#Hokuto would be so proud

[tea-kittenz]

Ok, imagine this... Hokuto's spell was not a reflection death spell. It was an illusion spell. So Seishirou doesn't die, they just think he is dying.

Comfy in Subaru arms, both finally admitting everything , revealing their wishes etc and then... nothing. No dying.

Imagine the awkward silence. And the pushing pressure of realization that now they really need to talk...

Not-dying-Seishirou still in Subaru arms. And Subaru HEARD HIM.

//awkward Kamui stands few meters away and just looks at them. His main love rival is still alive.

@acebokutowl

#fanfic idea #fic prompt #tokyo babylon #x/1999 #clamp #seisub #seishirou sakurazuka #subaru sumeragi #hokuto sumeragi #kamui shirou #that idea now won't leave me alone #evil laughter in the background #Hokuto would be so proud

[yuzuuu4]

“ (...) I understand, Akehoshi... You and I, we’re twin souls. (...) Due to some trick of fate, we’re now by each other’s side.” - Hidaka Hokuto, SS Chapter 34

Summary:

“Hokke,” a lilting voice calls out to him, drawing all of his attention to the source like a moth to a flame.

(...)

“Say, Hokke, isn’t it funny how someone can feel so lonely even with so many people around?”

What are you thinking of, Akehoshi?

“Hokke,” a lilting voice calls out to him, drawing all of his attention to the source like a moth to a flame.

Watching this ethereal being—Akehoshi, he corrects himself—slowly stretching his hand out towards the sky, splaying his fingers and looking at the stars through the gaps of his digits makes Hokuto’s breath hitch. It was as if something was different this time, and he couldn’t figure out why.

Akehoshi’s mouth purses, and opens with a soft exhale. Hokuto finds himself enraptured by every little movement, but resolutely keeps his eyes away from his unitmate’s mouth.

“Say, Hokke, isn’t it funny how someone can feel so lonely even with so many people around?”

What are you thinking of, Akehoshi?

He wills himself to take a step closer to the grounded star, oh so desperately climbing back up with every fibre of his being to be with his kind, only to come crashing down with a violent thud. “... Akehoshi—” “It’s scary, Hokke. I… I know I’m different from everyone. They always call me a ‘genius’ and that I’m ‘talented’, but… is it really something to be proud of when it’s so lonely being a genius? I’m not as perfect as everyone thinks.

“So why do they keep thinking that I am? Can’t you tell me, Hokuto?”

Won’t you tell me what thoughts lie behind those miserable eyes? Hokuto falters on his next step; he doesn't know how to answer Akehoshi without revealing how his hands are no cleaner than the rest of them, putting this star—this boy the same age as him—on such a high pedestal.

Through the court of his own mind, he pronounces himself guilty of the same crime.

How would he atone for this wrongdoing? His brows furrowed with a frown. Logically, this boy is what the others call him: a genius. Someone who is completely out of this world, blinding everyone he meets with his sheer brightness. A freak of nature, and the sun personified.

Yet, is he not the same boy who only wished to watch the sakura fall from their perches with his friends? A boy that has a pet dog he loves dearly, and only wishes to shine and have fun with his friends? In that case, then it would not make him any different from the rest of them.

He frowns even harder, hand balling up into a fist by his side. If only he could resolve everything with his fists.

The unnaturally dim skies in Akehoshi’s eyes flick over Hokuto’s troubled expression, scrutinising every miniscule twitch and flit of his eyes. He smiles wryly, as if understanding his inner turmoil.

“... Ahaha, I said something weird, didn’t I? I can tell because you went quiet. Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that! I just thought you’d understand, that maybe if I become a shining idol like my dad—no, a shining star, then I…”

He’s made up his mind.

If Akehoshi wouldn’t be considered by the vast majority to be the same as them, then Hokuto would just have to grab onto this genius’ arm and never let go.

“You’re already a star, Akehoshi. You’ve always been.”

The faint spark that he saw in his (no, not yet his, never would be his) star’s eyes was what urged Hokuto’s mouth to keep spilling the words resting on the tip of his tongue like overflowing water from a cup.

“You’ve always been a shining star to everyone—including me. But if that’s too lonely for you, then…”

“Hokuto–” He feels Subaru startle when his hand comes up to lace their fingers together, thumb idly rubbing at the back of Subaru’s hand.

“If it’s too lonely for you alone, then I’ll become a star just like you, so we can be lonely together at the top.”

Hokuto meets Subaru’s wavering gaze, eyes brimming with determination. It almost scares him, with how natural it feels to give up everything for this boy. To do anything just to see his sparkling smile directed at him. He knows that the other two would have agreed with him if he told them.

He sees Subaru choke on his tears and laughter, free hand sloppily wiping at the river of tears sliding down his cheeks.

“Hokke, you’re so weird and stupid sometimes. But I really like that about you, y’know?” “I know, Subaru.”

I really like you too went unsaid, but the hand squeezing his told him that maybe Subaru knew already.

#fic under the cut! #more like a drabble #i felt like posting one for fun #i polished it up this morning so i can post it with no regrets #not my usual content #but i hope you like it anyway??? #not good enough for ao3 for me #akehoshi subaru #hidaka hokuto #subaru akehoshi #hokuto hidaka #hokkesuba #hokusuba #drabble #enstars #yufic

[hiiroamagisbestfriend]

oh my goodness a new writing blog! it looks like you specialize in angst, so could I maybe get some 2nd lead Mao?? does that make sense aklsdjalksj

A Star's Light that forever remains Unseen

w/ Mao Isara x GN! Reader

no need to worry! i think i got what you're trying to say! and it seems like mao will be my first angst fic here! i hope this is to your liking! also this is like, p long so yeah

Warnings: Angst, Unrequited Love, Lots of self loathing

Mao had always felt like there was something that other people had that he didn't.

Talent? Passion? Determination? Drive? Appearnce? Charm? Skills?

Objectively speaking, he had all of these, and a copious amount of it actually. But just because something is true doesn't mean it'll be seen that way.

Mao acknowledges it, he had to from the start. Almost everyone around him were just... so much better. Compared to the others, he might as well have been an ordinary boy with just a smidge of training.

But the worst part of it all, is that the people Mao had surrounded himself with were lightyears ahead of him. If his unitmates were the shining stars in the night sky, then he was simply nothing more than a stargazer trying to capture even a fragment of their beauty.

Hokuto, Subaru, and Makoto are supposed to be his closest friends, but why... why is it that they always seem to be so out of reach? No matter how hard he tries, it's like he can never ever catch up to them.

To really hammer things home, the other three seem to genuinely love and care for him as much as he does them. They only mean well when they acknowledge his insecurities, but they'll never truly understand.

How could they? No matter how hard they try to sympathize, their experiences are just too... different. Mao isn't a special pedigree like them, nor is he as insanely talented, the only thing they have in common is that they work hard.

But even then, they're worlds apart. What Mao has to practice for hours to get right they can get down in a few tries. Their faces and charms are something he can never hope to replicate.

It doesn't helpt that being told by a person who already has everything you wanted, that you can get what they have if you just work hard isn't as encouraging when Mao really thinks about it. Sure, they're just trying to encourage him, but all he can do is work hard.

Which he already does, but he's still only a fraction of the others. Is he just doomed to continue practicing for the rest of his life then? Just to try and scale a mountain with a peak he'll never get to stand on?

Did they even really need him? Was he just there to round out the numbers? Whatever it was that he could do, the others could do better. The three of them were blessed with that kind of luck after all. Mao doesn't hate his life, but sometimes, he really just wishes he too could see just what it is they can see from their views at the top.

He had resigned himself to that kind of life, being Trickstar's glue and support doesn't sound so bad, right? In the end, he'll still get to be an idol with his best friends, and he can stand proud as a person that can support them from the back.

As long as he can stand with his friends on stage and enjoy his youth, it doesn't really matter if he's not as good as them, right? He's still delivering smiles to the audience all the same, even if only a small portion of them come for him alone.

I'm supposed to be happy...

Sometimes, Mao would have these horrible thoughts. Like imagining what Trickstar would be like if one of the other three weren't there. Would he become more important? Would more people pay attention to him? Would he find the gap between him and the others as uncrossable as it is now?

Whenever he has these thoughts, he just feels absolutely awful. Trickstar is supposed to be the four of them. That was the promise they made that fateful night, but he was out here thinking that maybe his life would be better if one or two of them weren't around.

Hahhh... I really am hopeless.

Mao could only resign to his own patheticness. Would he still be like this even if he somehow catches up with them? Just cursed to always see himself as lesser? He hates it so much. He hates himself so much.

If only he could be as carefree as Subaru and Makoto, or as naive as Hokuto, maybe, just maybe, he would have had a chance to be happy the way they were. Yet here he was, cursed with the knowledge of his own inferiority.

Things changed when he met you, though. Like him, you were just another ordinary person. You weren't even an idol, yes, you were none other than Trickstar's appointed producer.

Seeing you, stand side by side with the people he's always considered forever out of his reach, it was like you were the bridge between a stargazer and his fellow stars.

Just your existence was enough to show Mao that he doesn't want to just stay behind them for the rest of his life. The things they'll experience, the sights they'll get to see, he can one day be just like them!

You were the one that showed him this light. This warm, gentle, light that made him feel like anything was possible. You were his guiding star. The one that would help him finally join his fellow stars for real.

Mao understood that this wasn't a coincidence. He wasn't one to really believe in things like fate, and destiny, but he just knows that meeting you was the most important moment of his life. Even though you probably didn't do it on purpose, you saved him from himself.

It didn't take long for Mao's admiration for you to blossom into full-blown love. It was because of you that he found the strength to keep trying. You were the reason that he can stand up everyday no matter how tired he gets, because he has to prove to you just how grateful he is for what you've done for him.

With just a small change in perspective, it was like the whole world around him changed. His future that always looked so bleak and depressing is now bursting full of light and opportunities. He could finally start laughing and enjoying life with his fellow unitmates as their equals; just as they've always seen him.

Things weren't going great with just his unitmates and friends though, he was also getting along quite well with you! There were a lot of things you had in common, and you always seemed to look out and care for him more than the others.

It was because of that kindness that Mao thought that maybe you felt the same way he did. Even though he still had his occasional moments of darkness, you were always there to hold his hand and lead him back into the light.

Gosh, if you keep treating me like this, I'll just fall even harder...

His life really was turning around wasn't it? Mao spends so much of his time nowadays just genuinely enjoying his youth, goofing off with the other Trickstar boys, facing the hardships of school life, things that seemed so monotonous and boring have now become his daily highlights.

Because of that, if there was one thing Mao wanted to do, it was to thank you.

Thank you, for saving me. Thank you, for giving me the strength to work towards my goal. Thank you, for giving me someone to devote my all to.

He decided that the greatest thanks he could give to you is just by being the best idol he can be everyday. He can have those moments where he trips and falls, but as long as he can stand up and hold his head high again, then he knows he can face you with a smile.

"Hey, (Y/N)... Is there anyone you like?" Mao asked you one day, when the two of you were alone in the practice room while waiting for the others.

"Hmm..." He watched you ponder on it for a few seconds, noting just how cute you looked when you were focused. "I guess I'd say I like you, Mao."

Huh?

Mao could feel the tips of his ears burn red, his mouth forming a small 'o' as he struggles to think of what to say. "Oh, but of course I also like Hokuto, Subaru, and Makoto! When I'm with you guys, it feels like everyday is so fun!"

Ah, so that's what you meant.

Mao feels a bit stupid for getting his hopes up, but he's honestly happy that he can have these kinds of silly moments rather than how he was before. You not liking anyone in particular also worked in his favor.

"Sari! (Y/N)! We're here!" Subaru burst into the room along with the others, the three of them quickly crowding to you as they always do. Mao aptly joins them, not wanting your attention to be placed solely on them.

It was while the five of you were talking that Subaru signalled Mao for them to have a little chat, away from the rest of you. Mao thought that it'd just be one of Subaru's silly shenanigans again, but decided to humor him this time.

When the two of them exited the room, Subaru quickly ushered Mao into a secluded corner. "Come on Sari, hurry up! They might get suspicious!" When Subaru determined that they were finally far enough, he took a deep breath, his face flaring up a bit. "I love (Y/N)!" He whisper-shouted.

Huh?

Subaru must have found the look on Mao's face funny, seeing as he was holding back his laughter. "Hellooo? Earth to Sari!! Did you hear me? Were you even listening?" Subaru was waving his hands across Mao's unresponsive eyes, snapping his fingers every now and then to try and get his attention.

"A-ah... Yeah! It was just a bit surprising, is all." Mao stammered out, his mind going haywire at what he just heard.

This is no good. No good at all. If Subaru confesses to them first, I'll have a snowball's chance in hell! What should I do? Should I tell Subaru? Do I tell him to lay off? But (Y/N) and him are friends too...

"Yeah, yeah! It was a shock to me too! I was just walking home yesterday when it suddenly came to me like... Bam!" Subaru was acting his usual cartoony self but Mao couldn't bring himself to even laugh at his friend's antics. "Still though, (Y/N) really is amazing! They've got us all, hook, line, and sinker!"

Mao's face darkened at that, it's not just Subaru, but Hokuto and Makoto too?! This can't be happening. Just when I was finally starting to get the courage to confess...

"W-why are you telling me this?"

"Because Sari is our friend! Of course we all have to start at even ground, right!"

"Even ground? What do you mean by that?"

"Well, the other guys really like (Y/N) too, so we thought that we might as well play it fair. No sabotaging or anything, that way, (Y/N) will happily pick who it is they truly love!"

Mao felt his knees get wobbly at Subaru's words. A pit formed in his stomach and he was finding it hard to breathe.

I can't... There's no way... I can compete... with them.

His hands started shaking as sweat dripped down his forehead. There has to be something he can do, anything! Losing you right now is the one thing he doesn't want to happen!

"The three of us agreed to seriously start courting them come tomorrow morning, so you better not pull anything sneaky, Sari! Hahaha!" Subaru laughed out loud as he skipped his way back to the practice room, leaving Mao all alone.

Mao was still just processing everything when his legs finally gave out under him. Dropping down to his knees with a thud. He really felt like he could start crying right about now, with how hot and stingy his eyes feel.

What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?

His mind became like that of a broken record, incessantly asking himself what he could possibly do in this situation.

For now, return to practice? Go home? Talk to (Y/N) in private? Ask the others to give up on you? Plead with you to not accept their feelings?

His mind was swarming with options, none of them seeming like the right one. Mao felt like his head was about to split when he felt someone's hand on his head.

"Mao, are you okay?"

Oh God, of all people he didn't want to see him like this. Of course you'd be the one to come around.

"Come on, Mao. You can talk to me, if you want?" Your voice is always so soothing. It almost made Mao forget the predicament he currently found himself in.

I can't afford to look pathetic now. But there's... nothing else I can do... Is there..?

Everything after that was a blur. The next thing Mao knew, it was already tomorrow and he was lying down in his bed. His alarm was blaring but he couldn't bring himself to stop it, just waiting for it to snooze itself eventually.

"Yeah, I'm fine! Sorry you had to come get me, I was just spacing out for a bit!" Mao could tell you didn't believe him one bit, but you still decided to accept that answer. "Let's go back, (Y/N)! The others... must be waiting for you!"

He stared at the ceiling for what felt like hours, not even moving an inch since he woke up.

By now, the other guys are probably talking to (Y/N). Yet here I am. I really am no good, am I...?

Mao felt the hot tears stream from his eyes down his face.

Nothing changed at all! I'm still the same pathetic loser who could never, ever catch up to those guys! Even when... Even when the person I love is at stake, I still can't do a single thing about it!

I was stupid to think that I actually changed! That I actually had a chance! You went and saved me, but I still can't do anything to pay you back!

Eventually, his eyes became incapable of crying. Only the sound of soft hics filling his darkening room.

I'm sorry.

WHAHAHAHAH did I do good? Once I started writing I just felt like I couldn't stop! It kind of deviated from the original prompt but I tried my best! I hope it's to your liking!

Likes and Reblogs are GREATLY appreciated!

#.✨. #enstars x reader #mao isara x reader #isara mao x reader #mao isara #isara mao #enstars

[toujokaname]

One Night Spectacle / Episode 3

Author: Kino Seitaro with Akira

Characters: Hokuto, Arashi, Kanata, Hiyori, Tatsumi

"Ta-daa~h ♪ Horn headbands~♪"

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Location: Amusement Park

Season: Winter

Time: Next day. Early morning at 9:00 a.m.

Hokuto: Ooi. Where are you, seniors!

They said they were going to buy some drinks, but they've spent way too much time. At this rate, we'll have to wait in long lines for the attractions.

Arashi: Maybe it's fine. If we show up in a crowd, we'll cause a commotion, won't we?

Hokuto: Well, that is true... Even though it's a weekday, there seems to be a good number of visitors.

If we have to wait in an hour-long line for a single attraction, it'll ruin the amusement park experience for us.

Kanata: Hokuto~ Arashi~ This way, this way.

Come on, come on. Now that we've obtained our "water", shall we get in line for the "attractions"?

Hokuto: Mm. When did you get in line? We were waiting in front of the entrance gate.

If you act on your own, you'll get separated and lost.

Kanata: I will not get lost. I have been to this "amusement park" several times for Hero Shows.

Hiyori: Fufufu. Hey now, are you capable of keeping up with our speed?

Tatsumi: Hiyori-san, Kanata-san. Are you going to leave them behind...?

Hiyori: Don't worry. I'm sure Hokuto-kun and Arashi-chan realize that from now on, time is of the essence!

Come on, you two! Hurry up to catch up with me!

We're heading for the most popular attraction, the roller coaster!

Hokuto: What a bunch of troublesome seniors. Let's go, Narukami.

Arashi: Yup, let's do it. We've gotta make this one day off worthwhile ♪

Hiyori: Mhm, mhm! This sense of urgency as you slowly climb up the rails! This is undoubtedly the real charm of a roller coaster!

Tatsumi: After climbing up, it'll be a sharp nosedive into the reservoir. I can't wait.

Arashi: I-It's getting really high up. This, will it really be okay?

Kanata: Yes. The higher you go, the more fun it is to get "splashed" by the water.

Hokuto: That's not what she meant—

Tatsumi: We're at the summit. Keep your eyes ahead and stay focused.

Kanata: Now, let's go~ Splaaaash...!

Arashi: Eeeeek~~~!

Hokuto: Uwaaaah~~~!

Hokuto: Achoo...!

Haah, I got water all over my head. It's a real pain in this cold weather.

Arashi: Seriously, I've been trying to look presentable all morning and now my makeup's all messed up. Can I fix it later?

Hiyori: Fufu. There are a bunch of attractions coming up, so I'm sure you'll get all messy anyway!

So, that's that. After drying our clothes and hair, let's move on to the next...✩

Arashi: Jeeez. How selfish.

Tatsumi: But now Kanata-san's "wish" has been fulfilled. "To take a bath with everyone"—it was thought to be an unreasonable demand, but it came true.

Kanata: Yes~ I enjoyed "bathing", I am completely satisfied...♪

Arashi: Then, let's make my "wish" come true next.

Hokuto: Narukami's "wish" was to "dress everyone up in cute matching outfits".

But, how can you get matching outfits in an amusement park?

Arashi: Right. I thought of something.

Really, I would've liked to go to a shopping mall or something like that.

But going shopping with little time to spare seems far from a depiction of a friendly relationship between high school boys.

So, I'll have everyone dress up as the mascot character of this amusement park ♪

Hokuto: Mascot character...?

Arashi: Well, you'll see. If we go to the store, you'll figure it out...♪

Hiyori: Ta-daa~h ♪ Horn headbands~♪

Now, I'm sure any item would look good on me, but I'd like to know what you think of it, and of course, you have got to shower me with compliments!

Arashi: Ufufu. Tomoe-senpai is as cute as he always is ♪ But I won't lose either, right?

Hiyori: You should be proud to belong to Pretty 5! As expected from a Circle Member who shares the same goals as me ♪

Arashi: My, I'm super happy ♪ If you praise me so highly, I'm gonna want to wear it everyday ♪

Arashi: Yes! Pretty 5! (High five)

Hiyori: Pretty 5! (High five)

Hokuto: What's with this strange excitement... Did the air of the amusement park get to you?

Hiyori: When you have praise to give or are deeply moved, say it out loud! ...That's the first step of communication, isn't it?

Hokuto: Hm. It's better than being too ashamed to say anything. I tend to say unnecessary things, so lately I've been thinking it's better to keep my thoughts to myself—

But maybe I should be more honest about what I think with the members of Getto Spectacle, just as I am with Trickstar when I'm making a fool out of myself with them.

Hiyori: Then, then, Hokuto-kun, give me a high five, too!

Hiyori: High fi~ve ☆

Hokuto: H-High fi~ve.

Tatsumi: Fufu. This experience at the amusement park will also give us an idea of how to play our roles.

Though we may understand them in theory, we cannot really feel them until we actually experience them like this.

I think that while the wish of "matching outfits" that Arashi-san desired was partially achieved, it was necessary for the success of the project for us to come here.

Arashi: Ufufu, I'm still satisfied with this ♪ If I wanted you all to look cute, I probably would've bought clothes that you wouldn't be able to use on a daily basis.

It'd be kinda sad if you didn't wear the clothes I bought, so if it's just for my own self-satisfaction, this is enough ♪

Shinkai-senpai and Kazehaya-senpai. And also Hokuto-chan. I think you all look good ♪

Kanata: Fufu. Going around the "amusement park" with "horns" on will be a nice "memory".

Hokuto: Yeah. Let's simulate the intense period of three years that our characters have experienced. With that, we can close the distance between us.

The experiences obtained here today will definitely be useful for our performance. I'm sure that with this answer, we'll be able to create a great reading drama—that's what I feel.

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#kino seitaro #akira #event story #princess kaguya #hokuto #arashi #kanata #hiyori #tatsumi

[hyenahunt]

Saga: Rivals - 31

Writer: Akira

Season: Winter

Characters: Jun, Seiya, Hokuto, Jin, Hiyori

Proofreading: 310mc (JP) & hyenahunt (ENG)

Translation: kotofucius

Hiyori: Ahaha, you were such a lovely little boy, Jun-kun! Well, but the current you also has your cute sides ♪

[Read on my blog for the best viewing experience with Oi~ssu ♪]

Location: Reverse Live Stage

Jun: Now that I’ve been freed ever so slightly from my parents’ curse, I'm gonna walk forward with my own life. And by taking down Sagami Jin today, I'll gain even more momentum.

I’m all pumped up and raring to go~ Winning this'll be a cinch ♪

Seiya: Fufu. I do beg your pardon, but I’m afraid that will be difficult.

Jun: …Sorry?

Seiya: If I were to summarize that video, or well, how it seemed to our audience due to the convenient editing, perhaps it'd be along the lines of how...

Sagami Jin-kun, the Super Idol who once had the world wrapped around his little finger, had a rival. And now, here is the son of that very rival — Sazanami Jun-kun, of Lilith.

Hokuto: That’s… well, that’s just a fact, isn’t it?

Seiya: It is indeed. The video included some cuts from back then too; and perhaps because this Project-Saga concert is all about reviving retired idols…

It was met with an incredibly good reception from the audience.

Jin: Watching old videos of myself was awfully humiliating for me, though?

Ugh, my lines were so grating they set my teeth on edge… I was internally screaming at my past self the whole time. What kinda living hell did I get myself into?

Seiya: Fufu. Oh, you’ll survive. It made for some fantastic promotion for Rain-bows, didn't it?

The video showed your brilliant figure as you performed so many great feats — A given, of course, as the shows from that time were produced for that purpose in the first place.

Even those who have forgotten must’ve been reminded of just how amazing the very Jin-kun that stands before them was.

As a result, you’ll naturally gain an increased amount of votes.

And at the same time, Jun-kun must’ve looked like… a boy raised with the greatest admiration for Jin-kun, his father’s rival, one aspiring to follow in his footsteps.

After all, we added some childhood shots of Jun-kun singing to Jin-kun's poster while he gazed intently at it all the while.

To any outsider, he’s practically all over Jin-kun.

Hiyori: Ahaha, you were such a lovely little boy, Jun-kun! Well, but the current you also has your cute sides ♪

Jun: Guh… I feel like I just experienced a living hell, too~ To think that videos from that time not only exist but got showcased in front of so many people... This has gotta be the most embarrassing moment of my life.

Seiya: But weren't they just so heartwarming?

Hocchan, my wife has many similar moments of you preserved as videos, so should you ever want them played during a concert just like tonight, let me know anytime.

Hokuto: Don’t you worry, because that will never happen. Actually, just get rid of them. I hate that there's even a possibility that you might use them like this someday.

Seiya: Oh, we aren’t getting rid of anything. They’re precious memories, you see.

But in any case, how it looks to the audience is that Jun-kun so ardently admired Jin-kun that he decided to be an idol.

Your parents may have apologized many times in the video, but to anyone besides us, who already know of the circumstances, the editing made it so that no viewers would understand just what it was about...

It only seemed as if your father was apologizing to you for being a lesser idol than Jin-kun.

Your parents started crying at some point, too, but it only seemed as if they were so very proud of their son who grew beyond their own achievements… and those tears were, therefore, ones of joy.

You understand now, yes? What I just did was make a charming little tale out of the harrowing life you’ve led up until now.

Rather than your grudges, nor your parents' forceful coercion, it was your supposed admiration for Jin-kun that I turned into your reason for becoming an idol.

Jun: Turned, huh… Is it really gonna be okay when the actual truth’s completely different~?

Jun: …Well, no one’s gonna be happy if we ever laid the whole truth bare.

I’m not asking for pity from the world or anything, though. All I wanna do is overcome the wall that stands in front of me.

Jin: Hey now, don’t glare at me while saying that… C'mon, you admire me, right~? It'd make my day if your eyes could sparkle a lil' more when ya look at me.

Jun: Goddamn. …Ugh, in any case, what exactly is all this for?

I'm real thankful that you didn’t make a nasty villain out of anyone, including my old man, but there’s gotta be some kinda vital reason you went to all these lengths, right?

Seiya: Correct. How about I give you a hint, then? There's no time for me to explain in length, so please think it through on your own.

Ultimately, this is all for the sake of balance. And just as I said at the start, I've wanted to make Jun-kun into the very embodiment of the name Lilith.

Can you predict the rest?

Hokuto: No, I can’t. Just what are you doing, Father?

Seiya: I've already answered that, too. In this kingless era, there is no meaning in winning by a landslide.

All that will achieve is reverse things back to a former era, and I wouldn’t like that to happen, either.

At the same time, I can’t have the situation so spectacularly reversed on me, either. I cannot allow there to be an overwhelming victory that would completely cripple the defeated.

After all, I want to continue surviving on, so that I may become a supporting role for the future you’ll all bring about.

Now, the “reverse” in Reverse Live will refer to neither the reversal of time nor the situation. [1]

I will wash it clean from any sense of those meanings so that it may very well have been chosen purely for the sound of it.

And if I could sing until the end and welcome a happily-ever-after with a smile… Then there will be nothing else I would wish for. My job will be done.

Hokuto: …?

[ ☆ ]

✦✦✦✦✦

"Reverse" (リバース) in Japanese is pronounced the same as "rebirth", so throughout the chapters there is some ambiguity on which meaning the name has. Incidentally, the official English name according to ! appears to be Rebirth Live....

← prev ✦ all ✦ next →

#ensemble stars #enstars #enstars translation #hyenahunttl #s: saga #hokuto hidaka #jin sagami #hiyori tomoe #seiya hidaka #jun sazanami

[autisticmao]

GENRE: neutral - fluff

FEATURED: trickstar

WARNINGS: none

PROMPT: the outfit he was going to wear for the performance of xday got ruined, so hokuto tries and looks for a solution on what else he could wear instead

WORD COUNT: 1,106

His footsteps were light against the cold tiles of the kitchen — it was only Hokuto in the entirety of the room as he walked towards the tumble dryer at the other side of the kitchen. He kneels down in front of the circular door, noticing a familiar yet new outfit all cramped into a tight and hopefully dry pile.

By opening the tumble dryer door with a loud click of a pull towards the right, he reaches in for the outfit — a smile of proud reaching his facial features once feeling over the mostly red coloured clothing that there were no wet patches left from it.

Hokuto then shuts the door to the tumble dryer, stands up, and piles the outfit into a neat pile that is easy for him to carry it all, he exits the kitchen and walked towards the set of stairs to where his shared dorm room was.

...

Hokuto lies the individual pieces to his outfit onto his bed, scanning over each piece for anything possible. So far, he was happy with the outcome...

...Until he got to the red blazer.

"Out of all times? How did I not see this before?!" He grits his teeth, kneeling closer to his blazer, picking up one side of the blazer to inspect it further. He brushes his thumb against the middle outer area, scratching his nail against it.

He wasn't sure how, but there was a massive stain covering over the patterned parts of the blazer — one so noticeable, he was mad at himself for not seeing the stain before putting it into the tumble dryer beforehand.

"This already took me a whole day to wash..." Hokuto groans at himself, a frown piecing itself together fast over his facial features.

Hokuto then grabs the blazer, and once more, he heads down to the kitchen area and walks towards the sink. He had a plan in mind, but he wasn't sure if it would work... he didn't want to ruin the embedded designs on the blazer and possibly scratch them off, but at the same time, he couldn't think of any other solution - if the washing machine wasn't going to get the stain out, then he hoped this trick would instead.

He places the blazer onto the kitchen counter by the sink and reaches for the taps on either side, twisting the handles outward as water rushes to fill up the bowl. With washing up detergent sitting slightly off to the side of the taps, Hokuto reaches for it and adds a few drops of the green liquid into the sink, swooshing one hand into it and mixing the soap and the slowly warming up water together, bubbles begin to slowly form under his touch with a mystical and soft white shade.

A minute afterwards, he turns the taps off, his attention spans towards the blazer, he grabs it once more and places it into the sink. He reaches for a yellow and green coloured sponge, directing it over to the point where the stain is and begins scrubbing it.

...

"That didn't work either - are you kidding me?" Hokuto deflates as he chucks the uniform onto the bed of his once more.

He walks over to his wardrobe and forces the door open as he scans through the clothing he had between all the unit uniforms he kept. There was the Trickstar blue outfit. The outfit he wore during the shooting of Finder Girl. The outfit during Bigbang, the shuffle unit uniform, and bunch more. At the end of the lineup of the wardrobe, he comes to a yellow-filled uniform. It was the Walk With Your Smile piece. He grabs it by the hanger and looks at it, a thought comes to mind.

...

The day that Romantic Xday was going to be performed had come to. Trickstar was in the changing area on backstage, with swapping from their normal clothing into the specific uniform chosen for this song exactly.

Hokuto looked around at his three friends, peeking past some large objects he hid behind. The rest of Trickstar looked great in their Christmas outfits, Hokuto noted.

Isara blended in nicely with the colours. Makoto looked confident, and as always, with everything he wore, Akehoshi shined as bright as he could.

Hokuto looked down at what he was wearing - this was the only spare uniform he could come up with. There was no time in asking Anzu or anyone else for a spare uniform of the Christmas outfit or to somehow find a third solution to get rid of the stain in his own one that he left hidden inside of his dorm room.

"Hokke, what are you doing behind there? Show us how princy you look, come on!"

"Uh..." Hokuto hesitated from where he stood. The rest of Trickstar looked at him with wonder. "Okay, but please don't..." his words trailed off, unable to think of what to say to warn the other three about the reasoning behind the clothing he wore. He steps past the large items he was hiding behind.

The looks of wonder that the others held now turned to amusement (from Akehoshi) or confusion.

"Hokuto... why are you wearing that? Did you pick out the wrong uniform by any chance?" Isars asked him carefully, picking words that didn't seem harsh to his leader.

"It's not that. My uniform got ruined, and there was not enough time to replace it." He lowered his head in defeat. "So here we are... we might as well just cancel this show for another day..."

"What?!"

"We can't do that!"

"Not happening, Hokke!"

Hokuto looked towards his three friends. His attention timed on Akehoshi the last and the most. "Why not?"

"Cancelling a show all because of a mistake that happened? That's not we Trickstar do. Who cares if you're wearing that instead of the one you were given? Sure, you may stand out," Hokuto cringes at the idea of it. "But you stand out in a good way! Hokke looks like the shining star above the Christmas tree, and we're the presents under the tree! Right, Ukki and Sally?"

"Yeah!"

"Subaru has got a point. Plus, this somewhat suits the idea more than what we originally had planned. Romantic Xday is mostly your and Subaru's song, after all. You're the focus here. The star that everyone wishes to reach at the top and look at with awe."

A thin yet faint and soft smile reaches Hokuto's features. "Thanks... you guys."

"Now come on. I don't wanna see Hokke be so sulky~ we got a performance to reach!"

"You're right. Alright then, let's go Trickstar!"

im impatient when it comes to getting mv outfits~ so this idea sprung because of that, haha!

#ensemble stars #ensemble stars game #ensemble stars trickstar #enstars #fanfic #mao isara #oneshot #hokuto hidaka #subaru akehoshi #makoto yuki #trickstar #romantic xday #es #fandom writing #fandom

[shinkaishoujo103]

tomoya for the ask game :3

(ask game here!)

Okay i SWEAR to god ill try to NOT make this as long as it was with sena. ty for the ask anyway riko! its tomochin so normally itll be okay. right

First impression

Mmm not sure if i remember that. I probably just. Didnt think much of him. Maybe something like "oh he's supposed to be the normal one okay"

Current impression

How can one be so homosexual like. hokuto hajime nazuna. and it doesnt end. what. tomochin. i am shaking you so aggressively rn. how can you be so casually so Gay

But anyway he's not one of my favorites but i DO love him a lot!! And definitely dont consider him as just bland and normal anymore. Like theres so much more to him than that! His theatre talent, his insecurities, he's funny, he's also extremely cute, and i dont know enough about his development but i can tell he has grown so much since then, and i am so proud of him!

Sighs...tomoya is on my "characters i need to study more" list yeah

Favorite moment

THAT ONE TIME IN FLAMBÉS STORY WHERE LIKE. HE OPENS THE DOOR. HE SEES RINNE AMAGI. HE IMMEDIATELY CLOSES THE DOOR. PEAK COMEDY I TELL YOU.

Idea for a story

I. Unfortunately do not think about him enough to have any stories ideas about him :(

I do have some where he's part of it, but not really as the focus so...

Unpopular opinion

Kinda ties with my current impression of him but like. A lot of people joke that he's the "the normal/bland one haha" and like. No?! He's so much more than that. Even me who doesn't know that much about him can tell. Like did you know he has that quirk where when he's under stress, he starts randomly spelling out tongue twisters?

Its silly methinks

Idk if this opinion is really unpopular but. Yeah 👍

Favorite relationship

Mh, good question! And honestly, hear me out...

Rinne (EDIT JUST TO CLARIFY NOT ROMANTIC OFC BUT DYNAMIC WISE!!!)

Im gonna be honest, i didnt even read shit of the flambés story, its mostly just me imagining how their dynamic would be like and absolutely LOVING it. Also because theyre travel partners in my wonderland au. Absolutely wonderful

Of course, i also really love tomoyas relationship with all of ra*bits!!!

Favorite headcanon

That he has a crush on nazuna...and hokuto...and hajime...and yeah. to me he's definitely the kinda boy to have multiple crushes going on at the same time

#saku mail #wew! it wasnt as long! i think! #...actually nvm i think its still failry lenghty SORRY I JUST LIKE TO RAMBLE A LOT!!! #from aeri

[aeoki]

Grand Slam - The School’s Ghost Stories: Chapter 1

Location: Yumenosaki Grower Barn Characters: Tomoya & Aira

< A flashback. Early September at the Yumenosaki grower barn. >

Aira: I’m really sorry, Mashiro-senpai.

Tomoya: Don’t worry about it, Shiratori! You can always count on me! Heheh, it feels nice to act like an older student ♪

Aira: Uuu, I’ve been so indebted to “Ra*bits”, I can’t lift my head up.

You already helped me as an idol in the summer holidays and I can’t believe I’m troubling you further at school too.

I’m ashamed of myself.

Tomoya: Like I said, it’s okay! You can also just speak casually to me!

My beloved Hokuto-senpai speaks casually to everyone, so on the contrary, speaking formally feels kinda lame to me!

Aira: That’s a pretty rude thing to say. Don’t blame me if you get kicked out of the industry because of that…

Tomoya: It’s fine the way it is! Don’t you get it!? That sorta impeccable thing is what makes Hokuto-senpai so–

…Woah!?

Aira: W-W-What’s wrong? I knew it, there’s something in the animal pens here! That rumour is real – the Seven Mysteries isn’t a joke or something someone made up!

Tomoya: T-That’s not true! The Seven Mysteries are just silly stories someone thought up!

Sorry for startling you. I thought I was gonna trip because the ground here is oddly uneven.

Aira: You’re right. It looks like someone was digging here and put the soil back in.

I’ve been seeing these a lot recently. Maybe a rabbit was trying to escape and dug a hole.

They do say rabbits like to dig holes.

Tomoya: Since my unit is also called “Ra*bits”, we decided we should learn some rabbit-like movements one day, so we dug and filled up holes for no reason.

Aira: You guys are really diligent… That’s why I like you guys. “Ra*bits” are so ravely~♪

Tomoya: Heheh, you can praise us more ♪

(Ahh, this is so much fun!)

(Up until last year, we “Ra*bits” were the smallest kids in the school and everyone treated us like we were “the weak that everyone must protect”!)

(We grew to be second-year students and met a lot of new students. We won’t let you treat us like we’re hopeless chicks anymore~ Fufufu ♪)

(Besides, thanks to us working really hard with Nii~chan last year, it looks like the new students think we’re pretty “great idols”.)

(I wanna maintain that image and show that I’m a competent upperclassman! It’s a lot of fun acting like a proud older brother too!)

(I wonder if my upperclassmen did the same too last year…? ♪)

Tomoya: Ahh~ Ahem, ahem. So don’t worry about it, Shiratori. There’s nothing you need to be afraid of. Even if a ghost appears, I’ll take care of it.

Aira: You’re so reliable…♪

You’re so helpful, Senpai. I started going to school with Hiro-kun again once the summer holidays started but…

Tomoya: Like I said, you don’t have to be so formal.

…Come to think of it, Amagi transferred here but you and Mayoi-senpai haven’t been going to school, right? Do you guys not have great health or something?

Aira: I didn’t really wanna go to school… I was totally just holed up at home. It’s kinda embarrassing.

But thanks to everyone working really hard over the summer holidays, it looks like we can still continue being idols and it’s reassuring to have Hiro-kun and Mayo-san with me, so…

I came back to Yumenosaki like nothing ever happened.

I don’t know when I’ll be laid off in the future, so I’ve gotta get that education and make my academic record look good.

If I can’t be an idol in the future, dropping out of high school will be pretty disadvantageous.

Tomoya: Don’t say that~ I saw your performance at “MDM” but you guys were shining really brightly. I think you’re fine.

You guys will be able to continue as idols in the future. If anything, I’m sure you’ve gained a lot of new fans, so even if you said you wanted to quit, they probably won’t let you, right?

Aira: That would be nice if it’s true… My self-esteem is basically non-existent after being treated as “someone useless”.

Tomoya: ES sure do some horrible things. I don’t really know the details.

But even after trying to recruit as many idols as possible, it’s just tyrannical of them to cut off the ones that they can’t support.

Aira: Uuu, it’s probably not a good idea to badmouth ES so much. You never know who’s listening.

It’ll be awful if I get on the higher-up’s bad side… They’ll tell me, “You’re fired ♪”, again.

Tomoya: It’s totally become traumatic for you, huh… Anyone would see it that way.

“Trickstar” are probably the weird ones since they got even more motivated when they were forced to disband.

Fufu. I’m actually complimenting you guys when I say this, but I’m glad to see you guys are “normal”.

← Previous Chapter ᠂ ⚘ ˚⊹˚ ⚘ ᠂  Next Chapter →

#grand slam

[kanasous]

ID ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT THE MAGICAL GIRL AU!!! It sounds like such a good combo pls unleash ur thoughts I'm all ears

HIIII HELLO EVERYONE. okay im gonna put this all under a readmore its so much also its near directly pasted from discord and only edited for readability so if u have any questions id love to answer and they help me figure out how everything works @clockworkspider  @kn-zakis you both askedas well!!

i think theyre all like. middle school aged but with the same back stories like. kuro is still a delinquent, ibara  is fresh off the child soldier press (but here its intertwined with the magical girl thing so its like. they were trying to make him and yuzuru to a lesser extent magical girl super soldiers) nagisa is still living with hiyori for that short bit etcetc

im also playing with gender too. like ibara sees gender more like a role theyve gotta fufill nagisa is completely apathetic to it.  keito would just rather not. yaknow

its vaguely like madoka? wishes and stuff plus witches as the remains of magucal girls who fell to corruption, wraiths - which magical girls can harness at the cost of bodily harm that doesnt leave when they transform out,  nightmares which r just what they say on the tin

subarus wish is for his fathers name to be cleared, hokuto wishes for his parents to recognise him, makoto wishes for someone to see him and not a doll, mao wishes to keep his friends safe

souma wishes for the ability to make their parents proud, keito wishes for eichi to be able to go to school, kuro wishes for his sister to be okay

you dont actually have to fight witches and nightmares to keep ur wish but like. if u dont fight them, then because there are more nightmares created for each wish and its continued existence, you burden other magical girls

which leads into akatsukis whole thing. aside from just witches and nightmares, they will fight magical girls who refuse to do their duty. these were the targets of eichi and keitos revolution  

OH ibara wishes for something inconsequential (sweets) because he was essentially made to wish, nagisa wishes for the ability to keep hiyori and his other friends safe, jun wishes to be an idol and hiyori wishes for others to love him

the idol stuff is still a thing in a way? hiyori and jun are idols, nagisa wants to be one, ibara doesnt really care. akatsuki become way closer after they start making music together but theyre not idols specifically

trickstar are still idols, they go to like. yumenosaki but its a middle school

]eden go to the sort of cospro middle school that kaname mentions having gone to

akatsuki r in a different school known for being haunted as shit and sorta like kimisaki in a way? after the establishment of like. a stuco the school got way more academic to tye point of being damaging. wait no. that can just be yumenosaki but a middle school as well. okay yea theyre at the same school

akatsuki and trickstar still have mad beef which is hilarious because they get alogn fairly normal at school (aside from keito ) but outside school during magical business its fight on sight because akatsuki tend to wear masks whilst doing magical girl shit to hide their identities (aside from keito. he dont give a shit)

wait no. ibara is so funny in this au u know how homura has to steal gunsn shit

ibara functions similarly she has these cutesy little charms of itty bitty weapons that he can transform into proper weapons but magicked up n shit. but she has to manually transform the normal weapons into the charms before itll work like she hmcant just manifest them into existence

okay more madoka esque stuff

the shinkai cult uses the souls of magical girls to grant wishes

i think this is what was probably supposed to happen to souma. that OR he was supposed to fight witches on kanatas behalf because Kanata wouldn't be allowed to do that as it would be a hazard

kanata has to eat a soul gem to absorb the power and the soul. this is then exhumed when he grants a wish. he doesnt have like. a choice in this and then to him, and to souma for a while, this is right

himeru who uses his little brothers soul gem to transform

OH GOD. JUN KEEPS KANAME FROM BECOMING A WITCH ITS THIS WHOLE DISCOVERY

he forces the soul gem, half cracked and corrupted down kanames throat to put the soul back where it needs to go and barely anyone thinks it could work but it does. iit reverses kanames wish, yes. but idk what kanames wish would be yet so idk the consequences 

and then u know how in record magical girls can use doppels to burn off despair? something similar can be done with corruption but it has to be purposefully induced, and yknow how sayaka brings oktavia von seckendorf forth in rebellion in the fight against homulily? i can imagine souma doing something like that during the fight against kanatas witch, after its grown into its own thing.  i accidentally made myself obsessed with how fighting kanatas witch would go... its become something entirely seperate from him and independent due to how he exists as the concept of a god and also. just a human child n how for so long he wasn’t really a magical girl. 

thank you for reaching the end of my rambles! it was very fun to get all this down

#enstars #souma #keito #kuro #kaname #jun #himeru #trickstar #ibara #i love getting to talk about all this #my disc is #sprout9951 #but a hashtag before the numbers #this au has been consuming me whole

[bellshazes]

I just sent an ask for the writers game but it gave me an error message so I'm just going to do it again

anyways I was curious about 27, 32, 46, 49 but feel free to pick and choose if that's too many

Also ps I'm living for your fic directors commentary I love getting that type of background info so it's much appreciated!!

have a great day <3

27.  Favourite line/scene

of actually published fic... all of cleo's POV in chapter six of do it again is really dear to me. I almost cut the handholding but this part in particular was too important to lose:

She lets go of his hand so she can flip it over, palm face up on his knee, tracing his lifeline with one fingernail. "Do you really think I'm out for your blood, too?" she asks as her index finger comes to rest at the base of his wrist, feeling his pulse. "Are you waiting for an opening to attack me? Because I promise you won't find one. We keep making the choice to care about each other, and unless you stop choosing that, this won’t change. That’s what makes it familiar."

DIA is about a lot of things but this part is about choosing to let yourself be vulnerable and hoping that vulnerability is reciprocated. choosing something doomed because it's familiar and loved and worth doing anyway. i also posted it post-Double Life, so there's a lot of that hanging over here; cleo's loyalty is earned and maintained through active, continuous choices to care... and bdubs' is not, and so we get "I've never lied to you" later in canon.

oh but also later in c6, etho's "he knows i care, he does" and the subsequent dream description is still good: "With all the confidence of dream logic he knew that ghosts were real there and had been real before, although what that meant precisely he didn’t know either awake or asleep - only that whatever he was working toward, he had better hurry there. Someone was waiting for him on the other side of a dream."

32.  Most difficult character to write

I basically don't write characters I can't pin down a voice for LMAO. that's why all my fic is constrained really heavily in terms of the cast; even pulling in Ren briefly in DIA, I leaned super heavily on stealing canon dialogue. writing joe's voicemails and skizz's interactions with scar were (and are, in the latter case) difficult but fun.

weirdly i've been struggling a lot with writing etho for distant stations. i think beyond voice i have to know what a character wants, both in their personal case and what that want does in the larger context of the story. there's gotta be a movement! unfulfilled wishes! striving! no idea what to do with a guy who's doing fine and content without any structural need to depict it.

46.  Do you reread your own stories?

compulsively, unfortunately. memory's images once they are fixed in words are erased, some bitch* once said. i find that rereading too close to after posting makes it strange and alien to me, which both helps and hurts writing. but i do like periodically coming back to old clamp fic i wrote too - there are some parts of the SGGK au and things like the boathouse storm scene in easy to love that i'm still proud of over five years later.

49.  Which character would you most want to be friends with, if they were real?

hokuto sumeragi i am free on thursday night if you would like to hang out i am free on thursday night when i am free to hang out etc. jk you mean this fandom? i don't think about this kind of thing much but i guess if i lived in minecraft i would have to say cleo. i feel like that's pretty self explanatory

#peter answers #ask game #peter writes #long post #and that bitch's name? was marco polo #i also know myself well enough that people i love watching would probably grate on me in certain ways if we directly interacted. #so that rules quite a bit out. for silly reasons #oh and thank you re: the commentary!!! #i do reread my own shit all the time and think abt what i did well or could do better so glad to hear it's fun to read

[ayameyumesaki]

Tokyo Babylon - CLAMP Premium Collection - Commentary Part 6

Previous Part First Part Next Part

Finally, we've come to the last chapter of volume 2 and I must say, as someone who learned Japanese AND ever lived in Japan, this chapter is the chapter I can relate the most. And of course, a display of Miss Sumeragi Hokuto's characterization in one whole chapter.

Without further ado, let's start!

Like usual, this one will be quite long as well, haha. Anyway if someone noticed, the chapter was written in 1991!

So, we started the chapter by Hokuto walking at night. I want to ask why she was on the road when she is only 16 but then again, she probably was on her way home from Seishiro's vet clinic and that's the only way to explain why she was there.

Other girl being catcalled by boys: shivered in fear, running away directly Hokuto, who is born in wealthy Sumeragi family: Are you government worker? Do you have a public housing? Grave? Property accumulation savings? If you don't have it then just dream to even catcalling me.

Honestly Hokuto you are so funny and I'm so sorry to those men. But she isn't wrong; with her family status, Hokuto should marry a conglomerate instead (thus, her dream to become a proper housewife).

Hokuto, sensing a girl in danger: My justice sense is tingling so let's beat those men.

That aside, actually, they used katakana for the words the woman said (even after this panel, though not every words). I take it that she probably spoke Japanese but didn't sound like a native, thus they differentiate the typing. I will talk about this more once the girl talked more.

A display of Hokuto's strength. Pretty nice. That face kick is amazing. Sumeragi family taught her well and I'm so proud of her.

The two then ran away and escaped the scene and they hid in the alley. Hokuto asked the girl whether she is fine or not, and the girl nodded. She then said they will bother pretty girl at night like that. Since she didn't respond the her, Hokuto then asked.

Hokuto: Can you speak... The girl: I know Japanese.

Here, you can see her panel in kanji, hiragana and katakana. All of them mixed into one line. This is like a little hell on Earth for anyone who learned Japanese but isn't skilled yet at reading katakana ;;

Anyway, the two were found out by the corpse and they ran away again. They went to a park and rested there. Hokuto bought the girl a drink and they talked.

The girl then asked, why Hokuto helped her, an outsider (gaijin). I would like to use word "foreigner" here, but maybe I should explain the difference between gaijin and gaikokujin first.

Gaijin (外人) and gaikokujin (外国人) are used to describe who isn't Japanese people, means foreigner. However, Japan is a country who doesn't engage with other countries for so long (around 300 years I think?), and there is also stuff with World War. Their lack of engagement with other countries for a long period created a mindset that Japanese people and other people are different, thus, even after World War II, Japanese people didn't accept foreigners kindly. Gaijin is a term used to describe those who aren't Japanese people and this has a rude connotation. This term is used until economic bubble ended, I think? Nowadays they didn't use it anymore and mostly use gaikokujin.

Thus, the girl explained that she is a gaijin and it's probably strange for her to be helped by a Japanese girl like Hokuto, but Hokuto told her that she didn't know from what country she comes from, but since she belongs to a country, there is nothing like gaijin (or outsider). This means Hokuto thinks of word gaijin as its literal meaning, not the meaning the stereotype we are talking earlier.

Then the girl asked again why Hokuto never asked her about anything, and Hokuto said that she can't do anything about it even though she asked. She then said what she said is important to her and in her best interest. If she asked her, then it is rude on her side. Still, if she wants to talk, if she thinks it's better to talk when she happened to talk with someone else rather than not talking at all, then it's a different story.

This line is different than the translation I read, and for me, the line in Japanese is much kinder than the one in translation. Hokuto is pretty wise, and her lines in original text are wiser. I think Hokuto here said I won't push you to talk since I don't have the right to make you talk, but if you want to talk, I will listen to you earnestly. The translation was probably toned down that kindness, but it still had similar nuance and probably adapted to the country it targeted to.

Then the girl began to tell her story. She is working at a shop and that shop is called kyabakura (or hostess club) in Japanese. She is from a country across the sea, she has seven people in her family, her father is sick and her mother couldn't support her family alone, so she came to Tokyo to work. In her country, there are more people who need works than the number of work provided, thus she came to Tokyo. But she can't speak Japanese and when she was sitting in front of Shinjuku Station because she was hungry, someone called her and that's how she came in contact with her current job.

Then Hokuto asked how she became fluent in Japanese (because honestly, her Japanese is actually pretty good despite the mix between hiragana, kanji and katakana) and she said the guests taught her. Hokuto was glad that the guests taught her standard Japanese.

She then continued by saying that there are guests who are kind, but many are scary ones. She thinks she will be fine and will work hard as long as she got paid. But she said she is afraid of police.

Well, she came to Japan illegally and if she was found out, she will be deported back to her country. And realization hits---Hokuto you just kicked a cop's face LOL There is a raid in her club so she ran away, but she got caught. She knew that she should abide the rule and she is doing a wrong thing, but if she didn't earn money, then her family can't live.

She then talked about how Tokyo is a strange country, as long as she has money, she can have everything. But there are things that she could get in her country, but she couldn't get it here.

She said the first thing is friends. She said she and her friends were poor, but when she decided to go to Japan, everyone cried for her. But if she died in Tokyo, she believes no one will cry for her...

And the second one is "smile", the title of this chapter. She then explained that in her country, if she smiled, her mother and friends will smile as well and feel happy. Now she must smile, but no one will see her smile inside that dark room.

The the girl said, "When I come to Japan, I thought that as long as I can understand the words, I can overcome the wall between people. That's why I'm working hard studying. I'm studying hard so I can understand Japanese people."

The girl: But no matter how good my Japanese becomes, we, gaijin, will never understand Japanese people's heart. Even though we understand Japanese, I can't get friends or smile.

Oh no my heart is just broken for her...

Then the police caught up to them and Hokuto decided that she won't run away alone. Thus she decided to face them.

And she displayed the wealth of Sumeragi Family along with her own strength in the same time. While I cried for the lipstick she used as her writing (cries), this is the same person who told us that she can't use onmyojutsu. Well, since onmyoji dealt with spirits, Hokuto who can't see spirits probably wasn't qualified, but she could use spells as well and kicked asses. Way to go girl!

The two ran away and they went to the city again in ease, now they knocked down the police that targeted them. The girl asked why Hokuto helped her after she told her that it's her fault and those are police.

Hokuto: It's because I want to be your friend. You probably thought it's a bother to me, but I want to be friends with you. Of course working along with police is a civilian's duty, but when it comes to friends, it's different matter.

Hokuto and her beautiful mind ;;

The girl told her that she is a gaijin and Hokuto told her that there's nothing like gaijin. Then the girl said she works in kyabakura,

Hokuto: In this world, the hardest job is service industry. Nurses, teachers, idols, singers too. All services. If you don't understand how hard it is, then you aren't qualified to live.

Honestly I want to say "you don't have the right to live" at the bold line above, since in Japanese, the line gives that harsh nuance. I think Hokuto could say something that harsh when it comes to service industry is because she saw how devoted Subaru to his job that it costs him his time to study at school. And Subaru's work as an exorcist is one of service industries---he came here and there and always busy. Thus Hokuto understands how hard it must be for her as well, since she has an example right next to her.

The girl asked if Hokuto took a pity on her, but Hokuto said it's rude if she pitied her when she just heard a bit of her long living years. Her life is her own.

Hokuto: Don't differentiate people by giving them titles like Japanese people or outsiders. You and I are the same human.

Hokuto then asked whether the girl is interested in her or not, and she said she does, then they cleared the first step. Then she will be her first friend in this Tokyo.

Since the girl cried, Hokuto told her to smile. She then explained that since she will be busy with her work, Hokuto will be worried for her. She will be worried if someone will bully her, or whether she feels afraid, or if she is crying. But if she remembers that her friend is always smiling, then it will ease her worry.

So she smiled.

Honestly, her smile is so pretty. Oh my.

And they ended the chapter with them introducing themselves to each other with a hug! The chapter ends!

Overall, this chapter is pretty well written and showed Hokuto's characterization very well. I will talk several points that I haven't talk above (since I'm too focused on the writings and Hokuto ;;).

First thing first, this chapter's message is the one Hokuto said close to the end, that "don't label someone with titles, since we are all the same human". This is coming from CLAMP who wrote this in 1991, and foreigners coming to Japan isn't as massive as it did now, so most of the time, people's image about foreigners are still a bit close-minded; at least that's how I studied. I was like, wow, CLAMP really wrote Tokyo Babylon to go against all the common senses Japanese people have at the time, and I can't stop awe-ing this series even more. The more I read about the stories, the more I was fascinated by how they were this brave to pick their own contemporary society issues and even tell their own opinion regarding that topic.

Second is, I understand the girl's feelings. Japanese people not being kind, or treating foreigners differently if they don't understand Japanese still happened. This is my own experience; at that time, I was saddened by something pretty personal and I went to convenience store to buy something. I went out of the queue line for a second (like really, maybe 3 seconds) to get a drink from the nearby fridge, and the line changed (because the ones behind me moved forward). I went back to the queue but an old man behind me thought I cut the line, so he was kinda mad and raised his voice on me. At first, I didn't know he was talking to me, and it was until he told me "don't you know Japanese!?" in higher tone made me snapped as well, so with me being down and such thing happened, I told him "I know!" and told him that I was queueing before the ones in front of me before. The ones in front of me testified my words and since I was kind of pissed off, I told the old man to move forward and after that he apologized to me. I felt bad for him now I'm sorry. The point is, you can see he knew I'm a foreigner and when he raised his voice about me not knowing Japanese, it's just pissed me off. Other than this, since I spoke better than my friends, I probably only had that one issue, yet my friends who started studying the language Japan was treated differently from me and it showed clearly in many occassions.

This issue is important since Japan right now is trying to hire more foreigners to their country. I realized that despite their condition, people with such mind would still exist, and like that panel when the girl was caught by the police (people ignoring her since it's not their business), it will be difficult to create an environment suitable for foreigners if they don't socialize it better. Of course, many are opened up, and one of them are the people I was working with before, and I was grateful that I can learn how Japanese people was, all the good and bad, that I can relate to this chapter.

Third is, Hokuto is right. People really differentiate people by labeling them even when we are same human. This is another personal experience, but the business I was working in right now is Japanese language education provider in my country. We have some partnership with Japanese company as well. One thing I remembered the most was someone in important position in the place I worked told me that, Japanese people is under us and we shouldn't be afraid of them. I remembered it clearly since it was our first meeting, and the first thing that comes into my mind was I realized that human who is treating another human as something else does exist. I was like thrown back to reality, and this chapter told me that no matter what job you are doing, no matter what nationality you have, in the end, you are a human and all humanity traits are exist within you. That my belief isn't wrong, and we should treat human the same. Yes I'm looking at you Seishiro.

Last but not least, I love how we are shown Hokuto's mindset early. She is pretty mature with her thoughts despite her childish behavior sometimes, and her views about the world around her is pretty, but not naive like her brother. She acknowledged that she did wrong as well for going against police, but she is caring and wanting to help someone in distress, thus she chose to help the girl. In this part, Hokuto is similar to her twin and I was moved by how similar they are in this volume---Subaru acknowledging he is different from the people around him, and he decided to embrace it so he can help Mitsuki going back to reality, while Hokuto acknowledging her making mistake for going against police, but she stay true to her grounds and helped the girl so she can live.

Thus, this ends my commentary for second volume! I'm waiting for the third and fourth volume to arrive, thus let's meet on the next part!

#yu loving hokuto for 1293018984 times #she is a good soul but #tokyo babylon #sumeragi hokuto #clamp premium collection #anyway since when tumblr can post up to 30 photos in one post

[poppyseedfics]

Ahh the confession hcs were cute! do you mind if you could write them for Keito and Hokuto too? i really enjoyed reading the writings so far <333

A/N: Thank you! I loved writing them, they were so cute! I’m glad you’re enjoying our stuff too 💕 Enjoy your HCs!

Keito Hasumi Confession HCs

You'd known the exact way you wanted to confess your feelings to Keito from the first few days you'd fallen for him.

He was a simple character really, hardworking and passionate. You wanted to keep your confession cute and lowkey… You didn't think Keito could handle something extravagant, and neither could you if you were rejected. You had the perfect idea.

The only issue was deciding when to go through with your plan. You didn't want it to end up being lacklustre or forgettable- but at the same time you didn't want to tack it onto another important event so they shared importance. It had to be natural, once you were comfortable with each other.

You'd long ago started a routine with Keito, every Tuesday and Friday you'd go to the library together. Usually you'd read or finish schoolwork, sometimes you'd even seen Keito drawing. It was quite peaceful. You'd chat over books you'd read, discuss classes or talk about your day. You looked forward to it.

And, you'd decided it was the perfect time to confess. It was your time together after all. You were quite proud of the plan you'd cooked up- Keito had been reading a novel for some time and he was almost finished with it, and he'd mentioned which book he'd like to read next. You waited patiently until it looked like he only had a little left before you set your plan into motion.

You sat down and took out your books, reading like you had done many a time before, yet you couldn't help but keep throwing looks his way to double-check everything was going to plan. As time ticked on the number of pages left grew thinner and thinner- until finally, he put it down. You glued your eyes to your own book and pretended not to notice when he got up to fetch another.

When he returned you could barely contain your excitement when you saw he had picked the exact book you needed him to. Now it was just a waiting game. It was only so long until he stumbled across the sticky note you'd left in the pages.

You heard him draw a breath as if to speak, and your gaze snapped to his. Instead of talking, you watched as his eyes narrowed as he actually began to read the note. He got what you assumed was a few lines down before with every word his eyes would widen. You had to stifle your laughter- it would ruin the moment.

His face flushed red and he couldn’t do anything to stop it. He did attempt to press his face into the book to compose himself, but you still see his ears that were the same shade as his face. He was utterly flustered. You waited patiently, head leaning on your palm, goofy smile on our face for sure.

Finally, after what felt like ages, Keito finally deemed himself composed enough, because he lowered the book back into his lap. His gaze met yours- and his face flushed a little again, but he seemed to ignore it- and responded to you.

"I… feel the same way. Surely you could have just… told me though…"

Hokuto Hidaka Confession HCs

You weren't really sure how it had happened, all you knew was that you'd made the worst mistake possible in your life. One unguarded moment and you'd just happen to let it slip out that you liked Hokuto and was looking for the perfect way to confess- Of course it had been Hibiki who'd caught that bit of gossip.

Hibiki was immediately enthralled in the idea of helping you create the perfect confession- after all it would be like acting. He'd done plenty of love and confession scenes in the theatre club, so he was sure he could find the perfect set up for you.

And maybe that wouldn't have been so bad, if he hadn't taken this as the highest priority thing in his life. Almost everyday he was by your side, prattling off extravagant scenes and dialogue, gushing over details and adamant that his latest idea was better than the last. How the whole school didn't know your feelings was beyond you.

This did prompt you to hang around Hokuto more, however. Hibiki would vanish from your side as soon as he was in view. Luckily Hokuto didn't seem to pick up on your antsy behaviour, acting as usual- not that that alone didn't make you fluster.

Evidently Hibiki came to notice that you weren't too fond of his contributions, as one day he declared he'd decided to get to know the two of you together. You, of course, were concerned what this entailed, and rightfully so. Hibiki now vanished from your side when you were around Hokuto, only for you to start spotting him watching the two of you. Bushes, trees, windows from afar- you swore he once hung from the ceiling.

That marked the end of your sanity. 

Today was the day you told him- you had to if you weren't going to go crazy. After the final bell had rung you'd booked it toward his classroom, hoping to catch him before he left. He was coming out the door right as you arrived. You'd called his name and he'd turned to look at you, a polite smile adoring his face. As soon as his back was turned Hibiki popped out from the next classroom down.

Taking Hokuto's wrist you wasted no time carting him off down the hallway. He tried to ask you what this was about but you avoided the question.

Finally you reached a quiet corner of the school- a rather empty classroom of which you secretly blocked the door too.

Now you had to face the consequences of your actions. Hokuto was staring at you, a bewildered but concerned expression on his face. You squashed your nerves as best you could and told him.

"I like you, Hokuto. You're amazing, talented and wonderful. I've wanted to tell you for so long, I just couldn't find the right moment…"

He gently took your hands in his own, expression turned soft. "I feel the same about you."

And then Hibiki appeared behind you, clapping as he swooned over your 'performance'. Hokuto narrowed his eyes, stepping in front of you before asking if Hibiki had given you any trouble recently.

"If only you knew…"

#ensemble stars #enstars #keito hasumi #keito hasumi x reader #keito x reader #hokuto hidaka #hokuto x reader #hokuto hidaka x reader #enstars x reader #ensemble stars x reader #admin lemon

[rinnelovebot]

hii ur writing is a super duper cute ! lookin forward to seeing more of it around ^o^ can request relationships headcanons for makoto and mao ? please n thank you !

A/N: thank you a ton! You’re too sweet. I’m not really a fan of trickstar but Mao and Makoto are so ,,,, they’re so cute. Thank you for the req!

*ೃ༄ Mao Isara and Makoto Yuuki relationship hc’s

Makoto likes to take lots of pictures of you both together, keeping them in his pocket or wallet to look at later. It’s his way of always having you with him! But, he does get embarrassed when Subaru asks him about it.

Funnily enough, studying with you is one of his favorite ways of spending time together. He loves helping you learn things, and you returning the favor. Plus, being able to look up and see your cute face whenever he wants to makes studying just a bit more bearable.

He’s very thoughtful and considerate. If he sees something you need while at the store, he’ll grab it for you, or if you need help with your homework, he’s on it! Acts of service is his main love language.

Though, he loves physical affection as well. More specifically, hugs. Makoto loves your hugs almost as much as he loves you. His hugs are tender and soft, gasping slightly when you pull him closer to you, tightening your arms around him.

It’s not that he doesn’t like PDA, it’s just so flustering! He can’t help but feel vulnerable and embarrassed sharing something so intimate with the world. He loves you and your affections, but it may just give him a heart attack if you kiss him in front of everyone!

Makoto is someone you can really put your trust it. He feels happy that you’re comfortable enough with him to vent or rant, and he listens to every single word. He doesn’t seem the type at first glance, but he can give you good words of advice on your problems every once in awhile.

The Trickstar members are glad Makoto has someone to love, and someone to love him as well! They’ve noticed he’s been a little more outgoing and confident since beginning a relationship with you. They credit you with being the one to help Makoto start coming out of his shell.

He’s also become more motivated to become a top idol since meeting you! Everyone has noticed. You inspire and guide him everyday, and he hopes he can make you proud. <3

Mao is one of the best boyfriends in all of enstars. He’s got it all; good looks, an admirable and kind personality, and incredible modesty. The perfect candidate for future son-in-law, that’s for absolute sure.

Between student council and Trickstar, he can be a tad bit busy, but he always somehow makes time for the two of you to spend together, even if it’s spent doing something that most people would think of as boring. Like sitting on a bench and eating your lunches together!

His favorite kind of affection to show you is forehead kisses. If he finds that you’re having a hard time paying attention to him, kiss. You’re feeling down, kiss. He’s proud of you, kiss. He’ll kiss your forehead for anything and everything, and I don’t think you or Mao could ever possibly get enough, and it’ll stay that way for the rest of your relationship!

He is the perfect boyfriend that you see on Pinterest. That is him. That is Mao Isara. He’s the one that’s always sending you intoxicatingly cute text messages throughout the day that he’s thinking of you, or randomly saying that he wants to spend the rest of his life with you. He’s perfect in your eyes.

Subaru always bombards you with questions on what Mao is like within your relationship, as said boy usually keeps most things about it private. It can be overwhelming, but Subaru really is just curious about you two! He’s also probably come up with some elaborate and creative ship name for the both of you, addressing you as such when you both walk into a room together. Hokuto whacks him and tells him to knock it off, but it makes you and Mao laugh.

He likes to rest his head on your shoulder at the end of a long day, taking the time to slow his roll and relax. It’s nice and comfortable, and it makes him melt when you turn your head slightly to kiss the crown of your boyfriends head. It’s a genuine, love-filled gesture, and it sure does get the point across.

I feel like he’s the type of boyfriend who would like taking you to new cafes that had opened around the area, asking your opinions on the menu and item you chose to order. Don’t worry, though. If you don’t like what you picked out, Mao will gladly switch with you! It’s his duty as your lover, at least in his own opinion.

In conclusion, he’s a simple and sweet boyfriend. You two have a very long future ahead of you, filled with laughter, remarkable memories, and a lot of love. <3

#ensemble stars #ensemble stars x reader #enstars #enstars x reader #mao isara #trickstar #isara mao #mao isara x reader #headcanons #yuuki makoto #makoto yuuki #request #subaru akehoshi #akehoshi subaru

[s4kasaki]

Hi!! Can I request Hokuto and his crush being both in the theater club and doing a romantic theatrical performance together? And maybe him confessing his feeling to them at the end? It would be so cute ❤️❤️

I am looking directly at this... It's so cute? this is actually the first time I write for a request and I can't say I did a good job. (っ˘̩╭╮˘̩)っ

♡ — theater of events.

‣ tws / cws: none

‣ reader: gender neutral - they/them

‣ author's note: aaaaaa!! I'm so bad at stories..

You had been thinking about joining the theater club lately, had it not been for your utter love, understanding, and inspiration for the act of performing: Wataru wouldn’t have approved you into the club and you would've continued being nothing more than your run of the mill producer who worked tirelessly trying to finish paperwork until three in the morning.

But, there was finally some reassurance to breathe on: being accepted to be able to participate in such distinctive performances! The hard part was over, you had been accepted! You just happened to know Hokuto was there too so it was comforting to know that you aren't alone in this, Wataru was there too, of course, but did you want to be broken to a crisp by his practicing? He was intense, and far too energetic to put up with, after seeing how he ‘tutored’ Tori? You couldn't have been happier that you have Hokuto as your partner.

Although, Hokuto was completely unaware of this arrangement. So it completely made him lose it. Curse your elegant charms! sneaking your way into being around him once more indirectly? Have you figured out his newborn crush so soon? Impossible, he's covered it so well, hiding constantly in rooms after rooms, clubs after— well clubs even trying to prevent this crush from being... A crush! Being so close during rehearsals was agony for the poor young male.

You did so well with everything all on your own nowadays, you've improved so much since second year... He couldn't have been more proud to see what you’ve become, all of Trickstar was proud really. But before you knew it, you were standing in a dress, with a demand to preform a romantic play? What in the heavens? ... This was fine, He could settle with this.. right?

“Romantic acting greatly emphasized freedom of emotion and passion! Let the deep feelings within you shine brightly! Like... Diamonds!~☆”

Is what Wataru would've said, that sly son of a— he’ll just have to wait to let out frustration, he's being watched by an expert himself. The unexpected flash of the camera and the screams of students outside the door rang in your ears, Tsuskinga must've been at it once more. Walking your way behind the stage, and smoothening down your silky red dress, you gave a bright smile and waved to the black-haired man that stood in front of you, you weren't alone. Most would call this overwhelming, all the blinding flashing after messing up a line, and the continuous stares of thrill Wataru indirectly give to you two, but you find it rewarding. You weren't usually one with the spotlight, but being here gave you a chance

It almost felt surreal.

The yells outside began to fade, and the red flickering of the camera stopped, until the entire stage vanished, only to be replaced with pure darkness.

Hokuto smirked at your sudden staring contest in pitch blackness but with only a tiny spotlight that was dimmed onto the stage, damn this man is living a nightmare made by satan himself, trying to avoid ackwardness. The heavy sickness that had begun to simmer in the pit of your stomach. Once you had found your way to the proper place on the stage it thankfully wore off, so you signaled a continuing. As you waited at him to begin his script once more, you felt a presence behind you. Then came the smooth, happy-go-lucky voice. Clearly the return of Wataru.

“How wonderful! Continuing even with that subtle setback? I am impressed beyond belief~”

Internally, you were screaming your eyes out from the sudden man behind you and one, you haven't even started yet! But externally, you gave a nervous laugh. “Oh— God it's just you, you scared the living nightmares out of me. Yes. I am determined to do my absolute best today!” The magician laid a hand on your back and with momentum tapped you softly.

You knew that it was silly to be such a try-hard to succeed on a stupid rehearsal, but it felt like it was right.

“From the top, my beloved Hokuto.”

An inaudible huff left your mouth as you listened to him begin to blurt out his lines. It was now or never, maybe this could be the way he confesses his feelings. “You’re absolutely lovely... Like an artwork to memorize. I want our relationships to blossom into something more, something unique and special... To become the shining Knight to a piece of God's art..” even if this was all meant to be a play, it couldn't prevent the flushness of his or yours cheeks. And Wataru was actually quite pleased by him this time, he's slowly improving? Hokke's become an expectational student, Could it be? You've inspired him to try his hardest?! “Ugh, that was so, horrible. I'm so sorry. Let's do it again—” before he could finish, Wataru cut him off.

“That's it for today, you two~! Remember, your homework is practicing together!” Your teacher dismissed you, and you began to pack your things away, speaking to Hokoto all while doing so.

“You did well on your final line, you’re not as bad as you say you are.. you know that right? Maybe acting is your strong suit just like it is with singing!”

Those words... Why did they hit so close to home? Maybe because he knew he was being genuine, and he didn't get it out clear enough for them to know it “....what an act it was, Huh? But, I was... being serious... it's wasn't an act... I genuinely do like you...”

It was so low you could only hear a mumble, more like a mouse squeak, something tells you it's more to it than whatever happened in that room.

“huh?”

#꒰ 🌸;; fics ̖́- #hokuto hidaka #hokuto hidaka x reader #ensemble stars #ensemble stars x reader #enstars #enstars x reader #im bad at writting #send me away...

[howaboutalittlehelpneos]

What are everyone’s teams in your Pokemon au? Do you have a plot set out or is it a more causal au?

Oooooh this is a fun one

You'd better fucking BELIEVE we have a plot set up, I have poured so much effort into the Pokemon au

Okay, so: when it comes to teams, I decided that everyone should have at least one legendary Pokemon in their party as a way to be faithful to the ace monster concept, but it wasn’t until much later into the au that I realized I’d failed to do that with Sora’s team, which led to a very fun plot point involving his secret 7th Pokemon he keeps in his box

Teams under the cut because it’s gonna be a long one, boys

Yuya has: Groudon, Sandshrew, Popplio, Hippopotas, Aipom, and Ekans

In his box, he’s got Phanphy, Charmander, Politoad, Ducklett, Liepard, Skorupi, and Lycanroc (Midnight form)

I wanted him to have as many Pokemon as he could that reminded me of the monsters in his deck, and since Yuya is a coordinator in this au instead of a regular trainer, it just felt right that he’d have a lot of different partners he could swap out for various contests

Also I’m mad that there isn’t a legendary dragon that looks like Odd Eyes, so I had to give Yuya Groudon instead, making him the only Yu boy in this au to not have a legendary dragon type Pokemon

Yuto has: Eternatus, Bisharp, Aegislash, Aggron, Lucario, and Shadow Rider Calyrex

Okay listen, I know I was supposed to only give everyone One legendary Pokemon, but with Calyrex I feel justified because it looks So Much like it could be one of Yuto’s Phantom Knights, I mean

Just look at it

Yuto gets to have two legendaries to make up for Arc-V killing him off so early into the show

Aside from this guy, the rest of Yuto’s team just felt like it should be comprised of steel types ow the edge so that’s what I gave him. His Pokemon are as edgy as he tries to appear to be and that is enough to amuse me.

There also weren’t exactly many good Pokemon equivalents of his archetype, so I made do with what I had.

Yugo has: Latios, Scizor, Claydol, Porygon 2, Ponyta (Shiny), and Sudowoodo

Yugo was honestly so hard to come up with a team for because all his Speedroid cards are just like... toys and stuff for the most part, so I agonized over what I should pick for him for a Long time. In the end, I feel like I got close enough to his general aesthetic with the Pokemon I picked.

(His Ponyta is there because of Speedroid Horse Stilts, and while it is a shiny, the dumbass has no idea about it, and thinks he just happened to get a special blue horse that was born a little differently- he never claimed to be smart.)

He also deadass thought Sudowoodo was a grass type for the longest time. Rin had to be the one to tell him it wasn’t. 

“Yugo. Sudowoodo? It sounds like pseudo? As in fake wood?”

“Ohhhhh is that what its name means? Wow Rin you’re so smart.”

No Yugo you’re just exceptionally stupid.

Yuri has: Naganadel, Seviper, Victreebel, Toxicroak, Vileplume, and Roserade

For the most toxic of battlers, I felt it only necessary to give Yuri an all poison type team. I included an even mix of plants in there to tie into his Predaplant deck, Seviper for the snake eye vibes, and Toxicroak... just feels right, you know. I couldn’t find any other poison plant themed Pokemon that seemed like they’d fit his vibe, so he gets a poison frog instead.

Yuzu has: Meloetta, Sylveon, Meowstic (Female), Gardevoir, Florges, and Jigglypuff

I tried to stick with Pokemon that had very feminine vibes for Yuzu, since her deck is comprised of pretty singing ladies, so Meloetta and Jigglypuff in particular feel very fitting in that regard.

Serena has: Cresselia, Delcatty, Glameow, Lopunny, Persian, and Pyroar (Female)

The moon vibes with Cresselia felt perfect for Serena, and as for the rest of her team, all cats and a bunny to pay homage to her Lunalight deck ^^

Rin has: Celesteela, Mismagius, Hatterene, Glaceon, Froslass, and Chimecho

Her team vibes with the witch part of her Wind Witch deck, at least for Mismagius and Hatterene. Glaceon, Froslass, and Chimecho are there due to the etymology of her name, where possible meanings of it include “cold” and “bell”, which I thought was pretty cool, no pun intended.

Ruri has: Galarian Articuno, Pidgeot, Noctowl, Chatot, Altaria, and Unfezant (Male)

Some softer birds for the soft bird girl, for the most part. I liked the thought of her team being all birds like her Lyriluscs, and just... yeah. They’re all very friendly birds that Ruri’s bonded pretty closely with. Also I made sure she had Galarian Articuno for no reason other than it is purple like her, and I think that’s all the reason I need.

Gong has: Kartana, Machoke, Samurott, Golisopod, Hariyama, and Conkeldurr

Gong was really easy to assign a team to- just had to find as many samurai themed Pokemon as possible, and fill in the rest with really strong fighting types, like Machoke, Hariyama, and Conkeldurr.

Shingo has: Type: Null, Dusclops, Misdreavus, Spiritomb, Decidueye, and Cramorant

With Shingo, I tried to go for Pokemon that had the same vibes as some of his Abyss Actors, and I think Dusclops is the best example of this. Tbh I am very proud of giving him a Type: Null because Type: Null is an amalgamation of other Pokemon, something that was created in a lab to be a fighting machine. There’s nothing natural about Type: Null, and it’s kind of terrifying to Yuya specifically, who’s always viewed Pokemon as creatures to befriend. This experiment created purely to kill... unnerves him, and serves as a very good foil to his beliefs when it comes to Pokemon.

And they were narrative foils

Oh my god they were narrative foils

On a sillier note, I chose Cramorant purely because of this quote from its bulbapedia page: “Cramorant are also rather unintelligent as they can't remember which Pokémon they fight in mid battle, but never forget Trainers that they trust. However, they try to attack their Trainers if they steal food from them.”

I just thought the idea of Shingo having this dumb bird that occasionally pecks at him over food would be funny tbh, gotta dunk on the rival at least a little bit.

Sora has: Banette, Vanillish, Swirlix, Stufful, Litleo, and Buneary

In his box, he has a Guzzlord

I feel like Sora’s team is very straightforward, as it’s a mix of sweets themed Pokemon, and Pokemon that represent monsters in his deck- Stufful for Flufflal Bear, Litleo for Fluffal Leo, and Buneary for Fluffal Rabbit. Guzzlord... is relevant later on in the plot after shit goes down, that’s all I’ll say for now.

Masumi has: Diancie, Sableye, Corsola, Aurorus, Tyranitar, and Lycanroc (Dusk form)

Gem Knight girl deserved to have a bunch of good rock type Pokemon, and Diancie is like. The best possible legendary I could have given someone like her lol, the crystal aesthetic is just perfect for her. Not much to say here honestly, I just really vibed with these specific rock types and thought they’d make a good team for her.

Yaiba has: Zeraora, Kecleon, Pangoro, Scyther, Purugly, and Stantler

So I actually threw this list together just now because I realized Masumi was the only member of her trio to have a full team, and that just wasn’t right. I tried to base this team off the XX-Sabers as well I could, but it was a little hard with how many humanoid cards Yaiba has. With his legendary, I actually chose it based off this monster right here! 

I think they’ve got similar enough vibes aesthetically for Zeraora to fit him. Scyther is based on Emmersblade, Kecleon on Ragigura, Stantler on Garsem, Purugly on Gardestrike, and Pangoro... Honestly, it just makes me think of Yaiba himself when I look at him. I think they’d get along well.

Hokuto has: Deoxys, Espeon, Grumpig, Starmie, Lunatone, and Malamar

Psychic type Pokemon just sort of felt right for him to have, considering that his deck is based on constellations and has an overall space theme to it. Not sure why that translates over to psychic in my brain, but you know what, it looks right, I love this team for him, and I’m not gonna question it.

I especially think Deoxys makes a good legendary for him considering it is literally a space alien, and Hokuto’s whole thing is space, so yeah, he gets to have the space alien.

Shun has: Galarian Moltres, Skarmory, Fearow, Dodrio, Staraptor, and Talonflame

Pretty straightforward team I feel- it’s all birds of prey for the Raid Raptor boy, and I just thought the Galarian version of Moltres was neat. Makes me think of his Blaze Falcon since they’re both black and red.

Dennis has: Hoopa, Mr. Mime, Delphox, Zoroark, Alakazam, and Hawlucha

Hoopa seemed like a very good legendary for Dennis to have, given his deck archetype and all, he just kind of looks like a little circus dude. Its unbound form makes me think about the swap Dennis has when it gets revealed that he’s actually been a double agent the whole time, and the play gloves finally come off.

The rest of his team... I feel like they speak for themselves. I tried to give him Pokemon that matched up with his deck archetype, so there’s Delphox to rep the fire themed monsters, Mr. Mime because it just fits Dennis’ general personality- and I love the thought of those two being friends and just copying each other’s theatric poses. Chaotic dynamic duo.

(Also: Zoroark's ability letting it disguise itself as another Pokemon is just another parallel to Dennis pretending to be one of the good guys at first, and I love it)

Shinji has: Buzzwole, Beedrill, Vespiquen, Ribombee, Kricketune, and Leavanny

I tried to give the bee man all the bees I could, but there are only so many bee Pokemon out there 😔 I knew the rest of his team had to be insect types to make up for it, so I picked Kricketune because he is just... a friend... a musical buddy who definitely gets along well with the kids. Leavanny is just a bug mom who also helps patch up the kids’ clothing when they get tears in them, which I just love the idea of. Sweet bug mom whose dex entry talks about how they sew for other Pokemon looks after her trainer’s kids when she’s not battling.

Buzzwole: witness the fitness

Throwback to the Smash Bros mains lmao 

Crow has: Murkrow, Braviary, Starly, Swellow, Pikipek, and Corviknight

Bunch of birds for my Blackwing user... This team was partially picked out by June, and it was mostly meant for the Other Pokemon au, but I don’t really see a reason to change his team here. Crow is the one person without a legendary on his team, which makes me sad, but there really isn’t a legendary bird out there that fits his vibes, so as much as I wanna give him a legendary, he will have to make do without one. Sorry Crow.

Hoo... that’s finally all the teams down. Now I can talk about the plot! So, as I briefly mentioned in a previous post (I think), this particular au is inspired by Pokemon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum! It’s the era where contests really became a big thing, which is perfect for a lot of these characters because it’s easy to translate dueltaining over to coordinating in this world. Much like in canon, Yuya aspires to be as great a coordinator as his dad was, and strives to entertain people the way Yusho could. He’s not much for battling, and far prefers getting to show off his Pokemon’s talents in contests than anything. 

Academia is going to play the role of Team Galactic in this au, which is incredibly fitting with their mission in canon: to remake the universe in their leader’s image. In this case, with Leo Akaba taking on the role of Cyrus, his intent is, presumably, to either destroy the universe that took his daughter from him, or create a new one where she can live once again, no matter the cost.

Sora being a key member in Team Galactic is a very big part of the plot in this au: his mission was to capture one of the lake legendaries, Uxie, since Leo needed all three of them for his plan to remake the universe, but things don’t exactly go well for him, and he ends up losing his battle against Uxie, resulting in all of his memories being locked away, and essentially making him a blank slate.

Side note: the Galactic grunt haircut reminds me a lot of Sora, I mean just look at it

Practically same bangs as him, just add an upturned ponytail and you’ve got my son.

This post is getting very long... but I will add one last plot related thing to it before I go: Uxie can erase memories, Mesprit can erase emotions, and Azelf can erase willpower. All three of these lake legendaries play a very important role in the plot, due to being the keys to Leo Akaba’s plans to remake the universe. Sora was touched by Uxie, effectively doing away with all memory he has of being in Team Galactic. Yuya ends up touched by Mesprit in an attempt to save them, and subsequently loses his emotions as a result. Riley?

Riley had been affected by all three of them before the plot began, which is why she is the way she’d been in Arc-V: Emotionless, unable to remember anything about her past except for those brief, fleeting flashes of memory when put into certain situations she’d experienced before, and without any will of her own. She’s so dependent on her older brother because she quite literally has no clue what to do with herself without being told to, and needs orders to function.

Hoo, if you’ve made it all the way to the end of the post, congratulations! I think this is the longest one I’ve made... ever lmao. I hope you guys found it enjoyable! If anyone wants to know more about certain aspects of this au, feel free to ask! I look forward to talking about it more c:

#parc v au #ygo arc v #yuya sakaki #yuto #yugo #yuri #zuzu boyle #yuzu hiiragi #serena #celina #rin #lulu obsidian #ruri kurosaki #gong strong #noboru gongenzaka #sylvio sawatari #shingo sawatari #sora perse #sora shiunin #julia krystal #masumi kotsu #kit blade #yaiba todo #dipper orion #hokuto shijima #shay obsidian #shun kurosaki #shinji weber #crow hogan #dennis macfield

[gdwessel]

Rumors About Ospreay + Unrest In The NJPW Locker Room; Government Adds Okinawa to State Of Emergency, Another Extension Possible; Quick Review of DSOTR Collision In Korea; Shota Umino News!; Ren Narita on Dark Elevation; Satoshi Kojima In Impact Next Week

Strap in because this is going to be a long one.

There are rumors and reports coming out now (mostly from one source, the Voices of Wrestling website, from behind a Patreon paywall) that Will Ospreay's injury may not be what it seems, and there is growing discontent to the point of "mutiny" among the non-Japanese wrestlers regarding the state of emergency, the last-minute decision to resume touring when some were already travelling out of Japan, and the constant need for quarantining when coming back into Japan. Unfortunately this is as much as I can say, because this is behind a paywall, so until it gets made for public consumption I’m kinda limited in what I can say.

I can totally buy that all is not well within NJPW, especially after the COVID-19 bubble has burst. I've already discussed the creative malaise happening in the company right now. That there seems to be backstage dissent shows possible signs of trouble ahead for the promotion, and this golden period that we've been accustomed to is well and truly over. (I mean, it already was once lockdown happened, but they did the best they could, in my honest opinion, including a Pretty Good if not great WK15. Right now, creatively, we are below 2nd-half 2018 levels of poor.) But NJPW has weathered these storms before, although not with a global pandemic looming over everything. I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt that Ospreay is indeed injured, because a) they haven't exactly been shy about wrestlers being injured and needing to vacate titles before b) if Ospreay is legit injured, he is far more likely to receive treatment as a citizen of the UK from the (somehow still alive if not totally hobbled by Brexit) NHS, as opposed to Japan's healthcare system which is far more like the US model. Some wrestlers are swearing up and down he is injured, from the rumors. Ospreay certainly hasn’t said anything in his own words, beyond RTing NJPW’s announcement of his injury and vacating the title, and posting a pic of himself kissing the belt. RevPro kinda sorta said something but were also pretty vague. But for an injury suffered on 5/4/2021, this pic posted on 5/18 does not look like someone who just had such a severe neck injury they need to fly back to the UK (mind you, it COULD have been taken much earlier than that). Indeed, Ospreay’s still-active Twitter is more focused on Hana Kimura at the moment*. All this said, professional wrestling by it’s very nature has a baked-in amount of bullshit as part of it, so that this injury might be phony is always a distinct possibility.

It is utterly believable there is conflict between wrestlers and management, and communication is piss-poor at best. It is also believable that NJPW and Bushiroad are only taking their cues from a government Hell-bent on holding an Olympics an overwhelming majority of those polled are against, and who are treating the extended state of emergency as a vague suggestion rather than as a, you know, state of emergency. Pretending everything is hunky dory hasn't worked so far, so not sure why NJPW, nor the Japanese government, think eventually it will. (And NOAH is on my shit list right now too.) On that note, the government has now officially added Okinawa to the state of emergency. There is also talk that it will be extended further, as a government subcommittee member is quoted in the article as saying “it is difficult to think” that it will be lifted on 5/31/2021. Among that talk is word that Tokyo particularly will be under a stricter lockdown if this goes on. On a piece of actual GOOD news, it has been announced that the government has approved both the Moderna and AstraZeneca versions of the vaccine, so perhaps the vaccination rates will start to go up at last.

* - The anniversary of Hana Kimura’s tragic death is tomorrow (5/23/2021). I still sometimes struggle with the idea she is gone. Tonight at 10:30pm EDT (which is 5/23/2021 12:30pm in JST), FITE TV will be showing a live Hana Kimura tribute show put on by her mother, Kiyoko Kimura. Have a look in if you can

I was able to watch the Vice Dark Side Of The Ring episode on Collision in Korea, the two-night joint NJPW & WCW show from May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, on 4/28 & 4/29/1995, as it aired Thursday. It will hit YouTube here pretty soon. I am working on a podcast project about this documentary, and the (WCW version of the**) show itself, with the good lads at the Days Of Thunder podcast, so I won't talk too much here, but I will say a few things about it:

I did appreciate the detail here, as well as being able to get an interview with Antonio Inoki for this, especially as he was the principal driver of this show happening. I did also like that they took time to detail Inoki's mentor, and the "father of puroresu," Rikidozan, who himself was a North Korean national by birth. I did not appreciate the mythical pathos they added to the death of Rikidozan, which by all accounts was a random street fight with yakuza over a perceived insult (stepping on Rikidozan's shoe). I also felt they could have done a better job explaining the situation between Japan and North Korea at the time. When the event was first proposed to the NJPW roster, Scott Norton recounts Masahiro Chono telling Norton that "they want us dead," but it took until introducing former CNN foreign correspondent Mike Chinoy nearly halfway through the documentary to (briefly) explain the brutal colonialism that Japan wreaked on North Korea in the first part of the 20th century.

Also, as salacious as DSOTR can get, I am very surprised one of the most famous rumors/stories about this show did not get discussed, the internet wrestling legend that Kensuke Sasaki and Akira Hokuto were, erm, Quite Vocal when they were together, which of course did eventually lead to their marriage four months later which continues to this very day. But that was also part of another critique I had, which is, they mainly focused on the WCW part of the events, when this was an NJPW promoted show. The way it was told on DSOTR, the only Japanese wrestlers there were Antonio Inoki, Shinya Hashimoto, Akira Hokuto and Bull Nakano. I'd love to hear more from the NJPW side of things, besides how proud Inoki was of this political stunt that did not get him re-elected to the Diet anyway.

Overall, I do recommend watching this when and how you can, because it is absolutely bonkers. I will definitely keep you posted on when the podcast project for this drops. ** - I've tried looking for the NJPW version and have failed so far. NJPWWorld only has two matches from this, Antonio Inoki v. Ric Flair, and Akira Hokuto v. Bull Nakano. The WCW version is not officially released, even on WWE Network, so yeah search the internet to see it.

We finally have an update on Shooter! That is, Shota Umino. Earlier in the week, RevPro's official Twitter had a tweet saying This Summer, showing Umino in not only his white/pink Tanahashi-esque tights, but holding his Death Riders jacket from Jon Moxley, that Shota retweeted, making this his first tweet since September 2019. Two days later, a hype video appeared with footage of Shooter, including performing Death Rider. Now a Sports Illustrated article is claiming that Shooter was supposed to have reunited with Mox on the NJPW Strong episode that had Mox & Chris Dickinson face Yuji Nagata & Ren Narita, but Umino had an unspecified injury preventing that. (They further say that Mox v. Nagata’s IWGP US title match was originally set for Strong but Tony Khan convinced NJPW to hold it on AEW Dynamite.) Umino's last match listed on Cagematch was on 3/14/2020 in ATTACK! Wrestling in Cardiff, Wales, on the winning side of a 6-man tag match with Kyle Fletcher & Kid Lykos II defeating Shigehiro Irie, Chief Deupty Dunne & Los Federales Santos, Jr. It's great to have him back wrestling again, and I hope we get that reunion with Moxley soon enough too.

As an update to an item from an earlier post, it appears that the Ren Narita v. Royce Isaacs match that was teased but then not aired on AEW Dark this past Tuesday will actually be on AEW Dark: Elevation this coming Monday instead. Also part of that will be approximately 35 other matches (I only slightly kid), one of those being Rocky Romero v. JD Drake. This usually drops on YouTube at 7pm EDT / 6pm CDT Mondays.

This past Thursday on Impact, a video package showed that Satoshi Kojima would be appearing on next week's episode. This will be Kojima's first time ever wrestling in Impact under any name, as the last time NJPW and TNA were working together, Kojima was still away in All Japan Pro Wrestling. No word as to what he will be doing or whom he will be wrestling.

Also on Impact, Juice Robinson & David Finlay Jr. successfully defended the Impact World Tag Team titles against Ace Austin & Madman Fulton... before getting blindsided by two members of the Violent By Design unit (in this case, ECW veteran Rhino and former AJPW Triple Crown champion + cancer beater Joe Doering) with whatever Impact's version of a Anytime Anywhere Challenge is, and took the belts from FinJuice. They claimed FinJuice were going back to Japan, but, erm, who knows if that's the case or if it was for a time period when Wrestle Grand Slam was still a thing that was happening.

Also also, it seems Don Callis is no longer in any executive capacity at Impact. This is a little significant as it seems it was Callis who opened the negotiations back up for Impact to work with NJPW. Of course, lately he's spent more time as an on-screen heel manager for Kenny Omega, the Good Brothers and now the Young Bucks on both AEW and Impact programming. We'll see how much longer Kenny Omega's belt collector shtick goes on for with Callis no longer part of creative or management.

And that is actually it for now! Yipes!

#NJPW #new japan pro wrestling #Will Ospreay #IWGP World Heavyweight Championship #COVID-19 #dark side of the ring #collision in korea #scott norton #Masahiro Chono #Antonio Inoki #Rikidozan #kensuke sasaki #akira hokuto #shota umino #ren narita #AEW #Satoshi Kojima #juice robinson #david finlay jr. #impact wrestling #joe doering #don callis #Kenny Omega #rocky romero #hana kimura