#rekindle the flame

[sakiyaki-sashimi]

Still baffles me that Sakis on her like 6th rotation for “Happy Enjoy Music” after REKINDLE THE FLAME and MIZU FUCKING 5

ONE OF THESE THINGS IS NOT LIKE THE OTHERS???

[cobalts-corner]

She has NO idea whats shes doing 🔥🔥

[mizuribbons]

a 10/10 prediction me and @xiomeebo came up with for akito5

[sekaitransparents]

rekindle the flames | let’s master the english language! ~ an shiraishi (submitted by @/shinjirx)

[n4tsum1-san]

close enough welcome back sans undertale

[attention-k-mart-shoppers]

[burningdaybreak]

Rekindle the flame Pre-Event Thoughts

Hello everyone, it's been a little while. First of all I wanted to say that I'm sorry for going on a small hiatus; I've had a full essay pretty much ready to post for a while now, with just a few things to fix, but I lost motivation for a few weeks and when I regained the motivation to fix it, Akito5 was already very close, so it may have become outdated pretty quickly. And so I'll leave to post it for after this event's done. Akito5, or rather, Rekindle the flame, was announced today, and I wanted to give my thoughts and predictions on the story before it starts, and then write a proper essay about it after the event (I will be tiering so it's unlikely I post it during the event). I will try to get back into writing essays again starting from here! Thank you to everyone who supports me and likes the things I write. (Disclaimer: I haven't proofread this much, sorry if there's any mistakes.)

[Event Summary]

After surpassing RAD WEEKEND, the members of Vivid BAD SQUAD are now striving for their next goal: to take over the world. While each member is slowly moving forward towards their goal, Akito, on the other hand, seems to have something on his mind...

Translation by: Project Sekai ENG (Unofficial) (@pjsekai_eng on Twitter)!

1. Event Thoughts

The story seems to be pretty much what everybody expected: Akito feeling lost or even burnt out after surpassing RAD WEEKEND, and thinking about what comes next. Akito is someone who exclusively focused on his dream of surpassing RAD WEEKEND, not giving much thought to the future and what would come after that. His thoughts about the future were pretty much limited to focusing on how he could still improve more, and how his current skill level wasn't enough. Pushing forward, recklessly and without giving it much thought, never stopping to think what's next, Akito has always focused on just keeping going ahead. He doesn't really think twice and just follows his heart. However, now that RAD WEEKEND, the one thing he was chasing after, the thing that kept the fire in him alive, that made his heart start moving again, etc., has been reached and even surpassed... the fire in him has been burnt out. He has achieved his dream, so what's next? As mentioned, this direction for Akito's character was quite expected. The feeling of thinking "well, now what?", feeling completely lost and empty, after accomplishing something you've been trying to reach for years is something I understand very well and a very real thing.

Even though he should be proud and happy of how far he has come and what he has achieved, and deep down he is, he has also lost the thing that was giving his life a meaning. He needs a new goal in life, something that will light up the fire in him again. While he loves music, and singing with his teammates and especially his partner, and "taking over the world" is definitely the new goal he'll chase after, Akito most likely wants a more personal dream, something that is truly meant for him.

Personally, as a big fan of Akito and Touya's relationship and a big believer of aiboulove, I would think that the direction of the story would be Akito realizing that this new "goal" of his is Touya: realizing that he wants to forever sing with him, always wanting to be by his side, and so on. While this isn't exactly a new thing, in this event Akito would realize that, even though his dream has been reached, and he may not be able to find a new dream just yet, there is something that will never change: his partner. With mutual feelings of love, and wanting to stay together and sing together and reach their dreams — that's right, together, Akito doesn't have to think that hard about what comes next, because, as long as Touya is with him, Akito will always have something to look forward to — his one and only partner. This isn't to discredit his relationship with Kohane and An though, he's happy to have teammates that support him and will sing with him even when he's not sure of where to go next, but the bond with your partner just goes beyond that. That may have been a bit confusing, so my idea for the story is more or less like this: Akito realizing that it doesn't matter what he does next, as long as Touya (and the rest of his team) is by his side and singing with him, he doesn't have to worry that much about the future. He loves music, his teammates, and his partner, and as long as he has that, he'll just keep moving forward. Or perhaps I am wrong and Akito does find a new goal, and it's barely related to Touya, but considering we haven't had BAD DOGS-centered content in years and their relationship progress mostly having been established things (like the flashback in Len's World Link chapter) or minor stuff, with An and Kohane's relationship having gotten big development earlier this year, I think it makes sense to think the story will be centered on Akito and Touya's relationship. (Or in a more crude way, we're quite due for a true aibouyaoi bomb) The event could also not be centered on Akito and Touya's relationship, and I'm really too yaoipilled (lol), but it's hard to imagine what else it could be centered on in the sense of what could give Akito a "reason to live" once again; although maybe it's related to that mysterious new NPC at the end of OVER RAD SQUAD!!? And I can't really predict that much, haha. Looking forward to how they'll surprise me.

Another thing to mention is Akito and Kohane's card names: Vaguely translated, Kohane's card name is "To be worthy"; This gives some things to think about. Similar to Touya and An until Whip the wimp girl!!, Akito and Kohane haven't had a meaningful interaction... well, ever (which is a bit wild, considering we just celebrated the fourth anniversary). The most one could think of is the Vivid BAD SQUAD main story part of Akito barking at Kohane. There is parallels between Akito and Kohane the same way there is between Touya and An — Akito and Kohane have always been the two characters who pushed forward in VBS without doubting themselves, mainly being positive about their goal and singing, while Touya and An are the two characters that doubted themselves and their abilities and ran away and avoided confrontation with their partners. This parallel can kind of be seen in their World Link cards, with Akito and Kohane getting cards with a "positive" vibe and a cartoony art style, while An and Touya were more "negative", a more realistic style, and darker vibe? In WTWG, Touya was able to help An since he related to how An felt about Kohane; so, likewise, Kohane could help Akito with the trouble he is going through. The card name "To be worthy" leads me to think that, now that Akito's doubting himself, or rather is feeling lost and burnt out and without a purpose, Kohane may talk with him and push him in the right direction, once again, making him realize things. While I would like for Akito's issue's resolution to be related to Touya, and it'd be a good parallel to Touya and An's talk about Kohane, I would be fine with anything, really.

Then, we have Akito's card, vaguely translated as "Smoldering Feelings". This is a fun name because, once again, as expected of him, Akito is related to the concept of fire. Smoldering means something that is burning slowly; with smoke but no flame — really driving home the point that Akito is going through a sort of burnout, the fire in him having been kind of extinguished. In the card itself, he's sitting on a chair, looking down pensive and even sad, thinking about things. "When your hyperfixation wears off", as my good buddy artemis jokingly said. While it's not in the frame, I've seen people suggest he may be watching something on his phone — maybe footage of RAD WEEKEND or RAD BLAST, in order to feel something again. "Smoldering" really ties in with Akito's thoughts in OVER RAD SQUAD!!, during his final performance:

🥞 — It doesn't matter if it's god, or buddha, or whatever else. 🥞 Once this is over, I'll give all of myself up. 🥞 But just for today, just in this moment — give it to me. 🥞 The strength to sing until all that's left are my ashes—!

He burnt everything at the end of his journey in order to reach his goal, and now, only smoke and ashes remain, ... but he will light up the fire again, because that's what he always does: push forward, no matter what.

2. Conclusion

In summary, Rekindle the flame is an event about Akito lighting up the flame inside him once again (as the event name very well puts), now that he accomplished his dream in life. As someone who has always pushed forward without thinking about the future, it makes sense he's going through a burnout period, a moment where he's lost on what's next. Although he definitely has a new goal he wants to chase after (to take over the world), and he still loves music, his partner, and his teammates, I imagine Akito wants something that is truly for him — something that belongs to him, that will make his heart start moving, once again. Personally, I think that, perhaps, he won't exactly find a goal of his own just yet, but he will realize there is already things that he can chase after, forever... something that will always be with him, by his side, and even chasing after dreams with him... someone he has helped before; and so, now it's his turn to help Akito find a way out... (thats cheesy)

... So, in those times where you've hit a wall... rely on me more!

While I may be being a bit delusional here, I would love if the story took that direction, but I am fine with them surprising me with something else! And even if the story is not akty focused, there's always aibou content in some form. We always win.

3. Afterword

I'm very excited for this event... though it's also a bit scary because I have expectations for the story, and I hope I'm not disappointed when they turn out wrong, which could very well happen. Oh shit I forgot to mention his room. We're finally seeing his room after four years? That's great. (coughs) Sorry. Anyways, thank you for reading! I'll try to write a proper essay for this event once I'm done reading it. As I said at the start, I will be tiering, so unsure if I'll be able to release it while the event's ongoing...! But look forward to something new soon!

[itsakiover]

REKINDLE THE FLAME CHAPTER 1

English and Japanese are neither my native languages. I'm very sorry if I got something incorrect

I copy and pasted the chapter from sekai.best so if I sucked at showing emotion then that’s probably why

Customer A: Ah, ah— Since the reopening, the buisness has been bustling no matter when you come.

Customer B: Oh. It’s been a while since the event, but it’s still amazing.

Customer B: Well, this is the base of the guys who did “RAD BLAST”. Since it’s a sacred place, isn’t it natural for people to gather here?

Customer A: And… one of the legendary members is here, right?

???: Oh, are you talking about me?

Kotaro: So, it’s the usual blend! I made it thicker!

Customer A: Oh, it smells good. You’re getting a better at making coffee, aren’t you?

Kotaro: Mhm! A lot! Since the store was entrusted to me by Ken-kun, we can’t afford to ruin the reputation!

Customer B: You were entrusted with it……. No way, we didn’t expect you to start acting like the manager of this store.

Kotaro: Haha! Even if I’m just the acting manager, it still counts!

Kotaro: I’ve asked other people about the sales of the store and the food management… it’s almost like a part-time job!

Customer A: Even then, you, the man entrusted, are still amazing. (*“even then, it’s still amazing. the man entrusted.” is kinda what they actually said but it sounds bad imo)

Kotaro: Hehe… Well, I was just as surprised when I was approached.

Kotaro: When I said I was looking for a part-time job I could do on my own, he asked, “then why not work at my place?”

Kotaro: But, I mean… I was happy.

Kotaro: Ken-kun said, “I want to keep this store open for the sake of those who admire you and want to keep it running”. “If I want to leave it to anyone, I want to leave it to you.”

Kotaro: So, I thought I should do it. I can’t handle alcohol yet, so I won’t have the same business hours as Ken.

Customer B: Oh… you were talking about that with Ken.

Customer A: When I heard Ken was going to work with Taiga again, I was disappointed because the store would be coaled…

Customer A: I’m glad that I can drink coffee here again.

Customer B: Ah! Keep up the good work, acting store manager!

Kotaro: Sure thing!

Kohane: Hello!

Kotaro: —Oh, you guys! Please sit in the empty seat over there!

Young person on Vivid Street: Hey, hey. That’s….!

Young person on Vivid Street: Vivid BAD SQUAD’s Azusawa-san and Aoyagi-san, right!? I’m glad I’m waiting here…..!

Kotaro (to Toya): Do you want the usual blend and cafe au lait?

Toya: Ah, thank you. ……Even so, business is booming today.

Kotaro: Oh! Well, it’s thanks to my delicious coffee.

Young person Vivid Street: Oh, um!

Kohane: Hm?

Young person on Vivid Street: Um… Miss. Azusawa from Vivid BAD SQUAD….. isn’t it!?

Kohane: Ah… yes, that’s right.

Young person on Vivid Street: I’m sorry for the suddeness. Well… Wow, we longed for everyone in RAD BLAST and started singing, and so…

Young person on Vivid Street: —If you don’t mind, can you shake my hand!?

Kohane: Of course, if it’s okay, then by all means.

Young person on Vivid Street: Ah, thank you…….!

Young person on Vivid Street: I’m still no good at all… I want to do my best with my team so I sing a hot song like everyone else…

Kohane: Ah…

Kohane: I’m very happy to hear that!

Kohane: I’ve been singing for a long time with the support of my friends… I really understand how you want to do your best in your team

Kohane: Well… If you don’t mind, let me listen to your songs next time. Let’s do our best together!

Young person in Vivid Street: Ha, yes….! (*they said “ha, hai….!” And I wasn’t sure if that would turn into “Uhm, yes….!” Or “Y-Yes….!” Or something different)

Kotaro: Hey, hey! Those kids weren’t like that when they talked to me, were they!?

Customer B: Haha, I don’t think it was because of your coffee!

Customer A: In any case, the girls are very famous. Do your best to bring out your aura, too!

Kotaro: Wow~! Look at it now! Soon the views are going to overtake these—

Kotaro: That’s right, Aoyagi! You gave me a new song yesterday! It was so good!

Toya: I see….. I’m glad you like it. Maybe it was a good thing to try to capture a new sound

Customer B: I heard it too! It was my favorite so far!

Customer A: Recently, some songs have reached more than 1 million views, and the pace of releasing songs have also increased… It’s a great momentum, Vivid BAD SQUAD!

Toya: Thank you. …..But I still can’t be satisfied here.

Toya: Because what we’re aiming for is the world.

Customer B: The world…….? It’s a ridiculous dream, but it’s amazing because I feel like I can do it if you say it!

Customer A: Haha! That’s right! So, what are you guys doing now after aiming for the world?

Toya: I think you’re doing your best. —while worrying so much.

~ ENGLISH CLASS ~

(they speak a little english sometimes in this scene. when they do, I put it in italics)

Teacher: Let’s start today’s lesson with a cheerful greeting! How are you?

Akito: … I’m good.

An: Uhm……Pretty good!

Teacher: OK! You can return greetings smoothly! Well then, let’s keep going!

Teacher: What did you do on your day off?

An: Wow, I could understand some of it…… what’s the second half!?

Akito: ….I think you said that out loud…

An: Please say it again!

Teacher: OK. What did you do on your day off?

An: Uhm…

An: Uh… what?

~ LATER ~

Teacher: Well, that’s all for today’s lesson! Please complete your English composition assignment before the next class!

Akito and An: Th-Thank you so much….

An: Haa…. My head hurts….

Akito: Ah… It’s like a part of you that you don’t normally use, but you’re working at full capacity…

An: Yeah.. if it’s a song, I can pronounce it nice, but when I’m in a conversation, it’s harder….

An: I mean, if we can communicate from the bottom of our hearts, are words really necessary!?

Akito: Well, I don’t know how to feel about that…

Akito: You saw Toya’s class. If you can’t speak like that, you won’t be able to do much overseas….

An: Ugh.. that’s true…

An: You have a point! If you want to catch the hearts of the world, you have to try…..!

(she said only “if you want to catch the world”, I just thought it sounded closer to what she meant by adding “hearts”)

An: Let’s go for it, Akito!

Akito: ……Oh!

~ A FEW MINUTES LATER ~

Kotaro: I didn’t think your English class would last this long. I though you would’ve run away halfway through!

Akito: Me neither.

Toya: If we’re gonna go global, we have to be ready to work abroad. We can’t let opportunities run away from us.

Kotaro: Working abroad…… I can’t imagine what that’s like……

Kotaro: Have you actually decided on how you’re going to work from here on out?

Akito: Kinda. It’s not completely decided, but it’s pretty much where we want to do.

An: —Idealy, I want to work with a big overseas label! Like Uncle Taiga and the others!

Toya: Recently, we’ve gone through the route of…… being seen through videos, but that’s largely due to luck. We want to steadily increase the opportunities for people to get to know us.

Akito: But…… we’re in no position to talk about that in the first place.

Akito: We’re not yet world-class in terms of name recognition or abilities. We’re going to start by getting our feet in the ground.

Kotaro: I see~ I see!

Kotaro: Ah, is that why the songs uploaded recently have English subtitles and descriptions?

Kohane: Yes. We decided that the best way for the world to get to know us is to put our songs on the Internet……

Kohane: We thought we should not only upload the songs as they are, but also properly tell people about the songs. We’re working together to translate the lyrics into English.

Toya: Once we get out feet on the ground, we plan to move to overseas events. We have our sights set on that.

Kotaro: Ah….! I see! You’ve got a lot on your mind!

An: I didn’t say it lightly. I said, “I’m going to win the world!”

Kohane: Mhm! …..It’s a very big goal, but we’d like to get there little by little!

Kohane: —Good luck to us!

Akito, Toya, and An: Yeah!

[empurpledits]

FUEL MY PASSION

rekindle the flame-themed psd requested by... no one !!

notes may require adjustments for darker skin tones download

please reblog & credit to use !!

[masked-alien-lesbian]

I don't care if it's been a whole year, the LIs better be still looking for mc. They better be searching all corners of the Light realm for a way to find us

[project-sekai-facts]

(Subbed MV by DINSOR Zz on YT)

The blue flame imagery in both the Fuel 3DMV and Fuel my passion set is possibly in reference to the lyric "I am a flame that burns blue" that Akito sings in ULTRA C.

[sekaitransparents]

rekindle the flame | my smoldering feelings ~ akito shinonome

[retquits]

I’ve been following your artwork for years, I’ve even ordered my first art print from you & to hear you’re a fan of one piece & sanji!! He’s my favourite in the series! I’m so HYPED, I’ve been into one piece for years, I’ve recently been getting back into it after watching the live action, & it’s been amazing! I think you’ve got many more sanji and one piece fans than you might’ve imagined 😆 thank you for sharing your artwork !!!

thank you so much anon!!! 🥺💛 i appreciate you so much!!

sanji is tied for favorite character for me too!!! i'm so glad to have fellow sanji stans around, it's what he deserves <3

[findafight]

Can interest you in a potentially controversial Stobin headcanon in what sounds like a trying time?

If so; Steve and Robin share girlfriend at some point.

Not in the “turns out that time we were both dating girls named Crystal? We were in fact dating one girl named Crystal. Who *somehow* never put it together that my Steve and the Steve she was two-timing me with were in fact the person!”

(This does in fact happen - I’m thinking when Robin’s in college and has met like, three different Crystals (one of whom has parents that lived in the same commune as Robin’s! Such a shame girls named Crystal have been *ruined forever*).

It’s a pretty surreal break up for Crystal; not only are her boyfriend and girlfriend turn out to be actually best friends (in her defence, Robin has taken to calling him “Stevie” at this point and the way she talks about him really conjures the image of a standard preppy bitch who’s been Robin’s best friend since kindergarten, and Steve (in retaliation) tends to use “Rob” and “Robbie”, leading Crystal to believe his Robin is male), and seem almost as angry about this as they are about the infidelity.

Crystal’s attempts at explaining herself and apologising result in Steve retorting that he’s not even mad that she’d want to date Robin - Robin’s fucking amazing! If Crystal had just told him that was what he wanted, he probably would have been okay with it - which Crystal takes as Steve being a bitch, but is something Robin will point later as her realising that this is something she might be okay with.)

Anyway, I figure this is something that would happen when they’re in their 20s and/or their 50s. They’re either approached by a woman who thinks they’re a couple (“does it make our marriage more or less of a sham if we’re sharing a mistress?”) or they approach someone they both have a crush on a la Troy & Abed asking out the librarian.

I don’t think either of them would identify as poly, per se - it’s very much “if it’s you, it’s okay”, and if the girlfriend breaks up with one of them, it’s assumed she’s breaking up with both of them.

I just kind of like the combination of Robin and Steve as Platonic Life Partners, trying to figure out polyamory and just how absolutely Buckwild (Robin’s Wrestler name!) it would be for their [potential] girlfriends and anyone on the outside of the situation. Jon and Eddie just sat there, listening to Steve ramble about the situation bc it’s Robin’s date night and just…bluescreening. Argyle smiling and nodding “happy for you, man. I mean, sucks you’re off the market, but glad you’ve found something that works”.

one yes always interested in controversial takes tbh. two. omg yes exactly you are so smart anon

The Crystal situation!! so true this is absolutely something that would happen to stobin (also true I know a few queer women called crystal). bad luck in love that's them!!

I think Steve is like. mostly monogamous...unless his gf/partner is also dating Robin. like it would make sense to him I think. He'd be like well. this way we don't have to worry you things being weird about my Very Normal Friendship With Robin That Some People Thing Is Weird!

I think I've mentioned before the funny scenario of stobin going "hey me and my platonic life partner saw you across the bar and liked your vibes" and I stand by that.

But also funny is that Steve or Robin's girlfriend being absorbed into their dynamic and realizing that she is..... sort of dating both of them? And her being the one to bring up dating the other and Robin and steve going well how would that change things? and everyone realizing that it would probably only change the amount of kisses gf gets and going well that sounds cool let's try it!

Maybe in their 20s it doesn't work out but they try again in their 50s and they go wow! this was a great idea we were just young and it just didn't work out.

that's so fun. I want them to have crazy dating stories. I want Jonathan and Eddie to sit there going what the hell are these two doing? because the complexities of stobin's dating lives have always confused them even before the poly V started, and argyle just vibing listening to the double date night shenanigans he's being told.

[yonpote]

sorry i need to pause phanblogging to stermablog you guys understand

[robindrake93]

I once carved the billdip logo into a pumpkin for Halloween.