#yes i've read this novel several times before why do you ask

[another-chaotic-bisexual-vampire]

i'm so mad at Bram Stoker for not anticipating that his 1897 novel Dracula would be adapted over a hundred years later into a format that only releases installments on the dates in his novel - resulting in several hiatuses when there are no installments released - which has, most importantly, personally inconvenienced me!

[wangmiao]

From being stuck in the snow together in 2016 to filming Tibetan Sea Flower - Nan Pai San Shu's "Obsession" over Zhang Luyi.

Thank you for noticing my tag in the other post about the friendship between ZLY and CMH, and showing some interest. So here we go! I guess besides why Zhang Luyi (ZLY) was picked, there's also the story about how everything started. I find it rather fascinating. DMBJ's author Nan Pai San Shu, aka Xu Lei (XL) told the story a few years ago, but he mentioned it again during a livestream when Tibetan Sea flower (TSF) just started airing. The next three paragraphs are based on XL's livestream and ZLY's interviews.

Back in 2016, on a very snowy day, XL was on his way to The Mystic Nine's filming location, and was stuck on a mountain road. After waiting for a while, he thought he should go and help direct the traffic. When he got out to do it, he surprisingly found another Good Samaritan already doing what he intended to do, and yes, that Good Samaritan was ZLY.

ZLY was on his way to The Mystic Nine's filming location too. It was actually not XL who picked him for the role of Wu Laogou then. He went to guest star in that show because his university classmate Bai Yicong, the producer of the show, asked ZLY to do him a favor and just stop by to have a meeting with everyone.

So that's how XL and ZLY first met in person. Because they got stuck in the snow for a LONG time, they talked a lot about DMBJ, from Wu Laogou to Wu Xie, and even TSF (ZLY already read some of the DMBJ novels at the time, and he finished all of them before shooting TSF). At some point, XL told ZLY that ZLY's vibe reminded him of a very important character of his, which was Wu Xie. ZLY was very moved and thankful. Since they had such a good long talk, they kind of made a promise to each other that they'd work together on a DMBJ project at some point. They also each made a weibo post about meeting each other as the traffic director in the snow.

In 2017, there was actually quite some rumors about ZLY being approached to play Wu Xie in Sha Hai/Tomb of the Sea (this is not to discredit other Wu Xie actors, because it's normal for a production team to approach multiple actors for a role in the casting stage), but since ZLY had several health issues due to being injured during the filming of another show, he really couldn't be a candidate for the role.

But XL never forgot about ZLY. In 2021, rumors came around again about ZLY being approached to play Wu Xie in TSF, and this time, he agreed.

During the airing of TSF, XL did a lot of livestreams and Q&A sections on weibo. There's one post where he said: "From the state in the beginning, the state of being lost, to the Sha Hai!Xie state in the end, the entire progress is shown in TSF. I needed an actor with extremely good acting skills. From TSF!Xie to Sha Hai!Xie, there're many occasions where Wu Xie's soul is in a dark place and he might fall for his obsession. Besides Pangzi being there to pull him back, it also needs Wu Xie's strong faith and goodness, and I think it needed acting skills to show it."

In another comment to a fan's question about the choice of Wu Xie's actor, XL answered: "Maybe it represents a kind of inner demons", which I think the inner demons part can be translated to obsession.

So you can tell, it does seem that XL had this obsession to have ZLY play Wu Xie no matter what. And he never gave up the idea ever since they first met, even though by the time they could finally work together in 2022, ZLY was no longer in the best age range to play TSF!Xie (hence, sometimes you'd notice those annoying filters used to mask wrinkles on his face).

I really haven't watched all of XL's livestreams and interviews, and from the very few ones I've watched, he mentioned where ZLY impressed him. Before the shooting started, ZLY double checked with XL to see if XL wanted him to play Wu Xie as a more straightforward northerner or gentler southerner (this is not to stereotype, but to reflect the cultural and language difference), and XL reassured him to be a southerner since Wu Xie is a from the south of China. ZLY was no stranger to playing a southerner even though he's a northerner himself, as some of his best characters were from south China. This was why he dropped all his natural Beijing accent, and showed a gentler demeanor (eg. Pangzi is a typical northerner, and CMH kept his Beijing accent).

Another thing is when they were shooting the real and fake Wu Xie scene, it was filmed without any special effects or even an extra actor. ZLY played both characters each time with thin air. It impressed XL a lot because it required so much more finesse and precision on the memory, timing, and movement.

Lastly I want to show you ZLY's goodbye message to TSF that was posted on Sep 24th. He's a very dedicated, sincere, and cultured actor that often uses handwritten stuff to say goodbye to shows nowadays. And he wrote what Wu Xie and Pangzi always say to each other, the good luck and good fortune thing: "Da Ji Da Li, Gong Xi Fa Cai"

Another fun fact is that ZLY is very good at calligraphy. He used to assign different fonts to the characters he played based on their characteristics. Because Wu Xie writes in 瘦金体/Shoujin font, ZLY wrote the message also in Shoujin font. I guess you can say that's another similarity between him and Wu Xie, that they can both write in this font (I'm no expert in calligraphy, so I found an article teaching people how to write in Shoujin font. It was definitely not an easy thing to do because it advised people to learn and practice certain fonts in traditional calligraphy for a few years before even going for the Shoujin font).

Thanks for reading! If you like ZLY's Wu Xie, that's awesome. If not, that's OK. It's totally understandable. Please also know that I have zero intention to compare his version of Wu Xie to other Wu Xies. I'm sure each Wu Xie is awesome, unique, and lovable in his own way.

[slater-baby]

Texas Red Update!!

Okay guys let's FINALLY address the elephant in the room. First of all, I wanna get your most burning question out of the way: I HAVE BEEN WRITING IT THIS WHOLE TIME LMAO Like I said, I don't abandon works. I might let them sit for a while, but I have never thought of abandoning Texas Red, nor will I ever. That being said, however, I have some relatively important reasons for not having released the next chapter yet. Here they are so that you guys understand!!!

Okay so, in terms of story creation, we've gotten through the first arc. We're entering the second (which will have some important changes to the first). However, for those of you that aren't aware, I've written Texas red entirely without any planning. Everything you've read thus far? Made it up as I went along lmao. Usually, it can work out pretty well. However, we've reached a part of the story where there actually needs to be concrete plans and resolutions, and I hit a goddamn wall on that front.

I changed the ending of the book (and, yes, it's literally novel length already--my estimates place the final word count somewhere between 250-350K words in total). My original thoughts about what the ending were had to change given what was already written, so.....basically had to refigure how I'm gonna get us from point A to point B in the story. NOTHING ABOUT WHATS ALREADY WRITTEN HAS CHANGED!! It's only future events that I've had to reconsider.

Idk if any of you have picked up on the messaging I'm trying to convey through the characters just yet, but in the second act, the theme of the story is a BIG, BIG thing!! Like, it's both fun, exciting, adventurous, and complicated. On one hand, it's going to be a lot of action, but on the other, it requires creating caricatures I've never considered before--mostly in reference to moral concepts.

My real life is HELLA complicated. Writing isn't what I do for a living, and sometimes, finding the time to be online is pretty difficult. Basically, I'm busy as fuck, this year is crazy for me, and I've been dealing with helllaaaaaa writer's block.

So there you have it folks!! There is good news though. Why, you might ask yourself, did I wait so long to make this post? Why didn't I make this post like a month ago? Well, I have an answer for you.

Chapter 20 will be released VERY soon!

I've rewritten it several times over, still don't exactly like where it is right now, but this chapter has been a huge work in progress. I'm a perfectionist when it comes to things like this, and I'm not going to release a story/chapter to all of you people if I don't believe in it. Your passion and support guys are my biggest motivation for writing, and to do that enthusiasm justice, I won't lie to you if I think my own story craft isn't up to par.

So, in short, I'm sorry for making y'all wait this long, but!!!

We are back!!

[purplesoulcollection]

Unnatural Love

Part 5 Synopsis : Name has being transmigrated into the world of I'm Not That Kind Of Talent without ever reading the novel. She's not being reincarnated as a human but as a devil as well. Hi There! I want to let you know that this fanfiction story isn't solely my creation. I borrowed the concept from @quqiwo2. I haven't actually read the novel either, just some spoiler to the end.

I hope you'll excuse my spelling and grammar mistake, because English not my first language.

Duaks!!!

The sound of punches and kicks echoed in the hall of the demon castle.

In a hidden dark alley. There are several people surrounding an object.

The object turned out to be not an item but a demon.

The devil who is our main character, Adele.

"Damn you, you are just using the reputation of the demon lord to protect your low caste."

"Yes, now you have become very pretentious since you became Mr. Demon's servant."

"Mr. Demon is more honorable than you, know yourself."

"You are a low caste, unable to use magic, dreaming of continuing to be a servant of the demon lord."

Meanwhile, Adele, who was being hit, closed her eyes and curled her body. He bit his lip with his teeth, trying to turn his screams into pain

Pained...

My whole body hurts so much...

They're babbling nonsense even though I don't care about my demon caste. I not even devil.

I don't really want to live like this either.

I want to go home, to earth.

I also want to be alive, not as a demon but as a human.

But fate made me like this.

What... I just give up?

It's easier to give up than to keep facing the same thing.

zrash

Suddenly there was a sound that came suddenly.

Then the sound of a sword cutting through a body was heard. Screams were also heard

At that moment I could smell a fishy smell that shouldn't be there...

Fishy? And screams? Am I next... 

Am I going to die next....

"Adele!!!"

I heavily opened my eyes. I squinted my eyes several times before I finally saw Mr. Demon's figure. He looks so panicked.

He lifted my body, Mr. Demon's face also got closer to me to see my condition.

Then his facial expression, which was initially worried, turned into anger. His eyes suddenly turned fiercer. And his facial expression also became fiercer.

"Sir demon, why are you here?" I asked haltingly

“I was looking for you, you were nowhere. Why did you let yourself get hit again?”

"I didn't just let myself get hit. I tried to fight as best as I could. But they were stronger than me."

I swallowed roughly. Trying not to show my sadness about this incident.

"Sorry for causing trouble to the Mr Demon."

Mr. Demon just kept quiet and carried me princess style before finally treating me himself in his room. I didn't utter a single words to him.

"Adele" He calls me, and it makes me look at him.

"Don't worry, I will protect you from now on."

'Why?'

"Huh, you must be joking, right? I'm just a lowly servant. Later Mr Demon will be considered a freak who protects a servant."

"No one will think I'm strange if I try to protect the people I love."

Adele could only stare while opening her mouth wide. His hands were also shaking involuntarily.

In her mind, Adele was already turning upside down in panic and didn't know what to say.

Her mind went blank for a moment, due to excessive shock.

This is the first time anyone has confessed their love to Adele.

Adele has been single all her life. Even though she used to be quite beautiful, no one ever said they liked her.

So denial is something Adele can do.

"You... Are you kidding me?"

"I've been battered like this?"

"Is this your way of distracting me?"

"If that's your method, sir, it really worked, you know? I'm fine!"

"Adele..."

Mr. Deon's gaze was unwavering. He did not respond to Adele's denial.

"I'm serious."

Mr. Demon's serious statement made Adele feel uncomfortable being looked at seriously.

Then finally the name answered while looking away

"If you're serious, why me? I'm not a human like Mr. Demon. Mr. Demon should also choose humans as partners. I'm just a demon who doesn't have magic. Of course I won't be compatible with Mr. Demon."

Mr. Demon just stared at the name for a moment before finally closing his eyes and starting to tell the story.

"Adele, you are a devil. I admit it." He started to hold Adele's hand. Squeeze it with slow but warm strength.

Makes my heart warm too.

"But in my eyes, you are more than just a lowly devil."

Mr demon opened his eyes.

"Even though you are impolite and always dodge problems."

"You have a kind heart, surpassing the devil and also surpassing the kindness of humans in this world."

"The proof is that you worry and care for me better than other humans and demons in this world."

"Even more than my family which made me have to fight in the war."

"But instead you are oppressed in a world that is not suitable for you right now."

"I've also given permission on my behalf if anyone dares with you but still misses out."

"I'm afraid that sooner or later you will do something undesirable"

"Mr. Demon..." I almost couldn't hold back my tears.

“You are really great. You know me better than I thought or is it because of your own experience?”

"Am I right?"

"... Yes. I did want to give up..."

"I just want to die. If only I could work here in peace, it would be nice. But continuing to be here is tiring inside. The bullying here almost makes me sick of everything."

"I didn't even want to come here. Even though I just wanted to survive..."

And finally Adele cried. Sobbing uncontrollably. There was no intention whatsoever to wipe away the tears and snot that were spilling everywhere.

In the end, the one who wiped Adele's tears was not Adele herself but the Mr Demon.

Although he was initially hesitant to do so. But he wiped away the tears that were welling up in Adele's eyes and wiped his snot with a tissue.

"No need for you to wipe, sir. I can do it myself."

"It's okay. This is the first time I'm entertaining people. Usually I'm the one being entertained."

"Did you forget your declaration of love?"

“Of course not. Do you want to?”

"Sir, did you know that I could have used the Mr Demon's declaration of love as a cover to hurt you?"

"People who want to hurt will never say it directly."

True, they like to stabbed from the back than to tell us.

"If I say I like you, sir, is that okay? Because we are two different creatures, humans and demons... We are never allowed to be together."

"I have great luck. There will definitely be a way."

"If we were together, would the Demon King just keep quiet?"

"Isn't it possible if our relationship is kept a secret?" Deon asked me.

If I remember the character of the demon king, no hope rising.

"I'm afraid that this method won't last too long."

**

“Finally the demon confessed his love to the that servant.“

“Demon Arut's weakness has been confirmed. Is the next plan feasible, Demon King? “

“Do it!”

To Be Continued

[onestormeynight]

Nellie Meets A Client

For the first time, Nellie was allowing a client to come over to her house. She had ghost-written several biographies for him before and had a great working relationship. There was a new project he wanted to start that he wanted to discuss in person. Initially he had offered to discuss it over coffee. Nellie countered by offering to have him come over to her house instead.

Yousef Gruber was incredibly polite. Nellie had been all nerves at the idea of him coming over without someone else in the house she knew. She briefly considered asking Ida or Fatima to pop over before getting grip on her courage. However, once he was there, Nellie could feel immediately how unnecessary that would have been.

He maintained a respectful distance from her. He didn't try to touch her, even to shake her hand upon meeting her face to face for the first time. His cadence was even and slow. Nellie felt as if time would have slowed itself just to listen to Yousef explain a concept.

"Gothic novels aren't your usual project," Nellie said. "Straying away from the biographies?"

"I believe it is time for a new challenge. The Sundial by Shirley Jackson was the book that got me into reading. I read Wuthering Heights every Autumn. It is a genre that holds a great deal of sentimental value to me. I wish to do it justice. Together I think we could pull it off."

Nellie thought about it. "I've never tried, honestly. I mean, there are my poems that are heavily Poe and Lovecraft inspired, but I don't share those with anyone."

"Oh? Why not?"

"I didn't write them for others. I wrote them for me. I still write them for me."

"So, you are saying that you hold back in the writing you do for others and withhold your true voice from the public?"

"Well...I suppose I never thought of it that way. But yes. Someone reading my poems feels a lot like them seeing me naked."

"But it is more intimate than even that, is it not?"

Nellie raised an eyebrow at him.

"You are not just exposing your body, you are exposing your soul. Your authenticity. It is scary to stand in one's own raw truth in front of others and be seen for everything you are inside."

"I...yes. Exactly."

"Because it is not perfect. It is messy and sad. It is fear. Vulnerable. Because you are used to wearing a mask that makes your pain easier for others to bear. If they saw raw and imperfect, you fear they would turn from you. That they would reject the truth of you."

"Stop."

Yousef nodded. "Of course. Do not worry, Ms. Harper, that is why I asked you and no one else. I trust you have it in you to create this story with me."

Yousef collected his things shortly after that. Before he left, he looked at Nellie and said, "I hope, one day, you trust me enough to share a poem with me. Have a good day, Ms. Harper."

"Nellie. You can call me Nellie."

Yousef's lips turned up in the most microscopic and expressive of ways. "Have a good day, Nellie."

((prev)) ((next))

[vodika-vibes]

A Little Miracle

Summary: After the Republic is reformed into an Empire, you are stuck working with the same men, under the same Commander, you worked for while in the GAR. Unfortunately, Bacara doesn't seem to remember that he loves you. And it's becoming too hard to handle.

Pairing: Commander Bacara x F!Reader

Word Count: 2079

Warnings: Angst with a happy ending

Tagging: @trixie2023 @n0vqni

A/N: So I was looking at all of my requests, and just, none of the characters I had requests for were speaking to me, and smut just wasn't coming out of my brain today for some reason. So have this instead, a project I've been working on for over a week!

“Commander,” You try not to quail under the stern gaze of the man standing in front of you, “I respectfully disagree. This is a horrible idea, actually.”

The former member of the GAR, and currently Commander of the Imperial Army, pins you with a glare that would have made a lesser person run away screaming. And honestly, the only reason you aren’t running is because you’re right and you know it.

“You have a better idea, Corporal?” Commander Bacara asks, his voice low and gravely, and you can’t help but wonder when the last time he spoke was.

“I do, sir.” You say, “Sir, it’s Life Day.”

His gaze is cold, “And why should I care about a natborn holiday?”

“Because, sir, it means that no one will pay attention to a small group of people sneaking onto the planet.” You say, “And…and, sir, it’s everyone’s holiday, not just a natborn one.”

Some of the ice thaws from Bacara’s gaze, though it quickly returns, “And what’s your suggestion?”

“Send me and one other person.” You say quickly, “We get in, meet the contact, and get out without starting an incident.”

He pins you in place with a severe look, “I suppose that might be a good idea,” He says grudgingly, “Do you have a suggestion as to which of my brothers you go with?” There’s something acidic in Bacara’s voice, and you flounder slightly, because you’re not sure what you did to earn his ire this time.

“I…my understanding is that you would choose the best man for the job.” You offer, hesitantly.

His scowl deepens, “I assume that you’re not going to go wearing armor?”

“No, of course not, sir! I’ll be wearing regular clothes.”

Bacara stares at you, hard, for a moment. And then he nods, “Wait in the hanger, I’ll have someone meet you.”

“Yes sir.” You salute and then turn and hurry out of the room. Hopefully it’ll be someone you can actually work with.

Once upon you were a soldier in the GAR. Once upon a time you were tasked with protecting the Republic.

That felt like almost a lifetime ago.

And while you’re not happy with the Empire, you didn’t sign up for this, you’re stuck. You can no more leave the Imperial Army than you can keep the sun from rising.

At least you still work with Bacara. Well. Under Bacara.

But he’s not the same man he was before the Empire took over. He’s colder, and he looks at you like he doesn’t recognize you.

You miss the man he used to be. The man who would tug you into his quarters and steal your breath with deep kisses. The man who would murmur jokes in your ear when no one is paying attention.

The man who would hum your favorite song to settle you when things were too much to handle.

You missed the man you fell in love with.

And you’re beginning to fear that you’re never going to see him again.

You slip into your quarters, somehow you don’t have to share with anyone, and you pull the pretty dress your mother sent you out of the closet. It looks out of place, mixed with the stark white of your military uniform, but you’re glad you have it.

You hurriedly pull the dress on, as well as some tights and your heels, and you pull your hair out of your regulation bun, allowing your hair to tumble around your shoulders, and then you hurry to the hanger.

The halls are empty…as is the hanger.

It’s nice, if not a little eerie.

If you close your eyes you can almost hear General Mundi walking over to you to discuss a novel that he read recently, or you can hear the shinies joking about which one of them was going to be the first one to get your number.

You release a shaky breath, ignoring the ache in your chest with the ease of long practice when you hear footsteps behind you.

And you start in surprise when you see Bacara standing there in civilian clothes. He pauses when he sees you, and you mentally prepare yourself for the insult that is inevitably coming your way. 

But instead he winces and touches the side of his head, “You look…nice.”

You blink at him, “Thank you, Commander. So do you.” He looks more like Bacara than he has since Master Mundi’s death. “Um…are you ready to go?”

“You can’t call me Commander if we’re going undercover.” He says flatly.

You wince, “Yes. I know.” Except the last time you called him by his name, he verbally tore you a new one, and you’re still reeling from the hurt of that. “Bacara, then.”

He nods once, slowly, and motions for you to take the lead. Which you do, without much of a second though.

True to your predictions, there are a lot of people out and about. But no one is giving either of you a second look.

Bacara’s hand is warm on the small of your back, the heat sending jolts of electricity up your spine. It’s been ages since you’ve been this close to him. But it became necessary after a group of tourists pushed themselves between you and Bacara.

“There are more people than I would like,” Bacara grumbles in your ear.

“Relax,” You reply, “They’re just existing, no one is even giving us a second look.”

His hand slides to your hip when another group of tourists threatens to push between you, and it sits there comfortably, as though that’s where it belongs. “I know. The contact is at this party, right?”

“That’s what the intel says.” You agree.

“Great. Come on, the party is this way.” Bacara guides you through the crowded street, until you reach the open air party that this planet is known for. It’s loud and thrumming with an excited energy that you don’t think you can match…not this year at least.

Once upon a time you would have loved being here with Bacara. You would have tugged him onto the dance floor and spun around with him until he was flashing that secretive little smile at you, and you were giggling and breathless-

But that Bacara doesn’t exist anymore. 

You tear your gaze off of a young woman and her beau, feeling your heart break as you watch them spin around on the dance floor, lost in each other. You swallow the bitterness and the tears, and you cast your gaze up to the taller man standing at your shoulder, “Do you see our contact?”

Bacara slowly tears his gaze away from the dance floor as well, and he looks down at you, “No. Not yet. We might be early.”

“Ah, well…it looks like there’s a snack bar. Would you like something to drink?” You ask, “Or eat?”

“Something to eat would be nice.” He says after a moment, “I’m going to go over by the side entrance. You can find me there.”

“Right. I won’t be long.” You smile at him weakly, before you turn and head towards the table. You’re able to feel his gaze on you, and when you turn to look back at him, to see why he’s staring at you, you see that he’s rubbing his temple again.

You bite your lower lip, concerned, but turn back to the table. Luckily, no one seems too keen to bother you as you grab two wine glasses and some sandwiches. 

And then you walk around the outside of the party to get back to Bacara, who is still rubbing his head. “Com-um…Bacara,” You say slowly, setting the drinks and food on a nearby table, “Are you alright?”

He glances at you, “Just a headache. I’m fine.” He grabs a glass and takes a sip, “Have you seen our contact?”

You watch him for a moment, “No. No, I haven’t. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. Just keep your eyes open.” 

You settle on the stool at the table, absently shredding your sandwich as you keep your eyes on the dancefloor. The longer you watch the couples dance, the worse you feel, until you can feel the tear pricking at the corner of your eyes.

“If you want to go dance, I’m not going to stop you.” Bacara’s voice is flat.

“I’m fine.”

“You look like you’re about to cry.”

You press your lips into a thin line, “This just…isn’t how I foresaw my life going.” 

“We’re lucky to have the positions we have,” Bacara’s voice is low and chiding.

You lift your chin, “Yes sir.” And then you hesitate and you turn to look at him, “You don’t…you don’t remember me at all, do you?”

Bacara stares at you silently for a moment, “Is there something to remember, corporal?”

You flinch as if he had just struck you…and honestly, his punching you likely would have hurt less, and you quickly look away, “No. I guess not.” You slide to your feet, “Excuse me.” You slip away before he can say anything. You don’t want to hear anything that he has to say.

You wander around the party, taking in the decorations and the ice sculptures, and, before you realize it, you’re standing outside the party, looking out at the crowds of people.

It would be easy, you realize suddenly. You’re dressed just like most of the other women out there. No uniform. Nothing marking you as a soldier at all.

It would be easy for you to vanish into the crowd. 

You take a step towards the crowd, when a strong hand wraps around your wrist. You whip around to look up at Bacara. He looks…conflicted. And slowly, very slowly, he releases your wrist, and it falls to your side. 

“I won’t stop you, if you want to leave.” He says, “You’re not made for military life-”

“...right.” You whisper. “You could come with me.” You offer.

“I am a good soldier-”

You squeeze your eyes shut, and then you spin on your heel so you’re facing him, and you reach up to press your hands against his cheeks, “You don’t remember me, Bacara!”

“I don’t-”

“You once promised to take me dancing,” You say, and this time you don’t stop the tears from falling, “Properly dancing, you said, not the secret dancing in your quarters late at night, after General Mundi went to sleep and we’re both two sheets passed tired, but we’re together so we dance.”

His hand comes up to brush a tear off your cheek, and it only makes you cry harder.

“You used to love me, Bacara, and I don’t know what the Empire did to you to make you forget, but I can’t do it anymore.��

Bacara’s other hand comes up to cradle your cheek, and slowly his forehead lowers to bump against yours, “...Corporal-”

“You used to call me cyare,” You whisper, “You used to tug me into empty rooms just to steal kisses and would whisper jokes in my ear to make me laugh after hard missions and would hum my favorite song when you thought I needed a pick-me-up…”

His grip tightens slightly, and for a moment his face twists in pain. 

“If you can’t give me that again, if you can’t be that man anymore, then please, let me go.” You beg, “I deserve more than this.”

Bacara says nothing for a moment, his eyes squeezed shut and his face twisted in pain, and then, after a whole minute, his eyes open.

His grip softens, and Bacara slowly strokes your cheek, “My cyare,” He whispers, pain and guilt and horror in his voice, “My beautiful, perfect cyare.”

You look up at him, and there’s recognition in his eyes. Recognition and more than a little guilt. 

“Cara?” You whisper. 

He smiles at you, and wipes a tear from your cheek with his thumb before he leans in and presses the sweetest kiss against your lips, “I did something awful, cyare.” Bacara whispers.

“We can run. No one will ever make you do something against your will like that again. I promise.” You say.

Bacara stares at you, and slowly he nods. Quickly he shoves his comm, and yours, into a dumpster, and then he leads you into the Life Day crowds.

Within days, both of your faces are going to be plastered from one side of the Empire to the other, listed as deserters, but at least you’ll be together if nothing else.

[theredofoctober]

I sometimes wonder how I miss such huge typos in my work after reading the same text like eleven times... it's so strange!

Cut because I've realised this is sooo long

I do read quickly and skim read as a bad habit left over from academia, so I'm not sure if that's part of it. Maybe?

I've never ever considered I might have dyslexia as I can read and write just fine apart from certain issues. I do have dyscalculia though, so I wonder if it's come from that

I struggle with addition and times tables, and I can't read long numbers without covering the rest of the figure and doing it in parts. I also can't 'see' how many multiple figures there are if they're the same and have to concentrate really hard

Other symptoms I experience are poor direction (yes, I know right from left but it doesn't seem to help) and that I struggle to follow maps to the point I even get turned around in video games 🤣

Also if I write on a page with no margin or even with one at times I slowly write further and further from the left. Teachers used to leave a huge angry red mark on it at school probably thinking I was being a dick and not realising it's something I struggle with

I also couldn't tell the time until I was 8/9 and still struggle with it, especially analogue clocks. It's so fucking bizarre

I've had zero support for it my entire life as I mask being neurodivergent relatively well until I don't, and was academically very talented except in maths so I think all my teachers thought I was a lazy cunt expect the last one I ever had...

God, he was a lovely man.

He died of a heart attack after I finished school which is so upsetting to me because he was the only person who noticed I was severely struggling with maths and gave me a CD with tutorials on it to take home.

After that I practised and practised because I was determined to raise my D to at least a C to get into certain college classes. So I went into Maths every day raising my hand and getting things right, which I'd never done before.

I'd straight up copy other people's work 🤣 I couldn't understand any of it. It was like gibberish. I knew I needed to know this stuff, but the After School classes went right over my head, and I felt angry I had to do this fucking class at all. I used to stare out of the window or at my watch bored as hell

Then after all this studying I got good. Don't ask me how. I think I'm good at learning through repetition and breaking things down to understand them. That's why the tutorials helped, I could replay them without someone staring or yelling at me

I could see the pride on my teacher's face when I shot up in class. He didn't judge me for messing with my calculator when I wasn't supposed to be relying on it because we both looked at each other and said I won't have it in the exams, and that's when I knew he trusted that I would be okay doing it without.

I was.

I got a high B, didn't get an A because I was in set 2 and only set 1 were doing the equations and such that would get you an A or A*. The pride on his face on results day was so amazing to me...

Like he saw that I had a disability, that I wasn't making things up or being lazy or a dick. He saw that I genuinely had a problem and he helped me in the way somehow he knew would help.

I'll never forget him. It was such a simple thing he did and so beautiful and empathetic

I'll never get the chance to thank him 😭

I've lost all my maths knowledge now so sadly I suck again, I'm only good at things when I practice heavily and memorise the knowledge and information. My brain is very strange.

Anyway, long story short haha. I do wonder if there's something there with language, if only a weak presence.

But I think about that teacher and think about how he quietly trusted I'd get there, and everything is okay ❤️ I never ended up in a career I would use any college or uni stuff but I did absorb the lessons I learned.

I'm where I need to be, starting my third book and first novel, with two novel drafts on the way!

[anticidic]

thanks for tagging me @marichild !! lowkey obsessed with this

Fanfic Writer Interview

How many works do you have on AO3?

21 as of right now! (It should be 22 because I still haven't put up my fic from the bsd Halloween zine up yet, but I DIGRESS)

Your top 5 stories by kudos/likes:

from a to o, i love you so — an omegaverse A/A -> A/O Soukoku piece of Dazai having a mild identity crisis and trying to accept himself for who he is.

foiled fables — A Soukoku yokai!au about Chuuya stumbling upon an eerie shrine and learning the hard way that kitsunes do, in fact, exist.

with me, disaster finds a playfield — Beast!AU from Chuuya's pov loosely following the light novel, only Dazai lives. And instead of telling Beast!Akutagawa and Beast!Atsushi about the Book and "other world", he tells Chuuya.

letters to my chosen one — Angel & Demon AU where Dazai, a historian, is suddenly approached and asked by the higher court of angels to be appointed to a human as a guardian angel after Chuuya's previous guardian angel goes missing.

bad days, good nights — Birthday piece for Dazai. Chuuya loses a bet (again) and wears a maid dress (again).

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I try to respond promptly, but sometimes I'll open and read a comment and PLAN to reply later, then a week goes by before I remember again. Longer comments I may take some time to get back to, but I do my best to respond to readers! I love the speculations people make about where they think I'm taking the story (shoutout to someone who predicted a critical plot point way in advance before I even got to it) but yes, I respond! I love and appreciate comments!

What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

still the snowflakes fall — A what-if had Dazai been a part of the Decay of Angels instead. And Fyodor's very involved in their relationship. Predictably, it isn't very happy. Dazai loses his memories after a page in the Book rewrites his past, and it doesn't come back to him until all of Yokohama is already engulfed in flames.

What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending?

I think probably from a to o, i love you so. Because it's about Dazai waking up one morning and losing a critical part of his identity and suddenly everything he knows is a lie. But despite fumbling, he comes to accept a new reality because, as Chuuya puts it, he's still Dazai. That core part of him hasn't changed.

Do you write crossovers?

I don't, and don't think I would because it feels like a complicated thing to tackle, but I've considered writing fusions! Like, more than several times I've thought of writing bsd characters in a Honkai Star Rail setting, or even like a world where Pokémon exist.

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

I've gotten a few weird comments, but I just delete/block and move on.

Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

SO LIKE, I'm not even gonna toe around this (lol). Because if you look at my ao3, it's almost all entirely E fics. I like smut included in plots and smut with feelings, though. PWPs aren't really my style, I've found.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not to my knowledge.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

I've been graciously approached a few times asking to translate my works! But because they were explicit in nature, I didn't feel comfortable having them translated to Wattpad. I'm not terribly familiar with Wattpad's policies with that sort of content, but I didn't want the people asking to risk getting in trouble.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Does unpublished count @ohhcinnybuns and I go back and forth with our Snow White!Dazai and Prince!Chuuya writings.

What’s your all-time favorite ship?

It feels unfair to name one, but IwaOi and ShuAke still hold tiny places in my heart though I'm not as interested in Haikyuu!! and Persona 5 anymore. And then there's Soukoku for the last like...eight years.

What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

I have a Dead Apple sorta-one shot that I just haven't found the time to go back to. It was from Chuuya's pov shortly after fighting the dragon and saving Yokohama. Basically just post-Dead Apple stuff, but Dazai taking off with him instead for some sweet post-corruption care. I don't want to say I'll NEVER finish it, but I just have so,, so many other things that both need my attention and have my attention because of sheer brainrot.

What are your writing strengths?

Painting scenes and going into depth about character motives and inner thoughts! I'm almost detail-oriented to a fault, and I've had scenes compared to like reading Dostoevsky a lot.

What are your writing weaknesses?

Dialogue, weirdly enough. I always had a sneaking suspicion that I write a little too much exposition and focus on too many details that there's not enough dialogue. (I even wrote a fic entirely without any dialogue.) It's something I've been actively working on! It feels weird struggling on dialogue when my job requires me to actively engage with others throughout the entire day, but I'm just an awkward potato dialogue writer.

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

This feels tough to me, because I feel like honorifics don't translate as well to English. I write Japanese honorifics simply because I feel like it reads a little better, but that's about it. I throw in some Japanese-originated words like tatami mats, taiyaki, and kotatsus since most of what I write takes place in Japan.

What’s a fandom/ship you haven’t written for yet but want to?

Jouno/Tetchou for sure! I love them, but I just don't have any inspiration for them. Every inspiring idea I get ends up going to Soukoku or Fyozai. I wanted to once write a Valentine's fic for Suegiku of Jouno giving Tetchou boxed chocolates, but then it didn't happen.

What’s your favorite fic you’ve written?

foiled fables!! The origin of the kitsune!Dazai brainrot that spiraled out of control into kitsune!Chuuya and now kitsune!skk as a whole. I finished it a while ago and almost like not even a day goes by where I don't think about it. Someone even made lovely art inspired by it, and another person made a playlist dedicated to it and it makes my heart swell. But I also really loved coming up with the plot and the twist in it.

no pressure tags!!: @mothboypoison @unicornpopcorn14 @frankenjoly @ohhcinnybuns @floatysparrowthing

[wordsifelt]

Hi....If you don't mind, can I ask, what are your top 10 (or top 7) favorite media (can be books/ manga/ anime/movies/tv series)? Why do you love them? Sorry if you've answered this question before......Thanks....

Hi! That was a hard question to answer lol, but after several hours of deliberation I have arrived at the following 10, in no particular order:

Mo Dao Zu Shi and Heaven Official's Blessing by MXTX: (danmei) So yes i cheated a little, these are two novels by the same author, but what I like about them are the same, the author writes relationships extremely well, and she writes very well rounded characters. The plot is very nuanced and makes you think.

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett (Tv series): Truly is a gift to humanity, i love this series, I love how queer it is, how the love permeates everything, how very humane it is (also I'm a sucker for mythological fiction, Percy jackson was a favourite growing up)

Loveless by Alice Oseman (novel): This novel is brilliantly done, and perfectly explains being on the aroace spectrum. I read it recently and it's helped me so much with my own journey discovering my sexuality.

Not Me (Thai drama): Apart from having one of the sweetest romances I've ever seen in any media, this drama also focuses on a lot of political issues, revolution, anarchy etc. Also a great exploration into queer joy. I think it is the only drama i have 10/10 stars

Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo: well written characters, good motivation and plot, beautiful world building and most of all amazing representation, one of my all time fantasy favs.

The All For the Game trilogy by Nora Sakavic: I went into this series with actually zero expectations and it has consumed me for years until I can't find anything else even remotely close to the raw emotion this brings out in me. I don't think anything will ever surpass this. Definitely my comfort read.

Yuuri on Ice (Anime) : One of the first queer anime I ever watched. I love figure skating, the animation style was beautiful, and the love was there. It's a very comforting and fun anime to watch.

Given (Anime): Yet another amazing queer anime. Great exploration of grief and healing and love. Also amazing music.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak(novel) : It's such a bare look at the holocaust and at how it affected those persecuted and involved. Beautiful writing style. I can never read this without crying.

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman: Queer joy for everyone 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈 (need I say more?)

Some honorary mentions:

Gideon the Ninth: This book drove me insane

I Wish You All the Best (novel): beautiful exploration of non-binary gender

Word of Honor (Chinese drama): I love the main couple, they've got great chemistry

Sasaki and Miyano(anime): most wholesome fluff anime ever

Hope this answers ur question. And I hope you find some good recs in this!

[mermaidsirennikita]

I’ve been watching the nosferatu films and I just saw the scenes where Nosferatu is transported across the ocean in a ship in his coffin and then he kills the people on board.

And I said ah yes just like in Pleasure of a Dark prince. And then I thought about it and yea lothaire IS nosferatu core isn’t he? He’s both harker and the monster. Like Ellie says there’s one Lothaire who commands she obey him and another who whispers sweet loving words.

Not sure if this is kresley being inspired or me web weaving.

I SINCERELY hope you don't mind me publishing this, because a) I've been at a sportsball game which is why I was late on this, I'm sorry, I feel like a traitor to my kind for putting sportsball above Art b) THIS IS SUCH A GOOD TAKE!!!!

I think that one of the reasons Lothaire is such a superior vampire romance novel (which isn't to say I don't love others; Dark Needs at Night's Edge is one of my favorite books, I like to love every Kresley vampire book) is because Lothaire as a character is an old school vampire in many ways.

He owes a LOT to Lestat, for sure. Blond, melodramatic, extremely funny both intentionally and unintentionally. But I also think Kresley was absolutely trying to evoke Dracula vibes without ACTUALLY summoning Transylvania when she made all of her vampiric heroes Eastern European. The Wroth brothers are Estonian; Lothaire (and I think Kristoff, when his time comes...?) is Russian. Dacia is Vampire Russia lol.

Lothaire traveling by COFFIN on a BOAT is legitimately one of my favorite things in the series because it is Kresley having him clearly embrace being a vampire's vampire in a way few vamps do in these vampire romance novels. Like, the Daci are so above it all that Trehan reads more as a fantasy hero to me than a vampire (though I do love him). The Wroth brothers seem either indifferent to vampirism or actively tortured by it (though I do think the entire monkey's paw origins of Nikolai and Murdoch returning home to "save" Conrad and Sebastian by forcibly turning them and then driving them away and Conrad's brain being broken by it is deliciously gothic).

Lothaire was never turned into a vampire like the Wroths, but he still seems to really lean into being this Creature of the Night. And Kresley embraces it too. He keeps his red eyes—and they're really alluded to as being pretty disturbing, even by Ellie after she starts to fall in love with him. He shows up in his own book covered in blood and viscera several times, and it doesn't sound particularly... hot. She describes him with blood dripping from his fangs and getting all gross, Ellie asks him to "wash the skin off" before they get sexual.

He shows up as a monster to Ellie (who is literally possessed for most of the book, with the subversion being that Lothaire ends up not wanting the evil soul possessing her because she's quite flat; but Ellie, who is a good person but not always a kind or easy person, draws him in with her depth and ability to understand him) several times, and the first time they meet he is a monster literally. He treats her like a possession at first, tucking her away "for safekeeping" which reads as very Nosferatu to me lol.

But he also does some very conventionally seductive vampire things with her. "Be my dear" is such a CLASSIC vampire move lol. In the scenes where he seduces Ellie, when she's not in the driver's seat as it were, there's almost a trancelike quality to the beginning of the scenes, where she's clearly kind of terrified but also very much wants to be there. And yes, Ellie is a virgin, but she also DOES take control in some of the scenes (really, it's the dry humping scene and the first time they have penetrative sex, which is obviously a choice on Kresley's part meant to give her agency and tone down the dubcon a bit) so the scenes where she's more "at his mercy" are very stark.

The book also really revels in the sexual bloodletting in a way the other vampire novels in the series (besides maybe Sweet Ruin, which... doesn't count) don't. The other books often treat biting as this BIG DEAL, but Lothaire and Ellie really get into it pretty early, and continue because SHE likes the blood stuff so much. There's the "blood kiss" when he first expects her to be horrified by him biting her lip and getting her bloody, only to see that she's SMILING; there's Ellie licking his fangs while they kiss and cutting her tongue on them so he can taste it; there's the.................... virgin's blood......; and of course, the blood 69 lol.

And there's really a sense, to me, that Ellie is actually very clearly cut out to be good at being a vampire and being drawn to the darkness. It's the CHOICE that she wants. The first time they have sex after she's been transformed is so.... interesting, because she's really this kind of monstrous creature that's been totally corrupted, and she's HORRIFIED, but she's also unable to resist having sex with him in a way that really wasn't possible for them before. It very much reads like the corruption is complete, BUT..... She can't get over not being given a choice.

Which... again, also reads as Noferatu-core to me. She wants to give herself to the darkness, but she needs to CHOOSE to give herself to the darkness.

Plus, Kresley never actually has Ellie redeem him. He compromises. He kills LESS because of her. He listens to her. He dotes on her. But when we find out he has Kristoff, his own brother, held captive, it's still clear that he's fucking with him mentally and physically. He's tormenting him with Furie's whereabouts (even if Lothaire genuinely doesn't know where she is); he's breaking his fingers during chess games. He's not.... good. When La Dorada returns and commands evil beings, she can command Lothaire because he's still evil. He's just forced to cooperate with the "good guys" sometimes because he's evil and in love with someone who enjoys being a vampire and doesn't mind being married to someone who is evil, but is not evil herself.

Also. He's obsessed with his castle and has a literal book of magical debts owed to him. He's SOOOOO vampire classic Nosferatu-influenced it's amazing. So much of the book depends on an evil bargain he made. I. LOVE. IT.

Basically: If you liked Nosferatu and want something lighter but not Light, full of camp and sex and humor but also things like "I am ripping the blackened heart out of my chest as a token for you", read Kresley Cole's Lothaire.

[candywraptor]

hey, why did you delete the radiodust fic from Alastor's POV? the companion to Ruin

Hello.

Well. It isn't deleted, it's just orphaned. If you didn't have it bookmarked, you can still find it linked through Ruin (last chapter, all the way at the bottom).

I did it that way so that it could still be found and so that people who enjoyed it could still have it but I hated seeing it in my list of works, honestly.

(for those who may be reading this and don't know - Lesser Things was originally posted without the "bad ending" or "sad ending" tags that it currently has now)

After it ended, I couldn't really write anymore. I went from writing for hours and hours, nonstop, everyday - to nothing. I could start but then it would feel like pulling teeth trying to get words on the page. Very, very luckily for me I was impatient and blondes was started before Lesser Things ended. If not for that, I think I possibly would have stopped altogether. But the chapters I put out for blondes did not come easy and I wasn't happy with them - my voice wasn't there. At least not to me.

This went on for several months.

Many people checked in on me during this time and I am very, extremely grateful to them. And I'm pretty sure I said some degree of "at least I can still write!" to all of them but I believe I was, uh - coping? I guess? Because I couldn't - not like I used to and not with any real pleasure. I was so afraid to make a mistake that I wouldn't try at all. Or I would start writing and get flooded with thoughts of whether or not what I was writing was "right". Anything I could manage to force out was so wooden and lifeless to me. I had come to know what it felt like when my brain was moving at the right flow and it was like someone had completely dammed up the current. It was just empty.

And I dreaded seeing Lesser Things in my works. It was a constant reminder of a very big mistake*. Every time I got a notification about it, my anxiety did somersaults. What really kicked it over was that I began feeling distressed when someone would read or comment on Ruin. I wanted to tell them not to - because inevitably it would lead them to Lesser Things and I didn't want someone else to be disappointed with me or have Ruin damaged for them. It was tagged correctly by then, yes, but I still felt a very strong, irrational fear over it.

So, in an effort to get away from all of that and try to start over, I orphaned it. I wanted to delete it, I'll be honest, but I hate the idea of removing something someone might love from existence and my friends agreed that orphaning it was kinder. So I made sure it was linked and tagged and set it free.

It did not help for a long while.

But then I talked with this person in the comments of Ruin - I am still not quite sure who they were - and for once I told them that I was angry for what I had lost and upset that the hobby that brought me new life was seemingly gone from me. I deserved to be corrected for the tagging - I needed to know that fanfiction does not work the same way as a novel or TV show and that what I saw as a spoiler was incredibly important for many readers - but the rest. . .I didn't deserve that. I simply didn't.

And it felt good to not try to be diplomatic and to be upset and honest about my feelings. After that, a friend reached out and we spent some time discussing it, also. Talking about how I really felt, allowing myself to believe that I didn't deserve the hate - something in my head just let go.

Now I can write again - to my own personal standards. I can do it for hours and, even better, I enjoy it. I have so many ideas now - I've gone from nothing to too much! I am still not as prolific as I once was but I am writing and having fun and that matters more than anything else.

I jumped ship, too. I think most people know that. My feelings on RadioDust are complex and I am still not exactly sure how I feel even now. I don't like looking at it but I don't hate it. Maybe ask me in a week and I do. Maybe ask me in another week and I feel nothing at all. Maybe many weeks or months or years from now you can ask that question and I'll say that I love it again. Who knows.

Anyway. . .

I'm sure you weren't looking for a novella but, hey, it was a complicated question.

In short - it isn't deleted. If you want it, you can find it. And as for why - because it was fucking with my head and I needed my head unfucked. That's the simplified version.

(*the mistake in question is not the content of the ending. Lesser Things ended how it was intended to end and it will always be that way. Period.)

[tuesday-teyz]

Hi, so I literally just got tumbler to see your posts and I love BR so much. So I have a few questions for you that I hope you'd answer. Apologies if it's long.

Would anything change in the story change if BR!Tommy had a younger sibling?

If BR!Tommy had met BR!Ranboo before becoming the crown prince (say in some alternate universe he visited Esempi and met him or something) would he befriend him?

Was there any way that BR!Tommy and BR!Ranboo could have gotten along prior to chapter 26?

Did Kristen usually visit small towns when she was alive, or was it just L'manberg?

How old was BR!Niki when she met BR!Tommy's family?

What was your inspiration for the characters in BR and how they acted?

Does BR!Tommy still love BR!Micheal as a little brother, and come to think of it, does BR!Micheal love BR!Tommy in that way too?

Continuing on from my previous question, does Micheal still have Henry or is he gone?

Do you think BR!Beau and BR!Ranboo could work together and become friends after the events of chapter 26?

Why did BR!Philza like BR!Ranboo out of all the other commoner children?

Did BR!Philza know that BR!Ranboo was a slave?(I'm saying this because in Remarried Empress, Sovieshu had known Rasta was a slave all along, and I know that your fic is based on Remarried Empress)

Come to think of it, where did BR!Philza find BR!Ranboo because BR!Ranboo had lived in Esempi

Also, you don't have to answer a certain question if it'll spoil later chapters

Thank you so much for looking at my questions, considering the fact you even read this post. I think Butterfly Reign is one of (if not the) best fanfics or even stories I've ever read, and I think you're a pretty Poggers writer!

An ask! Haven't done this in a while, but I'll do my best answering your questions! :D

1. Ooooo that's an interesting one. I don't think I've ever thought of it before. In a way, you could say that Tommy did have a younger sibling in the face of Michael (who is his adoptive cousin), but I know that it wouldn't have been the same. There are many factors to how this could play out; whether Tommy is close with that sibling, or how they'd be treated by Phil and Kristin, but I think ultimately Tommy would have all the more reason to push for the crown prince status, and the main storyline would have played out the same with the exception of Tommy being either incessantly harsh towards the youngster (bad example from Phil) or borderline possessive of them in a Wilbur-like manner.

2. Yes! I think I've already speculated on an alternative universe for a scenario where Tommy gets to meet Ranboo on more peaceful terms. I think it would have been a slowburn type of friendship with Tommy learning how not to be an asshole all the time and Ranboo getting to know the ways of court – maybe through becoming Tommy’s attendant.

3. Absolutely! Br!Kristin did a lot of town visits and charity work in her days as an Empress, especially with southern towns that were the most affected by the war in Essempi... and so did Phil, but we are not going to learn about that until later.

4. I think she was anywhere from eleven to fourteen years old, I don't have a very strict timeline for that period, but the way it went was that Niki was sent to be mentored by Kristin. She was fostered in the AE to prepare her for ruling for several years, so that makes her almost a sister to Tommy, Wilbur and Techno.

5. Mostly my own family. I wouldn't call it projection per se, but prior to the start of BR we went through some rough things that made me see a new side to many of my family members – some good, some bad, all very human. BR at large is an exploration of different behaviors I observed in people around me. For example, br!Wilbur is strongly inspired by my cousin, who we were very close with at a young age, and br!Phil definitely has borrowed a lot out of my own father. And of course there were many outside sources from other fics I've read, from my favorite Webtoons and novels, and even random reddit stories I've seen and that stuck with me enough that I wanted to incorporate them into the characters.

6. Yes, Tommy definitely cares about Michael, and Michael about Tommy, but there are certain things in their backstory that make it hard for them to interact. Michael much prefers being around Tubbo because there is less negative emotional package tied to their relationship.

7. Michael still has Henry!

8. No :D

9 & 10. There is a reason for that that I cannot disclose yet.

And the last but not least, I hadn't gotten a chance to make this very clear but Ranboo used to work for Quackity in exchange for him getting him out of Esempi but ultimately ran away when he realized that he's never really gotten free. Which was not thought well though because three days layer he's barely alive in the woods when he stumbles upon Phil's carriage.

I'm really happy you're enjoying the story, and I hope this satisfies your curiosity!

[gneebee]

Twenty Questions for Fic Writers

Tagged by @pipergirl17- thank you my friend!❤️

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

I have 92 works on AO3!

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

2,556,425 -- Holy Mole!

3. What fandoms do you write for?

I write for The Walking Dead with plans to write for TWD Daryl Dixon soon. I write for several different pairings / ships within the fandom

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

A Place Called Heavenly (Daryl Dixon/Beth Greene)

Just Playin' (Rick Grimes/Beth Greene)

Two Doors Down (Rick Grimes/Beth Greene)

The Wonder of Christmas (Rick Grimes/Beth Greene)

Love's Long Road (Daryl Dixon/Beth Greene)

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Always - if I didn't it's because I somehow missed it. Fic writers live for comments and I believe in acknowledging those who leave them.

6. What is a fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I have fics with plenty of angst, but not at the end

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

All my stories have happiness at the end - there's enough bad crap going on in the real world.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

No, but I have had people trying to start fights about content that didn't even exist in my story, and I've had the occasional meanness, I just wonder why the hell they read it if they don't like it, then move on

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

I do, not in every story, but in some. I've only written F/M and no kinks.

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

Not as a rule, however, I did write a two chapter Bethyl Comedy called The Makeover where Daryl gets a visit from the fellows at Queer Eye for the Straight Guy

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Oh yes. I have had my dialog copied verbatim, the plot and characterizations used, even nicknames I gave characters. By far, the worst was my entire story "Love's Highway" was stolen. "Only the names were changed" . It was made into a novel and was for sale on Amazon and Goodreads. A reader advised me and I got it removed quickly enough. I was not the only writer this happened to at the time, it was several writers who had works stolen

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Not that I'm aware of

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes, I have co-written three, although I no longer credit my co writer because she asked me not to. She chose to give up writing and didn't want anyone to ever know she once been involved in writing FF

14. What's your all-time favorite ship?

Daryl Dixon and Beth Greene - by a mile

15. What's a wip you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

All my stories are complete except my current WIP Love at the Solo Cafe, and a couple of others I am working on behind the scenes

16. What are your writing strengths?

In the fan fiction world I would say my biggest strength is I have extreme OCD and so I always finish what I start.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

I'm easily distracted haha Also, I have no patience with my characters. I want them to get together and quit dancing around their attraction to one another.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

I have written sign language - ASL - for TWD Connie, but other than that, I just haven't done it.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

TWD

20. Favorite fic you've written?

That's an incredibly difficult question to answer. I have a great personal closeness to several. I'll say Love's Highway because it's closest to home for me and the hub.

Thank you again @pipergirl17 I will tag @rckyfrk @sasusc @mistressheroine @roksolanna77 and whoever else who wants to participate

#dash games

[xarrixii]

to those of inquiry,

my introduction

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hello, fellow traveler of the hellscape that is this website (or app, if you happen to be on your phone using such)

my name is @xarrixii, and i am better known as "arri"

i have a separate blog from this one designed for reblogging other peoples' work. if that's something you're more interested in (my taste in writing), then i suggest you visit @the-arrikive

masterlists a long way under the divider

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i have come from a land not so far away (planet earth) to share the nonsensical nonsense of my brain (my writing).

i write both longer, novel-like stories and responses to writing prompts when i'm feeling it (feel free to send me one, if you'd like). my brain is random, though, so i can't guarantee i'll get something out right away.

i am irregular. do not expect something like weekly uploads. you get a story when i remember to post one and have one available. i shall not rush the accidentally filled plotholes genius i breed.

sometimes i make edits. i've made a lot of edits recently, like layout/ease of access and also wording on some of the earlier chapters. (already read chapter one of cinder? i changed the beginning because i hated it and i personally would put down the book immediately if i'd found it in the library)

i still hate the first sentence but honestly, the noggin can't think of anything better so we'll cry about it later

also, grammarly hates me because i don't like its grammar rules and i don't capitalize my "i"s when i'm casually speaking. i hate grammarly because some of its suggestions are stupid. i just don't want to turn it back on every time i eventually end up needing it.

less important: i am cisgender. i identify with she/her, but i could really care less (not quite sure that counts as any). i am pansexual. (frying pans don't have enough personality, don't ask about them)

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what i like reading:

i love, love love love love love love love it when a book focuses on its characters. there's nothing wrong with taking in the fantasy world they built for the people to live in, i'm all for that as well. it's just a trend i see that the more a book focuses on following its plot, the less it focuses on the people riding out that plot.

i'm a firm believer in characters "building a plot" based around their actions, even if that means an author built a plot and then designed the perfect character for enacting it.

also, i grew up a gacha kid (gacha studio/life/club). that means i'm familiar with cliches and love it when people throw them on their heel. it's also (unfortunately) made me enjoy love stories less (which makes things difficult since books that focus on characters almost always have some love plot that works out).

i'll read a hero x villain, sure. but sometimes i might think up the ending where they don't love each other (platonic and rival)

ask me any time about what i enjoy reading if i've confused you (it happens a lot).

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what i like writing:

this one's a lot simpler, i like writing what i like reading. because if i wouldn't read it later, why would anyone else?

due to me being cringe once upon a time, i spent several years writing out roleplays (yes, i was the edgy roblox kid too) with some friends, so anything super long i write for a very long time from now will be my personal adaptation of something that's already existed before

writing prompts are the truest test of my creative abilities, though. making up new characters, a new environment, and a new plot based on the whims of a few sentences from time to time is what keeps my rewrites from being copy-pastes.

that also just keeps it fun for the friends who wrote it with me once and will read it from my fingers typing it again

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also to note, i'm not afraid of writing about blood, gore, violence, and the like, and i'm also insensitive to what all needs to be tagged, so any help with that goes a long way

most of my writing prompts will be written with non-binary characters

if you find me fucking up pronouns please notify me where i diddled it up thank you!!

so about being a gacha kid

i suck at drawing. the physical descriptions of my characters are laid out in gacha apps, and yes i am mildly embarrassed about it. but putting their designs down somewhere means i have something reliable to refer to while writing.

thou shalt not judge me for it.

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hobbies

writing. i guess a bit obviously. i also still enjoy playing video games and listening to music. i like watching horror games, but can't bring myself to play them. i also make a lot of jokes about violence. i mean a lot. but i know when to take something seriously.

favorite roblox games including: entry point, scp: site roleplay, funky friday, robeats, 3008

i also play genshin impact occasionally, and no i'm not elaborating.

if you couldn't tell by now, i talk too much. moving on:

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masterlists

hey, me! i know you're reading this, because i know you're the most likely suspect for looking for these links all the time.

"Cinder" Masterlist writing prompts

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looking for more? ask me! send me prompts! FILL MY INBOX!!!

[not-poignant]

19 and 20!

19. Tell me a story about your writing journey. When did you start? Why did you start? Were there bumps along the way? Where are you now and where are you going?

Oh this is... this will be long and it's 12.13am and I don't want to write long, so I'm going to shorthand it:

Started writing as a kid, liked it, pure escapism and needed that shit because real life sucked. Enjoyed reading and though 'I could do that' before anyone told me no. Wrote several novels as a 10 year old before I realised actually you're supposed to learn how to do it first. I still like those stories. Finished my first epic fantasy trilogy by the age of 12/13.

Lots of bumps, including some creative writing at university which killed all my passion to write. The long and short of it is that I could write award-winning short stories and poems, but I hated all of it and judged and edited everything I wrote to the point where I...stopped.

Stopped all writing. For many years. Became pro-artist. Occasionally write very short fanfics that only ever got posted on Livejournal or Schnoogle. Never liked any of it.

Quit art, had a mental breakdown, needed that good good pure escapism again. Read a lot of fanfiction. Made a fandom Tumblr. Watched Rise of the Guardians, went to town on AO3, wrote literally whatever the fuck I wanted even though I was sure people would hate it and hate me. Some folks said 'hey these OCs are alright' and I went 'sure okay.'

Here we are. :)

20. If a witch offered you the choice between eternal happiness with your one true love and the ability to finally finish, perfect, and publish your dearest, darlingest, most precious WIP in exactly the way you've always imagined it — which would you choose? You can’t have both sorry, life’s a bitch

I don't want both. I don't want either. Fuck monogamy, lmao. (For me! Not for anyone else reading this! I am a walking caveat!!!)

I don't want perfection. I don't have a 'most precious WIP.' Stories are easy to come by, and they're all fun. Characters are easy to come by, and you can hurt/comfort nearly all of them. There is no 'dearest, darlingest, most precious WIP' like damn.

I also...don't want eternal happiness. Like Arden, in FFS, I do not believe that the goal of life is eternal happiness. That's literally not the way our brains are built. Emotions are meant to transform. The good news is - that means all the ones that make you feel like shit. The bad news is - that means all the ones that make you feel good. That's why it's so important to learn how to tolerate and sit with all your emotions free from judgement, because the sooner you do that, the more often you'll feel happiness in general.

We're not made, as a species, to feel happy all the time. You ever see people shaking their indoor plants to mimic wind because otherwise they grow all weak and shit and die early because they had no challenges? Yeah.

And yes, I've had challenges, and I'm also not an indoor plant, I just don't believe eternal happiness is the goal here.

Also I'm polyamorous so this whole 'one true love' thing can fuck right off. This question just reads a little like 'u have one true love story and u have one true love person' and folks can live like that but a bitch could never (it's me, I'm bitch)

--

From the Weird Writing Asks meme!

[meli-r]

Redemption v2.19

From this chapter onwards I'm going to change the way the story develops, although the overall plot is going to be the same.

I'm planning to use AI to transcribe the audios from Psycho Pass Zero, which I haven't found translated yet. I admit that I've never read that novel, and I might be altering the original story and its characters, which is why I'm trying to gather more information. Otherwise, I may have to deviate from canon again. Also, Psycho Pass Zero is the only thing I haven't seen of the series that catches my attention.

It's possible that this chapter will also undergo further modifications in the future if I discover that it deviates too much from the canon. Nonetheless, I wanted to share it to get it out of my head and take a break from it for a while.

P.S.: This is my first time writing a 10k word chapter. It's supposed to be the last peaceful one before everything takes a more action-packed turn with characters trying to kill each other.

In any case, hope you enjoy it :)

*****

Sasayama and Touko moved briskly through the echoing corridors of Oso Academy, Yashiro following closely behind. Touko's voice trembled as she gasped, "That's him."

Walking down the hallway, Touma was flanked by two teachers. His lips curved into an inscrutable smile as he animatedly explained a topic to them.

"That lunatic," Sasayama muttered under his breath, his teeth gritted in frustration.

Touko whispered, her voice filled with disbelief, "How... how can he just walk around like nothing happened?"

"I trust a woman's instinct," Sasayama declared as he pulled out his dominator and took a step forward. "Hey."

The teachers' voices hushed to murmurs, their words reverberating through the tranquil corridor. Touma paused, one hand casually resting in his dark pants' pocket, and turned toward one of the teachers, offering a polite bow.

"Hey, scumbag!" Sasayama's voice rang out, echoing through the hallway. The teachers turned their attention to him, their expressions mixed with confusion and concern. "Are you Touma Kouzaburou?"

"Yes," Touma responded quietly, his face retaining a stoic composure.

Sasayama raised his arm, aiming the dominator at Touma. A group of students had gathered around, some moving forward, others stepping back, their voices hushed murmurs.

"What are you doing?!" one of the teachers questioned.

Crime coefficient is 23. Not a target for enforcement action. The trigger will be blocked.

Sasayama frowned, looking from his weapon to Touma, who stood several meters away, his lips curving for a moment.

“Did you kill her father?” Sasayama inquired.

“What are you talking about?” Touma raised an eyebrow, shaking his head slightly.

“I asked you a simple question. Did you kill him?” Sasayama stepped forward.

“No,” Touma's response was swift and unwavering. “How dare you?” 

Touko's involuntary sob resonated, and Touma's brown eyes settled on her impassively. Sasayama glanced at her; she had lowered her head, her brows furrowing, and her eyes closing. In front of Yashiro, a girl approached Sasayama, then moved toward Touko, gripping her hand tightly.

As Touma's gaze scanned the hallway, it abruptly paused on Yashiro, who had been observing behind the commotion, her attire blending seamlessly with the other students. However, as he noticed her presence, Touma blinked. His eyebrows subtly twitched, and his eyes focused more intently. Yashiro lifted her head slightly, her heart quickening.

Crime coefficient is 21. Not a target for enforcement action. The trigger will be blocked.

Sasayama clicked his tongue, lowering his arm and striding forward until he stood right in front of Touma, his fingers curling around the collar of Touma's black vest with a restrained but evident grip. Touma met Sasayama's gaze, his expression unyielding, but his nose twitched in response to the lingering scent of cigarettes in the air.

“Stop! Why are you doing this?” pleaded another teacher, reaching out and gripping Sasayama's forearm, desperately attempting to intervene. “Let go of him!”

Sasayama forcefully pushed the teacher aside with the hand clutching the dominator.

“It was you, wasn't it?” Sasayama asserted. “The monkey toys.”

Touma maintained his composure, lowering his head calmly, his eyes focused on the firm grip Sasayama had on his white shirt and red tie.

“Grabbing an innocent civilian like this can get any inspector in trouble,” Touma stated in a soft voice.

“I’m no inspector, you piece of shit. I’ll gather all the evidence available to rip you to pieces.”

“Keep barking and running where others point you to go. You’re obviously a dog, not a wolf,” Touma's lips curled into a faint smile as he raised an eyebrow briefly, leaning slightly toward Sasayama, his expression growing more serious. “I doubt you've ever ripped anyone to pieces."

Yashiro's eyes widened slightly as she observed Touma's calm demeanor, his hands casually tucked into his pants pockets.

“Wanna bet?” Sasayama grinned, revealing white teeth. “I've torn apart so many criminals. Shall I do it now?”

Touma's grin widened, his gaze locked onto Sasayama's.

“This is defamation. You will be sued,” frowned one of the teachers.

“Yeah, good luck with that,” Sasayama commented.

“If you keep this up, you will jeopardize the entire school’s stress level!” warned the other teacher, waving one hand.

“Go ahead, you jerk. I have nothing left to lose. You think you’re some kind of artist, but you’re just a pathetic crazy murderer. Does harming people weaker than you arouse and electrify you? Tell me, you perverted psychopath,” Sasayama gritted his teeth, making Touma slightly tilt his head to the side, his expression darkening. “What? Are you getting riled up? What you’re waiting for? Come on, show me what you do. Who you really are.”

Touma’s corner of his mouth curved up for a second. At that moment, footsteps echoed down the corridor, and Yashiro saw Kougami’s figure coming from another corridor behind Touma. Pulling out his dominator, he read Touma's crime coefficient, but the gun remained motionless.

“Sasayama!” Kougami approached them, putting his dominator away.

Finally, Sasayama released Touma with a push. 

“Touma-sensei, are you all right?” a teacher asked.

“Yes, I’m fine. Just a bit of excitement from a crazy hound of the Public Safety Bureau,” Touma said with a brief smile. He adjusted his tie beneath his vest, then turned his gaze back to Sasayama. “Witnessing his madness has been fun.”

Touma looked at Yashiro, and his smile broadened for a few seconds.

“Are you Touma Kouzaburou?” Kougami asked.

Slowly, Touma turned around to face a black-haired man.

“Yes.”

“I’m Inspector Kougami Shinya from the Criminal Investigation Department. We need to ask you some questions about the recent murder of Altoromagi Abele,” he displayed his holographic ID.

Touma's eyebrows shot up, and his eyes widened.

“That... that can't be right. It was only yesterday that we were talking. There must be some kind of mistake,” Touma replied, his voice genuinely reflecting his surprise.

“Please come with us,” Kougami said, exchanging a glance with Sasayama.

“Of course. I'd be happy to assist you with your investigation,” Touma blinked a couple of times, looking at Kougami and giving a hesitant nod.

Kougami nodded, gesturing for them to follow. Touma glanced back at Sasayama, who had not budged. Before catching up with Kougami, Touma exchanged a glance with Yashiro, who fixed a scrutinizing gaze on him as he walked away. Teachers in the hallway signaled for the students to disperse, but Touko and Yashiro remained.

“If he’s not responsible, then who in the world is? How could he keep brutally slaughtering innocent people? What are we to him? It’s as if we're chasing a monster,” Touko's voice quivered, her eyes shimmering with tears.

“You know why people call me crazy hound?” Sasayama approached them. “Because I’m good at catching bad guys? No. It’s because I’m crazy for sniffing after them. We’ll take care of things here. You should go home. We won’t give up. I promise. We’ll find him and make him beg for forgiveness. We’ll make him say that he’s sorry. Just wait a bit more.”

Touko looked up at him, blinked away her tears, and managed a smile. Suddenly, her phone rang.

“It’s my aunt. I have to take this. Excuse me,” Touko said as she pulled out her phone and walked away.

"Are you okay?" Sasayama turned his attention to Yashiro with a slight frown.

"Do you really think he's involved?" Yashiro turned her gaze toward the two men walking down the corridor.

"My gut says it's possible," Sasayama responded.

Suddenly, Kougami and Touma turned around, stopping in their tracks. They were several meters ahead, about to turn into another corridor.

"I believe you," Yashiro stated.

Sasayama's eyes widened, and his lips parted.

"Sasayama," Kougami's voice echoed.

Without breaking eye contact with her, Sasayama slowly turned his head until he faced the two men. Touma's hand rested on his pants pocket, and his narrowed eyes met Yashiro's. She slightly raised her head, held her breath, and finally turned away, leaving Sasayama with his mouth barely open, speechless.

Yashiro strolled through the school's echoing corridors, exchanging polite greetings with passing students. The rhythmic tapping of her shoes on the wooden floor filled the silence.

Finally, she paused before a panoramic window that framed the school's sprawling grounds. Beyond the glass, the academy's manicured gardens extended under the embrace of a bright blue sky. 

Touko was engaged in conversation with a man and a woman who towered over her. Yashiro recognized them as her aunt and uncle. They spoke with a school staff member before making their way toward the exit. A faint smile played on Yashiro's lips as she observed the reunion.

But as footsteps approached from behind, her smile faded, and her gaze dropped. The echo of those footsteps, steady and unhurried, came to a halt right beside her.

"You've brought the cavalry," a deep, enigmatic voice resonated in her ears.

Beside her, Makishima stood with his arms crossed over his beige vest, his gaze fixed on the serene garden.

"It wasn't me," Yashiro sighed, her voice soft.

“If you knew she would lead them here, why go to the zoo?” Makishima turned his attention to her, narrowing his eyes.

“I couldn’t let her see her father,” Yashiro raised her voice, her frown deepening.

Makishima's curiosity danced in his eyes, and he questioned, "Why not?"

“Because otherwise, she would be hospitalized now... or worse.”

Makishima's gaze lingered on Yashiro for a moment, assessing her.

"The way you inspire others to fight against the inevitable is touching. Like an edelweiss in the snow."

"A what?" Yashiro looked at him.

Makishima allowed himself a faint smile. 

"It's a resilient alpine flower found in the harshest, snow-covered mountain regions. This remarkable flower has evolved unique adaptations to survive in extreme cold, like growing beneath the surface to shield itself from the biting frost or withstanding freezing temperatures. I'm curious whether she can survive the coming winter as well.”

Footsteps echoed down a long, sterile corridor as Ginoza approached a brown-haired man. Touma Kouzaburou, dressed in dark pants and a black vest over a red tie and white dress shirt, was standing beside Kougami.

“You are Touma Kouzaburou, aren’t you? Are you here to testify? I’m Inspector Ginoza Nobuchika.”

“I’m Touma Kouzaburou,” he bowed slightly. “Nice to meet you.”

“This way, please,” Ginoza motioned for him to follow.

Kougami stepped aside, allowing Ginoza to guide Touma through the labyrinthine corridors. Kougami's eyes tracked Touma’s every move as they walked away.

When they reached the interrogation room, Touma entered slowly. The room was lit with a single, harsh overhead light, and its sterile walls gave it a cold, clinical feel. A camera stood sentinel in one corner. 

Ginoza, seated at a plain metal table, met Touma's gaze with a stern expression. Touma, hands still tucked into his pants pockets, moved forward, unbuttoning his black vest with a calm, measured grace.

“All right. Let’s begin,” Ginoza said.

In the lab, Karanomori offered a cigarette to Sasayama as they watched the interrogation through a monitor. Behind them, Kougami frowned momentarily at the smell. Masaoka stood nearby, arms folded over his trench coat, watching alongside Kunizuka, who occupied the only black couch.

“That disgusting scumbag,” Sasayama muttered.

“Calm down,” Kougami said.

“If he had a hand in it, he’s walking around freely in the PSB,” Sasayama continued, his head slightly lowered with eyes fixed on the screen.

"I'm shocked too. His level of confidence," Kougami glanced at Touma, then gestured toward another screen. "But look at this. He has no criminal record. His hue is clear."

“Name: Touma Kouzaburou. Resident identification number…” Ginoza spoke, reading information from a hologram projected above his wrist.

“Please, let’s cut to the chase. We are all busy people,” Touma interjected with a calm demeanor, one leg crossed over the other, hands clasped on his thigh. "You want to know if I killed Altoromagi Abele or saw someone doing it. Isn’t that right?"

Ginoza looked down for a moment and turned off the hologram, resting his arm on the table.

"Well then, shall we get right into it? Even if it’s impossible to estimate the exact time of death due to the plastination process, he is presumed to have been killed the night after he attended a school anniversary event. Where were you? What were you doing at that time? He was last seen with you at the event, according to our investigation.”

“The discussion about a charity project had everyone engrossed. He left the room soon after.”

"Everyone?" Ginoza furrowed his brow for a second, adjusting his glasses.

“Yes, Shimizu Jiro and other people joined our conversation.”

“Did he say where he was going, or who he would see?”

“He simply apologized and mentioned some business he needed to attend to. I didn’t pay much attention, considering his status as a well-known lawyer.”

“Did you hear anything unusual in the hallway?” Ginoza questioned further.

“I'm not sure,” Touma’s brows furrowed as he momentarily looked down. “I don’t recall any loud or strange noises.”

“I heard that Altoromagi Abele was the head of a charity organization that took you out of Ogishima when you were fourteen. You know him, don't you?”

“Yes, he helped me settle in Tokyo and get into school. Although we had our differences when I was younger, he was like a father to me. I'm very grateful.”

“Do you know if he had any enemies or recent conflicts with anyone?”

“Not that I can recall. He never caused trouble for anyone, treating everyone equally. He had a warm-hearted nature and was especially passionate about his work. The fact that he used his wealth to help those in need always brought him immense joy. It's hard to believe... that such a kind-hearted person is gone,” Touma's eyes glistened on the verge of tears. He closed them briefly, sighed, and lowered his head.

“What he says aligns with what Kirino-san shared with us,” Kougami noted in the lab.

"I think the man we’re looking for is a power/control-oriented killer. He must be enjoying getting us all puzzled," Masaoka commented.

"He provoked this crazy hound here. I'll track him down, no matter what," Sasayama declared as he extinguished his cigarette in an ashtray on Karanomori's desk.

“So, you have nothing else to tell us?” Ginoza continued, casually clasping his fists together on the table.

“I've shared all that I know truthfully,” Touma responded.

“This information will suffice for now,” Ginoza stood up, motioning for Touma to do the same as they exited the room. “Thank you for your cooperation.”

“Feel free to reach out to me if you need anything else,” Touma replied with a smile, bowing slightly.

A few minutes after the interview concluded, Ginoza made his way to the lab, where his team was still assembled. Karanomori swiveled in her chair as she heard the door open and watched him walk toward them.

"He seems very normal," Ginoza remarked with a nod.

"Have you ever met a psychopath who admits they’re insane, Gino?" Sasayama leaned against the desk.

“Still, why would he voluntarily come to the Public Safety Bureau headquarters if he were guilty?” Kougami frowned, waving one hand and briefly raising his head. “Many people don’t even bother showing up for witness interviews. I don't find him suspicious.”

“A simple record of his crime coefficient is as telling as a signed confession,” Ginoza stated, nodding toward one of the screens displaying Touma’s profile.

“She said she believed me,” Sasayama whispered, looking down.

“What?” Ginoza frowned, turning to him.

“You mean Takahashi Yashiro?” Kougami raised an eyebrow. “Is that what this is about?”

“Takahashi?” Karanomori frowned as she leaned forward, removing her cigarette from her lips. "Rings a bell."

“Do you remember the Takahashi case from three years ago? She's his daughter,” explained Masaoka.

“Oh, that's right! Now I remember. But what does she have to do with this case?” Karanomori leaned back in her seat, crossing one leg over the other.

"Good question. Sasayama, why did she tell you that?" Kougami inquired.

“I don't know. Just as I was about to ask her, she left. Maybe you scared her off with your yelling in the middle of the hallway,” Sasayama replied, folding his arms.

“After the scene you created, I doubt she'd be afraid of me,” Kougami waved one hand, resting the other on his hip.

"Come on, cut me some slack—we were just getting chummy," Sasayama said, giving a nonchalant shrug and shaking his head. “Gotta say, he really got my goat. He's a tough cookie, all right. There's just something about him—I can't put my finger on it."

“What scene?” Ginoza’s voice echoed, making them look at him. “What did you do now?”

Kunizuka smiled and closed her eyes.

“Let’s just set that aside and focus on the case,” Kougami said as he walked toward the screen, his voice serious. However, a faint smile appeared on his face as he exchanged a glance with Sasayama.

“We should run a background check on the other man who was in the same room and question him to see if his story matches,” Masaoka suggested.

"Good call.  It appears his name is Shimizu Jiro," Ginoza added.

Swiveling in her seat, Karanomori began typing on the keyboard until a window with the profile of a man with short black hair and dark eyes popped up on a screen. Ginoza approached with folded arms, standing next to Kougami.

"Shimizu Jiro, 41 years old, is also a teacher at Oso Academy," Karanomori reported, her fingers dancing over the keyboard. “His educational background shows that he graduated with honors from the Faculty of Education at the University of Tokyo. He has been teaching at Oso Academy for the past 15 years and has been the head of the History department for the past 5 years.”

"What can we find out about his recent activities—anything unusual?" Ginoza frowned.

Karanomori continued scrolling down the screen. "There is no record of previous criminal activity. The latest hue check indicates a healthy life."

Kougami leaned in, intrigued. "Healthy life? Could this be a false front?"

"We can't rule that out,” Ginoza nodded in agreement. “Let's schedule a visit to Oso Academy and have a face-to-face conversation with Shimizu Jiro. Shion, coordinate with the school administration. We need to question him about the night of Altoromagi's disappearance and see if there's anything he might be hiding."

Karanomori acknowledged the orders with a quick nod and a few clicks of her keyboard, "I'll arrange a meeting with him at the academy this afternoon."

Ginoza, thinking further, turned to Kunizuka, who was sitting on the couch. "Yayoi, check the city's security cameras and scanners for any unusual activity on the night of the event. Particularly, focus on the exit area. Let's see if we can spot anything that might give us a lead."

Kunizuka nodded and stood up. Ginoza looked at his team once more. “Let's keep our focus on gathering information for now. We're on the right track."

Yashiro found herself strolling through the serene school courtyard, a secluded oasis from the bustling corridors. She spotted a man, a figure of authority, with raven-black hair and piercing, contemplative eyes. His tailored suit hinted at his professionalism, giving him an air of dignity amidst the peaceful surroundings.

As she approached him, Yashiro began, "Excuse me, Shimizu-sensei?"

The man turned to face her, his gaze steady but inquisitive.

"Yes, how may I assist you?" he responded, waiting for her to continue.

Yashiro nodded thoughtfully. "You see, I've always been deeply intrigued by history, particularly the rich history of our school. I've heard that you're the head of the History department, and I thought you might be the ideal person to enlighten me."

Shimizu's smile grew warmer. "Indeed, I am. It's always a pleasure to encounter students with a genuine passion for history."

Yashiro leaned in slightly, as if sharing a confidential thought. "Absolutely. Speaking of history, I couldn't help but wonder about Altoromagi Abele. He was among the distinguished guests at our recent anniversary event, wasn't he?"

Shimizu's interest was piqued. "Ah, yes, Altoromagi Abele. He's a renowned lawyer and a prominent figure in the world of charitable endeavors. His presence at our event was indeed an honor."

"That's quite fascinating. I've heard so much about him, particularly from my friend, who happens to be his daughter. She speaks very highly of her father."

Shimizu's smile remained friendly. "I'm not surprised. He has made remarkable contributions to our community through his charitable organization. It's always inspiring to witness individuals who create positive change."

Yashiro nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. It must be a matter of great pride for our school to host such distinguished guests. I was curious, though, do you happen to know if he had any specific plans for the evening or if he left the event early? I was informed that you had a conversation with him, and I was hoping to inquire about his charitable projects. Unfortunately, I couldn't locate him."

Shimizu contemplated her question. "I wasn't privy to his exact plans for the evening. To the best of my knowledge, he left earlier due to some pressing matters. I'm not aware of his subsequent activities. Altoromagi is known for his commitment to his work, so his early departure didn't come as a surprise."

"Indeed, his dedication is remarkable. I was simply curious because I'm aware of a recent project he's been involved in, and I found it rather intriguing," Yashiro responded.

"Yes, he frequently visits remote areas of the country to aid those in need. His idealism is truly admirable," Shimizu remarked.

"Do you share that admiration for his idealism?" Yashiro asked.

Shimizu's expression grew contemplative. "I do, to an extent. His desire to assist those who have chosen to live outside our conventional moral framework is commendable. I used to believe that individuals are born with the freedom to choose, but I've come to understand that freedom must be regulated when it threatens harm to oneself or others."

Yashiro raised an eyebrow. "So, do you believe those who've ventured outside our society should be coerced into returning because they pose a risk to themselves and others?"

Shimizu nodded, his tone earnest. "It's a nuanced matter. Those who opt to reside beyond our boundaries often confront dangers and uncertainties."

"But doesn't that contradict the very essence of personal freedom and individual choice? Shouldn't individuals retain autonomy over their lives, even if it means residing beyond the established system?"

Shimizu sighed softly. "It's a delicate equilibrium between personal freedom and societal stability. Sibyl has proven to be the most effective means of preserving order and averting criminality. Those who depart from it are more susceptible to influence by criminal elements and may, regrettably, become threats themselves."

Yashiro's gaze intensified, her skepticism evident. "And what about those who aren't inherently criminal? Shouldn't they possess the right to determine their path without being compelled to rejoin a society they've renounced?"

Shimizu hesitated briefly, then responded with conviction. "We must prioritize the greater good. Personal freedoms, left unchecked, can lead to turmoil and unpredictability. It's only through guidance and structure that we can ensure a harmonious society. Occasionally, individuals must make sacrifices for the collective good. It's the price we pay for a tranquil and orderly world. I believe true freedom is achieved when we accept that our freedom must be circumscribed for our well-being and that of others. We must acknowledge our imperfections and the impossibility of an ideal existence."

"Is that the aspect of Altoromagi that you admire?" Yashiro asked.

Shimizu chuckled softly. "Oh, no. Quite the opposite. His idealism is what perplexes me the most. He has always held that society shouldn't dictate an individual's fate, allowing those he assists to decide their own destinies. That's where our perspectives diverge. But I don't believe we've been properly introduced. What is your name?"

Yashiro extended a polite bow. "I'm Takahashi Yashiro."

"Ah, Takahashi-san," Shimizu nodded with a glimmer of recognition. "Touma-kun spoke very highly of you."

"Do you know him?" Yashiro asked.

"He's a close friend of mine. Perhaps you should discuss Altoromagi Abele with him instead."

"Why is that?"

"Well, it was he who introduced me to Altoromagi," Shimizu replied.

Yashiro's lips parted for a moment. "He did?"

"Yes, indeed. He displayed a keen interest in Altoromagi's charitable endeavors, much like yourself. Regrettably, Altoromagi had to depart."

"I see. Thank you, Shimizu-sensei. I was simply curious about his visit to our school. I hope I didn't impose."

Shimizu chuckled softly. “Not at all. If you excuse me, I have an appointment. But it was a pleasure talking with you.”

As Yashiro left her conversation with Shimizu Jiro behind, she made her way to the school library. It was a sanctuary of quietude, permeated by the familiar scent of old books. As she stepped into the hushed space, her gaze wandered across the rows of bookshelves. To her astonishment, it fell upon Makishima Shougo.

There he sat, occupying a small table in a lit corner of the library, fully engrossed in a game of chess. What struck her as peculiar was the absence of an opponent; he played alone. His eyes remained fixed on the chessboard, and his fingers moved the pieces with an almost hypnotic precision. It was a scene that caught Yashiro entirely off guard.

“Playing chess alone?” the words escaped her lips before she could think.

Makishima did not lift his gaze from the chessboard, but a subtle, enigmatic smile graced his lips. “Chess is a game I find most beguiling when played in solitude. The true challenge lies in outsmarting oneself, wouldn't you agree?”

"Then there's absolutely no reason to turn down a game, is there? After all, you're your own greatest opponent."

Without hesitation, Yashiro deftly pulled out a chair from a nearby table and seated herself, her eyes now locked onto the chessboard before them. Makishima, momentarily surprised by her audacity, arched an eyebrow as he finally shifted his gaze from the board to her.

“Very well, then,” he began, deftly resetting the chess pieces on the board. “Perhaps you can help me find the challenge I seek.”

His eyes widened as he observed Yashiro's sudden, contemplative expression. A faint frown creased her brow as she scrutinized the chessboard, her fingers hovering momentarily before she made her move. Across from her, Makishima's fingers glided across the chessboard with the fluidity of a seasoned grandmaster, executing his moves with precision.

"I went to see a man who happened to be with Touma and Altoromagi," Yashiro commented, making a thoughtful move. “A teacher from this school.”

Makishima raised an eyebrow. “How did you know that?”

"I asked around,” she responded. “He doesn't even know Altoromagi is dead. I bet Touma used him. He sure knew the police would link him to the victim this time.”

“How?”

“Because of their history. Altoromagi Abele gave him the chance to leave Ogishima, his hometown. Seeing the possibility of being linked, Touma made sure to have someone to corroborate the facts so that he wouldn’t be suspected,” Yashiro explained.

“It’s hard to believe he would scheme that.”

“He’s toying with everyone right now. He revels in self-congratulation, and that's how he will get caught.”

“How is this operation supposed to unfold? Is it top secret? I suppose I'm on a need-to-know basis. That's understandable. Trust is a rare commodity, after all. Well, I wouldn't trust me either,” Makishima grinned, his eyes narrowing for a moment as he looked at her. “You see, once I achieve my goals, I could simply eliminate you.”

“Then I'd have to figure out how to eliminate you first,” Yashiro replied calmly.

“Well, there's a difference. If I'm no longer here, you won't get what you want. You need me.”

Yashiro's expression grew more serious. "I have a feeling it works both ways. And don't forget, Touma is a wildcard in all of this. He may have some strong opinions about your actions," she said, causing Makishima's smile to fade.

“Allies need not share a cause, but rather a common enemy,” he stated.

The game continued, each move a calculated dance of strategy and wit. Far from them, as Touma began his class, he strolled through the classroom filled with girls, distributing exam papers until he reached the end of the row. There, at the very end, an empty seat caught his eye. 

His typically composed expression faltered for a moment, and his smile waned. The silence around him was broken by a concerned voice. One of the students raised her hand and asked, "Touma-sensei, when will Shiro-san be back? What happens if she can't take the exam?"

Touma considered the question, his gaze briefly returning to the vacant desk. With a reassuring smile, he replied, "Don't worry. The school has its policies. If Takahashi-san misses this exam, there will likely be a makeup test scheduled for her."

After handing out the remaining papers, he made his way to his own desk at the front of the classroom. As he settled into his chair, he carefully placed the incomplete exam paper with Yashiro's name on it on his desk. His gaze fixed on it, his expression distant, as if lost in thought. Then, he pulled a book out of his bag and started to read.

While the students were taking the exam, a game of chess was still in progress in the school library. None of the players noticed the passage of time, concentrating on the pieces in front of them. In a pivotal moment, Makishima made a move that changed the course of the game, seizing control. Yashiro's eyes widened as she realized the impending defeat. Her fingers hesitated above the board. One more move, and he will have her cornered. Finally, she conceded, “I resign.”

Makishima leaned back in his chair, a victorious grin tugging at the corners of his lips. “Well, I must admit, I've never had such an enjoyable game before. You could have won if you hadn't been so impatient for victory. You had a brilliant strategy in the making, but your eagerness got the best of you. You made some exceptional moves. In fact, there was one particular play you executed flawlessly, almost throwing me off my game. You had me on the ropes for a moment there.”

Yashiro arched an eyebrow. “Really? Which move was that?”

Makishima's lips curled into a playful grin. “You see, I've always been fond of the Sicilian Defense, and your choice to counter with the Najdorf Variation was both unexpected and brilliant. It nearly disrupted my entire strategy. How did you anticipate that move? It was a rather unexpected choice."

Yashiro met his gaze, her expression serious. "I've noticed you tend to underestimate your opponents, blinded by your desire for recognition. Although, I guess it's not surprising, considering you're always looking to stand out.”

Makishima chuckled softly, the corners of his eyes crinkling as his gaze remained locked on Yashiro's features.

"You have a keen eye for both the game and its players," he commented, his voice a measured tone. "Perhaps there's more fun to be had."

“Yeah, let’s give that back,” she sighed.

Yashiro rose from her seat, her eyes lingering on the chessboard for a fleeting moment, as she contemplated the exchange they had just shared, and straightened her posture.

In a near mirroring of her movements, Makishima gracefully joined her. He moved with an almost choreographed precision, collecting each chess piece and returning it to its designated spot in the wooden box. His actions were deliberate, each piece handled with care.

The silence enveloped them as the final piece found its place, the soft click of the box closing punctuating the end of their match. Makishima secured the box under his arm, and they left the corner of the library, the chessboard returning to its solitude amidst the old books and quiet shelves.

After the exam had concluded in Touma's class, and students began chatting amongst themselves, he remained seated at his desk, engrossed in some administrative work. The classroom buzzed with the chatter of students.

As the class neared its end, another teacher, Shimizu Jiro, quietly opened the door and approached Touma's desk. Touma did not turn to look at him. Shimizu leaned in slightly, speaking in a hushed tone to avoid being overheard by the students.

"Touma-kun, how are you holding up? I heard about that incident with a police officer from the Public Safety Bureau earlier today in the hallway," Shimizu asked with genuine concern in his voice. "Rumors are spreading among the staff about an altercation, and we're all concerned about the potential stress it could cause in the school."

Touma's expression remained composed as he replied, "I appreciate your concern. It was a misunderstanding, nothing more. No need to worry. The situation has been resolved."

Shimizu nodded, still speaking quietly. "Glad to hear that, but do keep in mind, students are quite sensitive to such matters. We must maintain a calm and secure environment for their studies."

Shimizu gazed at him, his body sitting perfectly upright with his head tilted slightly to one side. He leaned a little closer to him, clenching and unclenching his fist for a moment and then clasping his hands together in front of him.

“Have you heard the news about Altoromagi?”

“Yes.”

Shimizu rubbed his mouth and chin with one hand for a few seconds and turned away, his wide eyes focused on the blackboard. “I can't believe it. We were just talking to him yesterday.”

“Is this the best time to discuss this?” Touma paused the movement of his pen for a moment, not taking his eyes off a sheet of paper.

"The detectives came to ask me about him and you," Shimizu sighed.

"What did you tell them?"

"Well, what can I tell them? Many of us talked to Altoromagi before he left, and no one saw or heard anything strange. Did they interview you too?” Shimizu looked back at him.

“Yes, I volunteered. I can't imagine what his family must be going through," Touma sighed softly, raising his eyebrows for a moment.

“Come to think of it, someone else asked me about this. I didn't see it as odd at the time,” Shimizu frowned for a moment.

“Another detective?”

“Not really. It was before them. A student at this school. She wanted to know where Altoromagi went after the event. She couldn't ask him about some charity project she was interested in and wasn't even aware of his death.”

“This was indeed unexpected for everyone,” Touma commented.

“Did she ask you about him?” Shimizu asked.

Touma stopped the movement of his pen, frowning slightly. "No. Why?"

“Well, before my meeting with the detectives, I suggested she seek you out to ask you about Altoromagi's projects since you and she share the same interest. I guess it doesn't matter now,” Shimizu’s brows furrowed for a moment, and he shook his head.

"It's a shame. Did she tell you her name?"

“You mentioned her once. Takahashi Yashiro.”

Touma narrowed his eyes for a second and raised his gaze. “Yes, indeed. And you say she didn’t know of Altoromagi’s death?”

“Yes, I believe so.”

Touma raised an eyebrow, the click of his pen drowned out by the growing murmur of students as they began to leave the classroom. Some greeted Shimizu, and the two teachers soon followed suit, stepping into the bustling hallway.

"Thank you for bringing this to my attention," Touma replied with a slight bow. He watched Shimizu walk away down the hallway, his smile slowly fading.

As he was about to turn around, Touma's eyes locked with Rikako's. She was hurrying down a nearby hallway towards him.

"Have you seen Yashiro?" she asked, her tone urgent.

Touma paused, his brow furrowing momentarily at her use of Yashiro's first name. 

"Yashiro...?" he mused. "No. You look quite concerned. Don't tell me you're suddenly worried about someone else's well-being. It appears you do have a heart after all. What's troubling you? Cat got your tongue?"

“The police were here. They’re looking for you,” Rikako said, her frown deepening as she shook her head and waved her hand dismissively. "How can you be so composed?"

Touma pursed his lips for a moment before leaning in and lowering his voice. "Mind your language and keep your voice down."

“Like hell I will. Bringing her into this wasn't part of the plan," she muttered.

Touma's expression tightened, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "I don't know what you mean. Elaborate.”

"Yashiro," she blurted out. Touma's lips tightened. "I saw her arrive with the police. Don't tell me you didn't know. Exposing her to all of this could cause her serious harm."

“Perhaps she’s stronger than we think,” Touma said, his voice softening as he narrowed his eyes.

Strolling down a quiet corridor, Makishima's eyes remained locked on Yashiro's features. Their footsteps echoed softly, mingling with the distant chatter of students as they passed a group of girls engrossed in animated conversation.

Yashiro's expression shifted, her eyes momentarily distant as if navigating the labyrinth of her own thoughts. The world around her blurred briefly, and Makishima could not help but discern a shadow on her face, a facet of her he had not previously glimpsed.

"Have you ever felt like you're cursed?" Yashiro's voice emerged, a tender murmur. Her gaze remained locked onto Makishima's dark purple tie. "That no matter what you do or say… you can't get away."

"From your father?" Makishima asked, his tone gentle, tilting his head slightly as he met her gaze.

"From yourself," she admitted, her voice barely audible as they moved aside to let a pair of students pass. "Forget it. I can’t talk about this in public.”

Makishima observed her in the corridor as they continued walking.

“You don’t have that luxury,” he responded softly as he matched her pace.

"That's why I've grown accustomed to weaving lies, concealing the truth from everyone... except myself."

Makishima regarded her with a knowing look, as they continued their journey down the corridor.

"You only have to wear a mask in the presence of others," he affirmed, a solemnity in his voice. "But when you're with me, you don't need to hide anything."

As they continued walking, Makishima abruptly halted, causing both of them to come to a standstill. He turned to face Yashiro, his expression growing serious.

"If I asked you to follow me, would you?" Makishima asked.

Yashiro looked up at him, her gaze shifting beyond his arm to what lay behind.

"Of course not," Makishima sighed and turned around, disappointment briefly clouding his features.

In the bustling corridor, as classmates departed in different directions, Yashiro's attention was drawn to Rikako's familiar straight black hair. She blended into the crowd as they continued on their separate paths. Yashiro's frown deepened when she spotted Touma engaged in conversation with Rikako across the corridor. Their gazes met briefly.

“You told me she was in an art classroom,” Yashiro stated, her voice tinged with frustration, her gaze still fixed on the unfolding scene.

“You asked me to keep her away from dominators. You never specified keeping her away from him,” Makishima responded, his voice carrying a subtle note of amusement, his eyes never leaving Yashiro's face.

“You lied.”

Makishima narrowed his eyes for a second, offering a sly smile. “Let’s put it this way—I never reveal everything. And, as I've noticed, neither do you.”

Yashiro regarded him with a composed and serious expression, though a subtle furrow creased her brow for a moment. Without another word, she turned and walked away from him, heading toward the group of students. Makishima's lips parted as he watched her retreating figure, his head briefly tilting to the side, and then he gazed at her with a faint frown, his lips slightly pursed.

Touma observed the unfolding scene with an amused grin playing at the corners of his lips. He was in the midst of a conversation with a group of students in the bustling corridor. However, when Yashiro approached Rikako, she abruptly halted in her tracks. Rikako, with a hint of formality, offered a slight bow to Touma before descending the stairs, her presence vanishing from Yashiro's sight.

"What’s up with that secret chat?" Touma approached Yashiro, his tone casual.

Yashiro responded with her usual calm demeanor, giving little away. "It’s nothing. Why do you ask?"

“Curiosity,” Touma glanced at Makishima, who was looking back at him with narrowed eyes and a serious expression, his jaw slightly clenched. As Yashiro began to descend the wide staircase, Touma observed her, his hands remaining in his dark pants pockets. “You’ve got Ouryou-san worried.”

Yashiro paused at the top of the stairs, her gaze shifting to him. “Why?”

However, Touma strolled into his classroom, the door still ajar, and Yashiro followed him, leaving Makishima behind, a hint of frustration in his eyes.

“Won’t you sit?” Touma asked, tucking a book into his bag.

“I’m not staying long,” she responded firmly, her chin lifted slightly as she recognized the book Makishima had lent to him.

Touma shifted around the side of his desk, positioning himself at the front with a casual yet confident posture, his legs slightly apart, and his forearms resting on his thighs, hands clasped together. He remained in his crisp attire, sporting a red tie, a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, and a black vest.

"You missed an exam today," Touma remarked, his tone laced with an undercurrent of curiosity.

"Did I? Well, I'm still suspended," Yashiro replied, her gaze momentarily flicking towards the empty blackboard behind him.

With a subtle and deliberate movement, Touma leaned his body slightly to the side, as if to emphasize his next words and capture Yashiro's full attention. Her eyes reluctantly met his.

"I wish you remembered them as well as yesterday's event," he quipped.

“I wasn’t going to miss all the fun."

A wry smile tugged at Touma's lips as he continued, his narrowed eyes locking onto hers. "I can see that. You really don't waste any time. You've discovered something curious behind his mask, haven't you?"

"I’ve seen enough of it to imagine the face. You said everyone has masks.”

“You beginning to appreciate my lesson?” Touma asked.

"That human beings are inherently evil and tend to seek power above all else? That some are born to rule while others must obey?”

“Like I said, compassionate.”

“Just because of your childhood, you can't assume that every person is cruel, and that life is about suffering," Yashiro shook her head.

Touma's countenance shifted, his brows knitting in contemplation. He took a measured breath before responding, "I have compelling reasons to believe that humanity, at its core, is impervious to truth and reason. Throughout my life, I've witnessed people's susceptibility to corruption and how integrity has become a rare and fading virtue."

“Well, I think you could have chosen differently,” Yashiro replied firmly, her voice carrying a touch of hesitation, as if she carefully weighed her words. “Even if you strayed from that path, it doesn't mean everyone shares the same inherent nature, or that you should impose your perspective on others."

"Strayed? Do you honestly believe there was ever a glimpse of virtue in me?” Touma smiled briefly, arching his eyebrows. “Wasn't I always the most ruthless man?"

Yashiro maintained their locked gaze, her eyes revealing a mix of emotions. “I can’t quite believe that."

"Indeed, Yashiro, I am."

"Why do you think that?"

"I don't wish to, but I'll be candid. Don't ever alter your perception of me, even if I disagree with your disdain. Don't venture too closely into my thoughts, or you'll discover aspects that might displease you," he cautioned, his voice deepening as he narrowed his eyes and lowered his gaze.

“What aspects?" Yashiro's eyebrows furrowed inquisitively.

Touma’s features softened, and a wistful smile played on his lips as he raised his gaze to meet hers once more. "It's so cruel to be honest, isn't it? It's why people often prefer lies over the truth. The fact that I've never adhered to integrity throughout my life is not as significant as the fact that I've never felt the need for it. I detest the very concept of the ideals you hold dear and all they stand for."

"You detest them?" Yashiro's eyebrows knitted, and a once vibrant light in her eyes now seemed to dim.

"Remember when I told you about the individualist who eventually embraced collectivism?"

"He's a teacher at this school, head of the History Department."

"Yes, you love reminding me of that. He now fervently endorses Sibyl's judgment and deems it necessary to control the teaching of history for the greater good of society. I have influenced that change. I've persuaded many towering figures of reason. And people remain oblivious to how much I relish it. In fact… I was among those who supported the campaign against you during the club scandal. They labeled you as insane, a charlatan, an egomaniac, a criminal."

Yashiro responded with a serene tone, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know."

Touma closed his eyes for a moment, pursing his lips and exhaling deeply. "Yashiro, you don't know me well. Understand that I never apologize for any of my actions."

Her gaze remained unwavering as she replied, "Why are you talking about apologies if I didn't say anything?"

"Just to be clear. I stand by every word I say," he stated.

With the same calm demeanor, Yashiro continued, "I didn't ask you to repudiate them."

“I know what you think.”

“I can't do what you're asking me to do,” Yashiro shook her head.

“What?”

“Punch you in the face.”

“Why don't you do it?”

"I can't fake anger. It’s not mercy either. You want me to forgive you, and you think that will settle the matter. But I have nothing to do with it. I’m indifferent in a cosmic sense. I’m not one of your plaintiffs. It's not my conscience you want to forgive you."

"Then whose?" he asked.

“Yours,” Yashiro responded, making him frown. “It scares you because things like that require atonement, but you see I don't suffer for it. Well, that's what I think of that scandal. For me, it ended long ago. For you, it's not.”

"Forgiveness demands remorse, Yashiro,” Touma declared, turning his head to the classroom window, the world outside a fleeting distraction. His gaze fixed on the light filtering through, as though he was searching for something beyond the glass, lost in thought. “In my life, I don't find much to regret, except for missed opportunities, which were rare. As for my actions, let's just say I've adhered to my own principles, regardless of how unconventional or unsettling they may appear in the eyes of others.”

Yashiro took a step closer, her voice steady but laced with curiosity. "Why are you trying to justify yourself to me?"

"I wasn't trying to," Touma began with a raised eyebrow and a sly smile, but then, he turned his gaze back to her, and his expression shifted from playful arrogance to one of introspection. His voice softened, and he admitted, “yes, that's what I was doing.”

“Why?”

"You're the only one who can prompt me to be so candid, and to whom I would concede defeat.”

Yashiro turned her head slightly, her gaze drifting to a point somewhere outside the window. She felt the weight of his intense scrutiny and her composure wavered as she struggled to digest his words. Her mind raced for a way to divert the conversation, but a sense of bewilderment kept her momentarily silent.

“I’ve never quite bought into the idea that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, as Lord Acton famously stated. I think power is more like a magnet that attracts the corruptible,” Yashiro mused.

Touma leaned back with a sly grin tugging at his lips. “And you believe Shibata Yukimori is exempt from that magnetic pull?”

“I never said he was. Are you concerned about the possibility?" Yashiro responded.

"Not at all. He’s no better than the rest of us,” Touma replied, his brows furrowing.

“But what if he is?” Yashiro pressed on, her tone gentle but probing.

Touma's expression darkened as he spoke, his voice a low murmur. "I’d break him."

"What if you can't?" Yashiro asked, her eyes locking with his.

Touma's gaze fell, and his voice grew even softer. "Then we would have witnessed mankind's final achievement before its own self-destruction."

"Mankind will never destroy itself, nor do I consider it destroyed."

Touma studied her intently and then said, "I wonder how long you can hold onto that optimism. Youth often brims with it, but as time goes on, one learns to see the world as it is, not as one wishes it to be. Someday, you'll realize I was right. And if, by some rare chance, I’m not, there's something I hope you'll find for yourself—peace."

“Is that what you want?” Yashiro furrowed her brow for a moment.

"I’ve come round to it," he shrugged. "I do understand the need for your quest, this self-imposed penance, seeking something you think you neither possess nor deserve, like pushing a rock up a hill, only to see it roll back down eternally."

"I don't find satisfaction in endless toil for the unattainable like Sisyphus. I don't like the idea of living merely to enjoy the very effort of existing," she said, folding her arms and gazing at the blackboard behind him.

Touma watched her with narrowed eyes for a moment. "No, you were never quite fond of existentialism. I'm not surprised, you're all objectivity and logic. I just want you to remember that resistance has a limit and that any man can be stopped. Much may change as a result of it."

"Isn't that true of all living things?" Yashiro asked with a smile as she walked toward the window.

"Yashiro, when I say change, I mean death," Touma’s brows furrowed slightly. "Ever crossed your mind?"

"Death has been a constant companion to humanity for millennia," she began, her voice taking on a more detached, analytical tone. "Throughout history, we've seen countless lives extinguished. Just recently, there was an incident where a tragic traffic accident in a nearby district claimed four lives. It's a stark reminder of how fragile life can be."

Touma observed her closely, noticing her evasive response. "I don't care about historical statistics or distant events, Yashiro. I mean your own thoughts and experiences."

Yashiro frowned for a moment, her smile fading. She lowered her gaze and hesitated, her shoulders tensing slightly. After a brief pause, she finally admitted, "No, I... I don't feel like I have strong reasons. You?"

Touma frowned, raising his head to gaze at the ceiling, resting his hands on the desk on either side of his body. He mused, "No. But I do know the thought of dying. When I was a kid, I ran into a gang from my hometown. Can’t remember how or why. Just the sweet metallic feeling of blood all over my face and the pain in my body telling me not to get up."

"What made you get up?" she asked, unfolding her arms and looking at him.

Touma blinked and frowned, silent for several seconds, until he responded, “My sister. She was my responsibility. I couldn’t leave her alone on that island.”

Beneath a starless, moonless sky, Yashiro laughed. She stood at the edge of a rooftop, the gentle, chilly breeze tugging at her long, obsidian hair. Her fingers hung at her sides, palms turned upward, and her toes teetered on the precipice. The city stretched before her, a labyrinth of towering structures with windows aglow in various colors.

She had been fleeing through the labyrinthine streets until she reached the shopping mall where she now found herself. Her mission had been to pull the trigger on a man, but instead, she had released him and vanished into the neon-lit night. It marked the first time she had dared defy both her father and the figures he associated with. The fear of their pursuit momentarily slipped her mind.

Her gaze wandered across the architectural beauty surrounding her, tracing the contours of each building. Holographic projections painted intricate patterns on her angular cheeks, casting ever-changing shades upon her black attire. Her focus descended to the ground below, and a faint smile curved her lips. Unbeknownst to her, vision had grown blurry, and as her smile faded, her thoughts drifted to her mother. Without warning, she lowered herself to sit on the rooftop's edge, her legs hanging freely into the abyss.

“Yashiro,” Touma raised his voice, gazing at her clenched hands on either side of her body. She slowly turned to him, her distant expression slowly dissolving as she returned to the present. “Did you hear me?”

Yashiro blinked, adjusting to the abrupt shift from her memories and softening her hands. "No. What?”

Touma held up a book he had taken from his bag. "I was telling you that I brought you something. I finished reading it days ago, just rereading some chapters. Would you like it back?"

Yashiro raised her eyebrows as she recognized the book. "Oh, that. I see. No, you can keep it. I don't mind."

Touma arched an eyebrow, studying her. "It doesn't bother you?"

"Why? It's just a book," Yashiro shrugged.

"You're so cold," Touma smiled briefly.

She sighed, growing slightly annoyed. "I've already read it. Why should I keep it?"

Touma paused for a moment before replying. “Still not one to hold on to things, but rather to let them go? Books are not a magic potion you take and throw away. There are some that every now and then I go back to read. And no matter how many times I do it, I always find something I had overlooked before. You should give it a try. You'll be surprised to discover how little you know of what you thought you had learned. Or is the prospect so unappealing?"

Yashiro hesitated and then sighed, looking back at him. “Fine. I’ll give it a shot. What's up with Ouryou Rikako? You said she was worried before.”

Touma put the book aside, resting his hands on the desk. He pursed his lips and clicked his tongue softly for a brief moment. “Ah, that girl. Can't be comforting for her to see you getting out of a police car… knowing your hue could be clouded forever.”

“Every person bears responsibility for their own existence,” Yashiro mumbled, shrugging as her gaze remained lowered. “Those were your words.”

“This drive in you, it's both beautiful and obsessive, yet it can blind you,” Touma remarked softly, prompting a deep sigh from her. “I've never asked you before, but have you ever checked your hue?”

“No,” Yashiro's voice was barely above a whisper.

“Are you aware that what you're doing could negatively affect your hue?”

“It should,” she nodded.

“But you still can’t stop?” Touma asked further.

“I couldn't live with myself if I did,” Yashiro admitted.

Touma furrowed his brows, lowering his gaze briefly before returning it to her. He raised his voice, sounding somewhat exasperated as he extended two fingers to the side of his head, making a circular motion. “You're constantly trying to make amends for something.”

“No, it's just...” Yashiro shrugged, finding it difficult to express her thoughts.

“I'm not Ouryou or Shibata, Yashiro. You don't need to put on a facade with me. The world screwed with your head, but this unfounded guilt has to end. Your parents are dead, and trying to save everyone won't bring them back.”

“Spare me the tough love,” Yashiro retorted with a shake of her head.

“It wouldn't be tough love if I did. Everyone has to take responsibility for themselves. Yashiro, the narcissism in believing otherwise... it's a peculiar kind of beauty,” Touma smiled, shaking his head gently as he observed her.

Yashiro hesitated for a moment before responding, "No, it's not that..."

“I understand that this isn't a problem of your own making. Someone taught you to bear the weight of the world, even at the cost of your own desires. It's a deeply ingrained habit, especially for someone like you, who finds it challenging to acknowledge your emotions. One day, you'll realize you haven't truly lived. And before you say otherwise, can you think of anything that genuinely tempts you? Forget about your expectations or perceived duties. I'd like to discover something you truly desire, something you can claim as your own.”

“Don't bother…” she began.

But Touma interrupted, “Why not? Because you feel unworthy of it?”

“No, it's because there's nothing to find,” Yashiro replied, her voice softening.

Touma arched his eyebrows for a moment. “Admitting that couldn't have been easy.”

"Feels like something for someone else. I guess I’ll try to search for that something someday… but right now, I think too much,” she concluded with a gentle shake of her head and a shrug.

"You're like a master painter who's forgotten to appreciate the colors. The world holds a palette of experiences, each waiting for you to dip your brush. As you mix the hues of life, perhaps you'll discover your own masterpiece hidden within."

As Touma moved away from the desk, confidently approaching her, Yashiro instinctively took a step back, her unwavering gaze locked on him. His smile gradually waned, replaced by a newfound gravity. Pausing for a moment, he briefly averted his eyes, casting a subtle glance toward her feet.

"I'm... grateful for everything you've done and taught me after my parents died," she responded, her voice soft but composed, a hint of unease underlying her words. "Earlier, you called me out for making you expose your thoughts so candidly. I guess we're even now."

Touma turned his gaze back to meet hers, his tone measured. "How long have I known you?"

“Three years.”

“In three years, you have never thanked me for anything this quickly," he noted, his frown deepening. Yashiro's gaze wavered briefly. “I spoke with my good friend, Shimizu Jiro, today.”

“You don’t have friends.”

A subtle smile briefly graced his lips. “He told me you've been asking about Altoromagi Abele and that you had something to tell me.”

“It’s nothing. It doesn’t matter.”

“Did you expect to achieve your goal using your usual methods?” Touma asked.

Yashiro, perplexed, raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with feigned innocence. “What methods?”

“Lying, withholding information to gain an advantage. I find it hard to believe that you'd attend a school event for some charity business nonsense.”

“You're allowed to lie, but I’m not?” Yashiro countered.

Touma narrowed his eyes, his voice growing sterner. “What exactly did I lie about?”

“Why did you willingly bring the PSB's attention to yourself?” she questioned, her frown prompting his gaze to shift towards her shoulder. His expression remained relaxed but serious.

“I’m being open and honest.”

“What did you tell them?”

“A simple conversation about a charity project,” Touma briefly glanced aside before locking eyes with her.

Yashiro's frown deepened as she turned her head slightly to face him, her voice now assertive as she continued, "You've never held charity in high regard, let alone considered it a moral duty. Pity is something you loathe."

“I made a mistake. Something easily misconstrued. Not unlike Shimizu or yourself,” he replied softly, pausing for several seconds as he noticed her subtly pursed lips. “No need for you to play detective anymore. They've already asked their questions, and we've answered them.”

“You maintain an air of transparency while putting him in a position to support you... even at the expense of his hue. How far will this game with the PSB go?”

“It seems the inspectors are less suspicious of me than you are.”

“They don’t know what you’re capable of.”

He narrowed his eyes and smiled briefly. His voice deepened as he asked, “What am I capable of?”

“You once said… there's a limit to how much I should put up with. I'm simply setting a limit now.”

“May I ask why?”

“Considering what happened with Altoromagi Abele… I've started to question your words and actions. Particularly… your past regarding your mother and sister.”

Touma looked down, his body remaining immobile. “Did you share those questions with the bureau?”

“No, and I won't. Intuition without proof would only make me look as suspicious as you,” Yashiro replied quietly. Her words hung in the air, making him smile with narrowed eyes. He slightly turned his head, his gaze fixed on her. “After my father's history… that's the last thing I want. I, too, have my reasons to stay off Sibyl's radar... and I prefer to keep my past to myself. But maybe that's what you intended.”

“Proof of what?” Touma asked, his voice low, as he began to walk toward her.

“I can’t say… exactly,” her gaze shifted to his polished dress shoes, his footsteps echoing in the empty classroom. Her heart beat slowly but strongly in her chest.

“Speak plainly,” he demanded, his expression growing more serious.

“I’ve been trying to see through the... well-designed suits and masks that you wear in front of others. I’ve always admired their craftsmanship… but I’m not sure if I still recognize the person beneath them,” she took a step back as he approached, only to be halted by the wall and the window behind her.

“Life has been a masquerade ball for you all along,” he said, now standing directly in front of her. “Even now. Did I tell you that you’d make an exceptional lawyer? There's so much you're keeping from me. Do you know how frustrating that is? Not knowing what's going on in your mind.”

“You lied about your sister,” Yashiro responded with a calm but serious expression. Her voice was steady. “You told me she was dead. But to everyone else, you claimed to be an only child... when you left Ogishima. Smalltown boy trying to run away and not let her down… yet she chose to stay?”

Touma’s eyes widened briefly, and he chuckled, revealing a flash of white teeth, but his features quickly returned to their dark intensity. “My sister was a reckless fool who got herself killed. I couldn't have let her down any further. There's one thing I won't grant you, and that's sympathy for someone of her caliber. It's not your place. Let it go.”

“Is that a request?”

“An ultimatum.”

Yashiro nodded slightly and absently gazed at his red tie before asking, “Why do you keep a photo of her?”

"For the same reason you have a picture of your father.”

Yashiro leaned back, blinking and frowning, her voice barely above a whisper, “How did you know that?”

“I didn’t,” he replied with a smile. “We're not so different, you and I.”

Yashiro barely curled her lip and then briskly walked past him, exclaiming, “Like hell we are.”

Touma raised his eyebrows momentarily, his amusement fading as he turned around, hands in his pants pockets, his voice growing stern. “Incidentally, I would have disqualified anyone else for talking back that way.”

Yashiro stopped in the middle of the classroom and turned around, her eyes locked onto his. “I'm well aware. Should I consider myself disqualified?”

“Is that what you want?”

“Do as you must. I couldn’t care less.”

As Yashiro headed towards the exit again, Touma walked to his desk to retrieve his bag and her book.

"I'll be attending Altoromagi Abele's funeral," he announced.

Yashiro turned around, her gaze fixed on him, “To what end?”

“His family extended an invitation. I plan to offer my condolences. His daughter will be there too."

"If you thought it amusing to tempt me into joining, you miscalculated."

"I was trying to tempt you, but I didn't find it amusing. I had hoped to run into you there," he admitted, extending his arm with her book, which she accepted.

"But I have no desire to see you. I will take my leave," she replied quietly, turning around and walking away.

Touma watched in silence as Yashiro walked away, her footsteps echoing faintly through the empty classroom. He stood there, his gaze fixed on a distant point in the room, long after she had disappeared from view.