#writing: 002

[ode2rin]

JUST MAYBE .ೃ

pairing. isagi yoichi x gn!reader

genre. strangers to .. hopefully something more? | slow burn | chance encounter

content/warnings. 2.3k+ wc | characters are in their early 20s ! | pro-athlete!isagi | reader works in a bookstore | profanity | a bit heavy in narration | written in reader’s perspective |  minimal proofread | ooc!isagi (sorry it’s my first time writing for him..) | open ending

in which: a cafe encounter with a stranger shows you exactly how well fate intervenes

💭 thank you for the request anon!

this is it. this is the last straw.

this is the last time you’re ever allowing yourself to be vain and believe empty words from a man.

sitting in a café, self-pity takes hold of you as regret washes over your being. the nagging feeling, the hollowness in your gut that you should have paid attention to, now mocks you with its undeniable presence. how could you have ignored it, brushing it off as if it were insignificant?

the bustling café seemed oblivious to your disappointment, the air thick with the laughter and whispers of couples lost in their own bliss. their happiness, a stark contrast to your own melancholic state.

you glance at your phone, the screen displaying a conversation that adds salt to the wound.

you: let me know if you’re on your way! [2:06 pm] you: hey, i’m already here :) is everything fine? [2:43 pm]

a heavy sigh escapes your lips, the weight of anger and embarrassment settling upon your shoulders. 

dating in your early twenties has proven to be far more challenging than you ever imagined. while your friends effortlessly navigate the labyrinth of love, you find yourself trapped in a cycle of dashed hopes and unfulfilled connections. 

here you are, once again left sitting alone at a table meant for two.

and you know it's destructive to point fingers at directions pointing to you, but for goodness sake, can anyone just tell you what's wrong with you? or can fate simply provide apparent signs, allowing both you and the divine to save precious time? 

because it's becoming increasingly draining. 

the cycle repeats itself relentlessly: falling in love, only for it to unravel into a cacophony of screams and tears. your heart shattered, you gather the pieces and muster the courage to try again, only to wonder what awaits in the next stage of this never-ending cycle.

and you can’t help but to wonder, when will it ever be your turn? if other people could experience a love so kind, why can’t you? why can't you have what they have? what makes you any less deserving?

is it really too much to ask for a love that doesn't demand a piece of your soul as collateral? can't there exist a love where vulnerability isn't met with heartache?

and coming from someone who has been gravely hurt in the name of so-called love, it’s impossible not to wonder if such love even exists in this world or if it's merely a figment of your imagination born from those contemporary romance books you read on your lonely nights.

well, there's no use crying over spilled milk. he wasn't all that anyway. besides, you had only agreed to this supposed date due to your friend's persistent nagging, urging you to break your self-imposed “man ban” streak and venture back into the world of romance. “why not?” you had thought at the time, only to be reminded why you even imposed such a ban in the first place.

“excuse me, is this seat taken? the place is kinda packed, so if you don’t mind..” 

lost in your thoughts, you're momentarily startled as a soft voice interrupts your reverie. the stranger before you stumbles over his words, shyness coloring his demeanor.

you take a moment to truly see him— this man who has unexpectedly entered your sphere. and heavens, he is gorgeous.

“no, it’s not taken. please, feel free.”

with your response, the stranger settles into the seat across from you. as he takes a sip from his cup, your nose takes a whiff of the inviting aroma of his latte, which fills the air, adding another layer of warmth to the already vibrant café atmosphere.

taking a contemplative sip of your own drink, you savor the flavors that dance on your tongue. the comforting embrace of the warm liquid spreads through your body, soothing your senses.

his blue-eyed gaze drifts toward your own drink, curiosity evident within those pools. “what drink is that? it looks intriguing.”

you can't help but internally chuckle at his attempts at small talk. your drink is nothing spectacular, let alone intriguing, but the fact that he wants to make something out of it gives you a glimpse of his endearing shyness.

still, you smile, pleased by his interest. “it's actually their signature drink. i find it quite enjoyable. and your latte? it looks divine.”

well, you’re not any better than his attempts. seriously? what looks exceptionally divine about a latte?

the man in front of you nods appreciatively, taking another sip from his cup. “nothing grand, just a decaf latte. i find it soothing and energizing, especially on slow days like this one.”

you hum in response, seemingly out of attempts for small talk. but the lack of a coherent response from you doesn’t elicit an uncomfortable silence, but rather the opposite. a cozy silence settles between you, the ambient sounds of the café serving as a gentle backdrop to your now shared sphere.

after a few minutes of sitting in silence, you notice from your peripheral vision that he steals a few glances your way, as if waiting for the right moment to strike up another conversation.

cute.

it's an understatement, as a matter of fact. the guy before you is downright mesmerizing. if you could gaze at his face for more than two seconds without being called weird, you could map the entirety of how blessed this man’s face is — the way his eyes crinkle at the corners when he speaks, the subtle strength in his jawline, and the way his hair falls in a perfectly disheveled manner.

and his eyes. damn, his eyes. such a beautiful shade of blue must have taken the hand of god some time to create.

“so –”

“what –”

the two of you speak simultaneously, your voices overlapping in the air, prompting you both to take a moment and stare at each other before laughing at the coincidence.

“you first,” you offered.

“no, you go first.”

you offer a warm smile and motion for him to go first. “i insist.” the truth is, after seeing him laugh, you momentarily forgot what you were even about to ask.

it’s just a laugh. get it together.

were you this deprived of someone’s company to melt at their laugh? or is this stranger just so painfully beautiful that it’s now affecting your memory and ability to converse?

his lips curl into a shy smile as he hesitates for a brief moment. his eyes flicker with a mix of curiosity and intrigue. “alright, well, i was wondering... do you come here often? i don’t think i’ve seen you here before.”

you shook your head, a soft laugh escaping your lips. “not really. i'm actually a newcomer here. i work at a bookstore nearby, and i stumbled upon this place by chance.”

it was two truths and one lie. and as apparent as it was, you sure as hell didn’t “stumbled upon this place,” where in truth and fact, you were invited here by your supposed-to-be date who might have forgotten to reply to you two hours after your last message.

“the bookstore on the main street? it’s a huge place, that’s so cool. my friend, chigiri, has been meaning to visit there. maybe i’ll try to tag along some time.”

a blush crept up your cheeks, touched by his admiration. it was a stark contrast to the belittlement toward your job you had encountered in past dating experiences, and this wasn’t even a date. “thank you. i’ll be happy to help you and your friend when you drop by.”

“so, what do you do, mr…?” you asked, trying to delve deeper into the conversation.

“oh, pardon me for not introducing myself properly. i’m isagi yoichi, and i, uhm, play soccer for a living. it's not as impressive as being surrounded by books all day, though.”

isagi yoichi. soccer player.

so that explains the hint of a lean physique beneath his clothes – not that you were checking him out. anyone with eyesight could detect that this gorgeous stranger, isagi, is in great shape. yup, definitely not checking him out.

“and yours?”

“hmm? sorry, what were you saying?”

a soft smile tugs at isagi's lips as he repeats his question, “i was just asking about your name.”

you bring your attention back to the present, realizing you've momentarily lost yourself in his gaze. “oh. it’s l/n y/n.”

as the words of your name hang in the air, a sense of familiarity begins to settle between you. you and isagi engage in a comfortable conversation, effortlessly weaving in and out of topics. each exchange reveals more about your respective lives, forging a connection that feels too genuine for people who just met not even an hour ago. 

isagi shares stories from his soccer career, the highs and lows, the challenges and triumphs. his passion for the sport shines through in every word, and you find yourself captivated by how animated he is in sharing his tales. it's a pleasant break from your previous experiences, where self-importance seemed to be the common thread among your dates. 

with isagi, there's no trace of conceit hanging in every word. 

in turn, you open up about your love for literature and the joy you find in sharing stories with others. isagi listens attentively, his eyes sparkling with interest as you speak about the power of words and the magic that exists within the pages of books. 

while it becomes evident that he may not be an avid reader himself, there's a beautiful acceptance and respect in the way isagi listens. he never once made you feel as though your love for literature is any less significant than his passion for soccer.

amidst the lively exchange, you catch glimpses of isagi's gentle nature, his ability to make you feel at ease, and his genuine curiosity about your thoughts and experiences. it's a refreshing change from the superficial interactions you've had in the past, and you're left wondering if the man in front of you is even real.

you can't help but laugh at the thought of men being able to hold a conversation like isagi. and while that proves that the bar may be in hell, but damn, it is as if isagi raised it above his own head.

time seems to slip away as the conversation flows effortlessly, punctuated by laughter and genuine moments of connection. there are no awkward silences, no need for pretense or guardedness. it's as if you've known each other for much longer than a chance encounter in a café.

just when you think the moment might stretch into eternity, isagi’s ringing phone slices through the air, abruptly breaking the spell. 

his eyes widen, a touch of regret flickering across his face as he retrieves his phone from his pocket. “ah, it's my teammate. i'm afraid i have to head out first,” he says with a tinge of disappointment.

your heart sinks a little at the prospect of parting ways so soon. “oh, it's okay. i had a nice time, isagi,” you reply, attempting to mask your disappointment.

“me too,” isagi responds, his voice filled with a hint of tone you’re feigning ignorance too. “i wish we could talk more.”

you can sense the hesitance in his words, the unspoken desire to extend the encounter. it's an opening, a moment of curiosity lingering between you. seizing the opportunity, you decide to tease him ever so slightly. “hmm, well, that call seemed important,” you remark, raising an eyebrow playfully.

you’re not dense, but you were curious to see how he would try.

isagi fidgets, shyly rubbing the back of his neck. “yeah, i think so. we have an upcoming match next weekend,” he stumbles over his words, clearly struggling with the invitation he's about to extend. “speaking of the match, would it be too forward of me to invite you to watch?”

wouldn’t it? 

your heart flutters at the invitation, and for a brief moment, you contemplate the possibilities.

this day had been a rollercoaster ride of emotions. one moment, you were nursing the wounds of being stood up, wallowing in self-pity and contemplating the challenges of dating. and now, here you were, being invited by a complete stranger — a stranger who also happened to be the most captivating person you've ever laid eyes upon.

fate be damned, because it seems to have a wicked sense of humor, toying with your emotions from one extreme to another.

glancing down at your cup, you swirl the remaining liquid, feigning nonchalance to mask the racing thoughts in your mind. “depends on who you want me to attend as,” you tease, curious to see how he responds.

you raise your eyes, locking eyes with isagi, only to find him wearing a boyish grin that could rival the sun and staring at you with those damn blue eyes that put the oceans to shame.

“anything you can offer to be, right now.”

fuck it. 

with a surge of boldness, you decide to take a leap of faith. “then i would love to be there.”

the energy shifts as isagi beams at your acceptance of his invitation. he bids you goodbye, only to hesitate and return to you with an endearing awkwardness. he offers his number, tripping over his own words as he suggests you can call him whenever you want. you can't help but laugh at his adorable awkwardness, finding it endearing beyond measure. you hand him your phone, and with hurried movements, he inputs his number before bidding you goodbye once more.

with a smile lingering on your lips, you watch isagi's retreating figure, feeling a warmth radiate through you. your gaze then shifts to the phone in your hand, where you see the contact name you've set for him. 

maybe: isagi yoichi

why not, right? you're down to take the chance.

because maybe, just maybe, one more try wouldn’t hurt this time.

note. welcome to isagi mimi debut omg i kinda do not like it but huhu this trope is so hard for me to write, i’m not gonna lie. but i surprisingly had fun making this hehe. and i’m not really a fan of instant love soooo, here’s the best i could do ._. i think i would rather opt to make a sequel than a time skip so let’s leave it at that :>

thanks for reaching this far!

💭 back to: milestone event

[geisterruf]

 ⸻  is  an  independent  &  selective  character of Cassedea Genéva Deleviere.

After being born in the Colombian slums, Cassedea moved at the age of 5 with her parents to Rhodes Island. It was both, an escape and a way of moving on. Her parents were extraordinary, having the ability to communicate with supernatural beings and being familiar with voodoo, cursed objects and exorcism. After a failed exorcism, the family felt the need to flee from the danger of the demon. Sadly, he followed them, killing both of her parents mysteriously. After being adopted and growing up, Cassedea found out that she had the same abilities like her parents. Therefore she tried to learn everything about them, getting help from her parents with whom she could communicate. At the age of 16 she brought the demon, who killed her parents, back to hell. Today she made a living out of exorcism and necromancy. When she’s not traveling through the country, she lives with her cousin and a basement full of dark secrets in New Orleans.

#geisterruf original and independent character based on the movies Conjuring, always open for plotting, multishipping and crossover friendly, german & english but german prefered, only interact if your 25+, she/her, bisexuell, low to semi active, m&pdni

Credits: @geisterwelt @strangergraphics

[docolives]

WHO: Livvy & @sunnynardelli

WHERE: The Mirage, downtown

WHEN: Hallo-Week (October, 2024)

One of the things that Livvy had been looking forward to the most about Hallo-Week (despite not being a huge Halloween person), were the fun things she could get into without peeing her pants. And right then and there, that included karaoke. She stepped down the staircase into The Mirage's speakeasy, into a foggy, multi-colored dream world, admittedly fitting in, wearing her unicorn costume, and spotted Sunny almost immediately, having texted her to ask if she was up for a little fun. She didn't hesitate to head in her friend's direction, a grin on her face as she approached. "I'm going to need a buzz, what are we drinking?"

[joshlane]

WHO: Josh & @treywright

WHERE: Newman Family Farm

WHEN: Bachelor Party (October 12, 2024)

"Do you know how long it's been since I've played this?" Josh asked, a grin spreading across his face as he plucked one of the croquet mallets off of the rack, running his fingers across the balls before pulling one of those free, as well. "I feel like a middle-aged English fellow, like I should be drinking tea and wearing an ascot."

[lenavaz]

WHO: Lena & @sunnynardelli

WHERE: Harmony Ranch, countryside

WHEN: Bachelorette Party (October 12, 2024)

"Sunny!" Lena nearly bounced over to her friend, a grin plastered on her face when she recognized the blonde in the crowd. Although she wasn't drinking that night -- minus a shot here or there, maybe a couple of sips of a drink -- she was very determined to have a good time, giddy off of the sugary sweet mocktails she had already had. "I'm so glad you're here! You're going to dance with me tonight, yes?"

[stellylee]

WHO: Stelly & CLOSED!

WHERE: The Fun Spot, suburbs

WHEN: February 24, 2024

Volunteering to work the entire week after getting back from New Orleans had one major perk: the weekend off. And truly, there was nothing better to do on a Saturday night than hanging out at The Fun Spot. Pushing open the door, Stelly let out a laugh, looking over at their partner in crime for the evening. "It makes me feel like a kid all over again, coming here. Not that I grew up here, but just being around all the flashing lights and dinging sounds," not to mention the smell of nacho cheese and, well... beer. "What do you think, where do you want to start? Bowling? Roller-skating? Hit up the arcade?"

[jaceeverett]

WHO: Jace & @lucie-newman

WHERE: Merrock State Park

WHEN: Wildlife Day (September 4)

Thankfully, the season hadn't quite faded away. Although fall was right around the corner, summer was still in bloom. There were flowers in the fields, greenery on the forest floor, animals at the creek, in the trees, on the paths. And Wildlife Day was turning out to be a success, quite a few people showing up for the hike that would take them around one of the easier, more scenic trails in the park. "Up ahead is a clearing, we'll stop for a break there, normally there's a lot of butterflies in the field," he explained to the group, leading them towards the sun peeking through the trees. Falling back a bit to fall into step with Lucie, he pocketed his hands, looking over at her. "It's good to see you out here."

[cagenewman]

WHO: Cage & @drtamarahayes

WHERE: The Cliffs, coastal area

WHEN: July 30, 2024

A solid day of getting his hands dirty had done Cage good. After the Renaissance Faire fiasco, nothing had really felt right; he had struggled to get through Sunday and Monday, checking on Cordelia every moment that he could, keeping an eye on the kids, going through the motions of being dad, husband, farmer, whatever other hat he had chosen to wear. By the time he was done working -- starting a new historic restore was always daunting, just figuring out where to begin, what to do first -- the reality had set in. He had to figure this out for his wife, know what was happening, start to untangle the hurt that had taken up place in her heart and her brain. And punching her brother square in the jaw wasn't an option, as much as he might have liked to in the moment. So, he had texted Tamara, agreeing to the meeting place of the cliffs, and found himself waiting, dressed in his dusty work jeans and boots, gray t-shirt, arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against the front grill of his company truck, eyes trained out on the sea below the cliffs.

[darpow]

WHO: Darrius & @xjaylahopkins

WHERE: Party, Pride Weekend (Vibrations)

WHEN: June 8, 2024

While Vibrations might not be his usual scene on a Saturday night -- Darrius preferred to drink in one of the more lowkey bars -- he made an exception for Pride. Getting to spend the evening with friends, or maybe even making new ones, was something that he had been really looking forward to, and thankfully, he hadn't been disappointed so far. Making his way off of the dance floor, he spotted a familiar face at one of the high top tables, breaking into a grin as he saw Jayla and gestured towards one of the tall chairs. "Save me that seat, I'm just going to grab a drink!"

[linagram]

[ 𝚈𝚊𝚗𝚘 𝙰𝚜𝚊𝚑𝚒'𝚜 𝚃𝟹 𝚅𝙳 ] 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚃𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝙰𝚋𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝

THE BOY!!! i wonder if he'll be able to get a full inno combo..

Warnings for Asahi's VD: toxic family dynamics, Asahi also gets to act a little homophobic, but it's played for laughs.

Warnings for Asahi's MV: the aforementioned toxic family dynamics and despite the song's title, there's not any insect/bug motifs, not counting the ending.

(sounds of footsteps)

Hinode: So.. It's time to interrogate your brother, huh?

Hinode: Are you sure you can do this? You can just let me and Eiji-san-

Miki: You don't have to worry about me. I'm fine.

Miki: Why do I even have to worry about anything? I already know I will forgive Marito. 

Miki: .. And you and Eiji-san will forgive him too, right?

Hinode: .. Y-you really love him, haha..

Miki: I've said this before: I can understand Eiji-san's case, but you, Hinode-san..

Miki: You really were okay with punishing your own brother.

Miki: And when he tried to kill himself, the one who saved him was Miyagawa-san and not you.

Miki: You weren't even that worried about him!

Hinode: ...

Miki: I can handle this. I'm still not the best older sister, but at least I actually care about my brother unlike you.

(the door opens)

Asahi: Ah, Miki-nee!

(sounds of Asahi running up to her)

Asahi: I missed you so much! 

Miki:"He's so cute.."

Miki: I'm pretty sure we have talked earlier today though..

Asahi: I don't care. I like you, Miki-nee, so of course I'd want to spend as much time with you as I can.

Hinode: Haha, you really do like her, don't you? I've never seen you act so nice to someone before-

Asahi: .. Miki-nee, do you want me to kill this guy for you?

Miki: Huh?!

Hinode: K-kill?..

Asahi: I don't know, Miki-nee, he's kind of a weirdo.. He looks like the kind of guy who claims he doesn't know anything and then he reveals that he actually knew the whole lore right when we're all about to die.

Asahi: Also he looks gay, honestly.

Miki: ...

Hinode: ...

Hinode: Heh. Miki-san, your br-

Hinode: Uh.. Ahem, I wanted to say that Asahi-san is kinda funny actually.

Asahi: Oh, so you're okay with me calling you a-

Miki: Now, now, how about we start the interrogation?

Asahi: .. Ah. Right. 

Asahi: I forgot that you didn't come here just to.. hang out.

(sound of a screen turning on)

Eiji: Okay, so are you all ready to begin? 

Miki: ".. Why is Eiji-san so.. calm?"

Miki: "He doesn't really talk to me anymore, but he doesn't seem mad about Kei-san's second trial verdict.."

Asahi: Ugh, you're here too..

Eiji: I'm glad to see you again too, Asahi.

Asahi: How can you even see us right now? Aren't all the cameras-

Asahi: !

Miki: ...

Hinode: ...

Asahi: N-never mind-

Eiji: Oh, but I do mind. Asahi, how did you know what happened to the cameras?

Eiji: And to answer your question: I can only see things from the screens in everyone's cells. I can't see anything from the other cameras.

Eiji: "Guess he wasn't able to break into everyone's cells and use the spray paint on the screens too.."

Miki: "So he DID see Yoshioka-san when we were interrogating her."

Asahi: U-uh..

Asahi: H-hey, Miki-nee said to start the interrogation! So stop asking questions that aren't related to my crime!

Asahi: Eiji-nii is such a meanie..

Miki: ...

Miki: "I want to know more about his relationship with Kei-san and possibly Himura-san, but..  Now is not the time."

Miki: Okay, Asahi-san. We know pretty much everything about how your crime went, but there's still one very important thing we have to discuss.

Asahi: .. What is it?

Hinode and Eiji: She's talking about your-

Asahi: I am not going to talk to anyone here except Miki-nee.

Eiji: What? That's just stupid, you have three guards here and you're only going to talk to-

Asahi: Eiji-nii, why don't you go and shove all your bandages in your mouth and choke on them?

Eiji: ...

Miki: .. Why did you kill that woman?

Asahi: ...

Miki: We know how she died, we know about your relationship with her, but why did you kill her?

Miki: You told us that you had to do it to her. I just want to know why.

Asahi: .. I..

Asahi: .. I-It was self-defense.

Eiji: Oh really? You know it can be counted as self-defense only if you were in immediate danger, right?

Eiji: So like.. It can be counted as self-defense only if she tried to attack you or something.

Asahi: .. She didn't attack me, but I'm sure I would've died if I didn't kill her.

Miki: Was she really that dangerous?..

Asahi: .. You know, I don't really believe in God or magic or miracles, or.. anything like that.

Asahi: Like.. Come on. That just sounds dumb.

Asahi: But.. Sometimes I can't help but feel like her not being able to have kids of her own was..

Asahi: .. Maybe her becoming a mother really wasn't meant to happen. And like, for a good reason.

Asahi: She never took me seriously. It's like, she just liked the concept of having children. She didn't actually like having a kid.

Asahi: It's like I was just this cute toy that was supposed to make her go "Awww! Look at you!" and not an actual human being.

Asahi: Yes, she bought me everything I asked for. But when it came to actually spending time with me.. 

Asahi: Seriously, she avoided me like I was the fucking plague.

Asahi: Every time I asked her to go somewhere together, she just went "Oh, sorry, mommy is feeling a little sick".

Hinode: ...

Miki: But.. If she wanted a kid so badly, why couldn't she spend at least some time with you? 

Asahi: .. No idea. Every single time I rebelled against her, every time I showed that I have emotions and I can disagree with her and even hate her, it's like..

Asahi: Her brain just turned off.

Asahi: She just stared at me. And said nothing.

Asahi: It's like she was a spoiled rich girl who said she wanted a pet and when her parents got her one, she just took some pictures with it, played with it a little bit, but when it came to actually taking care of it, she made others do all the work.

Asahi: .. Except in my case, I was alone almost the whole time.

Asahi: Like think about it. She didn't even actually adopt me, she just found me and took me in and made everyone believe it was a kid she adopted because she's so nice.

Eiji: Okay, but.. Why did you think she was going to kill you?

Asahi: I said I'm not going to talk to anyone except Miki-nee-

Eiji: You have already answered my question earlier. Why can't you do it this time too?

Asahi: ...

Hinode: Oh, right, when Eiji-san mentioned the immediate danger part-

Asahi: Fine, fine! You are so annoying..

Asahi: Um.. 

Asahi: .. I got really mad at her and she started saying shit like "Oh, I knew I will never be a good mother"  or "I can't give you what you need".

Asahi: And after that, something.. changed. 

Asahi: It's like she didn't know how to play with her cute little toy anymore.

Asahi: We haven't talked that much after that. She couldn't look me in the eyes.

Asahi: And I think the last straw was me hearing her say to her husband..

Asahi: "You were right. Adopting him was a bad idea".

Miki: ...

Hinode: .. Oh.

Asahi: Haha.. If you were me, what would you think she was going to do to you?

Miki: I-I.. I'd think she didn't actually mean it-

Eiji: I'd think she wants to get rid of me.

Asahi: .. Wow, Eiji-nii, can't believe you actually have a brain in that head of yours.

Miki: Did you think she was going to kill you?!

Asahi: Kind of. She was too weak to attack me, I knew that for sure.

Hinode:.. You thought she was going to kick you out of her house, right?

Asahi: .. Yeah.

Hinode: And for someone like you, with nowhere to go, it would be..

Hinode: Not that different from being killed.

Asahi: .. *nods*

Asahi: .. I was scared.

Miki: E-every child would be, Asahi-san, there's nothing to be ashamed of.

Eiji: Still, your whole plan doesn't make any sense.

Eiji: Like sure, you'd kill her, but what were you going to do after that? I doubt her husband was happy to see her corpse. 

Eiji: And I doubt he wanted to do anything with you after that.

Asahi: .. Eiji-nii.

Asahi: I WAS LITERALLY 11 YEARS OLD WHEN I KILLED HER!

Asahi: I HAD ZERO EXPERIENCE! I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS DOING! I JUST KNEW THAT I HAVE TO STOP HER! IT WAS EITHER ME OR HER!

Eiji: OR YOU COULD HAVE JUST ASKED HER WHAT WAS GOING ON!

Asahi: ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO CALL OUT A CHILD FOR NOT BEING GOOD AT KILLING PEOPLE?!

Eiji: GUESS WHAT, SHE'S DEAD, SO YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOOD AT IT, YOU JUST DIDN'T THINK IT THROUGH!

Asahi: FUCK YOU!

(bell rings, machinery sounds)

Asahi: .. It was him who kicked me out. Her husband.

Asahi: Haha.. He really was not happy about her murder..

Hinode: It sounds like he really loved her, but.. You can't just do something so cruel to a child.

Asahi: .. Are you going to vote me guilty this time? Because it wasn't actually self-defense and it was just me being an idiot?

Miki: I don't know about these two, but..

Miki: Please know that I forgive you, Marito.

Eiji and Hinode: Huh?..

Asahi: .. What did you just call me, Miki-nee?

Miki: O-oh, I-

Miki: .. Whatever. You have to know the truth.

Miki: The third trial is getting closer to its end and we don't have much time, so..

Miki:  Asahi-san. I know you don't remember your past that well.

Miki: You're so young, but you have already lost so many of your memories because they were too scary.

Miki: I know how much you want to see your.. "Real mother" again. 

Miki: But I..  I can't promise you that. I-in fact.. I don't think you're ever going to see her.

Miki: B-but, um.. A-at least you have me.

Miki: Asahi-san, do you remember your family well? You know, the people who you were living with before you met that woman?

Asahi: ...

Miki: You don't have to answer. From what I saw in your second video, I can tell that you do remember them, you just don't want to think about it. And that's okay.

Miki: Just.. Please know that I'm your older sister.

Miki: And the name you had before you met that woman was Andou Marito. 

Asahi: ...

Miki: S-sorry. I wish I could've revealed it in.. a different way and not like this.

Asahi: .. It's fine.

Asahi: I.. I think I actually kinda knew that you're my real family.

Miki: ...

Miki: *sobs*

Eiji: Hey, I know, this scene is supposed to be very touching, but can we extract his video already? We have three more prisoners to interrogate.

Eiji: And all of them cause way too much trouble.

Miki: A-ah, right, right.

Miki: Prisoner 007, Asa-

Asahi: Y-you can call me by my real name. It's fine.

Miki: .. Okay.

Miki: Prisoner 007, Marito, sing your sins!

42% ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░ 100%

[ Asahi Marito's Trial 3 MV: Caterpillar's Cries ]

The video starts with showing us a dark forest. Marito comes out of it and he's not looking good: his hair is messy, his clothes are dirty and he overall looks like he's going to die very soon. He falls on the ground, not having any energy left to walk, and looks up. We see his adoptive mother, Satsuki, and her husband. 

"Hello, who are you? Ah, I see, you're my mother number two

At least that's what you claim to be

But I'm not so sure, I find it hard to believe

My mother would look at me like I was her child and not just a cute new toy"

Satsuki smiles warmly at Marito and holds out her hand to him while her husband turns away. It takes him a moment, but Marito takes her hand.

"But fine, I'll accept your help 

I'll accept your love and affection

Even if I'm not sure if that's what I need

A kid like me doesn't have much of a choice here"

We see Satsuki, her husband and Marito walking into a house that looks really fancy and it really looks like a place where a rich couple would live, but also, their house has a really dark color palette which makes the whole place look intimidating and creepy in some way. Marito looks scared and he walks over to a table. He sees a piece of cake, but just as he's about to take it, someone slaps his hand away and Marito drops the plate on the floor. 

"Hello, who are you? You're not someone I should've become

Does this happen to those who get carried away?

Or does this happen to those who got everything they wanted?

Could it be that you're just like me, except you're completely satisfied?"

The person who slapped his hand away turns out to be Marito himself, but that version of him looks different. This version wears better clothes and simply looks like what you'd expect a rich couple's kid to look like, but his eyes also look.. weird. They look too swirly and colorful. You could say that this version of him is not Andou Marito. It's Yano Asahi.

""Stop, that's enough!" But it will never be enough

Sweet or sour, I don't care, I want everything I could never have

Even if it's rotten, even if it's broken, I just want to have something

Do you understand now? I live like I can die at any moment"

Asahi makes Marito fall on the ground and Marito starts to cry because of how scared he is and because he expects Asahi to hurt him. Suddenly, Asahi stops and looks at Marito. Something about the boy's reaction makes him change his mind and he helps him get up. 

"I don't understand, why do you understand me so well?

It's like you're me, it's like we really are family

Please, please, help me stop feeling so empty

Fill this void, say I'm not alone, say I can have everything, say I can have more"

The boys are walking somewhere now. Marito starts to notice that there's a lot of food, toys and other things lying on the floor as they walk. He starts picking those things up meanwhile Asahi doesn't seem to care about this stuff at all. Marito starts seeing weird ghost-like visions of Satsuki and his other self. They all show Satsuki giving him the exact things that are lying on the floor right now. At first Asahi looks genuinely happy to receive them and thanks her. But as those visions continue to show up, Marito notices that Asahi starts to look more and more disappointed with each new gift, until eventually he rejects one of them, making Satsuki look at him with a confused expression. We don't get to see what this gift looks like exactly and it looks blurry. Marito wonders why this happened and he looks at all the things he picked up. Asahi looks at him and simply shakes his head and sighs. 

"Why would you do this? Are you this ungrateful?

Don't you remember what we had to go through?

Do you really need more? Do I really need more?

Do I need at least something? Or do I need everything?"

Finally, they walk into a room that seems to belong to Asahi. This room has so many toys everywhere that you can't even see the floor. Marito looks at all the toys and his eyes start to sparkle, but then he sees a small table in the middle of the room and three chairs. It looks like Asahi has decided to hold a tea party. 

Now we see Marito, Asahi and a plushie having a tea party together. Marito looks happy, but Asahi looks like he's thinking deeply about something. Marito notices it and takes one of the plushies and makes it kiss Asahi on the cheek and smiles. 

"Why are you so nice? It's like we really are family

Maybe kindness really was what I needed from the start

I just wanted someone to hug me and say that they love me

I was tired from all the gifts that had no love inside"

Asahi blushes and tries to act serious, but it also looks like he's.. sad for some reason. Marito continues to drink his tea..

Until he suddenly drops his cup. It looks like he's in pain. 

""Stop, that's enough!" But it will never be enough

No matter how hard anyone tries, I will never be satisfied

It's time for me to admit that I will never be truly happy

Do you understand now? Maybe death was what I wanted from the start"

Marito falls on the floor while Asahi watches him and when Marito looks at him, he sees that he's.. crying. Asahi walks over to him with that plushie in his hands and he gives it to him. Marito takes the plushie and hugs it. He closes his eyes. 

"It's fine, it's okay, as long as you love me and I love you

Maybe your love will satisfy the hunger I've felt since the day I was born

Or maybe it will do nothing but make the void consume me

Honestly, I just want to be loved, who cares about the consequences?"

He opens his eyes again. They are as weird as Asahi's. He's wearing the exact same clothes as him. Satsuki walks into his room. She's holding the same toy Asahi rejected in one of the visions.

"Please, say that I am a good kid

Say that you will take care of me, say that one day your house will feel like home

Please don't throw me away

Don't punish me for my greed, forgive me again and again and again"

It's a caterpillar plushie.

The video ends. 

[rafaelcb]

WHO: Rafael & @derekberrera

WHERE: Newman Family Farm, countryside

WHEN: Bachelor Party (October 12, 2024)

It wasn't very often that Rafael allowed himself to indulge to the point of being... well, buzzed. Not quite drunk, that wasn't the goal. But he was definitely feeling lighter, a little looser in the tongue, not so much that he couldn't hold his own whenever someone challenged him to a game, but. Along with that came the dire need... for food. Hot dogs, as it turned out, and he found himself looking over the options with a grin to the person next to him, "where do you even start?"

[narilily]

WHO: Nari & @anthwang

WHERE: Pumpkin Patch, Lavender Lane

WHEN: Creek Fest (late September, 2024)

"You're not getting that one," Nari argued as she watched her cousin reach for one of the pumpkins in the patch, shooting him a look. "We're not going to play 'pick up the first pumpkin and declare that it's the one,' there's a science to this. You figure out what size you want, what color, make sure that the shape is perfect... plus, are you going to carve the pumpkins? Or are you just thinking of putting them on the porch?" Alright, so maybe she had about a million questions, but he had said that he needed help with the pumpkins, and she was an expert.

[docolives]

WHO: Livvy & @lucie-newman

WHERE: Hideaway Market

WHEN: Creek Fest (September, 2024)

Having finally managed to score a little time for herself, away from the pony rides and petting zoo, Livvy found herself sagging with relief, hopping off of the wagon that had brought her to Hideaway Market from the ranch, easily crossing the gravel lot towards the center of the market square, into the hustle and bustle of people. It didn't take her very long to spot someone that she knew, breaking into a wide smile. "Little Newman!" she chimed, bounding a little closer to Cage and Kellan's younger sister, lifting her hand in a wave. "Hi! Please tell me you're not busy."

[joshlane]

WHO: Josh & @lcrcmcrie

WHERE: Blades

WHEN: December 2, 2023

There was being childish, and then there was straight up being a child, and Josh was fairly certain that he had crossed into the second category as he sped down the hill on the sled that he had dug out of storage at his parents' place, racing past all of the kids, and skidding to a stop at the end of the hill. Unfortunately, that stop also sprayed up some snow onto whoever was nearby, and he found himself laughing as he scrambled to get up, off of the sled in a hurry. "I am... so sorry," he spoke as he signed, grateful to have at least learned how to apologize for his silliness in sign. "But man, what a rush," he laughed, "have you tried it?"

[iamumbra195]

!Mercenary Enrollment Chapter 169 Spoilers!

The translations are still pretty bad rn but I think we're getting really close to the arc where Ijin gets exposed.

From what I understand, the President of SW (Granpda Shin) is now going on an overseas trip. I'm going to assume it has something to do with the Vorrei family (you know Sophia and her bro) cause there was no mention of a contract being finalized between them and SW when they visited Korea so that might be what's happening now. From what the guy with black hair from Iron said and what we've seen, they've been trying to get in SW's way for quite a while because SW is getting bold in its expansion and as such, is facing retaliation from other companies. Iron got Forest to send Anna and Alice in an attempt to thwart SW however, they failed on both fronts. The black-haired Iron dude is working for someone and they're obviously disappointed with his failures however, a new opportunity presents itself which will allow him to make up for it.

SW security will be working with outside help-- another team in order to strengthen security measures thanks to all the shit happening (Yeona and Jiyeh's kidnapping, Sophia almost getting kidnapped again). And that team just happens to be from Forest as it was revealed. They'll be sending Alice who is on probation, under the threat that they'll kill her brother if she doesn't behave.

Now I'm sticking to my guns, 003 is working with Iron and that's why the Iron black-haired guy believes their plan, whatever it is, will work this time. Forest may not be working with her like I once believed since Scar guy doesn't seem to know who she is when she waltzed in like she owned the place lol but I still think she's working with Iron and she's the ace up their sleeve. Forest is being forced to work with her this time since Iron commanded it but they aren't happy about it. She will be a part of this team along with Alice.

I'm really curious to see how these two will interact-- a girl who thinks only about herself and her well-being and another who sacrifices herself to let her little brother live a normal life, even if she didn't get to be a part of that life. Plus, I wanna see more interactions between the girls in this manhwa there are wayyyy too little girl characters.

Anyways with 003 on the team that will be working with SW, she and Ijin will obviously cross paths and that's why the fact that he is 001 and 001 is alive will be discovered by Iron, who are obviously trying to get rid of all the numbers. Maybe she'll be ordered to kill him, make it look like an accident while completing whatever mission they have planned to harm SW and Grandpa Shin. Two birds with one stone.

Given what I've seen, 003 hates Ijin. I'm not entirely sure why but @seasilver17 mentioned on Discord that she might have been from the faction of ppl who wanted 002 to be given the rank of 001 because she could manipulate him more easily than she did Ijin and when Ijin was appointed 001, she had way less control over the numbers. Or something like that.

Either way, she hates him and obviously knows he's alive because she let him go, so I'm curious to see more of what she thinks about him. He obviously didn't have a bad impression of her and felt betrayed when he found out that she was the one to kill the numbers. I really wanna know more about her and what she's been doing

And Happy New Year! 🥳🥳🥳

[stellylee]

WHO: Stelly & @sunnynardelli

WHERE: The Lighthouse

WHEN: Lighthouse Day (August 7, 2024)

Stelly would be the first to admit that life felt pretty good as of late. They had their relationship with Mandy, their mother was healthy and happy, the job was going well on both fronts, and their house felt alive again, with Sunny and Sylvia and Stelly all under one roof. As they made their way inside the lighthouse -- sure, they had been on this tour dozens of times, but it was still fun -- they couldn't deny the slight bounce to their step. "I bet they get more tourists on lighthouse day than they do in an entire month," they mused as they looked over at Sunny. "Although people are missing out, it is pretty cool to get to go up in here."