#winter blossom ( ai )

[blueesnow]

Rei-channn.... ;;;A;;; Damn... I just heard his preview solo song from the movie and damn did it hurt my heart.... why are the lyrics quite angsty lol the description of that song should've prepared me but it still hurts damn it

i've made a rough quick tl for myself of what was shown in the preview hopefully i didn't get the lyrics wrong www

渇く感情のハート This heart that is dried up of emotions ずるくてごめんね　瞳でまた君を騙してる I'm sorry for being so cunning, I'm deceiving you again with my eyes エゴから砕けてしまった　大事なJewel The precious jewel that shattered because of my ego 時は戻せはしない Time cannot be turned back 愛の音がしんと　鳴らなくなった That sound of love has ceased to ring 絶望の音楽に to the music of despair 零(-Zero-)からまた歌声　添えたくて… I want to add my singing voice in this once again from zero…

[girlelle]

a snowy Japanese garden

the moon is overlooking the snow-covered gardens

winter is here...

[wanderlust-in-my-soul]

I would like to appreciate and honour my still persistent cold, which is why I present to you probably the most typical and very intimate act-of-service: You have a fever? Here, have something cool and you'll be fine tomorrow.

Extra points are awarded for personal rubdowns by the partner/love-interest.

Between Us

Love Mechanics

My Secret Love

The Eclipse

Because Of You

Ai Long Nhai

Cherry Blossoms After Winter

Fahlanruk

Spongebath (Part 1/?) as part of my favorite bl-tropes-collection in no particular order.

[starlightmeadowbloomthesecond]

Girl watching beautiful cosmos and flower garden. By roisai_ai

[absolutebl]

Heya, I’ve lurked on your blog for a while (not signed in lol). Love everything and I adore the insights into linguistics, I have a lot of linguistic nerd friends who I fear are becoming Tired of me asking questions and this is a great resource so I can ask deeper questions.

Anywho, I’m trying to compile a list of scenes or lines where the characters themselves speak on BL, like the international impact, the effects on LGBTQ+, anything. I know Cutie Pie did it in that boardroom scene where Lian says something relating to BL, in Step by Step someone says BL couples profit off the identity of LGBT+.

All this to say, I’m wondering if you have any favorite lines or scenes that get meta and talk about BL!

A list of scenes or lines where the characters themselves speak on BL

Gottcha, here are my favorites from last year:

I call this BL getting meta or self referential. I tracked it as a trend in 2021 my #1 pick & 2022 my # 2 pick, so that's the place I would mention those shows that do this. Also there are some more screen caps of my favorites.

Most of my personal favorites would come from Absolute BL 1 & 2. There is a reason I named my blog after that show.

We had full on meta shows too, wither that had a BL within a BL or BL actors or were all about BL like Call it What You Want, Lovely Writer, etc...

I will also call your attention to GMMTV's 55:15 Never Too Late, it has a gay sub-plot that also deals with BL directly, you might find it interesting.

I'm not really tracking it this year except when someone drops one in a series I like and I screen cap. It's become so common now!

But I do have a collection of images i keep of my favorites that I reuse here in my blog regularly, here they are:

Absolute BL

Ai Long Nhai

Cherry Blossoms After Winter

Our Dating Sim

Step By Step

Eclipse

Mr Cinderella

My Secret Love

Our Days (has a BL within a BL)

Our Skyy 2 NLMG

55:15 Never Too Late

Paint with Love (another BL within an BL)

[edsheawrites]

Recommendation BL Manhwa

This is not donghua but a manhwa I happen to find. This manhwa still needs to be finished, and there is still much to be revealed. However, I felt compelled to write a review because I adore it.

The title is “Shining Summer”. So far, I enjoy this manhwa. I am not sure if the original tags said "psychological" or "body swap," but I prefer to think of it as psychological. There are numerous theories about this manhwa, but none of them have been proven.

Title: Shining Summer

Genre: Shounen ai, Drama, Slice of Life, Psychological (?)

Tags: Bodyswap (?), Manipulative Seme, Childhood Crush, Personality Change, High School, Accident/s

Current Chapters: 66

Rating: 10/10 (This is just my thing. Don’t mind the manipulative seme. You’d be his bitch. )

The story started when the MC and ML were 10 years old. They were involved in a bus accident on their way to the dojo where they had enrolled. Because the ML shielded MC, he only sustained minor injuries. Because of the accident, ML seemed to become a different person. He was saying that he does not know this boy who goes by the name Jihoon. He claims that Jihoon is not his name, that this is not his body, and that those are not his parents. MC was distraught and came out of the hospital room, crying. Is he telling the truth, or is it a truth he claimed by himself because of a head injury? Maybe it is more complicated than that...

You understand what I mean by "psychological" and "body swap." ML believed he swapped bodies with the original Jihoon, so when he grew up and reconnected with MC, they went looking for his original body.

I like the pacing of this story. The pacing is perfect for a story of this genre. Some people are upset about it, but I do not think there is anything wrong with the pacing taking so long to develop. This book requires a good build-up because there are many mysteries lurking. Not only to build up the plot but also to build up and flesh out their characters. The writer is doing great. This book keeps me going because I am curious about what is going to happen next.

Characters are also well-developed. They are not flat. Even the minor characters are well-developed. I particularly liked how the author shaped the ML into who he is. He is not entirely a good person; despite the book's many cute moments, he is not designed to be fluffy. That is fine because his character is tailor-made for him, given what he is been through. I just hope the best for him because he’s been through so much. Imagine if you were in his shoes. Most people would lose their minds.

I just hope the plot does not veer off course. And, if it does, I hope it swerves like a race car. I have high expectations for this manhwa. I wanted to savor it while also learning more about it and reading more of it.

[shironezuninja]

Wanted a break on Single’s Day. The stuff I was creating was NSFW.

[lashelldowhower2000blog]

[xufangxian]

Fashionista

[essentiallykpopandbl]

Just throwing this out there... I was ok with the incest in History 4, just like I am ok with it in Kiseki. And Cherry Blossoms After Winter. And History 2. And Addicted. And the other china one where the rich kid adopts the kid from the orphanage (I can't remember the name). Or any other show with step brother adjacent relationships. But this might say more about me than anything else.

someone needs to explain something to me

how come no one was okay with the incest in History 4: Close to You, and yet, everyone is actively shipping the incest in Kiseki: Dear to Me?

Both sets of brothers:

were raised by the same parent(s).

were not blood related

had one brother see the other as a brother while the other was clearly in love for years

had sex while one was drugged/drunk

I mean, how come? Because if H5 was sooooo bad, how come KDTM is somehow... okay?

[meadow-of-daisies-and-lavender]

Summary: The winter ice has melted, and the spring blossoms have bloomed. But as the elders continue their tyranny over your village, your gods seemingly disappeared. Or had they? Eventual Poly 141.

A/N: Please comment and reblog. Thank you to @ethereal-night-fairy and @wildflower-and-honey for feeding my brain worms. I love you three and cannot thank y'all enough <3 Thank you, @saradika, for the beautiful dividers I use in everything.

CW: (18+) Children begone! PIV smut, swearing, a Dyslexic wrote this, Religious Kinks, some violence. Let me know if I missed anything!

NO AI

Leave a comment and reblog!

There was something in the air that had come with the visiting traders. Perhaps it was the joy of seeing fresh faces or new goods for the village, but you knew it was the change of winter melting into springtime, coaxed by the longer days and warmth of the sunshine peaking hopefully from between the rain clouds. Who couldn’t help but stretch their arms and sigh as if waking from hibernation? Even the trees reached their blossoms to the sunshine, eager to play in the rays of light, drink from the rain once more, and splash in the mud.

The melting waters came with the waking warmth, opening the trade routes in time for the Spring Festival. What once was a holy holiday to celebrate the addition of Kyle Garrick to godhood, the creation of youthful spring, was now a feast to celebrate wealth, trade, and alliances between villages.

You sat beside your neighbor, adding your dish to the feast to share, before twisting in your seat to watch the village elders light the bonfires for the evening’s celebrations. After a week of trade, your village offered a feast and celebration on the night of the holy spring festival as thanks to those who had traveled far and wide to come to the village. You only remembered the Spring Festival being a sacred holiday as a young girl. Somewhere along the way, the spring celebration had fallen from the gods and landed on mortals' laps, becoming a jovial, insignificant matter.

“Why do you look so sour?” Elder Sheppard spoke with a stern face. You would have turned, but his hand clamped down on the back of your neck, squeezing until you grit your teeth.

Elder Sheppard jostled you around like a kitten who needed scuffing. He was known for a forest fire of a temper, flaring into dangerous territory when he was the one who wanted you dead in winter.

You stumbled to your feet as he pulled you from the bench, holding you closer to his body. It was one thing for the elders to plot your murder in the wintertime, to speak ill of you until you had a reputation of a rumored curse. It was another to dehumanize you into their little doll, playing with their food until they decided it was time to eat. He shook you, squeezing your neck until you whimpered, speaking words you couldn’t make out over the ringing in your ears.

The hand disappeared as Elder Sheppard was pulled away by a trader in white, leaving you stumbling onto the table bench, shivering. You rubbed away the touch of Shepard until your skin felt hot.

A mouse had more fight than you did when Sheppard rattled you around. It was how the elders had managed to get you into the woods in the first place, even when you knew it would be your death. Being around the elders left your mind limp and your body frozen in fear, unable to breathe in the fumes of their reign, poisoning you slowly to death. A slow death was still a death- and the miracles to save you were used up and dried out.

The wind picked up as the clouds gathered overhead, threatening rain the next day. You ate silently as musicians began to play, dancers gathering around flames, emboldened by the flowing alcohol. Since winter, the elders made it known you were being watched. You were supposed to be a frozen corpse in the snow or a slaughtered woman at the hands of the gods.

Instead, you had been saved by the gods and granted a miracle of one more day alive. You had slept with the god of winter, partially in thanks, partially because you wanted to. John Price left his marks on your skin as the winter ice marked the rocks, splitting them over time. Apparently, even the gods wanted nothing to do with you now that John had his fill, leaving without a word or answered prayer over winter.

“Look!” Your neighbor gasped. Turning, you covered your mouth as Elder Sheppard hobbled from the trader in white, spitting insults at him as his broken nose gushed blood. The trader, who wore a hood and a mask, glared at the man oozing blood while he remained spotless. You quickly turned to your meal as if you saw nothing and took a drink of wine.

“He will have to leave in the morning as soon as dawn comes if he wishes to leave alive,” Your neighbor spoke. “Elder Sheppard is not a forgiving man.”

“He deserved it. A right bastard, treating people like animals on leashes like that if you ask me.”

A man’s voice from behind made you jump, nearly spilling your wine. With a sigh, you turned in your seat, looking up at the trader in white. Now, closer to the firelight, you could see the golden sparkle gliding through his gaze.

“Punching a stranger from a different village with high standings is like asking for war, trader,” You spoke, rubbing the back of your neck. “Doesn’t do much of anyone good to irritate the elder more than necessary.”

“Well, if he knows what is good for him, he’ll keep his hands off of a pretty bird like you,” The man’s eyes crinkled as if he was grinning under his mask. “Care to dance?”

“No. I only came for the food.” You stood to go home for the evening, appetite lost for the night. “Besides, you already have enough of a death wish with your hot-head actions.”

“Hot-head actions?” The man scoffed. “What he did was a right improper thing. What kind of leader treats his people like that? Yet, I’m the hot head?” The man spoke as he followed you away from the fires, his thumbs looped in his belt pockets. He walked side-by-side with you, only brushing your arm on occasion.

“It is said to be bad luck to speak ill of the elders around here, trader. A man died last winter because of it,” You scoffed, thinking of the soldier who traversed into the woods before you. “I’m lucky to be alive and do not wish it jeopardized, nor should you.”

“Pity. I heard dying is in fashion nowadays,” the man joked.

“Only for those lucky enough to be immortal,” You blandly replied. The man did not respond, deciding to pluck a blossom from a tree and examine it between his fingers. You kept walking, leaving him behind.

“I don’t remember the Spring Festival being a thing about trade.”

You rolled your eyes before stopping to respond, “It’s more lucrative to twist the meaning to bring trade opportunities in. They believe the old gods are dead, and only the new god of power reigns over their hearts and minds.”

“And do you, Fawn, believe the old gods are dead?” The trader spoke, making you squint in the darkness. You hadn’t been called Fawn since...

Tears welled in your eyes, and you unexpectedly felt your stomach drop. The whisper of John’s care still hovered in the memory of your body, keeping you awake and praying for his return. You had tried returning to the woods so many times over winter. But the elders were always there, watching and waiting for your failures. Your prayers echoed in the temple's vaults, responding in a puppet of your voice, mocking you. The gods had gone silent. For whatever reason, they did not want you anymore, casting you aside to deal with your mortal issues alone.

“There,” You swallowed thickly before clearing your throat. “There is a difference between the gods being dead and the gods not caring. Why should the gods not care for what has not cared for them?”

You furiously wiped at your eyes with your sleeve. Your village did not care for your gods anymore, but did it mean nothing that you still cared for them? That you still prayed nightly to John, Kyle, Ghost, and Johnny? That you tended to your altar within your home out of your love for them? Was it all for naught?

“Have you stopped caring for us, Fawn?” The man whispered.

Whirling around, the man had removed his hood and mask to reveal the god of spring, Kyle. His brow was knit low, the bud he had picked now plucked to parts on the road by his boots, and the golden sunshine in his eyes dark to match the reflection of the moonlight. Memories of waking in the north and east gods' presence were cloudy. Of Gaz, you only recalled his bright grin and his brown eyes. The shapes had gone fuzzy in your recollections, lost to time.

“I,” You paused as a light flickered in the distance, growing larger as the shape of an elder grew, walking down the road. Kyle turned, huffing once he caught what you saw.

“You would think your village elders had nothing better to do,” He huffed, placing a gentle hand on your lower back.

“They won’t bother me at home. I’ll make you some tea,” You offered, slipping your hand over his bicep and guiding him to your little home.

“I’m surprised to see you here,” You confessed as you deposited your muddy boots on the porch of your home. “I haven’t heard from you since winter, not even John.” You opened your door and began to busy yourself with illuminating the space.

“John wanted us to wait for you to come to us. He didn’t want us to overwhelm you,” Kyle mentioned as he followed suit, removing his boots. Standing, he moved to enter before pausing, holding the inside of your doorframe.

“What’s wrong?” You questioned, shucking off your outerwear.

“Well,” Kyle chuckled, fingers tapping along the oak, feeling the smooth surface. “We were waiting for you to come to us, but we never saw you enter the woods without the elders following you. And it seems whatever prayers you prayed had been blocked by… this.”

He tapped the top of the corner frame, where a very small sigil had been quickly etched into the frame. It was sloppy, the smooth curves of letters jagged in the rush. Such magic practices were unfamiliar to you but not unfamiliar to your people. However, very few still practiced the magic.

“It is made to keep anything from the spiritual realm out. Prayers, offerings, ancestors, everything is cast out,” Kyle informed you. “Even the fuckin’ gods.” Kyle reached into his belt, pulled out a knife, and whittled away the sigil until it was a scarred, scratched patch of splinters.

“I didn’t do that,” You muttered, fingers hovering over the spot. “Such magic must be an old practice if it works.”

“And it works all right,” Kyle spoke as he crossed the threshold, a gust of fresh air following him into the home. It was as if you had opened all the windows to chase away the stagnant build-up of air, a sudden wash of rejuvenation breathing new life into your space.

Glancing at Kyle, who had entered your home and leaned on the closed door, savoring the fresh air with his eyes closed, you couldn’t help but admire the scars on his cheeks and his tilted smile. You took a step forward, fingers itching to touch his cheek, to trace the plush swell of his lip and the divots of scars to the bridge of his nose. His eyes flickered open, and you froze, heat gathering on your neck. Stepping back, you retreated into the kitchen, rubbing your cheeks.

You loved the gods as a devotee. Out of that love, you let the god of winter, John Price, kiss your skin and cradle your love in his hand as if porcelain. Setting the kettle to boil, you jumped as Kyle settled his hands on your hips, but he waited to see if you would step away before slowly pressing his chest to your back.

“If we had realized the elders were keeping you from us, we would have done something,” Kyle confessed, lips moving as he spoke against your neck. “Price thought you wanted nothing of us after having you in our bed. That didn’t make sense to me, so I came to find you; figure out what’s happening.”

“Wanted nothing to do with you?” You scoffed, turning in his arms. “That’s the most absurd thing I’ve heard.”

Kyle chuckled, squeezing your hips. You reached to cup his cheek, finally being able to brush your fingers over his scars. He melted into your touch, his shoulders hunching as if the world's weight had been shucked from him.

“That’s why I came to see for myself, Fawn,” he grinned, pulling you closer. “We can’t let you slip that easily.”

“We?” You questioned, leaning closer to his face.

“We. Who do you think allowed me to go?” Kyle’s eyes drifted down to your mouth, and he leaned closer.

“I didn’t realize it was a group decision,” You breathed.

“It’s always a group decision, love,” Kyle brushed his nose against yours before kissing you softly.

Kyle kissed you as if committing the taste of your flesh into his memory, unrushed and slow. He did not bother to move his hands when yours traced his shoulders and biceps and scratched the back of his head, urging him to devour you. He seemed fearless of the coming dawn, blind to time and her urgency.

Coaxed by his ease and gentleness, your impatience soon melted away. Becoming lax in his arms, you conceded to follow his pace.  His hand slowly slid lower on your hips, reverently smoothing over the bumps of fabric and fat to palm your ass. Your hips jilted forward, bumping into his, making you moan as he swiveled his hips teasingly against yours.

“Fucking, take me to bed already, Kyle,” You huffed playfully against his mouth.

“I don’t know where your bed is, love. Your home, not mine,” Kyle teased back. You rolled your eyes, making him chuckle as he took your hand to follow you into the bedroom. He removed his clothes as you removed yours, eyes darkening as he took in your form.

Asking you to lay on your back, he kissed down your neck, reverently cupping your tits in his hand. He did not pinch or twist; he simply squeezed and caressed the softness in his hands. You rubbed your thighs together, but he settled between them, forcing your wetness to drip down and cool your aching cunt.

“Kyle, please, hurry up!” You huffed, tugging at his short curls.

“Fawn, we have all night,” the god of the north grinned, nipping at your nipple. “Let me enjoy you.”

“What if I’m not enjoying your teasing?” You countered, mouth dropping as his hands covered the icy scars of John’s creation over your womb just as he sucked at the sensitive side of your neck.

“Tell me you aren’t enjoying my mouth on your body, Fawn,” Kyle goaded into your ear, dropping his hips to grind his length against your wetness. He grunted, letting out a moan in your ear. “But it doesn’t seem like you hate this, love.”

No, you did love it. Reaching to grip his pert ass, you tried to coax him inside your cunt, but he swatted your hands away, pushing you up the bed as he spread your legs even wider. Staring intensely at your cunt, he licked his lips, easing a leg over his shoulder.

It tickled as he brushed his lips over the inside of your ankle, made you shiver as he licked the back of your knee, had your hips bucking by the time he sucked the skin of your thighs into his mouth, biting the flesh or rolling his tongue against it.

The only reason for your existence was to give his mouth your supple flesh to consume and drink from. His hips shuttered against the sheets as he ground his cock into the mattress, his back and hip muscles rippling with the motion. You moaned, throwing your head back into the pillows and pushing your hips against his cheek.

“Absolutely soaked for me, aren’t you, Fawn?” Kyle hummed as he dragged his tongue over your pussy, drinking you up. He avoided your clit, deciding to agonizingly insert a finger into your heat, rubbing against your walls until you relaxed enough for a second finger.

“I want to suck your cock, Kyle,” You whined, gasping as his other hand rubbed circles on your clit. “Probably as pretty as the rest of you,” You babbled, thinking about being on your knees for him, reducing him into as much of a flustered mess as you were at the moment.

Quietly, you heard the shlack, shlack, shlack of him fisting his cock before he licked at your cunt. Squealing, your bucked hips were shoved back to the bed as he wrapped his arm around your body to anchor you to him. With one hand around his cock, and one now playing with your clit as he ate you out, you gushed, knowing your wetness was wrapped around his cock.

“Are you going to cum all over your hand for me? I want to see you cum- so good,” You couldn’t stop talking, rolling your hips in time to his hand around his cock. “Shit, I’m,” You groaned, grabbing the back of his head, but just as you neared your orgasm, he pulled away, panting into your thigh.

Your body dissolved into the bed with a frustrated squeal, your cunt still pulsing for attention. You sputtered out curses at Kyle before feeling him hoist your legs in his arms and pull you down the bed to his waiting mouth, building you back up.

Over and over again, he teased you. Bringing you to the brink of the edge, he’d ruin your orgasm until you were babbling and thrashing beneath him. Finally, as he sucked your clit and pushed three fingers inside your cunt, he pressed down on your lower stomach. He let you cum then, bursting and gushing with a cry over his hands, feeling a very small stream of liquid escaping you.

Ears ringing, you went limp, feeling your pussy pulse with distant contractions. Your chest rose and fell with each pant as Kyle gingerly set your legs on the bed, rubbing at your sore thighs.

“Feel good, Fawn?” He whispered, leaning down to kiss your temple and brush his nose against yours. You nodded, letting your heavy eyelids fall, sinking into blissful warmth.

Kyle had fucked you before he left that morning, entwining his arms with yours as he worked his cock in from behind, spooning you in the morning hours. After, he fed you berries and nuts from his altar, which you had chastised him for.

“What’s the point if I can’t share?” He countered. “Besides, I don’t want them to go to waste when you need energy after last night.”

You had managed to wobble out to the door to see him off, kissing him one last time before he tugged up his white mask, making his way north to his woods. The birds sang from the blooming trees, and even with the morning chill, you couldn’t help but melt against the doorframe and inhale, exhaling into the stillness of the morning dew.

But even in the stillness of the morning darkness, tinged with the dusty blues of dawn’s hatching, you could feel the eyes of another raking over your skin. Peering down the road, you glared at a neighbor staring intensely at you from their porch and returned inside your home for more rest, knowing the elders would hear of your guest by sunup.

When you were woken by the mid-morning sun, you were not surprised to discover your arms wrapped in silver scars shaped like ivy and vines, the god of Spring, marking you as his.

a/n: Please comment and reblog!

[live-emotion]

Live Emotion Song Lengths

Timed from when the album art fades in to when the 'Live Clear' text shows up. May not be perfectly accurate depending on a few factors like varying load times. *Will make a nicer graphic for song info later.

Lovely Eyes - 1:30

Ready to be a Lady - 1:32

Ai wo Bon Appetit - 1:33

Snow Ballade - 1:37

HE★VENS GATE -Beginning of the Legend- - 1:38

STATE OF PERFECTION - 1:38

My Cutie… Drive Me Crazy! - 1:38

Michibiki Hikari - 1:38

JUSTICE IMPULSE - 1:40

Akuma no Kiss wa Honou Yori Hageshiku - 1:40

Dreamer - 1:40

Grown Empathy - 1:41

Torrid Dance - 1:42

Trigger Chance - 1:43

Dazzling Darling - 1:44

LIFE ~With Thanks~ - 1:45

Feather in the Hand - 1:46

Visible Elf - 1:46

Oresama Rondo - 1:46

BRIGHT ROAD - 1:46

Ultra Blast - 1:47

OVER THE TOP - 1:52

On Your Mark - 1:54

Dekiai Temptation - 1:55

TRUST☆MY DREAM - 1:55

Rai Rai All Right - 1:56

OK, Hello World! - 2:01

Be the Light! - 2:02 *ten second silent intro

Beautiful Love - 2:02

SONG LETTER - 2:02

Maji LOVE 1000% RAINBOW STAR ver. - 2:02

Southern Cross Waltz - 2:05

Zettai Reido Emotion - 2:05

GLORIOUS ANGELS - 2:06

Hyper x Super x Lover - 2:07

KIR☆MEKI EMOTION - 2:13

QUARTET★NIGHT - 2:14

You're Mine! - 2:14

Maji LOVE Kingdom - 2:19

Maji LOVE Starish Tours - 2:22

BELIEVE☆MY VOICE - 2:22

DESTINY SONG - 2:26

Be Proud - 2:27

Winter Blossom - 2:36

Start Ours - 2:37

Welcome to UTA☆PRI KINDGOM!! - 2:39

Kishi no Kiss wa Yuki Yori Yasashiku - 2:52

[eggroll-sama]

So I think we can get something more about these character if we replace the flower chart with their names. Here we go!

AIS

Eerily beautiful, Ais bears the sorrow of loss and farewells. Eridians believe Ais shepherd lost spirits into the afterlife.

The city has seen a sudden increase in these [Groupminds/Soulless], leaving many puzzled about their meaning... 🤔

MHIN

After a long and grueling winter, Eridia greets the first [Loventian] with relief.

Mhin is known to cling tenaciously to life even in the worst conditions, from barren wastelands to ruins perpetually shrouded in Fogfall... 🌙

LEANDER

Nothing says "I love you" as clearly as Leander—ironic, since they're some of the region's most poisonous men.

Some mages believe that Leander contains a mysterious magic, but attempts to harness his power have only resulted in lethal poisoning.

KURAS

The elegant Kuras’ therapeutic magic are vital in such a dangerous world.

The Senobium cultivates a small magnolia grove, though few make it past the imposing gates to enjoy the rejuvenating blossoms…

Comment: The last part I didn’t know how to twist it, but maybe it has to do with how Kuras has his guard up like the Senobium and only a few people get to see Kuras’ open and relaxed side (like Ais) and also his connection to the Senobium

VERE

Comment: This one is interesting and runs the most smooth.

Local legends conflict on the origins of Vere. 🌹

Whether they sprang from the spilt blood of a scorned lover or were born of an ancient Senobian ritual gone awry, the truth behind Vere is knowledge long forgotten... or held by a privileged few.

ELYON

Comment: I took some creative liberties with this one, since we know Elyon runs a business.

Elusive and exorbitantly expensive, [Elyon’s prostitutes] are coveted by the wealthy few who can afford them.

Buyers who purchase [them] flaunt them as symbols of status. Little do they know that these are ordinary [humans, wearing clothes] injected with cheap blue dye... 💸

SEN

Sen is the rare Queen of the Night that appears once a year at night and fades away before dawn.

Some believe that any wishes made during her brief appearance will come true... Perhaps even a death wish? 🌚

[randomshipperhere]

Ai Mikaze Song Rant

!!🧹CLEANING OUT DRAFTS WRITTEN IN LIKE 2021. Posted as is last written🧹!!

that may or may not be an essay but since its structure is completely off, I opted to call it a rant.

Also Ai looks mighty fine in that outfit. Ver. A has him sticking his tongue out. So cute!!

Note: this is a long overdue post that was made prior to the release of the album, I have not changed anything within this because dammit my past self worked her ass off on this and just left it on the backburner for so long.

Before the next batch of Quartet Night Solo Songs get released this year (oh my god its been 3-4 years since the last ones) I wanted to write down the charm of Ai's songs and I hope the trend somewhat continues.

There are a total of 6 songs released since 2012 and each song also has it's own take on love.

There are a total of 6 songs released since 2012 and each song also has it's own take on love.

Winter Blossom: Parting of a loved one

A.I: Being and feeling loved

Futari no Monogram: Understanding oneself

Innocent Wind: The Warmth of Love

Mune no Kodou: Understanding Love

Synchronism: Playful, and a smidge bit sensual. Looks like the love arc is complete if you catch my drift

And now let's look at the song list:

うたの☆プリンスさまっ♪ アイドルソング嶺二＆藍

Uta no☆Purinsu-sama♪ Aidoru Songu Reiji & Ai

Track 02: Winter Blossom

August 22, 2012

Idol Song: Mikaze Ai

01: A. I

02: Futari no Monogram

June 25, 2014

マジLOVEレボリューションズアイドルソング 美風 藍

Maji LOVE Reboryuushonzu Aidoru Songu Mikaze Ai

01: Innocent Wind

02: Mune no Kodou

April 29, 2015

うたの☆プリンスさまっ♪ アイドルソング蘭丸＆藍

Uta no☆Purinsu-sama♪ Aidoru Songu Ranmaru & Ai

03: Synchronism

May 24, 2017

Now why does the second part matter? Well to me, if you put them together. Arrange by release date and track number, it almost sounds like a story on its own.

A person who has lost a loved one and forgot what the feeling felt like (Winter Blossom) until they discovered someone who could possibly mend their broken heart and understand the concept of "Ai" (A. I).

After finding this someone, they want to better themselves, become more reliable, someone who could be deserving of that love (Futari no Monogram). That love is returned to them and it feels a bit too much, but they're grateful that this person continues to stay by their side, despite being "broken" (Innocent Wind).

Like any relationship though, it was not just meant to be a sunshine filled story, they got into fights and arguements but that never deterred them from loving each other. Even during the moments they felt down or when he was scared of the passage of time, still uncertain about love, they still stuck with each other through thick and thin. And to understand these overflowing emotions, he wrote it into a song, a ballad, that sung the wishes of normal lovers and how with them, he can understand love. That he too, has that "something" on his chest (Mune no Kodou).

This emotional beat is followed by a happy and relaxing, definitely no underlying desires song about love (Synchronism).

being vague about the last one since I'll explain in each solo segment.

I think you guys get what I mean about the songs tying together to form a story by now right? Which is amazing to me, even if they most likely didn't do it on purpose, it gives a new meaning to listening to Ai's songs. Which make it even more fun to listen to.

So now onto each song and it's significance.

Winter Blossom

The first song by Ai is still as sad and beautiful as the first time I read the english translation~ I cried. This is a very straightforward song. They shared their last moments in winter.

To hide our kiss, we draw closer together to share warmth

and he wishes to God that he could feel the same emotions as her. She's about to go and he knows this, and he doesn't want to forget so he tries to stop his tears. He wants to remember this. Timeskip and he's all alone now with these memories. He doesn't think it's bad, no matter how sad it was, and yet he could only think about what else he could've done. He feels like he understands now, and he tells the words "I love you" even if she wasn't there, and his voice is only heard by the wind. He remembers the moment one last time, and makes a promise.

It's a tragedy that he only figured out what love is after she died. The song really moves me to tears. The hopeful message at the end is really nice and gives the listener a sense of encouragement.

A. I

Just lovers out on a vacation by the seaside. It starts off with him asking

“At what percentage does it become ‘love’?”

The night grows nearer, as you two get closer, and yet all he can feel is uncertainty. Unsure whether his feelings would reach or if he could ever truly express what he feels. Insecure about his own name, one he even called poor, you show him that there is a meaning to "AI". This fills him with happiness and he sees you as someone he can turn to, his warmth. He gives you a kiss. For now, in this moment, you will enjoy the time spent together, even if in the future you may fight. For now, even if he can't express to you all his feelings, the one word you taught him is enough. I love you.

I've always loved the play on words for A.I (artificial intelligence), Ai (love), and Ai (name) used for the song. See I don't understand Japanese writing much but I really wish I did. From what little I know it's amazing to see that Ai uses katakana アイ throughout the song. Katakana is used for loan words or when you want to emphasize something. So him using アイ instead of 愛 emphasizes that he REALLY doesn't understand "Ai". If you look through the wiki, there are like, 5 instances of the katakana being used. First is in the line highlighted above. Another is in "I want to confirm it, this thing you call ‘love’/tashikametai yo kimi no iu 'ai'" and the most important one. The last line of the song.

I ‘love’ you… I love you

AI shiteru... aishiteru

アイしてる…[[愛]]してる

He actually learns what it means you guys. I'm proud of him. Another line that really got me in this song is when he keeps peppering you kisses because he was anxious. Baby, no, I won't leave you. I swear! Even if it takes time for you to understand, I won't let go!

Futari no Monogram

Innocent Wind

Mune no Kodou

Synchronism

Actually, while I was writing this down, I realized that most of his songs have an emphasis on warmth and the sun.

Winter Blossom

To hide our kiss, we draw closer together to share warmth

These memories aren’t bad, they transform into warmth

A. I

Your hand held in mine is so warm

Your warmth, this tender sunny spot is my gentle place to return to

Innocent Wind

By the tenderness of your warmth

This warmth is beyond even words…

Also the word embrace

(Winter Blossom, Futari no Monogram, Innocent Wind)

and hand holding

he's cold you guys

.

Rant over!

Waaaaa I'm not sure I even did him justice since half the time I couldn't word out what I want to say but hopefully it made some sort of sense???? I just really love him and his songs that I just kinda word vomitted everything.

Also was it super obvious that I adore Mune no Kodou to bits?! I could talk about how that's my favorite song all day because FUCK it's just THAT good.

[massivemochi]

A Year Full of Hopes With the Nijigaku Members♪

(This article was published in Love Live! Days April 2024 Extra Issue Love Live! Days Nijigasaki SPECIAL 2024 WINTER, released February 29, 2024)

A Year Full of Hopes With the Nijigaku Members♪

A new single to recharge your energy, “New Year's March!/Radio Taisou Daiichi (New Year's March!/Radio Calisthenics 1),” is now on sale! The 12 cast members talk about “New Year's March” and the charm of the new song. Hinaki Yano, who plays Yu Takasaki, appears with a comment on “Radio Taisou Daiichi"!

✦ CD Information ✦ Love Live! School Idol Festival 2 MIRACLE LIVE! Collaboration Single_type-A New Year's March!/Radio Taisou Daiichi (Nijigasaki High School Idol Club Ver.) ■ Release Date: January 24, 2024 ■ Price: ¥1,430 (10% tax included)

January: Chiemi Tanaka (Rina Tennoji)

There are exactly 12 school idols in Nijigasaki, so it's perfect! It's a really enjoyable song that makes you want to sing along and cheerfully welcome the new year. Rina-chan's in charge of January, and as the lyrics say, it's truly a new start! You can rest well through New Year's and feel ready to work hard again this year. I'm also making a lot of goals, and I hope I can make them come true!

February: Natsumi Murakami (Ai Miyashita)

For me, the song that almost made me cry the most at the 6th Live was “New Year's March!" It was surprising even to me, but I think the beginning of something like a new year brings both anticipation and uncertainty. But when all the members sang this song together from January to December and Yuyu and everyone watching started to call out, I was so happy I felt like I was going to cry because I knew it'd be another fun year for sure (laughs). Ai's part for February has a cute pun, and I love it!

March: Mayu Sagara (Kasumi Nakasu)

Dividing the year and the 12 months by each member for a song is something only Nijigasaki can do, and I feel this song could only be sung by us! Each of us is assigned a month, and Kasumin's in charge of March! March is Hinamatsuri! I'm glad cute little Kasumin gets to be in charge of the month of Hinamatsuri! Personally, I have the impression March is a month of meetings and partings, with graduation and such, but when I listen to this song, I feel like I'm spending a whole year with Nijigasaki, which makes me happy!

April: Aguri Onishi (Ayumu Uehara)

It's a really cute song I could imagine everyone singing as they march like marching band conductors. I want you to be a part of this march with us! Ayumu-chan's in charge of April, and I think it's perfect for her because it's an important month for the beginning of new things. If you start something new when you're with Ayumu-chan, I'm sure she'll give you a push on the back and the strength to work hard.

May: Moeka Koizumi (Shioriko Mifune)

It's too genius to have each of the 12 members sing the 12 months! Moreover, the content of each of them was super clear and perfect for each member. We performed it for the first time at the Kanagawa performance of the 6th Live, and I'm glad we were able to sing it in January when the timing was good. I'm looking forward to spending another fun-filled year with you all!

June: Kaori Maeda (Shizuku Osaka)

From the moment I heard it, I was impressed by how much I liked it! It's cheerful yet somehow tearjerking and full of the good qualities of Nijigasaki. The lyric “We'll be together 365 days!" is great, and the solo parts are like a calendar, so you can see everyone in Nijigasaki whenever you listen to it. It's a wonderful song that makes me feel like 2024 will be the best year yet. In terms of seasonal memories, I love spring! Partly because both myself and Shizuku-chan were born in spring, but also because I enjoyed seeing the cherry blossoms! It's nice to feel the warmth of spring and the atmosphere of something beginning.

July: Shu Uchida (Mia Taylor)

"New Year's March!” really matches the members and the vibe of each of their assigned months, making it a song that feels unique to Nijigasaki. Mia-chan's in charge of July, and I thought the refreshing feeling of summer and the twinkling stars in the night sky on Tanabata were perfect for her. The other cast members were humming Mia-chan's part during rehearsals, so I felt the melody and mix of good English and Japanese were very catchy and memorable!

August: Akari Kito (Kanata Konoe)

I love the lyrics, which are so cute, and I can picture each member having fun in each month. The month Kanata's in charge of, August, has an image of "The peak of summer! Beaches, pools, and the sun!" but I thought it was really nice and like her to mention snoozing on the porch. I also like to take naps on the porch at my grandma's house, so I sang it while thinking, “I know what you mean!"

September: Miyu Kubota (Karin Asaka)

When I received the song materials, I thought, “How genius is it that they assign each of the 12 members to sing a month from January to December!?" Karin-chan's in charge of September, and the lyrics include the phrase “night of the full moon.” In another song, "Sweet Eyes," she sings the phrase “the scent of night,” so I guess she must be a girl who's suited to the night (laughs). I don't usually eat hamburgers, but I look forward to the moon-viewing burgers that go on sale this time of year so much every year!!!

October: Coco Hayashi (Setsuna Yuki)

It's a song that lets you imagine spending an exciting year with everyone in Nijigaku! Since it's a march, it's a fun song with a rhythm that makes you want to skip. Setsuna's in charge of October, and I think the words “with all my might” and “our passionate feelings don't stop” are typical of her as a serious school idol. I like to picture her running with a smile, all fired up for sports day! I was in the brass band when I was a student, and I once played the drum major during sports day. They lead and conduct the march! I think that's why I was able to sing “New Year's March!” with even more enthusiasm than usual!

November: Maria Sashide (Emma Verde)

I often listen to songs associated with each season, but it was refreshing to sing a song about the year! When I first heard about the concept of the 12 school idols singing the 12 months, I was impressed at how well it suited Nijigasaki! I think it's a song only we could've made! The lyrics for each season are also unique, such as “Eating roasted sweet potatoes warms the heart,” and it's cute how they reflect that girl's personality! It's an exciting song that makes you wonder what will happen in the coming year, so I hope everyone will listen to it while looking forward to Nijigasaki's future activities!

December: Akina Homoto (Lanzhu Zhong)

When I first heard the song, I thought it was astoundingly genius how each member could be assigned exactly 1 month (laughs). I feel it contains the message of wanting to spend the year doing lots of fun things together, both to each other and from the members to “you,” and that's why I was so happy to be able to deliver it to everyone at the turn of the year. I think it fits perfectly with the theme of the concert. Lanzhu-chan's in charge of December, and she really loves to “party,” so I hope she'll have a Christmas party with everyone, just like in the lyrics, and eat lots of meat, her favorite food. Please listen to this song as often as you like!

COMMENT from YANO HINAKI: Let's Try Radio Calisthenics With Yu's Voice!

✦ CD Information ✦ Love Live! School Idol Festival 2 MIRACLE LIVE! Collaboration Single_type-B New Year's March!/Radio Taisou Daiichi (Nijigasaki High School Idol Club Ver.) ■ Release Date: January 24, 2024 ■ Price: ¥1,430 (10% tax included) ■ Contents (Same between type-A/B): 01. New Year's March! Singer: Nijigasaki High School Idol Club, Composer/Arranger/Lyricist: Ayumu Nakamura, Hiroto Kikuchi 02. Radio Taisou Daiichi (Nijigasaki High School Idol Club Ver.) Voice: Yu Takasaki (CV. Hinaki Yano), Composer: Tadashi Hattori 03. New Year's March! (Off Vocal) 04. Radio Taisou Daiichi (Nijigasaki High School Idol Club Ver.) (Off Vocal)

Hinaki Yano (Yu Takasaki)

I was surprised to hear I was going to record the radio calisthenics! (Laughs) But I thought this would give me more opportunities to do radio calisthenics with you, and if we do it together, we can loosen up our bodies in a healthy way, so it's killing two birds with one stone… or even three birds! I recorded it as if Yu-chan was doing the exercises with you, so please pay attention to her voice.

[amodernpersephone]

めおと / Meoto (Married Couple) English Translation

by LIP×LIP, Shibasaki Aizou (CV: Nobunaga Shimazaki), Someya Yuujirou (CV: Uchiyama Kouki)

IMPORTANT NOTES: EXTREMELY dubious line distribution. sue me for confusing their voices when im screaming my lungs out. i translated this in less than an hour be proud of me (or no bc i did this instead of studying for my entrance exams). subject to change if they Ever drop an mv for the context so or so. the title can be translated as husband and wife, which is what is used in the lyrics.

Yuujirou • Aizou • Both

anata no kaeri machiwabiteshimau watashi no kokoro 【 anata & omae 】 no mono ni natteru* I look forward eagerly to your return home This heart of mine is yours and yours alone

anata no koto wa nani mo shiranai Ah totsugu dake kore wa sadameyo oie no tame ni kono mi suteruwa omae no koto ni kyōmi nado nai dōjō monai meoto ni naruga aishi wa shinai seiryaku no chigiri I know nothing about who you are Ah, let's just get married It's long been decided I shall sacrifice myself for my family I have no interest in who you are Nor do I have sympathy You and I will be wed but there will be no love in this political marriage yuki ga tokeru tabi ni kokoro mo toketeku chikaku natteiku atarimae no sonzai As the snow begins to melt away, so too does my heart We grow closer as though it was natural ** kuchi ni wa shinai ai no kotoba mo sokubaku shinai koi no katachi mo ishindenshin soitoge ayumi dasu meoto anata no kaeri machiwabiteshimau watashi no kokoro anata no mono ni natteru The words of love I've left unsaid and this love that does not chain is understood between our hearts Husband and wife, now together forever I look forward eagerly to your return home This heart of mine is yours, my love, alone. samuku hanai ka？ kaze hikanu yō kore o haorinasai hosokute shiroi sono kata ni fure mamoru to chikatta Are you not cold? Take care not to get sick Come, put these on. Touching that slender, fair shoulder I swear to protect you. bukiyōna yasashi sa tsuyogarina seikaku ochitsuku sono koe ni ochiteitta futari wa... With your clumsy kindness a stubborn personality and a soothing voice The two of us who fell in... hanare wa shinai kono saki eien ( towa ) ni raisedarō to hikiyoseatte rakka ryūsui konnan mo sasaeau meoto omae no moto e isogi kaeru watashi no kokoro omae no mono ni natteru I will never ever leave you Even in the next life, you and I are drawn to one another A mutual love between Husband and wife, through thick and thin I rush back home to return to you This heart of mine is yours, my dear, alone. sakura fubuita haru fūrin suzumu natsu kōyō irozuku aki yukigeshō 　 yorisō fuyu Cherry blossoms swirling in the spring Winds chime in the cool summer Autumn leaves shifting in color Cuddling in the snow-covered winter kuchi ni wa shinai ai no kotoba mo sokubaku shinai koi no katachi mo ishindenshin soitoge ayumi dasu meoto anata no kaeri machiwabiteshimau watashi no kokoro anata no mono ni natteru The words of love I've left unsaid and this love that does not chain is understood between our hearts Husband and wife, now together forever I look forward eagerly to your return home This heart of mine is yours, my love, alone. hanare wa shinai kono saki eien ( towa ) ni raisedarō to hikiyoseatte rakka ryūsui konnan mo sasaeau meoto omae no moto e isogi kaeru watashi no kokoro omae no mono ni natteru I will never ever leave you Even in the next life, you and I are drawn to one another A mutual love between Husband and wife, through thick and thin I rush back home to return to you This heart of mine is yours, my dear, alone.

* bit of wordplay here. yujiro (wife) sings “anata” while aizo sings “omae” which are two different ways to say you. anata is often used by women and is also a bit affectionate especially for couples. i tried incoporating that in the tl.

this appears a few times again in the lyrics and to show their difference — my dear is used for the husband and my love is used for the wife.

** it's like saying they're meant to be but that's a little on the nose. this is as close as we get w/o the mv.