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mezzy303 · 1 year ago

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So I've been rereading skip beat from the beginning for the first time in uhhhhh almost 10 years and I'm going inSaNE over characterizations and development that I have to write it down

At this point I'm only at the Heel siblings arc so I haven't gotten to the Guam or Saena arcs which are very big for Kyoko and Ren's character development and healing which I haven't reread since those chapters came out

Can we just take a moment to appreciate Nakamura for basing Kyoko and Ren's childhood struggles and trauma on very real things that aren't often, if at all, dealt with in anime/manga and also writing them with utmost care (Not only do the traumas inform their personalities, but their healing arcs aren't just a one and done thing!! It's a very slow process) Like starting with Kyoko, her single mother neglected her so much that she was raised by a family friend. On top of that, nothing Kyoko did was ever good enough for her mother, and both of these things are so apparent in Kyoko's character. She attaches herself to fairytales and magic as an escapism and because she relates to stories like Cinderella. She literally cannot function if she messes up and no one criticizes her. She can't properly acknowledge her own talents and beauty without it being attached somehow to fairytales; she never quite believes shes good enough. Similarly, she didn't want to bother anyone with her troubles, so she always dealt with them alone/in private spaces. Pretty sure she also has lowkey abandonment issues. And this is all parental trauma!! Things she already has before the series starts and she gets so utterly heartbroken she swears off romantic love entirely so she can never get hurt the same way again.

(I don't think I'll ever get over how Kyoko told all this to Kuu and he was literally like I'm adopting you. Your mine now. Sorry I don't make the rules ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ And Kuu going home to his wife like hey we got a new kid 😂 Like Kyoko freezing up when she made mistakes and then Kuu showing her love instead of reprimanding her makes me go 🥹😩💖✨😭💝 Kyoko getting all fluffy from head pats🥹🥹 But on the downside she literally can't bring herself to call him dad unless she's in acting mode sjdfhsf)

When I really consider it, I wonder if Kyoko really loved Sho as a person or like.... the idea of him. Like he was just a convenient guy via proximity bc Kyoko needed someone to be her "prince". We haven't been shown exactly why she fell in love, but it would explain why she stuck with dedicating herself to him despite his terrible personality and knowing he never saw her the same way. It's portrayed like the concept of hatsukoi in anime where its ✨pure✨and innocent✨It seems very idealistic. Whereas Kyoko's love for Ren is more mature. She sees every aspect of Ren and doesn't sugarcoat it, she sees him as he is (she does him up on a pedestal but partially bc she admires him but also as an extreme measure to protect her heart and hide her feelings imo)

And REN. trauma to the max. He had to deal with the hardships of making a name for himself when his parents are already famous, extreme racism from being biracial, his friend/mentor dying from an accident he unintentionally caused???? Like boy hates himself so much he's literally disassociating 24/7 he needs a fucking therapist. I get how being Ren has helped him in some capacity but he needs a professional asap. Though deep diving into this is so interesting because Ren/Kuon compartmentalized his issues and the parts that he hates about himself so much he created its own persona ("Dark Kuon"), to the point he's rarely ever just himself. And he buried it so deep that as soon as he cracked the lid open, those emotions just spilled out. He can't even allow himself to be happy, and when he does feel truly happy, his automatic response is acting nonchalant,,,,,,,,,,,, he didn't even realize he was doing it at first 😢

Also the symbolism with Ren's watch makes me go a little feral. I don't remember if it's originally his or Rick's but it obviously stopped when the latter died and Ren keeps it as a reminder of what happened and why he went to Japan. It's a weird item since it grounds him but also represents his heavy trauma, and I think having those two things in one kinda showcases Ren's unhealthy coping mechanisms (like grounding himself to something traumatic isn't... great...). But that scene where he realizes he took it off and he has a moment of whether it to keep it on as Cain Heel or not??? *clenches fist* it was so good. (To recap it, he had his watch so he wouldn't lose himself in the role of BJ and then forgot it in the bathroom after an unexpected trauma response) Ren narrates his thoughts as choosing between Rick or Kyoko but interpreting this, he's choosing whether to keep himself stuck in his past trauma or move forward and let himself be happy AKA stick with unhealthy coping mechanisms vs try something healthy and rely on people he trusts. Kyoko essentially becomes someone Ren grounds himself to 🥺 He still needs therapy though lmao. He's so mentally unstable in this arc,,,

As I'm writing this I'm seeing a parallel between Kyoko and Ren and how they both had an experience that completely and utterly broke them, and it was this that pushed them onto their current paths in showbiz. And they likely would never have met each other again if those things never happened (they had to lose themselves to find each other?? 😭). It's so funny to me that Ren is all like ThEiR fAtEs ArE iNtErTwInEd with Kyoko and Sho when you have to consider the fact that him and Kyoko meeting again was like. a chance in a billion. It was fate 😂

KyoRen is such a poetic ship to me. The fact that they're different people when they meet and don't recognize the other. How Ren starts falling in love AS SOON AS HE REALIZES KYOKO IS THE SAME GIRL HE MET (Ren being gray/demiromantic.... more at 5). Kyoko lowkey starting to crush on Ren when she witnesses a bit of his real personality. These two things happening around the same time??????? And Ren being SO afraid of being Kuon, his true self, because of his bad qualities, but Kyoko pulling out the good qualities without him fully realizing it?? (I'm 100% referring to Kuon being a mischievous little shit and I live for how he teases Kyoko) tbh they treat each other differently from other people without even realizing it lol. And Kyoko being surrounded by toxic and possessive men pursuing her, and Ren being anything BUT. Like my man is a gigantic green flag. He recognizes that he can't seriously pursue Kyoko bc she's a minor and he really tries his best to only be a friend and mentor in her life and keeping her trust and never crossing her boundaries despite the stereotypes of men being "unable to control themselves." Y'all take point this should be the standard at minimum☝️

I have to talk about Sho bc this boy is so fucking toxic but he makes such a fascinating character. As much as I hate how Kyoko got heartbroken in the way she did, I think it was necessary so that she could leave Sho's sorry ass and cut him out of her life. Seriously,,,, he took advantage of her and used her as a servant. she literally dropped out of school, moved to a different city, and took on two jobs for the sole purpose of helping his career and then he threw her away like a used rag (JUST THROW THE WHOLE MAN AWAY). And then he has the audacity to fall in love with her smh. Anyway the fascinating part about him to analyze is how he's so possessive of Kyoko. Like she was a mere fly in his life, but she was always his. Until she wasn't. And I think those twisted thoughts kinda morphed into feelings for Kyoko. Ig in a way he still cares about her, but it could never hide how toxic he is. Anyone who's like I don't care how this person thinks of me as long as I take up the biggest space in their heart is egotistical and narcissistic. BUT he and Kyoko bickering like siblings will always be funny. Like epitome of two people who've lived with each other for way too long so they know how the other ticks and also get on each other's nerves 😂😂Sho does makes a good foil for Ren though. Like he's basically everything Ren is not: immature, temperamental, possessive, vain, the list goes on. His only redeeming qualities as a character is providing good drama and humor and being an example of what Ren isn't.

Skip Beat is really a story about healing and learning to love yourself and letting others love you and Nakamura is such a good story teller 🥺

#word vomit #aka these children need professional help #*late night word vomit i'm slightly delirious #my reviews #i'm sorry i really wanted to talk about both kyoko AND ren but it ended up being mostly ren i think whoops #reading the official translations helped my understanding of everything i think #not to diss the fan translations but sometimes they're..... hard to read #skip beat #kyoko mogami #ren tsuruga #kyoren

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doki-doki-imagines · 2 years ago

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Reblog to see who your followers ship you with blue lock edition

Isagi Yoichi: Fluorescent green Bachira Meguru: Yellow Kunigami Rensuke: Orange Chigiri Hyoma: Vivid pink Mikage Reo: Purple Shidou Ryusei: Shocking pink Barou Shohei: Red Itoshi Rin: Turquoise blue Itoshi Sae: Azuki/red bean color Nagi Seishiro: Black Karasu Tabito: Dark blue Otoya Eita: Bright green Yukimiya Kenyu: Red orange Aiku Oliver: Lilac Ego Jinpachi: White Niko Ikki: Sky gray Gin Gagamaru: Brown. Hiori Yo: Cerulean Kira Ryosuke: Cream Michael Kaiser: Sky blue Don Lorenzo: Gold Teieri Anri: Ivory white Jingo Raichi: Mustard Okuhito Iemon: Maroon Wataru Kuon: Mauve Yudai Imamura: Peach Noel Noa: Beige Lavinho: Honey orange Chris Prince: Canary yellow Julian Loki: Iris purple

#bllk imagines #bllk x reader #blue lock imagines #blue lock x reader #bllk matchup #blue lock matchup #not a og idea #but I've done it for so many fandoms and I thought why not?#I'm sure someone is gonna enjoy it

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thefinalcinderella · 10 months ago

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Tsurune Book 3 Chapter 6 - Genuine (Part 1)

Finally...finally the last chapter...

Glossary here

Full list of translations here

Translation Notes

The kumotatewaku is a traditional Japanese pattern that resembles rising clouds. It is often used in the costumes of ancient nobles

The expression used here is 白羽の矢を立てる (literally: sticking a white feathered arrow), which is an idiom that means "selecting someone out of many people"

A chindonya is a kind of old-timey marching band that dressed in elaborate costumes to advertise for shops

Block style or kaisho style calligraphy is the regular script and the most commonly used. Every stroke is carefully executed

Previous | Next

In early June, the prefectural preliminaries for the National High School Kyudo Tournament, also known as the prefectural tournament, were held.

Kyudo supply stores and photo studios were set up around the venue, and the storefronts were lined with commemorative goods for the tournament. The wind was strong on this day, and the young archers were moving against it. The competition event was close-distance shooting, using thirty-six-centimeter kasumi targets with a shooting distance of twenty-eight meters.

For the boys’ individual competition on the first day, Fujiwara Shuu of Kirisaki High School once again won by landing all his arrows. Second place was Kabashima, also from Kirisaki, and third place went to Asahina from Haneina High School, showing the strength of the powerhouse schools. For the girls’ competition, Seo from Kazemai High School placed fifth.

On the second day, it was finally time for the team competition. The format was five-person teams and four shots in zasha. In the preliminaries, the time limit was eight minutes. Forty-two schools were participating in the boys’ competition, and the top eight teams with the highest number of hits in the two rounds would advance to the final tournament.

Tommy-sensei raised his voice. “Now it’s time for the team competition. Kazemai will show its true strength. Everyone, I wish you good luck!”

“Yes!”

After completing the registration process, Kaito, Kanbayashi, Seiya, Himuro, and Minato put their numbers on their right hips. Ryouhei and Nanao were reserve members.

Himuro was expressionless like he always was, but Kanbayashi gently stroked his number.

“Oh no, I might be really happy after all…”

Keyaki nudged Kanbayshi. “Don’t grin like that and get it together. I don’t wanna hear you whine.”

“Of course.”

Next to them, Ryouhei was tying his yellow-green headband.

“Today, my sister, Sae-chan, and Toujou-san are coming to support us. I’m psyched!”

“That’s great, Ryouhei,” Minato and Seiya said.

The Nanao Fan Club had updated its cheering goods and prepared fans with a frog wearing a crown. They also handed them out to support groups and parents, and when the bright green of them swayed, it looked like a chorus of frogs.

As they were about to pass through the noisy venue, people approached Minato and the others. A young prince, twins, a boy with a square face and thick eyebrows, a boy with pleasant features and a crew cut, and an antique doll.

They were Kirisaki’s Fujiwara Shuu, Sugawara Senichi and Manji, Kabashima Umetarou, Yushima Kaoru, and Kuon Takumi. The twins burst into laughter in front of so many of their rivals.

Shuu brought his face close to Minato’s right ear. Since their master Saionji’s left ear was bad, Shuu only showed this habit to Saionji and Shuu.

“Thanks for the birthday present the other day. I’ll treasure it.”

Shuu put his thumb on his yugake. A white underglove with a purple pattern could be seen beneath it.

“I’m glad I was able to give it to you on May 11th this year. I thought it would be perfect for you.”

“The kumotatewaku pattern is rare for undergloves. (1) ——See you in the finals.”

“Yeah, the finals.”

The two of them bumped yugake and returned to their teammates.

Shuu’s gaze drifted to Kuon. Kuon was in the starting lineup for the day, but he was standing separate from everyone else. Everyone could tell that he was isolated, and was not a proudly solitary existence like Shuu. A dissonant sound was wafting from Kirisaki High School.

Kuon, who didn’t care about other people’s concerns, had moved onward. In fact, he was frustrated because he didn’t do well in yesterday’s individual competition.

Manji rested his elbow on Senichi’s shoulder.

“Will we okay with Kuon? I’m more suited to be the starter.”

“It’s frustrating, but his hitting rate is usually high. The coach said there was no problem either.”

“Alright, everyone, let’s go!”

At President Kabashima’s order, Shuu and the others headed to the venue.

Meanwhile, Tommy-sensei and Masa-san were in the shade of a tree, away from the crowd.

Masa-san straightened his collar.

“Why did you remove Ryouhei and Nanao from the starting lineup? There was nothing to criticize about their results.”

“If we make it to the finals, each person would have to shoot twenty shots in total. Even if it’s difficult to shoot twenty shots and hit, how about twelve shots? The aim is to preserve stamina.”

“There’s one more thing I’d like to confirm before we get into the tournament. On the day of the entrance ceremony, I heard you say to Minato and the others, ‘I have given you white-feathered arrows.’ (2) I’m sure that you knew that saying originated from the custom of playing an arrow with white feathers in front of the house of a girl chosen as a sacrifice. Why did you purposely use it?”

“It’s to prepare them. Once a ship leaves the port, you can’t turn back even if you shout to get off.”

“Are you telling them to prepare to share the same fate? Even though those who are wounded might fail again?”

“Hohoho, I didn’t mean it in such a sad way. Youth is the greatest weapon, since they can just start over again and again. I just felt that they could make it to the new continent. The first fleet, the Kazemai High School’s boy’s kyudo team, started with six members. Takigawa-san, you’re the first-born son. When I was able to convince you, I was convinced that we had completed our mission.”

“That’s a bold opinion, typical of Tommy-sensei.”

“It’s true of all sports, but one cannot win by the strength of the athlete alone. Especially in kyudo, the character of the master comes out strongly. Everyone resembles your shooting, Takigawa-san.”

“…My shooting was said to be very similar to my grandfather’s.”

“It’s the spirit of archer that is passed on.”

“…Yes.”

Masa-san looked at the treetops swaying in the wind and laughed.

Following the opening ceremony, the yawatashi ceremony was held.

The boys’ division was called for the preliminaries, and they headed to the waiting area with Masa-san leading them. As always, the most stressful time was sitting in the chairs and waiting. When the team before them finished, the “stand up” signal was given, and they rose from their chairs and advanced to the honza. They bowed at the signal to “begin,” walked to their shooting positions and knelt down. They chose two arrows from the four they had.

First up was the oomae, Kaito. It was lovely how he never trembled when facing the target. The lovelier he became, the more stubborn he got, and he would end up saying things that were different from his true feelings. He would say, “I have no interest in you,” but would grab the other person’s arm and not let them go in the same breath. He lived and breathed kyudo. That was Kaito’s everyday. After his right hand flicked, shouts of “good” came from the stands.

The second, Kanbayashi, raised his bow. The midsummer sun encouraged growth. He absorbed more and more of what was told to him and expanded towards the blue sky. He had seniors who he admired and pursued the shooting he admired. His longing had a zeal that surpassed his anxiety. His arrow pierced the target with a grand hanare.

The third, Seiya, was quiet. Wearing a straw hat and an insect cage, he entered the forest, but stopped when he saw a field of flowers. The neat and trim flowers swayed. When he lay down and looked up at the rising clouds, he felt like he was about to float away. He heard a familiar voice and stopped returning to the sky—he hit.

It was the fourth, Himuro’s, turn. He took the bowstring with a bodhisattva’s hand and looked at the target with a bodhisattva’s eyes. His ability to make an uncurving douzukuri was probably something he was born with. It was his natural posture with no effort put into it. The frogs in the stands jumped when he hit.

The fifth was the ochi, Minato. The white-feathered arrow was proof that he had been allowed to come into contact with the gods. He didn’t resist, go against it, and accepted it as it was. His limbs, stretching vertically and horizontally, were incredibly supple. His body of sixteen, which couldn’t be wished once more after it had passed, embraced the earth, wide and endless.

The matooto sounded.

Hanazawa, Shiragiku, and Seo, sitting in the stands, held their breath.

“The boys are amazing.”

“I feel like they have become more and more refined.”

“I heard that Narumiya and Takehaya have also been going to Saionji-sensei. Their drive is different.”

For the second shot, everyone except for Kanbayashi hit.

For the third shot, Kaito, Seiya, and Minato hit.

Keyaki’s chest swelled at the success of his fellow first-years. “Kazemai, do your best!” Shuu’s younger sister Sae and their butler Toujou cheered in a small voice.

For the fourth shot, Kaito hit with all four of his arrows and left the shooting range to applause. After him, Kanbayashi, Seiya, Himuro, and Minato all hit the target. Their result was four, two, four, three, and four for seventeen hits out of twenty. It was a very good start.

Kirisaki was the sixth team to enter the shooting range. A wall of people filled the surrounding area to catch a glimpse of the champions’ shooting.

The oomae, Kabashima, released his arrow.

Senichi, Kuon, and Yushima all hit. The ochi was Shuu.

Wash your heart and turn it into incense; revere your body and turn it into flowers. Those were Kukai’s words, meaning that it was the duty of a virtuous person to serve others without any thought. Those who had a pure heart were fragrant. Shuu knew firsthand that this wasn’t a metaphor. The feeling of euphoria he felt when he brought his face close to the owner of that scent. He heard whispers of wanting to be intoxicated, of not minding sinking to the bottom of the lake if he could have it all to himself, but those were the words of a demon. He must not fall for the sweet words of someone who looked like him.

Shuu’s evil-expelling arrow dashed forward.

The results for the two rounds were announced.

For the boys’ division, Kazemai had thirty-four hits out of forty, Kirisaki had thirty-six, and Haneina had thirty-five.

The Kazemai girls had only twenty-eight hits, so unfortunately they didn’t pass the preliminaries.

Minato and his teammates got the ticket to go to the finals.

After lunch, the finals began. In the afternoon, the wind became stronger and their hakamas fluttered violently.

“It’s time to change the lineup. Yamanouchi-kun will be second, and Kisaragi-kun will be fourth. I’m counting on you,” Tommy-sensei said.

Ryouhei and Nanao received their numbers.

Minato adjusted the position of Ryouhei’s number.

“It looks like the five of us will be standing on that stage again. A year ago, you invited me to the information session for the kyudo club. That was the first time we five met face to face.”

“I wasn’t the only one who invited you. Everyone wanted to do kyudo with Minato.”

“Now, I can draw a bow. I’ve never been happier.”

Kaito brusquely held out his right hand, and the five boys looked at each other. Passionate feelings could be conveyed without words or skin contact.

Ryouhei, Nanao, Kaito, Seiya, and Minato bumped their yugakes together.

Kazemai’s opponent was Uyoshiro High School.

They were wearing bright red headbands. They lived in an area associated with military commanders who were famous during the Sengoku period, and when they went to a competition, they wore a certain armament. It was glasses. It might seem comical from the outside, but they did it very seriously.

The group stood in the first shajo. The oomae readied his bow and fixed his eyes on the target.

The bow maker, the yugake maker, and the arrow maker were the three gods of kyudo. The archer was the one who became intimate with these materialized gods. If there was a slight doubt or confusion, the string would make a muddy sound with those negative emotions. The twill brocade woven by the trinity of gods resembled battle attire. The flowers, birds, wind, and moon on the robe were the prayers of the samurai, and the butterflies (moths) represented the parents of the silkworm, production.

The flowers scattered. The flower battle was a warrior’s honor.

The oomae’s matooto resounded.

Kazemai’s oomae, Kaito, was undaunted. The wind beat mercilessly at his face, and his douzukuri felt like it was about to collapse under the wind, but he withstood it. Patience was his natural disposition. He might seem short-tempered, but he had the conviction to never give up. To not run away from the way of the bow. He was determined to cling to it for the rest of his life.

The nimato, Ryouhei, was listening to the news of the wind. Seeing the faces of his parents and sister in the stands, he felt strongly that he wasn’t alone in this fight. It seemed that people became stupid when they were angry and when they were happy. Their brain stopped working properly. The state in which one’s mind was clear and free from all distractions was called munen musou, and he learned from the path of the blade that you couldn’t fulfill your duties if you weren’t passionate.

The naka, Seiya, had found the answer to Minato’s question some time ago.

Why did humans shed their fur? It was to continue walking.

The ancestors of humans who left the forest for the grasslands learned to walk or run long distances in search of food. Body hair had a heat insulating effect and protected the skin from UV rays, but in order to prevent the body temperature from rising too high, they chose to abandon their fur and sweat instead. Humans had great endurance. The way one breathed was important in walking the long way of the bow.

The ochimae, Nanao, was thinking. Thinking was a linguistic activity.

There were two types of word formation. One was to give a name to something that had been hidden and make its existence manifest, and the other involved the intention of first creating a word and having the concept follow. When you learned a language, you not only acquired wisdom, culture, and thinking, but also the spell of words.

Letters and patterns were magical techniques that had their own power. If you looked down on them as just a means of communication, everything would be embodied and pour down upon them. There were no magic words; words were magic. A story was a kind of magic and truth. If you write it as tsurune, it would be called tsurune. A tsurune was the beautiful sound of a bowstring.

Nanao’s sharp hanare brought forth the next wind.

The ochi, Minato, held his bow.

Just how heavy was this shot?

Just how light was this shot?

“I” was the one who gave it meaning. The god of the bow didn’t smile at those who couldn’t love themselves or others. Because humans were incarnations of the gods.

Minato forgot that he was a human and turned into the matooto.

Uyoshiro had three, three, four, two, and four for a total of sixteen hits.

Kazemai had three, four, three, four, four for a total of eighteen hits.

Minato and his team made it through the first round without incident.

The second round began.

The stands were filled with people wearing blue and yellow-green headbands. The two waves struggled, almost swallowing each other up, almost to the point of spilling over onto the yamichi.

Kazemai’s opponent was Konoe High School.

Their blue arrow feathers and headbands were their trademarks.

Only those with kyudo experience would understand the exhilarating feeling of seeing the actions of five people overlap. There were rules even for movements such as taking a step forward, sitting, and nocking an arrow into a bow, and because there were rules, it was possible to match each other. Ikiai was the embodiment of the red droplets that circulated around the body.

They shot arrows every day. The faces were almost the same. The repeated daily routines were a series of miracles. They take up the bow, hoping to grow even just a millimeter better than they were yesterday. For most people, landing a hundred hits with a hundred arrows was just a dream, and it was precisely because they couldn’t do what they wanted to do that they got absorbed in it. The sound of the arrow hitting the target was pleasant, and they wished it would happen again, but the god of hitting was a contrarian. The moment you wished it, the chance escaped. Approaching something without wanting to approach it was nothing but a dilemma for humans, who had developed enlarged brains.

Don’t think, just feel, as a martial artist once said. How long would it take to reach that state? Even if it was achieved, would it be possible to maintain it? If you kept thinking like this, it seemed that you still had a long way to go.

Kazemai’s archers faced themselves in the form of the targets.

The aggressive Kaito, the lively Ryouhei, the intelligent Seiya, the sparkling Nanao, and the pure Minato.

They highlighted and polished their inherent colors.

Their inexperience became a weapon. Even though they were told that there was darkness an inch ahead, they wouldn’t be able to understand unless they looked into it, and they wouldn’t notice it unless they fell into it. Pain was something you only knew when you suffered it, and hate was something you feared only when you possessed it. The cry of the inner soul could only be learned through experience, and words were powerless there. No matter how many words you wrote, they would never be understood by those who never experienced it. Only an archer knew the heart of an archer.

A world of just two people, the bow and the human.

The bow caught the innocent body falling.

The ecstasy a bow gave you was different from that of humans. Skin with goosebumps and surging droplets. It was a ritual to bind the soul that was about to drift away to the body. There was no sound without a container. You couldn’t make a sound with an empty shell.

Minato and the others raised their bows, spread them wide, and released their arrows. Ashibumi, douzukuri, yugamae, uchiokoshi, hikiwake, kai, hanare. They followed these eight stages and headed towards the heights.

The results of the second round were as follows.

Konoe had three, four, four, three, four, for a total of eighteen hits.

Kazemai had four, three, four, four, four, for a total of nineteen hits.

Kazemai won by a difference of one hit.

Since there was some time until the finals, Minato went out to the front.

He wasn’t feeling bad. If anything, he was focusing on calming himself so he didn’t go too fast. A dull mind and a weak body. At first glance, it might seem like a state far removed from martial arts, but eliminating the “self” was the secret to being able to freely manipulate the body. As long as “I” resided in the body, the god of the bow would not descend upon you.

To become empty.

Even if it could be understood as a concept, it was extremely difficult to embody it.

An elderly man called out to Minato.

“It’s almost time for the finals. Just like last year, the match between Kirisaki and Kazemai is a must-see.”

“Thank you very much. But the match between Kirisaki and Haneina is about to begin.”

“No, no, the match is already decided before it even began, right? Did you see the head of those students from Haneina? A chicken’s cockscomb and a horse’s tail. The training clothes they wore in their Yotube streams looked like something from an old marching band. (3) You’re wearing a clean white kyudogi and your hair is neat. It’s praiseworthy. That’s what a Japanese boy should look like.”

“…I do have short hair, and I like white kyudogi. But, if someone is serious about kyudo, I will acknowledge them as an archer no matter what they wear.”

“What’s with that way of talking? Seems like I thought too highly of you.”

The man left. Minato went outside to focus his mind, but he ended up inviting needless interference.

His yellow-green headband was fluttering. It was something a master had prepared for his disciples.

Minato took a deep breath once more.

The card of Kirisaki versus Haneina in the second round got people excited.

Asahina raised the corner of his mouth.

“Nice. It looks great.”

Eddie tied an orange headband tightly.

“I am trembling at the prospect of a worthy opponent, that I am.”

Matsuda, who had poor eyesight, placed his hand on the shoulder of the poet Kanuma. Igarashi started walking while holding flowers. People naturally gave way to them. The existence of Haneina’s kyudo club was already dramatic in itself. The five of them walked leisurely down the flowery path.

The two schools began to enter the shajo, and the spectators held their breath as they watched.

In the first shajo, Eddie raised his bow. His blond ponytail swayed and sparkled in the sunlight. A stop, an upward turn, and a sweeping stroke. His shooting was like the block style of calligraphy. (4) A work of art that changed seven ways depending on the tools, brushstrokes, style, and word selection. His stance was to never prepare practice sheets, but always treat it as though it was the real thing. He quickly drew back his brush, and the arrow flew towards the target.

The second, Matsuda, hit.

The third, Kanuma, hit.

The fourth, Igarashi, hit.

The fifth, Asahina, begun to raise his bow. His red hair stood out against the green grass. His self-confidence and warm-hearted personality brought out the bright sun. When he drew his bow, his limbs stretched to infinity. The matooto resounded.

Kirisaki also matched their pace.

The oomae, Kabashima, hit.

The nimato, Senichi, hit.

The naka, Kuon, hit.

The ochimae, Yushima, hit.

When the ochi Shuu hit, the scoring board was lined with circle marks.

No one missed their second shot as well. The sound of the matooto and the cheers of the crowd made their bodies numb, and the elation made them desire more and more matooto. They became greedier and greedier.

Kuon was confident that he would never lose to the red-headed guy. If they went on to win, he would be placed in the same picture frame as the Young Prince, Fujiwara Shuu. What a beautiful picture it would be!

He melted into the world of images.

Now, let’s sneak in.

This was Tsujimine High School.

A boy with the hood of his white hoodie pulled deeply over his head walked over. A boy with streaked hair was standing a little further away. He stole the key from the staff room and hid it in his pocket.

Nikaidou and Fuwa were in the music room. They stood in front of the piano and gently opened the lid.

Along with Fuwa’s piano melody, Nikaidou played the drums using his hands and knees. He was very into music games and could even reach an uncanny level of fast drumming in games like Kotaiko no Tatsujin.

One day, after club activities, Nikaidou was tapping a rhythm on his knees on a whim when Fuwa correctly guessed the name of the song.

“Konahanasakuya-hime.”

“…Correct.”

Since then, the sneak-in sessions, not street piano, had continued.

Konohanasakuya-hime no Mikoto, the origin of the song’s title, was the name of the most beautiful goddess in the history of Japanese mythology. Her father was Ooyamatsumi no Mikoto, and her husband was Ninigi no Mikoto, grandson of Amaterasu Oomikami. Her husband accused her of infidelity, and in order to prove her innocence, she set fire to the delivery room and gave birth to three children in the flames.

When the two of them were babies, they had a scarlet seal stamped onto their faces at a festival called Hatsuyama to pray for their healthy growth. It felt creepy thinking that they might have passed by each other somewhere.

Fuwa began to play a song. As he proceeded at a walking pace, Nikaidou stood next to him.

A fearless smile—the start of a duet.

My fingertips hit the keyboard. The melody, chords, and bass line. Nikaidou sped up the main melody while adding improvisations. There was no way Fuwa wouldn’t take up this challenge.

“Nikaidou, can you keep to my speed?”

“Hah, there’s no way I’m following you.”

“Good grief.”

Fuwa ignored Nikaidou and decided to go fast. He was crafty with techniques such as giving someone glimpses and keeping them in suspense. Fuwa always kept his distance from others. Though he had purposely drawn a line telling them not to come over, those who crossed that line were, so to speak, prey. There was no need to hold back. He would shake them, shake them, shake them until they begged for forgiveness.

Nikaidou attended piano lessons when he was a child, but quit after learning “Turkish March” and had been studying on his own ever since. On the other hand, Fuwa’s mother was a piano teacher. Knowing the difference in their abilities, Nikaidou devised a plan. He tried to find rhythms that players might not be comfortable with, such as lowering the key by a semitone or changing chords.

Fuwa made full use of his techniques. Nikaidou clicked his tongue, then reached over Fuwa’s arm and hit a high key. It was more of a fierce battle than a fun session. Sound and breathing filled the room. The music room wasn’t air conditioned in order to prevent unauthorized use. If the sound leaked out, the shame would be unbearable. They played the whole song while sweating.

“It’s not fun at all playing with you,” Fuwa muttered.

“Same here.”

“Get out of here.”

“Yeah, yeah. You’ve always been an arrogant king, Koushirou.”

Nikaidou took off his white hoodie. His body was hot and he was breathing heavily. He reached into his bag to get something to wipe off his sweat and grabbed a towel and his phone.

The results of the prefectural tournament where Minato and the others were in were displayed on the screen.

“…Oh man. I think I’m gonna laugh.”

“You laughing by yourself isn’t a good thing. Alright, I’ll ask. What happened?”

“Kirisaki lost in the second round of the final tournament.”

“What!?”

Fuwa stared into Nikaidou’s large eyes.

“That’s a big upset. Who was their opponent?”

“It’s the school of the Yotubers Asahina and Eddie. Shuu-kun really is a lovely man. As expected, my special won’t let me down. I wonder if Minato-chan will entertain me as well.”

Nikaidou loosened the collar of his white shirt.

After the wind that had been blowing since the morning calmed down, an incredibly bright blue sky spread out above Shuu’s head.

Kirisaki had nineteen hits.

Haneina had twenty hits.

The powerhouse Kirisaki High School was defeated in the second round of the prefectural tournament.

Under the sunlight, the Kirisaki members calmly began cleaning up. “We all did well,” the president Kabashima exclaimed, and Yushima smiled and said, “It’s been a fulfilling three years. I’m grateful to everyone,” but Senichi and Manji couldn’t hide the heaviness of their steps. They endured the overwhelming mixture of feelings of inadequacy and jealousy toward those who had earned the smile of the goddess of victory.

There was only one person who missed in this team, and that was Kuon. Despite the weather having returned to calm, he looked as though he had inhaled a cloud of dust.

One could almost hear the crunching sound of it.

“Fujiwara-senpai, I’m so sorry.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for.”

“But, still! Even if it’s to yell at me, please just say something to me.”

“I have nothing to say.”

Shuu left without saying any more.

Devastated, Kuon turned to face the person who appeared in the corner of his vision.

Minato, who was going to talk to Shuu, saw what happened.

“Kuon-kun, it’s usual for Shuu to not express his thoughts after a match. Don’t worry about it,” he told him, then immediately followed Shuu.

Kuon stared at Minato’s back and bit his lip.

Was he pitying me?

Who on earth were you talking to when you said “don’t worry about it?”

I can’t believe someone of the lower class is looking down on me!

Minato had no clue about Kuon’s delusions. He was running after someone he must not lose sight of.

He shouted the name of his brother disciple.

“Shuu!”

Shuu turned around and smiled. It was all he could to not drop his bow.

“I’m sorry, Minato. I wasn’t able to fulfill our promise to meet in the finals. It seems that I don’t have any luck with team matches.”

“That’s not true, Shuu. You’re my first bow friend—a genuine archer. We met at that kyudojo when we were little.”

“Minato.”

“Someday, we will definitely team up together.”

“…Yeah, I’m looking forward to that.”

What a cruel person.

You were the one who lit this fire under me.

God of the bow, please save me.

We are babies who don’t know anything. Although no ships nor people have arrived there, the sun is a red, blazing star that will someday turn to dust. We never witnessed the beginning and end of the story, and we believe in an empty dream that cannot be verified. Dreams are seen when one is asleep. People are still sleeping. A dream from which we can never wake. In the darkness, only my old friend knows what I did. Only you can burn me to ashes.

Shuu touched Minato’s forehead with his yugake-covered hand. His cold fingers were trembling.

He couldn’t let go of that unforgettable body warmth.

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#tsurune translation #tsurune

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otomesanada · 2 years ago

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Be My Princess 2’s Childrens (PT. 1)

so, i will only translate a little bit of the second CG (image in the right) because if i translated everything, it would be a loooot... and i would stay here for days and days. but there's context, i will also talk about why the nickname, if it's too different from the name! here is part two of the princes.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

King Henry & Prince Nicholas (Nico).

MC and King Henry were occupied for his birthday party, and MC was worried Prince Nicholas was feeling lonely. while talking to all the other princes, Kevin asked if Nico is alright, since he wasn't at the party, and she answered he is doing good but Henry saw she looked a bit worried so he let her get out of the party earlier and she went to find Nicholas, who asked what she was doing there. MC said she was there to make company to her baby, but Nico took her hand and made her go back to the party, because it's daddy’s birthday. MC told Henry about it and both laughed a bit, then went to commemorate together privately. after their mini date in a restaurant, they both went to find Nicholas, who was talking alone in his room. the plushie is Nicholas birthday gift (second image), Lassie ¹. MC gave Henry a cake too, then they cut in 5 pieces; one for Henry, MC, Loyd, Nicholas... and the last one for the plushie!

King Sieg & Prince Elion (“Lila”).

why the nickname Lila? Prince Elion’s nickname is Lila because of his color palette.

King Sieg’s birthday is coming and he will make a national announcement about his heir, Lila. Prince Elion is really anxious for the day, he is worried he won't be good enough for his speech. MC is worried for their son, and ends up with stomachache (gastritis). Elion and Sieg makes porridge for her, and the child start crying, thinking it's his fault his mommy is feeling sick. Sieg and MC are shocked, but then both start talking to Lila about how they are proud of him — and if he is worried, they can study his speech together! Sieg also tries to apologize, he didn't want to pressure his son... the day come and while looking at the public, he gets excited and adds on his speech he wants to be a king as cool as Sieg and as kind as MC, surprising his parents. after party, Sieg hugs Lila (second image) and says they are both proud of how their son is growing up so well.

King Kuon & Prince Riito (“Rikkun”).

why the nickname Rikkun? Prince Riito loves squirrels and he called himself Rikkun when he traveled to the past.

King Kuon and MC were having breakfast with Prince Riito when Rikkun asked Kuon to teach him how to make latte art. Kuon was a bit cautious, because it might be hot and burn Riito’s little hands, but MC convinced him that it'll be okay as long Kuon watch him. with Kuon’s birthday party coming, they were worried about showing Riito to the public, as they both know their child is clingy and need support. they are worried to make it traumatic to him. they agree to think a bit more about it later... next day, Riito calls MC secretly, he wants to make a latte art as Kuon’s birthday gift. MC agrees to help him, making it a secret. Rikkun works hard to learn, even making Butler Kent a latte (who gets emotional). the little family goes to a festival of bakery and Rikkun wants to buy his parents's favorite coffee himself, after a brief hesitation, they let him buy it alone. Rikkun takes a long time there, making MC and Kuon anxious, but shows up with the coffee in hand. they are impressed by how Riito grew up lately and decides to show him on the party. later, Riito shows the latte art he made himself to Kuon, who is very proud.

King Kevin & Prince Cyrus (“Lion”).

why the nickname Lio/Lion? Prince Cyrus was holding a lion plush when he traveled to the past.

since King Kevin’s birthday is coming, he's been a lot more occupied than normal, but he still makes time to read Prince Cyrus a book before sleeping. MC notices how it's more peaceful, but then Cyrus complains about how Kevin can't read a book because he can't do a princess voice and things are back to normal. next day, Butler Gabriel talks to MC about Cyrus being invited to the kid’s band in Kevin’s birthday parade and Cyrus is excited to it, as a gift for Kevin! MC is worried, Cyrus is a bit shy but agrees... so he started training alone, it was nice, but after a while, he needed to train with others kids, and got too nervous, making a lot of mistakes. MC tried to talk to Cyrus it was ok to make mistakes, but the kid was too stressed and yelled at her, saying he couldn't do it and ran away. MC then talked to Kevin about their fight, who went to talk to Cyrus, motivating him to never give up, no one is perfect it at first. Cyrus agrees to go back and get better. Kevin’s birthday now the surprise revealed, the king cries when seeing his son is growing up. later, Kevin wants to reward Cyrus for working hard, who just wants a piggyback and spend time with his father (second image).

King Ivan & Prince Elem (“Wolf”).

why the nickname “wolf”? Prince Elem didn't remember his own name when he traveled to the past, so that's why MC and Ivan gave him this nickname.

King Ivan’s birthday party was near and with it, the announcement of his heir, Prince Elem, that until then lived hidden from everyone... because this is the first time Elem will see the public, he is very nervous and fussing, being really agitated, making MC and Ivan worry for his safety. MC needed to go out to finish her work, then Ivan then make a promise with Elem and apologize to MC for make her worry. when she's back from work, she notices Elem sleeping — something really hard to happen — while Ivan is hugging the tiny body. Ivan and MC talks a bit, with him praising MC to take such a good care of their child and noticing something was making Elem nervous. Elem then wakes up and apologize, making the small child admit he just wants to be praised a lot by his mommy and daddy. in Ivan’s birthday party, everything goes well, he shows up and they spend next day playing with snow (second image), with Elem teaching Ivan how to make snow rabbits!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

¹ Lassie is how Henry calls MC in his route, because of the dog. they have a master-pet relationship.

Sieg, Kuon, Kevin, Ivan, Max and Lyuo are called papa (パパ) and MC is mama (ママ). while Henry, Oliver and Shion are called otou-sama (お父様) and MC is okaa-sama (お母様).

i search for everyone's name so i could name them accurately, as Elion... but i don't know how to translate perfectly Kuon’s and Shion’s son’s name. i know Ruito is a name, but i didn't hear anything about Riito. sorry if it's wrong!

some of these images aren't mine, it's from some of my friends but they allowed me to post it, besides it's from voltage’s anyway.

#nxndas.txt #henry spencer #sieg lieben #kuon casiraghi #kevin alford #ivan chernenkov #be my princess 2 #voltage inc #王子様のプロポーズ eternal kiss #王子様のプロポーズii #be my princess #otomesanada plays #otomesanada plays 王子様のプロポーズii

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togo--mimori · 7 months ago

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Hey here's some brainstorming on where I'm planning on certain characters being in the Royal Court Au because I need to get it out of my system and some people might be interested

Kaisers Kingdom (unnamed)

Kuon was the chef isagi bribed into Poisoning Noa, lemon was implicated in the crime and despite him being an unknown participant In the crime, he was put to death along with Kuon for treson

Bachira is a jester alongside Isagi who specializes in acrobatics and juggling tricks. He helped Isagi get up the ranks and they're roommates When kaiser isn't forcing isagi to spend the night. They have several acts together and often get called together to any party the king attends to entertain!

Ness was Kaisers jester when he was just a prince, closest thing Kaiser had to a friend when before Isagi "ripped him away" from Ness. Ness often acts as a sort of attendant to Kaiser though. Bringing him what he requests and such. Hes also very good at falling off of a horse in such a funny way and it's one of the only things that can make kaiser burst out laughing. It hurts his bones, but ness takes it as a win.

Shidou is kaisers head knight. Not exactly someone who's noble on any front but he's strong and no one will cross him at all. He's also a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. In the midst of war he ran into-

Sae was challenged to a duel from the rivaling nations shidou, and lost (not by much. He was also caught off guard and ended up enjoying himself quite a bit) because he lost, he was whisked away to shidous kingdom because of a bet he foolishly agreed on. He didn't really care, he liked the guy and got to get away from his weird brother.

(I am also torn between making hiori the palace doctor who helps isagi kill the king or making him a member of the band that plays at isagis and bachiras preformances)

Barous kingdom (also unnamed)

Barou is the king, never wears a shirt and more often than not participates in battles himself. Really pissed at isagi because he's always sent as the envoy to rile up his troops. Dreams of blasting isagis head off in a catapult back to Kaiser

Rin is barous warlord? Strategist? The dude who plans the fights. Really pissed at isagi and kaiser because he finds them responsible for his brother leaving. Wears all black and a big ass cape to brood and plan war stuff. Dreams of blasting isagi off live in a catapult

Nanase is a jester, just a delightful funny guy who's the only one to ever make rin laugh. It was once and completely by accident. He dearly wishes to replicate it. Barou likes him because despite all he gets up to, he doesn't make a mess with his jests. Very earnest and loves what he does.

Nagi is a low ranking noble and his family is close business partners with Reos, they're not often seen apart and theres rumors that reo does most of Nagis paperwork. They travel between both nations a lot for merchant buisness.

And that's what I've got! If anyone has any ideas or questions shoot me an ask!

#someone wanted to read more so heres a word vomit of the world in my brain!#i dont want to clog the characters tags so i wont tag them all #i legitimately have no ideas for kunigami or chigiri if anyone does please help me LMAO #blue lock #bllk #bllk royal court au

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shadowthief78 · 2 years ago

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As Always, My Heart and Sword

✦✧✦✧♛✧✦✧✦

Blue Lock Royalty AU Headcanons

✦✧✦✧♛✧✦✧✦

Gender neutral reader, fluff and a bit of angst, mentions of jealousy, gratuitous handwaving the vaguely European worldbuilding, mentions of injury/blood starting at Kuon’s part, 3.5k to 4k words. Noa and Ego aren’t really romantic but you can read them that way if you want. I hope this isn’t too difficult to read, I tried putting paragraph breaks and such so it’s easier.

✦✧✦✧♛✧✦✧✦

(Ao3 Link) (Part 2)

✦✧✦✧♛✧✦✧✦

REO is the king's son, well known for his carefree nonchalance, how he insists on gallivanting around the countryside looking for dragons and leaves the boring bureaucracy in the hands of his court, under supervision of his representative Anri.

It's on one of those expeditions he and his retinue stop by your humble town. He leaps off his horse with much fanfare and makes his way toward you, near the well at the center of the square, and asks how much it would cost for your bucket, to water their animals. When you insist that it wouldn't be proper for you to charge the prince anything, he laughs and says he'll pay you in kisses instead.

Later, he has you stay for a meal and dancing at the inn, holding your hand and hardly letting you out of his sight. What can you say but yes when he invites you back to court with him? Don't worry about traditions or those stuffy clothes and etiquette rules, there's nobody who outranks him.

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

NAGI as Reo's friend, a son of a noble house who wants nothing more than to while away his days in a quiet country estate. But after Reo saw his skill at swordplay, he's dragged along in a clatter of hooves and plate armor to seek out and slay mythical fire breathing beasts.

He's glad they're staying in a town tonight instead of camping again, because the ground is hard and it looks too close to rain for his taste. Reo rents out the local inn and he was going to take a hot bath and ask for dinner to be brought to him, but for some reason, Reo insists he eat with the rest of the group and they do some drills for spectators to watch.

Nagi isn't sure why Reo is so stubborn, but after he sees you in the crowd, watching the purple-haired and blue-blooded fighter, he understands why. What he doesn't get is the dark, twisted feeling in his chest when you gasp at Reo and gloss over him.

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

ZANTETSU is the rear guard. As the last to enter the town, he's more focused on keeping children from grabbing his horse's tail then whatever Reo is doing up front, but he eventually gets impatient and dismounts to investigate.

Seeing you there, he claps a hand on your shoulder from behind and is about to begin issuing a scolding for blocking the well when you turn around and words die in his throat. See, he's always believed those fairy tales of shining knight and their beautiful royal lover.

While he's lost in his daydream, he doesn't realize you are about to pass out, frightened by his serious face and intimidating demeanor. Reo brushes his hand off and laughs, snapping him into a huff, and he spends the rest of the evening trying to subtly signal that he knows of your supposed aristocratic origins.

You, meanwhile, are perfectly confused and uncertain if this man is incredibly intelligent or dumb as rocks.

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

NARUHAYA, the baker's son who's known you as long as you've lived here. When you're not back from getting water for a long time, he steps out and realizes who's been monopolizing your attention.

Holding a loaf twice as fine as anything he could ever dream of eating, there's only despair in the pit of his stomach as he watches Reo spin you around and laugh as he dances. The crowd cheers louder when the prince announces he's footing the bill for all drinks, but even a mug of good ale doesn't cheer him up.

Surrounded by chattering patrons and the knights he always dreamed of becoming when growing up, he can feel one last fantasy slip out of his grasp. He doesn't stand a chance against the prince in any competition, let alone one for your hand.

Quietly, he abandons his drink and slips off into the shadows, returning home. The next day, when his little siblings can't stop talking about the parade riding out of town, the only thing he asks is if you looked happy.

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

ISAGI you knew of when you were younger. In fact, it was his suggestion that brought Prince Reo to your town. He grew up on a farm and used to visit once or twice a year for the big markets, and left to become a squire years ago.

For a few months, it was all anyone could talk about, that boy who went to the capital to become a knight. When you find this out, he laughs it off sheepishly as not a huge deal and changes the topic.

Secretly, he's proud that you remember him and hopes he might be able to convince Reo to stay a few days longer than planned under the guise of visiting his parents. Little does he know that Reo already has big plans for you.

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

BACHIRA slides next to Isagi and jumps right into conversing with you. Sorry he's late, he had to make sure his horse was stabled correctly! She hates being cold, he sighs, and pulls an apple from his pocket. There was a tree out back, do you want one?

You gasp—the innkeeper is incredibly territorial over his apples, guarding them like gold against wasps and children alike. He just laughs and takes a crisp bite, then offers the fruit to you. You look adorable with cheeks stuffed and juice running down your chin—let him wipe it off for you.

Bachira winks and takes his apple back: "I want the seeds!" Really, though, he just wants to share some food with you. Isn't it a little bit of an indirect kiss?

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

YUKIMIYA finds you outside under the eaves when Reo's lost you. He stands next to you and watches the rain fall, as the overcast sky has finally opened up. You just needed a break from the noise and stuffiness indoors, you explain.

He offers to keep you company and you settle into a content silence together. He finds his thoughts wandering, first thinking about how his own home would look with someone like you there to welcome him back after a long day's ride, then about his future family.

He doesn't have Reo's status or Bachira's flirtatiousness, but would you humor this humble knight and let him linger a little longer?

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

CHIGIRI isn’t a knight, but a messenger Reo brought along just in case. His job is easy, really, just riding around with the company all day because the prince rarely has need to send orders back.

He’s the first to know that Reo intends to bring you to court when the prince pulls him aside and quietly orders him to ride back and commission an entire wardrobe for you, posthaste. Galloping alone in the middle of the night, all he can wonder is how you’d look decked out in his scarlet instead of Reo’s colors.

Well, the prince didn’t give him any specifics on your garb, so maybe he can sneak one piece of red in. He groans quietly to himself, regretting his injury that prevented him from becoming a knight–he’s never minded until his time with you was cut short.

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

ARYU is the tailor you meet after Reo sweeps you back to his castle. He brings out a parade of silk and brocade, each garment more dazzling than the last. Unfortunately, he insists on you trying each one on so he can properly fit it, which leads to a long and tiring day.

Reo is well aware that Aryu’s the best out there and can do nothing but watch as his hands linger on your waist for a tad too long. Unbeknownst to you, Aryu spends many a late night scribbling by candlelight, dreaming up design after design for your wedding attire. He knows he’s got a snowball’s chance in hell compared to the prince, but he can dream… and also repurpose these in different colors for your everyday use.

It’s a secret he’ll never tell anyone, but he does get a lot of compliments on his latest batch of designs.

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

TOKIMITSU finds you in the garden after you leave to try and get some peace. Nobody knows the stresses of life in high court better than him, he explains, offering you an early sprig of hyacinths from his carefully maintained greenhouse.

The next morning, you wake up to a hanging basket with tendrils of sweet-smelling jasmine and zinnias. The handwritten card welcomes you to court and asks you to accept this small gift as congratulations–Reo doesn’t have the heart to say no when you’re so taken with the blooms that mean “sweet love” and “thoughts of absent friends.”

Tokimitsu frets for days before he next sees you, upon which you immediately thank him for the gift. Phew, you knew it was him and haven’t caught on to the hidden message yet.

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

NANASE meets you when you get hungry and wander off to find the kitchen. It’s still far too early for anyone to be awake, especially since the long journey back all of yesterday, but you couldn’t sleep in the huge bed no matter how much softer it is than your mattress at home.

Nanase has his back turned, busy coaxing the fire in the kitchen back to life when you creep in and cough to get his attention. After calming down and realizing you are not a ghost, he offers to share his breakfast with you. You end up sneaking a few bites of the leftovers from the larder and talking with him, finding out that he enjoys keeping a flock of chickens and came here a few months ago to earn money.

He sneaks you out of the kitchen once more of the servants arrive and makes you promise to come visit again when you’re free, unaware that Reo means to have you added to his court soon.

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

NIKO finds you when you get lost in the lower levels. As an undercover member of the Royal Guard, he all but drags you back to your rooms lecturing you about how to find your way, and promises to have a map delivered soon. He’s flustered when you laugh and compliment his knowledge, does he know of any secret passages?

Well, he reasons with himself, you probably should know about those because you and Reo are so… close. (He ignores the jealous twist that comes with remembering that, he’s been ignored as part of his job for so long that you’d think he’d be used to it by now.)

If he turns the lamp’s wick down on purpose so he has an excuse to hold your hand in the dark passages built into the walls, then no one needs to know.

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

KAISER is the heir from the nearby land of Munchen, here for a diplomatic negotiation that Reo completely forgot. At the end of your first week in the palace, he asks you to dance, butting in front of Reo to do so and taking your hand before you can blink.

As you spin on the polished floor, he leans in and whispers something in your ear that you can’t quite catch. He laughs and leads you off the floor to a sulking Reo. While Kaiser’s admirers gossip behind their fans and send you scathing glares, you try to conceal the note he slipped under the ruffle of your sleeve.

You slip out for a breath of air later, when Reo has released you from his iron grip, and meet up with Kaiser in the gardens. Besides the moonlit pon, he clips two blue roses and tucks one in your hair, the other gets tucked in his jacket.

He sends you a bouquet of them the day he and his company leave, inviting you to come visit whenever you desire.

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

NESS is part of Kaiser’s delegation, always staring at you and Kaiser together. When Reo and Kaiser are both needed in some meeting about trade routes, he’s left to have tea with you, alone.

You think he must hate you because he’s always glaring, but he just assumes this feeling must be your fault and places the blame squarely on your shoulders. Whatever methods you used to ensnare Kaiser won’t work on him, he lectures, getting so heated he only stops when he knocks your teacup out of your hand and spills the hot liquid all over your lap. He doesn’t care about you, really, him mopping it up is because he’s a gentleman, unlike you, and underhanded tactics are beneath him (they aren’t, but he says they are).

Mark his words, he’ll figure out what you’re up to before long, and Kaiser will acknowledge him again. He tosses his soiled handkerchief on the table and storms out, leaving you confused and with a handkerchief to return.

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

KUON is part of a faction secretly plotting to overthrow Reo and install a new government. Kuon hates the aristocracy, thinks they’re all a bunch of stuck up pigs out of touch with common people, but when he meets you, he starts to rethink.

He tries to reason that it’s because you’re not really a noble, you were raised by ordinary people just like him, but he can’t deny it. He begins thinking of ways to let you escape when the revolution happens, maybe spirit you away somewhere safe where it’s just the two of you and you can start over again.

But when the signal is given before he’s ready, he can’t stop ugly desperation from coursing through him, tearing him away from his assigned post despite the shouts of his accomplices. When he finds Reo holding you (thankfully unhurt) while a hastily bandaged Niko struggles to unlock the door to an escape passage with fingers slippery from blood, Nagi draws his sword and steps forward.

As long as he lives, Kuon doesn’t think he’ll be able to forget the shock of betrayal on your face when you see him in the colors of the uprising.

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

BAROU leads a contingent of knights and is probably the only person who can win against three insurgents with a ceremonial smallsword and no armor whatsoever. He bursts into the royal chambers, decimates another small squad with the weapons he gathered from the first three, and breaks down the door to the escape.

He insists on remaining behind, saying he’ll escape later, and hauls a bookshelf in front of the broken panel. The last you see of him is his broad back, radiating comfort and confidence that someone so strong is looking after you.

Barou will never tell anyone this, but he thought of you after he was overwhelmed and captured, eventually gathering the strength to escape and reunite with you later on.

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

HIYORI is the safehouse keeper. He opens the door and lets your group topple in, out of the freezing rain, and immediately begins handing out towels and bowls of hot soup. His cottage is well hidden in the forest outside the palace, so he, Reo, and a few more knights sit down to pore over maps and discuss escape routes, leaving you to drink your soup and doze off.

A while later, he wakes you with a gentle shake and offers a change of clothes into something more practical. It turns out that everything else is already taken by the rest, so he fishes out some of his own clothes, including his best wool cloak. When you protest and say you couldn’t possibly dream of taking it away from him, he laughs and says he’s coming with you.

He��s served his purpose here and the rebels will find this place eventually and realize what happened, so it’s not safe to stay behind. You flee through the forest, quietly comforted by each other’s presence.

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

KURONA gets busy rebandaging Niko’s wound and applying a salve to stop bleeding and infection before he gets around to the rest of you. When he’s finished, he sits next to you on the chest in the corner of the room (the chairs have all been commandeered by those in the strategy meeting) and lets you doze off on his shoulder.

When you’re on the run, he sits next to you and makes shadow puppets so you smile. Every so often when there’s a river near wherever you’re camping for the night, he always cuts himself a fishing rod and sits on the bank.

You’re the only one allowed to join him for some comfortable silence, because everyone else is “too noisy” and scares all the fish away. Really, he just wants to spend some time with you braiding strips of grass together and nobody else to bother you two.

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

SHIDOU nearly gets stabbed by Yukimiya, who’s got that night’s first watch. Anri wants to pack up and leave, saying he’s dangerous, but he explains that Sae Itoshi has sent him after hearing about the rebellion in the capital.

The Itoshi duchy is still untouched by the insurgents, partially because of its notoriously impenetrable mountain roads and cold seas. This late into fall, travel to and fro slows to a trickle, but Shidou promises that he can navigate just fine and that his lord is still loyal to Prince Reo, saying that the rebellion sent a letter threatening to cut off vital supplies to the duchy if Duke Sae doesn’t comply.

Seeing as the roads are nearly impassable and he already imported necessary goods to survive the winter, Sae ordered the messenger thrown in chains and is currently feigning ignorance. Your group can stay for the winter or just make a quick stop before seeking asylum somewhere else, doesn’t that beat sleeping on the ground?

Reo is skeptical, so Shidou turns to you and asks: Will you trust him and Sae? His eyes and teeth glint a little too much for your comfort in the dim firelight, but what other choice do you have? Ever since he’s joined your group, you can feel eyes on you too much for your comfort.

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

AIKU, the bandit leader who blocks the only clear pass to the Itoshi duchy. He proposes a deal: one person stays behind with them while the rest can go on, and nobody’s blood melts snow tonight. Nobody is happy with that deal, but when Aiku points at you, things turn ugly.

After Shidou nearly breaks his nose, Niko’s crossbow bolt buries itself in a nearby tree, and everyone else unsheaths a blade of some sort, he takes back his offer and insists on coming with you.

As it turns out, Sae needs more soldiers to defend against the insurrectionists, so puts Aiku in charge of the very pass you took to get to his stronghold after a brief test. Aiku winks at you when he leaves, promising to keep you safe at any cost, if you’ll nurse him better if he gets injured.

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

SAE lets you in, out of the cold and into the… cold? Well, it turns out that the coal mines have been closed due to earthquakes in the past several years and he was planning on getting more fuel before the attack happened… and it put a bit of a wrench in his plans.

And the Itoshi duchy’s been bleeding money recently, because merchants have discovered that they can charge through the nose for food shipments and, without any supervision from Prince Reo (despite the many, many, many letters he’s written), get away with ridiculous upcharges. But now that he’s here, the prince surely will discuss some legislation to prevent this from happening again and perhaps some compensation for past years, between planning his escape, of course.

Sae leads the way through stone corridors bustling with servants bundled in thick coats and separates each of you into rooms to let you rest before the first of the meetings. Oddly enough, when you get to your room, there’s a roaring fire keeping the whole room toasty and a nearly-boiling bath waiting for you.

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

RIN is Sae’s younger brother, guarding the messenger sent from the rebels. It’s obvious, when you see him, that he thinks this is below him.

He tells them not to bother when Isagi and Bachira try questioning the prisoner–he only talks in his sleep. At the prisoner’s horrified look, Rin eventually caves to you asking and explains all he knows, which is a combination of nonsense babbling and vitally useful information.

It turns out that, save Anri, the rest of the council Reo set up to govern in his absence has turned traitor. Calling themselves the JFA, they intend to take over the kingdom and live easy lives at the kingdom’s expense. You’re so excited at being useful for once in this escapade that you grab both his hands and excitedly thank him, before rushing off to tell the others.

When you’re gone and the prisoner goes back to sulking, Rin carefully presses his hands together where you held them, lingering on how your touch felt.

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

NOA, as it turns out, is prepared for your arrival. As king of the neighboring kingdom of Munchen, he explains that Barou managed to escape and explained all of what happened to him. He was still a little skeptical on taking you in before Kaiser and Ness persuaded him to.

He calls a strategy meeting with the leaders of four other nations and begins talking with each of them: Julian Loki, Marc Snuffy, Lavinho, and Chris Prince. All agree to help, noting the threat that recognizing an illegitimate government poses to their own authority. Thus begins you learning swordplay and archery from the masters.

✦✧✦✧𐂃✧✦✧✦

EGO is Noa’s advisor. He persuades Noa to back Reo’s campaign to retake his kingdom and even personally implements a training regimen to whip the small squadron of Reo’s troops who managed to escape into shape, dubbing it “Blue Lock.”

When asked by Anri how he plans to storm the castle with such a small team, he responds it’s obvious that he intends to wake and use the dragon causing the earthquakes in the Itoshi duchy to their advantage.

Wait, the what, exactly?!

✦✧✦✧♛✧✦✧✦

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