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hxhhasmysoul · 4 months ago

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It's honestly kinda annoying. People laugh at shounen cliches and complain it's all the same, but they also get angry when something isn't the same, when it does something even a tiny bit differently.

And also some people will actively ignore if the story does something different and argue that it's exactly the same as other stories. Idk, the number of times I heard that Yuuji is a typical shounen mc for him to then be criticised for not being one...

I'll be uncharitable but I think it's because people are consuming media nowadays instead of enjoying them. Title X is popular so they consume it and don't even pay attention to it much. But then feel the need to shit out an opinion.

I can't really say anything with confidence about MHA because all my knowledge of it is mostly by osmosis and like a few episodes I watched years ago, so idk if it's a story that is good for a casual viewer.

JJK absolutely isn't. And the anime being made by Mappa exacerbates the problem of why the JJK "fandom" is such a mess. Because Mappa's animation style is very fast, blink and you miss it. And the fights are kinda like music videos in terms of editing. It may be exciting to witness but it's fucking hard to follow and get actual information out of. JJK's world building isn't simple, neither is its magic system, being primed by HxH really helped me with watching the JJK anime before reading the manga. But I think being able to read and reread a page or scene really helps when interacting with JJK. The story really benefits from immersing yourself in it, from paying attention. It gains on a reread.

But a lot of the people who stumble upon it just want to casually consume it and come out confused on the other end. And assume something is wrong with the story. And because many people online feel the need to shit out an opinion on everything they've consumed, they just repeat criticisms that they've seen others online make.

Especially when tropes are subverted. I get the vibe from a lot of fans that they feel superior to the media they consume. Like manga is mainstream, especially shounen and shoujo. So like they consume it and expect to be able to predict it based on the cliches and tropes. And my uncharitable take is that they get annoyed when they can’t feel superior to the story because it’s not going the way they expected it to go. And instead of trying to seriously engage with the story they just feel a need to criticise it to reassert that superiority.

And I suspect the MHA ending situation is kinda like this. People didn't really pay attention to what the mc's character arc was, the story didn't end like some other popular shounen and they didn't quite like it because it took them by surprise. And they needed to shit out an opinion so like the "official valid criticism" emerged. It's "valid" because everyone is parroting it and it lets the people posting it feel superior to the story.

And it's super tedious. Wading through all the latest "official valid criticism" posts, people having nothing to say about the story, just repeating the same fucking thing ad nauseam. Or like actually trying to score some pseudo-intellectual brownie points by expanding on “official valid criticism” because they don’t understand that the "official valid criticism" is a copout. That it’s a slogan to mask ignorance. That delving into it just exposes the ignorance underneath.

A particular brand of reactions to the end of MHA I've seen especially on twt reminds me that a lot of the criticism Yuuji gets isn't necessarily against him. It's against a type of fighting shonen hero that doesn't fit the perceived norm. Ones who don't want to stand at the top of their respective universe and hold some position of power.

There are surely justified criticisms for the end of MHA, but something that bugs me is the people complaining that Deku lost his powers and became a teacher. They say he failed. He was supposed to become the greatest hero and in their eyes he failed. He was supposed to become this mighty powerhouse the likes of OFA at his peak. Another Superman. It doesn't matter that Deku became a symbol for change, an inspiration for the regular civilians that they can achieve change too, that they can make a meaningful difference in other's lives. All that matters is that Deku isn't powerful anymore. They laugh about him being a teacher because how could a regular teacher be a great hero? He probably doesn't even make a lot of money!

I've also seen similar reactions to Ichigo from the general shonen fandom. He's not perceived as impressive as Naruto or Luffy because while he gains power, he doesn't want to become the Soul King or something like that. He's seen as a too simple of a protagonist because he wants to save the people he cares about and protect his family. That's the core reason for why he wants to become stronger. He's also often seen as too reactive and not in control of the flow of the plot.

Same with Yuuji. He's being ridiculed because the narrative doesn't always focus on him despite him being at the heart of the story and it's message. He is reactive for the most part and responds to what forces greater than him throw at him. He's not the strongest in his verse and doesn't strive to be. Like Ichigo he only really fights and wants to get stronger to protect others. But that's not enough. If he's not the next Strongest, the next Gojo Satoru or King of Curses then what was the point? He's only recently gained a bit of respect back from the fandom because he has gotten stronger and now has cursed techniques and a domain expansion. Even that is fickle though. You have a chapter that entirely focuses on him like people want and we learn about a significant shift in his world view, but all people care about is that he should beat up Sukuna already. Why is he yapping so much? Nevermind that we haven't heard a single word from him for multiple chapters, much less any introspection.

So it's clear that it's not a problem with Yuuji's character or Deku's, people just can't stand when conventions are broken, when a hero robs them of their power fantasy and at the end of the story stands triumphantly at the top of their universe. I'm not denying that such hero journeys can be entertaining, but it's ridiculous to expect every main character to conform to that trope. And I think Deku becoming the greatest hero, but not in the way people expected is actually a nice subversion of expectations with a good message.

#jjk spoilers #mha spoilers #idk anything about mha beyond that i once watched half of the first season on netflix and didn't vibe with it

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bbyhaikyuu · 4 years ago

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idk how to do these things so 👀

I haven't written anything in like 4 years, so.. Hi? Im taking it easy a bit by doing these hc's(is that what you call it? Or is it called a scenario???? Idk help im a babieee) first before doing oneshots/short fics hehe

: Daichi and Sugawara: Finding out that someone is drawing them.

I did not proofread oops i just wanted to get it over with and finish

Daichi

TYPICAL hallway bump shenanigans eheheheeeee

You were carrying quite a lot of stuff, well of course, being the class rep means that you have to pass the class's workbooks to the faculty room.

Your dumbass forgot that you put your sketchbook right on top of the pile??

Chaos suddenly came and the next thing you knew is that the books were on the floor.

Looked up and saw it was Daichi??

Bumping to this mf feels like walking right into a stone wall

lmAO felt like your shoulder dislocated a bit there eh?

Daichi is a gentleman ofcourse he would help you gather the books. Suga and Asahi was with him too, which made the cleanup much more faster.

Y'all exchanged apologies(and thanks) before you sprinted away like your life depended on it.

The trio was about to head to their respective classrooms, but suga noticed something on the corner of his eyes and picked up a black sketchbook.

They knew it wasn't a typical notebook because the cover was sort of like soft leather??? Damn it felt expensive.

Sugawara quickly found your name written at the bottom center and read it out loud.

"Isn't she from class 3-A?" Asahi asked them, they nodded in reply.

All of the 3rd years knew each other's names, despite never talking or interacting.

The bell rang, lunch break was over.

"Guess she's going to be late because of us. " Daichi chuckled, though guilt was evident.

"Aaand that is why you are the one who is gunna return that to her, personally." Suga smiled before shoving the notebook to Daichi's chest and darting towards his classroom.

Asahi is gone too???

Daichi sighed and went back to his own classroom.

The period turned out to be a study hall since the teacher didn't bother to show himself. There isn't really anything to study anymore tho?? They had exams just last week???

Bored Daichi decided to flip through your sketchbook and found himself at awe and intrigued each time he flipped a page.

He quickly learned that you were into action mangas. Each page was littered with dynamic poses. Though there were some full illustrations here and there.

When he got to the last page with a drawing he CLOSED IT BY ACCIDENT BECAUSE HE WAS SURPRISED.

Homeboy got stared at lmao

Anyways he opened it up again and got an even closer look.

On the upper left, there was a messy headshot sketch of someone. Messy yet you can actually tell who it was yk what i mean????

Daichi smirked because he KNEW it was him 100%

the nowhere finished full body sketch of someone recieving a ball with the #1 below the headahot gave it away.

The facy that it has "?????" beside it is very amusing to him. He knew you had a hard time figuring out the pose.

So when y'all got dismissed, he quickly went to your room and searched for you, holding up the black sketchbook in his hand. You almost died that day because you thought you lost it.

"You look like you could use some help there, wanna come watch me and the boys practice? "

You almost blew a fuse but hey, atleast you finished that drawing of yours.

Sugawara

You're at a cafe, hoping that the change of environment will help you think and draw more.

Wrong. You needed a live reference. Pinterest pics just wont cut it.

How do u draw men???? When its women you can go like swoosh and its already decent and *chef's kiss. But men???? Boink.

So when you looked up and saw a pretty boi (cue sugawara) sat across you, you were like "hell yeah, jackpot".

You started doing sketches on your ipad(and apple pencil), your hands felt like they were moving naturally.

You know how weird it is to draw someone you completely didn't know, based from experience.

Soooo you tried to keep your stares to a minimum and only looked up when you really needed to.

Too bad, Sugawara already had his eyes on you and your ipad. he sounds like a thief wtaf

So he decided to stay still and scroll on his phone for a little bit more casually sipping his coffee.

He observed you for a while, whenever you weren't staring at him.

He would smile a lil bit every once in a while.

You thought he saw a meme. Nah hoe, he's entertained that you thought he didn't know 👀

You did 3 sketches of him???? You're so happy????

You finally stretched your arms and let out a smol sigh

Pretty boi started gathering his things already :(

You were sad that you didn't get to know him, but hey atleast you got these bomb ass sketches of him.

You decided to clean it up a bit and colour it in.

Damn his beauty mark beside is eye is perfection.

Your ass was so engrossed in finishing the drawing you didn't notice him coming to your table.

Him putting the coffee on your table startled tf outta you.

Pretty boi??? Smiled??? Im simping????

He hurried out tho, looks like he's busy.

B U T

pretty boi left a sticky note!!!

"Wanna hang out? I'll be your French girl ;)))"

xoxo Sugawara Koushi

Attached: His number with a heart

H E A R T A T T A C K

Took you a while to compose yourself.

You smiled and thought :

J a c k p o t

So that's all for now!! I accidentally made daichi's a bit longer

I kinda like this writing style???

Im thinking something mafia au related for the next one

Feel free to send me some suggestions! I could def use them hehe 👉��

#haikyuu #haikyuu!!#sugawara koushi #sawamura daichi #haikyuu headcanons #haikyuu x reader #haikyuu scenarios #headcanons #daichi x reader #sugawara x reader #sugawara koushi x reader #sawamura daichi x reader #inochi writes

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mangamushi · 3 years ago

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Thoughts on Saikyou Densetsu Kurosawa

FUKUMOTO Nobuyuki, 11 volumes, published from 2003 to 2006 in Big Comic Original (Seinen)

Saikyou Densetsu Kurosawa (Legend of the strongest man Kurosawa) follows the story of 44 years old construction worker Kurosawa as he realizes he spent most of his life without any meaningful connections with anyone nor any special achievements. He decides to change his life so that he can become proud of his own accomplishments and efforts, and earn respect and appreciation from the people around him.

(spoiler warning)

So I’m currently binging Fukumoto manga, after having them on my “plan to read” list for several years…I started with Kaiji, but initially the first manga of his that caught my interest was Kurosawa. The themes of it are right up my alley, and I like main characters that are not teenagers or young adults.

Kurosawa has a sequel, Shin Kurosawa: Saikyou Densetsu, which is a direct continuation. I’ll mostly be focusing on the first part here.

The art is typical Fukumoto style. Odd at first, definitely not the prettiest nor the most impressive out there, but it does the job and I really grew to like it. He doesn’t hesitate to give exaggerated features to his characters, and I actually find the deliberate ugliness of the character designs refreshing. It certainly fits the story of Kurosawa, makes the characters very expressive and works well with the often comedic tone.

Although the art looks simple, Fukumoto can deliver very intense pages when he needs to.

His forte is in his use of narration combined with the picture, rather than in the drawings alone. He is a master at using a narrator’s comments or the character’s thoughts to raise tension and make the manga flow better.

Kurosawa is definitely written with a lot of heart. Both the manga itself and the titular character, feel very genuine. Kurosawa is very flawed and very human. He is rough but powerful, his desires are simple, and he is straightforward in his reactions, to the point that his impulsive nature and lack of social restraints put him in trouble, especially when it comes to women...

There are a few instances however where he comes close to harassing women, which is played for laugh, which I disliked. Those scenes made me less sympathetic towards him as he actually deserved the repercussions of his actions here.

But besides those chapters, Kurosawa is overall a likeable character, easy to sympathize with and to root for as we see him at a low point of his life.

He is clumsy in his interactions with his coworkers, which, coupled with his hot-temper, often leads to misunderstandings and prevents him from getting closer to them despite his best efforts. I actually found Kurosawa’s failed attempts at achieving popularity reminiscent of Watamote. The beginning of both series, in which a pathetic main character fails repetitively at gaining the appreciation of their peers through outlandish strategies, elicits the same mixture of pity, second-hand embarrassment, and amusement.

Kurosawa also gets into a fair number of fights. While those fight-focused chapters were not bad, I was personally less into them.

Drawing literal fist-fights in not what Fukumoto’s best at. His character’s postures are somewhat stiff, which he compensates for with heavy use of speed-lines. It is okay-ish, but I want read a fight scene, there’s plenty of fighting manga out there that can do a better job.

I like Fukumoto more when he writes more psychological battles, like in his gambling mangas. Of course, psychological elements and strategies where not totally absent from the fights, but it was nowhere as much as in his gambling manga. Sometimes I think Kurosawa was a bit too lucky in the fights, as he is not a very athletic person nor someone with a lot of experience in fighting. It did not feel very convincing to me.

Besides, it is through these battles that Kurosawa gathers allies, a reputation and respect. But most of his opponents are teenagers, even middle-schoolers ! Granted they are very scary teenagers, but I still fail to see how a 44 years old man throwing hands with teenagers is such a praise worthy thing...

I think I prefer to see Kurosawa fight and struggle to improve his life in a less literal way that actual physical fighting.

I haven’t read that many of Fukumoto’s works yet, but I feel like an important theme in them is perseverance/resilience. He puts his characters through a lot, but they tend to have some form of resistance that shines through as admirable. Kurosawa’s will to fight and to push back against adversity is sometimes the only thing he has left, and it is extremely important.

However, that is not an innate ability that comes to him easily -at times Kurosawa hides, flees, cowers. He hesitates, and he needs to think things through before he actually decides to fight.

Fukumoto: You know how protagonists in shonen manga do things like jump in to stop their classmate from being bullied without thinking about how they might get beaten up themselves? I always felt that wasn’t real. So with Kurosawa, I wanted to make a manga that shows hesitation, and how it actually isn’t so easy to defend people like that.

(Excerpt from this interview)

I like this kind of manga where characters reflect about what is the right decision to take and on how they should be living their life. And how the reader has access to their inner turmoil and thoughts.

His strength is often born from sheer desperation and desire to survive. It is when he is cornered that he can manage to act and fight even when the odds are against him. He has to make do with the very few tools and options he has, which leads him to elaborate unconventional tactics to win over his opponents.

Having cornered underdogs characters winning over more powerful, but less desperate, opponents seems like a running theme in Fukumoto’s manga (cf. the made-up E-card Game from Kaiji, in which The Slave is the only card that can win against The Emperor, precisely because it is so low that it has nothing to lose anymore).

In a way, one could argue Kurosawa follows a formula reminiscent of classic shounen manga: a character who is below average at first rises to a heroic status through willpower, effort and after fighting a string of opponents. However, there are major differences that set Kurosawa apart, besides the older characters and more adult setting (Kurosawa’s worries are grounded in reality: growing old alone, financial problems...) Kurosawa does not provide escapism and dreams. The story begins with Kurosawa as a single old man, and ends with him an even older still single man. He does not become an amazing fighter through power boost and magic training like a shounen character might.

He does want to dream big, but all things considered, his achievements are fairly modest. He is not saving the world or becoming hokage. At most he is just helping some other marginalized people from his neighborhood.

Even if he puts his life on the line to fight, what he accomplished will fade into oblivion at some point.

But, even so, his efforts and struggle are still admirable.

Besides, Kurosawa is not about friendship, at least not the kind of friendship you find in shounen manga.

In Fukumoto’s manga, people may stick together for survival, they can share intense emotions when put through the same ordeals, but it’ll rarely turn into true companionship. Kurosawa is alone from the start, and while he does connect with other people throughout the story, in the sequel those relationships are left behind as he leaves on his own to start a new life.

Fukumoto: My protagonists, on the other hand, are always alone – not only do they not have followers, they don’t even have friends. (laugh) [...] I can’t do manga where the characters readily make friends that they risk their lives for. I started out by drawing short human drama pieces, but even then – partially because I wasn’t doing long-term series, but – they weren’t generally stories about friends.

I was kind of expecting Asai, one of Kurosawa’s coworker, to have a bigger role, but that didn’t happen. (I liked the part where he tried to comfort Kurosawa after he got humiliated so I was hoping for more!)

The story isn’t very cohesive or straighforward, it just follows Kurosawa’s life, who wants to change but lacks a clearly defined goal or road to follow. There isn’t one big coherent plot, instead the story goes in different directions, shifting from one genre to another from chapter to chapter. Kurosawa even admits it himself !

The quality of the chapters and different arcs is in my opinion rather uneven.

There are some really powerful scenes, notably the very end of the manga which is very touching. Kurosawa successfully leads a group of homeless men to defend themselves against some delinquents who were threatening them, but as a result of his injuries, he is implied to die. (The sequel manga reveals he actually just goes into coma for 8 years). It is bittersweet ending as he finally achieved something and is surrounded by human warmth.

Shin Kurosawa, the sequel, is similar to the first part, though slightly more light-hearted and focused on humor (even though Kurosawa’s situation technically worsens!). It seems to be less liked than the first part for those same reasons, but I personally enjoy Fukumoto’s humor and his more slice of life-y mangas. It has many genuinely funny moments. Once in a while there are still some chapters that feel deeper/more thought provoking, as Fukumoto likes to reflect about society, life, and humanity in his stories.

For anyone looking for other manga with similar themes, I can recommend Furuya Minoru’s excellent Wanitokagegisu . Both feature very lonely adult men who wish to turn their life around, and oscillate between humor and psychological drama.

#fkmt #saikyou densetsu kurosawa #fukumoto noboyuki #kurosawa #manga

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write-like-you-mean-it · 4 years ago

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Running Late Sometimes Means Arriving Early: Haikyuu Coffee Shop AU

This is a Choose Your Own Character. This is part 2 to Akaashi’s story. Go to part 1 to read the beginning of the story.

Nothing smells as perfect as freshly brewed coffee and leather bound books. It was a combination that revelled in the delight of a book lover and coffee drinker’s delight. Any scholar could spend hours pursuing the parchment with a caffeine boost in hand. I, while not being a scholar could agree.

Akaashi had picked none other than the local bookstore for your first adventure. He had made it very clear that there would be no surprise visitors because his best friend doesn’t really visit bookstores that often.

I found myself arriving early in anticipation for long lines and the impending rainstorm that was supposed to sweep the city any time soon; though, some might say it was anxiety that led me to this point. In a quick decision, I went to get in line at the store provided coffee shop.

The warm liquid found a way to calm my nerves even if it tasted bitter and old. The line to get the drink was short compared to the ones at my own shop. The clinking of glass against the countertop settled my queasy stomach.

A simple jazz tune hummed around the patrons shopping for multitude of novels, poems, and short stories. A few pursued the music selection even though it had grown significantly smaller in recent years.

“Hey,” called the black haired man as he sat down next to me at the bar. “Sorry I’m a little late. The rain picked up outside.” His words rang true as the sound of thunder boomed outside the shop. I looked up from my cup to see that his hair was rain-soaked.

“It’s alright,” I comment. “I got here a little early.” I looked down at my phone to see that his late was actually three minutes early. “Late huh?” I turn the plastic to show the time. “You must have a different view of time.”

My comment produced a chuckle from Akaashi. His smile was a beautiful sight to behold. It counteracted the typical scowl and blank look. “When you’re in publishing, being late means a costly mistake. Plus I didn’t want you to wait too long.”

I brought the cup to my lips and took a sip of the coffee inside. Drowning down the already blush filled grin that I could feel warming my cheeks. “Sorry I didn’t know you’d be here that quickly or I would have waited to get coffee with you.”

“It’s alright,” he comments. “I didn’t want to meet you here for coffee anyways.” He pushed the drenched hair away from his face.

“Why’d you bring me here then?” I ask. My words were emphasized by the motion of my hand towards the store.

“I wanted to try something,” Akaashi says. “I saw it in some shojo manga a co-worker was writing and wanted to see if it's actually romantic or not.”

I scoff while finishing my drink. “Don’t you know those never seem to work.” I place the cup in the bin next to me. Once I turn back around, I can see a twinkling of excitement in his eyes as if the very idea of trying to relive a romantic manga was exciting to him. “What are you planning, Akaashi?”

“Find a book for me to read,” he casually says. “I’ll find a book for you. We swap the books and spend time reading them. Then we have something to talk about.”

His idea of a first date did seem to peak my own interest. Swapping stories seems like an intimate version of getting to know each other. You can judge a lot by what a person chooses to read. “What if my book is much longer than yours?” My comment was a jest to test his reaction.

“Then we’ll have to stay longer or have a second date to discuss what I read with you.” A smirk toyed at the end of his lips as if to beg to find such a book. His comment left me a little flustered and wishing I had my cup to ground myself once again.

“Okay. I’ll meet you back here in ten minutes,” I say. The excitement of a surprise made my heart skip a few beats. What would he pick out for me? What should I pick out for him? Akaashi was the first to stand.

“Ten minutes it is. I’ll try not to be late.” His comment left me breathless and grinning from ear to ear at the call back. He was the first to leave from the position. I didn’t dare follow him because I didn’t want to ruin the surprise. I, instead, decided to follow the fiction section.

As I look down the many ailes of different types of books, very few caught my eye. Judging books based off of their cover seemed like an endless task. It would be better to find a book that I had read than to find a new one. But, what could fit this mysterious man?

My finger traipsed along the hardcover spines, in hopes that one would fall into my lap. Each book seemed so blasé compared to him. Standing in between the shelves, I remembered how little I knew about Akaashi. I don’t even think I caught his first name.

I sighed before picking out a book at random. My fingers were drawn to the texture of the spine. It was a small novel called “The Sound and the Fury” by William Faulkner. A story I read many, many years before. I picked up the book to try and remember details from the story. I flip through the flimsy pages. It was hefty but not too long; complex but not too much. A perfect example of a text that seemed to fit such a dedicated and well-read soul.

Walking back to the cafe, I started to regret my choice. Maybe it would be too complex? Maye he would hate it? It was too late to change my mind when I saw Akaashi leaning against the wall while looking at his own pick.

I hadn’t had time to admire my date. He looked beautiful. The rain made his vaguely dried hair curl in the perfect places. He dressed in academic blazer, round-rimmed glasses, tan slacks, and a button up shirt. A look that feels all put together.

My eyes caught his and we matched the same smile. I quickly hid my book to my back. “Hope I didn’t keep you long. I wasn’t sure what to pick.”

The publisher nodded before looking down at the cover of his book. “I did have a little more time to think than you.” He paused for a moment before quickly replaying “Actually a lot more time than you. I thought of this idea ever since I saw you in the shop. You’re the first person I wanted to try this with.”

I hummed in agreement. “So, your friend was right that you wanted to get my number.”

“Bokuto is normally right about emotions. He’s more vocal about expressing them than I am,” Akaashi said. The corner of his lip upturned into a smile. “Now, I’ll give you my book first.” He handed me his book. It was a manga of a recently adapted anime. One that focused on the love story between two protagonists. From what I could recall, it was a soulmate story. “I picked this one because I worked in the publishing department for its release. I personally know the author.”

I looked down at the cover and back at him. “Really? Any other reason you like this story more than any other?”

Akaashi shrugged his shoulders. “You’ll see when you get to the part.”

“Sounds foreboding.”

He holds out his hand expectantly. “And mine?” he questioned. I placed my book as our hands met. The touch sparked enough nervous energy that I decided to pull away. “The Sound and the Fury by Faulkner. How did you know I was a fan of his works?”

“You seemed like a man that would appreciate a stream of conscious writing style.” Akaashi nodded in agreement. “You haven’t read this one before, right?”

“No. I read “As I Lay Dying” and “Absalom, Absalom” before. Both well written, complex stories. You may have to explain some plot details to me.”

“I will,” I said. Akaashi stood from his leaning place, took my hand, and walked me to a quiet reading nook.

“We have until they kick us out.” I nod my head while taking a seat across from him. “We’ll see who finishes first.”

“Is this a race? Because I think I will win.”

“As long as I get to spend more time with you, I will gladly lose.”

No Doze Masterlist

Wanna be tagged?

Tag: @immxnty

#hq akaashi #akaashi keiji #no doze cafe #a writes #hq #haikyuu #haikyuu akaashi #akaashi fluff

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manga2v-blog · 4 years ago

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Why Japanese Comics Are So Popular With Americans

อ่านการตูน มังงะ

Manga are popular graphic books or comics originating in Japan. Although the style of the art form itself has a long history in Japan, the term manga is typically used in other countries to describe cartooning and comic books.

There are a number of different styles of manga, and many different categories. Manga can be classified as being "real"anime". In "real" manga, the artist is trying to depict an actual, ongoing event, while in the anime, the artist has to depict a fictional event. In the manga that is "anime", the characters are typically drawn in a more cartoonish fashion than in "real" manga.

Many Japanese companies produce manga. It is a profitable business. Many people enjoy reading these types of manga, especially those that are based on Japanese culture. In recent years, American manga has become more popular. In fact, it is now considered a form of pop culture, even though it is not widely accepted in the U.S. as a form of literature.

A great many people in Japan enjoy reading manga, particularly young adults. Many young adults enjoy reading Japanese cartoons, as well as American cartoons. As the popularity of this type of manga increases in America, it is likely that it will soon become more widely accepted in the United States.

Some of the best manga that have been translated into English include One Piece, Bleach, and Kochikame. These are some of the most popular manga that are produced in Japan, and they continue to sell like hotcakes throughout the world. In addition to being popular with fans of manga, these types of comics are highly sought after by movie producers and directors who are interested in producing animated films.

In the U.S., Japanese manga is known for its unique art style. While it is not as sophisticated as it was in Japan, it still manages to attract fans who love all forms of Japanese culture and art. Many Americans enjoy this type of manga because they enjoy the creative way the artists in this manga create the stories. and the characters that they create.

While Japanese translation of Japanese manga is often done by native English speakers, American manga tends to have more of an American flavor. The stories in these types of comics are often less complex. and more simple, but still very interesting. Because this is the case, there are often more mistakes made when translating the Japanese text. than there are in Japanese translations.

Although some American manga may be based on traditional Japanese culture, others tend to focus more on a Western-style version of the culture. This means that sometimes it can be hard for people who are not familiar with Japanese culture to figure out what is happening in some of the pages of the comic. This can make it difficult for some people to read these types of comics. This is one of the reasons that many people choose to only read the story of one type of manga and not another.

It should also be noted that not every creator of Japanese manga is a Japanese speaker, so English translators must often work very hard to make sure that they do a good job of understanding the characters and their dialogue. Even then, not all American audiences are fluent in English. This can make the translation process a little difficult, especially for first time readers. However, because of this, it is likely that American manga is going to become more popular among those who read Japanese. than it is among those who do not.

Even if the creator of Japanese manga is from a different culture, American readers have no problem understanding what is occurring in Japanese manga. once they get a feel for how the scene is being set up and in what order the panels are being drawn. They are used to seeing the pictures and text together, and getting the gist of the story without having to resort to a translator. explaining each panel of a picture.

Because of this, western readers are generally willing to read any story that is written in a language other than English. Even when they are not native English speakers, most American readers enjoy reading Japanese manga because they are so easy to understand. and so entertaining.

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eskalations · 4 years ago

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With her distorted vision, she was able to make out the form of Master Hawkeye standing from his chair. The creak of the floorboards beneath him signaled that he was getting closer. Even as tired as she was, she could feel her heart rate pick up at his proximity.

This was not good.

This was not good.A set of Genderbend AU Royai One Shots

Read from the beginning (x)

A/N: I'm so sorry for the late update everyone. I'm Marketing Director for a company that has two separate locations and the coronavirus has been testing us recently. I'm about to start writing more oneshots that take place within the fma canon - however, there were some aspects of the story I want to build up first.

Please let me know what you think and if you're still reading! It's always nice to see how many of you are actually enjoying this fanfic!

Augenblick, East Area – Fall of 1903

As the leaves and fields turned golden, Raina settled into country life alongside her teacher and his son. The life she led in Augenblick was far different from the one she led in Central – however, her natural determination and hunger for knowledge was enough to have her adapting to the ways that had once seemed somewhat beneath her.

Master Hawkeye ran a tight operation on his "estate" – despite the fact, that it only housed three occupants.

Breakfast was had at six sharp and anyone who did not show up to the table within the given timeframe would end up having to go hungry until lunch. Raina's lessons would start at seven with Master Hawkeye typically giving her literature to read over while he prattled on with his own work. The two rarely spoke in the early hours of the morning.

From the little snippets, she had gotten from him in regards to his research, she knew he was attempting to create a new subset of alchemy. According to him, this alchemy would be used to help a great number of people and would be the most powerful alchemy of all. Beyond that, he would tell her nothing. Sometimes she wondered if he was truthfully creating anything at all. He seemed much too detached from reality to be able to focus on something for so long and so hard.

He had his moments of clarity, though.

Raina would be reading the literature she had been provided with, when suddenly the man would turn in his chair and fix her with his beady stare. His stringy, blonde hair paired with his beaklike nose bore a striking resemblance to his namesake. Once his eyes were fixed on her, she knew what time it was.

His quizzing was often brutal. He asked her the most obscure questions that could be drawn from the text. Until she produced the exact answer he desired, he would force her to reread the paragraphs again, refusing to let her lessons continue any further until he was satisfied. Most days, Raina found herself staring at two pages for the majority of her waking hours, trying her hardest to memorize what was written to produce the most optimal answer. It was exhausting.

Even when lunch would roll around, Master Hawkeye would not allow her to break. His son would bring their meals to the study – Master's usually going relatively untouched as he continued on with his own tasks – and force her to eat and study while remaining in his presence. By this point, the young girl's dark eyes would be starting to droop – however, she refused to fold. She was going to show him that she was a worthy apprentice for him to pass on his research to.

The afternoon was spent in a style much like the morning. While Master Hawkeye would work on his own, only pausing to quiz her, Raina would continue her own independent reading. The only difference in the afternoons was that she was finally allowed to start working with transmutation circles. This was her favorite time of the day since she got to apply the knowledge she was studying to actual, physical alchemy. While Master Hawkeye never smiled and hardly ever gave her a word of encouragement, she could tell that he was relatively impressed by the ease in which she applied the knowledge.

The only strange break in her day that seemed to occur like clockwork was around three in the afternoon. Master Hawkeye would turn in his chair and give her a look, one that clearly asked her to remove herself from his presence. At this time, she would pick up her books and vacate the room completely, taking her notes with her.

Much like his father, Raina discovered that Ray Hawkeye operated on a similar schedule every day as well. What he did while she was in his father's study, she could never be sure – however, she had a feeling he tended to the gardens that lay in the back of the property if his sweaty appearance was any indication of what he had been doing. Raina found this action strange, since the front gardens looked so abysmal, but once when she had gotten the courage to ask why the back gardens had been so well maintained, the man had frozen up and hadn't spoken to her for the rest of the night afterwards.

Such a response wasn't completely unusual, though. Raina had found that it was difficult to hold much of a conversation with the very stoic, very guarded young Mr. Hawkeye. She had tried to be his friend, but it was becoming more and more clear that he was not too interested in striking up a friendship with a slip of a fourteen-year-old girl.

The only time he bothered to pay any attention to her, beyond mealtime, was when he allowed her to accompany him on his hunting trips. They very rarely spoke – however, he didn't act like her presence was much of a nuisance and she truly enjoyed the opportunity to escape the house, even if it was just for a moment.

Master Hawkeye's dismissal would only last for about two hours, before he would be calling her back in again. Usually, upon her entrance, he would immediately produce a piece of paper and ask for her to regurgitate word-for-word a certain paragraph from the book, just to be sure she had actually done the reading he had asked her to do during her "break". Much like when she was verbally quizzed, she would be asked to study further if her answers didn't match what the text said.

She would continue this way until dinnertime, when she would finally be excused for good from the room and would go to join the younger Hawkeye in the kitchen. Her mentor would never follow her, preferring to take his meal in his study where he could continue his work.

After a quiet dinner with her teacher's son, she would typically go to her room to study the passages Master Hawkeye had given her for overnight work. She tried to ignore the unsettling feeling that would nestle its way in her belly as she watched Ray enter his father's study with a plate in hand, the steely look in his eyes evidence of both fear and resignation. Even when she stayed up half the night, she could hardly ever remember the door closing to signal him exiting the study. What went on in there after she had retired for the night, she would probably never know, and in the end, it wasn't really her business anyway.

That didn't keep her heart from racing though every time she watched it happen.

Tonight, however, seemed to be playing out a bit differently.

She had finished her dinner when Master Hawkeye had called her back into his study, something that only happened on a rare occasion. Usually it was to assign her more work or to change the topic of the next day's lesson – but he surprised her by gesturing for her to close the door and sit on the couch behind him.

She was hesitant, but chose to listen to her teacher.

Once she was seated, the man allowed the silence to fill the room for an uncomfortable set of minutes. The only sound produced between the two was that of the fire crackling in the small study's hearth. Raina busied herself by straightening out her simple brown skirt, the nervous sweat that had broken out across her hands, sinking gratefully into the fabric.

This was unusual behavior even for the very eccentric Master Hawkeye.

"Would you like a drink, Miss Mustang?"

Those words were amongst the last she thought she would hear when she had been brought into his office. It was enough to make her pause for a moment, shock written across her features.

She knew that Master Hawkeye was a terrible drunk. Even throughout the day, he would sit at his desk and nurse a glass of whiskey. There were some days when he wouldn't even bother with a glass at all, preferring to drink straight from the bottle. The man seemed to have an endless supply of alcohol stocked up.

Growing up in a bar, this wasn't unusual behavior for her to behold. Raina had seen more than her fair share of drunken men in her time with Madam Christmas. The only thing that concerned her about Master Hawkeye's obsession with drink was the possibility of hidden violent tendencies. She had seen the bruises on her housemate and it wasn't terribly hard to figure out where they had come from.

These thoughts were enough to keep her hesitant in partaking in her own mentor's seemingly favorite pastime. Master Hawkeye though, did not seem ready to take no for an answer.

"Well?" The man asked, his hand shaking as he held up a half full glass towards her as an offering. His expression was hard to read – much like it always was – but she could see the curiosity buried beneath his nonchalant façade. He was testing her.

Raina was not one to back down from a challenge – ever. When she was sent to study under the older Hawkeye, she had promised herself that by the time she had finished her studies, the man would see her as a lady and a worthy successor. There was no worse insult that you could give her than to refer to her as a "child." It seemed her teacher had picked up on that.

Careful to keep her expression blank, Raina reached out for the glass. Somehow, she was able to keep her hand from shaking as she accepted it. Master Hawkeye did not seem surprised by her actions – almost as though he had known she would take the bait. It was moments like these when she remembered just how intelligent the seemingly detached older man was.

The two sat in silence as they sipped the fiery liquid. Raina fought to keep a choke back as the warm alcohol coated her throat and burned her esophagus. Certainly, she had snuck some sips here and there when in the company of her sisters, but nothing they gave her was quite as strong as the drink Master Hawkeye seemed to favor.

The man finished his glass before slamming it back on his desk, causing his inkwell and pen to jump. It took every ounce of strength she had in her for Raina to keep from jumping herself.

"So…." Master Hawkeye began in that low, gravelly tone of his. Dark, beady eyes watched her carefully as he phrased his next question. "How have you enjoyed your studies?"

Raina was surprised by his casual demeanor. He never spoke to her so conversationally. In fact, she was pretty sure that beyond her initial introduction to the man, she hadn't spoken more than ten words to him about anything other than the things she was learning.

In her shock, she gulped her drink down hurriedly, trying to put off answering his rather out-of-the-blue question. She had been studying under him for near 4 months now, so why was he asking her this all of a sudden?

Noticing her drink was empty, Master Hawkeye gestured for her to hold her drink out so he could refill it. With a slight buzz already coursing through her veins, the girl accepted.

She took a careful sip before finally answering his question.

"I came here to learn, sir." She formed the words slowly, trying to keep the man from sensing any hesitancy in her statement. She cleared her throat before continuing "I have learned quite a bit so far and feel like I have made some progress in my alchemical studies."

Master Hawkeye raised a blonde brow at her words. "So, you have been satisfied with my teaching?"

"Yes, sir." Raina answered, thoroughly confused by his inquiry. She tried to think back to what she could have done earlier that day that would have led to such a conversation, but her mind was drawing a blank. She took another sip of whiskey, allowing the liquid to burn her throat. "I hope I have given you no indication of being dissatisfied with it, Master Hawkeye."

The man sat back in his chair, taking a long drag from his own glass.

"No, not at all." He answered truthfully, his eyes moving from her to follow the movements of the contents that lay in the glass in his hand. He twirled the cup around and watched as the golden liquid sloshed against its sides. His gaze was pensive, narrowed as he took in the sight. "I was just curious."

Raina took another drink from her own glass, fighting back the urge to ask what had brought on such a wave of curiosity. Master Hawkeye was certainly eccentric in his own way and she had learned early on that it was better not to question his actions – especially if the bruises on his son's body were any indication.

Another wave of silence settled over the room as the fire crackled on. From beyond the lone glass window of the study, Raina could hear the call of an owl deep in the forest as the moon rose higher in the sky. She was usually finishing up her studying by now and readying herself for bed. At this rate, she wasn't going to be able to wake up in time to start her studies in the morning.

However, she knew not to rush her teacher. If he wanted her presence there, she was going to stay. She also wanted to figure out what his look earlier had meant – the one that was so full of a challenge as though he were trying to size her up. Surely, there had to be something more to that.

Just like the good competitor she was – Raina continued to drink, matching her mentor's own intake. Rather than cautioning her and reminding her of her age, Master Hawkeye continued to fill her glass, watching as she tossed the contents back.

It wasn't until she was halfway through her fourth glass that he finally asked the question she was assuming he had been wanting to ask.

"How did your aunt find out about me?"

Raina paused at the question, setting her glass down on the small table that lay near the hearth. By this time, her buzz had turned into a full-on drunken stupor and she could tell her mind was running a bit slower than usual. That didn't stop her from answering his question, though.

"I read your work." Even to her own ears, she could tell the words were slurred. By this time, it was a struggle to even keep her eyes focused on the man that sat in front of her, especially in the swaying light coming from the flames that danced in the fireplace. "My aunt had a contact who suggested you to her."

"What kind of contact?" He pried further, taking a sip of his drink.

"A military man."

Through the haze of the alcohol, she could see her teacher's features darken with those words. She should have known that would anger him. He hated the military.

"What was his name?"

"I have no idea." Even with a slur, her words were honest. By now, she was slumped somewhat lazily on the arm of the couch – a position she would have never allowed her teacher to see her in had she been in her right mind. She couldn't help it though; her limbs were so heavy and even the act of talking was becoming exhausting. "She didn't tell me."

Though her teacher could see she wasn't lying, it didn't stop displeasure from leaking into his tone.

"Military men are good for nothing slobs. All they have the desire to do is climb the ranks until they can't anymore – and for what reason? To bed a few more girls and conquer a couple more quadrants? It's disgusting." The man took one last drink from his glass before slamming it down on the table in his frustration. This time, Raina did jump.

If she had been sober, the young girl would have probably found herself offended at an older man speaking of such vulgar things in front of her, but as it was, she was too far gone to care. However, his words did spark her own curiosity.

"But State Alchemists – "

" – are also good for nothings who sold their souls to the State." The man's tone brook no room for argument. His hands shook with anger as he gripped the arms of his chair. "The only difference between them and soldiers is that they have the ability to kill more and faster when used in war."

"That's not all they – " Raina tried to reason, but Master Hawkeye's dark eyes had her clamping her mouth shut. She was in no state to argue anyways.

"They are dogs of the military, Miss Mustang." Master Hawkeye's tone was lethal. Just the sound of it had the hairs on the young girl's arms standing on end. "That's all they will ever be and all that they will ever be good for."

She would have responded, but she found that she couldn't. In the past few minutes, the spinning of the room had grown to an unbearable point. She was having trouble even holding her head up.

In fact, she was pretty sure her cheek was pressing firmly against the arm of the couch now. She couldn't remember ever slouching down far enough to end up in a half laid out position. At least her feet were still planted on the ground, keeping her skirt from lifting up to her knees.

Or at least she thought they were? She was having a bit of trouble figuring out which of her limbs were doing what since they felt so damn heavy.

While her vision had simply been haze-y before, it was now blurred to an uncomfortable level. Even the dim light in the room coming from the fireplace and single lamp were causing her discomfort. Everything was too bright.

She should have known better than to drink so much. How much had she had? Three? Maybe four drinks? Or was it five?

She truly couldn't remember.

This was not good.

Before he could make it to the couch where she sat, Raina heard through the whooshing in her ears, the sound of the door being swung open with unimaginable force. If she hadn't been so tired, she might have even jumped at the sudden noise.

"That's enough, father."

Raina recognized the voice of young . While the roaring in her ears was loud, she could tell even with the alcohol coursing through her veins that his words were said in a tone that was trembling with anger.

She had never seen him act so stern with his father before. Most of the time he acted rather fearful of the man. He must have been pretty mad to speak to him in such a way, especially in front of her.

With blurred vision, she watched as the younger man entered the room, stepping between the couch and his father. From her position resting on the arm, Raina got a view of the young man's back, his broad shoulders stretching out much farther than his father's own bone-y ones. It really was surprising that such a fit young man could ever be fearful of such a frail old man.

But she knew that if the bruises he usually tried to hide were any indication, then Master Hawkeye was not the weakling he seemed to be. There must be some kind of rage built up within him that gave him the ability to pack punches that could hit that hard.

Though drunk, Raina was scared that the two men in front of her might start throwing punches while she lay out of commission. She wasn't sure she would be able to find the strength to push herself off the couch if the opportunity arose, so she stuck with having a coughing fit in an attempt to remind her houseguests that she was still there.

The sound seemed to break the tension between the two men.

"Consider it a lesson." Master Hawkeye spoke lowly, anger bubbling just beneath the surface at the audacity of his son to speak to him in such a way. With his hands planted firmly on his hips, the man leaned in closer to the younger one, making sure that he heard every word. "She needs to learn not to overindulge."

"You know that's not what you were trying to do." Surprisingly, even in the face of his father's threatening demeanor, Ray would not back down. He stood – unmoving – in front of the young girl on the couch, forming a human shield to keep her away from the old alchemist. "I would suggest you stop before you do something you'll come to regret."

The two men stared menacingly at each other. The only thing that broke their gaze was another coughing fit coming from the third body in the room. This time, Raina didn't even need to force the cough forward. She was beginning to feel nauseous and felt as though the room was spinning. All she wanted to do was sleep.

Noticing her pallor, Ray turned to face her and crouched beside her head, ignoring his father who still stood behind him.

"Miss Mustang?" He called out, but Raina felt as though her lips had been sewn shut. The heaviness she had been feeling in her limbs had now travelled to every part of her body. Even the effort of forming words at this point was too much. She tried to make eye contact with him, but even her eyelids felt like they were being weighed down. "Can you stand?"

The girl heard what he was asking, but it took her a moment to make sense of the words. Even after she had put everything together, her lips wouldn't move to answer his question.

Ray waited a moment before acting. Even with blurred vision, Raina registered the feeling of a strong pair of arms lifting her from the couch. She fought back the urge to vomit as she was held tightly against her housemate's broad chest. If the situation had been any different, she would have been flushed from being in such close proximity to the young man. However, as it was, she was flushed for a completely different reason.

Ignoring his father's deadly look, Ray carefully carried the young girl out of the room.

It took every ounce of strength in Raina's body to keep herself from puking all over the man as he walked up the staircase at a snail's pace. She appreciated his effort to be gentle with her, but even the gentle sway of his steps was sending her head into a tailspin. All she could do was breathe deeply and count down the seconds until they made it to her room.

Before she knew it, she heard a door being creaked open. Just a few more steps and she was being placed down on the soft woolen blanket of her bed. Grateful for the return to a solid surface, the girl curled up on her side and brought her knees to her stomach, willing the world to stop spinning long enough for her to draw the strength to give her housemate a word of thanks.

However, her lips still felt too heavy to move.

She could feel sleep claiming her as she continued to struggle against the seemingly never-ending spinning that plagued her head. Before falling unconscious, she heard a soft thud and sigh coming from the other side of the room.

With sleep claiming her, the last thought she had was that she had never heard her housemate leave the room.

A few hours later, Raina awoke to the world still spinning. Though her vision was clear and she could just make out the moon shining through the lone window of her room, it did nothing to help the visual distortions that remained from the alcohol.

Oh, she was going to hurl.

Without warning, she bolted up into a sitting position, the urge too hard to fight. Right before she opened her mouth – resolute on expelling the toxins from her body and dealing with the embarrassment of the situation later – a bucket was placed under her chin. Too nauseous to care where it had come from, Raina allowed nature to take over.

The alcohol tasted even worse on its second trip up her throat. A slight burning in her nose signaled that some of it had probably come out that way, too. It could have been minutes or it could have been hours, that she sat there with her head in the bucket. The ill feeling that currently plagued her seemed like it was never going to end.

Even after she had rid herself of the contents of her stomach, she couldn't bring herself to stop dry heaving. In the distance, she could hear someone releasing choked sobs, it took her a moment to realize that those were coming from her.

It also took her a moment to realize that she soft pressure that lay on her back was a hand.

She wanted to recoil from the touch, her skin slick with sweat and dampening the fabric of both her button down and skirt – however, a face in her peripheral caused her to pause. It wasn't Master Hawkeye like she had thought. Even through the tears that had gathered in her eyes, she could just make out the face of Ray Hawkeye.

His blonde hair was just as it had been earlier and he still wore his usual cotton shirt and slacks, signaling that he had never turned in for the night. If she looked behind him, she would have noticed a blanket sitting by the door, telltale evidence that he had remained by her side after putting her to bed.

He had even thought to grab a bucket, knowing exactly where the night was going to lead.

After several minutes of dry heaving, Raina finally felt as though she had regained her composure. She was somewhat worried about her hair, knowing that when she leaned forward, it usually got in her way – but Ray's other rough hand had gathered it behind her back and was holding it away from the bucket. She was so grateful for his actions that she almost cried.

She hated crying, though and willed herself to keep from weeping any longer. She was already embarrassed by the tears she had allowed to escape during her moment of weakness.

Seeing that she was feeling a bit better after getting rid of the contents of her stomach, Ray set the bucket down wordlessly beside the bed. His warm hands left her body and reached for the side table. Though the room continued to spin for her, Raina could make out the glint of a glass in the moonlight.

He was passing her a cup of water.

She was still nauseous, but the dry skin of her lips begged for some sort of liquid to dampen the surface. Ray held the glass to her mouth and she took a careful sip at first to see how her stomach would react. After a few more small sips, she found herself grabbing the glass herself and greedily throwing the water back.

Ray watched as she finished the drink, not leaving a single drop behind.

"Careful," He warned, taking the glass from her grip. He set it down on the table, next to a large pitcher of water. Noticing her longing gaze, he gave her a look of reproach. "You don't want to irritate your stomach."

His voice was gravelly from exhaustion and even in the dim light of the room, she could tell his amber eyes were bloodshot. It was much past his bedtime.

"What time is it?" She heard herself ask, though it sounded more like a whisper than anything. Though she could make out the moon shining through her window, it was too low in the sky for it to still be considered night. It must have been getting closer to dawn. Ray soon proved her theory correct.

"It's four," He remarked, handing her a cloth to wipe her mouth with. She accepted it gratefully. "In two hours, it will be time for breakfast."

Raina groaned at the thought of food, her stomach uneasy just at the mention. At her adverse reaction, Ray fixed her with a warning glare.

"None of that." His hand reached out to retrieve the cloth after she was done, laying it flat on the table beside the now empty glass. "You're going to have to eat something. I have some frozen bacon I'm going to fix since greasy foods are supposed to help with hangovers."

Raina groaned again, this time in embarrassment. "I can't believe I drank enough to get a hangover."

"I can't either." Ray agreed, disapproval littering his tone. At such reproach, Raina could feel herself shrinking back into the pillows of her bed, trying to avoid his gaze. "Hopefully, you've learned your lesson."

Raina wanted to fight against the words of censure. She hated being scolded like a child – however, there was a glint of something in his eyes that gave her pause.

He had been worried.

"Don't drink like that with my father, ever again." It wasn't a suggestion; it was a command. "I'm only telling you this for your own good."

Remembering the look of morbid curiosity in Master Hawkeye's eyes and his movements towards her during her inebriation, Raina could feel herself nodding in agreement.

"Okay."

Ray's shoulders relaxed at her words, having expected a fight from the girl.

"Good." He filled her glass with water once more, before crouching back down and presenting it to her. "Drink a little bit more. Stay awake until I come back."

While she was confused by his words, she did as he said. Grabbing the bucket beside the bed, Ray walked from the room to dump its contents. By the time he got back, she had already finished her second glass of water and was lying back against her pillows, her strength having returned enough for her to situate herself underneath the covers.

Ray placed the bucket beside the bed once more, something she was grateful for.

"Thank you." Her voice was hoarse, but she hoped he could tell her thanks was genuine. Though her memory was fuzzy, she had a feeling that her housemate had saved her from a potentially dangerous situation.

Ray seemed surprised, but nodded nonetheless. "You're welcome."

Raina snuggled into her pillows, trying hard not to turn her head too suddenly. She felt better after vomiting – however, she knew she couldn't get too comfortable. One wrong move and the room would be spinning once more.

After settling, she noticed that Ray had gone to sit by the door, a blanket spread out over his lap.

"Are you going to stay?" The words sprung forth before she could think better of them. Truth be known, she hoped that he would. She felt much safer with him in the room.

"Yes."

The look on his face made it obvious that even if she had wanted to argue, it wouldn't have changed his mind. She could see from the determined look in his eye that he had chosen to be her guard dog for the rest of the night.

Raina turned her back to the young man, desperate to hide the blush that flooded her cheeks.

"Good night, Mr. Mustang."

"Good night, Miss Mustang."

#royai #roy mustang #riza hawkeye #fma #fullmetal alchemist #fullmetal alchemist brotherhood #fmab #fma fic #fma fanfic #fma fanfiction #royai fic #royai fanfic #royai fanfiction #my fanfiction

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towaniegaita · 5 years ago

Text

FAQs [Nozakibento, 16th October 2010]

Original post in Japanese

I collected together some of the questions I'm often asked.

Basic Information

Name: Nozakibento

Date of Birth: 28th April 1986 (Showa 61)

Height: 177.5cm (as of 2018)

Weight: approx. 60kg

Blood Type: A

Home prefecture: Hokkaido. I was born in Sapporo. I also lived in Tokachi and Kushiro.

Current location: Tokyo (I moved there from Hokkaido in the year I turned 30)

Occupation: A 33 year old amateur idol

Hairstyle: I used to wear a wig, but now I mostly go for a messy style

Visual Acuity: Both eyes are around 1.5 without glasses

Characteristics: Nozakibento

Likes and Dislikes

Favourite food: Sliced senmai (boiled tripe), vegetables in general, meat in general (especially meat sashimi), seafood in general (especially octopus and oysters), anything cherry blossom flavoured, anything yuzu flavoured, rice, miso soup, soba, udon, niboshi ramen, yakuzen herbal soup, grated yam, tofu, shiokara, sushi, sashimi, seaweed, mochi, rice flour dumplings, wheat gluten cakes, keihan rice, oyster soy sauce, slow-boiled eggs, Indian curry from Tokachi, ice cream (especially citrus, mint chocolate, watermelon and vanilla flavours), hard gums, mini Ramune candy, agar jelly, almond tofu pudding, oroblanco

Least favourite food: None.

Favourite drinks: Tea in general, kale smoothie, scented but not sweetened sparkling water, vegetable juice, tomato juice, soba water, miso soup, dashi, non-alcoholic beer, ginger ale, black coffee

Favourite alcoholic drinks: Campari-based cocktails (especially Spumoni), Violet Fizz

Favourite animals: Daring crabs, spotted garden eels, owls, sea urchins when they eat cabbage

My type: Someone with a big heart, who isn't rude and doesn't complain all the time. Decisive, speaks logically and is a fast worker

Favourite scents: Bergamot, yuzu, oroblanco, lemongrass, lemon and lime, eucalyptus, vanilla, incense, hinoki cypress, the smell of hot springs, medicinal water, struck matches

Favourite sports: Table tennis, endurance running, non-competitive swimming, walking

Favourite instruments: When I listen to bands, I tend to focus on the drums, bass and keyboard. If I go to see a symphonic orchestral concert or something, I tend to watch the percussionists. I myself can't play any instruments.

Hobbies: Gaming, listening to game soundtracks, table tennis, reading, darts, being enveloped in aromas, checking my daily electricity bill using a bill management app

Special skills: Ability to work as a librarian, can sing The Tortoise And The Hare starting from different positions, a little bit of competitive eating (can eat up to about 2kg)

Qualifications: Librarian, teacher's licence (for primary, middle and high schools), certified member of the Sports Boy Scouts (link in Japanese), Kanji Aptitude Test Level 2, driving licence (for manual cars)

Person I most respect: My mother

Favourite subjects: Japanese (especially modern Japanese), contemporary society, ethics, politics and economics

Favourite season: The shade in midsummer

Favourite phrases:

80% Preparation 20% Performance (dandori hachibu)

The early bird gets the worm (sente hisshou)

Niche business (sukima sangyou)

Information, Communication, Discussion (houkoku renraku soudan)

Easier said than done (iu wa yasuku okonau wa katashi)

Haste makes waste (tanki wa sonki)

Drink if you want, but be swallowed up (sake wa nondemo nomareru na)

The frog in the well knows nothing of the great ocean (i no naka no kawazu taikai wo shirazu)

A picture is worth a thousand words (hyakubun wa ikken ni shikazu)

Stress-free

Favourite Japanese poem:

'If I live long,

I may look back with yearning for these painful days -

The world that now seems harsh

May then appear sweet and good!'

By Fujiwara no Kiyosuke, translation by Peter McMillan

Favourite place to hang out: Inside a game

Favourite characters: Domo-kun (NHK), Moji-kun (Kotoba no Puzzle: Mojipittan), Zushi Hokki (official mascot of Hokuto city in Hokkaido), Jack Frost (Megami Tensei series), Morgana (Persona 5)

Favourite anime: Eureka Seven

Favourite manga: Love Roma by Toyoda Minoru

I Wonder If I Can Make 100 Friends by Toyoda Minoru

Yoake no Toshokan by Nonou Tao

Other manga I like: Nangoku Shounen Papuwa-kun, PAPUWA, Final Request, Yu☆Yu☆Hakusho, Revelations: Persona, Mind Assassin, Sayonara Zetsubou-Sensei, Arakawa Under The Bridge, Fushigi Yuugi, Ranma 1/2, Psychometrer EIJI, The Kindaichi Case Files, Rakudai Ninja Rantarou, Soul Hunter etc.

Favourite game: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers

Other games I like: Shin Megami Tensei 1-4, Shin Megami Tensei 4 Final, Shin Megami Tensei if, Persona 1-5, Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha 1 and 2, DIGITAL DEVIL SAGA Avatar Tuner 1 and 2, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 1 and 2, Little Magic, Jake Hunter: Let Time Pass By, LIVE A LIVE, Final Fantasy 5 and 8, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light, Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem, Secret of Mana, Trials of Mana, Schoolhouse Horror Story, Banshee's Last Cry, Jungle Wars 2, Ranma 1/2: Hidden Treasure of the Red Cat Gang, Renegade, The New Hot-Blooded Tough Guy: The Eulogy of Kunio and Co., Puyo Puyo, Puyo Puyo 2, Saga Frontier, Monster Farm, Monster Farm 2, KOF98, SAMURAI SPIRITS, vib-ribbon, Clock Tower 2, Clock Tower Ghost Head, Maria: Kimitachi Ga Umareta Wake, Double Cast, Sakura Wars 2: Thou Shalt Not Die, Kotoba no Puzzle: Mojipittan, RPG Maker Series, etc. As for social network games, I like Kuroneko no Wiz Dx2 Shin Megami Tensei Revelation, and Ensemble Stars!

What I most want right now: Time

Do I smoke? Never. But I have nothing against those who do. I don't mind if someone smokes next to me.

Things I struggle with: Exercise, exercise, exercise, exercise, English, mental arithmetic, making other people cross.

What I like about myself: Large earlobes

What I don't like about myself: The fact that I easily neglect my work if I lose focus.

Do I like nurses? I like them if they're good at giving injections.

Favourite way of heating things up in a microwave: 2 minutes at 500W

Ideal way to spend a day off: Sleep like I've melted into the bed, do the cleaning and laundry when I wake up, play games like I'm bathing in them, sleep again.

Novels I’m glad to have read and why: There's a lot, so I'll just list what I can remember off the top of my head.

★ Criss Cross - Konton no Maou by Takahata Kyouichirou, published by MediaWorks. This was the very first book that made me interested in reading novels.

★ Natsu no Niwa - The Friends by Yumoto Kazumi, published by Shinchousha. When I felt down, I read this and my heart was cleansed.

★ Rirekisho by Nakamura Kou, published by Kawade Shobou Shinsha. Because it gave me courage.

★ Tsubasa wa Itsu Made Mo by Kawakami Ken'ichi, published by Shuueisha. I simply thought that it was a really good book, and reading it made me want to read more books like it in the future.

★ Tsumetai Kousha no Toki wa Tomaru by Tsujimura Mizuki, published by Kodansha. This was the book that reminded me that I wanted to keep reading novels forever.

NicoNicoDouga and Dance covers

When did you start using NicoNico? 2007, in the earliest days of the RC version.

What kind of videos do you watch on NicoNico? Anything.

Were you learning how to dance? I've never learnt how to dance.

Why did you start dancing? I wanted to take part in the first large-scale Cirno meeting. (T/N: An event where a whole bunch of people from NND get together to dance to Cirno's Perfect Math Class. Here's the 2009 version.)

What's the average production time for a single video? It varies.

What's been the most fun thing to dance to so far? Ren'ai Hunter

Which of your own dance videos are you most satisfied with? Domo-kun's dance to MERRY GO ROUND

Where you happy to be chosen in the Geiran videos (A series where a gay man ranked dancers on NND)? I was.

Which version is your current Domo-kun?

Hokkaido and Tokyo version: Tiramisu (Original version. Mainly stays at home. On active duty)

Osaka version: Chocolat (Retired)

Fukuoka version: Fondue (Retired)

Tokyo version: Belgium (Retired)

Tokyo version: Demel (Retired)

What kind of expressions do you make and what feelings do you have when dancing as Domo-kun or in the blue full bodysuit? None

What would happen to you if you drank a strange potion? I'd become aggressive.

Aren't you going to wear a wig anymore? I'd like to wear one again some time soon.

Other

Were you in any clubs during middle school? I was in the table tennis club for all 3 years. My high school club is a secret.

Do you have a girlfriend? It'd be annoying to have to update this page if I got a girlfriend or if we broke up so that's also a secret.

What are your dreams and goals? To make the people I love happy. I want to live in a way that I can look back when I die and think that I lived a good life.

What are your habits? Looking at the ingredients and nutrition facts labels on food. Looking at the ingredients labels on shampoo. Moving around unsteadily. Clicking my tongue without any thought behind it.

What are your typical phrases? Okay (ii yo), I see (naruhodo), Why?! (nande dayo), hahahaha, hah hah hah hah, HAHAHAHA

What are your main principles? To always live calmly, and to never miss an opportunity

Does your Roomba have a name? It's called Junpei.

When did you first meet Domo-kun? A friend gave me a Domo-kun plushie for my birthday and the rest is history.

What was it that drew you to Domo-kun? His loveliness.

Where did you get such a large number of plushies from? Some of them I bought, some of them I received. A few of them I got from a crane machine.

What do you want to do right now? Sleep.

What part time jobs have you done in your life? Waiter at a sushi restaurant, library work, private tutoring.

If you have a child in the future, what book would you absolutely want them to read? You Are Umasou by Miyanishi Tatsuya, published by Poplar

Do you have any rivals? No (because no-one will compete in the same ring as me).

What's your image of the ideal human? Someone who can do fundamental things reliably.

What's your motto? Stress-free

What's the reason for your name?

Nozaki → Named after Nozaki Megumi from the idol group CHECKICCO

Bento → My inspiration

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First published 16th October 2010, updated 1st December 2019

#blog post #nozakibento #mesemoa #musumen #blog translation #16.10.2010 #1.12.2019 #if he changes this in the future I'll try to come back and update it

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taffystake · 6 years ago

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My Hero Academia - Training Arcs

My Hero Academia is a shonen manga about superheroes, borrowing a lot of its story elements and general setup from comic books produced by the likes of Marvel and DC with a shonen edge to the story telling. This....isn’t exactly a new or radical statement. In fact, anyone who has seen more than five minutes of the anime or read more than two chapters could tell you this. But it’s thanks to this little mix of genres and styles that I have become deeply invested in the story and growth of the characters, especially with the most recent story arc that has been focused on the villains training the same way the students of UA have been focused on since the beginning of the story.

But why am I calling this a training arc? The villains aren’t actively trying to improve themselves. The arc started with them simply attempting to beat one of All For One’s allies so he would respect their strength through sheer attrition. But the moment the League of Villains goes off to rescue one of their number from a rival group, this entire arc gains the same level of nuance and multiple objectives that have characterized the majority of My Hero Academia’s arcs. I’ll demonstrate a few of these before explaining how things are going with the current arc and why exactly this entire subject has me so interested.

The first four arcs of My Hero Academia (Or the first season of the anime for those who only watch that) are the most blatant with the focus on training. Meanwhile the secondary focus for those arcs was mostly set on establishing the world, the characters, and the upper limits of the power scale in the world. All of which were pretty well required in order to give the world the organic feel it needed to be believable. But the thing this leads to is how it creates limits for the majority of the students, setting the stage for them to build up from and create these moments of training and growth.

The first arc where training ends up taking a secondary role compared to the narrative is the UA Sports Festival, where the tournament and the conflicts it creates take center stage. Through this, we get to see the bias towards certain quirks within this society for certain vocations in Shinso’s match against Deku, a theme that is still standing strong and even creating more sympathetic backstories for the villains as recently as the last manga chapter. But back on topic, this arc still contains the notes of a training arc in the second fight that Deku has in the tournament against Shouto Todoroki. In this fight, Deku clearly witnesses his absolute limits with the methods he currently uses when utilizing One For All and it leads directly to his training during the Hero Killer Stain arc that follows this.

However, this match also manages to give a moment of training and growth to Todoroki. To those familiar with the manga, they know what happens but I’ll explain anyways for those who want to be informed but aren’t very far into My Hero Academia. Todoroki was born with a quirk that allowed him to utilize both fire and ice projection, a very powerful Quirk that could easily make one able to reach the highest ranks of Hero Society. However, Todoroki only utilizes the ice portion of his Quirk due to constant abuse from his father and the toll this abusive family life took on his mother, driving Todoroki to utilize the ice manipulation that came from his mother and reject the flame manipulation gifted by his father. The fight with Deku allows Todoroki a moment of introspection that forces him to confront his power as being his own, not simply as being handed to him by his father. And we get to see this growth during the Hero Killer arc, where Todoroki now has the training from this event to utilize both halves of his quirk to great effect.

And this is how the arcs progress from here, either establishing a new physical or mental limit for the heroes who the arc focuses on, showing them surpassing that limit through training or sheer determination, or showing a character’s backstory to reveal how they surpassed a limit like this in their past. Just to list off a few examples that won’t be a spoiler for the anime watchers, we have the backstory for Mirio Togata and his efforts to utilize his quirk to its maximum potential, the backstory of Eijiro Kirishima and the events it took for him to bring his Hardening quirk to its massive potential that it reached during the arc against the Hassaikai, and most notably during the conflict between Bakugo and Deku in the aftermath of All For One’s arrest and the story events that transpired there.

Now then, when the current manga arc began to focus on the League of Villains, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Given how a few of the recent arcs have had a mild focus on the villains initially before we jump to other characters, I was fully prepared for that to happen again. Except....we kept watching. And as the League of Villains get cornered, get pushed beyond their limits, pushed to the point of nearly breaking, they begin to improve right before our eyes on the page. And that’s when I realized what exactly was happening: the villains were getting their own training arc, something on the level of the training increase seen during the Provisional License Exam. And all while the main focus of the story is on the League of Villains proving themselves as an organization after many setbacks beyond the loss of their leader.

Now, for why this is so big. Both of the genres that this manga borrows inspiration from do not typically have the villains improving to keep on pace with the heroes. While both genres do this for different reasons, comics have heroes and villains at near-peak potential already and manga typically move onto having a new villain after killing the old villain rather than let the old villain live long enough to improve, it makes it exceptional when the story allows us to follow the villains through their efforts to improve themselves like this. And it gives you a moment to almost sympathize for the villains even if they might not have a very sympathetic backstory due to the fact they are putting all this effort towards becoming better. Its also this level of focus and ability to see things from the villains’ view of the situation that keeps me reading the most recent Justice League run in the comics.

And honestly, I enjoy this sort of thing immensely. Rather than having to deal with establishing a new villain, or create a new mechanism or relic for the villain to use to be powered up as a threat, we instead get to witness the villains improving themselves in order to better threaten the heroes and drive the stakes through the same methods the heroes use to be able to contend with bigger threats. And this method allows for a greater focus on the villains and their relationship with the hero, while also allowing the fights to naturally escalate throughout the narrative smoothly.

#my hero academia #mha #deku #bakugo #todoroki #bnha bakugou #bnha spoilers #midoriya izuku #katsuki bakugou #todoroki shouto #manga #anime #taffys take

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gone-forever-bye · 6 years ago

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My Top Ten Manga:

To go with my top ten anime list.

10. Otaku no Musume-san

Here we have a manga that is about a girl who's always wanted to meet her father and discovers that he is a shameless otaku. Hijinks and adorable father/daughter affection ensues. There's weird character, cute characters, and a final act that is pretty messed up but this is a manga that I think is good from start to finish. It's a good read. It pulls at the heartstrings while making you laugh and it can even serve as a do/do not guide for all you otaku parents out there. XD

Favorite character: Kannau Yukimura

9. Air Gear

This beautiful and heavily detailed stylish manga is about a world where skate-like contraptions known as Air Treks are used as a way to fly, get places, and build your own gang to own the skies. The art is gorgeous, the characters all mesh into a kind of gray area although there are some typical good guy/bad guys thrown in, and the series manages to evoke true feeling from the reader with how raw it can get. I highly reccomend. Favorite Character: Ringo Noyamano

8. InuYasha

The manga that cemented my love for all things anime Inuyasha is the compelling fantasy tale of a half-demon and a young junior high girl. I can't express into words what an impact this manga made on me. The designs of the assortment of demons that are based on Japanese folklore and mythology, the tragic backstories so many of the main characters possess, the out of this world fight scenes, all the way to the incredible chemistry between Inuyasha and Kagome. It's hard to put down once you've started reading. The manga outshines the anime because it doesn't quite feel like it loses its pacing as the anime kept getting dotted with filler. It's interesting, dark in some places but never without a ray of light, and artwork that suits the story well. Favorite Character: Rin

7. Gunsmith Cats

An oldie but goodie. We've got guns, muscle cars, and hot chicks, all in above average detail. Don't waste time with the anime, the manga is where this story of bounty hunter/police officer Rally Vincent and her partner Minnie-May really shines with explosive fun. Mature and loaded with everything from kidnapping to drugs to high speed car chases I have to say that I make it a point of rereading this series often. I've yet to find another that I enjoy as much as this one for this particular genre. Favorite Character: Rally Vincent.

6. Buso Renkin

I'm a big fan of manga that doesn't force a simple storyline to be stretched over fifty volumes. Ten volumes was the perfect size for the story of Katsuki Mutou as he is accidently thrown into the world of alchemy and humunculous. This is a complete manga by the creator of Rurouni Kenshin that I think really emphasizes Watsuki's strength as a shounen manga author who can take so many shounen tropes and make them work almost effortlessly. It didn't need to be ground breaking because it wasn't trying to be. It's an honestly good manga from start to finish with one of the most memorable anti-hero's I've ever read. Favorite Character: Papillon

5. My Little Monster

I'm not the biggest shoujo manga fan like I used to be but I will say that My Little Monster is a great way to change the formula. None of the characters acted the way I expected. They are all weird and extreme in the most interesting of ways while still capturing the uncertainty and naivete that teens suffer from. It's really difficult to dislike any of the characters. They're all so likeable although Natsume will probably make you grind your teeth because that girl is insane. A must read for any shoujo manga fan. Favorite Character: Sohei Sasahara.

4. Fushigi Yugi Genbu Kaiden

I like shoujo manga that doesn't just focus on romance. Genbu Kaiden is the prequel to Fushigi Yugi and I have to say it's better in every way. It's a lot more balanced, mixing the romance into a beautiful but sad story, unforgettable characters, action scenes that really emphasis the importance of the plot, while all being accomplished with the ridiculously gorgeous Yu Watase art style. Another must read for any shoujo fan. Favorite Character: Takiko Okuda

3. Rurouni Kenshin

There was no way this manga wasn't going to make the list. Unlike the anime this manga is outstanding from start to finish. For me this is the ultimate in sword fighting. The visuals are exactly what you want from samurai dueling and there's never a dull moment. The cast is one of the best in my opinion and I love that the narrative never bores me even when they're just explaining fighting styles or attacks. Watsuki's distinct shounen style is a favorite of mine. The evolution of Himura Kenshin is the plot and its worth every panel. Read the final arc of you can. It's amazing.. Favorite Character: Kamiya Kaoru

2. Chrono Crusade

I will make a rant about this manga later because I will fight for this series until the day I die. Do no watch the anime. Even though I bought each dvd and have watched them over twenty times at least, the anime does the manga NO justice. Eight volumes, all inspiring story telling. Chrono Crusade starts in such a way that you think it may be a lighthearted story of a gun-toting 'nun' and her demon sidekick but it quickly evolves into so much more. Rosette and Chrono are a duo the you will root for from page one as they fight demons, friends, and everything else that stands in their way to fix the damage that was done so many years ago. Another series that accomplishes a complete story in ten volumes or less which keeps the plot from being unnecessarily stretched. It evokes so much feeling, making you relate to the characters in such a way while still powering through the story because this is a tale about time. By the end you'll find yourself a little less able to take your time for granted as you cry for these characters that have an ending that you can take as either good or bad. I always put this one at the top of my must read list and it holds a very special place in my otaku heart. I'm disappointed that such an intense manga did not get a proper anime adaption though I do understand why. Favorite Character: Chrono

1. Detective Conan

Anyone who knows me should have expected this. Lol. Detective Conan for me is the ultimate manga. The award winning mystery series is an ongoing manga that never fails to impress. It's familiar while evolving with us so it has a loyal fanbase made up of twenty year veteran fans to new ones every day and the number just keeps growing. High school detective Kudo Shinichi is the pride of Tokyo Japan before he stumbles across a mysterious transaction involving a pair of men clothed in black. He's discovered and force fed a drug that instead of killing him, reverts his body to that of a seven year old. He retains his adult mind and begins hiding his identity while going by the name Edogawa Conan and solving mysteries through his childhood friend's father's detective agency. The story takes off from there. The series is vast, featuring over 1000 chapters, over 20 movies, over 50 seasons, dozens of OVA's and specials including live action, and being featured in multiple ways throughout Japan. It even has its own museum in Gosho Aoyama's hometown. While not for everyone, especially those thrown off by the sheer amount of content, Detective Conan is a series that is loved by all ages all over the world and has been here since the early 90's for a reason. It has become my reason for living and it will never leave my #1 spot. Favorite Character: Kudo Shinichi (for life!)

As I have said before I gauge a series on its ability to draw me in, keep me attached, and talent for making me come back.

#detective conan #meitantei conan #case closed #chrono crusade #rurouni kenshin #fushigi yugi genbu kaiden #my little monster #buso renkin #gunsmith cats #inuyasha #air gear #otaku no musume-san #my dad is an otaku

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poisonappletales · 6 years ago

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Hi! I've been a huge fan of your visual novels for a long time, and when I found out you were posting updates on tumblr, I just had to make one myself to follow you! I absolutely adore everything you do. I want to be an author in the future, and your work is truly inspiring to me. So, I have a question that may sound a little confusing, since I don't know how to phrase it correctly. How did you begin to write these stories and characters? I'm quite curious as to how you started.

Hello, cursedauthor! Aww, that makes me so happy to hear. It’s such an honor that you would make a tumblr account to do that. The dream of being an author is a beautiful one, isn’t it? I wish you luck in achieving it! With hard work, effort and love, I believe you can do it.

How did I begin to write my stories and characters? Let’s see…I would say that it started way back around high school. I actually first thought of the story that would essentially come “after” Beauty and the War (X Playing Pieces). When I was in class, sitting in the car or simply finding myself with nothing to do, I would think about that fantasy world. I would think about the characters I wanted in them, how they would interact, and the society around them.

Eventually, I had to put my fingers to a keyboard because writing was and still is my number one passion.

I think it was maybe…5-7 years ago? That I realized I wanted to flesh out a certain character’s background even more. After all, didn’t it make more sense to start with the prelude, to say the least? Voila! Beauty and the War (X Playing Pieces) was born.

I finished writing that novel in roughly 2 years. It actually had a different title then, but anyway, a little after that, one of my friends was telling me they thought books were something of a fading trend. Some of the bookstores where I live were closing down, so there might be some validity in that, even though I don’t think it’s about to become extinct or anything. (We’re simply moving to the technological era where we read books through glowing screens instead of pages.)

They also shared another concern with me. See, here’s the thing. My friends usually prefer easy reading, like young adult fiction. Some prefer just comic books and/or manga. I like all of those things as well, in addition to classics and a ton of other literature. (I love reading, and fantasy is one of my favorite genres!) Now, influenced by all that, they usually tell me that my writing is complex or “very smart” - not as a criticism or a backhanded compliment. They’re just not necessarily the target audience because it’s not what they’re used to reading.

In light of that, I wanted to come up with a way to expand my audience. Stories are meant to be read, and I wanted to reach as many people as possible - to share what made me happy with others. To touch another person’s world, you might say.

I ultimately decided to go the visual novel route. If I added visuals to the story, you can “see” what I am trying to convey, even without words one may or may find too complex or unsuited for easy reading.

Truth be told, when I first released a test game (Death Room) with a friend, I was a little reserved with my writing style. For that one and my other fun error-and-trial games (Ready, Set, Parody!, War: Valentine Edition, and Don’t Take This Risk), I was actually holding back. I was watering down my usual style with elements from young adult fiction and other easy reading. (Ironically, that takes more effort for me than you might think, as I’m more accustomed to writing the other way!)

I did release War: 13th Day with a little more of my style. For better or worse, that has a very divided reception. Although Wildfire’s part of the narration is more or less simple, the game as a whole is more writing-heavy and slanted towards the psychological genre (in this case, engineered to bewilder!). Typically, players either love it or hate it. (Then again, perhaps I need to update the art style there. It’s just that it fits the dreamy sort of ambiance and perception theme I’m going for so well. I hesitate to think of changing it because the rough-cut edges fit a certain rough-cut persona…)

But with Beauty and the War (X Playing Pieces), the visual novel version of which I have been working on since before the Death Room…I wanted to put more of me in it. I remember that in the first version of the demo, I did it again - holding back some of my words. The result was that I think some people came up with certain impressions to fill in the gaps, which wasn’t what I wanted.

For the second version of the demo, I wrote more and you know what? I liked the turnout there. People started to understand my world, and according to the survey results, things like the Translation button were helpful. Success! (Now, there were some people utterly confounded by its existence, but I have to tell you, there are readers who appreciate it! So, don’t be shy about using it. If you rather not tell anyone, it’ll be our little secret. I won’t judge.)

Sometimes, one of my teammates (who’s also a friend) reads what I write in the visual novel script and still encourages me to make it “easier” to understand. I’m trying to find a middle ground there (like with the Translation button) because this is my baby. While I want to make others smile when they see it, I also want to give it all my love. If I hold back what I love too often, it’ll become something stale. It wouldn’t have life and be me.

If you saw me face-to-face, I doubt you would know it at first glance, but I’ve always been something of an old-fashioned person. (Yep, as a matter of fact, nobody has ever come up to me and said, “You know what? I bet you’re a real old-fashioned kind of person.” To be honest, I tend to give off “professional” vibes, the whole clean-cut sort of look, and people tend to think I’ll be a mean person when that isn’t true! I’m happy to be your friend. Just don’t judge me for being old-fashioned, all right? Have an open heart.)

One of my friends teases that I’m like Rip Van Wrinkle, the modern world passing me by. While I do keep up with current media, I’m not always into what’s modern and hot (even though I usually will check it out, and if it’s a book, I’m more likely to read it), so my writing’s not going to fit into a specific mold. My experiences and my own preferences will shape it into its own style.

Beauty and the War (X Playing Pieces) will be a step in confidence for me. Altogether, there will be people who enjoy it, people who don’t like it, and people who will go “Why in the world did you make this thing?!” (On that note, please pay close attention to the rating! If you feel there’s anything you can’t handle, then you don’t have to play it. However, I will give you a button to “skip over”/“censor” certain scenes that may be too hard for you. Use it at will!)

However, once it’s finished, I want to step back, look at it and be satisfied with what I’ve made. With the visuals and options like the Translation button, I will hopefully have done all I can to invite you into my heart. Then, it’ll be up to you to decide whether you wish to come in and explore it. Regardless of whether it leaves a pleasant or unpleasant taste in your mouth, I hope you will see the love painted throughout this canvas.

I still think there’s going to be at least one player who will go, “Why in the world did you make this?!” But that’s all right. You do you, and I’ll do me.

One day, when the visual novel’s complete, I might want to release two versions of the original novel. The Young Adult version and the Original. I can’t imagine how many would want to read both, but as I said, stories are meant to be read. This allows easy access, and you have a choice of enjoying either or both. Bon appétit.

Wow, this went on longer than intended! Hope you don’t mind. I believe I ended up wanting to explain how I started developing visual novels as well! Anyway, long story short, I began writing these stories and characters from the sheer power of daydreams. Usually in class. And at home. And in the car. Basically, by being a walking daydreamer in your midst and nobody being the wiser (except my family because they know I like writing). Now, the next time you pass by someone, you’re going to wonder what sort of dreams they’re cooking up in their head, huh? I joke, but you never know what minds are passing you by…

Now, if you’re wondering how I came up with these daydreams…it’s hard to say. In some ways, one could ask: Can you control your dreams? In that case, could you not say writing is like lucid dreaming? And when you’re sitting in class or walking down a hallway, who’s to say where your muse is born? It could be from a wish, a hope, or something more palpable like the sound of music or a drifting butterfly.

There is beauty and inspiration all around you. Just take it all in and let your heart do the work. (I don’t know if that is at all reminiscent of Unknown’s ‘follow-your-heart’ sort of principle, but I personally do think having heart is important. We need more love in the world, you know?)

Anyway, I don’t think I was confused by your question, but if I wasn’t clear about anything or I didn’t answer it right, feel free to ask another. Have a great weekend, cursedauthor, and keep following your dreams! Ambrosia and I believe in you! ♥

#ask

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themangaguide · 3 years ago

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The rest are conveniently

The battle scenes in love is still too early for himeichichan manga are specifically well done as well as are a pleasure to read. And also the storyline of love is still too early for himeichichan manga, nevertheless, It takes chapters to in fact kick off to begin to take pleasure in the major personalities. But unlike the manhua that is traditional, the main characters grow as the show takes place, getting more mature as well as life at a stable speed rather than the approximate spikes and dips generally discovered. Life as well as battles deals with one objective: success and freedom via his hardships.

The primary problem is the fact that you don't comprehend why, when, where. Any kind of manhua reader should have a rationale worrying why someone does what they do or something that was more complicated, something credited to larger emotions. The personalities' uninteresting designs are stemmed from their obvious characteristic: a simple, juvenile attitude. The story that they've been set in is much better, with the very same amount of thought put into it as the number of times the crucial character appears sensible.

Every assistance the storyline goes appears like its come right out of a novel. love is still too early for himeichichan manga chosen to sugarcoat these platitudes with 2 processes: Art of such quality that it was almost distracting and not positioning serious emphasis on anything. There plainly was no precise dispute or story twists since yet the centerpieces only occur and also of how rooted it was to unoriginality, lacking motifs that are realizing. The questions of what's even more at fault - the lack of convincing personalities or the storyline removed naked of advanced subjects, this is practically incapable to be replied.

Its greatest advantage is the truth that it's not just black as well as white lines, yet is suitable as well as totally coloured of the manhua's setup. Musclebound people adorn the web pages, come with by stylish, sleek-haired ladies. Landscapes are attracted. love is still too early for himeichichan manga, every number of web pages trades its style that is common for a painted counterpart meant to provide focus to substantial portions of the story. Most importantly, the fight is straightforward to take in and comprehend.

But manga online despite the way in which the art work stands out with colour, there's a heavy awareness of black and white within the manhua. Personalities have little that maintains them battling maintains them taking place, or induces them to behave the method they're. After the battle was developed the enemy gods are normally taken care of promptly in addition to the storyline adheres to a simple cycle of working/training for independence from battle, a dilemma, together with a big adjustment in scene.

Forms of increase in personalities are just flukes. The principal personality, Wu Geng does not have likability and precepts from beginning to finish. He's juvenile as well as spontaneous, but if I actually might say one thing, I 'd claim that he acts his age. The single thing that makes him various from a normal lead that is idiotic is the fact that there's little to no effort to make him interesting besides his talks that are premature. The single boost that the various other characters, or he, have are changes from year to year in look and also standing.

Besides him, the rest are conveniently forgotten, viewed as interchangeable by the author as well as of the characters shadow together. What makes them distinct is the fact that, unlike a lot of characters today, there aren't any type of low-cost, tawdry seasonings added (the very same flavors that, paradoxically, makes them excruciating). Their characters originate from the typical archetypes. Possibly, in the author's head, this method made the manhua practical.

Little to no focus is put on emotional increase, and rather the focus is really on the mindless enjoyment high quality (via gore, separations) and also exactly how fairly the bundle it's wrapped in looks. Nonetheless, this manhua is a seinen. For anyone who 'd like to review manga online and also want to see some fantastic fight scenes, after that I advise it. Please visit https://yourhealthmattersblog.my-free.website/r78d71p4nz4q2sugtb0uk1645741794 for a related story

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yourhealthmattersblog · 3 years ago

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They are a hodgepodge

An extremely interesting manga about "Cycling":.

My relative recommended this 3d kanojo manga to me. I don't typically review manga yet after check out I have to claim this is incredible.

Biking? Just how fascinating does that actually seem? In a lot of reliability, if someone explained I would certainly to review THIS UNIQUE manga, that was significant adrenaline pumping and also incredible as well as had truly a remarkable piece and outstanding figures, but asserted it had had to do with "Cycling" I believe I 'd utilize it the waiting walk AKA mangas-that-i-plan-to-study-but-possibly-never-can.

But I offered a shot to this given that I happened to establish some incredible fanart of it as well as also me really fascinated.

Which I entirely do not regret it. The socks excited off me and that Iam most likely to clear up specifically why.

There is one significant factor: PLEASURE and also the real POWER of the narration. The sensation is nearly indescribable; there is simply this big rush of assumption as well as pleasure whenever you browse the manga. It is so active and also extreme.

Vital notice however, the-art can be off putting in the beginning, which is simply getting it gently. But whilst the story proceeds, you will understand the-art layout is clearly ideal for the manga. The roughness, the powerful, pointed shots, the often grotesque individuals, as well as other things you believed was 'unpleasant', immediately they get to be the gem of the manga. Without a doubt, I will certainly mention without this superb art-style the manga would certainly not have the capacity to bring its tale out for the highest possible.

Of whenever you consider cycling by the way, what do you think about? Unwinding rolling sunflower areas having a shi tzu inside your wicker basket? (yes I really envision this) Your fluffy youth days of driving a tricycle having a helmet in your mind? A satisfying field trip in the park experiencing the wind inyourface?

Well, welcome to Yowamushi Pedal, where these thoughts get tossed the screen much like a 10KG stone out. We obtain absorbed to the chaos of hostile roadracing, where vehicles move not much more quickly than the bikes. And the like every other aggressive activity, biking is of battling to obtain no exception in the direction of work the body, and also openings, all of the pain and extreme sensations.

And manga online that is the manga's 2nd appeal. It'll alter the way in which you considered biking. It's fascinating, anything you' venot experienced. And also it is bloody interesting, did I formerly note that?!

Obviously, I require to supply the numbers certain note. They are a hodgepodge of incredible psychos tremendous weirdos and also just caring individuals or some absolutely awesome. You will not get tired of the cast of this manga.

Space for advancement? Perhaps easily were to quibble, the quantities for that figures' systems might be a little bit off occasionally. Yet in fact, it does not trouble me because I am also busy demanding' web page' to stop and state, Hey, your faceis too large.

General, I would certainly advise anyone looking for an interesting read to offer a try to this. Perhaps shounen is not your point, possibly sporting activities manga is not your thing. Maybe biking appears plain. It does not matter. Yowamushi Pedal consists of fascinating item and a special appeal that'll certainly delight you should you give a possibility to it. Like I did so! I highly recommend this japanese manga to anyone that had actually like sport. Check out also this related topic: https://themangablog.mystrikingly.com/blog/0xer32c3j8531jgj9rrtylf1640739306

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recentanimenews · 4 years ago

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High School DxD: Diablos of the Old School Building

By Ichiei Ishibumi and Miyama-Zero. Released in Japan by Fujimi Fantasia Bunko. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Haydn Trowell.

Sometimes a series is released at exactly the right time to catch fan’s interest, gain momentum, and rise to the top of everyone’s list. Had High School DxD’s light novel come out in North America in 2014, around the same time as Yen On debuted Sword Art Online, I’ve no doubt it would have been quite popular. Indeed, the manga version came out around then, and I assume was probably popular. It’s got cute and sexy demons, battles between heaven and hell, harem building, some cool battle scenes, and lots of fanservice. That said, this is coming out in late 2020. It’s even late in being released after the announcement – everything else announced last year by Yen has long since come out, this was the lone straggler. As such, it can be hard to get into the mindset of remembering that this was quite influential and popular at the time, and not think “what’s the fuss all about?”. Particularly in regards to Issei, who is supposed to be a more perverse than usual LN hero but comes across as pretty nice, really.

Issei is a typical high school student in these sorts of series. Messy brown hair, thinks mostly of boobs, and has two male friends who are even worse than he is. Then one day… a girl confesses to him! Such bliss! Sadly, she turns out to be a fallen angel in disguise, and kills him dead. The remaining 155 pages are blank. Well, OK, no. He’s resurrected by his upperclassman Rias Gremory, who turns out to be a demon… and now Issei is as well. Turns out Issei has a Sacred Gear, i.e. a superpower. Quickly joining the Occult Research Club, which is a front for Rias and her fellows (sweetly sadistic Akeno, tiny and stoic Koneko, and token guy Kiba), Issei goes around trying to make deals with humans – i.e. demonic contracts. He’s not all that good at it, to be honest. Then he meets a young nun, Asia…

This is pretty solidly written all around, to be honest. The fanservice, while present in the illustrations, doesn’t really make its way into the text – there was less “boobies!” talk than I expected. Issei is the classic “I talk about girls all the time but am secretly a nice guy” protagonist. The rest of the cast is not as fleshed out – there’s hints of tragic backstories that will no doubt be covered in later books, but the only one we get here is Asia’s. The villain is the fallen angel who tricked Issei in the first place, and she’s the classic bad guy, to the point where Rias notes that Issei defeating her could only have happened because she talked too long and let him power up. I’m not a fan of the overly moe art style, but that’s not too much of a problem.

So the series ends up being pretty good, and I’ll probably read more, but after a number of years of titles that explore the same sort of characters, it’s not really groundbreaking at all. The most startling thing might be the fact that the cast seems to genuinely like the hero, so recommended for those who hate tsunderes, who are absent here.

Also, what does DxD stand for?

By: Sean Gaffney

#Anime #News #Manga Bookshelf

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ivanaskye · 7 years ago

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8+2 writing questions meme

@vardasvapors tagged me and I used doing this as a reward for dealing with airport security....

1. What are your current writing goals? Ohhh boy, okay, let’s see, I’ve got to get Šehhinah book 3 fully edited by March 9th, when I’m planning on publishing it … finishing drafting Evocation 3&4 … editing Evocation 2 … then editing the other Evocation books, obviously, once they’re drafted … outlining the series that takes place after Evocation … I think that’s as far as I have planned. That should get me through some of the year! Although let’s be real I probably haven’t even done cursory outlining of whatever I’ll be writing in November or whatever yet.

2. When did you first discover your love of writing? HAHAHAHAHA when DIDN’T I discover it.

Uhh ok no really … I learned how to read like really early and was always super into books. “Book! Book!” I apparently demanded of my mom like, all the time. My physical ability to hold a pencil took longer to be a thing than my ability to read, and certainly longer than my ability to storytell, but there’s a whole collection of little stories I dictated to my mom as she wrote them down when I was three or four or so. These include memorable lines such as “Yes, dear, a fire hydrant is very important” and “Buzzing! He couldn’t believe his eyes!” and “And then they drank all day and died. This was a long time ago, when people used to do that sort of thing.” There was also the story that ended in Pooh Bear and Piglet dying … and the one where Thomas the Tank Engine “took his medicine” and “didn’t do any bad things anymore” …

Not too long after those, there started being little things I’d write myself with pencil and paper. For whatever reason the first that comes to mind is this song about winter (meant to be sung by Pooh Bear, obviously) which I think I wrote when I was six, that went “It’s snowing / it’s mowing / but I don’t mind // I’ve got furry furry fur to keep me warm and snuggly / because it’s winter!” Gods, uh, I even still remember the tune for that actually. Then again, I think I remember all the tunes of the bad songs I wrote as a kid.

Also by the way I still have basically all of this stuff. I have like, a barely-even-started attempt at uh, a nonfiction book, bound by staples, about volcanoes … THE FREAKING FAIRY SLAVE STORY, involving a fairy enslaved by an evil witch at the age of six …

This kept ramping up in complexity until I was nine and decided that a good way to spend a three-week road trip would be to write an entire movie script. Which I did; it was about sixty pages long once later typed up by my mom (these were the waning days before I really learned how to type), which by typical page-to-minute conversions for scripts, means it would have been about an hour long as a movie. I did try to film it, and got partway through, but oh my Gods, that is a story for another time and this is already an essay and I’m only on the second question.

Keep in mind that on that same road trip I also attempted to start drawing several manga—most not making it past the third page—and did some Tokyo Mew Mew fanfic, and a number of other things besides …

Uhh anyway this brings us to March 9th, 2006, which is the “created on” date of my very first writing document on my computer! It was four paragraphs long and terrible and I was a bit of a weeb, so the main character’s name was Subeteno Kakusei … there was this whole thing where like, she’d fight for Life in the daylight but switch personalities and fight for Death in the nighttime, but I got stuck and stopped writing when she asked, “and why is life bad?” and I couldn’t come up with the answer. Uh. Also this story itself was already a revamp of another story written on paper which had started out as a riff on Pokemon…

3. What motivates you to keep writing? UH WANTING TO REMAIN BREATHING, lmao.

No seriously though, that’s actually something I’ve said to people: “oh, yeah, I have to write every day, OR I WILL DIE.” And I mean??? I probably would?? Wtf is a not writing every day? I mean, okay, yeah, I only started the daily thing at the beginning of 2016, but still…

Seriously though, writing makes me feel like myself, it’s kind of what I am…

4. How important is worldbuilding for your writing? VERY??? EXTREMELY??? A WHOLE BUNCH???? I absolutely 100% have to get the cosmology of a setting down before I can write in it. It’s the most essential thing in my entire process and also the hardest. That essential-ness is why I write secondary world stuff—I want to decide the cosmology Gods heck it!! I get to display something, a possibility of something, that is good, where the world works in a way that feels right, where the very formation of how the world works including its magic system is supportive of people’s happiness.

The whole cosmology process requires heavy amounts of thinking and analyzing and even heavier amounts of believing in myself though, and I feel utterly exhausted after it every time.

For all the other parts of worldbuilding, I do better if I have it down ahead of time rather than expect myself to come up with stuff while drafting—because, lol, I won’t, I’ll make up a cool landscape if I give myself a minute to do it in outlining or worldbuilding but if I don’t have one when drafting, I will somehow just completely fail to come up with anything interesting at all. But also, I like drafting way more than any other part of the writing process, so generally speaking I don’t worldbuild quite as much as I could or maybe should!

5. Pen on paper versus typing? Typing typing typing oh my Gods.

6. Favorite Author? OKAY UH … the obvious answer here is N.K Jemisin bc her most recent trilogy is perfect, and she has great subject matter AND a gorgeous writing style that’s just amazing, and, and. But. I don’t usually like to say someone’s my favorite unless I’m certain that the stuff they’re doing next is also going to be something I like, so I might defer Official Favorite Status to such a time as her next book is published!

In that case, the backup favorite would be Brandon Sanderson…

7. Something you do to get the creative juices flowing to write? Coffee.

But more seriously … to get the creativity flowing to write, I write. It’s a habit. There is no muse. There’s no use in waiting for inspiration to strike. You have to make it happen anyway. You have to just keep going and believe, and believe.

(More generalizing than I would normally say, but I highkey feel this one…)

8. Do you write better at night, or first thing in the morning? Morning! This past month is the first period of time for two years where I’ve not felt like I’m dying if writing isn’t the first thing I do in the morning … if only because I trust I’ll end up doing it for three hours in the afternoon anyway. I can pretty much write any time of day now but I’m most attuned to doing it in the morning. With coffee…

9. How do you take your coffee/tea? Cappuccinos are very important to my lifestyle. BY CAPPUCCINO, I specifically mean equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and foam—but the foam is mixed into the milk, it isn’t just spooned on top, so basically it’s foamy milk. The drink should be approximately 8oz. It includes two shots of espresso. The most preferred types of espresso tend to be Ethiopian, but anything with a bright flavor is great (which still is very most often African beans, with Ethiopian almost always as the best!).

…So, ok, maybe I’m a little particular…

10. If you could only live with one season for the rest of your life, what would it be? I’d say summer except that in many ways nighttime is more important to me than the day and also I lived in Hawaii for the better part of 4 years and the constant heat was too much for me. So uh. Uhhh.

I do need a lot of sunlight though, and even more than that clear skies! I need starlight! And moonlight! So any season where I can get those things, and where the temperature’s not too hot but not like horribly cold either. (Of late, my cold tolerance has outpaced my heat tolerance, but it too has limits.)

Tagging @lcmawson, predictably.

#yeah ok I have two friends and one tagged me and I'm tagging the other #BUT A VERY GOOD TWO FRIENDS.#COULDN'T HAVE CHOSEN BETTER MYSELF ETC.#writing stuff #yeah that might have been more than u wanted to read but!!! JUST DEAL W IT!!!

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