#yoichi main story

[sakura-samsara]

Yoichi Main Story: Chapter 8

← Chapter 7

✦ part one

Yoichi: Well, then this makes you the second person who’s ever seen me from this angle.

Yoshino: Huh?

Yoichi: It’s been over ten years since I’ve carried anything but my quiver on my back.

Yoshino: Is that so…

(He did say he had ten older brothers. I guess it would make sense that he never got the chance to give piggyback rides to any younger siblings he might have had. But…)

Yoshino: If I’m the second person to see you like this, then you must have carried someone else like this first… right?

Yoichi: The first person I ever carried like this... That would be the Taira lordling.

(Oh...)

Despite their casual tone, his words took my breath away.

Yoshino: You mean Shigehira-san?

Yoichi: Yep.

(They must have been really close in the past.)

Yoshino: …Isn’t it hard for you to fight against him now?

Yoichi: Not really. The childhood we shared was ten years in the past. I’m not the kind of person to get all sentimental about it.

(Does he really mean that?)

Yoshino: But you don’t really hate him, do you?

(Yoichi-san doesn't sound at all like he does... Not now, and not when he was talking about it before.)

Rather than that, I thought he sounded almost wistful and sad when talking about Shigehira, as though he was mourning bygone memories of the past they'd shared.

Yoichi: Whether or not I hate him isn’t what matters. He and I have a score to settle with each other, regardless.

Yoichi: I don’t like throwing around words like “fate” or “destiny” or whatever, but I can’t think of any better way to describe what we are to each other. We’re bound by fate, and not in a good way. 

(Back when we were at the teahouse, he just dodged my questions when I brought this up.)

I thought back to the conversation we'd had not too long ago.

—flashback

Yoichi: Well, back when the Genji and the Heike were at war,

Yoichi: I served under Yoshitsune-sama—meaning I fought under the Genji's banner. Obviously, that's when Shigehira and I had to go our separate ways.

Yoichi: And then… Let’s just say that a lot of things happened, and our relationship took a turn for the worse.

Yoshino: What do you mean by “a lot of things”...?

Yoichi: Not telling.

Yoichi: If you want to know more, you’ll have to act a little more like you’re my lover.

—flashback ends

Yoshino: …Yoichi-san, could we continue our conversation from where we left off the other day? 

Yoichi: Oh? You finally ready to start acting like a pair of lovebirds?

✦ part two

Yoichi: Oh? You finally ready to start acting like a pair of lovebirds?

I could hear the teasing smile in his voice as he responded.

(But…)

Yoshino: We just fought together, and now you’re carrying me on your back. Isn’t that something that lovers would do?

Yoichi: …Didn’t see that one coming.

It makes sense to me (Romantic +4, Dramatic +2)  Don’t change the subject (Romantic +2, Dramatic +4) I just did what you’ve been doing (Romantic +4, Dramatic +4)

Yoshino: I think you deserve a taste of your own medicine every so often. 

Yoichi: Oh, how the tables have turned. You know, I can’t say I like how my own medicine tastes.

Yoichi: Tonight’s been full of surprises, hasn’t it… So what’s one more? I guess I wouldn’t mind telling you about the old days, too.

Yoshino: You’ll really tell me?

Yoichi: Just for a little while.

He paused in thought for a brief moment before beginning again.

Yoichi: Where did we leave off last time…? 

Yoichi: Oh, yeah. So I’m from the Nasu clan, which originally served the Heike, but I fought for the Genji in the war. We got that far already, right?

Yoshino: Yeah. That was when you parted ways with Shigehira-san. 

Yoichi: Well, I already hadn’t seen him for a while by then.

Yoichi: The Heike kept him swamped with so many responsibilities that he barely had time to breathe. 

Yoichi: He was the most promising young warrior in the entire clan, after all. Everybody had high expectations for him.

(I see…)

Yoshino: Shigehira-san must be a really talented person. 

The severity of his demeanor had begun to seem more understandable to me.

Yoichi: You can say that again. He’s just as skilled in the military arts as he is in the literary arts. Real serious guy, crazy dedicated.

Yoichi: Plus he’s got that pretty face… They say that the gods never give more than one gift to each person, but Shigehira must have gotten two or three at least.

(He definitely seems like a perfect person.)

Yoshino: He also seems a bit cold, though. It’s kind of scary…

Yoichi: Cold, huh?

Yoichi: I think you’ve got the wrong idea about him. 

Yoshino: What do you mean?

Yoichi: He’s not the most straightforward guy, but he’s still honest in his own way. Maybe even too honest for his own good. It’s too easy to get a reaction out of him—makes him real fun to tease. 

Yoichi: He’s a true samurai at heart! Meaning his blood runs way hotter than you’d think.

Yoshino: Really? I find that hard to imagine…

Yoichi: Just take my word for it. You should be more forward with him if you wanna get to know who he really is.

✦ part three

Yoichi: Just take my word for it. You should be more forward with him if you wanna get to know who he really is.

(Umm… We’ll have to see about that.)

Yoshino: I’ll give it a try the next time I get a chance. 

Yoshino: …But I’m sorry for going off topic.

Yoichi: No worries. I was about to tell you why I left Shigehira and sided with Yoshitsune-sama, right? 

Yoshino: Yeah.

I listened keenly as I held onto Yoichi's shoulders.

Yoichi: Part of it was just that I wanted to leave home. I was pretty young at the time, and all.

Yoshino: Is that so…

I was about to ask him another question when I suddenly remembered something.

(This reminds me of something he said before...)

—flashback

Yoshino: …Did you get along with your older brothers?

Yoichi: It’s funny how you pick up on things like that.

Yoichi: We weren’t exactly the best of friends.

Yoichi: My brothers hated me.

Yoshino: Why would they hate you…?

Yoichi: Mm…

Yoichi: Maybe it’s because I was favored by the Taira lordling, even though I was just the leftover eleventh son.

—flashback ends

Yoshino: Was it also because you didn’t get along with your older brothers…?

Yoichi: You’re half right.

Yoshino: Then what’s the rest of the reason?

Yoichi: …

Yoichi hesitated for a moment before answering in a hushed voice.

Yoichi: …I wanted to become a person who could provide something for other people. 

Yoshino: Huh…?

Had that sincere whisper been any quieter, the breeze could have blown it away into the darkness.

(What could he mean by that...?)

Yoichi: My name is written with two characters—the first means “providing” and the second means “one.” But it wasn’t always written like that. 

Yoichi: The first character in the name I was born with meant “excess.” Leftovers, scraps. Something useless that no one wanted. 

Yoichi: I was the eleventh son, after all. My family had no hopes for me from the moment I was born. 

Yoshino: That’s awful…

(So that's what he meant when he called himself "leftover"...)

Yoichi: It’s all in the past now. You don’t have to take it so seriously. 

I realized then that my brow had been furrowed; I hadn't been sure what to say until he'd spoken up in a gentle voice to reassure me.

Yoichi: But man, saying I didn’t get along with my older brothers is an understatement. They were just the worst.  

Yoichi: Couldn’t have nothing to myself when I was a kid. Everything I had, they either took it or broke it.

✦ part four

Yoichi: But man, saying I didn’t get along with my older brothers is an understatement. They were just the worst.  

Yoichi: Couldn’t have nothing to myself when I was a kid. Everything I had, they either took it or broke it.

Yoshino: What about your parents…?

Yoichi: Well, my old man was a pretty talented samurai, but he was always too busy to spend much time with the rest of the family.

Yoichi: I was pretty bitter about that when I was a kid.

Yoshino: …It must have been hard for you while you were growing up.

(I can imagine his personality back then must have been different than it is now, too.)

His ever-present nonchalance gave no hint that he'd had such a troubled past.

Yoichi: It sure was tough, being such a talented and brilliant little squirt. I guess it just ended up making people jealous of me. 

Yoichi: I mean, I had fun hanging out with Shigehira—back then, at least. But afterwards, my brothers would treat me even worse.  

Yoichi laughed as lighteartedly as he always did.

(Yoichi-san doesn't seem inclined to go into specifics, so I can only imagine what must have happened to him...)

(But I get the feeling that if he'd been mistreated by his own family ever since he was a child, there wasn't anything he could have done to help himself.)

Yoichi: Me and Shigehira ended up seeing each other less and less as we got older, anyways.

Yoichi: But then one day I had what I guess you could call an impactful encounter.

Yoshino: An impactful encounter?

Yoichi: With Yoshitsune-sama.

(Oh...! So that was when he came into the story...)

Yoshino: You mean you met him when you were still with the Nasu clan? 

Yoichi: Sure did. At the time, Yoshitsune-sama was on his way to join Lord Yoritomo after he’d declared a rebellion against the Heike.

Yoichi: He happened to make a stop at the Nasu clan’s estate along the way.

Yoichi: Back then, I used to hide out in the mountains and practice archery whenever I wanted to get away from my brothers. That was where I first met him. 

Yoshino: What was he like back then…? 

Yoichi breathed out a faint laugh.

Yoichi: He seemed even less human than he does now. I thought he must have been some kind of ayakashi. 

Yoshino: He still doesn’t seem quite like a normal person…

Yoichi: But he’s really changed since then, ever since he met Lord Yoritomo—the only living family member he had left. 

Yoichi: Guess there isn’t much to say about that anymore, though. After Lord Yoritomo betrayed him and all.

(It seems like Yoritomo-sama and Yoshitsune-sama's relationship is complicated... and tragic.)

Yoichi: Anyways, Yoshitsune-sama ended up approaching me ‘cause he was curious about my archery. 

✦ part five

Yoichi: Anyways, Yoshitsune-sama ended up approaching me ‘cause he was curious about my archery. 

Yoichi: I still remember exactly what he said to me.

A warm and melancholy tone bled into his voice.

Yoichi: “You wield the bow as though you scorn this world with your arrows.”

Yoichi: “Perhaps that is exactly why you are able to shoot so precisely without thinking.”

Yoshino: As though you… what? Scorn this world with your arrows??

Yoichi: Makes no sense, doesn’t it? 

Yoichi: He said all of that while staring at me like he could see through me. You can imagine it made me pretty perplexed. 

Yoshino: Well, that definitely sounds like it was an impactful encounter. 

(I've only met Yoshitsune-sama once so far, but I could tell from just one meeting that he had a very compelling aura.)

Yoichi: But, you know…

He trailed off before saying anything more, as if hesitant to continue his train of thought.

Yoshino: Yoichi-san?

Yoichi: Now that I think about it again, it’s occurred to me.

Yoichi: I’d been treated as an afterthought for all my life, not knowing what could become of my life or what I could become as a person. All I wanted back then was to escape from reality.

Yoichi: Especially since the Heike was already gearing up to crush the Genji’s rebellion at the time.

(The war between the Genji and the Heike... It must have entangled the threads many people's fates.)

Yoshino: Did you plan on fighting for the Heike at first? 

Yoichi: Of course I did. 

Yoichi: But as much as I wanted to help Shigehira out, I also knew that proving myself on the battlefield would just make my brothers hate me even more. 

Yoichi: I wouldn’t have gotten anything from them. No rewards, no recognition, nothing. They’d just treat me even worse than they already did.

(That’s so cruel…)

Yoichi: Drawing my bow was the only thing that could get all that stuff out of my head for a while, so... 

Yoshino: …You ended up spending a lot of time practicing your archery? 

Yoichi: You're right about that.

Yoichi laughed again, the sound bright and almost cheerful.

Yoichi: That’s why it felt like Yoshitsune-sama stripped my heart bare when we first met. 

Yoichi: I ended up letting it all out to him before I even realized it—and to my own surprise, at that.

—flashback

Yoshitsune: If that is the case, then come with me.

Yoichi: What? Why? You want me to be your vassal or something?

Yoshitsune: If you wish to be my vassal, then you may. If not, then you do not have to be. 

Yoshitsune: That is something you can decide for yourself. 

Yoichi: I don’t get you. Why are you even asking me something like that?

Yoshitsune: I dislike the phrasing of your question. However… 

Yoshitsune: …I am asking you because I think your archery is beautiful, and I want to continue to observe it.

Yoichi: Huh…

Yoshitsune: Is this reason not sufficient?

Yoichi: …No, it’s just…

Yoichi: You’re not an ayakashi in disguise or something, are you? 

Yoshitsune: I believe I am not, but I cannot be fully sure.

Yoshitsune: I, too, have long been searching for my place in this transient world. 

Yoshitsune: So if you would be willing to join me in my search for a place to belong… it would make me happy. 

Yoichi: A place to belong…?

Yoshitsune: Indeed.

Yoshitsune: Oh. If you do not like being seen as unnecessary, you could change your name.

Yoichi: …Did that thought just pop into your head out of nowhere? 

Yoshitsune: I do not think it is a bad idea.

Yoichi: Are you serious? It really throws me off, every last thing you say. 

Yoichi: …So, uh, what kind of name do you think I should change it to? Gimme an example. You know, just for reference.

Yoshitsune: Hm…

Yoshitsune: You could change the first character in your name to that which means “providing.” The pronunciation would remain the same—”Yoichi.”

Yoichi: That’s more sensible than I thought it’d be. …But why “providing”?

Yoshitsune: I’m certain that one day, you will find your place in this world and become someone who can provide for other people.

Yoshitsune: That is why I suggested it.

Yoichi: …

Yoichi: Oi. You trying to sell me on some kind of prophecy? 

Yoshitsune: I’m afraid I don’t possess the gift of foresight.

Yoshitsune: But… I believe that my intuition regarding others is often correct.

Yoichi: …You really think so?

Yoichi: I guess that doesn’t sound so bad.

—flashback ends

Yoichi took a breath, his tale of the past finished.

Yoichi: That was when I became the “Yoichi” I am now. 

Chapter 9 →

Notes:

Alright, here we go! Yoichi’s name is written in kanji as 与���. The first character, 与 (pronounced yo in this usage) means “give” or “bestow,” especially in the context of providing something to someone who is in need (as in the word 与える ataeru). The past writing of his name that was given to him by his family is 余一, also read as “Yoichi.” The character 余 (also pronounced yo in this usage) means “too much” (as in the word 余り amari, meaning “excess” or “leftovers”). Historically, the name Yoichi was commonly used for the eleventh son of a family, though I believe it was usually written as 与一 (as naming your child “leftovers,” like whoever named IkeGen Yoichi did, does not have very pleasant implications). There were two other historical figures, Asari Yorito and Sanada Yoshitada, who lived around the same time as Nasu no Yoichi did that also were known by the name Yoichi; together, they are referred to as the "Three Yoichi of Genji."

Sometimes terms associated with Buddhism are used here and there in Yoshitsune’s dialogue, presumably to reflect his upbringing in a Buddhist temple. In this chapter, he notably uses the words 現し世 (read as utsushiyo) and 浮世 (read as ukiyo); they’re pretty figurative terms that mean something like “transient life” or “fleeting world,” referring to the endless cycle of death and rebirth from which Buddhists seek release. 

Interestingly, the word ukiyo was originally written in the medieval era as 憂き世, specifically describing a cruel world full of grief and sorrow, but during the Edo period it began to be written as 浮世 (literally meaning “floating world”) as part of a cultural shift towards embracing the same earthly pleasures that medieval Buddhists sought to free themselves from. My guess is that the term was written as in IkeGen as 浮世 because it would be more familiar to modern Japanese readers than the more archaic and medieval 憂き世.

[aishangotome]

Updated Upcoming Routes!

I just updated my Masterlists for IkeGen and IkeVil with the upcoming routes I'm going to translate. This will def keep me busy for awhile, while I'm also working on LN.

Because I also found uploads of Chapters beyond 16 from CN for LN, I'll work on those as well :)

Stay tuned~

[ga-yuu]

Okay so.... I'm back from my hiatus. My exam finished today and I have time until the next class starts....so...i was thinking that would translate one route..

What do you guys think? Do you want me to translate---

1. Yori x Yoshi sequel?

2. Any of the already released main stories? (only 1)

3. Sueharu or Ibuki ?(assuming they'll announce one of them this month)

I'm sure an announcement would be made soon on the upcoming route because it's already over 4months since the last trailer...

[sphireath-wisp]

Hihi!!! I was just wondering if you could do just little cute scenarios with sae, yoichi, and rin (gn! reader + all individual)

im sorry if this isn't as detailed as you wish but I'm just really craving tooth rotting fluff+ take your time (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)

Sypnosis: In the busy hustle and bustle of life, it's sometimes hard to find time to spend together. When there's time, what are the hobbies/little things both of you do together?

Warning: My readers are always morally grey in some way because it's more realistic to me, not proofread

Author's note: Thank you so much for reaching out and giving me this ask! I'll try my best to weave my story together to match your request. I owe my friend a good favour, so I hope you don't mind me adding her BL favourite here. Thank you so much for your understanding ε(´｡•᎑•`)っ 💕

Featuring: Sae Itoshi, Yoichi Isagi, Rin Itoshi x GN! reader

SAE ITOSHI... finds himself most at ease during late-night drives with you in the passenger seat. The windows are down, you're sticking your head out of the car despite his multiple warnings, and he can't stop smiling. His free hand is reaching for you and tugging your shirt down, and his eyes drift to your pouting face in the rearview mirror.

Usually, his late-night drives together with you have no real destination. Acting purely on a whim, Sae always drives you wherever feels right. Sometimes, it's the port right by the beach. Other times, he's driving you to an empty parking lot. Today, he decides to let you have the privilege of choosing where to go.

And when you ultimately decide to go to a playground out of all places, he scoffs but does a U-turn without hesitation.

Is it currently 11 a.m. and does he have a schedule he almost-religiously follows? Yes, and he has a feeling that he won't have enough time to drink his salted kombucha tomorrow morning. Is he tired? Absolutely. Why would he do all of this when he knows damn well he has practice tomorrow?

Hell, he's asking himself that as he opens the car door for you and helps you out.

With a cheeky peck on Sae's cheek, you wash away his thoughts and he returns the favour with a kiss on your forehead. "Let's go get a new car, yeah?" Sae shuts the car door behind you. You're bewildered, to say the least, "I'll let you pick a design this time."

"Look! It's here, it's here!" Your boyfriend, YOICHI ISAGI, geeks out in the manga section of your local bookstore. "Oh yeah, didn't they release figures already? Season 2 is being released soon, right?"

His smile only grows wider when you nod. He's crouching down beside you as you tower over him, leaning down slightly to watch him stare at the various covers. Standing back up on his feet with two in hand, Isagi seems to have reached a slight dilemma.

"Ah... should I get the latest chapter? Or should I..." Oh, isn't that the romance manga you recommended to him? The main couple was cheesy, but it reminded you a lot of how your relationship with Isagi is. Turning your head away, you find yourself stifling a giggle - how cute.

After a moment of deep thought, Isagi sulks. His shoulders slump and he kneels back down, placing both the mangas back on their shelves. Like a defeated puppy, he crouches there for a moment in silence.

"What's up?"

"I can't decide, so it's better if I don't get one or else I'll spend the rest of the day regretting it," He's solemn, your heart clenches when he forces an awkward smile. It's not a big deal, but... "You can borrow my copy y'know, don't be shy."

He perks up. It's a simple gesture, but the simplest things in life have always pleased Isagi the most. With a bashful laugh, he picks out the manga he wanted - he can indulge a little, he decides. "Right, I'm sorry. You didn't need to see how let down I was over something so small." Honestly, Isagi's a little shy. It's only been a few months into the relationship. He wants to respect you and your boundaries.

"I'll get you something in return, thank you."

RIN ITOSHI yelps when he stumbles out of your bedroom to the dimly lit living room of your apartment, sucking back a hiss from the base of his throat when something jabs at his foot. His disappointment only grows when he lifts his foot to see the imprint of a Lego brick on the sole. "What do you think you're doing? At 1 in the morning?" The once groggy Rin Itoshi is now wide awake, meeting your avoidant gaze. As you continue to piece together your Lego set, you mumble, "...couldn't sleep. I usually don't have trouble, but I don't know what's up with me today."

Despite his reluctance, he walks over to you and plops onto the carpet beside you. "Aren't you a little too old for this?" Rin begins while mindlessly piecing bricks together. His back is against your shoulder, partially leaning his weight onto you.

You scoff once he grabs the manual. "You're one to talk," you retort as you pull apart Lego pieces, "In case you haven't realized it, you happen to be playing with my Lego set."

"In case you haven't realized it, I'm helping you, idiot," There's no real malice in his voice. He crosses his legs and straightens his spine, turning to gather the pieces in a pile and redo everything from scratch. You clearly seem to be struggling. He'll never admit it, but he doesn't like the aching gap in his chest when you're not in bed with him.

It's a good excuse in his head. He's simply helping you out so you'll return to his embrace as soon as possible. It's just that. He's totally not enjoying playing with Legos with you - he convinces himself mentally with starry eyes when you both finish the overwhelming set at 2:30 a.m.

"Phew! Now to take it apart!"

"Hell no."

Taglist: @mikmwehehe, @saexy (while you did archive your old account, you are technically still on my list!! Please tell me if you want to get removed and I'll do it asap)

[pikahlua]

Okay, here's my MHA criticism.

Everyone has their own personal hangups about the MHA ending, but mine is not about the ending itself. The epilogue doesn't feel rushed to me--the entire final act does, ever since the PLW ending.

But I can't say that the issue is actually rushed writing. There was a change in the writing, and it came with pros and cons. Ever since this change, a lot of people felt a lack of Izuku's introspection, but I still see his introspection all over the place. It's just not compelling introspection, and it's the natural consequence of this writing change.

The thing that changes is the way Horikoshi depicts character interaction and reflection.

To cap off the story's themes, Horikoshi chooses to focus on select emotional beats involving specific characters as short, finite set pieces. Some of them work great, like Katsuki's apology. But what is lost in this process are the other emotional beats Horikoshi doesn't spend time on, such as Izuku's quick, comical, emotionally dissonant reunion with All Might back at UA after going vigilante. The set pieces Horikoshi chooses to focus on at Tomura's end are two moments, one between All For One and Yoichi, and the other between Izuku and Tomura. But what is lost in this case is the strangely off-screened encounter between Nana's and Tomura's vestiges, and we're just given the fact that Nana preserved Tomura's sense of self as an offhand remark. This is a recurring theme where Horikoshi lands the set pieces he has likely visualized for years but that somehow don't have the same impact as the emotional scenes from earlier in the story. The details that build up to these moments are lacking, and it's because the characters don't interact as they should.

Horikoshi has overall messages he wants to focus on, such as the unity in everyone coming together inspired by Izuku at the end. But he places so much focus on his entire cast of characters at large to achieve this theme that the story becomes unbalanced. We as readers have read about his characters over the years, and we've grown especially attached to some of them. Even if there are minor characters we may enjoy, if Horikoshi is doing his job as a writer, the majority of us should be here for the main characters. If Horikoshi wants to feature every single one of his characters in the final arc, then he has to do so with balance. The main characters should be given more emotional weight than the side characters.

Hanta Sero can have his cool moment no problem, but why does it come so late into Izuku's final battle??? It makes no sense emotionally for it to be there. At this stage in the story, we would expect any other major character to fill this role. Hell, Iida is sitting right there with not much going on for his character this arc.

And the same emotional underwhelm goes for so many other moments. Why is the primary character screaming in agony over Katsuki's death Neito Monoma??? Aizawa is right there, and all we get from him is a horrified face but no reaction otherwise. He fades to the background immediately. Izuku's reaction to Katsuki's death is built up so much and yet not nearly enough time or weight is devoted to the actual moment when it happens. Compared to such iconic reactions to death in the shounen genre that came before it such as Goku's super saiyan transformation in response to the death of his best friend Krillin, Izuku's reaction to Katsuki's death is utterly forgettable.

The issue is not that Horikoshi gave Sero and Monoma these moments. It's that he either weighted or timed them and many others like them poorly. No one reading MHA wonders what wisdom Sero would have to offer at the end or what sort of reaction Monoma would have to Katsuki's death--or rather, they don't wonder these things more than they wonder about the main characters themselves. Main characters are the characters we're SUPPOSED to care about. If you give Sero and Monoma big moments like what they got, then the main characters have to have even bigger moments following in order to still be impactful. But we don't get that. We get the set pieces, but we don't get any of the logical character interaction and reflection these set pieces beg for. If I have to choose between Izuku's reaction to Katsuki's death and Monoma's, I want Horikoshi to spend all his time and effort on Izuku's every time. It's nice to see how main characters interact with side characters and to hear those side characters' perspectives but NOT at the cost of the main characters interacting and sharing their perspectives. Horikoshi makes too much space for his side characters, and so we lose the detail that could have gone into important moments between the main characters. The overall story remains coherent and complete, but it also leaves something to be desired for the characters themselves. As a result, I find myself both given closure and longing for a more robust, impactful resolution for the main characters.

tl;dr Horikoshi gave too much to his side characters and not enough to his main characters, which particularly affected the interactions between the characters we all care most about

[villainsandvictimsalliance]

Time to be delulu yet completely serious on my bnha 423 opinions.

Good points: The resolution between AFO and Yoichi was satisfactory, love as a reason for evil and evil deeds, the rooftop trio having one final moment full of emotion, the moment of Kurogiri thinking about Tomura and the LOV, Deku having a quirk of his own born out of determination and hard work, Deku as the protagonist of bnha in general, Tomura's last actions and words.

Bad points: Rushed arc conclusions, moments that felt kinda repetitive or lacked the punch given that we've seen/lived them before, not the best compositions we've seen from Horikoshi on the panels, Tomura's arc being rushed to a martyr ending— for impact???? ( or it ending on another cliffhanger that is gonna turn to be different from what we expected ).

I'll go in depth, so please check under the cut.

GOOD POINTS:

Yoichi and AFO:

The last conversation among these brothers was everything I was expecting. The love was there and it transformed them. It made AFO a monster and Yoichi a ghost.

For me, this time the AFO ending needed to be quick because we've already said goodbye to him too many times. This was supposed to be about AFO's refusal to give up on his brother and the unresolved relationship of those two.

I really liked how Yoichi reminded AFO that he needs to face the consequences of his actions and that he's love won't be able to save them.

Villain love:

Love as a reason for pain and destruction is perhaps one of my favorite tropes. So many stories approach love as this purely morally good feeling, when in the end it is just like any other feeling, you know?

People go to war for love all the time. They kill for love. Die for love. Do unforgivable things for love. Human existence is sooooo complex, why would love be the exception?

Horikoshi has been REALLY careful with the AFO backstory and his motivations. He didn't want an antagonist that felt empty. He made AFO human without redeeming him, okay? Because our ability to sympathize with some of AFO's traits doesn't make him less evil. To put it simply, it means that evil things are also human at heart.

Even those acts that you can't forgive or forget are motivated by something.

Kurogiri and the rooftop trio:

We knew from the beginning they were not the main characters of this manga.

We've gotten their story through glimpses and moments. Their time together had always been somehow rushed. Too many things to say, not enough time and they are on opposite sides of the war after all.

We knew that Kurogiri would go back because we knew he would protect Tomura during the final fight. We knew that he'd help the heroes defeat AFO. We knew he'd have to make his choice and say his goodbyes to his old friends.

Kurogiri, Tomura and the LOV

"He's friends are waiting" along with the image of Spinner asking Kurogiri to bring Tomura back to them was the highlight of this chapter for me. (You all expected it, right?)

Something about the way it reads like a father who wants his son to live because he is being waited for. He has friends who love him and would do anything to protect him, see him safe and sound. Something about the symbolism of Spinner putting Father (aka Kotaro's hand) on Kurogiri's face as he asked for it.

This chapter acknowledged that Kurogiri and Shirakumo share the same character core. They are always the protectors, the ones who would sacrifice themselves to see their charge survive. Similar to how Mic was waiting for Shouta so Shirakumo made sure that Shouta would survive, Kurogiri wants to do the same for Spinner and Tomura.

This alone would require an entire post to elaborate.

Deku's quirk:

The debate between endgame quirkless Deku or endgame OFA user Deku is settle.

I really liked that Deku got a quirk on his own that was born out of his own determination to be a hero. It's a nice representation of all he is as a character and what he stands for. Similarly, I enjoyed a lot the fact that it was short-lived. I'm the type who likes it better when things require a sacrifice or when miracles have their own conditions.

Deku doesn't feel overpowered to me. You get that sense that he really deserves everything he has and that it hasn't been a nonsense gift from the narrative. There's also the human condition, the limitations that keep him grounded.

Bnha and Deku:

Deku defeating AFO 'cause villains and heroes help him, his friends being there for him and being there to cheer for him as he fights, his sensei being there despite the fact that Aizawa at first thought Deku wouldn't make it— all the details that make bnha what it is.

They were good.

The UA kids really keep the story consistent when it is about them. They don't give up on anyone, they fight for each other, they stay to witness things for themselves. I love them <3

Tomura's last actions and words:

Careful here. Listen to what I'm saying.

If the narrative had pointed out to this ending, this would have been a good way to execute it.

Tomura coming back along with the vestiges to pack one final punch to defeat AFO— I know many fans that would be moved to tears and would be super excited to see it. Tomura was on point in this chapter, dialoguing with Deku without the hatred in his heart, his face being clearer and almost tender.

He felt defeated, like he had accepted his death already. There's also the connection to Kurogiri and Nana (who defended him) and his words to Spinner, that are meant as a general message to depict how much Tomura values the LOV.

Even the fact that AFO kept him around 'cause a part of him loved / cared about Tomura feels fitting, but I'm not sure if I correctly read the leaks in that part...

Anyway, we got the old trope of the antagonist who used his last moments to help defeat the real villain. It serves as his redemption and the expectation is for the public to feel sorry bad for him.

BAD POINTS

Rushed conclusions:

In my opinion, this chapter was too fast paced and therefore was not as emotional as it should have been.

It doesn't give the feeling that it's fast because the battle is intense. It gives the feeling of too much information packed on one chapter, so nothing really shines on its own. It's way too informative, not enough action narration.

Like I said before, the fatal mistake of a story is to be boring. Art has to provoke you, it has to engage with you, question you, awake things in you. This chapter tho, many things happened at the same time and it grew a bit murky.

Repetitive moments

Again, personal opinion here.

I think certain bnha movies were a mistake. Not because they were bad or boring or whatever, but because Horikoshi wrote parts of bnha real ending into them to the point you'd say "we've already seen that" while reading bnha 423.

Deku and Bakugo teaming up to defeat AFO was so expected. Not as in "the narrative is making sense", but as in "we saw it on heroes rising".

I feel the same with the students all appearing to help Deku fight AFO. That's a typical shonen structure where the friends making space for the protagonist to reach the main villain. It was already happening, so why bring AFO back?? I think the story is over-explaining here, making everything way too obvious. We could have had AFO's resolution with Yoichi before and the students moment after. In truth, it feels like Horikoshi closed some character arcs before he should and left plot holes without explanation, so he needed to reopen to accommodate.

Panel composition:

I admire Horikoshi when it comes to panel composition. He has some amazing panels that make the story really flow, but bnha 423 isn't there.

There are too many elements clustered and empty spaces that don't feel with purpose (in manga, even the blanks must have a purpose). This chapter should have been at least two, so you wouldn't have to rush Bakugo appearing, Yoichi and AFO resolution, Kurogiri saying his goodbye to the rooftop trio and facing AFO for Tomura's sake, Deku remembering where he started and where he is, Tomura last words and the Tomura and Deku resolution...

Those are too many important plot points to illustrate in a hurry.

Also?? The panel of Tomura and Deku punching AFO is so unserious. Totally wrong place to be funny sjbdjdnd why does it even feel like the vestiges are punching air???

" Tomura's ending " :

I'm not the first to say it feels anticlimactic and as if it isn't the ending at all.

The major problem is that through the manga, Horikoshi has focused a lot on Tomura as a character, carefully developing him, giving him tropes that are often reserved for the hero or the main character, making sure we empathize with him, we understand him, hyping up Deku's journey to rescue him.

We got an entire arc from the LOV perspective. This is not the type of one sentence ending you give to an antagonist you spent so much ink and sweat on. The nonchalant way of Tomura accepting his death? The little reaction from Deku? What was the purpose of the manga building up the LOV friendship to the moment where Kurogiri told AFO that Tomura's friends were waiting for him, if you'd make him just disappear on thin air?

This reads absolutely like a bunny within a hat.

That's being optimistic.

If we want to be cynical, maybe this is all there is. I don't find it readable to end the story with Tomura dying. All that effort to save him and it ends in "oh well, he decayed along with AFO"?!

If you think about it, Toga status is unknown because we don't even know where she went or if she's still alive, Touya status is also unknown although we know he wanted to live and that the ice prevented him from further damage, we haven't seen Spinner, we don't know if Kurogiri vanished with that last attack on AFO and now we saw Tomura decaying into the wind.

Yo kill half the surviving LOV would be a bold move that wouldn't follow the narrative. The reward for the hero students should be being able to save their counterpart, so the world can regard them as the greatest heroes 'cause they save the unsalable and blah blah blah.

There's also the fact Tomura hasn't been saved yet. Tenko? Nana and Deku saved him from Kotaro. The crying kid? Saved from AFO by Deku and the vestiges and the others. Tomura? Nop, he's dying/dead. The one person Spinner really wanted to save was Tomura. He didn't know about the crying kid or Tenko. He wanted to save his friend, the "irredeemable" villain, the young man he played videogames with and fought alongside and vowed to follow.

If this is the end, it's incomplete.

So we might hope it is not the end.

[cythena]

celebrity!fav getting a crush on foreign idol!reader is so cute to me.

celebrity!fav is a fellow musician, actor, athlete or whatever. either way he so popular globally but mainly japan.

celebrity!fav finds or gets shown some song by an artist overseas and it's in his head for weeks. it's such a catchy song it draws him into the entire album and eventually you're entire discography. so he spends weeks learning about you and stalking your socials. it's not like he's unfamiliar with your name but he's never found your music to suit his usual taste.

celebrity!fav stalks your socials accidentally, very pleased to see you follow him on your main. he follows you on an alternate account for everything. his official page keeps its following to a minimum and it would be embarrassing to be caught. he likes all your pictures, especially your relaxed selfies. he lies in his bed admiring your beauty before he has to get out for his own day.

celebrity!fav is absolutely estatic when scrolling on twitter and sees your announcement: a world tour. so he excitedly scrolls through dates and cities. in three months from now you'd spend almost an entire week in japan performing at three of its largest venues. he could attend every single one and afford its premium packages. you'd first arrive in tokyo, then osaka, then finish in nagoya.

celebrity!fav is calling his manager to clear his schedule for that week with no exceptions. you had his full attention for that time. he didn't wanna worry about a photoshoot, rehearsal, practice or whatever. whatever it was could wait until he returned. he didn't care that his manager immediately protested when had he hung up the phone.

celebrity!fav arrives to night one of your tokyo shows. unfortunately, he wasn't as close as he would like to be but he was still seeing you live. he purchased seats a little high but close enough to see your pretty face. he sat in an aisle with one security member next to him (only because his manager was insistent on bringing one). as the concert keeps nearing its start, he decides to post a picture of the stage with a favorite song.

celebrity!fav who gets put on the jumbotron between songs. he mentally curses for being noticed but really doesn't mind. he waves to the audience but hopes to keep it brief. he finds it amusing how they searched for him and successfully found him so he humors it. the big screen flashes the word "dance!!" so he stands and laughs it off. when he sits, it finally switches to a different audience member.

celebrity!fav gets a notification from instagram during intermission to see you liked his story and his heart drops. he grins and goes to follow you back. he opens a video from you of him dancing to your song captioned "so good! you should be my backup dancer!" he responds faster than he thought his fingers could even move. replying, "alongside you is a true dream."

celebrity!fav who spends the rest of intermission silently losing his shit because he's actually flirting with you. before you tell him you're going back onstage, you ask him if he's free tomorrow. it's your first time in tokyo after all so you'd love a guide.

personally imagined as...

satoru gojo (this whole thing was satoru coded), yuuji itadori, aoi todo, toge inumaki

kaedehara kazuha, tartaglia, wriothesley, kaveh, arataki itto, kaeya, thoma

kyojuro rengoku, giyuu tomioka, zenitsu agatsuma, genya shinazugawa

meguru bachira, yoichi isagi, hyoma chigiri, rin itoshi, seishiro nagi

[maochira]

Masterlist: Blue Lock

Request rules

The numbers next to the names indicate how many things I have written for them (excluding most posts from series, I only add something from a series to a character masterlist if the character is the main focus!)

Series/compilation/event masterlists:

Father figure coaches - Itoshi sibling!reader stories - Dad!Ego - Father figure!Ego - 100 follower writing event - Neo Egoist League assistants - Ships as parents - Blue Lock big brothers - 800 follower event

Character masterlists:

Yoichi Isagi [40]

Meguru Bachira [31]

Jingo Raichi [34]

Asahi Naruhaya [1]

Gin Gagamaru [11]

Wataru Kuon [7]

Okuhito Iemon [2]

Gurimu Igarashi [1]

Hyoma Chigiri [37]

Rensuke Kunigami [38]

Yudai Imamura

Imamura x shy!reader (headcanons)

Ikki Niko [7]

Shouei Barou [76]

Wanima brothers [6]

Zantetsu Tsurugi [32]

Reo Mikage [40]

Seishirou Nagi [30]

Aoshi Tokimitsu [47]

Jyubei Aryu [20]

Eita Otoya [18]

Kenyu Yukimiya [39]

Nijiro Nanase

Going ice skating with Nanase

Ranze Kurona [12]

Ryusei Shidou [68]

Tabito Karasu [45]

Yo Hiori [7]

Anri Teieri

Girlfriend!Anri (headcanons)

More girlfriend!Anri headcanons

Big sister!Anri (headcanons)

Single mom!Anri (headcanons)

Oliver Aiku [23]

Shuto Sendou [10]

Michael Kaiser [66]

Alexis Ness [37]

Birkenstock [6]

Benedict Grim [8]

Erik Gesner [12]

Theo Sachs [8]

Igor Schneider

Random headcanons

Dating headcanons

Igor has a crush on you (headcanons)

Ali

Random headcanons

Dating headcanons

Bachman

Dating headcanons

Don Lorenzo [31]

Jin Kiyora

Playing soccer with him at night (drabble)

Tall!reader makes Kiyora try on platform shoes (drabble)

Kiyora asks you to be his plushie (scenario)

Jinpachi Ego [17]

Noel Noa [35]

Chris Prince [22]

Lavinho [22]

Marc Snuffy [16]

Rin Itoshi [31]

Sae Itoshi [14]

Takumi Tsuyosa (OC) [7]

Satoshi Tsuyosa (OC)

Egoist Bible profile

His dynamic/relationship with Takumi

Wanting to protect Takumi

Satoshi's struggle with gender

Satoshi and Lorenzo as your parents (headcanons)

You third wheel big brother!Lorenzo's date with Satoshi (scenario)

Arisu Mochida (OC)

Egoist Bible profile

Not being used to being praised

Other things [13]

[xlillyle]

Why in my humble opinion MHA's ending regarding Midoriya Izuku is good and fitting and completes his storyline beautifully 🧵

Or: On what it means to be a hero.

I'm having a slight déjà-vu... oh well. There are lots of opinions on MHA and its ending, now that it is here, so after seeing some I felt compelled to shove my own to the board.

While it's impossible to disregard all other aspects of the ending as MHA is a rich story with many factors and subplots additionally to the main story, I will do my best to focus on my main point, which is: Midoriya Izuku's story is a good one and has been brought to a beautiful and very fitting ending that I like a lot. Here's why:

I have three (four) main points I will go through that are related to Izuku's story that imo were ended well:

One For All & what the quirk did for Izuku & how it ended.

Izuku's on-going career, resulting in him as a teacher.

Izuku's future career with the hero suit.

2 and 3 also both pick up one of MHA's main themes: What it means to be a hero.

So, let me start with One For All (OFA).

OFA is the quirk that kicks off this series because it's the quirk given by the Symbol of Peace All Might to our protagonist Midoriya Izuku, who has been quirkless but dreamt of being a hero. There are a few important things to note about OFA:

OFA is very strong; so strong that All Might, even after agreeing to give Izuku the quirk, makes him train. A lot. And hard. Because a regular body would not be able to handle OFA due to its nature.

We learn later that not only does it cultivate the raw strength of all its previous users, but that it holds their quirks too. And that these quirks got stronger with each generation of OFA user as well.

In fact, the major reason why OFA is so insanely strong when Izuku receives it, is the fact that All Might had been quirkless himself and therefore is the longest holder of OFA as the other users could not handle having their own quirk and OFA as additional one, passing away rather early.

OFA is also the quirk of Yoichi who is All For One's (AFO) brother who, in very simplified terms, have a long history and complicated, but hostile relationship with each other. Yoichi wants to stop his brother.

And, to make a very, over 400 chapters long story short: Izuku defeats All For One and he does so after countless of training and battles where he learned to make the best use of OFA and in the end by transferring OFA to Shigaraki/AFO.

Izuku has always understood OFA as a borrowed power and ultimately as one he'd be the last user of—OFA was a power used to defeat AFO and the fact that transferring it, ultimately what AFO had always desired, is part of what destroys him is very fitting.

OFA has given Izuku the chance to enter the world of heroes—and to help change it in the long run. He was able to open the people's eyes about society, he has shown that even after he gave OFA away, he would still fight and he has animated people to be heroic even if they aren't employed as heroes. He has added more meaning to the word "hero".

Izuku as teacher, part 1 of what it means to be a hero.

Now, I have seen a lot of criticism to Izuku ending up as a teacher and I am here to tell you—it's perfect for him! Izuku is someone who loves learning, he is genuinely enthusiastic about it, and especially about quirks—he loves geeking out about them, he spends his free time analyzing them and drawing out their potential, he is an amazing supporting character for children that need assistance in finding their footing in the world of heroes. Who can you learn better from than from someone who loves learning itself? He's got a contagious kind of excitement that sparks over to you.

And, he knows better than anyone how chasing after this dream of being a hero feels like, knows better than anyone how important people supporting you on the way is—because this is what he has received, back then, when he was in high school himself. Izuku has learned and experienced himself how important support from the people around you is, so he now wants to provide exactly that to the future generation of heroes. He wants to guide them on their path.

This career path also opens a new perspective that MHA has been trying to tell us for so long now: "Hero" isn't just who goes up and picks up this nice certificate and runs around the city with the "hero badge". "Hero" is more than that. Helping people, in any little way, is being heroic and makes you a hero. Teachers are heroes too. Izuku is being a hero, even now that he doesn't do "pro hero" work, because he is helping children—a teacher doesn't only educate, a teacher provides mental support to some extent too, and that goes even moreso for UA and other hero school teachers. Teachers protect their students as well. Izuku is, by all means, still a hero, just not a "pro" hero. He is a guidance to children and is dedicating his life to extend a helping hand to them and their dreams.

And he's happy with it.

Yes, it's also said that he misses the work of a pro hero—but that doesn't mean that what he is doing now is bad or "settling". He could have done SO many other things, but he CHOSE to pursue a career as a teacher—because this, too, is something he enjoys and finds happiness in. Both statements can be true. You can miss something you used to dream of all your life—it's very natural, even, but you can still be happy about where you ended in life right now.

Moreover, even if you don't agree with my take as "teachers" being heroes too, we see just a few panels later Izuku being a hero:

Which further emphasizes the point I and MHA have been trying to make: You can be a hero even if your job title isn't "hero". That's why civilians got statues too, that's why they are considered for the heroes ranking too. You can have a diverging opinion on how effective it is, but that is the point that is being made and the characters in-universe try to bring across too.

The hero suit and the conclusion on what it means to be a hero.

Truthfully, I don't know why people keep acting like MHA ended after Izuku's teacher career, because we have a conclusion that even traces back and argues back against anyone who doesn't agree with my points about him being a teacher and still a hero. And, more importantly, it brings the full manga into a perfect circle:

Because remember what the manga opened with: Can you be a quirkless hero?

And in so many ways across all these 430 chapters, but now even in the most literal sense of itself, MHA is telling you: YES. Yes you can! It shows us that you can be a hero without a quirk because anyone can lend someone freezing or wounded a t-shirt and anyone can reach out their hand to someone who is lost and anyone can sprint to catch a stumbling child.

But, also, our protagonist Midoriya Izuku, who is quirkless and had lived his dream at the age of 15-17 after borrowing a quirk, now is only starting his dream again at the age of 25: He can be a (pro) hero again and that although he doesn't have a quirk.

Yeah, it's expensive and not yet affordable for the average quirkless guy. But that's not the point of the story, because we started with asking "Is it possible at all?" and were first deluded into thinking the answer is "No.", but MHA is here to tell you: Yes, you can be a hero. There is most certainly an argument to made that now that the first one has done it, more might be able to follow in the long run.

So, what does it mean to be a hero?

I think MHA's message on that is: A hero is someone who steps up because they can, who helps people achieve a part of happiness because they have the chance to. You don't have to have a quirk or do grand gestures, you don't have to rely on the "professionals" to take care of it, at least not if you can make a difference already. There is no shame in a little heroic act because it doesn't make the act less heroic. There even is beauty in everyone being a little hero to each other every day.

Some last words about my feelings on MHA's ending.

This isn't really part of the thread anymore, but I still wanted to say this. This is purely personal, but, to me, what was really beautiful was: Midoriya Izuku didn't "peak" in high school, he had one peak in high school, but life is made of multiple "peaks".

Izuku is 25 and hasn't even seen all of the world yet and now he gets to live his dream again. Because you never know where life takes you and even if you may feel hopeless or lost and like you already experienced all the highs of lives, Horikoshi and MHA are here to tell you: There's always another peak yet to come.

MHA has this really beautiful ending that tries to reassure you that even though your teen years feel so intense and like the world is about to end and even though so many others your age may be so much "higher" on the "life achievements" scale, it doesn't mean that you are a failure or should lose hope because you can always catch up later, in your own pace, with your own wishes. Life isn't over at 17. Life isn't even over at 25. Your new dream might only just become true later than you expected.

[bibibbon]

MHA chapter 423 rant

Ok so this is later than usual and Iam not going to be as active as I want to be due to exams😭 (chemistry is going to kill me tomorrow)

Anyway this chapter was a flipping mess to me and Iam not liking some of the takes Iam seeing like someone somehow blaming izuku for shigarakis death like??!?!!?

Again the lack of izuku intropsection is annoying me. Seriously Izuku please think I wanna see your thought process what's going on behind what you're doing. Like at this point I feel so distant from the MC I can't understand why he is doing anything and everything seems so ooc or in character it's annoying and confusing. Like he pities AFO? What does he think of Shigaraki? Is he not upset that he couldn't save shigaraki? What does he feel about losing his quirk and all? So much we don't know that we should know 😔

Shigaraki is dead so that's it?!?! Also can we talk about how random his last words are. I hated it 😭. I guess Iam glad shigaraki is dead so hori can't ruin him even more but dam that was such a horrible way for him to go. Also why were his last words towards spinner out of all people? Like the manga hasn't really given us a clear focus on their relationship just a few moments here and there. Also, I would of liked for shigaraki to at least say thanks to izuku or something like that. I don't know but all of this felt empty and if hori does somehow decide to bring Shigaraki back which I doubt it, it would be worse. Ok but like I low-key love seeing the OFA vestiges also punch AFO in shigarakis side

Still hated how this fight went and bakugo just had to make an entrance. I have already voiced my opinions here but due to the lack of build up and development between Izuku and other characters the whole fight where they come fighting with him feels empty as hell. It just felt like a cheap and quick way for everyone to get their moments and don't get me on bakugo making another comeback like Iam sick of seeing him truly Iam. He had his moment can hori not leave him to rest?

I didn't care for AFO. I think he should of been dead long ago. I think I have also made it clear that I don't like the way AFO is written. He had potential and I genuinely love the analysis that his fans give him but I don't like him at all especially because to me the plot revolves around him in such an aggravating way that it makes it so that the root of all evil and problems is due to AFO. Like ok cool afo is dead and with yoichi but shouldn't and couldn't help for just done that himself? Like I simply can't seem to comprehend the main villain of the story being like this

Rip kurogiri for caring way too much about shigaraki just for him to not care about you at all.

Also extra rip for izuku because he couldn't save the one person he wanted to and gran Torino was right shigaraki should of been killed and all of this would if been avoided at this point

[sakura-samsara]

Yoichi Main Story: Chapter 7

← Chapter 6

CW for this chapter: mild violence. Please read with care!

✦ part one 

Yoichi: It’s gonna be a headache to let this guy go if he can’t keep his trap shut. 

Yoichi: Well, a headache for me, at least. But I bet he'll be trouble for you too.

Yoichi: Don’t you think, Yoshino?

(I admit that he's right. The priest must have seen me use my fox spirit powers, and I doubt he’s inclined to keep it a secret.)

With Yoichi still holding a knife against his throat,

The priest stared upwards at me, his eyes wide with fear as he took in the otherworldly color of my hair and eyes. 

I remained silent, recalling Yoritomo’s order that with the exception of his closest aides, no one was to learn about my powers. 

(He said it was to prevent the troops’ morale from declining due to fear of the supernatural.) 

Yoichi: If you come up with another way to get him to keep quiet, I’m all ears.

Yoshino: Another way?

Yoichi: Mhm.

The corner of Yoichi’s lips twitched up into a smirk.

Yoichi: Say, for example… I could cut his tongue out and chop his hands off?

Priest: No...!

Yoshino: Yoichi-san!!

Yoichi: What's wrong? It's a perfectly good suggestion.

I bit my lip as he shot me a goading look. 

(I have to come up with something that's less… gory, but that Yoichi-san will still be satisfied with. I’ll need to think hard about this.)

I racked my mind for solutions until, suddenly, an idea came to me…

Yoshino: …There’s no need to do anything special.

Yoichi: …

✦ part two

Yoshino: …There’s no need to do anything special.

Yoichi: …

It took all of my might to keep my face blank as I approached the priest. 

Slowly, I removed the tie from my hair. Silver locks cascaded down my shoulders, stirring in the cool nighttime breeze. 

(I just hope this will help make me look as otherworldly as Tamamo does.)

Yoshino: You there.

Priest: Huh? A-Are you talking to me?

Yoshino: Indeed.

I recalled how cold Yoichi’s eyes had looked earlier, pictured them in my mind—and looked down at the priest as I tried to imitate the same expression.

(...I know I’m not a good liar. But I will make this lie believable, no matter what it takes.)

Yoshino: You have witnessed me exercise my powers tonight.

Priest: …

Yoshino: Now, I shall show you another enchantment that I am capable of performing. 

Priest: Wh..What are you going to do?

Yoshino: Yoichi-san, give me your knife.

Yoichi: Sure thing.

He handed me his knife with a look of amusement, giving the priest some more room to move.

Yoshino: Your hand. 

The priest’s hand trembled as I took it into my own. 

Priest: W..Wait…

Yoichi: Hold still, won't you?

In a flash, Yoichi pinned the priest down again, making him let out a frightened whimper. 

Priest: Nn…

I felt a pang of guilt at the terror in the priest’s eyes,

But I resolutely placed the tip of the knife against the pad of his thumb.

(...I’m sorry.)

Yoichi: !

Priest: Gh-!

Blood oozed from the shallow cut on his finger and dripped onto the earth.

(I’m glad I didn’t hurt him more than I had to.)

I relaxed my shoulders and steadied myself before I pressed the tip of the knife to my own thumb.

(Here goes nothing...)

Yoichi: ……

After feeling a slight prick, I let a drop of my own blood fall onto the same spot that the priest’s had.

Yoshino: …The enchantment ritual has concluded.

Priest: Wh…What did you do to me?! Tell me! I'm begging you!!

Yoshino: My power is carried within even the smallest droplet of my blood.

Yoshino: By combining your blood with my own, I have gained the ability to observe your actions at all times. 

The priest’s face drained of color as I spoke in a deliberate tone. 

Yoshino: You must never tell anyone about what you saw tonight, nor must you ever perform another immoral deed, or else… 

Priest: What’s going to happen…?

(Uhh… I hadn’t thought that far ahead yet.)

Yoshino: …You will be punished.

Priest: I—I understand. I swear will never tell a soul about you o-or do anything bad ever again…

(I get the feeling that he’s being sincere…)

I looked up at Yoichi almost beseechingly. 

Yoichi: You’ve gotta be kidding me.

(Is he going to expose me? Was this all for nothing?!)

I stiffened as my breath caught in my throat. 

Yoichi: I can’t believe you’d use your sacred blood to cast a spell on him…

(Huh?)

Yoichi couldn’t have looked more serious as he spoke, his voice low and thick with foreboding.

Yoichi: If you break an oath you swear to her in blood… Man, even I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about what’d happen.

✦ part three

Yoichi: If you break an oath you swear to her in blood… Man, even I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about what’d happen.

(Wait. What is he talking about?)

Yoichi: Oi, listen up. If you don't have the guts to live with the curse she put on you, I’ll spare you a world of misery by killing you here and now. 

Priest: Is…Is the punishment for breaking the oath truly that horrible? 

Yoichi: Well, I once saw what happened to a guy who broke his oath… The carnage was just insane. Every single bone in his body was…

(Yoichi-san!?)

Yoichi: Nah, no need to elaborate. All I’m saying is you better keep your oath no matter what. Make sense?

Priest: Yes...

The intensity of Yoichi’s words left the priest lost for words of his own. 

(...I can hardly believe it, but it seems like he was helping me keep up the act after all.) 

Yoichi: I think it’s about time you get going now. Oh yeah, you’re leaving Kamakura tonight, aren’t you? 

Priest: Y-Yes, of course…

The priest scrambled to his feet, stumbling over himself as he ran away into the night. 

Yoichi: I guess that’s one thing taken care of, yeah?

Yoshino: What a relief.

I instantly slumped back down, overwhelmed with relief. 

Yoichi: …Damn. You don’t look like the kind of lady who can out-con a conman, swindling and threatening him like it's nothing.

Yoshino: I just acted on an impulse…

(But I still had to think it out thoroughly to see it through.) 

Yoshino: Maybe I was inspired by the time that he almost swindled us, and the time that you threatened me. I remember both incidents quite well.

Yoichi: I see, I see. 

Yoichi: You might seem like a harmless little softie, but it looks like you’ve got the guts to get yourself out of trouble when it counts.

His gaze softened with what almost seemed like admiration. 

Yoichi: If you ask me, though, putting on an act like that was pretty risky.

Was my acting really that bad? (Romantic +4, Dramatic +2) I thought I did a good job (Romantic +2, Dramatic +4) It was the best I could do (Romantic +4, Dramatic +4)

Yoshino: Well, risky or not, it was the best I could do…

Yoichi: I know. I’m acknowledging that you did well.

Yoichi: At the end of the day, I’m just glad it was enough to scare off the geezer.

Yoshino: I agree… Thank you for helping me with it, Yoichi-san.

Yoichi: It's no biggie. Keeping up our deal was well worth playing along with your act.

Yoichi: But I wanna ask you something.

Yoichi: Why’d you bother going out of your way to spare the guy? I mean, he summoned an ayakashi to attack you. 

(Well…)

It took me a moment to mull over my thoughts before I spoke. 

Yoshino: Of course I didn’t want to see him die, but… it wasn’t the only reason. 

Yoichi: Oh?

Yoshino: I also didn’t want to see you kill someone.

Yoichi: What does that mean?

He gave me a stern look as I unraveled my thoughts and slowly spun them into words.

Yoshino: You could have chosen not to come to my rescue at all tonight, couldn’t you? 

Yoshino: You’re supposed to be undercover, after all. Someone could have busted you while you were coming to help me. 

Yoshino: Besides, it’d be pretty convenient for the rebels if I happened to die tonight. It would have been perfectly reasonable of you to abandon me to the ayakashi.

Yoichi: …

Yoichi: Maybe I just wanted you to owe me a favor. For all you know, I could’ve rescued you just to get you to strike another deal with me. 

✦ part four

Yoichi: Maybe I just wanted you to owe me a favor. For all you know, I could've rescued you just to get you to strike another deal with me. 

Yoshino: Maybe—but I get the feeling that taking such a risky chance would give you far too much trouble for it to be worth the outcome. 

Yoshino: So I have reason to believe that… that even if it was only in the slightest measure… you came to help me out of kindness. 

Yoichi: …

Yoichi’s eyes flared wide, as if I’d caught him off guard. 

Yoshino: That’s why I didn’t want you to kill the priest—I didn’t want to see a kind person take someone’s else’s life. 

Yoshino: It was selfish of me. I’m sorry for that.

Yoichi: You did it for… my sake?

Yoshino: I don’t know. Maybe it was just for my own self-complacency. 

(Perhaps it isn't a big deal to Yoichi-san, but I couldn’t bear to see a person die. If anything, I stopped him for my own sake.)

Yoichi: No matter how kind you want to think I am, I'm still a samurai. I didn’t kill someone in front of you tonight, but I might have to do it another day.

Yoichi: You, on the other hand, might end up getting me killed one of these days. Think about that for a second.

Yoshino: I’m aware of that, but it doesn’t change what I think. 

(If that ever happened, I know that Yoichi-san wouldn’t forgive me either.) 

Yoichi: You…

Yoichi was silent for a moment before muttering in exasperation. 

Yoichi: Man. You really are a handful, you know that?

Yoshino: What do you mean?

(I'd imagine someone as oblique as Yoichi-san would be harder to deal with than someone like me.)

Yoichi: Turns out you really are simpler than I thought you were. 

Yoshino: …You can be really rude sometimes, Yoichi-san.

Yoichi: I'm just being honest. Would you prefer it if I lied to you instead?

(Well, no, but that’s not the point!!)

Yoichi: Well, anyways, let me explain.

Yoichi glanced away as he cleared his throat before looking back at me.

Yoichi: I assumed you were an easy touch when we first met, but you turned out to be more headstrong than I could’ve imagined.

Yoichi: It's like if playing things fair is all you know how to do.

Yoichi: The way you negotiated with me, even when I was threatening you—I guess it got me to see you in a different light…

(Really...?)

Yoichi: But even then, I still thought I was dealing with an ordinary woman.

Yoshino: …Do you not think I'm ordinary, now?

Yoichi: Even if you're naive, and your plan is way too optimistic,

Yoichi: It'd be hard for anyone else to pull off what you've done so far. You've made allies with all sorts of people and given everything you have to stay true to what you believe in.

Yoichi: It’s incredible how you’ve made the best out of... well, everything that’s happened to you since you came here. 

Yoshino: I think you’re giving me far more credit than I deserve.

Yoichi: You'd be surprised. Taking advantage of a situation that sucks as much as yours does—it's a lot harder than you think.

Yoichi: Not to mention, it’d be easy to turn bitter and jaded in your position, but you’ve managed to stay as genuine as you’ve always been.

Yoichi: I go back on what I said before, about you being like a stray cat. You’re more like some kind of… strange creature. 

Yoshino: S-Strange creature? Couldn’t you have come up with a better comparison?! 

Yoichi: I meant that as a compliment, okay? More or less.

✦ part five

Yoshino: S-Strange creature? Couldn’t you have come up with a better comparison?! 

Yoichi: I meant that as a compliment, okay? More or less.

(Well, now that I’ve finally had a second to think about it…)

(I guess… receiving his acknowledgement makes me happy.) 

An inexplicable warmth kindled deep within me.

Yoichi: …It’s tough to keep my guard up when you smile like that.

Yoshino: …? Sorry, what did you just say?

Yoichi: No~thing.

Yoichi made a languid gesture with his hand; I nodded in response, even though I still wasn't sure what to make of the situation.

Yoichi: Alright. We’re heading back for real this time.

Yoichi: Is your ankle okay, by the way? Your finger, too. 

(Oh...)

He gently took my hand, turning it palm-up to examine the cut on my finger.

Yoshino: My finger is fine. I only made a shallow cut, and the bleeding has already stopped. 

Yoichi: Then what about your ankle? You were running earlier. That couldn’t have been good for your sprain. 

(He’s very perceptive…)

Yoshino: It still hurts a little bit, but it’s nothing I can’t patch up at home. 

Yoshino: I am a doctor, after all.

I cautiously shifted my foot back and forth; the motion roused the forgotten pain in my ankle.

Yoichi: Hmm. Would you rather be carried in my arms or on my back?  

Yoshino: W-What?

Yoichi: Walking through the forest’s just gonna make your ankle worse, so I’ll carry you the rest of the way back.

Yoshino: I’m fine, really!! I can walk! I couldn’t ask you to carry me that far!

Flustered, I frantically shook my head. 

Yoichi: You just don’t get it, do you? Being modest won’t do you any favors at this point.

Yoichi: Come on. If you don’t choose how you wanna be carried, I’m just gonna have to make the choice for you.

(If he’s willing to go that far, then I’d rather just suck it up and choose for myself…)

Yoshino: …Then I’d like to be carried on your back. Thank you.

I bowed to him, trying to fight back my embarrassment. 

Yoichi: Of course. 

He turned and bent down to allow me to climb onto his back.

Yoshino: Seriously, you can put me down if I’m too heavy for you…

Yoichi: Hahaha. You better not underestimate me, mmkay?

I timidly held onto his shoulders, and he grabbed me under the knees and lifted me onto his back with ease as he rose back up.

Yoichi: Now let’s get going. 

(His figure is lean, but it seems like he’s much stronger than he looks.)

(I guess that's only natural, since he’s a samurai.)

Suddenly, I was all too aware of the warmth of his back against my chest, and I felt heat slowly rise up in my cheeks.

(Thank goodness I asked him to carry me on his back instead of in his arms. At least he can’t see my face this way.) 

I leaned my weight against his back as he began walking, fixing my eyes on his crimson hair.

(...This is the first time I’ve noticed the whorl of his hair.)

Yoichi: So, how are you liking the ride?

Yoshino: What? Uhm… I guess… seeing you from this angle is a new experience? It kind of feels like getting a change of scenery.  

Yoichi: The hell’s that mean?

Laughter rumbled in his voice, so much closer to me than before, and I felt my pulse skip a beat.

(Why is my heart racing? Oh, no, no, no…) 

Yoichi: Well, then this makes you the second person who’s ever seen me from this angle. 

Yoshino: Huh?

Yoichi: It’s been over ten years since I’ve carried anything but my quiver on my back. 

Yoshino: Is that so…

(He did say he had ten older brothers. I guess it would make sense that he never got the chance to give piggyback rides to any younger siblings he might have had. But…) 

Yoshino: If I’m the second person to see you like this, then you must have carried someone else like this first… right?

Yoichi: The first person I ever carried like this... That would be the Taira lordling.

Chapter 8 →

[kaixserzz]

How they kiss you HCs 1

ੈ♡˳ Rin Itoshi, Sae Itoshi, Seishiro Nagi & Yoichi Isagi x Gn!Reader *ೃ༄

ੈ♡˳ Masterlist *ೃ༄

author's note ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚

hi guys! so im really into blue lock n i had to post smth about it soooo yeah! im still into genshin but im more hyperfixiated on blue lock.. first post after months creating this account LMAO also might be ooc but im still getting used to writing, ill make another for reo, niko, bachira and chigiri

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ cw: kinda suggestive? (making out)

〖Rin Itoshi〗

Rin's kisses are always so telling of how he truly feels since he really sucks at expressing himself through words or expressions.

Passionate, and so desperate and clingy that even oblivious could tell. They're always so long and intimate that your lips are left swollen by the time he pulls away.

Sometimes, it seems like he's about to swallow you—interlocking his lips with yours, pushing your body against the wall to trap you in his arms, making sure the only thing you could think and feel are his lips.

He has this certain look in his eyes that's so... Loving, but nervous. Rin doesn't show it, but he's hoping he's not being too much for you, and that you won't leave him so soon.

Quietly, he'd ask if he was overwhelming you, his forehead pressed against yours as he watches your chest rise and fall in sync with your pants. He'd appreciate it if you admit if you were, but he'd gladly reclaim your lips if you tell him too, eyes brighter than before.

His hands would be all over you. First, he'd gently grab your chin to look up at him, kiss you, and his hand would caress your jawline, trailing down to your neck and collarbones, before it finds itself tracing the curve of our spine, up and down, then engulfing you in a tight hug, never letting go.

Kisses are usually private, he's not that affectionate in public. But once you've stepped inside your shared home, he's going to kiss and hold you 'till you tell him to stop.

But he sometimes couldn't help but press a kiss on your cute face when you're outside. Perhaps he saw someone staring at you longer than he liked, so he'd give your temple a small kiss, or your lips, for the apple of your cheek.

You're too good to be left unkissed. Plus, his lips would feel lonely if he doesn't kiss you for too long.

〖Sae Itoshi〗

Sae, on the other hand, is a more soft and gentle kisser, much to your surprise.

It's usually playful and light, his main goal is to see you brighten up with a huge grin on your face, an expression he has grown to adore so much it just warms up his heart.

Sae could still take your breath away, similar to Rin's HCs, but he just wants to take things easy with you, because being with you just feels right. Comforting, relaxing. A little bit of his safe haven.

He feels no pressure when you're around, you don't call him a prodigy, or remind him anything soccer related unless he wants to talk about it; you just see him for who he is, Sae Itoshi, even though he's not so sure what you see past all his achievements in soccer.

His kisses are full of emotions, despite it being fleeting and short. Appreciative, loving, yearning, and more—he always makes up his kisses being short by giving you lots and lots, letting his lips reach every inch of your skin.

Sae would wrap his arms around you and pepper soft, feather-light kisses all over your face repeatedly, wanting to hear your giggles and smile at him. He absolutely loves it when you cup his cheeks in your hands to keep him still, then kiss him so adoringly on his lips.

Always have trouble pulling away after that. When you initiate kisses, it's a whole different story.

Rake your nails through his hair and onto his scalp, and he'll melt on your body like putty and sigh contently, leaning against your touch like a cat begging for more pets.

He's so gentle and loving, it's so clear that he adores you more than everyone else. You're one of the only people who deserve a place in his heart, and thus reveal this cute, loving, soft side Sae Itoshi hides.

〖Seishiro Nagi〗

Nagi's kisses are—well, lazy, in a sense. Not in a negative way! It's actually quite endearing in your eyes, despite his lack of energy or enthusiasm regarding kissing.

Don't be fooled! This overgrown baby loves having his lips against your skin, he adores the way his lips tingle when it makes contact or the way you'd be grinning at him when he pulls away, it's just his nature to be so laidback, unlike the rest of the boys here. You can see in his eyes that he's eager to give you many kisses.

He can be so unintentionally very romantic with his kisses. While they're usually sloppy, messy, and sometimes ticklish, he'd do something unexpected (in your books) first before kissing you on the lips.

Because you expect him to just dip his head and press a kiss on you—he does that too often. So it catches you off guard when he suddenly stares at you from where he lies, eyes locked onto your face. Or he'd gently grab your waist, pull you close to him and bring you down onto his bed, wrapping his big arms around your torso and burying his head onto your neck. Or he'd press his palm at the back of your neck, caressing the skin.

And then he'd press a kiss on your lips, and they always feel so lazy—in a good way. Akin to the kisses you always share when you awake from your slumber, the first thing that comes to mind is to reach for your lover and kiss them.

When he's laying down on your lap, but wants to kiss you on the face so badly, he'd pout since he's too lazy to get up to properly kiss you. So he'd settle with your hands, taking them into his' and lovingly caressing your palm, playing with your fingers, before pressing his lips against your hand, the texture of your skin makes his cheeks buzz in delight.

Nagi licks his lips after he kisses you, eyes bright and smiling softly, as if he just tasted the sweetest candy.

〖Yoichi Isagi〗

Isagi's kisses remind you of those corny and cliche romance movies and TV shows you once watched together before. You can't help but laugh at how much of a cute dork your boyfriend is.

While inexperienced, and not the best of kissers, his enthusiasm and meaningful intentions make up for it. A kiss to wish you luck on whatever you have to do, a kiss for small celebrations like getting a high score on your tests, a kiss hello, a kiss goodbye—Isagi never misses any given chance to press his lips against yours.

He'd be restless throughout the whole day if he doesn't get a kiss from you, and while he doesn't let it bother his performance, off the field? Everyone could tell there was something off with him.

Isagi would take your hands in his', stare deeply into your eyes with nothing but utter devotion for you, and let out everything he's been holding back saying the whole day. He'd voice his love for you, his gratefulness, how gorgeous you are, and how lucky he is for having you as his lover.

Oh, his words always make you weaker for him, especially with the lovesick expression on his face. It's so cheesy, his words were similar to the ones you've heard from romance shows, but when it comes from him? They sound like music to your ears, your heart thrumming hard and your cheeks flushed.

He's so honest, not a trace of a lie in his words, only the truth. And the truth is that he loves you with all his being, and he hopes you'd indulge him in with as many kisses as he needs from you.

And how can you ever say no to Isagi? With his wide, sparkling eyes and the cute crease between his brows as he furrows them. You could only sigh before you let him devour your lips.

From there and then, he'd be kissing you so hard that you'd be dizzy afterward. You have to snap him out of it before he gets too greedy. Too greedy that he'd ignore both of your need for oxygen and keep your lips locked together, his hand at the back of your head and tilting his' to the side to deepen the kiss.

How cute he truly is, he'd always apologize when he pulls away and sees your eyes all hazy and your body practically leaning against him for support, knees too weak. His excuse was always the same, he got too into it and that your lips felt too good.

You roll your eyes and scoff, before grabbing his collar and kissing him again.

- ̥۪͙۪˚┊❛❛ If you like this a lot, consider reblogging! I'll appreciate it very very much! Don't repost and/or translate my work anywhere. ❜❜ ┊˚ ̥۪͙۪◌

[20001541]

What do you think being in prison was actually like for All For One? We know he lies A LOT, so I don't think he's nearly as unaffected as he's shown or rather not shown I guess 😓

Thinking deeper on afo's imprisonment it's actually a lot more disturbing the more I think about it.

What afo is going through is basically solitary confinement 24/7. Guns constantly pointed at him ready to headshot him the second he tries tapping into his quirk or squirms too much. Unable to move at all from the neck down due to restraints. So many sensors it leaves him either completely vulnerable or overstimulated at worst. We never see him lying down either. He's always sitting which is painfull and extremely detrimental to a person's health and mobility if done for long hours without standing up.

I know he's an S rank criminal and super dangerous because the only person who could defeat him (All Might) retired, but you're telling me this futuristic society couldn't do anything more humane with all that tech other than shoving him into a death trap? (I wanted to call it a Saw death trap, but I never watched any of the Saw films ummm)

There's also the more creepy implication to questions like how does afo go to the bathroom in Tartarus. There's no way they just let him walk up to a toilet/urinal 😨

All For One is no stranger to dehumanization and he takes almost everything in stride even Tartarus from the looks of it, but that one panel where he almost begs All Might to not go always stuck out to me.

Sorry for the long essay. I just wanted to say something about this and chat with a fellow All For One fan.

you don't need to apologize, it's an interesting topic!

I think afo's time in prison affected him more deeply than he would ever admit. look how they had him ->

strapped to a metal slab, not being able to move his limbs at all, alone for hours constantly being watched and he doesn't have access to his quirks that allow him to navigate the world so he's completely blind here. oh let's not forget that if he thinks about activating a quirk or makes a sudden movement the guns pointed at his head will automatically shoot him. also like you said being in a sitting position for a long period of time will end up being detrimental to your health.

tartarus whole existence is a violation of human rights and that's without mentioning the disgusting way the guards treat the prisoners. yes they did evil things, but I think dehumanization of any group of people is a dangerous road to walk on and can lead to horrific things committed against said group because it's easier to justify doing horrid things to others if you think the other party isn't even human. with all the amazing quirks and technology that is available it's a surprise to see that they haven't come up with a better way to deal with imprisoned villains. maybe it's because they don't care to come up with a better solution because once again they don't see them as humans so why should they bother trying to make their living situation more bearable? awful stuff.

too bad we don't see anyone from our main cast really question this type of treatment, but oh well. I guess it's implied some things did change as we see spinner was allowed to write and publish a book while in prison (doubt they let him free to do it). so he's not strapped to a metal chair all day like the other prisoners we saw. unless he's getting some special treatment, I don't know the story doesn't really tell us about what happened with him after his confrontation with izuku. only shows us that he managed to publish his book.

BUT back to the main question, what was being in prison in like for afo? honestly, I think he had to fight to stay sane while down there. being in those conditions for a long period of time will wear down your sanity. you saw how desperate he was for all might to stay and talk with him despite him being someone he hates. probably the thought of getting yoichi back kept him going, after all when he's down there he gets excited when he's able to hear his voice for the first time in over a century. even the guards freaked out because his the monitor tracking his vitals went crazy when he heard it.

still I think the whole experience disturbs him more than he would ever admit and it was traumatic but he just shoves down in order to focus on the goal ahead of him. no time to process any of that he's got a brother to catch

[kudoichiz]

about the one yoichi post lmao

first off I want to say that I believe yoichi should have been more developed and should have gotten more screentime, but at the end of the day we can't decide how much screentime/development he gets. So I'm basing this entire rant on what we do see from him. So here's my take on yoichi's heroism.

Yoichi was born with a strong sense of justice, though I don't think that the narrative insists that he's a brave hero - I moreso agree with the point that it was pushing that he had the right heroic philosophy. And I agree that intentions aren't everything. Yoichi's sense of justice is an innate trait of this quirk (quirks are linked with personality - something mha has shown countless of times). But yes just because it's a trait he was born with doesn't mean he is heroic - actions have to be taken, or at least raising awareness.

Yoichi doesn't address all of these things and yeah it would be better if he did more to prove that he had a strong sense of justice. But he also doesn't really have to talk about these things. There are many characters who bring those issues up - though it may be rushed (that will be for a different rant).

Personally I believe that talking about systematic injustice, racism, discrimination, the problems with hero society shouldn't be things yoichi comments about. Why? Because even if he said anything - he's a vestige now. What will he be able to do about any of these things? What will izuku do about these things? Surely if vestige yoichi talks to izuku about this it would be with the goal of getting him to do something about it? Right?

But even if he talked about all of this and brought it up - I don't think story wise that it would be a good idea for the main character who only faced discrimination for being quirkless to talk about and fix all of the other issues in the show.

Also, yoichi could have very well brought those things up while he was alive - if. He had a different life. I don't think that yoichi would have made a difference yapping about all of this in the vault he was locked in.

And tbf - some of the things you pointed out yoichi never experienced or saw because they weren't a part of society at that time. Does this mean they aren't issues and shouldn't be talked about? No. But someone who doesn't have this experience can not talk ot commentate about it. Just like how it is in real life.

Your second point is a little weird. Idk if you just got the quirks mixed up but yoichi was born with the transferance quirk. And this is significant. Yoichi and all for one have similar quirks. If yoichi didn't have transferance all for one wouldn't have had his quirk, why? Because quirks are genetic. Yoichi's quirk was underdeveloped but it most likely would have been the same as all for one's since they are twins. So no transference isn't just some random quirk horikoshi picked out. .

The quirk he got from all for one also isn't by chance or something random. All for one specifically picked stockpile because it was a quirk that wouldn't harm yoichi. I'm pretty sure all for one himself said that he picked it on purpose.

OFA getting passed down is also more significant than it just being passed down by luck. Yes it was a slim chance that yoichi would be found by kudo and bruce but dumbing down the transfer as happening by "dumb luck" is just wild to me.

OFA can NOT get transferred unless it's by consuming DNA, (and) the user wanting to give OFA, it can also be passed on by force, but mainly those two reasons.

Also yoichi doesn't have to mention that his brother was a killer cause it's fucking obvious???? Also did you forget that yoichi was abused by his brother - but he was still his only family. The person with a strong sense of justice wouldn't idk kill his only family member or something? Idk what you wanted him to do exactly. He was also a child, a frail and weak one so even if he did try to do something physical it would fail. This entire point seems very victim blaming ngl.

The scene of the other users without yoichi going to kill AFO is significant. Yoichi isn't there again not because they could have been better off without him but because again. Even after everything yoichi wouldn't kill his only family. He had many regrets about his brother but it just seems contradictory If he was there to also kill him.

I'm not even gonna comment on your last point.

Uhh idk just wanted to share my opinions (also english isn't my first language so I kinda don't know if this even makes sense. Kay erm yep)

[kitorin]

letters to my favourite author.

in which, within the darkest times of your struggles, a secret yet admiring fan is there for you.

contents. unknown bllk character (revealed towards the end, check tags if you want to know beforehand) x gn!reader | fluff | 6.591k words | writer!reader | self esteem issues | one argument (reader and isagi are harsh) | slowburn (?) | isagi is your childhood friend

a/n. thank you to yumi and ray for the help !

"I wanna be a writer."

It's summer of your final year of primary school, radiant sun sinking into the horizon, vibrant hues of orange bleeding out into the sky. The taste of soda lingers in your mouth, drops of the melted ice block gently plop onto your skin, the cold sensation makes you jolt a bit.

"Really?" Yoichi, the boy who's been by your side since forever piques with fascination. He pauses from eagerly sucking on his popsicle, turning towards you with his azure eyes, interest blazing within them.

You nod, ignoring part of the melted ice block dribbling down your chin. "Miss told me I was really good at it, she said to write everyday, I like stories. I don't want to stop making or reading them when we're adults." The liquid smeared onto your face remains neglected, as your heart begins pounding at your teacher's words.

"This is amazing, you have to keep writing. I want to read so much more."

It's not like the first time you've been complimented, but being called good at a game or sport can't even compare to someone craving more of what you created. There's an indescribable sense of pride heating up in your chest, maybe one day you could even write something, something that has people glued to every word on the page, something that someone couldn't resist putting down; something that's like the books you stay up reading.

You've finally found it, the soccer to your Yoichi, what you want to continue doing for the rest of your life, what you want to dedicate your life to.

"I think it's awesome! Your stories are always read out in class. You could beat Detective Conan!" He's too engrossed in this new found dream of yours, not even noticing the melting ice block in his hand, coating it with sticky syrup.

"Yocchan that'll never happen… All stories are beautiful, it's not like soccer where you have to be 'better'." Despite telling him off, another smile creeps up on your lips, with your best friend's support and teacher's encouragement, this new objective of yours seemed attainable. Either way, you were determined to work hard and persist no matter what.

Yoichi's hand grasps yours, the joyous glint remaining in his eyes. "Doesn't matter, I'll be the best striker and you'll be the best writer! Promise?"

"Promise." And with confident grins scrawled on your expressions, you race home, popsicles long gone and forgotten, melted away in the suffocating heat.

"Y/n, what the fuck is this?"

The cursing and vexation threaded into his voice and tone catch you off guard, a complete juxtaposition of the peaceful atmosphere of the classroom, with now only you and Yoichi there, soaked in the comfortable sunlight. Gold stains the room as cheery exclamations can be heard in the distance, as students rush to their after-school plans.

"What's wrong?" Your lips curve into a frown, scavenging through memories in an attempt to figure out what's wrong. Though you'd been struggling recently, none of those issues translated to your friendship with him. "Did something happen?"

"Oh my fucking god, I'm talking about this crap." He slams a sheet on the closest desk— yours. It's your career path form. You recognise your own handwriting, the occupations "psychology" and "law" written as the main two paths you're interested in.

"What about it?" You're still not sensing the issue here. "It's my future, I'm interested in those paths." There's a puzzled expression as you wonder, why Yoichi was so annoyed at the degrees you might want to study, it's not like you're altering his life.

Your confusion only seemed to amplify his anger. "What the hell happened to writing? Weren't you supposed to become an author?" So this is what this was about.

"It's just a hobby. Other jobs make more money anyways-"

"Fucking hell, since when did you care so much about money?"

You don't. Obviously money matters significantly within one's life, but you're not striving to be filthy rich. Realistically, studying at university would bring a lot more success than writing, at least, not at how you are currently.

"Yocchan— I still need to make a living, I can't make much out of being an author—."

"So? You haven't even tried."

Because it's obvious it'll never work. "Writing isn't a career I can succeed in, I mean, just look at Haru. Someone like them. Or anyone else I know who writes." "Haru"'s a friend of yours, one that you met on the website you frequently post your works, among plenty of other writers you've befriended. They're popular, only being on for a few months and managing to rack up thousands of likes, as well as plenty of followers.

You're over the moon for how well they do, you truly are, but it doesn't and can't stop the envy and insecurity creeping up on you; a fatal disease slowly infecting you, tainting you with overwhelming jealousy.

You can't help it, not even their account makes your achievements look pathetic and insignificant; if Haru were to have an off day and receive less attention on any of their uploads, it'd amount to what you get on a good day, actually, probably even more.

"Oh. My. God. Haru this, Haru that, you don't see me getting upset about Hiori or Kurona everyday do you?" Yoichi scowls, seemingly getting more upset at you and this whole ordeal. "You've got to be fucking kidding me."

"Sports and writing aren't the same. You wouldn't get it." He really wouldn't. In soccer you can practise the same kick over and over again, until it really drills into muscle memory. But when writing, you can't rewrite the same metaphor, or simile, or anything really, then be able to write something beautiful. Repetition can't save an author.

"Fine—, but one thing I understand is having a dream." That day twelve years old you announced your new life goal of becoming an author flits through your mind, and gosh you'd do anything for that oblivion, the oblivion of how harsh reality is, the oblivion that provides innocence the privilege of dreaming freely.

"You don't get it, writing needs talent." Or whatever the hell it is, because no matter how much effort you put in and how much wellbeing you sacrifice, there's always someone doing better; attracting more attention, more compliments and more love.

"And you have it. I know how you and Haru write, you're equally good, actually, your writing's so much more interesting. Talent isn't the fucking issue, it's you and how you're not trying enough"

"You're only saying that because you're too stupid to differentiate." Guilt is quick to stab you in the stomach, and you're already feeling the consequences and hurt of your words, as if they were targeted towards you.

Yoichi only scoffs. "And you're too fucking sad and undisciplined to work hard." And he's wrong. Completely. Yet it's salt to the wound, to be perceived in such an ugly manner by someone so valuable to you. “I have training now. Bye.”

You're mustering a response, wanting to apologise, beg for forgiveness; whilst desperately finding the right words to defend yourself. Yoichi doesn't give you a chance to respond, as he leaves, you notice the frustrated grit of his teeth and how even his footsteps sound livid.

"Yocchan—"

You follow, unsure of what you want to do. You want to cry, but you also want to scream out of rage. You're doing your best to chase him down the corridor, your legs are tempted to give out from the sheer emotional torment the argument was; yet you insist on pushing through the discomfort.

Yoichi's long gone by now, either sprinting home or running to the comfort of his soccer team.

As a sigh of defeat leaves your lips you return to the classroom for your stuff, chewing on the inside of your mouth out of frustration, not caring about the consequences nor the ulcers that'd appear there in a few days.

Fights are normal, they're inevitable in all kinds of relationships. They're not foreign to you and Yoichi considering how you've been friends since diapers, you both put the effort in communicating afterwards, and knew how to properly apologise.

But not once has Yoichi ever sworn at you like that.

It's immature to ignore issues instead of making an attempt to resolve them, but if you keep telling yourself to focus on going home for now, you can deal with your emotions once you were okay physically.

The pencil case returns to your bag, and your books are about until you notice the post-it stuck on it, sky blue with thin writing resembling fish bones.

Hello [username]

I've enjoyed reading your works for a long time now, they're such fascinating pieces that I find myself rereading and staying up late for.

I know I had no right to eavesdrop, however it was not intentional in the slightest. I don't think you and Haru are comparable. They may have more followers but your ideas and there their execution are a lot more beautiful in my eyes. Popularity, followers, and likes don't define you, or anyone.

I can tell you work hard I respect and admire it but take care of yourself. You take priority.

As you finish reading the pale blue post-it, you finally register the sense of dread.

The words are sweet, they're wholesome and what you've needed to hear for so long. Roses of warm comfort bloom within your heart at the sight of someone acknowledging the effort you put in.

But thorns of trepidation remind you that someone knows your online alias; someone at school nonetheless.

Ah.

You're screwed.

Your online presence has always been a secret, for the better. Someone discovering all the love stories you posted online would simply be embarrassing, that's for your follower's eyes and theirs only.

Normally you'd ignore the message, and just pray they don't decide to reveal your identity.

Yet you find the pen in your hand dancing across a piece of paper.

[To the light blue post-it, thank you so much ! It's really appreciated]

Then you don't stop there, pinning it onto the class noticeboard with a push pin. What were you thinking? Or expecting? You weren't exactly sure, and found this trivial attempt at contacting a stranger foolish, yet you still give your message displayed on your board the last hopeful look, before going home.

By the next day, your note was nowhere to be seen. And this time, instead of a post-it, it’s a pale blue envelope, carefully slid between your notebooks.

"And here, with the context of the Egalitarian and feminist era, we can tell…" The teacher's words are drowned by your fascination with the letter, as you carefully open it, ensuring only you get to witness the contents.

Hello again

i'm I'm glad to hear that my words could mean something to you. It's an honour for you to respond, I wasn't expecting anything back. I hope after yesterday you feel better, even if it's the slightest bit.I've been re-reading your stuff a lot recently, especially on the bus, train and before sleeping.

It's oddly weird, I never liked reading. I can't seem to find books that I don't give up on. Even so I never thought I would read romance. I always thought it’d be a bit uncomfortable to read.

I don't have much time since I've been busy, but if you have the time I'd like to receive a letter back. As long as it's from your heart. It's a lot for just a follower to ask. But I find you as interesting as your writing. If you're okay with sending a response can you slip it in the very last locker in our class? It's unused so it works for now.

There's a faint tinge of disappointment at them remaining anonymous, but it's cancelled out by the overwhelming joy tugging your lips into a smile.

Someone likes your writing enough to put the effort into a letter.

You still continue to ignore the teacher, tearing out a page of your English book, eagerly writing a response for whoever this. The now familiar blossom of warmth is back, you could almost start giggling at how exhilarating you found this all.

The pen skims across the torn out page, your reply gradually materialising. The world around you is completely dismissed, right now it's only you and the letter.

It's not until your teacher snaps at you, demanding your attention, earning a quick switch in demeanour; from accumulating excitement to fabricated focus and a feigned interest in classic texts.

Have you made up with Isagi?

Your heart drops at the mention of Yoichi in today’s letter, nails digging into your palm with frustration; because the answer to the question is no.

I'm not trying to intrude, but you should try to if you haven't (it looks like you haven't talked about it yet). Fighting is normal among people, but it's dangerous if you don't do something about it quickly.

With time, it can become irrepairable irreparable. And I don't want you to go through that with someone you care about cherish.

It's been around a week, a week of these note and letter exchanges, slipping them into the empty locker. Lately, you've found yourself patiently waiting for their messages to appear alongside your possessions. They didn’t always write letters, if they didn't have time it was a post-it note instead, either one had you fully engrossed, clinging onto every word written.

I can't really offer advice. It might be a bit scary but anyone can tell you and Isagi care about each other a lot. He looks upset at training. You seem to be the same during class too.

And they're right, ever since that heated exchange of untruthful words in the classroom, Yoichi's been avoiding you. Eyes avoiding yours, opting to eat with his soccer teammates instead, and the absence of time spent together leaves you feeling empty.

So don't beat yourself up about over it. Stress and anger can make you say things you don't mean. I know you'll be able to fix things.

They're right again. You didn't mean to call Yoichi stupid; all the insecurity and doubt had been accumulating recently, internalised with the suppression of expressing yourself, it had gotten to a point you couldn't control it. As a consequence, you unwillingly took it out on Yoichi, he retaliated and the pointless argument left both of you hurt.

A few glances of the classroom inform you that he's not here, either out speaking to someone in a different class or at a meeting for soccer. You ask Bachira, a teammate of Yoichi's.

"Hm? Isagi and Rin had to go do something, it might be about the upcoming game." Bachira pauses for a moment, pondering what exactly it might've been about. "Somethin' about them having to figure out who plays striker, probably." A quick thank you sends him buzzing away, on this way to go bother Kunigami.

After school it is.

Time passes rapidly, as you're preoccupied with selecting a work in progress to continue, brainstorming the potential trajectory of the events. Mechanical pencil rushes over paper, transcribing your thoughts into potential story. It's not until the bell drags you back to reality, as Yoichi calls out to you. Speak of the devil.

"Can we talk? After school and at our usual place?"

You nod "Was going to ask you the same." The convenience of how the two of you always seem to be aligned would've earnt a grin, if only it wasn't for such a serious and uncomfortable topic.

He reciprocates the nod, returning to his desk, as you fail to ignore the creeping dread ensnaring your heart.

You're not quite sure what you're exactly so worried about.

It's either:

a) Possibilities of another argument occurring, with the recent avoidance and discomfort, it’ll be worse than last time. It’s likely, given how tense the atmosphere was yesterday, regret and hurt lingering in the air yet simultaneously suffocating you.

b) The tiny sliver of chance that Yoichi wants to stop being your friend, rather than talk about the argument. Although this outcome is unlikely with how close you are, paranoia couldn't care less about logic and rationality.

c) Being unable to articulate your recent inner turmoil and conflict. Despite your passion for interpreting your thoughts and emotions into fiction, it feels impossible to explain yourself to Yoichi; words getting stuck in your throat and choking on the bitter self doubt.

Maybe it’ll be a combination of the three. Struggles with communication melt into another heated dispute, which would then solidify into a heavy burden within your heart, as Yoichi decides your insecurity is intolerable and disappears from your life.

You shake off the thought, as you make your way to where you’d always hang out with Yoichi; the rooftop. It’s prohibited for all students but with enough messing around you had managed to pick the lock, every break period invested on it was worth it; within the hours spent in school the pale cerulean and cotton like clouds were only for you two, accompanied by the wind playing with your hair.

By the time you arrive, Yoichi’s already there.

You analyse every crevice of his face, searching for any emotion and attempting to map out his thoughts. His eyebrows are slightly furrowed, and his arms are crossed, leaning against the fence.

“Yoi-,”

“I’m so sorry.”

And he doesn’t give you the opportunity or time to respond.

“I don’t know what I was saying, I know better than anyone else that you’re always working hard. Heck you probably spend more time writing than anything else. I didn’t mean anything I said last week, ‘m so sorry, I don’t know why but I was angry and took it out on you.”

It almost all comes out as a whine, not the kind with a bratty tone but the kind that an apologetic child would have as they cry. It’s not out of character, he’s always been a bit of a crybaby, especially as a kid, bawling at the slightest jump scare or change in weather. With how much older you are now, you’ve almost forgotten this side of Yoichi, it’s easy to grow used to the sharp tongued and brutal character he now adopts when on field.

“Those are my words… I said everything that day because I was anxious, not because I meant anything.” Relief washes over you and you’ve never relished in it so much. “I’m sorry for taking it out on you…” There’s a slight pout in his cheeks as he pulls you in for a hug.

“You were kind of right though.” Before you can refute he keeps going. “I don’t understand all those weird English techniques, and to be honest I still google a lot of the words you use because they’re too complicated.”

“But even then, I know your writing’s amazing. I was worried. I thought you had given up on it entirely, all because you think Haru’s better. It’s— I don’t want you to give up because you think you’re not good enough—, because you are. Writing to you is like soccer to me, I can’t imagine what it’d be like if either of us quit. But if writing doesn’t make you happy anymore I’ll respect it. Or if you’re not aiming to do it professionally.”

As kind as his words were, it doesn’t loosen the grip insecurity has on you. It doesn’t change how others have so much of what you want; Paragraphs of praise instead of the short, brief and shallow compliments, popularity; As Haru hit impressive milestones you were wondering why some of your works got so neglected. Everytime you hear him make some sort of self-deprecating comment, crescents of frustration being dug into your palms; because he’ll always have people waiting for his posts, typing out long paragraphs eulogising everything he writes. It doesn’t exactly matter how much he doubts himself, people will shower him in praise either way. It seems a bit hateful, but it can't be helped with how you'd do anything to receive even a fraction of the love he gets.

You have someone like that, remember? The letters come to mind, they’re a foreign yet comforting presence.

Writing is such a significant component of you, yet it leaves you feeling so empty at times. But even if there’s one person; someone who only knows you by your writing and willing to support you purely based on that.

Someone, is better than no one.

Although Yoichi’s been supporting you from the day you started writing, that's a different story, Yoichi has your friendship, the creator of the letters doesn’t.

“You’re worrying over nothing.” It’s far from nothing. There’s still uncertainty in the confidence of your work, you’ll probably never eliminate the grasp of jealousy asphyxiating you each time you notice the difference in feedback and attention in comparison to your friends. Maybe it’d be better for you to quit, to move on from that silly little dream you declared to follow as a kid, and accept that some dreams will always remain as dreams. “I’m still passionate about it, but I’m interested in other things too.”

“I understand,” His pout is replaced by a grin. “Whatever you choose to pick ‘m always here for you, ‘kay?

Tell him. Tell him how the sight of your friends’ success leaves you and your heart thirsty for the same love and attention they receive regularly. Tell him—

“Of course you are, you’re my best friend.” —instead comes out. “You always will be.” You’ll tell him another day. Probably.

Tick. Tock.

The clock in the kitchen reminds of you every passing second, as you're quietly bringing and preparing a drink for the night. You quickly re-read today's letter, getting ready to write out a response

I know you already told me that you and Isagi made up, but has the topic of the argument gotten better?

It might be a bit invasive to ask about it, but I'm worried. I'm an athlete, and I know it's different to being a writer. But what I do understand is what it's like for someone to seem so much better and out of reach. There's a lot of doubt and you start to question why you're even trying.

I can't guarantee results, but I like revisiting my favourite parts of my sport. It helps remember why you started. Sometimes we care too much about others' opinions and forget who we are.

When and why did you start writing? What's your favourite part of it? What made you love it so much? (There's no need to feel obligated to answer these. They've just helped me a lot and I hope they can help you too.)

Please remember you're enough. You always have and will be. You're more than enough.

Drawing in a sharp breath, you stare at those words, relishing in the soothing solace of their kindness. Unknowingly you've craved that saccharine emotion for so long, despite not asking for it or expressing the struggles burdening you.

Before you know it, your pen's gliding across the page, you're engrossed in completing a response, expressing your gratitude for his goodwill.

To be honest, I'd love to become an author. I love the idea of having a book. The thought of having my words printed with a cover, and bought and enjoyed by others brings me indescribable joy. But I'm scared. It's a risky career for anyone, but I'm scared it'll be like my presence online; almost non-existent.

You blink a couple of times. Conveying your thoughts wasn't even that hard, yet you struggled so much to tell anyone else, not even being able to muster an attempt.

But your subtle confusion evaporates, as you continue the letter, everything else disappears, including your worries. While the hours pass, it's just you, the letters and your racing heart.

xx / xx / 23

Your recent work was compelling. The confession was my favourite part, I enjoyed how it wasn't perfect. It's unrealistic and gets boring when they're perfect. I know that's the purpose of fiction but a bit of realism is appreciated. You always achieve the right balance, something that seems impossible to happen, yet believable and not weirdly convenient. I had a lot of fun reading it on my way to school this morning, thank you.

A letter from this morning, a couple of hours after posting.

xx / xx / 23

Training was a bit longer than usual, but I wanted to say good luck for our upcoming exam. I hope maths isn't too bad for you. The topics we're going over seemed tricky… You'll be fine though, you're always studying hard when you're supposed to.

Before the maths exam from the other day, the one that everyone was panicking over.

xx / xx / 23

This is for you. You mentioned craving it last night. Hope you enjoy it.

The day after you posted on a whim "I feel like royal milk tea and idfk why."

The notes, both the latest one and a few from the past days are enough to earn a verbal reaction from you, "Oh my god— I adore them so much." Beaming, you re-read the notes a couple of times, savouring their feedback and sincerity. A few were carried around, while the rest remained safe either at home or in your locker.

Yoichi pauses from sipping on his drink. "They're still writing to you? You really are popular." He shuffles a bit closer, "Wow, they even went far as getting a drink for you. It's already been a few months."

"They already read my recent post too." You're already writing back, depicting your appreciation for their feedback. "That was quick though, I posted it before leaving the house and they had already written a response by the time I got to class."

"Hm." Yoichi hums a bit, gazing up at the sky and swallowing a piece of his onigiri. "How'd they find out it was you, only I know your username, you don't use your real name as your alias, and you're not public about writing as a whole. I can't guess anyone on our team, but that's the only clue we have, right?"

You nod, "They're also in our class." Too many questions and no answers. "I should ask them in my response."

He pulls out his phone, opening the notes app and typing the only two clues you have. "Right, but making a guess should be fun. It's a bit like all those general ability tests our parents made us practice, no? C'mon we'll figure something out if we work together."

"Why not." You recall everyone in your class. "Soccer team and in our class, aside from you there's Bachira, Kunigami, Yukimiya, Reo, Rin, Otoya and Chigiri."

"Well first we can eliminate—"

"Bachira." To his amusement you finish this sentence.

"Yup, I don't think he's physically capable of reading, or writing legibly. Besides, he'd be straightforward about it. If it was him everyone would've found your account by now." So that limits the possibilities to six people.

"Kunigami doesn't seem into reading either."

"He isn't, if he's not at soccer training he's either at the gym, eating or sleeping. There's no way it's Otoya, he only talks to people he wants to date, and does it straightforwardly " You'd question what kind of person would behave like that, but for now you'll save it for another day.

"Reo studies and reads a lot, doesn't he?" That would explain how they rectified any errors.

"Business and economics related books mainly, but he reads fiction too. He could've gotten his dad to pay someone to find you. Something like that."

"…" The soccer team was certainly a unique group.

"It's definitely possible it's him. But he would've been extra about it, I mean he's the heir of the Mikage Corp, 'course he'd do something extravagant as a fan. Who else again?"

"Rin, and Yukimiya, oh and Chigiri."

"100% Yukimiya. I guarantee you. If not, then Chigiri." Yoichi, then that's not a 100% guarantee, but you keep that thought to yourself.

"I thought Yukimiya would hate reading, since he said art strains his eyes."

"He reads as a hobby. So does Chigiri. Rin only likes horror, all your works are romance."

"Can't you just ask?" As fun as attempting to deduce who the fan was, your curiosity couldn't be contained.

Yoichi shrugs. "It'd be awkward if we're wrong. You'd rather not risk someone else finding your account."

"Wonderful point." You glance at your phone and notice the time, break's about to end. "Let's get out of here, before we get caught."

"I don't wanna go to maths… Not on a Monday afternoon please—" Those were his last words before you dragged him back to class.

"Wait, where's my phone?"

It's finally Friday, the conclusion of the week and the long awaited weekend. You had just left the school to go out for dinner with Yoichi and Bachira, until you realised its absence from its usual pocket in your bag.

"You must've left it in the classroom." Yoichi asks, "Bachira and I can wait here for you. Or I can go run up to get it for you."

"No it's fine, the place is nearby anyways. I'll meet you there."

Either of them don't get the opportunity to protest, rushing back into the building and up the stairs. How inconvenient of you to lose your phone, especially on the one day you're dying to leave immediately.

You finally arrive at your classroom, but there's someone already there, hood concealing their face, despite it being summer.

And they're at your desk.

"What the hell—" You waste no time, sprinting to your desk and grasping their hood, pulling it off and exposing their face, whilst having a grip on their wrist.

A shocked gasp leaves their lips; your name, but instead of your real one it's the one you use online. Is he—?

Adorned with captivating and noticeable eye lashes, alluring, deep beryl eyes stare right back at yours. Accompanying them on the pale canvas of his skin were faint pink and glossy lips. His teal hair's a bit messy, almost covering his eyes and contrasting the soft rose dusted on his cheeks

He's ethereal.

"Itoshi…Rin?"

The silence is loud, neither of you knowing what to say.

With the release of his wrist, you decide to break the silence.

"You're the one who's been writing letters to me?" Now that you've registered the surprise and who he is, you notice the sky blue envelope in his other hand, confirming your suspicions.

"Guess I got caught."

"Wait, that doesn't make sense—? I never told you about my account."

"I know you didn't." He responds verbally, voice hoarse and raspy. "I recognised your writing style after seeing sir show the class your writing."

That was from a year ago. "You knew me from that?"

"And some intuition. Whenever you made a post rambling about something at school, it matched up with whatever was happening here. So I took the risk and wrote that note." You're still in disbelief, Itoshi Rin, popular with his seemingly permanent stoicism, wrote all those affectionate words.

"To be honest, I know it would've been better to approach you normally. But I'm not—." He pauses, before continuing, roughly stuffing the envelope in his pocket. "I'm not like Yukimiya or Karasu, I can't express myself well through words and I was a bit worried." That explained his anonymity.

"Every time I read whatever you write, letter or not, I love it. A lot. I found your writing through a mis-click and I don't regret anything, your works are so addictive." There it is again, the sweet, warm words that sooth your scars and hurt.

"I like you, a lot. Though I can't say for sure if I love you, but I know I am with your writing. I want to talk about how much I cherish you and your hard work, instead of expressing it through a letter. I like the expression you make when you're focused, or how you smile while eating your favourite foods." Sunlight drenches the two of you in warmth, colouring the classroom gold.

The sun isn't the only reason why you feel so hot.

It's so infatuating, despite him not being a close friend at all. The way he speaks of you and your writing so highly. Your heart's pounding against your chest, begging for more of him.

"I don't want us to be just writer and fan. I want to grow close to you, and eventually end up as lovers." Rin's face is a bright red with embarrassment, averting his gaze from you. "Gosh, your writing is almost as pretty as you."

It almost feels like a dream, to finally feel some reassurance of your insecurities, even if Rin had been sending you letters and notes for the past few months. Something tells you to be a bit daring. "May I?" Your fingers reach up to his face.

It catches him off guard, and the flustered expression on his face is adorable as he nods. His hair's soft, as you brush it away from his eyes.

"Rin, I'd love that. You've been my lighthouse, I've felt so lost recently and those words you left me saved me." You're already regretting using a metaphor in regular conversation, but it's what you do best, even if it is embarrassing to say it verbally. "If it weren't for you, I think I would've quit writing entirely."

It was completely unfamiliar to you, for someone to praise you with that much effort, to finally have a source of comfort that seems to understand the relentless storm of self doubt; yet you can't imagine things without Rin anymore.

What has this boy done to you.

"It was my intention to prevent that." Despite him maintaining his calm and cold tone, he's still blushing heavily. "I'll be your lighthouse for as long as you'll allow me to then."

You joke around a bit, amused at his words. "I guess you'll be by my side forever then."

"That'd be ideal, sweetheart."

He relishes the growing blush on your face, chuckling at leaving you speechless and flustered.

"I can't believe you out of all people would do that. Why the hell would you gaslight me?"

"Listen, I didn't gaslight you."

"Lies, Isagi Yoichi, you're the reason my phone went missing that day." His lips curve into a delighted grin, as he helps you carry the heavy boxes.

"I was setting you up with the love of your life."

"You also knew the letters were his. You tried to convince me it was Yukimiya or Chigiri." Books are placed onto the shelf.

"I was trying to surprise you, I can't believe you didn't notice that. Didn't you find it weird how we spoke about the argument the same day the letter mentioned it, and after Rin spoke to me? Dude you ditched Bachira and I for him—" More books now. "You've grown up so much though— I can't believe you've publishing a book and you're in university already."

"You're literally the same age as me."

"I was born a few months earlier."

"Yet I'm taller." The faux offense on his expression is priceless.

Before he retaliates, you're called out to by a few people.

"y/n!" It's Reo, followed by the rest of his team, most you recognise, Nagi, Chigiri, and Yukimiya.

"Long time no see!" Violet hair tied up and with his expensive outfit, he looks like he's going to a business conference rather than meeting up with an old classmate. "Congratulations, it's doing really well already. You should've told me you've been writing since high school, I would've loved proofreading for you."

"Thanks, but aren't you guys busy with training?" Rin mentioned a few important and upcoming games.

"I have my priorities. I really loved the fireworks chapter—"

"124-136." Nagi butts in.

"Hm?"

"The page numbers. If it was really your favourite you would've recognised them." Not even you, the author remember that. "You're a fake fan Reo."

"Congratulations." Ignoring Nagi doubting Reo's 'loyalty' as a fan, Chigiri approaches you with a smile, a copy of your book in hand. "Mind signing my copy?"

With a thanks and a nod, your pen (Yoichi insisted on you keeping it at all times) glides along the cover, producing your autograph.

"Someone's popular." A familiar and raspy voice comments—, it's Rin. "Sorry for being late, Coach was being annoying. Did I miss anything?" Similarly to Reo, he's overdressed for the situation, covered in designer brands.

Chigiri scoffs. "You never apologise for being late to practise."

"Shut up princess." The nickname makes Chigiri chuckle, joining whatever chaos Reo started, muttering a comment about love birds under his breath.

"Rin, you already know you didn't have to come— Yoichi and I were only helping Anri restock."

His arms wrap around you from behind, head resting on your shoulder. "I'd rather be with you than train." Rin's hair tickles your cheek as he places a kiss on it. "I knew you could do it." Pride is laced with his voice, almost as if he was talking about one of his soccer games.

"It's thanks to you."

"Bullshit. You're the one who took the initiative to send your manuscript, you're the one who spent hours working on it, you're the one who didn't give up. My support can't compare."

A lot of things come to mind. The initial letters and notes, which became him bringing your favourite foods and drinks during your all your writing sessions. Rin was always there, ensuring you never overworked yourself, proofreading every word and providing his input and feedback. He even went as far as utilising his and his team's fame to assist with the promotion.

"It still meant the world to me. And it still does." Despite it being a regular way of him being affectionate, it still manages to make your face heat up, probably colouring them pink by now.

Though it's been years, there's still a bit of uncertainty. Even with a published book, it's scary knowing that it's out there for criticism.

"You're going to be okay." Rin, as always, notices the change in mood, hand caressing yours. "I'm always going to be by your side."

"I know just— it's so weird." It's surreal how you went from contemplating giving up writing to signing something you wrote from scratch. "I'll probably have to make alt accounts just in case of hate comments."

"Don't think you have to worry about that, Reo already sued some people. Pretty sure Isagi and Nagi stay up fighting people online. So don't worry about anything happening, we're all here to support you, you're my favourite and I love you." He concludes his speech with a peck on the lips, ignoring everyone who recognises him. "Let's get out of here."

"Wait, aren't we having dinner with everyone?"

"Change of plans, I only want to spend my money on you." Rin's already walking out the store, holding you hand. "You said you wanted to try Kobe beef, no?"

"Fine— you win." A high school reunion will have to wait for another day.

From milk tea to infamous and expensive beef, it's sweet how he things have changed yet have still remained heart warming, just like how he went from fan to lover.

tagging : @yuzurins

© kitorin : do not repost, plagiarize, change, or translate

[ilovereadingandstuff]

Bro, wtf, AFO's words to Yoichi are so fucking romantic but toxic it's crazy!!!

"I love you like no other!!"

Holy shit, if somebody told me that, I would blushed so hard and die of flusteredness, y'know?

The exclusiveness and individualization of AFO's feelings by and for Yoichi alone just are prove of the obssessiveness he had over his brother's existance.

The capital letters, the exclamation marks, the present tense, alongside his facial expression, the gesture with his hands in a possessive but gentle motion...

This pannels how everything he did was directed for Yoichi to see, his whole world focused on him.

I think this pannel is exactly we needed as proof to say with certainty that, yes, the main problem of BNHA's story (AFO's plans and OFA's existence) arises from the roots of these two brother's co-dependent relationship mainly by AFO's perspective but Yoichi's side could be given discuss...and I'm pretty sure that this also borders incest if they haven't just done it already, but we as readers, haven't been given the info yet).

"...I'm hopeless without you! I'm nothing!!"

This is the toxic side of it.

AFO's motives for doing everything he does and did is Yoichi. Yoichi is his simbol of hope, Yoichi is his reason to survive, to thrive for more and beyond, even in the disturbed way he does.

Yoichi was the only 'thing' AFO ever had the comprehension to considered his. Yoichi is that reason of why he survived his violent and hellish childhood: even by Yoichi being that source of nutrients he stole in the womb AND as that person who 'accompained him' (certainly not by his consent, but that's other story) when nobody ever did. He was alone, exposed to putrid violence, discrimination and never had anyone as a guide to know 'what was wrong and what was right'.

AFO was definitely always emotionally dependent to Yoichi as the world they lived build him that way.

And now, a little bit more than one hundred years of living, AFO was defeated by his brother's denial of reciprocity of feelings.

AFO....was defeated by breaking his supposedly non-existent heart by the only person who could thought of him having it: his brother.