#shinya means a LOT to him

[svtellify]

i personally think the reason why so many people struggle to like guren is bc he’s v representative of humanity. of us. how many of us could honestly say we wouldn’t sacrifice everything for our family of choice? what makes guren hard to like is that he forces to confront this “less moral” side of all of us because he does. he sacrifices the world, the entire human race, to get his squad, his family back.

it’s cute when yuu says it for mika bc we’ve seen their characters as children, but we’re first introduced to guren as an adult. he’s 24 in vampire reign, and since that’s how he’s first introduced, he sticks in our heads best at this age. we forget that he was 16 when he lost shinya, sayuri, mito, goshi, and shigure⎯the same age yuu was when he chose mika over the world (kind of. they’re working on a plan, but it’s pretty obvious that if it comes down to it, he absolutely would choose mika over everyone.) but because we’re used to seeing guren as an adult and a high ranking military officer, there’s this expectation that he’s responsible enough to not make that kind of decision.

and yet, we watch him continue to make those decisions to bring back humanity without losing his family, because that’s his modus operandi. at the end of the day, there’s is no one more important to him than his family.

and honestly, how many of us can truly say we wouldn’t have done the same thing in his place?

(i’d also like to point out that i was around 14 when i first found the series and caught up on everything⎯i didn’t like guren v much the first time around and thought he was honestly, quite annoying. at 19, and a whole pandemic later, i think i understand where he’s coming from. he’s quite brilliantly written in that way, the definition of “you’ll understand when you’re older.”)

[yuukimiyas]

this might not make a ton of sense but do you guys ever love a blorbo sm that you forget to be super vocal ab it? ૮꒰ྀི ∩៸៸៸∩ ‎꒱ྀིა

[whitetiger-byakkomaru]

{ Not me listening to the Arcane: League of Legends OST while I'm trying to write things out for Shinya.

Honestly, I can see Shinya listening to stuff like this all throughout his teenaged/high school years, especially since I headcanoned Shinya to be somewhat troublesome for the Hīragi family while he was growing up with them (sometimes he ran away like a rebellious teen and caused trouble, sometimes he'd pull pranks and then blame them on someone else). }

[chuuyrr]

Hiii I really love your scarlet Witch series!!, can I request teen fushiguro scarlet witch reader and shinya meet twin black?, it’s up to you how they meet!!😁

twin red meets double black

jujutsu kaisen x reader x bungo stray dogs | series masterlist

✧˖ ° CW(s): f! reader, mostly bsd, might contain possible spoilers for both bsd and jjk, and said partner is my jjk oc.

✧˖ ° PAIRING(s): jujutsu kaisen, bungo stray dogs (platonic)

✧˖ ° SYNOPSIS: in which you, the adolescent, adopted child of gojo satoru, who also happens to be the scarlet witch, sees double black once more and they meet your partner.

✧˖ ° SETTING: in a world where curses and jujutsu sorcerers meet gifted ability users given your ability as a scarlet witch! variant who's capable of traveling across the multiverse.

time works in a unique way across the multiverse, and it's been a long while since dazai osamu, your dazai-nii, had seen you.

your visits to their world of gifted mafiosos and detectives have decreased, and he can't help but wonder you had forgotten about him. that being said, dazai has to remind himself that you constantly grow and that you have a life of your own, and the previous visit consisted of you telling him that he was starting high school.

you didn't belong in their world. you belonged from a cursed land full of jujutsu sorcerers, but that was until you came around for what seemed like forever.

dazai couldn't be more happier to see the familiar red psionics you possessed rip through the seams of their reality, even if he and chuuya just had dealt with something that needed their partnership again.

"[name]-chan!" cried out dazai with a happy smile, approaching the red psionics only to realize.. something very different about you.

you were more taller than you were during your last visit. you were also no longer wearing your highschool uniform, but instead a scarlet uniform, one that consisted of a cropped asymmetrical leather red jacket, a black blouse as your inner with black wristers and boots.

you even had accessories of rings and necklaces. seeing you somehow reminded dazai of how chuuya looked like he was when he was fifteen—lots of red, black, and leather.

as you entered to their seams of reality, dazai and chuuya stared at you, almost in disbelief.

"dazai-nii-san! chuuya-nii-san! it's been a long while," you greeted them with a polite and warm smile, running up to them to give them friendly, warm hugs, to which you noted was a little tight, especially when dazai hugged you.

"yes, it has, [name]-chan~ you're taller now! at this rate you're going to be taller than chuuya," dazai immediately changed his facade as he smiled down at you and gave you a headpat.

"shut up, mackerel!" scoffed chuuya at dazai before he smiled down at you, "anyway, i see you've also changed your style kid. not bad. have you been doing well?"

"i'm doing just fine. i actually stopped going to high school," you explained to them as you pulled away from them and walked towards your partner whom they were feeling protective towards you of, "and i have decided to follow the footsteps of my dad and older brother. i am also a special grade jujutsu sorcerer now."

"is that so? my, my, you've truly grown up, [name]-chan! say, what are you doing here?" dazai asked, looking at you with a smile.

"oh, well, nothing really. i just wanted to visit you guys again since i haven't been able and shinya wanted to see for himself where have i been disappearing off to," you explained with a soft chuckle escaping your lips, "i have just finished a mission too."

"a special grade curse? special grade? then that means you've reached your old man's level.." chuuya repeated before his eyes widened.

"i'm not a child anymore, chuuya-nii-san," you stated, still smiling.

"waaaah! our [name]-chan is no longer a baby, chuuya! just look at her!" dazai cried out, dramatically flinging his arms around you, which greatly reminded you of your dad when you were about to go on your first assignment.

however, your reunion with your older brother figures was cut off short when you felt a disturbance in the air.

dazai immediately released you from his hold when he felt you tense up while chuuya gave you an odd look. you immediately put up a red force-field using your chaos magic, just in time the ground trembled and large branches and vines sprouted to attack the three of you.

"what the fuck?!" chuuya yelled out in surprise.

"a special grade curse, made it here? it must have followed me in secret when i came here," you murmured softly, narrowing your eyes.

as you dispersed the red force-field made out of psionics, you gasped sharply when another large vine aimed towards you at breakneck speed, sending you flying past dazai and chuuya who yelled at you in concern.

the former twin black looked at their surroundings to see more of those large branches and vines spreading throughout the city and causing chaos as the ground trembled. chuuya scoffed at the sight and pulled out his phone, which was ringing, only to hear about the situation.

"whatever this curse is. it's taking over the city," chuuya exclaimed to dazai as he gripped his phone.

"[name]-chan!" dazai called for you in the midst of debris and smoke.

and just as he and chuuya were about to approach you, you had flown out of the building you were sent flying to unharmed and immediately began to throwing hexes at the large vines and branches that were onto you.

"i've got this, dazai-nii-san, chuuya-nii-san!" you said, but the flurry of large vines and branches was too much that it was quite overwhelming.

"fuck it, i'm calling for back up. [name] can't do this alone," chuuya dials and puts his phone to his ear again.

dazai had also done the same. but then just as he and his former twin black partner did, they felt their hearts drop when you got hit hard in mid-air by a large vine and branch that threw you off.

and now, dazai, chuuya, and the rest of the armed detective agency and port mafia were stunned as a flash of red stormed towards your falling figure.

everyone screamed for you in concern, thinking that the special grade curse that had escaped into their world attacked you.

but as the smoke cleared out, they realized the debris and smoke were glowing red, and there you were—there was a silhouette carrying your figure bridal style.

"it's.. gravity control.." chuuya muttered in realization.

standing there in the middle of the crater was a tall man with a lean build. he has long, dark messy hair that is usually tied in a half-up, half-do hairstyle, gray eyes, and a mole just below his lips.

he wore nearly the same uniform as okkotsu yuuta, but instead of a white asymmetrical jacket, he has a white button up, and has an oversized dark-blue jacket hanging over his shoulders.

you looked up at the figure carrying you, your eyes widening in awe as you clutched your injured side, "shinya?"

he stared down at you for a second, blinking quietly before a nerve comically protruded on his temple as he growled, "who else would i be?!"

with that, shinya lifted a hand and quickly flicked your forehead, causing you to yelp and thrash in his hold as he gave you a scolding, "just what the hell were you doing, huh? disappearing off like that without a trace, i literally thought you died!"

"ow! that hurts you, jerk!" you then proceeded to yank his hair with your free hand as he pushed your forehead to retaliate against your action while he carried you bridal-style, "i'm sorry, ok?! and i'm trying to patch myself up!"

"sorry?! i was worried sick, idiot! how the hell was i supposed to face gojo-sensei knowing that i lost sight of his kid!"

"i know that, but it's not my fault! my chaos magic just suddenly yeeted me out of our world and brought me here!"

"oh, i don't know.. maybe you could have at least called your partner about you getting yeeted into another universe?!"

everyone watched wordlessly as you bickered with the person they now knew as shinya.

atsushi's eyes widened at the realization, "this is [name]-chan's partner?!"

dazai found himself glancing at chuuya who was as visibly stunned as him. this scene of you and shinya together reminded them of two people they knew all too well, and they were speechless.

it was like seeing their younger selves again, back in the mafia wherein they were still known as twin black.

you two proceeded to argue, blatantly ignoring the armed detective agency and port mafia that was staring at you and shinya, and merely stopped when enormous branches and vines sprouted from the ground and aimed towards you two.

"[NAME]!!" atsushi, dazai, and the others cried out for you in concern.

shinya leapt in the air, still carrying you, dodging the attack as you extended your hand, shooting down the branches with your red psionics.

shinya's feet planted hard back on the ground, creating a crater, as your multiple hex blasts disintegrated the branches and vines and you simultaneously stitched yourself up at a molecular level.

you got off shinya's arms and stood back on your feet, smirking a bit as you grasped his shoulder, "you have my thanks for that, shin."

"ever the egoist like your old man," shinya playfully scoffed at you, patting your hand that was gripping his shoulder, "but what can i say? the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree."

dazai looked at shinya expectantly, knowing who he was referring to. gojo satoru.

you both returned your gazes towards the special grade curse who evidently agitated and surprised all the same, clearly not expecting shinya to have come here as well.

the gifted ability users of both detectives and mafiosos felt as if they were seeing two respective pairs when you twisted your hand ever so gently, conjuring a ball of red psionics while your partner snapped his fingers, making himself glow red as you both began to approach the special grade curse.

partners. that was what you two were.

just like how dazai and chuuya were, how atsushi and akutagawa were, and even how fukuzawa and mori once were together in their prime time.

"speaking of trees, let’s take care of this walking tree ourselves."

in a blink of an eye as soon as the special grade curse made its move, you and shinya enacted quickly, disappearing in a snap at blinding speed that caused shinya's oversized jacket to fall from his shoulders.

you made a straightforward dash, using your red psionics to hoist and levitate yourself in a blink of an eye while shinya made his own gravity incredibly light for him to move at blinding speed with his feet still on the ground unlike you.

the special grade curse evaded your red psionics and extended both of its hands sidewards as you and shinya both attacked from its sides.

you and shinya glowed a menacing red color. you used your red psionics to conjure and bring forth an abnormally large blast of red while shinya picked up an enormous piece of debris from the ground and hurled it towards the curse.

it was a massive rain of chaos and destruction from that. the collision resulting from both attacks caused shockwaves and an immense turbulence of air.

everyone was awestruck by the immense red psionic energy that scattered throughout the atmosphere, filling the entire area.

majority of them even had to hold onto something or stagger or else they would have flown back the intensity.

the special grade curse was unfazed by both attacks and proceeded to retaliate, sending in more enormous vines and branches towards you.

you and shinya supported each other with shinya skillfully performing sharp turns and flips while you made use of your red psionics to disappear and reappear, moving in a fast forward motion to evade, but then the special grade curse decided to take it closer.

both of you were caught off guard as a branch sprouted to his side and a scythe made out of wood formed on his hand with the curse being quick to sweep it towards you both.

using your red psionics further, you engaged the curse into a close hand to hand combat, something that dazai and everyone else had never seen you do before, given how as a child or toddler they were familiar with, you were solely relying on taking aims and shots.

they were quickly reminded that right now, you were no longer the child they were familiar with. you were now a special grade sorcerer, a seasoned fighter—most importantly, a grown up who had someone now.

yet, the thought of you having.. a partner, still irks dazai and chuuya, and it was the paternal guardian or older brother instinct they have for you.

you blocked out each swing and brandish of the scythe in a skillful defensive tactic with your red psionics. on the other hand, shinya attacked offensively, particularly at the curse's openings and weak spots while kicking and destroying each branch and vine intended for you both.

your eyes widened for a brief moment just as the blade of the scythe met your face, but shinya activated his technique quickly to pull you to him to prevent you from getting hurt,

"cursed technique adhesion!" was what he yelled, a weaker version of the force from both negative cursed energy was employed to pull you away.

as you were pulled back to him for your safety, shinya darted towards the curse, taking the lead to attack it this time, but you quickly followed him.

with his arm outstretched to his side, he employed another of his cursed techniques, "cursed technique black hole!"

a black hole formed as he snapped his fingers with his index and middle fingers extending. shinya hurled it towards the curse as you leapt and made use of his still outstretched arm to the side as a boost up to attack the curse together with him.

just as the curse was about to fend itself against the black hole made out of positive and negative energy with its own raw immense cursed energy, the black hole had altered into you instead—you had warped reality, changing it from you to attacking it instead of the black hole.

you blitzed towards the curse at blinding speed with your open hands brimming with red psionics.

you successfully stabbed through the curse, but before it could take a hold of you and retaliate, you had disappeared into a red mist of psionic energy, and the next thing the curse knew, the extension technique of shinya had reappeared and it attacked it in a blink of an eye as you warped reality once more.

the black destroyed everything in its path, but the special grade curse withstood, narrowly avoiding it.

"so this is the power of chaos magic. [name]'s warping reality right before our eyes," said fukuzawa with acknowledgement, his eyes widening slightly.

"and [name]-chan uses it in sync with shinya-kun's ability that is quite similar to chuuya's very well. their partnership, it's no doubt based on trust and instinct," mori said in addition, smiling and unfazed by the immense and monstrosity of your power and shinya's cursed technique combined, "and it is burning intensely red with passion and power—just like rubies you could say."

you and shinya knew each other and it was very evident with the way the two of you covered up for each other's weaknesses and fought.

you two didn't even have to utter a single word. everyone watched intently as you and your partner attacked the special grade curse.

it was just a straight up massacre at this point.

you and shinya were on a whole nother level compared to this special grade curse, and as it realized it, it decided to change its tactic.

"shit!" chuuya’s eyes widened as the special grade curse disappeared from you and your partner and reappeared towards them, choosing to attack them instead.

fukuzawa and mori equipped their respective blades as akutagawa and kyouka brought out rashomon and demon snow.

the curse summoned an enormous wooden creature that was shaped into a dragon hybrid of sorts and sent an array of branches in their way, filling the entire landscape.

shinya immediately reacted, activating his solemnity technique to move at blinding speed and appear in front of the armed detective agency and port mafia, "cursed technique reversal cohesion!"

with that he activated another cursed technique of his while you used your red psionics to generate a force-field around all of them, preventing them from getting harmed by the extremely powerful repulsive force that repelled all matter in its vicinity.

it repelled the wooden creature and branches filling the entire landscape as if it was nothing. smoke emerged from the intensity of the force and collision, but as smoke cleared out, the special grade curse decided to attack again in a close hand-to-hand range of combat.

both you and shinya attacked at the same time, making use of your red psionics and gravitational control technique respectively.

you shot multiple hexes while throwing hits and jabs as shinya maneuvered with missile-like kicks simultaneously assisting you and attacking the curse with chains made from gravitons, another one of his cursed techniques.

you made sure to block each and every of the curse’s attempts to land a hit on any of the armed detective agency and port mafia members.

however, your aim kept missing even as you made use of shinya's graviton chains to boost yourself.

every blast of red wasn’t hitting the special grade curse as it swung its scythe and attacked you both. you even got cut and wounded by the blade of the scythe.

"hey, don’t you think the kid’s aim is off?” chuuya exclaimed to dazai, his fists trembling slightly in a worry as he watched your red psionics miss the special grade curse.

"yeah, i can see that," dazai said with furrowed brows, "[name]-chan might be getting tired…"

ranpo scoffed at dazai and chuuya's exchange as he watched you and shinya swept the floor with the curse with hexes and featherlight chains.

a part of him wanted to tell them how stupid they were to think of that, especially dazai.

but ranpo simply decided to keep quiet and a smirk slowly rose on his lips as you disappeared into the red mist you casted along with shinya, leaving the special grade curse baffled for a moment but as soon as the red mist dissipated, the same chains had attacked from the ground, sprouting as it pierced through the curse’s torso, impaling it.

everyone was stunned.

the two of you had impaled the curse with the chains. you and shinya reappeared back, but then the special grade curse held a sinister smile as it spoke in an eerie and croaked tone of voice.

"domain expansion: world of trees."

just like that, both of your eyes widened, in fact, everyone was taken aback by the dense growth of trees and it was so immense enough to split the earth as they sprouted from the ground, a barrier forming and trapping all of you inside along with a large number of gigantic wooden hands that erupt upward from beneath the ground, encircling to prevent anyone from escaping.

"w-what is this?!" atsushi cried out, his eyes widening with worry and fear.

you wiped the blood rolling down from the cut on your temple and huffed a small puff of air, "this is a domain expansion.. an advanced barrier technique of jujutsu sorcerers from our world, and it’s a guaranteed hit once a target is trapped in."

"this is the end for you.." the special grade curse declared, laughing maniacally as it pointed the blade of its wooden scythe towards you and everyone. a mad look visible across its monstrous features.

you scoffed, nearly stumbling as you clutched your bleeding arm, prompting shinya to hold you to him to support you while dazai and chuuya, along with atsushi and the others crept towards you.

"[name]-chan!" dazai exclaimed, looking at you with worrisome eyes.

you were now taking in staggered breaths. dazai was right. you were getting exhausted. you may not have any major casualties from the hand-to-hand combat you had with the curse together with shinya and only sustained bearable cuts and bruises, but all those usage of red psionics was draining, he could tell.

"are you alright, kid? you're hurt pretty badly.." chuuya exclaimed, eyeing the exposed wounds you had on you from the fight earlier.

"i'm fine.." you said to chuuya, breathing heavily as you twitched your fingers to stitch yourself along with your partner shinya who was pretty battered up just as you, "we're fine."

"but you said this is a domain expansion.. a technique with a guaranteed hit, [name]-chan," atsushi proclaimed in a worry

"what [name] said is true, but another thing about domain expansion is.." said shinya, "it can be countered by a more refined domain."

the special grade curse swept its scythe to control the entire landscape of trees and giant hands from wood, but to its surprise, it merely remained motionless.

the curse tried again, but it refused to move and kill all of you once and for all at his command, leaving everyone confused.

"if it's the finest domain of all, it is [name]'s hex."

with a smirk creeping on your face, your eyes glowed a menacing red color as you opened them.

shinya glowed red, both his body and eyes as he, too, smirked, the two of you now emitting an ominous aura, holding a frightening look in your eyes.

the branches and hands lunged towards the curse instead, restraining it and piercing him instead.

with the flick of your hand, the domain expansion of wood and such dissolved as the reddish-black fog of your chaos magic seeped through your fingertips once more, revealing a desolate wasteland with lifeless trees and scarlet skies.

in just a blink of an eye, everything down to the molecular level had been altered, and with that, the curse looked at you and shinya with a stunned look.

"wondering how i did it?" you asked, your tone of voice becoming more and more dangerous and siren-like. it was like, hearing an entirely different you, "i can get into people’s heads you know and for another, i have no cursed technique. i manipulate reality however i want."

before the curse could react, your body had started glowing red along with shinya's.

everyone watched as shinya performed a hand sign and clasped his hands together with both index and middle fingers of his hands raised about his chest level, and then he pointed three of his fingers as his thumb held over his ring finger of his other hand towards the curse.

"domain expansion: fearsome order."

at that instant, a dark zone spread and engulfed the warped reality of a red barren hellish landscape.

it was nearly black within the area with red glowing chains of gravitons now surrounding the entire place. the immense and ominous pressure in the atmosphere was unbearable, incredibly overwhelming.

was this.. bloodlust they were feeling? dread?

everyone's bodies were screaming at them to run, but they couldn't. all they could do was watch this hell unfold.

even dazai couldn't believe what he was seeing. this current state you were in together with your partner, the aura you were giving off, it was black in blood.

without another word, the curse attempted to attack, swinging its wooden scythe in hopes to break through the domain expansion and seize you or shinya, but with shinya having control over the gravitational field of the entire area, he merely pointed at the curse his fingers before bringing his fingers in a downward motion, the body of curse was forced to slam to the ground and create a crater from the impact.

shinya then lifted his fingers upwards, prompting the curse to get lifted up in the air.

a sinister smile crept on his face along with yours as you outstretched your hand next, your eyes glowing a menacing red as you manipulated the curse's body to dislocate and crack, causing it to shrivel in pain.

shinya then snapped his fingers and made the chains of gravitons seize the curse and constrict it, wrapping around its neck, limbs and torso in a strickening way.

shinya glanced at you for a brief moment, the danger and hubris of a smile never leaving his face.

the stare and smile that he gave you was enough to tell you the message.

"you're gonna make me say it?" you glanced back at him, raising a brow as you returned the smile.

"you always say it anyway whenever we do this together," shinya chuckled at you, shaking his head.

"well, you're not wrong, shin," you said as you shook your head for a moment, before facing the curse along with shinya and pointed your fingers towards the curse, imitating shinya's hand that was outstretched and pointed at the curse with your thumb over your ring finger.

at the tilt of your head, you uttered the word along with shinya, smirking darkly, "bang!"

that being said, the fruition of your partner's domain expansion came to be. the dark zone created an attractive and repulsive force, combining his adhesion and cohesion technique, and just like that, the target was annihilated by the intense combined force.

an immense damage was inflicted in the desolate wasteland of dead trees and bloody-red skies that the armed detective agency and port mafia had to brace themselves from the tremors that resulted.

once the curse was no more, shinya's domain expansion had dissipated and reality warped back down to a molecular level under your power.

everyone watched in awe as the red hellish landscape dispersed, the surroundings now turning back into the lovely streets of their beloved city, yokohama.

"what.. the fuck.. was that?" chuuya was the first one to utter a word, breaking the silence.

"that.. really was something else.." atsushi exclaimed breathlessly, his eyes not breaking away from you and shinya.

one thing was evident to these gifted detectives and mafias with what they just witnessed before their eyes, especially to mori who had seen such a violent raging storm like this before.

partners. that was what you two truly were.

and dazai could see that clearly. in fact, that was what he had been working on to achieve in creating a new generation of double black, specifically with atsushi and akutagawa.

both dazai and chuuya found themselves staring at you and shinya, as the two of you glanced at each other with a proud and knowing look despite being somewhat battered from the fight against the special grade curse.

however, dazai and chuuya immediately stiffen up in unison when they saw your partner draping an arm around your shoulders.

"hatsuki shinya, was it?"

you wanted to cringe at the way dazai and chuuya were eyeing your partner from head to toe, scrunitizing him completely while dazai held you to his side closely—he really was a copy of your adoptive father, gojo satoru, even when it came to his protectiveness.

your partner simply raised a brow at dazai, then at chuuya, unfazed by their hard stares.

dazai's face shifted into a look of disgust as he faked a vomit and pulled you closer to his side, "your partner looks like a mirror copy of hat rack, [name]-chan, and it's disgusting."

at that instant, both gravity manipulation users snapped their heads towards him and scowled,

"EXCUSE ME?!"

dazai shook his head and continued to hold you close to him, "see what i mean, [name]-chan? how could this be? have i rubbed my influences on you that much you got a 'chuuya-copy' as your partner?!"

"dazai-nii-san," your sweat began to drop as you watched dazai and chuuya bicker along with shinya, which made you sigh in defeat.

you could already tell that having them meet your partner would not end well.

✧˖ ° niki says ! ༉‧₊˚.

guess who finally had the time to write for scarlet witch! baby fushiguro! reader after for what seemed like eternity? i found this sitting in my draft and found out i had a whole ass fight scene written in this piece so i polished it real quick while i have spare time so yeah. thanks for reading !

✧˖ ° join my taglist, perhaps ? ༉‧₊˚.

@anonymousewrites @magpiemissy @anqelically @96jnie @lovesick-fairy @soleelia @irethepotato @nianre @xingqiusliegee @lenasvoid @bloobewy @itz-stuts @17chuuya @achlysyo @youdidntseemehere21 @just-here-reading

[lostsoulaltair]

OnS Chapter 136 Analysis - Love vs The Past

Well, a new chapter dropped. I must say that I liked it. We really are heading towards the end of the story and two sides now are on stage.

One fighting for love; the other one fighting to bring back something that is long lost.

Love can often be misunderstood in the manga story; to the point it distorts a lot, but in reality, it takes so many shapes, so many forms along giving birth to ideals.

Each character within the story is moved to do something for "love". But in this role too; the "love" for the "past" exists.

The past is a momentum that will always live in our memories; it is something that will forever be frozen; something that will not change. It's something that is part of us without defining us.

As we've seen today; the chapter starts with Yuu trying to reach the First; but given that the Progenitors want to avoid the destruction of the world much further; they were preventing Yuu from making contact with the First.

Of course, we see how Mika couldn't withstand the raw power of Urd Geales; we saw Shinya and Kureto alive and kicking once again; and finally, the main spot; the reunion between Shikama and Yuu.

Shikama is aware that Yuu has all his memories back ever since he detected an anomaly along the interaction with the corpse of Mikaela. Of course, whenever Shikama knows the soul of his son is alive and kicking, it's up to interpretation. Though, it is clear he knows it exists.

Eventually we see how Shikama is going to bestow Yuu his knowledge and power

But before he could give away his power to Yuu; Shinoa interferred with the possibility.

Leading to our possible future battle between Shinoa and Yuu.

Two ideals being carried away within the story. And yet, at the same time they connect through the main theme. "Love."

And no, it's not "romantic love ". The "love" or 愛 which is not the same as other interpretations of love itself. Just "ai". A love that takes so many shapes.

Let's begin with the real analysis here.

Yuu isn't exactly fighting for humanity nor his friends, nor his family. Given that the "regression" process he made to recall his whole life; he saw how his life originated alongside being the son of the First.

Given that, he is actually aiming for the task of "saving" but given that "love" is playing its role as well. It is the love he has deep down for his father that he is doing everything to bring back what his father cherished in the past. Which is something reflected as well when he was the angel Mikaela. Taking his life so divine punishment wouldn't fall upon his father.

Shikama did love his angels, his followers and he did blame himself for the punishment that fell upon them. But given God's nature; it was normal that the punishment fell upon those angels given that they no longer praised for God.

Though; one thing Shikama and Yuu have in common, is the attachment to the past. It is the very fact that the past for them is something that should have prevailed instead of changing. What do I mean?

To Shikama, the Progenitors he chose, despite being reincarnations of those angels that followed him once; are not his angels.

And this is highly visible once Ashera asks Shikama what he should do back in chapter 117.

To his eyes, Shikama's sired progenitors were just tools given that to him; they are shadows of who they were once, but to those progenitors; even if they have acknowledged that they are reincarnations; they made a choice.

They chose to follow up their own path. And as they've stated back in chapter 114; their last and final task is to protect the world they live in. Meaning avoiding the resurrection of the angel Mikaela.

But now, why do I say Shikama and Yuu have one thing in common?

Yuu is a character that despite living endlessly; along having a constant memory reset until now that he gathered all his memories; he's done one thing to no end. And that is living in the past.

True, there are scars that take its time to heal from the past; some are very difficult nonetheless; he chose to live in such past. When he had a chance to make a choice; that choice was no longer centered in the present; it began to lead further astray to the past.

But then, what's the point of those promises?

Given how everything has turned. Those promises are something that can't be fulfilled. What do I mean?

In order to revive the angels from long ago; sacrifices must be made. But here's another thing that it is being dismissed. What could it be?

The absolute lack of appreciation to life.

Yuu might state he aims to save everyone; even to Ashera who at the end understood that there are limits to life. He loved and embraced he managed to get his sister back; but the cost for that was making her suffer for eternity; nevertheless, the lives both had, those kind of experiences they managed to live had their moments of bliss; bringing back entities that perished long ago, is discarting the moments experienced, the moments lived along the emotions that were carried through a lifetime.

But now, there is an opposite force here. And that force is no other than. "Love."

Many might consider that Shinoa's love is "obssession, madness like Mahiru's love" but no. This is actually wrong.

Back when she stated she would kill Mikaela; there was a massive misconception of this which chapter 133 explained a lot.

Shinoa thought Yuu was being possessed by Mikaela at that time hence her retoric; but given that she saw first hand that Yuu had fooled them; she understood that Yuu was doing everything on his own will. And let's not forget that Yuu might be dumb, but not clueless or ignorant.

Shinoa's form of "love" is not something that came out of nothing; it's something that began taking shape by her own; it began from curiosity, turning into uncertainty, then transforming into caring, along developing feelings for a special someone. Such feelings for her were seen as something hideous or bad; but at the end, she understood they weren't bad, nevertheless, she never admitted them until or rather never accepted them truthfully until chapter 133.

Chapter 133 was a very reflexive chapter given that it gave Shinoa resolution; a resolution as to why it is the reason she was standing still in the very end of the world.

Shinoa's love is not centered to one person, but rather; it is centered to the very core family she gained through her journey which lead to this.

Her battle and her resolution is directed to the very family that has stood with her and has followed her through the long journey she has taken so far. Hence why; she is standing along her squad just like how the vampires did; how they are going to live. Not by a decree of an entity, not by a decree of her sister and Guren nor the vampires; but rather, taking their own path until the very end.

Hence why Shikama states that her love is self centered, which is no different from him. He centered his love to his angels; Shinoa is centering her love to those who exist in the present. Along letting them return to their normality before the world ended; given that the end of the world, the events that took place before they were born, were all spiderwebs made by the First.

This is the first time they are fighting for their own.

What do you think it'll happen next?

Let me know!

[akirasarchives]

[ʜᴄ] 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐫𝐚 𝐤𝐮𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐮

sʏɴᴏᴘsɪs: what having akira as your boyfriend is like!

⤷ ᴀ/ɴ: gn reader // this is old like pre-royal old..

— RELATIONSHIP OVERVIEW

listen..max charm akira? you’re gone. poof. so smooth

akira is so thoughtful and i mean it! he spends a lot of his money on you instead of buying things from the clinic to go the palaces and such

pls he was gonna give you the luck stone from the fortune teller then he got scammed

hopeless romantic! morgana can’t help but poke fun at him for it

BONUS! sojiro adores you! he’s constantly giving you things on the house

he will literally heal you / throw himself in front of you if you’re about to get hit with a critical attack he does NOT care

(morgana then proceeds to throw himself in front of akira)

— BEFORE THE RELATIONSHIP

LISTENNN!!! he buys so much gifts for you but when he gets the guts to actually give them to you..you’re getting gifts all of the time

like..akira?? we’re still friends here!!

tbh when the guys (yusuke, ryuji and akira) were in the bathhouse he mentioned how he liked you and they’ve forever been teasing him since

mostly ryuji

with the odd comment from yusuke

especially if you’re in the monabus and he sits next to you!!

you didn’t even know he liked you! since akira is so quiet himself it just seemed normal for him to be quiet around you,, and when he did speak you just figured it was how he naturally spoke to you

when you text him to hangout..he’s dropping everything. like finding the treasure? it can wait a day! (if it can)

— ASKING YOU OUT

definitely read a lot of things to increase his charm before he asked you out! you only deserve the most romantic “courting” (as morgana and yusuke would describe it as)

he definitely splashes out on gifts from the underground mall! chocolates, bracelets, lipsticks, perfumes, cd’s etc.!

he read some books too! although it was a literal embarrassing to purchase a book called “asking out the person of your dreams 101!”...it helped him a little even if he had to cover the name on the train

but even so he was sweating buckets when he invited you to a popular date spot for couples he’s read about in a magazine

he set up such an adorable picnic (with what he could afford) and although morgana was shoved into the basket he made the best of what he could

of course you said yes! not only was the weird mixture of his nervousness and charm prompting you to say yes but you’ve already pined after the messy haired boy for a few months now

— IN THE RELATIONSHIP

he can fluctuate between super-attentive, nerdy bf to charming, go with the flow kinda bf

esp with morgana whispering ideas into his ear .5 seconds of the day

akira deffo is such a sucker for video games/manga’s so i’d imagine a lot of arcade and cafe dates where you two are chilling reading manga’s or doing hw

the rest of the group adore your relationship esp the girls

they love asking the two of you about your dates!! ann esp loves capturing candids of the two of you to send to the gc and fawn over

ann: look at these cuties!!

futaba: shame ryuji’s face ruins the photo

haru: wah… true love ❤️

ryuji… he’s asking akira some unhinged shit ngl

yusuke deffo asks to follow you and akira on a date so he can capture the feeling of love irl… turns out it’s kinda weird to have someone follow you and ur bf around

like… he doesn’t even speak to yous… just a shadow

n e way!!!

sojiro… he gives akira some pocket money sometimes 😭😭 (like £10 but shhh)

“go buy [y/n] something nice, kid” BROO

free coffee is normal for you, esp when you’re waiting for akira to get his bag together at the cafe

wins arcade plushies for you when he’s busy with shinya! if it weren’t for shinya helping his phantom thievery then he’d solely be there to win plushies

when he learns how to make curry and coffee, that’s all your eating when you’re over

and honestly…

now you’re a curry and coffee connoisseur

[lemonadecandy103]

Psycho Pass Providence — The Re-introduction of Kougami Shinya

Still working on a general review on Psycho Pass: Providence and also a Shinkane/KouAka post. But I had so many thoughts on Kougami after watching the movie twice that I had to document them while they were still fresh. This is a follow-up to a post I made about Kougami prior to watching PPP: some of my impressions did change while others stayed the same. It’s a lot so keep reading if you’re interested in what I thought about Kougami’s character in Providence. WARNING: Spoilers!!!

I’ll begin with the scene in Dejima where Kougami and Saiga are drinking together. There’s one particular line that I felt could’ve been made smoother: Saiga says “the girl is neither a saint nor a bodhisattva, screw around too much and you’ll end up getting enforced. Apologize while you still have the chance Kougami. Take it from an old timer like me.” and he raises his glass with a smile. I watched both the subbed and the dubbed version and the line is very similar across both. I can’t help but think that line could’ve been improved slightly. Maybe it flows more naturally in Japanese so I can’t speak on that matter. But if I had the liberty of tweaking it even just a little, it would go as follows: “the girl in neither a saint nor a bodhisattva, screw around too much and you’ll end up losing her forever.”

And I don’t mean to necessarily press for him losing her as a love interest, but even just a trusted friend or at least a colleague who always had his best interest in mind.

Ultimately, not exploring the more emotional (and by extension—the romantic) aspects of Kougami’s character was a missed opportunity for Providence in my opinion. He’s the second main character in this installment and we got very little inward reflection from him this time around. The last 15 or so minutes of the film is what really impressed me with respect to his character. Seeing him exit the isolation facility, looking back, and then looking ahead, declaring “I swear, I’ll come back for you,”  with such ardor reminded me that he’s still a hero in this story, however unconventional he may be.

It was clear that Akane and Kougami’s relationship had to change in this installment. After 6 long years, they are both different people now and cannot go back to the same relationship dynamics as in Season 1. More on that in a different post. Consequently, the portrayal of these individual characters had to evolve in order to match this change. Initially, when I watched the promotional clips, I was put off by his bluntness—especially towards Akane. But there were instances where we saw the caring Kougami seep through. He smiles once in the film. And this is when Saiga tells him: “I don’t work with the PSB, I work with Akane Tsunemori.”  I don’t know if he smiles because he still finds it funny that Saiga is cooperating with the government or if he smiles at the mention of Akane’s name or even some matter of pride at how much Akane is respected by Professor Saiga. Either way, it was nice to see this moment.

The other less noticeable moments from Kougami were two times when he showed what I can interpret as a combination of grief and frustration. From my observations, his eyes were animated to have this glistening/“quivering” motion, similar to this gif, minus the actual tears — there were no tears in Kougami’s case:

It’s very subtle but please let me know if anyone else also noticed this. The first time his eyes did this was when after Saiga died and he called Shion to consult Saiga’s psychological profile of Tonami along wirh Akira’s poem. Shion mentions how horrible it was — what happened to the professor. Kougami pauses and adds “Yeah”  but the tone is almost as if he had to force it out of himself. I couldn’t help but feel like he was holding it together for the investigation, but deep down was grieving the loss of his dear professor. After all, he told Akane to keep it bottled up until the end of the case. The second time I saw this effect of his eyes was while he was reading Akane’s letter in his isolation cell. He gets to the part where she writes about being glad to have seen him again and that he helped her find the answer. He calls her a bakayaro, and his hands grab the letter so fiercely that it kind-of crumples while he throws his whole body into a defeated hunch — since he’s stuck in his cell and can’t even do anything to stop her.

I had read some early accounts by Japanese viewers that he was crying while reading her letter: this effect in the eyes may have been what was mistaken as crying.

Although it was nice to see Kougami go through these moments in PPP, I can’t help but feel like there could have been more. However, Providence is a very dense film and I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt that with all the action sequences, Akane’s iconic scenes, and the supporting cast all getting their own memorable segments, Kougami’s development just wasn’t a priority. If Shiotani, Fukami, and Ubukata intend to make an SAD spin-off as they’ve expressed in interviews, I would hope that they explore possible romantic or other intimate human feelings on Kougami’s part — similar to how he learned to be a father figure to Tenzing. In fact, I would argue that after Providence, it’s likely that they’ve backed themselves into a corner with regards to Kougami’s interpersonal relationships. The tension between Kougami and Akane was essentially the secondary conflict of the film and it ended with some resolution midway but also a shift in Kougami’s disposition once he read Akane’s letter, realizing the impact he had on her life. If there’s further content on Kougami as a person, we almost certainly need to at least confront his relationship with Akane and even Ginoza (was somewhat addressed on the boat scene and we see them on good terms in Season 3/PPFI). The other route is just watching a 007-Misson Impossible Kougami getting into knife fights and performing crazy stunts, but I think the PP fandom in general agrees that this option would be dull and a waste of a character who had such an artful inception. Now I know that PP wants to go for a more shōnen look and are cautious of depicting romance between the main characters. It was pretty obvious with Arata being introduced as the new main character and the fact that Yuki Kaji was brought on board to voice him (he’s done fantastic work on many popular shōnen characters including Eren Jaeger). But, showing how love could affect Kougami and how him giving love could present new angles of his character would undoubtedly be exciting to see. We know he wants to protect people. We know that he’s decided to work outside of the law in order to do that. He’s made peace with his revenge and he’s learned that he wants to protect people without any reserve or obligation. Saiga warned him about potentially becoming a killing machine like Tonami if he keeps letting people use him as a hunting dog, and he agreed that he doesn’t want that. I expect that he could follow the same thought process as Ginoza did in SS Case 1 where he ultimately just wants to help people with his detective work, without much care for who’s judged to be good or evil. On this note, it would be beneficial for Kougami to understand his heart a bit more. Maybe visit his mother too? Maybe actually value his own life instead of running into a fight like he has nothing to lose? He’d already prepared Akane for his death way back between S1 and S2. Would he fight differently if Akane were expecting him to come back home alive?

Hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts on Kougami’s character. Still love our chaotic spikey-haired gun-slinging emo cowboy. And I’m looking forward to what the creators might do with his character next.

[my-rose-tinted-glasses]

Hey bestie popping by with a random ask: what have been your favs so far from your old jbl project?

Hi! Thank you for the random ask.

I was actually just working on my monthly breakdown so I was trying to write just a couple of sentences about what I watched this month so this comes at a good time because this month I definitely saw one of my favs.

The Novelist. I don't know if I can coherently convey my thoughts about it but I'll give it a try. I think there were several factors that made me take so long to watch it. I never read full reviews about it, because although I don't mind spoilers in general, I also like to go into some shows as unbiased as possible. That was not easy. I basically went into it thinking it was depressing and it involved a lot of sex that I wasn't sure where it would land of the consent scale. I don't really remember where I got this idea tbh. Anyway.

Although after hearing people like you, @twig-tea and @bengiyo talk about it in different contexts I was less wary about it for sure. So I went into it with a more open mind, even with reservations. I mean I basically went through the lighter parts of the ojbl list first, so part of me was dreading the rest. I don't mind darker stories, or darker bl's. I have way darker ones coming up on the list. But I always feel like I need to be in the right frame of mind for them. Because I can get too emotionally invested and my moods tends to swing easily.

All this to say, I wasn't expecting a story about two lonely people 'using' each other to fight that loneliness. As I was just writing in my breakdown post, Kijima was such an interesting character to me. Because in the beginning I was just curious about him, like there was something odd about him, his demeanor. And when I realized that he was faking part of it and just using Kuzumi I hated him. So much. But, and I have to give major props to the actor, because in episode 4 when Kuzumi leaves and Kijima in on the table just listening to the record and crumpling the pages, I was gone. I fully saw him for the first time. That man is lonely and hopeless and I felt so much for him in that moment. And that of course lasted through to the end and that smile

I was practically clapping. Brilliant. It was such a beautiful ending. I felt like the show broke my heart a bit and it was all healed in this moment.

So to recap, not only was this a wonderful surprise that completely obliterated my expectations, but it's so beautiful. Everything is good. The cinematography, the music, the acting, everything was brilliant. So good. So if everyone that reads this has not yet seen for some reason or another I urge you to do it. I still have yet to see the other installments so I can't speak to all of it but this one is so worth it. I honestly can't believe that Kijima has become such an important character to me.

I think before this one, my favourites were for sure the first two I watched. Ai No Kotodama and No Touching at All.

They were both such great surprises. Let me just quickly look through my notes because my memory might betray me. Oh okay.

Ai no Kotodama I really enjoyed how it was shot and edited. I liked how they used several things to mirror the relationship, the perfume , the stair gazing and the other couple. I felt everything served the story in a really interesting way. I also like that the girl wasn't the usual bl girl and in the end she was actually jealous of their relationship more than in love with either of them. I also really like how the film made me unsure about their relationship almost from the start, because it makes sense in this case. My confusion mirrors Shinya's confusion and fear.

I also really liked No Touching at All's directing. It was really interesting how they used the camera work. For most of the film the couple is usually far away from us, the camera is on the other side of the room or something like that. And it's almost keeping us at a distance. So when the camera finally gets close up, it's during their break up, which I thought was intentional to cause the most emotional impact. Like now you should be invested in this moment because so are they. They are being honest for the first time so there are no more barriers for us because they are being truthful and removing their own. I also think Shima's internal struggle was really well portrayed, I liked the fact that he initiated the break up for self preservation reasons and so Togawa coming back to him at the end is what allows him to trust it. It makes me believe more in their future together.

This got a bit longer than I intended. These three are definitely my favourites but I'm really enjoying this project, even if I don't love everything, I think there's always something positive about all of them. At least the ones I've watched.

Anyway I hope that answers your question. My next one will probably be Mood Indigo and I'll have to look at my list again but I know I have a couple other ones on there still to watch.

Thank you so the question.

[psychopasss4]

The first-name basis analysis 🤗

(The most awaited analysis so far) 😅

Okay, this was a steamy hot topic last year when PPP was first dropped on Theaters. Kogami calling Frederica on her first name while adressing Akane with formality?

So this is just my hypothetical analysis on the subject matter...

The use of first names versus surnames in Japanese culture carries significant implications about the nature of relationships, respect, and familiarity. Analyzing why Shinya Kogami never called Akane Tsunemori by her first name, while he did call Frederica Hanashiro by her first name, can reveal a lot about the nature of his relationships with these two characters.

Cultural Context

In Japanese culture:

Surnames are typically used in professional or formal settings to show respect and maintain a certain distance.

First names are usually reserved for close friends, family, or romantic partners, indicating a higher level of intimacy and familiarity.

Kogami and Akane Tsunemori

Professionalism and Respect:

Professional Hierarchy: When Akane first joins the Public Safety Bureau, she is a novice Inspector while Kogami is an Enforcer. Their relationship begins within a strict professional hierarchy, where the use of surnames is a sign of respect and adherence to protocol.

Maintaining Distance: Even as their relationship evolves, Kogami continues to call her “Tsunemori.” This could indicate his desire to maintain a professional boundary and show respect for her position and role.

Emotional Distance and Respect:

Respect for Boundaries: Kogami might refrain from using Akane’s first name out of respect for her boundaries and the seriousness of their work. Given the dangerous and emotionally charged nature of their missions, maintaining a formal distance could help manage their professional responsibilities.

Emotional Guard: Kogami’s reluctance to use Akane’s first name might also reflect his emotional guardedness. He respects her deeply and values their connection, but using her first name could signify a level of emotional intimacy he is not ready to embrace, given his past traumas and personal mission.

Symbolic Gesture:

Symbol of Professionalism: Continuing to use her surname symbolizes the professional and respectful nature of their relationship. It underscores the mutual respect and trust they have developed, without crossing into overtly personal territory.

Kogami and Frederica Hanashiro

Different Cultural Context:

Western Influence: Frederica Hanashiro operates in a more international context, where the use of first names might be more common. Her mixed heritage and possibly Westernized working environment might make first names a norm rather than a sign of deep personal connection.

Work Environment: In international or more casual work settings, using first names can be a sign of mutual respect and camaraderie, rather than an indicator of intimate friendship.

Equal Standing:

Professional Equals: Kogami and Frederica often work as equals or partners, not within a strict hierarchical structure. Using her first name can signify mutual respect and partnership rather than a formal superior-subordinate relationship.

Strategic Partnership: Their relationship is built on strategic cooperation. Using first names might help foster a sense of teamwork and equal footing, which is crucial for their joint missions.

Personal Comfort:

Ease of Interaction: Kogami might feel more comfortable using Frederica’s first name because their relationship, while professional, does not carry the same emotional weight and complexity as his relationship with Akane. It is easier for him to navigate and define.

Hypothetical Meaning

Different Forms of Respect:

Akane: By continuing to call Akane “Tsunemori,” Kogami shows a deep, abiding respect for her as a professional and a person. It is a sign of his recognition of her growth and his commitment to their shared mission.

Frederica: Calling Frederica by her first name signifies a more straightforward form of respect and equality, fitting their less emotionally charged and more pragmatic relationship.

Managing Emotions:

Akane: Kogami’s use of Akane’s surname helps him manage his complex emotions towards her. It creates a necessary boundary that allows him to focus on their work without the potential complications of a more intimate relationship.

Frederica: The ease of using Frederica’s first name might reflect a simpler, more direct relationship, where the boundaries are clear and less emotionally fraught.

Symbolic Boundaries:

Akane: The surname usage maintains a symbolic boundary that protects both Kogami and Akane from the potential vulnerabilities that come with deeper emotional intimacy. It helps sustain a professional environment where they can both function effectively.

Frederica: The use of her first name breaks down formal barriers, facilitating smoother and more effective teamwork in a different cultural and operational context.

Conclusion:

Kogami’s choice to call Akane by her surname and Frederica by her first name highlights the different natures of his relationships with them.

With Akane, it reflects a deep respect, emotional complexity, and the need to maintain professional boundaries.

With Frederica, it indicates a pragmatic partnership, professional equality, and a less emotionally intense connection. These choices underscore Kogami’s nuanced approach to relationships, balancing respect, emotional management, and operational efficiency.

And perhaps... just perhaps... it's Kogami's way to tell Akane "No. Don't fall for somebody like me". 🤔

😘🤭❤️

[eluxcastar]

── ୨୧：guren ichinose, shinya hīragi, kureto hīragi x reader (separate)

୨୧﹑synopsis :: you try not to notice how he adores a certain woman in his life, you keep your feelings about him to yourself, quiet and never acting on them solely because you know that you could never hope to compare to her.

୨୧﹑genre :: slight angst

୨୧﹑content :: nothing to warn I don't think but I wrote this at like one a.m. and did not read a word of it 👍 lmk if there is something you want me to tag though (*￣︶￣)

୨୧﹑words :: 811

hiii I'm back again (I have a second degree burn now 💀) (I touched the oven rack while it was on max) (now I have a funny mark on my knee) this is kinda rushed because tbh I am not in the mood but I don't wanna up and dip again even though I was hit with like that curse that plagues fanfic authors and ten bad things happened in a day

this is from like March I believe??? I am so sorry to the person who sent me this in my DMs istg I was gonna do it but then I just forgot after that really long break I took 😔 I don't think I ended up sticking to it exactly because I'm not actually sure if the whole request was sent?? I also ended up cutting Crowley to put him in a standalone post 👍

─ ୨୧： guren ichinose

your feelings for the Ichinose boy run deep, a little part of you crushing on just his looks when he first arrived at this school, only growing on you since then. His personality when he really got comfortable was charming, and he always had that goofy look on his face when students pulled mean tricks on him like he didn't care. A pretty face. He never lets others bother him it seems, even when he talks all lesson to the boy beside him and tries to ignore him. You could look past the Ichinose Clan part, that was the least of your worries. After all, even Mahiru Hīragi could look past that.

you see her around him a lot, and they seem to know each other and get along well. She's always smiling around him, and while he doesn't exactly look like he's having the best day of his life he looks happier to hear from her than most other students. You suppose he would be with a smart and pretty girl paying attention to him, let alone one quite so impossibly beautiful as her. A once in a century genius. How could you ever hope to compete with a person like that?

it was a nigh impossible task, so you give up, and you watch. You know that he is only yours in your little daydreams, and the moment you blink them away and return to reality he goes right back to being Mahiru's as he always was.

　

─ ୨୧： shinya hīragi

since you joined the army you had at least a bit of a liking toward him, though it was quite minor at first, nothing too big. You just liked how nice he was to you, even helping you out at times when he noticed you were struggling a bit with your weapon. With his help you got closer to him at least in your eyes, the confidence he oozed enough to make you feel safe and in good hands. You trusted he knew what he was doing and it kept paying off to trust his advice.

it kept you asking for more of his help, knowing that slowly the help was becoming less of your focus and it was slowly shifting to the man himself. Something about him is so handsome, yet also quite cute.

then you heard he had once had a fiancée, and you realised that if that was everything he wanted in a partner that you would be stepping way out of your league. She was a Goddess put on earth in the form of a high school girl, perfect if not for her one fatal flaw in which she was dead after committing acts that disgraced her family. That explained why nobody spoke of her until you heard it from the girl's own sister.

slowly you were inching your way further into his life, and slowly you will inch your way back out. Even as a dead woman, You know that to that standard, you are still just a bumbling and confused little child.

　

─ ୨୧： kureto hīragi

a bad little habit you have with Aoi is the gossip once work is over, going to shower and change in the showers together one stall apart just to talk about various tidbits you'd picked up throughout the days. You'd learned many…interesting things that way. Most notably however was in the midst of washing your hair, letting the water wash out the product when she so happened to mention that she might just have deeper feelings for Kureto than she usually lets on. It's more than just respect, at least as she put it. You almost got shampoo in your eyes.

of course you couldn't blame her, her feelings are something you can quite easily understand in fact, it's just… How are you supposed to be pitted against someone like Aoi who is loyal to a fault at her job? Thinking about it really…she is quite beautiful, and her family is in higher standing, she does anything that he asks of her, most importantly she is strong. You think if anything Kureto would value power, wouldn't he? He probably wouldn't be fond of protecting his lover all the time out of necessity, he'd prefer someone capable of doing that themselves, and while you certainly could, Aoi could do it better.

you can hear her as she knocks her hand against the wall of the shower stall, "Did you drown in there?" her voice brings you back again, and you give a quick no in response. You're out of the shower soon enough. It'd be easier to forget the conversation if not for the fact you both pass him again on your way back to the dorms and finally notice how she looks at him.

even without the threat of her own skill over yours, you're not sure you can take that away from her.

[pretty-idol-hell]

Idol Land PriPara Episode 12

The end... or is it?

The episode opens with My Dream back at school, at lunchtime. Yui is double-fisting rice balls. Shogo walks by and complains about how loudly she's enjoying herself, so Yui throws his baby pictures everywhere. In other words, everything is back to normal.

While Yui and Shogo are fighting, the remaining members of WITH and MyDre acknowledge they will be holding a surprise promise for Yui later that day.

Meanwhile, Amari is at her desk looking through her old notebook and acknowledging all of her idol dreams have been coming true one by one. She stops when she reaches the place where Mario's page was ripped out, and looks down sadly at the blank space.

Later, at PriPara, Mirei and Shion discuss how things are returning to normal. All of the idols are full of dreams again and it's all thanks to Yui. But, it's thanks to Amari that Yui was returned to normal, so everyone surrounds Amari and thanks her.

However, even after everything that happened in the last episode, there are still some bugs floating around Idol Land. (...Feels familiar.)

The others talk about Mario's disappearance and wonder where he is. Amari says, "He's gone," but the others don't quite get it. Nino says it was rude he disappeared without saying goodbye.

I guess they really did not notice he uhh... burned to death...........

Amari looks down sadly again but only Laala acknowledges it.

Meanwhile in DanPri, all the boys are hard at work cleaning up the mess Mario made. Including Ushimitsu, who is doing his best to remind Shinya of his past using uhh... puppets? (Ninja voodoo dolls? I don't know the actual name for these haha.)

But he is unsuccessful. Shinya is STILL brainwashed even though Mario is gone. Ushimitsu is out of options. HARAKIRI IT IS.

Asahi is able to stop him, however, as WITH arrives to help.

"Leave it to me," says Koyoi as Asahi's eyes light up with fear, reminded of Koyoi's dark past. It can't be that bad, Asahi.......

OH

I GUESS THIS IS JUST HOW WE SOLVE PROBLEMS IN PRIPARA NOW

EVERYONE FIGHTING EVERYONE IDOLS

hahahahaha

Meanwhile, Yui arrives in Idol Land, annoyed at being left behind. She's quickly whisked away by Nino and Michiru, as not to ruin the surprise.

Also meanwhile, SoLaMi Dressing, Hibiki, Amari, Meganii, Meganee, and the managers., are having a meeting to decide what to do about the bugs still appearing around Idol Land. Amari shakily raises her hand.

"D-D-Do we really have to exterminate them?" she says, launching into a stuttering, rambly rant disagreeing with Hibiki about how she doesn't exactly like the bugs either, but the line between love and hate isn't that simple. In fact, they are basically the same, because even after hard times you can still see a blue sky in the end so storms and sunny days are basically the same and and AND... (before collapsing on the table).

"I AGREE WITH AMARI-CHAN!!!" says Laala. Immediately.

Everyone else agrees as well, except for Hibiki of course, but they are far outnumbered.

Meganii says there is still a lot they don't yet know about Idol Land, and it's possible the bugs are connected to that, so perhaps it's best to leave them for now. As Meganii speaks we see Gaaruru walking through the woods as bugs follow behind her. Gaaruru tells the bugs she doesn't care, and they can do what they want.

After the meeting ends, Amari and Laala are walking together in a deserted hallway.

"If only we could have become friends with Mario," Laala says, causing Amari to stop walking. Amari asks if Laala knew what happened to Mario, and Laala says she guessed based on how Amari was acting.

Amari says that thanks to Laala she finally understood that Mario had meaning to her. But, she realized a little too late.

Laala takes Amari's hand and says, "But I think he was really happy! That he was able to save you! That you cared about him!"

"Thank you, Laala..." Amari says as she starts to cry. The two laugh together.

Meanwhile, MyDream is touring Idol Land while the battle between Shinya and Koyoi continues to escalate into by far the most violent thing we've ever seen in Pretty Series.

Goddamn.

And Amamiya is still trapped in the toilet....

Thinking this is some kind of fate that has been thrust upon him, he starts working to make the toilet so clean that uhh...

He hallucinates toilet goddess Mirei...???

The implication I think is that his love for her overflows and gets him out, but we never actually are shown that. His love overflows from the stall and um, next scene.

Nino and Michiru are about to head back with Yui, when.... uhhh...

So, these are Haniwa. I believe the implication is like.... MyDream disturbed Ajimi's ancestral family burial site??? in PriPara????????????

Back at the stage, everyone is ready but MyDream is nowhere to be found. The crowd is getting restless, especially the animals. But no worries, Fuwari knows just what to do...

Sing a new solo in a new recolored outfit!! Prominently featuring her occasional sentence enter, "-nachu"!

And so we get Fuwari singing this lovely, calming song, inter-spliced with like Hibiki dropping their tea and Shinya/Koyoi still fighting (oh lord).

New Making Drama too!

Back in DanPri, a badly bruised and battered Koyoi and Shinya have finally come to a standstill. Apparently Shinya "had fun", "let's do this again".... (the others stare blankly). Back to normal, I guess.

Finally, MyDream arrives and Yui finds out about her surprise. They hop from an air balloon, coord changing in mid-air (AiPri style? haha).

New coords, new song, new Making Drama...

NEW TEAM CYALUMES TOO!!!

After the performance, Non Sugar wheels out Janice in a baby carriage, who congratulates them. Janice thanks Amari for protecting PriPara as well, who has the reaction you would expect she would have being addressed by a goddess (even a baby one).

Janice turns to the audience and explains that she still hasn't returned to her full power, and therefore is unable to carry out her duties as goddess in this form. Thus, she will be giving temporary goddess powers to.... FALULU!

Falulu is (temporarily) a PriPara GODDESS!!

This kinda reminds me of... umm... *mumble mumble King of Prism something something*

Hibiki leads Falulu to the stage, who is calmly surprised by this announcement. The time twins give her a goddess staff.

Fuwari asks Falulu what she will do in her first act as goddess. Ignoring the selfish requests from Meganii and Dorothy, she says she does have something she's been wanting to do...

And so, getting everyone together habitat for humanity style, Falulu has everyone build Pololo a house... T_T After being a roof for others for so long, she finally has a roof of her own.....

Falulu says she will continue to use everyone's power to make everyone's dreams come true!

As the credits roll, we cut to Amari back in the lunchroom at school. She's holding her tray and looking at a group of girls sitting across the room.

Mario's hand appears behind her, giving her a push, as she passes through an invisible barrier, and begins to approach them...

In the voiceover, Amari says, "I have a dream. A dream to enjoy my high school life!"

The time twins curl up together in THE CUTEST PAJAMAS (want), talking about how today was a great day, and tomorrow will be a great day too. We pan to the Takara Tomy logo in the night sky, and the episode ends.

WOW, what a wonderful and also depressing episode to end on.

I really REALLY REALLY thought Mario was going to come back.

Well he did, but he didn't. His hand pushing Amari at the end could have easily been her imagination. But then again, that's basically the same thing, isn't it?

I also super related to that scene WOW. I often feel like, even though I know how to be social, I know I can approach people and make friends..... I just have this invisible barrier around me, and I have to be either right in the perfect mood, or I have to be making a very conscious effort to pass through it. If I'm taken by surprise by someone approaching me in public, I often keep the barrier up and try to leave the conversation as quickly as possible. The more I've adjusted to being back in America, the more I've improved at getting that barrier down and socializing with people when I'm at cons and events and stuff. So it was pretty cool to see something like that represented visually.

So, lots of new coords, songs, making dramas... we've always got lots of new stuff in episodes before, but this was the first time it actually made me sad. Because up until now I knew we would probably get the new coords at least, and there was a glimmer of hope in me that maybe, just maybe, we might get a new song or making drama SOMEday but.... with the lackluster updates this past month, who knows if we'll be getting anything at all anymore. So, I spent a lot of this episode sadly yearning for the arcade days of knowing for sure all the new content would be available to experience soon.........

*sigh*

When they made this episode they were planning on a season 2. SURELY. Or at least, they certainly left the possibility open.

SO MUCH is still unresolved. Like yeah, Yui's back, but all the other stuff from episode 0? The update that went wrong, and the bugs, and losing PriParis and all that stuff..... (I've got watch that again)

I'm scared now that they are gonna resolve that in the Hibiki comic instead.....................

BUT MARIO

Mario should come back. Mario DESERVES to come back.

IT'S. NOT. FAIR.

And Falulu has goddess powers!? Like, for the foreseeable future we're just leaving her like that.

So like. In my other post I denied that Laalulu, the 10th/1000th-anniversary character would have anything to do with Idol Land.

But like, seeing Falulu get goddess powers is making me somewhat rethink that. Like, I dunno, I feel like this could be connected somehow. Maybe.

LIKE.......... THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES TO GO FROM HERE.

Not to mention for all we know AMAMIYA IS STILL IN THE TOILET

COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

please

[kuregure]

okay so second part!

volume 8 Japanese limited edition with the drama cd. I got it at a reasonable price on Vinted as well so I was very happy!

Even if I understand absolutely nothing of what they are saying, there is no image or subtitles, I appreciate it 😔 I literally jumped when I heard Shinya's voice calling Guren as he knocked on his office door! I was listening and smiling like I understood something LMAO

also it's a limited edition of volume 8, the volume where Guren is on the cover, ARE YOU AGAINST HIM?? IT'S A CONSPIRACY ?? DO YOU WANT TO REPLACE HIM??? 🤨🤨🤨 (this is a joke just in case huh)

and I saw that there was another limited edition, I don't know which volume, but I'm waiting for it to be on Vinted because well yk, ebay is a definite no from now on

next, the cat16 drama cd!! With the volume number 6 of cat16 ! I haven't listened to it yet and this time I was able to read the translation on tumblr of what was there thanks to someone (she will recognize herself and THANK YOU really!!!)

it had Guren on the cover too, of course I took it. I bought it from the same seller as the limited edition volume 8!

I miss cat16 a lot and i miss Asami

the supposedly limited edition DVDs but there is always stock somewhere lmao so not really limited. However, the stickers, posters, photos, cards and books inside were VERY appreciated!

both POP Yuichirooooo! the second is damaged because the person who sold it to me didn't put it in a box, just in bubble wrap 😠 I was outraged

maybe I will buy Shinoa later. It will depend on how it evolves! For now, I'm proud of her

I'm sad there's no Guren in POP but that's life. (I sob)

THIS is my favorite thing in my entire room. I received it this week and OMG I spent so much on it! I had no choice but to buy it on ebay because it was no longer in stock anywhere and no one was selling it on another site. I've been looking for it for 2 years at a lower price.

One day, someone listed it for only €70 on Vinted, I was only €20 short and my mother told me NO. As a result, obviously someone bought it and I had to buy it 2 years later at the price of €295 (shippings included) 🤡 it's my trauma

but I don't regret it and sometimes I suddenly remember that I have it, I raise my head to look at him and I smile 😭

And finally my wall ! Everything is from the limited edition DVDs, I had to hang them somewhere. And the frame is a gift from my mom! I didn't hang the stickers and cards

I'm thinking of printing and hanging a nice picture of Guren somewhere. I had done this before but crushed a bug on it so had to throw it away 😔 maybe I'll print some cat16 images too

so Kagami, I spent a lot on your work! so you better have to make a happy end 😔😔😔😔

what do you mean by "Guren" is my favorite?? no 🙄💅

[chlorine-tangerine]

Samba Da Volta (First Look)

I may not have a full fic for you this year, but I have part of a fic! That’s gotta be something. This is an excerpt from a story I’ve been writing called Samba da Volta (Samba of Return). Even though this isn’t the full thing, I still wanted to share it with the fandom and get some initial reactions.

This story takes place in an alternate universe where Suzuki and Sugiki were in love in high school, but separated when Sugiki moved for university. Sugiki has now returned to his hometown for the summer and meets Suzuki again. You don't need much context other than that, so I hope you enjoy!

It is also available on AO3, but if you don't want to open the link, the text will be under the cut.

Happy 10 Dance Day!

(Excerpt from Samda Da Volta, chapter 2 - Samba E Amor (Samba and Love)

-

Back in the present, the scenes of Sugiki’s high school days were replayed as he browsed through the aisles of the convenience store. The location and layout were the same, even down to the benches and tables outside, just that the store changed names. Of course, Sugiki didn’t expect there to be no change over almost a decade, but it was a peculiar feeling to come back to something that no longer existed in its original state. The same went for Suzuki-kun; he still hadn’t figured out how to face this man whom he knew so much yet so little about at the same time. They severed their bond many years ago, but never completely. They never had a big dramatic breakup like other high school sweethearts. He’s certainly gotten more handsome as he aged… thought Sugiki, then shook his head to avoid that line of thinking. It was late, past 11 PM, and his mind was not to be trusted with emotional thinking at late hours. He sighed, and placed his small basket of snacks onto the checkout counter. Just as he was taking out his credit card, a hand got in the way.

“I’ll pay for him, Auntie. Ring these up for me too, won't you?” A cheerful voice to Sugiki’s right chimed in, dropping half a dozen pack of beer right next to Sugiki’s basket. The cashier’s eyes brightened at the sight of him.

“Shinya! Haven’t seen you in a while, how are your sisters?” She said as she rang up the six-pack. “They’re good, noisy as ever. I heard your leg is all better now. Good for you!” That topic opened up a can of worms, and the middle-aged woman started a long story of her leg injury. Half-listening, Suzuki turned to the dark-haired man and gave him an innocent look with raised eyebrows and a half-smile, “Hey,” he said quietly.

Sugiki was not amused or charmed, evident by his sideward glance and thin mouth. The man in question wouldn’t know, but running into him right after thinking about his attractiveness was a little embarrassing for Sugiki, even at his age. “I’ll pay for myself, thank you very much.”

“Come on, have a drink with me. I can’t finish this all by myself.”

“Then you shouldn't have bought that much.” For a moment, it was as if they were picking up right where they left off the other night, teasing each other with no real meaning to it. Sugiki answered his own question from earlier; maybe this is how he should treat Suzuki-kun, try to be friends again, especially when he made it so easy. He stepped aside and allowed the blond man to pay, then went outside with the snacks and beverages as Suzuki finished up his conversation with the cashier.

Suzuki followed the dark-haired man with his eyes, then quickly came back to the cashier to bid her goodnight. As he stepped out into the humid air and pulled up a stool opposite Sugiki, he wondered: does he still remember this place? They met up here countless times after school, took turns treating each other to snacks, he had to remember. But a lot had happened over time, Suzuki only remembered because this place was so hard to avoid. Sugiki, quietly eating his cookies, sat facing the bench behind the store. He stared mindlessly at it, the memory of their first kiss so far away yet so close by. In fact, that memory was sitting less than half a meter away from him. When he turned to look at Suzuki, he was surprised to find him staring back.

“... Nothing. You have quite a sweet tooth,” the man gestured to the wafers and cookies (most of them chocolate-flavored) on the table and smoothly reached over for a can of beer. Sugiki got defensive about his choice of late-night snacks, “I was in the mood for it,” he said with a slight pout. Suzuki found it cute but thought it best to not tell him.

“What?”

He tried picking up the conversation and asked about the trip to the hospital. It was quite disheartening to get a one-sentence response, and soon they found themselves listening to the cicadas again. That topic ended pretty quickly, thought Suzuki as he ate some more of the snacks to keep himself looking busy. What were they supposed to talk about now? Their meeting last time ended awkwardly, and there was only so much to catch up on. Maybe it was a mistake to ask Sugiki to stay. Maybe he was still the self-confident teenager, scrambling to come up with words in front of Sugiki.

Out of nowhere, the dark-haired man spoke, “Hey, can I ask you something?” Suzuki shifted his body so that he was facing the table now. “Hm?”

“I don’t know if you remember, but I was being really petty to you the other day you came for dinner.”

“Oh, I don’t even remember that, you’re good.”

Sugiki shrugged, “Still, that wasn’t nice. But I mean it; it’s good to know she has someone… She always looked lonely to me.” After a few days of rumination, he realized that his mother was not a social person. While he had Suzuki to rely on after his father’s passing, he couldn’t recall who Sayaka turned to. All of a sudden, he sympathized with that loneliness, even if she had turned him away back then.

“You too,” Suzuki blurted out, catching him off guard. Sugiki rushed to defend himself, “Me? No, that’s only because I’m here. I’m not like this with friends.”

“I guess I wouldn’t know. It’s not like you have any other friends here.”

“How would you know? Maybe I do,” teased Sugiki, rejecting the label put on him. Suzuki took the retort at face value. Did he have other friends here? The ones he could think of had all moved out of town, as far as he knew. “Do you?” he shot Sugiki a doubting look. A playful smile crept onto his face, “...no,” leaving the two laughing quietly.

Suzuki stood up to tidy the table, “Well, if you’re not gonna be doing anything while you’re here, we might as well hang out more. Get dinner sometime.”

“I don’t know… I still have to work on my research even if I’m out of town.” The blond man scoffed at the answer and turned around. Sugiki’s bookishness never once stopped being annoying. “That can’t take up all your time.” Before Sugiki could come up with a witty comeback, he continued, “Stop being a nerd. I'm free after I get off Friday afternoon. Come to my house, I'll cook you something.”

Sugiki got up, eyes level with the other man; Suzuki’s lopsided smile took him back to a simpler time. It would be dishonest to refuse after all the persuasion.

“Alright, fine. Friday. You can text me your address later.” The two parted ways back to their homes. Sugiki hummed as he walked now that there was something to look forward to.

[yuzurujenn]

[2023.11.11] AERA Special Edition - Yuzuru Hanyu x Shinya Kiyozuka

Pianist: Shinya Kiyozuka The inescapable "lonely fate" is fleeting and beautiful

Accompanying Creator Vol.2Pianist and composer/arranger Shinya Kiyozuka has regarded Yuzuru Hanyu, who has now become an outstanding performer, as an artist since his competitive days. Through arrangements like 'Haru yo, koi,' he has witnessed Hanyu's deep philosophy toward music and has been supporting him in realising that vision.

-Kiyozuka's collaboration with Hanyu began with the performance of 'Haru yo, koi' at Fantasy on Ice in 2018. How did you view the athlete 'Yuzuru Hanyu' at that time?

A 'perfect person,' perhaps. Defining what makes someone perfect is difficult, but there is a system to expression. In music, it relates to whether there are any mistakes or if the performance aligns with one's ideals. Figure skating, too, requires expressing a predetermined set of elements while considering physical balance and executing it as planned. I thought of Hanyu as someone who exhibits ‘systematic perfection’ in his expressive abilities rarely seen in human history.

Like musicians too, such people have a tendency to like perfection in all things. They can be a little sensitive or somewhat unapproachable. Initially, I thought Hanyu might be like that, but he didn’t give off that feeling at all. He is bright, gentle, and always mindful of not making others uncomfortable. I’m sure he understands better than anyone how others perceive him based on his experience. Even if Hanyu doesn’t intend it, he truly is an incredible person. When creating a program together, I thought that this sense of distance might have a negative impact. But, looking back now, I think that even that aspect was perfect (laughs).

-His expressions are intricate, and he is a skater with an exceptional sense of balance.

Expressing sensitivity in words is extremely difficult, but throughout the creation process, I caught glimpses of his keen sense of balance many times. Even in his choice of words, it feels like reading poetry. Sometimes literary, sometimes descriptive, and at times very specific. He might say things like, 'It’s like there’s vibrato on the violin,' or make fantastical remarks like, 'If you turn around, you’ll see a whole new world.' He is someone who writes beautifully.

-What you created together includes the short program 'Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso' performed at the Beijing Olympics and the exhibition piece 'Haru yo, koi.'

There was no need for him to say it, but after the Olympics, Hanyu sent me a message saying, 'I’m sorry.' In 'Haru yo, koi,' I could feel the various meanings he wanted to convey, and it became clear that he lives in a harsh world where he expresses himself through his performances, which deeply moved me.

However, to be honest, I had already stopped viewing Hanyu’s expression as merely 'competition.' I was seeing him more as an artist, away from the concept of scores. After he announced his transition to professional status, he also told me, 'I will definitely complete this.' I believe he had the desire to present what we created together in a beautiful form.

-In the past, you mentioned that in piano competitions, 'Executing the techniques is valued more than entertaining people with beautiful tones.' Hanyu also reflected on his competitive days, saying, 'If I didn’t win, it wouldn’t be remembered.'

Recently, we have been talking a lot about this kind of thing. We’d have video calls late at night and sometimes end up talking for about two hours without realising it. What started as work-related discussions often turns into deeper conversations. I think Hanyu’s worldview, which he’s trying to express, is very philosophical. Just like musical instruments, there are no words for skating. While you can inspire something, you can’t fully articulate it. Art can convey a stronger message than words. Hanyu has a deep and multifaceted philosophy behind his programs, and he works hard to express it.

-He is both an athlete and an artist, in that sense.

I felt that from the moment we met, and that’s what I respect the most.

When I talk with my friend who’s a baseball player, I realise how different the mindsets of artists and athletes are, which I find fascinating. They often use the term 'competition,' while artists rarely do. Artists are simply engaged in the process of bringing their inner selves to the surface, and there’s no win or loss involved. There are numerical indicators like CD sales, but not the concept of scoring.

Hanyu can navigate between both worlds. While I believe he has a certain attachment to scores, rather than placing value solely on the scores, I think it might be more accurate to say that there is a form of expression that can only be conveyed by winning. I’d like to ask Yuzu-chan about this.

-Has your relationship with Hanyu changed since he turned professional?

Although there aren’t people around me who call me that, before I knew it, he started calling me 'Kiyo-chan.' I wonder if it’s because he feels we have become people who can create from the same perspective now that he is a professional?

-How did you view the Tokyo Dome performance 'GIFT'?

The 'Rondo Capriccioso' might feel like an effort to reclaim Beijing, especially with the six-minute practice included in the performance. However, I see it a bit differently. I think he wanted to express an 'even more complete Rondo Capriccioso' by adding elements that he couldn’t showcase in competitions. Pushing yourself in that way also means you cannot escape a lonely fate. To reach a place where no one has seen, you have to work hard in solitude.

-Where does that strength come from?

I think that is the true essence of loneliness, and because he has lived that way, it’s all he can do. That fateful aspect is both fleeting and beautiful, connecting to Hanyu's solitary nature. His performances always carry a sense of mystery that reflects his way of life.

I think he’s the kind of person who can’t say he’s struggling, even when times are tough. It's during those moments that he has the brightest smile. As a friend, there have been times when I’ve asked him, 'Are you okay?' out of concern that he might burn out. But he always laughs ‘Hehehe’ with a super cute smile, as if to say “I know.”

Seeing that makes me realise I can’t approach this with half-hearted feelings. He pours so much of himself into it that I want to fight alongside him at that level. I’m ready to help manifest the world that Yuzu-chan wants to express.

Source: AERA Special Edition 2023.11.11 - Yuzuru Hanyu: The Solitary Driving Force, pg 86-87 Info: https://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/4023323500/

[resolutepath]

👫 I’m greedy so for spinneraki, bkdk, bestshot!

SPINNER & SHIGARAKI.

○ Quiet gaming in tandem happens more often than not and Spinner loves those moments. Of course its fun playing together either as a team or a PVP style game, but he also likes it when he has one of his cosy games and Tomura has one of his adventure games on and they can just exist in the same space occasionally asking advice or sharing screens or updating each other on gaming news they've heard.

○ Spinner's loyalty to Shigaraki is something he holds over his own life once it gets to the point where he has discarded his Stain ideologies for Shigaraki's future. He goes into the final battle intending to fight at Tomura's side, ensuring that if the choice of who lives comes up he can make sure its Tomura. Being separated by the heroes' plan is the worst thing that could have happened to him because of that and he never, ever forgives himself for that.

○ Spinner will do little care things for Shigaraki without being asked and without pointing them out. He'll make sure there's a fresh water bottle near him as often as he can and snacks that can be picked at. He'll throw blankets around the hideout for warmth or go out to acquire new hoodies if needed / ask Toga to. He'll try and keep the team in stock of medications and creams anything that might ease suffering.

○ In a world where Tomura survives, Spinner will set them up together. He still writes the book, still publishes it and uses the royalties to take care of their family first. Eventually he proposes to Tomura as well.

BAKUGO & DEKU.

○ Izuku has the inherent ability to make Katsuki feel weak because he is so strong. But this also means that Izuku is someone Katsuki admires greatly because he acts on impulse in ways that Katsuki has to think about. As a child and a teen this got wrapped up on jealousy and in picking apart the one thing he had over Izuku to make himself feel better but it never did work. As he gets older he learns to appreciate it again but also recognise the things he is better at than Izuku - like knowing his limits and factoring others in to cover them rather than going solo.

○ And speaking of limits, Katsuki has gotten really good at recognising Izuku's own. He's been watching him for years and he knows the difference between a tired but otherwise okay I'm fine and a smiling through the pain I'm fine. These days he drags Izuku to a sofa and forces him to sit his ass down, drink and take a snack or nap, but earlier on he used to just yell at him because he felt like he couldn't do anything to change it

○ Katsuki drops in all of Izuku's lunchbreaks - or a little later if there's been an incident - and checks in after school for the first 6 months of his teaching. It's important to him that Izuku knows he's still thought of and he needs to know Izuku isn't taking a spiral downwards. He also uses it as a subtle way of collecting information for the make Izuku the next quirkless hero star project.

○ Katsuki cooks for Izuku all the time. He makes him lunches for work "because he had extra" and he makes him snacks "because he needs a tester" Mostly though, it's his way of taking care of Izuku.

EDGESHOT & BEST JEANIST.

○ Cuddle fiends. If they can be wrapped up together they will be. After Shinya gets better he absolutely is far more indulgent than he used to be and is content to laze around a lot more often.

○ Tsunagu has outright permission to change Shinya's out of work wardrobe without asking any time as long as the style of clothing remains the same. He loves a yukata and traditional wear but does not care about colour so he lets Tsunagu experiment on him. He doesn't mind being dressed up, it feels fun actually.

○ After confessing, Shinya makes a point of telling Tsunagu he loves him at least once a day. It's been a quiet unspoken thing for so long it's nice to get it out in the open whether murmured between kisses, or said as he's leaving the house or breathed raggedly against lips. He needs him to know.

○ Shinya and Tsunagu have lunch with Katsuki at least once a week if not more. It's important to both of them to see how Bakugo is progressing and ensuring he isn't pushing himself too hard.

[mementoboni]

[part 3/4] DIR EN GREY WOWOW Interview & Document (2020)

"But looking at these, seeing Diru's behind-the-scenes production process, I still feel it's not easy, DIR EN GREY is really amazing." — Shinya

Notes before reading:

The whole interview is divided into 8 topics, and the translation is divided into 4 parts. This is the third part, including the 5th topic. The details of all topics and time markers are 👉 here.

I have added Chinese subtitles for this video in 2021. The whole interview was very meaningful, and I hope that with the English translation, more people can understand what they're talking about.

The five members were interviewed separately and then edited into a video, so the words spoken by each of them are not necessarily coherent.

Repost and share are welcome.🙌 I translated it all by my ears, so please feel free to correct me if you spot any mistake or any confusing parts.☺️

— — —

05. Member Feature

[ 薫 Kaoru ]

►Memories of the Band Formation

Kaoru: Even ONE MAN LIVE, we still didn't have the budget to decorate the stage. But we still wanted it, so we went to TOKYU HANDS* and bought Styrofoam, flower decorations, and wire or something like that. It's fun that we all made  stage decorations in the house together. (*Note: "TOKYU HANDS" is a Japanese chain of home-based department stores specializing in selling DIY products.)

►Something of Recent Interest

Kaoru: I am often asked, but I can't think of anything. I don't want to do anything when I get home.  This month, in June, "Neon Genesis Evangelion" (the movie) will be released, and I really like it. Kaoru: It's almost over, of course I also want to see it earlier, but after watching it is really over. I'm a little happy that it's going to be postponed, that it won't be released this year (2020), and that I won't be able to watch it. (Staff: Emotionally, you still can't accept it.) Kaoru: Yeah, yeah, it will feel like it's not the end yet.

►Opportunity for Solo Exhibition

(*Screen caption: Kaoru held a solo exhibition”ノウテイカラノ”in 2019.) Kaoru: The reason for the exhibition is that a few years ago my hands started to become a bit uncomfortable and I couldn't hold the pick properly to play the guitar, so I had to put the pick on my fingers with tape*.  As a kind of rehabilitation, I started to draw and try to show some random things, but the story is not yet that rich. (*Note: Around 2014, Kaoru's hands began to show signs of abnormalities, which were diagnosed to be the occupational disease, caused by relaxation of the ligaments of the muscles or joints.)

►The Origin of「ノウテイカラノ」("nouteikarano”)

Kaoru: When I was a child, I often had a dream. I don't know if it was the sky or the ground, but there was a pure white place, and from far away, I could see a lot of dots, as if there was a large group of things coming closer and closer, and in an instant, they all swarmed towards me. Kaoru: Every night I would dream about it, and then I woke up with a start.  I wake up every time I dream about it, and what happens after that? I imagine what happens after that, try to draw a picture like this, go back to my mind at that time and imagine it. (*Note: According to Kaoru’s scend book “Dokugen ni” (published in 2018) P.85, "ノウテイカラノ" means "脳底からの" (born from inside the head), just written in katakana.

►Influence on the Band

Kaoru: At first, I wanted to draw with a different feeling, and I felt that my creative power was stimulated, so I thought I could compose with a different feeling. But, rather, it seems to be more difficult to make a song. (laughs)

...

[ Shinya ]

►The Person You Admire

Shinya: I've been in a band since my first year of middle school. X was very popular in the class, and YOSHIKI-san's presence was very strong.  At that time I decided to become a drummer like him, and I've always looked up to YOSHIKI-san since then.

►Memories of the Band Formation

Shinya: We used to compose in a studio in Osaka. There was a container-like studio, and I remember we stayed there for 3 or 4 days, composing the song together.  The studio was rented, and we slept there under the blankets. Shinya: I never understood why we had to share a room*. The studio was in Osaka and we could just go home, so why did we have to spend the night there?  I guess other members might have felt the same way. (*Shinya used the word "gashuku, 合宿")

►Reason for Not Changing the Style

Shinya: There are people who have liked me for a long time. Also, I can feel the beauty by keeping my old look, and that's why (I don't change my look).

►Opportunity to Start Solo Project

(*Screen caption: Shinya established the music group "SERAPH" in 2017.) Shinya: The concept was already there many years ago, but I felt that it was a bit taboo to have other band activities, so I didn't do anything.  But around 2012 or 2013, I started to think that it was okay, so I went into it with the intention of trying it out.

►The Concept of "SERAPH"

Shinya: The theme is the various things that I see from heaven, about human beings, and that's what I'm expressing.

►Influence on the Band

Shinya: The drum part is the same as DIR EN GREY. After all, it's an expression of my own creation.  In this respect, when I think of the drums of DIR EN GREY, there may still be some influence.

►Things learned from "SERAPH"

Shinya: I have to do a lot of things by myself in SERAPH, booking all kinds of things and so on.  I'm quite happy to do it myself, or maybe I'm doing it because I like it. But looking at these, seeing Diru's behind-the-scenes production process, I still feel it's not easy, DIR EN GREY is really amazing.

...

[ Die ]

►Opportunity to Go into the Band

Die: I wasn't that interested in music itself before. I like listening to music, but I don't know anything about the bands. After entering high school, I saw the performance of senpais' copy band at the cultural festival. I was dragged there by my friends, and it was a shock to me. The first time I saw a live performance, I realized that it's the band. Die: Although I had no interest in it, I wanted to do something while watching it, and I formed a band with my friend immediately after the show was over. There was no one else (in the band). I was a drummer at first. (laughs)  But it's boring to play rhythm all the time at home.  After all, guitar is a melodic instrument, and there is an amplifier. I guess the guitar is more attractive to me.

►Memories of the Band Formation

Die: When we first debuted, we spent the whole day in the conference room of the record company, signing posters, changing signatures, and so on. Filming also started at 6 a.m., and it took about 3 hours for a person to put on makeup, it's usually over time at the end. I remember these things very well.

►Something of Recent Interest

Die: In my daily life, I naturally see and hear things like the Japanese music industry, and it feels really peaceful.

►Opportunity to Start Solo Project

(*Screen caption: Die founded the rock band "DECAYS" in 2015.) Die: As far as music is concerned, it's something I can't do at DIR EN GREY. I wanted to try and see how far I could go without the DIR EN GREY label. There is a part of me that wants to do it myself, or to challenge it.

►Things learned from "DECAYS"

Die: At first I felt like I had to make some changes, but instead, I felt like I was losing myself. In the end, I found that it is best to be myself, in the next process.

...

[ Toshiya ]

►Opportunity to Start Playing Bass

Toshiya: Originally, I just wanted to be a guitarist, but I didn't think I could play very well. At that time, I was thinking about what to do, and then I was attracted to the bass. I felt like I could see my future. Toshiya: There are many people who are called "Guitar Heroes", but few people remember "Bass Heroes". That means there is still room for me to develop, so I thought I would play bass.

►Memories of the Band Formation

Toshiya: When our band first formed, four members came to my hometown. It was winter and there was still snow on the ground. They all came from Kansai and rarely saw snow*. I was very impressed by how excited they were to see snow. (*Toshiya's hometown is Nagano. It is said that Toshiya's mother took the picture at the time and still keeps it at home in Nagano :D → TOSHIYA AT JOE YOKOMIZO CHANNEL 4th FEB TRANSLATION/NOTES 2/4)

►Favorite Artists

Toshiya: I like painting. Vincent van Gogh and Francis Bacon, I like both of them very much.  The world of painting is usually a mixture of truth and fiction.

►Opportunity to Start the Apparel Brand

(*Screen caption: Fashion brand with Toshiya as creative director - DIRT) Toshiya: I think music and fashion are inseparable and both are very attractive. Music should be free to express itself, and in the same way, fashion should be free, too. Toshiya: When it comes to expressing oneself, everyone chooses what is acceptable to most people*. I don't like that, I think we should listen to our own thoughts more. (*Toshiya used the word "migimuke migi, 右向け右")

►Influence on the Band

Toshiya: Even if I'm designing clothes, I end up having something to do with music. Although this is a completely different field, it will eventually return to music and bands.

...

[ 京 Kyo ]

►The Person You Admire

Kyo: There are a lot of them.  Now I'm not just targeting one person. When I was young, there were a lot of senpais that I wanted to become like them.  But it's been more than 20 years, so now I don't take them as a target, just be myself.

►Interested Artists

Kyo: Haven't there "Kimetsu no Yaiba (鬼滅の刃)" recently?  I haven't read it yet, it's super popular, isn't it?  Generally speaking, if the sales are so good, it is difficult to end the series, right? There will be a variety of entanglements, such as the life afterwards, there are many to consider. Kyo: I think it's great to end the series like this, to end it at this time, with a sense of strength and determination. So if there is a follow-up manga in the future, I would like to read it.

►Opportunity to Start Solo Project

(*Screen caption: Kyo founded the rock band "sukekiyo" in 2013.) Kyo: The things I want to do often keep popping up. I think it's a shame not to do it, and I don't want to regret it.

►Influence on the Band

Kyo: I don't think so, but I feel less stressed (after the solo project).  People who like DIR EN GREY say to me, "Don't bring sukekiyo to DIR EN GREY!" Sometimes people say that, and I'm not going to do that. Kyo: I was asked why (I want to form a sukekiyo), "Diru can do it, right?" It's because I can't do it (in Diru) that I want to do it!  I don't know what criteria they used to say that Diru can do it, but I didn't do what I could do (in Diru).  If you finish what you want to do one by one, you will be less stressed out.

(To be continued…)

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part 1. & part 2. & part4.

topics & time marks

中文翻譯 (My Blogger) part 1. & part 2. & part 3.