#opens ( toyo )

[justsquibby]

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[thenextroad]

When it comes to purchasing tires for your vehicle, two popular all-terrain category are the Toyo Open Country AT3 VS Falken Wildpeak AT3W.

[carsthatnevermadeitetc]

Suzuki Every Wagon "little D." Hazel Edition, 2023, by DAMD. A version of the kei van modified to resemble a Land Rover Defender (from the front) and vintage-inspired eight-spoke wheels with Toyo Open Country R/T tyres. There's a pair of PIAA spotlights mounted on a roof rack that also accommodates a shovel and pull-out awning. The tiny van's off-grid camping credentials are further enhanced with a pop-up roof

[yuzurujenn]

[2024.11.25] Weekly Toyo Keizai Nov issue: Yuzuru Hanyu: An evolving entertainer

The world's most famous figure skater is now on the verge of further evolution. Ahead of the opening of his latest tour, "Echoes of Life," on December 7, he shares his thoughts on being a "professional" and the influence he holds.

Text Mai Yamamoto Design: Satoko Suzuki, Kanaka Nakamura Photography: Shuji Umetani Cooperation: WINEstudios

Yuzuru Hanyu achieved back-to-back Olympic victories in Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018. He was the youngest individual recipient of the People's Honor Award. At the Beijing Olympics in 2022, he attempted his dream of a quadruple axel jump, attracting worldwide attention. Yuzuru Hanyu is a rare figure skater. His popularity remains immense. Tickets for his shows remain hard to come by, regardless of the venue, and his performances attract fans from all over Japan and the world. His long-term commitment to disaster relief has garnered widespread support, creating a large circle of aid centred around him. After transitioning to professional skating in the summer of 2022, he has focused on expanding his figure skating. He is creating new entertainment that expresses his own stories through large-scale productions such as video and on-ice projection mapping. What is Yuzuru Hanyu trying to achieve? An exclusive interview delves into what happens when he takes action, including insights from related companies and local governments. Special interview

After turning professional, he held solo shows and solo tours, which were previously unimaginable in the traditional figure skating world. He created a unique show format called "Ice Story." He is also now exploring new ways of connecting with his fan community. What is the young entertainer thinking in the midst of such transformative times?

--What was the reason for the success of all your solo shows "Prologue," "GIFT," and "RE_PRAY"?

Honestly, it's hard to define what "success" means in this world. However, one thing I can proudly say is that tickets for all the shows were almost sold out. Many people bought tickets to see me skate. Ticket sales are an important indicator, and I want to maintain the perspective that "almost sold out = almost successful." When I think about the factors behind the success, it's not just my own ability, but something much bigger. How can we make the show better and what is most needed? Everyone involved in the show put in a lot of effort and thought. I think the success came as a result of that.

--In your first solo show "Prologue," you performed 8 programs in each show, mostly from your competitive skating repertoire.

Although not all the performances were full versions, "Prologue" was a show with many parts that I had to manage with my own strength and technique. The Tokyo Dome performance "GIFT" was coming up in few months, so I approached this show with the mindset that I was going to shape my solo show from now on.

The production and management team also took a trial-and-error approach to this new challenge. I didn't consider "Prologue" as an "experiment" but instead wanted to succeed as a complete piece of work. However, it was significant that this show helped us all share the image of a solo show as a team.

The next show, "GIFT," was a one-time performance. How do we showcase a skater in the vast Tokyo Dome? How could figure skating as an expressive art be expanded? It was an unknown challenge for all of us.

The challenges and appeal of the Tokyo Dome

--Normally, seats close to the rink are popular at ice shows, but for "GIFT," all the seats were far from the rink. Overcoming and making use of this condition was a key feature of the show. You incorporated elements of a music concert into the direction. For example, there were scenes where dancers performed around the rink. While such a direction is not unusual in live performances at dome venues, it’s not something you can do at a regular ice show since it would obstruct the view of the audience and make it difficult to see the skaters.

It was an unusually extravagant production for an ice show, but without it, the space between the rink and the audience would have seemed rather empty. Loneliness and solitude are important pieces in constructing the story of "GIFT," so there was also a desire to bring out these emotions. But in the individual sport of figure skating, the skater is already a solitary figure. Simply performing in an empty space would have made the performance feel too lonely. To surprise and entertain the audience, it was necessary to do something different from the usual.

I want everyone, no matter where they sit, to have a special experience.

--It's a refreshing feeling that it's interesting to watch from a distance.

It’s a difficult point. When considering demand, many people say the best experience is when they watch from the front row. The speed and dynamics of a skater are more noticeable up close, and you can feel their expressions and breathing and even sense their gaze on you, which is part of the appeal of sitting near the rink.

However, I don’t think the figure skating I want to show is limited to just the charm of close-up views. I always think, “No matter where you sit, I want you to have a special experience that you can only have in that seat.” In "GIFT," there were no seats close to the rink, so we focused all our efforts on how the skating can be seen from a distance.

--This approach of "no matter where you sit" is also carried over into the arena tour "RE_PRAY."

We refined the know-how that we gained from "GIFT." And one more point. In figure skating competitions, generally, the skaters perform on the long side of a 30m x 60m rink, the 60m side of the rink, with the side where the judges are located as the front. This is how people perceive the rink as being horizontal. However, after turning professional, I started placing great importance on showing the rink from the short side, with the 30m side as the front. On one side of the short side, we placed a large LED screen, and the audience sat in front and on either side. We used projection mapping to link the visuals on the ice with the skating paths, and we also used large gauze curtains. Since we are using the rink vertically, I am also conscious of utilising the depth and perspective of the space.

--So, the short side seems like the "winning" side, but there are more seats on the long side. Doesn’t that lower audience satisfaction?

Actually, there are things that can only be felt from the long side. In figure skating, how far you can glide in one step and how fast you can go is crucial, and this is most apparent during long-distance movements. Therefore, on the long side, you can enjoy the big horizontal movements that are typical of figure skating, while on the short side, the focus is on utilising the depth, which is a new attempt. Also, in programs that use projection mapping, the visuals on the ice and the skating trajectory are more clearly visible from seats further away.

--So, the experience is different depending on the seat.

When I look at the data of those who bought tickets for my shows, I see that many are repeat customers. Because of this, when I was thinking about the structure and direction of "RE_PRAY," I focused on the concept that 'by watching it repeatedly, you can experience a different world each time (replay).

Additionally, this is something common in dance and ballet, but in expressive forms like those, the appeal tends to be stronger on the front-facing side of the body. Plus, figure skating is like performing on a stage placed in the center, meaning the audience can view it from 360 degrees. Therefore, in ice shows, we must be conscious of the 360-degree perspective in the direction and lighting. The fusion of the 360-degree design of the skating and the 360-degree design of the staging creates a fascinating experience where different views can be seen depending on the seat.

--"RE_PRAY" seemed to attract many new fans.

"RE_PRAY" had a theme of games, and word-of-mouth spread among game fans, which led many people to come to the venue or attend the live viewing for the first time.

The production and management team always want to create a show that new audiences can enjoy. However, even so, the most important thing is to consider those who think, "After all, I love Hanyu most." First of all, I want to create something that my fans will think is cool. Then, I think about the people who come to the show for the first time. Since people who love music, ballet, or have a deep appreciation for the arts also attend, I want to ensure that the experience doesn’t feel cheap, but rather that they can think, 'I had a luxurious experience by coming to this show.'

--There are more and more performances attracting attention from fans of the works you've collaborated with, such as 'GIFT,' which has a picture book published by the creative group CLAMP, and 'Meteor,' a song from the anime series 'Gundam SEED'. Is this a conscious effort?

I do think about bringing in fresh collaborations. But when it comes to games, anime, or manga, when I collaborate or use songs, it’s important that "I am really interested in it, I love it, I have been exposed to it for many years, and I have accumulated knowledge and experience." If I don't have depth in my approach to the work, I can’t show respect for it, and my performance will end up shallow.

That shallowness would likely be felt by the fans of that work, so I don’t want to casually take advantage of the popularity of someone else’s work. I want to make sure I respect and value the people who love these works. Because I genuinely love it myself, I can understand what would make people who also love that work or field feel like, 'It would be fun if it were expressed this way.' I want to focus on doing things that I can dive into deeply and do well.

"As a medium and a brand"

--You once said that "Yuzuru Hanyu is a medium." Do you still feel that way?

Essentially, I still feel the same. There's a line in the song "Sainoujin Ouenka (Support Song for the Troubled Talent)" by BUMP OF CHICKEN that says, "There is no song sung just for me." I believe that’s true. On the other hand, many people experience a song that touches their hearts, or an image forming in their mind when they listen to it. That’s something the creator probably didn’t intend. It’s from the creativity of the listener that unique emotions and actions are born.

It's the same with my figure skating and the words I say. When the person who receives them recalls something from it and feels their imagination being sparked, they say things like “That touched me” or “I like it.”

In that sense, I see myself as a medium. When I try to convey something, it is not always possible for 100% of what I am thinking to reach the audience. But if, in that moment, my attempt to convey something helps someone recall or evoke something within themselves, then I believe that’s the most accurate form of expression.

--I imagine there are also difficulties in maintaining the 'Yuzuru Hanyu brand' as a medium and meeting expectations.

Right now, I have a team of many people who worked with me on my solo shows. We share and discuss the image of 'how Yuzuru Hanyu should be presented' through the perspectives of people with diverse expertise. I receive their advice and align it with my own objective view and feelings of 'what I want to do.'

In the end, only I know how I feel. Now that I am starting to place more value on my own feelings, I have a clear image of what I want to do. But, if I were to solely produce myself based on my own feelings, the product would end up too narrow in its perspective. Although, it feels strange to call myself a product...

Now, I can speak comfortably in front of my fans.

--Was it difficult for you to value your own feelings in the past?

I think I was much more empty before. In figure skating, everything is left up to the judges. The score changes depending on what the judges think. So, in order to earn points and win, I had to prioritise what kind of music to choose, what themes to pick, and what to express, rather than what I personally wanted to express. I spent a long time thinking about how I would be evaluated. It may also be a habit from when I was a child. I’ve always felt that the happiest thing is when someone becomes happy or when someone is pleased.

So, I wasn’t sure what personal happiness from within me really was. But over time, as I worked on ice shows and new programs, I gradually came to understand what happiness arises from within me. I think I’ve started to be able to cherish that feeling. In a good way, skating is no longer just something personal to me. Being part of this larger movement of ‘creating a show with everyone’s help’, I’ve started to understand what personal happiness is. Although it’s still somewhat unclear and difficult for me to grasp.

-- Is it like separating the happiness of "work = skating" from the happiness of your private life and balancing them?

I wonder. To some extent, I try to separate them, but in reality, they proceed simultaneously. Skating and the various projects that stem from it aren't absolutely essential to my survival, but without them, I would lose my sense of purpose. In that case, I think 'purpose' and 'happiness' might be the same thing. So, when my personal happiness aligns with the success of a project, I think, 'Well, in the end, they are one and the same.'

"Realising the presence of fans"

--You maintained a stance of not revealing your private life or sharing unnecessary information during your competitive years. However, in the past few months, you’ve been expanding the ways you communicate with your fans, such as through messages for YouTube membership subscribers and radio (audio broadcasts).

"The frustration of not being able to express what I want to convey has always been there since my competitive years. For example, after a competition where things didn’t go well, if I were to analyse the cause and explain it in detail, it might come across as making excuses. There was a long period when I felt I shouldn’t show any weakness, and I thought I couldn’t afford to show any openings. If I showed my weakness, there were some... how should I put it... bad people who would seize upon it. It's hard to say (laughs).

However, during the "RE_PRAY" tour, I came to realise that there are so many people, including those in the membership, who are genuinely looking forward to my skating. Of course, each fan has their own heart, and when I say something, the interpretation will vary among individuals, and the images that come to mind will be different. But now I can speak with the reassurance that these people are supporting me in such a positive and kind way. I’ve gradually started to be able to express things that I had buried deep inside me with the help of everyone.

--Is that the main difference between your amateur career and your professional career?

When I was competing, I was fighting with everyone, including my fans. No matter what performance or result I had, people would say, "You did a great job," or "I'm glad for you," but deep down, I'm sure everyone wanted me to come in first. In the professional world, I don't have to fight anymore. As long as I do a good performance and look happy, most of the fans will tell me that makes them happy too. Because of that, I can feel at ease and entrust myself to the fans.

--On the other hand, there is a unique excitement in competition. Without clear rivals, is there something you’re doing to maintain the enthusiasm of the fans in ice shows?

It’s difficult. This is something I’m thinking a lot about right now. It’s not easy to create the same excitement in an ice show as in a competition. Without a clear goal of overcoming something or becoming number one, the sense of unity between me and the fans, as well as among the fans themselves, can easily become fragmented.

However, through my skating, I believe I can evoke the memories of the competition days, like the landscapes seen at the competition venues and their surroundings, and the images and emotions from those times. Therefore, for my long-time fans, I consciously perform in a way that helps them recall what they hold dear. I believe it’s possible for them to feel the excitement from back then, plus see how much I’ve improved since.

Also, like the ‘suspension bridge effect’, I’ve had many situations where I fought through a crisis. For example, at the Pyeongchang Olympics, and at many other competitions where my ankle was in terrible shape, or my overall physical condition was bad. When I managed to overcome those tough situations and win, many people thought, "It's cool that he won against the odds."

My biggest goal now is to create something that makes people think, "This person's skating is really good," without needing the ‘suspension bridge effect’. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yuzuru Hanyu, born on December 7, 1994, in Sendai. He won gold medals at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. In 2018, he was awarded the People's Honor Award. In 2022, he attempted the quadruple axel at the Beijing Olympics, finishing in 4th place. In July 2022, he turned professional. He pioneered a new frontier in figure skating with his solo performance "Ice Story." Since the Great East Japan Earthquake, he has been diligently working on supporting recovery efforts.

Source: Weekly Toyo Keizai 2024/11/30 issue, pg 62-69 Info: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0DM558RM9 

[iluxurycruisedthatship]

The Kazama & Mishima’s naming traditions and the Next Gens of Kazama’s children!

Alright so I've been cooking this for a while since they dropped Jun's parents name on T8. Bear in mind, I'm in no way fluent in Japanese nor I'm a native, but I have google on my side to educate me better about Japanese naming systems and the kanji they used for naming the child (jinmeiyo and joyo).

I just want to named XiaoJin’s future babies so bad, kay?! Lol. Even though I know Jin is opposed to any plan of continuing the lineage (which is heartbreaking 😭💔) but the XiaoJin's shipper in me cannot be extinguished!! 🔥🔥🔥 I still want to named them! Lol.

Anyway! Feel free to correct me with your information! I'm open to any kind of knowledge 💖

Psst! If you don't want to read these longass founds and explanation, you can jump right away to the bottom of this post, there’s a pic that summarise these texts, lol.

Alrightt! Without further ado, let's deep dive into Kazama/Mishima lore!!

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So...

Tekken 8 has finally dropped some lore about Kazama family, and it's about Jun to be exact. There, we can get a glimpse of Jun's parent name:

Soon after, a Japanese KazuJun's fan dropped this tweet :

Assuming a native Japanese able to decipher those characters correctly, now we finally have Jun's parents name kanji:

純一 the father, and 恵 the mother.

As we all know, kanji has several way of reading. Cited from pon-navi, there are two typical ways of reading kanji, kun-yomi and on-yomi. In addition, there is a reading system called "jinmei kun" which is used only for names.

"Soo?? What's their name?! How do we know the correct reading?!"

Here's the thing!!

Tekken has giving us hints that Mishima family has a tradition to give their children with their kanji name, following a common practice in Japan. Let's take a look at their kanji.

仁八, Jinpachi

平八, Heihachi & 一美, Kazumi

一八, Kazuya

Notice the similarities? You’re right! The Mishima child inherited their parents' kanji! The sons inherit '八' kanji, with Heihachi inherited '八' from Jinpachi and Kazuya inherited both kanji from Heihachi (八) and Kazumi (一).

As it is a common practice, the same can be said with the Kazama family! Although in their case, they might not be inheriting the kanji but instead with the reading of the said character. Or maybe phonetically similar would be correct here.

For example, this is Jun's kanji: 準

This character '準' can be read several ways, some of them are : Jun, shun, setsu, taira, toshi, narau, nori, hitoshi.

And one of her father kanji is: 純

'純' can be read as : kito, Jun, atsu, atsushi, aya, itaru, ito, kiyoshi, sunao, sumi, tsuna, to, makoto, yoshi.

Have you noticed it? That's right! '純' and '準' can be both read as Jun! It means that Jun's kanji has the same reading as her father's kanji, although they have different kanji characters.

From here, we can assume that Jun's father can be called Jun____ as well.

As for the other kanji, '一' can be read as: hito, hitotsu, hajime, ichi, itsu, i, osamu, kuni, susumu, tada, chi, nobu, hajimu, hajime, hi, hiji, hide, hitoshi, makoto, masashi, moto, ka, kazu, kata, atsu.

Looking from the lists, together his name could be read most plausibly as : Junichi, Junitsu, or Juni. Imo, Junichi sounds the best, so yeah, I completely agree with the KazuJun's fan.

Now we all know that Kazama has similar sounding name with different kanji.

On the other hand, the mother has '恵' that can be read as: megumu, megumi, kei, e, aya, sato, satoshi, shige, toshi, yasu, yoshi.

While it could be anything, I think it's either Megumi or Megumu. Why? Because I found out that '恵' has the same reading as one of Jin's kanji reading! lol. Let's take a look at Jin's kanji!

This is Jin's kanji: 仁

It can be read as: Jin, ni, nin, kimi, kimu, sato, sane, shinobu, tadashi, to, toyo, nobu, nori, hisashi, hito, hitoshi, hiroshi, masa, masashi, mi, megumi, megumu, yasushi, yoshi.

Do you find it? Both '恵' and '仁' can be read as Megumi/Megumu! lol.

One of the speculation is that Jun named her son Jin as a sign of respect to her father in law, Jinpachi (仁八). Even though Jin is a Mishima by blood, he doesn't inherit the '八' character as he was raised in Kazama family. So he inherited just the '仁' character. Besides, it also sounds almost the same. Jun.. Jin.. It's phonetically similar, right? And if Jin were born a girl, I bet he would be called Megumi/Megumu instead just like his grandmother, lol.

Thus, we can safely conclude that the Mishima has the habit to inherit their kanji characters while the Kazama inherit the reading of their kanji's name.

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AND NOW! HERE COMES THE MAIN DISH!!!! 💖💖💖

What about the future Kazama kids?! Let’s move on to that and do the real cooking here for the XiaoJin's babies name! :D

We have seen Jin's kanji, but what about Xiayou?? Xiaoyu is Chinese by birth, and her hanzi (Chinese characters) are 凌曉雨 and リン・シャオユウ is how it's written in Japanese katakana.

凌, Líng: surpass / リン (Rin)

曉, Xiao: dawn / シャオ (Shao)

雨, Yu: rain / ユウ (Yu)

Now, I'd like to think that they would combine or use either their character or its reading for their baby! Also! They might use some of Jin's family name's characters :D

Here are some of my ideas for the babies name :

For boy:

晨一, Shinichi, a portmanteau of Jin and Xiaoyu's nickname and kanji inherited from Junichi/Kazuya.

Explanation: the first kanji '晨' means Dawn, which has the same meaning as Xiaoyu hanzi '曉'. The kanji reading is also the combination of Xiaoyu's nickname and Jin. Shao+Jin=Shin. It also sounds similar. Jin, Shin, it's rhyming, right? Just like Jun and Jin!

For the second kanji '一' I'd like to think the story behind it was that Xiaoyu wanted to preserve Kazama/Mishima naming practice but Jin was reluctant to do it. In the end, they decided to take the kanji '一' which was present in both Kazama and Mishima, that's in Junichi (純一) and Kazuya (一八).

For girl :

凌, Shino, a portmanteau of Xiaoyu's nickname and Jin, same character as Xiao’s hanzi that could also be the feminine ver. of Shin.

Explanation: it’s rather simple, I use the same character in Xiaoyu’s hanzi that has different reading while also the combination of Jin and Xiaoyu’s name. In Chinese ‘凌’ read as Ling but in Japanese, ‘凌’ has several reading. One of them is Shino. Shino could be the sister or the twin sister of Shinichi, in case XiaoJin have two child or twins in the future :)

琳, Rin, a kanji that has the same reading as Xiaoyu’s name and phonetically similar with Jin.

Explanation: I think this one is easy to understand! Rin and Jin, phonetically similar like what Kazama would've named their children. It’s also Xiaoyu’s surname in Japanese. The kanji ‘琳’ itself means ‘beautiful jewel’ and in Chinese the hanzi means 'beautiful jade’, and it reminds them of the greens in Yakushima forest, Jin's home.

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Alright, now that I’ve spilled out all of the stuff inside my chest and calmed down, I’ll give you a simple name chart for those who don’t want to read wall of texts, lol. Hope this helps!

I guess that’s all for now, lol. I’ll add my thoughts if I had any later on. Thank you for coming to my TED talk! 😂🙏

[trash-monkey]

The Endless Sea

Chapter 8

My pupils dilate wide like a cat as my Omega instincts are scrambled at sounds of a child wailing from the front door of the apartment complex.

"Stay!" Takemitchy insisted as he grabbed into my arm when I stood up seeing my Omega instincts are in control and the suppressants fading fast from my blood stream.

"Breath (Y/N)" he instructed as a wet Draken appears in the door frame with wailing baby in his arms, the little guy has a full head of white hair and his are a bright lime green as he's only wearing a oversized shirt with a diaper underneath.

"Aw, poor little pup." Takemitchy coos when gently taking the pup from Draken once I started taking deep breaths to get my Omega instincts under control which Mitsuya comes into view with a toddler boy and a young teen of a girl, the boy has black mess hair with sea colored eyes while wearing a oversized t-shirt like the baby as the girl only has overall which are roll up around here knee and her brown hair are in messy piggy tails. When unmated Omegas are in heat and hears a pup wailing they go into protect mode making they'll harm anyone that gets near the pup which is why Takemitchy hold me back to get a hold of myself again before I could hurt Draken, seeing me and Takemitchy got the kids handled they returned to scavenging.

"Let's get them upstairs and feed" I said as I guide the toddler to hold Takemitchy's hand so I can help guide the teen upstairs as I can see her faded green eyes are clouded meaning she's blind.

"What's your name, Sweetheart?" I asked while guiding her up.

"Mao Taro and the baby is my brother, Nao, as the toddler is Toyo Miki." Although the girl's voice is soft sounding it echos through the staircase as we got up the last one before going though the apartment door which Takemitchy is lightly bouncing Nao and had as Toyo sitted at the small table in the living room, I gently helped Mao sit down.

"Takemitchy, you sit and I'll fix them something to eat" I offered as a few moments earlier I noticed Mao is on the skinny side which I can guess she's been giving all the food to the kids, I went to take more heat suppressants from our apartment before going into the small kitchen balcony where the handmade stove is and start a fire which I opened a few cans of stew we have as it'll be best to settle on the kids stomachs better then anything else.

"Careful, it's hot." I warned the two as I sit a bowl of stew in front of them with the last few slices of bread we have.

"I'll be right back to help you eat but I need to see if we have any for Nao, ok" I told Toyo and Mao before heading back to the storage after glancing at Takemitchy which I meet wet Draken at the door.

"Did you find anything for the baby?" I asked while passing through the door frame to see a few bags sitting on the floor of the living room which I immediately started looking through, I give a sigh when finding a pack of diapers so I set it aside.

"A few things but there wasn't much." He stated as he throws four baby bags at me from the door frame so not to get water onto the floor but sadly I didn't react fast enough and got hit in the body with them which he give me a apologetic look, I give him a soft smile in return.

"This must be tough on you, being in your heat and now kids." Draken stated as he keep that I'm also surrounded by two Alphas and a unknown third gender Beta unsaid, I give a nod.

"I'll get through it." I said back as I go through the baby bags which I find two can of formula, three packs of wips, four bottles, and two pacifiers so I stick them all into one of the baby bags before going through the plastic bags again.

"Still it's tough." He mumbled which reminds me that he was raised in a brothel so he knows how Omegas and Betas are, he's more comfortable with a Omegas heat unlike other Alphas and can control himself better too.

"You had a Alpha before this?" He asked since Omegas usually have a Alpha in highschool as they turn 15 which is of age to become a mate and Alphas must turn 16 to be the proper age of finding a mate, Betas of age is 17 has they don't have a rut or heat cycle to interfere with their daily lives like the other two so with this social standard most Omegas don't even finish highschool.

"No" I answered back quickly although I didn't mean to bark it out after pausing in my task as no Alpha has wanted to be to know me and the other Alphas that had approached me only wanted me to help them through their ruts, I denied them as I'm not that type of Omega.

"I see" He stated understanding what I'm leaving unsaid.

"What about Takemitchy? You two seem to be getting closer every." He asked curiously as he takes a seat at the door stoop seemingly wanting to use this short time to get to know me one on one.

"That we are, although his grandmother has rised him on the old school Pack Family tradition." I confessed as I find more decently cleaned baby clothes which I immediately put into the baby bag and hoping they can fit the little guy, I also am lucky to find two sets of clothes for Toyo too which I put them and two dresses I believe can fit Mao into the baby bag too.

"Some in the brothel was old fashioned too so I know a little bit of it and I assume you two have already figured out who's the main wife is then? I'll take a guess and say it's you." I giggled at his guess before nodding with a amused smile on my lips right as Hanma stumble in with some material they're stripping from the daycare but he immediately grins mischievously when seeing us like we are.

"Oh, what do we got here~" He teases us which both me and Draken rolled our eyes although we have a small smile at his usual fooling, I stand up and pass by the two on the way back to the apartment hearing the two talking while I guess Hanma is bugging Darken.

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[andidowi]

✨ Exploring the National Taichung Theater ✨

Designed by the visionary architect Toyo Ito, this architectural marvel in Taichung is nothing short of breathtaking. The theater's fluid and organic design feels like stepping into a modern cave, where art and nature blend seamlessly.

🌊 From the outside, a flowing stream winds its way around the building, guiding visitors into its unique interior. The water feature continues inside, creating a tranquil atmosphere as it weaves around shops, corners, and open spaces.

🎭 Inside, the curvilinear walls and ceilings evoke a sense of awe, while the lighting and textures enhance its contemporary yet natural vibe. The space feels alive, almost like it's sculpted by nature itself.

Although my visit was brief, this space truly left an impression. It's more than just a theater—it's an experience that connects you to art, design, and nature in a deeply inspiring way. Definitely a must-visit if you're ever in Taiwan!

[sugoi-and-spice]

Chapter Fifteen - Challenger Approaching

Pairing: Tomura Shigaraki x Fem!Reader, (3rd Person)

Rating: Explicit - Minors DNI

Summary: Tomura Shigaraki was her dad's boss's son. He was the creep that stole girls' underwear and tried to grope her in his room. But it's not like he could get her Dad fired just because she wouldn't sleep with him, right? ...right?

CW: Quirkless!AU, Explicit Smut, Dub-Con, Coercion, Blackmail, Cheating, Sexual Guilt, Humiliation, Unhealthy Relationships, Virginity Kink, Groping, Power Play, Hate to Love, Emotional Manipulation, Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Self-Harm, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Implied/Referenced Animal Death

A/N: Sorry this chapter is a bit late, life happened and meh. Anyway, thank you all for your patience and support, as always. :)

Read Full Chapter on AO3

[excerpt]

“Onii-chan!”

Mirio’s face lit up, “Hey kiddo!”

Her brother didn’t even need to ask to be lifted, as soon as Mirio saw the seven-year-old barreling towards him, he was already kneeling down with his arms outstretched, yelling, “Alright, who’s ready to fly?!”

The boy leaped into his arms, and despite having just swam a meet that he’d finished almost exclusively on the podium in, Mirio caught him effortlessly and swung him around and behind his torso like a Globetrotter. He finished the trick shot by settling the boy on his hip with one arm, keeping the other free to do an elaborate secret handshake.

Because of course they had a secret fucking handshake.

“Mirio-kun!” her mother greeted happily, “Great job today! Are you hungry? I’ve got plenty of pickled plum for you!”

Shigaraki snapped to her mom, childish betrayal flaring in his eyes as she opened up the cooler for Mirio. Cheating bitch was at the forefront of his mind. Luckily, nobody but her daughter saw it, and she promptly gave him a gentle but firm warning in the form of a light swat to the arm.

“Ooh, thanks, Okaa-san— but I’m okay!” he chirped right back.

Shigaraki’s jaw locked even tighter at that. He had legitimately never wanted to punch someone so much in his life. And he’d broken noses before.

She looked back and forth between the boys nervously. Shigaraki’s murderous intent was almost as palpable as her boyfriend’s beaming joy. She had no idea what to say in this situation, even less idea what to do. She was already trying to think three steps ahead into damage control mode. Because this was going to be a disaster — that part was inevitable. She could only try and figure out how to pick up the pieces of this situation and assemble something even remotely salvageable out of it. Even with that low bar however, prospects were not looking good.

Especially not when Mirio planted a painfully casual kiss on her cheek, like he’d done it a hundred times already… which he had.

“Was that a Toyo recruiter, babe?” he asked as he pulled away. She could practically hear Shigaraki bristle at the word “babe”.

“O-Oh yeah,” she answered, “It was nothing serious, but he did give me his card so we could set up a phone call.”

Shigaraki snapped to her. Hold on a second, the conversation with the recruiter had gone that far? He’d thought that she just smiled and nodded and politely told him to go pound sand. She couldn’t actually be considering it, could she?

“Mirio, you’re committed to Toyo aren’t you?” her Dad asked.

He grinned, “Sure am!”

“Well, that wouldn’t be a bad deal for you two, if she got a scholarship, would it?”

The idea that she’d go to a different school had never crossed Shigaraki’s mind, not even once. Her grades and test scores were never a barrier to entry. And if by some weird act of God or bureaucracy she didn’t get in? Well, he’d fought and worked with those particular forces more than his fair share of times and he’d do it again.

She was always going to end up at Todai with him.

It’s not like he had a specific vision for the future together or even a plan for what would happen when she got there. He’d never had to. She would just be there with him and then all of this pretense — Mirio, her popularity, her parents – all of this bullshit wouldn’t matter anymore. They’d be there together and everything would just work itself out. It’d all finally be easy.

But if she went to a different college? And the college that her boyfriend went to? There was nothing fucking easy about that. She’d have even less reason to break up with Mirio. And even less reason to see him.

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[forgeline]

The coolest SUV that you'll find on or off the road. This incredible 1970 Ford Bronco is one of the Signature Series Broncos manufactured by Velocity Restorations. It's powered by a 460HP Ford Performance Gen III Coyote 5.0L V8 mated to a 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission with a two-speed Atlas transfer case and rides on a Roadster Shop RS4R chassis, Bilstein shocks, Chevy Colorado 4-wheel disc brakes, 33x12.50R17 Toyo Open Country A/T tires, and 17x9.0 Forgeline forged three piece ET3 six-lug wheels finished with Polished centers & Polished outers! See more at: https://www.forgeline.com/customer-gallery-velocity-restorations/cgk2791

[maddogofshimano]

Izo Boss Rush: The Revenge of Izo

Ishin Spoilers

This was the other raffle winner for @majimemegoro​ ! Sorry it ended up taking longer than expected, hopefully I won’t have to rush back and correct some things once ishin drops in a little over a week!

I skipped all the ishin events when they first happened because I was on the cusp of being able to play it and didn’t want to spoil myself (or flounder horrifically!) so I’m glad I can go back to them now (and only flounder somewhat)

Summary:

After Ryoma and Izo’s opening confrontation, Ryoma has some time to kill. Izo, on the other hand, has some people to kill.

In order to carry out a reformation of the Tosa caste system, Sakamoto Ryoma is named Party Representative, head of the Tosa Loyalist Party.

However, he is ambushed by members of the Loyalist Party, including the second in command, Okada Izo.

Ryoma was able to fend off Izo’s attack with his own sword.

He has planned to meet with Yoshida Toyo that night at Kochi Castle, however some time remains before then.

Hanpeita: ...So will you be going to Kochi Castle once it gets a bit darker, Ryoma?

Ryoma: I'm...

<flashback, as evidenced by the sepia>

Yoshida: ...Well then, Ryoma. Since you've returned to Tosa, have you had bonito tataki? Ryoma：…No. Yoshida: "Yoiyoi" has some good bonito. I'm not able to go, but you should go try it. (Tl note: yoiyoi is 酔い酔い, a restaurant in ishin. the name is literally like "drunken drunken" and I don't think I've seen how it'll be localized, so you just get the name spelled out as is)

Ryoma: ....I plan on wandering around a bit more. I think I'll go try the bonito that Pops recommended to me. <he leaves>

Shop Keeper: Thank you! Please come again. Ryoma: Haa~, that was delicious. Naturally there's no better bonito than in Tosa... hmm? ???: Ahhhh! Help me! Ryoma: I'm pretty sure those are the men who pretended to be in the Tosa Loyalist Party... And on the other side... Okada Izo.  Fake Tosa Loyalist Party Member: F-Forgive me! We'll never impersonate the Tosa Loyalist Party again!

Izo: ...Not good enough. Die. Fake Loyalist: A-Ahhhh! <Ryoma steps in>

Ryoma: .....We should drop this. Izo: You're... Sakamoto Ryoma. Making an entrance here, huh.... Ryoma: I've already told you this. If you joined the Loyalist Party because you want to kill people, you should leave.

Ryoma: You all should get out of here. ....I'll hold this guy off. Fake Loyalist: Y-Yes sir...!

<the fake loyalist group leaves>

<Izo takes a swing at Ryoma>

Ryoma: !? Izo: I may have lost earlier, but that was merely a single bout. ....I'll kill you this time.  Izo: If I win, I'm going to kill you and then I'll kill them. Ryoma: ...And if I win, you'll let those men go. Izo: ...Fine. Izo: We'll go to the old battleground beside the river. There won't be any people there.  Ryoma: ...Okay. Let's go.

<they go, and the boss rush event happens>

Izo: Guh... Ryoma: That's the end of that...

<he sheathes his sword>

Izo: Wait... why don't you strike me down? Ryoma: ...I didn't join the Loyalist Party so that I could kill people. You and I are different. <Ryoma walks off>

Izo: ....Heh. The style that would be expected of the "Party Representative". Splendidly done.

Izo: ....I will make sure you regret that. The one who will support Takechi-sensei... is me.

<he leaves, and someone else steps in>

Hanpeita: ...As expected, Ryoma won. Hanpeita: Letting even those who attempt to kill you live, that kindness... no, it's softness. Hanpeita: ...Yes. That's the kind of man you are. 

Hanpeita: Then I suppose we have no choice but to follow our own paths... kyoudai.

<END> Bonus time:

This one was pretty short but boy howdy does translating ishin kick my ass with all these character and place names I’m not used to. I do think it’s really funny that they just tacked another loss onto Izo’s record like this. Just for fun. 

Hanpeita is Shibusawa in ishin kiwami which will....... make some things very interesting, I think. 

Thank you to this youtube channel for once again supplying me with events, I owe everyone who recorded them my life

[kakiastro]

Master list of my Astrology Observations, Tea, Theories links

[darkdevasofdestruction]

Chapter 16 - Unlikely Best Friend

All the CEOs were gathered in the VIP Room 2, but neither of them had any idea why they were summoned by the Chairman. Kisara had to admit, she knew old man Katahara was a playful jokester, but this was a fishy situation and she was getting rather suspicious. Silently staying between Akira and Urita for comfort, she was listening intently to their chattering - And they were right. There were about five CEOs that were missing - All of them were CEOs that had lost their battles, though it wasn't a criteria, since many others who lost were present... In fact, apart from Akira and her parents, all CEOs were losers. Not only that, but her parents looked awfully relaxed... And that jerk of a fighter was there with them too, and he was looking at her with a wretched smirk. How annoying.

At some point, Katahara, followed by his best friend, the patriarch of the Kure clan, the king of Thailand Rama XIII and a ton of bodyguards came into the room... But the old man seemed to be completely unaware of the meeting.

It was a trap - The first to try to run away were the samurai-CEO and the CEO whose fighter was that sumo guy who lost against Seki in the first round, both of them having the fighting instincts in their blood... But as the door opened, an ocean of men with weapons, all garbed in white suits and wearing mean looks, flooded the room... with Hayami Katsumasa, the CEO of Toyo Electric Power Co. in the lead. So this guy was the reason for everything. He was trying to overthrow Katahara. He must have known from the very beginning that he and his cheap influence had no chance of winning, especially now that Julius lost against Wakatsuki, so he had to resort to this kind of blackmail. Disgusting.

Though three of the good bodyguards threatened Hayami, they were defeated in the blink of an eye by the most surprising man in the world - Hassad, the Arabian Whirlwind that was thrown in the ocean after the preliminary matches. How ironic. Still, he wasn't  the real threat, but many of the other awfully strong looking men.

ONe of the men in white took out a laptop and showed a live broadcast of some of the missing CEOs, who were outside, bound by ropes and threatened to be killed by a fat man with a knife or a machete to their neck. Actually.... That man's build looked an awful lot like Kaburagi's. At this point, she wouldn't be surprised if he somehow teleported his way to Katahara's private resort out of the blue.

"Oh hoooo. You guys there - If you were just a few points short, you'd be there with them now, isn't that right?" Katahara loked back at the CEOs of Burger Boss, Nentendo... And her parents. "So you guys were in it too, weren't you?" Kisara walked next to the chairman and looked at her parents in disgust. "Of course we were. We pledged from the very beginning that we would nominate Mr. Hayami as the CEO. Katahara's getting old and senile." her father let out an amused exhale. "Were you afraid that Wakatsuki would defeat you, then?" she crossed her arms, glaring at them. "No, you stupid girl. Tanji would have easily swept the floor with that idiot. But once again, you completely shatter all of our plans with your idiocy." her father accused her, but she could only raise her eyebrow questioningly. "What, did I breathe the wrong way? Did I blink twice as much as I should have? Enlighten me." she truly was curious what happened. "Tanji refused to fight for our company, unless you agree to date him." Kisara's eye widened in shock, only to burst into fits of laughter and needed to lean on the old man's shoulder, who was chuckling, just like her. "Really? Please, tell me you're joking, this is the most pathetic thing I've heard in my entire life." obviously, it wasn't a joke. "I have a boyfriend already. And even if I didn't, I wouldn't be dating this fuckass. If he doesn't want to fight, then find another fighter. Sure, there's no way you'll win, but at least you won't face the humiliation of forfeiting." she suggested briefly, only to see her mother smiling at her. "Because of you, the company will suffer a massive loss of income. If you don't solve this issue, we will sue you."  she threatened, but it only made her look ridiculous. "Of course I'll solve the issue. I am going to take over the company. It's in my interest to keep appearances, isn't it?" both of her parents were shocked. "Wh-Who said anything about passing on the business to you?! You're a stupid little child who likes to throw around money! Even after death, we'll never pass on the heritage to you." her mother snarled at her with anger. "I can get you Raian for your fight. He may have lost against Ohma, but he dominated the whole match. Not to mention, both Wakatsuki and the two fighters of the first match from round 3 are heavily injured. A little bit of persuasion and Raian might even be capable of killing them and win the competition..." Kisara trailed on with a smirk on her face. She knew she didn't need to convince the psycho to fight, though having the patriarch there wasn't too good for her. "No. We don't want that deadbeat from the Kure clan. In fact, we don't want any fighter. I think we can come to a nice compromise, you and us, daughter." her father came forward, towering over her. "You go in there and fight against that musclehead. If you come out of there alive, we will consider writing your name in our will." "So you're betting on me getting killed by Wakatsuki, aren't you? Fine. Hey, gramps, can the company CEO be changed during a kengan tournament officially, regardless of the circumstances of the change?" she asked, smiling at him. "Of course, it can be done - My, how exciting, we've never had a woman fighting in our tournament before! Have you heard that, Erioh? Maybe you should have sent some of the girl to fight at some point, I'm sure it would have been exciting." Katahara laughed, while the Kure leader merely smiled and shook his head. "Sweet! Well then, let's make this deal right now. You write my name in the will, I fight for you instead of that dumbass, I get out alive, I kill you, and I get the company! Wonderful!" Kisara chirped in mock-glee, shocking her parents. "There are no fights allowed between company owners! You will be kicked out of here!" her father yelled at her. "Actually, no rule states that a retired fighter, who becomes a normal spectator, cannot actively fight against a company owner." Katahara himself pointed out - The Hasashi owners surely didn't play that smart. "Oh, which reminds me... Hayami. The Hasashi company won't be supporting you anymore. We are supporting the Nogi group." with a peace sign thrown in, Katahara laughed again, while the man with half of his face burnt looked pissed off. "You will regret it, little girl - But I will give everyone a choice, even you. Will you join those four and wait for your executions, or will you join me and form a new Kengan Association?" his mustache was curled up evilly. "And Metsudo, I have a demand to make of you. Cancel the tournament and resign as chairman, effective immediately." "And what if I say no?" the old man was defiant - He surely must have his ground. "Then I'll blow up the kengan dome along with all of the kengan association members and foreign dignitaries." it seems that Katahara already knew about the intruders and the others who went to plant the bombs around the dome. He's not an old man for nothing, obviously - Which made Kisara relaxed. Katahara surely knew about Hayami's evil intent from the very beginning and has something prepared.

Nikaido Ren, along with the other Heavenly wolves, were the ones who actually installed the bombs, seeing as they were special ops for the Japanese army, how interesting. Hayami has about a thousand guardians inside and outside of the dome, and compared to Katahara's 250 bodyguards, the good guys were seemingly outnumbered... But doesn't this guy get that Katahara's best friend is the Patriarch of the Kure clan? Surely, those assassins would be helpful.

"Now, the cancellation of the tournament won't affect those of you who have already lost - As a matter of fact, I've prepared another chance for all of you. I promise you that I will host a new Tournament for the key positions in my association - Let us all build a new Kengan Association together." still.... If these many guardians were around... Were they threatening the fighters not present? "Hey, I have a question for you - What's happening to the fighters right now? The active ones AND the ones from the medical room." Kisara called out, hoping for the best. "Well... Who knows~? I will tell you only if you desert that old geezer." Hayami thought he had won. "Admit it, Katahara - Your time is done!" one of the CEOs who must have been an old friend of this jerk tried to call him out and reason to him, but he was completely out of it. "Hey, Metsudo - Do you see it now?" Erioh called out to his best friend, in a sort of shady way.   "He's gone back to his old tone of voice." the old man nodded his head dismissively. "You know you brought this upon yourself. You should've finished him off back then. The first time that Hayami Katsumasa rebelled against you." the patriarch was reproaching his best friend for his merciful decision from long ago. "You're fucked in the head. Who the hell would want to join you? Do yourself a favour and kill yourself or something." Kisara sighed, rolling her eyes. "Exactly! In your dreams! I'm going to reach the top by my own power! I don't need your help!" Yoshitake, shaking like a leaf, shrieked desperately at the evil man. "Ohhh, look who's grown a set of balls." Shion was puffind her cigarette, amused. "But that still just about sums it up." the Sumo-lover shrugged, along with his samurai friend. "Mr. Yoshitake speaks for the rest of us, here - WIth some exceptions, of course." Gaolang's employer smiled. "Oh, and let me take this chance to give you my answer - I'm not gonna be your partner." Kaneda's CEO spoke leisurely. "Likewise~." it was time for Naoya's employer to speak up. Hayami humphed in annoyance, seeing the resistance. "And what about you, Akira? Your late father was a loyal subject of mine, so I decided to extend this offer to you, the only executive of a winning corporation present, out of respect - Seeing that Miss Hasashi over there decided to rebel unwisely." once again, the red head rolled her eyes. "Loyal subject...? And who was it that ordered Mr. Urita's father to dispose of your Loyal Subject?" Akira accused the jerk. "My father was nothing but your puppet. He killed Mr. Nishihonji's father, just as he was told - But not us. We'll never be your puppets." Sukizo, too, seemed pissed off. "You fools are completely oblivious to the situation. Forget it. Get lost!" in that instant, the guardians were ready to attack - And so was Kisara. She took her katana out and got in her stance. A that point, Katahara raised his hand like a little child, asking if he was allowed to ask something. How hilarious. "There's something I just have to know - You didn't care about the tournament results all along, did you?" Hayami confirmed that thought, saying that his true goal was simply to overthrow him and destroy his Kengan association, to build his own. Still, in that motion, he confirmed that he was going to throw the Heavenly Wolves under the bus for being 'terrorists' Not only that, he said that he would blow the dome either way if the people didn't accept him being appointed as the new Chairman - What a mad man! "And, okay~! That's all the evidence I need~ 💖! I just so~ happened to have this recorder on me~♪ Now. What would your subordinates think if they heard this?" Katahara asked, only to be called a fool by his enemy. "It'll be even worse when the foreign heads of state hear of this. As soon as they know you're the terrorist mastermind, then you can kiss any hope of becoming Kengan association chairman goodbye. In fact you'll never return to public life again." "I said you're a FOOL." Hayami was getting very pissed off by the old man's antics. "Ohhh~! Listen to how clear the audio is~♪! You'll have a hard time working your way out of this one~!" Katahara hummed all amused. "SHUT UP!!!" Hayami yelled sternly, and the guardians were ready to strike. He really thought he had Katahara in checkmate, that idiot. "How do you plan to get THAT outside, exactly? In case you've forgotten, you're completely surrounded!" in that instant, someone got a message on his walkie talkie and went to communicate it in a whisper.

As if on cue, the wall was freaking broken and from a helicopter jumped 50 elite Kure members - Kisara couldn't help but laugh - Those two old men were really fantastic! "Thank you for the patience. Fifty elite members of the Kure Clan, at your service." the Patriarch was ready to fight. "The pieces are in place. Shall we have ourselves a game~?" a mischievous, triumphant grin was painted on the Chairman's face. "Hyoooohoohoho! Surprised yet, Hayami? And just to be clear - We're not the only ones resisting you! You guys join in too!" all of his elite bodyguards, and some famous fighter relatives of the employed fighters, like Inaba's gramps or Mikazuchi Rei's old man.

"HEY BABE! THANKS FOR TAKING CARE OF GRAMPS!" Raian's loud, boastful laugh resounded through the VIP room as he run to her side, killing guardians at fantastic speed. "Sure, sure! Raian - I have to go save Ohma. How about we have our little teaching lesson right now?" Kisara grinned, stepping forward next to her psycho friend. "HA! HEY, GRAMPS, IMMA MARRY THIS ONE, GOT IT?" his grin was splitting his face in two. "Keep dreaming, Raian!" the red head laughed as she charged ahead of the Kure boy and started killing away at the guardians. She let all restraints loose - She never killed before, but she threw all of her anger and frustration into destroying the people threatening her life. She had one goal, and that was to get out of there and reach Ohma. She had to save him before it was too late. "Work on your stance, babe - And careful to those fuckers - Don't wanna hurt your pretty face, do ya?" he said as he ripped a guy in two perfect sides. "...Wicked..." Kisara's green eyes looked with awe at his raw power. To think a human being can actually rip a man apart like that, it was fantastic. "LOOK OUT!" Raian rushed and threw his arms around the red head, turning around - He shielded her from a sickle throw. "Shit, I'm sorry -" the girl tried to apologise, but Raian activated his Removal. "You're dead." yep. He was beyond control now and he went on a rampage. So much for a killing lesson. At least she was now able to follow him through the corridor of dead bodies and leap out of the room. "THANKS, RAIAN! SEE YOU LATER!" she called out, not looking back and hurrying the hell out of there before anyone could catch up to her.

The girl ran out of there, and as soon as she got to the lower parts of the dome, she saw various fighters teaming up against bunches of evil guardians surrounding them. All of the fighters were bare-handed, but neither seemed to be struggling, despite their injuries. That is the true pride of a fighter, huh? Fascinating.

There was Kuroki Gensai at some point, looking completely unbothered and in perfect shape as always, and then there was Saw Paing going all out, as always - And further down, she found four fighters going against a guardian with long, dark hair, wielding some kind of weapon that seemed to have severely harmed Adam Dudley. Kaneda was in the back, whilst an injured Cosmo, finally out of his wheelchair, was in the vanguard with Gaolang and his shattered right fist just behind him.

"We wouldn't want the Thai God to injure his Heavenly fist so bad that he can't protect His Majesty, now, would we~?" Kisara teased as she lunged forward and cut the enemy's weapon in two, before cutting him down in the same manner. "Don't worry, things are going to settle down... And your employers are safe too. Toyo's CEO tried to make a coup, but Katahara has everything under control and the guardians are being killed left and right. Any idea if Ohma is still down at the medical wing?" she asked, cleaning the blood from her katana on her sleeve. "Thanks for the help, Nee-san! Anyway, I think he's still there. But don't worry, there were a lot of fighters in that room, so he's safe!" Cosmo smiled, tired from the exhaustion of getting out of his wheelchair. "Wonderful. Now then, I suggest you go somewhere safe and wait until this commotion dies down. See ya." with a rushed peace sign, the red head sprung out of there as fast as when she'd arrived. "Huh. I never imagined Miss Kisara would slice a man in two without any hesitation." Gaolang's eyes were wide with surprise, but at the same time, he could easily get it. He, too, would kill and has killed, in order to protect His Majesty - Sometimes, assailants don't know how to stop when they see themselves at a disadvantage. Ohma... That Tokita Ohma must be a really lucky man and a good fighter. Perhaps he should pay attention to his next fight.

Just a little more, just a few more bannisters to slide down on, just like when she was a child at the skate park - And there it was, the lowest floor, the one that housed the Infirmary - The whole place was swarming with guardians - But no matter. They will all die by her sword. The killing was, however, stopped once she noticed the huge frame of the ex-Nentendo fighter, Haruo, who had Mokichi, Ohma and Yamashita Kazuo in his grasp, and was followed by Miracle Doctor and Inaba.

"RYO!" the girl cried out, running up to him and following Haruo to the secluded, safe room where she let those three. "Are you three staying?" "I need to go help Master, but I'll come back later!" Haruo said, rushing out of the room. "Since these two are the most injured, I need to constantly keep an eye on them. Now that you're here, I guess I don't have to worry anymore. Inaba wanted to make sure these guys were safe." though the doctor smirked and wiped the sweat from his forehead, Ryo smiled at the girl. "Thanks, you guys, you are the best. Stay in the corner next to the those three. I'll handle the rest now." closing the door, Kisara went to kneel on the ground, the sword laid in front of her, and her hands were resting on her lap. If there was something useful she learnt with Hatsumi, was to throw the enemy off guard by not showing your intentions - Either keeping your hands in your pockets, or... Sitting on the ground, completely unbothered and seemingly defenseless. Or at least, that was the impression she wanted to let. "Will you be okay, Miss Kisara?" Ryo asked, frowning. "Let's just say that I've never been angrier in my life, and that someone broke all the shackles that restrained me ethically. I'm going to let all my frustrations out." she smiled wickedly, like an enigmatic Kitsune, as she cracked her fingers.

And then they waited. And waited. Until the door opened, and three guardians got in. They started laughing, saying that she was ready to commit seppuku, hence the katana before her, but before they knew it, all of them were left in pieces, in their combined pools of blood - And Kisara was back to her spot, as if nothing happened. This process continued each time the door was kicked open, and she would slash them to bits - That is, until Haruo opened the door, stumbling in and dripping with blood from head to toe. Everyone yelled out his name out of shock and concern, only to see some kind of sharp rapier impaling him, making him fall limp to the ground.

"I found you." the grave and somber looking guardian spoke in a low voice. Although, the next words that followed were completely in disarray compared to his previous action. "Run." he said, making the people inside the room blink in confusion. "Wh-What did you say...?" Yamashita Kazuo, fallen to the ground, managed to stammer meekly. "Run. This dome will be blown up shortly." the enemy spoke so casually as he took out a handkerchief and cleaned the blood from his blade. "I will allow you to go freely, if you'll take that man with you." he continued, motioning towards Ohma. "Why is Ohma so important to you?" Kisara spoke sternly over Yamashita, who was trying to whisper a question of concern. "This is your only chance. Julius in engaged with Squad B just up ahead and my squad is heading to him as back-up. He's furious, now that he's realised he was just a sacrificial pawn. Security should be light now. Go on and escape." everything he was saying was so completely weird. "W-W-Wait just a second...! Did you say that the dome's gonna blow up...?! Then what are we waiting for?! We have to evacuate everyone - Quickly!" the manager wailed in desperation. "Don't get the wrong idea." the man threatened solemnly, piercing Haruo's back once again, earning a shriek of distress from the old man. "Do you think that I was letting you go out of good will? Keep the Tiger's Vessel alive. Those were my orders." Tiger's Vessel? What an odd metaphor for a human, let alone Ohma. Did something happen to him when he was younger, still in the Inside, and he doesn't remember? Could this be the cause of his amnesia? "What in the world does that mean?" Kisara got up from her spot, yet didn't drop her guard for a second. "You don't need to know, and you knowing wouldn't make a bit of difference. Take Tokita Ohma and leave the dome. This is your last chance to survive." and he was dead serious about this. "Miss Kisara, maybe we should go. I have to find Uri and get him out of here." Ryo was gritting his teeth, afraid for his best friend. "This isn't the most optimal scenario I envisioned. We have to come up with a plan." though the miracle muttered, though quite fantastically, the once unconscious man got up on wobbly feet - And everyone gasped out his name - Only for him to groan, asking what happened while he was asleep. Seeing that he was awake, the guardian decided that letting other people live would only get in his way, and with someone in such a bewildered condition, it wouldn't pose as too much work to get him out of there - So he lunged towards the manager to attack, only to get his rapier blocked and kicked to the side. "Hold up, hombre. Don't you think you've gotten too full of yourself?" Kisara hissed at him, getting in a defensive stance in front of the manager and his fighter. "Hasashi Kisara - Why are you covered in blood, and who the hell is he?" Ohma's low voice made her feel instantly more relaxed and courageous. "Well - One of the CEOs had a coup d'etat and planted bombs around the dome and is now threatening to blow this up, while his bodyguards go around killing everyone that isn't present in the stadium. Was that good enough for an explanation?" the red head chuckled, sparring intensely with the rapier wielding guy. "Nah. You have too much red on you. Come over." just as she drove the guardian back, she turned her back to him and stepped next to Ohma who was eying the blood caking her clothes and face. "I don't like this look on you. Who ruined that cute outfit of yours?" he asked, raising his hand to cup her face and wipe the blood from her cheek. "I wouldn't know. They're long dead. They stood in my way while I was trying to reach you. Grave mistake." that sweet yet playful smile made the man huff in amusement and reach his other hand forwards the enemy, using a new skill altogether to catch the tip of his rapier and break it. As he flicked the tip away, he lunged his foot forward and punched the guardian easily, driving him away. This wasn't the same Ohma as before - This Ohma was on a completely other level. He was radiating calmness, he was cool-headed and collected, and most of all, he was stable both mental and physical, apart for his injuries. "This guy is too predictable, I should have let you had your fun." Ohma spoke, before turning his attention towards the opponent, looking bored. "I'll only repeat myself once. Get lost." "I see that you qualify as the Tiger's Vessel." the guardian spoke, throwing away his weapon to clatter and clank on the ground. "...Are you working for Him? Why is He showing up now?" by the looks of things, Ohma had an idea about what was going on. Something tells Kisara that this wasn't JUST a coup d'etat, nor was Hayami the real mastermind behind all this, but a greater force was behind him, using this opportunity for far more sinister schemes. Though the enemy had no more weapons, he didn't need that, for he activated something similar or quite literally Ohma's Advance technique. "I'll have to take you by force. The Tiger's orders are absolute." "I'd completely forgotten It's real name until now. Possessing Spirit. I guess you're not bullshitting me. You must be His messenger." stepping forwards, Ohma got in a stance. "Hasashi Kisara, stand back and protect Yamashita Kazuo if needed. This guy's not gonna back down easily." though she wanted to yell at him for going into a fight while so heavily injured, she merely nodded her head and got in front of the old manager, along with the assassin and the doctor. Thankfully, though, and quite incredibly, the fight lasted far shorter than expected, and the opponent was unconscious "Hey. Go back and tell him this - You won't get me with the same trick again. If you want me, you'd better come for me yourself." Ohma's cocky smirk was as enticing as always and she wanted to just grab his face and pull him in a deep kiss.

He was alright! Ohma was alright! Awake and alive and alright - More or less - But he was! What a relief, even if temporary, it was good. "Hasashi Kisara - Is there something you want to say to me?" the brunet came over to her, bending down slightly at the waist. "I..." he raised her chin with his finger to make her look at him. "I have quite a few things to tell you... But looking at you made me forget everything." her smile widened. "I'll talk to you properly tonight... Until then... I just want a single reassurance from you. Can I have that, please?" she asked, extending her pinky towards him. "Can you promise me that, no matter what I do, you won't hate me or be disappointed in me?" This question clearly surprised the man, but he was quick to get over his shocked, and he let out a small chuckle as he hooked his pinky to hers, planting a kiss on her forehead. "I promise." as soon as he spoke those words, he could see his beloved relax visibly - Only to side step him and go towards the exit. "Then, I'll be seeing you tomorrow night. Take care of Yamashita Kazuo." with a wink, she skipped out of the room, leaving everyone, especially her brunet darling, confused. "Have I missed a lot while I was asleep?" he asked out loud, though nobody knew what to answer.

As soon as she stepped out into the hallway, she noticed that there were no more white guardians anymore, but the place was filled with Katahara's fighters. So the coup was dissolved. Perfect. It was time to go to the chairman's office and look for his fighter. Getting there, she saw not only the chairman, but his best friend and a few of his personal bodyguards, yet no sight of The Fang.

"Ahh, Miss Kisara, to what do I owe the pleasure?" the old man asked, stepping towards her. "Well - Now that so many people are here, I guess I have a bit more to say. First, I think I should thank you for authorising the inheritance deal and the fighter change, even though it was kind of a weird thing." she smiled wryly, only to see the old man laughing merrily. "Not at all, not at all! You see - Sayaka is my daughter, and as a father, I would never want her to come to any harm. She and my son are my greatest treasures - And I'm sure Erioh here feels the same about his daughter. If your parents want to have you killed, but you have a plan, then by all means, I'd love to give you a chance to prove that you're going to be a far better CEO than they are. I had my doubts, but after seeing you fight earlier, I knew I had made the right decision. Still, there are no weapons allowed, I wonder what you will do, especially against a veteran like Wakatsuki Takeshi."  this answer made the girl smile and drive her hand through her hair. "Few people know that I trained with Hatsumi for four years - But that's for the best, isn't it? Nobody expects anything from me, because I'm a girl. But... Look at Karla. Nobody expects a cute girl like her to fight, and yet..." she ended with an enigmatic smile. "Haha, she's right! Erioh, what do you say? Maybe you ought to bring some female fighters for the next matches?" the old man turned towards his best friend, who had his hands in his haori sleeves. "Your opponent won't be easy to fight and four years of training will count for nothing against a veteran. Even so, I'm quite curious how the match will unfold. What style do you use?" the old fighter asked. "Aikido is my main style, but Hatsumi's style isn't the only thing that I know. I've been developing my own style, based on my fortes, so that I overcome the obvious physical weakness." this explanation earned a chuckle from the patriarch. "I see, I see, so the match will prove to be rather fun to watch. I will be rooting for you, Miss Kisara." Erioh spoje, making the girl smile. "Thanks, you two. So, this gets me to my next reason for being here. One - I can't find Raian, and I need to meet him in half an hour in the forest. And two... I need to see Agito urgently. I'd like to know where I can find him, please." the chairman chuckled, realising with ease her intent. "Agito never taught anyone before. Are you sure you're up for that?" the girl simply shrugged. "No clue. But his fight against Gaolang fascinated and inspired me. And that Formless style... Whatever it was, it looked a lot like the Aikido style I've been practicing, but on a whole other level. Even if I didn't have to prepare for a fight, I'd have liked to have Agito as my teacher, at some point... If he'll have me." her explanation earned a chuckle and a pat on her shoulder from the old man as he told her where to find his Fang, and she made a bee-line right to his room, knocking and waiting for the door to open.

Once it did, she looked up at the man towering over her and gave him a sweet smile. "Hi, Agito! How are you doing? Congrats on that amazing fight against Gaolang, you both were fantastic!" but the man remained silent. With a better look at him, she realised his hair was still disheveled and looked troubled, yet with added surprise at seeing the girl in front of him. "Uh... Are you doing alright? Is something upsetting you?" "Why are you here?" he asked bluntly. "Ah - Well... I need to ask a huge favour from you. I really need you to teach me your fighting style." his eyes widened slightly, before grunting out a definite No and stepping back to close the door, only for the girl to throw herself into the door to keep it open. "Agito, please, I need you! My parents' company fighter cowarded out and I have to fight against Wakatsuki myself! I can't do it without you!" hearing her desperate plea and the reason for her seeking his aid made his stunned - Not only was someone actually asking for HIS help, but a complete newby, a small and frail girl, of all things, was going to fight a Kengan match against a man that was only defeated twice in his over 300 matches career. She could have been placed against him, and it would have made no difference altogether. What the hell was in anyone's mind to accept this? "The chairman won't allow this. You're safe." but she shook her head. "The chairman already allowed this deal. It's all a business move, and it's beneficial on my part. If I get out alive from that match, I inherit the business. And well... I guess I finally get to test the progress I've made in the past four years of my training. Please, Agito, I really need you. I started learning how to fight so that I would be able to stop people from walking all over me. This is the last step I have to take. Once I inherit the business, not even my parents will be able to betray or humiliate me anymore. Please, accept. Just for a day. Just tomorrow." the girl's plea made him look down at her with his hard stare - And he nodded his head, albeit skeptically. "I can't guarantee you won't leave injured." the girl simply smiled widely. "It's fighting, I'm not expecting to leave unscratched. Thank you so much for accepting, it means the world to me!" they exchanged phone numbers for the next day's meeting, and once again, the girl darted off.

This time, Kisara went to her room, changing into comfortable, fighting clothes, and then ran into the forest, hoping that the old man had informed his psycho devil kin about the meeting time and place. Thankfully, Raian was already there, with his hands in her pants' pockets, almost as if he was imitating her from their earlier encounter. "Lookie, lookie who's finally decided to show up!" he sniggered teasingly. "I'm only ten minutes late. It took longer than I expected to find Kano's room and ask him to train me tomorrow." she sighed, stretching a bit. "Eh? Why d'you need that guy, when you've got me?" he asked, tilting his head like a confused puppy - It was almost adorable. "Realistically speaking, the fighting style he showed at the end of his fight with Gaolang matches my own. Whether it is Aiki, Systema or his Formless style, it's exactly what I need. Not only that, but Wakatsuki only ever lost against two people: Kano Agito, the man that I want to train me tomorrow, and Hatsumi Sen, the man that has trained me in Aikido for the past four years. He has never seen me fight before, but I have seen him. I know most of his fighting style and patterns by now, and I know that his Karate hits have a far shorter range compared to normal ones, so that will be in my advantage. I play a lot on the deceiving and surprising side - I shock with my moves so that I will gain that 1 second advantage and take you down. When Wakatsuki sees me taking his arch enemy's stance, he will pale. Not only that, but my Aikido style uses the enemy's strength and power against them, so adding his mountain-like state, you can imagine that he will be fighting against his own power added to my own. I don't need to win. I need to impress myself. This is my chance to prove to everyone, myself included, that I'm not the stupid, worthless doormat called Kisara that can't stop people from walking all over her. So... Yeah, Raian, I need all the help I can get." she explained  - But the man before her barked a laugh. "Fine, fine, whatever, I get ya, you're a fine cookie, babe. Now let's see what you've got." he got in a stance, while Kisara adopted a more leisure one, although not the same one as before, as that trick was already done and wasted. That was the huge problem with Kisara's strategy - It was based on one-tricks for the most part. She really should have had grappling lessons from Cosmo.

For the rest of the day until later into the night, the two kept on sparring and sparring, until the girl couldn't take it anymore. She was exhausted and famished. Of course, that psycho was doing fine, despite having used his Removal repeatedly, but he was nice enough to let her lean on his shoulder while they ate together. When things weren't revolving around fighting, Raian was actually a weirdly good company - If you were able to ignore the weirdo aspect of him and how he kept saying they were going to get married, though Kisara suspected he made the idea more into a gag, copying and mocking Karla's behaviour around Ohma. She wasn't entirely sure, but it didn't make much of a difference.

When she was finally full and ready for resting, the girl went to Hatsumi's room for a well-earned shower and strategy planner, considering he was one of the only two people to ever defeat Wakatsuki. Even if a lot of years passed since then, facts were facts, and neither changed their fighting style 180 since then. Now, three people were aware of the fight... With Wakatsuki being the fourth, but she will only tell him the next day, at evening, hoping to create enough disarray into his tactics, at least short-term.

-----

The night of the fourth day of the Kengan Annihilation tournament has approached, and all fighters were anxious for the last day, which held three rounds - It was going to be the most fantastic show anyone will witness in their entire life... And for Kisara, it mean the beginning of the end.

As Agito praised her progress and watched her leave from the forest grounds, the girl had only two objectives for the remaining time - First of all, she went by Wakatsuki's room and waited for him to open the door and let her in. He looked as bad as the previous day, unfortunately for him. He sat back down on the edge of the bed and looked up at the girl fidgeting from one foot to the other. "What is it, Kisara?" he asked. She had an almost guilty look on her face - He wondered why. "Remember when I said I will kill my parents?" she asked, taking a deep breath. "With Katahara as a witness, I struck a deal with my parents so that I will have my name on the business inheritance once they die. And, of course, I will force their time of death." she continued, with an almost dramatic effect pause. "Taking a life isn't easy, Kisara. Don't let anger take over you. You're not like them. They're not worth your time." despite his advice, the girl merely smiled. "I'm sure your employer told you about the coup from yesterday, didn't you? Though he wasn't present, he must have heard from the other CEOs. I was there. And when the guardians filled the VIP room, I and Raian went on a killing spree. I had to get the hell out of there and make sure Ohma was okay. That doesn't take away the fact that I took lives without any kind of hesitation. I had a single goal in my mind, and I achieved it. And so I will. Tomorrow. I will kill my parents and get my hands on the business." she spoke more sternly, much firmer, as he's never heard her before. "If you're so set on doing this, why did you come to tell me? Is it because I'm your best friend?" though he stated that possibility, he was more than aware that it wasn't the right answer. "No. I didn't want anyone to know about this, in particular. I don't want anyone dear to me to change their view of me, or think I'm some kind of evil, murderous, greedy person. The reason I'm here to tell you is... Because this issue, unfortunately, involves you indirectly. You were supposed to fight Tanji, but that cowardly jerk dropped out of the competition because I rejected him and Raian socked him in the face and wanted revenge. The deal was that they will only write my name in their will... If I become their new fighter and come out alive. They new you were their opponent in the next fight, and considering out differences... You could easily kill me in a single move. They don't know that I've been training, nor that we are friends. So... At least I know that I won't die." she explained with an awkward smile, watching his flabbergast expression, his single visible eye wide, and mouth slightly agape. "Are you trying to tell me that my next match will be against -- You?" the girl nodded sheepishly. "Are you out of your mind?" "Slightly. Despite everything... I still want you to fight with everything you've got. Don't be afraid to kill me. You know I can't be killed that easily. It's because you're my best friend that I hope you'll have enough faith in me that you'll fight the same as with any fighter. Please respect me and do your best, as you always do, okay, Takeshi?" with a small smile, she stepped in front of him and opened her arms wide - It was their signal to have a hug - And despite his head shake, he did indulge and embraced her. "You're far too reckless for you own good. Didn't you always cry about how awful it is to get injured? That you can't handle pain? And now you're willingly getting into a fight against someone like me. Do you have any idea what you're getting yourself into?" he asked, only to feel the girl shrug. "Not entirely, but for the most part, yes. Though I'm not really qualified, I promise, I'll still do my best to make you and all my friends proud. I will go rest for now. But before I go..." with a cheeky grin, Kisara opened the door. "Please don't destroy my face. I'm far too pretty for that. And getting a full dental implant would get my business in bankruptcy." she laughed, going back to her room. To Ohma. Now that was going to be a difficult conversation to have.

Not only she didn't go to see him for a whole day and a half, but he had changed radically. She was almost afraid to see how Ohma was like now - Possibly this was the real Ohma, before his memories went down the drain. "Ohma? Are you here?" the girl asked, quietly opening the door, careful not to wake him up, if he were asleep. But he wasn't. "Look who's finally here. Did you miss me?" that didn't sound like Ohma at all. As she stepped inside the room properly, she saw him laying down on the bed, shirtless as always, and with a shit-eating grin on his face. "Of course I did. You have no idea how worried I was when you were unconscious." she sighed softly. "Yeah, I know, I heard you." he smirked wider, seeing the sweet smile on her face. "And I did what Her Majesty requested. I woke up. Now get over here already." though he reached out his arm towards her, she shook her head. "Let me take a shower first." and so she did, returning back all freshened up and wearing one of his Tshirts. As she climbed on the bed, the man playfully grabbed her and placed her on his lap. "How bold." she chuckled, throwing her arms around his neck and pulling him into a deep kiss. "Now that's a proper welcome." he let out an amused huff. "Did you get your memories back?" his smile widened. "As right as always. Yeah, I did. About time, huh?" she nodded with a happy grin on her face. "I'm really happy for you." this time, she kissed him gentler. "What have you been doing these days? You seem pretty tired. And you have bruises all over you." he noticed, running his hands down her legs. "Uh... Can I tell you that tomorrow?" based on how evasive she was, Ohma merely raised his eyebrow, but agreed nonetheless. "Thanks, love. How about you tell me whatever you want that you remember, and tomorrow, I promise I'll explain everything to you." Once again, the brunet agreed, but instead of beginning a tale, he switched their positions so he would be on top of her. As always, he was always on top. Of everyone and everything. "I've got another idea." "I'm sure you do." her smile matched hers, as she pulled her closer to him, her hands playing with his beautiful, dark hair. "Welcome back, my love."

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[sanguine-salvation]

☀ , ↓, ☾

[ mun related - ACCEPTING ]

☀ ━ how long have you been roleplaying? how did you get into it?

// A long time! I actually started RPing online when I was like... 11 dafjhgakjd SO WAY TOO YOUNG TO BE PLAYING ONLINE, DO NOT DO WHAT I DID (thankfully nothing weird ever happened to me, I literally just played on like some Warrior Cats and Zelda forums). So that's about 21 years! I always liked playing pretend and writing when I was a kid, and one of my parents did IRC roleplay, so I knew what it was and just kinda wiggled into it!

↓ ━ have you had any bad experiences with roleplaying?

// OH GODS, YEA. You don't roleplay for 21 years without some stinky times. Actually, I had an experience so bad on tumblr I stopped RPing publicly for about 8 years, and stayed mostly to private with a very few select partners. I won't name the group since it's long gone, but yeah, the members were really clique-y, started excusing some creepy nsfw stuff about kid-coded characters, and it was just a bad experience all around after the honeymoon period of first joining peeled off and showed the really awful side of everything. I ducked out fast after that and didn't come back until I opened up this blog, tbh. Thankfully, this has been a LOT more fun and my love of public RP has been greatly stoked!

☾ ━ how many pets do you own? if none, what kind of animals do you like?

// I personally have two cats (Lil Cassandra Cain & Sonion the Wobblekitty) and a dog (Toyohisa, or just Toyo)! But I am adopting my boyfriend's pets as stepkids, so that is two more doggies (Bandit & Butter) and a gremlin sort-of shaped like a cat (Freyja). My favorite animals are lizards, chickens, cats, and rabbits!

[byneddiedingo]

Hohi Aoki and Setsuko Hara in Late Spring (Yasujiro Ozu, 1949) Cast: Chishu Ryu, Setsuko Hara, Yumeji Tsukioka, Haruko Sugimura, Hohi Aoki, Jun Usami, Kuniko Miyake, Masao Mishima, Yoshiko Tsubouchi, Yoko Katsuragi, Toyo Takahashi, Jun Tanizaki. Screenplay: Kogo Noda, Yasujiro Ozu, based on a novel by Kazuo Hirotsu. Cinematography: Yuharu Atsuta. Art direction: Tatsuo Hamada. Film editing: Yoshiyasu Hamamura. Music: Senji Ito. The opening of Yasujiro Ozu's Late Spring is deceptively calm: the usual establishing shots of landscape and buildings and trains, the kind of images with which Ozu typically punctuates his narratives, and a group of women gathering for a tea ceremony. One of the women is Noriko, whose brilliant smile is also deceptive. This is the first film in Ozu's so-called "Noriko trilogy," to be followed by Early Summer (1951) and Tokyo Story (1953), in each of which Setsuko Hara plays a woman named Noriko. The three Norikos have nothing in common except that they are all unmarried. (In Tokyo Story she is a widow.)  The Noriko of Late Spring lives with her father, Shukichi, who is played by Ozu regular Chishu Ryu. (In Early Summer, Ryu plays Hara's brother, and in Tokyo Story her father-in-law.) The deceptions of what might be called the "get-acquainted" section of Ozu's film, which establishes for us the relationships among the characters, lie in the apparent happiness and contentment of father and daughter and the untroubled world in which they live. But Late Spring was filmed only four years after the end of the war that devastated Japan, which was still under occupation by American forces. The wounds and pain of the country and its people are invisible in the film, partly because of occupation censorship, but they provide a kind of tension in the viewer who knows what the characters must have suffered. There is only a brief mention of this in Late Spring: Noriko has been to the doctor and reports that her health has improved. Another character's reference to "forced work during the war" sheds some light on what may have caused her illness. Later, Noriko and her father visit Kyoto, and he remarks how much nicer it is than "dusty" Tokyo, obliquely referencing wartime destruction. The central deception, however, lies in Noriko's apparent contentment with her unmarried state: She feels it is her duty to spend her life caring for her widowed father, and brushes off any suggestions that at 27 she should really be thinking about getting married -- or worse, that her father might choose to remarry. She calls the second marriage of one of her father's friends "filthy." We who have seen this situation before, however, realize that the deception Noriko is perpetrating is on herself. Perhaps because she has lived through so much change and upheaval, Noriko is trying to persuade herself that her current happiness serving her father can be made permanent. And so she suffers a shock when her father displays interest in a beautiful widow, and another when he suggests that she might meet the young man her Aunt Masa (Haruko Sugimura ) thinks would be a suitable husband for Noriko. What Ozu and his frequent collaborator Kogo Noda establish here, working from a novel called Father and Daughter by Kazuo Hirotsu, is worthy of Henry James or Jane Austen -- I think particularly of Austen's Emma Woodhouse and her self-deluding attachment to her father. Eventually, Noriko is persuaded into marriage -- in a masterstroke of direction we never even see the groom -- by her father's lie: He claims that he has been planning to remarry, thereby eliminating any objection Noriko could have to seeking her own path to fulfillment. The film ends with a melancholy image of Shukichi alone, peeling an apple -- a kind of Jamesian twist on an Austenian situation. This magisterial example of Ozu's late style -- low camera angles, absence of pans and dissolves, emphasis on the somewhat claustrophobic interiors of the Japanese home -- is reinforced by Tatsuo Hamada's art direction and Yuharu Atsuta's cinematography, but most of all by the superb performances of Hara and Ryu.

[yuzurujenn]

[2024.11.25] Weekly Toyo Keizai Nov issue: Commitment to Supporting Disaster-stricken Areas

The strong commitment to supporting disaster-stricken areas. Behind the scenes of charity events and visits to the affected regions, as shared by the people involved.

When it comes to a live performance featuring Yuzuru Hanyu, people from both urban and rural areas gather in large numbers. However, the 'Noto Peninsula Reconstruction Support Charity Ice Show Challenge' held on September 15 this year was a streaming-only, nearly audience-free event. The skaters who participated were Yuzuru Hanyu, Takahito Mura, Akiko Suzuki, and Satoko Miyahara. Tickets were priced at 4,500 yen, which is not cheap, but over 10,000 tickets were sold. The proceeds were donated to Ishikawa Prefecture.

On social media, there were notable reports of ticket purchases from overseas. Although the service 'Lemino,' available only in Japan, was used for streaming and could not be accessed from abroad, many fans wanted to support the disaster-stricken area and expressed their solidarity with Hanyu.

The donation from the proceeds of the performance is expected to amount to several tens of millions of yen. "I want to do something that will help the people who were affected by the disaster in Noto." This wish of Hanyu's was the driving force behind the event, which was organized by TV Kanazawa. Keichi Sato, the managing director at TV Kanazawa, who oversaw the operation, said, "I’ve been in the television industry for a long time, but charity events of this scale are rare. I was truly surprised by the huge response and how many people tuned in."

The planning for the event began in May, and everything was done on trial and error. "Initially, we were thinking of holding an ice show with audience," said Sato. There had been ice shows in Kanazawa before, but those required laying ice in the arena, which involved substantial costs. It would be difficult to run the show in the black, and it could stray from the charity’s original purpose. At that time, the only ice-skating rink in the prefecture, the "Kenmin Sports Plaza" operated by an affiliated organization of Ishikawa Prefecture, emerged as a possible venue.

"It’s an old facility for practice, and it wouldn’t be suitable for a grand show. There were structural issues, and bringing many people to the site would be difficult. We were worried whether they would even be able to skate here, but they kindly agreed to it," said Sato. Although the rink is typically open in October, they persuaded the prefecture's officials to start preparing the ice two weeks in advance, allowing the performance to take place on September 15.

As discussions progressed about the type of charity event to host, the idea of a "no-audience, paid streaming" format emerged. TV Kanazawa used its expertise in television production to make the event possible. "With streaming, we can create a TV show-like experience. We should include something that shows Noto as it is right now," said Sato.

During the performance, live broadcasts connected the scenes from Noto and the skating rink, showcasing a performance by the local drum team "Wajima Wadaiko Toranosuke" and a calligraphy performance by the "Noto High School Calligraphy Club." The energy of the local younger generation, along with the warm interactions between the performers, strongly conveyed the significance of the event to the viewers.

For TV Kanazawa, which has about 80 employees, this performance was a major event, and more than half of the employees were involved in one way or another. "The performance was a challenge for us, too. I think TV Kanazawa grew a lot through this experience," said Sato.

Furthermore, at the suggestion of TV Kanazawa, it has been decided that Hanyu will cooperate with a tourism promotion project by Ishikawa Prefecture.

The Mission of the Survivor

In June of this year, ahead of the performance, Hanyu visited Wajima as part of his special message for the TV program "news every." on Nippon Television. This was also something Hanyu requested. The reporting team for "news every." which has long supported disaster-stricken areas, said, "Hanyu, who experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake in Sendai, seems to feel it is his mission as a survivor to convey the realities of the disaster areas and the importance of disaster prevention."

The Meaning of "A Gold Medal for the People" Back-to-back victories to support reconstruction efforts.

When visiting disaster-stricken areas, he takes his Olympic gold medals with him. "Even people who don’t know me will smile just by seeing the two gold medals. That’s the power of the Olympics," said Hanyu. Since his junior years, he had dreamed of winning Olympic gold, which he achieved at the age of 19. Then, in September at the age of 29, during a press interview after the charity performance, he revealed that one of the goals behind his Olympic consecutive victories was to start supporting the disaster-stricken areas. His childhood dream of competing in the Olympics changed after the Great East Japan Earthquake to a desire to 'win for the sake of reconstruction.' What kind of change took place in Hanyu's heart during that time?

"What was it... I’m thinking about it for the first time, but I don’t think it was such a complicated process," said Hanyu. The roots of his commitment to helping others began in 2004, when at the age of 10, he lost his home rink due to financial difficulties. A year later, following an appeal from Shizuka Arakawa, who won a gold medal at the Turin Olympics, the local government took action, and the rink was reopened. "Thanks to Arakawa, we were able to practice again," Hanyu recalled.

Wanting to be a source of strength for others

He realized the power of a gold medal. He wanted to win gold and use it to help others. For Hanyu, the gold medal was for others. "After the earthquake, the major purpose of my gold medals was to support reconstruction. It wasn’t a change, but more of a natural progression."

From a young age, Hanyu has had an innate desire to make people happy. "When I was little, I wanted to skate well like my sister and be praised. What made me happiest was seeing people smile when they watched me skate. The gold medal was an extension of that. So, when I think about it now, my desire to make people happy has always been the same. It seems that everything was connected. I understand it now."

However, there are moments when he cannot rely on the power of the medal. "If I’m skating for reconstruction support, it depends on me as I am now. As a single skater, I will give it my all."

At the performance, he focused on bringing out the charm of the local performers from the disaster-affected area. Photographer Toru Yaguchi, who followed Hanyu from practice to the performance as the official photographer, said, "Hanyu paid particular attention to adjusting his movements to match the local young taiko drummers during practice. I really felt that he valued the feelings of the local performers."

After the Sochi Olympics, a visit to Ishinomaki, a tsunami-hit area, seems to have become his formative experience in visiting disaster-stricken areas. Hanyu, who had initially been hesitant to visit, was warmly welcomed by the town. Not only the schools he visited, but also people on the street, called out to him, saying, 'You did a great job at the Olympics,' and 'We're rooting for you, Hanyu.' He was deeply moved by the warmth of the people, and at the same time, this experience made him realize that his gold medal could be a catalyst for bringing smiles to the disaster-hit areas. Since then, Hanyu has been actively suggesting to the press team, 'I want to go to Fukushima,' and 'I want to visit the areas affected by the Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake.'

"Even amidst his busy schedule, Hanyu has always made time to support disaster-stricken areas I think that disaster recovery and disaster prevention has become another part of his life’s work," said the reporting team.

Events bearing the name "Yuzuru Hanyu" have also become a source of support for disaster-stricken areas. The 'Yuzuru Hanyu Exhibition,' sponsored by the Yomiuri Shimbun, has been held three times so far and has donated approximately 156.52 million yen from merchandise profits. Part of the donations have been set aside as a "Large-Scale Disaster Support Fund," which is used to provide financial support to affected local governments and other organizations in need. The current balance of the fund is said to be approximately 65.93 million yen.

Source: Weekly Toyo Keizai 2024/11/30 issue, pg 72-73 Info: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0DM558RM9 

[trash-monkey]

The Endless Sea

Chapter 9

"I found a few things for everyone!" I smiled as I stroll back into the apartment with the large stitch themed baby bag over my shoulder to see Takemitchy has got Toyo and Mao eating slowly when the stew cooled off enough to eat without burning a tongue, I set the baby bag down near the wall when noticing that I haven't given them anything to drink. I walked into the kitchen to fill some cups we have while making a mental note to boil for water to drink as Mitsuya boiled two gallons yesterday and with three new more mouths to feed we need even more then that.

"Here, I'll be right back Takemitchy." I hand the two their cups of water and giving Takemitchy the baby bag before pulling a bucket of water from below which I put it on the stove to boil for the kids to wash in. I leave for to the ground level to see Draken as left back to the daycare to scavenge and see Hanma is about to do the same.

"Hanma!" I called out before he can jump back into the water which he turns to me with his usual mischievous grin.

"And what can I help you with, sweetheart~" I rolled my eyes playfully at his nickname for me and walked over to him.

"I need one of you to boil water as mine and Takemitchy's hands are full with helping the kids, I was hoping you can spear one of you to do the job as with three more mouth we need massive amount of water." I explained the situation which he nods understanding.

"Ok, I'll talk it over with the other two." Hanma with a slight frown but it's quickly replaced with a grin as his yellow eyes stares down at me.

"But can I keep a kiss for the trouble?"

"WHAT!" I almost yelled as my face becomes red while his face got closer to mine which I backed up until my back hits the wall and he traps me against it.

"You heard what I asked for"

"B-But why? A-anyway I need to get back!" I stuttered out while trying to hide the wobble in my knees with how close he is to me and change the subject.

"Please?" A shiver gose down my spine when he whispered into my ear without his mischievous tone as he bends his knees so his own body is level with mine and press it against me, his massive hands are next to me head on the wall. Like a deer caught in headlights I stare into his eyes with a blush face as this behavior is unusual for him.

"Pretty please?" He kneels down onto the floor and I still don't see any signs of bad intentions in his features.

"O-ok" I said breathlessly in disbelief at the sight in front of me and half believing I'm dreaming right now, my heart is beating fast just at the thought of his lips meeting mine which his yellow eyes glanced down at my trembling lips. For the first time ever I see Hanma generally give me a soft smile which I closed my eyes when his head moved closer and I gasped when our lips meet causing my toes curled up at the wonderful feeling.

"Wow" I mumbled under my breath after Hanna lips are suddenly gone and heard a splash which when I opened my eyes to see him gone, slowly I touched my lips in disbelief and tenderly licked my lips.

"I'm back!" I called out as I arrived back to the apartment which Takemitchy smiles when seeing me coming in as I see he has little Nao laying on his arm, feeding from a bottle of formula that he had whipped up as Toyo and Mao sit by.

"They just finished eating." With that I take the dishes into the kitchen and see the water is boiling so I very carefully take it off the stove while using a dry dish towel as a mitten and pack it into the bathroom to cool off a bit before allowing the kids to wash in it, when I return in the living room I take a brush from the baby bag before sitting behind Mao.

"Let's brush your hair" I said before removing the hair ties and let her hair fall from the messy pigtails she had it in, being as careful and gentle as I can when brushing her hair.

"You're next" I smiled when noticing Toyo watching me which he pouts.

"Yes, you're going to get your nest of a hair brushed too little man" I joked as Takemitchy moves to burp litte Nao when the bottle is completely finished.

"Mao, can you wash yourself or do you wish for help?" I asked as I finished brushing her hair which is so greasy that it made it easy to brush.

"I can wash and dress myself, thank you for asking." She turned her head to me as I can see her face a bit.

"Ok, I'll lead you to the bathroom then." I let her stand as I do the same before pulling out the two dresses and underwear from the baby bag, I hand them to Mao which she's takes and I lead her to the bathroom. I guide her to sit on the stoll that I moved with us into the shower before checking on the water I brought in here earlier which is luckily had cooled down to being warm, I place as washcloth and a bar of soap by her feet before moving the bucket of water closer to her.

"Everything is set, just throw your dirty clothes onto the floor of the bathroom and I'll get them to wash later. When you're done just yell for one of us or you can try your luck." I gently giver her shoulder a pat before leaving the bathroom completely and return to the living room where I see Toyo has taken off of the brush I had left in the small table.

"Oh, I see you're ready to get your hair brushed." I teased a little and when I got closer he booked it to the other side of the table causing Takemitchy to laugh at our little scene, I sighed in amusement with a grin at Toyo playful nature.

"Oh, come on it won't be so bad Toyo. Mao got her brush and I bet she'll feel so much better after her bath." I crossed my arms when he ran away to the other side of our small table again when I got close.

"Is this a game you always play before bath time?" I asked with a giggle when Toyo got close across the small table I took the opportunity to grab him and hold him in my arms, Toyo pouts that he got caught.

"How about Takemitchy brush your hair?" I place Toyo on Takemitchy's lap before taking a dozing off Nao and sit down by them, he got Toyo settle and begin to brush the nest of hair.

"Aren't you a little cutie" I coo at the little boy in my arms as I can't hold myself back from doing so at the cute little boy, my Omega purrs within me which I unknowingly do as my full attention on the pup in my arms. Leaning my head down near his I started rubbing my nose against one of his little cheeks

"(Y/N), you know better!" Takemitchy reach over to hit me hard enough on the head with the hair brush to knock me out of the trace I was in as I was leaning my head down near Nao's and started rubbing my nose against one of his little cheeks, I was about to scent him as my own pup.

"But Takemitchy!" I whined and pout while leaving the 'no parents now' unsaid.

"I know but they need to be settled and comfortable first, also your heat although suppressed by the suppressants is still clouding your judgment." I deflate as I know he's right as it'll just be a horrible thing to do trying to replace their parents like that and right after being rescued, who knows how long they survived on their own in that daycare.

"I know and I'm sorry." I apologize to everyone even though some didn't know or understand what for but I still did it because I had to for almost claiming Nao as my own without thought or Mao's consent for that matter, that would just betray what little trust they have in us if they didn't want that.

"H-hello?" Mao calls from the bathroom which I immediately stand and walked to the bathroom to see her standing in the clean light blue dress with wet hair, I hold Nao in one arm and pick up her dirty clothes with the other which I put into the clothes basket before leading her back to the living room. After getting Mao back into the living room I went back to check to see if the water is still warm and if there's a need for more but luckily I don't have to reheat it or boil more so I return to the living room.

"Toyo, who do you want help you take a bath?" I asked the little boy sitting on Takemitchy's lap which he thinks for a moment with a goofy little face.

"Uhm.... Sissy!" He points to Mao across the small table with a smile.

"Toyo come here" Mao pats her lap which Toyo immediately stand up and tan over to her to sit.

"I know we're in a unknown place with unknown people but they're kind enough to save us from the daycare and we both know it wasn't going to last much later as it was falling apart by the day, they have taken us in while feeding and cleaning us which they didn't have to do so but this shows that they kind and a little bit trustworthy. Because your my smart little brother you also know I can't do much until I get a mental map of this place, so be good for these nice people for Sissy ok?" Toyo listen carefully to his older sister knowing she knows what's best for them as she's done her best so far and with reluctance Toyo nods with a small pout.

"Ok Sissy but you be there watching?"

"Yes I will, so which one you like to help you?" Mao gently asked Toyo.

"You pick Sissy!" This causes Mao to chuckle a bit.

"Let's choose Mr.(Y/N) as Mr. Takemitchy is tied up with Nao as the moment."

"Mao sweetheart you can call me Takemitchy if you like, I'm Takemichi Hanagaki and he's (Y/n) (L/n)." Takemitchy gestures to me at the end of introducing to the them.

"Call me (Y/N) and please no Mr, we're not that old yet." I joked causing Toyo to giggle and Mao to chuckle.

"Come on bath time, Toyo and Mao." I chuckled at myself for the lame joke.

"We better hit it before the water gets too cold." I stated as I lead the two into the bathroom before the water gets cold which I guide Mao to sit on the stoll that I remove from the shower beside the bathroom tub and I laid a towel over her lap so her clan dress doesn't get wet from Toyo splashing around in the tub, I pour the warm water into the tub after putting the stopper into the hole.

"I'm sorry buddy but I don't have any toys for you to play with during bath time." I stated as I help Toyo step into the warm water which he ohh at as he settles down into it, after washing his hair and his body I let him take care of his no-no-spot himself.

"I'll be right back." I tell Mao before leaving the bathroom to the kitchen which Hanma hands me a fresh boiled bucket of water and he got more from below for Nao when it's his time for a bath in the sink, I returned to the bathroom with clothes which I quickly dried Toyo and got him dressed.

'He looks so cute in the overalls shorts and stripe green shirt although a size too big but I did adjust the overalls a bit so they won't fall off.'

I thought while returning the two to the living room before taking the bucket of the stove and into the bathroom sink.

"Takemitchy, Nao's bathroom is ready." He takes Nao into the bathroom with the clothes I hand him before going knowing it's for the best for him to handle the baby more then I unless I basically stolen Nao as mine own in my heat affected mind, although the other two are still children their already scented from their mother so it doesn't affected me as much as Nao with him young and unscented.

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