I keep seeing all these responses to Kijino’s ending in the Donbrothers finale that basically boil down to “Kijino finally learned not to make his entire life about other people and that’s why he got Miho/Natsumi back.” And I just...think that’s the complete opposite of what happened?
Once we found out Miho was Natsumi there’s been this one way to look at Kijino’s story that is right there on the surface, an easy interpretation to make. Kijino’s whole personality was just being a wife guy. Then things started going wrong. He sees Miho with Tsubasa. She disappears. She says she’s not Miho, she’s Natsumi. And on and on until he’s distraught because “Miho doesn’t exist” and he “married a monster.” Both of which are basically true but also really reductive. When Natsumi is freed from the Beastial forest and gets reunited with Tsubasa it’s easy to think that the moral of the story is some kind of tired “nice guys finish last” bullshit. Or I guess I should say “wife guys finish last.” And it’s easy to buy into this because we’ve seen that kind of story over and over again. Wife guys get punished, not rewarded. They’re the butt of the joke.
One justification for this is the idea that if we need other people too much, we don’t deserve to have them. Frankly, that’s bullshit. The purpose of close relationships is to be able to rely on other people and have them rely on you. If your marriage is so awesome and you love your wife so much that being a wife guy is the biggest source of joy in your life? That’s not some weird or unhealthy thing. It’s fine. Lots of people don’t have even one thing in their lives that is that wonderful. What’s wrong with making the most of it? We don’t apply the same standard to dudes who center their lives on some other important aspect of life like their job, their calling, or even a hobby. Why is centering your marriage such a problem? The whole thing is just toxic masculinity with a side of individualism.
Right up until the last few episodes, it seemed like Donbrothers was going to show the Cool Guy winning out over the Wife Guy, which was hardly unprecedented. But that wasn’t the end and the story kept going. Tsubasa wasn’t entitled to be with Natsumi just because of the things he’d gone through or the fact that he got her out of the Beastial forest. Now that she was free from her imprisonment, she was equally free to end this relationship that wasn’t what she wanted. What she did want instead was to get her wife guy back. Because, shockingly, people like having a partner who adores and supports them and lets them adore and support them back.
Miho/Natsumi didn’t return to Kijino because he “finally learned to love himself” or “stopped relying on others too much” or whatever other healthy-sounding way people can find of saying that needing other people is cringe and should be punished. He got her back because he’s a wife guy. Because he is someone who she could have a relationship with that was so special that it was worth making it the centerpiece of their lives.
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HI DIAMOND!! :D
I finished reading your fic to my request and it was really fun!! Although what I had in mind was different, it was still fun! I really like how it really matches the vibe :DD
But I'm here to explain the nanbaka reverse au: so basically there's like this one picture I found of cell 13 wearing different guards' outfit so I went like "Oh my god what if the guards and prisoners had a reverse role" like it would be so cool
That's my whole thought process :]
- 🍰nom
Naaaw, now I wanna see that pic too...
Anyways, my precious 🍰nom, I'll start with headcannons and then I will just recreate one of the scenes if that's alright with you, okay?
Warnings: Nanbaka on crack, hopefully funny scenes, swearing
---
Don't let your guard down!
To be honest, Hajime didn't even deserve to be here
He was just minding his business when all of a sudden, some drunk guy came to him and punched him
And that's how he somehow ended up here, in Nanba
Nanba as itself was nice, but the inmates as well as the guards there were a bit stupid
For example there was one building, where apparently two "handsome" guards, aka Trois and Honey, went to events for who was the most pretty person, along with their "handsome" inmate, Kiji Mitsuba
why were there even events for handsome prisoners and guards??
Or when he saw a blue haired woman who glared at him?
Hajime always shuddered when he thought about her glare.
Then there was his old friend, Mitsuru Hitokoe who was way too loud, and even though Hajime held him somwhat dear to him, he was glad he didn't have to share a cell with him.
but when looking at his own guards?
No thanks
---
Hajime didn't like this. One. Bit.
Why couldn't he just chill in his own cell? He could've been more productive. He'd even share a cell with the monkey inmate, Samon Gokuu. At least he could fight against him...
But here? In cell 13?
Nah, everything was shit.
He had to share his precious cell with the crybaby Seitaro Tanabata, who got bullied by the four guards who were supervising this building. The other cellmate was Yamato Godai, who was eerily fond of training his body and tormented his it with a sunshine face.
Yeah, Hajime didn't get why or how these two guys could end up doing a crime that they'd end up here in Nanba, but oh well.
"Hajime~!", Uno's voice echoed, and Hajime 'Tsk!'ed only at the approaching footsteps of the young guard. "Did ya miss us~?"
"Hell no. Now leave me alone.", he only grumbled, facing the door with his back.
Uno only chuckled before he started speaking again. "A special inmate would like to speak to youuuuu!"
Hajime only had a vague idea of who it might be.
Samon? Maybe. Or that dog like guy...what was his name?
Yakuza...yokai...Ah! Yozakura Kenshirou!
"Who is it?", he only asked impatiently before he got dragged out. Uno was humming happily ahead while Hajime was thinking of a way to escape or at least go back to his cell, but Uno's grip was terrifyingly strong.
"Say...where's the rest of you? You know, Jyugo, Nico and Rock?"
"They are speaking to her. That's why I'm dragging you there as well, you know? To be honest, it should've been one of the others to take you there. She was so pretty!"
All Hajime heard was Uno's annoyingly high pitched voice as the guard described the girl to him. Hajime had a feeling that he knew that girl all too well.
When they finally arrived the cell, tick marks appeared on Hajime's temple and neck.
"What the hell are you doing here?!", the inmate yelled, but got hit by Rock.
"Hello Hajime!", the person on the other end of the visiting room greeted.
The guards looked back and forth between the blonde and the bald one.
"So what gives? You said you didn't have a girlfriend Haji-"
"Don't change the subject!", the inmate yelled.
"That's his girl? Ah, there's no way.", Rock said.
"Out of his league.", Uno stated.
"You catch her at a low point?", Nico asked.
"You freaking punks-", Hajime started, but got interrupted by the blonde.
"Big brother, who are all these boys?", the relative asked, and the guards repeated the words "big brother" in an asking manner.
"Oh so are these your friends?"
"Like hell they are!"
The blonde haired person then looked at the guards with a smile.
"Everyone, please take care of my brother."
and they answered with blushing faces. "Sure~!"
However, Jyugo had a question. "What's the deal Hajime? You never told us you had a sister."
Undo chimed in, again with his high pitched voice. "It's also kinda rude that you haven't untroduced us yet!"
"Her dress is adorable!", Nico complimented the blonde.
"Almost as cute as her.", Rock said while averting his eyes.
"He's my brother.", Hajime only said.
"Huh?"
"This is my little bro-ther.", Hajime pronounced.
His brother smiled. "Hitoshi Sugoroku."
And then the guards lost it. They all screamed and Uno asked Jyugo something weird. "You said you liked boys too, right, Jyugo?!"
And he just nodded. "Yep, I did."
Hajime just couldn't with these idiot guards.
___
Hello again! I hope this was okay, I didn't really know what else to write, so this is it for now! Tbh it was kinda short in my opinion...
Please write in the comments how you found it, and yeah!
Read you in the next post!
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Homecoming [Sequel to Scar of King's Roar [TW]]
[Summary: Farenah comes home from RSA to find Leona... changed.]
What a whirlwind! He can't believe that a whole semester is over, and the winter break is already here! It seems like yesterday he went off with his little brother waving goodbye. Now, he has all these photos and adventures to share! He's going to love coming here when he gets older.
Farenah Kingscholar, heir apparent and first born of the current reigning King of the Sunset Savannah might be a bit unprincely as he rushes up, dragging his suitcase behind him. The transport back was quick, and as he's just a moment from saying goodbye to his new friends he's rushing to the palace gates with a grin.
Kifaji's there, scoffing. "We were to FETCH you, Prince Farenah!" The familiar, scolding tone brings a smile to his face.
"I missed you too, Kiji~" A laugh at the childish nickname. Though--"Where's Leona? I thought he'd be waiting here..."
There's something off about the frown on Kifaji's face. Not that the old bird's a happy guy, he's very serious and proper--but this is... sad. "Is he... okay?" Cautious. Feeling his own ears lower.
"The King has determined due to his amazing magical abilities presenting in... the recent discovery of his Unique Magic... that he would start intensive magic lessons. He is currently in those magic lessons." The bird continues, cautious of who overhears.
"Well, let's go see him! He must be bored out of his skull in lessons!" Bright--he has the bird lead the way.
---
The curious six-year-old he left now sits surrounded by a pile of books, writing down a lot of old spells for memorization--and with a patch over his eye.
What HAPPENED?
The big breath he took in to say hi is gone.
Who hurt him!?
Coming over, he's very cautious. That small brow is furrowed in concentration. This work--sure, it's already advanced for a six-year-old because they're royals but... this is... a little ridiculous. Ancient magic circles of containment?
Then he sees the mark on his little brother's arm.
What happened?
"Leona?" His voice is very soft.
Leona looks up at him. The bright light in his eyes are... just gone. He's only been gone a couple months. How can a six-year-old change like that?
His brother stands, and bows. "Prince Farenah. Welcome home." It's.
It's just so proper.
"Woah--hey." He kneels down, gently tilting his chin up. "What happened there?"
"Nothing." Leona responds. It's... dull.
The mark is the containment from the book, and without a teacher here he actually thinks that maybe, just maybe, he's trying to break it. But, right now he leaves it alone. "Hey, c'mon, you can tell me."
"It's nothing. It comes off tomorrow."
"...Well okay." It's no good to press. He slowly stands up with a bright smile. "I've gotta unpack, so I'll be back to get you later!" And a wave, as his brother nods him off...
He turns to Kifaji down the hall. "What the Hell happened?!"
---
A glass of wine and three glasses of water in, he's still not calmed down. "What happened to the nanny, to the servant?" The one that locked Leona up, and the one that hurt him.
"I've discovered a plot of five people. The nanny was apprehended at the border. ...They were executed..." A sigh, the old bird rubs his temples, shaking his head.
"A six-year-old... They'd kidnap and try to starve to death a six-year-old. M--mother's death isn't his fault. She wasn't--she wasn't very strong." A hand runs through his sunset locks. "Has he been like this since then?"
"Yes. He... studies. He'll eat after someone taste tests it. And he sleeps. He sleeps... most of the time." Kifaji ventures softly. "I've suggested a visit to a psychologist but your father... is quite stubborn. He claims Leona is fine, and just matured with the truths of royal life." A sigh. "He's only six..."
"Well, I'm home for a few weeks. I'll see what I can do."
---
Kifaji was right. He eats, studies, and sleeps. Sure, some of that involves outside training to make sure he gets plenty of exercise but there's no... play.
A useless argument with their father...
"When you're King, Farenah, you can make these decisions." Rings in his ears.
---
The scar over his eye looks a lot like the King of Beasts. Scar. One of their ancestral bloodline, if the records are right.
But nothing he brings up to Leona gets a smile. He's thanked as Prince Farenah and...
He wouldn't have gone to school if he knew he'd lose his little brother like this.
---
Leona's sleeping in the gardens. It's the only time he's caught a smile on his face since he's been back. He takes a seat by his brother's curled-up form, seeing him at ease for the first time since he's been back.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here to protect you, Leona. I'll do everything to keep this from happening again."
But that means... he needs to make sure he's king as soon as he can be.
It's clear no one else is going to be able to, or have the power to protect him. So he has to make sure he has all of it.
It also means he has to go back to school.
"I'll be King soon, Leona, then you won't have to worry about anyone ever again. I promise."
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