#seika explains

[seikaisinthevoid]

Everyone can hug the fish!!

Just don't squish them too hard and more geeeeeently guide them into your arms, then softly tighten it just barely making contact

You have successfully hugged a floating space fish~!!

enough fighting;

[colbyheartland]

I loved when okarun wore momo's clothes, it was one of my favorite scenes despite how underrated it was. Another understated thing I liked was when Okarun did the mouth to mouth without any complaint. Momo is consistently badass and I love her so much. I rewatch episode 4 just for the scene where Momo is about to grab the train with her powers and the palette just turns gold, and you can see the sunset and oh my gosh it's just… mwah! I also love how Turbo Granny stopped the serpo from probing Momo in the first episode? Because I realized that on rewatch after Seika explained about Turbo Granny's backstory–she went to Momo to protect her. It was subtle, and like some of the show's best moments, suuuper understated. Like I've only seen it mentioned a few times but its one of my favorite parts of the show's construction. I can't wait for Episode 8. :D

Yes yes yes to all of that!!! More things I love where it’s just “hey people are complicated and here are characters that reflect that” like Aira got some lifechanging trauma that episode and I can’t wait to see where that goes for her. I don’t expect her personality to totally flip or anything because that’s not how people grow and change and it’s not good character development to just “fix” her. But at heart she really is a silly highschool girl who thought she was the center of the universe (because she was trying so hard to be) and got some reality crashing down on her in a pretty brutal way.

And again the CPR scene, in other anime’s there would have been blushing and protesting but in dandadan it’s “oh god oh god we have to try and save this girls life” it’s treated as the medical procedure it is rather than “kissing” which contrasts nicely with Okarun and Momo’s actual accidental kiss. It was more a painful smash of their faces together but it embarrasses her and becomes more because Okarun and her actually know and like each other. She didn’t even really think that hard about how it could be considered a kiss at first because “ow we just smashed faces together and FINALLY I found you so we can talk” it’s only later that she gets embarrassed. And she gets embarrassed BECAUSE she’s starting to like Okarun even if they’re just friends right now.

[azems-familiar]

Mimodi

did this for Seika, since they start in Ul'dah and Lelesu doesn't, haha. ~1k words, most of it under the cut for length!

The Quicksand’s evening bustle is like a heartbeat, steady and rhythmic and pulsing with Ul’dah’s lifeblood. Momodi watches it all from her place behind the bar, listening to the scattered conversations she can hear - at one table an adventuring party discusses the next job they want to pick up, at the end of the bar a lalafell thamauturge flirts with the burly roegadyn woman next to her, in the corner of the room a pair of Brass Blades are making their way through their fourth round of the night; earlier she’d overheard them mentioning Lolorito’s coin, and had filed that away for later. Whatever he’s planning, she’ll keep an eye and an ear out, and relay anything of import to Papashan - it’s always in her best interest to keep the Sultansworn apprised of whatever the Monetarists are up to, and let them decide if they want to intervene or not. Affairs of state are only her business when she picks up gossip on them.

But they’ve got a missing crown, and the Syndicate once again pushing for more power, so if Lolorito’s bribing some of the Blades…well. 

The thaumaturge seems to be making some progress in her flirting - she waves Momodi over and asks for a round for the two of them on her tab, which Momodi fills with a wink - there’s some line about learning the secrets of the craft that’s terribly cheesy but makes the mercenary eye her with undisguised interest. Momodi chuckles to herself, leaning on the bar and noting the drinks down in her book, and as she glances up again she catches the sound of the front door opening over the voices.

The woman who steps in is one Momodi has never before seen in Ul’dah - she would remember an au ra adventurer, as rare a sight as that is in Eorzea. This one’s got pearlescent tan scales all across her face, arms, neck, and chest, peeking out from her sturdy brown traveling attire, and even from across the room the pale purple limbal rings in her eyes catch the lamplight and glow with it. Dark reddish-brown hair that fades to pale green frames her face and is pulled back from her head in two long tails, and she carries a sword of solid steel on her hip and a round shield on her back, walking like someone familiar with the weight of them. An adventurer, there’s no doubt about it…but there’s some indefinable quality about her that draws attention, beyond the strangeness of her horns and scales. She almost seems to glow with a light from within, something neither heard nor seen but felt.

Fairy tales and fantasy, Momodi wants to scoff, but that don’t explain the hole in her memory when she thinks of those heroes who fell at Carteneau, does it?

Conversation dies down for a moment as the newcomer weaves her way carefully between the tables, walking with a light step, then picks back up again in a flurry of furious whispering. The adventurer ignores all of it with a practiced ease, stopping in front of the bar, then hesitates a moment.

“Welcome to the Quicksand,” Momodi greets with her customary cheer, and shoos away another customer she knows is only here to gawp. “What can I get ya?”

“Wymond sent me to you,” the adventurer answers, and ah, of course he had. “I’m new to Ul’dah, and…looking for work. He said you could aid me with both of those things.”

Her voice is soft, and lilted in a way that takes Momodi a moment to place as Ishgardian, which raises a whole lot of questions she’s not so sure she needs or wants the answers to. Since the Calamity, Ishgardians don’t make their way into Eorzea unless they’ve got any other choice - some fled the snows, or poor fortune, but the majority are either disgraced, runaways, or so-called heretics…or a mix of all three. And a dragon-blooded girl raised up in that city? Poor thing.

“Well, he was right,” Momodi says, nodding with emphasis and gesturing for the girl to sit. She does, after a moment, and Momodi rummages around under the counter to bring out her Guild records, humming to herself. “I don’t just run the Quicksand - I’m in charge of the Adventurers’ Guild here in Ul’dah, and if you’re willin’ to answer some questions about what sort of work you’re lookin’ for, and your skills, I can get you on record and start makin’ connections between you and any patrons what might have a use for you. I’ll need a name for that, though, Miss…?”

She startles slightly, as if the thought hadn’t even occurred to her. Up this close, Momodi can see that her eyes are a dark indigo - lovely color, really, she’s a striking young woman. “...Seika,” she says. “Seika Valeriant - I’m an Ishgardian-trained paladin with a grasp on the fundamentals of spellwork, and an attunement to Light-aspected magic.”

Light magic? Well, isn’t that just rare…and Momodi thinks of her initial impression of Seika and wonders, even as she notes the adventurer’s name and skills down on an empty page of her log. The little customary interview and lecture on the basics of Ul’dah and adventuring go by quickly enough, and Seika pays for dinner and a drink and tucks herself onto a stool at the opposite end of the bar from the thaumaturge (who, halfway through, comes over to settle her tab with a pleased expression on her face, the mercenary standing as well and waiting for her). Momodi serves her up and settles back in for the rest of the evening, and keeps wondering all the while.

She’s been in this business for a long time, after all, and she’s got instincts aplenty from it - and looking at Seika, all she can think of is that this one is going to bring change wherever she walks. Whatever reasons have brought her to their desert rose of a city, whatever she’s running from, whatever it is about her that puts Momodi in mind of the long-lost Warriors of Light…something is coming, following along in this adventurer’s wake.

She just has to hope Ul’dah is ready for it.

[seikaisinthevoid]

Because we have a habit of worshipping animalistic instincts that makes people feel good, for some reason

There's spiritual meanings behind it and it's seen as like the most connection you can have to another human being, which is weird, but also a historic of censorship has probably influenced a extreme switch from taboo to ultimate freedom, and you know humans, they will take the new shiny thing and soil it into the ground until it basically loses all meaning

And that is many things, including sex!

Why are a majority of songs on the radio about sex...?

[chocosea]

Suite Precure Novel Prologue & Chapter 1 Summary

(This book is first person perspective from Hibiki.)

Prologue:

This summarizes the series' events and sets up an ominous tone for the upcoming chapters.

Hibiki wonders why she never noticed the deep sadness that was always right next to her. She now feels like she's being chased after by a quiet dark wave that's engulfing her. This part is cryptic and probably refers to events later in the novel, but she's basically in a dark place where there is no more sounds, which she simultaneously wants to stay in forever and leave immediately. She doesn't know what to do and doesn't believe she can fight heroically.

She never thought in her wildest dreams that she would ever feel this way.

Chapter 1 — As for Us Since Then...

Hibiki is in her third year of middle school and is going to graduate soon. After graduation, she's going to study abroad in Germany for music stuff. This is taking after her dad, since he studied there and also can speak German.

That said, she gets the sense that her dad's German is weird, much like his Japanese is weird due to his quirky personality. Hibiki has doubts that people will understand his weird German, but he's also the only person she can learn the language from so she's getting instruction from him anyway.

In terms of music lessons, Hibiki is getting piano lessons from both her dad and Ouji. Ouji sometimes teaches her 1-on-1, which she hasn't told Kanade yet because she knows Kanade would be jealous. Unlike her dad, Ouji actually explains what parts she gets wrong and gently encourages her by telling her that everything will turn out right. This has endeared him to her greatly to the point that she starts feeling her heart beat faster and her temperature rising sometimes when they're alone. In other words, Hibiki now also has a crush on Ouji-senpai. (Or at least it very much sounds like it considering lines in the next chapter.)

Ellen (Eren?) is trying to be a musician and writes her own songs that she plays around town. Hibiki notes her songs are a little sad but beautiful, a fact she hasn't told Ellen because she feels that Ellen might get carried away. Trio the Minor have also come to stay in Kanon Town and sing Ellen's back vocals sometimes. They've apparently ditched their funny outfits and made their hair normal (boo). They work at the biggest music store in town and want to debut with Ellen.

Pii-chan is living with Hibiki. Hummy is working as a songstress in Majorland and is staying there all the time.

Otokichi has been telling Hibiki, Ako, and Ellen that they all sound off when they play music (or in Ako's case, sing), lately. Probably because they're all off doing their own thing and their hearts aren't in harmony anymore.

Hibiki has to play a performance with Kanade at a farewell party before she leaves for abroad but Kanade hasn't been showing up to practice at all because she's so busy with baking, trying to get into a prestigious baking school.

Since Kanade wasn't showing up to practice, Hibiki went to go steal some of her food from her club. Though she was counting on Kanade noticing her and getting mad at her in their usual joke routine (it's evident here that Hibiki likes baiting her like this), Kanade was busy talking to a friend in the hallway. Kanade is very serious and really upset at Seika (who has graduated) and says something slightly mean about Seika's tarts (calling them far too mediocre) to the friend she's talking with. Seika apparently wouldn't praise Kanade's latest cake. This surprises Hibiki, both on the front the Seika would say something about the delicious cake she's in the middle of stealing & eating, and that Kanade would ever say something like that about a senpai she looked up to so much.

The friend noticed Hibiki and Hibiki was ready to hear Kanade's loud tsukkomi "HIBIKIIIII!!!" but instead Kanade is just quiet and is like, "Sorry. i'm busy today," and tries to return to baking.

Hibiki pulled Kanade into the hallway and told her she thinks it's really important for them to practice, and that she really wants to have a good performance with Kanade in their "last" moments before she goes off to Germany. Kanade said "last" was dramatic, and that she's sorry she forgot but she'll show up next time. She does a wink + puts her hands together, which Hibiki thinks she looks so cute that she relents.

Kanade tells her that a while ago a famous pastry baker came to visit and said she had talent. Hibiki wonders when that was and feels like Kanade is drifting from her, since before Hibiki would've been the first person Kanade would tell right after it happened.

Hibiki tries to invite Kanade to go to the ocean with Ako and Ellen and Kanade turns her down immediately because she's too busy. Kanade is thinking of setting up her own store instead of inheriting her dad's shop in the future too.

Hibiki feels like a kid who just had their favorite toy taken away. like she would just start bawling at Kanade being distant if she wasn't older.

Afterwards, Hibiki goes on an aimless walk and ends up in front of the clock tower where she sees Ellen. When she smiles at Hibiki, Hibiki internally compares her smile to a surprise present that makes her heart skip a beat "even though we're friends" (lol). Ellen also turns down Hibiki's offer to go to the beach, says she doesn't want to return to how they were before (alluding to having to fight and being evil due to her remaining guilt about the whole thing).

Hibiki goes to Shirabe Mansion and runs into Ako who is there because she ran away from Majorland temporarily (just for the day) as she's sick of having to hold her tongue to act like the queen that Mephisto and Aphrodite are training her to be. Even Otokichi says that she needs to try to tolerate it because she's going to be the queen of a whole country. So Ako is kind of arguing with all of her family right now.

Hibiki once again tries to suggest that the team all hang out but Ako immediately said "Can't." before Hibiki could even finish her sentence. RIP.

Hibiki is jealous of Kanade for having so much confidence in knowing what she wants to do to the point that she's not even asking her dad or Seika-senpai for advice anymore.

Hummy came to visit and brought cupcakes from Kanade's store — Hibiki notes that she doesn't remember the last time she's had these. Hibiki plays some piano with Hummy singing and narrates that she can relax around Hummy. It seems Hummy comes to hang out every now and then to check up on Pii-chan (Mephisto & Aphrodite ask her to do this periodically). Afterwards Hummy says goodbye and tells Hibiki to be happy while going back to Majorland.

Personal commentary:

The Ouji thing is extremely annoying. That's now 3/4 of the Suite girls who have had a crush on him, Ako only escaping because she was paired with Souta instead. (Speaking of which, where is that kid?)

It just seems so annoyingly out of character for Hibiki who didn't get his charm and had absolutely zero interest in him the whole series, even when he was just as kind and sparkly then too. I just don't like it. Hibikana wishful delusions aside, I feel like it should've just been left to Kanade since that was already established in show and far more in character.

Otherwise it's honestly cute that Hibiki is aware of her goading Kanade by stealing food routine and likes going through with the whole thing. It really indicates that despite her telling Kanade to buzz off multiple times in the first few eps of the anime she actually is taking actions to stay close to her also even if she didn't want to admit it. Even when they were barely speaking to each other they still had the fight routine about her stealing food from the baking club, which is something she probably did because it was an obvious way to get a reaction from Kanade. But unable to admit her feelings about it or talk about what was actually causing the rift in their relationship, she didn't know how to do anything else other than just fight with Kanade. (Though their initial fight with the whole tree waiting thing was silly as hell.) But like any interaction is better than none so Hibiki still stole food regularly enough for it to become a pattern between the two of them.

The other characters at the club also point that out in ep 1 (?) that Hibiki and Kanade actually are close and both of them shout that they aren't. Meanwhile they both get something out of the interaction enough to keep negging each other even though that isn't what they ultimately want.

However, unlike in the show where they would just start poking at each other's weak points emotionally, instead they both appear to be avoiding blow ups, even as they continue to dance around their emotions. Kind of weird though, since in show even in the early eps when they didn't admit that they were friends again Hibiki would do things like run to Kanade and confess that she's the number one fan of her cakes.

I feel like Kanade is throwing herself into her baking because she doesn't want to think about Hibiki leaving. So she's also avoiding all the things that will come off as like a "This our last time". I wonder if Kanade's new dream to own a posh store of her own is also a "I don't need Hibiki because I have a dream as big as hers" thing.

I don't really like the characterization that Otokichi would get on Ako's (who is like what, now, 9? 10?) case about being a future queen, or that Ako would speak so bluntly and coldly to him. I can sooort of see it but I expected Ako to have a better relationship with Otokichi than this. Rather than being cold to him, I expected her to have a harder time to say stuff that might disappoint him since he was there for her when neither of her parents were in the anime. Like if she was going to get mad at Otokichi I feel like it would be more of a frustrated, hurt / crying outburst type of mad that wants a hug rather than a cold freeze. Given Otokichi's goofy smile for her and stuff in the show, I also feel like he would've been less scolding about the whole thing and more of trying to give her gentler reminders. They're really trying to pull Ako as having to Grow Up immediately but it's kind of funny are you really going to grill your 9 year old like this. You and what, your entourage of clowns and animated self-playing instruments?

Anyway this book is a big tonal shift.

[saintseiya-thoughts]

ALRIGHT SO !!

Shiryu as Hadès and How His Character Could Have Had More Screentime (this is going to be long and like...not even half of what I have to say sorry)

First of all : Shun is actually a good character for Hades, the whole kind guy turning into World's End Maker was a good plot twist BUT character wise he was already pretty central and full fleshed, Shiryu otherwise....erm (I rlly love Shiryu but he gets so bad/forgattable after Sanctuary...sick) + don't forget those are the main plotlines !!! I have a whole developpement in my head but you don't want to read a whole novel so please bear with me

I feel like he was tossed a bit of the side after the first arcs and it genuinely makes me sad, his character is a bit alike to Shun's on some points but except losing his sight every five episode well...he's not as well developped as Shun lmaoo 😭 that's why I believe it could have been interesting, even without the whole developpement points who are hard to add in a show like this, his character could have been a little more than what he is...Shun has a pretty shiny role, Seiya is the mc, Hyoga has a familial story or something like this every arc, and Ikki also has meaningful parts in fights/story, while I feel like Shiryu was often here because well he had to, but doesn't have a role that big (minus maybe in Asgard, but here he was a bit of an ass with fenrir for no reason so um 😭)

Anyway so ! First of all, Shiryu is the only one without a known family member (Seiya -> Seika, Shun -> Ikki, Hyoga -> his mom), no real backstory, nothing (thanks Ohko for trying at least, genuinely it made Shiryu's character rlly much cooler) so I decided to change it to give him at least something ! Also the necklace trope is also included but I won't extend myself on it, you guys know how it works

Changed his whole non existent backstory in the AU, basically, instead of being an orphan with the other kids, he would have been taken home by Dohko, who would have protected him from Pandora and Hades when his parents died from their attack (I always saw Shiryu as Chinese, I scrapped the whole brothers trope bc I don't like it + it's manga only) Dohko is a powerful Saint and could have done that.

I feel like he'd know Shiryu was like...different, his job is looking at the reincarnation of the Specters so yeah, he felt it. But killing a child, right after Athena was taken away and almost killed ? Yeah...no...he'd feel too bad, and would take Shiryu with him instead, keeping it to himself in hopes a good teaching and keeping an eye on him could prevent anything bad from happening (almost worked ig, oops)

It could make an interesting plot point with Shiryu and Dohko's dynamic, because as much as Shiryu likes him as a parental figure and master, he knows he's keeping secrets from him, and would feel some resent when learning about the truth y'know ??

After that it doesn't change much from the plot, except when it comes to dynamic within the Bronze group : Shiryu is sent to check what the hell is going on with the Galaxians Wars (a bit like Hyoga did in the manga), Ikki makes a whole ass mess, etc etc. Also it'd "explain" how Shiryu was so eager to end Ikki's life : he doesn't know him like the others do. For him he's just a threat to put an end to, which would be interesting dynamic wise too...Seiya would try to integrate him to the group, Shun, while understanding his view, would feel some kind of discomfort BEFORE trying to learn to know him better (I love their friendship srry), and I feel like he'd connect with Hyoga with the whole "My dad is a Gold Saint and while I love him well sometimes he tends to be a bit weird with me" and with Ikki I have a whole another plotline but I can't sum up that. This post is already long enough. Anyway the dynamics would have been changed and I think it's interesting to learn to know characters through someone who doesn't know them as much as they do know each other ?? Honestly most of the developpement is made in my head here are just the big lines

ANYWAY, back on track, nothing changes that much from the og anime before Hades (or it does change in my head because Shiryu was badly written in those ‼️or not written at all idk) and...yeah 😭 whole big mess...Dohko has to explain to Shiryu how and why he kept like...HUGE stuff from him all his life in order to protect him, also to Shion because "why the fuck didn't you say anything" (he cares for the kid and was afraid Sanctuary would take him from him), also I don't really remember how the whole Pandora plot point was made in the thread I made with the person on discord (sorry it was in march but I remember Pandora has a different plotline than in the og anime) but starting here it's just, yeah kinda the same I guess !! Except for the Ikki part/dynamic with Shiryu, but ONCE AGAIN it's a part of my Shiryu/Ikki plotpoint and it'd be too long (before some ask, YES, Ikki stops himself from killing him, because YES, Ikki cares about his friend group), also if it sounds silly sorry, but he sometimes (in the og anime) had a bit of extreme reactions, was willing to go pretty far to protect the people he cares about (Fenrir, Ikki...) and it could be a bit of a hint to his soul sometimes awakening to his Hadès self... He's not like, cruel or really mean, there's just sometimes something off about him, he sometimes "shifts" slightly and ppl can't really pinpoint what it is (not sure about this one does it make sense ???? Idk)

The most important parts of this AU are basically the developpement of his character through that "newcomer" lenses, learning to trust the others, and overall develop a more meaningful dynamic with them and giving him a bigger role !! I know it sounds a bit "Saint Seiya, everything is the same minus Shiryu is Hades" but there's more to that I swear, it's just hard to explain like this without making huge walls about dynamics

(Can you tell I'm shitting myself. Please don't be rude rlly, if you don't like the idea just ignore !!)

[longlistshort]

Chiharu Shiota’s gorgeous installations are just one part of her engaging exhibition, Signs of Life, at Templon in NYC. The installations lead to other rooms of smaller sculptures as well as  paintings.

From the press release-

After a foundation degree in painting at Seika University in Kyoto, Chiharu Shiota chose to pursue her artistic studies in Berlin, focusing on performance. Her practice soon shifted towards site-specific installations. She skilfully weaves knotted threads to create fantastical scenes combining salvaged window frames, a piano, suitcases, books and used clothes. Bordering on drawing and sculpture, her fabulous ephemeral, immersive installations have become her signature. Since her impressive installation for the Japanese Pavilion at the Venice Bienniale in 2015, she has become one of the key figures on the international art scene and is regularly invited to show her work at museums worldwide.

In a hyper-connected world, Chiharu Shiota’s new exhibition questions the notion of the “web”, a living organism similar to the structures that make up the universe or the neurons our brains are built on. Created on-site over two weeks, a large-scale installation made of red threads symbolizes this permanent connection of information, collective memory and the world’s knowledge which cuts across cultures and continents. At the heart of the work are two arms, her own, placed on the ground. They are cast in bronze, palms facing up to the sky. “I always thought that if death took my body, I wouldn’t exist anymore,” explains the artist. “I’m now convinced that my spirit will continue to exist because there is more to me than a body. My consciousness is connected to everything around me and my art unfolds by way of people’s memory.”

The installation is followed by a series of sculptures. Enfolded at the centre of each one, as though frozen in place by the intertwined threads, are objects from daily life. “I feel that the objects we possess are like a third skin,” she says. “We accumulate these things and transpose our presence and our memory to them.” Often obsolete, weighed down by impenetrable histories, these objects — old suitcases, stained dolls, miniature pieces of furniture and tiny bottles — represent the treasures offered up by memory, to be seen but not touched.

This exhibition closes 3/9/23.

[kaibutsushidousha]

The Story of the Boy Who Left to Pick Up Sand from the Moon (Sagrada Reset 4) - Chapter 3

[INDEX]

The clock precisely 5 minutes late read almost 11:45.

The loud voices of the children drowned out the loud voices of the cicada. Boys and girls occupied the swings. Other boys threw a yellow ball to each other. It looked like they were playing dodgeball without a marked court.

Asai Kei and Haruki Misora sat at a bench on a small park. 

"July 23rd, 11:48:46.", said Haruki. She had her phone on her ear to hear the exact time.

Kei remembered what happened 5 minutes ago.

Five minutes before Sunday, July 23rd, 11:48:46. It was a memory of July 26th—which numerically should be 3 days in the future.

The world was living July 26th until a few moments ago. Kei and Haruki were sitting on this same bench, but there were no children.

"Seems like we Reset.", said Kei.

Kei has the ability to reliably remember everything. The three days wiped away by the Reset return only to his head.

"We were investigating a boy named Kusakabe Shouta pre-Reset."

Tomorrow, on the night of the 24th, one boy will disappear. His last words before leaving will be "I'll go pick up sand from the moon". He'll be right in front of Nonoo Seika.

Kei didn't know what his ability was. The Bureau was just as uninformed.

On the 25th, the day after the boy's disappearance, Kei received a Service Club mission to investigate the boy. Their tentative goal was to verify the boy's safety.

They tried waiting until the 26th, but the boy didn't come back, so they Reset.

"Any questions?", Kei asked after explaining the past three days.

The yellow ball bounced away, and the children ran after it.

"None come to mind.", Haruki answered.

"Then let's meet Shouta tomorrow."

"Does it have to be tomorrow?"

"Yeah. Today we won't contact either Shouta or Nonoo."

Kusakabe Shouta would only disappear next night.

But Kei's actions carried a risk of bringing the schedule forward.

24 hours after the Reset, he could Save again. There was no reason to rush it. It was better to take their time and Save on the next afternoon before making any moves.

"Then we have nothing to do today."

"True. My only plan for tonight is watching the moon."

A small child threw the yellow ball with all his might, causing it to fly above another kid's head and roll to a corner of the park.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Same date, 7:30 PM.

With a small knapsack on his back and a telescope on his shoulders, Kusakabe Shouta climbed the narrow staircase to the side of the Hanamizaki Shrine. An inconspicuous staircase, easy to miss if you don't know it's there.

A moon shaped liked a half-circle occupied the lower position of the sky. Guided by the moon's light, he climbed the stairs, paying attention to his every step.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One year ago, on a summer night, Kusakabe Shouta climbed the same mountain.

He carried the same knapsack on his back and the same telescope on his shoulders. But he wasn't threading the same path. Back then, Shouta still didn't know about the shrine's staircase. 

He was there for stargazing. His father had just bought him a new telescope, which he wanted to use on the best place to see the stars, so he snuck away from home and headed in the opposite direction to the lights of the city.

He sought the darkest and tallest place he could find. He wandered into a mountain in a daze, and when he returned to his senses, he was lost.

He was too exhausted to take another step, and his arms hurt from carrying the telescope for too long. Shouta sat under a tree.

The longer time passed, the more anxious he grew. He thought, with no exaggeration, that he was going to die there. Under the tree painted black by the shadows, Shouta looked at the night sky and cried in silence. 

That was when he noticed something wrong on his feet.

He checked what it was and noticed a cat poking at his shoelace.

Shouta found the cat weird. It was small and skinny but its white fur shone under the moonlight. Its deep yellow eyes looked gold depending on the angle, like a pair of moons.

The cat leisurely started walking in a different direction.

Shouta was bewildered at first. The cat seemed to be a stray. It didn't have a collar and it was too skinny to belong to someone.

(Am I supposed to follow this cat?)

But he couldn't accept the idea that a stray cat would try to save him.

Due to Shouta's hesitation, the cat stopped and turned to him.

And then he meowed once, without a care in the world. It was a mocking meow.

(The cat won't stay here forever. I'll follow him and that should take me somewhere.)

The uncaring cat proceeded through unpaved mountain tracks.

Shouta was desperate to keep up with it.

He felt like the cat had been wandering the mountain for the longest time. But after a while, he came to realize that it only had been about 10 minutes.

He followed after the cat until he finally discovered open space.

Shouta found himself in front of a small shrine.

He seriously wondered if he had made it into another world. That's how fantastical the scenery was. What he was seeing didn't look real by any stretch.

The shrine was surrounded by countless cats. And at the center of the circle of cats, a girl sat on the shrine's three-step staircase.

A girl with doll-like pale skin and flowy dark hair. Her quiet expression and closed eyes made it seem like she was sleeping. Her beautiful skin shone faintly with the moonlight. Her light felt cold like the very light of the moon.

(Who is this girl? What is this girl?)

Shouta wasn't sure if she was human. If anyone told him she was a moon spirit or a god of cats, he could easily believe it.

When he least expected it, the girl opened her eyes.

She looked at him with captivating eyes darker than the night sky.

He couldn't breathe. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. His heart was loud.

He knew this was love at first sight. Despite never experiencing it before, he had no doubts this was it. The boy fell in love for the first time when she opened her eyes.

With no sign of humanity on her face, she calmly introduced herself. "I'm called Nonoo Seika."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He knew about the inconspicuous staircase next to the shrine because she showed it to him on the way home from the night they first met. Since that day, Shouta has never found a different path to her.

One year passed and he traversed this path many times more. He loved watching the night sky, but had a much greater wish to see the beautiful woman.

But this would soon come to an end.

In 4 days, Shouta was going to leave the city in the morning.

He wanted her to be sad about it, but he knew he was asking for too much there. Shouta's absence wouldn't make a difference to her. She'd sport the exact same expression and go through the exact same routine. That's who he believed Nonoo Seika was.

The stairs ended at a mountain trail. Shouta briskly advanced through it.

He was jealous of that white cat. The cat who died six months ago trying to reach the moon. The stray cat who brought them together.

Conversations about the cat could bring a faint smile to Nonoo Seika. Even from the grave, the nameless earned that expression. He earned it from eternity. What Shouta never shared with anyone was that he wanted what the cat had.

What did he have to do to earn? How could he make the belle like him as much as she liked a cat? Pondering about that, he noticed he knew absolutely nothing about her. She never talks about herself. He didn't know her hobbies and preferences.

The only thing that came to his mind were cats. It always comes back to that white cat.

So what if he granted the cat's wish?

(I could do something for the cat. Anything. Like getting him some kind of moon-themed present. It could be even be sand from the moon. If I could give her that, would I become her second favorite?)

That was what Shouta thought one month ago, more specifically, on the day his family decided to move. Shortly after it, Shouta gained an ability.

But his ability as extremely weak. It'd be a miracle if he somehow managed to pick up sand from the moon with an ability like this. 

Before long, a small shrine appears past the mountain tracks.

However, Nonoo couldn't be found there.

No Nonoo meant no cats. The only thing there was an ancient shrine.

Shouta sat on the stairs and looked around. He tried waiting 30 minutes, but Nonoo still wouldn't appear. 

(Not today either.)

4 days left until he moves away. Would he be able to find her here at night—While the moon was out?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Under the shadow of the trees, where the darkness of the night was darker, Asai Kei watched the boy.

He took a good look at the kid's sad face.

And that's how he noticed that the boy never peered into his telescope or looked at the sky at all before he made his way back where he came from. 

With that he understood that the boy's goal was not in the vast universe above.

[kazarinn]

Regarding Saint Tail girls! and our future plans

I've gotten this question a few times now, so I felt I should dedicate a proper post to explaining the situation so I can refer back to it. Saint Tail has a spiritual sequel manga (of sorts? It's a bit complicated, I'll explain below) called Saint Tail girls!, which was the product of a contest held by Kodansha in 2017 to create a Saint Tail sequel by a new creator. Now that we've finished retranslating the original series, some people have been (quite understandably!) curious about if we have any plans for the sequel as well.

The thing is, I'm not sure how many people are aware of this, but Saint Tail girls! is only four chapters (two split into two parts each) and is an incomplete story with a lot of unanswered questions/loose ends hanging. What's more, its connection to the original series is a bit fuzzy, since while it ostensibly takes place in Seika and has a school named St. Paulia, there aren't any concrete references to events or characters from the original series besides the fact that a vigilante phantom thief named St. Tail existed before. If you've read the original series, the premise of "two girls competing for the St. Tail title and taking up her name" should immediately raise eyebrows, since the original series is clear about its stance that worshipping St. Tail like a name instead of an individual person is disrespectful (needless to say, it makes one wonder what Asuka and Seira are doing during all this, because there's no way they'd approve).

I'm not saying this to knock against the writing, since it does seem like it was a proof of concept of sorts, and if the series had been extended, it may have addressed those questions (after all, the original series was also initially meant to be only four chapters as well). But nevertheless, that's where it stopped, and a thank-you message from author/artist Shiki Yamori. that was included at the end of the digital volume release has a note of finality that suggests we probably shouldn't be expecting more anytime soon. Because of this, the team and I would like to prioritize Tachikawa's other works that were either translated badly or left untranslated, since we feel that those are in more urgent need of attention.

That said, since it's only four chapters, I do still have it under consideration, so it's "very deep down in the backlog and low priority" rather than a hard no from me. But if people are still curious about it, I can at least consider moving it up the queue a bit, so do feel free to let me know if you're interested!

[soleminisanction]

I have seen the new Knights of the Zodiac movie and must now scream into the void about this fandom no other English-speakers care about. General thoughts above the cut, spoiler-y thoughts below it.

In general: it's fine. Fun even. I'm not gonna sit here and tell you it's a masterpiece, but I'd watch sequels. I'd be interested to see how they interpret other stories in the series given what they've set up here.

It's basically a reworked, movie-original origin story designed to give Seiya and Sienna actual character arcs, and it does that. Pretty much all the weirdness comes from the fact that they're clearly using the Netflix series as the basis of deviation, not the original manga or anime.

Despite the multinational cast, being filmed in English, and everybody trying to talk it up as a "Hollywood" take on the franchise, I honestly don't think it felt like a Hollywood movie. Something about the pacing, editing and special effects reminded me way more of Japanese cinema, specifically high-budget tokusatsu productions like Gatchaman and Shin Ultraman. Which is honestly what I wanted so I was perfectly happy.

The central cast is great. I'd like to see them come back.

I liked the special effects and designs, personally.

They made some great use of music that was either based on, remixed from, or just completely new orchestral arrangements of the music from the original anime.

Sean Bean made it to the second-act climax before his inevitable death.

The choice to make Guraad, the military leader from the Netflix series, a woman, and also Kido's ex-wife, was a fascinating choice. But hey, it meant the movie passes the Bechdel test, because she and Sienna have this interesting, antagonist mother/daughter relationship that has absolutely nothing to do with the men in their lives and everything to do with the existential horror of humanity confronting the gods so. That's fun.

Marin was appropriately badass. I really liked her chemistry with Seiya's actor.

Honestly in general Mackenyu was a real highlight of the film? Him and Diego Tinoco both, they were great. Madison Iseman and Mark Dacasos were both more Hollywood-y, but they put in good performances, and once Sienna went full Athena the effects and performance were pretty spot-on.

Cassios shows up as a henchgoon and jobber. He's got an Ophiuchus tattoo, which was an interesting little detail.

But speaking of little details -- unsurprisingly, Nero is the one with the most interesting potential for sequels. He's the only other Knight besides Seiya and Marin that we get to see and acts as Guraad's "dragon" and mystical-stuff advisor throughout the film. They don't really explain what his deal is, aside from wanting to kill Athena and steal the Gold Cloth, so he could be there on Sanctuary's behalf. But at one point during their fight he says to Seiya, "Humans don't need any gods." And throughout the movie, he's wearing an earring that is super obviously Shun/Shaun's triangle chain. That has some really interesting potential for sequels, particularly in parallel with what they do with Seika/Patricia protecting Seiya.

Oh, and it ended with both Seiya and Nero shirtless and showing off their very nice abs so hey, kudos for remembering the secondary fanbase that's kept this franchise alive.

So yeah, overall: I see why it only got a limited release, but it'd sure be nice if it was popular enough in Latin America to fund a sequel. I've seen worse movies. This is a cheesy-ass franchise, I never get my hopes up too high, if it entertains me for the length of the film I consider it a success.

Still think it's hilarious that Sean Bean wound up here. How the hell did that happen.

[sasdavvero]

hi hi okay so

rambles about them under the cut

very small thing: Zero is the most canon Isagi (i try, it's already not canon the fact that he slept with two of the versions. anyway.); Sette is a specific version of Zero that. uh. is more outgoing and. uh. i have no idea how to explain actually. (because all of these pieces of shit are barely version and very OCs so. very unfortunate)

anyway. so. okay. They are supposed to fuck, for the bit (?). Zero would and Sette apparently would too and I wanted to leave the only not-sexual relationship in the whole thingie that between Sette and Hachi? It feels more significant if only they don't fuck.

When I say the bit I mean that it's very funny how Zero would fuck all of them, in a way.

I am also very unsure of the contrary, actually: Sette is a person who relies on sex to feel as a human being, in a way (to be seen, to feel himself, to see a meaning in his existence), main reason why Hachi and he don't fuck: it serves as a way to make him understand that he can be a person without being seen as a sexual object first, so that's what I mean when I say that the relationship between him and Hachi has a very specific and important meaning.

So, if he and Zero fuck, it would confirm his specific idea that he's not a person, in a way. it would be just another relationship he has that's purely based on sex where the other person does not care about other parts of him.

(for context: things are rocky in his universe. exactly because he went overboard with that in bllk. sad!)

I care about Sette a lot and I want him to have friendships and relationships that are not as the ones he has with any other person he knows, and that would mean not making him and Zero fuck, I think?

On another note though, this could be the news in his life: ever since he started having sex with people, he has come to realize that none of the people actually see him as a person (it's mentioned in a story how "people see him" but. they don't. not completely at least. it's a realization he probably had while in bllk (so off screen)) because he is only that, something to be used. But, with Zero, I think I could make him see the other side: if there's a type of relationship where he's simply sexualized and not cared about, and another type where he is not sexualized and is cared about, there can be a new one (for him) where sure, yeah, they fucked, but the person [Zero] does actually see him and cares for him.

does this make sense? no idea

I feel like this is contradicting in some parts: does Sette mind being simply an object or is he human if he is an object? I have not a single clue! I think that's something that's evolving in him: he was a human as an object because that was all he was and that was all he knew. After meeting Hachi, does he feel like being an object is not enough anymore? Does he want not to be one? Maybe! I dont know! That's why I have no idea what to do!!

(btw this does not take into consideration the relationship he has with Seika, as he considers her as some kind of sister he never had, so we'll leave her out of the debate)

(I will think about his relationship with Yon in a moment that's not now. What's yet to be written does not matter)

(we will not even take into consideration Kyuu as they would not even talk with Sette. (too busy making Hachi's life hell. For more info, see last sentence above))

this is more complicated than this and I barely have half of it in my mind, so I'm even more shit at explaining, sorry :(

in case anyone is interested, I'll link here the ao3 series about them! and yeah, I will see what to do I guess?

[vivvy-of-the-lake]

hey I might be stupid but aren't bocchi and co like 16-17?

No you're right, everyone in Kessoku Band is (That's Bocchi, Kita, Nijika, and Ryo) but pretty much all of the supporting cast is older - Seika is 29, for example, and Kikuri is at least the legal age to drink in Japan

Any NSFW interactions with the members of Kessoku band that I condone are considered to be "aged up", and I know that's not ideal but it's something common to a lot of anime and is a consequence of the age of consent being 16

I know this is a really bad position to be in, and I'm praying that you'll all understand what I mean and that I won't be crucified, but I figure it's best to explain it than not give you a clear answer - although if these were real people I would NOT be condoning ANY kind of NSFW content about them

[estellamiraiauthor]

The Stars May Rise and Fall: The Annotated Re-read (Chapter 25)

Chapter 25 is another long-ish chapter with multiple scenes, but it’s also pretty straightforward so there’s not a TON to comment on?

As always, spoilers (including spoilers for chapters beyond this one) under the cut!

The first major thing that happens here is that Teru quits his job. This is partly a sign that the band is doing well, but the amount of success they have at this point still isn’t enough to live on. It’s more of a sign that he’s secure enough in his relationship with Rei—which is still where most of his money is coming from.

Then we have the band’s first show without Kiyomi, and Minori and Seika both recruit some temporary roadies to help out: Minori’s brother Keisuke, and Seika’s boyfriend Sung-Min. Up to this point, the rest of the band had assumed Seika was single because he likes to joke about all the beautiful boys he likes… but that’s really a defense mechanism too, and we learn here that he’s actually in a committed, long-term relationship with someone who’s not even into visual kei and isn’t flamboyant at all. I’ve mentioned this before too, and I don’t know if you’d even get the significance if you didn’t live in Japan (ESPECIALLY at the time), but it was also very intentional that his long-term partner is Korean, and we can assume they’ve possibly had a few little hurdles in their cross-culture relationship as well… in other words, Seika really isn’t the superficial flirt he pretends to be at all.

Minori also shows up looking like absolute shit, which is never directly explained, but I think he was probably up all night the night before arguing with his family, before finally agreeing to quit the band after the show. His brother showing up to help us probably also because HE feels guilty… more on that in a bit.

This is the first time we’ve really had a full description of a concert in awhile, and the main purpose of this scene is to show the reader how much Teru has grown since the LAST concert scene. He’s comfortable on stage now, and the crowd reacts well… a far cry from where he started.

But after announcing the new album and playing a song from it, to a positive response, Minori calls the whole band, plus Sung-Min and Rei, to an izakaya and tells them that he plans to quit.

I don’t really know if I REGRET what I did here, but if I ever have the chance to make that hypothetical anime adaptation, I think I’d probably pick a more obviously urgent reason for Minori to quit. He quits to take over his family business, which is a pretty common reason in Japan, which is still a pretty patriarchal society where the firstborn son can be expected to carry on the family trade… it’s not unrealistic, but it would’ve been more urgent, I think, if one of his parents was sick or he’d gotten a girlfriend pregnant or something. “The family business isn’t doing so well” is a VALID reason, but it’s not as URGENT as it could’ve been for story purposes?

Anyway. Teru and Rei have very different reactions to this… while Teru sees it as a major blow and possibly the end of the band, Rei seems to view it as a minor annoyance. Teru asks him if he would’ve replaced Saki, and Rei says there would’ve been no need, because Saki chose his music over his family.

I talked previously about class differences and about how, while there’s a WEALTH gap between Teru and Rei, it’s not really a CLASS gap. They both grew up in middle-class families… Teru in the 80s and 90s and Rei in the 60s and 70s, and Rei’s family was a little more strictly traditional than Teru’s was, but it wasn’t a TOTALLY different upbringing. Saki, on the other hand, was Rich with a capital R. His parents BOUGHT him an apartment so he could go to law school in Tokyo; he came from Very Old Money, and it PISSES HIS PARENTS OFF to no end that he chose to pursue music and to be with Rei instead of leading the life they wanted for him. Leaving the apartment and all the money that was in his name to Rei was one last giant Fuck You to his parents… and to Rei, anything less than that isn’t something he can really understand. To Rei, music trumps family every time, and if Minori doesn’t share those values, Rei’s fine with cutting him off and finding someone else.

Teru talks a little about his family here, and why he chose a stage name that has nothing to do with his real name. In real life, I chose Teru’s name because I really like that kanji (輝) but my husband told me really early on that he didn’t want to use it for our kids’ names, so I used it for my book baby instead. It’s almost a throwaway scene, but after that conversation, Teru goes to the convenience store and buys a phone card to call his family in Niigata. Of course, it’s 3am and he realizes that and hangs up before anyone can pick up… but I think he cares more about his family than he really lets on. If I ever write that sequel, it’s going to deal with both Teru’s and Rei’s relationships with their families, and navigating a somewhat “forbidden” relationship in the public eye.

In the last, very short, scene of this chapter, Rei asks Teru if he would give up music for him. It’s been established previously that Rei’s questions often have “correct” answers; even when he seems to be asking Teru’s opinion, it can be a kind of test. Teru says yes, he would absolutely give up his music for Rei if necessary, but first he’d do what he could to make sure they could keep doing it together. This is absolutely the Wrong Answer, as far as Rei is concerned. Combined with his ongoing worries about his own health and mobility, Teru has now told his directly that he, Rei, as a person, is a higher priority than the music… and for Rei, that’s absolutely not acceptable. I think he just doesn’t see himself as having much value or DESERVING to have much value as a person… but he’s extremely vain about his music, and if Teru’s feelings for his as a person outweigh his obligation to perform his music? That’s another point to tip the scale in the direction of Rei eventually leaving.

[niaswish]

For Want of Common Sense

Chapter 8 Summary:

Wato leads the others back to Snark, all the while planning how to get the Duke to slip and reveal themselves.

Chapter 8: Getting to safety.

And just like promised, Wato found himself thoroughly questioned as he led them through safe passages. From how he had found them to the details of his deduction concerning the Quartering Duke, he answered everyone as much as he could. The only thing he refused to reveal, mostly because he was having too much fun with making them guess, was how he had snuck out. 

Techie frowned, "Is that why we haven't come across any more of the SPXs?"

Wato shrugged "Maybe? I sent out the forced shut down about," He quickly checked the time, "4 hours ago."

" The girl demands to have a hint concerning the case of the escaped Incompetent Detective."

"The only people who could have used that way to escape are you and me." Wato paused a moment then added, "Maybe Posh but that's unlikely."

" 'That is not very helpful.' reproaches the girl with annoyance."

Wato and Mystic shared an amused look as Bookworm pouted.

-=-=-

"Why were you so sure that the black SPX wouldn't go after you?" Workaholic asked during a break.

"I wasn't sure of it at all." Wato smiled awkwardly, firmly ignoring how Seika had tensed up by his side. "It was a big machine, which meant it wouldn't be able to easily move through the forest. It likely had enough strength to cut down the trees, but that would take longer and make a lot of noise."

"Would you have returned to the manor if it had gone after you?" Gourmet asked, leaning forward.

Wato shook his head. "Not right away. I figured that if it went after me, then the noise would alert everyone, and you'd be able to use the opportunity to get out. I would have eventually made my way back once I started to get tired."

"And how is that having common sense?" Seika pointedly asked.

"I had a plan and a back up. I calculated the risks against the needs of the group, and figured out the best and safest way to do it." Wato replied with the same pointed tone.

-=-=-

They were near the hanger when Doleful hesitantly touched his shoulder. "Yes?" Wato slowed down to match Doleful's pace. "Do you need anything, Doleful?"

"Umm... I was just wondering... about the Quartering Duke. Do you know who they are?" Doleful asked carefully.

"I have my suspicions but nothing concrete yet. However, I do know about Invincible Detective." Wato caught Workaholic glancing over sharply. It was unlikely he had caught Doleful's question even if he had heard Wato's answer. He lowered his voice a bit. "The basement archives had a lot of files concerning the SP's experiments. I found a lot of interesting stuff in there while I was looking for the blueprints to the maze. Why do you ask?"

"Ah! You're so amazing, Incompetent! You managed to solve the Quartering Duke case! But.. Well... The truth is going to hurt a lot of people, right?" Doleful lowered his voice as he fiddled with his hands restlessly. "Right now, they're victims of a crime, pitied for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. But when everyone learns that it was all suicides then... That will change right?"

Wato didn't answer, just humming to say he was listening.

"And then there's Senior Detective and Downtown Detective." Doleful glanced over at the two. "What will happen to their family? Their friends? Especially Downtown, she's really popular and has a lot of friends. Once the news gets out that she helped people kill themselves, won't everyone turn on her friends?"

Wato stayed silent, knowing that Doleful was looking for a reaction but not giving it to him yet.

"The DA will have to explain about the Special Police, and what they did here. Even if they try to keep Workaholic Detective's name out of it, it.... it will come out eventually." Doleful paused, glancing around furtively then lowering his voice.  "His family will get mixed in... His daughter especially might end up in danger because of what he did within the SP." It was a slight, barely there, anxious shift in Doleful's tone that told Wato he had him.

With a kind smile, Wato reached out to clasp Doleful's shoulder. "You're very kind, aren't you Doleful?" That seemed to startle the young man, though whether it was his words or the touch was hard to determine. "And you are right. The next few years will be hard for everyone, maybe even harder on Workaholic and his family, yet it might not be."

"What?"

"Well, it's just common sense right?" Wato declared, fighting to keep his amusement out of his voice or body language. "You said it yourself, how information is presented affects how people will react to it. So yes, if all the DA does is state that the Duke's victims died from suicide then people aren't going to react all that well."

"But... What if it's presented in another light? The victims of the Quartering Duke were encouraged to commit suicide instead of being provided the help they needed? That changes things a lot." By now they had both stopped at the entrance of the hangar to talk.

"The same thing can be done to help Workaholic. Yes, he was part of the SP and took part in the experiments. However, if the fact that he helped dismantle the SP and has been working tirelessly since then to make amends is accentuated, then his story is no longer that of a villain but of a redeemed hero." Wato squeezed Doleful's shoulder gently as he finished. "It's all about perspective, and I'm sure the DA's public relations department can figure it out."

With that, Wato headed towards the rest of the group. It was up to Doleful now, though he was fairly certain of his reaction. Denouement hadn't shown him anything specific, just the steady image of everyone dying as it had since that first night, but he still hoped that they could end this nightmare without any more murder attempts. It was unlikely but still possible.

As they activated the helipad lift, Seika came to stand by him. "Well?" She asked softly. Wato nodded, glancing over to where Doleful was talking with Workaholic off to one side. He frowned at the sight, especially after what Doleful had just told him. He would have to go talk with Workaholic before they left, just to make sure the senior detective wasn't worrying too much. Seika elbowed him gently, "Don't worry about Workaholic. I already told him I'd take responsibility if people start asking questions about the SP."

He wasn't sure that would be enough but Seika knew Workaholic better than he did. "Alright." He glanced over at Mystic, whom Armor was half-supporting by now, before saying, "We should probably rest a bit before heading towards the boat if the rescue team isn't here yet."

"I've already told Gourmet and Rowdy to head towards the boat once we're above ground." Seika said with a smile before raising her voice to draw everyone's attention. "We'll head over to Snark and wait inside until we get news about the rescue team. Armor, please help Mystic."

"Leave it to me, Lady Ideal Detective! I shall see him to safety post-haste." Armor declared with his usual energy.

"Thank you, Armor. Gourmet, Rowdy, be careful on your way to the boat. Since Incompetent Detective has already called for help, there is no need for us to take any risk. Is that clear?"

"We will ~" Gourmet hummed as she looked at the approaching surface.

Rowdy was shifting her weight from one foot to the other, obviously gearing up for a fight. "Don't ya worry, Ideal! We're goin' ta be right back before ya know it."

As they got close enough to see the surface, Gourmet suddenly shouted. "Wait! There's something metallic up there!"

"Oy, oy! Is it that black SPX bastard?" Rowdy moved towards the front of the group, Armor only a moment behind after having handed Mystic to Posh, who was the closest.

"It's fine." Wato said quickly. "I shut down all the SPX this morning so it shouldn't be active"

"Then why is it here?" Doleful asked.

"I think the shut down order has them returning to their charging station." He explained. "It must be in one of the underground tunnels since the SPX wasn't close to Snark when we arrived a few days ago, right?" He glanced over at Bookworm, who quickly nodded a confirmation.

Armor, Gourmet, and Rowdy didn't let down their guard as the lift came to a stop. The black SPX stood motionless near the edge of the helipad lift, not reacting to any of them. Rowdy tilted her head to one side at this then walked over to knock on it. "Well, would ya look at that? Seem' like it's off after al'."

Reassured that the SPX wouldn't attack them, they wasted no more time to head towards Snark. Now, it was a matter of waiting. Either for the Duke to act or the rescue team to show up, and Wato had a feeling he knew which would happen first.

A/N: Wato and Seika are working together quite well against Doleful. But will that be enough? ;)

[chocosea]

Suite Precure Novel Chapter 6 Summary

Chapter Title: I Can't Trust Anyone Anymore

Otokichi tries the pipe organ but it likewise didn't work. Hibiki looks behind her and she sees Kanade there; Kanade apparently ran after her when she bolted.

Kanade says she knows Hibiki has something to say to her and demands to know what it is. She says that they're best friends so she knows this much. Ellen and Ako also came and are agreeing with Kanade.

Hibiki says that she feels that Kanade has changed because she skipped out on piano practice and doesn't take advice from her dad or Seika anymore. Kanade insists she hasn't changed. Kanade is on the verge of tears which Hibiki feels is wrong because Kanade is someone who hates to lose. Ellen and Ako are asking Hibiki if they've changed too and Hibiki feels like they have.

Hibiki yells out that Kanade is possessed by Vanish and that she isn't the Kanade she knows. Kanade says she hates Hibiki and walks away; Ellen and Ako follow her. Hibiki continues hearing Kanade's voice in her head. She starts thinking that Kanade must have been praying to the dark cloud that night her figure was on the balcony.

Hibiki returns to her room. She still hears Hummy, the pipe organ, and Mephisto and Aphrodite in the distance.

A few days pass and Hibiki hasn't responded to any texts and hasn't really been eating, just curling up in her futon. Her dad told her to go out and meet Kanade so she goes to Kanade's store, which has now been shuttered. She doesn't know what to say and starts heading back.

Ako and Ellen spot her and come up to her to talk. Ellen is mad at Hibiki for accusing Kanade like that. Kanade has been crying every day since then apparently. Hibiki is trying to explain why she thinks Kanade is possessed. The others don't heard the weird resonance thing that she does.

Hibiki wants the other two of them to help her recover Kanade's heart from Vanish. She has admitted that she's been hearing Kanade's voice in her head. The cloud above them makes a non-resonating thundering sound and Ellen/Ako hear that for the first time.

Hibiki is saying that she knows that the one making people disappear isn't actually Kanade but Vanish, but inside she's doubting herself on that. Since she still feels like it's what Kanade wanted.

Ellen grabs Hibiki by the shoulders and tells her firmly that Hibiki is the one who's changed, not Kanade. Ellen and Ako tell her that she hasn't been acting like she used to, where she would argue with Kanade and then quickly make up afterwards. They tell her that at the farewell party she blew up at Kanade in front of them and told Kanade she hated her. Hibiki has no memory of this because of all the fogginess during that whole thing. Apparently no matter how hard Ellen and Ako tried to stop Hibiki, she wouldn't stop saying mean things to Kanade.

Ellen asks Hibiki why she's changed so much and then starts crying. Ako says she's sad in a weak voice. Hibiki is hearing the voice in her head that's telling her to erase everyone who's making her sad. the voice no longer sounds like Kanade and now a chord of Ako and Ellen's voices.

Mephisto, Aphrodite, and Hummy have summoned the rainbow keyboard to fetch Ako. Ako is yelling at them to leave her alone because she's in the middle of an important conversation and she has to do something about Hibiki acting weird. Hibiki is staring blankly as this is the first time she's ever seen Ako display her emotions so openly. Ako is crying too now at how Hibiki could doubt her Precure team when they've all fought together. Mephisto is telling Ako she has to take shelter because she can't fight as a Precure currently and Ako yells back, "But you were the one who abandoned me!" probably referencing the time he was evil before. Hibiki is convinced Ako would never say this, so this Ako isn't the Ako she knows. Ellen is also glaring at Mephisto.

Hibiki yells "Watch out!" and Mephisto and Aphrodite get taken by the cloud. Ako and Ellen don't say a thing at first, which spooks Hibiki. When what happened registers to them, they calling up at the sky for Mephisto and Aphrodite now, but Hibiki doubts them. Hibiki is convinced that Ako and Ellen are the ones who changed and not her. Hummy had clung onto Mephisto and Aphrodite but they got taken so she's fallen right in between Hibiki and Ako/Ellen. She tells Hibiki to believe in people.

Otokichi comes running at them, saying that it's dangerous and they should run. Hibiki reflexively says, "Watch out!" to him and he gets grabbed by the cloud. Hibiki runs after him and takes his hand (and I guess pulls him out?). They make it to Shirabe Mansion, where Hibiki tells him that everyone's acting weird. As she's talking to him, a voice in her head that sounds like Otokichi is telling her to trust her intuition.

Otokichi tells her to think back to the incident that started all of this. Hibiki starts thinking about the farewell party and and suddenly Otokichi's kneeling on the ground now and crying and saying that it's not his emotions but the sadness is pouring into him.

Otokichi tells her that she needs to think back to the original incident and that she's probably the only one who can unravel this mystery. Hibiki runs out of the mansion and Otokichi follows her, but the moment he steps outside he's taken for Real by the cloud. Hibiki tries to grab onto his hand again but this time the cloud is too strong. Otokichi shouts that the culprit is likely close to her.

Hibiki goes to find Ellen and Ako because she feels like she needs to do something as a Precure and therefore needs a team and they're on the beach. Hibiki is convinced that it's everyone's fault that this is happening and is refusing to think about herself as the problem. (which probably means that she is indeed the problem.)

Hibiki has decided that if Ellen and Ako are also infected then she will be too soon (lol.) So she takes their hands and says she wants to make sure that no one else will be taken. She apologizes for doubting Kanade and is saying that there isn't just one culprit. (doubt/?) They go in for a hug but Hibiki's head voice tells her not to trust anyone but herself and she jerks back. The other two are asking her why she's running from them.

Hummy comes running in and asks Hibiki what's wrong and tells them that they shouldn't be fighting. Immediately, she's taken by the cloud. (goodbye hummy. hardly knew ye)

Ako begins to ask why Hummy would be taken, but then she gets taken too. Ellen grabs onto her hand and is taken with her.

Pii-chan has appeared and is chirping at Hibiki. Hibiki starts doubting Pii, too. She runs away from Pii. Pii is just looking at the sky and crying out sadly

As Hibiki runs past the clock tower, Kanade's family is calling out to her, asking her to help Kanade. They get taken by the cloud in front of her eyes, too.

Hibiki still can't figure out who the culprit is even though the culprit is clearly herself but she's going to find Kanade.

Personal Commentary:

Okay I was half joking before but it really is all Hibiki's fault and she is the one possessed. all right.

Also, saying that she's never seen Ako display her emotions so openly? The characterization in this book is just weird as hell. She has seen Ako like this about Mephisto before, and when Otokichi was taken also. Ellen also hasn't gotten a Single weird moment in this entire book which is just so counter to her silly personality. Like she can be serious and calm, but she's also got whimsy that just isn't here at all anymore.

It's possible that Hibiki is the contagion and anyone who gets close to her has their emotions warped and the cloud is responding to all of them when it takes people. Hibiki was the one who wanted Ouji to disappear because he was causing trouble between her and Kanade. Kanade maybe wanted Seika to disappear. Ako and Ellen got rid of Mephisto and Aphrodite. This would be the kindest explanation where everyone can be similarly culpable, but this probably isn't the case given that Hibiki keeps denying her part in anything, which is probably narratively indicating that everything is actually just her fault. She probably is taken over for a few seconds and then wishes random people to disappear and then forgets about it and is like shock emoji. Or the cloud just reacts to the slightest amount of doubt / discord.

If it's not a group fault thing though this book is too messed up. How is any of the Suite team supposed to be friends after this, and especially with Hibiki? Oh yeah, our leader got basically everyone killed and wouldn't believe us at all. We still carry trauma from Mephisto even when he was possessed, so we will forever be hurt by Hibiki, too, BFFs amirite

Also, is Noise really downgraded this far that he's just going to stand around and do nothing? Come on. So much for our bad guy and living with sadness or whatever. Makes the ending of Suite rather toothless if he doesn't present any sort of possibility of danger anymore. Also, having him pitch in would also not be bad given that he's been learning to live in community as a bird with them. Give back after turning everyone to stone that one time.