#this one came out at like 2 in the morning for me orz

[murachinchi]

Kimegaku Aizetsu x Tanjiro but they got together cause Aizetsu wanna make Genya jelly but Aizetsu end up falling for Tanjiro fr lol

sorry AiGen lovers :c

SOME WARNING Before reading, this is not a fanfic.. just a plot line lmao. Also the endgame will be Aizetsu x Tanjiro. I try to not antagonize Genya in this story but if you feel like i did it i'm so sorry :c. I could have use a random mob but i'm not vibing with it lmao.

The purpose of this story is not to bash the AiGen ship.. but to make me feel sad :c Again if u feel like it was leaning towards that i'm sorry orz. I'm not into poly ships so pls don't come after me with those "aizetsu have 2 hands he can hold both of them" idc. the only polycule ship i like is Hantengu x Tanjiro lmao other than that not my cup of tea sorry :c Again i write this for me, so i'm sorry if the characters are OOC :c i share it here thinking that maybe some of my followers would like it, if you do thank you! :D

Now to the stories...

the idea is Aizetsu and Genya like each other since mid school but they never go steady and keep their relationship a secret. Aizetsu wanna make it official and be public but Genya is not ready cause he's scared of what his brother gonna say.

Sanemi and Genya doesn't have a bad relationship but Genya doesn't want to dissapoint his brother cause he thinks to much about what his brother would say. And Aizetsu doesn't exactly have a good reputation at school plus his brother is a teacher there.. so it's complicated.

i made Aizetsu an orphan here and the other clones doesn't exist here sorry :c he lives in the school dorms since he start middle school. HANCHAN EXIST THO HAHAHA HE'S TANJIRO'S HALF BALD CAT HEHE. I've thought the scenario when Aizetsu first met Hanchan. Aizetsu find the cat so ugly and was about to tell Tanjiro how ugly his cat is but Tanjiro said "omg this is the first time Hanchan greet a visitor 🥺🥺 he usually hides until the guest are gone" so he keep his mouth shut.

Aizetsu was patient but it's their third year of highschool and Genya still doesn't say anything which worries Aizetsu.. and here comes Tanjiro :>

Tanjiro is a year younger than Aizetsu and Genya but has interact with Aizetsu.. They met when Tanjiro starts highschool.. He was lost looking for a classroom he was suppose to be and met Aizetsu who's skipping class and help him show the way to said classroom. Tanjiro developed a silly crush on him. They exchange "hi" everytime they met but that's it lol. Genya like to tease Aizetsu about him but Genya thinks Tanjiro is too kind to be true so he try to avoid him lol

one day Aizetsu got a love letter from someone and was asked to meet him afterschool.. he thought it was from Genya and was very happy that they'll be official.

turns out it was from Tanjiro :c. He was dared by his friends to confess his feelings to his crush. Tanjiro was hopeful but looking at Aizetsu's visible disappointment he knew he'll be rejected.. But dare is a dare and Tanjiro never back down. Aizetsu was sad but decided to use this opportunity to make Genya jelly.

Tanjiro was both surprised and happy by this so they become boyfriends :). Since then Aizetsu start avoiding Genya and hang around Tanjiro more. He still talk to Genya but nothing more like before and always brag about him going to hangout with his boyfriend. Genya was unhappy but he can't really say anything since they are not official so he just let him be but still keep an eye on them..

Aizetsu was happy that his plan worked and he can see Genya seething when he sees them together. Aizetsu is counting the days til Genya came back to him.

Months pass by and Genya still doesn't show any sign to get back together.. Meanwhile Tanjiro was being the good boyfriend he is. making bento for Aizetsu, pick him up to school every morning and walk him back home (it's funny cause he lives in a dorm nearby lol). Sometimes Aizetsu stay the night at Tanjiro's house when he's bored.

Tanjiro lives alone since his family went back to their hometown when his father's health keep getting worse. They were told by their doctor that it's better for him to live in a place with fresh air than here in the city. Tanjiro stays to finish his schooling and planned to go back home when he graduates.

Aizetsu still focus on Genya but he did find Tanjiro endearing in some occasions.. Aizetsu doesn't blatantly ignores Tanjiro but he doesn't put much effort in their relationship either.

come graduation, Aizetsu thinks that the planned failed cause Genya still doesn't say anything so he decided to break up with Tanjiro after the graduation. It was nice while it last but he's not that invested and he'll be out of school anyway so they won't have time to meet now that he have to go to work.

Tanjiro was devastated when Aizetsu break up with him. He begged him to stay but Aizetsu told him that he's just a rebound and it's nothing serious. But then Tanjiro told him that he knew from the start that Azetsu was just using him to make Genya jealous. But he ignores it and try to make Aizetsu fell for him. He might not realized it but Tanjiro notice that he start to reciprocate his feelings. but Aizetsu told him that he's just projecting and he is just lonely cause his family is not here. Then Tanjiro asked if he still has feelings for Genya. Aizetsu can't answer it and told him that it's none of his business and that they are done.

Tanjiro still plead to give their relationship more chance.. He asked if they can try again just until he graduates next year, if Aizetsu still feel the same then he won't bother him anymore and will be out of his life for good.

Aizetsu said that he'll think about it and to give him some time alone. He told Tanjiro to stop contacting him til he said so and he agrees. Aizetsu did a little self reflection and think back about their time together. He did felt something toward Tanjiro on some occassions and enjoys his company but try to ignore it cause his goal was to be back with Genya. But now that he's given up on Genya, guess he coud try again this time focusing only on Tanjiro.

He accept Tanjiro's offer and they start going out. But now that Aizetsu is out of school and has found work he could only have time on weekends but he'll spare some time to walk him home from school. This goes on for months and he start to enjoy this. But one day when he was waiting for Tanjiro at school he met Genya.

Genya asked if they can get back together. Aizetsu is annoyed and ask why now, Genya said that he finally find the courage and talked to his brother. His brother told him that he thinks too much and that he's happy as long as he's happy no matter what. Now Aizetsu is conflicted. If this happen a few months ago he would gladly accept but now..

so Aizetsu told him that he needs to think about this and asked Tanjiro what he should do. Tanjiro was of course annoyed cause its unfair to ask him about this. It's up to Aizetsu to decide not him. Though he advice Aizetsu to hang out with Genya as friends. if he still have those feelings then he's free to leave and get back with Genya. Beside they are still on their "trial" so Tanjiro have no right to decide anything. Aizetsu did take his advice and start hanging out with Genya again. It was awkward at first but it didn't take long for them to go back like they used to be. But Aizetsu start to notice while he's back on a friendly term with Genya, he doesn't have any more lingering feelings towards Genya. He keep thinking about Tanjiro.

One day Genya told him that he misses Aizetsu. He asked if they can do "it" no string attached. Aizetsu is very conflicted about this but said yes. In his mind maybe this can proof if he's still into him or not. And it won't be cheating since he's technically still single. But when Genya touch him, he shoved Genya away and ran.

He run to Tanjiro's house, and keep apologizing for cheating on him. Tanjiro was confused but try to console him. After he calms down, Tanjiro asked what happened and was explained about the incident. Then Tanjiro burst into tears which made Aizetsu panics and start apologizing again and told him that he'll do anything to make up for his mistake. then Tanjiro told him to shut up that he's just relieved that Aizetsu finaly reciprocate his feelings and willing to forget whatever happened in the past and have a fresh start with their relationship.. and they live happily ever after (?) thank you for reading :) i wanna think about something sad so i made this AU lmao maybe i'll draw something for this story but im not sure lol

[darklightsworld]

Hiroshima 2024/09/09-13

Day 1-2

Long time no see... again... This was the worst summer ever. As in, officially the hottest ever with three times as many days over 35°C than usual. Somewhere around 55 days... orz Kyoto does know how to welcome me back ^^; So, I was laying low and dying every time I needed to step out of my flat. It turned out that this ground floor (and not wood) apartment does not heat as fast as my previous ones, so I could get through the day without air-con, but barely, so not much productivity until the evening from me, when I turned it on. You might ask why not the other way round? I cannot sleep in the heat (even in winter I turn the heating off for the night), and without sleeping I'm useless, so I use the air-con from evening to morning. This also meant that I was hardly doing anything for sightseeing, some exhibitions here and there, but it was just too hot.

Still, I thought it can't be that I'm not traveling during the holiday (especially since I'm having a holiday the first time in six years...), so I went to Hiroshima for the first time. It was a mistake. I expected lower temperatures in September, but no, around 35°C every day, and it was hellish. No trips in summer ever again. (I'm starting to feel like schools should just power through summer with air-conditioning and save the longer holiday for fall, September-October, when you can actually enjoy it too. Anyway, I took five days for Hiroshima to make it a slow trip, one that I could survive despite the heat - it was difficult anyway.

Day 1

Not living in the countryside is heavenly for transportation. Hiroshima is very close by Shinkansen, so I ticked off some basic sightseeing on the first day already. Like the Atomic Bomb Dome and the park (skipped the museum, I just didn't have the energy in the heat); Shukkeien Garden, a small but gorgeous park; Hiroshima Castle, which is more of an observatory with historical exhibition - like Osaka Castle, but much smaller. It doesn't have air-conditioning though (or too weak), so I had to spend five minutes in front of a high power fan, because I was about to pass out (not exaggerating...). Quite telling that all the people who came out of the castle flocked to the tiny shop selling ice cream - me included ^^; I closed the day in the shopping district afterward.

Day 2

I tried to take it easy, but the morning was hard. I wanted to visit some shrines and the Peace Monument just north of the station on a hill. It turned out to be a hill with tons of shrines, hiking routes, and I only saw a portion of everything there. It was 433 steps uphill in 35°C in a long skirt (pants stick to you too much). The steps were a bit steep in the second half too (not pictured). Every now and then they had some wise things to say (see above) while mentioning how much was left XD At the top there was this monument with a statue - concrete with metal and no shade at the benches anywhere!!! The view was great, but difficult to rest before going back down... I could refresh at the Hiroshima Museum of Art, fortunately. They had a nihonga exhibition, and since I have a new course to teach starting this semester that deals with mostly premodern Japanese visual arts, it was a useful exhibition for me. I closed the day walking around Ujina island, one of the islands near the coast. I love the sea, I love islands, so it was a nice preparation for the main dish of this trip: Miyajima. There were beaches, but it's the wrong side of the tide with every seashell and debris washing out there. It is also sandy, and I don't like sandy beaches. Anyway, the view was nice.

tbc...

[tortranslates]

Sakuma Rei Birthday Event 2023

More backlog clearing! Most of this was finished the day of his birthday, but I kept getting sidetracked and only just finished translating this today. Sorry, Rei, I'll do better this year orz

Without further ado!

"To think that so many friends would celebrate my birthday...If only I could tell the old me...~"

Birthday Moment (mini-talk) 1:

R: Koga, do give me another performance. This is more fun than I expected.

K: C’mon, how many times are ya gonna have me play? Your birthday party’s s’pposed to be starting soon, so is it really alright for you to be lazing around like this?

K: Whatever, I’m having a good time, so I don’t mind all that much.

-> There you are.

R: Oh, the little miss. Were you perhaps lured here by the timbre of the guitar…?

K: Hey, don’t just stand there doin’ nothing. Get over here.

-> Happy birthday!

R: Yes, thank you, little miss. I’m drowning in words of congratulations~ Shiratori-kun gave me his words of congratulations after I awoke this morning as well. I wonder if Tenshouin-kun will congratulate me later~

Birthday Moment (mini-talk) 2

R: You wish to know what Koga and myself were doing? We had a bit of time, so I opted for a guitar session with Koga. Did you come to listen in as well, little miss?

K: Gimme a break before that. You oughta drink some water too, right, Sakuma-senpai?

-> Actually…

R: Hm, you sought me out because you had some business with me? You wish to take some time after the party for a chat, yes? Well then, I will entrust the time to you.

-> If you need a break…

R: You wished to discuss whether or not you would be able to meet with me after the party? I don’t have anything in particular that requires my attention, so I will meet with you later. Shall we decide the time and place here and now?

Birthday Moment (mini-talk) 3:

K: Alright, in that case I’ll play one more song! This is special, so you better listen too, Producer.

R: Yes, my thanks for keeping me company, Koga~

K: I mean, it’s your birthday today, after all. It’s not a big deal or anything.

K: I’m getting in the mood to play.

-> Is it alright if I stay?

R: Yes, you may. Do listen to our music for a while. There’s an idea. Why don’t we give Kaoru-kun a surprise performance tomorrow for his birthday? I hope we can surprise him~

-> What about as a surprise?

R: Oho…You mean a performance for Kaoru-kun’s birthday tomorrow?

K: Hm…That’s a pretty good idea. Alright, I’ll go along with it~

First part 1

Oh my, I seem to have arrived quite early. The little miss still has yet to arrive. I suppose I can practice some for tomorrow. I did borrow a bass guitar since I’m in the office, after all. (singing noises)

-> Clap quietly

Hm, my thanks for your attentive listening, little miss. How was my performance? Do let me hear your thoughts.

First part 2

Hm, you’re apologizing for keeping me waiting? Why, I just arrived prior to our arranged time, that’s all. Today’s party was quite fun~ I look forward to tomorrow’s as well.

-> A lot of people came, huh?

Indeed. I was delighted by how many people came and gave me gifts. Even Ritsu came. I was so delighted to see him that I embraced him from the side.

First part 3

Today was Sena-kun’s birthday as well, so it must have been difficult making space for two parties. The day is drawing to its close, so I do hope that you will take some proper rest, little miss. While it is commendable to do your best, I hope that you will allow your mind and body to rest on occasion. If you do not take care, you are liable to become an old man~

-> Um…

Oh my, I intended that to be a joke, but I seem to have perplexed you. In any case, I was being honest when I said that I wish for you to rest. Now then, I will buy you a beverage from the vending machine~

Second part 1

Hm, the business you said you had with me was a present? It’s precious, so may I open it here? Oho, what a lovely brooch. It twinkles in the light, such that it appears that you have captured the very stars~

-> I’m glad you like it!

Indeed, I noticed~ I can tell it’s a present you chose with me in mind. I wish to express my gratitude to you here, but I wonder how to do so…

Second part 2

I have it. I shall play a song especially for you. You may request any song you wish, whether it be a song of UNDEAD’s or a current hit~ Now then, what do you wish to hear?

→In that case…

Fufu, so you have chosen an UNDEAD song. How delightful~ Now then, this concert for you alone has begun. Do listen, if you would be so kind…

Second part 3

(singing)

…Yes, I believe we shall end here. My thanks for listening, little miss. This is just right, so we shall lower the curtain here. Return to your abode and rest well.

→I’m counting on you for tomorrow too.

Yes, indeed. Kaoru’s birthday falls on the morrow, after all. Let us mingle with Koga, Adonis-kun, and all the others in celebration of Kaoru-kun~

Birthday phone call: Hello, little miss? Are you still awake? Thank you for celebrating my birthday today. Fufu, it was an honor to receive a gift from you. I will be certain to treasure it.

[lvcifvr]

i'm su exhausted x~x

i was busy all day at work... orz

ALSO

the stupid store manager man came by bc there was only one pizza on the bar n it was kinda burned n old

n i was sweepin da floor

n he asked if i was on pizza n i said no, 'm on grill but i have been helpin wit pizza but i been really busy for teh past 2 hours

n he still was a big meanie n chastised me out of everyone else dere n said that we should never ever have a pizza like dat out

n i was so tired n in pain that i just said "ok" all dead inside

n it's stupid bc it wasn't even me who put that stupid bad pizza out!

so why am i the one bein yelled at???

AND

dere was this dumb old lady who got mean wit me on da phone!

she was askin if we still had a certain thing for Saturdays

n i said dat i wasn't sure but if she called in da day before,

they would have it ready for them the next morning or whenever

n she just kept sayin she wanted to know what day the thing was

so she would know what day to call before

n i was like...

'm too tired for dis shit

BAH

[snowtimeisbesttime]

Thoughts and questions on Volume 9! As well as the tag!

-Loving Chahut's theme, especially the actual honks. -If Chahut's leaving to undergo the Ordeals in a few perigrees (= troll months??), does this mean her route takes place not long before Hiveswap Act 2? will we ever get an alternian calendar?? -Apparently clowns tone it down a little in space. -Chahut met Amisia when she was beheading some random trolls... And she likely instantly went “yes. we sTan.”, according to what little we know about purplebloods. -Is the clown with the hat Marvus? We saw him without a hat in Remele's route, so who knows really. I'm kind of inclined to say he isn't, just because of Marvus' (and the Soleils') whole circus aesthetic... -Also what the fuck was in that faygo. Was it the combination with the smoke from the pixie stick incense, or even some weird chucklevoodoos?? -Turns out the Grand Motherfucking Highblood's still alive and kicking!! -It does make sense that purples are taught by the church to kill crimsonbloods on sight... -What's with Chahut's eyes?? Every time we've seen her they've been red, but it's said they're yellow in her bad route... At least now we know that a troll's irises fill in with color around the time they get sent to space. -Were any of the non-purplebloods in the church there with friends, like us with Chahut?

-The chorus of Azdaja's theme kind of reminds me of Rumia's, from Touhou. -Azdaja's ego's larger than Chahut. Then again he's probably the strongest psionic we've seen, barring the Captors. He puts these powers to good use, though: dramatic wind everytime he wants it. -No but it's (kind of???) implied that he's a stronger psionic than Kuprum, is he not worried about getting helmed?? Or someone calling the drones on him like Cirava??? (Konyyl and him probably fucking murder anyone that could do that though, or maybe they do their job with disguises- they are assassins after all). -Looks like Azdaja and Konyyl may be either vacillating between <3 and <> or outright in between them... -We have another Lethal Death Game: Duel Strifers. It seems to be “two to a bunch of trolls face off somewhere and just kill each other” (battle royale), as opposed to FLARP's “the clouders make a campaign for the opposite team” (larping, with murder). -I don't really think Duel Strifers would be up Polypa's alley, though... -Azdaja's sure come far from what Konyyl told us about him. Like, a lot. -Is that the Disciple's cavern???? what do the carvings say

[srl541]

Week 3: Stars

Two months late, but I finally got this done! I started this back in mid-May but got a little overwhelmed (making music like this in a week was a bit much I guess orz). I gave up on the musical references to DP because they felt forced and instead wrote a short one-shot:

----------

The beginning (drabble)

"3, 2, 1, . . ."

With each count voiced over the comms, Danny felt his heart pound harder. His core was a tangled mess of excitement and worry, amplified by the agitated state he could sense in his crewmates.

"Blastoff!"

The shuttle quivered. He felt as if a weight pressed his whole self toward the floor, even as his anticipation soared through the ceiling.

His dream, at last. Humanity was another step further in space exploration, and he would directly contribute.

When the weight disappeared and congratulations were passed, he let himself relax. He was glad they hadn't required his unique "skills."

--

1 month later (one-shot)

"Danny, when you have the chance, can you come check this out? The ecto-scanner is giving some odd readings."

"Sure, give me a minute." Danny carefully secured the glowing-green flask he had been inspecting and jotted a few notes in his lab notebook. In seconds, he was heading toward the cockpit.

Scott waved him over. "We're approaching an area with higher ecto-readings, but it doesn't look dense enough to be a formed entity. What do you think?"

Danny rubbed his neck as he scrolled through the readings. "Yeah, the ecto-energy looks a little weak. But I'd say the pattern is a little strange. See how it's clustered in a path and not spread out evenly? I'll prep and be on the lookout in case."

"Good point. We still have an hour, so you have some time." Scott gave him a friendly shoulder pat and turned back to the navigation instruments. He conferred with Commander Kay and announced a warning over the comms.

Danny checked the Fenton thermos clipped to his suit and headed back to crew quarters to change, as well as to hand out backup ecto-blasters.

When he returned, he stared at the view out the front. Even weeks into the journey, the stars looked too clear to be real.

He almost hadn't made it to space. Not because of what he'd initially feared. When NASA had found out about his ghost half, they had instead been ecstatic about the new scientific possibilities his powers introduced. No, his struggle came from his crewmates. NASA wouldn’t let a contentious crew on a mission.

"You feeling alright?" Danny asked.

"Yeah, I'm good."

The emotions picked up by his core confirmed Scott's calmness. He had come a long way from his fears.

"You know, I'm really glad you're here to deal with this ghost stuff. I don’t think I’ve said it enough.”

“Well, that’s my gig. Semi-professional ghost hunter here,” Danny quipped. “Of course, my real job is jar-opening. Can’t forget that.”

Scott chuckled. “Right, you helped Jenny with her stuck jar this morning. Intangibility really seems handy.”

Danny grinned. NASA particularly didn’t mind having someone who could make things intangible on hand. Flight was also an invaluable tool.

He was beyond fortunate; his crew had mostly been understanding about his secrets. Mostly.

It took a long time, but patience and a lot of conversation helped mitigate fears about the supernatural and repave trust. All that work led to a closer friendship. Scott was one of the easiest for him to approach now.

Danny felt a rush of cold air come up through his throat. He squinted at the view, now glowing a slight green, and pressed the button for the comms. “Actually, I think there is something. Kay, do I have permission to leave the ship?”

An affirmative was returned. He re-checked his gear, gave a jaunty salute to his friend, and phased out of the cockpit.

The wide expanse never failed to amaze him, but he had a job to do. He zoomed ahead of the ship and reached his senses out, following paths that looked slightly greener than others.

There. Danny floated closer. A bare wisp of a ghost, a faint echo of what must have been a powerful being to get so far from Earth.

Or at least, that was what he assumed. Theoretically, the ghost world was a reflection of the human world.

He spoke into his comms. “There actually is a ghost here. They’re too weak to do anything, though. Must have wandered too far away from Earth and ran out of energy to figure out a way back.”

“Alright, so there’s no danger. What is your recommendation?” Kay asked.

Danny unclipped his Fenton thermos. “I’m taking them back home. The ectoplasm they left behind is really cool, too. Some of it is stable enough for testing. Might give some great data for the energy source experiments.”

“That sounds great. Be careful.”

Sucking the ghost into the Fenton thermos was as easy as breathing. With oxygen, at least. He gathered some samples by the time the ship caught up, and then he phased back in.

Scott gave him a thumbs up. Danny smiled back, content with how helpful his skills were for the mission.

It was as if his space journey was written in the stars.

-- 

Extra

An invisible shape loomed, observing the earthlings. The ectoranium asteroids would shield it from detection until it was too late for the small crew. It was true that the ghost wisp had once been powerful, but its fall hadn’t been straying too far from Earth.  

----------

More notes: I tried to add more instruments to make the sound fuller, but maybe it was too much? Or maybe the reverb blurred things together excessively? I had liked the echo-y sound, but it might have been the wrong choice. I still have a lot to learn about mixing/mastering, haha (and I’m not even recording stuff yet I’m just using VSTs). 

Inspiration for this piece was mainly from the Space theme from Overcooked!. The hyper-space travel background of the video was from #AAfvx (https://www.youtube.com/dvdangor2011).

On the short fic, I don’t really sci-fi and I still feel super rusty with writing, but hopefully it tells a story that can go along with the musical piece. The extra didn’t fit with the music but I think would fit more with DP fanfics, maybe? XD

I’m really glad this event was held since it really motivated me to create things again! There was a ton of talent in the fanart and fanfic I saw. But, I’ve realized that though I still enjoy the fanworks I’ve mostly moved on from the Phandom. I might go back to leaving anonymous reviews here and there. <3

[soysaucevictim]

Last week of current stuff...

-

July 25

I woke up around noon, today.

After a bit of time browsing stuff, I worked on today’s Hello Fresh meal. Italian Sunday supper (I know it wasn’t Sunday, but whatever.) This was one of the more expensive Taste Tours kits - and I legitimately enjoyed it a lot! (Despite my appetite.)

First, today’s DD. 80 side leg raises with EC (40/40). Pretty breezy work.

Second, Day 25 of the 1′CC. 1′ lunge step-ups. One go, 30 reps. ROM demanded still limits just how fast I can execute this. Not a huge fave, but very doable.

Last, Day 24 of the XTP. Leg / tendon strength / active rest day. 3x100 side leg raises, 30″ rest. Breezy, and amused that it lined up with the DD, like that. :,D

Spent time on the usual... before deciding to start a draw stream at like 2AM. Finished another art project - despite it not being a fantastic decision to work this late. :,D

Technically only got to bed a bit after dawn. Woops.

-

July 26

I woke up about noonish- wanting to sleep a bit more. But heat + a brief power outage kinda pressed me to stay awake.

When power came back on and some browsing, I went for today’s exercise early. Despite being p damn tired. :P

First, today’s DD. 50 shoulder taps with EC. Fairly breezy work.

Second, Day 26 of the 1′CC. 1′ single leg hops with EC. One go, 30″/30″ and 124 reps. I’m pleased I could manage 2/sec. It was a bit of a challenge to maintain that, too!

Last, Day 25 of the XTP. Arm work. This sequence is a bit less capable of completely noodle-fying my arms (compared to presses, rows, and lateral raises). Very manageable. Numbers:

Alt. bicep curls: 54-48-40-34-30

Tricep extensions: 16-14-12-12-10

Watched The Mask with a friend, chatted a good deal of rest of night chatting and just browsing stuff.

I got to bed in the green zone. Think a bit of sleep debt caught up with me. but I’m okay with that. :P

-

July 27

I woke up before 11AM.

One of the first things I did today was my exercise.

First, today’s DD. 30 crunch kicks with EC. A fun one, a bit uncomfortable at seat though.

Second, Day 27 of the 1′CC. 1′ climber taps. One go, 70 reps. Abs still definitely felt it.

Last, Day 26 of the XTP. Leg day. Got a bit miffed about a phone call interrupting the workout, had to redo a set of lunges*. Anyways, numbers:

Squat into shoulder presses: 16-14-14-12-12

Forward lunges: 50-42-38*-30-28

I then went out for a psych appointment, went alright.

Spent rest of day chatting and reading a couple things (JD@tE & a friend’s work.) Got to bed in the yellow zone, combo of tired and needing to get up early tomorrow was good enough motivation.

-

July 28

I woke up around 8AM, today.

Went to a dental appointment this morning, went alright.

Spent a few hours gaming and watching YouTube before picking up Subway with bro and getting down to my exercises.

First, today’s DD. 40 squat hold side bends with EC. Just about manageable.

Second, Day 28 of the 1′CC. 1′ jumping lunges. Barely in one go, managed 52 reps. Oh man, I do not like jumping lunges. orz

Last, Day 27 of the XTP. Arm stuff. Whopping 4/5 exercises done to fatigue/failure. Numbers:

Alt bicep curls: 60-54-46-40-34

Upright rows: 18-14-10-10-8

Bent over rows: 20-16-14-12-12

Bent over flies (knocked weight down to 1x5 lbs per arm): 10-8-8-6-6

Spent much of day chatting and reading something a friend wrote.

Got to bed too late again... but not obscene by my standards.

-

July 29

I woke up around 10AM.

First thing I did was making some more trip reservations and a bit of my exercise.

First, today’s DD. 2′ side leg raise hold with EC (1′/1′, from floor.) Pretty breezy work. Trying to make the side switch swiftly/smoothly was  probably the only challenging part for me.

(After going to my first Seeking Safety Group since forever, which was nice...)

Second, Day 29 of the 1′CC. 1′ jump squats. One go, 44 reps. I got pretty bushed at the pace I was going. Quads burned something fierce. But I’m glad I could carry on.

Last, Day 28 of the XTP. Leg work, tendon strengthening day. Definitely not calling it active rest at this point. Took a lot of willpower to keep the leg off floor for corresponding halves of the sequence. But I managed to get through it by skin of teeth. (Being fresh off the squat hops certainly didn’t help. Pffft.)

Spent rest of day chatting, starting watching Good Omens with friend, listening to music, and browsing stuff. Got to bed late again.

-

July 30

I woke up after 11AM.

One of the first things I did today was some dishes. And after that, I started on today’s exercise.

First, today’s DD. 30 push-ups with EC. Manageable, modestly sloppy, but acceptable.

Second, Day 30 of the 1′ Cardio Challenge. 1′ basic burpees. One go, 20 reps (+1 extra to complete another rep/cycle). Saving grace of burpees is the fact it takes a bit of time to execute one rep - but even 20 at that pace did get me pretty winded!

Last, Day 29 of the XTP. Last arm day of the program and my arms are so done. Numbers:

Alt bicep curls: 70-60-50-45-40

Tricep extensions (per side): 18-16-14-14-12

Bilateral tricep extensions: 10-8-6-6-6

Listened to my Discover Weekly music, had a hysterical time chatting with friend, watched another episode of Good Omens with ‘im, and decided to do a quick Janus doodle before turning in (way too late).

-

July 30

Despite needing more sleep, I got up around 8AM, today.

The first thing I addressed was cleaning my ears... feels so much better now. (wonder if that was influencing reduced appetite / food texture issues...)

Watched some YouTube, gamed, and did some dishes before doing today’s exercises.

First, today’s DD. 30 forward bends with EC. Relatively breezy, kinda of a warm-up for my program stuff.

Last, Day 30 of the Xpress Tone Program. Legs / lower body work. Pretty aerobic. Numbers:

Forward lunges: 60-50-40-36-32

Deadlifts: 20-18-16-14-12

Side lunges: 30-24-20-16-14

Goblet squats: 40-36-30-26-24

I then spent time making today’s HF meal. Scallops over truffled mushroom risotto. I liked it alright - but general consensus was that it didn’t exactly knock things out of the park. Additionally, it was pretty involved, so it might not see a reprisal in future.

Wouldn’t mind making something else with scallops or truffle oil, in future though (was given reasonable advice to be a bit conservative on that - given how strong of a flavor/fragrance that had.)

Spent rest of day chatting and planning out my next couple weeks of fitness stuff. Got to bed too late... narrowly overshot my yellow zone this time. But man, I was exhausted.

-

Summary of Experience:

I finished the 1′ Cardio Challenge in July 30. Overall, this was a pretty fun little challenge and a good balance for strength training! I did record my rep counts, so it may be interesting to see if I could squeeze more into the minute in future. I really liked the straight leg bounds, hops on spot, and most of the jacks. Didn’t like the lunging variations and split jacks so much. But, that’s just how it is~

I finished the Xpress Tone Program in July 31. Circuit structure made this interesting and distinct from IRONBORN. But I could dig it! I worked with a max of 2x5lbs per arm (halving it for lateral raises and flies). Many opportunities did this one kick my ass. These were my PBs:

Alt bent over rows (total): 20-16-14-12-12

Alt bicep curls: 70-60-50-46-40

Alt shoulder presses: 30-24-20-20-18

Bent over flies: 10-8-8-6-6

Bent over tricep extensions (per side): 6-5-5-4-4

Bilat. bent over rows:10-8-6-6-6

Bilat. bicep curls: 20-16-12-8-8

Bilat. hammer curls: 26-22-18-14-12

Bilat. tricep extensions: 10-8-6-6-6

Deadlifts: 20-18-16-14-12

Forward lunges (total, alt): 60-50-40-36-32

Goblet squats: 40-36-30-26-24

Hammer curls (total, alt): 22-18-14-10-10

Lateral raises: 14-12-10-8-6

Side lunges: 30-24-20-16-14

Split lunge into shoulder press (total): 14-10-8-6-6

Squat into shoulder press (total): 16-14-14-12-12

Tricep extensions: 18-16-14-14-12

Upright rows: 18-14-10-10-8

I COULD share the spreadsheets, if anyone is interested in seeing them~

[datura-foxglove]

Masks

Sorry for posting this so close to the end of the deadline, but this turned out to be harder than I thought and I had rewritten this story four times already orz in the end I chose this version because this is the best one (I think) and it’s already 5 a.m. in the morning, my sense of judgement and life choices are really not working right now. This is my gift for @ladytective and thank you to @dazatsu-exchange for creating this event.

Prompts used : undercover mission, romantic tension, (spontaneous) love confessions. Turns out it was hard to create a one-shot for undercover mission and I tried really hard for the other two prompts but if I fail please forgive me...

Trigger warnings : mentions of human trafficking, sex slavery, drugs, and degrading words. No characters are harmed from all of the warnings (except the last warning), but they are mentioned quite a lot in the middle of the story.

Word counts : 5638 words.

Rated : M (no graphic violence or sexual activity, just for the dark themes used)

Summary : The Agency got an anonymous request to stop an auction of orphaned children under the guise of masquerade party. Atsushi and Dazai disguised themselves as guests to collect the evidences. Which was bad for Atsushi’s heart, because 1) he is in love with his partner, 2) Dazai looked so unfairly handsome wearing those suits, and 3) Byakko stop trying to rip apart the guests!

Extravagant crystal chandeliers. Enormous ballroom with polished floor so shiny it hurt his eyes. Rows of buffet tables covered with spotless white cloths and the countless kinds of dishes with enticing aroma, depths of flavor he had never tasted before, and presented like art that he felt almost guilty eating them. Expensive dresses and suits worn by the guests, complimented with the beautiful jewelries glimmering with precious gems. Mysterious masquerade masks hid the identities of the everyone, giving a certain freedom with the anonymity. Atsushi felt almost underdressed with his black vest, dark grey button up shirt with the sleeves folded to his elbow, and a pair of black pants; despite it being the nicest thing Atsushi had ever worn in his life. The grandiose party truly looked like a scene out of a fairy tale book came alive.

Yet it only dug further in his mind that he did not fit in among all the glitters and glory.

“Chin up, Atsushi-kun.” Atsushi flinched when he heard a familiar voice whispered closely to his ear. “Remember your mission.”

The arm he clung into tightly ever since they stepped out of the car resonated with strength that he desperately needed. Dazai’s voice reminded him of the reason they were here and the focus coaxed the scared cub into the predator it should be. He clung tighter to Dazai’s arm for a second before letting out a subtle sigh, letting out his tension with it. Atsushi stood straighter and relaxed his gait so he could match Dazai’s confident and calm gait. His hold on Dazai’s arm loosened, but he still kept his hands there. It was part of their disguise after all, more so than the masks on their face.

Atsushi got a bone white mask with protrusion above the eyes that looked almost like cat ears and dark glittered paint as his stripes. Dazai got a mask that only covered mostly the left side of his face, with white paint rippled out to the dark base of the mask. Dazai himself wear a formal clothing, a black suit, dark green vest with black vertical stripes, and a pair of black pants. Unlike Atsushi, Dazai was wearing white gloves that covered his palms up until it met with the bandages hidden by the sleeves of Dazai’s suit. For tonight, he had combed the left part of his bangs back, showing the enticing lines of Dazai’s ear, his jaw, and a bit of skin of his neck that wasn’t covered by the bandages.

“Atsushi-kun, I know you are nervous, but if you keep staring at me like that I will blush.” Dazai glanced at him from the corner of his eyes and Atsushi was the one who blushed instead at being caught red handed.

“I-I’m sorry! I-it’s just weird seeing you without your usual clothing. You looked very handsome to—“ Atsushi bit his tongue before he could splutter another embarrassing things. He was sure that even with the mask, everyone could notice that he was blushing.

“That means Naomi-chan did a good job.” Atsushi had to wonder if Tanizaki’s sister still held a grudge against him because there was no way Atsushi’s heart would survive tonight with how it kept doing flip flop whenever he saw Dazai. “You also look truly adorable tonight, Atsushi-kun.”

Where was a hole to swallow him up when he needed it the most? Atsushi kept his eyes at the polished floor but it wouldn’t open up and save him from this mortification already. “Don’t tease me, Dazai-san.” It said much about the state of his lovesickness that he was flattered to be called cute. He shouldn’t feel like he could fly, he was a tiger and not a bird.

“I’m not lying, Atsushi-kun.” Atsushi felt a gloved fingers tilted his chin up so he would look Dazai in the eyes. “You are so adorable that I’m having a trouble focusing on the mission.”

Atsushi’s heart beat loudly against his ribcage that it was a wonder how the whole ballroom guests could not hear it. It was certainly the only thing he could hear, deafening the beautiful music by the orchestra on the background. ‘Don’t get your hopes up. He is just having trouble focusing on the mission because he was never serious until it got dangerous. Get your head out of gutter Atsushi. Byakko where are you please bite me—‘

But his pleas went unheard by the beast lingering on the back of his mind. In fact, he was certain Byakko just scoffed at him and flicked it’s tail from impatience. The traitor.

‘His face is too close what should I do—‘ it should be illegal for a person’s eyes to be this pretty. Atsushi was utterly mesmerized and stood there frozen like a deer in headlights. Atsushi’s eyes not so subtly looked at Dazai’s soft looking lips and he felt drawn in—

“STOP FLIRTING WITH EACH OTHER! You two are there for a mission!” Kunikida’s voice bellowed like the anger of the heaven ready to smite them both where they were standing. Both Dazai and Atsushi winced as the loud voice was yelled directly to their ear through the skin colored earpiece that was hidden behind Atsushi’s and Dazai’s long bangs. A loud crash followed Kunikida’s angry tirade and the two of them winced again, though this time more subtly as to not attract attention.

“Kunikida-san, what are you doing! They nearly ki—hmmph—!” Thankfully, Naomi’s protest wasn’t as loud because she wasn’t the one holding the mic. Still Atsushi was really suspicious of what Naomi was going to say.

“Now, now, Naomi.” Atsushi could hear Tanizaki’s calming voice next. “They are on a mission; it will be dangerous if they get sidetracked.”

“But we are so close to being liberated from all the pining though.” Yosano’s teasing voice came next. He didn’t hear anything more from Kunikida, so Yosano must had taken over the mic by incapacitating the man. Atsushi just hoped Yosano didn’t use her huge cleaver.

Kyouka’s voice sounded serious unlike the others. “Atsushi, the target has appeared on the party.”

True to Kyouka’s words, Atsushi sharp eyes caught their target on his sight. The man had a short blonde hair and green eyes, Taylor Campbell, a foreigner from America and also a prominent figure with seemingly endless wealth and connections. On the surface, he was coming here to hold an auction of rare collection items and masquerade party as charity for the orphans in Japan and attracting attention to the way the Japanese government had basically neglected them due to social pressure. Atsushi would be elated if that was truly the man’s intention, but an anonymous informant (along with Dazai and Ranpo’s confirmation) had spilled out the horrible secret; the party was actually a disguise for child slavery and illegal drugs auction.

Ranpo had said that they would held two different auctions on the party. First was the auction for rare artistic items as a cover for their illegal deeds, and the second was the auction that they targeted for. There should be a password and secret passage to the inner part of the mansion that they used for the party that wasn’t recorded on the blueprint they got. Dazai and Atsushi was sent there to join the auction and collect the evidence, while Kyouka, Tanizaki, and Kenji infiltrated the building to assist the kidnapped children to escape with Katai’s assistance with the cameras or other machineries. Yosano and Kunikida stayed in the car as backup, navigated the two team, and strike with the platoon of armed police when needed. Fukuzawa, Ranpo, and Naomi stayed behind on the Agency in case the mission failed and all of them were captured so they could get help.

Dazai followed Atsushi’s gaze and the corner of his lips curled up a bit. “Target sighted. Beginning phase one for team A.”

Kyouka answered for the other team. She was appointed as the leader due to her innate skills and quick decision making. “Roger that. Team B is moving.”

Dazai fixed his black tie, the tie clip attached to it was actually a hidden camera that Katai had designed for this mission. “Remember what you have to do, Atsushi-kun?”

“Act cute and stay silent no matter what happened.” Kyouka or Kenji would fit more as a child purchased as sex slave, but Demon Snow’s ability to be intangible was proven to be more useful in the infiltration team. Kenji and Atsushi shared a lot of similarity with their Abilities, but in case they would be forced to partake some food to keep the conversation going, Atsushi was chosen as the actor instead despite his incapability to lie convincingly. Thankfully, Dazai assured him that he didn’t need to speak at all and just leave everything to him. His job was in the end was just to support Dazai’s lies and in case of emergency, became his bodyguard.

“Good. Also, please remember Atsushi-kun…” Dazai patted Atsushi’s hands that had stayed on his arm the whole time. “I don’t mean anything that I will say from the moment the act started.”

“Don’t worry, Dazai-san.” Atsushi smiled brightly and without hesitation. “I know that despite your past, Dazai-san is a kind person now.”

Dazai smiled, a small but an honest one filled with fondness. “You are probably the only one who said that.” Dazai pressed a button on his tie clip to activate the camera. “Let’s go Atsushi-kun.”

Atsushi followed Dazai closely by his side, remembering Dazai’s words to dodge any eye contact with anyone and kept his eyes on their intertwined arms. He tried to remember how it was like when he was still in the orphanage and he instinctively curled his body to himself, appearing as small as possible with his posture slouched a bit and like a leaf clinging desperately to his ‘master’. Dazai kept walking on without a care for Atsushi’s apparent discomfort, but Atsushi could hear a whispered humming from Dazai. Atsushi tried his hardest to fight a smile from appearing on his face, but his hand gently tightened on Dazai’s arm for a second in thanks.

They kept the act subtle as to not attract a lot of attention, but just enough to attract the correct ones. Dazai mingled with the guests, and Atsushi acted to Dazai’s subtle cues whether to act as a shy lover or obedient pet according to who they were talking with. The older man picked up small sample platters of food and feed Atsushi with his hand, which Atsushi had to obediently took despite his blushing face and how much he was dying inside from the way Dazai’s fingers would lovingly swiped his lips or the corner of his mouth to clean the crumbs. He had to stealthily pinched Dazai’s arm when it seemed that he was enjoying himself too much and had forgotten his task.

Atsushi listened intently at Dazai’s conversation, especially whenever he had to act as obedient pet. Thanks to Dazai’s silver tongue, the guests sang like canary. They proudly and not so subtly bragged that they were here to buy their new ‘exotic’ pets. It made Atsushi sick to his stomach whenever they praised Dazai for how well behaved his pet was, talking like he was just an animal without feelings. It was a familiar feeling that he had experienced a lot on the orphanage and hearing Dazai accepting their praise hurt him more than he had thought he would feel. He reminded himself harshly that Dazai was just acting, but it didn’t help the way his heart sunk at every cruel words Dazai said.

“Actually, I want a new one. This one I have is obedient and cute, but I’m getting bored with it. I need a fresh one, one that will actually put up a fight and harder to break.” Dazai’s voice was cheerful, like he was talking about a toy than a human being. “It’s really unfortunate that second hand pet doesn’t really worth it to sell.”

“Oh, beginners love second hand pets. Easier for them to learn how to take care of one and prepare them for their own pet later, I heard.” The woman with a really intricate mask painted in gold and black giggled. “Not to mention, yours is a really pretty one. I wouldn’t mind taking him if you decided to pawn him off. His eyes are really lovely�� if he died you should preserve them. Those can be displayed proudly as your collection, Tsushima-san.” The woman called Dazai’s alias for this party, just like he was Tsushima’s obedient ‘kitty’.

Dazai smiled, his eyes gleaming with secrets. “His eyes are not the only lovely thing about him. I’m not telling you what else though.”

“Oh, you are such a tease. Now I’m really curious.” The woman giggled and to Atsushi’s shock, he felt foreign fingers clad in silk gloves tilting up his chin so he had to look at the woman in the eyes. Atsushi had to hold back his resonating fury with Byakko and showed fear instead.

‘Remember the orphanage. Remember the orphanage. You are helpless and no one will help you. You don’t have anyone by your side.’ Atsushi had to chant his old self-deprecating thought in his mind to keep his temper down. Byakko growled angrily, fangs gleaming with fury to bite at the hand holding his chin. ‘Disgusting, disgusting, disgusting.’ His thoughts became one with Byakko at the end and the only thing preventing the tiger from coming out and ripping the woman to shred is Dazai’s Ability nullifying his own with their arms still intertwined.

“No touching allowed until I lose my interest in him, my dear madam.” Dazai’s hand gently grabbed her hand. With a quick flick of his hand, he bowed down and kissed the back of her palm like a gentleman. “But we seem to have many similar interests, should we check the merchandise together? I am sure that a more experienced madam such as yourself can give me a pointer or two to get the best pet that will satisfy all of my needs.”

“My, a flattery will get you nowhere.” Despite her words, the woman smiled just a touch wider than what was appropriate for a woman with proper etiquette like her. “But your suggestion is a great one. It’s been a while since I had a lively discussion about pets with another person of similar interests.”

Dazai patted Atsushi’s hands and he let go. He watched as Dazai offered his arm to the woman instead. “Shall we?” the woman smiled and took Atsushi’s place, chatting amiably with Dazai as Atsushi followed behind them as expected of him.

He waited until he felt no eyes on him and whispered under his breath, keeping his voice steady and his emotions down. ‘Calm down, Byakko.’ “We got our lead to the second auction.”

“Have Dazai acquired the password?” Kunikida asked worriedly. “Kyouka, do you hear anything about it?”

“None.” Kyouka answered. “Demon Snow found a hidden passage that we can get into from our side. Katai is controlling the cameras as we speak.”

“I haven’t heard anyone mentioning the password but I think Dazai-san is getting them from our guide.” True to Atsushi’s suspicion, Dazai leaned down just enough so the woman could whisper something to him. “I think he got it.”

“Good. Inform us if anything happens.” Kunikida ended the conversation.

Byakko was still growling on the back of his mind, but it relented and let Atsushi took the reins. He took a deep breath and released it, keeping pace with the two people in front of him. He wanted to be done with the mission already.

Atsushi thought he had seen how despicable human could be, but as he watched from his kneeling position by Dazai’s feet as children being dragged with collars around their neck to the stage where people could observe and auction them was an unwanted woke up call that he had barely scrapped the surface with his work as the Agency members. Only Dazai’s hand on his head, patting him absentmindedly to other people but more for Atsushi’s sake to seal Byakko and to comfort him, was the only thing that held him back.

He had to believe that Kyouka and the others would save the children. He had to do his part. Atsushi closed his eyes, unable to see the anguished expression of the children any longer. Yet he could still hear their cries, no matter how quiet they were due to the unavoidable defeat that stared them in the eyes. Their desperation and resignation reminded Atsushi of his own past and his heart cried out for his kin.

“I won’t suggest that one, Tsushima-san. That is the looks of someone who will die soon.” The woman remarked as she watched the current auction, a boy with light brown hair and pale complexion. “He won’t put up much of a fight at all. He will probably only live for a year or two at most.”

“That won’t do. I prefer a long investment.” The woman chuckled at Dazai’s grim joke.

“Oh, what about that one? That girl’s eyes are still burning bright. She will be a tough one to break.” The woman pointed to a teenage girl escorted to the stage by a man with full face mask that the host wore. “She is quite pretty too, I’m sure she will grow up nicely.”

Atsushi heard a static from his earpiece and looked up to the stage. He felt Dazai’s fingers twitched on his head but he didn’t show any other reactions other than agreeing to the woman. “She sure is.”

“All targets secured. Beginning phase three.” Katai’s voice rang out loud and clear. “Team A, find Campbell as Team B create a distraction.”

Suddenly, a blackout left the stage completely dark. The guests all gasped and started to chatter worriedly. Atsushi felt Dazai’s hand left his head, his signal for him to go. Atsushi called for Byakko and the tiger responded eagerly. His eyes shone bright in the darkness, Byakko’s sight wasn’t hindered by the lack of light at all. He saw Campbell leaving through the side door, the man probably realizing that something had went amiss. Atsushi apologized to Naomi in his mind for shredding the clothing she had bought, but he didn’t exactly had time to roll up his pants. With loud sounds of his pants being ripped apart as his legs transformed into Byakko’s, Atsushi leaped, leaving behind cracks on the floor from his sheer strength. Under the veil of darkness, Atsushi easily covered the distance between him and Campbell in mere seconds. Unfortunately, Campbell’s bodyguard noticed him and started opening fire from their submachine guns. Atsushi protected his face with his tiger arms and curled his body into tight ball so most of the bullets ricocheted off his tough tiger hide.

“Demon Snow!”

“Light Snow!”

A phantasm shaped like a woman with long white hair flew past him and slices through their guns with her blade. Green colored snows started to fall on the guests, trapping them all in illusions.

“Go, Atsushi!” He could hear Kyouka’s voice both from his earpiece and from the stage where she threw away her disguise along with Tanizaki. “We will keep them all contained here as Kunikida directed the police to this place, catch Campbell!”

Atsushi nodded before he remembered that Kyouka couldn’t see him. “Got it!” his sense of scent wasn’t the best, but Byakko’s whole focus was hounding after the man. He was just about to chase after the man but Dazai’s voice stopped him.

“Wait, Atsushi-kun.” Dazai, unhindered by Light Snow and had his eyes gotten used to the darkness, approached Atsushi quickly. “I will go with you.”

“Why? I can catch Campbell on my own easily.” Campbell was not an Ability user and Ranpo had said that they didn’t have to worry about any Ability user opponents, although he didn’t specify why.

“It’s not Campbell I was worried about.” Dazai smiled mysteriously. “You will see.”

“Why are you here!?” Atsushi had gotten a really bad feeling when he was chasing down Campbell. Lo and behold, his greatest nemesis was standing there with his hand covering his mouth looking absolutely livid at seeing him too.

“Good job at catching him, Akutagawa-kun.” Dazai held the collar of Atsushi’s shirt before the two cat and dog enemies starting tearing at each other. “Mori-san is the one who leaked the information to the Agency, isn’t he.”

“Mori-san said that it will be a great opportunity to give more work for the Agency and also teach the foolish foreigners for trying to hold a business without consulting the locals first.” Akutagawa reported calmly, but Atsushi could see the way his whole being vibrated from being praised by Dazai. “Since you caught up to me before I can kill him, you are free to take him from my hands. That’s Mori-san’s order.” Akutagawa retracted his Rashomon from where it was stabbed to the ground around Campbell like a cage. Campbell had fainted from fear and Atsushi wrinkled his nose as he smelt the unpleasant stink of ammonia. Akutagawa bowed briefly to Dazai and glared venomously at Atsushi for the last time before leaving, Higuchi waiting nearby with a car.

“More diplomatic works for the Agency, huh.” Dazai sighed forlornly. “It seems we will have a few days of unpaid all-nighter, Atsushi-kun.”

“It’s like usual then.” Atsushi laughed, his whole irritation melted away as he could no longer sense Akutagawa. “I won’t do your report this time though, you should do your own report sometimes Dazai-san.”

Dazai gasped in mock offense. “How could you Atsushi-kun? I was just trying to teach you how to do your reports! Ugh, to be accused like this by my own junior…”

Atsushi ignored Dazai’s whining and grabbed Campbell’s shirt and started dragging him back inside where his sharp ears could hear the loud sounds of battle happening. He didn’t worry too much since Kyouka and the others hadn’t asked for a backup, but he picked up his pace just in case. Dazai quietly followed behind him, not commenting how Atsushi dragged the still unconscious man like a sad sack of trash.

Atsushi admitted that he was being petty, but he was forced to relief some really bad memories due to this mission. The man wasn’t even conscious to feel the carpet burn, so Atsushi didn’t feel that guilty.

Atsushi sighed in exhaustion as he sat on the ground of the small backyard of his dorm. Kyouka had gone to accompany the still shaken children as some of them had looked at her as if she was a hero. The young girl was absolutely flustered, but she took the role seriously and stayed behind with the children as the police processed the documents so they could go home, or help finding new homes for them. His shared dorm with Kyouka felt too stifling with just him alone, so he decided to take a walk to spend his restless energy.

The moon looked really beautiful tonight. Back in the orphanage and when he was still a homeless orphan, the full moon had always scared him because of his instinctive fear of his uncontrollable Ability. Now that he had a symbiotic relationship with Byakko, his fear was replaced with comfort as Byakko’s power peaked on full moon. But it also made him too restless to sleep the night away unless he was dead tired or heavily injured.

Suddenly, Byakko’s senses alerted him that he was not alone. Atsushi was about to stand up and faced the newcomer when a familiar voice calmed him down.

“Can’t sleep, Atsushi-kun?” Dazai approached him and sat on the ground by his side. Atsushi noticed that just like him, Dazai had changed to his usual clothing. While Dazai had looked absolutely breath taking wearing the suits, but Atsushi preferred him this way. There was a softness to this costume that made him more approachable and calming.

Beside, his heart was always beating loudly no matter what Dazai worn.

Atsushi nodded, his chest felt warm and light. “I’m not that tired from tonight’s mission, so Byakko is not satisfied yet.”

“He is one energetic kitty, isn’t he?” Atsushi couldn’t quite hide the flinch from hearing that nickname. Dazai had teased him many times by calling him that before, but tonight was the first time he had used it in such degrading manner. He was the one who suggested the nickname, thinking that it wouldn’t affect them like this. He was starting to regret that decision.

Dazai must had noticed, because his eyes softened as he looked at Atsushi. “I’m sorry for saying many degrading things about you tonight.”

“It’s for the mission, so it’s okay.” Atsushi laughed awkwardly, couldn’t quite meeting Dazai’s eyes. “It’s stupid for me to feel this way.”

“It’s not stupid to feel hurt, Atsushi-kun.” Dazai held Atsushi’s hand in his own. “Even if those words are just lies, they still hurt you badly. You are shaking when I was talking to that woman, Atsushi-kun.”

Atsushi blinked, looking up to meet Dazai’s warm eyes. “Was I?”

Dazai nodded. “Especially when she held your chin. I felt Byakko’s rage from being contained by my Ability.”

Atsushi remembered Byakko being vicious with his thought of ripping the woman to shreds, but he didn’t realize that it had bled through to him. It was really fortunate that Dazai stepped in and get the woman’s fingers off him before he could do anything drastic. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t keep up the act.”

“You did well, Atsushi-kun. You don’t have to be sorry.” Dazai caressed Atsushi’s hair gently. “You stayed silent and obedient the whole time. You didn’t expect to be touched by anyone.”

Atsushi sighed. He really hadn’t expected to be touched at all. If it was just words, Atsushi could tune them out of his mind. But being touched, especially when it was so unwanted and feared, sent him back to the time when he was in the orphanage. Byakko had responded to that familiar fear by attacking back without mercy. The days of the orphanage was behind him, but sometimes it came back to haunt his present life.

“Are you scared of me, Atsushi-kun?” Dazai asked with a small voice. “What you have witnessed tonight is my past. I used to be able to talk about other people’s life that way, uncaring and uninterested. I can’t say much have changed of me, but please remember that you are important to me. You are not someone I can throw aside.”

Atsushi looked up at Dazai in surprise. He had to admit the way Dazai could so casually reverted back to his old self back in the mafia scared him a little, but to actually hear that Dazai held him so highly calmed down that fear. That caution was still there, mostly it was Byakko’s natural instinct to protect both of them, but Atsushi could confidently take Dazai’s hands in his and smile genuinely. “Thank you, Dazai-san. I admit I was a bit scared, but I also know that you won’t treat me or anyone else in the Agency like that. You like us all, so to you we are precious.”

Atsushi knew that Dazai would work his hardest to protect them all. As long as Dazai was there, everything would be alright. “It’s true that I felt hurt hearing your words, but the hurt will heal since I know that you don’t mean anything you said. I’m not angry at you or hate you, Dazai-san.”

Dazai sighed fondly. “You are really too good for me, Atsushi-kun. I wonder how you could keep forgiving me.”

“Well, you usually have a good reason why you do the things you did. So as long as I knew the reason why, it’s easier for me to forgive you.” Like when Dazai had asked him to infiltrate Moby Dick despite the risks, and many other times he didn’t want to think about now. “Not to mention I’m a lovesick idiot who couldn’t stay mad at you for too long…”

“Eh?” Dazai’s eyes widened and it took a few moments before Atsushi realized what he had said and slapped his hand to his mouth.

“Nothing!” Atsushi almost yelled before he remembered that most people were asleep at this hour and lowered his volume to almost whisper. “Please forget everything that happened for the last minute. No, for the last fifteen seconds! I—I almost forgot that I left my phone at the Agency and I should get it tonight in case Kyouka-chan needs my assistance! Good night, Dazai-san!”

He almost begged for Byakko to lend him his power so he could transform his legs and get him out of there, but Dazai’s hand had grabbed his and Dazai’s nullification sealed that wishful thinking away.

“Atsushi, could you please repeat what you said?” Dazai’s held his hand with a vice like grip. Without Byakko’s strength, his own normal human strength found it hard to pull his hand away without making fun of himself. Or dislocated his shoulder.

“I asked you to forget it not to ask me to repeat it!” Atsushi cried out futilely, keeping his body turned away from Dazai so he didn’t have to see him. “It’s just my stupid unfiltered mouth revealing something that should be kept in secret forever!”

“So it’s true.” Dazai’s voice sounded… hopeful? Atsushi froze when his confused mind couldn’t find the disgust or rejection like he had expected. “I know that Ranpo-san had blatantly said to my face that I was blind, but I didn’t expect for you to return my feelings.”

“Huh?” Atsushi looked behind him fearfully. “Your… feelings?”

Dazai laughed, part relief and part amusement as he stood up as well. Atsushi cursed the height difference between them because now he had to look up and it was unfair how beautiful Dazai looked with moonlight behind him like a silver halo. The older man leaned his head to Atsushi’s, making the boy’s cheeks reddened like a ripe apple from how close their face was.

“I love you, Atsushi-kun. Has been for quite some time, actually.” Dazai smiled softly, his words sounded breathless like he was forcing the words out before it could disappear along with his courage. “I have noticed that you never rejected my flirting, but I hadn’t thought that it was possible for you to hold the same feelings.”

Atsushi’s eyes widened. Well, the two of them had the same thought then. “So do I.” Atsushi closed his eyes, feeling too overwhelmed to hold eye contact with Dazai. “I have been in love with you for… I don’t really know since when, probably since the beginning. I admired you a lot and it started as a hero crush, but then one day I realized that a simple crush is not enough for what I’ve been feeling for you lately.”

Dazai laughed, the sound warmed Atsushi’s heart from how rare it was. “No wonder the others are so annoyed at both of us. We have been so blind.”

Maybe one day Atsushi would tell Dazai that Byakko was getting really impatient too. “They do say that love is blind.” The fact that his love was not only accepted but returned too had slowly seeped through his brain and his heart soared. He felt so giddy that only Dazai’s hold on him anchored him down to earth. “I don’t think I will be able to sleep tonight.”

“Hmm…” being this close to Dazai, Atsushi could almost hear the gears in his brain running. “Say, Atsushi-kun… we ended up never danced at all at the party, right?”

“I don’t think Kunikida-san is going to let us dance at the party. Not to mention I have never learned how to dance either, so I would step all over your toes.” Besides, it would be really uncomfortable for him to dance in the center of so many people. He would freeze up with countless eyes staring at him, judging him from behind the safety of the masks.

“No worries, I can’t dance too.” Dazai lifted his head and Atsushi missed the warmth already. But Dazai took his hands and shifted them to the position of what Atsushi had learnt as waltz from the many books he had read. “We can step on each other toes and laugh about it.”

Dazai started to sway their bodies together and Atsushi yelped as he had troubles keeping up. “We don’t even have music!”

“Then I will sing.” Dazai winced when Atsushi stepped on his toes. “Maybe we should just use our phone for music then. Turn up the volume full blast!”

“People are sleeping Dazai-san!” Atsushi laughed when he felt Dazai’s foot stepped over his. They would probably end up with bruised toes in the morning.

The two of them continue to dance. It was a chaotic dance; both of them stumbled over their steps and couldn’t even count how many times their toes were sacrificed. The only light they had was the bright moonlight that shone on the two of them. The only music they danced to was the breathless laughter from the two of them. They would probably share bowls of ochazukes after their legs turned to jelly and they were too tired to cook anything else. Both of them didn’t wear any expensive suits or jewelry, just their usual everyday clothes that had become so familiar with each other. There were no masks between them, both of their hearts longing to see and reached out for the person in front of them.

It was a dance for the two of them, witnessed only by the moon high up in the sky.

[sakurasakiyama]

MY CRESCENT MOON CDS ARE HERE ❤

After they arrived to my proxy on release day, my CDs have arrived today!! I did have a problem this morning though as they came to the door at 10:10am when no one was home and I was out like a light I didn’t even hear them knock on the door xD Let alone my alarm went of 20 minutes later and I fell back to sleep orz So, when I got up I had no idea that they came or anything like that, until my grandmother handed me the collection notice from the post office saying I had to pick them up after 3pm >.< I wrote about it on twitter this morning so feel free to read it xD

The covers on all of these are so gorgeous I’m luckily I can even type right now >///< The little photobook that comes in the mu-mo shop Limited Edition is literally jaw dropping for me, I felt like I was going to die just looking at them xD He looked so pretty absolutely stunning I literally wasn’t prepared for this >///< As for the RAW photos I got and the trading cards, I will put under a cut so then those who are still waiting don’t have to see them. 

But first, I will tell you this... MY BAD LUCK HAS REACHED A NEW LEVEL LOL! As of course some of you know for me with Gekkaya (I actually forgot to post a photo for the Gekkaya Trading Cards LOL), Rasen (I traded so I no longer have the double), the Rengoku ni Warau Soundtrack, and a few more things, when it comes to randoms and lotteries, I have back luck with them >.< I would get doubles or I wouldn’t get the signature or I would get a trading card that I wasn’t expecting (but I still appreciate) >.< This time it has reached a whole new level...

The RAW photos I got were these! :D

I got RAW photo numbers 2, 5 and 8 ❤ This is literally a sequence with 2 in between them LOL! But RAW photo 2 was one I was actually hoping for >///< I would have liked to have got the first one as well, but again because they’re random, I can’t complain and I love all of the photos anyway! ♥

Now, the trading cards I got were these! XDD

I LITERALLY GOT 3 OF THE SAME TRADING CARD THIS TIME!!! LMAO! The 3 of the same trading cards I got were from the MV, Making and Regular Edition OTZ But, I will be glad to trade 2 of those cards for one of the Trading Cards from the Crescent Moon CDs I don’t have :D So if someone gets their CDs and has a double of the one I need and not one of the ones I have, I’d be glad to trade! ♥ If not, I might sell them :)

[momorabu]

Ensemble Stars! Event Story - Sincerely! Bitter Chocolate Festival / Chocolate Fes

Apologies for yet another hiatus in between the weeks as I’ve fallen sick a couple of weeks ago and I’m still in the midst in recovering *cough cough* I went to reread this event story during Valentine’s to get a feel of Valentine’s day~

It was actually quite short (8 chapters) compared to the event stories that I’ve been reading nowadays (16 chapters) so I managed to finish reading in between my resting break, and thus here is it! Happy Belated Valentine’s! <3

Anyway as always, the summary of the story can be found below. Translation may not be 100% accurate due to my poor Japanese skills~

Prologue - Chapter 1

One cold morning, Subaru was feeling sleepy on his way to school, as he thought about how he can understand how Ritsu must be feeling about wanting to fall asleep anywhere. But then he knew that if he ever falls asleep in class, Hokuto will get angry at him, and wondered if it’s better if he just took a nap at the sickbay if he begged Sagami Sensei to let him rest there.

Just then he saw “me” and Hokuto walking along the route to school, and wonder whether did Hokuto and “my” relationship has changed from “sending me back home” relationship to “going to school together” relationship. However, he could not think of a good reason why the two of us are going to school together and thus decided to just come and ask us. Turns out the reason is just a very and normal reason, we just met halfway along the route and decided to walk together since it’ll be very awkward to walk separately after saying “good morning” ^^;

Hokuto was amazed that Subaru was up early today though, and asked whether he was coming to school early in preparation for the “Choco Festival”. However, Subaru gave a blank face as he could not remember what is “Choco Festival”. (And so Hokuto gave him a very cold stare… How could he not know of this festival being an idol in the school? XD)

Since “I” wasn’t here at this time of the year last year, “I” had no idea what “Choco Festival” is. Subaru suddenly remembered what is it about and wanted to explain to me about it but the chance got taken away by Hokuto as he volunteered to give an explanation instead XD (It’s cute how Subaru started whining that Hokuto is sneaky and always taking the most “delicious” part - as in able always having the chance to always guide “me” / “send me home” etc? XD) Hokuto retaliated that he can’t trust Subaru is giving a good explanation, seeing how he can completely forget about the whole festival.

Chocolate Festival is a very large event where idol groups all over the country can participate, and in the school, idol groups will sing, perform and give out chocolate on that day to keep the visitors happy.

Even though “I’m” a producer, “I” won’t need to organise and set up the event for this event, as they’ll be handled by the school and student council instead. However, there’s still a very large possibility that “I’ll” be very busy with creating the outfits, goods and most importantly, helping the idols in creating the chocolate.

However, Hokuto is very confident in “my” skills in cooking, as he praised that the honey lemon slices that “I’ve” made last time for Trickstar were very delicious, and were even as good as his grandma’s. Subaru remarked that Hokuto talked about his grandmother all the time, similar to how he himself always bringing up Daikichi - his dog ^^; (Haha these two never shuts up about their grandma and dog XDD)

Anway, it seems that I’ll be supporting the idols in chocolate making. Subaru is looking forward to my help as he’s always more interested in eating it than making it XD Hokuto warned him not to rely on me too much since the most important is the feeling of the idols who are making the chocolate themselves, even if the outside of the chocolate may not look good. He also shared a story of how he tried to make rice based on the teachings of his grandma, and how his grandma said that it’s delicious even when he didn’t do a good job and the rice came out looking abit… not that nice ^^;

After listening to Hokuto’s story, Mao and Makoto suddenly appeared behind them, saying that actually they were there a while ago but could not find a good time to interrupt, seeing that Hokuto is so engrossed in his story about his grandma. Makoto showed up teary faced as he was very touched by Hokuto’s story TWT TWT

(It’s funny but yet so cute that the way that Subaru chooses to comfort Makoto is… a banana? Yes, he literally pushed a banana next to Makoto’s cheek XD What on earth is this boy thinking? XDD)

Talking about the Choco Festival, Makoto is curious about who am I planning on giving my chocolate to. (Hehe~ Why are you so interested, Makoto~? XD) He realised he may be asking too much of a private question though and was so sorry that he immediately kneel down in apology O.O Mao complimented that he kneel very well which Makoto will rather Mao praised his singing or dancing skills instead of his… kneeling skills XD

Thank goodness “I” seems to be neutral to guys who kneel randomly, saying that it really depends on the situation. (If not I would have dislike Makoto already, being a guy who kneel too easily in a situation like that ^^;)

(Look at Mao all hinting Makoto’s feelings towards “me” XD Saying that he’s actually behaving quite close to “me”, seeing that “I” managed to open his heart when he was bad at talking to girls ^////^)

Back onto the chocolate making topic, Hokuto said that Trickstar can’t rely on “me” too much as “I’m” everyone’s producer, and it’ll be better if they can find someone else from other units that are willing to guide them on how to make chocolate. (Since if I ended up supporting all the units on how to make chocolate, I’ll get overwhelmed by all the units =w=“….)

They went through several names (all from Knights though… seems like most of Knights all know to make sweet treats ^^): Sena, who made chocolate for Makoto last year, it tasted great but having Sena saying “ahhh” and trying to force feed him gave Makoto a bad aftertaste… Ritsu, whose candies are delicious, but the designs of them are badly needed to go through a revamp by Sena in order to go on sale since it’s practically required to close one’s eyes to eat it to avoid looking at it =w=“….

In the end, they decided on Arashi, who has “girl power” and thus able to cook and make sweet treats just like a girl ^^; (I’m a girl but I can’t really do these things… guess I don’t have much of a “girl power” when compared to Arashi… Orz)

Chapter 2 - 4

And so Arashi became the lecturer and tutor for the chocolate making class that happened later on, thanks to Mao for contacting him and asking for his help. (Since they’re classmates and gets along fine like that ^^)

Mao felt weird that Arashi said that “as a big sister, I’ll be on the side of the girls in love”, since well… they’re guys, and wonder if they had become “girls in love” the moment they start doing chocolate XD Arashi amended and said he did add an “I’ll also be on the side of the boys in love” after that so it won’t sound so weird? ^^;

Arashi can’t help but to overhear what Mao and Makoto were happily talking about as they were preparing the ingredients and seeing how enthusiastic Makoto is, Arashi wonders if there’s a particular “her” that he wanted to give his chocolate to. That flustered Makoto as he confessed that he just wanted to thank “me” and it’s nothing like “I’m” the particular “her” that Arashi is talking about. (Denying to the full extent but it’s so cute how Makoto got all flustered ^^;)

Mao in the end has to swipe in to rescue Makoto by explaining that Makoto only doesn’t get nervous around “me” as “I’m” a producer, but once he sees “me” as a girl, he gets all nervous again ^^;

Mao was all excited and asking Arashi what chocolate they were making that day, but Arashi asked me to just wait awhile longer as the Ra*bits kids haven’t arrived yet. It’s a lesson for both Trickstar and Ra*bits members that day as the other units aren’t free, and with both of them having a performance live at the first part of the day, it’s been decided that the class will teach them first since the other units can still have a chance to practice at the later part of the day later on.

They went onto talking about how Knights and UNDEAD will be having the same class later on, and Ritsu will be grumbling how terrible it is to be in the same class as his brother, Rei XD

Just then the Ra*bits members all rushed into the kitchen, with Nazuna breathing heavily as he struggled to catch up to Mitsuru’s speed.

(Aww~ Look at how Mitsuru dives into Arashi’s chest when he saw him there. These two really have a cute relationship as Arashi is so happy to have such an adorable junior <3)

Finally, the chocolate making class can finally start! This time, Arashi decided to teach everyone how to make truffle, as he said it’s one of the easier chocolate treats to be made. Makoto was very excited when he realised that the recipe was written by me XD

The class commerce and Subaru was having difficulty getting his truffle in a nice round sphere, where compare to Hokuto who was doing it easily as his hands are cold and thus easy to mould the chocolate with them. Subaru ended up disturbing Hokuto again by touching him with chocolate covered hands (ewww~~ Subaru~~) Hokuto, of course, scolded him and said he’s going to end up dirtying clothes like that ^^;

Seeing Hokuto is so serious, Subaru went off to play with Makoto, by touching his cheek with his (chocolate covered) hands =w=“ That gave Makoto a shock as he asked to knock it off (imagine someone touching your face with chocolate hands suddenly =w=“) Subaru, disappointed that even Makoto is getting serious this time, said that he thought that the two of them are going to debut as Aho-Combi, and thus won’t allow him to drop out this way ^^; (And Makoto got all confused since as much he likes Aho-Combi, really debuting as one is abit… =w=“)

In the end, Mao has to ask all of them to stop fooling around and to learn from the Ra*bits boys, which are doing a really good job. Hajime came and shared with them some of the truffles that he made, which had very sparkling toppings that made Subaru wanted to add some onto his truffles. (But… ultimately got stopped by me since they’re far more advanced bakers~) (I’m terribly afraid that Subaru might end up destroying all the truffles if he did something funny with them ><”)

Even though the Ra*bits’ truffles are coming along smoothly, there’s one guy who is facing trouble with the chocolate he is making - Mitsuru. He ended up burning the chocolate that he was melting and got really frustrated. Tomoya wanted to lend a hand to him but Mitsuru said it’s okay and he can handle it on his own. Tomoya insisted further on and Mitsuru got really defensive and shut him out, making Tomoya shocked as this seems to be the first time he ever sees Mitsuru being so stubborn. Turns out that Mitsuru even rejects Hajime’s help when he approached him earlier on too. Seeing that “I” had seen this scenario, Tomoya requested me to help out Mitsuru as he really seems to need help and will probably open up to me instead, as Mitsuru admires me as much as Nazuna.

“I” went to Mitsuru and asked him about what he’s doing, he got sad knowing that he has made “me”, Tomoya and others worried for him. Mitsuru decided to reveal what he’s making to “me”, on the condition that I keep it a secret from Adonis and Arashi. Mitsuru’s plan was to make chocolate to give to Arashi and Adonis to thank them for all the care they’ve given him for the past year. “I” decided to chip in and help Mitsuru with making the chocolate, and the two of us decided to meet up after class on a day to make them.

However, instead of truffles, we’re going to make nama chocolate, since it’s even easier than truffles so that Mitsuru can even make it as ease~ ^^ “I” showed Mitsuru how to do it once and after that he learnt it and decided to continue doing it, as “I” watched him by the side.

(Mitsuru is so cute when he finished the first step successfully and ask for a praise XD)

The next step was melting of the chocolate, which Mitsuru felt really unsure of as he burnt it the last time. But this time however, he felt more at ease knowing that “I’ll” be next to him looking over him ^^ Mitsuru completed the melting process successfully and we pour the chocolate into the moulds and all that’s left to do is wait for 2 hours for the chocolate to set~ While waiting for the chocolate to set, we decided to have lessons and practices together to pass the time.

Mitsuru bumped into a “wall” in the kitchen and realised that it was Makoto. He explained that he was initially having lunch on the terrace when he saw the two of us heading towards the kitchen. Curiosity got the better of him so he decided to tail behind and see what we are up to. (Makoto…. that’s quite a stalker move actually =w=“ I guess the good thing is that at least he knows that he’s guilty of it? ^^;)

Mitsuru sneakily asked Makoto a question on who is he going to give his chocolate to, making Makoto flustered once again as he gave alot of answers: people who supported them (Trickstar), people who watched their lives etc. Mitsuru just sees it as him being firm and not giving the real answer XD (Kind of amazed that he can be quite observant here XD)

He went onto explain the reason that he’s making chocolate with “me” to Makoto, saying that he’s giving chocolates to Adonis and Arashi. (Look at him “confessing” once again that how much he likes them XD Mitsuru is seriously so adorable here~ *pinches cheek*)

Mitsuru ended up inviting Makoto to come help and do some chocolate tasting when they are set after 2 hours. The two of them exchanged numbers before they departed and Mitsuru and “I” went off to have lessons. Contacting Makoto after two hours, all three of us returned to the kitchen and tasted the completed chocolate. It’s a success as the chocolate was very delicious~! ^^ Now all Mitsuru had to do was to wrap them up and give them to Arashi and Adonis on the day itself.

Chapter 5 - Chapter 6

On Trickstar’s side, Hokuto requested both Makoto and Subaru to come and help them with the wrapping of the chocolates during the practice break, as there’s too many of them that with just him and Mao, it’s impossible to finish wrapping them all before the event the next day.

(Hokuto is cute as he admitted that he’s been relying on his grandma and “me” alot nowadays~ It’s nice to know that he felt safe by my side and thus gradually relied on me.)

Even though Hokuto asked Makoto and Subaru to help out, towards “me” he’s asking “me” to rest instead ^^ He even requested Mao to send “me” home at night later on, as it’s his turn that night. Mao smiled and said that he’s been always sending “me” home frequently to the point that he has become close and friendly with “my” family members already, and even stayed to have dinner with them XD (Future son-in-law? +W+) It’s a good thing for Mao as he gets to have some home cooked food as his parents are usually not at home and let the kids do whatever they want.

Makoto ended up glaring at Mao once he heard about it, as he envies Mao for getting the chance to even have dinner with “me” since he never gets an invitation. (Jealousy?) He wondered what he should do in order to get an invitation: having more of an appeal by showing a face that he wants to eat?, or by bearing himself from eating snacks so that his stomach will growl when he went to my home XD

Then he realised it’s hard for him to even get to know “my” family members as he doesn’t even dare to look at “my” mum in the eye… Makoto vowed to pluck up his courage to start a conversation with “my” family next time~ (Good luck Makoto!)

Chocofes had finally arrived in the day, and it was a busy period for “me” as I had to make the outfits, teaching on how to make chocolates to the units, as well as making goods for the event. On that day it was a really crowded day to the point that they need alot of staff to even control the crowd, seeing that there’s alot of units performing and they’re giving chocolates out.

(Interesting that there’s a system whereby the guests can choose which unit they’ll want to receive their chocolate +W+)

Mao is all fired up as he said that Trickstar will perform to the point that they’ll capture everyone’s hearts so that they’ll feel at ease even if other units perform after them. Subaru just wants to give out all the chocolates which they’ve prepared for the guest's XD (So cute!)

As Trickstar is performing, Tomoya came and watched their performance, and was awed by Trickstar’s charm. Hokuto was performing on stage and realised Tomoya has come to show support, by waving his light stick like a little fan XD Hokuto wished that they’re able to give out all their chocolates, as the worst outcome will be having to either eat the remaining chocolates themselves or having to burn them all. (I felt so sad reading it, burning and destroying all those chocolates? TWT TWT I won’t mind eating one per day for a whole year just to get rid of them seriously +W+)

Mao also noticed Tomoya supporting them, and he thought to himself that as a senior, he should work harder so he won’t show a bad side of him to them. He also noticed “me” watching them, waving a light stick in “my hand”, as “I’ve” finished what “I” was busy with of selling the merchandise.

(This part was heartwarming: Seeing that “I” was always being relied on by others, he wished that “I” would rely on him sometimes, since he would also rely on “me” sometimes too.)

Chapter 6 - Epilogue

Tomoya felt all pumped up after watching Trickstar’s performance and talked to Mitsuru that Ra*bits will need to work hard too to perform like them. But Mitsuru doesn’t seem to be listening and even runs off in the end, leaving a very confused Tomoya.

Mitsuru knew that he shouldn’t run around on the corridor, but today’s a special day as he wanted to find Arashi and Adonis soon before his own live starts. As he was running towards the practice room (since he believed that they might be there performing before the lives), Mitsuru accidentally bumped into Adonis and… ended up stepping on his own chocolate when the paper bag flew out of his hand.

Tomoya came looking for him soon after and he pulled Mitsuru away to prepare for their live show later on, and thus Mitsuru missed his chance to give his chocolate…

After the live shows had ended, Mitsuru was still feeling really down that Tomoya tried to cheer him up but still failed, as he doesn’t know why Mitsuru was having trouble about. Tomoya wished that Mitsuru would rely on him more since they’re friends and not keep his trouble to himself.

Noticing “me” looking worriedly at him, Tomoya knew that he can’t hide anything from “me” and thus revealed what that had happened, and that Mitsuru went all down after the live even though he was all happy and cheerful on stage.

“I” went over to Mitsuru when he was murmuring to himself that he can’t face “me” anymore, and ended scaring him when he realised “I’m” behind him ^^; He revealed to me that his box of chocolates was crushed and thought that it’s impossible to give out his gift now that the box was all crumpled up… He even thought of throwing the chocolate away in the trash bin as he believed that nobody will be happy getting a box of crushed chocolates TWT TWT (So cute yet so sad that Mitsuru is crying at this scene TWT TWT)

Just then Adonis and Arashi came rushing over, as they’ve noticed Mitsuru seems to be having some trouble and came to wish that Mitsuru will discuss any trouble with them.

Mitsuru decided to give his (though now abit crumpled) box of chocolate to Arashi and Adonis. Saying that even though it’s made with “my” help and also even though the box was crushed, Mitsuru shyly asked them to receive his chocolate.

Of course, both of them are happy to receive Mitsuru’s chocolate and even started eating them right away. Arashi even said it’s so delicious to the point they can make his cheeks drop XD (Too exaggerated XD) Mitsuru thanked them once again and confessed once again XD He also sort of “confessed” to “me”, saying that he’s thankful for all the help “I” gave him and also that he likes me just as much as the others as well.

And that wraps up this heartwarming event story~! I remember liking Mitsuru alot after reading this, who knows he can be so cute and adorable~ <3 I also enjoyed reading Mao’s, Makoto’s and Hokuto’s part as well~ Didn’t know Makoto can be jealous and even abit stalkish…. =w=“ Mao definitely sounds like a super good boyfriend material XDD

Most importantly for me when going through this event was enjoying Makoto’s little event scenes, he seems interested in what type of guys “I” would like ^////^

And he was also curious on who “I” was giving “my” chocolate to. Funny that he mentioned that he envies the person who would be receiving it, and turns out he’s the one XD

Mao’s scenes are pretty cute too, he actually ended up gifting “me” a chocolate he made I believe~

Last but not least, it was a super happy time for me to be able to make it to the event points to get Makoto’s 4* card~ I think it was the first time for me to be able to reach it after I’ve luckily get Hajime’s from a live drop on the Christmas carol event~

I really enjoyed Valentine’s outfit this time and ended up putting Tomoya and Makoto on my home screen for a long time~ (Still had Makoto on my home screen currently yet again in celebration of Valentine’s~)

Next up will be the current Valentine’s event story~ I’m looking forward to reading that so will be reading and translating that first~ <3

[ruiyuki]

@negumiandtodomomo: Re: Ennichi Festival Drama CD, what do you think happened after they watched the fireworks show? Did they stayed a little longer and talked about other things? Perhaps Todo walked her home or nah? How about the morning after? Please bless us with your HCs I love you! :3

You asked me this eons ago but I didnt forget!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It only took forever LMAO Im so sorry for the long wait orz

He walks her home 1000% true.

Honestly I think they just settle into a nice conversation after? There's comfortable silences and nothing really changes the next morning lol

But but but, going to Ennichi becomes an annual tradition for them.

Like forreal for the 2 years after the first time they just go as friends.

But really its friends-on-a-date-but-dont-realize-its-a-date and everybody in 1A and the staff know it.

He picks her up from her dorm room ffs (Bakugou: “not a date my ass.”)

Todo starts wearing a summer yukata after the first year and he looks hella fine.

Momo made it for him "out of the goodness of her pure pure heart" ofc BUT WE ALL KNOW.

They do the paper-net goldfish fishing game and Todo's really good at it.

He catches fish for the kids playing alongside him and they are delighted!!

In the end they only keep two fish though---one for each of them, and Momo makes them goldfish bowls to keep in their room.

Todoroki sucks at naming things (he just.. doesnt.) so Momo names the fishes “Mickey” and “Minnie” bc they came in a pair.

And ya better bet Momo is the one that does the shooting game and wins Todo the stuff animals LOL (not that Todo isnt good at it. Momo's just better.)

He gives the stuffed bear she won him to his mom along with a bundle of flowers when he visits. His mom tells him to bring Momo along next time so she can "meet the person that won me this bear."

They share cotton candy and candy apples and ice cream. Again, NOT A DATE MY ASS. LOL

But ofc these eventually become actual dates and really, watching the fireworks is so special to them that after finally recognizing they’re a thing Todo asks Momo to be his girlfriend during this beautiful moment??? dfhadjkhfhaaafjkdja

They continue the tradition of going to Ennichi every year to have fun and see fireworks even after they’re married and have kids.

> hcs masterpost

Also for those who missed my tdmm week 2018 posts, here!: > tdmm flowershop AU > Learning to Love 3 ~Future~ > tdmm + 1A Winter Olympics > tdmm Erased AU

[spookygeorgie]

oc questions 2 7 15 37 44 50

2. Do you have a personal favourite among your OCs?

Yeah I do, shes called Jinx and i re-create her like every year, she was a serious DR OC turned into a joke character and I still love her deeply in my heart.

7. Are your OCs part of any story or stories?

Hoo boy, yeah. I have 2 groups [this isnt including fanon characters from like jjba or dr] Theres the Awful Squad and the Demon group [which ive only just started] The Awful Squad: Revolves around an apartment thats pretty much filled with the supernatural/theres a reason why they’re all there but that’d be too long for an ask orz./ The Demon group is an idea for a comic I have about a school girl trying to find out what happened to one of her best friends after she discovered there is a monster in her school making the student’s disappear. 

15. Do you like to talk about your OCs with other people?

Y E S, it’s a PASSION o f mine

37. Introduce an OC who is not quite human 

This is Amitaf, she’s part of the Awful squad [this is also a very old drawing of her], shes a mermaid who wanted to try running after seeing people running on the beach one early morning. So she lured and swiped up one of the humans  when they got close enough, stole their clothes after transforming and began her new passion; running.

44. Something you like about your OCs in general

uhhh, idk. I try my best to not make same-face syndrome OC’s because I’m always really worried my oc’s will have the same bland face when I draw them, I’m not perfect yet but I hope my oc’s look different. 

50. Give me the good ol’ OC talk here. Talk about anything you want

Kino [the dog girl w/ 1 eye in this link]  was actually an old old Naruto OC. Well in that link they all are apart from Amitaf but what I mean is she was a naruto OC not made by me but for me, when I was like 13/14 years old and balls deep in love with Naruto I had been making oc’s for it/roleplaying as them [for 2 years at that point like the lil nerd i was] but had no friends to share with; then a new girl came to my school who liked Naruto and she decided that I had never made an OC before [she didnt actually ever ask me] and she asked me for my favourite Naruto characters and literally mushed them together [points if you can guess what characters], thats how she made ocs, and she came up w/ the back story for Kino and everything and it was all super super badly done, even my lil dumbass self was like artugh what????, but I told her I loved Kino despite hating her and her backstory. Years later I was throwing away old art and found art of her, I had waflashbacks and was like auighghg this Poor OC, which in turn reminded me of my other poor badly made Naruto OC’s and I was like jesus christ these are so so bad you poor children! so In a fit of guilt for my poor babies and suddenly inspiration I decided to remake them all so none of them had anything todo with Naruto like.At.All, which brought to life; The Awful Squad.

[I do still have Naruto OC’s though, I love them]

[vuulpecula]

Limnophobia. ((i think i owe you things: have some memes in the mean time orz sdjfldsf))

phobia drabble prompts | accepting | @paramounticebound

LIMNOPHOBIA: your muse saves mine from drowning.

Saturday, 2:17 A.M.       No one expected the torpedo to come in the dead of night while the ship continued moving quietly through the ocean. It was calm then, with a clear sky glittering with stars. But that was before. After the quiet night was filled with screams and the groaning of the great medical transport as it was torn apart. 

Friday, 6:00 P.M.       “No, no, this is wrong again,” Fox laughed. Even cramped below deck with most of the other nurses and patients, her spirits were lifted. Mostly due to Khan and his struggle with a few English phrases. Part of her was sure he was doing it on purpose, just to make her laugh. It was a way to pass the time, playing cards and teaching each other languages, mainly English.. It wasn’t always like this, of course. In the beginning, she was sure the injured man hated her. Despised her with every fiber of his being, but there was a war going on and she wasn’t about to allow it to poison his life forever. For weeks she burdened him with her presence, pestering with food and water and conversation. Filling his ears with tales of Leningrad, of the Summer Garden, of the great palaces of the Czars, and of course, folklore. He was unable to escape, a German shooter had caught his leg and his femor had fractured as a result. The leg was doing well, every day she cleaned and dressed it thrice ( had they not still been in the field he would be at less of a risk of infection, but with dirt and blood and rotting corpses, she would take no risks with any of her wards ), ignoring how high on his upper thigh it was. After a while, it seemed he didn’t care much either. 

      “You are saying it is not Cumrade, Cumrade?” Khan knew very well that was not how it was pronounced, but he also knew that it would make his nurse gasp with laughter and he could not find it within himself to resist. How far had he come already from months ago when the other soldiers had found his unit – what was left of his unit. The terrors of war continued to haunt him, he could still smell metal and smoke and ash. Feel the mud as it was kicked up into his face, the tearing of his flesh as a bullet found its mark, and the rush of blood over his hand as his knife found its own. See the bodies of his fallen friends, those he trained with, those who protected his back and he theirs. How their bodies froze beneath the snows or festered on milder days, crawling with maggots. How long he remained on the field, waiting for death he could not say, pain had him far from lucid when they found him. A whirlwind of dark movement before an explosion of bright, white sunlight. The vision of a woman snapping at another man, animatedly telling him what he was doing was wrong and might cost the soldier his leg. God, his leg. He’d expected her touch to be as sharp as her words, but she was gentle, and redressed his would with ease. As if she were merely wrapping a gift and not his mangled thigh. Morphine kept his senses dulled until he drifted away again. Each time waking to her presence. Fox would not allow him to wallow alone, to fear the booms overhead by himself. At first, he hated her for it. Too traumatized by his experiences to speak or feel the need for human contact. As the weeks wore on he began to look forward to her, however. Day by down, he woke expectant of her smiling face, there to change his morning dressings. And oh, how fear had gripped him when another had taken her place and how she had laughed when he snapped at her for it later. Now look at them, smiling, staring at each other as if they were the only ones aboard the ship. 

      “Stop! This sound wrong!” Fox insisted, wiping tears from her eyes. “It is Comrade, Comrade,” others were beginning to look over. Envious or hateful, it didn’t matter to her. She treated them all the same, save for him, for they were something more. Friends, yes? Friends looked at each other in such ways. Or at least she told herself they did. 

      "I have to make my rounds now, you silly man.” Fox hissed, switching back into their mother tongue. “And you need to rest.” Khan gave her a mock frown and settled into his incredibly uncomfortable cot. It was better than the floor, at least. “I will be back later to change your dressings, save your frowns for then.” Teasingly she tapped the foot of his good leg and left him to check on the others. Aware that he watched her retreating back until she was too far into the rest of the ship he was unable to follow.

Friday, 9:58 P.M.      “You were gone a long while,” Khan observed after his nurse had cleaned and dressed his wound. She always left him for last, mostly so she could settle into her own cot next to his right after.

     “One of the soldiers upstairs had some sort of mental break,” from early on, she didn’t hide things like this from him. Mostly in the hopes that if something similar ever happened to him, he would tell her. “He awoke thinking we were all Germans. He grabbed a scalpel and -- “ Well, he hadn’t harmed any of them. Only himself. They’d spent most of the time trying to calm him and after, wrapping up his body to be returned home. Khan nodded as if he understood without her having to say anything at all.

     “Fox,” he whispered after a moment. The nurse had laid down on her cot, facing him. Khan wished to tell her that it wasn’t her fault, that the war had done this to them, but she was fast asleep before his words came out. Exhausted by the day after day work with no rest. “Sleep well,” he murmured instead, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest before he too drifted off.

Saturday, 1:42 A.M.      “Khan? Are you awake?” Fox whispered, her hair falling loosely around her shoulders. Her soldier had been murmuring in his sleep, well, whimpering really. Eyes opened in the dark, peering up at her. Sweat beaded on his brow, she could practically feel his frantic pulse without even touching him. “Everything is right as rain, I’m right here, Comrade, I’m right here.” Clammy fingers grasped for her hand, holding them tightly. With her other, she stroked wet hair out of his face. This had happened before, his nightmares. It took her multiple attempts to actually find a method that worked in calming him. Trial and error until her whispers found a soothing outlet.

     “We are only two days from port,” her voice was husky with sleep. “Soon you will be home in the Soviet Union, we will be home.” Ever caressing, the words drifted away to be replaced with a quiet melody. A song she had heard babushkas sing, a song her mother detested, but her father often hummed. One that spoke of their rich country, of the beauty in the landscape, the unforgiving winters, and the white nights full of romance and longing.

     “Fox,” Khan finally managed to whisper. “Promise me you’ll -- “ A sickening thud and the sudden lurch of the massive carrier cut off his promise.

Saturday, 2:17 A.M.      The torpedo made contact on the level below theirs, though the contact cause their walls to buckle. Water surged through, forcing its way past steel bolts. They ricocheted around the hull like bullets from a gun. Fox grabbed to Khan instantly, hoisting him up. There was no time to think, no time to grab anything. Their ship was compromised. If she could just get him up onto the deck and into one of the lifeboats, it would be fine. They had been trained for this. Well, not exactly. They had been told it was a possibility, but that medical vessels were likely not targets. Foolish men. In war, everyone was a target. Luckily, Fox considered every possibility.

     “Can you stand,” she asked him, slinging his arm over her shoulders. Try as she might, there was no way she would be able to carry him completely. “We have to get to that door before the water keeps it shut.” People were screaming and try as she might to warn them, they couldn’t all hear her over the noise. Water sloshed around them while they moved, Khan hopping too and frow on his good leg, trying not to pull Fox too hard. She was so thin beneath her uniform, why had he not noticed that before? If he lost his footing, they would both go down. He pulled away an inch, ready to tell her to go on without him, to save herself. Fox wasn’t having it; her arm tightened around him, pressing him against her body as she yanked him onward with more strength than he thought she had.

     By the time they reached the door, the water was up to their shins and rising faster. Fox left Khan’s side to pull it open, a few of the more able-bodied soldiers coming to join her. They, in turn, also helped her get Khan to the upper deck. “Get him into a lifeboat,” she managed before leaving his side to help others reach the door. Khan tried to stay behind, but the men listened too well. They raised him up and carried him to one of the lifeboats that swang back and forth dangerously. The ship was tilting. Blood raced through his heart, quickening the beats until it ached. Soldiers kept pouring out of the door, but he didn’t catch the near white hair that belonged to his nurse. A metallic pop sounded through the air, another shot taken from beneath the dark waves. The ship shuttered and groaned, slipping further down. The lifeboats were nearing the water. Men were jumping overboard, desperate to get away from the sinking ship before it dragged them all down to a watery grave.

     “Fox!” Khan yelled, pushing others to bring himself to the edge of the boat. Damning his leg, for he was unable to pull himself up. Others asked him what he was doing, telling him he was insane and needed to stay put. He just kept yelling and scanning the darkened deck for the nurse. Bodies were already floating face down, lips turned blue from the low temperatures.

     Below deck, there was nothing more she could do. The others were accepting death or were already dead. Water was up to her waist by then, by the time the second torpedo hit. Liquid surged around her, climbing ever higher, pushing bodies into her way. Panic, thus far pushed away, rose with it. As a Russian, ice and snow were woven into her bones, but this was something deeper. Something darker. Too long submerged and she’d remain forever. Stairs were climbed on hands and knees while the ship continued to tilt, then she surfaced, and what she heard stopped her dead. Amongst the screams of the people and the ship, Khan, yelling -- screaming -- her name. A beacon in the dark. Sliding across the deck while water began to lap at the surface, Fox hurried toward his voice only to find that his boat was already drifting across the waves. Too far to reach by jumping, she’d have to swim. The only problem was, she didn’t know how.

     “Jump!” Khan was yelling and she swore she saw his face drain of color when she answered with, “I can’t swim!”

     “Jump,” he repeated, the others joining in his call. “I’ll get you, I promise, I promise. Jump now!” If she didn’t soon, the entire deck would become submerged and she’d be stuck further out and risk being pulled below. Dread pooled in his stomach, even from the distance he could see her shaking. “I promise!”

     Fox breathed in deeply, knowing that it might be her very last chance to do so. As a soldier, Khan had faced fearsome things every day, she could do this, she could face this fear. With a running start, her feet sliding, Fox jumped into the water. Icy fingers pulled the rest of the air from her lungs and she was submerged. Willing her body to float up as her limbs lashed out, pushing, kicking, doing anything she could until she broke above the waves. Khan disappeared, replaced with the need to survive. Seawater flooded her mouth, choking her as she gasped for air. Again, she went down, sputtering. This was it, she was going to drown.

     Strong hands grasped her body, pulling it higher and higher until together they broke the surface. Had her limbs not been frozen solid, she would’ve succeeded in drowning them both with her panic. “Breathe, breathe,” he whispered, kicking his legs ( even his injured one ). Fox tried, vomiting up the water that had stolen her air, then she was gulping down the cool night air, clinging to him. “Kick your feet, we have to get onto the boat.”

     “You shouldn’t be in the water with your leg,” Fox managed, trying to do as he directed. Trying to do more. Two other soldiers from their lifeboat jumped into the water to help them the rest of the way and hoist them up. Two freezing bodies, one dripping blood from his leg, his wound reopened. Dry jackets were removed from able bodies and placed over them as ores were taken up. They were only two days from port. Two days and stranded. “We’re going to die.”

     “I did not live through this war, suffer with this leg, spend days listening to you go on and on, and jump into that water just for us to die now.” Khan ground out. He could’ve just let her drown, but he had found the strength to throw himself over the boat. “We’re going to live, you promise me right now, we’re going to live.”

     “I promise.”

Tuesday, 4:32 P.M.     Their boat drifted for three days before they were spotted. In the beginning, a few soldiers tried to row closer to their destination, but without food or water, they tired easily. Fox and Khan clung to each other, fevers rising and breaking with the sun and the moon. Despite their condition, Fox still tried to check on his wound, fearing that it would become infected and he would lose his leg. He truly had to be blessed by God, for thus far, it had not festered. In turn, Khan sang the song she’d taught him, not caring that the others heard or watched. Knowing that after this they’d never again be able to part.  

[wallynorthbynorthwest]

Can I ask you about your OCs? *eye emoji*

The answer to this is always yes lol, there’s nothing that I love more than talking about my OCs ;w;

under the cut because I’ve added ~pictures~

My main 5 OCs are Bob, Joey, Jacklyn, Jackie, and Ross, and it’s been a looooong time since I’ve talked about them on this website lol

(Sorry for the low quality, I just took quick pics of them) So these are Joey, Jacklyn, and Bob, they’re my ot3 and I love them

Bob and Joey are my oldest OCs, I made them up in 8th grade and they’re my inseparable best friends. Joey is really smart and loves his friends and helping people out, but he’s usually the blunt end of Bob’s teasing so he’s also easily irritable lol. Jacklyn came later (when I made her and Jackie), she’s spunky and will fight you even though she’s 5′4″ and will cuddle anyone. Bob is funny and a cat person (he has 2), he likes to tease and he’s not dumb but he acts like it and the BIGGEST foodie ever. His wardrobe only consists of punny food and cat shirts

And THESE are Ross and Jackie (and their pet raccoon Whiskers)! Ross is mild and doesn’t let things get to him, he’s a movie buff and works out his arms (but is chubby in the middle). He loves his boyfriend a whole lot and wears a locket with a picture of Jackie and Whiskers around his neck. Jackie is fiery and passionate and insecure (my main source of angst tbh), he lives healthy (runs almost every morning, cooks well-balanced meals) and his favorite pastime is taking long walks on the beach. And Whiskers is a punk who likes to make messes but he loves Jackie and Ross (and almost nobody else except for one of Bob’s cats)

I’ve had these characters since late middle school/early high school and they’ve grown with me, from being high school students to college to now job holding adults. Also they’re basically the only thing that I draw besides d&d stuff.

Here’s some recent drawings since I never post any here lol (most are from inktober)

This last one isn’t done yet (it’s a practice in trying to do more backgrounds this year orz) but I really like how it’s coming out 

I also have a tag for my OCs here and an art tag here but I don’t use them all that much lol

[linssikeittomies]

The Place Between Here An There - Chapter 2: Ship Of Fools

Masterpost     AO3

Chapter 1  Chapter 2  Chapter 3  Chapter 4  Chapter 5  Chapter 6  Chapter 7  Chapter 8   Chapter 9  Chapter 9(cont’d)

Ugh, Alfred is so hard to write! His POVs are all Thing happens, thing happens, thing happens, he has a thought, thing happens… Ivan’s POV is more like Thing happens, he has a thought about the thing, that reminds him of past thing, thing happens… And Alfred has too many non-plot-important friends, but leaving them out feels even more wrong because he’s a people person first and foremost. He does get more thinkey later, but at this point of the story he doesn’t really worry about anything so he doesn’t have too many thoughts floating around his brain. His parts feel like such filler orz Try and bear with me orz I got so sick of looking at this mess and not being able to write it the way I wanted to so I decided to screw it and let it be, filler-y and bad and all.

–

“Morning, sunshine!” a happy voice greeted Ivan right as he stirred. The grating cheeriness revealed the identity of the perpetrator before Ivan even opened his eyes. The act only confirmed that the annoying idiot was grinning from ear to ear. Seeing that his bedmate was somewhat awake encouraged the American to rise up on his elbows to peer down with an excited look. So he was near-sighted, since he hadn’t put on his glasses.

“Dobroye utro”, Ivan muttered, not sure if he was glad to see Alfred or not. The novelty of being treated like a normal human being was fading quickly now that he wasn’t allowed to wake up at his own pace. “Are you really a cop?” Alfred queried with badly contained glee, leaning in closer with his morning breath. With a grimace Ivan turned his head slightly, and Alfred seemed to get the hint. “Yes, a detective.” “Man, that’s so cool! I applied to the academy a few years back, but I had speeding tickets, and the air force didn’t want me for some reason so I’m still-“ Probably a store clerk. Maybe a cleaner. Likely living on his parents’ money. “- a fireman and it’s great ‘cause I’m saving lives and all, but man, cops! I love cops!” Yeah, right. This infuriating loser seemed barely literate. Pro wrestling would suit him much better: prancing around in embarrassing clothes yelling cringey lines, and no one would notice if he got brain damage. Claiming he actually did important work was the most bold-faced lie Ivan had heard in his life. “But how in the hell did you get in? Did you kill all the other applicants?” “How rude. I was never linked to those cases.” Alfred pretended to be struck dumb, and clutched his pearls like a scandalized granny. “I was hoping you’d claim to be the paragon of justice, but you just ran with it! How am I supposed to make fun of you with that attitude?” he laughed as he sat up, dragging the covers up with him and then letting them fall off his shoulders. The move revealed his toned chest and subtle six-pack again. Ivan contemplated taking a spied look between his legs, but decided against it. His senses were returning slowly, but the insecurity had already creeped in almost full swing. He pretended to be cold and wrapped the covers more tightly around him. “It’s not an attitude. It’s the truth.” Alfred laughed and told Ivan to dress his ugly ass, he was making pancakes. Ivan was not one to say no to a free meal, and the company only left something to desire.

Even if waking up next to someone was a questionable joy, having someone to eat breakfast with was undoubtedly pleasant. Much time had passed since the last time Ivan had a discussion at the table. They used to be common in the old days, and the siblings especially had been practically glued together, but then the thing happened and everything went to hell. Their family dynamics never got back to normal, even after 19 years of stability and moving halfway across the globe. It had no longer felt natural – one was missing and one became an outsider. It was almost more distracting to have his sisters in the same table than eating alone. But with Alfred there was no history so he couldn’t be reminded of anything, and as a result he found himself genuinely enjoying the moment. “Well, ya just don’t look the part, yannow? Think Magnum PI! Ya need a square jaw and a cool baritone voice and a great mustache.” “So what kind of cop do I look like?” “Hmmmm…” Alfred hummed and held an exaggeratedly long pause, took a bite off his pancakes, chewed and then shrugged. “I dunno, the kind who negs decent people and takes advantage of drunk guys?” Ivan shrugged nonchalantly.  “Guilty as charged”, he agreed. He doubted Alfred had actually been all that drunk by the time they left the restaurant, and the stumble had been a conspiracy to make Ivan take him home. He still had trouble imagining Katyushka scheming like this, because she had always been the most honest and straightforward of the family. Her saintly nature must have come from a distant ancestor. “So are you gonna go and brag to all your friends about how you finally scored with a conscious person?” “I hesitate to call someone with your level of brain activity conscious.” “But you will brag to all your friends?” “I don’t have friends”, Ivan’s mouth said with brutal honesty before his brain could shut it up. His breath got stuck in his throat as he waited for inevitable pitying look. It always happened. He could be as terrifying as he wanted, the second anyone learned about his sorry excuse of a social life they suddenly saw him a charity case, defective, helpless… Nothing could be further from the truth, but nothing would convince the hypocrites  that Ivan didn’t need anyone, people were only in the way, and he didn’t care for backstabbing gold diggers or emotional leeches. Jones was a person, Ivan had no use for him. God spared him just this once. Alfred, oblivious to anything but a jackhammer to the skull, missed his slip completely and continued with the friendly hostility. “Small wonder, with your personality.” Ivan was well aware of his flaws, but could do nothing to change them. His path had formed in front him on its own on that day and there were no side roads. He wasn’t like Jones, who had a say in what happened to him. He had no business commenting on what he knew nothing about, but spoken like a true American, he felt the need to police everyone else and just flap his mouth hole to make noise for the sake of it. And he had such a grating voice, too. Ivan wanted to get out of this apartment yesterday. “More coffee?” “Yes, please.” Watching Jones stuff his face with pancakes made Ivan wonder what he even found appealing about the glutton at this point. He was a slob with terrible table manners who loved putting people down. That answered the question of why he hadn’t gotten laid in ages, at least. He should get drunk more often, it seemed to better his odds. “Do you have the day off?” Ivan asked. He almost regretted it, since Jones didn’t bother swallowing his half-eaten pancakes, choosing instead to spit soggy crumbs all over the table. Ivan quickly lifted his coffee off it. Jones failed to take the hint, as expected. “Yeah, but my cousin’s coming over. I’ll have to kick you out by noon.” Ivan hadn’t been planning to stay after breakfast. He hadn’t planned to stay the night. Having to leave in a few hours was no problem for him. And even if he had been free to stay as long as he wanted, which was not a single minute by the way, he was a busy man. He had things to do. Plans to review. He wouldn’t stay even if Jones begged to blow him. “I’ll be gone before that.” Jones smirked coyly, for reasons unknown to Ivan. “Do you wear the uniform?” Ah, he was one who loved a man in uniform. Ivan could hardly blame him, he himself couldn’t resist a suit with a tie. Wonderful toys they were, so versatile, never failed to make him want to pull. He’d like to put one on Jones, for so many reasons. “Only for special occasions.” Ivan would have liked to have a newspaper at the table. The absence of one didn’t exactly surprise Ivan, Jones didn’t strike him as the type to read, even magazines. It was excusable – in his line of work it wasn’t important to know what had went on during the night. For Ivan, it was both a necessary evil and a questionable joy. Not knowing the latest updates when he walked into the office was considered bad work morale, and that’s where news apps really came in handy. A newspaper, after all, first had to go into print, and then be delivered. While all that happened, ten new things had unfolded. It was still nice to have a physical page in his hands, feel the crinkle. They were easily stored. Ivan had a whole bookcase dedicated to newspaper and magazine clippings: cold cases, cases he’d worked on, PD bashings, survival stories, true crime articles… Lately he had taken to throwing out some of the older things to make room for all the Baton killer related articles. 7 confirmed victims, 5 suspected, and that was only after a year and half of activity. Despite what you heard in popular media, it was actually quite rare for a serial killer to have more than 4 victims per year. Reporters liked to play up the numbers, speculating at least a dozen victims, but even more than that they liked blaming the police department for not catching the raving lunatic. Their words, not his – from the evidence and bodies it was clear as day the Baton killer was not crazy. Yes, he never bothered hiding the bodies well, but there was never any evidence left. Every body was cleaned thoroughly after the act to dispose of any DNA evidence, there was never a glimpse of him in security footage, no one ever reported seeing someone who didn’t belong… It takes meticulous planning and a clear mind to do something that carefully. The police weren’t even completely sure they were dealing with a male killer – the only reason to suspect that was that among the victims were two large men who had last been seen in gay bars, and an unopened condom left on the body of one female who had been reported to be fiercely faithful to her clean husband. Ivan didn’t like not knowing things. He got anxious when he couldn’t be sure. It should have been common courtesy to have one paper at the table. “A suit, then?” Ivan shook his head. He preferred wearing his everyday clothes to work, because they made him look just a bit less intimidating. A suit was a double-edged sword: on one hand, it tended to make people more nervous and slip up, but on the other, it isolated him further. Normal human interactions were few and far between for Ivan, so he cherished every single one. This was why he liked dealing with the the deaf: they couldn’t tell the disparity between his voice and stature, so they assumed he was just a normal, large man. In this Alfred resembled them. The bad thing about Jones was that he was insufferable. Ivan had a hunch Jones would be difficult with the authorities, just for the sake of being difficult. “Betcha you’d look hot in one”, Alfred said, winking. Ivan didn’t agree. He didn’t think he looked hot in most clothes. He still muttered a thank you because he wasn’t on the mood to argue.

~¨:.:¨~

Jeez, this guy was just too cute! No adult man should be allowed to have such an adorable face! The way he shyly blushed and averted his eyes to the side combined with his huge stature did something incredibly pleasant to Al. It was getting the best of two worlds. He tended to go for the big, tough guys, but enjoyed the odd twink every now and then, and here he had two for the price of one! Moving to the big city really was the best damn decision he had made in his life. Rural Kentucky just didn’t have these types. “Unlike you, no doubt”, Ivan answered weakly, and Al grinned again. He couldn’t explain why he liked exchanging insults so much. He did it all the time with Arthur, too, but the Brit always got pissed too quickly. Mattie’s game was too strong, so Al no longer did it with him. But now he had a new playmate! One that liked the game just as much! He hadn’t had this much fun since last night, and with any luck he might be able to convince the Russian babe for round two of that, as well! Maybe one day he could bring the insult game to bed? “Yeah, but I look good naked”, Al shot back. Ivan rolled his eyes and sipped his coffee again. “You get cross-eyed when you take off your glasses.” “Do not! Take that back, fatso!” With a teasing smile Ivan raised his gun again. “And you smell terrible. Have you showered in the last three days?” “Didn’t bother you last night.” “I had a momentary lapse of standards. The culture must be damaging my brain.” Aaahhh, that accent! That was paradise, right there! Ivan really had everything: looks, personality, huge body, huge dick… He should marry the guy before he wriggled away. The way to a man’s heart goes through his stomach, right? “Sure you don’t want pancakes?” Alfred confirmed. He was almost offended Ivan had refused them the first time. While his weren’t as divine as Mattie’s, they could still make a man moan in pleasure. Pancakes were the one food he never made from instant mix or in a microwave. “I am sure.” Al pouted and poured some more syrup on his stack. Fine, be that way!Vodka had probably ruined his tastebuds anyway, so he couldn’t appreciate the pancakes if he wanted to. Ivan gulped down the last of his coffee and got up. “Leaving already?” “I have work. Thank you for the coffee.” Work on Sunday? What kind of breakthrough had they had in whatever case Ivan was working on? Detectives usually only worked weekdays 9 to 5. “No prob. See ya ‘round!” Ivan scoffed as he put on his coat. He was wearing three layers, and it wasn’t even that cold yet. Guess he was just always cold, if he needed two sweaters even indoors. “No one would want to see you again. You are a headache on feet.” Al laughed. A lot of people commented on his loud voice, usually telling him to turn it down a notch. He just didn’t have an indoor voice and he got excited so easily. “And my ears are ringing from listening to you squeaking”, he joked back. He wondered why Ivan decided to use such a weird voice. Obviously he had a much deeper natural pitch, but it hadn’t come out much even last night. He sounded like a prepubescent boy. It added to his cute image, but couldn’t have been easy to produce. Maybe it was an effect of growing up with two high-pitched sisters? “Are you the youngest?” “The youngest what?” Ivan asked, voice muffled from the pale pink scarf. Another cute quirk, didn’t fit his towering height and wide shoulders at all. “Sibling. Katie’s the oldest, right?” “Yes. Katyusha is four years older and Natasha is five years younger.” “Really? You and Natalie look the same age. Do you look young or does she look old?” “It could be a little bit of both.” Ivan had his hand on the knob, but hesitated. Al tilted his head questioningly, and Ivan reached a decision. He dug out a pen from his pocket, but couldn’t find paper, so he wrote his number on the wall instead. “Call me if you want to go drinking sometime.” “After you ruin my fucking wall?! In your dreams!” Ivan gave an infuriating little smirk and closed the door after him. Damn that Russki and his adorable ways. How long should Al wait before he called?  The same day would be needy and a little creepy, but he didn’t want to wait two days! Agh, this was just like that one time in Montana! Or, Christ, Tex! He couldn’t handle another bi-curious cutie deciding he wanted to stick to women! The guy was just too much fun, Al really liked just hanging out with him, not that he minded the afterhours, either… After wolfing down his seventh pancake Al did his morning pushups and jog. Artie had been right in that age would eventually catch up with him and he’d need to work harder to stay in shape. With his steady diet of junk food it was really a miracle he was so fit. Musta been good genes. Pissed Artie off to no end. Speaking of, he should clean up the place. Neither of them was looking forward to Mister Cleanliness nagging about Al’s housekeeping skills. It didn’t really even matter, no one in the history in the world had died of a few shirts on the floor, or a few weeks’ dust, or a messy closet, and penicillin had been discovered in dirty dishes. And so what if there was some food gone bad in the fridge, they were in closed containers, the bugs weren’t about to strongarm open the lids. Ehh, Artie was still three hours away, he had time. He could play some Mortal Kombat first. He needed to practice Kenshi’s fatalities anyway. And while he was on the sofa anyway, he might as well try out that GTA swing glitch! Oldie but goodie.

Knock knock. “Who’s there?” Just kidding, Al already knew it was Artie. His British cousin was the only person in the world who knocked when there was a perfectly good doorbell. “It’s me.” “Me who?” “Arthur, you bloody twat! Open up!” Sigh, ol’ Artie never played along. All he laughed at was that Monty Python show. Poor guy, he’d die an early death thanks to never laughing. Al threw the controller on the couch and got up to get the door. Yikes, those eyebrows were still a shock every time. “I swear you grow like twenty new hairs every time I see you!” Al commented, earning an irritated sigh from his cousin. After 17 years he didn’t need to ask what Al meant by that. “And you accumulate more and trash in your place. Three copies of Die Hard 2?” Artie whined looking at the living room table. Well, at least he wasn’t bitching about the dirty coffee cups and plates on the kitchen table. He should be a maid, he was so great at whining about pointless stuff. After setting his luggage in a corner, Artie made a show of placing the Xbox controller on the coffee table and making himself at home on the couch, dramatically throwing an arm over his face. “Never again!” he announced. “This baby screamed the whole flight and my neighbour spilled his orange juice all over my trousers.” Seeing Al eyeing his perfectly dry pants, he explained. “I changed in the airport toilet.” “Wanna throw them in the washing machine?” “Go ahead.” Artie’s suitcases were works of art. He knew just the way to tightroll everything and exactly how much of any given thing was needed, then filled every square inch so perfectly it looked like a Tetris high score. Speaking of Tetris! “Hey, Artie! Guess who scored with a cop last night?” “Alfred, please! I don’t want to hear about your sex life!” “But he was so great! So tall and cool and burly and cute! And I got his number!” Artie gave him a confused look from under his arm. “Burly and cute? That’s a combination you don’t hear often.” “I know! But it was awesome! God, I wish I had a photo to show you, he was just perfect! He’s a detective!” Artie lifted his feet off the couch to let Al plop down next to him. “He acted all cool and aloof and then blushed when I said he’d look hot in a suit! It was adorable!” Al knew he was gushing like a teenage girl about her latest celebrity crush but he couldn’t help it! This was the single greatest thing that had happened to him since… since he first got laid, basically! “And he’s a cop! I’ve never seen a cop like him! He wrote his number on the wall”, Al helpfully pointed at the number scratched on the wall paper. The wince on Artie’s face was great. “You two seem like you would get along swell”, he muttered. “I know! He’s not at all uptight like you are!” “It’s called being a functioning adult! You git!” “A functioning adult would have brought me Cadbury creme eggs!” “The last time I did you thought I was flirting with you!” Oh right, it had been the day before Valentine’s and Artie had been blushing for some reason.

They cleaned up the place together. Artie tried to cook “as a reward”, which would have been about as much of a reward as a death penalty. Al insisted he wouldn’t make a guest cook, so they went out for dinner, even though Artie hardly counted as a guest. He was rarely over, thanks to the ocean between them, but the guy was as much family as Mattie. Every time he stayed at Al’s place it was like a roommate coming home. Artie didn’t buy the excuse, as he never did, and claimed Al needed a good English dinner in him just once and would never go back, as he always did. This was routine for them. Everything about Artie was familiar. He had gone through a few phases in his teens and early twenties, but ever since becoming a premature grandpa the only thing that changed were his clothes. He was as stagnant as Mattie. “You gonna go see Mattie after dropping by our folks?” “I don’t have time”, Artie said. “I only have three days left and I couldn’t get a ticket. I’ll see him on Christmas.” It was something of a tradition for the whole extended family to gather at Mattie’s place on Christmas, since he was one of the few who didn’t switch apartments every year. Not everyone could make it at the same time, some stayed for a few days before Christmas and some dropped in to say hi on Christmas Day. Al always stayed in the guest room, but the sheer number of relatives forced the large majority to stay in hotels. Artie got a mattress on the floor the years his pervert husband stayed home. They had learned from the first time. “Francis is still working out his schedule so I’m not sure if he can make it.” “Good! He’s already got a hubby, he shouldn’t hit on Mattie!” Francis was an okay guy most of the time, but you better not let your guard down or you’d find his hands down your pants. How Artie hadn’t dumped his cheating ass was something Al would never understand. If he ever started going steady, he wouldn’t forgive a single stray ogle. Luckily Ivan didn’t seem like the type to cheat, since it had taken him so long to even realize Al had been hitting on him from the first sentence he had said to him. It didn’t look like the guy had much of a sex drive. “And he better stay the hell away from my date, too!” “Your date? Weren’t you single just a few hours ago?” “I’m talking about that cop!” Artie made a face, but Al couldn’t figure out what he had said wrong this time. “Al, you only met the guy yesterday, and now you’re bringing him to Canada for Christmas?” “No! I mean, I could, I think we really clicked and I’m of course awesome so he totally wouldn’t say no.” Another face, more concerned than exasperated this time. “Oh come on Artie, be a little more happy for me wontcha?” “I am, it’s just that – you’ve been hurt before, because you get so into it far too early.” Right, Tex. But this was different from Tex! Ivan was completely comfortable being with men! He wouldn’t pull the same “incompatible” stunt he had! Ivan and Al went so well together, they liked the same things, they understood each other, and talking was so easy between them. Talking with Tex had sometimes been like pulling teeth. “I’ll be fine! I’m a grown man! And it’s just for fun – I just meant I wouldn’t object to getting serious if he wants to.” “Well – good luck”, Artie muttered. “Thanks!”

The next morning Al woke up to a horrible smell drifting from the kitchen. Not the worst Artie had ever caused, but it still made his eyes water. The sentiment was nice, but Artie just didn’t get that his breakfast would be put to better use in torture chambers. They did the usual song and dance – Artie claiming his cooking was great and Al just didn’t understand the fine undertones of British cuisine, and Al dumping his portion in the garbage and frying a healthy dose of bacon. Then they went sightseeing, since this was Artie’s first time in this city – the last time he had been living in Waynesburg. He’d leave tomorrow while Al was at work, so they had to make the day nice, since they would next see each other on Christmas. Granted, they talked daily but it still felt important to part on friendly terms. The one time they hadn’t, Artie had cut all contact with Al for 5 years. It didn’t matter that it had been over a decade ago, that before and after they were thick as thieves. So the next morning Al let his cousin make breakfast, bravely swallowed one bite and washed it down with half a gallon of Coke, and finished with three sunny side ups. Artie insisted his “baked beans”, that is, a sad, dry heap of something bumpy, and black pudding were delicious and nutritious. That might have been the case with store-bought “pudding” that had no business being called pudding, if the ingredient’s weren’t so god damn gross to begin with. “It’s an acquired taste, that’s for sure”, Al muttered in response. How Artie was capable of swallowing his own hellish productions was a mystery for the ages. He was married to a master chef and still lived in a delusional world where his own cooking wouldn’t be censored in daytime TV. Al left the Brit to shovel his indescribable “consumables” alone, and 15 minutes later arrived at the station. “Morning, guys!” “Morning”, greeted a chorus. A slow night, then, if so many were at the station. José made space for Al at the table and they went over the incidents of the last shift. A couple car crashes, two kitchen fires, one false alarm. Such a big city and so few incidents, that couldn’t last. Today would have to be busy. Stu dug out the playing cards after the last shift went home. They were starting the second round of poker when duty called the first time – a false alarm from an old folks’ home, something had spilled on the stove and triggered the alarm. One of the nurses made eyes at Stu, who never wasted a chance to flirt with a pretty face. “Way to keep it professional, Stu”, Jack sighed back in the truck. Jack was a forty-year old virgin. Word on the street was he’d never had a single girlfriend, or boyfriend, and that was why he was so frustrated. He spent most of his free time exercising and fishing. “I just made her day”, Stu argued proudly. He never went beyond flirting, as far as Al knew – the man worshiped his wife. His phone memory was 90% pictures of her. That reminded Al - should he have called Ivan yesterday? Al knew he wouldn’t mind being contacted the next morning, but Artie did keep telling him he was the most socially clueless bloke in the world, so maybe he shouldn’t trust his own judgment? Why hadn’t he asked Artie yesterday? The old man might not have been in the game for a decade, but he had to still have some memories from his single days! “Hey Jack, suppose you gave your number to a girl. Wouldja think she was desperate if she called you the next day?” Jack sighed exasperatedly, like he always did when Al asked him for relationship advice. “I don’t know. I never know anything you ask! Think whatever you think.” “I just wanna make sure! ‘Cause I don’t wanna drive away a good guy by being creepy.” “You’ll drive him away by being obnoxious”, Jack snapped. “Can we please concentrate on work instead of your sex life?” “I’d rather not think about all the dick my coworker is sucking, either”, Stu commented from behind the wheel. Had it been anyone else, Al would have punched them. Stu was chill, he just had a crass sense of humor and no brain-to-mouth filter. “Honestly though, wait until next evening but not longer. You’ll want to seem interested.” Shit, so was it already too late?! A day and a half had already passed! And the station was still ten minutes away! Had he already screwed up his chance? Jeez, stay cool, man! Ivan was totally into him, if anything he’d be overjoyed Al had remembered him! Yeah, that sounded much better. Al could salvage this. Right when they got to the station he’d call. Riiiiight… nnnnnnnnnoooooooooow! “I need to make a call!” he yelled and sprinted for the relative peace of the locker room.

~¨:.:¨~

Ivan was in no mood for solicitors right now. Staring at files and security footage for hours on end was soul-sucking work enough without some young hopeful desperately begging him to buy just this one amazing supplement that comes free with this subscription of these seven home improvement magazines only for 19.99 per month! Ivan never had problems hanging up on them immediately but that didn’t take away the reminder of outside life. For now, the only place that was supposed to exist was this sleazy alley with dismal lighting where one frame in a week’s worth might or might not reveal that Richard Boyarin had walked by it at some point during his vacation. Incredibly important work. Ivan frowned at the screen. It was a number he didn’t have saved on his phone. That was no news, he had a total of eight numbers in there. Two were his sisters’, one his boss’, one his partner’s, one for the station front desk, three for delivery food. He suddenly had the irrationally hopeful thought that it might be Alfred. Absurd as the notion was, it was tempting. And Toris clearly wanted him to silence the ringing, so why not try his luck? Anything would be better than trying to distinguish the black pixels from the other, slightly less black pixels. Fully prepared to be disappointed, Ivan answered as harshly as he could. “Alyo?” ”Hey Vanya, it’s Alfred!” Thoroughly shocked, but altogether pleased, Ivan felt an unexpectedly honest smile forming on his face, and casually insulted Alfred’s pronunciation. “Oh screw you, I did fine. You free tomorrow night?” Alfred’s nasal voice asked, completely carefree and smiling widely. Typical American, but at least Alfred’s smile wasn’t deceitful. He smiled because he was happy, not because he needed a good tip to pay his bills. Ivan was free, and had the feeling he would even make himself free if he hadn’t been. But the idiot didn’t need to know that, his ego was bloated enough already. “Hmm…” Pausing as if to check his calendar, Ivan lifted a finger to his lips at the nervously disapproving Toris. There was never any evidence in the Baton killer’s cases anyway. Of course not a single hair, spit drop or footprint had been found in this one either, which was the whole reason they had been forced to turn to these good as useless security tapes. The only thing ever found were the bodies, and that they had already analyzed to Hell and back, and of course it had revealed nothing new. Why pour over the same old evidence, hour after countless hour without any breaks? There would be a new victim, perhaps soon, even, there had been a long break between the last two. Then they could actually work. “Yes, I have a few hours after seven.” It wouldn’t do to look too eager. Ivan Braginski did not chase after men. “Great! Wanna go out? Rocker’s has a party celebrating the owner’s daughter’s birthday so they’ll have free booze! See you there at eight!” It better not be punch. “I suppose. What’s the address?” “It’s right next to orthodox church, you’ll find it!” If he found the church. Ivan rarely paid attention to places of worship, and then only to avoid them. Well, he would just Google the place later. Couldn’t be too many Orthodox churches in a city like this. He wondered if Alfred suggested the place because he thought Ivan had an inclination towards the Eastern church. “And hey, you never showed me your badge”, Alfred whined. An adult man, so fixated on badges, how cute. “You didn’t ask.” “Well show it to me tomorrow! You’ll love it”, Alfred said, wiggling his eyebrows so hard they almost rode the electronic waves to Ivan’s desk. He truly did like cops. Alfred was delightfully childish in a way that was funny for a few hours, but no one could take for more than a day at a time. One could only imagine how he had been as an actual child. Ten times as bad, or exactly the same? Maybe some boys never did grow up, as they say. “Only If you promise to stop whining.” “I promise nothing! Come onnnn, I’ll show ya my hose…” Again the eyebrows wiggled and Ivan almost snickered. Such a strange person. How old was he? He had looked a bit younger than Ivan, so maybe thirty or late twenties? A good age, young enough to enjoy fun but not young enough go overboard, old enough to understand life but not old enough to be weary of it. “Well in that case. Will you show me how it works?” “Oh, I’ll show you all right, and let you try…” This time Ivan did snort. “Tone down the eyebrows and I might take up your offer”, he chuckled, making Toris tilt his head in confusion. It couldn’t be that odd to hear Ivan laugh, could it? Surely he had done it in his partner’s presence before. “Eyebrows?” Alfred asked and the eyebrows stopped wiggling. He must have done it instinctively so he didn’t even pick up on it. Ivan wouldn’t be surprised – Alfred hardly seemed the perceptive type. The only things he could think about were probably sex, cheetos and beer. “You want me to pluck ‘em? They’re kinda thin already…” “Nevermind. Just make sure to impress me and you’ll get something good in return”, Ivan smirked, whirling around on his office chair. “Ivan –“ Toris attempted, but a quick hushing from Ivan silenced him and made him go back to studying the badly pixellated security footage. “Oh, do you have company?” “Just my partner. We’re going through some evidence.” Thank you, Toris. Live a little, nerd. “Jeez, you should have said you were at work. Tell me all about it later! Seven at Rocker’s! Bye!” “Bye.” With a heavy sigh Ivan put his phone back in his pocket. Security footage was easily the most mind-numbing part of police work, even worse than paper work, and in homicide investigation it contrasted so badly with the actual interesting part it felt ten times more tedious than in any other department. “Toris, you wouldn’t mind getting me a coffee?” Toris silently nodded and scurried off. The diminutive Lithuanian was an interesting mix of courage and nerves: on the job he wouldn’t flinch even when a gun was pointed at him, but whenever he was alone with his partner, he became a fidgety mess. Brilliant man, great at his job, but very meek. He had joined the force three years before Ivan, and was also that same three years older. They had been partnered seven months ago, after Ivan’s then-partner had been crippled on duty when they had been chasing a suspect. Tragic story, really. She would have survived the car crash with minor injuries, had a freak malfunction not made her gun fire inside the car and lodge the bullet in her spine. One of the finest of the force, she had been. Dedicated, smart.

--

You might have noticed that Ivan goes back and forth with Alfred and Jones – that’s on purpose. He uses Jones whenever he wants to maintain some distance, and Alfred when he forgets to despise all of humanity. Oh Ivan, you’re not nearly as misanthropic as you tell yourself!

Dobroye utro(Дoбрoе утрo): Good morning Alyo( Алё): Hello

Chapter name comes from Ship of Fools by World party. I should probably mention that the song lyrics have nothing to do with the chapter contents, I choose them purely by title. Also the symbolism mostly only makes sense to me:D Don’t mind if you don’t get what I’m going for.

[acarnivalofstars]

Amnesia Later: New World Prologue Part 1

Amnesia Later is the first fandisk for Amnesia and consists of several parts to the game, including New World and After Story. New World is basically an AU of sorts that focuses on a scenario where the MC is dating no one and the staff of Meido no Hitsuji make summer plans together. I’ve split the prologue into 2 parts for more easy reading (and workload on myself....) This first half focuses on giving a short recap of the game’s plot as well as introducing the cast.

Someone pray for me to have the willpower to translate the latter half orz

Special thanks to my friends @aphonicdreams and @dyinganddead​ for helping me with proofreading! Translation is under the Read More

August 10th

This was the story of a certain world, a certain country, a certain girl.

August 1st.

When the girl opened her eyes, she had lost all of her memories. Beside her was a mysterious boy named Orion who called himself a spirit. The spirit Orion told her that it was his fault she lost her memories. In accordance with Orion’s advice, who told her he would help her with anything in order to gain back her memories, the girl began to examine her surroundings…….

Eventually the girl’s relationships became clear, complicated and entangled intentions started to be seen, and the real reason why she had lost her memories.

----Orion had a flash of insight.

“I see now. Her losing her memories wasn’t due to me crashing into her!”

The organization members that appear before the girl desperately working to understand everything. The evil influences that stretch out their hands. Will the girl be able to retrieve her memories? What is the true reason she lost her memories? Will Orion be able to protect her?

Now then.

The fate of Orion and her is---?!

……….

Orion: Well, if it was that kind of story then it’d be nice!

Hey, good morning [MC]. Are you awake?

Huh? Are you still sleepy?

You did hold a strategy meeting with me up until late last night after all.

But to say something like “Who are you again…...?” right after waking up is a little harsh for being half-asleep, you know?

You seem to be a little out of it so I tried to summarize your current situation up until now in a simple manner.

What I talked about just now was an outline of what happened from August 1st up until today. I’m the spirit Orion. Do you remember now?

…….What’s with that face?

There was a part that was different from what actually happened? Eh~ Is that so? I thought it was pretty accurate to what happened though.

………..

That was a lie. I’m sorry.

There’s nothing like the evil influences of an organization or the truth of your amnesia at all.

It was just a simple accident. It’s all my fault.

Because I crashed into your soul, your memories went flying away.

What I said just now was my own desire!

Aah, it would be nice if there was an actual truth behind it, though.

If there was something going on behind your back, I would protect you and fight.

I’d use my wit and courage to guide you and protect you from a huge villain! 

I can’t touch things in the human world, am invisible to any other people besides you, nor can I even talk to them, but…... 

“Ah, someone’s following me…..! Orion, save me!”

“Leave it to me! I know the entire layout of this town! We’ll shake off the pursuer at the next corner!”

……..Just kidding.

Either way, in truth I can’t even do something like a personal background check for you. Hah…...the real world sure is harsh~.

→ I’m relying on you

If only you could talk to other people as well

Uuuuu, thanks~!

I might not be that useful right now, but I’ll work even harder!

I’m relying on you

→ If only you could talk to other people as well

Right?!

That way, I would be able to get information and go to dangerous places in your place.

I’d also be able to give a good talking to the guys who’re aiming for you!

Well, we can’t just gloom about. We have to do our best with what we can do.

What I can do for you now is support you so that you can carry out your lifestyle safely.

Hey, look. It’s the person correlation diagram you made yesterday.

Ever since you fell asleep last night, I’ve been looking at this myself and thinking.

After getting an idea of your condition up until yesterday, we managed to get a general understanding of your relationships with other people.

Your parents are absent since they live somewhere far away. You currently live alone, and you don’t have a boyfriend.

You’re particularly close to two childhood friends and have four acquaintances from work.

It’s not like you were caught in the middle of some accident, nor did you have a bad experience of being bullied by some vicious female group.

And it doesn’t seem like your life is being prowled after by some guy with a tragic fate for some startling reason.

So, this is just my suggestion, but why don’t we try picking someone who seems reliable and ask them for help about your amnesia?

I think that’d be the best shortcut to getting your memories back and living a peaceful, normal everyday life.

For now you have work today. You sure seem to meet reliable people a lot.

While you talk to everyone, you should start thinking which person seems the most reliable once again.

And then, once you think “it’s this person!” the most, we’ll explain your current situation to them.

Ah, but we don’t know what might happen so be sure to be mindful of the situation, okay?

What do you think? Is it too risky? Well, let’s think about it carefully during work.

Alright, let’s change and head straight for work~!

???: …...Huh?

Hey, are you in the middle of heading to work? If so, aren’t you running late? If you keep going now you’ll barely make it in time.

I bet you fell asleep again, didn’t you? Fix that bad sleeping habit of yours. It’d be a pain if you came to a meeting place late or something.  

Orion: Thank you oh so kindly for those harsh words to start off the morning.

I think you know already, but I’ll explain just in case. This guy is Shin. He’s your childhood friend.

He’s an unsociable guy, but he looks out for you in a lot of ways. ……..Though he’s a Spartan when it comes to training.

I think it’s alright to view him as someone we can trust in itself, so it might be good to consult him.

Shin: What are you spacing out for? Not even bothering to give me a reply is even more cruel than usual. Are you still half-asleep?

Orion: It’s not like that! We made sure to get plenty of sleep~

Shin: Why are there so many idiots around me?

It’s too much of a handful. ……...Everyone I deal with is so troublesome.

Orion: Hm…..? It sounds like he’s bothered by something.

I wonder if something happened. Or is this simply an idle complaint he has towards you?

→ I’m sorry for being slow

Did something happen?

Shin: What are you apologizing for all of a sudden? I don’t get it.

Orion: Ehh?! I-I mean, weren’t you just using a tone of voice meant to criticize her?! Am I wrong?

Shin: It’s not like I had a complaint towards you or anything so you don’t have to apologize.

You’ve been a handful since long ago so I’m not bothered by it.

Orion: I’m not following through at all. I’m just following into a dead end…...

Shin: Besides, you should hurry up and go. Otherwise you won’t make it in time.

I’m sorry for being slow

→ Did something happen?

Shin: When I woke up this morning my mom was in a panic because she had forgotten to buy rice and bread.

Since the rice is heavy she thought she’d leave it to me. Meanwhile, the store we always get bread from was closed due to a holiday.

Since she’s been nothing but perplexed this morning, I came here to buy the bread.

On top of that, she said convenience store bread is no good and that it had to be this store specifically here. Apparently she’s been gathering up points at this place.

What do you think of someone who causes trouble for others because of his or her personal mistake? I mean, I’ll still go to where she told me to.

Orion: Uh, um…….What would you think?

But despite him making a face like that, he still listened to her and went out. I guess Shin’s actually pretty kind?

Shin: Whether it’s you or my mom, why are you both so out of it? Isn’t it just inconvenient for yourself to be like that?

Orion: ……...Although he says too much.

Shin: Anyway, this isn’t the time to be standing around and chatting. You should go already. You don’t have time to waste, right?

Orion: Ah, he’s right.

Shin: See ya. Do your work seriously, okay?

Orion: Or so he says. While the same goes for work, we also have to work hard on gathering information!

Orion: Whew~ Just as Shin said, we barely made it. We might’ve been a bit sloppy while changing.

???: Good morning, [MC]

We seem to be meeting at the store quite a lot lately. Haven’t you been working 6 days in a row now? You seem to be working hard.

But you seem to be building up fatigue and coming here nonetheless. ……..Look.

Your headdress is tilted, but it seems like you haven’t noticed it at all. Do you mind if I fix it for you?

Orion: Stop right there! Don’t just close the distance between you two so swimmingly first thing in the morning!

This perverted monster here is your senior at work, as well as a 4th year college student, Ikki.

He’s ridiculously popular with girls to the point where it seems like a joke that he’s even got a fan club.

Anyway, if we just leave him be he’ll start getting even closer so give him some sort of a response!

→ I’ll fix it myself

Please fix it for me

Ikki: Do you not want me touching your hair? It’s not like I’ll take advantage of the situation and do something else to you, you know?

Orion: Saying a remark like that is already a hazard!

I’ll fix it myself

→ Please fix it for me

Orion: WHAAAAAAT?!

Ikki: …....How unexpected. I thought you would get embarrassed and run away. Does this mean you don’t view me in that sort of way?

Hmm~ …...If that’s the case then it’s a pity, but oh well.

You have such pretty hair. I’ve been thinking I’d like to touch it since long ago…...

???: Stop right there, Ikkyu.

Orion: This voice is…..!

???: Don’t get any closer to her. Even if the manager may forgive your acts of sexual harassment in this holy workplace, I, however, will not.

Ikki: There he is, the mysterious statistics-loving Mad Kent!

Orion: What’s with that introduction?!

This guy is Kent. He’s also a senior at your workplace and seems to be a graduate student at Seichi University.  

Ikki called him a mysterious statistics-loving guy, but in truth he really does come off that way. He’s kind of like the embodiment of numbers and theories.

Kent: I won’t allow such shameless behavior to take place before my very own eyes, Ikkyu…..!

Ikki: Oh? By what right do you have to get in my way, Ken?

Kent: If it’s a right you want then I have one. For you see, the victor of Puzzle No. 500 that I presented you the other day is me.

Losers should obey winners. That is a formality of this world which has been proven through history. As such, I have a right to interfere with you.

Ikki: Eh…...No way, was the score result bad enough to make you say an announcement like that, Ken?

Kent: You got 68 points. Well, I also had a feeling I raised the difficulty level too high since it was a commemorative 500th puzzle.

Next time I’ll make it slightly easier. There’s no point in giving you a puzzle that can’t be cleared.

Ikki: You better not do that. If you go easy on me it’ll just make me weak. You should come at me with everything you’ve got.

Kent: Oh, is that so? If that’s the case then for Puzzle No. 501 I’ll make it the hardest one you’ve ever seen until now.

Ikki: I’ll also attack you with all I’ve got. It’s not in my nature to be beaten by someone, you see.

Orion: …….So these guys have given and solved up to 500 puzzles between the two of them. They sure aren’t tired of it.

As you can see, Ikki and Kent are super close.

Both parties have parts of them that aren’t exactly normal per se, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t people that can’t be trusted.

There’s also the possibility that we consult the two of them as well. In that case, rather than just choosing one of them it might be better to ask them together……

Ikki: By the way. [MC], so what are you going to do about that headdress in the end?

Do you want me to fix it? Or do you want Ken to fix it?  

Orion: You’re bringing the conversation back to that?! And we have to choose from the two of them?!

→ Ask Ikki to do it

Ask Kent to do it

Ikki: Got it. Come over here.

…….Is this the first time I’ve ever gazed at you so closely?

If you were to become my captive after this I’d be happy…...How about it? Does it still not work on you?

Orion: Um…….You’re just fixing her headdress, right?!

Kent: You must also have bad taste, [MC].

It’s not as if there was a need for you to willingly jump into the tiger’s den.

Ask Ikki to do it

→ Ask Kent to do it

Kent: …….What? Are you asking me to fix a woman’s hair ornaments? That sort of thing is impossible for me. I refuse.

Orion: I figured he would say something like that…….

Ikki: She nominated you to do it, so why don’t you fix it for her? After all, she did pick Ken over me.

Orion: And this guy’s sulking!

Kent: Besides, touching the hair of a person of the opposite sex can be considered an act of sexual harassment. You don’t like it when I touch you after all, no?

Ikki: Isn’t it because she doesn’t dislike it that she asked you? Or is it that you dislike it, Ken?

Kent: N-no……..That isn’t the case, but, however…….

???: It seems you’re all quite excited over something.

Ikki: Waka-san. Good morning.

Kent: Good morning.

???: Good morning. Is this everyone for today? I am very pleased to see that you’ve all assembled together on time. ……..Hm?

Your headdress is sliding off, [MC]. You should go take a look at yourself and fix it. We shall continue this conversation afterwards.

Orion: So he says. Let’s go, [MC]!

How is it~? Did you fix it? …...Yup, all good. Alright, OK!

That person just now is the manager of this store.

Everyone refers to him as Waka-san. At his core he’s a nice person but…….

……..Just why on earth does he always have a bamboo sword hanging by his waist.

Waka: That was quick. Well then, let us continue the conversation. Today I shall be working in the kitchen. Can the two of you handle the front by yourselves? Ikki, [MC].

Ikki: No problem. It’s not like it’s during the middle of the fair so the two of us can keep alternating.

Waka: Well then, Kent. Would working in the kitchen be alright? It seems you came early today to prepare the ingredients.

Kent: About that, manager. I’d like to shed light on a problem around here.

Waka: A problem?

Kent: In place of the fresh basil you ordered for, a large amount of dried basil has been delivered instead.

We used up all of the fresh basil yesterday. As such, we cannot create the pesto sauce for today’s pasta.

Waka: What……?! Instead of fresh basil, we received dried basil you say……?!

Kent: The same thing occurred just last Monday. I believe you apologized for this after messing up repeatedly as a result.

I don’t doubt that you feel responsible for this, but to have the same mistake occur twice in a row is quite painful.

Even if we were to go out to buy fresh basil right now, by the time we return it would be 5 minutes after opening. As such, I would like to inquire as to how we should decide to resolve this.

Waka: ………

Ikki: ……...Manager?

Waka: To think that I…...over the course of 2 weeks would pile mistake after mistake on top of one another…….! How could…….How could I allow such a thing to happen!!

This is an unforgivable offence as a store manager…….Since it has come to this, I shall slit my stomach as repentance!

Orion: His stomach?!

Ikki: Stop, manager! You can’t even cut a stomach with a bamboo sword anyway, and even if you could it’d be a problem.

Kent: Indeed. After all, the manager of this store is you. So to exactly whom are you apologizing?

Waka: However, to have the manager of all people make a mistake regarding the contents of an order is an eternal disgrace!

The only way to wipe out such shame is to slit my belly…..!

Ikki: Like we just said, this is modern-day Japan. This is a cafe. This isn’t Edo Castle nor the Pine Hallway.

Please quit that bad habit of jumping to commit seppuku so quickly, seriously.

Kent: Anyhow, I wish to replace today’s pasta with a different menu. Using the small amount of peperoncino we have seems reasonable to me.

I took the liberty of making use of those ingredients. Although it wasn’t much preparation, honestly. Is that alright with you, manager?

Waka: …...I’m in your debt. I’m greatly obliged by your consideration.

Ikki: Well then, since that’s settled…...Shall we open up Meido no Hitsuji?

Orion: Alright, Table 6 is all clear!

Whew~ It sure is a pain when someone orders the “Stew of the Day.” The pot’s hot and heavy after all.

If his hands are free Ikki will carry it for us, but we can’t rely on him to do that for us every time.

…….But just why on earth does a cafe have a “Stew of the Day”? Does that even make sense?

Whoops, it’s another customer! Welcome back, Mas…….Ah.

???: Good work today. Are you working hard?

???: ‘Sup! Looks like you and Ikki are in charge of the front today.

???: Hello, Senpai. I’d like a window seat, please.

Orion: Eh. T-This is kinda an odd group of people……

I think you remember them but I’ll give some supplementary info anyway. This guy here…….

???: What’s wrong? You’re spacing out. Has your low blood pressure gotten worse?

Just because you live alone doesn’t mean you can live a careless lifestyle. If your health starts to fail as a result then you’ll regret it.

Orion: The one who acts like a grandma is Toma. He’s a caring person and often looks out for you.

He’s one year older than you, and he’s also your childhood friend. Together with Shin, the 3 of you were raised like siblings to one another apparently.

Then, this person here……

???: Is that based off your own personal experience, Toma?

They do often say that catching a cold and becoming helpless as you lie in bed is the very first hurdle of living alone.

Orion: This girl is Sawa. She’s in the same year as you, and it seems she’s a friend you go out with on days off.

She can be a little careless at times, but I think she’s a good person.

???: Eh~ But doesn’t Toma live close to his parents’ house?

If that’s the case then he could just head back there whenever he caught a cold and relax, no?

Orion: This girl is Mine. She’s one year below you so she’s a 3rd year high school student. She’s a little selfish, but you can also call her an honest girl in a sense.

All 3 of them are part of the Meido no Hitsuji staff. And for the most part, everyone who works here generally get along with one another.

That’s why on the contrary, picking just one person to consult with is pretty difficult…….

Toma: There’s no way I could return to my parents’ house if I caught a cold. My parents wouldn’t spoil me like that.

They let me live on my own so I could be able to start an independent lifestyle, so dealing with colds and such is also part of self-responsibility.

Sawa: Yikes~.......That sounds rough.

Mine: So does that mean your parents don’t intervene in your affairs at all, Toma?

Toma: Yup. As long as nothing big happens, I’m pretty much left alone. Thanks to that I can pretty much do whatever I want, but……

Whoops, standing here and chatting would just disrupt business. Let’s continue this convo after we give our orders.

Mine: Got it~ Then we’ll just go ahead and sit wherever we like, okay~

Sawa: This’ll probably end up being a long talk so let’s go to the corner!

Mine: But I wanted a window seat~.......

Orion: A long talk? …….I wonder what they came to talk about.

Ikki: Good work so far.

Orion: Oh, Ikki. I guess he’s done serving customers over there.

Ikki: Seems like an odd group of people has arrived. It isn’t every day you see Toma grouped with 2 girls.

Have you finished taking their orders? Not yet, huh. Then maybe I should head over to where the 3 of them are and take their orders while saying hi.

Female Customer: Excuse me, I’d like to order now.

Ikki: …... Whoops…….I was also in charge of the customer over there.

Sorry, can you go give them my greetings in my stead? …….At your service. Please wait a moment, my lady.

Orion: So he says. Alright, let’s go to take their orders.

I’m also curious about the subject of their long talk.

Sawa: I really do think we’d find them at a riverbank, though.

Mine: So does that mean lakes and stuff are out? Like reservoirs?

Sawa: I think rivers would be the most standard place.

Mine: Eh~ Then where did you find them last year? I wasn’t there so I wouldn’t know.

Sawa: That’s…...Umm…….Where did we find them again?

Toma: It was by the promenade. But there’s some soil preparation going on around there so it might be impossible to go there.

Sawa: Eh, really?

Toma: After the heavy rain a lot of sand was blocking up places so they’re trying to make both the middle of the river and the spaces around it as thoroughly clean as possible, apparently.

Due to the change in environment, I’m not sure if we’ll be able to expect finding them there this year.

Mine: Then what should we do? Should we just go to the mountains then?

Sawa: Ooh, mountains sound nice! Staying in a lodge! Camping! Barbeque! Oh, but you also can’t forget about curry.

Mine: Sawa, you’re slipping away from our objective.

Sawa: But if we’re gonna go to the mountains it’s best if we have fun through various ways, right? There’s gonna be a lot of people after all.

Mine: Hm~......But wouldn’t Shin dislike this sort of thing? I feel like he’d make a stink face at the mention of a barbeque or something.

Toma: That guy’s not as much of an individualist as he appears, so I think he’ll tag along.

He might not actively take part in the conversation, but he enjoys being in the middle of a group of people having fun.

But still, going to the mountains might be difficult. We won’t be able to return on the same day.

Mine: Eh~ So we can’t?

Toma: You’re a high school student as well as preparing to take exams so staying overnight is a no-go. Maybe next year.

Mine: …….Toma is so strict.

Toma: I’m the overseer after all so I have to be in regards to that.

And besides, it’s not like I’m kind in the first place.

Sawa: Uwah, he said it himself. …...Well, we did say we were gonna go on a day trip this time around.

Orion: Is this about a trip or something? Do you have plans to go hang out somewhere on a day trip……?

Toma: Whoops, sorry [MC]. You came to take our orders, right?

I’ll have the house blend…...Scratch that, I’ll have the cafe au lait. What about the 2 of you?

Mine: I’ll have a cinnamon milk tea.

Sawa: Today Kent’s in the kitchen, right? Then I’ll have a matcha latte.

Mine: Why’d you ask that?

Sawa: Kent’s super good at making latte’s. Shin and the manager are good too, but it’s like he’s even above that.

Toma: Oh yeah, he always talks about the blending ratio of matcha to milk or like the temperature or even the theory of the foam on top.

Orion: The theory of foam……?

Mine: …...Hey, that’s right. Say, Senpai. Where do you want to go?

Orion: Eh?! …...W-What are they talking about?

Sawa: Ah, that’s right. You’re the leader after all so why don’t you pick?

Orion: The leader?! Did [MC] have plans to join too?! And on top of that you’re the leader apparently…...Eeeeeeeeh.

We don’t know anything! W-What should we do……?!

→ Anywhere’s fine

Toma should choose

Mine: Anywhere’s fine, you say……

Toma: There, there. If you suddenly bring up the topic to her, I’m sure [MC] would be flustered.

Anywhere’s fine

→ Toma should choose

Mine: Eh~ What’s with that. You sure do rely on Toma a lot, Senpai.

Sawa: But it’s not like it’s unexpected, right? She did say they’ve been like siblings since long ago.

Toma: Aside from whether or not I spoil her, if it’s okay for me to choose then I’ll pick where to go, but…...Is that alright with you?

Orion: If you could do that for us it’d be a big help…...Right, [MC]?

Toma: Then I guess I’ll search around on the Internet. If we’re going to go somewhere I picked then I’ll have to be thorough in my research.

It would suck if I took you all to a disappointing location after all.

Mine: Uwah, Toma is so soft. When we gave our input, all you said to us was “I wonder about that.”

Toma: Her and Shin are like my family after all. I tend to look after them more than what’s necessary.

Thanks to that Shin calls me irritating, and lately even [MC] has been acting oddly distant from me.

But anyway, it’s been awhile since I’ve been relied on so Big Brother will do his best.

If I can’t find a good place within the neighborhood then we’ll have to go a bit further out. That’s okay with you, right?

In case we go somewhere far, have you all been saving your part-time earnings properly? Well, I’m sure at the very least a one-way ticket would only be a few thousand yen.

Sawa: It’s OK with me! …...Probably.

Mine: Of course. I’m pretty serious when it comes to saving money.

Toma: You���re okay too, right [MC]? You did tell me last month that’s why you’ve been coming in to work so much.

Orion: Eh, really?! I did think you had a lot of shifts but it was for that reason?!

Even though it’s determined you guys will be going somewhere, it also seems like there’s some goal in mind. Just exactly what is it though……?