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dialovers-translations · 2 years

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DIABOLIK LOVERS DAYLIGHT Vol.8 Mukami Kou [TRACK 2]

Original title: 怪しい雲行き

Source: Diabolik Lovers Daylight Vol. 8 Mukami Kou

Audio: Here

Seiyuu: Kimura Ryouhei

Track 1 ll Track 2 ll Track 3 ll Track 4 ll Track 5 + Epilogue

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TRACK 2: MENACING CLOUDS

Kou enters his room in a state of distress and sits down on the bed.

*Thud*

[00:19] “...What was he going on about earlier!? It makes no sense! How did he expect me to react when suddenly being told that her heart is in bad shape…!?”

( Ruki-kun told me about M-neko-chan’s current state of health earlier. Her heart has been growing weaker with each passing day. Even right now, this process is ongoing at a steady pace, so she has little time left. Her heart is special, belonging to a Demon. Therefore, we can’t consult a cardiologist either. There is simply...nothing we can do about it. )

[01:06] “Ruki-kun...He wasn’t lying but...Still, I can’t just immediately accept that my girlfriend has an incurable disease!? This isn’t some TV drama! ...Actually, if anything, Ruki-kun is the one being delusional…!

( He wants me to break the news to her. With his usual calm and composed tone, his facial expression unchanging, he told me that she would be the happiest living the remainder of her life knowing that her time is near. )

[01:54] “ ーー Ugh!! How could he even think of such a heartless thing!? He wants me to say she’ll die soon!? To my precious girlfriend!? ...There’s just no way! Besides, should we really tell her right away!? What if it turns out to be a mistake!?

...Ruki-kun backed off because I protested, but behind my back, he might just…!?”

*Rustle rustle*

[02:34] “I don’t want that...I can’t let that happen…! If he says something to her without my permission, I won’t hold back! Even against Ruki-kun! Or any of my other siblings! ...She is mine after all. I won’t let anyone harm her! Never...!”

*TIMESKIP*

*Cling cling*

Kou enters the kitchen.

[03:20] “...Oh. M-neko-chan…”

You turn around and greet him.

“Good morning. You’re making breakfast, aren’t you?”

You nod.

*Cling cling*

He walks up to you and wraps his arms around you from behind.

*Rustle*

“You literally collapsed yesterday, so don’t push yourself, okay? ...Or do you want me at the mercy of your whims again~?”

You shake your head.

[03:54] “...I’m glad. (mutters) What Ruki-kun told me last night might just be a misunderstanding but...Knowing Ruki-kun…Hey! Are you sure you’re totally fine? For example...Does it hurt anywhere?”

You ask why he seems so worried.

“...I mean, the person I love most collapsed! How could I not get worried?”

You explain that Ruki seemed rather composed.

[04:31] “Hey...Don’t group us together. I’m your lover after all. It’s my full right to be worried about you!”

You note that he’s being awfully nice.

“Heh...~ You should be kind to those you treasure. That’s a lesson I learnt from you, remember? ...Ah, whoops. I suppose I’ll get in your way if we stay like this for too long. I’ll wait over in the dining room, okay?”

He walks away.

*Cling cling*

*TIMESKIP*

You put all of the plates on the table.

[05:14] “...Uwaah~ The whole table is covered in my favorite foods! ...There’s vongole bianco too! ...Mmh~ It smells lovely! ...Don’t you think this luxurious feast is a little overkill for the morning?”

You explain.

“Exactly! My schedule is chock-full today! As to be expected of my M-neko-chan, you know me well~ ...I’m sure this breakfast will give me tons of energy! Thanks! I’ll try my best, okay? Ah, right! I have to leave early today! The others aren’t here yet, but I’m digging in already!”

He starts to mutter again.

[05:58] “I have to keep her away from Ruki-kun in one way or another….What should I do? I have to think of something. ...Ah. She’s important to me. More so than anyone or anything else in this world…”

You tilt her head.

“...Huh? Oh no! I was just mumbling to myself, saying how delicious it looks! ーー Time to dig in! Um...Where to start? It has to be the vongole bianco, right? ...There! Haahn~ Mmm...Mmmh~ It’s the best, no matter how many times I have it!”

You smile and get up to fetch him a cup of tea.

[06:51] “...Ah, hold up, M-neko-chan! There’s something important I want to talk about, so tea can wait! Just take a seat over there, okay?”

You nod and return to your seat.

*Thud*

“Actually, my schedule at work changed last-minute, so we’ll be shooting in a different location starting the day after tomorrow. For about one week...I believe? It’s pretty far away, out in the countryside, to be more precise. I just can’t imagine myself surviving there all by myself so if possible...I’d like you to come with me.”

[07:32] “...I’m being pretty selfish, huh? But I’m begging you!”

He claps his hands together.

“See? Please!”

You seem hesitant.

“...Eh? Why are you being modest? I’m the one asking, aren’t I? Um...You know...To be honest, I’m not too stoked about this job, but if you’ll be there with me, I’m sure I’ll be able to give it my best shot.”

You worry about school.

[08:02] “Hey...Is school more important to you than I am? Don’t you think that’s a little harsh? ...Or rather, do you have any reason to say no? It’ll be just the two of us the whole time, you know? Sounds heavenly, no?”

You agree.

“Hooray! Thank you, M-neko-chan!”

You ask him what needs to be done in preparation.

[08:26] “Ah...In that case, I’ll arrange everything we need and put together a shopping list as well! ...Oh, someone to deliver our luggage as well, of course!”

You ask him if he has the time to do it all by himself.

“I mean, I’m the one asking so I have to take responsibility, no? I’ll make sure to fit it into my schedule, don’t worry! Just leave it to me~”

You thank him.

[08:48] “You’re welcome! ...Will you pour me some tea then? With lots of sugar and milk!”

You nod and get up from your chair.

“...Well then, how am I going to explain this to my manager now? I have to inform Yuma-kun and Azusa-kun as well…”

[09:18] ( Either way, I couldn’t risk her being around Ruki-kun. That’s why I haphazardly decided on moving to a remote location for one week. That being said, I can’t let my guard down during the last few days before we leave. While I’m at work, I have no other choice but to rely on Yuma-kun and Azusa-kun to have my back. If they can keep Ruki-kun occupied with random tasks, I can at least avoid the worst-case-scenario. Right now, I want to win time. That’s all. )

[09:51] “Haah...I’m just postponing the inevitable...But to be honest, I still can’t quite believe that what Ruki-kun told me is the truth. I can’t imagine she’s truly in such bad shape. ...But even if she is, Ruki-kun is not the one who should break the news to her. I need extra time, no matter what.”

*TIMESKIP*

*Thud*

Kou walks up to the door of his room.

[10:34] “I’m home! Sorry for being late!”

He enters the room.

“...Huh? ...H-Hey!”

Kou rushes to your side.

*Rustle*

“Hey!! Everything okay!?”

You startle awake.

“Ah...That gave me a scare…”

You explain.

“Oh...You were asleep just now? ...I see.”

You apologize for dozing off.

[11:10] “Oh no, I’m the one who should say sorry! I was going to come back home earlier but I got held up...It got quite late in the end. ...Haah...That really scared me...But I’m glad! I thought that maybe you had faiーー ...Ah! ...This is my dinner, right? You actually made some for me. Thank you. I sent you a text to wait in my room, but I didn’t think you’d even have food ready for me!”

You offer to go heat it up.

“Eh? It’s fine! Your cooking is delicious even when cold! This will do just fine. ...Besides, right now I’m more worried about you~”

You tilt your head to the side.

[11:57] “Fufu~ I mean, I still look sleepy! I fear you might just doze off the second I take my eyes off you.”

You admit to feeling somewhat sleepy.

“Right? Say, why don’t we sleep together tonight? Here in my room. ...I feel more at ease when you’re lying next to me as well.”

You nod.

“Well then, they say you have to strike when the iron is hot soーー”

He lifts you into his arms.

*Rustle*

[12:30] “...Heh~ A bridal carry is a must here, right? …!!”

You ask him what’s wrong.

“...Ah, no, it’s nothing! I was just thinking how small and dainty my little princess is~”

Kou brings you to the bed.

“Destination reached~”

*Thud*

“How does the bed feel?”

You note that the sheets smell like him.

[13:02] “Hehe~ Geez, you’re flustering me~ Then, sleep soundly while bathing in my scent, okay?”

You nod and close your eyes.

“Mmh. ...Goodnight.”

Kou begins to panic.

[13:23] ( While watching her close her eyes, fear slowly crept up on me. ...She just looked so incredibly weak. I was worried about her light weight as well. I could feel Ruki-kun’s words weighing heavily on me. )

“...Excuse me for a second, M-neko-chan…”

Kou joins you in bed, pressing his ear against your chest.

*Rustle*

[14:02] “Hehe~ I figured I’d have you soothe me a little as well. They often say that listening to someone’s heartbeat is relaxing, right? So...Just a little, okay?”

He flinches.

“...Mmh. Just like I thought...It puts me at ease... “

[14:24] ( I regretted my decision. I should have never listened to her heartbeat. It sounded incredibly weak. I almost couldn’t believe I had my ear right next to her chest. I’m no medical expert, but even so, I could clearly tell that death was just around the corner for her. In which case, I must inform her. I’m the one who has to tell her the truth. Yet, at that exact moment, I was a mess of emotions. I just couldn’t picture myself delivering the tragic news. )

(mumbles) “Perhaps I should...ask him for advice…”

*TIMESKIP*

Kou walks up to Ruki’s room.

*Knock knock*

[15:37] “Ruki-kun? Are you in there?”

*Knock knock knock*

“Hey, Ruki-kun! I need to talk to you! ...Haah. He’s not around. Guess it can’t be helped. I’ll come again tomorrow morning.”

ーー TO BE CONTINUED ーー

#diabolik lovers #dialovers #kou mukami #diabolik lovers daylight #diabolik lovers translation #diabolik lovers drama cd #drama cd

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daitsuu · 3 years

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Nijimura Audio Drama Translation

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Nijimura: Oi! If you have nothing to do, then go make rounds outside!

Members: Understood!

Akashi: Nijimura-san, about the groupings of the next game–

Nijimura: Oi Akashi.

Akashi: Yes?

Nijimura: What’s up with Haizaki?

Akashi: Oh, I didn’t see him since the morning today.

Nijimura: Oh yeah? I haven’t seen him since yesterday.

Akashi: Oh.

Nijimura: That’s weird. I didn’t see him the day before yesterday either. Can you please remind me what club he was a member of?

…..THAT BASTARD!! WHAT DOES HE THINKS HE’S DOING NOT SHOWING FOR CLUB ACTIVITIES FOR THREE DAYS!? HUUHH???

Hey! Has anyone seen Haizaki in school grounds today?

Kuroko: Um, we’ve passed each other in the corridors during lunch break.

Nijimura: I see, so he came to school huh? But he’s just slacking off of club activities. Haizaki….. Today, I’m definitely NOT going to show you mercy!

Kuroko: Haizaki kun. I wonder why he won’t come to club activities.

Akashi: Who knows. But even still, he’s a member of the first string. If his unauthorized absence continues, it’s going to leave an effect on the whole team’s morale. I think it’s about time for me to warn him directly about this.

Nijimura: Oi Akashi! Kuroko! Do you guys have any idea about places Haizaki is likely to go to?

Akashi: Kuroko, can you think of something?

Kuroko: Oh yeah, I think I’ve seen him one time at a game center after practice before. I don’t know if he’s there today too though.

Nijimura: Ho, a game center huh.

[At the Game Center]

Haizaki: Right… Right… Right… Yes!! And just a little bit farther… Oh, it’s looking good! OH YES I CAUGHT IT!! COME TO ME, COME TO ME!

…Huh? Why the hell did you fall off at that place, I had you grabbed so good! What the fuck! They’re definitely making it loose on purpose!!

*starts to kick the crane machine*

Nijimura: Oi, oi. Don’t put the blame on the machine just because you suck, shithead.

Haizaki: Ha? Don’t you talk down on me. Come here and say that to my face!!

Nijimura: “Come here?” Since I’m in this place because I have some business with you, it’s actually a perfect opportunity.

Haizaki: !!!!! ….Nijimura….san

Nijimura: It’s good to know you haven’t forgotten my face and my name. So is it alright to assume you already know what I came here to tell you?

Haizaki: W-who knows?

*starts walking away*

Nijimura: I took the trouble to come all the way here to see you and you’re already leaving? That makes me sad.

Haizaki: Ha? To see me?

Nijimura: Yeah! Even if I look like this, I’m the captain of the Teikou Basketball team after all.

Haizaki: Hah. Did you come here to sermon me or something. You guys can still do club activities without me there right? Just leave me alone.

Nijimura: Pfft… Hahaha! That line of yours is too transparent.

Haizaki: What?

Nijimura: You slack off non-stop from club activities to get attention to yourself right? Aw, it’s alright, I won’t leave you alone. You sure are a “kamatte-chan”.

Haizaki: Don’t fuck with me!!

*attempts to punch Nijimura*

Nijimura: Oh? That was a better punch than I expected.

…..However, that won’t work on me.

[Probably in the Lunch Hall]

Haizaki: Ugh.. Ouch…

Akashi: This seat.. Isn’t taken, correct?

Haizaki: Ha? ……Akashi. It IS taken.

Akashi: I see.

*sits down*

Haizaki: I said the seat is taken! ……Damn it

Akashi: What happened with those injuries on your face?

Haizaki: So noisy, it has got nothing to do with you.

Akashi: Were you at the game center yesterday?

Haizaki: Tsk.

Akashi: I see. Then this will make things faster. Club activities for today will involve a practice match of first years vs second years. Please make sure to attend.

Haizaki: Ha? Don’t order me around. Who the hell do you think you are?

Akashi: I am simply fulfilling my duties as the vice captain.

Haizaki: Aaaaahhhh yes sir, is that so Mr. Vice Captain sir, thank you very much for taking the trouble!

Akashi: …….. Haizaki. What is the reason behind you not attending practices?

Haizaki: Reason…? I don’t have one. I just felt like it.

Akashi: If you have no plans on even attending the club, then you could always just quit, couldn’t you? Your slacking off has come to a point that it leaves a bad influence on the team.

Haizaki: Stop putting the blame on me.

Akashi: I heard that you started a quarrel with people from a different school the other day as well when you were wandering about. Learn to be more prudent before the problem gets out of hand.

Haizaki: I SAID. STOP ORDERING ME AROUND!!

Akashi: Haizaki! What will you do about club today?

Haizaki: Heh. I was actually thinking about showing my face a little bit but I changed my mind. All thanks to you.

Akashi: …………..

[After club activities]

Nijimura: Hai…za…ki!

Akashi: The cleaning and locking of the gymnasium is finished.

Nijimura: Ou. Thanks for your hardwork.

Akashi: Nijimura san, if it’s paperwork, please let me do it.

Nijimura: Huh? Oh, okay. Then, I’ll leave the continuation to you.

Akashi: …..So in the end, he didn’t show up did he? Haizaki, I mean.

Nijimura: Breaking his promise with me, that bastard. I should’ve punched him two or three more times!!

*Akashi laughs*

Nijimura: Well, that only means we have to do something about him again but anyway, how was the first year vs. second year match today?

Akashi: Yes… For the team with only the firs years, I think that the balance of fighting power among the members is close to being at the tipping point/danger zone. Moreover, with Kuroko’s participation, we are now able to create a change in the flow of the game. However at this point in time, we are not able to take full advantage of this change.

Nijimura: Yeah, since there are no players with a style like Kuroko’s… So it means that the ones playing with him must develop a technique themselves to go along with it.

Akashi: While we’re at this point, Aomine on the other hand, is able to go all out with his own playing style thanks to Kuroko’s invisible passes. In today’s match, his speed greatly improved.

Nijimura: He always practiced with Kuroko even before he came to the first string right? Either they’re in tune with one another or he’s just excited. It’s just like the straightforward idiot he is, isn’t it?

Akashi: On the other hand, Murasakibara is harboring annoyance.

Nijimura: Huh?

Akashi: Endurance, experience… It seems he feels a lack in Kuroko who is yet to catch up with the first strings regarding those matters.

Nijimura: Hm.

Akashi: Because of this, the snacks are disappearing at a rate that is 1.5x faster than before.

Nijimura: Stress-eating!? Really… His body is so huge but he’s really just a brat. He should be a little bit more stoic like Midorima– well, that’s not gonna happen.

Akashi: Since Midorima and Murasakibara’s personalities are quite polar opposites aren’t they?

Nijimura: Well, Midorima being Midorima is too absorbed in his own thing that he lacks awareness of his surroundings too.

….and he seems to be always holding weird things???

Akashi: They’re Oha Asa lucky items.

Nijimura: *Sighs* Really…. you guys are all so troublesome.

[Kuroko texting]

Kuroko: Hmm I wonder if this is too long for a message… Alright, this is about it. Pressing send…

*phone rings*

Kuroko: This is a ringtone right? Hello?

[ Ogiwara: Kuroko! ]

Kuroko: Ogiwara kun! Hajimemashite!

[ Ogiwara: What??? ]

Kuroko: Ahh, sorry. I mean, in a talking-on-the-phone kind of way.

[ Ogiwara: Oh I see. If you say it that way, it gets kind of embarrassing. ]

Kuroko: The call came all of a sudden so I kind of panicked. ]

[ Ogiwara: Haha, sorry. It’s because just when I was trying to send an e-mail, your message to me arrived so… I got so happy I called you without thinking. ]

Kuroko: Did you receive my message?

[ Ogiwara: Yup! I received it. ]

Kuroko: That’s great to hear. Since we used written letters until now, I’m still not used to this.

[ Ogiwara: I’ll be your practice buddy so keep on sending me messages and calls, alright? ]

Kuroko: Okay!

[ Ogiwara: So, how have you been recently? Since going up the Teikou’s first string! ]

Kuroko: I feel like I’ll vomit. Actually, I do vomit.

[ Ogiwara: EH!? ]

Kuroko: The practices are so many times harder than the third string’s and it takes all of my ability just to finish them. Just remembering makes me go…. ugh—

[ Ogiwara: Oi oi oi are you alright? ]

Kuroko: Yes

[ Ogiwara: You get a feeling like… “that’s Teikou Middle School for you” right? No wonder they’re so strong. ]

Kuroko: Everyone accomplishes those kinds of practices as if it’s just everyday routine and it’s really amazing.

[ Ogiwara: But Kuroko, even before you were still in the third string, you did your best more than anyone to the point of doing independent practices, right? So you’ll definitely catch up to them one day! ]

Kuroko: Aomine kun told me the same thing before. You two definitely are similar in some ways.

[ Ogiwara: Aomine? Oooohh that friend you told me about before who’s really awesome at basketball? ]

Kuroko: Yes! Even in among the first string, his abilities are far superior. But during times I’m feeling down, he’s someone who will casually just keep his pace to match mine.

[ Ogiwara: I see. It’s nice to hear you have a friend who you can count on. ]

Kuroko: Oh yeah, he bought me ice cream on the way home from practice before.

[ Ogiwara: Ice cream???? Even though it’s this cold?? ]

Kuroko: That day, I was so exhausted and down because I really couldn’t keep up with the day’s practice so he went “well, just eat it out”

[ Ogiwara: Oh, I see! ]

Kuroko: I thought that it was to resupply sugar into my system and to cool me down…

[ Ogiwara: Hmmmmm, somehow, I feel like he didn’t really think about stuff like that? ]

Kuroko: When you put it that way… I really did start to think it may be the case.

[ Ogiwara: Hahaha! But he really is a good guy isn’t he, that Aomine. Well that means at least, that you are able to be a first string member without being brought down no matter how hard the practices are. ]

Kuroko: Yes! How is going on your end, Ogiwara kun?

[ Ogiwara: Oh! Well for me, even if it’s just little by little, they’re starting to include me in the starters. ]

Kuroko: Starters? That’s amazing!

[ Ogiwara: Even so, it’s because there are a lot of practice matches where the opponent also uses first years. ]

Kuroko: Even still, I think it’s amazing that you’re selected among the many first year members.

[ Ogiwara: I’m happy just being able to go out and play in the match but when the cooperative moves we’ve experimented on during practices actually work in the match itself, it really is the best feeling. It’s as if you were able to prove the greatness of teamwork. ]

Kuroko: Teamwork…

[ Ogiwara: Hmm? Is there something wrong? ]

Kuroko: Actually, there’s someone in the first string who doesn’t really come to practice often. He’s also a first year, you see.

[ Ogiwara: Ahh, so there really are people who find the practices too hard and back out of frustration? ]

Kuroko: Oh no, actually he’s a player that’s good enough to be chosen as a regular. But then for some reason, he just keeps slacking off of club activities.

[ Ogiwara: What’s up with that? Did he have a fight with a teammate or something? Or like his parents got mad at him because his grades went down because of too much balling? Did you try to hear his reasoning? ]

Kuroko: Well, I’ve never asked him directly myself but it seems that all he does is play around after school when he slacks off of practice so I really don’t think that’s it.

[ Ogiwara: Then… It really is just purely slacking off? Hmmm… No matter how good he was that he was able to be a freshman first string member in Teikou, if he keeps slacking off, won’t he be left behind by others? Does it mean he doesn’t care about that? ]

Kuroko: I think it isn’t like that but…

[ Ogiwara: Hmm but even while slacking off, he doesn’t quit the club. So that doesn’t mean that he has come to hate basketball either, right? Hmmmm… I don’t really know but if he likes basketball, he’ll probably come back. ]

Kuroko: If he likes baskeball….. I guess you’re right.

[Haizaki in stealth mode after school]

Haizaki: *Sigh* it seems I was able to go undetected but if someone from the basketball club sees me, I’ll be 100% scolded. I’m having none of that today!

Voice: Heeeeh. Who’s going to scold you, you said?

Haizaki: That hot-headed captain.

Voice: What are you having none of, you said?

Haizaki: Getting beat up, of cours— ahhh!!

Nijimura: You never learn do you?

Haizaki: Ni, Niji—

Nijimura: Oh hey there, I’m Nijimura san, that hot-headed captain! I was contemplating on how you didn’t keep our promise yesterday so I went out of my way to wait for you right here! If I remember correctly, we were supposed to have already met at the gymnasium yesterday, right? HAIZAKI? *cracks knuckles*

Haizaki: You bastard…

Nijimura: Who did you call a bastard?

Haizaki: Eh!?

Nijimura: Thanks for making a fool out of me. Come to the practice this instant!

Haizaki: Shut up! Always picking on me like a target!! Let me say this to you today as well!!

Nijimura: Oh, do tell!!

Haizaki: THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARDWORK CAPTAIN NIJIMURA, PLEASE DO YOUR BEST ON THE PRACTICE OKAAAAYY!?!?!?!?!?!

*bolts*

Nijimura: You— don’t screw around with me!!!!!!!

*chases*

Nijimura: Don’t you run away from me Haizaki!!!!!

Haizaki: You’re so persistent!!! It’s because you keep chasing me!!!!!

Nijimura: Don’t try to reason out with me!!!!

Haizaki: UOOOHHHHHHHHH

*Haizaki trips and falls*

Nijimura: Haizaki!!! Oi, are you alright? You didn’t sprain your arm or your leg?

Haizaki: You… Just the day before yesterday you beat me up and now you say these things!?

Nijimura: Isn’t it obvious I didn’t go all out on you at that time? Don’t put it on the same thing as you just simply tripping and falling.

Haizaki: You held back on me?!

Nijimura: Oh? Those are nice eyes.

Haizaki: Just as you said, don’t make a fool out of people! I’m gonna beat you up!!

Nijimura: Well isn’t that perfect, come at me!!

*Haizaki and Nijimura go at each other and Haizaki is beat up*

Nijimura: Well, you fight good but you’re still a hundred years too early to be my serious opponent.

Haizaki: Damn it…

Nijimura: Haizaki, don’t run away anymore.

Haizaki: I’m not running from anything—

Nijimura: Not about fighting you idiot. Hey, Haizaki. Why don’t you try to face basketball honestly for once?

Haizaki:

Nijimura: ………….Ah? He passed out. *Sigh* so troublesome, geez!!

[Teikou gymnasium]

Nijimura: Ossu!!

Akashi: Nijimura san?

*Haizaki groaning in the background*

Akashi: ……? Nijimura san, could that be….

Nijimura: Yup! Hey, where are your greetings?

Haizaki: ‘Sup…..

Kuroko: (His face…. is nothing like how it originally looked like)

Nijimura: You know this guy gets really energetic and runs around all excited when he sees my face so I also did my best to bring him here!

Akashi: But….. In his state now….

Nijimura: Oh pish posh, right Haizaki? You’re super excited to be able to join practice after all this time right?

Haizaki: Yeeess……

Nijimura: Yup, that’s a nice response! Well anyway, why don’t you go join that mini game over there! Off you go!

Haizaki: OWW!!

Nijimura: Haizaki!! That was your return wasn’t it!

Haizaki: Ahh damn! Give it to me!!

*shoots ball*

Haizaki: Yeah that’s how it goes!

Nijimura: Don’t go putting on a smug face just because you made one shot! If you have time for that then get back as soon as you can!!

Haizaki: Yes, sir!!

Kuroko: Haizaki kun….. He really is good.

Akashi: That’s what you think?

Kuroko: Eh?

Akashi: He indeed has abilities that is superior than the norm, however, the ball is not going to him in a way it can be most put into effect. It’s undeniable that there’s a lack of cooperation.

Kuroko: That means that indeed, there’s a fundamental lack of practice, right? However rather than Haizaki kun, it looks like it’s the other players who are feeling uncertain about Haizaki kun’s play style.

Akashi: So you did see through it, Kuroko. It means that Haizaki slacking’s off has begun to show its effects.

Kuroko: So it’s good that the captain was able to drag him here even while he used excessive measures, isn’t it?

……Akashi kun?

Akashi: Don’t you think…. Nijimura san is a little too hung-up on Haizaki?

Kuroko: Hung-up?

Akashi: Nijimura san has an eye for people. He has from the beginning a rather correct evaluation about me, and he knew about how you worked harder than anyone else in secret. But… He’s different towards Haizaki. Even while knowing that there’s a high probability of him leaving negative effects on the team, he’s made it so that cutting him loose won’t be an option from the very beginning.

Is there any good in letting the Haizaki the way he is now, stay on the team even to the point of resorting to violence?

Kuroko: Akashi kun…

*Nijimura humming*

Akashi: I’ve locked the doors to the gymnasium. I’ve gone and returned the keys to the faculty room.

Nijimura: Oh! Thanks!

Akashi: Nijimura san…. I told you, I’ll do the paperworks.

Nijimura: Oh? Well, I’m feeling rather good today because we were able to practice with the complete set of first string members after a long time so…. since I’m almost done, you can go ahead of me if you want.

Akashi: ….

Nijimura: What’s wrong? You’re not going home?

Akashi: I have something I wanted to ask Nijimura san. Is it alright?

Nijimura: I don’t mind.

Akashi: It’s about Haizaki.

[ Ogiwara: Oh yeah, about that guy you said who always slacked off of practice… ]

Kuroko: You mean Haizaki kun?

[ Ogiwara: Did he come to club today? ]

Kuroko: Well, yes, in a way.

[ Ogiwara: “In a way”? What’s that supposed to mean. ]

Kuroko: Captain went and beat Haizaki kun up and dragged him back when he was about to go home and slack off again.

[ Ogiwara: “Beat up”!? You mean with fists? ]

Kuroko: His face looked so horrible. To think Nijimura san was that strong…

[Ogiwara: Nijimura? Eh, Nijimura…. You mean that blond haired Nijimura san? ]

Kuroko: Eh? Captain isn’t blond.

[ Ogiwara: Hmm could it be a different person? But then the last name “Nijimura” is rather rare… So that just means it just isn’t at the present? ]

Kuroko: Ogiwara kun… You know our captain?

[ Ogiwara: Well, during elementary school, I actually watched a Teikou match once. When I did, there was this person who was a starter while being a freshman and he was so incredibly strong. That person was called “Nijimura”. ]

Kuroko: He was blond that time?

[ Ogiwara: Yeah yeah. Honestly though, his attitude during the matches weren’t really the best… Like he’s arrogant just because he’s good? He lashed out even when the people he’s talking to are his seniors… ]

Kuroko: Nijimura san… Arrogant?

[ Ogiwara: So he’s the captain huh. It’s rather unexpected! ]

Kuroko: Well for me though, the story you told me now is the one that’s unexpected.

[ Ogiwara: Really? ]

Kuroko: Yes. Nijimura san is someone who can boast great faith from the coach and he listens to our opinions even if we are his juniors. Even to Haizaki kun.. Well, the means are quite, you know… But he tries his best to bring him to practice… It’s a very different image than what Ogiwara kun knows. Besides, he has black hair now.

[ Ogiwara: Hooooh. Then maybe… Some things might have also happened with Nijimura san since that time. ]

Akashi: What did Nijimura san think about Haizaki in the practice today?

Nijimura: Well, for someone who doesn’t go to practice, his movements weren’t dull. He isn’t on Aomine’s level, but his instinct and skills to bring the ball to the goal without any qualms haven’t changed.

Akashi: Hm

Nijimura: But that’s in the end, his individual ability. He missed numerous easier and more ideal chances to get the ball into the goal. There’s also that angle where you know the others hesitated to pass the ball to Haizaki but that guy doesn’t look at his surroundings to begin with. I guess his egocentricity did him a little good here.

Akashi: So you did notice.

Nijimura: It seems you are wanting to say something. Tell me. You don’t have to hold back.

Akashi: Haizaki’s bad conduct, isn’t just his own personal problem– it is beginning to leave quite a tangible effect on the team as a whole. Even if you tell them not to mind, distrust is something that grows stronger. After all, isn’t Haizaki’s reason for slacking off in the end just pure laziness? If he doesn’t respond to repeated warnings, then I think that the effort Nijimura san goes out of his way to put on him is just a waste.

Nijimura: Heh, you didn’t really hold back at all.

Akashi: In my opinion, I think that the faster we cut Haizaki off, the better it will be for the team.

Nijimura: Well, for the team, that may be the correct decision. But hey, can you give it a little more time?

Akashi: ….

Nijimura: To you who is capable and is able to walk in a straight line in life, someone who is aimless and who always postpones the answers might just seem “lazy”. But for me, his slacking off seems like an escape.

Akashi: Escape?

Nijimura: To never be ordered around, he’s walking around living selfishly but he’s probably just frightened to be bound to one place.

Akashi: I somehow sense some first-hand experience/feeling into what you said.

Nijimura: Hahaha, seriously you’re too sharp! Well, you can say that when I was in first year, I was also a bit sharp around some edges. When I look at Haizaki roaming aimlessly, I kind of remember myself and get embarrassed.

Akashi: So in other words, Nijimura san is projecting himself onto Haizaki? Therefore you think he’s going to change like you one day?

Nijimura: You really say it so bluntly. Well yeah, that’s probably it. Haizaki’s reason for joining the basketball team could probably just be because he’s just better at it than others. But then, why do you think he doesn’t quit if he just keeps slacking off?

Akashi: ….

Nijimura: Well, let’s go home. But you know I’m kind of hungry so maybe I’ll buy some meat bun from the convenience store? Do you want to come along, Akashi?

Akashi: Isn’t it already time for dinner by the time we arrive home?

Nijimura: Oi oi Obocchan. Don’t tell me you’ve never just went out and bought food to eat? There is a different room for these foods in the stomach apart from the one for dinner! It’s delicious because you eat it while going home.

Alright! I’m going to initiate you into the art of buying these foods so let’s get going!

Akashi: Nijimura san! I’m not exactly hungry…

Nijimura: This is my treat, don’t be shy!

Nijimura: Kuroko! Your right leg wasn’t raised enough in your take-off!

Kuroko: I apologize!

Haizaki: Hey, lameass.

Kuroko: Haizaki ku–

Haizaki: Give it to me.

Akashi: !? Haizaki

Nijimura: You’re late, Haizaki! Hurry up and go get changed!

Haizaki: *Sigh*

Nijimura: Answer!

Haizaki: Yes sir!

Akashi: Did you do something, Nijimura san? To think Haizaki will come to practice on his own…

Nijimura: Who knows? Maybe he’s learned his lesson after being beaten up too many times?

Akashi: I don’t see the merit on both sides in using force on Haizaki to practice –

Nijimura: I will force him, Akashi. As long as he’s in the basketball club.

Akashi: ….Why?

Nijimura: Because… I’m the Captain of Teikou. However, it’s up to him from now on if he will change or not.

Akashi: Is that Nijimura san’s way…?

Nijimura: Yes it is. But don’t worry. I won’t tell you to do the same thing as me.

Akashi: ….

Nijimura: Well, I’m not gonna tell you to copy this *cracks fist*

Today, I’m gonna have you pay the debt for all the times you’ve slacked off until now!! Prepare yourself, Haizaki!!!!!

#knb #kuroko no basket #kuroko no basuke #nijimura shuuzou #haizaki shougo #kuroko tetsuya #akashi seijurou #ogiwara shigehiro #audio drama #translation

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sonickitty · 4 years

Photo

Next in the Series: (Episode 1 Recap) | (Episode 2 Recap)

"I Need it. Where do I find it?”

The Untamed: Netflix | Youtube

The Untamed Special Edition: Youtube

Mo Dao Zu Shi Animation: Youtube

Mo Dao Zu Shi Comic: WeComics | MangaDex

Mo Dao Zu Shi Novel: Exiled Rebels

“Wait - I’m still confused, but I’m invested now. Help?”

Here’s another great primer by Jenny at Reading the End

And here’s a great explainer on the character names

The recaps linked above will help you navigate the first two episodes, which are known to be confusing.

“I need a text version of this post!”

Right here, under the cut!

The Untamed: A Primer

Part 1. So You Want To Join The Pyramid Scheme

You say: I want to watch this show you keep telling me to watch, but it's 50 Episodes and I'm confused. Why should I keep watching?

I respond: It’s gay, there’s pining, people have big emotions about soup, lots of soap opera family drama, Aesthetics, bunnies, necromancy flute, reincarnation, flying on swords, accidental baby acquisition, heartwarming sibling dynamics, and bothering the prettiest, coldest boy in school until he develops a lifelong crush on you.

What’s the The Plot

A plucky supervillain is resurrected 16 years after his epic demise to solve supernatural mysteries, cause trouble and fall in love with the one guy who doesn't think he's a complete asshole.

How Gay Is It?

It's based on a boy-love novel which is explicitly gay. They fuck. The show has to subtextualize all that to get past the censors in China, so it's just like any American show you've been in fandom for, except your suspicions are all TRUE.

What is the show actually called?

The live action show is called The Untamed. In Chinese, it's Chen Qing Ling, which gets shortened to CQL. The show is based on a book called Mo Dao Zu Shi, which gets shortened to MDZS. Mo Dao Zu Shi is also the name of the animated series and comic.

The English translation is usually The Master of Demonic Cultivation, or a similar variation with the words "Grandmaster or Founder" of "Diabolism."

Is there more than one way to get this story?

Yup. The animation is probably the fastest method to mainline this straight to your soul. The comic is ongoing, and English translations are sometimes more literal than meaningful, but it's already got some of the Big Gay moments that the live action and animation are missing. Or you could go right to the source and read the novel.

Also, there's now a "special edition" live action that's 20 episodes. It condenses the plot in favor of longing eye-contact between the main characters.

I am not sure if anyone has made an audiobook version of the story yet, but there is a Chinese audio drama.

What’s the best way for me to experience this?

The Untamed was my first, and I think it should be yours, too. It's a good slow burn. It's also more in-depth than the animated and special edition series, and it spends more time setting up smaller characters.

Also, it's BEAUTIFUL, and the English subtitles are well-translated, so you'll have a solid concept of the universe by the time you finish.

Then you can go off and experience... everything else.

#The Untamed #CQL #mo dao zu shi #mdzs #primer #the untamed primer #explainer #slideshow #introduction #sonic cql primer

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rigelmejo · 3 years

Text

notes to myself basically, on how i study languages (so far, there’s always gonna be better ways i don’t know of yet lol):

learn 500-1000 common words asap, read a grammar guide that provides overview asap - like the first 3 months. If a full grammar guide doesn’t exist that’s concise (hi japanese ;-;) find a basics grammar guide at least and read that (pimsleur, websites, genki, tae kim, youtube). Specifically within the common words, at least look at the ‘300 common word tumblr to say things’ language vocab list. That list is good for me starting some kind of active vocab/expressing ideas.

if its got a different writing system, look up the alphabet in 1st month (kana for japanese, cyrillic alphabet for russian etc, pinyin for chinese). listen to pronunciation guides, and write and/or mnemonics to learn those asap.

if its got characters (like chinese, japanese), learn 300-500 super common characters ASAP (first 5 months).

After month 3, learn up to 2000 common words (hi srs flashcard programs like anki and memrise, common word lists, graded readers), and up to 2000 characters. Not all these need to be done with srs flashcards/focused study, but get TO recognizing this many as soon as u can. Goal is get to this by month 8-10. But depending on how much i can overall understand without doing this, i may not learn All of these words by then (but ideally i should).

By 500-1000 words (and 500+ characters if needed), so after 3-5 months, start trying to immerse in what I WANT to do - so reading, watching (maybe listening, maybe games). I don’t have to do it much, but do it a bit to remember what I learned and also motivate myself to study more.

Months 5-8 somewhere between 1000-2000 words, start trying to write/say basic things to myself or on apps with others. Probably will be a mess, don’t have to do it much. Do it enough to have motivation to study more - see where I’m lacking skills. I may need more grammar explanation, or more vocab, or notice a big issue in my pronunciation etc.

Around month 8-10, around 2000+ words studied (although it may be less or more depending on what I’m comfortable with), ramp up immersion a lot. As soon as its mildly tolerable, ramp it up a LOT. Look up words when immersing as often or not often as desired, goal is to always follow at least the bare minimum main idea (and more details if possible/if I wanna put in the effort to look more up). Now I can start learning new words primarily from this.

Reading skills - during immersion do intensive reading to learn more vocabulary quicker, extensive reading to improve overall comprehension. Do SRS flashcards/focused graded readers/word-list prep for stuff I read as needed, to speed up how much vocab I learn (if I’m learning too slow for my preference lol). Ways to make extensive reading easier: read graded readers, read show subtitles in target language while watching show, textbooks built to increase info taught in context, read stuff I’ve read translations of first, read stuff I have prior context for (I saw the show/heard already with english transcript etc), Listening reading method, read extensively what I’ve read intensively before etc.

Listening skills - start extensive listening to audio (for overall comprehension improvement). Start intensive listening where I hear words and lookup definition and/or learn word pronunciation with explanations. So start listening to audio flashcards for building a base of learned words/phrases (chinese spoonfed audio files, japanese core 2k audio, japaneseaudiolessons.com, SRS flashcards if they have audio only ones too, Coffee Break French, audio for Francais par le methode nature etc). To make extensive listening easier: start with watching/listening to shows I’ve already seen subs for, shows in general (visual context helps), comprehensible input audio (like comprehensible input french youtube, Learn Korean in Korean youtube, Dreaming Spanish youtube etc), listen with a transcript then listen without, Listening reading method, listen to things I have prior context for like audiobook of something i read/audio drama of show i’ve seen. Do some shadowing (shadowing audio flashcard files is easy and reliable tbh).

Production skills (I am not here yet) - in general I’ve found making myself write more, talk more, to myself (like journals and practice convos) and to others, tends to improve my active vocabulary. Especially when I try to communicate about topics i’m bad at (so making myself look up those words and write/say them to put them back into active vocab). At this point I’m guessing more explicit grammar drill practice might help, people correcting me, shadowing a lot. Maybe practicing translating to that language/from it, to practice building active vocab? I’m not sure what will help most here tbh as I’ve never gotten far in this area. (For chinese, studying pronunciation more in depth and doing more listening/shadowing, and pronunciation apps, helped a lot with pronunciation itself but not active production yet).

---

i’m currently mostly just doing 8-9 for chinese right now - building reading skills, building listening skills. Varying what i do. For production skills i’m guessing there’s a ton of varied things i can do right now or later, i’m just not entirely sure what they’d be. i have not tried/troubleshooted those skills much before when studying. All i know for sure is the more i make myself use the language in Varied topics, the more i get an active vocabulary (aka writing journals, making self-convos, and doing language exchanges help in a basic way). No idea how to improve grammar though in ways that’d work well for me. so right now my skills lean heavier toward comprehension, less skill in any production. Studying chinese taught me a lot about how i learn listening skills though...which is valuable as i barely had practice learning HOW to study them when i studied french or japanese before.

troubleshooting wise - this is the rough trajectory i went through in chinese, that has worked okay for me. looking at it helps me see where i ‘slowed down’ my progress in other languages i studied.

for french - i did very LITTLE listening practice, and had few ideas of how to work on it at the time. Now I would probably do listen with transcript then without, and shadowing, to work on listening skills. And watching shows/videos with subtitles (if possible), then without subs. And very little speaking practice - same deal as listening, i did a little at some point realizing it was a weak area but not enough work on it. I also did very LITTLE production practice like language exchanges. i had few reasons to produce language, and so the few times i needed to i could mostly rely on super common words or look things up when writing. i know i’d need to do more to work on production. so i was very unbalanced - large reading comprehension, low pretty much every other skill.

for japanese... i did a lot in retrospect i wish i’d redone different. and i do it different now. i did not read/watch a grammar guide - and i still freaking need to (or at least get clear grammar exposure like nukemarine’s LLJ course’s tae kim portions). japanese has grammar i find very hard to figure-out through exposure so this holds me back a lot. and lack of immersion to both motivate me to study MORE and to practice reading/listening skills. ALSO lack of common words - i learned like 800 hanzi rough-meaning through RTK, and maybe 500 words in genki... and no wonder it wasn’t enough lol! i think nukemarine helped back years ago, because it forced me to study grammar and vocab, listening and reading, in a structured way (similar to how genki helped me in the very start before i quit using it). and japaneseaudiolessons.com helped because it made me practice listening and gave me comprehensible listening with definitions. that in combo with me really starting to immerse and TRY to read/listen at year 2+ is when i finally made some progress because i was doing things that work for me - finally. and now that i’m coming back to japanese, i’m starting to apply all those things again that were finally working.

---

anyone have any tips on how to improve production skills? Both active vocabulary, and how to both practice speaking/writing broadly AND how to fix grammar errors.

For active vocab and general writing/speaking I know just talking more/writing more helps. But I can only tend to catch grammar errors if I run it through a translator first to compare how the translator phrases it to how I did (which can create a LOT of errors if the translator is Wrong), or if someone corrects my grammar error (which relies on other people - and preferably a tutor since i dont want to bother people who aren’t paid to correct - so what can i do on my OWN?).

The big thing is with grammar, I can only think to either go through beginner courses Again from the start and do the writing drills and copy the patterns to internalize them? So I could correct my basic writing/speaking but not necessarily when I start speaking/writing creatively, unless I find textbooks/workbooks that eventually go into intermediate material (and of course finding textbooks/online exercises that provide correct answers so i can compare my attempts to the correct ones). Aside from either a tutor, or trying to find well made free online courses with exercises with answers provided, i’m not sure how to improve grammar production. If I write out sentences i read, would that internalize being able to ‘copy their grammar correctly’ when i write? if i shadow correctly said speeches/videos, would that help drill ‘correct grammar’ when speaking? (And be less boring then doing FSI speech drills). Basically I’m trying to find some ways (creative or not) to improve grammar in production. Improving active vocabulary seems pretty straightforward to me (make myself use it, look up words until they come natural to me - but if u got any other fun ways to improve active vocab i’d love to hear!). But I don’t know how to improve grammar when you are NOT in a class structure, have no teacher/tutor, and already have a base level of comprehension. As in like? I can read fine, but when writing I can’t tell if what I produce is grammatically correct or not - and again I can run it through a translator sometimes to try and ‘check’ but since translators make errors, my ‘corrected example’ isn’t always reliable to use as something to emulate for ‘correct form.’

#rant #may #may progress #language learning #grammar #any help or tips yall have for production improvement?

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hamliet · 4 years

Note

I can’t believe you’re reading 2ha too now! I started following u way back when you were posting tg and snk meta and it’s so weird in an amazing way how you started posting mdzs meta at the same time I started reading it! I’d like to ask you for your thoughts on 2ha so far? (Maybe on Nangong Si and Ye Wangxi’s relationship?) Thank you :)

Ahhhh hi Anon!!! Thank you for sticking with me through all my fandom phases! And hooray, my first 2ha ask!! My general thoughts on the story are that it is a highly enjoyable story with fantastic, compelling characters and genuine emotional beats, though it also was thematically contradictory. That said, I really enjoyed it, and I’m eagerly looking forward to the live action even if it’s going to be heavily censored! I love it and want to make more content for it.

But onto the meat of your ask: Ye Wangxi and Nangong Si, the ship that tears our hearts out. *art is from the audio drama* So 2ha's cultivation world is, like the worlds in MXTX’s novels, utterly hypocritical, corrupt, and filled with people desperate for a justice that does not exist; it's also much more cynical than MXTX's novels in its view of humanity. Nangong Si's and Ye Wangxi's arcs are wrapped up in this view of the world, in concepts such as corruption and justice and the like, so I'm going to open by talking a bit about this before delving into their arcs, and keep in mind I will have discuss spoilers from the manual translation.

I don't think there's a better summary of what 2ha thinks about justice than what Xue Zhengyong says in this scene when a horribly abused child is on trial for terrible things the child, now grown, went on to do:

Fate...

Some people were born rich.

It's not fair.

When fate had poured injustice on those at the bottom, a mere price adjustment order could take the lives of the loved ones around them.

Where is justice?

They were all living people. How could they not hate him? How could they feel relieved?

Even if this child had missed it, even if he was not his blood kin, even if his fate played with him … Thinking of this, his heart still ached.

...

Xue raised his face and watched the clouds drift by."Okay, now that his sin has been repaid, he should at least repay the debt he owes this world."

The wind was blowing .Xue Zheng Yong suddenly choked with sobs.

"But this world owes him … Did someone give it back to him... Has anyone returned it to him … "

What about the crimes done to this person to make them that way? Does punishing this person bring any justice? How do we live in a world that is--perhaps irretrievably--broken? Every character explores this idea, and Ye Wangxi and Nangong Si are no exception.

Nangong Si and Ye Wangxi are both obvious foils: they're children used by their parents, tools more than people. They also both--but especially Nangong Si--foil Shi Mei and Mo Ran in this, in terms of something horrible happening to their mother, something that scarred them for the rest of their lives. For example, Nangong Si's last words to his mother were:

"I don't understand, I don't want to understand, I …I …” Nangong Si raised his tearful eyes and cried out to his mother, who was outside the forbidden spell, "I hate you! I don't have a mother like you! "

Mo Ran’s mother died and he had to drag her rotting corpse for two weeks to get to a place where he could bury her; Shi Mei’s mother was brutally eaten alive for her power. From these incidents, all three boys learn that the world is cruel in a distinct flavor that will influence everything they do from then on: Mo Ran learns no one will help him even if he begs for it, leading to him being both extremely clingy and extremely mistrustful; Nangong Si learns fate can be cruel and that he, too, can be cruel; Shi Mei learns that he can’t protect everyone and that his heritage puts him and his loved ones, all his people really, in huge danger--and that people will do evil things for power. Guess what he ends up doing.

Ye Wangxi is also a Mo Ran foil: adopting a false persona and different role to please the people who took them in and were kind to them. Mo Ran pretends to be Xue Zhengyong and Madame Wang's nephew, when he really isn't; Ye Wangxi pretends to be a man to please the father who adopted her. That father is gray; I mean, technically he's morally repulsive, but he did genuinely care for Ye Wangxi. However, Ye Wangxi's willingness to sacrifice her life is not entirely a positive thing: clearly, Nangong Si will do whatever he has to in order to protect her, even marry Song Qiutong; his sacrifice there, likewise, leads to unhappiness for them both.

Ye Wangxi and Song Qiutong are definitively foiled, and I'm going to sound as if I'm saying Ye Wangxi=good and Song Qiutong=bad, when, while that may be how the novel frames it, is certainly not what the novel actually says (it's an objective contradiction) nor is it what I interpreted. But they are distinct foils, which is why they are the two characters romantically linked to Nangong Si, representing to him the two paths he could choose to go down. Ye Wangxi will sacrifice herself to protect others, as seen in the sacrifice of her love for Nangong Si and her sacrifice of her identity and willingness to sacrifice her life.

In contrast, Song Qiutong will throw others under the bus to save herself. For example, when she is accused of cheating on Nangong Si, she does not trust people to defend her and falsely accuses Ye Wangxi of rape--even though Ye Wangxi had previously risked her safety to save Song Qiutong from an auction. Now, I've an issue with how the novel frames Song Qiutong for this: I don't understand why Song Qiutong is condemned when (as far as we and Mo Ran himself know at the time) Mo Ran is himself a rapist and when she was entrapped into the situation (i.e. if many characters hadn't been put in certain situations, they wouldn't have done terrible things), especially given her past (constantly living under the threat of being killed or raped--let's be honest, if she was deemed at fault, do you really think they'd just let a Butterfly Bone Beauty go?) and given story otherwise stating that people shouldn't be faulted for wanting to live. Who has repaid her for the wrongs done for her?

I digress. Still, the tl;dr is that Song Qiutong's way of surviving involves hurting others. Song Qiutong also directly foils Nangong Si. Nangong Si starts out as... well, also as a very self-centered person who didn’t care that Song Qiutong was about to meet a fate worse than death in the light of the inconvenience Ye Wangxi saving her caused him. Additionally, he takes his frustrations out on those around him:

However, even after his father is revealed to be like, the literal worst, Nangong Si cannot condemn his father. He could easily abandon him: in fact, in this cruel world, it might be perceived as more righteous for him to do so, but he doesn't. He gives his father a chance, and when they need a sacrifice and the most logical one is his mentally de-aged father: Nangong Si faces a choice: does he want to be like Song Qiutong? Or does he want to be like Ye Wangxi? He chooses to be like Ye Wangxi. This is not, however, a solely beautiful choice, because remember 2ha's world sucks and its suckery infects everything. The world itself is wrong, and so righteousness--true righteousness--is utterly impossible. Nangong Si sacrifices his life to save them all, but that leaves Ye Wangxi alone and many characters (and readers) grieving. It also could be read as highlighting, for Mo Ran at least, where he has yet to go: a few chapters earlier he almost sacrificed his reputation to warn everyone, but panicked and did not in the end. Mo Ran, of course, is related to Nangong Si by blood and could have sacrificed himself (I'm not saying he should have; the circumstances suck), so I suppose you could view it as Mo Ran still slowly developing (and his callous treatment of Rong Jiu and then entrapment of Song Qiutong as him slowly learning, but if so I wish it had been called out as a "well, I handled that hypocritically" moment later on). Or maybe that's reaching on my part. *shrugs* Ye Wangxi is a moral character, perhaps the most righteous in the story. She is the only one who stands by Mo Ran when he's put on trial to be tortured, declaring confidently:

Ye Wangxi fed him some warm water.

Mo Ran said in a low voice, "Why …."

"You helped A-Si." Ye Wangxi did not raise her head. "You helped me too."

"... On Mount Flood Dragon, if I was the one to die, Nangong will …" Ye Wangxi's hand paused slightly. She was trembling, but she still said in the end, "Everyone wants to live. I won't blame you just because you want to live."

"..."

"Drink it." She said, .”..you've been helping me and A-Si by risking our lives. Now, even if no one is willing to help you, I will still help you." Her expression was still dull, but it was firm. “I'm here." As she said 'here', she was indeed standing by the side of Mo Ran.

It's fitting, then, that Ye Wangxi's ending contrasts her with Shi Mei. She rescues refugees before the final battle and then travels the world with Nangong Si's wolf, because she will never forget the one she loves, and to presumably act justly and do righteousness, sow kindness into a world, rescue people despite how rescuing Song Qiutong actually endangered both her and Nangong Si.

Shi Mei wanted to change the world, quite literally rewriting time, but only made it worse in the end. Ye Wangxi's way of change might be slower, might be less fantastical, but it's not going to hurt people in the meantime. (Side note: I wish the novel would have been more optimistic and come up with some kind of justice for the Butterfly Bone Beauty people, but it really doesn't as far as I understood (this may be wrong; the MTL of the last twenty or so chapters are confusing!))

#ask hamliet #2ha #2ha meta #erha #erha meta #ranwan #mo ran #mo weiyu #chu wanning #nangong si #ye wangxi #song qiutong #nangong si x ye wangxi #WHAT IS THEIR SHIP NAME #shi mei #if i got into how xue meng and mei hanxue also foil them #we'd be here all night #Anonymous

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kazarinn · 4 years

Text

Roundup of all the things I’ve translated within the last month

Those who have been following me for a while might know that the last month saw me be very unusually prolific with translation (especially Digimon-related ones), to unprecedented extents. I'll be very honest about the fact that it's because of the current quarantine, which has left me with not a lot to do and a sense of boredom that translation somehow happens to satiate a bit ^^;; That said, the very large number of translations I'd been posting has caused things to get a bit buried, and has made things easily missable, so I've decided to make a bit of a roundup post summarizing everything I've done in the last month.

Of course, there's probably still more to come in the near future -- I have two books (the Digimon Official Super Encyclopedia and the Gakken Digimon Adventure tri. Memorial Book) hopefully coming in the mail soon, and I still have some stuff lying around I might take up if my mood warms up to it, but since I've finally cleared up a ton of the backlog I felt I should take a breather to summarize stuff. (Although, every time I say I've cleared the backlog, suddenly more interesting things pop up...^^;;)

Digimon Adventure, Adventure 02, Tamers, Frontier

Digimon Adventure 02 Drama CD "Armor Evolution to the Unknown" I will be honest in that this is actually my favorite thing to have translated in this past month. Actually, fiction translation has a higher level of difficulty for me than things like interviews -- because I want to be careful with what real people have said, I tend to be less stringent about rewording things, whereas with fiction I hold myself to a higher standard to make things flow well. But that's actually what makes it so much fun, because I can challenge myself to play with wording and broaden my horizons, and moreover Adventure 02 has a ton of characters, and it's really fun to try and make unique "voices" for all of them. That said, translating this was a bit of a wake-up call, because the sheer amount of pop culture references (to things made before I was even born, at that) and wordplay everywhere led me to the very harsh realization of why so few people have attempted to translate this drama CD into so few languages over the past two decades ^^;; I give my thanks to the anonymous Japanese commenters on Nico Nico Douga who pointed out many of the really old and obscure pop culture references, and I ended up spending several hours on Japanese Wikipedia looking up things like said old anime and British punk rock artists. I might not have gotten everything, and I'm sure there are people out there who probably would have been able to pull it off better than I did, but it ultimately became a test of my abilities as a translator, and if it's fun and entertaining and enjoyable, then that alone makes me satisfied. But I think this will be the last time (at least for a while) that I try translating something audio-only with no transcript -- my hearing is not that great, not even in English ^^;;

The Mystery of the American Box Bug A story from Adventure and Adventure 02 director Hiroyuki Kakudou that has some very tangential (at best) relation to Digimon, but is amusing nevertheless.

Digimon Adventure Character Complete File -- Future Encyclopedia Little "dialogue" snippets from an Adventure/Adventure 02-related book, checking in on the kids-turned-adults during the time of Adventure 02's epilogue. I actually translated this a long time ago, but I lost the transcript for it and I'm pretty sure (given how long ago it was) it was probably pretty embarrassing by my current standards, so I went ahead and did this over again. There are some other things in this book that are interesting and/or amusing, like further background info on the kids' family lives and room layouts, so if I have some spare time I might do some of those in the future, although naturally doing the entire book would probably be practically impossible.

Digimon Series Memorial Book: Digimon Animation Chronicle — Special interview with Hiromi Seki, Hiroyuki Kakudou, and Yukio Kaizawa An interview with some perennial Digimon staff members about Adventure through Frontier (and a bit of X-Evolution). We've had no shortage of these kinds of interviews over the years, but this one happens to summarize a lot of things that used to be considered "obscure" in the Digimon fanbase outside Japan, even though this book (and thus this interview) is one of the most prominent resources for diehard Digimon fans out there. Also, Frontier-related development info tends to be somewhat rare, so it's nice to hear about it. The Digimon Official Super Encyclopedia that I'm hoping to get my hands on soon allegedly has a similar interview with the same three people. I don't know specifics about it yet, but I'm informed that it mostly covers similar territory to this one, but also allegedly has some very fascinating details that weren't in this, so I'm looking forward to that as well.

Message from Digimon Adventure producer Hiromi Seki, to Toshiko Fujita Posted by Adventure producer Hiromi Seki to the LAST EVOLUTION Kizuna Twitter on February 8, 2019, right before the 49th day (last day of mourning, in Japanese tradition) after Taichi Yagami voice actress Toshiko Fujita's passing.

Mimi Tachikawa and Lilimon Posted by Adventure director Hiroyuki Kakudou on his blog, talking about the intent behind Mimi Tachikawa's character and her corresponding track in the drama CD Digimon Adventure: Two-and-a-Half Year Break.

Digimon Adventure tri.

On Creation and Production for “Super Evolution Stage: Digimon Adventure tri.” A post by Director Kenichi Tani about his work on the Adventure tri. stage play. Despite technically being under Adventure tri. branding, the stage play actually has surprisingly little in common with the Adventure tri. anime in terms of both content and production background, and moreover Digimon hasn't had a lot of contact with the stage medium all that much, so I thought it'd be interesting to translate something about its production, especially since this tends to be a lesser talked-about part of the franchise.

October/November 2018 Gashapon Blog interviews with Kenji Watanabe This is actually two interviews, one where Digimon franchise creator and character designer Kenji Watanabe talks about design for a Digimon gachapon set, and one where he talks about Adventure tri.'s Omegamon Merciful Mode, but I'm categorizing it under the Adventure tri. section because I figure the vast majority of readers will be reading the interview for the latter.

Digimon Adventure tri. voice actor comments (Part 1: Reunion | Part 2: Determination | Part 3: Confession | Part 4: Loss | Part 5: Coexistence | Part 6: Our Future) A series of voice actor comments that were posted to the official website prior to each Adventure tri. movie being released. I'd actually had it on the brain to try my hand at these when they were first posted, but various circumstances happened and I never got around to it, until now. In retrospect, though, I think it turned out for the better that I didn't attempt them on the spot. Adventure tri.-related interviews tend to be much more difficult to translate than most Digimon-related ones, and although there are a few reasons why, the biggest one is that, during its run, it had a very tight spoiler embargo, resulting in a lot of vague language being used, and so when you translate from a language like Japanese -- where having proper context can be life or death -- not knowing the original context behind what was being said can throw the end result into completely incorrect and misleading interpretations. While I was working on these, I did actually end up having to pull up the movies again and reference what scenes were being referred to multiple times just so I could phrase the sentence correctly, so yeah, I think it did ultimately work out. Incidentally, this is also the first direct Adventure tri. production-related thing I've translated since 2016 (mainly due to the expenses incurred by importing magazines and my difficulty with translating print media at the time). Looking back at it, I'm honestly kind of ashamed at my own inexperience from back then, but sadly, I don't have the original magazines anymore, so I can't do much to fix it, and so I'm kind of glad to have these as my sort of attempt at "redeeming myself".

Digimon Adventure tri. — Yoshimasa Hosoya interview on “To Me” Also from the official website, discussing voice actor Yoshimasa Hosoya's involvement with the ending theme song from part 3 (Confession), "To Me".

Digimon Adventure LAST EVOLUTION Kizuna

Anime! Anime! interview series (Director Tomohisa Taguchi interview | Natsuki Hanae and Chika Sakamoto interview | 02 human cast voice actor interview | 02 Digimon cast voice actor interview | Producer Yousuke Kinoshita and supervisor Hiromi Seki interview) I didn't actually know this was a series until very recently, so you'll have to forgive me for translating these out of order. Technically, all of these were posted in February to March 2020, after the movie was released in Japan, but it's pretty much spoiler-free. It's got a huge amount of development and background info behind LAST EVOLUTION Kizuna, so I recommend them as reading for anyone interested in seeing the movie.

"In regards to the new Digimon project" Otherwise known as "what happened when Hiroyuki Kakudou accidentally revealed that they were making another Digimon Adventure-related movie". Since the news that original Adventure director was recusing from LAST EVOLUTION Kizuna due to some kind of creative difference over lore ended up naturally being a hot topic, I felt like having a proper translation of his statement on the matter would be a useful thing to have. Despite technically being LAST EVOLUTION Kizuna-related, it also has a transcription of his tweets regarding Adventure/Adventure 02 background lore along with some surprising production details, so it may interest fans of the original series as well.

Digimon Continues to be Loved Thanks to its Creator’s Commitment — With Digimon Character Designer Kenji Watanabe An Asahi &M article (sort of a half-interview) with Kenji Watanabe over his involvement in LAST EVOLUTION Kizuna, which, unusually for a Digimon anime work, actually had him directly involved in production from beginning to end. I put this on the post already, but this article gets a lot dangerously closer to outright spoilers than you'd expect for this kind of material, so if you're particularly keen on going into the movie "completely clean", best to maybe avoid this one until you've seen the movie.

Digimon Adventure LAST EVOLUTION Kizuna — Website messages from Hiromi Seki and Yousuke Kinoshita It's just a short greeting message on the official website. I wanted to translate it mainly because it's not on the official English site.

Animage Plus interviews with Yousuke Kinoshita Also something I'd wanted to translate for a while but never got around to (until now). A triple set of interviews with LAST EVOLUTION Kizuna producer Yousuke Kinoshita, who also talks about Adventure's 20th anniversary and the "Memorial Story" short story collection crowdfund.

Digimon Adventure:

Interviews with Yabuno Tenya and Atsuhiro Tomioka (Part 1: V-Jump Web | Part 2: Digimon Web) A two-part interview (each part on different websites) with Digimon Adventure V-Tamer 01 artist Yabuno Tenya and Digimon Adventure: lead writer Atsuhiro Tomioka, discussing their respective works and Adventure:'s surprising relation to V-Tamer.

Digimon Adventure director Hiroyuki Kakudou’s initial comments on the Digimon Adventure: reboot A triple set of blog posts from original Digimon Adventure director Hiroyuki Kakudou about the Adventure: reboot and what relation it has to him and the original Adventure (along with some fun trivia about the latter). I figured some people out there might be curious about what the original Adventure director thought about Toei rebooting his series.

Digimon games

Explore the Secrets of Digimon World Re:Digitize Decode’s Evolution! Interview with Habu and Tomono Decode is rather inaccessible to the West right now (being unlocalized, and on the region-locked 3DS at that), so the idea of translating too many things relevant to it is pretty low-priority to me at the moment, but it's still a game of significant interest to the Digimon fanbase outside Japan, and is also notable as one of the first major titles spearheaded by Digimon game producer Kazumasa Habu, so I felt that there'd be quite a few people interested in this one.

Interview with Producer Habu of Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Hacker’s Memory: Highlights and Future Prospects A 4Gamer interview that I'd wanted to translate since I'd first read it, but never got around to. Incidentally, I decided to go back and make some revisions to the wording for the Famitsu interviews I translated for the original game. They were some of the first things I ever translated, and it...kind of shows. ^^;; Normally I don't like to lock myself into a habit of constantly going back and revising old work, as doing so tends to be a bit of a black hole, but since the original Cyber Sleuth is still quite the hot topic among the fanbase right now (and especially with Complete Edition being recently released), I thought it might be worth it this time.

Famitsu.com interview with Kazumasa Habu on Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Hacker’s Memory Another Hacker's Memory interview, a bit less detailed than the above but still fairly informative.

Other

Iwata Asks #14: Hatsune Miku and Future Stars: Project mirai Somehow this ended up the only non-Digimon thing on the list ^^;; The version of this game that eventually did make it to the West (Project Mirai DX) is so different from the original game that it meant this Iwata Asks was never officially translated, so I thought it'd be worth taking a shot at this one. I don't have any plans to translate any other Iwata Asks at the moment, mainly because it requires me to have more than a passing knowledge of how each game works for proper context, but I hope you can at least enjoy this one.

#Digimon #Digimon Adventure #Digimon Adventure 02 #Digimon Adventure tri #Digimon Adventure LAST EVOLUTION Kizuna #Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth #Hacker's Memory #Digimon Adventure Reboot #Digimon Adventure V Tamer 01 #Digimon World Re:Digitize #Digimon Tamers #Digimon Frontier #Vocaloid #Project Mirai

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spockandawe · 4 years

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HEY THERE, you have me interested in The Untamed but I'm a little lost as to where to start, there's both a 50 episode normal version and a 20 episode special edition, which should I watch/start with? Also WHAT does your svsss tag stand for? I'm seeing "The Untamed" and "Chén Qíng Lìng" and "Mo Dao Zu Shi" and "Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation" thrown around as synonyms or related pieces of media, but nothing with svsss!

Sure thing!!

Okay, to start with, I’d definitely go with the 50-episode version. It’s a Lot, and there is some padding added to the story compared to the original book, but twenty episodes seems really, really short to do justice to the central plot

(a quick skim of google tells me that the special edition leans harder into the original novel’s gayness, which the show has to be coy about, because china. i think there are expanded scenes featuring the two leads, which is awesome, because their acting is AMAZING, but that just means the plot scenes are even more compressed. I saw at least one person recommend that you not do the special edition unless you’ve consumed the story in at least one other more standard format already)

Also! Iirc, the show is available on youtube and netflix, among other platforms, though those two are wonderfully accessible. However, comma, I do hear from people fluent in chinese that the subtitles sometimes are inaccurate in unnecessary/unfortunate ways. From what I hear, viki has the best complete set of subtitles (I think there may be fansub projects in progress, but I am not at all in touch with those. I still haven’t watched the show myself).

And the general summary of my current webnovel fixation! There’s this webnovel author who goes by mxtx, who currently has three complete books out, which have all been translated into english. Then after I finished those, I started branching out into other authors and webnovels, though I’m not too deep into that end of the pool yet. I’ll break each book into a separate paragraph for clarity.

Oh, and. Each of these books is explicitly gay, and set in ancient fantasy china, in a wuxia/xianxia setting, which I’m not too familiar with myself, but I believe it functions a lot like how authors will use ‘ancient fantasy europe’ as a playground where they don’t necessarily need to match up to established countries/cities/etc, but they expect readers to recognize certain conventions, like I’d be able to recognize a western author writing a basic feudal setting, or recognize witches and wizards, without them explaining the whole thing from the bottom up. Since I’m not familiar, it raised the difficulty level a little for me to get into the genre, but the webnovel translators tend to use footnotes and I picked up a lot as I went on.

(if you are interested in any of these, novelupdates.com is a good central resource collecting links to various fan translation projects)

So! Mxtx. Her earliest book is The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System (SVSSS), which is also the shortest and most linear of her books. The general premise is that a guy who’s been hate-reading this (straight) stallion harem webnovel with a dark protagonist. He goes to bed, and wakes up in the novel, as the protagonist’s dickbag teacher, who is doomed to eventually die horribly. He wants to not die, and is also a decent human being, so the book follows the “original” novel derailing from its intended path, and accidentally getting super duper gay. This one is about to come out in donghua form, but I think that may be its first non-book adaption.

Her second book, which was adapted into The Untamed/Chen Qing Ling (CQL), is also known as The Grandmaster Of Demonic Cultivation/Mo Dao Zu Shi (MDZS), which really manages to be the hardest of her books to summarize. Wei Wuxian, the grandmaster of demonic cultivation, dies. Thirteen years later, he wakes up in someone else’s body. Most of the world would like him to stay dead, tbh, but he’s a good egg, and he and his old friend(????) go forth and solve a necromantic mystery together, and also there is romance-romance and ten million family feelings. This one gets nonlinear, with several extended flashback sequences, and the story STARTS at about the midway point of the plot. This has been adapted into an audio drama at least once, a manhua, a donghua, and now a live action show, so it goes by a million different names in its various formats.

Her third book, and the LONGEST, is Heaven Official’s Blessing/Tian Guan Ci Fu (TGCF), and oh my god, it’s so long, and I love it so, so much. This gets into high fantasy much more than the other two, including the idea that as people develop their cultivation and powers, they may eventually achieve immortality and ascend to the heavens. The story follows Xie Lian who achieved immortality and ascended to heaven! And then fell. And then ascended! And fell again. Eight hundred years later, he ascends for the third time. He meets Hua Cheng, the ridiculously powerful ghost king, who most of the other immortals are terrified of. But Hua Cheng seems to like Xie Lian! And Xie Lian thinks Hua Cheng is a sweet boy! (hua cheng is a sweet boy, but only for xie lian). This also has extended flashback sequences, but is a more linear story than MDZS, I think. Also it made me cry, which, wow, rude. I love it so incredibly much. This also exists as a manhua, but I think it’s still being published? I haven’t read it yet.

NOW. Mxtx is working on a fourth book, but it’s not out in chinese yet, never mind english. But I needed More. I was getting some SVSSS vibes from this one other book, which, *wobbly hand motions*, but I am enjoying the hell out of this book purely for its own sake.

Meatbun is an author with other books that I haven’t read yet, but I am currently in the middle of The Husky And His White Cat Shizun/Er Ha He Ta De Bai Mo Shi Zun (Erha/2ha), which is at this moment being adapted to a live action tv show called Immortality. There are MANY warnings that go with this book, though the google docs translation files do a good job of placing warnings at the front of every document and in front of relevant chapters. The general premise! Mo Ran basically conquered the entire world, put down all resistance by force, and was a super powerful but Kinda Dumb emperor. As part of this, he took his old teacher, who he despised with a burning passion, prisoner, and abused him a Lot. The story starts as rebels try to mount an assault on his palace, and Mo Ran’s cousin gets impatient with how slowly things are moving and runs ahead of the group. He finds that (suicide warning:) Mo Ran has... taken poison, and is in the middle of dying. This doesn’t stick. He wakes up as a teenager, apparently having traveled back in time, and starts living through events again, with the knowledge of his past life. It took me a while to warm up to this story, but ohhhh my goodness, it’s so TASTY. The translation for this one is ongoing, and I am in AGONY waiting for further updates.

So those are the ones I’m currently into and mostly blogging about! I also read Dreamer In The Spring Boudoir, mostly because feynite wrote an SVSSS fic set in the universe of that novel, which was good in some ways, left me cold in others (and the original novel is straight, with a society with rigid gender roles, so making it super gay in the fic made the setting much more interesting to me). Meatbun has other writing, which I haven’t sampled yet, but I am definitely interested in doing that sometime soon.

Sorry, I know this is a LOT, so if you have any other questions feel free to ask me!! I got into these mostly via being interested in the untamed, so I read them as 1) mdzs, 2) svsss, 3) tgcf, 4) erha, which was an order that worked well for me. But if someone was looking for a general order to read them in, independent of that, I might suggest 1) svsss, 2) mdzs, 3) tgcf, 4) erha. They’re all really good, and scratch different emotional itches, and each of them has at least a few characters who sucker-punch me RIGHT in the goddamn heart. They’ve been a HUGE help for me dealing with the restlessness and/or apathy of quarantine, so I’ve been evangelizing them to pretty much anyone who will listen to me, hahaha

#spock replies #long post/#suicide mention/#solluxisms

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gravitydefyingtears · 5 years

Text

MDZS AUDIO DRAMA S3

JUNE 22ND Y’ALL!!!!!!!!!!

HOLY LAN QIREN’S BEARD. Just the teaser alone made me tear up omg. I’m not ready. I’M NOT READY. BRING ON THE ANGST.

(I’m sure someone has already done this? But here’s a quick translation of the teaser. )

... ... ...

WWX: My memory is really very bad. The things that happened before...there’s a lot I can’t remember.

WWX: Lan Zhan, help me out. Hey, Lan Zhan, you have free time to come to Yunmeng? (Let me borrow your forehead ribbon?) If you’re not in a hurry, come up and have a drink? (Lan Zhan, don’t hurry off to go night hunting.) What a coincidence! Lan Zhan, why did you come to Yiling? Lan Zhan, how about this? Let’s go have a meal first?

WWX: Lan Zhan. Have you...ever kissed anyone?

... ... ...

JYL: A-Xian, do you like someone?

... ... ...

LWJ: Wei Ying, the demonic path destroys the body and mind. You should not keep company with non-humans. It’s not yet too late. If you wait longer, you will regret—!

WWX: Lan Zhan! *clang*

... ... ...

LXC: Wangji, do you have something on your mind? Why have you been so heavyhearted?

LWJ: Xiongzhang, I...want to bring someone back to Cloud Recesses. Bring [him] back, hide [him] away.

... ... ...

WQ: Wei-gongzi, help us! Save Wen Ning! Save him! Right now, you’re the only one who can save him!

JC: Wei Wuxian! Is the current situation still not clear to you?! You really need me to spell it out for you?! If you insist on protecting them, then I won’t be able to protect you!

WWX: Then let’s battle.

... ... ...

Wei, that evil lowlife, has killed so many people! Death is not enough for him!

That’s right! Kill that heretic! *swords drawn*

Kill him!

JGS: Set up formation! Set up formation! Today, we will not let the Yiling Patriarch escape from here alive!

Kill him! Kill him!

Release the arrows!

*chanting* Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! ...

*sounds of battle*

LWJ: Wei Ying!

WWX: Get out.

... ...

WWX: But! But from now on, everything you say to me, do for me, I’ll remember it all. I won’t forget even one.

WWX: Lan Zhan, you’re really great. I like you.

#mo dao zu shi #mdzs audio drama #my translations

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mikami · 5 years

Text

Death Note Audio Drama 09

Disc 9: Inherited Debt - a summary / partial translation

Prior translations / an explanation as to what the fuck this is.

SHIT FINALLY GOES DOWN. Mello and Near appear, Soichiro retires (or tries to) and L explores the afterlife!

_________

Feet on sand. Watari’s voice coming closer.

WATARI: Mr. L! Mr. L!

L: Watari... It’s you! Oh wow, I’m so glad to see you.

WATARI: Pleasure is all mine, Mr. L. It’s been so long.

L: This place is really badly organized. They never tell you anything.

WATARI: I know, I know... it’s been quite hard. I deduced a little and hoped... well, that I would find you here.

L: I’m sorry that it had to be under these circumstances. But look, I need to go someplace, still.

WATARI: The meetings usually start on the full hour.

L: Yeah, I don’t wanna be late. Are you going to wait here until I’m done?

WATARI (chuckles): Where else would I even go, sir?

_______

Bells ringing.

MAN: Sit down, please. I’ve got your file around here somewhere.

L: Am I late? Sorry if I’m late.

MAN: Oh, we’re all always late, Lawliet.

L: L. Please. People call me L.

MAN: Great. Yes. L. Aaah, there you are. Uh-huuuuh.... now look at all this paperwork. You’ve been really busy.

L: The devil finds work for idle hands.

MAN: Oh, really? Uh-huh. I understand. Your case should have already been worked on a long while ago. Pardon the delay.

L: And here I still have so many things to do. I really need to get back to Tokyo, immediately.

MAN: Almost everyone still wants to take care of some things and there are ways of dealing with that. A lot of it will depend on your stamina and on how much you saved up.

L: Nobody ever explains anything around here.

MAN: I understand. Yes. You... slipped past us a little, because you... how should I put it? You were early. You came here before your time.

L: Oh, that explains a lot.

MAN: So... let’s start from the beginning, yes? Do you know where you are?`

L: Yeah?

MAN: And... you know who I am?

L: Yeah.

MAN: And... you also know you are dead.

L: Yes.

___________

TITLE MUSIC

___________

Many people talking.

MATSUDA: Do you want a drink?

SAYU: Already got one, thanks.

MATSUDA: Haha, maybe you need another.

SAYU: Thanks, I’m good.

MATSUDA: My name is Matsuda.

SAYU: I know.

MATSUDA: Uh, and you...?

SAYU: You’ve always been nice, Matsuda, but, uh... you’re too old for me. And... I don’t date cops.

MATSUDA: But I didn’t say that I--- what is wrong with going out with a policeman?

SAYU: I don’t know... the long nights, waiting for a call, cancelled weekends...

MATSUDA: Uh... are you maybe a Yagami family member?

SAYU: That’s right.

MATSUDA: Oh my god! Sayu! It’s you! Sayu!

SAYU: You should have become a detective.

MATSUDA: Light’s little sister.... You’ve become... so mature.

SAYU: One of us had to.

Voices chattering. Soichiro is announced as a speaker.

SOICHIRO: Thank you, thank you all. I’m touched that so many of you made it here on this warm April evening.... just to say goodbye to an old inspector.

Cheering. Someone shouts “Free drinks certainly helped!”

SOICHIRO: I especially want to thank my wife Sachiko, who lied so coldbloodedly about why she wanted to go to a bar on a Thursday.

SACHIKO: I’m sorry, darling.

SOICHIRO: And my daughter Sayu, who is still sticking to my instructions to never marry a cop! So... hands off!

Laughter.

SOICHIRO: It’s now been 35 years since I finished my police training. Is Kitamura here, too? No? Well, alright. We didn’t always agree. Kitamura and I finished the academy together and he took the fastest path up into administration. And he took his hat and left, in the 30th year. I stayed. And most of you know it’s because of the special conditions of a very special case. That case still isn’t finished. That’s the reason I endured 5 further long years, to set the path for a young man, to give him time to finish the academy as well so he can take the poisoned baton from me. The Kira investigation. This man is my son.

SOMEONE: Nepotism!

Laughter.

SOICHIRO: Well nobody else wants the job! I’m sure he’d love to give it to you! Isn’t that right, son? I can be proud that my boy, my wonderful boy, is Detective Light Yagami now!

Cheering.

SOICHIRO: And if I’m still allowed, I’d like to take a short moment to remember those who aren’t lucky enough to be here today. It’s been a hard time, fighting this criminal who always did some unexpected turn, and the colleagues in our district have, perhaps more than others, had to deal with some very brutal murders. Not just comrades with a badge but also civilian investigators and friendly helpers. They all risked their lives and gave it. May God bless them. Here’s to absent friends.

___________

MAN: You don’t quite understand me, L. There is no such thing as an afterlife.

L: Where am I, then?

MAN: That is... complicated. You are... nowhere. You are... nothing.

L: Are you trying to tell me all of this is a hallucination? Just a product of my neurons randomly firing while my brain is kicking the bucket?

MAN: Uh, no.

L: I know a thing or two about movies. And you could turn this into a 90 minute thriller, but not for five years. I’ve been here for five years.

MAN: I’m not sure you can apply the experiences from a cinema one on one to what happens after death.

L: Well.. you haven’t really helped me understand much yet.

MAN: Did it ever occur to you that you share some of the blame? What if this whole---

L: Pathetic bureaucracy?

MAN: Harsh words. But if it suits you. What if this whole... bureaucracy was made up by your soul to deal with the dream of your own passing? How about that?

L: So I’ve got a soul...? Something that lasts beyond death?

MAN: Hm. Well...

L: Life. After death. Indeed.

MAN: You didn’t have many friends, am I right?

L: Excuse me?

MAN: Or how did you deal with being this smart?

L: What I really want to deal with, Mr...?

MAN: Justin.

L: Mr. Justin... is which options I have. What sense is there in justice and retribution? If you’re an official here, official for what? Who’s in power here? I know there are gods of death, and I know there’s a life after death, because that’s where I’m stuck right now, it seems.

JUSTIN: There is no life after death. Human existence ends in nothingness.

L: And yet, I’m here. And so is Watari. And who are all these people lurking about outside? Why are those here?

JUSTIN: You’ve got a whole eternity to think about it, dear L.

L: Oh really? Do I now? Human life is finite and life after death is infinite? Am I immortal now?

JUSTIN: Exactly. You’re correct. It’s not my task to let myself be interrogated here.

L: And who’s task is it then? Where do I finally get answers?

__________

We hear someone talking to “Vladimir” in a friendly way. Very soon it becomes clear that it’s the US president speaking, a very obvious Trump parody. The thing is, I don’t take any joy in being reminded Trump exists, and this audio drama spends an extraordinary amount of time letting him talk. For my own sanity, I’m not going to actually translate those scenes in whole. If anyone REALLY wants to know what Death Note Audio Drama Trump is saying, I guess you can beg me for it? Just know that there is a lot of racism, sexism, and general being stupid. It’s exactly like you’d imagine Trump, really.

An exhausted secretary named Trevor tries to introduces Near to the president. Near succeeded Paula Virilio as SPK leader. Near has to explain the situation in baby-talk for the president to get it. But basically, they think Kira is still in Japan. In this verse, Near actually got all of L’s data and only the version in the task force was fully deleted. Near suspects that Kira is among the task force.

Near wants to act, now that Soichiro is retired.

___________

Bar noises.

SACHIKO: Alright, darling. Did you already think about how you want to spend your retirement?

SOICHIRO: Not really, Sachiko. I was just too busy.

SACHIKO: For 35 years.

SOICHIRO: Very funny. I don’t know... it seems an eternity ago that we were young.

His phone rings.

SACHIKO: Don’t you dare pick up. Not tonight.

SOICHIRO: It’s Kitamura.

SACHIKO: Then give it to me. I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.

She picks up.

SACHIKO: Koreyoshi Kitamura, you sad mutation of the human species. Was it really too much to ask to come to the goodbye party of my husband? After all you two went through over the years, you old rascal? If this is still about who I married, that’s been decades ago! Grow up! .... huh? Oh. I thought you were... Yes, er, this is his phone, but... Uh. Right.

SOICHIRO: Who is that?

SACHIKO: Oh my god, no. No! You better talk to my husband about this. N-no, he’s right next to--- Don’t hang up! Don’t!

SOICHIRO: What’s wrong? Is he alright?

SACHIKO: What is a Death Note....?

___________

Kitamura talks to Mello, while he is tied to a chair. Mello introduces himself as M. He asks about the Kira case, but Kitamura doesn’t know much of use. Because this is an audio drama and the audience needs to know what’s up, Mello just randomly explains the concept of Wammy’s House to Kitamura.

__________

L: Looks like rain. As if there was a storm coming.

WATARI: But it will never come. It only feels like it, the whole time. Another strange aspect of this place.

L: I’ll have to be back soon. When exactly?

WATARI: I don’t know, Mr. L. Time moves differently here. People stand around, they wait. Some are playing cards. I’m especially sorry for the young ones.

L: Who?

WATARI: The millenials. They come here and they’re totally lost without their cell phones. They just hang around like... zombies.

L: But not you, right Watari? You’re always busy. Keep the old brain moving, right?

WATARI: Well, Mr L, I gave my best to put the puzzle pieces together correctly. But it’s difficult.

L: Are there TVs here? Computers?

WATARI: Nothing like that. The only hints I can get come from other people who made the passage.

L: Oh, good. What did you find out?

WATARI: You and me... we were killed.

L: I got that part.

WATARI: I think it was because we got closer and closer to the truth.

L: Well, that makes sense. What happened in the five years since?

WATARI: Wendy had an accident with her motorbike. Ivor died of liver cancer. The whole group of Yotsuba executives just dropped dead. All at the same time.

L: Someone did his homework.

WATARI: My thoughts exactly.

L: Kira is still active. The task force, who is leading that now?

WATARI: What do you think?

________

More attempts to explain the situation to Trump. They explain someone has been faking to be L.

________

Kitamura has been kidnapped, but despite just having retired, Soichiro wants to stay and work on the case anyway. The kidnappers are asking for the Death Note in return.

_________

Mello accuses Kitamura of having been really fucking shit at handling the Kira case. He apparently looked at all the security camera material from HQ. He plays a recording from it that shows L.

L: You’re looking sad, Rem. Even more so than usual. What’s up? ..... Oh really, that’s it? Why did it take you so long?

For Kitamura, L is alone in the recording, so L is alone with Rem. We then flash back to the scene.

_____________

L: Did you come for me, Rem?

REM: I did not come to take life, but to gift it.

L: To me?

REM: No, you have to die. And by defying fate, I’ll be destroyed.

L: Not dead? You said ‘destroyed’ as if total annihilation was a state equaling death.

REM: These are the final seconds of your life L, prepare yourself.

L: Prepare for what? Your existence along already implies that death isn’t the end for me. Your hesitation meanwhile implies that destruction is definitely your end.

REM: I... I don’t know.

L: You spend your eternity feeding off the life of others. As long as you take life, you’ll live forever. But you’ll put an end to your existence today, just to stop me?

REM: Yes, I will.

L: Just, why?

REM: Out of love.

L (laughs): Love? Love is the power that brings a goddess of death to her knees?

REM: Don’t mock me, L. Don’t you dare!

L: You’re in love? You know I am very close to ending the case.

REM: She sacrificed so much for him. This is the only way to restore her lifespan and guarantee her safety.

L: The price is paid in human lives. The Death Note has a price... for her. I was right then. It was her. And she gave something up for the man she loves. And that can only---

Beeping.

REM: What’s that?

L: The emergency data transmission. It’s only activated when Watari is in danger.

REM: He had to pass as well.

L: What?! The old man never even hurt a fly! He was a good person!

REM: He was just about to bring the evidence.

L: It’s just as I expected... The identity of the two Kiras... I was right!

REM: Your time is up. I have to kill you now and give my remaining time to her.

L: I was right, do you hear that?! I was---

Glass shattering, falling noises.

_____________

Near also has this video, he points out sand falling on the video. He assumes that’s the death of a shinigami.

_____________

The kidnappers call Soichiro again. When Soichiro refuses to give the notebook, they shoot Kitamura live on the phone.

They already have Sayu present as a backup hostage too.

______________

WATARI: I knew it was a heart attack. And I knew I was being discarded. It was all I could do to press the emergency button. And I could still hear the alarm, I knew it worked.

L: So you deleted all data and transferred it to Winchester.

WATARI: Mister Ruvie should have received them. And he surely knew how to interpret the circumstances.

L: Do we know what he did with that? Were my successors already ready?

WATARI: I am... not sure about that.

L: I’m sure you had someone in mind. You talked about a replacement for me time and time again.

WATARI: There were several candidates, yes. But the older one... was a little problematic. I am not sure he’s got the right personality.

L: And the younger one?

WATARI: Yes, he could have taken the responsibilities. But he really was so very young. I am not sure if he was ready.

L: I have to go back.

WATARI: We can’t go back. Death is a one-way street.

L: Is that really true?

_______________

Misa and Light on a phonecall. Misa suggests killing Sayu, so that Soichiro won’t exchange the notebook. Light refuses this. They have a longer debate about this, where Misa points out that they can’t let the notebook fall into the wrong hands, but Light remains in refusal.

______________

Near, out of breath, arrives at the task force headquarters.

NEAR: I’m here to talk to chief inspector Yagami.

LIGHT: I am Yagami.

NEAR: Really? Is today open day and everyone’s bringing their children?

LIGHT: Looks like. And whose child are you?

NEAR: Call me Near. We just got here from the US.

LIGHT: Of course. I immediately noticed your subtle and humble approach. CIA?

NEAR: CIA, FBI, NSA, whatever you want. We’re a unity spanning through all organizations and we follow the same goals as you.

Near explains that he replaced Virilio on her job and he’s very arrogant about it all. Light also remarks on that. The conversation is then interrupted by a call that Soichiro stole the notebook to do the exchange on his own.

Near then talks his way into cooperation in this case.

____________

We now follow Soichiro as he goes to the place of exchange, which is now conveniently just still in Japan. It’s in Nagasaki.

____________

Light introduces Near to the task force. They are tracking Soichiro via GPS. They decide to send a drone to Nagasaki, so they have a visual feed of the exchange when it happens.

____________

Shidoh approaches Justin to ask about his Death Note. Justin deduces that it’s the one Kira is using on Earth. He stills Shidoh to go to L, because L can help him find the notebook.

_____________

Near is still flying a drone to follow Soichiro, amazing.. Light is contacting Nagasaki police. The whole exchange sequence is pretty long and not really relevant, it’s just a whole lot of description on who is where when.

Mello also uses a drone to bring the notebook away. The gangster who wasn’t killed in a notebook test gets arrested.

____________

The gangster gets interrogated by Matsuda, but nothing really comes out of it. Light and Near talk about it and the gangster’s file.

The gangster is part of the Kinzangumi. They’re California-based organized crime with Japanese roots.

A lawyer named Yumi Hosoda waltzes into the interrogation. She’s a lawyer of the Kinzangumi. She argues with Matsuda and her lawyering gets him freed. Her arguing style makes clear that she knows of the Death Note, because her argument style relies on knowing the task force will never bring the notebook up.

Near brings up Mello’s status as a “prototype” successor, who in the end did not meet expectations, thus establishing Mello as a suspect. We then launch into a flashback.

_____________

ROGER: I didn’t say “come in”.

MELLO: I didn’t knock.

He comes in and closes the door.

MELLO: When were you going to tell me?

ROGER: Tell you what?

MELLO: That Watari is dead.

ROGER: Who told you that?

MELLO: A system crash that killed the servers for exactly 24 hours. That only happens if someone presses the emergency button.

ROGER: ....yes. It seems like our patron was killed yesterday.

MELLO: That means L is gone, too. Time for me to take over.

ROGER: Mello, I’m sorry, my boy.

MELLO: Here it comes.

ROGER: Well, this is a longer conversation, that we will have at another time.

MELLO: We’re having this conversation exactly now.

ROGER: ... mhmm... Near will take over.

MELLO: He’s still a child, he didn’t even notice the download!

ROGER: He simply proved himself appropriate for this task. He’s showing greater promise.

MELLO: You mean he just absorbs everything, waiting for orders so he knows what to do. That’s why I’m standing here now and he isn’t.

ROGER: I’m sorry, Mello.

MELLO: My whole life I’ve been trained for this moment, my whole life I’ve been the golden boy, before this little punk showed up-

ROGER: There are many other tasks you can fulfill. I’m sure we’ll find a position for you that is appropriate for your talents.

MELLO: I already had a position! I was supposed to be the next L! And now I should give that up for this little boy? I’m not letting myself be degraded to an errand boy.

ROGER: Exactly this attitude is a part of the problem, if I’m honest.

MELLO: No. You are the problem. You and Watari. You never saw it. You’re wasting your time trying to bow to the system, to respect the law. If you want to catch Kira, you have to play by his rules.

ROGER: I was afraid you’d say something like that...

MELLO: You can be afraid, Ruvie. I’m out. And I’m taking the data with me.

ROGER: They’re worthless to you. It’s going to take years to work through them.

MELLO: Then golden boy will at least be busy.

ROGER: Don’t let things end like this.

MELLO: It’s your end, Ruvie. You made this happen.

ROGER: Near will be the new L.

MELLO: Yeah, maybe. And I’ll be the special edition, who doesn’t play the same game as everyone else. Go ahead, send the child to find L’s killer. I’ll be there first, you’ll see.

ROGER: But what’s the cost, Mello?

MELLO: Whatever it takes.

#death note #light yagami #l lawliet #mihael keel #audio drama translations

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kumoriyami-xiuzhen · 3 years

Text

Hakuoki Yuugiroku 2 - Okita Chapter 1

This is my first post of the month, so I’ll start by asking you to please support me if you can through my ko-fi, and paypal or patreon which provides access to my hakuoki blog translations and early access to my postings. Also, please let me know if you have any hakuoki drama cds that you’d be willing to share that are on my Lookout List since i either do not have audio for those cds or do not have audio that I can share…. and if you are able to remove watermarks from a video, please contact me…

*sigh* i seem to have lost my favourite pliers (yes i have a favourite pair. you would too if you were making chainmaille cuz that seriously hurts your hand after a while lol). they were the only needle-nose pliers i have and while i can’t say im not tempted to get another pair as the ones im using now are broad-headed pliers, and using them is extremely difficult with the ring size im working with, im extremely cheap when it comes to getting new tools if i already have them.

anyway. enjoy!

Hakuoki Yuugiroku 2 Chapter 1 - Okita

Translation by KumoriYami

The pleasant sound of birds chirping came from nearby/ I didn't know where they came from, but I heard the pleasant chirping of birds.

I was hurriedly walking through headquarters———

Yukimura: Ah.....

I saw/bumped into Okita-san, who seemed to be unusually idle. .

Yukimura:…………

As I thought about the worrying conversation that happened this morning, I summoned my courage to try and greet him/courage and called out to him.

Yukimura: Ah, um, Okita-san......!

Souji: What is it?

Yukimura: Can I have a bit of your time......?

Souji: That’s fine, but...is this about the festival? Did you want to go too, Chizuru-chan?

Yukimura: !

Souji:......Well, there’s no way that it’s not that [???]. You should know what sort of position you’re in.

Souji: Although it's a rare festival [reword later? basically festivals rarely occur], you however, can't leave headquarters by yourself, right?

Yukimura:…………

Souji:…………

With his smile full of ill intentions, Okita-san stared at me as if he were urging something......

Yukimura: If, If Okita-san doesn’t mind, I’d be very happy if you could take me to the festival...

Souji: Heh. It's a bit surprising/little unexpected. [That?] You'd actually ask me that.

Souji: I don’t mind (though). I can’t/don't have patrol or need to practise today/I’m not allowed to patrol or practise today, so I have some/can spare the spare time.

Yukimura: Can’t /Not allowed to practise...?

Although those words made me feel uncomfortable, as I tilted my head...

Okita-san simply smiled, not answering the question I had just asked, and continued/and changed the subject.

Souji: Anyway, call me when/if you're ready to go out.

Souji: I don’t want to cause any problems, so make sure you aren’t seen/found out by anyone else.

Yukimura: Ah, that’s fine/there won’t be a problem...!

Souji: ?

Yukimura: Hijikata-san said that "it's okay, as long as/okay if you go with someone," and gave me permission to go out/head outside.

Souij:…………

I don't know why, but /For some reason, Okita-san suddenly fell silent and looked/became upset/frowned. had an unhappy expression as he fell silent.

Yukimura: Ah, that/this/Ah, um.....?

Souji:......Well, that doesn't matter. Regardless of what Hijikata-san said, I'll be the one to actually go out with/accompany you.

Yukimura: H-Ha......

Souji: Hey, Chizuru-chan. Hurry up and/Quickly get ready. Otherwise you'll be left/I’ll leave you behind?

Yukimura: I understand!

After making my preparations to go to the festival, I met up with Okita-san to leave headquarters.

At this time, Okita-san's mood seemed to have completely improved, and he was smiling happily.

Souji: I'm really looking forward to the festival. Then let's go.

Yukimura: yes!

However, as we started walking, a person quickly rushed out in front of us.

Yamazaki: Hold it/Wait, Okita-san. You can't leave/aren't allowed/ I can’t allow you to leave headquarters......!

Souji:——What would Chizuru-chan like to eat? There should be many stalls selling food/stalls that sell food at the festival.

Yamazaki: Don't ignore me!!

As if to physically stop him, Yamazaki-san moved his own body to obstruct/block Okita-san’ path.

Yamazaki: I was talking to you just now, Okita-san!?

Yukimura: Um......

In contrast to Okita-san and Yamazaki-san who were facing each other, I worriedly/carefully asked a question.

Yukimura: Okita-san, did you do something/did something happen/is something wrong?

Souji:......Aren’t those words a bit much/too much?

Yamazaki: Okita-san was very sick. Just a few days ago, he still had a terrible fever and cough, and had been bedridden.

Souji:......I've already recovered.

Yamazaki: You haven't completely recovered yet. [Furthermore,] The Vice-Commander should have ordered [that you] "are not allowed to go out until you recover first."

Yukimura: Is, Is that so?

Souji:…………

Perhaps it because of his illness being mentioned, or maybe it was because of Hijikata-san's name...

That Okita-san looked incredibly upset, and his expression became angry [or something like that. this sentence was weird].

Yukimura: Okita-san. Was there a reason (for) why you couldn’t/weren’t allowed to practise?

Souji:.......Everyone's just too overprotective. It's not that serious, but it's just that the dojo is so noisy that I’m staying away from it [really word. reword later?].

Yamazaki: Regardless of what Okita-san may say, you aren't allowed to pass through here. It’s what the Vice-Commander has ordered.

Yukimura:…………

I clenched my fists and stared straight at Okita-san. [not sure bout this sentence since i can interpret at least 5 different ways].

Yukimura: Let's go back/return/head back for now/the time being. Even with force, I don't think Yamazaki will ever be leaving here/moved | I don’t think Yamazaki-san will leave here, even if you used force...

Souji:…………

Yukimura: Please, Okita-san.

Even after listening to me though, Okita-san didn't provide any response......

After a while/Eventually, he reluctantly started walking and returned to headquarters.

However, Okita-san still hadn't/didn't seem to have recovered from his bad mood/ when he separated from me, it still seemed like Okita-san hadn’t recovered from his bad mood——。

-end of chapter-

#hakuoki #hakuouki #hakuoki yuugiroku 2 #okita souji #Yukimura Chizuru #Yamazaki Susumu #hakuoki game translation

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dialovers-translations · 3 years

Text

DIABOLIK LOVERS LOST EDEN Animate Gentei Tokuten Drama CD ”Ghouls’ Speciality ★ The Legendary Way of Making Donuts”

Original title: グール特製★幻のドーナツの作り方!

Source: Diabolik Lovers LOST EDEN Animate Gentei Tokuten Drama CD [CD not owned by me]

Audio: Here

Seiyuu: Toriumi Kousuke, Katsuyuki Konishi, Takagi Sakurai, Kimura Ryouhei & Tomoaki Maeno

Translator’s note: This is another one of those drama CDs where it really doesn’t feel like Diabolik Lovers, but the plot is just so much fun, you roll with it anyway. Seems like Kino is a natural at moving people with fake tears and sad stories because he even had some of the most rational characters in the franchise - being Reiji and Ruki - swallow his lies. xD I found it rather cute how Kou kept on taking Kino’s side too. Poor guy had no idea what was waiting for him...

→ LIKE MY TRANSLATIONS? SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI!

*Ding・dongー Ding・dongー*

*Rattle*

Kino: Heyaah~! Pardon the intrusion~!

Reiji: ...Hm? Kino. What brings you here?

Kou: Ah, Kino-kun! What’s wrong?

Ruki: He is probably plotting something again, no?

Kou: Oh come on, Ruki-kun! He might have his reasons, so let’s at least listen to what he has to say.

Shuu: Pwaah...How kind of you.

Kou: Geez, you too, Shuu-kun?

Reiji: Well, he only has his usual behavior to blame for that. So, what is your inquiry?

Kino: Come on, aren’t you guys being a little mean? I’m actually came all the way here to hang out with you all.

Ruki: ‘Hang out’, you say? Then get out at once. This is a place for learning, not for playing.

Reiji: My thoughts exactly. Next period will start in five minutes. We have home economics next, so we have to move to the cooking classroom.

Kino: ...!

Kou: Huh? What’s wrong, Kino-kun?

Kino: ... (sniffles) You don’t have...to be so mean...I only... (sniffles) I just...wanted to try going to school...since I was raised amongst ghouls...That’s all, yet...

Kou: ...! I didn’t know you grew up like that...

Ruki: I’m pretty sure he’s just making up random lies on the spot.

Kou: Ruki-kun, come on...! You really are going too far!

Ruki: Good grief...

Kino: You might not believe me, but it’s the truth...I wanted to sit alongside everyone, taking a class.

Shuu: You’ve got a few screws loose if you’re willingly taking class.

Reiji: You are the type of person who sneaks out of the room as soon as they see an opening after all. Well, right now you are unable to do so since you got that message saying you will have to repeat your year if you skip any more classes from here on out.

Shuu: Shut up...

Kou: I think you should go for it! The home economics teacher is a nice person after all!

*Ding dong・ding dong*

Ruki: We should get a move on soon or we’ll be late. Let’s go.

Kino: Eh? Then...?

Ruki: If you want to come with us, be my guest. It’s mere practice, so I doubt anyone will complain if you come and observe.

Kou: As to be expected of Ruki-kun~ He’s such an understanding onii-chan~

Reiji: Good grief...I will not take responsiblity for any of them. Shuu, come on. Hurry up and get ready.

Shuu: Pwaah...What a drag...

They get up and leave for the cooking classroom.

Kino: Fufufu...Step one, complete.

Kou: Hm? Did you say something?

Kino: Oh no, nothing!

Kou: Really? Anyway, if you’re gonna attend class, let’s go together!

Kino: Thank you! I’ll take you up on your offer then!

*TIMESKIP*

Kino: Uwaah! So this is what a cooking class looks like! It’s my first time seeing one, so I’m kind of excited! What are we gonna do here?

Kou: You get divided into groups and cook something.

Kino: Heeh...So cooking counts as parts of your studies as well?

Reiji: It’s similar to P.E. classes. Learning cooking through first-hand experience is without a doubt a form of learning.

Kino: Well...It’s a little different from what I imagined, but I guess it’s fine! So, what are we making today?

Shuu: Haah...Donuts, apparently.

Kino: Donuts, huh? Nice! I’m looking forward to it!

Reiji: Please don’t tell me you won’t simply observe, but actually intend on joining us?

Kino: Eh? I can’t.

Ruki: I wouldn’t go that far, but if you want to join in, ask the teacher to assign you a different group.

Kino: Eeeh~?

Reiji: Don’t ‘eeeh’ me. For one, our group already consists of these three people. We would rather not add another troublemaker into the mix.

Ruki: Well, I am pretty certain the two Sakamaki’s will be the ones causing the most trouble.

Reiji: ...!! Excuse me?

Kou: Woah, woah! Right now you two are about to make a fuss! Calm down!

Ruki: Hmph!

Kou: But like they said, if you want to actually join in, it might be best to join another group.

Shuu: I don’t mind letting you join if you do my share of the work.

Reiji: Haah? Shuu. What are you saying?

Shuu: Pwaah...I’ve just been so incredibly sleepy this whole time. I can’t make donuts like this. I’ll have to use every last bit of energy left within me to avoid falling face-first into the boil oil.

Ruki: Well, I never expected anything from you in the first place.

Reiji: Haah...

Kino: Then if I join in Shuu’s place, we fix all problems at once, right?

Kou: Hm...Do Ruki-kun and Reiji-kun agree with that?

Reiji: I suppose we have no other choice. I suppose you could at least substitute for that good-for-nothing over there.

Ruki: Let me warn you beforehand, if you don’t listen to my instructions, I am kicking you out at once.

Kino: Of course! I’ll properly follow your orders!

Reiji: One second.

Ruki: What? Do you have a problem?

Reiji: When exactly was it established that you would be the only leader of this group? I am fairly certain we decided that the two of us would share said position the other day.

Ruki: Is that so,

Reiji: Please don’t play dumb.

Ruki: ...Tsk.

Kino: ...For some reason, they suddenly started quarreling...

Kou: It’s their usual ‘cooking brawl’. When it comes to cooking in particular, these two just won’t make any concessions. That’s one of the reasons why I tried to stop you from joining our group earlier.

Kino: Heeh...I see.

Ruki: ...We should get started on the preparations soon, or we will not be able to complete the donuts in time.

Reiji: Good point. Well then, let us get started.

*Thud*

*Clatter clatter*

Ruki: Haah...Oi, what are you going to use that beater for?

Reiji: What do you mean? To mix the batter, obviously.

Ruki: Hah! Hahaha...You really are an amateur if you still use that to mix. A real cook uses a spatula.

Reiji: I beg your pardon? I am beyond baffled to hear such amateurish words coming from you.

Kou: Ah-aah...Seems like they’re gonna go at it today as well...

Kino: Fufufu~

Kou: Hm? Why did you chuckle just now?

Kino: Ah, no. I’m just very much looking forward to my first real class experience!

*TIMESKIP*

Reiji: Did you not hear me earlier? I strongly believe we should substitute the water in the recipe for tofu.

Ruki: Then they won’t turn out like what you’d call ‘your average donut’. I think that during practice, you should stick to the basics.

Reiji: I simply do not feel the need to create the exact same dish as the other groups.

Ruki: You are trying to show off, aren’t you? I don’t see why the rest of us should help you fulfill your own ego though.

Kino: They’re really at each other’s throats.

Kou: Well, this happens every time though. Anyway, can’t we settle on a recipe already? At this rate, we’re never finishing these donuts on time.

Ruki: However, that’s easy for you to say...

Kino: In that case, I will decide.

Reiji: Please do not tell me you will pick based on your personal preference?

Kino: I won’t! Why don’t we do this my way?

Kou: Hold up, Kino-kun...I doubt that will fix the issue at hand...

Kino: You think so? I’m quite confident in my cooking skills though?

Ruki: There you go trying to sell us lies again...

Reiji: Exactly. You? Cooking? Don’t you just leave everything up to your butler?

Kino: How rude! Who do you think I am? I was an orphan, abandoned in what was known as the most dangerous grounds of the Demon World. While it’s true that I have Yuuri do those things for me now, up till a certain age, I was living completely indepedently to survive, you know?

Reiji: ...! That’s...!

Kino: I’m not asking for your pity or anything. I just wanted to show that I can pull off a dish or two myself.

Kou: ...I-In that case, shouldn’t we leave it up to Kino? It’d make for a nice memory of his very first class as well!

Ruki: You do have a point. I suppose we will get nowhere if I continue to bicker with the second son of the Sakamaki’s.

Reiji: Understood. I shall leave it up to you.

Kino: You’ll believe me?

Reiji: Well, we too are aware of the dire circumstances of your upbringing.

Kino: Hehe~ Thank you. Well then, shall we get started right away?

Ruki: We don’t have time. Get on with it.

Kino: Roger! I’m pretty sure I put the recipe in here...

*Rustle*

Kou: Hm? How come you have your own recipe on hand?

Kino: ...Ah! Woah. A-Actually, it just so happens that I made donuts at home yesterday!

Kou: Heeh...Talk about amazing timing! That means you’re fully prepared!

Kino: Mmh...Y-Yeah!

Ruki: I see. So that is why you voluntarily raised your hand and offered to make them.

Kino: Yeah! Exactly!

Reiji: I do not care about that. Could you please hand over your recipe? We do not have much time left, so I will make quick work of iーー

*Rustle*

Kino: You can’t...!!

Reiji: Eh?

Kino: This recipe is...A legendary donut-making recipe which has been passed down from one generation of ghouls to the next!

Kou: Legendary donuts...!? Ghouls have been passing those down?

Kino: Mmh! Even amongst ghouls, only those chosen can inherit this recipe, so it’s top secret! If I have to tell you all the hardships I went through to get my hands on this recipe, we’ll be here for a while but...Do you want to hear?

Reiji: No thank you. If that is the case, I will the cooking up to you.

Kino: Thank you, Reiji! ...Well then, now that we’re all on the same page, let’s get to making these donuts! First up, we add sifted flour and a little of baking powder in a bowl.

*Psshhh*

Kou: Hm...Here! The flour and baking powder are ready!

Reiji: Likewise.

Ruki: Same here.

Kino: Okay! Next up...Is this!

*Thud*

Ruki: These are...spices, it seems?

Reiji: Seems like we’re on the track to making some very exotic-tasting donuts;

Kino: Well, I guess it adds an extra touch of flavor (1) Ghouls’ donuts are multi-layered!

Kou: Actually, you seem to be rather well prepared? You carry all of these on you?

Kino: Mmh, I do! The old lady who thought up this recipe told me in her will to carry these with me at all times,

Reiji: In her will!?

Kino: Mmh. Actually...Last year, she was caught by an unknown Vampire who attacked Rotigenberg and burned at the stake...

Shuu: Oi, cut it out.

Reiji: Shuu...? You are awake?

Shuu: Because you guys just won’t pipe down. Also I was forced to listen to that gag-inducing story.

Ruki: I see. It triggered your own trauma.

Shuu: Heh, shut up. Oi, why don’t you continue making those donuts instead?

Kino: Right. Let’s get back to business, so add in the spices in the exact order I tell you, okay?

Kou: Roger!

Kino: Uhm...

*Flip*

Kino: A dash of ‘Carolina’s Reaper’ (2), a bit of coriander, a pinch of clove...

Ruki: Hold up...I feel like these donuts will end up really spicy...

Kino: Hm...? You think so? The Ghoul’s donuts I grew up eating were always super delicious though?

Ruki: This smells fishy...

Kino: Uu... (tears up) I’m sorry but...This is really what the legendary recipe says...! Perhaps this seasoning...only suits the palate of us poor commoners...?

Kou: ...! D-Don’t say that! We’re basically commoners as well! We’re former humans who grew up in an orphanage after all.

Ruki: Exactly. We aren’t that different. Don’t say such things. I won’t comment on your recipe no more.

Kou: Mmh...Thank you...Reiji, are you willing to continue as well?

Reiji: Why of course. You might be surprised to find out that I am rather compassionate. Unlike a certain someone, I would never resort to doubting your recipe.

Ruki: ...!

Kino: Thank you too, Reiji.

Reiji: Don’t mention it. More importantly, let us continue.

Kino: Mmh! The remaining spices are dill, panch phoron and pinch of rock salt. Also, one tea spoon of miso, oil and sugar each.

*Pshhh*

Shuu: Are these miso flavored donuts?

Reiji: Shuu, it’ll only add a depth of flavor. It’s similar to adding soy sauce to Western cuisine. Let us not worry about it too much.

Shuu: ...?

Kino: You guys added all the ingredients?

Kou: I think I’m good to go!

Kino: Mmh~ Well then...Now we add this.

*Thud*

Ruki: ...Oh! This is...I’m not sure how to describe it, but this sauce sure has an uncommon color and consistency.

Reiji: Purple...? No, it has an orange hue as well.

Shuu: What’s this?

Kino: Hmー That’s classified information. (3)

Kou: Can we smell it?

Kino: Eh? Why?

Kou: Eh? Why, you ask? Because, well...It doesn’t look like something you should eat.

Kino: ...!!

Kou: Ah...!

Reiji: Kou...You were a little rude just now.

Kou: I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it like that!

Kino: ...I know. I guess you have a point. This would look like something inedible to normal people, huh? Butーー!

Shuu: It’s normal to you guys, right?

Kino: Mmh.

Kou: I’m sorry...I’m sure this is the trick to making delicious donuts, right? My bad!

Kino: Oh no, I’m sorry for pulling out something so weird-looking as well! I’ll put it away, okay?

Ruki stops him.

*Rustle*

Kino: ...! Ruki...?

Ruki: Don’t. You prepared this sauce for us. Let’s us use it.

Kino: Ruki...!

Ruki: We are prone to judging a book by its cover. Because of that, we often lose sight of what is truly important. I am...grateful to you. I am sure this will be an excellent opportunity to be reminded of our prejudices.

Reiji: My thoughts exactly, Mukami Ruki. I was convinced the two of us would never come to an agreement. No, I suppose you could say that is also a prejudice.

Ruki: Kino. Are you trying to teach us an important lesson?

Kino: Eh? Ah...Y-Yeah! Right! That’s my intention!

Shuu: Haah...Why not leave it at that? I feel like at this rate, this’ll turn into a conversation about world peace and mutual understanding. These donuts won’t ever be done.

Kou: Well, I think it’s a good thing to see Ruki and Reiji actually agree on something.

Kino: Right. Anyway...Kou, can you pop off the top and pour plenty of the sauce inside the dry mix?

Kou: Gotcha!

*Pop*

Reiji: ...!!!

Kino: Hm? Reiji? What’s wrong?

Reiji: O-Oh no, I was just thinking the scent is rather intense...No, I suppose I would say ‘unique’ compared to other things I’ve smellt before...I am impressed. Right, Ruki? Don’t you feel the same way?

Ruki: Right...It definitely is unlike anything I’ve smellt before. If I had to compare it to something...Like a tropical fruit which has become overripe and become roーー No...A little past its ideal ripeness, you could say.

Shuu: ...It stinks.

Kou: S-Shuu-kun! Be careful of your words. Didn’t you hear Ruki-kun and the others earlier?

Shuu: That it may smell horrible but the taste might be good?

Reiji: Exactly! For example, think of fermented foods such as kusaya or surströmming. I am sure it is something similar to that.

Kino: Mmh, pretty much!

Shuu: I know about those kind of fermented foods, but we’re making donuts right now, remember?

Ruki: That shows you are relying too much on your rusted beliefs. Kou, hand it to me! I will pour it inside the donuts!

Kino: Ah! Remember to shake well before use!

Ruki: Yes!

Ruki shakes the bottle.

Ruki: ...There we go. Good to go. I’m sure it’s well-mixed now.

*Pop*

Ruki: Oi, Kino, how much do I add?

Kino: You can add the whole bottle!

Ruki: There’s quite a bit in here though?

Kino: No problem! It says right here on the recipe.

Ruki: Understood. In that case...

He starts pouring it inside the mix.

*Pshhh*

Ruki: Hm....

Reiji: Mmphーー (gags)

The dough starts reacting in a strange way.

Kou: H-Hold up...This doesn’t seem right!?

*Blup blup*

Reji: It’s bubbling...!? There seems to be some sort of scientific reaction occurring?

Shuu: ...This sucks...Can we really make legendary donuts this way...?

Kino: Fufufu...Fufufu...Ahahahaha...!!

Kou: Cough, cough...! K-Kino-kun...!?

Ruki: ...What on earth...!?

Kino: Ahahaha! Look at you bunch of fools!!

Reiji: ...!! Which means...You deceived us!?

Kino: Call it whatever you want, but I had this all planned out from the very beginning! I’m pretty sure you all have some screws loose for believing such a ridiculous recipe though!

Ruki: ...!! T-Then...What is this gelatinous substance you made us believe was donut batter!?

Kino: You’ll find out eventually...No, very soon, actually. A first-hand experience, you could say~

Kino backs off.

Shuu: W-Wait! G-Get rid of this thing before you leave!

Kino: Eh? I can’t do that. After all...

Kino jumps into the air.

Kou: W-Wait, Kino-kun!

Kino: I won’t wait! Well then, let’s start the countdown! Five! Four!

*Blup blup*

Kou: Eeeh!? This is bad! The stuff inside the bowl has started swelling!

*Pshhhh*

Reiji: Gas is leaking out...!!

Ruki: What...!?

Kino: Three! Two! One!

*BOOOOOOOOOOM*

Kino: Fufufu...Just as planned, a grandious explosion! Man, that was fun! Those Sakamaki’s and Mukami’s are still so naive. Or rather, they quite the kind-hearted bunch. Unlike me~ Right? I gotta think of some new jokes so I can play with them all again~

*SCENE SHIFT*

Shuu: ...I had a bad feeling about it from the very start.

Kou: Honestly...Beliefs and prejudices, my ass!

Ruki: Tsk...Shut up! You guys were moved by it as well, weren’t you?

Reiji: Haah...I’ve had my ‘fill’ of donuts for quite some time...Honestly...

ーー THE END ーー

Translation notes

(1) Kino uses the term 隠し味 or ‘kakushi-aji’ which literally means ‘hidden flavor’. It is often used in context of making curry, where one may add something like chocolate for a sweet touch.

(2) An extremely hot red pepper which has become infamous online through various YouTube challenges in which people try and eat them. (Or food made with them)

(3) He calls it a 企業秘密 or ‘kigyou himitsu’ which literally means ‘company secret’.

197 notes · View notes

disposedserenity · 4 years

Text

*rough* review of MOTS:7

The title might say review, but it’s really just my own thoughts that I want to share in the form of verbal vomit. STREAM while u read.

1) Interlude: SHADOW I loved the song right away on first listen. The extended version is soooo good, because it traces back to yoongi’s iconic ‘I want big house, big cars, big rings’ line from NMD. Thematically, this is my favourite concept out of the 3 rap line solos (Persona, Shadow & Ego). Yoongi songs all immediately reasonate with me because the stuff he writes about are what I’ve experienced at one point in my life.... and I feel so deeply when yoongi is rapping about it. At this point, I could go on forever about why I love yoongi songs so much but I will stop here.

2) Black Swan

It took me about three listens to fully appreciate the song, but I KNEW I was going to love it when I heard that trap beat and the bump bump bump lyric... Then I watched the performance, and I just loved it even more. For years, I’ve been fervently wishing that bts (especially jimin) would do a contemporary dance and I AM SO GLAD THEY DID!! Speaking of the dance, that’s another analysis on it’s own.... The way they match the dance steps to the lyrics.... Also this song lined up right after shadow makes perfect sense because Shadow talks about losing yourself into the deepest and darkest recesses of your soul while in Black Swan, the boys step into that shadow and confront it because they realise you have to make peace with your shadow to emerge triumphant.

3) Filter

I swear, this could be an Alec Benjamin song because this song has Alec Benjamin VIBES all over. Well, I guess jimin took inspiration from him because he put a ton of alec’s songs on his spotify playlist and even went to his concert so yey! Both their voice tones are similar ish because it’s very distinct and their singing voices are quite different from their speaking voices so it’d be really cool if they made a song together. Funnily enough, I don’t really like this song as much as I thought I’d would. It’s not a bad song, but I think I don’t gravitate to this song as much because this song was written about jimin for jimin and it’s really himself that he’s singing it to.

This song also radiates BIG libra energy. Libras love changing and moulding their personalities to please other people and they put on various personas to showcase the multi-faceted sides of themselves (sorry, just a huge astrology enthusiast here lolol). Filter has a narcissist undertone to it done in a purposeful manner. The protagonist of this song KNOWS he’s desired and is flaunting it in any way possible. They are aware of the power they hold and are wielding it to control the listener (the pursuers) Ahahaha sounds like someone we know? Recently, I told a friend that Jimin is really good at fan service. He’s the idol of idols, his face and name gets recognised first, everyone wants to be him AND be with him.... To sum it up, filter is jimin showing the world that he has many sides and it doesn’t matter which we are going to choose because he can adapt to whichever one you please (this push and pull reminds me a lot of house of cards hmm...)

4) My Time

Jungkook definitely has some magic where his song always gets to me and I immediately like the song. I think he excels in laying out his emotions bare and this creates a perfect canvas for telling his story. I definitely cannot relate to what he talks about in My TIme because I am not a jetsetting global superstar who vary between time zones (not that I know of), yet I still feel like I’ve been in his exact footsteps and know that feeling. This, my friends, is what true skill looks like. The rarest of musicians are able to write a song about themselves and make it relevant to almost everyone. It’s an impossible task. Yet, this golden maknae has succeeded once again.

In Begin, he talks about leaving Seoul to pursue his dreams and dedicates that song to his 6 members, his 6 newfound brothers, the hardships they go through and again, this hits you hard. You might not have left your hometown at a young age, but everyone has left something or someone behind in their lives. Euphoria ALWAYS makes me melancholic even though I clearly 1) am not young, 2) do not have a first love 3) minus bts, would NOT call anyone the cause of my euphoria but shit, jungkook out here got me feeling things and tearing up.

Thank you jungkook for constantly expressing your thoughts in such a clear way in any song you write, and My Time is no exception (and it sounds like such a r&b banger too)

5) Louder than Bombs

TROYE! SIVAN! You absolutely can hear troye’s fingerprints all over this song because this song sounds like a troye song (in the best way possible, because I looooove troye and his music) This is another classic “happy sounding but sad af lyrics” bangtan moment. Louder than Bombs is a good midway point in the album because they are crossing into the sad, aggressive, heart tearing, no bullshit songs territory.

(I don’t have a lot to say about this because I really love this song and sometimes with songs that I like, I just sit back and enjoy for what it is.)

6) ON

OKAY NOW LET’S GET INTO FORMATION! (yes, this was the first thing that it reminded me of hahaha and her superbowl half time performance had a marching band too) THIS.IS.SUCH.AN.ABSOLUTE.EARWORM. I LOVE IT. The 30 second preview made me so intrigued because it only featured the “hey na na na” part so I wondered what ON would sound like. I was NOT expecting it to sound like that, but what can I say? BTS always blows me away with their title tracks.

Speaking of formation, hooooo boy do I love the formation of this choreography. Mad props to The Lab for pulling this out of their hat because IT IS SO IMPRESSIVE. The set up reminds me of dionysus too, in the way that the choreography is being arranged in the live performances. Big ups to the Blue Devils marching band too, because even though you can’t really see much of them in the mv (or maybe I’m too focused on the boys lol) but you can hear the marching band so much clearer in the audio and I am LIVING for it. Overall, I am utterly thrilled by this masterpiece.

7) UGH!

*gunshots* alright back to 2013 bangtan let’s go. UGH, when will rap line stop making a banger? never I guess, UGH. lord, just let me get dissed by rap line once and then life would be better.

I. fucking. love. the. rap. line. I am definitely not smart enough to try to analyse or decipher the lyrics even with translations because their wordplay is on a whole other level. With cyphers and ddaeng, I really shouldn’t be surprised anymore but I still am. They manage to outdo themselves with every new song they release together. RM, Suga and J-Hope are great on their own but you put them TOGETHER? in one STUDIO? god help us all when this is performed live because someone’s gonna get headbanged out of the venue. I’ll end this with a silent prayer for a rap line concert.....

8) 00:00

This song is so, so, so painful. This song is what Tonight is to me. Ok I’m going to get a whole lot more personal here.

I was in a fucking terrible internship last year during the period Persona was released (I’m actually quite thankful this song wasn’t released then or I’d really have full on goblin ugly cry listening to this). That was the worst job experience I’ve ever had in my life (lao tian ye please don’t deal me any more shitty hands). I spent every day wishing that my misery would end soon and I physically did not want to go to work the next day. Every morning, I was almost crying to have to get up to go to work (and because it was an almost 2 hour journey to the office). By the time I reached home, all I could do was eat (if I had an appetite) and retire to my room and lie on the floor and just stare into my ceiling while mindlessly scrolling through social media looking for some sort of solace. Some days, even bts wasn’t doing it for me. Even though I managed to get out of that hellhole before the end date, the trauma (lol can I call it that?) and emotions stayed with me throughout the rest of the year. Only one friend knew I had depression and constantly asked me about it (thank you friend, even though you won’t read this...) and I even looked up therapists in singapore.

The lyrics ‘An unsettling night, suddenly, I look at the clock. Soon, it’s 12 O’Clock. Will something change. It probably won’t be the case’ hits so hard because this describes my situation to a T. By the time I got home, it was about 8.30 and by the time I snapped out of my mindlessness, it was almost midnight and this cycle just carried on for months.

Zero O’Clock

And you gonna be happy

Midnight is both a happy and sad hour, because for some it could signal the end of their misery or their happiness. Back then, it was my hell because it meant a new hellish day was approaching. Looking back now, I realise it could have been a tiny form of happiness because it meant that the days are passing and the end to my pain was getting closer.

So thank you Jin, Jungkook, V and Jimin for creating such a beautiful song that I didn’t know would end up being so personal. Putting aside the meaning, it is such a great song that I’d put on repeat. But I’m scared to call this a favourite because of how intimate this is for me so I hope y’all understand. But, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

9) Inner Child

This sounds like it should be a in a drama or anime haha. The “whoa ohhhh” vocals in the backgrounds reminds me a lot of Jet Lag too. Inner Child is a very fitting title because as V described, it is a letter to his past self. As an ARMY, I’ve witnessed how much V has matured over the past few years. I mean even though all of the members have also grown, V’s transformation is the one that stands out the most (at least to me). Tae went from a bright eyed outgoing kid to a still outgoing but deeply contemplative adult in front of millions of adoring fans and strangers alike, and I cannot imagine how that must be like for him. V is a notoriously private person, and we know the least about if you reeeally think about it. I will never (nor do I want to) know what goes through his mind but I appreciate the fact he reveals a tiny glimpse of it in his songs (scenery, winter bear and now inner child).

10) Friends

CAN YOU SPELL SOULMATES? NO YOU CAN’T, BECAUSE THERE IS NO VMIN IN IT. Ships are cute and all, but vmin has trascended beyond what ships are and I’m convinced they are all part of a bigger plan arranged by the Almighty that no matter what happens, they will always find each other in their four lives (can you tell I’ve been watching Goblin lolol). Recently, I was listening to a podcast by Jae and the episode was about the probability of soulmates. One of the questions he posed was what is a soulmate? To me, I believe that soulmates exist in many forms. There are the romantic soulmates (hi glenn & benn), friendship soulmates, family soulmates, strangers soulmates and even a bond between a pet and a human. I now think there should be another category of soulmates and that is vmin. *cries I want what vmin have* Not everyone manages to find their soulmates. The lucky ones do, and the rest of us will have to settle for second best.

Also kudos to Jimin for his first ever produced song! woohoo

11) Moon

When I first read that this was a song about Jin’s love for ARMY, I braced myself for a full waterfall of tears. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how happy this song sounds??? (thanks jin for not making me cry again like tonight did). Now that I think about it, of course Jin would make a happy love song (pffft saggis). As we all know, Jin’s way of comforting himself is to comfort others through laughter, smiles and lotsa dad jokes. No one else but Jin would and I love him even more for this. He takes the idea of what you’d think a love song would sound like and turn it around. SAD? NOT IN JINHIT ENTERTAINMENT.

Jin, know that you are more than a handsome face and the oldest member. You are loved more than you think you are. You think you’re the moon to us? No hun, you are the entire galaxy contained in those worldwide shoulders.

12) Respect

My favourite track. I mean starting with that iconic “should I stay or should I go” line? Genuis. Collab of the year. Namgi of the year. Ok, maybe I am slightly (alot) bias since this song is essentially Suga, RM & El Capitixn (yes, THE El Capitixn that helped to produce DDAENG).

Namgi dynamics are so rarely talked about because most people see them as the underground rapper duo who’ve known each other over 10 years and are old friends and that’s about it. Their dynamics just gets to me even more because the trust and respect they have for each other is incredible. Joon looks up to yoongi as an older member and also for his incredible work ethic, while yoongi trusts joon wholeheartedly as their leader even though joon is younger and the way they banter off each other? ugh, where can I get bros like namgi? Their rap and producing styles are so vastly different yet the result that is respect makes ME respect them. Use me as your slave, masters.

bonus: that ending clip of them just having a convo? please share your stories from back in the day, please. I said please. with a cherry on top.

13) We are Bulletroof: the Eternal

Is this MOTS : 7′s answer to Mikrokosmos? I can already imagine this as the ending song of a concert..... A perfect tune to end the album as well. Who knew my attraction to the number seven had a deeper meaning than just simply liking it huh? Is my life preplanned too.... @ universe give me answers. I really like how this song did not go the WABB Part 1 & 2 route and took a softer approacher indeed. It’s almost like they are saying we were seven hardened boys made more tender with the existence of armys.... ok bitch don’t make me cry anymore than I have been suppressing.

“we are not seven, with you” :’))))

14) Outro: Ego

This is the kind of song that gets better the more you listen to it. Not that it was bad on the first listen, but usually such bright and positive songs takes a while longer for the emo in me to process. I say this all the time that I almost sound like a broken recorder, but I LOVE LOVE how hobi has crafted a sound for him that is uniquely his and you will be able to immediately recognise it’s him (which is such a hard feat to pull off, might I add). I’m also immensely proud because he started out as a street dancer to becoming one of the best rappers in the industry while holding his rightful candle alongside two already established rappers that is namgi. I cannot wait to see this being performed live because you just know he’ll get everyone and their grandmas to start vibin right there.

In conclusion, I love bts. what else is there more to say.

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kanasmusings · 6 years

Text

[Translation] QUELL - Believer Drama Track 3

Okay, I know that this has been translated on FB somewhere but a lot of people have asked me to continue so here it is~ I’ll be sharing all the audio in one folder in the masterpost when I reblog it ^^

Track 3: [東京へ] “To Tokyo”

※ Please don’t re-post the English translations without permission.

Under the cut, enjoy~

Track 3: [東京へ] “To Tokyo”

(footsteps)

SHU: Alright.

ICHIRU: (snoring)

SHU: (sits down on the bed beside Ichiru and pats him) He’s sleeping so well. It’s almost morning but I should let him sleep until he wakes up on his own.

ISSEI: I’m sorry…

SHU: Don’t worry about it. It’s normal to get sleepy after eating a lot.

ISSEI: When Ichiru wakes up, we’re going back to the institution.

SHU: (sighs) Do you think Ichiru would be okay with that?

ISSEI: I’ll make him be okay with it. Up until now, that institution was what raised us. They gave us work so we can’t cause them trouble.

ISSEI: I know that Ichiru’s aware of that, too. Plus, he only got involved in an incident about me. There’s no need for him to quit.

SHU: You two really get along well, huh? I’m a little jealous.

ISSEI: You don’t have siblings?

SHU: Probably.

ISSEI: “Probably?”

SHU: My mom never married. And she died when I was six years old. I don’t know who my father is.

ISSEI: That… Is that written on your public profile?

SHU: Ah, um, no it isn’t. I don’t really mind talking about it but the agency’s probably worried about my image so they didn’t make it public.

SHU: Are you interested in the entertainment industry, Issei?

ISSEI: Not really… But, even if I wasn’t interested, anyone would recognize your face.

SHU: Though Ichiru looks like he hasn’t noticed yet.

ISSEI: That’s… A lot has happened and he probably didn’t think that an idol would be walking around those parts.

ISSEI: Actually, Ichiru’s very knowledgeable about stuff like that…

SHU: It’s true. It’s not easily noticeable in a crowded area like that. Normally, I wouldn’t go there in private, too.

SHU: Compared to overseas paparazzi, Japan’s press is comparatively small.

ISSEI: Even so… Someone famous like you took us in and even brought us to a hotel you’re staying in…

ISSEI: Would that be okay…? Though I don’t think I’m in any position to ask…

SHU: Now that you mention it, it does seem a little inappropriate.

ISSEI: Is this… Are you just killing time or doing this on a whim?

SHU: No, I’m not. I told you, right? I couldn’t leave you alone. That’s all there is to it.

SHU: I guess you could call it an adult’s responsibility. If a child’s being troubled, we’re here to help. It’s an obvious thing, isn’t it?

ISSEI: Obvious…?

ISSEI: If that’s always the case then that would be great…

SHU: Plus, after seeing your closeness to each other, I couldn’t leave you alone.

SHU: I can tell that you two are tied with a strong bond. Is that normal between twins? I’m a little jealous.

ISSEI: It’s strange for someone like you who can afford to stay in a hotel like this to say that you’re jealous of us…

ISSEI: Bonds can’t fill empty stomachs and you can’t live on it alone.

SHU: I see. To me, it looks like what you are to Ichiru and what Ichiru is to you is enough for a reason to live.

ISSEI: That’s… That’s because we have nothing else… If we’re going to have to live then at least it’s good to have a reason to.

ISSEI: That’s what I think.

SHU: That may be so. But, sacrificing everything you have isn’t ideal.

SHU: To me, being able to be born with something that you’ll treasure all your life is an undeniable luxury.

SHU: Even if you sacrifice blood or money, it’s not something that everyone can get their hands on. It’s definitely got value, you know?

ISSEI: You say such romantic things, don’t you? As expected from a celebrity…

SHU: Ah… That’s right. There’s one more.

ISSEI: One more?

SHU: Another reason why I took you in. I just remembered it.

SHU: I’m… I’m a little lost now, too. I have nowhere to return to.

SHU: “Sympathy”, it’s compassion.

ISSEI: You’re… lost…?

ISSEI: … I don’t understand.

SHU: (chuckles) I can understand why. Anyway, it would be better if you rested a little bit more.

SHU: Would it be alright if you took a shower after you woke up? You sweated quite a bit a while ago so at least change clothes for now.

ISSEI: Yes…

SHU: I’ll take your clothes to get cleaned. It should be back here by noon.

ISSEI: We’ll definitely pay you back for this kindness.

SHU: There’s no need. I did this on my own decision after all.

ISSEI: I don’t like leaving favors unreturned… Me and Ichiru both…

SHU: You’re very honest, aren’t you? (Shu stands up) Then, I’ll be looking forward to that.

ISSEI: … Where are you going…?

SHU: You’d feel uncomfortable if I’m here if you’re sleeping, won’t you? There’s another room inside the room where Ichiru’s sleeping. If you need me, don’t hesitate to call.

ISSEI: Isn’t this room a little bit too big…?

SHU: I thought so too at first but it turned out really well, huh? Alright then, good night.

(Shu leaves and closes the door behind him)

ISSEI: … He’s such a strange person.

(Issei sits down on the bed)

ISSEI: Izumi Shu, huh…

(Shu speaking on the phone)

SHU: Thank you for your hard work. I’m so sorry for calling this late.

SHU: What happened to the drinking party?

SHU: If that’s so then you have some free time, don’t you? There’s something I would like you to please look up.

SHU: I would like to rely on someone local so…

ICHIRU: (stretches and yawns) I slept a lot… The futon’s so fluffly~…

ICHIRU: What’s this place…? Is it heaven…?

ICHIRU: Ah, that’s right! Issei! (Ichiru gets up and starts running) Issei!

ICHIRU: Issei, Issei!

ISSEI: Hm…

ICHIRU: (sighs from relief) Your fever’s gone down… That’s great.

SHU: Good morning, Ichiru.

ICHIRU: Hello…

SHU: Is Issei still sleeping?

ICHIRU: He’s always been bad at waking up in the mornings so…

SHU: Well, I’d figure that he’s still a little tired after recovering from sickness. Let’s let him sleep for a while.

ICHIRU: …

ICHIRU: You… What are you planning?

SHU: Hm?

ICHIRU: I mean, it’s suspicious no matter how you look at it, isn’t it?

ICHIRU: Doing all this when we’re simply strangers to you… And um… Uh… Showing us all this kindness…

SHU: Issei told me the same thing. He asked me if I’m just killing time or if it’s just my whim.

ICHIRU: Do you have a lot of free time or something?

SHU: I wonder. I don’t know about the future but for now I’m very busy is what I think.

ICHIRU: And you’re rich, right…? I mean, you’re staying in this kind of room after all.

SHU: Well, I won’t disagree.

ICHIRU: Don’t tell me… You’re yakuza or something…?

SHU: (laughs)

ICHIRU: What?!

SHU: (laughs) No, I’m sorry. It’s true that it’s easy to be mistaken for yakuza under these circumstances.

ICHIRU: Don’t tell me… A-are you p-planning on selling us…?!

SHU: Selling… Ah, I see. (in a teasing voice) There’s that method, too~

ICHIRU: (panicking) Hey, wake up, Issei!

ICHIRU: Issei, wake up, I tell you!

ISSEI: What…?

ICHIRU: We’re running away!

ISSEI: Where…?

ICHIRU: I don’t care where! This guy’s dangerous!

ISSEI: Dangerous…?

ICHIRU: Come on, just wake up!

SHU: (laughs) I’m just joking. Don’t be in such a panic.

ICHIRU: Stay away from Issei! If you’re gonna sell someone then just sell me!

ISSEI: Sell…? What are you talking about?

SHU: Good morning, Issei.

ISSEI: (sleepily) Good morning…

ICHIRU: This isn’t the time for casual greetings!

SHU: Which would you prefer for breakfast? Omelets or scrambled eggs?

ISSEI: … Scrambled eggs…

ICHIRU: ISSEI!!

SHU: Got it. Would that be alright with you too, Ichiru?

ICHIRU: I won’t be lured in by food again!

SHU: Your clothes have come back from the laundry service. When you’re done eating, we’ll be on our way.

ISSEI: On our way…? Where?

SHU: To Tokyo.

ISSEI: Tokyo?

ICHIRU: We’re gonna be sold…!

SHU: I asked someone to talk to the institution where you work for you to quit smoothly.

ICHIRU: Hah…?

SHU: I contacted them, too. It seems like they were worried and felt relieved after hearing what happened.

SHU: They didn’t seem all bad to me.

ISSEI: Eh…?

SHU: You two, would you please come to Tokyo with me?

ISSEI: I don’t understand…

SHU: I know of a good job. Something that would provide you with meals and a place to stay, too.

SHU: I think it’s quite a good deal, don’t you?

ISSEI/ICHIRU: Huh…?

==END==

#quell #quell translations #my translations #tsukipro #drama cd #queued post #kazokuberu is the best!!!

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INTERVIEW: So I’m a Spider, So What? Shun Voice Actor Shun Horie

In coordination with the current season of So I’m a Spider, So What?, Crunchyroll News was given the opportunity to officially translate interviews with the staff and cast of the series. You can read the original Japanese interview with Shun Horie right here.

The interview was conducted by Daisuke Iwakura.

So I'm A Spider, So What? Relay Interview: Shun Horie as Shun. "He may not be very reliable right now, but it'll be interesting to see how he grows."

Part 4 of the interview series for the TV Anime So I'm A Spider, So What? features Shun Horie, who plays the character of Shun! How does he portray a character who's serious with a good sense of right and wrong, but still in the process of growing up? And what kind of drama will unfold in the human side of the story? We ask all about what to expect.

—The story has finally begun. What do you have to say about the first two episodes?

Horie: Early on it was explained to me that Shun is the protagonist of the human portion of the story, but he's still not quite acting like one, so you get the impression he hasn't sorted himself out yet. His adoration for his brother, the Hero Julius, is more strong than anything else about him, and it feels less like he's trying to live up to that example and more like he's just chasing his brother's coat tails. There's a mixture of, "Is he gonna be okay?" anxiety and, "He's just getting started," expectation.

—He does seem to be kind of infatuated with the idea of Julius whenever he comes up.

Horie: I agree. (Laughs) In the scenes where Shun talks about Julius, the audio director told me to talk in a higher pitch and to sound more excited.

—That's interesting. What approach did you bring to the role in general?

Horie: I was told at the audition to not make him seem too heroic, so I make sure to try and emphasize how weak and underdeveloped he still is. It ended up being harder than I thought, especially as the number of battle scenes increased. It's hard to maintain that underlying vulnerability. Take a scene where he's fighting with a sword, for example. It's difficult to know how much oomph to put into the sounds he makes. I've received direction to "make sure to leave some weakness in there" before.

—Is the idea to show how gradually Shun grows over time?

Horie: I think so. Shun has a lot of trials waiting in his future, where he's going to get a little bit stronger every time. It helps to have that long-term perspective on where he's going.

—Was there anything particular about the human side of the story from episodes 1 and 2 that you wanted to make note of?

Horie: I think Hugo's presence is hard to ignore. You can feel how ambitious he is and tell how high of an opinion he has of himself. It gives him the impression of subconsciously looking down on everyone, which makes you worry about him becoming a source of conflict and misunderstanding. ��He calls their teacher Filimøs "Oka-chan" and is casually friendly with his other classmates, but... you get the feeling he could be dangerous.

—There's a scene in episode two where Hugo talks about becoming the strongest human, and that doesn't seem to sit right with Shun.

Horie: Right. Because Shun thinks the strongest human should be his brother, Julius. (Laughs) I don't think Shun and Hugo's relationship is going to be smooth sailing going forward, but I personally can't bring myself to hate Hugo, so I hope things don't get too caustic between them.

—Kaito Ishikawa, who voices Hugo, is in the same talent agency as you, right?

Horie: We're recording voiceover in smaller groups, but I'm always glad when I get to work with Ishikawa-san. We both ended up as main cast members in another show at the same time as this one, and it's made things a lot easier, because there's a kind of natural interplay that develops from getting to work together frequently. There was an episode that was a big turning point in Shun and Hugo's relationship, and I told him afterwards, "That was fun," and he was glad to hear it. (laughs)

—Are there any other characters you find interesting at this point?

Horie: Yuri and Fei, I'd say. Yuri seems cute enough, but like her character introduction implies, she can get tunnel vision about certain things. There are scenes where she says some ominous stuff coming up, so I'm curious and anxious about how she's going to play into the story moving forward. As for Fei... I had a lot of trouble figuring out how Shun would interact with her.

—What do you mean?

Horie: Fei is kind of like Shun's partner in a lot of ways. And I wasn't sure how to really dig into how they get along... Fei was a bully when she was a human, and thinks that her monster form is a kind of punishment for that. And when it came up, I thought about how, even though she's so close to Shun, she used to be a bully. I'm pretty sure that Shun knew that Mirei Shinohara (Fei's previous life) was bullying people. It made me wonder about the two of them becoming friends in spite of that. It kind of stuck in my mind...

—It sounds like you personally have trouble accepting it.

Horie: I think so. I believe the only person that she was bullying was a girl named Wakaba-san, and that her relationship with Shunsuke Yamada (Shun's past life) wasn't particularly rough. But it makes me wonder about Shun, who lets this bully ride around his shoulder like his partner. It took me a while to accept that. KitaEri's (Eri Kitamura) acting is really good too, and gives off a really stuck-up vibe, which just made it harder. (laughs)

—Was there anything in particular that helped you understand their relationship?

Horie: Moving forward, the story is really going to dig into what kind of person Shun is, and there will be a scene that makes clear what his position is relative to his classmates. Portraying things like that helped me understand, eventually. Anyone who is interested in the relationship between Shun and Fei will have plenty to look forward to.

—On another note, what do you think of the Kumoko parts of the story?

Horie: There's such a clear distinction between the human segments and Kumoko's in terms of the atmosphere and the sense of world-building, it's almost like getting to enjoy two shows at once. When I first got the script, I didn't know that Kumoko would be 3DCG or that the human parts would be so smoothly animated, so it came as a surprise to actually see. It's interesting to watch the different parties doing their best in totally different situations. Other than that... I'm honestly intimidated by how talented (Aoi) Yuki-san is, especially since we work at the same agency.

—She had a remarkable number of lines in the first episode.

Horie: Oh, definitely. (Laughs) When I saw how much of the first script was nothing but Kumoko lines, I started to feel a little anxious. The human part of the story, especially in the second half, didn't have nearly as much, which really made how much Kumoko had to talk stand out in comparison. Yuuki-san records her lines separately, so usually those of us from the human part of the story just talk about how amazing her work turns out after the fact. (laughs) Her acting is honestly really incredible. She talks almost non-stop, yet you never get tired of listening to her, and she does a great job of accentuating every moment.

—The fact that your recording sessions are separate feels like the story being reflected in real life.

Horie: That's exactly the case. Until the finished episode is ready, I don't know what Yuuki-san's performance is like, so it's like we really did reincarnate into different places. Ishikawa-san, KitaEri-san and I will wonder how Kumoko is doing when we're recording.

—Thank you for talking with us. Do you have anything you want people to keep an eye out for in episode 3 and beyond?

Horie: The situation starts to change drastically on the human side from this point on, particularly the relationship between Shun and Hugo. This will result in Shun starting to grow more as a prince and as a human being, so I hope people keep an eye on that. The further into the series we get, the more serious the situation becomes on the human side, but Kumoko will bring the laughs even as she encounters danger. Be careful not to get whiplash from the difference in tone. (laughs)

By: Guest Author

#Anime #News #Latest in Anime News by Crunchyroll!

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