#first yoshida. now nail

[blueparadis]

❝ GOOD GIRL ❞ + AKI HAYAKAWA.

+. CWs —» f!reader, m!oral, f→m receiving, cum-play, corruption k!nk; word count — 1kish

+. PRECIS —» Sometimes Aki takes a little advantage as your supervisor.

+. NOTES —» each and every brain cell is soaked in his thoughts which is quite shocking for me since I'm Yoshida stan but oh well we shall see; to read more of my works browse through navigation links.

One and a half months of being under division four. One and a half months yet all he did was to howl orders to all the members in his unit. You didn't anticipate how you would end up working under him given the fact he was once your supervisor.

Aki was anything but professional. He shared his half burnt cigarettes, listened to your stories with rapt attention about how you ended up being from ordinary college girl to a devil hunter. Sometimes he would hit the bar with you and he did all of it in the name of breaking ‘rules are meant to be broken’.

If you were to tell these to anyone in his unit they would probably think you were talking about someone else but fortunately you don't have a habit of rambling if things became haywire. And things did become haywire.

It seems like a common notion to conclude that you wouldn't be under the same division led by your supervising officer. Aki believed that too yet he could not help but bring you home after you nailed your first hunt.

“Open your mouth.” Aki snarls, looking down at you as you sit on his bed, folding your legs, with your knees kissing the bed sheet.

“Why … ?”, your voice drifts as his eyes meticulously scan you from head to torso. Your eyebrows jump deciphering his thoughts. “But I’ve... never...” you stammer, struggling to put it in words let alone do what he demands of you.

“sucked a cock, yea ?. Right” Aki finishes, holding your chin up so he has your eyes at him. He rejoices at the bashful sight of yours, eager to try yet unaware of how to proceed.

You lick your lower lip feeling the warmth smothering your cheeks carefully conveying, . “y... y-es. never... did that.”

Your sheepish whisper, the coyness in your glimmering pupils that is roaming all over the dim apartment room of his refusing to look at him and those perfectly plush lips that declines to say the word makes Aki’s heart bubble with joy.

He wishes to fuck you in all positions known to a man. He wants to fuck you on this very bed you are seated to the point that your supple skin becomes flush, your pussy all sore, your mind betraying you.

But he can wait. He wants to wait, wait and see how long this ivory facade of yours is gonna last.

“come on, you've never . . .” Aki demands, lips curving in delight hoping that you'd say the word, imagining how lewd you'd look. He grasps your chin as you blink and manage to blurt out, “i... i’ve never sucked a... cock... before.”

Aki grins , his cock pulsating inside his pants as he leans closer to your face, crouching so he could look your eager eyes. “you will ... now.”, he rasps finally releasing his cock from his pants, pumping it a few times in front of your astonished face before lining it up to your mouth. You clear your throat staring at his girth.

“i don’t know how...” , Aki’s brow jumps in fascination, “hold and spit on the head.” what on earth did he do to have to go through all these? Not that he complains but he has experienced sloppy blow jobs to mind ravaging ones that made him never go for the inexperienced ones.

But here you’re, his one and a half months subordinate, popular and demanding devil hunter who has not only managed to occupy his bed but also his mind.

“wh-at?” you blink at him, lips slightly brushing against the swollen head of his cock. Aki brings froth his cock closer to your mouth while holding your head in place so as to push the tip to your lips, to open by lightly grazing.

“ lick it, the pre. . . a good girl should.”You open your mouth slightly, feeling your pussy clenching around nothing when his precum spills on your tongue. You squeeze your eyes shut wrapping your mouth around the head.

“fuck,” Aki hisses, spreading his feet on to the floor mat , toes curling to prevent himself from jamming his cock into your mouth.

“Yeah, like that.”, he assures as half of his cock enters your mouth, saliva coating your mouth due to inexperience which Aki finds to be an undeniably alluring sight. A soft moan escapes your lips, eyes widening to glance at him with your brows pinching together as you notice him let out a groan. He only smirks at you encouraging you.

“you’re doing great, baby,” Aki cooes, watching as you struggle to suck him all in. “like that. Mmgh...just like that,” his words roll smoothly, eyes focusing on your stretched lips that are wrapped around his cock. You work your mouth wider, throat bobbing to adjust to his length touching the back of your throat.

“Wait…ugh… stop.” Aki’s voice becomes ragged that makes your heart drop instantly, you're not sure why that is.

“lick it.”, he instructs in one breath without meeting the eye.You glup all your wary before flattening your tongue ready to lick on his silky smooth shaft.

You accumulate a little bit of courage to lick and suck half-way of his throbbing member, occasionally earning more of his low moans. This is why he likes to work with you, a few straight directions and you're quick enough to build your own pace.

He cups your face with both of his palms before snapping his hips forward, making your nose graze the skin above his cock. You gag, tears suddenly pooling at the corner of your eyes yet Aki refuses to stop. He slowly thrusts in and out, his grip getting stronger trying his best not to lose control.

“take it,” he grunts. “All. Of. It”Aki never bothered to have a memory of how many times he had his cock sucked by different girls who has worked with him and who has not worked with him. Sometimes, he doesn't even bother to know the name unless they’re from his line of work.

He rarely sullies his professional relationship. He has no iota of idea of how many times he has shot his cum down someone else’s throat while still face-fucking them. You are no where to be labelled as skilled.

However, he can't deny that this one would imprint on his mind. Aki groans head inclining upwards with his Adam's apple being pronouncedly on display. “holy fuck,” he utters as his fluid fills your mouth, some escaping along the lines of your lips, some spilling on bedsheets. He pulls out his cock jerking a few times before zipping it up inside his pants.

And as he does he looks at you amazed how your cheeks are bulged, a lazy pout forming on your face. “swallow it” he pants rashly and you obey him without a second thought gulping his fluid down. You tore your gaze away immediately licking your lips thinking of what to do now, fidgeting with the loose ends of your unbuttoned shirt.

Aki still finds its amusing how a skilled devil hunter like you ended up being his subordinate. He thinks you're quite skilled to be a solo operator or perhaps he has grown fond of your pretty face.

“Good girl,” Aki chimes with a smile before kissing your puffy lips pushing you down to the soft mattress. There is a reflexive resistance as he desperately sucks your lips. You hum before caving in to his kiss as he proceeded to your neckline.

“God, you're so cute.”, and in that moment you regretted it, all of these, letting your heart soak in desires and affection. Perhaps,he did too when you desperately clawed his back as you deepened the kiss.

—

@akicore , @tokyometronetwork

#csm smut #aki smut #aki hayakawa smut #chainsaw man smut #aki x reader #aki x you #aki x y/n #aki hayakawa x reader #aki hayakawa x you #aki hayakawa x y/n #hayakawa aki smut #csm x reader #csm x you #csm drabble #smut drabble #smut fanfiction #smut fic #csm fic #csm fanfic #chainsaw man x reader #chainsaw man x you #chainsaw man x y/n #chainsaw man fanfiction #chainsaw man drabble #csm imagine #aki imagines #csm scenarios #hayakawa aki x reader #chainsawman x reader #smut fics

[nyimasu]

───── 𝐼𝑁𝐾 (𝑀𝐴𝑆𝑇𝐸𝑅)

tags! 🕸️ yoshida hirofumi x f!reader, 18+ content — devil fucking/monsterfucking (literally), oral (f receiving), lots of spit is involved, pet names (doll), slight praise kink, double penetration, dirty talk, teasing, impact play (spanking) ... this is pure filth but yolo — 2.8k

P.S : this work can be interpreted as a second part to this one, or a stand-alone fic, also all characters are aged up

🕷️ — ao3 link!

Sometimes your brain brings you to places you shouldn’t be, to meet people twice as horny as you are.

Except it’s not with a person that you’re dealing with tonight ‒ well, not just your man, at least –, but with something entirely different.

A being made of ink and whose desires you can no longer deny it.

“Come closer.”

Your eyelids flutter at the tone, but you do as instructed and crawl backwards on your knees, right where it wants you to be. Yet your sweaty back clashes with a human chest, not tentacles, before reaching the edge of the bed.

Slender fingers come to press into the flesh of your hips and you giggle. There’s no need to turn, for you know how needy the man behind you is, already.

You grind on your boyfriend’s hard-on in retaliation, sighing in unison with him when you feel his cock twitch and slap against your lower back.  

Small victories before I’m completely annihilated by the inhuman one, you think to yourself with an inner smile. What little decency you have left goes straight to the drain.

“Hey, stranger. I thought you were going to sit this one out.” the words fall off your lips calmly, almost teasing as you continue saying, “Can’t really let your Devil have all the fun tonight, am I right?”

Black locks frame part of your face as the man behind you tilts your head towards his. His lips stretch upward, and you feel the impish smile on your own when he kisses you. The scent of seawater in your nostrils, the wet touch of excitement dripping down your legs with just a touch of his ‒ theirs ‒ is enough for you to drown in.

Yoshida is one hell of a tease, and the Octopus Devil is no less aggravating. It is the latter that is playing with you now, and its partner had agreed not to participate in the little carousel of sins.

But then again: like master, like puppet.

Deceitful till the end.

“How can I be on the sidelines when you look like this? I can’t help myself, you know that.” Yoshida points out, his dominant hand now descending between your thighs. 

“So pretty”, his index and middle fingers’ pads flatten on your clit and you lurch forward. Out of instinct, you arch your back like a cat while you stretch your arms on the bed, nails ready to dig in the soft mattress as pleasure takes over because it will overshadow every shred of embarrassment you might still have. 

The sight in front of him, of your glistening cunt puffy with need, almost knocks Yoshida off his feet. “Fuck.”

Transfixed on the view in front of him, the Devil Hunter follows in your footsteps. He rolls down to his knees, joining you on the bed. 

Then he bends over you until his face is almost buried in your folds. 

“Yoshida.” you shoot him a warning look from above your shoulder, but he dodges it with a simple puff of air. He exhales on your pussy and the truth of it all settles in you.

He’s a mad man tonight. Long gone is the time for you to persuade him.

A Devil and its Hunter are joining forces to take you apart.

As the diligent man he is, Yoshida pulls away to gently tug at your knees and you spread your legs almost immediately. 

That earns you a kiss on the back and one in the crook of your inner thighs, right where you feel your boyfriend’s hair tickle your skin as he tastes your juices on his tongue.

At first, you don’t realize who he’s talking to. 

“If there’s a God up there, they must know how much I love to eat you out from the back. Today is my lucky day.

Are you okay with that, my friend?”

But when you feel the grim voice of the Octopus Devil in your head, everything clicks.

“Yes. Prepare her for me.”

“My pleasure.” that’s all Yoshida says before he buries his face in your pussy. You don’t even have time to react that his tongue sneaks out of his mouth and it’s already inching up. It takes the man only a matter of seconds to spread your ass cheeks apart with his hands to run his wet muscle up your fold to lick, savor you. 

The sole knowledge of him devouring you like a famished man makes you dizzy, and the goosebumps awakening all over your spine don’t escape Hirofumi’s gaze.

“Look at you. You’re gushing.” your boyfriend sings-songs on your exposed flesh, but gives you no time to reply to that, easing a finger into your pussy to silence you while his tongue goes in and out of your other hole. Only a soft gasp escapes you, but it turns into a loud whisper as you feel Yoshida draw back to push his thumb in your ass hole, stretching open the tight ring of muscles to keep himself busy. 

If he indulges his thoughts, his sensations, he’d be coming all over your back already.

He’s that much of a sucker for you. But tonight, he won’t give in to his needs. He won’t stray from the ultimate goal.

That being said, it doesn’t mean he will cut you some slack.

He’s grinning like a maniac when he adds, “Guess I won’t need to use a lot of spit tonight. You’re enjoying yourself a bit too much. 

Am I right, doll?”

You melt in a puddle of goo and let out a breathy ‘y-yes”. Like a block of clay, you are ready for the man behind you and his devilish friend to be shaped and molded on their whims and fancies.

“Is she ready?”

Yoshida chuckles, and his warm breath has you moaning on the fitted sheets of the mattress. 

He’s already withdrawing and instinct takes over. 

“Don’t be impatient, Octopus. You'll have a piece of her soon enough. Or two, if she doesn’t want me to touch her any longer. 

I’ll stop right away.”

A hand of yours flies to his nape, fingers digging into his skin and breath itching in your chest. Strings of desperate pleas drip down your parted lips, tears of frustration start to build up in your eyes, as well. 

It works like a charm. All he wanted was an explicit consent, and you gave them both one laced with craving. And that’s more than enough.

You shake your head gingerly, voice cracking. You yield, cry in want, “No, no! Please, don’t stop. I want you, Hiro. 

I want you both inside me.”

You nod, followed by a brazen smile, pushes Yoshida to continue his ministration. He’s all over you again, eating you out in earnest as you keen and squirm. Under the relentless pace he sets, with Yoshida’s tongue and fingers on and in you, you don’t notice a tentacle has snaked its way towards you until you feel it rest on your hip. 

“Fine, then. 

You’ll take us both like the good girl you are, uhm?” 

“She’s ready.” 

It's not a question this time, but a fact. You sigh in anticipation, and the hand still hooked behind your boyfriend’s head falls at your side, and your upper torso collapses on the mattress.

But Hirofumi doesn’t stop, and he even grabs you by your hair to turn your head, to see for yourself as he stands up behind you. His other hand stays in place and his nails scratch your scalp deliciously when Yoshida licks his fingers clean to then unload a huge amount of spit on his palm.

The world blurs, and you feel your eyes roll in the back of your head as he adds fuel to the fire, smearing it all over your ass and pussy slowly, circling your clit a few times with a wet thumb.

You are at your limit already, and whose fault is that? Oh, right.

Yours, and yours only.

But you’re not complaining, not in the slightest. Especially if it brings you closer to fulfilling one of your wildest, wettest dreams ever dreamt by you. Or anyone else, because it really was a filthy, down-right mess of tentacles, spit, cum and moans.

And now it’s starting to look exactly like that.

Yoshida’s body is taut against yours as he claims, “Her pussy is mine.”

“Fine with me. I’ll have her ass, then.” 

A sudden shiver shakes you. You wouldn’t think such straightforwardness would turn you on, but it does. 

And for the first time in a while, you just give in to the moment and allow the Devil Hunter to kiss the small on your back, bite the tender skin close to your ass and push himself into you at once. Momentum and sharp thrusts are what you all need this time.

Your whimpers increase in volume as you feel yourself opening up for the Octopus as its tentacle works through your tightness, pushing through the spit as it takes its place in you. 

Pure muscle, slippery with the mess flowing between your legs. That’s what is bruising your insides, stroking each and every one without struggle. 

It’s huge, but no suckers in sight. Small mercies, these are the thoughts running amok in your mind while your legs tremble and your heart leaps out of your chest.

It’s really happening.

You lean into Yoshida, vision fogged by pleasure. Then he bottoms out, as he’s already done a thousand times before, but what really sets you on fire is the moment it does, too.

“Breathe through your nose. You need to relax.”

“I feel s-so full”, you’re nothing but a babbling mess right now, “give me a minute.”

The man hugs you from behind. “We’re not going anywhere. Take all the time you need, love.”

It hits you where it hurts, and your voice matches the storm inside you as you hiss, “You don’t even have a nose. Don’t tell me what to do.”

Nothing happens for a few minutes, and you do calm yourself a bit. But then Yoshida picks up a neck-breaking space, and a sudden sting on your lower half shakes you.

Turning, you see your boyfriend’s hand collide with your ass cheek again, pistoning in you at the same time while his other hand wraps around your throat.

As if it’s not enough, the Devil joins him and another tentacle literally spanks you as you yelp, knees pressing harder against the bed. 

“Do not disrespect me again, girl. My patience is running thin, and you don’t want me to stop now, don’t you? Answer me.”

Your body responds before your mouth does. Shaking at the thought, you whimper out a soft “sorry, I won’t do it again”, and the Octopus emits a sort of strained sund, almost as if it’s laughing at your eagerness.

My God. You’re a mess. 

Cramped between Yoshida and the Octopus Devil, you feel fucking needed. You’re the object of all their desires, and for you to give in to their joint touch so easily is a bliss.

Without warning, Hirofumi hides his face in the crook of your neck, nuzzling at it with affection, devotion even, as the friction between your bodies escalates. 

Perspiration rolls down like waterfalls from you both, but it is what he whispers on your ear shell that makes you wetter, to clench around his cock and its tentacle like crazy. Yoshida almost stops in his tracks, overwhelmed, but he grunts on your skin and declares, “Be ready to be covered in my cum, doll. Oh, you feel so good around us.

Am I right, Octopus?”

The Devil simply sighs in your minds, too busy diving in and out of your ass at a maddening pace. Hungry for a shattering orgasm, you buck into their thrusts and they both stop for a split second, surprised by how desperate you are seeming to become by the second.

“You want to come?” Yoshida asks, eyes skittering all over your form and you nod, gripping the sheets as the coil in your stomach grows tighter. 

It pinches you just right as the dark-haired Devil Hunter gives a final, sharp thrust in your cunt and his Devil stills in you, letting your body adjust to it when the orgasm you so longed for washes over your limbs. You really collapse on the mattress with both of them still inside you, while white-hot jabs of pure euphoria embed in your every cell. 

Still you rock your hips back and forth, relishing in the way Yoshida’s shaft grazes your walls and the tentacle in your ass clogs you with its girth. 

His vision tunnels into it and after that, Yoshida Hirofumi is a thinking man no more.

“Hiro, please. Come.

Don’t make me wait.” your plea, laced with the sight of you prying open your lower lips with both hands, hit him like a trainwreck. 

“Fuck, fuck. Fuck.” his growls are wolfish, and a demon seems to possess him because while you’re still riding your own release, he goes searching for his own, driving himself impossibly further into you. You just moan, too far gone to do anything else, but cover his hands on your waist with yours when he finally comes, shooting his semen deep and hard in you. But that doesn’t stop him, and he pumps his cum back into you until your legs cramp and you twitch in overstimulation.

“Did you forget about me?”

The first thing you see after Yoshida pulls out of you is his face. He sidles up to you and pulls you in for a soothing kiss you accept amidst smiles. The man has stars in his eyes,  pussy-drunk, as he stares at you.

“Was I too rough?”

You tilt your head. “Of course not. I like it rough, dumbass.”

Aware of the tone, you arch your back against the tentacle and chuckle. “I could never. Come on, do your worst, Octopus. I won’t stop you.”

Lewd, sinful sounds erupt from you as Yoshida turns your head around again to let you see what’s happening. His thick seed still descends down your inner thighs, but you feel another bead of wetness mix with it when another tentacle, a third one, laps up the mess to then rub it on your ass. 

“Relax. You’re too pretty to be so tense around me. Can you do it?”

The Devil doesn’t have to ask you twice. Moaning, you cut off your body’s protest and mewl when the tentacle clasps inside you. Dull is the ache between your legs but you couldn’t care less.

Already feeling another orgasm approaching, it doesn’t take long for Yoshida to give the Devil a go, and the entity thrusts into you all at once. 

And its other tentacles come out to play, as well.

You try to break out into loud whimpers, but the view is so breathtaking that you close your mouth as Yoshida gazes at your expressions, starstruck.

You’re a beauty.

The thick tentacle in your pussy, with the other still in your other hole, is more than enough to rip you apart. The squelching noises are intoxicating.

But then, the Devil lives up to its name, and the third one presses against your clit.

“Let’s kick this up a notch.”   

A sucker appears out of nowhere, and it starts sucking and stimulating your engorged bud. That’s too much for you to handle and you come with a choked scream, limbs shaking and chest flat against the bed as your face is smashed against Hirofumi’s chest. 

“Good.” 

Low hums accompany you through the high, and you’re able to see straight again, you’re welcomed by your boyfriend’s wicked smile. The tentacles are gone, and so is the Octopus Devil’s presence from your mind.

To say you’re spent would be an understatement.

You lay on your stomach, exhausted, and watch as Hirofumi The earrings on his ears beam under the dim light of the table lamp next to him when he leans into you, leaving a small kiss on the corner of your lips.

“Fear not, girl. I’m satisfied for now. But when the urge will be back, I hope you’ll be ready for me. In the meantime, enjoy your bath with my Devil Hunter.”

“My beautiful doll. You really are something unique. Come, let’s go for a bath.”

“Not with Octopus. I need some days to recover.”

And with that, it withdraws for good. A dash of excitement covers you like a thin veil. There will be another time, for sure. And maybe many more.

Your chuckles are ecstatic when you turn to Yoshida. “My Devil Huntr? It seems our mutual friend can be sentimental.”

He grunts, taking you in his arms as he walks towards the bathroom. Only when you’re both in the bathtub with hot water running on your skin and bubbles covering you he confesses, desperate,

“Don’t get me started.”

© azanthys — do not copy, translate, repost and modify my works.

#voice of cassandra #yoshida hirofumi #yoshida hirofumi smut #yoshida smut #yoshida x you #csm smut #chainsaw man smut

[dropintomanga]

Given - Wanting to be Heard Loud and Clear

"If one day you woke up, and the person you love was suddenly gone from this world, how would that make you feel? How would you describe it?"

While we usually get along with the people we care about, there's always bound to be arguments. They more often than not revolve around subtle things, but sometimes, they do get deadly serious in a hurry. And when they don't get resolved, well, let's just say that boundaries have been crossed for the worst.

I just started reading Natsuki Kizu's Given and the first arc (which was the entire 1st season of the anime) explores the tension of wanting to express yourself while being overwhelmed with grief that you can't easily explain.

Given is about a rock band made up of 4 young men whose troubled pasts and their shared love of music brought them together. The first arc is about two members, Ritsuka Uenoyama and Mafuyu Sato. The story starts off with Uenoyama wanting to take a break at a staircase in his high school. He catches a very timid Mafuyu sitting there as well and notices that the latter is carrying a guitar. When Uenoyama notices that a string on the guitar is broken, he offers to fix it. The two would connect and Uenoyama introduces Mafuyu to his other bandmates, Akihiko Kaji and Haruki Nakayama. Mafuyu is offered to join the band and is even asked to sing for them.

When the 4 of them are getting ready for a performance at a concert, Mafuyu's past is slowly revealed. Uenoyama and Mafuyu run into each other after Mafuyu's job interview. They would bump into an old friend of Mafuyu's, who reveals that the guitar Mafuyu has in his possession is from someone he loved in the past. Mafuyu panics and Uenoyama tries to comfort him. However, Mafuyu can't bring to words about his past while Uenoyama starts to realize that he's having a strong feeling towards Mafuyu. Tension between the two starts to happen and threatens to tear the band apart.

We later learn that the guitar is from a childhood friend turned lover of Mafuyu's, Yuki Yoshida. Yoshida would later die and it was suspected to be a suicide. Mafuyu is unsure about the role of Yuki's guitar in his life as he just took it for Yuki's mom's sake. Is he moving forward or running away?

It's difficult to talk about suicide and especially if it was your partner. Mafuyu comments how he's not really good at expressing himself outside having a great singing voice. I sometimes think about how hard it is talk about the dead. You think things will be fine as long as you're together. Sadly, it's not always that simple. The past is strong. Your memories of someone you lost just don't go away easily. Sometimes, you still see the person wherever you go.

When I look at Mafuyu, it felt like Yoshida's death hasn't fully sunk in yet. He carries the guitar and his mind in a in-between phase between holding on to his old reality and his new reality. Things that were once neat and organized are now scattered. Mafuyu is struggling to catch up or is in the process of doing so.

What complicated Mafuyu's thought process were the events leading up to Yoshida's death. The two would have an argument about Yuki's growing love for music, which was slowly drifting them apart. Yuki said he would quit and that he couldn't live without Mafuyu. Mafuyu then said that Yuki should die for him if that's the case. Those words became the hammer that drove the nail in as Yuki drank himself to death.

There's a part I enjoyed before the concert in Volume 2 where Mafuyu finally realizes what he has to do. During one rehearsal a week before the concert, Akihiko tells the band to stop practicing because of the constant tension between Mafuyu and Uenoyama. He would later talk to Mafuyu about lyrics for a song they want to do. Akihiko acknowledges Mafuyu's pain and tells him,

"If you don't come to terms with your past, you won't be able to write those lyrics. You need to make a decision. Do you want to express those feelings? Or do you want to run away from putting them into words?"

The magic would start to happen at the concert when Uenoyama becomes able to communicate how he feels about Mafuyu's impact on his life. Mafuyu would finally express his loneliness in dramatic fashion in front of a crowd. He says something that made me tear up,

"The truth is...the truth is, I've always just wanted someone to hear me scream out this pain and misery that's stuck inside. Even if it's just a little...I wanted someone to understand."

Many of us carry something emotionally heavy inside of us. While it's considered not okay by most of the public to talk about it, we have to talk about it. At the same time, there's definitely people out there who don't want to understand the pain we're in. They don't want to see the weight we carry.

It's funny because while we talk about preventing the stigma about talking things mental health-related, the stigma still exists. I wonder if that's because there's definitely topics that hit too close to home for some people and we can't take on that kind of pain. There's also a cultural aspect that makes awareness movements just lip service. I see this in Mafuyu because he didn't know who to turn to about processing Yuki's death.

What saved everything was direct communication with people who were willing to listen and not be freaked out by the trauma. Uenoyama was a bit bothered at first, but he realized how much Mafuyu was trying to be a good performer and wanted to love him for it. Akihiko and Hikari were the senpais offering their ears and voices as needed without being too preachy.

I see myself in Mafuyu quite a bit as I know someone I loved will die one day of a terminal illness. There's definitely words that I regret saying and not saying. I carry parts of them in my life and I pretend they're still talking to me. Mafuyu said "I'm so lonely" and I still feel that way at times. But lately, I'm starting to have a different outlook and know that my life isn't over when they're gone. I've replaced them with newer people I care about gradually.

I hope that people who need someone who's compassionate enough to listen to them are given that someone like Mafuyu has.

#Given #manga #anime #Natsuki Kizu #Mafuyu Sato #Ritsuka Uenoyama #mental health #grief #relationships #communication #BL manga

[gloryseized]

13 and 19 for the multi ask

Ask Meme: Multimuse Meme!

13. what’s a weird headcanon you have for each of your muses?

Idk if these headcanons are weird but maybe just ones I haven't posted before

Link -- (BOTW!Link specifically) The hand signs he uses were taught to him by his father, who was also a knight, so the signs are actually based off of Hyrulian military sign language.

Akira -- Akira used to have a bad habit of biting his nails when he was nervous, but he forcibly stopped himself from doing this habit while going through the trial after the accusation with Shido.

Marinette -- She has a carefully curated box under her bed of various drawings she's made over time. Sometimes she goes through to purge out designs she doesn't like anymore, but she has kept her first dress she ever designed she did at 8 years old.

Will -- Will was the youngest counselor of any of the main cabins for awhile after Michael Yew died, becoming the head of the Apollo cabin at 12.

Mimir -- In addition to spending some of his youth in the court of Oberon, he also did some brief traveling to Greece where he hung out with Dionysus a bit for some wild parties. He mostly doesn't remember these parties.

Duck -- Duck is a vegetarian, even as a girl.

19. for each muse, is there a character you wish had a blog so you could interact with them?

Link -- Spoiled for choice with this right now and it's great! Maaaybe Purah?

Akira -- I would love to write with more of the adult confidants, especially Yoshida, but any would be very fun! Also Lala-chan.

Marinette -- Again, definitely spoiled for choice with this muse in the most lovely way! But it would be very fun to write with a Felix~

Will -- It would be very fun to write with an Apollo because. Hmmmm he's got a lot to work through.

Mimir -- He is a quieter muse in general, so I haven't had a chance to interact much with even g.ow muses, but that being said, I would love to dig into it with an Odin.

Duck -- Anyone and everyone from Duck's canon tbh!! I just cannot get enough of this show, so any chance to write with other PTT muses, I would love!

#ooc. #vigilantdesert #thus it is written || headcanons.

[captainhysunstuff]

Transcript:  The Chain - Anxiety

The Chain - Anxiety comic

*Light wakes up to the sound of clicking*

Light:  Mmm...  Good morning.

L:  *violently chewing nails*

Light:  L?  Hmm.  *grabs L’s hand, looks and sighs* You’ve bitten right through!  Come on!

*Light puts a bandage on L’s thumb*

Light:  There!

L:  I still have nine other fingers.

Light:  Well, let that one heal!

L:  ...Thank you.

Light:  What?  Are you anxious?

L:  ...A little.

Light:  Right.  Today’s the day.  Higuchi gets caught tonight.

L:  If everything goes smoothly.

Light:  We’re ready, right?

L:  Yes.  The time block at Sakura TV is secured.  Everything with Yoshida Productions is taken care of.  The cameras and bugs are in place.  All the footage of Matsuda at Yotsuba has been destroyed.  He knows his lines inside and out.

Light:  And all I have to do is call Namikawa as L and have him tell Higuchi to tune in and have the other members stand by.

L:  Yes.

Light:  *getting food* So... It sounds like the trap is set.

L:  Mmn.

Light:  *places coffee in front of L* So... what’s the problem?

L:  Well... *stares at Light*

Light:  ?

L:  ...I’m worried about Higuchi.

Light:  What?

L:  That he might pull something unexpected.  *slurps coffee, thinking* Mmm.  It’s perfect.  I’m not worried about the plan.  It will work.  Higuchi will fall for it, and we will catch him.  I just wonder what will happen next.

Will he try to pass on the power while we’re interrogating him like how Light and Misa did during their confinement?  When this happens, the users forget the power or how it works.  If this happens, we’ll lose a valuable source of information.

Higuchi:  What’s happening?!

Imprisoned Light:  Let me out!

Imprisoned Misa:  *crying* Why wouldn’t I know my own boyfriend?  Let me see Light...

L:  *thinking* This is why it’s so important that we find out Kira’s killing method before we capture Higuchi.  It can’t elude me again.  And once we know what it is...

Light agreed that if he’d once had it, he’d have given it up willingly rather than it being taken from him.  Say that’s exactly what he did.  If Light Yagami was the first Kira... there’s no way that he’d ever let go of the power if he didn’t plan on getting it back again somehow.  He definitely wouldn’t want someone like Higuchi to keep it.  So why give it to him?  Almost like Light, when he was Kira, wanted me to catch him.

Is that it?  Will he regain Kira’s power when we capture Higuchi, or maybe sometime after?  Surely, he’ll try if he has the opportunity.  If only I could control when he gets it back...  I just don’t know enough yet.  So frustrating...

Light:  ...L?

L:  Hm?

Light:  You spaced out a little there.

L:  Oh.

Light:  *sighs* Did you hear anything I just said?

L:  I’m sure you were trying to assure me that the plan is sound, and Higuchi’s fate is sealed?  *slurps*

Light:  Y-yeah!  So... y’know.  Don’t worry.

L:  *smiles* I apologize if I worried you.  I’m fine.  Really.

Light:  *thinking* ♥♥♥That smile!!♥♥♥  *out loud* That’s okay.  It just means you’re human.  *stands up, giggles* And besides...

L:  !

Light:  *sits on the table in a suggestive pose* ...I like it when you’re... vulnerable in front of me.

L:  !!!  B-but--

*Light pulls L’s face in for a kiss*

L:  Mn~.  But... the greatest detective in the world should never be vulnerable...  Especially not in front of his number one suspect~.  ♥

Light:  Well, I won’t be a suspect soon~.

L:  Hmm.

Light:  Now, hurry up and get ready.  We gotta nail that bastard~!

L:  What if I don’t wanna nail that bastard right now~?

Light:  *scoffs* Shut up!  Let’s go!

L:  *thinking* ...I shouldn’t want Light to become Kira again.  If I can, I should prevent that from happening no matter what.  It’s wrong, maybe even a bit perverse... but I have to know.

#transcript #text #my fancomic #The Chain #lawlight #Light Yagami #L #cameos of #Kyosuke Higuchi #Misa Amane #I feel a lot better about this installment now :)

[nicotinzwei]

March

Haven't listened to 1 new song in the last 2 months whoops Also didn't find many fun or interesting things for this month

Food

Okay so I know everyone already loves the Ikea hotdogs, but I can't eat a lot of things. To be honest I didn't even know they had vegan ones so I never considered it. And also they dont really make them for you, you get the bare thing and get to put yout toppings on yourself (or get to not put any on!!!) And if I don't put anything on them I can actually eat them! AND THEY'RE ONLY 1€!!! So I think it's worth it for me, but especially if you're a person who can put toppings on that's SO cheap? No but for real it's so hard to get a little treat that you don't have to feel guilty for money wise… Also second favorite ist Djungelskog!

Nails

I did my nails for the first time in ever. I think pinterest kind of got to me. Tbh I think solid colours are a bit boring but I really like what I did here! I wanted to do another desidn right after but I guess I'm not good at keeping up with it. I just added this point to post nice pictures.

Game

If you follow me on twitter you know that I started playing neopets again. It is 2023 and we had a neopets event??? I used to always have only one pet but the new webiste is set up for more and it looks weird if you dont. And with the new event I finally got a faerie paintbrush. So now i got a fearie kau and a bori along with my acara. Wabadooga!

Art

I try to rarely order from Amazon, so writing about this might be a bit counterproductive, BUT they're sold out anyways so I can't link you. I wanted to hang some more Art in my flat, but can't really buy much. So I ordered a postcard set for 7€ and I think I got really lucky. Because apperently they just rotate different artists. Now my flat is covered in Hiroshi Yoshida landscapes and I get distracted sitting at my desk. Also send me your adress if you want one!

Community

This month we went to a trans meeting, hung out with friends after the may 8th demo and went to a Trans Day of Visibility event. I think it's so nice to get to meet people with purpose, listen to others and make new friends. Everyone I got to know though these events was so nice and I hope to keep some for other months. The place that most of these events and also all my birthday parties are held at got attacked a few days ago though. I really want to keep this place and this community without feeling unsafe.

P.S. I went to see the room again and wore a suit lol

#march #march favorites #community #lgbtqia #hiroshi yoshida #neopets #pinterest #nail art #ikea #vegan

[mythgirlimagines]

DVHS Reread: Chapter VI.I

"What do you think we're going to find in there? An actual hideout for the mastermind?" It appears to me that even though Yoshida is talkative normally, she becomes more so when she's tired. Given the silence of the halls, it's not necessarily a bad thing right now. "Or something more sinister? Like the bones of the headmaster?"

I blanch at her, almost stumbling up the stairs. "What are you talking about?"

She thinks for a second before answering. "I dunno. It seems like the kind of thing that would be revealed right about now."

This, of course, is a reference to DR1.

An ominous phrase if I've ever heard one. I actually think I got a chill down my spine when she said it. Something like that would never happen, though. Not even here. At least, I don't think it would. I hope it wouldn't. "Your mind goes to strange places."

"We're in a strange place, it's past midnight, and I'm tired. Why isn't your mind going to strange places?"

...That's a good point. "Okay, let's try to keep as much rationality among us as we can. The headmaster's office is closer, so we'll go there first." We're already most of the way up the stairs. My stomach twists against my will, reminding me of the many horrific things that could very well be up here. "This is a good thing, right? Making good of this attempt?"

Yoshida sighs, not looking at me as it turns into a yawn. "Again. Strange place. Past midnight. Tired. Don't care."

And this is just funny, haha.

"There might be an entrance to a secret room here somewhere," she justifies as I watch. "You don't know." 

Yoshida just like guessing these things that happened before is hilarious to me.

"We can't tell much from these, and for all we know, they were faked. I mean, more killing games? I don't remember ever hearing about those. What's next, a megaphone gun? We can't believe pictures." 

Wait for it...

"This is all so stupid," I hear Yoshida mutter as she trudges back over to the bookcase. "Next we're gonna be told that Enoshima chick caused the crap in those pictures and that she's the mastermind here. No fuckin' way. We're not being held here by some bitch I could definitely take in a fight." 

Omg can you imagine if I made Junko the mastermind of this killing game too? I think you all would’ve had my head.

"Ishikawa." Yoshida tugs my arm, but still I don't budge, even with her iron grip, just shy of digging her nails into my skin. "C'mon. This is creepy, and frankly, you're not helping."

I turn my head towards her. She's crying. "Yoshida…"

Her grip loosens just a touch. "We shouldn't be here."

"...The door was unlocked."

She lets go of me completely, wiping at her face. "Dumbass, I meant here. A fucking morgue. With our classmates and friends in there. I mean- what the fuck." She lets out a laugh that's devoid of any feeling. "This situation… It's nuts. We need to make sure we get out of here. I-" She sniffs and rubs at her eyes again. Her cheeks are red and splotchy. "I think this all finally hit me. This isn't the right time for me to break down."

I actually don’t have much to say for this part apart from: I like it.

I bite the inside of my cheek softly. There's no mistaking that I know many more of the names here than anyone else left. I might've known more than anyone who's died, too. "This doesn't help us much, given our situation. They're just names and faces. What's next?"

I enjoyed getting to write in Abe’s POV so late into this, where I could drop more clues when I wanted to.

"There's nothing under the sheets or something?" Nakamura asks, moving around me to check.

"Who would put something under their sheets if it's important?" Aoyama asks, though he still watches as Nakamura pulls the sheets back. Tucked neatly underneath, half under her pillow, are a couple pieces of paper. "Son of a bitch. Did Yoshida give you some of her luck?"

Nakamura shrugs, a small look of pride hidden away in his face. "I don't know, it felt...familiar. And it worked, so I'm not complaining."

Nor am I, though I know that wasn't just luck.

This, too, is a reference to DR1, specifically that one part of - I think it was Chapter 5? Where Kyoko put something under her sheets and I think Makoto found it.

Instead, I focus on the picture; the girl in it has long pink hair and a practiced smile. The latter of which would only be obvious to the trained eye. I move onto the next paper; it's blank, but has a picture attached to it of Yasu and the girl in the picture. It was obviously taken years before, probably when they were both in elementary. There's no mistaking that it's them, even that young. Where I expect to be more questions beneath the picture are simply dots of graphite on the page; Yasu must've thought twice about writing them down for whatever reason. That was likely a smart decision.

"What do you think that means?" Aoyama wonders, his eyes bouncing between the profile and the picture. "Does it mean anything?"

"I don't know," I lie.

Kotoko!!

As we leave the room, I throw a glance over my shoulder at the camera. It's late, so they're probably sleeping right now, or busy, but…

...I hope they're watching. I hope I've done enough to meet their expectations of me.

<3 but also this is vague if only to try tricking some people into thinking he’s the mastermind lol

#dvhs #dvhs reread #dvhs spoilers #camila ishikawa #etsuko yoshida #fumito abe #nozomu aoyama #ikuo nakamura #danganronpa #fangan #swearing

[dreaming-of-assclass]

Any pet peeves of the characters?

I just decided to do everyone 😙

Karma: People who scuff their feet as they walk. There’s a 10% chance he might just jump you because of that.

Isogai: When people are late. He gets that life can be chaotic, but come on bro.

Okajima: When people treat food as gross or say “ew” before trying it. Like dude, be grateful. Don’t disrespect food, that’s not cool.

Okano: Despises the texture of chalk. Keep it away from her, please and thank you.

Okuda: Blowing gum bubbles, especially the giant ones. They just look really nasty and give her the ick.

Kataoka: Oh a lot of things lmao. Her biggest one is if you constantly point out how tall she is. Haha yeah we get it, now shut up or she’ll step on you.

Kayano: She hates all talk of diets. Had to hear it constantly growing up as an actress. Bonus points of you bring it up while she’s eating something unhealthy 🔪

Kanzaki: loud chewing noises. slurping, crunching, etc. She HATES it

Kimura: When people stop and stand right in front of the door. MOVE.

Kurahashi: If you don’t cover your mouth properly when coughing/sneezing, she will never speak to you. That’s her biggest ick.

Nagisa: People who say “no offense” as if it downplays anything insulting they say.

Sugaya: People who use redundant hashtags on social media, like #girl #me #human #selfie. It just bothers him immensely lmao.

Sugino: Laziness/procrastination. He’s pretty understanding but if you still don’t wash the dishes 10 min after you said you would, he’s gonna be annoyed.

Takebayashi: Taking his food without asking. It’s okay if you’re a close friend, but generally he considers it super rude behavior. It’s like crossing his boundary.

Chiba: When people start “wooing” and going crazy for a mediocre song. Like at least get hype for quality music 😭

Terasaka: When giant groups of people take up the entire sidewalk, and he’s just trying to walk by. Get out of the way or he’ll tackle all of y’all.

Nakamura: Coffee that costs more than 2 dollars. Unless you have magical coffee beans, do not raise that price.

Hazama: Passive aggressive behavior. She doesn’t have the patience or willpower for that, just speak up and be upfront.

Hayami: Slow cashiers who try to make small talk with her. Or worse, flirt. Like please, she’s just trying to buy this cat plushie, not have a whole conversation.

Hara: People who don’t bother to hold doors open for others, especially if they’re like 1 foot away. That’s just plain rude :(

Fuwa: Online stores that charge for shipping. If it costs more than her actual product, hell no. But sadly, she has to do this often for her precious manga.

Maehara: People who say “Let’s make plans!” But act surprised when he tries to follow through and make actual plans with them.

Mimura: When people talk over him while he’s still in the middle of his sentence. It happens way too often for his liking.

Muramatsu: Hearing people bite their nails. He thinks it’s generally disgusting, but the sound makes him 🤢

Yada: Misspelling in texts. She hates it so much, like what is this code they expect her to understand?? Type normally please!

Yoshida: LINE CUTTERS. They drive him absolutely crazy. Like it’s just basic social etiquette...

Ritsu: The classic non-apology: “I’m sorry you feel that way.” It just strikes her as so shallow.

Itona: When you don’t silence your phone or game, and the ringtone is obnoxiously loud. It tempts him to rewire the whole phone himself.

Gakushuu: When people repeatedly hit the elevator button, as if that’ll make the elevator arrive sooner.

Korosensei: When people are all on their phones, instead of conversing and spending time. I mean, he gets it of course. But please don’t go on it while eating together 🥺

Irina: Abbreviations. She hates them. They make no sense to her until someone explains, like they’re just so confusing? Is it that hard to say the whole term???

Karasuma: People who seal ziplock bags without removing all the air first. It makes him so mad lmao.

Gakuhou: People who say “no problem!” or “No worries!” when he thanks them. The appropriate answer is “you’re welcome.”

Which pet peeves can you guys relate to? 😁

#assclass #ansatsu kyoushitsu #assassination classsroom #headcanons #3-e #irina jelavic #tadaomi karasuma #korosensei #gakushuu asano #gakuhou asano

[emmanelson]

Chapter 3: Feelings and First Times

A little prequel that takes place during 2.01-2.02 when Devi is dating both Ben and Paxton. The first time they have sex, it isn’t in a friends-with-benefits relationship. It’s bordering on the brink of something real, something special, at least in Paxton’s retrospect.

tw: rated M for sexual content 

In the days that followed Devi deciding to date both Ben and Paxton, their relationship moved at a quicker pace than expected. Paxton meant what he said by wanting to make the time they still had together count, even if it would only be for a couple more weeks. So when Devi is invited to the Hall-Yoshida household that Friday night with the implicit instruction to stay over, she tells her mom she is sleeping over at Eleanor’s and is maybe even a little too eager to get there, the walk feels more like a sprint. They had tried taking the next step a few times, and then realized they wanted to live long enough to actually see each other, so doing it at the Vishwakumar residence was out of the question.

She isn’t expecting much, a pizza, maybe some video games in the garage and then she’d retire to Rebecca’s room and try to raid her closet unsuccessfully. But what she arrived at was a whole other story.

She was greeted at the door with a long, slow kiss and Paxton’s lit up face as he ushered her inside.

“We’ve gone on enough dates for me to get that it means one on one, so tonight it’s just us.” He was biting the inside of his cheek.

“Do you have protection?”

“Yeah I-Why, do you?” Leave it to Devi to be the first one to bring up sex. She did say that Paxton brought out her mega-horny side after all, and never thought she would actually get this close to having sex before being moved halfway around the world.

“Yeah, I kind of panicked and asked Kamala to buy me some at the drug store and drop it off a block away so my mom didn’t catch on.” For talking a big game, Devi knew next to nothing about sex. She only knew what she saw in tv shows, read about in weird Wattpad-fanfiction-turned-best-selling-novels, and researched on the internet. She had tried watching porn once but she clicked play when her airpod was off and you couldn’t pay her to relive that experience and the horror of her mom asking what she was doing.

“I kinda asked my parents to take Becca out for the night. I wanna show you something.” Paxton lightly took her head as they walked up the staircase towards his bedroom. Not the garage, not the couch, his room.

“If this is going to be one of the last weekends we have together, I wanted it to be special and shit.” She had been in Paxton’s room before, but had never seen it so clean, and was that the smell of fresh sheets? Upon taking in Devi’s widened gaze, he quickly backtracked and shook his head vigorously. “Not that we have to fool around or do anything that you don’t want to.”

Devi was shaking her head and stifling a laugh for a whole other reason.

“I just wanted you to have something that was something out of the stupid chick-flicks that Becca makes me watch. Something that you can think about while you’re in India and I’m stuck here. I had to use these dumb environmentally friendly light bulbs that my mom buys because the last time we had real candles, there was an incident with Trent and the house almost burned down.”

He had lit candles, or at least light bulbs in the shape of candles, ushered his family out of the house and seemed rather hesitant about asking for sex. She couldn’t believe this was her life right now. Her relationship with Paxton had always been somewhat based on physical attraction. When they first talked and she asked him for sex, to when they started dating and moved onto beyond chaste kisses and lingering touches over clothes to long makeout sessions and bruised lips and body parts.

If anything it only made her want him more and she eagerly hooked her arms around his neck. “This is perfect. More than perfect actually, you didn’t have to go through all the trouble, but I’m glad you did.”

Normally Devi was the one rambling and Paxton was the one initiating things between them, it was kind of a rush to be on the other side of things for a change.

“I want my first time to be with you, here, just like this.” She whispered against his mouth, watching as his lips curved upwards into a wide smile.

He took his time kissing her, familiarizing himself with her body, teasing things out in her that she figured laid dormant. He was moving so slow that Devi was getting frustrated as they fell back onto his bed.  

“I know I’m the virgin here, but doesn’t it usually move a lot quicker than this?” She was trying to unbutton his jeans, lift up his shirt to feel his abs, anything to speed things up but Paxton simply continued pushing his tongue past her lips and making her head spin.

A hand snaked under her shirt and Devi immediately moved to cover her breasts, insecurity surfacing at the worst time.

“What’s wrong?”

“I know I have small boobs and I’m not like Zoe or Shira levels of hotness. So if this isn’t, you know up to par with the sex you usually have, I understand.”

Paxton only furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. Did she really not know how he felt about her?

“Not only are you beautiful on the outside, but you’re gorgeous on the inside, something that they...are lacking.”

His words always made her flush, and this time was no exception. “I like your body. Now can I continue to appreciate it the way it deserves?” He chuckled under his breath and with one hand, grabbed both of hers and pinned them above her head. Her eyes widened in surprise and anticipation, she bit down on her bottom lip and if things weren’t already well on their way, he would have muttered something about wanting to do very dirty things to her. Repeatedly.  

“If this is the first time, and quite possibly the last time we have to do this, you better believe that I am going to be taking my time with you.” He caught her lower lip with his teeth, slowing his movements which only made a whine emit from deep in her throat.

Paxton’s free hand moved between her legs and brushed her core through her underwear. Without breaking eye contact he moved her panties aside and inserted one finger into her, and then another.

The sudden pressure made Devi suck in a breath, no amount of YA novels or research could have prepared her for what it would actually feel like. Her whole body lit up, as if she was covered in gasoline and Paxton had lit a match, starting a fire that only seemed to spread.

“So tight.” His breath came out ragged, his jeans tightening against him. Paxton thought that guys thought about sex more than girls, and he hadn’t heard anything to the contrary until he met Devi. She had stared at him one too many times past the point of charming and made remarks about wanting to “climb him like a jungle gym.” Mostly through text to Fabiola and Eleanor that he may have happened to stumble upon when he used her phone to play Candy Crush.

In the days that followed their kiss in the park, Paxton wanted to nail his next history while Devi made it increasingly difficult to concentrate with all the short skirts she would wear, and don’t forget about the constant sexual innuendos she would make that went over his head because they had to do with whatever subject they were learning about.  

“Is this okay?” He asked, his eyes searching hers for any hint of hesitation. One word, and he would gladly stall his movements. “Do you want me to stop?”

“No, just go faster. I want more of you. All of you.”

This night was all about making her comfortable, making sure she was getting the most out of this, that her needs were met. A selfish part of him hoped that if he made a lasting impression, she wouldn’t come back from India with a smarter, hotter, boyfriend or worse, fiance. His fears only made his grip on her tighten and tilt her chin up so she was forced to meet his eyes.

“Tell me, in words or else I’ll just assume and that’s a really shitty thing to do.” He spoke slowly, deliberately as her eyes fixated on his chest.

“I want you inside of me.”

Paxton breathed out a sigh of relief, or was Devi breathing out her own? He withdrew his hand and her body instantly shivered at the loss of contact. Within the time it took for him to shake off his jeans, Devi had regained control of her hands and grabbed a fistful of his T-shirt into her hands, yanking it over his head in record time.  

“Do you want me to touch you?”

“Shh, this is about making you feel good.” He mumbled into her hair, dragging his lips towards her ear as she ground her hips into his. He took a condom out of his jeans pocket and rolled it on before positioning himself in between her legs.

He pushed into her slowly, the movements stilling as Devi dug her nails into his back in retaliation. She grimaced at the feeling, her body was tightly wound up and only when Paxton began to move his body at a quicker pace, did hers relax in response.

They laid in bed after, Devi’s legs felt like the jello and even if she had to be home in a few hours, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to walk without falling or at least looking like a klutz. “Is that a picture of Gigi Hadid on your ceiling?”

Now it was Paxton’s turn to almost flush to an unseemly red color.

“I’ve had that up there forever, just forgot to take it down that’s all.”

“Do you look at it when you, you know?”

“I was just inside you Vishwakumar, I think we’re as intimate as two people can be. You can say the word masturbate.”

“Well, do you?” She pressed, ignoring the way nerves once more fluttered against her stomach. “Do you ever think of me, when you touch yourself?”

“If only you knew.” He murmured against her neck, not wanting to give away just how many nights he spent relieving himself to the memory of their first kiss, or more recently, to their makeout sessions that didn’t just leave her hot and bothered, but him as well. “That was your first time right?”

“Is it that obvious? Should I just have had the word virgin written across my forehead?”

“I think it’s cool that you waited or whatever. Did what was right for you.”

“Why? What was your first time like?” Devi didn’t want to pry, or ask something too personal, but she would be lying if she said she wasn’t curious.

“Um, I think I was 14.”

“14? As in like freshman year of high school?” That was one year younger than her current age, it made bile rise to her throat at the thought.

“Eighth grade. It was the summer before high school and the JV and Varsity swim teams invited us incoming freshmen to a party, to get to know each other and whatnot. It was chaperoned by this one guy’s sister, I think she was 21. Her name was Stacey or Stephanie, something with an S. She brought us all beer and acted cooler than any of our parents at the time.” Devi didn’t say anything, but silently nodded and urged him to continue.

“Anyway, one night like the first week of school, we all get wasted right? Some more than others I guess, because I woke up not remembering anything that happened or even how I got so intoxicated. I was mostly drinking Coke the entire night, with some rum here and there sure, but nothing too extreme. I passed out on the couch and when I woke up, she was on top of me, stroking my hair, touching me, and telling me to stay quiet so we didn’t wake anyone up.”

“I-Is that all?” Her eyes were wide, almost glassy, and Paxton instantly felt years older than her. Like she was too innocent to be hearing this and yet here he was, exposing her to it anyway. Exposing her to the harsh reality that he didn’t want her to know, yet she was already familiar with after what happened to her dad.

“She started whispering in my ear. Tell me how I seemed really mature for my age and how college boys are so rowdy and they didn’t listen to her like I did. I don’t even remember us having any kind of in-depth conversation.” His voice dropped to a low whisper. “She said that it wasn’t cool to go into high school as a virgin, especially if you were a guy. The other guys on the swim team would just turn it into some kind of contest to see who could get laid the fastest. She said I would have a leg up on all of them and be able to show off.”

A bitter chuckle passed through his lips. “Except, I didn’t feel superior or like a man or wanted, I just felt empty.”  

“Did you tell anyone?”

“Only Trent.”

Not wanting to sound rude, Devi bit her tongue and remained nonchalant. “Is Trent really the best person to be telling your secrets to?”

“He’s actually cool once you get to know him, okay? He told me that if I wanted to go to the cops and quote ‘make her a prison bitch’ unquote that he would back me up. He may act stoned 90% of the time, but he has a good heart. I trust him with my life.”

“Did um, did you ever see her again?” She asked patiently, as her fingers ran up and down the length of his torso.

“At that point, it didn’t matter. When I got back to school on Monday everyone had heard, turned me into the big man on campus and whatnot, whether I earned the title or not. I wish I had waited, you know? For my first time to be with someone that I really cared about.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“I know I’ve been with other girls before and you know, I’m some ladies man or shit. But that’s all it was you know, just sex. It’s isn’t like that with you.”

“Well if it makes you feel any better, this was better than what I had in mind. It was better than any rom-com or YA novel.”

“This doesn’t mean nothing okay? It would never mean nothing, not with you.”

Devi immediately wanted to correct his use of a double negative, but she refrained. She was speechless, too raw, first from the sex they just had and then hearing Paxton’s story. She was touched that he felt comfortable sharing such a private event with her.

“Would you have done things different? Your first time I mean.” She asked quietly, finding her voice again after letting all the information she had just heard sink in.

“Well I definitely would have waited to do it when I was sober.”

“Everyone deserves a second change, a do-over. And you aren’t drunk or high or impaired in any way right now are you?”

“No.”

“So take your do-over.” Sure she didn’t handle her own trauma in the best manner, but she was surprisingly insistent in helping others overcome their own turmoil. Plus with her big brown eyes, Paxton felt like he was saying no to Bambi.

“Dev-”

“I want you to feel good.” His own words hung in the air between them uttered by her soft voice, only a silent nod of his head and Devi had pressed her lips against his and rolled them over so she was now flush against his chest. “We can go as painfully slow as you want.”

“So now you aren’t in a rush to jump me?” The warmth in his features returned, he seemed to have a genuine smile on his face and was raising an eyebrow at her in slightly amusement.

“Something tells me this won’t be the last time, we’ll get there.”

#daxton #daxton fanfic #devi x paxton #paxton x devi #daxtonedit #nhie fic #heatwavefic

[midnightlee25]

Love letters (yandere kiyoko x reader

(you had gotten some love letters and wanted kiyoko advice) she is in her 2nd year of high school your a first year. 

It was during break when (y/n) came up to me in the 2nd year building. they had only been at the school for a couple of months but they had already stolen my heart, but it appears I was not the only one. Being in a new place will do that. When they came up to me, they asked if we could go somewhere private. My heart raced a bit but was swiftly crash when they pulled out four letters…. love letters. They told me that they were in their shoe locker and bag. Only barely knowing one person who had written it but had no idea who the other three were, along with not knowing what to do. 

  “...this just has never happened to me before.” they said, a bit nervous. 

   I started to read them; their words of “love” were sickening. I know who the letters were from, one was from ojiyama in the tennis club, yoshida in the soccer club and the other two were in the basketball club. After reading the last one I looked up to see them waiting for a response, they looked like a kicked puppy, the sight made me soften a bit.   

  “Will the only real answer be to be honest and tell them how you feel…. that you don't have feelings for them...unless you do?” I asked as they shook their head. 

  “I just don't want to hurt them…they seem nice.” 

  “I'm sure they will understand and if they don't just come to me and I'll handle 

…. trust me….” 

  The next day during lunch they told me all about it...they tell me everything….I smiled sweetly at them praising them for standing up and speaking their mind. It seemed to make them happy along with the lunch and extra sweets I had given them. Of course, the little talks didn't stop the storm that was coming. I heard around that ojiyama and yoshida were not giving up so easily plus the two basketball players had to be dealt with for confessing in the first place. 

  So, an unlucky week passed with small things happening first  yoshida “found” a nail in his foot after practicing on the soccer field, next yoshida’s tennis racket was destroyed and finally the two basketball players uniforms, including shoes, were found to be shredded beyond repair along with many other unlucky events. Sadly, I had to keep them mild for now though they still filled me with enjoyment.  

  It all was made sweeter when after a long day I got to walk home with them. Whether waiting by the gate or until after practice they were there for ME and not anyone else. Every once in a while I would be filled with dread for the day. I would have to share them with the others but for now I had them all to myself.  

  “Kiyoko!” I looked to see them by the gate smiling at me. Those were the moments I cherished most and I'm not going to let anyone or anything ruin it!  

  ...I won't let them take them away from me… 

  This is our fairy tale  

  And I won't let them ruin it! 

  I won't let them destroy us 

 Our 

 Happy 

  Sweet 

  life  

#yandere haikyuu #yandere kiyoko #yandere x y/n #yandere x reader #kiyoko x reader #kiyoko

[gdwessel]

New Quasi-State-Of-Emergency In Tokyo, 12 Other Prefectures Starts Friday 1/21/2022; NJPW New Year’s Golden Series Night 1 - 1/20/2022: Kosei Fujita Out Injured; Dragon Gate 1/17/2022, TJPW 1/20/2022 Results

Starting tomorrow (possibly today in Japanese time by the time I post this), another quasi-state-of-emergency is due to begin in Tokyo and at least 12 other prefectures, following record-setting new cases in both Tokyo and Osaka. Omicron is doing the numbers once more, in a country that has 80% vaccination, but a mere 1.2% booster rate. This after quasi-emergency measures in Okinawa, after increasing Omicron cases from the US military bases had spilled into the greater population, prompting restrictions on activities outside the bases by military personnel posted there.

It's unknown how much wrestling will be affected by this; Dragon Gate has already said their show in Mie this Sunday 1/23/2022 may be postponed or cancelled due to this, but have not seen any other announcements so far. We will keep you posted.

New Japan Pro Wrestling

The first NJPW tour of 2022 began in earnest today, and you can see it now on NJPWWorld. This is the first New Year Golden Series since 2005, but was a regular year-opening tour from 1974-1990. Kosei Fujita injured his shoulder in training, and has been pulled from events through the end of January. Hopefully he will be able to return later in the tour.

Results:

New Years Golden Series - 1/20/2022, Tokyo Korakuen Hall (NJPWWorld, ABEMA)

Great O-Khan [United Empire] d. Yuto Nakashima (5:35)

Hiromu Takahashi [Los Ingobernables] d. Ryohei Oiwa (Boston Crab, 7:24) 

Tiger Mask IV & Togi Makabe d. Taiji Ishimori & Jado [Bullet Club] (Tiger > Jado, Reverse Double Armbar, 8:59)

Toru Yano [CHAOS], Satoshi Kojima & Tomoaki Honma d. Minoru Suzuki, Taichi & TAKA Michinoku [SZKG] (Kojima > TAKA, lariat, 9:12)

Master Wato, Ryusuke Taguchi & Hiroyoshi Tenzan d. El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI [SZKG] (Wato > DOUKI, Bendabar, 10:51)

Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & YOH [CHAOS] d. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo & SHO [Bullet Club] (Ishii > Togo, Vertical Drop Brainbuster, 11:41)

Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & Shingo Takagi [Los Ingobernables] d. Kazuchika Okada [CHAOS], Hiroshi Tanahashi & Yuji Nagata (Naito > Nagata, Destino, 20:16)

Naito gets the win, and declares not only does he want to beat “the strongest man in NJPW,” but also declared he wants to return to the main event of the Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2023. Ishii tortured Dick Togo a bit post-match. Hiromu challenged Oiwa to Y10,000 of pocket money if he was able to remove the pseudo-Kamaitachi mask that HIromu was wearing. Oiwa did so, but Hiromu had ANOTHER mask on underneath. Hiromu tapped Oiwa out anyway.

If you have a premium subscription to NJPW’s website you can now see a digitized version of the 1978 New Year Golden Series program, which advertised among other things, a board-of-nails match between Antonio Inoki v. Umanosuke Ueda on 2/8/1978 at Tokyo Nippon Budokan. I bet THAT was a thing.

The tour continues tomorrow, but the show will be on tape-delay on NJPWWorld, not a live stream.

- 1/21/2022, Tokyo Korakuen Hall (Tape delay on NJPWWorld)

Ryohei Oiwa v. Great O-Khan [United Empire]

Yuto Nakashima v. BUSHI [Los Ingobernables]

Tiger Mask IV & Yuji Nagata v. Taiji Ishimori & Gedo [Bullet Club]

Toru Yano [CHAOS], Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma v. Minoru Suzuki, Taichi & DOUKI [SZKG]

Master Wato, Ryusuke Taguchi & Hiroyoshi Tenzan v. El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & TAKA Michinoku [SZKG]

Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & YOH [CHAOS] v. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo & SHO [Bullet Club]

Kazuchika Okada [CHAOS], Hiroshi Tanahashi & Satoshi Kojima v. Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & Shingo Takagi [Los Ingobernables]

Dragon Gate

Dragon Gate was in Nagoya this past Monday.

Open The New Year Gate 2022 – Final Burst Out! K-Ness Forever Night 8

- 1/17/2022, Aichi Nagoya Tsuyuhashi Sports Center

Takashi Yoshida, Kota Minoura & Jason Lee d. Dragon Kid [HIGH-END], Riki Iihashi & Ishin Iihashi (Yoshida > Ishin, CC2019, 11:08)

Keisuke Okuda [HIGH-END] d. Ryu Fuda (Buzzsaw Kick, 4:42)

Strong Machine J, Strong Machine F (Don Fujii) & Strong Machine G (Gamma) d. Mondai Ryu, Shachihoko Machine (Shachihoko Boy) & Konomama Ichikawa (J > Ichikawa, Kneel Kick, 0:10)

Strong Machine J, Strong Machine F (Don Fujii) & Strong Machine G (Gamma) d. Mondai Ryu, Shachihoko Machine (Shachihoko Boy) & Konomama Ichikawa (G > Ryu, lariat, 0:12)

Strong Machine J, Strong Machine F (Don Fujii) & Strong Machine G (Gamma) d. Mondai Ryu, Shachihoko Machine (Shachihoko Boy) & Konomama Ichikawa (Triple Pinfall, 3:53)

Big Boss Shimizu [Natural Vibes] & Takuma Fujiwara d. Ultimo Dragon & Takumi Hayakawa (Shimizu > Hayakawa, Big Boss Press, 9:19)

Dragon Dia & Yuki Yoshioka d. Ben-K & Kagetora [HIGH-END] (Dia > Kagetora, Reptilian, 12:51)

Kzy, U-T & Susumu Yokosuka [Natural Vibes] d. KAI, Shun Skywalker & HYO (U-T > KAI, Passion, 15:42)

Not a good couple of weeks to be KAI, as now U-T has a challenge back pocketed if KAI succeeds against Cyber Kong on 2/4/2022. I bet that comedy triple shot was a hoot. Okuda v. Fuda is threatening to be quite a rivalry.

The next show is on Saturday 1/22/2022, from Kobe, and will be streamed live on Dragon Gate Network.

  DDT / Tokyo Joshi / GANBARE Pro

Tokyo Joshi ran today, continuing the Futari No Princess Max Heart Tournament 2022.

TJPW Tokyo Joshi 2022 Winter - 1/20/2022, Tokyo Shinjuku FACE (Wrestle Universe)

Yuka Sakazaki, Mizuki, Haruna Neko & Kaya Toribami d. Mahiro Kiryu, Marika Kobashi, Pom Harajuku & Raku (Mizuki > Kiryu, Diving Foot Stomp, 11:44)

Futari No Princess Max Heart Tournament 2022 Second Round: Yuki Arai & Moka Miyamoto d. Arisu Endo & Suzume (Miyamoto > Endo, Rashomon, 11:41)

Futari No Princess Max Heart Tournament 2022 Second Round: Nodoka Tenma & Yuki Aino d. Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta (Aino > Kakuta, Venus DDT, 13:16)

Futari No Princess Max Heart Tournament 2022 Second Round: ASUKA & Yuki Kamifuku d. Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh (Kamifuku > Itoh, Famouser, 15:57)

Futari No Princess Max Heart Tournament 2022 Second Round: Miu Watanabe & Rika Tatsumi d. Hyper Misao & Shoko Nakajima (Tatsumi > Misao, Missile Hips, 14:57)

The semi-finals will come soon. Maki Itoh may have a challenge to her title coming from Yuki Kamifuku now.

That’s it for me today. Kind of a slow week thankfully. NOAH, AJPW, STARDOM, DG, NJPW, a whole bunch of shows this weekend to keep oneself busy. NJPW Strong on Saturday night, and even GCW on PPV on Sunday night. See you Sunday.

#NJPW #new japan pro wrestling #new year's golden series #tetsuya naito #kosei fujita #hiromu takahashi #ryohei oiwa #COVID-19 #state of emergency #Dragon Gate #kai #keisuke okuda #ryu fuda #tokyo joshi pro #openthenewyeargate2022 #finalburstout #maki itoh #njpwworld #Abema #wrestle universe

[a-lockman5]

Lucky Love {Devi x Paxton}

A/N: Another request! More Devi and Paxton being adorable! I made a lot of jumps in this one and changed POV, so hopefully it is not too confusing. There was a lot of time together, and I really liked the pieces so I didn’t want to let them go, but also I would have written an entire novel of filler if I didn’t make time jumps. So  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

Hope you enjoy!

Summary: Paxton doesn’t know what it is, but the more present Devi was in his life, the better things seem to be for him. 

Warnings: Fluff.. that’s about it 

Requests are closed at this time as I’m already like 4 behind (you guys are awesome!), but ask is open.

MASTERLIST

“Oh, hey, umm, I’m in your neighborhood. Thought maybe we could hang out, but uh, it seems like you’re busy, so… Uh… Anyway, you can give me a call or text. Whatever… Okay.”

The first time Devi listened to Paxton’s voicemail, she saved it, but told herself she wouldn’t listen to it again. She was with her mom and Kamala on their way home from Malibu. She’d just kissed Ben Gross, and Kamala, thankfully, distracted her mom long enough that Nalini was none the wiser. Devi’s mother wasn’t the reason she wouldn’t listen to the voicemail again though, Ben was. She just had the most amazing moment topped by the most amazing kiss with Ben freaking Gross. She could hardly believe it herself, but she wasn’t going to taint that by listening to a voicemail from another guy.

“Oh, hey, umm, I’m in your neighborhood…”

The second time she listened to Paxton’s voice crackle across the line, was when she was lying in bed trying to fall asleep. It was the same day that she promised herself she wouldn’t listen to it ever again. She lasted six hours, and honestly, she was proud of that. It was five and a half hours longer than she thought she would last. He sounded vague and detached, and she knew that. Ben was expressive and he wore all his emotions on his face. Why would she throw away such a great moment with Ben to listen Paxton ask her to hangout or whatever? Logically, it didn’t make any sense. She just needed to think about Ben and fall asleep.

“…Thought maybe we could hang out, but…”

The third time Paxton’s voicemail reached her ears was after she’d sat bolt right up in bed from a weird (not entirely bad) dream. Paxton and Ben were fighting over her. Not like fighting in the cafeteria though, no. Instead, it was a medieval joust, with horses and swords and giant sticks, and an amazingly detailed crown for her to wear. In the dream, she thought she gave Ben her favor, but after Paxton knocked him off his horse, he magically had her favor instead. She was so thrilled for his victory mid-dream that she didn’t question it. Then to top it all off, they kissed… again! Except, it was a dream this time, but it reminded her of the real time, and… well shit.

*Can we talk?* she sent the text without another thought.

*Yeah. On the phone?*

*In person. I’ll meet you at school?*

*Sounds good.*

“… uh, seems like you’re busy, so… Uh…”

The fourth time she listened to the voicemail Paxton left nine hours earlier, she hung up before it finished as the very person she dragged out of bed was getting out of a town car. He walked over with a bag full of Devi’s things, smiling sheepishly. When he reached her, she graciously took the bag from him and met his eye for the first time since they’d kissed. Almost instantly, she saw his face fall.

“You didn’t mean it, did you?”

“What? No, it’s not like that. I” –

“It’s okay, I get it. It was a big moment, you were emotional. It’s no big deal,” Ben told her.

“It was a big deal… and I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me the last couple weeks. I think I was just swept up in the moment or some other Hollywood cliché… I should have found a better way to say thank you.”

“I’m glad you told me. I care about you, I think you know that,” he nodded. “Nothin’ hurt.”

“You’re not mad?”

He sighed. “Can’t be mad at you for being honest. Now, if you make it weird and blow me off at school when we just started becoming friendly rivals, I’ll be mad. Friends?” he asked sticking his hand out.

“Friends,” she met him for a handshake. “Thanks, Gross.”

“Anyway, you can give me a call or text. Whatever… Okay.”

The fifth time she listened to Paxton’s voicemail, she recognized every nuance in his voice that slipped past her the previous listens. He was vulnerable. He came to her house to ask her to hangout even though the last time he came to her house, her mom called him an idiot. He was trying to sound aloof, but she could tell he was scared. Scared of what? Her mom? Or was he scared of her?

She didn’t want to waste another second waiting to find out so, at 9:30AM she found herself riding a scooter to the Hall-Yoshida residence. When she got there, she was about to knock at the door when Rebecca and her parents opened it, fully dressed. It looked like they were leaving.

“Devi?” Rebecca greeted quizzically. “What are you doing here?”

“Hey, Becca, Mr. and Mrs. Hall-Yoshida. Is Paxton here?”

Rebecca’s expression changed into a wide grin before she answered. “No, he has a swim meet this morning and is already at the pool. That’s where we’re going. Want to come?”

“Uh…” Devi hesitated, taking that moment to realize she didn’t even change out of her pajama pants which were adorned with several pink frosted donuts. “You know what, Becca? I will see you there. I’m going change into something a little…”

“Less pathetic?” she finished, as her parents stepped by them. Devi was sure she heard Mr. Hall-Yoshida snort in laughter at his daughter’s sass.

“Assessment noted. See you in a bit!” Devi called over her shoulder as she retreated to her scooter.

As soon as she got home again, she ran up to her room. Hair curly and half up? Done. Makeup? Applied. Red glitter on cheeks? Lightly brushed. Cricket stickers in place of eye black? Nailed it. Red knee-high socks? Donned. And the final touch – a white Sherman Oaks High School Crickets t-shirt cut into a cut-off and worn over her red tank top with denim shorts. She looked like a real-life superfan. Unfortunately, after perfecting her appearance, Devi realized she was late for the meet.

The next thing Devi realized was, while you always see people dressing up for football games, no one does that for swim meets. At least, not at Sherman Oaks High. Sure, there was plenty of red and white spirit wear, but nothing quite like what Devi had done. As she stood at the entrance to the aquatic center, Devi thought to run straight back home before anyone realized she was there. Besides, was a grand romantic gesture really what Paxton’s voicemail called for? It’s not like he poured his soul out to her. One could argue, he didn’t put himself out there at all. At most, he extended an olive branch after blowing her off before. Yep, sending him a text later today was a much better alternative to the embarrassment she was inevitably racing toward the longer she stood there. Devi turned on her heel, and immediately found herself face to face with Rebecca who held a mountain dew and an orange Gatorade.

“Devi!” she brightened up immediately, before taking in her outfit. “You look great!”

“Really?” If Rebecca was complimenting her outfit, then maybe she was wrong. Maybe she was just a trendsetter.

“I mean, it’s a little cringey for a swim meet, but it’s a look for sure,” she elaborated. After her shrewd assessment of Devi’s clothing choices for the second time that day, Rebecca’s eyes lit up. “Oh, will you take this to Paxton?”

“Me? I don’t know. I don’t think I” –

“Yes, you have to! He sucked in his first event, and he needs a boost,” she told her, thrusting the sports drink into Devi’s hands. “Look he’s right over there with Eddie waiting for their next race.”

Okay, Devi, deep breath. Own it. She told herself. With her thoughts racing, Devi attempted to strut toward the side opposite end of the pool where Paxton sat talking with Eddie Tan. As she got closer, she worried about stumbling in her steps, or tripping over a swim block. That fear was, of course, ridiculous because all the blocks were at the end of the pool, and she was walking down the side. No, this time she was not going to be clumsy. She was a different woman now. She’d kissed two boys in the last two weeks – she was a GD siren.

“Devi?”

“Paxton, hey,” his voice broke her from her internal monologue. She advanced the last few paces, as he stood to meet her.  “Becca asked me to bring you this.”

“Thanks,” he breathed in a smile.

“Hey, are we finally getting cheerleaders?” Eddie asked, coming up beside Paxton. “You look fire.”

Devi’s smile grew tenfold. “Thanks, Eddie, but no, not a cheerleader. Just trying to be supportive,” she grinned looking at Paxton.

“Dope,” Eddie nodded, before being called away by their coach.

“Thanks for this,” Paxton told her as he uncapped the Gatorade and took a sip. “Hey, you know I came by your place yesterday?”

“Yeah, I know. I came by yours this morning. You were already gone.”

He nodded with a small smile. “Cool. Well, I better get back. My next event should be up soon.”

“Cool.”

***

Paxton took another gulp of the Gatorade as he watched Devi’s retreating form. She heard his voicemail, and now she was at his swim meet looking like she wanted him to give her his jersey. If he had one to give her, she’d be wearing it. He was nervous when he never heard from her yesterday, and if he was honest, he slept poorly because of it. He felt tired when he got to the pool this morning, and it showed during his backstroke race. Eddie was trying to get him out of his own head when Devi showed up.

“Yoshida!” Coach Bryant called down to him. “You’re up next for breaststroke. You good?”

“Yeah, coach,” he replied, capping his drink. “Good to go.”

After putting his earplugs in, pulling his goggles on, and securing his swim cap. Paxton was waiting behind his block for the previous heat to end. Five deep breaths, and he would be ready to go. 5…..4….3…2.. –

“Woo! Paxton!” he heard a cheer from the stands. When he looked up, he saw his favorite nerd in the bleachers, standing with his mom and sister. They started in on a rehearsed chant, each one yelling a different letter of his initials. “P! H! Y! – P! H! Y!”

He couldn’t fight the smile from his face as he stepped up to his block. Devi came to his house this morning. She dressed up for his swim meet today. She was sitting with his family, and they were enjoying her.

When the starting gun sounded, Paxton dove into the water. It was effortless – such a stark contrast from his previous race. He couldn’t even describe how he was gliding through the water. If he didn’t know any better, he would think Rebecca spiked his Gatorade. Before he knew it, he was finished.

Coach Bryant hoisted him out of the pool by one arm as people cheered all around him. “That’s a PR, kid! 58.8!”

Paxton pulled his cap and goggles off just before his coach wrapped him in a bruising hug. A moment later, he was thrust back, and Bryant landed a sound clap on his back. “I don’t know what changed between your first race and now, but don’t change a thing. Got me?”

Paxton’s eyes flickered over to Devi in the stands, she was beaming right back at him. “Got it, Coach.”

***

“Paxton, you were amazing!” Rebecca told him when he came out of the locker room.

“That breaststroke was Olympic qualifying time, kiddo,” his dad wrapped him in a one-arm hug, “at nearly 17! You keep that up, we’re going to be watching you win gold medals.”

His mom put an arm around Devi’s shoulders with a sly smile. “Well, if you ask me, I think Paxton had a good luck charm.”

“Oh, no,” Devi shook her head with a smile as her cheeks reddened. “I didn’t do anything.”

“I know one thing,” Mrs. Hall-Yoshida continued, “we would be happy for you to ride with us to Paxton’s meet on Tuesday.”

“Mom’s right, we can’t take any chances. As long as you’re free, Devi, we’d love to have you,” his dad nodded.

Paxton gave Devi a lopsided grin. “Come on, I’ll give you a ride home.”

“You were amazing. I mean, I’ve seen you swim before, but you were just so fast today. Becca said you struggled in your first race, but you looked fine to me,” Devi rambled as they climbed into the jeep, “better than fine. And what your dad said about the Olympics! Do you think you’ll try to qualify for 2024?”

He huffed out a smile. Her mind moved so quickly her mouth could barely keep up, and it always left him speechless. It embarrassed her, but it just reminded him of how smart she really was. “I don’t know.”

“Aren’t you excited? How are you so chill about this?”

He shrugged. “I just swam. I didn’t even try; I don’t know how to explain it.”

“Wow, you should not try more often,” she smiled.

Actually, he was planning to try a lot harder than he ever had before. “You want to get some food?”

Her smiled widened. “Sure.”

“Cool.”

They drove on for few minutes in silence, and he noticed Devi tapping furiously on her phone screen. For a moment, he wondered who she might be texting, but then he remembered.

“I’m guessing your mom doesn’t know where you are?”

“Yeah, she’s freaking out,” she scoffed before her eyes widened in alarm. “No, not because I’m with you! Just – I left this morning before she woke up. I’m just letting her know I went to the swim meet and that I’m going to Fabiola’s to study for history at 4:00.”

“Conveniently leaving out what you’re doing right now,” he pointed out.

He glanced over, and she drew her bottom lip between her teeth while she stared out at the road. Paxton could almost hear her thoughts pinballing in her head as she figured out what to say to him. Should he tell her how much her mother’s disapproval – no, that’s not quite right – her disdain for him, hurt his feelings? Well, not in those words certainly. Hurt his feelings? Yeah, right.

“I should tell you, I’m sorry,” she finally said, as they swung into the parking lot of a local burger joint. “I should have stuck up for you when you came to my house after Ben’s party.”

“You did,” he shrugged. “We’re cool.”

She shook her head. “I stuck up for me. I should have warned you about how she is with boys. To be fair, I don’t have a lot of experience yet myself, but I did know that she reminds me constantly, I can’t have a boyfriend until I’m old enough to rent a car. I knew that she would freak out if she knew I kissed you, but you didn’t.”

“It’s really okay. Not the first girl’s mom to not like me,” he grinned. It wasn’t true. He’d won over the mother of every other girl he’d gone out with. Some of them made him uncomfortable like Mrs. Harrison, but others just found him charming. Devi didn’t need to feel bad about it though. It’s not like she said those things, and like she said, it didn’t even have to do with him really. “Can we go in?”

She supplied a weak grin in return but nodded. Just as they were going to get out, it started raining. He watched his companion deflate as she watched the big raindrops plop on the windshield. Paxton grabbed around the backseat for his extra jacket, handing it to her once he had it. “Here, it’ll keep you dry.”

She nodded with a suppressed smile, pulling it on and putting the hood up. Without another word, they slid out of the vehicle and jogged into the restaurant. While they waited to be seated, Paxton turned to Devi. He noticed her shiver and clutch his jacket tighter around her. Between the downpour outside and the cranked AC inside, she was probably freezing. Without thinking, he placed a hand on each of her shoulders, rubbing them furiously in attempt to help warm her up.

“Thanks, but aren’t you cold?” she asked, subconsciously leaning into his touch. “You didn’t even put your hood up.”

“Me?” he replied with a devilish smirk. “Nah, I spent the whole morning in a pool. Besides, my hair was already wet,” he told her, shaking his head so drops of water showered her lightly. When a delighted laugh was her response, he smiled victoriously. He didn’t have to be smooth or suave with Devi. She liked him when he was raw, genuine, and dorky. If he was honest, it was a relief – no stress of trying to impress her because she already liked the real him.

He needed to tell her how he felt. Wasn’t that the whole point of going to her house yesterday? He wanted her to know that he liked her, that he was glad they kissed, that he didn’t care if her mom thought he was stupid. He liked her. They sat opposite each other in a booth after ordering their food. She hadn’t said a word since they sat down, but neither had he. The tension between them was running high as Paxton realized this was the first time things really felt like a date. In hopes of making their first date official, he reached across the table and covered her hand with his. Her eyes zeroed in on the action and grew wide. If she thought she was surprised now, just wait until she heard what Paxton was about to say.

“I kissed Ben!” Devi blurted.

Paxton’s head drooped as his brow furrowed in disbelief. “What? When?”

“Yesterday.”

He looked away from her as his hand dropped to his side. His face screwed up as he tried to process the information she gave him – mouth opening and closing as he fought to think of something to say. After a deep sigh, he hung his head until rubbing his face briskly with one hand. Finally, he made eye contact with her again. “So what? You guys together now or something?”

“No, it didn’t mean anything. I just – okay so yesterday, I almost missed spreading my dad’s ashes because I’ve been in a huge fight with my mom and ran away from home since the day after Ben’s party. My mom and cousin were in Malibu, and I wasn’t going to make it in time. Ben drove me all the way there, and I made it. And I made up with my mom. And we spread Dad’s ashes together, and I just got to really remember him. I got to remember him without it coming up at an inconvenient moment, without trying to push the memories away,” her eyes filled with tears. “I got to remember him with my mom, and I’ve been so unfair to her because she lost him too, and… and Ben was still there after we left the beach. He was still there waiting for me. And things have just been so hard, I’ve felt so abandoned and alone, and I probably would have kissed that little weasel Russia from model UN if he’d been there – I know you don’t know who that is, but the point is, the kiss wasn’t about Ben. I would have kissed anyone if they were there for me in that moment. I…” she trailed off, tears escaping and sweeping down her face. “I’m sorry.”

Paxton’s chest felt tight as he watched cry silently. His body moved of its own accord, carrying him over to her side of the booth and wrapping her in his arms. He pressed her head against his chest, before hushing her gently. “It’s okay… shh… I got you… you’re okay.” Tucking her head under his chin, he rested against her until he felt her body start to relax too. He scooted away when she started to pull her head up.

“Aren’t you mad at me?” she sniffled before chewing on her bottom lip.

“For what? Devi, if I hadn’t blown you off at school, I would have been the one in Malibu with you,” he told her. “You’ve been through a lot, and I’m done dumping on you. It’s not fair.”

She nodded with a weak smile. “Thank you,” she whispered.

He smiled back and slid back out to take his seat across from her again. “Can I tell you what I think?” he asked, waiting for her nod to continue. “If you really would have kissed anyone in that moment, and I believe you when you say you would have, then it doesn’t sound like you’re ready to have a boyfriend right now,” he watched her hang her head at his words. “Hey, this isn’t me telling you that I don’t like you. It’s the opposite of that. I like you. I like you a lot actually.”

“You do?” she asked perplexed, brow furrowing in a way that made him want to kiss her.

“Yeah, I do. That’s why I went to your house yesterday, but, Devi, I don’t want to date you if you’re not ready for that…”

Her voice was barely above a whisper as their food was placed on the table. “Yeah, that’s fair.”

Paxton thanked their server before turning his attention back to the girl across from him. She looked broken again. The only other time he’d ever seen her look that way was after Gross’s party. After her friends walked out on her. “Devi, I’m not going anywhere. I just want to be your friend while you figure stuff out. If we end up dating, I want you to be sure it’s what you want – not something to distract you from your problems.”

Things were silent between them for a few moments as they started in on their meals. Paxton glanced at her, and she was eating – he was glad of that – but she was still kind of sulking. An idea sparked in him as he tapped her foot under the table. “Hey,” he smiled. “You know what I could really use?”

“What?”

“Some help studying for the history test.”

“Well, I’m supposed to at Fabiola’s in forty-five minutes,” she reminded him.

“Right… do you think your friends would mind if I came along?”

For the first time since they sat down, Devi smiled.

***

“I got a B?” Paxton gaped at his own history test.

“A job well done, Mr. H – Y,” Mr. Shapiro nodded as he continued passing tests back.

“Dude!” Trent exclaimed, fist bumping Paxton. “You get a tutor?”

“I got three,” Paxton smiled, turning around to look at Devi. She was already smiling at him. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”

“I know,” she teased. “Seriously though, you did the work. I’m happy for you.”

“My mom was on to something, you know?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re my good luck charm. I stick with you, you’re gonna get me on the Stanford swim team.”

And she did. After that history test, Devi started unofficially tutoring him in all his classes. She was officially tutoring him as far as her mom was concerned, and therefore, it was a job, not her hanging out with a boy. They studied at the library, at either family’s dining tables or at Eleanor or Fabiola’s. The last time they had studied at Devi’s, her mom invited him to stay for dinner. If that wasn’t enough, she actually conversed with him about how much she had heard about his swimming career. Apparently, Coach Bryant’s wife worked at her Dr. Vishwakumar’s dermatology practice. It felt like a big victory to Paxton. A comparable victory was Devi’s help in preparing him for the SATs and a resulting 1300 score. He couldn’t believe how much things had turned around for him academically, but with Devi’s help and support, he felt unstoppable.

He ended up with a scholarship that covered 75% of his school fees to join the swim team, and his parents could not have been prouder. He wasn’t crazy about being five and a half hours from home, but he was thrilled, shocked even, to have gained admission to such a prestigious school. He knew that things were going to be challenging but was grateful when his new coach told him they had a team tutor. Devi suggested making sure he had a strong relationship with the tutor. As a collegiate athlete, he’d have a lot of pressure on him both in the pool and in the classroom.

“You’re smart though,” she told him as she helped him pack before move-in day. “Your SAT score shows that. Don’t second guess yourself, and don’t let people think you’re just a pretty face.”

Paxton smirked. Even after everything they’d been through, she wasn’t afraid to admit physical attraction. They never started dating after that conversation about making sure she was ready, but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t want to. All he’d learned in the last two years was, Devi was far more special than he’d realized when their friendship began. Watching her heal after her father’s death and blossom into the woman he saw now was beautiful, and Paxton was just thankful to have a front row seat. Hearing her stories about Mohan and seeing how much she shared with her father made his heart swell, and he never missed an opportunity to tell her, her dad sounded a lot like her. He loved the smile she’d give him when he did too.

“I’m gonna miss you, Vishwakumar,” he murmured, pulling her close.

“Stop acting like you’re going off to war; it’s 2021. You can facetime me whenever you want,” she replied into his shoulder. She tried to pull away but stopped when his hold tightened.

“I’m going to hold you to that.”

“I’m counting on it.”

***

“Mom, come on, this is the only school I’m going to see without you.”

“Yes, khanna, I know this. That is why you must be prepared,” Devi’s mother responded, pages of her questions pouring out of the printer.

“I’ve gone on three other visits with you, mom, I know what to ask. And you’re going to ask the admissions office again if I decide this is what I want.”

“I do not know why you are even visiting this school. You are to go to an ivy league school.”

Devi groaned. “Mom, they have the number two law program in the country. They are every bit as prestigious as any of the ivy leagues and you know it.”

“Yes… and you are certain you want to be a lawyer?”

“I’m certain I have plenty of experience with fact-based arguments,” Devi smirked.

Her mom glared playfully at her. “They are usually riddled with emotion in my memory.”

“Part of the charm,” she smiled back. “It would be nice to be closer to you too, Mom.”

Her gaze softened before pulling Devi tight to her chest. “Just be safe, sweetie. I love you. I will see you on Monday.”

Sherman Oaks had two weekends per school year for upperclassmen where they were invited to take a long weekend for a college visit. Devi, Eleanor, and Fabiola decided to take this opportunity to visit the one school all three of them planned to apply to. Devi’s mom had taken a great deal of convincing, but in the last two years the relationship between Devi and Nalini had remarkably improved. They’d gone to therapy sessions together to process Mohan’s death – they learned how to be more open and sympathetic to each other along the way. They still argued. Nalini still had high expectations for Devi, but they never doubted that they loved each other. And Nalini’s trust in Devi had flourished as a result. Thank goodness, otherwise she never would have gotten the opportunity for an unsupervised college visit with her best friends.

Did they listen to way too many showtunes on the drive up for Devi’s taste? Yes. Yes, they did. Had Fabiola developed a weird taste for country music? Yes, she had. Thankfully, when a road trip is five and a half hours long, everyone gets a shot at picking the music. With plenty of snacks to go around, they were set for a great weekend.

Once arriving on campus, they congregated with other prospective students at the student union for the beginning of their visit. After a quick tour of the union, their next stop was housing and where they would be staying for the weekend. After housing, they toured the Cantor Arts Center, SLAC, Bing Concert Hall, and so many other destinations that it made Devi’s head spin. When they broke for the day, all three girls were happy to go rest in their room.

“Wow, this campus is like its own city,” Devi collapsed on a bed.

“You’re telling me! They have five different venues for their performing arts,” Eleanor gushed.

“And the number one engineering school in the state,” Fabiola agreed, “in one the most progressive areas in the country.”

After a few minutes of tired but enthralled conversation about the different things they liked about campus, the girls fell silent, all lying perpendicularly across the same twin bed. Devi was close to dozing off when Eleanor shifted beside her.

“So… have you told you know who that we’re here?”

Devi tried to suppress her smile. “No, I figured I would surprise him tomorrow after his meet.”

“Has he called yet?” Fabiola smiled.

Paxton and Devi had maintained a strong friendship through the recent months of his first semester and swim season at Stanford University. He facetimed her the night before every meet because “it’s the closest he could get to having his good luck charm with him.” She often told him, he was silly, but man, if she didn’t love every second of it.

“Nope, but he better hurry, otherwise I’ll be asleep,” she joked.

“Do you think he’ll recognize the dorms?” Fabiola asked.

“Good point…”

***

“What’s up, Pax? You seem tense,” Michael asked, tugging one of Paxton’s earbuds out.

“I don’t know,” he shrugged. “It’s stupid, just some superstition.”

“Didn’t talk to your girlfriend last night?” his friend smirked, tossing an arm over his shoulder to stretch.

Paxton smiled despite himself. “Shut up, man. She’s not my girlfriend.”

“You made her your woman-crush-Wednesday last week, and I didn’t even think people did that anymore.”

“Dude, whatever. She’s my best friend, and she’s the reason I’m here,” he shook his head as they both continued to stretch through their conversation.

It was true after all, at least in his opinion. If Devi had never approached him at the beginning of his junior year, his future may never have looked like this. She had mentioned before he moved up here, he could facetime her whenever he wanted. He systematically took advantage of that. Rationally, he knew that Devi could not affect how he swam. However, the more present Devi was in his life – the better things seem to be for Paxton, so he talked to her the night before every swim meet.  Did it have to be deeper than that?

Of course, it did. Paxton had never let go of his feelings for Devi. In fact, they only grew. She’d changed him into a completely different person with her friendship. Or did she just let him be himself? Yeah, that’s what she did. Devi saw him more acutely than anyone else he’d ever met… and she liked him. He wanted to be better, smarter, more motivated because she believed he could be. It made him believe it too. Did her not picking up his call last night change any of that? Absolutely not, he knew that. Did it make him feel like something was missing, just like if he didn’t get to listen to his music during warmups? Yes. Yes, it did.

“Huh… maybe you’re the reason she’s here.”

Paxton’s brow furrowed at Michael, before the latter nodded over Paxton’s shoulder. Paxton turned, and there she was, just like that first meet when everything changed. She had her red knee-high socks, her Stanford t-shirt and her denim shorts. Eye black under her eyes, and he couldn’t tell for sure, but he suspected the vertical lines would prove to be redwood trees. He wasn’t sure when the smile spread across his face, but his cheeks were already hurting from how happy he was to see her there.

Fabiola and Eleanor were with her, dressed similarly, and it was Eleanor that saw him first. She waved happily with one hand while nudging Devi and pointing toward him with the other. Devi beamed at him with the biggest smile he’d ever seen her wear. He wanted to wave. Hell, he wanted to run over to them, and wrap Devi in his arms. He wanted her to know how much having her there meant to him. He didn’t do any of those things though. He was stuck in his own shock and his body felt warm everywhere, so he just smiled at her and didn’t stop until Michael finally nudged him again.

“Get movin man, you gotta be in the pool soon,” he said with a laugh. “Don’t want to tear a muscle in front of your girl.”

Paxton rolled his eyes, shoving Michael’s shoulder good-naturedly before returning to his stretches.

When it was time for him to assume his starting position in the pool for the backstroke, Paxton followed his same routine – five deep breaths. 5…..4….3…2.. –

“P! H! Y!”

Just like almost every meet for the last two years of high school, he could hear his initials being chanted. And just like all those other meets, he knew Devi was the one that started it. It tapered off quickly while the starter waited to give his command, but it took effect.

When the starting gun sounded, Paxton had an out of body experience. It was like magic how easily he glided through the water. Somehow the race felt faster than the few seconds it took for them to start. When he brought his head fully out of the water, he could hear the raucous, thunderous cheering. He saw his time flash across the board: 51.8. A world record. A world record.

The rest of the meet was a daze. His other events were good, but not world record good. His teammates were congratulating him and talking about the parties they would be throwing for him – away from the coaching staff, of course. That all was great, but Paxton only had one thing on his mind, one person really. As soon as coach had dismissed him and he had his sweats donned, he was out the door.

People were shaking his hand. Smiling at him. Pulling him into hugs. Some were friends, classmates, teachers. Some were strangers. Paxton offered polite smiles and thanks as he continued to push past them. She was lingering toward the back, leaning against a wall with her friends talking about something on Instagram. When he finally made it to where no one stood between them, she was still probably eight feet away, and he froze. In that moment, he took all the little things he loved about her all at once. Her beauty, her intelligence, her faith in him, the way she reached inside him and pulled his walls down, the way she laughed at his jokes, and even then how she pretended to bored and look casual, but was chewing her bottom lip, his favorite sign that she was excited and nervous to see him again.

“My girl,” he breathed out, just loud enough to catch her attention.

Her eyes lit up when she saw him, and they both closed the distance between them. He wrapped her in a soul-crushing hug. Anyone around them might think it had been years since they’d seen each other instead of the few short months. He pulled away just enough to lean in for the one thing that had been on his mind all day – but then he stopped short.

“You didn’t kiss anybody yesterday, did you?” he asked.

She shook her head ‘no,’ as her cheeks took on a pink hue.

“Good. You think you’re ready for a boyfriend?”

She grinned with a small nod.

He matched her grin with a toothy smile. “Cool,” and he dove in. Finally, after two long years of not feeling Devi Vishwakumar’s lips against his, there he was kissing her, and boy, was it worth the wait. One hand cradled her jaw, the other clutching her back, holding her close as though if he let go, she’d disappear. He couldn’t even begin to describe how the actual kiss felt. Instead, he was so caught up in the monumental fact that is was finally happening. There was no one else – no Ben Gross to get in their way. She’d grown so much over the last two years, and so had he. She was ready. They were ready.

“Wait,” he pulled away. “Just to be clear, you are ready for me to be your boyfriend, right?”

She smiled, rolling her eyes, and pushing him away playfully. “Yes, dork.”

It was then he heard the cheers coming from their friends. Behind Devi, Eleanor and Fabiola gave them a thumbs up. Over Paxton’s shoulder, Michael let out a low whistle. When Paxton caught his eye, he winked and said, “thought she was just your best friend.”

Paxton looked back at Devi, her eyes finding his again immediately. “She is so much more than that.”

***

“Paxton Hall-Yoshida has done it again! He’s broke his own record!”

Paxton overheard the highlights of his 100m backstroke earlier that day as he walked the tunnel to where they were waiting. It was better than he could have imagined. He told his parents that he really wanted to give Devi one of the tickets for his events today. When he told them why, they were happy to help fly her out to them. It was five years since he realized Devi Vishwakumar was his good luck charm. And sure enough, she came through for him again today – sealing a gold medal for the backstroke. He was going to come through for her too.

“Hey,” she said when she saw him before tilting her head to the side. “What are you wearing?”

He glanced down at the expensive suit he’d donned in the locker room – the best suit he owned. “This? It’s nothing,” he smiled as he reached her.

“Where’s your bag?”

“Don’t worry about it,” he told her as his left hand slipped into his pocket. “I have everything I need right here.”

“Paxton, you can’t leave your stuff – what are you doing?” she asked suddenly, as he knelt down in front of her. Her eyes grew wide when he popped open the ring box.

“I’m feeling lucky, Devi. What about you?”

#never have i ever #never have i ever netflix #nhie #nhie netflix #daxton #dexton #paxton hall yoshida #paxton hall yoshida fluff #devi vishwakumar #devi vishwakumar fluff #daxton fluff #dexton fluff

[recentanimenews]

Those Snow White Notes – 01 (First Impressions) – Challenge Issued

AOTS Alert. Repeat, we have an Early AOTS Alert. Those Snow White Notes is an absolute joy to experience from beginning to end. Its absolute banger of a first episode tells a story of inspiration, loss, loneliness, listlessness, self-worth and self-actualization, jealousy, love, and much more—so much it feels like a little self-contained mini-film.

Oh yeah, did I mention it centers around a shamisen player, so the show’s music is supervised by The Yoshida Brothers, in addition to being directed by the fellow who not only gave us the tone-setting first episode of Rakugo Shinjuu, but both seasons of the excellent Master Teaser Takagi-san, of all things? We’re clearly dealing with some talented folks, so it’s amazing it doesn’t feel nearly as pretentious as it should.

A lot of that has to do with how simply and how efficiently the story is laid out and how easily it is to slide into the lives it follows. We start with Sawamura Setsu and his big brother Wakana listening through a cracked door as their grandfather plays to a transfixed crowd. An aside: I’m probably not alone when I say the sound of a well-played shamisen activates my sense of musical awe in addition to my ASMR, resulting in persistent goosebumps every time I hear it…or even think of it!

That said, as soon as the sweet music is over, the warm scene is replaced by a face-slap of a bitter winter scene, in which the Setsu is leaving home. When his gramps died, his “sound” disappeared too, so he’s going “somewhere loud” in hopes he can get it back. He doesn’t know if Tokyo is that place, but he knows he can’t stay home, saying “there’s nothing here anymore.”

We’re only two minutes in, and we’ve already learned so much while being treated to what is the first but hardly the least shamisen number. (It’s also clear I’m going to end up writing way too many words in this review! If only we had an editor around here…)

SWN’s next efficient-yet-effective character portrait is of Tachiki Yuna, an actress/model who is paying the bills with a hostess club job, having to keep smiling and pretending to be happy to be there even after her agency notifies her that she was passed over for a role. After her shift she’s encouraged by her boyfriend Taketo’s texts, and she considers herself fortunate to “have a man who’s talented.”

Yuna happens to be in the bustling streets of Roppongi when Setsu literally bumps into her after getting temporarily dazed by the sheer brightness of the city lights. The two part ways, but Setsu immediately bumps into some less savory characters who start to beat on him. It’s here we learn that Yuna has a heart of gold, as she comes to the Setsu’s rescue with some karate kicks.

After dreaming about his grandfather essentially telling him to stop playing the shamisen if he dies, Setsu wakes up in girly pajamas in Yuna’s cozy apartment, and she cooks the two of them breakfast. Setsu learns that Yuna is a 22-year-old gravure model. Yuna learns Setsu is a Tsugaru shamisen player, but he can’t play for her because he’s “empty inside”, which just happens to be how she’s been feeling lately.

When Wakana hears from Setsu in a letter, he assumes his little brother just went to Tokyo to get laid. But seeing in Setsu a kind of kindred soul, she proposes he continue living with her and doing the housework until he can get his sound back. Before long, a week passes, the longest he’s ever gone without playing since first picking up a shamisen.

Yuna takes Setsu to a restaurant to meet her great and talented boyfriend Taketo along with his band, and Taketo is revealed to be a preening, self-involved jackass who is far beneath Yuna. Setsu intervenes when he sees Taketo trying to extract some serious cash from Yuna to pay for studio he’s renting. He then tells her he’ll be too busy writing music to hang out later that night.

When Yuna and a bandmate have to hold Taketo back, Setsu peaces out, running through the crush of people and noting just how much noisier Tokyo was than a bumpkin like him could have imagined. He gets caught up on a word his gramps used about his sound—”disgraceful”—not because Setsu sucked at shamisen, but because all he ever did was imitate his gramps.

But right here and now Setsu is mad and wants to express it. He wants to play. So he sits down beside the river and plays. Yuna happens to pass by as he’s starting to play, and while he’d later describe the performance as rough and ugly due to the rust of a mere week, but Yuna and I become entranced.

As someone who can only understand between 1-10% of any given spoken Japanese sentence, the language itself is a kind of music, although I know enough words and phrases to know that it isn’t, so it remains separate from the real thing. But pure music like Setsu’s strumming transcends words as it expresses emotions, ideas, and memories of both player and listener.

In Yuna’s case, she’s transported back to her meeting with her agent, who was trying to get her to audition for racier movies and TV. Rightfully insulted by the insinuation she’s nothing but a pretty face and body, she throws a glass of water in his face, and is warned that she won’t go far if she turns such jobs down.

In the midst of listening to Setsu’s raw and angry performance, Yuna takes comfort in knowing even if her career doesn’t amount to anything, at least she has a good man in Taketo. She stops by the good man’s place to find him with having slept with some other woman, to whom she says “you can have him” and leaves as Setsu’s piece comes to a bitter, final note.

When Setsu comes home, Yuna is still awake, and tells him she heard his music. When she did, she realized they’re not alike at all. Setsu isn’t a “sad person with nothing going” for him like she is, and so she can’t help but feel jealous of him. She says she’ll be going away for a while, and asks him to vacate her apartment while she’s gone.

Another day, Setsu encounters Taketo on the street, who is preparing for a concert with his band. Taketo decides to use Setsu as a hostage, telling Yuna he’ll break his arm if she doesn’t show up. For this shitbaggery, Taketo is promptly punished with a Karma Kick from Yuna, coming to Setsu’s rescue once more.

She apologizes for involving Setsu in her drama, but with the wind kicked out of Taketo, she needs to ask for him to be involved a little bit longer. They need someone to go out there and entertain the crowd until the scumbag recovers. Just like that, Setsu finally gets a stage and a crowd on which to test whether he can get his lost sound back. Three guesses as to whether he manages this.

The ensuing powerhouse of a performance by Setsu calls to mind the best music scenes of Your Lie in April, only in this case the crowd was expecting a rock band, not a Tsugaru shamisen player. As he nervously tells the initially confused crowd, he plays “Jongara Bushi”, and as he does, he recalls in black-and-white memories what his grandfather had to say about the peice.

Gramps described the beginning as passionate and hot-blooded, but it starts to calm, grow progressively sadder and heartrending, weakening and waning. He’s basically describing a life. But, unlike a fiery youth who calms down in middle age and eventually withers and passes away, “Jongara” claws its way back, refusing to be beaten down, issues a challenge with its final furious crescendo.

The crowd watches in dead silence, just as Yuna did, and you can’t help but think of what is flashing through their heads while they listen; while they’re being taken on this roller coaster ride of powerful emotions. Just like April, the stage lights illuminate dust motes to give the simultaneous appearance of snow and magical sparkles. Setsu is casting a spell on everyone in that hall with his sound, and not even Taketo can deny its power.

Not only that, but the performance is being live-streamed on the internet, where even if it doesn’t go viral, it’s being watched from home by someone Setsu is sure to meet at some point; perhaps someone who like him has been around shamisen music enough to know that by their standards his performance was just okay. But I’m with Yuna, Taketo, and rest of the crowd: that was fucking awesome.

Also awesome? Yuna doesn’t take Taketo back. They’re done, and he knows he “lost himself a good woman”, even if Yuna would argue that she’s good at anything. Also, while I’m sad to see her go, Yuna does go on her trip to find her…well, not sound, but I guess to find what it is she can contribute to the world and feel good about it. Modeling and porn were decidedly not those things, but I hope the show won’t lose sight of her journey.

Setsu continues to live in her apartment after she leaves, but Taketo tends to come by a lot, so it’s clear that while he’s an asshole, he and Setsu will probably continue to interact with each other, if not outright befriend each other. While Setsu has the kettle on, he recalls walking Yuna to the train station, gives him a kiss before pushing him away and boarding the train with a final wave goodbye. Assuring him that whatever girl he ends up with “will be very happy”.

Back at her apartment, Taketo says that Setsu seems most alive when he’s playing, but if the shamisen is what gives him life, then sooner or later that world will “drag him in.” Taketo is hitting the nail on the head when their talk is abruptly interrupted by the most ridiculous occurrence in the episode: on the snap of a woman’s fingers, the door to Yuna’s apartment is forced open, a smoke bomb goes off, and two SWAT officers flank a glamorous woman with silver hair, blue eyes, and an April O’Neil jacket.

She’s here for Setsu, whom she calls “Baby-chan”, and Setsu calls her Umeko, but I know from the initial description of the show that this is his mom…who it’s immediately clear is a lot. Looks like however much of his sound Setsu believes he’s found in Tokyo, Umeko will have an unnegotiable say in his life…at least as long as he’s still a kid!

By: sesameacrylic

#Anime #News #RABUJOI – An Anime Blog

[heycoyotegirl]

Safe to Shore

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/24252283 Relationships: Paxton Hall-Yoshida/Devi Vishwakumar Additional Tags: Pre-Relationship, Panic Attacks, paxton is a soft boy and i will die on this hill, no beta we die like non-honors students, Mutual Pining Summary: Devi has a panic attack after falling into the pool. Paxton helps her through it. A/N: This is my first NHIE fic, so let me know if I got their voices right! It’s also unbetad, so please point out any mistakes.

Paxton was leading her somewhere. She wasn’t quite sure where. He’d said something—about clothes, maybe—but her ears felt like they were stuffed with cotton. And the party continued to rage around them. The bass of too loud music thumped through her body, shaking her bones and forcing her heartbeat to match the racing tempo.

The breeze against her damp skin made her shiver. Made her keep shivering. Hadn’t they just been inside? Why was there a breeze? Where—

Paxton’s hand left her lower back, and she found herself suddenly swaying on her feet. She hadn’t even realized that his hand had been there until its support was gone. What was happening to her that she hadn’t realized that Paxton was touching her? Was she dying? Her chest hurt with every inhale. The air stabbing into her lungs, trying to cut her to ribbons. Her heart was pounding, about to break free from her ribcage. And the world around her seemed muted and muffled and blurry. Weirdly distorted like she was—

Underwater.

Oh, God.

“Woah!”

She felt distant hands grab at her. Pulling her out of the water? Or pushing her deeper? The breeze was ice against her skin. Her pulse thudded in her ears, everything else drowned out by its roar. She had to find the surface, but her legs were numb, useless, paralyzed. Her lungs were caving in—or, no, filled with water. The pressure unbearable. Ribs cracking under the strain. Her throat tightened. She was choking. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t breathe and—

“Devi! Devi, hey, can you hear me? I’m right here. I’ve got you.”

Paxton. Paxton’s hand in her’s. Paxton’s face in her field of view. His eyebrows drawn together, lips tight with worry. Worry—for her?

She managed to nod her head, motions jerky. The motion unbalanced her. Set her head spinning. The rip current threatening to drag her deeper.

Paxton squeezed her hand. A lifebuoy. “Ok, can you name five things you can see for me?”

The world was still swimming. She felt disconnected, trapped at the bottom of a pool while everyone watched impassively from above. She was still shaking. Why couldn’t she stop shaking?

“Devi?” Paxton prompted, voice so soft it made her ache.

“Right.” Forcing that single word out through the water in her lungs was exhausting. But she couldn’t let Paxton down. Couldn’t disappoint him. The last person still in her life. Five things. “Um. Your eyes. Your jacket. The ground. My dress.” With each word spoken, the next came a little easier. But still, she hesitated for a second. Her voice dropped, nearly whispering, “Your lips.”

Said lips curved into a small smile. “Good. Now, what are four things you can feel?”

Her breath hitched, and her vision abruptly went blurry. Her eyes stung—chlorine? She blinked rapidly. Her hand darted to her leg, pinching her skin roughly, nails digging in hard enough to draw blood. “My—my legs. I can’t—I can’t feel—”

Paxton caught her hand, gently prying it away from her leg. He replaced it with his own, palm burning her skin like a brand. “I got you. I promise, your legs still work. Do you think you can tell me four things you feel?”

Devi managed another approximation of a nod. His thumb started to rub little circles by her knee, the repetitive motion soothing enough that she managed to take a deep—shuddering and painful—breath. Still, progress.

“Your hand—hands,” she said. Paxton’s grip on her tightened for a second. She met his gaze and found herself shuddering for a new reason. “Uh, the breeze. The pavement. My awful, wet dress.” She was starting to settle back into herself. Unfortunately, that meant she was all too aware of the way the damp fabric clung to her.

“Good. You’re almost done, and then we’ll get you out of that wet dress. What are three things you can hear?”

Devi stared at him silently for a moment, but if he realized what he said, he didn’t show it. Perhaps she was still more out of it than she’d thought. Eventually, she answered, “Your voice. The music. My heart.” The last, she said softly, like it was a confession. Maybe it was. The fear was receding, leaving bone deep fatigue in its place, but her heart continued to race.

Paxton smiled at her. Had he been that close a second ago? “Two things you can smell.”

“Chlorine and…”—her nose wrinkled—“chlorine.”

He laughed. “Yeah, I’ll give you that one. It really covers everything up.”

Devi smiled back at him. They were still holding hands. Could he feel her pulse fluttering like a hummingbird’s wings? She hoped her hand wasn’t too clammy.

“Last one: One thing you can taste. Or would like to taste.”

You. “Chlorine, again,” she said, sticking her tongue out in feigned disgust.

Paxton chuckled softly, the sound punching her straight in the gut. They were both silent for a moment. His breathing was slow and deep, and Devi found herself unconsciously matching him. He was the metronome, demanding her to keep time. Her lungs twinged as they expanded fully, but when Paxton paused for a beat between inhale and exhale, she mimicked him, relishing in the ache after the suffocating feeling from before.

His voice was quiet as he asked, “Are you feeling better?”

She glanced away, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Yeah. Thank you for that.”

“Of course.” His gaze was heavy when she looked up, and she nearly held her breath in anticipation. But she couldn’t afford to screw this up and lose yet another person. She slipped her hand out of his, making a futile attempt—mostly for show—to squeeze some of the water out of the hem of her dress.

“You said something about clothes?” Getting her out of that wet dress, to be specific. She pushed the thought away; she had to focus on being a good friend, not pining away hopelessly.

“Right.” He sounded—disappointed? Her head whipped up. He didn’t look disappointed. Wishful thinking, then. This “being a good friend” thing might be tougher than she’d thought. He gave her thigh one last squeeze—how had she missed the fact that his hand was still on her leg?—and stood, offering a hand to help her up. “I have some extra sweats in the car that you can wear.”

The thought of wearing Paxton’s clothes would have sent her into a tizzy any other day. Today, she was bone-deep exhausted. Which she realized when she stood and nearly face planted into Paxton’s chest. Her knees buckling threatened to send her spiraling again, but she could still feel them, feel the lead weights in all of her muscles and the throbbing from her ill-advised pinch.

Plus, Paxton’s hands were on her waist, saving her from breaking her nose on his sternum or tipping over backwards to crack her skull on his car. He was murmuring at her, not really saying anything, but tone and cadence soothing. It reminded her of someone talking to an injured wild animal they were trying to catch. These days, she often felt like a wild animal, cornered and scared and lashing out at the people trying to help her.

“Devi?”

She shook the thoughts off, starting slightly as she realized that Paxton’s hands were still on her waist and her hands were clutching his forearms. “Sorry,” she said, not moving her hands. “I kind of got lost in thought there.”

Paxton shrugged. “No worries. I should’ve realized that your blood sugar would be low. I’ve got snacks in the car. Think you can lean against the car and stay upright long enough for me to grab them?”

She nodded, albeit reluctantly. But only because his hands were warm and she was cold. Definitely not because standing like that made it very easy to fantasize about kissing him. She half listened to Paxton rattle off an implausibly long list of choices—was he running some sort of strange convenience store out of the back of his jeep?—eventually just letting him decide.

He’d returned quickly, snacks and sweats in hand and watched her like a hawk as she carefully lowered herself to sit leaning against the car’s tire. And thus, she found herself sitting on the ground outside Ben’s house—outside the biggest party of the year—in a wet dress, drinking a juice box and eating banana bread with Paxton Hall-Yoshida, the hottest guy in school. If her thigh didn’t still hurt, she’d be tempted to pinch herself again.

She was on her second slice—Paxton was on what seemed to be his second loaf—when the wind blew sharply, reminding her of the fact that she was still soaked. She shivered violently, and Paxton was on his feet instantly. “You should get changed,” he said, stepping around to the other side of the car. “Wouldn’t want to go to the hospital for hypothermia.”

She nodded and pulled his sweatshirt over her head so that she could maintain some amount of dignity while wiggling out of the clingy fabric. “Thanks for letting me borrow your sweats. This is so embarrassing; you keep having to rescue me at parties.”

“It’s not embarrassing for me.” He shot her a slight smile. “I always come out of it looking cool.”

#daxton #devi x paxton #paxton x devi #nhie #nhie netflix #nhie fic #my fic #my post #devi #paxton #paxton hall yoshida #paxton h y #devi vishwakumar

[yusuke-of-valla]

like rats fleeing a sinking ship, pt. 7

intermission iii

<-Previous Next->

AO3

~

After parting ways with the others at the train station, Ann and Shiho ride up to Ryuji’s house. Despite everything, it’s almost nostalgic. They haven’t taken the train to Ryuji’s together since middle school, and Ann can’t help but smile at the memory of them getting set up to play games in Ryuji’s room or the way she’d always trail behind Shiho and Ryuji when they decided to race to the front door.

They just walk up to the door this time, and Shiho keeps glancing around them as they approach Ryuji’s apartment. No one stops to take note of them, however, and eventually they can hear footsteps approaching the door.

“Look, I already told you I haven’t- Oh!” Ms. Sakamoto’s eyes widen when she sees the two of them. “Ann, Shiho. Come in, quickly.”

She ushers them inside and sits them down at the kitchen table. “Can I get you girls something to drink?”

“No we’re fine. We’re not going to stay long,” Ann says.

“Ah, alright.” Ms. Sakamoto takes her own mug and sits down across from them, tapping her fingers against the mug. “So, how is Ryuji?”

Ann and Shiho share a quick look. 

“That’s what we came to ask you, actually,” Shiho says. “He didn’t tell you where he was going?”

Ms. Sakamoto’s shoulders slump. “No. He thought it would be safer if I didn’t know.”

“Did he tell you anything, anything at all?”

“I mean, you know Ryuji. He got an idea of a place he could go and practically ran out the front door, before I told him to at least sneak out the fire escape. All he said was that you’d meet up with him. I assumed that meant you had a safe house or something.”

Ann shakes her head. “No, we don’t.”

“But don’t worry,” Shiho adds quickly, “we know he hasn’t been arrested. And Ryuji’s always been tough, he’s fine.”

Ms. Sakamoto takes a deep breath. “Yes, you’re right.”

After that, Ms. Sakamoto insists that Ann and Shiho take a bag of cookies with them and they say their goodbyes. They slip into a nearby alleyway and Shiho groans as she slumps against a building.

“Well this is just great. We’re back to square one.” 

Ann hums. “I mean, not completely. We know it’s somewhere Ryuji thinks we’ll know he’ll be so he probably decided to hide in a place that was very… Ryuji.”

Shiho bites her lip and tries to think. “I mean, I can think of a ton of places that are very ‘Ryuji’ but not exactly ‘hide out from the cops appropriate’.”

“Well, i mean our first couple of meeting places were the school rooftop and the accessway tunnel in Shibuya.”

“Wait, like, in public?” Shiho asks.

“Yeah. I think at some point Yusuke or Makoto called it a ‘refuge in audacity,’ like it’s so insane a place to hold secret meetings that no one would bother to look there.”

“Huh.” Shiho crosses her arms. “Was that your intention when you picked it out?”

“No,” Ann says, pouting, “and don’t give me that look. We didn’t exactly get caught because we were meeting in the accessway.”

“Isn’t that how Niijima-senpai found out about you?”

“No, she found out about us because we were talking at school and didn’t know she was eavesdropping. And Akechi found out about us because he saw us in the Metaverse so that doesn’t even count. The accessway was a super convenient meeting spot and it worked, so shut up.” Ann gives Shiho a playful shove, and Shiho laughs.

“Alright, so we can’t rule out Ryuji’s hiding spot just because it seems too obvious. So should we just check around every place he’d hang out?”

Ann nods. “So the beef bowl shop, the sports store, the gym…

“The arcade?”

“Ooh yeah, we should check the one in Akihabara too since we need to go there anyway.”

“Alright then, let’s go. We’re burning daylight.”

-_-_-_-

Haru gets off the train in Kanda and gawks at the church. She’s heard Yusuke and Akira describe it, but she hasn’t been able to go herself before. It’s a gorgeous building.

She spots a girl in a Kosei uniform staring at a shogi board. 

“Um, excuse me, are you Hifumi Togo?” Haru asks after quietly approaching her. There are only a few elderly patrons there as well as the priest at the front of the building.

Hifumi looks up at her. “Yes, is there something I can help you with?”

“Well, my friend Akira said you’re a good Shogi teacher and I’ve been meaning to learn.”

Hifumi’s eyes widen. “Yes, I am. Would you like to join me for a game?”

Haru nods and takes the seat next to her.

Hifumi arranges the pieces. “So, is there anything i can do to help?”

“I don’t suppose you’ve heard about Yusuke Kitagawa?”

Hifumi furrows her brow and moves one of her pieces. “Well, the rumor goes, he disappeared into thin air.”

“What does that mean?”

“He tends to stay after school in the art room very late so when the notice went out, a bunch of officers showed up at the school building proper and his dorm. He was in the art room, and the police shooed everyone else still in the school away from the building before going to collect him. But apparently someone heard from their brother who overheard the janitor talking about how Kitagawa was nowhere to be seen when the police opened the door to the art room. They tore the building apart, apparently, but he’d disappeared into thin air.”

“And no one’s heard anything since?” 

“No.”

Haru closes her eyes and counts her breaths. When she opens them again, Hifumi is watching her with concern.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m just concerned,” Haru says. Tears are starting to well up in her eyes. “It’s just, I don’t know where half of my friends are, and they’ve done so much for me when I was practically a stranger, and what did that get them? They were led into a complete trap by going after my father, and now Shido wants to finish the job.” Haru’s nails bite into her palms. “I keep trying to stay calm and telling myself it’ll be fine, but then I think of all the reasons it isn’t and-”

Hifumi slams a piece down on the board. “Enough of that. You have to stay strong. If you accept defeat, then you’re sure to lose. You have to keep your chin up, no matter what. You can still win this. I know it’s not obvious but I’ve heard people in school talking. They may not be numerous, but there are people who still believe in the Phantom Thieves, including myself. You can’t wallow in despair while there’s still something you can do.”

Haru blinks. “Oh.” She wipes her eyes. “Yes, of course. You’re right. I’m sorry to unload that on you, I was just-”

“You’re fine. I know we’ve just met under less than ideal circumstances, but like I said I believe in your cause. If you need someone to talk to, I’ll be here.”

“Thank you, Togo-san.”

“Well you can call me Hifumi for one thing. And for another, I want to help in any way that I can. Any friend of Akira’s is my friend.”

“Thank you, Hifumi.” Haru stretches out her hand. “By the way, I’m Haru Okumura.”

They finish up their games and Hifumi writes down her number for Haru for when Haru can safely use a phone again, and they part ways.

Haru feels better on the train ride back, so much so that she doesn’t notice the boy in a Shujin uniform staring at her, at first.

But, when she gets off the train in Shibuya, she catches the boy following her. Instead of making the connection back to Yogen-Jaya, she walks around the Underground Mall to try and lose him. Eventually she does, but it’s only a moment of respite before she sees a police officer heading towards her.

Haru moves quickly, sprinting up the stairs into Station Square, and tries to get lost in the crowd. She slips down another set of stairs and tries to calm down, in case someone passes by.

She hears some commotion and pokes her head out to see more officers walking by and coming closer.

“Listen to me! I saw who you’re looking for. The Phantom Thief-”

Haru holds her breath and starts looking for a way out.

“-just went towards Central Street.”

Haru stops and turns towards the man who was talking. He’s clearly a politician who was campaigning in front of her hiding spot. The cops nod to him and run off, followed by a crowd of onlookers.

Haru waits for a few minutes, when the man says, much softer, “Are you alright dear?”

“Yes, sir. Thank you. I take it you’re Mr. Yoshida?” Haru asks. “A friend of Akira’s

The man gives a sheepish smile. “Well, yes. How is Kurusu doing?”

“We’re all holding it together the best we can,” Haru replies.

“I’m so sorry all of this is happening to you, to think people would actually believe the Phantom Thieves would kill someone, and be so quick to turn against a group of children. It’s shameful.”

“Well, not everyone’s turned against us. Thanks, you really saved me there.”

“Happy, to help. Now hurry along, before you get caught again.” 

Haru waves to Yoshida and walks back to the train station, where she bumps into Ann and Shiho.

“Hey, how’s it going?” Haru asks.

“We’re still looking for Ryuji,” Shiho says. “We’re about to check Akihabara.”

“I’ll go with you, but we’ve gotta be quick. I was just recognized.”

Ann and Shiho nod, and they head onto the train. On the ride over they fill Haru in on what happened with Ryuji’s mother.

In the arcade, a boy with a red hat and blue letterman jacket spots them, his eyes widening instantly.

“Crap, I think we just got recognized,” Ann mutters.

Before they can leave, the boy sprints over to them. “Hey. You’re the Phantom Thieves, right?”

“No,” Shiho says, blocking his view of Ann, “I think you’ve gotten us mistaken for someone else.”

“Nah, I’m pretty sure you’re them. Listen, I think I saw your friend walk by here a little while ago.”

“Are you sure?” Haru asks.

“Almost positive.”

“Can you show us where?” The boy nods, and leads them out of the arcade. “I just saw them pass by a little while ago.” 

“Let’s split up,” Ann says, and they split down the middle, checking the nearby alleyways. 

“Ryuji, are you here?” Ann whisper-shouts. Ryuji doesn’t poke his head out, but someone else does.

“Makoto?” Ann, gasps.

“Shh, there were cops prowling around here earlier.” Makoto pulls her into the alleyway, then a giant hug. “I’ve been so worried about you guys.”

“Us too, but hold on.” Ann goes back to the mouth of the alleyway and waves Haru, Shiho, and the kid over.

“Ann what is it- Makoto?” Haru doesn’t waste a second wrapping Makoto in a hug.

“Suzui?” Mishima steps out from behind Makoto.

Shiho grins. “Helping out too, huh Mishima?”

“Yeah.”

“How are the others?” Makoto asks.

“Well we’ve met up with Akira, Akechi, and Morgana, and they’re getting help. Luckily Akira has a lot of friends in different places,” Haru says.

“We’re planning on securing the route to Shido’s Treasure tomorrow,” Ann says.

“Cutting it close on Sae and Sojiro’s trial date, but when haven’t we?” Makoto says with a smile. “Alright, we meeting the others?”

Shiho nods. “We should be getting back to Yogen-Jaya soon, actually.”

“So, the Phantom Thieves are gonna go after Shido next?” Mishima asks.

“Awesome,” the kid says.

“Oh, I’m sorry, we never got your name,” Ann realizes.

“Shinya Oda. I’m a friend of Akira’s. He totally you guys were the Phantom Thieves before anyone else.”

“I’m pretty sure I knew first,” Mishima says. “I mean I am the Admin of the PhanSite.”

“Really? That’s cool so you’re like Mission Control?”

“Yeah, sorta.”

“We have to go,” Ann says. “Mishima, Shinya. Are you going to be ok?”

“Yeah, totally,” Shinya says.

Mishima nods, “Don’t worry, we won’t say anything to anyone.”

“Thank you,” Haru says, “we seriously couldn’t have gotten by without you guys.”

“If you wanna thank us, then kick Shido’s butt for us.” Shinya says.

“Yeah, what he said.”

They say goodbye to Shinya and Mishima, then rendezvous with the others back at Takemi’s office, the sun having set. 

Akira and Akechi introduce them to Kasumi properly, and the two groups fill each other in on what everyone else found.

“He just said ‘we’d know where he is’?” Morgana asks once Shiho and Ann finish explaining what happened with Ryuji’s mom.

“Apparently,” Shiho says.

Ann twists one of her pigtails around her finger. “We’ve been trying to figure out what’s a Ryuji place to go but we haven’t had any luck.”

“Maybe it’s less a matter of us trying to think of where Ryuji would go,” Makoto suggests, “and more Ryuji going someplace he thinks we would go.”

“And where would that be?” Akechi asks.

Akira closes his eyes and thinks for a moment. Then it hits him. 

“I think I know where he is,” Akira says. “If I’m right, then we can all meet at the Diet Building tomorrow,” he shouts as he’s running off.

“Akira, where are we going?” Morgana asks from the bag. 

The train isn’t going nearly fast enough, and Akira sprints down Central Street to the familiar sign of Untouchable. When he gets inside, Iwai is the only person there.

“Iwai, has my friend been here at all?” Akira asks, slamming his hands on the counter.

Iwai frowns. “Geez kid, calm down, you’ll draw way too much attention.” He tilts his head behind him. “Back room.”

Akira practically leaps over the counter, causing Morgana to yelp, and rushes towards the back room. 

In the hallway, he practically runs face first into Ryuji.

“Akira!”

“Ryuji!” Akira gives him a massive hug.

Ryuji laughs. “Took you long enough dude.”

Morgana pokes his head out of Akira’s bag. “You’ve just been at Untouchable this whole time?”

“Yeah. Figured we’d be going after Shido at some point, and that meant getting weapons, plus I knew Iwai hates cops so it seemed like the perfect place.”

“This kids been eating all of my ration bars,” Iwai calls from the front.

“Heh, sorry,” Ryuji calls back. “But seriously, Iwai’s been super cool. Especially since I kinda showed up like a crazy person. Kaoru’s cool too, he’s been playing cards with me to help me not go insane coped up back here. Oh, also I’ve been learning about guns and shit while I’m here.”

“Glad to hear you’re doing well, then.” Morgana says. “We were all starting to get worried about you.”

“Aww, miss me Mona?”

“Not more than anyone else.” Morgana snaps.

Ryuji laughs again and Akira feels so much better hearing it. Ryuji’s confidence has always been infectious.

“So, wanna fill us in on what happened to you?” Morgana asks.

“Sure.”

#alto writes #on the run au #ann takamaki #shiho suzui #haru okumura #hifumi togo #toranosuke yoshida #shinya oda #makoto niijima #mishima yuuki #wordcount: 2000-2500 #queuety and vice

[katyatalks]

Mob Psycho 100 II - Kameda Yoshimichi’s Character Design Notes

With each blu-ray/DVD volume of MP100 II Character Designer Kameda Yoshimichi gives some notes regarding his process designing each character. Here are all his notes for S2 in the order they are presented, regarding; Shinra Banshoumaru, Emi, Mogami Keiji, Joudou Kirin, Asagiri Minori, The Urban Legends, Shimazaki Ryou, Hatori Nozomu, Minegishi Toshiki, Shibata Hiroshi, Suzuki Touichirou & Serizawa Katsuya.

SHINRA BANSHOUMARU

My highly recommended character from season 2, Shinrin Maruo! … that’s not his name, it’s Shinra Banshoumaru!! I super, super love Shinra to the point where it’s unbearable, and I even put him into season 1!!! Do you know where, though? These lovable, chubby characters - they’re lacking in recent anime, but I figured I’m in the position to change that!! I made him bigger than he is in the manga and upon drawing his rough design, Director Tachikawa told me I was going too far and had me draw a retake. I was like a bulldozer - ‘That’s so stupid!’ - so I managed to save his nice body (laughs).

After episode 2 he doesn’t appear at all, but please be sure to love Shinrin!!! How about a spin-off!? “Shinrin Psycho 100”, how’s that!?!?!? Ah, Shinra, actually. Sorry.

EMI

The amount of people who wanted to see this story animated!!!! Since it usually ranks either first or second place in polls that assess the most popular story in the Mob Psycho 100 manga, we figured we’d have season 2 start with it, and since it’s such a popular part, there was an agreement that I’d be animation director for it! Which I was enthusiastic about, until - huh? Episode 2 has Shinra Banshoumaru? Then, I’ll do episode 2! And with that, I left episode 1 in the hands of Yoshida-san! It’s a story with drama at its heart, and that’s what Yoshida-san specialises in, so I was happy with that!!! I’m pleased with Emi-chan’s hair colour. I made it a caramel-pink. My type 100%.

MOGAMI KEIJI

Truth is, work on Mob Psycho 100 II began from Episode 5. Because of that, the first of the fresh new characters to be drawn was Mogami. Just before getting to work on Mob Psycho 100 II I’d been working on something else where the proportions are quite short, so I kept in mind that I had to make sure that didn’t affect my designs here - as a result, for the first rough draft for Mogami, I had him with full on shoulder pads so he’d look taller, in a Saeba Ryou kinda vibe (laughs). Well, maybe not as far as Saeba Ryou. As expected, following a check with the director I was told the balance of his body isn’t Mob Psycho-ish!  And now his design is as it is. And yet… maybe it would’ve been nice to have his shoulders be raised, just a little?? In the manga he’s quite a handsome man, but my Mogami isn’t that handsome… that’s regrettable.

JOUDOU KIRIN

I have Joudou-sensei wear a kesa [Buddhist priest’s robe] in the anime - it’s pretty cute, isn’t it? Something I paid attention to was the lines from where his kesa ends to his tip toes! He appears in episodes 4-7 and more so than Mogami does, but he’s fun to draw. His deformation in episode 4 was super funny, so we included more of those (laughs). However, the wrinkles on his forehead and his hair barcode are a bit of trouble, and he’s got three rosaries on, and vertical stripes on his kesa… a lot of lines, and animating all those lines is a delicate matter. Also, he has huge eyes. They must get dry easily, I’m sure that’s tough for him.

ASAGIRI MINORI

We get three design variations for Minori - the one in the bed, the one that’s possessed by Mogami, and the one wearing Salt Middle School’s sailor uniform. Her chipped nails while she’s lying in the bed are an anime original. I wanted something in her design that’d counter her cute face. Above everything, what stands out in her design is her hair colour!!!! Her final design has her with purple hair, but at first I imagined her with a cute pink, like Minky Momo-chan. However, the pink hair didn’t really match with her skin colour and overall ghastliness when she’s possessed by Mogami, so after a revision, I went for purple. The way she is now… well, she’s cute, but I think pink hair would’ve been reeeeeeally cute! There’s not many illustrations in the manga where the characters are given colour, so it was very fun getting to choose colours for the anime!

URBAN LEGENDS

With the characters that appear in the Urban Legend Arc, it was super fun to envision how they might move around, and what details to add and/or remove!! Regarding Wriggle Wriggle from episode 1, in order to give a sense of scale in comparing its height with Mob’s, on its character sheet I drew it with an extreme use of perspective. An angle similar to that image gets used in the anime.

In episode 2, Red Raincoat is as he is in the manga, but The Dragger dragging her dolls behind her is an original design. I gave the three dolls she drags a sense of individuality & a ghastly feel, then thought about wetting her clothes and skirt with mud and rain, deciding to make her simple. The dragger has very long hair, which appeals to my 80s-anime-loving taste. I guess when it comes to original designs I always drag out something that I’ve been stocking in my own drawers (laughs).

On the other hand, with Dash Granny all we see of her is her running blurry form, so even on her character sheet her references are all smeared - kinda like me declaring, ‘right, I’m the animation director for episode 2, so let me handle drawing the granny.’ (Laughs).

Season 2 is filled with a lot of deep stories, so if we get to continue the Mob Psycho 100 anime, I’d like for us to do more light-hearted stories where cases related to urban legends are solved like this!!

SHIMAZAKI RYOU

The member of the Ultimate Five who gets the most time in the spotlight, Shimazaki - easy to draw, isn’t he?? His eyes are lines, the corners of his mouth are a little lifted - just draw that and there you go! Shimazaki! He fights with Teru-kun twice -  episodes 9 and 11 - but I’ve been told that the jersey Teru-kun wears from episode 10 onwards is quite perplexing (laughs). In the manga it’s a black jersey… of course I know that. It’s just… he fights Shimazaki, who has a black colour scheme, and then Mob and Sakurai also have black colour schemes… Suzuki is more or less the same, as is Koyama, so to say. Way too many characters with a black colour scheme. Having all these characters with black colour schemes in one scene? That’s a No, Thanks from me. With all that blackness, you wouldn’t be able to understand who’s who!!!!!! Huh? You’d understand because Teru is blonde? W-well...

HATORI NOZOMU

You noticed, right? Hatori’s very cute pigeon [hato] crest!! A crest I highly recommend! … and yet, Hatori doesn’t appear much, does he… plus, the pigeon really didn’t stand out at all either (laughs). As much as I could, I’d leave the style of clothing that each character wears in the manga more or less the same for their anime design, then apply colour, then add a design that matches the character - designing their clothes was fun! Teru-kun’s jersey has a seagull, and Koyama’s hoodie has a spiral-like design - I think it’d be fun to search for these designs!! Actually, why does Teru-kun’s jersey have a seagull on it, you might ask?? Well, flip the seagull upside down… and you get someone standing… pigeon toed!

MINEGISHI TOSHIKI

I felt like the kinds of plants Minegishi manipulates would be of a carnivorous nature, so I ended up learning a lot of stuff when I was doing research! When thinking of carnivorous plants, what immediately springs to mind is Rafflesia! Even when reading illustrated encyclopaedias as a kid, I thought Rafflesia plants looked pretty scary. I’d read something about ‘man-eating plants’ and thought to myself, man, I want that to be about Rafflesia - I looked it up and it was! It stinks, so it’s as if it eats both humans and insects! I feel sorry for it - it’s just a stinky flower. Also, I made a big discovery!! Seems like you can drink the digestive fluids of pitcher plants!!! *gags*. Apparently you can only drink it before they catch insects, but it’s close to being germ-free, so please, drink without worry! Also, in Malaysia or somewhere like that, it seems they put rice inside the mouth of a pitcher plant, then steam and eat it, like bamboo chimaki [Rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves]. ...In a pitcher plant… really…? *gags* *gags again*. With venus flytraps, too, people put minced meat in their mouths and grill them or something… those of you who own carnivorous plants; please, give it a go!! But the result is your own responsibility!!!

SHIBATA HIROSHI

He brings the pressure in episode 10 - when I read the manga, I felt this incomparable atmosphere when Shibata transforms and roars noisily around. I think the anime was amazing in amping that up! Looking at the manga, when Shibata’s on his rampage, he takes on more of a swarthy tone. So when I came to choose his colours for the anime, I first had his skin tone be pretty dark, but I felt like that didn’t give the same impact as it did in the manga, so I proposed giving him a scarlet tone as if he came from the Asura realm! And I’m glad I had the sense to! Actually, speaking on this now, he’s kinda like The Hulk (laughs). I guess it would’ve been funny if I made his skin green.

SUZUKI TOUICHIROU

Truth is, I’d finalised Suzuki’s design during season 1. Only because he appears for a split second during the final episode, though (laughs). But, while working on the main story, something I noticed with my design that troubled me was that alongside being slender and baby-faced, his height left something to be desired… so he didn’t look like a boss character in the slightest. After I finished work on the final episode, I thought it’d be good to make his face a little longer, ie. more mature. To make him appear more aggressive, I tried to make his eyes smaller, but then his design strayed too far from his manga self. Of all the things that caused me grief, the worst one of them all was his hair - does he have a jagged hairline because he’s brushed his hair back, or is the jaggedness there a very short fringe due to him having short hair? After I finished work on the final episode, I unexpectedly had the chance to see ONE-sensei, live, drawing Suzuki - from there, my problem was solved!!! Jagged hair (laughs). (It’s due to him having short hair, right?) I apologise for never grasping the true form of his hair, right up to the end.

SERIZAWA KATSUYA

Translated previously here.

--

Twitter crosspost here.

Season 1 notes here.

#mp100 #mob psycho 100 #my stuff #shinra banshoumaru #emi #mogami keiji #joudou kirin #asagiri minori #shimazaki ryou #hatori nozomu #minegishi toshiki #shibata hiroshi #suzuki touichirou #serizawa katsuya #booklet #kameda yoshimichi