Urusei Yatsura 2022 Season 1 Episode 10: Parents' Day Horrors/Since Your Parting
Written by Yūko Kakihara
Storyboard by Minoru Ohara
Parents' Day Horrors:
Directed by Shugo Tsuneoka
Animation directed by Ryo Kobayashi, Naoki Hiramura, Sachiko Mori & Toyoaki Fukushima
Since Your Parting:
Directed by Jiro Fujimoto
Animation directed by Haruki Miura, Akane Imada, Sakurako Mitsuhashi, Kazuko Nakayama & Toshiyuki Fujisawa
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Kazuko Fujimoto
Old art 2022.
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2023/06/22 English
BGM: Faye Wong - 夢中人
It was a day off for me, but it was raining so I spent my precious morning time really lazily (I even slept again!). After that, from 10:30 am I started using ZOOM to attend a meeting about English on ZOOM. Today we tried to make some sentences by using the useful phrases as "get along with" and "be far from". Suddenly, I made a sentence "Russia has to get along with Ukraine". Yes, it is a clearly controversial or tough one so I got embarrassed. But other members accepted this with kindness so I felt pleasure a lot. And also I tried to make another one "I'm far from bilingual"... After that, a member from India taught us an interesting concept "the millionaire mind". It was really grateful time. I went to the library and borrowed some books. I had wanted to borrow Kazuko Fujimoto's ones (one is about feminism in America, and another is about Richard Brautigan). But I found Karen Cheung's "The Impossible City" at the "new books" corner. I decided to read that by my inner voice.
I finished reading Dan SHAO's book about translation. It must contain a lot of "ingredients" (I want to say about the topics or pieces of idea this book has). But it is never "too much" for me. I have been attracted by the topic about Kurt Vonnegut (his works themselves, and how he has been read in Japan through translation). I have to say this. I have NEVER read his books so I reserved some books of collections of his short stories by the site of the library. Learning about various Japanese translators who did Vonnegut's masterpieces into Japanese (as Hisashi Asakura), I thought that it was good for me or us not to become a translator (or I have to admit that "I could never be"). Because translation means not replace English words with proper Japanese words automatically/mechanically. I need to learn the writer/author's background, and also I have to try to replace words by thinking how they belong to their context. I have to read every sentence as carefully as I can... It is really sensitive. I learned that simple and important fact by that Dan SHAO's work.
This afternoon I tried to translate the questions a Russian woman had sent to me/us into Japanese by myself. I have to say this that my skill of translation is really poor (we have to follow the fact about translation I wrote above). I want to be careful not to misread or make mistakes through that translation process... And suddenly I thought how I could start living my life with autism peacefully, like making harmony. It's important for me that I am now enjoying being a member of the "self-help" group. By joining that group, I could learn that there are some autistic people besides me in this small rural town... I can't say if I/we can invite that Russian woman in our meeting. And also I can't say exactly if it is good for us to put Japanese lifehacks into the Russian autism life/situation. But... I guess (by my inner voice) that it would work better/useful for her even it it might be a little. I have to work hard to realize that project/dream one day, in the near future.
This evening I started ZOOM again to attend another meeting. In this meeting, a member/friend shared various episodes when she had lived in Moji, a city in Kyushu area in Japan. After that, I started reading Karen Cheung's book I had borrowed this morning. I have never been in Hong Kong so should say I am ignorant. Of course, the Hong Kong was the place people had tried to achieve democracy by themselves (I can remember "The Umbrella Movement"). I once had thought that it had been clearly different from Japan. TBH I rarely enjoy travelling (or I should say "I have NEVER been out of this country"). In this morning's meeting about English, we enjoyed an "if" tale. If we had "Anywhere Door", which is an amazing tool of Doraemon. If there were Doraemon... Then I would like to go to Hong Kong and Russia to meet my friends. I also would go to Tokyo... TBH I am really, terribly broke so I stay in Shiso. But as the Underworld's song, I imagine this. Where would I go if my boss gave me "Two months off"?
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Upon your return, I will gift you a beautiful flower | Kazuko | MM Execution Reaction
As Atsuko Fujimoto struggles to the last, Kazuko watches with the same look she’s always given these displays of cruelty. There is no attempt to hide it, nor the need to, she carries the face of someone who’s deeply, deeply sad, brows furrowed, frown on her lips.
Exactly as she imagined before this trial even started, there is not one bit of satisfaction to be found in another’s death, no matter how much grief they had given her. Even as the agony of 60 years is gone, a claw-like shadow remains gripping her heart.
There’s that familiar feeling of doubt, that if perhaps, she had extended a hand just a bit further, she could’ve reached. There is the wondering of thinking that even then, it would not have been enough, that perhaps, she had been sixty years all too late to even try.
She swallows and looks around the room when the execution is done.
And she remembers her own words, Clement’s, Atsuko’s, and everyone else’s.
And she rises.
And she wrestles, little by little, with great effort, with the claw of doubt inside her heart, knowing it will take a long time.
And she grieves Atsuko Fujimoto silently.
And she thinks of the things she has to ask Autopilot later.
And she knows what needs to be done.
And she quietly, faintly smiles again
And she allows herself a moment to rest, knowing of the long journey ahead.
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アメリカの鱒釣り
リチャード・ブローティガン、藤本和子・訳
晶文社
ブックデザイン=平野甲賀
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A girl of a rather short stature gracefully made her way to the podium of the Fancuries. Her posture and smile radiated confidence. Her dirty blonde hair was held back by a yellow headband decorated in golden flowers. She wore a yellow dress with differing sleeves, one being a simple strap and the other covering most of her upper arm. Her rosy red cheeks were surrounded by freckles.
All was calm as she stood in front of the sea of people, all staring at her. Well it was, until she opened her mouth:
“Tis’ I, your demon princess overlord, Yuzuki Yuuta!! And today my demons, I have descended from hell itself to bestow an honor upon one of my humble servants!”
Whispers traveled through the crowd. Who was this girl, what was she on, and why was she at the Fancuries? Far away, towards the back of the crowd, a group of Pretty Cure exchanged concerned looks. They knew this speech, as they were her practice audience, and this… This wasn’t planned.
“Ugh… She definitely snapped under the pressure.” One of them groaned, lowering his head in shame.
The girl beside him, Yuanfen Zhao, tugged at her friend’s sleeve through panicked breaths: “I should have known this was a mistake! Ryouta, we need to evacuate before we are the laughing stocks of the Fancuries!”
“C’mon Yuzuki, spare us the second-hand embarrassment and do this right!! Take a deep breath and do it as we rehearsed!!” The leader of the Love Sent! Motto♡Motto Precure team, Momoka Masami, called out to the girl on the podium.
Yuzuki stared at Momoka in the crowd, with sweat across her brow. It was too late to start over, she needed to commit.
“AHEM,” She coughed, demanding attention from her viewers after the elongated silence: “Clearly, you all are not on my plane of existence and my words are impossible for your pea-brains to comprehend! I suppose I need to speak in a manner that lower life forms will understand. The goddesses have shined down upon four lucky creators, but only one shall reap the rewards and overcome fate itself! Which Cure has the goddess chosen, to be winner of the title that goes to the most amazing, extraordinary, legendary, bad*** Pretty Cure to ever be put to pen… Or just uh, the Coolest Written Cure of 2020! Our nominees are…”
“First we have Emilia (Emi) Nakagawa, or Cure Reef, of Tidal Song Precure written by Kazuko. She’s an amazing yellow Cure, just like me! She can be described as stoic, standoffish, and a little short-tempered, but she cares a lot about her friends. She’s independent, and wishes to prove herself to the people who underestimate her. Some of her coolest moments include fighting off a Siren with a surfboard, and fighting alone with a fever! What a baddie!”
“Our next nominee is Morgan Shannon Fischer, or Cure Splash, of Prime Pretty Cure by MonoTheMonochrome. Morgan is a strong and skilled fighter, who’s very dedicated to her mission to save the world from the Unbounds and the commanders of Obscuro! She loves the thrill of battle and kicking some serious butt! Though she’s a little bit unapproachable and a total loner, she’s very protective of her friends in and out of the battlefield. Some of her best moments include fighting without her powers and stopping her friend from losing control of her powers!
“Ariel Kane, or Cure Cressida, is another nominee! She’s from Shimmering Satellite Pretty Cure written by Moe a.k.a. MissMellifluous! She’s a rebellious musician who lives by the beat of a different drummer. Ariel is a proud member of the The Shark Bite Betties, a Roller Derby team. Her tough nature is perfect for the sport, which can be rather brutal at times. In her introductory chapter, she earned her powers by protecting children which is beyond cool! She only got COOLER when she took down a villain using her Derby skills! She sounds so… so… amazing… ahhhhh--”
“YUZUKI YOU’RE FANGIRLING!” Momoka yelled from the audience.
“Oh.. uh.. Our final nominee for Coolest Written Cure is Shizuka Fujimoto, or Cure Snap, of Mystic Tale! Pretty Cure by snow-will-fall! Based on one of the most terrifying predators, the tiger shark, Cure Snap is terrifyingly AWESOME! Shizuka’s alter ego is a fierce fighter who fights on the frontlines. Shizuka herself, however, is a different story. Unlike the rest of the nominees, Shizuka is shy and cowardly. Under the surface lies a smart and energetic girl, who enjoys sharing all she knows about her favorite topics. With this nominee, you get the best of both worlds! The adorable Shizuka and the fierce Cure Snap! One of Snap’s coolest moments is when she summoned a massive tsunami with her water powers! So cool!”
Yuzuki looked a bit out of breath after all that. Perhaps she had rambled just a little. Swiftly, she grabbed her water bottle and took a sip. She took a deep breath before continuing her speech. “Now, my demon servants, we shall see who will ascend to become the goddess of all things ‘cool.’ She shall be accompanied to the heavens by me, the Demon Princess Overlord, Yuzuki Yuuta!!!” She flipped open the envelope, while doing a uniquely 'Yuzuki' pose. “And our new goddess of ‘cool’ is… Cure Reef of Tidal Song Precure!! Step up and accept your godhood!!”
[Yuzuki Yuuta / Cure Giallo and Love Sent! Motto♥Motto Precure belong to Fennieaile a.k.a. starbelles]
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Information on the main character's moms
(Okay, this will be the last one and i’ll reply)
Name: Yumi Mikazuki (Nee Fujimoto)
Age: 35 (21 at time of death)
Likes: Helping others, drinking contests, making others happy
Dislikes: Horrible people, threats, seeing her sons in danger
Type of beast: bear
Physical description: Dark brown hair, light brown skin, hazel eyes, blue underbelly, blue tail.
Dream: None
Occupation: Stay at home mom
Height: She’s shorter than everyone, but taller than Noxi
Married to: Kazuya
Mother of: Juuichi and Kenji Mikazuki
Bio: Yumi fell in love with Kazuya in high school when he saved her from a group of boys. She got terminally ill when Juuichi and Kenji were 4 and 3 years old and died because of it. In reality, she was only in a coma. 14 years later, she awoke after Juuichi made a wish on a shooting star. She now lives happily with her husband and sons. She’s best friends with Holly.
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Name: Yuya Ooshima (Nee Sato)
Age: 34
Likes: Doing laundry, staying busy, watching her son compete
Dislikes: Her son being immature, whiners, smoking
Physical description: Wears a light blue kimono with pink flower designs. Wooden sandals. Has her brown hair done in a bun. has the same fur color as Torahiko
Dream: None
Occupation: Inn helper
Height: She’s an inch shorter than Holly
Married to: Sai
Mother of: Torahiko Ooshima
Bio: Yuya is a kind mother who always supports her son and husband through think and through. She can get a little competitive when she sees her son swimming in races, but means no harm.
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Name: Mai Nishimura (Nee Yoshida)
Age: 34
Likes: Hearing about her son’s day, good grades
Dislikes: Hiroyuki being lazy, feeling sore
Physical description: Long black hair, wears a beige sweater with brown polka dot leggings and black shoes
Dream: None
Occupation: Librarian
Height: She’s about as tall as Yuya
Married to: Hideki
Mother of: Hiroyuki Nishimura
Bio: When Mai, her husband, and Hiroyuki had to leave Minasato, she felt bad because it made him so sad. She tried her best to cheer him up, but he eventually moved on. She works downtown in Shibuya to help out with the bills. She’s known Kazuya, Sai, Yukino, and everyone ever since she was little.
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Name: Chiyo Kodori (Nee Tanaka)
Age: 29
Likes: Preparing for the Bon Festival, eating sweets, playing games with her son
Dislikes: Ryo’s attitude, seeing Shun sad
Physical description: Wears a blue flower shirt and matching skirt, has long brown hair
Dream: None
Occupation: Bon festival preparer
Height: Same as Ryo, but taller than Shun
Married to: Ryo
Mother of: Shun Kodori
Bio: Chiyo wishes her husband would take it easy on their son whenever the Bon festival approaches, but family values are important. She loves Shun deeply, and becomes concerned whenever he is upset about something. She gets annoyed with Iwao’s harshness, and Gaku’s ways of teaching him about sex.
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Name: Kimi Kuroi (Nee Nakamura)
Age: 30
Likes: Writing, baking, looking at her tablet
Dislikes: Seeing her son sick, stuck up people
Physical description: Wears a red business suit with matching skirt and red heels
Dream: To become a writer
Occupation: Teaching French
Height: An inch shorter than her husband
Married to: Keichiiro
Mother of: Shin Kuroi
Bio: Kimi took an interest in writing when she was around 16 years old. She strives to become a good writer, and is constantly busying herself in her work. She loves Shin, and checks in every now and then to see how he and Amaki are doing.
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Name: Nori Takahara (Nee Minamoto)
Age: 34
Likes: Watching her son’s games, playing Jenga, old movies
Dislikes: Spiders, ghosts, lightning
Physical description: Wears a black tank top, with a green skirt. Has the same fur color as Kyouji, eyes are open and are purple, has long brown hair
Dream: To see her son play in the championship league
Occupation: Waitress
Height: Shorter than Kyouji and Makoto
Married to: Makoto
Mother of: Kyouji Takahara
Bio: Nori enjoys watching her son kick the ball around the field, and seeing her husband tend to the flower beds. She’s usually the one to calm down Makoto after he’s had one too many.
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Name: Ume Touno ( Nee Kazuko)
Age: 27
Likes: Gossip, the latest trends
Dislikes: Her hair in a mess
Physical description: Long red hair, wears a purple shirt and blue jeans. Has piercings on her ears.
Dream: To see her son play in the championship league
Occupation: Works at a bakery in Kazenari
Height: She’s taller than Soutarou and Yumi, but still shorter than most of the other moms.
Married to: Jiro Touno
Mother of: Soutarou Touno
Bio: When Ume found out about her husband’s disappearance, she was heartbroken. Having nowhere else to go, her and Soutarou moved to Minasato for a better life. She hopes that her husband is safe, wherever he is.
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Fandom OCs
Seth Archer (Pokemon)
Lydia Stevens (Pokemon)
Alec White (Pokemon)
Reiko (Pokemon)
Lusha (Pokemon)
Lunis (Pokemon)
El'ahn (VLD)
Av'ilt (VLD)
Amarie Everstorm (Lord of the Rings)
Kanako Nakagawa (Soul Eater)
Kazumi Shimizu (Soul Eater)
Tatsuya Yoshida (Tatsu) (Death Note)
Noriko Yamasaki (Nori) (Psycho Pass)
Tsukiko Nishimura (Psycho Pass)
Yuina Fujimoto (Dramatical Murder)
Kazuhiro Nakayama (Kazu/Hiro) (Dramatical Murder)
Kimiko Yamasaki (Kimi) (One Piece)
Kei Suzuki (Kekkaishi)
Mizuki Kenyon (Kekkaishi)
Kazuko Fujita (Ghost Hunt)
Erin Suzuki (Ghost Hunt)
Ayane Maruyama (Kuroko no Basket)
Keiko Yamada (Kei) (Kuroko no Basket)
Rei Suzuki (Kuroko no Basket)
Ren Fujita (Kuroko no Basket)
Tsukiko Hashimoto (Tsuki) (Kuroko no Basket)
Akemi Fujiwara (Kuroko no Basket)
Kiyomi Ohayashi (Kiyo) (Prince of Tennis)
Tatsuya Nakamura (Prince of Tennis)
Aoi Morita (Last Airbender)
Lilian Kojima (Lily) (Last Airbender)
Ami Kawano (Last Airbender)
Mina Bookman (D.Gray-Man)
Misa Fujin (D.Gray-Man)
Rei Nakashima (D.Gray-Man)
Rie Nakashima (D.Gray-Man)
Aya Nakamura (Black Cat)
Katsu Ikeda (Black Cat)
Miyu Ito (Black Cat)
Kazumi Ojima (Utapri)
Asami Nakamura (Utapri)
Ran Hayashi (Utapri)
Kisa Fujihara (Pandora Hearts)
Reiko Suzuki (Baskerville) (Rei) (Pandora Hearts)
Ryo (Pandora Hearts)
Goyo Fujita (Pandora Hearts)
Eriko Hasegawa (Eri) (Karneval)
Noriko (Nori) (Karneval)
Kichiro Yamaguchi (OHSHC)
Ayame and Ayano Yoshida (OHSHC)
Asiya (Magi)
Akil (Magi)
Ayesha Mikhail (Magi)
Jamila Sarraf (Magi)
Silvanus (Kamigami No Asobi)
Nyx νύχτα (Kamigami No Asobi)
Aoi Shimizu (Vocaloid)
Miyu (Vocaloid)
Kasumi Nakamura (Kasu) (Bleach)
Yoshino Tadashi (Shino) (Bleach)
Nean Vest (RWBY)
Aki Kimura (Blue Exorcist)
Kimiko Yamada (Blue Exorcist)
Keiko and Meiko Yamada (Blue Exorcist)
Shuji Kawasaki (Blue Exorcist)
Ayane (No.6)
Senna Mustang (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Shigeru Kojima (Shige) (Prince of Stride)
Ryoichi Fujii (Seraph of the End)
Demitri Koyamura (Seraph of the End)
Ryze Nishimura (Seraph of the End)
Lucretia Arakawa (Seraph of the End)
Natsuki Kobayashi (Natsu) (Seraph of the End)
Ophelia Shibuya (Seraph of the End)
Alec Kusaribe (Zetsuen no Tempest)
Nissa Kusaribe (Zetsuen no Tempest)
Shiki Ikehara (Zetsuen no Tempest)
Ryoko Yoshida (Zetsuen no Tempest)
Namie Kuwahara (Zetsuen no Tempest)
Azusa Shibuya (Sword Art Online/Gun Gale)
Rei Sawaya (Sword Art Online/Alfheim Online)
Rika Ichikawa (Sword Art Online)
Saito Kimoto (07 Ghost)
Setsu Fukushima (07 Ghost)
Emiko Fujimura (Haikyuu)
Ichiro Nishimura (Haikyuu)
Kiyomi Yamamoto (Haikyuu)
Yuzuki Yamazaki (Haikyuu)
Sayuri Nakayama (Haikyuu)
Sayuri Kojima (Haikyuu)
Ayane Sato (Haikyuu)
Mizuki Yamaguchi (Haikyuu)
Rei Kimura (Haikyuu)
Akira Waters (Attack on Titan)
Kisa Woods (Attack on Titan)
Ren Yoshida (Attack on Titan)
Tetsuya Yamasaki (Attack on Titan)
Hikaru Kinoshita (Attack on Titan)
Yuri Hayashi (K Project)
Kouta Tamura (K Project)
Akira Fujihara (Naruto)
Mizuki Inushita & Eri (Naruto)
Eri Yamamoto (Amatsuki)
Eldir (Noragami)
Fiara (Noragami)
Natsuko Kobayashi (Kaze no Stigma)
Yuriko Ohayashi (Durarara)
Kenta Ogawa (Durarara)
Ayumi Sato (Durarara)
Kazuki Sakamaki (Diabolik Lovers)
Akemi Sasaki (Diabolik Lovers)
Eri Kokawa (Black Butler)
Yuzuki Ishikawa (Black Butler)
Naoki Yamashita (Black Butler)
Azami Yamada (Black Butler)
Hoshiko Saito (Black Butler)
Akiko Shimizu (Uraboku)
Kyoko Yamashita (Uraboku)
Yuriko Ishikawa (Neo Angelique Abyss)
Amaterasu Suzuki (Black Bullet)
Daisuke (Black Bullet)
Kazuko Nakumura (Black Bullet)
Akihiro (Black Bullet)
Noriko (Death Parade)
Akane Ishikawa (Assassination Classroom)
Kiyomi Nakayama (Assassination Classroom)
Akito Ren (Free!)
Ayama Nakamura (Free!)
Amaya Tsukiki (Natsume Yuujinchou)
Sayuri Kimura (Vampire Knight)
Ryoko Takahashi (Vampire Knight)
Hibiki Ishida (Tokyo Ghoul)
Miyu Ito (Tokyo Ghoul)
Kaito (Wolf’s Rain)
Sibyl (Wolf’s Rain)
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2023/06/21 English
BGM: Venus Peter - New World
I worked late today. This morning I read Dan SHAO's book in a halfway. I thought it must be a masterpiece once again. I've got an interest in a Japanese translator Kazuko Fujimoto's works besides of Haruki Murakami's ones through reading this. About Kazuko Fujimoto, I just read the novels by Richard Brautigan by her translation so I have never learned her essays and critics. By this book, I have learned that she has written the discrimination and feminism in America. She also wrote some books about those issues I heard. I reserved one of those books by her by the library's website. If possible, I want to read various Brautigan's works through her translation again by this chance. It is really grateful for me to read/meet various authors and books by any books, any writers by following their roots. I remember... at my teenage days, when I was into Haruki Murakami, I also tried some the Beatles' tunes and Jazz. I also tried to watch Godard's old movies. Indeed, some critics say Haruki's literature is not political/serious, but sometimes ambitious critics find this kind of political aspect in his works.
This afternoon I heard this news. On the "Global Gender Gap Report 2023" from the World Economic Forum, the result say to us that Japan has still serious inequality between men and women. I have to read about this to understand the core of this problem. But about this topic, I can remember that I have been bullied a lot by the comment "Be a man" and "Are you a real man?" etc. This "masculine" society can give a certain mental pressure/difficulty on the man in a way. I believe so. But I also have to see that it is not the same as the difficulties this country's women have had to face. That's difficult/sensitive... Indeed, this is a foreign movie but I remember a Korean movie "Kim Jiyoung born 1982". That movie clearly shows how women have to face their difficulties in their life in this society. I guess it can be the same in Japan. It must be irrational... then, how can we suggest/declare each voice into any public common opinion? I believe that it can be "personal is political".
https://www.weforum.org/reports/global-gender-gap-report-2023/
Now I feel that this era has been changing. I have been said a lot as "Be natural" and "Don't be weird". It has been really troublesome life for me. But now, it is really "diversity" era. Now we can't divide our sexuality as "male" and "female". We have to see how our personal/individual sexualities can be sensitively... But I can't say anything about this because I don't know well. About autism, now people see that autism is on the spectrum/gradation as a main point of view. This means that autistic people and neurotypical people are never completely different as human beings and aliens. We are the same at the root... Suddenly I thought this. Now is the era we have to find each person's identity by any single person. It means not the one any establishment or society can give orthodox identities to us. So it can provide new difficulties to us (it can make new "identity crisis"). But it is also the era everyone can live each person's precious single life by the inner voice from our core. But I need to think about this steadily.
Now is the era every person can quest each one's identity. It must be a kind of "custom-made" identity. Is it a way of liberation/freedom? Or is it a beginning of new nightmare era? How the stories/narratives we are living can influence on those identities we have? On thinking about these things and writing English memo at a lunchbreak, Suddenly I was talked by a person. "I always see you, and am getting embraced by you!". He said so. I am glad to hear that. And I remember that another reader of this journal had bought Steve Silberman's book "Neurotribes" by reading my opinion. Ah, this journal, and my existence affects someone else... but it must be because YOU are always supporting me. You give me comments, and also read me. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
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Head On, Hold Onto Your Heart | Utamaro | MM Trial | Re: Atsuko, Kazuko, Clement
Utamaro can’t help but feel a little bad for Atsuko Fujimoto. They can understand how she’d lose faith in humanity, at least, because they’ve been there. Obviously not quite to some of the extremes given what a piece of work Atsuko’s mom sounds like, but they know that the world is unfair and people can be cruel for no good reason.
Still. There are other parts of this world too. Kazuko and Clement are reminding them of that right now.
“...you know, you aren’t wrong, obaa-san. People are shitty just because they can be or because things went bad enough that they stopped thinking they had another choice. That’s the reason you ended up with the work you did, right? Trying to protect kids from shitty adults…”
Utamaro doesn’t consider themself a big enough person to actually forgive the Atsuko Fujimoto that put them here: at the very least, they won’t be able to forget the pain they’re in, or the amount of times she’s probably killed their best friend.
Even so. There’s something human that they can relate to–not wanting to listen to logic because you’re frustrated, thinking it’s you against the world so you can protect yourself…maybe there’s a part of Atsuko Fujimoto that just wants the opening to put this thing to bed after sixty years.
“But…I think there are people who are different too.”
They look at their wrist, slightly heavy with the loose fit of Mikoko’s watch.
One of the last things Machiko said to them before was that there were good people here that’d help him if he let them. That’s all starting to make more sense to him. If Machiko were around right now, she’d probably have something passionate to say about believing in people. They’ll have to step in on that one for now.
“I acted like an asshole, especially to Jackie. I basically told everyone that I didn’t care what happened to them after losing Macchan. Like those files said, I’m essentially a failure without her…”
“But people tried to help me anyway. Karoshin, Atsutsu, Yua-san, Yui-sensei, the Captain…and Jackie. After everything I said to her, she still wanted to be kind to me when she was in the same kind of pain. That’s…pretty amazing to me, honestly.”
“So…I don't know, we went off the rails of your experiment this time, but still. This is a different result, right obaa-san? None of the lab rats climbed the walls of the maze before, so…that counts for something, right? Maybe that’s good enough.”
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For hope will shine again | ??? | MM Trial
Silently from the sidelines after saying her piece, Kazuko had been following along to everyone, gaze traveling as everyone took their turn to speak. Her hands had joined together at some point, her phone sitting at her podium, as if she had nothing more to say for this trial but there was this surge of emotion compelling her otherwise.
And so, she begins talking, voice soft, raspy and ever so slightly angry.
“It’s true that… I cannot deny all you’ve said, Fujimoto-san. We’re imperfect. We make mistakes, and hurt… one another. We can be cruel, and selfish. That does not mean we are… innately broken, not at all.”
Though quiet and slow, her words do ring out as she continues, putting effort into every word of every sentence.
“Because that’s not… all that we are, either. We can be loving, kind, grateful for one… another. We can all change for… the better.” She pauses, smiling gently as she looks at her own hands, “everyone, no matter who they are, can change.”
Looking up, she stops staring at Atsuko Fujimoto to look at her cone, and then, one by one, everyone else in the room, with no exceptions.
“It might not be the big… change you are looking for, you might deem it insufficient for your… lofty standards. But there’s no doubt… the people here have changed themselves and one another, through struggle, adversity, happiness, love and friendship. Your own clone is proof of that.”
Clement, too, has been rather silent since speaking to Atsuko. He remains standing in front of his Atsu, hand still tightly clasping hers, his own held high. Like Kazuko, despite his peaceful demeanor, a swell of emotion is building within him. The same one that had been building since finding Atsu on the ground. When he speaks again, his voice is gentle, but holds an underlying tone of anger as well.
“...You cared at the beginning, did you not…? The emails, where you were trying to remove some of us. The logs, where you listed us by name… you were invested in us. You had doubts. You thought you would return home to Koi. And now you are stuck here… because you did not act on them. If you were to back out now, the sunk cost– well, it is your whole life, is it not? There is nothing left, if not this. And now we will not work with you…”
It’s truly sad, in a way. Clement may be angry, but he is nothing if not empathetic. Looking at Atsuko, he can feel angry for trapping them here, and making him lose years with his brother, and killing Atsu, but he can also feel sad for her. Perhaps it’s an unfortunate gift of his, to be able to empathize with anyone, even the worst of them.
“...It is not too late, I think. You can still change, Miss Atsuko. You can still back out. It is not too late for anyone. I would even be willing to help you, you know… that I would. But, ah–”
He glances aside, at Atsu behind him. A wry smile crosses his face.
“...If you think it is hopeless, then it will always be. There can be no hope where hope refuses to be seen. You can change, but no one can force you to. If you do not believe, at least to some degree, that you can, then there is no chance anyone can help you to do so.”
Words he’d spoken weeks ago that had garnered what would likely be a much different reception. No matter how much he pitied Atsuko, there was nothing he could do for her if she didn’t wish to change. His head tilts up again, and he regards her coolly. The difference, now, is that he’s accepted that fact. So maybe he has also changed.
“...If you do not want to try, then that is fine. But we have all changed, like Kazuko said. The world has changed. The world has improved, and the good in it is everywhere. If you cannot see it, then… as much as it pains me, the truth is rather stark. You will be left behind in the past, where you sit now.”
As Clement finishes, Kazuko nods and raises her voice best she can, emotions stirred and shining through:
“Sixty long years you have… refused to. Sixty long years you have locked yourself… away. Sixty long years, you have lived in fear, Fujimoto-san. Though you might not… even know it, it is as Clement-said… in that this has cost you everything. And now you’re more afraid than you’ve ever been, more than Atsuko-san… ever was. You’re… scared of the loss, and the pain of change, but you don’t need to be. You’ve seen us triumph, fall and try again. You know we… can move forward, as can you.”
Clement turns to smile kindly at her before looking back at Atsuko. His voice is firm and pointed.
“The… wounds, from being here. They will probably never heal, for some of us. But, ah… these failures and sorrows that we have experienced, they are part of life. They have helped us to change for the better.”
He squeezes Atsu’s hand, and speaks up with all the power of a prince who deeply, truly loves the world and everyone in it.
“You could say… we rise.”
Kazuko placing both hands over her heart smiles warmly, kindly as she raises her voice, talking not just to Atsuko, the admin, but every friend and loved one she has made in here.
“Fall…”
The two finish together, as one.
“And rise again.”
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Higher, oh higher | Kazuko | MM Trial | Re: Atsuko(s)
Though there is much Kazuko would like to say to some of the people present, she decides against it, staring at the doorway in anticipation of where the admin will show up, doing her best to keep herself under control, her fears and anxieties in check. It mostly works, but she can’t help but clutch her phone a bit too hard as the door opens and Atsuko Fujimoto.
It’s impressive that even in her old age the other woman appears intimidating, she had managed to beat herself at her own game, after all.
She gulps as Atsuko Fujimoto makes her way to where Sentinel once had been, it strangely feels like a fitting scene at the end of this winding road they had traversed together. The woman in front of them might be monstrous, but still a person.
It’s hard not to feel sorry for Sentinel, turning out the way she did with this person being her biggest influence.
When Clement speaks similarly as he always does, she can’t help but look at him, with what she hopes are encouraging eyes and a little nod, if this is hard, it’s hardest for him above everyone else.
Another breath and her gaze falls on the mastermind again, as her phone begins speaking up on her behalf she bows her head.
> Fujimoto-san. Nice to meet you.
Because it is her first time seeing this woman, this is not Atsuko-san, not anymore, not for a long, long time now.
> I hope you understand the situation and will cooperate with us, there is no point in no, after all. I would like to know in addition to what Clement-san asked, what made you start working with Clara Futura? They don't seem like the kind of organization you'd like, let alone support, I can imagine those emails and pleasantries were lies... so why?
Kazuko finishes, looking up at her still, eyes calm and collected, with the slightest of hint of something like apprehension visible through them before they shift after another breath into something calmer and kinder.
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『愛よりも剣』 『MIKOKO』 『TRIAL ⚄ ⚀ ⚃』 『RE: everything』
“...Of course Tsukiko’s right, Fujimoto just fuckin’ confessed to it.”
(Despite Fujimoto's claims that doing it this way wouldn't produce a confession, the truth of what's just happened here stands evident. And, Mikoko wasn’t going to say it, but after three separate insults to her intelligence…)
“You’re all fuckin’ welcome for that, by the way. Turns out, ‘forcing shit’ works way better than whatever the hell you were all doin’ before that, huh?”
On another day, she might have been cajoled into disappointment that nobody had gotten her vision; that Atsuko and Cyril seriously had the gall to think that someone with her voting record and obsession with the truth wanted to see a ‘confessional corpse’ unable to tell it, rather than to apply pressure to a knowing culprit in a way that more or less went down exactly as expected. She’d be hurt, that someone emotionally sensitive as Kazuko had intentionally namedropped the side that repeatedly and gratuitously needled Mikoko's ability to think, just to prove a point, just after Mikoko’d finally gotten vulnerable with her about needing someone to speak up for her.
But honestly — there’s no fuckin’ time for all that, is there? She’s fine with speaking for herself.
(And Fujimoto's speech hadn't made her feel stupid; it had made her feel like she was seeing something terribly sad.)
Of everything that’s been said since Schrödinger’s Confession, Mikoko instead looks most interested in Naoya’s question. She’d been certain herself that the admin had known their status by the time of the trial, hence why she hadn’t been concerned with the prospect of someone accidentally hitting the switch on the ‘no revealing the admin’ clause. But it’s hard to say whether Atsuko knew or suspected before that, and how long she was wasting their time… and the answer would certainly influence a future decision or two, wouldn’t it?
As much as that woman claims to be an excellent liar, she more often than not chooses to be shockingly honest with her disclosures: one of the few traits of Atsuko's that Mikoko had always earnestly respected. Trusted in, even. She can only hope it’ll be the same this time, and that they’ll get to hear everything.
“...One more question, for the road. I’m gatherin’ you don’t believe in this cause whatsoever anymore, but if there ever was a cause you believed in in the future, would you ever do somethin’ like this for it again? By which I mean: sacrificin’ people’s lives or any kind of unusual non-lethal shit, if you were convinced it would definitely make the world better.”
A pause. The tendons in her arm once again strain as she forcefully flicks at her lighter. There’s no delicate way to phrase this, and it certainly won’t be winning (or re-winning) her any friends. But her and Clement are probably past that point anyway; and Mikoko’d like it in writing, so to speak.
“...And I don’t wanna hear ‘I won’t do it because of Clement’, because last time he died, you seemed awfully comfortable again with justifyin’ goin’ on that ‘last hunt’ of yours. This question is about a hypothetical future where Clement ain’t there, and it is just you, left with your own morals. If you knew for sure that harmin’ people again would change the world for good, would you do it one more time?”
Perhaps it's absurd to ask again, when as Atsuko pointed out, she could just lie about it. Atsuko's not lying when she says that she can and will utterly lie when it suits her motives. But above that, perhaps above everything, she's stubborn. And stubborn people love to be held to their own truths; to be chained to them in empty space, even for sixty years.
(Whatever the answer is, Mikoko'll trust her enough to hold it against her.)
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The burdens we bear | Kazuko | ATTN: Atsuko
Kazuko takes a shaky breath, eyes fluttering close in her nervousness, a pit of anxiety building up in her stomach as Mikoko decides to once again bargain with life, but thankfully people can speak up before she has to. She even looks gratefully at Cyril with a nod, as if he’s given her permission to do or say something in her mind.
She takes the time to start typing again.
Mikoko-san, Cyril-san is right. I won’t pretend I did it all on my own, nor will I say it was easy, but the fact is that I trust myself enough to solve this without any shortcuts or tricks. And so I will.
Though she needs to do very little in the way of starting this one argument off, after Atsuko has already done it for all of them. But once more she takes a moment to look at Clement, kindly, a weak smile, an apology painted on it.
His silent gratitude weighs heavy.
But heavier would be to do and say nothing at this stage.
She looks at Atsuko, calmly, with a look that is not dissimilar yet not exactly the same she had given her back in the balcony after Clement’s trial and Cyril’s subsequent execution. It carries that same compassion as before, and a bit of empathy, her human warmth shining through. But there is a certain resolution.
Like she had grown the backbone the subject list asked out of her, perhaps. (Even if she herself thinks she has one already)
She begins to write.
I had forgotten, being so focused on finding the admin, I forgot what Autopilot had said right as we started this trial. ‘What we’ve found relates not only to the identity of this culprit but also the state of the world we have been forgotten by.’ And ‘I never allowed one of you access to the floor besides Atsuko. Not even Ryo, Bo, or Kisuke.’
Should we take that second point literally, then, that makes you the biggest suspect, but even should we know, the fact remains that Cyril-san is still correct, if anyone could take you down, is you, yourself.
As for the first point, it helps clearing Clement-san’s name. Some things we found are about the world itself, CF showcasing its power and hold over it. Things like assassinations and politicians being replaced would fit that. Things Cyril-san brought up also fit in that view.
Pausing, she looks down at her phone, taking a quick breath and continues to go on.
I could be wrong, but you were also pretty familiar with Clement-san back when we were inside the plane, you have that premade connection you brought up.
You earlier mentioned lying, and… yes, that is a pretty easy explanation, if it were you. Perhaps you wanted CF to think of you in a certain light and Koichi-kun could’ve grown frustrated with that. I don’t know the specifics, but perhaps it’s along those lines.
She doesn’t even feel the need to address Atsuko’s empathy for Yua, she had seen it back then when the latter had found out what happened to one of his children. It was only natural, and she feels no need to dig that up, Atsuko will have to read her mind here, or more naturally and likely, figure it out herself.
She doesn’t waver as she closes her eyes but saying what she feels is the truth, what Atsuko has given to them, it’s not easy to do. But she will nonetheless. Raising her voice once more the best she can, unsure if this should wait until voting, or if saying it is actually needed at all, Kazuko begins to speak up, slightly raspy but firm:
“You can’t say… it. I don’t want you… to, anyways, so… I will do it… for you. Atsuko Fujimoto-san, you or rather… the you from 60 years ago, is the admin.”
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『救出ゲーム』 『MIKOKO/JACKPOT』 『TRIAL ⚄ ⚀ ⚂』 『ATTN: ALL』
The crossfire of accusations rattles out across Mikoko’s vision, one terrified fusillade at a time. And this time, there’s no chance of any kind of armistice by way of an orthodox confession. Kazuko hadn’t been wrong earlier — hence the ramrod of pure adrenaline that had eased out of her after she’d said the admin is the other me and lived — but after playing a few rounds of poker with her, the other woman should know that she thinks there’s a time to double down.
She draws in another breath and says it quietly, but decisively enough to explode across the room: like when Tsuki had pressed the trigger on that electromagnetic event.
“Clement, you didn’t say the phrase.”
Just like before. He'd just smiled at her.
This wouldn’t strike Mikoko as particularly strange, if Clement wasn’t famous for his penchant for self-sacrifice. And, as Kazuko had pointed out, playing Russian Roulette with the admin’s rule is essentially a gesture of just that. Speaking of Kazuko, she turns to the other woman, to address her earlier complaints…
“Look, Tsukiko, I don’t like dyin’ and death either. None of us — or at least nearly none of us — do. That doesn’t change the fact that if we get this vote wrong… someone is gonna die anyway, and we’re not gonna be able to choose who.”
Maybe all of them will die now that the admin’s got their back against the wall and all of them in one room. Coming down for this trial had been a point of no return, and there’s nobody to watch over the clones or the Autopilot consoles now.
“Up until now, we’ve nearly always relied on culprits’ confessions at the very end. The one time we didn’t get the grace of one, we were all bricking ourselves, right?”
“Well, this time, the admin actually can’t confess, under gag-fuckin- order. Right now, this is the only way we have to get a confession, and I intend to use it. Like other people have said, I also think the admin's clone does know by now, hence the rule. Let's not forget they've just seen a stack of evidence relatin' to themselves and other people in their life, includin' a phone call with someone whose ideology clearly hasn't changed as much as theirs has."
Though it still can’t be seen behind the glass, the weight of her eyes round on Clement and Atsuko. The other hand steadied on her podium, she directs the needlepoint force of an index finger at the two of them.
“Clement. Fujimoto. One of you is gonna settle this, and say the phrase right now. If Vidal and I can grin and bear it without even bein’ the room’s prime suspects, you can too.”
Renee had been more graceful about it, of course. She’d said, in nobler words, exactly what Mikoko was thinking: if another me could extend this suffering for sixty years, I’d consider it an appropriate sacrifice to take her down with me.
(...Still, she gives Renee a thankful look as well as a slightly apologetic one, knowing that she’s using her words to a harsher end than the other woman will probably consider apropos.)
As she turns her head back to Clement and Atsuko, the apology written on her face washes away. It’d be unfair to those two, to put them on the spot like this while acting guilty about it. With the rules the admin has set for them all, none of them have time for that anymore.
“You’re gonna do it for the good of the room, so nobody else has to look their friend in the eye today and accuse ‘em. And so nobody else has to suffer the consequences of gettin’ this wrong.”
Quieter, without wavering, again:
“You’re also gonna do it so that the other one of you doesn’t have to.”
(...)
“...I don’t care which one of you says the words. You should decide that between yourselves.”
Jackpot shrugs, flicking the lid of her lighter inside her pocket. Back and forth like a pendulum, or the face of a coin.
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塩を食う女たち-聞書・北米の黒人女性 藤本和子
晶文社
ブックデザイン=平野甲賀
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