#THE PERFECT IDOL SAMA

[ocarinnas]

I am still lying today But I'm hoping for the day when these words become true.

#oshi no ko #oshinokoedit #my star #anisource #animanga #animeedit #ai hoshino #hoshino ai #THE PERFECT IDOL SAMA #damn i was like this girl is so annoying #then i go to oh my gosh such a well writed character #idk i liked her story #hello long time no edit #mine #mine: oshi no ko #mine: gifset #gifset

[comfied-chriterature]

Okay seriously what is it with the "straight a student popular girl adored by everyone as the most beautiful and most caring and helpful actually resents everyone around her and the pedestal she's been put on and fake smiles her way through the day" always having PURPLE HAIR??

(Also she's comphet lesbian-coded -> "Little Miss Perfect" vibes LMAO)

#aoi akane #mafuyu asahina #i just know mafuyu would be an ao-chan kinnie #shinobu kocho #<- she definitely fits the fake smile to hide her unbridled rage at the world part #ai hoshino #but she's a TENSAI TEKINA IDOL SAMA so it's even worse #saki takamine #personally I hc her as a comphet lesbian I just feel like it makes so much sense #teruhashi kokomi should have purple hair with the whole perfect pretty girl probably repressed sapphic thing she has going on!!! #no but I love this trope #I love my pretty polite purple women who are secretly seething with rage <3 #fandoms in order: #toilet bound hanako kun #project sekai #kimetsu no yaiba #oshi no ko #romantic killer #amity blight from toh fits into this category but she only gets purple hair after her redemption arc and also she was NOT kind before

[lovelyyandereaddictionpoint]

Yandere First years TW guys be if their magicless friend turns out to be a girl?

I already did Ace and Jack here but heres the other bbys

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Deuce Spade

“WHAT! YOU’RE A-oh sorry-you’re a girl?!”

Dude is stunned and almost isn’t inclined to believe you

But our good boy will dutifully puff his chest and promise to protect you

Whether the secrets out or not

For a while he’s going to treat you like glass 

Asking if your alright or if your uncomfortable 

But once he realizes you're still the same person he's best friends with

He’ll fall back into his usual routine

And when certain dormleaders start showing an interest in you he’s the first to play guard-dog

“Hey don’t forget we’re here! If you want to get to them you have to go through us!”

Unlike Ace he’s not going to hold this over your head at least not intentionally 

he ‘s a little stupid so if Ace or Grimm makes a delusional suggestion to keep you safe he’s sure to join in with the best intentions

When it comes to realizing how exactly he feels it isn’t until someone points it out to him

And then he’s blushing and refusing to look at you for the rest of the day

But he’s the first to suggest to dropping a cauldron at some suspecting student

And suddenly all his violence is justified in protecting ‘your purity’ 

“(Y/n) I’ll protect your secret forever!” “Not too loud!” "Oh, sorry!”

Epel Felmier

Hes an angwy boy

“Ehh!? YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH HIDING AS A BOY WHEN YOU’RE SO PRETTY AND I CAN’T?!” 

He feels kind of betrayed because for a second he thought you two were one in the same

Two pretty boys just trying to earn your keep

But now that he knows you’re not he’ll let out little comments under his breath but he's mostly just joking

Now he’s not as vigilant as Deuce or Jack but he’s willing to flaunt his own charm if it means they leave you alone

When it comes to his love language he’s more focused on gaining favor with you rather than keeping everyone away

So he’ll hang out with you normally probably a lot better than the others who are still trying to make heads or tails of the situation

“I probably know what you’re going through best…so rely on me okay?”

Definitely not above using his own cuteness on you is especially if your open about how much you like it

When he does have to deal with interfering parties he’s willing to team up with Vil and Rook

But otherwise he’s going to play the manipulation game when it comes down to it

“(Y/n)-chan you want some of my family’s special apple cider? Oh do you want to tell me what ridiculous task Crowley made you do this time?”

Sebek Zigvolt

“THIS EXPLAINS YOU’RE WITCHERY ON ME! TO THINK MY WEAKNESS WAS BECAUSE OF YOUR BEING A FEMALE!”

He’s gonna shout that its all your fault he’s all blushy and clumsy around you

Everyone and their mama just knows its cause he’s in love with you

So most won’t question it when he’s running away blushing because ‘your hand touched his’ 

Hes a drama queen that behind your back exalts you to no end

He’s just so loud i doubt its gonna be a secret for much longer 

“Malleus-sama, were you aware that (Y/n) likes (f/sport)?” 

He unknowingly becomes a fan of yours talking about you like a pop idol 

And he defends you with the same vigor as well 

At first he’ll think your a perfect candidate to marry Malleus but as he realizes he might actually like you in that way he’s a lot less enthusiastic about promoting you that way

“(Y/n)-sama would you do me the honors of lending me your glorious pen!”

#yandere x reader #yandere twisted wonderland #yandere twst x reader #yandere sebek x reader #yandere deuce spade #yandere epel x reader #yandere headcanons

[seangelfish]

"Just hold onto me, okay?"

Izumi Sena x Reader ♡ Tags: Fluff, mutual crush, she/her pronouns ♡ Word count: 2,444 ♡ Synopsis: Inspired by the gacha story Dance on Ice in which this card is featured in. Reader is a soloist idol that has also acquired a photoshoot at the same ice rink Knights was having theirs at. However, you haven't ice skated before, so Izumi lends you a hand. ♡ A/N: I need more Izumi x reader fics.

"Hm, what? Were you guys looking for me?" asked Leo curiously.

"Not the two of us; just Anzu," Izumi stated. "She says she needs to talk to you about work. She already told me what it was about, but I can't make a decision on my own, right?"

Leo laughed. "Well, it's only natural for the leader to make decisions. So, what kind of work is it?"

Anzu explained that the work she had for them was a pinup photoshoot for a magazine in which the theme was 'Knights on Ice.' Since the theme was geared towards Knights, Izumi suggested that they should take on the offer. Leo agreed on how convenient the offer was to them, and to be on ice would perhaps spark inspiration for new music.

"Naru-kun has skating experience and Kuma-kun will probably be fine too. I'm not sure about Kasa-kun, but I can teach him if he doesn't know how to skate," Izumi rambled on. "Ou-sama, can you skate? It'll be embarrassing if you slip awkwardly. Do you want me to teach you along with Kasa-kun?"

Leo rejected his offer, stating how he has crossed and walked on ice before. "Oh, since we're going ice skating though," he began. "Shouldn't you ask (Y/N) if she wants to join?"

"We're going to be at the rink for work," said Izumi. "We aren't there to have fun."

But the mention of your name did make him think of whether to bring you along. Izumi knew how much you have always wanted to try ice skating, but since you were a soloist at Yumenosaki which took up all of your time working on perfecting your performances, you never really had the time to try out the activities you've always wanted to do.

Leo pointed a finger at him. "You know you want to, Sena! Come on, the client won't even be mad if we bring her along. She's (Y/N) (L/N) after all!"

Izumi flicked his hand away. "I know how much everyone's trying to get their hands on her," he said with a tone of annoyance in his voice. "...I'll think about it."

"Hahaha, so that's a yes then!" cheered Leo before realising that the two have been excluding Anzu in their conversation. "Oh, don't worry, Anzu. You won't get in trouble if we bring (Y/N) along. She actually knows the client very well, seeing that she keeps getting constant job offers, hahaha!"

"Anzu, you could come into the kotatsu instead of standing there like that," said Izumi before continuing on the subject at hand. "But if it does bother you, then we won't bring her–"

"Oh no, it's nothing like that," she said with a light chuckle. "I also got her a photoshoot at the rink too!"

Izumi was actually excited upon hearing those words. The next day, when he arrived at the ice rink, he scanned the area all over for you. Though, he wasn't only looking for you, but for Leo and Ritsu too.

Irked by their absence, Izumi sighed. "I've already given Ou-sama a warning, so I thought he'd be fine... He said he doesn't forget about the important things, but it has completely slipped his mind..."

Tsukasa went off to go find Leo whilst Anzu offered to find Ritsu. Izumi knew that Arashi had a photoshoot before this, so he wasn't too worried about her. But where were you? Anzu had informed him that your photoshoot was set an hour before his, so you would’ve been finished with it, right?

He would’ve called you, but he didn’t want to disturb you if you were still busy. Though, he sent you a text, hoping that you’d read it soon.

“Since we’re here at the ice rink, I guess I’ll warm up,” he muttered to himself.

Izumi kicked off his heel as he started to slide through the ice with grace. He circled the rink effortlessly, performing beautiful tricks with ease.

You watched him quietly from behind the barrier. Your photoshoot hadn’t even started despite it being booked an hour before. Since you told the client you didn’t know how to skate, they gave you an extra hour to learn which would’ve been nice of them, but they specifically said, “Alright, teach yourself then. We don’t have all day.”

This was the first time you’d ever dealt with a rude client, so your usual happy-go-lucky mood had shifted to a gloomy one. However, watching Izumi skate so elegantly made all those bad feelings go away.

You were amazed at how beautiful he looked as he skated. He was light on his feet, his movements mesmerising. You could watch him all day, but you knew you had to practise your own skills before you had to go back to your photoshoot.

Izumi wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings whenever he skated, he was only focusing on himself in that moment, but when he caught a glimpse of your silhouette, he immediately came to a stop.

His eyes lit up and his lips curled into a genuine smile. There you were.

“(Y/N),” he exclaimed. “I was wondering where you were. You must be finished with your photoshoot, right? So, why didn’t you reply to my message?”

You smiled at him sheepishly. “I… haven’t even started with my shoot,” you admitted. “…I don’t know how to skate after all, so they told me to go practise—”

“Wait, they didn’t have someone on the team to teach you?” he asked with concern in his voice.

“No… they told me to teach myself… I have an hour to do so.”

Izumi’s smile was wiped off his face. He had experience within the fashion industry and with modelling, so he knew how unprofessional it was for your client to not teach you how to skate let alone leave you to do it yourself.

He couldn’t believe that you were already having trouble with your client. He never wanted you to experience anything like that at work even if it was inevitable.

He was going to speak to the staff on your behalf right after he was finished.

But right now, he was going to teach you how to ice skate.

“Alright, get in the rink,” he said, skating towards the entrance. “I’ll teach you.”

You instantly smiled at these words, but you were still pretty nervous. You haven’t ice skated before and you were scared of falling. Falling in front of Izumi would be embarrassing too even if you two were close friends.

“You should’ve called me beforehand since Ou-sama and Kuma-kun aren’t here yet,” he continued. “But it’s okay, I can teach you how to skate in twenty– fifteen minutes.”

You hesitated. Your hands gripped onto the barrier as you tried to get into the rink, but couldn’t due to how frightened you were.

This is so embarrassing, you thought. I can’t even get in…

Izumi stretched a hand in front of you. “Don’t be afraid. Come over here,” he said gently with a smile on his face. “Just hold onto me, okay?”

You nodded, taking his hand as you entered the rink. He took your other hand in his as he glided you across.

You held his hands tight which stung him a bit. “(Y/N), relax. I won’t let you fall.”

“B-But this is scary!” you fretted, your grip tightening even more. “Izumi, please don’t let go of me…!”

“I wasn’t planning to,” he stated. "Alright, look straight ahead. Don't look at your feet even if you're scared. If you can't help it, then just focus on me."

You lifted your head a bit and locked eyes with him. His blue eyes mimicked the background the two of you were in right now. Despite how blue and icy his eyes looked, there was some warmness in them as they looked at you.

You blushed and instantly looked away.

"Ah, no. Don't look away!"

You couldn't help it. You were holding hands with him and now you were looking into his eyes? It seemed like the two of you were a couple with how close you two were together.

"People are going to take this the wrong way..." you muttered.

"So? Why not let them think that way?"

"...What?"

Izumi shook his head. "Let's get on with the lessons, okay?" As he kept hold of your hands, he taught you how to skate by bending your knees to keep your balance, then using your body weight from one side to the other to start moving.

He taught you how to glide and to stroke. It was difficult at first, but you were improving really fast. Midway through your session with him, you were getting the hang of it, but the two of you still kept your grip on each other's hands.

"Haha, this is so fun!" you chirped happily as the two of you skated around the rink together.

Izumi smiled. "See, it wasn't too bad, was it?" he said. "You're doing great... as expected from you."

"Thanks to you, of course!" Your fingers began to lock with his. "Izumi, thank you for teaching me, I really do appreciate it."

"Of course, anything for you," he replied, mumbling the last part of his sentence so you wouldn't pick it up.

"Now, let's spin!"

"Wait, what–"

You pulled your body weight to make the two of you start spinning. Unfortunately, since you were still a beginner, it did not work, so Izumi had to try to steady you both again before either of you fell.

"(Y/N)!" he exclaimed. "You're always like this..."

"S-Sorry, I got too carried away..."

"If you wanted to spin, then you should've let me do it."

Izumi had let go of one of your hands but kept a soft grip on the other. He brought you closer to him and then lifted your hand to twirl you around.

It was a short twirl, but it had excited you. It made you incredibly happy that even his cheeks were tinted with a soft pink colour.

"Haha, that was so cute!" you beamed. "Let's do it again, please?"

Izumi just couldn't say no to you, so he twirled you again, and you looked beautiful. Even with the coat hanging over you, you looked beautiful to him. Your eyes glistened as you looked at him, and he fell for you all over again.

"Again!" you squealed.

"Don't you have a photoshoot to be getting ready for?" he said with a slight smirk. "Our lessons were over once you started spinning us around."

"Oh, right! My photoshoot!"

Izumi sighed. You reminded him so much of Leo, but at least you didn't cause trouble.

"Have a good photoshoot," he told you, lifting your hand up to his lips before planting a soft kiss. "I'll be here waiting for you once you come back."

Your cheeks were hot even when the rest of your body was cold, yet you couldn't stop smiling.

"Izumi..."

"Off you go then."

Your hands parted from his even if the two of you didn't want it to.

You waved him a short goodbye before skating back to your preparation team. He watched you trail off as you began to get ready, slipping off your coat to reveal the dress you were hiding underneath. You really were breathtaking.

"I found Leader," said Tsukasa as he began to berate the Knights' leader on why he kept getting lost every single time they needed him. Anzu was dragging a coffin in which Izumi assumed Ritsu was sleeping inside.

Once Ritsu woke up, Izumi informed the staff that they were all here. Arashi had been waiting inside for them for a while now.

"I didn't know (Y/N) was doing a photoshoot here as well..." Arashi whispered into Izumi's ear. "She's pretty, isn't she?"

Izumi flinched at this, but calmed down almost immediately.

"Let's just do a good job, okay?" he said.

Your photoshoot lasted longer than you expected, but you preformed well especially since you had help from Izumi earlier. The client was a little bit nicer to you this time, but even if they continued to be rude, you wouldn't let it get to you. Nothing could sour your mood now once Izumi left a kiss on the back of your hand.

Knights were finished with their photoshoots too, even the one where they competed against UNDEAD.

You skated towards the crowd, waving your hands at them to notice you.

"Ah, here comes (Y/N)-chan~" sang Arashi, teasing her silver-haired friend. "Uwa~ her dress is sooo cute~!"

But before Izumi could reply to her, you had slipped. "(Y/N)!" cried Izumi, rushing towards you.

"Ow... ow..." you hissed. I guess I'm still not cut out for this after all.

"You okay?" he asked you worriedly, crouching down on the ice as he lifted your back. "Nothing's broken, I hope?"

"N-No, I'm fine," you replied. "Although this IS kind of embarrassing... I was hoping not to fall today and I was doing so well..."

Izumi chuckled as he leaned down closer to you, hugging you ever so slightly. You were surprised by this affection, but you weren't complaining. You rested your head on his chest, finding comfort in his grasp.

"You did do well and I am so proud of you."

You grinned up at him. "I like it when you're like this," you began. "You could be so sweet..."

"Haha, alright. Let's get you up," he said, noticing how much you were shivering. However, you kept him in place before the others could check up on you two.

"Izumi."

"Hmm?"

"I like you so much."

Now it was his turn for him to turn red. Hehe, revenge, you thought. But you weren't lying when you told him you liked him – you really did like him. You wanted to hold hands with him again, to be within his comfort again.

"I like you too, (Y/N). I always have."

[Extra]

Izumi didn't inform you about this, but he did speak with your client before your photoshoot officially started. He berated them on how unprofessional they were with you, and how they should've had someone on the team to help you with skating instead of leaving it to your own hands.

He didn't want you to experience any more rudeness from them as he knew you wouldn't be able to stand up for yourself. It was one of the ways he wanted to protect you, and it worked because you couldn't stop smiling at him throughout the rest of the day.

Hand in hand, the two of you left the ice rink together with Knights, your fingers interlocked with each other.

Intro page | Ensemble Stars masterlist | Rules

#ensemble stars x reader #enstars x reader #ensemble stars #enstars #fanfic #x reader #izumi sena x reader #izumi sena x reader fluff #izumi sena x y/n #knights x reader

[animebw]

Short Reflection: Oshi no Ko

I have a serious bone to pick with Oshi no Ko.

To be clear, I don't mind that Oshi no Ko is s bad show. Bad shows are a dime a dozen, its not special in that regard. I don't even mind that it's a bad show that got absurdly popular. Again, not an uncommon occurrence, I've learned to live with the popular consensus among anime fans being very hit and miss. No, what chaps my hide about this misguided misfire is that it's the worst kind of bad show: one with delusions of grandeur. It's a self-indulgent piece of pandering wish fulfillment that's convinced itself it's a Deep, Complex masterpiece telling Hard Truths about society while perpetuating all the sins it claims to be criticizing. And while it may have somehow pulled the wool over the eyes of everyone else, I've watched enough anime to see through its plastic facade to the squirming rot underneath. This show is lying to you, and unlike the thesis statement it makes in its first episode, this lie is the lowest form of love I can think of.

And I was excited for Oshi no Ko at first! I've always struggled with idol anime because they can never seem to drop their packaged, plastic facade of perfect little angels chasing their dreams to address anything resembling real emotion. So the promise of a more honest take on the genre exploring the reality of the entertainment industry as a whole, warts and all? Written by the author of Kaguya-Sama, which I've finally come around to appreciating as a masterpiece of the rom-com world? And a bonkers 90 minute opening episode suggesting an adaptation that would go all the way to make this series shine? Yeah, I had high hopes for this one.

And then the first minute of the show had two separate jokes about the protagonist being a pedophile.

Gotta tell you, when I heard Manga fans hyping this one up to high heaven, I was expecting something a little less blatantly unsalvageable than that.

After that, I spent most of that bloated first episode in slack jawed disbelief. Was I really sitting through another Mushoku Tensei reincarnated pedo baby plotting? Why was I being subjected to jokes about who gets to suck their teen mom superstar idol's breast milk? It was almost a relief when the same obsessive stalker who initially took the protagonist's life came back to finish off his new mom, setting him and his similarly reincarnated sister on a seemingly much more interesting path. But by then the damage was done, and the cracks that had formed in Oshi no Ko's foundation would only grow larger and more obvious as it settled into its proper story.

Funnily enough, though, the most obvious warning sign in that first episode wasn't the pedo baby nonsense. No, it was its handling of Hoshino Ai, the aforementioned teen mom superstar idol who got two superfans reincarnated as her twin babies before being murdered by a stalker. For a show claiming to portray the dark reality of the entertainment industry, there isn't a single thing dark or real about Ai. She is a relentlessly perfect plastic mannequin of a person, never once showing herself to be anything less than upbeat, bubbly, and inoffensive. Not once in the three years we spend with her before her death do we see her sulk, throw a tantrum, or express any emotions besides peppy and cheerful. If there’s anything resembling a real girl underneath her facade, we don't get to see it, not even when she's alone with her babies with no one to judge her. This show wants to pull back the curtain on the uncomfortable truths of this industry, but it doesn't even have the guts to pull back the curtain on its most important character and risk turning off an otaku fan base who can't conceive of women as complex individuals with complicated inner lives. And sadly, that cowardice is very indicative of how poorly the show will handle its themes moving forward.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Following Ai's death at the climax of the first episode, Oshi no Ko's real story picks up ten or so years later, with her now-teenage children Aqua and Ruby going to a special high school for aspiring entertainment industry professionals. Here they're able to meet fellow creatives and pursue careers in film, television, music, YouTube, and more behind and in front of the camera, all to follow their respective goals of tracking down their mother's killer (Aqua) and following in their mother's footsteps of becoming a beloved idol (Ruby). Thus the stage is set for a walking tour behind the scenes of all corners of the business, exploring the truth behind the shining mask of perfection the entertainment industry so often wears while slowly building up the mystery of who the twins' father was, and why he seemingly arranged for Ai to be killed. A solid setup for the story to explore its ideas in an engaging way, but as always, a setup is only as good as its execution. And no matter how many monologues its characters spew about the true nature of the industry, Oshi no Ko consistently fails to be anything more than plastic and shallow itself.

The biggest issue, sadly, remains Aqua himself. Even after you get over the whole reincarnated pedo baby angle, he is just the most miserably emo edgelord to be around. He's a mopey, brooding bore who looks down on pretty much everyone around him, but the show constantly insists on portraying him as cynically honest,  the one clear-eyed adult in a cast full of kids. Which, considering how female-heavy the rest of the cast it, gives the whole show a creepy, paternalistic vibe. So many of Oshi no Ko's "realistic" portrayals of the industry's scumminess essentially boil down to a naive, inexperienced girl getting in over her head and finding herself in some sort of physical or emotional peril, only for this Light Yagami wannabe to swoop in and save her with the power of his Experienced Adult Man Perspective. There are times when it clearly wants to touch on how particularly rough girls and women have it in this scummy, sexist industry, but it undercuts itself every time it turns their struggles into yet another excuse for the one prominent dude in the cast to show off how much smarter he is.

And yes, in case you even needed to ask, of course the majority of these girls fall in love with him. You've got Kana Arima, a foul mouthed former child actor who's implied to have nursed a crush on him ever since he humiliated her on set years ago by being do much naturally better at acting than her to the point she broke down crying. There's Akane Kurokawa, a sincere good girl who falls for him after he saves her from suicide (more on that later) and otherwise exists to be tortured by some of the most laughable backstory retcons ever put to screen (She's an unprepared novice to the industry! Just kidding, she's a member of a prestigious theater company! Just kidding, she's a child actor who's been part of this industry her whole life!). There's even, believe it or not, his sister Ruby, who in her past life was a terminally ill child in love with Aqua's past life, her physician at the time. He even jokingly promised to marry her when she turned 16, which could have passed as a tragic, knowingly futile promise to comfort a girl who had no chance of living that long, but considering how things ended up... yeah, let's just say I am dreading what happens when Aqua and Ruby discover each other's previous identities. Honestly I almost hope they just say "fuck it" and take the plunge into Incest Lake, just to break the brains of everyone who's convinced themselves this show isn't a trash fire.

It also doesn't help that the dialogue is pretty uniformly terrible. Characters speak in tangled, overwritten declarations and explanations that never read as something a real person would say but also aren't stylish enough to pass for the kind of purposefully exaggerated back-and-forth exchanges that define, for example, the Monogatari series. It seems to think if you just drop a lot of monologues about how dangerous and unfair the entertainment industry is, that will compensate for the relative lack of real danger and unfairness in its actual portrayal. I'm not asking for a Perfect Blue-style pitch black perspective, but there are barely even shades of gray here, to the point it almost feels like the show's lying to you. There's a moment where Ruby and her aspiring idol group exclaim that a collective dressing room they share with a bunch of other bottom-tier idols is "packed like sardines," except the room we're shown has plenty of breathing room and empty space. This show flat out lies to your face, in contradiction of the visuals its showing you, to make the girl's situation seen worse than it actually is.

But let's circle back to Akane and get attempted suicide, because her focus episode is, in my opinion, the one moment where Oshi no Ko actually manages to live up to the expectations it set. Short version, Akane's on a reality dating show with Aqua and a bunch of other high schoolers, and her attempt to make herself more of a presence at her manager's request results in her becoming the target on an online hate mob who takes one bad thing she does and uses it as an excuse to harass her relentlessly. As someone who's seen too many stories like this play out in real life- overwhelming, self-righteous hatred from complete strangers who've convinced themselves your one minor infraction justifies ruining your life- seeing Akane succumb to the tidal wave of insults and threats until she tries to jump off a bridge was one of the most powerful experiences I've had in all of anime this year. It's masterfully directed, impeccably edited, and brutally, unforgivingly honest about how life-ruining this kind of negative online attention can be. It's hands-down the best episode of Oshi no Ko, and if the rest of the show had been as brave as this episode when tackling its subject matter, I'd have no problem singing its praises alongside everyone else.

It's also, sadly, a perfect representation of why this show is so fundamentally broken.

Because when you take a step back and look at the whole picture, as incredible as this episode is in isolation, its only real effect on the plot is to give Aqua yet another helpless admirer to fall I love with him seemingly as a matter of course. Akane's suicide attempt, as gut wrenching and heartbreaking as it is in the moment, only exists to give the reincarnated pedo protagonist another teenage girl to fawn over him. And considering how much inspiration this plot line draws from a real-life suicide tragedy in Japan, to call it nauseating and disrespectful would be the understatement of the century. The real victim's mother certainly seemed to think so, as she held an interview expressing anger that her daughter's tragic fate was being used as free source material without even consulting her first. And if you were hoping Oshi no Ko fans would react to this response with empathy and nuance, showing how much they took away from this arc's message about the evils of online harassment by refusing to participate in it themselves... well, let's just say I truly envy your optimism.

But really, isn't that the most fitting representation of this show's failure? It claims to showcase and criticize the exploitative nature of the entertainment industry, only to exploit real life tragedy for entertainment itself, and its fans react to this ugly truth by becoming exactly the kind of evil the show they claimed to love was warning them against. It's a perfect storm of hypocrisy that reveals just how shallow and craven the whole affair is. Oshi no Ko is not deep, it's not complex, and it's certainly not challenging. But it IS good enough at superficially appearing to be those things to attract a fan base that wants the ego boost of being seen as liking Mature(tm) stories about Serious Issues(tm) without actually being challenged to leave their comfort zone of pandering wish fulfillment. And the second something actually challenging does show up to demand they face an uncomfortable truth, they reveal just how unwilling both they and the show they love are to grapple with the ugly reality they claim to represent.

Is that harsh? Definitely. Unfair to the vast majority of Oshi no Ko fans who love the show without being gross and weird about it? Probably. But I can't be honest about this show without being honest about how miserably it betrays the very foundations of its stated goal. Ironically enough, Oshi no Ko is its own worst enemy, the greatest embodiment of everything it's trying to speak out against. It's a stupid show pretending to be smart, a cowardly show pretending to be brave, hiding cheap convictions with cheap edge and cringeworthy harem bullshit in hopes it can avert your eyes from the truth. But peel back that plastic layer of corporate sheen and it's every bit as shallow and hypocritical as the industry it claims to criticize. It's as hollow as Hoshino Ai herself, hiding its inner emptiness as best it can and hoping its beautiful lies will make you love it regardless. And if lies are indeed the greatest form of love, then Oshi no Ko must be the greatest lover of all. Me, though? I'll take something honest and uncompromising over an insincere fake like this any day. And I give this first season a score of:

3/10

Yes, this is the worst show I watched to completion this season. No, I'm not sorry about it. If you want to know what actual good shows I kept up with, keep an eye out for my seasonal reflection coming next week!

#anime #the anime binge-watcher #tabw #oshi no ko #spring 2023 anime #spring 2023 sr

[rubyhoshinoamastolfo]

Time for my kinlist omg it's so cliché but it's healthy for me, to help understand myself better after my coming out-

So, I think I can classify my current kins in two categories : the dragon side of me, the man side of me and the woman side of me (ah yes, the three genders)

PART 1 : The dragons

Zhongli (Genshin Impact) : Because contracts, skilled in economy, tea, good teacher...etc...

Dan Heng / Imbibitor Lunae (Star Rail) : He REALLY looks like the kind of dragon I see myself. Yes, on that point, I don't see myself low- /s

PART 2 : The men (You'll see a pattern among the non-dragon kins)

Momose Sunohara (Idolish7) : Still the top, my #1 role model, idol, gay, extrovert...etc...

Hajime Hinata (Danganronpa 2) : A remnant of my previous character, I still love him, because I love my Nagito kinnie <3

Haruhi Fujioka (Ouran High School) : Yes, I put HIM on this list because trans and because it's MY post so I do whatever the fuck I want. He helped me understand my gender

K1-B0 (Danganronpa V3) : Same as Hinata, but for my Kokichi kinnie <3

Basil (OMORI) : Anxiety, anxiety, photos, flowers, gay, flowers, nature, anxiety. Yes I had interests for photos and flowers when I was a child, and I want them to come back because I know that now, in 2023, I won't be laughed at anymore

Lyney (Genshin Impact) : We have the same "kind" of clothes (partially), we do magic (I don't remember many but I will !), and the mischevious side <3

Nazuna Nito (Ensemble Stars) : Cute and angwy, I like being cute and angwy even if I try not to be angwy)

Niki Shiina (Ensemble Stars) : Food, hungry, vore, food, cooking for everyone

Leo Tsukinaga (Ensemble Stars) : Literally my current biggest, zoomies, random, clingy. That's me.

Chiaki Morisawa (Ensemble Stars) : Same as Leo, but more opened to others, motivating...etc...

Sora Harukawa (Ensemble Stars) : Clingy, video games, feet, and we have some similar autistic traits (although I'm not autistic, just anxious)

Reki Kyan (Sk8) : Gay, energetic and colored (although I'm a "tired e-girl" since the beginning of 2023)

Hanako-kun / Amane Yugi (Toilet-bound Hanako-kun) : Mischevious ghost, clingy, pranky, that's me.

Maou Sadao (Hataraku Maou-sama) : Demon King, I love them, they are hot, so I kin them to keep them to myself.

Bachira Meguru (Blue Lock) : He's weird, cute, clingy and has ABANDONMENT ISSUES LMAO

Many men in Horimiya because they are so perfect and complementary.

PART 3 : The girls (You were waiting for it, I'm sure of it-)

Ruby Hoshino (Oshi no Ko) : Determined, magnetic, like her mother but I can't really kin Ai because she doesn't have enough development-

Akane Kurokawa (Oshi no Ko) : Anxious actress, someone absolutely perfect to look up to.

Mem-Cho (Oshi no Ko, yeah again, but this anime initiated the changes) : Older but as energetic and magnetic as the others

March 7th (Star Rail) : I love her, I love her colours, her mood, she's so great and energetic, I want to be as cute as her!

Kyōko Hori (Horimiya) : Okay she's giga biphobic but my Hori isn't, the me-Hori isn't! But she has social issues, she's strong, I want to be like her, and she has a kink about hot men being rough with her ////

Princess Syalis (Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle) : She sleeps. And her love interest is, to me, the Demon King

Chiho Sasaki (Hataraku Maou-sama) : Okay not really a kin but Maou's love interest, so I'm in.

Honestly, I found them but I forgot some-

Seriously, don't mind me, I try to embrace the cringe but it's hard ;_;

#anime #kin stuff #kin list #ensemble stars #genshin impact #jibaku shounen hanako kun #horimiya #honkai star rail #don't mind me #oshi no ko #omori #idolish7 #blue lock #danganronpa #sk8 the infinity #demon king

[utapri-translations-uuuu]

7th Stage Special Interview - Taniyama Kisho (Translation)

"Let's "Ultrablast" together to create a live performance with a sense of unity that will rival that of the movie version!"

Please do not repost/retranslate.

Click read more for the full interview.

What did you think about the shooting for this pamphlet? 

I'm glad we were able to shoot at a good tempo. I don’t usually wear yellow clothes, so the photo shoot made me feel like the “Uta☆Pri” live show is about to start again. But I also think that it’s a surprisingly fitting color. I’ve recently noticed that the colors of the teams I support in the NBA are all yellow. It felt a little bit like it was fate.

How did you feel when you first heard about the 7th STAGE?

I thought that everyone really loves "Uta☆Pri". I tend to be rather cynical, but I understand the fact that everyone is asking us to do so. However, since it will be held after the movie version, there will be more expectations than ever before, so that will be tough (laughs).

Please tell us your impressions of "Uta no☆Prince-sama! Maji LOVE Kingdom" after having watched the completed film.

It was greatly done, it managed to express what everyone wanted to see on screen. As a pioneer in male idol genre, I think “Uta☆Pri” should be the first to produce an animation of a live show of this quality. In terms of direction and camera work, “Egoistic” in which Natsuki participated was so cool that we wanted to try it ourselves if we could. I want to kick the birdcage! As for the song, I was happy that I was able to show my highest key.

How did you feel about the members of this special unit song?

I don’t think there is a member in “Uta☆Pri” who doesn’t have a strong ego, but even among them, I think the three of them are a unique combination. So, at first, no matter how much they sang or talked, it felt like “Yeah, we are really going to clash, aren’t we?”, but then I feel like they gradually started getting accustomed to each other. In reality, I wonder if “Even if we sing in dissonance, it’s precisely in that imbalance that something curious can be found.” In the end, I think we were able to create a charm because the three of us weren’t a natural perfect or the best fit.

Taking into account the drama part, it became a song through which you can feel Natsuki's inner strength.

That’s right. Although Natsuki is usually a natural airhead and a spontaneous person, it was surprisingly him who led the unit in the direction it took. He is thoughtful towards others, and perhaps he realized his own role by watching the two of them closely. I thought that it was interesting that as a result of the chemistry between the three of them, Natsuki was placed in a position he had rarely held in ST☆RISH. The key point is that Natsuki became the person he is today because he became one with Satsuki, not because he was capable of it from the beginning. It’s an important part of his personal “depth”.

Do you think that the release of your solo best album has helped you gain a renewed understanding and appreciation of your idol?

Certainly, it was an opportunity for me to become aware of my own emotional attachment toward Natsuki. I want to become more conscious of singing “as Natsuki” than before, and I think I have put all I can into the new song. The truth is, I even wanted to re-record all the songs.

By the way, what is the “Egoistic” thing that you want to say to “Uta☆Pri” ?

As my works have become more established, I have proven the significance of my existence, so I think my craving for the limelight isn't as strong as it used to be. But it would seem that it is not Na-chan or Sa-chan’s ego, but rather Kī-chan’s that causes me to add improvisation in the live performances (laughs). I light-heartedly think “Oh, Mamo (Miyano Mamoru) did an improv! Next, I’ll be the one to do it too~” The important thing is that we distribute it fairly between us and that everyone has fun. When I look at everyone, I see how much they shine and I think that’s great. I always want to make the live show more exciting by contributing what I can.

How did you feel about the performance of the group songs?

I like all of it so much that I can't point out one specific moment. “ULTRA BLAST” was a performance that showed that ST☆RISH could sing such hard songs while keeping their framework as idols.

The fans’ “fanchants” were also powerful.

I thought it was a good initiative to unite everyone and share the same groove, as one would expect from an idol’s live presentation. As for me, I'm especially happy to hear people shouting the group name “ST☆RISH.'' It makes me feel like, “That's right, we are ST☆RISH!'' (laughs). After all, I don’t want to forget the pride of being the first group in the “Uta☆Pri” series.

What was the most memorable part of the last song and encore?

I like “Maji LOVE Kingdom” because it reminds me of the good old idol songs of the Shōwa era *[1926-1989]. At any rate, the stage performance with all three groups together was a thrilling sight. It's heart-warming to see how the trajectory depicted in the TV series has been integrated into this movie version.

All the costumes were unique, but were there any that caught your attention?

I love the costume for “Egoistic” so much that I want to wear it myself.

Natsuki might originally want to go for something like “Colorfully Spark”, but he's tall and would surprisingly look good in the black robe of “Sōai Träumerei.'”

Please tell us about some of the most memorable moments from past live performances.

With this kind of thing, the bad memories are more vivid than the good ones. Although I only have myself to blame, my form at the 3rd STAGE was the worst. However, I’ve been keeping it bottled up inside me for a long time, but just the other day I had a chance to look at the footage and was relieved to see that it wasn't as bad as I was expecting it to be. Nevertheless, I would like to perform the duet song “Still Still Still” with Mamo again. That was at the end of 2013, and I quit smoking right after the new year started. It's been six years since I quit smoking and I'm really glad I stopped, not only for my personal music activities, but also for expressing Natsuki's existence and talent through singing.

What do you want to say right now to the idol who will be your partner in the live performance?

To “descend.” Because I believe that if I can have even a little bit of Natsuki's mind inside me on the day of the live concert, everyone will appreciate it.

Finally, a message to "Uta☆Pri" fans who purchased this pamphlet!

Let's "Ultrablast" together to create a live performance with a sense of unity that will rival that of the movie version!

#uta no prince sama #utapri #7th stage #interview #taniyama kishou #translation #english #starish #maji love kingdom #seiyuu

[shiningwonderland]

Camus (All Star) Memorial

Translator: Mimi (twitter: _mimisaurora)

Memorial 1 - Loves Japanese Sweets

The Carrot Club November Issue: Join Myu-sama! Visit Kyoto in autumn, and enjoy enchanting Japanese sweets

Camus-sama, the noble idol recognized among his fans as Myu-sama, will be the guide for this edition.

He will show us some of the Japanese confectionery shops he has recently been into while strolling through the ancient capital in autumn.

By the time our journalist arrives on location half an hour before the meeting, she realizes the Earl was already there!

“I could not allow myself to be late for our appointment, madam.”

Myu-sama smiles at our journalist, who is a little flattered.

“M-My apologies. We’ll be conducting an interview today….”

“Regardless of the interview, you are a lady first and foremost, madam. I, Camus, would be honored to escort you to the very best of my ability. Now, this way, please.”

Following Myu-sama's pace, the first stop is a long-established Zenzai shop named "Konoha", located along a side road off the main street.

The shop’s poster dog, Tanusuke, appears to be well acquainted with Myu-sama.

Their tail whips about happily.

“Do you come here often?”

“In all honesty, I would love to come every day. However, my schedule is quite busy... It's actually for this reason that I was really looking forward to today's interview (laughs).”

Myu-sama reveals a cuter side of himself; a complete departure from his typical perfect butler persona.

His first order was their most popular chilled Zenzai.

“I must say, the refined sweetness of the red bean paste is delightful. It's so delicious that I usually find myself eating more than I should. There was a time I had up to four cups, much to my kouhai’s dismay.”

“Four cups! That many!?”

“How embarrassing… I couldn't help bringing it up. I shouldn't have. May I ask you to keep this between you and I?”

“I apologize, but because this is an interview, I cannot omit any details.” 

“As you wish. I fear I may be scolded once again by my kouhai, but I shall persevere.”

“The kouhai you’re referring to is Cecil Aijima, whom you co-starred in a musical* with, correct?”

*Note 1: This August, the musical "Phantom Thief Nyan Nyaan" held its final performance to critical acclaim. There surely were many ladies thrilled to watch Myu-sama play the role of a super sadistic police dog, a complete 180 from his usual kind personality.

“Yes. You’re right.”

“It was also featured in the June issue of Carrot Club. The long dog ears and tail were so cute and a hot topic at the time.”

“Were they cute?...(laughs) This is something I'm not used to being told, it makes me a little shy. That being said, nothing makes me happier than to know that you ladies enjoyed it.”

“You say your kouhai will scold you, but could it be that nothing you do will ever be good enough for him?”

“How about putting it as… I consider us to have a positive, mutually respectful relationship, regardless of positions.”

After picking up a souvenir for Cecil Aijima, we head south of town along a riverside road where Meiji-era structures remain intact.

This is Myu-sama’s favorite path.

“Despite it bearing no resemblance to the streets of my hometown, it brings me a curious sense of nostalgia. It may be a bit of a detour, but please bear with me for a while.”

“It does have a very pleasant atmosphere, making you feel as if you've been sent back through time to the Meiji Era.”

“It would have been even better if the leaves had begun to redden…. I hope to show you around again next time during the height of the season.”

The road is lined with ginkgo and maple trees, making it a popular spot among insiders.

“Speaking of, were you surprised when you first saw the autumn leaves in Japan?”

“Very much so. I was impressed by the sight of the mountains dyed in five different colors. I had wished to show it to Her Majesty, the Queen of my homeland.”

The next stop was a Western-style café named "Moonlight".

“The sign shows an advertisement for a cake set, but do they serve Japanese sweets here?”

“Yes. Surprising, isn't it? Allow me to show you what's in store.”

“Is this a coffee jelly parfait on the table?

It's covered in a yellow powder….”

“Madam, please have a bite first.”

“Then, if you'll excuse me…

It’s… brown sugar jelly!”

“You’re right. The yellow powder is soybean flour. I've been enjoying its delicate sweet taste lately. It pairs amazingly with soft-serve ice cream, too.”

“Do you also like brown sugar?”

“It’s a favorite of mine. It’s wonderfully rich.”

“I was surprised at the variety of sugars available in Japan. You have not only your traditional white sugar, but also brown sugar and sugarcane… I was especially amazed by the elegance of Wasanbon.”

Since coming to Japan, sweet-toothed Myu-sama apparently carries some Wasanbon on him every day.

“You're well known for always keeping sugar on you, but where exactly do you put it?”

“Heh. That’s a secret, even for you, madam.”

Myu-sama simply smiles and avoids the question.

“Could it be that you don't really have any?”

“Is that what you believe?”

With a snap of his fingers, he suddenly reveals a snow-shaped Wasanbon in the palm of his hand...!

“The beauty of Wasanbon is its ability to take on a multitude of shapes, like this. Of course, coarse sugars like granulated or icing sugar are great too.”

“Surely white sugar is common in Silk Palace?”

“It is very cold where I am from, so before, sugar itself was a rarity. That’s why for me, Japan seemed like a dream destination (laughs).” 

“Then are the sweets in Silk Palace not… well, sweet?”

“No, on the contrary, because of how precious it is, they're made very sweet. It may even be too strong for some ladies to eat. In moments like those, we brew a strong cup of tea together.”

“It’s similar to… matcha tea in Japan. Though not as formal as the Japanese tea ceremony, Silk Palace also has a custom of hosting guests with tea.”

Myu-sama smiles with a cup of tea in his hand.

“I would be happy to brew you a pot of tea whenever you desire.”

In the end, Myu-sama personally picks out a souvenir for the Carrot Club editorial staff.

“Hatsushimo" is a long-established Japanese confectionery shop that has been in business since the Genroku era.

Upon passing through the shop’s traditional noren curtain, one is immediately hit by a brilliant shade of red.

“The wonderful thing about this place is their Nerikiri. Many of them have autumn leaf motifs** this time of year.”

**Note 2:

The selection of Jo-namagashi changes with the season.

Please inquire with the store for more details.

With a twinkle in his eye, Myu-sama began to select Namagashi from the display case.

“These, for instance, are works of art. They’re designed to resemble autumn leaves in the process of changing their color from green to red. It’s beautiful… It would be a pity to eat them.”

A sweet shaped in the form of a bird was the next one to catch our attention.

“This one here must be inspired by the Hyakunin Isshu. Long is the mountain pheasant’s tail that curves down in its flight; but longer still, it seems to me, left in my lonely plight, is this unending night. It’s a love poem about an autumn night that feels as painfully long as the tail of a mountain bird, when one sleeps alone and apart from the person they love.”

“I see… that explains why the bird is atop a backdrop made of black bean paste.”

“To even understand the Hyakunin Isshu… you are indeed well-informed on Japan, Myu-sama.

Not many Japanese people are as knowledgeable in this subject as you are.

It’s fantastic.”

“No. One can acquire all the knowledge they want later in life. The existence of this historic restaurant is proof in itself that the people of this country have long had a love of beauty and culinary delights. I believe that their passion is far more remarkable than their knowledge.”

Yokan, Higashi. The amount of souvenirs for the editorial staff quickly grew.

“By the way, what is your top pick?”

“It would be Botamochi. Only recently did I learn that the name changes from Ohagi in the fall to Botamochi in the spring.”

He speaks with a smile and buys three pieces of Ohagi for himself.

We ended the interview greatly satisfied.

“Thank you for your cooperation today.”

The December issue will feature “Join Ren-ren! Explore Hama's authentic Italian cuisine”.

- - - - - - - - - -

“So Camus-senpai loves… Japanese sweets.”

I jotted down the gist of the magazine article and then looked up.

“I wonder if he would cooperate with creating the unit song if I brought him some delicious Japanese sweets…”

I genuinely considered it, but shook my head.

No, it wouldn’t be a good idea.

Camus-senpai is someone who keeps his private and public life separate. He wouldn't help us out so easily.

“Then… A song inspired by Japanese sweets…?”

That’s just as bad. It’s not that simple.

If I don't get to know Senpai even better and write a song that only he can sing, and would  want to sing, he will never come to acknowledge me.

“In any case, I just have to keep researching.”

I drew in a small breath to get myself in the mood, and turned back toward the stacks of magazines.

#utapri #all star #all star camus #camus utapri #camus memorial

[solmints-messyocdiary]

Super adorable, great, and perfect Idol-sama! ✨️

First outfit request from @tahlalilian !

The outfit gave me big idol vibes and I'm loving it~

Thank you for the suggestion!

Dress by devilinspired

#my art #solmuse art #messy sketches #oc: 'alice' #my oc #original character

[xsezzie]

Profile Tag Game

Hello: My name is Sezzie, I know I can be rather blunt and robotic at times, but I promise you I don’t wish to intentionally hurt you. I am always open to having a chat whether it be in my DMs or through asks.

Chat: Tickling - Of course I like tickling, no shame in that. It’s completely normal… some people get flustered by it? Oh well, those people are the cutest~ Hm? You aren't cute? Well, I guess someone will need some tickles to convince them otherwise!

Chat: Identity - I wonder who I was yesterday, who I’ll be today, and what I’ll be tomorrow… I wish I knew who I was.

Chat: Masking - That thing I just did now, it was incorrect. I will be sure to act correctly in accordance with societal norms next time. If I do not act correctly then others will become disgusted or angry... Just as I would if you were to do the same.

When It Rains: Ugh, this would be nicer if it was at night time…

After the Rain: Everything either looks really clean or really dirty depending on the area… oh look, the birds are coming back out.

When Thunder Strikes: Ah… so relaxing.

When It Snows: What’s that?

When the Sun Is Out: Everything is as it should be…

When the Wind is Blowing: Ugh, my hair is messed up now…  

Good Morning: Get up already, the world is perfect at this hour. The bad people don’t come out until later so it’s best to enjoy it while it lasts! 

Good Afternoon: So hungry… must do my best to not eat a big meal…

Good Evening: Better get inside… they will be coming out soon.

Good Night: The optimal sleeping hours for those who suffer from depression are 10pm to 5am. Setting yourself a strict bed time will do wonders for your mental health, so hurry along, time for sleep.

About Sezzie: Alphabet - A fellow neurodivergent coworker taught me to think of all my disorders as “my alphabet”… so my alphabet currently is GAD, MDD and BPD… with ASD and ADHD in the process of being diagnosed.

About Sezzie: Writing - I actually hate that I’m the writer in the family and cannot physically draw. But, having a high literacy IQ certainly comes in handy when I’m creating. I’m glad people are able to feel my writing when I put the effort into it.

Something to Share: Name - My real name means “princess” apparently… I hope I don’t come off as one.

Interesting Things: Senses - Ah I love exploring sensory things. Honestly, I believe that feeling sensory pleasure is very soothing and not always supposed to be NSFW as most see it.

Sezzie’s Hobbies: Each of my personalities seems to have different hobbies, but if had to take a guess on the true me… writing, worldbuilding, and video games would be on top! I do also enjoy learning new things and gardening.

Sezzie’s Troubles: My existence troubles me… too dark? Well, deal with it. Life isn’t sunshine and rainbows, and I’m tired of coddling the special ones.

Favourite Food: I do not have the ability to have a favourite food due to my sensory eating issues… my addictions and interests change constantly. Ah but if there is one I’ll always come back to… Chicken Kievs hehe

Least Favourite Food: All of them! I like the art of food but eating? Bleh. I wish we didn’t have to.

About @otomiyaa: Ahhh she is my idol! I have been following her for years.. and only recently got the courage to begin talking to her more. I get nervous and think I come off as some weird fan that thinks they are friends with their idols. Forgive me Otomiya-SAMA!!

About @ticklystuff: He is the first person I began talking to when I joined the community. I feel like I owe him something for all the kindness and chats we have had together. I wish I could talk more often about hot MEN with him hehe

About @ticklish-n-stuff: Sakura-chan is one of the few people I can let my guard down and show my more "embarrassing" or "fangirl" sides to when it comes to characters I like. I am grateful to have her in my life. She also gushes about MEN with me and we have a blast discussing tickling.

About @nataliewritez: Nat is my adorable little sister and is a joy to chat to about anything. I can't believe we have known each other for nearly 2 years already!

About @fanfic-chan: Dessie is so adorable and such a comfy person to be around! Also the biggest lee ever hehe

About @ticklygiggles: Little does she know how cute she is. Perhaps I should go tease her sometime soon...

-

Tagging @fanfic-chan @nataliewritez @ticklish-n-stuff @ticklystuff @italeean @thatonetickleblog @anzynai @stopiteatpopcorn

#genshin impact #profile game #profile tag game #personal

[seyoonlgc]

harmless matching making fun.

PART TWO

Time was ticking, the night was vanishing and he still had so many candies left, yikes!

Please ctrl + f your character's first name if you don't want to read the whole thing. If I mentioned you, it's because you liked my plot call or told me on discord/twitter that you would not mind participating.

Cupidyoon fully intended to ship Tee (@lgctee) with another V&A member, but decided the Jintee fangirls were way too scary to mess with. Tee got his soda candy first and Cupid took his sweet time walking around before finally dropping the matching one in Jinseo (@lgcjinseo)'s palm. The patience couple, he shall call this ship, because it was sailing at the speed of molasses. At this point, Seyoon might end up with four kids before these two even get any.

Seyoon noticed some sort of tension between Minkyu (@lgcminkyu) and Jihan (@lgcjihan). He figured any tension could be good tension and sometimes a little resentment made better sex. Regular cherry flavored candies went to this couple - just make up already!

The blueberry candy in his hand was reserved for Seunghyun's match but honestly, Seyoon was struggling. Seunghyun (@shxlgc) was his childhood friend, occasional enemy and an annoying twat. Nobody really deserved Seunghyun, take that sentence however you would like. So with a grin, Cupid approached his dear Mushushu with both blueberry candies in hand. He slipped them into Seunghyun's pocket with a wink. "I am sure you would rather take care of yourself." Hey, at least he didn't say the F word out loud.

One party boy deserved another and Seyoon simply knew Hyuk (@lgchyuk) and Haneul (@lgchxneul) would have fun together. In fact, he might want to join them. For partying, of course. Pineapple flavored candy for them, Seyoon's precious dance all night ship.

Now, what about Maylin (@lgcmaylin), dear Maylin. She hated most guys, didn't she? Seyoon handed her a peppermint candy because she spicy and looked around for her perfect match. Oh, maybe Eunwoo (@lgceunwoo)! The guy was hot and pretty quiet from what Seyoon remembered. If a man didn't talk much, he had less chance of saying the wrong thing, perfect!

Seyoon was pretty certain Max (@lgcxmax) was already dating a dude, but real life boyfriends didn't count for this Halloween game. After some contemplation, he decided to match Max with Kai (@lgckai) and came up with a whole dramatic story about two hardworking trainees, constantly stuck in evaluations together. Slowly developing feelings, stealing looks across the room and...Yes, it could be fun with their grape flavored candy.

Who was left?

Seyoon tossed Rowon (@rowonlgc)'s black cherry into the air and caught it back in his hand. Oh Rowon, this one was so very tricky.

So focused on his thoughts, he nearly ran into Soyoun (@lgcsoyoun). "Ah, I am sorry." He bowed his head like a good lil trainee but slipped the idol a light pink candy he believed to be cherry-blossom flavored. One of the more unique ones he'd gotten. The matching one he'd given to Ichika (@lgcichika) onee-sama earlier. Certain fanfics may have changed his favorite ships forever. Long live Ichiastrid.

His basket was nearly empty and the last couple to be matched with Hanie (@lgchanie) and Hyun (@lgchyun). They were both young, cute and could make an adorable puppy pair with their vanilla-flavored candy. In fact, if those two ever debut together, he might ship it.

#lgchanie #lgchyun #lgcichika #lgcsoyoun #rowonlgc #lgckai #lgcxmax #lgcmaylin #lgceunwoo #lgctee #lgcjinseo #lgchyuk #lgchxneul #shxlgc #lgcminkyu #lgcjihan #THANKS EVERYONE WE ARE DONE

[callmemerry00]

What's your opinion on Amaterasu's story so far?? I've been hearing a lot of negative opinions about her story, but personally I really like her.

Sorry for the lateness ;_; I wanted to write you a proper reply because I have lots of thoughts™

While I do respect people’s negative opinions on her because the writing for the Takamagahara arc has been quite unpolished, I personally like her and her event story was very enjoyable for me.

We get to see her being naïve and inexperienced as a young goddess, but she’s more than willing to take a stand for what she believes in even when she finds out that her beloved mentor (her idol, the apple of her eye, the one woman who made her realize what beauty was just by laying her eyes on her-) had been lying and using her all along without even harboring an ounce of the love she had for her. And I think that’s something really nice to see in a character. She’s far from perfect and her methods and self-sacrifices, although noble, can lead to trouble in the long run. She also doesn’t explain herself that much which leads to people drawing their own conclusions from her silence. But idk man she’s still likeable to me.

I’ve also seen lots of people dissatisfied with the relationship between her and Izanami. I think this is mostly because people were expecting Asura/Taishakuten 2.0 but yuri out of them (which is impossible to achieve, like sorry, but those 2 are in a league of their own) but instead we got

a loving and trusting Amaterasu

blinded by her own admiration

for someone very machiavellian and selfish who saw her as a tool for the most part

Based on this description I’d say they’re closer to being Yorimitsu/Onikiri 2.0 but even then, Amaterasu/Izanami develops into its own thing once you accept that this is pretty much one-sided love through and through. Yorimitsu grew attached to Onikiri beyond seeing him as just a tool meant to accomplish his goals, but Izanami…not really (or at least not from what we’ve seen so far). She doesn’t want to be betrayed, but this seems to be coming more from a place of hurt pride rather than a broken heart. Love seems to be quite alien to her:

But anyway, while I do prefer Asura/Taishakuten and Yorimitsu/Onikiri’s dynamics a lot more (they’re feeding my brain worms like no other), I don’t think Amaterasu/Izanami’s dynamic is bad at all. It’s just something different from what we’ve got so far. Plus, I find it really interesting that, even after millennia, Amaterasu still refers to Izanami as ‘Izanami-sama’ and uses polite speech with her in Japanese. She really does STILL see her as her mentor in spite of everything:

And I wish people would latch more onto this side of their relationship because it’s really tasty, angsty and fun to explore!!

One last thing I’d like to add because I haven’t seen a single person pointing this out, but her event is such a nice parallel to SP Kusa’s side. Both Amaterasu and Kusa start out as inexperienced beings who possess a lot of strength and potential and wish to save people, but one is on a larger-than-life scale, while the other one is on a much, much tinier scale. They both have a special someone they admire, but one matures by applying her idol’s teachings to go against her and defeat her, while the other matures by applying all of her idol’s teachings to save her. It’s such a neat thing to think about.

In short, yeah I like Amaterasu too. She’s my little fruity introvert who’s making PvE so much faster and easier <3

#onmyoji #amaterasu #izanami #the fandom is very exhausting #I usually ignore 80% of it for my own good #my post #minluce ask #asks tag

[thunder-jolt]

"With a smile wreaking havoc on the media. Makes you wanna know her secret, so mysterious. Hasn't got a flaw, she is an expert in that area. She's a master of a liar, none to rival her! Perfect genius idol-sama!"

"Draw-Jiren-in-Different-Outfits" October Day 2: Idol Outfit

Here, have Jiren in a Hoshino Ai-styled Idol outfit singing his heart out.

#jiren #dbs #dbs jiren #Draw Jiren in different outfits #day 2 #oshi no ko #dragon ball

[idolyoasobi]

無敵の笑顔で荒らすメディア muteki no egao de arasu media She devastates the media with an unbeatable smile.

知りたいその秘密ミステリアス shiritai sono himitsu misuteriasu Everyone wants to know her secret—it makes her mysterious.

抜けてるとこさえ彼女のエリア nuketeru toko sae kanojo no eria Even that ditziness of hers is carefully calculated.

完璧で嘘つきな君は kanpeki de usotsuki na kimi wa A perfect liar, you are

天才的なアイドル様 tensaiteki na aidoru-sama a genius-tier goddess of an idol!

You're my savior

You're my saving grace!

今日何食べた？ kyou nani tabeta? What have you eaten today?

好きな本は？ suki na hon wa? What books do you like to read?

遊びに行くならどこに行くの？ asobi ni iku nara doko ni iku no? Where do you go for fun?

何も食べてない nani mo tabetenai “I haven’t eaten anything in particular.”

それは内緒 sore wa naisho “That’s a secret!”

何を聞かれても nani o kikarete mo I’ve got a nice neutral answer

のらりくらり norarikurari for every question I’m asked.

そう淡々と sou tantan to Yes, both detached

だけど燦々と dakedo sansan to and yet also brilliant,

見えそうで見えない秘密は蜜の味 miesou de mienai himitsu wa mitsu no aji that secret they feel like they can almost glimpse but can’t quite see is the ultimate temptation.

あれもないないない are mo nai nai nai But that’s not it,

これもないないない kore mo nai nai nai and this isn’t it either.

好きなタイプは？ suki na taipu wa? What’s your type?

相手は？ aite wa? Who are you dating right now?

さあ答えて saa kotaete Your answer, miss?

「誰かを好きになることなんて私分からなくてさ」 "dareka o suki ni naru koto nante watashi wakaranakute sa" ”I’ve never really understood what it’s like to grow to love someone.”

嘘か本当か知り得ない uso ka hontou ka shirienai I can’t ever figure out what’s truth and what’s a lie.

そんな言葉にまた一人堕ちる sonna kotoba ni mata hitori ochiru But at those words of mine, yet another one falls.

また好きにさせる mata suki ni saseru I make them fall in love with me again.

誰もが目を奪われていく dare mo ga me o ubawarete iku You snare the gaze of anyone and everyone,

君は完璧で究極のアイドル kimi wa kanpeki de kyuukyoku no aidoru you are perfect, the ultimate idol!

金輪際現れない konrinzai arawarenai You are the rebirth of the brightest star in the sky,

一番星の生まれ変わり ichibanboshi no umarekawari the likes of which none will ever see again!

その笑顔で愛してるで sono egao de aishiteru de With that smile and that “I love you,”

誰も彼も虜にしていく dare mo kare mo toriko ni shite iku you captivate one and all.

その瞳がその言葉が sono hitomi ga sono kotoba ga Even if those eyes and those words

嘘でもそれは完全なアイ uso demo sore wa kanzen na ai are all lies, that is total love.[1]

はいはいあの子は特別です hai hai ano ko wa tokubetsu desu True, true, that girl is special.

我々はハナからおまけです wareware wa hana kara omake desu We’ve always just been extras tacked onto her.

お星様の引き立て役Bです ohoshisama no hikitate yaku B desu We are but second-rate foils to her first-magnitude star.

全てがあの子のお陰なわけない subete ga ano ko no okage na wake nai But it’s not like everything is all thanks to her.

洒落臭い sharakusai Don't be so rude!

妬み嫉妬なんてないわけがない netami shitto nante nai wake ga nai It’s not like we’re jealous, we don’t envy her!

これはネタじゃない kore wa neta ja nai We're not trolling!

からこそ許せない kara koso yurusenai And that’s exactly why we can’t forgive her!

完璧じゃない君じゃ許せない kanpeki ja nai kimi ja yurusenai You’re hardly perfect, we can’t forgive you, of all people!

自分を許せない jibun o yurusenai We can’t forgive ourselves.

誰よりも強い君以外は認めない dare yori mo tsuyoi kimi igai wa mitomenai You’re the strongest person there is, and that’s why we won’t acknowledge anyone but you.

誰もが信じ崇めてる dare mo ga shinji agameteru I am truly the strongest, unbeatable idol

まさに最強で無敵のアイドル masa ni saikyou de muteki no aidoru who everyone believes in and reveres.

弱点なんて見当たらない jakuten nante miataranai There isn’t a single vulnerability to be found in my character.

一番星を宿している ichibanboshi o yadoshite iru I embody the brightest star in the sky.

弱いとこなんて見せちゃダメダメ yowai toko nante misecha damedame I can’t, can’t show them my weak spots.

知りたくないとこは見せずに shiritakunai toko wa misezu ni I’ve gotta make sure they don’t see all the things they don’t want to know.

唯一無二じゃなくちゃイヤイヤ yuiitsumuni ja nakucha iyaiya I won’t, won’t stand for being anything less than the one and only!

それこそ本物のアイ sore koso honmono no ai That is exactly what true love is.

得意の笑顔で沸かすメディア tokui no egao de wakasu media I excite the media with a skillful smile.

隠しきるこの秘密だけは kakushikiru kono himitsu dake wa This secret is the only thing I hide completely,

愛してるって嘘で積むキャリア aishiteru tte uso de tsumu kyaria that my entire career is built on the lie of “I love you.”

これこそ私なりの愛だ kore koso watashi nari no ai da To me, this is exactly what love is.

流れる汗も綺麗なアクア nagareru ase mo kirei na akua Even my streaming sweat is a gorgeous aqua,[2]

ルビーを隠したこの瞼 rubii o kakushita kono mabuta my eyelids each hiding a ruby[3] beneath them.

歌い踊り舞う私はマリア utai odori mau watashi wa maria I am the Virgin Mary of singing, dancing, and stepping,

そう嘘はとびきりの愛だ sou uso wa tobikiri no ai da yes, lies are an unparalleled form of love.

誰かに愛されたことも dareka ni aisareta koto mo I have never once been loved

誰かのこと愛したこともない dareka no koto aishita koto mo nai nor have I ever loved anyone else.

そんな私の嘘がいつか本当になること sonna watashi no uso ga itsuka hontou ni naru koto That’s why I genuinely believe that my lies will someday

信じてる shinjiteru become truth.

いつかきっと全部手に入れる itsuka kitto zenbu te ni ireru I just know that one day, I’ll have it all,

私はそう欲張りなアイドル watashi wa sou yokubari na aidoru because I’m such a greedy idol!

等身大でみんなのこと toushindai de minna no koto I really wish I could love you all

ちゃんと愛したいから chanto aishitai kara just as much as you deserve,

今日も嘘をつくの kyou mo uso o tsuku no and so I tell another lie today,

この言葉がいつか本当になる日を願って kono kotoba ga itsuka hontou ni naru hi o negatte hoping that someday, my words will become true.

それでもまだ soredemo mada And yet, I still

君と君にだけは言えずにいたけど kimi to kimi ni dake wa iezu ni ita kedo couldn’t bring myself to say the same to the two of you…

やっと言えた yatto ieta Ah, I could finally say it.

これは絶対嘘じゃない kore wa zettai uso ja nai I’m certain this isn’t a lie.

愛してる aishiteru I love you.

You're my savior

My true savior

My saving grace!

#idol #yoasobi #anime song #lyrics #lyric posting #media #oshi no ko #anime #jpop #kpop

[nflstreetsanimereviews]

Spring 2023 Anime First Impressions

Below is a list of eight anime that I am watching this season, and my impressions of them so far. I'd also like to say I'm watching the second season of Mahoyome, but I don't think it's necessary to write about it, considering it's a sequel.

Oshi no Ko

To say that Oshi no Ko is the anime to watch this season would be an understatement. The first episode, which has an extended runtime of 82 minutes, is quite possibly one of the best first episodes of an anime that I’ve ever seen. Of course, with around four times the time to air–Oshi no Ko had to justify its feature-length first episode. If it was just average, then what was the point? Thankfully, Oshi no Ko more than justifies the dramatic entrance. The sky-high average rating (89%), while a good omen, seemed like a bit much considering the show just started, but after finally watching it, I can understand why someone would rate it that high. I’m saving my rating until the anime finishes however.

The long run time is only part of why Oshi no Ko was so well received. The stylistic choices (a part brought over by the manga) set it apart from the onset. It really captures the vibe of what an ‘idol’ idealistically is. Considering that Hoshino Ai is the ideal idol, it’s a perfect match. Art isn’t what the only thing that Oshi no Ko has going for it. The story contained within the first episode is a whirlwind. It’s astounding that Oshi no Ko can contain so many various themes and time skips and still maintain to be gripping. It’s not easy for a show to be compelling while essentially being Rugrats at the same time. Oshi no Ko also ‘keeps it real’ in relation to the entertainment industry, and isn’t afraid to show the dark side of fandom. Wrap it all up together, and you have one the best first episodes to an anime in recent memory. Oshi no Ko is from the same mangaka that wrote Kaguya-sama: Love is War–I never got into Kaguya-sama, but Oshi no Ko had me drawn in within the first twenty minutes.

The synopsis for Oshi no Ko does it no favors–I had no idea what the show was going to be about from reading it, which, if you think about it, was actually a good thing. Maybe I’m just a moron. If you really care, you can read it here. As for the time being, it seems that the story has calmed down in the sense that time skips aren’t going to happen as frequently. I don’t know really since I’m an anime-only. With that comes the inevitable coming back down to earth, which is not all that surprising considering that not every episode can have the budget and runtime the first episode did. This isn’t Band of Brothers unfortunately. That being said, the fact that I was spoiled on the ending of the first episode and it still managing to be something that upset me says a lot about the quality of Oshi no Ko. If I had to pick one anime this season to watch, it would be this. It’s the only anime this season that I like enough to pick up the manga.

Skip to Loafer (Skip and Loafer)

Mitsumi Iwakura is born to lead!...no wait, sorry, that sounds too presumptuous…Mitsumi Iwakura wants to lead the charge to make the world a better place…or at least her dinky rural hometown that doesn’t even have a train station. Mitsumi is already a straight-A student, but being from rural Japan, she needs to move to Tokyo if she wants any chance of achieving her goals. Before she attends Tokyo University and becomes a politician/bureaucrat, she moves to Tokyo to go to high school.

On her first day, she gets lost on her way to school in the Tokyo subway system. Being not accustomed to ‘city life’, her only saving grace is Sousuke Shima, fellow classmate, who is late as well. He offers to show her the way to their school, which is the beginning of their rather unlikely friendship.

Shima, who’s a former child actor and has the ‘aloof shoujo male lead’ thing down pat, finds comfort in being friends with someone like Mitsumi–someone who’s good-natured, albeit being very naive and a bit of a square as well. Their friendship, while seemingly unlikely, isn’t hamfisted in any sense. Skip and Loafer is a coming-of-age story that has left a smile on most viewers' faces, mine included. It’s an overused word, but Skip and Loafer has been genuinely wholesome so far, which is good since I don’t know if Mitsumi could handle being in a more melodramatic show. The anime sites seem to compare this to Kimi ni Todoke, which I understand at first glance–they’re both similar shows, but they aren’t clones. Mitsumi is a book-smart dunce–you know, like most teenagers that aspire to a future in politics. However, unlike most teenagers that aspire to a future in politics, Mitsumi is a good person, which is why someone like Shima and many others at Mitsumi’s new high school are friends with her. Skip and Loafer is a good watch.

Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia (Insomniacs After School)

Ganta Nakami suffers from insomnia, which causes him to act irritable and antisocial at school. One day, while scavenging cardboard boxes from the abandoned and ‘haunted’ Astronomy Club observatory, he finds Isaki Magari, sleeping inside a toppled locker inside the clubroom.

Magari, as it turns out, also has insomnia, and the observatory is her getaway. It’s the perfect place to hide away, since sounds from the outside world are blocked out, and because it has a reputation for being ‘haunted’, meaning that it most likely won’t get used as a hang-out spot by other students. Together, they decide to transform the vacant observatory into the perfect place to sleep…that is, until they get caught. In order to keep their ‘secret’ place, they restart the Astronomy Club.

For a slice-of-life, Insomniacs After School manages to be interesting while not having needless drama. The romance seems to be intended to be more of a slow burn–which is perfectly fine with me, considering there’s already romance anime I’m watching this season that has gotten to the point where the main couple is engaged. This anime, while sharing the same theme as Call of the Night, doesn’t share many other themes. The romance, while being a slow burn, does have an obvious path, unlike Call of the Night. I’m honestly really liking this show so far if not only because each episode I’ve seen so far has managed to be interesting in different ways. While Call of the Night was mainly about vampires, Insomniacs After School is going all in on Ganta and Magari taking astronomy seriously. Photography as well. Since I haven’t read any of the manga, I don’t know which of the themes will win out. One thing is that I’ll be watching, since I’ve really liked it so far.

Ao no Orchestra (The Blue Orchestra)

Ao no Orchestra’s entry in this list is a miracle of modern technology. Due to it not being licensed to release in America, the only way of watching it right now is through watching fansubs. And not those ‘fansub’ groups that rip subtitles from Crunchyroll/Funimation/etc. and call it a day–this is the first time I’ve downloaded an anime from a ‘group’ that was formed ad-hoc for an anime in a very long time. It’s a shame too, since I think Ao no Orchestra deserves better than that.

Ao no Orchestra stars violin prodigy Hajime Aono, who stopped playing due to personal reasons. One day at school, he hears the sound of the violin being played horribly. He discovers that Ritsuko Akine is the one polluting the air with her noise. She uses the school infirmary as a practice room–a room that Aono is familiar with himself, being a frequent visitor. Through their mutual love for the violin, Aono finds himself being drawn back to playing. Akine, who is only a beginner, wants Aono to teach her how to play. Aono, who isn’t too thrilled by her forceful attempts to get him to play, nonetheless starts teaching her how to play.

Despite the show being uniquely difficult to obtain, it maintains to be worth the hassle. The British slang does take you by surprise, yes, but maybe if you wait enough, a company will license it and you can watch it on Crunchyroll. Or maybe you can wait until someone else decides to translate it. Or you could just learn Japanese, so you wouldn’t have to deal with this anyways, but that would be too much work. Ao no Orchestra 

Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Bakuen wo! (Konosuba: Megumin Edition)

If you hated every other Konosuba character except for Megumin, are interested in her backstory, or just find the series funny, then Konosuba: Megumin Edition (calling it this because there’s no separate abbreviation for this spin-off and calling it  ‘Konosuba Season 3’ would be lying…wait, how about Konomegu? No? Okay…) is right up your alley.

This spin-off takes place a year before Kazuma and Aqua are isekaied into the Konosuba world and follows Megumin in her studies to be able to cast Explosion magic, an extremely offensive magic that has little utility other than blowing areas up into smithereens. Anyone whose seen Konosuba knows what I’m talking about. With Megumin is fellow Crimson Magic Clan member Yunyun, who shares a main role with Megumin and is together with her in being the two top students in their class.

Even if this is the first Konosuba-related thing you’ve watched, I believe that you’ll have a good time. It’s way less of a bait-and-switch than the first episode of Konosuba was. Pure comedy with none of the lewdness. Megumin is probably the funniest character in my opinion as well, making this a must watch.

Yamada-kun to Lv999 no Koi wo Suru

Imagine being dumped for a girl that your boyfriend met in a video game–Akane Kinoshita doesn’t have to! Being a novice gamer, her sour experience with the MMO Forest Of Savior (FOS) is almost enough to put her off of gaming forever…that is, until she meets Yamada; fellow guildmate who also happens to live in the same area as Akane. He’s also a pro gamer (in a non-descript FPS game), which makes him somewhat of a celebrity among gamers locally.

Yamada-kun is shaping up to be your prototypical shoujo anime–it’s something to watch if you’re into that sort of stuff. I’d like to see more about what Yamada does, being a ‘pro gamer’ and all, but I doubt we’ll ever get to see anything more than surface-level. It’s a shoujo anime, so the romance is what the people are here for. If it does that well, then there’s really nothing else it has to do. It is what it is.

Not much to say about the show since it’s pretty straightforward with what it is. I’m having a good time with it, and I’m not the target audience. 

Kawaisugi Crisis! (Too Cute Crisis!)

Too Cute Crisis! is a very straightforward anime–Liza Luna, who is a research scientist and a higher-up in the invading alien empire (I forgot the name of it) discovers Earth. She wants to destroy it, but not without doing reconnaissance first.

She arrives in Japan, where she is ‘attacked’ by the cuteness of Earth’s creatures. Liza is mesmerized by the cuteness of cats (and dogs too), so much so that it paralyzes and makes her docile to the cat she adopts. In all of her time conquering planets, she has never seen anything as cute as a cat before. The cuteness of an animal that can’t be controlled makes her believe that cats are the secret rulers of Earth…and she might just be right.

This is by far the most lighthearted show I’m watching this season–anything with cats or any other furry pets really is cheating! The fact that everyone seems to chill with an alien race potentially razing Earth a la General Sherman is a bit odd, but it’s not like Too Cute Crisis! is focusing on that. Liza being an alien has made for good gags so far. I’ve had some laughs from Too Cute Crisis! so far, but I have a feeling that this show is going to end up being forgettable. It’s the catch with these types of shows. It's a show reliant on the jokes hitting. And currently, they're hitting often enough to justify continuing watching.

Otonari ni Ginga (A Galaxy Next Door)

Mangaka Ichirou Kuga is barely making ends meet–ever since their father died, he’s had to support his two younger siblings on his own with the earnings from drawing manga. He’s also the landlord of a social apartment (an apartment house with a common area), where he, his siblings, and several other people live in. There are no bad landlords in anime, unless if needed to advance the plot.

When he’s just about to miss a deadline, Shiori Goshiki applies to be his new assistant (his last two left to pursue their own dreams). Goshiki, despite only knowing about manga for a year, is excellent at her job as a manga assistant–excellent to the point where it’s otherworldly. Funnily enough, turns out that Goshiki IS from another world…well, from a shooting star but you get my point. They’re both unwillingly betrothed to each other when Kuga accidentally touches her stinger.

The fact that she’s an alien seems not to phase Kuga that much. I guess it’s okay when the alien is great at her job and a sweetheart to boot. Of the two anime I’m watching this season featuring a conventionally attractive alien woman, A Galaxy Next Door is by far the more serious one. Like Too Cute Crisis!, A Galaxy Next Door might end up being forgettable. It’s the way it’s shaping up so far. It isn’t that bad–just a bit dull so far. A standard supernational romance anime. Take it or leave it.

#anime first impressions #anime

[utapri-translations-uuuu]

7th Stage Special Interview - Terashima Takuma (Translation)

"Please give us your voices and smiles so that we can fill this large space with positive feelings. Let's have fun!"

No reposting or retranslating without permission.

Click read more for the full interview.

What did you think about the shooting for this pamphlet? 

The shooting for the Uta☆Pri pamphlet is already fun just because of the concept, and the bright atmosphere in the studio always makes me excited.  Also, personally, I changed the star-shaped earrings I've been using from white to gold, since I feel like ST☆RISH has evolved once again.

How did you feel when you first heard about the 7th STAGE?

I was happy.  “7” is an important number for ST☆RISH, which has become complete with 7 members, so there is a special feeling in the simple joy of being allowed to perform live again.

Please tell us your impression of "Uta no☆Prince-sama! Maji LOVE Kingdom" after having watched the completed film.

While I was amazed by the performances of QUARTET NIGHT and HE★VENS, I also thought in relation to ST☆RISH that "We've come this far!".

This sense of security isn’t something that has been achieved without hard work. But that's why I have a hunch that we might be able to do something greater/riskier in the future.

Also, I think that the successful realization of the difficult task of doing a “live” in a movie has led to the confidence of the work “Uta☆Pri”.

I was invited to speak at the “Anime Expo 2019” screening with Mamo-chan (Miyano Mamoru), and we were told beforehand that there might not be many people there because it was the first time. But as it turned out, it was packed full, and I was really moved to be able to experience the love for Uta☆Pri around the world starting from people in the United States.

What were your thoughts on the special unit song "Up-Down-Up!" that Otoya participated in?

No matter who he works with, he is always influenced by them, and his ability to stay true to his "Otoya" character at the same time is what makes him so wonderful. Especially this time, working with the two extremes, the strict Ai-senpai and the cheerful Van, was definitely a good experience. In the drama part, it was refreshing to see how Otoya, who is so straightforward and passionate in everything he does, could "skip work" with Van.

The song was dance-focused, which is typical of "idol" music, and it felt more like a "live viewing" than a movie, which I believe was perfect for the first performance of the special units. I also like the costumes, which boldly used camouflage patterns that had never been seen before in "Uta☆Pri".

The costumes of the other units are also pretty distinct, right?

Personally, I think "Feather in the hand" is miraculously beautiful in every way, from the costumes to the performance to the chemistry between the members. The end result is just heavenly.

It was ST☆RISH's "Fantasic☆Prelude" that marked the beginning of the live. The start with a countdown was reminiscent of their origin, don’t you think?

I could see how much Uematsu (Uematsu Noriyasu) and his team cherish everything they have done so far. At the same time, I could feel that it is because of the presence of the fans that the seven of them can keep going without being overwhelmed by the weight of their history. The countdown and name-calling are also "official fanchants", so if we sing this song at the live, I would like you to please join.

Is there anything else you felt about the group's performance?

I thought it was amazing how "Ultrablast" managed to capture the feel of a real "live" by using the most realistic special effects at the climax of the performance. Moreover, we have also used flames when singing at the fan meetings, so I could see how their performance was full of spirit. The wish to show how much they’ve worked and their "offensive" stance/position combined lit up flames.

Also, when they were going to the main stage, he waved his hands to the audience without worrying about the camera, which I thought was very Otoya-like, and my favorite part was when Tokiya drew a heart mark toward the camera as if saying “I love you”. I'm impressed by Tokiya's humility and boldness, performing such fan service off-mic. That said, it just seemed that way to me, and I'm not sure if it's true or not.

I think the fact that they added the detail of the shoulder movements when they were catching their breath at the end of the song. There are parts that overlap with the live performances that we have done, and I thought that it was a movie that really consolidated the years, including our (the actors) own experiences.

The first song sung by all 18 members “Maji LOVE Kingdom” is also deeply moving.

I was happy to be able to feel like we were friends who were creating a live performance together, when the groups did each other’s hand signs, for example. In the end, Otoya stood in the middle of the three groups, which made me proud as a partner who has walked together with him for a long time.

It’s a live show where the staff in charge of the camera did a good job, wouldn’t you agree?

That’s right! I can see how the staff members watched the documentaries (dramas) of the idols and wondered what they could do behind the scenes to convey the appeal of the idols. I know that this is actually what we, the actors, are thinking about as well. I wonder how we can make their character/personality shine through in our performances and singing...

Do you think that the release of your solo best album has helped you gain a renewed understanding and appreciation of your idol?

Yes, the new songs were especially powerful. The fact that there are things that can be noticed through the music is what makes "Uta☆Pri" what it is. "I am Here” reminded me of some of the things I said in my greeting at the live performance. I realized once again that if I can help them grow in this way, I want to work even harder myself.

When I asked Broccoli-san if Otoya himself had written the lyrics of "Ai to Yoberu ki no Shita de," they immediately pulled out an interview of Otoya that served as the basis for the question and answered "Yes!”, I was shocked to hear that answer.

I realized how much his creators love him, and that even though I thought I was the closest person to him, there were people who I had overlooked or carelessly forgotten about.

The reason why I added a breath at the beginning of the song is because I wanted to make a song where you can really feel Otoya's "life".

Please tell us about some of the most memorable moments from past live performances.

All the unit songs from the "Theater Shining'' series performed at the 5th STAGE left a lasting impression on me. For example, I remember the three members of "Polaris'' wearing very tight-fitting costumes (laughs). I rode on a trolley for "Pirates of the Frontier'', and it was fun to share the waiting time with the audience who noticed me nearby. Also, I’m always impressed by the lengths Shimono (Hiro)-san is willing to go! He overcomes his own limits to be able to do what only Syo can do. As for me, I believe that there is a balance that connects Otoya and me on stage. There are times when I've gone overboard and regretted it, but it's fun to think about what to do each time. 

Then, what do you want to say right now to the idol who will be your partner in the live performance?

I want to ask him what he wants me to do. Among those things, I want to do what I can and also try my best with the things I’m not good at.

Finally, a message to "Uta☆Pri" fans who purchased this pamphlet!

Please give us your voices and smiles so that we can fill this large space with positive feelings. Let’s have fun together!

#utapri #uta no prince sama #terashima takuma #otoya ittoki #interview #7th stage #translation #english #pamphlet #seiyuu