#we did flub one run

[glacierruler]

The Bumblebees thought they could make a new record that couldn't be beat, but NOPE! Midnight Wisps broke their record that they had made just a few minutes later!

Also the Bumblebees may have placed first in the event, but only barely! We were right behind them in second!

#midnight wisps #bumblebees #jelle's marble runs #marble league #marble league 2023 #marble league spoilers #jmr #we did flub one run #but that was simply because we would not let another team keep the record for block pushing #that is OUR thing #so it was a tactical move to preserve energy #so we could keep our record #we ARE the best a block pushing #glacier rambles #i am way too excited about this

[the-meghan-m]

Sorry to switch gears all of a sudden but I’m thinking about that episode of Golden Girls where Dorothy and Blanche are fighting because Dorothy is afraid Blanche is dating Dorothy’s ex-husband Stan. The layers of commentary on the roles of women are subtle but immense. At the end of the episode, Blanche asks Dorothy, “Why did you marry Stan?” because she honest-to-god can’t figure out what such a smart, strong, independent, capable woman like Dorothy could possibly have seen in a man like Stan. Stan, who tries to act like he’s younger than he really is and actually left Dorothy for a younger woman. Stan, who in this very episode has run back to Dorothy, his ex-wife he cheated on, for emotional support because he flubbed his own business (he says to Dorothy “no one knows me like you do!” I mean gross, and in other episodes of GG it’s revealed how awful Stan is to Dorothy, I mean this guy is a loser, we do not stan Stan). And, of course, it turns out Dorothy doesn’t see much in Stan, she never did - he got her pregnant and so she married him, because as a woman that is what she was expected to do. And even now when she’s free of Stan and living with other women she’s afraid of losing or tarnishing those memories of when, despite enduring years of mistreatment, she feels she tried to do womanhood “right.” At the end both women choose their friendship over any real or perceived relationship with Stan, a mediocre man who has fallen into a mess of his own making, even while contemplating the “magenta” feelings they have about certain parts of their lives.

Golden Girls is funny and iconic but it’s also about a group of women who are recovering from the patriarchy together and at times, it is just beautiful.

#ok I promise back to regularly scheduled x files content #but golden girls…chef’s kiss. #golden girls #the golden girls #tv

[oneatlatime]

More Zuko Alone Thoughts

Last season our expository Zuko episode was The Storm, an episode which I loved. It was both a well-written and well-animated piece of media, and enthralling to watch. I don't want to say enjoyable because of the subject matter discussed, but it was certainly good.

This season's expository Zuko episode was Zuko Alone, and I didn't like it. Although it was animated fantastically, I found the characterisation of Zuko in the present day sections to be completely off. I found it embarrassing, awkward, and frustrating to watch. Now, I've seen the rating this episode has on IMDb, so I know this is just my opinion, and a fairly unpopular one at that. I'm also aware that I'm biased because Zuko is not my favourite character. But I want to explore why, in my opinion, The Storm stuck the landing while Zuko Alone flubbed it.

Here's what I think is the main reason: The Storm is Aang's story about his past, juxtaposed with Iroh's story about Zuko's past. Aang and Iroh are our storytellers; Aang and Zuko are the stories being told.

Zuko Alone is Zuko's story of the present, being experienced through Zuko's perspective, juxtaposed with Zuko's story in the past, being experienced through Zuko's memories. It's too much Zuko, and unlike the characters in The Storm, Zuko has no idea what's going on.

Despite his flightiness and inability to take things seriously, Aang is perceptive, socially and emotionally intelligent (as much as a 12 year old can be), and able to be subtle when the situation calls for it. Look at The Great Divide: as soon as he had the appropriate backstory info, he saw right to the heart of the conflict, he saw that it was stupid as Hell, and he saw and successfully executed a way to fix it that relied entirely on an accurate assessment of all involved parties' stances. And it worked.

Iroh has easily the highest perception stat in the whole show, when he isn't being deliberately obtuse. His wisdom is off the charts, if his one liners are anything to go by.

So despite some very (very) notable differences, Aang and Iroh have similarities in their personalities and their perspectives, and importantly for this post, in their self-knowledge.

Then we get Zuko, who has the perceptiveness and subtlety of a mud brick to the teeth, all the wisdom of a bandaid wrapper, and the social and emotional intelligence of something that starts to grow in your sink when it's been too long since you did the dishes.

Aand and Iroh can see the themes, lessons, mistakes, and places for improvement in the stories they're telling, about themselves and others. Zuko is stumbling through both his past and his present. The Storm is compelling because the audience gets to simultaneously learn expository detail and watch Aang and Iroh go through a process of self-analysis, recrimination, and commitment to doing better. It's an info dump with a hefty dose of character building on the side.

Zuko in Zuko Alone is a dumbass blindly stumbling into the same mistakes we've already seen him make, learning nothing in the process (that I could detect - maybe he'll run into the family's older brother in a few episodes and work up the courage to save him based on what he learned during his time with that family, who knows). Zuko has been trained to be a fighter, not a person, so of course he's going to fail at the 'soft skills' parts of being human. So Zuko needs someone with him to do/model that soft skills work until he learns how to do it for himself. But Zuko is alone in Zuko Alone, so the character development that could have happened doesn't.

I don't need morals and themes explicitly spelled out in the narrative; I'm fine with subtext. But Zuko in Zuko Alone so thoroughly misses what's going on in the episode that it's annoying to watch. And there's no indication at the end of the episode that he's learned anything from having missed those things. There's no indication that he's aware that there was anything to miss.

In The Storm, Aang has Katara to bounce off of and help talk him through his story. Iroh's wise enough not to need a foil, but he does have the ship's crew, both as a reason to tell the story and as an audience to play off of. Heck, in Bato of the Water Tribe, Sokka has Bato giving the speech about the lonely wolf to help him understand the point Sokka's dad was trying to make in the flashback, and avoid the wrong course of action (leaving Aang behind). Aang moves on from self-recrimination and Iroh has won back Zuko's crew's loyalty at the end of The Storm; Sokka has finally understood 'being a man means being where you're needed the most' by the end of Bato of the Water Tribe. But Zuko is alone by choice in Zuko Alone, so he finishes the episode exactly where he started, his mother's last words entirely misinterpreted. No wiser, probably unable to even articulate where he went wrong beyond fire = bad in this context.

There seems to be a theme in this show of the necessity of friends and family networks and support. Aang (with Katara's help), Iroh (with the crew as audience and motivator), Sokka (with Bato's help), all come to better understandings of their responsibilities and/or their mistakes by working things out with the help of at least one other person. Zuko ditches Iroh to play at being a lone wolf and fails in a way that's frankly embarrassing to watch.

So the reason I don't like Zuko Alone is that he's doomed to fail from the start. Zuko is (trying to) go about his character development in a way this show has already showed us is opposite to how it should be done. I'm not fond of 'doomed from the start' narratives as a general rule, mostly because to me they feel like a bad investment. If you know it's all going to end badly (because it started wrong), then why bother committing the time and effort the narrative asks of you? (She says, having read The Silmarillion twice).

So if I became Queen of the world tomorrow and decreed that Zuko Alone needed to be changed to fit my personal tastes, how would I do it? The obvious answer is to shove Iroh in there, but it probably wouldn't work anyway, because Zuko is not showing any signs of being ready to listen - REALLY LISTEN - to those wiser than him. I'm not sure if he's even ready to admit yet that there are people who ARE wiser than him. He's already admitted that there are people with more martial prowess than him, like his sister, but I don't think Zuko actually values wisdom enough to see its worth. So it's probably not even on his radar. If Iroh's presence wouldn't work, what about having a removed narrator, like Iroh did for Zuko's story in The Storm? A narrator who is not as thoroughly blind to what's going on in the past and the present as Zuko. Maybe a single episode character, who tells the story of that time a stranger came to town? That might work. It would fit with the genre this episode is paying homage to. Or you could have an interesting juxtaposition, where the narrator character is not omniscient, narrating the present only, and Zuko is completely alone during the flashback bits. That would probably lead to Zuko making the same mistakes anyway, since it's really his past that he needs to work through.

Or maybe I'm reading way too much into this and I just don't like Zuko enough as a character to like a Zuko-centric story, no matter how it's told. Or maybe 24 minutes of second-hand embarrassment is 24 too many for me. At least he's keeping Song's horse bird fed.

#atla #avatar: the last airbender #avatar the last airbender #zuko alone #the storm

[mariacallous]

On Sunday, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson went on television and mixed up Iran and Israel. “We passed the support for Iran many months ago,” he told Meet the Press, erroneously referring to an aid package for the Jewish state. Last night, the Fox News prime-time host Jesse Watters introduced South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as hailing from South Carolina. I once joined a cable-news panel where one of the participants kept confusing then–Attorney General Jeff Sessions with Representative Pete Sessions of Texas. I don’t hold these errors against anyone, as they are some of the most common miscues made by people who talk for a living—and I’m sure my time will come.

Yesterday, President Joe Biden added another example to this list. In response to a question about Gaza, he referred to the Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as the president of Mexico. The substance of Biden’s answer was perfectly cogent. The off-the-cuff response included geographic and policy details not just about Egypt, but about multiple Middle Eastern players that most Americans probably couldn’t even name. The president clearly knew whom and what he was talking about; he just slipped up the same way Johnson and so many others have. But the flub could not have come at a worse time. Because the press conference had been called to respond to Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report on Biden’s handling of classified documents, which dubbed the president an “elderly man with a poor memory,” the Mexico gaffe was immediately cast by critics as confirmation of Biden’s cognitive collapse.

But the truth is, mistakes like these are nothing new for Biden, who has been mixing up names and places for his entire political career. Back in 2008, he infamously introduced his running mate as “the next president of the United States, Barack America.” At the time, Biden’s well-known propensity for bizarre tangents, ahistorical riffs, and malapropisms compelled Slate to publish an entire column explaining “why Joe Biden’s gaffes don’t hurt him much.” The article included such gems as the time that then-Senator Biden told the journalist Katie Couric that “when the markets crashed in 1929, ‘Franklin Roosevelt got on the television and didn’t just talk about the princes of greed. He said, “Look, here’s what happened.”’” The only problem with this story, Slate laconically noted, was that “FDR wasn’t president then, nor did television exist.”

In other words, even a cursory history of Biden’s bungling shows that he is the same person he has always been, just older and slower—a gaffe-prone, middling public speaker with above-average emotional intelligence and an instinct for legislative horse-trading. This is why Biden’s signature moments as a politician have been not set-piece speeches, but off-the-cuff encounters, such as when he knelt to engage elderly Holocaust survivors in Israel so they would not have to stand, and when he befriended a security guard in an elevator at The New York Times on his way to a meeting with the paper’s editorial board, which declined to endorse him. And it’s why Biden’s key accomplishments—such as the landmark climate-change provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, the country’s first gun-control bill in decades, and the expected expansion of the child tax credit—have come through Congress. The president’s strength is not orating, but legislating; not inspiring a crowd, but connecting with individuals.

That said, although Biden’s Mexico mistake might not be a demonstration of dementia, it is a warning sign of a different sort that his campaign would be wise to heed. Recently, the White House declined to have Biden participate in the traditional pre–Super Bowl interview this coming Sunday. The administration framed this decision as part of a broader strategy favoring nontraditional media, but it was reasonably seen as an attempt to shield the candidate from scrutiny. The president’s staff is understandably reluctant to put Biden front and center, knowing that his slower speed and inevitable gaffes—both real and fabricated—will feed the mental-acuity narrative. But in actuality, the bar for Biden has been set so laughably low that he can’t help but vault over it simply by showing up. By contrast, limiting his appearances ensures that the public mostly encounters the president through decontextualized social-media clips of his slipups.

As Slate observed in 2008, the frequency of Biden’s rhetorical miscues helped neutralize them in the eyes of the public. In 2024, Biden will have an assist from another source: Donald Trump. Among other recent lapses, the former president has called Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán “the leader of Turkey,” confused Nancy Pelosi and Nikki Haley, and repeatedly expressed the strange belief that he won the 2020 election. With an opponent prone to vastly worse feats of viscous verbosity, Biden can’t help but look better by comparison, especially if he starts playing offense instead of defense.

But none of this will happen by itself. If the president and his campaign want the headlines to be something other than “Yes, Biden Knows Who the President of Egypt Is,” they’ll have to start making news, not reacting to it.

[klbwriting]

Not Romeo, Not Juliet

Chapter 3: This Fierce Vein

Fandom: Red Hood

Pairing: Jason Todd x f!Reader

Warnings: none

Summary: Jason is Hamlet...and he's terrible. Extra practice leads to new discoveries

There is no following her in this fierce vein

— A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, ACT 3 SCENE 2

Things Jason had expected when he auditioned for Bludhaven Prep’s theater production of Hamlet: 1. A sophomore would be Hamlet, his audition was amazing even if he had tripped getting onto the stage, 2. Chelsea would be Ophelia and that poor sophomore would have to pretend to love her, and 3. He would coast by in the background without anyone noticing him. What he did not expect was to roll up to rehearsal Monday morning only for the cast list to say Jason Todd…Hamlet. Apparently, he had been good and now everyone in the group wanted to know who he was. He groaned, already feeling the eyes of the freshmen on him, trying to calculate what they could say to him to make him think they were cool enough to be friends. Theater wasn’t a huge deal at this school, but it was big enough that the leads were popular, and Jason had no interest. He went to the director, trying to talk them out of casting him but they held firm.

“Mr. Todd, you were a natural, excellent. I really think you could do this professionally and I don’t say that to many people,” the director said, setting a mark on the floor before looking at him. “I know it feels like a lot of pressure, but you were made to be Hamlet.” O great, he was meant to play a madman who dies, well guess he did die once, at least that he knew he was actually good at. He sighed and just nodded, going and waiting for rehearsal to start.

By the time practice was over he was pretty sure they were reconsidering his casting. He had been terrible, missing cues, flubbing lines that he knew by heart, not focusing. He felt the restlessness he had felt ever since the pit flowing through him. He didn’t want to be there, he wanted to be out, hitting something, getting this energy out in the most violent way possible. The other seniors were packing up, asking him if he wanted to go out, maybe run lines with them.

“No, after Friday I honestly don’t want to hang out with you guys ever again,” he said honestly, voice having an edge that clearly frightened them.

“Don’t have to be such a dick. We were just getting payback,” Jackson said. Jason looked over at him, eyes blazing green, and growled at him. The three of them scampered off and Jason collapsed into one of the theater seats, frustrated. He needed to rant about this. Maybe Dick could get him out of being Hamlet, use his money to drop Jason down to something else.

“Nope, sorry kid, I think you should do this play and be Hamlet,” Dick said over dinner that night. Jason sighed.

“Why? I was terrible today, I don’t think I’m cut out for being an actor,” he mumbled, pushing a meatball around his plate. He had been so annoyed about play practice that he had overdone the meatballs, they were dry, just another fuck up on this perfectly fucked up day.

“O come off it Jason, you spent six years acting,” Dick said. Jason looked at him confused. “You were Robin from ages 10-16, so in that time you were either pretending to be Robin or pretending to be Jason Todd, you’re an actor.” Jason frowned.

“Who was I pretending to be?” he whispered. Dick looked at him, eyes softening. That was the question anyone associated with Batman would ask, what was real? The person or the mask? “Who are you pretending to be? Dick or Nightwing?”

“I’m not always sure,” Dick admitted, clearing his plate. “Maybe being in this play, trying to act, will help you see who you were before you died.”

Rehearsal was pushed from Tuesday to Wednesday that week but it didn’t help. Jason was still a mess, trying so hard to get it right. He kept hearing Bruce’s voice in the back of his head. ‘You’re not listening Jason’, ‘Dick could have done this on the first try’, ‘You can do better’. When rehearsal was over the director pulled him aside.

“I can see that you’re distracted,” she said. Jason wanted to lie but he just nodded. “Is there something going on at home? I know that you live with your older brother.” Jason didn’t know why but this woman reminded him of his mother. He barely remembered her, but he did remember that when she wasn’t strung out her eyes were soft, care would radiate from her when she was sober. This teacher had the same kind eyes, the same warmth her. It made him loosen his normally tight lips.

“No, nothing like that, he’s great. Just ya know, wasn’t always a good family life. I let down my dad a lot before I…moved,” he said, stopping himself before saying ‘died’. The director nodded, understanding.

“My mother was overbearing when I was young, always thought I was a disappointment,” she said, leaning on the stage next to where he sat. “I would hear her voice in my head, just disparaging me every time I did anything. A big test, performance, dance recital, always her telling me I would screw up.”

“Does it ever stop?” he asked. She looked at him, eyes full of sympathy and he nodded. “Does it get quieter?” She nodded.

“Once you really give yourself over to what you’re doing the volume goes down. Instead of thinking about your father when you’re acting, try thinking about Hamlet, what he is feeling. He didn’t have your father, imagine what his father was like. Use that to fuel your performance,” she said. Jason nodded. “I will see you Friday at rehearsal.” She packed up and left him alone. Jason looked at the stage.

“Might as well run through it myself,” he mumbled, standing and going to his first mark. He was midway through the first act when he heard something towards stage right. He walked over, feet making no noise, as he moved through the sets stored in the wings. He came up the prop room and saw YN. She was grabbing the swords they were using and took them out of the room. He stayed behind set pieces watching as she hid the swords, one behind an old radiator, one in a light rigging that had been lowered for repair, just random places. It was the kind of prank that was actually funny. He let out a chuckle, coming out from behind the bridge piece. She froze at the noise, turning and facing him.

“Hello, didn’t know anyone was still here,” she said, setting down the last sword, setting a prop blanket on top of it on the floor. “Well, going to turn me in? I’m sure some teacher is still around. You could really fuck with my chances in the Shakespeare competition.” She crossed her arms, staring him down. A lot of bad people had tried to stare Jason down before, Bane, Poinson Ivy, Two Face….Joker. He hadn’t looked away from any of them, he wasn’t the guilty one, they were, and he would win, but he looked away from YN. This time he did feel guilty. He hadn’t been the perpetrator of that horrid prank at the open mic night, but she didn’t know that. He was there with the people who did it and Jason understand the term ‘guilty by association’.

“I’m not going to tell on you, I’m not a snitch, and I can’t wait to see Jackson whine about his missing sword on Friday,” he said. “But you should probably be more careful, sneaking around here is reckless.” He almost gagged on the word. Since when did he sound like Bruce?

“Me? Reckless? I’m sorry little rich boy, you were just slumming it in Crime Alley, who is reckless?” she demanded. Jason stared at her. “And what were you doing there anyway? Come to laugh at us poor kids? Did those asshole friends of yours send you to find something on me? The new guy gets to do the dirty work and ruin my life?”

“Woah, listen, I don’t give a shit about your life, I was there for….reasons,” he said, not sure how to say ‘I needed to hit people because coming back from the dead had side effects’ without sounding insane.

“Either way, you can’t tell anyone where I’m from, if word got around that I was just some degenerate from Crime Alley…people are mean,” she said, feeling so lame for that. Jason nodded. He understood. If you were from Crime Alley you were a delinquent, you were scum and you could never fix that. It was a label that was hard to wash off. Jason only got out because Bruce made sure of it, money was the only thing to really mover you out of that slum.

“I won’t tell anyone,” he said. “I grew up there too.” He knew that was a bridge too far by the look on her face.

“Ya sure, you don’t need to try to relate to me rich boy,” she said. “Now I’m getting out of here, hopefully I never see you again.” She gave him the middle finger and left through the side stage door. Jason smiled after her, feeling his heart flutter a little. O shit.

Curiosity was driving Jason as he slid down the alley behind Big Belly Burger, red mask on his face. He had seen her working already, walking by the front window casually, hood up, mask on, so she wouldn’t know it was him. He could be anybody, there were plenty of vigilante pretenders in the area, he blended in. He waited until she was finished and followed her down the street. She didn’t live far from her work and Jason snuck into a familiar alley when she went into the apartment building. The same building, he grew up in. He looked around the alley, remembering finding the Batmobile right where he was standing. He still didn’t know how he went from seeing the infamous vehicle to thinking ‘I should get those rims’, but stealing those tires had changed his life and those memories were bittersweet now. He shook them away as he jumped, grabbing the fire escape ladder and hulled himself up.

She lived on the fourth floor he found. He could see through the thin curtains into her living room. She went in, taking off the apron she wore for work and hung it by the door. There was a frozen dinner on the counter, so she grabbed it and threw it in the microwave before approaching the couch where he noticed a thin woman was laying on it.

“Hey mom, how are you?” she asked, kneeling by the woman and gently touching her head. Her mother took her hand and kissed it.

“I’m feeling fine Lady Macbeth,” she said. YN smiled at her. “How was play practice?”

“I didn’t have practice tonight, I went to mess with the Bludhaven Prep stuff,” she said. The woman coughed a little and he could see concern cross YN’s face. Her mother was sick, very sick from the sound of that cough. His heart ached. He could remember that sound, his mother had coughed like that the night she OD’d. It was fused into his brain.

“You didn’t get in trouble, did you? Is that why you’re late?” her mom asked.

“No, one of the guys, that guy from the open mic? He was there, but I don’t think he’s going to say anything. They’re all jerks, but he’s the least jerky I think,” she said. Well, at least she didn’t completely hate him. “And then I had work tonight remember? Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday I work, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday morning I have practice?”

“O, right of course,” her mother answered. YN turned off the TV. “I was watching that…”

“You need to be in bed now, come on,” she said. She slid an arm under her mother and helped her stand before leaving the room. Jason sat on the fire escape for another minute before deciding he had invaded her privacy enough. He needed to get home anyway, Dick would be pissed if he came back and Jason was gone. He trudged home, now even angrier at the other seniors for their pranks. He was going to make it up to YN, he promised that.

#jasontodd #jason todd #jason todd x reader #jason todd x you #jason todd x y/n #red hood #redhood #red hood x reader #red hood x you #red hood x y/n #notromeo

[cha-melodius]

Oh my goodness, I've just seen your fic festival request post and am excited to sneak in to participate before it closes. I love your writing and your stories so very much!

My prompt suggestion is... firstprince in Edinburgh, Scotland... in particular, the Edinburgh pride parade (if I may be so oddly specific). AU welcome, canon welcome, makeouts welcome, ahem.

Thank you and good luck wrangling everyone's prompts!

(Firstly, I have to say I love your url and your profile pic! Secondly, this is heavier on the Pride and lighter on the Edinburgh as far as the details go, but I hope it delights. Inspired in part by a tweet shared on tumblr; rated M for dick jokes. Happy Bisexual Awareness Week!)

Something To Be Proud Of

(firstprince, 3.3k, M; read it below or on AO3) read all the fandom fest fics

Henry stares at the carbon copy of the email in his inbox and wills time to go backwards. Just a few minutes, that’s all he needs. Enough time to go back and keep autocorrect from transforming whatever he’d typed after ‘he’ in his pronouns after his name into… that.

Thank you so much for all your help. Together we can make this a truly exceptional Edinburgh Pride. Regards, Henry Fox (he/hung Sent from Outlook for iOS.

How had he not seen it before he hit send on an email going out to every volunteer on their mailing list? How had he not noticed?

Maybe no one else would notice either. No one looks at email signatures that closely, right?

~~~~~

Ok, he’s not delusional enough to think that no one noticed. He had, however, naively believed that everyone would recognise it for what it was and politely ignore his gaff. He gets away scot free for a few days, and then, at the end of an email sent by a volunteer that is mostly as expected, he sees:

Best, Alex (he/him) PS: not sure I did the pronouns right. Does ‘Pride’ over here include being proud of your big dick?

It’s a damned good thing that he wasn’t taking a sip of his tea at the time, or he might be wearing it instead. Once he’s finished choking on nothing and perhaps isn’t quite the colour of a tomato (oh, who is he kidding, of course he still is), Henry professionally answers Alex’s questions about the schedule for the day of the march. He pauses before the sign off, wondering if he should acknowledge the flub or pretend it never happened. In the end, he writes:

Regards, Henry (he/him) PS: Your pronouns look correct to me, but they are, of course, your choice.

He only checks the email about ten times before he sends it. Hopefully, that should be the end of it.

~~~~~

It’s not.

Apparently, Alex has more questions. Apparently the law firm he works for is one of this year’s sponsors and is interested in potentially running a free legal clinic associated with the festival. A noble endeavour, which Henry is only too happy to assist with. He makes a mental note to look into logistics with Kate, the event’s chair, and continues reading. Finding out that Alex is apparently mature enough to be a lawyer lulls him into a false sense of security, though. At the tail of the email, he finds:

PS: regardless of the size of your dick, I’m impressed by the balls it takes to not acknowledge the typo. Then again, maybe it wasn’t? PPS: I’m trying out new pronouns. How do you think (daddy/sir) would go over?

Henry does spit his tea all over his phone this time.

He doesn’t email Alex back right away, but that’s because he has to wait to hear back from Kate. It has nothing to do with the fact that the prospect of dragging this interaction out longer is both horrifying and vaguely thrilling. Henry has noticed that he uses Americanised spellings in his text, which seems to fit with his general demeanour. It piques Henry’s curiosity, even though the thought of actually having to face Alex in person still makes him flush automatically. Eventually he gets an email from Kate that includes additional questions for the firm, as well as telling him that he can pass it off to someone in sponsor coordination. He is, after all, just the volunteer coordinator for the march. This need not involve him.

He still emails Alex back with the questions. And:

PS: Although I support your creativity, I am concerned those pronouns may not be appreciated in a professional setting such as, for instance, a court of law. Just a thought. However, I do suspect they might be rather popular at Pride.

~~~~~

They keep on exchanging emails, even though Henry should have sent Alex’s contact info to sponsor coordination ages ago, even though it becomes clear that Alex is not the one who will be ultimately responsible for the clinic either. On every one, there is a postscript in which Alex makes some kind of joke about the size of Henry’s dick.

do you have to get all your pants specially made with extra room in the crotch

do you have to check your dick as luggage when you fly

have you ever used it as a tripod

is your dick in another time zone

do you call your dick Sir Richard because it’s that prominent

In turn, Henry responds as dryly as possible, which only seems to encourage him. Oddly for someone who is volunteering at the event, Alex seems to have a lot of questions about Pride itself, as though this is the first one he’s attending on any continent. They exchange emails almost right up to the day of the march itself, but if they do taper off, Henry is too busy to notice. Coordinating volunteers for something as big as Edinburgh Pride is intense, and the days tick by before he even knows it.

He’s standing off to the side at the volunteer check-in tent on the morning of the march, going over some last minute logistics with one of his staff, when a voice carries over the hubbub, deep and rich with an out-of-place American accent.

“Sorry, but I was hoping… is Henry here?”

Henry straightens up and turns toward the voice only to find perhaps the most stunning man he’s ever seen standing at the front table. Dark, curly hair, a sharp jaw, big brown eyes with the longest eyelashes Henry has ever seen— he’s actually impossibly beautiful. Unbelievable, really. As is the fact that he’s asking for Henry.

“Hello,” Henry says as he walks over to the front. “How can I help you?”

The man’s eyes snap over to him, and he very clearly looks Henry up and down and swears, “Jesus fuck,” under his breath. Then his eyes come back up to Henry’s face, and he swallows. “You’re not Scottish.”

Henry cocks an eyebrow at him. “Neither are you.”

“Yeah, sorry. I just— need to adjust what you sound like in my head,” he says nonsensically. “I’m Alex?”

Oh.

Oh, Christ.

Henry should have known, because how many other Americans could there be volunteering at Edinburgh Pride? That reality does nothing to help him cope with the situation presented before him, though, in which this is the man who’s been teasing him about the size of his dick for the last month.

“I, uh,” he says eloquently as he tries to pull himself together. There are far too many people standing around watching this exchange. “Hello. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Did your firm get everything sorted with the clinic?”

“Oh,” Alex says, blinking. “Yeah, thanks. Look, I’m sure you’re busy, but I have something for you?”

It kind of comes out as a question, and he’s scratching the back of his head uncertainly, so even though Henry has no idea what’s coming, he nods. Then Alex reaches into his pocket, fishes out something small and round, and places it on the table between them.

It’s a button. A pronoun button, not unlike the one Henry’s already wearing, but instead it reads: he/hung.

Henry’s eyes snap up to find Alex grinning at him with the kind of mischief that Henry honestly should have expected from him sparkling in his eye. “Wanted to make sure you were prepared,” he says with a little one-shouldered shrug. “I’ll see you around, I guess.”

Then he takes his volunteer t-shirt and saunters off—and Christ those jeans are ridiculously tight and doing everything for his arse—leaving Henry gawping after him. A moment later, one of his regular volunteers, Robin, bustles by, catches sight of the button, and lets out a sound that can only be described as a cackle.

“My god, it’s perfect,” they say. “Did he really make this for you?”

Henry can only sigh, dragging a hand over his face. “It appears so. Robin, can you do me a favour?”

“Make sure you’re working the same stations all day?” they surmise. Henry doesn’t need to look to imagine the knowing grin on their face.

Henry wants to say no. Just because Henry’s already managed to combine the affection engendered by their previous email conversations with Alex’s stunning good looks into a powerfully intoxicating cocktail of a crush—well, that’s on Henry and his poor decision-making.

Instead, he says: “Yes, exactly that.”

~~~~~ ~~~~~

Alex had only signed up to volunteer at Pride on a whim. He’s always complaining that he doesn’t know anyone in Edinburgh outside of his coworkers, and one such coworker—someone that he could safely call a friend—suggested that getting involved in the festival would be a good way to meet people. Alex had tried to explain that he wasn’t actually queer, but she’d just given him an odd look and told him that allies were welcome at Pride too. It had felt a little weird signing up despite her assurances, but also kind of good. He was finally going get out there and have a life beyond his job.

He certainly hadn’t expected to strike up a prolonged email exchange with the volunteer coordinator, Henry. He also doesn’t really know why he kept finding excuses to send him new messages, except for Henry’s responses to Alex’s stupid jokes made Alex imagine him rolling his eyes and trying not to laugh, which only egged Alex on further. It was fun. That’s all.

Nothing about any of this made him prepared to show up to the volunteer check-in tent  today and be plunged directly into a sexuality crisis. But that seems to be exactly what’s currently happening now that he’s been confronted by quite possibly the hottest man he’s ever seen. Alex doesn’t even get it because it’s not like he hasn’t been able to objectively appreciate attractive men before, and blond hair and blue eyes have historically never really done it for him. Even if they are combined with swooping cheekbones, and broad shoulders, and obscenely full, pink lips.

All he knows is that as much as this doesn’t make sense, it also suddenly does. Why he’d felt drawn to sign up in the first place. Why he spent the last month reading about the history of Pride in Edinburgh and around the world. Why he’d gone on a deep dive doing research about different sexualities, brushing it off as wanting to be informed before meeting new people.

Why he was so obsessed with Henry’s dick.

Jesus fuck.

He thinks he manages to hold a short conversation. Somehow he even gives Henry the custom button he brought as a joke, smiling the whole time like he’s not moment’s away from dropping to his knees. He flees the table safe in the knowledge that Henry will likely be too busy coordinating stuff all day and Alex probably won’t see him again. That confidence is shattered when, not even an hour later, Henry shows up at the station Alex is supposed to be working. He’s even wearing the joke button, under his regular pronoun button and next to a little rainbow flag pin. Alex is going to die.

“Oh hey,” Alex says in a reasonable facsimile of nonchalance. “Did you need me for something?”

“Not exactly,” Henry replies. “I’ll be working this station too.”

Yeah, Alex is definitely not going to make it through the day.

~~~~~

It actually turns out to be not as bad as he feared, despite how Henry’s volunteer t-shirt is probably a size too small (never mind that in the context of everyone else at Pride he looks downright conservative) and Alex keeps getting caught staring at his shoulders or his back or his waist. Henry keeps on giving him weird looks at the beginning, probably because he’s expecting Alex to be cracking crude jokes. Too bad Alex is way too wound up in his own head to think of anything at all.

They’re pretty busy all day, but they do get a chance to chat occasionally, mostly small talk stuff about jobs and how they both ended up in Edinburgh. Henry is there for grad school, apparently, and has been volunteering for Pride since he moved out from under his grandmother’s restrictive shadow. In turn, Alex tells him about applying for the law job on a whim, desperate to set himself apart from his parents, and how much he likes Edinburgh (despite the weather). As the day stretches on and the streets fill up, Alex feels himself relaxing into his skin again, undeniably enjoying the festivities as well as Henry’s company.

See, the other thing he never, ever expected is how good it feels to be here. All the people around him loudly comfortable in themselves, and the color and glitter and celebration— it’s amazing, but it’s not just that he’s watching other people be happy. There’s a kind of ecstatic joy that bubbles up inside him at the fact that he’s part of it, one that he feels down to his bones. A sense of belonging that he’s never really experienced before, and that, more than anything else, makes him more certain of his newfound revelation.

Straight people probably don’t feel like this at Pride.

At the end of the day, he’s helping pack up the main volunteer tent when he comes across a table full of pins depicting different pride flags. He dimly remembers seeing them when he’d checked in and thinking that none of them applied to him. Now, he stares down at them and bites his lower lip uncertainly.

“There’s a box for those under the table,” Henry tells him from across the tent, misinterpreting his hesitation.

“Oh, yeah, thanks,” Alex says, and Henry’s already turning back to whatever he’s doing when he manages to continue, “Hey, can I— um, can I take one of these?”

Henry stops, his brow creasing as he tips his head slightly. “Of course. That’s what they’re there for.”

“Right, thanks,” Alex says with a tight smile.

He puts his hand out, hesitates, then picks up one with pink, purple, and blue stripes. Stares down at it for another moment before he realizes he’s probably being weird and he’s pretty sure Henry is still watching him. He swallows hard, then pins it to his shirt next to his pronoun button.

No one jumps out to call him out for being an impostor. Henry offers him a careful smile, then turns back to his work like he knows Alex needs a moment to himself. He lets his fingers rub over the surface of the pin, feeling the little enamel ridges, and something settles under his skin, like an itch he hadn’t even been aware of until it was gone.

He feels almost normal by the time Henry walks up to him once they’re finished and everything is packed away in someone’s car.

“Thanks so much for your help today,” Henry says. 

“It was my pleasure,” Alex replies, and means it more than he can say. “I’m really glad I decided to sign up.”

“I realize you may very well be tired of my face at this point, but if you don’t already have plans, I was wondering if you’d like to go get a drink?”

Alex would like to make a joke about how it might be literally impossible to get tired of Henry’s face, but at this point he’d probably fuck up and confess his undying love for a guy he just met. “Sounds great,” he says instead, looking around at where a few of the other volunteers are lingering nearby. “Do y’all usually all go out together afterward?”

Henry coughs slightly and glances down at the ground for a few seconds as his cheeks turn faintly pink. “Well yes, a group of them usually do. But I was actually asking if you wanted to go out with me,” he says. “Just the two of us.”

“Oh,” Alex breathes as his stomach decides to do a backflip. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

Spending all day volunteering with Henry was fun. Going on a date with Henry, being the sole focus of his attention, is intoxicating. Alex feels like he could sit here all night listening to Henry talk about his research on queer history, although that’s far from the only thing they talk about. As the night wears on and the pub slowly empties, Alex is buzzing with a few drinks and the euphoria of really clicking with someone, already wondering when would be too soon to ask Henry out again.

Henry shifts slightly so his legs press against Alex’s where they’re tangled together under the table—have been for several hours, actually. He’s playing with the stirrer in his empty glass, and a little teasing smirk sneaks onto his lips as he looks up at Alex.

“So you made me a custom pronoun button but forgot your own?”

“Ah, you know,” Alex replies with a shit-eating grin and a one-shouldered shrug, “thought it would be too distracting, what with how everyone would be hitting on me all day.”

Henry hums thoughtfully, biting back a wider smile. “If you wanted to avoid that, you probably should have chosen some looser trousers.”

“That’s fair. I suppose you had to go for the room in yours.” Alex pauses a beat. “You know, on account of the size of your dick.”

That makes Henry actually laugh and shake his head fondly. “I was waiting all day for that.”

“Sorry to disappoint,” Alex says, chuckling along with him. It does feel like he owes Henry something of an explanation of why he was so weird all day. He looks down and licks his lips. “Can I confess something?”

“Of course,” Henry answers with a small, encouraging smile.

“A friend of mine suggested I volunteer for this because I wanted to meet people. Make new friends. But until today I actually thought I was… mostly straight?” Alex admits, trying not to wince as he stares fixedly into his empty glass. “Being part of this made me realize why I always felt a little like I wasn’t my whole self. So I was… kind of going through it a bit today.” He pauses, then adds, “Also you’re so ridiculously fucking hot that you kind of melted my brain.”

Henry laughs again, but it’s softer this time. Gentle. Alex kind of wants to sink into the sound. Henry’s cheeks are slightly pink as he extends a hand across the table, and Alex doesn’t hesitate before he slides his hand into Henry’s and links their fingers together.

“I’m glad to hear that, Alex,” Henry says. “I mean, the feeling like your whole self part. Not the brain melting part,” he adds, and Alex can’t help but laugh with him.

Henry doesn’t let go of his hand as they walk outside, and once they’re alone on the sidewalk he uses it to pull Alex close. He puts a hand on Alex’s hip and Alex has to tip his head up to look at him, and it’s a lot but he’s also pretty sure he’s never wanted anything more than to feel Henry’s lips pressed against his.

“I have a confession too,” Henry murmurs as he stares down into Alex’s eyes.

“Yeah?”

“I’ve been dreaming of kissing you since the very first moment I saw you.”

Alex lets one corner of his mouth tug upwards. “What’s stopping you, baby?”

“Christ, Alex,” Henry breathes, looking momentarily overwhelmed, but then he’s pressing his lips to Alex’s, and Alex feels his blood sing. It’s brief and chaste and leaves him aching for more, but then Henry looks down at him with heavy lidded eyes and asks, “Given your recent personal revelations, would it be terribly forward of me to ask you back to my place?”

“Ask away, sweetheart,” Alex replies, then he reaches up to touch the side of the ridiculous he/hung button that Henry is still wearing for some reason. “I wanna find out how accurate this button is.”

(It doesn’t take long for him to find out that the answer is: extremely.)

#rwrb #red white and royal blue #firstprince #alex claremont diaz #henry fox mountchristen windsor #rwrb fic #rwrb fanfic #firstprince fic #firstprince fanfic #chamel's fandom fest #my fic

[eternal-armin]

ii. SO, HOW SHOULD i begin this?

part two woo. hopefully i'll be able to catch up on this and maybe publish some other stuff now that i'm home a lot more often (yay pain and mobility issues), maybe some arcane stuff since that would be fun, branching out into my last hyperfixation again lol. i've proofread so it should be good :>

pairing : five hargreeves x male/transmasc reader [he/him pronouns]

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where : after trying and sort of succeeding to get on the hargreeves' good side, five and [y/n] try rationalizing the situation and figuring out something, anything, to do about it.

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warnings : mentions of trauma, threats [of physical violence and murder], reader is still totally exhausted because how could he not be, depression, dissociation, pain, bits of shouting, not necessarily a warning but viktor is always viktor in the multiverse because the boy deserves it okay, existentialism, philosophical nihilism, family issues.

five adjusted his clothes in the mirror. although he wouldn't be able to have a proper retirement, he could look like a retired old man, couldn't he? who would've thought that someone could get so excited for beiges and tans. he got an amused look of subtle approval from you. beyond that, it wasn't very hard to look past your façade if he was being honest, you looked hesitant; though could he blame you? there were probably millions of worlds where his family fucked you over or just straight-up killed you. and yet, you also looked too tired to care. he couldn't blame you for that, either.

he touched your shoulder again. in a flit of light, which once again made you feel horribly nauseated and woozy, you were downstairs. surprised exclamations roused from his family.

"anyone know where vanya and allison are?" five asked, glancing with narrowed eyes across the lacking table.

"nope." and after that short reply diego went back to finishing off his meal—for someone who often scarfed his meals down, he seemed to be taking his sweet time. either that or your fun conversation with five had not taken as long as you'd thought; either possibility was equally likely at this point, really.

"nuh-uh... sorry."

"not a clue, unfortunately. something wrong, tiny dancer?" klaus asked.

"well, we have a new problem."

"who's this guy?" luther pointed at you wish his thumb, not caring to cover his mouth; your nausea was worsened to see someone talking whilst eating. diego looked at you then, and you hated how his glare bore straight through your soul. he really, really didn't seem to appreciate your presence. how both of them could so willingly ignore the phrase 'we have a problem,' especially from five, was unknown to you.

"this is [y/n]. he's one of the sparrows."

you waved once to everyone. whether the sluggishness of the motion, and the weak smile which accompanied it, was due to shyness or exhaustion was incredibly murky and unclear.

"so now we're getting all buddy-buddy with the enemy? do you know how stupid that is?"

"i'm sorry, diego, did you not hear me say that we have a problem?"

"well, you say that a lot, little brother!" klaus leaned forward to see you clearer, giving you a smile. it didn't really placate your anxieties or your strong desire to run, however it was appreciated. he waved, and you again waved back politely, still feeling very... guilty for your earlier flub. it wasn't a new thing, either, and that made you feel even worse. "hello, little enemy! how do you look so young? do you use those, like, '10 years younger' face creams? i didn't know they worked that well—"

"that is not a relevant question, klaus, now can someone please tell me where allison and vanya are?"

you cleared your throat slightly. "vanya is most likely getting a haircut. allison is trying to get to claire, but she's... not going to find her." it left a bitter taste in your mouth to refer to viktor in such a disrespectful way, but you couldn't take that from him. upon receiving suspicious stares from the younger hargreeves brothers, you mumbled a quiet "maybe."

"mind telling us what the hell is going on before i deck this mini-muffin across the lobby?"

"hey, hey, do not use mini-muffin as an insult! those are beautiful things, there's nothing better than mini-muffins when you're on a bender at, like, three in the morning!" klaus got a confused and heavily judgmental look in return for that... beautiful insight.

"[y/n] has the ability to see all other timelines, so he can usually find out the most probable events. okay? good. now i need to find allison, so can one of you fetch vanya, please?"

"no, not good, and no thanks! after all we've gone through, we deserve a proper explanation!" klaus objected. after a second or two of awkward silence, and a scowling glare from five, he gave in with a curt sigh. it sounded more like a groan. the brothers looked at you; klaus was the only one to seem patient, showing the approval of a parent understanding a kid's fear of giving a speech; luther stared at you with a puzzling mix of intrigue and subtle impatience; and diego stared at you with a raised eyebrow, leaning his head in slightly as if to say 'i'm waiting.' five's glare, although still quite characteristic, was a bit softer when aimed at you. you could never feel more put on the spot.

"you've gotta say something, little man, we can't read your mind," klaus encouraged.

"well, uh... i don't know exactly what it is yet, but something is wrong."

"aren't you omniscient or some shit? you can see literally every reality!"

the shouting scared you quite a bit and certainly made your headache worse. you put one of your hands to your head, mumbling, wishing you could just get some painkillers. if only five had given them back.

"don't shout, for fuck's sake," five grumbled, annoyed in his own right.

"i'm not omniscient. if no other worlds know something, then i can't, and... no other world knows yet. but something is wrong." your quiet voice was juxtaposed to diego's, still loud and stubborn like back in the academy. around 79.4 percent of every single alternate world which had diego in it found him like this, angry and short-tempered; it was very interesting. "you aren't supposed to be here. you guys, as you are, don't exist here. i don't think reality appreciates you showing up all of a sudden. and if versions of yourselves already exist in this world, then something will need to... iron out the wrinkles, i guess." you pursed your lips for a second. "not to be too brash or anything, but, to really, really dumb it down, you're a mis—you're mistakes."

"seriously? five, i thought you said that this timeline would be safe to stay in." luther looked like a scolded puppy. you felt bad. he was far too sweet—naive? yes, naive—for this kind of life.

"yes, that's what i thought, but second opinions are pretty valuable in my line of expertise. turns out it was sorely needed." his brows pricked up a few times while he spoke. "but, like you said before, it may be a problem we can solve."

diego remained, unsurprisingly, unswayed. "you better not be including this wad of chewed gum in that 'we,' five."

"what is with you and insulting him? he wants to help. jesus christ."

"last time i checked, his entire family just kicked our asses out of our own house, i have a right to be pissed, and he's lucky i'm in no killing mood."

"i don't agree that he should be killed," luther began in solidarity, "but we have a reason not to trust him, right?"

you took a little breath and exhaled it in a quiet sigh. "i know my family can be... extreme. and bad sometimes. trust me. and i totally understand how you can be angry with them and with me and think that i'm not honest. but i never hurt anyone, and i want to help you guys. you're eccentric yourselves, but usually you're good people. you're, like, an actual family," you added, trailing off, "not a group forced to stay together for monetary gain."

five squinted at you slightly. was that one of the reasons you chose not to grow up? you couldn't be associated with the sparrows if you were half their age. throw on a pair of sunglasses and nobody could recognize you.

jeez. didn't that sound nice.

"you guys really deserve a place to rest. a stable place to live, even. and if we can figure this out, then maybe you won't have to live in constant fear of coming into contact with your doppelganger or something. live, like, normal lives. as normal as they can be, anyway."

diego, much to your surprise, seemed to listen to what you were saying. sure, he still looked quite ticked-off and impatient, but you couldn't really ask for too much from him, could you?

"and you're sure that this is a problem we can actually solve? for good?"

"i'm not exactly sure what the problem even is yet. all i know is that something is wrong. but every problem has a solution, even if it seems impossible sometimes." there was a twinge of sage, melancholic hopelessness somewhere in there, some subtle disbelief. "five is quite the expert in timelines and time travel-related problems and paradoxes, and i'm an expert in alternate realities and manipulating reality itself. if anyone can figure it out, i'm sure we can. and i have no doubt that all of you will also play large parts."

luther's face was screwed into an expression of brazen confusion. "so... we're, like, completely blind, and need to fight an enemy we know absolutely nothing about."

"pretty much," you mumbled.

"surprisingly poetic way to put that, luther, i'm impressed," five mused rather sarcastically. "unfortunately, however, it seems we're gonna have to do something terrible and unprecedented." perhaps for dramatic effect, perhaps to quell his own annoyances, he paused and sighed out a breath. "we're going to have to work together." he did not need to specify the parties specified in 'together.'

"well, personally, i think this is a splendid idea. perfect opportunity for family bonding, i'd say! we're surrounded by decent chinese food and competent beds and cable television. decent music, too! and diego can finally figure out some self-discipline by not constantly threatening to kill [y/n]! marvelous idea little ones." admittedly, klaus's unique way of talking and gesturing was quite calming to you. you were very grateful for him. oddly enough—maybe you should've stopped saying that when it came to the umbrellas—klaus seemed to be that pillar of tranquility for you. viktor as well.

"calm down, calm down. you know that he won't turn against us or whatever? you're sure?"

the question was directed at five but you answered for him. "i'm not strong and i've never been in good health. even christopher, without his powers, would be better at fighting you than i would."

"the fucking cube?" you nodded. he plastered a grin over a pouting scowl. he sighed, giving into the plan. perhaps some remaining distrust still lingered, however, he could deal with it. "we've gotta clue allison and vanya in now. i'll go get vanya."

"finally," five huffed, shaking his head. "i'm going to find allison. you said she's going to try and find claire? i'll go to her old house." and then, the next second, he was gone. a few seconds of... incredibly awkward silence passed, where luther was staring at you whole-heartedly.

"go on and take a seat, young whipper-snapper. do you have any dietary restrictions? or allergies? we've probably got something here you can eat, if you want."

you had asked to walk back home with five.

"why with me?" "it's a little bit selfish, but i really don't want to be alone right now, and you're the number one person i trust right now." "flattering," he muttered. "then why walk?" "i think better when i walk."

admittedly, walking was taxing for you right now, so it may not have been your brightest idea, but after this entire day you needed a nice break; the picturesque city sunset was nice, the breeze was subtle and sweet, and it smelled like food out there on the streets. viktor had offered to talk with marcus and try to make a deal; you'd asked him to be very, very careful. "i don't know if purposely seeking out the anomaly would be more effective, or if allowing it to reveal itself would be better. maybe we should seek it out."

five nodded slightly. "allowing it to reveal itself could mean that it becomes too powerful to stop."

"that's kind of what i was thinking. we don't know how it would reveal itself. what if it destroys something, or changes something? what if it hurts people?" your voice was quieter with that last proposition. it was the worst possible option in your mind; buildings could be rebuilt. changes could be undone, with enough time and patience. but people could not be undamaged, and they could not be brought back to life.

well, not permanently, anyway.

five's pace slowed a bit and he peered at you, strangely, for a moment. you avoided his eyes.

"surprisingly enough, i don't think this is the... worst outcome." "forgive me but i don't really believe you. we've got jack all on either side. essentially, we're alone." "you're used to it, five." "hmph. and you aren't?" "not in this way, i guess." there was more he wanted to say but you would not give him the opportunity to dig too deep. "there are worlds where your family is on board. trusts me, even, after some convincing. and there are also some where we narrow the options down. i'd love to be in one of those. but at least we aren't at each other's throats again, or diego's choking me to death." your voice soured. if you got too close, you could feel that pain. there your mind went then, trying to save your other selves out of some ethereal desperation you could never claw yourself away from.

"ow!" you hissed, clapping a hand to your neck where it had stung, sharp and sudden. "what was that?"

"you were seriously so spaced out you didn't see me?" five asked, though it barely sounded like a question. he sounded just barely concerned. you had looked like a glove without a hand. "jeez," he scoffed, shaking his head. "did you see anything helpful, at least? anything at all?"

your mind was still seared and shattered across uncountable realities and he could see that struggle to ground in your eyes. hear it in your breath. you had little mental fortitude left to respond. "sorry? can you repeat that?"

five didn't roll his eyes. unfortunately, he knew dissociation. he carefully took your hands in his, rubbing your knuckles like he'd seen you do before, and that seemed to give you... some amount of usable energy. it was also sort of difficult not to notice him, of all people, doing it, even while he sported an expression of general distaste for the situation; you couldn't tell if it was falsified or not. slowly, you were returning to your body, and it felt heavier than ever before. "what did you see?" he repeated, just as you asked, meticulously annunciating each word and using a decent pace.

you nodded slightly. "i saw a few other timelines. less fortunate ones." you didn't need to elaborate for five to understand what you were referring to. the broad strokes, anyway. "nothing really useful, though," you added after a second in total defeat.

"shit. well, that's alright." and though it clearly wasn't, you didn't say anything.

"how long have we been standing here?"

"... a minute or two."

"oh, great," you mumbled, shaking your head to yourself. your record was around two hours, sure, but it still sucked. "the... we should seek it out."

"wow. you remembered."

"we were having the same conversation a whole lot. given i was still alive and actually grew to trust you." it was a half-joke but it succeeded in getting a bare grin out of five. "we can't risk hurting other people."

"or destroying something," five added.

"or destroying something," you agreed, then furrowing your brow slightly. a cafe nearby was playing pleasant music; that was something keeping you tethered to this world in particular, as if five wasn't enough, but even he was quiet sometimes. "the only problem is we don't know where it is."

"or what it looks like. if it even looks like something at all. it could very well be invisible or incomprehensible." he scowled for a second, though not out of irritation, thinking rather loudly to himself. "we should start where we appeared, i think." you nodded in agreement. "if your... 'family' decides to work with us, all of us, then we can search a whole lot more. but we should get the basics out of the way."

"the beginning is always the most logical place to start."

"quaint way to put it, did you write the sound of music in another universe?"

"what part about 'literally any possible, feasible universe' do you not understand?" you joked, managing a small smile of your own, and five would be lying if he said he didn't feel a little bit relieved to see you humoring yourself again.

"i deserve that." he paused for a second. "i know you said that walking helps you think, and you definitely need to do that more, but you look like a dead man standing right now. i'd rather just drop you off at the academy and get back to my own family. are you okay to teleport?" you did not respond at first, taking careful account of how you felt and how you may feel after. eventually, and rather subtly, you nodded.

"my room is klaus's old room back in your universe."

"wow, that... makes it easier. safer, probably." that was the closest you were going to get to 'thank you' so you took it. you shut your eyes tight and breathed deep through that half-second nausea-bomb. you were happy to see your room when you opened your eyes; smelling like home, looking like home, feeling like pure comfort. five glanced about your room. somehow it looked exactly like what he expected from you, which was a compliment. it was cozy. well-lived—especially the bed. there were many blankets and pillows and a few stuffed animals, unmade, probably because you barely left it. he couldn't blame you, either.

looking at you, you seemed totally relieved and excited to be back home.

"are you going to let go of my hands now?"

five stiffened for a second, mumbling a hushed apology before letting go, shoving his hands in his pockets. you couldn't help but grin a little, tiredly, and he scoffed when he saw it. "don't look at me like that. i was helping you ground, since you evidently can't do it yourself sometimes." not that he could blame you, really. he couldn't imagine what it would be like to be... you.

you ignored the jab. "i'm surprised you're willing to wait to take care of this," you mumbled, hanging up your scarf and sweater, lazily rifling through your dresser to find something decently comfortable to pass out in. "you always insisted on getting things done quick. if not immediately."

"i'm desperate for one damn moment of peace. the world isn't being decimated just yet. i just want to sleep decently for once."

you smiled slightly. no one could work while exhausted, especially not when it came to your quandary. "go on and sleep then. i'll meet you at the obsidian again tomorrow."

"yeah. oh, uh, just remembered something. close your eyes for a few seconds."

"why?"

"just do it."

you scoffed, though without any sort of animosity or annoyance, shutting your eyes tight like he told you to. you heard the familiar sound of his blinking once, twice. "alright. you can look. here." he held out to you your bottle of painkillers. "nearly forgot to give them back."

"oh, sh—thank you." the relief on your face was quite plain and sort of comforting as well. he mustered a slight hum in response.

"good night."

"night, five. sleep well."

"hmph. we'll see."

#number five #five x you #five hargreeves x you #five hargreeves x reader #five hargreaves x reader #five hargreeves #five x y/n #five x male reader #tua x reader #tua x male reader #tua x y/n #tua x you #the umbrella academy s3 #the umbrella academy x reader #the umbrella academy x male reader #the umbrella academy #tua fanfic #tua netflix

[brightnote]

Marvel is playing a fast paced no risk no reward game and the characters and story are really paying for it

Yes yes an old complaint that Marvel fails its female characters and instead of fixing it they just fall into the same old tropes. But Secret Invasion failed Nick Fury,  Rhodey, Talos, and Gravik too! This was a very very very good cast and they all did a great job with what they had but the stories are so bad, they are nonsensical, not well developed, filled with plot holes. In fact the only person who made it out of this show were the new characters G’iah and Sonya, and so far G’iah is pretty Mary Sue which is another Marvel problem!  

This is a long one.. 

Black Widow is such a good example of this. Marvel never wanted to make a Black Widow movie. They did it for fan service and as an easier way to introduce Florence Pugh’s character, it was not in anyway to provide Natasha with a background, history, story, or development and it was total rushed nonsense. That movie was BAD. I rank it slightly above Quantumania. Natasha and Maria were in the MCU in 2012 to be there to be beautiful women around men (the bad ass normal (hot woman) trope).   Also, the idea they had to kill Natasha off because she ~could never have a family!~ as if childless women don’t exist happily is pretty rough or because she could never deal with the mental stress of her old life…yet Hawkeye, Fury, all these male killers can adjust to life just fine, except for Gravik who apparently can’t get over killing so he kills Talos and Maria and all those other skrulls and people? Uhhh ok? Natasha gets a sad cold lonely death—at least a choice by her, a sacrifice to save everyone so Clint can go home to his wife and kids—after she spent five years doing Fury’s work because he died in the snap. Maria gets a sad cold lonely CRUEL death with nothing wrapped up and for no point. 

So, Marvel then decides they want to make a Nick Fury project and to be honest I don’t feel like many people were asking or pushing for this… but sure let’s give a look into his life for some reason, cause he’s a man and he deserves it! It’s true that Fury also doesn’t have very much development but some his mystery and intrigue actually makes Fury cool. Like he’s a private person, he has to be because of his job.  What we learn about him... is that all of his success was from Skrulls and women propping him up. So Marvel removes Talos and Maria from the story (but still makes sure Talos gets a family and a full on fucking funeral while Maria gets a body transfer and some random lady pathetically guilting Fury which didn’t even work) Marvel knows no one is gonna watch that shit if they find out it’s a short run for Hill and Talos and Ross and advertises this show as Fury + Friends spy thriller boots on the ground!! NO SUPERS!! What is it instead? A barely comprehensible loose outline where no one has ANY development at all there is no spy thriller storyline and there are ALIENS AND SUPERS THE ALIENS ARE THE SUPERS!!  The the Super Aliens just kill the Fury Friends the regular way with a gun and a stab…. Then Fury who insists he is one step ahead and there’s a chess theme all around has so many awkward flubbed supposed to be cool lines and they make no sense. 

Let’s look at them for a minute: 

“Even when I’m out I’m in!”  Yeah… he’s so IN that he couldn’t spot a totally obvious trap that gets his No. 1 ally killed right off the bat? Yeah welcome back to earth… he’s so in he only prepared his team FOR A BOMBING with infrared glasses, A+ game.

“Nobody calls me Nick” - Except the long history of many people calling him Nick, I don’t even know why this was a tell and this whole scene was so weird why would a skrull care about the human’s son sure idk makes sense……and also Talos is his close friend so if the allowance is that only his close friends can call him Nick, it wouldn’t be weird if Talos did…… ….. 

“No one can defend the world like I can” - says a man who can’t even defend his team from a knife and a gun…! This whole show just makes Fury look really really dumb and really really bad at his job and then he didn’t even do it he just left after assisting in creating even more chaos. 

Is the point of this show that Fury is a delusional narcissist who never should have come back from SABER and probably maybe should have never been the head of SHIELD? So far this is my take away. What if this whole show is a set up for a Fury exit? That would make the most sense because after this circus you don’t got it buddy. No one really wanted a Nick Fury solo project. In fact, killing off Nick Fury’s allies who have propped him up for years so he can take all the credit for the win is very telling about the problems that exist in Marvel story telling. It really is too bad because this could have been a great set up for a Fury exit and if they just killed off Maria so she wouldn’t replace him in the next movies I think that’s unbelievable, the woman could have retired and gone to the real Tahiti, she doesn’t have to work forever? I think it’s fine if Monica takes over and with Maria gone she’s who I hope does but I always thought it was great to have a non super be the one doing it. Also Maria has to die to not get a promotion? We don’t even know where or what she is working on or who for, maybe she has different ambitions now, geeze Marvel. 

I think a more fun plot for Secret Invasion is that Talos and Maria figure this shit out and get Nick Fury into gear—and they do it alive! I mean if they want to do this sad boi act, I think that’s fine but I he can’t just go from beach boy happy to suddenly so sad and pathetic in one year? It’s a much more interesting story to have the people around him get him together after he spent all his life getting them together!! People can be separated from their allies without dying?? And killing characters to show us THIS SHOW IS SERIOUS it’s just kinda dumb it’s already serious there’s one million shape shifting skulls and a skrull army trying to take over earth with super DNA and eradicate all people in a nuclear holocaust... but not enough stakes! If you wanted more stakes maybe don’t show off that Fury is gonna be in the Marvels before his show comes out, yeah? We know it’s fake we get that some people will die but to kill them in these dumb ways that does nothing for the story is so god damn stupid. Having Rhodey have been a skrull since Civil War? THAT IS FUCKED UP. No way. That totally ruins such great moments with him. This is not thought out. I am still wondering why Cobie said she had a lot of scenes with Don and I hope it is for something somewhere… but now I just don’t know. 

The writing in Secret Invasion is bad.  The cuts and edits are also bad. The plot twists aren’t really twists at all.  In fact, there is not a single plot twist that wasn’t obvious from the get go. This whole show could have been a 5 minute clip at the start of the Marvels…people learn about the skulls and that they had kidnapped people and were pretending to be others, all chaos breaks loose on earth. 

Plot gaps I am still mad about that we will never find answers on:

Why are Ross and Hill in Moscow? Was Maria tracking Ross and intercepted his call? That could have been SO COOL. But nothing on that front. Were they working together, what were they doing? Why would Ross call Maria for extraction if he had the top secret Gravik plans unless he wanted Maria to see them or know of them? What exactly is Maria’s job now and how can she just drop it all to go help Nick Fury? Was she still working for Fury this whole time? How if he keeps ignoring her? WHEN ROSS DIED AND CHANGED INTO AN ALIEN DID THEY JUST LEAVE HIM THERE? MARIA AND FURY DIDN’T TELL ANYONE, DIDN’T SOMEONE NOTICE THAT ROSS WAS MISSING???? 

Why would Hill contact Nick for Talos if Talos can contact Nick? Why would Hill contact Nick and tell him to come back if she was going to tell him to sit this one out? Why would Nick, a man who isn’t supposed to be on earth and that people are looking for, go out to a bar with Maria? Why and how was Gravik at the bar before Nick?

Why do Nick, Maria, and Talos have infrared glasses but not protective vests? Where did Maria’s glasses go?  When Maria was looking at Gravik as Nick wouldn’t she have noticed he raised his gun up to shoot her? She was literally looking directly at him. If she saw Nick with a gun out at a bombing she wouldn’t take hers out too? Why would Gravik shoot Maria in the stomach and not like the heart like he shot G’iah? Did Gravik and Skrull Rhodey decide to shoot Maria from the start at the bombing or did Gravik just do it by chance? If the whole plan was to use her death as leverage against Fury why wasn’t it ACTUALLY leveraged against Fury? Why did this not get wrapped up.  When did Maria, Talos, and Fury lose all sense of reality where they think they are invincible against bombs?? Like how was this the plan HOW WAS THIS THE REAL PLAN?  Most importantly, why was Maria not wearing a vest? Why was Maria not wearing a vest? Why was Maria not wearing a vest? Why was Maria not wearing a vest? Why was Maria not wearing a vest? Why was Maria not wearing a vest? Why was Maria not wearing a vest? Why was Maria not wearing a vest? Why was Maria not wearing a vest? Why was Maria not wearing a vest? Why was Maria not wearing a vest? Why was Maria not wearing a vest? Why was Maria not wearing a vest? Why was Maria not wearing a vest? Why was Maria not wearing a vest? Why was Maria not wearing a vest? Why was Maria not wearing a vest? Why was Maria not wearing a vest? Why was Maria not wearing a vest? Why was Maria not wearing a vest? Why was Maria not wearing a vest? Why was Maria not wearing a vest? Not like a gay vest, like a protective vest? 

Why would Maria notice G’iah at all and what is the purpose of their fight in the tunnel other than to give Maria a scratch on her nose so no one can think it wasn’t a different Maria that died? Like that was it? How does Maria lose a fight to G’iah??? Why does G’iah just change sides and why does Talos and Nick believe G’iah changed sides just like that. After it was a set up, why do they still trust and believe her? If Gravik is broken from all the killing he’s done for Fury why did he kill Maria and Talos?

Why did Nick only go to the body transfer and not her actual funeral, why didn’t he go to Talos’ funeral? I am sorry but for Maria that is not fucking funeral. It was literally just the transport of her body and why did they bring Maria’s mom out to that?? Does Maria have two moms? And Why did Nick only talk to one of them? Why did the cast Maria’s mom to guilt Nick into getting his shit together when still hasn’t even gotten his shit together and just goes home to his wife and is all happy?  The only thing I learned from this show is that Nick Fury fucking sucks now, like yikes? His mental crisis comes at the expense of many innocent people and he does little to show gratitude or care for others. I get it’s Nick’s story but why bring Maria back to pick him up and then just die and serve no purpose to the story? 

WHERE WAS MARIA IN FAR FROM HOME? Was she on a mental health break or does only Nick Fury get to do that? Why wasn’t Nick thanking Maria for taking care of shit while he was up in space? Instead he was kinda of rude to her a few times — but I guess this is what we learned about Nick is that everyone else props him up and he thankless about it?  He makes a huge fucking mess again and then goes back up to space? Couldn’t this whole skrull reveal be where SECRET INVASION STARTS AND NOT WHERE IT ENDS? Idk why they made this show, except to make a nice pay day to Cobie? It’s really too bad because Marvel should have taken the opportunity to usher Maria in as a new lead for when Fury retires, people know her, Cobie has a huge following, and people like her and it would have been such a great way to tie in the old phase one people with the new phase 5 people. G’iah taking over for Fury would be very stupid, the whole point of Fury / Maria / Coulson is that they are bad ass normals. G’iah taking over would be dumb and no one is going to know who she is since she’s not going to be tied into the Marvels, which makes NO SENSE? Sigh. I guess Maria will never get her moment. RIP.

#secret invasion #secret invasion spoilers #secret invasion theories #marvel #mcu #marvel cinematic universe #maria hill #cobie smulders #nick fury #samuel l jackson #talos #ben mendelsohn #aos #agents of shield #skrulls #rhodey #james rhodes #don cheadle #olivia colman #sonya falsworth #g'iah #emila clarke #natasha romanoff #scarlett johansson

[imaginita-est-omnibus]

BEST. EPISODE. YET.

Aaaaaaaa loved episode 3 so much!!!! Big points as to why below the break in chronological order

Gabe being the voice of the Oracle. I can’t remember if that’s how it happened in the book, but either way it caught me off guard and I was cackling.

The fact that we got to see the second half of the prophecy after Percy asked Grover to come with. Really muddies the waters for newcomers as to who will betray Percy. I want to watch this with someone who has never interacted with the Riordanverse before so badly now.

Annabeth agonizing over the snacks. Really reinforcing how young and alienated she is. This episode finally made me truly love Leah’s portrayal.

Annabeth picking up on Alecto so quickly, and immediately analyzing and taking control of the situation. Having Alecto so casually chat with Annabeth works really well too, and sets up how Hades isn’t really the bad guy here.

The fact that Annabeth figures out who Aunty Em is immediately. They were all really dumb in the book, and while Riordan did justify it to an extent, it’s definitely a lot better for Annabeth to figure it out so quickly.

Medusa. My gods, her performance was outstanding! Relatable, yet still a monster in the end! Simultaneously doing the whole “you can’t judge people so easily” thing that Sally set up, while still being evil enough that we don’t feel bad when Percy beheads her. She’s the same Medusa from the books, but better. And she set up Annabeth to be resentful towards the gods! But if there was one character who was even better than Medusa this episode, it was…

Grover. Aryan was amazing this episode!!! The perfect mix of the adult in the room, but also the nervous, perpetually awkward kid! Hesitantly finishing his snack after Annabeth tells him to be ready to run, completely flubbing his plan with the winged shoes, being the fed up mediator between Annabeth and Percy… even the silly little song came off more cute than cringeworthy with Aryan’s sincerity! But more than any of that…

Grover finding his Uncle Ferdinand. I got so excited when he set that up in advance while talking about the satyr path, but… man. If there was one thing that bothered me in the TLT book, it was how quickly Grover got over realizing that Medusa had petrified his uncle. I am so glad they gave that the weight it deserved. Not only that Grover lost a beloved family member (and since he was turned to stone, there’s that extra awful implication that he didn’t even get to reincarnate into a plant!), but how badly it forebode Grover’s own journey. This satyr, clearly older and more experienced than young Grover, couldn’t even get past New Jersey? How is Grover supposed to succeed??? Of course he snaps at Percy and Annabeth after that! He’s has to be their guardian, while emotionally being basically the same age, and he’s filled with self-doubt and mourning, and even through that, he’s able to focus on the moment, on his charges. That hit. So hard. Aryan, you are officially my favorite actor on PJOTV (for now at least)

Defeating Medusa, Alecto, and shipping Em’s head off to Olympus was all perfectly done as well. I’m so glad defeating Medusa was a team effort, and all three main actors did Percy’s defiant scene perfectly. No notes.

And, of course, our first scene with a god and Olympus. I love that Hermes looks so mortal. I loved the effect on the reveal of the 600th floor. I was cackling at Hermes just waiting and humming along as the elevator went up, even though he definitely didn’t need to. And I can’t wait to see more of Olympus/the Olympians next episode. No wonder the chapter pace is slowing down significantly.

#tl:dr Grover was the best part of a perfect episode #percy jackson disney+ #percy jackson spoilers #percy jackon and the olympians #pjo #pjotv #pjo spoilers #pjotv spoilers

[in-death-we-fall]

To Hell and Back

Kerrang 1227, September 13 2008

Being a member of Slipknot is a tough business. But it’s not just onstage that bad things can happen, as Joey Jordison knows to his cost…

Words: Daniel J. Lane Photo: Paul Harries

The cocaine one. It's short but it's a lot. Knew what I was getting into but this one's definitely gonna be wedged in my hellbrain for a bit.

(google drive link)

When Kerrang! caught up with Slipknot at the end of June prior to their headline slot on the inaugural US Rockstar Energy Mayhem tour, drummer Joey Jordison joked that, after being off the road for three years, the band were so full of pent-up energy and so desperate to get back out and play live that he “wouldn’t be surprised if we break our fucking necks on this first run of shows”. And, in true Slipknot fashion, on day one of the tour in Seattle, Washington, Slipknot DJ Sid Wilson ended up breaking both of his heels after an ill-advised stage dive, while Jordison himself reportedly drummed so darn hard he was forced to ride out the final three dates of Mayhem concealing a broken ankle from his bandmates. As a result, Slipknot were forced to cancel their scheduled European festival shows — including Reading and Leeds — after doctors ordered Jordison off the road for six weeks.

The diminutive sticksman is currently at home in Des Moines, Iowa. He’s bummed about letting all the European Slipknot fans down, but that disappointment is mixed with positivity, with new ‘Knot album All Hope Is Gone having debuted at number one and number two in the US and the UK respectively. And having finally kicked a long running and very private battle with addiction, Jordison has much to look forward to.

How much have you changed as a person since we last officially saw you on Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses? “I’m definitely happier these days, that’s for sure. To be quite honest, and this is something I don’t want to get into, but basically, it all comes from quitting partying. I stopped taking narcotics just before the New Year and now I don’t flub on double bass anymore and I don’t have to try to get through the songs when we play live. You can do whatever you want in your life, I don’t care. I’m not going to preach to you and tell you to stop doing whatever, but now I’m happy and I play better. It’s that simple. My band’s ecstatic about it. I haven’t played this good for a long, long time. Probably since the first record, and there’s nothing more gratifying than that."

When did you realise you had a problem with drugs? “It was probably when I realised that I wasn’t just hurting myself, I was hurting the people around me. I had a real moment of clarity last year. My girlfriend at the time, a girl who I thought I was gonna be with forever, cheated on me and I went on a three week coke binge. I actually wrote some of the riffs for the new album [All Hope Is Gone] around that time, which is the only good thing to come out of it. But I just wasn’t having fun anymore and my family knew it.”

How did your family react? “My sister, Annie, kept trying to call me but I didn’t want to speak to anyone. The phone was off the hook. I didn’t answer my door, the lights were off, and I was just fucking ragingly pissed off all the time. So she sent me a picture of my nephew. He was trying to play drums and he was wearing one of my old masks. And so I called her and she put him on the phone and he said, ‘I love you uncle Joey’, and I was like, ‘Fuck it, I’m done. This is fucking stupid’. I realised I was basically fucking dying. It took that to make me realise what was really important in my life and that I’d done a lot of mean things to people.”

Like what? “Just stupid fucking rock star shit. Thankfully, I’m fucking over it, now. You act like an asshole, you feel like shit the next day and your performance suffers because of it. I really don’t want to go into it… I once made a tour manager cry because I was so fucking pissed off and hungover. Just fucked-up things like that. Let’s just say I’ve had to make a lot of apologies to people. But the past is the past, now I’m so much faster at drumming, so much more fluid with my breathing. I eat better… And I’m also fatter (laughs).”

We’d have said ‘healthier’ rather than ‘fatter’. You were looking quite skeletal towards the end of Vol. 3… “I’m just happier, dude. I wake up, and I eat really well. I don’t wake up and throw up like I used to. I’m not rail thin any more. Everyone in my family is like, ‘It’s so good to see you put on a few pounds’.”

Where do you think your addiction stemmed from? “We have good lives. I’m not going to say ‘Oh, woe is me’. People know we’ve had success and all that stuff. But there are things that can push you over the edge. Things like being an outcast at school, my step dad dying, the death of my friend [former Killing Joke / Ministry bassist] Paul Raven… He was one of the sweetest, most genuine fucking guys that I’ve ever met in my life. He was too young, man. He was too young. And I will miss him forever. These are the things that never leave you.”

Is that why you tried to incorporate the scars into your new mask? “I’ve had scar lines in my mask for a while now, but yeah, I wanted to design a mask that just shows the pain that I’ve gone through, the love and the hate I’ve gone through. It’s decrepit, it’s rotting, it’s sewn together. And the crown of thorns and the mummified look and the willowy hands, is the same thing. I’m growing old, man. I’m a human fucking tree, I’m just rotting into the earth. It’s the scariest looking thing I could come up with. I don’t wanna be the pretty boy in the band any more. I’m sick of that shit, y’know?”

Does it bug you that, pretty much from when Slipknot started, girls would throw themselves at you because you were the ‘cute one’? “Yes and no. Actually I think I might have done myself a disservice, I think the new mask might attract more (laughs). That said, I can’t wait to see the mock-ups in the audience. The old mask was kinda easy to copy, but the new one’s going to be that little bit harder. I honestly can’t wait to see the first kid with a crown of thorns at a Slipknot show.”

So what does the future hold for you, personally? “I don’t know. I take each day as it comes. Every morning I wake up and think, ‘Is this gonna be my last day?’. And if today is my last day, I wanna go out swinging, man. You know what’s crazy about me? I’ve already bought my grave. Just in case. It’s over down on Second Avenue [in Des Moines]. That’s what being in Slipknot does to you.”

Slipknot’s new album, All Hope Is Gone, is out now. The band will be touring the UK in December. See Gigs for details.

#if you want anything else from this scanned lemme know! #joey jordison #is he skewed? yes. do i feel like fixing it? no. #slipknot #kerrang 1227 sep 13 08 #interview #i looked it up and paul raven was uh 46 🫥

[vincentcipherstrange]

As an XY enjoyer, I was holding out hope for new Kalos games rather than Unova remakes. And Apparently I was right to do so! Now with the new game announcement, it means some things to me and I have predictions/thoughts.

(more under the cut in case.... future spoilers)

1. It seems like it's set in the modern day, potentially not long before or after the originals. So We probably get to see more Sycamore. Which. Yes please. Gimme. I would like to see my boy.

2. If it's set not long after the originals, Potentially a Lysandre return. Or mention. There's no way he's DEAD dead. So they better do him justice. He got flubbed in the original games.

3. MORE KALOS LORE! FINALLY! 11/12 YEARS (when Legends ZA releases) AFTER XY PROPER!

4. The cancelled event Pokémon, AZ's Floette, might ACTUALLY be obtainable this time around! (Which also means the return of event mythicals like Volcanion, Hoopa, and Diancie)

4.5 which also means if you have Xerneas, Yveltal, and Zygarde from either the original games or the shinies from Go, USUM Ultra Wormholes, or SWSH Dynamax Adventures, they can probably be brought over!

5. Zygarde might be the big bad you have to defeat this time around, using Xerneas and Yveltal to stop them. Probably controlled by someone like Xerosic. (think like Ultra Necrozma in USUM, or Eternatus in SW/SH)

5.5 that being said, Xerneas and Yveltal may get new powered up forms (potentially Megas) as a boost to calm the rampaging Zygarde

6. Sycamore actually participates in Story Events with the player. Because he might feel bad for asking so much of them the first time. (It's a stretch but a Sycamore lover can dream. I want to see him be a badass like in the anime. Give him his Garchomp)

7. Team Flare might still be kicking around, though subdued a bit depending on how long after the originals it's been. Maybe some new faces in there. Malva is probably the one running things with Lysandre being MIA.

8. It might be revealed that Kalos and Paldea did have beef in the past, which is where Paldea's crater came from. Bringing Paldean pokemon into Kalos may strike up new dialogue. (If paldean 'mons can be transferred over, that is. If that's the case though Terapagos, Ogerpon, and the Sandwich Dragons are going to be nerfed. HARD. Especially the small Terastal Turtle.) (i wanna see Sycamore's reaction to a Clodsire or Terapagos. He'd love the little guys.)

9. New megas, but that's kinda obvious. I'm thinking some i want to see are going to be Rapidash, Talonflame, and the original Box Art Legends.

10. It may be revealed that Sycamore and Lysandre did have a little fling, if not a full on relationship before the weapon incident. They gave us Brassius and Hassel in SV. And implied one with ORAS Maxie and Archie. You know what we want, Gamefreak.

(bonus) 11. A Paldean character might appear for a side quest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm holding out hope. But just the fact we're getting more Kalos stuff at all is enough to make me happy. It gets glossed over far too much.

#pokemon #pokemon presents #pokemon legends za #professor sycamore #augustine sycamore #lysandre #team flare #kalos #kalos region #pokemon xy #xerneas #yveltal #mega evolution #lumiose city

[afpwestcoast]

Aladdin Theater, Portland, OR, 12/28/23

A flawless show. Or should I say aNOTHER flawless show because, as you’ll recall, I declared the previous show in San Diego to be perfect. If I had one note it would be “Too perfect.”

Let me explain.

A little over a year ago we entered the venue to find Amanda’s young son Ash on stage in a cardboard box that had been transformed into a television by the magic of childhood. It was goofy and adorable and delightful.

Right now Ash is a bundle of manic unpredictable chaos. But over the next decade or so he will slowly mature, figure out who he is, find his way in the world, and become an amazing man. Amanda will love and cherish every step along the way and when he is finally released into the wild she will be filled with admiration for who he has become and giddy anticipation for what he will achieve.

And that will be beautiful, but in the back of her mind she will think, ‘I kind of miss the kid in the cardboard box.’ A parent’s pride and joy over the development and accomplishments of their grown children is always tinged with a wistful nostalgia for the little kid that they will never be again. It is the inevitable gift / curse of parenthood.

At those first Colony shows in November ‘22 the Dresden Dolls were a kid in a cardboard box. Over the ensuing 13 months they have played an almost continual string of shows, often in three-night stands. Over that run of shows they have developed new material, yes, (the new songs become crisper and cleaner by the show) but their connection has also become stronger and their musicianship is approaching virtuoso levels.

It has been my pleasure and privilege to witness this transformation firsthand. I have been following this band since 2004 and I can honestly say that the band is better right now than it has ever been. We are living through peak Dresden Dolls, and I am totally here for it. The tour for the new record is going to unmissable and amazing.

And yet.

I still sort of miss the kid in the cardboard box.

Those early shows were more intimate not just in the sense of smaller venues. They felt like the band was rehearsing in their living room and had invited a few friends over to hang out while they did. The flubs and gaffes were all okay because it was just us friends.

These new shows are “better” by almost any objective metric, but they feel different; more polished, more professional. That is by no means a complaint; at the end of this show I needed help lifting my jaw off the floor. It was a thing of beauty and absolutely wonderful to behold.

But we’re still here and we’re still friends(ish), and any flubs or gaffes will still be not just excused but embraced and enjoyed. There will soon come a day when it will become unthinkable to imagine Ash in a cardboard box, pretending it’s a television. I am truly in awe of what the Dresden Dolls are accomplishing right now, but I hope that they never lose their penchant for crawling into cardboard boxes, at least occasionally.

Annotated Set List:

Sex Changes - There is a superstition amongst avid fans that any show that doesn’t begin with Good Day is going to be a little off. Tonight that was fairly well put to rest.

Good Day - And so the Music Gods are appeased!

Gravity

Modern Moonlight

My Alcoholic Friends

Welcome to the Internet (Bo Burnham cover)

Astronaut (A Brief History of Nearly Nothing) (Amanda Palmer cover)

Mrs. O

At this, the first break in the set, Amanda proclaimed that this was the best audience they had had all year. “And I’m not just saying that … Just come with us everywhere. We’ll take you to New Zealand!” And then went on to explain that they are fundamentally a live band who tours and workshops material before recording an album. “We just played all of those songs to convince you that we’re good. And now we’re going to do what you’re not supposed to do when you’re a band, which is we’re just gonna play you a fuckton of new songs.” And the crowd went wild.

Mister God - Still my favorite of the new songs, I think, but there are others making ground on the outside.

Houdini - As a for instance.

Whakenewha - “This one I brought to Brian when we started playing together again a year ago or whatever and I was like, ‘I don’t think this is a Dresden Dolls song, it’s like a boring Amanda Palmer solo piano song.’ And then Brian did The Thing.” It’s quite a thing.

Boyfriend in a Coma

Amsterdam (Jacques Brel cover) - Though the venue did have a balcony Amanda stayed on stage with Brian for this one tonight, probably for a smoother transition to the next song that also featured the two of them out front.

Another Christmas - “I feel like it’s time that the goths had a Christmas song.”

The Runner - Amanda declared this to be her current favorite of the new songs (subject to change without notice). It’s hard to argue; it’s very good.

The Nail

Backstabber

War Pigs (Black Sabbath cover)

——

Merch commercial

(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!) (Beastie Boys cover featuring Tilley Komorny on bass, Brian on guitar, and Amanda on drums) - We last saw Tilley in Orlando, but in the intervening months she moved to Portland!

Girl Anachronism

Sing (featuring Tilley on bass and Brian on guitar to start) - A perfect end to a perfect evening.

Photo Gallery:

(All photos by me, but edited by Melissa Smith)

Amanda came out fully dressed … but not for long!

Best goddamned drummer in the motherfucking world. Fight me.

Amsterdam!

Another Christmas

Fight for your right!

The gods must be appeased … WITH BLOOD SACRIFICE!

Good night Portland!

But wait! The show might have been over but the magic was not. Amanda came out for the (now traditional) Patreon photo and afterwards she got down on her hands and knees and appeared to be talking to one of the patrons. The remaining crowd was coming down off a show high and there was general hubbub. Then a beautiful voice could be barely heard through the commotion. Quickly a hush fell over the crowd and we were treated to a beautiful song from Colette the Bard. She had seen Amanda in 2018 after surgery that called into question her ability to ever sing again, and she asked Amanda if she could sing for her the next time she saw her. Tonight was the night, and she crushed it! A truly beautiful and inspiring moment.

#dresden dolls #amanda palmer

[nostalgebraist]

I just read your post about how GPT-4 does a lot better on many trick questions posed to it. Do you suspect OpenAI is specifically finetuning/prompting/training (not sure right terminology on this) GPT on these trick questions? It seems like often when GPT flubbing a trick question goes viral, GPT magically starts getting the question right a week later. If this is what's going on, it makes GPT seem less impressive tbh.

(Here's the post in question.)

I doubt it, since ChatGPT 3.5 still gets the questions wrong -- I checked. And I would assume it's much cheaper and easier to re-tune that model than to re-tune GPT-4.

Also, we now have some degree of ability to check for these changes, because OpenAI's API provides "snapshot" versions of these models from a particular date. As of this writing:

For ChatGPT 3.5, you can either use the latest model, or a snapshot from March 1.

For GPT-4, you can either use the latest model, or a snapshot from March 14.

Both of these dates are later than that twitter thread (Feb 22), but not by a huge amount.

I briefly tried comparing the snapshots to the latest models, on these questions, for GPT 3.5 and 4.

I didn't observe any differences between snapshot and latest.

But I did notice that GPT-4, in the API, often got the same questions wrong!

I initially chalked this up to some difference between the API and the chat.openai.com experience (e.g. temperature, system message). However, after re-trying the questions on chat.openai.com, I found that GPT-4 sometimes fails there as well.

On the car crash and river crossing questions, it sometimes gives the right answer, but it also sometimes behaves like 3.5 and recites the solution to the more common version of problem.

I also saw some odd cases like this, which aren't easy to classify as success or failure:

This is not a failure of attentiveness, I think, though it is a failure to be helpful / to play along.

(Though there is a possible version of the situation in which the model's response is correct: in real life, the resolution to an apparent paradox often involves the discovery of a flaw in one of your assumptions, rather than devising an ingenious way to wriggle out of the paradox "as written." From the model's perspective, this might well be the case for the user here.)

It has a much higher success rate on the Monty Hall and feathers/bricks problems. On these, after trying a number of times, I was not able to elicit a failure.

Intriguingly, if I set temperature=0 in the API, the resulting (deterministic) answer is...

Wrong, for the questions it sometimes gets wrong at nonzero temperature (car crash and river crossing)

Correct, for the questions it always gets right at nonzero temperature (Monty Hall and feathers/bricks)

For example, in the car crash question, the temperature=0 answer is the single sentence

The surgeon is the boy's biological mother.

We might interpret the screenshot above as the model first sampling a wrong answer very close to this, then noticing the problem, and attempting to work its way out of the hole.

I guess this underscores the necessity of running the same question multiple times and computing a success rate, if we want to seriously investigate the model's performance.

(Even a single success shows that it's possible for the model to succeed, which is something. But even then, it's worth verifying that one didn't just get lucky.

"It got the right answer on my first try!" sounds very different from "it gets the right answer 25% of the time." Yet, for ~25% of questions for which the latter is true, someone who only tries once would report the former experience.)

#ai tag

[musicfeedsmysoul12]

Pulling on the Strings of Destiny: Book 2 Chapter 17

Summary: Four days pass for Japan, and everyone is on edge.  They wonder, and wait. What will happen next for them? Will Midoriya  keep rising? What sort of things would she face. They all turned towards  the screens, wondering. None more so then the future class 1-A, more so  as they get a glimpse into their first sports festival, first  internship and their final exams. Watch as Midoriya’s future continues  to unfold, as she learns more about her family, society and herself.

Warnings: References to underage pregnancy and the assualt of a minor. References to child harm. Toga Himiko to, she is her own warning.

ON AO3

If you like my work, you can support me on KoFi

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 “Now, we all need a talk about collateral damage and how much is too much,” Midnight announced with a smile. Ochako blushed, looking down. “I have noticed you all seem to be a bit too gun-ho about destruction in general, which is a teenager thing. I suggest keeping that impulse to video games where you can run around stealing things or killing people without consequences.”

 “Murder hobo,” Kaminari whispered. Sato snickered, and Ochako giggled herself. That was funny.

 “Aizawa aside-” Midnight said, prompting laughter from the class, which she snickered at, “those things work in video games, not real life. You have to think about the damage you’re causing while you fight people and how they may react. Uraraka had a good idea of using the debris to combat Bakugou, but she used too much. In a real fight, it could have killed her or Bakugou.”

 “And I dragged it out. I could have gotten him earlier,” Ochako said regretfully.

 “Yes, you did,” Midnight agreed. “But he also was taking too long. I understand with the Sports Festival, it’s as much showmanship as it is talent, so a little showing off is fine, but just as many people will be keeping an eye on how far you go,” Midnight nodded. “We already knew that Hatsume was pulled because they were thinking of the reaction to her hijacking the festival to show off. Iida, can you explain how things would happen?”

 Iida didn’t respond for a second, and Ochako looked at him worriedly. She hoped he was okay, though she felt he was too busy thinking about his brother. Still, the blue-haired teen blinked and looked at Midnight.

 “If she had humiliated me, IidaTen would ban her. Most likely just for a year or so, but given our connection to many other hero agencies and support companies, she would be unable to find a spot as an intern,” he said. “Given it may have been her lying to me, she would also be watched more by others.”

 “Exactly. That amount of poor sportsmanship would not look good for her. Bakugou and Uraraka both went too far in their match, which will have long-term consequences for them too. Or, well, short term. I doubt either will gain many high-ranking offers because of this,” Midnight said. “A few will offer, but other than maybe Best Jeanist and his PR project, I doubt anyone is above the top forty at most.”

 “Best Jeanist runs that every year,” Yaoyorozu said. “My cousin talked about it, how he always picks the students he feels needs a talking to.”

 “He does,” Midnight nodded. “He has a good heart, much like Uwabami. She goes for girls who have low self-confidence to try and cheer them up, or she goes for girls who are known to be… problematic about certain parts of the hero industry such as media training.” Midnight shrugged. “With the retirement of our more recent internship coordinator, we are worried about that, given he’s the one who can accurately know where you kids should go, but a few flubbed internships won’t be a big deal in the long run for first years.” Midnight waved a hand. “Not the point; we’re discussing that collateral damage is a serious thing, and you need to be aware of it, as well as know how to handle the necessary amount of showboating the industry requires if you’re a limelight or twilight hero.”

 “The Darkness Calls for Me,” Tokoyami said dramatically. Dark Shadow snorted, poking her head out of her twin.

 “He means we’re going to be underground. Easier that way,” she told the class, prompting giggles.

 “Aizawa will handle that if you want,” Midnight told the Tokoyami twins. “He has all the connections needed, though I do think you two could be a great limelight duo.”

 “Too much light hurts,” Dark Shadow said. “Rather not.”

 “Even before knowing she is my sister, I worried about the harm light could cause to Dark Shadow,” Tokoyami agreed.

 Ochako was impressed that within a few days, the two had come together so well. It was awe-inspiring. She was also happy they were now discussing heroics like that. Knowing she’d been a bit of an idiot in showing off wasn’t that fun.

 Elsewhere in Japan, Best Jeanist hummed. Death Arms squinted at him, looking thoughtful. “You gonna offer the kid an internship in this timeline?” the punching hero asked.

 “He’ll most likely be sent to Second Chance, and internships for them only occur during university level,” Jeanist denied. “Unless he washes out.”

 “He won’t,” Mt Lady said. “I think he’s going to get his head out of his ass, even if it’s because he gets sent to Second Chance rather than staying at UA.”

 “He might stay,” Kamui Woods said. “He’s shown he’s smart; he aced the mock exams, right? Kid might stick around if he wises up.”

 “Nah, he won’t until it’s big enough,” Mt Lady disagreed. “Kid like that? He’s getting consequences now, but he won’t like understand why he gets them UNTIL he crosses a line of no return. He’s skilled and smart, but he’s been pandered to for years. He’s going to crash first, and then he’ll realize he fucked up.”

 “Like we’re realizing we fucked up?” Kamui Woods asked. The other two new heroes winced, but he wasn’t wrong. They’d fucked up, and the whole country knew about it. They would have to work to get back into the good graces of the public, and it would be a very long battle to do so.

 As the heroes contemplated that, the timer hit zero, and the screen began.

The screen reveals Midoriya checking on Tomoe, smiling at the sleeping toddler. “I’m going to get at least third place, baby,” the teen says softly.

 “Not going to win it all?” Mic asks her. She shakes her head.

 “Maybe, maybe not. I think I need to beat Todoroki’s head in more than I need to win.” She tells the man. He frowns.

 “I do,” Izumi said as she glared at the screen. Where was her mother? Why weren’t they showing the woman? It wasn’t FAIR.

 “Don’t set yourself on fire to keep others warm,” Shouta told her as he returned to the car. They’d head to UA early, given all the emotional scenes going on. The media didn’t need to see her break down. Maybe she would be able to hold back her emotions so she could continue cleaning the beach, maybe not. Only time will tell. Hopefully, she could- the media and public would eat her alive if she didn’t.

 “I… I won’t,” Izumi said. She had Tomoe to think about; she couldn’t sacrifice herself for others because of her daughter.

 She wouldn’t leave her daughter alone.

 “Ah, one of the ‘I need to beat some sense into you’ moments?” Mic glances to the side where his husband sits.

 “I can feel you staring,” Aizawa mutters.

 “You should. We both got our asses kicked back and forth by Nemuri, and I had to kick your ass too.” Mic says. He turns back to Midoriya. “It’s common for some morons in the hero course not to actually see clearly until they get their asses kicked, so don’t worry. It’s a time-honoured tradition.” Midoriya laughs at that, walking out of the announcer’s booth. She walks down the halls, her head lifted. I’m continuing the ass-kicking tradition to get through someone’s head. Nothing is going to stop me.

 “Ah yes,” Hizashi laughed. “That.”

 “Ass kicking tradition?” Izumi asked, latching onto the conversation.

 “You probably figured out that sometimes we fix the matches so certain people fight each other, right?” Hizashi asked. Izumi nodded; it was pretty obvious. “Sometimes, for a good humbling, we set certain people up. Like a few years back, we set Togata against a guy who’d been running his mouth for the first month and being a bully. Togata kicked his ass. Kid was terrible with his Quirk at the time, but he was better than the other kid.”

 “Oh? Who was it?” Izumi asked curiously.

 “If you’d watch the festival, he’s the first one Togata fought,” Shouta said, not wanting to give up personal information on a student. Izumi would figure it out herself.

 “Lazy kids in the hero course get set against Gen Ed kids who have a shot at the course,” Mic chirped as he started the car. “Gen Ed kids who are pests about not getting into the hero course while not doing ANYTHING to increase their chances for the festival or catching the eye of a teacher get paired against hero students they’d look down on, list goes on.”

 “Sometimes we also make sure kids don’t fight until the end, like how you in the future asked about Shinsou. Usually, it’s because they have a nasty rivalry going on,” Shouta said. “We’ll then pair them up for final exams if it’s not fixed…” he frowned. “I just realized if you hadn’t said anything, we might have done that with you and Bakugou.”

 “What?!” Izumi asked.

 “I can see it. It looks like a rivalry mixed with pigtail pulling if you don’t actually try to look into it,” Hizashi said.

 “Are you kidding me?” Izumi asked. “How the hell is it a rivalry?!”

 “I’ve seen way worse,” Shouta said hollowly. “Usually between boys, so maybe we would have caught it otherwise.”

 “You’re both crazy,” Izumi said. Though, maybe they were right. If she didn’t have Tomoe, she might have been still convinced Bakugou was her friend. It took having the little girl for her to realize how he treated her was wrong. Maybe she would have been so desperate for Bakugou to be her friend that she would ignore all of the warning signs.

 Maybe.

 Back in the announcer booth, Aizawa turns to Mic. “You didn’t mention the heart eyes you developed after I kicked your ass.”

 “... what?!” Izumi asked in shock. Hizashi just whistled as Shouta groaned.

 “Ha! Well, comfortable with people liking her or not, she needs a bit more time, I think, to contemplate that.” Mic laughs. “I don’t know if Todoroki could handle dating a single teen mom anyway.”

 “You don’t?” Aizawa asks, then pauses. “Wait, why are we talking about this?”

 “Please, like you don’t eavesdrop on me and Midnight discussing the love lives of the kids.” Present Mic snickers. Aizawa just sighs.

 “It’s so much fun!” Midnight cooed to the class as they all snickered. Shouto ignored their glances, too busy waiting for the screen to show the battle. He’d beat Midoriya, he knew it, and prove his mother’s ice was all he needed to be number one. Crushes wouldn’t factor into it; he wasn’t there to find someone. Besides, with his father wanting Midoriya as Shouto’s wife, the teenager would never date her.

 He would always want to spite his father.

 Meanwhile, Endeavour scowled at the screen. Perhaps Shouto’s temper tantrum would lead to his defeat, but they shouldn’t count him out! Though… the idea of a crush would be helpful for PR when he could arrange the marriage. It would only take a little manipulation…

 The man was absorbed in his thoughts, plotting how to make it happen. His legacy would reign for a very long time; he just knew it.

 The screen changes to show an alley. Laying in said alley is Ingenium, blood staining the ground around him as he chokes. Above him is Stain, the man sneering down.

 The screams echoing around Japan nearly deafened a few people. In Hosu, Tensei froze in horror as Native grabbed his friend’s shoulder tightly. Elsewhere, in an office building with a live stream on a big screen, a person dropped to their knees in shock.

 No, not Engine Boy, not him. Not when they finally had the courage to text him after all this time. No!

 In UA, Tenya yelled, diving for his phone desperately. He had to call Tensei. He had to make sure he was okay. Midnight stared at the screen in horror as by the beach, Hizashi had to park, breathing heavily as Shouta remembered the falling building, his hands shaking.

 The Iida parents dove for their phones, too, hands shaking in horror. Their son, they had to call him. He had to be okay!

 Stain stared at the screen. Why would he hurt… no, Ingenium had to have done something terrible. Stain went after the unworthy! There must have been something the so-called hero did. There had to have been!

 Stain was the sole voice against corruption. He would be the one to cull the unworthy! Ingenium was just another face to it.

(He would go down in history.)

"Fame... Money...” Stain scoffs. “That's what all of you who call yourselves heroes are really after. But you bastards are not heroes. Except him. The only one with permission to kill me. All Might is worthy.” Stain stabs down at a phone lying on the ground, the screen showing a missed call from Iida Tenya: the phone breaks, and Stain leaves. Ingenium shakes, choking more as he tries to move.

 Can’t… can’t die here… his thoughts echo. He growls out loud and sends a gust of exhaust from his arms.

“Someone see,” Tenya begged as he pressed the contact for his brother. Someone see his brother, someone save Tensei.

Outside the alley, a person dressed in jeans and a loose t-shirt is walking by. They see the exhaust and frown, turning to walk into the alley. They freeze before rushing forward and dropping to their knees beside Ingenium, pulling out a phone. They begin dialling a number, pressing the phone to their ear.

 “This is pro-hero Info Dropper,” the person says. “I’m on-site at a new Stain attack; the victim is Ingenium,” their eyes flash, “He’s alive, but…” the screen fades away, returning to the stadium where Iida is frowning at his phone.

 “Oh, thank god,” Mrs. Iida said in relief as Mr. Iida dropped to his knees. Info Dropper had saved their son. He would live.

 Thank any god listening.

 Info Dropper shakily stood up from where they’d fallen, shoulders shaking. They swallowed and spoke out loud, “Iida Tensei.” Their eyes flashed, and their mind twisted as knowledge came to their mind.

Minor sprain two weeks ago-

In Hosu holding his phone-

Scared-

Still in love-

 They slapped themself across the face before the thought continued. They didn’t want to know. Didn’t want to hope. God, things were so fucked up, weren’t they?

 “Goblin,” Fairy said, the leader of the Court looking at Info Dropper worriedly. She used the name they had for International work and stood with Statistica, who’d dropped her work.

 “I need to go to Japan,” Info Dropper said. “I… I said I was, but I need… I need to go.”

 “If you leave now, you’ll be quitting the Court,” Fairy warned them. Info Dropper didn’t flinch. Other than brief missions or the occasional vacation, they hadn’t been back in Japan for years. Rules within the Court: you had to maintain residency in Canada and stay there.

 “The Kid is more than ready,” Info Dropper said.

 “What?! ID!” Statistica, Elric Aria, said in shock. “I’m-”

 “I was retiring soon anyway,” Info Dropper confessed. “I… I got news from Squirt, and I realized I’d lost myself. I lost who I was here. Too fucking busy with work and healing from Sara.” their eyes flashed, and they closed them as the information entered their mind. Still in prison. Good. (May she rot.) “I can’t stay.”

 “Understandable,” Fairy sighed. “We will miss you, Gobl… Info Dropper.”

 “I know. But I have to go,” Info Dropper said quietly. They had to. It wasn’t just for Tensei (they could think his name in their mind, could hold it carefully). It was for Squirt, their baby brother. He just got divorced, and they didn’t know. They’d been busy with a mission when he found out he was cheated on, as he went through it alone because he didn’t feel comfortable contacting any of ID’s old friends, losing all of his in the divorce.

 They gave their life to the Court. They couldn’t do it anymore.

 (They saw Midoriya and her love for her daughter, how she would give up everything for Tomoe, and felt shame.)

 “My brother must be on a longer patrol than normal.” He says out loud before tucking his phone away. He walks away from the waiting room, heading to the stands where 1A is waiting. He sits beside Uraraka. “Who do you believe will win?” he nods to the field where the figures of Todoroki and Midoriya can be seen.

 “No! I need to…” Tenya said as his phone connected to Tensei.

 “Tenya, I’m okay, I promise,” Tensei said over the phone.

 “You better be,” the voices of their parents said, and Tenya felt only relief. A conference call so they could reassure themselves Tensei was alive. They could be aware if he was hurt.

 He was okay, though, and would be okay in the future.

 He had to be.

 “It depends on who manages to get the first attack.” Yaoyorozu voices. Uraraka hums, looking at Iida, who shrugs.

 I think there’s more to this than we know. Midoriya was acting weird after she came back from talking to Todoroki… Uraraka thinks before the screen goes to the field.

 “She won the first competition, and he swooped in to win the second! They’ve been neck and neck this whole time! Give it up for the two class A stars, Midoriya Izumi and Todoroki Shouto!” Mic shouts over the intercom.

 “Here we go,” Midoriya says softly. Todoroki’s eyes narrow.

The screen moves to show Shigaraki sitting next to his boss. High-pitched screams echo.

 “I’m SORRY!” the voice screams. It’s a feminine voice, one recognizable as Mrs. Midoriya. “Please, please honey-“

 “No…” Izumi whimpered. “No, no-”

 “Izumi-”

 “NO!” Izumi sobbed. Tomoe made a noise, and Izumi turned to unbuckle her daughter from her car seat to hug her.

 Her mother was being tortured in the future. Her mother was… had been tortured.

 She vanished, and it didn’t make sense. Izumi’s father- no, Hisashi had taken her. It had to be true.

 Her mother was most likely dead now, after how long of torture.

 Her mother would never return; she would never see the woman again. She had already thought that, but now…

 She was dead. Izumi would never see the woman again, never reconnect, never be able to convince her perhaps that Tomoe was perfect. A half hope, one she’d abandoned when she thought the woman left her and when Inko had kicked her out in the future, but…

 She honestly never would. She lost her family.

 The sadness suddenly changed, and she growled through her tears.

 “I’m going to rip my father apart,” she vowed angrily.

 “We’ll help,” promised Hizashi, looking thankful he could focus on that and not his friend.

 “Mama?” Tomoe asked, looking at Izumi in worry. Her mother kissed the child.

 “I’m okay, baby,” Izumi said. She would be okay.

 Her mother was dead, but Izumi had already accepted that the woman was no longer her mother in a way. It stung, it burned, and Izumi would mourn her for a very long time. But she could stand; she could breathe.

 She would be okay. She would beat her father and get revenge. That was a promise.

 “Ah, I wonder if my daughter will triumph here.” Remarks the man on his throne-like chair.

 “She will,” Shigaraki remarks. “My sister is showing off all her skills against those NPCs.”

 “Wait, he’s saying she’s his sister?” Mika wondered out loud as she paused in cleaning off graffiti.

 “...he’s very strange.”

 “No duh,” Mika muttered. What was with that logic?

 “Already thinking of her as a sister?” laughs the man beside him. He reaches out to place a hand on Shigaraki’s shoulder. A green light briefly flashes. “Good. She’ll need a protective brother when we bring her and my granddaughter back.”

 “You don’t touch her,” Toshinori vowed. He would not let All for One, because it had to be him, touch Izumi. He would keep her safe from harm and make sure that her so-called ‘father’ wouldn’t harm the girl. He would protect her like he hadn’t protected Nana.

 He wouldn’t fail again.

 Elsewhere, Mitsuki growled like a dog, teeth bared.

 “You touch a HAIR on that girl’s head, and I will MURDER YOU HISASHI!” she screamed. She heard her son’s explosions and, for once over the last few days, didn’t mind. What they just saw was horrific.

 Inko was dead at the hands of the man she loved. She would never be better, never be the woman Mitsuki knew she could be. Never breathe again.

 And yet, her death was just a moment; the screen would change. Inko died, and the world kept spinning even as Mitsuki screamed.

 Inko died in both the present and the future. She would only be remembered as a bad mother, and it wasn’t wrong.

 It still made Mitsuki scream.

 The two villains watch the television as the voice of Mrs. Midoriya continues to scream.

 The field is shown again, the two staring at one another. A voice echoes around them."My father is the hero Endeavor. He's the number two hero. You must know him.” Midoriya narrows her eyes at Todoroki.

"It's my Shoto's duty to surpass All Might as the number one hero," Endeavor’s voice echoes. Midoriya bares her teeth as another moment from before comes to mind.

"So if you are connected to All Might, the number one hero, then that would mean I have even more reason to beat you," Todoroki’s voice says.

 They were similar. Shouto knew that then, knew he and Midoriya were too much alike. Their fathers were monsters who took their mothers away. They were haunted by a legacy and had their abusive fire user in their lives.

 But they were different. Shouto’s mother wasn’t like Mrs. Midoriya. She was kind and sweet and loved him. Sure, she hurt him one time, but it… it didn’t matter. She’d been having a mental breakdown. He could forgive her for it. She just saw his father in him.

 They were similar, Shouto knew. And this fight would show the world it, even when he won.

 “I won’t go down without a fight, Todoroki,” Midoriya says out loud. “I’m gonna be a hero with every aspect of my being.”

 “Good,” Todoroki says. Midoriya snorts.

 “Why are you here if you’re not going to do your best to be a hero?” she asks. Todoroki pauses, blinking. Suddenly, a child version of himself is on the screen, crying as he hugs his mother. She’s hugging him, shushing him.

"But honey, you do still wanna be a hero, don't you? Just remember, stay true to yourself," his mother says. Suddenly, the screen returns to the fight just as Midnight cracks her whip.

 Rei breathed out slowly, seeing herself with her son. Her baby. She couldn’t protect him, and now he would be just like his father, a hero.

 She had to fix it, had to stop it, right? She was a good mother who only wanted the best for her children.

 Meanwhile, her children stared at her—Shouto with regret, Fuyumi with sadness, Natsuo with conflict… and Dabi with hate.

Now! Todoroki thinks before sending a glacier of ice at Midoriya. The green-haired girl lights up, lightning coursing around her before she smacks her hands together, creating a shockwave that causes the ice to break. The pressure nearly tosses Todoroki out of the arena. He quickly establishes an ice block to stop himself from flying out.

 “Tch,” Todoroki tisks. She’s fast- he has to slam down a foot to prevent Midoriya’s rush towards him on his left side.

"Wow! Midoriya managed to break Todoroki's insane opening move!" Mic yells over the intercom. Midoriya bares her teeth as she shakes her hands slightly. They’re red and looking sore.

 Not broken. Not good, but not broken. She thinks.

 “And mom is forgotten,” Izumi said out loud. “The future moves on.” She had moved on to anger, but knowing that her mother’s death occurred, brushed over and forgotten, still hurt.

 She hoped the future her at least had a good fight, watched it hopefully as Tomoe was buckled back into her seat and the car moved on to UA, the media trying to get close but defied by the various officers around.

 She hoped to get it through his head that he needed to use his Quirk to its fullest.

 The screen moves to show All Might frowning at the area.

 She had no way of knowing how powerful young Todoroki's attack was going to be, so she abandoned restraint and fired off a shot at a hundred percent, the hero thinks. Hopefully, she doesn’t need to again.

 The screen shows the area where Todoroki is sending another large glacier of ice at Midoriya. She glares and kicks out just as it reaches her, breaking the ice.

"She countered again!" Mic yells. Midoriya lets out a breath of air.

 Todoroki is fast. I don’t know much about his fighting style other than he uses ice only to overwhelm us and doesn’t use his fire. That’s not enough. I need an opening… She thinks quickly. The ice behind him prevents him from flying out with the wind forces I put behind my moves. Smart. I’ll have to push a bit harder to be able to beat him.

 “Go, Midoriya!” Ochako cheered. Iida, still on the phone, shot her a half smile. Good. He needed to focus on the present. And currently, Midoriya was being awesome. Hopefully, it distracted the girl from knowing of her mother’s fate.

 No one deserved that.

"Let's continue," Todoroki says before sending another ice glacier at Midoriya. She rolls her eyes and, with a flick of all her fingers, destroys it. They look very red as she glances at her hand.

 This is a lot more force than I usually use. If he goes harder… who am I kidding, he would. He’s not stupid…

 The screen shows class 1A, who are watching the scene closely.

 “It really might be neck and neck,” Kaminari says. “I wonder who’ll come out on top.”

 “Midoriya,” Iida and Uraraka said, though Momo wasn’t sure. Todoroki was quite strong, and Midoriya hadn’t been as trained as long as he had. Yet…

 Todoroki chose to cripple himself. He decided not to try as hard as he should have against Midoriya. It could be the tipping point.

 (But was she right in her thoughts? Was she right to assume? Was she? She’d failed herself, and even with the kind words, she still had misjudged things so much.)

 “I’m just curious what will happen if Todoroki and Bakugou both win,” Kirishima says. “They both have attacks that could total the arena!”

 “If?!” Bakugou asks. He looks insulted as he glares at Kirishima. “Eye bags has nothing on me; I’ll cream him into next week!”

 “Fuck yeah!” Katsuki shouted. He was furious. Auntie was dead before she could show people she changed, and now fucking Shitty Hair was saying stupid shit. If. He was the best of the best! He’d win! He would win and then one day murder that fucker Hisashi in revenge for his Auntie. A perfect debut, honestly, taking revenge for his Aunt and his wife. Deku would be thankful he could do what she hadn’t. He could already see it.

 (He mourned his aunt, but he would avenge her. He loved her and would make sure she would not be forgotten. She could have changed like he would.)

 “You never know, Bakugou,” Uraraka taunts a little. The blonde gives her a dirty look she smirks at. “I think Midoriya will either come out on top or barely lose.”

 “Really? Todoroki is really strong.” Kirishima says as he looks at the arena with a frown. “Can she keep breaking the ice?”

 “Theoretically, yes. There’s always an endpoint, and Todoroki has a limit.” Yaoyorozu says. “I believe anyway. He may be throwing around a lot of ice, but eventually, he’ll run out of steam. Midoriya, though, doesn’t use her full strength, meaning she has more of a pool to draw from.”

 “Oh, man! I forgot about that!” Kirishima says. “Midoriya is pretty badass, isn’t she?”

 “She is,” Kaminari says, grinning. “Love a woman who can kick my ass.” He sighs jokingly and then pauses. “You know, Shinsou wasn’t so bad either.”

 “No, he ain’t,” Denki agreed with his future self, grinning at the screen. Anyone who could kick his ass was his type.

 In his school, Hitoshi nearly fell off his seat as Atakani laughed at the screen. The teacher sighed, attempting to calm down the group. It didn’t work very well.

 “You are such a disaster bi,” Jirou voices. She pauses, but the laugh from Kaminari makes her relax.

 “Not wrong!” Kaminari says. “Come on; you’re as bad as me, though.”

 “…Yeah, you’re not wrong,” Jirou allows. Sato, sitting next to her, laughs himself, shaking his head.

 “Ha! You admit it!” Denki pointed at Jirou, who blushed but shrugged.

 “People are hot.” She said. “...and yes, that includes Midoriya as well as Shinsou.”

 The class burst out into giggles as Midnight cooed over their youth.

 “Holy shit!” Ashido says. “Midoriya just backhanded that ice hard enough to break!” The scene goes back to the arena. Midoriya is frowning as she looks at Todoroki.

 This isn’t making sense. He’s not going full out. He can go harder… and he’s not breathing frost. She squints at Todoroki, who responds by running towards her, creating a bridge of ice to speed himself up. She punches the air, shattering it. He jumps off the bridge and sends another glacier, the ice catching her feet. She ripped herself from it, the ice shattering.

 “…Are you going easy on me?!” Midoriya yells. Todoroki ignores her.

 “He’s deeeeeead.” a civilian muttered. Never go easy on anyone, especially someone with a strength Quirk. You’d end up with your ass kicked sooner or later.

"You want an endurance match. But I'll end this quickly," Todoroki says, sending another ice glacier at her. She flicks a finger, a very dark scowl on her face.

 “No, no, we are talking about this. You’re not going full out. Not even with your ice? Realizing you can’t solely rely on it? Or are you refusing to go all out and hurt me?” Midoriya demands. Todoroki sends a rush of ice at her, and she dodges it, eyes narrowing.

 It doesn’t make sense. His Quirk is next level, but added to that is his judgment, mobility and reasoning. He’s incredible, so why would he be… Midoriya wonders. The screen moves to the stands where heroes mutter to one another.

 “Dang, should I put money on TodoMido?” asked a civilian woman.

 “Dude, her mother was murdered, and she's fighting to get his head out of his ass.” her friend said.

 “Enemies to friends to lovers.”

 “… okay maybe.”

"That kid's already better than most rookies," one of the heroes comments.

"Guess that's what you can expect from the son of the number two hero," another says.

The screen shows the arena. Midoriya studies Todoroki, noticing how while he isn’t breathing frost, part of him is covered in it. The boy shakes slightly, making her eyes widen.

 “Oh, you’re not going easy.” Midoriya realizes. “You’re already too cold, aren’t you? Well, there’s a way to fix that, isn’t there?” Midoriya mocks.

 “I will never use his power!” Todoroki barks.

 “Never!” Shouto snarled to himself.

 In her hospital room, Rei hesitantly nodded. Good, that was good. Maybe… maybe she could understand him being a hero with her ice.

 “Really? What if I was a villain?!” Midoriya kicks another rush of ice. “All I need to do is wear you down, have you throw more and more ice, don’t I? Then when you’re collapsed, I’ll take care of you.”

 “I’ll have beaten them before that happens,” Todoroki snarls.

 “Even if I could use fire?” Midoriya asks. Todoroki growls, glancing up at the arena where his father can be seen on fire. “Oh, don’t you dare-“ Midoriya slams a foot into the floor, forcing Todoroki to create ice to keep himself upright. “I’m your opponent, not him!”

 “Don’t give him the time of day,” Natsuo muttered. That bastard didn't deserve a second look. Ever.

 “Fine,” Todoroki sends out a giant blast of ice. Midoriya grits her teeth and flicks a finger. Said finger becomes purple and bruised, making Midoriya hiss. Todoroki freezes, his face going pale.

The screen shows Endeavor standing above a young Todoroki, kneeling on the ground, coughing and shivering. A small pile of vomit rests under him.

 “What the fuck…” Hawks said, staring at the screen. His mind flashed back to a similar moment in his training, where a cruel trainer had sneered at him to stand back up. A nicer one stepped in, soothing Hawks. It had been nice.

 Only later had he learned it was all a ruse to get him loyal. But he still… he still was. Sure, it was a cheap trick, but it was for the greater good. They weren't his parents; they were trainers.

 Endeavour… Endeavour was Shouto’s father. He couldn't… He couldn't do that. It was cruel. It was wrong! He…

 It couldn't be real.

"Now stand up. If you get hurt that easily, you can forget about beating All Might or even a small-time villain," Endeavor barks. A pale-haired woman rushes in before dropping down to kneel next to Todoroki.

"Please, stop pushing him. He's only five years old," Todoroki's mother says.

“Five?! And he's training him like that?” was screamed across Japan. Even Hawks couldn't defend it, staring in horror.

 Five years old.

 Five.

 The thought made people sick.

 Endeavour would have ignored the screen if his office door hadn't burst open. Burnin’ stood there, staring at him as if she saw a ghost.

 “What-”

 “I quit. I refuse to work for you, you abusive son of a fucking bitch.” she said before turning around to walk out.

 “Burnin-”

 “No!” she whirled around. “I… I can't… FUCK YOU! Fuck you, Todoroki Enji! Fuck you for your abuse. Fuck you for the lies!” she glared at him. “I joined here hoping to make a difference. But all I see is the monster I grew up with, now in a form I thought I could respect.” she turned around again and walked off.

 Endeavour knew Burnin’ was abused. That her father did horrible things to her, and she'd stopped him when he went after her younger sister. He'd helped gather evidence when Burnin’, a young sidekick, had told him her mother was threatening her about it.

 Hearing him compared to that man…

 It was the first time he wondered if he'd done the right thing.

"He can take it. Get out of my way," Endeavor snaps, the screen focusing on Todoroki as the sound of flesh striking flesh and a woman crying breaks out.

 “She fell!” Endeavour snapped. It was something he'd told himself before and something Rei agreed to. It had to be true. He wasn't…

 He wasn't like those people. The abusers. He was tough. He was strong. But he wasn't abusive! He had a reason for it! To make Shouto surpass All Might, ensure he didn't burn up like Touya! He wasn't a monster!

 Elsewhere, Dabi watched with dark eyes. The masterpiece who replaced him was so weak that he threw up? Endeavour had truly gone hard on Shouto, more than he had on Dabi, which means that the brat always meant more than Dabi. 

 He could have handled that training! Little brat! Whining that Endeavour was a monster, and he was, but not admitting he couldn't take the training! Ha! Brat.

 Fuyumi closed her eyes and put her face into her hands. She was at the school she taught at, in the break room. She couldn't go to her class. Not now. Not with what was being shown.

  “Todoroki…” a fellow teacher said softly, “I have a spare room.”

 “… Shouto is safe at his dorm,” Fuyumi said, wiping her eyes. “Dad… he’ll be at the office late with everything. It'll be okay to grab my stuff.”

 “We’ll help,” the teacher promised.

 Natsuo had left his class, sitting on a bench in his university to breathe. He hadn't entirely understood the abuse Shouto or Touya faced. Toys had trauma dumped a lot on him, and he thought he'd known.

 But to see it was something else. It made Natsuo uneasy to see, and he was scared. He was scared of what it could mean. What could happen now in the future?

 Endeavour was exposed, and they would face the consequences. Good or bad.

 He thought of his mother, wondering how she would react to everything. He'd been thinking more about her lately. On how she'd ignored him for his entire childhood and how the few times he'd visited her, she seemed to be deluding herself with the idea she was a perfect mom. He hadn't wanted to hurt her feelings yet.

 But… things were coming out. And he was hopeful for them.

 In her hospital room, Rei closed her eyes. She didn't want to see more, something mimicked by her youngest, who refused to watch his mother be hurt by his father.

 Suddenly, the screen shows older Todoroki taking a punch to the face from Midoriya.

 “Eyes on me!” she shouts. “God, what is wrong with you?” Todoroki throws more ice at her, and she dodges. “Stop getting lost in your head? What are you going to do if someone takes advantage of you this way?” She kicks his left side, and the boy grunts. “Come on, fight back properly!”

 “I won’t become him!” Todoroki yells. “I won’t use his fire!” He turns to launch ice at Midoriya, who bats it away easily. She scoffs.

 “Yeah, you won’t become him. You’ll probably never become a hero if you don’t TRY HARDER! I barely had to use five percent there!” Midoriya kicks at him. “Why do you keep acting like you’re above us?” Todoroki blinks, and the screen changes.

 “I'm not,” Shouto said.

 “You kinda are,” Shouji voiced. Shouto turned to stare at the many armed teen. “You don't use your Quirk to the fullest and say it's unnecessary. How is that not saying you're above us when we go all out, but you don’t need to?”

 Shouto turned away, not wanting to admit the boy was right.

The screen shows a young Todoroki watching his three siblings play. A boy with red and white hair kicks the ball they use reasonably hard. Todoroki looks interested, but his father passes by before he does anything.

"Ignore them, Shoto. They live in a different world than the one I'm training you for," Endeavor says as he grabs Todoroki's wrist and drags him away. Todoroki looks so confused and upset as he does.

 In the present time, Shouto flinched violently.

 He was above his siblings, according to his father. Did… did he internalize the thought? Did he believe it even when he said he didn’t? Shouto didn’t know, and it felt awful, like a slug sliding down his throat.

 The screen moves back to the fight, where Midoriya punches Todoroki again.

 “God, you know, I felt sorry for you!” Midoriya shouts. “I still do, but if this is what you’ll do when confronted with someone who won’t stop? A woman who won’t? I damn well feel less sorry and more PISSED.” She kicks out, and Todoroki makes an ice block as he dodges back. Midoriya continues. “You don’t want to be like your dad? Fine! Figure out who YOU want to be! But don’t pretend you’re on a high horse when you cause people to DIE because you refuse to use all of your Quirk!” Todoroki growls and throws out a large blast.

 “SHUT UP!” he shouts, shaking. Midoriya laughs, unable to help it, as she throws her head back.

"You're trembling, Todoroki. It's easy to forget that quirks are physical abilities, and that means there's a limit to the cold your body can take, right? I get it. Usually, you'd make up for the drop in temperature by using the heat from your left side. But you refuse to do that now,” she snorts. “Meanwhile, here I am, using my Quirk to the best of my abilities.” She flicks out a finger, purposely breaking it to shatter some ice. “Even if I may break, because in a real fight? If I’m protecting people? I’m going to do it. I’m trying to win, not just for myself but for my daughter! My friends! Everyone who believes in me!” She kicks another glacier apart, baring her teeth. “What are you fighting for?”

 “SHUT UP!” Shouto shouted at the screen. Midnight’s whip cracked in warning, but Shouto barely paid attention. Midoriya didn’t know what she was talking about! No one truly understood!

 Meanwhile, Izumi scowled at the screen. After seeing her mother die, she now had to watch Shouto refuse to use his Quirk to its fullest. What if someone else had their mother captured, and he couldn’t save them? What would he say to the children? ‘Sorry, I’m too busy being stubborn, and I let your mother die.’ Or something like that.

 It made her angry.

 “I’m going to be a hero with my mother’s ICE!” Todoroki roars, sending more at her. Midoriya cackles, shaking her head as she breaks it again.

"You think you can win with half your strength? Look at me, Todoroki. You haven't managed to put a single scratch on me yet that I didn’t do to myself!” she taunts. “So come at me with all you've got if you wanna win!"

 The screen moves to the announcer's booth. Mic looks worried as he gazes down at the field.

 “The microphones blew; what are they talking about?” he asks.

 “Given what I screamed at you during our first sports festival… I think it’s probably best we don’t know,” Aizawa tells his husband.

 “Are you sure?” Mic asks. “We both said heavy stuff.”

 “No, not now.” Shouta sighed. They should know what’s going on and help. It would be difficult without proof, but no child should be abused. No child should harm themselves like Todoroki was to spite their parent.

 “Yeah, let the guy choose to tell us,” Aizawa says. Mic frowns, but his phone goes off. He reads the message.

 “Nezu says mics will be back up in a second,” Mic says right before the screen returns to the field, where Midoriya dives out of the range of more ice.

"Midoriya, what are you trying to do here? You want my fire? What, did my monster of a dad bribe you or something? Now I'm mad," Todoroki yells angrily.

 “Oh, he talked to me,” Midoriya brushes it off. “But I told him off. Told him he wasn’t you. I told him that the parents of great heroes end up as footnotes! But this?! This isn’t the mark of a great hero, Todoroki!”

 “SHUT UP!” Todoroki screams. More ice follows his yell, and Midoriya has to smash it again, breaking another finger. She breathes heavily. Todoroki growls. “Why are you doing this?! What goal does it serve to take all these hits?!” Todoroki demands.

 “I told you. I’m fighting for myself. For the little girl I have up in the announcer’s booth. For my mentor!” she yells. The screen shows a bar where a green-scaled man sits, watching in awe. The microphones are back up, and Midoriya’s voice can be heard. “I’m fighting for every damn kid like me out there, the ones who get beaten down and called names. I’m fighting because this is MY POWER! My choice, my ability!” The screen goes back to focus on Shouto’s face before moving to reveal a younger Shouto being hugged by his mother tightly.

 The screen goes back to the arena, where Midoriya kicks more ice. A chunk flies off and slams into her face, forcing her head back. Todoroki freezes, eyes horrified. But she straightens her neck and grins. A bit of blood trickles down her face.

 “Holy shiiiiit,” Denki muttered. That grin was ten kinds of feral, and it was hot. Even as Todoroki gasped in horror at actually hurting Midoriya, Denki couldn’t look away.

A few of the other classmates were in the same boat, unable to look away from that grin. It was wild, dangerous and fierce—everything they could want in a smile.

 “Oh,” Tenya said very quietly. It clicked then what Shinsou had meant in the future and what his brother joked about. He liked Midoriya. He liked her.

 He wouldn’t do anything. She was… she wasn’t ready. She probably wouldn’t be for a while, and he valued her as a friend more than anything else. He wouldn’t make a move. Though if she did first… maybe.

 God, he’d gotten a crush just by watching some videos. That wasn’t normal, was it?

 Ochako was in the same boat. Midoriya was amazing and beautiful and kind, and Ochako couldn’t stand it. Looking at the screen, seeing her fight so hard to help someone, hearing her scream why she fought…

 How couldn’t you fall in love with that?

 “I’m not gonna stop Todoroki. I won’t back down. I’ve spent years a Quirkless weakling abandoned by society, but I fought back each day! I’m giving it all I got.” Midoriya says. “You wanna reject your dad? Fine, go ahead. But you will never reach the number one status if you don’t use all of your power.” She runs at Todoroki, who barely creates an ice wall in time to pause her. Midoriya winds a fist up and punches through.

"Shut up," Todoroki says as more ice forms. However, the image of him flickers back to show him and his mother, with the younger version of Todoroki crying on her lap.

"I don't want to, Mom. Please, I... I don't want to be the kind of guy he is. I don't want to be someone who bullies you and hurts people, Momma!" Todoroki says. His mother pets his hair.

"But, honey, you do still wanna be a hero, don't you?" his mother asks. The screen returns to the arena as she speaks more, "Just remember, stay true to yourself. You can be the kind of hero you want to be when you grow up.”

"I’m going to WIN Todoroki. You know why? Because I keep fighting. Because I look my demons in the eyes and say no. I don’t give up and let them control me!” Midoriya yells. Her nose drips blood still, and the screen changes again. Young Todoroki is walking down a hall, his mother’s voice speaking.

 "Mom? I feel like I'm going crazy. I can't take it anymore. Every day, the children seem more like him.” She says. “Touya is gone. And Shouto… That child's left side sometimes looks unbearable to me. All I can see is his father. I can't raise him anymore, knowing he’ll become like his father with that fire. I want to run away from this life," Mrs. Todoroki says. “The doctors… mom, no, please listen. I can’t do this; I keep seeing his father!” Young Todoroki enters the kitchen where she is, looking confused. His mother is in front of the oven where a kettle is boiling.

 “NO!” was the collective scream from Japan. They didn’t want to see it, didn’t want to experience the moment. It was terrifying, and they didn’t want to see the child harmed.

 Meanwhile, Shouto felt his body freeze. No, not this. Please not this.

"Mom, what are you saying?" Todoroki asks. His mother turns, the screen focusing on her eyes as the kettle whistles. The screen returns to the arena, where Todoroki takes a hit from Midoriya. The teenage version of Todoroki flies back.

I remember,  he thinks. The screen changes again to show child Todoroki with bandages over his left eye, his father in front of him looking annoyed.

"Moronic woman. To hurt you at such an important time," Endeavor says as he shakes his head in disgust.

"Where did Momma go?" Todoroki asks softly.

"Huh? Oh, she hurt my masterpiece, so I put her in a hospital to keep you safe," Endeavor replies with a shrug.

 “He’s your son!” Spinner shouted at the screen. “He’s your SON, NOT A MASTERPIECE!”

 “Go fuck yourself!” Magne screamed. Their comments were echoed by the future class A screaming at the screen. In their middle schools, Monoma and Shinsou threatened Endeavour if they got a hold of him.

 Fuyumi sobbed as Natsuo cursed darkly, and Dabi huffed. It's all about Shouto still, pathetic.

"That was your fault," Shoto says.

"Huh?" Endeavour asks as he looks at his son. The screen focuses on child Todoroki, who glares up at him with watery eyes.

"You're the one who made her hurt me!" Shoto yells.

 I… I didn’t want to use the Quirk that made me like him. That made her hurt me. Todoroki’s inner thoughts occur as the arena is shown again. Todoroki stands up from where he’d fallen, looking up at Midoriya.

 “Oh fuck,” Hound Dog sighed. It wasn’t just to spite Endeavour; it was about how his mother hurt him. He connected fire to being hurt by his father, obviously, but also because of what his mother did to him. No wonder he refused to use his fire if that was the reason.

"I refuse to use my left side," Todoroki says, though he sounds a bit confused. Midoriya senses it, and she snarls out an answer.

"It's yours! Your Quirk, not his!" Todoroki pauses before the screen shows him and his mom watching an old show where All Might is speaking.

"Yes. That's right. Children often do inherit Quirks from their parents or develop similar power sets. But the most important thing to remember is that a quirk is what you make of it, regardless of your history. You decide how you'll use it. That's what I mean when I say, 'I am here.' Only you can decide to become a hero, no one else. Take this to heart, kids! You've got it!" All Might says.

 The screen goes back to Todoroki and Midoriya. She glares at him. Todoroki stares back as his mother’s voice speaks in the air.

"You are not a prisoner of your lineage," she says. "It's okay to use your power to become who you want to be.”

 “… oh,” Shouto said. It felt like something secret had been unfolded, a truth of the universe before him.

 His power was his own. His father gave him the genes, but it was HIS fire. His mother hadn’t been right. The fire wasn’t Endevaour. His ice wasn’t his mother’s.

 It was Shouto’s. It had always been Shouto’s. And yes, he’d unintentionally internalized a lot from his father. Possibly even his mother with his fear of his fire. But it was wrong.

 It was all wrong, and his fire was his own. He had control over himself.

 “Are you going to use all of your Quirk or not?” Midoriya asks. Todoroki stares before he suddenly laughs, steam coming off him before he bursts into flame. Shocked cries echo around the stadium.

 “Hell yeah, kid! Own that fire!” Yao screamed in the bar, pumping his fists up. Others yelled similar encouragement, as class A went wild with cheers as Todoroki looked at the screen with awe.

 “Wait, is he…” Mic’s voice says over the intercom.

The screen shows class 1-A in the stands. Uraraka laughs hard.

"He's using his fire!" Uraraka says. “Midoriya wanted him to!” Iida nods, Todoroki’s words from the cavalry battle returning to him.

"When I'm in battle, I never use my left side.”

"Incredible," Iida says, shaking his head.

 “Him or Midoriya?” Uraraka jokes.

 “Both,” Iida muttered as his on-screen counterpart spoke.

 “Both,” Iida says before the screen shows All Might watching the fight. The man laughs.

You made him use his fire, Midoriya. Don't tell me you were trying to save Young Todoroki this whole time! All Might thinks. The screen goes back to the arena where Midoriya is grinning with all of her teeth.

"You're helping your opponent," Todoroki says as the frost melts off his right side. "You fool. Even though you want to win this battle. Now which one of us is screwing around? I want it, too. I'll be a hero!" He grins back at her. The screen briefly shows Endeavour, who has his own smile, stepping forward.

"Yes, Shoto!" he yells. The screen goes to the announcer’s booth, where Mic frowns in confusion. It goes back to Endeavour, who shouts some more.

 “Oh shut up, you trash can!” Kaminari yelled.

 “Fuck off, asshole!”

 “Tais-toi et laisse ton fils tranquille, salaud sans style!” Aoyama yelled.

 “You’re disgusting!”

 “BOOOOOO!”

 Multiple people in Japan echoed the sentiment; no one was happy with Endeavour, even as said hero smirked.

 His masterpiece used his flames. Things had worked out for him after all. He’d made the right choices, and no matter what, his name would go down in history as the father of a legacy.

 It had to be true. It had to be.

"Have you finally accepted your purpose? That's it. Very good. This is the dawn of a new era for us. With my blood in your veins, you'll surpass me. You will live up to the reason I created you!" Around him, people are giving him weirded-out looks.

 “Told you, Kaze,” one whispers to her seatmate. The mutation Quirk man shrugs, looking baffled. The screen goes back to Mic, who looks at Aizawa.

 “…Well, that’s not concerning at all,” Mic mutters. The screen returns to the arena where Midoriya is beaming, her grin becoming more prominent as the fire casts shadows on her face.

 “Well then, Todoroki, let’s see what you can do!” she cries out as lightning flickers around her even brighter. Todoroki stares at her, eyes wide, before a reckless grin takes over his face.

 “You’re crazy!” Todoroki laughs. He adjusts his stance and begins making ice along with his fire. Midoriya throws her head back to laugh, lightning all around her as the fire makes more shadows and sunlight reflects off the ice. For a second, she looks otherworldly, pure power echoing around her, face bloody and fingers broken. Todoroki, even as he gathers his power, stares in awe. She’s beautiful… he thinks before his grin grows. I never thought this could be so much fun: his own energy increases, the power around him of fire and ice building. Light and shadow flicker over him, giving him his otherworldly hue.

 “She’s not the only beautiful one,” muttered Hitoshi, unable to look away. Two powerful Quirk users facing one another in battle? How could neither of them be beautiful?

 Izumi covered her face with a whine. She was happy about helping Shouto, but again, with the beautiful stuff? It was embarrassing! But…

 She looked amazing. She was bloody; she’d fought a good fight, and she was facing down someone just as strong as she was. She was holding her own, surrounded by lightning, as she laughed.

 Then Todoroki. Izumi stared at him through her fingers, seeing the flames flicker around him, the shadows darkening the area only for light reflecting off his ice to destroy them. He looked like a god, to one of war who was facing down the goddess of lightning.

 He was handsome, and it was a thought Izumi didn’t feel so against him. She wasn’t ready for a relationship for a while. But Todoroki… he was very handsome.

 Cementoss and Midnight are staring at the two in shock.

 “What the shit?” Midnight asks out loud. They’re like demigods… man I hope someone gets a good photo! Maybe some fan art!

 “Should I…” Cementoss stands up.

 “Be ready,” Midnight says as Todoroki sends a glacier at Midoriya, who breaks it by smashing her heel down, cracking the stage. Todoroki responds with a wave of fire, Cementoss throwing up a concrete barrier just as an explosion begins from the action. The screen moves back to 1A, who are thrown around by it, covering their faces.

 “This is INSANE!” Kaminari cries out.

 “IT IS!” Denki agreed with his on-screen self. Those two were so powerful and facing off like that?

 Holy hell, Denki couldn’t look away. The sheer amount of power… damn.

 In his lair, Hisashi smiled at his daughter. He was proud of her, showing her skill like she was. So beautiful, dangerous and wild. She would sit very comfortably on her throne with that power. And that Todoroki boy…

 Hisashi disliked the beautiful comment, but he did wonder about that Quirk. It was a very strong one. Very versatile. Also, didn’t the doctor have some project with the eldest Todoroki child going on? He should look into it more. If he could, he’d love to make a bodyguard for Izumi out of the youngest Todoroki as long as he could get that Quirk first, however.

 He wanted it, and he would get what he wanted.

 “What’s going on down there?!” Yaoyorozu asks. The screen goes into a split, showing the teachers standing up in shock on one side with Endeavour on the other, his mouth open in surprise before moving again to show Kaumi Woods and Death Arms outside the stadium, staring up at the smoke rising from it in shock.

 When the screen returns to the area, it shows Cementoss standing up from where he’d been knocked over.

 “Quirk’s don’t make a hero, but those two? Those two are amazing.” The man says. The screen then goes to the announcer’s booth. Tomoe is awake and making confused noises.

 “Did… what the hell is up with your students, Eraser?” Mic asks. “What just happened?!”

 “Mama!” Tomoe whines. Mic gets up to get her as Aizawa sighs.

 “The air around the ring had been thoroughly cooled down, and then when it was rapidly heated up, it expanded, causing the explosion as we saw it,” Aizawa says as Mic returns with the toddler.

 "Wait, that's what caused the explosion? How hot did that fire get? Jeez, I can't see a thing! Is the match still going on, or what, huh?" Mic asks. The screen goes back to the arena where Midnight is standing up and looking around. It appears everyone is trying to see what’s going on. When the smoke clears, it shows the two students still in the arena, Midroiya with her feet dug into the ground hard, the jagged cement having cut into her and making her bleed. Todoroki is leaning against an ice block. The two stare at each other, breathing. Midoriya pries herself from the cement and then falls forward, unable to stand. Todoroki tries to move as well but drops down. Midnight hesitates.

 “…It’s a TIE!” Midnight announces.

 The stadium erupts into screams right before it all goes black.

 The same reaction arched around Japan, people screaming in shock. Even after everything, after what occurred, those two came out into a tie. How insane was that?

 The entire chapter had been a roller coaster of emotion, and now they got this.

 They could only wait to see what happened next.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Notes:

-I do think some of the matches in canon are fixed. I mean, come on: setting the two guys who basically have the same Quirk against one another? That’s fixed.

-Bakugou getting so many offers in canon was one of those things that confused me, given how he acted. But I am mostly convinced they were low ranked people wanting the prestige of having the guy who got number one in the festival. Best Jeanist just got him for PR reasons.

-No one can convince me that Mic and Midnight don’t gossip about their students like that. They have already discussed who Izumi could choose, though acknowledging she isn’t ready to date right now. (Am I mildly obsessed with this? Maybe. I like romance.)

-Info Dropper!! My beloved OC!

-I firmly do think if canon!Izuku was a woman, Todoroki would have gone a little easier on her. Here, the fact she breaks a finger because of him kind of shocked him enough to take a punch. Freezeing someone in place is different then them hurting themselves.

-Also, no, Todoroki isn’t holding back. He’s just more tired from having two earlier fights. But he is going a bit easier on her then canon.

-Midoriya in this world is a bit meaner then canon mostly due to the fact that she has a lot more anger. It simmers under her skin more.

-Listen… I am CONVINCED that part of Todoroki’s issues with fire is more cause his mom hurt him for looking like his dad then wanting to spite him. Fire = Make him like his dad. Being like his dad = Pain.

-As Izumi didn’t hurt herself as much in this fight, she was able to stabilize herself more. Of course… given they were both in the boundary… look, I had the idea I ran with it.

-I will be doing NaNoWriMo this year with all my fanfics. During this time I may post random things like one shots. We will have to see!

#bnha #bnha au #pulling on the strings of destiny #tw abuse #fem izuku midoriya

[crissiebaby]

The Padded Palace Act III: Chapter 1

DISCLAIMER: This story contains diaper usage, crossdressing, inappropriate language, humiliation, masturbation/diaper sex, and other ABDL themes. I hope you enjoy!

If you haven’t read the first two Acts, I highly recommend catching up before starting Act 3. CLICK HERE to check out the first chapter of Act I on DeviantArt!

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“Okay, fantastic! Just make sure each of the seats has a name card on it. We don’t want anyone sitting in the wrong seat! Please and thank you!”

Sending one of the numerous ushers under her payroll out to the rear patio where a wedding ceremony would soon be taking place, Stacy was on cloud nine as she waltzed through the reception area in her flowy, pastel-pink bridesmaid’s dress. She let out a satisfied sigh as she admired all the various moving pieces that were falling into place for Connie’s big day. If there was one thing Stacy loved more than a party, it was love itself. And there was more than enough of that to go around! 

“Stacy!” shouted Ellie, running up behind Stacy wearing a matching bridesmaid’s dress. Their slightly damp diapers squished into each other on impact, causing a cacophony of crinkles, “The bride requests the assistance of her maid of honor.”

Giggling as she shrugged Ellie off of her back, Stacy took Ellie by the hand and began waddling across the reception area. “Well then, I shan’t keep the bride waiting!” she said, exiting into the neighboring hallway and marching through the pavilion with Ellie in tow until she arrived at the door to a private lounge, which had been converted into the bride’s dressing room. 

*KNOCK KNOCK!*

“She’s decent!” shouted Riri from the other side of the door.

Opening the door, Stacy and Ellie inhaled the artificially floral aroma of hairspray. “Eeek! Watch where you’re spraying that thing,” said Connie, chuckling as she wiped the hairspray residue away from her ear. She sat in front of a vanity mirror dressed in nothing but white, silk lingerie with a poofy, white diaper covering her bottom.

“Oh, my Goddess! Still such a fussy baby after all this time. Just keep still, I’m almost done,” said Riri, swatting Connie’s hand away as she resumed dusting the bride’s scalp in the sticky spray. Looking into the mirror, she spotted Stacy and Ellie, prompting the smile on her face to grow twice as large, “Oooh! Stacy! I need you!”

Rushing over to Connie and Riri’s side, Stacy took one look at the bride and instantly knew why she’d been called in. “Connie! What did you do to your lipstick?!” she said, grabbing the tube of liquid lipstick from the vanity table and starting in on her repair work.

“Sorry! I got hungry and had Ellie sneak me in a cupcake. I didn’t think it would mess anything up,” said Connie, blushing over her minor wedding day flub. She wasn’t allowed to elaborate any further as Stacy began smearing the velvety, red paint across the outside of her mouth, softening and plumping up her thin, masculine lips.

Shaking her head playfully, Stacy replied, “You’re lucky it’s your special day, or else I would’ve had Ellie and Riri bend you over so I could give you a good spanking.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” said Connie, her cheeks flaring up over making such a lewd comment so casually. Life for her had really changed over the past year. It was almost funny now to think back on the lost little boy she used to be, stuck in place and searching for an answer to what she was missing in life. Thankfully, she wasn’t lost anymore. As her eyes shifted between her three bridesmaids, she was hit with a massive wave of nostalgia, “Wowie, the four of us being here together like this is definitely bringing back memories.”

“Oh ho ho! Finally going to thank me for cracking your egg all those months ago?” said Stacy triumphantly.

Dropping her angelic expression for a far more judgemental one, Connie shook her head while stifling her laughter. “Nuh-uh! You get zero credit for that,” she said, softly nudging Stacy in the rib with her elbow.

“Hey now! Watch it, or you’ll be spending the ceremony looking like a princess version of the Joker,” said Stacy, her words forcing Connie to sit still again. As she applied the finishing touches to Connie’s lower lip, Ellie and Riri both joined her at the vanity, the four girls relishing in their picturesque reflection, “Aaaaaand done. What do you think?”

Connie’s heart fluttered as she fully embraced the warmth that femininity and friendship filled her with. She loved each and every one of these girls and would do anything for them. So for them to do the same for her was the cherry on top of a dream come true. “It’s perfect!”

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“Tsk, tsk, runnin off ta use da potty when chus diapee is bone dwy. Such a noddy Widdwe,” said Stacy, her delicate fingers tightly, ready to pull her arm away if Connor tried to take it from her. Luck appeared to be on her side though, as she watched Connor shrink back from the image she was displaying on her phone screen. It may have sounded odd to most but for Stacy, that’s how this song and dance usually went. No one was blessed with more good luck than she was. Case and point, her magically stumbling across Connor in Ellie’s nursery as he was performing a not-so-secret quick change on himself. Whether it was by the hand of someone from below or above, she was somehow always in the right place at the right time.

Unable to say anything more than a stuttery, “I-I…,” Connor meekly stepped back, relieving his diapered crotch from the pressure of Stacy’s hand. His eyes drifted to the floor, her mind racing every which way to find a way to dig himself out of this hole. Sadly, it seemed the only hole he was digging was a grave for his adulthood.

“I-I-I can’t bewieve chus twied to pway it off wike you were above all dis. Chus jus as big a baby as me and da ot…ott…one sec,” said Stacy, tucking her phone in her diaper as pucked the binky from the side of her mouth, leaving it hanging from the end of her paci clip. She then began contorting her jaw, stretching out and activating the muscles in her face, “Ah, much better. As I was saying, turns out you’re just as big of a baby as me and the others. Should’ve known you’d be just like the last one.” She turned her head to the side, letting a snide smile creep across her face.

Watching Stacy transition from Littlespeak to sounding like a full-blown adult was about as terrifying as it got for Connor. It was like watching the Keyser Soze reveal at the end of The Usual Suspects. Lowering his head, he did his best to gather his scattered thoughts in an attempt to cobble together an explanation. “N-No. I’m not… It’s just that Latasha… Before coming here, I never… *sigh* fuck…” he said, unable to proceed more than a few words into any sentence without realizing how unconvincing he sounded. In reality, there was no way he could explain this away, not when Stacy’s mind had already clearly been made.

“Uh oh! Better watch that language, unless you want Latasha to hear about this,” said Stacy, her words purposely vague to keep Connor guessing if she meant she’d tattle about his cursing or the fateful photo.

Shaking his head, Connor rushed up to Stacy and grabbed her hands, holding them tightly as he stared deep into her eyes. “N-No! Please, I-I’ll do anything. Just don’t say anything to Latasha or the others,” he said, words practically falling from his lips to save himself. He spoke so fast that he wasn’t even sure what he feared most. What would Latasha do if she knew he cheated and changed his own diaper? What would the other Littles think if they found out? Would they ever respect him again? Would he lose his job as a caretaker?! So many questions hovered in the air like tattered ropes holding a grand piano above his head.

Thankfully for Connor’s sake, Stacy was much less interested in tarnishing his Big reputation than she was in having a bit of control over one of the two primary caregivers of the Padded Palace again. Retracting her hand from Connor’s, reached up and patted him on the cheek. “Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me…for now anyway,” she said, giving Connor’s padded rear a hardy slap as she made her way back to the nursery. Popping her pacifier back into place, she turned back and said “We’ww tawk agin soon,” before disappearing into the belly of the house.

Left standing outside of the bathroom in petrified silence, Connor leaned back against the door and slid down until he heard his thin, pink padding rustle against the carpeted floor. What had he done to himself? Not only did he just turn down the best job opportunity he’d gotten since leaving college, but to top it off, he was now at the mercy of perhaps the brattiest girl he’d ever met in his life. He could still feel the imprint Stacy’s hand left on his diaper, something he was as shamefully aroused by as he was mortified from being exposed. As he listened to the laughter and chaos emanating from the nursery, he no longer felt the same confidence he’d been working hard to build up. All he felt now was dreadful anxiety.

TO BE CONTINUED…

« LINKS TO ACTS 1 & 2 l NEXT »

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Patreon: patreon.com/crissiebaby Pixiv: pixiv.net/en/users/27465644 Twitter: twitter.com/bigsiscriss

Edited by AllySmolShork

#diaper art #diaper stories #crissiebaby #little space #ab/dl #ab/dl stories #ab/dl art #ab/dl sissy #diaper sissy #sissybaby #diaper humiliation #md/lg #dirty diaper #diaper messy #wetting diaper #crissbabydiaperco #the padded palace #thepaddedpalace

[shiningwonderland]

Ai Mikaze (All Star)

Translator: Momo (twitter: peachandrabbit) Proofreader: Nadie (twitter: nmoniag), Raz (twitter: agnadance) Editors: Whitney (twitter: whitormiss), Terry (twitter: turtlemudge), Mae (twitter: itoshikimaegirl)

Chapter Two — Amabile Humming

November has arrived.

After Mikaze-senpai finally accepted our partnership, I started helping him with his work as promised.

Under his guidance, I’ve been composing the four-part song.

I’ve also been working on the background music for the movie Mikaze-senpai is in. In other words, normal film music production work.

Lots of work, all at once.

I’ve filled my notebook with two people’s work schedules. My schedule is written in red ink, while Mikaze-senpai’s is in blue.

Haruka Nanami: I’m running out of blue ink so much more quickly….

There would be no end if I wrote the description for every single job, so I'm summarizing them.

Even so, the amount of work I have pales in comparison to Senpai’s workload.

Just this week alone, there will be filming of the movie first on the list, a variety show appearance, a magazine interview, a photography shoot, the production of his own music CD… et cetera.

This year, he began appearing in the media more often, too.

On top of that, he agreed to coach me….

For all his delicately-intelligent appearance, he has to be quite tough to handle such a packed schedule.

Haruka Nanami: He’ll work all day and then check over my compositions in the evening….

After checking today’s schedule one last time, I leave the house.

Ai Mikaze: I said you’re doing it wrong. How many times do I have to tell you? Use your head a little.

Haruka Nanami: I-I’m sorry!

Mikaze-senpai doesn’t pull his punches.

Today he’s looking over the four-part song I edited based on what he told me last time, but….

Apparently, I didn’t fix it quite the way he wants it. I hastily edit it right then and there, but, once again, it isn’t right….

Ai Mikaze: How can you be so bad at remembering things? Not enough memory in your hard drive? Or maybe your CPU isn’t powerful enough? Are you an 8-bit?

Haruka Nanami: 8-bit…?

Every so often, Mikaze-senpai will use unfamiliar words like that.

Ai Mikaze: Hmmm, don’t worry about it if you don’t get it. Explaining would waste too much time. Here, I’ll go over what you need to fix again.

Haruka Nanami: Um, let me write this down!

Ai Mikaze: Of course you should write it down! Sheesh, your composition skill isn’t bad, so how come you make flubs like these…?

Haruka Nanami: I’m sorry….

Although Mikaze-senpai is as strict as the rumors said, his teaching method is also very thorough.

I do my absolute best to follow along with his detailed explanations.

While working on composing the song, we take the time to discuss our upcoming schedules.

Haruka Nanami: The filming at the ocean the other day was amazing! If I recall correctly, this weekend’s scene will also be on-site at the beach. I wonder if filming will be done at the ocean more often now?

Ai Mikaze: That’s right. It’s about a mermaid, after all. Other than the underwater scenes, which will be done in CG, I believe most of the scenes will be filmed on-site. Haaah, I’m not fond of the ocean, though.

Haruka Nanami: You don’t like it?

Ai Mikaze: The ocean breeze makes me feel all sticky.

Mikaze-senpai replies with a sigh.

Haruka Nanami: True, it messes up your hair and makes your skin feel rough. Is… that the only reason?

Ai Mikaze: Eh? Ummm… I don’t like the salty smell. And I just feel like… I don’t have any good memories of the ocean.

He “feels like” he doesn’t have any good memories? What a strange way to put it.

Haruka Nanami: Maybe you got stung by a jellyfish when you were little or got swept away from the shore by the waves?

He hums as he thinks it over.

Ai Mikaze: I don’t have any particular memories of why, I just… I’m not fond of it. I don’t know why myself.

Haruka Nanami: I see. If you’re not fond of the ocean, why did you take the role of the mermaid?

Ai Mikaze: It was for work, so what else could I do? I’ll do anything if I’m ordered to.

He huffs and crosses his arms.

Here I’d thought him capable of anything, a model of perfection, but it turns out he isn’t fond of the ocean….

Haruka Nanami: Wow…. What a surprise, I didn’t think there was anything you couldn’t handle, Senpai.

Ai Mikaze: Well of course there is. I am technically a living being in human form. It’s not like I care about you finding out about this part about me.

For the first time, he looks a little embarrassed.

Ai Mikaze: I had a thought. Since we’ll be spending a lot of time together for a while, there are several things I have to inform you about. For example, regarding food—

As Mikaze-senpai is about to tell me something, the recording room door opens swiftly.

Reiji Kotobuki: Heya! You two having a good time working on the song!?

Haruka Nanami: Oh, Kotobuki-senpai!

Reiji Kotobuki: I just finished up work in the area and thought I’d stop in on my way home to see if I could help!

Kotobuki-senpai stands in the doorway with a huge smile.

Ai Mikaze: Reiji… If you’re here to tease us, then no thanks. We also don’t need your help to make this song.

Reiji Kotobuki: Aww c’mon, I’m part of the unit too, lemme have my say! Here ya go, I brought a gift~

Haruka Nanami: Wow, thank you so much for your kindness!

Inside the box that Kotobuki-senpai brought is a bunch of different-colored macarons.

Haruka Nanami: They’re so cute! Um, Mikaze-senpai! You should choose first!

I run up to Mikaze-senpai with the box in my hand.

He glances briefly at me and the box and then turns his head away.

Ai Mikaze: No thank you. I prefer not to intake food when I don’t have to. You have it instead.

Haruka Nanami: I… see?

Perhaps because he’s an idol he’s concerned about his weight?

Reiji Kotobuki: He’s always like this, Kouhai-chan. Don’t worry about him and help yourself! So, how’s it going?

Ai Mikaze: So-so. It’s not bad.

Reiji Kotobuki: My, oh my! Dearie, did you hear that?! Listen here, Ai-Ai calling it “not bad” translates to “pretty good!”

Haruka Nanami: Eh?! I thought for sure I did awful because he was so angry earlier….

Next to me, Mikaze-senpai puts a hand to his head as I gape at him.

Ai Mikaze: Geez… everything feels out of whack when you show up, Reiji.

After that exchange, Kotobuki-senpai joins us to give his input regarding the unit song.

Haruka Nanami: Thank you so much for your help when you’re so busy, both of you!

Once we’re done checking over the song, I stand up and bow to express my gratitude.

Mikaze-senpai is transferring over the song data onto his laptop.

Reiji Kotobuki: Before I forget, I’ve got a request for Ai-Ai here! You mind singing through Kouhai-chan’s song once?

Mikaze-senpai looks up from his laptop.

Ai Mikaze: You mean the unit song? Just me? Why? You could sing along with me, you know.

Kotobuki-senpai gives that question a moment’s thought.

Reiji Kotobuki: Uh, well, I kinda wanted to hear how it would sound first to get the feeling of it. You’re downright perfect at singing. I wanna follow your lead and all!

Ai Mikaze: The song isn’t complete yet… but I guess one time won’t hurt. You mind getting things ready?

Haruka Nanami: Alright! Um, do you need the sheet music?

Ai Mikaze: I remember it from looking at it earlier, so I don’t need it. I’ll sing. Can you start the music?

From the way Mikaze-senpai is drumming his fingers on the table, I can tell he wants me to hurry up.

Haruka Nanami: Y-yes! I’ll get right to it. Just a moment, please!

I scramble to get things ready and start the music.

Mikaze-senpai’s clear voice echoes in the small room.

Haruka Nanami: He really is amazing….

Perfect skill. An incredibly clear voice that resounds throughout the whole room.

This is a song that I wrote…. That thought sends a flush of warmth through my chest.

Reiji Kotobuki: Aine….

Haruka Nanami: Huh?

The voice behind me brings me back to my senses.

When I turn around, I see Kotobuki-senpai staring intensely at Mikaze-senpai.

Reiji Kotobuki: Aine….

Kotobuki-senpai’s lips barely move.

Aine...? Why...? Why does that word seem to resonate in my head…?

Ai Mikaze: How’s that? … Hey, what’s that look for?

I become aware that the music has stopped.

Reiji Kotobuki: Eh—o-oh, sorry ‘bout that! … I was just thinking about an old acquaintance, that’s all.

Ai Mikaze: You’re the one who wanted me to sing, and here you are thinking about something else? You DID listen properly, right?

Reiji Kotobuki: Yep, I did, thanks. And thanks to that I’ve got the gist of it. Sorry for putting you up to it!

Ai Mikaze: All I did was sing, it’s no big deal. Anyway, I’m heading home now.

He reaches for his laptop.

Reiji Kotobuki: Ah—just a moment! Can I ask you something?

Kotobuki-senpai pops up from his chair to call out to Mikaze-senpai before he can leave the room.

Reiji Kotobuki: You don’t happen to have any siblings, do you, Ai-Ai? Like for instance, a much-older brother…?

Ai Mikaze: None. It’s always been just me.

Reiji Kotobuki: Huh, that so….

Ai Mikaze: There you have it. I’m heading out now, good work.

With those words, Mikaze-senpai disappears from the room.

After that, Kotobuki-senpai leaves as well, as bright as ever and acting as if nothing has happened.

I am curious about why Kotobuki-senpai seemed off towards the end of the song….

Was there something wrong with Mikaze-senpai’s singing?

Several days later, I receive a text from Senpai.

Haruka Nanami: “Tomorrow, if your schedule is open, I’d like your help,” it reads.

It is a simple text with just that request. Still, I have no reason to refuse.

The next day I go to Mikaze-senpai’s studio to help him with work.

Thanks to the map he sent me, I can locate it without trouble.

Haruka Nanami: It looks like it’s a fifteen-minute walk from here. Since it’s my first time visiting, maybe I should bring some kind of gift?

Since I have a little extra time, I decide to take a look around at the shops on the way there.

As I reach the main street, I stop in front of a sweets shop.

Haruka Nanami: Hmmm…. Wouldn’t something sweet be best?

What should I get?

Select the phrase! 

Fruit gelatin (+0 Love)

My eyes land on a row of colorful fruit gelatin.

Haruka Nanami: Jelly of this sort is probably low in calories. This might make a good choice.

There is orange, pear, peach…. I wonder what kinds of fruit Mikaze-senpai likes best.

While thinking to myself that I should have asked him before, I continue looking over the various jellies until my eyes lock on one in particular.

Sweet Potato Yokan (+0 Love)

Haruka Nanami: It looks delicious, but it might be a little too plain.

A sign beside it reads in bold letters: “Great as a gift!”

Considering I am planning to buy this for a fifteen-year-old young boy whose tastes I don’t know, it is probably a little too mature as a snack.

Haruka Nanami: Okay, let’s try the shop next door.

Special Jumbo Cream Puff (+0 Love)

Haruka Nanami: It’s huge….

Whipped cream is swirled with custard cream in this fascinating double cream treat.

It is topped with large strawberries, making it very appealing to me, but….

Haruka Nanami: It’s probably too calorie-heavy.

Mikaze-senpai seems to be concerned about calorie consumption. Is there anything a little lower in calories?

I wander around a little, searching, until my eyes land on….

I pick up a jelly marketed as “marine jelly.”

Haruka Nanami: It’s so cute…!

Is it designed to look like the ocean?

Inside the cup, two different-colored jellies—aquamarine and a light emerald-green—are stacked on top of one another.

On the very top is a white mousse.

Several tiny shells and starfish made of sugar are nestled inside the jelly.

Haruka Nanami: I wonder if this looks a little childish?

Come to think of it, Mikaze-senpai said before that he wasn’t fond of the ocean, so this could help him become fonder of it, even just a little….

I purchase two cups of jelly and head for his studio.

Ai Mikaze: Once you’ve finished organizing that data, let me know. It needs to be sorted by song classification.

Haruka Nanami: A-alright!

As soon as I arrive at Mikaze-senpai’s studio, I am put to work.

My first task is to organize the music he has composed over the last three months. Most of it is just background music, but there is quite a lot of it.

That aside….

I take another look around Mikaze-senpai’s studio.

Although it’s his workplace, it seems almost too nice of a studio for one person.

The room itself is large and open. On the far side are two control rooms, including multiple recording booths.

There are shelves full of files, a corner for meetings, and a minibar.

There is even a tennis table, which I assume is for relaxation.

Mikaze-senpai is seated at the desk in the far corner of this room, which seems to be the main work area.

Sitting in his chair with his knees folded to his chest and arms around them, he types intently on his keyboard.

I wonder if Mikaze-senpai always works alone in this large room.

Haruka Nanami: Um, excuse me, Senpai?

Ai Mikaze: Hm? Are you done already?

His hands don’t stop typing as he replies.

Haruka Nanami: Ah, no, not yet. I was just wondering, do you not normally have an assistant to help you?

Ai Mikaze: I don’t. I always work alone. In fact, I’d say you’re the first. Whether you’re helpful or not is a different matter.

Haruka Nanami: Ack… I’ll do my best.

I return my focus to my own task and start working.

Haruka Nanami: This computer is amazing. I’ve never seen a screen like this, and its processing speed is so fast.

Mikaze-senpai has lent me this computer to work with. I’ve barely touched it, but I already have a feeling it is a very high-performance computer.

Ai Mikaze: Oh, that? That has the OS for a supercomputer I developed myself for my personal work. Let’s just say its processing speed is vastly higher than yours.

Haruka Nanami: What’s a… supercomputer?

Judging by the word "super", I imagine some really big system, like a bunch of computers connected together....

Mikaze-senpai spins his chair around.

Ai Mikaze: Your assumption is pretty close. Really, everything you’re thinking shows on your face….

Before I can ask how he knew what I was thinking, he’s already answered me.

Haruka Nanami: Am I really that easy to read? How embarrassing….

Ai Mikaze: Honesty isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but the ability to negotiate is also important at work. You should work on that a bit too.

He returns his gaze to his computer monitor.

Haruka Nanami: Ack… okay.

Haruka Nanami: I’m finished, Mikaze-senpai. I sent the email just now.

Somehow I manage to finish one task and send an email.

Ai Mikaze: Right, on to the next one. This folder contains hit songs from the past fifty years. I need you to sort them by genre.

Before I say a word, a large file is sent to my computer.

Sort hit songs by genre?

Haruka Nanami: When you say by genre, do you mean like by rock or pop, for example?

Hmmm, but what kind of genres could there be?

I begin counting music genres on my fingers.

Haruka Nanami: Ah but… I wonder what I should do if there are songs that overlap two genres?

At my mumbled question to myself, Mikaze-senpai heaves a long sigh.

Ai Mikaze: Haaah… Why don’t you decide that for yourself? You’re not a machine, are you? That’s why I asked for your help here.

Haruka Nanami: Understood….

It seems he heard me.

Okay, I’d better start thinking about this so I can be of use.

With that in mind, I return my attention to the computer screen before me.

Several hours of working like this pass.

Haruka Nanami: My head… I’m getting a little dizzy….

I am at the limit of my ability to focus.

Unfamiliar work combined with the nerves from working alone with Mikaze-senpai has drained me.

Unable to take it much longer, I am almost ready to collapse onto the computer, when....

Ai Mikaze: Oh, it’s three o’clock. Well then, it’s break time.

Mikaze-senpai finally looks away from his computer monitor.

Haruka Nanami: Yes!

I’m saved…!

With a big sigh, I stretch against the back of my chair.

Haruka Nanami: Hm? You aren’t going to take a break, Mikaze-senpai?

When the sound of typing continues, I look over at Mikaze-senpai to see that he has yet to stop working and is still facing the computer.

Ai Mikaze: No, I’m not.

Haruka Nanami: Aren’t you tired?

Ai Mikaze: Nope.

Haruka Nanami: Your eyes don’t hurt—

Ai Mikaze: Not at all.

The only sound that resonates in the room is the clicking of his keyboard.

H-hmmm. Will he be okay?

I observe Mikaze-senpai as he continues to work.

Although I don’t know how much help I’ve been so far, I have to wonder how he handled work like this before I started helping.

What appears to be manuscripts and various documents are piled up on his desk.

But rather than being disorganized, everything is neat and angled precisely, as expected of him

Haruka Nanami: Senpai, are you making sure to get enough sleep? And what about food? It’s not good to push yourself too hard.

Ai Mikaze: I can go without sleep or eating just fine. If you’re free enough to worry about others, go back to work. Or help yourself to some coffee. It’s self-service.

He points to the coffee maker in the corner of the room.

Haruka Nanami: Alright….

He’s unapproachable.

I envy his superhuman capabilities, but I am still worried.

I watch him from behind as I prepare coffee for myself.

Once I’ve brewed some coffee from the barely-used coffee maker, I remember something.

Haruka Nanami: That’s right, I bought a treat earlier.

I raise my voice to call out to Mikaze-senpai from behind, who has continued working.

Haruka Nanami: Um, Senpai? I brought along a snack that I bought earlier….

Ai Mikaze: A snack? Are you mentioning that because it’s three o’clock? It’s alright, go ahead and eat it.

Haruka Nanami: That’s, um, that’s not what I meant. I wanted to share it with you. It’s jelly….

I set down the coffee and the marine jelly on the bistro table towards the center of the room.

Ai Mikaze: I already told you that I try not to have too much food intake.

Mikaze-senpai turns his head and his eyes fixate on what’s in my hands.

Ai Mikaze: ... Why’s it blue?

Haruka Nanami: Pardon?

Ai Mikaze: Jelly’s a food. What’s the purpose of coloring it an unnatural color for food?

At last, Mikaze-senpai stops working and turns his chair to face me.

Haruka Nanami: This is called marine jelly. It’s blue because it was designed to be reminiscent of the ocean.

Ai Mikaze: Huh…. It certainly looks like it’s made of gelatin. Why are there several different layers?

I suppose now he’s asking about how it’s made?

Haruka Nanami: I’m guessing each layer was made separately and then stacked on top of one another. Oh, it’s probably supposed to look like the surface of the ocean down to the depths.

Mikaze-senpai accepts this with a nod and picks up one of the cups to peer at the gelatin from the side.

I pour a cup of coffee for him too.

Haruka Nanami: With those shells and starfish suspended in the jelly, it’s really cute, isn’t it?

Ai Mikaze: Cute…. This is… cute? I didn’t realize shells and starfish could be considered “cute”….

Haruka Nanami: The other day you said you weren’t fond of the ocean, so I bought this in hopes it would help you like it even a little bit.

Ai Mikaze: I’m interested.

Mikaze-senpai stands up to approach at last and takes a seat at one of the bistro table chairs instead.

Haruka Nanami: Yay, that’s great! I’m sure this marine jelly’s delicious! It’s from a popular sweets shop. Here, I’ll get it ready.

As I open the jelly packaging and flip it onto a plate, Mikaze-senpai watches intently.

Once the jelly is placed, he cautiously pokes it with a coffee spoon.

Ai Mikaze: Hey, you try to eat it first.

Haruka Nanami: Eh—why?

Ai Mikaze: I want you to make sure that this food is safe.

As he says this, he scoops up a bite of jelly with his spoon.

Haruka Nanami: Y-you want me to test if it’s poisonous?!

Ai Mikaze: It doesn’t seem to be quite that dangerous, but it’s a type of jelly I’ve never seen before. So, just to be safe.

He extends the spoon towards me. The jelly jiggles from side to side.

Haruka Nanami: That’s… I bought it myself and I’m pretty sure it’s just normal jelly. There shouldn’t be a problem with eating it yourself, but….

Ai Mikaze: If that’s the case, then you should have no problem. Here you go, open your mouth.

Haruka Nanami: Um….

Upon meeting his eyes, I freeze up.

Ai Mikaze: Hurry up, I am telling you to open your mouth. Do you understand? It won’t go in if you don’t open your mouth.

He pokes the spoonful of jelly against my lips.

Haruka Nanami: Um, I have my own portion so I’m good! It’s fine!

Ai Mikaze: Nope, not good enough. The test is pointless if you don’t sample from my portion. Open up. I’ll feed it to you.

Haruka Nanami: Ngh… okay….

I hesitantly open my mouth.

With that leeway, Mikaze-senpai slips the spoonful of jelly he’s holding into my mouth.

Haruka Nanami: Hnn—mph….

Ai Mikaze: How is it? Does it taste good?

The mouthful of jelly is slightly tart and citrusy, like grapefruit and lemon.

The creamy mousse is sweet, softening the tanginess of the jelly.

Haruka Nanami: ... It’s delicious.

Mikaze-senpai withdraws his hand and nods several times.

Ai Mikaze: Good. Then I’ll have some too. Thanks for the gift.

After politely putting his hands together, he also begins to eat.

T-that surprised me….

He just wanted me to taste-test, but what he did reminds me of how couples feed each other food….

I take a sip of coffee while feeling my face turning red.

Mikaze-senpai continues eating his jelly as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

Looking again, I notice he is carefully separating the jelly into each layer.

From those jelly chunks, he scoops out the shaped sugar pieces and sets them neatly aside.

Haruka Nanami: Aren’t you going to eat those?

I point out the sugar candies as I say this. It doesn’t look like he plans to eat them.

Ai Mikaze: Eh…? These are shells and starfish. I can’t eat them, can I?

He gapes at me in surprise.

Huh? He is… joking, right…?

Haruka Nanami: Um, these clams and starfish are actually made of sugar. They’re perfectly edible.

Ai Mikaze: Oh, I see. I thought they weren’t edible. Hmmm…. You’re right. It’s sweet.

He picks up a starfish and pops it into his mouth.

… He can be surprisingly naive, it seems.

Mikaze-senpai, when he is eating jelly like this, actually appears to be acting his age for once.

He’d probably get mad if I said that aloud, but he really is acting younger than usual.

That is an expression completely different from the typical strict-and-scary Mikaze-senpai.

Haruka Nanami: Does it taste good?

This time, it’s my turn to ask that question.

Ai Mikaze: It’s… probably good… I think.

As he says this, Mikaze-senpai eyes the remaining chunks of the jelly on his plate and the shells and starfish candies he lined up on the table.

Although he’d added “probably”, it’s a better reaction than usual.

It seems that it was a good idea to buy that jelly after all.

I pick up my own spoon and begin eating my portion of jelly.

Ai Mikaze: This seems like something Natsuki would like.

Mikaze-senpai muses out loud.

Haruka Nanami: Oh, you’re right! Shinomiya-san is very fond of cute things, after all. And since it’s an unusual type of jelly, I imagine Syo-kun would enjoy it if he received it as well.

When I say this, Mikaze-senpai looks up from his jelly.

Ai Mikaze: That’s right, you graduated with those two. You must get along well with them.

Haruka Nanami: I do! Even when we were in school together, Shinomiya-san and Syo-kun were always helping me out when I needed it. Actually, I still receive lots of advice from them….

Come to think of it, they both said you were a great senpai to them.

Ai Mikaze: That’s kind of surprising. I was certain they weren’t fond of me... at least that’s what I thought.

Haruka Nanami: That’s not true! They say that your strictness is your way of showing your concern and that what you say is always precise!

Flustered, I refute him.

Ai Mikaze: They told you that? Heh, and here Syo was always putting up a fuss during the Master Course.

Mikaze-senpai wears a slightly wry smile as he recalls dealing with Syo-kun and Shinomiya-san during their Master Course.

Haruka Nanami: He did say he had a lot of complaints at that time.

It feels like the conversation about mutual acquaintances lightens the atmosphere.

Haruka Nanami: Um, Senpai! Is it alright if we talk for a little while longer as we eat?

I take the chance to propose this idea and learn more about him.

Ever since becoming partners, the only thing we’ve ever done is work, leaving no chance to talk and come to better understand one another.

There might not be a better chance to talk casually like this for a while.

At my words, Mikaze-senpai glances at the studio clock.

Ai Mikaze: ... Sure, as thanks for the snack. But only fifteen minutes.

Haruka Nanami: Oh…! Thank you! Um, then….

Select the phrase! 

Ask about his music (+20 Love)

Haruka Nanami: How long have you been performing music?

True, his singing and music composition are downright perfect, but judging by his age he couldn’t have graduated from Saotome Academy.

Where could he have studied music?

Ai Mikaze: How long…? Hmmm. Since I was born, I suppose. After all, I was born to make music in the first place.

Haruka Nanami: Since you were... born? That would be awfully early….

And he even says he was born to make music.

Then again, come to think of it, one of my first memories is playing the piano.

Haruka Nanami: Um, I think I understand what you mean! I was also raised with music!

Ai Mikaze: You were too, huh? Then you might be able to understand me.

A very slight smile appears with his quiet murmur.

Ask about his family (+0 Love)

Haruka Nanami: Where is your actual home? Do you live with your parents?

He told Kotobuki-senpai that he had no siblings, so I wonder about what the rest of his family is like.

Mikaze-senpai’s family must surely be as beautiful as him....

Ai Mikaze: Home.... I don’t live very far from where I was born, but there’s no one else in my family. Or rather, there wasn’t anyone else to begin with.

He answers without any particular emotion.

Haruka Nanami: Eh—oh, um, I’m very sorry! So you… don’t have any family at all.

That might have been an insensitive question I just asked.

Feeling guilty, I timidly look back up at him, only to see Mikaze-senpai casually spinning his spoon around.

Ai Mikaze: It’s no big deal. What I don’t have, I don’t have. I do have the professor as a guardian. Oh, and I guess Shining too. So there’s no problem there.

The professor…? That must be his guardian’s line of work.

Haruka Nanami: By “Shining” you’re referring to the company president, right?

Ai Mikaze: Right. Even without a family, I have no difficulties with my everyday needs.

With a nod, he takes another bite of jelly.

To be working like this from such a young age… he probably is going through a lot of hardship.

Ask about his living situation (+10 Love)

Haruka Nanami: How is your living situation right now?

I’ve never seen him in the agency dorms at least, and now that the Master Course is finished, he isn’t living together with Shinomiya-san and Syo-kun either.

Ai Mikaze: My living situation...? You mean you want to know where I live?

Haruka Nanami: Yes. I was curious about where you’re currently living.

Ai Mikaze: “Where”...? Here. I live here. This is my home.

Haruka Nanami: Eh—HERE?! But isn’t this a work studio!?

“That’s right,” Mikaze-senpai replies with a nod.

The entire room is sparkling clean.

When I take another look around, I can’t even find any signs that anyone is actually living there.

There are a decent number of studios on the first floor of the building, but they’re mostly filled with music equipment.

Haruka Nanami: Um, where do you usually sleep?

Ai Mikaze: When I take a break, I just stay at my desk. For the rare times I need to completely power off, I lay on the sofa.

There is indeed a sofa where he points, but it doesn’t look long enough for Mikaze-senpai to sleep on, judging by his height.

Haruka Nanami: ... You aren’t uncomfortable sleeping there?

Ai Mikaze: Not at all. The room temperature doesn’t change, and I have all the machinery I need. It’s quite comfortable.

He tilts his head in confusion.

Is that the case?

I also tilt my head, unable to picture his normal living habits.

Ai Mikaze: Is that all you had to ask? Anything else? You still have plenty of time left.

I am not prepared for the question in return and briefly flounder for a response.

Haruka Nanami: Eh—!? Um, then… what are your dreams?

Whoops, it feels like I am conducting an interview for a magazine or something.

I feel like wincing at my own lack of variety with these questions.

For a brief moment, Mikaze-senpai considers the question, then opens his mouth to reply.

Ai Mikaze: A dream…? I don’t have one. I do have a goal and various things I want to work on, though. What about you? Do you have a dream?

Haruka Nanami: Me? My dream is….

Select the phrase! 

To remain in the agency (+0 Love)

Haruka Nanami: It’s not exactly a dream, but my immediate concern is remaining at the agency….

I mumble this with uncertainty.

Ai Mikaze: That’s true. In your case, you’re prioritizing avoiding your problems over having dreams.

Ahh, he’s concluded that I don’t have any dreams....

To debut (+10 Love)

Haruka Nanami: I’d say my dream is to debut with a song that I wrote....

Right now that’s my number one dream.

Helping out Mikaze-senpai and composing BGM tracks is fun and a great learning experience….

I want the audience to hear my music!

To that end, I need to work hard and have Mikaze-senpai acknowledge me, but….

Ai Mikaze: I see, so your dream is to debut. A wish that has a low chance of success, thus, a “dream.”

Haruka Nanami: Um… did you just say that I have little chance of succeeding…?

Ai Mikaze: I think I understand a little better now what a “dream” is.

Haruka Nanami: That’s… good to hear.

Ouch, that hurts a little.

To write music for idols (+20 Love)

Haruka Nanami: I initially aspired to be in the entertainment industry because I wanted to write a song for a particular idol.

I think back to before I attended Saotome Academy when I answer.

I’d decided I wanted to write songs for the idol on TV I looked up to.

Thinking that, I’d enrolled at Saotome Academy.

Since then various things have happened and I ended up being unable to fulfill that dream, but….

Haruka Nanami: Right now, even if it’s not that person, I want to write songs that make idols sparkle and will entertain the audience.

I want to become a great composer. That’s my dream!

Ai Mikaze: Maybe it’s because your goal is different from mine, but I don’t really understand what you mean….

However, you looked really excited when you were talking about your dream just now. Is that what’s different, maybe?

After our talk about dreams, Mikaze-senpai spends some time thinking about something.

Ai Mikaze: I don’t quite get it. My goal is to produce a million sales hit, but that’s less a dream and more just a specific goal.

I don’t understand the feeling of aspiring to something so abstract.

To be honest, I can’t really understand “emotion” to begin with.

Haruka Nanami: You can’t… understand emotions?

Those words draw my attention.

Ai Mikaze: Nope. I’m sure I would grow in maturity if I were to understand them thoroughly.

Mikaze-senpai speaks with unusual nervousness.

Come to think of it, Shinomiya-san did say that Mikaze-senpai doesn’t have enough human expression.

When talking to him, I’ve noticed that he isn’t very expressive and seems downright flat.

The reason for that could be due to his lifestyle until now or how he was raised, or because of something I don’t know….

Haruka Nanami: But I think you’re already amazing. Your singing ability is incredible, and the music you compose is so good. I can learn a lot from it.

Senpai, I think you are perfect.

Ai Mikaze: I wonder about that. This time I was assigned a completely new, far more difficult project: acting.

It’s a big challenge.

Haruka Nanami: You’re talking about the movie filming, right?

“Right,” he replies with a nod.

Ai Mikaze: If I’m to act correctly for that movie, I need to understand romantic love. That’s something unknown to me, so it’s really tough.

He has to understand the feeling of romantic love?

Haruka Nanami: Umm, this might sound like a strange question, but…

I decide to put the question out there.

Haruka Nanami: … Does that mean you’ve never come to like someone or fallen in love before...?

Ai Mikaze: That’s right. I’ve never understood the feeling of loving or intimately caring about someone.

Haruka Nanami: I-I see….

In other words, Mikaze-senpai wants to effectively perform this new line of work and act in a movie, but since he doesn’t understand how it feels to be in love and to care about another person, he is a little troubled.

… I think I’m getting the idea.

After a period of silence, Mikaze-senpai glances at the clock.

Ai Mikaze: Question time is almost up. Do you mind if I ask one last question instead?

Haruka Nanami: Um, y-yes, go ahead!

Ai Mikaze: How would you describe the feeling of falling in love with someone?

At the sudden question, I am at a loss for words.

Haruka Nanami: I-I think that that question might be a little beyond me….

Ai Mikaze: I want to know more about that feeling. Will you teach me?

Despite my answer, he stares intently at me, expectant, and I search hurriedly for an answer.

Haruka Nanami: Love is…

Select the phrase! 

Cherishing them (+15 Love)

Haruka Nanami: I think that “loving” someone means wanting to cherish them and considering them important.

Ai Mikaze: Important… for me, my fans are important, but is that “love?”

Haruka Nanami: Hmmm, I don’t think that’s the same… after all, you have a lot of fans.

If among those important people you had someone who you cherished above all others, I think that would be “love.”

At my answer, Mikaze-senpai tilts his head.

Ai Mikaze: Someone I’d cherish above everyone else… umm. I don’t understand after all.

Not wanting to be apart (+10 Love)

Haruka Nanami: Not wanting to be apart. Wanting to always be together…. I-it’s something

I don’t really understand yet either….

For example, I love music. Because of that, I want to always be able to make music. I hope to always be with music.

I think love is basically like that…?

Maybe because he isn’t satisfied with the response, Mikaze-senpai looks away in thought.

Ai Mikaze: What you’re saying is that choosing of your own volition to be with something is to “love" it?

He thinks it over to himself after saying this.

I am not sure if I properly conveyed things, but then again “love” is a difficult thing to explain.

Feeling your heart race (+0 Love)

Ai Mikaze: Hmmm… Do you feel your heart race being with me now, for example?

Haruka Nanami: Huh?!

That definitely makes my pulse jump, but that is out of surprise.

Ai Mikaze: You… do sort of get that feeling, don’t you?

He asks this emphatically, to make sure.

When I don’t answer right away, Mikaze-senpai backs away.

Ai Mikaze: Hmm. All living humans have a heartbeat, so it’s too imprecise as an evaluation standard.

Haruka Nanami: Well, um, you’re right about that…

Senpai doesn’t look like he’s kidding around, so I am at a loss for words.

Ai Mikaze: What’s the matter? You’re making an odd face. Why not drink some coffee and calm down?

Unlike me, who has gotten flustered, Mikaze-senpai speaks calmly.

Ai Mikaze: It’s a really tough topic. I think understanding “love” is an assignment that will take a while.

After speaking curtly, he elegantly scoops the remaining jelly on his plate into his mouth.

Ai Mikaze: I don’t really get “like” in the romantic sense, but… I think… I like this jelly.

Mikaze-senpai murmurs quietly.

I’ve been able to interact with him face-to-face and come to understand him a little for the first time.

At first he seems perfect, but now I could see that there are things he doesn’t understand and lacks.

Haruka Nanami: Um… I know I’m not good with words, and I don’t understand romantic love very well myself, so I can’t give a good explanation anytime soon, but….

I’ll help you however I can until you do understand! You can ask me for help with anything!

I say this with the desire to support him, even if it is just with this one thing.

Mikaze-senpai sets down his spoon and narrows his eyes.

Ai Mikaze: Haha, what’s with that all of a sudden? So weird. You’re also kind of a strange one, aren’t you? Though not as much as I am, of course.

Right, let’s get back to work. If you don’t pick up the pace, we’ll be working all night.

Haruka Nanami: Ah... that would be a problem! I want to sleep in my own bed tonight!

Ai Mikaze: In that case, better give it a push. You seem to be having trouble sorting that data, so let’s have you work on arranging this music instead.

Haruka Nanami: Ah! Right!

On the table sits Mikaze-senpai’s untouched coffee, as well as the plate that held the jelly he ate.

For some time after that, I continue to travel to his studio and work with Mikaze-senpai.

I converse with him a little during work breaks.

Mostly we talk about music, but his knowledge of music is astounding and I lose track of time chatting.

By and large, I am learning more than I am able to be of help. Still, I feel like I’ve made some progress as his partner.

Today’s schedule includes filming for the movie. We arrive at the filming location.

In truth, the scene that was supposed to be filmed was changed abruptly. We were suddenly given a new script this morning.

This means that the Mikaze-senpai, in the lead role, has a lot to relearn.

Haruka Nanami: Are you doing alright, Senpai?

Ai Mikaze: Quiet. This much should be fine if I read this through once.

Mikaze-senpai is in the middle of reading through his script at an incredible speed.

True, he does have an amazing memory, but will he really be alright…?

Reiji Kotobuki: Wanna read it aloud with me? That’ll make it easier to remember.

Ai Mikaze: No way. Now’s not the time to butt into other people’s business—are you sure you remember your own lines?

Come to think of it, Kotobuki-senpai had a lot of lines added to his script as well.

Reiji Kotobuki: Ngh…. Not… yet. Gahh, so harsh! You broke ol’ Rei-chan’s heart….

Ai Mikaze: I’m not all that harsh. You’re just taking this too lightly. Buckle down already.

Mikaze-senpai lets out a sigh and returns his attention to his script.

Assistant Director: We’re starting rehearsal in a few minutes! Mikaze-san, please stand by!

Right as Mikaze-senpai finishes reading his script, the AD calls out.

Ai Mikaze: Yes, understood! … Here you go.

He closes his script and hands it to me, then heads for his place on set.

The filming begins.

Today they are filming the scene where the mermaid boy first comes to the girl’s home.

Mikaze-senpai has said that filming is a big challenge to overcome, but….

He runs through the garden of blooming flowers, turns the corner of the house, and meets the girl.

The moment he sees the girl, the look on his face is a mix of surprise and joy at being reunited with her again.

Ai Mikaze: There you are. Ever since that day, I’ve longed to see you again....

Mikaze-senpai smiles gently.

After that, he perfectly recites long lines of dialogue that he only just memorized from his script a few moments ago.

Haruka Nanami: Wow… Mikaze-senpai’s so talented. And he’s remembering his lines perfectly!

Reiji Kotobuki: Phew, that’s Ai-Ai for you. Looks like we’ll have this one wrapped up in one take.

Kotobuki-senpai, with his script in hand, murmurs to himself while watching Mikaze-senpai.

Talent A: Acting is what’s most important. Anyone can memorize and recite lines.

This particular actor is glaring at Mikaze-senpai.

Haruka Nanami: Umm….

If I remember correctly, he is a coactor. He is… kind of scary.

Kotobuki-senpai leans over to whisper in my ear.

Reiji Kotobuki: It’s tough to be popular~! Don’t worry about him, okay? You just focus on your partner’s acting.

Haruka Nanami: O-okay….

I nod several times.

The filming continues at an exceptionally smooth rate.

The final scene of the day involves the heroine.

Ai Mikaze: I’ll come see you again. Wait for me here.

This is where he is supposed to take the heroine’s hand, lean over, and kiss her forehead.

Except Mikaze-senpai very suddenly leans in close to her face.

Ai Mikaze: Hm...? Why’re you leaning away? Hold still—

When his co-star automatically pulls away, he firmly catches her arm and pulls her towards himself.

Ai Mikaze: Ngh?!

He pulls her too close and their foreheads collide with quite some force.

Both topple to the ground from the shock of their collision.

Ai Mikaze: Whoa, I-I’m sorry! Are you okay?!

Flustered, Mikaze-senpai quickly sets to helping his fellow actor up.

The director calls a swift cut and the staff rushes to check on them.

Talent A: How lame… the heck did he think he was doing?

Once again, I hear that voice from a corner of the studio.

After that, they attempt the scene over and over, but he can never get the timing—or pausing—just right.

Director: Hmmm, well, I guess since we did just redo that whole section of the script, it’s only to be expected….

Eventually the director waves his hand to the staff and actors.

Director: Let’s continue with this scene another day. We’ll move on to filming the scenes with Kotobuki-kun instead for now.

Reiji Kotobuki: Okay, okaaaay~! I’m aaaaall ready!

Kotobuki-senpai’s bubbly voice lightens the atmosphere.

That day, on the way home, I stop by Mikaze-senpai's studio for a while.

Haruka Nanami: Is your forehead alright?

Ai Mikaze: Ugh... it’s fine.

He is sitting on the couch when he says this, a conflicted look on his face as he is lost in thought.

I assume he’s bothered by his acting difficulties today.

After today’s filming, he apologized to the rest of the cast and to the staff.

He didn’t say much on the way home.

He never is one to talk excessively, but this is enough to worry me.

I set my things down and take a seat beside him on the sofa. After a while, Mikaze-senpai glances at me.

Ai Mikaze: Hey, um. Why’d my co-star move away like that? Did I do something?

From the way he asks me this, it sounds like he is deeply confused.

So he is worried about that after all….

Haruka Nanami: Um, th-that’s because… you might have come on to her a little too strongly.

Ai Mikaze: Even though I acted exactly as the script said? Hahhh… I’m stumped. So how should I act?

Haruka Nanami: Since you need to be more romantic about it, maybe take it slowly and go through the motions step by step, one at a time.

Mikaze-senpai sinks back against the sofa, thinking hard about my reply.

Ai Mikaze: Take it slowly…. If I do everything slowly it’ll take too long. What things should I focus on?

Haruka Nanami: How about how you…

Select the phrase! 

Kiss her (+30 Love)

I get embarrassed and I can’t bring myself to say “kiss.”

Haruka Nanami: Um… At the very least I think it’s best that you, um, take the end very slowly.

Ai Mikaze: Take what slowly? Just say it.

Ack…. It’s embarrassing to say, but I’ll say it to help Mikaze-senpai.

Haruka Nanami: Right at the end you should… slowly bring your lips closer to her forehead… to kiss her.

Ai Mikaze: Got it. Do you mind if we practice that kiss scene right now?

Haruka Nanami: W-what?!

As soon as he finishes speaking, Mikaze-senpai turns to face me so that he has one knee on the sofa.

Haruka Nanami: J-just a—please hold on a moment, Senpai!

He is so much taller that he towers over me and I become overwhelmed and freeze.

Passionate about acting or not, this is a little…!

Ai Mikaze: Come on, hold still or I won’t be able to do this right. Hmm... So where should I put my hands?

He waves one hand as an example.

Haruka Nanami: You should probably… put your hand on my shoulder....

At my answer, he carefully sets his hand on my shoulder. The warmth from the contact makes my heart leap in my chest.

Ai Mikaze: Like this? Now I just have to follow up, but… in your case, your bangs are kind of in the way.

Haruka Nanami: Maybe you should brush them to the side with your other hand.

Mikaze-senpai does as instructed and pushes my bangs out of the way, and then brings his lips closer to my forehead.

Take her hand (+0 Love)

Haruka Nanami: If you just grab her hand out of nowhere, I think she’d be really startled. That’s why, when you take her hand….

It is clear by how Mikaze-senpai’s brow furrows that he doesn’t quite get it yet.

Haruka Nanami: You should take her hand gently and try to keep your actions soft and steady.

Ai Mikaze: Gentle, soft and steady…. Let me borrow your hand for a moment. You mean something… like this?

He carefully grasps my hand.

Haruka Nanami: That’s certainly gentle, but… hmm….

… Huh?

Haruka Nanami: It’s okay to let go now.

Mikaze-senpai stares me in the eye, not saying anything.

Perhaps he has gotten into his role.

Somewhat faster than I expected, he bends towards my forehead.

Look her in the eye (+15 Love)

Haruka Nanami: While you’re making eye contact, make sure to move slowly so the actress knows your next move.

Ai Mikaze: Eye contact.... I see…. Like this?

His beautiful eyes peer into mine.

Haruka Nanami: Eep…. Somehow this is really nerve-wracking….

Being so close to him has my heart racing.

Ai Mikaze: You’re nervous? That can’t be good. It’ll make it hard for my partner to act.

The whole time our gazes are locked.

… It is making me tense.

Haruka Nanami: N-no, it’s fine. I’d actually say this is… the correct response in this situation, in fact it’s a good sign, but....

With my heart beating so fast, it is kind of hard to form the right words.

Ai Mikaze: If you say so, then I’ll believe you. Next is…

His face nears my forehead.

… At this rate... is he really going to kiss me?

Haruka Nanami: M-Mikaze-senpai! Stop! Let’s stop here for now!

Ai Mikaze: … Why?

Haruka Nanami: To refer to the sc-script! I don’t quite know the details yet!

Unless I know what will happen next, I can’t give you proper advice!

Ai Mikaze: Hmm... that’s true. Alright. It looks like you have a talent for giving advice on acting.

Haruka Nanami: D-do you think so?

Ai Mikaze: I understand the concept of descriptions like “gently” or “romantically,” but I don’t really know how those words translate into actions.

Haruka Nanami: I… see….

This might be what people mean when they say that understanding a maiden’s heart is difficult.

Ai Mikaze: I’m appointing you to be my acting advisor. I feel like you’re qualified for the role. Will you help me out?

Haruka Nanami: Help you out…?

I feel like this is the first time I’ve ever heard him say that.

It thrills me.

If there is any way I can assist him as a partner, then….

Haruka Nanami: I will! I’ll do whatever I can to support you!

“Good,” replies Mikaze-senpai with a nod.

After that, we rehearse the troublesome scene repeatedly.

It turns out that it isn’t the moment of the forehead kiss that is giving him trouble, but instead the actions leading up to it.

We end up practicing the scenes that come before and after as well.

The day of filming that scene arrives. We stand in a corner of the set, waiting.

Ai Mikaze: One last check. At this point I should tilt my head at this angle like… this, right?

Mikaze-senpai leans close to my face.

Haruka Nanami: Eek!

My heart rate jumps at being close enough to feel his breath, and I turn my face away.

Ai Mikaze: Should I take your surprise to mean I didn’t get it quite right yet?

Haruka Nanami: No, um, it’s not that that was wrong, I mean, that was actually really good, just, um, doing that in a place like this…!!

Ai Mikaze: This is rehearsal. Repetition is the most basic part of practice. One more time, now hold still.

His argument is perfectly sound, but that doesn’t change the fact that practicing something like this here of all places is a little….

Ai Mikaze: So I tilt my head like this…. Next, place my hand on your shoulder. Finally I need to gently press my lips to your forehead…

Reiji Kotobuki: Let your love~ ♪ Ring far and wide~ ♪ Odorokimaaan~ ♪ … Oh, morniiin’! Eh, w-wai—whaa?!

Haruka Nanami: Hyaaaah?!

I leap away from Mikaze-senpai.

Kotobuki-senpai’s eyes are as big as saucers.

Haruka Nanami: U-um, this is—this is for Mikaze-senpai’s acting…!

Ai Mikaze: Nothing to be so surprised about. This is just a rehearsal, that’s all.

Mikaze-senpai cuts across my words with his straightforward statement.

Kotobuki-senpai nods awkwardly three times, and then gives an awkward cough.

Reiji Kotobuki: O-oh... r-right! All’s well then. That reminds me, Ai-Ai, you gonna be alright today? Think you can manage?

Ai Mikaze: Manage what?

Reiji Kotobuki: I was all set to offer you advice on your acting, but looks like you’ve already worked on it with Kouhai-chan here, huh?

Haruka Nanami: Y-yes. We were discussing the specifics again just now.

Reiji Kotobuki: That so? Good to hear. And lookin’ good too, sounds like you’re coming along well as partners.

Ai Mikaze: Coming along well… as partners?

Reiji Kotobuki: I’m talking about how you’re supporting each other like that. Well done, well done!

Next to the grinning Kotobuki-senpai, Mikaze-senpai seems to be thinking about something again.

Ai Mikaze: Supporting one another… a give-and-take relationship. In other words, there are merits to this partner relationship after all.

Haruka Nanami: Mikaze-senpai? The filming is about to begin…

Ai Mikaze: Right, I’ll get going. Will you watch everything carefully? I want to hear your thoughts about it afterwards.

Haruka Nanami: Yes, of course!

With a nod to me, Mikaze-senpai heads onto the set with confidence.

The day’s filming ends without incident, with the problematic scene resolving successfully.

That scene with the forehead kiss is so romantic that I blush just watching.

Kotobuki-senpai, who comes over to watch, keeps mumbling that it’s embarrassing him.

It’s extra embarrassing for me when I think about how I helped rehearse this scene….

I’ve read the lines of this scene enough that I can quote them almost perfectly.

The director is pleased, saying it went well.

For a time, I’d been worried about how things would turn out, but for now we are in the clear.

While I am waiting for Mikaze-senpai after filming is over, Kotobuki-senpai walks over to me after he’s finished getting ready to go home.

Haruka Nanami: Oh, good work today!

“Hey, hey!” Kotobuki-senpai calls with a wave of his hand.

Reiji Kotobuki: Nah, I didn’t do much today. You’re the one who’s really had it tough, haven’t you? All worried about Ai-Ai like that.

Haruka Nanami: No, really, it was nothing! Besides, you were also concerned and trying to help Mikaze-senpai out, weren’t you?

Since this is the first movie Mikaze-senpai has been in, Kotobuki-senpai has been casually supporting Mikaze-senpai both during filming and off camera.

I hadn’t noticed he was doing that until recently.

Reiji Kotobuki: Haha, that’s about all I could do for him. I haven’t been in the entertainment industry this long for nothing!

That said, I’ve been thinking that Ai-Ai’s role is a pretty tough one.

Haruka Nanami: Is it really?

Mikaze-senpai’s role is the mermaid.

In order to reunite with the now-grown girl, the mermaid sacrifices his voice in exchange for a human form and goes to the human world.

That’s why, during the latter part of the movie, he has to act completely without speaking.

The emotions of the mermaid prince, the lead role, are complex.

However, Mikaze-senpai is still young, and this is the first time he has ever acted for a romantic role. It’s no wonder Kotobuki-senpai says this is tough.

Reiji Kotobuki: Back when I first got this job from Shiny-san, he shocked me by saying, “Mikaze is playing the lead for this movie.”

To be honest, I kept thinking, “Will he be alright?” Oh, uh, Ai-Ai’ll get mad if he hears that, so let’s keep this a secret, okay?

Haruka Nanami: But Mikaze-senpai’s very studious and is working very hard.

Reiji Kotobuki: Mmhmm, Ai-Ai’s a real hard worker. He’s been taking this job quite seriously.

But, you know… when I see him giving his all like that, I actually start to get worried.

Haruka Nanami: Worried? Why is that?

After a long moment of silence, Kotobuki-senpai opens his mouth again.

Reiji Kotobuki: A while back, I had an idol friend whom I was very close to.

The word ”had” catches my attention.

Reiji Kotobuki: He was an incredible singer and actor, a real genius in my opinion. But you see, he was much more sensitive than most people, and one day he had this really tough role….

And then he just up and vanished.

Kotobuki-senpai says it so off-handedly.

Haruka Nanami: He… vanished?

Reiji Kotobuki: That event was in the news, actually. Have you ever heard about it?

Haruka Nanami: No…. I’m sorry, I didn’t know anything about anyone vanishing like that due to work.

Reiji Kotobuki: He would get totally sucked into his roles. In this case, he fretted over the role all on his own, and then, in the end, he just vanished into thin air.

Kotobuki-senpai stares at the ground as he says that, his expression a little pained.

Haruka Nanami: So something like that happened….

Reiji Kotobuki: Yep. To be honest, Ai-Ai acts just like him. In fact, even his appearance and singing voice are the same.

Haruka Nanami: Even his singing voice?

Reiji Kotobuki: That’s why when I first heard Ai-Ai sing I was in total shock. Like, “Whoa, he’s totally like him!”

And now we’re going to be singing in a unit together. Every time I look at Ai-Ai, I’m reminded of that friend of mine.

Haruka Nanami: Really? That’s… that’s just....

Reiji Kotobuki: No matter how similar they look, there’s too much of an age gap for them to be the same person.

So I thought maybe they might be brothers, but when I asked about it, that theory was thrown right out the window.

Haruka Nanami: Oh… you mean that time you asked that question out of the blue.

That day at the start of the month when Kotobuki-senpai asked Mikaze-senpai if he had any siblings, after hearing him sing the unit song.

Reiji Kotobuki: Well, it’s just a coincidental resemblance, that’s all.

Ai Mikaze: What is…? What are you talking about?

I jump and spin around. There stands Mikaze-senpai.

Haruka Nanami: M-Mikaze-senpai! You’re back!

Kotobuki-senpai’s usual smile appears on his face, and he waves a hand dismissively.

Reiji Kotobuki: Nothing important, just some small talk is all! Oh hey, you’re done filming for today, right? Want to go over our script together for the next scene?

Ai Mikaze: No, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.

Mikaze-senpai responds just like always.

Reiji Kotobuki: Ahahaha, looks like I’ve been dumped! Alrighty then, see you next week~ I’ll leave the rest to your partner here.

Haruka Nanami: Eh, what?

Waving wildly, Kotobuki-senpai calls out, “Laterrrrr~!” as he heads off.

Ai Mikaze: It looks like you’ve been tasked with something, but what?

Haruka Nanami: That it does….

Ai Mikaze: If anything, I should be the one entrusting things to my partner. How weird.

Mikaze-senpai cocks his head.

When I get home that night, I set to work on the unit song once more.

Haruka Nanami: This month has just flown by, so it’s about time I got this song finished.

Kotobuki-senpai’s words come back to me as I work on the song.

After watching him from up close, I understand now that Mikaze-senpai is always serious, hardworking, and studious.

In return for his guidance, I need to work hard and support him as his partner.

Haruka Nanami: Perhaps I should gather up these documents…

I pick up the documents for the Christmas Live that Mikaze-senpai has collected.

There are a lot of them, but I can finish them up if I go through them steadily every day after work.

Of course, if Mikaze-senpai were to do it, he’d probably have them all done in a flash.

Haruka Nanami: This is just practice by repetition! Mikaze-senpai said so himself!

By using the method I learned from him, I finish sorting the documents.

It’s good that autumn nights are long.

In the evening, after a day’s work, I can quietly help with Mikaze-senpai’s work.

Several days later…

Haruka Nanami: Good work today….

Composition Mentor: Whoa, are you okay, Nanami-san?

I am suffering from lack of sleep and overwork.

Haruka Nanami: I’m fine. I can handle this much without a problem.

Three days ago, a sudden request for assistance came in, along with the need to redo another project.

Today I’m helping as the assistant for a composer that Tsukimiya-sensei introduced me to.

I also do this three days a week. This job is usually on days when I’m not helping out at Mikaze-senpai’s studio.

Composition Mentor: Anyway, in regards to the drama BGM I had you compose the other day, the length of it will need to be changed.

Also, we’ve decided to leave half the BGM composition for the movie to you.

Haruka Nanami: What, really!?

According to him, the test BGM that I composed went over well with the director, and this means my name will appear in the movie credits.

My name will appear in a movie that Mikaze-senpai stars in….

Haruka Nanami: Thank you very much!

I bow deeply.

On returning to my dorm room, I message Mikaze-senpai, who is probably still at work.

Haruka Nanami: I’ve been asked to compose some of the movie’s BGM. … There we go.

My Composition Mentor complimented me recently, telling me I’ve improved. That might be thanks to Mikaze-senpai’s instructions.

And I’m almost finished with the work I have right now.

As sleepy as I am, I feel fired up to give it my all for just a little longer.

Haruka Nanami: But… I feel a bit chilly....

I shiver from a sudden chill. Well, it is already November, so that shouldn’t come as a surprise.

I can just put on another layer to warm up and then continue working.

By the time I finish and submit everything, it is nearly dawn.

Haruka Nanami: I did it….

However, as soon as that thought crosses my mind, everything before me starts swaying and fades to white.

Hm…?

Am I… on my bed?

When I come to, I am lying on my bed.

When did I go to bed?

The moment I slowly lift my head, I hear a voice from right beside me.

Ai Mikaze: Oh, you’re awake.

Haruka Nanami: Huh!?

My eyes widen at the sight of Mikaze-senpai.

He is crouching next to my bed, resting his face on his hand with an elbow on the bed.

Ai Mikaze: Good morning. Then again, considering the time, I suppose good evening is more appropriate.

After standing, he touches my neck and peers at me closely.

Ai Mikaze: Hmm. Your complexion’s much better now. Pulse, breath rate, and level of consciousness are also normal, but your temperature seems high.

I think I get it now.

Haruka Nanami: Um, did I happen to pass out?

Ai Mikaze: That you did. You were lying on the floor when I got here. Extreme fatigue. Lack of sleep. Weakening immune system. Add it all together and you got hit with a fever. It looks like a cold.

Haruka Nanami: A cold…. I see.

I feel feverish, and my throat hurts. I am also still wearing the same outfit I’d had on when I’d passed out.

As my thoughts clear, I realize something.

Haruka Nanami: Excuse me, Senpai, but how were you able to enter my room? I’m sure I locked the front door properly.

Ai Mikaze: I opened it myself.

Haruka Nanami: Huhhh!?

Ai Mikaze: I’m very dextrous, you know. It’s a simple matter to open a lock like that one.

He twirls his finger while making that off-handed reply.

Select the phrase! 

You shouldn’t do that kind of thing! (+15 Love)

Haruka Nanami: Y-you shouldn’t do that! That’s unlawful entry—it’s socially inappropriate, you know!?

Ai Mikaze: But if I hadn’t come in, you’d have been left on the floor. That would’ve been a problem.

He lets out a sigh.

Haruka Nanami: W-well, that’s true, but….

Did you come here because you were worried about me?

I’m impressed you unlocked it (+0 Love)

Ai Mikaze: That was the first time I’ve tried it myself, but it seems I can do it if I try. I wonder what I can use this skill for.

Haruka Nanami: Maybe you can demonstrate it on a variety show?

Wait, that’s not the point!

Dextrous or not… (+10 Love)

Ai Mikaze: Do you want to learn too? First, you press your finger to the keyhole... like this….

Mikaze-senpai raises both index fingers in a strange pose as he explains.

Haruka Nanami: No, I’m fine, thank you.

Just how many different skills does he know?

I ask while lifting my body from the bed.

Ai Mikaze: I came because no matter how many times I called, you didn’t answer. When I stopped by to check, all the lights in your room were on…. Could you not cause so much trouble?

Haruka Nanami: I’m sorry….

Ai Mikaze: It’s fine. In any case, you need to stay put until your fever goes down... and with that said—

Haruka Nanami: Senpai, what are you—eep!?

He sticks a cooling sheet to my forehead and pushes me back into bed.

Ai Mikaze: That should do it. Now if you just get some sleep you should recover on your own.

Grrrowl....

Haruka Nanami: … Ngh.

Of all the times for my stomach to growl.

Silence falls.

Ai Mikaze: “Dinner preparation” shall be added to the list for Project Caregiving. I’m going to borrow your kitchen.

Haruka Nanami: Eh, you are!? I can’t make you do that!

When I try to jump to my feet, he forcefully throws the blanket back over me and shoves me back into bed.

Ai Mikaze: This is a Mentor Order. Sleep!

Mikaze-senpai leaves the room.

Haruka Nanami: Is this… udon?

Two hours have passed since I was made to rest by the Mentor Order.

On being called downstairs to the living room, I find that the table has been neatly set with a small bowl and a single set of chopsticks, evenly spaced from one another.

Ai Mikaze: I have data that udon is suitable for proper care of a sick person. It’s easy to digest, as it’s made with water, salt, eggs, and white powder… that’s what I used, right there.

Haruka Nanami: Ah, flour. Wait, does that mean this is all handmade?

“That’s right,” Mikaze-senpai replies with a nod.

It is hard to believe that the beautiful, flat-sided udon noodles that float with the eggs in the broth are handmade.

Haruka Nanami: It’s so well done. This looks delicious….

Ai Mikaze: That’s enough staring, now eat up. This is the first time I’ve ever made udon, so I’m not sure if I did it right.

He also takes a seat.

Haruka Nanami: I think this is more than good enough. Thank you so much for this meal!

I pick up the chopsticks and lift an udon noodle to my mouth… and notice something.

Haruka Nanami: Semhai, d'you ha'en to cut th'noodles?

At my question, he tilts his head.

In fact, the noodles are really just one very long noodle, and no matter how much I slurp it up, I can’t see the end.

According to Mikaze-senpai, he had the data for the width of the noodles, but he didn’t know how long to make them. And so, this result.

Ai Mikaze: Well, it’s said that in cases like this you have to just suck it up in one go. Do your best.

I’m not sure whether to call him skillful or clumsy. This udon is very unusual, but it tastes delicious.

As I eat, Mikaze-senpai watches me with apparent interest.

Ai Mikaze: Just to be sure, it does taste good, right?

Haruka Nanami: Yes, of course. It’s delicious… and more importantly, it’s something you made for me.

Ai Mikaze: How is something that I made different from something I didn’t make?

Haruka Nanami: Well, your kindness in cooking this makes me happy, for one. It makes the udon taste even better.

Ai Mikaze: Kindness, huh…. As long as it tastes good, I’ll consider it a success.

Mikaze-senpai rests his chin on both hands as he continues to watch me eat.

Haruka Nanami: Um, when you stare at me like that, it’s, um, it makes me kind of nervous….

Ai Mikaze: I want to know how you react, to make sure I’m doing a proper job of taking care of you. No need to be so stiff in your own home.

Haruka Nanami: That’s true, but still!

This might be the first time I’ve ever been so tense in my own home.

Ai Mikaze: My kindness, was it? If something like that can make you happy, then it might not be such a bad thing.

Haruka Nanami: That was delicious. Thank you very much.

Now that I have eaten well, I feel more energized than before.

Ai Mikaze: Well? What were you even doing that resulted in you lying unconscious on the floor?

He points to the spot on the floor in front of my laptop.

Haruka Nanami: Uhh… I finished all my own work yesterday. There was also the retake which I also somehow managed to do....

Ai Mikaze: Listen here, you’re not as strong as I am, so you can’t overwork yourself.

I took a look at the documents you finished, and… those were originally mine, weren’t they?

Haruka Nanami: You looked at it!? But it wasn’t finished yet!

Ai Mikaze: That’s for sure. Even the parts you finished were crudely done. If you have the time to do work that you’re not responsible for, spend that time taking care of yourself.

Oh shoot, I made him mad….

Ai Mikaze: First and foremost, the thing you should be focusing on is the unit song. You’ve been making progress, right? May I hear it?

Haruka Nanami: Y-yes! Of course!

I hurry to prepare the music.

SONG: "QUARTET NIGHT" (S Rank)

Ai Mikaze: I’d give this about 80 points.

Haruka Nanami: Then, umm… you consider 50 points as a full score, then I got 160%...?

Ai Mikaze: Uh, no, this time it was out of 100 points. You can’t exceed 100% here.

In other words…

Haruka Nanami: I got a high score?

Mikaze-senpai scribbles a flower mark on my sheet music sitting in front of my laptop.

Ai Mikaze: This isn’t half bad, but… let’s see, how about doing some research on what’s popular in music right now and adding that?

For example, you could change the timbre of the synth drums and make it sound a little more sparkly, like this....

When Mikaze-senpai makes the change he’d suggested, the music immediately begins to sound brighter.

Ai Mikaze: The piece needs to sound like something you would write, but it’s also important to analyze data and properly incorporate good technique into your compositions to create a good piece.

Haruka Nanami: That’s very good advice….

Is this the result of his daily research and analysis?

Ai Mikaze: This much is only natural. Alright, I’m going to go clean up.

While I sit there, amazed, Mikaze-senpai stands up from his seat next to me.

Haruka Nanami: Um, I’ll take care of the clean-up. Please sit down again….

As soon as I say that, he sets his hand on my head and holds me in place.

Ai Mikaze: When you’re that shaky on your feet? Absolutely not. I’m not giving you permission.

Haruka Nanami: Alright… I’ll leave it to you.

With a silent nod, Mikaze-senpai heads for the kitchen.

I totter back to the sofa. Truthfully I am still a little shaky from the fever.

Shortly after, I hear the kitchen faucet being turned on.

I can’t just let myself be taken care of like this; I need to hurry up and get over this cold.

Ai Mikaze: Hmmm, hm-hmm, hmm-hm-hmmm, hmmm~

… A song?

I can hear a light melody coming from the kitchen.

It seems like even Mikaze-senpai hums. Curious, I find myself listening closely to the playful tone.

Ai Mikaze: Huh? The dish soap isn’t coming out....

The song stops abruptly.

Now that I think about it, I am almost out of dish soap.

I quickly stand up and stride to the kitchen.

Haruka Nanami: Excuse me, there’s another bottle of dish soap under the sink—!?

As I speak, my feet get tangled up, and I lose my balance.

Ai Mikaze: Wha—whoa!?

When Mikaze-senpai hurriedly tries to support me, he also loses his balance, and we go down hard.

After a moment, I realize I’ve landed on top of him.

Ai Mikaze: … Nnnn….

And what’s more….

My lips are pressed directly to his.

Haruka Nanami: ...!?

I jerk back.

Spices and kitchenware are scattered around, and right before me is Mikaze-senpai.

Ai Mikaze: … Hahh… what are you doing? This is exactly why I said I didn’t need any help….

Haruka Nanami: I-I’m so sorry! … Um, here—!

In a panic I reach under the sink and pull out a bottle of dish soap.

Haruka Nanami: Here’s the dish soap.

Ai Mikaze: Now isn’t the time to be worrying about the dish soap.

We stare at one another without moving.

Eventually Mikaze-senpai places his hand on my cheek, and then lightly bumps his forehead to mine.

Ai Mikaze: Did your fever go up again?

He speaks while our foreheads are still touching.

After that, Mikaze-senpai hands me cold medicine and applies another cooling sheet to my forehead.

Neither of us bring up that kiss....

Instead we chat for a while about work-related things.

The sudden home visit comes to an end at last, and Mikaze-senpai prepares to leave.

Ai Mikaze: I’ll be going now. Take care.

Haruka Nanami: Oh, no, don’t worry about me. Please take care on your way home.

I escort him to the front of the dorms and Senpai bows to me graciously.

He is being very proper, but it must have been quite a sight to see in the middle of the street.

Ai Mikaze: At this rate you’re going to make all that caregiving go to waste. Hurry up and return to your room.

Haruka Nanami: But after all you did for me, I absolutely have to see you off.

Reiji Kotobuki: Huh…? What’re you two doing in a place like this?

As we banter, I hear a familiar voice from behind me.

Haruka Nanami: Hm?

When I turn around, I see Kotobuki-senpai staring at us from across the road.

Ai Mikaze: Reiji? What about you, what’re you doing here, on the roadside?

Reiji Kotobuki: Oh, I popped by Otoyan’s place to hang out for a bit and now I’m headed home. Kouhai-chan, what happened to your forehead?

Haruka Nanami: Ah! The cooling sheet!

I totally forgot I had it on. It seems I headed out without taking it off.

Ai Mikaze: Really, what do you think you’re doing…? Is your head not working right from the fever?

Haruka Nanami: I’m sorry….

Observing our interaction, Kotobuki-senpai chuckles and nods his head in some silent affirmation.

Reiji Kotobuki: Ohoho, I see~ Would this happen to actually be a date, but you’re just saying you’re taking care of her?

Haruka Nanami: H-huh!?

My face burns up, as if my cold has come back in full force.

Reiji Kotobuki: Naughty, naughty~ Romance is forbidden for idols, you know~?

Mikaze-senpai’s eyes narrow and his face scrunches up.

He steps in front of me and faces down Kotobuki-senpai.

Ai Mikaze: It was nothing. Sure, we kissed—but it wasn’t a date—she was just feeling sick so I made her some udon and took care of her for a while! Got it?

Reiji Kotobuki: Ohhh, I see, you were taking care of her while she was sick! Udon, aha, I see, that’s delici—eh? EHHH!? K-kissed!?

Mikaze-senpai speaks so fast that it seems Kotobuki-senpai has trouble keeping up, and ends up in a panic.

Haruka Nanami: M… Mikaze-senpai…!?

Everything he said is the truth, but he dropped a major bombshell in there!

Ai Mikaze: Everything we did was completely normal behavior for partners. So it’s nothing, nothing happened, nothing’s wrong!

His words are intense, and as he speaks, Mikaze-senpai takes another step forward right up to Kotobuki-senpai.

Reiji Kotobuki: O-okay, I got it, I understand, so just calm down! I’ll hear you out! Yep, let's do that, please go ahead!

Kotobuki-senpai concedes to Mikaze-senpai with no hesitation.

Ai Mikaze: You’re going to keep it a secret that you met us here. That is all. Problem solved.

Reiji Kotobuki: Okay. Got it.

Mikaze-senpai nods once, satisfied.

Ai Mikaze: Good. Well then, good night. I’ll see you some other time.

Haruka Nanami: Y-yes, you as well.

He spins on his heel and strides off.

Haruka Nanami: Umm… Kotobuki-senpai...?

Reiji Kotobuki: Hahaha, it’s alllll good! I’m famous for my tight lips! They don’t call me Rei-chan the Clam for nothing!

Haruka Nanami: I, uh, I see.

I get a feeling that there is a misunderstanding somewhere.

Reiji Kotobuki: But seriously, that was a real surprise. Details aside, that Ai-Ai was actually taking care of you, huh?

For some reason he looks happy.

Reiji Kotobuki: Far as I can tell, you’re the first he’s done that for. Anyhoo! I’m off now. And, umm. Take care!

He heads off down the sidewalk again, waving his hand as he walks.

Haruka Nanami: The first person… he’s done that for?

For some reason, hearing that makes my heart race uncontrollably.

The next day, I get a text.

Haruka Nanami: Hm, it’s from Mikaze-senpai.

Maybe it’s a message about the schedule?

Good work. This is Mikaze.

Sleep is essential for recovery from a cold.

If there’s anything you need, make sure to contact me right away.

That’s all. I look forward to working with you in the future.

Haruka Nanami: It looks like he really is worried about me.

The message is short and to the point, but this is the first personal text I’ve ever gotten from him.

My chest grows warm.

Chapter End

#ai mikaze #utapri #all star ai