because the truth that she wasn’t here was thrust onto me.

Destiny spoke to me. Either that or God did. “Hey, your mother’s already dead. How long you gonna be crying? Stand up. If you’re alive, stand up.”

Since the world was so merciless, all I could do was nod at those words and say, “Yes, yes, true.”

By entrusting my body to hecticness, I was able to remain as someone who could stand on her own feet, just like Destiny and God wanted. I normally didn’t feel loneliness. I didn’t cry. After all, twelve years had already passed. It was weird to cry like this on and on forever. It was weird, right? I wasn’t a kid anymore. I shouldn’t cry too much. That would make me a bad girl. A girl wasn’t suitable to be the family head of the Magnolia household. I had to become a person who my mother could be proud of from within that portrait.

Wasn’t that right? I couldn’t prove the worth of my existence by doing anything else.

But on this day when I was aware that my mother loved me, I was no good. No good. I’d turn into a mess. The seven-year-old Ann Magnolia would come back to me. She’d say it all. She’d end up saying it. Always, always, always. She’d say what I was holding back from saying.

“I’m lonely”, that is.

I had as many ways of spending my birthday as I had birthdays. Surely, there were millions of people in the world whose birthday was today. How were all of them spending it? Were they spending it in a fulfilling way? There definitely were also people who lived their lives either not knowing when their birthday was or forgetting about it.

So I wasn’t miserable. Nor was I comparing myself with them. That wasn’t it. Because there were certainly people somewhere around the world who were feeling as lonely as me.

There was another thing that I had learned during the time I worked in the city. That loneliness wasn’t something only I had. Many people would come to the law firm and ask for advice regarding their troubles. Everyone was burdened with problems of their own. And everyone was a bit lonely in some aspect. It wasn’t just me, so I didn’t feel lonely.

That person too, and that one, and that other one. Everybody was sad in one way or another.

“I have to get up.”

I had stopped doing what I would do by accident – stopped throwing myself into a sea of sadness. The sea of sadness in my head was a real nuisance, yet it was also comfortable as it enveloped my body in gentle waves of self-pity. But I shouldn’t go too far. Or else I wouldn’t be able to stand up again. It wasn’t like food and sweets would materialize from my sadness.

I counted the things I had to do. Bake sweets. Clean up. I had a number of torn aprons, which I would remake into rags. And then... And then...

“Madam Magnolia, are you home?”

A real-life happening immediately pulled me out of my reverie. I ran toward the front door, from where the voice had come. As I opened the door with much vigor while making extremely improper heavy-feet noises, I found two visitors.

“Hum?”

One of them was... Aah, I was waiting for you. It was a postman wearing the CH Postal Company uniform. He was holding under his arm a letter and a package with what was most likely the gift that my mother had arranged for today.

“Aah, excuse me. Please go first.”

The other was the customer who had made an appointment reservation for tomorrow. A stray young entrepreneur. His finely tailored clothes were easy to recognize as something not order-made and that he didn’t like but was wearing regardless.

Had he mistaken the appointment day?

“Erm, then...”

The two had bumped onto each other at the front gate and both had some business with me, so they were probably conceding the turn to one another. Having been granted it, the CH Postal Company’s postman stood before me, politely giving me the letter and present with a slightly tensed-up countenance.

“This is the CH Postal Company. I have come to bring your delivery... You might be already tired of hearing this vocal message so many times, but happy birthday this year too, Madam Magnolia.”

That was a postman I had never seen before. It was a different person from last year.

“T-Tired, you say... There’s no way I would ever be.”

Still, the fact he was saying these lines meant that the demands commissioned by my mother were being properly kept and protected by that company. That was it.

“Thank you very much. For every year, truly... truly. Please tell this to your chairman too.”

“Y-Yes! Our president is the kind of person that gets very happy at inputs from the clients, so I’ll make sure to tell him!”

I had never met the president of the CH Postal Company, but for someone so young to be talking about him in such a familiar-sounding way, he had to be a wonderful person.

“I’m taking it.”

I signed the acceptance document. The postman laughed as if relieved. Also relieved, I finally looked seriously at him. He was a very young postman. Perhaps from about the same generation as me. The freckled boy looked even younger when laughing.

“I became in charge of it this year. It’s a big area, so I ended up getting a bit lost... I made you wait a lot, didn’t I?”

“Eh, no, no.”

“But you came running as if you were eagerly waiting for it.”

“Yes.”

Recalling the surprised faces of the two young men the moment I had opened the door, I trembled with shame. I was supposed to behave elegant and beautifully as the head of the Magnolia family. Yet I was covered in flour, my hair was disheveled because I had been lying down and I had showed up with footsteps that sounded like the ones of a large man.

Touching my cheeks, which were most likely growing red, I said, “I apologize for showing you an embarrassing sight... No matter what, I always wind up restless on this day.”

“Absolutely not. I’m the one who is sorry for coming late. I have already perfectly memorized the way, so please treat me well next year too.” The postman bowed with a “well, then” and ran toward a parked motorcycle.

After seeing him off, I directed my gaze at the other visitor that had been waiting for me. He, too, slowly looked my way.

“Hello.”

The morning sunshine had disappeared, a dazzling midday light filling up for it. It seemed that quite some time had passed while I was sulking on the couch. With a season of fresh green colors as the background, he was supposed to be a foreign body for me... and for this world of mine, yet he blended appallingly well into it.

“Hello.” My voice sounded a little shrill. “Isn’t there any flour on my face?” As I said this while rubbing my cheeks with the sleeve of my dress, he took a handkerchief from his jacket and handed it to me.

Not minding me as I stiffened up in shock, he said with an earnest attitude, “There is, right here.”

“Ah, all right.”

“And here too.”

“I’m sorry. I was making sweets...”

Wiping myself with the neatly folded handkerchief, it almost seemed like I had gone back to being a child. It was the second time today that my cheeks were dyed red.

“Well, what is your matter...?”

“Aah, that’s right. I was nearby and... hum, I heard from Mr. Robert, the one who introduced you to me, that it was your birthday today, so... though it’s presumptuous of me, I was thinking about celebrating it...”

Robert was the law advisor who had been protecting me since my childhood. Now that he had mentioned it, I remembered that he was introduced to me by Robert. The budget wasn’t compatible with the case, so it had been passed over to me.

——“Nearby”?

Finding a strange point in a part of his story, I said timidly, “This whole area... is my land... You had business near here?”

Silence.

“You’re also seeing Mr. Robert even though you’re working with me...?”

He raised a hand my way as if to ask me to wait and averted his face, looking embarrassed. Had I said anything bad?

“I take it back.”

“All right.”

“I lied... I wanted, hum, to spend time with you somehow...”

“Haah...”

Perhaps having become unable to look at me in the eyes, he kept his face turned away and continued speaking to the direction of the day after tomorrow, “Mr. Robert is a teatime friend from a café that I already frequented... He introduced you to me as a favor... And I heard from him the other day that today was your birthday. Also, I did not just happen to come nearby. It’s impossible to come here without a car or carriage. I do not have much money, so I ended up walking the way here. But it was no coincidence; I came here because I had an objective.”

As I asked, “What’s the objective”, he turned over the palm that had been telling me to wait and showed it to me. That “it’s you”.

I was perplexed. This kind of thing hadn’t happened in my life very often. When it did, it was usually people aiming for my fortune, so I vaguely wondered if he was the same as them.

“Want to come in? If it’s just drinking tea together, then...”

In any case, as the head of the Magnolia family, I had to entertain the guest. After this thought worked its way to me, an alarm sounded in my head that he might deem this as an invitation. That wasn’t my intention, so what should I do if he believed it was?

——What’s up with me? I don’t know if I’m happy or scared.

Aah, my heartbeats were so loud. My cheeks were so hot it felt like they were burning.

——Anyway, I have to say something.

“Hum.”

As I hesitated to speak, he shook his head. “Ah, no. I will have to come again tomorrow, so I’m going home. I have already accomplished my objective.”

“Is that so?” I was a tad out of tune. A little – very relieved.

I observed him while he didn’t try to look at me even a bit. His hands were trembling. Even though he gave off an easygoing impression, he was the type of person who couldn’t hide what was inside.

“I really just came here because I wanted to wish you happy birthday. Just before coming, I hesitated a lot on whether to go today or not... I also don’t have... any presents worthy of a lady like you, so I wanted to at least say these words.”

That sentence surprised my already stunned self even more. “At least these words”, he said. Were there any words that could make his goodwill more obvious?

“I’m sorry. I should have at least arranged something for you, right? Really, a broke man like me showing up out of nowhere... I’m sorry...”

“No, I don’t want material things that much... I prefer this feeling of... wanting to celebrate because it’s my birthday... much more...”

The words cut off midway. What happened to me? Right now, pain and joy were squeezing my chest tightly. It was suffocating.

The easily perceivable love of this person in front of me, as well as his kindness, his sincerity and all these other soft and warm things were appearing in the lonely parts of me and causing me to feel dizzy.

“Ann, can you hear me?”

I had to regain my sanity; I would surely be sober again tomorrow. I shouldn’t open my heart so easily now.

“Ann, please, listen.”

Because the world was cruel. Even if I fell in love with him, sad things were bound to happen.

“Okay? If you’re listening...”

It might be a calculated love; he could just be pretending and was actually a horrible person.

No, I had to wonder about that. It was indeed true that he came the way here on foot. After all, his shoes were dirty with mud. There was grass sticking to it as if he gone through an animal trail.

“If you’re listening, grab onto it.”

Aah, Mom. From now on, I would surely keep questioning you over and over during times like these. Asking you questions in my mind. “Mom, is this correct? Is this the right path,” I would ask. Because you were the only one who had given me love without second intentions. So please, give me an answer.

“Believe in yourself, Ann. Don’t be afraid of love.”

I was sure that the vision of my mother had whispered this to me.

I reached out with my hand. I reached out and grabbed the hem of his jacket.

“I’m going to bake sweets now. Today is my birthday, but I don’t have any plans, so if you’d like, why don’t we eat the baked sweets together outside? I don’t need anything. If you’re going to give me something, then I want just a bit of time for us to celebrate my birthday together,” I told him.

“Thanks.” He was not unkind to my wheat flour-covered hand, grasping it while his face went bright red. “That’d be great,” he said three or so times. The phrase “I like sweet foods” was probably said five times.

I... I found it so funny that I laughed.

That day was a special one for me, but to the rest of the world, this was not the case. But I put in a little effort. I tried making it special on my own. From this point onward, I would definitely keep doing that. I would. I was all alone in this manor. But I was the most special girl in the world to a certain person. It was okay to indulge myself at least on my birthday. I thought this once again reading my mother’s letter later.

Ann, congratulations on your nineteenth birthday. I can’t imagine how you’re doing at nineteen years of age. I really wonder how you’re doing. Are you well? Aren’t you going hungry? I wonder if you became a wonderful lady. Aah, I want to see it. I truly wanted to see it. You have no idea how much I love you, do you? You see, Mom loves the nineteen-year-old you. I’ll love you even as you turn a hundred years old. I can’t tell you face-to-face, so I’m properly writing it here. I love you. No matter what anyone says, I love you. You have the right to be loved. My Ann, be free. My Ann, laugh with joy. My Ann, be happy. My Ann. Don’t be afraid of love.

—From Mom

   “There’s no such thing as a letter that needn’t be delivered, Milady.”

[leviskokoro]

Can u just imagine the Pomefiore trio + the tweels and Malleus scaring the crap out of Mari’s mother? No child deserves to have a mom or grandmother like that (I’m also looking at Riddle’s mom)

thanks for the ask! I turned this idea into a fic! warnings: implied abuse, fatphobia, colorism, gore

Tick tock...

Tick tock...

Tick tock...

Rows and rows of dolls in gothic dresses were lined up on shelves around each corner of the room; Their lifeless gazes from their beady little eyes were already enough to manifest a gnawing feeling at the woman’s stomach as she explored the room. It was as though they were watching her every movement, orhs following her back. The amount of dust on each piece of antique furniture gave off the impression that this place hasn’t been used in quite some time, as if centuries has passed since its last use. She was told that her daughter should be here but she hasn’t found a single trace of her. 

The room was strange; It was as if it was in an eternal state of abandonment and chilling silence. Not a single noise could be heard, only the ticking of the pendulum clock had prevented her from going mad. 

Why was her daughter here anyway?

“Hey, hey, Jade~” A jolly voice came from the distance; Deep, yet seemed to have such a childlike tone to it. “When’s the show starting? I’m getting bored just waiting” 

Brown irises scanned the area for any sign of other people but found every corner to be vacant, empty. Her eyebrows furrowed and she clutched her purse as she turned her head to different directions.

“I believe in a minute or so. Fufu, I’m excited for the story they’ll tell.” The next voice seemed to speak as if he was merely amused, full of mirth. “I heard they had been able to acquire the Cursed Doll of Nightmares.”

… What? This all sounded so ridiculous. And yet, the way they spoke to each other seemed so eerie in such an environment like this. It didn’t help that their voices seemed to be coming from nowhere. And wherever she went, she always heard them.

“Eeeh? A cursed doll?” 

“Oya? So you haven’t heard of the legends surrounding it.” 

The woman decided to continue looking in different rooms. Right, this was probably just a strange effect of the haunted house for this event. Really一 Her daughter should get better hobbies than play dress up.

“The legend is actually quite recent but it’s spread to be infamous to the entirety of Twisted Wonderland. The story goes like this: There was once a young man grieving because his previous wife died. He met a young woman and fell madly in love with her, so much so that he turned her and his son into marionette dolls so that they can never leave his side like his wife did. But then, a fire consumed his home. The only things that survived were three dolls.” 

“Eheh~ Humans can be so funny. Their stories are so different compared to merfolk.” 

“Fufu, yes. But it’s merely a story.” 

He was right. Tales like this were only meant to scare children into behaving well. The woman clicked her tongue as her hand gripped the doorknob and opened it. Inside was a theatre with a stage and blood red curtains. There were lined up seats, the cushions oddly enough looked brand new. But the dolls didn’t seem to stop. In fact, there were more all around her and in larger sizes. Their porcelain-like skin seemed to shine in the incredibly dim light of the candles above; So perfect, yet there was such a haunting quality in that near lifelike perfection. They had a similar gaze to the dolls from earlier, seeming to be watching her every move. 

As she approached the stage, the curtains had been drawn to reveal一 The woman’s eyes widened at the familiar sight of her daughter, dressed in such soft pink clothes as if she came from the 19th century. Her eyes scanned over her body from head to toe. It was as though she was an actual doll, sporting porcelain-like skin similar to the rest of the dolls in the theatre, lifeless glassy eyes whose gaze could send chills down anyone’s spines and a vacant smile on her rosy lips. There had been bright red strings attached to her limbs. 

Goodness, it looks like her daughter has gotten fatter. Not only that, but her skin has grown darker一 and uglier.

At her sides stood a boy and a man, both wearing clothes from a similar era. The shorter one had such fragile-looking features; Soft lavender hair and aqua blue eyes like the sea that complimented the childlike stature of the boy. The man was blond with lavender highlights and captivating amethyst eyes that shone. He had a much more mature and refined atmosphere compared to the rest of the dolls. They all looked far more hauntingly perfect among all the dolls in the exhibit. 

But then, a deep yet enigmatically charming voice spoke up一 Did it come from behind the stage? It was difficult to pinpoint exactly. 

“Here we have a tale of a beautiful man and his family, a tale of madness and love~” 

The sound of a piano playing a jolly tune echoed all throughout the theatre, yet that did nothing to ease the strange sense of dread that ate away at her being. It was as if every note had a haunting undertone to it. 

“Cruel Mistress Fate had separated the man and his previous wife,”

“How he grieved every night after her absence,” 

The dolls started moving at those words, the marionette of her daughter and the young boy was pulled to the side, leaving only the blond in a depressing state as he sat down, slumped over. His stiff movements were befitting of a doll as he laid limp and lifeless on the wooden floor. His glassy eyes looked down, vacant and empty. Yet despite this, he still seemed so regal and elegant. 

“Women had done their best to charm such a refined and wealthy man一”

Several dolls much smaller compared to the others were pulled onto the stage, surrounding the man. They danced around him with such fluid movements coming from whoever was pulling at their dark strings from above. 

The woman had seated herself on a soft cushion in front of the stage, feeling like she had no choice but to watch first despite her confusion and unease that made her stomach churn. She didn’t know why but the show seemed to captivate her attention enough to want to see it to the very end. 

“But none had come close,”

The rest of the smaller dolls were pulled away and left him to be in solitude once again. Shadows of the sun and moon cycled over his head, as if to portray the passing of time of him being like this. His son had been controlled to try to pull his father up but it was all in vain when the father refused to move. 

“Many years later, he had come across a woman as beautiful as he.”

The marionette that looked like her daughter was pulled back onto the stage with the red strings that were connected to her limbs. The man’s head was turned to look up at her, then he was pulled to his feet and approached her. 

“With a similar pain yet a heart of gold, she caught his own broken heart in an instant.”

“She revealed that a great many people had harmed her in the past一”

“As well as losing the one closest to her.”

The two dolls circled around each other in a waltz-like dance, the supposed puppeteer had such expert hands to be able to control their every movement.

“They got married soon after and the woman became a wonderful mother to his son.” 

“Ah… Beaute, what a magnificent family~” 

The lavender-haired doll was pulled in, depicting her and him being mother and child. It was as though they were playing with each other. The blond father had joined in soon later. Their movements were lively and joyous despite the eternally still features on their faces. 

But then一

The stage had been set aflame, piercing screams of agony came from the stage. It was as if the dolls had come to life, only to die in a fire only seconds after their fragile-looking bodies were engulfed by bright green flames. It spread throughout the stage, incinerating everything in its wake. Was that blood?

The doctor stood on her feet, body completely alarmed by this as she screeched. She turned around to run but a gasp fell from her lips to see that her exit was blocked by a pair of twins that gazed at her with the most frightening look she’s ever seen, like predators about to pounce on their prey. 

“Wh-Who are you people?!” She cried out, backing away. 

The twins said nothing; Their movements stiff like wood as they approached her. The ribbon-like pieces of fabric swayed as their arms reached out for her. Their toothy grins revealed their razor sharp teeth that glinted threateningly.

“STOP THIS INSTANT!” She tried to yell at them again but to no avail. 

Her heartbeat pounded against her ribcage the closer they got. Was this all just part of the show? Was this all some terrible nightmare? Her mind swarmed with questions as she tried getting away from them. The awful heat coming from every direction as the flames consumed everything with each moment that passed seemed to be proof enough that this was all happening. But she didn’t want to believe it. This couldn’t be happening. Why would God let such a thing happen to her when she’s done nothing wrong?

“Ara, is this that cruel woman you spoke of, dear?” A new voice entered the scene; cold like ice, a heavy contrast to the heat of the flames. 

What…?

“She’s the one who hurt you all those years?” Another one came, seeming to be delicate and yet had a bit of an underlying country accent.

But she’s never done anything wrong!

A dark feminine chuckle could be heard behind her. Her head whipped behind her and her eyes were met with a sight that was horrifying enough to make her heart lurch up to her throat, like her very soul was being ripped from her body. 

“Hello, mother.”

It was her daughter and the two other dolls, bloodied up and walking towards her. Their skin looked to have such severe burn marks and the flesh seemed to be melting off their bodies, going deep enough that parts of their bones were exposed. Tattered clothing with ashes sticking to it. The blood that dripped from their bodies stained the brown carpeting a striking crimson. 

“Remember when you used to be so proud of how much you hurt me with the belt?”

Her voice sent shivers down her spine at the very sound of it, a cruel bite to it. It was as though there were five of her voices layered on top of each other to create an echoing effect. Their gazes were locked, the crazed glint in her eye pierced through her soul as she tilted her head to the side. 

“Now it’s my turn.”

The mother screeched when her daughter lunged at her all of a sudden with lightning fast speed. Her legs moved before she could even think, sprinting as fast as she could towards the nearest emergency exit, leaving everyone in the fire. 

In the blink of an eye, the theatre was cleaned up and it was as though not a single spark of flame had touched it. Footsteps echoed against the floor as a new figure entered the scene. A smirk pulled at his lips at the sight of the groups’ victorious expressions. Glimmering green eyes gazed at his friend, who seemed to be in especially good spirits. She looked up and her soft brown irises lit up at the sight of him, like the sun rising. 

He had remembered his conversation with her earlier. 

“I’ll make sure that she gets the fright of her life.” Malleus held a serious tone in his voice, with sadistic undertones in it. All he wanted was for his friend to enjoy a Halloween in Twisted Wonderland for the first time. The magicam monsters were already troublesome enough for her and Grim to deal with, but then her mother had to show up. The discomfort in her eyes doubled when she realised that her mother somehow followed her into Twisted Wonderland. “Consider it a gift for being in my good graces.” 

She sighed and shook her head, soft brown locks swaying lightly in the motion. Resolve burned in those milk chocolate irises as she turned her gaze to him. 

“Actually, I’d like to deal with her myself.” A mischievous smile graced her lips, one that he was unfamiliar with. She had always presented herself with such a delicate demure disposition, but he wasn’t so naive as to think she was fragile. “But I’d appreciate some assistance from you. I’ve made a good plan and it will require your specialty.” 

Malleus returned the smirk, interested in what she had to say. “Oya? And what could that possibly be?” 

“First, I’ll need to ask Vil and the others for some help as well.” 

The gleam in her eyes turned sadistic. 

“We’re going to put on the show of a lifetime.”

Sure, Malleus was fully aware that the deep wounds inflicted onto her by that woman would take much more than that to heal, it may take many years even. But seeing that satisfied smile on her face brought warmth to his cold heart. Her radiance as she chatted with everyone, thanking them for their assistance with making the show a success, was like the sun that rose during the dawn; A hope for a better tomorrow. 

A whisper flowed out from his lips.

“May your journey to healing be fruitful, child of man.” 

[yan-twst]

CYOA - Twisted Wonderland

aaand here it is, finally! Chapter one of my choose your own adventure fic for twst! This is the very first chapter; it’s a bit of a slow start, establishing the plot and all, you know? As was decided by the poll, the reader is in Diasomnia (however, I’m sure y’all can probably figure out a way to worm out of the dorm quickly and meet more characters). Anyways, without further ado, here’s the fic!

You sometimes wished that your dorm wasn’t so… Gloomy. Sure, Diasomnia had some cool things; the whole “Valley of Thorns Castle” aesthetic was cool, and the fact the hallways were lit with green torches always looked cool at night, not to mention the TVs and games in the common room, but… As you tried to study for the upcoming quiz, you quietly cursed the controlled climate. Yes, you knew that rain and storms were natural in the area; but didn’t the school control the dorm’s climate with fae magic?! It was way too difficult to concentrate on your potions notes when the rain outside felt like it was lulling you to sleep as it fell against your windows.

Your roommate was snoozing in his bed- either he’d already studied, or he’d given up on the quiz. Either way, you couldn’t deny that it was alluring to just forget the damn thing and go to bed. It wasn’t that late, but you’d been going to sleep at awful hours lately, and your body sorely demanded you get some sleep. And yet, glancing down at the recipe for the minor memory erasing draught you’d have to concoct tomorrow, you knew that if you went to sleep now, you’d be dealing with Crewel’s biting critique and a terrible grade tomorrow.

A snore from your roommate broke your concentration, and you glared at the sleeping boy. Usually you and him got along just fine, but in this moment, it felt like he was testing you, as he slept sweetly and your sleep deprived self stressed over a notebook. Hearing another snore, you decided to move to the common room- maybe there you’d concentrate a bit better, and also not be tempted by the siren’s call of your bed. Picking up your phone and your notebook, you left the room, closing the door softly so as to not disturb your roommate, and made your way down the eerie halls of the dorm.

“Vice dorm leader…?” immediately, you noticed that Lilia was in the common room. After that your nose registered a smell so odd it almost made you turn around and leave. It wasn’t a bad smell, just… Incredibly odd and off putting: and you quickly pinpointed the source of it to be some charred, blackened and bizarre dish that your vice dorm leader was holding. 

“Oh? Hello there.” he said with a chuckle. You wouldn’t call Lilia a close friend by any means, but you did know him well. As a vice dorm leader, he did his best to help out the Diasomnia students, and he was also fond of pulling small pranks here and there; you’d been a victim of his tricks and also gone to him for help a couple times in your two years of being at NRC. “It’s an odd hour to be hanging out… Or could it be the smell of my cooking that brought you here?”

“Your… cooking?” so that charred thing he was holding was… food? You’d been warned- mostly by your fellow second year Silver- that Lilia was not a good cook (in fact, Silver had made it seem like his food was somehow a health hazard), but you’d imagined the usual cooking oopsies. Too much salt, not enough seasoning, maybe burning some of the food; the usual mistakes people made when cooking. However, looking at the blackened and mysterious substance in the plate he held… You wondered if perhaps Silver had been right in making Lilia’s cooking sound like some sort of biohazard.

“Indeed, I’ve been cooking some cookies. I wanted to cheer Silver, since he’s been studying hard for a quiz. And there’s nothing quite like some cookies to snack on while studying, right?” said Lilia. Cookies…? You walked closer and squinted at the plate; so those were Lilia’s cookies…? You were pretty sure you could see eggshell shards on the otherwise charcoal black pieces of what you hoped was dough. Did he… Did he not see the problem with them?

“Oh, the potions quiz for tomorrow? Yeah, I’m sure he’s been studying… I doubt Crewel is going to go easy on us.” You said with a nervous laughter, trying to divert the topic from the so-called cookies. The last thing you wanted was for him to ask you to taste test or something. A bite of those cookies would probably take you out of commission for a good week or two, and while being sick to miss class tomorrow and avoid the quiz was tempting, you really weren’t sure if it was worth it to risk some crazy horrible food poisoning for that. 

“Fufu, you’re also working quite hard, I gather? Did you come to study here?” asked Lilia, pointing to your notebook. You nodded. 

“Mhm, my roommate was being a bit loud, so…” you shrugged with a smile. You weren’t gonna throw your roommate under the bus and tell Lilia he was snoring like a train and that drove you out of the room, you were at least kind enough to omit that particular piece of info. “Well, I’m probably just going to look over the notes a bit and then go to sleep. I can only study so much to make a potion without actually being at the lab, after all.”

“Ah, Silver did mention that Crewel was making you all make a draught from memory.” Lilia hummed. “Are you having trouble with this? I can always try to help, after delivering these delicious cookies to Silver.”

“Oh, I couldn’t possibly bother you with this, it’s ok, vice dorm leader!” you said, quickly shaking your head. You didn’t want to waste Lilia’s time; he was a third year, after all… If your work was hard as a second year, he was probably drowning in schoolwork and studying, right? Not to mention you kind of felt like you should show more respect to him: he was an ancient fae and you were pretty sure he was a war veteran despite being in high school. 

“Oh, please call me Lilia. We’ve known each other for too long for you to be using titles, (name). I still remember the day the magic mirror sorted you into Diasomnia, right after my dear Silver was sorted.” he said with a smile, his pointy fangs catching your eye. “You’re close friends with Silver, aren’t you? I’m quite grateful you spend time with him, he’s a good boy.”

“Oh, um, well… Then I’ll call you Lilia, if that’s really ok…” you said, a bit bashful. You didn’t miss how he talked about Silver; you knew that the 2nd year did constantly refer to Lilia as ‘old man’, but you’d brushed it off to perhaps him being close enough to Lilia to use that as a nickname, but… The way Lilia spoke, it almost sounded like a father being happy his son had found a friend. “Yes, me and Silver are close. We’re in the same class, I usually give him my notes when he falls asleep in the middle of lectures. He also helps me study, sometimes.”

“Oh, you do? I must thank you, then. It’s quite kind of you.” Lilia said with a smile. “Oh! How rude of me, I haven’t offered you a cookie, have I? They’re freshly baked, you should try them. It’s the same recipe I made for Silver when he was younger.”

“Er-!” you paled. Crap, this was what you’d been fearing. The stress of the request made you not even stop to think about the odd wording of ‘making cookies for Silver ever since he was younger’ or the implication Lilia had somehow raised Silver; your brain was blaring alarms telling you to NOT put those… Things anywhere close to your face. But at the same time, Lilia was smiling so happily as he picked one of the charred objects and stuck it out in your direction.

“Lilia. You shouldn’t be giving that to humans.” a deep voice made you freeze before you accepted the cookie with a reluctant hand. You quickly turned around to spot the dorm leader entering the common room, arms crossed as he stared at Lilia. “You’re going to kill them if you make them eat that.”

“Oh, come on Malleus, don’t say that! My cookies are delicious.” Lilia sighed, taking back his baked treat and taking a bite for himself. You internally cringed at the noise of what you now absolutely knew to be chunks of eggshell and god knows what else in the object. “Don’t you see you’ll give (name) a bad impression of my cooking if you say that?”

“... It’s my duty to protect my dorm members.” said Malleus, walking closer to you and warily eyeing Lilia’s cooking. You held back a sigh of relief- yup, he’d definitely saved you. If even Malleus Draconia was scared of Lilia’s hellish cookies, you probably would have keeled over and died if you’d put that in your mouth. “Besides, it’s late. Why were you baking?”

“I was making a treat for Silver, since he was studying. This little one just happened to walk in when the cookies were ready- they’re studying for the same quiz Silver is cramming for.” said Lilia, gesturing to you. “It seems Crewel is having his fun in stressing out the first years, fufu. What potion is he making you all make?”

“Oh, um, it’s… A minor memory loss draught. It’s got a lot of steps and ingredients, and it’s way too easy to mess up, so…” you said, a bit nervous. You felt… A little bit silly now, for stressing so much over it. Right now, you were surrounded by one of the strongest mages in the world- who was also the prince of the dark fae- and an ancient and wise fae who had probably fought in great wars and aided the Valley of Thorns royalty. To them, making a weak potion was probably as easy as blinking. 

“A memory loss draught… That does indeed have many steps to its preparation, if I’m not remembering wrong.” said Malleus. His words made you relax a little- you’d half been expecting some comment like a minor memory loss draught? That’s child’s play, why are you stressing out? or something. Your dorm leader was known to be a bit haughty at times. “You look exhausted. I assume you’ve been studying a lot?”

“Wait, I look tired…? Crap, is it showing in my face?” you said, cursing internally. You had a few friends in Pomefiore and you just knew they’d be fretting over you if your eyebags and exhaustion were so evident your dorm leader, who was not too good at picking up clues, could notice.

“I’m afraid so, my dear. You look like you’re ready to drop any second now- I know you’ve got a lot of work, but perhaps you’re pushing yourself too hard.” said Lilia. You grimaced; great, now you’d somehow managed to worry the two of them. It felt… Wrong to have two powerful and important beings even express concern over your wellbeing: you were just… Some puny human who got sorted into Diasomnia, you weren’t even particularly close to either of them. Hell, you’d only spoken to Malleus a couple of times before, for fuck’s sake.

“Hmm, Malleus, could it be that you still remember how to make that potion?” said Lilia, tilting his head. The taller fae nodded, making Lilia hum in understanding. “I see, I see. Well, (name), I’m sure you’d get an amazing grade if you were to study with Malleus. He’s quite good in potionmaking when he concentrates, I promise you. Besides, it wouldn’t hurt at all for him to get closer to his own dorm members now, would it?”

“That’s-!” you visibly stiffened, looking at Malleus. Sure, you weren’t as scared of him as some of the other students were, but…! You still couldn’t just treat him all willy-nilly like some random kid; he was one of the most powerful mages in the world and crown prince from the Valley of Thorns. The mere idea of dragging him off for a study session that benefitted only you made your gut twist. Although the idea was anxiety inducing, you couldn’t help but notice a spark of… Curiosity? In Malleus’ eyes, almost as if he was entertained by the idea of it all; still, you couldn’t just accept something like that.  “I couldn’t possibly-!”

“... or you could go study with Silver. I was going to go check up on him, so you could come with me.” said Lilia, perhaps sensing your panic. 

--- time to make a choice! vote in the poll linked below to choose how to advance in the story!

poll: https://www.strawpoll.me/20971117

[leparadoxpolyglot]

Cheer for You Chapter 1

During the last third of May when the leaves start to grow thicklyー

Mx. Shiraishi, as a trainee teacher, begun their job in Sakuragaoka High

They became in charge of the class of the first years, Suzumi Hiyori, Someya Yuujirou and Shibasaki Aizou, but, Eventually, they found out about the three′s secret

My meeting with that girl, even till now, continues to sparkle in my chest...

The last third of Mayー

Mx. Shiraishi: Nothing I’m missing. And silent mode on my phone.

Mx. Shiraishi: No wrinkle on my shirt or suit.

Mx. Shiraishi: And after that... My motivation!

Pechi-

Mx. Shiraishi: Ouch... I hit myself a little too hard

I massaged the cheek that I slapped on

Mx. Shiraishi: But, thanks to that, I might be more firm

Mx. Shiraishi: (From now, for a month, I’ll be under the care of this Sakuragaoka High as a trainee teacher.)

Mx. Shiraishi: (I have to do my best to be a good teacher!)

Mx. Shiraishi: Please excuse me!

Mx. Shiraishi: Alright. And that’s the end of the greeting in the staff room. And next finally, at the place where the students are...

Akechi Saku: Oh. Are you the trainee teacher?

Akechi Saku: Nice to meet you. I’m Akechi, in charge of history.

Mx. Shiraishi: Ah-... N-Nice to meet you! I came here to be a trainee teacher teaching mathematics, Shiraishi.

Mx. Shiraishi: Please treat me favourably!

Akechi Saku: Haha. 『Treat me favourably』. You don’t have to be so stiff.

Akechi Saku: You went through a lot to come here so I think it’ll be better if you enjoy your meeting with the students

Akechi Saku: If anything happens, feel free to talk about it

Mx. Shiraishi: I-I understand. Thank you very much...!

Mx. Shiraishi: (Mr Akechi, huh. He seems like a nice teacher.)

Mx. Shiraishi: (But, it was obvious how anxious I was... To make sure that I don’t pass on this uneasiness to the students, I have to relax)

While calming my beating heart, I stood in front of the first year fourth class which I was in charge of the lesson of.

Mx. Shiraishi: (Writing the word “human” three times... and swallow it!)

Mx. Shiraishi: Good morning. I am Shiraishi, the trainee teacher, and I’ll be in charge of mathematics from today onwards.

Mx. Shiraishi: This is prompt but because I want to be able to grasp everyone’s ability, I was thinking that we should have an easy test.

Mx. Shiraishi: The contents aren’t difficult so please relax.

Mx. Shiraishi: (Alright. The start shouldn’t be bad.)

Mx. Shiraishi: (Once I collect the tests, I’ll continue with the textbooks and start to take questions...)

Some time passed since the start of the test before I heard a sound at the back of the class

?: ...Snoreー... ...Snoreー...

?: ...Fufu. Should I eat a crepe during break...?

Mx. Shiraishi: (T-That girl’s sleeping!? But it’s just been 5 minutes since the test started...!)

I quickly checked the name list and went closer to the girl’s seat.

Mx. Shiraishi: Suzumi-san. Suzumi Hiyori san.

Suzumi Hiyori: What is it... I’m still eating...

Suzumi Hiyori: But... Another helping... Ehehe

Mx. Shiraishi: There’s no “Another helping”. We’re in the middle of class. Suzumi-san

Suzumi Hiyori: Hm...? Hmm?

Suzumi Hiyori: ...Aah-! Was I sleeping!?

Suzumi Hiyori: The test was difficult so when I was in a daze...!

Suzumi Hiyori: Uuh. I’m sorry, teacher...!

That girl... Suzumi-sa hung lowered her bedhaired head to a bow

Mx. Shiraishi: As long as you understand. From now onwards, please take care of yourself.

Someya Yuujirou: ...Dozing off 5 minutes in? What an embarrassing guy

Shibasaki Aizou: I don’t know her

When I turned to hear the soft voices, two of the male students were looking over at Suzumi-san with malicious looks

Suzumi Hiyori: ...Uuh. Of all things, those two saw me...!

Suzumi Hiyori: Alright. This time, I definitely won’t sleep! But only if I understand the questions...

Mx. Shiraishi: (I wonder if she’ll be okay with the variety..._

ーAnd that was my first encounter with Suzumi-san.

T/N notes(Special thank you to @mustymushroom22​: Mx. Shiraishi did a Japanese charm with 『(Writing the word “human” three times... and swallow it!) 』. It’s supposed to help calm people down as human 『人』 represents humanity, and swallowing it implies that it’ll come back and you’ll feel better

[the-starless-sky]

cozmez x Akan Yatsura / “FAMILY” voice drama track 2

Part 1 | Listen through Spotify.

Reo: And? You woke up this morning and he's gone? Aren't you overreacting~?

Hokusai: It's still only afternoon...

Satsuki: Ain't he just gone to the convenience store or something? And went to the game center when he's at itー

Kanata: Haah!?

Satsuki: Don't get riled up at that!

Kanata: Nayuta won't ever do something like that! He's never went out without saying anything to me... and I can't get a hold of him too...

Satsuki, Reo & Hokusai: ...

Iori: D'ya have... an idea as to why he disappeared?

Zen: Waka...!

Kanata: Last night, we had a fight...

Satsuki: What the heck, so it was a fight.

Reo: Aah, so maybe 'cause of that he felt it hard to see you face to face? I know that feel, you guys are siblings after all!

Hokusai: Really...?

Zen: What did you guys fought about? If it's alright with you, would you please tell us?

Kanata: He told me... to go out. He told me to go out more, and meet more people. He said that'd make me stronger.

Zen: I see.

Kanata: But I don't need that...! I only need Nayuta. Even so, he...

Iori: But it doesn't seem like s'all it was.

Kanata: ...!

Iori: To ask for my help 'til ya bow yer head, something ya've never done, means there's 'nother reason, right?

Kanata: Sometime ago, right at the time we got the Paradox Live invitation, I was attacked in town. There were three of them, punks targeting my phantometal.

AKYR: Oh...

Kanata: 'Cause they were trying to lay their hands on Nayuta, I beat them to a pulp.

Satsuki: Seriously!? You're kinda strong even though you're lanky, huh!

Reo: Monkey, you're noisy.

Hokusai: Kanata, what happened next?

Kanata: That time, they probably remembered my face. If they found Nayuta when he's alone...!

Reo: You guys have the same face, so if they misunderstood, it wont be pretty...

Hokusai: Dangerous...!

Zen: I see. So that's why you came to our place.

Kanata: This kind of thing... I know that I'm not in the place to rely on you, but...!

Iori: Aight! We should help each other in times of need. Got it, y'all?

Satsuki: Yeah!

Reo: Can't be helped~! I'll help you.

Hokusai: I'll find Nayuta. I'm good at finding lost cats.

Zen: Then, let's immediately divide the work. Waka and I will stand by here. We'll gather information. Everyone else go out to town, and search.

Iori: Ooh~! Ya look the part, don'tcha, Zen~! Ya look like those police detectives on TV dramas!

Zen: Please don't poke fun at me.

Iori: OK. Sorry.

Zen: Cough. Just in case, the search team is to move in groups of two. Decide the assignment of area and get in contact as appropriate.

Reo: OK~! Then, I'm grouping with Hokusai~

Hokusai: Understood.

Satsuki: Then, Kanata's with me.

Kanata: Y-yeah...

Satsuki: Be at ease! With this Gaia-sama, fearful enough to silence a crying child, we'll find one, even two little brothers in no time!

Kanata: Y-yeah...

Zen: If something happens, immediately get in touch and wait for reinforcement. Don't force yourselves.

Reo: Roger!

Iori: Aight, let's go all out!

Everyone: Yeah!!

_

(Sounds of train passing.)

Reo: Aah, I'm tired~~! Jeez~ We've been walking around all day, my legs feel like lead!

Satsuki: You've got no stamina at all.

Reo: I mean, to top it off, Hokusai tried to ask cats...

Hokusai: If only I can speak cat language...

Reo: Kanata, how's it on your end?

Kanata: We've got nothing. We couldn't trace his steps after he got out of the apartment...

(Hokusai picks up a call.)

Hokusai: Yeah... yeah... understood.

(Hokusai hangs up.)

Hokusai: From Zen... he said they didn't get any leads too.

Reo: Eeeeeh, seriousyl!? Zen-nii's an ex-police detective but he's no good at all!

Satsuki: Don't diss Zen-nii!

Hokusai: This area isn't Big Bro's territory, so...

Satsuki: But like, it's impossible to look around this much and get nothing at all.

Reo: Siiiiigh. Then, what do we do from now on?

Satsuki: We've got choice but to continue, don't we?

Hokusai: Yeah...

(Sounds of train passing.)

(Kanata stops walking.)

Kanata: Enough already.

Satsuki: Eh?

Kanata: Enough already. I'll search by myself from now.

Reo: Haa? What the heck are you saying?

Kanata: I said, I'll go search for him by myself. You guys don't have to do anything else. Sorry for getting you all mixed into this.

Satsuki: You...!!

(Satsuki grabs Kanata by the shirt.)

Satsuki: Don't look down on our chivalry!! [1] Nayuta is your family, ain't he!? Big Bro acknowledged that and agreed to help you. Just because we searched a little and couldn't find him, there's no way we'd just say 'yes, okay' and run with tails between our legs!

Reo: He's your one and only important little brother, isn't he!

Hokusai: We'll definitely... find him.

Kanata: Eh... but...

Satsuki: No fuckin' 'buts'!! You were searching desperately, lookin' like you're gonna die, didn't you? You got us in this far, don't pretend to be tough now!!

Reo: That's right, that's right! At times like this, you should just meekly depend on us! Right, Hokusai?

Hokusai: Yeah, that's right. It's okay to depend on us.

Kanata: ...

Reo: Hey... when you came to our place, you said you investigated the Suiseki group, right?

Kanata: Yeah...

Reo: Then, you knew about the raid, didn't you?

Kanata: Yeah, just the gist of it. I heard that in just one night, the group got utterly annihilated by something.

Reo: ...would've died.

Kanata: Eh?

Reo: Me... Satsuki, and Hokusai, too. That time, if our timing shifted even a second, all of us would've died.

Kanata: ...!

Reo: A deep red sea of blood... everyone died. I couldn't save anyone. Not the boss, not my comrades...

(Sound of crows cawing.)

Reo: That's why, at that time, I swore. That I wont lose my comrades, my family, ever again.

Satsuki: ...We're family.

Kanata: Family...

Satsuki: Yeah. For ordinary people, we might just be thugs, but for us, we're family. I was always like this since I was little. I get into fights quickly, and I can't study at all. Both my parents and my teachers all gave up on me - I didn't even go to elementary school properly.

Reo: Haha. Satsuki-chan's completely an elementary school graduate, after all.

Satsuki: Shut up. Everyday, everyday, I'm always pissed. If I hit others, they'd get scared. I feel refreshed, and thought I'd rise up with these fists. At that time, Big Bro took me in. Big Bro and my comrades taught me, who was abandoned by my parents because they thought I was uncontrollable - How to use chopsticks, how to eat fish, greetings, manners, and the right way to fight... patiently, they taught me, again and again, without ever giving up. Thats why I decided that they are my family. I don't care what others say. No matter how useless they are, I won't abandon them. That's what family is.

Reo: ...Me, too. I chose my own family. My blood related family has... how to say it? Broken up, and I haven't seen them for years. I don't want to see them, either. But it's not like I hate them or anything. Papa taught me hip hop, and Mama... see, she gave me this cute face, after all.

Satsuki: You gonna say that yourself?

Reo: But you see, my family... all thought that they're the most important. They make debts that Papa couldn't pay back, lots of things happened, and my family broke up. Aha, pathetic, right?

Hokusai: Reo...

Reo: Yeah.

Hokusai: There, there.

(Hokusai pats Reo's head.)

Reo: Haha, Hokusai's so nice... Unlike a certain shitty monkey.

Satsuki: Who the fuck would pat your head, disgusting!

Hokusai: Me, too. My father is in prison. We probably won't ever meet each other outside anymore, for life.

Kanata: Eh?

Hokusai: I'm the son of a criminal. When everyone knew of it, they all left me. Only animals don't look at me with rose-colored glasses. They always stay by my side. But, Big Bro and the others were different. They treat me as Masaki Hokusai, as a different person than my father. They told me to raise my head when we walk together. To them, I'm not a shameful person, because we're family.

Kanata: Family...

Satsuki: Yeah. We're not related by blood, though.

Reo: We didn't have any other choice but to choose our own family. But, Kanata, you have Nayuta, right?

Hokusai: You have to protect... your important family.

Satsuki: Yeah! Don't look down on elementary school graduate!

Reo: Waah~ how embarrasing!

Hokusai: Fufu...

Satsuki: Wh--, Hokusai, you too?

Nayuta: Kanata?

Kanata: ...! Nayuta!!

Nayuta: What are you doing in a place like that?

Kanata: What, you ask--

Satsuki: More importantly, where'd you appear from suddenly!?

Nayuta: Kanata... these guys are Akan Yatsura's...? What are you doing together?

Kanata: You idiot! We were looking for you!!

Nayuta: Eh? "Looking"?

Kanata: Where were you all this time!?

Nayuta: Where, you ask... um, I couldn't think of a good lyric, so I went out for a walk, and then I got lost, and I was tired so I took a nap somewhere, then... What did I do next?

Satsuki: Are you a stray cat!?

Hokusai: As I thought, I have to learn cat language...

Nayuta: Haha, what? What is it? Kanata, too, making such a scary face.

Kanata: Stop messing around! How worried did you think I was!!?

Nayuta: Eh?

Kanata: Saying "go by yourself", and disappearing...

Nayuta: Eh? What?

Reo: Kanata was worried that you got kidnapped by some punks.

Satsuki: He even bowed his head to us.

Hokusai: And searched for you desperately, you know?

Nayuta: Ooh... Seriously?

Kanata: Yeah...

Nayuta: No way... but...

Kanata: Quietly disappearing like that... I won't forgive you.

Nayuta: Kanata...

Kanata: I don't have anyone else but Nayuta. Nayuta's my only family. That's why, that's why... don't ever quietly disappear... don't ever...

Nayuta: Kanata... It's okay. I'm by your side. Always, whenever, I'm always by Kanata's side.

_

(Sounds of them walking.)

Kanata: ...Sorry. I got you all to walk around a full day and you guys even treated us to food.

Reo: It's okay, it's okay. We put the tab on Big Bro, after all!

Satsuki: Raimen-tei's soo yummy, right!? Honestly, I thought that cozmez's detestable bastards with cocky music and attitude, but we actually get along, don't we?

Hokusai: Haha. Then, we'll part here.

Reo: Starting from now on, we're rivals, okay?

Satsuki: Don't get into a fight, 'kay!?

Kanata: U-uhm!

Reo: Yeah?

Kanata: If, if you guys were lied to by Suise-- no, your family, what will you do?

Reo: Lie?

Kanata: Yeah. If kept an important thing secret.

Satsuki: Ha? That's no big deal, ain't it? Even though we're family, we'd still have one or two secrets we can't say.

Reo: Like the place where Satsuki-chan hides his favorite erotic magazines~

Satsuki: HAA!?

Reo: On the floor below the closet, it's obvious!

Satsuki: You bastard-

Kanata: Not something like that! For example, if it has something to do with your lives...

Satsuki, Reo & Hokusai: ...

Hokusai: Even so... no, if so, I'd believe them.

Kanata: Believe?

Hokusai: If so, it's kept a secret to protect us. A lie to protect your family. I won't doubt it.

Kanata: ...!

Satsuki: Yeah, that's right! I'm satisfied if I had to put my life on the line for Big Bro.

Reo: Me too, when I decided to follow Big Bro, I've prepared myself, after all.

Satsuki: Right? Don't look down on our chivalry!

Hokusai: Yeah.

Reo: Well, that's that, so...

Satsuki: See ya! The next time we meet, it'd be on the stage.

Hokusai: We won't lose.

Reo: Prepare yourselves, okay~?

(Satsuki, Reo & Hokusai walks away.)

Kanata: Ah.

Nayuta: What's wrong, Kanata?

Kanata: I missed the chance to say thank you to them.

Nayuta: Hahaha...

Kanata: What?

Nayuta: You made friends.

Kanata: Ha!?

Nayuta: It means, you have people other than me that you'd say 'thank you' to.

Kanata: That's...

Nayuta: Kanata. Kanata, you can change. You can get more, way stronger than you are now.

Kanata: That's why I said that's...

Nayuta: I'm with you. "If the two of us are together, we're the strongest", right?

Kanata: ...Yeah. If the two of us are together, we're the strongest.

_

Iori: That so? Good that y'all managed to find him. Yeah, good job.

(Iori hangs up.)

Zen: Did they find Nayuta-kun?

Iori: Yeah.

Zen: The only thing we can do is to watch over them. It feels kind of vexing, isn't it?

Iori: Yer right, but cozmez's a strong opponent. Can't let our guards down on the next live.

Zen: Of course, I will go all out! I have no intention to lose!

Iori: Yeah! Becoming of Akan Yatsura, let's go merrily an' flashily!

_

Notes

1] As in the spirit of helping the weak and fighting the strong, generosity, heroism - usually a term used by the yakuza.

[usotranslations]

The Liar Night is Forever Event Story Chapter 9

Warning(s): Self-harm and suicide in a certain part of this chapter

T/N: I wanted to specify that because I was blindsided by it completely and I don’t want anyone else to be as well. If you cannot read this chapter because of the warning, I made a summary of the chapter here without mention of it. Please do not force yourself and please take care of yourselves <333

Kamo: We’re in your care today!

Izumi: As are we.

Kamo: Everyone looks amazing in their outfits! As always, you all pull it off well~!

Taichi: We look like really cool survivors~!

Azami: The design’s not bad.

Homare: These outfits certainly add a new element to everything.

Chikage: Bring that enthusiasm to the performance too.

Tasuku: Your smile… You might as well already be the EBE before we even start.

Kamo: As I said before, just act as you would on stage, we’ll take care of the rest!

Izumi: Tsuzuru-kun, will you be alright today?

Tsuzuru: Yeah. I’m not really confident… But for some reason, I have a feeling today will go well. Whether or not I can do this, is all dependent on today.

Izumi: (I wonder if everyone talked to him.)

Kamo: Let the filming commence~! Please do your best everyone!

~

Izumi: (It’s the year 2XXX on Earth. A battle is waging between humans and extraterrestrial lifeforms, these lifeforms were known as… EBE.) (The lower ranked member of the EBE subjugation unit, Minase, wades through the battlefield before entering an abandoned building…)

Minase: Fuu…

Kutou: You there!

Minase: …!?

Shisui: What’s this? Your appearance… an ally.

Minase: The EBE subjugation unit? Did everyone end up here…?

Nanami: I escaped the conflict and took shelter here.

Ehato: Everyone else got killed, I wondered if there was anyone else.

Amamiya: I ran for my life… On the way here, Kutou-san helped me out.

Shiho: Which means no one here knows each other, even if we’re all part of the EBE subjugation unit.

Kutou: EBE can disguise themselves as humans. And with no one knowing each other. This could be dangerous.

Minase: …

Nanami: … Hey. Ehato-san’s the enemy.

Ehato: Goodness, accused already. And to think I’d finally found others.

Shiho: Hee. I’ve only heard rumors of it, but… are you someone with a special ability?

Nanami: Yeah. It may be a gamble to reveal it so early, but it’s too dangerous.

Amamiya: But what if he is an EBE. I… I witnessed someone die after being deceived.

Shiho: Really? We can’t just randomly kill the suspicious one, right?

Kutou: I won’t believe something that’s possibly based on nothing.

Nanami: Believe it or don’t, fact is, I’m not lying. We can’t keep Ehato-san alive.

Ehato: I’m not sure how I feel about being accused without proof.

Minase: H-hold on, we don’t even know if there’s even an EBE here.

Shisui: Agreed. We’ve finally found a place to take shelter for the time being. Let’s rest here tonight.

Ehato: How about this, we all sleep in separate rooms tonight. It seems this building is quite big from what I could tell.

Minase: Yeah. The battle will be over in a few days… we should hide and rest for now.

~

Izumi: (But the next day, they found Nanami’s body…)

Amamiya: So there is an EBE among us…

Shisui: I see. So he did have a special ability.

Minase: How can you tell?

Shisui: I worked in the disposal team. Corpse dissection to be exact.

Minase: Amazing that you can tell just by looking.

Shisui: … I can only tell after death. So it’s too late.

Shiho: Well, if it’s a lie.

Amamiya: But if Nanami died, then Ehato-san is the EBE, right…?

Kutou: If what Shisui says is true, then maybe… If he’s lying, then the possibility is lower.

Amamiya: This is confusing…

Shiho: Then, we should just kill the most suspicious one. Which is… the one Nanami accused.

Minase: But…!

Kutou: You have a point. It’s impossible to tell if a human is an EBE. So… it’s an effective way to higher our chances of survival.

Amamiya: But you’re… you’re talking about killing someone? What if they’re an ally and it’d be easy to…

Ehato: Then we vote. Whoever the majority votes, then everyone’s at fault.

Shiho: Then, I vote Ehato.

Kutou: But we don’t know if Shisui’s telling the truth.

Amamiya: If Shisui’s an EBE, then he could be trying to get us to kill Ehato…

Shisui: If you’re so adamant, then choose me! If the suspicions will cease and everyone survives, then my death would not be in vain.

Minase: Hold on… what are you talking about!

Shisui: Fufu… I’ll watch everyone from the heavens.

Izumi: (Shisui cuts himself with broken glass…)

Minase: Why…

Amamiya: This is awful…

Shiho: How crazy~

Ehato: I suppose that’s what happens when you work with the dead all day.

Kutou: …

~

Izumi: (After Shisui’s death, the members gathered the next day without any new casualties…)

Minase: No one died. So Shisui was an EBE after all…

Ehato: … I suppose so. Is there a possibility of another among us?

Minase: Eh?

Izumi: (“The other EBE” is on neither side, not EBE nor human.) (No matter who survives, they have to eliminate the third party or risk being killed by the “the other EBE”.)

Ehato: Perhaps, “the other EBE” wanted for this to happen, it would confirm Shisui’s claim and Nanami’s accusation. In other words, since I was suspected of being an EBE, I’m more likely to be accused again.

Amamiya: But no one died last night—

Kutou: No, I agree with Ehato. Different EBE races cannot kill each other. You have to use special weapons like I have… there’s no other way.

Minase: Then, that means…

Kutou: That’s right. Minase. Ehato. Shiho… If one of you is an EBE, wouldn’t another be the other kind?

Minase: …!

Ehato: … So that’s it. There wasn’t a casualty because the EBEs tried to attack each other. That’s what you’re trying to say.

Kutou: So there’s still two in play, the odds aren’t great.

Shiho: Ah. Singled out of the group. It’s convenient.

Kutou: I have special weapons. Last night, I was with the other guy unarmed. We’re not EBE.

Amamiya: … Another person. I have to choose someone suspicious, don’t I?

Kutou: Yes. It’s the only way. For us to survive…

Shiho: Then, Ehato since he was accused anyway with a special ability.

Minase: … Weren’t you in denial of the special ability user before?

Shiho: I said it was possible, not in straight up denial.

Ehato: EBEs are susceptible to special abilities. Wouldn’t that make Shiho the EBE? Even though you denied it, you still suspected Nanami was a special ability user, so you were afraid of him, weren’t you?

Shiho: …

Kutou: Choosing to stay silent, huh.

Shiho: … Not good. If you wanna kill me, then do it. Well, at least I won’t regret not killing Ehato.

*Kutou strikes down Shiho*

Minase: … EBE or not, I don’t feel good seeing anyone die in front of me.

Kutou: It’s kill or be killed. If you have such a view, you won’t survive.

Minase: Y… You’re right.

Amamiya: But, if Kutou’s right, there’s still another EBE…

Kutou: We’ll be okay. Everything will end tonight.

~

Kutou: You… you’re still… Amamiya, get behind me.

Ehato: Apologies. But… you’re the victim this time.

*Ehato strikes down Kutou*

Kutou: Gh…!

Amamiya: AHHHH!!

~

Amamiya: Mi-Minase! Ehato killed Kutou…! The other EBE is Ehato…!

Minase: … There’s still more EBE outside there, y’know. Even if you run, you’ll still die.

Amamiya: What are you talking about…!? We have to run from Ehato…! I know we don’t have much power on our own, but… If we join up, then maybe we can—

Minase: …

Amamiya: … Eh? Mi…nase… that mask…?

Minase: The weak guy will just be taken down if they don’t fight other weak guys.

Amamiya: …!?

Ehato: He’s right. What wise words.

Amamiya: …!!

Ehato: Welcome to the end, Amamiya.

*Amamiya is struck*

Ehato: I didn’t think you’d cooperate.

Minase: Well, the humans are gone. I just wanted to be the strong one for as long as I could.

Ehato: Wise choice indeed. … He’s dead now. This is my… OUR victory.

Minase: Yes. This planet… is ours for the taking.

Izumi: (Ehato and Minase smiled at each other. The victory goes to Ehato and the EBE…)

PREV || NEXT

[chiaki-translation]

SSR Homare [Wachter of the Holy Night]: Backstage Translation

I heard the news, I’m quite upset with it, so I would appreciate it if no one ask/talk to me about it. Thank you for your understanding~

In the meantime, just enjoy Homare’s story~ Also, I’m not German in anyway, but according to google translate, wachter means Guardian.

Summary: Christmas party becomes a snowball fight tournament in Homare’s vacation home.

Disclaimer:

A3! belongs to Liber Entertainment

Translator’s Note: There are quite a bit of reference to previous events on this story. But mainly being Summer and Winter Troupe training camp and Muku/Sakuya/Kazu knowing Homare’s Grandmother from Luminous Circus.

Troupe Competition! A Serious Snowball Fight!

Homare’s Grandmother:

Homare, you came.

Homare:

I just arrived.

So, Grandmother, what do you want to talk about…?

Homare’s Grandmother:

It’s about Christmas Party.

I was thinking of opening up the vacation home for it this year.

Homare:

Oh, that sounds like a good idea. It’s a wonderful place, I’m sure Grandmother’s guest will be delighted.

Homare’s Grandmother:

No, that’s not the case. I’m not talking about my acquaintances; I’m thinking about inviting everyone from your theatre troupe.

Homare:

My comrades from the theatre troupe?

Homare’s Grandmother:

You have a certain habit, I figured you would have troubled them throughout the year.

Homare:

Grandmother… Are you sure it’s alright?

Homare’s Grandmother:

If it’s not alright, I won’t even bring it up from the first place.

Homare:

… Thank you so much!

Then, I’ll go and tell them immediately.

<Shifts to Dorm>

Homare:

Everyone, listen to me!

We’re going to hold a Christmas Party in my vacation home.

By all means, I’m inviting everyone to come, how is it!

Kumon:

Eh, we’re going to Homare-san’s vacation home again!?

Homare:

Yeah, you’re right.

Citron:

Oh, I heard about it from Summer Troupe and Winter Troupe’s training camp, I wanted to come too you know!

Juza:

Kumon said that Homare-san’s vacation home is really big right.

Kumon:

Yeah! It’s so big, it feels like you’re doing an exploration inside. I had so much fun back then~!

Kazunari:

Ah, but that time, we ended up crashing Aririn’s grandmother’s party!

Director:

Homare-san, are we holding this without your Grandmother’s permission again…

Homare:

You’re wrong. Rather, it’s actually an invitation from my Grandmother herself this time.

Hisoka:

… Is it an apology because Arisu has troubled the troupe throughout the year, maybe?

Homare:

Hisoka-kun, why do you only know such things.

Director:

Ahaha… But, I’m relieved if that’s the case. By the way, when will it be?

Homare:

Oh, I’ve forgotten to tell you.

The party will be held next weekend.

Sakuya:

Will your Grandmother come to the party as well?

Homare:

Of course.

Sakuya:

If so, can I come too?

It’s been a while since I met her!

Muku:

Me too, let me greet her too!

Kazunari:

Hmm, I wanted to come too, but that day seems though for me.

Really sorry!

Kumon:

I’m free!

Can I come too!?

Homare:

Everyone is welcome. Grandmother said that she doesn’t mind for everyone in the troupe to come.

That’s why, I’m going to talk to the others who aren’t here right now too.

If you have some time, please come!

<End of Part 1>

Takao:

Welcome everyone.

Director:

Long time no see.

Pleased to be with you today!

Homare:

Everyone, thank you for coming.

Please enjoy your time here.

Sakuya:

Woah, the place’s so big!

Citron:

The displays are full of wonderful vases and pictures!

Banri:

As expected of Homare-san’s vacation home.

Muku:

It reminds me of the training camp!

Tsumugi:

You’re right.

Fufu, that time, a lot of things happened.

Hisoka:

Arisu tried to use this place without permission, it became a big problem.

Homare:

I was told that I can use it as I want!

It just happened to overlap with my Grandmother’s party.

Tenma:

Regardless, making the script and costumes last minute was a good experience.

Masumi:

Tsuzuru too, he was hurrying the script while talking to Tsumugi and the others on the phone.

Tsumugi:

Ahaha, right. We called Tsuzuru-kun and got some help to make the script.

Banri:

Just from the story, I can tell you guys were in a big trouble.

Juza:

But, I want to be able to act flexibly and adapt like that too.

Kumon:

If it’s Big Brother, I’m sure you can do it!

Also, even if Robert the armor moves, I won’t be scared anymore.

Tenma:

E, even I won’t be scared anymore!

Masumi:

… No one said anything about Tenma.

Homare’s Grandmother:

Everyone, thank you for coming.

Thank you for always taking care of Homare.

Director:

Thank you so much for the invitation.

We’re bothering you with a lot of people today.

Sakuya:

Good afternoon!

I’m glad I can meet you again.

Muku:

It’s been a while!

Thank you for the invitation.

Homare’s Grandmother:

You guys came as well.

Please take it easy and enjoy your time here.

There are a lot of food prepared, please don’t refrain yourself.

Director:

Thank you so much.

Kumon:

Amazing, the table top looks so luxurious!

It’s shining!

Banri:

Oh, this looks like something that Kazunari and Yuki will be happy to see.

Citron:

Over here, the meat looks delicious!

Juza:

The sweets look delicious too.

Hisoka:

There are a lot of marshmallows… I’m happy.

Homare:

Then, we’ll start with a cheer!

It’s daytime though, so I’m not taking out the alcohol.

Tsumugi:

There are a lot of minors too.

Thank you for your concern.

Homare:

Then, for the welcome toast, I’ll deliver a poem.

Christmas is comparable to crystal--

Hisoka:

Arisu, your speech’s too long.

Cheers.

Homare:

Hisoka-kun! I’m still in the middle of it!

Banri:

Nah, that’s enough.

Cheers.

Troupe Members:

Cheers!

Director:

Ahaha… I apologize for them.

Homare’s Grandmother:

Don’t mind.

It’s true that Homare’s speech is too long anyway.

Homare:

Even Grandmother!

Director:

(Fufu, even if he said that, Homare-san looks like he’s enjoying himself)

Juza:

Hisoka-san, that cake is delicious.

Hisoka:

Thank you.

This marshmallow taste great too.

Tenma:

The two of you, why do you eat sweets first for lunch…

Banri:

… Just looking at them gives me the heartburn.

Sakuya:

Citron-san, this meat is so tender!

Citron:

Oh, this sauce’s the best!

Masumi:

Director, what do you want to eat?

I’ll take it for you.

Director:

Really? Thank you.

Everything looks delicious, I don’t know what to start with.

Right, what will Homare-san recommend?

Homare:

Let’s see, I want you to try everything here, but how about starting with buratta caprese.

Director:

Woah, it looks so delicious!

Then I’ll get this. Masumi-kun, are you going to eat this too?

Masumi:

… I’m reluctant to take Homare’s recommendation, but it’s fine if I can see your smiling face.

Homare:

Geez, Masumi-kun, you’re the same as usual.

Tsumugi:

… Ah.

Speaking of which, this vacation home has a wide and wonderful garden right.

Muku:

There are a lot of snow piling up today too, it feels so romantic somehow!

Kumon:

Amazing, if there’s this much snow, we can even do snowball fight!

Citron:

Oh, Japanese snowball fight, I want to try it too!

Sakuya:

That sounds fun!

Director:

But, if a lot of people step on the garden at once, won’t it be a trou…?

Homare’s Grandmother:

I don’t mind, there are no flower beds underneath.

You can do anything you want there.

Tsumugi:

Thank you so much.

Homare:

Then, let’s go out and have a snowball fight after everyone’s done eating!

<End of Part 2>

Tsumugi:

No matter how many times I see it, it’s such a wonderful garden.

Somehow, I’m still pretty excited.

Homare:

Really?

Oh, it looks like the sky will clear out in a bit.

Tenma:

Then, what are we going to do about the team.

Homare:

How about making it a competition between troupe?

The number of people seems to be just right too.

Tenma:

You’re right.

Then, let’s do that.

Kumon:

Alright, I’ll do my best for Summer Troupe!

I want to be with my Big Brother on the second round though!

Hisoka:

… Are we having a second round.

Juza:

Only Autumn Troupe is left with two people though.

Tsumugi:

But if it’s Banri-kun and Juza-kun, it’s like you have the strength of 3 people.

Banri:

No, I don’t think I can do it properly with this guy.

Homare:

Then, would it be fine if Director join the Autumn troupe?

Director:

Eh, me!?

Sakuya:

I see, then everyone will have 3 people on their team!

Director:

I was thinking of cheering everyone instead of participating…

Banri:

It’s fine, isn’t it.

Director-chan, let’s do it too.

Muku:

I’m sure it will be more fun than just watching!

Director:

You’re right, then…

Masumi:

If that’s the case, I’ll join Autumn troupe too.

Citron:

What are you saying, Masumi is in Spring Troupe!

Sakuya:

The number of people will be wrong, let’s do our best with the three of us this time!

Masumi:

…

Tenma:

How about the rule?

Kumon:

You drop out when you got hit by the enemy team, the team who remained through the end will be the winner, how about that!?

Homare:

Let’s go with that.

Then everyone, are you ready?

Muku:

Yep, let’s do it!

Citron:

Okay dayo~

Kumon:

Then, Inter Troupe Snowball Fight, commence!

Troupe Members:

Let’s go!

<Short Time Skip>

Citron:

Fufun, I will defo defo beat everyone!

Masumi:

Sigh… To be in different team from Director…

Sakuya:

Look, it’s starting, Masumi-kun!

Ah, I found Tenma-kun!

… There.

Tenma:

Oh, oops.

Hmm, don’t think that I’ll be that easy to hit!

Sakuya:

Woah, a counterattack…!

Citron:

Sakuya, that’s dangerous!

I’ll assist you! There!

Kumon:

Over here too! I’m going to protect Tenma-san, take that!

<Short Time Skip>

Tsumugi;

Alright, I have to try my best too…

Firstly, let’s make the snowball properly…

Masumi:

Tsumugi, if you’re stoning in that kind of place, I think you’ll get targeted immediately.

Tsumugi:

Eh, Masumi-kun!?

Since when were you this close--

Masumi:

I’m going to show Director my cool side…!

Tsumugi:

Wa, wait a minute!

Woah!

Masumi:

… He avoided it successfully.

Then next--

Homare:

Tsumugi-kun, I’ve come to help you!

Take that!

Masumi:

… What kind of throwing method is that.

Tsumugi:

Homare-san, I think you won’t hit anyone if you keep throwing that way…!

Homare:

Hmm, really?

I thought it was a good stance.

Juza:

If it’s from here, I should be able to take Masumi down.

--There!

Banri:

…What the! You hit the back of your own teammate, where the hell did you even aim at, no-con! (T.N: No-con is short  for no control)

Juza:

It’s your position that’s bad.

Banri:

What the hell was that!

Director:

The two of you are in the same team right, don’t fight!

Banri:

Ah, whatever, the one I want to hit with the snowball the most right now is him.

Director:

Well well… Ah, Muku-kun.

Muku:

Ba, Banri-san, Ju-chan, Director-san, prepare yourself!

Banri:

Oh, oops… Safe.

Director:

Me too, I managed to avoid it somehow…

Juza:

But, I think it will be better for people from the same team not to gather in the same place.

Director:

Then, I’ll be going to that direction!

<Short Time Skip>

Director:

… Phew, I think I’ve lost Muku-kun for now.

Homare:

Oh, I don’t think I’ll see Director-kun in this kind of place.

Director:

Homare-san…!

[

[

Choice 1: The garden is a really nice place

Director:

Umm… The garden is a really nice place!

Homare:

You’re right!

It’s the prided garden of Arisugawa family.

But, it’s too wide, it becomes hard to make a hit in a snowball fight, it might be the only drawback it has.

Director:

Ahaha, it’s true, meeting Homare-san here was too much of a chance to pass…!

]

]

[

[

Choice 2: The snowball fight is fun

Director:

I’ve never really played snowball fight with this many people before, it was fun right!

Homare:

Yeah. What’s more, I got the chance to confront Director-kun like this. It’s really an exciting situation.

Flying snowball, cool heel on the useless rule, the rose…

Director:

Homare-san, is it alright for you to show me so much opening?

I’m in the Autumn Troupe team you know?

Homare:

Hmm, I thought I can distract you when you’re entranced with my poem.

If it doesn’t work then I’ll have no other choice.

I’m going to hit you with the snowball with all I have!

]

]

Director:

… I’m going in with all I have!

Take this!

Homare:

As you wish!

…Take that!

Director:

(Ho, Homare-san’s form, what is that!?)

Homare:

Ah, Director-kun, you got me!

I guess I’ll have to drop out now... What a pity.

Director:

I, I did it! I can hit someone too, with this, one person’s down…

???:

… There’s an opening.

Director:

Eh?

Homare:

Director-kun, now you need to drop out too!

Hisoka:

Director, you were wide open.

Director:

Eh!?

Homare:

Hahaha, you were off guard, Director-kun!

Director:

And I thought I actually did well…!

<End of Part 3>

[kumoriyami-xiuzhen]

Hakuoki SSL: Tell me! Secrets Q&A

Last post of the month! so I’ll once again end by asking you to please support me if you can either on ko-fi, through paypal or patreon for access to my blog post translations or just to support me. …. also let me know if you have any hakuoki drama cds that you’d be willing to share that are on my looking for list since i either do not have audio for those cds or do not have audio that i can share...

This is the thing that i left as ???? on my March update post... and the thing that i accidentally posted the title of back in may when i was planning out my queue (oops?). 

I think I should start by saying that I translated this for amusement.... though I won't deny how this is a fascinating piece of reference for writing hahaha......

Unfortunately since this is only limited to the main six, I really wish I had some of Yamazaki’s responses to these....

Favourites by character order: Hijikata's answer to Q4, Saito's to Q5, Harada's to Q7 and Kazama's to Q7.

Only for references purposes. LMAO. 

enjoy!

Hakuoki SSL: Tell me! Secrets Q&A

From 『B's-LOG別冊 オトメイトマガジン vol.9』

Translation by KumoriYami

Q1: What is the first thing you wash when bathing [text can be interpreted as either bath or shower]?

Q2: Where would you want to go for a date?

Q3: At Hakuo Gakuen, who do you have the best relationship with?

Q4: Where do you want to go most now?

Q5: What words and actions/behaviours from a woman make you feel a rush of excitement/moves you ["feel a rush of excitement" is an idiom. can be also interpreted more literally as 'move your heart']/excite you the most?

Q6: What are your favourite school activities [roughly says: fond of school activities]?

Q7: What do you wear while sleeping?

Q8: What are your best and worst subjects?

Q9 What happened recently that made you happy?

----------

Hijikata Toshizou

A1: Hands should be washed first.

A2: This...... How about going to a Buddhist shine that has snow in its surroundings. We can recite poetry [either that or songs]....... No, I didn't say anything.

A3: Kondou-san.

A4: I don't know why, [but], no matter what happens, I want to see Hokkaido [says reckless/regardless of everything].

A5: Rather than saying affecting the heart, perhaps it might be better to say that [I'm] not good at dealing with a woman staring into my eyes without fear [or something like that...?].

A6: Although it might cause misunderstandings, that would naturally be writing exams [conducting exams to be written...?].

A7: I sleep in Western style pyjamas.

A8: The subject I am good at is classical literature, [and] I'm not good at chemistry.

A9: Probably when I met with that guy who listened to listened to me without getting tired.

----------

Okita Souji

A1: Hey, after learning about this, what do you plan on doing?

A2: Of course, it needs to be a place where you can go have fun and be happy. That's How about an amusement park, or something like that?

A3:……This question is very difficult to answer. Who knows.

A4: Now? During winter? Oh...... somewhere that isn't cold.

A5: Heheh...... you're probably just wanting to secretly watch me while thinking I haven't found anything out, and of how surprised I'll look when I do.

A6: Club activities.

A7: What will you be wearing? If you want to tell me, I'll tell you after.

A8: I'm actually not particularly good at anything, [but] I dislike classical literature the most.

A9: I saved quite a few pictures of someone recently.

----------

Saito Hajime

A1: Ah, probably the feet.

A2: Da-date!? Then...... a place to go together with a woman? For me/As far as I'm concerned, as long as we're together, it doesn't mater where we go.

A3: Well, when it concerns time spent on school activities, that would be Yamazaki.

A4: I don't know why [but] I look forward to winter, and would like to see snow as soon as possible....... I want to go to a place where I can see snow. 

[Personally, i don't get why people like summer lol. I seriously hate summer. and the heat. Snow is soooo much better than the heat. i absolutely can't stand hot weather lol]

A5: Does this question have to be answered? Really...... then, when she shows/exposes her ear...... Ah.

A6: Probably school trips. It's nice to go learn and study new things in places you wouldn't normally go to.

A7: I personally feel that tight sweatshirts are very good.

A8: I'm good at classical literature, [but] I'm not good at math.

A9: When two equal partners people share their lives...... when you hold your other half's hand, you will immediately feel that you are not alone.

----------

Toudou Heisuke

A1: If taking a bath/shower....... of course it'd be the head, the head!

A2: Obviously going to the game centre! Eh...... ah, for a date? Then, is going to karaoke OK? [ok is ENG here]

A3:  The person that I have the best relationship with, that'd be Souji since we're constantly together. However let me say beforehand, that this doesn't mean I have a good relationship with him.

A4: This period [Right now]...... it'd be nice to participate in a snow festival? I'd like to go somewhere where I can play with snow.

A5: This....... Ah....... Is it that just that I'm defenceless, or was I just relieved..... [to be able to show her my] sleeping face like that? [I think??????????????]

A6: The cultural festival!

A7: Sleeping in a skintight sweatshirt/sports jersey?

A8: Subject that I'm good at, I can fill in the blanks for modern language [i'm assuming this means a version of Japanese characters but since I don't feel like looking it up right now, I'm just going to leave that translation as is for now.] during an exam, but I'm completely unable to understand stuff in English.

A9: Er...... Well...... after being going into that room again after many years...... I found that the inside arrangement/layout had changed a lot so I was surprised. However she was really happy to let me in.

----------

Harada Sanosuke

A1: Hey. Do you know the common sense of bathing before taking before taking a shower?

A2: Date...... as long as it's the two of us together, it doesn't matter where we go. After she turns 20, there are many places that I'd like to take her to.

A3: Rather than saying that it's a good relationship, it might be accurate to call the relationship with Shinpachi and ill-fated one/ It's not so much a good relationship as a bad one between myself and Shinpachi.

A4: It's rarely winter, I want to go with a country with lots of snow. During the day I'll ski and take a sled/sleigh/bobsled, and in evenings I'll go soak in a spa/hot spring, while also enjoying other foreign culture.

A5: This....... [Seeing] the view of your back while [you're] in the cooking for me in the kitchen.

[the wording in this sentence reaaaaaaally threw me off since it kinda (more literally) reads as "in the kitchen as I cook from behind" ]

A6: All the activities conducted by the school, they're unbelievably exhausting. However, being able to watch how all the students grow and mature, is something to enjoy.

A7: Regardless of what is said...... pyjamas will ultimately become an obstruction. [ ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) pfft...]

A8: This, since it's my specialty [referring to subject taught], I'm fast[? and?] good at using my body. Subsequently, I'm not good at every subject that requires lots of thinking.

A9: How can I say this, there's a line that absolutely must not be crossed when I'm together with her...... If I'm not resolute, this line would easily be crossed...... I've been thinking about this lately.

----------

Kazama Chikage

A1: Bathing......? The first thing to do, shouldn't that be immersing oneself in the bathtub?

A2:  First tell me where you want to go. I will bring you there.

A3: This way of describing the relationship is very literal [??? well something like that. either that or something along the lines of: That is a good adjective that literally describes the relationship]. It goes without saying, that would naturally be my wife.

A4: Where my wife and I get married.

A.5 Hesitating while wanting to say something with beautiful and delicate eyes while gazing at my appearance, hahaha......

A6: Of course that would be student council [activities].

[it's either that or student assemblies depending on how the words after ‘student' are interpreted, since if they are translated as verbs instead of noun/adjectives, it can mean something to the effect of 'complete gathering of students'... which is also why im kinda leaning towards 'assemblies' though.]

A7: What is meant by this question? Isn't it common sense to sleep while naked?

A8: I'm an expert at every subject. No subject exists that I am not an expert in.

A9: Fufu....... This year I will surely be able to graduate. I've been waiting for so long...... waiting for far too long!

----------

this probably felt longer to translate than it actually did lol... too many questions and answers.... also i don’t know if this was reprinted in one of the ssl books. maybe when i’m bored i’ll mtl the jp to double check some of this lol.... or not.

[a-student-out-of-time]

The Plan- IV

*Friday, July 6th, DiverCity Plaza, Parking garage, 12:39 PM*

So after that, they ended up saving our lives. If it weren’t for them, I was ready to starve.

That’s quite a story, Kurosawa-kun...

Yeah, I’ve been going on and on, haven’t I?

It’s alright. I like hearing your stories.

Are you...sure you can’t stay for a bit longer?

Well...lemme see...

*He leans against a concrete pillar and checks his phone*

(Looks like it’s ready. No sign of anybody around, all I gotta do is wait for Chiaki)

Yeah, I’ve still got a little more time.

Yay! Can I hear another story?

Sure. Here’s probably my most recent one.

It’s how I found out about your stalker.

Oh...?

See, people tend to go missing for a lot of reasons. Around 100,000 people across the country go missing every year. That alone doesn’t make what happened to everyone close to you unusual.

Not until you examine the context.

Wh-what kind of context?

It’d be easy just to say what happened to Noshikono-san and those other kids were accidents. A lot of kids can end up getting hit by cars, falling down stairs, being splashed with boiling water, or even drinking bleach. That in itself is not unusual.

What’s unusual is that, out of all of them, they were friends with your sister.

W-well...y-yeah, Sis is a lot more outgoing than me.

Sure, I can believe that. But then there’s Takayama Ranmaru. A man whom your sister clearly had a crush on, and who disappeared a day after she did something for him. That’s not just fast, that implies a constant stream of knowledge. Someone who was only watching Hibiki probably couldn’t have had.

Kids do nice things for their teachers all the time, but why that particular event? Because it was significant somehow? Why? What made it different? Why would the stalker choose then to act?

Maybe because they knew Hibiki-san’s feelings? Maybe she was gushing about him, and the stalker took that as a sign to act. To cut her off from the object of her affection.

That’s a pretty cruel thing to do someone, huh? Just because someone else has a crush on them, you kill them, even if they don’t know or feel the same way.

Very...

And there was something else I noticed as well.

They seemed to grow exponentially in number by the time the two of you were in high school. There were a lot of disappearances and “accidents” around then. 

I say it like that because, really, a lot of these could’ve been tragic mistakes...or they could’ve been deliberate acts. How hard would it be to secretly slip peanut butter into somebody’s food and then steal their EpiPen? Or sabotage the break line on a motorcycle? Or quietly sneak into someone’s house in the middle of the night and start a fire?

It’s almost terrifying how easy it is, huh?

Kurosawa-kun...wh-what is this about...?

What’s it about? The identity of the person who’s been after your sister.

...

See, I didn’t really put it together until I talked to the two of you together. When you mentioned two moments.

First, you saying that you were in another room when Noshikono-san fell down the stairs. Okay, fair enough. You must’ve been there at some point, so it works.

But then there was the situation with Shiro. When you and Hibiki talked about it, what stood out to me was how you were home alone when it happened. While the image I get from that is neglect, I have no reason to think your parents were careless enough to leave any door to the house unlocked.

Furthermore, this brings up an unpleasant fact: if you were really being pursued by a stalker, and your parents were gone, why would only your dog be killed? If a child is left home alone, that makes them a perfect target. But you were completely fine.

...

It may have been possible that the stalker wasn’t interested in you. But then, how could they have gone unnoticed for this long? How could they have harmed all these kids and teenagers? Most importantly, how could they have gotten close enough to act according to what they considered Hibiki’s emotions to be? 

...

I’ll just come right out and say it.

It was you, wasn’t it, Kanade-san? You killed all those people.

...

...Wh-what, me? You really think a girl like me could be capable of something like that?

Yes. I do.

...

....Fufu....Fufufufu!

And just like that, you’re smarter than the cops. I’m...actually kind of impressed.

[dialovers-translations]

DIABOLIK LOVERS MORE, MORE BLOOD Vol. 6: Sakamaki Reiji [Animate Tokuten] ”Living a Normal School Life For Once!”

Original title: たまにはまともに学園生活!

Source: Diabolik Lovers More, More Blood Vol. 6 Sakamaki Reiji Animate Tokuten Drama CD [CD not owned by me]

Audio: Here

Seiyuu: Katsuyuki Konishi

Translator’s note:  This CD made me laugh so much, I forgive Rejet for fucking up his After Story now. Reiji has actually hinted at being interested in ‘kyara-ben’ or ‘character bentos’ in one of his Tweets before, so I wonder if that’s where they got their inspiration from. I’m not gonna lie, I was 100% expecting the MC to lift the lid of the lunch box at the end, only to find the food inside completely scrambled. They did run around the school building after all. However, it seems like they went for a more ‘fluffy’ approach rather than a purely comedic ending, which is fine with me as well. uwu

This track was requested by @aroseinthe-storm​! If you would like to request a translation, please contact me through IMs or drop an ask!

The car arrives at school before everyone gets out.

“...Hold it, Laito! There is something I would like to talk about before you enter the school building. Care to explain your behavior from earlier? I believe I have told you to refrain from unnecessarily bothering her? 

...Furthermore, Kanato! I shall not prohibit you from snacking inside the limousine, but please be careful not to spill or make a mess. The seats will get dirty.”

Reiji turns around.

“Shuu! Where are you going!? That is the opposite direction from school...! You might intend to skip classes again but not on my watch!”

The others run away.

“Everyone, halt! I am not done talking to you all yet...!”

You walk up to Reiji.

“Good grief...Why does my family consist of nothing but troublemakers? ...Do you not feel the same?”

You try and comfort him.

“Oh well, I suppose it is fine. I am in a good mood today, so I shall leave it at that.”

You tilt your head to the side.

“Fufu...Your expression screams ‘why?’ right now. You caught a glimpse of it as well, did you not? The thing I prepared at home before heading to school today. ...I should have given one to you as well.”

You suddenly come to a realization. 

“Yes, seems like you noticed. Exactly. Today, I have put together lunch boxes modelled after their own faces! Of course, your lunch box is no exception. To put it into the words of the people, a ‘character bento’.” (1)

It was a struggle to utilize the ingredients to build their respective faces, but I am extremely satisfied with the quality of the finished product. I believe I captured their unique features very well, if I may say so myself.”

You seem a little in awe. 

“They were reluctant when I handed them over their lunch box, but I am sure once they see my workmanship, they must surely reconsider their attitude and become a little more obedient to me. Fufu~ I am looking forward to their reactions. 

...Well then, shall we head towards the building as well? You haven’t left anything behind in the car, riーー”

Reiji looks inside the limousine.

“Wha...!? This cannot be! Everyone forgot their lunch box!”

He gathers the lunch boxes. 

“No...I just cannot...I cannot let this happen! These are the lunch boxes I worked so hard on for their sake, so I shall ensure they eat them! I have to go deliver them at once!”

You offer your help.

“Yes, thank you very much. (2) My sincere apologies, but could I ask for your assistance? Please help me carry these.”

*Rattle rattle*

“Let us head towards the first-year classroom to seize Subaru first. Come on, off we go!”

The two of you run towards the building.

*TIMESKIP*

“...We made it to the classroom, but our target is nowhere to be found. It cannot be...Is he skipping class from first period already...?”

You tug onto Reiji’s sleeve.

“What is the matter? ...He’s in the hallway? What could he be doing without even entering the classroom? ...Oh? Why is he standing in front of the lockers?”

*Rattle rattle*

“He opened it and went inside, it seems...? I wonder if he misses his coffin even at school? Or perhaps entering narrow spaces has become a habit of his? No, whichever may be the case, it is of no concern to me. Either way, let us catch him!”

The two of them head out inside the hallway.

*THUD THUD*

“Subaru! I know you are inside of there! I want to talk to you! Come out!”

You seem a little worried about Reiji’s pushiness. 

“It is fine. If I do not apply this strong of a pressure, it will not get through to him. 

*THUD THUD THUD*

“Come on, Subaru! Hurry up and show yourself!”

*Rattle rattle*

“There you are, finally. There is something I want to giーー”

He snaps at Reiji.

“A scolding...? No, that is not the case. I am simply here to deliver your lunch boーー”

Subaru dashes away.

“...!? Where are you going!? ...Haah, no good. He did not seem willing to listen to me. I assume he misunderstood and thought I would lecture him.”

 You frown.

“Good grief...He always does things to make me scold him, which is what caused this misunderstanding...At this rate, we will not be able to hand him this important lunch box. Let us go after him!”

The two of you start running once more.

*TIMESKIP*

“...How foolish of us to lose sight of him! However, he should have run off into this direction...Without realizing, we have ended up right in front of the second year classrooms. We might as well make use of the opportunity and look for those triplets as well...”

He peeks inside the classroom.

“...Oh! Perfect! All three of them are here! Also, the fact they’ve stopped Subaru in his tracks could not work out better for us!”

Reiji steps forward.

“Ayato, Kanato, Laito! Bring Subaru with you and come here! I have business with the three of you as well!”

They flinch.

“What is the matter? Why do you all scrunch up your noses?”

The four of them run away.

“Wha...!? You guys are running away as well...!? ...But why...Why does nobody even try and listen to me!? ...Very well, at this rate, I shall make sure to catch them. Even if all four of them were to group together, that is no problem. After all, I am not on my own either! Exactly! I have you on my side! Let us work together and seize them!”

You nod enthusiastically.

“Fufufu...A fine response! Well then, let us go!”

*SWOOSH*

“...Watch out!”

*Rustle rustle*

*Thud thud thud*

“...A basketbal came flying our way. Are you not injured?”

You shake your head.

“That is a relief. However, it was still a close call. There is only one person out there who would throw such a thing...”

Reiji turns around.

“Ayato...! You might have been aiming for me, but what if it accidentally hit her instead!? Think before you act!”

*Crash*

“...!? What now!?”

The two of you rush out of the classroom.

“T-There’s a huge hole in the wall...! This is...Subaru’s doing without a doubt. So he forced his way through the hallway’s wall to make an alternative escape route? ...Unbelievable... At this rate, the school will force us to compensate for the restoration costs again! All the more reason to catch them as soon as possible!”

You ask if he has a plan.

“Yes. Capturing them should be no problem. They already got away twice, but next time it is finally checkmate.”

You seem puzzled by his confidence. 

“After all...I know exactly where they are headed. If they pummeled their way through the wall to escape, they will most likely end up there. We shall head there as well and capture them all. The five of them, that is.”

*TIMESKIP*

Reiji opens the door and steps inside.

“As to be expected, you’ll all reached the music classroom. And just as I predicted, Shuu was already here beforehand. ...You have been cornered, I shall no longer let you lot escape. From the moment you stepped out of the limousine to the present, there are plenty of things I would love to say to you all. Therefore...”

Reiji points towards the desks.

“You lot, take a seat over there! There is still time until classes start. Since you seem to love them so much, I shall provide with a thorough scolding.”

*TIMESKIP*

*Ding-Dongー Ding-Dongー*

“Perhaps it is because of the turmoil from this morning, but time seems to fly by today. To think it is already lunch break. That being said, I am glad we were able to seize everyone. We completed our main objective and handed them lunch boxes as well. This is all because of you. Thank you very much.”

You shake your head.

“No need to be modest. You helped me carry everything and above all...Stayed by my side. Even just that made me feel reassured. Well then, let us eat as well. Shall we take a seat over there?”

You sit down.

*Rustle rustle*

“I wonder if they are lifting the lid to their lunch boxes right now as well. I would love to see the look on their faces when they come eye-to-eye with such splendid handywork.”

You frown.

“What is the matter?”

You ask about his lunch.

“Ah...Actually, I got so caught up in making everyone’s share, I forgot to make my own ...To be honest, I am surprised myself. To think I would make this kind of blunder. Oh well, I suppose it is fine. After all, us Vampires do not need to consume food to survive. Please do not mind me and help yourself.”

You offer to share.

“...Eh? You’ll share yours...? Fufu...To think a glutton such as yourself would offer to share your food. I wonder if arrows will come raining down from the sky?”

You puff out your cheeks.

“I am joking. I appreciate the sentiment. Well then, it would be a shame to waste this opportunity, so I shall have some. Splitting a lunch box between lovers is a very human-like (3) act, it is simply laughable. However, when it is with you, I suppose it is not too bad.”

ーー THE END ーー

 Translations notes

(1) Often abbriviated as キャラ弁 or ‘kyara-ben’, these are popular Japanese lunch boxes in which the food is cut out and presented in a way to look like famous anime/manga characters such as Pikachu, Doraemon, Totoro, etc. 

(2) 助かります or ‘tasukarimasu’ which comes from the verb ‘tasukaru’ literally means to ‘to save/to help out’ but it can also be used as an alternative way of thanking someone. 

(3) There are many ways in Japanese to express the English suffix ‘-like’, but in this case, Reiji uses 臭い or ‘kusai’ which literally means ‘it stinks’, implying that ‘human-like’ is something negative in his eyes. 

[shasmasnigerianlitblog]

Reflections on a Year of Reading Nigerian Literature

Titles Read: My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola shoneyin

Having a sister that previously took this class I knew that independent reading based on a foreign country was going to be a requirement. I also found interest in Nigeria not only their music but their food and culture that is widely spread on social media. From learning about fufu and the famously known Jollof rice. From the two books I've read that is a part of Nigerian literature, I was able to learn new things about Nigeria and Nigerian culture itself. After reading for 20 weeks I’ve learned more about the Nigerian social environment between males and females. There was a common theme between these two authors that readers wouldn’t expect. Several dominant themes in Nigerian history are essential in understanding contemporary Nigerian politics and society. Women in Nigeria are expected to be inferior to men and do as they say without any complaints. From reading these two books I’ve learned a lot about the culture of Nigeria and the history behind the origins. The first book I read, seemed to talk about Nigerian economic history that led up to the current events happening in the book. This was a big cultural shock because in school you don’t learn the history and tribulations that other countries have to go through. Reading books from other countries doesn’t only give you a good read, but a shocking reveal about things that aren’t spoken about in the country in the media. After reading the series of books from Nigerian literature I’ve gotten a different point of view of how Nigerian authors portray women and the strength they have to fight back against men.

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola shoneyin

The author of The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives gave me a perspective on a female who was seeking the wrong kind of love to fill a void. She was in a polygamist relationship with a man who had 2 other wives with children. Since the first day they got married he never showed her any respect. I will always remember this book in the real world when it comes to relationships, this book taught me to never settle for anything less than what I am or what I deserve.

Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Reading the preview about this book before purchasing it was something I felt like I could relate to. As someone who has a sister of my own, I thought I could relate to this book. I was so wrong, after reading a couple of chapters of these sister's dynamic was something I haven’t seen before. The younger sister was a killer and killed men that didn’t show her respect. While one sister was on the hunt to kill the oldest was cleaning up her mess along the way. This book taught me that what we want to do has consequences on others that we didn’t plan for. Her sister suffered way more than she thought because her older sister became just like her. I will always remember this book for the reason that no matter if you’re older or younger than someone there’s always a possibility of impacting someone negatively or positively.

This assignment was something I was dreading for so long but I found the motivation out of nowhere to get all my school work done. I know I waited so long just to get something so easy out the way but it's a habit that I tend to get whenever I know summertime is approaching. It’s finally the last couple of weeks of senior year and I learned so much about myself. This was the first time I’ve read a book that was over 500 pages long and I’m proud of myself that I didn’t give up. I realized that I enjoy reading when it has a deeper meaning to it. I know it took forever to get this assignment done but it feels great to get one less thing off my chest. Before starting college this is one habit that I have to leave behind in high school. So this is my last independent reading post about Nigerian literature. I won't ever stop reading and exploring and expanding my knowledge about other countries and their literature, and culture. I can finally say after a long 20 weeks of posting quotes and weekly blogs, I’m finally done!

[faelune-home]

FFXIV Write 2020 #21: Foibles

(A/N: Another mostly npc focused piece, and again its focused on Lyse and her own mourning. :’D Miqo!Fufu is in the background but I decided not to slip her in here. Prompt focus was mainly based off of Yda, or more Lyse’s take on her, and a presumed characterisation for her based on how Lyse acted. Quirky and fun, I’d like to think.

Set during the trip to Kugane in Stormblood, pre-Sirensong Sea, with mentions of departed characters.

Word count: 1469

@ffxiv-writers)

“Can I ask you something?” Lyse perked up at the question, turning away from watching the sea horizon to look at Alisaie beside her. The girl wore an uneasy frown, and added quickly, “I’ll admit it’s probably not a comfortable question. I’d understand if you didn’t want to talk about it.” 

Curiosity piqued, Lyse tilted her hand and gave the girl a friendly nudge. “Well, you’ve caught my attention now. And it’s not like we’ve got anything better to do on this trip other than talk.” The few weeks onboard the Misery had been uneventful, and with little more to do other than plan ahead for when they reached Kugane’s port, the Scions had often turned to idle chatter between each other.

Sometimes professional, sometimes personal.

“In that case,” the elezen hummed, “what was Yda like? I remember grandfather talking a little bit about his students when I was younger, and he brought her up in passing. But bar Urianger being around the house a lot, I never got to know any of them well.” Lyse frowned, and didn’t answer immediately.

At the far end of the ship, a thin screech broke through the air -- an attempt from Fufu at trying to learn how to play the old flute she had found stored away in a storage room.

“Like I said, I’d understand if this wasn’t something you wanted to talk about,” Alisaie quickly said, sensing the heavy air growing between them, making ready to leave the woman alone, only for Lyse to place a hand on her shoulder and say, “No, it’s fine.” The hyur gave a small smile.

“Talking about her should be fine. It’s been long enough, and this is probably a better way to remember her than the awkward mockery I’ve been taking part in these past few years.” She sighed.

“Yda was…” Lyse started, trailing off as she leaned heavily against the ship railing, staring at the churning waters of the ship’s wake below, collecting her thoughts. Then a smile. “She was a good cook.”

“Not the first thing I would’ve thought of,” Alisaie, said, tilting her head. 

Lyse chuckled. “Bare with me here, it’s the first thing I thought of. But I remember very faintly when we still lived in Ala Mhigo. Father wasn’t always home, being so busy with fighting. But whenever he returned, he’d have some game with him, I can’t recall what now. But Yda always managed to make it taste amazing.”

“What about her fighting skills? From what I heard she was highly praised for that,” the other girl prompted. Lyse nodded, her eyes creasing at the thought.

“Oh she was brilliant at that. I remember her saying that when father finally beat back Theodoric and the Fist of Rhalgr was reinstated, she’d go off and train with them, and leave father to be the one staying at home looking after me.” A frown crossed her features, but she shook it off before Alisaie could think to question it.

“Of course that didn’t end up working out,” Lyse mumbled, sighing before she perked up and continued, “But I’d say getting to study at one of the finer institutions in the world and be considered an archon for her skill is a good second best. But she was always such a handful for her teachers in every other subject she had to take up alongside the physical training.”

She couldn't help but laugh, “So often I recall her just folding up her papers or doodling on them over actual studying. She never did take well to that side of academia, even with Papalymo there to help tutor her.”

“Ah, so they were already long acquainted.” Both girls jumped, spiraling round to see Alphinaud and Tataru approaching. The boy had the good sense to look sheepish at the hard stare of his sister, saying, “Apologies for the interruption, we wished to join you. There’s been no further updates from the Resistance.”

Tataru nodded. “We didn’t mean to eavesdrop. But you wouldn’t mind…”

“Not at all,” Lyse welcomed, giving the newcomers a warm smile despite the light sheen in her eyes. “We were just talking about Yda.”

“Oh, I never knew her,” tataru sighed, “But from all Papalymo told us, she was a lovely woman.”

The hyuran woman let out a huff, “I should’ve known he would tell people. But I can’t really be mad at him for it. I’m surprised I didn’t give myself up sooner with the shoddy performance.” She averted her eyes from her friends, looking to the sky.

“She always had this quirky thing about her. Saying silly stuff mostly. For all she struggled with books and essays and long lectures with lots of talking, she did get it eventually, but a lot of the scholars still treated her like a halfwit.” 

Alisaie scoffed, arms folded against her chest, “I can see that. Some people back home are too self absorbed, they would dismiss other people regardless of how much effort they put in.” If anyone saw the way she clenched at her own elbow, or the way her own brother’s eyes drifted to the sea behind them, no one mentioned it.

Another shrill flute note rang out in the air.

For her own part, Lyse just nudged the girl’s arm, then continued, “Well, when that happened, she would compensate by pretending to be dim and silly, like she didn’t understand. It amused her to make them have to explain things five times, if they were generous enough, until they got annoyed and left her. It would drive Papalymo bonkers as well, probably even more so when he realised what she was doing.”

The amused smirk she wore fell, as she added quietly, “The house was always so lively. The two of us, and Papalymo when he was tutoring, or Thancred when he came ‘round to study together.”

“Thancred? They studied together?” Tataru asked. 

Lyse nodded. “Well, they didn’t have any classes together, but they did have something of a kindred spirits feeling, I suppose. Two outsiders to the city, being treated as such by the citizens. Oh but I remember how they first met,” Lyse suddenly laughed.

“Yda had gotten into a spat with an older student while I was hanging around on campus. I can’t even say what it was about, it’d escalated so quickly. Whatever he said, she ended up picking him up and shoving him into a wall. Hardly anything too physical but it got at least two professors involved.

“I heard them talking about severe punishments and possibly expelling her, but right as she started panicking, Thancred just slides in out of nowhere and somehow managed to calm the situation down. The student she’d been fighting with wasn’t convinced much, but the professors  were placated at least.”

She snickered, “I’m telling you, the man’s silver tongue is wasted on the ladies. I could easily see him doing well with officials if he wanted to.”

“Then I’m sure Alphinaud’s pride is grateful for the lack of competition,” Alisaie smirked, prompting an offended, “I beg your pardon,” from her brother.

The hyuran smiled, ruffling both younger kids’ hairs and receiving protests from them both.

“I’ll admit though, Thancred was a big help during those days, but he got caught up in a lot of his own work most of the time. It was mostly just Yda, Papalymo and me.” Lyse bit her lip, then sighed, “I’ll always be grateful to him. To Papalymo. For helping me after she...y’know.” Heads dipped in a moment of silence.

“And for putting up with my ridiculous suggestion. For five years I lived a lie under the guise of trying to-- I don’t know. Continue her work? Or mostly just fool myself into saying she was still around. Saying it was a way to remember her when it was just me playing pretend.”

“Oh don’t do that to yourself, we all grieve in different ways,” Tataru exclaimed, patting the taller woman on the leg in what she hoped was a reassuring manner.

“Perhaps it wasn’t the healthiest method,Alphinaud said, “but who are we to judge. It provided you aid when you needed it most.” His words were probably meant to be encouraging, but Lyse looked away, turned back to the sea.

Alisaie gave her brother a harsh glare, then with a pat to the woman’s shoulder, said, “The important thing now is that you would honour her memory properly. Both of them even. And we’ll finish what she and your father started.”

Lyse sniffed, but she bit back the tears to smile at her friend and nodded. “You’re right. I want to be able to say I did this for them, and others like them. However long it takes now.”

A clear flute note sang into the waves.

[ikevampeventarchive]

[ERS] Once Again, I Will Fall In Love With You - Napoleon

Route Preview:

Year 2XXX, Japan....

One day, a man called Napoleone saved me from danger. Even though I just met him for the first time, there’s a feeling of nostalgia surrounding him. I want to meet him again to make sense of this feeling and these dreams that kept reminding me of him.

That night, Napoleone saved me from trouble once again. But it felt like he has saved me many more times before.... 

It has been waiting for me, this love from a forgotten past.

[This is an unofficial work based on fan-translation. Copyright belongs to Cybird.]

Warning: Spoilers Underneath.

Route Summary

Japan, Year 2XXX.

MC wakes up from her dream, but before she could think about it any further she realizes she’s running late for work and hurries to leave. On her way to work, she saves a kid from being hit by a car, only to be saved herself by a stranger (Napoleon). Her saviour asks her if she’s alright, but stops when they finally get a good look at each other, and her name slips from Napoleon’s lips.

MC is surprised he knows her name, but the boy she saved starts crying to his teacher, and both she and Napoleon focus their attention on him. He eventually calms down and thanks MC for saving him. MC notices that Napoleon’s been staring at her, and she asks if he was the boy’s teacher.

Napoleon introduces himself as ‘Napoleone’ - a foreign language teacher at an elementary school - and he thanks her for saving his student. She tells him he didn’t need to thank her, but mistakenly calls him ‘Napoleon’ instead.

Napoleon looks surprised, and MC wonders why until the boy points out she had gotten his name wrong, saying that his teacher’s name was ‘Napoleone,’ not ‘Napoleon’ like the great historical figure. 

MC realizes her mistake and immediately apologizes, and Napoleon assures her it’s no big deal. She then notices the time and informs them she had to go. She thanks him for saving her and runs off, and Napoleon watches her as she left.

Napoleon: “MC… You really are reborn again.”

After their meeting, MC can’t help but think about him and wonders why it felt like she’s known him for a long time. A harsh wind suddenly blows by and scenes flash before her, showing children gathered around a man in a military uniform called ‘Napoleone.’ The scenes were from an unknown time and place, but it all felt familiar to her, and she wonders if the Napoleone in that scene was somehow connected to the Napoleone she just met.

Meanwhile, Napoleon meets up with Isaac, who had left the mansion with him in order to pursue their own paths. He mentions to Isaac how he had found MC and how she doesn’t remember him at all. Napoleon gets discouraged, saying that maybe it was all just a coincidence, but Isaac convinces him not to give up on her.

Napoleon: “Even now, I still love MC.”

Napoleon: “I promised to find her if she were to be reborn. That’s the reason I’ve endured and continued living up until now.”

After some time, MC still couldn’t shake off their meeting and decides to look for him in order to put the matter to rest. One night after work, she decides to pass by the elementary school in hopes of seeing Napoleon, but she bumps into several young men due to her inattention.

The men start harassing and attempt to drag her away when Napoleon shows up and tells them to let her go. A fight breaks out between them, and one of the men pulls out a knife on MC. Napoleon shields her and gets stabbed, but he keeps standing. Seeing that he’s still standing despite the injury, the men run away in fear.

Napoleon: “MC… are you hurt?”

MC: “I’m fine! You protected me… but Napoleone is the one who got hurt instead!”

MC flashes back to scenes from Napoleon’s Main Story where she similarly tries to help him from an injury. She gets frustrated, since she can feel she knows Napoleon from somewhere, but can’t remember who he is exactly. She pushes her frustrations aside though, since Napoleon was injured and needed medical attention. She suggests they go to a hospital, but he refuses, saying he’ll heal up in a short while.

MC can clearly see he’s in pain, and she can’t bear it. She starts to panic and tries to think of a way to help. An idea crosses her mind, and even though it didn’t make sense to her, she still says it out of desperation.

MC: “Napoleone… bite me.”

Chance Meeting End (Sweet End)

As soon as MC asks Napoleon to bite her, she realizes how silly she sounded and wonders why she would assume that letting him drink blood would help him - as if he was a vampire. She tells Napoleon to disregard what she said, and insists that since he protected her from the men, she wants to help him in any way she could.

Napoleon’s expression softens and tells her she’s still the same MC he knew, who couldn’t be deterred whenever her mind had been made up. He entrusts himself to her care, and as she leads him to her apartment, she can’t help but think that she wanted to feel more of Napoleon’s warmth.

In her apartment, she bandages Napoleon’s wounds and finds that the wound was a lot smaller than she first saw it. He notices her surprise and asks if she was bothered by it. She admits it was odd, but tells him it isn’t a big deal, and that all that mattered was that he’s safe.

MC: “Besides, whatever happens or whatever you turn out to be, I won’t look away.”

Napoleon: “You’re doing it again, accepting me as I am… Thank you, MC.”

MC tells him she’s the one who should be saying thanks. He asks her to stop being polite and to call him ‘Napoleon,’ which is his real name, and MC realizes that was the name she used to call him the first time they met.

She complies and thanks him properly, and then gets around asking why he was in the area. He admits that he was there in hopes of seeing her again, and shares that although she might not remember it, he and MC had known each other before. MC assumes he was talking about being childhood friends, but Napoleon shakes his head and explains they had met before MC was born.

MC can’t understand what he was talking about, and Napo, realizing this, weakly laughs.

Napoleon: “Whether or not you believe it, it doesn’t matter… I once met you a long time ago, and I’ve been looking for you ever since. That day we met, even though I knew you couldn’t remember me… I still wanted to see you again.”

MC: “Why do all of this… for me?”

Napoleon: “MC… It’s because I love you. I made a promise. I promised to find MC again.”

The words come out naturally from him, and touched MC’s heart, and she flashes back to the mysterious man in her dreams.

???: “I love you, MC. “

???: “...If there really is such a thing as reincarnation, I will find you again. I will search for you. No matter how long it takes.”

MC: …I’ll be waiting. I’ll always, always be waiting for you. No matter how long it takes.

That scene in her dream becomes clear enough for her to recognize Napoleon as the man in military uniform, and she wonders if the man in her dream was the same as the man in front of her. She talks to him about the dream - a dream where she lived in a foreign place with many people, where she made a promise and said goodbye to an important person.

She tells him that ever since they met, she kept wishing to see him again even though she couldn’t understand why she misses him, but now she realizes that the dream was meant to lead them back to each other. But, even though she can’t deny the sense of nostalgia she felt whenever she was with Napoleon, she admits that she doesn’t remember what kind of relationship they had. She apologizes, and Napoleon ruffles her hair.

Napoleon: “Nunuche… Don’t think too hard over it.” 

Napoleon: “You don’t have to force yourself to remember if you can’t. You’re back, and that alone is enough.”

Napoleon: “But if you don’t remember, let me swear to you once more, MC…”

Napoleon takes her hand and presses it against his chest, right above his heart, and MC could feel it beating, as if telling her he was alive and it was all real.

Napoleon: “No longer as a soldier, but as a man… I once again offer you my heart.”

MC flashes back to scenes from Napoleon’s Main Story where he had sworn his heart to her, similar to what he was doing right now. In her mind, she accepts him wholeheartedly, thinking that even though she couldn’t completely remember, it’s all familiar to her.

MC: (This person, he’s precious to me… and I, I’ve been waiting for him for a long time.)

Napoleon: …Oi, don’t just go quiet on me, and say something.

MC laughs and tells him she was just overwhelmed, and she could see that despite Napoleon’s crude words, his eyes were full of love for her. She starts tearing up, saying that she has a lot of good things to think about before going to bed.

Napoleon: “That daily routine of yours… You try to remember all the good things that happen to you at the end of the day.”

MC: “How did you know about my routine?”

Napoleon: “How indeed…”

Napoleon starts to laugh, and MC tries to hide her own giggles behind her hand.

Fated Love End (Premium End)

As soon as MC speaks those words, her whole memory from her life in 19th Century France comes back to her. She snaps out of it and calls out Napoleon’s real name, finally being able to remember the man in front of her and the relationship they shared. Napoleon realizes she remembers him and the two embrace each other tightly.

Afterwards, MC brings him to her apartment in order to catch up while they cuddled on the sofa. Napoleon then asks MC if she remembers his last promise to her, and MC recalls those last moments.

MC: “The moon is beautiful tonight, isn’t it Napoleon?”

Napoleon: “...Yeah.”

MC: “I wonder how many times I can see this moon again…Fufu, sorry, that sounded really lonely.”

MC: (I was diagnosed with an epidemic disease. The doctor said I don’t have much time left.)

Napoleon: “You know, if you ask the Count, you can agree to the contract to live longer. Then you will become a vampire.”

MC declines the offer.

MC: “….When I was told about my life expectancy, I began thinking of what I would do with Napoleon for my last remaining days. Napoleon said you want to live with me as a human being, right? So, I wanted that as well.” 

MC: “I want to love you until my last moment as a human being. I want to complete my life.”

Napoleon: “….I see, if that is what you wish.” 

Napoleon: “I too, will only love you beyond anything else.”

MC half-jokingly tells Napoleon to find her again if she were to be reincarnated, and assures him that she will have the same voice and body so Napoleon could find her easily.

MC: “Napoleon…. I’ll be leaving you soon, I’m so sorry ...”

Napoleon: “Nunuche, don’t apologize.”

He smiles and wraps her hand in his.

Napoleon: “I love you ...MC.” 

Napoleon: “...If there really is such a thing as reincarnation, I will find you again. I will search for you. No matter how long it takes.”

MC: “Yes… I’ll be waiting for you. I’ll always, always be waiting for you. No matter how long it takes.”

She remembers those last moments, and she apologizes for leaving Napoleon too soon, saying that it he must have been lonely. He tells her not to apologize, and says that he was able to live up until this point because of that promise.

They start to kiss, and Napoleon apologizes for immediately wanting her like this. MC assures him that she also wanted the same thing, and they spend the night together.

Note: This is where the paid Epilogue starts.

Secret End

France, 2XXX.

At the mansion, Napoleon asks for Count’s permission to go to Japan, and Count asks why he suddenly decided to make the trip. Napoleon explains that he’s been planning to go for a long time now, and that he wants to see the place MC grew up in. The Count then asks if he intended to look for MC, and Napoleon confirms it, saying he had made a promise and planned to keep it. Please, Count wishes him good luck and lets him go.

In Japan, Napoleon is happy to see how peaceful everything was, just like MC had told him a long time ago. Back then, she had told him about her home and about how even though people still fought from time to time, it was a peaceful period. He feels nostalgic over the memory, and reaffirms to himself that there really was no one else for him other than MC.

Napoleon: “... I really want to see you again, MC.”

Later on, Napoleon thinks over what he wants to do, now that he’s seen MC’s home. As he’s thinking, he spots children play-fighting nearby. One of the kids gets upset, and he gets taunted by the others for being weak. Napoleon intervenes, saying that being strong doesn’t mean being able to hurt people, but rather being able to protect what you want to protect.

The kids calm down eventually, and when they leave, Napoleon is reminded of the kids he used to teach back in France. He then decides to stay in Japan and live a normal life, like MC would have, in hopes that maybe their paths would cross again.

Time passes, and Napoleon becomes a foreign language teacher at an elementary school. As he’s attending to a few kids one morning, he hears a scream. He spots one of the kids being pushed out of the way of an incoming car by a woman. He rushes in and pulls her out of harm’s way, and when he looks at her---

---It’s MC.

Event Info Post | Isaac Route | Arthur Route