#kyouko-centric

[rukimakino-heirofheart]

🔥Puella Magi Madoka Magica

🔥Renaruki

🔥 MadoMagi:

The original anime was pretty mediocre and had a mediocre soundtrack. Its fatal flaw is that it tries to center itself around a single main character (Madoka Kaname herself) whose viewpoint we see the world through, but her characterization physically cannot get focus in this format in an anime, because you just don't get to see how deeply screwed up her worldview is if you never know what she's thinking. Consequently, you actively lose information by telling the story in a format other than a novel or VN. (Observant viewers may recognize this as the same ultimate problem behind why adapting FSN for the screen inherently requires getting more exposit-y about Shirou's deal.) Ultimately, I wholeheartedly recommend skipping the MadoMagi TV anime entirely; most of the best parts of the Puella Magi Series are elsewhere and don't expect familiarity with a disappointing TV anime. (The Different Story, Rebellion, and Wraith Arc escape this curse by not being Madoka-centric, instead focusing on more conventional protagonists in Kyouko and Homura.)

Rebellion was a perfectly fine ending in and of itself, and it doesn't need a sequel. The only reason I'm interested in Walpurgis no Kaiten's existence is that it seems to be going so far out of left field that I kind of have to entertain it and find out what the cook is.

Of the "classic" Puella Magi titles (pre-2017, i.e. before Magia Record), I'd rank them like this:

Puella Magi Tart Magica - Masugitsune

Puella Magi Oriko Magica - Kuroe Mura

Extended Puella Magi Madoka Magica Series - Gen Urobuchi (TV, Rebellion, Wraith Arc) & Masaki Hiramatsu (TDS) & Hanokage (Wraith Arc)

Puella Magi Suzune Magica - GAN

Puella Magi Kazumi Magica - Masaki Hiramatsu

Rankings of Tart and Oriko may be swapped depending on how I'm feeling that day.

This is not to say that Suzune and Kazumi are bad manga, but the former quite infamously ran into production troubles and the latter bit off way more than it could chew, and it shows. Kazumi has a lot of cool plot ideas and themes in play but reading it for the first time can feel like being subjected to a plot point firing squad. The original manga run of Suzune was good but not spectacular -- it didn't truly get to shine until the MagiReco crossover events started happening. (It has been 1200 days since the last Suzune event...)

MagiReco fans often describe Arc 2 as "when it gets good," and it's common to write off Arc 1 entirely as an extended prologue, however I do still maintain that Arc 1 is a good story on its own terms. You can feel the weight of the production issues (there's a very noticeable midpoint shift where a major rewrite happened) but it's still a perfectly fine and coherent story. Most of what the fandom writ large likes to call "flaws of Arc 1" are just, intentional foreshadowing.

When AniReco (the companion anime to MagiReco that tells a completely separate story)'s final batch of episodes originally came out that fateful April 3, I gave the production as a whole a massive side-eye (I distinctly remember logging on and asking a chatroom I was in "what is even happening?? Why is the anime Folklore of Zero propaganda all of the sudden?? Wait, Neo Dorothy Motherfucker???? Huh??????"), but I've since warmed up to it. It's its own thing, and you have to have its place in the series' cosmology and the showrunner's goals in writing it explained to you first before you start watching, and it makes some writing decisions I find to be questionable, but it did a remarkably good job for a series that was slashed from 39 episodes down to 25 halfway through.

Apparently this is a hot take now: I like Nagisa Momoe's actual backstory as detailed in MagiReco a hell of a lot better than "dumb idiot child wished for cheese instead of healing her ailing mother." The collected Nagisa cycle of MagiReco stories makes her arguably the single most interesting member of the Holy Quintet.

I want more Kyubey worldbuilding, goddammit! We know precious little -- the Incubators were created by an advanced alien civilization (local expert Touka Satomi, A1C9), and their tissue is analogous to stem cells and can be reconfigured on the fly (Kosane Kiriha, NMG) -- and I need to know more! What were the progenitors like? Did they wipe themselves out? Actually, now that I think about it, are Incubators like Touhou's shikigami where you take fleshy hardware and flash it with your own artificial intelligence? We know a human can control one (Madoka uses LoC-branded pink Incubators for surveillance purposes) and we know a human can have their soul shoved into one losslessly (mokyu!), so like, what are the limitations here? Hell, the Pleiades made their own once! It sucked at its job, but it existed! How did they do that? Tell meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

I think that even in the absence of the Automatic Purification System, being a magical girl is just kind of objectively better than being human. You get to opt out of mortality, you get private(-ish) telepathic communication for free, you get a shrunken hitbox -- no more worrying about workplace safety hazards as long as you protect the gem! -- you get a weirdly specific personal magic that varies in effectiveness from Konomi's baton pass to Iroha's localized time reversal, and even if you don't get something useful you still have a magical weapon that you can spawn on command. That's even before we get into the existence of Coordinators, and the logical applications of their Adjustment magic in gender-affirming care. To be quite honest, if Kyubey ever had reason to approach me, my wish would probably just straight-up be "immediately megucify every human who exists right now and every human who will ever exist in the future regardless of energy cost."

I'm scared of the new Magia Exedra mobage's existence because (1) it's very prominently advertised as being Quintet-centric and I'm sick and tired of the Quintet, and (2) there's a nonzero chance it will take resources away from Magia Record to focus instead on what seems, if the credits on the website are to be believed, to be a shitty autobattler. MagiReco is the best thing the Puella Magi Series has ever done and I want it to survive well past its tenth anniversary.

🔥 RenaRuki:

Okay, seriously, did the entire Tamers fandom collectively forget that, past a certain part of the D-Reaper arc, none of the Primary Colors are actually human anymore? Because it feels like I'm the only one who's acknowledging this, despite the fact that "Ruki, alienated from humanity, voluntarily gives it up, while Renamon, aligned with humanity, is a trans woman" seems like a pretty obvious thread to work with, and being turned into a digital life-form offers plenty of opportunities for neat body horror, not even to mention how this affects the ways in which Ruki's Candy timeline counterpart has steadily been getting worse for two decades.

[Side note: I really need better names for the "more canon" movie timeline that's relevant, essential and true, and the "less canon" drama CD timeline that isn't. If I keep calling them Meat and Candy I'm going to get weird looks from the non-Homestucks.]

I swear I had more observations I was going to put here but I got sidetracked. Might add on a reblog later.

[luminarytex]

my ranboo clothing thread for the people who are curious

i’ll list the brands here as well

#1 morikei/lolita inspired clothing

axes femme

liz lisa

moi-même-moitié

pink house

ank rouge

vintage hollister, ozz angelo, lip service, gunne sax, trippnyc, abercrombie&fitch

plus size options; hard candy, strawberry witch, chamber of pastels

#2 feminine clothing in general

mikumn

to alice

liz lisa

sleepy doll

#3 star centric clothing

minga london

pixies bite

cutiekill

frufru

cfierce

pink savior

peach captain

transfer student

kyouko

11shop97

snbl

arcana archive

if you’re looking for something specific i’m more than happy to help out ^_^

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

morning and evening (i felt i was grieving)

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/dHnYJAg by floras_45 “Morning and evening I felt I was grieving Until I said fuck you And never again” - (Rio Romero, “Over & Over”)   During what should have been a normal patrol, an encounter with a presumed sniper leads Tim to an entire new world of friends and foes alike, changing the course of his life for better or worse. Words: 1227, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: Batman - All Media Types, Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magika | Puella Magi Madoka Magica Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: F/M, Other Characters: Tim Drake (DCU), Tomoe Mami, Kyubey (Madoka Magica), Dick Grayson, Bruce Wayne, Damian Wayne, Jason Todd, Akemi Homura, Kaname Madoka, Miki Sayaka, Sakura Kyouko, John Constantine Relationships: Tim Drake & Tomoe Mami, Tim Drake/Tomoe Mami, Batfamily Members & Tim Drake (DCU), Tim Drake & Kyubey, Tim Drake & Dick Grayson Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Madoka Magica Fusion, Tim Drake is Bad at Feelings, tim drake is not having a good time lemme tell you, Being Meguca Is Suffering, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, How Do I Tag, Author wrote this while listening to Dangerously Yours audios so take that as you will, Kyubey is Awful (Madoka Magica), Magical Girls, and boys, Magical Boys, no beta we die like how i wish kyubey would, Puella Magi Madoka Magica Spoilers, Tim Drake-centric (DCU), Fluff and Angst, Angst, Canon-Typical Violence, Not Canon Compliant, Canon-Typical Suffering (Madoka Magica), Timeline situation is weird for pmmm, Pining, Falling In Love, Blood and Gore, Mental Breakdown, Good Sibling Dick Grayson, Misunderstandings, Miscommunication, ikik im sorry, Possibly Out of Character, Unreliable Narrator read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/dHnYJAg

[ao3feed-danganronpa]

Love thy with thy heart.

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/Ne40Cfs

by CashhG

Kazuichi and Miu decide to team up and build a weird looking machine. Uh Oh! The three main antagonist genders get swapped into their opposite gender! What trouble ensues from now on?

..

The antagonists come to the conclusion that their classmates don't know much about each other. The solution? A group chat!

Words: 2110, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: New Dangan Ronpa V3: Everyone's New Semester of Killing, Super Dangan Ronpa 2, Dangan Ronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, Dangan Ronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M, Multi

Characters: Maizono Sayaka, Ikusaba Mukuro, Kuwata Leon, Fujisaki Chihiro, Oowada Mondo, Ishimaru Kiyotaka, Yamada Hifumi, Celestia Ludenberg, Ogami Sakura, Hagakure Yasuhiro, Asahina Aoi, Fukawa Touko, Togami Byakuya, Kirigiri Kyouko, Naegi Makoto, Enoshima Junko, Chou Koukou Kyuu no Sagishi | Ultimate Imposter, Hanamura Teruteru, Koizumi Mahiru, Pekoyama Peko, Mioda Ibuki, Saionji Hiyoko, Tsumiki Mikan, Nidai Nekomaru, Tanaka Gundham, Komaeda Nagito, Nanami Chiaki, Kuzuryu Fuyuhiko, Owari Akane, Sonia Nevermind, Soda Kazuichi, Hinata Hajime, Amami Rantaro, Akamatsu Kaede, Hoshi Ryoma, Tojo Kirumi, Yonaga Angie, Chabashira Tenko, Shinguji Korekiyo, Miu Iruma, Gonta Gokuhara, Kokichi Oma, Kaito Momota, K1-B0 (Dangan Ronpa), Shirogane Tsumugi, Yumeno Himiko, Harukawa Maki, Saihara Shuichi

Relationships: Oma Kokichi/Saihara Shuichi, Hinata Hajime/Komaeda Nagito, Naegi Makoto/Togami Byakuya, Iruma Miu/K1-B0, Akamatsu Kaede/Amami Rantaro

Additional Tags: Falling In Love, Idiots in Love, Genderbending, fem!kokichi, Fem!Nagito, fem!byakuya, Major Original Character(s), Secret Relationship, chatfics, Oma Kokichi Is a Little Shit, Oma Kokichi/Saihara Shuichi-centric, Gay, Tired Saihara Shuichi, Mastermind Saihara Shuichi, Saihara Shuichi and Shirogane Tsumugi Are Siblings, Pre-Game Saihara Shuichi, Pregnancy, Teen Pregnancy

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/Ne40Cfs

[rukimakino-heirofheart]

All of them are good to varying degrees.

Tart is a good generalist pick, as it's a high-quality chuuni action manga. Pick this one if you miss Symphogear and want to recapture some of the same vibes.

Kazumi is experimental in a way that only a spinoff produced before the original source material had finished could be. Its worldbuilding goes hard, but sometimes at the expense of the plot making sense on a first read. Still worth it, though.

Suzune has its issues certainly (I've detailed them in my liveblog tag) but it's pretty good on the whole. The MagiReco crossovers are arguably the meat of the spinoff, so if you take the original manga by itself you might be having a worse time of it, but it's still good on its own. It struggles with action paneling, but the art itself is really good. Give it a shot if you want to be introduced to new blorbos.

Oriko and its two spinoffs are often considered the Dostoevsky of magical girls. Give them a shot if you like tragedy in your yuri.

The Different Story is a Kyouko-centric spinoff that does an excellent job of telling a tightly-written narrative within the confines of the loop. It's written by the same author as Kazumi, with a different artist, and consequently the fights are really creative. Give it a shot if you want to be convinced of KyouMami.

Wraith Arc is an interquel set between the TV anime and Rebellion. It does a great deal of work to flesh out the setting and helps a lot to ground Homura's arc from the movie. Give it a shot if you liked Rebellion, or if you didn't like Rebellion but are open to having your mind changed.

The MagiReco Manga is a straightforward adaptation of the game with beautiful art courtesy of Fuji Fujino-sensei (Yozuru's designer). There are some very small changes that won't matter too much until deep into Arc 2, assuming that she even adapts Arc 2 to begin with. Last I heard, it was currently wrapping up Arc 1 Chapter 7.

Not a manga, but Null Magical Girl is the Detective Pony of Madoka. Give it a shot if you like weird surrealism.

chat what are the good madoka manga i have reading time today

[conartisthaiji]

In which Sayaka saved Kyouko, so Kyouko decides to try and save her too. 

warning: character death

damn i’m writing fic again 

re-watched Madoka Magica and decided to write a little something for Kyouko/Sayaka! canon compliant though, so it do be painful. 

fic here, the link above, and also under the cut~

The stained glass glows behind her as the sun begins its dramatic descent, and Kyouko feels her lungs burn.

Sayaka slams the door on her way out.

Miki Sayaka’s stubborn determination to uphold justice would be the death of her—that much was obvious. “I’m fighting to protect people from getting hurt.” What nonsense.

“It’s magical girls like you that I cannot stand.” Like, seriously? Sayaka was out of her mind. Kyouko knew what happened if you used your wish for others. It didn’t end well.

There was no point in “saving humanity” or whatever noble nonsense Sayaka believed in—humans were fucked up, and becoming a magical girl in order to “save” them was pointless. Humans didn’t need saving. Only you needed saving.

She sighs, staring up at the hospital that Sayaka had once spent so much of her time at, worrying over Kyousuke. Fucking Kyousuke. He had no idea what Sayaka had done for him.

Sayaka’s corpse, falling on the pavement as her soul gem was carried away. All that—for a boy.

For a boy.

Kyouko can barely fathom it. Kyousuke isn’t even interesting.

Well. It’s not like she was any better, was she? Kyouko takes a bite out of her apple, relishing the satisfying crunch beneath her teeth.

Where was Sayaka, anyways? Kyouko wanted to talk to her. Still does, although there’s doubt swirling in her gut now.

Another bite. Sayaka was good. So endearingly, ceaselessly good. It wasn’t fair. Chomp. Her unerring belief in justice. Chomp. Look what it had gotten her—Sayaka—in the end. Chomp. A walking corpse, her soul attached to a glowing blue gem.

She finishes her apple, and without thinking, runs.

Before she knows it, she’s outside Sayaka’s house. Her chest heaves from exertion and she leans over to catch her breath.

Hey, she thinks. Come outside. I want to talk.

She stands there for a few moments, just catching her breath and thinking. She wonders if Sayaka will even come out.

To her surprise, Sayaka does.

“Hey,” she says to Sayaka. Something strikes Kyouko as off about her—the look in her eyes, maybe. They’re blue and bright as they should be but yet somehow flat and dead.

“I want to show you something,” she tells Sayaka. Sayaka only nods, and Kyouko leads her down, down, down, cutting through the city and its steady orange and yellow daylight. They pass under trees, light turning soft and green around them. Eventually, they make it to the abandoned church, dark and imposing in front of them.

Sayaka doesn’t even question why Kyouko is leading her here. That’s concerning, but Kyouko finds that she isn’t ready to answer those questions anyways.

In some strange way, she is grateful for Sayaka’s uncharacteristic silence.

Kyouko places her hand on the heavy wooden door. It’s been…years. Years. Years since she last stepped foot in this place. After…everything.

Sayaka is still silent behind her.

Kyouko takes a breath, steels her resolve. This is what she came to do.

She just hopes that she can reach Sayaka before it’s too late.

She shoves open the door and strides up to the altar, ignoring the tension in her gut. Dust stirs around her feet, but she ignores that too. She has a mission, and she intends to see it through.

It just…needs to work. It has to work.

“Why did you bring me here?” Sayaka asks, voice cool, steady, not angry but not pleased.

“To talk. Want an apple?” Kyouko asks, tossing her one. Sayaka catches it in a fluid motion.

“No,” she says, and throws it on the ground.

All Kyouko sees is red. Her little sister, whispering, “Onee-chan, I’m still hungry.” The growling of her stomach. The hollowness in her belly that still, despite everything, never truly seemed to go away. The gleam of the apple’s red skin as it falls to the floor.

She grabs Sayaka’s collar and raises her up. “Don’t waste food in front of me.”

Blue, blue, blue. Wide but calm, patient, curious, even. Sayaka doesn’t even seem afraid.

What is she doing? She releases Sayaka, bends down, picks up the apple. The apple itself is fine, maybe just slightly bruised. She moves back to the center of the altar, just like her father did.

Chomp. The apple is sweet, crunchy, delicious. Just as it should be.

“Once upon a time, there was a preacher,” Kyouko begins. “He saw all the problems in the world, and he knew how to fix them.”

In her head, she sees her father, standing at the altar, gazing down at his congregation. “You must always be good,” he told her.

She shakes off her father’s ghost. “But his teachings went against the church. The people…they didn’t like that. They began leaving, fearing he was crazy.” Empty pews. But her audience is Sayaka, not the world. Empty pews are fine. Sayaka is there. She’s not moving. Her eyes…they’re intently focused on Kyouko.

“Eventually, he was ex-communicated. They stripped him of his authority. He continued to preach, but no one would listen.”

That stupid letter…she remembers the way her father had stared blankly at it. Thrown it on their dining table and locked himself in his room.

“So I made a contract with Kyuubey. To ensure that people would listen to him. And we saved the world together! Him through his preaching, and me in the shadows, fighting evil.” She shakes her head. “And our lives were good. But somehow…somehow, he found out.”

Her cheek still stings, sometimes, from the ghostly weight of that slap that her father had given her when he found out. “Witchcraft!” He had shouted, and a young Kyouko stumbles backwards.

“He was distraught to find that his congregation was fake. Accused me of being a witch. Eventually, he went mad. He killed his family and himself. Before he died, he even set the house on the fire. I came back to a house in flames and a dead family.”

The heat of the flames as she stared at her house, gaping, struggling to find words that never came. Orange scorching her vision, searing her eyes as she felt her heart drop.

How at some point her voice unlocked and she screamed for her family, but they never came out.

Sorry, kid. But your family is dead. Lucky you weren’t home, right?

“After that, well. I swore to never help another person again. People are selfish, Sayaka. I wasted my wish on my father, and…look how that turned out. So this might be my lot in life, but now I’m going to focus on myself.”

She looks at Sayaka, feeling raw, numb, vulnerable, exposed. “I guess…the point is, you don’t really ever know what others want. So why should you care about them?”

Sayaka is quiet, taking in the words. Kyouko’s gaze falls to the colored light on the dust-covered floor. Reds, oranges, yellows, greens. Purples, even. The stained glass really is beautiful. Kyouko always did love this place.

She looks up, and sees…blue.

Sayaka clears her throat, and Kyouko hates how she flinches oh-so-slightly. But it’s the first sound Sayaka has even made after rejecting the apple.

“That may be the path you chose, but I can’t agree,” Sayaka declares. “I became a magical girl for the sake of others, and I’m not going to abandon my morals because I’m technically dead.” She looks at Kyouko: cold, stern, resolute.

What happened to the cheerful, hopelessly optimistic Sayaka? Kyouko…

Kyouko misses her.

This Sayaka looks…looks ready to die.

“Where did you get those apples?” Sayaka asks, landing the finishing blow, the coup de grace. Kyouko freezes.

“As I thought.” Sayaka smiles, still sad and cold and ready to die. “I don’t eat stolen food, sorry.”

And just like that, Sayaka—blue, quiet, cold, dead, alive, musical Sayaka—turns away, and walks back through the empty church, slamming the door on her way out. The sound rings hollow and loud in Kyouko’s ears.

The stained glass behind her is awash with light, casting a swirling rainbow of colors around her feet. In the past, Kyouko had loved this rainbow.

Now though, Kyouko slams her fist on the pulpit. It lands on a spot of soft blue light.

“Damn it, Sayaka!” She shouts, before taking another angry bite of her apple.

She had just wanted to bring that light to Sayaka. Give Sayaka her light back.

Because after every rain storm, there’s a rainbow.

Sayaka just needs to push through her storm. There will be a rainbow. There has to be.

Chomp.

There has to be. There was one for her, after all.

Because Sayaka reminded Kyouko why she had become a magical girl. She had reached out to Kyouko, unintentionally perhaps, but with enough resolve to remind Kyouko of…well, everything.

Now it’s her turn to reach out and remind Sayaka of the same thing.

She chomps on her apple, and ignores the tears running down her face.

It’s just—they become the very thing they were trying to fight?

If Sayaka and her upstanding sense of justice had done anything, it had reminded Kyouko that once upon a time, she too had believed in fairy tales and happy endings.

She needs a miracle. No, scratch that, Sayaka needs a miracle.

And so she will bring Sayaka a miracle.

An idea begins to form in her mind.

In fairy tales, love solves everything. The love she had for her father had inspired her to become a magical girl, to use her wish to save her family. It’s always love.

Kyousuke would be ideal, but…he doesn’t know about magical girls. He can’t even sense the grasping despair of a witch; see the intricacies in a witch’s grief. Rumor has it that he’s going out with someone else, anyways.

It will have to be Madoka, then. The best friend, the one who was always there for Sayaka no matter what. A different kind of love, of course, but isn’t that the beauty of this? There’s so many different types of love. Friendship is just as valuable. Madoka can see the witches; she knows about magical girls; she is just as desperate as Kyouko herself to get Sayaka back.

She reaches out to Madoka, who all too willingly comes running to her.

“You want to save Sayaka, right?” Kyouko asks.

“Of course.”

“Then I want to try reaching out to her.”

Madoka nods, resolve growing in those soft pink eyes of hers. What a pair Madoka and Sayaka made.

“Do you know if it’ll work?” She asks, and Kyouko sighs.

“No one knows how to purify a witch. We’ll be the first. But that’s why we have to try.” Kyouko tosses her soul gem up. It’s glowing red, red, red, the opposite to Sayaka’s blue. “Will you come with me?”

“Yes.” There’s no hesitation in Madoka’s voice. Maybe she and Sayaka had more similarities than Kyouko had expected.

Kyouko catches her soul, and with it, her stray thoughts. Funny how her life is now tied to what is essentially a shiny rock. She wonders what would happen if she dropped it.

“Let’s go,” Kyouko says, recalling the task at hand, and offers Madoka a smile. Madoka returns it with one of her own.

They begin, walking around the city, following Kyouko’s soul gem in hopes of a trace of Sayaka, or the witch Octavia.

Her gem flashes, and Kyouko grins while Madoka gasps.

A signal. They found it.

Or rather, they found her.

“Ready?” Kyouko asks.

Madoka nods.

They step inside.

Octavia is quiet, at first. There’s nothing but mirrors and silence and the echo of their footsteps. Such a weird place to think of Sayaka being in.

Or is it a reflection of Sayaka?

Kyouko thinks that she’s going to have a hard time fighting any other witches after this.

“Kyouko?” Madoka says, her voice timid. “I was wondering…does this feel familiar?”

Kyouko shrugs. “It’s different from every other witch I’ve fought,” she offers. She’s not sure what else to say.

“Of course,” Madoka says, and whatever she’s thinking, she doesn’t get the chance to say anything else, because Octavia—no, Sayaka, it’s Sayaka—senses them, and greets them.

They run, Kyouko in the lead, Madoka following close behind her. Kyouko doesn’t say anything, just wields her spear and chain and prays that this will be enough.

“Now, Madoka!” She shouts when they reach Octavia. She puts up a barrier between her and Madoka, hoping that Madoka will be safe. “It’s got to work!”

“Sayaka!” Madoka calls. Kyouko assumes she says something else, but she tunes it out. She has a mission, an obligation to Sayaka.

It’s what Sayaka deserves.

Octavia is relentless.

Kyouko’s arms burn as she swings her lance. Sayaka never did know when to give up, and Kyouko kind of loves that.

But she had nearly beat Sayaka once, before Homura had intervened. She’s sure she can beat her again, even if Sayaka is now a witch.

The boundary between her and Madoka shatters, and Kyouko is thrown back violently. She stands up, coughing, and spies Homura standing there, holding Madoka.

Fuck.

Of course it didn’t work. No one knows how to purify a witch, after all.

“Take Madoka out of here!” She shouts to Homura, creating a boundary between her and Madoka, trapping Sayaka in here with her. It doesn’t matter how Homura found them; it’s fortunate that she even came. “I’ll be fine!”

The words sound like a lie. She knows she won’t leave this place alive.

Heck, Homura knows she won’t.

But Homura nods anyways, her face not truly impassive. She seems sad but accepting, Kyouko thinks. Almost as if she had expected this.

“Good luck, Kyouko-san,” Homura tells her, and then with a toss of her hair, leaves.

Kyouko turns back to Octavia, the great music witch. The despair of a girl who could have been something.

She’s out of ideas.

So she does what she knows best.

“Oh, Sayaka,” she says. “No one chose you, did they?” She kneels, falling back into prayer, into the one thing she had sworn not to do all those years ago. “But…I chose you, Sayaka. You’re okay.”

Somehow, she always found herself praying when she was most uncertain.

“You’re so good,” she cries, reaching out to Octavia. Within the witch, she feels a stirring of something, some small flickering of hope and warmth amidst the crushing despair. “Sayaka, you’re so, so good. So selfless.”

In her mind’s eye, she sees the rainbow lights dancing across the alter of her father’s church, crossing over Sayaka’s eyes, coloring Sayaka’s skin in beautiful ribbons of rainbow. Sayaka, Sayaka. It’s always Sayaka.

“Sayaka,” she whispers. “I’m still here.”

This is when Kyouko accepts that she is going to die—and she won’t turn into a witch, some small kindness—but she’ll take Sayaka with her.

Small mercies, huh.

She reaches out once more—not with her body, but with her soul.

Blue, blue, blue. That’s always been Sayaka’s color, but here, it envelops Kyouko in a way that it hadn’t.

“Kyouko?” Sayaka asks. “What…how did you find me?”

“You gave me hope when I had forgotten it,” Kyouko replies, wiping away Sayaka’s tears. “It was only fair that I do the same to you.”

She presses a kiss to Sayaka’s forehead. “It’s going to be okay, Sayaka,” she murmurs, and she feels Sayaka settling into her arms.

“Tell me something nice,” Sayaka whispers.

Kyouko smiles sadly. “The rainbows in my father’s church…from the stained glass…I always thought it was beautiful.”

“We can sit there, then,” Sayaka replies, a tiny smile dancing on her face. “Let’s go.”

That’s the last image Kyouko sees—Sayaka, in her arms, the stone of the alter underneath her legs, and rainbow lights dancing across the two of them.

In another world, Kyouko thinks, they get their happy ending. It would go like this: Kyouko can’t stand Sayaka’s goody-two shoes nature; Sayaka can’t stand Kyouko’s lackadaisical attitude. They clash, they fight, they somehow expose their vulnerabilities to each other, Kyouko begins to trust, Sayaka worries less about right and wrong. They would kiss here, Kyouko thinks, surrounded by the rainbow lights from abandoned stained glass and dust at their feet. A happy ending.

But in this world, they don’t get that.

Blue and red are only two colors of the rainbow, and that’s what she gets in this world. Two colors, not the full spectrum.

A taste of what could have been, cruelly ripped away from her by grief and despair.

[redlerred7]

The Last and First Step

(A Madoka Magica fanfic)

A chapter of Mami's life ends and she finds herself unable to move forward. No matter how much she reflects and muses, she remains rooted in place, paralyzed by a visceral ambivalence. [Mami-centric, existential angst, suicidal ideation, hurt/comfort, power-of-friendship]

Preview

Mami leaned back against the backrest of her couch, staring at her ceiling. The analog clock ticking on her wall said it was 13:31, which would have been fourth period on a normal school day, but graduating students had been given a week break. She was stuck with time she didn't know what to do with.

Normally, she spent what little free time she had on catching up on any school work she was behind on. Given that finals had just ended, she had none left. She also considered cleaning her apartment, but she'd already done so the previous week. Similarly, grocery shopping was also off the table because her fridge was still fairly well stocked.

The only other thing she did in her free time was bake—the closest thing to a hobby she had. And it would have been her first choice of activities too! Except…

She glanced at the two cakes shrink-wrapped on her kitchen table: a cheesecake and carrot cake, both virtually untouched save for the single slices she had indulged in yesterday.

A sigh.

She could bake, but it would be a waste to do so while two perfectly good cakes still lay uneaten. The only way she could justify baking another was if she invited Kyouko and Homura to a tea-party. Unfortunately, Homura was still busy at school and Kyouko was basically impossible to find until it was time to hunt. It would be hours before an opportunity to invite them presented itself—and even then, they might have still refused.

Or at least Homura might refuse, Mami thought with a weak chuckle. Kyouko would definitely accept.

Read More Archive of Our Own | Fanfiction.net

[soulsborne-pilled]

so I lied... I didn't take a nap...

I made a Yuma and Hitomi centric oneshot! super short too! wanted to do this ever since i added in Hitomi.

---

It wasn't often that Chitose Yuma, the Viridian Cleric of the Holy-Whatever-Number-They-Are, decided to play up the role as precocious little shit. As the youngest of the entire Holy Family it was expected that she'd be a monster to other people outside of their circle. They never expect Nagi-nee to be the delinquent but that was on them.

Anyways, it was a beautiful day outside. Birds were singing, flowers were blooming. Yuma woke up that morning - after a long and restful early bed time - and decided to choose violence.

Shizuki-san and Kamijou were coming over for a visit, making amends and repairing their relationship with Mama. They had already met their little weird coven and so already knew of each other's existances. Yuma was always put on Bebe Sitting whenever they came around, Nagi-nee deciding to be Mama's anger and rage for her.

Cleaning herself up and touching up some things the little soon-to-be tween went to see her friends and family downstairs. Mama was on the couch with Ma siting next to her, Shizuki-san sitting at the other end. Kamijou didn't have same couch rights back yet from an accident he would take to the grave. An empty promise considering Bebe was right there, but whatever.

The young man was sitting on the floor just beside the couch on the aristocrat's end. Tat-kun was doodling little pictures of his family, a little Madoka holding hands with Granny and Gramps and Aunty Homura. The rest of the Kanames were actually out with Homura at the moment, figuring rhings out with the empty Akemi Apartment.

Yuma still says they should turn it into a cat cafe. Mami says that it was a lot of responsibility and time that none of them had. Madoka just let out a quiet and sad "nyuu..." before letting the dream die.

One day Yuma will have her cat cafe...

"Hi Obasan! Hi Ojisan!"

"Oh, good morning Yuma-chan."

"Morning Yuma-san."

Yuma heard grumbling and a little "oomph" from where Mama sat. Kyouko still didn't like how easily the little greenie called them uncle and aunt, but she didn't need to be so upset about it. Yuma thought her guardian knew how she called true family by their names already. Guess she's gonna hafta work on that a bit more.

Yuma went to stand in front of Kyouko, staring up at the girl she called her sister and now her mother. The redhead looked down at the pipsqueak, before smiling and opening her arms up. The little girl leaped into the elder's lap and squeezed her as tightly as she could. Kyouko actually winced, she felt a rib or two crack.

The pain faded as a light warmth emitted from the Cleric's palms. Kyouko went to give a look to her kid before seeing something in those mossy eyes. The redhead knew that look, the fire that burned beneath loving green, and she knew that she should stop whatever was about to happen. But Kyouko woke that morning and she too chose violence.

A smirk was sent Yuma's way, and that was the start of everything going into chaos.

"Um... Obasan? Can I ask you a question?"

The aristocrat turned away from the art show that was beong held by Tat-kun and her boyfriend, and focused her attention on the younger girl. "What do you wish to know?"

The point of no return, the final moment for Yuma to reevaluate her current situation and ask herself if she really wanted to go through with this bit.

Yes. She does. She craves chaos.

"I was wondering... am I your sister?"

At that question everything seemed to stop. Kyouko puckered her lips, trying to contain the laugh that threatened to eacape. Oktavia was befuddled and confused, a look she would most likely be devastated to know she shared with Kamijou.

Shizuki just lookes liked she was tired of tbis conversation, before it had even begun.

"Why would you assume something as outlandish as that? We don't have many similar features to consider or even humour the thought." And an opportunity to ensew paranoia.

"Well, I don't really know much about how people are made, but I know that they should look like their mama and papa. If someone has a sister or brother, they would look like each other.

"My old mama and papa raised me, but they didn't have anything that made me look like them. But when I look at you, Obasan, I look at me if I was older and happier. Are... are you my sister?"

Hitomi stared at the younger girl, eyes empty with nothing but a thousand yard look of suffering. Kyouko was barely keeping back the bay of giggles while Oktavia looked like she wanted to smack someone in the face, with a big and shiny metal hand. Kamijou was actually holding a contemplative look on his face, Tat-kun trying to grab his big brother figure's attention and look at the pretty picture he made of Hitomi.

Alright, time to up the performance. Yuma made herself look like the saddest kicked kitten to ever exist - a high bar considering Madoka is still alive - and poked her fingers together.

"I- I'm sorry if it was a weird thing to ask. I-It's just... mamas and papas are supposed to love their kids and... mama and papa didn't- they didn't- l-l-love..." Oh wow this was, a lot more painful to pull off. Yuma was just acting before but now, now there tears in her eyes. The heart ache came back too, all the hurt from realizing her parents didn't... never loved her.

Yuma was brought out of her spiral by a pair of loving arms, a comfortable warmth wrapping her up. She turned her head to see Kyouko looking down at her, concern and confusion in her eyes. She wanted to know if this was all still a joke or if Yuma needed someone to listen to her.

They still haven't found reliable therapists for all their individual pre-contract traumas.

Another hand placed itself on her shoulder, Hitomi having exchanged her long suffering stare with a face of guilt and shame. Tears were already flowing down her face.

"I- I'm so sorry, Yuma-chan. I don't know what life you were forced to endure, to lead to this moment. Of confiding into someone who is no more than a stranger to you, about something as significant as family. I-" She sent a look to Oktavia and to Kyouko, a silent question between them. The two guardians looked at each other for a moment, a message of love and telepathy between them, before looking at Yuma.

The Green Cat stretched her arms out to the Viridian Aristocrat, a plea and answer in one. Hitomi craddled Yuma in her lap, sobs escaping between the two of them.

"I'll ask my parents if... if they have any history with certain people... And if you would allow it, regardless of any relation... I would be honored to be your sister."

"*sniff* Thank you, Hitomi-nee. Thank you..."

Well, Yuma did choose violence today. She just didn't except to hurt herself in the process.

---

will I continue this? maybe as like cameos or something, i'unno. anyways, hope this'll be enough to cope with th "Tamura Makes a New Friend!" finale!!!

／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼

Yuma Chitose, resident mom and sister collector

[yukiwhitetm]

You will always be Monarch Butterfly!

by Yuki_White (Me)

Relationships: Oma Kokichi/Saihara Shuichi, Harukawa Maki/Momota Kaito, Chabashira Tenko/Yumeno Himiko, Oma Kokichi & Saihara Shuichi, Momota Kaito & Oma Kokichi, Akamatsu Kaede & Oma Kokichi, Harukawa Maki & Oma Kokichi, Oma Kokichi & Yumeno Himiko, Enoshima Junko & Oma Kokichi, Akamatsu Kaede & Saihara Shuichi, Harukawa Maki & Momota Kaito & Saihara Shuichi, Akamatsu Kaede/Amami Rantaro, Minor or Background Relationship(s).

Characters: Oma Kokichi, Saihara Shuichi, Akamatsu Kaede, Momota Kaito, Harukawa Maki, Yumeno Himiko, Iruma Miu, K1-B0 (Dangan Ronpa, Enoshima Junko, Nooroo (Miraculous Ladybug), Yonaga Angie, Chabashira Tenko, Tojo Kirumi, Hoshi Ryoma, Shinguji Korekiyo, Amami Rantaro, Shirogane Tsumugi, Gokuhara Gonta, Hinata Hajime, Komaeda Nagito, Mioda Ibuki, Saionji Hiyoko, Nanami Chiaki, Fujisaki Chihiro, Naegi Makoto, Kirigiri Kyouko, Fukawa Touko.

Additional Tags: more to be added - Freeform, Enemies to Friends, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Character Development, Alternate Universe - Hope’s Peak Academy (Dangan Ronpa), Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Alternate Universe - Superheroes/Superpowers, Ouma not Oma, Canon-Typical Behavior, Canon-Typical Violence, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Angst, Loneliness, Oma Kokichi-centric, POV First Person, Secret Identity, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Brainwashing, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Forgiveness, Enoshima Junko is Oma Kokichi's mother, Good Oma Kokichi, Redemption, Friendship, Compulsive/Pathological Lying, Pansexual Oma Kokichi, Nooroo is important, Monarch Butterfly is here! That is the truth! Bullying, Threats, Minor Hinata Hajime/Komaeda Nagito, Minor Kirigiri Kyoko/Naegi Makoto, Minor Fukawa Toko/Naegi Komaru, Flirting, Oblivious Kokichi Ouma, No Longer Oblivious Shuichi Saihara, Trans Character, Trans Male Character, Trans Saihara Shuichi, Teen Romance, Romance, Eventual Romance, Alternate Universe - Non-Despair (Dangan Ronpa), Saiouma Week 2021, Day 6: Crossover, Claustrophobia, Panic Attacks, Enter Chelonia.

Summary:

"Who is Kokichi Ouma?" was the question they all asked themselves upon meeting him. Kokichi Ouma was Junko Enoshima's son, heir to the great fashion empire of 'Dangan Ronpa'. Kokichi Ouma was the Ultimate Supreme Leader to an evil organisation of over ten thousand members. Kokichi Ouma was a cruel and heartless liar - someone who enjoyed the confusion and pain of others.

"Who is Monarch Butterfly?" was the question upon their lips as soon as they heard tell of him. Monarch Butterfly was a hero of Tokyo, alongside Ladybird and Black Jack. Monarch Butterfly was a good person who gave up his own health and happiness to protect others. Monarch Butterfly was a figure shrouded in mystery.

Monarch Butterfly was a hero. Kokichi Ouma was a liar. They couldn't be more opposite. Or could they?

Oh, and, @backupyouhoe, this is a Kaito Momota-centric chapter (from Kokichi’s perspective) so I think you may really like this one! Thank you again for the inspiration (and the nickname, which I will use when I can fit it in because it is inspired!).

[randomanimeandmangablog]

More spoilery thoughts about volume 7 of Phantom Tales of the Night...

I don't know what to make of Cherry Tree. She very obviously takes a negative view of Butterfly and his relationships with women. Fair enough. I mean he does often kill them, intentionally or not. But I did feel defensive of him when she was going on about him because

we have seen Butterfly care about women. Take Miu, for example. Even while he didn't seem quite as affectionate of the twin, he did want to make her happy. I don't think she's right that he just plays with them.

it's heavily implied that Butterfly takes such care in seducing women because he wants to be loved. Even if he knows they don't mean it, Butterfly craves hearing someone say they love him.

Butterfly kind of needs to gather secrets. He works for Owner, and as such needs to help out with that business. Butterfly probably couldn't survive on his own. He's forgetful, and things easily slip in. In the first Butterfly-centric chapter, he needs Owner's help getting the twin out. Then we see him being completely hijacked by those spirits in the chapter where he meets Kyouko. If Butterfly were alone, I could see him drifting around, forgetting his past and even who he was. No real sense of self. He could very likely commit atrocities just because something evil slipped in. So he can't just up and leave.

the dissolving is unintentional. Owner isn't giving him much guidance, so it's trial and error, and with Butterfly's memory, certain things might not stick. Since he seems to remember that he dissolves people, maybe he should stop all together, but again, part of that is beyond his control.

I'm not going to lie. That scene with the dolls was terrifying. It's completely unlike the Butterfly we've seen so far. It makes me wonder if something slipped in to him. Also, those dolls are creepy, and the one wouldn't let go of Butterfly. Maybe that did something to him. IDK. But I kinda feel like he'd be better off if Cherry Tree stayed away.

[ao3feed-komahina]

by Anonymous

Solving crimes is considerably less stressful than flipping burgers. Shuichi has to learn this lesson the hard way, but at least he gets a boyfriend out of the experience - one who looks criminally cute in a Ronald McDonald costume.

Suddenly, his face darkens with something close to fear. “The most important lesson when working at the register: whatever you do, never look back,” Hajime whispers.

Shuichi tilts his head in confusion. Why was his trainer giving him such an odd instruction? Was this some kind of sad attempt at pranking the new guy? “What are you on about? This is a McDonald’s?”

“I wish,” Hajime says, barely containing the scoff in his voice. “I wish this was just a McDonald’s.” Nervously, he fidgets with the collar of his uniform. He furrows his brows in desperation in his struggle to find the right words. “This place is hell,” Hajime finally manages to spit out. “It's been like that ever since Nagito and Kokichi started working together in the kitchen.”

Words: 1783, Chapters: 1/5, Language: English

Fandoms: Dangan Ronpa - All Media Types, New Dangan Ronpa V3: Everyone's New Semester of Killing, Super Dangan Ronpa 2

Rating: Mature

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M, Multi

Characters: Saihara Shuichi, Oma Kokichi, Hinata Hajime, Komaeda Nagito, Momota Kaito, Ishimaru Kiyotaka, Naegi Makoto, Kirigiri Kyouko

Relationships: Oma Kokichi/Saihara Shuichi, Hinata Hajime/Komaeda Nagito

Additional Tags: Crack, Crack Treated Seriously, McDonald's, Makoto is the manager, Byakuya is the manager of the neighboring Burger King, Clowns, Awkward Flirting, Saihara Shuichi-centric, Oma Kokichi Is Bad at Feelings, The Title Is a Sherlock Holmes Reference, This reminds me of Spongebob, This Is What Years of No Pussy Do to an Author

[takerfoxx]

Ophelia going full witch would definitely be interesting. Every version of Kyouko needs their own share of angst, after all. Also, it would be nice to see both ways a witch can turn demonstrated with two different parts of a WN. Well, I understand that it’s unlikely, but who knows, heh.

As interesting as that is, it's very unlikely to happen, as Ophelia is Kyoko sans traumatic memories plus therapy, so she's unlikely to crack. Still, I do want to do an Ophelia-centric story since ironically her position as the mentor means that she hasn't had much development of her own.

[ao3feed-stingue]

Mirror

by Flaming_queen

She wanted to live. She wanted to play with her brothers again. For the first time in a while, she wanted to live. She wanted to find her family again. Two different entities living in the same body. Two different sides to her life. An Oc centered story going through the times where their thoughts and events reflect each other.

Words: 3210, Chapters: 2/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Fairy Tail, Persona 3, Persona 4, Persona Series, Super Dangan Ronpa 2, Dangan Ronpa - All Media Types

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: Multi

Characters: Original Female Character(s), Narukami Yu, Seta Souji, Kirijo Mitsuru, Sanada Akihiko, Natsu Dragneel, Zeref Dragneel, Natsu Dragneel's Mother, Natsu Dragneel's Father, Hinata Hajime, Naegi Makoto, Kirigiri Kyouko, Enoshima Junko, Sting Eucliffe, Rogue Cheney, Arisato Minato, Takeba Yukari, Yamagishi Fuuka, Kuzuryu Fuyuhiko, Pekoyama Peko, Fairy Tail Guild, Rajinshuu, Wendy Marvell, Sabertooth Guild, Igneel (Fairy Tail), Aigis (Persona Series), Other Character Tags to Be Added

Relationships: Sanada Akihiko & Original Character, Narukami Yu & Original Character, Hanamura Yosuke & Orginal Character, Natsu Dragneel & Original Female Character(s), Zeref Dragneel & Original Character(s), Other Relationship Tags to Be Added, Enoshima Junko/Original Female Character(s), Natsu Dragneel & Zeref Dragneel, Natsu Dragneel & Igneel, Rogue Cheney & Natsu Dragneel & Sting Eucliffe & Wendy Marvell & Gajeel Redfox & Original Character, Natsu Dragneel & Lisanna Strauss, Aragaki Shinjiro & Sanada Akihiko, Kirijo Mitsuru & Sanada Akihiko, Kirijo Mitsuru & Takeba Yukari, Enoshima Junko & Ikusaba Mukuro, Enoshima Junko & Matsuda Yasuke, Kamukura Izuru & Komaeda Nagito, Enoshima Junko & Original Character(s), Kuzuryu Fuyuhiko & Pekoyama Peko, Lisanna Strauss/Original Character(s), Freed Justine/Original Character(s), Rogue Cheney/Sting Eucliffe, Natsu Dragneel/Lucy Heartfilia, Kuzuryu Fuyuhiko/Pekoyama Peko, Laxus Dreyar/Freed Justine

Additional Tags: Implied/Referenced Suicide, Suicide Attempt, Dissociative Identity Disorder, Original Character-centric, Canonical Character Death, Canon Compliant, Time Travel, Dimension Travel, Memory Loss, Hospitals, Mental Health Issues, Time Skips, Betrayal, Running Away, Murder, POV Original Female Character, Self-Harm, The Tragedy of Hope's Peak Academy, Dai Matou Enbu | Grand Magic Games Arc, Attempted Murder, Adding more things when I remember them, Writing this while procrastinating, Tragedy

Source:https://archiveofourown.org/works/24135457

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

morning and evening (i felt i was grieving)

by floras_45 “Morning and evening I felt I was grieving Until I said fuck you And never again” - (Rio Romero, “Over & Over”)   During what should have been a normal patrol, an encounter with a presumed sniper leads Tim to an entire new world of friends and foes alike, changing the course of his life for better or worse. Words: 1227, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: Batman - All Media Types, Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magika | Puella Magi Madoka Magica Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: F/M, Other Characters: Tim Drake (DCU), Tomoe Mami, Kyubey (Madoka Magica), Dick Grayson, Bruce Wayne, Damian Wayne, Jason Todd, Akemi Homura, Kaname Madoka, Miki Sayaka, Sakura Kyouko, John Constantine Relationships: Tim Drake & Tomoe Mami, Tim Drake/Tomoe Mami, Batfamily Members & Tim Drake (DCU), Tim Drake & Kyubey, Tim Drake & Dick Grayson Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Madoka Magica Fusion, Tim Drake is Bad at Feelings, tim drake is not having a good time lemme tell you, Being Meguca Is Suffering, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, How Do I Tag, Author wrote this while listening to Dangerously Yours audios so take that as you will, Kyubey is Awful (Madoka Magica), Magical Girls, and boys, Magical Boys, no beta we die like how i wish kyubey would, Puella Magi Madoka Magica Spoilers, Tim Drake-centric (DCU), Fluff and Angst, Angst, Canon-Typical Violence, Not Canon Compliant, Canon-Typical Suffering (Madoka Magica), Timeline situation is weird for pmmm, Pining, Falling In Love, Blood and Gore, Mental Breakdown, Good Sibling Dick Grayson, Misunderstandings, Miscommunication, ikik im sorry, Possibly Out of Character, Unreliable Narrator via https://ift.tt/dHnYJAg

[ao3feed-danganronpa]

exquisite tension ( you'll never get to heaven )

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/bf5gQvx

by araketenara (jandalbandal)

' Here, in the foyer of a dustily lit apartment complex, there is nothing to highlight Makoto as the symbol of hope in a devastated world. From where Byakuya’s standing, he looks entirely ordinary, entirely normal. A young man he’d see passing him by on the street, face blotched with newly formed freckles, eyebags descending heavily, weighing down the brightness of his eyes. One of his eyes lopsided slightly, his eyelid hanging the smallest bit lower compared to his other eye. In all, he looks like a 21 year old. Not a symbol bathed in gold and sunlight, nor basked in red sunsets blood. He just looks young and tired. '

With the world in shatters there was really no time for the survivors to process and heal their trauma, the world needed them and thus they were forced to soldier forward and hide the limp of their unhealed emotional wounds. Now, as the world finally begins to heal again, their wounds resurface. With nothing to distract them, they're forced to heal.

Or

Naegami-centric fic that surrounds most of the THH cast healing from their trauma now that they finally have the time to process it all.

Words: 22089, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Dangan Ronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, Dangan Ronpa 3: The End of 希望ヶ峰学園 | The End of Kibougamine Gakuen | End of Hope's Peak High School

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: M/M

Characters: Naegi Makoto, Togami Byakuya, Kirigiri Kyouko, Asahina Aoi, Hagakure Yasuhiro, Kizakura Kohichi (mentioned), Munakata Kyosuke (Mentioned), Aloysius Pennyworth (mentioned)

Relationships: Naegi Makoto/Togami Byakuya, Kirigiri Kyoko & Naegi Makoto, Asahina Aoi & Togami Byakuya, Kirigiri Kyoko & Togami Byakuya, Hagakure Yasuhiro & Togami Byakuya, Naegi Makoto & Everyone, Togami Byakuya & Everyone

Additional Tags: Future Foundation (Dangan Ronpa), Hurt/Comfort, Internalized Homophobia, POV Multiple, Dreams and Nightmares, Trauma Recovery, Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, Danganronpa Typical Violence/Gore, Not Beta Read, Gay Togami Byakuya, Togami Byakuya-Centric, Togami Byakuya has OCPD, Naegi Makoto Has ADHD, Post final killing game, References to the second motive, Memory treatment, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, it takes place in the timeskip in the hope arc of dr3 post killing game but pre hope's peaks opening, Usually Togami Byakuya centric with occasional switching POVs, Mentions of Suicide and Suicidal Ideation, since it takes place post final killing game byakuya is significantly softer, his personality takes after how he is in dr3 more than thh because yk he had development and stuff, essentially it's a naegami fic that surrounds the thh cast, finally recovering from their trauma as the world starts to heal

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/bf5gQvx

[amyure]

Episode LeSCa Book 1

Tokyo 7 Sisters’ ‘episode LeSCa’ novel tells of how LeSCa come to be, as well as the background for the t7s song "YELLOW". If you have time, maybe after reading this write-up, re-listen to/reread the meaning of that song and I bet you’ll be filled with all kinds of fuzzy and warm tingly feelings.

Thanks to my friend for lending me his copy - Eshtar

So Eshtar had this done ages ago on her Twitter... my bad for taking this long OTL. BTW any oddities in the English are more likely than not my fault. - Nab

Chapter 1

So, the novel begins with our Nishizono Honoka. Honoka came from the district Fukuoka 4th. Unlike Tokyo 7th that is entertainment-centric, Fukuoka 4th is centered on Fashion. She comes from a family which operates a famous restaurant, one laden with history and which is the pride of her hometown. Honoka, coming to Tokyo 7th, tried so hard to ‘get used’ to the new place, going as far as trying to erase her dialect (mostly to no avail since it pops up again whenever she is flustered and she is flustered a lot) and thus ends up talking in a polite manner most of the time.

Honoka was walking down a sidewalk, with sakura petals fluttering about, when someone with glasses called out to her, then frantically began searching for his business card, which he could not find. A girl, beautiful with blonde hair came along and admonished him, "You go out scouting while not bringing your card?!" and shoved onto him a box of business cards that he had apparently ‘left on the office table’.  The man, calling the girl ‘Kyouko’, gave Honoka his card while explaining that he was a shihainin (manager) of an idol production company, and asked if Honoka was interested in becoming an idol.

Both Honoka and shihainin-san were running late though, so just like that they parted ways before the question got an answer.

A few days later, Honoka decided to look for the shihainin’s office. After all, the reason she had come to Tokyo 7th was because she wanted to know what she wanted to do in life. Being the only daughter of her family, she was expected to inherit the family business, but Honoka had found herself not that good in cooking, nor even really interested in it. She felt like all her life she had only been going with whatever the flow was, as dictated by the people around her. Her mother had said, “why not go to Tokyo? You will definitely  find what you want to do.”

Honoka didn’t really know about idols, but it wasn’t like she was not interested in them either. Then again, it would be wrong to say she had a strong urge to do it at that time. She did, however, want to know why someone like her was scouted by that shihainin and so, she decided to go. When Honoka got to the bus stop though, the bus had already arrived and she was still far. And so she ran frantically shouting, "Waaait!!" as she neared the bus stop. Araki Rena, who was about to get on the bus, saw her running and was struck with a thought of, wow, that girl is really giving her all running here.

Rena went, "Sir, would you wait for that girl over there?" to which the bus driver replied, "I sure don’t mind waiting for your friend."  As Honoka was getting on the driver said, "Please sit, your friend is over there," and Honoka was like but we ain't friends but it's mendō...

"Come and sit," said Rena (patting the seat invitingly) and so, Honoka sat beside her and thanked her for stopping the bus driver before, to which Rena went, don't mind it. Honoka then started getting flustered about how she was drenched in sweat and all, while beside a stranger. Rena was like, “Why the hurry? An important thing?” Honoka replied, “Not like, not really important but, uh…” and she started wondering about her life again, while Rena just sort of watched Honoka being lost in her thoughts. This carried on till their destination bus stop, where the girls exchanged names, and Rena said that they MIGHT meet each other again as their schools were close to each other.

After those goodbyes though, Honoka somehow found herself lost and ended up just sitting by Kuonji Park as the sun started to set. What am I doing, why am I lost? she thought to herself.

As Honoka sat on the bench, Rena passed by and went, "Nishizono-san?"

Honoka was like TAT and Rena couldn’t just leave her be and declared, "Let me take you there!" and so they went to Nanasis (the nickname of the company the shihainin worked for) together, which turned out to be so totally RIGHT BESIDE Kuonji Park that Rena went, you serious? and Honoka was like, "Please don't say it, Araki-san."

Rena asked Honoka, “What is this place?” and so Honoka briefly explained why she had wanted to come. She was standing nervously by the main door when it burst open with Kyouko ranting about ‘Coney eating all the guests’ snacks’, almost running right into them and going, "You, from that time."

And for the first time, all three were together.

~~~ That is the first chapter, "Oukasaikai" Man, I should tell you, all chapters from LeSCa are these beautiful 4 character kanji things, it's very peaceful.

Chapter 2

Honoka and Rena waited in the office for Kyouko to return (she had to buy the ‘snacks for guests that Coney ate’) while discussing if that cute blonde girl was an idol. When Kyoko came, Shihainin [Eshtar: the novel doesn’t add any explanation, from here on, he is “shihainin”] who was out for work hadn’t come back yet, so she served tea.

Kyoko was like, “Yeah, I am an idol.”

"But why are you buying snacks and serving tea?" the girls asked.

"Well, we don't have many people, so everyone does what they can. And you,” Kyouko glanced at Rena. “Were you scouted too?"

Rena replied, "No, I am just accompanying her," while taking a donut.

A while later Shihainin came. When Shihainin saw Rena he said excuse me, Araki-san, could you do a twirl at that corner over there? Rena was like “Eh, what, sure?” and she twirled. Shihainin went like, what nice ankles, a great form, with a bit of mumblemumble… He smiled and asked Rena, would you be interested in being an idol? Rena was like ???

Shihainin said, not answering now is okay too, and turned his attention to Honoka, who hadn’t decided, but had still come to Nanasis, and Shihainin was so happy.

"There are people who have interest to ask questions about idols, of course I am happy! Ask me anything!” he announced.

Honoka asked why she was scouted, and Shihainin said it was a feeling, that he was sure if it is this girl, she'd be able to be up there in that poster over there, the moment he saw her under the sakura petals. Like what he felt when he saw Kyouko and Araki-san.

He admitted it may not be a satisfactory reasoning.

“But like, what is ‘idol’ exactly?” Both Honoka and Rena had no idea at all and asked him. At that moment Kyoko was like WTF DID U ASK HIM and they went ??? but Shihainin suddenly went fiery and like LET ME SHOW YOU THE GLORY OF IDOLS and he dragged Kyouko while saying ‘TIS GOOD FOR YOUR TRAINING TOO, COMETH BRETHREN! and Kyouko was like NUOOOOO HAAAAALP and Honoka and Rena were like omg we’re sorry we didn’t knooooooowwwwwww.... and they got lectured on idol culture for a full hour.

On the way home, Rena asked Honoka, What do you think? Honoka was troubled and said that she couldn’t decide yet, but she liked how spirited Shihainin was and he seemed like a good guy.

“What about you?” Honoka asked.

“Well, I don’t know about myself, I have my club too.” Rena replied.

"I see... I guess we should talk with our families too.."

At home, Honoka's aunt who she lived with had cooked a homely meal for her, which tasted like her Mom's cooking. Hearing Honoka’s comments on it, she asked, "do you feel home sick?"

"No, I just think it's great." Both her mom and aunt had been groomed as the next generation owner of the restaurant. Honoka started to daydream again. Her aunt asked if  anything was bothering her, and Honoka finally talked about being scouted. Auntie went, oh great, those 7th Sisters! But Honoka still seemed down, so her aunt went calm again and asked her what was wrong?

"I'm just not sure what it is that I want to do.”

She has been here for like a year and she still doesn’t know what she wants to do. Auntie smiled and went, well isn't that is okay? Your Mom wasn't decisive either about the restaurant. Honoka went, “Eh?”

"Sumika-neesan tried out things, making handicrafts, trying to be a mangaka...."

“?!?!”

"But she then met your father, who was her trainer in a cooking school, and just like that inherited the restaurant. Me too, I just saw a pamphlet of my school and just kinda along the way got really into it."

Auntie was like, "Ahaha, maybe that didn’t help much," but Honoka turned to think, shall I try to become an idol now? In this day and age when it is practically gone? Is this what I really want to do, or am I just getting swept by the current again? She couldn't decide, but she knew she was hungry.

Honoka felt it wasn't right to just head to Nanasis without having an answer and was just wandering around the city after school, looking forlorn, when someone called her name, “Nishizono-san!” and it was Kyouko, wearing her school uniform. Kyouko saw Honoka’s distant expression and carried on, “Tomorrow is my Mom's birthday and we're gonna order some flowers, you wanna come?”

"Eh, is it okay?"

"Well sure, I’m the one who’s asking?"

Honoka gladly came. The florist was in a really inconspicuous alleyway and Kyouko was like, "WTF, how does Shihainin even know a florist here?!" Even more surprisingly, by that alleyway they found Rena, playing with kittens. They went, "Why are you here?"

"I’m petting cats."

"Why here?"

"Well, the kittens ran to this place, so…”

Honoka and Kyouko went, “Oh well okay, we’re going to that florist there,” and Rena was like, "I’m gonna keep petting these kittens here." When they came in from being outside the store all this while, Honoka was overcome with barrages of smells and colourful flowers and went, "Wa... so beautiful..." and for a while forgot what she was sad about. Rena from outside the store saw her change in expression and knew right away that something was wrong.

When Kyouko and Honoka left the store, Rena was waiting for them, playing with her bangs and said, “Hey, let’s go out together. Maybe have a meal?” And they decided to go to a family restaurant.

"Don’t you have club activities?" the two girls asked Rena.

"Nah, no training, no worries. Haha," she replied.

At the family restaurant, Kyouko offered, “Let me pay for you guys since you were kind enough to accompany me to the florist.” Rena’s eyes lit up. “Seriously! Then, I order this hamburger, this dessert, this drink, another serving of pizza, ano-”

“IN MODERATION, PLEASE,” Kyouko cut her off there.

They were in such sync with the boke-tsukkomi timing that Honoka, finally, smiled. Rena immediately said, “Ah! That smiling face is better than your sad look.” Honoka realized that Kyouko and Rena had been taking her to places to fix her mood.

"Thank you," Honoka said, to which the two girls both went, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The next moment, an idea struck Kyouko. She phoned shihainin, who responded to her suggestion gladly.

~~~And that was the end of chapter two, "Santosousou."

Chapter 3

Rena, after lazing at school feeling dispirited, met Honoka at the bus stop, greeting her, "Niiishiiiizoooono-san!. They were heading to Nanasis together, because Kyouko had invited them. When they turned the doorknob, however, the office was locked. "Excuse me," someone called out to them from behind.

A girl wearing a Corsica Girls Academy uniform who, rather than ‘cute’, was extremely beautiful, with flowing dark hair and a mole under her eye. Her striking image made both Honoka and Rena go wow!

"W-we were asked to come here by Uesugi-san," the girls explained sheepishly.

"Ah, Kyouko? Oh, you're the one Shihainin scouted!” the uniformed girl apologised, “I am sorry that we are short on staff now, the office is currently empty," and unlocked the door for them, leading them in. She served them tea, but soon had to excuse herself since she had ‘preparation’ to do.

"Is that an idol?" Honoka and Rena were excitedly chatting.

"Like, definitely!"

"What do you eat to be that beautiful?!"

They heard hurried footsteps coming up the stairs followed by a voice, "MUSUBI-CHAAAN! I am sorry I am lateeee!!" and a cute girl with a bob of bright red hair came in. She saw them and after a brief moment of confusion went, "Ah! The one shihainin scouted!" Honoka explained that ‘Musubi’ had went to do ‘preparation’ and the girl was like, “Ah! thank you!” but before she went Honoka asked, “Excuse me, what prep? And what for?”

Already on her way out, the girl with bright red hair replied joyfully, "For something I want to do!" the words ringing in Honoka’s mind.

Kyouko came along, going "You should have phoned me if you were here already!" and brought Honoka and Rena around the area, going to the theater and explaining things. She also told them that Musubi and Haru were going to be performing in a live. It would be streamed, broadcasted to the small pockets of idol fans around the country. Honoka and Rena both knew that Kyouko had really called them there for the live.

And the two ordinary girls they met just then, transformed in front of their eyes. The two might not have sang as good as many singers in Tokyo 7th could have, or danced as great as pro dancers, but there was something about them that drew both Honoka and Rena in. They discussed it on their way back home, how the girls had shined so bright, like lights. Which made Honoka think, again, of what Haru said before she went up there, that it was "Something that I want to do!"

The next day, Kyouko was starting her stretches for training when she heard a knock on the studio door. Kyouko lived in the Nanasis dorm unlike Rena and Honoka, so she was always by the office. She turned and saw Rena walking through the door... 

~~~And that ends the 3rd Chapter, "Seikananchuu"

Chapter 4 

Honoka was by the front of the office, with Coney circling around her like, "YO, GIRL! BECOME AN IDOL, DAZU!" and Honoka is like ???? but managed to mumble, "I am looking for Uesugi-san." and Coney said, "Oh! You're the one shihainin scouted! Hm! Hm!"

Coney continued, “It's too bad, but you can't meet Kyouko right now, because she is in the middle of some very important training…”

In the training room, Rena was explaining to Kyouko how she had no club anyway and had decided to just come.

Kyouko said, “Well I don’t mind, you can watch me train.”

“Why don’t we stretch together?” Rena suggested.

Kyouko was used to training alone everyday after school and so said, "I can still get good results doing it alone."

"But doing it together, while it will take more time, will bear more results." Rena insisted.

“Okay then.” Kyouku started to stretch and let Rena press on her back from behind, realizing how small Rena's hands were.

After a while...  “STOP STOP STOP!” Kyouko burst out.  

“Eh? Enough? Are you hurt?” Rena asked.

“Well yeah, enough for me! Is that wrong?”

“No, to be honest, you're more flexible than I thought. Now, it's my turn.”

Kyouko pushed Rena and she so EASILY slid down to the floor. Kyoko was like as expected for a club member… After that, they had dance training but only Kyouko danced. She took out a holocom and played a video of an unknown idol dancing, provided by Shihainin. She had been training with the video numerous times, everyday. “But I am a newbie in this,” Rena said. “It's okay,” Kyouko said, “I am looking for an honest opinion.”

Kyouko started dancing, and after the last move, looked at Rena and asked, “What do you think?”

“Hmmm it's GOOD, well, it's GOOD buuut.”

"But?"

"HMMM."

"It's okay, I did say an honest opinion."

"Can you do the last twirl?" Rena asked. Kyouko twirled again. "Mmmm, something is different..." Rena mused.

However, Rena couldn’t seem to put a finger on it and so stood up and said, "It’ll be easier to show you."

"What?" Kyouko didn’t know what Rena was doing.

"Uesugi-san twirled like this," Rena said, while performing the move, “While that idol, she twirled like... this." Kyouko was dumbfounded.

It couldn’t have been more than just a slight difference in her hand posture, or the way her feet moved, but in that moment, Rena was beautiful.

"Do you really have no experience in dancing?" Kyouko asked.

"Eh? No."

But she had done it perfectly. Kyouko asked her to do the twirl again and Rena was like man these people love twirling.

"Is it really okay, me being here?" Rena finally ended up asking.

"Yes," Kyouko replied. Kyouko had managed to grasp that point of the dance that she had been stuck on for weeks now, just by Rena being there and showing Kyouko her weak point.

Rena then asked, "Why an idol?"

"Well, I used to hate idols."

"Eh, what?"

"I hated idols."

"Uesugi-san sure can joke," Rena tried to brush off Kyouko’s serious statement.

“No, I’m not joking."

"Wait, seriously? But then, why are you here?"

Kyouko paused, then asked Rena, "Do you know a lot about movies?"

“Eh? Not really. I had a friend who loves them and shoved movies onto me though."

"Then, do you know Midorikawa Juri?"

Rena’s ears perked up, “Oh! That super beautiful actress! My friend showed me a movie of hers once!”

"Yes, she is beautiful, has a great voice, and is extremely talented in acting."

"What about her?" Rena asked.

"She is my mother."

"...Wait, what?" Rena paused briefly, “B-B-BUT YOUR SURNAME IS DIFFERENT,” she burst out.

"Seriously, that is where you got caught up? Of course, that is just her stage name. Her real surname is Uesugi. Uesugi Asuna." Kyouko said. Rena’s jaw dropped. So Kyouko's father is a foreigner, and this is where she had gotten her middle name.

"Is it okay to just say this kinda thing to me?" Rena finally said.

"It's okay." Kyouko explained that she did not even have many memories of her mother, since she had always been busy. When Kyouko was in kindergarten, she got an idol role in a performance and she hated it so much, but somehow, unexpectedly her mother made sure to attend the play. After that performance, her mother patted her head and said, "You're really cute. You did well." That was the first ever compliment her distant mother ever gave her, and despite Kyouko's reluctance to admit it, her mother's presence was a big part of her life.

"Why not be an actress?" Rena asked. Kyouko looked like her mother and even had a similar voice. Thus, she did not want to be under the shadow of her mother and wanted to establish her place, under her own name, not as Midorikawa Juri's daughter. That is also why she trains hard day and night for it. Rena asked if it was okay for Kyouko to be telling her such personal matters and Kyouko said she did not mind, although she realized that with Rena, she tended to just say everything, unlike her usual self.

After bidding Rena off, Kyouko went down to the Nanasis office, where she found a tray of oddly shaped onigiri, which looked like they must have been made by someone damn bad in cooking, and an overcooked tamagoyaki, with a note saying, "Great work for the lesson! Also, don't push yourself too hard! ~ Nishizono Honoka"

Although noting to herself how terrible the person must be in cooking (she could tell from merely the shape of the food), Kyouko took one of the onigiri and placed it in her mouth, feeling a warmth spreading through her stomach and chest.

~~~End of Chapter 4 : Heisuiruten

This is the end of book 1.

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